HYM, Part 5
Kaoru dragged her legs through the dirt beneath the swing she was on.
She shivered as a breeze blew through thin dress. She closes her eyes and
tries to imagine herself in a warm place in an attempt to block out the
cold. After a few moments, it works. She begins to fill an overwhelming
sense of warmth and security. She wraps her arms around herself, trying to
save the feeling. It was than that she noticed the true source of her
comfort and warmth.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru says, suprised.
"Nani?" Kenshin asks softly, his eyes locked on the ground.
"Your jacket? I'm sure you need it. That shirt you are wearing is very
thin." Kaoru states, noting how Kenshin was wearing very thin clothing for
the type of weather the Kyoto nights brought.
"So is your dress. I don't mind, Kaoru-dono. I just don't want you to get
sick." Kenshin says matter of factly.
Kaoru blushes and looks away. It had been two hours since his shocking
revelation. She didn't know quite how to respond to him. They had decided
to skip the movie, neither one in the mood to be around anyone. Kaoru was
suprised that he hadn't asked her to go home, leaving him alone with his
troubled thoughts. She wanted to know exactly what he meant by "killing
Shinomori-san's friends", but she didn't dare for fear of the answer.
"So......why is it I hardly see you on campus?" Kaoru asks, attempting to
start a conversation.
"I'm around. I mostly stay away from social gatherings and after school
activities." Kenshin answers simply.
"Oh." Kaoru says, looking back at her feet. "Ne Kenshin?"
"Hai?"
"About what you said earlier...."
"Kaoru-dono. I want to tell you everything. But not now. Not yet." Kenshin
says softly. He refused to look at her which concerned Kaoru. She could feel
his pain and the desperate need for salvation.
"I understand, Kenshin." Kaoru said with a soft smile. Kenshin caught it out
of the corner of his eye.
"Are you frightened of me?" Kenshin asked, trying to sound calm. But his
voice betrayed him and Kaoru could hear the dread that he tried to hide
from her.
"Daijoubu. I know I probably should be concerned. But, somehow.......I'm
not. I don't believe you killed anyone. At least, not in the conventional
way." Kaoru says as she leans her head back, looking up at the night sky.
Kenshin stares at her in awe. He couldn't believe that this girl, whom he
had only known personally for two days, could have this much faith in him.
"Kaoru-dono....you give your trust so easily. Especially to an unworhty one
like me. But I promise you, I will not make you regret it." Kenshin says
determinedly.
Kaoru smiles. "I know you won't, Kenshin...........Ahhhh....Kenshin....Look"
She says, pointing happily towards the sky. Kenshin follows her finger
with his eyes. He doesn't see what has her this excited.
"Nani?" He asked confused.
"Don't you see them, Kenshin?" Kaoru asks with sweet smile.
"See who?" Kenshin asks, beginning to wonder if Kaoru may have lost her
marbles.
"The fireflies, Kenshin. Look!" Kaoru asks, jumping up from the swing.
Kenshin watches Kaoru as she chases the fireflies. The wind catches her
hair and the fireflies encircle her, almost forming an embrace.
"Aren't they beautiful, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked breathlessly.
Kenshin stares at her intensely. He let's his eyes roam over every inch of
Kaoru's body, memorizing every detail. "Hai. Beautiful," He answers, though
he doesn't mean the fireflies.
-Meanwhile-
A young couple sits side by side in the balcony of the movie theatre. They
are bickering over who gets to hold the popcorn and who gets the arm rest.
"Why do you get to hold it?" Misao gripes as Aoshi holds the popcorn away
from her.
"Because I paid for it." Aoshi states matter of factly.
"Alright. Well.....why can't I have the arm rest?"
"Because, not only did I pay for the tickets. I also reserved the balcony."
Aoshi brags.
"Shinomori."
"Nani?"
"I hate you!" Misao says.
"I know." Aoshi replies, turning his attention to the movie.
"Ne Shinoromi.....what was the look between you and Himura?" Misao blurts
out.
Aoshi's body tenses up. "What are you talking about?"
Misao frowns. "Stop playing games with me, Shinomori!"
"It's none of your business!" Aoshi says harshly. He throws Misao a detached
glance before returning his attention to the movie.
Misao creases her eyebrows and folds her arms. He is such a jerk! Why can't
he just tell me!
Aoshi stares blankly at the screen. Why does she have to be so nosy. Doesn't
she see that I don't want her involved. She can be so annoying!
They sit in silence for awhile. Each one pretending to be interested in the
movie. Misao would occasionally sneak a glance at Aoshi, who she would find
sitting cold and motionless. This infuriated Misao further. Finally, unable
to take the avoidance anymore. Misao gets up from her seat and heads towards
the exit.
Aoshi jump up. "Makimachi? Where are you going?"
"It's none of your business!" Misao answer, returning his detached glance.
Satisfied that she had given him a taste of his own medicine, she turn on
her heel and rushes out the door. She practically jumps down the stairs and
heads for the exit.
"Matte!" She hears Aoshi call from behind. Che. How did he get down here
that fast? "What do you want, Shinomori?"
