by

Everlasting

by: Reiko-chan

*Standard Disclaimers apply*

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Chapter 3: A Love Everlasting

"One sundae with lots of fudge please!"

"One banana split with extra nuts please!"

"One sundae with lots of fudge and one banana split with extra nuts coming right up!"

"Honestly, Kate, a banana split?" Mikki stared at her in wonder. "I thought you were going on a diet!"

"That was last week," Kate replied chuckling, reaching for the chocolate sundae. "Here you go Mikki. Go to the cashier and pay up."

"Hey, wait a minute," Mikki scowled. "I thought this was your treat! That's why I went along!"

"Oh c'mon Mikki," Kate replied, clutching her pockets. "You know I'm short on the budget today! Mom and Dad have to save for my college entrance fees next year!" Kate and Mikki looked at each other for the longest time. All at once they started to laugh.

"Good one Kate," Mikki replied, pointing at her.

"Ha ha ha," Kate chuckled, retrieving her banana split from the counter. "Let's pay up."

*******

The two girls sat opposite each other, eating their orders. Kate was really enjoying her banana split, an explanation for the nuts near her lips.

"You got nuts on your lips," Mikki pointed out. Kate grabbed some tissue from the tray, and started to wipe her face.

"Thanks," she replied, pointing at Mikki's lips. Mikki took the hint, and she too got some tissue, and started wiping her lips, which were turning brown from all the fudge. "What was it that you wanted to tell me?"

"Well, it's just between us okay?" Mikki whispered. Kate nodded, seeing that it was an absolute secret to Mikki. "I just didn't want to admit it in front of the whole gang, but lately, I've been having some dreams similar to yours."

"Really?" Kate was surprised. She set her spoon down in amazement. "Tell me about it."

"Well, I also heard the names you mentioned, but there were more in my dreams," Mikki replied. "There were names like, Jiya, Ochika... O-Omasu... Shiro, Kuro... and more."

"Hmm. That's new."

"Plus, when I heard you mention 'Aoshi', I felt strange. I felt so tingly inside all of a sudden. It's like... love."

"What? Don't tell me you're in love with some creature you met in your dreams," Kate exclaimed softly. "That's... weird."

"How come you didn't say 'impossible'?" Mikki realized that Kate was holding back on her. She wanted to know what it was, although she already had an inkling of it. Kate, you can tell me anything. I'm your friend. I won't tell. Then, as if she heard her, a voice responded in her head. I know that Mikki. It's just that, I don't know how you'll react to this. At that, the two of them looked at each other, and frowned.

"How did you..." they spat out at the same time. "Never mind."

"Mikki, I don't know what's going on. Everytime I see Kevin, the name 'Kenshin' keeps on popping into my head. I once called Kevin by that name. He didn't seem to be bothered, but ever since I told you guys about my dream, he started acting weirdly every time I accidentally call him 'Kenshin'," Kate sighed.

"Go on," Mikki replied. "You're still going to tell me something right?" Kate nodded.

"I never told anyone about this, but ever since I met Kevin, I had a crush on him," Kate whispered. Mikki's eyes widened in surprise. Hehehe. I knew there was something going on between the two of you.

What do you mean by that?

It's the same with Kevin. I've been noticing something in him lately.

"Stop it already," Kate spoke, returning to her banana split. "How am I supposed to enjoy this stuff?" Mikki turned to her sundae and began scooping some fudge from her vanilla.

"I just love vanilla, don't you Kate? It's so tasty!" Mikki exclaimed, changing the topic. Kate never had time to answer, since she was busy staring at someone who had just entered the ice cream store. Mikki, surprised at her friend's actions, turned to her gaze. She saw a boy, about a year older than them, wearing a navy blue jacket and jeans, seat himself a few meters away from their spot. All at once, Mikki smiled.

"Tony!" Mikki called to the boy, waving her hand. The boy turned. Seeing her, he gave a grin and turned back to his original position.

"He's such a grave one," Kate remarked, returning to her banana split again. "I never knew you knew him."

"Who? Tony? He's a childhood friend," Mikki smiled at Kate's puzzled look. "Never knew that?" Kate shook her head, looking back at Tony.

"What's his name?" Kate asked. Mikki grinned mischievously. "What now?"

"You're not the first person to like him you know," Mikki replied, grinning. "Oh, well, his name is Anthony Simmons. We call him Tony for short. He's already on his first year of college, taking up a fine arts course at the U.L.A. (University of Los Angeles) California. He lives at number 25 Mahogany..."

"Wait, you're saying too much!" Kate interrupted. She folded her arms. "I only asked for his name." Mikki laughed.

"Every girl who asks me his name starts to ask those kind of questions," she replied. "So I figured I'd tell you before you ask. After all, I'm getting bored of those questions..."

