Disclaimer: Watsuki Nobuhiro is the owner of Rurouni Kenshin and all of its characters.
A/N: Alright, ALRIGHT! Enough tomatos! @_@ Ladies and gentlemen, you are now exactly ONE CHAPTER behind the ultimate CLIMAX chapter! So bear with me, read this chapter and it'll lead you to...THE CLIMAX. So enjoy, and keep your eyes open for the next chap!!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
She stood there in shock. She didn't know what to do. The words that had flowed from her mouth so easily the night before, had triggered the happening of a murder.
"Kenshin...no, not...Kenshin..."
She didn't waste any time. She hastily rubbed away her tears, throwing off her uniform and pulling on a sweater along with a pair of jeans. She threw away her knee highs and pulled on a pair of socks. She grabbed her wallet and in a flash, she was out the door.
Tae heard her dashing down the stairs, her feet nearly off the floor in such haste. She came to the door as Kaoru bent down to pull on her sneakers.
"Kaoru-chan, what's the rush? Are you not going to have tea?"
She suddenly stood, and looked her directly in the eye. Tae suddenly found the girl hugging her tightly, and she sensed tears out of her eyes.
"Tae-san, thank you for everything. Take care of Tsubame if I-"
She didn't finish her sentence. She sped off the sidewalk without another word. Tae rushed down the porch and looked on after the back of the young girl, racing away.
"Kaoru..."
Realization suddenly hit her. Had something gone wrong? What was she planning to do?
"Kaoru-chan...Kaoru...KAORU...!!!!"
* * *
Kenshin restlessly waited for someone to pick up on the other end of the line. The phone had been ringing for a while.
"Hello?"
He finally heard the bass voice of Sano.
"Sano! I'm so glad I caught you!"
"Kenshin? What the-"
"Sano, I don't have much time. Where is Kaoru?"
Sano couldn't find any words to say to his friend. What did he mean, where is Kaoru?
"Kaoru? Dude, why are you asking-"
"You don't know? Sano, please don't tell me you don't know..."
"Kenshin, slow down. What's going on?"
"I need to talk to her. I heard some rather bewildering news..."
"What? What's going on with Jou-chan?"
Kenshin paused to take a breath.
"Sano, Yukishiro Enishi is living with Tae...and Kaoru."
He felt the voice on the other end inhale sharply.
"We're in a deep load of shit..."
"No kidding."
"Kenshin, why didn't you call Tae? She would've known."
"I wanted to, but the last time I spoke with her, she was out at work. She should be home by now, but I don't have her number!"
"What about Kaoru's cell?"
"She hasn't been picking up!"
He could hear Sano flipping through his phone book.
"I've got Tae's right here. I'll give her call, and I'll call you back."
"Sano, I can call her myself-"
"Kenshin, you've gotta find out about Yukishiro. I'll call you back."
With that, he cut the line, and the ring of the dial tone continued to sound in Kenshin's ears.
* * *
Enishi sat in his dark room, the metal of his blade scratching against the rock. Slowly, it sharpened. He thought out his plan as he rubbed the edge.
He knew he had no need to journey to Kyoto. If his plan had worked, then all should be taking place quite well, even now. His bait was sure to be successful. He never smiled at his clever thoughts. Only mourned even more for the love of Kaoru.
* * *
Megumi woke to the sound of someone pounding urgently on her door of her apartment. She walked over, her mug of coffee still in hand, and cautiously opened the door. She was surprised at what greeted her.
"Kaoru...?"
She jumped at her, her arms embracing the woman who she considered as a sister for many years. Her sobs echoed throughout the room. Megumi gently placed an arm around her shoulders, and guided her to the couch where she dried the girl's eyes.
"Kaoru, what's wrong?"
Her lashes finally opened to her, and the orbs of blue released more tears.
"Megumi-san, it's all my fault...I-I..."
She quieted down a little after much patting and hugging. She cleared her throat and began.
"Megumi, Kenshin's in danger..."
* * *
"Sano, what did she say?"
He didn't respond. Kenshin begged urgently.
"Sano, please..."
"Kenshin...she left the house."
"What?"
"She's gone, Kenshin. Tae can't find her. She was sobbing so hard, it was hard to interpret what she was saying."
"Tell me."
"She said something like...like Jou-chan was..."
He patiently waited for his friend to get a hold of himself.
"...she said Kaoru was preparing herself to die."
* * *
"Kaoru, are you sure about this?"
