DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN RUROUNI KENSHIN
AN: THANK YOU TO ALL THE READERS WHO REVIEWED, I REALLY APPREACIATE IT! THIS CHAPTER ISN'T ALL THAT CLIMATIC!
SHH; OUR LIPS ARE SEALED
"So Kaoru, how do u feel about his Soujiro guy?" Misao asked all too suspiciously. All 3 girls were gathered on their living room floor, spooning out huge amounts of chocolate ice-cream.
"I don't feel anything" Kaoru murmured with her mouth full as the ice cream slid down the corner of her mouth. She didn't bother wiping it off; after all it was just her girlfriends and her. Instead she shoved her spoon into the tub and nibbled on the ice-cream, savouring its taste without a care regarding the scowl fixed on Megumi's face.
"C'mon Kaoru, the only reason we're having this girl's night is so we can get your feelings straight!" Megumi said impatiently, establishing the fact that she rather be doing more 'important' stuff, namely involving a certain rooster head.
"Alright Kaoru, but what about Kenshin? What happened between you and him?" Misao questioned eagerly.
"Mhm, nothing really. If you absolutely need to know, yeah of course I still like Kenshin. Mhm but Sou-chan said he'd help me get over him." Kaoru said making gesticulations with her spoon.
"Wait! You want to get over Kenshin?" Misao nearly screeched.
"Yes, is there something wrong with that? A person can choose to stop their obsessive love."
"Yeah, but you're Kaoru. What happened to I'm not EVER going to give up. Kenshin is mine and I won't let another man–snatching possessive girlfriend take him away from! And how the hell is this Soujiro dude going to help you? If your own 2 best friends can't, then he can't either!" Misao announced confidently as she crossed her arms. Kaoru just smiled at her best friend's ranting and replied all too causally.
"Hmf, I will get over him! You guys wanna know why? He treats me like his little sister. It frustrates me to hell! Remember the time you guys dolled me up so I could pick up a guy to get over Kenshin? Well you what happened? I went to the car, and Kenshin was the only one there at the moment. You know what was his reaction to what I was wearing? He didn't look me in the eye ONCE, heck he barely looked at me. He told me to go change. What a turn on I was!" Kaoru grimaced as she looked at the shocked expressions on their faces.
"And how's Sou-chan going to help me? Misao, he's already helped me so much, when I'm with him..I'm sort of able to forget about Kenshin. This may seem overly melodramatic but ever since Tomoe and Kenshin had that mutual breakup he's been treating me differently. As if he's afraid of me. We hardly talk anymore. He's just full of shit sometime, prancing back into my life whenever he feels the need too. You guys don't get it! Nor will you EVER. Soujiro knows how it feels to be an alternative knowing the person you cherish so dearly is your topmost priority." Kaoru got up from her place off the ground, tossed her spoon into sink and slipped her bunny slippers on. She looked back at her friends who were just staring at her expectantly.
"I..I mean...me and Sou-chan are meeting up. Sorry to cut this meeting short, but seriously thanks for caring. I know you guys aren't happy with my decision, but I need a breather from all this 'Kenshin talk'." Kaoru waved as she headed out the door.
"KAORU! Wait! She's such an idiot, I swear Megumi she's finally lost it! She left in PJ's for god sakes!"
"Misao, I think it's best if we don't bring Kenshin up again, I have a feeling Kenshin will man up. I like this Soujiro guy, he actually may be competition!" Megumi declared gleefully. Misao just gaped at Megumi incredulously as if she had just lost her mind.
"Hey Soujiro, meet me on the roof?" Kaoru texted rapidly, anxiously hoping for a positive reply.
"Yeah, I'll be there in 5." Kaoru exhaled slowly, she needed this. He was a way to vent out her feelings. Kaoru quickly made her way to the dorm's roof; she noticed Soujiro hadn't arrived yet, so she patiently waited for him. The breeze calmed her, caressing her face, and gently combing her hair. She relished the moment when she abruptly heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Soujiro smiling straight at her. He sat next to her and sighed "It's a beautiful night eh Kaoru?" He turned to look at her but saw she was deep in thought. "Hey, Kao!" Soujiro waved his hand in front of her face breaking her trance.
"Huh? Sorry, Soujiro. And Kao?" Kaoru laughed at her nickname.
"So, you wanna tell me what's bugging you? Or do I have to force it out of you?" Soujiro smirked evilly.
"Oh and how do you exactly plan on doing that?" Kaoru asked playfully.
