The week went by and before anyone knew it, it was the weekend. But Kenshin didn't relish the refreshing promise of the weekend as he normally would. The whole week had been stressful, both physically and mentally. He and his kendo team did two-hour practices all week and he endured dirty looks from nearly all of his teammates. Even Aoshi and Soujiro seemed more irritable with Kenshin that week then usual. Kenshin recalled when he broke the news to them…
"What do you mean we have to do two hour practices?" cried Soujiro at the next practice after Kenshin's encounter with Gohei. It seemed only Soujiro and Aoshi didn't know the reason by now.
"I was trying to find out who was responsible for what happened to the girls' kendo club and was interviewing the guys," explained Kenshin. "And Gohei just didn't seem to like that I was using practice time to try and figure out what happened."
Aoshi as usual, showed no emotion and Soujiro had his mouth wide open as if he couldn't believe his ears. Kenshin could only say he was sorry and carry on with practice.
But that wasn't the worst thing this week, not by a long shot. Kenshin had tried talking, calling and writing to Kaoru trying to explain his innocence and that he was doing everything in his power to figure out who was responsible. But Kaoru wasn't so trusting she would walk away, hang up, and rip up the letters all the while being sure that Kenshin was just lying. Besides who else could it be? He and his team and it in for girls' kendo from the start and she had been a complete fool not to think that they would take advantage of her being a girl to ruin the team.
Though that didn't go without saying that Saturday morning she woke and for a brief moment thought that she'd be able to go out with Kenshin again. That is until the awful facts of reality hit her and reopened her wounds. On one occasion Kenshin was following her in the cafeteria trying to explain. But she drove him off once she splashed the contents of her milk carton onto his shirt. Kaoru mindset from then on was 'Shame on you if you fool me once. Shame on me if you fool me twice.'
Yeah, one could definitely say this week had more than enough drama and challenge than Kenshin had hoped for. Now, this Saturday morning, he was sitting in the foyer of the university, the same place were he had waited for his date with Kaoru, and kept watch for any sign of Gohei Hiruma. He didn't give up on his investigation and pursuing his only suspect.
As Kenshin had hoped, Gohei never failed on his regular routine. This morning he strolled into the university, wearing the usual suit and briefcase and hummed as he proceeded to his office. Kenshin made sure he kept hidden and let Gohei pass into the office wing of the university without being stopped.
Kenshin clenched his fists. If he was going to go through with this, he couldn't risk being seen. Especially if it meant more extended practices. So he took a deep and clearing breath and followed Gohei from the shadows.
When Kenshin had caught up with Gohei, he peeked through the window of the office door, that was at the very end of the hall, and saw him talking on the phone quite dramatically. Gohei spun on his chair and glanced towards the door. Kenshin quickly ducked out of view, a bead of sweat dripped down his forehead.
Just remember this is all for you and Kaoru. You and Kaoru…
Finally Gohei hung up the phone and Kenshin heard the ruffling of papers and the opening and closing of a briefcase. Kenshin instinctively crawled into the corner of the hallway, just in time too. Gohei had opened the door and Kenshin had to squeeze tight into the corner while the door enclosed him in a small triangle area. Gohei continued to walk down the hall and Kenshin just managed to grab the side of the door before it closed and locked.
Now, what am I looking for…
Kenshin sat in Gohei's chair and glanced over the papers on the desk. He found nothing of real use until a small blinking red light caught his eye. It was Gohei's answering machine and it had 3 messages on it. He pressed play. The first two messages was a innocent ones, from one of the school administrators and the second from what Kenshin assumed was Gohei's current girlfriend calling to confirm dinner reservations. But the third message didn't say who they were and was breathing heavily.
'Gohei, it's done. We just finished with the equipment. You better have our payment ready, in the boys change room, locker 214. If its not their tomorrow I'll be looking for you.'
This had to be it. If Kenshin was looking for any piece of evidence that Gohei was responsible then this was definitely it.
But why hasn't Gohei erased the message before? I guess it's just my dumb luck…
Even if the message wasn't exactly hard evidence and was a little sketchy on the details, Kenshin was sure it had to be the proof he was looking for, and besides that was all he had. So taking a moment to relish his victory, he propped his feet up on Gohei's desk and leaned back in his comfortable chair taking his time to inspect the office.
Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Kenshin nearly fell onto the floor but quite clumsily he managed to regain his balance.
There were another few knocks at the door this time followed by a voice. "Hello? Mr.Hiruma? Its me, Kamiya Kaoru."
