It's been so long I know. I'm glad that people have still been reviewing. I had to go through finding a job, graduating, moving, and working. But now I should have some time if I'm not too tired from working.
The Tale of a Tamer and His Dog God
Ch.5 – Just a Normal Saturday
Three guys stand off in the side of field watching some of their fellow school mates play soccer during gym period, one with short white hair and light blue eyes standing in between two bleached-blond haired, brown eyed guys. One of them points his finger towards a girl, playing with the guys - something not normally seen as the girl scores a goal, earning cheers from the rest of her team. "That's the girl I was telling you about Enishi. She's good right?"
"You said she was new?" the white haired man named Enishi asks.
"Just moved a few months ago. In fact, during the first week of classes in gym, she was too strong for the other girls so the teach decided to put her in with the guys."
"She's been beating quite a few of guys too. It's impressive." The guys continue watching as she kicks the ball to one of her teammates, only to be knocked into by a rather large student, sending her to the ground. She quickly gets up and brushes herself off.
"What the hell was that for?" she says, walking up to the guy and looking him in the face. At this point, the game stops and everyone looks at the two staring each other down the on the field, the girl obviously having to crane her neck up to meet the boy's stare.
"If you can't play with the big boys, you shouldn't."
"Well if you can't play with a girl who's better than you, maybe you shouldn't play at all," she says, poking him the chest for emphasis, pushing him a step back. Suddenly, he brings up his fist and punches Kaoru in the cheek hard enough to knock her down. She quickly recovers, still seated on the ground and brings her hand up to her cheekbone as the gym teacher gets between them.
"Shin. In my office now. Kamiya, you okay?" the teacher says.
"I think so," she says, getting up from the ground with some of the other guys help.
"Get yourself to the nurse's office now then to my office. Can you make it on your own?"
"It was only one hit. I'll be fine."
-
"Yo Kenshin. How did your quiz go?" Sano asks as he approaches his red headed friend waiting by one of the trees, looking out into the courtyard.
"Alright I guess. Where's Kaoru?" he asks, looking for the girl who is usually behind Sano at this point in the day. Sano leans against the tree before taking a deep breath to answer his question.
"She got into a fight."
"What?" Turning towards his friend, he waits for the explanation. 'I hope that she didn't start anything that will make people suspicious.'
"She didn't start it though. Shin did. She got punched in the face real good and the teach told her to go to the nurse then meet her in her office, but she should be out soon. But what's more important is what were you staring at before?"
"Me? Nothing," he says, calming down a bit and blushing. Sano looks out and sees a group of girls, one with black hair and the others laughing.
"I see. Tomoe again. When are you gonna grow a pair man and just ask her out?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Sano." He takes Kenshin by the shoulders and tries to shake some sense into the shorter guy.
"Of course you do. Listen to me, if Kaoru can take on demons 100 times her size, you can ask her out."
"I don't know." Sano lets him go and turns towards the group, cupping his hands around his mouth.
"Hey Tomoe," he shouts before running behind the tree to hide, leaving an embarrassed Kenshin in front.
"Sano."
"She's looking straight at you. I think you should go walk over," he whispers behind the tree before giving him a slight nudge as the girl heads on over.
"Hey Kenshin. Did you call me?" Tomoe asks a few feet away.
"Hi. Uh yeah. How's school so far?"
"It's fine. And you?"
"Yeah. Fine."
"The guy is totally helpless," Sano whispers to himself, his head hanging in shame. Suddenly, a female voice appears a few inches from his face.
"So what's going on?" He turns to see Kaoru hiding along side of him, watching the conversation.
"Yo Kaoru. Kenshin's trying to ask out Tomoe. He's had a crush on her since middle school."
"That long huh? Maybe we should give him a hand?"
"And how do you suppose we do that?" She giggles a bit before lifting up her right index finger, a large grin spreading across her face.
"With a little magic of course." Kissing the finger, she points it towards her target. "Poof."
"Well, it was nice talking to you Kenshin. But I need to head home."
"Oh. Alright." He says, watching the girl turn back towards her friends. Suddenly, a strange feeling goes through his body and his mouth starts moving. "Tomoe. Wait."
"Yes Kenshin?"
"If you're not busy tomorrow or anything, I think you should spend it with me. We'll hang out, eat out, maybe catch a movie and have a great time. That is, if you're interested," he syas, turning into a much more confident guy than a few seconds ago.
"I would like that. How about 11 am in the plaza?" she asks.
"Sounds good. See you there. Bye."
