Rurouni Prom

The next week seemed to fly by and before Kaoru knew it finals were over and it was graduation day. She frantically hurried about the house trying to gather her things and get ready at the same time as her parents sat back and watched her with amusement, "Mom! Have you seen my shoes?"

"Right here, dear."

Kaoru came in and took the shoes from her mother before heading back off into the bathroom. Kaoru's father counted to six and then they heard, "Have you seen my ribbon?"

"I have it, sweetheart." Her father said with a laugh

Kaoru ran into the room and quickly grabbed her ribbon before she hurried back off into the other room. After about ten more trips she finally managed to put herself together and spun around for her parents, "How do I look?"

"Beautiful, as always, so are you finally ready to go?"

"I'm waiting to see if Kenshin's going to call."

At that moment the phone rang and Mrs. Kamiya somehow managed to beat her hyper daughter to the receiver, "Hello?"

"Kaoru?"

"No, this is her mother."

"Oh, hey Mrs. Kamiya, is Kaoru still there?"

"Who is this?"

"It's me, Kenshin."

"Oh, I'm sorry, your voice sounds strange."

"I'm ticked off is what's wrong, my voice changes on my when I get pissed, can I talk to Kaoru for a second?"

"Sure, hold on. Kaoru, it's Kenshin."

Kaoru quickly took the phone and bounced up and down, "Hey handsome, where are you?"

"Kaoru... I'm going to be a little late, baby."

"Why?"

"My car's dead and Kenji has the van at a doctor's appointment and he won't be back for at least an hour!"

Kaoru's face fell, "Oh... I see..."

"Hey, don't worry, I will be there, I promise you."

"It's ok, I know you'll be there, I'll see you later."

"Yes you will, bye pretty girl."

"Bye Kenshin."

Kaoru hung up the phone and sighed sadly, "What's wrong, Kaoru?"

"Kenshin can't make it, his car's broke and Kenji has the van."

"Oh sweety..."

Her mother tried to hug her but Kaoru forced a smile and headed for the door, "Don't worry about it, I'll just have him make it up to me later, let's get going."

Her parents silently followed and they drove off towards her school. By the time the got a parking spot and found their seats it was time for the graduation to begin. Kaoru sat between Megumi and Misao and she kept looking around for any sign of her red-hared singer but she never could find him. Finally, as they were standing in line to get their diplomas, she gave up and sighed sadly. Misao put a hand on her shoulder and whispered into her ear, "It's ok, Kaoru, he didn't mean to miss this."

"I know, don't worry about it, I'm ok."

After they received their diplomas they met up with Kaoru's parents and hugged them, "Congratulations girls!"

"Thanks Mom."

"Let me get a picture of you three young women."

They all huddled together and Mr. Kamiya snapped the picture. Kaoru looked around one last time and finally let a tear fall from her deep blue eyes. Misao hugged her friend tightly and tried to comfort her, "I swear! When I see Himura I'm going to kill him!"

"Misao don't..."

"KAORU!"

They all turned around and they suddenly saw a familiar mop of red hair push through the crowd to wave at them, "Kenshin!"

He ran up to Kaoru and picked her up by the waist, spinning her around several times before setting her back on the ground, "I saw you, you look beautiful! I'm so proud of you, girl!"

Kaoru smiled and kissed his cheek, "I thought... you couldn't make it."

"I told you I'd be here and here I am, I never break a promise."

Megumi tapped him on the shoulder and giggled at his grungy appearance. His hair and shirt were soaked with sweat and stuck to his face and body, a nice flush staining his cheeks as he tried to catch his breath, "Why do you look so worn out?"

"Yeah and how did you get here, Kaoru said your car was broken and Kenji had the van?" Mr. Kamiya asked

Kenshin smiled, "About twenty minutes ago I got tired of waiting for Kenji so I just decided to make a run for it. I got here just as Kaoru was going on stage."

Kaoru's eyes went wide and she felt her heart swell with both love and anger as she looked into his bright gold eyes, "Kenshin! You could've made yourself sick running like that in this heat! I'm not worth you getting hurt over."

Kenshin's eyes flashed for a second before he took her face between his hands, "Don't say that where I can hear you. You're worth everything to me and if I have to fight, run or whatever I will always keep my promise to you, no matter what it may do to me."

Kenshin kissed her on the forehead and Kaoru giggled and pushed him away as he tried to hug her, "You smell."

"I just ran about five miles, of course I do!"

"Well you just stay close to my dad until you change."

Kenshin smiled and tried to grab her but she ran behind her mother and laughed, "Ha! Can't hurt my mom."

"Cheater."

They all laughed and headed off towards the car, as they were going Mr. Kamiya handed Kenshin a handkerchief, "Here, wipe your face off before you sweat to death."

Kenshin smiled and did as he was told, "Thanks, Mr. Kamiya, sorry I was so late."

