~*~ Losses and Gains

Ch.2 - The Letter ~*~
"Sano!" Kenshin bellowed, hanging from the doorway of Kamiya Kaoru's room.

Sanosuke, who was right next door, had been on his way to the kitchen. He was just about to pass by Kaoru's room, until a certain rurouni had to scream in his ear. To make matters worse, he was not in the happiest mood this morning-just like Mr. Himura.

Sano had been out late at night, yesterday, drinking sake as usual. He had came home long before Kenshin and Kaoru had stayed up late. Of course, He had a hangover, so he did what most people do, and slept on it. However, two certain people, were doing a certain something last night, which kept poor Sano awake without some pleasant sleep at all.

"Oro? Ah, gomen Sano. I didn't know you were right in front of the door." Kenshin scratched the back of his head.

Sano twitched his eyebrow. He tried very hard to be patience with his friend, but when you had been drunk last night and couldn't get any sleep at all, you wouldn't be a happy camper either.

"Listen, Kenshin. I would really appreciate if you didn't scream around me today." He emphasized the "really" part. "Because last night, I had gotten home late, drunk." Sano simply stated, not bothering to cover up his alcoholic addiction. "So, I try to get at least some sleep, but all I could here were screams and moans coming from a certain Jo-chan. You wouldn't happen to know who it was now, would you?"

"Uh."

"Iie, let me finish!" Kenshin was really beginning to get scared of Sano. He was obviously still in his drunken state from lack of sleep, and nobody, I mean NOBODY wants to be around Sagara Sanosuke right after he's drank at least 10 shots of sake.

"Now, Himura, tell me; give me one good reason why I shouldn't sock the stuffing out of you." Sano said cracking his knuckles. "You had to keep me awake, ne? And I was just having the best dream about that sexy kitsune, Megumi."

"Uh." he pretended not to hear the last sentence. Sanosuke was obviously still drunk.

Kenshin desperately thought of a good enough excuse. He might have been the famous Battousai, but Sanosuke was much stronger then him in fist fights.

"Ok Sano. I'm going to tell you the truth. Last night I was, um," he fumbled for the right words. A huge sweatdrop began to grow at the back of his head. "Well, the reason why you weren't able to sleep was because I was." the red headed rurouni took in a deep breath. "ImadelovetoKaoru- donolastnight." He said faster than Misao could steal. Sano grew a sweatdrop larger than his Zanbatou as well.

"Y-you, what?!" Sano said, shocked. All Kenshin did was nod shamefully.

After about a five-minute silence between the two men, Sanosuke finally spoke.

"Well, that's something I thought would never happen until hell froze over. But the quiet, chore-doing Himura Kenshin, formerly known as the Battousai, do something like that? Whoa, and here I thought you were the silent type." Sano continued ranting followed by another short silence. The rooster head suddenly smiled. "Omedetou gozaimasu, Kenshin!" he slapped his friend on the back.

Although, Kenshin took gratitude for Sano's blessing, he still couldn't help but fell shameful about it. He should have thought about the consequences beforehand. She was so pure and innocent and he tainted her soul with his blood stained hands. This must have been the worst sin of his life ever.

"C'mon, Kenshin! Don't feel so down 'cause of that. You both wanted it and decided you guys were ready. It wasn't anyone's fault. You'll eventually forget about and just look back on it as one of those good times in your life."

Doesn't Sano-san know a lot about this?

"Demo, Sano, how do you know so much about that? You're really experienced about a situation like this for your age. I wonder how come?" Kenshin slyly smiled.

Sano just merely fell down in anime style.

"Oro? Gomen, Sano." The rurouni smiled.

The rooster head just stood up dusting himself off. "It's alright." Then he mumbled some inaudible words. ".I just told you too much."

"Anyways, but have you seen Kaoru by any chance?" the red head asked.

"Nani? Wasn't she with you last night?"

"Hai, but this morning she wasn't by side. It was as if she just left in the middle of the night." Sanosuke saw that his friends' violet eyes were filled with worry.

"Don't worry. She probably just left to buy groceries of something. She couldn't have gotten too far. Jo-chan might be the strongest female I know, but trust me, all girls eventually get tried of walking." He smiled.

"Hai."

Suddenly, a 10-year-old samurai in the making came running down the hall, his sandals slapping the wood floor.

"Ohayo, Yahiko." Both men greeted the boy.

"Hey, have you seen Kaoru? She was supposed to train me early this morning. I've been waiting all morning since six o'clock!" the young hitokiri seemed ticked off.

Both men turned to each other with worried looks on their faces. What was going on? Things around the dojo were becoming very strange these days.

"Now calm down Yahiko. Did she tell you this yesterday?" Sano asked the boy.

Yahiko curtly nodded with his arms crossed over his chest. He had a frown plastered over his face.

"That's strange." Kenshin said. "Where could she have gone?" This was a very perplexing situation. He turned to Yahiko. "Did you see her leave this morning to anywhere?"

He shook his head. "Wasn't she with you last night, Kenshin." The 10-year- old smirked.

