the 'IT' girl
by: nyllemnev
Disclaimer: They are not mine
Chapter 9: Little Adventure
"Why would I let you carry my things!" was her angry retort when he offered to carry her things for her. Kenshin mentally chuckled as he watched her give him a small glare and went walking away without another word. He was soon at her tails before he even knew it.
Kaoru walked with her head high, chest out and sending death glares at every student that she encounters on her way. He shook his head – honestly, what can she get by glaring at almost everyone in sight? Kenshin wanted very much to ask but decided against it. He figured that he had tried his luck enough and would probably get an earful if he pushed it farther.
"Why are YOU following ME!" Kaoru said, her annoyance was very obvious from her voice.
Kenshin merely smiled and replied as calmly as he could, "But we go to the same class, didn't we, Kaoru-dono?"
"I know that FREAK!" she faced him and gave him a very cold glare. "That's why I pretty INFORMED that…" she pointed to something past Kenshin's shoulder, "…THAT is the WAY to OUR classroom!" she added, emphasizing her words with several smacks on his head. The redhead took a deep calming breath, rubbing his head and he could've sworn that he felt a single bump forming.
'Just when I thought that I'm starting to get lucky…'
Kaoru made an annoyed huff and was soon walking away, in the other direction. Kenshin frowned.
"Er… Kaoru-dono, aren't you supposed to be going back to our classroom? You don't want to –"
"YOU KEEP YOUR NOSE OUT OF MY BUSINESS, SHRIMP!" she actually yelled making the redhead jump back in alarm. She began walking again without another word.
Kenshin watched her go with a frown. Normally, he would have just let her be and leave her alone as she oh-so-nicely asked him to do. But it seems that today was a pretty special day.
"Kaoru-dono, you don't want detention again, do you?" he asked as he jogged beside her.
"What would YOU, and the rest of the world, care if I get another detention!" she snapped at him, though she kept looking ahead and started taking longer strides.
"But the teacher—"
"LEAVE ME OR DIE!"
"But what is so important that you –"
"MIND YOUR OWN BUS—"
She suddenly stopped as someone bumped into her from behind, sending her stumbling forward but Kenshin was quick to stop her from hitting the ground.
"Are you alright, Kaoru-dono?" he asked as he helped her back on her feet but she merely slapped his hands away and turned to glare at whoever bold enough to bump into her – of all people!
The 'one' appears to be a freshman boy with spiky brown hair and huge brown eyes. The boy stared up at Kaoru with – what appeared to be – a very relieved expression on his face. Kenshin frowned again.
"Ms. Ka-" the boy started but Kaoru quickly interjected.
"You watch where you're going KID!" she said and Kenshin could've sworn that Kaoru threw him a look. The boy's eyes widened as if in understanding and nodded at her.
"It's Tsubame…" he said. "They locked her up!"
"Wha-" Kaoru frowned, "Who did that?"
"Them!" the boy said with a very angry look on his face.
"Those PIGS!" Kaoru growled and turned back to Kenshin, "You go ahead, I might be busy."
Kenshin stared at her as if she had grown another head, "Is there something wrong, Kaoru-dono?"
"Just LEAVE!" she said and whispered something at the boy. The next thing the redhead knew, Kaoru and the unknown freshman were already running down the hallway. Without stopping for a thought, Kenshin was soon at their tails.
The two stopped running in front of a storage room and Kenshin stopped to hide on a corner. From where he was standing, he could distinctly hear the boy explaining to Kaoru what has happened.
"I just left to get something and when I came back I saw them throwing her in that room then slammed the door shut and left – laughing like there is no tomorrow."
"Why not just open it?" was Kaoru's reply.
"Can't… the lock's broken or something…"
"Alright…" Kaoru nodded and lightly tapped the door, "Tsubame, you there?"
"Ah!" came a small voice from inside the room, "Ms. Kamiya, is that you?"
"Yeah, the kid managed to get me…" Kaoru said trying to turn the knobs. "Stand back, I will try and force the door open."
"Hai!"
Kaoru took a deep breath and took a few steps back. She knew that this would not be as easy as she thought it could be – the door is very solid and all – but, she has no other choice. She sighed again.
"Ready!" she said, "Here—"
"Let me do it, Kaoru-dono…" Kenshin said, placing a hand on her shoulder to stop her from what she is about to do. "You might hurt yourself that you could."
The redhead smiled as the girl only stood there with her mouth slightly ajar, as if trying to figure out how he managed to get here without her noticing. Kenshin turned to stare at the door.
