Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ To Prove You Wrong ❯ A New Friend ( Chapter 1 )

To Prove You Wrong

By: EvilNekoEatsYourSoul

Author's note: Hello! This is my first Rurouni Kenshin fanfic, I noticed there aren't too many of them compared to some other animes… and I just love Kenshin so… yup. I don't read the manga… I've only watched the anime, I don't know whether or not that will have an effect on my story since I just started writing it. Hopefully not, but you never know… Anyways, please read and review. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1: A New Friend

~*~

Their bodies were pressed close together, one of his strong arms held her around the waist while his other hand placed a gentle yet firm pressure on the back of her neck. Her eyelids were half closed in anticipation as she watched his lips nearing her own. She felt his nose brush against hers as their lips made the barest of contact, just a whisper of a touch.

"Kaour-dono…" When he whispered her name their lips came into full contact and she couldn't help but tangle her hands in his fiery mane and deepen the kiss.

When he pulled away a smile was upon his lips and his hands were against her cheeks, framing her face. She felt heat rush to her face and she looked away to try and hide the blush that now stained her cheeks. His lips parted to speak, and she was sure he would utter the words she had been waiting for, for three years now.

"Oi, busu, it's time for my lessons!"

Kamiya Kaouru almost fell on her face from where she stood watching Kenshin do the laundry as her daydreaming was interrupted. Her blush was soon covered by her anger as she turned to Yahiko.

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!?!" she bellowed, shinai in hand.

"Busu! Busu! Busu!" chanted the young swordsman as he ran around the dojo, dodging his teacher's attacks.

Kenshin watched the scene with a content smile on his face until he sensed an unfamiliar presence at the dojo's gate. The yelling and cursing ended abruptly as someone called from the gate.

"Kamiya-san?" Kenshin turned to the unfamiliar voice while Kaoru hurried over to greet the visitor.

"Oh, it's you Toshiro-san!" Kaoru smiled and bowed politely.

"Please come inside, would you like a cup of tea?"

The stranger shook his head and followed her to the dojo as they made polite conversation.

"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin stood next to the hanging laundry watching the man curiously.

"Gomen nasai! How rude of me, I almost forgot. Toshiro-san this is Himura Kenshin" the former hitokiri bowed in greeting. Kaoru went to stand next to the red haired swordsman as she retold the story of her meeting with Toshiro-san.

"Well, when I went to visit Tae at the Akabeko yesterday she was having some problems with a few men who had drank too much sake. But luckily Sano was there and he and I were able to get them out before any real damage was done. After I was done talking to Tae I headed home but found that some of those guys were following me so I turned to confront them… but I had forgotten my shinai at the Akabeko… and well I was wearing a kimono… and they are awfully uncomfortable to fight in…"

"-But she did wonderfully holding them off, she is quite skilled for such a beautiful woman." Toshiro-san interrupted. There was a light blush on Kaoru's cheeks as she continued.

"It all ended fine, since Toshiro-san came to my rescue."

Kenshin looked at Kaoru sternly, his voice filled with disapproval.

"Kaoru-dono why did you not tell sessha you had been in danger, de gozaru ka?"

She looked like a guilty child, fidgeting and twisting her kimono sleeves in her hands, eyes looking down at her feet.

"Well, I…"

Once again, their visitor interrupted the moment by speaking.

"I'm sure she meant no harm Himura-san, she probably just didn't want to worry you."

Kaoru lifted her head, letting her deep blue gaze meet Kenshin's violet eyes. She nodded affirming what the younger man had said. The way she looked at him made him feel guilty, in truth he was just worried about her safety. That and… he couldn't find it in him to trust the smiling young man in front of him. Something just didn't seem right. In appearance he wasn't very daunting, about a head taller then Kaoru with deep brown eyes and short cropped black hair. The way his eyes lingered on Kaoru also had Kenshin feeling uneasy. Pushing those thoughts aside he turned back to the young keno instructor.

