The Other Side of the Moon

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin! I don't own Rurouni Kenshin! I don't Rurouni Kenshin! I don't own Rurouni Kenshin! I don't own Rurouni Kenshin! I don't own Rurouni Kenhin1 I don't own Rurouni Kenshin! I don't own Rurouni Kenshin! I don't own Rurouni Kenshin! (Damn… I'm tired…)

Chapter 11 – Nightmare(s)

The sound of the salty water hitting the dark rocks comforted Kaoru as she looked to the moon reflecting upon the misty waters of the sea. She was cold but she ignored the feeling. Tears had long stopped falling but she wasn't feeling any better. She was sitting on wooden stairs that led into a small beach. It was a deserted area but somehow she felt safe there…

She frowned as she thought about the earlier incidents. The sight of another woman kissing Kenshin pained her more than a severe physical wound. She had dedicated four years of her life to a man that didn't love her back… did he…?

All she could think of was the woman's beauty… Depressing thoughts invaded her mind throwing her into a bottomless abysm…

She is beautiful… She is everything I'm not…

When she stood before Kenshin, a few hours ago, she had all the desire in the world to throw things at him, to consciously hurt him but she couldn't bring herself to do that… Why…? She didn't know… So picked up her car's keys and left the house… Her heart tightened…

And leaving a poor child alone… Yahiko… I'm sorry…

Kaoru was trying hard to be a responsible emotional shoulder to the young Yahiko but the more she tried to work out her problems the more new problems insisted to come out of nowhere… Was it a curse…?

When she came near her car, she was still able to see the red lights of Kenshin's BMW, disappearing on the end of the street.

The temptation to follow him was tremendous as she got inside her car. But as soon as the car's engine roared into life she turned around and took the opposite path. She needed to be alone and to put a safe distance between them.

After something like this, we feel nothing, not joy nor sorrow, not pain or sadness only numbness…

As she was driving, she felt nothing and paid attention to no one…

When her mind recovered the command of her body, she had the car parked on the parking lot of the small beach...

That had been two hours ago, two hours since she parked the car and got out. Unsure steps had lead her to the wood stairs, and she could only sit down and cry.

The night was beautiful and quiet despite of the cold and Kaoru felt peaceful…

Nothing lasts forever…

Her mind fought hard to concentrate on something…

Misao and Aoshi…

She was happy for her friends' recovery but the last visit she had paid them the day before had been troublesome to her soul.

She felt envy…

Envy..? Why envy..? I love my friends… I should never feel that…

But a wave of envy assaulted her at the sight of happiness and mutual affection that the newly reunited couple transmitted.

Why…? I know why. They share the kind of love that I've been searching for all my life… A love beyond the physical borders…

Her thoughts turned depressingly again to her wedding…

I know that I love Kenshin but knowing that this love is not corresponded is…

Tears fought for release again…

But if Kenshin desires freedom I will give him freedom and a world far away from me…

The noise of someone screaming on the beach broke Kaoru's thoughts.

"Please let me go!"

"Your purse bitch!"

"I have nothing with me! Let me go!"

Curiosity took over and Kaoru got up to see what was happening on the beach.

The light of the full moon allowed Kaoru to see three shadows on the beach.

"Jewels, woman?!" Shouted a definitely rough masculine voice.

"I… have… nothing!" Shuttered a female voice.

"She is lying!! You bitch!" Shot back a second masculine voice.

Someone is being robbed… Thought Kaoru.I have to do something!

Adrenaline rushed through her vein like fuel ready to be burned…

To protect…

Without hesitate, Kaoru jumped from the wooden stairs and landed on the white cold sand of the beach.

To protect…

The two men had started beating the woman.

To protect…

Kaoru ran towards the commotion. She ran as fast as her legs allowed. Her body was rusty from the lack of exercise but she felt good, very good for the first time in months.

"Hello! What do we have here?!" Exclaimed one of the men as he spotted Kaoru running towards them.

The sand was heavy under her white tennis and slowed down the movements a bit but Kaoru wasn't concerned about it. Right now, what mattered were the men…

I must protect…

As one of the men continued to grab the woman, the other prepared himself to receive the fierce black haired that hadn't slowed down a bit…

"Who are you, bitch?! Can't you see we are busy?!"

The man's provocations meant nothing to Kaoru and she rewarded the man only with the noise of rushed steps through the sand.

