AS promised, here is my extra long chapter! I got six reviews on the first day, And I hope more will follow! Everyone seems to be liking it, and I havn't gotten any flames, so, its all good! Now, I've been asked to clarify a few things. First on the list is why why WHY won't Kenshin beleive his own best friend. Well, to tell the truth, most of the things in this story have happened to me in real life. I had a very close friend who was tricked into hating me, so I decided to use one of my favorite animes and play it out! Second is why Kenshin doesn't check the evidence? Well for starters, Its coming from his girlfriend, a person he trusts very much and he hasn't seen her other side. Two, other people support the rumors, but he doesn't realize that Tomoe is connected to all of them. Third is if Kaoru was pregnant from Kenshin, then how come since he knows its a lie since he did not do anything with her. Well, for starters what I mean is that they say that Kaoru got pregnant from him and that since he's the "father" he's shackled to her. Now Kenshin knows that he did not do anything so he thinks she did it with someone else and is therefore trying to stick the kid on him. Reason two that supports this is he's rich, remember? Okay, I hope that cleared up some confusion. This particular chapter will focus on the relationship between Soujiro and Myra, with some thoughts from Kenshin on the Kaoru situation. Now its time for... you guessed it! UNRELATED BLABBERINGS OF THE AUTHOR! YAY!
So anywho, My brother is visiting from college. (I can't say where for obvious reasons. There are some wakkos on the web!) He's a freshman there and is constantly telling me horror stories about it. But either way, he's still way too overprotective. For some reason, the senior girl friends I have think he's a heart throb. I don't know, he seems pretty much just my older brother! He reminds me of Aoshi and Kenshin mixed together. He's got short dark hair like Aoshis, even the bangs that hang down in his face. (My mom is constantly trying to get him to cut them shorter, but he somehow manages to dodge her each time. And he does not have blue eyes, they are kinda gray like mine.) He has Kenshin's personality, in saying he is both kind and very blatantly honest about things. He's into tae kwon do like me, but he also takes ju jitsu and hikado, so whenever we spar, he's always using tricks to catch me of guard. (Grrrr! That makes me so mad when I have him cornered, when suddenly I find myself face-first on the mat. He almost never takes an easy on his opponents, even me! The brat...) He loves playing his guitar on our backporch and singing softly to himself or just enjoying the weather. Whenever I catch him, he invites me to sing too. But unfortunately, my voice is about as melodic as nails on a chalkboard, so I don't usually do it that much. Okay! done!
Disclaimer:
Me: Oh Kenshin-san!
Kenshin: What -dono? (name hidden, for safety purposes. And my name is not five letters long either, so neh!)
Me: Tell them the disclaimer please.
Kenshin: Okay, -dono does not like pickles on her sandwhich, or mustard...
Me: (Hits kenshin on the head) "WHACK!" Baka! not that one! The other one.
Kenshin: Oro! (rubs bump on head.) Ah, yes. -dono does not own the rurouni kenshin series, nor any of the charchters, including me...
Me: That's right! And don't sue me, or else I'll sic my little sister on you.
Kenshin: (sweatdrop)...
Okay! on with the story!
oOo
(Kenshin is dreaming of days past. This flashback is set a few days before Kaoru's departure for America...)
KENSHIN POV
It was buzzing all over the school. Kamiya Kaoru was leaving for America in a few days! Though she didn't say why, it was already known. She was leaving because she was pregnant with Kenshin's child.
Which of course I knew was a lie.
I had been positively shocked on hearing the news, but even more so that Kaoru herself had been spreading the rumors. At first I flat-out didn't beleive a word that anyone was saying, but after a while he knew it had to be true, Tomoe had told me herself! And besides, he checked with all of his nearby friends, and everyone (except Sano probably since he was her brother after all) confirmed it that she was. Though I never showed it, my heart was was deeply hurt. This girl, who I had trusted ever since the day we had first met, had betrayed me.
