Disclaimer: Nobuhiro Watsuki is the owner of Rurouni Kenshin and all of its characters.
A/N: Congratulations, you have finally made it to the climax! ^^ Well, not much to say for now. Read on, and enjoy! ^__^
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sunlight cast itself over the land like a comforting blanket, letting the blue-sky watch over all the creatures encased in its embrace. But through the dark shade of lavender, even the gold gleam of the atmosphere remained dark.
He looked out the window one last time. His last moment of calmness. Soon his eyes were to be available to no one...except for his beloved Kaoru. The plane came in contact with the ground with a hard thump, and it slowed to a stop. He took his final inhale of recycled plane air, and stepped out the gate along with the stream of people.
* * *
Enishi looked up from his finishing touches of his blade. It was done, and it seemed as though he was deaf to the world. All sounds ceased to sound. He sensed it. He was here.
With a grim look, he stood, still silhouetted in the shadows.
"Himura Kenshin...prepare yourself..."
Kenshin stepped out onto the streets. He looked upon it. The same view as the day he met Kaoru stood before him. He stood in the spot where he had closed his eyes and shared her name with the air above him so long ago.
His back was bear. He had no sword with him or weapon of any sort. Only a tattered duffle bag and no other. He planned to settle all in peace, but he already knew death was close to calling him to his grave.
"...Kaoru."
He set foot onto the sidewalk and began running, amongst the people that swarmed around him.
Enishi watched the flow of red hair make its way through the crowd, groping for a familiar face. His cold, slit eyes watched him from the dark alley, his back against the brick wall behind him. He let the sunlight find him in the play of hide-and-go-seek between the light and darkness, fully exposing himself to the world.
No one stopped.
No one cared.
Except one.
He watched the pupils in the eyes of violet zero in on him, his body frozen in time while the masses of people briskly walked past. No sound came forth into their ears.
"Yukishiro...Enishi..."
The dark figure then turned its back to the crowd, and found his place deeper in the darkness of the alley once again. Furiousity welled into the red hair then, his eyes gleaming gold like the radiance of lava. His eyes dimmed to a placid purple as he steadied himself, convincing to make peace. His brows furrowed, he cut through the crowd to step into the darkness after him.
He heard his footsteps walking ahead of him. He let his own footsteps sound along behind his. The slow pace finally broke off, both of them suddenly running, one chasing the other. They ran into smaller alleys, climbing over fences, dodging staircases to the small apartments side by side. The chase was endless.
Enishi let his legs carry him anywhere they desired. They were the only ones that knew where to take the two of them away from where they were visible to the public. They suddenly broke away from the many buildings behind them. They dashed into a mass of trees, sloping upwards. And without notice, Enishi pivoted on one foot, letting his heels sink into the dirt, his arms outstretched with blade in hand. Kenshin stood facing him not more then a few meters away.
The blade pointed to him.
"Himura Kenshin. So we finally meet."
Kenshin controlled his animosity. He balled his hands into fists and narrowed his eyes.
"What have you done to Kaoru."
Enishi looked back at him, his voice flowing nonchalantly.
"She is unharmed."
"Where is she then?"
Enishi did not respond.
This was not giving him any answers. Kenshin understood then, his predictions might have been mistaken...
"What are you planning, then? What will you do to Kaoru?"
For the first time, a smirk crept onto the lips of his opponent. Enishi spun his blade with a single hand, then jerked it forward, embedding the tip into the tree behind Kenshin, nearly nicking him on the cheek. He moved closer, diving the sword deeper into the wood.
"You are mistaken, Himura..."
In a swift movement, he withdrew the sword from the tree, and held the edge against Kenshin's throat.
"...for the one I have things planned for, is you."
* * *
Kaoru ran. She ducked and dodged through people along la rue, racing the cold winter wind. It blew against her face, an antagonist slowing her down. Her cheeks blushed rosy pink from the cold, her breath trailing out behind her as she ran.
"Kenshin...!"
Every thought of him made her legs release adrenaline. His smiles. His sweetness. His embrace. The few months that she knew him had expanded her world beyond its limits. Her heart throbbed as she raced away, past so many memories.
The flower shop.
La Petite Cuillere cafe.
