Disclaimer: I no own Rurouni Kenshin…
AN: I think that I will say this in advance, thank you everyone for being so wonderful and supporting me through the fic so far! I've just recovered from writer's block and had just returned from a field trip, so sorry for the long, long, long wait! (Don't kill me…)
Hidden in Study – Chapter 13 – By Cherry Chibi
"It means a lot to me as well."
"Huh?" Misao looked at Aoshi with surprised eyes. There was a short welcomed silence before Aoshi said that he had to go to his lessons. Misao waved him goodbye before settling under the Sakura trees to watch the wonders of the Sakura trees. It definitely was a beautiful day. 'But what does he mean by that?'
- - - -
Aoshi was seated in class dazing off a little. However, his absence of mind wasn't noticed by the other students. No one could really read what goes through his head anyway. As they called him, he really sometimes was an 'Icy Guy'. Why he was dazing off today? It really didn't sound like much of a big deal but the start of spring was the day when he came to the school… It was his first peaceful and happy moment after the string of tragic events.
"Psst… Aoshi!" Sanosuke nudged him hard shaking his core back to reality. "Sekihara-sensei just asked you a question!" Other students were whispering quietly, surprised that Aoshi had for the first time ever, daydreamed…
"Aoshi…" It looked as if Tae was also stunned by her student's behaviour, "Are you feeling well today?" Usually, he was one of her top students. Always well behaved and did his work. Being one of the senior teachers of the school, she did know what really was going through his head. Holding an inward sigh she said gently, "Aoshi, I believe that you should be dismissed. However, make sure that you catch up with today's work later in the afternoon and finish it by tomorrow. Is that understood?" Her warm brown eyes locked with Aoshi's cold blue.
"Yes, Sekihara-sensei." Aoshi replied as he stood from his seat. Quickly gathering his things before leaving the classroom. 'What is the matter with me today? The start of spring never really was a big deal for me…' Today his head was like a cloud floating in the sky. It couldn't stay in one position in the sky. It just kept floating and moving. He couldn't help it either.
After strolling for a while, he somehow came across the girl's room.
"Do you really think you can do that Tsubame?" A voice that sounded like Megumi's asked, "We can really get things going if you can somehow lead Misao away for awhile."
Aoshi's curiosity took the better of him and he listened for a bit.
"Um… but… what if… Misao realizes what's going on?" Tsubame's shy and quiet voice asked.
'What are these girls up to now?' Aoshi thought. Were they planning something for Misao's celebration? It might as well be. Girls were always into those sorts of little strange things. They would celebrate something whenever they get the chance to. No matter how miniscule the event may be – they would celebrate. Seeing that he really shouldn't be eavesdropping, he continued his way towards the library.
- - - -
Kenshin gripped the ink brush tighter to the point where his knuckles were pure white and the wood of the ink brush was beginning to show signs of forming sharp wrinkles. 'Shut… up…' Battousai's voice was still annoying the hell out of him. He knew that Battousai was another part of him which wanted to take over. He didn't want that to happen. 'You can't handle the facts can you?' Came the question, 'You can't even look at her.'
'Get lost.' Kenshin said harshly back. 'I don't want to hear anymore from you.'
Kaoru, who was seated next to Kenshin, noticed that one of the splintered edges had pierced into his skin and was drawing blood. "Kenshin…" She said quietly, "You alright?" She was beginning to get more worried, she knew that Battousai was linked to how Kenshin was acting nowadays. He had been tense and somewhat… scared of something.
After a few moments of no reply, Kenshin finally stopped and smiled at her in a way that made her feel more frightened than reassured. "I'm alright Akai." He replied, "I guess that some of these characters are just frustrating to write. That's all." After that, he continued to work. Kaoru kept watching though, she didn't believe a word that he had told her.
