And here's chapter two! It's getting close to finals now, so I'll either be doing a lot of writing to get my mind off of my papers, or I'll be doing a lot of writing to finish my papers. Either way…it's going to mean a lot of time sitting in front of the computer.

The plot thickens, and more characters are introduced. Well, one major character.

Also, if any of you have ideas for a new title for this soon-to-be monster, please tell me.

Take Two

The library was a peaceful place after its summer rest. Kenshin smiled, watching dust particles float in the sunlight that streamed through the windows. Sighing happily, he set about "waking up" his sanctuary. Soon, he hoped, there would be students arriving who would be eager to take advantage of the resources available, and children circling up for story-time. Well, he knew the little kids would be excited…but he couldn't say as much for the older ones, as they tended to prefer whispering quietly, and sometimes not so quietly, in the many nooks and crannies provided by shelves and window seats. That, or they were seated in front of the ancient computers, surfing the web and muttering about how much the administration needed to shell out in order upgrade "educational technology." The school was a bit behind the times in some respects; the card catalogue was only being made electronic that year.

He frowned suddenly. Tomoe hadn't come home the previous night. Despite what some of his coworkers might have believed, he wasn't naive. He knew that she was probably cheating on him, but he couldn't bring himself to accuse his wife of such an act. Oh well, he thought. What would happen would happen and he'd have to work it out when it did. He was braced to be hurt every day, for he felt her pulling back. She never had been overly-enthusiastic about their marriage - he knew he didn't make enough money for her tastes - but he'd thought that she'd been willing to try and make it work.

He shook his head and flipped on the lights. It wasn't worth the worry at the moment. The library was ready for the day, and he could hear the school buses pulling into the parking lot, so he headed down to the amphitheater - Greek theater, he muttered to himself - for the opening assembly. He smiled as the kids ran down the steps to sit, hiding his discomfort as some of the girls stared at him, then ran off, giggling. He was well aware that many of them were infatuated with him, and it never ceased to disturb him when they looked at him that way…and they knew he was married!

He started as a hand was clapped on his shoulder. "Sano!"

"Who're the girls this time, Casanova?"

"Sano, you know I hate it when it happens."

"Yeah, yeah, you're only twenty-eight. You still look like you're in college."

"Sano, shut up before I deck you."

"I'd like to see that, but on your own time, Mr. Sagara, Mr. Himura," came a deep voice.

"Ah! Mr. Brown! I'm sorry…first-day scenario…"

"Yes, yes, let's hope that none of these girls ask you to marry them."

"Eric!" Kenshin went bright red. "You know how much I hate it. They're my students!"

"At least I know the faculty at this school have higher morals about teacher-student relationships than in other districts."

"And I'm happily married!"

"Are you really?"

"Don't you have a speech to give, Eric?" Kenshin's normally placid face was pulled into a near-snarl, and it shook Eric Brown. He'd known that something was wrong, but if Kenshin's marriage was falling apart despite all of the effort that he'd put into it over the past three years…Heaven only knew he slaved to keep his wife happy, and she wasn't at all grateful, the witch, he thought. Kenshin had always been quiet about his personal life, and Eric wasn't one to pry. Not everyone had a happy home life after all.

Sano shook his head and went to talk to Kaoru. He noticed with some amusement that a few of the younger men in the staff were staring at her, as were some of the boys. He had to admit that she was a gorgeous woman, but she just wasn't his type. Besides, if her were to ever go out with her, it'd be like dating a sister! He'd never be able to think of Kaoru in any other way as they'd grown up together…joined at the hip, as their parents used to say. Even into their teens, they'd still been staying at each others houses, in the same room. Their parents had trusted them to not do anything, and knew their children well enough to realize that they wouldn't never be close in that way.

Kaoru looked up as he came to stand beside her. "Meg's getting jealous, Rooster."

"Nah, she knows we're only friends. But you should see how the guys are looking at you."

"I do hope that you're referring to the faculty. If you are, then they'll know soon enough that they aren't going to get anywhere."

"You're a hot woman, Missy, and all they're doing is looking."

"Whatever."

"You're still scared, aren't you?"

Kaoru gave him a cold look. "Wouldn't you be?"

"Yeah…he was a real basket case. Good thing they've got him behind bars."

"That doesn't stop my nightmares." Kaoru blinked as her name was called. All heads in the gym turned her way as Mr. Brown introduced her, and she grinned. When the students were dismissed, she and Sano accompanied the rest of the PE instructors to the office. As she and Sano were working together, they both had a block of free time before their first class

"So, we've got til ten-thirty. Want to finish that run?"

"Actually, I was thinking of hitting the weight room."

"Since when do you lift?"

"Since I took up self-defense. Martial arts are great, but if you don't have the strength to heave a guy off your back who outweighs you by at least seventy-five pounds and had six inches on you, they only go so far."

"Point. Let's go. I'll bet you can't bench 175."

"No, but I can still kick your ass."

Ugh, how I hate cold rain…and oh how I'm looking forward to summer and Otakon.

Please, leave a little review in the little box.