DISCLAIMER: Rurouni Kenshin and Rurouni Kenshin characters are exclusively owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Sony Entertainment, Jump Comics and associated parties. Please note, this is purely fiction and for entertainment purposes only. This story is not meant for sale or profit.
Author's Notes: A silly A/U comedy about the anxieties Kaoru goes through while preparing for her first high school reunion and her first real kiss with Kenshin. Comedy/Romance "Kiss Me Again" by Gypsy-chan Enjoy!^_^
Please note: The characters will be OOC, especially Kaoru and Megumi's character. I really pushed Megumi's bad habit of flirting and Kaoru's insecurity to the limit. There's no plot, rhyme or reason to this ficcie. I just wanted to have fun. Enjoy!^_^
Part Two
"Megumi and Kaoru have been rivals over Himura ever since they were kids," stated Misao. "Go on Kaoru, tell everyone what Megumi use to do to you. I'm not going to let you get up until you tell your story."
Kaoru looked into her friends eyes and sighed deeply before beginning her story.
"Okay, it all began like this..."
**********************
"...When I was in first grade, my class went to a huge park for a field trip. Several classes from my school met together on the same day. None of us knew each other at the time. Megumi was in first grade like me, but only in a different class. Sanosuke Sagara, who later became my good friend, was in second grade and Kenshin was in third grade."
****BEGINNING OF FLASHBACK****
"Wow! You're great at soccer," exclaimed Sanosuke, a spiky haired boy who wore a red bandana around his forehead. "You play just as rough as the other boys in my class. Let's play again! But this time I want you on my side!"
"Okay," smiled little Kaoru, who wore a pink ribbon on her long ponytail. She turned to the little boy standing next to her and asked, "Do you want to be on my side too?"
"Yes," replied young Kenshin, "I like playing with you." Kaoru blushed deeply at Kenshin.
Young Megumi was watching both of them from a distance. She became jealous of the way the two older boys were paying extra attention to Kaoru. Megumi walked over to Kenshin and slipped her arm through his.
"I know a better game. Let's play doctor. I'll be the doctor and you", poking Kenshin in the chest, "can be my patient."
Kenshin's face turned a bright red matching his hair color.
Megumi let out a crafty laugh. "Ohohohoho!"
"Take your hands off him you slimy girl," exclaimed Kaoru as she shoved Megumi away. "He was playing with me first! Go away!"
"Make me," shouted Megumi as she shoved Kaoru back.
Kaoru balled up her fist and swung it toward Megumi. Unfortunately, Kenshin had gotten in the middle of them saying, "Now, now, you girls shouldn't..... Oroooo!" Kenshin fell to the ground.
Kaoru rushed over to him. "Hey you," she called out while shaking him, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. Are you alright?"
"Yes I'm fine," he answered while rubbing his reddened cheek.
Megumi grabbed Kenshin by the chin and turned his head from side-to-side commenting, "Oh my! Your cheek looks hurt! Let me kiss it and make it all better."
"No! You can't kiss him," exclaimed Kaoru as she snatched Kenshin away from Megumi, "I'm the one that hurt his cheek, so I'm the one who's going to kiss him!"
At that point, Kaoru quickly leaned in and placed her lips on Kenshin's cheek to kiss him. Before she could give him a good kiss, she felt a big sneeze coming.
"Ah... Ah... Achooo!!" Kaoru sneezed right on Kenshin's cheek and all into his face.
Without thinking, Kenshin immediately pushed her to the ground shouting, "Ewwww!!" He wiped his face off with his sleeves.
"Yeah! Ewwww!!!! That's disgusting," Sano said while scrunching up his face as he looked over to Kenshin. "Now you have icky girl germs! I don't want to play with her anymore!"
Kaoru was deeply hurt and embarrassed. She didn't move from the ground where she had been pushed. Tears started to stream down her face. She took her dusty hands and wiped the tears away from her eyes. Kenshin felt bad for knocking her down. As he bent down to help her up, Megumi looped her arms into his pulling him back.
"Don't get too close to that thing. She may bite you and give you rabies or something."
"Oro?"
"Yes. That's what wild animals do you know."
Kenshin was confused. He looked down at Kaoru and back to Megumi. He thought for a moment and then answered, "She's not a wild animal. She looks like a girl, just like you."
