Chapter 1
The leaves of dried green tea made a endless spiral in Kaoru's cup, occasional teardrops mixed with suit disrupted the hypnotic pattern…I've lost him…I-I've really…lost him.
"Kennnnshiiinnn!" Kaoru's usual sweet energetic voice was nothing now but a hoarse whisper.
"Kenshin..why?.."
Sanosuke looked in on Kaoru…She's still fragile, I mustn't upset her more... Sano was very worried about Kaoru, she was missing for almost a full week…after…after Kenshin's accident...Yes, accident is a good word to describe what happened…pheh. Sano walked silently from the kitchen, holding a bowl of steaming rice and shouyu and slid onto the small porch next to Kaoru. She was a mess, her kimono was covered in suit, torn almost completely off from the knees down, what remained of the sleeves was in complete tatters, her shoes were missing and her small feet were covered in cuts and bruises.
"Have some food, Kaoru." Sano said in his kindest voice, but his attempts for comfort only made her throat convulse in painful sobs, and brought her to tears again.
"I c-ca-can't eat, I want to d-die!!" She screamed and broke down into hysterics once more.
"I hate you! I h-hate you Kenshin!" She sobbed as she pounded her fist on wooden porch.
"I…hate you…."
Sano looked away during this display of emotion trying to calm his own nerves, it was that he was angered by her reactions. He searched for her every night and day since Kenshin was…gone. She had been missing for so long he was so worried, and when he found her body starving and laying in an alley way his anger intensified, he was so angry at himself for letting this happen to her!…It was my responsibility to watch after you…He thought to him self as he looked down at Kaoru. She looked so different now, so pitiful… he felt the strongest urge to hold her, pick her up and hold her as tight as he could…God! He loved this woman! And now was his chance to have her!…
After a moment of silence Sano tried to assert his authority in persuading her to eat,
"Kaoru you NEED to eat." he said in a slightly harsher tone, giving her a cold look, and placed the bowl of rice on her lap.
"I-I guess I should." Kaoru said and stared blankly at the bowl, Sano could easily see that she was lost in thought…Probably trying to think of a way to get him back, Stupid girl…Sano thought to himself with a scowl. He scooted closer to Kaoru and placed his strong arm around her shoulders.
"I'll protect you now." He said in a tight voice. Kaoru trembled at his words.
"But Kenshin…" She protested weakly as tears flooded down her cheeks.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you now." Sano told the girl firmly as he squeezed her against his hard chest. Kaoru wrapped her thin arms around his neck and buried her tear-streaked face in his chest. Sano brushed his face against her hair taking in the bitter-sweet scent of earth and blossom, then he slipped his other arm under her slim legs lifting her off the porch, and gently carried her to her room. She was exhausted and made no protest to his actions as she fell limply against his body. Sano felt much better holding her close, it made him feel like nothing could happen to her, he felt he could protect her no matter what happened.
"Kaoru?"
"umm hum?"
He laid her down on her futon and covered her with a thin quilt.
"Will you be okay here by yourself?" He asked smiling down at her, she was so small, he had never noticed how little she was before,… Probably because she's got such a big personality, you'd think she was five times her size, the way she picks fights with everyone…He stood to leave but a cold hand grabbed his pant leg, and Kaoru looked up at him desperately.
"Please don't go!" she begged and sobbed,
"Please…"
…Is she afraid of being abandoned again?… Sano sat down next to her whispering reassuring words to her as he rubbed her temples rhythmically. After a few minutes exhaustion took over and she was in a deep sleep.
…I'll never leave you Kaoru, I swear, I'll defend you with my life...
The leaves of dried green tea made a endless spiral in Kaoru's cup, occasional teardrops mixed with suit disrupted the hypnotic pattern…I've lost him…I-I've really…lost him.
"Kennnnshiiinnn!" Kaoru's usual sweet energetic voice was nothing now but a hoarse whisper.
"Kenshin..why?.."
Sanosuke looked in on Kaoru…She's still fragile, I mustn't upset her more... Sano was very worried about Kaoru, she was missing for almost a full week…after…after Kenshin's accident...Yes, accident is a good word to describe what happened…pheh. Sano walked silently from the kitchen, holding a bowl of steaming rice and shouyu and slid onto the small porch next to Kaoru. She was a mess, her kimono was covered in suit, torn almost completely off from the knees down, what remained of the sleeves was in complete tatters, her shoes were missing and her small feet were covered in cuts and bruises.
"Have some food, Kaoru." Sano said in his kindest voice, but his attempts for comfort only made her throat convulse in painful sobs, and brought her to tears again.
"I c-ca-can't eat, I want to d-die!!" She screamed and broke down into hysterics once more.
"I hate you! I h-hate you Kenshin!" She sobbed as she pounded her fist on wooden porch.
"I…hate you…."
Sano looked away during this display of emotion trying to calm his own nerves, it was that he was angered by her reactions. He searched for her every night and day since Kenshin was…gone. She had been missing for so long he was so worried, and when he found her body starving and laying in an alley way his anger intensified, he was so angry at himself for letting this happen to her!…It was my responsibility to watch after you…He thought to him self as he looked down at Kaoru. She looked so different now, so pitiful… he felt the strongest urge to hold her, pick her up and hold her as tight as he could…God! He loved this woman! And now was his chance to have her!…
After a moment of silence Sano tried to assert his authority in persuading her to eat,
"Kaoru you NEED to eat." he said in a slightly harsher tone, giving her a cold look, and placed the bowl of rice on her lap.
"I-I guess I should." Kaoru said and stared blankly at the bowl, Sano could easily see that she was lost in thought…Probably trying to think of a way to get him back, Stupid girl…Sano thought to himself with a scowl. He scooted closer to Kaoru and placed his strong arm around her shoulders.
"I'll protect you now." He said in a tight voice. Kaoru trembled at his words.
"But Kenshin…" She protested weakly as tears flooded down her cheeks.
"Don't worry, I'll protect you now." Sano told the girl firmly as he squeezed her against his hard chest. Kaoru wrapped her thin arms around his neck and buried her tear-streaked face in his chest. Sano brushed his face against her hair taking in the bitter-sweet scent of earth and blossom, then he slipped his other arm under her slim legs lifting her off the porch, and gently carried her to her room. She was exhausted and made no protest to his actions as she fell limply against his body. Sano felt much better holding her close, it made him feel like nothing could happen to her, he felt he could protect her no matter what happened.
"Kaoru?"
"umm hum?"
He laid her down on her futon and covered her with a thin quilt.
"Will you be okay here by yourself?" He asked smiling down at her, she was so small, he had never noticed how little she was before,… Probably because she's got such a big personality, you'd think she was five times her size, the way she picks fights with everyone…He stood to leave but a cold hand grabbed his pant leg, and Kaoru looked up at him desperately.
"Please don't go!" she begged and sobbed,
"Please…"
…Is she afraid of being abandoned again?… Sano sat down next to her whispering reassuring words to her as he rubbed her temples rhythmically. After a few minutes exhaustion took over and she was in a deep sleep.
…I'll never leave you Kaoru, I swear, I'll defend you with my life...