"Kaoru-dono, sessha would rather worry over nothing then let you be hurt. Sessha will accompany you to the clinic this afternoon de gozaru yo.

"- But, I wasn't going to the clinic today," said a confused looking Kaoru.

"Sessha would just like to make sure you are not hurt Kaoru-dono."

The young woman crossed her arms over her chest and turned away, pouting.

"Just a few stupid bruises… It's not like I'm a baby…I've lived through worse… Besides, don't you have laundry to do?"

Toshiro was laughing nervously, scratching the back of his head as he looked between Kenshin and Kaoru.

"The laundry can wait." There was a bit of steel behind Kenshin's usually placid voice.

"If you'd like Himura-san, I could escort Kaoru-san to the clinic so that you may finish your chores." The young man looked like an eager puppy with shining eyes and a grin. All he needed was a tail. It did nothing to ease Kenshin's mind.

"No, thank you. That is quite unnecessary, I am capable of escorting Kaoru-dono to the clinic and doing the laundry later today."

Kaoru was stunned; it was the closest Kenshin had ever come to being rude. His voice was crisp and held a tint of sarcasm to it. She started to wonder what had put him in such a bad mood. Toshiro looked a bit hurt by the red-haired samurai's tone.

"Gomen nasai Himura-san, I was only trying to help…"

Kenshin frowned a bit, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. `Why am I being so rude? He did help Kaoru-dono, I owe him for that if nothing else.' He smiled sheepishly.

"No, please forgive me Toshiro-san I did not mean to be rude, de gozaru yo. I just worry about Kaoru-dono sometimes. If you would take her to the clinic I would be most grateful."

"Hai, I'd be more then happy to! Let's go now Kaoru-san, then I'll treat us to lunch at the Akabeko."

Kenshin smiled to himself as Kaoru and her new friend left.

`How silly of me,' he thought, `why am I being so jealous all of a sudden? I should be more trusting of Kaoru-dono and stop being so suspicious. It's just…she's so trusting, she let me stay here after only a day of knowing me.'

He sighed, "If I'm going to trust Kaoru-dono then I should also trust in her judgment of people as well, and she seemed to trust Toshiro-san."

Still, he couldn't help looking nervously over his shoulder as the two figures walked away from the dojo.

~*~

"You should really be more careful Tanuki."

Kaoru shrugged at Megumi's teasing, she had gotten used to the nickname a long time ago. But Megumi was reluctant to give up her insulting without getting a reaction from the younger woman.

"What, did you get all these bruises from another cooking mishap?"

Still nothing, Kaoru just looked away from the female doctor seemingly oblivious to the way her bruises were being poked unnecessarily.

"So, Kaoru… who is that young man who brought you here? Have you finally decided to give up and let me have Ken-san? Though, he doesn't come anywhere near to Ken-san I can see why you'd be attracted to him. Personally, I-"

Megumi was interrupted by a loud growl that came from a now, very angry Kaoru.

"You leave Kenshin alone!"

"Oh, hohohohohoho" said kitsune Megume, fox ears present as she laughed at Kaoru's evil glare. Her laughing stopped abruptly as she saw Kaoru wince, noting how the younger woman placed a hand gently to her side.

"Let me see that Tanuki."

It wasn't much of a wound really. It was hidden beneath the bandages binding the young sword-woman's breasts. A deep scratch on her left side, near her ribs. It should have been sewn up and cleaned thoroughly the previous day. But of course, tanuki girl was such a baka she had kept it hidden. A very un-lady like snort was heard from the doctor.

"It needs to be stitched up and cleaned. Baka! You should have come to me immediately yesterday. It doesn't take long for infection to set in."

Kaoru shrugged and tried not to wince as the wound was being cleaned.

"I didn't want Kenshin to worry."

"Baka," this time the insult came a bit more gently, perhaps even affectionately.

Both women sighed and their eyes met. A silent agreement was made, neither would tell Kenshin of the damage done, in any case it wasn't at all life threatening and would heal quickly once Megumi was through.

