Sapphire Locket

by: animechick001

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki but the plot is mine... and mine alone.

Chapter 1: The warm night left me cold

As the night fell upon the world, a beautiful young woman is joyfully taking a walk through the park, absolute contentment filling her heart. Her ebony locks flowing behind her back, her sapphire eyes reflected her utmost happiness, and her milky skin flushed with the coolness of the night. She felt as if she's the luckiest girl in the world.

She was married earlier to the man she had loved for so long, yet there was a thought that kept nagging at her mind. A thought that has been bothering her, ever since her parents arranged this marriage between her and that man. She had always ignored that, thinking that it was just her imagination playing with her. But nonetheless, she'd been married to HIM.

The only friend that she had ever had, and the man she had grown to love. He was short in stature, only a couple of inches taller then her. Yet he held so much beauty, that a lot of women fell upon his feet. His perfectly toned body earned from his sword training; his long crimson hair as soft as silk; and his eyes, his soft violet eyes that captivated her from the beginning.

They were betrothed to each other since before their birth and grew to become very good friends. They had always spent time with each other and everyone thought that they were a couple. "A match made in heaven," they always say. Their marriage was to happen when they reach the age of sixteen, an age too young to be married, but no law to prohibit this.

But age could not stop her from loving him. Her eyes, always shown with so much love, sparkles with life when he was around her. Her heart filled with contentment whenever they were together. He's the center of her world. She could not have been happier.

The trees surrounded her in a welcoming embrace, the pebbled path catching her steps, and the moon bathing her in its glory. And as she reached the koi pond of the park, she saw two shadows in each other's embrace. As she watched them, her heart was immediately warmed at the scene, a smile drawn upon her face.

She further observed the embracing form of the lovely couple, and she felt quite guilty in doing so, but she can't resist the picture of romance. She only saw these kinds of things in the romance novels she used to read and hoped to be the leading lady that gets the charming young man.

' Oh yeah, I need not to hope as I'm already living that life.' she slyly smiled as pink adorns her cheeks.

She carefully hid herself among the trees as so not to disturb the couple, curiosity leading her on. She imagined herself as the young woman being kissed and the man being…

' Stop it, just take a quick peek and go along your way.' her face getting redder by the minute.

Her little musings stopped as she looked at the couple.

' That woman is so lovely. I hope I have hair like that. Her long hair seems to glow golden under the moonlight and it seems so soft.' she sighed softly.

' And the man seems charming, he almost looks like…'

A startling thought suddenly struck her as tears prickled her eyes… so weird yet it fits perfectly. She refused to believe this, but other thoughts seems to surface as if trying to prove her wrong.

' Oh no... it isn't true. He told me he has to visit a sick friend. He won't lie to me... would he?' she thought.

But then as the couple pulled themselves out of the embrace, the man looked into the eyes of his lover. The young woman that has been watching, recognized the man's eyes. Violet, no… lavender eyes that sparkles under the light of the moon. Long crimson hair that adorns his handsome young face.

' No... it isn't happening! He's married to me, not her, ME!' she desperately thought as tears threatened to spill from her sad eyes.

' Then why is he there, in another woman's arms, not yours? Why doesn't he look at you with as much warmth as he does with THAT woman? Why doesn't he kiss you with the same eagerness as he does when he kisses HER? Maybe because he loves HER and NOT you!' her spiteful conscience shouted.

' Haven't you seen the signs?' her conscience added, ' the way he avoided your eyes during your wedding, his eyes lacked love when you both said your vows, when he forced a smile upon his face when people said how lucky he is to have you and how distant he became afterwards. He didn't love you as a lover would, but only as a dear friend...' the voice trailed softly.

'...'

No matter how much she tried to stop them, the tears dropped one by one.

' I can't believe it... but it's my fault for refusing to believe what was being presented in front of me. I've been such a fool to believe that he could love me as much as I love him. And how much I try to feel angered and betrayed, I can't. I simply can't. After all, he doesn't belong to me in the first place…' she bowed her head as if shamed.

' But I love him so much, I can't bear it if I lose him again...' she clutched the sapphire pendant that hung from her neck.

" Kenshin..."

Suddenly, as if awoken from a blissful dream, Kenshin jumped from surprise and looked for the voice that interrupted him from the moment he's sharing with his piece of paradise that was this woman in front of him. He found a shadowy figure among the trees and, regretfully disengaging himself from his lover, he started to go towards the figure.

" Who are you? Show yourself!" he shouted.

The figure lifted her head to face him. Suddenly, he recognized the person. Her sapphire eyes glittered with the tears that she had fought to keep at bay, had somewhat affected him but he ignored it. The eyes that once sparkled with life, turned red from crying. Her once proud stance, now gone, as her body rocked with sobs.

" Kaoru..." he uttered softly.

Kenshin started to go towards the figure, away from his love that was somehow forgotten. He neared the sobbing young woman, but as he lifted his arms to embrace her and as his hands made contact with her skin, Kaoru suddenly turned and ran, leaving behind a sapphire necklace.

Kenshin didn't bother running after his wife, seeing as it won't do anything to help her. Rather, he picked up the necklace and as he observed it, a spark of recognition appeared in his eyes. He tried to remember where he had seen it before but as he felt the presence of his forgotten lover, the thought of remembering escaped him. He tucked it in his pocket and turned to return to his lover. He held his lover close to him as they turned around to leave.

But then Kenshin's lover, pulled him in soft yet demanding kiss, and he gave in. But even as they shared a romantic moment, the image of Kaoru so torn and broken still bothered him to no end.

Author's notes:

It's my first time to write a story, much less a fic about RK, so pardon me if this story isn't that good. Gomen nasai!

Please review! I accept flames, though I prefer constructive criticism. And if ever you want to help me with this story, please do!

I won't continue with the story if I don't get enough reviews to keep me going.

Arigatou minna-san for reading my story! Again, please don't forget to review!

--- animechick001