AN: Ok. I screwed up. You're going to get more than one chapter because I had forgotten where I had left off and thought you guys were ahead. So. BE PREPARED! LOTS OF THINGS HAPPEN AND I USE REALLY BORING, UNDESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE!
59. If left in an emergency room with half your epidermis melted off of your body and the ER attendants show no interest in your immediate welfare, you should :
A) Curse them into the next galaxy.
B) Howl in agony until someone is forced to give you a sedative, or God forbid, actually attend to your wounds.
C) Call a lawyer
D) Get a trusted ally to take you to a more competent hospital
E) All of the above.
Kenshin had no idea. He tried to remember the story Shishio had attempted to present as a hypothetical situation (when in fact it was a not-so-subtle reliving of the horrific day the chemistry lab blew his face off).
Crossing his fingers, Kenshin decided to go with answer E. Normally, if a teacher put "All the above" sparingly in his tests, that answer was usually the correct one. Kenshin vowed he would be infinitely pissed if he didn't make an A in Professor Shishio's joke of a class. He had scraped a B so far because his test grades made up for homework he had never turned in. Now, here was the final: the key to the A+ he was looking for.
Kenshin was getting antsy, though. It was his last test, and then the school year was over. He wouldn't bother showing up the last two days where all teachers could do was show stupid videos. Twenty minutes remaining to finish his test. Twenty minutes left to dwell inside the cursed school. Twenty more minutes until he and his friends could pile into their beat-up cars and head out for a celebratory lunch. After all, the last week was nothing but half-days.
65. If your lawyer (helping you sue for your neglect in the ER) has ridiculously high fees because your case is "peculiar" just because you weren't supposed to survive being completely consumed by a torrent of flames, what is your next course of action?
A) Curse him into the next galaxy
B) Howl in agony until a female lawyer takes pity on you and decides to help you sue your ex-lawyer.
C) Call your spouse and blame them for everything wrong in the world and guilt trip them into asking their parents for buttloads of money to pay for a new frickin' body
D) Get a trusted ally to shoot you in the head
E) None of the above.
Obviously, Shishio had watched Austin Powers. However, Kenshin remembered this part of the story because he could clearly recall the sultry look of triumph on his face as he had explained to his students that a female lawyer had come to his rescue and sued the boxers off of his previous lawyer. She had also managed to get a good sum from the hospital that had not tended to him properly. The female lawyer was the reason Shishio was a rich bastard now, and why he could afford a $70 baby-sitter nearly every weekend.
Two more minutes…
Kenshin turned his test in confidently. Sanosuke and Soujiro did likewise. Professor Shishio eyed the class with a look that made Kenshin think the teacher might actually miss his students….only because he wouldn't have anyone to bellow at or force maniacal laughter toward. The class waited impatiently, ready to fly into a rabid rage and chomp a large portion out of their desks if the bell didn't ring soon. The minute hand actually went past the 6, signifying the time of 12:31. Kenshin thought the class might have flown into a howling rage if the bell had not rung at the exact instant.
"HELL YES!" Sanosuke roared. Soujiro was jumping down the hallway at light speed, slapping people on the back and wishing everyone a great summer. Kenshin followed a little more slowly, and a lot more subdued. He smiled when needed, but gave nothing more. Sanosuke towered over him, pushing a path through the growing crowd of teens. By the time they reached the front doors, their lunch party was waiting for him: Misao, Soujiro, Aoshi, Kaoru, and Magdaria were all congregated happily to the side.
"Ready to go?" Kaoru took Kenshin's arm. Kenshin nodded and smiled, stealing a kiss. Sanosuke shyly made his way to Magdaria, but feigned macho-ness by sweeping her off her feet into a tight embrace while growling suggestively and nuzzling her neck. Misao absolutely refused to take any sort of affection from Soujiro. Exasperated, he gave her an imploring stare.
"Sou, this has got to make Aoshi feel bad." Misao whispered, hoping she was audible over the noise of jubilant students. Soujiro looked abashed, as if he had never considered the possibility of Aoshi having emotions.
"Misao…I admire your sensitivity. We'll save it for later." Soujiro turned a little more serious, and added, "But Aoshi just…isn't bothered by anything. That's who he is."
"What's he going to do at lunch, twiddle his thumbs while the rest of the guys have a make out party?"
