Of Roses, Scent And Rain

STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLY: I ABSOLUTELY DON'T own any of the characters from Rurouni Kenshin. And I DON'T make money out of this. This is for entertainment purposes only.


Chapter 11





Kokoro ran quickly towards the restaurant while some of her

belongings continue to drop. But she still manages to get those

things for the fear of leaving evidences of her presence. Her mind

couldn't think straight and eager to get home. As she picked up her

last belonging, she's managing to organize her things in single

handling then met Saiyo along the way as she appeared.



"Ohayo Kokoro-chan. What seems to be the rush?" She looked at her

fallen possessions. "How come you haven't taken your training to

Sensei Shinomori? Is there any emergency you have to go?"



Kokoro ceased and breathed large amount of fresh air. She moved

towards Saiyo while dragging her half-zipped shoulder

bag. "Emergency? Well…..Yes, there is." Her eyes narrowed as she

stared exhaustedly at her and looked back at the way she had gone

through. "I have to go. I am, badly need home. Thanks for the

acquaintance." Then she winked at her.



"Does Master Shinomori know about this?" Saiyo asked.



Kokoro grabbed her bag, putting it to her sturdy right

shoulder. "Don't worry. He does." She quickly passed through Saiyo as

she wiped her tearing sweat from her forehead by her arm.



As she makes a grand exit towards the gate, Saiyo called her

back. "Kokoro-chan,"



But she continues to walk though she heard Saiyo's summon. "Nani? I

got to hurry."



"You got cobwebs all over your back. Maybe you should have to clean

it away before you leave in order for you not to catch much attention

on the public." Saiyo yelled.



Kokoro stopped and aimlessly peeped at her back. "There is? Oh." She

patted her back and suddenly got alarmed by sensing someone's

presence. "Got to go. Thanks for remaindering me, Saiyo-san, but

lately, I kind of need one to keep myself going. Bye!" In a flash,

she ran across the street and disappeared to Saiyo's sight.



"Come back soon!" Saiyo yelled and went inside the restaurant.



*******

After so many runnings she made away from Aoiya, she finally arrived

at her sweet home. Kokoro was overwhelmed on seeing her refuge from

the humiliation she might have after doing that impetuous act. Never

again she will listen to other's conversation, especially at her

sensei. It is still hard to perceive that her sensei is involved at

such unimaginable circumstances. She felt very sorry for him. She

felt the guilt on knowing those things that she shouldn't have known.



Upon reaching the door of their Cyber Café, her elder sister Omasu

surprisingly greeted and welcomed her, leaving Kokoro a bit shocked.



"Ohayo, Kokoro-chan. Why, you are too earlier to get back from your

training at school. What happened?" Omasu asked.



"Well….," she instantly, at the back of her mind, looked for a

suitable answer for her excuse and she found a good one, "Well, it's

cancelled." She said with full irritations. "My hands are clean and I

have nothing to do with it. I have no choice but to follow his naive

decisions and that's it." She stopped from nagging then revered the

other truth. "He has an unexpected meeting to attend to." She smiled

widely.



Omasu looked at her eyes to see if she's telling the truth but Okon,

their other sister, deliberately interrupted. "Hey guys, wait a

minute!" She looked at Omasu. "Can't you see, there is someone here

waiting for Kokoro?!" Okon continues to wipe the counter clean.



"Oh yeah, I forgot!" Omasu grabbed Kokoro's hand and made her walked

with her towards one of the café's table. "I was about to tell him

that you are not here a while ago when unexpectedly, you showed up. A

friend of yours, a young man, tries to acknowledge to us that you had

known him at the park last night, is that true?" She whispered to

Kokoro's ear.



"Park? Oh yes! I know him. So, is he here?"



"Obviously yes." She smiled at her.



A young man stood up at the far end corner of the café, waving his

shy hand, with eyes smiling, towards the two pretty ladies. "Hi

Kokoro-san."



The two had arrived at the young man's place. Omasu left Kokoro to

him in order for them to have a chat.



"So," Kokoro started, "you've met my sisters. How nice." She smiled,

feeling a bit uneasy.