"Ah." His violet eyes were replaced with swirly ones. "Oro? How did you know Yahiko?"

"Of course, from the rooster head here." He pointed.

"Nani? Why you little."

"Don't worry Sano. Don't be jealous because Kenshin did it first then you and you couldn't be the one to do it with Megumi."

*TWHACK*

"That will teach to keep your mouth shut." Sano cracked his knuckles.

Yahiko was on the floor, clutching his head. He was given a good bruising, which left him a huge bump.

"Where could she have gone?" the hitokiri was concerned. He entered her room and searched it. The kimono she wore yesterday wasn't there, neither was the matching ribbon. Suddenly, something yellow was poking out from underneath the pillow of her futon. He reached for it. It was a letter.

Dear Minna-san,

If you are reading this that means that I have left the Kamiya Dojo already. I have fled the country and please do not try to look for me. I have enjoyed my living here, but I need to leave for awhile. I will always remember all of you. You are all dear to me and I love each of you with all my heart, even Yahiko and Sanosuke.

Yours truly,

Kamiya Kaoru
Kenshin couldn't believe it. Another love has left his life, for good. There was no reasonable explanation for her departure or no clue of where she would be. He felt his violet eyes become warm. No, he couldn't cry. He noticed another paper was included. He opened.

Dear Koishii, Kenshin,

Please do not cry for my leave. I would not want you to. I don't want you to grieve over this. Just live the rest of your life a happy man. Your past would not suite you living here. They might get you one day and I couldn't bear that. If we were to have children, it wouldn't be good for them. So instead, I don't want you to become the wanderer you once were, so I shall leave. Don't turn to the Battousai once more. Aishiteru.

Love,

Kaoru

"Hey Kenshin. What did you find?" Sano called.

The hitokiri quietly walked out of her room, his eyes downcast. He handed his tall friend the letters and walked away without another word.

"Wait, Kenshin!" the young samurai called.

"Quit it Yahiko. Let him go." Sano said, paper still in hand.

"Nani?" Yahiko looked confused as Sanosuke handed him the letter.

~*~

A solitary raindrop fell from the sky and onto the rurouni's head. What Sano and Yahiko didn't know was that Kenshin kept the other letter. They didn't need to read it. He clutched it tightly in his hand. Just when he thought his world was all right, fate cruelly twisted it. He knew he shouldn't have told her about his past. He knew she would leave. Moreover, she did just that. Now, he was alone, again. His violet eyes became warm once more. He decided not to hold it in. What good would it do anyways? The fresh tears flew freely down his cheeks. Then, it started to rain. He didn't care. He just continued walking on. Maybe he might become a wanderer again. But Kaoru wouldn't want that. Did she? The only thing she noted was that she didn't want him to become the fearful Battousai again.

Then, it struck him. She had broken her promise.

*Flashback*

"Kenshin?"

"Hmm?"

"Do remember our promise?" the raven-haired girl asked him.

"Of course. I promised that I would never leave you to become a wanderer again. Why do you ask?" curiosity written all over his face.

"Oh, no reason." She gave him a reassuring smile.

"You wouldn't leave me, Kaoru-dono, would you?"

"Kenshin, I would never leave you."

"Well, that's good to know." He smiled at her.

*End of Flashback*

He gritted his teeth in frustration. Why? Why did it have to be him? He knew what he did in his past, but that's why he was atoning for his sins. Soon, it began to rain harder and then there was a downpour. With his teeth still clenched, he made a fist with both hands and collapsed to the floor.

Violet turned to amber. 'No I mustn't! She doesn't want this. I don't either.'

He fell to the muddy ground and stomped his fists into the earth.

'Why Kaoru? I love you. I need you. You were the bright light I needed. You purged my soul. Without you, the darkness fills me once again.'

More tears escaped down his flashing amber eyes. Anger, sadness, and loneliness were going to be his companions for the second time in his life. History was repeating itself. If something wasn't done presently, the deadly Battousai would remerge from Himura Kenshin soon.
..::~*~::..
Author's Notes: aww, poor Kenshin-san. So much angst. But this will probably be the only angsty part in here. Ok, so it's mean. I already have a feeling I won't get alot of reviews and lots of flames instead, soon. Nevertheless, the story isn't KxK. I'll probably write one someday, but for now, this is it. I tried to add a bit of humor in here. Personally, I enjoyed writing this chapter very much^_^ but please, im BEGGING you, don't flame me saying that I should be doing KxK instead because I will just say I TOLD U IT WASN'T GOING TO BE ONE!!!! ::breathes:: well, I hope that got through sume ppl's thick skulls. Oh yea, would anyone be as kind enough as to tell me how to get it to show up in bold, italicized, and underlined? Onegai? Oh yes, which reminds me, the Jap. words:

Omedetou gozaimasu - Congratulations

Hai - Yes

Iie - No

Nani - What?

And I would like to thank the 1st two reviewers for the story, Pyrohaven and Jenn. Domo arigatou!!! ^_^