"You know that won't happen. Not in a restaurant, anyway. Maybe back at the dorms." Soujiro shrugged. Misao opened her mouth to say something else, but Kenshin interrupted.
"Okay…everybody ready?" Kenshin shouted. A consensus was shouted back. "Right then…I have my car and Magdaria was recently presented with a hand-me-down car by her brother. Take your pick, but let's all end up at the same place!"
The friends raced for the parking lot. Aoshi debated on which way he should go. There would be more room in Magdaria's car, since only Sanosuke would be riding with her. But he didn't want to be stuck with Monkey Ass. Magdaria was okay, but Aoshi couldn't stomach being in a conversation with Sano. He decided to call shotgun with Kenshin and forced Kaoru to sit in the back with Misao and Soujiro. He didn't feel a bit sorry.
Both cars ended up at a little artsy restaurant that had small theater presentations to follow meals. By the time they had all settled down to lunch, little sideshows had begun. A lame juggling act, a few singers (Misao scoffed she could have done tons better), a New Age band (Magdaria fell in love with them), and a few unimpressive monologues. Just when they were finishing up, a trio of women took the stage. One woman took the center while the other two stood slightly behind and to the sides. They were dressed in a Cabaret style, and began a dance routine with Burlesque undertones. Aoshi nearly gaped in horror as he recognized the purple-haired girl…boy…person…at center stage. He caught the actors' eye, and the actor smiled at the recognition as he began singing.
"Empty spaces- what are we living for?
Abandoned places, I guess we know the score
On and on
Does anybody know what we are living for?
Another hero- another mindless crime
Behind the curtain, in the pantomime…
Oh, the lie, does anybody want to take it anymore?
"The show must go on!
The show must go on!
Inside my heart is breaking, my make up may be flaking but my smile still stays on…"
This was undoubtedly the best show by far. Flawed, yes, but…they were coordinated enough, and mostly in sync. Kamatari had a pleasant enough voice. Misao grinned suggestively. Aoshi shot her a glare.
"The show must go on!"
"I face it with a grin. I'm never giving in!
On with the show!"
I top the bill, I love the kill I have to find the will to carry on On with the…on with the…
SHOW!
"The show must go on…"
Aoshi applauded politely, not loudly like the rest of his table. Kamatari slipped backstage for only a moment, then came back out through the side and practically skipped to Aoshi's side. He wondered how Kamatari could manage in those heels.
"Hey baby!" Kamatari cooed as Aoshi stood to offer him a seat. Aoshi, completely shocked, stood petrified when Kamatari threw his arms around Aoshi and placed a big, theatrical kiss on his cheek, then shot a dirty glare at a boy across the room.
"Sorry." He whispered. "My ex-boyfriend is here. See that undeservingly sexy boy in the corner with the brown hair in a ponytail and green eyes? You're not looking Aoshi, he's wearing a black button up shirt…the one with the short sleeves, and the blood-red handkerchief sticking out of the pocket."
"I see him!" Misao exclaimed, nearly shouting loud enough for the people across the room to hear. Aoshi gave the both of them another sinister warning glare, hoping it was enough to wither them. Unfortunately, it seemed the boy had heard, and was heading over to the table. Sanosuke looked like he was ready to bust out laughing. Kenshin was eyeing the boy suspiciously, wondering if someone could just kick him in the balls and run for it. The girls were obviously on Kamatari's side, and gave the boy looks of disdain.
"Hey Tari," the boy eyed Aoshi with malice. "What you got here?"
"Rikuo, this is Aoshi." Kamatari placed enough emphasis on Aoshi's name that he suspected the poor thing would proceed to stick his tongue out at the ex-boyfriend and cry "Neener!"
"Aoshi…" Rikuo grinned. Aoshi did not like the grin. It was evil. And he didn't need attention from two gay guys. Rikuo ran a finger down Aoshi's bicep. Sanosuke nearly lost it, but disguised his choked laughter as a snort/sneeze. Aoshi thought about making himself pass out to escape the humiliating situation.
Kamatari glared furiously at Rikuo, pulling Aoshi closer into his death-grip. At a loss of what to do, he mechanically patted Kamatari on the head. To his surprise, Kamatari purred. Aoshi immediately dropped his hand back to his side.
"You won't last a month. He'll learn how obnoxious you are. Call me, Aoshi!" Rikuo strode confidently out of the restaurant. Once he was out of sight, Kamatari burst into tears and the girls at the table immediately huddled around him, forming a protective circle of womanly support, shoving all men away.
