Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. This fic is entirely fictional and Japan did not have a Project Messiah nor a Mission Messiah as far as I know. The makers of Weiss Kreuz own the song 'Other Side of the Moon.' I'm just borrowing it as the fic's title.
To the readers…
Hello again! Thanks for the awesome reviews!
A couple of people thought the previous chapter was way too short, and I totally agree with you. (Gomen dementedchris and Koneko-dono). So, to make it up to all of you, here's the next installment. This is my fastest update yet!
To those people who are asking for K&K fluff, please understand that it won't be an easy task to do since things are a bit complicated (now that's an understatement ^_^;;). Besides, I want their feelings to develop gradually, so it won't be love at first sight at all, gomen. Also, I don't think Kaoru is the type who won't care if more people will be in danger because of being too close to her, don't you think? However, to satisfy your request a bit, there'll be teeny weenie bit of K&K in this chapter and a couple of drops more in the following chapter.
Dementedchris: It's good that you liked Aoshi as an overprotective and super nice person, though he may sound OOC. I have this tendency to make him this concerned nice guy, 'coz I think he really is (deep inside).
Selene: Thank you so much for those kind words! I felt so happy. Believe it or not I cried when I read your review! Why? Maybe I was just feeling highly emotional today, or just plain baka, or I guess I was just really touched. It's nice to know that my efforts weren't in vain. I'm really treating this fic seriously, like it was a term paper or something. I'm glad you liked the intro quotes! Last chapter's quote is my favorite. Hmm..about Kaoru confiding to a certain redhead, you'll just have to read and find out! Hihi, didn't mean to sound mean, but seriously that would probably take some time before it actually happens.
Hells-Angel: Thanks for pointing it out, I'll try and fic it up when I have time. Sorry, finals are coming up so I don't really have much time in my hands.
A little teaser…
Another member of Mission Messiah will be introduced in this chapter. Guess who?? Teehee ^_^
Too much babbling! Sorry 'bout that…time to read the chapter!
Other Side of the Moon
Moon Magic
Chapter 4
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Music is my refuge. I could crawl in the spaces between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.
---Unknown
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"Good morning Kenshin!" a cheerful Misao greeted.
"Good morning Misao. You certainly look happy today."
"Who wouldn't? It's Friday! No school tomorrow!" Misao replied with a gigantic smile.
"Who can be so noisy this early?" a lightheaded Sano entered the classroom. He went straight to his desk and murmured, "Oh right, who else but the weasel," before he crossed his arms on the desk and placed his head above it.
"Good morning to you too rooster head! I'm not going to allow anyone to ruin my day, not even you baka," greeted Misao.
Sano was about to refute Misao's comment when she spoke again.
"Do you guys want to go out tomorrow or something? We can hang out at the mall and catch a movie."
"That sounds great Misao, I don't have anything planned anyway for this weekend. How about you Sano?" Kenshin agreed immediately.
"Sure, whatever."
"Great. We can invite Ryo too, can't we?" Misao asked as she spotted the raven-haired senior at the classroom's door.
"Sure why not," Kenshin agreed once again. Sano gave a nod.
Ryo was on his way to his desk when a girl blocked his way. "Hi there! I guess we never had the chance to formally introduce ourselves. My name's Mitsuki," the girl said while extending her right hand.
"Oh hello, my name's Ryo."
"I know," Mitsuki said with a smirk. "These are my friends, Sakura and Raiya," the girl continued while gesturing the girls behind her who gave Ryo their smiles.
Ryo smiled back and gave a curt nod.
The girl spoke once more, "I tried inviting you yesterday to join our table for lunch but it seems that you chose to join another table yesterday," she paused for a second and glanced towards Misao's direction. "And so, I'd like to raise my offer again. Would you like to join us for lunch?" the girl requested as she inched closer to Ryo, brushing a few of his bangs away from his eyes.
"PDA IS NOT ALLOWED WITHIN SCHOOL PREMISES," Misao spoke loudly not saying it to anyone directly but the amount of decibels used to say it ensured the fact that the whole class heard it.
"Thanks for the offer Mitsuki-san but not today ok? Maybe some other time. We'd better go take our seats now, I bet Takahashi-sensei's coming any minute now," Ryo finished smiling, gave a small nod, then headed straight towards his desk.
"Thanks Misao," Ryo whispered.
"Sure. No need to thank me. I never liked Mikagami anyway."
The door opened and revealed an old lady dressed in an old fashioned long sleeved blouse and a black skirt. Her almost all-gray hair was tied up in a tight bun.
"Good morning class. Let's start Physics."
After half an hour of lecture Takahashi-sensei announced that they'd be having an in-class activity which will be done by pairs.
"I've already decided how to pair all of you. It will be by alphabetical order."
A considerable amount of protest surfaced from the class.
Sano addressed, "Can't we just choose our partners ourselves? It would make it easier for us to work together."
