Timeless Tale- Scene I

DISCLAIMER: I don't own RK, but I love it to bits and pieces!

A/N: I wrote this quite a while ago and finally got around to actually uploading it! I hope it's still enjoyable all the same! (This story is a bit different from my usual style -I think-) The next two parts have also been done, I hope you will look forward to those!

10...9...8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1...ACTION!

There was a buzz throughout Meiji High School as people left the school to make their way home. They were all going in different directions but the same topic was being discussed by all the students. The next day would be the auditions for the school play! This was the most anticipated event of the entire school year! And it was finally here!

The play this year would be "The Legendary Hitokiri"! One of the most famous folk stories in the history of their country!

"C'mon Kaoru! You HAVE to try out for the damsel!You're perfect for the role!"

"Uhhhhh... I don't know Misao! I've never been much into acting..." Kaoru blushed as she brushed the black curtains off of her face. Her words sounded reluctant but her glowing blue eyes showed the excitement that swept over her as she considered trying out for the play.

"KAORU! GO FOR IT GO FOR IT GO FOR IT!"

"Misao! Are you trying to encourage Kaoru to chase after another victim of her affection? How many times do I have to tell you that the little raccoon is too manly? Oh ho ho ho ho!" The school doctor's assistant, Takani Megumi laughed maniacally as she passed by them on her way to the parking lot.

The two friends were sitting on the limbs of the big tree next to the steps of the entrance. This was where they would always sit after school. While everyone else lived near their friends these two lived very far away. Kaoru lived ALL the way on Tokyo Street and Misao lived across town on Kyoto Avenue!

Kaoru burned up! That stuck up assistant of Dr. Genzai! "At least I'm not 22 and SINGLE!"

Megumi whirled around. They really did look immature with their fiery eyes and tongues sticking out at each other.

Suddenly Misao jumped off of her limb landing softly on the ground. "AOSHI-SAMA!"

Her old martial arts trainer and long-time object of her affection looked unphased (as usual) as she danced around him talking nonsense (as usual).

Kaoru sighed. When Misao saw Aoshi, Kaoru knew that meant it was time to go home. There was no way she could drag Misao away when her eyes turned into hearts!

During that time Megumi was still there but she was preoccupied with the home economics teacher, Himura Kenshin. Though he was such a push over he let anyone call him whatever they pleased. Kaoru called him Himura-san (she was the only one).

Megumi had switched her immature face with one of poise as she saw him come from the doors of the building. Kaoru could only stare as he made his way down the steps toward Megumi. He was so HOT!

It was no wonder every single girl in school thought the same way. He had long fiery red hair that only he could pull off. Next were his gorgeous violet eyes that could turn amber if anyone got him angry, which was very very very very very very rare, but still very very very very very very very hot. Some people tried to get him angry on purpose just to set off those sexy eyes! He was well-built to boot! There were rumors that he used to practice kenjutsu in his younger days. Himura-san also had the mysterious thing going on too! (The perfect guy ain't he!) The cross scar on his left cheek had people guessing for days until they gave up because he simply wouldn't say a word.

Kaoru was helplessly gazing at him from the tree unable to move. Too bad he was a teacher! She always looked with hope to that fact that he wasn't too old. Only 28. But still, a TEACHER. She took a deep breath. And then she choked as she saw Megumi trace her finger along Himura-san's navy blue shirt. Kaoru could see the sweat beads form on his face. Megumi saw them too, which made her move in closer. Kaoru couldn't stop coughing! Who said deep breaths help? This one was choking her to tears!

She put her hand to her throat and reached for the limb next to her. Except, whoops, there was no limb there! She tottered to one side and fell off the branch... she couldn't even scream her throat was still caught with coughs. She didn't even have time to think from the time it took her to fall...

... into the arms of Himura-san. Kaoru didn't know how he had gotten there so quickly but she was very glad! She saw Megumi a little bit away tracing a finger along an imaginary shirt. Kaoru's eyes went wide as she realized just how fast he had moved to catch her! Megumi hadn't even noticed yet!

Her blue eyes looked up at him. Their eyes met through his shock of red hair. She was so lost in his eyes she didn't even realize her coughing fit was over and she was able to breathe again.

"HEY! ARE YOU GOING TO BRING HER OVER THE THRESHOLD OR WHAT!" The school delinquent, Sagara Sanosuke guffawed crazily.

Kenshin and Kaoru both realized at the same time how they were positioned. It was like a groom carrying his bride! Megumi had by this time realized Kenshin was elsewhere and when she saw him carrying Kaoru with them both blushing, she was furious! When she heard Sanosuke's comment her anger grew. The tomboyish raccoon had cut in on her flirting time with Ken-san!

Sano, being his oafish self, didn't know when to stop. "Soooo... Kenshin when did you get so friendly with your students? Maybe I should be careful around you too! HAHAHAHHA!" He was laughing so hard he was caught off guard when Megumi smacked his head from behind.

"Stop insinuating they are more than student and teacher! Ken-san is MINE!"

"Doesn't look that way..." Sano snickered.

"And just what would Mr. Held Back Twice know about anything!"

"OIII! That's getting personal! F-!"

