Disclaimer: Nobuhiro Watsuki is the owner of Rurouni Kenshin and all of its characters.
A/N: Well, here we go...will Kaoru make it? WILL SHE MAKE IT?!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Kaoru...don't give up, we're almost there..."
Kenshin was responded with a low murmur, and he gazed down at the angelic face in distress. Her eyes were half closed, one arm protectively covering her wound on her side as the other gripped her arm.
"Don't close your eyes Kaoru, please..."
She winced in pain.
"Don't fall asleep...I won't let you go..."
Her sweater was absorbing the blood rapidly, and watchers stared or hollered in horror as he ran, clutching her preciously to his chest. The crowds made way for the two of them, beads of sweat rolling down Kenshin's brow as his legs carried him quickly to Megumi's.
* * *
Megumi sat on her couch, her mug of coffee still half-full already drained of its heat. Her elbows rested on her knees, her eyes closed in despair and sheer worry. She had let her go. She had let the girl, whom she considered no less then a sister, away to her possible sentence to death. Agony seemed to grip her by the throat as tears still flowered from beneath her lashes from last night. No sleep overtook her. Only the haunting images of Kaoru and her last look of determination tormented her mind. She groaned, burying her face in her hands.
Right then, another urgent series of banging issued from her door.
Looking up abruptly, she ran over, clutching the doorknob with both hands and throwing open the door. Before her stood a young man, his brilliant red hair coming loose from his low ponytail. His clothes were torn, and several cuts and bruises could be seen throughout his body. He breathed heavily, his khakis and navy sweater growing stained by blood. And in his arms he cradled Kaoru, tenderly like a parent with his child. Her eyes were closed, and her clothes were nearly completely red from her wounds. Megumi cried aloud and hugged them both, taking Kenshin by shock at her sudden action. She pulled him inside and dragged him to her bed, where she told him to lay Kaoru down as she pulled out the necessary medications. He kneeled beside the bed as Megumi worked, his eyebrows furrowed with concern.
"Is she-"
He heard no response. He continued to kneel for some time as her hands busily worked. Minutes later, she could hear mumbling from the woman's lips. He looked to see Megumi talking, apparently to Kaoru.
"I told you to stay...you stubborn girl, why didn't you listen to me?"
He stared and listened in wonder. He hadn't realized how his love and this woman were so close.
"I was worried sick about you...next time, I'm locking you in a cage with a key, you hear?"
He couldn't help smiling.
After some minutes, she suddenly looked up, wiping her brow.
"Shoot..."
He jerked his head up. Something about that didn't seem so good...
"What is it?"
She looked at him with an expression that seemed like she just realized that he was still there.
"She needs blood...just enough so that I can stitch up her wounds. She's losing it rapidly."
Kenshin thought.
"What blood type is she?"
"O."
He suddenly rolled up one sleeve and reached it out to her. She looked at him in surprise. He nodded his head.
"I'm of the same type. Use it."
She nodded, and immediately withdrew some blood and injected it into Kaoru's body after confirmation of no diseases. And finally, the girl seemed to rest at peace. Megumi breathed. Her eyes closed and her lips curved upwards in satisfaction. She stood up again and faced Kenshin.
"She'll be alright. Let me make us some coffee to ease us up now."
She made her way to the door, and then stopped.
"Thank you...for saving her life..."
He didn't bother turning around. He placidly responded.
"Ditto."
She smiled and closed the door behind her. Kenshin knelt beside Kaoru's sleeping body. He gazed lovingly down at the girl whom he'd dreamed of for months upon months in utter sincerity. Her loveliness bloomed wildly in every way. Yet as his thoughts wandered, he grew drowsy, his love blurring before him as he finally collapsed, his head falling onto the bedside. He was soon breathing deep, sleep taking him in from his fatigue.
Little did either of them know that Megumi stood at the doorway, smiling at what she saw.
