Chapter 9: I'm Christine Daaé, you moron!
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A/N: It's been a while, hasn't it? Yes, we know. But hey, this is a really nice long chapter, isn't it? We're finishing up with October here, so have a nice time. It's um, action packed! Yes. And we know, we are lagging behind in the real months. Tragic, really. But we are busy with stuff and other stuff and now Zippy got a job as an ice cream girl, so she and Chunks don't randomly hang out as much anymore. Bum deal, no? Okay, well have fun reading!
Statement made to save one's ass: Sorry to Blink 182, Robert Lloyd Wagner, Victor Hugo, Hugh Hefner, whoever owns Robin Hood, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Prodigy, The Road to El Dorado, spandex, Crayola color Burnt Sienna, any and all horror movies, kayak enthusiasts, and anyone else that we may have (intentionally or otherwise) offended.
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Kaoru woke with a start. Perspiration ran down her face, and her nightshirt stuck to her back. She wiped her palms on her comforter, sighed, and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She padded across the hall to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Her reflection had red eyes and looked haggard. Kaoru wiped her face with a hand towel, turned off the light, and tried to go back to bed. The face was still there, whenever she shut her eyes. She jumped out of bed this time, flicked on her lamp, and did a quick check in her closet, under her bed, and out the window. One story. Someone could get in.
"You're so stupid. You're just being paranoid. Nobody's out there. Nobody's in here. Just me. And Yahiko, and Grandfather, and the girls. They're safe. You're safe. Go back to bed. Criminy . . ."
Kaoru, finished talking to herself, turned off the light again, and crawled under the sheets. Then she pulled them over her head, and willed herself into sleep.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ SCHOOL. HALLOWEEN.
Megumi ignored the catcalls as she walked past the office (and the assembled gangstas [haha yeah right] congealed there) toward the bench where she and her friends usually met before school. Aoshi was already sitting there, reading "Les Miserables." He was almost done.
Surprise surprise. Hiko or someone must have made him dress up for Halloween. "Nice Vampire, Aoshi. Didn't think you'd dress up."
"Good morning," he said flatly. "Quiet, or I'll bite you. I lost a bet."
"Ah. I see . . . well, you look very . . . realistic."
It was true. He was the epitome of eighteenth century, disturbingly-good- looking-in-a-creepy-way, gothic vampire. He even had the teeth, although they did not appear impede his speech at all.
"Thank you. You are . . . nice . . . yourself," he replied haltingly.
"Well thank YOU!" She winked and smiled. Yes, her inner flirt was showing. It didn't help like she was dressed like a nurse. It was unknown whether or not she had INTENDED to show that much leg and cleavage. But she did.
Kenshin walked up, arm in arm with Kaoru. Yahiko trailed behind, trying to adjust his sword. He was a little knight! Aww, how cute. Kenshin and Kaoru had apparently dressed to match, he in a smashing samurai costume and she a stunning geisha. She took a few slow, mincing steps, and then gaped at Megumi.
"Administration is SO going to stop you!"
"Haven't so far," she said with a dip of her hip and she sashayed over to say hello to Tae. Tae was a bunny. Interpret as you will.
Tsubame darted over to Yahiko, her pink princess dress floating out behind her. "You wore it! Oh I'm so glad! Look, don't you like my hat?" She inclined her head, putting the point of her hat almost directly in Yahiko's eye.
"Yeah," he grinned, turned bright red as muffled snickers wafted around the group.
There was small talk for another few minutes, and then Misao larked her way over. "Hi guys! Guess what I am!!!"
Kenshin tilted his head. "A ghost?"
Kaoru agreed.
Tae said tentatively, "Someone who just woke up?"
Misao grew more irritated after each remark. "No! I'm Christine Daaé!" She looked around, and seeing no dawning comprehension, she stamped her foot. "Don't you guys watch any musicals??"
"No."
Megumi walked over, put a hand on the girl's shoulder, and said, "I know, 'Phantom of the Opera.' It's one of my favourites. But the white dress is rather ghost-like."
Just then, as Megumi was slightly leaning over, Sano showed up. He whistled appreciatively. Megumi straightened up quickly, zipping up the front of her dress a little.
"Hello, nurse!"
"Shut up. At least I'm cute. What are you supposed to be, a queer Robin Hood?"
"Hey hey, I happen to be a pimp masta. Check my hat, my coat, my cane . . . I am super fly."
Aoshi started laughing, which was odd to hear . . .
