Disclaimer, Rurouni Kenshin is not mine!
Hello minna! It's been a while… gomen ne. I've been to busy…. Thank you for all those who reviewed my story! I hope you guys continue reading my fic. I had a hard time writing this chapter so please forgive this one if you don't like it…
Again, thanks guys! MWAH!
On with the story! )
---Chapter 12: Phone Calls from Home---
Kenshin's point of view
"Baka deshi! Come here right now!" My uncle Hiko called me.
I rolled my eyes at his nickname for me. So much for appearing to be respectable in front of my students, my uncle makes sure that I appear dumb in front of everyone.
I turned to my young students whose ages range from 7-12 and are still in their first stage of training kendo. "Please practice the moves that I just taught you over and over again. I will just talk to sensei for a while."
"Hai Himura-sensei!" They said in chorus and proceeded on doing what I just ordered them to do.
A few minutes ago, someone came to look for him and I have the feeling that what he has to say is about the message that came with that person who talked to him.
I find myself knocking at the door of my uncle's office as soon as I reached his private space here in the dojo.
"Come in!" A loud voice answered.
"You asked for me sensei?" I said as I entered the door.
He sat behind his desk and kept silent for a moment, reading a piece of paper. Then he leaned back on his seat and looked at me. "Baka deshi, someone is inviting you again this year to compete on the Tokyo Annual Kendo Meet next month. I already said yes on your behalf."
I rolled my eyes subtly. That is so typical of Uncle Hiko to make the decision without consulting me. He has done this to me in the past two years and I have competed in various kendo competitions for two consecutive years already. Even though I'm annoyed to death about it, I have to admit that I loved joining these matched. I am also proud to say that I have won almost all of the ones I joined in. "Whom will I be competing with sensei?"
He snorted in a manner that appeared like he is thinking about worthless things. My uncle can be so arrogant at most times. He handed me the paper to see for myself.
"Most of them are the idiots who joined last year and I'm sure they are raring to beat you up. The new ones don't seem to be that skillful… although there is one here whom I've been hearing about. They said that he is good."
I took it and scanned the names of the contenders. I saw some familiar names from last year and a few unfamiliar ones. However, one name caught my attention immediately. "Yukishiro Enishi?"
"He's the one I was talking about. It is his first time to join a competition that is why I don't know anything about him yet. All I know is that he is training at the Kimura dojo." He peered at me curiously. "Why? Do you know him?"
I shook my head. "I just remembered my friend saying that she has a cousin name Enishi and I think this is him. Other than that, there is nothing else that I know about him."
My uncle stood up and walked towards me. Then he slapped his hand roughly at my back, his way of showing his support to me. "Make sure that you won't put me out there into shame baka deshi! I don't want to have you messing up the name of my dojo. Now go back to your students!"
I scowled at his back as he exited the room to prepare for his late afternoon classes. My Uncle is a very conceited man and it is his favorite pastime to insult me and call me names. You can also add telling my embarrassing childhood stories to others to that list. He often gets in my nerves and sometimes all I want to do is to beat him senseless or just bury myself in the ground where I don't have to encounter with him.
But at the end of the day, I am still grateful for all the things he has done for me here in Tokyo.
"Yukishiro Enishi," I muttered again. My attention went back to the piece of paper I'm holding and stared at the name of Tomoe's cousin. While we were still in high school, I remembered my ex-girlfriend telling me about the feud between her father and her uncle. Because of that fight, she wasn't able to speak often to her cousin Enishi whom she is so fond of. I wonder if her family has made up already…
Maybe Enishi can tell me where Tomoe is right now….
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"Kenshin! Are you out of your mind! They might kick our asses in there and accuse us of spying on their techniques!" Sanosuke hysterically ranted while the people who are in the train looked at us as I we are crazy.
I smiled awkwardly and nodded at them in apology. Then I turned to my friend nd gave him a warning glare. "Sano I'm not spying on them! I just want to ask Enishi where I can find Tomoe."