The girl nodded. She pulled out the sheets of paper and the white lily from her purse. Megumi couldn't agree any better then what Kaoru had predicted. Yukishiro Enishi was planning Kenshin's murder.
Kaoru bowed her head, and remained silent as she let her bangs cover her eyes. Megumi tilted her head and placed her hand on her knee.
"Kaoru?"
She saw her lips move, but no sound came forth.
"What?"
Kaoru looked up, a new looked embedded in her eyes. A look of determination.
"I'm going to stop Enishi."
Megumi's brown eyes widened.
"Kaoru...have you gone nuts?"
"Megumi, that's what I originally came here to tell you."
The woman shook her head in disbelief. She grabbed the girl's arm desperately.
"Kaoru, I'm not letting you go."
Kaoru took her hand and covered Megumi's. She smiled at her benignly.
"People need to mend the wounds that they caused, Megumi."
"Well, you just take too much responsibility."
She squeezed her hand one last time before standing up. She began to head for the door with she felt her hand on her arm again.
"Megumi..."
The female doctor didn't let anyone see her tears. She turned her head away.
"It's not your fault that he fell in love with you."
"But it's my fault that I didn't accept him, and that he still swims in sorrow to cause more evil."
She felt Kaoru slip out of her grasp, and she could picture her pausing before the doorway.
"Arigatou, Megumi...for everything."
Megumi collapsed onto the floor, her knees giving way. She looked up in hopes to see her friend, her best friend, standing there at the doorway smiling at her.
She was greeted with an empty, heartless open door.
* * *
Misao thrust open the door to Kenshin's room. It was entirely trashed with clothes and underwear. Kenshin was among the rubble, hunching over a large bag already containing some clothes.
"Himura..."
He looked up from his work as she looked down at him, expressions of slight worry and sadness in her face.
"Is it true you're going to fight Enishi?"
He looked away and continued on with his packing.
"It needs to be done, Misao."
"Let me come with you."
He stopped again, his eyes closing.
"Himura, please. It's for Kaoru, isn't it? I want to help-"
He stood up with his bag, and walked past Misao without another word. She followed him down the hallway.
"Himura...do you not trust me?"
The padding of his footsteps stopped. He spoke without turning his head.
"It's not a matter of trust, Misao-dono."
He turned slightly to meet her gaze.
"It's about taking responsibility, me alone for the sake of a loved one."
He walked to the main gate, with Okina and the team of the Aoiya looking on.
Aoshi stood at the door, watching him with the usual cold eyes. He bowed his head to Kenshin, possibly in respect. He nodded back in response, and he walked away into the mist.
Misao let the breath of air float around her as she whispered.
"Don't let her down, Himura. For her sake, don't let her down."
* * *
Enishi looked at the clock on his wall. The only one he had.
'If all is well, Himura is out of the house. The plane ride takes 14 hours. Soon. He will come soon.'
* * *
Kaoru sat at the table at the cafe along la rue. The trees had grown bare, with no golden leaves to shed any further. The sky looked as if its new tears of white would drip any time soon, but it fought its sadness. In her hands she cradled her cell phone.
She longed to hear his voice.
She held the phone close to her heart as she sat.
"Kenshin..."
The phone began to ring.
Her heart thumping, she looked at it, and her thumb pressed the button to answer. She guided it up to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Jou-chan?"
She breathed. It was a familiar voice.
But not Kenshin.
"Sano...?"
"Jou-chan, where are you?"
"I'm outside the cafe."
"What are you doing there? It's closed by now, and there's no one in the streets!"
"I know."
Sano knew by this time that Tae's words were partially right.
He was willing to bet Kaoru was at the point where she was going to risk her life in any emergency situation.
"Jou-chan, talk to me."
She paused, but spoke.
"It's my fault, Sano."
"..."
"If I lose him, I don't know what I'd do. And if the cause is to be the harmful words that were created by my mouth, I'd rather die."
"Jou-chan, what are you talking about? What do you mean 'him'?"
"Sanosuke...Kenshin is in danger."
Sano thought his ears had deceived him. Kenshin? Of all people, not Kaoru, but Kenshin?
"Kaoru...w-what do you mean..."
"Enishi is after him. I'm going to stop him at all costs."
He drooped his head, the phone still at his ear.
"Sano? Are you alright?"
"Jou-chan."
"Yes?"
"Listen to me carefully."
He took a deep breath, and released his words.
"He's coming, Kaoru. Kenshin is on the way as we speak."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TO BE CONTINUED...
