Author's Note: What a nice day to be (re)writing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
The Bargain
Dear Prudence
Dear Prudence
Open up your eyes
December
It's been three months now since the horrible break-up that shook Kenshin's world off-balance, and he hated to admit that he was still so torn up about it.
Snow was gently falling onto the peaceful grounds of their university, and he could see a few stragglers making their way to god-knows-where. Back when he had first moved in as a freshman, he had thought the place his uncle had set up for him was a bit much. He was a college student, for god's sake. He didn't need a two-bedroom apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows and marble countertops.
Now though, he was grateful that he had every comfort. He appreciated the minimalist feel of the open kitchen/living room plan, and he had eventually converted the guest room into a semi-study room—giving him more than enough room to separate his cluttered desk from his bedroom. And the windows he initially didn't know what to do with suited him perfectly now. It was perfect for people-watching, and even more perfect for thinking about things he honestly didn't want to think about.
Their brief encounter with Kaoru the month before had served as an opening salvo for him and Sano being welcomed in their circle. Since then, they've been spending a lot of time with the trio. At first it was just casually meeting up at bars or restaurants, which eventually evolved to welcoming each other at their own apartments. Sano had initially claimed that he wanted to be friends with Megumi because she took their break-up so damn well that he was amazed, much to her amusement and that of her friends'. They've been spending so much time together after that, you'd think they've been friends for years now instead of the measly month that they've been hanging out.
Of course, because of Kenshin's still rather morose disposition, his connection with the group wasn't as lively as what the others shared. Sano, on the other hand, integrated himself well because of his natural charisma and happy-go-lucky nature.
The redhead usually watched by the sidelines, forcing himself to at least smile and participate in small conversations whenever he was addressed. So he wouldn't really define what they have as "friendship" yet, per sé. He simply thought of them as close acquaintances.
They were kind enough to understand why he was acting that way, and he could see that they've been trying to cheer him up with their antics and various activities—but he was quite sure that it was mostly due to Sano's influence. Still, while he didn't join in their activities unless he was directly asked, he often found himself being with them because his best friend made it his personal mission to "give him a life". And when Sano had a mission, neither hell nor high water would get between him and his success.
Kenshin knew he was being particularly pathetic this time, though. It's been months now and he still couldn't pick himself back up. Then again though, it was kind of hard to accept his separation with Tomoe because of a thousand reasons he could list down but had no will to.
Sighing, the redhead brought the bottle of ice cold beer to his lips and took a generous gulp. Regardless of the weather, he found that either wine or beer could always calm his nerves down to a more tolerable degree.
He watched as another group of students ran from one building to another and felt sorry for them. He wouldn't want to be out in the cold right now, and he was thankful that he felt comfortably warm. He was wearing a white long-sleeved polo that was neatly tucked underneath a knitted deep green sweater and a pair of jeans. The warm clothes plus the very efficient heating system in their building made his lovely apartment feel like heaven.
A loud knock at the door made him sigh once again and pinch his nose in frustration as he made his way over to greet his unwanted guest. Sano only knocked when he wanted to piss Kenshin off, after all. He gently placed the bottle of beer he was holding on the side table that was conveniently placed by the door and granted his friend access to his flat.
Steeling himself for what was going to be another loud conversation, he watched as the tall man brutishly narrowed his eyes at him.
"The invitation said formal attire." The taller man scolded as he shook off snowflakes from his hair and shoulders.
"Didn't you get my text?" Kenshin said quietly as he grabbed his bottle and walked towards the couch.
Sano scoffed. "And didn't you get mine? I told you there was no way in hell you're not coming with me. Get dressed, get your coat, and get your goddamn keys. We're going to be late and the fox is going to cut our balls off if we don't make it on time."
"What happened to your car?" the redhead asked curiously.
"Back at the shop, had something to do with changing the oil or whatever the hell it is that's wrong with it."
"Borrow my car, then." He offered, before giving the sprawled out man a pointed look. "Just make sure to get it back in one piece tomorrow. The last time I let you borrow it, the right headlight was blown. And you still haven't paid me for the repairs."
"Whatever." Sano shrugged off, as expected. "Anyway, you won't have to worry about damages if you drive."
Kenshin sighed. "I told you, I'm not going."
"And I told you that you are."
"You can't force me into this, Sanosuke. I'm tired and I want to get a decent night's sleep."
Sano grabbed one of the cushioned chairs in his dining area and sat down roughly, giving his friend a searching look, and rubbing his face in frustration when he saw what mood the redhead was in… again. "Kenshin, I'm giving you this option as a friend. You can either come with me willingly, or I can drag you there by your ear like your mother used to do. Don't think I won't do it." He threatened.
"I don't want to go." Kenshin replied sternly.
"Damn it." The large man swore as he stood to stand closer to the morose redhead. "Look, we gotta go, a'right? Missy's playing tonight and we have to be there as a show of support. She's our friend, and can't you be a decent human being for once and show them that you at least care about whatever the fuck it is that they do?"
Kenshin scoffed. "They're your friends. You just drag me around 'cause I'm your walking wallet."