She called out his name, over and over as tears dropped like the morning dew on the grass. What if she didn't make it? What IF she didn't make it?
"Kenshin...KENSHIN...!!"
* * *
Kenshin wiped the blood from his cheek as he stumbled up the hill. His hands grabbed at the dirt to prevent him from falling backwards, down the steep slope. Behind him, he could hear the swinging of Enishi's blade, singing as it sliced the air. Kenshin already knew this was going to happen. Bringing a weapon would only mean more pain, so no sword hung faithfully beside him.
But he truly believed. Only the thought of Kaoru kept his blood pumping, his hands still groping despite the numbness. Thoughts of her made him forget his attempted escape from the crazed Enishi.
He finally broke through the trees, and came across a small pathway. The width of it. The aura of it. Everything about it seemed familiar. Had he been here?
He turned around to see Enishi, still lumbering after him. Without another moment's hesitation, Kenshin ran for it. He ditched his bag that Enishi had stabbed through while Kenshin tried blocking his attack, and let his legs run free up the steep trail. His last struggle up a single path that all his hopes counted on. All on a single path that contained special memories he couldn't remember.
* * *
Kaoru didn't give in. People shoved past her. Everyone was moving in the opposite direction, towards the center of the city. Only she, a wisp of raven black hair, made way towards the hills, where she had experienced the most precious memories.
She finally raced down a path that broke the city away from the green environment. No one was in sight. Her foot came in contact with the dirt path, and voices came running into her mind, her dejected heart feeling heavier. Every step had a new remembered moment like a photo album.
'Isn't it pretty? I found this place very recently while exploring in my free time.'
'Will...I be able to see you again tomorrow?'
She heard many voices, their personalities written in them. The echoes of Kenshin's, as well as hers, rang deep throughout her hearing range.
'I guess this is good-bye, then...'
'I can't hug you in public. May I?'
'I love him.'
She gave one last sob, a desperate yell, before she reached the top of the hill, her cry soaring through the trees and trembling deep into the earth.
"Kenshin...!!!!"
* * *
His legs were growing weary. His knees gave in, his hands on the ground, and head drooping in defeat.
'It's all over...everything's done...'
He closed his eyes and waited for the hard thumping of Enishi's boots grow louder and louder, the singing of the blade growing more and more vicious.
"Let her be safe...please..."
His eyes closed as he breathed.
"Though my heart be restless without a final time to let my eyes fall upon the splendor of her face, let her lips remain delicate and her cheeks bloom like lilies until one day..."
His arms loosened, and he fell forward.
"...until one day when the dark lashes that embellish her sapphire eyes look upon me in heaven..."
He uttered his last words as Enishi came closer.
"I love you, Kaoru."
Satisfied, he waited for the blade to come jabbing down through his back. But he felt his ear drum vibrate. The whisper of the trees surrounded them as they carried the sound...of a single voice in distress. Kenshin listened intently. And he recognized it.
"Kenshin...!!!!"
"Kaoru..."
He slowly lifted his head. Before him, there was a little clearing. A large boulder sat in the middle, the trees in a ring with the sunlight shining down on the only bright spot in the forest.
The same boulder.
The same trees.
The same dirt.
The same birds.
But one thing was missing.
Kaoru.
He clenched his teeth in sorrow. Were the trees playing tricks on him? Were they singing in the voice of his beloved to continue on with his endless torture? He lowered his head to the ground, in sheer disconsolate distress.
But another sound came forth.
The sound of footsteps.
They were light. Elegant. Every step so proportionate and straight. They stopped, abruptly, and he heard no sound usher forth.
He raised his head.
"Kaoru..."
They stared at each other in awe.
Her dark lashes lowered once, only to reveal their gems of marine beneath a second time. Their cores studied the fallen man before her, his radiant hair of red cascading down his shoulders, and his amethyst, glimmering eyes staring back at her.
A seraph. A goddess. Her hair, black as night, shimmered white as the sunlight caressed her face. Her lips pink, her cheeks light crimson, a small pointed chin. Utter perfection stood before him.
No pause came in between. Kenshin was up on his legs, stumbling forward. Kaoru came dashing over to receive him.
There was no need for a dramatic pause.