"He's not worth it," Misao was chiding.
"The guy's a flake," Kaoru nodded.
"You're not missing anything with him out of your life." Magdaria offered a tissue. Sanosuke was shaking with suppressed snickers. Kenshin was still in pain from Kaoru and Magdaria stampeding over his foot in a rush to attend to Kamatari.
"Do you think I'm obnoxious, Aoshi?" Kamatari sniffled. Aoshi looked surprised.
"Kamatari, you're the most obnoxious person I've ever met."
The girls' jaws dropped. Aoshi hurriedly continued with his statement.
"But that's who you are, and it's why I like you. You've got…spunk." Aoshi finished lamely, without finding a truly suitable word to describe Kamatari. Before any of the three girls could land a kick to his balls, Aoshi was saved by Kamatari jumping up and taking him into a rib-shattering hug.
"Oh, honey!" He shrieked. "That's so sweet!"
Aoshi had not intended that to be the initial reaction, but at least he would be able to have children once given the chance.
"Mind if I drive?" Sanosuke asked.
"Not at all…the highway scares the hell out of me. I'm a little tired anyway…do you have everything you need?" Magdaria looked over her shoulder to the back seat.
"Everything is in the trunk. I have my clothes…the money, the camera-"
"-That you 'borrowed' from Kenshin." Magdaria scoffed. Sanosuke laughed in return, and they were on their way.
"Why do we have to get married so far away? It's legal in our city too."
"So no one will stop us."
"Adzuma? Have you heard from her?"
"No. She moved. Hasn't called or written or anything. She won't know. It's Saitou and Amakusa I'm worried about."
"They're going to be your in-laws."
"…Shit! I totally forgot!"
"You'll learn to live with it." The conversation dwindled to an end, and Magdaria was eventually lulled to sleep in the midday sun. She woke up every so often, made a notice of the sun growing lower and lower. Sanosuke said nothing; unusual, but he was smiling. Magdaria watched that smile for as long as she could while drifting in and out of sleep.
"We're here." Sanosuke prodded her, and she woke again.
"It's nearly seven o'clock!"
"Don't worry. The place closes at 10. I'm going to get us a hotel room so we can go change. We get the license and the ceremony at the same place."
"We don't believe in God…"
"I know. But we need a signature from a certified wedding-vow dude. I'm sure he can whip up something to our tastes."
Sanosuke paid for the room they would stay in for the night and bounded up the stairs with the suitcases and keys. Magdaria followed jubilantly, though she restrained herself better than he. They took turns in the bathroom changing into their formal clothes for the little ceremony, and Magdaria touched up her make up in the mirror. Sanosuke admired her from a chair in the corner.
"You're beautiful."
She was wearing a deep fuchsia dress that darkened into black toward the flowing, translucent material that was longer than the actual opaque material underneath. Her hair was smooth and brushed, falling around her face at the shoulders. A simple silver necklace and matching bracelet were her only adornments.
"You don't look half bad yourself." Magdaria grinned as she took in the starch white shirt and black pants. "You look like a waiter."
Sanosuke sniffed haughtily as if insulted, then pulled on a white coat. He turned around to look out the window, and Magdaria gasped.
"Sano! You didn't!" Magdaria gaped in horror at the kanji on the coat, his trademark symbol. For a moment, Sanosuke thought she was actually mad at him. Then she burst into loud guffaws of laughter, bracing herself on the wall. "Just tell me you're leaving the red headband behind."
"Well…"
"Sano!"
"All right, all right. Yeesh." Sanosuke shrugged his shoulders to put the jacket up a little more comfortably, and offered his arm to his fiancée. "You ready to go?"
"Ready as ever."
"Let's go."
"You're going out with her again! On the last day of school?" Kamatari was incredulous. "You could be spending time with meeeeee…" Kamatari tried whining, but Aoshi was still shrugging on his trench coat - a black one, this time - and started for the door. "Aoshiiii-" Kamatari was caught in mid-whine by Aoshi's hand as it clapped over his lips.
"Save it." Aoshi took in Kamatari's hurt stare emotionlessly, straightened his coat, and turned. Before he shut the door, he stopped, but didn't turn around. "If you must know, she asked me to pose for a photoshoot. I'm just doing it for the money."
Kamatari stood silently as the door was shut forcefully.
He sounded like a whore.