After 1 week of thinking about it, I decided to take a shot and get answers from her cousin. I dragged Sano with me to go to the dojo where Enishi is training. It is pretty easy to go there because it is just a train ride away from Toudai. Now I'm kind of regretting why I did so and wished that Aoshi were here instead. He and his girlfriend Makimachi Misao went home two weeks ago to spend the rest of their spring vacation in Kyoto. Aoshi just graduated from college and is on his way to pursue further medical studies.
"Whatever Kenshin. You dragged me here without telling me that there is a possibility that we can get beaten up so you have to treat me to dinner later," Sano demanded as he played with the handle bar he is leaning onto for support.
"I always treat you to dinner even without reason Sano. In fact I can dictate to you what your debts are right now," I replied looking at the view of the buildings outside.
He did not say anything and just grumbled.
A few minutes later, Sano and I found ourselves standing in front of a huge gate where we found an old man sweeping the ground.
"Ojisan! Is Yukishiro Enishi inside?" I asked.
The man said that he was so he left his chore for a while and led us inside the dojo. Several of the students stopped practicing as they realized that I'm here and I saw them whisper towards one another, giving me curious glances. I bowed my head and focused my eyes on my feet to avoid their stares. I don't want people staring at me like that.
Even if I came here with good intentions, a rival is still a rival.
We were led to a corner where a white-haired man was doing his kata. My eyes followed his movements and I observed how smooth, swift and forceful his moves are. He stopped as soon as he noticed that we were coming towards him. There is no mistaking that the man is Enishi.
The man who guided us bowed. "Yukishiro-san, someone is here to see you."
He fleetingly looked at Sano then his eyes stopped to observe me.
"Yukishiro-san. Forgive us if we are disturbing you." I bowed to him.
"Ah! Himura Kenshin! What brings you here to see me?" Enishi asked, his eyes never leaving me.
"Ara, you know me?" I asked pointing to myself.
"Hai," he said as he proceeded in doing his kata in front o us. "She has told me so much about you."
'Tomoe', I thought immediately.
"You know, I don't quite understand why she has been so smitten by you," he continued in a taunting voice. "I mean it's your fault that she had to leave this place."
I had felt his hostility towards me at that moment. Only a completely numb person can look over it. Suddenly, I felt an immediate dislike for this guy and it is growing with each passing second yet I have to control my temper because I am the one who needed something from him.
"Kenshin, I don't think we should stay here any longer. It is quite obvious that he doesn't really count you as one of his favorite persons," Sano whispered as he stood behind my back.
I ignored him. What good will it do if I leave? I had to at least try right? "Yukishiro-san, can you please tell me the address of your cousin?"
"You hurt her, you made her cry. Why did she love you so much?" It was his turn to ignore me as he swiftly turned and brought his shinai down with force. "From the very first time she mentioned to me her feelings about you, I already thought that you never did deserve her love, not even once. So the question is, why the hell did she give it to you freely? I really don't understand…"
What I don't understand is why he sounded so bitter and felt so much hatred towards me. I knew that I am to blame for what happened and I also knew that I brought her so much pain. I am terribly sorry for that and I would never ever intentionally hurt Tomoe so how dare he question whether I deserve Tomoe's love? I loved his cousin very much and I was ready to fight for her if only things did not turn the way they were… "Please don't judge if I deserved her love or not because I loved her."
"No you did not!" He barked so fiercely taking me by surprise.
I did not let him notice my reaction and remained indifferent.
My friend was the one who reacted for me. "Hey!" He stepped forward and was ready to pummel him when I placed a hand on his shoulder and shook my head indicating that he shouldn't do it.
Looking at Enishi again I said, "Yukishiro-san. I did not come here to fight with you. I just came here to ask where Tomoe is."
He raised his arm and pointed the tip of his sword on my face. "I don't know where my cousin is right now. My father and my uncle are not yet in speaking terms so I have no idea."
I felt my eyebrow twitched in irritation. He should have told me from the very beginning instead of making regarding my relationship with Tomoe. I pushed the wooden sword away from my face with the back of my hand. "I'm sorry for bothering you Yukishiro-san." I bowed to him despite my disgust. "Thank you for your time. My friend and I should get going now."
