EDITED REPOST, 10/19/05 If you love me, leave me a review about the editing…?
CHAPTER 18
Disclaimers: I don't own Kenshin or anyone else. Nobuhiro Watsuki-sama on the other hand DOES own them.
The halls were bustling with busy students. Several of the tables near Kenshin's locker bay were occupied. There was one in particular that he had been trying to avoid. Not actually going out of his way to, but he had carefully managed to stay away from Enishi and his group of friends that were sitting at the closest one. After his first class, Kenshin pretty much had the rest of the day to wander around and do whatever. Going home would have driven him completely mad. Being alone in such a quiet place and with all the time in the world… surely he wouldn't have been able to get Kaoru out of his mind. So instead the peaceful red-head occupied his time by studying in the library. Overhearing a first year complain about some of his Chemistry homework, Kenshin pulled up a chair and lent an experienced hand. That had been nearly an hour ago and he had found himself retracing the familiar steps back to his locker. Most of his textbooks were still in there. And of course that jack ass is still there, he told himself as he observed the area ahead.
Amidst the group of intimidating older guys, Enishi plainly stood out from the rest. All of them were shit heads in Kenshin's blunt opinion but they were all pretty much typical and always on about which girl they'd slept with over the weekend and what party they were planning to hit up next. Out of all of them, Enishi was the one who knew no boundaries. Kenshin knew that they were all tough yet they didn't dare step up to him. If Enishi was the leader, Kenshin surely was a god in their eyes. Untouchable. No one fucked around with an ex-Yakuza member whose name was more popular than all the ramen brands put together. Most considered themselves to be on cool terms with Kenshin, and even a few would acknowledge him with a nod.
Meanwhile on the other side of the family tree, Tomoe had trailed around after her boyfriend demanding an explanation and even resorting to bitching him out during the busiest time of the day in the East Wing's café lounge. Gasping in surprise at her boyfriend's reaction, Kenshin ignored her and yanked her into one of the empty laboratories and told her straight to her face that she was pushing it.
"If you're trying to piss me off further I think I should let you know that you're succeeding quite well, love," he spoke firmly. Thoroughly shocked at his demeanor, she didn't get the chance to reply because he had already vanished through the door and was halfway down the hall.
Intense grey eyes watched every movement. He's standing there and acting like shit is normal. Bitch probably thinks that I didn't hear what happened this afternoon with oneesan but I did. If were only just outside of the premises… Enishi casually thought, his mind filling up with images of blood and violence.
"Himura," he finally called out, the anger in his voice un-shaded and he started to approach the oblivious red-head, surprising all his friends who had been just lounging around normally. Enishi found himself seeing immense red when the other didn't even bother to glance up.
"What do you want?"
"Do you really want the shit to blow through the roof?" and with the last word Enishi grabbed Kenshin and slammed him against the lockers. Several people stopped, and stared at the newly started commotion. Unsure of what was happening, a couple of Enishi's friends exchanged glances.
"You should stop avoiding my sister," his words pressed imminently.
"Actually," Kenshin began, quite unaffected by the display of temper, "I'm not avoiding her. I talked to your sister this afternoon and I'm sure you heard all about it." He stood his height although being a couple inches shorter than his opponent. Not once in his life did that ever make him back down. People just thought he was less capable. A fatal assumption on their end.
Enishi smiled impolitely. "I did Himura. And I don't think that's good enough. You should talk to her again; get your shit sorted out. I don't like seeing my sister upset, especially over a punk like you. What a piece of crap your life really is," he laughed darkly. Setting his eyes firm, he gave Kenshin a nasty look. "You like to pretend all the time that everything is normal when she's never clued in about half the shit you've done. Don't forget that you were once an assassin. You can lie all you want to yourself but you'll always be what you are deep insi—" An amber glint in Kenshin's eyes was the slightest warning he got before the shorter one reversed their positions. He had a nice solid grip on the younger one too that almost made him flinch.
"I'm getting kind of sick of your empty threats. You've been running that shit around for almost five years. If you want to tell her," he shrugged indifferently, "go right ahead. And then," he continued in a deeper tone, "I'll show you what I can do, too. I'll show you the anger that I've been holding back for five years. Imagine that."
"Why don't you show me?"
Both of them eyed each other dangerously as if they were two young bucks with their antlers just tensely testing another's, fighting over territory that didn't stand as physical ground but much more than that. Tense; they were both tense with the ever-growing pressure that crushed them inside. Even after being threatened by one of the most dangerously known underground criminals, Enishi still managed to remain smart mouthed and cool. None of this scared him at all. It was merely a façade by Kenshin. Keep talking, Himura, his thoughts ran, I've got your slut right where I want her, and if you push me again I'll be stopping by to visit her. Maybe this time around I'll record it so you can hear that bitch scream.
