"…Alright class. Turn to page fifty four and read up the third chapter on the revolution…"
Aoshi nudged Kenshin restlessly with his elbow as Mr. Kanryu continued to instruct the class. "Hey Kenshin," he whispered cautiously. " Look over there."
Kenshin looked behind him curiously to see Yahiko now bouncing into the classroom. "Wow, he's almost an hour late," Kenshin responded shockingly. "It's now eight forty-five."
"He's gonna be in serious trouble," Aoshi commented. "It won't be long before he catches Kanryu's eye.
"Mr. Myojin!"
"Uh… yes Mr. Takeda."
"You know I detest when students arrive late and disrupt my class!"
Yahiko stared at the professor intensely with a blatant I-don't-care-about-you expression.
"Go! Stand in that corner!"
Yahiko strolled to the right side of the classroom, reluctantly obeying the teacher's orders.
"I wonder what's the matter with him," Kenshin pondered tensely.
"He's your pal," Aoshi replied. "Wait till the end of the class and ask him."
****
"Hey guys. How's basketball practice?"
Kaoru and Misao looked ahead startlingly to see Tsubame walking towards them on the courts.
"Tsubame!" They both rushed towards her excitedly motioning her over to the spectator benches.
"I thought you were sick and skipping school today?" Kaoru asked worriedly.
"Actually, I wasn't truly ill at all," Tsubame confessed.
"What?"
Tsubame lowered her head to her lap shamefully trying to ignore the pulsing inquisition of her friends.
"What's that supposed to mean?! Kaoru asked demandingly. "You mean you planned to deliberately skip class?"
"Calm down Kaoru. Maybe she has a logical explanation."
Kaoru and Misao stood over Tsubame impatiently, urging her to give immediate response.
"It's Yahiko," she replied awkwardly. "We… I…" She fumbled nervously as she struggled to respond.
"That's it for practice ladies!" A shrill whistle broke the fictitious silence as the coach loudly dismissed the girls.
"I'm gonna hit the showers," Kaoru suddenly added. She left her friends loitering at the spectator benches.
"Don't worry about Kaoru. She's had a lot on her mind lately. But I'm not going to deny my strong curiosity to also figure out what happened."
****
"…The way she came on to me, it was so unexpected. Very unlike the Tsubame I know overall."
Kenshin and Aoshi listened very attentively as Yahiko explained his tardiness for Mr. Kanryu's class.
"Sounds like what you always wanted to me," Kenshin added annoyingly.
"Yeah I know. But it was all so rash."
"So did you…?"
"Hey guys!" A yelling Sanosuke cruising down the hallway soon interrupted the interesting conversation. "Yahiko, haven't seen you around all day buddy. Don't tell me you skipped classes to drink at the bars again."
"Would you shut up Sanosuke!" Yahiko puffed his face up angrily and leaned his back up against the lockers.
"What's up with him?"
"Long story," Kenshin answered. "Ask him, if you want to hear about it."
"So Sanosuke, where's Megumi?" Aoshi asked suddenly.
"Another long story that I don't wish to tell. To make a long story short, let's just say she broke up with me."
"What?"
"Yeah, I'll explain the details to you guys later. But right now I have some other stuff to talk to you guys about! Like why a certain person didn't remind me that today was his birthday…"
The others turned to look at Kenshin angrily who began smiling guiltily towards the floor.
"Kenshin?"
"Now hold up a minute guys…" Kenshin held his hands outward from his chest bracingly. "I mean come on… it wasn't really a big deal…"
"Is that so!" Sanosuke added irately. "Well, all that's gonna change now…"
"Just great! Another lame idea from Sanosuke."
"Actually Yahiko, you might enjoy this one most of all.
The others stared at Sano in puzzlement.
"I'm gonna throw Kenshin the party of the century…!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Sorry for taking so long to review. Hope You guys enjoyed this chapter.