Disclaimer: No. Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Watsuki-sama, not me.
This is my first Rurouni Kenshin fanfiction so please be lenient when it comes to judging the quality. - I love Rurouni Kenshin!
This story takes place in modern times, and also, Kenshin and Kaoru are close in age unlike the actual anime/manga.
Misted Love
Chapter One
"Hi! I'm Kamiya Kaoru, demo you can call me Kaoru-chan!" a young girl with long black hair crouched down near a small red form curled into a ball.
Poking him on the arm, Kaoru giggled, "Come on! Let's be friends! You just moved here right?" Her bright blue eyes shone happily. Her hair fell below her shoulders and her face was already the picture of beauty though she was only six.
Pink lips, and cute smile made up her pretty face, yet at the moment, she was no longer smiling, "Ne… are you okay?"
"Go away."
"Eh?"
Her innocent eyes bore a confused expression and she bit her lip, trying to get to know her new 'friend' more. "Can I.. can I see your face?"
"No! Go away."
Those words seemed to knock her down, and the tiny girl fell on her bottom. Then, just as quickly as she had fallen, she got back up in a squatting position and her clear blue pupils seemed to water, just a little bit.
"… do you hate me?"
"Ah…" the small boy raised his head in surprise as he realized that Kaoru had placed her arms around him and was currently hugging him and crying at the same time. Trying to calm her down, he tiny hands nervously patted her back awkwardly. "N-No… I don't hate you…"
"Then why do you want me to go away?" Kaoru sniffed and rubbed her eyes. When she looked up all her tears stopped.
This boy… this new boy had long red hair, and violet eyes mixed with a shade of amber. He was… the most amazing sight she had ever seen. As if entranced, her small, pale hand reached up and gently brushed his face.
"Your eyes…"
"A-Ah! Don't look!" he immediately curled back into a ball and hid his face from her. Smiling with new determination, Kaoru giggled and began prying his arms from his knees, "What's your name?"
"… Battousai…"
"Eh?" Kaoru stopped. "Then you… are…"
Standing up abruptly, the small boy turned away from her and began walking away, "Yes… I'm only six but I can still…"
"Your name."
"What?" he turned around genuinely puzzled, and his eyes showed it. One eyebrow was raised and his shy purple eyes questioned her. They seemed to call out, and beg her to open up to him more… and accept him.
The silent sadness in his eyes was not at all normal for a six-year old to have… and it was much harder for the boy's even tinier companion to comprehend… yet she could still feel it. Could still feel his need, and instinctively her kind heart reached out to him.
Kaoru bit her lip, "I asked for your name… your real name… not the one others call you by. Just… the name your mommy gave you."
The silence between them lasted for an eternity before the boy was no longer able to bear it, "Don't you know who I am? Don't you know what has happened? Don't you know what I did?"
"… yes…"
"Then why? You should be running away, crying! Your mommy and daddy should be rushing here, trying to save you." he walked over to the girl who was holding her kimono in small fists. Her head shot up when her reached her and she shouted.
"I don't care about what you did! … it's ok… You… you wouldn't hurt me. You're different now… ne? It's ok now!" her sapphire eyes flashed defiantly at him, as if daring him to argue with her. "I don't care that they say you set your village on fire. I don't care that everyone died because of it! I don't believe that you did it! And… even if you did… it wasn't on purpose! You are a good person!"
A small smile formed on his face, "You really don't believe what everyone else says? You don't need me to explain to you what happened?"
"No…"
There was no way she could understand how heavenly and how touching her innocent words were to him. There was no way even he could understand how her 'It's ok now' relieved him of so much of his sin. Someone forgave him. He wasn't a monster in someone's eyes. Someone thought he mattered.
"Himura Kenshin."
"Eh?" her small head lifted as she stared at him.
He smiled, "My name is Himura Kenshin."
Her giggles were melodious as she ran over to him and grabbed his hand, "Nice to meet you Kenshin! Let's be best friends!"
"Best friends?"
Her small head bobbed up and down, "Yes! Best friends forever!"
"Best friends, huh?" Kaoru sighed and scolded herself. She didn't have time to be reminiscing the past. She had to go to school.
Kamiya Kaoru. Seventeen years old and was currently the assistant master of the Kamiya dojo in Tokyo. Her hair fell a few inches below her shoulders and her blue-black eyes still held the innocence she had grown up in years ago.
"Kenshin! Are you ready!" she sprinted down the stairs, tying her hair in a high ponytail. "Oi Kenshin! I asked if you were- oompfh!"
She had hit something hard and could feel herself falling backwards. Squeezing her eyes shut and preparing to hit the hard, cold floor, Kaoru couldn't help but open her eyes in wonder when she felt something warm and cushiony under her.
Turning around to stare at what she had landed on, she quickly jumped off, apologizing, "Ah! Kenshin! Gomen! Are you ok?"
