Chapter 3. Forever Love

"Kenshin! Kenshin!" Sano called running out from the door. Kenshin was getting up to his feet slowly.

"Where is Jou---a, Sakura gone?" Kenshin sighed his head bowed. "Answer me! I thought you got her ?!" his voice was fierce.

"I'm terribly sorry. I got her but she managed to get away from me.she ran to the forest." he confessed.

"You what!?!! You let Bosu run off? To where? To the forest?! That spooky forest?! Kenshin! How could you be so irresponsible!!!" Yahiko's voice was frantic. Everyone was astounded. They never saw Yahiko act or care for his sensei like that.

"This is not good. You say, she's gone to the forest? She must be going to the river.to" Andrew broke through shaking his head from left to right.

"What do you mean?!." Sano asked looking at him.

"I forgot to tell you about." Came another riddling statement.

"About what?!!" Sano was curious.

"About what really happened. You see, before Sakura committed suicide, she, she." his voice trailed off. "She killed Matthew and threw his body in the river" he finished in a hurry his eyes closed. "When Sakura jumped off the porch, I found a letter in her room. She said she killed Matthew. She was so hurt. But she didn't know that Amanda was only after Matthew's money. Not his love. He loved my sister so much. I know that. I just didn't have the time to tell her about it. "

Everyone was shocked. Their mouths seemed to be stuck. As if they don't know how to say a single word.

"Himura-san." he turned to look at Kenshin.

"Anything?" he asked.

"Can you please do me a favor?"

"Yes?" Kenshin retorted his eyes pleading for him to continue.

"Is it all right if I let you wear Matthew's wedding suit?" he finally spoke.

"Oro!!?~"

"Would that be any help?" Yahiko asked.

"It would. Trust me, it will do very good. You'll see what I mean later on." Andrew nodded.

"Well, if you put it that way." Sano glared at the Rurouni. His eyes leaving the message: you-better-do-it-or-I'll-kick-the-hell-out-of-your- ass!!! Thing.

"Of course. If that will make things good, I would be very happy to do it."

"Arigatou Gozaimasu Himura-san!" Andrew bowed low his voice rang with joy.

* * * "Woow! Kenshin!!! Is that you?!?" Sano exclaimed his eyes wide.

"Oro~!" scratching his head.

Kenshin was wearing a white gi. Topped with a dark blue haori their hems decorated with zigzag lines. His white hakama had crimson linings at its hem while his sakaba was majestically placed in his belt and his tabi were of blue. One word to describe him, handsome.

"I was right." Andrew spoke confident. "It does fit and suit you well. Just as the kimono matched Kaoru." A little chuckle at the end of his statement while Kenshin's cheek colored of a little red.

"Oi, Kenshin." Yahiko elbowed him. "All 'ya got to do now is to go find bosu and ask her to marry you! Ahahaha!!!"

"No time for that boy!" Sano spoke out loud. "We gotta find Jou-chan and make sure she's ok!" "So," he turned to look at Andrew. "Where's that dang river you're talking about?"

"Well, you see, it's not that easy to find it. There are three rivers in that forest and I'm not quite sure which is which. To put it in another way, we have to split up." Andrew explained.

"S-s.p-plit u-up?!? Are you joking?! We're going to split up and look for her in that forest!??!!!" Sano asked. His voice was really funny for it showed huge amounts of "chickeness".

"Why? You're not scared, are you?" Yahiko's voice was sly.

"What!? Of course not!" Sano protested. The two kept on exchanging rude comments and Kenshin can't help but smile.

"Ummm, Himura-san, if we find Kaoru, please promise me one thing.Promise me you'll take care of her. That you'll never allow anything to happen that might make you loose her, ne? Please.I need to hear you say you'll stay with her forever to make her happy." his eyes and voice were both pleading for an assurance.

"Yes. I can promise you that I'll always protect her. Daga, on your point of Sessha being with Kaoru-dono forever is something I can't assure." He answered.

"Why? Why can you not." His voice was wondering.

Kenshin gave out a heavy sigh. Why would he answer this man? What was his right to know about Kenshin's feelings and thoughts. But, somehow, Andrew was now Kaoru's brother. Kind the like of Enishi caring so much for Tomoe. But is a lot different. Enishi loved Tomoe so much that when he saw Hitokiri-Battousai kill her with his own hands, he swore revenge. The revenge that would end all happiness and joy for Kenshin which was only starting to grow. All that because of Tomoe. Enishi thought that by killing Battousai and his loved-ones, Tomoe would be happy. He would be happy. But no, he was wrong. Terribly wrong. The smile he thought he would give to Tomoe was rewarded by an unending frown. But Andrew. Yes, Andrew loved his sister in a different way. When Sakura died, he didn't thought of having any revenge, instead, he swore to make things right. Not by killing or avenging his sister's death. In order to make things right, he would correct the mistake in other people who are in the very same situation he was in a long time ago. In that way, he knew he would make his sister, Matthew and himself happy. And now was the right time.

"I, I am not worthy of her. I've slain too many people. Kaoru-dono needs to be with someone good. Someone that will make her happy. Not like me. I will only make her life a living hell." Kenshin seemed to have had a hard time making those words come out of his mouth.

Andrew laughed. Kenshin was astonished. "You are absolutely mistaken. If you think that your past will cost you your happiness, you're wrong." His head was moving sideways emphasizing his words. "Kaoru loves you even if you were once the Hitokiri everyone feared. I can assure you that. Don't you see, you're different now." his voice was encouraging.

"Dakara."

"Dakara, before you can really start a new life WITH her, we must first find her." Andrew cut him off. He felt he's done his job and whatever would be needed next to clear whatever stupidity and stubbornness in Kenshin's hard head, would be all up to Kaoru.

"All right. Thank you." Kenshin plainly answered. His lips forming a slight smile. He was glad that conversation was over. For just a little more and he'll say YES.

* * *

On to Chapter 4. Some Things Never Change

* * * Author's note:

Yossha!!! Chapter 3's finished! Well, gee, to tell the truth, I originally planned Kenshin to wear a tuxedo. But, duh! Doesn't suit him! (Hey, no offense Pinky-chan. I know you're yellin at me right now.) So, I changed my mind and turned traditional. Same way goes with Kaoru. I originally planned it to be a western style gown, it suited her though but didn't match up with Kenshin's. So, I decided to let her wear a kimono instead. ^_^x

Thanks for r&r-ing!

Mwaaahhh!