Author's Note: THANK YOU for all the great reviews! Here's chapter four, it's longer than usual! Now, also to answer some of your comments/questions!
JML: Wai! I love the original Japanese terms too…but sadly, since this is taking place in America, sometimes I feel the English is more suitable…especially since Kenshin's dialect was already strange in the original story line…It just seemed TOO weird to have him saying "de gozaru" in this. BUT I did keep the "oro!" ^_^x
Steel Jugular: Although I absolutely LOVE the idea and agree that I could see Aoshi as a Kamikaze who somehow survived the crash, the Japanese didn't really start using Kamikaze until they started losing the war, so it doesn't fit in time wise…sorry, but keep in mind I DID love the idea! I THINK I have an idea for Aoshi's character but that idea might make less sense than Sano being Kaoru's brother…lol. We'll see, maybe I'll post a few ideas and we'll have a vote? What do you all think?
*As for Y/T, if they ARE in here they aren't going to have much screen time but I WILL write them in somewhere, I PROMISE!
* * *
Chapter Four:
Kenshin stared at the young woman who had just walked in. She had long, shiny, midnight hair that went to her mid back. She was wearing a blue and white striped dress and a pair of black, ankle high boots, which were smeared with mud from the outside. Her eyes were a bottomless cerulean color. They reminded him of the oceans at home.
His thoughts were interrupted, when the small girl with braided hair began pulling on his hair.
"Oro?"
"Wow! What pretty hair!" exclaimed Misao, "Is it natural? Or is it dyed?"
"Misao, stop that!" yelled Megumi.
Misao let go of his hair. "Sorry…so which is it?"
"Natural…" Kenshin replied backing away from the hyperactive hair puller.
"Hi, my name is Kaoru Kamiya!"
Kenshin looked up at Kaoru. She was smiling and waiting for him to introduce himself. "I'm Kenshin. Kenshin Himura," he said quickly.
"My friend is Misao Makimachi. I apologize for her behavior," she replied.
Misao stuck out her tongue.
"That's quite alright Miss Kaoru," he assured her.
"I think you should all leave Kenshin alone now," said Megumi. "Sanosuke was already in here harassing him, and I need to remove some of the bandages."
"Oh, pooh Meg you're no fun!" exclaimed Misao as Megumi usher her and Kaoru out the door.
"No, I'm not, now get going I have work to do!"
"Fine, fine! I hope you feel better soon!" Kenshin heard Kaoru's voice call as they left the room.
Thank you, he replied mentally.
Once they were outside Kaoru let out a breath. "Oh. My. God. Misao did you see him? He's gorgeous!"
"He's okay I guess," replied Misao, "I love his hair though."
"I wonder what he'll look like without the bandages…" Kaoru commented as she began dreaming up some mental images.
"Uh-oh!" said Misao grinning, "Someone has a crush!" she accused with a singsong note in her voice.
"Maybe…" replied Kaoru coyly.
The two girls giggled as they headed back to their quarters to work on homework.
* * *
Another night, another dance, it had been two days since Kenshin had arrived. But as much as the redhead had been on her mind the past few days, that most seriously wasn't the item that held her attention now.
It really was a nice song. Really. Even so, Kaoru had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. There, on the stage, was Sanosuke. Singing.
Now, to be completely honest, Sano had a very nice voice. It had a deep and calming tone. The humor in this particular situation laid in what he was singing and whom he was singing it to.
"It had to be you…"
That was it. Kaoru left her seat and headed for the door. Once outside she let it out, nearly falling over in her laughter. She realized that to any passerby she must've appeared off her rocker. She didn't care though. The sight inside was far more insane.
"Kaoru you okay?"
She looked up to see Misao. "Yeah," Kaoru replied stifling her giggles. "How do you supposed Meg got him to do THAT?"
"I heard…" Misao whispered into her ear the rest. Kaoru's eyes went wide.
"HE WHAT? AND HE DIDN'T TELL ME?"
"Shhh!" Misao quieted her. "He wanted it to be a surprise. They just didn't know I was in the room when they discussed it."
"Spying again?"
Misao smiled. "You know me!"
Kaoru giggled. "So, they're actually considering the M-word?"
"Apparently!"
It was just then that they heard the song end and a fast paced one begin. Both of them reentered the building.
Kaoru looked around for Sanosuke. "Misao do you see my brother anywhere?"
Misao also looked. "No…wait hey there he is. Hey! Isn't that Kenshin?"
Kaoru looked in the direction Misao pointed out to her. Yes there they were, both of them, dancing to the rapid rhythm of the music.
"Wow. He's not bad," commented Misao.
Not bad is right, thought
Kaoru as she watched the redhead with calculating eyes, he's fantastic.
Kenshin was dressed in some
clean dark slacks and plain button down shirt.
Kaoru laughed as Sano easily flipped him over his arm and Kenshin landed
gracefully and stepped back to the beat.
Kaoru was mesmerized by Kenshin's fluidity. The song ended all to soon with Sanosuke leapfrogging over
Kenshin and then the two turning to give each other a high five.
Kaoru continued to watch him. He was smiling and laughing and looked as though he was having a pretty good time. Then he turned around, and she saw his face. She gasped at the sight of a crossed scar on his cheek. She remembered having seen a bandage there the other day.
"Oi, Kaoru!"
Her thoughts were interrupted as Sanosuke yelled to her. "Hi!" she waved walking up to the two.
"Oh, hello Miss Misao, Miss Kaoru," replied Kenshin, suddenly feeling VERY self-conscious about his face. He lifted a hand to cover it.
"How are you feeling, Kenshin?" asked Misao.
"Much better thank you."
Kaoru smiled at Kenshin's pathetic attempt to cover up the cut on his face. "It doesn't look bad actually," she told him, gently pulling his hand away with hers. "It's quite becoming on you."
Kenshin felt himself blush as she looked into his eyes. He silently thanked god that he had just been dancing and could blame the reddening of his cheeks on that. "Thank you. Megumi took the bandage off this morning," he told her.
Kaoru felt her own face redden. He has such beautiful eyes…violet…I don't think I've seen eyes that color before.
She turned her attention to Sano to hide her face. "Well, my DEAR BROTHER, it seems you've been hiding something from me!"
Sanosuke's mouth dropped. "H-how did you know?"
"I have my own network of information…if you know what I mean."
Sanosuke's gaze turned to Misao. "YOU LITTLE SPY!" he yelled.
"Eeep!" squeaked Misao as Sano began chasing her out of the building.
"So, Sano's your brother, right?" asked Kenshin
Kaoru nodded.
"You have different last names…why is that?"
"Oh, well," replied Kaoru, "He's actually my half brother. We share the same mother. Sano's dad died before he was born, and his mom remarried to my dad."
"Oh, I see." The band started up again. Kenshin looked at Kaoru for a moment. "So, uh, you wanna dance?"
Kaoru smiled. "I'd love to," she replied, taking his hand.
So..like it? Hate it? R/R!