Kenshin Rock!

Chapter 2- The Mysterious Singer

(At the Bar)

"That was our best performance yet."

"I agree, Sano, but it would've been better is Aoshi here hadn't tuned his bass wrong."

"My bass was tuned just fine, Kenji, it was you who was off." Aoshi said defensively, not bothering to look at the young drummer beside of him.

"Yeah right, it sounded fine back stage but it seemed to get sick at the last minute. Kind of like your last date, huh Aoshi?"

"Shut up, Kenji! At least I've had dates, unlike a certain little red-hared drummer I know."

"I've had dates."

"Kenji," Sano leaned over and put his arm around his shoulders, "making out with your pillow doesn't count as a date, buddy."

"Screw you, Sanosuke!"

Everyone laughed as Kenji turned red, it was never hard to get him to blush. Kenji pushed Sanosuke away from him and looked over at the bartender, "What'd you think of our performance, Hiko?"

The bartender came over and smiled at them, mischief sparkling in his dark eyes, "It was fine, me and Koji had bets on who's instruments would break first but we both lost."

"It's nice to know that the condition of our instruments is your source of amusement, Hiko." Kenji said sarcastically rolling his eyes, taking a sip of his drink.

"You seen any hot babes here tonight?" Sanosuke asked with a grin

"Your age yes, my age no. I don't look too close at the kids, it makes me feel like an old pervert."

"You are an old pervert, though."

Hiko glared at Aoshi and threw a rag at him, getting chuckles out of the others, "What were you boys saying about dates any ways?"

"We were picking on Kenji because he's never had a real date." Sano said poking the red head.

"I've had dates, I just don't care to mention them."

Hiko chuckled and scratched his chin, "I don't remember the last time I went out on a date."

"I do, it was back in the stone age when you dated Wilma Flinstone."

Everyone busted up laughing and Hiko gave Sanosuke a look that would kill if it were possible, "Don't you have girls to torment?"

Sanosuke looked around and spotted Megumi sitting with Kaoru and Misao as a disco song came on, "Yes I do, as a matter of fact, see ya later, guys."

"I might as well go too, I saw a girl earlier I thought was cute, see ya, Kenji."

"Go get her, Aoshi. Good luck Sano."

Sanosuke and Aoshi went up to the table where Kaoru and the girls were sitting and flashed big smiles, "Hello ladies."

The girls gave them the once over and smiled, "Hi."

"Care to dance, beautiful?" Sanosuke asked holding his hand out to Megumi.

"I'd love to, bye girls."

Sanosuke led Megumi to the dance floor and Aoshi held his hand out to Misao, smiling mysteriously at her, "Would you dance with me?"

"Sure, bye, Kaoru."

"Bye, be sure to get his number."

"I plan to."

Aoshi chuckled as they followed Sanosuke and Megumi to the dance floor and began to move to the fast beat of the music. Sano put his arm around Megumi's waist and leaned against her ear, "What's you name pretty lady?"

"Megumi Takani, and you are?"

"Sanosuke Sagara."

"You were great up there, Sanosuke, you were one of the guitarists, right?"

"Yeah, I played rhythm, did you enjoy the performance?"

"Most definitely, especially the cute guitarist."

"You mean me, right?"

"Who else?"

Sanosuke smiled and spun her around a couple of times before pulling her against him again, "So, are you free or do I have to beat up your boyfriend and kidnap ya?"

"I'm free but are you able to handle me?"

"I'll find out."

Without warning Sanosuke dipped Megumi and placed a kiss to her lips before letting her back up, a smug grin on his face, "I think I can handle you."

Megumi simply smiled, "You're quick on the move, aren't you?"

"That's the only way to be."

They both laughed and continued to dance as Sanosuke glanced at Aoshi and chuckled when he saw his arms around Misao, "I wonder if he'll get her number?"

The song ended and the four went back to the table where Kaoru was waiting, "Did you guys have fun?"

"Oh yes, these guys aren't only cute and can sing but they can dance too." Misao hugged Aoshi and Kaoru shook her head at her hyper, partly drunk friend.

"We're gonna go talk to the rest of our gang and find out the agenda for the evening and then we'll be back."

"I'll be here, Sanosuke." Megumi winked at him and he went back to the bar.

Aoshi leaned close to Misao and asked her something, getting her to giggle and write something down on a napkin, "See ya later, Aoshi."

"You certainly will."

Aoshi left and Kaoru gave Misao the 'I can't believe you' look, "Did you give him your number?"

