Chapter 3: Angel

Sano had no idea how long he held Kenshin in his arms for, but when his brain decided to return to reality, he found his little redhead tucked under his chin, arms wrapped around him, eyes blissfully closed. Sano was sure Kenshin must be able to hear his heart beating through his chest considering he could hear it ringing in his own ears.

What a kiss!

Sano raised one hand and placed it at the back of Kenshin's head, slowly stroking down his silky hair, desperately wanting to take out that hair tie and see his hair flowing about him just like he had that night at the club. Sano sighed softly, he was so cute, he didn't want to let him go.

"I'm sorry." came the voice from his chest. He felt Kenshin release his arms from around him and found those violet eyes looking up at him once again. "I am not usually this direct at all, that I am not." he smiled timidly.

"Oh…heh, I don't mind." Believe me, I definitely don't mind!

Kenshin's timid smile turned into a true one. For a minute there he thought Sano might walk away. He'd practically just thrown himself at him, and was afraid he might have scared him off. But seeing him just walking in with those flowers, that innocent bumbling speech just about asking him if he could be with him, Kenshin couldn't help himself. The very same person he wished could have been there last night was standing right in front of him, that naïve look on his face showing nothing but embarrassment, but determined to give him these flowers despite the laughing students outside. He had to kiss him, and when he did, Kenshin felt like crying. After what happened last night, he just wanted to get lost in someone who would love him, and it looked as though heaven had come knocking on his door, literally.

Do you believe in love in first sight?

Kenshin stared up at the young man that after only a day of knowing he had grown so attached too, and smiled. Love at first sight?

Maybe.

"So err…does that mean it's a yes?" asked a shy sounding Sano, wanting to either walk away from the embarrassment or take Kenshin in his arms again and kiss him. Either one, he didn't mind right now, he just couldn't look him in the eyes anymore. Kenshin had been standing there doing nothing but staring at him since he pulled away, and Sano felt really awkward with out knowing for sure what was going on between them.

Kenshin closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them slowly, now his turn for a shy smile, "If that's what you'd like?"

"…Really?" Sano exclaimed wide-eyed, after the momentary shock of those words sinking in.

Kenshin chuckled cutely at the surprised reaction, "Yes."

Wow! He'd actually said yes! Sano didn't know what to do, he just stood there, almost gawping at the pretty redhead smiling up at him, before a thought suddenly managed to make its way forward.

"How about we go on a date tonight?" he asked, "Cos I think we've skipped a few chapters forward." He said anxiously. He'd known him a day and they'd already kissed twice! Not that he was complaining or anything.

"Alright. But I'm afraid I'm a little busy this evening, that I am."

"How about tomorrow?" Sano said excitedly, wanting this as soon as possible.

Kenshin tried not to laugh. "Ok. Where would you like to go?"

Sanosuke opened his mouth to suggest that really nice western restaurant that had opened up in town, but suddenly realised that that really nice western restaurant happened to also be one of the most expensive ones around, and of course…he was a student.

"Errrrr…" he began, racking his brains to try and think of somewhere else that was nice but also conveniently cheep.

Kenshin could see he looked a little stumped, and smiled, "Why don't we go back to the bar where we first met?"

Sano blinked down at him, "Yea- oh, no wait, I'm working there tomorrow." Sano slumped slightly.

"I don't mind." Kenshin said, picking up the books he'd placed on his desk, "I'll just sit at the bar with you, that I will." He smiled warmly.

"Really?" Sano asked, surely that wouldn't be much fun for Kenshin, after all he'd just be sitting there while Sano served the customers, and if Kamatari was there he'd most likely bug the hell out of him all night too.

"Really." Kenshin smiled, "What are your working times?"

"Er… it's 9.30 to 1.30." Sano said, as he watched Kenshin searched around on his desk for second before picking up a small pile of papers, and then turning back to him.

"I'll give you a lift back afterwards if you like. I'd feel bad leaving in my car while you walk off alone. I'll go in at about 10 o'clock and stay with you until your shift is over, that ok?"

Sano stared at him. He was really going to stay with him? Till 1.30? And give him a lift home too? In the middle of the night…dark…alone…together…

Oh my.

