the 'IT' girl
by: nyllemnev
Disclaimer: They are not mine
Chapter 10: The Girl Behind the Mask
"And as for the very first assignment that you have to do with your partners…" Ms. Yamaguchi, their homeroom adviser, happily announced with a huge giddy smile on her face. Kenshin sighed and leaned back on his seat as he waited for his overly excited teacher to continue.
"I am going to give the remaining time for you and your partners to brainstorm on—"
"What partners!" was the rather curt question from the back row. Kenshin need not turn to figure out that the question was from Kaoru – he nervously gulped, how could he have forgotten to tell her yesterday…
Yamaguchi only turned to Kaoru, her smile becoming wider – almost ear-to-ear, as she spoke, "Oh yes! I forgot that you were in the clinic with Mr. Himura yesterday, eh?"
Kenshin blinked at that ('Nobody told me that…') and turned to find the 'it-girl' glowering at their smiling teacher.
"Why would I stay with stupid shrimpy in the clinic!" she said aloud and turned away sharply. Kenshin could've sworn that he saw her face turn pink.
"Anyway…" Yamaguchi grinned more to Kaoru's direction before turning her attention back to the class. "I'm giving you the remaining of our period to brainstorm. You have to submit to me the rough draft of your story before the bell rings, okay?"
With that, Yamaguchi sat behind the teacher's desk and his classmates moved to join their partners. He noted Misao happily skipping to Aoshi's direction while Sano and Megumi were going on (yet again) for whatever they're arguing about. With a sigh, he turned to his partner and found that she still hasn't moved an inch and was scowling at the window.
"Er… Kaoru-dono…" he scratched the back of his head as he took the seat next to hers. She regarded him with that scowl that he is oh-so-familiar with before turning to stare out of the window.
"Er… we should start, I believe." the redhead produced a notebook and a pen from his schoolbag and turned to find her still staring out of the window, "Kaoru-dono?"
"Mou!" she blew her bangs and turned to frown at someone past his shoulder, "Stupid teacher! I can do this assignment all by myself! Why pair me off with some stupid geek!" she pouted and glared.
'I can hear you, you know…' Kenshin sighed as he waited for Kaoru to finally notice him. His eyes wandered around the classroom and noted how his classmates were already starting their 'brainstorming' – Misao was more gawking at Aoshi while the usually silent man was talking about something. He sighed.
"Oy!" her voice sounded really angry for some reason and the nudge on his arm was slightly more painful than the usual. He turned to find her glaring at him.
"Let's get this on!" Kaoru said, her eyes moving from him to something behind him, and then back to him.
"Er… sorry…" he gave her a weak smile and nodded.
"You like her…" his eyes widened at what she said. When he looked up, he found her staring at him with an odd expression on her face.
"Oro?"
Kaoru regarded him with a small frown, as if trying to read what was going on his mind. Kenshin tried with all of his might to meet her eyes unblinkingly, to give her that puzzled look that he is very popular for. And for that very few seconds, he wondered why he never noticed – why all of those times, he never noticed –
"Nothing…" it was she who first broke the icy silence with a small sigh. She placed her chin on her updrawn hand and stared at him as if waiting for him to say something.
"Er… why?" he asked, almost nervously.
"I thought that I heard you saying that we should start with that stupid assignment…" Kaoru replied, the same odd look still present on her face. Kenshin gulped and gave her a small uneasy smile.
"Yeah… I think I said that…" he nodded and turned back to his, still, blank notebook.
"Where do we start?" she asked, placing her chin on her hand, "You think…"
"I was thinking of a story about friends—" the redhead said, scratching the back of his head.
"Too sappy!" was Kaoru's comment, "I like something with more action or suspense…"
"Er… then we can do something about friendship that is not too sappy and something with action or suspense." Kenshin suggested, "Is that alright then?"
Kaoru thought for a while, "Alright." she shrugged and Kenshin smiled with relief, "This is after all a group project. I guess it's only fair that we put our ideas into this one, eh?"