"I told you to leave!" he heard Kaoru said but ignored it as he tried to open the door by force – wincing a little everytime his left shoulder collides with the door. After four or so attempts, the door finally gave in and out came a very terrified looking girl. The redhead fell exhaustedly on his knees and smiled as the terrified girl ran to Kaoru, crying in relief.
"I was so scared; I thought no one's going to hear me… Oh, Ms. Kamiya, thank you very much, thank you…"
"It's not me…" Kaoru said, her eyes falling at her silent classmate who was currently nursing his left shoulder.
The girl, Tsubame, also turned her teary eyes at him and Kenshin felt slightly embarrassed when the shy-looking girl bowed gratefully at him and gave him a small hug.
"Thank you very much!" Tsubame said before turning to the other freshman. "You too, Yahiko-kun! You helped!"
"Yeah… a little…" the boy, Yahiko said looking slightly hopeful. His face turned beet red when the girl gave him a hug as well.
"I told you to be careful!" Kaoru was saying with her back at the scene. "Mou! I told you to stay out of trouble, darn it!"
"Gomen-nasai (I'm sorry) Kamiya-san… it won't happen again." Tsubame bowed at her.
"Of course it won't!" Kaoru said firmly, "I'll make sure of IT!" and with that she left. Kenshin eyed her as she left.
"Oh no…" Tsubame's small gasp caught Kenshin's attention and he turned to her. "She's not going to do what I think she's going to do…" she said this more particularly at Yahiko who looked just as anxious. Kenshin took that opportunity to voice out his concerns.
"What is it that you think Kaoru-dono will do?" the redhead asked, standing up. The two freshmen exchanged nervous looks before turning to Kenshin.
"I don't think we could tell you…" Tsubame said, looking down at her shoes. "Kamiya-san might get…"
"What's Kaoru's anger if she can get seriously hurt!" Yahiko said frowning at Tsubame, "You Kaoru's classmate –"
"The name's Kenshin…" Kenshin frowned.
"Fine, Kenshin, whatever!" Yahiko rolled his eyes, "The thing is we thought Kaoru'll go straight to Homura and his group and… you know her…"
'Homura and his group?' Kenshin frowned, those were the biggest bully in school and if he remembered that Kaoru almost got hurt when she last encountered them (chapter 2, anyone?). He stared back at Yahiko to see if the younger boy was kidding or something. It seems that he is indeed serious.
"Where do you think this group usually hangs out?" Kenshin asked.
"They normally skip classes and stay all day in the back of the school, near the old building…" Yahiko said thoughtfully before turning to Tsubame, "You go to class and tell the teacher I got sick or something, I'll go—"
"I'll go…" Kenshin said and was soon on his way to follow a certain 'girl' out and hopefully stop an oncoming school riot.
XXX
She found them at their usual spot, talking aloud and laughing at something funny – something that she didn't find so funny at all. Putting on the usual scowl that she was oh-so-popular with and her fist ready at her sides, she marched towards them – making them stop their small celebration.
"What have we got here?" the largest of them all smirked at her direction, his eyes going up and down of her body but she couldn't care less. For now she was angry – no, she was beyond that… she was FURIOUS!
"Sorry to interrupt your little party, loser!" Kaoru spat on the ground and glared at their each and every stunned face, taking in the pleasure of seeing how her little act erased the nasty grin on this big pig's ugly face.
"Is there something wrong, missy?" the huge guy said again, regaining his composure. "What might have we, mere ordinary students, done to upset her highness?"
Kaoru gave him the best glare that she could muster. It seems to have worked because his minions took a step back in alarm.
"'Mere ordinary students' my face!" she said, "You're nothing but a mere ugly pig to me, DORK!"
"Are you trying to pick a fight?" the bully said, his face dangerously serious but Kaoru met his glare unblinkingly.
"If you don't stop scaring people of I'm not afraid to do so, Homura-san…" she said the last word like spitting venom.
The bully, Homura started to laugh aloud with his minions following their leader's lead. Kaoru's eyes twitched in irritation at the sound of their maniac laughter but she held herself with dignity and waited for them to stop.
"Look who's talking!" Homura said with a very malicious grin on his face. "When it's you—"
"Don't pull me to your level, you stupid freak!" Kaoru said, angrier than she intended. "I'm not YOUR level, you laughing iguanas!"
