Hiya! I was originally planning to update this a few days ago but my
internet connection went wrong and I can't post any chapter on the
fanfiction even though I'm logged in. Yay! Twelve reviews! I would like to
once again thank these people:
Reign: Thank you for your review! Actually quite a few people have told me about Megumi's nickname but thank you for your help!
Bunny Rabbit: He he, again I'm not good in writing long chapters. You print it. I can't do that since I've got lots of stories that I read and some of them have really long chapters. If I print all of them, it's going to pile up like a mountain! ^_^ Thanx for your review too!
mexican princess: It's not that troublesome at all. I saved it in my document and so I just load it and type the double s to your name and post it again! Presto! Don't feel bad about it! ^_^ Anyway, it's my mistake so I've got to correct it!
Kakarlena Tsugoi: Be patient. and please don't flood!
irksome one: LOL, Thank for your review!
tiaravball15: You're not asking too much. Personally, I think my chapters are really short, but what to do, I just can't seem to make them long!
beriath: Patient. answers came as the plot goes. Thank you for your review!
Chiruken: Thank you for your reviews on chapter 6 and 7! You're my loyal reviewer! By the way, I noticed that you're a very active reviewer. I noticed your name in lots of stories. I guess we have the same liking in stories. I also like those stories you reviewed! ^_^
Yuhi
Jenna
Akayia: Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not going to do something nasty to Megumi. I personally don't really like her but she's not that bad actually. Thank you for your review!
SLL
Starry Night: I'll try to update regularly and thank you for putting me on your fav list!
LittoGrrlStephie for putting me on your favourite list!
Sessha: Thank you for your review! You really look deep into things!
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin
Chapter 8: Beginning of Hope
A week later
Kaoru looked at the result board anxiously. She hoped that she passed all her subjects. She looked at the board carefully and let out a sigh of relief. She had passed all subjects and to her biggest relief, her chemistry as well. She was really scared about failing it, as it was her weakest subject. On average, she scored 70. 'At least it was not so bad,' Kaoru thought.
She looked up to see the top scorer and as she had expected, it was Kenshin. She had learned from Misao that he had always been the top scorer and nobody had ever beaten him. She gasped when she saw his scores. On average, he scored 95. 'That was really high! No wonder nobody had ever beaten him.' However, it was to be expected. After all, Kaoru had seen him taking lots of notes during lesson and paying full attention in class. On top of that, he was a good teacher too. Without his help, she might have failed her chemistry.
'I've got to thank him. After all, he helped me to pass my chemistry.' She hurried to the gym. She had just finished her school and she had the kendo practice now. Reaching the changing room, she quickly changed into her gi and hakama. She headed to the usual spot where all her sparring partners are. She noticed Kenshin sitting alone there. 'A good chance.' She approached Kenshin who was keeping his head down and seemed to be in deep thought.
"Kenshin."
Kenshin looked up, but he still kept silent.
"Uhmm, I would like to thank you for helping me in my chemistry."
"You don't need to thank me. I was just helping a classmate."
Just then, Sano came from behind and slap Kaoru's back.
"Yo, Jou-chan, ready for the practice?"
"Well, I am. Where are the others?"
"They're going to be late since they have something to attend to." Sano turned to Kenshin. "So, who are you going to spar against with?"
"You guys can go first. I'll be waiting for Soujiro."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kaoru's POV
Sano nodded and both of us walked to an empty spot. Both of us prepared our stance. Sano lunged first to me and swung the shinai horizontally from the right and it was aimed at my left shoulder. I blocked it and moved a step behind. I swung my shinai in a vertical direction. Sano moved backwards. He suddenly lunged forward and thrust his shinai at my abdomen. It was an unexpected attack. I barely blocked it and was forced backwards by his great force. My back knocked against something and it made a creaking sound.
"Watch out!" Sano shouted at me. I turned around and saw that a ladder was collapsing on me. It was too late for me to avoid it. I closed my eyes as the ladder collapsed on me. I heard a knocking sound and was surprised when I did not feel any pain. I opened my eyes and was shocked when I saw Kenshin carrying me on his arms. He put me down slowly.
"Are you alright?" he asked me.
I nodded and was horrified when I saw Kenshin clutching his right shoulder. In an attempt of saving me from the falling ladder, he had hurt himself! I felt guilty.
"Kenshin, are you alright. I'm so sorry! You hurt yourself because of me!"
"Kenshin, Jou-chan! Are you two all right? My gosh, Kenshin you're hurt!"
Kenshin was still clutching on his right shoulder with a look of pain on his face. I wished I had been able to move faster and avoided the ladder myself. Kenshin would never get hurt then.
"We need to go to a doctor quickly! Kenshin, can you walk?"
He nodded and Sano helped him to get up and walk. I immediately thought of Megumi's clinic. I guided them along the way.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"How is he?" I asked as Megumi came out of the doctor's room.
"He's fine. He just fractured his right shoulder. However, he would not be able to practise kendo for the next two months."
"It's all my fault. He wouldn't be in this condition if not for me."