* * *
The first thing she saw was darkness. Had she died? No...she felt someone's presence beside her, like a lion guarding the gates to something precious. Her lashes fluttered as she realized where she was, her blue eyes seeing the white ceiling above her. She began to sit up, wincing at the pain when she noticed her hand was entwined with another. Following its arm, she inhaled sharply at the sight of the sleeping figure.
"Ken...shin..."
There he sat, his hand tenderly holding hers as his bang fell over his face, and over his scarred cheek. He was breathing, dreaming of thoughts perhaps she'd never understand. But looking, and watching him, she sensed one thing. Innocence. Tears were already pouring out, this time yet again, through relief. She'd thought he'd die. She herself was prepared to die. And now to see pure innocence in the man she adored was the last thing she ever thought she'd see. Everything was all right, and at peace.
Her whimpering caused his lids to twitch. His amethyst eyes opening slowly, his lashes brushing against the sheets beneath his head. He looked up into the gleaming sapphire eyes, smiling. Her hand came to her mouth as she saw him, for the first time, with nothing heavily burdening her. He suddenly raised his arms, hugging her and burying his face into the crook of her neck. She let him envelope her body with all his might as they rocked side to side, calming each other's hearts.
They pulled away, but she continued to grasp his hand. She brought it to her cheek as he felt her tears running down over his flesh.
"I thought I might lose you..."
She whispered. He laughed.
"In truth, that was supposed to be my line..."
He pointed to her wounds, and she suddenly seemed to realize what had happened. Sunlight was apparent in her face when her lips parted slightly to chuckle. Smiling, he neared his face to hers, causing her to stop her giggling. But part way through, he stopped, and drew back. He looked out the window beside them.
"Would you like to go outside, Kaoru-dono?"
She cocked her head slightly. He gave her another childish grin and he hoisted her up, cradling her in his arms as he did before. She clung tightly to his shirt as she felt herself be raised. He creaked open the door with his foot, poking his head out. In the living room, Megumi was sleeping soundly on her couch, taking away her stress finally in a long time. Kaoru smiled at this as she was carried away to the balcony of the apartment.
The night scene of Paris shone beautifully through the glass doors. In the mass of black sky, the light twinkled happily amongst many others of diverse colors, almost like gems and stones in a small mine. Kenshin let Kaoru use her arms to open the doors as he stepped outside. Both sapphire and amethyst marveled. This was a Paris both of them were familiar with. The same scene they had looked upon when thinking of each other several months ago.
"You can put me down, Kenshin. I can stand."
He gingerly lowered her feet to the ground, and she stood, leaning on his shoulder for support. Her other hand grasped the rail in front of her as she continue to stare at the scenery.
"Beautiful..."
Kenshin stood, like a statue watching over its pedestal in peace. But as he looked over to Kaoru, he felt her hand on his shoulder tremble, and sniffles could be heard. He bent down to look at her face.
"Kaoru...?"
She met his eyes and she lowered them. She tried wiping away the tears. Really, she's cried too much already...but...
"I still can't believe it..."
"Believe what?"
She turned away from him, but he could sense a tremendous waft of blush coming onto her cheeks.
"I missed you..."
He froze at her words.
'She missed me...?'
She looked up at him from the corner of her eye, shyly. She smiled, just a little, to ease up the tension building up between them.
"You may not know it...Kenshin...but-"
He felt the hand on his shoulder grip slightly tighter as she spoke.
"Those letters...and the phone call...do you know how much they meant to me?"
He shook his head. She grinned.
"A lot."
Her tears had stopped, and she seemed to relax at the new atmosphere she had created. A comfortable one. He put an arm around her shoulder in a friendly manner as she looked up to face him. And with the tip of his finger he tapped the girl's nose admiringly.
"And you? Who could resist meeting an enchanted, bewitching young lady so unexpectedly?"
Her blush deepened. She slightly suspiciously gave him a look.
"Do I consider that comment as a response saying you missed me too?"
He gave a nod, and then bent his head to whisper in her ear.