Sano gulped in anticipation, "Yeah, that's great!"

Kenshin had finished collecting the things he needed to his first lesson of the day, and stood back in front of Sano. There was suddenly an awkward silence between them, and Kenshin kept peering up at him through his eyelashes, then looking away.

"Right, well I guess, I better go…..umm…" Sano said awkwardly, just as he caught Kenshin peering up at him again, and before the sane side of him could stop him, Sano quickly leant down a little a gave him a quick kiss on the lips, not giving him enough time to react, and quickly opened the office door, running into the seemingly hundreds of students that had gathered outside.

As the shouting and excited squeals from the students was blocked out a little by Kenshin's office door that had swung back shut, Kenshin stared at that door with a blush on his cheeks, and a shy smile to his lips.

With Kenshin's popularity amongst the female students, the rumour of him and Sano being together had spread quickly, those students who had been outside his office at the time being tackled for information. Luckily for Sano, the only thing they had seen was him bringing flowers, he'd shut the door in their faces before they saw anything 'else'.

It was a mixed reaction with the female students. Half of them had always suspected that their little History teacher was gay (the ones who loved Aoshi), and was hoping with all their hearts that it was true, although without absolute confirmation no one could be sure. The other half (the ones who loved Kenshin), had spent the rest of the morning either crying or putting on denial that their little cutie could never like any other guys, pushing the confirmed memory of Sano bringing him flowers out of their mind, after all, no one had actually seen Kenshin accept the flowers from him.

Sano however, was the only one walking around with a small secret smirk planted on his lips. No one had seen Kenshin kiss him, no one had seen them arranging their night out together, and he was damn well gonna keep it that way! Seeing the distressed looks on some of these girls' faces was just too funny! No matter how much people bugged him, Sano just smiled mysteriously, punching the guys who'd suddenly decided that because he was 'gay' he obviously couldn't put up a fight if they picked on him.

They were soon proved wrong.

So, after a morning of constant questions, Sano sat down in the lunch hall with his tray of college culinary delights…only to be bombarded with more questions. To his right sat Yahiko, edged to his seat away from Sano unbelieving his luck in life! First his best friend is a girl, and now he seemed to have picked up a gay guy as well! To Yahiko's right sat Kaoru, one of the many, many girls who had moped around the whole morning crying, and seeing Sano in the flesh had made a fresh batch of tears come wailing down her face.

Sano sat there leaning one elbow on the table, picking at his food, with a very fed up glare on his face ignoring all the students that had turned around to look at him asking those non-stop questions. Or rather, just one question.

"Well! Are you and Kenshin going out or what?"

This same question was asked in a variety of ways, including the fairly innocent one of: "Did he accept the flowers?" to the very straightforward one of: "You went home in Kenshin's car yesterday, did you two get it on?"

Sano had made sure to punch the guy who had asked him that one.

So, after going to and from Nurse Takani's office to apologise for the black eyes he'd given out this morning, Sano sat trying to ignore all the faces staring at him and whispering.

"Look err…" Yahiko started, as Sano continued to glare at a girl who was intent on glaring back, before she burst into giggles and turned to her friend, "Do me two favours okay?" Sano looked over to him. "Ok, one, don't get any ideas with me-"

"-Don't have to worry about that." Sano quickly interjected.

Yahiko let a small growl of annoyance escape at the interruption, but resisted from any comment, "And two, don't end up like Mr Saito."

Sano froze, "…Mr Saito?"

"Hajime Saito, he's part of the CBC: College Board Council," said Kaoru, sniffing slightly and wiping away her tears with her sleeve, "He comes round once or twice a week to make sure everything's running smoothly, and he has a huge crush on Kenshin."

"Yeah, but he's really creepy and Kenshin really doesn't like him," Yahiko finished off, "…at least, he doesn't seem too. He always goes really quiet after he sees him."

Sano found the anger boiling up inside him, this guy was sounding all too familiar, could it really be the Saito he knew? "The guy doesn't happen to have gelled back hair and really thin eyes does he?" he said through clenched teeth, as he glared down at his food.

