the 'IT' girl
by: nyllemnev
Disclaimer: They are not mine
Chapter 8: Sorry
She had never said a word nor threw a single glance – not even a single glare – at his direction when they met at school hallway the next day. Kenshin – who was supposed to be feeling relieved at the very fact – spent the rest of the day, wondering how on earth he would approach her or at least talk to her.
"Oi! Are you still with us!" Sano lightly hit the back of his head, causing the shorter man to almost stumble forward. Turning his eyes on his frowning friend, Kenshin mustered a small smile and spoke in a small voice, "Hey Sano… What's up?"
Beside his tall friend, Misao and Megumi exchanged worried glances before fixing their redheaded friend two identical frowns.
"Are you sure you're not sick?" Megumi actually felt for his forehead, "Well, you certainly doesn't have a fever, so what's wrong?"
Kenshin only shrugged, and started to walk again – his three friends shared confused looks before sauntering behind him. They talked about some stuff – he really couldn't get any of it, he just nodded and smiled here and there to show them that he was listening when the truth was that…
Actually, he doesn't understand why he is feeling like this. It was hardly his fault that he actually snapped at her like that. Sure, he was a man of long patience and all that stuff but – She really went beyond the line last night… It's not my fault anymore…
Flashback
Their walk was a very uncomfortable one. If Kenshin has felt more uncomfortable, this one surely beats it. Kaoru was just walking silently beside him, head bent low and staring at the ground as if it was the greatest master piece of them all. Kenshin lets another sigh, trying to muster the strength to at least talk to her or worse – apologize.
If wasn't really his fault, was it? Every person has their limitations, haven't they? And –
She suddenly stopped walking and just stood there. Kenshin looked around to find that they have reached the town park. With a very confused frown, he stared at her back; only to find that she was already slowly making her way to the nearest bench.
"Er… Kaoru-dono?" he called, but she either ignored him or never heard. He sighed and took the empty space beside her. "Kaoru-dono?" he tried again. This time, she merely raised an eyebrow and waited for him to continue.
"Er… aren't you supposed to go home now?" he said, almost as cautiously as he could. The last thing he wanted was to fuel her anger more – if she really was angry to begin with (he thought with his fingers crossed).
"I'm waiting for my lift." she answered to his slight surprise.
"You expecting someone to pick you up?" he asked again, "Your father?"
"No…" she replied, shaking her head, "My father is too busy for that."
"Oh…" he nodded his head as if that settled the matter. He leaned back on the bench and took a quick glance at his watch. He took a quick glance at her and was surprised to find that she actually looked nearly as nervous as he was.
"I'm sorry about that… I mean… that… er…" he started, now grabbing this chance to apologize – now that she seems calmer.
Kaoru only looked down and stared down at her own hands which were tightening its hold on her schoolbag. The redhead took another deep sigh and stared at a nearby couple talking animatedly to each other. Another sigh escaped him.
"Forget it…" she suddenly said, "That never happened."
He blinked at her, "Wha—"
"It never happened." Kaoru repeated, more firmly this time. Before Kenshin could even open his mouth to say something, a black sedan – the same black sedan that he had noticed earlier stopped and out came the same man. Kaoru gave him another nod before coming to walk towards the car that has just stopped.
"And…" Kaoru stared at him long and hard. "YOU never WITNESSED this!" she stated firmly before climbing inside the car and was soon out.
Flashback : end
'Okay… I thought we're okay after that…' Kenshin sighed again, only realizing that he and his friends had already reached their classroom. His eyes quickly scanned the room and met a pair of sapphire eyes for a very brief moment before she tore the connection. The redhead sighed again and took his seat but not without risking another look at a certain 'it' girl.
XXX
"Man! That was very tiring!" Sano was complaining, yet again to Megumi while Kenshin was stuffing his things on his school bag. He heard Sano's wince as his head connected, yet again, to Megumi's ever trusty book. The redhead only shook his head and sighed.
"C'mon…" Misao said to him and Kenshin nodded. Megumi and Sano argued all the way to the cafeteria where their voice soon died down from the loud chatter of the other students within. Kenshin and his friends occupied their usual table and ordered the same meal.
"Sorry 'bout yesterday…" Megumi said, her voice taking Kenshin by surprise. "We left without you…"
Kenshin gave his friend a small smile, "It's alright…"
"It's very unfair of Ms. Minami to give you that detention when you never deserved it." Misao said with a pout.
"Well, I walked in late, so I guess I just deserved it." Kenshin shrugged.
