I got the inspiration for this story from a few songs that I had been listening to. I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Kenshin sat up from his bed and looked around; it was light outside, so he knew he had over slept. He stood slowly and walked into the kitchen. Yahiko had made breakfast for Kaoru and was just setting a plate out for Kenshin.
"Good morning, Kenshin!" the boy called as he was making eggs.
Kenshin smiled his fake smile and bowed his head, "Good morning, Yahiko. Good morning, Kaoru."
Kaoru looked over at him with a frown but shook her head and continued to eat. Yahiko soon set a plate of eggs, pancakes and bacon in front of Kenshin. He thanked Yahiko and went about eating in silence. Kaoru looked at Yahiko with a deep frown, and the boy returned her expression. Kenshin stood up and smiled; he didn't finish his food, barely touched it actually. He bowed and walked back down the hall to his bedroom. Yahiko sighed and sat in the empty seat, eating the rest of Kenshin's food.
"He's been like this since Sano left," Yahiko said.
Kaoru nodded, "It's been three years since Sanosuke went to America, and Kenshin's been this way since the letters and phone calls stopped."
"Yeah, but Sano's coming back today, isn't he?" Yahiko look up at her.
She nodded, "Kenshin doesn't know that though. Sanosuke wanted me to keep it quiet."
"How do you think Kenshin will react? I mean, Sano was his best friend and then left him without even a goodbye."
Kaoru sighed and rinsed her plate off, "I don't know. Knowing Kenshin, he'll fake happiness. He'll be hurt even more when Sanosuke comes back. Honestly, I think there's more than friendship in Kenshin's heart for that oaf."
Yahiko laughed, "It took you that long to notice?"
Kaoru glared at him and whacked him upside his head, "I've known for a while, you idiot. Why do you think I stopped my feelings for Kenshin? Geez, you sure are dumb, Yahiko."
"Whatever," Yahiko glared at her then smiled, "we should go wait for Sano at the train station."
Kaoru finished cleaning up the kitchen and nodded, "Yeah, he should be here soon. Leave a note for Kenshin, and we'll get going."
Yahiko scribbled out the note, and the two of them left to the train station.
Kenshin sat on the edge of his bed, looking through his photo album. He smiled sadly at the pictures of Sanosuke and felt a pull on his heart that he couldn't explain. He pulled the pictures of him and Sanosuke out of the album, setting the on the bed next to him. He set the booklet down and took the scissors in his hand. After three years… Kenshin picked up a photo of him and Sanosuke at the park; Sanosuke had his arm around Kenshin's shoulder and a goofy smile on his face. I still feel this way.… Kenshin bit his lip and cut the picture into small pieces, scattering them around his room. He won't come back…. He was about to cut another picture when he heard footsteps coming towards his room. He set the scissors on his desk with the other pictures and the booklet. There was a soft knock on his door, and Kenshin stood up to answer it. He opened the door slowly and looked up at the tall, brown haired man before him; Kenshin's eyes went wide.
"Hey," Sanosuke said with a smile and waved.
Yahiko waved at Sanosuke when he saw him get off the train. Sanosuke smiled and hugged Kaoru while Yahiko smiled.
"It's been a long time, Sanosuke," Kaoru looked up at him.
He smiled, "A hell of a long time, Kaoru. How have you two been?"
"I'm in college now," Yahiko started as the three of them started walking back to the house, "and it's not so bad."
Sanosuke ruffled his hair, "Well look at you, Yahiko. Good job!"
Kaoru smiled, "How have you been, Sanosuke?"
He smiled, "I've been okay, just trying to sort through everything going on in my life."
The rest of their walk home was silent. Kaoru and Yahiko were worrying about how Kenshin would react to seeing Sanosuke, and Sanosuke was worried about how he would react to seeing Kenshin after three long years. Sanosuke was brought out of his thoughts when Kaoru put her hand on his shoulder.
"Yahiko and I will bring you things to your room, okay? You go see Kenshin. He doesn't know you're back," she said, "so go catch up."
Sanosuke nodded and walked into the house after Kaoru and Yahiko. He walked slowly down the hallway, dread rising in his chest as he got closer to Kenshin's door. He stopped in front of the room and took a deep breath before knocking. He waited a few seconds until the door opened and he was greeted by red hair and soft blue eyes. Sanosuke smiled at his friend.
"Hey," he waved slightly.
