Musical Charades
I don't mind spending everyday,
Out on your corner in the pouring rain.
Look for the girl with the broken smile,
Ask her if she wants to stay a while.
And she will be loved.
Tap on my window, knock on my door,
I wanna make you feel beautiful.
-Maroon 5 (Songs About Jane)
After two days of preparation, it was ready. The party had taken up much of their time, and the group was exhausted. They sat in Kenshin and Sano's room once again. They had to sneak food into the room, get invitations out without anyone's knowledge, and much more.
Sanosuke had lived up to his promise. After meeting up with Ms. Tae, he had informed her that one of his old friends had a place her group could visit, but he needed her to check it out. She had left her class in the hands of the hotel manager, who, sadly, was busy that night.
Sano shouldn't let convince girls to go out with chaperones like that.
Everything was set. Kaoru had invited almost all of her class. Only the ones most likely to blab had been left out, and they were all in a room together. No one worried about them, since they had told the whole group to leave them alone the remainder of the night.
They probably had some very interesting things to say about the man they had found Kaoru playing tag with in the halls.
"Gotcha Kaoru-dono!"
Kenshin swung around the corner of the sixth floor corridor, grinning as shining blue eyes turned to meet him. He tackled her to the floor, laughing as they rolled around, trying to dominate each other.
Finally, he let her win and she pinned him to the floor, smirking. She leaned down and her hair, which had fallen out of its usual ponytail, skimmed over her shoulders unbound. It formed a sort of curtain around their faces, and she grinned.
They were so close. SO close. She moved a little lower, and his eyes closed in anticipation. Her own eyes fluttered closed as she let a small whisper float passed her lips.
"Looks like I've got you, my baka rurouni."
It had become her nickname for him. She always found him wandering the halls, never in the same place. He was her innocent wanderer. One day, it slipped in conversation and she just kept it. He never seemed to mind. In fact, as her warm breath caressed his cheek, a faint flush lined his face. His eyes opened a fraction to see her lips move closer.
They brushed ever-so-slightly, then-
"Kaoru?"
She jerked up, still straddling Kenshin, who flushed brightly. Yura, Nari, and Tokai stood in front of her. They all wore disbelieving looks on their faces, edged with jealousy. Hey, who wouldn't be jealous? Kenshin was quite the cutie, and Kaoru was sitting on top of him in a lip-lock. Who wouldn't become a slightly green eyed monster at that?
"Yura! Nari, Tokai! How…nice to see you here…"
They looked away from the blushing redhead on the floor, mentally wiped the drool off their chins, and blinked at the slightly red girl.
"What ARE you doing Kaoru? Who is he? Did you attack him? Oh, we're so sorry about this!"
They pushed Kaoru off of him, sending her backwards into a wall. It didn't hurt much, but it made her frown. Nobody pushed her. The girls began to push the red hair out of his face, pulling him up. She fumed.
That was her rurouni they were touching. HERS. That was her silky smooth, beautifully unnaturally red hair they were smoothing from his equally beautiful face, damn it. She stood up, walked over to him, and pushed him behind her.
"This. Is. Kenshin. He's my…friend. I did not attack him, we were playing a game."
Yura, the more outspoken one, raised an eyebrow.
"Is that what they call it now?"
Kaoru flushed, automatically backing up. She hit Kenshin, who wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. He flashed a false smile at the girls, still backing up with Kaoru.
"Actually I think we need to be-"
"KAORU!"
Misao came around the corner, Sano in tow. Yahiko and Tsubame came behind them, hands lightly touching, flushed slightly. Aoshi brought up the rear, blinking at the red couple and Kenshin's arms around Kaoru's waist.
Why the hell was there lip gloss on his lips?
"The rooster head has the plans for - Oh, hi guys! You've met Kenshin I see!- the…um…thing next year. The reunion."
She gave Kaoru a meaningful look that said the blue eyed girl had better know what she was talking about. Kaoru nodded, the blush leaving her cheeks. She didn't feel as embarrassed in revealing her feelings about Kenshin around her friends, since they seemed to know already.