"Right!" he nodded, "And then we'd have two main characters…"
"As long as they're not too soft-y or something like that it's alright with me…"
"…the setting is at present?"
"I want it more of a fantasy world…" she said with a small smile, "…with magic, samurais, warriors – something like that…"
"Alright, if you want…"
The school bell soon rang and echoes of complaints soon filled class 2-B. In the end, Ms. Yamaguchi gave up with the cries and protests of her class and soon told them (to Sano's utter delight) that the assignment can be passed in Monday.
Kenshin was putting his things in his bag when someone tapped him lightly on his shoulder. When he turned, he was surprised to find that it was Misao.
"Hey!" the redhead said with a smile for his friend. He frowned when he noted that Sano and Megumi were already out of the room.
"Megumi said that they're going to finish their assignment…" Misao said, as if reading his mind, "…more like Megumi forced Sano into it…" she added with a wink.
"Oh!" Kenshin nodded, "That's very… er… Megumi-ish, that it is…"
Misao giggled and playfully hit him on the arm. Kenshin could not help but join her laughter.
"So they left us again, eh?" he muttered, not really intending for Misao to hear it but—
"Well they always do…" Misao only shrugged as they walked out of their classroom together. "I always wonder why…"
'If you only knew…' Kenshin thought with a sigh as the two took the long hallway.
The school hallway was pretty crowded – noisy and packed with students excited and ready to plan their weekends away. Misao, who was walking beside him, was telling him about something – he wasn't really listening, the words that escaped her lips were soon becoming meaningless and absurd to his ears as he watched her talked. 'Just like one of those times…'
"What's up with you now?" he blinked at her sudden question and gave her one confused frown. She giggled and shook her head, "You've been spending lesser time with us these last few days."
"I have?" Kenshin's eyes widened, "I didn't…"
"And I notice that you seem very happy these last few days!" her grin has a mischievous glint that he never missed.
"Oro?"
Misao giggled again, that mischievous grin becoming wider to the redhead's utter discomfort, "Something came up that you're not telling me?" she asked and grabbing him by his arm, she added in a whisper, "Or rather it is a someone?"
Kenshin blushed and he doesn't even know why. He opened his mouth to answer back but someone roughly pushed his back – making him lose his balance and almost stumble forward. He need not look up to figure out that Kaoru had, once again, passed.
"Mou! I hate it when she does that…" Misao sighed as she helped her friend back to his feet, watching as Kaoru pushed another group of students out of her way.
"Er…" Kenshin gave her a weak smile and scratched the back of his head, "I'm kind-of used to it by now…"
"That's not it!" Misao frowned at him, "It's just that she shouldn't do that to you or to other people… it's just too mean…"
"I guess it is… I don't really mind it though…" Kenshin said truthfully, "She's not that bad, really…"
Misao turned to him with a smile, "Of course I know that…" she nodded when he frowned, "I know that behind that tough, cold and mean exterior is just a girl who needs a friend." and then, she sighed, "I just don't like it when she keeps pushing people around or something like that."
"Maybe she is just scared," at Misao's shock expression, Kenshin shrugged, "Just an idea…"
Like all of those times, they walked together (minus Sano and Megumi, of course); and like those times, they separated until Kenshin was left alone to take the same route home that he takes everyday. He was silently humming to himself and was halfway to his house when he finally noticed the lone figure walking not too far from him.
"Kaoru-dono…" he called, just like all of those times.
"What?" she asked roughly without even looking back at him. Kenshin only sighed and watched her as they walked.
"Can I walk with you?"
She turned to give him that same bored look on her face, "It's not like you'd back out if I said 'no', is it?"
"Well…" Kenshin smiled as she only rolled her eyes. Kaoru blew her bangs and turned to stare right ahead.
