This chapter also has significant changes to allow the fic to move slower.

Thanks to Ive, Gypsy-chan, and Bunny! The first 3 reviewers of this version. Huhuhu…I'm so touched.

Bunny: Hihi..sorry if Megumi had no effect on you. I had to end the last chapter somewhere though ^_^;;

Gypsy-chan: Yes, I'm back. I'm terribly feeling guilty for not updating the other fic.

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or Hanakimi.

Eternity in One Moment

Chapter 3 Proposals

 



The soccer field was full of people. This was what Coach Toshi was saying about the school going ballistic over the Megumi Takani. The moment Megumi spotted Kenshin walk out of the locker room, she parted her way through the crowd and tried to drag Kenshin to a place where they can actually here each other.


"How are you Kenshin?" Megumi said while flashing a flirtatious smile.

Kenshin replied without smiling back, "What are you doing here Takani-dono?"

"No need to be so formal now, after all we've been through…" she said with her smile again.

"That was over Megumi, why are you here?" Kenshin replied seriously.

"Aren't you happy to see me? You know I missed you, darling," Megumi said trying to avoid his questions.

"Please do not call me that. We are nothing more than friends now. What are you doing in my school?" Kenshin asked bitterly.

"Now that you've asked, I'm looking around 'coz I was thinking of moving here in order to patch things up with you. I missed the old times, you know?" she said sweetly with her now infamous smile.

"I'm very flattered to hear that, but there are lots of guys going head over heels whenever they see you. I'm sure they can offer more than I can," replied Kenshin.

"Cause you're different Kennie," she said while inching up to him allowing her finger to slowly play with one of his red locks.

"Himura! I'm leaving, are you coming with me or not?" Aoshi yelled while approaching the couple.

"Hi! You must be Kennie dear's friend. I'm Megumi Takani," she introduced herself while giving him her 'smile.'

"Pleased to meet you," Aoshi said quickly. "I'm going," he added as he headed towards the school gates.

"I'm going with you!" Kenshin yelled at Aoshi's retreating figure. "Sorry Megumi, catch you some other time," he bid before he tried to catch up with Aoshi.

"My, my just as gorgeous as my Kennie dear. I think I'm going to like it here," Megumi thought to herself as she returned to her hoard of fans.





"Thank you for saving me Aoshi," Kenshin said. The two leaning on Aoshi's car, waiting for Kaoru to come out from her club meeting.

"No problem. Besides you looked a little distressed while talking to that girl, I took it as my cue," he replied. "So, who's this Megumi Takani?"

"She's an old friend," Kenshin answered shortly.

"An old girlfriend," Aoshi concluded.

"Yes," Kenshin admitted.

"If you want her back then do it now. Don't lead on Kaoru if you intend on patching things up with Takani," Aoshi warned him.

"Of course I don't. I don't even know that Megumi knows my current school. Besides, I don't have feelings for her anymore. Now that I think about it, maybe it was just a mere infatuation. She wasn't too serious about the relationship anyway. That's all in the past, I've forgotten about her," Kenshin replied curtly.

A 'Hnn' was Aoshi's reply.

"Aoshi, can I ask Kaoru out on a date?" Kenshin asked hopefully.

Silence.

 A couple minutes of silence as if Kenshin never asked a question. A few seconds later they could already see Kaoru's figure walking towards them. Kenshin's hope is failing.

"Only if you double date with me," Aoshi answered casually, his back turned towards the redhead while he was busy unlocking the car.

"But you never date!" Kenshin objected, not expecting Aoshi's reply.

"Then better luck next time," he said with a chuckle.

"What are you guys talking about?" Kaoru asked as her brother motioned to take her bag from her.

"Nothing important," Aoshi replied.

"Ah," she released although her eyes still had a curious look in it.

"I thought you already gave the go signal," Kenshin murmured, quiet enough not to let Kaoru hear.

"Yes, but I never said there won't be any conditions," he ended the conversation and started the car.




Kenshin was staring intently at his bedroom ceiling. 'A double date he says,' he thought then gave out another long sigh. He through the soccer ball in hand to the air caught it and threw it once more. 'We may have not known each other since forever but I know him enough to say that seeing him date is nearly impossible.'

'Besides, what am I so worked up about? I haven't even asked Kaoru out yet. What if I miraculously fix a date for Aoshi but then Kaoru turns me down? Argh…maybe I should ask her first,' he ended his worried thoughts as his eyes landed on a half-done plush cow.

