Hello all! Hope you enjoy my writings. Im just starting out, so... Lets move on shall we? Oh by the way, if you saw the previous chapter two, PAY NO ATTENTION TO IT. something deleted the rest of the story, and I really dont know what happended so... enjoy! so far, i havnt gotten any reviews yet... T-T Oh well. Ill make a deal, more reviews equal more chapters!

NORMAL POV

Kaoru rushed around the dress store, desperately trying to find something nice to wear to the suprise party her brothers had set up for her. Behind her, Soujiro her older brother followed, carrying several bags filled with groceries, party supllies, and Kami-sama only nows what else. "K-Karou! Slow down!" He gasped as he staggered after her. Ignoring him, she flashed down the aisle ways, and nearly missed the beautiful blue dress in the rack. She gasped happily when she saw it. It had beautiful short skirt, made of rippling satin. the neckline was low, but not too low as to be indecent. the back was low, but gently laced, so they crisscrossed up the cloth. It had thin spaghetti straps, showing off the neck. As she picked it up, Soujiro popped up behind her, wheezing.

"Absolutely not, Kaoru."

She pouted. "Why not nii-san?" "Because," Soujiro tried to counter, "Look! Its so...revealing. Aoshi and Sano will have my head if I let you wear that." She stuck her tounge out and made her way to the counter, setting it out to the cashier as Soujiro desperately tried to talk her out of it. Finally, Kaoru wheeled around, eyes flashing. "If they have a problem with it, they can bring it up with me." she growled. the cashier set it in the bag and handed it to Kaoru. she smiled at the cashier adn left the store haughtiully, glaring at poor spujiro behind her.

And not watching where she was going.

BAM! She ran straight into another person, knocking them both over. Her reflexes took over, and she landed in a graceful crouch, bag tucked to her chest. The stunnedvictim with long red-hair let out a small "Oro?", deep violet-blue eyes startled. Kaoru blushed "Oh my gosh, Im so sorry, Madam." She quickly helped the other person up and froze. First, this "Madam" was a guy.

And second, it was Kenshin.

Without a backward glance, she dashed away towards the exit, Soujiro following hastily, leaving the confused man stare after her. " That was odd," he mused to himself. He looked at his watch, and walked over to find a tux for tonights party at the Kamiya's. Not that he really wanted to go with HER there.

Once they reached home, Kaoru ran up the steps into her room heart pounding. HE had been there; HE was coming tonight. she slumped against the door and moaned. Why why WHY did Kami-sama hate her so much? She sighed, and began to put on herdress, hoping against hope her brothers wouldn't freak out.Meanwhile, downstairs, poor Soujiro was getting whacked around like a beachball after showing his siblings the blue dress. "Baka!" Aoshi seethed. "How could you?" Soujiro took shelter behind the couch. "She put on the "pouty" face, Aoshi! and plus, you know how she is..." He quickly dodged a book Aoshi had thrown before diving behind a table, avoiding a thrown pillow. As Aoshi winded up for another throw, Sano tapped him gingerley on the shoulder, eyes wide . "Ummm... Aoshi?" Aoshi turned slowly toward him. "What is it Tori-atama?" Sano pointed toward the stairs. The book Aoshi had been preparing to throw at Soujiro dropped to floor with a thump.

She looked...absolutely beautiful...

Kaoru timedly came down the staircase. The blue dress fit her perfectly, fitting tightly to all her curves, but not obsessivly. The skirt stopped mid-way up her perfect thighs, and the neckline was low, but not too low. It was perfectly balanced, just like Kaoru was in spirit. A beautiful aquamarine choker clung to her throat, glistening like sapphires. She nervously scratched the back of her head, a graceful ponytail with a few strategically loose strands draping down her face. "Sooo...uhh, how do I look?"

Sano answered first. "You look gorgeous..."

"Beautiful..." Aoshi whispered. He smiled gently. (OMG! CALL THE NEWSPAPERS! AOSHI SMILED!)

"Pretty..OW!" Soujiro winced as Sano slapped him upside the head. "Pretty? Pretty? Is that all you can think of you..." Sano roared, chasing Soujiro around the house. Kaoru rolled her eyes but smiled and came down the stairway. Ever since their parents had died in a car crash, her brother had watched over her, taking care of her, and calling her almost every night when she had lived in America. Though they seemed to fight a lot, she knew that they really did care about each other. They had always been there for her, even when she came home crying from school. She snapped out of her daze and as Sano and Soujiro rushed past, she pulled Soujiro behind her and smacked Sano. "Baka Tori-atama! Leave nii-san alone!" sano groaned and sat down on the floor. aoshi stood indefferantly, having seen it all before. He pulled Sano up from the floor. "Come on you idiots," He said coldly. "We have to finish setting up the party. Kaoru, stay inside till were done."

