the 'IT' girl

by: nyllemnev

Disclaimer: They are not mine…

Chapter 7: Limits

Kenshin was already up at exactly five o'clock in the morning, looking grumpy and highly annoyed at the tiniest noise in the street; and his uncle – the ever proud Seijurou Hiko, thirteenth master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu – was the only person to blame.

'Why not just buy your darned sake yourself! Why have to disturb me in my sleep and make me do it!' he angrily thought as he walked down the almost deserted street, kicking some small stones in the process, "And honestly! Drinking 'sake' in this time of the morning!" he blurted out loud, frowning as he noted that the nearest store was still closed.

"This is stupid…" he growled and began walking to the next store. "It's his fault, anyway! He shouldn't have emptied his last jug last night!"

To Kenshin's great dismay, the second – and also the third, was still close. The next store was probably a kilometer away and his feet were starting to kill him. 'Damn uncle!' he cursed mentally, which is very uncharacteristic for him.

It took him another twenty minutes, and probably a hundred mouthfuls of curses before he finally reached a store. As he waited for his purchase, he stared out the glass windows of the store and watched as the nearby shops started to open as well.

"Quite early for a drink, don't you think, young man?" the shop owner said, handing Kenshin his purchase.

"My uncle is not normal, that he isn't." Kenshin shrugged and gave the kind owner a smile before walking out of the store. He took a quick glance at his wristwatch and found that it is still '5:50'. He shook his head and started to make his way back home – maybe if he gets home faster, he could still take a quick nap.

As he walk, he noted a black sedan parked nearby and a man dressed in black suit standing at its side – looking like he was standing guard or something. Kenshin chuckled at the thought, 'Who would he be guarding? The King of the world?'

He walked past a nearby shop, turning to watch the people inside through the huge glass wall when he heard the distinct sound of chiming bells, indicating that someone has either come in or out of the said store. The redhead only shrugged and continued walking when…

"Come back again, Ms. Kamiya…"

Ms. – what!

"Yeah…" he heard the distinctive voice of a certain someone and instinctively jumped behind the nearest post. Peering closely from behind the post, he gulped.

Standing by the doorway of the said shop was none other than Kamiya Kaoru – already dressed in her school uniform and was holding several bags of whatever-it-is-inside. She walked with great difficulty, trying not to drop anything or to trip over something in the process.

Kenshin debated whether to help the girl or not – helping her would only meant quite an earful plus a bump on his head if he is lucky and yet…

Mean or not, she's still my classmate after all…

Taking a huge gulp of breath, he stepped out of his hiding place; ready to help a certain girl but someone beat him to it. The man standing beside the sedan he has just noticed earlier was now hurrying towards Kaoru, offering a hand.

"Let me get that, Lady –" he spoke with great formality.

Kenshin heard Kaoru whisper something but couldn't get something intelligible in it. He saw the man nod his head quickly and gathered the bags on Kaoru's arms. The redhead sighed in relief – well that sure saves me from an earful…

Making sure that Kaoru is now walking more comfortable without any difficulty, Kenshin made his way back home – as carefully as possible so as not to catch her attention.

XXX

'Darn it!' Kenshin thought angrily as he ran as fast as he could, trying to get to his classroom before his teacher does. After he had gotten home from that little incident earlier, Kenshin had managed to get a quick nap… which in turn became…

'Stupid uncle!' he frowned, 'The least he could do is wake me up… but… what the heck!'

As it turned out, the redhead wasn't as lucky as he thought he was. When he finally reached the classroom, he realized that his teacher was already there from the distinct sound of her voice. 'I'm doomed…' with that thought in his mind, he quietly opened the back door and went inside the room as discreetly as possible.

"I'm glad to have you with us now, Mr. Himura…"

Kenshin bent his head low and muttered quick apologies before taking his seat. His teacher gave him a very disapproving look before proceeding to write something on the board, telling the class to 'Copy and answer the following problems…'

Feeling that the seatwork was hardly his fault, Kenshin frowned at the angry glares of his other classmates. He sighed and grabbed a pen and a piece of paper before copying the problems on the board. Not more than five minutes after, the door burst open again – this time, more violently than when Kenshin opened it as discreetly as possible. The teacher turned to glare at the nonchalant newcomer, making her way to her seat.