"Come here bitch! I'm waiting for you!!"

Her body was rusty but the movements were still as fluid as the times she used to practice them daily.

I'm ready to protect…

As the man saw Kaoru coming closer, he unleashed a heavy fist ready to knockout the noisy woman but he was caught off surprise as the woman escaped from the blow. Kaoru ducked and a smirk blossomed upon her lips. The man's time of reaction was too slow and before he could react, he was on the floor with a broken noose.

"Bitch!" Yelled the man the best he could in a heavily nasalized voice as he grabbed and covered his bloody nose. "Bitch!!"

The other man let go of the woman and run towards Kaoru holding a knife.

"You won't get away from this!!"

I must protect…

But Kaoru was ready and easily knocked the knife from the man's hands as she grabbed his right arm and twisted it against his back.

To protect… The essential feature in Kamiya Kasshin Ryu…

"Never bother this lady again. Understood?" Hissed Kaoru in a low voice near the man's hear.

"Who are you to…" The man was about to shoot back but Kaoru never allowed him to finish.

The sound of heavy breathing and a bone being broken echoed in the silent night.

The forgotten woman was looking with awe to her rescuer…

An anguished scream came out from the man's throat as he fell on his knees and grabbed his painful arm.

"You broke my arm!!"

A dangerous glint appeared on Kaoru's dark blue eyes.

"Before I break something else, I advise you and your friend to get out of here."

Both men looked with a calculating look to Kaoru. Although not very robust, she had been strong enough to injure them without loosing her breath. Her hands on her waist indicated that she was more than ready to show her strength again.

The man with the broken noose didn't need to think twice. He got up and ran, followed shortly by his fellow who screamed for him.

"Wait moron!! Wait for me!!"

A small smile appeared upon Kaoru's lips as she looked to the pair of thieves as they disappeared from the view.

Her eyes turned to the bright full moon. She felt good. For the first in days, she felt good… She had been…

Useful… I was useful to something…

"Miss…?" Tried the other woman.

Kaoru's eyes left the moon and concentrated upon the woman's figure. She wasn't higher than her but her curves her far softer than Kaoru's. The woman should be near her fifties. Kaoru couldn't see very well but she guessed that the woman was wearing a dark brown cardigan and some old jeans underneath an old grey anorak. Her hair was short but Kaoru couldn't define its colour.

"Miss…?" Insisted the woman again. "Thank you…"

"It was nothing. By the way, my name is Kaoru… Himura. You may call me Kaoru."

The full moon provided essential illumination but not enough… If Kaoru had been more attentive she would have been able to detect the soft glint that appeared as fast as it disappeared on the woman's tired eyes.

"Kaoru… Thank you for your help. My name is Emma, Emma Wallace…"

As both their hands met in a polite handshake, electricity ran through their body leaving behind a sensation of warmth…

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mrs. Wallace…" Whispered Kaoru.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

The moon was high and the beach continued deserted except for the two women that were now sitting on the wooden stairs, talking and laughing as if they had known each other for a ling time…

"Come on, Kaoru… really… there is only a reason why such beautiful and intelligent girl would be, alone, on a beach at night: you had a fight with your boyfriend!"

Kaoru looked to her hands.

"Not with my boyfriend… With my husband…" Whispered Kaoru.

"You are married…? May I ask how old are you, Kaoru?"

"25…"

"So young… Believe me, marriage is such a waste of time on the youth…"

"Well Mrs. Wallace, if you want to know, I don't regret it."

"I can tell you don't but right now your marriage seems to be a bit bitter no?"

Kaoru looked to the woman's slightly wrinkled face and smiled sadly.

"Indeed… It's difficult to realise that we are a lesser part in our husband's life…"

"A lesser part…? So you mean there is a lover? Hey, don't answer if I'm being too noisy… Sometimes I can't control myself…"

Kaoru couldn't help but to smile.

"It will make me good to talk about it… Well, if you want to know… a lover and a double life… And above all he asks me to trust him… But I can't help but to feel that I no longer know him…"

"That's unusual… He asked you to trust him?"