Yahiko blinked up at him, "Yeah…have you met him already? Some say he used to work for the Yakuza, but I don't see how the college would employ someo-"

The students around them yelped in surprise as Sano brought his fists down hard and hit the table, making the trays on it rattle. They all went quiet as Sano sat there fuming, and the stupid thing was, he still didn't know why! He still had no idea what Saito was doing, but whatever it was, just the thought of it making Kenshin sad was driving him mad! He didn't want Kenshin to be sad, he wanted to see him smile!

"Oh, hey, speak of the devil."

Sano looked back at Yahiko, then turned to follow his line of sight. There, standing next to Kenshin who had just walked into the hall, was Hajime Saito. The look on Kenshin's face was different than the one he'd seen yesterday just before he nearly ran into Saito. The one yesterday looked slightly angry, with a mix of worry etched on his features, this one…this one Kenshin looked almost… terrified. He was standing in the lunch line, and was trying to edge away from Saito without being to obvious to the people around him, but Saito would just walk up behind him every time…a little too closely for Sano's liking.

"He's such a pervert." Yahiko commented, before looking away from them and digging into his food.

Sano wasn't paying attention to Yahiko though, he just glared fiercely at Saito, daring him to try anything with Kenshin, so much as a hand on his shoulder and he'd rip him to shreds! If they had been friends, Sano wouldn't have taken any closeness to heart, but it was too damn well obvious Kenshin didn't want him there, so one finger on any part of him and Saito would be spending the next month in recuperation, that Sano promised!

Suddenly though, almost as if he had read his thoughts, Saito's eyes swiftly moved towards him, and the two locked eyes with each other, Kenshin looking to one side desperately trying to ignore the man standing so close behind him. Time seemed to stop for a moment as that strange knowing smirk appeared on Saito's face once again, before breaking eye contact, saying something to Kenshin, and turning around wandering back out the hall.

Sano looked at Kenshin, who seemed to stand there looking lost for a moment, before he looked up, and blinked in surprise as he found Sano's eyes looking at him from those few tables down. Sano tried to make his frowning angry face disappear, he didn't want Kenshin to think he was angry at him, but he just couldn't make it go. Even at this distance, he could see the sadness in Kenshin's eyes. He wanted to run up there and hug him, telling him that whatever it was that made him look so sad, that it would be all right, he'd make it all go away. But before his legs could move, Kenshin smiled at him, a smile trying to cover up that sadness, and turned around back out the hall.

So, Hajime Saito worked for the college council huh? At least he now knew why he was wandering around here yesterday. Sano was determined to find out what he was doing to Kenshin, but the question was, could he find the heart to come right out and ask Kenshin what was going on?

Sano stepped outside into the greying skies after college and walked over to where Kenshin's car had been parked yesterday. He was hoping he'd get to see him before he went home, as he hadn't had a lesson with him today, but to no avail. The space was empty. Disappointed, Sano slung his rucksack over one shoulder and headed out the gates, back on his 40 minute walk home.

"Sanosuke Sagara, what a coincidence."

Sano look to his right past the driveway of the house he'd just past to see Saito leaning against a small white stone wall, a trail of smoke rising from the cigarette he held.

Sano looked at him for a moment with quite uninterested eyes, before suddenly, a fearsome glare swept across his features and he lunged at the man, punching out quickly with his right fist. Saito however barely even blinked as he moved easily out of the way, but Sano wasn't put off. He quickly bounced back and turned around, aiming another punch at Saito who again stepped out of the way.

"Are you going to be doing this all evening or can I say what I came here to tell you?" Saito said bluntly, as Sano snapped around once again ready to attack. Saito took a drag of his cigarette as Sano stood there, arms tense and fists clenched, slightly raised ready to defend himself if this guy tried anything.

"I'm not working at the bar now and it's out of college hours," Sano said, "I don't have to be polite to you, I can beat the crap outta you any day. What the fuck do you want?"

Saito blew the offending smoke out his nose and dropped the cigarette to the ground, stubbing it out on the heal of his shoe. "I simply wanted to meet you." He said calmly, taking a step towards him making Sano raise his fists a little more in a warning.

