Half an hour later Kenshin's room was filled with university males, all chatting anxiously. As the last few stragglers finally poured in Kenshin stood up from his seat on the crowded couch. The room was silenced as he began to speak.
"I assume by now everyone is aware of why this urgent meeting was called?"
Kenshin was answered by a simultaneous nodding of heads and sighed as he continued.
"Soujiro was the first to bring to my attention that a certain Kamiya Kaoru, a new student, has finally put enough pressure on the administration to start a girl's kendo team."
There was a hiss throughout the room.
"This of course is of course, very troubling. Never in the history of this school as a girl ever practiced kendo. Only occasionally has a girl ever petitioned for a girl's kendo team, but thankfully the administration has been able to silence them over the years. But now we see this thorn, once only an irritation is now potentially lethal."
Kenshin's room erupted in protests and yells.
"This is an outrage!"
"We cannot allow this!"
But they were hushed when Kenshin held up his hand. "It seems my fellow teammates that this girl's team is already underway and it is too late for us to cancel. Our only option now is to make out first move. Any suggestions? Aoshi?"
Everyone in the room looked to the tall figure standing against the wall in the corner. His raven bangs were shading his face and his arms were crossed and wore a charcoal gray ribbed long sleeve shirt and black jeans. He stood up straight, put his hands in his pockets and walked to Kenshin.
He spoke in a low voice, "The best way to combat your opponent is to first study them."
Soujiro now beside the two young men smirked at the typical Aoshi statement, "Spoken like a true student of kendo. So, what should we actually do iceman?"
Aoshi narrowed his eyes at Soujiro. Damn that kid for starting the stupid nickname. "A small group of us should go approach the lead members of the girl's team. Just talk for little bit."
Kenshin decided that would probably the best and most sensible plan of action go figure it would be from Aoshi. "Good. Me, Aoshi, and Soujiro will go."
Someone in the small crowd spoke up, "Hey! How come the kid gets to go?"
Soujiro turned in the direction of the voice, unsure of who exactly said it. "Because! After Kenshin and Aoshi, I am third in command. So don't question my skill or authority!"
Soujiro's intimidating come back silenced the room. Among the ranks, no one could say that Soujiro didn't make up for his age or height with his skill. He was just under Kenshin and Aoshi's skill level.
Kenshin was the first to speak up, "So no more objections to my choosing?"
There was no answer.
"Good now will everyone else is free to return to your weekend. I trust that no one will make a scene about this particular issue. If we are going to approach this we are going to do it by my rules. Now team, don't forget about our practice tomorrow."
The room emptied and only Kenshin, Aoshi and Soujiro were left.
"So anyone know where to find this Kamiya Kaoru?" asked Soujiro.
Aoshi rolled his eyes, "Where do you think squirt? The kendo room."
"Hey don't call me squirt, Shinomori!" cried Soujiro who jumped out at Aoshi. But he was calmly stopped by the large hand now against his forehead holding him at Aoshi's arm length.
"Don't call me iceman, squirt then we won't have any problems," replied Aoshi as he removed his hand from Soujiro's head.
Kenshin sighed weakly "This isn't exactly the time you two. Now are you coming with me or what?"
Kenshin opened the door and allowed a mellow Aoshi and a flaming Soujiro out first as they all made their way to the kendo room.
"Hee YA!"
A figure dressed in kendo attire fellow to the floor with her victorious opponent standing over her. She threw off her kendo mask and was breathing heavily revealing her long midnight braid with eyes to match.
"Good match Kaoru," she said.
Her opponent too removed her mask and dropped it to the hardwood floor, "You too Misao." The girl had her hair put in a ribbon and was too breathing heavily.
Kaoru offered her hand to Misao who smiled as she was assisted to her feet. Both girls picked up their masks and placed them on the long table against the wall and hung up their own bokken, or wooden swords, on the wall.
"So how many girls do you think will actually come to try out?" asked Misao as she took a drink from her water bottle.
"I'm not really sure. But because the boy's team is really successful and well known around the school I think we'll get a fair amount," Kaoru replied.