"I'm not going to ask you to understand; I'm telling you: stay out of my way and leave me alone." Like the older and better man that many believed him to be, Kenshin complied with his better self, and reluctantly loosened his fists, letting them drop to as he pushed Enishi aside. It was an indication that they were finished. Far from it, Enishi sneered and opened his mouth to Kenshin's back.
"What about Kaoru?"
Refusing to give him that sly satisfaction that he loved terribly, Kenshin wisely avoided from turning around.
"What about her?"
"I don't know," Enishi calmly replied, loud enough for his friends to overhear, "You two are good friends aren't you? Close friends. So you should know how well she's doing. Or how she's not…"
That sparked something unseen from within. Kenshin's pupils dilated and the colorful lavender right around the edges burned to a molten liquid amber. Almost a honey color with a sinful swirl of red. This was not the full extent of his deadly gaze but was well enough a good start to it. A push or two more and he swore to himself that he wouldn't be responsible for what happened next to his girlfriend's brother. Speaking of which… Darting around so fast that not even a single pair of fixated eyes could perceive, he reared up behind Enishi and shoved him flat onto the table.
"What did you to do her?" he growled like an animal low in his throat. "What the fuck did you do to her?"
Pushing back up and forcing Kenshin a few steps back, Enishi's body flew off the table and landed curved into a perfect stance. He didn't need a weapon to inflict damage. His perfected training taught to kill with bare hands alone. The other stood his ground firmly but his eyes watched warily for any momentary warning sign. Highly trained eyes befell both men and they just stood there, paces apart but the threatening electricity that bolted between them and their ki's charged the air with acute sharpness.
"You really just can't leave it alone can you? If I were you, Kaoru would be the last of my concerns. Tomoe should be your number one priority but since your relationship is beyond fucked you have to mess with mine don't you? But don't worry Himura, I see things you don't, things you wouldn't think I do." He allowed for his eyes to widen and he smiled with malicious intents running through his mind. Kenshin's body warned of his waning anger as he leaned forward and focused his glower upon the enemy.
"You cocky shit, if you said anything to her, if you even dared to touch her, I swear to god I'll—,"
"You'll do what?" His words were cut short in a defiant manner. "Hurt me? Kill me? Highly unlikely, Himura," Enishi sneered. "And you can stop giving me that look. I've seen it one too many times bro," Enishi laughed. "Besides, you've changed so much. You're nothing but a defenseless little bitch. Funny isn't it? I should really be calling you by Kaoru's name instead."
Eyes sliding quickly to the left than to the right, Enishi shifted his body soared forward, bringing an arm back to encourage the momentum and strength of his oncoming fist. But the punch never landed on its appropriate target. Merely swaying aside like a stray wind, Kenshin avoided it completely but utilizing the last second to his advantage, he caught the bulky first and squeezed it mercilessly with his own hand. Hearing the bone crack under the pressure, he slid his eyes to his opponent's and almost exhibited a smile at Enishi's painfully clenched jaw. However, as much pain as he was in he did not waver and refused to give in after one minor blow.
"Kenshin! Enishi!"
Painful.
Alarmed.
Panic-stricken.
Kenshin immediately separated himself from Enishi upon hearing his girlfriend's distressed voice.
From the corner of his eye Enishi saw his sister carelessly push aside several other students as she made her way towards her lover and her brother.
"What are you two doing!" she gasped, genuinely horrified to see the two of them at each other's throats from afar. Not only from seeing it, she had overheard several students talking about the fight that was brewing involving a certain sexy red head, and that blonde bad ass that only seldom showed up in Psychology. Almost that same second she had thrown her binders to the floor, left forgotten behind in disarray as she sped on towards the source of the yelling. Arriving just in time she froze on the spot. And that's when she yelled.
In respect for his girlfriend and the utter shock displayed across her face, safely from a sideways perspective he gave Enishi one final deadly look of warning before blinking, causing the amber to recede swiftly before facing the bulging crowd and the one girl standing right in front. Slow motion occurred. Walking past Tomoe as she stared, surprised, was throwing a heavy load onto his heart. Not looking at her in anyway he continued down the hall past her with his head cast down. He could tell her watery maroon eyes were staring sadly at him and it hurt even more. Nothing he could do about it now.
Yukishiro Tomoe stood transfixed in time. It could not have passed by any slower. Each second slid by slowly like the sparkling tears that slipped down her pale cheeks, every emotion reflecting in each. And now a weighty decision had fallen upon her. Her one and only love was walking away, not even bothering to look back like he always did, yet there in front of her still was her brother. How could she decide? As she wretched her eyes away from Kenshin and looked back to Enishi she saw much anger built up there. He's angry at him for me. They were obviously fighting about me. Oh Enishi, I wish you wouldn't… Even as the words seemingly fainted from her mind she was already reaching out to touch his cheek and question if he was alright. Right at the exact moment that she turned her back, Kenshin wistfully turned his head.
