Skin Deep

A/N: Yes! The reviews are still coming! I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed, especially those who gave detailed reviews or ones that stated what was good about it! No I'm not vain, I just like to know what I'm doing right... well maybe I'm just a little vain... But I honestly do appreciate all the reviews given. Even if it's a small review, let me know you're interested in this fic and that I haven't lost my Chapter 1 people... By the way, real sorry for the wait!

Inside a classroom, people were all chattering away at nothing in particular. Some girls were gossiping and some boys were talking about sports for school. All of the noise died down though, as the door flung open revealing a slightly flustered Misao. Behind her was Soujiro with a smile on his face. The silence was replaced by a few whispers of the two, while others continued on with talking.

"Yes! I made it before the bell rang!" Misao smiled triumphantly as she strode into the classroom.

"Hai, you did Makimachi-san." Soujiro followed behind her as she went to the seats.

She stopped in front a tall female with long silky hair. "Hey Megumi! How was summer break?"

The lady looked up. "Oh, hey Misao. I spent most of it working in my father's hospital. But I learned a lot more about medicine, so it was worth it. How about you?"

Misao plopped down in an empty seat next to her. "Long and tiring..." She rested her head on the desk.

She shook her head. "So Jiya worked you hard this year too?"

Misao looked up and nodded. "Every year he does this. I finally get out of school and then I spend the summer training by doing katas, sparring, and exercises! There should be a law against that kind of stuff! I mean, what kind of person gets up at six in the morning to train!?" She sighed and rested her head yet again.

Soujiro, who was silently standing there up till now, gave a small chuckle.

The lady sitting next to Misao took notice of Soujiro for the first time. "Hm? Aren't you that cute boy that walked in with Misao?"

Soujiro looked at her smiling, while slightly puzzled. 'Cute boy? I guess she means me, since I was the only one who came with Misao. How strange for her to think that...' "Hai. Desu ka Seta Soujiro. Gomen for not introducing myself earlier."

She looked at him with a slight smirk on her face. "Well now, you're cute and polite. My name is Megumi Takani."

Soujiro smiled at her. "Nice to meet you, Takani-san."

Megumi smiled back. "So tell me Soujiro, what's your relationship with Misao?"

He blinked after hearing the question. "Nani? Relationship?"

Misao heard this and snapped her head back up. "What!? There is no relationship!" She glared at Megumi. "I hardly know the guy! How could you say such a thing!?"

Megumi grinned wryly. "So I guess you won't mind if I take him for myself then..."

Misao eyes widened. "What? I can't believe it! I swear! You do the same thing every time! First, you decide to show him around, get buddy-buddy with him, and then POW! Before he knows it, you got him on another one of your leashes!"

The doctor in training merely shrugged. "That happened only once. I still don't know how Sir Ken managed to escape..."

Misao pointed her finger at Megumi. "That's not the point! Soujiro's not that kinda guy!"

Megumi raised her eyebrow. "Oh, and would you know what kinda guy he is, hm?"

Misao paused for a moment before getting what Megumi was hinting at. That caused her to get very pissed, which started an argument between the two.

Soujiro seriously didn't know what to say. Of all things in high school, he most certainly did not expect two girls to be fighting about him. All of the class started to draw their attention on the two bickering women in the front. He noticed this and felt rather uncomfortable. 'Is this the embarrassment Yumi talks about when she has to put up with Chou and Kamatari in public?' Before he could say anything though, the bell finally rang snapping the two out of their argument.

An old man sitting behind a desk in front of the class stood up. "Well, well class it's good to see all of you."

The class, including the now calmed Misao, stood up and bowed to the old man. "Ohayoo gozaimasu, Professor Genzai." They then sat back down, all except Soujiro who was still without a seat.

Genzai noticed Soujiro and walked up to him. "And who might you be? Are you the new student I've heard was transferring to this school district?"

Soujiro nodded and bowed. "Hai, Genzai-sensei. Watashi no namae wa Seta Soujrio desu."

Genzai chuckled. "No need for such formalities my boy. We have the students here bow to make sure manners are a part of their daily life, but it seems it comes naturally to you."

The Tenken nodded. "Domo arigato gozaimasu." His smile got a little wider. 'When you're raised by people like Yumi, it's hard not to be polite.'

Genzai decided that it would be best to continue on with class. "Ok Soujiro, why don't you take the empty seat behind Misao?" He faced the direction of the seats. "Misao please raise your hand so that Soujiro can see who you are."

Misao dutifully raised her hand even though Soujiro already knew who she was.

He walked up to where Misao was pausing to give her smile. "Arigato for everything, Makimachi-san." He then walked past her and placed his backpack on top of his desk.

Genzai smiled at the class. "Now that that's taken care of, please open your books to page 12."

