Belonging
Standard Disclaimers Apply
A/N: Hi! If you guys have read my other stories, you know that I have updated one or the other every few days/weeks. I noticed its been so long since I paid attention to Belonging so I sat down and typed. Thank you all so much for supporting this story! (mwah)
Chapter Nine:
When she had died, he had felt a side of himself die as well. As he'd watched her body slowly transform into light in his arms, he felt as if it were the light in his life leaving, departing and casting him in shadows forever.
Even now, years after the fact, the pain still had not dulled.
It was as clear as before, as sharp.
But she was here standing a few feet from him, alive and breathing and well.
He stood, hidden by the thick branches and leaves of the tree. He watched her with hungry eyes, tracing every curve, ever hollow of her beloved form.
He'd waited so long to see her.
His fingertips tingled with the need to feel her skin, to assure him self that she was real this time, not a specter created by his tortured mind to somehow ease the pain of his existence.
She was here in the flesh, only a few feet away.
"Kaoru…" he breathed.
Kaoru cocked her head to the side, listening to the sound of the wind and feeling as if someone was calling to her. She blinked and took in a deep breath, wondering at the strange, odd feeling in her chest as if her lungs could not get enough air and she was drowning. She forced herself to inhale and listened intently, sensing something she could not quite put her finger on.
But there was no other sound save the chirping of the birds and the occasional bark of a neighbor's dog.
She licked her lips and hugged her knees to her chest, thinking.
She just got so worried whenever she thought of what could have happened to Yahiko. She loved the boy so much she didn't know what she'd do without him.
She didn't know what she'd do without any of her family and friends.
Maybe she had been too harsh on the brat? She chewed her lip and mulled this over. "Maybe I should go buy him something…or bring Tsubame over to cheer him up…" Kaoru laughed delightedly at the prospect of seeing Yahiko blush and melt to the floor at the sight of Tsubame.
"Kaoru-dono…?"
Kaoru turned, surprised to see Kenshin standing a few feet behind her. "Kenshin! I didn't hear you!"
"I have light feet," he said with a shrug. He approached her and sat down beside her on the porch.
Kaoru was silent for a moment before she reached out to hold Kenshin's hand in hers.
He turned to her and smiled, giving her hand a squeeze.
A breeze blew past and a single solitary leaf was dislodged from its branch and fluttered down to settle gently on the surface of the koi pond.
How many times had they sat like this together?
And yet something was different because their feelings were acknowledged.
"Kenshin, have you ever wondered what perfect happiness felt like?" Kaoru asked suddenly as her eyes stared at the ripples on the water.
"No."
Kaoru turned to look at him.
"I already know what it feels like."
Kaoru turned to look at him. "Really?"
"Yes," Kenshin said. "It feels exactly like this."
Kaoru blushed. "I feel the same way. Why is it that when we are most happy, we are also the most afraid?"
"It's because we have the most to lose," Kenshin said softly.
"The first time I saw you, I felt like you needed me and I was glad you did because I wanted you to. I wanted you to need me so that you'd never leave my side and I could take care of you." She turned back to looking at the floating leaf in the water. "I'm scared when I think of you leaving."
"I will protect you," he said. "That's my only wish. To protect you and keep you safe and happy." Kenshin closed his eyes. It was hard to open up about his feelings for her because he'd tried to ignore them for so long. Now that he could finally say the words, it was like every thought, every feeling he had for her, was pushing out of him that he didn't know where to begin. "You've given me so much and I've given you nothing…"
"You give me everything I could ever want," Kaoru said as she turned to look at him. "I feel happier when you're with me. When you smile at me, I feel like I'm someone special. You've taken care of me in so many different ways. You know, I hate visiting you at work because there are all those girls who go and buy flowers just so they could talk to you. You're totally oblivious but I could see them trying to get your attention and I hate it," Kaoru confessed. Her grip on his hand tightened as she recalled the fawning females whose hands were all over her Kenshin! "I don't even want to think about your classmates in college, I'm sure they're after you too…"
"Oro…?!" Kenshin squeaked when he felt her hand crushing the bones of his. "Kaoru-dono…" her fingers tightened, "K-koishii?"