"Bye." She waves off before walking back towards her friends. Kenshin suddenly feels another tingle, shaking his head and trying to replay the past few minutes.
"Did I just do that?" He turns back towards the tree and sees Sano and now Kaoru waiting for him. "Kaoru, are you okay?"
"Of course I'm okay. Did you really think some stupid jock could hurt me?" she says, standing tall.
"I sometimes forget who you really are," he says as Sano heads over and slings an arm around Kenshin's shoulders.
"So, it looks like you were asking Tomoe out. Am I right?"
"Uhhh…" he blushes, his feet looking all the more interesting.
"My god you're hopeless man. You should just be glad you have a dog god who's watching out for your well being." Realization hits him as he looks straight at Kaoru, sporting an obviously guilty face.
"You made me say those things, didn't you?" She sticks out her tongue as Sano rubs his head with his fist.
"What do you think?" she says, as the two boys stop and look behind her.
"Kamiya." She turns around, coming into view of three guys watching her during gym class.
"How's your eye?" The white haired boy asks.
"It's fine. Do I know you?" She takes a few steps back, not only in suspicion but to get a better look.
"Hey Kamiya." The boy to his right says waving,
"Matt. What's going on?"
"Sorry for the weirdness, but this is Koji and this is Enishi."
"We were watching you play today. You're really good," Koji says.
"Um…thanks." Enishi takes a few steps forward.
"We were wondering if you were free tomorrow. There's a big soccer tournament at the university and we're in need of another player. We're hoping that you'll join us since with your talent, we may have a good chance of winning."
"So are you in? Please Kamiya. We've lost for the past four years and we really want to win," Matt pleads, suddenly appearing in front of Kaoru. As she opens her mouth to give an answer, Kenshin speaks up from behind.
"Sorry, but she can't." Kaoru and the three guys suddenly give attention to the guy standing in the background.
"And why can't I? I mean, I have nothing to do and you'll be out for the whole day. You don't really want to leave me all alone again, do you?" she asks.
"I was going to let you hang out with Sano and Katsu."
"Do you really want me to hang out with those two trouble makers?"
"Megumi and Kamatari?"
"You know they like to go shopping and I can easily get separated from them in a large crowd."
"I can drop you off at the shrine."
"And what are you going to tell your uncle and what is he gonna stay? 'You're leaving her with me while you go out on a date?'" Kenshin stops and thinks about the next possibility.
"Well, I guess it would keep you entertained."
"So is that a yes?" she asks. Kenshin hangs his head again in defeat and nods his head. With his approval, she turns back towards the guys. "What do I have to do?"
"Be at Tokyo University at 9am sharp. We start at 10am," Koji says.
"Do you have soccer gear?" Enishi asks.
"Soccer gear?"
"I'll take that as a no then. I think my brother may have something that would fit you, so don't worry about it. We'll see you tomorrow then."
"Right," she says, waving as the three head on out.
"Thanks Kamiya!" Matt shouts again. Kaoru stands in deep thought until Megumi makes her way over.
"Kaoru, why were you talking to Enishi?"
"He and some of the guys invitied me to play with them in some soccer tornament tomorrow. Why?" she asks, as the group starts to make their way out.
"Oh I don't know. Maybe it's because he's like the hottest guy in the whole school and every girl wants him."
"Oh." Megumi stops, surprised at her friends nonchalant attitude.
"That's all you can say?" she screams from a few feet behind, causing the rest of the group to stop and look towards her.
"That's enough of this. We gotta get our buddy here ready for tomorrow's date," Sano says. Megumi quickly forgets about her conversation with Kaoru and looks at Sano.
"A date?"
-
8:30 am read the small alarm clock next to Kenshin's bed. He turns over, looking at it, then sitting up in bed deciding that it was a good time to get up. Swinging his legs over the edge, standing and stretching he listens for any noise in the other room. "I wonder if Kaoru is up?" he wonders out loud, opening his door and taking a quick look around. No one in the living room or in the kitchen. "Doesn't look like it." With that, he walks on out and heads towards Kaoru's room. He knocks on the door and waits for a response. After hearing nothing, he slowly opens the door, spotting a still slumbering Kaoru. Walking in, he heads over and gives her a few hard nudges with his foot. "Hey Kaoru. Wake up. You need to be at the field in like 30 minutes."
"Screw training. I don't feel like it," she mumbles, swatting his hand away and turning so that her back was to him.
"Not for training. For that soccer game." He waits for a few seconds before seeing Kaoru almost magically pop out of bed, scurrying around the small room.
