Disclaimer: I don't own RK. If I did, do you think I would be writing a fanfic?
Hi guys! Hehe… ummm… hello? Okay, just read on…
Pretend to be Nice
Chapter Four: Surprises at Home
I was fuming when I finally got home. Darn that Kenshin! If only Miss Tae had never asked me that stupid 'favor' and if only I didn't say yes!
Arrgghh! When will my life be back to normal?
Many things are wrong with my life: (1) I've been class president since yesterday and up until now I still don't feel like one, (2) My first task as class president is to baby-sit an insensitive prick! (3) I'm risking my neck covering up for my friend's love life when, (4) my own love life is in complete ruins. (5) The greatest guy in school just saw me looking stupid, feeling stupid and being stupid! And finally (6) He's the senior President and after what he'd seen, may now conclude that I'm not cut out for my position.
I suddenly realized that I was in front of Dr. Genzai's plants. I don't know what came over me and made me do it. But, I just had to have something to vent my frustration on. I started shrieking out every miserable thing that has happened to me so far to the closest innocent flora and fauna.
"Why does this have to happen to me?"
Of course, the plants didn't answer me. I'd think I've gone insane if the plants did. But, I did hear someone clear his throat from behind me.
And lo and behold, look who it was who found his way to our house.
None other than Shinomori Aoshi himself! Isn't that just fab?
"Shinomori-san!" I squeaked.
I suddenly realized that I have one more reason to hate my life. (7) Shinomori-san just saw me talking to some plants and might now conclude that I'm a lunatic. Period. End of my life.
But still, like I always do, I gritted my teeth on this one.
"S-Shinomori-san, uh, good afternoon...uhmm... do you need something?"
"I came to pick up Okina-san's glasses." was his short answer.
Oh! I almost forgot, my father is an ophthalmologist and Okina-san is one of his patients.
"Ummm... my father's not here in the moment."
"I would have to wait then." he said this so abruptly that I wasn't able to fully understand what he meant and for a while I just stood there gaping at him. Trust me to look my dumbest at the most crucial moment!
I don't think he even blinks.
Finally, I found my tongue again.
"Oh, I'm sorry. You should come in. You can wait for my father inside. He wouldn't take long."
Aoshi just nodded his head and made his way inside our house. I had to stop myself from fainting when he passed by. He smelled so good.
When I came into my senses and into the house, he was already seated and was looking at some pictures. I wanted to scream when he saw the huge portrait of me hanging on the wall.
I knew that thing was bound to embarrass me one day!
"W-would you like something to drink?" I tried diverting his attention from my other pictures. Not one of them made me in the least bit attractive.
"Tea is fine." he said. I tried grabbing as many pictures as I can while his back was turned.
When I finally arrived with the tea, he was still sitting, but at least, he's no longer looking at my pictures.
I made a mental note to hide every bit of them.
"My father would be arriving soon. He usually takes a walk during the afternoons."
Again, there was complete silence. For one fleeting moment, I found myself comparing my conversation with him and the ones I had with Kenshin. Both were interesting in some ways. I shook those thoughts away and made another attempt at a conversation.
"Um, is Okina-san your grandfather?"
'I'll find it hard to believe if it is true.'
"No, but he raised me when my parents died." he said simply.
"Oh, sorry."
"Don't be."
"What?"
"You didn't know, so don't apologize."
"But still..."
"I hardly knew them, so don't worry."
"Oh, okay." Am I pathetic or what? Here's one of the most gorgeous guys of Trinity High and all I could do is remind him of his dead parents!
"So, you've got Saito." he suddenly spoke.
I sighed and said yes. I couldn't help sounding so tired and sad.
'So that means he really did see me at Saito's class.'
"That wouldn't be the last."
"I'm sorry?"
"Listen to him during his lectures. Sometimes he sidetracks and adds some facts here and there, take note of that. You get a hell lot of them on his exams."
I just stared at him in complete awe. "Oh, thank you. That's a lot of help" I smiled at him and couldn't help thinking that true, he must be an angel sent from above, or maybe even more.
"And look out for his cigarettes."
"He asks about those?"
"No. He usually places his cigarette pack on the table. Whenever you see two packs or more that means he's probably preparing a pop quiz. He likes smoking while working."
"Really?" he simply nodded.
"Wow! That's a lot of help. I just got a mouthful in his class a while ago."
"It's most probable that he already knew that you're the class president. He did the same thing to me, first year."
"What?"
"He's testing you."
I wanted to say something, anything. Just so I could tell him that I can handle Saito but it was at that moment that my father chose to arrive.
"Good afternoon, Sir. I'm Shinomori Aoshi. I came to pick up Okina-san's glasses"
"Yes, Okina told me about you. Come here into my clinic. Kaoru, you can clean up while we talk."
"Yes, father."
