EDITED REPOST, 09/06/05

Disclaimers: Kenshin, and everyone else belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki!

CHAPTER 12

"I'm just going to grab myself something to drink ladies, so I'll see you around!" Kaoru announced, and smiled. Without waiting for them to smile back, or for Megumi to give her a dirty look, she headed towards the kitchen, filling up a cup with punch.

"Jou-chan!"

Great. What now? Kaoru looked over her shoulder and saw Sano sitting with Kenshin. In a response that she hoped they would accept, she acknowledged them with a smile and quickly turned away, hoping to get out of the kitchen before they called her again. But she wasn't fast enough. There were too many unmoving people in her way.

"Jou-chan! Come 'ere!"

Fuck! I really don't want to talk to Kenshin! Just ah… take one down quickly. Let's numb those nerves pronto. Hand gripping the cup so tightly that it hurt, Kaoru chugged down the punch, making a face at the sour taste of the alcohol. Quickly but carefully as to not spill any, she refilled it.

From a distance, Kenshin was observing her every action. Just now she had downed her cup so fast. It obviously contained alcohol; she shouldn't be drinking it so— why am I even bothering to bother!

Kenshin's frustration went up another notch.

"Oy! Jou-chan! Come join us!"

That's exactly what I don't want to do, Kaoru sighed as she made her way towards them. Kenshin carefully noted how she chose to sit beside Sano, who had been stretching his legs on the couch, rather than joining him on the other half empty one.

"So, jou-chan, how do you like the university life?"

"It's fine, Sano. It took me awhile to get used to it," Kaoru eyed Kenshin at this bit, and was surprised to see him gazing steadily at her, "but I'm good to go now."

"That's good, that's good. Kenshin here was tellin me bout how we all went to the same high school! I think I just barely remember seeing you around."

"Well I wasn't exactly the most popular girl back in high school," Kaoru told him sarcastically. She took another swig from the cup she was holding.

"Kenshin was telling me about your parent's and stuff… I'm sorry abou—" He stopped, frozen in mid-sentence. The red head beside him was staring incredulously, and the fine, raven haired female to his right was now staring at his best friend as if hoping to burn holes through him.

"I uh… I… gomen," he conjured, sounding as apologetic as he could.

She took another large gulp and crossed her legs. Might as well make myself comfortable then. Sounds like we'll be having a LONG talk.

Staring deeply into his flustered eyes, Kaoru placed her question without hesitance. In fact, she sounded very sure; her mind was made up firmly.

"So what else did Kenshin tell you?"

"What do you mean? Is there something to tell?" Sano looked at her, and then back at Kenshin. Kenshin subsided the impulse to slap his forehead. That… AHOU really can't make it any more obvious!

"I don't know, is there anything that needs to be said aloud, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked him now. Immediately he looked a little startled. It had been awhile since she had actually spoken to him directly. His eyes traveled downwards and he instantly snatched them back.

"Kaoru-dono, your skirt…" Kenshin gently trailed off. At his remark, her face turned a bright shade of red that could've complimented his hair wonderfully. She felt like throwing the rest of her drink at him, but then it would be a waste, ne? She thought. Calmly, she got up and re-adjusted it. Not that it really helped much.

"Hentai," Sano bugged Kenshin. And yet he still managed to dodge the lightning fast fist that flew towards his head.

"Just playin', jou-chan, Kenshin. He'd never think like that, he's more of the big brother kinda person ya know."

"Oh yes, I can see that," Kaoru smartly slammed back the tennis ball into his side of the court. Sano's warm attempt to patch things through was beginning to create a small fire.

"Very brotherly. Always there to lend a helping hand, lip—Oh, I'm sorry! I couldn't possible have meant to say that," she drew out innocently, yet the sarcasm dripped off her voice.

Kenshin dropped his water bottle.

Sano cut in before the other could say anything.

"Jou-chan," he began, and he placed his hand lightly on Kaoru's shoulder, "It's not a big deal. But don't you think you should be a little more considerate to your feelings, and Kenshin's maybe?"

She pretended to play the fool. "What ever do you mean Sano?"

"I mean that you shouldn't make fun of what happened between you guys."

"Aso," comprehension dawned on her face, "Kenshin conveniently told you didn't he? So what do ya think now?" With her hands she made abstract gestures. "You first hear that I'm making out with one guy, and then suddenly I'm around the biggest male slut on campus an—" she abruptly cut her words off. Idiot! Watch it before you say something that you'll regret!

Both men noticed the swift change in her as she continued on but differently.

"You must find this very entertaining." Settling with that as her conclusion, Kaoru pressed her lips and tossed her head the other way. Cool fingers brushed at her bare shoulder and she found Sano's hand resting there casually as if they had been friends for years.

