Summer holidays. The thing everyone looks forward to after every school year. Parties. Hanging out with friends. Sleeping in til noon. All the good stuff.

…And why couldn't my summer be like that?

Right. Because I'm me.

I don't go to parties 'cause I'm too busy studying or taking care of my idiotic brothers. Mostly the latter. I don't have friends 'cause everyone hates me for being smarter than them. That's not a biggie, that's why I have my brothers. They're amusing enough as is. Sleeping until noon? Yeah, that would happen if, one: Sano would let me, and two: my boss allowed me to get the afternoon shift. Neither were gonna happen.

I had thought my summer was going to be normal, until Misao had dragged my sorry ass to Aoshi's house, where I had a sizzling yet confusing encounter with Kenshin and then got dragged to some boutique in the middle of freakin' nowhere. At least I had Kenshin to share in my pain while Megumi and Misao shopped 'til they dropped- literally. Aoshi had to carry them both to the car after they saw their bills. Then I came home and soaked my swollen ankles.

And every day was pretty much like that.

You would think that I would love it, right? As soon as I got off of work, I got picked up in a hovercar with someone who was blossoming into my best friend and her extremely sexy brother. We would then spend the rest of the day gallivanting around town, going wherever Misao's whims took us. I may have loved it if I was not pregnant and getting bigger by the day, and if I actually had money to shop at the various places she took us. Also, Megumi and Aoishi usually joined us. If Aoshi wasn't there, Megumi would drag Sano along- and they, by the way, were looking to becoming a couple faster than I could pop out this baby. Awkward much?

I would feel sorry for Yahiko if I wasn't feeling so sorry for myself. However, I found out a week into doing this, I didn't even need to feel sorry for the kid. He had a girlfriend and spent all day with her.

On the bright side, they fed me whatever the heck I wanted. Oh, and Kenshin was there everyday without fail.

So, a month into this and approximately at the end of my second trimester or beginning of my third, I wasn't exactly sure of the cut-off date (you would think I would know, right?) I was shocked speechless when Misao pulled up at Target with Aoshi, Megumi and Sano…but no Kenshin.

"Where's Kenshin?" The question was blurted out before I could control my mouth.

Megumi gave me a smug smile. "Missing your boyfriend already?"

I scowled at her as I jumped in. "He's not my boyfriend. He's just always here, so I was curious."

"And not curious as to my newest hairstyle?" Protested Misao, a pout on her face.

I looked at her disinterestedly for a second, turned to argue with Megumi then did a double take. "Misao, all your hair is gone!"

She grinned. "Yup! I got tired of the braids. Do you like it?"

"Like it? I adore it!" I reached forward to touch her hair, which now barely brushed her chin. "Misao, you look amazing! It really suits you. I'm glad you kept your bangs, though."

She rolled her eyes. "Duh, I was gonna keep those. I have a horribly big forehead and I have to hide it."

Sano rolled his eyes at us. "Ok, if we are done talking about bangs, Kaoru, put this on."

He gave me a royal blue dress, tailored for my growing stomach (which was considerably large. Saitou had noticed – his powers of observation never fail to amaze me! – and said that although he does not condone teenage pregnancy, because he knew my parents he would let it slide. Prick.) I held it up in awe. It was obviously done for some sort of formal event, and shimmered in the light. It was strapless, which was perfect because my boobs were growing and I really wanted to show them off.

I gave Sano a strange look. "What's this for?"

Misao did a particularly sharp turn, and I crashed into Megumi. "Owwww," she groaned.

"Sorry, sorry."

Sano had braced himself on the passenger's headrest and his own. He glared at the back of Misao's head. "Great Nascar driver we have here. Could Aoshi please drive?"

Misao cackled. "No way! That's no fun. Plus, Kaoru has to get there on time."

"Could someone please tell me where I'm going?" I yelled. Sano began to unbutton my shirt and I slapped his hands away, then punched his face. "Excuse me! What in the blazes are you doing?"

Megumi instead took over, glaring at Sano over my head. "He was undressing you. C'mon we barely have time."

"Time for what?" My voice was getting desperate as I tried to shove Megumi off of me, fight off Sano and not hit my head on the top of the low roof.

"The wedding. Tomoe and Akira are getting married today, and Kenshin asked for you to be his date."

"He couldn't have asked me himself?" I complained. I glowered at Sano as he tried to help Megumi out of my shirt. "And what are you still doing trying to get my shirt off, mister?"

He rolled his eyes. "We're twins. And don't think I haven't seen you naked before, Kaoru."

Yeah, I knocked him senseless for that.

So with Sano nicely sagged against the window and unconscious, I began to help Megumi. Aoshi, ever the gentleman, kept his eyes averted. It wasn't him that worried me, though – it was that infernal twin of mine. Freakin' perv.

While I slipped on the dress and Megumi zipped it up, I tried to contain my glee. Kenshin wanted me as his date! I don't recall him ever asking me, but then again, I'm usually so in awe of his gorgeousness I probably don't hear half of what comes out his mouth. Does it matter?

A little voice inside of me said that it did, but I shoved it away.

The dress was the easy part. The make-up, not so much. Make-up was hard enough to put on in a normal car, and Misao's crazy weaving through traffic did nothing to help the situation. Thank Kami that Megumi had a surgeon's hands. Her hands were steady even as her subject – me – moved constantly as Misao drove.

When I had stepped into the car, I was a Target employee. When I stepped out, I was worthy of being Kenshin's date. The deep blue dress reached my ankles and swirled nicely along my extended stomach. Being strapless, it showed off my breasts pretty well while still being modest. It shimmered as I walked, never staying the same colour. Although I could see myself killing myself in high heels, thankfully Megumi had grabbed a pair of shorter, more manageable heels. This had two advantages: one, that I won't kill myself stumbling in high heels, and two, Kenshin wasn't a tall man. I didn't want to be taller than my date.