Then came Katsu, wearing what seemed to be his father's bathrobe. Sano asked, "Dude, what the hell are you supposed to be?"
Without saying a word, Katsu walked over to Tae, put his arm around her, and pulled out a pipe.
There was a group "ooohhh . . ." of understanding. Then the bell rang, and they dispersed to their respective classes.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ LUNCH TIME
Megumi bumped into a girl as she was hurrying to meet her friends. They were all going to go out to Wendy's or something. "Oh, sorry."
"Better be sorry, bitch."
Megumi almost skidded to a stop and turned to face the girl. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Walking around like some porno nurse. You really are a slut, just like they say."
Megumi's eyes narrowed as she recognized the girl. "Oh right Yumi, because nobody ever wonders where you get your spending money. . ."
Yumi, without thinking, had struck a sensuous pose. She was a devil, one of those the-spandex-is-clinging-to-my-ass devils, and was spinning her tail with one hand. The other hand held a plastic red pitchfork; no books could be seen. "What, you flat-chested whore, did you want to start something?"
"No, but if you're going to act all nasty like that, we can go. Right now, Yumi, unless you take that back," Megumi replied, eyes flashing and perhaps chest stuck out a bit.
"Oh, why, when it's so fun to put out?" Then she reached forward and raked out her nails, only catching Megumi's arm.
Murmurs of 'catfight' started flowing through a crowd that had started to assemble, and Sano's ears perked up. "Catfight?" he asked himself, and started looking around eagerly.
From his vantage point, he could see the crowd gathered under an overhang. No security guards were in sight yet. Still time to watch. Then he saw who was fighting, and hurried over.
"Shit, Megumi, what are you doing?"
Megumi flashed him a look, called out, "Smackin' the bitch up!" and then smacked Yumi in the face as Sataness pulled the nurse's hair.
Sano reached over, pulled Megumi toward him, and attempted to ward off the devil.
Another voice said threateningly, "Are you trying to feel up my girl?"
Sano turned, puzzled, and said, "No, can't say that I am."
"Better get the fuck away from her."
"Okay, calm down, I was just trying to stop the two of them from tearing each other up, then getting kicked out by admin."
"Get away from my woman, Sagara."
Sano barely had time to wonder 'how does he know my name?' before he was hit in the face, hard. He hit the concrete, stunned, and didn't have a chance to even attempt to regain his footing as he was kicked in the side of his ribs. Already starting to bleed, he rolled out of the way of the next attack, jumped to his feet, and ducked another punch. Whoever he was, this guy was fast.
Yumi was on the outskirts of the fight, clapping her hands and giggling every time her lover landed one. The two men circled around, and Sano pushed Megumi back into the crowd saying, "Get away from them." She gathered her books quickly and disappeared.
Sanosuke finally hit his opponent, but it only glanced off the shoulder, and he was rewarded by a swift jab in the stomach. He gasped out a 'shit,' straightened up, and tried to appraise his enemy. Black pants, shoes, hooded sweatshirt, and glaring red-brown eyes. The other man laughed cruelly, "Give up Sagara. You can't beat me."
Bracing himself, Sano swung his famous right hook and landed it squarely on his opponent's face. He drew back his hand, cursing. It burned. And the face was soft, like Hiko's sculpture putty. "What the fuck is on your face? That's disgusting! Who are you?"
The dark hood had fallen back, exposing a deformed face. "My name is Shishio. And you are a dead man." He glared at Sanosuke, malice etched clearly on his distorted features.
Someone in the crowd shouted, "Admin's coming!"
Shishio bent to pick up the pitchfork, the grabbed Yumi roughly by the arm and melted into the crowd. Sano looked around, saw Kenshin signalling him a few yards away, and was hidden by the crowd as security arrived on the scene.
"Who was fighting?" one of the personnel asked the assemblage. None of them hosted obvious cuts or bruises, and none of them said anything either. You don't rat out to the authorities. . .
Joined up now with his friends, Sano could wince and grimace at his various wounds. Misao looked concerned and wiped blood off his cheek. Megumi walked up and handed him his hat and cane, knocked off in the fight.
"What happened?" Kenshin inquired in a worried tone of voice.
Megumi looked sheepish. "Yumi and I were having a disagreement after a few choice words. Sano tried to break us up, and this guy, I guess Yumi's boyfriend, well he started beating the crap out of Rooster-boy here."
Sano frowned. "Hey hey, I held my own!"
"That's not what I saw," Megumi rolled her eyes.