I turned my back on him and pushed Sano towards the direction of the exit before he beat Enishi into a pulp. My friend always has a low tolerance in dealing with arrogant bastards. Several of the students are watching us but I ignored them and continued walking.
"Himura!"
I stopped and turned to face Enishi.
"If you hurt her again… I won't hesitate to kill you."
His eyes were cold and reflected the anger and hatred that he felt at that moment. I can't help but internally shiver at his threatening words. He is serious about it.
Is it normal? To care for a cousin this much that you are ready to kill somebody if she gets hurt?
Enishi smirked as he noticed my surprise and confusion. He turned his back on me and positioned himself in an offensive stance. "And I'm not talking about Tomoe here. I'll look forward in our match next month."
'What the?' I turned around and quickly exited the place not wanting to hear from him anymore. Was he mad? Then who the hell was he talking about? I don't think that Enishi guy was taking me seriously.Not talking about Tomoe? What does he mean by that? Who on earth can he be talking about aside from Tomoe?
I brushed him off as mad and decided to treat Sano for dinner to forget about our encounter.
To hell with Yukishiro Enishi!
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"Did you have fun?" I asked my current date Aya as I placed an arm around her waist and led her out of the disco club.
"Kenshin! Let us stay a little longer and dance more!" She whined as she leaned on to me more. It is quite obvious that she is a little tipsy from the vodka that we drank earlier.
It is Saturday night and most of my college friends and I usually hang out at bars and discos during weekends when there is not so much to do. "Aya, I don't want to dance anymore."
She laughed. "Oh yeah, maybe we can have more fun just by ourselves… Am I right Kenshin?"
I grinned cockily as I lightly nuzzled her neck. "If you're a good girl."
She placed both of her arms around my neck and gave me a seductive smile. "I promise, I'll be a very good girl."
It was my turn to laugh at her antics and gave her a helmet as soon as we reached my motorcycle. Then we both hopped in and sped our way to my house.
This has been my life in Tokyo. After Tomoe, I never indulged myself in a serious relationship and opted to just play around and have fun. I dated many girls and never let myself get too attached. It's not as if these girls are serious about our flings either. Well, maybe some of them are, but they always get the message and leave me alone.
In just the span of fifteen minutes, we reached my place and hurried inside the house. Just as we were heating things up in my living room, the phone rang suddenly.
I cursed slightly as I broke of from kissing Aya's neck.
"Just ignore it," my date ordered as she rained my face with butterfly kisses.
Following what Aya demanded, I proceeded to kissing her neck as I slid my hand along her back.
After a few more rings the answering machine picked up and Aoshi's voice came floating in the air. "Kenshin. I'm still here in Kyoto. I'm sorry for calling so late but I just want you to know something. Misao and I… we are getting married."
I suddenly froze as soon as Aoshi's words registered into my mind. I broke free from Aya's grasp and ran over towards the phone and picked it up. "Hello, Aoshi? You there?"
"Yes, I'm still here. I figured that you didn't want to answer the phone because you are preoccupied," his same cold voice replied.
"You-you're getting married?" I asked incredulously. I don't know if I will get over the fact that my high school buddy is getting married. I mean, Aoshi and Misao only went steady last year! Not that I don't like Misao, she's awfully cheery and nice but…"When?"
"We still don't know. But we are getting engaged two weeks from now. We already told our parents and they are quite okay with it."
I ran my hand through my hair. "So you mean, you went home to Kyoto so that you can tell your parents formally that you two are getting married? Isn't that too sudden? You didn't even tell me!" I know that I sounded like a bratty kid who was deprived of his favorite candy but that was how I felt. I have been with Aoshi since forever so I'm not sure how to react about this.
"I love her Kenshin," he said simply.
Love. There was really no doubt about it that he loves Misao. She is the only girl whom he allowed to break the walls that he built around himself.
He's going to marry the girl that he loves…
"Aren't you too young to get married? You're only 22 years old and Misao's 21." I said. At the corner of my eye, I can see Aya looking at me with an impatient look on her face.
"You married Kaoru while you two are only 17 years old," he retorted.
Why do I always forget about that? "It's not the same Aoshi, I didn't want – it." I almost slipped and said the words "didn't want to get married" when I remembered that I'm not alone in the room. I have never told anyone about my marriage and the people who know about it kept their mouth shut.