I wrapped a black shrug over my shoulders, waved good-bye to my posse (blowing a kiss to the wonderful Megumi) and then faced the church, my shoulders squared. I was ready for this.

Or so I thought, until I saw two particular men.

Both were strikingly handsome. Even though one towered over the other, they were both outstanding in their own way. I immediately recognised them, of course. Enishi was handsome in a dangerous way, his white hair spiked despite the formal event. His shirttails were not tucked into his pants, his jacket was unbuttoned, and his tie loosened. Despite his ruffled appearance, though, he still looked put-together somehow. He was dressed in a white tuxedo and black shirt, with shiny black shoes. Kenshin, on the other hand, was dressed perfectly. He had his hair in a high ponytail, which was basically the only difference. He was dressed in the traditional black tuxedo and a deep blue shirt, which I assumed was to match me. his shirt was neatly tucked in and ironed, his jacket was buttoned and his black tie was well done.

Although Enishi attracted me physically, the way Kenshin held himself, his aura, something, made me crave him more. The more I compared the two, the more I fell for Kenshin. Geez, I'm hopeless.

They noticed me at the same time. If I were looking at Enishi, I would have noticed his initial look of wonder soon followed by a sulky anger. He stormed off into the church quickly. However, I didn't have eyes for Enishi, but for Kenshin. He looked as if he were in awe, and I blushed bashfully.

"Why, Himura-san, it's impolite to stare." I said in a mock southern drawl.

He grinned at me and took my hand, placing a kiss on my knuckles. "Not when the lady looks as beautiful as you, Kamiya-dono." He replied, in the same southern drawl I had adopted. I giggled, and he grasped my hand in his. He gestured to the church grandly, in a sweeping bow. "Shall we?"

"We shall."

He led me through the doors of the massive church, and I couldn't help but stare at the marble doorways and stained glass windows. It was all so stunning, and peaceful. The pews were strewn with white plum flowers and ribbons. He led me up to the fifth row on the left, and we sat softly. "Sorry I had Misao drag you all the way here," he whispered.

"It wasn't a problem. I was expecting her to come…I just didn't expect this."

He chuckled softly. "I meant to ask you, but I chickened out." His thumb was caressing the back of my hand, which was extremely distracting. As in, I couldn't pay attention to what he was saying. So I grunted in response. "Kaoru, after the ceremony, would you come with me to the reception? I also want to speak to you there."

I met his violet eyes with mine. "Of course. I won't turn down a free meal," I joked.

As I said that, the bridal music began to play and I stood and turned to face the entrance. Tomoe was gorgeous as ever, with a off-the-shoulder white gown that bunched and flared at her waist. If I had worn that dress, I would have looked like a poofy disaster. On Tomoe, it was stunning. Her hair was curled and pinned up and she had a modest veil covering her face. Hover-cameras whizzed about her, taking her picture as she slowly walked up the aisle.

After getting my fill of jealousy, I turned to look at Akira. He was a handsome lad, if you like the kind of guy who had the kind face but stuck to the rules. At least, that's what he looked like to me.

The ceremony was all right, as far as wedding ceremonies go. It's usually the reception that makes or breaks a wedding. For Tomoe and Akira's wedding…well, let me just say that this was one of the best weddings I've been to.

I danced until my feet hurt, and had a steady supply of...water. With the baby, I wasn't allowed to drink any alcohol, because, you know, I'm also legal (not). Yet, without the alcohol, I was slightly giddy and unsteady on my feet. Thankfully Kenshin was there, even if he was a little tipsy. His face was slightly flushed and somehow during the night he had discarded his jacket and his tie was now loosened.

The combination of the water and my pregnancy sent me to the bathroom many times. On my fifth trip to the bathroom, as I left the stall I saw the bride herself. I gave her a smile. "Congrats."

What I didn't expect was the hostile glare she gave me. She turned towards me, and crossed her arms over her chest. "Listen, I don't care what happens between your legs, but when it comes to screwing with my brother then Kenshin, your business becomes mine. Enishi has been sulking for the longest time I've seen him, and Kenshin is like a brother to me."

"Yeah, after you screwed him over," I spat back. I didn't deserve this! She was being entirely unfair.

Tomoe's glare grew even more intense, and I didn't even see it coming. The slap resounded in the bathroom. I swear, if it wasn't her wedding day, I would have beat that bitch so freakin' hard, she won't be able to walk for a month. But it was only because she it was her wedding.

She stalked out, but before she slammed the door, she gave me a smirk. "Do you even know who the father is?"

Well, mild insults I could take. But that blatant accusation that I was a slut who couldn't keep track of who I slept with was the last straw. I may have said it to spite her, or I just wanted to finally say it, but I did. I gave her a triumphant smirk. "Kenshin."

Her shocked look was priceless, and totally worth breaking the confidentiality agreement I made with Megumi. However, my heart sank as I saw the person standing behind Tomoe with an equally astounded face. He looked at me in shock, but shock turned into insight and then quickly anger. Kenshin stormed away from me before I could say anything.

See why I had liked my previous summers? So much less drama.

It's so funny. Last time, I complained my muse was silent. This time, my muses – actually, they're twins – were overly talkative…for the wrong fics. I've been writing everything but fanfictions lately. So here I am, finished with one story that I've been slaving on for more than a year and forcing myself to go back to my fanfictions. Maybe these fanfics would be the last I do…or at least, until my muses decide to shut up about my other works. As a reader told me, you guys came first! So I will finish this story for my readers :)

Any thoughts? Comments? Criticisms? Like it? Hate it? Love it?

r.e.v.i.e.w.

please?

;]