Her hands wound themselves into his hair, her face pressed against his chest as sobs issued from her beautiful face, both from relief and joy. Kenshin had his arms tightly wrapped around her, stroking her hair and nuzzling her cheek. Never had love so powerful impacted either of them.
But it was not over.
Kenshin felt it. He threw both Kaoru and himself to the ground as the large blade came crashing down from behind them. The edge struck the boulder hard, and it fell from his hands. Enishi looked at the two of them in fury. His eyes, seemingly glowing red.
"You won't have her. You will NEVER have her!"
Kenshin stood on guard. Enishi grabbed his sword a second time, and in a swooping motion it came forward. But Kenshin was too weak, and he couldn't block. As the blade tip came half way to his face, he felt himself freeze in remembrance.
He saw Enishi, maniacally laughing as the blade came straight towards him. He felt himself go rigid, and his eyes were half way closed when he saw the backside of Tomoe, in the middle of lunging herself in between them.
Tomoe's piercing scream deadened to a swift note of the metal blade.
He snapped back into reality, and Tomoe suddenly turned into Kaoru, her hair flying and her arms outstretched as she leapt.
"KAORU~!!!!!"
All went silent as the blade's song ended its war cry in a faint diminuendo...
Everything went by so fast it was unbelievable. Kenshin saw Kaoru still standing, with Enishi gaping at her, his jaw hanging. The tip of the blade dripped with blood. Kenshin saw him trembling, as was he.
"Kaoru...?"
She slowly turned around, and his eyes widened. There was a slash of blood across her left cheek, still a fine line of red, but appearing to be a rather deep cut. Her pink lips curved upwards, and she smiled at him, slightly wincing from pain. He stared at her in shock, as she walked forward to the astounded Enishi. Though it was nearly invisible, Kenshin noticed a slight limp in her gait.
He dropped his blade as she drew closer, his mouth opening and closing. And with two milky white hands, she cupped his face tenderly, letting him relax with her touch. She whispered to him benignly.
"Enishi. I know what it is that you just saw. And I'm sorry for bringing forth such awful memories. Look at me."
He wearily looked down at her, her face still flawless despite the blood.
"Who do you see?"
He stared down at the beautiful face, and slowly she saw his lips quiver. She knew her prediction was right. He uttered a single name.
"Tomoe..."
She nodded.
"You thought it was love, Enishi. But it was because something about my being resembled your beloved sister."
He didn't speak. He knew that it was true.
"Do you remember my words?"
She asked gently. They rang in his mind like the sound of silver bells.
'I love you as any sister would have treasured her little brother.'
And he heard another voice. A voice that had passed through his delicate ears when he still but five years in age.
"Enishi. I love you just like any sister should treasure her little brother, forever."
Silent tears dripped from his eyes. He caught them with his hands as he felt the long milky fingers of a woman standing over him, her eyes smiling and her lashes tickled his cheek as she squatted to be level to his own, five-year-old form. It was a voice and touch that had remained with him, ever since that dreadful day...
"Tomoe nee-san..."
He lowered his head in crestfallen stillness. But when he raised it again, a new look was written in his eyes. And for the first time in many years, Yukishiro Enishi smiled sincerely to his full content. Kenshin couldn't help being amazed at how different he looked. The thick animosity had entirely washed away from Enishi's heavy heart, like the sand being washed from a rock on the shore by the rolling waves of the sea. He smiled to himself. Indeed, the angel before them was the deep ocean of love for anyone. Kaoru smiled at her success.
"That's the spirit, sweetie."
She playfully punched him in the shoulder. Enishi gently took her hand, and planted a kiss upon its creamy flesh, his gaze not leaving hers.
"I will never forget this lesson. And perhaps not fate, but hope will lead me to you again, someday."
He bowed his head to Kenshin, to his surprise, and turned away. The tall, pale man's retreating backside, blending into the green surroundings of the forest sunk itself into his memories.
Thus, Yukishiro Enishi was not to be heard from...for a long time...
Kaoru turned to Kenshin this time, and gave him a satisfied smile. It bloomed in his heart like a bright rose. His worried gaze caused her to cock her head.
"Kenshin...?"
