The Outsider Chapter 1: The Outsider, a rurouni kenshin fanfic

Author's note: Hey everyone! So for a week straight, I've been working on this introductory chapter for my new story, "The Outsider". I want to do something a little different than my previous big story, "Eyes of Truth", and it's basically that all of the paragraphs will be in the center instead of the traditional format with my previous fanfic. Just to give this version of Kenshin a much different voice, in a way, you know what I mean? And because it really helps to dramatize the nature of this fic. I will also be tagging the chapters with titles of my favorite songs. The story title and this first chapter is from the band "A Perfect Circle", and the song is made from their album "Thirteenth Step".

I just want to say thank you to my biggest fans like Cannibal Corncob, Daemon Spawn, Chimerical, Bone Deep, Shamaniac, Hell Hound, I8Pi, Internet4Porn, Shiro Sylthfarn, among many others. This story is especially made with you gorgeous people in mind.

Anybody who's brand new to my account, I'm basically an RK fanatic and a serious shipper between Kenshin and Soujiro. I'm just so burned that there's hardly any fanfics dedicated to these two, so I took it upon myself to write the fanfics since I figured I have the experience to do so. Be sure to check out my other two fanfics for more yaoi goodness while you wait for the next update of this fanfic. It'll sure to keep you busy, fo'shizzle!

So, if you could all remember what Kenshin looks like when he was a teenager fighting in the war, that's basically how he looks in this fanfic. So fucking hot and sexy, right? Now imagine him with Soujiro Seta. Hot damn, I know!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Rurouni Kenshin franchise nor do I legally own the characters of the manga or the anime. I'm simply a fan who's perverted and has way too much time on her hands. This story is rated M+ for adult themes such as coarse language, drug use, smoking, alcohol references, strong sexual/graphic scenes, and some violence.

WARNING: The story you are about to read contains disturbing content in relations to a character's trauma. You should be prepared to read with this in mind, and should always stop if it becomes too upsetting. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.

Without further ado, here is the first chapter. Enjoy!

The Outsider

"They were right about you."

- A Perfect Circle

👁️

Vrr vrr..

"Wake up."

I jerk from my slumber with a choking gasp, my dilating pupils adjusting to the sight of my cracked ceiling above me. Who said that? Where am I? Then my questions were answered, somewhat, by the small vibration coming from my mobile phone. I pick it up to turn off the alarm, the screen clacking as I see my apps floating quickly into the center for my choosing. The one nice thing I have in my possession. It's time to get up but it isn't time to die yet. My eyes blink at that peculiar thought but I shake it off just as quickly. I think it's been a week since I've started skipping school and my step-father could no longer excuse my absences.

My bottom lip finds itself enclosed in between my teeth, and I let out a sigh.

Is the weekend over already?

Why does such bliss have to end?

The sharp sound of my shower curtain being swooped aside so as to turn on the hot water is amplified by the rickety old bar that is barely keeping itself together. My mind could not remember when was the last time we renovated or fixed anything in this old house, but I think it's been too long already. Our landlord doesn't even care to offer help, or discount the fixtures that he is actually responsible for when he gave my step-father the damn keys in the first place. It's a piece of shit, our landlord said, but I'll help you pay for any damages if you just cough up the money beforehand. And like a dolt, my step dad fell for it. What a rip off. But when your step-father is struggling his own inner demons, it's hard to separate the sinners from the beasts all around you. Perhaps he just gave up somewhere along the way and just shows his hand to anyone who asks for his blessings. It's certainly easier, but..

Never mind.

I don't care.

I took my shower and brushed my teeth. A towel is ruffled through my hair to dry it as quickly as I can possibly make it so. My long, red hair is then swooped up into a messy, high ponytail, as a trademark to my every day I don't give a flying fuck what you think of me look that I carefully constructed over the years. I then put on my armor, which couldn't be less inviting: Mean looking combat boots with snared edges, scratched up Levi jeans that used to look presentable once upon a time, a wife beater, and a dark flannel shirt to cover over that. Once that's over, I almost leaped into the kitchen, convinced that I should make an early start today. I grab myself a breakfast burrito and haven't bothered to smack it into the microwave like I usually do. I just don't have the time nor the patience. Not to mention, if I can see my step dad as least as possible today, that'll be great. He's probably passed out somewhere, perhaps from his trip out late last night. Chasing after his temptations, or maybe redemption, I don't really know, and I don't really care. I grab my backpack and sling it over my shoulder in one smooth movement. I'm just about to head out to the front door when I hear the metallic groan of the living room couch and a weak gruff, "Shinta..?"

Fuck.

I close my eyes, already on edge and irritated. I sighed, a long sigh, an exhalation of burden. I don't answer but he doesn't waste time filling in the gap anyway, "Issa.. issa you?"

You're so abhorrent. I wish you'd stop drinking already.

"Yes, dad, it's me. It's always been me, for the past eighteen fucking years." I retorted dryly with sarcasm, swallowing the saliva that I would have loved to spit out instead. Nothing is said for a moment, and so I just roll my eyes and turn myself around to look at him. Just to see what Little Miss Sunshine looks like. Sunshine is correct; he's the perfect image of debauchery, right down to his scratchy unshaven face and bloodshot eyes, the dark circles that surrounds them are amplified by the hollows of his cheeks. His hair is dull and ratty with improper care, and his teeth has a yellow glint that I wish he could check out with his insurance. At one point long ago, my step father, Hiko Seijuro, used to be a normal civilian and used to have a job at the local police department. Then he started drinking and I guess that took over his life instead of his career or his step son. I never knew my real father, but I hear he was never the family guy type. My mom died when I was too young to remember.