The man offered her a seat. He continues to smile and stare at

Kokoro.



"Is there something wrong in my face, Soujiro?" Kokoro forwarded her

face to the young silenced man.



Soujiro snapped from his gazing and deliberately laughed. "Sorry for

my rudeness, Kokoro-san. I just can't stop feeling happy when this

kind of moment comes around."



Kokoro blushed as she watches the young man laughed gently with all

his heart, without making her aggravated but afterwards, she declined

the attention. Soujiro suddenly stopped from laughing as he realized

the lady beside him didn't reacted much on his charm.



"It seems my charm doesn't work too well today." Soujiro

sarcastically spoke but he never intended to spoil their fresh

conversation. "My lady, what seems to be bothering you?" He quickly

held her creamy hand, brushing his fingertips to its smooth surface.



Feeling such guilt, Kokoro, though the young man, Soujiro, showed

upon immense concern didn't bother to answer him back at once. She

continues to think the incident happened earlier. Such tragic to have

that kind of ordeal. Such lonely her Sensei Shinomori has been going

through. Suddenly, she ceased from thinking about it. Something came

on her mind, from the conversation she heard earlier from them about

a certain organization they are having. It just popped out on her

mind, puzzling. Sensei Shinomori is currently leading some kind of an

underground organization. She mumbled bluntly, "You are full of

secrets, Shinomori. What is it you with that made me interest of you

more?"



Soujiro noticed her absence of thought. He shook her hand mildly as

he probed to her eyes, seeing if she's fine. "Kokoro-chan,"



"What?" She instantly snapped and looked directly to his gorgeous

subtle eyes, so close that made her heart pumped fast a bit. "What?"



They stared each other long enough for them to realize what they're

doing. Kokoro moved away from his view while he smiled, with his

sweet lips and glowing eyes. Her heart pumped fast. Having this kind

of moment is somewhat familiar to her but to whom…..to Aoshi, perhaps.



To break the silence, Soujiro invited Kokoro for a walk to the

park. "Care to walk with me outside, to feel the freshness of today's

aura? By that, we could further know each other's life and thoughts."



"And why is that?" She raised her guards. "We've already done that

last night, right?"



"Well, forgive me again from my impoliteness, I just can't help

thinking that there are more of us that needs to be unfold. You

know," Soujiro glanced at the glass window of the Cyber café, viewing

the children playing mindlessly on the busy street. "What I mean."



"Why do you have to know me better?"



"Well," Soujiro stopped from telling things that might further reveal

his real intentions. "I guess…."



"Guess, what?" Kokoro stretched her arms upward.



He smiled. "Do I have to tell you all, Kokoro?" He blushed, looking

straight to her cerulean eyes.



Again, her heart pumped fast. Kokoro stood up after stretching and

upon hearing his last statement. "But why I feel such disturbances to

my heart?" She whispered to herself. "Why to him? Why to

Soujiro?.....And why to Aoshi?" Then she chuckled.



"Is there something wrong from what I've just said, Kokoro?" He got

immediately alarmed.



"Oh, its nothing." Kokoro gave her hand to Soujiro, accepting his

offer.



"I know it seems too fast for things such as this…. but my intentions

are clean." Soujiro spoke with full seriousness to the topic.



"Intentions?" Kokoro is beginning to get confused. "Are you? Are you

making your move to me?" She sloughed at her chair then crossed her

arms.



"What do you think?" Soujiro smiled even more, making her heart melt

as she sees the beautiful sight.



Kokoro straightened her body after hearing what he had just said. "I

don't know. You tell me." She said lowly.



"What if I tell you that I want our relationship to be more than the

usual stuff, more like special? What does it imply to you?"



"I don't know." Her heart beats faster. No one from her past suitors

made this to her but with a little difference with the other one she

had in her heart recently. "I guess…Heck!" She shoved the chair a bit

far away from their table. "I don't have time for this. I don't like

this. I don't even know you so well. You're giving me the creeps, so

stop this non-sense. Forgive me." Still, her heart beats

maniacally. "And besides, I have someone in mind…in my heart now,"

She mumbled then blushed.



