Slight spoilers exist in this chapter!
Onna: Liv! Spit the lawyers out already!
Liv: Mmmmmmm.... -looks at the sakabatou-
Kenshin: Oro?! -hangs on to sakabatou-
Kaoru: She's insane...
Cloud: ^^;;
Onna: Whatever! KxK fluff time!
Kenshin and Kaoru: -blush-
**********
Sano stealthily crept out of the house, following the sound of the Tiny Bronco's engine. He could hear Cid cursing about his need for sleep, and soon he could see him flipping a few switches and pushing some buttons.
Sano crept closer. He almost reached the Tiny Bronco when the doors closed and lifted off into the air.
Damn! Sano thought. Missed!
Where am I?
Her eyes opened slightly, feeling nothing beneath her. She felt like she was floating, in limbo, listening to the calls of...
Father...?
No... It can't be her father. He's dead, and she knew his voice.
It's not his...
She could see a small light blinking far away, and it seems with every flash of light, her strength is drained even more. It blinked softly, steadily for a while, then it flashed brightly, so bright she had to close her eyes. A ray of light shot through, spearing through her chest.
The pain was unbearable.
She screamed.
Kenshin grabbed her by the shoulders. "Kaoru-dono! Kaoru-dono!!!" he called while he shook her. "Wake up!"
She continued to scream before her eyes snapped open, gasping for breath. "Ken...shin..." she murmured, trying to get up. Her hands shook and she fell backwards.
Kenshin caught her before she hit the bed. "Kaoru-dono?" he murmured as he shifted her in his arms to lay her head on his chest.
She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of his heartbeat. The rumblings in his chest when he spoke. "Daijoubu de gozaru ka?"
Kaoru nodded. "I... just feel... so weak..." Every word was draining her strength. "I think I... need... to eat... something..."
Kenshin nodded as well as he propped up her pillows, placing her in a sitting position on the bed. "I'll be right back with some soup Shera-dono made," he murmured.
"H-hai..." she murmured back, watching him as he left.
He wasn't gone for very long, and soon he sat beside her, slowly giving her spoonfuls as soon as she was able to swallow. Kaoru could feel a little of her strength returning with each mouthful, but she still felt quite drained.
She swallowed the last spoonful and leaned back with a contented sigh. "That was good," she smiled weakly. "Shera-san is a good cook."
Kenshin chuckled a bit. "I'm glad you're feeling better, Kaoru-dono..."
"Don't..." she murmured, closing her eyes.
"Nani?" Kenshin said, surprised at her words. "Don't..."
"Don't call me that..." she whispered. "Kaoru-dono... it sounds so... distant."
"Naze?"
"Because... because... I..." she looked pleadingly at him, trying to get the words out. "Because I love you..."
Kenshin's eyes widened in surprise. "Kaoru..."
"I'd loved you for so long, Kenshin..." Kaoru whispered. "And I want to know... Is your heart still with Tomoe-san...?"
He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Kaoru... A part of my heart will always be with Tomoe..."
Kaoru's eyes filled with tears. "Then... you don't..."
"Hush," he murmured, placing his finger on her lips. "Tomoe gave me what I needed at that time. Love, comfort and a momentary joy. She taught me what life is really all about, and I laid down my sword because of her."
"I'll never be like her..." Kaoru choked out.
"No," Kenshin shook his head. "You'll never be like Tomoe. You're you, Kamiya Kaoru. You're different from anyone else, and that's what makes you special, especially to me. Kaoru, my heart learned to love again when you attacked me in the streets of Tokyo."
"You mean...?" Kaoru's eyes, shining with hope, locked with his.
"Aishiteru, Kamiya Kaoru."
"Oh, Kenshin..." she murmured as Kenshin wrapped his arms around her, dusting kisses in her hair. "I love you..."
"Aa," Kenshin said through her hair. "Aishiteru..."
She smiled before her eyes closed and she fell into a peaceful slumber.
"It did not look like she was weak, Hojo..." a floating form levitated in the air, speaking without opening its mouth. "I trust that you do not underestimate her."
"She's only a woman," the scientist snorted. "And women are weak."
"Only the contrary," the form replied, "women are strong. Remember that it was a woman who gave Cloud Strife the spell Holy that ruined our plans."
"But Sephiroth killed her soon after. That proves her weakness!"
"No. The Ancient had returned, proving her strength. We cannot hope to quench the rebellion alone, with such a powerful being like that Cetra girl with them."
"Is this why you want the man with the scarred cheek?"
"Yessss..." it hissed. "I could see how important the woman is to him, but I underestimated her abilities. I will not make the same mistake again..."
The ranch was once again blanketed in darkness, night slowly giving into dawn. Silently, dark figures began moving around the compound, getting closer as each second passed.
The woman will be caught... and a new era will rise...
**********
Jap Terms:
1. Aishiteru- I love you