Doumo Arigatou gozaimasu minna-san for reading and reviewing! Yup, he did
get the ring when he left in the morning.
Chapter 2
Stupid Kenshin!!! Kaoru exclaimed from within her. Her anger seemed to add more heat to the water of the tub that she was in while taking her usual bath before going to bed.
"He's trying to hide something from me." She whispered to herself while wiggling her fingers in the water in front of her vigorously and harshly. Kaoru was really mad because Kenshin was acting very strange ...since Saitou came to speak with him the other day. This morning, Kenshin left without telling her making her worry to even think that the Mibou no Oukami challenged him to a duel or worse, needed his help again to stop another madman on the loose just like Makoto Shishio. But before lunch, Kenshin came home unnoticed just like the way he left.
Kaoru's mind dwelled into their quiet supper that evening.
***
The table was set when Kaoru stepped inside the dining room. Kenshin merely nodded and looked at her. The only word that broke the silence before they ate was "Itadakimasu". After that, it was again complete silence.
This silence is deafening. Kaoru thought to herself looking at her food as she picked it with her chopsticks. Mou, I can't believe I would ever wish that Sano or Yahiko be here to insult me or tease me and compare my horrible cooking to that of Kenshin's. That would really be an excuse to get noisy and to break the silence.
Kaoru . Kenshin thought to himself while the silence also bothered and annoyed him. But no matter what subject he chose to talk with her, it's seemed irrelevant. Taking a quick glance to Kaoru, he also noticed the silence ripping through her as well.
He sighed cursing himself and asking why he was acting, why they were acting as if they were strangers to each other. He felt like he wanted to tell her he loved her for that was the only thing he felt he knew at that time.
No. This is not the right time to tell her. Don't rush her. Wait for the right moment. He said quietly as if controlling himself. But, when is? When is the right time!?! Dang it! They've almost known each other for a year, lived in the same house, went through many storms together. When you come to think of it, they are almost inseparable. As if nothing could knock them down. They were such in a way an "Eternal Couple".
The silence ended as dinner did too. Escaping their mouths the word, "Gochisouma deshita". And that was it. Silence again wrapped around them. Kenshin proceeded to clean the table and wash the dishes. Kaoru watched his graceful movements from her bangs. The silence was really deafening as if she wanted to cry or bang her head against the wall. But that would lead to embarrassment. What would Kenshin think if I cry In front of him? With.without any reason at all??? Kaoru thought her lips quivering.
Kenshin seemed to notice it but made no effort to console her. Thinking the same things Kaoru thought What would she think if I.I comfort her without any reason at all???
But, wasn't 'this' a reason?
Unable to hide it, but was afraid to let it out, Kaoru swiftly but quietly raised herself up and went out of the room. Kaoru, if you only knew. Kenshin whispered to no one as he deftly watched Kaoru go out leaving him in a state of loneliness. A feeling he feels when Kaoru's away from him. The same thing he felt when he saw her corpse. She, he was lifeless at that time. Her laughter, her voice, her smile. All the things he would ever want or need in this world, was in Kaoru's very soul. Things that color his lonely world. The things that make him complete. It's as if, she was his very life.
And his weakness.
***
"Kenshin! you'll see, after I finish my bath I'll yank you out of your bed and slap you until you tell me what's wrong!!!" she yelled her voice fierce but was nearly heard.
Impatient, she got up, standing in the water pouting, she pulled the towel from one of the stools and wrapped it around her. As if she was stomping, she removed her right leg from the water and into the ground. She was about to do the same with the left when unfortunately, she lost her balance, she slipped. She felt her body weighing down the floor her head hitting one of the edges of the tub causing a slight deep scrape in which blood came out. She felt the blood run near her ear. Her body was slowly going numb. Her eyes heavy. And then, total darkness.
***
Kenshin was outside walking through the polished corridor towards his room. He paused and seemed to get something from his gi. But before he could get it, he heard the noise from the bath house telling him something or someone fell badly but wasn't quite sure what it was. He walked quickly to the bath house unaware of what had happened.
Standing in front of the closed door, he hesitated to enter for he knew all too well that Kaoru was inside the bath house in this kind of time blushing at the thought that he really knew her. Even the time it takes for her to take a bath. But somehow, his instincts were telling him to go inside.
Just to be sure not to do the same mistake he did almost a year ago when they first met; entering the bath house while Kaoru was, wherein Kaoru threw a wooden water scooper to his head for he mistakenly thought she was drowning herself in the tub. Smiling at the memory, he knocked twice and called her name, "Kaoru-dono. Are you in here?"