"Good morning to you too, Ms. Kamiya. It is so nice to have you join us for today." the teacher said in a very strained voice. "Grab a pen and paper, then answer these!" she pointed at the board irately.

Kaoru seemed unabashed and started to copy the problems on the board.

It took no more than twenty minutes for Kenshin to finish answering the math problems. So he spent the rest of the time, staring around the room and observing his other classmates – still frowning at their math problems. Misao – on the other side of the room – seemed to have already finished her work, was staring dreamily in space. Kenshin could only guess what's in her mind right now.

He sighed and turned his head to the other side of the room. He could see that Megumi was also finished and giving Sano directions on how to solve the problem in a discreet and hushed voice. He mentally chuckled, '…who would've thought that Megumi would actually help Sano 'cheat'?'

He shook his head and looked down at his paper, checking if he had written his name this time – the last time, he was feeling the last of his temper that he had almost forgotten to write his own name (Misao, having noticed and informed him the last time).

"Psst!" he felt a piece of crumpled paper hit the back of his head and turned. Kaoru was there, with a frown on her face. Kenshin frowned back at her.

"You were there!" she said, frowning deeper. "I saw you!"

Kenshin gaped, frowning hard and trying to figure out what he did this time, "Oro?"

"Earlier…" Kaoru raised an eyebrow, "…at the shop…" she added seeing the look of confusion on his face. Kenshin nodded his head, "Oh…"

"What were you doing there!" she asked, "Are you following me, dork!" she added, crossing her arms.

"Follow!" Kenshin frowned again, "Why would I do that!"

"How can I know that!" she bit back, just as annoyed as he was.

"I just happened to be there. Is that a crime!"

"What did you do after that? You didn't follow me all the way to—"

"Something you want to share with the class?" their teacher said in a shrilly voice. Kenshin gulped while Kaoru only glared back at the teacher and stood up.

"I'm finished." Kaoru said, marching towards the teacher and placing her paper neatly on her (the teacher) table. "Can I go now?" the teenager added, with a frown.

The teacher, Ms. Minami, stared long and hard at the unblinking Kaoru before adding replying, "I believe a detention would do you some good, young miss."

Kaoru met her teacher's glare with a glare of her own, "Suits you." she said before leaving the room without even throwing the older lady another glance.

"Pass your papers!" Ms. Minami said, her face flushed with anger. "And…" she slowly turned to Kenshin's direction, "I believe you walked in late today, Mr. Himura… so detention for you too…"

XXX

This is so unfair… such injustice… the irony of it all…

He took a quick glance at the ever-silent girl sitting beside him, glaring at the blackboard and tapping her fingers on her desk. Kenshin shook his head and leaned back on his chair and copied her actions – though, he wasn't glaring at the board like she does.

"Mou! Stupid witch!" he heard her said in an annoyed voice. "Grr… I have better things to do than waste my time here with this stupid shrimpheaded girly boy!"

'I can hear you, you know…' Kenshin wanted nothing but to answer back but decided against it. He was a very patient man, after all.

"What were you doing there anyway if you weren't following me!" she asked all of the sudden, slumping lower to her seat.

"So, you finally believe what I'm telling you…?" Kenshin said, almost uncertainly.

"Why?" she turned her icy blue eyes at him, "You don't want me to?"

"Just kidding…" he chuckled, feeling more comfortable now that she's talking.

"What were you doing?" she asked again.

"Oh… my uncle sent me to buy some… er… stuff…"

"What 'stuff'?"

"Er…" Kenshin scratched the back of his head, "Would you believe me if I tell you that my uncle sent me to buy sake?"

"What kind of man drinks sake at that time of the morning!" she replied, narrowing her eyes and looking suspicious.

"Hehe…" Kenshin chuckled. "My uncle is not a normal man…"

To his surprise, her lips twitched into what unmistakably was a smile, "That's the lamest lie that I have ever heard, you know?"

"I'm not lying…" he couldn't help but smile back at her.

"Fine…" she only shrugged, "Whatever… suits you…"

"You know…" he said, without really thinking, "You should always smile… it suits you better."

Kaoru turned to him and her smile quickly evaporated. Kenshin mentally kicked his big mouth and waited for the bodily-pain that was yet to come.