"I don't like how that tongue of yours work…"
"And I don't like how that brain of yours work…" Kaoru smirked, "Oh wait… I just remembered you don't have one. Mind you, I—"
Homura grabbed her by the collar of her uniform before she could even react. Kaoru could feel her feet slowly leave the ground as he lifted her off, making it harder to breath but she glared at him – not wanting to give him the pleasure of seeing her affected at his actions.
"Why?" she smirked again, "Does it hurt to hear the truth?"
"You bitch, I'll—" he lifted a fist and Kaoru stared at him, fighting off the urge to blink or to let a single whimper come out. Her pride wouldn't let him have that satisfaction, though her heart was starting to—
"That's not the way of a gentleman that it isn't…"
Kaoru blinked this time, not of fear but of confusion. Only one person speaks like that, and only one person sounded like that…
"Kaoru-san!"
"Well, well…" Homura let her go, sending her painfully on the ground but Kaoru never made a single sound of pain escape from her. Pushing herself up, she turned to stare at him with Yahiko standing by his side.
'What the—'
"Isn't it the savior from the last time…" Homura said, eyeing Kenshin with a slight raise of an eyebrow, "Easy, now boy… the teachers won't be coming to save you this time."
"Please leave us alone. We don't want trouble that we don't…" Kenshin said with that innocent grin he was famous for. Homura lets another roar of laughter that Kaoru have to bit her tongue to stop herself from voicing her irritation out loud.
"Well, young missy here came for trouble." Homura said after he recovered from his fits of laughter, "And I am just kind enough to give her what she wants."
"Please don't hurt her." Kenshin actually bowed, "She does not know what she is doing."
'The coward!' Kaoru pushed Homura out of the way and marched her way towards her redheaded classmate, whacking him repeatedly on his head.
"How dare you!" she angrily retorted, "Who told you I'm afraid to get HURT! Who told YOU that I DON'T know what I'M DOING!"
"The pain, please stop the pain, de gozaru yo…" Kenshin fell swirly-eyed on the ground when she released him.
"WHY YOU BITCH!" Homura was standing up, looking livid when Kaoru turned back at him. Her eyes widened as she found him near enough to hit her. He lifted a fist and Kaoru was sure that it would surely connect with any part of her body now, if not for…
A pained cry escaped from him as Homura's huge fist collided with his already injured left shoulder. Kaoru watched with fear as he fell limping to the ground, grabbing his shoulder as if his life depended on it.
'The idiot…'
"Kenshin!" Yahiko was quick at his side, helping the redhead in anyway he could.
Kaoru turned at glared at Homura, noting how his minions were slowly making a move to join their leader. 'This is going to be a dirty one…' she thought, lifting a fist to ready herself from the whole riot that was about to come – the one she had created herself. But before any of the bullies could even lift a fist to fight or take a step to reach her, another voice came… another interruption came.
"What's this!" Kaoru turned to find a teacher standing there. Who knew she would be glad to see a teacher actually there. With laughing blue eyes, she watched as Homura and his gang took off for flight, but not without Homura throwing a nasty glare at her.
"You come back!" the teacher called and was soon at their tails. If the situation was only a bit different, it could have been a funny experience… but, well…
"Are you alright?" Tsubame was soon beside her which took her by surprise. "You hurt, Ms. Kamiya?"
"No… I'm fine…" Kaoru shook her head and then her eyes fell on Kenshin. She knelt beside him and frowned at him.
"You stupid IDIOT!" she lightly punched his uninjured arm. "Whatever comes INSIDE that shrimpy HEAD of YOURS to do that!" she punched him on the same arm again, sounding as nonchalant as she could.
"Gomen ne (Sorry), Kaoru-dono…" the redhead merely smirked which made her grow more frustrated. If he wasn't injured, she will surely give him a good kick on the—
"Can you help me with him, Yahiko?" Kaoru turned to the spiky-haired boy who nodded. Draping an arm on her shoulder, she helped him back on his feet with great difficulty and proceeded to the only logical place she has in mind.
XXX
"Are you alright, Kenshin?"
It was Misao's worried face who welcomed him when he first opened his eyes. Sitting up, more quickly that he had intended, causing the painful itch on his shoulder, he quickly scanned the room he was in to. 'Why on earth did I manage to get here?'
"Is it true? Homura and his gang did this to you?" Megumi and Sano was the next thing that he noticed, and he turned to them.
"Homura? Oro?" Kenshin scratched the back of his head with his right hand.
"Man… you're never the one to start a fight…" Sano shook his head at him, "Did they do something to you that makes you fight them?"
Kenshin continued to scan the room, he somewhat felt that something is amiss, "How did you know that I'm here?"