Megumi began shaking her head profusely and stomping her feet. "No! No! No! She's not a girl like me! I'm much prettier and smell way better than her," she emphasized while throwing her long silky hair over her shoulders. "Now look at her again!" She pointed on the ground to Kaoru. "She's dirty and smelly!" Megumi pinched her nose, "Eeew! stinky, stinky! She looks just like a tanuki with all that dirt around her eyes."
"Yes," giggled Misangi who ran over to them, "she does look like a tanuki."
Megumi squeezed Kenshin's arm tighter as she looked down at Kaoru. "Hey everyone, come look at the funny tanuki!"
Several other kids ran over. They surrounded Kaoru and chanted, "Tanuki! Tanuki! Funny tanuki!"
Megumi laughed out loud, "Ohohohoho!"
****END OF FLASHBACK*****
"Oh my god! That must have been the worst day of your life," said Omasu.
"Yeah, it sure felt like it," she sighed. "I ran away from everyone and hid behind a tree crying. Kenshin ran all over looking for me. I was so busy crying that I hadn't notice that Kenshin had found me and was quitely sitting next to me. He apologized for pushing me down. I ignored him and kept crying.
Kenshin reached inside his pocket and pulled out a red and blue spinning top. He said that it was his favorite toy in the whole world. I watched as Kenshin demonstrated how it worked. I was so fascinated by the spinning, that I stopped crying. He told me that I could keep it. Believe it or not, I still have that old spinning top," she said smiling fondly.
All the girls sighed, "Awww....."
"Several years after that, I was 13 years old attending junior high and Kenshin was 16 years old and in high school. It was so exciting to be dating an older boy in those days. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world," she giggled.
"Anyway, when it was time for my junior prom, Kenshin was my escort. He looked so handsome and mesmerizing that night. For some reason, I had a feeling something special was going to happen. Like, I was going to get my first kiss from Kenshin."
"Did you get your first kiss," Omasu excitedly asked.
"Yes. It was after the last song of the night. Kenshin took me to a secluded spot and kissed me."
The girls all sighed again, "Awww....."
"Don't go all dreamy over that girls. I haven't finished my story yet."
Everyone stared at one another and back at Kaoru.
"As Kenshin deepened the kiss, his tongue got caught in the wire of my braces. I was totally mortified over the situation and began to panic. Naturally, Megumi just happened to walk by as we were busy trying to get his tongue out of my mouth. She laughed out loud causing others to look. She started saying,
"Oh look, the tanuki girl caught Ken-san in her trap! Ohohohohoho!"
"By the time we broke apart, I rushed out of my prom in tears. My first real kiss with Kenshin was a disaster!"
Okon rested her hand upon Kaoru's shoulder. "Oh poor Kaoru-chan. You had such bad luck on your first kiss. That was also a very mean thing for Megumi to do."
"Yes, Megumi always did horrible things like that to me. But I got her back really good on Valentine's Day. On that day, I snuck into her locker and switched the small box of chocolates, that one of her boyfriends had given her, with a box of chocolate-coated laxatives. She ran to the restroom all day long."
The girls burst in laughter.
"So what happened when you went to high school," asked Kamatari.
"By the time I entered high school, we were still dating. Kenshin was in his senior year then. We decided after the braces incident, to hold off on kissing for a while. I was worried that he wouldn't want me anymore if he couldn't kiss me. But he assured me that kissing wasn't a big deal and that he would always love me no matter what. That made me feel really secure in our relationship.
Kenshin was in the drama club. He cancelled several dates with me to spend more time "practicing" his part for the school play. I heard whispers of how great a kisser he was. Girls were always sticking their telephone numbers in his locker. I tried to be optimistic about the whole thing. I assumed that he was only popular among the girls because he was the best student actor in the drama club. Talk about naïve, geez!
Anyway, one day I decided to cut class and sneak over to one of his "practice" sessions held in the school's auditorium. I wanted to see him in action as he practiced. I was totally devastated when I caught Kenshin passionately kissing that slimy Megumi Takani. Of all the girls in the school, it just had to be her!
****BEGINNING OF FLASHBACK*****
Kaoru stood frozen, by what was happening in front of her. Kenshin, the love of her life, was locked into a passionate kiss with her bitter rival Megumi Takani. With tears threatening to spill upon her face, she whimpered in a low tone, "Ken...shin, how could you?"
