By: O. Juice
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'There isn't anyway I can compete with perfect,' Kaoru thought bitterly as she unlocked her door, 'So why even bother?'
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Chapter 10
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Kaoru awoke with a grumble as her alarm clock's disturbingly loud ring resonated in her room. She hadn't remembered setting the darn thing, and she was sure as the sunrise and sunset that today was her day off. Was she just so tired last night that she set the alarmingly noisy clock without realizing it? Kaoru frowned; she would never make the mistake to set her clock in an act of senselessness. So what was so important to Kaoru that she needed to wake up at seven in the morning for?
Her mind quickly flashed through her mental agenda. Her hand quickly hit the off button as she jerked upright.
'How could I forget?!' Her mind mentally scolded, 'I'm going to go Christmas Shopping today with Soujiro!'
With such speed, she readied herself for a whole day with Soujiro. Kaoru splashed some water over her face before giving herself a stern look in the mirror. So many thoughts and doubts raced in her mind, so many questions that were left unanswered seemed to burn and eat away at her sanity. But as quickly as they came, she shook them off.
"Kamiya," She began as her eyes slightly narrowed, "Kenshin has a girlfriend. Deal with it. You'll just have to put aside your feelings for now and give Kenshin a chance to be happy with somebody else before you wring his neck for leaving you hanging like this."
Satisfied with her little speech, she continued to get ready. Whatever it was she felt for Kenshin would be put on hold. Besides, what kind of best friend would she be if she didn't let Kenshin make his own choices?
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Soujiro shuffled the bags he was holding as Kaoru paid. The many sales and discounts did nothing to help their blistering hands and aching feet. But Soujiro did not complain, neither did Kaoru. They were having too much fun shopping for random items at bargain prices.
"Who else do you need to shop for?" Kaoru said as she placed her change in her purse.
"Well," Soujiro paused as they left the clothing store, "just one more gift for my mother."
Kaoru adjusted her hold on her bags, "So what do you have in mind?"
Soujiro shrugged, equally dumbfounded. "I'm afraid I don't know what to get her. She's very hard to shop for."
Kaoru only laughed, "Well, why don't we try this shop? Jewelry is always a good choice."
The many bracelets and necklaces made Kaoru's eyes twinkle and Soujiro's wallet seemed to super glue itself in his pocket. At first, though he loves his mother to death, he refused whatever Kaoru suggested. More often than not, he was terrified to see how much some of these cost.
"Sou-chan!" Kaoru called out, using a nickname she fashioned for him only moments before, "How about this one?"
Soujiro examined the tennis bracelet, as well as its price tag.
"It's on sale too," Kaoru declared, "what do you think, Sou-chan?"
Soujiro smiled, "I think it's perfect."
"Do you two need any help?" A rather energetic saleslady came by, "The engagement rings are over there, you happy couple, you."
"What?" They both blushed at the assumption as they chorused, "Oh no, we're not--"
"Really?" The woman began to ponder as she cut them off, "I usually get these things right. I must be on the fritz today! What can I help you with?"
"I'd like to get this bracelet, please." Soujiro smiled.
"Of course," The woman smiled back and turned to Kaoru, "Are you sure you two aren't planning to get engaged? He's got a good smile."
Kaoru was taken aback by the woman's not so subtle hints. Yes, she already knew he had a good smile, she wanted to say, but somehow couldn't. A flash of Kenshin's face seemed to appear before her eyes whenever she even began to notice small things like that.
The woman shrugged, "I just thought I'd try. I'll get this wrapped up for you."
Soujiro glanced at Kaoru in curiosity as he handed the woman his credit card. Why was she acting so strange? Soujiro began to wonder as he observed Kaoru look through other items they had on sale.
"Look at this one, Sou-chan;" Kaoru said with a smile, "Do you have any more girls you need to shop for? Because this necklace is perfect!"
Soujiro peered over her shoulder as he looked at the beautifully crafted necklace. He nodded in agreement as Kaoru began to go on about how wonderful it looks.
"The person you give this to could wear this with anything," Kaoru began, "it's versatile. But if you really wanted to splurge, you can go get that one with the bigger diamond. Just think it can be worn with anything. It's a timeless classic, I think."
