"Urm... Sano... why don't we get a table of our own. I mean, I don't want to intrude on Himura-san's and Kurayami-san's conversation or anything..."
Yes! Please do that! Kenshin thought desperately. Not that he had anything deeply personal against Kaoru anymore, but it would just be really awkward to have lunch with her.
"No," said Airi smiling brightly, "please join us! And call me Airi. Besides, Sano, you want to join us too, right?"
Sano nodded enthusiastically, "yeah, sure Airi. Come on Jou-chan. Won't it be better to have lunch with them rather than just the two of us? I mean, come on. Someone might mistaken us for going out."
"You BAKA!" Kaoru shouted. She stopped as soon as she had realized that Kenshin was looking at them. For some reason, she felt embarrassed that she had blown up like that in front of him.
Kenshin looked at Airi and raised an eyebrow. Sano and Airi were on such friendly terms that they called each other by their first names? This was news to him. He turned to Sano. "Sure. Sit down. It'll be a lot more... urm... fun."
"Thanks dude," Sano muttered as he took a seat next to Airi.
Unfortunately, or should I say fortunately ^^, for Kaoru, she wounded up sitting next to Kenshin, due to the fact that that was the only place left.
They placed their orders, and were followed by Airi and Sano's mindless, rather over cheerful chatter. Then Airi brought up the subject. "Hey, what about we all meet up for dinner this Friday? After that we could catch a late movie."
Sano agreed enthusiastically. In fact he was so enthusiastic Kenshin and Kaoru couldn't help eyeing him with suspicious glares. Sano banged his fists on the table, "yeah! That's a GREAT idea! Airi-chan, you are so INCREDIBLY SMART!"
Kenshin and Kaoru sweatdropped. "Uh, Sano..." Kenshin began, "are you feeling okay?"
"Of course I am!" Sano replied. He turned to Kaoru, "ne, Jou-chan. What about you? Are you up for it or what?"
"I don't know... it sounds like fun but..." Kaoru slapped the table, "oh yeah! I forgot. Sorry Sano, I won't be able to make it. I have a dinner date to attend."
"WHAT?!" Sano exclaimed.
"Why? I'm a girl to! There are plenty of guys that worship me out there," Kaoru said crossly, glaring at Sano.
Kenshin stared at Kaoru surprised. It wasn't that he cared whether she was going out with anyone else or not. In fact she could go out with all the guys in the world for all he knew. If that was the case, why was there this pang at the bottom of his stomach?
"Oh, and who is this worshipper that asked you out this Friday?" Sano asked sarcastically.
Kaoru felt her anger rising to the top of her head. Why did Sano always have to embarrass her like this? "Well for your information, it happens to be none other than Yukishiro Enishi."
"The white-haired freak?" Sano said unbelievingly, "what the hell do you see in that loser?"
"Sano..." Kenshin said, with a warning tone in his voice, "I'm pretty close to the Yukishiro's you know..." But deep inside, he couldn't help agreeing with Sano. Because in his opinion Yukishiro Enishi was the most obnoxious person he had ever met, rather different from Tomoe, his twin.
"Sano!" Kaoru shouted in anger, "what IS YOUR PROBLEM! Yukishiro Enishi is the sweetest, most gentlemanly and one of the hottest guys in our school!"
"Uh..." Airi cut in, "we could always go out on Saturday you know..."
"Pah!" Kaoru shouted, "NO WAY I'm going anywhere with this stupid tori-atama and the red-headed freak!" Damn! Kaoru regretted having said that the moment the words left her mouth. What the hell was she doing? Calling Sano a tori-atama was fine, but red-headed freak? What did she have against Kenshin anyway?
Kenshin stared at her, his eyes slowly turning amber. "What? As if I would want to go anywhere with an ugly girl like you! If you excuse me, I'm not hungry anymore."
As Kenshin turned to leave Kaoru shouted, "hmph! Just looking at your face is enough to make me puke! I'm going home!"
As the two left, Airi and Sano looked at each other warily. "You do know... you were kind of mean on her, right?" Airi said slowly.
Sano nodded, "yeah... I guess. Well I guess that's a huge, whopping failure for plan A, right?"
Airi nodded as she collapsed onto the table, "you got that right."
Kaoru walked into her classroom the next morning, hoping to avoid Kenshin all day long when her thoughts were disrupted by Misao yelling into her ears.
"Kaoru!" Misao yelled, "come on! The rehearsals are starting today for Romeo and Juliet! Everyone taking part in the production will be excused from lessons for rehearsals until the night!"
"Heh?" Kaoru said surprised, "wow! Why? I thought the show was still a long way off."
"Not anymore!" said Misao, "they changed the dates and we have to perform on Sunday night!"
"WHAT!" Kaoru exclaimed, "but today's Wednesday! And we haven't had a single rehearsal yet!"
