Standard disclaimers apply. Well, I have a few pennies up my sleeve but that definitely would not be enough to win a law suit that I don't have any hope in winning anyway!!! Be kind! Don't sue me, por favor! @_@;;
What if some things went wrong from the way Kenshin planned things for the Aoiya's defense while fighting Shishio—and the love of his life being the one to suffer his mistake? Can K&K still triumph over the trials thereafter?
~INX'S!!!~
omochi: Haha! Yeah, something like that. Kaoru wouldn't be dead, ne? Haha! Thanks so much. Check this one out. ^_^
Willow: Really now. I guess you should count me in, there in your HA' Club. I'm more stupid than you could ever think. Thanks for reading this chapter, and the long review. I appreciate it soooo much. Good day! ^_^
Kamimura Kaoru: Thank you so much. Yup, Ken-chan's gonna BE in this chap, though not yet the actual one, but just the necessary waffs you know. Here's the update I promised. Enjoy!
SSJKakarott: You've fallen in love with Kaoru? Well, I'm not at all surprised! Hehe! Anyways, thanks so much for the compliment. Here it is! Tadaaa! ^_^
Azura Dea: Sure! I'll try to e-mail ya, don't worry. I'll wait for ya'r review for this one, ne? Ganbatte! ^_^
SakuraCherryBlossom: Really??? Whew, I forgot many people might be lactose intolertant you might get sick! But, you sure you're okay with the milk? I'm relieved, thank God. Thanks for droppin' by! Ja ne! ^_^
Bunny: Sorry if it was s lil late than Thursday, as promised! I feel bad, you know just got home and all. I had to unpack and ready my stuffs for next week classes are getting on again. Oh well, better late than later, ne? THANK YOU. ^_^
Naomi: Thanks for enjoying the previous one, I hope this one too. I'll be waiting for your long review ne? Ya know inspiration-thingy. Haha! Ja!
Skipper: You belong to a volleyball team? Whoa! Bien! Same here! :))) Promise, I know the feeling when you win a game. Ganbatte ne? I'm no help on the actual, this is the only help I can offer (well, if you like me to play we could make some arrangements haha! I play tosser, by the way ^_^;;) Oh well, here's the sweet' part, minus the bitter'! Ciao! ^.^
Joey: Hello there, Joey! Hope you got my last e-mail, my silly reply to yours. @_@x Anyways, thanks if you like the mother. Nah, she'll not goin' back in time coz if she does its gonna be longer and I already said this story's due on the 14th chap. What's gonna happen's just the recent' ones. I don't wanna lose you, my dear! That's why here it is! Enjoy! ^_^
Arwen: T H A N K Y O U ! ! !
marstanuki: Here's the next, thanks so much. I see you revised your story a lil, and it just happens that its my favorite one of your fics! Great ne? Oh well, keep it up! Thanks again.
Susy: Yeah, a happy-end for sure, Susy! I vouch for that. I'm a huge K&K fan and its not really likely for me not to make this fic turn out great for them. A/M? We'll get to that I'm actually thinking of a waff-scene for them but I still couldn't figure out where exactly I'd insert it. Thank you for all. Ja! ^_^
Kyaa-Kyaff: Here's the next installment! I hope you enjoy it. Thank you so much. ^_^
Crystal: Well thank you. Its all for you. Read on! Good day! ^_^
P.S.! All previous chap reviewers, I sent you a halloween treat on your mailboxes. Do check them out its funny. B-)))
Sad, but the end is getting close for this fic, and all I want is to say huge THANK YOU'S to all who has supported this ever since the beginning. I couldn't have been inspired enough if it weren't for you, guys. Muchas gracias. After the last chapter I would now have longer time to let my leg heal. Its really discomforting, you know. Good thing my aunt had already removed my neck brace. But my leg's got some pretty good bruises, alright! I don't think I'd be able to dance the same way again *sigh* I suddenly became paranoid even just to think of doing a cartwheel! @_@;;
Alrightie! Here's the second to the last of it
Chapter Twelve
Are you ready to finally embrace the truth, my child?
And she felt her eyelids got heavy
Kaoru woke up at a place uncertain to her. She looked around, and she suddenly felt the crisp coldness of the place. It was a road, a road covered with thick mist.
Its just morning, she whispered. She backed away till a thick wall prevented her from going any further.
Where am I?
Just then, as if it was natural for her, she felt a lingering presence coming towards the road she was in. The wall automatically became her hide. She waited and studied the ki of the person approaching.