"And I want this. I have decided. I am going to marry Misao."
How I wish I could also get married because I wanted to. Maybe I am just jealous of the freedom my friend has. I sighed. "Congratulations man. I am really happy for you both.
"Thanks. Now, I called because I want to inform you that I want you to be my best man. Will you accept it?"
"Of course. It would be an honor Aoshi." I answered.
"Thank you," he replied. Then there was a moment of silence. "Then Kenshin, you have to attend my engagement."
A dreadful realization struck me, as I knew what that meant. "I have to go home." After three years of avoiding going back to Kyoto, it looks like it was going to end here.
"Will you?"
That means I am going to see my parents again.
But I can't put down Aoshi.
I smiled faintly in defeat. "Of course I will Aoshi."
After talking for a few more minutes, we said our goodbyes and out down the phone.
Aya walked towards me and placed her arms around my waist. "That was quite a long conversation. I thought you would never hang up that stupid phone. Now, shall we go back to where we left off?"
I looked at Aya as if she were an alien. I'm suddenly not in the mood anymore.
A few minutes later, an angry Aya went marching out of my house. I guess she wasn't up to hanging out with someone who suddenly sat on the sofa and stared out in space.
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Kaoru's point of view
"Megumi, are you really going back to Japan?" I asked as I watched my friend put some clothes inside her luggage.
"Yes, I am going to continue my med studies in Tokyo. Besides, I need to go home already, my parents miss me so much," she replied. She sat down on the bed and folded some of her clothes neatly. "What about you Kaoru, your culinary studies finished two weeks ago. You have no reasons why you should stay here any longer. Don't you want to go back home?"
I leaned my face on my knees as I hugged myself on top of Megumi's bed. "I don't know… My parents has been pestering me about it all week long… but I don't think I'm ready to leave France yet…"
That's right. I graduated from culinary school two weeks ago and I've been contemplating whether I should go home now or not. Almost all of my modeling projects are already done (the last one will be finished two days from now) and I have not agreed to any other projects. Megumi on the other hand is ready to leave France and is already scheduled to fly back to Japan on Monday, two days from now.
"To rephrase what you said, you are not yet ready to go home yet," my flatmate said.
"I am too," I said defensively.
"No you are not! Come on, are you still afraid of seeing Kenshin again?"
I glared at her as I sat up properly. "Of course not! Why would I be? To hell with Himura Kenshin!" Actually, that is quite true. I don't really care if I see him again or not. God, for three years, I have no idea what he has been doing with his life. All I know is that he is in Tokyo studying. My parents don't know much either. He hasn't been coming home and rarely talks his own parents on the phone.
If there is one thing that I have accomplished in Paris, I don't care about Kenshin anymore. No matter how much he has affected my life in the past, I'm not going to let him affect my life anymore.
Megumi looked at me seriously. "So what's stopping you from going home?"
Deciding to be honest about it I replied, "Besides my parents, I have nothing to go back to except my old pathetic self." If I go back, to the people there, I'm still the same Kaoru. Back in Japan, I was worthless and no good.
My friend stood up, sat beside me and gave me a hug. "Kaoru, you're not pathetic. You're not going back to your old self. Go out there and change what they thought of you. You are a very beautiful person and everyone will appreciate you for that."
"So what should I do?"
She pulled away and shrugged. "I don't know. You decide."
Actually, a part of me really wants to go back home. I miss my parents and Japan. I also miss Misao of course. But aside from that, what else? What will happen to me if I go back? Should I go back?
What I need is a sign…
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I was lounging on our sofa watching "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" for the 3rd time when the phone suddenly rang. "Megumi! Please pick up the phone! If it's my parents, tell them I went out."
The phone ceased ringing and a few moments later, Megumi went out of her room and handed to me her cordless phone. "It's for you, a call from Japan."
"I told you not to tell them I'm here," I hissed as I covered the phone to avoid the person on the other line to hear my voice.
Megumi rolled her eyes. "It's not your parents! It's your friend Misao."