"Y-yah… I think I'll live. Really, you should be more careful Kaoru-dono," a red-headed high school senior stood, brushing any dust from his pants off.
Kaoru smiled at him. Ever since she had met him eleven years ago, he always lived with her, because of the fire his parents had died in. Her father was gone too, as was her mother. They had also passed away in a car crash.
He had been with her… been there for her when her parents had died. He was her best friend…
Violet eyes smiling at her, Kenshin waved a hand in front of her eyes, "Hello? Kaoru-dono? Anyone home?"
"A-ah!" she swatted his hand away. "Mou! Kenshin! You're such a tease! And how many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me Kaoru-dono? Kaoru! Kaoru is fine!"
"But I couldn't…" she rolled her eyes at his meek response and grabbed his hand, pulling him towards the door, "Have you made our obentos?"
"Yes," he stopped and picked up the lunches from the counter.
"Good."
Winking at him with a laugh, Kaoru laughed and raced out the door, "Catch me if you can!"
"Oh?" Kenshin smirked. "I wonder how long it'll take me to catch up to you this time… not very long apparently."
And then… suddenly, she was in his arms. Pouting slightly, she fought to keep a pink stain from creeping onto her cheeks, "Mou! Kenshin, you never go easy on me…"
He let her go and she immediately missed the contact, "Yes. It wouldn't be very fun if I always let you win, now would it? Looks like it's your turn to do the dishes tonight again, Kaoru-dono."
"Ok…" Kaoru shrugged it off and giggled. It had been their long time tradition. If he caught her before she rounded the corner onto the next street, she had to do the dishes, if not, it was his turn to get his hands soapy.
"Kaoru-dono…" Kenshin spoke suddenly, startling her. She turned and smiled at her precious redhead. "Yes, Kenshin?"
He paused, as if ashamed, "Thank you for last week… I think I've finally gotten over it…"
She put her head down, bangs falling over her eyes and shadowing her face. It was so irritating. He knew just as well as she did that he was not over it and moreover… thing the that hurt the most…
Her one source of true happiness, being the only person could confide in so closely, had turned into her one source of true pain.
Tomoe.
Just the name of that woman made her heart squeeze. Not that she had anything against her classmate personally, yet… Kenshin…
He had once loved her… this beautiful princess named Tomoe… he still did. They had broken up a week ago, but Kaoru couldn't feel any joy from that either. Kenshin had been in pain. His pain was her pain.
And… there wasn't anyone she could talk to about it anymore. No one at all… she may have had friends… and they may have realized… but to talk about this… it was forbidden. Her love for her best friend was absolute… nothing could get in the way of their… friendship.
"No problem, don't worry about it!" she pasted a smile on her face for him. Only for him.
Letting her eyes become shadowed once again, Kaoru tried to cheer herself up. She was his best friend, after all… she should be satisfied… she shouldn't be… falling… in…
She shot a glance at him before returning her gaze to her feet as they walked along the sidewalk. She whispered so only she could hear, "Should I smile because you are my friend…? Or cry… because that's all we'll ever be? This is just one question… the only question you'll never be able to answer for me, Kenshin."
Her companion froze, causing Kaoru to stop and stare at him, questioningly.
"Kenshin what's-" she followed his gaze and it fell on something she wished she hadn't seen… More like someone.
It was Tomoe. Her and her new boyfriend… Touya.
Quickly taking his hand and leading him to another street that led to their school, Kaoru began murmuring to him softly, "It's ok Kenshin… It's ok…"
Kenshin loved Tomoe. It was a fact. Everyone knew about it, yet no one but Kaoru knew exactly how much he loved that woman. He loved her… more than anything… including Kaoru.
Holding back her own tears, she let Kenshin bury his face in her shoulder as she hugged him and consoled him. Letting her attitude become motherly, she sat him on a bench where he could cry… or at least get a hold of himself.
Yes… she couldn't think about being in love with her best friend right now… he needed her to be his friend. To be the place where he could lay all his anguish…
… and that was all that mattered. She couldn't be his lover, but she could be his pillar of support… his best friend… it was all that mattered. She did everything for him… only him…
Even if it meant taking apart her heart, piece by piece.
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To be continued…
Yes… Don't worry, I promise KK in the end, though I don't have anything against Tomoe. I just think Kenshin and Kaoru deserve each other. -
Please review!
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I'll never be the one…Who lies by you at night
I'll never be the one…
Who dances with you and holds you tight
I'll never be the one…
Who can wipe the tears from your cheek
I'll never be the one…
Who is on you mind as you sleep
I'll never be the one…
That you plan your future with
I'll never be the one…
That you greet with a kiss
I'll never be the one…
You walk with in the rain
I'll never be the one…
But I'll love you just the same.
