Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Taboo ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Thank you, ArwenSol for you ever so encouraging comment!

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

 

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Kaoru loved city mornings. There was so much life she witnessed during her twenty-minute bike ride to school. Business people walking quickly with their briefcases, parents dropping off their kids, pedestrians reading the paper while waiting at a signal light. She missed working at the café in the mornings. Massive amounts of people would rush in to grab a croissant or a muffin with Tae's acclaimed coffee, then rush back out to get to work on time. There was something exhilarating about being constantly busy. Like she was right now.

 

One month of school went by and Kaoru was having her first major exams. She wondered why teachers liked to give their tests on the same day as all the other teachers. Didn't they know that students were only human? Having four AP classes didn't help her situation either. She didn't expect those courses to be so demanding. Actually, there were a lot of things that happened that she didn't expect. Becoming popular was one of them. She never wanted to be popular before because of the stereotypical image media produced. But after becoming good friends with Misao, Soujiro, Shogo, and Reika, she decided that being popular wasn't that bad. In fact, she rather liked it. Her new friends were funny, outgoing, open-minded, and smart.

 

Misao was like a fireball, constantly burning with positive (sometimes negative) energy. She always made one feel like a part of the group by giving the person attention or physically dragging the person in closer.

 

Soujiro loved talking to people, charming them with his perpetual smile. He would make a stranger feel comfortable by acutely observing them, then discussing a subject that the person knew about. It was no wonder he was the senior class president.

 

Shogo was a typical jock. He had the looks, the moves, the ladies; but he also had a brain. He was constantly observing, listening, or asking questions. He wanted to be the world's best reporter, but for now, he was fine with being chief editor of the school newspaper.

 

Reika was the coolest nerd ever. She was very confident with herself, thus she had an outrageous wardrobe. She would wear a lime green tee with a short, black frilly skirt, along with black and hot pink striped socks and a pair of high tops, and would be able to pull it off without being called weird. Yet, she would pick a museum over a movie any day.

 

Kaoru was known for being the sweetest, prettiest, and most violent senior in school. The blue of her eyes, her porcelain-like complexion, and the perfection of her body were all forgotten when she began throwing anything within arms reach if she became slightly offended.

 

Kaoru biked into the school parking lot, being careful not to get hit by a car. Her fingers squeezed the brakes as she rode up the ramp that led to the bike racks. She hopped off her bike and knelt down to lock it to the rack. As she looped the lock through the bars, she heard a loud roar of a motorcycle pull up and park beside her. She just finished clicking the lock together when a familiar voice said, “I see you bike.”

 

Blue eyes flew up and met violet. Something in her stomach fluttered. For one month she did her best to pretend nothing happened between her and Kenshin, all the while having a somewhat normal student-teacher relationship; but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't suppress the racing of her heart, or the feeling of anticipation before she saw him. She stood, pushed her bangs out of the way, and replied, “I see you do, too.” She peered around him to look at his motorcycle. It was small, sleek, and undeniably powerful. Just like the rider. “I think your bike is a little better than mine.”

 

Kenshin chuckled. He shifted his helmet under his arm and asked, “You came early today, Kaoru-dono.”

 

She almost winced at his provided suffix. “I have tests.”

“Ah. Do you bike to school everyday?”

 

“Yes. And to work, and back home, and anywhere else I need to go.”

 

“You must get sick of biking.”

 

“It does get to become a chore, but I generally like it. When I was little, my dad had a beautiful red cruiser that we would ride all the time. He would sit in the seat and push the pedals, my mother would sit on the bar in front of him, and I would sit on the handlebars with my mother holding me. It's very dangerous if you think about it, but we never got hurt. The three of us would bike along the grass, and my father would make me and my mother laugh until we thought we were going to fall off the bike. Whenever I see a red cruiser, it reminds me of how much fun we had.”

 

Kenshin looked at her bike. It was a regular mountain bike. “What happened to the red cruiser?”

 

“We left it out in the rain too many times and it got rusty and eventually broke.”

 

His voice softened. “What happened to your parents?”

 

Kaoru hesitated. “They passed away,” she said evenly. She didn't like it when people asked her that. Not because she felt pain, but because of their reaction. They usually apologized after they asked, or felt stupid because they asked.

 

Kenshin only smiled at her and said, “You are very strong.”

 

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Kaoru's head was swimming by the time fourth period ended. Four down, one to go. She stuffed her pencil and eraser in her backpack then zipped her backpack shut.