Picking up his helmet, Kamatari headed for the parking lot. The dorm building was silent, unlike his apartment complex. As a dropout in acting school, Kamatari could afford little, but his apartment was respectable enough. Many of the tenants were drag queens and queers, a few dykes sprinkled into the mix. Parties were frequent. Nightlife was the only life, and by day, the people faded into their disguises for society, hiding under the normality-standard occupations the work force mandated.
Kamatari seated himself on his moped, and quickly sped his way onto the main road. He could feel his cell phone vibrating in his back pocket. At this hour? Who could be calling? Kamatari was in no condition to answer the phone at 50 mph. He'd have to wait until he got home.
The moped safely tucked away, Kamatari bounded up the stairs, muttering hurried hellos to friends and coworkers on the stairwell. He flipped open his phone while at the same time jangling the keys to his room. Recent Calls. He opened the door.
It was Aoshi's dorm number. But he couldn't possibly be back. Had something happened to him? Kamatari hurriedly called the number back. Kenshin picked up the phone, out of breath.
"Hello?"
"Hey…Kamatari…you called while I was driving, so"
"Is Aoshi with you?"
"No, he went out with Arashi." There was silence after this statement. Kenshin was still breathing at a strange pace, and Kamatari felt his own breathing quicken. What was going on?"
"Did you see Sanosuke and Magdaria at all today after the restaurant?" Kenshin asked, desperately.
"No, no I didn't. Is everything okay?" Kamatari asked. This was getting weird.
"We can't find them. Oh holy shit…we can't find them!"
So it wasn't her dream wedding. They could do that later, if she was still living. The document was legal, the vows were nice enough…
"Magdaria…we may not be doing this in front of the whole world just yet, but I promise you that we will someday. But even if we do, I'll always remember this as the happiest day of my life…..the day you gave me everything…the day we married."
And there they were now, in the hotel. Not the nicest, mind you, but it certainly wasn't a dirty little hole. Magdaria had turned the air conditioning down and waited on the bed in her old, faded purple robe. Sanosuke was in the shower for the moment, and she flipped through a magazine on the table, all the while self-consciously tugging her robe closer around her. Before packing, she had paused when choosing her night clothes. What did Sanosuke like? Should she bring her shorts and t-shirt? Maybe she could get away with using a slip from an Easter dress a few years back. Camisole? She had ended up settling on the slip. It was simple and clean, and was just a tad longer than her robe. She hoped Sanosuke would like it.
Magdaria jumped when she heard the bathroom lock pop open and Sanosuke trudging out of the bathroom. She felt the blush heating her face and tried to hide behind her magazine. Sanosuke smiled. He saw the strip of white peeking out from under her robe. He loved Magdaria. She was so cute when she was shy….and it was sweet that she wanted to look nice for him even in her bed clothes. Sanosuke suddenly realized with a cold shock what exactly it all meant.
Tonight….was their wedding night.
In a panic, Sanosuke turned back around toward the bathroom.
What's so wrong with it now? It was so easy before, with other girls. Now…what's so wrong? I mean…we're married now! But…I'm going to be spending the rest of my life with her. I don't want to hurt her. What if she gets sick? What if she doesn't like it and then doesn't want to be married anymore? What if-
"S-sano?" Magdaria called tentatively.
"Yeah?" Sano peeked out from behind the door.
"Uh…just…checking on you." Magdaria reverted back to the magazine.
Tonight is our wedding night…I love her…and I want her to remember this forever…
He sauntered back into the room, awash in confidence. Sano stretched himself across the bed, pulling himself around Magdaria. Hesitant, she leaned her head to the side and touched his shoulder. Sano kissed her hair, stroking her collarbone with his hand from the arm he had wrapped around her.
"Are you ready, hun?" Sano asked. He completely respected her if she didn't want to. It could always wait. Magdaria didn't answer a moment, then felt her head move on his shoulder as she nodded.
"Yeah. I think I am."
He kissed her deeply, which she had not anticipated just yet, and was overwhelmed by the sheer passion of Sano alone. Should she drive such emotion back at him, the effect would be dizzying. Magdaria moved her arms around his neck while she kissed fiercely back; his hands traveled down to her waist, untying the slippery silken sash of her robe. Immediately the garment fell off her shoulders with a will of its own, and Sanosuke felt his blood rushing in him with a new strength and zeal. He fumbled for the light switch and found it, sheltering their love in the secretive glow of nighttime.
