Standard Disclaimer's apply. Don't sue, I'm just borrowing them!

A Date with A Senpai

Chapter 2

*Two hearts find their way

no matter how far they seem

it needs a small push

Kaoru had peacefully slept until after lunch. With all the noise Yahiko had managed to make she briefly wondered why she had left him alive. She glared at Yahiko as he made another comment on how she had man handled him just because he was worried about her and was trying to wake her up so she wouldn't miss dinner.

Well dousing her with cold water wasn't exactly a 'very nice idea', as Yahiko had so put it, to wake her up. "Pounding the door didn't woke her up, I figured that it was the only way to wake up Sleeping Busu."

Adding to the list was the fact that he had stated, in front of Kenshin no less, that she snores worst than a dead drunk Sagara, who quote "snores like the pig from hell." unquote, accompanied by Yahiko's gleeful laughter. Had Kenshin not interfered Sano could've given the final blow.

The nerve of that boy. If they had to summon Megumi to the dojo and apply first aid on Yahiko, it deserved the boy right. Still she had apologized for causing a large bump on his head, which required a bandage so as to keep the herbs still on the swollen lump.

All was forgotten until Kaoru and Sano had seen Yahiko with bandage on and had burst into gales of laughter, holding on to each other as they struggled for control. Yahiko, then started the glaring game, which had continued up until dinnertime.

No had noticed Megumi and Kenshin's glare as they watched the tanuki and rooster cling to each other, hands entwined face almost touching. At any rate, it wasn't going to be a peaceful evening Kaoru had planned.

She shot Yahiko another venomous glare.

Yahiko glared back, his bandage covering most of his head with spiky black hair protruding from all possible, thinkable direction.

'What was there not to laugh about' Kaoru thought fighting off another bout of laughter building anew. If she burst out and lose control Sanosuke would follow suit. Which was what everyone was avoiding right now.

"What'cha glaring at Busu?"

Kaoru's slitted eyes meant verbal tussle of the worst kind and Kenshin was quick to jump in between. "Now, now, the two of you." He warned gently, "We should just eat our dinner ne?"

"Don't look at me! Old hag here is giving me the looks and after pounding me to near oblivion I have a right to glare back."

"Yahiko-chan" Sanosuke said earning him the second death glare of the day. "Shut-up and eat."

Yahiko muttered darkly, but obliged. And soon enough he was stuffing his mouth with what Kenshin had prepared for dinner. "It's a good thing someone here could cook decent food. Getting battered up everyday takes a toll on my young body. It would become a tragedy if the next greatest samurai of Japan died of food poisoning. At the hands of his own sensei at that!" he said through a mouthful, shuddering at the thought.

Kaoru gritted her teeth and gave him an icy look. "Unsolicited comments on my cooking is not allowed tonight, if you rather that I kick you out and let you spend the night with rooster boy, you can continue with the insults!" she sated quite maturely.

"Jou-chan!" Sano protested, a little hurt that his only ally had turned against him too.

"Well, ok, Sano can have your room while you sleep at the dojo." Kaoru amended flashing Sano a bright smile.

"Yatta!" Sano said pumping up his fist in the air. "Ya hear that Yahiko-chan! It's no use for you to go against me and tanuki here!" he added with a wink directed at Kaoru.

Megumi rolled her eyes "Well, well well, what to we have here? The monkey brained are getting together for world domination and they're starting with a helpless injured little boy." Megumi said patting Yahiko by the head.

"I'm not 'a helpless little boy!'" Yahiko argued, " Injured, I'll give you. But helpless? But I'm glad sophisticated, intelligent, graceful non-tomboy Megumi knows how to act like a lady. Unlike someone I know." Yahiko deadpanned.

"Why you little brat!" Kaoru hissed. "I am not a TOMBOY!" Kaoru lunged forward ready to grab Yahiko's gi and strangle him to death.

Sanosuke cheered on as Megumi let out a yelp of surprise.

Kenshin was the only one who had enough sense to grab Kaoru by her waist and try to pull her down.

Her body pressed against his as she struggled to get free from his hold felt wonderfully nice and warm. He noticed that her curves fitted exactly to the contour of his body. Loosing some of his senses, he leaned forward and was able to catch the scent of jasmine.

'Kami, if this is what it would be like to hold her…'

"Uh, Ken-san, you can let go now. Tanuki-chan is acting properly now."

With a start, Kenshin loosened his hold and found himself staring at Kaoru's questioning sky-colored eyes. True enough she had stopped struggling the moment she felt Kenshin's embrace.

It took Kenshin half a second to finally let her go, depositing her softly at her seat. His mind reeling from being that close from her. "Go-gomen, sessha, sessha, was, uh, just trying to…"

"Yah, yah, we know. Ya, don't have to explain yourself." Sano interrupted, knowing Kenshin wouldn't be able to finish the sentence, least of all make sense.

Kaoru opened her mouth to say something, closed it, opened them once again and then decided altogether that she's end up saying stupid, closed it again.

