This page has been visited by
Home
The Rurouni Kenshin Room
Kainee's Rurouni Kenshin Fanfiction Gallery
The Fanfiction Room
"It doesn't bother me."
Kenshin stopped as they crossed over the bridge and looked down at the full moon reflected on the still waters of the river. Kaoru noticed he was no longer following behind her and turned around.
"Kenshin? What's wrong?"
"Nothing…" Kenshin said with a slight smile on his face, Kaoru could see the light of the moon illuminate his face, he looked so peaceful and happy. Her heart leapt in her chest as he turned towards her to face her full on.
"Umm-" Kaoru felt like she needed to say something, "Thank you very much for dinner. It was delicious!"
"You're welcome. I'm glad you enjoyed it." Kenshin took a step closer to her; Kaoru could feel her knees getting shaky. She'd never seen him look at her so seriously before; not serious in a bad way, but serious in the way that she could tell he was trying desperately to sort out his emotions. But why was he being so hesitant?
"Kaoru-dono, I know… very well your feelings." Kenshin began, he tore his gaze away and she could see his clenched fists shaking. "But, I can't---"
Kaoru blinked a few times, she wasn't hearing this! She shook her head violently and grabbed the bridge railing for support. Kenshin could see how distraught she was, he sighed heavily.
"It doesn't matter how much I care and love you Kaoru-dono, I don't deserve you. I'm afraid of repeating my past…"
Kaoru suddenly understood, she looked up at him in amazement, was THAT the only reason he drew away from her? She'd put her heart on a platter for him, and that was the only reason he refused to take it?? She gathered up her courage and put her hand on his shoulder, Kenshin met her gaze.
"Is that the reason? Because of what happened with Tomoe, you…don't want something like that to happen to me?"
Kenshin nodded. "I-I don't know what I would ever do if something happened to you… What if the Battousai comes to the surface again… what if-" He trailed off at seeing the tears that were slowly forming in Kaoru's wide blue eyes. One managed to run down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away and shook her head, looking down.
"But, you're Himura Kenshin, you're not the Battousai and you never will be again…You're the rurouni... The rurouni that has saved me, our friends, this era and its people countless times! For all the crimes that you ever committed as the Battousai, I think that you've finally been forgiven."
"I'm not worthy of you Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin turned from her.
Kaoru took a step back, gaping at the anguish in Kenshin's face. She'd never seen him look so anguished before.
"I failed miserably at being a husband the first time, that kind of anguish lives with me always, and has stopped me from hoping to ever be happy again."
"Now, you think you're a failure? A failure?!" Kaoru couldn't control herself, she slapped him, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"For whatever mistakes you made, you're HUMAN! AND IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT!" She took a deep breath, Kenshin held his throbbing cheek and looked at her wide-eyed. Kaoru clenched her teeth. "You're thinking about Tomoe, She brought that on herself… Don't say you're a failure, you've done more good in the few years that I've known you, than anyone could hope to achieve in their lifetime!"
Kenshin watched her stamp her foot, wringing her hands and crying out everything in her heart to him.
"WHY DOES THAT HAVE TO STOP YOU FROM EVER BEING HAPPY AGAIN?! BECAUSE---" She took a deep breath and faced him, lowering her voice. "Because… you've suffered enough. You deserve to be happy again." She put her hand up to his cheek and looked into his wide eyes. "You don't deserve me? Is that what you've been thinking all this time?"
Kenshin's voice caught in his throat, he couldn't answer her. Did he deserve to be happy after all? He… who had taken away the happiness of thousands of innocent people with his sword?
"I can't change the way you feel…" Kaoru drew away from him, "But, you are the person who makes me happy…The one person, who could make me the happiest woman in the world." She smiled faintly, Kenshin's eyes widened. "I'll wait until you discover for yourself that you deserve to be happy… I believe that you deserve it, but you have to decide for yourself. I'll wait for as long as I have to, because I love you."
She looked down, the tears continuing to roll down her cheeks. Suddenly she felt a warm embrace, she felt herself being taken into his arms. He held her tightly, like that night he'd decided to leave her to continue his journey. But the words he whispered into her ear were different than that night.
"I want to make you happy, Kaoru-dono…"
Kaoru's heart beat quickly and she drew away from him, meeting his serious gaze. "No, not because you want me to be happy, because you want to be happy…"
Kenshin smiled. The woman staring back at him was the one that meant the most to him in the entire world, he had known that for a long time, no matter how he denied that he ever deserved her. He had always loved her, had been intrigued by her strong spirit and caring heart. But until now, he'd never realized his own worth to her. He never believed that he deserved to be happy after what he'd done. Especially after what happened with Tomoe… But, it was now time to move on. He couldn't lie to himself anymore. He truly loved Kaoru, her smiling face helped him keep fighting to survive during his fight with Shishio. Yes, his life was worth something now, he never believed it was worth anything before. He would keep fighting to defend the weak with his Sakaba sword, but it didn't mean that he couldn't be happy at the same time. He deserved happiness now, he knew that Tomoe would never wish him unhappiness.