"No, I gave him yours."

Kaoru slapped her playfully on the arm and they all laughed, listening to the old love song that was playing.

Kenji smiled as his friends came back and tossed his hair over his shoulder, smiling evilly, "How'd it go?"

"I got a girlfriend." Sanosuke beamed proudly

"How much drugs did you use on her?" Hiko asked, getting Sanosuke to give him an unkind gesture.

"None, thank you. How did you do, Aoshi?"

"I got Misao's number."

"Oh! Go Aoshi!"

Kenji heard a chuckle beside him and looked over at the singer, seeing him take another sip from his glass, "What's wrong?"

He glanced over at Kenji and shrugged, "Nothing, why?"

"You haven't said anything since we got off stage, you sick?"

"No, I'm just thinking."

"That's dangerous."

The singer punched him in the arm and Kenji laughed, "What're you thinking so hard about?"

"The girl over there."

"Which one?"

"The one in the red shirt next to Sano's girl."

Kenji looked over and spotted Kaoru as she laughed at one of the guys on the dance floor, "Go talk to her."

"You know me, I don't break the ice too often."

"If you like her go for it."

"I'm trying to think of something to talk about with her. I doubt she knows much about guitar playing or killing people so I'm out of topics at the moment."

"Oh, you're hopeless! I'll be back."

"Where you going?"

"Trust me, I'll be back."

Kenji got up and went up to Kaoru, pulling out a chair and sitting in it backwards, "Hey girls."

"Hi."

"What's a bunch of pretty young ladies like you doing over here all by yourselves?"

"Watching those people make fools of themselves."

Kenji looked to the dance floor and saw a drunk trying to dirty dance, falling on his back every once in awhile, "I've danced like that once or twice, but I was sober so I didn't really have an excuse."

The girls laughed and Kenji grinned as the song changed to Metallica's 'Sabbra Cadabra.' He turned to Kaoru and held out his hand, "Dance with me."

"Me? I can't dance."

"Oh come on."

Kenji took her wrist and drug her onto the dance floor, smiling at the dirty look she was giving him, "What's your name?"

"Kaoru Kamiya."

"I'm Kenji Himura, nice to meet ya."

Kaoru couldn't help but smile at him, he was really cute and actually quite playful and she couldn't resist dancing with him, "Nice to meet you. You're the drummer, aren't you?"

"That's me, I wanted to play keyboards but my mother never trusted me around pianos so I got a drum set for my birthday instead."

Kaoru laughed and let him spin her around, "You're funny, how long have you been playing?"

"About eleven years, I started playing with my brother and his band when I was twelve."

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-three."

"No way! You look like you're sixteen."

"I know, I'm just a big kid that never got out of puberty. So where's your boyfriend?"

"I don't have one, I'm single."

"A pretty girl like you is single?"

"Yeah, I'm shy."

"I'll get you over that. What'd you think of our singer?"

"Truthfully? I think he's cute, you are too but..."

"I know what you mean. What would you say if he asked you out?"

Kaoru flushed at the sudden question and decided to play with him, "That depends on if he asks me himself or not."

"If he did, what would you say?"

"I'm not telling you."

Kenji spun her around and wrapped his arms around her waist, running his fingers over her ribs, getting squeals from Kaoru as she tried to get away, "Stop! Kenji! I'm ticklish!"

"Tell me and I'll stop."

"Alright! I'd say yes! Now let me go!"

Kenji let her go and laughed when she punched him, "You're mean."

"I know, do you forgive me?"

Kaoru was about to say no but he pushed out his bottom lip and got the puppy dog eyes and she couldn't stay mad at him, he was just too cute, "Yes, I forgive you."

"Thank you."

The song ended and Kenji took her back to the table, getting Misao to laugh, "I'm proud of you, Kaoru, you finally caught one!"

"Shut up, Misao."

"You're a good dancer." Megumi said to Kenji

"Thanks, I think I'll stick to drums though. You were the one dancing with Sanosuke, weren't you?"

"Yes, I'm Megumi Takani and she's Misao Makimachi."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Kenji Himura."

"Kenji's a sweetheart, he's like a big teddy bear."

Kaoru gave him a playful hug and Kenji returned it, "Got a hug after the first dance, I'm lucky."

The girls laughed and Kenji leaned close to Megumi, "A warning about Sano, he's known as the Hickey Man, so don't be surprised if you go home with a bunch of little red marks on your neck."

"I'll keep that in mind." Megumi laughed

"Hey Kenji! Come here!"