"Now now," Kenshin, ever the peacemaker, held up his hands and tried to calm the two from what seemed like yet another fight today. "The important thing is that everyone's all right."
The group murmured their agreement until Yahiko spoke up, "hey, how much of lunch period do we have?"
Kaoru looked concerned. "Oh that's right! We have to leave now if we want to have any time to get back."
"Can't miss your food, can you Kaoru?" Misao laughed as they all started to head out to the parking lot to go out to lunch as planned.
"Shut up," the geisha growled.
"Hey Sano," Katsu grinned evilly as they walked, "does it hurt if I poke here?" He jabbed is finger into the pimp masta's face.
"Dammit, Katsu!"
They laughed at his misfortune.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^* LATER THAT EVENING. PARTY PARTY.
The fog machine spurted out some more wisps of mist as another costumed guest arrived at the party. PJ's Halloween party was always the biggest of all the students at Kyoto High School, and this year was no exception. He was, after all, the school's resident queer eye who was into costuming and theatre and whatnot.
Misao rolled her eyes at the sight of Kaoru hovering over the bowl of chips, Kenshin, as always, not far from her side. The Kamiya girl picked up a chip and placed it in Kenshin's mouth. Kaoru gazed at him lovingly and smiled. Kenshin chewed and smiled. Misao gagged and left.
Entering the main part of the big house she passed by the couch where another tangled mass of couples lay, presumably watching a horror movie. Now she remembered why she didn't like coming to these kinds of parties.
"Disgusting, isn't it?" Sanosuke said to her. He was leaning against the kitchen wall, wearing his pimp hat a jaunty angle.
"Yeah," she adjusted her hair, which she had let flow freely from its normal braid to match her costume. "If I weren't wearing white, I think I'd vomit."
"Geez, you'd think that if they really liked each other they'd want their time to be special or something and not all public."
Misao didn't quite know how to take this comment, since his expression was unreadable when he said it. She twiddled with the long, white sleeves of her Christine Daaé costume, trying to find something to say.
". . . not here yet," Sanosuke finished.
"What?" she blinked. Maybe she was twiddling to loud.
"Nothing," he switched his cane to his other hand. "They're not here yet, that's all I said."
"The rest of the gang? Oh, I think I saw Tae and Katsu on the couch," the little opera girl pointed to the sofa. Sano looked to see a lump of bathrobe, pipe long forgotten and two dishevelled bunny ears peeking out from the top.
"Well, that's two down," he said. "Ugh, I don't think I can take any more blatant displays of affection," he added, then noticed her downcast gaze. "How about we go somewhere and talk privately?"
"Yes . . . please!"
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* ONWARD TO SOMEWHERE ELSE AT THE PARTY!
Aoshi wondered vaguely for the umpteenth time why he was here. He wasn't social. He didn't pretend to be social. Why was he at a social event? Perhaps he had done something horribly wrong in a past life.
"Good evening, Aoshi!" Kenshin smiled to him, taking a momentary break from Kaoru.
Seeing as Aoshi had not witnessed anything particularly good about the evening thus far, he didn't really say anything. But that didn't faze Kenshin one bit as he stepped up to greet the approaching vampire.
"What kept you?" Kaoru asked, mildly concerned. "Heavy traffic?"
"No," Aoshi said.
"Hmm," Kenshin pondered aloud, "I think if you want to talk to the rest of them, Katsu and Miss Tae and Sano are inside already, and Miss Misao just-- "
"Well, well . . . drive here yourself, Battousai?"
Kenshin snapped up at that particular name. His eyes narrowed at the comment and at the man who said it. "Saito," the little red-head's voice was angry.
"Who is that?" Aoshi questioned.
"Shut up, Saito!" Kaoru glared. "Just because you were good at sparring and crap doesn't give you the right to be rude!"
There was a pause as glares passed around. Tension . . . you could cut it with a knife.
"Who wants a slice?" PJ popped up, holding a large piece of frosted cake. "Are you guys having fun? Here, have some cake!"
Aoshi blinked as the pastry was shoved into his hands, then went off to suck blood in dark corners without another word. PJ frolicked away, pulling Saito with him against his will. Kenshin and Kaoru, taking advantage of the hiatus of hostilities, grabbed a couple of slices of the cake for themselves. They squeezed their way onto the full couch, the other occupants not seeming to mind very much, as they were far too preoccupied with . . . each other. Between shovelling cake and squiggling to get closer to Kenshin, Kaoru managed to ask, "So what's the deal with Saito anyway? I mean, I know some of the story, but you never told me all of it."