And so, in place of the hurt, anger grew. I spent the rest of the days after the kendo competition treating her like trash, along with the other students. I was always in the front when groups of kids cornered her and threw things at her, squirting ketchup into her hair and teasing her constantly. Most of the teachers just watched idly by, only stopping the brutality when the kids started kicking at her. Still, even through that, her brothers did everything they could to protect her, stood by her when everyone else turned away. Why? It didn't make any sense to me. Didn't they see that she wasn't worth it? But still, somehow a sliver of my friendship with Sano survived, but barely. He seemed more... serious then the fun-loving guy I used to know. Well, it was his sister. But that was another thing I didn't understand! Sano was alway telling me that Kaoru was innocent and that she would never spread such rumors. Why? Didn't he know that everyone in the school had heard it? And besides who else would have spread it? My head was in a whirlwind of confusing thoughts. I didn't understand at all... And why was it that everytime I saw her suffer, I felt this...this heaviness in my soul. Why? Didn't she deserve it? I'm brought out of my stupor when I feel a hand rest on my shoulder. I looked wearily up into Tomoe's worried face, as she stroked my forehead gently. "How do you feel Kenshin? Any better?" I sigh and sink deeper into the plush sofa cushion. "Thank you, Tomoe. And I'm sorry for dragging you out of the club last night." I look around wistfully at my uncle's richly adorned living room, my eyes falling on a beautiful katana set on the all above the hearth. A fire crackles warmly in the hearth, the orange flames dancing and casting deep shadows along the oriental carpet lying before it. A memory comes flooding back, from long before...
(flashback. I'm evil, yes I know. Sorry! Scene: Kenshin looks about 7 years old.)
I laid flat on my stomach, feeling the warm fire toasting my skin. I was super happy; Kaoru was coming over for a sleepover tonight! I couldn't wait to show her my present. I sat up and gazed over the room, pulling my unusually long locks in a tiny ponytail at the base of my neck and fiddling with the collar of my black T-shirt. The walls had beautiful polished oak panels, a few pictures and paintings hung here and there. One wall was lined with bookshelves, overflowing with thick hard-cover books that smelled like dust and old paper. And then there was the huge wall T.V on the other wall, surrounded by more video games then he could count, some lying strewn all over the floor. The room itself was huge, the ceiling so high up that even Uncle Hiko could never reach it. I got up and sat on the sofa, growing impatient, as I swung my legs back and forth. Finally, I heard the maid going to the front door.With blinding speed I rushed out of the room, rushing past the grand staircase leading upstairs, towards the open front door.
"Hi Kenshin!" Kaoru chirped, smiling brightly. She wore a blue-tshirt with little darkblue butterflies in the corner, and short blue jeans.
I grinned in return. "There you are! For a while I thought you weren't coming!" Slung over one of her shoulder was a large blue backpack, and in the other hand was a bokken. "I brought everything you asked! Okay Aoshi, thanks for walking me up to the front door! Tell Auntie that I'll be fine and that I love her." she said, turning to the boy behind her. He glared at me with his ice-blue eyes, glared at the house, even glared at the maid holding open the door; I sure didn't know what was bothering him. He nodded in reply to his sister and patted her head, a very, very small smile crossing his face. "Just be careful, okay? And as for you," he turned to me, growling slightly. "Don't even think about touching my si..." he was abruptly cut off by Kaoru's bokken making contact with his forehead. "Oh stop that you overprotective baka! Kenshin is my friend." Grumbling he rubbed his sore head and retreated down the steps toward the rusty blue car waiting in the mansion's lighted circle driveway.
Kaoru turned to me rolling her eyes. "Don't mind him, he's always doing that." she grabbed my hand and sighed as the maid closed the door behind us and disappeared in the direction of the kitchens. "I always love this nice house! (she doesn't call it a mansion yet) I like how it smells like... like... I don't know, but it always smells good here! And the polished wood, and the staircase, and all the really big rooms, and the..." "Umm, Kaoru" I interrupted. I knew from past experience that unless you had a lot of time, you had better cut her off before she got started. "Perhaps we should set up for the night?" she nodded, her eyes roving everywhere.
I guided her back to the living room I had been waiting in. She set her bags on the floor, and began to pull random things out of them. "Okay, here's my toothbrush, my sleeping bag, my pajamas, my clothes for tommorow, and well here's my bokken so we can practice later, my diary..." she gave me a suspicious glare. "Don't even think about reading it, you red mop-head!" I gave her an innocent look, making a mental note to read some of it when she wasn't looking. She turned back to the bag, frantically pulling things out, so a pile of stuff was rapidly growing next to her. "Okay, where is it? Where is it?" she shook the bag up and down, checking all the pockets before attacking the pile of stuff beside her. After a few moments, she sat down, tears crossing her face. "Oh no... I can't find it...The gift I was going to give you..." Suddenly her face brightened. "Oh I remember! It's in my pocket!" she pulled out a slightly rumpled package from the front pocket in her jeans. She handed it to me, a small pink blush crossing her face.