"I only make you do that 'cause I think I should get a little something in return for putting up with your pathetic ass." He glanced down at his watch and swore quietly. "We gotta go. The thing's gonna start soon and it'll be hell getting decent parking. Get fucking dressed." He said as he pushed his friend roughly towards the direction of the bedroom door, where Sano knew he had a few pressed suits ready for a last-minute corporate event. Both of them did, actually. His uncle knew that where there's a Kenshin, there's bound to be a Sano. So he had long given up on trying to separate the two. Twiddle-dum and Twiddle-dee.
"I don't want to go, Sanosuke. What part of that sentence do you not understand?"
"'Ya know, all I hear from you these days is whining and moping and more whining. In the end, you give in anyway. So stop wasting our time and just get moving, yeah?" He gave his friend another shove.
"I don't even know why you want to go." Kenshin grumbled while he angrily changed his clothes, feeling a bit like a child being dragged to the doctor. "You told me you hate going to things like this, and we've never gone to any of the recitals before."
"It's different this time. The fox says Missy always plays in these things and I think it's about time we went anyway. I know I wouldn't want to disappoint the lovely little girl. Would you?"
"I barely know her, Sanosuke. I could count the number of times I've talked to her in one hand, and I've seen her even less than that."
"That's 'cause she's been practicin' for this hard—which is why we gotta go to this thing. Show her that we're her friends and we're here to stay." Sano explained nonchalantly. "They're a great bunch, you know. The kind I'd still like to see after we get out of this hellhole."
"Does that mean I'll have to hang around with them more, too?"
"No shit."
Once appropriately dressed, Sano hastily dragged him down to the basement and hopped into Kenshin's black car. The auditorium where the Winter Recital was being held was at the other side of the campus, so it took them about twenty minutes before they reached the venue. The ride was thankfully silent, and it wasn't until they reached the crowded parking lot that Sano started grumbling once again-this time about how they could've found a better parking space if it weren't for his moping.
Kenshin parked the car and grabbed his tan coat on his way out. He pocketed his keys and walked beside his friend, his interest admittedly growing as they walked closer and closer to the crowded auditorium. Honestly, he didn't think that a lot of people would be interested in watching the shows since most of the pieces that were played in the recitals were classics. He had thought that most of the audience would be made up of parents and professors, but he was wrong.
They reached the entrance and Sano handed the usher their tickets before they were allowed to enter the lobby.
"I didn't know you bought me a ticket." Kenshin said amusedly.
Sano chuckled. "Nah. They were from the Missy."
The redhead hummed and waited patiently for Sano to find the rest of the group who were probably already in the crowded lobby. When he saw his friend wave frantically to someone, he was immediately dragged by his collar to where their other friends were. He wasn't surprised to see Megumi looking annoyed as they entered her line of sight, although he admitted that he was a bit glad that her other two companions were watching them approach with smiling faces—well, the petite Misao was; he found that the other man, Aoshi Shinomori, preferred to remain silent and stoic most of the time for reasons still unbeknownst to him.
"You couldn't have gotten here earlier, you useless oaf?" Megumi growled as she hit Sano's stomach with the back of her hand. "I specifically told you to be here at eight thirty pm sharp."
"Hey hey," Sano placated. "We're only fifteen minutes late. Besides, you can blame this one not getting us here on time." He said, gesturing towards the now gently smiling redhead. "Stupid man was too busy moping to move any faster. I had to fucking drag him here."
The glare that the Biology major was issuing his friend was immediately shifted to him and he gulped. Somehow, he'd always had this unexplainable fear of the stern-faced woman. "What? Moping again?" She scoffed. "Next time I'm dragging you out of that hole. I have scalpels and syringes and I assure you it won't be pleasant."
Kenshin chuckled. "I'm sure it won't, but I'm sorry anyway. I'm just not really a fan of classical music."
"Yeah. Whatever. I'm sure that's the reason." Megumi replied condescendingly.
Before the conversation could escalate to a louder volume, Misao interrupted the three with her usual enthusiasm. "If you guys are done, we have to go inside now." She said as she hooked her arms onto Megumi's and Kenshin's, not waiting for them to start moving before she started walking towards the entrance to the auditorium herself. "I want to get a nice nap before Kaoru starts playing. Things like this bore me all the time."
Kenshin chuckled, amused at her admission and his mood started to pick up because of the bubbly girl's warm smiles and obvious friendliness towards him despite his recent behavior towards all of them… well, that and Megumi glared at him warningly—a silent threat that if he acted like his mopey self, he would have to answer to her.
"So should I expect to be bored as well?" He asked innocently.
Misao grimaced. "I don't know if this is your thing, but I guess it'll depend." She brightened then. "But you've got to watch out for Kaoru. I heard she has a solo tonight and the finale's going to be a duet with her and Enishi. They're always so good together."
He paused in surprise at what she said, causing the bubbly woman beside him to stop walking as well. "Enishi? As in Enishi Yukishiro?"
"Yeah. Why?" Misao asked curiously. "You know him?"