 

Misao smiled brightly at her. “I failed that test with flying colors!”

 

Kaoru grinned. “Good for you. Ready for lunch?”

 

“Since breakfast.”

 

The girls stood to exit the classroom. Kaoru was about to walk forward when Shota blocked her path.

 

“Hello, Kaoru,” he said rather meekly. His voice somewhat bubbled, as if he had constant phlegm in his throat.

 

“Hi, Shota.” She stood there, waiting for him to move. She noted that his brown pants didn't reach his ankles and there were large yellowish sweat stains by his underarms. When he stayed, she said, “Um, did you need anything?”

 

He pushed his glasses up his nose before he spoke. “I, uh, I just wanted to give you this.” He handed her a piece of origami.

 

Kaoru took it carefully and smiled with unease. “Oh . . . wow . . . it's a . . . giraffe. What is it supposed to represent this time?”

 

“The giraffe has many unique features. Like you.”

 

“Oh. That's so . . .” Her brows furrowed together as she sought for a word. “ . . . Interesting.”

 

He shifted nervously from one foot to the other. “Are . . . um . . . you . . . uh . . . Are you, uh . . .”

 

Kaoru would have slapped him upside the head so he could just spit it out, but his dandruff that resembled cottage cheese prevented the action.

 

“Going to the . . . uh . . .” He swallowed thickly. “ . . . the d-dance . . . tomorrow?”

 

“Yes, she is,” Misao interrupted in a rushed voice, “And she has a date. Now move. It's lunch. We're hungry. We gotta go.” She all but dragged Kaoru past Shota, out of the room, and into the hall. After they were outside to meet the gang, Misao let out a frustrated growl. “That boy needs to clear his throat.”

 

Kaoru let out a laugh. “Hey, Misao. I'm grateful that you rescued me, I really am, but why did you have to shove my body against his? Ugh, you were right. His body odor does smell like hamburgers.” She shuddered.

 

“Hey, you two!”

 

The girls turned to see Soujiro waving at them, with Shogo and Reika following in step.

 

“Hey, guys!” Misao jumped.

 

Kaoru went up to Shogo, pulled her shirt away from her body, and said, “Smell me.”

 

“No,” the tall jock said with disgust.

 

“Come on! It doesn't smell bad.”

 

“The hell it doesn't,” Shogo spat. “You wouldn't ask that way if it smelled nice.”

 

Kaoru turned to Reika. “Take one whiff.”

 

Reika eyed her friend suspiciously. “Why am I smelling you?”

 

“She touched Shota,” Misao retorted absently.

 

Reika's face twisted in repulsion. “Oh, yuck.” She made a gagging sound. “Is he still giving you origami?”

 

“Yeah,” Kaoru sighed. “He gave me a giraffe today.”

 

“Why does he keep giving you those things?” Shogo asked.

 

“He likes her, genius,” Misao said to Shogo. He gave her an evil glare.

 

“You're too nice to him,” Soujiro commented to Kaoru. “If you want him to stop, you should tell him. Don't lead him on.”

 

“I should,” Kaoru nodded. “But I just feel so sorry for him. Especially when I see a pimple on his pimple.”

 

“He asked her to the dance last minute,” the small one supplied.

 

“Speaking of dance,” Shogo said to her, “you owe me ten bucks.”

 

Misao frowned. “Why?”

 

“Remember our bet? I got Sakura as my date for the dance.”

 

She scoffed. “I'll pay you when I see her on your arm tomorrow.”

 

“Fine.”

 

“Well, I gotta go, guys,” Reika said. “I have a decathlon meeting. I'll see you guys later.”

 

“Bye!”

 

“See ya.”

 

Misao linked arms with Kaoru. “I don't know where you boys are going to eat, but Kaoru and I are going to have a girl's luncheon.”

 

“We are?” Kaoru didn't know what was going on.

 

“Yes, we are.” Misao pointed her finger at the boys. “So don't follow us.” The girls walked off, leaving Shogo and Soujiro awkwardly looking at each other.

 

Misao bought fried chicken across the street from the school and the pair sat down on a nearby picnic bench. Kaoru pulled out a container from her backpack.

 

“Why do you always bring a lunch?” Misao wondered out loud.

 

“It's cheaper and healthier,” Kaoru easily responded. She opened the lid, revealing neat stacks of California rolls.

 

“Oooh!” the smaller friend squealed. “I'll trade you a piece of chicken for a California roll.”