Maybe it's good not to remember these things.

"Ah.." Hiko rubs his forehead with heavy grief, realizing that he's collapsed on the couch once again for the millionth time, "I'm, I'm so sorry, son. I must've drank too much last night.."

No shit, really?

I narrow my eyes and I couldn't stop myself from speaking in a forceful tone, "When you're done feeling sorry for yourself, I would like the keys to the truck. I don't want to be late."

There is a recoil in his frame and despite witnessing it, I don't feel the usual prick of guilt. He knows exactly where I stand with his alcoholism and he still refuses to reach out for help. Hiko started drinking for fun around the height of his career, and when I was just a young lad about to experience the coming of age that is adolescence. We used to get along well, even if we're not blood, but when he would drink, I didn't like how much crazier he began to appear. Or feel. He doesn't feel like an actual father figure anymore, but a comic relief for his other bar buddies. Until slowly, his illness stopped being funny, and then there were no one to clap after his performances. Soon his drinking poured over into his job and the boss couldn't risk the exposure, so Hiko got the boot to his ass, rightfully so. If my real dad is a prick, then Hiko shouldn't disappoint me like him, either. He needs to step up, but I think I've reached my wits end a long time ago.

I just stay here because there really isn't anywhere else to go.

And it's hard facing that every day as soon as I wake up from my sweetest dreams.

"Or the nightmares." I find myself talking to no one in particular, though it rouses his interest.

"What was that, son?"

Nothing. Never mind.

Who cares.

"It's nothing. Can I have the keys now?" I place a hand on my waist to showcase my impatience.

Hiko could only gape at me, perhaps to study me or to see if I can be vulnerable enough to tell him why I said nightmares, but my eyes narrow threateningly so. I can read his mind and he knows it. He sighs defeatedly and sits up on the couch in order to fish out the keys to his truck from his jean pocket, the sign of my freedom in the form of an old key ring and an attached plastic eyeball. He looks at his hand where the key lays, and I'm just about this close to saying something callous to get it myself, when he trains his tired eyes at me and says, "How about I take you to your school myself. It's the least I can do."

"The least you can do? What's that suppose to mean?" I sneer.

"I mean, with what happened.. last night," Hiko cringes and looks down at himself with dejection, "I'm sorry, son. I've been planning to see a doctor today, so I will definitely need my truck after all."

Holy mother of fuck, is he serious? I just knew he would pull this shit out of his ass eventually. I shut my eyes and swallow down my scream and my desire to curse him out, because as much as I want to savor my time alone in that truck, I have to wonder if maybe.. just maybe.. Hiko is serious about getting help this time. Maybe seeing the hatred in my eyes has already pushed him to his limit. Hiko doesn't bother to wait for my response and gets up from the couch to grab his aged bomber jacket from the kitchen counter. I shake my head with my eyes rolling to the back of my skull again, sighing. What the fuck ever. Maybe he'll tell me more sweet things before class.

I don't hope for much, but..

Soon I'm dazing off to the world swooping past us as Hiko drives, with his usual peppy bullshit whistling. God, what is he so happy about? And so damn early in the morning, too? I grimace secretly at his mumbling of the lyrics, the song unknown to my ears, so I just focus on the window instead. Living in Kyoto has its perks. There's a lot of green sceneries around here, and I'm never short out of having solitutde walks through the forests around here. My stepfather and I live in the countryside, in a shabby shack and in a way, I'm actually kind of happy that there's lots to explore around here. I wouldn't do so well in major cities around in Japan, really. I need to be at one with the clear air, clean water, and the wildlife in order to stay relatively sane, I guess. The sight of the cloudy skies and the birds flying peacefully in the air as we drive through the road makes me smile modestly to myself. So maybe my life is pretty shitty for the most part.. but the simple lifestyle always brings me back to a better mood after a while.

"So, Shinta," Hiko speaks after his little song ends, "Tell me about school. What's going on with you? Has it been a week since you've attended?"

"When you drink, do you become blinded from all the clocks and calendars?" I mutter with a marked attitude, leaning my head on the window while my eyes swoop over to his face, "I skipped school because I wasn't feeling well. You know this."

Hiko's mouth spreads thinner at what I just said, "What were you sick of, exactly? You seemed fine when you were home."

I groan, "Please, dad. Let's not do this."

"Alright, Shinta."

"Kenshin."

"What?"

"The name's Kenshin, remember?" I sit up straighter in order to look on the road ahead, "Shinta was given to me by my real dad, and I never liked it. So just call me Kenshin already, God."

"Your.. real father, Kenshin," Hiko hiccups and sniffs, "Was a real jerk to have left you and your mother like that many years ago. I may not be perfect, but―"

"―Perfect? Far from it! You got one thing right today, congrats!" I lean against the window again to avoid him, crossing my arms to my chest. Sometimes I hate being like this to him, but the things he does really make me so pissed off, that's there's just no other way to treat him. I've tried being nice when I first discovered his drinking at twelve years old, but that didn't help. Then I tried hiding things to disrupt his drinking habits, like his keys or his wallet or the train ticket passes, to no avail. Nothing I did or said alleviate the disorder, so one day, I just sorta became a prick and that kind of got through his thick skull. But still.. the drinking continues. I wonder if my father, the one who left me, drank any alcohol at all. I wonder if he's better by that virtue than Hiko, or if I'm just wishing for any other realities than the one I am forced to lead right now. Anything is certainly better than this.