"It's complicated."
"I've got time."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^* AT THE FRONT DOOR
"Wow. There sure are a lot of people here," Megumi commented as she entered the house.
"Yes, there are," Aoshi said, emerging from the shadows.
"You missed a spot."
"Thank you," he added, wiping his mouth.
Megumi shifted awkwardly after a long pause. "So . . . how . . . how have you been?"
"I've managed to get by during the five hours since I last saw you," his reply was curt.
"Right. Been having fun without me here?"
He gave her a look.
"You're not much for parties, are you?"
"No," Aoshi assented.
The short answers and long silences were starting to make Megumi uncomfortable. However, since the rest of the room was filled with mostly unfamiliar faces and she wasn't in the mood to schmooze with strangers, she decided to stick with where she was.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* BACK ON THE COUCH
Kaoru quirked her brow dubiously. "A kayak race."
"It seems silly now, that it does," Kenshin put his hand behind his head in an embarrassed manner, "but we took those things very seriously at that summer camp. We were different people up there."
"I guess you'd have to be. I can't believe anyone being such a poor sport over something so stupid as a kayak race at a summer camp."
"Yes, but things back then were different. My friends and Saito's friends didn't really get along all that well, and everything we did always lead up to some sort of competition," Kenshin explained. "We were in camp for several weeks, and tensions can mount after a time."
"I still think it's stupid," Kaoru folded her arms. "Every mean thing he's said and done to you after that camp was because he lost a little boat race."
"Well, there were some very strong words said afterwards," Kenshin looked down at his feet. "Like I said, our different groups of friends didn't like each other very much and mine, well, gave him a hard time about losing."
"You've talked a lot about these former friends of yours, but I've never met them."
"That's probably for the best. They aren't really good for me anymore, that they aren't. And I am much happier now. I get along better with Hiko, and I have Sano and Aoshi, and of course you and the girls. Let's not talk about them anymore, please."
"Okay. As long as you are with me now, I don't care about what happened back then. Hey, want some cider?" she asked perkily.
"Yes, that I would."
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"So how are things at home?" Megumi and Aoshi had meandered their way into the dining room, now sitting on some chairs in the quieter portion of the house.
"Things are well," Aoshi replied. "You?"
"Fine. Kanryu's business is doing well . . . he's even bringing me in some days to help him translate the orders," she answered.
"He's in shipping, isn't he?"
"Yes." Megumi's answers were normally short when talking of her foster father; Aoshi was mildly surprised she had spoken as much as she had. Judging by her tone now, he didn't figure much more would be said on the matter. It was a rather awkward conversation. So he didn't talk anymore. He just sipped his beverage. . . .
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Sano pushed Misao off his knee and stood up. They were out on the patio on some plastic chairs, and they HAD been conversing about health, sports, and whether a pinot or a chardonnay would have been better with the evening's entrée. They HAD been, until Sano lost all feeling in his left leg. Misao went to get chips, then strode off to talk to some girls she knew from cheer. Ah, finally some intelligent conversation. There were several other partiers around them, most just talking and eating, away from the real party going on inside [on the couch, wink wink].
Yes, Tae and Katsu were still on the couch, although they had moved from Complete And Utter Making-Out to Snuggling In The Crook Of His Arm. The movie was still on, the 'heroine' having made the foolish choice of running upstairs but it's okay. . . she'll live, she's a virgin. OR IS SHE????? =dramatic music= no, turn around! You idiot. He's right behind you! He has a sharp implement! RUN. No, not that way, stupid. Oh jeez, she's fallen. Big surprise. The white girl fell down. Way to fail. Oh . . . oh. . . . oh that's disgusting. Leave her liver alone, you bastard!
The party lasted a few more hours, with people getting drunk off adrenaline and high on life. Best way to do it; no nasty hangovers the next day! Jealous looks were also tossed around, and Saito kept glaring at Kenshin.
It was a lovely evening.
Everyone had a lovely time. Then they went home. But not all alone. Hehehe. . . . um, yes.
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AN: So fights flashbacks and a fiesta! Fun fun. Hey, I guess this means we're moving on to the next month! Next chapter: NOVEMBER!! Yay.
Zippy is constantly busy—and popular, and cool, and working, and doing other things . . . without me, I mean, without Chunks.. T_T What does Chunks get to do? Stare at walls . . . alone (not that she's bitter or anything).