"No problem, I'm just surprised that you actually ran here."

"I told you, I'd do anything for Kaoru, the worst thing that's going to happen to me is I'm going to be sick to my stomach for awhile but she's more than worth it to me."

Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya both smiled at each other and Kenshin suddenly tapped them on the shoulders, "Watch this."

They smiled as they watched him sneak up behind Kaoru, throwing his arms around her, "Got ya!"

"EWW! Gross! Kenshin you reek! Let me go you sweaty jerk!" Kaoru giggled

He set her down and she hit him in the arm, getting a laugh out of Misao, "Now you smell like Himura."

Kenshin smiled at Kaoru and she nodded before he went up to Misao and picked her up by the waist in a bear-hug, "I love you too, Misao."

"YUCK! Put me down!"

Kenshin set her down and she kicked at him but he easily dodged and laughed as she flipped him off. He looked at Megumi and chuckled, "You want one too, Megumi?"

"Sure I do?"

Megumi hugged him and kissed his cheek, getting a flush from him and a glare from Kaoru as she did so, "I don't mind the hugging but keep your lips on Sanosuke, Megumi!"

"Touchy aren't you, Kaoru? And just what makes you think that I'm not going to steal this guy from you?"

"Sorry Megumi, I'm more than happy with Kaoru."

"Oh alright but if you ever need someone to keep you company..."

Kaoru pushed her away from Kenshin and everyone laughed as she took his arm, "I thought you didn't want to touch me while I'm sweaty?"

"I can handle smelling like a sweaty guy as long as I keep you away from Megumi's perverted little hands."

Everyone busted up laughing and got in the Kamiya car before heading off. Mr. Kamiya dropped Misao and Megumi off before he headed home, flopping on the couch once he got in the door, "What a day!"

"I know what you mean. Hey dear, do you have an extra shirt Kenshin could borrow?" Mrs. Kamiya asked

"Sure, I'll go get one."

Mr. Kamiya went into his room and returned a few minutes later with a green T-shirt, handing it to a still sweaty Kenshin, "Here you go, it's too small for me."

"Thank you, sir, excuse me for a second."

Kenshin went off into the other room and quickly changed before returning in the green shirt, getting a smile out of Kaoru, "New shirt, same smell."

Kenshin gave her a playful glare, "Well it's not like I can take a shower right now, your mom might spy on me."

Kenshin winked at her and she laughed, "Oh yes, I love younger men."

Kaoru's father laughed, "Well he'll have to go through me to get you."

Kaoru shook her head before she heard a knock on the door. She answered it and there stood a frantic looking Kenji, "Hey Kenji, what's up?"

"Have you seen my brother? I went home and he wasn't there then I checked the school and NO ONE was there! Please tell me you know where the idiot is!"

"Yeah, he's right here, come on in."

Kenji stepped in and threw his arms up at his older brother, "Where were you?"

"Graduation."

"How'd you get there?"

"I ran."

"Moron! You're going to be sick by tomorrow!"

"Kaoru's worth it."

"Hey Kenji, will you do me a favor and make sure he takes a shower when you get him home?" Kaoru asked playfully

"Sure, is it that bad?"

"Smell him!"

Kenji stepped up to him and sniffed his hair before playfully crossing his eyes, "Woah! If the Shinsengumi had that during the Bakumatsu the Imperialists would've never stood a chance!"

Everyone laughed and Kenshin patted his shoulder, "Very funny, what did the doctor say?"

"He said to go easy on drumming for awhile, I tore about four of the stitches out already."

"Kenji, if you'd told me that I would've found someone else to play for you."

"Nah, I'm fine."

Mrs. Kamiya looked at Kenji's arm and gasped, "What did you do, Kenji?"

"Me and Sano were wrestling around near the stage and we knocked my drums over and I fell on one of the symbols."

"And the winner is the drum equipment by a technical knock out."

Kenji stuck his tongue out at Kaoru's father before he grabbed Kenshin by the collar, "Let's go, it's your turn to cook."

"Oh man! I hate to cook!"

Kenji waved bye to everyone and headed out the door, Kenshin stopped and kissed Kaoru before hastily leaving, noticing the bowel that Mr. Kamiya was about to throw at him.

The next day Kaoru called over at the guys' house and was greeted by a cheerful Kenji, "Hello, this is Freddy Gruger speaking, how can I kill you today?"

Kaoru giggled, "I'm not ready to die today, Freddy, is Kenshin there?"

"Yeah, or what's left of him any ways. I guessed right yesterday when I told him he'd be sick."

"Is he ok?"

"Pretty much, he's been throwing up here and there but other than that he's ok, he keeps talking about wanting to see you, though."

"Really? Well, tell him I said to get better."

"I will, bye Kaoru."

"Bye Freddy."

Kenji laughed and hung up the phone before turning to his sick, tired looking brother on the couch, "Who was it?"