"I can't let you walk out here alone, now can I?" Aoshi says matter of
factly.
"Sure you can! It's very easy.....you just turn around and walk away!" Misao
says bitterly.
"Why are you so angry?" Aoshi asks, irritated by her tone and behavior.
"Angry? Me? I don't know what you mean!" Misao says sarcastically.
"I'm sure you don't!" Aoshi says dryly. "You what you want, Makimachi. You
always do anyway!"
"And what does that suppose to mean?!?" She asks defensively.
"What I mean is....you are too impulsive! You do and say things that have
cause an impact on people's lives and you don't even realize it!"
"NANI?!?!?!?!" Misao cries out. "What the hell are you saying. What impact?"
"Sumen. I didn't think I left room for misunderstanding. You know, you go on
and on about me and my friends being snobs and selfish....."
"And you aren't?" Misao asks, cutting him off.
"Can I finish?" Aoshi asks, annoyed. "Anyway, you complain about it
non-stop. But have you ever taken a good look at yourself. Whenever you
don't get your way.....or whenever someone says something you don't like,
you throw a tantrum."
"I do not!" Misao argues.
"Don't you? Just now for instance. I didn't tell you why there is anamosity
between Himura-san and myself, and what do you do? Throw a fit and run out.
You did it at the club this morning and in my mall." Aoshi states.
"Well.....so what! You can be very mean. It is only natural that I would
strike out." Misao says, trying to justify her actions.
"Ie. There is no justification for trampling on people's feelings!" Aoshi
says. The tone of his voice becoming deeper and deeper the angrier he gets.
"People's feelings? What people?" Misao asks, confused.
Aoshi looks at her for a moment. The realization of what he confessed had
not dawned on her yet. But it had him. He needed an out. He needed to get
away from her. This girl that made him feel these strange emotions.
Happiness and Sadness all rolled up into one. The feeling of needing to let
go mixed with the desire to hold on forever. "Makimachi. Arigato for today.
I know it was forced upon you to spend the day with me. But it was much
appreciated." Aoshi says suddenly.
Misao blink in bewilderment. Just seconds before her was grilling her for
her childish behavior. And now he was thanking her for being his Sunday
companion. Aoshi walked towards her and handed her her purse. "You dropped
this while you were rushing out." He explains as his eyes burn with
unfulfilled desire.
"A-Arigato." Misao stutters out. Why is he looking at me like that? "I-I
think I should be going home now." She says, hoping to divert his attention
from her.
Aoshi continued staring at her. He wanted her to see how special she was to
him. He wanted her to know the important role she played in his life. How
complete she made him by just being around him. But staring into those
beautiful and confused eyes, he realized that she was completely in the dark
towards his feelings for her. And you are too proud to tell her, aren't you
Aoshi?
"Shinoromi? Were you listening?" Misao asks, briging him out of his
thoughts.
"Hai. You said you wanted to go home." Aoshi states harshly.
"You don't have to take me you know. I can walk. It isn't that far." Misao
says, trying to put as much distance between them as possible. I don't see
why he is so upset with me. He is the one that wouldn't answer my question.
And insulted me.
"Baka. I am not going to let you walk home at night, by yourself!" Aoshi
states.
"Why not? This isn't the stone ages. I don't need you to protect me.
Mah....next you'll be throwing me over your shoulder and dragging me off to
your cave!" Misao snaps.
"Look Makimachi! I am not going to argue with you! You are not
walking.........Oy.....Makimachi? Matte!!!!!"
Misao doesn't look back as she crosses the street to begin her walk home.
Aoshi curses under his breath and rushes to his car. He orders the driver to
follow Misao and makes him aware that his job security was at stake,
depending on him keeping up with her. Aoshi rolls down the window and
attempts reasoning.
"Why are you being so stubborn? Come on, it's cold out. Get in!"
"Ie. I like the cold thank you very much." Misao says stubbornly. Truth be
known, she was very cold. But she wasn't about to let Aoshi know it.
"You aren't being reasonable."
"So what!" Misao says matter of factly.
Aoshi says nothing else as she walks on and he follows her in the car. He
notices her clenching her teeth and the way she hugs her body, supressing
the shivers.Aoshi decides that he has to get her inside the car she was
going to make herself sick.
"Makimachi, How selfish you are!" Aoshi states.
"Eh?" Misao asks through clenched teeth.
"You're selfish! Here you are walking in this cold weather at night,
probably catching your death of cold. Without any regard to how your poor
grandfather is going to feel."
"How Jiya will feel?" Misao asks, stopping in her tracks.
"Hai. If you get sick than not only does he have to worry about working in
that cheap restaraunt that you insist on working on. But he'll also have to
contend with a sick granddaughter as well." Aoshi says, realizng how dirty
the comment was. He didn't like using her grandfather to make her feel
guilty but he really wanted her out of this cold.
Misao sighed. She hated to admit it, but the jerk had a point. "Hai Hai. I
am only agreeing to this for Jiya's sake. It has nothing to do with you."
Misao says, as Aoshi slides over to let her in. Once she was seated, he
ordered the driver to pick up speed as a precaution. He didn't want Misao
jumping out suddenly.