"But I thought those plans were for the par-"
Yahiko's not-so-innocent rambling was cut off by Tsubame smacking her hand over his mouth, flashing the stupefied girls a grin.
"Silly Yahiko. He's had waaay too much sugar at that buffet. You know. The one downstairs. All you can eat."
The girls shared a glance, smiling. They began going to the elevator, walking around the corner.
"Bye then. We'll be seeing you Kaoru. And…don't forget protection."
Kenshin had to physically and mentally help Kaoru stay back from killing those girls then. He sunk to the ground, pulling her with him so she was sitting in his lap, screaming to air that she was not having se-
Yura stuck her head around the corner, looking at Tsubame.
"What floor was that buffet on?"
Kaoru began crying into Kenshin's shoulder again, frustrated at the interruption of a perfect kiss, idiotic girls, stupid brothers, and…the same idiotic girls.
Kaoru blushed. That was embarrassing. It was 7:00. The party would be starting soon. They had plenty of food, and everything they needed.
Misao and Kaoru had planned with Tsubame a special treat, since all of the girls had been stuck together in a room. Whenever Ms. Tae came over, she ran to Yahiko's room, taking her small bag with her. If she needed to borrow any accessories, she took them from Kaoru or Misao. Ms. Tae had no idea there was an 10 year old staying on the fold-out couch in the room.
The first girls from her class came in. Mori, a pretty blond with eyes that would shame the ocean, was first. She walked towards Kaoru, her eyes flicking towards Kenshin behind her glasses. Kaoru had been watching him for the past ten minutes, wondering if it would be better to lock him in a closet so no girls would steal him.
"Hey, Kaoru! Is that the guy you were talking about?" Mori smiled, her pretty face lighting up with her grin.
Kaoru nodded slightly, face lighting up like a Christmas tree. Mori laughed, catching the eyes of many of the boys. (AN: Bwaha. AO3191...you're the first one to show up.)
"He's cute." Seeing an angry pair of blue eyes turn to her, she held up her hands defensively. "Hey, hey! He's all yours, dearest. I'll see you in a bit. Tsubame told me about what you're doing later, and I was wondering if I could do one too?"
Kaoru nodded, smiling. Mori was one of her best friends, and so she and Misao had confided in her about Tsubame and the whole Kenshin group. Mori had smilingly promised not to tell, and they trusted her. The blond never lied.
When Mori moved away, she saw a flash of black and was enveloped in a hug. 'Uhm…OH! MAHO!' The black haired, brown eyed girl had a tight grip on her, and was smiling enthusiastically.
"Okay, Kaoru. Tonight's the night, right? You're gonna-"
Kaoru smiled and covered Maho's mouth. "Yes. And you and Mori and…you know…helping I guess."
Maho flashed a grin, her hair swinging in a ponytail as she nodded happily.
"Gotcha. Okay. I'll see you in a minute Kaoru. I spy something to drink, over THERE!" She bounced off to the refreshment table, and left Kaoru shaking her head laughingly.
The music came on, Sano pushing the volume up. The sounds of opera came on and many people covered their ears.
"IT BURNS!"
Sano rolled his eyes, turning the CD on.
"Shut your mouth, Yahiko, before I shut it for you," Sano retorted.
The stereo paused a moment, processing the CD. Then…
I LOVE YOU! YOU LOVE ME! WE'RE A HAPPY FAMI-
Sano was hit with several pillows. He laughed, shaking his head.
"Just kidding, guys! Okay, for real this time. Here we go."
For a second time, the stereo paused. Then…
Tired of being what you want me to be,
Feeling so faithless, lost under the surface.
Don't what you're expecting of me,
But under the pressure of walking in your shoes…
The sounds of normal music flowed from the speakers, and the group relaxed. Kaoru took a sip of her drink, eyes never leaving Kenshin. He stood next to Aoshi and Sano, smiling and laughing about something, head bobbing in rhythm with the music.
