Standard Disclaimers Apply

//Italics// = Flashbacks

Italics = Thoughts

Bold = Letter (s)

What Keeps Us Alive

Chapter Three: Pieces

Little birds of the night

Aye, they have much to tell

Stephen Crane

Keiko sighed, glancing at Kaoru's empty desk with a worried expression marring her face. It wasn't like her best friend to be this late for school and the even weirder thing was that Misao had been the only one to show up this morning. There were no signs of the eldest Haijime sister Megumi either. She sighed again, this time slightly agitated. She better not be left out of something juicy. And she hated being kept out of a secret.

Besides rumor has it that her partner is the hottest senior transfer that anyone has feasted their eyes upon.

"Attention! Onegai, everyone sit down!"

People stood up and moved around back to their normal seats, still whispering across each table group to their friends or partners. Yuu, the third person in her table looked at her and mouthed 'Where's Kaoru?'. She only shrugged. If one more person asks me that today, I'll scream.

She looked up to the front of the room and waited for the sensei to speak. The man seemed to be a little confused himself as he walked over to the door and motioned for someone to come in. Her eyes widened and she could of sworn, drool was starting to slide down her round chin. What is with all the *kawaii* the guys lately?

"All right, class! We've got ourselves a new transfer student. State your name please."

Very nice. Very, *very* nice. Where the hell is Kaoru? Keiko squinted her eyes so she could see the transfer student better. The boy stepped into further light, looming over poor Tsukiyo-sensei. He wore the standard boys' uniform, his jacket slung over his right shoulder and his top two buttons undone. His lips were curved into a smirk, obviously hearing the frantic whispers from the girls in the class. Silver locks of hair stuck up in all types of positions, which kind of gave him the bed-head look. The sexy bed-head look is more like it. His turquoise eyes seemed to be searching for someone within the room, a flash of anger when his gaze fell on her group's table.

"Watashi wa Yuikishiro Enishi."

It was at that moment that Kaoru had decided to enter the classroom.

**

Mornings were Hajime Tokio's favorite time of the day in the household. Her husband slept soundly, free of the burdens of his police work. She loved to watch him sleep, sometimes wishing that the rest of the world could see the big softie Hajime Saitou was when home with his family. She knew how ruthless he was outside the house, how cold other people thought he was. And then there were the times she felt incredibly selfish and didn't want to share him at all with anyone. He worked too hard and she damn well knew that he secretly wanted to be surrounded by his family. Even if he didn't say it, she made sure it happened. She even unplugged the telephones in the house when he was on vacation.

Today was no different.

She rolled over onto one side, suddenly greeted by the sight of her husband's muscular chest. A large vertical slash ran across his broad chest. She sighed softly, her fingers grazing the scar softly. You're too brave of a man. A wicked smile came to her lips as she began to plant butterfly kisses at random on his chest. He moaned.

"Chibi-onna, it's too damn early in the morning."

She chuckled. Kiss here, kiss there. "I can always stop, you know…"

He threaded his long fingers through her thick mane of hair. Strands of fine ebony fell across his chest. Saitou's eyes were now wide and alert. Tokio bit back a laugh. Well, that got him up. Saitou's husky voice broke through her thoughts.

"Don't you even think about stopping."

I'm worried.

"But there's breakfast to serve. And I have to-," she faltered, think back to the strange talk that she had with both her daughters. Saitou kissed her forehead, his signal that they would talk about it later.

Saitou grunted, his eyes mirroring a playful expression. "I think I'm going to keep you here."

She smacked him, causing him to wince. "I thought you were supposed to be the big and strong man that brought in the money, dear-"

He cut her off with a kiss. Tokio moaned softly as she felt his hands began to travel up her tank top. Yes, mornings were definitely her favorite. She had her family. She had a wonderful, but sometimes, well scratch that, completely egotistical husband and lover.

Life was good.

Almost.

**

She knew he was beyond furious with her.

Extremely furious didn't even fit what he looked like now.

"Sano, I said I was sorry."

He said nothing, ignoring her and sitting at his desk. She sighed, her frustration beginning to rise. What do you want me to say? I ran away and lied to you because my mind's going insane with something I feel like I can't even explain to you? It's like asking you do you want me to rip out your heart or stab it?

She sighed, glancing once more at her expressionless boyfriend and then went to the back of the room to her seat. She buried her head in her arms, trying to force herself not to cry. I'd tell you in a heart beat, but would you understand…

// She looked up at her mother and then at Kaoru, who remained at her position at the window. A half-sigh, half-sob escaped her lips.

