=Author's Note=
My very first anime fic ever. Please don't be too harsh. I'll be honest,
I've yet to actually see this series, but I can't wait. ^__^
=Disclaimer= I do not own any of the characters from Rurouni Kenshin.
----------------------------- Chapter 1 -----------------------------
The room was entirely enveloped by the settling darkness of the night. The only indication of light came from the rising moon, which shone through the window, bathing her upturned face in a milky white glow.
"Kaoru-dono?" Taking her silence as a gesture to continue, "You missed dinner and Sessha was worried th-" He was interrupted by a quiet, "Daijoubu, Kenshin." He sensed the sudden hesitance in her voice as his name left her lips; as if it pained her to say it. Bowing his head slightly, he accepted her unspoken dismissal and began to slide her door shut. What stopped him was something anyone else, without years of training and experience as he had had, would've missed. It was the sound of a teardrop hitting the wooden floor.
Kaoru was crying.
Kenshin quickly made his way over to the petite figure huddled by the window and knelt beside her. Pulling her into his embrace, he rubbed her back gently, murmuring words of comfort. "What is it, Kaoru?" Inwardly, the young girl smiled briefly at the dropping of the honorific.
"It's nothing." She wanted nothing more than to just stay right where she was, safe and secure in his arms. To feel the beating of his heart and the whispering of sweet promises.
"Iie. You're crying. Tell me, please?" The unspoken words were there. It was just like him to always want to make things better for her, to protect her. You couldn't solve my problems this time, Kenshin, Kaoru thought sadly. How could you take away the pain when you're the one who caused it? Reluctantly, she pulled away and looked up, trying to muster a smile. Kenshin wiped away her tears, gazing at her in concern, unaware of the open tenderness that had surfaced in his eyes.
Remainders of tears clung to her soft dark lashes, framing those beautiful azure eyes that drew him in with their childlike innocence. Kaoru. Sweet pure Kaoru, Kenshin thought as he brushed her damp eyes with his lips, tasting the saltiness of her sorrow. She clung to him. And almost reluctantly tilted her face up, as he continued to press soft kisses all over, slowly making his way towards her mouth. Kaoru's breathing quickened rapidly as he inched nearer, her eyes closed contently, beckoning him . . . and then suddenly he was being pushed away.
"Oro?" Kenshin lay sprawled on the floor, a nice big sweatdrop forming on the back of his head as he glanced over at Kaoru in confusion. She was watching him with a look of despair on her face. He could tell she was mentally berating herself for shoving him. "Kaoru-dono?" She seemed to stiffen slightly and turned away from him, but not before he caught the expression of pain flare within her eyes.
"Please go." He reached over, touching her arm, but she pulled away as if stung. "Please, Kenshin! Leave me alone." A mixture of bewilderment and hurt flashed in the rurouni's eyes for a moment, but then he stood and reluctantly made his way out of her room.
With a glance at the closed door, Kaoru turned her gaze back out the window, allowing more tears to roll down her face. He was always drawing her in and then pushing her away. Things would never change. It was always the same. He would comfort her, hold and kiss her, but then the next day, if would be as if nothing had happened. She wanted to take her bokken and wallop some sense into that incredibly dense head of his, but it wouldn't do any good. She'd done it a couple of times, but in the end, without even asking why, Kenshin would just apologize profusely for upsetting her. She just didn't know if she'd be able to deal with it anymore. Kenshin could protect her from all the evils in the world, but there was one thing that he couldn't protect her from: himself.
The befuddled redhead sat on the porch, leaning against the wall not too far from Kaoru's room. Millions of thoughts ran through his mind. What was wrong with Kaoru? Why had she been crying? Why all the pain? Having been close enough to her, Kenshin remembered the strong mixture of emotions that she had emitted through her ki. There had been so much unbalance that it had made him dizzy and he had had to shut himself off from it in order to focus on the girl in front of him. She'd always been open with him, but lately she'd been shutting him out. Her rejection towards him tonight had been a slap to the face. He couldn't understand it. Where had he gone wrong? Kaoru . . . Doushite?