Kaoru blinked and smiled at him. "I love it when you call me that!" she let go of his hand and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "It's okay Kenshin, I know you don't notice them."
"Uh-huh…" Kenshin agreed as he gingerly tried to move each of his fingers to see if anything was broken.
Rage filled every pore of his being as he stared at the Battousai touching his Kaoru.
It was all he could do not to wrench the redhead away when Kaoru had leaned over and kissed him.
NO!
NO!
DON'T TOUCH HIM!
DON'T TOUCH ANYONE BUT ME!
YOU"RE MINE!
MINE!
Aoshi's blue eyes shifted for a moment as dark red bled into the whites of his eyes, and melded into his pupils.
Rage consumed him.
And yes…JEALOUSY.
IT SHOULD BE ME TOUCHING HER!
HOLDING HER!
GET AWAY FROM HER!
He wanted to go over there and awaken her to her true self. Make her remember her past, the truth.
Make her remember him.
Kaoru…Soujiro had given him warning, had been aghast when Aoshi had decreed that no, they were not to retrieve Kaoru.
And yet here he was, wanting to snatch her away and take her in his arms.
It would be so easy to kill Battousai just now, while his power was still latent.
It would be so easy…
But it would be cowardly.
And Kaoru would hate him.
Aoshi closed his eyes and breathed evenly, trying to control the darkness that was pulsing inside of him strongly. When he opened his eyes, his features were once more an icy mask and his eyes back to their normal color.
"The Family has decided that it is best if you were to leave her be."
"Her?"
"Yes. Kaoru."
Aoshi stared at her, his face impassive. "Is that so?"
"She is living a normal life. Our Watcher says that there seems to be no need to awaken her as of yet. The Lamia is still asleep. Awakening Kaoru might only trigger his own awakening."
"So you know where she is."
"We have always known. She is one of us."
"Tell me where she is."
"I am sorry, I cannot do that," she said.
It seemed she didn't need to for he already knew. Fate had brought Kaoru within his circle once more, just as he knew it would. He watched as the redhead left and smiled, watching Kaoru brush stray locks of her hair from her face. She had always been so rumpled and disheveled and he had always loved her for it.
His hands ached with the need to touch her.
Saito lifted an eyebrow. "At least dogs are loyal and are aware of what is going on around them. You are blinded by your love and your hate."
Saito was wrong; he was not blinded by his love and hate.
He saw things clearly.
Kaoru was everything.
Battousai had to die.
It was as simple as that.
"Shinomori-san, what I discussed with you, it was not a request. That is the decision the Family came up with. Kaoru's parents also agreed that it might be best for you to stay your hand for a while. If nothing else, please respect their wishes."
"Because they are Kaoru's parents I will obey their wishes. But only up to a point," he said coldly as he turned and walked away.
He inhaled. Even from here he could smell her scent and feel her warmth. His body was attuned to hers and he felt the long dead dredges of his being spring to life once more at the sight of her.
He would leave her be for now.
But soon…soon…
"You will be mine once more," he promised.
Soujiro didn't understand.
Why did Shidôsha refuse to do anything about Lady Kaoru?
Why didn't he want them to pull her out of that house and away from Battousai?
He picked up his tea and took a sip as he mulled this over in his mind.
"No. You will do nothing of the sort Soujiro. Leave her as she is."
"But why? Did you not wait for this? She's right at our fingertips! Why don't you want us to rescue her!"
"I need not explain myself to you."
"Of course…"
"Why?" Soujiro asked the empty room. What did Shidôsha have planned? Was there something in the works he was not aware of? And if so, what was it?
He hated not knowing.
He hated his helplessness as it reminded him of his feelings when he'd seen Lady Kaoru in Battousai's arms, his Shidôsha staring at the two in horror. Soujiro had felt so guilty. Perhaps, if he hadn't left the compound he would have been able to prevent Battousai's attack, or at least been able to shout a warning for Lady Kaoru and Lord Aoshi.
Soujiro blamed himself for what happened, it was partly his fault.
He hoped soon, that grave injustice against his lord and lady would be rectified and they would be reunited once more. Until then, he would do all he can to protect lady Kaoru from the Battousai's clutches.