Kenshin remained standing in the middle of the entranceway, which made the other people who were entering the auditorium walk past them so they could get to their seats. Megumi removed her arm from Misao's and made her way towards the front of the auditorium where their seats were located. He saw their other friends follow Megumi's lead from his peripheral vision and sighed at Misao's still curious look.
Slowly, he shook his head, not wanting to dampen the other's energy. "No. I just… I've heard of him. He's Tomoe's brother."
Realization dawned on Misao's face and she gave him a look of pity before shrugging it off and dragging him along once again. "Well, you're probably going to meet him tonight. Try not to burst out in tears, okay? He's really good friends with Kaoru and I'd hate for you to make an absolute fool of yourself. Plus, Sano will bust your ass if you do."
Kenshin chuckled, but remained silent as he and Misao walked over to their cushioned seats. There were only a few rows in front of them, which made him wonder at how special Kaoru must be to get them such a good view of the stage. He was the last person to reach his assigned seat so he got to sit between Sano and a stranger. Megumi was sitting with her back straight beside the tall man, followed by Misao and Aoshi. He chuckled as Misao laid her head on Aoshi's shoulder—obviously preparing to take the nap that she said she would indulge herself in before their friend's performance.
The raised platform was relatively simple, with only a few minimalist Christmas decorations scattered across the stage. As expected, there was a grand piano located in the middle of the wooden platform, and a few mic stands were placed around it. He feigned interest at the decorations that adorned the auditorium, but his true intent was to secretly look around to see if Tomoe was there, mentally gearing himself up for what he would say should he come across her.
Sano was obviously aware of what he was thinking, having known the redhead for far too long. He elbowed his friend on the stomach and Kenshin gave a pained grunt.
"What the hell was that for?" He hissed.
"I know what you're thinking." Sano whispered back, just as harsh as the redhead. "Stop looking for the goddamned woman. I'm not letting you get close enough to even see what she's wearing, a'right? There is no way I'm letting you talk to her tonight."
Kenshin gave him one last annoyed look before grumbling about him not being in control of his life ever since he had met the tall man. Sano chuckled just as the lights went off and the spotlight was lit to feature the dean of the music department giving his opening remarks.
The rest of the show was really a big blur to Kenshin since he didn't really hold that much interest in this genre of music. Although he did appreciate a few pieces that were played—only because of their obvious complexity and the talent with which the people onstage had showcased. Once, he had heard that only the best of the best performers were allowed to get into the music program of their university—which was determined by the talent test that they had to go through on top of the entrance exams that everyone was required to take.
Still, he showed a great amount of respect—though at some parts, he had to feign his interest—for the musicians by not falling asleep and watching the show intently. Sano, on the other hand, obviously had absolutely no patience for such music and fell into a deep slumber about thirty minutes into the show. Amused, he watched as his friend's head lolled back and forth, much to the annoyance of the woman sitting beside him. At one point, his black-haired head fell to rest against the backrest of the cushioned seat, his mouth falling open and a few loud snores coming out from his throat. He chuckled when Megumi elbowed him harshly on his ribs, effectively waking Sano who was so disoriented that he started clapping in the middle of a string quartet piece, thinking that the show was over. The group bowed their heads, ashamed of being in his company as the brute settled down and slid down his seat.
He sat back and watched musicians with various instruments walk on and off the stage, each of them playing their pieces perfectly. There were singers who performed as well, and he was glad that he got a chance to hear such beautiful voices at close range. Music really did have a great ability to soothe and warm people up. He smiled when one of the male singers finished his beautiful rendition of "Con te Partiro" and fondly remembered how much his own uncle loved the song, knowing the lyrics by heart because of the countless number of times he had heard it as a child.
It wasn't until Kaoru walked onstage with her violin in hand that the group woke up completely to pay close attention. Frankly, he was amazed at how radiant she looked as she prepared herself to play the piece that she's been practicing for more than a month now. Her hair was up in a beautiful chignon and the simple, halter-top, emerald green gown she wore made her skin glow under the spotlight that was trained on her and only her. The top of the gown fit her torso well before the silk flowed down her body and reached the floor, where he could catch hints of silver high-heeled sandals that made her look taller.
After seeing her mostly in simple shirts, jeans, and skirts, he thought it was understandable for him to react the way he did. His eyes were wide and his mouth fell slightly open as he watched her move gracefully to the middle of the stage. Briefly, he glanced at Sano and felt more at ease with himself when he saw that his friend basically had the same reaction as he did. He turned his attention back the stage and waited for Kaoru to start, eager to see if she was as talented as everyone around him says.
He held his breath when he heard the first note, and released it when she continued. The whole crowd was silent as they watched and let themselves be entranced by the piece that he sadly didn't recognize—not that it mattered since she held his complete and utter attention. The melody, the way that she held the violin and moved the fiddle passionately across the strings that she controlled enchanted him and made his heart ache. Suddenly, he was filled with so much gratitude for Sano for dragging him to the recital.
He was utterly, completely amazed at the woman who was standing before them all. He let himself be dragged away by the beautiful music, closing his eyes so he could savor the melody even more. He was filled with warmth and a lot of other feelings that he couldn't even explain, making him smile gently and feel butterflies fluttering around in his stomach.