They walked with the same odd silence in the atmosphere. Kenshin kept throwing quick glances at her direction when he thought that she wasn't looking, noting her slight frown and the thoughtful look on her face. 'I wonder what's going on her head…'
The two soon reached the same park, sat on the same bench and waited with the same silence. Kenshin sighed and leaned back on the bench and stared up at the slowly darkening sky, counting the stars that was one-by-one appearing on the sky.
"Why are you doing this?" he was caught by surprise by her sudden question that he turned to give her a frown. He noted the sad look on her eyes as she met his gaze.
"Why are you being so nice?" she asked again, "Are you doing this just because you want it? Or are you doing this because of pity?"
Kenshin's eyes widened – why would she ever think of that?
"It must be the second option, isn't it?" Kaoru's audible sigh never escaped his ears as she looked down at her hands and continued, "Can't be the other one, can it? Why would someone WANT to be nice to me? When all I do is to hurt people, insult them – to be mean and nasty and—"
"Stop!" he suddenly said, cutting her off. "Don't say it…" he gave her a frown, staring at her as if she had grown a second head, "Whatever entered your mind to think like—"
"Wha—" she opened her mouth and glared at him, looking slightly affronted but the redhead only held up a hand to stop her.
"Whatever entered you head…" he smiled at her, "I'm doing this not because of pity or anything. I do this because –" he stared at her, made a really bold move and grabbed her hand – taking in the look of utter surprise and confusion on her face as she met his gaze, "I do this because I want to get to know you more…"
"Why would you want that?" she frowned, pulling her hand away from his grasp. "What makes you think that I'd let you!"
Kenshin only smiled, watching with amusement as she inched away from him, "I can be really persistent if I want to."
Kaoru gave him one incredulous look, "Ha! You're not only one idiotic shirmphead but also a stubborn one!"
Kenshin looked rather proud than insulted.
XXX
The next day (Saturday), which only meant relaxation for other students meant household chores and errands for our redheaded protagonist. Early in the morning he was already in the kitchen, preparing breakfast while his uncle was once again in his workshop working on some potteries for his client.
Kenshin was just finished with the last pancake when the phone rang. Thinking that it's another one of his uncle's clients, he sighed and picked it up.
"Hello…" he said in a rather lazy voice. When the person on the other line answered, his eyes went wide and his hand dropped the phone on his hand.
"Easy with the phone!" his uncle, to his relief was quick to catch the cordless phone before it hits the floor. Kenshin gave the older man a sheepish grin before snatching the phone from his uncle's hands.
"Baka deshi! You always have the tendency to break things up!" was the loud comment from his huge uncle.
"Oy! Shrimpy! What was that!" the person on the other line said in a very suspicious voice.
"Sorry…" he replied, scratching the back of his head, "What is it Kaoru-dono?" he quickly asked. Behind him, Seijurou Hiko, raised an eyebrow.
"Mou! You stupid shrimpheaded geek!" she said, rather yelled – very loud that Kenshin had to put the phone an arm length away to protect his eardrums from fatal damage.
"Oro? What did I do this time?" his face paled.
"Are you free?" Kaoru asked in a small voice. The redhead could hear a rather loud ruckus in her side of the line ('What's that sister!' , 'I can come with you, little sister!' , 'Who's the git! I'll kill him!') and he sweatdropped.
"Oro?"
"I'm asking if you're free…" she asked again, sounding more annoyed than the situation warranted. The voices in the background became louder.
"Er… my uncle can always do the chores…" Kenshin said with a smile.
"Can you help Tsubame out, then?" she said quickly, the voices in the background faded and Kenshin fell on the floor. Scrambling back to his feet, he frowned.
"Er? Nani (What)?"
"I'm asking you if you could help Tsubame out at something." she repeated and this time, the voices in her side of the line disappeared.
Kenshin sighed and nodded – then, realizing that she could not see him, he said, "It's alright…"
He heard her sigh of relief as she said, "I guess I owe you one, then!"
