Chapter 2. Memories.

Inside, they were seated in chairs the room lit up by a big chandelier while the fire in the chimney crinkled making them warm and cozy.

"Please, help yourselves." Andrew said coming into the lobby holding a tray that contained porcelain cups with tea placing it on the table.

"This house belonged to my otou-san." He sipped his tea. "He was an American. But my okaa-san was Japanese of origin. I grew up in this house together with my sister Sakura." He said starting a conversation sitting himself in one of the chairs.

"So, Sakura is her name. I believe she was still young when she.died" Kaoru hesitated to finish her sentence.

"Yes.You're quite right." Andrew retorted his eyes anchored to Kaoru's. Kaoru blushed and turned away from his gaze.

"In fact, she was a lot like you. Black hair, expressive blue eyes." his voice was smooth.

"Bosu?!!" Yahiko broke in. "Ok, your sister might look like her. But I swear your sister knows how to cook!!! Ahaha" his mouth wide open from laughing.

"Shut up brat!" Sano demanded. "So, why did your sister jumped the hell off that cliff anyway?" Sano shook his head his voice somewhat serious.

"It's a long story. But eventually started when she met Matthew." He chuckled his eyes closed as if recalling a memory.

"Matthew?" Kaoru asked curiosity rising in her voice.

"Matthew was her fiancé. They were really a good couple back then. They were supposed to get married. But there grew a misunderstanding between them." He explained taking a sip after he said so.

"What?" she asked again. Her voice and expression seemed to plead more of the story. Kenshin noticed it. But he felt so out of the conversation he couldn't even think of anything to ask or to say.

Andrew smiled. "I'm right. You not only look like my sister. You even act like her. She looked at me with that expression in her face when she wanted something. God, how I missed those days." Kaoru was slightly embarrassed so she bowed a little.

"It's all right Kaoru." He smiled. "Matthew and Sakura had this slight misunderstanding which gradually turned into a big one. A girl named Amanda came and followed Matthew here. Amanda was Matthew's former girlfriend before she met my sister. Matthew tried to explain that he was no longer committed to Amanda. Sakura believed him for some time. But was greatly injured when she found one of Amanda's letter in Matthew's coat which was only Amanda's doing to make their feud grow larger. Sakura was tortured mentally and emotionally. I too was hurt for she was my sister but I felt so useless because I couldn't do anything to console her. I tried to ignore the feeling that she would commit suicide. But then, came the day which I feared the most."

He gave out a heavy sigh. Closing his eyes, he continued.

"I came from town in a night like this. I bought her some flowers. Jasmine flowers. Those were her favorites. I thought they might cheer her up. They always do."

* * *

"Sakura.Nii-san's home. Tadaima!" Andrew called out softly walking up the stairs to go to Sakura's room.

"Sakura, look, I have something for.you." his voice trailed off. He entered her room and was shocked to see Sakura standing in the barricade of her porch looking at him with tear-stained eyes.

"Sakura! Matte! You're not going to. Dame!!!" he exclaimed running near to her.

"Noooo! Don't even try to stop me! I can't take this any longer! I must die!!!" At that, she jumped into the raging water below. Andrew tried to stop her but was too late. Her beloved sister was swallowed up the by the wild waters. Forever tearing them apart.

"SAKURAAAA!!!!!!" Andrew called out the flowers in his hand falling into the marble that he was standing. He collapsed to the ground sobbing his sister's name hugging the jasmine flowers tightly. "Sakura."

* * *

Andrew closed his eyes tightly fighting the lingering tears.

"Gomen.I'm sorry your sister had died that way." Kaoru gently said. Her voice trailing off at her last word.

Andrew nodded and tried to smile blinking continuosly. He looked at the clock that was ticking at the table. "Ah, it's already late. Koi, I'll show you to your rooms." Seeing to it that they finished their tea.

They all stood up following Andrew up the carpeted stairs. Kaoru remained silent her head bowed low. Kenshin followed them from behind. He was feeling something strange inside of him. He couldn't explain it. But surely it was about Kaoru. But what? What about Kaoru?

Reaching the second floor, Andrew turned to a corner. Stopping at a door, he opened it and said, "You gentlemen will stay here while my sister, ah, Kaoru-chan will stay in the next room." Pointing to a room that was adjacent to that of theirs.

"Oyasumi.By the way, the candles are placed in that table." he said pointing to a wooden stool near the door.

The boys nodded in silence and closed the door.

Kaoru remained silent while she let Andrew lead her to the room.

"This was my sister's room." He started opening the door. "Please, come in." he offered while he was halfway in.

The room was well lit and arranged. It really was of a feminine touch. Kaoru felt somewhat comfortable and peaceful. There was a bed covered by blue and white silks and quilt. The wall adjacent to the bed was decorated with a light violet sash. The bed was between two night tables each with a vase filled with jasmine flowers filling the whole room with it's scent.

Andrew walked to the mirror. Kaoru watched him from her bangs. He saw him open the cabinet and held out a wooden box. He came near to Kaoru opening the box revealing dried jasmine flowers.

"Remember the flowers I bought for her when she died? These were those." He said looking at the flowers then to Kaoru.

Kaoru hesitantly and slowly placed her hand inside the box to touch one fragile piece. Surprisingly they weren't destroyed. The first thing she thought would happen the minute she touch them.

"Daijobou. They won't break. I placed a chemical to preserve them." He assured her.

Kaoru carefully picked one flower and raised it near her face. Andrew was touched at the picture she presented. You're an angel. Just like my sister. He thought inwardly his face happy.

"Yes?" Kaoru asked.

"Sorry. Forgive my rudeness. I just remembered something." He retorted his eyes shimmering.

Kaoru's eyes questioned and he seemed to recognize them. "Look there." he said his fingers pointing to a painting which was hung near the glass door of the porch.