"Here, I made this for you...It's not fancy or anything..." she looked down at her foot as I steadily unwrapped it. It was a small necklace made of twine, with red plastic beads strung on it and a small clay charm at one end saying "To Kenshin". I grinned and immediately placed it on my wrist. "I really like it Kaoru!" she looked up, a releived smile on her face.
I quickly went around the couch and pulled out the beautifully decorated package I had hidden, before handing it sheepishly to her. "Uhh, here. I-I got this for you a while ago..." she gazed curiously and unwrapped it carefully so as not to tear the wrapping paper. I could hardly wait to see her face when she saw it. I heard her gasp and the next thing I knew she had me in a tight hug as she shrieked her thanks in my ear, her eyes sparkling. She let go of me and held up her prize, gazing at it in awe.
In the firelight, the red kimono looked aflame, the silver phoneixes stitched into the hem gleaming brightly. I had picked it out myself . She hugged it to her chest and swirled around. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ken-nii!" she giggled. I couldn't help but smile. Suddenly she stopped, looking rather sad, before turning to me. "Oh, this dress... it must have cost so much... and I couldn't get you something as nice..." she looked so forlorn, I couldn't help but give her a hug. "No no really! I love your gift. I'll keep it always." she sniffed and I smiled."Now why don't we go raid the kitchen and see if the cook has any ice cream?" a devillish grin crossed my face. "And we could "suprise" Uncle Hiko! He's in his office right now." she nodded, a beautiful laugh coming up from her throat. We quickly got our equipment and headed out, armed with a foghorn I had "borrowed", some shaving cream and two squirt guns each. Oh yes, it was going to be a long night in the Himura household when the Two Terrors were there...
(flashback end. Haha! I feel bad for Hiko and the rest of the staff.)
"Kenshin? Hey Kenshin!"
I snapped out of my trip down memory lane. "Uh, g-gomen Tomoe. I let my mind wander again..." I looked about the room. Little had changed over the years in this room. As my eyess roved about, memories continued to force themselves up from the back of my mind. The time Kaoru and I had sat up and told ghost stories and scared ourselves so badly that I had spent the whole night clinging to Kaoru and she to me as we watched the shadows dance on the walls...The time we made a tent out of blankets and atechoclate we had gotten from the kitchen laughing as we tried to read a tattered jokebook with a dim flashlight...The time when I was sick she came over and visited an we ended up having a huge pillow fight... Arrgh! I couldn't get them to stop! Lately more and more something was triggering more and more memories to spew up from the back of my mind. I suddenly stood up."Tomoe, you should probably go home and get some sleep... I-I'm going to my room..." she seemed suprised but nodded. "Hey, you know Kenshin you look a little pale. Why don't we go to the beach tomorrow and relax?" I nodded and she smiled and exited the room. After I heard the front door open and slam shut, I made my way to my room on the second floor. Still the memories kept coming! As I went up the stairs, I remembered Kaoru and I having races by sliding down the bannisters of the great staircase... the time when we set a army of slinkies cascading down the steps... I rubbed my temples with my hand as I reached the top, only to be barraged by more memories... Running down the hallways playing hide-and-go-seek tag, the time I smacked my hand into the doorframe and Kaoru had tenderly kissed it so it would feel better, the time we decided to play as explorers and turned Uncle Hiko's study into a minature jungle, complete with stuffed animals lying ontop of his desk and his important paperwork, potted plants shoved into every available space, and a small river of water from a overturned bucket on his chair seeping into the carpet. My ears were still ringing from his horrible shout "KENSHINNNN!". We had both decided to seek refuge in a nearby closet, trying desperately to keep our giggles supressed lest we should be caught... Finally I reached my room and plopped down onto my huge bed, staring at the ceiling. I couldn't get the memories out of my had, no matter how hard I tried to sweep them away, like dust more rose up. I felt that feeling, that deadweight, and a strange burning in my chest...
Could it be that I was wrong about Karou?
I shook my head. No. People changed so easily, that even though I was close to the Kaoru of before, I had no feelings for this new Kaoru.
Or did I?