"Er…" the redhead said before she could hang up, "Are you going to be there too?"
There was a long pause before she answered, "I don't know… I'll try…"
Kenshin sighed again, "Er… how can I—"
"All you have to do is to meet with her to the place that I'll give you," she said, "This is the address—"
XXX
He found the freshman, Sanjou Tsubame, standing near the lamp post as she waited for him. He was at her side in a blink of an eye, with the same kind smile on his face.
"Ohayo, Himura-san (Good Morning, Mr. Himura)!" she bowed at him and the redhead returned her bow. "I am so sorry to have disturbed you. It's just that Kamiya-san could not do it today and Yahiko-kun was busy with something…"
"It's alright." Kenshin nodded. "Shall we go now?"
"Hai!" Tsubame nodded.
"Er… if you don't mind me asking, I was wondering what is it that you have to do…"
"Kamiya-san failed to tell you?" she blinked. "Oh… I'm going to visit the orphanage…"
"Orphanage?" Kenshin blinked, "Er? What are you going to do in an orphanage?"
"We always go there every Saturday…" Tsubame smiled, "Me, Yahiko-kun and Kamiya-san… sometimes Otsu-kun and some of Kamiya-san's brothers…"
"Why?"
"It's just… er…" Tsubame bit her lower lip, "I don't know if I could tell you… Kamiya-san might get angry or something…"
"Oh…" Kenshin nodded his head, but he tried to hide his disappointment, "She's very secretive, isn't she?"
"She cares so much of that image of hers, that she does…" Tsubame sighed, almost sadly, "I can't understand why she does, though… I will never understand…"
"I see…"
"Anyway, the place is where I first met Kamiya-san…" Tsubame smiled, "I work there as a volunteer, you see?"
"That's very nice of you to do, that it is." Kenshin smiled at her, glad that the usually silent girl was starting to be more relaxed than before.
"There was this person anonymously giving toys or books in the orphanage, sometimes food… every Christmas it's a brand new dress and shoes. It's really great and the children were all really glad with this!" Tsubame smiled at Kenshin, "And guess who the anonymous donor was—"
Kenshin gaped at the implication of her words – that can't be…
Then Tsubame's eyes widened at the realization of what she had said, turning to her equally shocked redheaded companion, she bent her head down, "Please don't tell Kamiya-san that I told you…"
"It really was Kaoru?" Kenshin blinked, "She did that?"
"Up to now, yes…" Tsubame said shamefully, "Don't tell her, promise me! Nobody knew about this other than her family! Just me and Yahiko-kun!"
"The orphanage?"
"Kamiya-san made me swear not to tell…"
Kenshin stared right ahead, not really wanting to believe what he is just hearing. He hailed a cab and for some time, he was left for his thoughts.
And all those times I thought that she was being…
"Since I have told you that…" Tsubame said beside him, "I guess it wouldn't hurt if I tell you that I'm studying at school because of her as well…"
"You—?"
"She has done so much for me, you know… I am forever in debt of her." she sighed, "That's why I respect her above them all."
"Now I understand…" Kenshin smiled at her, "Thank you for sharing this with me… I think I'm starting to understand Kaoru more."
"I don't know…" Tsubame smiled back at him, "I just felt like I can trust you. Just like Kamiya-san does…"
"Kaoru? What?" he blinked.
"The mere fact that it was you she called to come with me," Tsubame smiled again. "Well…"
Kenshin never appreciated the beauty of the Tokyo this much before.
XXX
They had stopped by the mall to buy some 'gifts', as Tsubame called them, for the children before going straight to the orphanage on a cab. They were greeted by the kind volunteers in the orphanage when the two arrived. The happy faces of the children was enough to make Kenshin smile as they peered through an old oak door and eyed the huge bags and boxes of presents that were ready to be distributed. Soon, Kenshin and Tsubame were led to the main hall where the children were waiting – excitement and queer anticipation were evident on each childish faces.
