The 12th Street Apartment
11/15/2003
Hey again. Yes... originally this was a story about a girl named Gina. I hadn't even started watching Rurouni Kenshin. When I starting watching it, I found how a LOT of character fit in the story... and I had most event centered around Gina... it's really hard to span in out... but I'm trying to limit the event in Gina's life... Gina is an OC, and I'm more familiar to her because she's just been in my mind longer.
I also realize Aoshi and Gina's relationship is really close. My friend has an older brother almost eight years older than her and they're REALLY close... that's what Gina's life was based on but now that I've add Rurouni Kenshin characters in it's a little awkward.
Yeah... Misao didn't do anything about the grandmother thing...um... Misao doesn't really know the grandmother... and the grandmother is old... I didn't really think Misao would jump the old lady... I don't know... all I know is that that old lady isn't getting away with anything...
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
~Review Comments~ Nakkie: Thanks for the criticism... I appreciate that you didn't flame me, but tell me my faults. Remember that Gina looks really weird; golden wolfish eyes... I mean... without contacts... how weird is that on a girl? (She's like a female Saitou... kind of strange) I guess she found her only true friends in childhood in her brothers... About Aoshi fawning over Misao... I'm actually considering that and it's probably going to happen... not until later though...
Unique-Starfish: Thanks for all the reviews!!
purpo kitee katx: Thanks for reading! I'm not that good of a writer...
MissBehavin: As always, thanks for reading. I can't kill off the grandmother, I love how she's going to make a mess with Aoshi... never mind... I can't give too much away...just know that she messes up lives... and I need that...Jin... I don't know what I'm going to do with her...
Hm... I'm also thinking of killing Gina off in a couple chapters... any reactions to having her killed off guys??? And it's not like she's dying in her sleep, it'll probably be painful... tell me what you think...
*********
Recap: Meet Grandmother. Aoshi and Misao moments. Gina got fired from her job. Jin is back. Enishin purposed to Kaoru, indirectly.
*********
Everything in this story is fast moving... I need to slow it down...so here's a little Kaoru and Gina friendship stuff.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Monday Morning:
Gina straightened her back slightly, arcing it. She glanced around the mall and back down to the shoes she had been trying on, "I have too many." She sighed, "But these are so nice." She placed them down and walked out of the store.
She set her bags down and sat down on a coffee table, sipping hot chocolate. She pulled out a book and began to read. It was Monday morning and Gina didn't feel like looking for another job. She was considering going back to school, know that she KNEW Jin wasn't going to write her a good recommendation.
"Gina?" She felt a light hand on her shoulder.
Gina fell out of her chair, startled. She got up embarrassed, "Hi. Do I know you?"
The woman shook her head giggling, "I'm Kaoru, Misao's roommate." The way Gina fell out of her chair reminded Kaoru of how Kenshin fell off the table when she first met him.
Gina nodded slowly, "And..." She motioned Kaoru to sit.
"I need your help." Kaoru dropped her purse on the table.
"Oh..." Great... ten bucks it's about marriage, Gina joked to herself, "Sure... I'm not sure I could help, considering I don't know you..."
"Misao said you could help."
Misao? Hadn't she only met Misao two days ago... oh well... "Okay... couldn't Misao help you?"
"She's in class...all day actually... I just need someone to talk to... I just saw you sitting here..."
Oh right... wait... wasn't Kaoru a college student too? Gina remembered Kenshin mentioning something about that. "You don't have class today?"
Kaoru nodded, "I know it must be weird for you... having someone you don't know just call you name."
Gina nodded. It's even weirder I'm sitting down and having a conversation with someone that's not my family, she thought. Even in elementary school Gina was ALWAYS a loner, what parent wanted their child hanging around a girl with piercing freakish yellow eyes?
"Gina?" Kaoru waved a hand.
Gina smiled, "Sorry... kind of dazed off... so... you want to spit it out right here... or you wanna shop and talk?"
Kaoru shifted nervously, "Shop and talk... if you're free."
"I've got all the time in the world... I got fired Saturday." Gina said offhandedly. It really didn't matter... or shouldn't matter; it was just a job... her dream job. She scolded herself in her mind. It shouldn't matter; they'll be more jobs.