"Don't blame yourself, Jou-chan. It's partly my fault too. If I had not been too forceful on you during our spar, you would not have knocked against the ladder," Sano told me.
I nodded. I still felt guilty what happened despite Sano trying to comfort me. I saw Kenshin coming out of the room with a bandage on his right shoulder. Sano and I quickly approached him.
"Are you alright?" I asked him.
He nodded. I had to make it up to him somehow.
"How about letting me carry your bag home for you. With your present condition, you would not be able to do that."
"I'm fine by myself."
"Don't do that. You had just hurt yourself and it's my fault. You shouldn't push yourself too hard."
In the end, Kenshin agreed after Kaoru's insist. Both of them walked out of the clinic with Kaoru carrying his bag. Megumi and Sano watched the two of them curiously. She turned to him.
"So, Ken-san saved Kaoru eh?"
"Yup, he dashed to save her just before the ladder collapsed and it collapsed on his right shoulder instead."
"You know what I'm thinking? We could get both of them together."
"Are you kidding?"
"No, I'm not. After all, he changed a bit since Kaoru came. Maybe he could return to the old Ken-san we knew with Kaoru's help."
"I thought you like him."
"Well, I did like him a bit, but I like someone else better."
"Who is that?" Sano asked with eager curiosity.
"I'm not going to tell you. So, you agree with my plan?"
"All right, I agree. I think your idea is not that bad after all, but how do we start."
"Well, let's plan a party at your house this weekend and invite them with the others."
"Not bad idea. I would start telling them tomorrow."
"Good."
Sano stared outside. What Megumi was saying was right. Kaoru could help Kenshin changed back. There might be some hope after all.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You don't need to go inside. I can manage it perfectly all by myself," Kenshin told Kaoru as they stopped in front of his house gate.
"All right. Just don't do anything to hurt yourself, ok?" Kaoru said as she passed his bag to him.
Kenshin nodded and was about to walk inside when Kaoru suddenly grabbed his left arm.
"Uhmm, I don't have the chance yet to say this. Thank you for saving me. I felt really bad about it."
"It's just a small thing. Don't feel bad about it."
"Take care then."
Kenshin nodded and started to walk back into his house. Kaoru sighed and began walking home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I'm home," Kenshin said to his uncle.
"Well, welcome home my baka-deshi. What happened to your right shoulder?" asked Hiko as he noticed the bandage on his right shoulder.
"Nothing. Just an accident during kendo practice," and he continued climbing up the stairs.
Hiko sighed. He could never get anything in detail from his nephew. He had to ask that Kamiya girl tomorrow morning about the accident. She might have known something about it.
To be continued
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hope you guys like the chapter. Please continue to R&R!
Reign: Thank you for your review! Actually quite a few people have told me about Megumi's nickname but thank you for your help!
Bunny Rabbit: He he, again I'm not good in writing long chapters. You print it. I can't do that since I've got lots of stories that I read and some of them have really long chapters. If I print all of them, it's going to pile up like a mountain! ^_^ Thanx for your review too!
mexican princess: It's not that troublesome at all. I saved it in my document and so I just load it and type the double s to your name and post it again! Presto! Don't feel bad about it! ^_^ Anyway, it's my mistake so I've got to correct it!
Kakarlena Tsugoi: Be patient. and please don't flood!
irksome one: LOL, Thank for your review!
tiaravball15: You're not asking too much. Personally, I think my chapters are really short, but what to do, I just can't seem to make them long!
beriath: Patient. answers came as the plot goes. Thank you for your review!
Chiruken: Thank you for your reviews on chapter 6 and 7! You're my loyal reviewer! By the way, I noticed that you're a very active reviewer. I noticed your name in lots of stories. I guess we have the same liking in stories. I also like those stories you reviewed! ^_^
Yuhi
Jenna
Akayia: Sorry to disappoint you but I'm not going to do something nasty to Megumi. I personally don't really like her but she's not that bad actually. Thank you for your review!
SLL
Starry Night: I'll try to update regularly and thank you for putting me on your fav list!
LittoGrrlStephie for putting me on your favourite list!
Sessha: Thank you for your review! You really look deep into things!
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin
Chapter 8: Beginning of Hope
A week later
Kaoru looked at the result board anxiously. She hoped that she passed all her subjects. She looked at the board carefully and let out a sigh of relief. She had passed all subjects and to her biggest relief, her chemistry as well. She was really scared about failing it, as it was her weakest subject. On average, she scored 70. 'At least it was not so bad,' Kaoru thought.
She looked up to see the top scorer and as she had expected, it was Kenshin. She had learned from Misao that he had always been the top scorer and nobody had ever beaten him. She gasped when she saw his scores. On average, he scored 95. 'That was really high! No wonder nobody had ever beaten him.' However, it was to be expected. After all, Kaoru had seen him taking lots of notes during lesson and paying full attention in class. On top of that, he was a good teacher too. Without his help, she might have failed her chemistry.