Every step that I take is another mistake to you.
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there,
Become so tired, so much more aware.
I'm becoming this. All I want to do,
Is be more like me, and be less like you.
Kaoru found herself humming along, and Misao was laughingly singing a duet of the song with Mori. They were standing on the couch, looking for all the world drunk, even though there was no alcohol at the party. They yelled/sung the next verse, still managing to sound good.
Can't you see that you're smothering me?
Holding too tightly, afraid to lose control.
Cause everything that you thought I would be,
Is falling apart right in front of you.
Every step that I take is another mistake to you.
And every second I waste is more than I can take.
On the last three words they screamed so loud several people stared at them, but they ignored it all, and kept singing, overwhelming the voices of Linkin Park, and still, though Kaoru couldn't see why, sounded like they were meant to sing this.
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there,
Become so tired, so much more aware.
I'm becoming this. All I want to do,
Is be more like me, and be less like you
And I know, I may end up failing too,
But I know you were just like me, with someone disappointed in you.
Kaoru had joined them after the second line of the chorus. They had somehow managed to move to the coffee table, and were standing on it and doing a strange routine that they had managed to make up in the past two seconds.
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there,
Become so tired, so much more aware.
I'm becoming this. All I want to do,
Is be more like me, and be less like you.
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there.
Tired of being what you want me to be.
I've become so numb, I can't feel you there.
Tired of being what you want me to be.
When the last note faded, Kaoru had somehow ended up in the middle, her head bowed low as the last words faded from the air. Mori and Misao had retreated behind her, letting her say the last two lines by herself.
When the last notes of music stopped echoing, she looked up to applause. Kenshin stood there, smiling wildly and initiating a loud applause. Kaoru, Mori, and Misao blushed, bowing.
Kaoru jumped off the table and into Kenshin's arms, crowing her delight. He laughed and spun her around, and she slid out of his arms and swung around to Tsubame, telling her to put the next song on. The plan was starting a little early, but…
Tsubame hit the play button, and Mori and Misao automatically moved back, letting Kaoru get up on the bar, which became the stage. Keith Urban's music came out, and she swayed with the music, a smile quirking her lips as she sought out amethyst eyes. The words had been cut, so Kaoru was the only one singing.
You got your own way of looking at it, baby.
I guess that proves that I got mine.
Seems like our hearts are set on automatic.
We say the first thing that comes to mind.
Its just who we are, baby,
We've come too far to start over now.
I know what you're thinking,
I'm not always easy to be around.
She shook her head, her arms wrapping tightly around herself as she closed her eyes. She begged to God that he believed her next words. She opened her eyes and stared directly at him, intensely forcing her words into him.
But I do love you,
You keep me believing that you love me too.
And I know its true,
This love drives us crazy, but nobody's walking away,
So I guess we'll have to do it the hard way.
From the way his eyes widened slightly and he tilted his head to the side with a smile, she knew he understood. Sano nudged him with a wink and she turned her head away, a smile tugging at her lips.
If I had a genie in a bottle,
Three wishes I could wish for us.
I wish we'd live forever, get along together,
And turn these tempers into trust.
But I do love you,
You keep me believing that you love me too.
And I know its true,
This love drives us crazy, but nobody's walking away,
So I guess we'll have to do it the hard way.
She took the brief pause to jump off the bar, taking small steps towards Kenshin. All eyes were on her, and she wished for nothing more than just his eyes on her. At the warmth radiating from his eyes, heat began pooling in her stomach, moving through her body to leave her tingling.
Its just who we are, baby,
We've come too far to start over now.
Believe me, tonight loves the one thing in life
We can't live without.
She sat on the side of the chair he was sitting on and looked out the window, taking in the sites of the city. She felt his arms wrap around her and laughed before being pulled into his lap. She continued singing as she stared up at him.
And I do love you,
You keep me believing that you love me too.
