Disclaimers: I don't claim to own Kenshin

08/24/05 Edited re-post

CHAPTER 4

Kaoru felt much better the next day at school after a long night's rest and a hearty breakfast. Perhaps if she had cooked it herself, it would have made her day foul but this particular morning she chose to go out to eat.

Upon running into Kenshin during her spare in the afternoon, she greeted him normally like she would have any other regular day.

"Hey Kaoru. Look, about last—"

All the happy little bubbles that were dancing around her popped.

"I don't want to hear it," she cut him off. "I'm fine Kenshin, I'm perfectly fine. There's nothing to talk about at all, so let's just drop it, ok?"

"If that's how you truly feel Kaoru-dono, then sessha will," though his voice sounded disappointed that she didn't want to discuss it any further. He's making me feel as if I'm in denial, with that stupid tone of his. I'm fine; I just want to leave it alone!

"Well, I'll see you around then. I have to study for my Crim test."

She hurriedly snatched some books from her locker and stuffed them inside her messenger bag.

"My class doesn't start till around one o'clock so I'll join you for a bit," he was saying.

Kaoru tried to contain her anger as she slammed her locker shut. Didn't he understand that she just wanted to be alone? If she wanted him along she would have asked him but she didn't. And why did he have to bring up yesterday's incident? She thought angrily. The way he had acted, it was like he didn't want any of it to happen. Like I was some big mistake! Kaoru's cell phone vibrated in her bag. She pulled it out and opened it without looking over at him.

"Hello?"

"Kaoru-chan?"

What a relief it was to hear Kumi's light voice.

"Hi! How are you?"

"Good Kaoru, and actually I called to ask you just that. How are you doing dear?"

"Good." Kaoru stole a quick glance at Kenshin, who was now talking to some of his friends that had walked by. She quietly backed away and waited till she was a good distance away before continuing on.

"I'm better Kumi. I'm sorry again to have called you so late last night, and about such a silly thing. I've never been... you know, by a guy before and I just really needed someone to talk to about the whole mess."

"I understand, and don't apologize. This is a woman's life, hon. Men are like that," she added almost wistfully. Kaoru caught it and asked immediately if she was alright.

"Hai, Kaoru-chan. Everything is fine."

It doesn't sound like it, she wanted to say but decided to leave it alone. When Kumi wanted to talk she would. I'll just leave that up to her.

"Kaoru-chan, don't worry yourself about me! Everything is fine," she laughed politely.

"Ok. Well then I'll talk to you later?"

"Of course. Talk to you later then sweetie."

"Ja," Kaoru replied, feeling somewhat more confused about everything than before. Oh, Kumi's fine Kaoru. Don't worry about it. Let's just get cramming before you fail this stupid test.

To Kaoru's relief there were several chairs left, and two empty tables. She sat at the one in the corner, and took out her books.

She was unsure about how much time had passed when Kenshin finally reappeared and sat himself down at her table. He did so quietly, and at first she didn't see him. It was when she was stretching out, and yawning, she caught herself and stared at him. With a pencil in his hand, Kenshin was carefully drawing something, his hand moving in light strokes upon a white piece of paper. It was as if he could sense her eyes gazing curiously upon him, because right then his head turned up and he looked right back at her.

"Hi, sorry, I didn't want to disturb you," Kenshin told her.

"Yeah, ok," she curtly responded and focused her attention back at the textbook in front of her.

"Is something wrong, Kaoru?"

"No Kenshin. Nothing at all."

His eyes narrowed and before she knew it, he had snatched her textbook away and was holding it with the opposite hand so that she couldn't reach for it.

"There is. You're lying to me, what's wrong?"

Kaoru huffed and threw her arm out unexpectedly, but not fast enough to catch the other off guard. He shook his head, increasing her anger, and asked calmly again.

"I just don't want to talk about it." She crossed her arms, and then continued on angrily, "What's so hard to understand about that?"

"Are you absolutely sure?"

She made a sarcastic face before saying, "Yeah, I am. Would you give me back my book now?"

He complied but even as she went back to work, he didn't. Sitting there quietly still, he watched her expressionless face scan the book and hastily copy down key points.

After a moment of brooding silence, Kaoru paused and asked him what he had been drawing. Kenshin smiled and handed over the paper to show her what he had done.

"Oh but it's so pretty! Do you always draw?"

"Sometimes, usually when I'm bored."

"I really like it a lot. This is gorgeous!"