~*~*~*~*~*~
The sun had just risen, indicating the start of a new day. Golden red rays of warmth washed over the rurouni's face, waking him from his troubled lumber. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, but the soft sound of a shoji door being opened and closed caught his attention. Kenshin's eyes fluttered open just in time to see a familiar figure quietly padding away. That was odd, she was never usually up this early. "Kaoru-dono?" She stopped in midstride, frozen as if a child caught with her hand in a cookie jar. Without turning to look at him, Kaoru mumbled a quick "Ohayou Kenshin", and began walking again. "Are you going out?" Come back and talk to me! Don't shut me out, Kaoru!, Kenshin pleaded silently.
"Hai." Kaoru paused, calling over her shoulder, "I won't be back till late so don't wait up for me." Then before he could ask her anymore questions, she quickly made her way towards the gate and disappeared from view. Dumbly, Kenshin stared after her, wondering where she was off to in such a hurry, especially at this early in the day. Several moments later, in midst of preparing breakfast for Yahiko, it dawned on him that Kaoru had been wearing one of her good kimonos, the ones she reserved for special occasions only. Today wasn't her birthday nor was there any kind of festival that he was aware of. Although a part of him reminded him that Kaoru deserved her privacy and wasn't a child anymore, his curiosity won over. Besides, Yahiko wouldn't be waking up for another hour or so. With that in mind, Kenshin dashed out of the dojo, trying to catch a glimpse of the young woman. She couldn't have gotten that far in such a short amount of time, and he knew he'd had been correct when he spotted the tiny retreating fleck in the distance.
Kaoru walked along the road quietly and slowly, lost in her own thoughts. Had she been more alert, she would've noticed a certain rurouni following her. As she drew near a small building, she managed to shake her head clear of her worries and entered in search of a particular lady doctor.
Sitting from his branch on a tree, Kenshin recognized the building that Kaoru had disappeared into as the clinic where Megumi worked. His curiosity increased as he waited quietly, watching the door. His patience was rewarded moments later, as the two woman came out together, chatting. Megumi waved before re-entering the clinic and Kaoru turned back towards the road, causing Kenshin's breath to catch in his throat as he caught a full glimpse of her. The usual ponytail had been let loose and swept up into a smooth bun, held in place by a pair of black glossy chopsticks and she was wearing make up, probably courtesy of Megumi. This wasn't the first time he'd seen her dressed up, but it was quite rare so that each time he saw her, it was like the first.
Oh Kaoru-chan . . . where are you going?, he asked himself wistfully. Snapping out of his thoughts, he swiftly hopped from tree to tree, until she was in sight again. Kenshin jumped down and followed the young woman through the market, able to keep an eye on her amongst the increasing crowd of people. When he realized that her designation was the Akabeko, he slipped into the shadows of the alleyway that would lead to the back doors of the restaurant. From there, he could see and hear almost everything. Kaoru stood there, hands clasped in front, looking quiet and refined. He took a moment to look her over once more, noting how well the dark purple color of the kimono flattered her figure and made her eyes appear darker than they normally were.
So entranced by her appearance, Kenshin hadn't even noticed the presence of the young man that approached Kaoru. He was young, probably a year or two older than Kaoru, tall with short black hair. Had not the words, an indication of endearment spill from the strangers mouth, would Kenshin had given the situation a second thought. "Ohayou Kaoru-chan!" How dare he "chan" Kaoru?! Automatically, his hand reached for his sabbakattou, but froze midway as Kaoru's sweet voice reached his ears.
"Ohayou Ta-Chan." He then proceeded to watch in stunned silence, violet eyes narrowing as Kaoru, HIS Kaoru, slipped her hand into "Ta-Chan's" offered arm before the couple disappeared into the Akabeko.