Soujiro just laughed at Kaoru, causing her to frown.
"What's so funny?" She wondered aloud, her fist landing on her hip.
"It's nothing, Kaoru." Soujiro said with a slight wave, "But you really don't need to sell me the necklace. I believe you, it's a very nice piece of jewelry."
Kaoru's frown only deepened as Soujiro's attention suddenly shifted to his newly bought present. As they left the store, her mind internally checked off who she had left.
'Hm,' Kaoru began to ponder as they crossed the street to get to a warm looking tea house, 'I need a gift for Tokio and Saitou when they get back, that bum Sano and...'
"Say," Soujiro suddenly said, cutting through Kaoru's thoughts, "have you found something for Kenshin yet?"
Kaoru glanced at Soujiro, who seemed so intent on looking ahead and averting her eyes, and just shrugged, a smile she never expected already beginning to form. "Not yet. But I'll think of something. Kenshin isn't that hard to shop for. Get him some laundry detergent or a shiny new pot or wok and he'll be happier than you can ever imagine."
Soujiro nodded wordlessly as they weaved through the throngs of holiday shoppers. His expression was unusually somber upon noticing Kaoru's soft smile when he mentioned his name. But Soujiro didn't mention any more of him, hoping that Kaoru herself would come to realize her true feelings towards her best friend.
'It's just the way things are,' Soujiro thought to himself, glancing at Kaoru, whose smile still hasn't seemed to go away.
True, at first Soujiro wanted more than a friendship with Kaoru. But as the days passed, he noticed something Kaoru herself, and Kenshin, didn't seem to pay much attention to. He noticed how her eyes would twinkle and her face would light up whenever Kenshin seemed to be around. He also noticed how Kenshin seemed a lot more relaxed around her than anybody else. How the two still hadn't gotten together was beyond his comprehension. It was just so blatantly obvious that the two were destined, and if Soujiro had to come off as the bad guy for them to realize it, Soujiro glanced at Kaoru again, then so be it.
::~::
Kaoru smiled to herself as she examined her handiwork. She had just finished the last of her presents, a box set of Kenshin's most favorite movies that he was always too indecisive to buy himself. Kaoru smiled proudly at the stack of wrapped presents and glanced at the clock. Just as the clock struck four, the door bell rang. Grabbing two blankets, she ran to answer the door.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru grinned, "Right on time!"
Kenshin smiled and nodded as he made his way in, armed with bags of Chinese food and four movies under his arm. Kaoru helped Kenshin set up, just like what they had always done. But this time, instead of talking about their day or talking about how Sano can be a pain, they had nothing to say.
Just what was there to say or talk about? What ever they'd end up talking about, Kaoru knew she just couldn't come out and say, "oh, Kenshin, by the way, I really don't like Tomoe. Will you reconsider and go out with me instead? I think I love you" even though the speech had been playing in her mind like a broken record all day long. She nearly scoffed at the scene.
'Yeah, that would be the day.' Kaoru rolled her eyes as she made her way to the kitchen.
But even with her internal conversation raging on, Kaoru bit her lip, the silence between them still eating at her. She hadn't seen much of Kenshin ever since he started going out with that woman. It had been days since the two had a decent conversation. In fact, Kaoru couldn't even remember the last time they did have a decent conversation.
"Chopsticks or regular silverware?" Kaoru asked, a fist full of chopsticks in one hand, a fist full of plastic sporks in the other.
"Whatever you're going to use will be fine." Kenshin said with a sigh.
"What have you been up to lately, huh, Kenshin?" Kaoru began as she brought out some chopsticks. "Just the same old," Kenshin shrugged, turning on the television.
Kaoru nearly huffed in frustration. That was a sad, and pathetic, attempt to start a conversation. Already Kaoru hated that woman even more for turning Kenshin into a boring drone that couldn't carry a decent conversation. Especially for taking him away from her.
"Do you want me to turn off the lights now?" Kaoru asked while Kenshin continued fiddling with the television.
Kenshin just shrugged in reply.
Kaoru blinked as she turned out the lights, the movie already going, a realization dawning on her, 'Was he even mine to begin with?'