From that moment until the end of the lesson, Kaoru eyes kept wandering over to Kenshin. A questioning look lingering in them. As they were being dismissed, Kaoru walked alongside Kenshin quietly. When they were heading back towards their dorm room where they were able to speak privately. "Kenshin, if there is a problem, you can really tell me. I'll listen." Kaoru said, her tone filled with worry.
"I appreciate your concern but it's nothing really." Kenshin replied as he dropped his stack of books and scrolls onto the table. "You won't understand." After that, he opened the closet and took out his sword, "Seijuro-sensei wants to train me more these days. So I won't be able to have as much free time. I better hurry or else it is a 1000 slashes each minute I'm late. See you."
"Yeah…" Kaoru watched his retreating back before turning back to his pile of work that he had left on the table. There was a cold feeling within her that sent shivers in her spine. An instinct that told her that she would have to be careful, very careful. Slowly, hesitantly, she reached for one of Kenshin's scrolls and unwound it. Her eyes widened and her hands almost shook from fear. "Kenshin… what's the matter….?" The words were barely audible as they passed her lips.
- - - -
"Yo."
Aoshi's attention was caught by the not-too-formal greeting. He looked up from his book and met eyes with Sanosuke. "What is it?" It was just like Sanosuke to come and disturb him during times when he wanted to just have a quiet read to get his head of things. The Rooster-head pulled up a seat from the next table and dragged it across the floor. Roughly and lazily taking a seat near Aoshi.
"Why are you always reading? How boring." Sanosuke said, "Let's go and train for a bit." His tone was near child-ish. Somehow it made Aoshi's brow twitch upwards a little. "Don't you think that you need to train a bit more? I think your skills are getting a little out of date." He has got to be kidding, was what Aoshi thought at that moment. The last time they sparred was just a couple of nights ago – Aoshi came out clearly as the victor. So why was Sanosuke even bothering to continue his challenge? Maybe he was just a sore loser.
"Don't you have better things to do?" Aoshi asked dully. He finished the last sentence of the page before flipping it over to the next.
"Come on man… get a life!" Sanosuke said, "My next vocation is to get a certain book worm out into open air." He leaned forward in his seat, "And you know how persistent I can be…"
"Yeah, as persistent as cat trying to take a bath." Aoshi replied.
Sanosuke snorted. "Well, whatever. You're coming, even if I have to take you out by force." At that moment, Sanosuke aimed to grab Aoshi's collar but failed as Aoshi dodged him easily and was soon out of his seat. "Alright! So you're going to come with me to spar?"
"One round." Aoshi concluded, "If I win, you will have to stop bothering me."
"I'm game." Sanosuke said as he raised a fist, "And if I win, you're going to have to do as I say."
- - - -
Megumi knocked on Kaoru's doorframe. "May I?" She said as she slid open the door only to find Kaoru seated at the desk with a pale complexion. "What's the matter?" No reply. She entered the room and approached Kaoru slowly. "Kaoru?"
"What… what is happening to Kenshin?" Kaoru asked quietly. Her eyes were glued to the scrolls. Megumi looked over Kaoru's shoulder and read the strange sentences that were varying in styles of writing. There were two different styles.
'You are born by the sword and therefore you will die by the sword. It has always been that way in your family.'
'I won't listen to you…'
'You can't escape your past… and so can't she…'
'Shut… up…'
'You can't handle the facts can you? You can't even look at her.'
"What is this?" Megumi asked as she placed a hand on Kaoru's shoulder. "Did Kenshin write this?" Soon after, Kaoru stood from her seat and ran out. "Kaoru!" She picked up pace and tried to catch up to Kaoru. "Wait!"
"Leave me alone!" Kaoru screamed back, "Just leave me alone!"
"Kaoru!" After turning a sharp corner, Megumi lost track of Kaoru. She couldn't keep up with her.
- - - -
Kenshin circled his master. 'If I can beat Seijuro-sensei, then I will be able to throw away my sword.' His feet whispered over the floor boards. Sweaty palms gripped around the hilt of his sword.