"Exactly! They won't let us skip lessons for anything that wasn't so important. Besides this competition is really important for the reputation of our school. We also have a high chance of winning because Himura-san is on the cast."
"Yeah... I guess..." Kaoru muttered darkly.
"... yes Kamatari, cancel everything on my schedule until Sunday, okay? Thanks. I know it's difficult..."
Kaoru and Misao looked up to see Kenshin talking away on his mobile phone.
"Wow... I guess this production is really important, ne?" Misao said.
However Kaoru hadn't heard anything Misao had just said. Because she realized all of a sudden. Kenshin was playing Romeo! That meant... she'd be stuck next to him until Sunday! Suddenly she felt very much like throwing up.
Airi bumped into Sano under the sakura tree in the school garden. She grinned, "you skiving too huh?"
Sano nodded, "yeah, if I had known they were going to get to skip class, I would have auditioned too. Besides, Sayo's also acting so it'll be boring in classes without her."
"Good," Airi said, "I had a feeling you'd be skipping so I told Saitoh-sensei that I was having really bad period cramps."
Sano sweatdropped. Telling Saitoh-sensei about period cramps, huh. This girl was really brave. Or either that she was incredibly stupid. "You aren't really... right?"
"Of course not," Airi said impatiently, "it's not even that time of the month yet. Anyway, I'm here to discuss something more important. Since our little get together didn't work yesterday, I was thinking of something new."
"What?" Sano asked, starting to get interested.
"The only other way we can get them together without rousing suspicion is through... the play!"
"The play?"
"Yeah!" Airi exclaimed enthusiastically, "since Kenshin is Romeo and Kaoru is Juliet..."
"You are BRILLIANT!" Sano said, "uh... but where do we come in?"
"Don't worry, Sano-chan," said Airi with a mischievous smile, "I have it all worked out. Meanwhile, why don't we go to the auditorium and watch the uproar."
"Uproar?"
"You'll know when we get there. Besides, I'm dying to see my kawaii little Okita-chan~!"
Sano sweatdropped, "urm Airi... sometimes you are really scary..."
"Oh, Romeo-sama..." Kaoru began, rather awkwardly, "I really do love you very much..."
"STOP!" Haruki yelled, "what's the matter Kamiya-san? Where have all your emotions disappeared to?"
"Gomen..." Kaoru said apologetically, "but I don't remember seeing a scene like this in the original play."
"Kamiya-san, this is a new, revised version by Shuko-san, who was in charge of writing the script and composing all the songs. She had to finish everything in an awful rush so why don't we try and appreciate all the work she did? Now, let's take it from top of the page."
Kaoru took a deep breath. She started once more trying to convince herself that the figure standing in front of her was NOT Himura Kenshin but only a block of wood. No, scratch that, she thought, how much can you love a piece of wood? Okay, let's just pretend he REALLY is Romeo... and I'm Juliet.
"Romeo-sama..."
"Juliet..."
"Romeo-sama..."
"Juliet..."
"Romeo-sama..."
"STOP!" Haruki yelled, "what is this?"
Kaoru turned and bowed apologizing, "I'm so sorry! I can't remember the words."
"Oh give me a break," said Kenshin sitting down on the stage.
"WHAT?" Kaoru turned to him, her temper flaring up, "I'm not apologizing to you, you stupid..."
"What?" Kenshin yelled, "well, what kind of actress can't even learn their lines properly. How the hell did a talent-less thing like you get this part anyway?"
"Obviously because I actually do have the talent?!"
Haruki clutched his head in agony as the two on stage began quarrelling all over again. They had been quarrelling like this since morning.
"Haruki, I'm quitting," a voice interrupted.
Haruki looked up in surprise, "Shuko-san! But you can't! I mean you wrote the whole script! And composed the songs! I have no idea how the songs go! You have to teach it to the actors first!"
Shuko shrugged, "Haruki, look at them. I have never seen a Romeo and Juliet that hated each other so much. I can't put up with this. Besides, I'm in the third year. I have university entrance exams to study for. I don't have time to deal with people that don't seem to appreciate anyone else around them. Sorry but I quit."
Haruki watched in devastation as Shuko left the auditorium. He stared at Kenshin and Kaoru who were still fighting. "THAT'S IT!" he shouted. All eyes in the hall went to him, even Kenshin and Kaoru's, who seemed to have forgotten that they were in midst of arguing. "I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS! WE JUST LOST OUT SCRIPWRITER AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO GET ANOTHER SCRIPT SO FAST! YOU SELFISH IDIOTS ARE JUST FIGHTING AND I'M SERIOUSLY GETTING PISSED OFF! I'M CALLING IT A DAY BECAUSE I CAN'T STAND TO BE IN THIS HALL A SECOND LONGER. I HOPE TOMORROW, YOU WILL BE BACK HERE WITH BETTER ATTITUDES!"
