Taming Lessons - Part II
AN: Hi! I know I disappeared for a really long time. But I finally got a break and some inspiration, well, more like determination, to finish this story. I would like to give a big thank you to my beta Dreamer for looking over this for me. *big hugs* And I would also like to thank Elyn Yuy, who always gave comments on this story. Thanks for your support.
Also, there is a brief and obsure reference to Tomoe in here that may be considered a spoiler. I guess I'm just paranoid about spoilers, so I just wanted to be sure whoever is reading this chapter knows that. Ok! Please enjoy!
Excerpt below from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Fox:
If you tame me, it will be as if the sun
Came to shine on my life. I shall know the sound
Of a step that will be different from all the others?
And then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder?
I do not eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me.
The wheat fields have nothing to say to me. And that is sad.
But you have hair that is the color of gold.
Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me!
The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back
To the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the
Wind in the wheat.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Three:
Mistakes, Mischief, and Misunderstandings
?So she kissed you. Well it?s about FREAKING time,? Sano paced about the floor, already devising a plan for what Kenshin should do next. ?The ball?s in your court, buddy. This is your chance! You can really sweep her off her feet now that we know she?s interested?not like a blind person wouldn?t have known that already, but??
?Sano, Sano, that is quite enough,? Kenshin said, groaning inwardly, as he was too weak at present to walk away from his persistent guest. Sano had burst in the dojo only a few hours ago, but already Kenshin felt as though he needed a break from the dramatic, not to mention nosy, younger fighter.
But Sano took Kenshin?s words as further encouragement, ?Ah, Kenshin, I knew it. You?ve already devised a battle plan, haven?t you?
?Sano. Enough,? Kenshin?s voice was now holding undertones of warning, which would have silenced any other. Yet Sano always pushed his limits. Beginning to understand, the young man?s temper grew heated as well.
?Look, Kenshin, you can?t just pretend a kiss didn?t happen. This dumb little act you?ve been playing at for so long just isn?t gonna work anymore. She kissed you, but so far as I heard, you kissed back. Surprised yourself, I bet, didn?t you??
Kenshin shot Sano a look through narrowed eyes, but the former street fighter held his ground.
Finally, Kenshin managed to utter the words, ?It was?a mistake.?
A small gasp caused both men to turn towards the doorway, as Kaoru bowed her head, a tray of tea held shakily in her hands.
?Excuse me, I?I?ll just be going,? the girl said with a waver in her voice and she placed the tray just inside the doorway and rushed out of the room.
Sano shot a menacing look towards Kenshin, growling as he turned to chase the girl, while Kenshin, still bedridden, flopped back onto his futon with a hopeless sigh.
Kenshin couldn?t believe his luck. Of course Kaoru had to walk in the exact moment he said such an awful thing. Mistake. How piercing just one little word could be if used in the doomed context: It was a mistake. Kenshin was haunted by his reflexive, protective devices. He denied and avoided. That was all he ever did. One day, he knew he would have to come to terms with exactly what was happening between Kaoru and himself. But no time ever seemed right, no choice so easy. He had known for a long time that he cared for Kaoru?deeply. But he knew the moment he called it love, the choice would be obvious to declare his feelings and stay with Kaoru, hoping that she really did love him as well. And Kenshin, no longer the wanderer trying to avoid his demons, would only end up leading them to the person he cared for the most.
The rurouni lay on his bed as afternoon melted into evening. He stared at the ceiling, he shifted restlessly on his futon, but he refused to close his eyes, even when the soft light of dawn began to pierce the darkness. For whenever he pondered love, he suffered strange dreams that always turned into nightmares. And that night he didn?t want to see the same dull eyes, the same blood falling on snow.*
~*~*~
The next few days were lazy and warm, and surprisingly quiet, much to Kenshin?s relief. Sano had let him be after their confrontation, and the lanky fighter instead took to looking after his ?Little Missy?, leaving Kenshin to ponder and brood on his own.
The redhead was healing slowly in his solitude, and had managed to lift himself up and move to his window on his own. This new motivation to become mobile was, he assured himself, an effort to experience some sunshine to brighten his spirits and help him gain strength; however, he had been brought his meals and medicine from only Yahiko over the past few days, and was beginning to wonder what had happen to Sano and Kaoru. Cooped up in his room--the view from his window was just of sunlit trees moving in the spring wind--Kenshin had found himself missing her--their--company, that he did.