"Kaoru, she said to get better."

"I will."

Sanosuke sat beside him and ruffled his hair, "Told ya you'd be sick."

Kenshin opened his mouth to say something before he put a hand over his mouth and quickly got up and ran to the bathroom, getting chuckles out of the others as they watched the once feared assassin act like a sick child, "Hard to believe he used to actually kill people without even thinking about it, isn't it?" Aoshi asked with a smile

"Yeah, wouldn't Katsura love to see him now."

Kenshin came back in and flopped on the couch, putting his legs over Sanosuke's to stretch out, "Comfy, Kenshin?"

"No, you're bony."

"Well move then."

"You move, man, I don't feel good."

Kenji went over to him and squeezed his arm, "You feel alright to me."

Without warning, Kenshin used his god-like speed to kick his younger brother upside the head, getting a playfully hurt look from him, "You kicked me!"

"Damn straight, now all of you go off and leave me alone for an hour or so."

"What do you want us to do?" Aoshi asked

"I don't care, go off and play with each other."

"Ok."

All three men got up and left the house, ignoring the groan from Kenshin as they shut the door. They came back a couple of hours later and laughed when they saw Kenshin still sprawled out on the couch asleep, "Should we wake him up?" Sanosuke whispered

"No, let's sleep at the warehouse tonight and let him get some rest."

They gathered up some things they needed for the night and Kenji covered Kenshin up before heading out the door. Later that night Kenshin was awoken by someone knocking on the door, he groaned and looked down on his chest to see a note, "Kenshin, me and the guys are staying at the warehouse tonight, call us if you need us. Kenjy."

"It figures, I'm coming!"

Kenshin stretched and went up to the door, his eyes going wide at who he saw there, "Hey Kaoru, what're you doing here?"

"I came to check on you, how are you feeling?"

"Better now, come in."

Kaoru came in and he shut the door before she looked him up and down with a giggle, he had on a baggy white shirt and a pair of gray flannel sleeping pants, his eyes were tired and he was pale, you could tell he was sick, "I told you that you'd get sick, you silly thing."

"I know, I've heard about it all day, I guess I can't run like I used to as a kid."

Kaoru giggled and hugged him as she looked up into his eyes, gasping when she realized something, "What is it, Kaoru?"

"You're hair's loose, I've never seen you with your hair down before."

Kenshin chuckled and scratched his head, "I know, I don't like my hair down, I look like a girl."

"What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing for you, but I'm a guy."

"How long is your hair?"

Kenshin turned around and Kaoru was pleased to see that it was down to his waist, "You have beautiful hair, Kenshin."

"Thanks, my mom always liked it but Dad would always have a fit about it so I had to keep it pulled back."

Kaoru laughed, "I understand, I'm sorry you got sick for me."

"It's alright, since you're here do you want to watch a movie?"

"Sure."

Kaoru sat on the couch and waited for Kenshin to join her after he popped a DVD into the player. Kenshin laid his head on her lap and she covered him up as the movie started, smiling when she saw it was a comedy of some sort. About halfway through the movie Kaoru started running her fingers through Kenshin's long hair, she had always loved his hair and now that it was loose it was easier to play with. Kenshin stretched after the movie ended and sat up, putting his arm around Kaoru, "I hate it when you play with my hair like that."

Kaoru gave him a hurt look, "Why?"

Kenshin smiled, "Because it feels good and I want to go to sleep but I don't want to fall asleep on you."

Kaoru sighed in relief and kissed his cheek, "I'll keep that in mind, I'm glad you're feeling better but I think I'd better go and let you get some rest. Oh but I got something for you before I go."

Kaoru reached into her purse and pulled out a small black box and handed it to him, getting a smile as he looked it over, "What's this?"

"Open it."

Kenshin opened the box and chuckled when he saw it was a necklace. It had a silver chain with a gold dagger on the end of it, a red gem was on top of the hilt and it shone brightly when he moved it between his fingers, "This is beautiful, Kaoru, what's it for, though?"

"Happy birthday, Kenshin."

"How'd you know it was my birthday?"

"I asked Kenji and he told me."

Kenshin chuckled and slipped the necklace on before kissing Kaoru on the cheek, "Thank you, my sweet Kaoru."

"You're welcome, but I'd better get home before Dad comes over here and tries to kill us both."

"Yeah, goodnight, Kaoru."

"Goodnight Kenshin."

Kenshin smiled as she left, she meant so much to him but he couldn't bring himself to tell her that he loved her. He looked back into the box and found a small slip of paper inside. He read the note and his eyes went wide before a genuine smile came to his lips, "Happy Birthday, Kenshin, I know it's sudden but I just wanted to tell you that I love you. Get well soon, Love Kaoru."

Kenshin smiled secretly to himself and started playing with his necklace, "I do love you, Kaoru and soon I'm going to prove that to you, I promise."