"Oh... I'm sorry."
Gina looked amused, as she got up, "What'cha sorry about? You didn't fire me. I'm all right with it..."
The two walked into a clothing shop. Another half an hour or so Gina piped up, "Are you going to tell me anything? I'm all right with shopping... you just look like you need to say something that's on your mind."
Kaoru rubbed her forehead, "How's Kenshin?"
"Kenshin? He's okay... been in a horrible mood from Sunday morning onward... why you guys dating or something?"
"Well... I mean... I don't know... I meet him a couple days ago... we spent all of Saturday together... I feel like I've known him for years. And then there's Enishin, who I HAVE known for years."
"And Enishin proposed to you... in front of Kenshin." Gina joked.
"Yeah... how'd you know?" Kaoru turned around sharply.
Gina look a little shocked, "Lucky guess." She said with a gulp.
"Did Kenshin tell you?"
"No... just... how did Kenshin react when Enishin proposed?"
"That's just the problem... Enishin delivered me a box with a ring and a note saying Marry me... and I got the box while Kenshin was over... and I don't know what to do... you know... I feel Kenshin and I just kind of click..."
"Who do you love?" Gina motioned them to a bench outside the store.
"That's not the problem... if it was THAT simple... it would probably be Kenshin... he's like a soul mate."
"So what is the problem?"
Kaoru continued on her rampage about love, "... I mean... Enishin is my best friend, my first and only boyfriend...he treats me like a queen... but...Kenshin..."
(A/N Enishin is VERY OCC sorry...I need him that way)
"Kaoru... you're skirting the main subject... there's something you're not tell me... and you better... because there a bigger thing is what is keeping you from choosing..."
"Can you read minds or something?" Kaoru asked. How did Gina know she was hiding something?
"One: You talk WAY too faster for the love part to be the main problem... and two: I've been a loner my whole life... when you look at life from the outside, you tend to pick up a lot about human nature. You going to tell me?" Gina tapped her fingers lightly on the arm of the bench.
Kaoru sighed. She really did not want to tell Gina, "It's my dad... he's sick..."
Gina nodded, "And you're a college student..."
Kaoru nodded, "He need surgery badly, plus all that medication..."
"And there's no way Kenshin can help... Uncle Hiko is in charge of most of the family's money..."
"But Enishin has offered already numerous times to pay for my father's surgery... and his family is SO kind..."
"And we have Grandmother." Gina muttered.
"She's not that bad..."
Gina scoffed, "Right... and I'm a whale."
Kaoru giggled, "I heard she called Misao a weasel... Misao was painting one yesterday as a gift to your grandmother..."
"What does she call you?"
"Raccoon..."
Gina laughed, then grew somber, "She's calls me unworthy."
Kaoru stopped giggled, "Oh..."
Gina waved a hand, "This isn't about me... I'm fine with what she think about me." Gina felt a pit in her stomach; she was unworthy though; jobless, boyfriend-less... "So you're stuck between family and love?"
"I love my father!"
"What would he tell you to do?"
"Marry Kenshin! But that's not the point... my father wants what's best for me, and I want the same for HIM."
"So you're in a limbo..."
Kaoru nodded, "So... any advice Doctor?"
Gina shook her head, "I can offer you advice, but I can't make that decision for you. This decision is going to change your life... and I can't make it for you." Gina got up quickly and left, poor girl.
Kaoru ran and caught up with a fleeing Gina "What would you do?"
Gina looked at Kaoru, "Me? If it was my father..." She closed her eyes, "Marry Enishin, but please... it's my thoughts... not yours... please... make your own choice..." She walked away, trying to lose Kaoru. Kaoru was persistent though. Gina finally spun around, "I think I've done my job..."
Kaoru looked at Gina seriously, "But you have something to get off your chest too..."
"I don't." Gina looked away, "I can handle my own matters."
Kaoru grabbed her arm, "You can't handle your grandmother... or loosing your job... your breaking inside Gina... and you and I both know it..."
Gina yanked her arm away, "Why do you care?" She couldn't stand those people who pretended to care, then drop you like a sack of potatoes and run off and tell the world your problems. She had met all too many people like that.