Kenji looked to the bar and saw the singer waving him over, "I gotta go, the warden's calling me back to my cell."

Kenji left and the girls laughed at the comment, "He's so cute."

"Yeah, if you can't get the singer, Kaoru, go for Kenji." Misao said playfully

"I will."

Kenji went back to the bar and sat beside of the singer, smiling happily, "Yeah?"

"What were you doing over there for so long?"

"Finding out info."

"And?"

"Well, she's single and she thinks you're cute and that's all I'm saying."

"You didn't get her name or anything?"

"Oh I got her name but if you want to know it you gotta find out on your own."

The singer gave him a cold glare and Hiko laughed at him, "Just go talk to her, the worst she can do is turn you down, or kick you, whichever comes first."

"Thanks for the comfort, Fred, I'll see ya later. Say hi to Wilma for me."

Hiko glared at him and Kenji laughed, getting Hiko to hit him upside the head with a wet cloth.

The girls were laughing at one of the drunks passing by as he waved at them and Megumi suddenly poked Kaoru in the shoulder, "Here comes your singer, Kaoru."

"He's probably coming to ask you to dance, Megumi."

"I'm hoping."

Kaoru turned her attention to her drink and suddenly heard a deep, familiar voice beside her, "Hey there."

She looked up and came eye to eye with the singer, holding back her shock with a smile, "Hello, what brings you over here?"

"Getting away from my band and besides I don't really need a reason to come and talk to a pretty girl, do I?"

"No, just curious is all, you were awesome up there, you have a beautiful voice."

"Thank you, I hope my band wasn't bothering you guys too much."

"No not at all, Sanosuke is charming." Megumi said

"Yeah and Aoshi's really cool."

"And Kenji's a sweetheart, he's a little hyper, though."

"That's Kenji for ya, he's been hyper as long as I've known him, especially when he drinks."

An old, old, OLD ( did I mention old?) rap song came on and the singer glanced over towards the DJ, "Oh I know he's not actually playing this! Excuse me for a second ladies, I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?" Kaoru asked

"I'm going to go kill a DJ."

The girls laughed and watched as he went up to the DJ stand. He spoke to him for a minute and the DJ nodded before he came back to the table, "Sorry, I hated that song the first time I heard it and I hate it now."

"It is a pretty bad song, isn't it?"

"Bad isn't the word, I'm just glad no one requested it for us to play."

The girls laughed and a slow song came on, the singer stood up and offered his hand to Kaoru, "Dance with me."

"I... I don't know..."

"Come on, it's a good song."

"You should dance with Megumi or Misao, they're a lot better than I am."

"I don't want to dance with them, I wanna dance with you, now come on."

The singer put his arm around her waist and lifted her up, getting a startled cry from her as he carried her to the dance floor. He set her down and Kaoru flushed, "I can't slow dance."

"It's alright, put your hands on my shoulders and follow my lead."

Kaoru reluctantly rested her hands on his shoulders and allowed him to lead her as he put his hands on her waist, "See, this isn't so bad, is it?"

"No, I just... didn't expect you to dance with me, I thought you'd pick Megumi."

"She's cute but she's nothing compared to you, I've been wanting to dance with you since I first saw you."

Kaoru smiled and looked at her feet, unsure of what to say to him. She couldn't believe she was actually dancing with the cute singer. She was so anxious to meet him before but now that she was actually dancing with him she didn't know what to do.

"What's your name?" he asked rather softly

"Kaoru Kamiya, what's yours?"

"Kenshin, Kenshin Himura."

"Kenshin... I like that name, are you related to Kenji?"

"Yeah, he's my little brother."

"You and Kenji look so much a like, how do I tell you apart?"

"Kenji has blonde streaks in his hair and wears schoolboy clothes. I always have my hair up and I wear black and dress cool."

Kaoru giggled and looked up into his eyes, gasping when she saw them. When he'd looked at her from on stage his eyes seemed to be silver, but now that she was up close she could see that they were actually a piercing amber color. He apparently noticed the confusion on her face and smiled at her, "What?"

"Your eyes... they were silver on stage but now they're gold."

Kenshin laughed, "Everyone says my eyes look silver on stage. It's just the lights, though, they shine on my eyes weird and make them look silver."

"Oh, I see, how long have you been playing?"

"About fifteen years, I started playing when I was ten."

"You're twenty-five?"

"I sure am, why?"

"You look eighteen."

"It's a curse, so where's your fella?"

"I don't have one, I'm looking though. How about you, where's your girlfriend?"

