Enemies Till The End Chapter 14
Kaoru was walking up the stairs to get to her next class. She was oblivious to her surroundings as she searched through her folder for last night's homework. Her body was on autopilot as her brain scrambled for the information she needed, such as where she had put that damn homework.
Normally she would have known better, klutz that she was, that not paying attention combined with a staircase equaled a disaster, but not this time. She was too focused on what would happen to her if she didn't find the correct homework in time for her next class. This time there was the added factor of a sloppily tied shoelace that was her downfall. One step was all it took.
The sensation of falling always took her by surprise, the way her stomach seemed to fall and her heart to freeze and cease beating in those few seconds. She twisted deftly using years of experience and pure instinct to balance herself out, but today was not going to be her day. An unexpected nudge to her shoulder from someone rushing in the opposite direction caused her to fall headlong down the staircase.
At least that would have been the case if a long line of students hadn't been crowding up the stairs behind her. Maybe luck was on her side, she thought as whoever had been behind her caught her securely, tipping a little under the added weight before regaining balance.
Kaoru's sight was impeded because her face was buried in the person's shoulder. All she could see was dark material. Her left arm was twisted awkwardly between them and her upper right arm was held in a firm grasp.
"I'm sorry." She said, though her voice was slightly muffled, as she calmed herself and pulled away, a warm scent lingering about her nose.
'You've got to be kidding me.' Was her immediate thought, though, once she had straightened herself and raised her head. She was staring at none other than Kenshin as students began to filter around them more concerned about getting to their next class.
Kenshin didn't seem to notice her though because he was looking over her shoulder, scanning the crowd for something or someone. He seemed to gather himself and responded.
"It was no problem at all." Then he appeared to wake up and realized who he had just caught. The warm absentminded grasp on her arm disappeared and a smirk emerged on his face. "Did you really have to go to such lengths to get me to notice you? Really, I mean you start an argument with me almost everyday. This was a little too much." He went on, pretending not to notice her turning red with anger. "You could have hurt me, not to mention the twenty other people on the staircase with us. Or are you really just that much of a klutz?"
Kaoru tried to collect herself before she did something that would land her in the principal's office. She also knew that if she opened her mouth, nothing coherent would come out of it and that would only give him more ammunition against her. So, instead of responding verbally she turned around violently and was satisfied to hear a thump as her bookbag made contact with him.
"Oh geez! What was that for?" He complained as she turned to glance back at him. He was holding onto his head like he was about to die any second.
"What do you think? First of all for coming up with the ridiculous idea that I would actually want your attention, secondly for calling me a klutz in front of everybody and thirdly for catching me." She paused for breath. "I think I would rather fall down the stairs than have you save me. Anybody else would have been better." Kaoru explained.
"You don't really think that." Kenshin stated firmly. That just really ticked her off. The self-assured way he stated things like anything he said was true just because he said so.
"How would you know what I was thinking?" She challenged. It was a weak response but she was actually curious to hear what his reasoning was.
"For one thing, everybody in this school, well every female in this school, wants my attention and every female includes you, Kaoru. The only exception is your crazy little friend Misao. Everyone knows she's obsessed with Aoshi." He paused for a moment and appeared to be enjoying the shocked, fishy, mouth wide open look on her face, before he went on. "I also know that you would rather have me catch you than anyone else because every time I touch you, no matter how fleeting the contact you always shiver the slightest bit." He was looking her straight in the eyes as he said it, almost forcing her to believe something impossible.
"That's just because I'm repulsed by you." She stated, trying to keep from shaking and pushing any ideas, other than the fact that the boy in front of her annoyed her immensely, out of her mind.
"What if it's not?" This time he challenged her. "What if it's because-" He was cut off abruptly.
"KENSHIN!" A high pitched voice called. Kenshin looked panicked at the sound. Further down the hallway Kaoru glimpsed someone barreling toward them. It was a girl with a determined look in her eye.
"Don't forget after school. I'll be on time today." Kenshin told her before taking off in the opposite direction of the girl. Kaoru was momentarily stunned. The quick jump from one topic to another and then one more had left her dazed and trying to keep up with events. Things finally clicked into place and she watched as the girl scrambled past her, apparently in pursuit of Kenshin. Kenshin, who didn't want to be caught by this girl.
It was amusing, but she had other things to think about and focus on. Like whether or not she was going to go to the library after school. Or the more immediate problem; getting to the classroom across the building in less than thirty seconds while finding her elusive homework.
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Well, I'm back. My explanation would take way too long, so I'm sorry. My updates are definitely going to take longer though. I would like to say every two weeks, but I don't really know how consistent I'll end up being. For those of you who wanted more to do with Kenshin and Kaoru, I hope that this chapter was sufficient, although it was short and that you'll enjoy it. So leave a review please!
Konzert