"Because you look like you need a friend." Kaoru called.
Gina stopped slightly, enough so Kaoru could catch up, "How do I know I can trust you?"
"I trusted you when I didn't even know you... I think that's enough to convince you."
Gina thought back, maybe she could trust Kaoru. But maybe she couldn't. Her mind held much doubt, but what had she really had to lose this time? A reputation? What reputation? A friend? Maybe it was time to make a new friend.
Gina managed a smile, "All right."
(A/N: I'm not a very buddy-buddy person myself... I'm not a loner... I just don't have a VERY VERY close friend...so it's a little hard to write about having REALLY close friends...I'll try...)
***
Kaoru checked her watch, "Six o'clock? Already?" She was holding an assortment of colored bags and boxes.
Gina nodded slowly shifting her bags into her other hand, "Guess we should head back..." Kaoru nodded and followed Gina's wide steps.
Gina froze as Kaoru slammed into her from behind, "Hey!" Kaoru exclaimed.
Gina didn't say a word. Kaoru peered out from behind Gina. A young woman older than Gina was standing in front of them with a satisfied smirk on her face. She was well dressed, with shining gray eyes and platinum blond hair.
"Gina." The woman purred.
"Jin." Gina replied flatly, "Don't you have a JOB to attend to? Or did you get fired?"
"Nice seeing you too FREAK." Jin snapped.
Kaoru stepped forward, "Her? A freak? Look at yourself... with that ton of makeup on... who knows what is under that." Gina smirked, so Kaoru did have a backbone... and was a true friend her little voice in her head stated.
"I didn't come here to be called a freak by a child." Jin snickered.
"And I didn't come here to see you or have my friend insulted." Gina tried to pass Jin, who stepped to the side, blocking Gina, who halted.
Kaoru glanced between the girls. What exactly had happened between these two?
"I came to see you though." Jin said smiling like a cat.
"What do you want? You've already fired me for no reason... stay out of my life." Gina shoved past Jin and grabbed Kaoru, "Let's go."
"Consider that a payback for stealing my boyfriend." Jin called back to Gina.
Gina stopped and started to turn back, fist clutched. "Gina..." Kaoru moved to stop her, "Don't."
(A/N: FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!)
Gina looked at Kaoru, "I'm not going to punch her... I just need to say something to her face to face." She marched back to Jin, "I didn't steal your boyfriend; you LOST him."
She sneered, leaving Jin standing there. "Don't worry about it." She told Kaoru, "It's something I like to forgot."
Kaoru nodded, not all secrets could be revealed today, enough had been already. Gina was like an onion... a very layered protective person. Gina was reading her book on the bus ride home; Kaoru was left to her own thoughts. She looked at her hand, should she take Enishin's ring?
***
"Hey Aoshi... I need you advice."
Aoshi glanced up from his laptop at his younger brother, "Sure. Lay on the couch." He said with a smile.
Kenshin glared at the lumpy burgundy couch, "No thanks...I need advice like brother to brother."
"Then sit on that chair." Aoshi pointed to the only other chair in the room, a lumpy old brown one was over ten years old.
"I'll take the couch."
"So what's wrong with you?" Aoshi asked.
"Do you say that to ALL your patients as soon as they sit down?" Kenshin glanced up,
"Answer to question or get out." Aoshi thumbed the door.
"All right. Have you ever met the right girl... the kind of girl you look at and say... she's the one?"
"No... I can't say I have..."
"Well... I found a girl... and she's the one."
"But..."
"But she has a boyfriend." Kenshin protested.
"So? That's never stopped you from getting a girl before." Aoshi pointed out.
Kenshin sighed, "I know... but he asked her to marry him..."
"And she said..."
"She hasn't decided yet." Kenshin buried his hands in his face.
"Who does she love?"
"It's more than love. Her dad's sick... and needs surgery..." Kenshin looked up.
"And you're a poor staving doctor." Aoshi stated.
"Shut up."
"Fine. I will then."
"Aoshi."
"..."
"Aoshi."
"..."
"Aoshi."
"..."
"Aoshi?"
"..."
"AOSHI!"
"..."
"Don't shut up... please?" Kenshin was begging his older brother.
"..."
