Stronger than Friction
By Vitreux
Standard Disclaimers Apply. Author's notes at the end.
Chapter Two
Warming Up
"Kenshin NO!" Kaoru jolted up from her futon as beads of sweat formed on her forehead, with the blood drummed in her ears greatly she felt as if her heart was going to explode. The only sounds in the room were her uneven panting from the dream she had woken up from. She touched her flushed cheek and tried to calm down.
It was only a dream. She told herself and glanced over to the window. Morning came. She ignored the horrible feelings that still lingered and went to the place where her kimonos were.
After she checked that everything was in place, Kaoru left out a sigh. Kenshin only left yesterday and already she was having unrealistic dreams about losing him.
Pull yourselves together, Kamiya! He will come back. Her inner-self reassured. With a satisfied nod, she slid the paper door open and walked to the porch.
"Yahiko, where's Aoshi?" she asked when she saw him practicing kendo.
"I don't know. Probably in his room or something." He swung his bokken.
"Has he eaten breakfast yet?"
"I think so."
"All right. Have you?"
"Since you wake up so late in the morning, yes, I had the first meal of the day already. Or else I would probably be dead because of hunger for all these years." He stopped joking when a slipper went flying his direction.
"That'll teach you how to shut up." Kaoru slapped her hands in return. She went back to the kitchen and prepared a meal for herself.
An hour later, Kaoru found herself in the dojo swinging her bokken. Practicing kendo was always a good way to let the frustrations free, or she could just tire herself out so she wouldn't think of the dream again.
SWING!
Her thoughts drifted to Aoshi. The quiet, calm, silent ninja. There was this sort of mystery around him; she couldn't find the words to describe it. She remembered when Aoshi first made an appearance in her crowded mind. Under the moonlight, against a tree with folded arms. It was the first time she had looked so clearly upon him. And his eyes… it felt like they could see through anything, cut through anything.
SWING!
That night his shadows kept reflecting over her conscious, and the impression of him was no longer just a haze, but rather a deep figure that surfaced every once in a while.
SWING!
Of course, she had heard her friend- Misao's blabbering about how precious he was, how gorgeous in every way possible. She thought it was ridiculous at first, depending on how he always seemed so distant. Not only from Misao or the Aoiya, but also from everyone. It was like he never shared his thoughts with another soul.
SWING!
Or was it she that didn't understand him enough?
SWING!
Why would she want to, anyway? He was after all, only a visitor here at the dojo. She was very thankful for the helps he had for Kenshin in the past, so she wanted to help him back. That was reasonable, wasn't it?
SWING!
But somehow she got this deep feeling at the bottom of her stomach, and it told her that she wanted to know more about him. Much more.
SWING!
"Your swings are beginning to drop."
A gasp. Kaoru turned around to meet a figure leaning against the gate of the dojo.
"Aoshi?"
"Like I said, your swings are beginning to drop, and your face looked like you're concentrating on other things." Aoshi stepped in and their eyes locked.
"You scared me."
"I didn't intend to. Am I interrupting your practice?"
"Not really, I was just… thinking. That's all."
"About what?" he questioned.
"About… how I could improve better on my skills." She lied. Smooth Kaoru, very smooth.
His eyes glided to the bokken she held, then back on her again. Once more, Kaoru's head drew in a blank about what he was thinking. She couldn't read him.
"Do you have another bokken?"
"Eh? I'm sorry, I mean what?"
"Lend me one of your bokken."
She stared at him strangely; completely unaware of what he was going to do. "Alright." She fetched one and tossed it to him.
Aoshi lifted his right hand and caught the piece of weapon in reflect. Holding it down with both of his hands, he said in an emotionless tone.
"Attack me."
Kaoru stood there. "What?"
"Stop wasting time. You said you want to improve, didn't you? Now attack me."
She held her own bokken in a tight grip, her eyes piercing into his empty ones. A corner of her lip curved upwards, her face suddenly serious. "This isn't the best method, you know. I'm quite strong."
He studied her for some time, and slowly, he smirked back too.
"Show me, to prove your point."
