Forver
Chapter 11: Forgiveness
A fanfiction by Kyo
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Ohayou minna-san! * grin * I liked this chapter, though I'm not so sure about the last scene. Read and Enjoy! And don't forget to review! If you are reading this on my page, plz leave your revies at the guestbook or any other think available at the contact page, but the tagboard. Thank you guys!
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Kenshin ignored everything else in the restaurant, and focused solely on Kaoru. He had to make her forgive him. He would never forgive himself if she didn't. Forgetting that they were not the only ones in the room, Kenshin moved his chair so he could be nearer to her. Kaoru ignored him completely, or so it seemed.
He said nothing, thinking of a strategy to make her pay attention to him. He leaned on the table and looked at her from under blood red bangs with the eyes of a puppy begging for attention. "Forgive me please?" He asked while he raised his hand to play with a tendril of her raven black hair.
Kaoru shook her head lightly. Kenshin smiled a little. At least know she was not ignoring him. "Please?" He asked again, giving the same tendril a gentle tug, just to remind her he was still there. She shook her head and turned away from him, trying to hide the smile that was tugging at her lips.
Just as he was about to repeat his question, the waitress interrupted him. "What would you like?" She asked in a neutral voice, arching an eyebrow. Kenshin straightened, somewhat embarrassed and Kaoru turned to the waitress, a smile on her lips. "I would like 'tacos al pastor', thank you."
"Er . . . I'll be taking the er . . . 'enchiladas'?"
"Okay." Said the waitress as she retreated. Kenshin assumed his position once again.
"I won't let you be in peace till you forgive me." He said with a mischievous smile, once again gently tugging at her long black hair.
Kaoru tossed her head lightly, making Kenshin loose his grasp. Kaoru couldn't keep the smirk that appeared on her lips as Kenshin desperately caught a lock of her hair again. The other watched their interaction with slight amusement and with some curiosity.
Kenshin retreated from her a little, thinking of the perfect strategy. He thought desperately for some tactic that would make her forgive him.
Then it hit him.
Outside, on the parking lot, he had seen a little store that sold many different kind of flowers. Kaoru loved Jasmine.
Some minutes afterwards, Sano found himself outside, on the parking lot, buying flowers. He groaned loudly. The things he did for his friend. Should give him a medal. He bought the Jasmines from a very nice old lady and turned to the restaurant. Only to find his girlfriend staring up at him with hearts on her eyes.
"You bought those for me?" Megumi asked excitedly to her suddenly very uncomfortable boyfriend.
"Eeto- Kitsune, er these are not for you." Sano said in the sweetest voice he could muster.
Megumi's sweet stare instantly turned into a glare. "What do you mean these are not for me?" Megumi asked in a low, dangerous voice that made Sano shudder in fear.
"Er . . . you see, Kitsune. These are for Jou-chan." Not the smartest thing you have done. Sano thought when he saw Megumi's glare heightened a notch and her eyebrow twitched. "Don't get me wrong! You see jou-chan is mad at Kenshin, well, these are for her!" Sano said triumphantly, waiting for her to smile at him. "But . . . " he continued, now that she hadn't smiled at him, "I bought red roses for you!" Sano said. Gottcha! Sano thought when Megumi's glare faded a little.
He desperately turned to the nice flower lady and pleaded with his eyes. The lady got the idea and handed him nicely wrapped red roses. Sano blessed her.
"Here you got Kitsune-onna! I wanted it to be a surprise but now it won't be." Sano said as he handed her the roses. Megumi did not fully believe him, but let him go only because she understood what he was doing: Helping Ken-san get on tanuki's good side again.
"That's one thousand yen, sir."
"WHAT!?"
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Kenshin was drinking the tenth glass of water of the meal. These damn things were so F hot! Kaoru giggled beside him, looking at him panting to try and make the fire in his mouth stop. But still, Kaoru flatly refused to talk to him. He had been so rude! And she had been having such a nice dream, too! He would have to do something very nice to make her forgive him. Mou! She thought, the frown returning to her cute face, despite the fact Kenshin was making the funniest faces to get rid of the salsa in his mouth.