As she dragged the last note of her piece signaling the end of her performance, he found himself slightly disappointed and wanting to hear more of the soothing sounds that came from her instrument. He couldn't believe the amount of power that such a simple looking thing could hold over an entire auditorium. He turned his head to see how his other companions reacted to Kaoru's performance and smiled when he saw them all wearing proud grins and happy faces as they all clapped in praise for the concluded piece. It was Sano's reaction that amused him—he knew that the man was not the type to appreciate such music, but it was clear that he too was entranced by what they just witnessed.
Shaking himself out of his stupor, the tall man turned to Kenshin with a grin. "See?" he said softly. "Told 'ya she was good. Worth comin' out'a your hole for, eh?"
Kenshin chuckled. "Yeah. Thanks."
"I don't need your thanks. I need the drink you're getting me after this thing. We're going out to celebrate Missy's recital." He scoffed.
The crowd shushed again and the group looked forward excitedly to watch the final piece that would signal the end of the recital. The redhead watched as Kaoru stayed on her spot, but turn to smile brightly at a familiar man with shockingly white hair walk towards the grand piano that was located in the middle of the stage. The two shared a warm look before they both prepared to play their piece, which made Kenshin wonder at the history behind their obvious closeness. Were they in a relationship? He couldn't recall Tomoe ever mentioning her brother being romantically involved with someone.
The thought made his chest constrict once again as he thought about his ex-girlfriend. He sighed to try to force himself away from the direction of his thoughts, and decided to focus completely on the performance. Once again, he held his breath as he waited for the musicians to start, and released it when he heard the first notes from Enishi's piano—so gentle that it sent pleasant vibrations throughout his body.
Kaoru's violin joined the melody coming from the piano, and he swore he had never heard something so beautiful as what he was hearing right then and there. His eyes closed and he savored every note and every transition from one chord to another, feeling the emotions that the piece was supposed to elicit. From what he could tell, it was some sort of love song, a beautiful promise that was being made from one lover to another. Instead of filling his heart with painful memories of love that he felt when he was still with Tomoe, all he felt was warmth and the desire for the piece to never end.
Finally, the finishing notes rang and the crowd immediately stood up to applaud the two musicians, some even whooping as Enishi and Kaoru bowed and smiled graciously at their audience before giving each other a huge hug to celebrate their success. The other music majors that took part in the recital went onstage and the crowd continued to clap their hands in congratulations, but Kenshin was focused on the woman that he had the pleasure of being acquainted with.
"Hell. I didn't know Missy could play that well." Sano commented as the group made their way towards the stage to greet and congratulate their friend.
Megumi scoffed. "Of course she could. She's one of the best in her class and she's always one of the last performers in every recital the department has. Haven't you ever been to one of these before?"
"I've been to the one you dragged me to."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot how unbelievably uncultured you are." She sighed. "I can't believe I ever dated you."
"Because of my charm!" Sano wiggled his eyebrows and put his arm around the stern woman's shoulders. "And… you know, my ability to make you—"
"Sagara!" She scolded, blushing at his insinuation.
The tall business major laughed and Kenshin smiled as he listened to the couple banter.
"What did you think, Kenshin?" Misao asked, looping her arm around his and leaning into him as they walked. "You didn't fall asleep, did you? I heard Sano snoring somewhere in the middle of the show and I couldn't see you from where I was sitting. Did you like it?"
The redhead smiled indulgently at the petite woman. "I wouldn't mind attending another. It was a great show."
Misao smiled and they both followed Aoshi and the still bickering couple. They pushed their way towards the stairs by the side of the stage and they eagerly waited for Kaoru to emerge, all of them talking about where they would celebrate the success of the recital.
"Isn't Aoshi majoring in music too? Piano, right?" Kenshin asked the ballerina when he suddenly remembered something Sano had said about the stoic man. They were a few steps away from the others and the noise in the auditorium was loud enough to get him and Misao out of everyone else's earshot.
"Ah, yeah he was, but his transfer to International Law finally kicked in last month." She replied cheerfully. "He has to practically start from scratch 'cause of all the courses he'd missed out on, but it's what he really wants to do."
"International Law?" His eyebrows raised. "That's a big jump".
"Yeah well he wanted to give the music degree a fair shot for his parents. He's really good at it too," she bragged, "but the heart wants what the heart wants".
Smiling, Misao tugged him towards the others, obviously done with the conversation. Kenshin followed her lead amusedly, not really having a choice as their arms were linked together.
"Usually, everyone goes to the bar over at the other side of campus. I think Kaoru might want to join them there." said Megumi.
Groaning, Sano replied. "So you're saying we have to hang out with a bunch of stuck up prudes? Do they even drink or, you know, have fun?"
"They're not bad company." Megumi replied. "In case you haven't noticed, they're people too."
Kenshin remained silent as he passively listened to the excited talk around him, his eyes roaming around the venue to watch families and friends congratulate the musicians that performed during the excellent Winter Recital. Really, he never thought he'd be able to appreciate such events, but he found himself feeling interested enough to attend more shows like this.
