Standard Disclaimers Apply

//Italics// = flashbacks

Italics = thoughts

What Keeps Us Alive

Chapter One: Uh, oops?

They say a four-leaf clover brings happiness.

But don’t tell anyone.

She was late for History class.

She was really *late* for History class.

Both Megumi and Misao had flown through History class their respective freshman years and she had mentioned both "Seijirou" and "seishi" in the same sentence, her sisters had both offered to plan her funeral. She had even remembered Sano say that even if you were the slightest of a fraction late, Seijirou-seishi would have your head on a plate. And right now, she wanted to make to at least sophomore year.

She glanced at her watch, as she weaved her way through the crowds of laughing students. She had exactly *three* minutes to save her hide. It was as if her life was ticking away. Not even dad makes me this nervous…

"Oof!"

She rubbed her sore butt, angrily. This day couldn’t get any worse, can it? I’m late and I run, no collide with some fool and the result of all this is that I’m going to be embarrassed and have a sore ass!

"Why do you-"

"Daij-"

Misao pushed herself up, sighing tiredly as the first bell rang. Not three months into the school year and she was already late for class. Dad’s gonna be pissed… She turned angrily to make eye contact with the idiot who had nearly trampled her to death.

"Listen jackas-"

//"How could you say something like that? You just give up faith on a woman who’s done nothing more than call us part of her family? I understand that you’re a warrior. I understand that you think that we should think realistically, but you don’t have to be an insensitive baka. Talk to me, when you have something useful to say."

"Misao," he began, his eyes softening.

"Iie," she hissed. "Not this time. She’s my friend and my sister. I will not let her down. I am going to help him whether you like it or not."//

"Your eyes are the most peculiar shade of green."

She held her breath, forcing herself to ignore the images that her mind concocted and found herself looking at the most gorgeous body she had ever seen. Oh. My. God. Shinomori Aoshi stood before her in all his god-like glory. And he was a senior too…

Tight black t-shirt with outline of his brilliant abs.

Check.

Curious eyes regarding her as if she were a specimen up for observation.

Double check.

She felt like a complete fool. A complete and utter fool. With ‘peculiar green’ eyes to top it all of. Great.

"Look," she started tiredly. "I’m late for class. I’m having a bad day and you’re telling me that I’ve got peculiar eyes? You must say that to all the girls."

The stunningly gorgeous man held out his hand for her. She gave him a look as if he were crazy. He chuckled.

"I don’t bite. You’re Haijime-san’s little sister, right?"

"Hai…"

Was Megumi trying to take matters into her own hands again? Didn’t she remember the last time she’d tried to set her up on a date? Dad nearly had a massive coronary, so bad that their mom had to take him out of the house. She had made her date drop her off a mile away in fear for the poor boy’s life.

"I take it you have been to history yet, Haijime-san."

"What am I, forty? Iie, of course not. I was on my way with three minutes to spare," she snapped, earning another chuckle from the older boy. She slapped her hand over mouth. Bottom of the food chain, Misao. Bottom of the food chain.

"And I take it that you have Seijirou-san."

"Is it that obvious?"

He leaned down to help her pick up the mess of papers on the floor. She sighed. Bad, bad day. Had to happen to me.

"Come on," Aoshi suddenly spoke up. "I’ll take you to class. This was my fault."

//Drowning, drowning, drowning…

"Onegai… Gomen… Just don’t leave me here…"

Faint whispers.

Madness, pain, agony, pain…

Why? How could you?

"My fault…"//

She jumped, Aoshi watching her in concern.

"I’m okay," she spoke quickly. "Just as long as you help me avoid the all mighty wrath of Seijirou-san."

The older boy was silent for a moment.

"Alright… partner."

**

M, m, m, why is it back so far? I had to end up in the creepy part of the library. Kaoru walked slowly down the long hall of bookcases. She found the right spot for the ‘m’ section, climbing up unto one of the stools. Might as well. It wasn’t like she was in any kind of hurry after all. She just figured she start the project since Megumi stood her up at lunch. How the hell was she supposed to know what Himura looked like. Rumor had it that he was a transfer student and Keiko said that he was hot, but how was that supposed to help her? Lunch was the only other time she saw seniors at school.

