Disclaimer: It's the usual....I don't own any of the following characters I'm gonna use in this story.....and blah.......Plus.....I don't own nor did i write any of the songs that i used in this story.......

Karaoke Night At The Akabeko By: Larae-san

(Author's comments: I thought that It would be kinda cute to have the people of Rurouni Kenshin singing Karaoke........so here's my best shot at it)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*

The akabeko is strewn with ribbons and lanterns..........5 small tables are pushed together to make a 'stage'....the 'stage' is decorated with streamers and a huge banner that says 'The Akabeko's First Karaoke Night'.........There are at most 30 tables scattered in front of the stage.......and Tae has all of the tables filled......As for the singers, in their singing order ; Misao, Kaoru, Kenshin, Kaoru Megumi and Misao, Sanosuke, Megumi, and lastly Kenshin and Sanosuke.........In case you are wondering why on earth they signed up....well they didn't....Tae put all of their names on the list......but they don't know that yet......and Tae has yet to tell them.........

"What do you mean we are singing at the Karaoke?!?" Sano, Megumi, and Kaoru fumed. "I took the trouble of putting you all on the list" Tae explained. "I'd love to!" Misao burst out. "I think we should all have a high spirit about this like Misao-dono" Kenshin said "So you are looking forward to it Kenshin?" Tae asked "Well I guess........." "Great! I wasn't sure to put you on the list but now that I know..." "Ah, Tae-dono wait!" He pleaded "Too late" She said smiling. Kenshin hung his head. "Well that's what you get Kenshin" Sanosuke said slapping him on the back.

Tsubame walked into the room "The guests are starting to arrive" she told Tae "Great, you need to get ready and pick the songs you are going to sing" Tae explained before running off......Tsubame stared in the direction that she ran off to, then handed Kaoru a sheet of paper "Here are the songs to choose from Kaoru-san" She said than hurried off. "Oi, Kaoru lemme see" Sano piped up "Wait your turn" she snapped back. She looked at the sheet in her hands and then wrote down the song that she was going to sing next to her name, and completely blacked out the song. "Misao, your turn" she said sounding excited. "Oh goodie" Misao said skipping over to Kaoru.

Everyone chose their songs and sat by the stage.....Kenshin and Sanosuke wrung their hands nervously while the girl's head their head high and proud....... "I'm ready how about you" Misao chimed in. "We are" Kaoru and Megumi said in unison. "I'm not" Kenshin said his head bowed. Sanosuke said nothing. Tae walked back in and said that the Akabeko was full...... Kaoru looked out from the curtain and gasped at what she saw....she scanned the faces in the crowd then sat back down... "You'll never guess who's here" she sighed...... "I dunno, who?" Misao asked. "Well to start.......Dr.Gensai, Aoshi, The rest of the oniwaban group, and the most shocking of all we know........ Hiko"

Kenshin's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets "H...h...Hiko?" He stammered. Kaoru let out a sigh "Yes Hiko......your sensei Kenshin, he's here" Kenshin fell over....... "AOSHI-SAMA???!!!!!!!???? He's HERE?!?!?!" Misao let out a cry....... "Yes Misao he is" Misao fell over with Kenshin. "I can't let anyone see me sing!" Kaoru said aloud....... "I'm not singing and that's final" Kaoru crossed her arms over her chest "Yeah" everyone agreed with her.....Then Tae came in..... "You aren't really serious about leaving are you?" She said a desperate look on her face...... "I won't have anyone to sing if you do" she said looking as if on the verge of tears.

"Well I guess we could stay" Kaoru said sitting back down "Good" Tae said going back to her cheerful self "Misao you're on" she said shoving Misao onto the stage. "Bu....Bu....but....I...I'm....n...not...re..rea...ready..." Misao stuttered. She was forced out onto the stage in front of all those people.......She stood there nervously scanning the cround and found the people she most dreaded at the moment....the oniwaban group....but especially Aoshi......The music started and she seemed to cool down and went with the flow of the music......She sang......

