Author's Notes: Hey there guys! It's been a while since we've updated… nyehehe… Exams just ended, though! Whee! Well, here's Chapter 12! About the title… ehrm… just got inspired by… Ansem:D

Disclaimer: Don't own rk, sucks, we know..

Chapter 12: Give In To The Darkness…

The sky was really dark, it was raining very hard. Sharp claps of thunder could be heard. Suddenly… "BOOM!" the lights went out, plunging them into darkness; the radio ceased to produce sound, everything was silent, nothing could be heard… except for the relentless pattering of the rain.

"Ke-Kenshin?" Kaoru asked while trembling. Apparently, she hates storms.

"Hai! Kaoru-dono, doushite?" Kenshin asked.

"I… I…"

BOOM!

"Ahhh!" Kaoru screamed while clinging onto Kenshin. Kenshin gently hugs her and just assures her.

Tomoe's POV

Stupid Kaoru! She's SUCH a wuss! Scaredy cat! Haha! Kenshin will never ever like her! Ohohoho! Wait! What the! Why! WHY! WHY! What is she doing! Why is Kenshin…? Kusooo! Kaoru! You will pay!

Kaoru's POV

Ugh! I hate storms… I'm freaked… 'BOOM!' "Ahhh!" …eh? Kenshin…? Ahhh… I feel so safe… in your arms… 'BOOM!' aah! I'm scared… I'm so scared… I hope this storm ends soon…

"Ehh? What do we do now?" Yahiko asked.

"We should get some candles, first." Soujiro said with a smile, as always.

"There are some in the drawer over there…" Aoshi coolly said. So they got candles and lit them up.

"Saa… what do we do now?" Sano asked.

"I know! Let's tell ghost stories!" Misao cheerfully suggested.

Everyone sweatdropped profusely but nevertheless, they still agreed.

"Well, who wants to go first?" Sano asked.

"I do!" Soujiro said, grinning evilly.

"Ano… I have a feeling that I'm gonna regret listening to you later…"

Kaoru nervously commented.

"Don't worry about it, Kao-chan!" Misao cheerfully said.

"Ha-hai…" Kaoru stammered.

The girls stared at him in fear. "Well, it goes like this…" Soujiro started, his tone turning low and serious.

"There was once this school, not so big, but not so small, either. It was beside a condominium…One day, the school received a call from the police. The school administration was informed that the condominium beside them has been filing complaints… they said it was disturbing to them that up until about 2 to 3am in the morning, there were still students playing basketball as well as a choir practicing.

The lights were still shining on each and every floor… Indeed, this was very disturbing, truth be told… that was practically impossible… there weren't any students left anymore, the only person left was the security guard… no logical explanation could be given, except for the possibility, of course, that… the school might be haunted." Leaving them hanging, Soujiro smiled. This time, they shivered even more; their faces were etched with absolute fear and a little bit of fascination of the mysterious event.

"I think I'm going to have nightmares…" Megumi mumbled.

"I think so, too…" Kaoru said.

"Uhhh… I'm… going to… get something for a while…" Misao said, standing up.

"Would you like me to accompany you?" Aoshi asked, his gaze meeting hers.

"Uh…"

'Whoa, whoa… Well, you have to show him that you're not afraid! You can't appear like a coward… Can't appear shaken just because of some… ghost story!' thought Misao.

"N-no thanks… I'll live…" Misao said, forcing a smile and scooting away.

"Ah, wait! She forgot to bring a candle with her!" Kaoru exclaimed.

"Oh yeah… but, I think she can manage!" Soujiro cheerfully said.

"It's not safe to walk around this house without light… I'll bring a candle and go look for her…" Aoshi said while standing up. When Aika heard this, she just stared…

'Ahahahaha! I proved it! I'm not afraid just because o some story! Bwahahaha! I am not a coward!' Misao thought triumphantly, smirking to herself. Suddenly, she heard something…

Tap.

Misao froze. She grew pale. Her heartbeat stopped. Cold sweat trickled down to her cheek.

'What… was that! Could it be a… ghost…?' Misao's eyes widened…

'Augh! Escape!' Misao fumbled, running. As she was running, she could feel some sort of 'presence' behind her… and it was drawing closer… 'Agh! Run! C'mon, legs, faster! Faster…! Fa-'

BAM.

"Araaa…" Misao hit a wall and dropped to the floor.

Meanwhile…

'Hmm… I wonder where she went… Crap! This house is too big!' Aoshi thought while roaming around. He checked several rooms, yet he was still unable to find her. Suddenly…

"Eh? What's that?" Aoshi mumbled to himself. Upon closer inspection, he found it to be a person who happened to be…

"Wha-? It's Misao!" he exclaimed. He immediately ran to her side and checked for a pulse. At first he thought there was none, but to his great relief, he found a faint beating.