"The soccer game! Oh man. I'm gonna be late." She stops and looks at Kenshin, still in her room. "What are you waiting for? Get out so I can change," she commands, pushing him out into the living room and shutting the door. Kenshin looks at the door once before ruffling his hair with his right hand and heading to the kitchen.
"Why couldn't I get a dog god like Aoshi?"
-
"Where is she? Do you think she got lost? Any one have her cell phone number?" Matt asks as he looks around for Kaoru as the other teams start to gather around the field.
"Calm down. It's nine now," another kid says, looking at his watch. A few seconds later, Kaoru arrives, running up to the group of guys.
"Hey guys. Sorry if I'm late," she says, joining the group and observing the other teams scattered.
"Right on time. So before we get warmed up and everything Kamiya, what position do you play?" Enishi asks. She looks at him, slightly confused.
"Position?"
"You know, defender, attacker, midfield?" Matt comments.
"I just kick the ball."
"Well, Joe was an attacker. It shouldn't be a probelm for you to fill. You're fast and you have a good leg. That's the gear I was talking about. You think you can put it on?" Enishi asks, throwing the duffel bag to Kaoru and letting her open it. Inside, a pair of shin gaurds, cleats, and socks.
"I'm sure I can figure it out."
-
'Alright Kenshin. You can do this. It's just a date. Go walking around. Then maybe a movie. Get something to eat and then maybe to the park. It can't be that hard. Then how come I'm more nervous now then I am when I fight a demon?' Kenshin says to himself, as he waits patiently for his date to arrive.
"Kenshin?" a girl's voice says from behind. Turning around, he sees Tomoe a few feet in front of him, waiting for his response. He takes a few steps forward and starts talking.
"Tomoe. Hi."
"Hey. How are you?"
"Good. You?" he asks, beginning to walk and Tomoe following next to him soon after.
"Good. So, where are we going?"
"I was thinking maybe getting something to eat and then a movie."
"That sounds nice."
"Alright. So, where do you want to eat?"
"There's this nice café a few blocks away. We can go there."
"Sounds good." He says as the two fall into silence. 'This has to be the worst beginning ever.'
-
"What took you two so long?" Sano asks as he and Katsu watching Megumi and Kamatari take a seat next to them on the bleachers, getting ready to enjoy the games.
"Kamatari here had to decide on the perfect outfit for sitting and watching other people."
"It's not my fault if I like to look nice."
"Well then, do you see Kaoru anywhere? She can't be too hard to spot since she is most likely the only girl playing," Sano asks.
"Ooh. There she is. Kaoru, up here!" Katsu shouts, standing up and waving his arm in the air.
"Be quiet Katsu. She probably can't hear you from all the way up here. Plus, she needs to concentrate on getting ready," Kamatari says, pulling him back down into his seat.
"Concentrate? She can beat all the guys down their by herself. She doesn't have to concentrate on anything except being too good."
-
"How do you and Kaoru know each other? You two seem to go everywhere together," Tomoe asks as the two teens finish up eating their meal. Kenshin looks at his plate for a few seconds, trying to come up with a story.
"She's a family friend and when she wanted to come to Tokyo, my uncle thought it would be nice if she stayed with me so she would have someone around and not be by herself. Her family is very protective of her and doesn't want anything to happen to her."
"Considering the fact that she plays better then most of the guys in the school, it doesn't seem like she would have trouble."
"Well school Kaoru is a lot different than outside Kaoru," he tells her while thinking to himself 'How true that is.' Pushing his plate aside, he changes the topic. "So, you ready to go see that movie?"
-
"Goal white team!" the announcer screams as Kaoru scores a goal, causing the team to run together to congradulate the girl. "And with that goal made by the only female in this competition, the score is 4 -1 white to red with only 30 seconds left. And it looks like the red team is letting it go. Who says that girls can't play with the big guys?"
"Good job Kamiya. I knew having you on the team would be great," Matt says, rubbing her head as the rest of the teammates walk with her towards their seats to rest up after winning their second game.
"Kaoru is really kicking their butts down there," Megumi comments up on the bleachers next to Kamatari, Sano, and Katsu.
"What do you expect? She's not exactly a normal girl," Kamatari comments.
-
"Um, sorry about spilling that drink on your pants," Kenshin shyly says, rubbing his neck as Tomoe swipes her hand across her right thigh as the two exit the theater.
"No worries. They're dark so you can 't see it that bad. IS there anything else planned?"