"I wanted to be like you I wanted everything"

She nervously kept her eyes on Aoshi.

"So I tried to be like you And I got swept away"

His face or emotion didn't change at all .

"I didn't know that it was so cold And you needed someone to show you the way

So I took your hand and we figured out That when the tide comes I'd take you away"

The two girls in the oniwaban group stared at her eyes wide and mouths hanging open...they completely forgot about flirting with Hiko, which he thanked the heaves for.

"If you want to I can save you I can take you away from here So lonely inside So busy out there And all you wanted was somebody who cares"

Kaoru was behind stage sitting next to Kenshin......she was kind of snuggled into him but he didn't mind.

"I'm sinking slowly So hurry hold me Your hand is all I have to keep me hanging on"

Misao looked at her hands but then quickly glanced back at Aoshi who was looking at his own hands.

"Please can you tell me So I can finally see Where you go when you're gone"

She looked towards the door

"If you want to I can save you I can take you away from here So lonely inside So busy out there And all you wanted was somebody who cares All you wanted was somebody who cares If you need me you know I'll be there"

She looked at Aoshi determined

"Oh, yeah If you want to I can save you I can take you away from here So lonely inside So busy out there And all you wanted was somebody who cares Please can you tell me So I can finally see Where you go when you're gone"

When she finished, she bowed and the audience burst out in applause. Misao looked up and saw everyone standing, even Aoshi......and to her suprise, someone threw a rose at her, which she caught.....she suspected it to be Aoshi with his lightning fast ways......but he just looked at her and smiled.....he actually SMILED!! Misao went back stage to be greeted by a hug from Kaoru "You were great" Kaoru said to her....... "Thanks" Misao replied.... Kaoru pulled back to find tears in Misao's eyes....... Tae returned and announced that Kaoru was next and without Tae's help she went onto the stage to find that Kenshin had moved to a table right by the stage which made her blush......the music began......and she started to sing..........

"You'll rescue me right? in the exact same way they never did.. I'll be happy right? when your healing powers kick in"

She simply smiled while she sang and just kept looking at Kenshin......the two oniwaban girls were flirting with Hiko again.....She almost giggled.

"You'll complete me right? then my life can finally begin I'll be worthy right? only when you realize the gem I am?"

She looked out into the crowd, her eyes sparkled.

"But this won't work now the way it once did and I won't keep it up even though I would love to once I know who I'm not then I'll know who I am but I know I won't keep on playing the victim

these precious illusions in my head did not let me down when I was defenseless and parting with them is like parting with invisible best friends"

She looked at Dr.Gensai to see the proud look on his face which encouraged her more.

"This ring will me yet as will you knight in shining armor this pill will help me yet as will these boys gone through like water"

She looked at Kenshin again, Imagining him in armor.......

"But this won't work as well as the way it once did cuz I want to decide between survival and bliss and though I know who I'm not I still don't know who I am but I know I won't keep on playing the victim

these precious illusions in my head did not let me down when I was a kid and parting with them is like parting with a childhood best friend"

Seeing the look on Kenshin's face, her eyes started to gather tears of joy.

"I've spent so long firmly looking outside me I've spent so much time living in survival mode"

She ended sliding to the floor like all of her strength was drained out of her as the audience stood once more and applauded....... And as if magic, a bouquet of lilies appeared in her lap......she lifted her head to look at Kenshin but he was gone, instead she felt herself being swept up off of the floor....She looked up and saw Kenshin...... "Lovely performance" he whispered to her "Thank you" she said in reply........ He set her down next to Misao, and even before Tae came in he proceeded on stage... Misao looked at the bouquet of lilies in Kaoru's lap and stared at her "Himura-san really does love you doesn't he?" she questioned Kaoru "He must" Kaoru mumbled in reply as she smelled the lilies........Kenshin stood on stage, confidently, as the music began to play.........