"Those two freshmen told us." Misao said, "Is there something wrong?"
Kenshin's eyes fell on a water pitcher sitting silently on the table and turned to give Misao a smile, "Nah… just thirsty." Misao returned his smile and poured him a glass of water.
"Here… drink this."
"Thank you." the redhead gratefully drank eventhough he was not feeling really thirsty. It really makes him happy that Misao worries about him like that.
"Mou! Because of those losers you missed classes!" Megumi said looking slightly disturbed at the very fact. Kenshin frowned and merely oro-ed.
"Classes are already finished." Sano informed him, as if reading what's on his mind. "We came here to see you as soon as the bell rang."
"Thanks." Kenshin smiled again. "What happened by the way? Did I miss a quiz or something?"
"No. Not a single quiz." Megumi shook her head with a smile, "You're lucky though, Ms. Yamaguchi forgot her notebook."
"Well, I must be." Kenshin chuckled. "And then what…"
"Yamaguchi had this really stupid idea…" Sano started earning a glare from Megumi for calling a teacher 'stupid'. "Well fine! Yamaguchi got this idea!"
"That for us to improve our grades in her subject, we need some help…" Misao added with a smile. "She said maybe if we could have study buddies, it could help us improve our grades. Sounds cool?"
"I guess." Kenshin nodded. How would it be great if he could have Misao as a partner.
"I got really lucky, you know?" Misao's smile became wider. "I got Aoshi-sama! I am so lucky!" she chirped and Kenshin's spirits slight fell.
"You should have seen the look on their faces when they found out who Aoshi-sama will be spending some time with! I have so many rivals, you know…" she added with a wink.
"That would be great…" Kenshin managed a small smile. "You could spend some time with him."
"Yeah!" Misao nodded dreamily, "Who knows? I might get him to like me as well…"
"That won't be a very difficult matter… you are not difficult to like…" he blurted out before his brain could even process what he is saying. Misao blushed a little and gave him a grateful smile.
"How 'bout Sano and Megumi?" Kenshin quickly changed the subject.
"You won't believe it!" Misao grinned ear-to-ear. "Yamaguchi paired them off!"
Kenshin grinned. 'Now that was really great… and he meant it.'
"You should have seen them…" Misao giggled, "They argued all the way here just because of the matter!"
Kenshin chuckled at that. It was very Megumi-and-Sano-ish to argue about the almost every kind of stuff. Just like now, (he noted as he turned to his other friends direction), they're already arguing about what caused my absence in the remaining half of his classes.
"Don't think that he's like you!" Megumi was saying, glaring at Sano, "You are the only one who would skip a class just because you're TOO lazy!"
"I'm not lazy!" Sano retorted back.
"You copied my homework,"
"I only compare out answers!"
"…you doze off in classes…"
"…Minami's voice has mysterious sleeping powers…"
"You make me help you CHEAT!"
"It was YOU who OFFERED! I only ACCEPTED!"
"YOU could HAVE declined!"
"Why would I decline if blessings is given to me on a silver platter!"
"Ethics! You know ethics!"
"What the heck is 'ethics'!" Sano said, looking convincingly confused. Megumi angrily huffed and tossed her long hair back. Kenshin chuckled as he watched the two.
"But er…" Misao said, "You're paired with… uhm…"
Kenshin faced her, waiting for her to continue. He wondered who would be his study buddy and silently hoped that it was someone whom he is slightly familiar with (since his friends have already had their respective partners).
"Er… don't be surprised, though…" Misao actually looked worried. Kenshin frowned and thought at any classmate that can make Misao act like this – no one.
"Your partner…"
XXX
He walked home with his friends this time (after assuring the nurse that he is indeed feeling okay). Sano and Megumi seems to be arguing about studies again (what's new) while Misao was telling him about what she's planning for her first chance to spend time with her Aoshi-sama (again, what's new). And again, they soon split up, waving their goodbye's.
Kenshin walked all alone down the same road that he always take everyday, stepping aside as some children went chasing each other and calling each other some names. The redhead merely chuckled, somehow this little ones reminded him of his so oh-so-bickering two friends.
'Honestly, Sano should just stop acting like a kid and just start treating Megumi-dono nicer…' he thought with a sigh as he looked up and his eyes went wide.
Kaoru was walking, staring at the ground as she did so – not minding that she was bumping into person after person, answering every angry glare that she receives with a glare of her own. With a deep breath, he jogged and soon managed to catch up with her.