Orroooo~!!! *dodges another series of tomatoes* I told you, the NEXT chapter is the climax! ^^'
A/N: Alright, ALRIGHT! Enough tomatos! @_@ Ladies and gentlemen, you are now exactly ONE CHAPTER behind the ultimate CLIMAX chapter! So bear with me, read this chapter and it'll lead you to...THE CLIMAX. So enjoy, and keep your eyes open for the next chap!!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
She stood there in shock. She didn't know what to do. The words that had flowed from her mouth so easily the night before, had triggered the happening of a murder.
"Kenshin...no, not...Kenshin..."
She didn't waste any time. She hastily rubbed away her tears, throwing off her uniform and pulling on a sweater along with a pair of jeans. She threw away her knee highs and pulled on a pair of socks. She grabbed her wallet and in a flash, she was out the door.
Tae heard her dashing down the stairs, her feet nearly off the floor in such haste. She came to the door as Kaoru bent down to pull on her sneakers.
"Kaoru-chan, what's the rush? Are you not going to have tea?"
She suddenly stood, and looked her directly in the eye. Tae suddenly found the girl hugging her tightly, and she sensed tears out of her eyes.
"Tae-san, thank you for everything. Take care of Tsubame if I-"
She didn't finish her sentence. She sped off the sidewalk without another word. Tae rushed down the porch and looked on after the back of the young girl, racing away.
"Kaoru..."
Realization suddenly hit her. Had something gone wrong? What was she planning to do?
"Kaoru-chan...Kaoru...KAORU...!!!!"
* * *
Kenshin restlessly waited for someone to pick up on the other end of the line. The phone had been ringing for a while.
"Hello?"
He finally heard the bass voice of Sano.
"Sano! I'm so glad I caught you!"
"Kenshin? What the-"
"Sano, I don't have much time. Where is Kaoru?"
Sano couldn't find any words to say to his friend. What did he mean, where is Kaoru?
"Kaoru? Dude, why are you asking-"
"You don't know? Sano, please don't tell me you don't know..."
"Kenshin, slow down. What's going on?"
"I need to talk to her. I heard some rather bewildering news..."
"What? What's going on with Jou-chan?"
Kenshin paused to take a breath.
"Sano, Yukishiro Enishi is living with Tae...and Kaoru."
He felt the voice on the other end inhale sharply.
"We're in a deep load of shit..."
"No kidding."
"Kenshin, why didn't you call Tae? She would've known."
"I wanted to, but the last time I spoke with her, she was out at work. She should be home by now, but I don't have her number!"
"What about Kaoru's cell?"
"She hasn't been picking up!"
He could hear Sano flipping through his phone book.
"I've got Tae's right here. I'll give her call, and I'll call you back."
"Sano, I can call her myself-"
"Kenshin, you've gotta find out about Yukishiro. I'll call you back."
With that, he cut the line, and the ring of the dial tone continued to sound in Kenshin's ears.
* * *
Enishi sat in his dark room, the metal of his blade scratching against the rock. Slowly, it sharpened. He thought out his plan as he rubbed the edge.
He knew he had no need to journey to Kyoto. If his plan had worked, then all should be taking place quite well, even now. His bait was sure to be successful. He never smiled at his clever thoughts. Only mourned even more for the love of Kaoru.
* * *
Megumi woke to the sound of someone pounding urgently on her door of her apartment. She walked over, her mug of coffee still in hand, and cautiously opened the door. She was surprised at what greeted her.
"Kaoru...?"
She jumped at her, her arms embracing the woman who she considered as a sister for many years. Her sobs echoed throughout the room. Megumi gently placed an arm around her shoulders, and guided her to the couch where she dried the girl's eyes.
"Kaoru, what's wrong?"
Her lashes finally opened to her, and the orbs of blue released more tears.
"Megumi-san, it's all my fault...I-I..."
She quieted down a little after much patting and hugging. She cleared her throat and began.
"Megumi, Kenshin's in danger..."
* * *
"Sano, what did she say?"
He didn't respond. Kenshin begged urgently.
"Sano, please..."
"Kenshin...she left the house."
"What?"
"She's gone, Kenshin. Tae can't find her. She was sobbing so hard, it was hard to interpret what she was saying."
"Tell me."
"She said something like...like Jou-chan was..."
He patiently waited for his friend to get a hold of himself.
"...she said Kaoru was preparing herself to die."
* * *
"Kaoru, are you sure about this?"
The girl nodded. She pulled out the sheets of paper and the white lily from her purse. Megumi couldn't agree any better then what Kaoru had predicted. Yukishiro Enishi was planning Kenshin's murder.