All of the class opened their books to the page. All expect Misao that is. "Nani!? I didn't bring it!?" She looked in, on, and around her backpack, but couldn't find her book.

Genzai looked to Misao. "Is there something wrong, Misao?"

She looked up nervously. "Iie... it's that I..."

Soujiro saw her predicament and decided to help her out. 'Shishio-sama always did say make sure to pay your dues to people. Although I'm sure this would not be a situation he had in mind when saying that.' He stood up. "Iie, Genzai-sensei. I was just borrowing Makimachi-san's book, since I was new and forgot my own." He walked over to a confused Misao and stopped in front of her desk. "Arigato for lending your book, Makimachi-san. Demo... it would appear that you need it more than me." With that he placed his own Health book on her desk and returned to his seat.

Genzai appeared to buy the story. "Well in that case, thank you Misao for letting Soujiro borrow your book. That's the kind of attitude I'd like the rest of you to follow. Soujiro, please remember to bring your book next time. I know you're new but we still need you to follow along with the rest of the class."

Soujiro smiled. "Hai, Genzai-sensei."

Genzai looked over the rest of the class. "I hope that all of you will follow Misao's example here. Good manners and politeness will get you far in the world."

Misao started blushing at the attention she was receiving. It would make Soujiro look bad if she denied that she leant him her book, so she put on small smile for the teacher. "A-arigato... Genzai-sensei..." It felt good that someone she hardly knew would help her out like that, but it didn't stop her from being nervous under the gaze of all her classmates. 'I don't get it. Why would he help me out like that?' She racked her brain for answers but could come up with anything. The fact that she couldn't find an answer made her want one more. Finally she came upon a solution to her problem. 'I know! I'll ask him after class!' With that thought, her smile became a mischievous one.

The rest of the class passed by as a blur for Misao, whose head was filled with was of confronting Soujiro. Finally the bell rang, signaling students that they were free to go. Megumi left along with the other students, but not before giving Soujiro a flirtatious wink, which the Tenken did not dwell on. Misao got up and turned around to spy Soujiro packing up his things. She waited until Genzai went by the door to greet the new students that came in then she went over to Soujiro's desk and waited in front of it.

Soujiro looked up when he noticed a shadow over his backpack. He saw a grinning Misao standing over him. 'I wonder what she's up to...' He smiled as he greeted her. "Ohayoo Makimachi-san. Is there something I can help you with?"

She crouched down so that she was face to face with him. "Yeah I do! I wanna know why you helped me out today." She pulled out his Health book and waved it about to show what she was talking about.

He looked at the book and his smile got wider. "Would have preferred if I didn't help then?" He gently took the book from her hands and stuffed it into his backpack.

Misao got slightly angry. "I didn't say that!" She then calmed herself and spoke in a solemn tone. "I'm really thankful. No one's ever gone out of their way to help me like that before. But I want to know why you did it..."

He continued smiling. "It was no big deal, Makimachi-san." He moved closer to her face. "I was repaying my debt to you." His eyes got softer and stared into hers. "After all, you were the one who first helped me." He then gave a small sincere smile.

Misao was frozen in her spot. She couldn't process any thoughts at all. All she could do was wait and see what he would do.

Soujiro continued on. "So you see, I'm the one who should be thankful to you." He inched closer till their noses where just touching each other. Right before he could do anything though he snapped out of it thanks to the sound of footsteps. He turned to see Genzai walking back in, unaware of their presence. Soujiro blinked and pulled himself up. "Well arigato, Makimachi-san! Ja ne!" With that he walked away leaving a very dazed and confused Misao.

Misao eventually snapped out of her trance as well. "What... was that...?" She looked around to realize she was still in her first period class. "Kuso! I'm going to be late!" She picked herself up and started a sprint for the door. Before she got there though, she gave one last look to that spot they were at and continued running.

Soujiro though was walking through the halls thinking of what he did. 'What was that just then? Why did I do that? What was I about to do?' He shook his head, smiling mask now properly in place. 'I felt a little warm but on the inside. It was strange, but it felt... good as well.' He sighed. 'This is just too confusing. I guess I'll ask Yumi-san about it.' He was so busy thinking that he didn't notice bumping into someone else around his height. He looked at the fallen figure on the floor and helped him up. "Gomen nasai. Desu ka Seta Soujiro."

The boy smiled back at him with a smile similar to Soujiro's. "Desu ka Okita Souji. Don't worry about it. It was my fault for not paying attention."

Soujiro smiled back a little wider than Okita's. "Iie, I wasn't paying attention either."

Okita smiled a little wider as well, taking it as a challenge. "Then I guess it's both our fault, ne?

Soujiro increased his smile too. "Hai. I guess it is."

The two just stood there in the hallway having a smiling contest at each other. People who passed by made comments on how weird it was or wondered if they might be insane.