"Why then, would I ask Sano for a single phone number and spend thirty dollars for a phone call...just to speak to them?"
She laughed.
"Was it really THAT expensive?"
* * *
Megumi watched secretly as she saw the two of them in each other's presence. It was so overpoweringly romantic that she couldn't help blushing herself as she watched.
'Such a bad girl, Megumi...sneaking up on a pair of love birds like this...'
She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, and she spun around only to bump into someone's manly chest. The room had no lights on, so it was slightly hard to see, but looking up she breathed as she saw him.
"Sano..."
He smiled down at her, and surprisingly took her lightly in his arms, rather bashfully.
"Good work, kitsune."
She smiled, and returned his embrace.
"You too, rooster head."
The two of them watched quietly through the other side of the glass doors.
* * *
He slid an arm around her shoulders, partially embracing her from behind. His lips were so close to her cheek, she felt her shoulders tense up slightly. She could feel his lashes giving her butterfly kisses.
"I love you, Kaoru."
She gasped, but the words blended in with her wanting, and she responded.
"And I, you."
Unexpectedly, she felt his cheek slide across hers, and as she turned her head, his lips were awaiting her. They met capriciously, startling Kaoru. But as she eased into the kiss she let the contact between them burn through her body. He opened his eyes as he began to pull away.
She reached back with her hand and stroked his cheek as they looked back to Paris.
"Why then..."
She whispered. Kenshin cocked his head.
"How is it that we made it so far...when more than half the time we were away from each other, Kenshin?"
His eyes never left the twinkling gems in the night. His thoughts pondered for a response. Her whispers circled around him.
"I almost sensed your presence anywhere I went...it was like you were there with me..."
He hugged her tighter, finally coming to a conclusion. He turned her around and he bent down, slowly, till his lips met her forehead. Their softness pressing against her brow was warm, and she leaned in towards him, enjoying him being there. He withdrew and wrapped his arms her.
"We made it, because..."
He rested his chin on her head as she closed her eyes.
"...we, Kaoru, were close at heart..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TO BE CONTINUED...
A/N: Well, here we go...will Kaoru make it? WILL SHE MAKE IT?!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Kaoru...don't give up, we're almost there..."
Kenshin was responded with a low murmur, and he gazed down at the angelic face in distress. Her eyes were half closed, one arm protectively covering her wound on her side as the other gripped her arm.
"Don't close your eyes Kaoru, please..."
She winced in pain.
"Don't fall asleep...I won't let you go..."
Her sweater was absorbing the blood rapidly, and watchers stared or hollered in horror as he ran, clutching her preciously to his chest. The crowds made way for the two of them, beads of sweat rolling down Kenshin's brow as his legs carried him quickly to Megumi's.
* * *
Megumi sat on her couch, her mug of coffee still half-full already drained of its heat. Her elbows rested on her knees, her eyes closed in despair and sheer worry. She had let her go. She had let the girl, whom she considered no less then a sister, away to her possible sentence to death. Agony seemed to grip her by the throat as tears still flowered from beneath her lashes from last night. No sleep overtook her. Only the haunting images of Kaoru and her last look of determination tormented her mind. She groaned, burying her face in her hands.
Right then, another urgent series of banging issued from her door.
Looking up abruptly, she ran over, clutching the doorknob with both hands and throwing open the door. Before her stood a young man, his brilliant red hair coming loose from his low ponytail. His clothes were torn, and several cuts and bruises could be seen throughout his body. He breathed heavily, his khakis and navy sweater growing stained by blood. And in his arms he cradled Kaoru, tenderly like a parent with his child. Her eyes were closed, and her clothes were nearly completely red from her wounds. Megumi cried aloud and hugged them both, taking Kenshin by shock at her sudden action. She pulled him inside and dragged him to her bed, where she told him to lay Kaoru down as she pulled out the necessary medications. He kneeled beside the bed as Megumi worked, his eyebrows furrowed with concern.
