b~*~/b

bLosses and Gains/b

bCh.3 - Depressed/b b~*~/b
i.The full moon shown its pearly glow down on the Kamiya dojo grounds. The wind was cool and breezed through the night.

"Kaoru." he whispered her name.

He heard her moan softly. He breathed in her sweet smelling lavender aroma. His arms snaked their way around the raven-haired girls' slim waist, as he pulled her closer to him. The couple had both of their eyes closed as taking in the scene with just their touches. The night could not have been more perfect.

The rurouni opened his alluring amethyst eyes and placed them upon the moon. Its soft aura brightening the night sky. He loosened his grip on the girl and faced her. She stood before him in a kimono the color of the night embedded with silver-white moons and stars. Her silky, raven hair was tied up with a matching ribbon. She looked gorgeous. However, what made him desire her more were her innocent blue eyes. The eyes that urged him to stare her in the face and confess his love for her. The eyes that would cleanse his soul full of sins and make him innocent once more, just as her eyes.

"Kenshin." she began. "I love you."

Her soft voice made him at ease.

"And I, Kaoru." He spoke in the same tone of voice.

She strode toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck as he gently placed his hands on her waist. Their eyes locked while they positioned themselves in a loving embrace. He leaned in and caught a whiff of a lavender scent. He could sense his lips just barely touching hers.

Suddenly, he could not feel her touch. His violet eyes flew open. She was not in his protective hold anymore. She was father away from him now; just where she had been before she walked toward him. She gazed at him lovingly. This time, she had tears running down her cheeks.

"Why? Why did you fail to protect me, Koishii? Don't you love me still?" she asked him.

"Nani?! No I didn't! I love you with all my heart Kaoru." He shouted, outraged at what he just heard. He was shocked.

"You're lying. I'm sorry, but you've lost me, just like you lost Tomoe." She told him calmly.

"Kaoru!" he called to her.

"Good-bye, Kenshin." She said.

"No!"

Just then, a crack formed beneath her. Unknown to her, she stood rooted to the spot. Then, the slit broke open. Kaoru disappeared down to the depths of the crevice. He could hear her scream out his name as she plunged down the gap.

"Kenshin!"/i
~*~
Kenshin awoke frightfully shaken. His body was drenched with sweat. This had been the fifth time his dream had reoccurred. Kaoru was always disappearing into that crater. Just like the morning after he had spent his night with her. Was it just a coincidence? Or something more? Whatever it was, Himura Kenshin would always shrug it off. Coincidence or not, he always denied as just bad dreams that he was having.

It had been two months since Kamiya Kaoru had departed from the dojo. The Kenshingumi had decided not to go after her since she had specifically requested them not to search for her. 'If we did, Jo-chan would be pretty pissed at us.' In Sanosuke's words. He was right.

However, ever since she left, Kenshin had felt weaker then ever. Not only physically, but emotionally, as well. He felt as if he had no more reason to live. He was just wasting his time now. Without Kaoru, he felt empty. He felt as if his soul was slowly dying away without her beside him.

'I must keep my faith, that I do.' He always told himself. A part of him kept saying to stay at the dojo and keep living his life because, maybe someday she would appear again and everything would be the same as it always was. But who was he fooling? He knew he wouldn't be able to keep it up much longer. His heart had broken in half at his love's leave. He felt incomplete.

He wiped his forehead of sweat and threw the sheets of his futon back. He needed a cold shower right about now. It would do him some good from all the images his mind was playing on him. At least the others couldn't tell he was depressed. He wouldn't want them to be worrying about his well being constantly. They were his friends, and friends didn't do that to one another, did they? Well, in Kenshin's opinion; it was.

With his thoughts still swimming around his head, he made his way to the kitchen and began to make breakfast. He was glad to know that the other two were sound asleep. Himura-san liked to make breakfast quietly and without any interference from his fellow hungry house boarders.
~*~
Footsteps were beginning to be heard coming down the hallway, as Kenshin noticed. Knowing what to expect, he simply smiled and continued on finishing up breakfast before two starved males began to complain.

"Will you stop bumping into me already?" an annoyed young voice said.

"Well, isn't somebody sure in a grumpy mood today?" an older voice replied, playfully.

"I would, if someone hadn't been snoring all night, keeping me awake." The younger voice exclaimed.

i'Ah, they both seem a bit angry this morning. That's normal.'/i Kenshin thought to himself, a smile still on his face. More bickering was heard down the hall until the voices finally reached the kitchen.

"Hey Kenshin. Was I snoring last night?" Sanosuke asked.

"Ohayo, Sano." Kenshin said politely to a certain rooster who didn't seem to have any manners at all. "I don't recall you snoring."

"You see, kid. I wasn't. It must've been all in your imagination." Sano said, walking off.

"I swear you were!" Yahiko stomped his foot. "And I am not a kid!" at this, Yahiko-chan must have had steam coming out of his ears by now. "Didn't he Kenshin?"

"Now, now. Just calm down and eat breakfast." Kenshin said, laying the plates of food on the table.

Sanosuke and Yahiko forgetting all about their argument sat and wolfed the food down. Just like the pigs they were.

i'All we need is Kaoru.'/i It should've been 'I' not 'we'. Only he missed her tremendously. He was still smiling on the outside, but he was filled with sadness inwardly.

"Is it good?" he asked the two.

"Yeah." Sano replied, with a gulp of sake.

"Uh-huh." Yahiko said in between bites.

Kenshin chuckled. "Well I am glad you like it, that I do."

The boys just nodded.

"Oh, I have to go down to the market and stock up on food. It seems that we have someone who is eating more than he should." Kenshin spoke playfully. Sano grinned at him.

"Cya, Kenshin."

"Bye Kenshin."

Kenshin waved off as he walked out. Sano stared off in the distance.

"Why'da stop eating?" Yahiko looked quizzically at the older man. He looked off at where Sano was eyeing.

"How much longer do you think he'll keep it up?"
..::~*~::..
bAuthor's Notes:/b Sorry for the short chapter. I just needed to add this bit in the story but I couldn't continue without some opinions. I don't kno how to really put it without spoiling the story, but.should I introduce another character already? Or is it too soon being that Kenshin would still need time to think about Kaoru? I would really appreciate if I got sume opinions so I could continue the story. SO just go to the purple button on the bottom and REVIEW!!! Arigatou^_^