"Why?" Sano demanded.

Saito smiled at him casually, "I wanted to meet the young idiot that my Kenshin seems to have grown so attached too so quickly."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sano said, his voice low and threatening.

Saito continued to smile at him, his thin eyes closed in that smile, "Oh I think you do," he said, taking another step towards him, "I think you imagine yourself to be pretty lucky to have found someone like Kenshin. Perhaps score a few lifts home every evening? Someone so willing to just throw themselves at you too, and yes, I wonder what his favourite flowers are after all?"

Sano frowned a little worried, how did he…how did he know all that?

Saito's friendly smile disappeared when he opened his eyes, fixing Sano with a serious glare as he took yet another step towards him, this time Sano not stepping back. "But my friend, as lucky as you think you are…you do not know the real Kenshin. No matter how much you convince yourself that you love him, you'll only be loving a shell without knowing the truth." Saito stopped and stood directly in front of Sano, who looked at him strangely, wondering who the heck this guy really was…and what truth? "I'm giving you advice, and I'd advise you to take it. Forget about Kenshin. What you see…is not what you get. I'm doing this as a favour, so don't be disrespectful and turn it down."

"What makes you think I want any favours from you?"

Saito closed his eyes again, and chuckled, "Because, when it comes to Kenshin, and even more so with me…" he leant forward a little towards him, to make sure he got his point across, "You have no idea what you're dealing with kid. Stop seeing Kenshin. If you do, everything will be fine, you won't see me again."

With that, he stepped back, took another cigarette, and turned to walk away, lighting it as he went.

"Hey!" Sano called out after him, and he stopped, "Is that it?" Sano challenged, "You haven't even given me a proper reason!" he shouted after him, "There not a dog in hell's chance that I'm giving up on Kenshin, and it's pretty damn obvious that he doesn't like you, so whatever feelings you have for him I'd advise you to go and pin them on someone else!" he mimicked, grinning to himself inside that that should ruffle the guys feathers.

Strangely enough though, instead of being angry, Saito started to laugh. Turning around, his laughs fading, he smiled back at him, "You know kid, if we had met under different circumstances, I think I would have liked you." He stopped smiling and fixed him with a death glare, "But this has nothing to do with whatever pathetic excuse you've come up with about me in your head. This is basic fact. Keep away from Kenshin, and you won't get hurt. It's quite simple. I'm sure even a knucklehead like you can understand that." He turned again and started to walk away, "I don't give second chances!" he yelled back, "Have a pleasant walk home Mr Sagara."

"FUCK OFF!" was Sano's simple answer to that.

Clenching his fists at his side, he whammed one into the stonewall Saito had been leaning on, ignoring the small amount of blood that slid down his fingers. The nerve of that guy! Who the hell does he think he is? Stay away from Kenshin? Fat chance!

"Bring on your worst." Sano said to himself, "I've beaten up so many people in the past I can't even remember how many, so don't think I'm gonna be an easy target for you, whoever the hell you are."

-"Some say he used to work for the Yakuza"-

Sano thought back to what Yahiko had said, and if that rumour turned out to be true, then that still didn't make a difference. If Saito worked for the Yakuza, then that meant he'd got Kenshin involved in something bad, and if he thought that would make him stay away from him? Ha, no way! If Kenshin's in trouble, the last thing Sano would do is walk away. No, whatever was going on, Sano was determined to make sure he'd be there for Kenshin whenever he needed him.

Stay away?

He was going to get as close as possible!

As Saito arrived back at his own apartment the other side of Tokyo, he threw his jacket across one lone wooden kitchen chair, and walked towards the back of his home. At the end of a corridor leading towards the two bedrooms and the bathroom, he took a key from his pocket to the door at the very end. Placing the key in the lock and turning it, Saito entered into a windowless, dark room, that held no light except the faint glow emanating from the dozens of computer screens dotted around the small room, one chair in the middle with a desk in front. Closing the door behind him and switching on a lamp that was on the desk, Saito sat down in the black leather armchair in the middle and relaxed back, closing his eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath.