If it'd been only a second earlier…
But now he could hear her concerned voice. "What happened, Enishi?"
"Nothing oneesan. He was just more worried about my girlfriend than his own," he daringly announced so that everyone in and around the hall could hear.
Upon hearing that remark Kenshin stopped, and everyone in the immediate area turned their eyes over to him.
"Leave it," a cold, masculine voice commanded. He didn't quite sound like he was finished before a perky voice started speaking up as well.
"It's not worth it Himura, c'mon…ne? Himura? Hiiiimmmurraaa!" she chimed in a sing song voice. The male and female that had been standing there with perfect timing stopped to stare at another. Misao, the latter, was bewildered. Aoshi-sama talking to Himura? And there Aoshi was staring at his girlfriend wondering if she was ever going to shut up or not. An odd couple but they loved each other dearly. Misao said she did anyhow, and for the brief second that she would proclaim it aloud for the world to hear his icy green eyes would mellow only slightly. Misao tugged at Kenshin's cuff impatiently but he didn't say anything back to either of them. Instead he bowed his head down in acknowledgement and continued with his back firm and straight walking away from the scene.
"Whoa! What just happened there, Aoshi-sama?" Misao turned to look up at her boyfriend. His response was a mild shrug.
"Well, if you ask me—"
"But I didn't," he cut his girlfriend off in mid-sentence. Misao elbowed him in the ribs and without casting his head down he stared from the corner of his eyes while giving a wry smile. Inside his girlfriend was all smiles. Aoshi-sama only smiles when he's with me, she beamed happily.
"Anyways, if you ask ME, I think Enishi deserved it. I'm not crazy about that guy and I don't think anyone warned Kaoru-san of his rep."
Aoshi didn't reply but instead looked around cautiously. Black braid swinging timidly behind, Misao jerked a hand up to her mouth.
"I said that a little too loud didn't I?"
Aoshi couldn't help but sigh at the sheepish grin his girlfriend gave.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"I got your number from Kenshin, but chotto! Don't hang up jou-chan!"
"Why would I hang up Sano?" Although she did not want to come off sounding overly happy, it couldn't be helped. Hearing Sano's voice instantly brought a smile to her lips. What a pleasant surprise…for once, she silently added to her train of thoughts."I'm actually glad that you called." Sounding almost hesitant he replied, "You… you are?"
"Yes."
"I uh, got your number off of Kenshin the other day, and uh, I was uh… wondering how you were. Yeah…"
Not exactly wanting to say too much, Sano unknowingly said it all with that sentence. Kaoru instantly knew that he was well aware of what had happened between her and Kenshin. If he had honestly tried, he could not have made it any more obvious. She almost sighed then but managed to stop herself.
"It's alright Sano," her tone softened. "I'm betting that you already know of everything that happened. Of course from Kenshin, who else? So with that out in the open, would you like to go out for coffee or something? I wouldn't mind talking about everything." Those words were already out of her mouth before she could even really comprehend what exactly she had just offered. Something inside of her told her that it was ok and to just go with the flow. Sano didn't stand as a threat to her; more of the opposite. A companion that she really needed right now even though she hardly knew him. Her instincts told her to go for it and she supposed for once she should actually take her own internal advice.
"Sure jou-chan, I'd love to," he was agreeing. That went quite well after all.
"Ok, as long as I pay! This'll be my treat alright?"
"Sure, I won't argue there," Sano gave a false laugh, and hit himself. I'm such a cheap ass, he grumbled while feeling his back pocket for his very slim wallet.
"I'll pick you up then," he offered kindly.
"Ok, if you don't mind…"
"Which I totally don't. What's your address?"
Slowly she gave it to him, and then asked him to not inform Kenshin of anything that they were doing. Sano hesitated. "You sure jou-chan? You can trust me, I won't say anything to him but…" But she just told you she doesn't want him to know. Leave it at that otherwise she's not going to trust you again. "Sure. Nothing to Kenshin. Gotcha." On the other end of the phone Kaoru smiled and thanked him before saying goodbye.