"Never made it as a wise man I couldn't cut it as A poor man stealing Tired of living like a blind man I'm sick of sight without A sense of feeling And this is how you remind me This is how you remind me Of what I really am This is how you remind me Of what I really am"

He glanced at Hiko once and saw him getting glomped by the two oniwaban girls......he sighed in his mind and focused his eyes nowhere in particular....

"It's not like you to say sorry I was waiting on a different story This time I'm mistaken For handing you A heart worth breaking And I've been wrong I've been down Into the bottom of every bottle These five words in my head Scream Are we having fun yet? Yet, yet, yet, no no Yet, yet, yet, no no"

He wished Kaoru was in the audience, so he would have something to look at...

"It's not like you didn't know that I said I love you and I swear I still do And it must have been so bad 'Cos living with him must have Damn near killed you And this is how you remind me Of what I really am This is how you remind me Of what I really am"

Kenshin closed his eyes and imagined he was singing for Kaoru.

"It's not like you to say sorry I was waiting on a different story This time I'm mistaken For handing you A heart worth breaking And I've been wrong I've been down Into the bottom of every bottle These five words in my head Scream Are we having fun yet? Yet, yet, yet, no no Yet, yet, yet, no no Yet, yet, yet, no no Yet, yet, yet, no no"

In his mind, she sat, smiling at him.....

"Never made it as a wise man I couldn't cut it as A poor man stealing And this is how you remind me This is how you remind me This is how you remind me Of what I really am This is how you remind me Of what I really am It's not like you to say sorry I was waiting on a different story This time I'm mistaken For handing you A heart worth breaking And I've been wrong I've been down Into the bottom of every bottle These five words in my head Scream Are we having fun yet? Yet, yet Are we having fun yet? Yet, yet Are we having fun yet? Yet, yet Are we having fun yet? Yet, yet No, no, no"

He bowed his head as again everyone stood in applause and most of the girls screamed in excitement which made him turn crimson....but he cooled off his cheeks before he went back stage to meet a crying Kaoru........ "Oh Kenshin that was wonderful" she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him........ but then she backed up and looked sternly in his face "Baka" she scolded him "Oro?" he said confused... "You never said that you loved me" she sighed "Well........" he leaned close to her ear and whispered "I'm saying it now......... ashiteru Kaoru" at that moment she felt as if she could float.......he had declared his love for her AND said her name without the 'dono' added....... She buried her face in his shoulder..... "Oh Kenshin ashiteru, ashiteru, ashiteru......." She said hugging him with all of her might.... "Sorry to interrupt such a romantic moment......but Kaoru, Megumi, and Misao it's your turn" Tae said. Kaoru pulled back from Kenshin... "It's alright Tae......." She said walking towards the stage with Misao and Megumi...... They arrived out there to see Kenshin where he was before joined by Sanosuke.......The music began.........and they sang their hearts out...........

"Turn it inside out so I can see The part of you that's drifting over me And when I wake you're never there But when I sleep you're everywhere You're everywhere"

Kaoru stared at Kenshin who was staring back, Megumi every once in a while would fix her gaze onto Sanosuke, and Misao looked at Aoshi..

"Just tell me how I got this far Just tell me why you're here and who you are 'Cause every time I look You're never there And every time I sleep You're always there"

Megumi stops looking at Sanosuke and looks to the back of the room to cool down her burning red cheeks from when Sanosuke winked at her.....

"'Cause you're everywhere to me And when I close my eyes it's you I see You're everything I know That makes me believe I'm not alone I'm not alone"

Misao sees the two-oniwabanshuu men checking some girls out....... she controls her giggles

"I recognize the way you make me feel It's hard to think that You might not be real I sense it now, the water's getting deep I try to wash the pain away from me Away from me"

The three women look to their guys....... Misao to Aoshi, Megumi to Sanosuke, and Kaoru to Kenshin....

"'Cause you're everywhere to me And when I close my eyes it's you I see You're everything I know That makes me believe I'm not alone I'm not alone I am not alone Whoa, oh, oooh, oh"

They all close their eyes and clasp their hands to their chests.....