He wasn't a spiteful man by nature, he gave people one chance, which was more than the other people in his line of work would give to complete strangers. The young idiot would take his advice, or he'd regret the very day he met both himself and Kenshin.

Saito smiled at that name. Kenshin. What a delightful little turn of events. Kenshin was already having trouble paying his rent, and had even resorted to using candles in the evening to save on electricity, so getting his 'extra special treat' next month should be easy.

How did he know this you ask?

Saito opened one eye to peer across at the computer screen in front of him, to which a bath robed-clad Kenshin was currently standing in his bathroom, the bath tub full of still water, and lighting the last of the six candles giving the white and peach bathroom a warm glow. The rest of the screens showed various others rooms, the kitchen, the lounge, the bedroom, the study, there was one showing the corridor outside his apartment, showing the steps that led down from outside, one in his office at the college, and even one in his car.

Some would call it an obsession, and as Kenshin let his bath robe slip to the floor, his waist length red hair flowing around him licking at his skin, the candle light giving his exposed body an inviting glow amongst the flickering shadows, and completely unaware of the man spying on his naked form, Saito smiled.

He was inclined to agree.

Kenshin slowly sank into the warm water of his bath, the scented oil he had put in it swirling around him, his hair flaying out on the waters surface. Leaning back so the water came just under his chin, Kenshin closed his eyes and sighed softly, letting his skin soak up the warmth.

As much as he had wanted to go out with Sano this evening, he didn't think he could take sitting down for so long, not right now, not after last night. He'd just wanted to come home, run a bath, and just stay there for hours, letting the aches and various sharp pains melt away. He's been stupid really, going to work the very next day after that, but staying at home would have just depressed him further, and worry him that Saito might return. At least if he saw him in the college he knew he couldn't do anything there, and besides, if he hadn't have gone in this morning, he wouldn't have got to kiss Sano like that.

Kenshin smiled lightly, sinking into the water a little further at the memory. Thinking of Sano always seemed to make him smile. He really would have liked to go with him this evening, but then again, saying to go tomorrow made him have something to look forward to.

He'd just relax this evening, let his body heal from the onslaught, and go to sleep.

He leant his head slightly to the left and stared across at the vanilla candle he'd placed on top of the wicker wash bin. He watched its single dancing flame, the shadows playing around the room. He blinked slowly, tired, feeling his eyelids growing heavier as he blinked slowly again, opening them barely before shutting them completely, getting lost in the relaxing sensations around him.

We scream in pain…that look of terror and utter shock on your face. Ashamed…we feel so ashamed of you, and yet…sad. Sad that the one day we could see our son…the son we lost so many years ago…would also be our last day of life. Our hands reach out…come here…we feel ashamed, but…it's not your fault…we abandoned you to save our own lives…we deserve this fate. Don't cry…you do not know us…you don't need to cry for us…it's our fault you turned out like this. Ashamed…we're so ashamed….of ourselves…our darling Kenshin…

Kenshin awoke with a start, catching himself as he slipped a little in the bath. He blinked stupidly for a minute, returning out of the dream world and realising where he was. The bath water around him was cold, how long had he been in there? He had never fallen asleep in the bath before.

Suddenly the doorbell to his apartment rang through the walls, and then again quickly afterwards. He realised it must have been that that woke him up, and that someone must have been waiting there for a quite a while. Pushing himself up out the bath, Kenshin grabbed the deep red towel-dressing gown hanging on the back of the door and wrapped it around him, pulling his dripping hair over his right shoulder. Blowing out the two candles that were still left alight and switching on the bedroom light outside the door, He padded out the bathroom, the doorbell still ringing. Hurrying through the kitchen, Kenshin looked through the spy hole in his door to see who it was. His eyes widened in surprise at who he saw, and unlocked the door.

"Megumi…Aoshi." He said surprised, the college Nurse and English teacher standing there smiling back at him.

"So you're back! Did you have a nice ski-ing holiday?" came Kenshin's voice from his bedroom, as Megumi and Aoshi waited in the lounge for him to get dressed.

"Mmm…" Aoshi said, a little unenthusiastically, "I suppose so, yes."

Kenshin recognised that tone, "Miss Misao didn't follow you again did she?"