Everyone stared in surprise as Haruki left the auditorium, fuming. Airi who had been watching nudged Sano, "hey, come on. It's time for us to act." Quickly and unnoticed, they chased after Haruki full of plans.
Kaoru fidgeted as she waited in the auditorium for Haruki to arrive. Misao squeezed her had. Sayo have her an encouraging look. She felt slightly better. She felt sorry for blowing up so many times with Kenshin the day before. It was just that they seemed to rub each other up the wrong way. She crossed her fingers, fervently hoping that she won't blow up like she did yesterday.
Kenshin shifted in his seat. He had never felt so ashamed of himself. He wished that he hadn't acted so unprofessionally the day before. He glanced at Kaoru. She seemed to look just as sorry as he was. He was about to go speak to her when the auditorium door opened.
Everyone's eyes went to the door, curious to see what Haruki's expression would be like. Surprisingly he didn't seem to be in a bad mood. In fact he was smiling. And smiling quietly brightly at that. "Everyone," Haruki began. Everyone strained their ears to hear what Haruki would say next. "I have good news. I have found someone else who has written the script and songs for us. It's not Romeo and Juliet but it'll do just as well. From now on she will be the co-producer. Let me introduce, Kurayami-san!"
"WHAT!" Kenshin and Kaoru yelled in unison as Airi stepped out from behind Haruki.
Okita stared in surprise. He shook his head with a small smile. That girl seemed to have a talent for involving herself in things.
Airi waved her hand, "hey everyone! Let's all work together, ne?
Character focus: Kamiya Yahiko
Name: Kamiya Yahiko
Age: 10
Birthday: January
Height: 128cm (4 ft. 2 in.)
Weight: 23kg (50 lbs.)
Bloodtype: B
Occupation: student, 3rd year at Takatori Elementary
Family: Kamiya Gakuya, father
Kamiya Hanako, mother
Kamiya Kaoru, sister
Sagara Sanosuke, cousin
Hobbies: practicing Kendo, fighting with Kaoru ^^;;
Characteristics: Can be extremely bratty at times, calling his older sister busu (ugly -_-;;). Although on the outside it looks as if he doesn't respect Kaoru at all, deep inside he cares about her and respects her a great deal... although he'd NEVER admit it. ^^
Character focus: Okita Soushi
Name: Okita Soushi
Age: 18
Birthday: September
Height: 163cm (5 ft. 4 in.)
Weight: 51kg (112 lbs.)
Bloodtype: AB
Occupation: student, 2nd year at Takatori
Family: Okita Ichirou, father, died of heart attack when Okita was 7
Okita Kana, mother
Seta Soujirou, cousin
Hobbies: flirting... ^^, shopping for clothes -_-;;, playing video games, clubbing (despite the fact that he is underage)
Characteristics: the "cool" sociable one of the gang. He's normally very sociable, especially to girls ^_~, so much so he's well known as a "playboy" despite the fact that he's never gone out with anyone before. He is ULTRA flirty around ALL girls. However, he feels uncomfortable around Airi and isn't his normal "confident" self around her.
Character focus: Kurayami Airi
Name: Kurayami Airi
Age: 18
Birthday: January
Height: 158cm (5 ft. 4 in.)
Weight: 41kg (90 lbs.)
Bloodtype: O
Occupation: student, 2rd year at Takatori
Model, currently not working because she wants to concentrate on school
Family: Kurayami Hiroshi, father
Kurayami Yuki, mother, fashion photographer
Kurayami Shurou, twin brother (currently in England - he'll make an appearance SOON... probably going to be a little obstacle between Kenshin and Kaoru... after I take care of Enishi, of course ^^)
Hobbies: karaoke
Characteristics: Over confident, very open and honest about her feelings. Putting it simply she's very blunt and outspoken. She's been living in England for the past two years where she worked as a model for fashion magazines. Has been close friends with Kenshin since elementary school. They see each other quite often as Airi's mother photographs Kenshin often for fashion spreads and magazines. Very close to her brother Shurou.
And that brings another end to yet another chapter. I know it's bad of me but PLEASE don't ask me to update on a regular basis. I know I'll end up saying no and I don't like doing that... ^^ I WILL update as much as I can. Just that my schedule has taken a sudden turn after I moved to Korea. Here school ends at ten thirty... p.m! And school on SATURDAYS as well!
Anyway, I decided to drop Romeo and Juliet and use another script. Any suggestions for a nice, simple story I can use for the play? I was thinking along the lines of something like Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty etc... Something not so complicated. Any suggestions?
Oh, and in case you are curious (which I highly doubt) as to why I'm dropping Romeo and Juliet is because... simply, I am TIRED of it. Yes, as lame as it is that IS my reason. I've studied the damn play for month for GCSEs (which I wont even be sitting by the way, since I transferred). I can't even bear to say Romeo and Juliet without gagging... -_-;;; So gomenasai minna san~!
Review onnegaishimasu~!