"Fine... I'm leaving."
"..."
"Jerk."
"..."
Kenshin slammed the door to the office as Aoshi shook his head; that was Kenshin's problem, not his. He shifted through some mail before turning off the lights and heading back to his apartment.
***
Gina caught Yumi in the café. "How's Megumi?" She asked cautiously.
Aunt Aya, Yumi and Tokio had been so inconsolable the last few days that no one had the heart to ask what went on when the three went to visit Megumi and Sano.
Yumi ignored Gina, turning around to make coffee.
"Yumi. I know you need to get this off your chest."
Yumi closed her eyes, letting one lone tears escape her closed lids, "I've cried enough over this. I'm over it."
"You're not."
"I am." Yumi stated flatly, placing the coffee on the customer's table.
"You're not." Gina continued to follow Yumi around the café.
"I am." Yumi placed some dirty dishes in the washing machine.
"You're not." Gina made a smoothie for a patron.
"I Am." Yumi's smile was phony as she handed a man the receipt.
"You're not."
"I AM." Yumi grabbed a dishtowel and began to wipe the table.
"You're not."
"I AM!!!!" Yumi furiously glared at her persistent cousin, throwing down the dishtowel in anger.
"Then tell me about Saturday if you are SO over it." Gina slid into a booth.
"I will." Yumi said confidently as she slid into the chair across from Gina.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Um... interesting and long chapter... lots of repetition.
Aoshi and Kenshin's relationship is somewhat distant. Kenshin is a VERY friendly person who likes to go out and meet people, like you saw in the second chapter... while Aoshi is a loner.
I worked on Kaoru and Gina's relationship in the chapter. They're really becoming fast friends.
I already know what Kaoru's decision is.
I'm sorry, this story has A LOT of characters and they cannot be all in ONE scene together... I really need for Misao, Hiko, Aya, Saitou, Tokio, Megumi, Sano... they'll come in as the story progresses... I hope...
Thanks for reading!
Please Review!
Next on the 12th Street Apartment: Yumi tell Gina about Megumi and Sano. Kaoru makes her decision. (Note: Subject to change)
11/15/2003
Hey again. Yes... originally this was a story about a girl named Gina. I hadn't even started watching Rurouni Kenshin. When I starting watching it, I found how a LOT of character fit in the story... and I had most event centered around Gina... it's really hard to span in out... but I'm trying to limit the event in Gina's life... Gina is an OC, and I'm more familiar to her because she's just been in my mind longer.
I also realize Aoshi and Gina's relationship is really close. My friend has an older brother almost eight years older than her and they're REALLY close... that's what Gina's life was based on but now that I've add Rurouni Kenshin characters in it's a little awkward.
Yeah... Misao didn't do anything about the grandmother thing...um... Misao doesn't really know the grandmother... and the grandmother is old... I didn't really think Misao would jump the old lady... I don't know... all I know is that that old lady isn't getting away with anything...
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
~Review Comments~ Nakkie: Thanks for the criticism... I appreciate that you didn't flame me, but tell me my faults. Remember that Gina looks really weird; golden wolfish eyes... I mean... without contacts... how weird is that on a girl? (She's like a female Saitou... kind of strange) I guess she found her only true friends in childhood in her brothers... About Aoshi fawning over Misao... I'm actually considering that and it's probably going to happen... not until later though...
Unique-Starfish: Thanks for all the reviews!!
purpo kitee katx: Thanks for reading! I'm not that good of a writer...
MissBehavin: As always, thanks for reading. I can't kill off the grandmother, I love how she's going to make a mess with Aoshi... never mind... I can't give too much away...just know that she messes up lives... and I need that...Jin... I don't know what I'm going to do with her...
Hm... I'm also thinking of killing Gina off in a couple chapters... any reactions to having her killed off guys??? And it's not like she's dying in her sleep, it'll probably be painful... tell me what you think...
*********
Recap: Meet Grandmother. Aoshi and Misao moments. Gina got fired from her job. Jin is back. Enishin purposed to Kaoru, indirectly.