"I'm single, girls are afraid of me."

"Why?"

"My eyes creep them out and... I guess because I'm too cold hearted, I don't know how to open up to girls the way they want me to."

"I don't think you're cold hearted, you seem like a very good person. I think that people see you and automatically think you're just a punk or a bad boy but I think you're really kind."

Kenshin smiled and put his forehead against hers, "Thanks, it's really nice to hear that. So are you having fun?"

"Very much, I love this song."

"It's pretty but there's only one thing wrong."

"What's that, Kenshin?"

"We need to be closer, like this." he put his hand on the small of her back and pulled her against his chest, getting a gasp from Kaoru as she realized how close they were.

She tensed up against him and he chuckled softly, whispering reassuringly in her ear, "Don't be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you."

"I know, but..."

"Just relax. I won't let anything happen to you out here, I promise."

Kaoru smiled at his words and rested her head against his shoulder, enjoying the closeness now as he wrapped his arms around her waist. The song ended and went to a techno beat and Kenshin grinned, "You like this song?"

"Yeah but I can't dance to it."

"So, let's just go with it."

Kaoru smiled and pulled away from him, "I don't think so, maybe later."

She started back to the table but Kenshin caught her arm and pulled her back, "What're you doing?"

"Dancing." he grinned and picked her up, spinning her around several times before setting her down. She wobbled back and forth, her dizziness causing her to fall forward but Kenshin saw it coming and caught her, "Falling for me already, huh Kaoru?"

Kaoru playfully hit him and laughed, "You're a jerk!"

"Thanks, that's better than what most people call me."

Out of nowhere Sanosuke came up and put a hand on Kenshin's shoulder, "Hey, me and the others are leaving."

"Already? It's not like you to bail so soon, Sano."

"Well... Aoshi and Kenji are going home, I'm going with Megumi."

"Oh, I see, alright I'll see ya later, be careful driving home, man."

"I will, see ya later, Missy."

Kaoru glared at him as he left and turned to Kenshin, raising an eyebrow, "Missy?"

Kenshin chuckled and shook his head, "Don't mind, Sano, that's just his way of saying he likes you."

"Nice to know at least one guy likes me."

"I like you."

Kaoru blushed but smiled, letting him spin her into his arms before he dipped her. Kaoru squealed, surprised by the sudden dip but laughed as he pulled her back up, "You dance too fast, Kenshin, I can't keep up."

"You don't have to, just have fun."

"I'm having fun, are you?"

"Absolutely."

Kenshin dipped her again but this time he followed her and pressed his mouth against hers in a kiss. Kaoru gasped and froze, unsure if she should respond to him or not as he pulled her back up, his mouth never leaving hers. After a minute she began to relax, letting her eyes drift shut as she started to enjoy the kiss, then she suddenly felt rough, calloused hands on her stomach and her eyes shot open in shock. She pushed him away and Kenshin gave her a confused look, "What is it?"

"I... I can't do this."

Kaoru took off into the crowd and Kenshin went after her, the swarm of dancers making hard for him to follow, "Kaoru! Wait!"

Kaoru ran out the back door and touched her fingers to her lips, still feeling Kenshin's there, "I can't believe he did that. And I can't believe I let him."

"Hey cutie."

She looked over and saw a scruffy looking man in his thirties, a beer in his hand as he tried to support himself against the wall. She smiled and turned away, knowing not to engage in any conversation with him.

"You up for some fun?"

"No thanks."

She turned to go back inside, thinking it would be safer to deal with Kenshin than the drunken man next to her. But before she could reach the door the man caught her wrist and pulled her back, "Where you going?"

"Inside, now let me go!"

"Ah come on, cutie, there's no one around."

He moved to kiss her but Kaoru turned her head and tried to push him away, making him angry, "Stop fighting, it won't hurt."

"I don't care if it will or not, let me go!"

"Oh come on, you know you want it."

"No I don't! Stop it! Let go of me!"

Out of nowhere someone came up and roughly shoved the man away from Kaoru and she heard a familiar, welcome voice, "Guys like you don't get a hint do you?"

Kaoru looked up and was relieved to see Kenshin standing next to her, holding his arm out protectively in front of her as he confronted the man.

"What's your problem? We were just having fun."

"Fun? You call an innocent girl trying to push you away saying 'stop' and 'let me go' fun? I suggest you do as she said and leave before I help you."

"Hey come on, she wanted it, didn't you, baby?"