"I know you said I should not interfere and I would not…but I will keep my eye on her Shidôsha…I will not let the monster hurt her again…"
David threw his car keys against the wall of his apartment and felt mild satisfaction when he heard the sound of the impact.
"Fuck."
He took of his jacket and changed to his house shoes before stomping over to the cabinet and grabbing a bottle of vodka and a really large glass.
He wanted to get drunk.
He wanted to get Ame out of his mind.
"It was stupid to come to her…" he muttered. "I should've known better…"
It had taken so long to get over the hurt of losing her and their relationship that meant more to him than anything else in the world. It had been years but he'd thought he was finally over her.
Apparently not
And now Ame even had his partner believing in that scrap she spewed.
Vampires, Demons, Werewolves, Shape-shifters, Psychics…
He couldn't accept it!
If he did, then Ame would be right.
His face contorted in a mask of suffering as he felt the old familiar ache in his heart when he thought of her, of his sweet, lovely Ame who always smelled fresh and clean.
If she was right, damn it…
Then it would mean that he was wrong.
Which meant…
That he had broken up with her for nothing.
"Fuck!!!" he hissed as he threw the glass in his hand against the wall.
He watched in morbid fascination as the glass shattered on impact raining to the fall in a million crystalline pieces.
A former shadow of what it once was.
"Just like me…"
Just like his life.
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes. Everything's going according to plan."
He smiled, revealing white teeth as a glaring contrast to his dark, burnt skin. "Soon…soon…we will have our revenge…"
A/N: Hi guys! (waves) okay, this chapter is shorter that most of my chapters in Belonging and I do apologize. I tried to make it longer but if I wrote in the action, it would be too long. Don't worry, the next chapter will be longer and will hold a lot more action. Kaoru is going to see Aoshi soon…any guesses how? (grins)
Aoshi was standing right there in the tree Kenshin and Kaoru were looking at!
Why didn't Kenshin sense him? – Well, you have to understand Aoshi has been alive for years and years and he is from one of the most powerful vampire clans and within his powerful clan, he is also the strongest. He can mask his presence. Also, Kenshin's true power is latent so Aoshi right now is so much more stronger than he is.
Know who the smiling guy with the burnt skin is? OF COURSE YOU DO! (Hehehe)
Anyway, I hope you like this! Poor Aoshi is so tortured! Don't you just hate it when the thing or the person you want the most is so close you actually almost touch him/her/it and yet you can't? (sigh) poor Aoshi.
Anyway, guys tell me what you think of this chapter! If you have any ideas about the fic feel free to share! Suggestions, comments? Characters you love and hate? Tell me!
Scented: (typing when looks around suddenly feeling cold) Mom? Dad? Is that you? Who's there?
Aoshi: (pushes away from wall) So, finally we meet.
Scented: Aoshi! What can I do for you?
Aoshi: (draws kodachi blades) How about writing my meeting with Kaoru?
Scented: (eyes blades nervously) Of course I'll write it! You just have to wait for the flow of the story…
Aoshi: (fingers his kodachi blades) How long do I have to wait to see Kaoru again?
Scented: (backs away slowly) Uh…
Aoshi: (takes a step forward, his eyes trained at Scented) Well?
Scented: (smiles shakily) S-soon, promise…by the way, did I tell you, you look cute all squinty eyed?
Aoshi: (blinks) Don't change the subject. Where's Kaoru? Tell me NOW.
Scented: K-Kenshin…
Kenshin: (goes in front of Scented in defense position) Sessha thinks as author, Scented-dono can to whatever she wants!
Aoshi: (glares) Sure you do, that's because you get to touch my Kaoru, you unworthy asshole.
Kenshin: (eyes go amber) Who you calling unworthy, ice cube? At least I generate more heat by breathing than you ever could.
Aoshi: (goes into attack position)
Scented: (clutches at Kaoru) Do something Kaoru! They're both too pretty to die! Stop them!
Kaoru: (takes bokken and bops Aoshi and Kenshin over the head)
Kenshin: Oro?
Aoshi: Damn it!
Scented: (sigh) Okay minna, before anymore, untoward incidents occur, we better say bye. Please REVIEW! Thanks!