When I finished, I decided to take a peek at the clinic. Aoshi's back was turned.
"His back is so perfect..." I sighed dreamily. Weird, I know. I shook my head. 'What am I doing?'
"Ah, Kaoru-chan, there you are. Aoshi was just telling me about your election as class president. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
I went nearer the two and just smiled at my father.
"Aoshi, my Kaoru-chan is a smart and able girl, but young. Would it be asking too much if I ask you to watch over her for me?"
I blushed at this. My father only met Aoshi now, but he's already talking about things like these?
"I will sir."
I blushed even redder at this. Talk about embarrassing.
"Kaoru, can you show Aoshi the way out?"
"Yes, father."
We walked in complete silence. I tried to search my mind for anything witty to say, but the words wouldn't form in my mouth.
"I'll be seeing you..."
I blushed at this. 'Can't I do anything else but turn red!' It's all I've been doing for the past few hours.'
I nodded and said, "See you, too."
I walked back to my room in a daze. And so, now, I'm just sitting here in my bed looking at the walls of my room.
"What did he mean by that?" I said to myself. Did he mean he'll BE seeing me? or just plain seeing me? This is getting confusing. Did he plan on seeing me as in meet me, talk to me, sort of 'I-want-to-get-to-know-you' kind of seeing me? or just plain 'I-see-you' kind of seeing me?
I massaged my temples at the on rush of different thoughts. Was it really just two days ago when I didn't have any of these piled on my shoulders? No Aoshi saying that he'll watch over me, no mission to befriend Kenshin, and no secret to keep with Sayo?
(Kenshin)
He was both hungry and tired when he finally got home. It was to his surprise to find the house deserted. His father usually went home early after closing up the shop, He shrugged this off for this kind of thing happens from time to time.
Although he didn't expect it this time. His father has been very busy finishing a ceramic set for an important client these past few days.
Concluding that he must have finished with it and decided to deliver the finished product himself, he therefore proceeded to the kitchen.
Opening the fridge he found the usual. "Rubbish, as expected." he muttered.
It was then that he noticed a note under the vase at the center of the table. It said: 'If you want to eat'. Underneath was some money.
He decided that he's too tired to go grocery shopping and cook. So he went to the phone and dialed pizza delivery.
It was a few minutes before the doorbell rang and during that time he took the liberty of watching television. He glanced at his piled schoolbooks and decided they had to lay off for a while. He already read enough. In fact, he was ahead by a few chapters in the class. Comes with having no social life, he concluded.
That reminded him of what Kamiya said. He thought about the party. Saturday. He's absolutely sure that he has nothing planned to do on that day. He snorted at the thought.
But still, he hated parties. Besides it's that Takani lady's birthday. He didn't need to be told in the face that his kind is not invited to parties like that.
He groaned as his line of thought went deeper then leaned his head and brushed his hair with his hand, a habit he couldn't quite get rid of.
"Well, it was a stupid idea from the start."
He then channeled his attention to the TV screen, commercial break. He found himself thinking again.
'Maybe I was too rude...' he begun but before he could answer his own question, the doorbell rang. He paid the delivery boy and then begun eating.
For a moment, all his thought (for he wouldn't dare let it venture anywhere else) were focused on eating and eating alone. The phone rang. The noise of the machine filling the house.
It was one of his father's clients seeking an appointment as soon as possible. He listened to the man's request and replied with curt answers.
After that, he went up to his bed. Once there, he took the newly bought paperback novel from his bag and submerged himself in its world.
It was a crime novel that tackles the mysterious disappearance of a high-ranking official's daughter.
He was almost halfway through when he heard the door downstairs being opened. Aware of the disturbing number of burglaries he's seen on the news, he decided to come down and check.
If it wasn't a burglar, then it would have to be his dad.
But he heard some whispering. Whoever it was who entered was surely not alone. Then he heard some laughing. He let out a sigh of relief after recognizing his father's laughter. His pace quickened and the scene he saw wasn't anything he was expecting.
His father was not alone. His father, who looked quite drunk, was in the arms of some stranger, a woman actually.
When they both noticed his presence (which took quite some time) his father introduced him to the lady, who judging by her looks is a foreigner.
"Ah, Frances, I don't believe you've met my son, Kenshin." His father said in English.
The lady who bore herself with elegance approached him with a kind smile.
"Hello Kenshin. It's nice meeting you." then she turned to his father.
"Hiko, I didn't know that you have a son. I was under the impression that you are a bachelor."
so, that's it guys... hehe... in case you're wondering what took me so long to update, then proceed reading. If you don't, then please review. It's important for me to know that peope are actually reading what I've posted.
to those who are curious about the reason of my delay I've got two words for you: 'FINALS'' and "TRANSFER" to those who are familiar about what kind of a whacked up life college is, you should understand. Please review.