'I've got to thank him. After all, he helped me to pass my chemistry.' She hurried to the gym. She had just finished her school and she had the kendo practice now. Reaching the changing room, she quickly changed into her gi and hakama. She headed to the usual spot where all her sparring partners are. She noticed Kenshin sitting alone there. 'A good chance.' She approached Kenshin who was keeping his head down and seemed to be in deep thought.
"Kenshin."
Kenshin looked up, but he still kept silent.
"Uhmm, I would like to thank you for helping me in my chemistry."
"You don't need to thank me. I was just helping a classmate."
Just then, Sano came from behind and slap Kaoru's back.
"Yo, Jou-chan, ready for the practice?"
"Well, I am. Where are the others?"
"They're going to be late since they have something to attend to." Sano turned to Kenshin. "So, who are you going to spar against with?"
"You guys can go first. I'll be waiting for Soujiro."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kaoru's POV
Sano nodded and both of us walked to an empty spot. Both of us prepared our stance. Sano lunged first to me and swung the shinai horizontally from the right and it was aimed at my left shoulder. I blocked it and moved a step behind. I swung my shinai in a vertical direction. Sano moved backwards. He suddenly lunged forward and thrust his shinai at my abdomen. It was an unexpected attack. I barely blocked it and was forced backwards by his great force. My back knocked against something and it made a creaking sound.
"Watch out!" Sano shouted at me. I turned around and saw that a ladder was collapsing on me. It was too late for me to avoid it. I closed my eyes as the ladder collapsed on me. I heard a knocking sound and was surprised when I did not feel any pain. I opened my eyes and was shocked when I saw Kenshin carrying me on his arms. He put me down slowly.
"Are you alright?" he asked me.
I nodded and was horrified when I saw Kenshin clutching his right shoulder. In an attempt of saving me from the falling ladder, he had hurt himself! I felt guilty.
"Kenshin, are you alright. I'm so sorry! You hurt yourself because of me!"
"Kenshin, Jou-chan! Are you two all right? My gosh, Kenshin you're hurt!"
Kenshin was still clutching on his right shoulder with a look of pain on his face. I wished I had been able to move faster and avoided the ladder myself. Kenshin would never get hurt then.
"We need to go to a doctor quickly! Kenshin, can you walk?"
He nodded and Sano helped him to get up and walk. I immediately thought of Megumi's clinic. I guided them along the way.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"How is he?" I asked as Megumi came out of the doctor's room.
"He's fine. He just fractured his right shoulder. However, he would not be able to practise kendo for the next two months."
"It's all my fault. He wouldn't be in this condition if not for me."
"Don't blame yourself, Jou-chan. It's partly my fault too. If I had not been too forceful on you during our spar, you would not have knocked against the ladder," Sano told me.
I nodded. I still felt guilty what happened despite Sano trying to comfort me. I saw Kenshin coming out of the room with a bandage on his right shoulder. Sano and I quickly approached him.
"Are you alright?" I asked him.
He nodded. I had to make it up to him somehow.
"How about letting me carry your bag home for you. With your present condition, you would not be able to do that."
"I'm fine by myself."
"Don't do that. You had just hurt yourself and it's my fault. You shouldn't push yourself too hard."
In the end, Kenshin agreed after Kaoru's insist. Both of them walked out of the clinic with Kaoru carrying his bag. Megumi and Sano watched the two of them curiously. She turned to him.
"So, Ken-san saved Kaoru eh?"
"Yup, he dashed to save her just before the ladder collapsed and it collapsed on his right shoulder instead."
"You know what I'm thinking? We could get both of them together."
"Are you kidding?"
"No, I'm not. After all, he changed a bit since Kaoru came. Maybe he could return to the old Ken-san we knew with Kaoru's help."
"I thought you like him."
"Well, I did like him a bit, but I like someone else better."
"Who is that?" Sano asked with eager curiosity.
"I'm not going to tell you. So, you agree with my plan?"
"All right, I agree. I think your idea is not that bad after all, but how do we start."
"Well, let's plan a party at your house this weekend and invite them with the others."
"Not bad idea. I would start telling them tomorrow."
"Good."
Sano stared outside. What Megumi was saying was right. Kaoru could help Kenshin changed back. There might be some hope after all.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You don't need to go inside. I can manage it perfectly all by myself," Kenshin told Kaoru as they stopped in front of his house gate.
"All right. Just don't do anything to hurt yourself, ok?" Kaoru said as she passed his bag to him.
Kenshin nodded and was about to walk inside when Kaoru suddenly grabbed his left arm.
"Uhmm, I don't have the chance yet to say this. Thank you for saving me. I felt really bad about it."
"It's just a small thing. Don't feel bad about it."
"Take care then."
Kenshin nodded and started to walk back into his house. Kaoru sighed and began walking home.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"I'm home," Kenshin said to his uncle.
"Well, welcome home my baka-deshi. What happened to your right shoulder?" asked Hiko as he noticed the bandage on his right shoulder.
"Nothing. Just an accident during kendo practice," and he continued climbing up the stairs.
Hiko sighed. He could never get anything in detail from his nephew. He had to ask that Kamiya girl tomorrow morning about the accident. She might have known something about it.
To be continued
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hope you guys like the chapter. Please continue to R&R!