Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. I'm just a fan and I'm only using the characters for fun so no suing. ^_^

AN: Thanks to all those who reviewed this fiction especially to bluepoet and lara even though you're anonymous, to Kaoru Himura for giving me the advice to use the different tenses hehehehe, and last but not the least to ii sakura x drops ii () for liking it immensely.

"…" words that were spoken

'...' thoughts that were used

Stares

            'How can I concentrate if we're inches apart' Kaoru shouted mentally. She looked at him from the corner of her eyes and blushed. 'Gods is this punishment or reward to have you're crush seat next to you' she thought 'but if this is a punishment I love you, and if this is a reward I love you more', she bent her head to hide her smile. She kept her smile intact and unwavering while she goes down to business. She bent down at her right side to her bag and took out her notebook for that subject; she straightened out with her notebook in her both hands and placed it on her desk. She flipped the cover to open her notebook and started to write down those important words. Odd, but she feels safe when she's next to him.

            'God's is this punishment or rewards to have you're crush seat next to you' Kenshin thought while writing down what is written on the board. 'But if this is a punishment I love you, and if this is a reward I love you more'. He looked at her through side way glance. 'She's writing her notes and she has a wonderful handwriting.' He thought happily. 'And oh god, she smells like jasmine'

            They stayed silent, not knowing how to start a conversation. They sometimes caught themselves staring at each other then turn away immediately while blushing profusely.

            The bell has rung indicating that the class is finish. Students stood up and went to their friends to go to the canteen; Kaoru arranged her bag and gave Kenshin last look before going outside. She started to move towards her locker when she was blocked by Sano.

            "Hey jou-chan, can I borrow your notes this afternoon?" Sano asked softly

            Kaoru stopped and looked at him. "Sure, why not you could borrow anything." Kaoru replied

            "Okay see you in our next class, Ja ne" Sano turned and waved hi hands and started to approach Kenshin, who was leaning on the door outside the classroom.

            "Okay" Kaoru waved her hands also and went to the other side of the hallway.

*******

            "Sano, Kenshin over here" Souijuro waved his hands for the two to see their new table. The two went towards their friends and started to seat down.

            "Where's Aioshi?" Sano asked standing up to buy foods.

            "He's with his new girlfriend" Shishio answered, his voice both arrogant and gentle. He took hold of his girlfriend's left hand and massages it

            "Aren't you going to eat Kenshin?" Souijuro asked

            "Yes of course." Kenshin replied smoothly

            Sano and Kenshin went to the counter to buy foods.

            "You know Kenshin I like Kaoru, She's like a sister I never had" Sano whispered

            Kenshin got mad at Sano when he heard the word "I LIKE KAORU" but then it subsided when Sano continued to say "SHE"S LIKE A SISTER…." He let out a heavy sigh. 'Why does she have to have this effect in me?' Kenshin contemplate. Sano knew that something's amiss with Kenshin but he didn't voice out his opinion. They both give their payments silently at the cashier but the cashier has no change for their money. The girl looked at him intently, but Kenshin frown intensify from the look she's giving him "Keep the change" Kenshin said without second thought and proceed to their table. Sano shrugged and followed Kenshin not bothering to argue about it.

***********

            "Hey guy's I want you to meet my boyfriend Aoishi" Misao made a dramatic hug to her boyfriend who in return arc his arms around her waist.

            Tae and Megumi smiled over their fanciful friend and to her boyfriend.Misao noticed that her best friend is not yet there. "Have you seen Kaoru?" Misao asked worriedly.

            "Nope, we haven't seen her" Tae replied, tilted her head from right to left looking for any sign of Kaoru

            "Maybe she's in the ladies room" Megumi replied without bothering to look anywhere.

            "You're right maybe she's in the ladies room" Misao agreed

            Kaoru came running towards her friends. She snatched Misao from Aoishi and drags her to a corner. Misao gave a shriek when someone snatched her and felt herself being dragged to a corner, she stop shrieking when she realize it is only Kaoru, who could do such a thing to her.