Kenshin sighed to himself as he lifted his body from his futon one sunny morning, feeling better than he had in a while, though missing his friends. Hearing cheery voices and laughs through the thin walls of his living quarters, he decided to try to walk outside for the first time since he had been injured. With determination, Kenshin reached for his sword, which was lying not too far from his beddings, and used his faithful weapon to prop himself up. Slowly, the warrior stumbled to the doorway, and paused to regain his bearings. Finding his legs, the redhead stepped carefully, doubled over due to the pain at his sides, each spot burning where a bullet had left its mark. But Kenshin continued on, grasping his sword like a cane until he had made it down the hall and into a path of sunlight beating down on the wooden floor before the threshold to the front yard.
All the while he was walking, Kenshin was wondering what to do when he saw Kaoru. He was sure from the sound of laughing outside she was no longer upset. Perhaps she was still angry with him for what he had said and done--and he knew she had every right to be so--but at least she was in good spirits. Vaguely, Kenshin wondered if she could forgive him, if they could keep going on as they had before, like dear, old friends. Or had his solitary confinement made her realize she could go on without him, that she could laugh now--and her laughs were getting more lively and happy and he approached the doorway--and laugh more often, living a better life than if he stayed with her? Recently, Kenshin recalled, all he seemed to do was make her cry.
But when Kenshin finally reached the doorway, the scene playing out brought him to a halt. Perhaps he would just watch awhile?
Kaoru had given Sano a wooden sword, and looked to be trying to teach him some basic moves, except he was doing all of them extremely poorly.
?You?re worse than Yahiko when he was starting out!? Kaoru taunted the tall, spiky-haired man, although Kenshin could see that her statement was pretty true.
?Well then why don?t you show me some real moves and let?s fight?? Sano shouted.
?Fine, try to take me, then!? Kaoru challenged, and readied herself for an attack.
Sano?s lunge at her was wild, and Kaoru easily blocked him, then countered, and proceeded to knock his sword out of his hand.
Kenshin could hear the stunned fighter mumble, ?Dammit, these swords are for girls.? His voice then grew more confident, ?Let?s see how that thing will help you against the man?s way!?
There was a dangerous gleam in Sano?s eye before he came at Kaoru again, and even though the girl was poised for impact, and succeed in holding the taller man off for a while, Sano ended up grasping her sword in his hand and then used it to pull Kaoru towards him. His strength was too much for the girl and she flew into arms. Sano then bent his head down and with a cocky smile spoke to Kaoru in low tones.
Kenshin narrowed his eyes at their intimacy. Kaoru was pressed up against Sano, their faces almost touching, both grasping the wooden sword linking them together and breathing hard. Kenshin wanted to shout, but he couldn?t even find words to whisper. Should he even be watching this? He suddenly felt like he was intruding, but the redhead couldn?t seem to get his limbs to move. His eyes, too, refused to look away from the pair, and so with well-trained ears, Kenshin focused in to listen to their conversation.
?Give up yet?? Sano purred.
Kaoru looked at him defiantly, ?Never!?
?Well then, I?m just going to have to use drastic measures. You will be the first to suffer my ultimate secret attack!?
Kaoru gasped at his wicked smile, but was taken aback by a fit of giggles when Sano yelled, ?Stunning Secret Tickle Attack,? clearly mocking Kenshin?s announcement of his moves, while he proceeded to pounce on the already laughing Kaoru and tickle her senseless.
It was too much. The sight of the two tumbling on the ground--both laughing heavily now?was a little too much for Kenshin to bear, and finally he persuaded his body to turn in an effort to leave, forgetting the sword he had placed against the wall beside him, which crashed to the ground and caused the both Sano and Kaoru to look up from their tickle fight.
He must have looked so pitiful, Kenshin realized. Caught, standing there, his dusty blue night robe hanging off his weakened body, his auburn hair wild and loose from its usual binding, and his head and shoulder desperately pressed against the doorway for support. That moment was the only thing the rurouni could think of when he was immediately rushed back to his room by Kaoru and Sano upon their notice of him. Kaoru flushed and called his name in worry, and Sano jumped up like cat and ran to support Kenshin?s injured body.
?Whaddaya think you?re doing, Kenshin!?? Sano spoke loudly and harshly in his friend?s ear as the taller man hosted Kenshin up with his arms and lead the weary swordsman back to his room, while Kaoru looked on worriedly, yet stayed cautiously behind.