Without notice, he lightly took her in his arms suddenly bent over and pressed his lips to the wound on her cheek. She slightly flinched at the sudden contact, but it made her cheeks burn so hot like the surface of the sun, that she couldn't resist. He pulled away, and using his shirt, he wiped the blood from her face tenderly. She stared at him, some signs of shock clear in her face. He saw her face about to soften when she suddenly jerked in his hold, and she began sinking.
"Kaoru!"
He caught her before she fell. She trembled in his grip, and she looked up at him with a look of longing. She opened her mouth to speak, but flinched and gripped her own arm.
"Kaoru, let me see that..."
She slowly removed her hand, and a deep gash was revealed. Her eyes twitched.
"It's just a small cut...I should be-URGH-"
Her arm immediately guided itself to her side. Kenshin caught it and gently raised it, high enough so he could examine it carefully. He gasped. The cut seemed minor, but already blood was starting to soak into her sweater. Beads of sweat forming at her brow, she smiled up at him, warily.
"I'll be fine. Could you walk me to Megumi-san's-ARH-"
She bowled over. Kenshin tenderly embraced her, and whispered in her ear.
"Who's Megumi?"
"A friend of mine. She's a doctor."
His expression of complete worry did not leave him, and Kaoru realized this. She lifted her hand to his scarred cheek as she spoke.
"If I survived crazed, drunk men on a 14 hour plane ride, I can handle this like peanuts, Kenshin."
The smiled down at her, and with his arm supporting her, they made their way to the path. But as she collapsed a second time, he gingerly picked her up and ran through the endless rows of candle lit shops as snow began to fall through their hair, resting on their shoulders.
* * *
Enishi sat outside beneath the moon that night, feeling the grass beneath his back. He thought about Kaoru's words, and he sighed, content, that he had finally found his solution to all his sorrow. He closed his eyes and dreamed.
"Tomoe nee-san...even if she resembled you, I still believe there was something about her that had me truly adoring her."
He thought he sensed a gentle smile showering down on him from the heavens. He too, smiled back.
"I'll find that love someday...you wait and see..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TO BE CONTINUED...
*sighs* well...that's that! Okay, that's just the CLIMAX. So what now? What will happen to Kaoru? Uh oh...
~Momori^^
A/N: Congratulations, you have finally made it to the climax! ^^ Well, not much to say for now. Read on, and enjoy! ^__^
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Sunlight cast itself over the land like a comforting blanket, letting the blue-sky watch over all the creatures encased in its embrace. But through the dark shade of lavender, even the gold gleam of the atmosphere remained dark.
He looked out the window one last time. His last moment of calmness. Soon his eyes were to be available to no one...except for his beloved Kaoru. The plane came in contact with the ground with a hard thump, and it slowed to a stop. He took his final inhale of recycled plane air, and stepped out the gate along with the stream of people.
* * *
Enishi looked up from his finishing touches of his blade. It was done, and it seemed as though he was deaf to the world. All sounds ceased to sound. He sensed it. He was here.
With a grim look, he stood, still silhouetted in the shadows.
"Himura Kenshin...prepare yourself..."
Kenshin stepped out onto the streets. He looked upon it. The same view as the day he met Kaoru stood before him. He stood in the spot where he had closed his eyes and shared her name with the air above him so long ago.
His back was bear. He had no sword with him or weapon of any sort. Only a tattered duffle bag and no other. He planned to settle all in peace, but he already knew death was close to calling him to his grave.
"...Kaoru."
He set foot onto the sidewalk and began running, amongst the people that swarmed around him.
Enishi watched the flow of red hair make its way through the crowd, groping for a familiar face. His cold, slit eyes watched him from the dark alley, his back against the brick wall behind him. He let the sunlight find him in the play of hide-and-go-seek between the light and darkness, fully exposing himself to the world.
No one stopped.
No one cared.
Except one.
He watched the pupils in the eyes of violet zero in on him, his body frozen in time while the masses of people briskly walked past. No sound came forth into their ears.
"Yukishiro...Enishi..."
The dark figure then turned its back to the crowd, and found his place deeper in the darkness of the alley once again. Furiousity welled into the red hair then, his eyes gleaming gold like the radiance of lava. His eyes dimmed to a placid purple as he steadied himself, convincing to make peace. His brows furrowed, he cut through the crowd to step into the darkness after him.