And I know its true,
This love drives us crazy, but nobody's walking away,
So I guess we'll have to do it the hard way.
And she smiled. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, before jumping up and yelling to Tsubame.
"MISAO!"
The girl with the braid smiled and got up on the bar now. She took a deep breath as Tsubame switched CD's. A song blared out. Happy and beautiful, it was exactly like the girl. (AN: Its Owaranai Yume. THIS SONG ROCKS! If you haven't heard it, I feel so sorry for you. Email me and I'll give a website where you can download it and listen to it. If you want the English translations, go to: www(.)animelyrics(.)com(/)anime(/)Inuyasha(/)owarinaiyume(.)htm TAKE OUT THE PARENTHESIS. )
kokoro no naka no jiorama no machi wa
kibou no hikari de kirameite iru
kagerou no hane de habataita yume wa
kimi to boku to no sagashimono
shinjitsu wa itsumo
hitomi ni hisonde iru aoku
Kaoru and Mori joined in as background voices, laughing as the bouncy girl jumped up and down. As the chorus came on, she stopped and closed her eyes, spinning.
bokura wa doko made yukou
futari no mirai ima sasuratte
bokura wa tabi o tsuzukeru
Somehow, Kaoru had put a bunch of rose petals on the bar. With her eyes still closed, Misao reached down and took them into her hands. She did it so fast and gracefully, no one noticed, and took the dip as a dance move.
eien no arika owari nai yume
kono te o hanasazu oikakete ikitai
Zutto
At the last word of the chorus, her eyes opened and she threw the petals up, letting them fly around. Everyone gasped and laughed, as Mori reached over and turned on a fan. The flower petals on top of them spun off, and it began raining flowers. Everyone danced in the 'rain', as Misao continued.
Taakoizu iro no kokoro no umi de
hikari no fune no aizu ga kikoeru
hayaku ikanakya hayaru omoi ni
nani mo kotoba wa iranai ne
itsuwari wa itsumo
kotoba ni hisonde iru amaku
Misao stopped moving, but kept her eyes open. She looked around the room, her eyes landing on a pair of ice blue ones. Keeping his gaze, she winked and spun in a circle. More flowers fell on her, catching in her hair and on her clothing. Kaoru had stumbled back to Kenshin and now sat in his lap again. She sang along with Misao, laughing.
futari de hitotsu ni narou
okubyou na nami no ho mo dakishimete
bokura wa tabi o tsuzukeru
dakiau sukima owari nai yume
niji o tsukinuketa
yakusoku no hikari o mezasu
Mori began turning the music down slowly, giving off the effect that it was fading away. Misao sat on the edge of the bar, smiling and looking down at her swinging feet as she sang the last verse.
bokura wa doko made yukou
futari no mirai ima sasuratte
bokura wa tabi o tsuzukeru
eien no arika owari nai yume
kono te o hanasazu oikakete ikitai
The music fully turned off, but everyone leaned forward as if they expected more. Misao's head was fully tilted down now, so they could see nothing of her face. Finally…Mori turned the music back up and the last note blasted out. Misao looked up and winked as she sang the last word.
Zutto!
Everyone laughed and Misao pointed at Kaoru who stood up. They had another song together with another girl this time, Maho. The black haired girl hurried away from a promisingly interesting conversation, leaving a blushing Tsubame and Yahiko behind her.
They stood up, and once again Kaoru was in the middle. Maho stood on her left, and Misao on her left. She lowered her head, peeking through her bangs at Kenshin, who was surprisingly staring straight at her. (AN: Surprisingly? Please. -snort-)
What I like about you,
You hold me tight, yeah.
Tell me I'm the only one,
Want to come over tonight, yeah.
Kaoru swayed slightly, hugging herself as she sung. When she sang the last line, she crooked her finger at Kenshin, winking as he flushed.
Keep on whispering in my ear,
Tell me all the things that I wanna hear,
Cause its true, that's what I like about you.