Megumi laughed, "A young girl in love does what she can!"

Aoshi glared at her, "It's called stalking, and it's not doing anything for her education, I'm going to have to talk to her again."

Kenshin came back out of his bedroom, wet hair tied back in its ponytail, loose jeans and a v-neck sweater on, and a smile on his face, "Oh she's not doing any harm, that she's not! And I expect she enjoyed the holiday too, although I would try and convince her to graduate this year."

As Megumi began to pick on Aoshi about being too soft around Misao, Kenshin sat on the backs of his legs, curling up on the puffy armchair he had, right angled to the matching sofa where his two guests sat.

Megumi and Aoshi had been so kind to him over the years. He had lived with them since he was 11 years old, and the two siblings had always treated him as their little brother. They had never pried, never asked why they found him on their doorstep that night, barely alive, covered in blood with nothing but a reverse bladed sword lying on the grass next to him.

Kenshin owed so much to these two, he'd found a family with them, and he loved both of them dearly for looking after him all those years ago. The two of them were actually half brother and sister, same mother, but when Aoshi's father had died he came to live with his mother, new father, and half sister Megumi, hence why they had different surnames.

When they were growing up together, Megumi always used to get hounded by the local boys, and said if she ever did get married, she'd make Kenshin the best man as she knew they'd be no point in asking her brother. Even if he did agree to do to it the guy never smiled! She'd want someone happy and cute to do it, and so Kenshin it would be. It was true that Aoshi could be a moody man at the best of times, but he had always been protective of his older sister, and had been there to comfort Kenshin several times when he was little and would wake up in the middle of the night terrified at a random nightmare of his past.

He had never told them anything about his past, pretended he had amnesia, it was an easy escape. The only thing he had told them was that he was an orphan, that much was true, he'd never known his parents…that was until…

"Anyway Ken," said Megumi, snapping Kenshin out of his thoughts, "I don't see why you should be telling my irritable little brother to how to handle his students when you seem to be having a little trouble of your own!" she said, wagging a finger at him playfully.

"Oro?" Kenshin blinked.

"Sanosuke Sagara! That new student that started yesterday!"

There was silent pause between the group, before Aoshi turned towards his sister, keeping his eyes on Kenshin, "…is he blushing?"

Megumi started to giggle at Kenshin's stunned face, "I knew it! So those rumours were true!" she said, before fixing him with a motherly stare as if about to tell off her child, "Kenshin you should know better! Now out with it! How far have you two got?"

"ORO?" said an even wider eyed and deeper blushing Kenshin.

You could practically see Megumi's scheming mind at work, determined to tease Kenshin about this new relationship. "Well he's certainly different than that other boy you were seeing when you were 18, Soujirou, he was as a quiet and kind and smiling, and now this one! Do you have any idea how many people I've treated today for black eyes and bruises after he'd punched them?" Kenshin sat looking sheepishly up at his 'sister', feeling strangely enough like a student getting told off, "Now the fact that he's a student isn't the thing that bothers me…" she fixed him with a glare, but there was a definite smirk underneath it, "…it's that I had to find out about this from a rumour and you didn't even tell me you'd found someone else!" she chirped.

Kenshin smiled nervously, "Well…there's nothing to tell really, I've only known him for a few days."

"That's not the point! I'm your sister! You tell me everything or I spread the rumour of what I found you 'reading' when you were 15!"

"MEGUMI!" Kenshin suddenly exploded, face beat red as Aoshi rolled his eyes and sat back, staring out a near by window, "You know I didn't know what that was! Hiko said it would be useful to read and leant it to me! I didn't know it was one of 'those' magazines that I most certainly did not!"

Megumi placed a hand to her mouth and laughed, it was so easy to tease her little brother. "So now's your chance to tell me. Come on! What's been happening between you two? Have you kissed?"

Kenshin waved his hands in front of him frantically, seemingly unable to get rid of the blush on his cheeks, "Wait a minute I don't really-"

"Have you done something more?" Megumi asked, eyes wide and hopeful.

