Disclaimer: Kenshin and all the characters within belong to Watsuki, Nobuhiro and not me!
Deceit
Despite all odds, their marriage had been a happy one. Having known each other since they were children they'd always held a deep rooted affection for each other, but for Kaoru her affection for him had always run deeper than his feelings for her.
She'd stood by him, supporting him in his relationship with Tomoe, never letting slip how much it tore her apart inside to see them together and she'd been the one to pick up the pieces after Tomoe had left his heart bruised and broken.
Her heart ran away with her the first time he'd kissed her and even though in her head she knew she was being used, she'd kissed him back anyway. Tender and sweet, he'd been so gentle she'd wanted to cry, because she'd felt his love in that kiss, but not fire, not the passion he'd felt for Tomoe.
She lied to herself it was enough that he cared for her, that she could be content with that and for four happy years, it had been. Ironically enough everything had fallen apart that night she'd finally experienced passion from her husband. The sweet kisses had become fierce and demanding, his hands groping, grabbing instead of gently tracing the curves of her body. He'd been hard and relentless instead of gentle and slow.
He'd been gone the next morning when she woke, early to rise to work as usual and Kaoru had thought nothing of it. Instead she'd headed off to work too almost beside herself with happiness, sadly it hadn't lasted. She'd greeted her secretary and best friend Misao with a beaming smile and thought nothing of the confused look the young woman had thrown her. Thinking of all people Misao would find Kaoru's glowing smile unusual, since none had seen it once Tomoe had started dating Kenshin.
It had been Kaoru's turn for confusion when Misao had asked her how she could be happy at such a time. It was then that Kaoru had found out Tomoe was back in town and not only that, but her first stop had been to visit Kenshin for lunch.
At that moment Kaoru's world had crumbled, she felt sick inside realizing that all Kenshin's passion, his need for her the previous night had not been for her, but for Tomoe. Four years, four years they had shared together and yet Tomoe still held that part of his heart. It was then she realized it wasn't enough anymore, she couldn't continue to stay by his side, giving everything of herself when his heart remained devoted to another.
Grabbing her bag she walked out of her office, telling Misao to cancel her appointments for the day, ignoring the young woman's frantic calls for her to come back as she quickly strode off. Pulling her phone from her purse, with trembling fingers she dialed the number, her anxiety rising with each ring. Finally the call connected and for a moment she listened to the smooth, deep voice unable to actually articulate what she needed to say. Eventually she broke out of her stupor, realizing he'd been calling her name.
"I... I'm sorry, my mind was elsewhere." Kaoru almost shed tears at his soothing response, feeling unworthy of it.
"It's alright, I know why you're calling anyway, the only reason you would is because you've finally had enough. Do you want me to come get you?"
She almost burst into tears at his understanding, four years ago she'd broken his heart just as hers was being broken now, but even then his love had been enough that he'd let her go chase after her dream of love. Even at the end saying if it didn't work out he'd be there for her and so in her time of need he was her first thought.
It was selfish of her she knew, they'd had no contact after he'd left, and Kaoru wasn't even sure his number was still the same. With no thought to the fact he might have a life, that he had moved on and finally forgotten her, she'd reached for him. No doubt he'd kept the same number all this time just in case, that was so like him and once again her heart hurt at the thought.
. She tore at the napkin upon which her iced tea had previously sat upon, while she waited at the small café. Desperately trying to hold it together, she didn't want to break down in public, this was her heartache, and the world didn't need to bear witness to it. Especially since the press would most likely have a field day, she could see the headlines now, 'Heiress breaks down in public!'
Smiling bitterly she almost wasn't aware of the shadow that fell over her, but caught it at the last minute, raising her head to gaze into a pair of icy blue eyes. He hadn't changed a bit, still tall, dark and dangerously handsome, he still even held the same weariness in his eyes. She couldn't help but smile when he reached over and gently pushed her bangs away from her forehead and leaned down to place a kiss upon it, a gesture from back when they had been dating.
"What do you want to do? Do you want to stay with me for a while until you sort things out?"
Clenching her fists Kaoru gave him a direct gaze, eyes suddenly ablaze with determination; already drawing strength from his presence, she watched his eyes widen with shock as she spoke.
"You have to help me die Aoshi, it's the only way…"