 

“Sure.”

 

They traded a piece of their meal and commenced eating. Misao popped the California roll in her mouth. Her eyes widened as her mouth curved downwards.

 

“Good, isn't it?” Sapphire eyes shone with pride.

 

“Not really.” If there was anything that Misao regretted in life, it was those two words she recently uttered.

 

“What did you say?!” She got up on the table loomed over Misao. “If you don't like it, then why did you ask for it? HUH?!” She was angrily shaking her fist at the younger girl.

 

Misao shrunk back. She was so scared, she accidentally swallowed the piece whole. She coughed out of reflex and started hitting her chest.

 

Kaoru shrieked. “Misao! Are you okay?”

 

“I'm fine,” she replied hoarsely. “Just give me a sec.”

 

Kaoru calmed down and took her seat. After her friend recovered, she asked, “So what's this `girl's luncheon' all about?”

 

Misao brightened. “Oh, Kaoru! I just couldn't keep it in! You know how I asked Sou to the dance?”

 

Her friend nodded.

 

“Well, I now know why I asked him.”

 

“Cause you like him?”

 

Misao looked incredulous. “How'd you know?”

 

“Know what? Wait. What?! You like like him?”

 

Misao nodded enthusiastically. “I have a crush on Sou! Who would have thought?”

 

“Wow! I didn't expect that! Are you going to tell him?”

 

“Maybe. Not now. I don't like him that much. At least I don't think so. If I really start liking him, I'll tell him. Do you think he likes me too?”

 

Kaoru had no idea. She wasn't able to tell that kind of stuff. “Gee, Misao, I don't want to make you think the wrong idea.”

 

Jade eyes enlarged and began to water. “So you don't think he likes me?”

 

“No! No, not that,” Kaoru said, waving her hands to dismiss the misunderstanding. She leaned forward and smiled. “I know that he really appreciates your friendship and would do anything in the world to keep it going.”

 

Appeased, Misao sighed happily. “He's such a cutie. He's going to pick me up at my house tomorrow. Oh! I wonder what he's going to wear. It doesn't matter! He looks good in everything! Oh my, what am I going to wear?” She looked at Kaoru. “It's a casual dance, but I want to look really good! I can't just wear jeans and sneakers. Oh, Kaoru, help me! What are you going to wear?”

 

“I'm not going.”

 

“What?! Why not?”

 

“I don't really want to.”

 

“But you've never been to a dance before! You've gotta go to our school's welcoming dance. It's not so snazzy, but it's a lot of fun!”

 

“Not this time.”

 

“Is it because you don't have a date?” Misao asked speculatively.

 

“What?”

 

“If you want, I'll tell Shogo to dump his imaginary date and go with you.”

 

“No! What are you talking about?”

 

“Well, there's gotta be a reason you don't want to go to the dance.”

 

There was a reason. Kaoru still liked Kenshin and thought it would be disloyal if she went to the dance with some random boy. Of course, most point of views would disagree with her, but she knew Kenshin reciprocated her feelings and wanted to be faithful to their nonexistent relationship. Oh, how she wanted to tell Misao about her secret infatuation. But she couldn't. “I'm genuinely not interested in going.”

 

Misao stared at Kaoru, baffled beyond belief. “Well I don't know what to say.”

 

Kaoru laughed. “Why don't you tell me that you're going to have a great time with Soujiro tomorrow.”

 

Misao smiled widely. “I'm going to have a great time with Soujiro tomorrow! Oh, can you do me a favor?”

 

“Sure. What is it?”

 

Her friend suddenly became bashful. “Can you help me with my hair and makeup tomorrow?”

 

Kaoru was delighted. “Of course! I don't know that much, but I'll try my best.”

 

Misao reached over the table and hugged her friend. “Thanks, Kaoru! I'm so glad you're my friend!”

 

Kaoru patted her friend's braided hair. “Me too, Misao. Me too.”

 

*************************************************

 

Delicate fingers massaged an aching neck as the owner stretched back and yawned. Teary eyed from the yawn, Kaoru straightened the pile of name cards in front of her and placed them on the school secretary's desk. “I'm done, Fujiwara-san.”

 

“Oh, thank you, Kaoru.” Fuijiwara-san was a sweet, pear-shaped woman approaching her sixties. “There's ten minutes left until the bell rings. Why don't you sit down and rest?”

 

“Could I grab I drink from the vending machine?” Kaoru had been thirsty since the fifth period.

 

“Of course.”