A couple days had passed since her, and Kenshin had their run-in at her apartment. Ever since then Kaoru had dropped out of school for the rest of the semester. Thinking it to be for the best, she understood if she did that it would likely help to hold off running into Enishi and then maybe, just maybe he would drift away from her for awhile. Wishful thinking, a little voice told her from the back of her mind. Other than that her nerves were pretty much whacked out as she spent all her free time wondering when that crazed man would contact her again. That dark spot in her life was shrouded in mystery. Who was he? And why, of all the things in the world, why did he need to get into her family's business? None of it made sense and she would literally spend hours upon hours tackling ideas and pondering the unrelenting questions. Next off she found being on 'standby' awfully nerve wracking. Spending every second of her life worrying away about when she would be needed. In actuality she had pretty much already understood that whatever happened she was going to be an accomplice. And that's a crime, she thought worriedly. Aside from all that strife, she was forcing herself to revel in the thoughts of Enishi being gone. Horrible as it was, it would be one less humungous problem in her life. The bulk of the world would be lifted off of her sagging shoulders once and for all. It was against her nature and against her family's legacy to depend on harming others in the worst situations that life could throw but there was no pity left within her. Enishi, that foul man, deserved anything and everything that happened to him. Including death, she soundly added. But what about the price…?
Within no time Sano arrived at her apartment complex. And he was very impressed. Tall rows of bamboo trees surrounded the entrance and long driveway. All in all he counted four separate water fountains along the way, each having it's own miniature bridge with several types of different water plants. Bright, rich colored flowers grew at the surface and sprang open, looking like lively petals casually thrown into the waters. At the main doors there was one last pond which had a traditional bamboo fountain. It looked tranquil and was very lightly decorated. He stared at it, droning off into another world and was startled when he heard a knocking on the window. There outside with a bright smile stood Kaoru who was gesturing a salutation with her hand. Once seated inside the car, both debated on where they should go. The end result was a sporadic trip to the outskirts of the city where they found a small secluded café. As Sano stepped out of his car, Kaoru carefully studied his tall form from behind. Ready for comfort and extreme casualness, Sano was attired in a white hooded sweatshirt, and matching white track pants. The red bandana was apparent once again across his hairline and as he shrugged his hood back, Kaoru noticed a black mark near the nape of his neck.
"Sano, what's that?" Already she was moving to stand directly behind him, her fingers brushing lightly at the skin of his back. "Sorry," she blushed and stepped away as he turned around to give her an odd look. But then he smiled and acted as if it were completely appropriate. "Hehe," that, jou-chan, is a tattoo. It covers a big portion of my back and it says, 'Aku'."
"Aku?" She tilted her head while her brows drew together unpleasantly. Aku in Japanese meant evil. Why on earth does he have the word 'evil' tattooed on his back?
"Yeah, it's a dedication… to someone I once knew." The sorrowful hitch in his voice did not go unnoticed by Kaoru. She did not ask of it anymore.
"Anyways," he started off cheerfully again and politely opened the door ahead, "Shall we head inside?"
A very pretty waitress seated them in a comfortably cushioned booth which was conveniently located in the corner of the room so they could have their much needed privacy. As the waitress checked out Sano right in front of Kaoru, who for all she knew could be his girlfriend, he didn't even bat a single eye back. Quietly but graciously, he accepted his menu with just a mere glance. Still the boisterous girl didn't get the hint. She continued to flirt with him, making sure that her hands touched his when she brought out two waters. Her breasts were another story. Both were practically popping out of her shirt and she was hella beautiful but Sano just waved it aside.
"You didn't even look at her. I think she was offended," Kaoru commented as soon as the waitress was out of their range. At that he laughed, and sipped his drink casually.
"How come you don't like Megumi?"
"Megumi? Keh, she ain't really my type jou-chan buuuuutt," he sighed, "Ya never know, eh?" Though she was the one who had asked the question first, she found that she could only tune into the first couple of words that flowed out of his mouth before her brain drifted off.
"Oy, jou-chan?"
"Hmmm yeah?" she murmured. "Sorry."
"Never knew I was that boring," Sano expressed with false anger before laughing it off. A nervous reaction she always had when her mind was busy tinkering with problems, her fingers found themselves twirling the strands of her long hair. Ok… Sano began, she doesn't really care. Something's biting at her, obviously. Bringing himself up closer to her, he looked into her eyes and asked, "What's up?"
That almost startled her. I guess I am pretty easy to read.
"Can I ask you something? Well, not really ask, I just want to know something."
"Yeah?"
"Whatever we talk about… stays here right?"
"Of course," Sano replied sympathetically. Between the two of them he wanted her to have that comfort level. Despite that, he couldn't help but feel excited too. Kenshin had mentioned something about how she tried to hide everything from him, and maybe she's finally about to open up! He had to admit though that when Kenshin had told him about her being passed out in front of her apartment it sounded really screwed up. He hadn't believed his friend at first. It was all too… weird. Looking at her now he started wondering about just how high her endurance level was. More angelic looking than anything else, he started to feel that there was a whole lot about her that he didn't know. Obviously. We've only just met, were his initial thoughts but what he really meant were some deep dark secrets. Things better left off alone. Or unsaid. They were interrupted by the waitress who was quickly approaching, as he noticed from the corner of his eye. The girl across from him straightened up and pretended to look like everything was normal.
