Shenyu : Thanks for reviewing. I really like the idea that Kaoru is horrible at cooking and doesn't think that she is, so I have fun with that. I completely agree with you about Megumi and Sano as well. I enjoy writing about them, as well as Aoshi and Misao.
Nyako : Thanks for the review and I'm glad you liked Sano.
Disclaimer : I forgot to write this and added it last. I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
Warnings: Just some language. We all know how Kaoru can get when she's angry.
Now, where did I leave off, (authoress stares absentmindedly at the screen and scratches her head.) Hmmmm. (Lightbulb!) A certain project….
Enemies Till The End
Chapter 7
Now Kaoru had a lot of patience, actually, no she didn't, but what little she did was almost all used up. 'Where is that infuriating asshole?' She thought to herself. Apparently he had ignored her commands from the day before and decided that he was going to show up late, or maybe even not at all. That made her mad. She had been tapping her foot steadily for the past twenty minutes and he still was not there.
Kaoru huffed out a breath causing her bangs to stir. 'I might as well start this project on my own.' She thought to herself and turned towards the shelves.
"Hey, where're you going?" Kaoru turned back slowly to face the boy who stood behind her. Her hands were balled into fists and she looked like she wanted to hit something, really badly. The best target being Kenshin, who now stood in front of her, an uncertain expression on his face. He was trying to figure out what the best thing to do was. Run away or try to brave the storm which he knew from experience would not be pretty. Time ran out and the choice was made for him.
"Where have you been?" Kaoru's voice was deceptively sweet. Kenshin took a step back before he answered.
"I was talking to someone."
"And who would that someone be? Someone so important that you would risk being twenty minutes late?" Kaoru asked, taking a step forward and closing the distance Kenshin had put between them.
"Um, yes?" His tone was uncertain even as he glanced towards the door to assess his chances of getting away with his life.
"Do you mind telling me just who this important person was?" She asked.
"It was Naomi." He told her.
"What was so important that you just had to talk to Naomi when you were supposed to be here?" She was mad.
"I wanted to ask her if she wanted to go to the movies this weekend." He told her.
"You wanted to ask her out? That girl? Geez Kenshin you seriously need to get a better taste in girls. She's dated five other guys since the beginning of the school year!" She informed him. "I hope that she told you no and it really couldn't have waited until tomorrow?"
"Well, yeah it could have." He said, thoughtlessly.
"I could kill you right now." She said, thoroughly aggravated. She smacked him over the head with her handy, heavy, textbook and walked back to the table. "Get your sorry little ass over here right now and start helping me." Kenshin quickly heeded her, not wanting or needing another bump to go with the one already atop his throbbing head.
Kaoru shoved a piece of paper in his face. "Here are some books that will be useful for our project. Look them up on the computer, write down the authors and go look for them. That shouldn't be too hard for you right? I mean you are in an enriched class after all." She pulled out a notebook. "I'll start writing down the outline for the essay part." Kenshin nodded and left.
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"So, Megumi, do you know what you're going to wear on Friday?" Misao asked. They were sitting on a bench in front of the coffee shop that was just around the corner of the school. It was a nice day.
"Not yet. I was thinking about going to the mall tomorrow and finding something new. I feel like he's seen me in everything I own already. You and Kaoru can come a help me out." Megumi responded. "I don't even know why I said yes in the first place. For some strange reason though, I couldn't make myself say no."
"That's 'cause you like him. You two are so funny. You both don't want to admit that you're attracted to each other. Then you agree to go out with him and you're acting like you don't want to. I don't get you. If Aoshi asked me out I would be bouncing off the walls." Misao answered. Megumi laughed.
"I can't wait for the day he actually does. I mean you never know. It was really surprising to me when Sano asked me."
"Well, we'll see. Everyone else knew you two were going to get together someday." Misao said self-assuredly. She continued, ignoring Megumi's protests. "Who I would really like to see get together is Kenshin and Kaoru."
"Yeah. I agree with you there." Megumi said. "Those two are definitely perfect for each other."
"Yeah, but they're even worse than you and Sano. The rivalry they have is only for show, but I don't think that they realize that. Sure they do get into real arguments, but when you see them help each other out it doesn't seem possible that they could dislike each other so much." Misao said.
"Yeah. Maybe we could do something to help them out? Or would it be a bad idea to get involved?" Megumi asked. She held her hands up as though she were weighing her options, literally. "Help out, or not? Hmm."
"Not get involved? We should have done something a long time ago." Misao interrupted her. She was bouncing around on the bench excitedly. "I'm all in favor of helping those two out."
"Good, then we have some planning to do."
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An hour and a half later, Kenshin and Kaoru were working in a compatible silence, with only the occasional murmur to point something out. This was how they normally worked together. So comfortable within one another's presence. Kaoru was the first to break the quiet.
"We should take these books out and clean up our mess. The librarian keeps giving us glares so I think that that means she want us to leave." She stretched her arms above her head.