Kaoru felt her heart racing. As if she had been waiting for a mortal enemy.
By the second, the ki became stronger, and stronger.
The footsteps getting audible and louder by each moment.
Its right behind me, she thought.
Slowly, she took a peek from the wall she had hidden herself.
Her heart jumped at the sight of the man she had never seen such tranquility in a face before.
His eyes she could swear they were purple. So rare a trait for common people she usually sees.
And huh? Her brows knotted as her eyes seized the sight of his cheek.
A cross scar?
Then suddenly the vision disappeared.
Kaoru was left alone, her mind left with a thousand questions.
Then she heard her mother's voice
Try to remember, my princess
Try to remember your vow, your vow to handle the weight of the sword
The weight of the sword?
And she closed her eyes once more.
Vague images came flashing in her mind.
The red-haired man carrying her to safety
Her, giving him her ribbon, by the riverbanks
Her sight of him holding up his sword by the moonlight to give a man a last blow
A pleasurable trip to Yokohama
Their simple gathering with friends inside the dojo
The hurting memory of them being separated because of an attack by the sea pirates
and the sweet return.
And everything else faded away for a moment, as if readying her for the highlight of the revelation.
Kaoru opened her eyes, and saw herself beside the red-haired man. And sakura flowers are all around them. Looking at the other direction, she saw the boy, Dr. Genzai and his two grandchildren walking away from them.
I know this I remember this Kaoru whispered to herself, as an unknown surge of inexplicable emotions filled her heart.
She gasped at this drastic change and tried to placate her self by breathing slowly. The emotions were so overwhelming, at first she couldn't understand the sensations she was feeling. But as tears began to well up at the brim of her eyes, she realized it was grief and anguish that had finally settled in.
I have never realized that I like watching flowers fall, he said.
I' am sorry, Kaoru replied, surprised at her own words. But it felt so right
Don't be.
Silence.
And she began to ask, Is it possible for you to laugh, in front of me?
He didn't mind her question. Last night I had a dream about that time
Kaoru's heart jumped with what he said. W-why did I became so scared suddenly? But she had to make sure. T-the end of the B-bakumatsu?
He nodded slowly, merely thinking of the reaction it would do to me.
The wind blew, showering us both with sakura petals all around. He suddenly became thoughtful, that was a different flower petal.
This worried me even more, A petal landed on my shoulder.
He replied, picking the petal, But, Sakura is Sakura de gozaru na.
That's right. Next time we will see the same ones in your dream. And when you do, before you know it, all pain will vanish.
I hope so, de gozaru na.
Someday, he will show me his smiling face from the heart. Definitely.
The wind blew once again. Kaoru held the sleeves of her kimono as well as her hair. When she turned to where the red-haired man stood, she was surprised he was gone.
Kaoru felt the surging emotions all over again. This time its much more profound, intense, almost choking her with mysterious sentiments. She struggled for breath and shoved her chest. Not taking any more of it longer, she ran. She ran as far as her legs could carry her.
She saw the Kamiya dojo, hurried inside the temple, still panting for breath. And what she saw did not give her any calm, but instead, increased her pallor even more.
A man sat inside, his back on her, holding a sword across his chest. When he felt her presence, he turned around grinning and slowly slid out the sword from its scabbard.
Fuji ta Kaoru choked out.
She felt her knees began to wade. And before her strength could even fail her, shaking her head disdainfully, she ran once again, wary of her direction.
She went inside the house, and sliding a door open, she gaped at the sight of the Minister Okubo Toshimichi along with the police, Kowada.
Her hands flung to her mouth. With a shaky voice, she mumbled between words.
I remember this I remember now, please stop
She pleaded. But the memories kept on baring themselves before her.
Kaoru became very pale and backed away till the wall again prevented her from going any farther. She almost jumped upon feeling the wall flat on her back and drew away from it. Her eyes widened even more when she saw from the calendar what day was it
it was May 14, 1878.
It was all she could bear. Turning paler than before, she supported herself by leaning on a console table—her hand seeming to be made of wax—and looked at them with terror in her eyes.
please. Enough onegai, murmured Kaoru.
She was about to sank in her emotions when another vision appeared: a carriage drawn by horses seemed to have been in front of the room she was in. Yanking herself towards the door, peeking was the only thing possible she could do.