She was stunned. The painting presented a young girl in near her 20's, her black hair falling past her shoulder her blue eyes smiling while her fragile hands held a jasmine flower.

"Is it just me or am I seeing my twin??!" she asked her voice astonished while she was walking near the painting to take a closer look.

"Do you believe me now?" he asked his other brow arched up his lips smiling.

"Y-yes." she said impossibly her head nodding absently.

"Um, Kaoru-chan.Can I ask you a favor?" he asked nervously.

"What is it?." looking at him with querying eyes.

Finally finding his voice he stared at her with eyes of jade, "A, I've never seen my sister wear her wedding gown.Umm, will you please wear it for me?"

Kaoru remained silent but she was shocked. Her soft lips were half open to start a protest. But it seemed like he wanted to say something so she let him finish.

"Onegai Kaoru-chan.Please wear it. I longed hope to see my sister wear it but unfortunately, I never had a chance. Now, now that you're here, I won't miss the chance. Please, onegai, wear it." He pleaded.

"Datte, Andrew-san, I, I am not worthy or even qualified to wear it." She protested sternly but gently.

"No. No,you're wrong!" he shook his head sideways as he said so for emphasis. "You're more than qualified Kaoru-chan. Trust me." He assured her with shimmering jade eyes.

* * *

"Chi! What is this thing?!?" Sano burst out as he jumped out of the bed that he was sitting in. It wasn't the futon he was accustomed to. It was a thick rectangle more like of an oversized mattress which had wooden.

"Feet!!! Feet!!! It's a monster!!!" he said nervously pointing at the ground. "It's gonna eat us alive!!!"

"Dou ahou!" Yahiko yelled laughing. "It's not a monster! It's what western people sleep in. If I'm not mistaken, they call it a bed. Bosu says so." He snapped.

"I don't care what the s**t they call it. But one thing's for sure, you won't let Sagara Sanosuke sleep in there!" he replied positioning in an Indian sit in the carpet.

"Baka! It's nice sleeping in this bed." Yahiko called out while snuggling in the warm blanket.

"Speaking of Jou-chan. Oi, Kenshin I think that Andrew wants your girl. What do you think? They've been in the other room for a long time. Hell, I never heard it open since they entered it. I smell something fishy." Sano started.

Kenshin chuckled. "Ne, I think Andrew-dono is just fond of Kaoru-dono because like what he said, she resembles her sister. "

"If you put it that way. But I still think there's." he wasn't able to complete his statement when they heard a loud cry.

* * *

"Dame!" Kaoru shouted at the top of her voice.

Sano slammed the door open Kenshin and Yahiko at his back. "Jou!!!.chan?!??" his voice trailed off. There stood meeting their eyes Kaoru. Or so they thought. She was wearing a very expensive kimono which was made of silk. The whole garment was of blue decorated with flowers and sakura petals. The inner kimono was of sea green. The sash in her obi that was falling from her back to her feet was definitely a work of art. It was a mixture of pastel colors representing flowers. Her hair was pulled up in a bun arranged with jasmine flowers while generous strands hung beside both of her ears flowing graciously in the night breeze.

"Bosu?!?" Yahiko whispered in astonishment, blushing. His mouth open. He never had seen Kaoru that way.

"Sakura, listen to me!" Andrew pleaded his hands holding fresh jasmine flowers wrapped with a thin paper.

"Sakura?!" the three exclaimed.

"NO!!! I won't listen Nii-san! Let me die!!!" she answered while walking backwards nearing the porch.

"Kaoru-dono!!!" Kenshin cried nearing her while she was slowly climbing the barricade of the porch.

Kaoru's eyes focused to the red-headed man nearing her. Matthew.??? "Yamete! Don't come any closer Matthew!!!. Or, or I'll jump!!!"

Matthew?! Kenshin thought.

Please stop her Himura-san! Andrew thought in panic. He wanted to stop Sakura or was it Kaoru? Well, it didn't matter. He wanted to grab her so not to repeat the whole incident again but something stopped him from doing so. As if his feet were rooted to the ground.

Tears started to leak from Kaoru's eyes. Her crying ripping through Kenshin. At the blink of an eye, she jumped off the porch, Kenshin's instincts worked involuntarily. Using his god-like speed and agility, he caught her body in mid-air and landed softly on the ground. Kenshin wrapped his arm around the trembling body that was in his cradle. He hushed a wordless assurance of safetyness.

"Shhh, it's all right. Shhh." he whipered rocking her.

"You. lied.! Lier!" her voice was a mere whisper but her tone was fierce.

"Oro!~"

"Why, won't you let me die?!!" she cried in agony tears never ending.

Kenshin didn't know what to call the girl she was holding. The stubbornness was of Kaoru's but the feeling was different.

"Let me go! Let me die!!!" she insisted violently squirming out of Kenshin's hold.

Kenshin didn't loosen his grip at all. Impatient, she slapped him the hardest way she could. At that he numbly released her letting her ran out to the dark forest. All of the things happened so fast, he didn't have a single chance to stop her.

"KAORU!!!!!!!"

* * *

On to Chapter 3. Forever Love

* * * Chapter 2 to you! Gee. . . I miss writing "Let Me Kill For You" If you haven't read it yet, please check it out. It's finished already! Again, let me say Gomen-nasai to Sano fans! Ok, maybe he's not dumb but, hello! It's just that, he's really ignorant in Western stuff. (How the hell did he live when he escaped to the U.S.?) Take the camera episode for example. He refused to have his picture taken for he believed it would eat away your soul! And another one, the train thing. (Ahahaha!!!) C'mon, like you didn't watch that! Well, besides being Kenshin's best friend, Sano's a good character for comedy.