"And when I touch your hand It's then I understand The beauty that's within It's now that we begin You always light my way I hope there never comes a day No matter where I go I always feel you so 'Cause you're everywhere to me And when I close my eyes it's you I see You're everything I know That makes me believe I'm not alone"

They open their eyes again to look at Tae standing in the back........... She and Tsubame are holding dozens of food trays....

"'Cause you're everywhere to me And when I catch my breath It's you I breathe You're everything I know That makes me believe I'm not alone You're in everyone I see So tell me Do you see me?"

They finish holding hands and bowing together.......Another standing ovation........And all of the men in the audience throw a rose at the stage......even Hiko........some of the roses they catch........the others lay on the floor soon to be picked up...........Kaoru, Misao, and Megumi hurry back stage chatting with one another about how embarassing it was or how fun it was.......... Kenshin and Sanosuke came back stage and greeted the women........ Then Sanosuke went up on stage and Kenshin escorted Kaoru, Megumi, and Misao out to the front table and sat down...... Sano had his hands in his pockets and he was looking at the stage floor........The music began.........and Sanosuke lifted his head...........

"Everything's so blurry and everyone's so fake and everybody's empty and everything is so messed up pre-occupied without you I cannot live at all My whole world surrounds you I stumble then I crawl You could be my someone you could be my sea you know that I'll protect you from all of the obscene I wonder what you're doing imagine where you are there's oceans in between us but that's not very far"

Sanosuke looks Megumi's way....All of the girls in the audience are staring at him with puppy dog eyes....

"Can you take it all away can you take it all away well ya shoved it in my face this pain you gave to me Can you take it all away can you take it all away well ya shoved it my face"

His face looked a little hurt as Megumi looked away from him..

"Everyone is changing there's noone left that's real to make up your own ending and let me know just how you feel cause I am lost without you I cannot live at all my whole world surrounds you I stumble then I crawl You could be my someone you could be my sea you know that I will save you from all of the unclean I wonder what you're doing I wonder where you are There's oceans in between us but that's not very far"

She looked back at him and his face lit up...... he looked towards the back of the room.......

"Can you take it all away can you take it all away well ya shoved it in my face this pain you gave to me Can you take it all away can you take it all away well ya shoved it my face"

He looked back her way and saw her looking at Kenshin and Kaoru's intertwined fingers.....

"Nobody told me what you thought nobody told me what to say everyone showed you where to turn told you when to runaway nobody told you where to hide nobody told you what to say everyone showed you where to turn showed you when to runaway"

Her eyes found there way back to his.....and her cheeks turned red

"Can you take it all away can you take it all away well ya shoved it in my face this pain you gave to me Can you take it all away can you take it all away well ya shoved it my face This pain you gave to me You take it all You take it all away... This pain you gave to me you take it all away this pain you gave to me Take it all away this pain you gave to me"

He finished bowing......he looked up and saw everyone standing but it seemed all of the girls were on their tip-toes because they seemed taller than the men......... all of the women were screaming and cheering at him...... He smirked then made his way back stage to be greeted by Megumi.... "Nice job Rooster-head" she said smiling at him "Thanks fox......" he replied smiling back at her.......... She passed him and went onto the stage...... He went out and joined the table where Misao, Kenshin, and Kaoru sat........The music began.....and Megumi started singing..........

"Uh huh, life's like this Uh huh, uh huh, that's the way it is Cause life's like this Uh huh, uh huh that's the way it is Chill out Whittier yelling' for? Lay back it's all been done before And if you could only let it be you will see I like you the way you are When we're driven' in your car and you're talking to me one on one but you've become Somebody else round everyone else You're watching your back like you can't relax You're trying' to be cool you look like a fool to me Tell me"

She looked sternly at Sanosuke....