Without another word Kaoru raised her bokken and charged at him. The flat base of the long instrument came down quickly toward Aoshi's head but he blocked it naturally. Supporting her weight on both of the bokken, she jumped over him and landed behind, sweeping his legs with it as she stooped down. But he had seen it by grabbing her arm and moving his whole body out of the way.
Kaoru gritted her teeth, and attempted another blow. She aimed the bokken to his midsection but he too, had blocked it. Her eyes furrowed when his leg twisted hers and brought her down to the floor. Her hands on instinct grabbed his collar to prevent from falling, as she whirled into another proper position and panted.
"You're stronger than I thought." She commented heavily.
"Persistent, are you?" his jade eyes bore into hers.
"Trust me, it's necessary."
And before she knew it, Kaoru was sprawled flat on her back. He had found his way on top of her in a lightening speed, somehow. She didn't even notice it until her back made contact with the hard surface. Pinning her wrists above her head, he brought down his face to meet her eyes.
Growling in anger and refusal of defeat, Kaoru's body thrashed under his, lacking the space to move. One of his knees had separated her thighs and his other leg was entangled tightly to one of hers; Aoshi's muscled weight was another problem that rooted her to the wooden floor.
"It's not necessary now." He whispered softly.
His eyes alleviated as he looked into hers. And for the first time he noticed how beautiful and understandable her eyes were, especially when they were brilliant with determination. What was more alarming to Aoshi's senses was Kaoru's struggling, which created a slow, almost aching, grinding movement against his own hips.
"I underestimated you." She retorted. "I shouldn't have gone unprepared."
He was so much stronger than she thought, almost as strong as Kenshin. Kaoru hadn't realized how close he actually was until the little weight of his chest brushed against her breasts. His body was warm, just as hot as his breaths.
Then suddenly all contact was gone. Aoshi had removed himself atop of her; the cool air brushed her skin once more as she sat up, baffled by her messed up mind.
"You're not that bad, either." With his last words, he left the dojo.
Things were complicated, she thought quietly.
"Hey busu."
Kaoru turned to Yahiko. "Nani?"
"I saw the match between you and Aoshi… when I was cleaning." Her heart skipped a beat as the boy went on. "You lost to him."
She coughed. "Well that only happens once. Were you peeking?" she raised her eyebrow.
"No! I would never do that!" he exclaimed and waved his hand. Kaoru watched him while deep down she hoped he hadn't seen how close they were, in a position like that. It was so… odd.
Yahiko gave her a suspicious look. "You didn't get hurt, did you? Because if you did- I'll personally make sure that Aoshi-"
"Hey, hey, stop!" she laughed. "No, I didn't get hurt. I'm perfectly fine. Besides, I'm not that weak." She slapped his back and her next words made Yahiko blushed madly to the roots. "And don't tell me that you're worried about me? Hmm?"
"What! No way!" he snatched her hand away and turned his head the other direction.
"Heheh, Yahiko-CHAN is blushing!" Kaoru emphasized and quickly trotted away when Yahiko held up a fist with tremble.
"Easy, easy. Demo ne, arigatou for caring for me. I really am glad."
The boy spat, "Don't flatter yourself. I was just asking because of you are hurt, then I can have the excuse of going to the Akabeko for a decent meal."
"Yeah. Whatever." She giggled and went back to her room.
Sliding the paper door closed, she let the darkness took over her. There was no sound, the moonlight was dim. The only thing working here was her mind. About some thoughts. Thoughts about her match with Aoshi.
They were definitely too close today. Strange feelings began to arise but she shook it off with a shrug. But he was strong though, and fast. Almost like… Kenshin.
Kenshin.
Her face turned bitter when she started missing the ex-hitokiri again.
Sooo… how was it? I think I'm getting more into this thing, Aoshi+Kaoru I mean! ^__^ I truly thank the reviewers for the first chapter, you are all so nice ^__^! More reviews= more inspirations= faster updates! Don't you know that reviews actually encourage me to LIKE this story and wanted to make it better? Yeah! So just click that button below!! And POOF your thoughts will be read over by me. Plus more updates *wink*
And… umm, I know some people think my English isn't so good. Because my first language isn't English -__-'. Can someone like… beta it for me?? I would be really really really happy and thankful!! That saves me a lot of troubles!! *begs*
REVIEW!!!!!!!