Sanosuke couldn't help but laugh, "Let me fill in for you Jou-chan." Turning towards Kenshin, Sano gave him a dead serious look and said: "Mou! Kenshin! You could've just kissed me right there and then. And maybe…maybe…OW! Chikuso! Jou-chan that hurt!"

"Sagara Sanosuke…."

Kenshin, flushed bright as his hair at the implied words of Sano, could only stare as Kaoru tried to whack Sano again with her ever-ready booken.

"Kaoru-sensei! Kaoru-sensei!" everyone looked at the direction of the voice.

"Why would they be looking for me at this kind of hour?" Kaoru half muttered standing up.

Kenshin had beaten her to it. "I'll go see Kaoru-dono, you should just stay here." He said already out of the room.

Kaoru was quick on his heels rolling her eyes. "Geesh, they're just kids, Kenshin."

Looking at each other the three decided that something interesting was going to happen followed them out to the front porch.

The two boys were standing by the dojo gates. Both were wearing the same drab gray uniform, much like Kaoru's but he had a distinguishing blue dragon at the right shoulder, the official uniform of Tomizawa-sensei's school. The first boy seemed to be younger than Kaoru but older than Yahiko, fifteen at the most. He was scrawny looking, but his companion, probably twelve years old was chubby with rosy cheeks. The younger one beamed as soon as Kaoru emerged from behind the small red-haired.

"Konichiwa Kaoru-sensei." They greeted at the same time with a customary bow.

"Konichiwa Kei-kun and Shin-kun. These are my friends." She said sweeping her hands across the three eavesdroppers hiding from the wall. Coughing, the trio smiled warmly at the kids going out of their hiding place, no use hiding anymore. The trio continued to watch them with bright, curious eyes.

"Konichiwa minna!" the young boy greeted enthusiastically.

Kaoru smiled as the rest, with the exception of Kenshin of course, gruntled out a greeting. She turned towards the two again, "What brings you two here? Is there any trouble back at Tomizawa-sensei's dojo?" she asked worriedly.

"Oh no! Kaoru-sensei, we, uh, we just wanted to thank you for helping us out yesterday. It was so kind of you to assist us." The older, more formal boy said with another bow.

"Arigato gaozaimasu Kaoru-sensei!" the younger one chimed in. Flashing Kaoru a toothy grin before bowing down.

Everyone noted Kaoru's cheeks, which were slightly tainted pink. "Oh, it was nothing. We help each other in times of need, ne?" she said cheerfully.

This seemed to ease the older boy, who they later found out from Kaoru, was named Keisuke. He had seemed distracted and nervous but hearing Kaoru's friendly greetings he smiled and approached Kaoru fishing out a neatly folded letter and handing it to her.

"A letter, from Ichiro-san. He says he's very sorry he won't be able to come here and personally thank you, our sensei has asked him to run a few errands. He said he's looking forward to seeing you tomorrow." With that he handed Kaoru the letter and stepped back to return his original position beside Shin-kun.

She was blushing and it didn't go unnoticed by everyone witnessing the whole scene. "Oh. Arigato" She said a little flustered. "Well, tell him that I appreciate his thoughtfulness. Is there anything more? Would you like to come in and have dinner with us?" she asked.

Both Sano and Yahiko unconsciously started shaking their heads. There was not enough food, and they knew very well who had to sacrifice if the kids agreed with the dinner invitation.

Thankfully, they had profusely refused Kaoru's offer. Waving farewell, the younger kid's face suddenly brightened up as he remembered something vital. He gave another toothy, wider smile and announced for all of Japan to hear, "Kaoru-sensei, Ichiro-san has a crush on you! And everyone else at the dojo!"

Smacking his forehead head with the palm of his hands, Keisuke grabbed the young boy by the collar and began to drag him out. "Gomen ne Kaoru-sensei! Shin-kun here…"

Shin-kun disentangled himself from Keisuke's hold, "Honto ni Kaoru sensei! Shin-kun doesn't lie! Kaoru-sensei, " he paused then finished with a flourish, "Kawaii! Even Kei-kun here says so! "

Kaoru didn't know whether to hug the boy or faint out of embarrassment. All of them gaped at the two boys; it was only Kenshin who seemed to openly agree with the 'Kawaii-statement'.

Keisuke covered Shin's mouth, apologizing as they went out of the gate. "Gomen. Gomen."

At the last minute Shin turned around, too late for Keisuke to catch him, "We'll see you tomorrow ne?" he asked.

"Hai!" Kaoru returned his smile.

"All the senpai would be soooooo happy to see you!" he announced.

Keisuke grabbed him before he say something more humiliating.

"Ja! " Shin said with a wave of his hand.

That was the last word heard, drowned by the chirping of the night crickets as their night visitors disappeared through the dark.

Author's Note:

Ok, part 2 is on the right track. I hope. On to part three

*This haiku is admittedly poorly done, I'll change this as soon as my brains functions well enough. Yah right! I wonder when that glorious day would come.