At that moment, Sano decided to enter the room, hiding the flowers on his back. Kaoru, who had decided to ignore all the men of the party to add more effect, did not notice him. Nor did she notice when Sano handed the flowers to Kenshin (gaining some weird stares from the other customers).
Kenshin, who at that moment had stopped panting like a dog, received them and handed him the yen. Sano frowned at him for some strange reason, signaling his girlfriend who was holding a dozen of beautiful roses. Kenshin decided best to ignore him.
Everybody had already finished their meals and were slowly walking away. Just when Kaoru was about to stand up and leave, Kenshin took her hand in a firm, but gentle grip. Kaoru looked at him, a frown on her face.
"Will you forgive me?" Kenshin asked quietly, his head bowed. Kaoru found it very hard not to tell him that of course she forgave him! Instead, she looked coldly at him.
Kenshin, not hearing her answer, showed her the flowers that he produced out of nowhere. Kaoru let out an AW! And took the flowers from his hands. She loved Jasmines.
Kaoru didn't know what to say.
"You like them?" Kenshin asked meekly, always looking like a scolded puppy.
"Of course I like them! You are so sweet!"
At that, Kenshin smiled widely. "That means I'm forgiven?"
"I'll think about it." Responded Kaoru, smiling evilly.
"Oh, c'mon! I have already begged for your forgiveness, bought you flowers, what else do you want me to do?" Kenshin asked in a suffering tone.
Kaoru smiled and titled her head. "Let me drive."
Kenshin gave a start. "If I let you drive, will you forgive me?"
Kaoru nodded.
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Kaoru was happy. Oh, yes, she was happy. They were less than seven miles from Kyoto and she was dying to get there. She wanted to stretch her legs, rest and maybe take a look around. Kaoru smiled fondly at the sleeping Kenshin beside her. He had fallen asleep an hour or so after they had left the restaurant, and he was still sleeping.
She could have her revenge now. Kaoru thought evilly. She really couldn't plot revenge seeing his peaceful face with an ever so sweet smile on his lips. He had removed the leather string that bound his hair before he went to sleep and know all his red hair covered his shoulders and most of his face.
If there was one thing Kaoru loved about being with the redhead was the sense of security and safety that surrounded her when he was near. He may not notice, but she did, that he was slightly possessive of her, especially when there were other untrustworthy males around. He was so protective of her to the point that he had been suspended for a full week (would have been more if Kaoru had not intervened that time) from school when he had been engaged in a fight with a senior that had been stalking her. He had almost broken the guy's arm that time. Gohei, she believed, was his name.
She had reprimanded him, of course. But she had also been grateful. Her reprimands had come from the fact that she had been scared he would get hurt more than anything, after all, the guy was more than twice his size.
Kenshin shifted in his sleep, startling her from her thoughts. She smiled fondly at him once again, turning the radio on, but very softly, as not to wake him up. "Ai suru hito o mamoru tame ni" was on the radio.
To protect the one he loves, Kaoru thought with slight amusement, hearing the song drifting softly from the speakers.
That's when Kenshin decided to wake up. Letting out a sigh, he stretched, refusing to open his eyes just yet. Kaoru giggled at his side and looked at the road, they were already in the outskirts of Kyoto.
"We are already here, Kenshin." She murmured, poking him in the ribs to make him open his eyes, since he still refused to open them.
"Aa." Kenshin murmured, but instead of fully waking up he just turned around and tried to sleep again.
"Mou! Kenshin no baka!" Kaoru near yelled, poking him harder. Kenshin squirmed and mumbled something incoherent.
Kaoru giggled again, her anger failing before such a cute scene. There was no doubt about something: Kenshin was a bishounen. And a very cute one at that. If only he were a little bit clueless when it came to her . . .
She poked him again in the ribs once they had to stop at a red light. Kenshin winced and yelped, but plainly refused to open his eyes.
"You are being such a baby, Kenshin. I should do what I was planning to do to you before you woke up." Kaoru mumbled loudly enough for him to hear.
Kenshin cracked open one eye. He looked at her from beneath his blood red bangs, curious. Kaoru was not looking at him, but he knew that she knew that he had opened an eye.