He heard his footsteps walking ahead of him. He let his own footsteps sound along behind his. The slow pace finally broke off, both of them suddenly running, one chasing the other. They ran into smaller alleys, climbing over fences, dodging staircases to the small apartments side by side. The chase was endless.
Enishi let his legs carry him anywhere they desired. They were the only ones that knew where to take the two of them away from where they were visible to the public. They suddenly broke away from the many buildings behind them. They dashed into a mass of trees, sloping upwards. And without notice, Enishi pivoted on one foot, letting his heels sink into the dirt, his arms outstretched with blade in hand. Kenshin stood facing him not more then a few meters away.
The blade pointed to him.
"Himura Kenshin. So we finally meet."
Kenshin controlled his animosity. He balled his hands into fists and narrowed his eyes.
"What have you done to Kaoru."
Enishi looked back at him, his voice flowing nonchalantly.
"She is unharmed."
"Where is she then?"
Enishi did not respond.
This was not giving him any answers. Kenshin understood then, his predictions might have been mistaken...
"What are you planning, then? What will you do to Kaoru?"
For the first time, a smirk crept onto the lips of his opponent. Enishi spun his blade with a single hand, then jerked it forward, embedding the tip into the tree behind Kenshin, nearly nicking him on the cheek. He moved closer, diving the sword deeper into the wood.
"You are mistaken, Himura..."
In a swift movement, he withdrew the sword from the tree, and held the edge against Kenshin's throat.
"...for the one I have things planned for, is you."
* * *
Kaoru ran. She ducked and dodged through people along la rue, racing the cold winter wind. It blew against her face, an antagonist slowing her down. Her cheeks blushed rosy pink from the cold, her breath trailing out behind her as she ran.
"Kenshin...!"
Every thought of him made her legs release adrenaline. His smiles. His sweetness. His embrace. The few months that she knew him had expanded her world beyond its limits. Her heart throbbed as she raced away, past so many memories.
The flower shop.
La Petite Cuillere cafe.
She called out his name, over and over as tears dropped like the morning dew on the grass. What if she didn't make it? What IF she didn't make it?
"Kenshin...KENSHIN...!!"
* * *
Kenshin wiped the blood from his cheek as he stumbled up the hill. His hands grabbed at the dirt to prevent him from falling backwards, down the steep slope. Behind him, he could hear the swinging of Enishi's blade, singing as it sliced the air. Kenshin already knew this was going to happen. Bringing a weapon would only mean more pain, so no sword hung faithfully beside him.
But he truly believed. Only the thought of Kaoru kept his blood pumping, his hands still groping despite the numbness. Thoughts of her made him forget his attempted escape from the crazed Enishi.
He finally broke through the trees, and came across a small pathway. The width of it. The aura of it. Everything about it seemed familiar. Had he been here?
He turned around to see Enishi, still lumbering after him. Without another moment's hesitation, Kenshin ran for it. He ditched his bag that Enishi had stabbed through while Kenshin tried blocking his attack, and let his legs run free up the steep trail. His last struggle up a single path that all his hopes counted on. All on a single path that contained special memories he couldn't remember.
* * *
Kaoru didn't give in. People shoved past her. Everyone was moving in the opposite direction, towards the center of the city. Only she, a wisp of raven black hair, made way towards the hills, where she had experienced the most precious memories.
She finally raced down a path that broke the city away from the green environment. No one was in sight. Her foot came in contact with the dirt path, and voices came running into her mind, her dejected heart feeling heavier. Every step had a new remembered moment like a photo album.
'Isn't it pretty? I found this place very recently while exploring in my free time.'
'Will...I be able to see you again tomorrow?'
She heard many voices, their personalities written in them. The echoes of Kenshin's, as well as hers, rang deep throughout her hearing range.
'I guess this is good-bye, then...'
'I can't hug you in public. May I?'
'I love him.'
She gave one last sob, a desperate yell, before she reached the top of the hill, her cry soaring through the trees and trembling deep into the earth.
"Kenshin...!!!!"
* * *
His legs were growing weary. His knees gave in, his hands on the ground, and head drooping in defeat.
'It's all over...everything's done...'