Kenshin suddenly broke off his kiss with Megumi upon hearing Kaoru's voice. "Kaoru?" He turned to see her face. Tears were now streaming down her pale cheeks. "Kaoru! I... uhm... We were just... uhm... practicing a part for the school play."
"Ken-san, there's no need to continue this charade," smirked Megumi. "The tanuki should have realized that she's been playing out of her league for some time now. You know that I'm much prettier and definitely a better kisser than she is."
"Megumi there's no need to be insulting," he said as he averted Kaoru's eyes.
"Why must you always protect her? It's me that you want." She turned to Kaoru and stared into her eyes, "Yes, Ken-san wants me not you. He's just too nice to break up with you, so I guess I'll have to do it for him. Listen up tanuki, because I'm only going to say this once, it's over between you two. See," she held up her hand and extended it toward Kaoru's face. "I'm even wearing Ken-san's class ring."
Kaoru was totally mortified. The ring had a sapphire stone. She remembered when she and Kenshin sat together looking over the various stones for his class ring. He selected sapphire because he said it reminded him of her beautiful eyes. She couldn't wait for it to come. He promised the ring to her, but there it was, seated upon the finger of her worst enemy.
She turned to Kenshin for some kind of answer. He lowered his head and sighed deeply. "I'm sorry Kaoru. I didn't mean to hurt you. I... I was going to tell you. But...I"
Before he could finish speaking, I ran out of the auditorium in tears. Kenshin ran after me. He grabbed me by the arm. My heart began to pound profusely, hoping that he was coming to take me back. I wanted him to say that it was all a big mistake or something. But that wasn't the case. He said the worst thing a man could ever say to a woman.
"I'm so sorry Kaoru but, I hope we can still be friends."
I was so furious when he said that to me. I punched him so hard that he flipped over backwards. I told him that I never wanted to see him again.
****END OF FLASHBACK*****
Six months later, Kenshin broke up with Megumi. Her parents didn't like Kenshin. They felt he wasn't good enough for their daughter. Megumi was in love with Kenshin. She used to sneak around to see him. But her parents put a stop to that my moving the whole family to Aizu. Megumi finish high school in Aizu and later attended a prestigious medical college there.
Kenshin came by several times to see me after he and Megumi were officially broken up. I never answered my door or return his telephone calls. I wasn't ready to deal with him. My heart was still broken. So, he moved to Kyoto and... well... that's my story."
"That was so sad," sniffed Omasu.
"Yes, I didn't know that happened," sniffed Okon also.
Everyone suddenly became quiet. Misao grew angry and broke the silence.
"You know what I think? I think the only reason Himura broke up with Kaoru is because Megumi probably promised to make out with him. I don't think it has anything to do with your kissing ability Kaoru-chan. But still, Megumi is not the only one who should take the blame here. That redheaded two-timing jerk shouldn't have broken up with you! If I ever see him again, I'll make him pay for hurting my best friend."
Kaoru looked over to Misao and gave a smile in appreciation for her loyalty and friendship.
Kamatari's silent sobs suddenly turned in to a loud wail. "Waaaahhhh!!! that's the saddest love story I've ever heard. Not as bad as Shishio and me but still.... Waaaaahhhhh!!!"
Tomoe entered the room. "Is everyone all right back here?"
"Yes, Miss Tomoe," they said.
Kaoru glanced over to Kamatari and mouthed, "pull yourself together." Kamatari nodded. Kaoru smiled at Tomoe and said, "We were just chatting about our high school days."
"Oh. So who are you girls taking to the class reunion," Tomoe asked.
"Well, since I can't steal Shishio from my rival Yumi, I have no choice but to take Chou Katanagari."
"I'm going with my old boyfriend Soujirou Seta," smiled Misao. "We dated briefly back in junior high school. He's no Aoshi Shinomori, but Sou-chan is really a nice guy."
"That's nice," said Yumi. "What about you Omasu and Okon?"
"Okon and I are going with our former Phys. Ed. teacher, Hiko Seijuro. He is sooo much fun," winked Okon to Omasu.
Omasu blushed and giggled, "Yes he is. He's a total riot after he's had a few bottles of sake."
Tomoe smiled as she watched Omasu and Okon whisper and giggle things in each other's ears about Hiko. Then she turned to Kaoru and noticed how quiet she was. "What about you Kaoru? Are you taking someone special?"
"Actually, I hadn't thought about bringing anyone," answered Kaoru. "I didn't think I had to."