I immediately raised the phone to speak to my best friend. "Misao-chan! How are you? It's been a while."
Ever since I came here in France. Misao and I weren't able to talk that often. We talk for only about once or twice in two months because the two of us are very busy. In fact, I really don't know very much about what Misao is doing right now…
"Hey Kao-chan. Yes, I've been really busy. That is why I haven't been able to call you. You have graduated from culinary school already right?"
I shifted the phone to my other ear as I picked up the remote and paused the movie I was watching. "Hai, two weeks ago."
"Omedetou Gozaimasu (Congratulations). So when are you coming home?"
"I still don't know." I answered her honestly. "I'm still thinking if I should go home now or later."
There was a slight pause as neither said a word. Then Misao spoke up, "Go home now Kaoru. For me. I need you here."
My eyebrows furrowed in a frown as I began to worry. Why? Has something bad happened to my friend? Does it have something to do with her medicine studies? "Misao, is there something wrong? Were you kicked out of Toudai?"
She laughed. "Of course not. I'm still doing great. If you are thinking about it in financial terms… I'm still having enough support…"
I sighed with relief. "Then why do you need me?"
"Kaoru," her voice held a slight nervousness in it. "I haven't been honest with you… Last year, I started having a serious relationship with someone."
"That's great Misao! That's why you are always happy whenever I talk to you!" I exclaimed cheerily. Of course, my friend is bound to find someone she likes in college. Who wouldn't like her? "Who is he? Do you love him?"
"Anou.. we are quite serious and I do love him… Really… I'm happy with him."
I did not say anything as I waited for Misao to continue. I suddenly get this feeling that she is about to reveal something very big and I don't know if I'm going to be ready for it.
"Kaoru… I'm getting married to Shinomori Aoshi."
And I was right. I wasn't able to contain my gasp as I fell into a state of shock. My best friend marrying Kenshin's best friend? Not just dating but marrying, tying herself in a lifelong commitment with a person who belonged to the crowd who used to bully us in high school.
So all those time when she told me that she hasn't seen nor heard from Kenshin, she has in fact been lying to me about it because there is no way that she can't know about my husband because she is going steady with Aoshi for a year now.
And they are getting married!
"Kaoru… speak to me." Her voice pleaded on the other line.
I shook myself out of the shock as I looked for the right words to say, but I can't. "I don't know what to say Misao."
"Say that you'll be happy for me and that you will be my maid of honor."
Maid of honor? My brain still isn't functioning because I suddenly forgot what a maid of honor is. "What?"
"Please come here Kaoru and help me get through this. I want you to share this with me. I want my best friend to be here. I know I may sound selfish but please… you're purpose of staying in France has ended anyway."
A little voice in my mind suddenly told me that this was the sign that I was waiting for.
I need to go home.
"My engagement is in two weeks, will you come Kaoru? Here in Kyoto?"
I gulped as I thought about what I will say. This was it. Once I say it, there would be no turning back.
"Of course I will Misao."
I was in a daze as I stared at the phone after we hanged up.
Megumi went out of her room and stared at me as if I'm weird person. "Ei, are you okay?"
I looked at her blankly. "That was Misao on the phone. She told me that she is getting married to my husband's best friend. She asked me to be her maid of honor. Her engagement party is in two weeks."
She shrugged casually as she walked her way towards the kitchen. "Ja, I guess I'll see you soon in Japan."
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I took a deep breath as I pushed the trolley that held my bag towards the direction of the exit. I remembered three years ago when I was pushing a trolley towards the departure area feeling really scared.
Three years after, here I am, alone once again and still pushing a trolley. But this time, I'm going towards the opposite direction and am feeling slightly nervous but more confident more than ever.
'Okaeri nasai' I thought as I looked around the Narita International Airport. I could see all kinds of people but I can see Japanese people the most.
Jaa, Kamiya Kaoru just came back home.
It was a week and a half after Misao's call did I finally fly back home. My parents were really excited about it but I told them to keep it quiet for a while. Besides, they know that I am going to arrive right exactly on the day of Misao's engagement party. What they didn't know is that I arrived 3 days earlier.