He turned and froze when he caught sight of a familiar face who was busy mingling with her companions. As always, Tomoe looked prim and elegant in the blue dress that he so loved on her and he had the urge to approach her—a desire he was fully intent on allowing himself to indulge in.
Sano saw his friend looking at a particular direction and gave an annoyed grunt when he saw what the redhead was looking at. When Kenshin started to move towards Tomoe's current location, the tall man wasted no time in grabbing him forcefully by the back of the suit he was wearing.
"Do you want me to kick your fucking ass in front of all these people?" he growled.
The redhead shoved Sano's hand off of him and glared at his friend. "I'm just going to go talk to her, Sanosuke. It's not like I'm going to cause a scene or anything."
"That's the point. I don't want you going near her, and I am done watching you mope around. Either sit your ass down or I'll park you somewhere less comfortable."
Stubbornly, Kenshin moved towards Tomoe again and felt Sano grab his arm roughly to pull him into the circle that they made.
"Sanosuke." He warned.
"I said no Himura."
"You can't control me."
Misao interrupted the heated conversation. "I really don't think you should go either, Kenshin. It sounds like a bad idea with your history and all... and you've been doing so much better! I'd hate to see you so sad again."
'If only you knew', Kenshin thought morosely. "I just want to talk to her for a bit. Say hello." He sighed.
"Kenshin." Megumi called.
The redhead was getting annoyed at the group and was planning on telling them off when Aoshi interrupted, shocking the group since he usually didn't participate in conversations like this.
"Let him go." He said calmly, eyeing Kenshin as he did so. "It's his life."
"But—" Sano tried to reason out.
"Let him go."
Kenshin gave the stoic man a thankful nod when Sano finally let go of his arm, grateful that hew was inexplicably afraid of Aoshi. Steeling himself for the upcoming conversation, he put his hands in his pockets as he made his way over to where Tomoe was cheerily speaking with her friends. When he reached the small group, he cleared his throat to announce his presence and watched his ex-girlfriend's eyes widen at seeing him there.
"Kenshin." She gasped.
Her friends politely moved away from the two and the redhead suddenly felt awkward and unsure of what he should say next. He settled with a simple, "Hey."
"What are you doing here?" she asked softly, smiling at him and making his chest constrict at the sight. "I didn't think I'd see you here, of all places."
"I came to uh—watch a friend of mine. She plays the violin." He explained, forcing a smile onto his face as he spoke with her.
"Oh? Who?"
"Kaoru Kamiya." At her curious glance, he decided to explain further. "Yeah, Sano and I started hanging out with her and her friends last month."
Tomoe smiled. "Ah. She was really good tonight. Did you enjoy the show?"
"Yeah, I did." He nodded. "I'm starting to regret not coming with you when you asked me to back then."
An awkward silence fell upon the two of them at the reference to their previous relationship. Deciding to break the silence, Tomoe spoke once more. "She's really great." She said, referring to Kaoru. "I've spent some time with her because of Enishi. He's really good friends with her."
"So I've heard."
"Anyway, you look good!" she gushed. "Are you still planning on shifting to medicine?"
"I'm talking it over with my uncle, but I don't think I will now."
Tomoe smiled. "Understandable. You do run a firm, after all."
"Yeah."
Once again, they fell silent and awkwardly looked around, letting themselves be surrounded by the chatter that was coming from the people around them.
Finally, Enishi and Kaoru emerged arm in arm from the stairs on one side of the stage, both of them laughing and talking happily. When they spotted the ex-couple, he saw Enishi's face flash with annoyance which was a stark contrast to the brightness of Kaoru's smile.
"Hey." Kaoru greeted. "Did you guys enjoy the show?"
"A lot. You were both brilliant. You deserved the standing ovation you got." Tomoe said warmly.
"And you, Kenshin?" The blue-eyed woman asked. "You didn't fall asleep, did you?" She giggled.
"Not at all." He chuckled. "Although Sanosuke did. Megumi had to hit him twice to wake him up."
"He was the idiot who clapped in the middle of the show, wasn't he?" She laughed. "What else could you expect from that buffoon?"
Suddenly remembering himself, Kenshin gestured towards the other side of the stage where their friends were currently waiting for them and watching the strange interaction among the four of them. Kaoru smiled and let go of Enishi's arm, standing on her tiptoes to place a gentle kiss on the pianist's cheek, which made the blonde-haired man look down fondly at her.
"Gotta go, blondie. But I'll see you at the bar, yeah?"
Enishi nodded. "Yeah. Get there fast 'cause I'm planning on getting smashed tonight. I wanna still recognize you before I pass out on the football field."
Kaoru giggled again and gestured for Kenshin to lead her to where their other friends were, bidding Tomoe a quick goodbye as they left. As soon as they made it there, Sano engulfed the elegantly dressed woman in a huge bear hug.
"You were really really good up there, Missy!" He said happily. "I'm glad I took the tickets you gave me."
