Disclaimer - I hope the Rurouni Kenshin cast can finally accept that I indeed am the creator of
Saitou - If you finish that sentence, Aku Soku Zan will be reserved for you...
Hitoezakura - Relax, I was going to say I own this story! Watsuki owns the actual Rurouni Kenshin
Saitou - You weren't going to say that initially...
Hitoezakura - Now how do you know that (gives an evil laugh)
Anyways, reviewer responses!
WhiteRabbit5 - Thank you about the Saitou compliments! I've always loved writing about him, but I usually have to ruin some aspect of his character. I'm glad to know that this time, I finally managed to capture his essence better. I'm sorry about the Hiko-Kenshin relationship...I truly did not mean for it to come out that way. I agree with you, but when I looked back, I realize that I didn't exactly make myself clear that Hiko was joking (sorry ). As for Aoshi and Kaoru interaction, that's most definitely coming up in the next chapter, so please keep reading!
kawaii sakura-chan - If you can't wait to find out Miyana's secret, then that's not good...you don't find out for a reeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaalllllllllllllly long time, unfortunately, although that would make my writing a bit easier. However, I will reveal bits and pieces about her as the story goes on! Thanks for the compliment!
Bradybunch4529 - Don't worry, the meeting is in the next chapter! Thanks for the review!
Ardenilia - Thanks so much! I love it when my work is complimented! I update every Sunday now, so just check in every Sunday and you'll be good!
Alright, I was thinking about putting brief character descriptions after every chapter (not too much though). Just age and a few stats. If you think that's a good idea, please tell me in your review!
I'll shut up now and let you read!
HOW IS THIS LOVE?
Enishi rubbed his forehead as he stepped out of the car, trying to massage his new headache. Once again, his best friend Sano had created a racket in the car, encouraging both girls into a sing-along.
Not that there was anything wrong with Kaoru singing. Kaoru sounded wonderful, and thanks to her extensive music training, she sounded like a professional. Enishi had no doubt in his mind that Kaoru would one day become the singer she always dreamed of becoming. However, he could not say that for Sanosuke and Megumi. He had to admit, their equally atrocious singing abilities made them an excellent pair.
"Hey Enishi, why do you look so tired?" yelled out Sanosuke, punching Enishi in the shoulder in a playful manner.
"Sano no baka, maybe he has a headache!" hissed Megumi. "Your singing is awful! You sounded like a bag of cats being thrown against a wall!"
"So what did that make you Megumi?" said Enishi with a grin. "A banshee?"
Kaoru and Sanosuke both burst out into laughter upon seeing Megumi's embarrassed and angered face.
"Hey guys!"
Enishi turned to see Okita and Misao waving to them from the doorway of the airport. Kaoru, Sanosuke, Megumi, and Enishi made their way through the crowd and eventually managed to reach Okita and Misao.
"You guys reached early" said Kaoru with a smile. "I thought you were going to stop for coffee!"
"We were" said Okita with his trademark grin. "But Misao suddenly began to think about how Aoshi might hate her, and she went silent and refused to eat or drink anything on our way, so…"
"She remained silent?" muttered Enishi. "Why didn't I bring her along?"
"You refused because you were scared about what might have happened had she drank four cups of coffee," whispered Kaoru in his ear. "And do you really think she would've stayed silent with Sanosuke in your car, directing a sing-along to 'Love and Joy' by Kimura Yuki?"
"That was 'Love and Joy'?" whispered Enishi in disbelief.
"Yes! What did you think it was?"
"A very horrible rendition of a song that I had no desire to hear, and it definitely didn't sound a thing like love or joy, unless the song was about death through the bursting of the eardrums" replied Enishi wryly, pushing his shades up his nose. "Remind me never to turn on the radio in my car again lest I hear another sing-along."
Kaoru giggled.
"Hey, what are you guys talking about that's so funny?" asked Misao.
"Nothing!" replied Kaoru and Enishi in unison, sharing a private grin. They began to laugh upon seeing Misao's scowling face.
"Attention all people" came a voice over the intercom of the airport. "We are sorry to announce that there is a delay in flight 176 arriving from Hokkaido. It will be two hours before the flight arrives. We apologize for the delay and any inconvenience that it has caused. Thank you."
"So we're stuck here for two hours with nothing to do?" wailed Misao.
"What are you saying?" asked Sanosuke indignantly. "There's always food!"
Megumi, Enishi, Okita, and Kaoru sweatdropped, but Misao and Sanosuke began to sing praises about food and wasting time.
