CHAPTER 3

ONE MAN'S PAST

Kaoru jumped in delight as she saw the parcel in Shuichi's hand. Teasing her, he playfully waved it higher causing her to practically cling to him in desire and excitement to get it before pausing and blushing at her immature act. Shuichi grinned. It was odd how this childlike image of her brought a small smile to his face. He finally gave her his gift.

Gently opening the parcel, Kaoru could barely contain her excitement at receiving a gift since the last time she got one was on her birthday before her father went away for duty and never returned. After at least 5 years now, Kaoru shaking fingers finally touched a gift wrapped mainly for her from a young man who she knew adored her.

Shuichi could barely stand the suspense of waiting her unwrap her gift. For a person so enthusiastic, you would have imagined that she would just rip off the wrapper. Watching her slowly unwrap his gift made him nervous. What if she didn't like it?

Then again, he enjoyed watching her open her present. Her eyes were wide with anticipation and joy. She was biting her lips and he could feel her holding back from ripping the wrapper. It was a nice wrapper after all. Her fingers though rough from practicing kendo looked soft and gentle as they opened the gift. Shuichi's eyes softened as they gazed at the woman he had always loved.

Kaoru gasped when her fingers touched a soft silk. She pulled out the most beautiful kimono that she had ever seen. It was a deep red kimono that came with a dark blue obi. Inside the parcel was also a butterfly hairpin with red stones attached to them. Tears silently fell down and she embarrassedly wiped them away.

'I didn't expect you to cry. Don't you like it?' Shuichi asked softly, wrapping his arms around her. Kaoru turned and hugged him, sobbing like a little girl. He rubbed her back comfortingly and kissed the top of her head lightly. 'Well?' Kaoru looked up at him and saw the expectant look in his eyes. Her lips curled into a small smile. 'It's so beautiful. No one else had given a gift so beautiful in years. Except for Ryuzobaru-kun and his picture and idea of modern art was a little hard to decipher.' Kaoru's mind remembered the incident where her friends laughed at seeing the picture.

'Modern art? Can I see it?' Shuichi asked in excitement. He had always had a soft spot for artistic things and the thought of seeing another modern art, which was not really famous in Japan yet, was very intriguing. Kaoru nodded and wiped away her tears. She immediately went to her room to get the picture she had hid from her friends.

Shuichi could not and did not say a word as he studied the picture. It was just so amazingly beautiful and exotic. The traits fit Kaoru exactly. He looked at her curious yet worried face and smiled gently. Shaking his head he looked sharply at her.

'Do you know how much this painting is worth in European countries, Kaoru-hime? If you sell this, you would be so rich you don't have to work at all. This painting is exquisite. This young painter captured your essence perfectly,' Shuichi said happily, glancing at the picture in awe. Kaoru laughed ...slightly strained. 'You're making fun of me, aren't you?'

Shuichi shook his head. 'You know that I've always spoke what is in my mind. You see the way the red colour is spread. It shows courage and bravery. The white signifies purity and innocence. The purple shows the sorrows of your feelings. And the blue shows your joy. Green emphasises the calmness you bring to others. That's the black shadowy figures here. You are drawn here, right in the middle. It shows you and how you are the centre of others,' Shuichi said calmly as he pointed every colour and shape in the drawing. (A/N I'm Sorry!!! I really don't know much about modern art. Sorry if I'm wrong.) 'That guy's amazing. I guess he found in you the inspiration he needed.' Shuichi turned to find Kaoru staring at him in surprise. 'Oh...I...ah...having a weakness and ...I love art... so...' Embarrassment filled him and he was surprised to feel a pair of arms circling his waist. He looked down to see Kaoru grinning up at him in amusement and delight.

'You are one man full of surprises. Arigato for both your gift and this.' Kaoru placed a soft non-existent kiss on his cheek. Shuichi smiled happily. 'I'm glad you like them. Now, will you do me the honors and be my date for the festival tomorrow night. In that kimono. I have a feeling you would look radiant,' Shuichi asked, feeling slightly nervous and frightened of her rejection.

Kaoru smiled widely, happiness filled her every being. 'Yes!' she cried out in joy. 'I'd love to.' She let go of him and picked up her gift and the picture and went to her room to put them away. As she re-wrapped the picture, the memory of the evening clashed with those of her past. She smiled sadly. Never in her life did she expect Shuichi to heal her broken heart and mind as he had done.

Her mind raced to the events that had brought them closer than she was with the Kenshin-gumi.

Kaoru gazed at the flowers at her yard with a small yet contented sigh. Her wounds have healed and she felt her confidence in herself growing slowly. Now, if only she could learn about her mysterious guest, that would be nice.

It was like he heard her because he sat beside her and gazed fondly at the flowers in the yard. 'You like them, Kaoru-hime?' he asked her, watching as her eyebrows shot up at the sound of -hime attached to her name. 'KA-O-RU. No –hime attached to it, Shuichi. And yes, I love them. How do you know that they are my favourites?' she asked switching her gaze to him instead. He laughed. 'I...they were the favourites of some else. Someone close to me sometime ago. She loved them too.'

