Onna: I'm back! Aahh... nothing beats the satisfied feeling of finishing your homework...
Kenshin: Oro... I have a feeling things will not be nice soon...
Onna: Oh hush! I won't do too much torturing!
Kaoru: *sigh* Onna-san doesn't own us at all! Arigatou, Kami-sama...
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Kaoru clutched her blanket tightly, her knees drawn to her chest, her form shivering from the winter cold. The same winter cold that chilled her bones all those years ago.
The first time she realized that she was now truly alone.
The day they brought her the news that her father was killed was the first day of winter, the sounds of the north wind and snow pounding against her doors and walls. The messenger had shivered as he delivered the news, his thin clothing giving little or no comfort to his chilled form. Kaoru had been too shocked to even consider inviting the man in for tea to warm himself, apologizing profusely at her mistake. He had left soon after the tea had helped, and she had given him her father's warm overcoat for his trouble.
Then she had sank to the floor boards and cried till she had no more tears.
She was alone. Adrift, without her anchor, her father.
Then for a few wonderful months, the dojo was bustling with activity. Having Yahiko and Kenshin around always brightened up her day. Sano's unmistakable voice was a welcome addition, and Megumi's laugh, though it grated at her nerves, left her with a sense of warmth, grateful for female companionship.
But they're all gone now. Sano and Megumi had left for their respective duties.
Yahiko had moved into Sano's shack.
Only she and Kenshin were left in the Kamiya dojo. And if he ever decided to leave...
She didn't know if she could take it. She hated loneliness, its choking intensity often gripping the depths of her soul.
Kaoru shivered more violently, her nails digging into the folds of the blanket.
She awoke to the sounds of water sloshing, knowing that Kenshin was probably up to his elbows in soapsuds. Resting her hand on her forehead, her eyes fell on the calendar.
Today was her father's death anniversary, the third.
Kaoru squeezed her eyes shut, the tears coming against her will. The fear of being alone from last night came rushing back, and she knew she needed to visit her father again. But how would she explain it to Kenshin without Yahiko and Sano keeping him busy?
She sighed and rose, pushing her dark strands back. Her shoji slid open, and Kenshin looked up to her with a smile.
"Ohayou, Kaoru-dono."
"Ohayou, Kenshin," she murmured, her voice thick with unshed tears.
His violet eyes darkened with concern. "Kaoru-dono, daijoubu de gozaru ka?"
"H-Hai..." she choked out. "C-Can you go g-get breakfast? I-I'll explain later..."
Kenshin nodded, giving her shoulder a slight squeeze. "Aa de gozaru."
Kaoru watched him as he walked down the hall, his footsteps resounding on the wooden floor boards, which also became the recipient of her tears.
Kenshin chopped the vegetables evenly for the miso, still pondering about Kaoru's behavior. It seems like this day always made her sad, but he never knew why.
Never asked, never wanted to pry. She would tell him when she decided to.
But this time...
He wanted to know what bothered her. Wanted to take her into his arms and wipe those tears away.
Kenshin wondered what stopped him from doing just that.
His pain from losing Tomoe? The tears he shed when he lost her? The sting of loneliness when he slept at night without her by his side?
He didn't know. But all he knew was that he didn't want to lose the second person whom he gave his heart to.
He would die for her, protect her to his last breath.
But will she let him be her comfort, her rock?
Kenshin sighed, placing bowls and plates on the tray. She did say she would explain.
And he would be there to listen, and wipe her tears away. As long as she wanted him there.
And if that meant for the rest of his life, then so be it.
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Onna: No this is not a one-shot!
Kenshin: Oro... Onna-dono...