Disclaimer: Loved RK since before i knew algebra. Still don't own it after 18 years.
Canon-verse. Jinchuu arc. Thoughts in italics.
—
"But, I want... I want to stay with you, Kenshin."
He did not answer, does not even blink. He stares at her wide-eyed like she just made an unbelievable joke.
*th-thump*
Kaoru doesn't understand what came over her. It was one thing to banter with Kenshin, laughing good-naturedly at the kids' opinions of his height — after all, they needed a bit of relief from the tension Enishi brought with his challenge — but to suddenly offer her heart was beyond her own comprehension.
*th-thump*
Do I take it back? All the times we are together, we both avoid sensitive, emotional topics, to the point of my brushing off his bloody past and he, pretending to be obtuse to my infatuation.
*th-thump*
Do i deny what I said?
Kaoru shifted on her feet. Her sandals barely made a sound, but the silence on the street was deafening; the chasm between her confession and his nonanswer, immeasurable.
*th-thump*
He's looking at her direction but his eyes are well-hidden behind his hair. He is also waiting, thinking, perhaps, of how to answer her.
*th-thump*
Is he as surprised as I am? We are essentially strangers to each other and yet I feel like I've known him for as long as I remember.
The wind swirled leaves on their feet, though stirring neitherfrom their stance. A blush fought its way up her cheeks, struggling to liberate its owner from feelings kept silent for so long.
*th-thump*
Baka! He's too kind to reject my feelings directly and he's thinking of a way to say it without hurting me. After all, he never said he loved me or if he even wants to stay like i wish him to...
*th-thump*
"Sessha..."
He's going to say "I'm sorry but I don't feel the same way." Or worse, laugh and remind me that he is rurouni. I remember how he looked like after telling Tomoe-san's story... Their story...
Her clothes felt too tight, making her gasp a little. Or was that her heart being crushed by his all too quiet regard?
I have to...
*th-thump*
"Go-Gomen! Nan demo nai! Forget it!" The almost strangled laugh bursts out of her.
"We're going to need all our strength for tomorrow. We'd better get back. I'm sure everyone's worried about..."
Kaoru brushed past him, thinking to pass off the one-way conversation — one-way love— as a mere lapse in judgment, a brief glimpse of the storm in her heart. Nan demo nai. It doesn't matter. To him perhaps. To her someday, after some years, as well. But it hurt too much now so she resisted shaking his answer out of him.
—
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