The school bell rang finally commencing the long anticipated lunch break. The hallways were soon populated with students, some already discussing Kenshin's party.
"Word travels around quickly doesn't it?"
"Sure right about that," Yahiko replied agreeing with Kenshin.
"Yo Shinomori!"
Aoshi turned to greet a group of fellas who were approaching from the right side of the hallway.
"Shikijou, Hyottoko, Beshimi, Hannya."
Aoshi whacked palms with each of the fellas who eventually surrounded him.
"Hey Kenshin, didn't see you standing behind there bud."
"Just chilling here Hannya. What's going on with you?"
"Nothing much. Couldn't wait to get outta that classroom man. That professor was boring me crazy…!"
"Aoshi, you ready to go?" A female voice soon interrupted the guys' conversation. The young girl walked up to them quietly and snuggled herself next to Aoshi's side.
"Hey Misao. I was waiting on you actually."
They both embraced each other and locked lips intensely.
"Enough with the kissy kissy stuff!" Beshimi stated heatedly. "Now let's get out of here."
"Relax Beshimi," Misao replied mischievously. She pulled away from Aoshi's grasp and turned to face the others.
"Ummm Kenshin, Yahiko. I almost forgot. Kaoru and Tsubame said to meet them by the cafeteria.
"Well Ken, I'll talk to you later."
Aoshi knocked fists with Kenshin before re-grouping with the others. Misao's voice could be heard distinctively as the group disappeared down the hall.
"Damn, that Misao's noisy," Yahiko commented.
"Aoshi doesn't seem to mind it," Kenshin replied.
"Well, let's get going," Yahiko suggested. Time to face Tsubame.
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"Look Kaoru. Here come the boys."
Tsubame and Kaoru stood up cheerfully to welcome their boyfriends.
"Uhhh Tsubame…" Yahiko rubbed his head awkwardly looking everywhere else except Tsubame's direction. "I'm uhhh…"
"It's okay Yahiko. I understand."
She tugged at his hand playfully urging him to take a seat.
"Yahiko has become a real gentleman, has he?" Kaoru commended.
"I'm guessing you heard about the incident."
"Yeah and I thought what he did was very sweet."
Kaoru and Kenshin looked at the couple adoringly as they spoke discreetly to one another.
"He told her he loved her and that he's willing to wait."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah," Kaoru replied jealously.
I wish Kenshin could tell me something sweet like that, Kaoru thought wishfully.
"Kenshin?"
"Huh?"
"Do you… love me?"
Kenshin stared at Kaoru silently trying to figure out the best way to reply.
"Hey guys!" Sano curtly interrupted. "Bad timing?"
"No, not at all Sanosuke. Please, take a seat."
Kaoru dismissed herself from where she was sitting and headed towards a vending machine to grab a soda.
Sanosuke turned to Kenshin with a questioning expression but all he got was two shrugging shoulders.
"You need to loosen up Kenshin," Sanosuke advised softly. "If you don't, you're gonna upset Kaoru."
Kaoru returned to the table a few minutes later causing all conversation to suddenly cease. Silence surrounded the entire table as everyone began to peer at each other for answers.
"What's going on? Why did it suddenly get quiet?"
"I don't know," Yahiko replied. "I was just wondering the same thing."
Kaoru took a seat at the table silently, pondering to insanity about her earlier question.
Is Kenshin that doubtful of our relationship? Don't I mean anything to him at all?
She fiddled her thumbs in her lap nervously nipping her lips every second between her teeth. She was unaware that all eyes were staring at her worriedly as she drifted deeper and deeper into her own doubt-filled delusion.
"Kaoru, are you alright?" Tsubame asked finally.
She looked up to meet the stares of her friends.
"Oh. I'm fine."
"Can you guys excuse me for a few minutes?" Kenshin asked suddenly. He bowed his head slightly and dismissed himself from the table. He found himself wandering outside into the courtyard where he took a seat on an old wooden bench.
"Kenshin?"
"Hey Megumi, wasn't expecting to see you around here. Where have you been?" he asked curiously.
"I just finished a class actually. I thought that maybe today I'd eat out for lunch. Speaking of lunch, aren't you supposed to be with Kaoru right now?"
"Uh yeah. I left her with Yahiko and the others."
Megumi welcomed herself next to Kenshin sensing the slight tension, which surfaced in his voice.
"Is something wrong Kenshin? You seem a little out of it."
"No, I'm fine," he fibbed cheerfully.
"Now Kenshin, I want you to be honest with me," Megumi said grasping his chin within her fingers. "Is everything really ok?"
"It's nothing for you to be worried about? So forget about it okay."
"Okay," Megumi replied defensively but then she simmered down working herself up to ask another question.
"Kenshin, I know I asked you this question before, but I have a need for an answer now. Are you indeed in love with Kaoru? If not, are you willing to have a relationship with me?"
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Please review after you read. I don't care if you flame me to a crumbling black crisp. I just need the crtique so I'll know how to improve. Thank you in advance