"WHERE IS MY NIECE!" Saitou bellowed at the group of frightened students. They had all gathered at the boys' dorm in the confusion, racking their brains for possible destinations. Destinations they didn't want to voice aloud.
Around mid-afternoon Saitou had decided to call the girl's dorm in an attempt to coax Magdaria back home within the next hour or so. He was responded to by Misao, who said she was probably with Sanosuke at the boys' dorm. Misao called Kaoru, who was out at the mall with Kenshin. After having a conversation between the two of them, it was discovered that Sanosuke had made plans to stay at the dorm. Soujiro and Misao headed on over, only to discover that no one was there. Panicking, Soujiro used the phone in the kitchen to try and reach Aoshi, while Misao called back Kaoru and Kenshin. Aoshi was no where to be found, and Kaoru was headed up the stairs with Kenshin. Eventually, Soujiro phoned the slowly angering Saitou, and Kenshin made a desperate attempt by calling Kamatari. Magdaria and Sanosuke were no where to be found.
It was now 11 at night.
"Did she leave any sort of note?" Kenshin asked, hanging up the phone in solemn defeat. Kaoru shook her head, as did Misao.
"My best bet is a car crash or hotel room. We would have heard about any injuries by now, so-" Misao started. Someone had to be realistic: no sense in beating around the bush. She knew they were all thinking the same thing.
"I'D RATHER HER BE DEAD THAN IN A HOTEL ROOM WITH THAT FUCK-"
"Professor Saitou! We're in a DORM!" Kenshin leapt to his feet. "You care about Magdaria more than that…we all do. We'd never wish her any sort of ill."
"If that fuckwad has gone anywhere near her in an inappropriate manner, there will be hell to pay."
"Professor Saitou…we can sort this out in the morning. They'll come back. Magdaria wouldn't up and leave indefinitely."
"That's it. I'm calling the police."
Aoshi suppressed the need to shiver. It was all mind over matter. He could forget he was even there, dressed only in a pair of dark denim pants. His hair was up in odd angles, blown that way by a studio fan. The gel had dried it up. He never liked his hair up. It was unflattering. The wall behind him had rust stains on it, and Arashi was studying him while chewing on the side of her thumb.
"I'm going to turn the fountain on. Scoot out a little bit so you don't get wet."
Aoshi started at the mention of a fountain, but he complied and pulled himself out closer to the edge. He could see that the platform and its adjacent wall was indeed a fountain, and he felt the cool breath of water as it began spilling down the wall and collecting in the moat around the platform he was sitting on.
"Pose. Just do whatever the hell comes to mind." Arashi commanded, placing herself once again behind a camera. Aoshi just sat still. The camera flashed.
"Stretch. Just make movements you normally do and try to pause a little imbetween so I can get a good shot without motion blur"
Again, Aoshi complied. He did his meditation positions, stretches, and mind exercises. He could feel the heat of the studio lights beating down on him, and unconsciously he leaned further back to the coolness of the water. He could hear Arashi gasp and begin madly clicking the shutter on the camera as he welcomed the water pouring over his body.
"That is perfect, just PERFECT Aoshi!" Arashi was having a field day. Her voice, however, was distant and soft. Aoshi was deep in his meditations, in the place where nothing existed and all knowledge was available and understood. It was completely inhuman, shedding Aoshi of all bodily awareness and advancing him to a state of spirit in which he was God-like, all knowing and understanding.
But something gnawed at him. Something was wrong. He felt the human world tugging at him, pulling him back to his mortal self. Back in a state of semi-awareness, Aoshi gradually regressed back into his self.
Seven. (Breathe in, breathe out)
Six (Breathe in, breathe out) The nagging feeling was getting stronger. He tried to repress it.
Five (Breathe in, breathe out) Urgency was pulling his senses in wild directions. Aoshi locked down his resolve and told himself to remain calm.
Four (Breathe in, breathe out)
Three (Breathe in, breathe out)
Two (Breathe in, breathe out) Something was most definitely wrong.
One (Breathe in, breathe out) Aoshi opened his eyes on a new breath. He was wet. He was most definitely soaked. How the hell did that happen? And his cell phone was ringing. But the most shocking detail of all was this: Arashi was in the middle of a very passionate kiss. Aoshi's eyes nearly widened in surprise. Instead, he stood suddenly, causing Arashi to slip off of his lap and land on the floor. He hurried toward the cell phone, and immediately picked up.