And there she had seen it: Minister Okubo was assassinated. His lifeless body hung bloody from the carriage steps
Feeling all too much for her, she knelt in front of her father's sword and prayed, her head buried between her trembling arms.
It was the last thing she had remembered.
Night came and Kaoru remained lying still. Her eyes were open but missing with any expression. She stares in space, not minding of the already half-torn hem of her kimono.
Suddenly, a bright creature came flying by her hand. It was a firefly, sharing its light by the darkness of the place she was in. The thing had landed on her loose finger, and when she attempted to catch it, it flew.
She followed by her eyes where it went, and she felt unhappy when it flew out of a half-opened shoji.
Kaoru sprang to her feet slowly. She trailed the direction of the firefly. Peeking in between the door, she saw another vision. It was by the riverside.
Her eyes widened. Memories came flooding her senses.
No I can't I can't go through this again
Shaking her head contemptuously, something at the back of her mind screams for the truth; yet the other doesn't want to feel the hurt once more, the memory brings back.
Letting her instincts work over her mind, for her heart was overwhelming with strange emotions, she slid the shoji door open and stepped out.
I remember now her every step increased her heartbeat by the second. It was on this night I had made a lot of realizations about my life
I know now how he had changed my life and the others' as well. He has been the strength of our little family, our light, our guide
I remember now, what had meant by the sword's weight. I had to be one with him: one with his sentiments, his outbursts and view about things. I'm young, but I don't care. There are things that matter more than youth. Before, my life had no meaning, lived only in the existence of my parents, and did not even thought of a new morning for me
until he came.
He brought new definition to my life, brought sunshine in this empty and dark dojo; that had its walls as the living witnesses to my grief. I never thought this dojo will ever become a place of delight, of happiness and of indescribable bliss. I look up to each day with something I believe that have left me since that fateful day along my father's demise
Faith.
Yes. It has returned to me since he came.
From all what we have gone through together
it feels like the second time to feel hurt once more.
this is the climax of it all.
Kaoru and Kenshin talk, with fireflies surrounding them. It came the moment where he had to tell her he had to leave. Kaoru's face clouded; and persuaded him not to go away. But in the back of her mind, she knows she just has to let him
I understand. The world needs the strength of this person once more. And then, I will... wait for him to return.
I understand.
I understand, but...
But...
Kenshin stepped up to her, and
H-huh?
he embraced her tightly.
Kaoru burst into tearful sobs on his shoulder. And more as he whispered to her ear these words:
For what you have done, I thank you.
Sayonara, Kaoru...
He then lets go of her and walks away without looking back. Kaoru was left to herself, slumps on the ground and cried miserably.
I cried...
That time too.
She remembers the day her father went away.
don't go, K-kenshin
Kenshin.
That was his name.
The name I will always cherish in this lifetime of mine.
What can I say?
I love him
Kaoru remembers the day she and Yahiko followed him to Kyoto; their journey to Hiko Seijuro's cabin and hers and Kenshin's meeting since his departure from Tokyo. The events that came after that were now crystal clear to her.
She was glad there was no more hindrances
No more holding back
No more uncertainties
And thus
Kenshin...
I won't talk or be in the way of your fights anymore.
But, I don't want to be separated from you.
One day, there will be a time when you can truly be at peace.
On the day Kenshin left the Aoiya, and as she and the others prepare for war with the Shishio faction, Kaoru looked up to the sky.
Tou-san...?
Tou-san, I' am still unsure whether I'm ready for this...
But...
Kenshin turned around, surprised.
Promise me, you'll come home safely. We will go back home in Tokyo together, ne?
Kenshin gave her the most consoling smile he had ever shown her since these past events.
H-hai. I promise.
The vision ended. And Kaoru had gone back to the Aoiya's room where her body lay with her friends. She now understands all that has been happening. As they remained still and suspended, she walked towards each and embraced them tight.
Tears of sadness flooded her cheeks. How she wished she could come back
If only
Then she came in front of herself and Kenshin. Reaching up to touch his scarred cheek, she remembered his revelation when she was still with them: that he loved her, after all.
Cupping his jaw, she bent over and kissed him on his lips.
The lips she had dreamed of all along
those lips she could never feel that would kiss her back.
I love you too, Kenshin I always have, and always will
She cried desperately on his cheeks.
I can never go back I can't
Haha! She knows she CAN, can't she? Two more and this is done. Please tell me what you think. The next chap should be entitled The Return of Kaoru', ne? More to come, so stay glued! Gracias por todo.
Go push the button and make me smile.