Misao and Maho sang the chorus part, bending their knees, cupping their ears as if listening for something and smiling at each other. They smiled around the room as Kaoru swung into the next verse.
What I like about you,
You really know how to dance, yeah.
Kaoru did a small circle with her hips as she sang 'Yeah…', and her shirt lifted, catching the attention of more than one guy. Kenshin's eyebrow creased, even as he himself eyed her.
When you go up, down, turn around,
Talk about true romance, yeah.
At "Up, down, turn around," she slid up, dipped down, and did another circle with her hips, though larger than last time.
Keep on whispering in my ear,
Tell me all the things that I wanna hear
Cause its true, that's what I like about you.
Misao and Maho did another chorus, while Kaoru jumped off the bar and walked behind it, hiding her from everyone.
Hey!
Kaoru's voice came out of nowhere, and then Misao and Maho echoed her.
Hey!
Kaoru sang and once again Maho and Misao repeated what she said.
Hey!
Hey!
Everyone looked around, trying to find the blue eyed beauty. Kenshin blinked, as nearly everyone looked at him. He shrugged his shoulders, not knowing where she was. Suddenly, everyone's gaze went higher than his head, and he was about to say something when arms circled his neck.
What I like about you…
Kaoru whispered into his ear, making his breath hitch in his throat as he turned his head to see her, making her lips skim his cheek.
Keep on whispering in my ear,
Tell me all the things that I wanna hear
Cause its true, that's what I like about you
She leaned back to his ear, whispering the last chorus to him only, while Misao and Maho did a louder version for everyone to hear.
Later, the party was slowing down. It was far from over, but it had hit a slow point, so Maho and Mori flipped through to a slow, sad song by Amy Lee of Evanescence. Mori started the song, passion lacing her voice.
Playground school bell rings, again.
Rain clouds come to play, again.
Kaoru wrapped her arms around Kenshin's neck and she rested her head on his shoulders, singing the song as well, though only he could hear her. Now Maho stepped forward.
Has no one told you she's not breathing?
Hello, I am your mind, giving you someone to talk to…
Hello…
Mori moved up and Maho stepped back, smiling in a sad way. Both the girls were normally like Misao; excited and bouncy. But this song could make anyone upset/depressed/moody.
If I smile and don't believe.
Soon I know I'll wake from this dream.
Maho took the second verse, eyes landing on the dancing Kaoru and Kenshin. A true smile lit up her face and she sang with renewed fervor.
Don't try to fix me I'm not broken.
Hello? I am the lie,
Living for you so you can hide.
Don't cry.
They sang the last verse together, moving closer and forward.
Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping.
Hello? I'm still here.
All that's left of yesterday…
They let the last notes fade from the air, leaving the melancholy mood weigh sadly through the atmosphere.
Then, Kaoru stood up and laughed. 'Time to spice things up.'
She settled for a moderately happy song, not wanting to move from sad to something like…'Toxic'…
That would just be creepy. But, it would be fun to see Kenshin's face. Oh well…
Kaoru turned the music up full blast, blinking at the time. 12:00. Wow. She shrugged, and, instead of going to the bar again, settled on the couch, most of the people sitting around her. They waited for her to open her mouth, and when she did, her voice over powered Michelle Branch's, so they only heard Kaoru.
Turn me inside out so I can see,
The part of you that drifting over me.
When I wake you're never there,
And when I sleep you're everywhere.
You're everywhere…
Misao took Kaoru's meaningful look as an opening. She stood up and took the next part. She went behind Kaoru and sat on the back of the couch, her braid swinging lowly behind her.
Just tell me how I got this far.
Tell me why you're here and who you are.
Cause every time I look you're never there.
And every time I sleep you're always there.
Kaoru joined her on the top of the couch, and they sat back-to-back. Then, right before the chorus started, they looked towards the group in front of the couch. They winked at the 'crowd', then started singing.
Cause you're everywhere to me.
And when I close my eyes its you I see.
You're everything I know that makes me believe.
I'm not alone…
I'm not alone.