The contest was ended though when Okita realized that they'd been there for a couple of minutes. "If this keeps up then both of us will be late to class."

Soujiro realized that as well and agreed. "It looks like we were both caught up in smiling that we forgot about time."

Okita gave a small chuckle. "That was kinda silly, ne?"

Soujiro scratched the back of his head. "Hai. Good thing you stopped us or I might've been late to class. I still need time to figure out where my next class is."

Okita looked at him slightly confused. "You mean you don't know where your classes are?"

Soujiro smiled sheepishly. "Iie. I'm new here and am just getting used to this school." He looked around the hallway realizing that more people where disappearing into their classes.

"Oh, I guess that would explain it then. What's your next class?"

The Tenken reached into his backpack and pulled out his schedule. "My next class is history with Professor Saito."

Okita smiled. "I know where he is. I used to have his class last year. He's been called cruel and cold, but he's not as bad as he seems." He started walking down the hall. "I'll show you where he is."

Soujiro followed silently with a smile on his face.

They kept walking till they reached a room near the end of the building. Okita turned around and smiled at Soujiro. "This is the place." With that he opened the door to reveal a deadly silent classroom. He walked in followed by Soujiro. He turned his attention to a man with narrow eyes leaning against the blackboard. "Ohayoo, Saito-san!"

The man looked back at Okita. "Hn. What are you doing here? I thought I got rid of you last year." Even if Saito didn't look it, he was glad that Okita came by. He was Saito's best student in last year's class.

Okita continued smiling, ignoring the cold attitude. "I'm just showing a new student around." He gestured to Soujiro who was waiting politely with a smile on his face as well.

The tall man looked at Soujiro with a piercing gaze. "What's your name?"

"Watashi no namae wa Seta Soujrio desu."

"I'll be your teacher. You will address me as Saito-sensei and will not speak unless spoken to or given permission." Saito narrowed his eyes. "Understood?"

Soujiro smiled. "Hai. I understand perfectly, Saito-sensei."

"Good. Now take your seat next to-" Saito didn't get to finish his sentence as the door sung open revealing a tall man with a red bandana around his head.

The man grinned and raised his fist in the air. "Yes! Sanosuke Sagara makes his entrance!"

Saito groaned. "Not you again. I don't need the same baka in my class twice in a row."

Sanosuke glared at Saito. "What did call me!?"

"Hn. I called you a baka."

Sanosuke clenched his fist. "Why you-"

Saito didn't even let Sanosuke finish his sentence. "Why are you here anyway?"

The ex-thug glared, getting more pissed of at the second. "Why!? I'll tell you why! Because you decided to fail me that's why! So I'm retaking your class again thanks to you!"

Saito smirked. "It's not my fault you can't get your facts about history straight."

Just before Sanosuke was about to try out his Futae No Kiwami on Saito, he was interrupted by Soujiro's voice. "Gomen nasai, but may I have my seat now?"

Saito drew his attention to Soujiro. "Right. Like I was saying before this moron interrupted me, you can take a seat next to Karou Kamiya." He turned at looked at a young girl sitting near the back. "Raise your hand for Soujiro to find you."

The girl raised her hand and Soujiro gave a small bow to Okita for helping him.

Saito looked at Sanosuke who was still yelling about how boring history was and how it wasn't his fault for failing. Saito put a hand to his head and groaned. "It's going to be a long year..."

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Translations

Katas: A form of exercise involving repeating fighting movements slow and steadily.

Watashi no namae wa ___ desu: Another way to introduce yourself. It means 'My name is ___'.

Nani: Used when confused or asking a question. It means 'what'.

Sensei: This suffix is used as a title. Just add the word 'teacher' in front of the name.

Domo arigato gozaimasu: A more polite way of saying 'thank you'.

Iie: Used for denying or disagreeing. So what it really means is 'no'.

Kuso: A curse word. It means 'damn' but it can mean more heavy things.

Gomen nasai: A more formal way of apologizing.

Ne: It's used to confirm something. It's like saying 'right' and can be used as a question or statement.

Baka: Used for insulting people. It means 'idiot' or 'moron'.

Futae No Kiwami: A move originally mastered by Anji. Sanosuke learns it from him later on in the series. It's a double blow that's first landed by a fist's joint above the knuckles then in that same second gives a second blow from the knuckles. It's very powerful and can pulverize rocks and walls.

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A/N: I finally made the third chapter! Gomen for the long wait, but it wasn't my fault! I blame it on temporary writer's block and schoolwork! Yes... blame it on them... But on the plus side, I'm learning new Japanese words and in turn letting you guys learn some new words as well. I think I'm going to be modifying the previous chapters to make them better for now, but don't worry. I already have Chapter 4 in my head, so it won't take long. In the next chapter, I'll finish off introducing the rest of the Kenshin-gumi. Once again, gomen for making you wait. Ja ne!