I'm happy that Hiko stays quiet after my biting remark, and I doze off to the window again, thinking about the nightmare I had last night. I can't remember most of it, just that I was walking through a dark passage and all I could see around me, were these eyes. Really big, horrible looking eyes, too surreal in their intricate details. It was terrible and I've never felt more judged or inspected as closely like that before. There must've been over a hundred of them. A thousand, even. I wonder what it means. The drive to my local high school finally comes to an end and Hiko moves the car right to the curb, just near the double front doors of the building. We sit there together for a while, not sure on how to break the silence, but Hiko clears his throat to do his usual bidding.

"Well son, I'll see you in a bit. You should, how you kids say these days.. simply slay the day!"

Just kill me now.

"Nobody says that, dad," I grumble irritatingly as I open the car door to my side and climb out, "Don't pick me up after school. I have another ride."

"Okay, see y―"

I already swung the door shut in his face and turned around to walk away from the truck, walking up towards the school. I hear the putter of the old engine starting up behind me and the lazy zoom of the wheels carrying itself off back to the main road again. Like I said, I sometimes hate how I act towards him, but.. I'm never going to forgive him for choosing the bottle over me. I take my sweet time in reaching the double doors, posters plastered everywhere about extra curricular activities and after school clubs that are seeking new students to join them. The last time I joined something like this was shop class, where I excelled in building and fixing shit, and my teacher commented that I should look into becoming a car repairman or even to tune up motorcycles. I could see myself doing something like that. There was also that weird play I had to do at six years old, when Hiko wasn't a drunk and he supported me during the opening act. He recorded me with his camera and was gushing all about it to his work buddies down at the station. I remember being so embarrassed by him, but also happy that he was even there to begin with. I can no longer rely on that sort of thing anymore.

Am I happy I can be alone without him, or sad that it can't stay the same like the old days?

I catch the reflection of my face from the glass door. I look.. not so well rested. But I still look passable. Despite some of my bad habits, I still seem to retain the glow that only youth could provide. My dad.. well, step dad.. thinks I should cut my hair shorter, but I would never. I don't know why I even want to keep it, to be honest. I think it's just to piss him off or something. Plus, it's a part of my identity, whatever that means. My outfit also brings it all together with the "rebel without a cause" that seems to be a hit with the female population. The notches on my belt proves it. So really, why should I even listen to Hiko?

Right.

Why the fuck should I?

A burst of rage shoots from my enraged eyes to my fist. I thrust my arm into the glass door, shattering the interior. I whip my fist back, surprised to not see a hole in there. I flinch, expecting an alarm to go off, but no such thing happen. I blink a few times, feeling a little stupid over that, wondering if the alarm system is broken. How lucky is that? I chuckle to myself with a shake of my head. I go to the other undamaged door to pull the handle and head inside the school, immediately venturing through the hallways to find my homeroom. Students dot the area, many of them talking with their friends and some on the floor studying, peacefully ignoring me just as I disregard their existences back. This school sucks but what other word would most kids describe their schools, anyway? Unless you're a lonely genius or really beautiful and athletic. Then it's something to you. But this is nothing to me.

God, I'm itching for a cigarette.

"Yo, Shinding!" The first voice I hear just as I enter homeroom is none other than my good friend, Sanosuke Sagara. Kyoto's finest party animal. He's the guy that all the other guys tell you about when you want to get your hands on practically anything. Drugs, concert tickets, food, you name it, he's got it. Sano's like a dealer, but not actually a dealer. He just knows people, and where to get your shit. He's my smoking buddy and he's just a really good friend. He always lets me shoot the shit with him, and always hears me out when I want to vent or to just sit quietly somewhere with me. He's never hard on me and he knows when to leave me alone when I need it, no questions asked. He's just that cool. He's adorned in a leather jacket and the same shredded jeans I'm wearing, though surely from a different brand. There's a white wash covering his knee caps, and our other friends used to joke that it was from him sucking so much dick to score our drugs, which really pissed him off. He's not like that, though.. He really, really loves women. Sometimes a little too much. With a nice pair of motorcycle boots, Sanosuke looks like the type of idiot that you'd love to have fun with.

"The name's," I get right into his face with gritted teeth, "Kenshin!"

He leans back with a chortle, "Alright alright, sheesh! Shitdick."

I don't bother to correct him anymore and just sit behind him, and that's when the rest of the gang glide over to us. Since we sit all the way in the back of the room, I get to see the way these people walk up to us and how they looked, and it's strange how I seem to know very different characters in this school. Sano's my party animal, but Megumi Takani is more like the laid back girly girl who loves to go out for karaoke nights in the city. She's a pretty young thing, lips glistened in red lipstick and wears her hair long and glossy. Her best friend, Kaoru Kamiya, is just as feminine but a little more homely, and she's always getting in trouble with her parents for hanging out with us. Megumi and her are best friends and so that's how Kaoru got to be a part of us. Megumi's always trying to give her fashion tips to assemble Kaoru's wardrobe to make room for street wear, but it's been going pretty slowly for the most part. In her peach cashmere sweater, Kaoru is just the kind of girl you'd bring home to your parents. I've always had just a small crush on her for that. Then there's the third chick, who's the loud and athletic type, named Misao Makimachi. She's actually part of the gymnastics squad and the other girls on the team always gives her shit for being with us glue sniffing druggies. Oh, well.