He took her hands in his and gazed down into her eyes. "I've decided that, as long as I'm with you, I will be happy."
Kaoru swallowed the lump that had come up in her throat, she let him take her into his arms again and hug her tightly.
"Aishiteru, Kaoru-dono…"
"Call me Kaoru…" Kaoru whispered.
"Kaoru…" Kenshin released her and held his hand up to her cheek, caressing it slightly, wiping away her tears. "I'm so sorry, for making you cry."
"No," Kaoru smiled up at him. "Now, they're tears of joy…"
Kenshin's face broke into a smile as well, and he brought his lips closer to hers, meeting them. Centuries seemed to pass as he kissed her. This total bliss that she felt, she wished would never end. As their lips parted, Kaoru realized the feeling of true and complete happiness.
"Kenshin!"
"Hai, Kaoru…"
"There's a festival going on next week, let's go together!"
"That sounds like fun!" Kenshin smiled.
But the peacefulness didn't last for long, a scream broke through the night. Kenshin immediately jumped in front of Kaoru, readying his sword with eyes narrowed.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru looked around. "Where did that scream come from?"
"Just around the corner, please stay here…" And in a flash he was gone. Kaoru stamped her foot indignantly.
"Ohh! I can come too, I can handle it!" She said as she stomped around the corner after him. She froze as she saw several men lying about on the ground unconscious. The remaining had fled in terror. Kenshin stooped over a fallen figure, Kaoru approached and realized the victim was a girl.
"Those men were trying to rape her," Kenshin said as he put his sword back in its sheath then stopped in alarm. That smell-a familiar nostalgic scent flooded his nostrils.
White plums…
"Are you ok?" Kaoru kneeled beside the disheveled, shaking girl and put a hand on her shoulder. The girl was crouched over, her dark hair covered her face as she hurriedly fixed her kimono. Kenshin looked down at her, his eyes wide, afraid of what he would see.
"Yes…" came a soft reply. She slowly sat up and faced Kenshin, her eyes strangely sad. Kenshin gasped… that face…
"Thank you very much sir." The girl bowed her head and then stood up. Kaoru helped her. Her bangs hung low over her eyes and her hair was softly layered to shape her face, accentuating her delicate cheekbones and long neck. Her long black hair, even in its high ponytail hung down to her lower back. Her kimono was dirty and torn, but Kaoru could see that it once would have been considered very fancy and expensive.
Kenshin felt his knees go weak as he stared at her, mouth hanging open. "T-Tomoe…"
"What did you say Kenshin?" Kaoru asked as she helped the girl to dust off her clothes.
"N-Nothing…"
"I'm sorry to have caused you any trouble." She said softly. So softly that Kaoru had to strain her ears to hear her. The girl kept her gaze to the ground and she folded her hands in front of her. Her eyes were blank and expressionless, Kaoru couldn't read the emotions that were inside of them.
"Oh, it's no trouble…" Kaoru smiled nervously and then looked at Kenshin crossly. "Yo, Kenshin! Say something!"
"Huh? OH!… Yes, no trouble at all!" Kenshin shook himself free from the initial shock of meeting someone who looked so incredibly like Tomoe. Even her expression, it was eerie and gave him shivers. That same emptiness in her eyes, the sadness masked by beauty, the same fragrance… She was too much like her. Kenshin felt a dull pain in his chest that had faded away since the final fight with Enishi. He had just decided to put that whole past behind him and be happy with Kaoru, why so suddenly, did this have to happen?
"Don't be stupid…" He bit his lip and clenched his fists. "She's a completely different person, she's not Tomoe, not her ghost, not anyone but a normal person…"
"What are you doing out here so late at night?" Kaoru asked her.
"Oh, just walking…" she looked up at the moon with a melancholy air, "It's a beautiful night for a walk, with the full moon and everything."
"Yes, well, we'll walk you back home! Where do you live?" Kaoru asked.
The girl looked up at her almost as if she was in a daze. "Home?" She closed her eyes and smiled slightly. "I can't go back home."
"Nani?" Kaoru and Kenshin exchanged looks. Kaoru was beginning to get worried because it was unlike Kenshin to be so quiet when a person was in distress. Especially when it was a girl.
The girl shook her head. "I don't want to bother you with my problems. Thank you again for your help. But, I should be going." She bowed to them both and then turned to walk away.
"Wait a sec!" It was Kenshin that finally spoke, the girl stopped and turned her head. Kenshin looked at Kaoru, who instantly understood and nodded her approval.
"If you don't have a place to stay, then you're welcome to stay at our dojo for the night." Kaoru offered. "It's not exactly a five star hotel, but you'll get a clean bed and a warm meal. Please say yes."
The girl turned again to face them. "You would do that for me? I don't want to be a burden."
