A/N: Hey folks! Sorry this chapter came a little later than expected. I don't have much time since the school year is ending and I have so many projects and essays to finish. (Also a recital coming up, which I need to prepare for... and my birthday too. :D) Anyway, I've made a few changes to chapter 2. The main thing is that what happened between Kenshin and Tomoe is actually a one night stand. Not a serious relationship. Please read and review!

Chapter 3: I Just Don't Get It. Why Can't You Love Me?

Kenshin recalled when they first met, on the first day of second grade, and oh my, he could see everything so clearly as if he was there himself. Of course he would never forget, no way. This was one of their best moments together, and this was Kaoru we're talking about, the one person in his life who was most important to him.

It was a sunny with a slight wind that day, just after summer before the leaves would fall. All the little children were out on the playground, except for one boy... Kenshin. But that all soon changed when Kaoru came running over. She was the only one brave enough to say 'hello' to the peculiar, unsocial boy.

"Hi there!" The small girl with long pigtails smiled as she skipped her way towards him.

On that day they met, he knew he would like her. She was so outgoing and happy. So charming and cute.

"I'm Kaoru!" She giggled. "What's your name?"

He stood silent for a moment, then finally spoke in a meek mutter. "I- I'm Kenshin."

"Hehe, you're not scared of me, are you?" Kaoru furrowed her eyebrows. "I don't get it. Why don't you play with everyone else?"

Silence. "No one likes me."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him along the field. "Silly! I like you! Play with me! From now on you are my new best friend!" She patted his shoulder. And for the first time, someone broke through Kenshin's shell and made him smile from deep down his heart. Kaoru taught him how to live life to his fullest potential, and to enjoy every minute of it.

Days, weeks, years after that, they would always play with each other, hand-in-hand, side-by-side. Wherever they went, they went together. Wherever they were, they were always there for one another.

Kenshin shook his head in dismay. Believe it or not, but boys do cry. He cried for sure. He cried all night... just like Kaoru did.

Why, why did he have to betray her? What motivation did he have?!

Not even he knew.

xx

The morning sun broke through Kenshin's curtain, forcing him to wake up. He didn't sleep well at all last night, and had just begun to actually fall asleep. Never mind that, at least Kenshin knew what to do now. Try to talk to Kaoru, but knowing Kaoru, that probably wouldn't work. So in that case, apologize, let her cool down for some time, then try and talk to her again. Hopefully, she would forgive him or at least start talking to him again.

Hopefully, but maybe it would take more than just an apology.

Later that day at school...

"Kaoru." Kenshin followed behind her as she completely ignored him, quickly walking through the halls to her next class.

No response.

"Kaoru."

Still no response.

Finally, he touched her shoulder knowing exactly how she would react.

Smack!

She flicked his hand away, annoyed, at least he got her attention now.

"Kaoru. I know you hate me, but can we at least please talk? It's really imp- "

Ignoring him again, she suddenly turned around and ran away. That was it. It was over already.

xx

Kenshin walked through the doors, and into the empty, lonely house. Parents working late again, he thought.

Maybe it really was the end of their relationship. No, screw that. Their friendship. She would never forgive him or talk to him... Never...

Kaoru finally arrived home late at night just after soccer practice. The house was yet again, silent and empty. Mom's out again, must be still at work or grocery shopping.

-sigh-

Slowly, she entered her room and flicked on her cell phone. Damn, forgot to turn on my cell. Megumi must've called... Oh my god. 17 calls?! Dang, Megumi called me 17 times?! What's the emergency now?

She scrolled through her list, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, no 16 missed calls from...

Damn.

...Kenshin.

Oh my God. He actually called. Augh! I can't believe he actually has the nerve to do that! What now?! I hate him!! YOU FREAKING JERK!! Kaoru cussed under her breath, almost giving into another burst of tears. But I love him so much. I just don't get it. He loved me too, why did he do it? Why can't he just love me back? ...Yeah, Dad's right. Dad was always right. 'Life's not fair,' he always said.

Back then things were so trivial, now everything was like a stomach-flipping roller coaster ride for Kaoru. It was so hard to just survive the day without her dad and almost never seeing her mom. Life was suicidal, but no, she would never do that. She had to take care of her mother, she loved her mom.

She reached the last box, scanning over Megumi's call and smiled. But Megumi will always be there for me. Now we're, we're inseperable. Now, should I call her? Hm, later. I'm just not in the mood right now... But, should I call him?

Kaoru shook her head vigorously.

Yeah right. No way. Let him suffer.

But who was suffering more? Him or her?

Frustrated, she threw her phone across the room, and plopped on her bed to burrow her face into her pillow. She felt so confused and lost, angry and out of place. Overwhelmed, as she lay on her lonely bed, she cried until her heart couldn't squeeze another drop.

Finally, after she calmed herself, she promised that this would be the last time she would cry over him. The last time she would let anyone, including herself, know how much he affected her life.

xx

Saturday afternoon.

Time flew by by its usual pace, yet these were Kaoru and Kenshin's most quiet days. Six weeks later, after silence, awkwardness, and mutual hate between the group, (which evidently crumbled apart quicker than sand), Kaoru could finally speak again... to Megumi.

Rushing up the stairs, Megumi thrashed Kaoru's door open. "Hey Kaoru!" She called out breathlessly. "I'm finally here! Are you almost done getting ready for party tonight?"

Without a response, Kaoru stared blankly out the window into the beautiful, glowing sunset...