"Don't go all mushy on me, shrimphead…" she said unblinkingly, "I tell you, it won't work."

Kenshin blinked as he found her turn back to the board. He almost jumped in surprise as she spoke again, "And don't go thinking that I have gone soft… it's just that I don't have much of a choice but to talk to you!"

'Why do you care so much about being soft or not?' he wanted to ask but thought about it. He might not be luckier next time and the last thing he wanted was a huge bump on his head.

XXX

The two hours was already up before he knew it. He quickly gathered his things and was already by her side in a blink of an eye. Kaoru gave him a frown as she found him standing beside her, an innocent grin on his face.

"What do you think you are doing!" she asked, her frown growing deeper as he only smiled wider.

"Sano and the others must have already gone home." Kenshin replied, "And since you take the same route home as I do… might as well…"

"No!" she quickly said and began walking at a faster pace. Kenshin had to jog to catch up with her. "Don't you dare!" she turned to face him and raised a fist. Kenshin gulped.

Kaoru turned her back to him and began walking again. Kenshin stared at her and soon followed, keeping a good few feet away from her. They were already out of the school grounds when she faced him again.

"What do YOU want!" she glared at him and marched her way back to him, waving a fist threateningly at him.

"I told you…" Kenshin gulped again, "I take the same route home."

Kaoru gave him a frown and waved her hands dismissively on air, "FINE! But DON'T bug ME!" she quickly swirled and proceeded to walk home. Kenshin jogged until he was walking side by side with her.

"Is your house too far from school?" he asked, trying his luck.

"I told you not to bug me, shrimphead!"

"Why do you always have to call me that!" Kenshin took a deep breath. He really hated that nickname.

"Ask yourself!"

"Fine!"

For some time they stayed quiet, Kenshin throwing quick glances at him when he thought that she wasn't looking. But it seems that she was doing the same – from the looks of it, she was nervous; just like the other time.

"Why are YOU so quiet!" she suddenly blurted out loud, "And quit staring!"

"I'm not staring!" he answered back. Or… am I?

"Yes, you are!"

Kenshin met her glare, he was nearing his limits, "How can you say that I'm staring! You must be staring too!"

The result was absolute. Kaoru was standing there with her face flushed – whether it was from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to tell – and gaping wordlessly at him. Kenshin congratulated himself for a job well done.

"You WISH!" Kaoru said after regaining her composure. "Why would I stare at you! You, of all people, shrimphead!"

"I don't know…" Kenshin replied coolly, "Maybe that's for you to answer, Kaoru-dono." Man… who knew teasing her was fun…

"Oh… yes…" Kaoru glared at him, "Maybe I was wondering why someone can tell that you're a guy… you look more like a 'girl' to me!"

Provoke me more… I'll show you I'm a guy…

"I mean… why would I stare at you?" Kaoru went on and on, a smirk on her face, "You're short,"

I'm taller than you!

"…and you have long hair,"

What's my hair length got to do with – !

"…not to say, red…"

What if my hair's red?

"…you're too darned soft…"

I'm not too soft!

"…hardly good-looking…"

Fine… I'm not the best-looking man in the world…

"…and mostly…" she faced him, a look of triumph on her face, "YOU," she poke him on his chest, "look like a GIRL!" she poked him again, harder this time, "WHY would I, of all people… ?"

And that was it! He grabbed both of her small wrists and puller her closer to him. Kenshin leaned towards her, taking in the shock look of her eyes and her slightly trembling mouth.

"Don't dare me to do it…" Kenshin spoke in a voice that was not his own.

Kaoru only stared wordlessly at him, her mouth moving but words failed her. Looking at her right now, Kenshin could almost sense her…

"I…" Kenshin let her go, staring shamefully at his feet, "I… I'm…"

Kaoru just stood there, with the same look of shock and confusion on her red face, chewing her lips as she too stared at the ground.

"I have to go…" he heard her finally say and looked up only to find her walking ahead.

"Er… K-Kaoru…dono…" Kenshin jogged to her side. She looked up, trying to avoid his eyes. "I'll walk you." he said with his fingers crossed. For once, the 'it' girl never raised an argument.

To be Continued…

A/N: Sorry for the long wait… kinda busy lately. I hope this chapter can make up for all the waiting and … waiting… Til next chapter.