"Where's your boyfriend, neechan?" a little girl asked, tugging at Tsubame's skirt. The freshman merely blushed and knelt beside the girl.
"Yahiko-nii is busy today…" she said, patting the little girl's head.
"Wow! Santa Claus!" one of the kids pointed at Kenshin's direction (he was currently carrying some of the bags, hence the childish conclusion).
"Oro?" the redhead blinked as three or so little boys ran gleefully to his direction. Turning weakly at the other volunteer's direction, he was surprised to find them all laughing.
"Now, now… don't give Ken-nii a headache…" one of the volunteers, a pretty lady with short brown hair said at the boys. "One by one, alright?"
"Hai!" was the loud chorus from the young audience.
Two, three hours – Kenshin has really lost track of time, as he distributed gifts to each and every children in the orphanage. Each happy faces, he felt instantly lighter – the exhaustion and tiredness, all forgotten as he watched the children happily comparing their gifts from one another.
The next part of the visit was story-telling. Tsubame, sat in the middle of the excited children as she read the story of 'Cinderella' to her young audience.
"Can you tell the our kind lady our deepest appreciation?" the same lady with short brown hair said, "It's just very disappointing that we can't thank her personally ourselves… Tell them the children were really grateful for her kindness."
"I will tell her that I will." Kenshin gave her a small smile and bowed.
The day soon ended and Kenshin waved the children goodbye before heading out of the establishment with Tsubame when someone called them.
"Oi!"
Kenshin looked up and found her standing beside a dark blue sedan. She gestured for them to join her.
"Kamiya-san! Konbanwa (Good evening)!" Tsubame bowed at her lady and Kaoru only rolled her eyes.
"Mou! How many times do I have to tell you that you don't need to do that!" she sighed and then turned to Kenshin, "I guess I owe this one, ne shrimpy?"
"Nah…" Kenshin smiled at her, "I had fun, really."
"Great!" Kaoru's lips twitched into what was an unmistakable smile, "How about dinner?" she clapped her hand and a man suddenly appeared and opened the car door. She gestured for Tsubame and Kenshin to follow as she hopped inside the car.
"Otsu! Akabeko!" Kaoru said once the three of them were seated at the back seat. The car soon sped up and Kaoru yawned.
"What have you been doing, if you don't mind me asking Kamiya-san?" Tsubame asked and Kenshin carefully listened.
"Oh!" Kaoru shrugged, "They set me up again to another idiot!"
Kenshin turned at her sharply and blinked, "A date, de gozaru?"
"You can call it that way…" she yawned again, "But my brothers would take care of him, eh?"
"The poor man was shaken to death, that he was…" the driver, Otsu, said in addition.
"That will make him a wimp!" Kaoru laughed, "A huge arrogant wimp!"
"Tae-san set you up again?" Tsubame asked, almost in an uncertain voice.
"Well, she always does…" Kaoru pouted, then as if only noticing Kenshin there, she lightly hit her forehead with her palm.
"Oh! Forgot!" she turned to Otsu, "Otsu, this is my classmate, Himura Kenshin – but I'd prefer if you'll call him shrimphead or shrimpy…" at that the redhead sheepishly grinned, "Oy, shrimpy, this is Otsu…"
"It is an honor to have met a friend of my lady's." was the response from the man behind the wheels.
"Mou! You don't have to be so polite, Otsu! It's just shrimpy!" Kaoru rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.
"It's a pleasure meeting you too, sir." Kenshin bowed his head.
"They were looking for you…" Tsubame informed, "You should come with us one time, the children would really like it."
"Nah…" Kaoru rolled her eyes, "I don't help to be thanked. I help because I wa—" her eyes widened as she stared at Kenshin. "I… I mean… I…"
"It's alright…" Kenshin smiled at her, "I won't tell."