He closed his eyes and waited for the hard thumping of Enishi's boots grow louder and louder, the singing of the blade growing more and more vicious.
"Let her be safe...please..."
His eyes closed as he breathed.
"Though my heart be restless without a final time to let my eyes fall upon the splendor of her face, let her lips remain delicate and her cheeks bloom like lilies until one day..."
His arms loosened, and he fell forward.
"...until one day when the dark lashes that embellish her sapphire eyes look upon me in heaven..."
He uttered his last words as Enishi came closer.
"I love you, Kaoru."
Satisfied, he waited for the blade to come jabbing down through his back. But he felt his ear drum vibrate. The whisper of the trees surrounded them as they carried the sound...of a single voice in distress. Kenshin listened intently. And he recognized it.
"Kenshin...!!!!"
"Kaoru..."
He slowly lifted his head. Before him, there was a little clearing. A large boulder sat in the middle, the trees in a ring with the sunlight shining down on the only bright spot in the forest.
The same boulder.
The same trees.
The same dirt.
The same birds.
But one thing was missing.
Kaoru.
He clenched his teeth in sorrow. Were the trees playing tricks on him? Were they singing in the voice of his beloved to continue on with his endless torture? He lowered his head to the ground, in sheer disconsolate distress.
But another sound came forth.
The sound of footsteps.
They were light. Elegant. Every step so proportionate and straight. They stopped, abruptly, and he heard no sound usher forth.
He raised his head.
"Kaoru..."
They stared at each other in awe.
Her dark lashes lowered once, only to reveal their gems of marine beneath a second time. Their cores studied the fallen man before her, his radiant hair of red cascading down his shoulders, and his amethyst, glimmering eyes staring back at her.
A seraph. A goddess. Her hair, black as night, shimmered white as the sunlight caressed her face. Her lips pink, her cheeks light crimson, a small pointed chin. Utter perfection stood before him.
No pause came in between. Kenshin was up on his legs, stumbling forward. Kaoru came dashing over to receive him.
There was no need for a dramatic pause.
Her hands wound themselves into his hair, her face pressed against his chest as sobs issued from her beautiful face, both from relief and joy. Kenshin had his arms tightly wrapped around her, stroking her hair and nuzzling her cheek. Never had love so powerful impacted either of them.
But it was not over.
Kenshin felt it. He threw both Kaoru and himself to the ground as the large blade came crashing down from behind them. The edge struck the boulder hard, and it fell from his hands. Enishi looked at the two of them in fury. His eyes, seemingly glowing red.
"You won't have her. You will NEVER have her!"
Kenshin stood on guard. Enishi grabbed his sword a second time, and in a swooping motion it came forward. But Kenshin was too weak, and he couldn't block. As the blade tip came half way to his face, he felt himself freeze in remembrance.
He saw Enishi, maniacally laughing as the blade came straight towards him. He felt himself go rigid, and his eyes were half way closed when he saw the backside of Tomoe, in the middle of lunging herself in between them.
Tomoe's piercing scream deadened to a swift note of the metal blade.
He snapped back into reality, and Tomoe suddenly turned into Kaoru, her hair flying and her arms outstretched as she leapt.
"KAORU~!!!!!"
All went silent as the blade's song ended its war cry in a faint diminuendo...
Everything went by so fast it was unbelievable. Kenshin saw Kaoru still standing, with Enishi gaping at her, his jaw hanging. The tip of the blade dripped with blood. Kenshin saw him trembling, as was he.
"Kaoru...?"
She slowly turned around, and his eyes widened. There was a slash of blood across her left cheek, still a fine line of red, but appearing to be a rather deep cut. Her pink lips curved upwards, and she smiled at him, slightly wincing from pain. He stared at her in shock, as she walked forward to the astounded Enishi. Though it was nearly invisible, Kenshin noticed a slight limp in her gait.
He dropped his blade as she drew closer, his mouth opening and closing. And with two milky white hands, she cupped his face tenderly, letting him relax with her touch. She whispered to him benignly.
"Enishi. I know what it is that you just saw. And I'm sorry for bringing forth such awful memories. Look at me."
He wearily looked down at her, her face still flawless despite the blood.
"Who do you see?"