"Have you decided yet?"
"Uhhh yeah, I'll take the chocolate cappuccino milkshake," Sano decided.
"And you miss," the girl asked but didn't even bother to look at Kaoru. In turn the latter smiled. A light bulb clicked on inside her head and brightened her whole aura.
"We'll share it so make it a large."
Underneath the table Sano nudged Kaoru's leg and they both had to keep themselves from laughing out loud. On the other hand the waitress didn't look the least bit impressed. She hurried off in an unpleasant huff. Sano finally let it go, and laughed out loud.
"God," Kaoru remarked, and took a sip of her water.
"Yeah I know. But back to what you were about to say before we were rudely interrupted?"
"Oh. Yeah. That. I just wanted to make sure that this is confidential then.
I can only tell you so much alright? Promise me Sano, that you won't tell anyone else what I am about to discuss with you today." Carefully he observed her eyes which were narrowed with worry. "Relax," he assured her one last time, covering her hand completely with his. Her eyes traveled down to it then she brought them back up and smiled. "Ok," she said and took a deep breath before beginning. "You know about how Kenshin and I got really close when I first started university? I liked him a lot, Sano. That's obviously very apparent, and this is also really embarrassing to admit but I've only really had a couple crushes in my life. Kenshin happened to be one of them, and I really enjoyed being around him. He's just got this personality which is so hard to not love. Everything about him, he's perfect," she added gently. With her eyes cast downwards she continued on. "I was still having a hard time adjusting to university and all but there he was; a complete gentleman with the respect, and kindness that I really needed. It was all so new to me, you know? I was never one to like big crowds and new surroundings, but he made it so comfortable for me. I really admired him. I guess we sort of lost ourselves one day, and we shared a kiss." Her cheeks turned pink but she willed herself to continue. Her attentive listener sat patiently, understanding each and every of her words.
"Small deal it might've seemed and looked, but to me… well it was HUGE. It was something I'd never done or experienced before. I mean, I'm not trying to sound sad or deprived or anything but I suppose I've always just been so nervous to date and I've kind of been saving everything for that one person," she explained. Sano nodded his head, understanding exactly what she meant. "Well after that happened, a couple days later…" Kaoru told him how she had met Tomoe. She explained to him that she recognized Enishi, and just how exactly he was tied into her past. Stemming from Enishi's story was Kumi-san's and so she ventured into that. Carefully and yet with subtle bitter she told Sano that Enishi had overheard her and Kenshin's conversation about their heated mishap back at her apartment. "Which gave him solid evidence in combination to what his cousin, Kumi, had told him," she illustrated. Sano's knuckles were pressed so hard that the skin on top of was quickly turning white.
"Then he started to blackmail me." Hearing that, he let go absently and jerked his head up sharply. "I mean that's what it was leading up to anyway with everything that he knew. Why not work it to his full advantage?"
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." That makes absolute fucking sense. Everything started to fall into place. THAT'S why that yarou and her are so cold and hateful to each other. They don't really wanna be together; it's HIM that's forced their relationship. That mother fu—
"Shhhhhh," Kaoru motioned with her hands for him to keep it down. People around them were looking disconcerted. And then there was that waitress who was looking hopeful and probably wondering if they were getting into a fight. Oh god, Kaoru exclaimed to herself. Sano didn't seem affected one bit. His expression was still tight with anger.
"You're telling me that this whole time you've been together, it's been complete bullshit because Yukishiro's been threatening you? He's blackmailed you into being his girlfriend? Why the FUCK didn't you tell Kenshin!"
Oh.
My.
God.
Kaoru cringed at the decibel he was using. She would have been far from shocked if everyone had stopped eating and were now just staring horrifically at the two young adults that were acting like renegade teens in a completely public place. Straining her lips together, she calmly willed herself to get him to get his act together or they were both going to be thrown out of the café.
"Sanosuke, tone it DOWN. NOW," she angrily commanded. Defiantly their eyes clashed but it was Kaoru who won the silent brawl when he looked away, shaking his head.
"Are you going to let me continue on or would you rather have me shut up and keep it inside because I have no one else to trust?" She hoped that would get a proper response from him and it did. Not a verbal one but a physical one. Sano flicked his narrowed eyes to hers then away again.
