A/N: Hello everyone! I'm sorry for not updating! For those who read 'Goal by Heart' you'd understand why.
I had the one of the worst birthdays ever.
My birthday was this past Saturday, June 4th. My older sister's high school graduation turned out to be on that day.
And so, she was the star of the spotlight. She got showered in gifts. One of them was a laptop. (I mean, the gifts weren't the annoying part and I don't mind. It is her graduation) but then she started complaining. Ugh.
Then we set off to go to two BBQ's. One from her best friend, and one from her boyfriend. Didn't know anyone so I just sorta sat and watched everything. Then, after those two things, we headed for the graduation which was three hours of pointless speeches. I doodled and made up a new character but that really doesn't matter.
Then, as my sister got to go to her senior part bash that rocks all the parties of the world right off their asses, I spent 15 to 20 minutes in the bathroom, vomiting.
I love my sister, I really do. She may hate my guts (which in a lot of aspects, she does. I mean, c'mon. We're sheer opposites. She's the blonde with blue eyes. I'm brunette with brown eyes.) She did wish me a happy birthday once or twice. And her boyfriend, which I love to death like a brother, wished me a happy birthday too, so that was nice.
I got flowers and a manga book for my birthday. Those were nice. I just want to get together with my two best-friends, really.
Aside from puking and being totally ignored on my birthday, it was alright. I'm 14 now and I feel officially older:D
And besides. It seriously could have been worse. It could have rained like during the 7 treturous weeks prior but it was beautiful.
Well, on with the chapter!
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Chapter 10 – Date, or Play Date?
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Kaoru continued to let the smile on her face shine as bright as ever. She looked down the menu she held in her palm and skimmed down the various choices.
Hmmm…She didn't move her head from it's position but let her eyes shift upward to take a glance at the redhead seated across from her.
She held in a small giggle as she took in his childish expression. His eye brows were knitted downward in concentration while his tongue poked out of the left side of his lips, flipped upward. Much like the way a child would when in the middle of a vigorous video game.
The place they were at wasn't anything fancy. And Kaoru liked it just like that. They were at a little lunch hut near the beach. It was like a little boardwalk with tables that you could order lunch at, obviously. Basically, they were outside besides the boards underneath them and the small roof above, held up by isolated columns of wood.
"You decide on what you're getting?"
Kaoru was brought out of her thoughts as Kenshin's voice invaded them. She looked up from the menu and into his violet eyes.
"No, not yet."
Kenshin smirked as he put his menu down.
"Does it really take you that long to decide?"
Kaoru dropped her menu and gave him a look of mocked appall, her jaw dropped but curved in a smile. She cocked her head to the side as she continued to stare at him.
"Excuse me? Did I just hear you correctly? Are you complaining about me not deciding? Look who's still looking in the beverage section of their menu, Mr. Hypocrite!"
Kenshin couldn't help but chuckle as Kaoru whipped the menu back up to prevent anymore conversation directly between the two of them.
After a while of tough choices, they both decided on a drink and successfully ordered a meal.
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While Kaoru twirled the straw of her already gone ice-tea in the deep depths of the over-dosed amount of ice-cubes in the drink, she stole small glances at Kenshin who was still slowly sipping his frap.
Their waters which had come with their drinks, a tradition in all serving places for some reason, lay off to the side, untouched.
Kaoru glowered at him as he enjoyed the remains of his delicious chocolate frap. He slowly caught her gaze and smirked, beginning to taunt her by making those sipping noises of his even louder and making more enjoyable expressions on his face.
If she had known, she would have gotten a frap! But no, she got the boring ice-tea. It wasn't even pre-sweetened.
Suddenly she got a mean idea as the clacking of the ice sparked her interest. Slowly, she drew the cup close to her mouth and sucked in an ice-cube.
She took note of the fact that she was acting like a teenager but she didn't want to act all boringly old and sophisticated. And besides, she reassured herself. So was he!