Kenshin would have preferred not to be babied by the fighter, but the redhead was just too weak to offer any protests after seeing Sano and Kaoru so happily getting on without him. But when Sano continued to stay in the rurouni?s room after depositing him on his futon and proceeded to offer further scoldings about Kenshin?s premature venture outdoors, the swordsman finally snapped.
?Sano, why don?t you get back to wooing Miss Kaoru?? Kenshin said quietly, keeping his head down while a waterfall of loose red hair spilled around him, strategically covering his face and anything his expression may have revealed.
The lanky fighter was stunned. He kept starting sentences and then ending them in a fit of gaping his mouth and pacing back and forth. Kenshin only braced himself for the stream of words that would eventually flow from Sano?s very powerful windpipes.
?Kenshin?? the spikey-haired man began. ?I CAN?T BELIEVE YOU. If I could bring myself to punch an injured man like you, booooyyy I would?ve knocked you senseless. But, wait a minute, that wouldn?t be too hard, would it? Cause the way I see it, you?ve already lost all your senses. Jeez, thinking Kaoru and I would be together like that! You believe that? This time you?ve really outdone yourself, my delusional friend. You of all people?you?re with Kaoru every day?can?t you see it? CAN?T YOU SEE HOW MUCH SHE LOVES YOU??
?Sanosuke,? the name rang low and hollow from where defeated fighter sat huddled on his futon, while the tone made the person it belonged to instantly stop speaking.
?Leave me.? Again, this voice sounded slightly foreign to the usually cheerful rurouni, and its eerie force and calmness made Sano think twice about whether the Battousai had somehow risen again.
?You know though,? Sano said quietly as he advanced towards the doorway, ?your senses aren?t all wrong. I do care about Kaoru. I care about my friend enough that it hurts to see her suffering, especially because of you. It?s selfish to keep her captivated like this, Kenshin.? The fighter left one last verbal punch before he smartly left Kenshin?s room.
?Leave me?alone,? a sad echo made Sano pause in the hall. The scary Kenshin voice was gone, but the sadness that replaced it was perhaps even worse.
~*~*~
?I don?t know about Kenshin, Little Missy,? Sano spoke to Kaoru, who was waiting for him on the porch stairs. ?He not only seems really down, but I think this cabin fever is making him crazy, too.?
Kaoru sighed. ?I had thought he was getting better, but when I saw him just now? Oh, Sano,? Kaoru turned to her companion and hugged him tight, trying to somehow release the worry she felt for Kenshin.
?Shhh?it?s okay,? Sano did his best to comfort Kaoru and now rubbed her back, as she had started to shake silently. ?You?ve been trying to give him space for a few days, right??
He felt her nod and she gave a little sniff as she finally pulled away to look at him.
?Well,? Sano continued, ?We all know Kenshin can be pretty dense sometimes. And I know he hurt you the other day,? the fighter continued as he referred to Kenshin?s literal ?mistake.? ?But, Kaoru, I also think you?re the reason he was getting better so quickly. When you?re not around him, he just isn?t as happy. And even though the dope can?t realize that, it?s true. Kaoru, I?ve known you for a long time now, so please believe me when I tell you that in some ways, you?re much stronger than Kenshin, than all of us, really. So I know you can be strong and go in there and visit with him, even after he?s hurt you. Because that?s just the kind of person you are: brave, forgiving, caring. You?re an amazing person Kaoru, and right now, Kenshin needs you.?
Kaoru?s eyes went a little teary, but the pools only served to make her gaze sparkling. The girl was so impressed with the wisdom Sano had offered her. She couldn?t believe how the teen had grown into a man in the short time he had left the dojo to find himself abroad. Even though Sano acted rough and tough, he was very observant and sensitive to the feelings of others. Kaoru realized she had never fully appreciated the friendship and support he offered until now.
Kaoru gave a small smile, and raised her hands to cup Sano?s face. Her expression spoke enough of the thanks that the girl felt for his encouragement and praise. Wordlessly, Kaoru leaned in and turned her neck slightly to kiss her friend just next to his lips. He understood the gesture of loving friendship, and leaned to hold her tight, when a voice startled the both of them out of the most intimate moment they had ever shared.
?My, my, what have we here,? a sly, feminine voice broke the two apart.
Kaoru and Sano stared, each thoroughly red with embarrassment as Tanaki Megumi eyed them mischievously.
?Itsnotwhatitlookslike,? Kaoru spilled when she found her voice, while Sano just ran a hand through his hair with a sheepish grin.