"Jou-chan you needa relax a little bit. No one is saying anything bad about you, or thinking anything bad about you. I wouldn't do that, I'm Kenshin's friend. You've obviously got your own reasons for being with Yukishiro and that's fine. I don't think lowly of Kenshin because of what happened. Shit happens all the time. It's never really a mistake because you learn something from it all." Sano waved his free hand around nonchalantly. "I ain't here to judge or to tell anyone, jou-chan."

"Tell anyone what?" Megumi interrupted.

Kenshin had been trying to catch Sano's eye for the past minute to warn him that Tomoe, and her friends were approaching but the talkative fool was too engrossed into his conversation to notice. Megumi was now eyeing Sano's hand that still lingered on Kaoru's very bare shoulder.

"How annoying Kitsune's can be, Takani," Sano casually replied. That girl he'd known pretty much known all throughout high school and bits of elementary school. Everyone always tried to hook them up. Was it because of their nearly matching height? Sano had no idea, and it wasn't that Megumi was unattractive. Just right now he had other things to focus in on in life. Right now his Kitsune acquaintance's face was swelling quickly with unmistakable anger but if Tomoe hadn't stepped in with perfect timing, he was sure she would've made an attempt on his life. Particularly the throat region, as she was flexing her fingers, the long nails glinting off the lights.

"Honey," Tomoe practically purred at Kenshin, "the girls and I decided that we want to head to downtown for a bit. Call me if you need anything," Tomoe told him before gracefully bending her body so that they could kiss.

"Yeah like a booty call," Sano muttered under his breath but Kaoru caught it. Amusement crept to her lips. Tomoe didn't hear it though, and without breaking contact, she lowered himself onto Kenshin's lap, continuing to stay lip locked with her boyfriend.

Someone in another room cranked up the stereo system, and lots of the people that had been in the lounging area were now headed to where the music was playing.

"Bye babe!" Tomoe shouted loudly over the music and waved to Kenshin, who smiled back. Misao was the last to follow, and she turned around to give Kaoru a nod with her head. She's telling me to come along, Kaoru realized. That's awfully sweet of her but… Kaoru shook her head and smiled appreciatively. The other waved and ran off after her friends.

Kaoru was left behind to roll her eyes to herself.

"She could have taken jou-chan with her." At the sound of Sano's voice coming to her defense, she automatically turned to him and replied heatedly. "Who said I wanted to be part of that slutty group?"

Kenshin, who had been quietly eyeing the fireplace, lifted his head.

"Ouch. But I'd probably say the same thing if I were you, jou-chan," Sano laughed.

"But I'm sure you would have been smart enough…" Kaoru trailed off, and swayed closer to Sano's ear, "To not fall for him."

The alcohol she had been consuming was beginning to kick in. Sano looked to her with concern in his eyes. There was something about this girl that attracted him. Not in a sexual kind of way, but a friendly one. He really wanted to get to know her better. She totally seemed like the kind of person you could just hang out with, and do absolutely nothing, but still have a good time.

Kenshin's head swiveled between the two of them. Obviously she had said something important to his best friend because the way he was looking at her just now, well it pretty much said it all. It was something personal. Something she obviously didn't trust him enough to say to him.

"Look Kaoru, we talked about it SEVERAL times now and—"

"And I don't have a problem," she quickly jumped in, indifferently. "I don't want to get into it again."

"Then why'd you bring it up?"

"Oh shut up!" Kaoru yelled at Kenshin. "Just shut UP! Why didn't you leave with Tomoe too? Why didn't you say anything to her? You knew that she could have offered to take me along as well! Go ahead and think I'm complaining but I'm just pointing out that that bitch and her stupid followers—"

"Don't say that about Tomoe," Kenshin emphasized his words carefully but refused to meet Kaoru's eyes. It felt like she had just been slapped by him. There was a sharp pain in her heart. That's his girlfriend! Of course he's going to take her side over yours!

Kenshin saw the hurt in her eyes, and the way her lashes fluttered hesitantly.

"Look," he tried to start over again, softly this time but she jerked her face away.

"I could use another drink…uhh jou-chan?"

"Me too," Kaoru replied very quietly, and took his cup. But Kenshin had to interject.

"Kaoru, I think you've had enough for now."

"Sano?" She repeated louder this time.

"Sano, do you think she needs anymore? Can't you see she's had enough?"

"SANO!" Kaoru yelled before either of them could respond. Sanosuke looked to the menacing red head on his right, and then to the impatient Kaoru who stood to his left.

"Look, I don't really care right now. I just want another drink. As long as I get…" he trailed off as Kaoru speedily took off.

Making a mix of whatever she could find, she dumped the contents in and practically threw the ice, splashing droplets onto the counter. Wordlessly she walked back and handed Sano one of the two cups she had been carrying.

"What's in this?" Sano asked after taking a curious whiff. "Hell, I don't even care. Kenshin stop looking at us like that." Reassuringly he turned over to Kaoru and flashed her a bright smile. "It's a party jou-chan! Go ahead, and have a little fun." Bringing his cup up for a toast, Kaoru followed and they both took their drinks back. She coughed a little and looked to Sano who was showing no effect at all.