Before Megumi went home before me, we planned that I will stay with her at her parents' house for a while before going back to Kyoto. I can't wait to see what her life is here in Japan and she promised to give me a tour here in Tokyo. Besides that, she is going to introduce me to her friend who is planning to open up a café restaurant. I am hoping that Tae and I will get along well so that she would consider me a business partner.
I took my phone from my handbag and dialed Megumi's number. I informed her that I already arrived and that I'm on my way to her house. After a few minutes, I found myself inside a taxicab heading towards the part of Tokyo where Megumi lives.
Megumi was waiting for me outside of her house and welcomed me with a huge hug. "Kaoru, glad to see you here in Tokyo."
"Yes, I'm glad too," I told her as we released each other after a while.
"Well I didn't plan anything for tonight because I know that you need to rest from your trip, tomorrow on the other hand… we will have fun." Megumi said with a knowing expression on her face.
Fun in Megumi's vocabulary is a little bit of a higher degree than the usual meaning of the word. "Whatever Megumi, just don't make me dance."
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Whatever that fun Megumi was talking about definitely involved nightlife and disco because the next night, she let me wear a short black halter-top dress and dragged me into a disco bar where a friend of hers is celebrating her 21st birthday. Her theme for her party was "masquerade" so most of the people in the party were wearing masks like Megumi and me. The place was heavily jam-packed and I don't know any of them save for my friend.
"Do you really have to drag me here?" I asked my friend as we sat down on a table that is quite near the stage.
"Oh come on, don't be such a party pooper! I've missed the nightlife here in Japan. I haven't seen these people in a while. Besides this is your first time to go to a disco here in Japan right? Just stop complaining and enjoy it!" She yelled over the loud music that was playing.
"Fine! But I don't want to get too wasted because Misao and Aoshi will be picking me up tomorrow and I don't want to act terrible in front of them." I answered as I looked around and noticed several guys glancing at our way. I gave them a small smile and turned my attention once again to Megumi.
"Then don't drink alcohol at all Kaoru. We all know how little your tolerance is."
I scowled at her and slumped back on my seat.
A few minutes later, some of Megumi's friends joined us at the table where they said their hellos and had conversations about our lives in Paris.
"I didn't know that Megumi had such a pretty flat mate in Paris," a guy named Keitaro commented as he smiled at me. "Even with your mask concealing muck of your face, I can still see how beautiful you are. So tell us more about yourself Kamiya-san."
"I went to Paris three years ago to study culinary arts. I was supposed to go to Toudai but opted against it and followed my dream. I really am not sure if I wanted to return here but I did anyway," I told my audience as they nodded at what I said.
"Sumimasen (Excuse me) I will just go to the ladies' room," Megumi excused herself leaving me all alone with her friends.
"Aside from studying, what did you do in Paris?" Mariko asked.
"Oh, I worked to earn money. I was in the advertising business," I lied. I don't really want to spread the word here that I was a famous model in France. I don't want to be known by anyone as "the model from France". Let them find out on their own but it will not come from me.
"What works did you handle?" Keitaro inquired as he sat closer towards me.
"Oh, print ads and television commercials." I was relieved from answering more questions when everyone's attention went to the stage because someone went in front to speak to everyone.
Megumi returned to her seat just in time as she picked up her glass and took a sip of her drink.
"Are you guys having fun?" The girl host asked.
"Yeah!" A chorus answered.
The girl took out a piece of paper as she read it in front of everyone. "There is a request here: To the beautiful and sexy girl who is wearing a black dress and is sitting by the stage, please come up here and sing us Utada Hikaru's Letters."
I looked around to see whom she was talking about.
"The requestor also said that the girl came with Takani Megumi."
"Ee!" I looked at my traitorous friend and gave her a murderous glance. I knew she just made up that excuse to go to the comfort room and did that stupid request.
"Kamiya-san, it seems like she is referring to you," Jun, another guy friend of Megumi, said.
"Megumi! I told you, no singing and dancing!" I exclaimed. She always does this to me whenever we go out.
"Come on, you are not new to this. You have been singing frequently in Paris. Go up there and do your stuff! It is a crime to keep your talents to yourself. I was finding it a little boring and knew that you can make this night more fun, right guys?" she looked at her guy friends for support.
