DISCLAIMER : I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters.
HAZY PAST
The rain fell heavily outside. Thunder and lightning flashed consistently. No one was walking outside. They would be considered idiots to be outside in this raging storm.
Kaoru curled tighter as another thunder dominated the sky. She whimpered slightly as the rain beat mercilessly at her house. She was alone again and she could feel it in every muscle in her bone. The tightening knot in her stomach made her feel even more frighten in her own dojo.
They had all left.
Kenshin had no heart to tell her to her face. So he had written a letter. Sano and Yahiko had decided to follow him. They would most probably meet up with Megumi in Aizu.
Yahiko had made it clear that Kamiya Kasshin Ryu was not enough. He wanted to learn more. Besides, Kaoru's cooking isn't anywhere near Kenshin's or Megumi's. He would rather starve to death than eat her food.
Sano was just following his old dream of traveling. With the dojo now quiet from sudden attacks on Battousai, he was getting rather bored. Besides his fox lady was not there anymore.
Kenshin was just being his self. Or rather running away as far as he could. He didn't want her hurt. Not like as if this was any better.
Kaoru felt her tears falling down her face, wetting her yukata. He left without saying goodbye. He left after calling the dojo his home. He didn't want her to get hurt. He left ... not caring how she felt.
That selfish jerk!
Anger filled her as she realised how he had betrayed the trust she had in him. Kaoru knew she wasn't perfect...but at least for the sake of all she had been through for him, she deserved a proper goodbye.
She got up and changed into a gi and hakama. She needed to get the fear and anger out of her before she burst. Kaoru walked out slowly in the rain.
Any sane person knew that going out in a storm is an idiotic thing to do.
But Kaoru was beyond sanity. She needed to get out before memories that surrounded her dojo suffocated her. And the only way was to get out of the dojo to some far away place.
And the only place Kaoru knew was the forest she used to go when still a child.
Kaoru locked the dojo gates behind her as she made her way through the quiet streets.
After all there was no one to say she can't go. Kenshin wasn't there to tell her she might get sick. Yahiko and Sano were not there to support him. Megumi wasn't there to yell at her telling what a stupid tanuki she was.
All in all, maybe they going away had been a blessing in disguise so she can get her life together again. A strangled laugh escaped her as tears fell without permission.
Who was she kidding?
Kaoru entered the forest not caring about the raging storm around her. She just never knew that she would meet her worst nightmare out in the storm.
By the time Kaoru got over her shock, it was too late. A dozen men surrounded her, each with smirks on their ugly face. Their leader walked slowly to her and lifted her chin with reorganization.
That's when Kaoru realized who they were.
They killed her loved ones three years ago.
Knock! Knock!
Dr. Gensai hurried towards the clinic door. Who on earth would it be in the middle of the night during a storm? He wondered as he pulled the front door open.
There stood a young man carrying a bundle. He was drenched to the bone and hugged the bundle closely like it was his life. There was an immerse sadness in his being that struck the doctor as he moved to let the man come in.
'She's dying,' he said quietly and showed the old doctor the figure beneath the cloak.
Dr. Gensai gasped as he saw Kaoru cowered in blood. Without wasting any moment, he led the young man to a room and ordered him to place Kaoru on the bed. Nodding, the man left, giving the old doctor space to do his work.
Getting his things ready, Dr. Gensai gently opened Kaoru's gi and gasped at the wounds on her body. There was no doubt in his mind that someone had whipped the poor girl and slashed her. Her wounds were bound rather hastily but they did their job of keeping the blood from flowing out. And the doctor noticed something else that he knew would break Kaoru's heart.
'How is she?' the young man asked staring at Kaoru with guarded eyes.
Just like Shinomori; Cold...calculative.
'I am not very sure. But for the time being she cannot be moved.' The doctor turned to face the man. 'Arigato gozaimasu. You saved her life...I hope.'
'Doushita no?' the man looked at Kaoru, practically assessing her.
'She is a very broken lady, sir. Only those who have the will to live can recover. I wonder if she still has hers.' The doctor didn't know why he told this to the man, realising now it would prompt more questions. He immediately regretted confiding in the man...a stranger.
However, the young man just watched the flames dancing on Kaoru's pale features. His eyes harden for a while before closing his eyes and leaning back in a very relaxed position.
'There is nothing to rush for. Those who did this have already paid for their crime. I will take care of her for the time being,' he said quietly, in a very decisive voice that made any protest from the doctor die in his throat. The old doctor nodded.