"Must be hell…" Sano shook his head, "Did she murder you in there?"
Kenshin blinked, "Murder? Who?"
"Kamiya! She didn't pester you, did she?" Sano said, leaning forward.
"Of course she did!" Megumi rolled her eyes, "It's her we're talking about here."
And just like those other times, Sano and Megumi argued. Normally, Kenshin – the most patient man of them all – would have just let them be and just shook his head or let out a sigh. He doesn't know what happened, he doesn't know why or how – it's just that, it's as if something suddenly snapped inside of him. Something he couldn't quite figure out… Something…
Kenshin pushed his half-eaten meal, more forcefully as he intended and stood up. Megumi and Sano stopped arguing, and Misao stopped eating to stare at him in shock and slightly puzzled. Before they could utter a single word, he lifted a hand and was out without another word.
XXX
"Himura!" surprise was evident on her face as he accidentally bumped into her in the hallway. Kenshin only stood there and watched as she made a move to pick the book that she had hastily dropped in the process. Only realizing what had just happened, Kenshin shook his head and quickly picked her book up and handed it to her.
"You called me by my name…" Kenshin said, just realizing the fact. The girl only snorted at him and quickly took the book from him.
"You wish, SHRIMPHEAD!" Kaoru sauntered away from him, leaving the redhead watching her with a frown. Then, shaking his head, he jogged to catch up with her.
"What the hell do YOU think YOU are DOING, SHRIMPY!" Kaoru stopped walking to face him, a cold look on her face.
"I just thought you… er…" Kenshin looked down, "I just thought that you wouldn't mind the company that you wouldn't…"
"Well I MIND!" Kaoru glared at him and began to walk away. Kenshin was soon behind her. Whether he had a deathwish or not, even Kenshin doesn't know.
"LOOK!" Kaoru faced him again, her face flushed with growing frustration. "What do YOU want! Just spill it out and LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"I… er…" Kenshin thought hard for an answer. Unfortunately, none came.
Kaoru rolled her eyes and walked down the stairs, sending death glares at everyone passing by. Kenshin watched her go for a while before following, yet again. She stopped walking by the same old tree that he had once caught her spend the entire lunch break before, took a seat and opened her book to read. Once he was certain that she was too engrossed in her book to notice his existence, Kenshin decided to take the empty space beside her as quietly as possible.
"I told you not to bother me, shrimpy!" she said without even looking up from her book.
"Er… I promise I won't bother you." Kenshin said, mustering up a wide innocent grin and crossing his fingers inside his pocket. Kaoru blew her bangs out of her eyes and never said another word.
"Er… are you mad at me?" the redhead asked as cautiously as possible, readying himself for the blow to come. He sighed in relief when none came.
"What's it to you if I'm mad?" she asked, in a more calm and collected voice.
"Because that must mean that I have done something wrong and I don't like it." Kenshin said truthfully. "Makes me feel uncomfortable."
"If you're talking about what happened last night, I already told you to forget it!" she answered back, irritation evident on her voice.
"But it seems that you're avoiding me for some reason."
Kaoru finally looked up, a frown on her almost flawless face, "And if I really am avoiding you… so what?" she raised an eyebrow to emphasize her point. Kenshin only stared – he sure does not know what was the point.
"I don't know." the redhead only shrugged and stared up at the sky. "I just don't feel comfortable when I know that someone doesn't like me."
"What makes you think that I, of all people, will like YOU?" Kaoru replied, more agitated than the situation warranted. Kenshin turned to look at her.
"Won't you?" he asked. It was fun watching her so lost at words like she was right now.
"You LYING FREAK! You SAID that YOU will NOT bother ME!" she hastily went back to her book and he noted how her little hands slightly tremble as she held her book up to hide her face. Kenshin shook his head at the thought, 'Why would he notice things like that!'
"I'm really sorry about last night…" Kenshin sighed, "And don't tell me to shut it out or anything because I'm not going to stop until I'm certain that I am forgiven."
"Fine!" was her quick reply and she slightly lowered her book so she could look at him, "Will you leave me alone now!"
Kenshin only smiled and lied down on the grasses, staring up at the crystal blue sky, feeling better and the huge knot on throat suddenly melting.
Life is surely full of mysteries…
To be continued…
A/N: Another chapter from me… :) I sure do hope that you liked it:) Til next chapter… see ya!
To Anonymous but interested – wow, so many questions already… but I'm afraid that I can't answer all of it myself. I want the chapters to speak for themselves and not spell it out myself, you know. :) I do hope it's alright with you.