"You're taking too long Baka-deshi." Hiko said, he showed no signs of concern about losing. He knew that he would win without a doubt. His foolish student was still too young, and hasn't even mastered all the techniques yet. He didn't even know what was going through that boy's head. Why would Kenshin want to try to fight him for?
"KYAH!" Kenshin quickly advanced forward, his sword clashed with Hiko's. It was a quick and efficient attack but no good enough to knock any wind out of his master. Next thing he knew, he was flat on the ground, feeling his cheek throb from impact.
"That's enough." Hiko said coolly, "This is pointless."
"No…" Kenshin slowly pushed himself off the wooden floor with his hands. 'I can't lose…' He assumed fighting stance again and his eyes narrowed in full concentration. 'I have to win.' Soon after, he charged forward again, his sword clashing with Hiko's and this time, instead of going straight through with the attack, he changed direction and added a second attack but this time using his sheath – catching Hiko off guard for the slightest second.
Just as victory was about to be sealed with the impact, a call ended it all. "Kenshin! There's something wrong with Akai!" Megumi was at the dojo doorway. Behind her stood Tsubame. "He just took off!"
"What?!" Kenshin landed and spun around to look at Megumi.
"He was looking at your scrolls… and he looked pretty upset…" Megumi said, "Do you know where he could've went?"
'Kaoru…'
- - - -
Punches and kicks were thrown with precision, each one with the potential to bite like a python. Sanosuke dodged Aoshi's attacks purposefully and Aoshi dodged his in defence. 'Fox-girl told me to hold Aoshi off for awhile… I wonder what it is all about…' Sanosuke thought. His fist knuckled right into Aoshi's and they were locked into their punches for a few moments, "Che, you're pretty strong." Sanosuke said.
"You already know that," Aoshi then swung around a surprise kick. Knocking out Sanosuke's legs from beneath him. Just before he landed on the ground, Aoshi grabbed a handful of Sanosuke's shirt. "Alright, enough games, what are you up to? You would usually give the fights your all. Today you're holding back."
"I like to try out another strategy." Sanosuke said as he quickly scrambled out of Aoshi's grasp and then darted for a straight forward attack. "Psyche!" Aoshi quickly dodged and slammed his fist into Sanosuke's back. This time, he didn't stop Sanosuke's fall into the ground.
"You don't by any chance happen to be scheming something?" Aoshi questioned. He was getting suspicious of what was going on.
- - - -
"Seijuro-san," A man greeted his co-worker. "The police have just handed to us another letter. Possible concerning the Kamiya family." He handed the dirt stained envelope to Hiko. "How have the kids been coping?" The man had his hair tied back into a tight high bun. His piercing brown eyes showed that he was one who had knowledge of what was going on.
Hiko opened the letter and read its contents before dropping it on his desk. "Katsura, as we know, there are some things that would never change." He heard a sigh coming from his fellow worker.
"They're not safe are they?"
- - - -
She stopped at the town's entrance and looked around. In her hand was a scrappy looking note. She raised an eyebrow and scanned the area. "What is going on?" Misao asked. On the note it was specified that Tsubame would be waiting for her because there was something that she wanted to show. 'How strange…' Tsubame wasn't the kind of girl who would play tricks so something must have happened. 'Maybe this isn't Tsubame's note…'
Sighing and feeling frustrated, she turned back. However, there was a rustling in the bushes beside her that caused her to feel alarmed. 'Someone's watching me…' Without wasting time, she sprinted. She didn't get very far though – next thing she knew, a large pair of hands grabbed her wrists and covered her eyes.
"ARGH! SOMEONE HELP!"
- - - -
AN: The end of chapter thirteen.Alright, I know that you all would probably want to strangle me now. I've left… about four cliffies each in their own scenes… hahaha… I'm so evil. Hey! A girl's gotta have her fun some time!
Hm… if I get more ideas soon… I'll probably update sooner! Let's all pray that would happen eh? Alright, until next time!
Cherry Chibi