No answer. He called her again just to play safe. Opening the door slowly, he was surprised that no one was inside the tub his smile turning somewhat into a frown, his mouth open. Peeking inside he was shocked to find Kaoru's unconscious body lying on the floor while her hair spread about forming what seemed to be a deep black curtain.
"Kaoru!!!" he cried in a trembling voice his eyes widened with worry. Worried he was, for he unconsciously dropped the -dono closing the huge gap between them. He rushed to her knelling with one leg. He looked at the fallen stool beside the tub and saw Kaoru's sleeping robe wallowing about. He pulled it and put her in it to cover her partly undress body.
He carried her putting his right arm on her nape and the other on the bends of her legs. But then, before he could carry her completely, he felt something moist running through his palms with a very familiar scent. A scent he haven't smelled for a long time and wished never to smell it again. Blood?!... He thought examining his palm then shifting to her head to see if her fall caused much damage. Good. It's not that serious. She's safe. He sighed in relief when he realized that her cut was not that bad and threatening.
Carrying her to her room, he laid her gently on the futon and covered her gently with a thick blanket ensuring she was warm and protected from the cold breeze hushing outside. After lighting the candle inside the dark room, he rushed to the laundry room to find some strips of linen which he thought would be helpful.
Going back to Kaoru's room, linen on his hand, he knelt quietly beside her carefully wrapping the strips around her head to keep the blood from running and carefully applied some balm from the remainder he once used to cure his wounds.
Taking his callused hand to her hair, which felt like silk, he carefully set them to fall to her back. The scent of jasmine filling his senses as he drew it back. Beautiful. he thought scrutinizing Kaoru's sleeping form. Her lids covered her enchanting blue eyes. The eyes which Kenshin worshiped and adored from the very beginning. There was really something in them that reflected Kaoru's innocence. Her vibrance and enthusiasm. Her very soul. It was like he was journeying all his life just to find them. He felt like Kaoru's very personality gave him something nobody could ever give. a reason to live.a reason to be happy and cherish every passing moment that comes.
I love you. Kaoru. A voice from inside Kenshin whispered as it separated him from the real world, leaving him in a place dark but unusually safe.
He was surprised. Was that me? He asked unsure of what just he had heard. It's true, I love her but.I.I don't deserve her. Kenshin finally admitted to himself.
But I do deserve her. Came the voice again.
What the-?!. But. Kenshin asked to no one but himself turning around in the midst of the darkness that had engulfed him.
We both need each other. I love her and she loves me. I can't live without her. The voice rang again echoing in his troubled mind.
Kenshin was both astonished and confused. Was he the one telling all of those? Something inside him was nearly assuring him. A second later, his mind involuntarily flashed the many memories he had shared with Kaoru and Kaoru with him.
The time we first met, when she yelled at me. She yelled for Hitokiri- Battousai to stop. The time she nearly got herself killed. ---Her abduction by Jineh by the riverside. When I almost killed.again.but she stopped me from doing so. ---When I left her for Kyoto. ---and when Enishi had his jinchuu. A time when I thought I almost lost her. When I almost failed her and myself as well. And that. that. will never happen for I won't allow it. I love her and I won't allow anything to happen that might make me loose her. Never again. And never will. I love you Kaoru...
At that, Kenshin returned to reality suddenly realizing what he had said. What his mind and heart were trying to tell him for a long, long time. Kenshin, you are stupid! I was a fool.I was a fool that I tried to keep this all inside of me. I tried not to listen.I was stubborn. I kept my happiness and Kaoru's happiness to myself. I now understand it. I love her.
He sighed a little bit. His sigh a happy one. Lowering his head and leveling it with Kaoru's he pressed a light kiss unto her forehead. Kaoru, although unconscious seemed to have felt it which made her lips curve a gentle smile. Seeing her subconscious response, he felt as if he was floating. He felt so complete and satisfied. He felt his burdens fade away into thin air. He felt his worries vanish as well as his cruel past. There was just one thing left for him to do before anything. tell her.
On to Chapter 3
Author's note:
1. It is well-mannered to say Itadakimasu when you eat in Japan. It literally means, "I'm going to eat." It might sound too formal for RK but I decided to put it in. After all, Japanese people are really that traditional.