The rest of the car trip was spent in silence and when the reached Misao's
apartment, she jumped out without a word to Aoshi. But she didn't make to
leave. Instead, she stood motionless, as if she were waiting for something.
"Makimachi?" Aoshi prompted, stepping out of the car behind her.
"Shinomori.......I just wanted to say...Gomen ne. I know I acted a little
childish. Demo, Kaoru-san is my best tomadachi and I love her. Himura seems
to be showing some interest in her and I know she more than likes him. I
just don't want anything to hurt her. And when I saw the way you two looked
at each other....I knew there may be some problems somewhere down the line.
And I don't want Kaoru-san caught in the middle." Misao says hurriedly. She
didn't know why she told him, but something about him made her want to pour
her heart out. Maybe it had something to do with how kind he had been to her
recently. This demonstrated to her that he wanted to have a real friendship
with her. Possibly even end the rivalry between them. But friendship, along
with every other relationship was centered around trust. And that was
something they were far from establishing.
Aoshi folded his arms and thought about what she said. "Have patience,
Makimachi. I will tell you everything you want to know about me and Himura.
Just not now."
"Why not now?" Misao snapped. She hadn't meant to but he was really getting
to her with all the secrets.
"Because. I haven't figured out everything myself. A part of me blames him
for what happened. But there is another part of me, Makimachi. One that few
people have ever seen. The one that allows me to feel things. It is that
part of me that causes me to blame myself." Aoshi explains with a distant
look in his eyes.
Misao was taken aback by his blunt confession. "Shinomori......."
"Be patient." Aoshi repeats sternly.
Misao nodds. She was about to go in but turns around. "Shinomori?"
"Hai?"
"Thanks again for convincing me to ride home. I think I may have caught a
cold anyway though. But still, it was very considerate of you. You better
stop it...you do have that "Cold, uncaring image to hold up. " She says
jokingly.
"I doubt it is in any danger. And if it ever looks like it may be.....I'll
just trasj your locker again." Aoshi says wickedly. Misao shoots him an
evil glare and Aoshi holds up his hands in surrender.
"Oyasumi, Shinoromi." Misao says over her shoulder, as she runs up the
steps of the restaurant.
"Oyasumi, Makimachi." Aoshi calls up to her. He waits until she gets inside,
before turning to leave.
-Inside-
"Tadaima" Misao calls out, exchanging her shoes for slippers at the door.
"Irrashiae Misao-chan." Jiya says from the living room.
"Has anything interesting happened while I was away?" Misao asks, jumping
down on the couch.
"Well, Sinji asked Keiko to marry him and she said she would. This is a
shock since we all know she really loves Kakeru. But Kakeru is in love with
Toshi. But he must deny his homosexual feelings in order to save face for
his wealthy and influential family. Sharon is the foreign exchange student
living with Haruka and Aya. She claims to be studying to be a doctor but
she is really a first rate geisha with an addiction to heroine. And this
leads us to Madosa. He and Momiji have been shacking up. Unfortunately,
Momiji believes she has a twin, which is really her other personality. So
Kaede( her other self) kills Madosa after a heated argument. But when Momiji
comes to the next morning, she doesn't recall a thing." Jiya says in one
breath.
Misao stares, mouth hung open. She has been rendered speechless by this.
She looked around for an empty sake bottle. "Jiya? Who are all these
people?"
"Well......"
"Matte. Let me guess. You taped your soap operas again?" Misao says with a
relieved sigh.
"Ie."
"Ie?" Misao asked suprised.
"These are all customers at the hair salon I go to." Jiya says proudly.
"Ano......and you are friends with these people?" Misao asks, dumbfounded.
"Hai." Jiya states simply.
"I see." Misao says, getting up from the couch and walking away from Jiya.
"Misao-chan? Where are you going?" Jiya asks.
"Nowhere in particular. I just figured that I would go and off myself now.
Maybe hang myself with the shower curtain." Misao answers.
"Okay. Just don't stay in so long and please, whatever happens....."
"Hai?"
"Don't use all of the hot water." Jiya adds with a smile.
Misao falls out (Another wonderful Kenshin moment).
-Megumi's House-
Megumi sits on her bead, brushing her hair for the millionth time. She had
been so upset when Misao had taken off with her Aoshi, that she had
neglected to paint her nails nor go shopping for matching shoes and purses
for each one of her outfits. And most importantly of all, she wasn't able to
get Aoshi over to baptize her father's new jacuzzi.
"Damn her! Makimachi thinks that she can just come in and wrap Shinoromi
around her little finger. Who the hell does she think she is. She is nothing
compared to me! A damn rat....that's what she is!" Megumi says, throwing her
pillow roughly onto her bed. Suddenly a smile appears on her face. "And like
all rats....they must be exterminated!"
Megumi picks up the phone and dials a number.
"Moshi Moshi"
" It's me. I hope you aren't busy!"
"For you...never!"
"Glad to hear it. I need a favor!"
"All you have to do is name it, Megumi."
Megumi smiles. "Yes Makimachi.....you are a rat and I have the perfect
trap for you. All I need is the right cheese."
TBC
