"Ugh…what time is it?"
Misao's eyes slowly fluttered open as her grogginess started to wear off. She found herself lying on her couch with a thin blanket on top of her.
When did I fall asleep?
She sat up and looked around her. Everything seemed as it should be except for an empty plate and tall glass with traces of slushy green stuff on the coffee table. While trying to recall the events of the previous hours Misao remembered getting ready to go out…drinking…a little more drinking…then SHINOMORI!
Then all of a sudden the sound of the toilet flushing broke the stillness and Misao looked toward the closed door praying it was Kaoru. But fate was never very kind to Misao and as the washroom door opened out stepped a familiar tall figure that definitely wasn't Kaoru.
"You're up," said Aoshi as he approached her.
"When did I fall asleep?" Misao questioned.
"Not long after you had your cake and drink. You've been out for about two hours."
Misao sighed, "Well that tells you how well I could hold my liquor. Wait a minute, have you been here watching me all this time?"
Aoshi shrugged and walked towards the kitchen, "Yeah, I had nothing better to do and was enjoying the quiet that I don't usually get with Soujiro."
Misao followed him to the kitchen and was astounded by what she saw. "And you made dinner?" she said weakly.
He attended to the stir-fry he had on the stove and checked the noodles he had boiling before replying. "It'll be ready in a few minutes."
With her mouth wide open and starring at Aoshi flip the contents of a pan in midair, Misao sunk into the depth of her thoughts. What in the world is going on? Why is he being so nice? I can't believe he actually took me home and stayed with me while I probably snored like a pig and then made me dinner! Oh damn, he must think I'm so pathetic…
Aoshi quickly set the small kitchen table and dished out the meal; noodles with soy sauce and stir-fry. He had to admit it probably wasn't the best thing he could have made but the contents of the fridge limited his choices.
He sat down and started eating until he realized Misao was still standing there starring at him, bewildered.
"Aren't you hungry?"
Misao started shaking her head. "Just stop! Stop right there Shinomori!"
She marched toward Aoshi; he stood up to face her.
"Look I don't know what you're trying to do with taking care of me and making me dinner, but just stop okay!"
Aoshi moved close to Misao and looked down at her undersized figure. "What? Taking care of you and making you dinner is a bad thing?"
"No, its just…" Misao was struggling to find the right words. "Look it doesn't matter just stop this!"
"What's the matter Misao? Afraid you're actually falling for me?" he asked.
Misao gave a nervous laugh. In truth she probably was, its just… this had never happened to her before. All of her past relationships had been with deadbeat guys, she never had much luck with men, who never did anything so caring or romantic as this Shinomori had done in this one day. She'd given up on true love as just another fairy tale, but yet the butterflies in her stomach and the way her heartbeat quickened when he was so close couldn't be ignored.
Aoshi knew he was right when Misao couldn't answer. "Misao?"
The way he said her name sent shivers up her spine. Oh my god! I really am falling for him! Damn why does he have to be so attractive? Okay, just take it easy, Misao. One step at a time. We could deal with this.
"Misao?"
It wasn't the answer he was expecting but Aoshi wasn't one to object to a girl like Misao when she jumped up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck and covered his lips with her own.
After Misao released Aoshi from the lengthy kiss she seemed surprised at herself.
"Oh," she put her hand over her mouth that was still warm. "I'm sorry!"
Aoshi raised an eyebrow, "Looks like I was right."
Misao blushed violently. "Oh shut up Shinomori!"
Aoshi smirked at her embarrassment and decided that he'd spare her anymore for the night and sat back down at the table. "Hungry?"
Misao sighed and sat down at the table, "Yeah."
Meanwhile Kenshin and Kaoru were enjoying the nightlife at the small club. Pounding music, people dancing, drinks all around.
"This is great!" said Kaoru as she set her glass on their table.
Kenshin smiled, "I'm glad you're enjoying yourself."
The song playing just ended and another just started. The crowd on the dance floor all started moving to the music. The song happened to be a favourite of Kaoru…
Breaking my back just to know your name
Seventeen tracks and I've had it with this game
I'm breaking my back just to know your name
But heaven ain't close in a place like this
Anything goes but don't blink you might miss
Kaoru's ears immediately perked up. "Oh! This one of my favourite songs!" She jumped out of her seat and pulled Kenshin by the hand out to the dance floor, it would be their first time this night.
"Kaoru, I'm no good at dancing," pleaded Kenshin as he reluctantly got pulled deeper and deeper into the crowd.