"No. I've already told you how it will work Mr. Sagara. Now listen up, I'll announce the pair number and its members. Remember your pair number. It will appear on every work you finish as a pair. This pairing will be used today and for the rest of the school year. This includes research projects, in-class activities and laboratory performances. Silence please. Pair #1 Akaneda and Aoya, Pair #2 Ayaka and…"
"Man! She is such a I-don't-like-to-say-it!" fumed Misao.
"I wonder who my partner will be? It'll be either Sokawa or Rukiwano," murmured Sano to himself.
"Why are you so mad Misao? I bet it couldn't be that bad," Ryo suggested,
"One of the possible partners for me will be Mitsuki! She goes after me in the roll sheet!"
"She can't be that bad," Ryo tried to calm Misao.
"Yes she is."
"Wait keep it down a bit, I think I'm up soon and I can't hear a thing she's saying," Kenshin inserted.
"Pair #8 Himura and Hirameshii, Pair #9…"
"You guys are lucky!" Sano said.
"I guess we are," Kenshin smiled at Ryo.
*Don't blush idiot! You've been acting for the longest time, don't give in now!* Kaoru mentally hammered her head. "Yup!"
"AHHHH!!!" Misao whined.
"What's with you?" Sano asked confused.
"Didn't you hear?" Misao asked then imitated their teacher's voice, "Pair #12 Makimachi and Mikagami."
"I'm sure Mitsuki's not excited neither," Kenshin said.
"No doubt about that," Sano said as he looked at Mitsuki's direction.
***
The day went by quickly, soon the last bell of the day rang. The doors of the classrooms blasted open and the halls soon were flooded by vast amounts of students. Sano, Kenshin, Misao and Ryo allowed the other students to leave the classroom first before they let themselves out.
"Oh I almost forgot Ryo. We were planning on going out tomorrow. Would you like to join us?" Kenshin asked Ryo.
Sano swung his right arm over Ryo's right shoulder and gave it a big pat. "Yeah buddy. You can't turn us down! We'll have fun!"
"Where are you planning to go?" Ryo inquired passively pretending not to be excited though he really was. He has never gone out on a gimmick for ages.
"At the mall. Watch a movie maybe," answered Misao.
"I'll check all right? I'll give one of you a call tonight to give my answer."
"Aww..little Ryo needs too ask Daddy first?" Sano teased but made sure he mentioned the right living parent. He didn't want to offend his friend or anything like that.
"No I don't. I just have to make sure I have no commitments set for tomorrow."
"I see. Jeez, was I dense or what? If you have a date or something, you don't have to cancel on your date just to hang out with us. We'll understand," Sano said with a mischievous smirk on his face while giving Ryo a nudge.
Kaoru couldn't help but blush.
Kenshin gave a small 'oro' while watching Sano amuse himself.
Misao smiled and pushed the topic an inch further, "Yeah Ryo, have a date or a girlfriend?"
'This is insane.' Kaoru thought miserably. "No I don't. Stop it you guys. This is not funny."
"How touchy," Sano teased some more.
Ryo couldn't help it but glare at Sano while still having a hue of pink on his cheeks.
As usual, the official icebreaker none other than Mister Kenshin Himura, prevented the little tease to develop into something serious. He grabbed a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Ryo.
"Here's my number. Call me anytime to tell your response, all right?"
"WHOA, and what do we have in this corner??!?!? Keeping ready-made telephone notes inside his pocket!!! And I've always thought you can't be that smooth," Sano said in an exaggerated tone, much like the tone of a commentator, which caused Misao to barely breath due to an extensive amount of laughter.
"Oro! I just wrote one earlier because I was planning on giving it to Ryo! I figured being Science partners would need some form of communication, don't you think? I just didn't remember to hand him the paper till now!"
"Sure, sure Kenshin!" Misao managed to say between her giggles.
"Now it's all clear man," Sano paused for effect and motioned to touch his chin as if he has a beard and pretended to think deeply. "I've never seen you this way because we've always been around girls, I didn't know you preferred the other species. Congratulations Ryo! You've just won Kenshin's heart!"
And that was what made Misao lose her balance and slammed on the floor, which didn't really matter because she continued laughing.
On the other hand, a couple of people didn't find this amusing at all. In fact their face was deep crimson in color that you'll think they ought to be rushed to the clinic as soon as possible.
"Stop it Sanosuke." Kenshin managed to warn, and then turned towards Ryo who was smiling sheepishly but still red as he is, "This is embarrassing. I'll understand if you don't want to go with us tomorrow anymore. I can't even figure out why I hang out with these ABNORMAL people," Kenshin said aloud making sure the two heard his remark regardless of all the noise the two were creating while laughing.
"Oh come on you two! Don't be such babies. We were just kidding, right Misao?"
"Yes that's right! Unless its really true," Misao can't help but add the latter statement which made her and Sano crack up again.
Kenshin just shook his head and muttered apologies to Ryo again.