*********
Everything in this story is fast moving... I need to slow it down...so here's a little Kaoru and Gina friendship stuff.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Monday Morning:
Gina straightened her back slightly, arcing it. She glanced around the mall and back down to the shoes she had been trying on, "I have too many." She sighed, "But these are so nice." She placed them down and walked out of the store.
She set her bags down and sat down on a coffee table, sipping hot chocolate. She pulled out a book and began to read. It was Monday morning and Gina didn't feel like looking for another job. She was considering going back to school, know that she KNEW Jin wasn't going to write her a good recommendation.
"Gina?" She felt a light hand on her shoulder.
Gina fell out of her chair, startled. She got up embarrassed, "Hi. Do I know you?"
The woman shook her head giggling, "I'm Kaoru, Misao's roommate." The way Gina fell out of her chair reminded Kaoru of how Kenshin fell off the table when she first met him.
Gina nodded slowly, "And..." She motioned Kaoru to sit.
"I need your help." Kaoru dropped her purse on the table.
"Oh..." Great... ten bucks it's about marriage, Gina joked to herself, "Sure... I'm not sure I could help, considering I don't know you..."
"Misao said you could help."
Misao? Hadn't she only met Misao two days ago... oh well... "Okay... couldn't Misao help you?"
"She's in class...all day actually... I just need someone to talk to... I just saw you sitting here..."
Oh right... wait... wasn't Kaoru a college student too? Gina remembered Kenshin mentioning something about that. "You don't have class today?"
Kaoru nodded, "I know it must be weird for you... having someone you don't know just call you name."
Gina nodded. It's even weirder I'm sitting down and having a conversation with someone that's not my family, she thought. Even in elementary school Gina was ALWAYS a loner, what parent wanted their child hanging around a girl with piercing freakish yellow eyes?
"Gina?" Kaoru waved a hand.
Gina smiled, "Sorry... kind of dazed off... so... you want to spit it out right here... or you wanna shop and talk?"
Kaoru shifted nervously, "Shop and talk... if you're free."
"I've got all the time in the world... I got fired Saturday." Gina said offhandedly. It really didn't matter... or shouldn't matter; it was just a job... her dream job. She scolded herself in her mind. It shouldn't matter; they'll be more jobs.
"Oh... I'm sorry."
Gina looked amused, as she got up, "What'cha sorry about? You didn't fire me. I'm all right with it..."
The two walked into a clothing shop. Another half an hour or so Gina piped up, "Are you going to tell me anything? I'm all right with shopping... you just look like you need to say something that's on your mind."
Kaoru rubbed her forehead, "How's Kenshin?"
"Kenshin? He's okay... been in a horrible mood from Sunday morning onward... why you guys dating or something?"
"Well... I mean... I don't know... I meet him a couple days ago... we spent all of Saturday together... I feel like I've known him for years. And then there's Enishin, who I HAVE known for years."
"And Enishin proposed to you... in front of Kenshin." Gina joked.
"Yeah... how'd you know?" Kaoru turned around sharply.
Gina look a little shocked, "Lucky guess." She said with a gulp.
"Did Kenshin tell you?"
"No... just... how did Kenshin react when Enishin proposed?"
"That's just the problem... Enishin delivered me a box with a ring and a note saying Marry me... and I got the box while Kenshin was over... and I don't know what to do... you know... I feel Kenshin and I just kind of click..."
"Who do you love?" Gina motioned them to a bench outside the store.
"That's not the problem... if it was THAT simple... it would probably be Kenshin... he's like a soul mate."
"So what is the problem?"
Kaoru continued on her rampage about love, "... I mean... Enishin is my best friend, my first and only boyfriend...he treats me like a queen... but...Kenshin..."
(A/N Enishin is VERY OCC sorry...I need him that way)
"Kaoru... you're skirting the main subject... there's something you're not tell me... and you better... because there a bigger thing is what is keeping you from choosing..."
"Can you read minds or something?" Kaoru asked. How did Gina know she was hiding something?
"One: You talk WAY too faster for the love part to be the main problem... and two: I've been a loner my whole life... when you look at life from the outside, you tend to pick up a lot about human nature. You going to tell me?" Gina tapped her fingers lightly on the arm of the bench.
Kaoru sighed. She really did not want to tell Gina, "It's my dad... he's sick..."