Sano's obscene sentence was never finished since the school security officer, Saitoh walked by. Saitoh had it in for Sano, he was always trying to catch him for anything. The man with the spider hair stared down at Sano. "And just what were you going to say to your school's doctor?"

"She's only an assistant to the doctor."

"Don't get smart with me, chicken. What were you starting to say to her? First letter 'F', I can only guess. If my guess is right, then this is grounds for suspension."

"Um.. I was.. Uh.. I was.. Oh! I was just gonna call her by her nickname... Fox Lady . Yea, that's it. Ha ha. Yup!"

Saitoh was bummed that he couldn't punish Sano, he couldn't do anything to prove Sano was lying, since her nickname WAS Fox Lady.

Meanwhile Kenshin clumsily put Kaoru down on her feet. She mumbled a thank-you.

Kaoru began to say goodbye and walk away when she felt her feet buckle beneath her. It was apparent she still hadn't recovered from her fall. Once again Kenshin was there to help her before she fell flat on her face. She smiled weakly. She tried to get up again but his arms held onto her and she couldn't break free. And secretly she didn't want to! She looked up at him in question and he simply said "Please sit for awhile Miss Kaoru. You need to rest." He placed her on the grass and was explaining the irate Fox Lady what had happened. She calmed down considerably and made a kissy face at him before she sauntered off to the parking lot.

Kenshin talked sternly with Sanosuke about being careful with his words, while Kaoru was left sitting in the grass. She was staring blankly at the patches of green around her thinking about what had just happened.

Sanosuke shrugged and then grinned at the shorter man scolding him. He patted Kenshin on the back while laughing and then just up and left. Kenshin was staring after him when he remembered Kaoru. He ran back over to her and told her he would accompany her home.

"Oh no! It's alright, really! You saved me from being splattered everywhere, you did enough!"

"I insist, Kaoru-dono"

There was something she loved about the way he said her name. She remembered what her father used to say about listening to teachers, so she complied. Kaoru started in the direction of the parking lot when she noticed Kenshin was heading in the other direction.

"Kaoru-dono, where are you going?"

"The parking lot...?"

Kenshin suddenly turned very red and looked at the ground. "Um.. I am terribly sorry but I don't.. have .. a ..."

"No car? You're a grown up aren't you?"

He just laughed and scratched his head. Kaoru felt bad and pretended her outburst was a joke. As they walked toward the street she remembered her bag was still in the tree.

"Oh no! I need my bag! I need to go get it!"

"Kaoru-dono! I cannot let you go back in the tree so soon. You're still not recovered."

One look at her face and he sensed how crushed she was. "I'll get it for you."

She looked up in surprise. "You will? Will you be okay? I mean, do you have back problems or anything?"

He began to laugh, "I'm not that old am I Kaoru-dono?"

She remembered when she had been thinking that before and looked down at the ground flustered. And then she began to wonder how he was going to get into the tree. It had always been easy for Misao and her since they both trained (martial arts and kenjutsu), but how would a 28 year old home ec teacher get into the tree?

He winked at her and said, "Remember, this never happened, okay?"

Kaoru's eyes went wide with disbelief as Kenshin shot up the highest branch in one jump, grabbed her bag, and came down as if nothing had happened. Wordlessly he began to walk toward the street, and she followed in suit. "Is there something special in your bag?"

"Oh.. " she looked to the ground too embarrassed to say.

"It's alright, you don't need to tell me."

"Oh, no. It's just... I have the script for the school play. I'm trying out for a part tomorrow."

"That's great! What part?"

The red in her face deepened as she mumbled her answer.

"Hmm?" He leaned his ear in.

"The female lead..."

"Hmm?" He leaned in closer.

She was tired of saying it over and over. Geez, he's not that old, but he has pretty bad hearing!

"THE FEMALE LEAD!"

"Oro!"

She stomped off, and then turned around. "Are you coming or what!"

"Yes Kaoru-dono!"

They sure don't act like student and teacher do they?

They arrived at her house. Well, more accurately, where she lived. It had been a boarding house/dojo that taught kenjutsu. The institution had been owned by her father until he died. The property was left to her but since she was still 17 she had to wait until she became a legal adult. It was a known fact that she ran it but that the deed was just in the name of an adult. (The adult being the school doctor, Dr. Genzai). It used to be filled with boarders/students until her father died. Now it only had 2 students, her and Yahiko. A former street pick pocket she had pretty much adopted.

She turned at the step and invited him in. Kenshin politely declined. "Thank you again Himura-san. I am really very grateful."

Kenshin shook his head. "It was nothing, really. Well I must be going now, it's getting late."

Kaoru took her bag as he handed it to her. She turned to go inside the gate when she heard him say "Good luck with your audition. You will make a great leading lady, ... Kaoru-dono."

He did a little bow. She flashed a smile and closed the door to the gate. She heard his feet shuffle away. "YOOOOOOSHHHHHHHHHIIIIII! Kaoru! GANBAREEEEEE!"

She ran into the house and began to rehearse until it was time to go to bed.

Scene... CUT!

I hope you liked it! J'espère que tout le monde l'aime!