"So yes, to answer your outburst back then, yes Enishi was blackmailing me and manipulating the whole situation to his frickin' liking. Oh and let's not forget that he STILL is. With all his little evidence, even though it's pretty much consisted verbally, he threatened to destroy Kenshin and Tomoe's relationship if I did not comply. He warned me that Kenshin would hate me and Tomoe's wrath would be unbearable. Now do you think I'd want to start a scrap with one of the most popular chicks at university? What about Kenshin? I could never deal with him hating me. Do you know how hard it is to see the two of them so happy together? Imagine that being cut precisely in half. And imagine being the cause of it." Kaoru stopped and took a sip of her water. "No. No, I wouldn't be the cause of that," she paused again, shaking her head firmly. Is Sano going to be able to take the next bit of information I throw at him? If he causes another scene I'm seriously going to walk out, she decided. After she took another leisurely sip she began once again. "With a relationship comes stipulations you have to abide by of course. At first Enishi was asking of small things, things to make Kenshin jealous. But then when Kenshin didn't back off he became more… he started to get more… sexual with his demands." The blank look that befell her companion's face made her suddenly feel infinitely ashamed. If she could have disappeared underneath the table she would have right there and then.
"Say something please…" she softly begged of him.
The silence was murderous.
And the sound of her voice, it melted his heart. The soft weakness he had for females in peril, it kicked in with her last sentence and if Yukishiro was standing right before him he swore to god that he would have killed him there on the spot.
"I can't believe all of this. How far did this go? And you said that he's still doing, right?"
Kaoru sighed heavily. "Yeah he is. After the last time we saw each other he promised me that he'd leave me alone for awhile but who really knows about that sick bastard," she finished darkly. "Sano, you don't know how free I feel when I know he's not holding a knife to my throat."
"You didn't answer me Kaoru," he said and disregarded her previous statement. Using her first name for emphasis, Kaoru felt startled to hear it. "Just how far did this go?" he repeated himself warily.
A shimmering sparkle in her eyes gave him the response that he was looking for in place of a now unnecessary verbal one.
Guilt.
Deep brown eyes stared searchingly through hers and he came to the conclusion he was hoping to not be true. "You slept with him," he concluded flatly, stating it rather than questioning her. As he shifted his eyes across her face he whispered, "Damnit." More loudly this time with uncontained fury. DAMNIT!" With tremendous force his fist hit the table. Kaoru nearly jumped out of her skin, and her hand immediately moved to still the rattling condiments. "Why?" He spat out angrily. "Why'd you do it?" This time she forbade herself to look around and meet the other customer's eyes. It'd only add to the ultimate humiliation she was feeling. "Please Sano," she urged him, "Keep it down o—"
"No I won't! How could you do that jou-chan?" Sano ran a hand through his spiky hair, and shook his head. Abruptly he jerked to the side, his right hand smoothing over his left cheek. "How the hell could you do that to yourself, huh? How could you let that happen? Fuck, I'm so pissed right now! I could just kill him. Hell, you shoulda known better than to stoop to Yukishiro's level. Why didn't you tell me earlier? Or Kenshin? Wouldn't it have been better to prevent this all? Who gives a flying fuck if that bitch Tomoe got angry at you! You woulda had me and Kenshin on your side. Yes, KENSHIN. Never for a second would he turn his back on you, you know that? You seem to have such little faith in him but that goes to show how well you really know him."
Eyes tightly screwed close and her neck craning down, bringing her hair completely to cover her face, Kaoru cried. The tears squeezed through her lids and fell straight onto the table before her. Trying not to make the action seem obvious, she carefully wiped a cheek clean. She jerked her head up when Sano caught her hand and twisted it so he could see the wetness that shone there under the light. Quickly she used her free hand and the cuff of her shirt to wipe both her cheeks. A knife cut through Sano's chest and impaled him in the heart. Or that's what it felt like when he observed the beautiful girl in front of him break down because of his rude rashness.
"Gomen."
Kaoru sniffled a little but made no attempt to take her hand away from his. As if to reassure her and soothe her frizzled emotions, Sano quickly said without thinking, "You haven't seen Kenshin angry yet. If you think what he did to Enishi was bad, you ain't seen nothin yet." He had forgotten one simple detail. A very minor one. "Kenshin is not gonna know!" Kaoru yelled. "He isn't going to know anything because I am not going to tell him and neither are you!" Looking angry and taken aback, Sano opened his mouth again and matched her gaining fury. "The HELL I'm not jou-chan! He has every right to know because he's involved and he cares about you which you've just decided to complete shut out."
"I never said he didn't," she managed to say but sounded oddly quiet. "Look, he knows something is up but you and I are not going to be the ones to tell him okay? If he finds out he finds out, and—"
"Are you scared of what Yukishiro might do if he finds out that you told us? That yarou won't live to see that day."
