Summary:
Kenshin left the orphanage after being adopted by Hiko. Before he left, he swore to a little girl, Kaoru that he would come back for her. However he found her gone when he went back there after eight years. A twist of fate brought them back together, at the Mystic bookshop, which belongs to Misao and Soujiro. Kenshin made another promise to Kaoru. But a grave mistake he did in the past caused complications to arise… Could Kenshin keep his promise? Or was he destined to break it again?

Part one: A promise broken..
"Kenshin!" A young girl, roughly about eight years old ran to him.

The fourteen years old Kenshin smiled as he glanced at the girl, noticing that her hands were hidden at the back. "Kaoru-dono, what do you have there?"

"Kenshin, I have something to give you. Close your eyes." Kaoru said, with her dark blue eyes sparkling with excitement. "Come on Kenshin! Close your eyes." Her smile brightened when the boy who was six years her senior did as he was told. "Stretch out your hand." She said, and placed something into his palm. "Now you can open your eyes."

She watched his violet eyes widened before softening. "Thank you Kaoru-dono." He admired the miniature dog that was placed into his hands. "It's really thoughtful of you to get this for me."

"Iie! It's your birthday today. Remember?" Kaoru smiled. She knew that he would love the present.

Kenshin paused for a moment. "What date is it today? Don't tell me it's 20 June?"

Kaoru's laughter filled the air. "Kenshin baka! Today is your birthday. Or you are telling me that you forgotten?"

Kenshin hesitated. He had completely forgotten about it. But then, he was too preoccupied with the upcoming change in his life that he neglected everything else, including Kaoru. "Thank you for remembering. Your birthday will be coming up soon as well right?" He watched her smiled, nodding her head vigorously. "What do you want then?"

He observed that Kaoru looked down at the floor, shifting her weight alternately between her two legs as she tried to voice her thoughts. "Erm… I was thinking next week, perhaps you could take me out to the funfair that will come to town."

Guilt filled Kenshin's heart, a feeling of dread descended upon him. "Kaoru-dono. I don't think I would be able to do it."

Kaoru quickly looked up. "Why?" Kaoru asked softly.

"Because…" Kenshin scratched his head awkwardly. "Kaoru-dono, you are a very nice girl. And you know I like you right?" Kaoru nodded her head, this time slowly, waiting to see what he was going to say next.

"However, I will be going away."

"Where will you be going?" Kaoru cried out as she ran closer to him and looked up, her eyes were filled with tears.

Kenshin lifted up his hand and brushed the tear away. "I am adopted by Hiko Seijurou. I am moving to Tokyo in two days time." He swore that he saw her eyes darkened in fury before bursting out in tears. "Kaoru-dono…"

"BAKA BAKA BAKA!!" Kaoru screamed as she pounded her fist against his stomach. "Baka Kenshin!"

Kenshin stood there, allowing her to hit him and then cry on his shirt as he brought her closer to him and stroke her hair. When she finally quietened down, he said. "I promise that we will keep in contact alright?"

Kaoru shook her head. "I want to follow you! Kenshin, I like you!"

Kenshin laughed. "I like you too Kaoru-dono. But Hiko-san only adopted me."

"Then I want you to adopt me!"

Kenshin stopped laughing, realizing how much Kaoru will miss him. "Ma, ma." Kenshin said softly. "Kaoru-dono. We promised once that we will always be together right?" Kaoru nodded her head. "Then when I grow up, I will come back here to Edo to and bring you to Tokyo."

"Promise?"

"Yes, promise." Kenshin said, sticking out his baby finger.

Kaoru glanced at the finger and broke into a sad smile, grabbing his finger with her own and shook it. "Promise! Kenshin, don't ever break it!"

"I won't" Kenshin returned the sad smile with his own.

Eight years later

Kenshin arrived to the orphanage that he stayed during his first fourteen years of his life, fulfilling his promise he made to a young girl. He stepped into the compound, his flaming red hair neatly tied, wearing a maroon polo t-shirt with white pants.

"Kenshin!" A voice caught his attention. "What brought you back here?"

"Shura-chan." Kenshin turned and smiled at her. "I was searching for Kaoru-dono."

Shura paused for a moment. "You are still so formal with her. She practically regarded you as her elder brother."

"Yes." Was all Kenshin said, waiting for Shura to say the rest.

Shura hesitated. "She left the orphanage."

"Pardon?"

"She was adopted a year after you left. Rest assured that she joined a very nice family Kenshin." Shura added when she saw his face fell.

"Do you have any idea where she went?"

Shura shook her head. "Not at all."

"Thanks." Kenshin said as he walked away.

Shura hesitated for a moment before shouting at the retreating figure, thinking it wouldn't be nice for her to forget what Kenshin had done. "Thank you Kenshin, for donating to the orphanage." But she didn't get any response from him, none at all. For Kenshin was upset that he might never be able to see Kaoru again…

Hey! This story is linked to 'Read my Lips'. There will be a few events being overlapped here. It would be provided by a different POV of course. So, I hope you would enjoy this story! Take care and God Bless!

Joyful-x