The man reached for Kaoru and Kenshin caught his wrist, bringing him eye to eye with the man, "Touch her and I will kill you. The girl asked you to leave and I suggest that you just that, otherwise you won't wake up in the morning, do you understand me?"

The man pulled away from Kenshin and walked off, Kaoru sighed in relief and sunk to the ground, hiding her face. She felt a hand on her shoulder and heard Kenshin's deep, gentle voice as he knelt next to her, "You alright?"

"Yeah, fine, thank you."

"Why'd you run off like that?"

"Because... I... I was afraid."

"Why? I wasn't hurting you, was I?"

"No, but... I don't hardly know you and you just... kissed me... it... it startled me and I didn't know what to do. Then that creep showed up and I didn't defend myself and I'm embarrassed..."

A tear fell from Kaoru's eyes and she turned her gaze to the ground, too ashamed to look Kenshin in the eyes. Suddenly she felt Kenshin's hand on her cheek, gently wiping the tear away before he lifted her gaze to meet his with surprisingly gentle fingers, "I'm sorry, you're right, I shouldn't have touched you but... something just came over me, I couldn't help it. It's not everyday I have a beautiful girl in my arms dancing with me. I truly am sorry, can you forgive me?"

Kaoru gazed into his amber eyes and saw genuine regret there and she smiled, "Yes, I'm sorry too, it was a good kiss, though."

Kenshin chuckled and helped her to stand before a car drove by honking. Kenshin waved once he saw it was Kenji and Aoshi, shaking his head as he laughed to himself, "I won't see them for two days."

"Why?"

"Because they'll be passed out somewhere from a hangover and staying up until two in the morning playing Street Fighter."

Kaoru giggled and shivered as a cold wind blew up her short tank top. Kenshin saw this and watched her cover her arms, "You cold, Kaoru?"

"A little, it's chilly out here."

"Here, take this," Kenshin shrugged out of his black jacket and draped it over Kaoru's shoudlers, getting a protest from her as he did so.

"No, you'll get cold, you only have a T-shirt..."

"And you have on less than I do, I don't get cold easily. Besides, the last thing I'd want is for you to catch a cold from me running you off into the chilly night air."

Kaoru smiled and slipped her arms into the jacket, looking down to see that it almost touched the ground with her short frame, the sleeves completely covering her hands, making her look like a two year old wearing her father's coat. She smiled and turned to Kenshin, "How do I look?"

Kenshin smiled, "Cute, it looks better on you than me."

"I think I'll keep it then."

"Then I'd have to come find you and take it back."

"I can beat you, you're just a jerk."

"Hey."

Kenshin laughed and playfully defended her punches as she swung at him, letting her hit him in the chest, "See, you're not so tough."

"I'm a guitarist and singer, not a fighter."

Kaoru smiled and let him put his arm around her shoulders, leaning her head against his chest as another breeze came up, "Thanks for dancing with me, Kaoru."

"Anytime Kenshin."

Kaoru looked up and saw a strange twinkle in Kenshin's eyes, she couldn't tell if it was mischief or something else. Without knowing it she started to lean up to him, their lips almost touching when suddenly, "Hey Kaoru!"

They turned and saw Misao in the car, waving frantically at Kaoru, "Come on, let's get home, it's getting boring in there and I want to watch that movie before I pass out."

"Alright, thanks again for helping me, Kenshin."

"No problem, Kaoru, thanks for coming, will you be back for our next show?"

"When is it?"

"It's next weekend, same time, same place."

"I'll be here."

Kenshin walked her to the car and smiled at Misao, "Be careful, there's a bunch of maniacs out right now, including Sano and Kenji."

"We'll be careful, see ya later, singer!" Misao waved and Kenshin smiled

"Bye Kenshin."

Kenshin waved at Kaoru as they drove off, watching them go around a corner before going back inside to get a drink. Hiko came up to him and smiled, "Where's your date?"

"She left, she's coming back next week though."

"Oh, so you finally found a girlfriend, huh, Kenshin?"

"Not exactly, at least not yet."

Hiko shook his head and did a double take, cocking his head to one side as he gave Kenshin a strange look, "Hey Kenshin?"

"Yeah?"

"What happened to your jacket?"

That's chapter 2! Thanks for the reviews, sorry for the confusion I caused, I wrote chapter 1 at two in the morning, guess I should stop eating candy before bed (not) lol. Hope you liked chapter 2, more coming soon, let me know what you think.

P.S. Sorry this chapter was so long, I couldn't figure out when to stop. Hehe :).