"Oh stop it. Kenshin told me you fell asleep in the middle of the show, you pretentious dick."
"Yeah, but I was awake when it was your turn! Though I have to say, couldn't you have played something a bit more modern? Like, I dunno, Edge of Glory or something like that."
Amused, Kaoru replied. "Noted. I'll ask the whole orchestra to perform just for you next time."
Megumi shoved Sano away from the blue-eyed woman and gave her a brief hug. "You were great, Kaoru. I loved every minute of it."
"Yeah!" Misao said happily. "God, aren't your fingers sore or something? And your neck! You've gotta have a stiff neck from the way you were playing."
"My fingers and my neck are fine, Misao, but thanks for your concern." She blushed. "And thanks, you guys. I know this isn't really something you enjoy attending, but I'm glad you came anyway."
"The last piece was good." Aoshi praised quietly. "Yiruma?"
Kaoru nodded. "Yeah. Kiss the Rain. We were supposed to do River Flows in You, but Enishi wanted something a bit more… feely."
"I didn't know you were friends with Enishi." Kenshin mused.
"Oh, we're really good friends. He's always been my partner during the recitals, so it was bound to happen, I guess." She replied happily. "He's very talented."
"He is." The redhead agreed.
"Anywaaaay," Sano interrupted loudly. "We can all talk on the way to the bar. I'm dying for a drink right about now. Are y'all ready to go?"
Megumi scoffed yet again. "Sure. Give the man a recital and he falls asleep, but tell him you're going to a party at midnight and he's suddenly so wide awake."
The tall man grinned and dragged Megumi and Misao by their arms, pushing their way outside of the crowded auditorium. They grabbed their coats and scarves and made sure they were all warm before they stepped out into the cold night, all of them crowding around each other to joke and share the overall positivity that the night elicited in each of them. Aoshi and Kaoru were merrily chatting about the pieces that were played during the recital while Kenshin listened beside them, asking questions every now and then whenever something piqued his interest.
"Oi, Kenshin. I'm riding with the fox. 'Ya gonna be alright getting to the bar?" Sano asked as they talked about how they were all going to get to the destination of the after-party.
The redhead nodded. "Yeah, I'll manage. I know where it is." He glanced around the rest of the group. "Does anyone else need a lift?"
"I'm going with Aoshi." Misao announced happily. "We don't know where it is so we'll just follow Megumi's car."
Kaoru smiled as she listened to everyone, adjusting her grip on her violin case as she did so. "I'll see you guys there. I reserved a table for us near the DJ's booth so just tell the bouncers you're all with me, okay?"
"How are you going to get there?" Sano asked curiously. "Where's your car parked? I can ride with you instead, if you want."
"No, no." She shook her head. "I'm taking a cab to my apartment. I still have to change, you know, and 'Nishi picked me up earlier so, yeah. I can't very well go there dressed like this." She giggled and gestured towards her floor-length gown.
"Where do you live? I can drive you there, if you'd like." Kenshin interrupted.
"No, it's really alright. I'm over by the building on the other side of campus. It's out of the way, so you guys just go ahead."
The business major turned wide eyes at her, surprised to know that she lived in the same building as he did seeing as there was only one apartment building on the west side of their large university campus. "Oh? So you live in Easton?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Why?"
"I live there too." He replied. "I'll take you there. I have to get something from my place anyway, so I don't mind."
"Oh? What do you have to get?" she asked curiously, wondering if he was just making an excuse so he can drive her to where she had to go since he was too polite.
"My wallet." Kenshin chuckled. "I forgot to pick it up on our way here since someone," he glanced pointedly at Sano. "dragged me here without giving me enough time to prepare."
Kaoru giggled at his explanation and tried to listen to Sano explain why he had to take such extraordinary measures to ensure that the redhead would be at the event. However, Megumi was already dragging him towards the place where her car was parked, so she wasn't able to hear much of it. A minute later, Aoshi and Misao walked off to get to their own vehicle, leaving the two friends alone.
"Well, I guess we should go then." Kenshin said awkwardly.
The violinist simply smiled and followed the redhead as he led her to his black car, allowing him to carry her violin case after he insisted on bringing it for her as a proper gentleman would. It wasn't long before they reached the occupied parking space and Kenshin gallantly opened the door for her and placed her instrument on the back seat before getting in himself. He easily pulled out of the space, but they had to face a bit of traffic due to the amount of vehicles that were exiting the venue.
Kaoru looked out of the window as they moved along while Kenshin sat there silently, trying to think of something to say to the woman he was barely acquainted with. It was the violinist who broke the five minute silence with a giggle.
Curiously, the redhead glanced at her with amusement. "What's so funny?"
"This is." The blue-eyed woman pointed out. "This is unbelievably awkward, don't you think?"
He smiled. "It's not that awkward."
"Seriously?" Kaoru laughed.
"Okay, maybe it's a bit awkward."
The two of them chuckled as Kenshin drove through the familiar path of the campus that would lead to where their apartment building was located.
"I haven't seen you much these days. I'm guessing you've been busy practicing?" The redhead asked.