Slowly, Kenshin began to realize the threat that he had taken on when he started to tease her with his slurping. But before he could block with something within his reach, she had already loaded up and fired.
The ice from her mouth had landed square onto his forehead and into his frap. Kaoru drew back from her firing position and covered her mouth with the back of her hand while the corners of her lips were visibly drawn into a bright smile, trying to stifle her laughter that was building; Kenshin looking forlornly into his now ruined remains of his frap.
He snapped his head upward and glared.
This means War!Grabbing one of the idle glasses of water, he took a large sip of it, never breaking his glare from the giggling Kaoru. Oh, she was in for it.
Kaoru immediately realized what Kenshin had in his mind and squeaked while reaching for her cloth that was placed in her lap and shielded her face with it.
"Kenshin, no! Ice is different!"
With no reply, Kaoru became curious and slowly peeked out from above her cloth to see Kenshin waiting and ready to shoot. She shrieked when he fired at her once she let her curiosity get the best of her. She was able to get the cloth up in enough time to prevent it from soaking her but still received a few sprinkles.
Still holding up her shield, Kaoru desperately reached for the other cup but Kenshin had grabbed it before she could get a handle on it.
"Kenshin, that's not fair!"
The smooth voice of the redhead only varied into a chuckle.
"Who said I was trying to be fair?"
Kaoru gasped loudly to match the reaction of a young child. She recalled on just how much fairness was important as a child when in the middle of a game.
"Cheater!"
Kaoru raved as she continued to duck behind her cloth. Suddenly, she felt a hard tug on her cloth and was dismayed to find it had been yanked away from her, now securely held in Kenshin's palm.
"Look who's cheating!"
Kenshin waved the cloth around to identify his meaning. His mouth was loaded and was in process of spitting the water at her while he smirked. Finally, he spit the water at her while Kaoru shrieked, holding her hands up in defense.
"Kenshin! Stop!"
Kenshin would have stopped if Kaoru was seriously irritated, but the lacking ability to keep a straight face was obvious from Kaoru, and Kenshin took advantage of it. Kaoru continued to wave her arms as the water splattered all over her.
In her flailing, Kaoru had somehow spotted the unguarded cup of ice-water. She reached for it while still trying to block Kenshin's attacks. Finally grasping the glass in her hand, Kaoru stood up. Kenshin realized what Kaoru had gotten a hold of and stopped his attacks quickly, frantically trying to retreat.
"Oh shit!"
Kaoru quickly extended her arm and let the cup hover over his head before flipping her arm over causing the chilling water to pour from the cup and onto Kenshin's head. Kenshin stopped his scrambling once the icy cold hit his head. He just simply sat still, shoulders risen in irritation.
Kaoru smirked and laughed victoriously as she drenched Kenshin with the water. When her glass had run dry and she actually took time to focus on all of him instead of just his head, she noticed that his hand was now gripped on his glass.
Monkey see, monkey do.
And just as the saying, Kaoru was the next one to get drenched.
Kaoru's mouth was wide with shock as Kenshin soaked her just as she had soaked him.
Now it was Kenshin with the smirk on his face. Kaoru scrunched her face at him and grabbed a hold of her hair and rung it out and then flipped her head, purposely trying to spray Kenshin.
More childish battles occurred through out the time they were at the lunch bar until they decided it'd be best if they left.
The stares they received at the lunch bar were ignored as they slowly got up from their table and left, childish smiles on their waterlogged faces.
They walked along the board walk near the beach as the afternoon rolled by, heading for a small ice-cream hut to top off their earlier meal. Thick clouds started to form overhead, blocking the summer sun while the smoke-screen sky started to rumble with thunder.
Kenshin glanced up in the direction of the rumble and stopped, staring. Kaoru had noticed his stop and looked at him, then in the direction where he was staring and smiled.
"A thunder-storm's heading in."
Kenshin didn't glance at her when she said that. He simply kept his eyes glued on the darkening sky that continued to growl, the sky now flashing flickers of lightning, riveting the passerby's as they glanced at the upcoming storm.