"Like this!" Soujiro moved in closer and started tickling her, Kaoru laughed uncontrollably while all the while clutching her stomach as she rolled on the ground.
"OKAY! I'll tell you!" Kaoru gasped, clearly amused. "Well, this is extremely pathetic I know, but its Kenshin. I don't know what to do"
"Kaoru, I think you need to start looking for other 'possible candidates' for yourself." Soujiro winked.
"Soujiro, I'm being serious! And I can't just hook up like that. What if it's a creep I end up with?"
"Fine then, me and you and hook up?"
"Are you serious?" Kaoru gawked at him.
"I'm dead serious. Hear me out alright? It's a win-win situation; just trust me on this one Kaoru. You've seriously got nothing to lose. I'll be here for you all the way." Soujiro asserted, carefully embedding the possibilities in her mind.
"I... I don't know. No offence Sou-chan, but Kenshin's NOT your biggest fan. And I don't think he'll entertain the idea of US." Kaoru stated clearly weighing her options.
"Don't worry Kaoru. I know Kenshin won't mind. It was probably a onetime thing. Other then that the option is up to you, just so I don't scare you off, I'm not saying we're going to be serious, I'm just helping you ...um..'Lift off'!"
"Lift off! Sou-chan I think you should stop trying!" Kaoru giggled as she leaned onto his shoulder "And, yes I think you're right! I'll take you up on that offer."
Soujiro grinned so bad that his cheeks hurt "Is tomorrow night good for you?" Soujiro and Kaoru sighed at the turn of events, Unaware that smouldering Amber eyes were watching them intently. Kenshin had come up to the roof to clear his mind like usual when he saw Kaoru enter through the door. For a moment he felt everything was right, him and her, now all he had to do was reach out... just as he was about to make his presence known he saw Soujiro bursting through the door. Kenshin knowing it was wrong to spy in them, contemplated that he was just looking out for his 'best friend', wondering if he was still able to call her that.
Kenshin saw Soujiro stand up and hold his hand out to Kaoru which he politely declined and replied to that she wanted to stay up here for a little longer. He nodded understanding her position and left. Kenshin watched from his place analyzing his situation 'Should I? I'm such a hypocrite, swearing off to Sano that I would leave Kaoru.' Kenshin jumped from his hiding place and walked over to Kaoru.
"Hey" he whispered softly. Kaoru whipped her head around to see the source of the voice. Her jaw hung slightly as she quickly recovered and covered up her surprise.
"Hey" Kaoru replied distantly
"What's up?"
"Nothing, you know same old stuff."
"I thought you and the girls were having a 'Girl's Night'?"
"We were but then I just needed a breather."
"Tell me about it, hey it's not easy being with Sano 24/7! I still don't get how Megumi stands him."
Kaoru chuckled. All of a sudden her face turned passive as she turned to face Kenshin "Hey Kenshin? Can I ask you something?"
"Of course you can Kaoru"
"Do you mind me being around Soujiro?" Kaoru stared at him waiting for his response, her blue orbs full of anxiety and hope?
Kenshin froze at that, he could either tell her the truth, the WHOLE truth and be rejected right there and then. Or he could take Sano's advice and take a different approach.
"No, I don't" Kenshin drawled slowly "I'm sorry for overreacting it's just... we've been together for so long. That the idea of you getting attached to another man made me jump to the conclusion that he'd obviously hurt you. You know guys nowadays don't necessarily think with either their mind or heart."
"I know Kenshin. Thank you." Kaoru breathed. "I think I should get going. I kind of left Megumi and Misao dazed." She dusted the nonexistent specs of dust on her PJ and got up.
"Kaoru wait!" Kenshin swiftly got up facing Kaoru. He took his thumb and brushed it across the corner of Kaoru's mouth. He stuck the thumb in his mouth and laughed "I can never understand how you're able to hold your chocolate" Kaoru blushed from embarrassment. Kenshin chuckled as he escorted a shocked Kaoru to her dorm.
"Goodnight Kenshin!" Kaoru smiled softly before entering her dorm.
"Goodnight." Kenshin murmured.
Kaoru slumped against the door and thumped herself. 'Kaoru, what the hell was that! That was too much!' Kaoru dragged herself to bed as sleep immediately overtook her from the day's events.
AN: OKAY WELL THAT'S IT FOR NOW! I THINK THAT WAS ONE OF MY MORE 'LESS CREATIVE' CHAPS. WELL PLEASE REVIEW! AND IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS ON HOW I COULD IMPROVE IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANKS! UNTIL NEXT TIME ;)