Peeks out from behind a bush Am I the worst Author in the world or what? I see those weapons behind your backs. Please don't kill me. I could give you a long detailed explanation of why it has been so long, but I'm sure you just want to get onto the story. So in a nut shell, my folks wouldn't let me get on because our computer was spazzing out and it really ticked me off and school is driving me bonkers and I just want to SCREAM! But now I can get back on so I have my outlet again. Hope you all will forgive me. Now on to the Chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin . . . I don't even own my own computer for heaven's sake!
Chapter 25: The Storm
The rain came down in torrents onto the tiny cabin making a musical melody for those safely inside. Kaoru gently tucked the covers around her son's sleeping form and quietly slipped from his room. She closed the door as noiselessly as possible and allowed her eyes to readjust to the light. The first thing she noticed was that Kenshin was sitting peacefully on 'his' chair reading a two week old newspaper.
Kenshin feeling eyes on him glanced up at his wife and smiled. Kaoru's heart skipped a beat as it often did now whenever she was around him. It was beginning to confuse her. The fact that whenever they brushed shoulders or if he held her hand her skin would burn in delight, and she'd find herself blushing. These new emotions pleased and confused her all at the same time.
Kenshin just watched as his wife stood staring at him for several minutes and began to wonder if something was wrong. "Kaoru?"
"Hmmm?" Kaoru replied looking as if she had just awoken from a dream
"Are you alright?" Kenshin was of course referring to the baby. 'Perhaps she is feeling sick.' He thought to himself.
Kaoru, alarmed that he had read her thoughts began to try and divert the subject. "Just fine, would you-uh like some coffee?"
"Kaoru we're out of coffee."
"Oh we are?"
Now Kenshin was worried. It was unlike Kaoru to forget anything like that. "Kaoru are you feeling sick?"
Kaoru tilted her head to the side. "Sick?" Realization dawned. "Ohhhh . . . no, no Kenshin I feel just fine." She quickly walked over to where he was sitting, now bolt upright, and knelt down at his feet and patted his leg. "It's still too early for that anyway." Then she added under her breath, "Don't worry though it'll come."
Kenshin relaxed with her words and leaned back in to his chair and stared at his wife. Never had he known someone with such inner strength as this woman. He decided there was no other place on earth he'd rather be than right there with her.
Thunder.
Kaoru shuddered. "It doesn't matter how used I get to these storms I can't take the thunder."
Kenshin smiled almost wickedly and in one fluid motion gather Kaoru up in to his lap. Kaoru in her surprise gave a tiny yelp. Then covered her mouth with her hands and glanced back at Kenji's door. The couple remained silent for a few instants then finally relaxed as no sounds of and unhappy child came.
Kenshin chuckled then nuzzled up to Kaoru's ear and whispered. "Boom." Kaoru's skin tingled where his breath had tickled her and she giggled in response. "No matter whatever storm, Kaoru, I'll be here to protect you."
Kaoru looked up into his deep eyes and felt the warmth rush over her body. She opened her mouth to speak when the front door slammed open and Sano's soaked form stumbled in.
"Sano!" Kenshin jumped up in alarm but not before setting Kaoru on firm ground. He instantly rushed over to his friend and tried to help his sit down. Sano just swatted his arm away angrily.
"She's gone Kensin!" Sano spat out bitterly. Kenshin not understanding asked, "What do you mean, Sano?"
Sano glared, "I meant what I just said she's gone. She's not at home."
"Sayo?"
"I had been working all day in the fields and when I came into the house tonight she wasn't there."
"Sano, she often goes to town to see those friends of hers. I'm sure with the storm she just-"
"No, Kenshin, she's gone she left a note that she's leaving me."
"Oh Sano," Kaoru managed, finding her voice at last.
"I'm going to find her."
"You're what?" Kenshin replied.
"I said I'm gonna find her and bring her back home, where she belongs. I don't care if I have to drag her from New York to Wyoming she's coming home."