"…yeah…"
Kenshin's voice was quiet, almost inaudible. Behind his words was obviously more then just a reply. His mind was flashing through the files of his memory bank until it stopped on one cabinet that held two memories in its files.
Taking then out of their folders, Kenshin took that time to look back at the stowed away reminiscences.
Flash BackThunder rolled across the sky, threatening the once blue skies as they retreated under the smoke-gray clouds. Two young teens dashed down the side walk that was now spotted with droplets of oncoming rain.
"C'mon Kaoru, run faster!"
Kenshin's voice called out as he ran in front, Kaoru trailing behind. Their breathing was labored, indicating that they had been running a while. Kaoru seemed to be having more trouble then the redhead who was in front of her.
"I'm…trying!"
She paused between much needed gasps of air.
The storm had been a warning for everyone to head inside and stay inside. The rain was told to leak like a waterfall from the sky while the thunder and lightning weren't any better. Kenshin recapped in his mind about the storm and pushed to run faster.
And he knew that even though they loved thunderstorms, that wouldn't change anything if they were to get caught up in the middle of it's vicious rage.
Stopping for a moment, Kenshin let his best friend catch up with him. Once she was in range, Kenshin grasped her hand with his and started to drag her to the closest shelter there was.
Ending up underneath the roof of someone else's entrance to their home, Kenshin shook his slightly wet jacket while Kaoru shook her head, airing out her hair.
"Just made it…"
Kaoru's voice was low but laced with relief. Kenshin nodded wordlessly as he glanced up at the sky that had soon after they'd gotten under shelter, let the heavens open up. Suddenly, he let a smile slip onto his face.
"You know…this isn't so bad. I mean, every time we see a thunderstorm, we reflect on this day. On how we were almost caught up in the biggest storm of the year. All because you ran off after school and I had to come find you!"
Although Kenshin accused Kaoru, he still held his smile. Kaoru placed her hands on her hips as her spectacle rimmed eyes glared at him.
"You didn't have to come look for me! I knew where I was going!"
Kenshin simply chuckled as he continued to watch the storm, allowing the playful punch from Kaoru slip from his mind.
"A thunderstorm…--"
6 years later
"Daddyyyyy-"
The small whine of a young 4-year-old boy disturbed the slumber of a peacefully sleeping Kenshin. His heavy-lidded violet eyes slowly opened to see the young boy standing next to him, which he lay disoriented on the living room couch.
Kenshin rubbed his eyes wearily as he drew in a breath and yawned, sitting up languidly. Running a hand through his mussed hair, Kenshin looked at his son who stood quietly. Tears were sprouted in the turquoise eyes of his son as a small blanket that was grasped in the boys palm lay crumpled on the floor, dragging behind the boy.
"Kenji, what's wrong?"
Kenshin's senses were slowly returning as his son sniffed and rubbed a small wrist over his misty eyes.
"Th-the storm…"
Kenji hiccupped between his words as he answered his dads tired question.
Kenshin glanced out the darkened window and took note that sure enough, the glass was being beaten by harsh raindrops, and the night sky would occasionally light up with flashes of lightning. He frowned as he looked back at his son. The look of fear on his son's face pained him deeply.
A crack of piercing thunder boomed as Kenji shrieked in fear and lunged himself into his fathers arms while gripping his dad's nightshirt tightly, whining in despair. Kenshin slowly wrapped his arms around the small frame of his son, cradling the boy's head.
"Shh. It's ok, Kenji. It can't hurt you. It's just a mess of sounds and lights."
His son sniffed and hiccupped more as Kenshin felt his shoulder become damp from the tears the boy shed.
"I-I'm s-scared, daddy."
Kenshin sighed as he used his free hand to comb through his hair. He just didn't have a mothers touch.
"Would you like to sleep with dad for tonight…?"
A small nod and a strained hum of agreement from his son answered him. He continued to cradled the small boy in his arms.