On the paper was a young girl with long black hair pulled up into a high ponytail, held by a ribbon fashioned in into an intricate bow. Dragons were skillfully drawn as a subtle pattern on the traditional kimono that she was attired in.

"That's really good Kenshin. I had no idea you were so artistic."

He smiled again like the gentleman that he was. Such a lovely smile too.

"I like drawing. I also enjoy sparring."

"Like karate?"

"Iie, kenjutsu."

"Really?" He piqued her interest there with that reply. She leaned her body into the table unconsciously, excited about his newfound hobby.

"Are you good at it?"

"Iie," he shook his head. "Not really."

"Oh." Kaoru knew she both sounded and looked disappointed. There goes my idea.

From the corner of her eye she could see a pretty girl coming down the hall. And she was looking straight at Kaoru with a very displeased look.

"I guess I should start studying again," Kaoru commented quietly, and went back to her book.

When she looked up again, she saw the same girl approaching, coming to a stop to stand right behind Kenshin. She was even more beautiful close up. She looked naturally pretty, and was extremely tan. Looking at Kaoru, the girl put a finger to her lips, meaning for her to keep quiet. She smiled, and pretended to continue with her work. Who is she? She's awfully pretty, and those legs, I wouldn't be surprised if she was a model. How does she know Kenshin?

The tan girl leaned against Kenshin's back, and slipped his headphones off.

"Did you miss me sexy?" She purred in his ear. Kaoru observed Kenshin's expression, and watched his lips turn into a full smile. He got up, and pulled the girl warmly into his arms. When she got the chance to, the girl leaned back and kissed him on the lips.

That's his girlfriend. Streaks of bright silver, illuminated like lighting, struck at Kaoru's eyes every time she blinked, each time her lids closed. Kenshin has a girlfriend. One that he just so innocently forgot to mention. Especially when he tried to kiss me. Oh my god, he tried to kiss me when he already had a girlfriend!

"Hello sweety," she was saying now with a wink.

"Tomoe-dono…" Kenshin trailed off softly, lost in his lover's happily widened eyes.

"I know I was supposed to be back later next week but I took an early flight."

"The tan looks beautiful on you," Kenshin commented, and bent down to kiss her bare shoulder. "And I'm glad your back."

She squealed in delight when Kenshin whirled her in his arms, and kissed her yet again.

Watching everything silently, Kaoru felt a sort of sickness overcome her. How could he do that? How could he have kissed me last night, when he was really with another girl? A very pretty girl, a little voice inside her head reminded her.

She was barely aware of what he was saying next, but when it hit her, she looked up, dumbfounded, bright blue eyes blinking stupidly.

"Tomoe-dono, I want you to meet Kaoru-dono."

And now he's introducing us like everything's normal. Oh god, this is so cruel.

"Oh gosh, has he started using dono on you? I'm Tomoe, Kenshin's girlfriend," she happily flashed another perfect, white smile but Kaoru could feel how she was looking her up and down. Like a prize winning novelist regarding another. Checking out the competition.

Kaoru reached out to shake her hand, but she hated the fake smile that Tomoe was giving her. It was so stupidly obvious but Kenshin didn't seem to notice one bit. He was smiling just as stupidly, as if the whole situation was normal. Yeah maybe if we were on Jerry Springer or something! Kaoru fumed.

"I'm Kaoru," she eventually introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you, Kaoru," Tomoe replied, and immediately turned on her heel to face her beloved Kenshin.

"Has he been a good boy Kaoru?" She said while snuggling her face up against his neck.

At first, Kaoru didn't know what to say, and then the perfect response came to her.

"Yes he has. He's been like the older brother I never had." She made sure to maintain eye contact with Kenshin when saying those last few words. Go on, hit him where it hurts. Just as she expected, he looked sorrowfully back at her with Tomoe attached around his body.

God, my cheeks are hurting from all this stupid smiling. I hate smiling. Right now I wish I could really just ram his head into the wall. How could he do this to me? To her? But she kept on smiling.

Without a warning or even a word, Kenshin let go of Tomoe, and turned around to grab someone that had been sneaking up behind him.

"Still up to no good," was all he said. Stepping back a little, so that the person could join them. Kaoru didn't bother to even glance up. She'd had enough already with the two that were hugging and kissing each other like they'd been apart for centuries.

"And who is this?" The boy raised a brow and grinned mischievously at Kaoru, while shifting his eyes back and forth between Kenshin, and Tomoe.