Just what the HELL was going on here?
=Disclaimer= I do not own any of the characters from Rurouni Kenshin.
----------------------------- Chapter 1 -----------------------------
The room was entirely enveloped by the settling darkness of the night. The only indication of light came from the rising moon, which shone through the window, bathing her upturned face in a milky white glow.
"Kaoru-dono?" Taking her silence as a gesture to continue, "You missed dinner and Sessha was worried th-" He was interrupted by a quiet, "Daijoubu, Kenshin." He sensed the sudden hesitance in her voice as his name left her lips; as if it pained her to say it. Bowing his head slightly, he accepted her unspoken dismissal and began to slide her door shut. What stopped him was something anyone else, without years of training and experience as he had had, would've missed. It was the sound of a teardrop hitting the wooden floor.
Kaoru was crying.
Kenshin quickly made his way over to the petite figure huddled by the window and knelt beside her. Pulling her into his embrace, he rubbed her back gently, murmuring words of comfort. "What is it, Kaoru?" Inwardly, the young girl smiled briefly at the dropping of the honorific.
"It's nothing." She wanted nothing more than to just stay right where she was, safe and secure in his arms. To feel the beating of his heart and the whispering of sweet promises.
"Iie. You're crying. Tell me, please?" The unspoken words were there. It was just like him to always want to make things better for her, to protect her. You couldn't solve my problems this time, Kenshin, Kaoru thought sadly. How could you take away the pain when you're the one who caused it? Reluctantly, she pulled away and looked up, trying to muster a smile. Kenshin wiped away her tears, gazing at her in concern, unaware of the open tenderness that had surfaced in his eyes.
Remainders of tears clung to her soft dark lashes, framing those beautiful azure eyes that drew him in with their childlike innocence. Kaoru. Sweet pure Kaoru, Kenshin thought as he brushed her damp eyes with his lips, tasting the saltiness of her sorrow. She clung to him. And almost reluctantly tilted her face up, as he continued to press soft kisses all over, slowly making his way towards her mouth. Kaoru's breathing quickened rapidly as he inched nearer, her eyes closed contently, beckoning him . . . and then suddenly he was being pushed away.
"Oro?" Kenshin lay sprawled on the floor, a nice big sweatdrop forming on the back of his head as he glanced over at Kaoru in confusion. She was watching him with a look of despair on her face. He could tell she was mentally berating herself for shoving him. "Kaoru-dono?" She seemed to stiffen slightly and turned away from him, but not before he caught the expression of pain flare within her eyes.
"Please go." He reached over, touching her arm, but she pulled away as if stung. "Please, Kenshin! Leave me alone." A mixture of bewilderment and hurt flashed in the rurouni's eyes for a moment, but then he stood and reluctantly made his way out of her room.
With a glance at the closed door, Kaoru turned her gaze back out the window, allowing more tears to roll down her face. He was always drawing her in and then pushing her away. Things would never change. It was always the same. He would comfort her, hold and kiss her, but then the next day, if would be as if nothing had happened. She wanted to take her bokken and wallop some sense into that incredibly dense head of his, but it wouldn't do any good. She'd done it a couple of times, but in the end, without even asking why, Kenshin would just apologize profusely for upsetting her. She just didn't know if she'd be able to deal with it anymore. Kenshin could protect her from all the evils in the world, but there was one thing that he couldn't protect her from: himself.
The befuddled redhead sat on the porch, leaning against the wall not too far from Kaoru's room. Millions of thoughts ran through his mind. What was wrong with Kaoru? Why had she been crying? Why all the pain? Having been close enough to her, Kenshin remembered the strong mixture of emotions that she had emitted through her ki. There had been so much unbalance that it had made him dizzy and he had had to shut himself off from it in order to focus on the girl in front of him. She'd always been open with him, but lately she'd been shutting him out. Her rejection towards him tonight had been a slap to the face. He couldn't understand it. Where had he gone wrong? Kaoru . . . Doushite?