Kaoru felt doubt and uncertainty swell within her. Doubt and uncertainty were not two things that went along well with Kaoru. She'd usually talk to Kenshin about what was bothering her, but this time Kaoru knew she couldn't. With a slightly heavy heart, Kaoru continued eating her food as she watched the previews roll by.
She felt her frustration turn into tension and the tension seemed to emit from her and seep into both their brains. Kenshin seemed on edge, and Kaoru was clearly distraught. Both factors only shortened the fuse of a bomb that was about to go off.
"You're quiet tonight, that you are." Kenshin declared between chewing.
Kaoru nearly cried out as she shrugged.
'I was trying to start a conversation with you earlier.' Kaoru muttered in her mind as she continued eating.
"You haven't been at the Akabeko lately," Kenshin spoke again as the movie started.
"I was there a lot, but you weren't." Kaoru said in a tone she hadn't meant to use as she sent Kenshin a glance.
Kenshin's brows furrowed in slight confusion as he put down his food. "Is there something wrong?"
"No," Kaoru shook her head, feeling a little angry at Kenshin's obvious ignorance.
"If there's something wrong, Kaoru, you can tell me, that you can." Kenshin said, concern sweeping across his features, "I'm always around."
Kaoru let out a short sigh, "Are you, Kenshin? Can we still even be considered best friends? You know, I haven't seen you since that night when I met your girlfriend. And when I finally get to see you, it feels like you and I are two totally different people."
Kenshin ran a hand through is hair, "I'm not the only one with a sudden depletion of time for their so-called best friend."
"What does that mean?" Kaoru frowned.
"Every time I get the chance to even sit down and just talk with you, you're out with Soujiro or having lunch with him, or shopping with him." Kenshin said, his voice slightly rising.
"You know what," Kaoru put down her food as her whole body stiffened, "I wouldn't be spending so much time with Soujiro if you were actually there to begin with. Ever since you've been going out with Tomoe, it's like I stopped existing in your world, like I'm not important anymore. You've been too busy to take my calls because you need to get work done so Hiko can let you out early to, surprise, take Tomoe out."
Kenshin rubbed his head, "So you're blaming me for taking my girlfriend out?"
"No," Kaoru heaved a sigh as she looked around, "it's just, I don't know." A pause. "This was a bad idea. You can finish the movie if you want, I'm going to go to bed. Lock the door behind you."
And with that Kaoru left Kenshin and headed for her room.
The darkness in Kaoru's room mirrored the darkness in her mood. With a grunt, she threw herself on her bed. She could hear Kenshin packing up and soon the door closing soon thereafter. It had been a long while since the two fought, and back then it was so menial; like when Kenshin had called Kaoru fat or Kaoru had borrowed one of Kenshin's pans and broke it, much to Kenshin's disbelief. But never about their love lives taking up too much time.
For Kenshin and Kaoru, there was always time for each other. Even if Kenshin was swamped or Kaoru was working double shifts, there would always be time for a quick call about how swamped they are or a lunch together.
'I can't believe I just left him there. Kenshin just walked out. He must be angry.' Kaoru thought to her self, feeling a little guilty as she began staring blankly at her digital clock.
She reached for the phone and stared at it. She should call Kenshin and apologize for the way she just snapped at everything Kenshin said. Kaoru concluded that she sounded much like the bitter, angry, jealous best friend Kaoru swore she'd never become should Kenshin find someone he actually liked. But then again, Kenshin wasn't being as helpful in the situation either, she recalled.
Kaoru closed her eyes for a moment, desperately trying to remember why she was even so wound up about Kenshin's change in marital status. She had so many questions addressed to herself, and even she couldn't come up with a solid answer. Or one that made any sense.
But if there was one thing Kaoru was sure of, the relationship between Kenshin and Kaoru was quickly changing. The only problem was she didn't know if it would be for the better, or even what it was changing into.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin!
Author's Notes: Eep, so sorry for the long wait! Err... I didn't know so many of you really don't want Tomoe here. -_-; (Well, DUH, she's in the way of Kaoru to get to Kenshin.) But not to worry, her initial purpose and the duration of her stay is short, if I do say so myself. She's not going to have any big parts, I mean. I hope the S/K will make up for it, even though I'm almost sure it won't appease the K/K fans out there. If not, the ending chapter will. Promise. Anyway, I know, I know, their relationship seems to be getting bleaker by the chapter. But not to worry, things'll work out in the end. Which, I might add, is only a few chapters away!