?I can see a lot has happened since I went away. Does this mean Sir Ken is up for grabs??
?Certainly not!? Kaoru sputtered.
?Hm,? Megumi tapped a finger to her lips. ?Well, I think this will be a very interesting visit. Kaoru, we are definitely going to have to sit down and catch up. Rooster-head, are you going to help carry my luggage, or what??
And with that, Kaoru and Sano jumped up to greet Megumi, both having the uneasy feeling that the drama the sly fox always brought with her would quickly descend on the dojo and cause a whirlwind of mischief.
~*~*~
Kenshin sat in his room brooding. Sano?s words haunted him, causing him to reflect the heated scene as he sifted through his thoughts. The part about Kaoru loving him?well, no one had ever shouted it at him before, and the rurouni found himself reflexively smiling at the words. But his lips soon fell into a frown again when Kenshin remembered Sano?s last remark.
The spiky-haired fighter had basically just accused Kenshin of being a tease, seducing Kaoru just enough to capture her heart, yet failing to take their relationship to the next level. Kenshin knew what Sano was afraid of: that the rurouni would take the best years of Kaoru?s life and then, for some reason or another, wander off again, leaving the poor girl heartbroken and too old to start over with another love and another life. And the swordsman was terrified that his friend was right.
Even now, Kenshin and Kaoru were living as most couples did. They had fallen into a daily rhythm, living alone together for quite some time. Kaoru had lessons to teach, and Kenshin had his chores and occasionally helped with police cases. So it often happened that an entire day passed and they had only spent dinner together, but that time was enough to remember all the reasons they enjoyed each other?s company. Kenshin didn?t mind the monotony of the arrangement at all. He was in a place that felt comfortable. He and Kaoru had a special relationship; even Kenshin wasn?t clueless enough to notice that. They even had many special moments?holding hands here, a hug there. The rurouni supposed he felt safe that way. He got all of Kaoru?s laughs and smiles and little touches, without having to worry about having the full intimate relationship of lovers.
And it was then in his ponderings he realized the truth. If he had no claim to Kaoru, what gave him the right to get so upset over Sano and Kaoru being with each other? Sano was right, he had captured Kaoru?s feelings and held her caged in limbo, while refusing to let any other suitors near?
Kenshin was still tossing and turning in his thoughts when a knock came at his door. He didn?t bother answering it, as he was still very out of sorts, and pretended to be asleep. But, it soon became apparent the person wasn?t going to bother respecting his privacy either, and he could hear the sliding open of the wooden door.
The redhead kept his eyes closed as soft footsteps padded towards him. His breath came a little faster as he at first thought Kaoru might be sneaking into his room, but then he sensed a presence different from that of the girl he knew so well.
Kenshin was just about to open his eyes when a voice came disturbingly close to his ear and in a seductive whisper said, ?Miss me, Sir Ken??
The rurouni yelped and bolted upright as Megumi sat kneeled next to him, giggling. He noticed Kaoru fuming in the doorway and Sano looking on, before both were motioned away by the good doctor.
?Please, let me and Sir Ken have some alone time. I need to perform a full examination, you see,? Megumi said wickedly as Sano rolled his eyes and practically dragged Kaoru away before closing the door.
?Oh, Miss Megumi, I see you are as good humored as ever,? Kenshin chuckled nervously.
?Oh, Sir Ken, I wasn?t joking,? Megumi smiled ever wider as Kenshin?s eyes began to swirl and he fainted as the fox drew near ?
~*~*~
Megumi certainly brought a liveliness back to the dojo, as she was determined to stay and look after Kenshin until his wounds were sufficiently healed. The first few days of her stay, Kaoru had been pleasant enough, knowing that although Megumi teased her mercilessly, at the same time the doctor was giving Kenshin excellent medical treatment and was told his injuries seemed to be greatly improving. Kaoru herself was working up the courage to face Kenshin again. Although Sano?s talk had inspired her, the girl couldn?t seem to find an appropriate time to visit with Kenshin while Megumi was constantly at his side. So Kaoru tried to busy herself with chores around the house, though it didn?t take long for Megumi to start wearing away at the girl?s self-restraint.