2. Gochisouma deshita literally means, "Thank you for the feast." It is well-mannered to say this after eating. ^-^x
3. Ne? What do you think? Too mushy???
Chapter 2
Stupid Kenshin!!! Kaoru exclaimed from within her. Her anger seemed to add more heat to the water of the tub that she was in while taking her usual bath before going to bed.
"He's trying to hide something from me." She whispered to herself while wiggling her fingers in the water in front of her vigorously and harshly. Kaoru was really mad because Kenshin was acting very strange ...since Saitou came to speak with him the other day. This morning, Kenshin left without telling her making her worry to even think that the Mibou no Oukami challenged him to a duel or worse, needed his help again to stop another madman on the loose just like Makoto Shishio. But before lunch, Kenshin came home unnoticed just like the way he left.
Kaoru's mind dwelled into their quiet supper that evening.
***
The table was set when Kaoru stepped inside the dining room. Kenshin merely nodded and looked at her. The only word that broke the silence before they ate was "Itadakimasu". After that, it was again complete silence.
This silence is deafening. Kaoru thought to herself looking at her food as she picked it with her chopsticks. Mou, I can't believe I would ever wish that Sano or Yahiko be here to insult me or tease me and compare my horrible cooking to that of Kenshin's. That would really be an excuse to get noisy and to break the silence.
Kaoru . Kenshin thought to himself while the silence also bothered and annoyed him. But no matter what subject he chose to talk with her, it's seemed irrelevant. Taking a quick glance to Kaoru, he also noticed the silence ripping through her as well.
He sighed cursing himself and asking why he was acting, why they were acting as if they were strangers to each other. He felt like he wanted to tell her he loved her for that was the only thing he felt he knew at that time.
No. This is not the right time to tell her. Don't rush her. Wait for the right moment. He said quietly as if controlling himself. But, when is? When is the right time!?! Dang it! They've almost known each other for a year, lived in the same house, went through many storms together. When you come to think of it, they are almost inseparable. As if nothing could knock them down. They were such in a way an "Eternal Couple".
The silence ended as dinner did too. Escaping their mouths the word, "Gochisouma deshita". And that was it. Silence again wrapped around them. Kenshin proceeded to clean the table and wash the dishes. Kaoru watched his graceful movements from her bangs. The silence was really deafening as if she wanted to cry or bang her head against the wall. But that would lead to embarrassment. What would Kenshin think if I cry In front of him? With.without any reason at all??? Kaoru thought her lips quivering.
Kenshin seemed to notice it but made no effort to console her. Thinking the same things Kaoru thought What would she think if I.I comfort her without any reason at all???
But, wasn't 'this' a reason?
Unable to hide it, but was afraid to let it out, Kaoru swiftly but quietly raised herself up and went out of the room. Kaoru, if you only knew. Kenshin whispered to no one as he deftly watched Kaoru go out leaving him in a state of loneliness. A feeling he feels when Kaoru's away from him. The same thing he felt when he saw her corpse. She, he was lifeless at that time. Her laughter, her voice, her smile. All the things he would ever want or need in this world, was in Kaoru's very soul. Things that color his lonely world. The things that make him complete. It's as if, she was his very life.
And his weakness.
***
"Kenshin! you'll see, after I finish my bath I'll yank you out of your bed and slap you until you tell me what's wrong!!!" she yelled her voice fierce but was nearly heard.
Impatient, she got up, standing in the water pouting, she pulled the towel from one of the stools and wrapped it around her. As if she was stomping, she removed her right leg from the water and into the ground. She was about to do the same with the left when unfortunately, she lost her balance, she slipped. She felt her body weighing down the floor her head hitting one of the edges of the tub causing a slight deep scrape in which blood came out. She felt the blood run near her ear. Her body was slowly going numb. Her eyes heavy. And then, total darkness.
***
Kenshin was outside walking through the polished corridor towards his room. He paused and seemed to get something from his gi. But before he could get it, he heard the noise from the bath house telling him something or someone fell badly but wasn't quite sure what it was. He walked quickly to the bath house unaware of what had happened.
Standing in front of the closed door, he hesitated to enter for he knew all too well that Kaoru was inside the bath house in this kind of time blushing at the thought that he really knew her. Even the time it takes for her to take a bath. But somehow, his instincts were telling him to go inside.
Just to be sure not to do the same mistake he did almost a year ago when they first met; entering the bath house while Kaoru was, wherein Kaoru threw a wooden water scooper to his head for he mistakenly thought she was drowning herself in the tub. Smiling at the memory, he knocked twice and called her name, "Kaoru-dono. Are you in here?"