"Is she-"
He heard no response. He continued to kneel for some time as her hands busily worked. Minutes later, she could hear mumbling from the woman's lips. He looked to see Megumi talking, apparently to Kaoru.
"I told you to stay...you stubborn girl, why didn't you listen to me?"
He stared and listened in wonder. He hadn't realized how his love and this woman were so close.
"I was worried sick about you...next time, I'm locking you in a cage with a key, you hear?"
He couldn't help smiling.
After some minutes, she suddenly looked up, wiping her brow.
"Shoot..."
He jerked his head up. Something about that didn't seem so good...
"What is it?"
She looked at him with an expression that seemed like she just realized that he was still there.
"She needs blood...just enough so that I can stitch up her wounds. She's losing it rapidly."
Kenshin thought.
"What blood type is she?"
"O."
He suddenly rolled up one sleeve and reached it out to her. She looked at him in surprise. He nodded his head.
"I'm of the same type. Use it."
She nodded, and immediately withdrew some blood and injected it into Kaoru's body after confirmation of no diseases. And finally, the girl seemed to rest at peace. Megumi breathed. Her eyes closed and her lips curved upwards in satisfaction. She stood up again and faced Kenshin.
"She'll be alright. Let me make us some coffee to ease us up now."
She made her way to the door, and then stopped.
"Thank you...for saving her life..."
He didn't bother turning around. He placidly responded.
"Ditto."
She smiled and closed the door behind her. Kenshin knelt beside Kaoru's sleeping body. He gazed lovingly down at the girl whom he'd dreamed of for months upon months in utter sincerity. Her loveliness bloomed wildly in every way. Yet as his thoughts wandered, he grew drowsy, his love blurring before him as he finally collapsed, his head falling onto the bedside. He was soon breathing deep, sleep taking him in from his fatigue.
Little did either of them know that Megumi stood at the doorway, smiling at what she saw.
* * *
The first thing she saw was darkness. Had she died? No...she felt someone's presence beside her, like a lion guarding the gates to something precious. Her lashes fluttered as she realized where she was, her blue eyes seeing the white ceiling above her. She began to sit up, wincing at the pain when she noticed her hand was entwined with another. Following its arm, she inhaled sharply at the sight of the sleeping figure.
"Ken...shin..."
There he sat, his hand tenderly holding hers as his bang fell over his face, and over his scarred cheek. He was breathing, dreaming of thoughts perhaps she'd never understand. But looking, and watching him, she sensed one thing. Innocence. Tears were already pouring out, this time yet again, through relief. She'd thought he'd die. She herself was prepared to die. And now to see pure innocence in the man she adored was the last thing she ever thought she'd see. Everything was all right, and at peace.
Her whimpering caused his lids to twitch. His amethyst eyes opening slowly, his lashes brushing against the sheets beneath his head. He looked up into the gleaming sapphire eyes, smiling. Her hand came to her mouth as she saw him, for the first time, with nothing heavily burdening her. He suddenly raised his arms, hugging her and burying his face into the crook of her neck. She let him envelope her body with all his might as they rocked side to side, calming each other's hearts.
They pulled away, but she continued to grasp his hand. She brought it to her cheek as he felt her tears running down over his flesh.
"I thought I might lose you..."
She whispered. He laughed.
"In truth, that was supposed to be my line..."
He pointed to her wounds, and she suddenly seemed to realize what had happened. Sunlight was apparent in her face when her lips parted slightly to chuckle. Smiling, he neared his face to hers, causing her to stop her giggling. But part way through, he stopped, and drew back. He looked out the window beside them.
"Would you like to go outside, Kaoru-dono?"
She cocked her head slightly. He gave her another childish grin and he hoisted her up, cradling her in his arms as he did before. She clung tightly to his shirt as she felt herself be raised. He creaked open the door with his foot, poking his head out. In the living room, Megumi was sleeping soundly on her couch, taking away her stress finally in a long time. Kaoru smiled at this as she was carried away to the balcony of the apartment.