"Here's the cow, Kaoru," Kenshin said as he handed a small plush cow with a little bell hanging on its neck.

It was Friday after school. Aoshi was called by their coach for a short meeting so Kaoru was left waiting for him to finish. Kenshin decided to keep her company.

"Thank you so much Kenshin! It's so cute and very soft too! It's perfect!" she exclaimed as she hugged the little fellow tightly. "Have you ever thought of making your own plush factory?" she teased.

"I told you, no more plush for me in the future," he tried to reply sternly.

"Ah, hai, hai," she nodded briskly.

"Misao's sleeping over at out house tonight! I can show of this little cow," she beamed.

"Oro? Aahh, is that so?" he answered his forehead slowly having huge beads of sweat.

"Is anything wrong Kenshin?" she asked worriedly.

"Nothing Kaoru-dono. As a matter of fact I need to ask you something," he stated.

"Go ahead. What is it?" Kaoru asked curiously.

"Would like to have dinner with me sometime?" he asked intently.

Kaoru was flabbergasted, little moo-chan was held limply by her hand. "I.." she started.

"Of course if you can't it's alright. Don't worry about it," he quickly supplied a fake smile across his face, both his hands waving frantically in front of him.

"No!" she exclaimed, stopping Kenshin's anxious actions. "I..I mean. I would love to," she finally said, a soft smile glazed on her lips.

"Great!" he replied with a small jump, unable to hide his excitement.

Kaoru smiled some more before continuing, "Ah, but you know how my brother reacts to these things."

"I know, I've talked to him," he said.

"And? Did he say it's ok?" Kaoru asked unsure.

"Partially. Well, he gave me a condition," he started which only succeeded in making Kaoru more confused. "He would never let you out on a date without a chaperone I guess."

"Ah, so he'll come with us?" she assumed. 'I guess that's not too bad.'

"No, he wants to double date with us," he supplied.

"What? Are you kidding me? Ah! So you mean, he finally asked someone?" she asked full of hope.

"Nope. No one at all," he replied bitterly.

"Huh?" 'That meanie! It's like dangling a carrot in front of my face. Hmph…but I won't give up!  Things will turn around somehow.' "Ah, is that so? Don't worry Kenshin, I'm sure he'll ask someone really soon," she beamed with a light smile on her face.




"So--- what are you all excited about? I swear if you continue to smile like that, you'll break your face!" kid Misao.

The two were in Kaoru's bedroom, dressed up in their pajamas already.

"Hi hi hi hi hi hi hi," Kaoru laughed weirdly.

Misao threw a pillow at Kaoru's face and yelled, "Just say it already! That weird laugh is killing me!"

"Alright, already!" Kaoru replied hugging the thrown pillow across her chest, and then took a deep breath. "Kenshin asked me out today," she said quickly.

"What?! No way?! I mean, I'm really happy for you Kaoru!" she congratulated while giving her friend a tight hug.

"I know, I was shocked myself. Hi hi hi hi hi," she laughed some more.

"So I guess Aoshi's not too bad huh?" Misao added while nudging Kaoru a bit.

"What do you mean?" Kaoru asked.

"I mean, so he let's some people go out with you. Well, not really some, but his friend," she completed.

"Yeah, yeah I guess. But technically, Kenshin and I can't really date yet," Kaoru said more mellow than her previous statements.

"How come?" Misao asked curiously as she was looking over Kaoru's stack of DVDs.

"He wants me to go on a double date," she answered. "With him."

"Ah, that's pretty simple, just find a date for him!" suggested Misao.

"That's pretty obvious, but it's not so simple if it's Aoshi we're talking about," she answered her eyes drifting towards the ceiling then the walls, and finally on the girl beside the stack of DVDs. A sinister smile crept upon her face.

"Ey, Misao? You like Aoshi right?" she started.

"No way Kaoru," Misao backed off. "Keep your ingenious plans to yourself," she warned, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Come on Misao! I remembered one time, he told me what he looks for in a girl, one I will like, would be like a sister to me, and would love me too. You're the perfect match!" cheered Kaoru.

"Of course, he'll tell you that, baka. But still, he has to like her somehow not just because she's your long lost sister!" debunked Misao. "No way Kaoru, it's impossible."

"Besides, if I ever go out with Aoshi, I would like him to ask me because he likes me and not just because I'm your best friend. I don't want to be just any best friend," explained Misao.