"I won't do it," she hissed. "He's my boyfriend, my best friend and I don't have any desire to tell him 'Hey, guess what? I'm having dreams of me committing ritual suicide, you know what they used to do back in old Japan.' Oh yeah, sure. That works." //

The bell run and she glanced back once more at her boyfriend. His shoulders were tensed and sat straight up as if he were in drill school. She bit her lip.

I just don't want to hurt you.

**

The book stood out amongst the acquired pile of research he had made while waiting for his second free to start and for Megumi's little sister to meet him in the library. He leaned his head on his arm. After the strange day yesterday, he didn't really know what to say to Kaoru. Or even talk to her for that matter. He sighed his gaze drifting back to the book that lay before him. The book was tiny, almost journal-like. The cover was white marble with an engraving of a iris and small kanji that he couldn't distinguish. He began to reach for the book, curious to see the contents.

Baka!

His hand paused mid-air.

You found it after the episode in library, yesterday. Remember?

His hand dropped, but his eyes continued to lay on the book.

Don't let your curiosity get you into trouble. Haijime-san could proably come after you for going through his daughter's belongings.

It seemed like his hand had a mind of its own and he found himself picking up the book and opening it. The pages crinkled as he searched for something with writing. Kenshin hissed drawling his hand back when a newly formed paper cut began to bleed on his finger. The book flipped back to the hardcover.

17th Day of the Fourth Month of the Meiji Year

I miss you. Maybe it's because I'm surrounded by nothing but darkness, anger, and pain. Or maybe because I'm going to die soon. But Kenshin, I miss you. I miss you so much.

My father once told me that the only reason a swordsman fights is to avoid the loneliness and because he has no pleasant memories of his own to keep. The bad always outweighs the good, sadly. I want you to have a memory of me Kenshin and this is it. I can't really say that these letters are all heartwarming, but for some strange reason I felt like I had conversations with you. My writing these letters are what saved my sanity for the most part.

He's just a boy, Kenshin. He has no idea what he's really doing to people. He's just so caught up with his own anger, but at the same time he feels he's being completely righteous. I'm not asking you to spare Enishin's life, but promise me he'll-

Addressed to me? Stunned, he stopped reading, eyes wandering around the pages. Teardrops, he realized. The more faded parts of the pages are teardrops.

Here are my memories. Good. Bad. Filled with hope. Desperation. Love. Loss. I give you my heart and my soul. Wait for me…

Kaoru

The book fell out of his hands.

Me?

"Leave me alone!"

He whirled around, eyes wide.

Kaoru.

**

"I said leave me alone," Kaoru hissed, vehemently trying to loosen Enishin's grasp on her wrist and break away.

He pushed down his sunglasses, turquoise eyes flashing and accepting the challenge as if this whole thing was just one whole charade to him. Kaoru mentally shrunk back. What did I ever do to this guy? I just met him this morning. He pulled her closer to his chest, fastening one arm tightly around her waist and positioning his legs so that she was completely locked by his body.

"Onegai," she said softly. "Just let me go."

"You ignored me. I don't like being ignored."

Her eyes widened. That phrase. Everything seems so familiar. His eyes, they way his lips curve into a smirk. I don't understand what's going on.

"I told once before Kaoru-san. I will have you no matter-"

Her heart was pounding and her vision began to blur. Iie, onegai I can't take this anymore. Her arms began to push away from Enishi, but he was too storng and she was beginning to feel so tired.

"Let go of my girlfriend."

Kenshin.

**

Coming Attractions

Yahiko and Tsubame will be making an appearance one way or another soon. Sayo, as much as I can't stand her character will be appearing too. Look for Tomoe and Seta-chan too. DO realize that the length/time that they will appear in is still not know or what form they gonna drop by in either…

Thank You Very Muches

Everyone's been so wonderful. I do appreciate every last review you guys give me. And I do read them. I do apologize for not posting faster. I'm in the middle of college decision making and some nasty fights with my parents, so bear with me. I make the decision this weekend, hopefully the right one.

Ever So Wonderful Ramblings

*ducks flying objects* Gomen, I did not mean to cut off where I did and lay a cliff hanger on you. Honest! But if I had continued, then I would have written way too much that can't be revealed yet. *peeks behind a smoking Saitou*

Anyhow, from now on I'm going to discontinue chapter previews. Why? Well, if you picked up what happen this chapter and compared it to what I said in the preview in the last chapter… Hmmm… I'll give something like a character update, baiscally who's coming into the story and what the background's going to be like.

I'm looking for a beta reader. Very simple qualifications, I like analysis and good grammar. I get lazy sometimes. ^^;; Feel free to e-mail me.

Also, I had the weirdest conversation with a friend. What does everybody think of a Battousai-Kaoru-Saitou triangle AU set during the Revolution? I'm very curious…