"You can't say anything to him Sano!" she hurriedly insisted. "You promised me, and if you break your promise you'll just be like everyone else who's hurt me. You're the only person that I knew I could open up to, and if you screw this up by going to Kenshin I'll have NOBODY! What don't you understand?"
"What don't I understand?" he countered back, "Let me explain it to you then." Sano leaned forward, and rolled his sweatshirt sleeves up. "You let this jerk ruin your high school life. God damnit, you let the sick bastard run your life for the past couple months while he used you to his liking just so that he can get back at Kenshin for dating Tomoe. That yarou is like a walking STD."
"What?"
Sano raised an eyebrow at her mockingly. "Okay, don't tell me that you didn't know about Yukishiro, and his hundreds of girlfriends?"
"No no," Kaoru narrowed her eyes. "That other bit you just said, how he's just getting back at Kenshin."
"Yeah well he never agreed with Kenshin dating his sister. The guy is messed up jou-chan, he's definitely bad news. Kenshin musta mentioned the whole yakuza deal to you right?"
"The what?" Now it was Sano who was gesturing for his companion to lower her voice. "Never mind it's nothin."
"No, it's something that you were about to tell me!" she went on persistently. "The yakuza? Was Enishi or Kenshin involved with the yakuza?" Picturing his beautifully sculptured features unmarred except for the odd cross shaped scar on his cheek, the lively lavender eyes, the sensitive sweet being that he was, now imagine THAT involved with the yakuza. No, she began but what she thought of next made her dizzy. Enishi's tattoo. The weapons he has, what normal person has weapons like THAT? And Kenshin…
-Flashback-
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.
-End of flashback-
He had said that.
"They were in the yakuza weren't they?"
"It's not my business to say anything jou-c—"
"Oh really?" She cut in, "How come then you were so determined to go tell Kenshin when I was asking you not to? Doesn't that also NOT make it your business to go say something confidential to someone else?"
"I uh… kuso jou-chan that ain't fair."
"We aren't talking about or dealing with fair things are we? We are dealing with life here. I'm awfully curious as to what your comment meant but I'll drop it as long as you promise not to tell Kenshin anything." Sano considered his options briefly. It was really up to Kenshin to tell her whatever he wanted her to know. I basically don't have a right to go in, and say somethin' but still… I can't believe he didn't tell her… Sano sighed as he reached under his spiky bangs to rub at this clothed forehead. "Alright jou-chan. I promise I won't say anything to Kenshin. But will ya at least let ME go knock some sense into that motherfu—"
"No! No," she repeated more calmly. "I have my own plan Sano. When I say trust me I mean it. I can do this MY WAY."
"What exactly is your way?"
"I can't tell you. I'm sorry," she apologized when he looked exasperated with the situation. "But I can't say anything about it." It was a moment before Sano responded again. He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders, ridding his body of all the tenseness that had entered it because of all the huge news. "Okay, I'm really gettin sick of this. You are asking for it, and I'm not about to let that happen."
Kaoru's nails poked into her palm as she tensely gripped. "Don't make me feel like telling you this was a big mistake Sano. I really don't want to feel like that, and I don't think you want me to feel like that either because I will never confide in you about anything EVER AGAIN!" She hadn't meant to yell at him but she was at her wit's end with all of this. Sano meekly whistled, and shifted around in his seat. "When you put it like that I really can't disagree even though I feel like ramming Enishi's godamn head into this table. Kenshin was right about you. No matter what kinda shit life throws in your direction you can still manage to deal. I don't get it but we both admire it." Kaoru gave him a slight smile but inside she was blushing. Kenshin said that about me? "Then there's Kenshin," he began again, "Who's having his own goddamn mid-life crisis because now he realizes that he's not in love with Tomoe anymore. Damn baka, I coulda told him that. The Yukishiro's are people you should avoid altogether. Neither one of them is trustable."
She decided against asking Sano further about Kenshin, and Tomoe. Of course he would tell her but that meant that Kenshin would have to know everything too. I'll find out on my own somehow. She had been completely lost in her thoughts but as she became aware of Sano's gaze she looked away uncomfortably. He leaned back in the small booth, and studied the face of the girl that sat across from him. Enishi touching that innocent, unmarred girl, using her for his own sick entertainment and now I have to sit back, and watch her get screwed over again. "If," he began cautiously, "I let you deal with this on your own, because it obviously sounds like you are sticking with your own plan, if things backfire, and I find out before you let me know, I'm telling Kenshin everything. I'm warning you that you better keep me informed, and up to date jou-chan. As soon as you need help, because I know you are going to sooner or later, you call me right away. Do you understand that?" Kaoru leaned forward against the table, and smiled at Sano. "Yes. I understand. Thank you for everything Sano," she took his hand within her own, and squeezed it fondly.