Tomoe shook her finger at Kaoru as to reprimand her. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Your class reunion is going to be held in an expensive hotel. You shouldn't show up unescorted. It really shows a lack of social grace. Going to your first class reunion unescorted is like going to your senior prom without a date."
"But I'm not dating anyone right now," replied Kaoru.
"Who said anything about dating. I said you shouldn't go unescorted. My husband Akira runs a male escort business. I'm sure he can match you up with the right male escort for the occasion."
"Male escort? No way," Kaoru said while shaking her head profusely. "I would be too embarrassed."
"Kaoru, everyone there will either have their spouses or a date with them," replied Misao. "We've already made plans to bring someone. We wouldn't want you to feel uncomfortable around us. We want you to have fun. Why not give Miss Tomoe's husband a call. It might be kind of cool to have a handsome male escort hanging all over you for one night."
"I'm sorry Misao, Miss Tomoe, but I just can't see myself showing up at my class reunion with some strange guy. I don't have the boldness as you Misao or the grace and elegance you have Miss Tomoe. Compared to you two, I'm just a tanuki that's all."
Before Misao could respond, Tomoe gestured for her to stay put as she walked over to the chair Kaoru was sitting in. Tomoe gently swiveled the chair around to face the mirror. "Kaoru-chan, look in the mirror and tell me what you see."
Kaoru looked in the mirror, lowered her head and replied in a low tone, "A silly little tomboy trapped inside a woman's body."
Tomoe lifted Kaoru's chin up toward the mirror again. "That's not what I see. I see a beautiful, courageous and successful young woman. I've never had an employee who won five plaques of excellence for hair styling. Those plaques attracted more rich and glamorous clients. I know that one day, with your talent, you may decide to open up your own beauty salon. But... just don't open your shop next to mine," Tomoe quickly added. Kaoru smiled as the girls chuckled in the background.
"It's only natural for everyone to be anxious over their first class reunion. A class reunion is a time to show off what you've accomplished in life. You ladies have nothing to be ashamed of. You are all very successful hairdressers who bring plenty of business to my salon. It's because of your hard work that I've saved enough money to open a sculptured body and facial spa across town. You ladies are the best!"
"Thanks Miss Tomoe," they replied in unison.
Before leaving the room, Tomoe turned to the girls and said, "There's one last thing I would like to say. You're all grown women now and not 14-year-old girls starting high school for the first time. So forget about all those superficial people who gave you grief when you were in high school. Relax and have fun at your first class reunion. That's my secret on how to be graceful," she winked at Kaoru as she left the room.
Kaoru smiled at Tomoe. "I feel so much better about myself now. Miss Tomoe really is a nice person and a great boss to work for."
"You can't get any better than Miss Tomoe I always say," Misao cheerfully replied. "So, are you going to call the male escort agency like Miss Tomoe suggested?"
"Yes, I'll do it," answered Kaoru signing two thumbs up. "Now that I have a date, I've got to figure out a cool hair style." Kaoru grinned wickedly as she reached up to the shelf over the sink and pulled down a box full of wigs.
"Hey what are you going to do with those wigs," asked Omasu.
"You'll see," winked Kaoru.
Author's Notes: Hey there minna, thanks soooo much for all your great reviews. It really lifted my writing spirits. I'm so glad you like this ficcie!^_^
Okay, so as you can see, I've taken the little rivalry that Kaoru and Megumi displayed in the anime to the max. I know that they eventually come to respect and care for one another. Megumi is part of the Kenshin-gumi, but I do plan to have Megumi act out a little more before she straightens up. (can't have Megumi lovers sending Sano after me, heh, heh! ^_^)
Also, I got so many more characters that will appear in this ficcie. It is a reunion so don't be surprise which character from the RK TV series will pop-up at the reunion. Oh yeah, about the sneezing thing. My mom told me I did that to my big brother when I was five and he was eight. We had just had a fight over a toy. My mom told us not to fight and to kiss and make up. Well guess what, I sneezed on my brother's cheek. Naturally, he pushed me down and we started fighting again. My mom laughed really hard before breaking us apart and taking us out for ice cream. So, it didn't turn out too bad.^_^
As usual, constructive reviews are welcomed as long as they are genuine and not sarcastic. (Psst... Hey you... Yes you... you did a great job pushing the button last time. So let's try it again. Push the button and leave me a review. Gypsy-chan will be very happy okay. ^_^)