Chapter 2

A wish come true

Kenshin gazed sadly down at Kaoru. How could he have let this happen? He should have been there sooner to protect her. He quickly shook himself out of berating himself to concentrate on taking care of Kaoru; he could scold himself later. Right now, getting Kaoru safely back home came first.

Kenshin ran swiftly back to the dojo, cradling Kaoru gently in his arms. Upon reaching the dojo he ran straight for her room and set her down on her futon.

"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin said softly, but got no response, it appeared that the night's events proved to be too traumatic for her and she was still unconscious. He looked at her still bleeding shoulder grimly. He dared not carry her all the way to Dr. Gensai's clinic; she could lose too much blood by then. He decided that he had to dress the wound right away. And so he ran to find the bandages and materials to treat her wound, wishing that Yahiko wasn't at the Akabeko so he could send him to fetch Megumi.

Clutching the bandages tightly, Kenshin knelt next to Kaoru, trying to determine the best way examine her wound without having to remove too much of her yukata. Blushing slightly, Kenshin gently picked Kaoru up into a sitting position and tried to summon up the nerve to pull down part of her yukata to examine and bandage her shoulder. He was just about to move when he felt her stir in his arms.

"Kaoru-dono? Can you hear me? Daijoubu de gozaru ka?" Kenshin said. Kaoru's eyes slowly fluttered open. She focused on his face and saw his eyes filled with worry and concern.

"Kenshin…" she murmured. "I'm sorry, I've caused trouble for you again…I…I…"

"Shh…Kaoru-dono, it's all right," he whispered, then added, "I have to take care of that cut on your shoulder but…but…" Kenshin trailed off, looked away and blushed. Kaoru shifted to face him better and winced at the sharp pain that stabbed suddenly in her shoulder. For the first time she looked at her shoulder and was surprised at how much blood there was. Kenshin was right; the wound had to be treated soon. But to do that she would have to remove part of her yukata. So that's what Kenshin was blushing about. Kaoru blushed as well. There was no way that she could bandage the wound herself with one arm, she'd need Kenshin's help.

"Turn around for a moment, I'll drape part the yukata over me and you can help me with my shoulder…" Kaoru said softly, blushing all the while. She saw Kenshin turn bright red, nod and turn away. Biting her lip, Kaoru carefully rearranged her yukata.

Kenshin heard the faint rustle of fabric and turned around once she voiced that she was done. All breath left his lungs as his eyes fell on her. True she was mostly covered, but the way the moonlight shone on her rosy cheeks and the smoothness of her skin took his breath away. Then he turned his eyes to her cut. He sighed internally; it was not as bad as he imagined. Taking a soft cloth and dipping it in a water basin he gently reached forward to clean the blood off the cut. His hand trembled as he reached out, afraid that he would hurt her.

"The cut isn't as bad as I had thought, Kaoru-dono, it will not need stitches," Kenshin said. But it still must hurt you so much, he thought sadly as he saw her flinch with pain. He sighed and picked up the linen bandages.

"Kaoru-dono, I'll try to be careful so this will not hurt," Kenshin whispered. Kaoru shyly nodded. At the first touch of his fingertips on her shoulder, she stiffened. Startled, bewildered and…happy all a once. Kenshin had hardly every touched her and so she savored his careful touch now. The mere feeling or the brush of his fingertips nearly made her forget the pain in her shoulder. She looked at Kenshin's face, curious to see if she could read his emotions there. What she saw made her smile internally. On his face she found the softest of gazes, concentration and concern in his violet eyes.

Soon the clean linen bandage was being wrapped around Kaoru's shoulder. When the bandage had to be looped around her shoulder, Kenshin moved forward and almost…almost embraced her as he passed the roll of linen from one hand to another. His ministrations were so gentle, so tender and full of care, unbidden, tears formed in Kaoru's eyes. The knowledge that he would treat her so kindly and yet the fact that he didn't love her the way she loved him stung her sharply. Against her will a sob escaped her.

"Kaoru-dono? Did I hurt you? I didn't pull the bandage too tight did I?" Kenshin asked, startled at the sound of her sob.

"No Kenshin, I'm fine. Nothing's wrong at all…" Kaoru answered, even though her voice was no more than a whisper.

She's lying. Kenshin thought as he finally finished bandaging Kaoru's shoulder. Something is wrong… Kaoru quietly pulled up and tied her yukata back in place.

"Kaoru-dono, please tell me what's wrong." Kenshin said. Please, tell me, I can't bear it when you hurt like this. I must be able to do something to rid you of that sadness I see in your eyes.