Kaoru nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, plus it took us a some time to decide on what piece we should play. Our professor was really picky. The solo he wanted me to play was shit hard, and the one I did with Enishi took a while before we got it polished."
"Well, it was completely worth it. You were incredible up there."
"Thanks." She said, blushing at the compliment.
A brief silence fell over them again before Kenshin gave her a quick glance to ask the question that he's been dying to ask since he met her by the stage. "So", he started. "Have you been friends with Yukishiro for a long time?"
"Yeah." She replied. "I met him my freshman year and we've been friends ever since. He's a cool guy."
"Do you know his sister well too?"
She gave him a curious glance and cleared her throat, understanding finally striking her. Still, she answered his question nonetheless. "Yeah. Although she's always been really quiet. I have to say I haven't seen anyone as poised as her, though." She mused. "We asked her to have dinner or grab a couple of drinks a few times, but she was always with her boyfriend. I've never met him, but from what 'Nishi said, he's a good guy." Looking away bashfully, she said. "I guess you're the good guy he was talking about".
Kenshin's chest constricted as he listened to her explain the extent of her relationship with his ex, nodding at her acknowledgement of his connection to Tomoe.
"You know, I didn't think I'd ever hang out with Sano again after he ditched Megumi." Kaoru said amusedly, in an obvious effort to change the subject. "He doesn't seem like the type to want to be just friends with a girl." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye before going back to staring out the window. "And I most certainly didn't expect to actually be friends with you. I mean, I haven't even seen you around here before and now it turns out we live in the same building."
He chuckled. "You make it sound like it's a bad thing."
"No!" she defended, scared that she offended him in some way. "I'm just surprised, is all."
"It's alright. To be honest, I feel the same way; and you're right when you said that Sanosuke's not the type to do what he's doing now. It's the first time he's ever done this."
"So what makes Megumi special?"
"Well, he told me she was the only one to take their break-up really well, so I guess he was amused or something." He told her. "Although I'm not so sure myself. I may have been friends with him for a long time, but I've never understood what goes on in his head."
"I can see why." She laughed.
The lighthearted conversation drew to a close when Kenshin pulled over on the driveway by the entrance to their apartment building. He turned off the ignition and turned towards his companion who was busy pulling out her violin case from the backseat.
"So, I'll meet you back here in thirty minutes?" the redhead asked with a smile.
Kaoru looked at him with adorably wide eyes. "Oh no, you don't have to!" she said. "I was planning on driving, so I can just meet you guys there. Besides, you just have to get your wallet, I might take a while before I finish changing."
"My car's already out." He shrugged. "And I don't mind waiting; it'll be easier if the others are settled when we get there anyway."
She thought about what he said and understood the point that he made. "Well, okay. If you really don't mind, that is."
He smiled. "Here, why don't we trade numbers so you can text me when you're done and we can meet back down here?"
"Yeah, sure." She replied.
They exchanged contact details and both got out of the black vehicle, continuing the lighthearted conversation they were sharing as they walked into the apartment building. They took the same elevator and pushed the respective numbers for their floors, noting that Kenshin's apartment was located only two floors higher than Kaoru's.
It took Kaoru a measly twenty minutes to change from the elegant gown that she wore and into a pair of black leather pants and a knitted loose-cut maroon turtleneck. Her wavy hair flowed down her shoulders when she pulled it out of the chignon it was in, and she chose to wear a pair of simple nude pumps, grabbing her cream-colored coat and purse as she texted Kenshin to let him know that she was on her way down.
They arrived at the bar where the after-party was being held in half an hour and they found a parking space easily enough. It was on the way inside that Kenshin's mood plummeted from the cheer that Kaoru's presence made him feel.
He was currently helping Kaoru with her coat and scarf when he locked eyes with Tomoe, who was standing not too far from them and giving him a curious look before glancing at Kaoru. Instead of going to talk to her though, he opted to put his arm around Kaoru to guide her through the rambunctious crowd to the place where Sano was currently waving frantically at them. He felt a bit of satisfaction when he saw Tomoe's brows furrow in confusion at how he was acting towards the violinist, but pushed the feeling away when the woman beside him pulled him towards the set of couches that they'd be occupying for the rest of the night.
Their evening was filled with passing around drinks and shots and mingling with the other guests in the bar. The performers were congratulated rather roughly, but they didn't seem to mind since they were all having fun.
Kenshin and Kaoru danced together a couple of times and he had to admit that the woman and her friends managed to make him feel the most cheerful he's ever felt since his break-up. He made sure to prevent the rowdy male patrons from making her feel uncomfortable by covering her with his body, ensuring that she didn't notice what he was doing in case she was the type of woman who got offended when men acted like overprotective boars. When he got a bit too tired to continue moving around on the dance floor, he directed himself towards their table and sat down as he grabbed a glass of rum and coke.
He was amused to find Sano not nearly drunk enough as he should be at this time of the night. The tall man sat beside him and got himself a drink, both of them keeping an eye on their friends who were still dancing near their table. Aoshi and Misao were together, while Megumi and Kaoru looked like they were having the time of their lives as they savored and moved with the beats and mixes that the DJ was playing.
