Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ What Went Before ❯ Downward Spiral ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer-

Sano: Jou-chan don't own Kenshin, `fraid the other Jou-chan does. *Snicker * He's pussy-whipped.

Kaoru: *grinning innocently*

Kenshin: Ororoo . . .

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Welcome to chapter one. I'm glad you decided to brave through it all, and read on from that less than convincing Prologue. I thank you. Let me know what you think!

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What Went Before

Chapter I Downward Spiral

The day could not of possibly been worse than it had already started. Going to the airport to catch a flight almost as long as the day, well, it at least seemed that way, just added fuel to the fire. Measly, undercooked, horribly proportioned airline food was the worst. The man, two sizes to big, on the left side of the three-chaired row, made it uncomfortable. The smelly tourist, who consistently stared, made in unbearable. Then, being squashed between the two, during long bouts of air turbulence, was simply awful. Everything was just adding fuel and slowly descending into nothing that resembled hope, the better side of the day. And that was just the plane ride.

The day was bad to start with. Returning home from a summer vacation, just to go back to an empty apartment, and dive right into twenty-four seven studies was just not appealing. Having to wake up at two thirty A.M. just to catch a flight at Japan's busiest airport was not alluring at all, and with only three hours of sleep. Some relatives woke early enough for a brief moment to say good-bye. A little sad, but they were expecting a return trip next summer, it was always the same in the past. Why would it be any different next time? Just when everything was safe and ready for departure, the outfit picked out to wear ripped on the door. Another change was needed, but the suitcases were already packed, and tied to the roof of the car.

The start of the down ward spiral.

The half cousin dug through her closet while half awake, then out of nowhere, lit up with a mischievous smirk playing on her face. She held up the tinniest, stretchy black dress anyone in the world had ever seen. Declaring it's the only thing she could part with; the response was to accept it while grumbling to the god's above, and some below. An overcoat would have to do in a lame attempt to cover up the lack of material, time was short, and there was a plane to catch, after all. Staring contests would ensue at the terminal, but nothing could be done.

A bad day, indeed it would be.

*

Kamiya Kaoru shuddered at the thought of the day that was too slowly passing behind her, the men on the plane were creepy, and one was behind her, practically walking on her heels. She quickened her pace to get out of his presence, it was unnerving, and now she was not confined to a seat. So if a get away was manageable, always do the best to achieve it. When out of the ramp that connected the airplane to the terminal, she eyed the seats off to the side. Feeling that the man was going to follow her as long as possible, she decided to take a seat in full view of airport security. The grubby man had watched most of her movements through out the flight, but thankfully, had not spoken a word. With a sigh, she slumped into a seat, setting her carryon bag to the ground.

Remembering she was wearing the smallest dress on earth, she sat up in a more lady like position, just in time to watch the guy walk off in the distance. Easiness set over her, but the need to relax for a few minutes warded her to stay in the chair a couple moments longer. She quickly glanced around to see if anyone had seen her in the less than respectful position she was in before, hoping no one saw to much skin. Tugging the stretchy black material down, her eyesight picked up only a few people. A small child with his mom, staring out the window at the plane she just emerged from, in all its 747 glory. A few dawdling passengers were leaving the ramp, heading towards baggage claim most likely. Couple employees, security watching the gate, a man that sat across from her a few seats down that she recognized from the plane.

Stretching her arms above her head, she looked back to the closest interesting object, eyeing the familiar man. He seemed to be wearing a cross, but for some weird reason, it was upside down. She thought maybe the Gods were as mean to him as they had been to her today, ands that's why he wore it, maybe revolt against the higher beings. Who knows, who cares. Returning her hands to her lap, she smirked to herself, thinking that it was too bad the messed up guys were always the cute ones. The said guy looked up just as she was musing to herself, and smiled her way before returning back to whatever he was reading. A little embarrassed at being caught in the act, she got up, once again pulling the dress down, and quickly walked away to baggage claim.

It was a new school year; everything was new, and more new than the year before. Kaoru had graduated early from high school, and was able to attend college that year. She was half-American, and half-Japanese, so deciding in which country she wanted to live in was all up to her. The family on the east did have a little grief, they wanted her to stay, but starting anew was much easier in a different country. Second year going, and everything was turning out well, not happy, but better than the old. She even managed to drag along a life long friend into her adventure. He did not have anything better to do --so why not? That's what he said at least.

Happy thoughts were shuffled out of her head on the cab ride home. It was a pain in the first place not to have anyone to pick her up. Setting out on her own, and living off her family's money, left her to do everything by herself most of the time. The baggage claim had been a simple trip that had started to ease her system, she had thought that it was only going to get worse as the clock ticked by, but some things were turning out to be light. The fleeting moment was enjoyed eminently, until she remembered a visit to a certain clinic was necessary before she got home, readily or not.