"Hai," they answered. It was quite obvious that these men are hitting on me.
Almost everyone in the club is looking at me and shouting encouragingly so I had no choice but to stand up and go towards the stage. As soon as I reached the center, I went to the microphone and said. "Konban wa minna-san (Good evening everyone). Please enjoy the night."
I saw Megumi looking at me and mouthed the words, "Ganbatte!"
The opening tunes of the song began and I stayed still as I waited for the right timing.
Megumi was right. Although I'm not exactly a fan of clubs, I've always had my share of good times in these places with my friends. As soon as they learned that I am good in singing, they repeatedly ask me to sing for them. At first I was still shy but as I do it more often, I found out that I was actually enjoying myself and I'm not scared of performing in front of so many people anymore.
Also, I had to admit that I was good.
I know that my Megumi doesn't just want to see me sing and dance but she wanted to tell me something. Whether I'm in Paris or I'm in Tokyo I am still Kaoru.
She sensed that this was my dilemma. I was afraid that I had to revert back to my old self once I'm here. I was afraid of falling into a trap of living two different lives— my life in France and my life here at home.
I know now that I won't.
Because wherever I am, I'm the same person.
"Atatakai sunano ue o aruki dasu yo
Kanashii shiraseno todokanai umibe he
Kimi ga inakutemo taiyou ga noboru to
Atarashii ichinichi no hajimari"
I grasped the microphone and leaned forward towards the mic stand. The crowd cheered wildly as several people stopped what they were doing and gave me their full attention.
"Kyou eranda amidakuji no sen ga
Doko ni tsuzukuka wa wakaranai
Namakemonono watashi ga mainichi hataraku riyuu"
By this time, I broke off from my stationary position by the microphone stand, took the mike in my hand, and started dancing in front of the stage. Swaying my hips from side to side and moving my body just n time with the music; dancing is a really good form of releasing stress and I gave all my best in this performance. It's not as if someone knows me here. And I'm wearing a mask so they don't actually know me.
I can't help but feel that if someone who knows me saw me now, I would bet that he or she would not recognize me.
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Kenshin's point of view
"God, we're late!" Sanosuke exclaimed as we strolled through the entrance of Red and White, a famous disco bar here in Tokyo where our friend in college is celebrating her birthday. "Hikaru will kill us. I told her we'd arrive there early."
"It's not my fault that you locked yourself out of your own apartment," I nodded at several of my classmates from various classes who were lingering in the bar section.
"Damn! I have to fix that door," He commented as he wove to some of our friends who are sitting at the tables. The place is really jam-packed and full of college students who are fond of partying the night away. "Kenshin, don't get laid tonight and let me sleep at your house."
I rolled my eyes at my friend and ignored him as we went towards where the birthday girl is.
"Sano! Kenshin! You made it!" She shouted over the loud music as she moved forward to greet us. She has a birthday hat on and a mask over her eyes. Almost everyone inside the bar was wearing masks because it was the theme of her birthday party.
"Happy birthday Hikaru. I'm sorry we were a little late. Sano ran into some trouble," I greeted her.
She punched Sano on the shoulder lightly. "Sano! You told me you and Kenshin will be here on time."
We chatted for a few more minutes until her boyfriend Daisuke came and whisked her away. Our good friend Tsukioka Katsuhiko, came and thrust a bottle of beer in both of our hands.
"Ei Katsu! How is the party so far?" Sano asked as he looked around the place.
"It's doing good. There are lots of hot ladies here tonight," he said as he winked at a girl who was smiling at him. "Their masks add some mystery too."
I looked around the place too and observed the girls. I noticed that some of them are looking at me and I just gave them a polite nod and averted my gaze somewhere else. I'm not really in the mood for flirting right now. Especially when I have to go home the day after tomorrow to attend Aoshi and Misao's engagement party. My parents were really ecstatic when I phoned last Sunday to tell them that I was coming home for a few days. They wanted to let me go home earlier but I told them that I had to practice for my upcoming kendo match a week and a half from now.