"What? What are you talking about?" Soujiro surprisingly asked her.



A moment of silence drew upon them. Soujiro broke it, asking her

again for the walk outside. "Kokoro, do you care to walk with me

outside? I have something to show you."



He got her interest again but not at the same level as before. "Ha?"



"Would you? Please. It will brighten my day to see you smile just

like yesterday. You promised." Soujiro insisted then continued. "But

you seem so disturbed. Not much that I expected of you today, far

from the one I have befriended with last night."



Without any hesitation, he stood up and grabbed her sweet hands, now,

walking towards the entrance of the establishment's door with her.



"Okey but I'll be back in the afternoon!" Kokoro said to him as the

people inside doesn't care much of it. She cut the issue before

things get any warmer.



*******



Closing the door, starting to walk to the busy street, Kokoro and

Soujiro have their way toward the city's park. But little do they

know, someone is quietly watching every move they take.



Dark alley, behind the concrete line post, a man stood by, watching

each of the couple actions as they walked towards the park. Kokoro

felt the energy of uneasiness, giving a feeling that they were being

watched by someone, but she never give away to it.



"Is there something wrong?" Soujiro asked, starting to make his moves

to induce himself to her by holding her hand while walking.



"Nnno." She said without any knowing of his romantic attempt.



Soujiro viewed Kokoro's face, now soothingly than before. "Kokoro,"



"Huh?" She said, looking to his eyes.



Soujiro slowly made his through to Kokoro. He slipped his smooth

hands to hers with a little feeling troubling him that she might

reject him. Kokoro was stunned at first but eventually liked the

feeling of being touch by someone this way. Holding her hands,

unafraid of being noticed by the public, well, she guessed that

there's no big problem for that. But another sense tells her that he

is being too arrogant, too fast for this. Her defense mechanism moved

in. She shoved away his gentle hands, crossing her arms to avoid

another one of his attempt.



"Sorry if I…" Soujiro spoke lowly.



"No problem. Just forget it." Kokoro responded, turning away her view

from his side. There is something made her looked back, particularly

from the dark alley. Strange as it is, she frowned and shook her head

then went back to her proper view at front.



The shadow from the dark alley disappeared suddenly. To where?



Two blocks away from the city's park, Soujiro suddenly spoke with a

little hesitation.



"Kokoro…"



"Yes, Soujiro-san." Kokoro smiled.



"Well," Soujiro rubbed his neck, feeling more uneasiness. "I usually

don't act like this, actually."



Kokoro just kept on listening.



"What the heck." He sighed. "I'm happy that you came with me."



"So do I but," Kokoro spoke back.



"But what?"



Both stopped at the traffic light, waiting for the light to turn red.

Both people didn't react, also waiting for each of their things to

say. Eventually, the red light was signaled, and then came the people

walking in the pedestrian lane. They entered the park, still silent.



Kokoro saw an occupied bench and went there. She sat at it, moved so

that Soujiro could sit also.



Soujiro sat beside her, still looking forward for her ceased

reasoning a while ago.



Birds started to chirped. Lovely songs of nature flew by just to

entertain those who are blest to catch its meanings.



"Soujiro," Kokoro brushed her bangs away from her eyes. "I would like

to be your friend."



Soujiro smiled as he heard her sweet voice echoing to his ears yet it

shattered a little his chance, his first chance to her. He was just

silent, as she continues to speak.



"Thank you for whatever offering you have there for me. I'm glad that

someone like you appreciates me for what I am. Many did attempt,

mostly at a very long period of time, but I hardly got their point of

concern – their true feelings for me and vice versa. Like what you

have said, I'm not used to this – sharing my feelings to others. I

don't know why. I just don't know how to show what lies beneath me. I

don't know." Kokoro bowed her head, viewing other birds playing at

the ground, at the pavewalk.



Soujiro sighed.



Kokoro continued her speech. "I like you as a friend, Soujiro. And

that's all. If you still try to imply yourself to me further, it is

better stop this right now, just to avoid things to get more

personal."



