Hello, Stranger
by Uenki

Chapter 2

Don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

"He's actually a MAN?" Kaoru smiled apologetically to Kenshin with Misao's, a young girl of nineteen with jaded green eyes and a long braid, sudden outburst. Sanosuke, a tall, handsome young man, with spiky –defying gravity hairstyle and a red bandana, coughed –cleared his throat while blushing madly. He did not even dare to think how beautiful she –err; he looked when they met him at the door. Megumi's reaction was rather unlike her, she suddenly went into a blank mind, as she stared at Kenshin, at his face. Her face was in a mixture of disbelief and shock.

"He…" she murmured under her breath, "He… he… he was actually more beautiful then me!" she cried at the last word, breaking into wails. Misao, who was sitting beside Megumi, inched away from her, and sat closer to Shinomori Aoshi who was looking coolly at the woman and her antics. However, his eyes rolled suspiciously to the red-head who was sitting by the far corner, beside Kaoru. He thought the red head had an unusual aura around him. One that was fearfully dangerous.

Kaoru just thought that their reactions were simply hilarious. Everything was so funny. She tried to suppress her laughter at first, but then she broke into chuckles, giggles while clenching her fists into balls and began to pound on the pillow that was laid on her lap. Kenshin smiled idiotically at the whole incident.

After a while later, the group had regained their composure. Megumi huffed with annoyance after seeing Kenshin, who just gave a light smile. Kaoru stifled her chuckles seeing the beautiful Megumi getting pushed down, not by a woman, but a man. Sanosuke just patted –smacked Kenshin a few times on the back and laughed nervously.

"So, Kaoru," Misao started, while Megumi was fumbling in the paper bag for the cans of beer, "when is she coming?" Kaoru looked bewildered, her mouth opened wide agape.

"Eh?"

"She! The angel that you have blabbered to us yesterday, saying that you wanted us to meet her!" Misao clarified, while Kaoru looked even more confused. Nobody noticed that Kenshin was blushing as red as his hair, wanting to find a hole to crept it in, and to stay there forever –at least till they are gone. Kaoru's mouth formed an 'o' as recognition filled her, she had finally remembered the reason why she had hosted the party. She shook her head slowly, and looked at Misao, shifted her gaze to Megumi and Sanosuke, to Aoshi, then back to Misao again. She was playing with a light smile on her lips while looking mysteriously at the mob.

"I didn't sat my angel was a male or a female," she lowered her voice; while Kenshin scooted further away from her, "and an angel mustn't always be a female, right?" she cleared her throat while speaking. Swiftly, and tugged Kenshin by his arm and pulled him back, and spoke loudly.

"Guys! This is my angel I'm telling you about, Kenshin!" she cried, laughing, eager to see the group's reaction. To her dismay, she found none as the group were too interested in seeing Kenshin's face going redder and redder as minutes passed. More minutes passed, and Kenshin was still too embarrassed to say anything, expect nodding quietly and let out a few silent chuckles. Kaoru huffed and rolled her eyes but was still trying her very best to keep herself from bursting out laughing at certain points when Kenshin was over the extreme.

"Oh you cute little idiot!" she said, referring to Kenshin while the group were doing their own things, Sanosuke was stuffing himself full of snacks –potato chips, nachos while dipping in hot cheese randomly. Megumi was drowning herself in the world of alcohol, can of beers, and to rant smugly about her job, her career, and her appearance. Aoshi was doing his usual routine, mediate, and Misao was still chatting while Aoshi who seldom –or never, replied to her.

Kaoru looked at the group who was enjoying themselves, with Kenshin chatting along with Sanosuke. She was actually happy that Kenshin could befriend her friends, he really did looked anti-social when he was all alone. She stood up, without anyone noticing, expect Kenshin, turned the doorknob and went into her room.

Kenshin, who was worried about her, excused himself and knocked onto the door, which was unheard by the gang because of the loud speakers which were blaring out loud music. Hearing a 'come in', he then went into the room. Kaoru was sitting by the coffee table, with her back facing the door. She tilted her head back and saw Kenshin, who greeted her with a smile.

Her eyes were red and puffy, have she cried?

She broke into a bright smile upon seeing Kenshin, and patted the mat next to her, motioning him to sit down. Gladly, he sat beside her. A consoling silence followed on as they sat there, and an aroma of jasmine was lingering in the air. He saw a picture of a man, with dark dirty brown hair and emerald green eyes, smiling happily while standing beside a woman.

"Is he… your father?" Kenshin hesitated a little, as the words slipped out from his mouth. She nodded, as her fingertips brushed across the picture. Kenshin looked intently at the woman sitting beside him. Her forlorn face, it was the first time he had seen a face with such sadness beyond description. True, he had seen many type of faces, fear, sly, pain, happy, moody, irritation… but it was actually the first time that he had seen such a face from a person who was so cheerful.

"You have been crying… hadn't you?" She trembled, as a sob escaped her lips. Yet she still put on a strong front, she forced a smile on her lips.

"K-Kenshin… I… I'm sorry for leaving the party so abruptly… because… because…" he placed his index finger on her lips gently, silencing her. Her eyes widened momentarily, and the mask fell off. Pearly tears fell as he pulled her into his embrace, hoping that it would sooth her down.

"Why are you acting so tough when you are so fragile inside? For a moment, your cheery smiles had really escaped me of knowing that you had something so painful," he whispered quietly as he placed another hand on her back, rubbing it.

"He agreed to spend the Christmas with me… He agreed…! Why? Where is he? Years, I've been waiting!" she yelled, as more warm tears fell. Kenshin pulled her tighter, pressing her forehead onto his chest.

"It's alright… I'll wait with you… This unworthy one is willing to wait with you… It's alright, everything would be all fine." He was right, no wonder he thought that the pain that she had was so familiar. Because he too, had a father who made a promise to save him from hell, but he never did came.

I will wait with you, Kaoru-dono… Please don't cry…

–

"I wonder why doesn't she know him…" Sanosuke muttered, scooping up the remote control and turned off the music as Misao was asleep on the couch. Aoshi opened his eyes, and looked at the photo that was inside the frame, lying on top of the television.

"She doesn't remember," said Megumi, who had already drank a dozen cans of beer.

"Whoa fox! You're still sober!" Sanosuke exclaimed, earning him a smack from Megumi. Aoshi narrowed his eyes, as he stood up and walked to the photo frame and held it in his hands.

"Megumi-san, why doesn't she remember? It should be the exact opposite…" Aoshi said, with any emotion evident in his voice. Megumi gave a small, lifeless laugh.

"Don't you guys understand? It's too painful; she would rather forget everything about it!"

"No." Aoshi stated as a thousand words filled his mind.

Maybe… she really had forgotten. But she wouldn't forget, the promise he had made to her. She couldn't. Because it's etched deep into her mind.

–

"Maybe… Maybe that's why I said that I hate Christmas." She murmured, as she drifted off to sleep. 25th December 2004, the day had just ended with tears, and pain.

–

AN: Well, I had a busy schedule, but I'm happy that I've get the second chapter out! Sorry for the delay! Yay! I have TWO beta! They are the helpful and kind angels that heaven had sent to me…

Thank you, Rayne-sama (Scarlet Rayne) and Rain-sama (Rain Angst)! Uenki love yer guys!

November 20, 2004.