Disclaimer: I no own Rurouni Kenshin…
Hidden in Study – Chapter 10 – By Cherry Chibi
It was that attitude that Battousai had admired about Kaoru. The fact that she was able to light up any dark situation and doing it in a way that was completely self-less. "OK. Tell me when do we have to get going."
"Around after dinner."
* * * *
The girls snuck out of the school building through the back. They had taken the time to prepare each other's hair as well as little bits and pieces such as money. However, they could feel the anticipation of a wonderful night. They could hear the distant cheery calls from the village. Lanterns lit paths and every building had been decorated colourfully. Food scented the air delicately.
"Wow, it's been ages since I've gone to one of these…" Misao said while swallowing the happy images. Tsubame nodded with agreement and Kaoru smiled.
"I wonder what stalls are open…" Megumi said, "Let's have a look around!" Excitedly, she hurried away with Tsubame following. Misao was about to run after them but had to stop since there was one person who wasn't particularly 'awake'. "Kao-chan! Let's go!"
"You go ahead. I'm waiting for someone." Kaoru said, she sat on a boulder that was on the side of the road. "Don't worry about me." She smiled assuring Misao that she was being totally sincere.
"Alright, but if something goes wrong… scream alright?" Misao said with a hint of humour. Kaoru laughed lightly with Misao. "Alright, see you later!" Kaoru then watched Misao vanish from sight through the crowds. She was seated in the shadows so she wouldn't be immediately noticeable. 'I hope that he won't be too late…'
"Evening." A formal voice said calmly.
"Evening!" Kaoru stood, "Gosh, you look cute." Battousai wore a white hakama accompanied by a dark blue gi. A moment of silence passed until Battousai finally spoke.
"Shall we?"
"Yeah, let's get going." Kaoru walked beside Battousai towards the village. "By the way, do you have to be so formal in your speech?"
"Is there a problem with it?" Battousai questioned with a small grin.
"Ah, no. It's just that it makes you seem a little too mature. I'm not saying it's a bad thing." Kaoru replied. She held her small lavender material pouch bag in front of her while walking. In her head she thought of things that she could do while Battousai can also enjoy himself. 'If he's so serious, who knows what he likes.'
"I see."
* * * *
Megumi, Misao and Tsubame were admiring the beautifully made objects. "Wow, check out this ribbon!" Megumi exclaimed. An indigo velvet ribbon was sitting on the shelf of a hair accessory stall. "But it is so expensive."
"I know. But it really is a high quality material." Misao said. She really wasn't interested in ribbons or barrettes or any of that sort. She liked to look but didn't necessarily wanted anything. She turned to Tsubame, "See anything you like?" Tsubame was quiet for a moment. 'I can't believe how shy she can be.' Misao thought.
"Well," Tsubame said hesitantly, "I like that one." She pointed to a black barrette that had three small white flowers connected on the flat side. "It reminds me of my old home that was in the country."
"That is so sweet." Megumi said with a smile. "How much is it?"
"No really, it's alright." Tsubame said quickly, she didn't want to cause trouble.
"Whoa, it's a lot of money…" Misao stated after taking a glance at the price. "Are you sure you'll be able to pay for it?" The girls had split the money between them and they didn't have a lot to spend but enough to buy nice things.
Tsubame looked urgently at Megumi. "Megumi, it's alright, I don't want…"
"No, no, no, imagine it as an early birthday present." Megumi said while taking out her purse that had been tucked into her red sash. Her mouth opened to call the stall owner but she was a moment too late.
"Excuse me sir, can I please buy the barrette with the three white flowers?"
"Of course young man. That'll be 350 yen."
"Thank you."
"Oh darn," Megumi frowned, "Someone bought it before us." She looked disappointed as she tucked the purse behind the sash of her yukata. "What tough luck." She had wanted to buy it for Tsubame since the girl was really far from home and coming across things that brings a smile and warm memories to Tsubame's face was really hard.
"Doesn't matter, maybe there's something else we could find." Misao said, "Come on, why don't we have a look at another stall?" She placed a hand on Megumi and Tsubame's shoulder and led them towards the next one.
"Tsubame!"
The trio halted in their steps. Tsubame looked up and smiled. "Yahiko! Nice to see you." She greeted him followed by Misao and Megumi. "How have you been so far tonight?"
"Great. Hey, I just thought that I'd give you something as a gift for today." Yahiko said without a sign of embarrassment. "I'd think you'll like it." He held out an object wrapped in a red cloth. Tsubame blushed and accepted it.
Slowly, she unfolded the red material and gasped. Misao's and Megumi's surprised eyes gawked at Yahiko who stood proud. "Thank you Yahiko! Thank you so much! I love it!" Tsubame held the gift in her hands warmly. "But it must have cost a lot though."
"Don't worry about it." Yahiko said, "It's a celebrative night, you should enjoy it. See you later!" Yahiko then weaved out of sight through the crowd.
"Well what do you know?" Megumi said with a devious smile, "Who would've thought that Yahiko would get that for you? Go on! Wear it!" Poor Tsubame blushed a darker colour.
"Wear it!" Misao said, "It'll look really pretty!" She took the barrette from Tsubame's hands and handed it to Megumi who tucked the barrette into Tsubame's brown hair. The three white blossoms sparkled with melody.
"There we go," Megumi said. "How do you feel?"
"Tonight has been the best night ever." Tsubame said, "It's almost like that I'm back at my old home." Her face lit up brightly and her smile could've warmed anyone's heart.
"Oh, look at who's here." Megumi said with an element of surprise. The girls followed the direction of her gaze and spotted Soujiro, Sanosuke, Saitoh, Aya and Aoshi. The group of guys stopped nearby them. Sanosuke wore a small frown at the sight of Megumi.
"Evening!" Aya greeted them with a broad smile.
"Hi guys!" Misao said, "Hey, Aoshi, I wouldn't have thought that you'd show up." Suddenly, a silence took over the guys.
"Aoshi, you know this girl?" Soujiro questioned.
Aoshi said nothing but eyed Misao with an eerie aura that would've usually caused Misao to back away or glance elsewhere but not tonight. She crossed her arms tilted her head to one side and stared back at Aoshi with a hint of defiance.
The others felt that there was some form of communication happening and were curious to know what it was. "Hey! Aoshi? You know this girl or what?" Soujiro asked again. Aoshi gave a slight nod.
"Yeah."
"Well, aren't you going to be polite and…"
"She's a… friend." Aoshi stated. "Name's Misao."
"Oh…" Suddenly, Soujiro placed a hand on Aoshi's shoulder, "So she's your GIRLfriend?"
"What?!"
Everyone in the group reacted in all sorts of ways and hadn't realised that Megumi and Sanosuke had moved away from the group with seriousness. "I can't believe that you would have the guts to even show your face." Sanosuke said in a mutter.
"Why don't you grow up?" Megumi barked back, "What's done is done and I didn't know what it would cause k?" She dug her hand into her bag, in doing so the sleeve of her yukata lifted revealing a violet beaded bracelet.
"You're wearing it…" Sanosuke said.
"Hm?" Megumi glanced at the bracelet, "Of course. A Rooster-head like you spent time to get it for me so I thought that I should wear it for an event like this." She took out an object that was folded neatly into a small pile. "Here." She placed it in his open palm. "I thought that I should return the favour as well as say sorry."
A small smile stretched on Sano's face. "Apology accepted. Thanks Fox-girl."
"Oh shut up!"
* * * *
AN: Another chapter! ^-^ Shorter than the other but still. I couldn't keep all of you waiting too long. No reviewers corners, no time nowadays. However, let me thank you all for them!!!