 

“Thank you.” Kaoru fished her wallet out of her backpack and went down the hall to the vending machines. Just as she turned the corner, she immediately recognized a certain redhead a distance down the hall. She backed up and peered from the corner. He was talking to someone. She squinted to get a better look. It was Aoki Shizuka, the dean of the school. Kaoru couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could hear Aoki-sensei giggling. Was Kenshin saying something funny? Kaoru knew it was wrong to spy, but she was aching to know what the pretty dean and her History teacher were talking about. She noticed that Aoki-sensei was very . . . friendly. She kept touching Kenshin's arm, his shoulder, and at one point, his chest. Kenshin said something to the dean that made her look down and smile. A telltale sign of flirting. Kaoru tried to push away the bitter jealousy arising within her. Why is Kenshin letting her touch him like that? He's just standing there with his hands in his pockets, smiling like a simpleton! Does he like her? Aoki-sensei obviously likes him. The dean rested her hand on his upper arm. Stop touching him! Her heart twisted in agony as the thought of Kenshin no longer liking her became a realistic possibility. He's not yours. Stop pretending like he is.

 

When they started walking in her direction, Kaoru swiftly turned around and headed back to the office. Fine. If he doesn't like me, I don't like him either. I'm done. It's over. I can move on, too. She opened the office door and grabbed her bag. The bell was going to ring soon.

 

Kenshin walked in the office. “Hello, Fujiwara-san.”

 

The secretary smiled at him as if he were a sweet little boy. “Hello, Himura-san.”

 

“Hello, Kaoru-dono.”

 

Kaoru forced a smile. “Hi, Himura-sensei.”

 

“Are you going home now?”

 

“Yes.”

 

The bell rang.

 

“Bye, Fujiwara-san,” Kaoru said to the secretary.

 

“Bye, sweetie, have a good weekend.”

 

Kaoru barely looked at Kenshin. “I'll see you in class next week.” She rushed to the door.

 

Kenshin caught up with her and held the door open. “I'll walk with you. We're going to the same place.”

 

Go away and let me drown in my self-pity, you oblivious heartbreaker. “Okay.”

 

“How'd you do on your tests?”

 

“Fine.”

 

“Did you struggle with any?”

 

“A few.”

 

“Are you glad they're over?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Are you going to the dance?”

 

“No.”

 

“Why not?”

 

She shrugged.

 

Kenshin noticed that her answers were curt. “Did I upset you in anyway?”

 

Kaoru stopped. His violet eyes were filled with concern. She sighed. It wasn't Kenshin's fault she was like this. Well, yes it was, but he couldn't help it. “I'm sorry. I'm just tired, that's all. Did you have a good day?” They continued walking.

 

“It was a little boring since I gave tests in all my classes. I just sit there and watch everyone write. But I there was a part of the day that I really enjoyed.”

 

Kaoru's mind went back to the moment in the hallway. Of course you did, you red-haired lecher. Just as they reached their destination, she saw someone waiting by her bike.

 

“Hey, Kaoru,” a good-looking, medium height, thick muscled guy greeted.

 

“Hi. It's Keisuke, right?” She had met him a couple of times through different people, but heard a lot about him through female classmates.

 

“Yeah, glad you remember.” His chest puffed out a little. He looked beside Kaoru. “Hey, Himura-sensei. You're the coolest teacher in the school.”

 

Kenshin smiled modestly. “Thank you.”

 

“Is that your bike?” the boy referred to the motorcycle.

 

“Ah.”

 

“Whoa! That's so cool! Do you think I can ride it?”

 

“No.”

 

“What? Come on, man. I'm real good at driving.”

 

The redheaded teacher stared at the boy until the boy started fidgeting nervously. “You guys have a good weekend. Be safe.”

 

“You too,” Kaoru said, wishing that he would stay a little longer.

 

“Bye, Himura-sensei!”

 

Kenshin's motorcycle roared alive and he drove off into the distance.

 

“Well, anyway,” Keisuke said to Kaoru, “I know this is last minute and all, but I was wondering if you would go to the dance with me.”

 

Kaoru looked at him in surprise. She barely knew him. Wait. Be rational. You've never been on a date before.

 

“Come on, I'm known to be a good date.”

 

An image of Kenshin flashed in her head. “Yes,” she blurted, before she could change her mind. “I'd love to.”

 

Okay, I'm posting this when I'm really tired, so if there are any errors, please tell me so I can fix it immediately.