"She's Kaoru," Tomoe put in before her boyfriend could. And Kaoru also took notice that this time she did not smile. I don't like the vibes I'm getting off of her. Of course not, the little voice said, it's his girlfriend, the one he accidentally forgot to mention.

"Kamiya Kaoru?"

Simply put, she was thrown out of her thoughts. Staring at the boy who just said her name, she finally recognized him.

Oh my god…

"It's been awhile babe. And you got… hot? How did I miss that?"

Kenshin was looking back and forth between the two, disliking every second of what was going on. He had clued in right away that those two must have known each other. After all, he'd went to Shirai as well and Tomoe's brother was Kaoru's age, meaning they were both in the same grades.

"You two know each other?" Tomoe stepped in.

"Of course we do, don't we babe?" The guy winked at her, and ran his fingers through his spiky white blonde hair.

In turn her stomach began to burn. She just couldn't handle it. She was feeling so sick; she honestly thought that she was going to throw her lunch up. All because, there in front of her, stood Enishi Yukishiro. The boy who had turned her high school life a living hell. A flashback in front of her eyes made her see the younger version of him with all his friends, stalking her to her own locker, yelling out vicious comments and horrible names. Trying to trip her when she was in a rush to her class, or accidentally bumping into her on the main staircase. Kenshin comprehended the distortion in her expression. She's so upset right now, I don't get why.

"Wait a sec, did you say Kamiya?" Tomoe stood with her hands upon her hips. Kaoru looked up desperately at Kenshin but he himself seemed very deep in thought. The amber flecks were there in his eyes, and now she knew for sure that the first time she hadn't been hallucinating. And right now, they were burning right at Kaoru.

"Yeah, Kamiya Kaoru. We all went to the same school."

"Were you the one with the glasses?" Tomoe arched an eyebrow.

"Yes," Kaoru replied tonelessly.

"And like, you're the one from Kasshin Ryu right?"

Kenshin was now looking back, and forth between Kaoru, and Tomoe.

"Your parents, they died a couple years ago right?"

It looked like what Kenshin was searching for had just been confirmed. His eyes settled back on Kaoru. He was feeling her anguish, and pain, and if he honestly could have, he would have taken her into his arms there, and then.

"…yes."

"Onee-san, just leave the girl alone," Enishi stepped up, taking it as an opportunity to wrap his arm around Kaoru. "She's obviously been through a…"

SLAP!

"Don't you ever touch me again!" Kaoru was yelling with tear filled eyes at She left all her belongings there on the table and ran off as fast as she could. She couldn't have cared less about what they were all saying about her back there. She's weird, why is she running? Why were you hanging out with HER, Kenshin? That girl is messed up; did you hear about her parents? Did you know we used to make fun of her… I DON'T CARE!

"I just… don't… care," she whispered to herself. A single sob was released from her throat as she exited through the first door she could find.

Back at the end of the North hall, Tomoe pouted her lips.

"What the hell is wrong with her?" Pulling her brother towards her, she gave him a sympathetic smile and rubbed his cheek.

"What the hell is wrong with her?" The fury that had been building up inside of Kenshin after witnessing Kaoru run off like that blew over the edge. Enishi, that bastard!

"What the hell is wrong with HER? Her parents are dead! She's sad, and quiet, and lonely. And what do you two do? You bring up her dead parents so… so damn casually!" Kenshin yelled at both Tomoe and Enishi. As much as he loved his girlfriend there were times when he just didn't get what her brain was thinking. She often though that she was too outspoken, and crude at times. Particularly at the wrong times. It was quite a contrast to what she used to be when they had first met.

"I'm sorry hun." Tomoe reached out to grab Kenshin's shirt with her fists, and rubbed her face against him.

"I'm just so tired; I just got off the plane baby…"

"Look," Kenshin started, and he slowly removed her hands from him, "I'll call you later on ok?"

Tomoe pointed towards her lips, and reluctantly, Kenshin bent down, and kissed her lightly. She looked up at him, and pressed her lips together. Kenshin sighed, and couldn't help but kiss her again.

"I'll call you later ok?" And with that promise said, he took up the other girl's belongings and started off in the direction that she had left.

Tomoe rubbed her hands together, and smiled to her brother. She absolutely adored her boyfriend. He was so wrapped around her finger.

"That was interesting. Can you believe it? That's the Kamiya girl?"

"Yeah," Enishi replied, and grinned at his sister. "That's the one who's close friends with Kumi-san."