The group isn't complete without some guys in there as well; aside from Sanosuke and I, we have Yahiko Myojin, who's introverted but pretty passionate about the magic of marijuana. It's been rumored that he and his parents grow them by the bunch in their outdoor garden. I hardly go to this guy's house to seek the validity of the gossip, but I don't think his mom or dad would appreciate him growing that in their yard. But who knows, right? There are other people in our little group, but they are in our other classes, and I don't think I can handle seeing anymore faces after my fight with Hiko. As they gather all around me with blinking eyes, I had to sneer at their general direction, "What?!"

"Nothing, we thought you died!" Megumi clasps her hands together in a fit of anxiety, "You haven't been to school in almost a week!"

"Good thing we saw you at the party the other night, shit was so cash!" Sano slaps his palm against my shoulder, angering me in the process.

I rub my shoulder where he hit me, "I wasn't sick. I just skip school, you know that."

"And that's why you're the cool one in our group." Yahiko grins and elbows me in the rib playfully, "Check it, I actually scored some from my dealer and we were hoping we could see you tonight to share it."

"And who the fuck is your dealer?" Sano challenges him, "I'm the one who distributes that shit!"

"Your dealer sucks and he always takes too long. Probably smokes all the good ones and gives you the weakest shit in return. No thanks.. Besides, Arai loves us and he has the best strains around." Yahiko leans back in his chair and places his arms behind his head leisurely.

"Shakku Arai? Is he going to be there tonight?" I had to join the conversation anyhow, because nothing beats a joint on a Monday night. Yahiko grins, confirming my theory.

"I think I'm gonna quit the cheer squad," Megumi stretches her neck until she hears a pop, "Those sluts are always ripping on you guys from the bleachers."

"I think you should sit on me instead." Sanosuke sniggers, and the pink arises on Megumi's cheeks.

"I think the fuck not."

"Aw come on. Maybe Misao here can join us, too. Hashtag threesome."

"Hashtag gross!" Misao spits and I hide my laughter under my breath, looking away from them.

"Alright, settle down, children, settle down and take your seats!" The homeroom teacher announces as she plops her messenger bag onto her desk chair to rub her hands on her long skirt, "We've received a new student of the highest caliber, and we'd like for you all to be on your best behavior for today!"

"Oh, shit, is the new kid famous?" I hear the other students whispering to each other, and the class room starts clamoring. Even my friends had to join on the madness, theories abounding left and right. I couldn't care less even if I tried. The teacher starts rapping her desk with her ruler stick in order to gather our attention again, and the collective chatter dies down. I lean back on my chair just like Yahiko, already checking out mentally to daydream about the sweetness that I will smoke tonight instead. It's the middle of October, and the trees have changed in shades of warm tones, like lit up matches in a sea of grey skies. Starting senior year is nerve wracking for a lot of reasons. What's going to happen to all of us when the year ends? It seems like everybody in the world has a plan except me. I never gave a shit about homework, and although my test scores intimidate even the most stern teachers, I still don't think that's enough to grant me the opportunity to go to university. I know I'm not one to scare easily, but thinking about the future does form a small pit in my stomach sometimes.

Where do I go from here?

Why did I dream of those eyes last night?

What is the connection between these two?

The teacher, Mrs Kazuhiro Kita, begins her opening with her hands clasped together excitedly:

"Class, I cannot even begin to tell you about my excitement in sharing this opportunity to become the homeroom teacher of our brand new student. Hailing from the great city of Tokyo, this student represents one of the most prestigious companies of the Asian continent: The Seta Enterprise! As you know, it is the one organization responsible for international travel and enforcing important business deals, entailing Japan to join hip to hip with other grand countries such as Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, among many others. A good portion of Japan's wealth is because of this student's father, and so, I want to formally introduce to you all―"

The door opens and there is a hush of silence as the sound of polite footsteps entering the room. I open my eyes lazily.

"―To Seta Soujiro, of the Seta Enterprise."

Standing in front of all the desks and all the students is a lean looking boy with cropped brown hair and lusty blue eyes. He proudly presents himself in rich fabrics of what it appears to be a navy uniform, more fitting for a private school than a public one like this. Even if so, his lax and charming demeanor softens his exterior, and I can already hear the girls gushing over him in their desks with their hushed giggling. Oh, please. I take a look harder and try to see if I can find even one tiny flaw that can end their crush over this kid. Maybe he has a broken tooth, or traffics sex workers with his dad. Anything is possible at this point, especially with the group as sketchy as the elite class. What is he doing here, anyway? Shouldn't he go to a more prestigious school for all the money he has in the family? Why this school over all the others?

"Is this some kind of joke?" I mutter under my breath which makes Yahiko scoff in agreement with me.

"Maybe he got kicked out of Le School for Fancy Asses over a prank, or some shit." Sanosuke leans over his shoulder to look at me, since he sits in the front of me.

"Oh, what, like," I roll my eyes, "Because his costly bookbag doesn't match his shoes?"

Sanosuke chuckles and Yahiko joins him also, which caught on the attention of the two people in the front of the classroom. A loud rapping sound is heard from the teacher's ruler and we all promptly shut up, and I can see Soujiro's curious eyes peering right at us. His eyes are so blue and eerily penetrating. The little creep. What are you looking at? This Soujiro guy then hovers his eyes over to the teacher as she jeers from where she stands: "Well, I should've known that the school's misfits already have something to say. Sanosuke Sagara and Kenshin Himura, perhaps the two of you care to show Soujiro the ways around this facility for the rest of the school day."