"I'm not sure. I'm kinda making this up as I go along." Tomoe looks at her watch, an idea hitting her.
"We can go to the university and see if the guys from our school are still in the tournament. Kaoru's in it too, right?"
"Yeah. With her in it, they've probably already made it to the finals, if not won it," he comments, the two heading towards the tournament.
"You think so? There are a lot of good players from other schools. Can Kaoru really be that good?" Tomoe asks, curious as to why the girl was so different.
"There's a lot more to her than meets the eye."
-
"I can't believe we have to go against them. They beat us every year," some guy on the team comments, looking at the team across the field.
"But we're better this year then we have been in the past," someone else says.
"Looks like Keita is still center attack. He's good. Really good."
"Kamiya, you're wearing something under your shirt, right?" Matt asks Kaoru who is lying down on the grass
"Yeah, why?" she asks, sitting up and looking at the guy.
"Good. Then take it off," he says, motioning her to stand up.
"Excuse me?!"
"Keita gets stupid around hot girls. You are a hot girl. So you play center without your shirt and show him your chest and backside if possible. It should distract him enough for you to get the ball at kickoff."
"It is a good plan," another team member comments, the rest of the team now joining in on the conversation.
"Don't you think that Kamiya might think it a little degrading?" Enishi comments.
"Well, I do want to win and its not like I'm completely topless. I guess I gotta use what I've been given for something."
-
"What's missy doing?" Sano comments from the bleachers as he and the others watch Kaoru as she takes off her shirt.
"It looks like she's taking off her shirt," Katsu says. "Damn she has a nice chest."
"Katsu!" Megumi and Kamatari shout, Kamatari whacking him one on the head.
"Hey guys. Mind if we join you?" a familiar voice says. All four look up to see Kenshin and Tomoe.
"Kenshin. Tomoe. Hey," Megumi says.
"We thought it would be nice to drop by and see how the guys from our school are doing," Tomoe says, taking a seat with Kenshin in the row of bleachers above the group.
"Then you've come just in time. They reached the finals and it's gonna start soon," Kamatari says.
"You should've seen Kaoru today. She was amazing and she's the only girl participating," Sano comments.
"Where is she?" Kenshin asks, looking on the field for a familiar head.
"She's the only person down there with no shirt and a bra," Katsu comments, pointing her out.
"What?"
-
"And here we are ladies and gentlemen. The final round of our soccer tournament. It's the blue team versus the white team and it looks like the white team is switching up the players."
"Hey," Kaoru says, making her way to the center as the other guy known as Keita waits as well.
"Hey," he says, looking at Kaoru and then giving her a once over before landing his sight on her chest.
"So you ready to play?" she asks, leaning forward as to touch her toes. Keita looks at her, smirking.
"I'm always ready to play."
"Hey Kamiya. Don't forget one last stretch," Matt says from behind. Kaoru turns around and waves.
"Thanks for the reminder." With that, she does a quick stretch, bending over and touching her toes, letting her shorts ride up a bit and getting the attention of a certain member. She then turns back around, getting ready, pleased at a slightly dazed guy.
"It looks like the ref is ready to blow the whistle for kickoff." With that, the whistle goes off and with the enemy dazed, Kaoru takes control of the ball. "And the ball goes to the white team, leaving the blue team's kicker stunned."
-
"The score is 3 to 2 white team with less than 2 minutes left on the clock. And it looks like the white team is heading straight towards the goal. If they can make this shot, they will have pretty much captured first place in the tournament and with their female teammate in possession, it might just happen," the announcer says as Kaoru guides the ball towards the goal, trying to find an open spot. Unknown to her, one of the other players comes running towards her and gets into a position where he it seems he is going to swipe the ball from Kaoru, he instead raises his foot higher, slamming his cleat into Kaoru's right knee. The act making Kaoru trip over herself, twisting her knee and loosing control of the ball. Gasps and hollers are heard from the crowds as the refs stop the game and check on the girl.
"Kamiya, are you alright?" Enishi asks as he, a ref, and a medic crouch next her as she straightens her leg out, inspecting the torn and slightly bloodied knee.
"I think so. Just a cut. Do I get a penalty shot?"
"What was that? Looks like blue team defender tried to take down the white team's star player. That is going to be a penalty on the blue team. Hope that injury only looks bad."
-
"Oh no. You think she's okay?" Tomoe asks as the group stands up to get a better look as other onlookers do the same.