"Don't worry about it. It's nothing. I'd better get going. I can't wait for them to stop laughing because that may take us ages. I'll give you a call Kenshin. Bye guys."
"Bye Ryo," Kenshin said with a wave.
"Bye!" Sano and Misao said simultaneously while controlling their giggles from creating an outburst one more time.
***
It was almost nine o'clock. Kaoru fixed the house a bit, vacuumed and dusted when she arrived from school. She threw a pack of TV dinner in the microwave earlier in the evening, and ate then cleared the kitchen. She decided to take a quick shower before making her calls.
*Dials number* *someone answers the phone*
"Hello?"
"Oh hello, good evening Aunt Tokio. It's Ryo. May I talk to father please?" Ryo asked. Kaoru has been instructed never to use the name Kaoru on the phone because it can easily be tapped.
"Hi dear! How have you been? I've missed you so much."
"I'm great Auntie. School's doing fine. Umm... is this a good time to ask dad for something?" 'Yes, it is very uncomfortable to call Saito-san father or dad, but can't do anything about it.'
"What is it about Ryo?"
"A couple of my friends invited me to hang out tomorrow. I'm wondering if that will be all right."
"I see. Well, I don't know. You know the last decision will be coming from your father. Wait a minute, I'll go get him. Don't worry I'll condition him to have the right mood before talking to you."
"Thank you so much Aunt Tokio. This means a lot to me."
"I know it does. So wait for a while."
"Ok."
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.
Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock. Tick tock.
"Hello."
"Good evening Dad! How was work?"
"Same as usual. What do you want?"
"Well, you know I'm new in school and I've been making a couple of friends and..well."
"Just spit it out."
'Ah, of course straight-to-the-point kind of guy, how could I forget?' "Ah well, they invited me to go to mall with them tomorrow. I called to ask your permission."
"…"
"Hello? Dad? You still there? Did you here what I just said?"
"Yes I did."
"Umm… ok. Well, so what'll it be?"
"All right. What time are you leaving?"
"Err…I don't know. I haven't asked about the details because I wasn't sure you were going to allow me."
"I see. What do you expect me to do? Sit down and relax?"
"I promise to call you again tonight once I get the details."
"Call after an hour. I have to do something first."
"Ok. An hour it is. Bye."
*Hangs up*
'Ok..now to call Kenshin. Where did I put his number again?' Kaoru grabbed her backpack and opened the outermost zipper. 'Ok. All set.' As she was about to dial the number she paused and hesitated for a while. 'I'm actually nervous! Well, I'm calling a guy here, but its not really like that isn't it? I'm another guy, so it's like calling another girl instead.' *sigh* 'Eeeee.. this is not comfortable at all. It's not like I like him, isn't it? I've only met him for a week. Yes, get a grip Ryo!'
*Dials number*
"Hello?"
"Hello! Good evening, may I please speak with Kenshin?"
"Who is this," the man on the other line answered in a rather not so welcoming tone.
"It's his classmate Ryo."
"Hold on a second."
Kaoru heard the man who answered the phone call 'Hey baka deshi! The phone's for you!'
"Hello?'
"Hi Kenshin! It's Ryo"
"Oh hi, wait a sec." Kenshin tried to cover the mouthpiece and yelled, "I got it shishou, you can put down the phone now."
*Click*
"Hey Ryo what's up? So you coming tomorrow?"
"Yeah sure. Where are we going again?"
"That's great! We're going to the Fashion Plaza. Misao insisted to go to that one."
"I see. So, do we just meet there or something?"
"If you want. Sano and Misao's going to go together. I can give you a ride if you want."
"I don't want to cause you any trouble."
"Nonsense. So I'll swing by your place at 2 then?"
"Sure. You don't even know where I live."
"That's right... hehe... I forgot that small detail. What's your address again?"
After giving her address Kaoru called her 'father' again and told the complete detail. After making all the necessary calls, she placed the wireless phone back to its base and decided to tuck herself to bed early.
~~~~~ On another phone conversation ~~~~~
"I want you to follow him the moment he steps out of the house."
"Yes sir."
"Are there any questions?"
"None sir."
"Good. Make sure he doesn't appear there, Soujiro."
"Hai Saito-sama."
A/n: To those who do not know, PDA stands for Public Display of Affection.
Stereotypical Physics teacher isn't it? But it just fitted perfectly I think. Isn't it obvious that I didn't like Physics? It was the hardest subject ever and the teacher didn't help either. Ahhh..scary memories.
I am terribly running out of names to use.
This is the longest chapter I've ever made so far! It certainly made up for the short chapter 3.
Sorry if some of the characters will be OOC.
I tend to refer to Kaoru when the situation tends to affect her as a girl, and Ryo, as a guy. Do you get it? Harhar…I am so sorry if it's confusing. Just remember Kaoru's Ryo and Ryo's Kaoru.
Want to take a guess on who is the 'he' referred by Saito in the phone call? Next chapter's going to be fun! +)