She could kill Megumi.

Honestly she could.

Kaoru loved her sister, but when it came to Sano, Megumi’s brain cells were depleted to the equivalent of refried beans. It took three years for her to admit that Sano was the love of her life, or so she claimed on the days the couple wasn’t fighting. And they were complete opposites on top of that. Megumi was smart and attractive with everything going for her----grades, sports, life in general. Sano, well Sano was Sano. He defined his own character because he was character, in his own mind. But they were happy and that was all that mattered.

Even if they made out far more than even a newly wed couple to say the least.

Aahhh, Meiji! ‘bout time I found it. She turned the book over to see whether or not it had any use. She would be doing this faster if she had met her partner. This is the last time I do something nice for Megumi-chan. She owes me twice now.

Meiji, hmmm…. Context meaning "enlightened peace". I876 reign name of Emperor Mutsuhito, revolution in Japanese life and government that occurred after the accession of Emperor Mutsuhito. Also characterized by the downfall of the shogun and feudalism and the creation of a modern state.

// "The Meiji government holds so much promise that sometimes I’m ready to believe that there might be a sliver of a chance for us to finally find some form of piece. But then that is how the cycle always begins, isn’t it?"

She gazed at him sadly, catching the hidden meaning within his words. She took his hand in hers offering only what she could, a quiet moment. She turned her gaze out to the sea, watching the glistening drops of sapphires gather atop the rough surface of the shore. She could only give him what she had.

"Sometimes," she began quietly. "Sometimes we loose our way and can’t get back where we’re supposed to be.//

The book clattered to the ground, the pages crunching as it settled to a stop. Her hands flying up to her head. The pounding wouldn’t stop.

"hey a-"

// "He doesn’t deserve you."//

Her foot slipped on the edge of the stool and she fell backwards, non-existent wind, air, whatever it was.

// "I will take your body. I will take your soul. You *will* belong to me.//

She found herself wondering when she was going to hit the cold marble, but instead felt the warmth of body heat generated by two pair of arms clutching as if she were the most precious discovery in the world.

// "For you I will keep my promise. You’ve given me something no one else has bothered to even try to. I can live."//

Kaoru found herself looking into a pair eyes, completely ignore the rest of her savior.

"Your eyes," she whispered. "Your eyes are violet…"

// "Tadaima." //

**

"I want to switch schools."

The old man’s neck snapped up to look his grandson clearly in the eye. What he saw, was something that he did not like. He had no resemblance to either of his parents, his eyes haunting and filled with God knows what. For all he knew, his only living relative and what was left of his son’s memory was possessed by some spirit.

"Alright Enishi, I’m listening."

The boy stood with a smirk and moved towards the window.

"Good. Very Good."

**

Thank Yous

chibi-angel, chibi-rinoa, sync*in, a sad lonely little lunchbox, Sasura, 9999, Leigh, Battousai angel, sarah0sleds, Nim, anh, dementedchris, Bunny, Jason M. Lee, Macy, Kyo, KuroNeko-sama, Kori Suketchi, and Koneko-dono.

Next Chapter Preview

Kenshin and Kaoru finally meet while Aoshi and Misao conquer the ‘Hiko-hurdle’. A little more of Enishi and Saitou to top it all off.

AN: *sniff*, *sniff*. You guys make me feel so loved. I’m glad you liked the prologue. I was worried about it for some reason. Anyhow, I said that Megumi was going to introduced Kenshin and Kaoru, but she was a little busy with Sano at the moment so I had to improvise a little. I hope that I’m not confusing anyone yet. There’s going to be a lot of spoliers/history starting in the next chapter. Obviously they didn’t die in the Jinchuu in the series but I’ll revealed how I killed them a little later. Also keep in mind that Kaoru has been plagued by flashbacks before but really hasn’t paid any attention at all. Watch for those references next chapter as well.

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