"Here's another sing-along" muttered Enishi with an eye roll. Kaoru, Okita, and Megumi simply shook their heads and followed Sanosuke and Misao to the food court.
"So, how are you feeling Kaoru?" asked Megumi quietly, after she had sent Okita, Enishi and Sanosuke off to fetch food, insisting that no real man would refuse to buy food for a woman. After much grumbling, the three of them obliged rather grudgingly.
"What do you mean?" asked Kaoru with a smile. "I'm fine!"
"Misao and I have noticed that you haven'thad datedfor two years…not since the day Ken-san got married" replied Megumi in a clipped voice, staring intensely at Kaoru's face. "Misao and I also figured out that all the dates we set up were refused by you, and even before the date began…"
"I didn't find anyone I liked" replied Kaoru with a small smile.
"Tokyo isn't devoid of guys you know" chipped in Misao. "You should've found at least one guy to date!"
"Or perhaps you still haven't gotten over Ken-san?" asked Megumi quietly, her voice so low that only Kaoru and Misao could have possibly heard it. Kaoru's eyes widened in surprise, and Megumi almost smirked as she saw Kaoru's emotions surfacing.
"I'm right, aren't I?" whispered Megumi softly. Misao's smile slipped off her face as she saw Kaoru's usually bright and smiling face suddenly dim upon Megumi's comments.
"Megumi, maybe this isn't the best time to bring this up" muttered Misao under her breath. Megumi gave Misao a quick glare before turning to Kaoru again.
"Kaoru it has been two years since Ken-san announced his marriage, and you still haven't had a serious relationship" said Megumi quietly. "Kaoru, give him up! I know he meant so much to you, but…"
"You don't know how it felt Megumi" whispered Kaoru. "You don't know anything at all." Kaoru stood up and grabbed her purse. "I'm going to the bathroom. Make sure Sanosuke doesn't eat my food." Kaoru turned away and left, leaving Megumi and Misao at the table, guilty stares adorning their faces.
"Why did you bring it up now Megumi?" asked Misao, slightly cross. "You know Kaoru gets really upset about Himura, no matter how hard she tries to cover it up!"
"I wanted to knock some sense into her" said Megumi angrily. "She can't ruin her life over Ken-san! She needs to find someone new, someone who'll actually be there for her!"
"But who?" whispered Misao thoughtfully.
Kaoru splashed her face with water, the cool drops mingling with her salty tears. She wiped away her tears and the water on her face before leaning against the wall with a sigh.
Megumi's right…it has been two years…but he was so special to me? How could I forget him? The day I met him, almost four years ago, I had no clue he was engaged…I simply knew that he was the kindest, sweetest man I had ever met! And he did so much for me in times of trouble and need! For two years, I was hopelessly in love with him. Megumi, Misao, and I would always joke about it, but they knew how serious it was for me…
And then…then Tomoe-san came…
They had been engaged for six years, but Tomoe-san left abruptly for some mission. But after six years, she finally returned…and Kenshin announced his marriage. He and Tomoe asked me specifically to be the maid of honor. How could I refuse?
I hid my hurt that day behind a bright smile. But inside, I was sobbing, lying in a pool of salty tears, drowning in misery and pain. My first love…and it went unrequited…
I have tried so hard after his marriage to pull myself together, but for some reason…I don't seem to be attracted to any other man…I can't help butlove Kenshin, even after all this time…Is it possible that he will be the only man I shall love?
"Hey, Jou-chan! Can I have a few of your fries?" yelled out Sanosuke as he saw her approaching from a distance. She hurled her purse at him, giving him a rather large bump on the head.
"No you moocher!" she yelled angrily, sitting down to eat her fries. "Eat your own food!" She glanced over at Megumi and Misao with a nod and a wink, reassuring them that she was fine now. Upon seeing her cheerful demeanor, Misao and Megumi broke out into grins and dug into their own food.
"Sano, why don't you mooch off of Megumi? She's your girlfriend after all!" said Okita logically. Sanosuke made a face.
"She's eating a salad" he declared. "That's poison!"
Three tomato slices went flying towards him and covered his eyes and mouth. The gang laughed as Sanosuke angrily pulled off the tomatoes that his girlfriend had so lovingly thrown at him.
"Tori-atama, you didn't try the tomatoes?" asked Megumi with a grin.
"Evil fox" muttered Sanosuke with a scowl. "But that's why I like you, huh?" he replied, suddenly grinning and leaning forward to kiss her.