Kaoru bowed her head, and remained silent as she let her bangs cover her eyes. Megumi tilted her head and placed her hand on her knee.
"Kaoru?"
She saw her lips move, but no sound came forth.
"What?"
Kaoru looked up, a new looked embedded in her eyes. A look of determination.
"I'm going to stop Enishi."
Megumi's brown eyes widened.
"Kaoru...have you gone nuts?"
"Megumi, that's what I originally came here to tell you."
The woman shook her head in disbelief. She grabbed the girl's arm desperately.
"Kaoru, I'm not letting you go."
Kaoru took her hand and covered Megumi's. She smiled at her benignly.
"People need to mend the wounds that they caused, Megumi."
"Well, you just take too much responsibility."
She squeezed her hand one last time before standing up. She began to head for the door with she felt her hand on her arm again.
"Megumi..."
The female doctor didn't let anyone see her tears. She turned her head away.
"It's not your fault that he fell in love with you."
"But it's my fault that I didn't accept him, and that he still swims in sorrow to cause more evil."
She felt Kaoru slip out of her grasp, and she could picture her pausing before the doorway.
"Arigatou, Megumi...for everything."
Megumi collapsed onto the floor, her knees giving way. She looked up in hopes to see her friend, her best friend, standing there at the doorway smiling at her.
She was greeted with an empty, heartless open door.
* * *
Misao thrust open the door to Kenshin's room. It was entirely trashed with clothes and underwear. Kenshin was among the rubble, hunching over a large bag already containing some clothes.
"Himura..."
He looked up from his work as she looked down at him, expressions of slight worry and sadness in her face.
"Is it true you're going to fight Enishi?"
He looked away and continued on with his packing.
"It needs to be done, Misao."
"Let me come with you."
He stopped again, his eyes closing.
"Himura, please. It's for Kaoru, isn't it? I want to help-"
He stood up with his bag, and walked past Misao without another word. She followed him down the hallway.
"Himura...do you not trust me?"
The padding of his footsteps stopped. He spoke without turning his head.
"It's not a matter of trust, Misao-dono."
He turned slightly to meet her gaze.
"It's about taking responsibility, me alone for the sake of a loved one."
He walked to the main gate, with Okina and the team of the Aoiya looking on.
Aoshi stood at the door, watching him with the usual cold eyes. He bowed his head to Kenshin, possibly in respect. He nodded back in response, and he walked away into the mist.
Misao let the breath of air float around her as she whispered.
"Don't let her down, Himura. For her sake, don't let her down."
* * *
Enishi looked at the clock on his wall. The only one he had.
'If all is well, Himura is out of the house. The plane ride takes 14 hours. Soon. He will come soon.'
* * *
Kaoru sat at the table at the cafe along la rue. The trees had grown bare, with no golden leaves to shed any further. The sky looked as if its new tears of white would drip any time soon, but it fought its sadness. In her hands she cradled her cell phone.
She longed to hear his voice.
She held the phone close to her heart as she sat.
"Kenshin..."
The phone began to ring.
Her heart thumping, she looked at it, and her thumb pressed the button to answer. She guided it up to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Jou-chan?"
She breathed. It was a familiar voice.
But not Kenshin.
"Sano...?"
"Jou-chan, where are you?"
"I'm outside the cafe."
"What are you doing there? It's closed by now, and there's no one in the streets!"
"I know."
Sano knew by this time that Tae's words were partially right.
He was willing to bet Kaoru was at the point where she was going to risk her life in any emergency situation.
"Jou-chan, talk to me."
She paused, but spoke.
"It's my fault, Sano."
"..."
"If I lose him, I don't know what I'd do. And if the cause is to be the harmful words that were created by my mouth, I'd rather die."
"Jou-chan, what are you talking about? What do you mean 'him'?"
"Sanosuke...Kenshin is in danger."
Sano thought his ears had deceived him. Kenshin? Of all people, not Kaoru, but Kenshin?
"Kaoru...w-what do you mean..."
"Enishi is after him. I'm going to stop him at all costs."
He drooped his head, the phone still at his ear.
"Sano? Are you alright?"
"Jou-chan."
"Yes?"
"Listen to me carefully."
He took a deep breath, and released his words.
"He's coming, Kaoru. Kenshin is on the way as we speak."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TO BE CONTINUED...
Orroooo~!!! *dodges another series of tomatoes* I told you, the NEXT chapter is the climax! ^^'