~*~*~*~*~*~
The sun had just risen, indicating the start of a new day. Golden red rays of warmth washed over the rurouni's face, waking him from his troubled lumber. His eyes were still heavy with sleep, but the soft sound of a shoji door being opened and closed caught his attention. Kenshin's eyes fluttered open just in time to see a familiar figure quietly padding away. That was odd, she was never usually up this early. "Kaoru-dono?" She stopped in midstride, frozen as if a child caught with her hand in a cookie jar. Without turning to look at him, Kaoru mumbled a quick "Ohayou Kenshin", and began walking again. "Are you going out?" Come back and talk to me! Don't shut me out, Kaoru!, Kenshin pleaded silently.
"Hai." Kaoru paused, calling over her shoulder, "I won't be back till late so don't wait up for me." Then before he could ask her anymore questions, she quickly made her way towards the gate and disappeared from view. Dumbly, Kenshin stared after her, wondering where she was off to in such a hurry, especially at this early in the day. Several moments later, in midst of preparing breakfast for Yahiko, it dawned on him that Kaoru had been wearing one of her good kimonos, the ones she reserved for special occasions only. Today wasn't her birthday nor was there any kind of festival that he was aware of. Although a part of him reminded him that Kaoru deserved her privacy and wasn't a child anymore, his curiosity won over. Besides, Yahiko wouldn't be waking up for another hour or so. With that in mind, Kenshin dashed out of the dojo, trying to catch a glimpse of the young woman. She couldn't have gotten that far in such a short amount of time, and he knew he'd had been correct when he spotted the tiny retreating fleck in the distance.
Kaoru walked along the road quietly and slowly, lost in her own thoughts. Had she been more alert, she would've noticed a certain rurouni following her. As she drew near a small building, she managed to shake her head clear of her worries and entered in search of a particular lady doctor.
Sitting from his branch on a tree, Kenshin recognized the building that Kaoru had disappeared into as the clinic where Megumi worked. His curiosity increased as he waited quietly, watching the door. His patience was rewarded moments later, as the two woman came out together, chatting. Megumi waved before re-entering the clinic and Kaoru turned back towards the road, causing Kenshin's breath to catch in his throat as he caught a full glimpse of her. The usual ponytail had been let loose and swept up into a smooth bun, held in place by a pair of black glossy chopsticks and she was wearing make up, probably courtesy of Megumi. This wasn't the first time he'd seen her dressed up, but it was quite rare so that each time he saw her, it was like the first.
Oh Kaoru-chan . . . where are you going?, he asked himself wistfully. Snapping out of his thoughts, he swiftly hopped from tree to tree, until she was in sight again. Kenshin jumped down and followed the young woman through the market, able to keep an eye on her amongst the increasing crowd of people. When he realized that her designation was the Akabeko, he slipped into the shadows of the alleyway that would lead to the back doors of the restaurant. From there, he could see and hear almost everything. Kaoru stood there, hands clasped in front, looking quiet and refined. He took a moment to look her over once more, noting how well the dark purple color of the kimono flattered her figure and made her eyes appear darker than they normally were.
So entranced by her appearance, Kenshin hadn't even noticed the presence of the young man that approached Kaoru. He was young, probably a year or two older than Kaoru, tall with short black hair. Had not the words, an indication of endearment spill from the strangers mouth, would Kenshin had given the situation a second thought. "Ohayou Kaoru-chan!" How dare he "chan" Kaoru?! Automatically, his hand reached for his sabbakattou, but froze midway as Kaoru's sweet voice reached his ears.
"Ohayou Ta-Chan." He then proceeded to watch in stunned silence, violet eyes narrowing as Kaoru, HIS Kaoru, slipped her hand into "Ta-Chan's" offered arm before the couple disappeared into the Akabeko.
Just what the HELL was going on here?