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A/N: It's been a while, hasn't it? Yes, we know. But hey, this is a really nice long chapter, isn't it? We're finishing up with October here, so have a nice time. It's um, action packed! Yes. And we know, we are lagging behind in the real months. Tragic, really. But we are busy with stuff and other stuff and now Zippy got a job as an ice cream girl, so she and Chunks don't randomly hang out as much anymore. Bum deal, no? Okay, well have fun reading!
Statement made to save one's ass: Sorry to Blink 182, Robert Lloyd Wagner, Victor Hugo, Hugh Hefner, whoever owns Robin Hood, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Prodigy, The Road to El Dorado, spandex, Crayola color Burnt Sienna, any and all horror movies, kayak enthusiasts, and anyone else that we may have (intentionally or otherwise) offended.
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Kaoru woke with a start. Perspiration ran down her face, and her nightshirt stuck to her back. She wiped her palms on her comforter, sighed, and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She padded across the hall to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Her reflection had red eyes and looked haggard. Kaoru wiped her face with a hand towel, turned off the light, and tried to go back to bed. The face was still there, whenever she shut her eyes. She jumped out of bed this time, flicked on her lamp, and did a quick check in her closet, under her bed, and out the window. One story. Someone could get in.
"You're so stupid. You're just being paranoid. Nobody's out there. Nobody's in here. Just me. And Yahiko, and Grandfather, and the girls. They're safe. You're safe. Go back to bed. Criminy . . ."
Kaoru, finished talking to herself, turned off the light again, and crawled under the sheets. Then she pulled them over her head, and willed herself into sleep.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ SCHOOL. HALLOWEEN.
Megumi ignored the catcalls as she walked past the office (and the assembled gangstas [haha yeah right] congealed there) toward the bench where she and her friends usually met before school. Aoshi was already sitting there, reading "Les Miserables." He was almost done.
Surprise surprise. Hiko or someone must have made him dress up for Halloween. "Nice Vampire, Aoshi. Didn't think you'd dress up."
"Good morning," he said flatly. "Quiet, or I'll bite you. I lost a bet."
"Ah. I see . . . well, you look very . . . realistic."
It was true. He was the epitome of eighteenth century, disturbingly-good- looking-in-a-creepy-way, gothic vampire. He even had the teeth, although they did not appear impede his speech at all.
"Thank you. You are . . . nice . . . yourself," he replied haltingly.
"Well thank YOU!" She winked and smiled. Yes, her inner flirt was showing. It didn't help like she was dressed like a nurse. It was unknown whether or not she had INTENDED to show that much leg and cleavage. But she did.
Kenshin walked up, arm in arm with Kaoru. Yahiko trailed behind, trying to adjust his sword. He was a little knight! Aww, how cute. Kenshin and Kaoru had apparently dressed to match, he in a smashing samurai costume and she a stunning geisha. She took a few slow, mincing steps, and then gaped at Megumi.
"Administration is SO going to stop you!"
"Haven't so far," she said with a dip of her hip and she sashayed over to say hello to Tae. Tae was a bunny. Interpret as you will.
Tsubame darted over to Yahiko, her pink princess dress floating out behind her. "You wore it! Oh I'm so glad! Look, don't you like my hat?" She inclined her head, putting the point of her hat almost directly in Yahiko's eye.
"Yeah," he grinned, turned bright red as muffled snickers wafted around the group.
There was small talk for another few minutes, and then Misao larked her way over. "Hi guys! Guess what I am!!!"
Kenshin tilted his head. "A ghost?"
Kaoru agreed.
Tae said tentatively, "Someone who just woke up?"
Misao grew more irritated after each remark. "No! I'm Christine Daaé!" She looked around, and seeing no dawning comprehension, she stamped her foot. "Don't you guys watch any musicals??"
"No."
Megumi walked over, put a hand on the girl's shoulder, and said, "I know, 'Phantom of the Opera.' It's one of my favourites. But the white dress is rather ghost-like."
Just then, as Megumi was slightly leaning over, Sano showed up. He whistled appreciatively. Megumi straightened up quickly, zipping up the front of her dress a little.
"Hello, nurse!"
"Shut up. At least I'm cute. What are you supposed to be, a queer Robin Hood?"
"Hey hey, I happen to be a pimp masta. Check my hat, my coat, my cane . . . I am super fly."
Aoshi started laughing, which was odd to hear . . .