?Thank goodness I got here when I did,? Megumi said one day as Kaoru was preparing breakfast. ?I know I keep saying it, but it?s true. Kenshin?s wounds are being bandaged properly now and are healing much better. I wouldn?t be surprised if he was up and out of bed even today! Oh, and by the way, I had heard you had quite the time of it Kaoru- freshening the bandages, I mean. I?m not blaming you or anything, of course, I can tell you from experience, a shirtless Ken does make it hard to concentrate??
**BAM** The tea tray crashed to the table so hard it was a wonder it didn?t break.
At the noise, Sano raced into the dining room. ?Is everything okay?? He looked from a smug Megumi to an enraged Kaoru. ?Oh come on, Fox-lady, you aren?t teasing her again, are you??
Megumi looked away with her head in the air as if to take offense that he even suggested such a thing.
Sano groaned and then turned his attentions towards Kaoru. ?Hey, is that breakfast I smell??
The girl seemed to calm down and nodded. ?It?s almost ready, why don?t you sit down??
As Kaoru retreated towards the kitchen, Megumi and Sano took their places at the table.
?Why do you have to do that?? he whispered harshly when Kaoru had gone.
?Oh please, she?s a big girl now. She should be able to handle it.?
?Look, she?s having a rough time right now with worrying about Kenshin and then you have to go and make her feel even worse,? Sano scolded the fox.
?Aren?t we the knight in shining armor?? Megumi hissed.
Sano was taken aback by her comment.
?I know you care about her, but you?re growing a little too close. Don?t go confusing the poor girl with your good intentions,? Megumi countered.
?And you stop drooling all over Kenshin!? Sano shouted as much as he could in a whispered tone. ?I see how you fawn over him- the way you play with his mind! It makes me sick!?
?And here we go!? Kaoru smiled merrily as she brought out the breakfast. As the girl took her seat, she found it hard not to notice crackle of intensity that was passing between Sano and Megumi?a sort of anger- maybe even jealously? And she was darned if she didn?t pick up on a dash of sexual tension.
~*~*~
Kenshin was quite proud of himself for walking around the dojo grounds for the first time in what felt like weeks. Megumi was at his side, as she was constantly the past few days, and although the swordsman was always cheery and polite, he wished more than anything that he would just be left alone?or with Kaoru. But it seemed Kaoru had completely disappeared. Kenshin supposed she never really liked being around both himself and Megumi, especially when the doctor was in a flirtatious mood.
It was very odd, but Kenshin noticed that Megumi seemed just as obsessed with him as when they first met back when she was mixed up with Kanryuu. He had thought at some point in the time afterwards that Megumi gave up on him and may have developed a liking for Sano, but now Kenshin wasn?t quite sure what was going on.
It all appeared very clear, though, during that first day out?
Kenshin didn?t try to pretend he wasn?t excited to see Kaoru. She had been avoiding him for some time now, and the longest he had seen her over the past week was during the horrible incident when the swordsman had broke down upon seeing her and Sano fighting.
A nice blanket was set out under a cherry blossom tree as Kenshin sat in the sunlight. He saw Kaoru in the distance, but his hopes to speak with her deflated as Megumi turned up right next to him. The fox was content to chat for a while, but when Sano came out of the house and started out of the dojo towards the gate near where they were seated, Megumi started poking and prodding Kenshin and asking how he felt.
Sano waved and shouted a ?Good luck there, Kenshin? before disappearing out through he gate, no doubt wandering into town to find some of his gambling buddies.
After a huff from Megumi, Kenshin was about to ask if something was wrong when Dr. Gensai made a surprise visit, bringing Ayame and Suzume with him. Kenshin was glad to see the cute little girls, who fawned all over their ?Uncle Ken? and insisted they kiss each ?boo-boo? to make him better.
The doctor?s visit provided the perfect opportunity that Kenshin was waiting for. Kaoru had eventually heard the unmistakable giggling of the two younger girls and ran out of the house to greet them. At the same time, Dr. Gensai was inviting Megumi to visit him and wanted to inquire how to make a medicine for one of his patients, an endeavor Kenshin knew would take quite a while.
?But, Dr. Gensai, I?m afraid my number one priority right now is looking after dear Ken,? Megumi protested.
?Nonsense, I knew Kenshin was going to live the day after I removed all of his bullets,? Dr. Gensai chuckled jovially. ?I?m only going to borrow you for the afternoon.?
?Go ahead, Megumi. I?m perfectly content right here,? Kenshin piped in, not wanting to sound overly enthusiastic.
?And I?ll be here,? Kaoru said. ?I?ll stay with Kenshin.?