At times like these, he wished Kaoru still stood loyally by his side. Along with Sano, Aoshi, and Soujiro. But he could only wish…
End of Flash BackThose memories had been so buried deep in the darker chambers of his mind, Kenshin could barely recall if they were fictional, or if they actually happened. But the emotion tied in reminded him that they were memories, not fantasies.
It had been true, as well. He had desperately wished for Kaoru's aid in everything that had happened to him. Some nights, he couldn't help but spend crying at his idiocy. ( A/N: Y'gotta love a man who can cry, people x3 ) He had a beautiful son in his life, but it was at the wrong time.
Graduation had long ended, leaving Kenshin to thank upon his lucky stars that he didn't have to drop out of High school to tend to the baby. Not everyone went to college, or even wanted to go to college in the first place, he'd remind himself. But it didn't make him feel any different. He had wanted desperately to go to college and perfect in the art of sculpting and construction. But he could never do that. Not with a baby strapped to his back.
He could barely believe that he had been able to last through the hard times of being both a father and mother. People had immediately changed their outlook on him. Branding him as a scoundrel. A rapist.
Tomoe had done her damage and easily covered it up. Sprouting the fake tears and moping around, acting like a victim while he should have been in her place.
He was the one who was raped, not her.
But he still had to deal what life head dealt to him. No matter how much he wanted to deny it, he was to blame. He had been warned by his friends and even had an unusual fatalities to prove how rotten she really was, but he still didn't listen.
He cursed his ignorant stubbornness. Cursed it to the point where he wanted to bash his fist into a wall.
Kaoru had blossomed beautifully and was now a gem to behold. And he had missed it.
So many regrets in his life yet so little confidence. The bad things in life were always said to stick out more than the good. But Kenshin could barely recall the good times in his life that he could outline in golden lace because of it's value.
Kaoru had been one. She had been there for him. And she probably would have still stood by his side if he didn't shun her. And then there she was again. Present time. And she was still by his side, practically forgetting the unforgivable mistakes he had made in his life.
God, how he lov—
The waving of a hand in front of his face stopped him in the middle of his thoughts. He blinked a few times and refocused his eyes on the woman who stood before him. The woman whom his thoughts had just been preoccupied with.
"Kenshin, are you alright? You've been in a daze ever since you last spoke. Anyway, no one's on the boardwalk because the storm's heading in so we might want to get ice-cream while we still can."
Although she had been worried, a smile was still laced on her lips. Kenshin still didn't tear his gaze from her. Continuously, he had made mistakes and done stupid things in his life but she didn't seem to care. She just continued to walk with him.
She smiled at him once more and slowly turned to head toward the ice-cream hut. Kenshin quickly came to his senses and reached out, grasping her arm, causing her to stop.
Puzzled, Kaoru turned around to see what the problem was.
"Kenshin?"
Not answering her question, Kenshin stepped forward once, and tugged on her arm, closing the space between them.
He couldn't stop himself.
He craved for it.
Every since the night on the porch.
Just once more…only once more. He thought. Sliding his left arm around her waist and onto her back, Kenshin pushed her small body gently toward his while his right hand slid up her arm he had grasped and onto her shoulder. Then, using his right hand, he drew her head back with a small twist of the grasp on her shoulder and dipped down.
He hovered dangerously over her lips, his breathing puffing out, mingling with hers. Finally, he closed the space between their mouths in the opposite form of their first kiss. Sabotaging her lips with his for a long second. He drew back only to gaze lazily into her own eyes. Surprise has long left her as she quickly saved the lost connection, this time taking the dive in, twisting her mouth with his.
It was almost a savage. They attacked each others mouths with strong cravings for the other.
The rain that had already began to sprout from the sky now poured down on the two as they sucked one another dry of words, breaking their kiss but quickly patching it up with another.
The ice-cream was long since forgotten…
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A/N: I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING!
The rain has let up.
For further details on my delay, read the A/N at the top, please XD
REVIEW!