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Ep. 16: Fifteen First Dates

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"What are you doing here?" he laughed kissing her on the cheek. "And why are you wasting money?

"Oh call it the romantic in me." she smiled. "I wanted one last date with you. Is that a crime?"

"Ugh yeah its called adultery." He said wrapping an arm around her.

"It's called meeting up with old friends to reminisce sicko!" she punched him in the side.

"It was kinda lonely being here without you. Its like Kainan wouldn't be Kainan if you weren't here with me." he sighed.

"Kenshin you big softy!"

"Stop teasing me or I'll call your husband!" he laughed.

They looked at the small makeshift restaurant in the garden. Each table had its own small cove of bougainvillea flowers, giving a sense of privacy. Some students dressed as waiters were running around from table to table serving the food. The table glowed with the small candles floating in a glass fish bowl and lanterns were hung over head.

"Oh yeah this is for you." he handed her the bouquet that the auctionees were supposed to give their dates.

"Oh wow thanks. This is probably the most romantic date I've been on with you."

"Well its hard to be romantic when you're eighteen, broke and had to practice every night"

"Including Saturdays." They said at the same time.

"This was a great idea." She smiled.

"It was Ms. Yukishiro's idea."

"The pretty girl that had the little drama thing before you?" she asked.

"Yep. She's the president of the student council. This was to raise funds for their Christmas Party. Great idea huh?" He smiled.

"Looks like someone has a crush on his student." She teased.

"What? Yui marriage has driven you nuts." He said thankful the glow of the candles masked his blush.

"I saw you when she picked that boy. You haven't changed at all Red." She called him by the pet name she gave him.

"Wow it's been a long time since I've heard that name." He laughed. "No one can see through me like you can." He uttered in defeat.

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"Stop smiling you're freaking me out." Tomoe laughed looking at Aoshi's goofy smile.

"I can't believe it." was all he said. "I never thought I'd get everything I wanted." He whispered watching her. "I can't believe I'll get you."

"Wow I got the most elusive bachelor in school to go out with me." she took her hand in his.

"I was only elusive to everyone else."

"Are you happy Aoshi?" She asked burrowing deep inside his embrace.

"More than anything." He said rubbing her back.

"I hated seeing you sad. " she said looking up at him.

"I would have let you go if you had picked him." he said. "I actually thought you picked him."

She smiled up at him. "It was you." He kissed her once more, relishing the feel of her soft lips.

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"So Misao what are your plans after high school?" Soujiro smiled as they started on their dessert.

"Oh I'd probably go to college somewhere close. Dad gets nervous a lot!" she laughed.

"This is the quietest meal we've ever shared. Are you ok?" he asked as he watched her stare at her cake.

"Upperclassman Seta?" she said quietly.

"How many times do I have to" for all the times she whispered it in her head, it sounded so alien on her tongue. "The truth is I've been in love with you for so long."

Soujiro stopped and looked at her tenderly.

"I've loved you so long I don't know how to stop." she couldn't look at him.

He was about to console her, tell her he would always love her as a sister but

"But then I don't need to." she smiled. "I'll always love you in my heart but I think I've fallen in love with someone else."

"I'm glad you've found someone. I'll always love you too little sister." He smiled squeezing her hand.

"Finish my cake upperclasSoujiro." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek as she ran out of garden. He watched her disappear form his eyesight, a sense of loss coming over his heart.

"Man you must really be gay to send your date running off like that." Tari commented leaning on the bougainvilleas.

"What are you doing here?" he smiled at his friend.

"Waiting for Chou." He pointed over to a table to the right where Chou and his date were apparently making out.

"Uhm from the looks of it, I think Chou won't be ready for another hour" he looked at the torrid scene beside them "or two."

"Man, get a room!" Tari yelled at them.

"Hey that cake hasn't been tou" before he could finish his sentence Tari was already half way through the strawberry shortcake, already eyeing his half-eaten slice. "You know for someone who's supposed to be womanly you sure are a pig."

"Gender roles are for squares." He grinned impishly while slowly moving Soujiro's plate closer to him.

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"Uhm Mr. Himura? May I speak to you?" She asked shyly. She looked over at the girl in her teacher's arms. Her hair was longer and she looked older but it was the girl in the photograph.

"Sure Ms. Tomoe." Kenshin smiled. "Yui is it ok if I leave you for a while?"

Yui looked over at the girl and smiled. "Sure honey."

They walked over to the side of the school. The music from the dance fading and giving way to sounds the night makes. Kenshin looked at his student. Tomoe was beautiful. She looked so radiant in the moonlight.

"I can't believe I've lost another woman in my life." He smiled wistfully. The confused look on her face indicated he had said this out loud.

"Mr. Himura I think I owe you an explanation." She said tugging at her hair nervously.

"No, you don't." He shook his head, masking his read face.

"I really do care about you Mr. Himura." She said holding his hand. "If only..."

"Shh you sound like you regret your decision."

"No. I don't," she said turning her head away. "I just don't want you to feel abandoned."

"Teachers are always left behind you know. Students graduate and move on to different things, us we are left behind. To teach new classes, to meet new students. I choose this, this is what I want to do."

"I really do love Aoshi." She said as if reassuring herself.

"And he really does love you." he said in defeat. "Go to your date Ms. Tomoe. You paid good money for him." he laughed.

"Are you ok sir?" she asked real concern in her voice.

"I will be." He smiled walking away.

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"Hey." Misao called as she spotted Tanada sitting alone in one side. Actually he wasn't alone. A lot of girls were hanging around him but he didn't seem to notice them. Misao frowned

"Shoo groupies shoo! Sagara is over by the pond!" she waved them away. Shiro smiled. "Man these girls just keep on following you don't they?"

"Uhm don't you have a date?" Shiro asked looking for Soujiro.

"Yeah but it ended early." she said sitting beside him.

"Rejected you huh?" Shiro said quietly.

"HEY! Why does everyone keep assuming that?" Misao exclaimed throwing her arms up in the air. "Does everyone think I'm too gross to have someone like Soujiro Seta actually take an interest in"

"I don't." Shiro said absently looking at the people on the dance floor.

"Huh? You don't what?"

"Think you're gross." He said looking at her. Misao blushed and focused her eyes on her hands.

"Hey thanks for the money." She said determined not to look at him. "You didn't have to."

"You were so hopeless we just thought you needed a little push."

"It was just what I needed." Misao said looking up at him. It was Shiro's turn to look away.

"It's just money, think of it as a gift don't feel like you're indebted to me or anything."

"I didn't need the money you know." she said. Shiro looked at her. "I needed the push." And she tentatively leaned close to him her lips puckered. Shiro looked at her for a moment.

"Uhm what are you doing?" he said stoically. Misao opened her eyes, embarrassed.

"Oh gosh I'm so sorry I just thought that you were interested in me and it never occurred to me that"

"Makimachi you idiot!" Shiro laughed and pulled her close to him and kissed her. He was smiling when he pulled away and was promptly met with a crisp slap to the face.

"That's for making me panic!" Misao smiled coming in for another kiss.

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"Did it hurt?" she asked holding his hand.

"Not as much as when you left me." he smiled. "It's just that she made me feel like I existed. She reminded me of you so much. Sometimes I wondered if that was all it was."

"Was it?"

"Some things are better left unknown and sometimes you just have to accept defeat. That boy really loves her."

"Yeah I could tell." She smiled. "Hey you, you ok?"

"Yeah, that's how love is. Sometimes you just have to know when to let go." A silence fell between them. They looked around at the other couples.

"Oh Red, when did we get old?" Yui sighed putting her head on his shoulder.

"Who you calling old?" he laughed.

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