"It wouldn't be worth the stress it would put him through, knowing his Kaoru-dono was hurt," muttered Megumi under her breath.

Kaoru pretended not to hear Megumi's last comment as she began to tell Megumi how she had acquired her injuries.

~*~

Lunch was going well with polite conversation and delicious food. Toshiro had just begun telling Kaoru about his trip to America when a shout came from the door of the Akabeko.

"Oi, Jou-chan!"

Sanosuke walked towards their table, grin and fish-bone in place as he neared them.

"For a second I thought this skinny guy here was Kenshin and that you two were having lunch here without me. I was about to get angry. But seeing as how you're on a date, I guess I shouldn't bother you."

Kaoru managed to blush furiously and glare dangerously at Sano at the same time. Her companion laughed sheepishly and put his hand behind his head nervously. It was becoming a habit when he was around Kaoru-san.

As the ex-gangster started to leave he stopped half-turn and narrowed his eyes at Toshiro.

"Make sure you behave yourself around Jou-chan because if you make one move on her I'll kick you're a-"

"Sanosuke!" shouted Kaoru, the tall fighter just smiled and started to walk away, throwing one more line behind him.

"It won't be just me either, you'll have to deal with Kenshin and Yahiko as well."

With that, the man formerly known as Zanza left the Akabeko leaving a very embarrassed Kaoru with a very nervous young man.

~*~

"Yahiko is my very annoying, rude, bratty student." Explained the blue-eyed kenjutsu instructor as she and Toshiro walked towards the dojo. (Somewhere near the river practicing his swings, Yahiko sneezed).

Toshiro nodded in response and they walked on in silence for a few minutes before Kaoru spoke.

"So, you learned how to sword fight in America?"

He smiled and nodded, happy that she showed an interest in him.

"Hai, it's called fencing. As you saw the other day, it's not just a different style, but also a different type of sword…"

The conversation carried on until they reached the dojo gates where Kenshin and Sanosuke stood talking.

"But I'm telling you jou-chan was-"

"Hello, Kaoru-dono, Toshiro-san" Kenshin effectively interrupted Sanosuke as he greeted the two.

Toshiro smiled kindly and bowed in greeting.

"Konnichiwa, Himura-san."

Before anyone else could say anything it was Sanosuke's turn to interrupt.

"So, jou-chan, who is this guy anyways?" he asked, looking over at Toshiro who gave yet another nervous laugh.

For the third time that day Kaoru explained that happenings of the previous day that had led to her meeting with Toshiro. Sanosuke wasn't any happier then Kenshin had been.

"So where are they now? If they're not in jail I'm going to find them and beat the sh-"

"Oi! Busu, what's up?" yelled Yahiko, running to meet the group standing before the dojo gate.

Sanosuke grunted; he hated being interrupted.

"None of your concern Yahiko-chan. This is a grown-up conversation."

"Don't call me -chan!" growled the young swordsman before chewing on Sano's head.

There was laughter all around, but soon after they noticed that the sun was beginning to set and dinner still needed to be cooked. So, Kaoru and the others said their good-byes to Toshiro and headed into the dojo to start on dinner. Except for Sanosuke, who was suddenly having a backache, while Yahiko was busy convincing Kaoru that her help in the kitchen was unnecessary.

The rest of the night went smoothly with no mishaps except for a spilled pot of tea which Kaoru knocked over while standing to tell Megumi to stop touching Kenshin. Luckily for Sanosuke, the hot tea fell on him and gave him an excuse to seek the pretty doctor's help. Everyone slept easily that night except for Kenshin. He couldn't help but think about the fact that today had been the first day in a long time that a certain blue-eyed kenjutsu instructor hadn't eaten lunch with him.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's note: Still here? I know this chapter was a bit slow, but the next one should be more interesting and I'll try to get it up a.s.a.p… I don't expect this fic to be too long, probably not more then five or six chapters. (but with me you never know, I have a habit of getting carried away with my plots…) I'm contemplating putting a lemon in the story, I'm not sure yet… why don't you review and tell me what you think? ^_^