AN: Thanks again…and I got my first flame! WOO! Better to take things a tad positively, no? Ah well, Yes, I understand Kenshin's 'gothness' is a bit far out, I'll see if I can alter it here. Thank you thank you thank you…for once, some constructive criticism. Um…and the Evanescence song was from their first CD "Origin" that is at least $150 b/c they only made around 2000 copies -.- . The song was "Fields of Innocence". Enjoy!
Sanosuke ran as fast as he could down the dark streets. His sister wasn't home again, since she was out working night shift. They hardly ever saw each other at all: He was usually at Kenshin's, and she was always out working. He hated that he was a burden on her, but living in an apartment with his sister was the only option for him.
His mind spun. Where was he again? He was trying to find Kenshin, wasn't he? Sanosuke leaned over, fighting to catch his breath. Random thoughts flew in and out of his head.
I want to fly
Where's Mommy?
Four leafed clovers are lucky
La la la…como te llama? Merci. Guten tag.
Sanosuke clutched his head and screamed. Curling up in a corner next to a department store, Sano struggled to regain his thoughts.
I want control!
I need someone to help me!
Kenshin…
Ring around the rosey, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall
Down.
***
Saturday had to be Kenshin's favorite day. He walked around the shopping center, looking for some new clothes. He'd rather have a new pair of boots, but they weren't exactly affordable at the moment. Passing a group from another high school, he couldn't help but feel their incessant giggling was directed toward him.
"…lipstick? What a joke…"
"…such a poser.."
Kenshin felt his eyebrow twitch. Poser? Wasn't that the word they used for punks and people like Avril Lavigne? He'd never really paid much attention to it. Kenshin stopped to look in a window; not at merchandise but at his own reflection.
So was this really him?
Did it matter?
If he stopped wearing the things that made him this 'poser' it would only confirm their beliefs that he had a one-track mind and followed whatever the crowd wanted him to. Then again, the lipstick was a little much, and he never had liked the feel of it. It was so sticky, and smeared a lot. He wondered how girls could stand to wear it. Maybe Kaoru would stop grimacing at him as she tried to smile if he stopped wearing it. It seemed like a good idea…
Kenshin picked up a napkin from a hot dog stand. He raised it to his lips when another thought struck him.
Why was he trying to please Kaoru?
For a moment, an icy fear swept through his body. He saw his panicked eyes in the window reflection; the white napkin ready to wipe away the black upon his lips.
"We're just friends…I want her to feel comfortable around me."
The napkin reached for his lips again, wiping away the black. When he took it away, a gray smear remained as a ghostly reminder of what used to lie there. A few more minutes of rubbing and all traces of the lipstick were gone. He and Kaoru were just friends.
Right?
***
Kaoru sighed. She couldn't study. Misao wasn't making any noise whatsoever. She had only shut herself in her room; there was no blaring radio, no jumping on her bed, practicing violin or voice. Missing Misao's distraction, Kaoru went over to her dresser and pulled out a brown paper package tied with a frayed string.
Kaoru gingerly pulled on the string, untying the bow. She unfolded the paper carefully, taking out its contents and looking through them wistfully.
"Kaoru,
May all your Birthday dreams and wishes come true
Love, Aunt Ejita"
"GIRL, YOU SHINE! ROCK ON AND HAVE A GREAT B-DAY!!!
From all your friends, Fuyu, Ai, Haruka, Ishita, and Kui"
Kaoru continued through the cards. When she was feeling especially lonely, like now, she would read old birthday cards to help her think she was loved and needed somewhere. Now, however, it was only making her irritated. Her parents had sent her to Eldewater against her wishes; ignoring her pleas to be sent to other schools her friends would go to. Now she was here, and had lost all contact with all her friends from middle school, and had not bothered to make any new friends here. Her parents never visited her on holidays, and she had no means of transportation to visit them. What was the use, though? She had a bunch of bratty siblings anyway. Sighing, she took a look at the last card.
"A Birthday is always special, so just take a look at everything around you and be thankful its there before its gone. You were always my favorite girl. Do well in school and hopefully I'll see you some time around the Holidays.
Love, Uncle Hiei."
Kaoru put the cards back in their packaging and shoved them into her dresser.
"I don't need anyone."
And with that, she grabbed her jacket and headed out the door.
Walks always made Kaoru feel better. But somehow, in her anger, she had treaded into unfamiliar territory. The streets were darkening and she couldn't tell in which direction she had come from. The buildings were looking shabbier, and her heart thumped rabidly with fear at the thought of being shot, raped, or robbed. She jumped when she heard a voice behind her.
"Please help me…"
Kaoru turned to see a boy no older than her curled up beside the brick wall of an abandoned fire department. He was shuddering and coughing, brown hair falling in his face.
"What…what would you want me to do?" Kaoru asked. Against her better judgment, she began to approach him.
"I'm sick…I'm stoned…I need to find my friend." He replied.
"I don't know who your friend is."
"Cows…Yelena. Cars. Dogs chase cars…" He mumbled. Kaoru's eyes widened.