Kaoru sighed guiltily. "I'm sorry Misao. I was just too happy that I didn't realize I was being selfish."

"Hey no problem!" Misao quickly replied. "I didn't mean it that way! I totally understand how excited you are, and I wish you luck on finding your brother a date. I didn't mean to sound too sentimental," she assured though her eyes were giving her away.

"Thanks Misao, and sorry again. So what movie do you want to watch?"








"Hey! Ho! My dearest brother!" she said while flashing her huge smiles.

"Why do I have the feeling that your smile's up to no good?" Aoshi answered her greeting.

"Onii-chan......" she said then flashing her huge smile again.

"Now it's a fact that it's something I'll regret. You only call me with a --chan during desperate measures," he concluded.

Kaoru ignored Aoshi's presumptions and continued. "Kenshin asked me out today. Thanks for not shooing him away," Kaoru started.

"Hnn," Aoshi acknowledged.

 "Are you interested in someone right now?" she continued.

"I see where this is going to. Kenshin has told you about the date's condition, hasn't he?" he guessed.

"Mmn," replied Kaoru.

"I intend to keep the condition effective Kaoru, no pleading will work," he said unsympathetically, ignoring Kaoru's pleading eyes.

"Do you really want this date?" he asked.

"Yes Aoshi. I really like Kenshin. I know, you are aware that he's a good person. Come on, Ao-nii-chan? Please....Please? Just this once. Please?" Kaoru begged.

Aoshi stared at her for the longest time, and then let out a sigh. "Ok Kaoru-chan, but, don't get the idea that you are now officially allowed to date. Understand?"

"Thanks onii-chan!" she yelled happily.

"Not so fast. Don't lift your hopes up. I have to ask her out first. It'll depend if she'll agree to go out with me," he warned.

"I know. Still, thanks a lot! You know I really love you, don't you?" Kaoru said as sweetly as a little sister can.

"I know Kaoru-chan," he answered while smiling and shaking his head.

"Is there any chance you'll tell me who this girl is?" she asked optimistically.

"No chance at all," he said coldly.

"I knew it, but I had to try!" she defended before skipping merrily to her room.





"Some one asked you out," Kaoru nonchalantly said as she made her way towards her seat.

It was the last period of the day, Kaoru just got out from an extra long emergency club meeting.

She turned her head towards Misao and flashed a wicked grin, "So who is it?"

"Is my face that transparent?" Misao asked earning another grin from Kaoru. 'Apparently, yes.'

"So? Come on? You have to share your happiness with someone, it's unhealthy not to!" pushed Kaoru.

"I can't believe I'm actually going out on a date with Aoshi!" Misao announced.

"Really?" Kaoru exclaimed standing up hand firmly gripped on her desk. 'Date with Aoshi = Date with Kenshin'

"I'm really happy Misao!!!!! For both of us!" she added. "So, when did he ask you out?"

Misao blushed prettily before answering, "While you were in the club meeting. I was waiting for you at the hallway during lunch. I thought the meeting would be over soon. And then, he came up to me and well, he asked how my day, stuff was like that then he asked me if I would like to go out on a date with him. Did you know he was going to ask me?" Misao asked.

"No. He said he was going to ask someone out but he never said who. He just said he wasn't sure whether she would like to go out with him or not," said Kaoru.

"Ah, are you sure you didn't force him or anything?" Misao asked some more.

"Of course not! We talked about this already, and I know how you feel about it. I won't do anything to hurt your feelings you know?" reassured Kaoru.

"I know, sorry. It's just too good to be true!" Misao confessed ecstatically.

"I agree! A date with Kenshin! My first date ever!" Kaoru said as excited as Misao.

Both girls started to giggle over flowingly. Then Misao, suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, did you know that Megumi Takani transferred here 2 days ago? She's Aoshi and Kenshin's classmate I think. I've heard she's Kenshin's ex-girlfriend, and the reason she transferred here is because she still likes Kenshin. But, it's too late for her because Kenshin has already fallen in love with Shinomori-san, ne?" Misao said teasingly.

Kaoru blushed deeply. "Stop it Misao, it's just a date," Kaoru said defensively, though unable to hide her smile.

A/n: Yey! Another chapter! Things are moving slower as promised. Hope it was alright. Chapter 4 will be up tonight or tomorrow. So please check for updates soon. Thanks to all who reviewed. It really makes me happy.