"Are you sure, Mrs Kita?" Sanosuke speaks in a slighter higher, more obnoxious tone of voice, earning the muffled laughter from the rest of the class.

"But of course! As far as I'm aware, you and Mr Himura here are just one detention slip away from an in-school suspension, so if I catch wind that you don't do this one assignment, rest assured that you will not see the light of day again!"

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Fuck you.

Sanosuke slumps into his seat defeated, and training my eyes to the front of the room again, I can see Soujiro looking at us all with a catty smile. A smile so restrained and modest, yet somehow, so vigorous with impure intentions. I glowered and let my eyes fall to my crossed arms, already deciding that I don't like this kid at all. If his esteemed position will protect him, or even grant him special privileges that the rest of us cannot afford, then I will make it my mission to knock him down a few pegs where necessary. After the teacher feels satisfied with herself, she turns to Soujiro to ask him to tell the class more about himself. Oh boy, here we go.

"Thank you for that fine introduction, Mrs Kita," Soujiro formally bows to the lady next to him before he faces the crowd again, "My name is Soujiro Seta, if that hasn't already been established. My father is the head CEO for the Seta Enterprise, where we help business organizations in negotiating complex deals and work on the security against fraud and money laundering. In a way, we are the middle men between two companies who desire to work something out for all involved, and my father has taught me the ethics of the Seta Enterprise since I was just a young boy. I hope to follow in his footsteps someday. I'm here because I want to have the normal high school experience at least once, before I graduate and head off into university. Having been in boarding schools and private institutes my entire life, I just felt that something in my life was missing. Then I realized what it was‒I want to be among people like yourselves, because really.. it's just so intriguing, and I want to hopefully unite the awkward gap between different social classes. I hope to be your friend."

The entire class recoil in disturbance from the crystal clear sound of my loud, harsh laughter.

Give me a break!

All eyes turn to me, Soujiro's included, especially so.

So that's what my nightmare means.

It's starting to make sense now.

But there's still so much to ask.

"Mr Himura!" The teacher slaps her ruler against her other open palm after home room ended, "Clearly I cannot control you as well as the police officers can, but I expected better behavior from you. Especially since you've been out sick the entirety of last week and I've pardoned the absenses, I would've liked something kind in return. Since you have Japanese history next period, as do Soujiro, the two of you will walk together. According to his schedule, he actually has all of the same classes as you do. Some will call this fate, but I think it's karmic punishment."

"Karmic.." I repeat to myself, my hands gripping into fists away from her eyes. Is she talking about.. my step father?

"Hmph!" Mrs Kita then she faces Soujiro with a more apologetic demeanor, "Mr Seta, I am so sorry that you have to face this sort of debauchery on your very first day of this school. This male bravado that Kenshin and his friends share do not reflect the sanctity of our alma matter. And even though I assigned this especially to Kenshin here to make up for his missing work, I do feel sorry that you have to be stuck all day with him. If you need to change certain classes to stay well away from him, I can write a personal letter to our head principal."

Oh, yes, because I'm just so terrible, huh?

I look up just in time to catch Soujiro's eyes resting on my face before they flicker over to her, "It is really no trouble, Mrs Kita. I think we will get along just fine, just like the opposing ends of a magnet. I think, maybe, perhaps.. I could be a permanent study tutor to Mr Himura if he needs any help with his school work, and in return, he can help fill up my social calendar with his friends. I'm sure my father may have already filled you in on my feelings of loneliness since we moved here to Kyoto."

"Oh, yes!" Mrs Kita lays a hand on her heart in a sympathetic fashion, "We will make absolutely sure that you will have many friends here at this school, Soujiro! Mr Himura here will also make sure of that, won't you, boy?"

Boy? I glare openly at her but her sour look quickly reminds me who has more power in this dynamic, and so I sigh, surrendering. The two of them seem to perk right up from that, and bidding goodbyes, the new kid and I wander through the hallways together in silence. I make it a point not to even look at the boy walking next to me, nor do I break my back to ask him any questions about himself. I'm forced to do this assignment and there's no escaping it, but I can always do the bare minimum at the same time. What does it matter, anyway? Sooner or later, Soujiro will befriend the more influential groups of this school, like the soccer team or the slightly richer students here. The misfits won't welcome him too easily, that I'm sure of. We have too much on our plates to take care of some poor little rich boy.

I would have expected this kid to start talking to me, or ask me questions, just to break the awkward silence. But he doesn't. He just walks politely next to me, taking in his surroundings and having this dreamy, faraway look in his eyes, as if thinking of all the good things that can happen to him. What his new friends will be like, what he'll plan to do in terms of academic activities, the part time job at the library he can do and maybe joining a sports team or an after school club. I don't know how I know, but he looks like the ambitious type to me. He looks so clean and so refined. His chocolate locks seem to glitter from the hallway lights, or perhaps from its general health. He must use some pretty expensive shampoos to get it to shine like that. His face is clear of any imperfections, untouched by the harsh realities of life. His gait is open and confident, his posture close to perfection. The texture of his clothes look even better up close. I wonder what it would feel like on me, instead of the ratty garbage I am forced to wear daily. I keep my head down and my hands behind my pockets, not wanting Soujiro to notice me looking at him.