"Why you have to go and make things so complicated? I see the way you're acting like you're somebody else gets me frustrated Life's like this you And you fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty and promise me I'm never gonna find you fake it no no"

She shook her head on the 'no no no'

"You come over unannounced dressed up like you're somethin' else where you are and where it's at you see you're making me laugh out when you strike your pose take off all your preppy clothes you know you're not fooling anyone when you've become Somebody else round everyone else Watching your back, like you can't relax Trying to be cool you look like a fool to me Tell me Why you have to go and make things so complicated? I see the way you're acting like you're somebody else gets me frustrated Life's like this you and You fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty promise me I'm never gonna find you fake it no no no"

She looked at Sanosuke again to find a smirk on his face...... with that she smirked while singing........

"Chill out whatcha yelling for? Lay back, it's all been done before And if you could only let it be You will see Somebody else round everyone else You're watching your back, like you can't relax You're trying to be cool, you look like a fool to me Tell me Why you have to go and make things so complicated? I see the way you're acting like you're somebody else gets me frustrated Life's like this you and You fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty promise me I'm never gonna find you fake it no no

She sang her heart out........

"Why you have to go and make things so complicated? I see the way you're acting like your somebody else gets me frustrated Life's like this you You fall and you crawl and you break and you take what you get and you turn it into honesty promise me I'm never gonna find you fake it no no no"

She finished bowing almost to the floor..... everyone stood, applauded, and cheered....... She looked up when the cheering got louder to find Sanosuke with a bouquet of white Roses in front of her.... when she rose he handed her the roses and she threw her arms around him........ Like the gentleman he was at the moment, he lifted her off the ground, and carried her off stage........ He set her down and looked at her to find that she was crying "Oi, fox what's..........." he was cut off when Megumi landed a kiss on his lips.......... She backed away and looked at him "Thank you sooooo much Sano" She said smelling the roses......... "No problem Megumi" he replied..... Kenshin came back stage and proceeded to go on stage "Cmon Sano...... we're the last act" he said disappearing onto the stage....... Sanosuke followed and all of the women cheered when they stood on stage.........The music began, and both men focused all of their attention on their new loves............They sang..........

"Desperate for changing Starving for truth Closer to where I started chasing after you I'm falling even more in love with you letting go of all I've held onto I'm standing here until you make me move I'm hanging by a moment here with you Forgetting all I'm lacking Completely Incomplete I'll take your invitation you take all of me"

Kenshin closed his eyes as the scent of Jasmine engulfed him........

"now I'm falling even more in love with you letting go of all I've held on to I'm standing here until you make me move I'm hanging by a moment here with you I'm living for the only thing I know I'm running and I'm not quite sure where to go and I don't know what I'm diving into just hanging by a moment here with you"

To both of their suprise, Aoshi joined them on stage........Misao was the most shocked looking at him with wide eyes.....

"There is nothing else to lose There is nothing else to find There is nothing in the world that could change my mind There is nothing else... desperate for changing starving for truth I'm closer to where I started I'm chasing after you I'm falling even more in love with you letting go of all I've held onto I'm standing here until you make me move I'm hanging by a moment here with you I'm living for the only thing I know I'm running and not quite sure where to go and I don't know what I'm diving into just hanging by a moment here with you..."

Misao, Megumi, and Kaoru all ran onto stage and hugged their men........ Misao was sobbing into Aoshi's shirt, Kaoru was kissing Kenshin and Megumi was hugging the life out of Sanosuke....... Roses showered the stage.... The two-oniwaban girls were latched onto Hiko and crying proudly because of Misao.......... Hiko was trying to get away but the girls had a firm hold on him.......And he almost fell over when each of them landed a kiss on his cheeks.......... The two-oniwabanshu men were with two girls........... Dr. Gensai was looking at everyone proudly on stage......... And Tae closed the curtain to the stage...............The End

(I know it is kinda impossible to see the Kenshin group singing, especially Aoshi...... but hey, it could happen)

Tell me what ya think.....should I have a sequel??