Kenshin tried to register this new turn of events as Sano deliberately turned to leave. "Wait, Sano, at least don't leave until morning the storm's to rough." Sano looked at Kenshin as if he had spoken a foreign language.
"No, I'm leaving tonight. I already packed. I just came to ask you to watch my farm for me."
"Sano." Kenshin shouted against the storm as Sano strode out to his horse standing obediently at the bottom of the porch.
Sano mounted then looked back at the two of them. "Kenshin, I have to do this. Even if you don't understand, I'm asking for your support. Missy, kiss the kid for me." With that Sano spurred his horse out into the darkness.
Kenshin stood mute for a few minutes then muttered something under his breath and rushed back inside. Kaoru stood shivering in the wind. The hem of her skirt was already drenched even while standing on the covered porch. She turned to follow Kenshin inside when she saw him throwing clothes and food into a bag.
"Kenshin!" She stated in alarm.
"I'm going to help, Sano."
"You don't even know where he's going, or where Sayo went. Neither of you do, what makes you think you can find her?"
"Kaoru, Sano's my best friend. He'd do the same for me if I had a deranged lunatic for a wife."
"Kenshin!"
Kenshin looked up at her his expression hard. "You're not going to ask me to stay are you?"
The truth smacked her hard and Kaoru tried her best to remain impassive. Kenshin would stay if she only asked him, but he wanted to go, and she wasn't going to stop him. She shook her head and stared at her feet as she listened to him finish rustling around the house. The storm outside only seemed to intensify with the passing moments.
Kenshin swept by her out into the rain heading toward the barn to retrieve his horse. Kaoru looked up at the bag he had set on the floor and began filling it with food that would keep for a long amount of time. By the time she had finished Kenshin had re-entered the house. She handed him his bag, and the two walked out onto the porch.
"I put some warmer clothes inside, in case you get too cold." Kenshin looked at the bag then at Kaoru. She had not made eye contact with him ever since he had begun his preparations. So he took her chin in his free hand.
"I know you don't understand completely, but I'm afraid if Sano leaves and he doesn't find Sayo that well, he'll end up like he was before I knew him, a man with no meaning in life. He needs to know I support him one hundred percent. One day I'll tell you the story, but not now. I have to go."
"How long . . . . how long do you think you'll be gone." Kaoru absentmindedly placed a hand on her stomach.
Kenshin knew the depth behind her question. "I'll be back before it's time. I promise you that. I can't say how soon other than that."
Kaoru managed a nod. Kenshin leaned in and kissed her lips while and inward battle raged within him. A sense of duty and asense of longing, he had to leave quickly or he would find he was unable to do so at all.
"I love you." Were the final words he uttered as he let her go. Kaoru's lips stung as his warmth left them and through tear-filled eyes watched as her husband ran out to his horse and mounted. Her mouth opened to shout the words that would not come and with a single tear sliding down her cheek she watched him ride into the cold and bleak night leaving only emptiness and sorrow in her heart
You probably all want to kill me now. I know this chapter was shorter than normal, but it can't be helped. It can't be tagged onto chapter 24 and chapter 26 can't be added. I have complementary tissues for any who are the emotional type. On to my reviewers at least if they'll even still read my story after this . . .
My Reviewers
Lily of the Shadow- Hehheh, guess the magical alarm/datebook didn't work too well. Hope you can forgive me for being such a bum!
Half-breed-demon-fox- yep another's on the way . . .oh and sry for not following your orders in updating soon!
Animemistress419- Yea, Sayo'a jerk . . .wonder what you think of her now???
Star0704- Kenji's 2 yrs old, and so sorry for not updating. Thanks for reviewing! A long time ago . . .
Mirage- Ok the last time a made you wait it may have been a good wait . . but this . . .I'm ashamed of myself. I hope you can forgive me!
Charmed18- Yes you reviewed! And I didn't update . . .sorry bout that!