Then came Katsu, wearing what seemed to be his father's bathrobe. Sano asked, "Dude, what the hell are you supposed to be?"
Without saying a word, Katsu walked over to Tae, put his arm around her, and pulled out a pipe.
There was a group "ooohhh . . ." of understanding. Then the bell rang, and they dispersed to their respective classes.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ LUNCH TIME
Megumi bumped into a girl as she was hurrying to meet her friends. They were all going to go out to Wendy's or something. "Oh, sorry."
"Better be sorry, bitch."
Megumi almost skidded to a stop and turned to face the girl. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Walking around like some porno nurse. You really are a slut, just like they say."
Megumi's eyes narrowed as she recognized the girl. "Oh right Yumi, because nobody ever wonders where you get your spending money. . ."
Yumi, without thinking, had struck a sensuous pose. She was a devil, one of those the-spandex-is-clinging-to-my-ass devils, and was spinning her tail with one hand. The other hand held a plastic red pitchfork; no books could be seen. "What, you flat-chested whore, did you want to start something?"
"No, but if you're going to act all nasty like that, we can go. Right now, Yumi, unless you take that back," Megumi replied, eyes flashing and perhaps chest stuck out a bit.
"Oh, why, when it's so fun to put out?" Then she reached forward and raked out her nails, only catching Megumi's arm.
Murmurs of 'catfight' started flowing through a crowd that had started to assemble, and Sano's ears perked up. "Catfight?" he asked himself, and started looking around eagerly.
From his vantage point, he could see the crowd gathered under an overhang. No security guards were in sight yet. Still time to watch. Then he saw who was fighting, and hurried over.
"Shit, Megumi, what are you doing?"
Megumi flashed him a look, called out, "Smackin' the bitch up!" and then smacked Yumi in the face as Sataness pulled the nurse's hair.
Sano reached over, pulled Megumi toward him, and attempted to ward off the devil.
Another voice said threateningly, "Are you trying to feel up my girl?"
Sano turned, puzzled, and said, "No, can't say that I am."
"Better get the fuck away from her."
"Okay, calm down, I was just trying to stop the two of them from tearing each other up, then getting kicked out by admin."
"Get away from my woman, Sagara."
Sano barely had time to wonder 'how does he know my name?' before he was hit in the face, hard. He hit the concrete, stunned, and didn't have a chance to even attempt to regain his footing as he was kicked in the side of his ribs. Already starting to bleed, he rolled out of the way of the next attack, jumped to his feet, and ducked another punch. Whoever he was, this guy was fast.
Yumi was on the outskirts of the fight, clapping her hands and giggling every time her lover landed one. The two men circled around, and Sano pushed Megumi back into the crowd saying, "Get away from them." She gathered her books quickly and disappeared.
Sanosuke finally hit his opponent, but it only glanced off the shoulder, and he was rewarded by a swift jab in the stomach. He gasped out a 'shit,' straightened up, and tried to appraise his enemy. Black pants, shoes, hooded sweatshirt, and glaring red-brown eyes. The other man laughed cruelly, "Give up Sagara. You can't beat me."
Bracing himself, Sano swung his famous right hook and landed it squarely on his opponent's face. He drew back his hand, cursing. It burned. And the face was soft, like Hiko's sculpture putty. "What the fuck is on your face? That's disgusting! Who are you?"
The dark hood had fallen back, exposing a deformed face. "My name is Shishio. And you are a dead man." He glared at Sanosuke, malice etched clearly on his distorted features.
Someone in the crowd shouted, "Admin's coming!"
Shishio bent to pick up the pitchfork, the grabbed Yumi roughly by the arm and melted into the crowd. Sano looked around, saw Kenshin signalling him a few yards away, and was hidden by the crowd as security arrived on the scene.
"Who was fighting?" one of the personnel asked the assemblage. None of them hosted obvious cuts or bruises, and none of them said anything either. You don't rat out to the authorities. . .
Joined up now with his friends, Sano could wince and grimace at his various wounds. Misao looked concerned and wiped blood off his cheek. Megumi walked up and handed him his hat and cane, knocked off in the fight.
"What happened?" Kenshin inquired in a worried tone of voice.
Megumi looked sheepish. "Yumi and I were having a disagreement after a few choice words. Sano tried to break us up, and this guy, I guess Yumi's boyfriend, well he started beating the crap out of Rooster-boy here."
Sano frowned. "Hey hey, I held my own!"
"That's not what I saw," Megumi rolled her eyes.