Just then Kaoru sensed another presence enter the room and turned to the doors to see three young men approaching.
Great, the welcoming committee.
Kaoru and Misao sized them up as they walked up to them in the middle of the kendo room.
"Kamiya Kaoru?" said the red head extending his hand. "I'm-,"
"Himura Kenshin," finished Kaoru as she shook his hand. "Captain of the school's kendo team."
Kaoru made sure before she started her kendo team that she was aware of the all of her male counterparts. She'd also heard of Himura Kenshin's remarkable skill with a sword and how he's lead the boy's team to numerous championships among the universities.
Kenshin was amused that she was actually smart enough to take the responsible precautions of making herself aware of the boy's team. Especially since she would be receiving a fair amount of heat from them.
"Miss Kaoru, this are my fellow teammates, Shinomori Aoshi and Seta Soujiro," said Kenshin.
"And this is my teammate, Makimachi Misao," added Kaoru.
Everyone took time to shake hands as a professional courtesy. Misao offered her hand to Aoshi and as he took it they both felt a funny feeling stir inside. Almost like sudden flurry of butterflies rise up in your stomach. But of course Aoshi was much better at hiding his emotions then Misao.
"Hello," he said, his blue gray eyes still locked on her.
But Misao was speechless and struggled to put words together. Misao! Say something you dope!
"Ugh…hey," and that was all that she could muster.
The two were still weakly shaking hands after everyone else was done with introductions. Only until Aoshi got a sharp jab in the ribs by Soujiro did he quickly let go of Misao's hand and regain his fridge composure and Misao immediately put her hands behind her back and turned a flushing red.
"So what can I do for you?" asked Kaoru as she walked back towards the table to for a drink of water.
"Well I was hoping that we could discuss the issue of your girl's kendo team," said Kenshin.
Kaoru had her back turned to him as she discreetly shook her head and smirked. She took a long drink from her water bottle before replying. Does he really think I'm an idiot?
Kaoru walked back to her original spot amongst the group, "I don't really see what there is to discuss Mr. Himura. This school didn't have a girl's kendo team and now it does."
Kenshin already knew that dealing with Kaoru wasn't going to be easy. So far Kenshin sensed that she was stubborn.
"Yes, but I'm sure you're aware that the boy's kendo team was the pride of this school and now by having a girl's team the school's funds towards the kendo program will now be split in half."
Kaoru mentally rolled her eyes. "Look Mr. Himura as much as I would like to stay here in these sweaty clothes and play politics with you I probably should go get myself settled in my dorm and prepare tomorrow's try outs. So when you're ready to actually approach me with you're real thoughts and feelings towards me and my kendo team then I suggest you come talk to me then. But I will not be intimidated by a bunch of arrogant boys like yourselves."
Kaoru started to walk towards the doors and Misao followed behind her.
"I suggest you get used to their being a girl's team Mr. Himura, because I'm not going anywhere."
The girls walked out of the room and both burst out laughing as they walked to their dorm.
Kenshin, Aoshi and Soujiro were left silent in the room looking in the direction Kaoru and Misao left.
"Well I guess this wasn't going to be as easy as we thought," said Aoshi.
Kenshin growled inwardly, "She's sly, headstrong, and sarcastic, so definitely not."
Soujiro took his turn to poke at Aoshi, "So Shinomori, just how come you were ogling at that Misao girl?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" replied Aoshi calmly.
Soujiro smiled knowingly, "Yeah what ever iceman."
"Shut up squirt."
"HEY! Don't call me squirt!"
While Aoshi and Soujiro went at it, Kenshin remained still. He observed his opponent and realized that she wasn't to be made a fool.
This is going to be more difficult then I thought. Especially with a girl like that.
A/N: Thanks everyone for the reviews! I appreciated them very much. I hope you guys like the chapter. I am going to put some AoshixMisao in this fic. And lucky for you guys and not so luck for me I have the chicken pox so I'll have lots of time to write. Oh well I like to write. So thanks everyone and don't forget proper manners!