The more I thought about it, the more it bugged me. That night when she had been practicing her sword arts...I had been captivated by her grace and her sureness. And when she was attacked by those thugs... I had come to her defense, hadn't I? Of course, it was my "civic duty"... but a part of me... a part of me...
...wanted to protect her...
And then I had even gotten her a gift when she was in the hospital, and that night at the karaoke club...
NO!
The words reverberated from my mind, drowning everything else. No, not again. If I gave her my trust again... she would just crush it, try to hurt me again... But then again... The deadweight had returned. Why? I didn't understand. My mind in a storm of memories both painful and happy, I drifted off to the blank darkness of sleep.
oOo
MYRA POV
"Myra! I need your help please!"
I turned to Kaoru who was desperately trying to keep the dinner she was cooking for us from turning into a charcoal briquette. I laughed and quickly tried to salvage it, flipping over the burned fish and at the same time add the right amount of sesame oil to the pan to keep it from scorching. "Uhh, Kaoru? Why don't you let me handle it? You can set the table." She opened her mouth to argue, but caught the begging stares of her brothers. Growling something about being unappreciated, she grudgingly complied. I laughed again and turned my attention to the meal. Well, it was a little crispy, but If I added some chopped garlic and just a bit of lemon juice, it might not be too bad... "C-can I help you Myra-san?" A nervous voice beside me chirped. I looked up into Soujiro's face and smiled. "Sure Sou-san. Can you peel this clove of garlic?" I replied, tossing him the small clove. He nodded and began to peel it with a small knife. I turned back to cooking when suddenly a spat of hot oil splattered onto my hand. I leaped back with a cry, holding my injured hand. "Myra-san! Are you okay?" I heard Kaoru call. "I-it's fine, just a little burn..." "A burn?" suddenly Soujiro grabbed my hands, gazing intently. I was very suprised by such a bold move, when he suddenly blushed and dropped it. "S-sorry M-myra-san...That was improper of me." I had to supress a giggle. He was so cute all nervous like that. "It's okay Soujiro-san. That's really sweet of you to be concerned." I went over to the sink and began to rinse it in cold water, looking out of the kitchen window at the evening sky. In the reflection of the glass, he looked back up, the blush deepening on his cheeks. Then he hastily went back to work n the clove of garlic as if his life depended on it.
I had to supress my grin. What a sweetheart he was.
Soon, he had finished chopping up the garlic and I threw it into the pan, using a few techniques I learned in cooking classes I was taught in Italy. The others had come up behind me, watching with aweful eyes as I flipped the food high up in the air and catching it again with the pan. "Yo, Myra-san. Your pretty good with that! Are you studying to be a cook?" Sano asked, watching the airborne food hungrily. I snorted. "Hardly. My father expects me to be a "gentlewomen", so I can take over the company when I'm older. I had to have all these boring lessons, and snotty teachers, but at least he lets me do some things I want to do. But he's hoping to marry me off to some rich pompous guy, I guess." I finished my show and quickly divided the food onto seperate plates. "Okay! Time to chow!" I set the plates in each spot and sat down. The brothers looked at the food, then each took one tentative bite, then stopped with there eyes lowered. I began to grow nervous at the sudden silence. "Umm, it's not good?" I murmered, scratching the back of my neck. Suddenly Sano looked up. "That was the most damn best thing I've tasted in months!" he howled. He practically had tears in his eyes.The other two nodded then proceeded to wolf down there food as if there was no tommorow. Only Kaoru remained deadly calm, taking slow bite after another and glaring daggers at her brothers. She set down her fork and turned to me.
"I hate you. You cook way better then me." she broke out into a happy scowl, and I giggled.
"Thanks. You know, if you want I can cook the meals just as long as someone helps prepare it. And I can teach you a few things too!"