Gina nodded, "And you're a college student..."
Kaoru nodded, "He need surgery badly, plus all that medication..."
"And there's no way Kenshin can help... Uncle Hiko is in charge of most of the family's money..."
"But Enishin has offered already numerous times to pay for my father's surgery... and his family is SO kind..."
"And we have Grandmother." Gina muttered.
"She's not that bad..."
Gina scoffed, "Right... and I'm a whale."
Kaoru giggled, "I heard she called Misao a weasel... Misao was painting one yesterday as a gift to your grandmother..."
"What does she call you?"
"Raccoon..."
Gina laughed, then grew somber, "She's calls me unworthy."
Kaoru stopped giggled, "Oh..."
Gina waved a hand, "This isn't about me... I'm fine with what she think about me." Gina felt a pit in her stomach; she was unworthy though; jobless, boyfriend-less... "So you're stuck between family and love?"
"I love my father!"
"What would he tell you to do?"
"Marry Kenshin! But that's not the point... my father wants what's best for me, and I want the same for HIM."
"So you're in a limbo..."
Kaoru nodded, "So... any advice Doctor?"
Gina shook her head, "I can offer you advice, but I can't make that decision for you. This decision is going to change your life... and I can't make it for you." Gina got up quickly and left, poor girl.
Kaoru ran and caught up with a fleeing Gina "What would you do?"
Gina looked at Kaoru, "Me? If it was my father..." She closed her eyes, "Marry Enishin, but please... it's my thoughts... not yours... please... make your own choice..." She walked away, trying to lose Kaoru. Kaoru was persistent though. Gina finally spun around, "I think I've done my job..."
Kaoru looked at Gina seriously, "But you have something to get off your chest too..."
"I don't." Gina looked away, "I can handle my own matters."
Kaoru grabbed her arm, "You can't handle your grandmother... or loosing your job... your breaking inside Gina... and you and I both know it..."
Gina yanked her arm away, "Why do you care?" She couldn't stand those people who pretended to care, then drop you like a sack of potatoes and run off and tell the world your problems. She had met all too many people like that.
"Because you look like you need a friend." Kaoru called.
Gina stopped slightly, enough so Kaoru could catch up, "How do I know I can trust you?"
"I trusted you when I didn't even know you... I think that's enough to convince you."
Gina thought back, maybe she could trust Kaoru. But maybe she couldn't. Her mind held much doubt, but what had she really had to lose this time? A reputation? What reputation? A friend? Maybe it was time to make a new friend.
Gina managed a smile, "All right."
(A/N: I'm not a very buddy-buddy person myself... I'm not a loner... I just don't have a VERY VERY close friend...so it's a little hard to write about having REALLY close friends...I'll try...)
***
Kaoru checked her watch, "Six o'clock? Already?" She was holding an assortment of colored bags and boxes.
Gina nodded slowly shifting her bags into her other hand, "Guess we should head back..." Kaoru nodded and followed Gina's wide steps.
Gina froze as Kaoru slammed into her from behind, "Hey!" Kaoru exclaimed.
Gina didn't say a word. Kaoru peered out from behind Gina. A young woman older than Gina was standing in front of them with a satisfied smirk on her face. She was well dressed, with shining gray eyes and platinum blond hair.
"Gina." The woman purred.
"Jin." Gina replied flatly, "Don't you have a JOB to attend to? Or did you get fired?"
"Nice seeing you too FREAK." Jin snapped.
Kaoru stepped forward, "Her? A freak? Look at yourself... with that ton of makeup on... who knows what is under that." Gina smirked, so Kaoru did have a backbone... and was a true friend her little voice in her head stated.
"I didn't come here to be called a freak by a child." Jin snickered.
"And I didn't come here to see you or have my friend insulted." Gina tried to pass Jin, who stepped to the side, blocking Gina, who halted.
Kaoru glanced between the girls. What exactly had happened between these two?
"I came to see you though." Jin said smiling like a cat.
"What do you want? You've already fired me for no reason... stay out of my life." Gina shoved past Jin and grabbed Kaoru, "Let's go."
"Consider that a payback for stealing my boyfriend." Jin called back to Gina.