"You're hiding something," Kate but in, seeing a sad look in her eyes. "I could feel it. Is it about him?" MIkki looked down at her sundae and shook her head.

"There's nothing wrong Kate. There is absolutely nothing wrong," Mikki replied.

You can tell me anything Mikki, a voice rang in her head. What is it about?

... Kate...

Mikki...

Alright... it's about Tony...

I knew it! Go on.. I won't tell...

Kate, he reminds me too much of Aoshi...

Aoshi? I thought we ditched the subject.

"I can't take this anymore," Mikki uttered, her head still hung low. "I had to tell someone... But, Kate, why can we communicate through our minds?" Mikki's head rose, her gaze meeting Kate's. She could tell she was as puzzled as she was, and had no appropriate answers to her question. Suddenly, for another moment, the two girls had a vision... the same vision they had back at Mikki's garage. There again were the two girls, chanting the incantation, their right hands in contact as their blood dripped onto the book.

Sister's vows do we share...

To feel the same, to share the same...

For what is mine is also yours...

For what is yours is also mine...

Suddenly, they returned to their normal senses. "Kate... It's Misao and Kaoru."

"Yes...It was them! Mikki, do you..." The door of the shop opened once more, and in came Kevin, wearing his favorite loose maroon shirt, jeans and sneakers. The two girls turned to look at him. Kate waved at him, catching his attention. He smiled, and moved towards their table, seating himself beside Kate.

"Hi guys," he greeted. "So, what's up?"

"You're wearing that cross earring again?" Mikki sighed, taking a scoop from her ice cream.

"Why? What's wrong? I like it anyway," Kevin replied, clutching his earring.

"It looks good on you Kevin," Kate smiled. "Though, I'm not used to you wearing that."

"I only wear it outside school," he explained. "On parties."

"Why are you wearing it now?" Mikki asked. "There's no party here."

"I just came from the fair. Isn't that reason enough?" Kevin shrugged his shoulders. "Hey, have you seen Tony?"

"Yeah. He's over there," Mikki replied, pointing at Tony's direction.

"Ah, thanks!" Kevin stood up. "See you around Mikki, Kaoru..." Kate jerked her head in his direction, brows curled in astonishment.

"Kaoru? It's Kate remember? Where did you get that name?" Kate asked, utterly surprised. So was Mikki, who was practically gaping at him in shock. Kevin's eyes widened, not believing at what he had just said. "That's the girl's name... from my dreams... How did you know that?"

Kevin was silent at first, but he finally spoke up. "I told you, I've been having dreams similar to yours," he explained. "Somehow the name made its way to my tongue. I'm sorry." Kate, apparently unsatisfied with his answer, stood up and faced him.

"You're hiding something," Kate whispered to him, so he would be the only one to hear. "What is it?" Kevin averted his gaze. He didn't want to look at her.

"Look, there is nothing to hide," he replied in the same tone as hers. "Why must I hide something from you guys?"

"I don't know the reason why you should, but please, don't," Kate uttered in a low voice. "We're friends... don't feel shy to speak up." She turned around and sat again.

"Perhaps we can talk about this some other time," Kate grinned. "After all, you came here to see Tony, right?" Kevin nodded.

"I should be going," he said. "Bye." He turned, and left.

What did you tell him? came Mikki's voice in her head.

I just told him to be open with me... us, since we are friends.

Hmm. I sense something! Kate could hear Mikki's giggle.

Stop it Mikki! Just stop it!... But then, why would he call me 'Kaoru'?

You heard him. He's been having similar dreams to yours. So, it slipped his tongue. What's wrong?

Something's wrong. In all of us. Something bothers me about Tony too. You said he reminds you of Aoshi.

Maybe we should investigate?

I guess so. Hey, Mikki, would you mind dealing with Tony? After all you guys are friends.

What do you want me to find out Kate?

Just see if he knows anything about 'Aoshi'.

I'll try.

Thanks Misao-chan.

Misao-chan? Kate... what did you just call me?

Misao-chan...

You mean...

Yes. I knew it all along.

K-Kaoru-chan? Is that you? Mikki stared at her friend. She saw her nod in reply.

I should change my outlook on reincarnation Kate... It is true after all... hehehe.

I agree. But I've always believed in it anyway.

Whatever you say.

"So, let's go back home shall we?" Kate suggested, finishing the last of her banana split.

"I agree. Let's go!" Mikki took one last scoop of her sundae, and rose with her friend, out the shop, out into the world.

*********

Kate was up in her room, watching a program. She was munching on some chips while laughing at a joke she saw, when her mom called her.

"Kate!" her mom called.

"What is it mom?" Kate responded.

"The phone's for you!" Kate quickly turned the volume down, and picked up the phone next to her bed still holding her chips.

"I got it mom!" she returned. "Hello?"