Before Megumi could dispute the matter further, she was dragged off by the two energetic little girls and the merry Doctor.
?Why don?t I bring you some green tea?? Kaoru offered. ?I?m no doctor, but I know it will help you regain your health.?
?Only if you bring out a cup for yourself, too,? Kenshin told her.
Kaoru smiled warmly. It was as if an understanding passed between them.
?And believe me when I say your care was better than any other doctor?s,? Kenshin added. ?I have a suspicion that Miss Megumi?s attentiveness to my condition is motivated mainly to bate the affection of our spiky-haired friend.?
?Really!? Kaoru exclaimed. ?That would certainly explain an episode at breakfast this morning. I guess it?s true what they say: absence makes the heart grow fonder.?
They shared another smile before Kaoru insisted she go get the tea. Kenshin couldn?t wait to spend time with Kaoru today, and for the first time in a very long time, he gave a wide, satisfied smile as he watched her depart and disappear into the house. The way the cherry blossoms fell, as if in an effort to follow the beauty that had left him, was yet another thing that would remind Kenshin of Kaoru. He had to add that to his list now of hair ribbons, rainy days, stars, fireflies**?she would always be all around him?
But, alas, such happy moments just didn?t seem to last for Kenshin lately. A stirring in the bushes behind the cherry tree caused the redhead to grow alert and clear his mind as he listened carefully to the sounds surrounding him. Some one was creeping around who shouldn?t be.
**SWISH**
Kenshin shifted just in time to avoid an arrow, which pierced at the blanket right beside him. Scowling, the swordsman tensed in preparation for another attack, but after a few moments in frozen silence, he no longer sensed an evil ki and let himself relax.
There was a piece of paper pierced through the arrow, and as Kenshin read it, despair settled upon him again.
When he had made the choice to become an assassin those many years ago, he didn?t fully understand that everything in his future would be affected by the man he became during the revolution. Ghosts from the past inevitably resurfaced and thirsted for revenge, and no matter how much Kenshin wished he could have taken back all of the lives that he had claimed in those times, payment could be demanded at any moment by the vengeful spirits hunting the sleeping Battousai inside of him. Just like at this very moment, Kenshin was warned that his life would soon be ending.
?What?s that?? Kaoru?s voice startled Kenshin and he quickly crumbled up the death note, and slipped it under the blanket while also carefully sliding the arrow out of view.
?Just a piece of paper that blew in from who knows where,? Kenshin answered, which was not entirely unbelievable due to the balmy breeze of the afternoon.
?Well, here you go,? Kaoru offered him the toasty warm tea, and took a cup for herself after she was seated across from him.
They admired the falling cherry blossoms for a while before Kaoru was the first to speak.
?This is nice.?
?Hm,? was Kenshin?s only reply, as his mind was now swirling upon receiving such a warning of his coming demise.
?I mean, sitting here with you, just the two of us. Like we were before?before all of this happened,? Kaoru explained quietly.
Kenshin looked up at the girl, admiring her pale face kissed with blush from the wind. It looked as if she was feeling almost shy and she kept her head tilted downwards, her dark locks streaming all around her as the cherry blossoms continued to fall. And as they fell, it was if a poem formed in their descent.
If truly I care for you
I cannot offer you the love of a murderer
Kaoru finally looked up and met Kenshin?s gaze. Her eyes shone with emotion, they pleaded with him to say something back.
If I truly care for you
I cannot ask you to put your life in danger just to love me
The words came from a deep place in Kenshin?s mind. They surrounded the scene in his head, with all the sensations?the wind, the vision of Kaoru leaning towards him, the blossoms, falling, falling.
?Kenshin, I miss being near you,? said the bundle now in his arms. Kaoru hugged him gently, resting her cheek on his chest.
?Miss Kaoru?? Kenshin breathed, reveling in the embrace that might be his last. He didn?t know how to respond. He did not want to make any acclamations, nor promises that he could not keep. So he simply said?
?I am happy I met you, Miss Kaoru.?
This caused her to turn and wonder at the statement. She looked at Kenshin, but he had closed his eyes.
Tomorrow, he would be gone from her life forever.
They simply sat next to one another for a very long time, long after the tea went cold. Megumi eventually returned and insisted Kenshin go inside when the wind began to pick up. As he had no time to protest, Kaoru was left to bring in the tea tray and blanket, wondering about Kenshin?s strange mood.