He doesn't belong here.

He's an outsider.

We finally make it to our first period class, Japanese History. Class is about to start and so I just go on to the back of the room like I usually do, and this kid follows me without a word. Just as I sit down on my desk, he takes a seat right in front of me, and turns around to look at me with a smile. I'm already peeved and quirk an eyebrow at him questionably, but he only smiles wider in return. What the fuck does he want now?

"What?!" I vehemently snip.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to the teacher?"

I frown at him, puzzled, "Why can't you do that yourself? I'm not your mom."

"No you're not, but your homeroom teacher insists that you show me around as much as possible." Soujiro tucks a small lock of his chestnut hair behind his ear, "Besides, I don't even know his name, and I don't want to be rude."

You're already being rude by talking to me, you little shit. My eye twitches in annoyance, and I grumble with irritation, looking around the room to spot the teacher. Looks like he's not here yet, but I can see a small group of young female students whispering and pointing in our general direction. They must be talking about Soujiro here. I train my eyes to Soujiro again and he still hasn't moved from his original stance, and I nod towards the girls a foot away from us, "Talk to those girls. They'll show you the ropes to this class and about the teacher."

Soujiro's limpid eyes are wide and unblinking towards me, not knowing what to say. He looks at the female students and they all start to giggle madly to themselves, clamouring in secret. Then he turn back towards me and he shakes his head, "No. I don't want that. I'm sure they're nice, but I'd rather have you show me the ropes."

Calm down, Kenshin, don't snap.

"Why?" I mutter through clenched teeth.

Soujiro tilts his head gently to the side with a small, knowing smile, "Because I feel safe with you."

Don't snap.

The million eyes are now looking at us, burning my face with their powerful stares.

Don't..

"You're an idiot." I blurted out before I could reign myself in.

But Soujiro, whose eyes flash a moment of hurt, bounce back with a playful grin, "Well now! If I am, then I guess I'll have to stay by your side, right? I'll need your expertise to get myself around this school. You seem like the very smart type."

I don't buy into his glib and scoff, crossing my arms defiantly. Despite the expression, I've decided that I will just do today's important assignment of helping Soujiro out and rationalized that if I can get him to make some new friends that are not my friends, then I can get rid of him as quickly as the very next day. I'll have to work extra hard in order to make this happen. I'm usually the kind to play first and work later.. much later. But, in this dire situation, I'll have to rev up my gears and get my hands dirty. I stand from my seat as soon as the history teacher, Mr Yoshi, comes in and we both walk over to him to introduce Soujiro. Mr Yoshi seems enthralled already by Soujiro's boyish charms and I let them do the talking, standing by just in case they need to ask me for something. With some exchanges, all is satisfied and we return to our seats to begin the lesson.

"Mr Himura, I've emailed you your missing assignments. Don't be afraid to reach out if you need any assistance!" Mr Yoshi calls out while I was about to walk out of the class at the end of the period.

"Oh, no need, Mr Yoshi! I'm going to be his study buddy!" Soujiro waves a hand in his direction goodbye, "But we'll contact you if we're stuck on something for sure!"

Already playing the teacher's pet, are we? I roll my eyes and kept on walking, Soujiro closing the door behind us on the way out. There is no way I'm going to let Soujiro become my study buddy even if his life depends on it. We walked to our second period class, Art 101. It's one of the few classes that I really don't mind handing in my assignments, because I can just be myself. Not to mention, the teacher really enjoys my macabre pieces of art. We're learning how to paint on acrylics. Luckily, my teacher, Mr Matsumura, never gave a homework assignment for the entire year, and we just get our grades based on how many artwork we do during classroom hours. Since I've missed last week, he offered me to just finish the assignments during lunch hour or after school, and if I need any art supplies, he has no qualms handing them to me if I decide to do them at home. I'm missing three assignments, so I should plan accordingly. But I like him and I like this class, so it's not that bad.

"Sir, this is Soujiro Seta. He's new." I lean against the wall coolly while the two of them shake each others' hands.

"Seta Soujiro. I've heard of you. From the Seta Enterprise? Not bad. Must be nice having caviar every night." The teacher shakes his head with a purring laugh, and hands Soujiro a piece of paper, "Here, your first assignment will just be to tell me a little bit about yourself. A short paragraph would do, and I don't need all the details. I don't need to know about your bed wetting accidents when you were six years old."

For the first time, I can see Soujiro feeling flustered and out of balance. My lips spread into a devious smile. Told you I like him.

"Thank you, I will get to it immediately. Come on, Kenshin!" Soujiro goes on ahead of me and even the teacher had to cock an eyebrow my way. I shrug and shake my head in response, heading on over to a seat next to the little weirdo. He does his assignment as prompted, and I work on the regular work of sketching anything we desire. I've thought about it for a bit, and then I set my pencil against the paper. I'm going to draw a huge eyeball, in ode to my nightmare. Thankfully, Soujiro doesn't bother me with chit chat and lets me be, even if I do loathe the fact that he has to sit right next to me. Whatever. I would point to him any interesting student that he could talk to or would be interested in befriending, just to get things going. He would listen, but I don't know if he's absorbing what I'm trying to tell him. I don't know if he's even interested in being friends with anyone. Not even the popular kids.

Strange.