"Yes Mrs. Wallace…"

"A man doesn't ask for trust after betraying… A man's mind doesn't work like that… Maybe he is trying to protect you…"

"Yes, protect me… The thought has occurred me before… Protecting me from his other life…"

Protecting me from his other half…

The thought ran through Kaoru's mind as a lightening. Her eyes became deep and the scenery of the quiet beach gave place to a dark corner in a big room only illuminated by the lightening of furious storm outside.

Alone…

Heavy breathing was possible to hear between the noises of the storm.

Not alone… Someone was there…

Kaoru tried hard to remember who was there but she couldn't, she could only see a silhouette, she could only see hard eyes…

A gentle tap on her shoulder brought Kaoru to reality. But she insisted to remember the eyes… and the painful headache returned…

"Kaoru… child… You are thinking hard…"

"Mrs. Wallace, I'm sorry…"

"Don't be Kaoru…"

"I was trying to remember a very painful night…"

"Painful…?"

"The night my father died…" Kaoru stopped abruptly.

"Kaoru, you don't have to…"

"But, I want to remember! Mrs. Wallace, it's so frustrating! To know that I was there but I can't remember anything…"

"When did your… father die?"

"Nearly ten years ago, Mrs. Wallace…"

"What do you remember then?"

Kaoru's sad eyes focused on the calm movement of the seawaters.

"Darkness… A dark room… I'm not sure where I was but I'm bet it was inside my father's Dojo… There was a storm… I thought I was alone but someone else was there… I don't remember who it was… I can only remember the eyes…"

"Those eyes frightened you, Kaoru?"

"No… Now that I think about it… I wasn't scared… That was weird…"

"What else…?"

"Then I can only remember the blood…"

"Nothing else?"

"Nothing else Mrs. Wallace. I woke up three days later in a hospital bed, confused and disoriented… The doctors came up with the diagnostic that the shock had been so big that my mind… erased the memories of that night… Then I was informed that my father was… dead…" Kaoru choked the last words.

"Dead…? How…?"

"Stabbed… Brutally stabbed… A quite unusual thing… A sword crossed his body…"

"Kaoru… And your mother…?" Asked the woman.

"Well… She was another case… After I woke up in the hospital I was relieved to see her by my side but… To her, I was the responsible for my father's death… She hated kendo… For the first time in my life, I saw pure hate on other's eyes… A week later she committed suicide…"

"Suicide…?" Repeated the woman unconsciously aloud. "I must say my child, that you have a very sad life story…"

"It is very difficult to overcome someone's death but it is not impossible…" Whispered Kaoru as she looked to the waves.

"May I know what happened after?" Inquired Mrs. Wallace softly.

"An aunt from my mother's side took care of me… Aunt Maiko… Well, let's just say that she gave me a shelter… It was clear for me that she didn't like me much… She became my legal tutor…"

"You mentioned a Dojo… You mean the old Dojo that is abandoned, downtown? It belonged to your father…?"

"Yes… My father's dream and my father's life…"

Mrs. Wallace looked to the young woman with affection; she couldn't help but to feel touched with the girl's sad story.

"Tell me if I'm being too curious… I will stop if you wish… But why is it abandoned?"

A small sad smile appeared upon Kaoru's lips.

"My aunt sold the Dojo as soon as she became my tutor. She considered it a total waste of time and money… I remember that I begged her not to sell it but she refused to hear me… But I still have a dream…"

"A dream?"

"One day I will buy the Dojo back and I will open it again. That's what keeps me going after all the adversities…"

"I must say Kaoru: you are one strong woman."

"If you say so Mrs. Wallace…"

A comfortable silence fell upon the two women. Mrs. Wallace was quietly admiring Kaoru's features as she looked to the high moon.

"And you Mrs. Wallace? Isn't it too late to be here all alone?"

"Never too late, never too early… I have no rush… I have nothing to return too…"

"So you are a homeless?"

A warm laugh irrupted from the older woman's throat that to Kaoru, resembled like a soft music.

"No… I live in a small house near the beach… What I'm saying is that I'm alone…"

"You don't have family?"

The woman's dark eyes lowered suddenly.

"I have no family left. I was… married once and I had a child… a lovely girl…"

"What happened?"

"They died long time ago… in a car accident…"

"I'm sorry Mrs. Wallace…"

"Don't be Kaoru. They are in better place now…"

"Mrs. Wallace…" Started Kaoru.

"Well Kaoru Himura, it was a pleasure to know you but I must go." Said the woman as she got up and looked deeply to Kaoru "I sincerely hope that we meet again."