'She's alive… that's good…' Aoshi thought, sighing with relief. At that very moment, electricity came surging back, illuminating the once pitch-black. Aoshi quickly blew out the candle and gently brought Misao to his room. There, he carefully watched over her; because of his concern, he completely forgot about the others…

"Eh? The lights are back on…" Kaoru commented.

"Yeah, but it's still raining…" Sano replied.

'Ahh… I wonder what's taking Aoshi so long…' Aika wondered.

"I think we should go look for them." Tomoe said.

"No need. It is Aoshi after all, and this is his humble abode…" Enishi pointed out. Everyone nodded in agreement and decided to wait for them.

After 10 minutes…

"Argh! Where in the world are they!" Enishi impatiently exclaimed.

"I wonder… maybe…" Megumi said, smirking evilly. Aika was worried…

Aika's POV

What? Could it be? No way… I won't believe it! It just can't be! Aoshi! He can't! Wait, calm down, Aika… it's not true, and you know it… but what is taking them so long! Arggh! I am going to grow old worrying… Haay… this sure complicates things… And that Megumi is getting on my nerves with all her 'ohoho'-ing. Kusooo! Someone, shut her up!

"That's it! Let's go look for them! I can't sit still any longer!" Aika cheerfully said. (The truth is, she's fuming mad…)

"Ok!" Soujiro said. Everyone followed suite.

'They'd better be okay… I'll go ballistic if anything unusual happens!' Aika thought.

"Okay, let's break off into two groups; Kaoru, Kenshin, Yahiko, Enishi, and Tomoe will be one group and the others will go with me… That ok?" Aika asked, taking charge.

"Hai, We'll go this way…" Kenshin said.

"Very well. Then, we'll take the other way." Aika said, pointing the opposite side. Kenshin's party went to the right while Aika's went to the left.

"This big of a mansion sure is troublesome…" Enishi said. As the group continued searching, a sudden clap of thunder startled them.

BOOM!

The lights once again went out. Kaoru whimpered. Her legs refused to move. Bad idea. She listened as the others' steps drifted farther and farther away… until she was all alone in the hallway. Kaoru was petrified. 'Now what? OH NOOO! She thought, panicking. She decided to catch up with them. Taking one step at a time, she carefully walked along the corridor, cautiously tracing any foreign sound. Finally relaxing and quickening her pace, a sound stopped her.

Tap.

She froze. "Wha-?" Kaoru was drenched in cold sweat. "Who… who's there…?" she managed to say. As if to answer her question, the moonlight shone on a ghostly figure standing across the other end of the hallway, the light producing an eerie silhouette. She drew closer to Kaoru. Kaoru could only gape. And with a sudden thrust of her arm, Kaoru was in a lock. The figure raised her hand, about to attack her, when…

"AAHHH! HELP! SOMEONE! ANYONE! HELP MEE!" Kaoru screamed. The figure froze, somewhat alarmed. Kaoru heard footsteps rushing towards her. As if on cue, the lights flipped back on.

"Kaoru? What happened? Where were you?" Enishi asked.

"Kaoru? TOMOE! What's going on!" Kenshin said, surprised.

Tomoe slowly drew her hands to herself and took a step back. Kaoru was still in shock of what happened.

"Tomoe… what happened?" Kenshin said in a low voice.

"Nothing…" Tomoe lied.

"Don't you lie to me! If nothing happened, why then did Kaoru-dono scream like that! Why is she so terrified!" Kenshin shouted, fuming.

Tomoe was taken aback, noticing a slight glint of amber in Kenshin's eyes. Tears welled up in her eyes as she broke down in front of him.

"I… I'm sorry! I did it! It's obvious that I'm guilty! I just… wanted her to disappear! Once and for all!" Tomoe said in between sobs.

"Why…?" Kenshin said, barely above whisper.

"I love you… I've loved you ever since! But… the most I could do was… admire you from afar! I… I could never get the love I've been wanting… yearning!... Kenshin!... Don't you see? I love you… so much! But… all you ever cared about was… Kaoru…" Tomoe said, her body shaking as she tried to suppress her endless tears. Kenshin's anger turned to compassion as he tried to be understanding. He rested his hand on Tomoe's shoulder.

"Tomoe… Why?... Why go through so much trouble? Is that… how much you love me…?" Kenshin gently asked. Tomoe looked up hopefully and nodded. Kenshin smiled sadly.

"I'm honored, but I apologize… I'm afraid I cannot return that love…" Kenshin said, avoiding her gaze. Tomoe's world shattered before her. Tears welled up once again as she felt her heart tear at the impact of his words. All her hard work had been in vain… if only… she gave up… she knew she would never win him… but… she just had to try…

"I… understand… I'm sorry, Kenshin… for doing such horrible things…" Tomoe whispered.