            "Hey slow down, we're not being chased by horses, are we?" Misao, panting for breath, bent down and put her hands on her knees. She flattens herself on the wall and looked at her bestfriend. "So what's all this commotion" Misao asked

            "Misao you won't believe this!" Kaoru exclaimed so-matter-of-factly.

            "Then pray tell what is it that I won't believe?" Misao remarked

            "I think for the very first time I'm in love"

            "So what's wrong about that? I should be thankful because my bestfriend has fallen in love for the very first time"

            "No, you don't get it I think I'm in love at first sight"

            "You what???" Misao bellowed, appalled by her friend's remark

            "Misao sheath your claws and lower you're voice, you're making us in trouble."

            "I cannot believe you! You told me that love at first sight is just for fools and I'm not stupid enough to say you're a fool." Misao shook her head

            "I know but how can I stop that? He's my seatmate and my partner for the upcoming nuclear project?" Kaoru asked

            "If that is so then Kaoru is also a fool"

            "Misao, would you please stop teasing me!"

            "Oh, I'm not teasing you I'm just only joking"

            "It's the same"

            "I know. By the way I haven't introduce to you my boyfriend"

            Misao took hold of Kaoru's hand and dragged her back to their table. Upon arriving, Misao let go of Kaoru's and grabs Aoishi's hands and introduce him to Kaoru. Kaoru bowed to him offering an apology for the scene she made earlier and for politeness. Aoishi also bowed to say it was forgiven and of course as a sign of respect. Kaoru extends her right hand towards Aoishi and introduce herself. Aioshi did the same.

            The bell rang. Students went to their respective classrooms. Fortunately Misao and Kaoru have the same kendo class, so they both went there. They changed their clothes to gi and hakama. They both entered the gym and smiled, no one is there yet so they could use some exercise in their upcoming sparing.

Kenshin and Sano have just finished changing their uniform to sparing attire, they went directly towards the gym and were amazed by the two opponents sparing as if their life depends on it. They stood there watching the fighter's every move.

            "Slick moves" Sano commented at the girl with long hair arranged in a high ponytail.

            "Graceful" Kenshin remark

            "Poised" Sano referred at the same girl

            "Energetic" Kenshin remark at the other girl with braided hair

            Kenshin realize that there is something familiar about the girl with ponytail. They way she move and smell. Kenshin smell a scent of perfume it is……jasmine. He smiled inwardly. He would surprise her.

            The teacher entered the gym and made the student form a wide circle. He instructed that the first thing that they would do is practice. The teacher gave the students 30 minutes practice afterwards the real game begins.

            Kaoru and Misao started to practice when they were dismissed; they went to a corner where they could move freely. They bowed to each other as if they're mortal enemies and prepared their stance for an attack. After a second or two they charge at each other, raising their shinai above their heads and trying with all their might to hit one another at the head. Kenshin and Sano just watch the two from the bench.

            Misao tried to use her ninja skills. She jumped high towards Kaoru, the shinai is positioned infront of her right breast with both hands gripping the handle tightly, and then shoving the shinai forward aiming at Kaoru's stomach. Kaoru jumped 2 steps backward just before it hit her and dash towards Misao; Kaoru then swung her shinai in order to hit her opponent's neck. But Misao dodge the attack and lowered herself in a crouching position. She hastily stood up and moved away from Kaoru then she tried to walk at the wall to assault Kaoru from behind but Kaoru knew that move so she turned her body in Misao's direction and blocked it easily using her shinai. Kaoru rolled towards Misao while Misao jumped forward.

They looked at each other and prepared their stance again. Misao, holding her shinai above her head, was the first one who attacked and Kaoru held her ground. Kaoru calculated Misao's moves and she made use of that advantage; then, as Misao rapidly approach her and her shinai is ready to slash her, she back dive and caught Misao's Shinai with her feet then hurl it at the other side of the room. She also used her feet to trip Misao but Misao jumped up before she was hit my Kaoru's leg. When Misao landed she did not expect Kaoru's move then she felt a tap in her head and the teacher signaled their end of practice.