"Shinomori." Aoshi spoke.
"Aoshi, babe, its Kamatari. Listen, I just got a call from Kenshin and I'm headed over there right now and was wondering if you needed a ride. Magdaria and Sanosuke have gone missing and everyone is congregated at your dorm, including your Professor Saitou."
"Shit!" Aoshi exhaled sharply. Arashi, most displeased, was picking herself up off of the floor and making her way toward Aoshi, who had picked up his messenger bag and was heading for the studio's entrance.
"Aoshi! What the hell is going on?"
"Two of my friends have disappeared together. Male and female."
"They're probably fine."
"They're boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Again…fine. I'm sure they had a great time."
"Yeah…I'll bet…and they're really looking forward to seeing the look on her Uncle's face when they turn back up…if they ever do."
"I'm sure they lost track of the time."
"Sex just complicates things." Aoshi closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "Whatever happened to abstinence?" he mused.
"Don't tell me you believe in that shit." Arashi scoffed.
"Arashi, sex is one of the most pointless activities available on the planet." Aoshi glowered. Arashi's jaw dropped. "Sex screws things over unless you're seriously bound to the person you get involved with. It's base and primitive. Unintelligent. It's not…constructive. It's a pleasure device."
"Well…no shit, Sherlock!"
"I have no patience for pleasure devices. My purpose is practical and productive."
"Sex is productive. Reproductive, I might add."
"Children are for the stable minded, the nurturing types. I am not the latter."
"Aoshi, you're just misinformed…you don't know what it's like." Arashi placed her hands in his belt loops, massaging his hips. "Without experience you can make no assumptions."
It was about then that Kamatari drove up. He put the kickstand down, and waved. Aoshi made toward the moped, but Arashi stopped him again.
"It's him, isn't it? You…you are gay."
"Look, I'm not fucking gay." Aoshi growled.
"You don't have to lie to me."
"I'm not-" Aoshi saw the argument as fruitless. Arashi was a woman of action. He decided to get the point across the only way that would satisfy her. Aoshi leaned over, took her chin roughly in one of his hands, and kissed her impatiently. Without bothering to register the look on her face, Aoshi mounted the moped, hoped that he wouldn't cause the little vehicle to break down, and allowed his thoughts to be carried off by the wind.
The dorm was surprisingly sullen. He expected shouting and fighting between the teacher and students, but all had settled into a silence of anticipation. Everyone had jumped to see him enter with Kamatari, and upon noticing it was neither Sanosuke or Magdaria, everyone sat back down again disappointedly. Misao was sitting next to Soujiro on the couch, fighting back sleep. Soujiro was wide-eyed and blank, staring at the floor; one arm subconsciously around his girlfriend. Saitou was in a chair in the opposite corner, dosing with a coffee mug in hand. Kenshin was on the floor, chin in hand and deep in thought. Kaoru was leaning her back against his, practicing crochet.
Aoshi made his way to Kenshin, the only one he trusted to have a bit of sanity in such a situation.
"How did you convince him not to go to the police?" Aoshi said lowly, jerking a thumb in Saitou's direction.
"I didn't. They told him they couldn't do anything because they had to be missing for twenty-four hours first. He said he had connections, but luckily there was an exceptionally rude emergency-call operator." Kenshin sighed and rubbed his eyes with his forefinger and thumb. Kaoru turned around and put her chin on his shoulder.
"Saitou's got law enforcement connections?" Aoshi asked, mildly impressed.
"Yeah. Used to be a cop when he was younger." Kenshin shrugged, taking another swig from his teacup.
"Hm. I wouldn't expect him to be asleep, though, and in our dorm."
"Well, he wouldn't be if Misao hadn't slipped something in his coffee." Kenshin smiled a little at this and looked over at Saitou, who was starting to snore slightly.
"Misao drugged a teacher?" Aoshi hissed.
"Niquil works miracles, man."
Magdaria yawned, shrugging on a fitted tee. It had a cherry blossom branch printed on the side, snaking diagonally across her body. Pink and green weren't her favorite colors, but Saitou had bought it for her recently, and she wanted to be on his good side when they got back home.
Sanosuke followed her into the bathroom, clearly trying to make mischief as they both vied for the countertop and mirror. Magdaria was ignoring his presence quite efficiently, until his elbow purposefully bumped her arm and caused a mishap with her eyeliner. She calmly stomped on his bare foot and allowed herself a small smile as Sanosuke dropped a bottle of shaving cream on his other foot.