Me, Myself, and I- I'm back . . .sorry sorry sorry for not updating! Hope you're in a forgiving mood!
Kakashi-fan- No no arsenic . . .lol. I haven't decided about Saito and Tokio yet.
Allin656- Umm so yea it's been a while . . .so sorry for not updating as promised. He he as for Megumi and Yahiko . . . be patient. Hope you're not too mad for the long wait!
The Evil Witch- Hey how ya been? OK OK I'm sorry for not updating! Hope you've been doing all right though. Hope you like this new turn of events!
Koishii Sweet- I know I hate Sayo too! Hope you can forgive me for not updating!
Ginny-cry- I'm so glad . . .and I'm so sorry for not updating!
Mini-Oro-Kenji-Himura- So sorry for messing the eyes up! I'm afraid that I don't know much about the series after the anime ends . . . . unfortunately Kenji's not in it. tear Hope you liked this chappie!
De lazy Lime- I know I know . . .the dreaded writer's block. Fortunately I have the next 2 chapters written already! Yay! and the rest of the story is worked out in my head! I just hope school doesn't kill me! Or that you won't kill me!
Lanse- Thanks for the FYI! I need to get that fixed only problem is it's saved on a dif comp! ARG! Your advice was helpful it was just school and my parents that mostly kept me from my story. Grrrrr! Hope you can forgive the long wait!
Ochanoko- guess I've become like the writers that don't update for 5 months huh? So sorry! Hope you can forgive me!
Kuro-Hidama- Heh heh the "witch" is all part of the plot! Sry for not updating sooner!
AnimeSoul3- Hey . . .Iamsosorryfornotupdatinginlikeforever! Plz forgive me!
Tintin-chan- yes writers block and the dreaded case of school and parents! Holidays are practically here though . . .soooo more writing fir me!
Chibi Binasu-chan- hehehe . . .sory for the long wait. bows plz forgive me!
Mishorou Mie- I'm so glad . . .hope the it wasn't too terrible for you!
Shiro-tanuki- lol a leash . . .hope that u aren't too upset about the long wait!
Chocoberry- Yea u could say that . . .hope u liked this chappie!
Yoyomeok- ACK! I'm so sorry I've been spelling it wrong . . .y don't peeps tell me this early on??? I'll try to remember and fix it in later chapters!
Hioga-chan- So sorry about the long wait! Hope you're in a forgiving mood!
Cybele- Sorry about not updating! I hope you can find it in ur heart to forgive! Oh yea . . .i hate sayo!
Gaby (hyatt- hope I spelled that right . . .well time will tell won't it? Sorry about the long wait!
Darkygurl11- Yea I made her a real sleaze . . .
The nadja- yea . . .i definitely didn't update in like forever! Sorry!
Aryanne- thanks for the tip! I'll have to fix that sometime soon. Sorry about not updating!
Peridot- Yea . . .it's been a really long time since I updated . . .sorry!
S3r3nity- yes . . .i agree completely! Sry for not updating!
Kenshinobsession- sorry about the long wait. Forgive me?
Kik-ting- glad u like it! Sry I didn't update!
Saori the Wind Goddess- long time since I updated . . .isn't it? I'm so Sorry!
Anime Artist Queen- hmmm wonder wut u think of these new developments? Sorry for not updating!
Jmj102- Death to Sayo! I couldn't agree more! Plz forgive me for not updating!
- Sorry for not updating!
An Avid Reader- The friends that Sayo met up with in he town are women of my own creation. Sorry for not updating!
Well I think that was all of my reviewers . . .I tried to keep the responses short and sweet because there were so many and I think I owe it to you guys to give you each a response. I think I'm going to cut down on response time though. I really hope you guys can forgive me . . .and this would have been up half and hour ago if it weren't for the fact that I dislocated my shoulder and I have to type with one hand . . .so yea . . .
In later news I DO have the next 2 chapters written so maybe I can get them posted soon! Hope you all forgive me and I'll see you next chapter!
Review please!
Kairi7