Kaoru looked at Kenshin, her eyes blazing with the fierce pain that she had been holding back for so long. So long had she loved him, so long had she yearned to know that he loved her in return. Kenshin's eyes looked so pleadingly into hers, the warm violet captivating her, so much that she had to turn away as more tears continued to spill down her cheeks. Suddenly the night's events and her current sadness overtook her and she bowed her head as she began to sob.

Alarmed, Kenshin gently laid a hand on her good shoulder and whispered her name. All he got in reply was a slight shake of her head and more tears.

"Kaoru-dono, what is it? There must be something I can do." Kenshin said softly. Kaoru dared once more to look at his pleading face. How she longed to tell him why she was so sad and lonely. I want to tell him, but what if he rejects me? She swallowed. What shall I do? Shall I tell him? I've waited so long…I need an answer from him… I need to know… Then, finally, it settled deep within Kaoru, the resolve to tell Kenshin how she felt. She would tell him, and…and except whatever feelings he returned to her. Though determined to make sure he wouldn't leave. Even if he didn't love her that way, she still wanted him close by. Summoning up her courage, she looked him straight in the eye, and spoke.

"Kenshin…I love you." Kaoru said faintly, barely over a whisper.

Kenshin gasped, suddenly still. Kaoru gulped.

"I love you, Kenshin. I've loved you for a long time. And you, you're always so kind to me, but I don't know how you see me. Am I a child to you? Am I just your friend? Am I more than that? I just don't know, and it hurts, Kenshin, it hurts so, so much…" Kaoru trailed off sobbing, Kenshin's startled silence making her heart ache. So, he didn't love her after all... With a sob of anguish Kaoru attempted to rise, wanting to leave the room so she could be alone. Kenshin's hand stilled her as she began to rise.

"Kaoru-dono," he merely whispered. Then, to Kaoru's great shock, he moved forward and embraced her, gently. When he withdrew from her he tenderly tilted her face with one hand to face him. "Kaoru-dono, do you know why I was out tonight?"

Kaoru sniffled. "Be…because I woke you up, didn't I? I was too loud when I closed the dojo gate." Kenshin shook his head.

"Yes, and no. I woke up because I heard you calling me. I suppose you had just awakened from a disturbing dream, you called out for me. I went to check on you, and you were standing outside, gazing at the sky." He pulled Kaoru closer to him, just enough so he could feel her wildly beating heart against his chest. So beautiful…I thought she was an angel when I saw her standing outside like that, her eyes gazing at the heavens. "I heard the wish you made on that shooting star…" he whispered softly in her ear.

Kaoru gasped. He had heard her? She blushed furiously as he felt his arms tighten around her slightly.

"I…I wanted to tell you…that's why I was out, I followed you. I love you too. I want to stay with you forever too, aishiteru." He whispered.

Kaoru burst into tears as she heard this. She had wanted and dreamed of this for so long. She buried her head in his chest and she felt him stroke her hair gently and whisper.

"I've wanted to tell you for so long…but…but I thought I didn't deserve you, that if I got too close, you'd be in danger." He held her tighter still, his arms trembling slightly. Another sob escaped Kaoru.

"Sessha wa baka de gozaru na…" he said and pulled back to look at her. She gazed back at him with tear filled eyes.

"Kenshin, I don't care about danger, I never have. I'm just happy being with you, all of you, Battousai, Rurouni, I love who you are. I love Himura Kenshin!" she said firmly, daring him to deny it. Kenshin smiled and moved to embrace her yet again, hiding his tears of joy in the fall of her hair, momentarily losing himself in the jasmine scent. How wonderful it felt to be so close to her, to finally be able to love her the way he had wanted. He was also so relieved to hear her confession of love. He admitted he did not know just how deep her love was for him. If he had confessed his love for her when all she had was a simple crush…He shook his head, from now on he'd make up for ever doubting her love, for ever doubting her. And he was determined to protect her, no matter what. Nothing, nothing would ever harm her.

"Well, Kamiya Kaoru," Kenshin said, resting his forehead against hers. "I'd say your…our wish has just come true, how about you?"

Kaoru gave him a warm smile that made his heat skip a beat.

"I'd say, Himura Kenshin, that this is the beginning of something wonderful"

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Yay! Chapter 2 is done, and it's only been about 20 minutes since I submitted Chapter 1!!

I hope you guys like this…chapter 3 will come up soon. Again, please leave me feedback ^^

Aishiteru: I love you

Sessha wa baka de gozaru na: I'm an idiot, aren't I.

Yukata: light cotton kimono, used as pajamas or worn as clothing.