"NAHHA AHH, n-no I-"

"I'm going to make some tea." Aoshi interrupted, not wanting to know the end of this conversation and walked over into the kitchen, leaving a sly and teasing Megumi, and a still blushing Kenshin who looked as those he was about to pass out from the rush of blood to his head.

Aoshi and Megumi stayed for almost three hours. They had ordered take out pizza for dinner, surprisingly Aoshi's treat, and had caught up on the goings on in theirs lives in general, Megumi every once in a while asking Kenshin how far he'd got with Sanosuke, trying to catch him out, but failing to her annoyance every time.

So now at 11pm, Megumi reluctantly sighed, saying they should probably make their way back to their homes. Having shared a car to get here, Megumi bear hugged her little Kenshin as a goodbye, even though they'd probably see each other tomorrow anyway, and went to get the car parked round the back of the building, leaving Aoshi to stay with Kenshin for the moment by the steps at the front of the building

As Aoshi waited for Megumi to return, he glanced across at Kenshin, who was staring up the sky, looking at small group of stars that managed to shine through a gap in the graying clouds. Looking back at the road in front of him, Aoshi sighed. Turning to his right, he grabbed a surprised Kenshin in a hug, Kenshin completely not expecting that from him and stood there rigidly still.

"Look," Aoshi began, holding his little brother tightly, "Whatever your relationship is with this student, just keep one thing in mind." Kenshin listened, "I remember how terrified you used to look after waking up from those nightmares when we first found you…so just ask yourself one thing. Whatever your past might have been, it was obviously something devastating for you. If you have any sort of feelings for this boy…do you really want him caught up in that past?"

The silent reaction that accompanied that comment was interrupted by Megumi's car that arrived out in front of them.

"My goodness! Now that's a scene I need a camera for. Aoshi actually hugging someone!" she said through her open window, as Aoshi released Kenshin from his arms and scowled down as his sister, walking round the other side of the car.

He paused before he opened the door, taking another knowing look at Kenshin, who looked back at him with a slightly worried frown. Nodding his head gently, Aoshi opened the door and stepped inside, telling Megumi to please drive with both her hands on the wheel as she drove off waving to Kenshin outside her window.

Kenshin stood there, a little bewildered now on what to think. A small droplet of rain splashed down on his cheek, and he blinked, looking back up at the clouds.

He hadn't thought of that…his past…what would Sanosuke's reaction be if he found out? He remembered telling Soujirou about his past. He had truly thought he'd be the one, always smiling, so sweet, he had loved him so much….but the look on his face when he had told him his past…that cute and innocent face…it had never looked so terrified of him.

Soujirou didn't need to say anything to break up with him that day, he just ran, ran as far away from Kenshin as he could. Kenshin never saw him again after that, and he'd never felt so heartbroken either. To see someone that you honestly thought would be the one to accept you, to still love you no matter what you may have done in the past, so see that face contorted in fear and hatred…

Kenshin had cried before, but never like he had that night.

When he had thought about it afterwards, it was probably for the best that he had left. If they had stayed together, Soujirou would have found out about Saito, and that could have been dangerous. He didn't want to risk any innocent lives just because he might be feeling a little unloved.

Now the one question remained. If he truly did love Sano after all, did he love him enough already…

…to leave him?

The next morning had Kenshin waking up to a pretty good mood. That bath had obviously done his body some good, he didn't hurt anywhere now, and even though what Aoshi had said last night was still fresh in his mind, he still found himself smiling at the thought of his date this evening with Sano. He had thought about Aoshi's words lot during the night, but contrary to that, he also had Megumi's voice stuck in his head saying "You can't be alone forever! Go and be with him, go on….NOW!" Those two were like polar opposites, but both had a good reasoning. He didn't want Sano to get hurt, but he didn't want to be alone either.

In the end he had decided to stick with the date this evening, and after that? Well, Kenshin hadn't decided what he'd do after that. Would he stay with Sano and make a go of a proper relationship? Or should he leave? Leave before Saito found out about him. As much as he hated to admit it, he had been drifting towards the leaving part. Maybe he'd allow himself to fall in love with someone just once more, but leave before it became too serious. Just once. Just so he could remember that feeling without having the memory of hatred and fear running across Sano's face like it had with Soujirou. It would hurt Sano to leave, but it would hurt less than telling him the truth.