"Alright you guys!" yelled out Misao suddenly. "I have a mission for you all!"
They all stared at her, along with the many people in the food court, for her voice had suddenly become quite loud.
"Misao, quiet down and then tell us your mission!" whispered Megumi urgently.
Misao scowled but she lowered her voice to a dull roar. "You guys have to find me a boyfriend!" she declared triumphantly.
"Weasel, I don't think any guy wants to go out with you" said Sanosuke with a grin. He ducked as six plastic knives came charging at him.
"Misao, I think it would be better if you found your own boyfriend" said Kaoru quickly. "That way, he matches your tastes!"
"Good idea Kaoru!" said Megumi with a small sigh of relief.
"I'm sorry Misao, but I can't think of anybody who'd be crazy enough to go after you" said Enishi with a shrug. Okita nodded in agreement, and then both duck to dodge some more plastic knives hurled by Misao.
"Ouch!"
Misao suddenly gasped and knocked over her seat when she realized she had hit someone with her plastic knives. Okita, Sanosuke, and Enishi burst into laughter upon seeing her red face.
"Shut up!" retorted Misao, spraying Kaoru's ketchup all over them.
"Misao, what am I going to eat my fries with now?" asked Kaoru insistently. Megumi gave a slightly evil laugh.
"Kaoru, I'm sure that you're gaining enough weight, so perhaps you should lay off the fries!" answered Megumi, her fox ears springing up. Misao quickly fled as the boys gave her murderous glares very similar to the ones Kaoru and Megumi were giving each other. She immediately ran to the person she had hit.
"I'm really, really, really, really, really sorry that hit you!" she cried out. "It was meant for someone else!" she apologized to the back of the person's head. He suddenly turned around to reveal a devastatingly cute and handsome profile. Misao almost froze as he gave her a comforting wide smile.
"That's quite all right miss" he said politely. "You didn't do any harm!"
Misao could only nod as she stared at his handsomeness. His blackhair looked silky smooth, and almost sparkled in the dim airport lighting. His eyes were sky blue, and seemed to hold a slightly amused look. He was fairly short, only a bit taller than her, but she didn't like really tall guys as boyfriends anyways. She suddenly realized she was staring and quickly averted her eyes to the ground.
"I better get back to my friends" whispered Misao. She turned away when his voice suddenly echoed through the airport.
"Wait Miss!" he called out. Misao turned around and gave him a questioning glance. He whipped out a piece of paper and a pen.
"Could you give me a name and a phone number?" he asked. Misao walked over to him with a smile as they began to exchange names and phone numbers.
"Hey look, only ten minutes remain till Shinomori-san's plane comes!" said Kaoru with a grin. "But where's Misao?" she asked.
All three of the guys looked quite grim. Misao's ketchup spraying had forced them to clean up in the bathroom, upsetting them greatly. It didn't help that Megumi and Kaoru were standing right outside the door, giggling their heads off.
Misao suddenly came skidding to a stop in front of them. "I have a date, I have a date, I have a date!"
The guys mouths suddenly dropped to the floor.
"Who was insane enough to ask out the weasel?" whispered Sanosuke.
"Maybe an escapee from a mental asylum" suggested Okita.
"A blind and deaf person?" pondered Enishi.
Multiple plastic knives tried to impale them as Kaoru and Megumi cheered for Misao's happiness.
"How did that happen?" asked Kaoru excitedly.
"Who is he, and how does he look?" asked Megumi with a grin.
"He's Seta Soujirou, he looks incredibly handsome and sexy, and he was the one I hit with knives, so after I apologized, we exchanged phone numbers!" gushed Misao, her sea-green eyes twinkling with the utmost delight as she sighed dreamily.
"Attention! Flight 176 arriving from Hokkaido is now landing at Gate 2B" said a voice over the intercom, interfering with Kaoru and Megumi's squeals of happiness. Enishi's eyes suddenly widened.
"That's all the way across this airport!" yelled Enishi. "We have to run!"
The six of them tore off towards gate 2B.
So, the next chapter, Kaoru and Aoshi finally meet...Any guesses about what happens?
Alright, this chapter was kind of a strange chapter, but it had two purposes - i) It revealed that Kaoru loves Kenshin, even today. ii) It gave Misao a date. Those purposes seem kind of strange, but believe me, they play a bigger role in the future!
ONLY ONE YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL LEFT!
Alright, review and Ja ne till next Sunday!