With that they shoved her into a chair, armed her with some DVDs and the remote. (Sano had tried to leave her some sake, but Aoshi had caught him trying and had thoroughly beat the crud out of him.) After that, they rushed outside, leaving her to her thoughts. As she watched the movie, memories began to pop up in her mind. no matter how hard she tried to sweep them away, more mermories began to stir up like dust...

(flashback)

(Kaoru looks about 7 years old or so.)

Kaoru played on the seesaw with her best friend Kenshin. She loved the way her hair soared up and down as they flew up and down. Suddenly, a big kid, known for being a bully appeared seemingly out of nowhere and gave Kenshin a rough shove. "Hey girly-boy. Get off the see-saw." Kaoru leaped off her end, and stood between him and her whimpering friend. "You leave him alone, you ugly brat." she growled. The big kid smirked. "And what are you gonna do about it, busu?" He aimed a punch at her, and she closed her eyes, waiting to take the blow, but suddenly Kenshin leaped up and took the punch straight in the face. Blood ran down his nose as he fell to the ground howling. "Kenii!" Kaoru shouted. Ooooh, now she was ticked off. Using a quick round-house kick, she knocked the bully flying, before rushing over to her friend. "Kenii, are you okay?" she whimpered. she lightly brushed his face with her dress, the blood soaking it, but she didn't care. Gently she helped him sit up. Those his eyes were watering, he gave a smile. "You okay Kao-chan?" he murmered. She nodded and helped him get to his feet.

(flashback ends, but another starts.)

(Kaoru looks about 9 years old now.)

Kaoru was terrified as the big boys cornered her in an alley. "Hey look. Its the guy-bitch." One of the older boys sneered. He punched her hard in the stomach, and she fell to the ground moaning. As they began to kick her, she heard one shout "Pathetic! I thought the Kamiya's were supposed to be good at fighting, but I guess girls are just weaker." the pain was blinding her as they hurled insult after insult at her. Suddenly, she saw a movement and the oldest boy crumpled to the ground. Kenshin stood their, bokken in hand. He quickly dispatched the other boys before kneeling at her side. "Kaoru! Are you okay? you didn't show up at kendo club..." He gently wrapped her bruises up with some torn cloth. "I was getting worried andI couldn't find you...Why didn't you fight back?" she was quiet for a second, but th tears soon came and she cuddled to him, crying. "I-I d-don't want to be anymore different then I already am..." she sniffed. "I t-thought that if I didn't show I had any skill then they would leave me alone..." Kenshin quietly hugged her as she cried into his shirt.

(flashback ends, but another starts. Sorry, this is the last one for this chapter. I promise! T-T)

(Kaoru, maybe 12 years old now. she's kind of all knees and elbows, you know, that stage when a girl is on her way to womanhood. Okay, I'll shut up now and let you move on with the story.)

KAORUPOV:

The crowds cheered excitedly as she faced off with Kenshin in the tournament. She looked out over the crowd. She could see her brothers cheering along, Sano waving a huge pink banner that said "Kaoru for champion". Idiot brother, she muttered to herself, but felt her heart warm at their support. Just behind Kenshin in the outer ring was his girlfriend Tomoe. She glared daggers at me, snarling. I don't know why she hates me so much, I haven't done anything to her... suddenly the match started. Kenshin instantly launched himself forward, using his adoptive father HikoSeijuiro'stechnique Hiten Mitsurugi or something. I countered and wheeled around, hoping to get a good smack athis head, but hecountered. I smiled inside of the helmet.He was so talented and lucky. One of the badsides of us fighting was because we knew each other like the back of our hands. After all he was the only one who bothered to spar with me in kendo club...well, Okita did sometime. He looked a lot like Soujiro... suddenly I was smacked in the side. "Himura Kenshin, One point!" The refferee roared. I mentally slapped myself. I had to concentrate, or else I would lose. As we squared off again, he swiveled to the side. I quickly twirled and bought my bokken around, something I had never done before. I smacked him in the lower leg. " Kamiya Kaoru, one point!" I grinned again, and turned to him. "That was hard to do!" I laughed. Strangeley, he remained silent. I found this a little unsettling, as usually he would retort with a smart-aleck answer. Instead, his next attacks were vicious and swift, all the while, he remained quiet. it took everything I had to counter his blows. My mind was racing anxiously. Was he okay? Did i do something wrong? Suddenly, we struck each other directly on each other's shoulder. The crowd was roaring even louder, the refree calling out "Kamiya and Himura! two points!" Only one more point would determine the champion.We squared off again, and I allowed my eyes to wander. Kenshin's whole body was radiating anger, and behind him, Tomoe smirked. What the hell was going on?I wondered. We attacked again, this time I let my instincts take over, making me fly around the ring, dodging his blows. Suddenly, we met in the center. The whole auditorium had fallen silent at the loud smack of a bokken. The the whole crowd exploded.I barely heard the referee call out, "Kamiya Kaoru! Win!" I was shocked. Kenshin tore off his helmet, and my eyes grew wide.

