Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Taboo ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Kaoru woke up with an enormous headache. As she lay in bed, she tried to ignore the constant pounding in her head. Never again am I going to drink alcohol. Not even NyQuil. She peeped an eye open and read the clock. Was it really one forty-five? She groaned and shut her eyes. The pounding wasn't going away.

“Kaoru!”

Her eyes flew open. Someone was knocking on her door. Kaoru stumbled out of bed. She looked through the peephole only to see another eye looking back. She shrieked.

“Kaoru! It's us!”

Kaoru opened the door. Standing in the doorway was Misao, Reika, Soujiro, and Shogo. Shogo's eyes widened. “Damn, someone got beat with an ugly stick.”

Soujiro elbowed him in the stomach without losing his smile. “We heard about last night at the party. We came to see how you were doing.”

Kaoru hadn't expected them; but seeing them now touched her heart beyond words. In spite of her teary eyes, she gave her friends a big smile. “I'm so glad to see you guys.” She put her arms around Misao and Reika. Soujiro and Shogo wrapped their arms around the girls, joining them in their group hug. Kaoru pulled away and wiped her tears of relief. “Come inside. It's a little messy.”

The group walked in Kaoru's apartment. They were surprised to see how small it was. It was a studio apartment with a kitchenette and a bathroom. There was a single bed in one corner of the room with a night table beside it, a desk and computer in another, a table with two chairs, and a sliding double-door closet. Although it was small, her place was feminine, cozy, and very personal. All over the room were simple-framed pictures hung tastefully on the walls or sitting neatly on the tabletops. Scattered here and there were her childhood keepsakes: a worn doll on her bed, dried flowers in a bottle, a dented bokken against the wall, a small and old jewelry box . . .

Hands stuffed in her pockets, Reika looked at a picture of Kaoru and her parents sharing a triple-scoop ice cream. “Where do your parents sleep?”

“Oh,” Kaoru said as she sat on her bed. She braced herself for an apology. “They passed away.”

Reika gasped. “I'm so sorry, Kaoru. I didn't know.”

“You don't have to be sorry.” Kaoru looked at her friends. They were all stone silent with the most serious of expressions. She laughed. “Why do you guys look like that?”

Soujiro's smile was faint. “It's not really something we hear every day. Are you doing okay? How recent was it?”

“They were on their way back from a vacation just after New Year's, but their plane crashed. They didn't make it.” Kaoru picked up her doll and smoothed out its dress. “It was an accident. Of course, it was really hard on me for the first couple of months, but I accepted it and I'm doing okay. There's not one day that goes by when I don't think about them. I miss them a lot, but I know they're watching over me and they still love me.” She smiled at her friends peacefully.

Misao was crying a river. “Oh, Kaoru! You're my hero!” An alarm clock was thrown at her.

“Is that why you started coming to our school?” Shogo asked as he sat beside Kaoru on her bed.

She nodded. “My dad was in the military, so we had to move around a lot. Around three to four times a year. My mom thought it would be best if she home schooled me.”

“How do you support yourself? Is your job at the café enough?”

“Don't you get life insurance from the military?” Reika interjected.

“Yeah, I was supposed to get 250,000 dollars, but I'm not allowed to touch it because I'm not eighteen yet. The military lawyer gave the money to my uncle. He was my legal guardian. 10,000 dollars went to funeral costs. My uncle took the rest of the money. He told me he was going to invest it in a bank, that way I would have more money by the time I was eighteen. It turned out that he used the money for himself.”

“What?” Misao was infuriated for her friend. “He can't do that! That's illegal!”

Kaoru nodded again. “I tried talking to the military lawyer, but she just brushed me off. Luckily my dad had a friend who was a lawyer, so I contacted him and asked him to help me. He's trying to get my money back, but he said it's going to take some time.”

“That's why you live here, right? You moved out of your uncle's place?”

“Yeah. I left that city and my lawyer helped me find this apartment four months ago. He also helped me sell our cars, TV, furniture, and a lot of other things. So with my parents' savings and the money from what I sold combined is enough to pay my rent here until I turn eighteen. All I have to worry about is food and bills.”

Shogo put his arm around Kaoru's shoulders and gave her a side hug. “We know you're a strong kid, but if you ever need anything you let us know. We're your friends. We're here for you.”

Kaoru hugged him back. “Thanks, Shogo. I need friends like you guys.”

He gave her one last squeeze. “You also need a shower.”

She uppercut his chin. “Fine. I'm going to take a quick shower. Do you guys mind waiting?”

“Not at all,” Misao replied.

Kaoru got up and went to the fridge. “Here.” She set down a plate of rice balls and some drinks. “You guys eat this while I'm showering. I made it myself, so don't leave any over!” Kaoru stepped in the bathroom and locked the door.

“Looks delicious!” Soujiro put one of the rice balls in his mouth before Misao could stop him. His smile disappeared. Completely.

“Quick,” Misao said, “just swallow it whole. The taste will go away.”

Soujiro obeyed without thinking of the option of spitting it out. He gagged and coughed until the food went down.