*******

            Kenshin and Sano were watching their every move. Then as Misao charged Kaoru at her stomach, Kenshin quickly stood up but he could not move from his spot. When Kaoru darted the attack by jumping 2 steps backward, he hadn't realized that he'd been holding his breath then he let out a sigh of relief. He fall back on the chair and tried to calm his heart beat.

            "Whew" Sano whispered. Kenshin knew from that reaction that he was also affected by that move. Kenshin could see every curves of her body and the skills she posses, her chi increase with every energy she gives. He likes that very much, and he like her very very much

*********

             The teacher whistled signifying of the real game. Kaoru and Misao went to their position. "Who are those two, are they students here? Kaoru asked Natsumi, who is seating next to her.

"They are the best in kendo class. Whenever someone wins in our upcoming game they would spar with those two but they never reveal themselves unless that person is a worthy adversary. And everybody in this school calls him Battousai. You're just a new comer here so you don't know much about him but I advice you now, beware of him and his friends" Natsumi replied while nodding vigorously

 "Oh" Kaoru uttered softly

The first pair the teacher announced was Kaoru and Yukito. They both stood up and faced each other in the middle of their sparing place. They bowed to each other and readied their stance. Within minutes Kaoru won the battle without giving all her energy. Kaoru sat in her place and was rewarded by praises from her classmates. Then next pair was Misao and Sakura.

Misao formally bowed to her opponent and started to attack the opponent. She used her ninja skills like what she did with Kaoru and won the game easily. She was rewarded with praises also.

After 4 wins of Kaoru the teacher decided that her next opponent would be the so called "Battousai".

"The last battle would be Battousai and Kamiya" he said

Kenshin stood up and started walking towards his new opponent. He smiled, "At last I can see how good you are my dear" Kenshin mumbled to himself. He arrived at the center and bowed slowly at her, who in return bowed also.

As usual they prepared their stance. Kenshin just bent his body slightly, feet moved away from each other and his right hand is infront of the handle of the shinai while his left hand is holding it. He jumped when Kaoru swung her shinai towards his neck and he landed swiftly and gracefully on the floor. He used his god-speed to move behind Kaoru.

'Where did he go?' Kaoru mentally asked when she whips her shinai at the air. She felt someone from behind and used it to her advantage. She crouches down then turns around using her feet to support her weight. Kenshin anticipated that move so he jump and somersaulted above the head of Kaoru. 'Is he playing with me?' Kaoru thought 'He didn't even attack me'. She stood up and turned to look at him. 'He's smiling?' Kaoru became more confused.

'Battousai, not yet' Kenshin is battling with himself also because battousai wants to be unleashed. But at this instance, battousai is more capable than the rurouni; he emerged and replaced the natural self of Kenshin. The darker side of Kenshin is bolder and adventurous than the other one.

            Kaoru got angry when Kenshin smirked at her. She tried to hit him and hit him and hit him but he always block her every move. He then shifted from front to her back with his god-speed then took hold of his helmet and turned it upward then he gave a kiss on the left cheek. Kaoru stilled a moment not knowing what has happened and how to respond from that. It was her first kiss even though that it is on the cheeks. Then she felt a tap on her shoulder. The teacher whistled and the game has finished. Kenshin took off his helmet not leaving Kaoru's back. The teacher praised him again but he ignores it, he step forward more closer to Kaoru and whispered to her ear. 'Nice game, Kaoru' His breath sent shivers down her spine and she don't know how to stop that reaction.

            When the teacher's said the word "Kenshin Humira" it registered quickly in Kaoru's battered mind. She turned around to look at him and saw a glint of amber in his purple eyes. His amber-purple eyes are more seductive than her bare purple eyes. She swallowed hard "Ke…Kenshin" the only word Kaoru could utter and she could only stare at him.

            Upon hearing his name escape her lips, his eyes turned from somewhat purple to amber eyes.  And his smile widen.

****************

AN: that's all folks for now. Thanks for giving this fiction your time and reviews ( I hope) well see you next time ^_^!