"Arguments won't do when we're only 12 hours into our marriage." Magdaria reprimanded her husband as she moved on to mascara. Sano only scowled dramatically as he sat on the edge of the bathtub. Magdaria turned around and kissed him quickly, then turned back to the mirror.
"What was that for?" Sano queried.
"I'm about to put lipstick on. Thought I might as well get in an apology kiss to last the day. I'm sure you don't want Strawberry Champagne all over your face."
Within the next thirty minutes, the newlyweds were in the car and on the road home. Magdaria again allowed Sanosuke to drive her car, which allowed her plenty of time to stare out the window and worry about their arrival back at Eldewater.
Where were they going to live? They'd have to find another dorm, or an apartment. Saitou wasn't going to take this well. Neither would Amakusa. What would Grandmother say? Kaoru and Misao were probably worried too. How were they going to pay for everything? She and Sanosuke needed jobs. And what would happen when Sanosuke wanted to go to college next year? Why had she agreed to marry him again?
Because she was dying.
She might not even make it to see Sanosuke graduate from a good college. She might not live for a first anniversary. But then again…maybe…maybe…she'd make it to a fifth. Maybe they'd have children. Maybe they'd live a normal enough life for a little while. Maybe…now that she had a purpose…now that she had love…the experience would buy her a little more time.
"Sano?" Magdaria interjected in the middle of her husband's sing-along with the radio.
"Yeah?"
"I think we should call someone."
"I thought we didn't want to alert anyone until we got back."
"Don't you think that's a little unfair to everyone?"
"Just a little."
"Well…I'm going to call." Magdaria fished her cell phone out of her purse. She called her dorm, but no one picked up. Worried, she tried Misao's cell. The girl always kept hers on no matter what, just so she could get up and dance to the ring tone. It rang once before someone immediately answered.
"MAGDARIA!" Misao shrieked loud enough for Sanosuke to hear. Magdaria winced, but smiled.
"Hey. We're on our way home. Yeah. No, no accidents. Well…we went down the interstate into the next city. Not exactly. We didn't have a chance to sight-see. Not like THAT, Misao! Okay, here's the deal. You ready? Sure? Okay…we're married.
Sanosuke nearly swerved off the road as another one of Misao's ear-splitting shrieks pierced his concentration. "You WHAT!" rang in his ears for a good two minutes, the rest of her shrieking died down into hysterical babble. Magdaria was on the phone for another few minutes, then hung up.
"Guess what?" Magdaria asked lightly.
"Misao's gonna have a heart attack?"
"Hmmm…that and everyone stayed over at Kenshin's dorm waiting for word from us. Even Uncle Saitou."
"….Holy shit."
"I don't think 'holy shit' is gonna cover it when we get there."
Misao dropped her cell phone to the couch. Everyone was staring at her expectantly. She had been screaming and smiling like something very, very big had happened.
"So it's good? They're okay?" Kenshin asked worriedly.
"Okay? Jeez, it's more than okay! It's freakin' great! You're not gonna believe this!" Misao was jumping up and down ecstatically, "Are you ready for this? They GOT MARRIED!"
"They WHAT?" the entire congregation bellowed. Saitou, still under the effects of Niquil, stood and promptly fell over. Kenshin's jaw dropped. Aoshi stared disbelievingly at Misao. The color drained from Kaoru's face. Soujiro was expressionless for the first time in his life.
"Come on, guys!" Misao shouted to the shocked group. "We've got to get a little welcome party together! I think I've got balloons in our dorm!" Misao ran out of the room for the elevator. For a moment, everyone stared at the open door, still floored from the news. Then the dorm was a bustle of activity, as everyone set about making a last minute party.
Things were definitely being turned upside down.
AN: Sucky ending. I know. Stuuuuuupid. This chapter was hard to write. Hopefully the next will be better. So what's on the agenda, you ask? Well, for one, the newlyweds are on the road to a new life. A party won't solve everything! And what with the marriage, the other RK couples start reevaluating their own love lives. Will Saitou take this lying down? Does Aoshi actually like Arashi? Did Kamatari notice their spontaneous kiss? All this and more, next time on the story I really wish wasn't as Soap Opera-ish as it is….Too Complicated for Words!