Shogo picked up a rice ball. “Is it really that bad?” He was about to eat it.

“DON'T!” Misao and Soujiro cried simultaneously.

Shogo put it back down. “What are we going to do? She wanted us to eat it all. We'll hurt her feelings if we don't.”

Misao frowned. “We'll get ulcers if we do.”

“Why don't we throw it out the window?” Soujiro suggested.

Shogo shook his head. “No, she'll notice once she looks outside.”

“Here.” Reika held open a Ziploc bag she found. “Put it in this. I'll hide it in my purse and give it to my dog when I get home.”

Misao arched a brow. “I doubt your dog will eat it.”

“Then I'll just toss it.”

“Good plan.”

The four stuffed the rice balls in the Ziploc and put it in Reika's purse. By the time Kaoru got out of the shower, they were all finishing their drinks.

“Oh! You guys ate all the food!” She was very delighted.

“Yup! It's all gone!” Misao said enthusiastically.

Kaoru opened the closet and pulled out a pair of jeans and a shirt. “I have to be at work by three.”

Soujiro looked at his watch. “That's in thirty minutes. I'll give you a ride if you want.”

“That's okay. It's only a fifteen minute walk from here.”

“Which means it's only a two minute drive, right? C'mon. It's cold and cloudy outside. And we really want to hear about what happened at the party.”

Kaoru smiled. “Okay.”

Tae stretched her arms to ceiling. “My, it was busy today. Let's start closing.” She pulled out a rag and cleaner from her apron and began wiping down the tables.

“We have ten more minutes till nine,” Masaaki said to his boss.

“That's okay. I don't think anyone else is coming.”

Masaaki returned to cleaning the coffee filters. “Hey, Sano, did you ask Megumi out yet?”

“A hundred times,” the rooster head crowed. “She keeps saying no, but I think she's just playing hard to get. How about you?”

“I got a date tonight with that hot chick in my biochemistry class. What about you, Tae?”

“What about me?” she asked innocently.

“Don't play dumb. I know you've been flirting with that businessman that comes in here every morning. What's his name? Mr. Want-a-baby?”

“Watanabe!” Tae corrected. She smiled in an almost creepy way. “Don't you worry about what I do when I'm not working. You just worry about cleaning the place up properly.” She began helping Kaoru put the chairs up on the tables. “What about you, Kaoru? Do you have any plans tonight?”

Just then, someone walked in the café.

“Oh, Himura-san! We're closing a little early,” Tae said bashfully, “but if there's anything you would like, we'll make it for you.”

“Yeah,” Masaaki said from behind the counter, “it's no problem.”

Kenshin smiled warmly. “That won't be necessary, but thank you.” He saw Kaoru and began helping her with the chairs.

Kaoru's heart was racing. She was suddenly very nervous and her movements were shaky. Why is he here? He's not even buying anything. What am I supposed to say? And why does he always look so good? She almost dropped a chair.

“We haven't seen you around for a while,” Tae said to Kenshin without accusation.

“I'm sorry about that.” He quickly glanced at Kaoru. “Work prevented me.”

“That's no excuse. You live right across the street in one of those condominiums.”

He smiled sheepishly. “I'll be sure to come more often next time.”

“Hey, Tae,” Sano said as he hung up his apron. “Can I go a little early? I finished cleaning up everything.”

“Sure.”

“Thanks. See ya, guys. Later, Kenshin.”

“Ah.”

“Hey!” Masaaki yelled before Sano could step out the door. “Where you going?”

Sano smiled his wicked smile. “Fox hunting.” And he was gone.

Tae sighed and put her hands on her hips. “Looks like we're done everything. Kaoru, why don't you go on ahead? Masaaki and I will close.” A distant `aw man' was heard from the back room.

Hesitant blue eyes looked at Kenshin. “Um . . . alright. Thanks Tae. Have a good night.”

“Goodnight, sweetie!”

“Later, Kaoru!” Masaaki yelled.

Kaoru grabbed her purse and walked out the door. She wasn't sure whether or not Kenshin was going to follow her; but he did. Kenshin and Kaoru stood outside of the café.

“Hi,” Kaoru said quietly.

“Hi." He took a step towards her. "Do you feel like taking a walk?”

“Sure.”

They walked silently together along the lamp-lit sidewalk. The air was chilly and smelled lightly of wet asphalt. Kaoru was intimidated of Kenshin, yet for some reason she wished she could hold his hand or link her arm through his. She ventured to take a glance at him and saw that his lips were pressed in a thin line.

"How was the party?" Kenshin's voice was calm and quiet, but Kaoru knew he was angry.

"I didn't like it."

"Why not?"

Kaoru paused. “I got drunk.”

Kenshin felt his anger rising. “Did your date make you drink?”

“No. I wanted to try it.”

“Did you like it?”

She felt like she was a child being berated by an adult. Well, she kind of was. “No, I hated it. I threw up.”

“What time did your date get you home?”

Kaoru noticed that he wouldn't say Keisuke's name. “After two in the morning . . .Keisuke kissed me.”