"It is alright… Just… don't do it again…" Kenshin said. Tomoe sighed sadly, her eyes shining with warm tears.

"Someone better than me will love you as I have been unable to…" Kenshin whispered in her ear. Tomoe's eyes widened in shock. Kenshin stood up and gave her an encouraging smile.

"Whatever. Can we go look for them now?" Yahiko said, rolling his eyes at the dramatic scene. Everyone followed him.

'Kenshin… although I've been rejected… I don't understand… but, I feel this tiny bit of joy… And even if… you'll never love me back… I'll believe in those words you've said, and I will never forget you… I want you to find happiness… even if it's not with me…' Tomoe thought, watching the love of her life drape his arm over Kaoru and walk away.

...
Aika was getting impatient. 'WHERE ARE THEY!' She quickened up her pace, and with inhuman abilities, threw every door open and poked her head in.

"Is it just me, or is she overreacting?" Sano whispered to Megumi.

"She is… and she is jealous… ohohoho!" Megumi said.

"Why are you enjoying this?" Sano asked.

"It's amusing… don't you think? I bet she'll make a scene as soon as she sees her beloved Aoshi…" Megumi said.

"You know, you are one weird lady… but I still love you…" Sano said, draping an arm over her shoulder, his face dangerously near to hers.

"Sano..." Megumi said, lightly blushing, "I am not weird."
...

'Misao…' Aoshi thought, gently stroking her hand. 'Please… be alright…' Hearing some sort of chattering outside, he went to see what was happening; as soon as he poked his head out…

"AAH! It's Aoshi!" Yahiko exclaimed, pointing an accusing finger at him.

"Oi! Aoshi! Where've you been?" Enishi asked.

"Misao… I found her lying on the floor, unconscious… don't know what happened…" Aoshi said softly, his eyes downcast. Everyone stared in shock and went in to check on Misao. Aoshi was about to enter the room when…

"Aoshi!"

Aoshi turned around and to his disappointment, it was Aika. She started to bombard him with questions and interrogate him, getting all fussy. Aoshi inwardly sighed – he was in for a looonnng sermon.

Slowly sitting up, Misao put her hand to her face as she tried to recall what happened. Wait. How did she get here then?

"Misao! You're okay! What happened?" Enishi asked.

"Huh?" Misao asked. Everyone started to ask her questions.

'Hmm…? Aoshi… he isn't here…?' Misao thought and frowned at her thoughts. She scanned the room for any sign of Aoshi, and to her great dismay, saw him talking to Aika outside the room. Misao fell into a great depression. Noting her weariness, Enishi asked her if she was alright.

"Sort of…" Misao said, smiling weakly.

"Maybe you should take care of that wound… you look terrible…" Kaoru suggested.

"Hai…" Misao said softly.

"And next time, don't be gone too long! I was worried to death!" Aika said.

"Aa." Aoshi simply said, returning to the room. His mouth gaped open as he saw a conscious Misao.

"You're awake!" Aoshi said.

Misao's gaze met his as she lifted her head up in mild interest.

'What…? She looks sad… I'm worried… why is she so downcast?' Aoshi thought.

"Hey… are you okay? What… happened?" Aoshi asked softly.

"I'm okay… thanks to you." Misao said, smiling warmly. Aoshi could feel a faint blush across his cheeks.

"Neeee… I think we should get going… my parents will kill me as of this late hour…" Enishi said.

"Yeah, and it's still raining outside…" Sano said, looking out of the window.

"Well, we don't have any choice… ikou…" Tomoe said. Everyone went to get their luggage and loaded it in Aoshi's limousine. Getting ready to go, Misao was stopped by Aoshi's gentle yet firm grip on her wrist.

"Misao… please be careful… take care of yourself and have a safe trip…" Aoshi said, looking worried.

Misao smiled warmly at his concern and held his hand.

"Daijobu… I will… Thank you so much for everything… It's been so fun… Have a good night, Aoshi." She said, her eyes glistening brightly.

Slowly letting go of his hand and scooting away, Misao left Aoshi hanging and speechless. Aoshi stared at her as she got into the car and left his mansion. He didn't know why, but he felt overwhelming joy and satisfaction. He dramatically gazed at the night sky as the night wind blew against his face and carelessly tousled his hair.

"Ano… Aoshi?" Aika said.

Aoshi looked at Aika, rudely reminded that he was not alone.

"Do… do you…"

Aoshi continued to stare.

"Uhm… do you……………"

Author's Notes: Nyahahaha! Long chapter, huh? But nevertheless.. Cliffhanger! Yeah boi! Not to worry though… will try to update asap! Hehe… if you have any bright ideas, please share them with us… haha! Thank you agen. That is all. Bow.