The Intern that worked there was a friend of hers, well, when she felt like it, to say the least. Kaoru and Megumi's relationship on the outside seemed rocky, but they both cared enough to get past the differences. The friend she dragged from home fancying her held a little glue to their relationship, too. Megumi insisted that she stop by before she went home so she knew she was safe, and balanced. Otherwise, the Intern would not be able to get off until early morning hours, and she doubted Kaoru wanted an early wake up call just yet. With a sigh, she let the cab driver know the change in destination. Sinking back into the seat, she returned to idly staring out the window as Florida's landscape passed by.

*

"Kaoru-chan, welcome back!"

Kaoru walked around the desk to take a seat next to Megumi as she quickly typed away the last of her medical reports. "Please, I wish you wouldn't call me that . . ."

"Come now, just because this is a different country doesn't mean I have to stop. I think it suits you." Megumi glanced over to Kaoru, and smirked, it was just another way to grate on her nerves. Kaoru looked more American than Asian and for the most part, the girl wanted people thinking she was from the west. "What doesn't suit you is that slip of fabric you're wearing."

Kaoru groaned. "I don't even want to talk about it."

"Let me guess --Yumi?"

"How did you ever figure that one out?" It was more of a statement than a question. Megumi had met her half cousin a couple of times when she came to visit. Prancing around in small sizes, and playing cruel jokes on Kaoru, was one of her relative's favorite pastimes.

"Just a hunch," Megumi shrugged.

Kaoru rolled her eyes, and pulled down the dress a far as it would go, praying for an extra few inches to pop out of then air suddenly. "Anyway, as you can see, I'm safe."

"Yes, well, I can see that." She clicked off her computer, closing down the typing program. "Now, you're going to be starting college in a week?"

"Uh-huh." Besides getting under her skin, and irritating her, Megumi loved to mother Kaoru as much as she could. She was older, and always felt it was her business to know what was going on the younger girl's unrestricted life. "Why?"

"I just want you to know you can come to me anytime you want to --for questions or for help. I did go to your college for my bachelors degree, so I might be of some help." Kaoru looked up at Megumi and smiled, sometimes she could be all right. "But I advise you on a change in wardrobe, Kaoru-chan,"

And sometimes the Intern was cynical. Kaoru frowned.

"Megumi-saannn," Adding on the pleasantries was Kaoru's way of letting her know she was being hated at that moment. Megumi just gave a smug smile in reply.

"Now, now, it's my break, let's go get some sweets at Dunkin Donuts."

Kaoru sighed, that was definitely one thing she did very much miss while in Japan. "Fine, but I want to go home sometime today. I'm tired."

*

After a half an hour of small talk, Kaoru caught another cab for a ride home. Living in Central Florida was nice and all, but they did not have a bus system worth a nickel. Only if you ventured into a larger city like Orlando, were you going to find something that convenient. She had a car, but leaving it in the airport parking lot, and paying twenty dollars a day, just did not sit well with her finances.

Another thing her wallet did not like was Florida's venues. Theme parks were a hop, skip, and a jump away. Famous restaurants, tourist gimmicks, anything vacation wise was there. Her favorite thing above all, being the beach, was the closest. Daytona Beach was perfect if you wanted some action, and she loved her visit last year to Bike Week. She even thought about taking motorcycle classes on her next break.

Peeking in at the dozen doughnuts she bought, reminded her of what was waiting when she got back home. Her friend Sano, who she had moved with her to the States, was watching her apartment. They both lived in the same complex, right next to each other with an adjoining door for extra ease. Besides having someone familiar around and feeling protected, he was of legal age, and had the apartments put in his name. Kaoru was not even supposed to be living there, even if she paid for half of his. That was going to change soon, he had put an ad in the paper for a roommate, and he had two bedrooms, so it seemed like a logical idea for some extra cash. Sano went to school part time, taking a few classes, but mostly ventured into odd jobs and then squandered the money on Florida's nightlife, which he took Kaoru along with him sometimes too.

The six strawberry frosted doughnuts were going to be a thank you for watching her place, the six Boston Crème were for her, though. She just hoped the place was in one piece when she got back.

*

Finally opening the door to her apartment, Kaoru saw spiky hair sticking up above the couch. No doubt Sano had spent most his time in her apartment, she was the one with the only working cable box, so it made logical sense.

"I'm home."

"Hey Jou-chan, welcome back." Sano sat up, and walked over to Kaoru, taking her bags of luggage out of her tired hands. "Where do you want these?"