'You can sleep outside. I'll prepare you a room.'
'No need for that. I'll rest here. If she needs anything, it'll be easier if there is someone nearby to help. Don't worry. I won't hurt her,' he turned and looked at the doctor, giving him a cold grin, 'After all, I owe her and she owes me. I won't leave until our debts are paid.'
The doctor sighed and left. As he walked away quietly, he noticed both Ayame and Suzume were missing. They were not at the main room where he left them. Panic filled him as the doctor searched each room and finally found the girls in their own room, tugged into their futons and sleeping soundly.
The doctor smiled. Maybe that young man is what they all needed right now.
Maybe he is what Kaoru need right now.
'Aoshi? Douka shita no? You have been silent since you arrived,' Kenshin asked when he saw his silent friend sitting in front of them.
Ever since Aoshi arrived with a fidgeting Misao, he felt something amiss. It has got to be Kaoru or the government. What was it and why was the Oniwabanshu leader and ex-leader here?
'You know Ice King, you really should tell us or just leave! You haven't said a word from ten-minutes a go!' Sano yelled raking a hand through his hair.
'If I am not mistaken,' Aoshi said coldly, 'I said 'Ohayo' when I entered.'
Yahiko laughed at Sano's surprised face and Kenshin smiled along with Megumi but the smile vanished when he noticed Misao's serious face.
'Kaoru'
Aoshi looked up. Looks like Himura know what he was there for. However...if Himura knew the news...
'What is wrong with Kaoru-dono?' Kenshin asked quietly. Inside him, fear grew as he waited in the thickening silence. Aoshi remained silent.
'Aoshi...' the threatening note in Kenshin's voice made everyone look at him.
'What is wrong with Kaoru?'
'I think, Himura, Kaoru-san is in a lot of trouble right now. And if I got my sources right, someone wants her death at all costs.'
'And,' Aoshi looked right into Kenshin's eyes, which by now were growing slightly darker. ' They have taken the first step!'
The room remained silent throughout the night since Aoshi told them about the news. It was worse than they had expected and it worried each one of them. Especially since Kenshin had also grown extremely quiet.
'Dr. Gensai had told Okon the news when she went there to visit a month after you left. The doctor told that Kaoru is under depression now and can barely take care of herself. He told Okon to try to arrange protection for Kaoru, as the police could do nothing. Kaoru did not provide any information, as she had remained silent since she woke a week after being attacked. The doctor refused to give any detail of the injuries. He only told that whoever who did it might either hate Kaoru a lot or it was just for fun. And by the bruises at her wrists, she was definitely held down by at least two men.
He also added that Kaoru had changed a lot since the attack. She rarely came out of the dojo and had not once visited Akabeko or the clinic. However, doc, the kids, Tae and Tsubame had continued visiting her. They have taken turns looking after her. Yet, Kaoru begin to lock the dojo gates on certain days most probably not to be disturbed.
She has changed, Himura. And it is for the worst. Doc said her recovery is so slow like a person who had lost all will to live. He cannot do anything to help her if she doesn't want his help. She doesn't want it, Himura. Every effort the doc takes has been successfully avoided. If there are people after her, as we believe, it is very dangerous to leave her now.
Saito told Okon something when he met her. Somehow I guess he believed we would meet you. 13 men had been killed on the same night Kaoru was attacked. The good news, he might be a drifter who helped Kaoru or a murderer who killed 13 innocent men out of blood lust. Either way Saito has to find the man. We hope he was not the one sent after Kaoru. If he is, she would be dead by the time we arrive.'
She would be dead.
Those words rang in Kenshin's ears over and over again. Images of Kaoru flashed in his mind causing his heart to clench painfully. He was going to lose her.
Kenshin wondered why he didn't rush back to the dojo when he heard the news. He just felt rooted to the ground...not wanting to leave. Sano was very clear in his thoughts. He wanted to go back and see Kaoru. But Kenshin felt numb. He didn't give Sano a good answer causing the former to yell angrily at him before announcing that he was leaving the next morning. With or without Kenshin.
'You don't have to worry. She is not dead...yet'
Aoshi sat down beside Kenshin, enjoying the view of the valleys around them.
'What are you frighten of?'
Kenshin thought for awhile before answering as he leaned his head against his sword, a sigh escaping his lips. 'We didn't say goodbye.' So simple yet so deep. In his head he could just imagine Kaoru, hands on her hip, yelling at them for abandoning her so. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
'I think Himura, you have made your mind.'
Kenshin smiled.
Arigato...Aoshi.