"Hey baby. Don't you just think this spot is the most beautiful place ever? And, man!, just look at that sunset! The colors are beautiful..."

Kaoru exhaled contently. "Yeah." She hugged Kenshin tighter, leaning into his shoulder. "I love it here! I'm so glad you brought me. Hehe, this tree is sooo tall! You can practically see the whole town from here!"

Kenshin smiled. "Let's always come here. Oh, and definitely when we become old grannies! Heh, if we can climb up here. Eh, nevermind, let's not think that far." They started laughing together, sharing that same laugh they shared for years.

"Good idea! But you'll probably age quicker since you stress so much over kendo training and those tournaments."

"Hah! I don't think so! What about your studies you get worked up over?" Kenshin playfully snapped back.

"Eh?! Well school's important! Besides, you uhh. You... uhh. Uh- college is important. Yeah! " Again, they laughed and kissed under the shade, fingers intertwining with one another.

"Kaorruuuu?? You still there? Err, I'll go call 9-1-1."

Kaoru blinked twice and looked up. "...Huh? Oh, Megumi! W-when did you get here?"

Megumi rolled her eyes, then suddenly broke out in a fit of giggles. "Girl!! Tonight is the big night! Graduation, student party at Tsubame's!! Remember?!"

Koaru stared blankly at Megumi.

"Oh no. Don't tell me you forgot!" Megumi stared back in disbelief as her jaw dropped practically five inches. "Oh my gawd. She invited all the seniors over! Ahh, who cares about that right now. Chop, chop! Hurry up and get ready! Put on that dress we bought months ago. We've been planning this forever! Ahh! I just can't believe you're actually not ready yet!"

Kaoru sighed, "Megumi. You go. I'll stay here. Besides, I have to take care of Pudding."

Again, Megumi rolled her eyes in a "yeah right, you've gotta be kidding me" expression. "Uh-huh. You have to take care of... Pudding. Dude, Pudding is a feaking cat. Which, yes, has been living by herself here twenty-four-seven. Guess what! She's still alive. Now, no excuses! You have two minutes to get ready, put on make up, take a shower, shave your legs, slide that dress on, and be in the car. Kay?" Megumi grinned. "Kidding. But we have 20 minutes at the max." She yanked Kaoru up by the hand and shoved her into the shower room.

"Get ready!! Like... now! Go, go, go! I'll bring out the dress meanwhile and choose a pair of shoes for you!"

"Ahh. Okay, Megumi! Just please, shut the hell up!" Kaoru finally smiled as she went off in the room to get ready.

On Kaoru's way out, Megumi plopped on the swivel chair with a big sigh. She felt so relieved that things were finally getting back to normal and that Kaoru was beginning to smile again.

"Thank God," Megumi mumbled to herself.

xx

Knock, knock.

"Yo, Kenshin!! Open the door for the last time, you jerk!"

"Leave me alone, Sano! Go away already!!"

That was it, the last straw Sano would take with Kenshin's idiotic stubbornness. A few seconds later, he came crashing through the door, landing a huge fist in Kenshin's face. Completely off-guard, Kenshin fell back on his chair, slamming right into the ground. "OWWW! What was that for, freak?!"

It was Kenshin's turn now, and he came flying straight into Sano. However, Sano didn't return the punch or kick, he just patted Kenshin's back with a wicked smile.

"Now that's my Kenshin! Look, stop sulking. Sheesh, you're like stoned man! Except, you're not. ... Are you? Gah! Get you're act together! You've been like this for days now!" Sano almost began shouting, then quickly settled down. "Oh yeah, and, uhh- sorry about the door."

Upon just noticing "it" (which was more like a slab of painted, crumpled wood now), Kenshin squealed in a most terrifying way a boy could. "O-o-o-oh shit!" He rolled over dramatically, grasping his head. "My parents are gonna KILL me. Wait... WHAT THE HELL, MAN?! Why did you fucking kill my door?! No, excuse me! Not even a door! You ripped it off from it's hinges for fuck's sake!! Holy shit man! That's big money!! You, you, you bitch!!"

Sano grinned. "I did? Gee, so sorry. You know, it's just 'cause I've been asking you to let me in for about twenty minutes already!! Correction. More like twenty days!"

Kenshin inhaled deeply, trying to control the rage that would make him beat up Sanosuke again, but that would be doing much more damage than was needed. Think rationally, think rationally.

"Okay, you're paying for that door and you're going to tell my parents what you did. It's not my fault. Now, what do you want, re-tard? Ahh! Just leave me alone before I start beating you up again!" Kenshin was glaring now, unable to not show his frustration.

"Heh, sorry 'bout that. I'll get it all fixed. Promise. But anyway, look, Tsubame's party starts at seven. THE party. In let's see," He quickly looked at his watch. "Uhh, yeah. Five minutes. We're gonna be late. Let's go! Yahiko's already waiting in the car. And you look fine, but really, you should've taken a shower. Whatever, no time now." Sanosuke grabbed his hand unexpectedly and pulled him outside the house to the car. "Get in."

Giving up, Kenshin jumped in the back seat, infuriated. "You..." He gritted his teeth. "Psh, Sano, you're never paying for that door are you?"

Sanosuke smiled in the rear view mirror, replying sarcastically. "Of course I will!"

xx

xx

A/N: Chapter 3 is finished! Except I'll probably editing a few little things here and there. Next chapter is really exciting! The finale!! I'll try to make it a bit longer too. It all depends.

Please review! What's your favorite part so far? I'm honestly interested to know...

Thanks, bye now!

-Reiia