Kenshin's breath caught in his chest as he looked up into brown eyes. Sanosuke…. He bit his lip, debating on what to do. He hadn't seen his friend in three years; Sanosuke had left without saying goodbye to Kenshin, and Kenshin had been hurting ever since. Kenshin looked down, tears threatening to fall.
"Kenshin?" Sanosuke tilted his head and reached out to touch Kenshin's cheek.
Kenshin took a step back and looked up at Sanosuke; his eyes flashed purple with anger and hatred. Sanosuke looked at him with wide eyes, and Kenshin slammed the door in his face, locking it.
Sanosuke stood outside the door for a few minutes then walked away with a frown on his face. He walked passed Yahiko and Kaoru on his way outside but ignored them. Yahiko tried to run after him but was stopped by Kaoru's hand on his shoulder. He looked back at her and noticed the sad expression on her face. Yahiko sighed and watched as Sanosuke left the house.
"They obviously didn't "catch up," huh?" he asked Kaoru.
She smiled sadly, "I think not. Kenshin's probably hurting and pushed Sanosuke away, thinking it's better that way. Kenshin needs to realize that Sanosuke's hurting too. It was hard for him to leave us all that day."
Yahiko nodded, "Yeah, but Sano didn't tell Kenshin why he left; he told us but didn't even say goodbye to Kenshin."
"I know," Kaoru sighed, "but we'll have to let them make up on their own, okay?"
Yahiko nodded sadly and went to the kitchen, looking for food.
Sanosuke walked down the path with his hands stuffed into his pockets. He was walking through the forest where he and Kenshin would go when they needed to relax and get away from everything. Sanosuke looked around at the trees with a sad smile; he hadn't been here in three years. He looked up at the sky, noticing the dark grey clouds. Sanosuke sighed and took a seat under one of the taller trees, hoping it would start raining on him; at least then the weather would match how he felt.
Kenshin stood in front of the sink in his bathroom; he was looking at himself in the mirror. He ran his finger over the X shaped scar on his left cheek and laughed. He stared at the mirror, biting his lip. Sanosuke left because of you; there's no other explanation. Why else would he say goodbye to everyone except you? He only came back because he feels pity for you. Himura Kenshin, you are pathetic. Kenshin couldn't get the voice in his head to stop; it kept telling him how pathetic he was and that he was why Sanosuke left. Kenshin couldn't listen to it anymore; he punched the mirror, shattering it. He fell to the floor with a whimper and held his wrist. He stared at the blood with fascination and picked up a from the broken mirror. He dragged the shard along his pale wrist, watching as more blood pooled on his skin. He made another cut but deeper and whimpered, dropping the shard. Kenshin stood up, looking at the blood flowing from his hand and arm. Shards from the mirror were stuck in his flesh; Kenshin stood, swaying slightly. He walked into his room, looking for tweezers and bandage, and suddenly collapsed onto the floor with a loud thud. He got to his knees just as there was a knock on his door.
"Kenshin?" said Kaoru, "Are you okay?"
"Y-Yes, Kaoru," Kenshin said, whimpering softly, "This one is okay."
She tried to open his door but found it locked. Kenshin stood slowly and opened the door for her, trying his best to hide his bloody hand and arm. Kaoru looked at him with a frown, but Kenshin continued to smile.
"Kenshin," she said quietly, "you should talk with Sanosuke."
Kenshin flinched slightly and swayed, "S-Sagara? Why do I-"
Kenshin fell forward against Kaoru, passing out. She held him up, looking at the blood on his arm and hand with wide eyes. She lay Kenshin down on his bed, trying her best not to get blood everywhere.
She ran out of the room and into the kitchen where Yahiko was eating. He looked up at her with a weird expression until he saw the blood on her. He jumped up with a questioning look on his face.
"Go find Sanosuke!" she shouted.
Yahiko nodded, not even questioning what had happened. He ran out into the rain and into the forest, knowing Sanosuke would be there. Kaoru grabbed some cloth and went back to Kenshin. She tried to stop the bleeding from his wrist, but it wouldn't clot. She sat on his bed with him and held a cloth over the cuts.
"Kenshin," she whispered, "what are you thinking?"
Oh no, poor Kenshin! I hope you enjoyed reading this story. If you did, leave me a review! Even if you didn't like it, leave me a review and tell me why you don't like it. I will update this story, hopefully, by the end of the weekend. I need to put up the next chapter of Heartache and Healing and An Angel Saviour. Bear with me while I try to update all three of my stories!
- GD