As Kenshin now walked into his first lecture of the day, immediately spotting Sano at the back of the auditorium who had looked at him the second he walked in, Kenshin smiled sadly.

Yes…he'd fall in love one more time, and then walk away.

Sano's thoughts had been occupied mainly by two things today. Number one of course, was his date with Kenshin. He'd been so looking forwarded to it Yahiko had to nudge him out of several day dreams, especially during Kenshin's lecture where he'd been resting his head in his hands and staring down at him the whole time (having to actually copy Yahiko's notes during lunch).

The second thing, which to others may seem juvenile and pointless, was that fact that Kamatari would be there this evening. The guy always had a knack of turning up when he least wanted him. If it was a busy night, he'd stay there at the bar and want to talk to him the whole night, if it was a quiet night where Sano actually had some free time, he'd be getting drunk with his friends on the dance floor and usually have to be carried out the club…although he would refuse the bouncers to carry him and only let Sano do it. He was a nice guy, don't get him wrong, but jeez! Couldn't he find a different club to go to a change? He was there almost every night!

And so as Sano found, standing behind the bar at 10 o'clock busy with customers, there was Kamatari, sitting at the bar wanting to chat.

Again.

"So that's what I said to him. Do you think I was bit harsh? He was asking for it." Kamatari was saying, lining up several shot glasses he seemed to have collected in boredom.

"Look," Sano began, as he reached up high to grab another Martini bottle on the top shelf behind him, "Can't you tell that I'm a bit busy right now?"

Tonight, to which Sano had completely forgot about, was Student Night, and it would seem that every gay student in the whole of Japan had decided to come to Heaven this evening, and was being rushed off his feet even with Tae helping out behind the bar.

"I can see that yes but you can still listen while you work can't you? I'm telling you about my extremely fruitful love life! Oh and, do you think I can get a fill up?" Kamatari smiled sweetly, waving his empty glass at Sano who had refrained from hitting him over the head with an empty bottle.

Sano filled up his glass to keep him quiet, but as soon as Kamatari had taken a sip, Sano snapped his head back over to him when he'd started choking.

"Hey hey! You alright?" he said, as Kamatari managed to gain some control and swallow the liquid. But he seemed to be preoccupied, staring to his right at something that had obviously taking him by surprise causing him to choke on his drink.

Sano followed his eyes and was very glad that Tae was standing next to him then, because she caught the glass he was holding as he dropped it. There, by the door, stood his stunning looking date, looking around the club trying to spot him.

"Wow…what a killer looker." Kamatari finally managed to say, gawping along with Sano.

Sano couldn't move, he just stared. Kenshin had his hair down just like he had that night before, two long strands over his shoulders, the rest behind him flowing down his back. He wore a slim line shirt, deep purple, and only done up half way, letting a V shaped section of skin exposed to any eyes looking upon it. Tight black jeans made the finishing touches to the gorgeousness that just seemed to radiate from him, and as his eyes finally found Sano's, that bright smile illuminating his face, Sano felt his knees go weak.

"Kenshin." Sano breathed softly, Tae's voice telling him to be more careful drifting through one ear and straight through the other.

"You know him?" Kamatari said excitedly, "You have to introduce me!"

As Kenshin walked over to them, working his way through the crowd of students, Sano felt his heart rate shoot up. Wait a minute, those weren't tight black jeans Kenshin was wearing, those were tight, black…..Oh my god…

Sano swallowed hard.

…Kenshin's wearing leather!

Sano had no idea if he was drooling at the sight or not, he wouldn't be surprised if he was, but the only thing he managed to stutter out as Kenshin walked up the bar was;

"…Y-..y-you're gorgeous."

Kenshin giggled lightly.

Kamatari however just rolled his eyes, "Oh yeah, you're a real smooth talker aren't cha Sany?"

Inside Sano was glaring at Kamatari, but for the minute, he could do nothing but stare at Kenshin. As far as Sano was concerned, for the first time since he'd started working here, a real angel had finally walked into Heaven.

To Be Continued…