We went at it like this for hours, with different classes, until lunch time. I simply refuse to have Soujiro sit with us misfits, and I even told him this as soon as we arrive in the cafeteria. He almost looks so lost when I told him that, and a very small part of me feels kind of sorry for him. Am I wrong to get rid of him so soon? Of course! He's not like me or my friends. He's not like most students in this God forsaken hell hole, either. But I have a feeling that the slightly richer (and more well liked) students will accept him in a heart beat, and I pointed that group out for him. He follows my finger, and then turns back to me, those pale blue eyes conveying the same lost stare. I slowly take my finger back to my side, gaping at him with a million questions inside my head. What's with this guy?

"Are you retarded or something? Serious question." I tilt my head to the side, blinking. He giggles.

"No. I know what you're trying to do. But.. I do appreciate spending time with you so much so, that I was wondering, if maybe, for just today.. I could sit with you and your friends? Just so we can get along a bit better. I don't want the rest of the senior year to be awkward for all of us. Don't you agree?"

"Well, yeah," My eyes flicker over to my group who just saw us and are waving for us to come on over already, "But, come on, now, be serious. You're the CEO's fucking kid.. of the Seta Enterprise. You're rich. I'm not. You're beloved by all of society. I'm not. My friends aren't, either. We're practically trash next to you. Don't you think you deserve better than that?"

A little manipulation wouldn't hurt, right?

Soujiro smiles warmly and only whispers the following: "Wake up. I'm not leaving. Can't you accept that?"

The eyes all open and are back to staring right at me.

I gawk at him, feeling my face going cold.

Who.. who is this guy?

How did he know?

Soujiro proudly walks up to my table with all my friends staring at him like he just grew three heads. He sets his tray down and sits, turning over his shoulder at me, waiting. I sweep my eyes over my friends, each of them looking back with the same amount of confusion in their eyes as well. There's no turning back now. If I bail, then I know the teachers will talk and Sanosuke and I will get suspended. I sludge on to the table to sit next to Sanosuke, across and away from Soujiro, and Sano immediately makes things worse with his trolling: "Hey kid, you lost? Richie Rich table is that'a way."

Soujiro laughs airly, "I'm not lost. I don't want to sit at that other table. I've grown disenchanted with the upper class right now."

"So, are you really that rich?" Kaoru meekly probes, blushing at her own sudden spike of bravety. Oh shit, Kaoru, not you too?

"I guess I am. Father and I live in a really nice home and we are never scarce of anything."

"So then.. why sit with us?" Sanosuke's eyebrow shoots up, "We don't really have anything to offer you."

"Of course you do. All I want is to be your friend." Soujiro shrugs, a passive smile playing on his lips.

Megumi shakes her head, "Well, if that's the case, I hope you got yourself a good lawyer, because we are always up to no good."

Kaoru jumps in to defend herself and the group, "B-But! We all have something good to give back at the same time. Take me, for example; I'm actually leader of this school's debate team. And Miss Megumi here is also the leader of the cheer squad for this school. We like to raise charities together when the school allows us to, so, even if we do terrible things sometimes.. I like to think we can absolve ourselves with the school stuff, you know?"

Where the hell is Misao, anyway? Is she hiding out somewhere again with a new boyfriend?

"What about you guys?" Soujiro asks the males of the table, "Surely you guys can't be all that bad!"

"I'm a botanist." Yahiko stretches his arms and then drapes them behind his head lazily. I smirk while Sanosuke chuckles, catching on the joke.

"Yeah, well, sometimes, I help out at the town's animal shelter. I fucking hate it when people abuse these poor dogs, so.." Sanosuke shrugs, playing down his sensitive side.

"Those are all really great things. I don't think of you guys as misfits at all! What about you, Kenshin?"

My chest pounds and I play it off with a cough, "Uh, I don't do.. anything, really."

"It's true. Kenshin sucks." Sanosuke quips. I elbow him in the rib cage, "Ow!"

Megumi then decides to change the subject with her usual daily bitching, "Ugh, Kaoru, I saw the cutest pair of shoes down at the mall this past weekend and I wish to all hell I had the balls to steal them. I could even get you a pair in your size, cause heaven knows your parents can't afford much."

Kaoru was about to say something when Soujiro cuts in, "You mean the mall next to that hospital a few minutes drive from here? Which store is it? What do the shoes look like?"

Megumi frowns, "Um, yeah? Why, what's it to ya?"

"I'd like to buy these shoes for you." Soujiro ends it with a bright smile.

The entire table falls silent. What is he talking about? Buy our friends those shoes? Is he kidding? I think he's kidding. He's gotta be kidding. Soujiro, please say you are fucking kidding, please! Megumi looks flustered and then blurts out, "Um, those shoes are kinda pricey and.. besides, you don't know any of us!"

"Please, I insist. How much do they cost? Maybe we can pick them up after school together?"

"I-I think.. they're around five thousand yen." Kaoru blushes even deeper, "Really, Soujiro, you really shouldn't―"

"―It's done. I'll see you guys at my locker after the last class ends today. It's locker number one hundred." Soujiro ends the conversation and goes on to eat his lunch peacefully, leaving us all speechless.

Until the guys jump in.

"H-Hey, guy? I could sure use, uh, a new glass bong!" Yahiko stammers, feeling a little weird trying to get someone to buy shit for him. Must be a first for him, having to practically steal everything himself just to survive on his parents' measly income. Soujiro nods with a reassuring hum. Yahiko whips his head at us two dudes with wide eyes and smile in a you-gotta-be-fucking-kidding-me way.