"What were you planning to do?" He asked softly, suspiciously.
"I won't tell you. I might use it some other time." She said with a smile that made Kenshin shudder involuntarily, wondering what she had in mind.
He rubbed the sleep from his eyes with both hands and finally decided to look around him. Indeed, they were already in Kyoto.
Kaoru deftly guided them through the crowded streets. "Where are we going?" Kenshin asked after a few turns and verifying that the others were still with them. They still were. He twisted in his seat, looking for the elastic to tie his hair that he had lost.
"Dr. Genzai lives somewhere here. I did some research and found out that he leaves only a few blocks away from the dojo where the tournament is held. In fact, this whole area seems to be dedicated to dojo's and training grounds."
"It's looks like a nice place. Full of trees." Kenshin commented and then he said triumphantly: "Found it!"
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"Rooster-head, unload those things." Megumi ordered Sano, and he mumbled something about pushy Kitsunes under his breath. Sano lifted the four suitcases and walked toward the house.
Dr Genzai's house was better described like a mansion. It was solely japanese in it's style, though it had all the facilities of an occidental house, much like Misao's house, but bigger. The garden was pretty big and very well taken care of. The house was made out of wood and the shoji doors were nicely decorated. At the back there was a small lake with fish swimming in it.
Sano put his cargo on the floor none-too-genlty and proceeded to the kitchen, where Kenshin was helping Dr. Genzai and Megumi make a small lunch. Kaoru was showing Misao the room where the girls would sleep, so she could bring her things there.
Dr. Genzai had been kind enough to let everyone saty in the house as long as they wanted too. Saying that he was a lonely man that needed some company. He had two granddaughters, Ayame and Suzume, who he loved very much. He had taken care of them ever since their parents died in a car accident. But at that moment, they were at school.
"Don't dare!" Megumi threatened just when Sano was about to steal the food they were preparing. Sano pouted but moved his hand away.
Yahiko was showing Soujiro and Tsubame around the house and they were enjoying every moment of it.
Hiko moved into the kitchen and bowed low in thanks toward Dr. Genzai, who just smiled good-naturedly and dismissed it.
When everybody was installed in his or her own room, and had eaten the food prepared by the two doctors and Kenshin, they decided to take a look around, walking.
Sano walked hand in hand with Megumi at the very front of the party. Talking happily while Megumi occasionally pointed at things she liked. The sidewalk in which they were walking was broad and only few cars passed by the street at their right. At their left was a mid-sized park with lots of trees and vegetation and a playground for small kids.
"Yahiko-chan! Why don't you go play to the slide!" Sano teased and the rest snickrered.
Yahiko fumed, but before he could bark a retort, Tsubame, who was walking by his side, took his hand in hers and spoke. "Yes! Let's Yahiko-kun!" Yahiko's eyes widened at the feel of her hand in his and could only nod stupidly, forgetting everything about Sano.
Kaoru laughed heartily as she saw her little brother follow the girl of his dreams to the empty playground. Kenshin laughed with her and was so very tempted to do as Tsubame and take her hand in his, but he was shy. Behind him, he could hear Misao talking to Aoshi.
"Aoshi, we have to subscribe today, don't we?" Misao asked as she read some papers in her hands.
"Hai." He responded, looking at the papers she was reading. "The inscriptions are today at the Kyoto dojo."
"Then, what are we waiting for! Let's go!" Misao said genkily, almost throwing the papers. Aoshi nodded and pointed at a large buillding a few streets away. "The dojo is three streets away from here."
"Could you subscribe us, too?" Kaoru asked, turning to her brother and to her best friend. Both nodded. "Subscribe rooster-head, too, okay?" Kaoru suggested, seeing that Sano was too busy with his girlfriend and that he was not paying attention to them.
And with that, Aoshi and Misao left the group and walked to the dojo. Aoshi had to stop her a few times from getting killed by a car, but finally, they made it there.
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A while later, Sano and Megumi had dumped Kaoru and Kenshin, saying that they were now officially in a date, and that they would meet at Dr. Genzai's at dinner, or possibly later. The redhead and the raven-haired girl could only nod.
