Author: Phoebe Otaku
Title: College life
Chapter 2: Watch over me
Disclaimer: not mine (sorry allotted creativity for the day went into the chapter...have none left until tomorrow)
Author's notes: I don't know why this is so easy to write right now and nothing else is.
Definition wise 'pref night' is the rush party that the sorority basically invites only the girls that they want to join them after that party they give out 'bids' or actual invitations to join them...
I'm so behind in my classes. Well, only in one class. But that one happens to be the most important. Bid day just passed for my chapter, we have some wonderful new girls! YAY! Now off to work to make some Money!
Ororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororo.
Dinner could have been awkward, but when Kaoru exited the shower, not knowing that the fluffy blue towel was entirely too sexy, she turned to Kenshin and tried not to blush, but failed miserably, before she spoke.
"It's okay Kenshin." She said to the pensive redhead, "I realize it was accident, you just surprised me..."
"Oro?" he said, trying to make his staring less obvious, "I'm sorr..."
"Kenshin, you apologize to much." She cried, frustrated, "Just forget about it, and don't let it happen again" 'well, unless you're invited' the proverbial devil on her shoulder added before that darn 'ohohohohohoho' laugh. For a second she was worried that she might have said it out loud, but judging from the lack of shocked 'oros' from Kenshin, she figured that it had been filtered out in time.
'Just forget about it?' mused Kenshin, 'not bloody likely.' Instead he simply said "Yes, Ma'am." with a small salute and grin before turning away from her to resume cooking.
The next night was preference night, the girls that the sisters had raved about the night before during selection session had all been present. After the final girl had made her goodbyes and left the house there was a quick session that mostly consisted of gushing over the potential new members. To Kaoru's great happiness, Misao was the absolute favorite. After the first session, when Megumi, of all people, had declared that this girl would make an essential, enthusiastic part of their chapter, and was her 'favorite,' all the sisters had decided they must talk to the girl who had somehow passed Megumi's inspection. Megumi was notorious for disliking almost every rush.
Apparently one of the only other people to receive her immediate approval –ever- was, miraculously, Kaoru. Which was odd, considering how much she berated the girl on a daily basis. But Megumi had never been wrong in this respect, so they trusted her judgment and sought out the short bubbly 'weasel girl' as Megumi had dubbed her. Misao would definitely receive her bid in a few hours, in the meantime Kaoru was half passed out on the couch in the parlor and running a fever. It was raining again, to her dismay, and Megumi couldn't take her home until after all the bids were given out.
"Kaoru, honey, maybe you should call it a night." said one tall blonde sister.
"Tanuki, you should listen to Elle." commented Megumi.
"But I don't think that I can walk..." Kaoru started before Megs interrupted again.
"Call Kenshin, he'll be a sweetheart and pick you up." she suggested before walking away to search for the bid cards.
"Who is this 'Kenshin', Kaoru?" Amanda asked raising an eyebrow at the other sisters in the room.
"He's my roommate..." she slurred tiredly, then, as if realizing how sketchy they could make that sound, added. "I'm really not up to witty banter right now, guys... could someone pass me the phone."
After a concerned 'Oro' and brief directions, Kenshin was on his way (sans his umbrella, which Kaoru had borrowed earlier in the day.) When he arrived 20 minutes later and knocked on the door Jillian promptly opened it and stood staring at the exotically handsome, soaking wet, redhead for a moment before Kenshin spoke.
"Oro? I am here to pick up Kaoru, that I am." He watched as Jill blinked and then welcomed him to the house while gesturing for him to step inside. He turned to face the room of about 10 girls sprawled on couches and the carpeted floor, some in pajamas and some still in, or at least partially in, their elegant black dresses, not noticing the 'he's so HOT!' being mouthed silently to the sisters by Jillian. Kaoru couldn't help but blush at the comment and the way that his shirt was plastered to his muscular chest and arms by rain water. She found she was no longer quite so upset that it was raining. Some of her sisters were giving her knowing looks, 'just wait until they find out he cooks, cleans, AND does laundry.' She snickered to herself.
"Are you alright Kaoru?" he asked as he helped her out of the house, wordlessly taking her book bag from her. Kaoru hoped he couldn't hear the 'Awwww...soo cute...' that she was sure was being said just loud enough to make her blush, again. Sisters had a way of doing that.
"I think I just need some sleep, and a little less stress would be nice..." she chuckled without any real mirth. Kenshin slid an arm around her waist while she used his shoulder as a pillow. When she stumbled on the front stoop he didn't hesitate in slipping his other arm under her knees and carrying her down the steps. Trying not to hear the cooing of her sorority sisters, he concentrated on the fact that the woman in his arms was very feverish and needed to be tucked into bed as soon as possible. Just before they left the protection of the porch he leaned over a little.
"I'm sorry Kaoru, but we're both going to get soaked." He smiled down at her while she snuggled into his wet, but surprisingly warm, body. He crouched a bit, trying to protect her from the cold rain, while he sprinted to the car. He set her down only long enough to fling open the passenger side door, the high fever was making her weak.
After placing her carefully in the seat, he raced to start the car and get her home safely.
What seemed like an eternity later, Kenshin lowered Kaoru gently into a chair in her room. Brushing wet strands of her ebony hair away from her face he was seized by the desire to protect her, Kaoru never let weakness like this show and yet now she needed to be taken care of. She shivered slightly, making him realize how cold she must have been. He needed her to change out of the wet formal dress. Looking down at the way the dress had molded itself to her he let out a low whistle before shaking himself out of his stupor, the drowned rat look worked very well for Kaoru.
"Kaoru...Kaoru..." he shook her gently until her eyes opened, "you need to change out of this dress and into something warm." She nodded and stood, walking over to the dresser and with Kenshin's help pulled out a pair of cute blue pajamas and (while Kenshin blushed) some new underwear. Kenshin handed her the towel which she had flung over the chair that morning and turned to leave the room.
"Kenshin..." Kaoru said after a moment of standing and blushing.
"Yes?"
"I think I'm going to need some help." she blushed and looked away, but could have guessed that he blushed as well.
"...okay, what ...um, should I do?" he stammered. Silently she turned away from him, presenting the zipper on the back of her dress. He tried not to think about what he was doing, lest his hands start shaking from nervousness. He reached out, gently unhooked the dress then slid the zipper down and helped her out of it. After a moment of hesitation he unhooked the black strapless bra as well, carefully keeping his mind as blank as possible. Pulling the towel around the shivering girl who still faced away from him, the fever not the only cause of her blush, he undid the fancy updo that Kaoru had so painstakingly crafter earlier that evening and did his best to dry it before pulling it into a high ponytail. As his fingers left her hair and settled on her creamy shoulders for a moment, she leaned back against him in her exhaustion. She was still lucid enough to hear his ever endearing 'oro' and notice the pause before he lifted her up and put her in bed, still clad in the towel.
She drifted into a restless sleep while he pulled the small upholstered chair closer to her bed and settled in to watch her. He slowly drifted off himself, some of his dreams and musings forcing him to wake alternately in a cold sweat or in need of a cold shower.
Ororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororororo.
End notes: so much to say, so little time....
Any questions feel free to ask... go ahead and im me at phoebeotaku -I know I'll be at the computer sometime in my busy life...lol