"Um, Kate?" said the voice.

"Yes, it's me. Who is this?"

"It's me. Kevin." Kate's insides suddenly cringed.

"Yes, Kevin! Hi. You called."

"Um, yeah. I was wondering, maybe I could see you tonight?" Kate let go of the bag of chips she was holding.

"Why?" she asked, settling into a more comfortable position.

"Um, I just want to talk to you about something," Kevin replied. "Can I see you?"

"Um, okay. Where will I meet you?" Kate asked.

"At the park please," was the reply. "I'll meet you there around seven."

"Okay. I'll be there. Bye."

"Thanks a lot. Bye." They both hung up. I wonder why he wants to see me, she thought.

Who wants to see you? Kate heard Mikki's voice in her head.

Stop intruding into my thoughts! Kate scolded. I won't tell you!

Fine with me, was Mikki's reply. I won't tell you about my findings on Tony. Bye!

Kate just ignored her, and checked the clock. It was already quarter to seven. She decided she'd better get dressed so as not to be late in seeing Kevin. She quickly grabbed some clothes from her closet and started to the bathroom.

******

Althroughout the walk to the park, Kate couldn't help but wonder on the reason Kevin called her. He probably wanted to apologize more properly about the earlier events... considering on what he called her. But then again, she had no right to be angry since she too had her share. In fact, she wasn't angry. She was just stunned to hear the name... Maybe Kevin perceived her reaction differently. In any case, she was going to explain to him everything she needed to so he wouldn't need to apologize.

She arrived at the park after a few minute's walk, wearing a light shirt, her jacket, some shorts and sneakers. She went around looking for him, and found him on the bridge over the stream. He was wearing the same outfit he wore a while ago, still with the cross earring. She didn't notice the fact that he was leaning on the railing until she came closer to him. He noticed her prescence when she was only a few meters from him. He turned around to face her, and smiled warmly in greeting.

"Hi," he greeted.

"Hi," she replied, returning the smile. She went closer to him as he returned to his original position. She too did the same, and stared into the waters. "What is it that you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Well..."

"If it's about the incident at Swirly's, don't mention it. It's perfectly fine with me, although I was a bit startled at first," Kate said, the both of them still staring at the waters. The sun had already set, and the stars were already high above them. The blue waters were sparkling under the light of the moon as the silver beams moved along the water's tiny ripples. Kate was fascinated by the beauty she saw in them, the blue of the waters just like the blue of her eyes. Kevin turned to look at her face. Her eyes were clearly stating that she was enjoying the view; the blue becoming more expressive, more emotional.

"What is it?" Kate asked, sensing his stares. She turned to look at him, unintentionally sending a chill down Kevin's spine.

Probably nervousness, he thought. But then, why in the world am I nervous?

"It's nothing," he replied hastily. "It's just that your face looked different under the moonlight." Kate blushed a bit, although it wasn't visible under the weak light. She was thankful for the moon.

"Actually, I asked you to come here since I wanted to tell you something," Kevin confessed, his gaze returning to where it was before. "After I called you 'Kaoru', you pointed out that I was hiding something from you. I felt guilty that time, then you told me not to hide anything from you since we're friends... I really don't think you'd be interested in this..."

"Go on Kevin," came Kate's reassuring reply. "It's fine with me." Kevin took a deep breath before continuing his story.

"Anyway, I talked with Tony afterwards, and then I left Swirly's. That's when I started having these flashes of incidents on my mind," Kevin continued. Kate remained silent, continuing to look at him, noticing the emotions rising in his eyes. "I've been having visions of a Japanese house, where I saw myself, only with longer hair, wearing traditionaly Japanese clothes. Then, like your dream, I saw everyone there, including you. It was just like a movie, wherein I was the audience and they were the actors. I could see myself doing the laundry, all sorts of chores, and you were there, smiling at me and being so nice to me... the way you usually do. I even saw Sean, Meg, Tony, Mikki, and more people I deemed familiar. We were all wearing Japanese clothes. And, I noticed myself calling you 'Kaoru-dono'. I could feel his emotions... Everytime he called you that, it hurt a bit inside him, and it also hurt a bit inside me.... I saw how Kaoru died. I was there... I felt how he felt... I felt everything he felt... This sounds so silly."

"It's not silly," Kate replied. "It's not. If it were silly I would've walked out on you a long time ago. You know me. That's my style." Kevin looked at her eyes. The blue in them was tantalizing... He had a strange feeling of longing whenever he looked in them.

"Kevin Williams, how many times do I have to tell you that I'm your friend and that you can tell me anything?" Kate looked at him seriously. "To tell you the truth, I've heard that name 'Kaoru-dono' too many times."

"What?" Kevin turned to her, very astonished.