Kenshin couldn't believe it. How was he going to get out of this one?
Okay, don't panic. Just concentrate.
Another few impatient knocks at the door and Kenshin quickly took the tape from the answering machine and turned on the swiveling chair so his was facing the wall.
He attempted to mimic Gohei's gruff voice, "Come in."
Kaoru sighed and opened the door. She only saw the black leather back of Gohei's chair and raised an eyebrow.
"Please sit," said the invisible 'Gohei'.
Kaoru took a seat in one of the two modest chairs in front of the desk. "Um, Mr. Hiruma. I've come to talk to you about the girls' kendo team." There was a moment of silence. "I… I don't think I can successfully start up the team again after what's happened."
Kenshin sensed the grief in Kaoru's words and tone. He lowered his voice once again, "I'm sorry to hear that."
Hmm, he doesn't sound like he did on the phone…
'Gohei' gave false cough. "If you had to guess who was responsible who would you say?"
There was silence for while. Kenshin waited, expecting to hear his own name… but it never came.
"I can't say," said Kaoru quietly. "I'm honestly not sure."
Both surprised and gladdened, Kenshin smiled. YES! Maybe she deep down does believe me!
"Well Miss Kamiya," said 'Gohei'.
Kaoru wasn't sure at first but she heard an inconsistency in 'Gohei's' voice.
"I am sorry that you had to go through this."
The voice seemed to be loosing its depth and become more and more familiar. Kaoru jumped to her feet and could just barely see a few strands of red hair from behind the chair.
The chair spun around and Kaoru's jaw dropped. There was Kenshin, beaming at her.
"KENSHIN!"
"Ssshhh!" coaxed Kenshin as he got up to stand next to Kaoru. "Please Kaoru, just listen to me."
"No! I won't listen!" She started to walk towards the door but she felt Kenshin's gentle hand around her wrist holding her back. "Let go of me! I can't believe you did this to me!"
"Kaoru!" begged Kenshin in a quiet tone. "Look I didn't know that you were going to be here. You have to believe me."
Kaoru gave sarcastic laugh and tried to struggle her wrist free.
"Can you just relax," said Kenshin as he searched his jean pocket with his free hand. "Listen to this and you'll believe that I wasn't in here just for you."
He held up a small tape in front of Kaoru's nose. She stopped her grappling and focused on the object dangling inches from her face. "What is that?"
Kenshin smiled and released her wrist.
After listening to the tape twice Kaoru looked up at Kenshin, "But why would Gohei want to end the girls' kendo team? I mean, I know he wasn't exactly thrilled with me suggesting it but he did okay it."
Sighing Kenshin replied, "I'm not sure. But now I'm sure Gohei's responsible for what happened."
"How can you say that?" said Kaoru. "The tape isn't exactly very clear or enough proof."
"Oh come on Kaoru. Think about it. Did Gohei ever really make an effort to find out who was responsible? When I talked to him he just shrugged it off as innocent bullying. Kaoru, I know Gohei is somehow behind all this. I just need you to help me figure this out."
Those last words hurt Kaoru the most. All this time she'd been absolutely terrible to Kenshin and all that time…he was trying to help her.
She looked down at the cream carpet, "Kenshin… I'm sorry about… I've been acting…" She began shaking her head and swallowed hard. "Kenshin, I'm sorry I was so quick to judge."
He smiled at her and took her hands in his, "Kaoru, forget about it. I probably would have thought I was guilty too if I were you."
Kaoru looked up at his beautiful violet eyes. They made her tingle and a warm feeling washed over her. "Thank you," she breathed.
Then Kaoru did something that she dreamt about all week. She stepped up onto her tiptoes and closed her eyes and just like she imagined Kenshin, ever so smoothly tilted his head, leaned in and covered her lips with his own soft ones. A tear escaped Kaoru as she felt Kenshin's hands entwine with hers. Deep down she wanted Kenshin to be innocent all a long, even if she didn't show it, but now she didn't have to hide it anymore.
"Kenshin," she murmured as they let go of each other.
He held on to one of her hands and did nor say anything but smile radiantly back at her as he led them out of the office in silent content.
A/N: Okay, I know I took a little longer than I shoud have for this update, but it was Easter and I was busy. So sorry everyone but I hope you like the chapter. I know it might sound a bit odd but it was weird to properly portray what I was thinking. Oh well. I'm so excited! This story is getting close to 100 reviews. My other story Cocktail Dreams (AoshixMisao) was almost there when I finished it. But anyway I hope you enjoyed it and again very sorry for the wait. Toodles!