"I really need to get this guy to a hospital." she said to herself. She knelt next to the boy, and brushed the brown hair out of his face. She shrieked in surprise when he locked his hand around her wrist and clawed at her jacket, grabbing the neck of her shirt and sobbing into her shoulder.
"Mama…don't go..the sun'll come up, tomorrow, ya gotta hang on til tomorrow.." the boy continued, singing the last few lines of "Tomorrow" from the musical "Annie."
Panicked, Kaoru did the only thing she could do. Scream.
"RAPE!!!"
***
Kenshin flinched at the cry. He knew he should be getting to Sanosuke's apartment to check on him, but he thought it wouldn't hurt to check out the screaming. As he got closer, the cry echoed again.
"RAPE!"
Kenshin felt his eyebrows go up in surprise. He thought people were usually out at parties or asleep at this time. He picked up his pace and ran after the voice. Dodging corners and turning down dark streets, he reached his destination. He was not prepared for what he saw next.
A panicked Kaoru was screaming for her dear life while Sanosuke sobbed in to her shoulder, holding her wrist and her shirt. Kenshin almost laughed but decided against it.
"Kaoru! Calm down, its just Sanosuke. He's stoned again, he thinks you're his mother. Believe me, it's happened to me on more than one occasion."
Kaoru stopped, bewildered.
"What's his name again?"
"Sanosuke."
"Sano..hush, darling. Shhhh." She whispered, rocking back and forth.
"Sanosuke, it's me, Kenshin. We're going to take you back to my dorm where you can get cleaned up and you can sleep in a warm bed and be with your friends. Remember, Soujiro and Aoshi?" Kenshin murmured, kneeling next to them.
"I'm not going. I'm staying with Mama." Sano groaned. "She's been gone too long."
"Mom will come too for a little while." Kenshin said, looking to Kaoru, who nodded.
"Really?" Sanosuke, by now, had stopped crying.
"Yeah. Really." Kenshin smiled a little, wondering how Sanosuke would recover this time. He stood, along with Kaoru, to help Sanosuke to his feet. They walked side by side as Kaoru held Sanosuke's hand; Sano wouldn't allow otherwise.
"He does this often?" Kaoru asked, looking over at Kenshin.
"Unfortunately, yes." Kenshin nodded. There was a long pause before Kaoru spoke again.
"You're a good friend, Kenshin."
"Thanks." He smiled.
Kaoru smiled back then turned her gaze back to the sidewalk.
Wait…
She snapped her head back to Kenshin. Something was different about him. She tried to search his face without attracting his attention.
No lipstick?
Kaoru turned back to the road again, and felt her lips twitch upward in a shy smile.
ANOTHER Note: Umm…I have no idea what it's like to be high. Some of my friends do but none of them act like Sanosuke. So, let's play pretend: There is a drug out there that produces reactions from Sanosuke as seen here. Short chapter, but I wasn't too in the mood.
Sanosuke ran as fast as he could down the dark streets. His sister wasn't home again, since she was out working night shift. They hardly ever saw each other at all: He was usually at Kenshin's, and she was always out working. He hated that he was a burden on her, but living in an apartment with his sister was the only option for him.
His mind spun. Where was he again? He was trying to find Kenshin, wasn't he? Sanosuke leaned over, fighting to catch his breath. Random thoughts flew in and out of his head.
I want to fly
Where's Mommy?
Four leafed clovers are lucky
La la la…como te llama? Merci. Guten tag.
Sanosuke clutched his head and screamed. Curling up in a corner next to a department store, Sano struggled to regain his thoughts.
I want control!
I need someone to help me!
Kenshin…
Ring around the rosey, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall
Down.
***
Saturday had to be Kenshin's favorite day. He walked around the shopping center, looking for some new clothes. He'd rather have a new pair of boots, but they weren't exactly affordable at the moment. Passing a group from another high school, he couldn't help but feel their incessant giggling was directed toward him.
"…lipstick? What a joke…"
"…such a poser.."
Kenshin felt his eyebrow twitch. Poser? Wasn't that the word they used for punks and people like Avril Lavigne? He'd never really paid much attention to it. Kenshin stopped to look in a window; not at merchandise but at his own reflection.
So was this really him?
Did it matter?
If he stopped wearing the things that made him this 'poser' it would only confirm their beliefs that he had a one-track mind and followed whatever the crowd wanted him to. Then again, the lipstick was a little much, and he never had liked the feel of it. It was so sticky, and smeared a lot. He wondered how girls could stand to wear it. Maybe Kaoru would stop grimacing at him as she tried to smile if he stopped wearing it. It seemed like a good idea…
Kenshin picked up a napkin from a hot dog stand. He raised it to his lips when another thought struck him.
Why was he trying to please Kaoru?
For a moment, an icy fear swept through his body. He saw his panicked eyes in the window reflection; the white napkin ready to wipe away the black upon his lips.
"We're just friends…I want her to feel comfortable around me."
The napkin reached for his lips again, wiping away the black. When he took it away, a gray smear remained as a ghostly reminder of what used to lie there. A few more minutes of rubbing and all traces of the lipstick were gone. He and Kaoru were just friends.
Right?
