Rating: Mostly PG
Warning: Some parts are manga-ish, but the characters are mostly based on the live action movies. More mature.
Disclaimer: Not mine obviously. I'm just playing with Nobuhiro-sensei's sand box.
Notes:
- I post this sneak peek chapter for Takeru's birthday since the third series of my Kenji Chronicles hasn't ready yet. Happy 26th birthday, Takeru-kun :)
- Sato and Emi are Kenshin and Kaoru for this future story. Oh come on, we have the real Kenshin and Kaoru, so why not?
- Just an ordinary AU story because I know there are more than 123456789 stories about Kaoru and the dojo post Jinchuu.
- Last, but not least…Happy Takeru Day and happy weekend, minna-san…
Beta: No.
Prologue
Kaoru sat on the floor, staring at her father's bokken in front of her, the symbol of the master of her dojo. But, truthfully, it was not the bokken that occupied her mind. It was the redhead swordsman who suddenly appeared at this dojo, far from Tokyo. She only had been left for one week, and here he was.
Kaoru knew their relationship had changed ever since Enishi's Jinchuu. Kenshin showed his affections, in his own way, without making clear of his purpose. Kaoru understood he didn't have any experiences on how to deal with a woman romantically, especially not from his first marriage.
And, Kaoru's blood ran cold.
She knew she couldn't be by Kenshin's side if the shadow of his first wife still lingered.
And, that was why she accepted the invitation from the letter.
And now, he was here.
A soft knock on the shoji alerted her.
Kaoru sat still for a moment before rose to her feet and opened the shoji.
The sight behind the shoji made her heart jumped. Kenshin was there, holding a tray of two cups, wearing a light kimono with his hair down, his sakabatou on his left hip. The sight was something Kaoru never imagined before.
The redhead smiled. "Would you like to have some tea with me, Kaoru-dono?"
Kaoru blinked. Her gaze turned to the tray and then to Kenshin. The smile never wavered.
Kaoru slowly smiled, too.
"Yes."
Kenshin's eyes turned bright and waited until Kaoru settled on the engawa before sitting next to her, tray between them and sakabatou lay next to him.
They both sipped their tea, but Kaoru didn't feel relax. Her curiosity made her nervous, and she couldn't hold back any longer.
"Why are you here?" Kaoru asked in low voice. Her eyes didn't leave her cup.
From the corner of her eyes, she saw Kenshin put down his cup and stared at her face. "To follow my heart."
Kaoru froze.
No, don't say that.
Her grip on her cup tightened. "Your heart or your duty?"
Kenshin's smile faded a little. Kaoru heard him sighed and turn to stare at his face, but the redhead already stared into the night sky.
"I know someone who once I said goodbye to and then, she followed me to Kyoto." Kenshin turned again to Kaoru. "Do you think she followed me because of duty?"
Kaoru almost scowled. "I have no other man in my heart, Kenshin."
Kenshin smiled genuinely, making the girl raised her eyebrows. "Then, you must know how I feel if I follow you here all the way from Tokyo."
Kaoru frowned and put her cup on the tray. To her surprise, with his speed, Kenshin held Kaoru's wrist.
Time stood still and Kaoru slowly raised her head to stare at the man in front of her.
"Kaoru…"
His eyes were soft and she could feel the calloused hand which held her wrist so gently and yet afraid to let her go. The shihondai tried to tame her erratic breathing. "Good night, Kenshin."
Again, to her surprise, Kenshin released her wrist and let her be.
Later that night, Kaoru saw a shadow outside her shoji door; a shadow of a man sat on the engawa, leaning on the pillar with his head bowed and his sword on his right shoulder.