He stared down at the beautiful face, and slowly she saw his lips quiver. She knew her prediction was right. He uttered a single name.
"Tomoe..."
She nodded.
"You thought it was love, Enishi. But it was because something about my being resembled your beloved sister."
He didn't speak. He knew that it was true.
"Do you remember my words?"
She asked gently. They rang in his mind like the sound of silver bells.
'I love you as any sister would have treasured her little brother.'
And he heard another voice. A voice that had passed through his delicate ears when he still but five years in age.
"Enishi. I love you just like any sister should treasure her little brother, forever."
Silent tears dripped from his eyes. He caught them with his hands as he felt the long milky fingers of a woman standing over him, her eyes smiling and her lashes tickled his cheek as she squatted to be level to his own, five-year-old form. It was a voice and touch that had remained with him, ever since that dreadful day...
"Tomoe nee-san..."
He lowered his head in crestfallen stillness. But when he raised it again, a new look was written in his eyes. And for the first time in many years, Yukishiro Enishi smiled sincerely to his full content. Kenshin couldn't help being amazed at how different he looked. The thick animosity had entirely washed away from Enishi's heavy heart, like the sand being washed from a rock on the shore by the rolling waves of the sea. He smiled to himself. Indeed, the angel before them was the deep ocean of love for anyone. Kaoru smiled at her success.
"That's the spirit, sweetie."
She playfully punched him in the shoulder. Enishi gently took her hand, and planted a kiss upon its creamy flesh, his gaze not leaving hers.
"I will never forget this lesson. And perhaps not fate, but hope will lead me to you again, someday."
He bowed his head to Kenshin, to his surprise, and turned away. The tall, pale man's retreating backside, blending into the green surroundings of the forest sunk itself into his memories.
Thus, Yukishiro Enishi was not to be heard from...for a long time...
Kaoru turned to Kenshin this time, and gave him a satisfied smile. It bloomed in his heart like a bright rose. His worried gaze caused her to cock her head.
"Kenshin...?"
Without notice, he lightly took her in his arms suddenly bent over and pressed his lips to the wound on her cheek. She slightly flinched at the sudden contact, but it made her cheeks burn so hot like the surface of the sun, that she couldn't resist. He pulled away, and using his shirt, he wiped the blood from her face tenderly. She stared at him, some signs of shock clear in her face. He saw her face about to soften when she suddenly jerked in his hold, and she began sinking.
"Kaoru!"
He caught her before she fell. She trembled in his grip, and she looked up at him with a look of longing. She opened her mouth to speak, but flinched and gripped her own arm.
"Kaoru, let me see that..."
She slowly removed her hand, and a deep gash was revealed. Her eyes twitched.
"It's just a small cut...I should be-URGH-"
Her arm immediately guided itself to her side. Kenshin caught it and gently raised it, high enough so he could examine it carefully. He gasped. The cut seemed minor, but already blood was starting to soak into her sweater. Beads of sweat forming at her brow, she smiled up at him, warily.
"I'll be fine. Could you walk me to Megumi-san's-ARH-"
She bowled over. Kenshin tenderly embraced her, and whispered in her ear.
"Who's Megumi?"
"A friend of mine. She's a doctor."
His expression of complete worry did not leave him, and Kaoru realized this. She lifted her hand to his scarred cheek as she spoke.
"If I survived crazed, drunk men on a 14 hour plane ride, I can handle this like peanuts, Kenshin."
The smiled down at her, and with his arm supporting her, they made their way to the path. But as she collapsed a second time, he gingerly picked her up and ran through the endless rows of candle lit shops as snow began to fall through their hair, resting on their shoulders.
* * *
Enishi sat outside beneath the moon that night, feeling the grass beneath his back. He thought about Kaoru's words, and he sighed, content, that he had finally found his solution to all his sorrow. He closed his eyes and dreamed.
"Tomoe nee-san...even if she resembled you, I still believe there was something about her that had me truly adoring her."
He thought he sensed a gentle smile showering down on him from the heavens. He too, smiled back.
"I'll find that love someday...you wait and see..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TO BE CONTINUED...
*sighs* well...that's that! Okay, that's just the CLIMAX. So what now? What will happen to Kaoru? Uh oh...
~Momori^^