"Now now," Kenshin, ever the peacemaker, held up his hands and tried to calm the two from what seemed like yet another fight today. "The important thing is that everyone's all right."
The group murmured their agreement until Yahiko spoke up, "hey, how much of lunch period do we have?"
Kaoru looked concerned. "Oh that's right! We have to leave now if we want to have any time to get back."
"Can't miss your food, can you Kaoru?" Misao laughed as they all started to head out to the parking lot to go out to lunch as planned.
"Shut up," the geisha growled.
"Hey Sano," Katsu grinned evilly as they walked, "does it hurt if I poke here?" He jabbed is finger into the pimp masta's face.
"Dammit, Katsu!"
They laughed at his misfortune.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^* LATER THAT EVENING. PARTY PARTY.
The fog machine spurted out some more wisps of mist as another costumed guest arrived at the party. PJ's Halloween party was always the biggest of all the students at Kyoto High School, and this year was no exception. He was, after all, the school's resident queer eye who was into costuming and theatre and whatnot.
Misao rolled her eyes at the sight of Kaoru hovering over the bowl of chips, Kenshin, as always, not far from her side. The Kamiya girl picked up a chip and placed it in Kenshin's mouth. Kaoru gazed at him lovingly and smiled. Kenshin chewed and smiled. Misao gagged and left.
Entering the main part of the big house she passed by the couch where another tangled mass of couples lay, presumably watching a horror movie. Now she remembered why she didn't like coming to these kinds of parties.
"Disgusting, isn't it?" Sanosuke said to her. He was leaning against the kitchen wall, wearing his pimp hat a jaunty angle.
"Yeah," she adjusted her hair, which she had let flow freely from its normal braid to match her costume. "If I weren't wearing white, I think I'd vomit."
"Geez, you'd think that if they really liked each other they'd want their time to be special or something and not all public."
Misao didn't quite know how to take this comment, since his expression was unreadable when he said it. She twiddled with the long, white sleeves of her Christine Daaé costume, trying to find something to say.
". . . not here yet," Sanosuke finished.
"What?" she blinked. Maybe she was twiddling to loud.
"Nothing," he switched his cane to his other hand. "They're not here yet, that's all I said."
"The rest of the gang? Oh, I think I saw Tae and Katsu on the couch," the little opera girl pointed to the sofa. Sano looked to see a lump of bathrobe, pipe long forgotten and two dishevelled bunny ears peeking out from the top.
"Well, that's two down," he said. "Ugh, I don't think I can take any more blatant displays of affection," he added, then noticed her downcast gaze. "How about we go somewhere and talk privately?"
"Yes . . . please!"
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* ONWARD TO SOMEWHERE ELSE AT THE PARTY!
Aoshi wondered vaguely for the umpteenth time why he was here. He wasn't social. He didn't pretend to be social. Why was he at a social event? Perhaps he had done something horribly wrong in a past life.
"Good evening, Aoshi!" Kenshin smiled to him, taking a momentary break from Kaoru.
Seeing as Aoshi had not witnessed anything particularly good about the evening thus far, he didn't really say anything. But that didn't faze Kenshin one bit as he stepped up to greet the approaching vampire.
"What kept you?" Kaoru asked, mildly concerned. "Heavy traffic?"
"No," Aoshi said.
"Hmm," Kenshin pondered aloud, "I think if you want to talk to the rest of them, Katsu and Miss Tae and Sano are inside already, and Miss Misao just-- "
"Well, well . . . drive here yourself, Battousai?"
Kenshin snapped up at that particular name. His eyes narrowed at the comment and at the man who said it. "Saito," the little red-head's voice was angry.
"Who is that?" Aoshi questioned.
"Shut up, Saito!" Kaoru glared. "Just because you were good at sparring and crap doesn't give you the right to be rude!"
There was a pause as glares passed around. Tension . . . you could cut it with a knife.
"Who wants a slice?" PJ popped up, holding a large piece of frosted cake. "Are you guys having fun? Here, have some cake!"
Aoshi blinked as the pastry was shoved into his hands, then went off to suck blood in dark corners without another word. PJ frolicked away, pulling Saito with him against his will. Kenshin and Kaoru, taking advantage of the hiatus of hostilities, grabbed a couple of slices of the cake for themselves. They squeezed their way onto the full couch, the other occupants not seeming to mind very much, as they were far too preoccupied with . . . each other. Between shovelling cake and squiggling to get closer to Kenshin, Kaoru managed to ask, "So what's the deal with Saito anyway? I mean, I know some of the story, but you never told me all of it."
