"Where's Kenshin?" asked Sano, leaning against the wall beside Kaoru. She'd been standing there outside the history classroom for fifteen minutes now. Sano had come to see what was taking the two so long.

She pointed towards the door. "He's in there talking with Mr. Saito." She answered worry obvious in her voice. "They've been in there quite a while."

"You sound worried," commented Sano.

"I am," she answered quietly, hands tightening on her books. "Kenshin was terrified when he saw Mr. Saito, he's taught Kenshin before."

"That's nothing to worry about Kaoru."

"You don't get it!" she shouted rounding him. He was startled by her fear filled eyes and she was trembling slightly. "Kenshin told me they'd met at Mizuki High."

Sano raised an eyebrow. "So? What if he did go there? Lots of people do Kaoru. I don't see why you're getting so worked up over this."

"You should have seen him, Sano! He was petrified of Mr. Saito."

He gave her a shrug. "Lots of people are, Kenshin probably didn't think he'd run into the guy here." He paused glancing down at Kaoru. "You know, Mizuki High is know for being a tough school with a big gang problem. That's probably why Kenshin switch schools, poor guy must have been trying to get away from all that." Sano shook his head sadly.

Kaoru was quiet a moment lost in thought. "Something... still doesn't seem right though." The door slid open as Kenshin stepped out a blank expression on his face. He closed his eyes taking a deep breath. "You alright?"

He gave them a warm smile that didn't reach his eyes. "This one merely has to do a large project for Mr. Saito." He lied; Kaoru gazed at him silently a hurt look on her face. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"We should... find Megumi," Kaoru whispered passing him by without a single glance.

Kenshin looked at her puzzled. "You've really blown it now Kenshin," hissed Sano in his ear.

"Oro?" was Kenshin's reply. They followed her down to the cafeteria grabbing a table near a window. Kaoru sat on the opposite side of Kenshin staring down at her lunch; Sano sat beside her wolfing down his own. Kenshin gazed absently out into the grounds, slowly chewing on his lunch. A pair of arms suddenly latched onto him giving him a large hug. "Oro?" He exclaimed looking at the dark haired girl draped on him.

She gave him a large smile. "Nice to see you again."

"Since when have you known Kenshin, Megumi?" exclaimed Sano.

Megumi gave a sweet smirk. "Since Sir Ken here saved my life yesterday."

"Saved your life?" asked Sano incredulously.

"He did," retorted Megumi finally releasing Kenshin so she could sit down next to him. She ignored the scowling look Kaoru gave her. "A few members of the Oniwaban were harassing me yesterday. Sir Ken charged in bravely and head butted one of them." Kenshin's face turned a deep shade of red almost matching his hair.

Megumi was now clutching onto his arm. "Oro." He tried unsuccessfully to pull free of her grasp.

Sano watched them with amusement. "You really head butted one of them?" he asked Kenshin.

"More like tripped," answered Kenshin sheepishly. "Then fell into him."

"You shouldn't belittle yourself Sir Ken," cooed Megumi. "Especially around a thug like Sanosuke there."

"What was that fox ears?" growled Sano.

She glanced over at him a devilish look in her eyes. "You heard me rooster head."

His fists clenched. "You evil vixen."

"Rooster head."

"Fox ears!"

"Enough!" shouted Kaoru getting between them before it got worse. "Break it up." Sano began to protest but a glare from Kaoru immediately silenced him. He let out a huff crossing his arms making a point of ignoring Megumi who did the exact same thing. "I swear sometimes you two act like a couple of little kids."

"I do not!" they shouted in unison. The two glowered at each other began bickering again.

Kaoru sighed taking another bit out of her sandwich. "Who's that?" asked Kenshin suddenly point out the window to a lone figure who was leaning against the building.

Kaoru nearly choked. "That's the leader of the Oniwaban." She broke into a fit of coughs. She took a large gulp from her water bottle before continuing. "Aoshi Shinomori, you don't want to mess with him."

"He's been the Oniwaban leader since his junior year," added Sano joining into the conversation. "He's ruthless, especially with the Juppongatanna now backing his group."

"How do you know all this?" asked Megumi suspiciously.

He grinned malevolently at her. "In exchange for not beating some people to a pulp I get them to tell me the latest news that and my source."

"Barbaric as ever rooster head," mused Megumi.

Sano ignored her. "Why the sudden interest?"

Kenshin tensed up. "No reason," He answered a little to quickly.

"Kenshin," snapped Sano with a dead serious expression. "What's going on?"

Kenshin coward back, hiding behind his locks of fiery hair. "Please Kenshin, wouldn't you tell us?" asked Kaoru.

He slowly looked up at her worried face. His lavender eyes turning to the friends gathered at the table beside him. His friends, he realized after a moment, a deep feeling of gratitude filling him. "Thank you, this one appreciates your concern, that he does. He is only worried that… the Oniwaban will seek revenge against this one." His hand unconsciously touched his left cheek, to the scare hidden below his hair.

Their expressions all seemed to brighten after that. All of them glad that Kenshin had decided to give them an answer. Kaoru eyes where shining, a bright smile framing her features. Sano grinned, giving a dismissive wave with his hand. "Don't worry about it. Those guys I fought yesterday were way at the bottom of the Oniwaban food chain. There's not going to be anything else from those thugs." He glanced at Megumi was a huge grin. "I guess I should be getting a thanks as well for you rescue since those were the same guys who where bothering you."

Megumi sniffed turning her head away. "Hardly," she retorted. Kenshin watched as the two began to squabble back and forth. Kaoru watched him from the corner of her eyes. The smile fading from her face as the lighthearted expression disappeared from his features his gaze turning back to the window. His emotionless violet eyes staring off into the deep blue sky.

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Yes, yes I know what you're thinking what a short chapter! Well for all story writing process the break had to be here. The next chapter I promise will be much longer then this.

Another big thanks to Summerstar for the second review! As to the question of what happened to my computer, well I haven't really got a clue. I was typing up my wondrous all mighty fanfic for all of you wonderful readers. I'd gotten up to fifty pages or more, saved the document and closed it down for the night. Next day pop the document open and it's deleted over half of it! The forth chapter was left intact but about where the firth chapter was completely gone! I've since changed programs hopefully won't lose anymore data. (Knocks on wood) Anyway that's a longer version of my computer woeful tale.

Well until my next chapter and don't forget REVIEW! (Smiles sweetly)