His eyes were like amber flames, echoing anger.

"Kenii?"I whispered.I had never seen him like this before. I hadn't gotten the chance to talk to him before the match, so I had no clue why he was mad. He turned swiftly and began exiting the ring. I was oblivious to the ring, as I touched his shoulder. he wrenched my hand away and turned to me, his eyes blazing.

"I hate you. Never talk to me again."

I felt like I had had a million needles stuck through my heart. With that, he turned and left, Tomoe clinging to his arm. she turned and gave a triumphant grin. I sank to my knees, utterly shocked.

I hate you.

The words tore through my mind, ripping at me.

Never talk to me again.

I felt the referee raise my arm, felt the trophy pressed into my hands, felt the pulse of energy from the crowd.

Yet,I felt nothing at all, as if I was drifting somwhere where light never shone.

I hate you.

A single tear slid down my cheek on my day of victory.I lost my best friend on the day I won. crying, I burst out of the auditorium, running, running away from it all. I had no idea where I was headed, and I didn't care. Later, I felt my borthers surround me, holding me. Like something delicate and broken, they took me home.

(flashback done)

Angry tears rolled down my cheeks as i watched the movie. How could he do that to me? I had done nothing to him. But now I know why he was angry.

(flashback. Im sorry! Im sorry! Dont kill me! Its just that story cant make sense without this... T-T)

I cornered Tomoe the next day at school. She just smiled at me, but i could see all the hate beneath her skin. 'Oh, if it isn't the little slut." she sneered. "Im guessing your ondering why Kenshin hates your guts now. Hmm?" I kept quiet, used to insults by now. "Well, lets just say a little rumor spread around saying you were secretly back-stabbing him, oh and that you were pregnant from him." she continued. It nearly didn't register. "Why...why did you do it, bitch?" I growled low, my anger pouring up through me. She stopped and glared at me. "Because you were the only one standing between me and him," she snarled. "Oh, Kaoru this and Kaoru that, he was always talking about you," she said in a mockingly sweet voice. "Now if you excuse me, Ill be going." and she left with her little group. i just stood their, not comprehending. Just trying to compose myself from ripping out her throat.

(later)

I found Kenshin in the back hall, where we used to do homework together. I stood in front of him. "Kenshin, we need to talk." I said. He merely shoved me out of the way, but I grabbed his arm. He turned and glared at me. "What else is there to say?" he growled. He wrenched it from my grasp, but I ran in front of him. "Don't listen to her," I pleaded. "She's lying..." He suddenly slapped me. For a second he looked horrified, but again the amber gaze set in. "Don't you dare call Tomoe a liar, bitch." with that, he left me standing there, holding my cheek. But his words cut deeper then his slap did. And with that moment, I closed my heart and locked away the key. Of course, later my brothers threatened to beat him up, even Sano.(Sano is Kenshin's best friend, even now. Not thatI like it, but who his friend's are are not my concern.) However, even after this, the past kept me from hurting him. I let it lie. But I was done.

(flashback end)

NORMAL POV:

Kaoru got up and threw a pillow against the wall. "Why didn't he belevie me?" she seethed. Angrily she punched another pillow. "Damn that Tomoe! Damn Kenshin! Damn..." she sank against the ground, crying intoher arms. After a few minutes, she managed to compose herself. I must not show weakness, not to him, not to anyone, and definitely not to the people who made my life a living hell. Or those who had been there for me... She thought. she straightened up and went to the bathroom. A few hours later, when her brother's called that the party was set, there was not a trace of tears on her face. But her heart was weeping inside in bitterness and anger...