Gina stopped and started to turn back, fist clutched. "Gina..." Kaoru moved to stop her, "Don't."
(A/N: FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!)
Gina looked at Kaoru, "I'm not going to punch her... I just need to say something to her face to face." She marched back to Jin, "I didn't steal your boyfriend; you LOST him."
She sneered, leaving Jin standing there. "Don't worry about it." She told Kaoru, "It's something I like to forgot."
Kaoru nodded, not all secrets could be revealed today, enough had been already. Gina was like an onion... a very layered protective person. Gina was reading her book on the bus ride home; Kaoru was left to her own thoughts. She looked at her hand, should she take Enishin's ring?
***
"Hey Aoshi... I need you advice."
Aoshi glanced up from his laptop at his younger brother, "Sure. Lay on the couch." He said with a smile.
Kenshin glared at the lumpy burgundy couch, "No thanks...I need advice like brother to brother."
"Then sit on that chair." Aoshi pointed to the only other chair in the room, a lumpy old brown one was over ten years old.
"I'll take the couch."
"So what's wrong with you?" Aoshi asked.
"Do you say that to ALL your patients as soon as they sit down?" Kenshin glanced up,
"Answer to question or get out." Aoshi thumbed the door.
"All right. Have you ever met the right girl... the kind of girl you look at and say... she's the one?"
"No... I can't say I have..."
"Well... I found a girl... and she's the one."
"But..."
"But she has a boyfriend." Kenshin protested.
"So? That's never stopped you from getting a girl before." Aoshi pointed out.
Kenshin sighed, "I know... but he asked her to marry him..."
"And she said..."
"She hasn't decided yet." Kenshin buried his hands in his face.
"Who does she love?"
"It's more than love. Her dad's sick... and needs surgery..." Kenshin looked up.
"And you're a poor staving doctor." Aoshi stated.
"Shut up."
"Fine. I will then."
"Aoshi."
"..."
"Aoshi."
"..."
"Aoshi."
"..."
"Aoshi?"
"..."
"AOSHI!"
"..."
"Don't shut up... please?" Kenshin was begging his older brother.
"..."
"Fine... I'm leaving."
"..."
"Jerk."
"..."
Kenshin slammed the door to the office as Aoshi shook his head; that was Kenshin's problem, not his. He shifted through some mail before turning off the lights and heading back to his apartment.
***
Gina caught Yumi in the café. "How's Megumi?" She asked cautiously.
Aunt Aya, Yumi and Tokio had been so inconsolable the last few days that no one had the heart to ask what went on when the three went to visit Megumi and Sano.
Yumi ignored Gina, turning around to make coffee.
"Yumi. I know you need to get this off your chest."
Yumi closed her eyes, letting one lone tears escape her closed lids, "I've cried enough over this. I'm over it."
"You're not."
"I am." Yumi stated flatly, placing the coffee on the customer's table.
"You're not." Gina continued to follow Yumi around the café.
"I am." Yumi placed some dirty dishes in the washing machine.
"You're not." Gina made a smoothie for a patron.
"I Am." Yumi's smile was phony as she handed a man the receipt.
"You're not."
"I AM." Yumi grabbed a dishtowel and began to wipe the table.
"You're not."
"I AM!!!!" Yumi furiously glared at her persistent cousin, throwing down the dishtowel in anger.
"Then tell me about Saturday if you are SO over it." Gina slid into a booth.
"I will." Yumi said confidently as she slid into the chair across from Gina.
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Um... interesting and long chapter... lots of repetition.
Aoshi and Kenshin's relationship is somewhat distant. Kenshin is a VERY friendly person who likes to go out and meet people, like you saw in the second chapter... while Aoshi is a loner.
I worked on Kaoru and Gina's relationship in the chapter. They're really becoming fast friends.
I already know what Kaoru's decision is.
I'm sorry, this story has A LOT of characters and they cannot be all in ONE scene together... I really need for Misao, Hiko, Aya, Saitou, Tokio, Megumi, Sano... they'll come in as the story progresses... I hope...
Thanks for reading!
Please Review!
Next on the 12th Street Apartment: Yumi tell Gina about Megumi and Sano. Kaoru makes her decision. (Note: Subject to change)