"It's complicated."
"I've got time."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^**^*^*^*^*^*^*^* AT THE FRONT DOOR
"Wow. There sure are a lot of people here," Megumi commented as she entered the house.
"Yes, there are," Aoshi said, emerging from the shadows.
"You missed a spot."
"Thank you," he added, wiping his mouth.
Megumi shifted awkwardly after a long pause. "So . . . how . . . how have you been?"
"I've managed to get by during the five hours since I last saw you," his reply was curt.
"Right. Been having fun without me here?"
He gave her a look.
"You're not much for parties, are you?"
"No," Aoshi assented.
The short answers and long silences were starting to make Megumi uncomfortable. However, since the rest of the room was filled with mostly unfamiliar faces and she wasn't in the mood to schmooze with strangers, she decided to stick with where she was.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^* BACK ON THE COUCH
Kaoru quirked her brow dubiously. "A kayak race."
"It seems silly now, that it does," Kenshin put his hand behind his head in an embarrassed manner, "but we took those things very seriously at that summer camp. We were different people up there."
"I guess you'd have to be. I can't believe anyone being such a poor sport over something so stupid as a kayak race at a summer camp."
"Yes, but things back then were different. My friends and Saito's friends didn't really get along all that well, and everything we did always lead up to some sort of competition," Kenshin explained. "We were in camp for several weeks, and tensions can mount after a time."
"I still think it's stupid," Kaoru folded her arms. "Every mean thing he's said and done to you after that camp was because he lost a little boat race."
"Well, there were some very strong words said afterwards," Kenshin looked down at his feet. "Like I said, our different groups of friends didn't like each other very much and mine, well, gave him a hard time about losing."
"You've talked a lot about these former friends of yours, but I've never met them."
"That's probably for the best. They aren't really good for me anymore, that they aren't. And I am much happier now. I get along better with Hiko, and I have Sano and Aoshi, and of course you and the girls. Let's not talk about them anymore, please."
"Okay. As long as you are with me now, I don't care about what happened back then. Hey, want some cider?" she asked perkily.
"Yes, that I would."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"So how are things at home?" Megumi and Aoshi had meandered their way into the dining room, now sitting on some chairs in the quieter portion of the house.
"Things are well," Aoshi replied. "You?"
"Fine. Kanryu's business is doing well . . . he's even bringing me in some days to help him translate the orders," she answered.
"He's in shipping, isn't he?"
"Yes." Megumi's answers were normally short when talking of her foster father; Aoshi was mildly surprised she had spoken as much as she had. Judging by her tone now, he didn't figure much more would be said on the matter. It was a rather awkward conversation. So he didn't talk anymore. He just sipped his beverage. . . .
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Sano pushed Misao off his knee and stood up. They were out on the patio on some plastic chairs, and they HAD been conversing about health, sports, and whether a pinot or a chardonnay would have been better with the evening's entrée. They HAD been, until Sano lost all feeling in his left leg. Misao went to get chips, then strode off to talk to some girls she knew from cheer. Ah, finally some intelligent conversation. There were several other partiers around them, most just talking and eating, away from the real party going on inside [on the couch, wink wink].
Yes, Tae and Katsu were still on the couch, although they had moved from Complete And Utter Making-Out to Snuggling In The Crook Of His Arm. The movie was still on, the 'heroine' having made the foolish choice of running upstairs but it's okay. . . she'll live, she's a virgin. OR IS SHE????? =dramatic music= no, turn around! You idiot. He's right behind you! He has a sharp implement! RUN. No, not that way, stupid. Oh jeez, she's fallen. Big surprise. The white girl fell down. Way to fail. Oh . . . oh. . . . oh that's disgusting. Leave her liver alone, you bastard!
The party lasted a few more hours, with people getting drunk off adrenaline and high on life. Best way to do it; no nasty hangovers the next day! Jealous looks were also tossed around, and Saito kept glaring at Kenshin.
It was a lovely evening.
Everyone had a lovely time. Then they went home. But not all alone. Hehehe. . . . um, yes.
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AN: So fights flashbacks and a fiesta! Fun fun. Hey, I guess this means we're moving on to the next month! Next chapter: NOVEMBER!! Yay.
Zippy is constantly busy—and popular, and cool, and working, and doing other things . . . without me, I mean, without Chunks.. T_T What does Chunks get to do? Stare at walls . . . alone (not that she's bitter or anything).