No answer. He called her again just to play safe. Opening the door slowly, he was surprised that no one was inside the tub his smile turning somewhat into a frown, his mouth open. Peeking inside he was shocked to find Kaoru's unconscious body lying on the floor while her hair spread about forming what seemed to be a deep black curtain.
"Kaoru!!!" he cried in a trembling voice his eyes widened with worry. Worried he was, for he unconsciously dropped the -dono closing the huge gap between them. He rushed to her knelling with one leg. He looked at the fallen stool beside the tub and saw Kaoru's sleeping robe wallowing about. He pulled it and put her in it to cover her partly undress body.
He carried her putting his right arm on her nape and the other on the bends of her legs. But then, before he could carry her completely, he felt something moist running through his palms with a very familiar scent. A scent he haven't smelled for a long time and wished never to smell it again. Blood?!... He thought examining his palm then shifting to her head to see if her fall caused much damage. Good. It's not that serious. She's safe. He sighed in relief when he realized that her cut was not that bad and threatening.
Carrying her to her room, he laid her gently on the futon and covered her gently with a thick blanket ensuring she was warm and protected from the cold breeze hushing outside. After lighting the candle inside the dark room, he rushed to the laundry room to find some strips of linen which he thought would be helpful.
Going back to Kaoru's room, linen on his hand, he knelt quietly beside her carefully wrapping the strips around her head to keep the blood from running and carefully applied some balm from the remainder he once used to cure his wounds.
Taking his callused hand to her hair, which felt like silk, he carefully set them to fall to her back. The scent of jasmine filling his senses as he drew it back. Beautiful. he thought scrutinizing Kaoru's sleeping form. Her lids covered her enchanting blue eyes. The eyes which Kenshin worshiped and adored from the very beginning. There was really something in them that reflected Kaoru's innocence. Her vibrance and enthusiasm. Her very soul. It was like he was journeying all his life just to find them. He felt like Kaoru's very personality gave him something nobody could ever give. a reason to live.a reason to be happy and cherish every passing moment that comes.
I love you. Kaoru. A voice from inside Kenshin whispered as it separated him from the real world, leaving him in a place dark but unusually safe.
He was surprised. Was that me? He asked unsure of what just he had heard. It's true, I love her but.I.I don't deserve her. Kenshin finally admitted to himself.
But I do deserve her. Came the voice again.
What the-?!. But. Kenshin asked to no one but himself turning around in the midst of the darkness that had engulfed him.
We both need each other. I love her and she loves me. I can't live without her. The voice rang again echoing in his troubled mind.
Kenshin was both astonished and confused. Was he the one telling all of those? Something inside him was nearly assuring him. A second later, his mind involuntarily flashed the many memories he had shared with Kaoru and Kaoru with him.
The time we first met, when she yelled at me. She yelled for Hitokiri- Battousai to stop. The time she nearly got herself killed. ---Her abduction by Jineh by the riverside. When I almost killed.again.but she stopped me from doing so. ---When I left her for Kyoto. ---and when Enishi had his jinchuu. A time when I thought I almost lost her. When I almost failed her and myself as well. And that. that. will never happen for I won't allow it. I love her and I won't allow anything to happen that might make me loose her. Never again. And never will. I love you Kaoru...
At that, Kenshin returned to reality suddenly realizing what he had said. What his mind and heart were trying to tell him for a long, long time. Kenshin, you are stupid! I was a fool.I was a fool that I tried to keep this all inside of me. I tried not to listen.I was stubborn. I kept my happiness and Kaoru's happiness to myself. I now understand it. I love her.
He sighed a little bit. His sigh a happy one. Lowering his head and leveling it with Kaoru's he pressed a light kiss unto her forehead. Kaoru, although unconscious seemed to have felt it which made her lips curve a gentle smile. Seeing her subconscious response, he felt as if he was floating. He felt so complete and satisfied. He felt his burdens fade away into thin air. He felt his worries vanish as well as his cruel past. There was just one thing left for him to do before anything. tell her.
On to Chapter 3
Author's note:
1. It is well-mannered to say Itadakimasu when you eat in Japan. It literally means, "I'm going to eat." It might sound too formal for RK but I decided to put it in. After all, Japanese people are really that traditional.
2. Gochisouma deshita literally means, "Thank you for the feast." It is well-mannered to say this after eating. ^-^x
3. Ne? What do you think? Too mushy???