"Sure. I'll take these out and why don't you try to organize these papers. You might as well keep them 'cause I'll probably lose them." Kenshin agreed, standing up. Kaoru nodded.
They left the library and headed off in the same direction, Kenshin mumbling something about walking her home. She didn't argue. Sometimes it was nice just to get along with him. They walked in silence for a while before Kaoru ventured,
"So what happened with Naomi, since it was so important and all."
"Nothing, she just laughed and said she already had plans. Mostly she made me feel like an idiot. I seriously thought that you were the only one who could do that." Kenshin answered, and then winced. That had left him wide open for some sort of insult, but none came.
"Oh." Was all Kaoru said. "Did you like her?"
"No. I did it mostly because Sano and Aoshi dared me to. I really didn't want to risk the humiliation, but they decided that they wanted to blackmail me just so they could get a little bit of amusement at my expense." He told her.
"What did they use to blackmail you?" Kaoru asked, curious. Kenshin didn't answer right away.
"Just some stuff. Why would I tell you anyway? You'll just use it against me too." He responded.
"Yeah, that's true." Kaoru said. "Did Sano tell you that he finally asked Megumi out. I think the whole situation is so funny. Those two were definitely meant for each other though. In some odd kind of way they just fit together so perfectly." Kaoru stared up at the clear blue sky above them and waited for Kenshin to answer.
"They are perfect for each other." He answered quietly. Kaoru dropped her gaze to his face at his tone. He was looking at the ground in a brooding kind of way. 'Geez he changes moods quickly.' She thought.
"Do think that everyone has someone, I guess like a soul mate or something?" Kaoru asked him.
"I don't know." Kenshin answered. "I've never actually thought about it."
"I think that it's possible. Seeing those two makes you hopeful, you know? Not that they probably even realize it, but I think that it would be so nice to have someone that completes you, in a sense." Kaoru said dreamily.
They arrived at Kaoru's house and stopped. "Do want to stay for dinner?" Kaoru asked him. He did eat with them a lot.
"No thanks. My aunt decided that she wanted to make a big dinner tonight so I'm eating with the family." He told her, his expression changed slightly at the word family.
Kenshin's parents had died when he was just seven years old. Kaoru could remember the span of days, right after they died, where Kenshin wouldn't talk to anyone. When he came back to school his normally happy face was dull and he separated himself from the other children. One day Kaoru had found him just staring out the classroom window, during their recess. No sane child ever gave up the chance to get out of the stuffy classroom.
Flashback
"Kenshin, what's the matter?" The small girl dragged a chair over to sit with the little boy. She didn't get a reply. He continued to look out of the window, his eyes focused beyond the playground outside, and past the fields and treeline.
"I'm going to really miss your mommy and daddy." She told him. "But, you're still here, so it won't be that bad." She took hold of his hand. "And Tomoe and Sano and me and your aunt and uncle and my mommy and daddy are all here. We are here so it won't be so bad for you." Kenshin slowly turned from the window to look at the girl. "I don't want you to be sad anymore, just happy. You won't talk to me anymore and that makes me sad." She told him. Tears filled her big blue eyes.
Kenshin didn't say a word. He just watched Kaoru sniffle for a few seconds. Then, he slowly reached out and wrapped his small arms around the girl. She did the same in response and they stayed like that until recess was over.
End Flashback
Kaoru smiled at the recollection. She didn't know if Kenshin remembered that day, but she did. She would always cherish that one special memory. Then she realized that she had spaced out in front of Kenshin.
"Oops, sorry. I was just remembering something. Never mind. How are your Aunt Kaede and your Uncle Hiko and Mika and Yasuo. I haven't seen them in a while. Oh, also Tomoe. The last time I saw her was probably a year ago, before she went away." Kaoru asked. Kenshin's face froze for an instant, but he recovered and answered.
"They're fine. You know how Mika and Yasuo are though, little brats." He responded. "I'll see you whenever, okay Kamiya?" He turned back to the direction they had come.
"Sure. See ya." Kaoru said. She watched his retreating form until he turned the corner, then made her way up the front path.
123
Kenshin walked away, emotions swirling through him. 'I should have told her then and there. Just let her know. Despite the fact that we have this weird rivalry, she has been there for me through just about everything. And she probably deserves to know.' He ran his hand through his hair, frustrated. 'I'll talk to her tomorrow.' He decided and continued to walk home."
123
Okay. Yeah. Writer's block, lots of school work to catch up on, violin, my cousin's birthday. It all adds up and leaves me with nothing. I can add more to the list too. Sorry it was a little slow, but I tried. It's also a little short, but it's what I wanted for the chapter.
There was a bit about Kenshin's family in there. I also mentioned Tomoe, but I'm going to leave you wondering as to what part she plays. Let me know what you think. Anyone can feel free to email me too.
I have my Spring Vacation right now, so I'm hoping to write at least two more chapters and post again. Anyone who is on vacation or already had it, have a fun on your days off. Tell me if you want to read more, so to do that you have to review!
Keta Himura