~*~*~
It was the first time Kenshin would be joining everyone for dinner, now that he was moving about. Kaoru was almost finished preparing it, yet Megumi had somehow disappeared and Sano was still no where to be found.
Kenshin was already at the table when Kaoru finally brought the last of the meal and sat down next to him.
?I guess they wouldn?t mind if we started,? Kaoru said. But just as she uttered the words, they heard shouts from the porch that made their way into the house, loud and clear.
?I can?t believe you accused me of such a thing!? Megumi fumed, stomping?yet still with a dainty air?into the house.
?ME? What about you!? What are you trying to pull coming in here and making all your mischief?? Sano yelled back.
?I have a duty to my friends! I just wanted to help Sir Ken!? Megumi shouted back. Their voices were even louder now that they had moved into the hall.
?And he?s the only one, too. You don?t care about any one else?s feelings!? Sano countered.
?And apparently you don?t care about the feelings of women! Always sweet-talking me and making special visits! What a joke! I come here and the first thing I see is you lip-locked with Kaoru!?
This certainly got Kenshin?s attention, who eyed Kaoru carefully, though the girl immediately flushed and turned away.
?You?re batty! You have absolutely no clue what you?re talking about, plus you need your eyes checked because we were not lip-locked!?
?You were close enough. I can?t believe I was looking forward to seeing you when I came here,? Megumi said in regular tones now, though her voice still sounded quite pained. ?You?re such a jerk.?
And with that, the patter of footsteps echoed away, leaving Sano to walk into the dining room alone, trying to make sense of the last thing Megumi had said. It was then he noticed he had an audience. Seeing the shocked look of both Kenshin and Kaoru, Sano could only smack his head and wonder if things could possibly get any worse.
?I?m going to go after Megumi,? Kaoru said as she quickly got up and moved to the doorway where Sano stood.
Kenshin watched as Kaoru laid an understanding hand on Sano?s arm. They exchanged a meaningful look, and the rurouni immediately noticed that the two had formed some kind of attachment. They seemed to have a deeper bond now than when Sano had been with them on Kenshin?s Group adventures a few years before.
She will be in good hands. Kenshin thought as he saw Sano coming up to approach him. He could leave to sort out the death threat, and that way no one at the dojo would be in danger.
?Kenshin, can you just pretend you didn?t hear any of that? What a day, let me tell you,? Sano sighed in exasperation as he huffed down at the dinner table.
?Please?make her happy, Sano.?
The fighter looked up wearily, unable to handle so many surprises in one day.
?Because you?re right,? Kenshin continued. ?I would only cause her pain. Maybe one day you?ll understand that my greatest gift to her is to leave her.?
?I?I?just?you know. Just forget it, Kenshin, I?m outta here.? Sano was speechless. He got up and walked out of the kitchen, shoulders hung low.
Kaoru was speaking to Megumi outside of her room when Sano approached the two. Megumi gave him a strange look before whispering a few words to Kaoru and sauntering back off towards the dining room to find Kenshin.
When he and Kaoru were alone, Sano spoke with determination, ?I don?t know what?s going on around here, but I?m going to find Hiko.?
?Hiko? You mean, Kenshin?s master?? Kaoru questioned.
?He is the only one Kenshin will listen to,? Sano stated as he walked past the girl and headed for the dojo gates. ?You?re not gonna believe what Kenshin just said to me- even after I yelled at him the other day! Somebody needs to talk some sense into that damn thick head of his and Hito is our last hope.?
The raven-haired girl let out a long sigh and shook her head. ?I believe hope can be found in the most unexpected places.?
?What are you talking about, Little Missy? Do you know what he said? It?s crazy, I tell ya. He said--?
?Sano, I have a feeling I know already.?
?How can you be so calm!?? the spiky-haired fighter was practically bouncing in frustration.
?Because I know a secret. But before I tell you, would you promise not to go off looking for Hito and help me instead?? Kaoru asked.
Sano studied the girl, who had never looked so strong or confident as she did now. ?Your wish is my command.?
And so she whispered in his ear?
~*~*~
*this is just a note for the people who might not have seen the Kenshin OVAs or read the later arc of the Kenshin manga that focused on Kenshin?s past?the dream was a reference to the tragic love story of the Battousai and Tomoe.
**all are real references in the TV series when Kenshin thinks of Kaoru or has a very deep moment with her (you get a cookie if you know where they are) except the stars, at least as far as I know. That was supposed to be a reference to Ch. 1 of this story