Kenshin smiled and shook his head. "No burden. Please, let us help you." He held out his hand to her and the girl looked down at it then up at the kind rurouni's face. Kaoru could see a faint glimmer of hope in her eyes as she smiled slightly and took Kenshin's hand.
"Again, thank you very much." And that was the last thing she said as they walked back towards the dojo in perfect silence.
"She's asleep now. I checked and Yahiko is back and asleep too."
"Good…"
"Kenshin…"
"Hai?"
"What's bothering you?"
Kenshin looked up at her wide-eyed and Kaoru folded her arms.
"I know that something is bothering you. You're only quiet when you're deeply thinking about something… or distraught."
Kenshin took a deep breath and leaned against the railing. "That girl, I was stunned at first, now I'm just confused. But-she looks exactly like Tomoe."
"Tomoe?" Kaoru bit her lip, looking at Kenshin intensely. He just kept his eyes closed, not showing her what he was thinking.
"Hai, Tomoe looks just like her. Everything about her, the haircut, the melancholy look in her eyes, her quiet air, and her fragrance… the only difference is that Tomoe is dead. This girl could be her ghost."
"But, that's absurd! It's got to be just coincidence." Kaoru clutched the sleeves of her kimono tighter.
"I know, but I still get an uneasy feeling when I see her. It's like Tomoe's ghost has come back to haunt me."
"That's unreal… it's unreal!" Kaoru laughed nervously. "I'm going to bed, I'm going to worry about it in the morning. You should do the same." She turned to go but stopped as she felt a slight tug on the arm of her kimono.
She turned to see Kenshin's smiling face as he embraced her and kissed her softly.
"You're right, goodnight Kaoru."
&nbs;p It looked as if the day was no different from any other normal day. She stepped off the porch and walked over to Kenshin.
"Good morning!" She said.
"Good morning Kaoru!" Kenshin said happily as he wrung out a shirt. Yahiko heard that and stopped in mid swing.
"Huh? What did you just call her Kenshin?" Yahiko said bewildered.
"Not for kids like you to understand!" Kaoru grinned and patted him on the head as she walked by him.
"Kids…." Yahiko growled as he whirled around and landed his wooden sword smack on her head.
"OUCH! YAHIKOOO!!"
"DON'T CALL ME NO DAMN KID UGLY!"
"DON'T CALL ME UGLY!" Kaoru growled as she picked him up by the neck of his gi.
Kenshin sighed heavily as the two rolled around biting and kicking in a cloud of dust. "Just like any other day." He smiled to himself.
"YAHIKOOO!! COME BACK HERE I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS YOU MADE ME GET MY KIMONO ALL DIRTY!"
Yahiko had broken free from the fight and was running at top speed. Kaoru struggled to her feet to follow but was interrupted by a laugh. She stopped and looked up to see the dark haired girl from the other night standing outside of her room. She smiled slightly and stepped down and began walking towards her. Kaoru got up and dusted herself off.
"Good morning!" She said slightly embarrassed. "Sorry you had to see that."
"Don't apologize." She said quietly. "Thank you again for letting me stay the night. It's very generous of you. "
"Oh, it's nothing…" Kaoru smiled. "If you really don't have anywhere to stay, stay here until you can find a place."
"You are really much to kind."
"Oh! You never told me your name. My name is Kamiya Kaoru."
"Yoshimitsu Hotaru."
"Hotaru-san… Welcome to the Kamiya Dojo." She gestured to Kenshin still doing the laundry, not looking up at the two of them once. "That red head there with the scar is Himura Kenshin."
"Himura Kenshin…" She repeated distantly.
Kaoru studied the Hotaru's face closely, but her sad eyes never changed. She simply walked over to him and bowed. "Thank you very much for saving me last night Himura-san."
"H-Hai…" was all that Kenshin could manage to say, he looked up at her and smiled. The white plums scent wouldn't leave his nostrils.
"And that brat that you saw just run away was Myojin Yahiko… he'll be back. He's probably skipped out on his chores again like last time." Kaoru said with her hands on her hips. "When I get my hands on that kid I'm gonna wring his neck!"
"I would like to help you with the chores."
Kaoru blinked and looked over at Hotaru. Her face was completely solemn. Kaoru smiled and nodded.
"I appreciate the help, but you're our guest, I wouldn't imagine making you work."
"No, I have no money to pay for my staying here, I would like to repay you somehow for your hospitality. So, I would like to help with the chores."
"Err-well, if you insist. Thank you for offering. But first…" She eyed Hotaru's dirty and torn kimono… "Let me get you a change of clothes. Kenshin's doing the laundry, so I'm sure he can wash that kimono for you."
"She's like Soujirou used to be… I can't read her emotions at all… instead of happiness, she's just melancholy."
Kaoru tapped Kenshin on the shoulder and he turned to face her.
"Kenshin, I'm going to town to buy tofu…" She said cheerfully.
"Hai Kaoru. I may go fishing later when I'm done with the laundry." Kenshin said.
"Ok! Catch us something to eat for lunch today! I'll be back by then."