"It was the Tequila," he explained. "Alright, so you two have some serious issues," Sano began, "but it ain't my issue. I'm seeing that now so let's forget about it all, and talk about something better alright? So jou-chan, tell me about yourself!"

"What do you wanna know?"

But Sano only shrugged.

"Ok, I'm Kamiya Kaoru, the supposed teacher of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, but I haven't kept up with it since my parents passed away." As her tone dipped noticeably, Sano decided to take over.

"Well I'm Sanosuke, as you already know, and I'm not attending school. I have a job. I think. Because when I went away they said they were gonna fire me but who knows. I'm younger than Kenshin and I dislike foxes."

"Kitsune's?"

"Yeah. Foxes, as in Megumi."

"Ohhhh," Kaoru's lips pursed, and she sounded very impressed.

"I feel like dancing," Kaoru announced as another alcohol mood swing took over.

"C'mon!" She grabbed Sano's arm but didn't exactly pull him up.

"Jou-chan, if there's one thing about me that you should know that I forgot to mention, it's that I don't dance."

"That's what all the guys say when you try to get em to!"

Another internal prick pinched at Kenshin. When she asks the guys? She better not have—

Girly giggling stopped his thoughts from processing further.

I'll teach you!" she was saying.

"Here, I have an idea! Let's all go together!" Sano suggested, and he looked over at Kenshin for support.

"Actually, on second thought, I think my mood for dancing just got turned off."

An extremely uncomfortable silence followed. Kenshin didn't even want to begin another argument. She was close to being drunk. Not entirely there just yet but close enough. That was well enough of a reason to not argue with her.

Someone shouted out over the music. At first none of them were able to make it out, but Sano leaned over to check it out. Nobody better be starting any fights in my house. I'll kick their asses.

"Where's my girl!"

That's what the person was saying.

And it was Enishi.

"There you are," he said as his eyes claimed her.

Kaoru took a deep breath. She had totally forgotten that he was around. Kenshin felt the distress signal emitting from Kaoru before she even felt it herself. Instinctively he stood up and stopped when in directly in front of her. Enishi paused his swaggering long enough to give Kenshin a weird look. It didn't take a doctor to see that he was drunk out of his mind.

"Kaoru and I were just about to go dance," Kenshin told him as he took hold of the other's girlfriend's arm protectively.

Kaoru froze.

After everything I said to him…

"She's coming with me."

"'Nishi, come back in a few minutes! That's my favorite song they're playin' right now, and we all wanted to go dance." Sano tried to help the trio out. Enishi slowly turned his head to look at him. His eyes weren't focusing properly at all. Red-rimmed and hazy, he looked as if he were going to fall over any minute.

"You don't dance," he replied flatly. He also obviously didn't want to wait any longer because within the next second he had Kaoru's other arm, and he was yanking her forward. She stumbled onto the carpet.

"What the hell are you doing?" Sano yelled at him.

"None of your business. She's my bitch and I'll do whatever the fuck I want," he pleasantly informed Sano. Looking back down at her on her knees, he yelled, "Get up!"

It was Kenshin, though, who knelt down, and helped her back up onto her feet. He held her firmly, pressed against his comforting solidity.

"What're you guys doin over here with her?" Enishi asked suspiciously and his eyes slid back and forth between the two men.

"Talking, you jackass," Sano shot back, allowing his voice to come out as a threatening growl. Unafraid of that punk, he met Enishi's darkened eyes, returning the vicious look.

"And that's exactly what I gotta do with her," he rushed on and grabbed for her again but Kenshin spun her so that she was no longer within his reach.

"Kaoru," Enishi warned once. She turned her head up to look into Kenshin's eyes. She seemed to be pleading with him but for what, he wasn't sure.

"Kaoru!"

Biting her lower lip, Kaoru moved away from the comfort of Kenshin's arms, and stiffly made her way over to Enishi. He pulled her so hard that she slammed into his body.

"Let GO!"

Using the palms of her hands against his chest, she pushed off against him. Even though he was completely drunk, he still managed to grab onto her and pull her close in one quick movement. As he whispered something into her ear she became limp.

Kenshin stood, and watched.

Sano narrowed his eyes.

Kaoru nodded her head weakly.

Enishi led them both out of the room.

Sano was really angry and expressed it out loud.

"What the hell was that all about? Why does she let him run over her like that?"

He may not have liked relationships in general but he absolutely hated it when guys played god with their girlfriends or any girl in general.

But Kenshin didn't reply to Sano's angry questions. He continued to stare at the hallway door, where Kaoru had just left through.

Thanks a bunch to: Reignashii, karou-ken, crest fallen212, star0704, Kenshin-01, Immortal-Blood, kenshinlover2002, erica6060, lyn, donna8157 (yay, thanks for allll the reviews! I really appreciate you taking the time out to do so cause I know you're busy with school ), and Kenshin86 for the reviews : )