Kaoru looked at him in wonder. 'Your girlfriend?' she asked not understanding why part of her felt remorseful at that knowledge. Shuichi nodded.

'She was not the most beautiful person in the world but she was mine. I gave a lot for her. She loved these flowers. Her eyes would light up and her smile would have a touch of calmness and tranquility in them that I feel peaceful too just looking at her. She was a wonderful person.'

Was?

'Why –was- Shuichi? Is she...dead?' Kaoru asked hesitantly, not wanting to push him away.

'No...she lost all her memories of me after an accident and left. She doesn't remember me at all.' He said softly; his eyes filled with unvoiced sorrow. Kaoru didn't know what possessed her when she hugged him tightly, allowing him to lean on her. 'Didn't you go after her?' Kaoru asked rocking his form slightly. He shook his head. 'She would not have appreciated that, I guess. She was very frightened and confused when she woke and realized that she couldn't remember anything. I didn't want her to be afraid of me too. But now, the thought of her with another man...' he needn't have continued his sentence. Kaoru tighten her hold of him.

'Go after her, Shuichi-kun. If you love her, you will not let her go. Teach her to love you again and she will come back to you,' Kaoru said softly. Shuichi closed his eyes. 'I will. I will.' Kaoru brushed his hair to the back slightly. 'Is that who you were thinking of when I asked you back then, when I started talking to you?'

'No, that was my sister. I just remembered what an idiot I was and how I failed to protect her.' Kaoru's grip tightened. Shuichi's voice was deeper as he tried to control his feelings. 'Tell me, Shuichi,' Kaoru whispered encouragingly. 'If you really want to...you can tell me. It's better to let go of the pain and misery than bottling it inside.'

'I want to. It's just...it happened not too long ago and it still hurts. My sister...she wanted to go out with this new kid, Yunichi something. I just...got the permission for her. Dad rarely allows her to date and she was still young. So, I helped and he allowed her on a condition. I must go along to. So I did go with my girlfriend. My best friend, Kazuo and his fiancée, Nakaru came along and the six of us had so much fun. My little sis's friend with her date, Toki and Shigure met us halfway and we decided to have a late supper on a hill. The younger girls were soon fast asleep as was Shigure but Yunichi stayed awake and soon excused himself for a moment. We were quite drunk, Kazuo and me. Nakuru was trying to get him to stop. She was quite unsuccessful unlike my girlfriend.

Then it happened. We were ambushed. It was too late to realise that Yunichi turned on us. With our half wake state, Kazuo and I could barely put up a decent fight. Not to mention, I had always hated practicing by kenjutsu. I was no good at it. They got us. They killed Sakura, Nakuru, Kazuo and Shigure. Toki was seriously injured. She lost a leg. And my girlfriend...they were aiming for her, I guess. They beat her up and threw her down the ravine. I was badly injured myself. When they left us, I quickly left Toki to a passerby and went in search for her. I found her mangled body and with the help of a few other men, we were brought back and nursed to health. That's when we realised...she doesn't remember anything. Our lives were full of danger and as a last resolve...we left her with a kind widower. I have taken care of Toki since and she finally passed away a few months back from a rare disease that I escaped from.'

Kaoru kept rocking Shuichi, tears streaming down her face as well. She knew she could never feel the hurt he had been through but she had gone through her ups and downs as well. Right now, Shuichi needed her more and she was willing to be a listener if that's what he needed her to be. Pulling him up, she led them to his room and eased him on his futon. Shuichi stared at her; his eyes wide open in confusion.

'Shhh...sleep. I'll be right here,' Kaoru said softly as she lightly brushed his hair back. Gently and softly, she sang a song. Shuichi felt his eyelids growing heavier before he succumbed to a much-needed rest.

When the darkness pulls you in,

Don't close your eyes

Remember where the light is

And face your fright

There never is anything to fear

Than fear itself

And when you conquer that

You'll feel the fare

Just trust in yourself and let it all go

And you'll find yourself surrounded

With love alone.

'Kaoru! I'm going out to get tofu, alright. I'll be back by evening. Be careful.' Shuichi left the dojo after telling Kaoru. She smiled. He always told her to be careful. It was nice to see that he cared. Kaoru stood by the mirror. She frowned slightly, finally deciding to bun up her hair. Sighing, she went to the kitchen to start dinner.

Training with Shuichi had helped a lot as she successfully made the rice balls. Grinning happily at her handiwork, she worked hard on her bread and smiled when it came out just right. Soft and tasty. Shuichi would surely be proud. Days of practice had finally brought good results.

Soft knocks on the dojo gates claimed her attention. Kaoru hurried outside. 'Coming!' she yelled as she finally begin to open the gates. 'Ne, did you forget to take the keys along, Shuichi?' She stopped short. Her face paled at the sight of the small group. Her voice died in her throat.

What are they doing here?