"Would you really?" Sano asked eagerly. He had already finished his plate and looked expectant for more. "Kaoru's cookings so bad it tastes like it was scraped off the roadside..." Kaoru's fist connected squarely with his nose. "What did you say toriatama?" she growled as Sano rolled about on the wooden floor howling. I shook my head. It was going to take a while to get used to this family. I stood up and took the plates, when a sudden pain in my hand made me drop one. It landed with a dull thump on the covered tabletop. The burn turned out to be larger then I had expected and I had brushed it against another dish. "Oh Myra! are you okay?" Kaoru cried, picking Sano up off the floor by an ear. "It's alright, really. Just a burn..." I murmered, gazing at the large red welt on said hand. Soujiro suddenly stood up from the table and beckoning to me, quickly left the room. Curiously, I followed after, leaving the bickering siblings (and poor Aoshi) in the dining room. "If you'll wait just a minute, Myra-san I will get some cream for that." Soujiro called over his shoulder. I nodded and took a seat on the black leather living room sofa. Soon he reappeared from the hallway carrying a white metal box with a large red cross on the side. He sat beside me and opened it, shuffling through the numerous amounts of bandages, creams, and equipment. Finally he pulled out a small white tube and twisted off the cap. "It has essence of aloe so it should help soothe the burn..." he squirted some into his hand and began to massage it into the welt. Again he realised he had touched my hand and quickly dropped it, his face turning a burning red. "Uh, uh, G-gomen again..." he got up and cuddled at the opposite end of the sofa, looking absolutely miserable. I had to stifle my laugh as I saw him rub his temples forgetting he still had some cream on his fingers. I giggled again and wiped off the white goo from his forehead with a piece of gauze. "Thank you for being concerned about me, Soujiro. That's very kind of you." he turned three shades of red and stuttered something. I smiled and got up. "Well, shall we see if Kaoru and Sano have killed each other yet?" he calmed down some and we laughed. Finally we made our way back to the dining room, where the fight between Sano and Kaoru escalated. Sighing I sat back down at my spot and continued to eat, watching the two go at it. Yep, this was definitely a strange group. My eyes fell on Sou and I felt my heart warm slightly. Well, at least there were some things here that were worth it.
(Next day)
AOSHI POV
I spread out onto the couch, sighing in relaxed contentment. Thank God it was Saturday! Maybe, just maybe, I could actually get some rest, and... "Aoshi! what are you doing? We have to go get school supplies!" Kaoru called a she shoved Sano and Soujiro before her. Myra followed a pained expression on her face. "Why do we have to go now? Shouldn't we be enjoying ourselves BEFORE school starts? We still got plenty of time to go school shopping. Hey, I know! Lets go to the beach!" Sano and Sou nodded frantically, trying to escape the irongrip of Kaoru. After a few minutes of arguing, it was settled. we would go to the beach this very afternoon. Kaoru clapped her hands to gain our attention."Okay, now that the plans are changed, Myra and I will coordinate it! Myra, you can prepare the food and get . Sano, you go out and get the other barbeque necessities, like ice for the cooler, charcoal, lighter fluid, etcetra. NO SAKE!" she added, glaring at him. "Sou, you can help Myra pack up the food and get it in the van. Aoshi?" she turned tome and paused. "Just help out where you can. And I'll get the towels and stuff, each of you have a swimsuit right? Okay? Good. Alright, Hup to it!" With that, she marched out of the room. Sighing, I got up from the couch and shuffled off to my room. Sometimes I really wondered who the leader of the family was, me or her? I began to search through my drawer, looking for a swimsuit. Finally, I managed to find my only pair, black with a blood-red stripe down the side. Maybe I could just get away with sleeping on the beach blanket, I needed to sleep so badly... Suddenly a knock came from my door. "Come in." Myra entered, red in the face and looking rather frustrated. "Hey, sorry. Do you know where Sano is? He should be back by now..." As if on cue, the sound of screeching tires in the driveway came wafting through the open window. "Oh, never mind..." she exited the room, grumbling slightly. I smiled inwardly. Looks like Sano didn't just have to worry about Kaoru now.
oOo
Bwahaha! Next chapter is about being on the beach! Suprises in store for everyone! And Aoshi will get in touch with Misao, Sou and Myra will get closer, Kenshin is gonna get some of what's coming to him, and introduction of Saito! I hope this one was good, but I might not be able to update for a while. REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW! If I get fiftenn reviews, then i will do my verybest to update faster, make the chapter long, AND more detailed! Whew, COME ON PEOPLE! (laughs insanely) sorry, I'm just really hyper. My cousin is coming from Korea and is staying with us until he can support himself! He's so cool, he loves motorcycles (and he knows how to ride them) and he is a DDR champion! iust got the news today. Our house is getting a bit more crowded... But its alright. Okay, till next time. Sayonara!
Oh, one more thing. How does everyone like the charachter Myra? She's mine, ya hear? (the following is in pig-latin) onay ouchietay! okayway? yebay! onarasyay