"Of course Mrs. Wallace. Can I offer you a ride?" Offered Kaoru as she got up as well.

"No child. It's late. Go home; I'm sure your husband must be worried about you."

"I'm not that sure Mrs. Wallace… Be careful."

"I will." Said Mrs. Wallace as they departed.

Kaoru stood by her car seeing the woman disappearing into the night and reflecting upon their encounter.

It was the first in many years that I talked about that night… Interesting… And to a total stranger no less… But I feel as if I know her…

After one last nostalgic look to the deserted beach Kaoru entered into the car.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"You have no permission to leave IACO's facilities."

"What?!"

"Understand this: you may warn our main suspect."

"She is my wife!"

"I'm quite aware that Battousai!"

"Katsura! Step out of the way!" Kenshin's voice was a loud a clear warning to Katsura.

"You will not leave IACO's facilities! I can't allow you to jeopardize this operation!" Katsura was aware that he was pushing Kenshin into the limit and he knew very well what a very angry Kenshin could do. But also knew that the most important thing right now was to maintain him away from his wife.

"Don't test my patience Katsura! Don't turn this personal!" Shouted Kenshin as the sound of a strong fist hitting a wood desk echoed in Hiko's office.

Hiko was not surprised by his son's sudden display of anger, he knew how Kenshin was feeling but the fact that he was IACO's main director forced him to forget the role of the father.

"Personal?! Damn you Kenshin! It is you who is making this personal! Look at those images on the screen!" Katsura pointed to Hiko's computer screen where the images of Kaoru dressed in black, entering in a red car were flashing. "It is your wife we are talking about!! And you are one of IACO's chief of operations! It is your duty to dissociate one role from the other!"

"Fuck you Katsura!" Kenshin was losing his patience. He suddenly grabbed the collars of Katsura's jacket.

"Listen to me carefully Kenshin: I have enough proofs to take your wife down. And if you desire I can take you down as well. It's your choice. IACO or Kaoru."

Kenshin lowered his eyes and released Katsura's collar.

Without a word, he headed towards the door.

As he opened the door, he heard Katsura talking to him.

"And to think Kenshin that everything was happening right under your noose…"

Katsura's only answer was the loud sound of Hiko's office door closing.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"I'm asking this for the last time little boy, where is Kaoru Himura?!" Pressed a short bald man dressed in a three piece suit.

"I swear I don't know!" Yahiko was really getting annoyed with the guy.

"I'm losing my patience little boy!"

And the man went on rambling about something but Yahiko was no longer paying attention to him. Instead he was looking to the well illuminated house, inside and outside. A dozen of cars were parked in front of Kaoru's and Kenshin's house, light focused on the house. Inside, every single light was on. Yahiko hadn't been allowed to enter the house but he could guess that agents were turning the house upside down.

Yahiko was in Tsubame's and Sae's house when they heard the loud noise of cars and police sirens. When he approached the house, that bald man had simply started screaming with him. He wanted to know where Kaoru was…

Where are you Kaoru…?

Everyone from the neighbourhood was on the street taking a close look of the commotion.

Suddenly a car stopped a few meters from Kaoru's and Kenshin's house.

Yahiko looked to it and recognized it.

The bald man picked up his gun and shouted to two nearby agents.

"It's her!"

As soon as a very astonished Kaoru got out of the car, three men were upon her grabbing her violently.

Her whole body froze as soon as the felt the cold metal the handcuffs against her wrists.

What is going on?!

"Kaoru Kamiya Himura, you are under arrest for the charge of espionage and conspiracy."

What?!

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Author's Notes: I so mean when I don't provide the answers you are anxiously expecting for… But that the essence of the story… In the end you will have every answer you seek… You have my word…

For the 12th time I apologise for the mistakes that you will find.

A big kiss for all my friends who have provided essential support. They know who they are.

And now the corner dedicated to my reviewers!

upsidedownfrown: Thank you very much and here you go: a new chapter… Kisses!