***
Kaoru sighed. She couldn't study. Misao wasn't making any noise whatsoever. She had only shut herself in her room; there was no blaring radio, no jumping on her bed, practicing violin or voice. Missing Misao's distraction, Kaoru went over to her dresser and pulled out a brown paper package tied with a frayed string.
Kaoru gingerly pulled on the string, untying the bow. She unfolded the paper carefully, taking out its contents and looking through them wistfully.
"Kaoru,
May all your Birthday dreams and wishes come true
Love, Aunt Ejita"
"GIRL, YOU SHINE! ROCK ON AND HAVE A GREAT B-DAY!!!
From all your friends, Fuyu, Ai, Haruka, Ishita, and Kui"
Kaoru continued through the cards. When she was feeling especially lonely, like now, she would read old birthday cards to help her think she was loved and needed somewhere. Now, however, it was only making her irritated. Her parents had sent her to Eldewater against her wishes; ignoring her pleas to be sent to other schools her friends would go to. Now she was here, and had lost all contact with all her friends from middle school, and had not bothered to make any new friends here. Her parents never visited her on holidays, and she had no means of transportation to visit them. What was the use, though? She had a bunch of bratty siblings anyway. Sighing, she took a look at the last card.
"A Birthday is always special, so just take a look at everything around you and be thankful its there before its gone. You were always my favorite girl. Do well in school and hopefully I'll see you some time around the Holidays.
Love, Uncle Hiei."
Kaoru put the cards back in their packaging and shoved them into her dresser.
"I don't need anyone."
And with that, she grabbed her jacket and headed out the door.
Walks always made Kaoru feel better. But somehow, in her anger, she had treaded into unfamiliar territory. The streets were darkening and she couldn't tell in which direction she had come from. The buildings were looking shabbier, and her heart thumped rabidly with fear at the thought of being shot, raped, or robbed. She jumped when she heard a voice behind her.
"Please help me…"
Kaoru turned to see a boy no older than her curled up beside the brick wall of an abandoned fire department. He was shuddering and coughing, brown hair falling in his face.
"What…what would you want me to do?" Kaoru asked. Against her better judgment, she began to approach him.
"I'm sick…I'm stoned…I need to find my friend." He replied.
"I don't know who your friend is."
"Cows…Yelena. Cars. Dogs chase cars…" He mumbled. Kaoru's eyes widened.
"I really need to get this guy to a hospital." she said to herself. She knelt next to the boy, and brushed the brown hair out of his face. She shrieked in surprise when he locked his hand around her wrist and clawed at her jacket, grabbing the neck of her shirt and sobbing into her shoulder.
"Mama…don't go..the sun'll come up, tomorrow, ya gotta hang on til tomorrow.." the boy continued, singing the last few lines of "Tomorrow" from the musical "Annie."
Panicked, Kaoru did the only thing she could do. Scream.
"RAPE!!!"
***
Kenshin flinched at the cry. He knew he should be getting to Sanosuke's apartment to check on him, but he thought it wouldn't hurt to check out the screaming. As he got closer, the cry echoed again.
"RAPE!"
Kenshin felt his eyebrows go up in surprise. He thought people were usually out at parties or asleep at this time. He picked up his pace and ran after the voice. Dodging corners and turning down dark streets, he reached his destination. He was not prepared for what he saw next.
A panicked Kaoru was screaming for her dear life while Sanosuke sobbed in to her shoulder, holding her wrist and her shirt. Kenshin almost laughed but decided against it.
"Kaoru! Calm down, its just Sanosuke. He's stoned again, he thinks you're his mother. Believe me, it's happened to me on more than one occasion."
Kaoru stopped, bewildered.
"What's his name again?"
"Sanosuke."
"Sano..hush, darling. Shhhh." She whispered, rocking back and forth.
"Sanosuke, it's me, Kenshin. We're going to take you back to my dorm where you can get cleaned up and you can sleep in a warm bed and be with your friends. Remember, Soujiro and Aoshi?" Kenshin murmured, kneeling next to them.
"I'm not going. I'm staying with Mama." Sano groaned. "She's been gone too long."
"Mom will come too for a little while." Kenshin said, looking to Kaoru, who nodded.
"Really?" Sanosuke, by now, had stopped crying.
"Yeah. Really." Kenshin smiled a little, wondering how Sanosuke would recover this time. He stood, along with Kaoru, to help Sanosuke to his feet. They walked side by side as Kaoru held Sanosuke's hand; Sano wouldn't allow otherwise.
"He does this often?" Kaoru asked, looking over at Kenshin.
"Unfortunately, yes." Kenshin nodded. There was a long pause before Kaoru spoke again.
"You're a good friend, Kenshin."
"Thanks." He smiled.
Kaoru smiled back then turned her gaze back to the sidewalk.
Wait…
She snapped her head back to Kenshin. Something was different about him. She tried to search his face without attracting his attention.
No lipstick?
Kaoru turned back to the road again, and felt her lips twitch upward in a shy smile.
ANOTHER Note: Umm…I have no idea what it's like to be high. Some of my friends do but none of them act like Sanosuke. So, let's play pretend: There is a drug out there that produces reactions from Sanosuke as seen here. Short chapter, but I wasn't too in the mood.