Now, they were left to themselves.
The park they were at was really beautiful. It had dozens of enormous Sakura trees, all in full bloom. Their flowers covered everything, those that were in the floor covered the green grass, making it pink and those that were still attached to the tree made the blue sky pink, too.
Kaoru smiled at the sight. "Let's stay here for a while Kenshin. I cannot leave Yahiko alone here and I want to see the trees!" Kaoru said excitedly and Kenshin nodded energically in full agreement with a huge, sincere smile on his lips.
Kaoru chose to sit under the shade of a big Sakura tree deep into the park, where they were far from the street but she could still see Yahiko and Tsubame. They were swinging lazily on the swings, talking.
She patted the grass beside her and motioned Kenshin to sit beside her. He did so without complaining. After Kenshin had sat next to her, she lied down, looking at the sakura blossoms covered branches of the trees. After a moment, Kaoru began talking.
"Sakura blossoms remind me of mom." She said softly, playing with her hand with tiny pink petal. "She loved Sakura." She continued, her eyes gaining a distant look as she remembered those times, when her Mom and Dad were with them and when she didn't have to act like a mother to Yahiko. Kenshin gazed down at her, not knowing what to say, but knowing that she needed his support. He took her hand that was closest to him and gave it a light squeeze.
"The house was always full of Sakura flowers. And that knew she loved them. He was always so romantic when it came to her." She continued a bit sadly, but then, her voice and her eyes took a playful tone. "I bet you wouldn't be half romantic as he was." She said with an impish grin.
Kenshin mock frowned at her and titled his head, as if hurt. "Oro! Are you accusing me of being an unromantic jerk?" He asked, arching an eyebrow as he waited for her answer.
Kaoru's impish grin widened. "You can take it like you want, my redhead friend. But unless you prove me wrong, that's what I'm thinking."
Kenshin, who was not a guy that backed off from challenges was up on it in a second. "Well, then. Let me prove you wrong." He said playfully as he stood up from his position and helped her up. Kaoru looked at him almost expectantly, not knowing what ot think.
"What are you doing Kenshin?" She asked when he saw him take his place in front of her, very close to her and take one of her hands with his own. Kaoru's heart was starting to beat very rapidly, but she did not let it show.
"I'm proving you wrong." He said matter of factly. Then, he cleared his throat and murmured to himslef "Okay, here I go." She could tell he was nervous, so very nervous, that he could see he was actually trembling. Very lightly, but still visible.
"Your blood is my blood." He started, his voice a teasing whisper, his hand a gentle caress. "Your breath is my breath." He leaned closer to her, and she could actually feel his breath against her skin. "Your heart beats for mine," The hand that held hers tightened slightly while he raised the other and traced her cheek with feather-like fingers. His touch left her breathless, "and I cannot live without you," He stepped closer, and his breath, that before was on her cheek, passed to her ear, making her shiver at the gentlel and yet so powerful sensation, "for your life is my life." The gentle, and soft, so soft she could have imagine it, brush of his lips on the tender skin below her ear, made her close her eyes unconsciously and gasp for breath, "I'll protect you till death takes my heart, my breath, my blood," he painfully punctuated each word, and Kaoru knew and felt that he meant every word with all his heart, with all his mind, "and even after death, my soul will seek yours," his voice was not higher than a breathless whisper, but the power of his words left her without strength. He lightly brushed his cheek against hers and she could feel the delicious caress of his blood red heair against her face, "for I cannot live without you." She was afraid her knees would give away, but his arms surrounded her, and he supported much of her weight, even though he had been left with as much strength as her. "For you are my very soul." He finished slowly, without looking at her, his eyes closed and his breath quick.
A delighted and high squeak interrupted their moment, startling both of them and making them snap their heads up and look at the one that had made the sound.
Misao was there, and so was Aoshi.
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So? What did you guys think about the last scene? Is it romantic or just plain lame? I love to hear about you! Plz Review! I did notice this chapter has only K&K with only few moments from the other couples, but I promise to make up for you in the next chapter. I wrote this chapter with a slight case of writer's block so I don't know if this chapter is good or not. Plz tell me what you think. Review!