"I don't feel like unpacking, so just set them by the door." She walked over to her small kitchen area, and started to rummage through her fridge, noticing Sano had managed to empty most of the contents like usual. "Did everything go well why I was gone?"

A brief pause, and then she thought of something that was bothering her while she was gone. "No girlfriends in my house, right?"

Sano smiled innocently, he was not going to tell her that one, truth or --most likely-- no truth. "Of course not, now give me a hug, it's been a couple months too long."

Sano could be a big teddy bear when he did not want to get into trouble, but he never did anything that would hurt her intentionally. Closing the distance quickly, she gave him a much missed embraced. He in returned, lifted her up, and swung her around a few times before setting her back in place. "I missed you too, you big dummy."

"Oi."

"Anyway, I want to sleep, so all explain everything to you when I wake up in the morning. I'm so tired, I couldn't even last in a five minute conversation."

Sano ruffled her hair affectionately. She did look tired. "'M-kay."

Kaoru regretted not being able to take a shower, but she was barely able to stand up on two feet, and lying on her own bed was too appealing at that moment. She slid off her shoes, pulled the tie out her ponytail, and anxiously headed for her room.

"I suspect you'll be crashing here for the night, so I bought some doughnuts for you. They're on the counter."

A mumbled thanks was all she heard before she closed the door behind her, not bothering to turn the lights on as she entered. Knowing exactly where her bed was, she jumped and plopped onto the left side. It was the greatest feeling in the world.

"Mmm. . . . home at last."

Kaoru heard something shift next to her in bed and the covers underneath her move slightly. In a daze, she rolled over to her side, trying to see the cause of the unneeded disturbance. Squinting in the dark, she made out a figure that was moving to sit up. In an instant she tensed, and sucked in her breath. The person next to hers --sensing the on coming scream-- clamped their cold hands around her mouth.

"Oi! Jou-chan, I forgot to tell you . . ." Sano burst in the door, just to be caught off mid speech as he noticed the two sitting on the bed. " . . . Someone is in your bed."

He tried flicking on the light, but he also registered that it broke a month ago, and he had not come around to fix it yet. Sano groaned. He knew the hollering was about to begin. "Oops . . ."

Kaoru was steaming. The person on the bed next to her removed their hands, only after being assured the girl was not going to scream murder. Instantly, Kaoru jumped off the bed, and pointed her finger towards the door.

"Out!" She was seeing red, very bright red. Sano had managed to bring another girlfriend into her apartment, and of all things, let her sleep on her bed! "Sano, I can't believe you! I said no girls!"

"But I-"

"No buts! I'm tired, Get out! I'll yell at you in the morning!"

The bed creaked, and Sano's accused girlfriend slide off the bed, long hair following behind as she quickly exited the room. She would probably have an earful for Sano later that evening, too.

"But-"

"OUT!"

She slammed the door on his face, and fell back on to her bed again with an exasperated sigh. Sitting still, she let out a few deep breaths to calm her mood, everything in her day was going bad. Sano knew she was coming home today, but he was still too dense enough to invite some sleazy girl over to her apartment. Like his side was not good enough or something.

Feeling like her nerves were back on track, Kaoru crawled up to her pillows, hoping the girl was sanitary enough so she would not catch any diseases. But Sano only brought home `clean' women, so the thought was thrown to the back of her head. Taking in more deep breaths, the obscure scent of ginger invaded her senses. She thought it was an odd perfume for a woman to wear, it smelled good, but was probably better on a guy. Unnerved with the pillow smelling like the women, she threw it aside on the ground, and finally closed her eyes.

Before Kaoru was asleep, she had heard mumbled apologies coming from Sano, and another loan toned voice too quiet to make out. She felt bad for the girl; she probably scared the crap out of her, yelling like she had. She wondered vaguely if the girl was one she had known, because she had not said a single word during the screaming match.

But then she remembered she was too tired to care.

The day had definitely been a downward spiral.

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To be continued . . .

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Next Chapter- Meet some more of the crew, more plot to tie in, and Kenshin!

Author's Notes- Well, maybe this chapter made sense. (I finished it 5 in the morning, so it will probably have some errors, I'll fix it if its really bad. Gomen!) Did you see how the prologue tied in? Anyway, as you can see, Kaoru lives in the states, Sano came with her, Megumi is a medical student, and Kenshin, yes, Kenshin was there, you just don't know which guy he was. Next chapter he'll make himself known, and the story will start kicken' off. I've got a plot, but I don't want to let any details fly just yet and mess up the story, so be patient, please. Let me know what you think of the first chapter.

Also, let me know if you can guess which guy Kenshin was. It'll be fun.

Thanx!