"Can I have a new motorcycle helmet? Mines broke." Sano scratches the back of his head bashfully so, and I looked at him, offended to my core.

"Sure, why not?" Soujiro giggles.

Oh, that does it.

I simply get up from the table and walk away, ignoring the protests from my friends. I don't hear Soujiro make any sound to stop me from leaving, but I think he knows exactly where I stand with this bullshit he's orchestrating. You can't simply buy people's friendships! It's just not possible and it reeks of bad intentions all around. Sure, he'll buy you anything you want, but at what cost? What if he wants something from you in return? I've learned from a very young age, that nothing good in this life ever comes free. You always have to pay back in some way, shape, or form. And it's not just currency either. It could be something as precious as your very livelihood as you know it. Fuck that noise. I'm leaving. I went to my art class, delighted to see it completely empty. I spend the rest of the lunch hour catching up on my missing assignments.

Fuck this school. Fuck everyone. Fuck Hiko.

Fuck Soujiro.

School ended. I did my mission of having Soujiro make friends with all of the teachers and do my best to keep my distance from him for the rest of that day. I think he caught on and tries to busy himself with introducing himself to other students, who are already bewitched by his polished looks and exotic background. I don't pay any attention to him, and just focus on myself meanwhile. That's what I do best, anyway. Walking to the train station, I pick up a bag of candy to make up for the lunch I couldn't eat today, and arrive home about half an hour later with one train ride. I would expect to find Hiko sprawled out drunk somewhere, but to my own surprise, I can't find him anywhere. Where is he? He doesn't have anywhere else to be at this time, so where could he have gone? My question is answered by a note stamped on the refrigerator.

It simply reads: Gone job hunting. Received a call for an interview, so I'll be home a little late. Money is on the counter for takeout.

It feels curiously short. I almost could sense that he wanted to end the note with "I love you" or something emotional, but he held himself back and just ended it at that. I crumble the note and toss it in the trash bin, before opening the fridge to fetch myself a bottle of beer. Smacking it on the edge of the counter, I'm able to loosen the cap off easily and take a long, satisfying swing, letting the burn of the alcohol take the numbness away inside my head. I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand and go on upstairs to my bedroom, determined to go practice on my guitar for a little while. It's an old, wooden piece of shit, but it still works like new. I sit with my back against the wall on my futon, smoking a cigarette, just strumming some notes absentmindedly, trying somehow to create a song out of nowhere. I let the sound swim inside of me, closing my eyes, trying on notes I could remember distantly in the past, and mixing it with new ones. I think this is one of the only few things in the world that can make me calm when everything goes to shit.

It's all thanks to that stupid new kid that things are feeling off kilter. He's disturbed the natural rhythm of my world just by simply arriving at my school, unannounced and uninvited. There is just so much mystery around that boy and nothing is making any sense. Why my school? Why even choose a mid-tier, public school over the endless private ones that could cater to his needs instead? He wants the normal high school experience before he graduates, but what does that even mean? He seemed to have come from nowhere and had already set his sights on me, so I have to wonder if he knew me before he was enrolled. But that's impossible.. I never seen him before until today. I don't really exist anywhere except on my Facebook account, which I hardly ever use except to keep concerned friends off my back. Maybe he got my profile, thought he could destroy me for something in return, and stalked me? I set my guitar aside and get up to dial on my phone to order pizza, determined to think about something else.

Otherwise, I might go insane.

I eat my dinner in peace, sitting in the kitchen table with the blinds open. The skies are a steep lavender, stars already scattering like the milky way. I look at the faint silver white moon just peeking over a purple cloud, as if teasing the Earthlings with its beauty. I wonder what it's like to beautiful like that. I feel something in my pocket, and I look at my phone as it vibrates. It's a text from Sano.

kenshin, u there, dude?

wat now?

yahiko's got the kush. we're under the bridge near u.

idk. can't make it. dont feel well.

aw come on kenshin! we need u there. we're bored. #kyotosucks

stop using hashtags, they make u sound like a dick.

if u wanna call me a dick, better come here so you can say that to my face, fucker

I smirk and shake my head at his nonsense.

fine. give me 10.

don't be late!

It's gotten colder, so I put on a cheap brown leather jacket, which I lovingly call Ol' Trusty. She and I go way back. Coming into the underpass of the bridge, all is dark except an orange glow in the distance, accredited by a burning trash can. Surrounding it were my good friends Sanosuke, Yahiko, Megumi, and even sweet miss Kaoru. Misao is still missing in action, and then I see another figure that I could not make out. Is that Arai? Or maybe someone else. He or she or it is smoking a cigarette a bit further away from the group. Yahiko is passing off a joint to Megumi and she takes a hit, and as soon as I come closer, they all perk up at my arrival. I hope Yahiko's got the good shit tonight. I need to get away from my head tonight. I have a feeling I'll otherwise have a difficult time falling asleep. Despite their best to cover up, I could tell, that the only thing that could keep us warm tonight was the lit trash can.

This is why Soujiro doesn't belong with us.

This is why.

The gang exchanges hellos with me and curiousity got the best of me, so I point my chin to the direction of the shadowy figure, "Who's that?"

And the figure turns around, eyes glowing sapphire with a smoldering smile.

Hey, so what'd you guys think? :D It got a lot longer than I planned but I'm really happy with this, so please, give this a like, or a comment, or a favorite, and I'll immediately work on the second chapter. Thanks and have a great weekend!