Ruri's A Ripple in Calm Waters

    "Ah Kenshin-san I found you."

    He turned to see Aki standing under the tree. "She fell asleep." Kenshin said turning away from Aki to look at Kaoru with unmasked love.

    "Sanosuke and Yahiko made grilled fish today. They’re ready to eat, you and Kaoru-chan were the only ones missing." Aki said advancing forward as if to take Kaoru away from him.

    Kenshin suppressed a sigh and hiding as much emotion as he could, said, "If you don’t mind Akira-dono, I’d like to carry Kaoru-dono back."

    He gently took her in his arms and rose. Kaoru sighed in her sleep and nestled her face in his neck. Her gentle breathing lightly tickling Kenshin’s neck. His heart wrenched at the thought of one day losing her. He looked down at the sleeping form and knew that stealing a kiss from her was wrong. But he leaned down and gently as softly as he could, brushed her lips with his.

    "Want to come with us?" Kaoru asked. She looked at him with a small smile.

    He shook his head and said with a practiced smile, "That’s all right Kaoru-dono."

    Kaoru nodded, "All right." she said.

    Akira was holding the gate open. He smiled at Kenshin and said, "Its all right, I’ll get her home safe and sound." he waved and closed the gate behind her.

    Kenshin sighed, he had gotten better at controlling his feelings, but at the same time all the pent up feelings were building up waiting to explode. He hoped that he was gone before that would happen. He wouldn’t be able to stand the look on her face if his feelings did come through. He smiled another practiced smile at Sano and said, "You going gambling?"

    Sano paused and looked at Kenshin for a moment. Kenshin realized that even though his masks  fooled Kaoru it didn’t fool Sano. Sano rose, "As much as I’d like to stay Kenshin, I finally managed to convince Fox-lady er Megumi to go and eat dinner with me at the Akabeko." Sano said. "This time I won money in gambling." he chuckled a bit nervously, "I suppose its a sign."

    Kenshin looked down, "Ahhh, you should go. You might not get another chance."

    Sano glanced at Kenshin and said, "Before I go, I ask again, do you really believe he’s just her good friend?"

    He looked up and met Sano’s eyes, "If its what she tells me, I believe her."

    Sano nodded and left with a wave. "I admire your belief in Jou-chan’s words. Ja."

    Kenshin watched as the door of the gate closed. With Kaoru-dono with Seira-dono and Akira-dono, Sano with Megumi, and Yahiko off trying to win Tsubame’s affections, he was alone. He shook his head, Yahiko didn’t need to win Tsubame’s affections, he already had them.

    It was these moments that he hated being alone most. In fact being alone was what he hated but had to accept. He was a ruroni, a wandering samurai that did not want to involve anybody. He didn’t expect that when he accepted Kaoru’s request that he would involve himself.

    He sighed again, the day was long and tiring, he decided to sleep early and take advantage of extra time. Most importantly if he slept he wouldn’t torture himself with thoughts of her. He lay in bed wondering what it would be like to hold her in his arms again. The last time he held her was before he left for Kyoto. He found himself longing to hold her again. He turned on his side and stared at the extra futon space imagining her warm body next to his, his head on her chest listening to her heartbeat. Each beat a beautiful reminder that she was alive and in his arms. Kenshin shook his head, since when had he become sentimental? But the image of Kaoru sleeping next to him was so strong, he wanted it to be real.

    He had some idea what the risks were when he closed that dojo door so long ago, but he never expected gambling his heart away. He never expected this sort of outcome to happen. He was always bad at gambling, he knew that.

    He reasoned with himself that he was too old for her, but somehow Akira-dono made him annoyed. But why? You said yourself you were too old for her and Akira is your answer to that argument, he thought sadly, he is young and can provide for her. He also knew that he had no future, what kind of life could he give her? One full of danger, madness, and laundry? No, she needed someone that could bring her students and business. Akira-dono’s school of kendo with Kaoru’s school of kendo would make sure she was comfortable.

    But somehow, with a twist of bittersweet irony, his reasoning told him that he could not live with out her. Survive yes, but live, truly live as he had when she was around him? For over ten years he slept alone. Kenshin realized how lonely it was, no one to wake up next to in the morning. No one to watch fall asleep or talk to at night, not that he did much talking. Kenshin sighed and got out of bed unable to sleep. He silently slipped out of his room and decided to sit out in the cold night air. "Kaoru . . ." he whispered. And again he thought about what he could offer her, what he had in terms of a future. He fell asleep watching the moon hide behind clouds and reappear again.

    Kenshin woke up to the sounds of Yahiko’s practicing. He glanced to his right to look into the dojo. Yahiko was practicing a move. In the background watching him carefully was Akira in a white gi and a black hakama. He watched as Yahiko finished the move and glanced at Akira for approval.

    Akira nodded, "Good, now do that fifty times, then we can move on."

    Yahiko nodded and started the move over again.

    "I hope I’m not working you too hard." Akira said.

    "Oh no, Kaoru makes me do a move at least 100 times and then if she’s mad 500."

    Akira chuckled. "She’s doing it for your own good."

    "Of course I get more exercise when I insult her and she chases me with her bokken." Yahiko huffed.

    Akira laughed, "Kaoru-chan always did have a fiery temper."

    Kenshin turned his head away at the easy manner that Akira used when talking about Kaoru. He had to remind himself that it was because Akira was her childhood friend. Akira had more pleasant memories to share with her. Compared to his own bloody, life threatening moments. He looked down in sadness and guilt. He realized he was staring down at a blanket. How could someone wrap a blanket around him with out him sensing? He always slept in that state of consciousness and sleep.

    "Ohayou Kenshin."

    He looked up and saw Kaoru smile at him. She held a tray of food in her hands. "Ohayou Kaoru-dono."

    "I woke up early today and saw that you were asleep. You looked so tired and the morning air was cold so I placed a blanket around you." she said as she set the tray down next to him.

    "Ahhh." he said as he reached for the miso and saw that the tofu was cut badly. He hid a smile behind the bowl when he realized that she had cooked for him. He also managed to not choke on her miso that was too strong and salty.

    She sat next to him and looked up at the sky and said, "Tomorrow is New Years."

    Kenshin said, "I know." New years to him meant sad memories, but this year it meant something else. He glanced at Kaoru and then put his empty bowl down and said, "I’m probably going to go pray at the shrine in the hills."

    Kaoru nodded, "I plan to do that too and see to my father’s grave."

    Kenshin ate the fish despite its suspicious burned look. A movement caught his eye and he turned to see Kaoru looking at him. He looked into her eyes and waited for her to speak. "Ne, Kenshin, I-"

    "Kaoru-chan! Ohayou!" Akira said as he popped around the corner. He was still in his gi and hakama.

    Kaoru turned and said, "Ohayou Aki-kun."

    "Come see what Yahiko learned. He’s got great potential."

    "If only he could use that potential to practice instead of insulting me." she muttered.

    Akira laughed, "He mentioned that."

    "Let’s see what he’s doing wrong." Kaoru said.

    "I heard that Ugly!" Yahiko said from the dojo.

    "What did you call me!?" she shouted as she shot up and grabbed Akira’s bokken. She disappeared around the corner.

    Kenshin sighed and pushed the tray away. He suddently lost his appetite. He decided a walk seemed like a better option.

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