Suddenly a girl wearing a very short black halter dress caught my attention as she went on the stage and approached the mike at the front center of the platform. "Konban wa minna-san (Good evening everyone). Please enjoy the night."
Then the opening tunes of Utada Hikaru's Letters played and the beautiful girl started to sing. Her voice is powerful and strong and she sings very well.
Katsu whistled as she eyed the girl. "Would you look at that? She's a true beauty."
I can't help but agree with him because I can't keep my eyes of her. I watched as she suddenly picked up with the beat as the chorus of the song came and she danced sexily in front almost making all of the men and women inside the bar go wild and started dancing as well.
"Ah ryoute ni sora wo mune ni arashi o
Ahh kimi ni owakare o ahh kono umibe ni
Nokosarete itano wa itsumo oki tegami
Ah yume no nakademo denwa goshi demo
Ahh koe o kikitai yo ahh kotoba kawasu
No ga nigate na kimi wa itsumo oki tegami."
My eyes swept over her form as I studied her from foot to head. She has long and slender legs and has a wonderful and sexy figure. The dress she is wearing keeps riding up along her mid thighs as she swayed with the music and her hair cascading like waterfall on her shoulders to her back. I checked her out until my eyes rested on her half-concealed face because she is wearing a white mask. I frowned slightly because I cannot see her whole face.
To describe her simply, she is absolutely hot.
Sizzling hot.
To my dismay and many others' as well, the song ended as she bowed to everyone, said happy birthday to Hikaru and exited the stage. My eyes followed her as she headed towards a table just below the stage and talked to black-haired girl who is probably her friend. Several men immediately surrounded her as she settled down on her seat.
"Ei Kenshin, stop looking at her already, she might burn any moment now," Sano teased as he pulled me away from the spot I was rooted in and the three of us sat at a table surrounded by some of our close college friends.
"What is the name of that girl who sang earlier?" I asked Ryoutaro who was sitting at my left side.
He shrugged. "I don't know. She is a friend of Hikaru's cousin I think."
My eyes never completely left her form, as I looked at her every chance I got. To hell with my predicament. I'm definitely back in the mood to do some flirting. It is a sin to ignore someone so beautiful like that.
While discussing something with Ryoutaro, Sano nudged me and pointedly looked at the direction of the girl. She stood up and made a beeline towards the bar.
Now is my chance.
"She's mine," I announced firmly and stood up to approach her. I ignored the catcalls of my friends as they followed me with their eyes. I shut down everything else and concentrated my attention on the girl in front of me who is sitting so casually by the bar, waiting for her drink.
I soon as I'm standing behind her and was sure that I am within her earshot I asked. "Is this seat taken? Do you mind if I join you?"
I saw her shoulders tensed up a little as she slowly turned to face me. I wasn't able to properly saw her face because she immediately turned around, her back facing me once again. "Go ahead. Do what you want."
Settling myself on the stool beside hers, I turned to face her. "Hi. My name is Himura Kenshin. Can I know yours?"
"What for?" her voice has a cold edge to it as she took the glass the bartender gave her and took as sip from it.
Okay, it looks like it wouldn't be as easy as I thought it would be.
"Because I want to know you," I answered bluntly.
She laughed dryly as she slid off from her seat and leaned towards me. My eyes widened slightly as she whispered softly in my ear, "Believe me Himura-san, you don't want to know." A moment later, I felt a cold liquid run through my head. I yelped as I stood up and let the liquid fell on the floor.
The beautiful girl just dumped her drink over my head. What the hell was her problem?
A few people who are within the vicinity giggled at my embarrassment. I glared at them and returned my attention to the angel who suddenly turned devil.
She just smiled contemptuously and handed me her empty glass.
Then she left me standing there feeling like a fool, looking at her as she walked away from me.
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AN: What do you guys think? Will Kenshin learn that the beautiful and hot girl is Kaoru? Um, did you like the Misao and Aoshi twist?
Anyway, Please feel free to leave your reviews!
The song "Letters" was sung by Utada Hikaru. Sorry, for all those who are wondering about the English translation, I don't have a translation. I just really liked the beat of the song.
Til next time!
nadachi-chan