Kean: Please I beg you! Don't kill Kenshin! Please! There are still so many things I have to do with him… I wish… ^.^ Good question indeed: why Sae and not Tae…? Well it started as a mistake but now I considerer it to be more logical. I want Tsubame to have a balanced family now: her mother is Sae and she has a father… I still don't know if I will write something about him… That way, Tsubame is an emotional counterpart for Yahiko… She can help him a lot… If you remember, when I introduced Tae, she was a divorced woman. Can you follow my reasoning? I hope so… Tell me if I don't make sense though… Thank you for pointing out the mistakes! Thank you very much! Kisses!

nes: Olá Agnes! Isso é mistério... Se eu te disser alguma coisa teria de te matar... ^.^ Joking... Estou com umas piadas muito esquisitas hoje... Deve ser do tempo... Muito obrigada pelas tuas palavras! Beijos!

makemesmile: That's a secret... At least for the time being… ^.^ Thank you very much! Kisses!

royal blueKitsune: At your service your majesty! As requested, a new chapter! ^.^ Thank you very much! Kisses!

ccp: That's quite a compliment! Thank you very much! Kisses!

Pagan: I'm sorry if you stay disappointed for not finding many answers on this chapter… But everything has a reason for existing… Thank you very much for your words! Kisses!

erica6060: I'm sorry but you will have to wait one more chapter to know the answer… ^.^ Thank you very much! Kisses!

Kinomoto: Thank you very much! Kisses!

*sweet angel8: Thank you for your support and for your words! Kisses!

paisita: It is I who has to thank you! Obrigada! Kisses!

Nel: Please don't hate me! Please no! As for the million dollars question… well… if you already read the chapter… you know… that you still have to wait for the next chapter… Sorry… Thank you very much for your words! Kisses!

hondidee: Thank you very much! Kisses!

happyangel123: That's the question: how? They have so many things against them… And there are more things to come… Thank you very much! Kisses!

half-breed-demon-fox: I already have a ending planned and it will definitely be a sort of a happy ending… Thank you very much for your words! Kisses!

saskia2: I believe Kenshin has fear… but in the future you will have your answers! Thank you very much! Kisses!

Tameka-tanuki-jouchan: So many questions but unfortunately I can't answer them… I'm sorry… Thank you very much! Here you go: a new chapter! Kisses!

animeCLgrl: Curiosity… curiosity… ^.^ I'm sorry but I can't reveal it… You have to wait… Thank you very much for your words! Kisses!

Via x Infinito: My God! So many compliments! Why thank you! I'm deeply honoured! Thank you very much! Kisses!

Demonwolf98: ? I can't tell… ^.^ Thank you very much! Kisses!

Rekka's Angel: Thank you very much and welcome to The Other Side of the Moon! Thank you! Kisses!

BabyKaoru-Sama: Wait up! Don't die on me! Here you go! A new chapter! Thank you very much! Kisses! * I do believe in destiny. Why?*

battousai's number one: I envy you! You are battousai's number one! I envy you! ^.^ Thank you very much! Kisses!

Wolf Jade: Thank you for pointing out the mistakes! I'm taking some free time to edit the chapters… Than k you very much! Kisses!

pyramidgirl89: Thank you very much for your words! Kisses!

Rinoa-Heartilly-666: Of course it will continue! Until the end! Thank you very much for your words! Kisses!

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CrypticMaidenRK: I can not answer… ^.^I so mean… I thank you for your words! Here you go: a new chapter! Thank you! Kisses!

Sirei: Maybe… But you understand that I can not reveal all! That's a surprise for future chapters! Thank you very much! Kisses!

Zhuyou: Ah… Feudal era…? Use of characters…? I'm sorry but I didn't understand you review… I'm sorry… But could you please explain it? Thank you.

CookyButtButt: Yes, I'm have been considering doing that for quite some time… I believe I have some extra time today so I'm going to edit the previous chapters! Thank you very much for your advice! Thank you very much for your words and welcome to The Other Side of the Moon! Kisses!

littleanimefan: So many questions… and so few answers… ^.^ Thank you very much! Kisses!

Luv's-lyric: Thank you very much! Kisses!

Mizz-Clumsy: A bit of Kaoru's past will be revealed on this chapter but only a little bit… It's still too early to show it all… ^.^ I'm working hard to post a chapter once a week but sometimes it's difficult… Blame the school! In the beginning of the story he doesn't have the X scar… The bruise that Kaoru made is only one part of that X scar… ^.^ Thank you very much for your words! Kisses!

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And that's all people! Until the next chapter! Kisses from Portugal!!!!!!!!!!!!!