Misao turned back away and stared into nothingness, while Kaoru kept her gaze on a redhead, and sang by herself.
I recognize the way you make me feel.
Its hard to think that you may not be real.
Since I know the water's getting deep,
I try to wash the pain away from me.
Away from me…
Now Kaoru looked away, though she kept a smile on her face and purple danced in her eyes. Misao let her eyes float to a familiar tall man, smiling.
Cause you're everywhere to me.
And when I close my eyes its you I see.
You're everything I know that makes me believe.
I'm not alone…
I'm not alone.
They sang the next part, each taking a line. It started with Kaoru, then Misao, and it alternated. Then, on the last line, they sang together.
When I touch your hand, its then I understand,
The beauty that's within. Its now that we begin.
You always like my way. There never comes a day.
No matter where I go, I always feel you so…
Misao sang the next chorus by herself, turning to look into space again, keeping her eyes away from the crowd.
Cause you're everywhere to me.
And when I close my eyes its you I see.
You're everything I know that makes me believe,
I'm not alone…
Kaoru looked in the opposite direction since they were back-to-back, and her eyes held a faraway look to them. She sang the next part as Misao's words faded.
You're everywhere to me,
And when I catch my breath, its you I breathe.
You're everything I know that makes me believe,
I'm not alone.
Since Misao was too busy thinking, Kaoru took the last lines. They both leaned their heads back and drew their knees to their chests. They wrapped their arms around their legs, smiled softly, and Kaoru sang the end.
You're everyone I see.
So tell me, do you see me?
Mori and Maho ended up sleeping on the couch. Mori's head fell onto Maho's shoulder, and Maho's head fell on top of the other girl's.
Misao had somehow ended up leaning on Aoshi, and his head was tilted back on the couch, a small smile quirking his lips.
Tsubame was asleep on the floor. Yahiko slept with his head on her stomach, and her hands had somehow managed to grip one of his.
Kenshin and Kaoru were in the kitchen. Kenshin's head was tilted to the side, resting on his shoulder. Kaoru sat in his lap, her head under his neck. Her breathing tickled his neck, and her arms were wrapped around him. His own arms came around her waist, and every now and then his fingers would twitch, earning a small giggle from her.
Blue eyes opened. 'Whaa…'
Kaoru was very tired. The party hadn't ended till around 5:00 in the morning. She had done karaoke almost the whole time, even though Misao had passed out around 4:00. She smiled when she remembered Aoshi picking her up and setting her on the couch.
How had she and Kenshin ended up in the kitchen? She blinked wearily, her eyelashes flicking across his neck.
His eyes flashed open, and he yawned.
They had come in here around 5:10. Most of Kaoru's friends had left by then, and their own friends had fallen asleep around the room. They had headed into the kitchen for a drink, and somehow had fallen asleep like this.
Her head nuzzled into his neck and his grip on her tightened.
And as she remembered the song she had sung to him, she smiled as she whispered it to him, notes lingering in the still morning air.
"And I do love you…"
…12 pages. 12. For this chapter. All by itself. ANIMEOBSSESSED3191 and YU-GI-AH 2.0, here you girls go! I made you sing! BWAAAHAHA!
I gave you guys a song by yourselves, and I made it a sad song. I made it Amy Lee, since I know that AO3191 likes it at least. I'll probably being using your characters again, just cause I love them and you to bits! -pause- Okay, that was weird…buuut…
.-.-
Okay, reading over this later, I realize what a sappy, music loving idiot I am. But, hey, whatcha gonna do, ne?
.-.-
I'm happy with this chapter. It's my MUSIC CHAPTER OF DOOOM. Yes. I'm hyper. Again, if anyone wants to join this really cool RPG, go to:
Juujikaue(.)proboards45(.)com
I play Inuyasha and Miroku, so you'll know who I am if you go there! Say hi, and that you know me from FF, or else I'll just be…"Uhm…sure…"
waves-
Ja ne, minna-san!