All right, for those who skipped that, here's the bottom line: This is definitely a K/K fic! Tomoe will be out of the picture in a little bit, and Kenshin and Kaoru will finally be together in a few chapters.
Thank you so very much to those who have reviewed! You all make me type faster than usual!
EbonyFox (A lot of people I heard aren't her biggest fan. I guess I can't blame anybody, seeing that I have yet to see an episode with her in it. I'd like to think I'm lucky like that. But anyway, thanks so much for the review!)
Keiry (Oh, I'm one big softie too. *sniff* I feel like I made the wrong choice sticking Tomoe there. But I really, REALLY didn't want to slap some OC in that slot. I wanted someone people could really hate with just the mention of her name, I guess I thought Tomoe would be perfect. Anyway, thanks so much for the review!)
donna8157 (I'm glad you liked that! It took me FOREVER to think of that. I guess that's what held up that chapter since I really wanted to stick a little lie in like that. Anyway, thanks so much for your review!)
CharlieTheOtakuNymph (Lol. Don't worry. She'll be off and out of the picture by next chapter. Kenshin's a little confused, that's all. Thanks so much for the review!)
mr.wonderful (Ah, if only I COULD update more often! That would be heavenly! My schedule is really jam-packed. But I'm glad you like my story! Thanks so much for the review!)
sanga-chan (I'm sorry! I promise not to make Kenshin do that again! But don't worry, Kaoru will get even, kind of, sort of. Haha. I'm super glad you like my story! Anyway, thanks so much for your review!)
SilverLightning177 (Lol, a lot of people, I'm sure, didn't see that coming. You really think it's a great turn? I'm glad! Don't worry about Kaoru, she'll be fine. Anyway, thank you for your review!)
random fan (Lol, that's a good idea to put in a Kenshin POV just to see what he thinks about all of this! I probably will in a later chapter. Anyway, thanks for your review!)
Rurouni Kaoru Kenshin's Love (Lol. Thanks so much for your review!)
Korai Rumikashi (Don't worry, I don't think you're the only one who wants Tomoe to suffer a horrible death for taking Kenshin away. Sorry for the long wait! Thanks soo much for your review!)
Chikai Tenshi (Really? I gave you a heart pang? Then my work is done! Lol. Not really. I still have to finish this, don't I? Anyway, thanks for the review and the encouragement!)
Sora Himura (*sniff* I'm so glad you've stuck with my story and my erratic updating style! I just hope the ending won't disappoint since it's coming up so soon already! Thanks sooo much for your reviews and the encouragement!)
CrismHeart (Lol, don't stress about not reviewing! All I really care about is that people like what I put out. Hm, yes, remember the hallucinations. They play a part in the end. Kind of. I must be some kind of lucky to have managed to portray Tomoe accurately. Don't worry! I'll definitely continue this one to the end! Thanks so much for your review!)
Papaya! (I'm glad this story is one of your very, very favorites! Yay! Lol. I'm a little drama-lover too. I'm sorry for the long wait! But thanks so much for your review!)
SoujiroSeta_doris (Sorry to say, Tokio won't be showing up as often anymore, since she's out "honeymooning" with Saitou. But I'll try to stick her in when I can. Thanks so much for your review!)
KuTiExAzNxAnGeL (Yay! I'm glad you loved it! Thanks a bunch for your review!)
SarcasmSage (Lol, yes! I DO need to update! I'm sorry if I made you wait long! Thanks a bunch for your review!)
orange09 (Hi! Well, Tomoe being good or bad really depends on how you see her. But I'm leaning towards the bad a little more, since I want her to really seem like she's in the way of Kenshin and Kaoru. I'm sorry for making you wait long! Thanks for your review!)
Miko no Kokoro (Lol, I love a lot of stories too! The authors here are just amazing! I'm happy you like my story! Even though you love a lot more that are probably ten million times better than mine! Thanks so much for your review!)
inu-kun159 (Lol. Oh, okay, I'll write more. Don't worry about Kenshin and Kaoru getting together. They definitely will! Thanks a lot for your review!)
Review!