Kenshin felt something akin to jealousy arise in his chest. The thought of that boy, or anyone else, touching her the way he was meant to touch her plagued him with murderous thoughts. He mentally chided himself for wanting Kaoru so much. His jaw clenched. “Why would you tell me that?”

““I . . .because . . ." Just say it. You have to. “Because I wanted you to know.”

His voice lowered. “Know what?”

"That I didn't like Keisuke to begin with. That I hated his kiss."

"Then why did you go to the dance with him in the first place?"

"So that I could forget you," she whispered.

They reached a park and began walking towards the playground.

Her answer caught Kenshin off-guard. His heart warmed knowing that she still had feelings for him. "Do you still want to forget me?"

Kaoru stopped and looked at him. "I never wanted to forget you. But I need to." She shoved her hands in her pockets and continued walking. Their conversation seemed one-sided. She was revealing all of her heart to him, but he wasn't showing her any signs of reciprocation. “Himura-sensei, why did you come to the café tonight?”

“To talk to you.”

“Why?” she asked softly.

They sat down on a set of swings. The chains creaked as they slowly moved back and forth.

“Because . . .” Kenshin hesitated. “I needed to see if you were okay.”

Kaoru smiled at him. “I think I'm doing alright . . . How are you doing?”

He smiled back. “Just fine, now that I know you're okay.”

“Do you always worry about your students so much?”

“Yes. But not as much as you.”

Kaoru's face heated. There was the sign. Her stomach was doing a series of somersaults and she found it difficult to swallow. After she calmed down her nerves, she continued to speak to him honestly. “I don't like it when you call me `Kaoru-dono'.”

“That's what I'm supposed to call you.”

“Do you like it when I call you `Himura-sensei'?”

“No, but not doing so would be inappropriate.”

“Yes, inappropriate,” she repeated numbly.

Kenshin looked at Kaoru. She was sitting on the swing with her hands in her lap, using the tips of her toes to rock her back and forth. Her face was blank as she stared at something he couldn't see. “When we are alone,” he said with tenderness in his voice, “in private like we are now, I promise to call you Kaoru, if you promise to call me Kenshin.”

Kaoru looked at him and smiled warmly. “I'd like that.”

A distant roll of thunder was heard and suddenly, the black clouds above them ripped open and caused a downpour of rain. Kenshin and Kaoru leapt from the swings and began running for shelter. Kaoru saw him take off his jacket to hold it over her for cover, so she took off her jacket and did the same for him. They ran closely together, bumping into each other every so often as they tried to shield one another from the pouring rain.

Kenshin led them to a telephone booth and quickly opened and shut the door. Kaoru was panting from the run, not noticing how little space the booth provided. They looked at each other. Kenshin was practically dry, while Kaoru was completely soaked through. They burst out laughing. Kaoru rested her hands on Kenshin's chest for support as Kenshin tried to wipe the raindrops from her face. He loved the sound of her laugh. It was light, free, and very contagious. What he loved even more was the way he felt when she laughed. He felt like he won a high award, like all his burdens faded away, like he belonged to her. And then he kissed her.

There was nothing soft or tender about this kiss. It was hard, possessive, and lustful. Everything that Kenshin had been holding in since the day he met Kaoru was released in this one kiss. He tangled his fingers in her wet raven locks and tilted her head back, causing her lips to separate. His tongue swept inside her mouth and brushed against hers in a sensually demanding way. He wanted to overwhelm her, and overwhelmed she was. The last thing Kaoru expected was for Kenshin to kiss her. Her stomach flipped when his mouth came down on hers. When she felt his tongue touch hers for the first time, she felt an electric jolt of pleasure that made her toes curl. Everything Kenshin was doing - his hand gently pulling her head back, his arm holding her impossibly close to him, his lips hotly pressed against hers, his tongue coaxing her to play back - left her mind spinning and fuzzy. Her hands tightly clutched the lapels of his shirt lest her melted bones cause her to collapse. Kenshin nibbled on her lower lip then used his tongue to trace the soft skin inside. He couldn't get enough of the warmth of her lips, the sweetness of her tongue, the perfection of her body molded against his. His tongue returned inside her mouth and growled low in his throat when Kaoru shyly caressed her tongue against his. Encouraged, Kaoru boldened her touches and mimicked what he did to her. She moaned when he stroked the underside of her tongue with the tip of his own. The soft sound she elicited reminded Kenshin that he wasn't dreaming. He tore his mouth away from hers.

They were both breathing raggedly as they stared at each other. Although the light in the phone booth was dim, Kenshin could see the confusion in Kaoru's sapphire eyes. Her hair was tousled, her face was flushed, and her lips were swollen. He thought she never looked more beautiful. Lightning flashed around them, thunder roaring soon after.

"I'm sorry," Kenshin whispered.

Kaoru's heart sank. She should have expected it, wasn't surprised when he said it, but was hurt all the same.

He turned around to look out through the door. "I wish I didn't feel like this."

Kaoru stepped close to his back and rested the side of her head in the space between his shoulder blades. "Like what?"

"Like the only thing I need in this world is the only thing I can't have."

They stood silently together in the telephone booth until the sky cried its last tear.