"Of course she's fine. She's a …"
"Sano!" Megumi, Kamatari, Katsu, and Kenshin scream at him, stopping him from saying any more.
"She's a what?" Tomoe asks, confused and looking to Kenshin for an answer.
"I'm gonna check on her," he says, making his way down.
-
"Does it hurt?" the medic asks as he prodes her knee. Kaoru just pushes him away and hops up on her own.
"My knee is fine. Let me take the kick so I can show them who is the better player," she says getting up and wiping some blood off her leg with her hand.
"That guy is twice your size Kamiya and slammed his cleats into your knee. You should get it checked out," Koji comments out of the group around her.
"Don't worry Kamiya. I'm decent at kicking penalties," one of her team members says. Standing with Koji's help, she places her hand on the guys shoulder.
"Alright," she says, a slight glowing happening under the area where her hand lies before taking it away and heading towards the bench. 'That should help him out.'
-
"How does your knee feel?" the medic asks again now that Kaoru has been moved onto her bench, her injured leg spread out flat.
"It's fine like I said before. Now move so I can see the kick,' she says, pushing the man who keeps blocking the view of the goal.
"Kaoru, are you okay?" Kenshin asks as he approaches the bench, worried about his partner.
"I'm fine Kenshin. You should know that."
"I'm gonna wrap it, but we really should get you to a hospital to check it out," he says, getting supplies from his bag.
"No hospital," Kaoru says, suddenly forgetting about the kick.
"Why not?"
"My knee is fine. Trust me."
"Still…"
'Come on Kenshin. Make something convincing,' he thinks to himself, trying to figure out a way to explain the reasoning for Kaoru not going to a human hospital. "She can't. Kaoru's family doesn't believe in modern medicine. Sending her to the hospital and having a doctor check on her would be against her beliefs."
"That's right. After all these years, I've been able to figure out when something's wrong with my body. Now move so I can see."
-
"Finally. After so long, we finally win first place. It feels amazing," Matt says, packing up his gear.
"Hey Kamiya, you feel okay?" Enishi asks as Kaoru takes off the ice pack that was placed on her knee.
"You didn't really think that a kick from some guy like him would do any real damage, did you?"
"It looked painful to me," Koji comments as the others agree.
"We should get you to uncle's now. I'm sorry to cut this short Tomoe," Kenshin says to Tomoe as he helps Kaoru up as a gesture to remind her to act like she was somewhat injured. The rest of group joined them, to check on Kaoru.
"It's alright."
"You're not coming with us Kamiya?" Matt asks. "You have to."
"I don't think that would be a good idea. I should really get Kaoru to the family doctor to take a look at her knee," Kenshin says.
"But Kenshin…" Kaoru comments, trying to give a puupy eyed face to guilt him.
"He's right. You should get that knee checked out even if its nothing. I'm sure they'll be other times to eat out," Enishi comments, making things seem more final.
"Alright," she says.
"Yo Kenshin. You should finish your date with Tomoe. We can take Kaoru," Sano suggests, the others agreeing with him.
"Are you sure?"
"Go on ahead. You just have to tell us all about it tomorrow," Megumi says, her lips curling up.
-
"I can't believe the weekend is already done. I hate school," Kaoru says as she drags herself behind the three other students.
"Then why did you enroll?" Kenshin asks.
"Because there was nothing better to do," Kaoru comments, trying to kick a pebble at Kenshin.
"Kamiya."
"Enishi, hey. How was the celebration?" Kaoru asks, walking towards Enishi as he stands by one of the front trees with some of the other guys, holding a paper bag.
"It went well. The guys missed that you weren't there. But we bought you something as a token." He presents her with the bag, which Kaoru takes and peers into. Inside, what resembles a small chocolate cake.
"Yum. Food is always the best present. Ooh and it's cake. Even better. Thanks."
"No problem. Some of the guys are going to play a few games this weekend for fun, if you wanna join." Kaoru looks over towards her tamer, who look straight back.
"Ask me Friday. I may have a better idea by then."
"Alright then. I'll see you around," he says, waving off and going back to his group.
"Bye." She quickly returns to her group, unaware of those around her.
"Hey missy, don't look now, but you may have just gotten yourself a group that's out for your head," Sano says, laying his arm around her shoulders, proud of her.
"Huh?"
"About half the school was looking at your exchange with Enishi. He gave you a present, even if it wasn't from him exactly."
"Well screw them. I'll take anything they dish out. But right now, I got myself lunch and dessert and that ain't half bad."
Hope it was worth the wait. These things seem to be getting longer.