"YOU SNEAKY FREAK!" she retorted when he lightly tapped her shoulder to catch her attention. Kenshin gave her a small smile and waited for blow to come. None came, to his great relief.
"Going home?" he asked, half-expecting for the same sarcastic answer.
"No!" she rolled her eyes, another expected response, "I'm going to TRAVEL around the WORLD, dork!"
"Sorry…" Kenshin sighed.
Silence fell for quite sometime and Kenshin stared at the road right ahead, not daring to take the quickest glance at his quiet companion for he was afraid for her fury.
"How's your arm?" she asked in a voice soft as a whisper. He turned to her to find her staring at the ground and her cheeks slightly of the pinkish color. Must be the sun setting…
"It's alright now… OUCH!" he winced as she lightly pinched his left shoulder. He gave her a frown.
"I knew IT!" Kaoru glared at him, "You are SUCH an IDIOT sometimes, you know that?"
"You always remind me that I am…" Kenshin muttered under his breath, nursing his aching shoulder.
"MOU! Stupid! You are an IDIOT! Senseless IDIOT! Stupid, freaking, nosy IDIOT! MOU!" she waved her hand in frustration and Kenshin had the distinct impression that she could go pulling his hair now if she continued steaming like that. He slowly inched away from her just to be safe.
"Who told you I needed help!" was her last words and for some reasons, her shoulders fell and her eyes found the ground more adoring again.
"I'm sorry…" was all that he could offer.
"I am completely capable, you know…" Kaoru bent her head lower, causing some of her hair to fall down her shoulder – completely hiding her from his view. "I am NOT weak! I can take care of MYSELF! I don't need anyone to HELP me! I can MANAGE on MY own!"
"Kaoru-dono…" he stared at her slightly shaking fist and the hair that was hiding her face from him. But she stayed quiet and Kenshin decided to follow her lead, but continued to give her quick worried glances.
"That's your stop." she finally said and Kenshin – just like those times – only realized that he was indeed right in front of his house. But unlike those other times, he continued to walk by her side.
"Why are you still following me?" Kaoru said in a monotone.
"I want to walk you home." he answered truthfully. 'She's my classmate after all…'
"You already know that someone's going to pick me up already, so don't waste your time!" and when she turned he was surprised to find her eyes shining with something that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Then I will wait with you."
Kaoru stared at him with that same look on her eyes. Feeling the temperature slightly rise for some reason, he stared right ahead and just silently walked until they reached the same bench they had took a few nights before.
"Why not just let your uncle pick you up at school?" the redhead asked, in an attempt to make things at ease.
"He is not my uncle." Kaoru said and he noted how her hands started to tremble, "And you don't need to know that!"
"Sorry…"
"Why do keep saying 'sorry'?" she asked, sounding a little annoyed.
"I'm sorry…" he looked down.
"Gah! Just shut up then!" she rolled her eyes and leaned back on the bench. Kenshin leaned back as well and stared at the sky that was slowly starting to dark.
"Is Tsubame-chan and Yahiko-kun some friend of yours?" he asked, remembering the two freshmen from earlier.
"I don't have friends, idiot!" Kaoru rolled her eyes again, "They're mere acquaintances! And Tsubame, you have met her before, don't you remember?"
Kenshin frowned hard to remember but it was a failure. Kaoru gave an impatient huff and continued, "At the Akabeko, remember? She was the one who served our meals? You know…" she then gave him a very cold glare, "…when you left me for that girl Makimachi!"
Kenshin merely oh-ed and nodded his head. He never knew that she was still affected with that little incident. He thought that she had already forgiven him and had completely forgotten that little incident. He sighed.
"I'm sorry…"
"Man! You are hopeless!" she actually sighed.
"Sorry…"
"I told you to STOP saying that freaking 'SORRY', you idiotic shrimphead!"
Kenshin opened his mouth to apologize once more but her death glare silenced his mouth. He merely nodded.
"Well, she actually remembered you, mind you…" Kaoru continued, "She wanted me to tell you 'thanks'."
"It's nothing really." Kenshin smiled.
"Thanks…" she said in a soft voice. Kenshin blinked.
"Er… tell Tsubame-san that it's nothing really." he repeated again which made her eyes flashed in anger and made her whack his head with her bag. The redhead winced in pain.
"You IDIOT!" Kaoru stood up and went to the other vacant bench but not after giving him a glare. The redhead frowned in confusion.
'Now what was that for…' was his thoughts as he rubbed another bump on his head.
To be continued…