Kaoru only bit her lip and stared out of her window. She never said another word the whole journey to the 'Akabeko'. When they finally reached the famed restaurant, Tsubame excused herself to Kenshin and Kaoru and went straight to the servant's quarters to change into her uniform while an attendant led the two to their 'reserved' table.
"The usual, miss?" was the question of the attendant and Kaoru nodded as an answer.
"Er… Kaoru-dono, why are you so silent?" he asked as the attendant left.
"Is it a crime now?" was her sarcastic remark. "Mou! Aren't you going to laugh now!"
"Oro?"
"Don't 'oro' me, you idiot!" Kaoru frowned, "Isn't it a laughing matter! The school's biggest bully, an anonymous Santa Claus?"
"No." Kenshin shook his head and smiled, "I think that it's very nice of you to do."
She only gaped at wordlessly at him. Kenshin smiled wider as he watched her scramble for words.
"Mou! You're laughing at me!" she threw a table napkin at him and Kenshin reacted just in time to dodge it. So, she threw another one, and another –
"Gotcha!" she laughed as she finally made a hit and stopped when a something hit her face. When she looked up, she noted the sheepish grin on her companion's face.
"Mou! You-" she was about to throw another table napkin at him when somebody called her.
"Kaoru-chan?" a beautiful woman with long black hair wearing a simple black dress soon joined them. Giving Kaoru a small hug before turning to Kenshin, "You brought a friend?"
"He's my classmate," Kaoru said quickly as the lady took a seat. "He's Himura Kenshin." she turned to him and said, "This is Sekihara Tokio, an old friend of my dad's."
"Nice to meet you, Himura-san." the lady shook hands with him. "Man, my sister would surely love to meet you."
"Mou! Tae-san should stop pairing me off with some weird-o!" Kaoru pouted as she sank in her seat, "That one's bad news! He's surely going to get it from my brothers!"
"Well, my sister only wants the best for you," Tokio said this and patted Kaoru's cheek. The younger lady slightly blushed and pouted again. "I guess I'll leave you with your dashing boy friend here, my dear…" the lady stood up and bowed at Kenshin before taking her leave.
"Mou! He's not my boyfriend!" Kenshin watched with amusement as Kaoru pouted and blew her bangs out of her eyes.
"Mou! You're loving this, aren't you?" she said as her eyes fell on him.
"Oro?"
"You must be thinking that I'm starting to become such a soft-y now, aren't you?" she pouted again and frowned at him, "Think again, weird-o!"
"No… It makes me like you more!" he blurted out and blushed as the implication of his words finally sink in. With his face burning, he stammered, "I mean, er… it's nothing like that… er… It's… er… I…"
Kaoru's face was slightly tinted with pink as well, as she watched the play of emotion on his face mutely.
"It makes me… er… like you more as a friend, hehe…" the redhead hastily finished, fanning his face with his hand. Kaoru merely oh-ed and nodded her head, though he noted how her shoulders suddenly slumped.
Their meal soon came and in silence they ate – the atmosphere becoming more tensed than earlier. And at last, the night ended. After saying her goodbye to Tokio, Kaoru joined Kenshin back to the car where they soon found their way home.
"Otsu… can you stop right there…" Kaoru said as they soon reached Kenshin's house – before he even realized it. She turned to her classmate and gave him a small smile.
"That's your stop." she said in a barely audile voice.
"Thanks for the ride." the redhead said awkwardly, and turned to nod at Otsu. He sighed and moved to step out of the car. He stood out and stared as the car door was shut close. With a sigh, he turned to enter his house.
"Hey, K-Kenshin!" was her unmistakable voice, which caught him by surprise. He turned back to see the car windows rolled down and Kaoru with that smile on her face.
"Thanks!" she said quickly before the window was slowly rolled up and her pretty face was soon replaced by his own reflection on the window of her car.
"Goodnight…" he sighed as he watched the speeding car.
'Hey… she called me by my name… no silly nicknames. Just my plain name…' feeling weightless and with a happy smile on his face, he went inside his house.
To be continued…