Kaoru settled on a spot near the middle and took Kenshin's hands in her own and tried to help him move to the music. "Oh come on Kenshin! I know you can you're just scared," she yelled over the music and colorful flashes of light.
"Scared?"
'Cos heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down bring it back down tonight
Never thought I'd let a rumour ruin my moonlight
But somebody told me you had a boyfriend who looked like a girlfriend
That I had in February of last year
Its not confidential
I've got potential
Kaoru let go of his hands and did in sync with the music she moved her hips and threw her arms into the air and did a full turn. "Scared."
Kenshin knew she was challenging him and he never backed down from a challenge. "Okay you wanna dance? Lets dance."
He started moving to the music by himself and Kaoru had to admit he was quite good at it. So in the depth of the crowd they danced like they practiced it a million times before. They were perfect…
Ready lets roll onto something new
Taking its toll that I'm leaving without you
'Cos heaven ain't close in a place like this
I said heaven ain't close in a place like this
Bring it back down bring it back down tonight
Never thought I'd let a rumour ruin my moonlight
Well somebody told me you had a boyfriend who looked like a girlfriend
that I had in February of last year
Its not confidential
I've got potential
A rushin a rushin around
Pace yourself from me
I said maybe baby please
But I just don't know now
When all I wanna do is try…
The rest of the song played itself out and by the end of Kenshin and Kaoru were breathing heavily and had the crowd applauding them back to their seats. As another song started up they were forgotten and left in their privacy.
"That was great," praised Kaoru. "And you said you can't dance."
Kenshin shrugged innocently as he drank.
The rest of the night when on and Kenshin and Kaoru danced many times again, sometime by choice and sometimes by the choice of the crowd who were amazed by their gracefulness. Each time they danced the more Kaoru was captivated by the handsome violet orbs before her.
It was about 11:00 when they decided to head back to the university. They drove back still laughing and enjoying themselves and Kenshin parked in his usual student parking.
They quietly walked through the dorms as Kenshin escorted Kaoru to her room.
"Kenshin I never had that much fun in a long time," said Kaoru as she pushed her door open.
"Then maybe we should do it again sometime," he said as they walked in.
Kaoru smiled, "That would be-,"
The two froze in their tracks, shocked then quickly looked away and started laughing. It just so happened they had caught Aoshi and Misao making out while lying on the couch. They quickly stood up and straightened their clothes.
Misao was extremely red as she crossed her arms and tried to act like Kenshin and Kaoru walked in on nothing. "Oh hey Kaoru, back so soon?"
Kaoru couldn't help but be amused at her friend's misfortune, "Its 11 Misao."
"Oh well right," she stammered and turned to Aoshi. "Okay I guess you better."
"Yeah," he said in a low voice and bent down and kissed Misao on the cheek making her turn, if it was even possible, even more red and walked out of the room with saying a quick goodnight to Kaoru on his way out.
Kenshin turned to Kaoru as Misao practically ran into her room. "I should probably get going too," he said.
"So I guess I'll see around tomorrow," said Kaoru.
"Yeah," replied Kenshin. "Well goodnight," he quickly pecked Kaoru on the cheek and walked out into the hall as she closed the door behind him.
On his way back to his dorm, Kenshin was joined by Aoshi who was waiting for him.
"Well Shinomori, looks like you had, or were going to have, quite the interesting night," teased Kenshin as they neared Aoshi's room.
Aoshi kept quiet as he unlocked his door and saw Soujiro snoring on the couch with the t.v still on. He looked back to Kenshin who was walking further down the hall, "Himura?"
Kenshin turned back to Aoshi, "Yeah?"
As degrading as it was to ask Kenshin for his cooperation, Aoshi knew the consequences would be far greater if he didn't. He clenched his teeth and lowered his head so his bangs were covering his eyes, "Don't tell Soujiro about this alright?"
Kenshin smirked but couldn't help but feel sympathetic to Aoshi's cause. "Yeah I guess. See you tomorrow Shinomori."
And with that Kenshin proceeded down to his own room and turned himself in for the night with memories of a laughing Kaoru danced in his dreams…
A/N: Sorry everyone it took me so long to update, but I was busy. Well I hoped you liked it, and if you're wondering how Soujiro got back to the university you have to remember the club was within walking distance of the university. Oh and the song I used, well I didn't use all of it but it was Somebody Told Me by The Killers. Well can't wait to see what you guys think of this. Toodles!