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Kenshin woke up and blinked at his surroundings. It was the first time he had to orient himself. He had never slept so deeply or comfortably in a long time. It was also warm beneath the covers. Pillowed on his arm slept a beautiful woman. He smiled, "Kaoru..." he whispered silently. He reveled in the thought that he could finally openly love her. He watched her sleep peacefully. He gently kissed her on the lips.
Kaoru opened her eyes and smiled, "Ohayou, Kenshin."
"Ohayou, Kaoru." he whispered lovingly.
She smiled brightly at his response and touched his face, "It wasn’t a dream."
"Nope." he confirmed.
"Were you trying to steal a kiss, Kenshin?" she asked.
"Oro?"
She smiled mysteriously, "Because if you did I need to steal one from you." and she promptly dragged his head down for a kiss. Kenshin chuckled and obligingly gave it to her.
They lay in companionable silence in each other’s arms. Kenshin marveled at the fact that Kaoru was in his arms. It registered only one thing in his heart. Safe. When she was in his arms she was safe. He had fought so many enemies in the past but the hardest enemy he had to face was Kaoru’s rejection. Now nothing could stop him from returning to her arms at the end of the day.
Kaoru smiled at the possessiveness in his embrace. She sighed and let him hold her that way. It meant one thing, Kaoru was his. She looked into his eyes and she saw it. His eyes said, ‘mine.’ Kaoru blinked slowly as if responding.
Both said nothing that morning, keeping their beautiful secret to themselves for the time being. They wished this moment would go on forever. Kaoru tucked safely in Kenshin’s arms under the safe cocoon the blankets made around them.
"We should get up," Kaoru said half heartedly.
"Hai." he echoed, she caught the strains of a touch of sadness in his voice. It was as if he was reluctant to leave their tiny perfect world. She smiled secretly and gently kissed him. She got up first and opened the door to find two trays set out obviously for them. "Aré?" she asked as she looked down at the trays not fully understanding the meaning of the two trays standing side by side.
"It was about time you two got up!" Yahiko said.
"Oi, Yahiko, leave them alone." Sano said gruffly.
Kaoru felt her face go warm. She desperately searched for a quick sarcastic answer to Yahiko’s statement. At that moment Yahiko went silent. She felt Kenshin’s callused hand take hers. She smiled secretly and leaned into him.
They both realized that sharing their secret gave them more joy.
Akira opened the gate to see Kaoru and Kenshin together. He smiled sadly, "At least one of us has found happiness."
"Mou! Sano all you do is beg for food." she said as she handed him another bowl of rice. She looked up and saw Akira, "Aki-kun!" she said and put her bowl down. She walked up to him and said, "Well?"
He shook his head sadly, "I might as well give up." Suddently his vision was filled with stars.
Kaoru tossed the bokken to the side, "Idiot, are you going to give up just like that?"
"I can’t find her, Kaoru-chan, I’ve searched everywhere."
Kaoru felt a hand on her shoulder, "I’ll go look for you, Akira-dono." Kenshin said.
Akira looked at Kenshin, "Thank you." he said.
"But Akira’s searched everywhere." Kaoru said.
Kenshin smiled, "Seira-dono is like me." and turned away.
"Let me go with you." Kaoru said.
Kenshin shook his head, "Stay here." he said then turned to Akira, "Make sure she doesn’t follow me." he looked back at Kaoru and tenderly placed a hand at her cheek then left the dojo.
Kaoru turned to Akira, "Have you eaten?"
Akira shook his head, "I don’t want to."
"You’re eatting." she said and dragged him.
Seira took one last look at Tokyo and stepped into the train car.
"Akira-dono has been looking for you." a voice said.
"I know." she said and turned. "But he belongs to someone else." realization hit her, "How did you find me?"
"You aren’t the only one with a past, Seira-dono." he said. "But that isn’t why I came." he took her bag and stepped off the train. He turned to see her. "Come, I have something to show you."
"But the train-" Seira said as she trailed him.
"At least listen to me before you leave. I’m like you, rememer?"
"But-"
"You have to at least honor that Seira-dono."
Seira bowed her head, "All right, I’ll listen."
He led her to a grove of trees and walked towards the center. She was thankful that he didn’t take her to Akira’s home. Seira noticed how peaceful the grove seemed. He stopped in a clearing in the middle of the grove. There was a ring of stumps. They looked as if they were cut by man. She noticed a few slashes on the sides of the trunk and realized that they were from a katana. She looked up at him. "Kenshin-san what is this?"
"This is where I let out my frustrations. When it was too hard to keep a straight face or when seeing Kaoru talk to Akira-dono, I came here and vented my frustrations."
"Kaoru?" she said. She sat down on a stump.
Kenshin looked at a stump and said, "Last night I almost left like you, but last night I found the answer to my prayers." There was a new look in Kenshin’s eyes. They were his real emotions. He no longer held them back. "She loves me, Seira," he said unable to hide the happiness in his voice. "I almost walked away from the person I love most."
"But, where does this leave me? Or you?" she said. "Even if she does love you what now?"
"Don’t walk away from the man you love, Seira-dono." Kenshin said.
Seira shook her head, "I have to."
"If that’s what your decision is then at least promise me you’ll say goodbye to him before you leave."
Seira looked down at her hands. She could at least say goodbye to him before she left his life. He deserved at least that. She sighed and said, "I’ll say goodbye." she openned her eyes and noticed that she was alone.
"He took my things!" she exclaimed and realized what Kenshin had forced her to do.
Kaoru felt a hand take hers. She turned and saw Kenshin put his finger to his lips and gently tugged her to come with him. She glanced at Aki who sat on the steps forlorn and heartbroken. She silently slipped around the corner and whispered, "Did you find her?"
Kenshin nodded and put Seira’s bag against the wall. "She’ll come." he said and wrapped his arms around her. He could have been like Seira, and Kaoru. . . she could have been like Akira.
"I understand what Akira is going through." she said softly, "When you said goodbye to me that night it broke my heart." she said, "I refused to get up, eat, or do anything. I was in shock."
"I. I. I didn’t know this happened." he said. "I’m so sorry, Kaoru."
Kaoru looked up at him, "Its all over now. No need to be sorry about the past."
He nodded and kissed the top of her head. They both waited silently for Seira to say goodbye.
Seira took a deep breath before she pushed the Kamiya gate open.
"Seira!" Akira cried out taking her in his arms.
"I’m sorry." she said.
He shook his head, "You came back."
She tried to pull away but he held her tight, "Promise me you’ll never leave me." he said.
"But-"
"Seira. . ." he sounded serious. She looked up at him.
"Promise me you’ll never leave me." he said.
She looked up at Aki and said, "I’m sorry. I can’t." she said. She wanted to reach up and touch his face, "I will, I will never forget my time with you or your kindness." she said quickly. She gently pulled away. Akira made no attempt to keep her in his arms. Seira felt as if she was dying. "Goodbye." she said as she ran away from him.
As she ran away she heard the faint words, "But I love you." Seira froze and turned. Akira was kneeling on the ground.
"I love you," he whispered as he reached for her, "It's you I want to marry."
"But that conversation on New Year’s day-" she stopped when she realized what she said.
"I was telling Kenshin that Kaoru loved him," he said approaching her.
"But the way you said it. . ." Seira said she was standing still.
"I see the hint failed in more ways than one." he said and touched her face. "Marry me, Seira." he said softly. "Make me the happiest man in the world."
She looked up at him. For a split second Akira thought she’d say no.
"Hai!" she exclaimed as she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.