The night scene of Paris shone beautifully through the glass doors. In the mass of black sky, the light twinkled happily amongst many others of diverse colors, almost like gems and stones in a small mine. Kenshin let Kaoru use her arms to open the doors as he stepped outside. Both sapphire and amethyst marveled. This was a Paris both of them were familiar with. The same scene they had looked upon when thinking of each other several months ago.
"You can put me down, Kenshin. I can stand."
He gingerly lowered her feet to the ground, and she stood, leaning on his shoulder for support. Her other hand grasped the rail in front of her as she continue to stare at the scenery.
"Beautiful..."
Kenshin stood, like a statue watching over its pedestal in peace. But as he looked over to Kaoru, he felt her hand on his shoulder tremble, and sniffles could be heard. He bent down to look at her face.
"Kaoru...?"
She met his eyes and she lowered them. She tried wiping away the tears. Really, she's cried too much already...but...
"I still can't believe it..."
"Believe what?"
She turned away from him, but he could sense a tremendous waft of blush coming onto her cheeks.
"I missed you..."
He froze at her words.
'She missed me...?'
She looked up at him from the corner of her eye, shyly. She smiled, just a little, to ease up the tension building up between them.
"You may not know it...Kenshin...but-"
He felt the hand on his shoulder grip slightly tighter as she spoke.
"Those letters...and the phone call...do you know how much they meant to me?"
He shook his head. She grinned.
"A lot."
Her tears had stopped, and she seemed to relax at the new atmosphere she had created. A comfortable one. He put an arm around her shoulder in a friendly manner as she looked up to face him. And with the tip of his finger he tapped the girl's nose admiringly.
"And you? Who could resist meeting an enchanted, bewitching young lady so unexpectedly?"
Her blush deepened. She slightly suspiciously gave him a look.
"Do I consider that comment as a response saying you missed me too?"
He gave a nod, and then bent his head to whisper in her ear.
"Why then, would I ask Sano for a single phone number and spend thirty dollars for a phone call...just to speak to them?"
She laughed.
"Was it really THAT expensive?"
* * *
Megumi watched secretly as she saw the two of them in each other's presence. It was so overpoweringly romantic that she couldn't help blushing herself as she watched.
'Such a bad girl, Megumi...sneaking up on a pair of love birds like this...'
She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder, and she spun around only to bump into someone's manly chest. The room had no lights on, so it was slightly hard to see, but looking up she breathed as she saw him.
"Sano..."
He smiled down at her, and surprisingly took her lightly in his arms, rather bashfully.
"Good work, kitsune."
She smiled, and returned his embrace.
"You too, rooster head."
The two of them watched quietly through the other side of the glass doors.
* * *
He slid an arm around her shoulders, partially embracing her from behind. His lips were so close to her cheek, she felt her shoulders tense up slightly. She could feel his lashes giving her butterfly kisses.
"I love you, Kaoru."
She gasped, but the words blended in with her wanting, and she responded.
"And I, you."
Unexpectedly, she felt his cheek slide across hers, and as she turned her head, his lips were awaiting her. They met capriciously, startling Kaoru. But as she eased into the kiss she let the contact between them burn through her body. He opened his eyes as he began to pull away.
She reached back with her hand and stroked his cheek as they looked back to Paris.
"Why then..."
She whispered. Kenshin cocked his head.
"How is it that we made it so far...when more than half the time we were away from each other, Kenshin?"
His eyes never left the twinkling gems in the night. His thoughts pondered for a response. Her whispers circled around him.
"I almost sensed your presence anywhere I went...it was like you were there with me..."
He hugged her tighter, finally coming to a conclusion. He turned her around and he bent down, slowly, till his lips met her forehead. Their softness pressing against her brow was warm, and she leaned in towards him, enjoying him being there. He withdrew and wrapped his arms her.
"We made it, because..."
He rested his chin on her head as she closed her eyes.
"...we, Kaoru, were close at heart..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
TO BE CONTINUED...