Now why can't that two-faced Takani be more like this, Sano thought. Geez, and that kitsune is studying to become a doctor. I wouldn't let her touch me. God knows she'd probably drug me, and chain me up in her house somewhere, and she would claim it to be all Tomoe's idea. He shivered at the thought of those two planning something like that.
"Is anything wrong?" Kaoru inspected Sano, looking him over. "Nah, I was jus' thinkin' about somethin' jou-chan," Sano gestured absently with his hand. "Sorry," he added sheepishly.
"Uh… Sano, there's one more thing I forgot to mention."She had just remembered something else that was just as important.
"Shoot," he replied.
"I dropped out of university. WAIT," she exclaimed as she saw Sano open his mouth. "Before you say anything you need to understand that it was a choice I made. I might head back later but I dropped out for this semester. Just this semester for now." Sano shut his mouth, and nodded. I ain't gonna say anything to her. I think she's been through a tremendous amount of crap, and she deserves a break.
"Uhh jou-chan, I think your cell phone's ringing."
"Hmm oh? Oh I thought I left it at home," Kaoru said, and rummaged through her purse. Indeed it was there, and the little blue light was flashing, indicating a call. "Just one sec," she said hesitantly to Sano because the number on the screen had read private. "Hello?"
"Kamiya…" a dry voice cut into the line.
"Yes?"
"Everything's in order. It'll happen tomorrow at nine in the evening. Be ready."
Click.
Kaoru stared down at her phone, and reread the words 'call ended' several times before closing it shut.
"Who was that?" Hearing Sano kicked her back to reality as she almost forgot that he was still sitting there expectantly in front of her. "Ahh sorry. It was a wrong number," she said a little too hastily. Sano eyed her as she put her phone back into her purse, her fingers slightly shaking.
She's a bad liar. "Was that Enishi?"
Her elbow almost knocked the glass over at the mention of the name. "No, no it wasn't," Kaoru shook her head. "Do you mind taking me back to my apartment? There are a couple errands I need to run before the shops close."
"Sure jou-chan," Sano shrugged.
After she paid for the bill, Sano winked at the waitress, and put a generous tip for her on the table. Her face brightened considerably, and she waved at him when he left.
"What did you do that for?" Kaoru asked him as they seated themselves in his sporty white two door.
"Just wanted to make her smile."
The car ride back was spent in complete silence. Both were brooding quietly about each owns thoughts. Kaoru was panicking about tomorrow night, and Sano couldn't take his mind off of Enishi. I swear to god if he dares to try anything again with her… let's not even GO there Sagara. He won't. He better not.
"Well," Kaoru started up when he pulled in front of her towering apartment building, "Thanks a lot Sano. Like I said before, I really appreciate everything. You're the only friend I have right now."
"I'll always be there if ya need anything jou-chan. Make sure to gimme a shout alright?" She smiled back. "Of course. And please try not to think about this too much ok?" Kaoru leaned forward, and gave Sano a sisterly hug. It's too late to not worry, Sano wanted to say but kept it to himself. He patted her back, and then she pulled away. Kaoru waved to him as he drove away. Her last lifeline was speeding off, and standing there watching him disappear till he was a tiny white blur was a hard thing to do but she managed to get over it. Her thoughts darkened considerably as she walked up the steps towards the entrance. Whatever happens tomorrow will be my responsibility. The worst thing is that I'm not even fully sure of what I'm getting myself into…
Thank you to: animeguzman, lyn', Reignashii, erica6060, Hitokiri Cumberdale, crest fallen212 (He will be revealed in 2-3 more chapters, and as for the length of this story… I have written up to Chapter 23, and I still have more details to go into after that so I can't really say how long this will be. Is that a good thing or bad thing for it to be long?), esmi (sounds like you really hate school, lol), kenshinlover2002, Xujin, flcgd14, Immortal-Blood (No worries :D ), Kean, animeLCgrl, MZ.AMbER EYES, Luckyirish12, jyzelle, flaming-amber (No it's not Aoshi…), royal blueKitsune (Oki, I will check them out for sure)RedAndBlackDragon, Pixel-the-evil-fairy (Oooh I love Glazed Affections! I've read that one too! I'll check into that other one for sure!) and kenshin86 for the reviews.
I sort of started another story which is completely DIFFERENT to this... but I'm a little hesitant on posting it up because I like to have everything in order and have a plot web written/drawn out. I've seen how some authors just write up whatever, and post it up and that simply amazes me because it works for them. Ahhh I don't know maybe I'll try living dangerously too and just stick up the first chapter. I mean the worst thing that could happen is for me to have to take it down, and re-write it later. Ah, well we'll see!
Take care everyone, and thank you again :)