"I've been having dreams like that too," she replied. "I called you 'Kenshin' didn't I? Isn't it weird? I feel like as if I've known you a long time ago. I've been dreaming those dreams lately, and I sometimes don't get to sleep because of them. I want to find out the answers now, so I would finally know what they mean. I've been asking myself so many questions lately. I even asked myself, 'Who am I?'. I feel that dream has something to do with all these questions... I just don't know how, and why." All the while she was talking, her emotions were rising to surface, willing to get out. The tears forming in her eyes as she talked made him feel sad for her, that he wanted to hug her and tell her to cry out every sadness she felt. He finally realized, that the feeling he had been hiding from her for so long was about to be known. He couldn't hide it anymore. He wanted her to know that he cared for her as much as she did for him... perhaps even more. He wanted to tell her everything he felt... his feelings had something to do with his dreams. He saw her turn away and return her gaze to the stream as she tried to hide the flow of tears. His gaze softened as he watched her, wanting to comfort her in her sorrow.

"Maybe you remember... from your dream... a time when Kaoru cried, because Kenshin had to leave," Kevin spoke softly. Kate stopped all at once, and looked up to him, her eyes asking a million questions. "Kenshin told her how he felt for her... he told her he loved her...and it was the first time he did so." Suddenly, flashes of that incident filled her mind. She could see how Kenshin hugged Kaoru before he left, his face buried in her hair. She saw how sad Kaoru was after he left, and how she kept on crying by the river. She could hear Kenshin's heavy footsteps, fading away so slowly. She could feel the pain she felt... as if their hearts were one. And that's when she finally realized, that she still loved Kenshin...

"Then... it was Kaoru's turn to say goodbye... and she never returned... And yet she assured Kenshin that they would meet again... That they would be happy together someday..."

"You had that dream too?" Kate looked up to him in wonder. "You had it too?"

"Kate..."

"Kevin, silly as it may sound, I've always believed in two souls who love each other, being born again to fulfill their love," Kate said, looking at his violet eyes intently. "I know Kenshin and Kaoru were two beings who were never able to fulfill their love during their lifetime since Kaoru was..." Kate cringed at the thought.

"Yes... she was... it was painful for Kenshin," Kevin replied, feeling the same pain.

"Yes."

"But I too believe in the fulfillment of love in another lifetime," Kevin said. "I do believe the same way you do..." Kevin moved his hand to touch her cheek, wet from her salt tears. He looked at her tenderly and smiled.

"Kevin..."

"Perhaps Kenshin never got to tell Kaoru how much he loved her, until the day she died," Kevin smiled bitterly.

"Yes," Kate replied. "And what regret she felt on not being able to live with him longer and share their love." Kevin leaned forward and whispered in her ears.

"I love you, Kate," he whispered, smiling softly. Kate beamed, and leaned closer to him, wrapping his arms around him. "You were someone so special ever since I met you. I never knew why I was so attracted to you... but then ever since I had those dreams... I finally realized why."

"I love you too Kevin," she whispered. "Ever since I met you." She chuckled softly.

"Yes," Kevin's smile widened as he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her in return. "Kathryn Laurence, I've loved you ever since I met you."

Kate smiled. "It's the first time you used my whole name though." Kevin laughed, releasing her from his embrace.

"I just found it appropriate," he replied, tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

"I hope you don't get mad..." Kate began. "But, I like it when you don't have your scar. You look so fresh now."

"I'm glad too," Kevin replied. "I'm glad that I no longer have the burden of the past to hinder our relationship." Kate smiled.

"Me too."

"Let's go home now," Kevin took her hand, to lead her home. "Your mother might be worried."

"Yeah. Let's go home," Kate replied, leaning onto his shoulder. "Together." Kevin smiled, and let her be for a moment. Then, they started walking out of the park, headed for Kate's home.

Author's notes:
Man did I have a hard time thinking of their surnames. I'm so picky when it comes to surnames that I wanted them perfect and appropriate to their first names. I'm sorry if I seemed to be in a rush here, but then I have reasons for that. About the incantation part, it's just nothing. I just used it for Mikki to realize who she really was, and the importance of that book to them. And about Kevin and his cross earring, I just added that cross earring for fashion. But, it also has a double meaning. It can substitue for his cross shaped scar, although I doubt it would make any difference in this story. I apologize if the mental exchange between Mikki and Kate seems so scattered. I tried my best to add some names to add clues onto who is speaking. And, a hint: They always speak alternately. So, I hope you liked it. Once again, please email me your comments and your views on this story.
Oh and P.S. This fic is going to be really focused on K&K. Perhaps the scenes between the other couples won't be as mushy as this one above... But I'll try my best. And to those who look forward to a kissing scene (coughs), I'm still looking for the appropriate place and time where I can insert it. (hehehe) Onto the next chapter!