It amazed Kenshin how Kaoru could transform from someone with absolute grace and poise and passion as she played her instrument, to just another college student who wanted to have a good time. He didn't notice that he was staring at her intently until Sano chuckled beside him, highly amused at the serious look that Kenshin was wearing as he watched Kaoru.
"She's quite a girl, eh?" Sano commented.
"Yeah." Kenshin agreed. "Can't say I've ever met anyone like her."
"It's about goddamned time you noticed someone else aside from your bitch ex!" The tall man said, giving Kenshin a hard shove as he did so. "I agree though, I don't think there's anyone like her in your life."
"How would you know?"
"You idiot." Sano said sardonically. "We've been friends since we were kids. I know everyone in your life." Switching gears, he continued. "Though I have to tell you, I'm gonna have to kill you if you ever hurt little Missy there. Better yet-I'll sic Shinomori on you."
Kenshin scoffed. "Sanosuke. I barely even know her, and I have no plans of dating her."
"Yeah. Yet." Sano replied. "Never forget the yet." He pointed out meaningfully. "Anyway, the rest of her people are pretty protective of her so you're going to have to answer to them too instead of just me."
"Sanosuke. I don't think you're hearing what I'm saying. I barely know her."
"So get to know her!" He exclaimed. "It's not gonna be that hard, especially since you're apparently neighbors for fuck's sake."
"Stop it, Sanosuke." The redhead said as he took a sip of his drink.
Sano scoffed. "Whatever." He paused, looking at his friend searchingly. "I see that look you're giving her."
"What look?"
"That look." Sano pointed out. "The look."
"There is no look."
"Yeah. There is." The tall man replied, watching his friend look back at the dancefloor in lieu of continuing their conversation. "See! There's that look! It's that look!"
"You know what? Just drop it, Sano. I'm not even ready to date yet."
The black-haired man scoffed again. "You're in college, you stupid fuck. Nobody cares if you're not ready to date yet. Go get yourself a rebound—a palate cleanser or something."
"Are you suggesting that I should date Kaoru as a palate cleanser?"
"What?" Sano exclaimed. "No! You get yourself another chick before you even make a move on Missy. Use your fuckin' brain man, c'mon."
"I'm not planning on dating anyone on any terms, so calm down."
"You're pathetic. You're a pathetic little idiot. If you won't do it, I'm gonna do it for 'ya. Wait here while I find some girl, a'right?"
Before Sano could stand up though, Kenshin grabbed his arm and pulled him back onto the leather seat he was previously occupying. "Don't. I'm driving with Kaoru tonight."
He got a mischievous grin from his friend in response and remained silent for the rest of the night as they waited for their friends to tire so they could all go home. It took them about two hours before Aoshi finally asked them all if they could go to their respective apartments, all of them not bothering to change who they were riding with so it could be easier for them.
The redhead was secretly glad that the woman he was accompanying wasn't drunk, although she did have to lean into him and loop her arm around his because of her sore feet. When they got to his car, he was surprised to find Tomoe about to enter her own vehicle which was about two cars away from his.
He opened the door to the passenger's side for Kaoru and helped her get in before walking over to where his ex was standing, looking curiously over at him and Kaoru.
"Hello again." Kenshin greeted quietly, his hands shoved in his pockets.
Tomoe smiled. "Hey."
"I uh—didn't expect to see you here."
"Oh, well Enishi invited me so…" She said shakily. "I didn't know you were dating Kaoru." She mused.
Kenshin's eyes widened in surprise at the statement and he struggled to tell her why the violinist was sitting in his car, watching the ex-couple interact. "We're not!" he defended. "It's just that she lives in Easton too so I figured we could both come here together, you know? Save ourselves the hassle and all that."
"You don't have to explain yourself to me, Kenshin." Tomoe chuckled. "I guess I was just surprised to see you with someone so close to Enishi." She explained. "Anyway, I have to go now. I have a huge test tomorrow morning that I have yet to study for."
"Oh." The redhead said pathetically. "Yeah, alright. I guess I'll see you around, then?"
"Yeah. See you."
Without further ado, they both entered their respective vehicles, and Kenshin watched as Tomoe pulled out of the driveway and made her way out of the club's parking space and into the highway. Sighing, he started his car and waited for it to warm up, letting his head fall onto the wheel.
"You good?"
The business major was a bit surprised at hearing her voice since he forgot he wasn't alone in the vehicle. He sat up straight and turned to face the blue-eyed woman with morose eyes. "Yeah, sorry. Just a bit tired."
"Okay." Kaoru nodded quietly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
"You weren't, don't worry about it."
Kenshin stayed silent as he started driving away from the club. He was about to turn the radio on to make them both more comfortable, but the violinist broke the silence by stating something that made his chest constrict painfully.
"She must be a hard woman to get over." She mused quietly.
He sighed. "You have no idea."
Author's Note: Not too many changes on this one aside from adding more context for Aoshi, more Sano x Kenshin, and more into Kenshin's history. Slow going, but the context setup feels important!