The young man shifted his sitting position, more comfortable

enough. "Kokoro-chan, you are very different from the others, that's

one good point why I like you but,"



"Stop that! We just met last night. This thing we have," Kokoro

pointed each others chest with vigor, "has to end. I don't have to

entertain it further."



"But," Soujiro hesitated to speak.



"Good and loyal friendship is all I can give to you." Kokoro held her

hand to his. He glanced to her and returned the action she made.



Few moments of silence was instilled upon. Wind blew, moments past

by.



"Kokoro," Soujiro smiled then laughed.



She reflexively raised an eyebrow. "What seems to be funny, Soujiro?"



He laughed but not to the extent making the girl feeling unease, to

get so intimidated. "Forgive me from my, again, rudeness my hime. I

like you very much and that's the truth. I love seeing you this way,

so vigorous and so straight-forward. You remind me of someone I used

to know."



"You used to know?" Kokoro asked.



A couple passed by, holding each others hands, seemingly enjoying

every quality moment they have. Kokoro saw it and got blushed.



"Another lovely couple from the park, how charming." Soujiro teased.



"Yeah." She answered.



"Kokoro, you miss understood my intention to you. Well, I don't blame

you. As charming as I am, doing these stuffs would really be

suspected making move for someone. I'm not at that point of courting

you already. Maybe someday, but not now. I hope you heard it clearly,

Kokoro-chan." He, then, smiled.



"What?" Kokoro was surprised and very embarrassed.



"One thing for sure, I very much indeed would like to have your

precious friendship. Like what I have said last night, I need a good

and honest friend to guide me, be there at times of need and

happiness. I like your company, I like your smile, I like the whole

of being you. You're very different from the rest. I rather have this

friendship than losing all what we currently have." He added.



"Oh my gosh! A false alarm." Kokoro was fumed with lots of

humiliation - never before seen from her life.



"I was hoping for the future that maybe I can become a part of your

life – having that special part – but then you made your point

clearly that you like this to stay the same. Just like this, full of

confusion and excitement of revealing thoughts."



`Stop that! Ok! I'm stupid. I should have let you speak your terms

before I made myself a laughing stuff." Kokoro stood up, crossing her

arms. She stepped a foot away from Soujiro.



"Forgive me, Kokoro-chan." Soujiro stood up and embraced her without

any malice. "I'm the one who should be laughed at. I was busted by

the most beautiful girl from this town. My charms didn't work hard to

get you. I should have long killed myself." Both laughed.



"Yeah, yeah! Whatever! You made me acted this way. And I hate you

for that."



"Really?" He took his arms away from her, "What if I tell you, I

said, "what if", I made a decision to court you, would you entertain

me?"



Kokoro spoke with hesitation and in doubt. "I don't know. I guess,

maybe." She shook her head. "Hard to say from the way I look at the

things right now. I don't see any positive outcomes."



Soujiro laughed. "Maybe I can work on that. Joke!" Both again

laughed. "I don't know now how to treat you as my friend, Kokoro. It

seems there is no possibility that you and I can become a…."



"Soujiro," Kokoro spoke.



"OK. I get your point." Soujiro sat down from the bench. Kokoro

followed. "It's my entire fault. I shouldn't have given you the

thought of it. I have given you some darn motives. I hope you forgive

me."



"Well I guess, it won't hurt." She said.



"I know the reason why acted this way." Soujiro closed his eyes as he

tries to feel the smooth breeze of the moving air. "You can't hide

it. It is so obvious."



"What are you talking about?" Kokoro raised her defense.



"You have someone….someone special in your heart right now. Is that

guy from the restaurant, right?" Soujiro continued to tease.



"Soujiro, you are just making things go wander. He has nothing to do

with my decision of not accepting you." Kokoro began to get irritated.



"Hey! We have discussed this a while ago that I'm not making my move

to you, ok. Unfortunately, you've interpreted it otherwise." He

glanced at her then back to his state a while ago.



"Yeah! OK!"



"What? Am I right about the guy from the restaurant? I thought so!"

Soujiro laughed hard.



"Heck NO!" She blushed.



"I see it in your eyes. You don't have to hide it. I wish he's worth

it"



"Who gave you the right to assess what I feel, Soujiro?!" Kokoro

spoke in sudden anger.



"You see! I'm right! You have a special feeling towards that guy."

Suddenly, Soujiro's celphone rang. "If you excuse me, I have a

call." He stood up and walked away from the bench where Kokoro is

currently seating. "Moshi-moshi."



Afther a long conversation at the phone, Soujiro went back to the

bench for Kokoro. "I have to go. Something more important came

through. Sorry for the intrusion."



"No, no! If this that important, you have to go now. See you next

time,perhaps." Kokoro stood up, looking worried.



"Gee, thanks. I would like to visit you again at your house, you and

your sisters. Wrong timing, isn't it?"



"Don't worry about me. Till next time." She smiled.



"Good bye for now, Kokoro." Soujro ran towards the exit of the park.



"Hey Soujiro! You forgot something!" Kokoro yelled, wanting for him

to come back.



The young man stopped. He looked back and wave for whatever she has

to say.



"You forgot to show me, that something you have said before we leave

the cyber café!" Kokoro shouted, having no concern for others to hear

her words vulgarly.

"Maybe next time! I'm in a hurry!" Soujrio abruptly walked away,

exiting the park with the rest of the people.



She sighed and sat down the bench, now left alone and needing for

someone to talk to. She was curious about the thing he was to show in

the park. At the bench, she continues to think and feel what the park

has to offer. Suddenly, she decided to go to her favorite spot at the

park, her training ground. Kokoro stood up and walked briskly.



While Kokoro makes her way to her much loved place, Soujiro also

walked hurriedly to the place he was needed. And while he was walking

with the crowd at the busy streets of city, he took something from

his side pocket. He abruptly stopped and looked at the thing on his

hand, a silver bracelet plated with her lovely name at its center.



"I maybe lost the chance of giving you this with what I truly

feel….in time, I will be able to." Soujiro closed his hand and

returned it back to his side pocket for safe keeping. Then, he walked

away with the rest of the crowd and disappeared.



*******



Having the security from always being here at her special place made

her feel cheerful again. She went to the big old oak tree and bent to

it to view it big hole at its trunk.



"Maybe, I should take a rest here for a while." She was about to

crawl to the hole when suddenly, someone in the dark corner of the

forested area appeared. A fast touch, a simple tap from her spine was

felt. Kokoro instantly surprised and looked up. A tall shadowy figure

blocks the light of the sun from the tree's branches and leaves

towards her…..morelike…..her sensei…..her Aoshi!



"Nani!!!!" When she was about to stand up, her head was bumped at the

linings of the tree's hole. "What are you doing here, Aoshi?!" She

rubbed her aching part of the head.



"Well, it seems you lost your respect to your senssei, Shiawase-san."

Aoshi spoke lowly.



"I have my justified reasons why I should be." She stood up and

stared at him so dearly. "Are you following me? Why is it? You are

just invading my privacy, sensei."



"Am I? We are now just even." Aoshi replied, blocking her other views.



Kokoro started to get irritated. "This is my place. And it is

supposed to be secret!"



"Well, it is a public park, isn't it?"



"Argh!!!! Go away, teacher! You want me out in the dojo for some

reasons that I don't know." She reflexively gulped for she feels

guilty. "I want to enjoy what is left for the morning." She roughly

sighed.



Aoshi kept his coolness, never let his dignity down for something as

low as this, this naïve conversation with her. "The reason I went

here, followed you, because I want to know something."



Cold sweat began to flow at her forehead and body as she noticeably

sees Aoshi straightly staring at her with iciness.



"And what is it?"



Aoshi bent his body to perceive her big beautiful eyes.



"What seems to be the problem, sensei?" She felt a bit uneasy,

viewing this gorgeous man at front of her doing the same.



"You are hiding something from me, Shiawase-san. And you know it."



"What makes you think of that?!"



He brushed his manly finger to her lips. "I just know by looking at

your eyes and touching your lips."



"Nani!!!!!"





tbc.......