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PART 4. The Mirror is Shattered
After dinner Shinta once again invited his wife to come see the fireflies with him. "Let's go watch the fireflies Tomoe. It'd be nice just to go out and relax."
Once again she declined. "I'd rather not."
So he left her at the inn, where she sat and wrote in her diary.
He made his way the path to grassy area where the fireflies were waiting for him. Something seemed all too familiar as he heard the sound of the river running in the bank. Have I been here before? To meet someone… It was dark and he could hardly see a thing. Then a figure seemed to form in front of him. All he could make out was a kimono and a hair ribbon. Is that…?
He stopped at a safe enough distance where he could go unnoticed, and also where he could identify the silhouette. It's her! The Kaoru girl! I hope she doesn't see me… every time she looks at me I get these odd feelings building up inside of me… but at the same time, I do want to her to see me… I don't understand!
He let out a groan.
She looked at him. Oops.
"Good evening, Kaoru", he said. He might as well make conversation.
"Oh, is that you Himura-san? Where's Tomoe-san?"
"She stayed back at the inn."
"I see."
They watched the fireflies in peaceful silence. The silence became so comfortable that Shinta felt an unnerving bond with the mysterious girl, he felt he had to break the nonexistent tension.
"The fireflies are beautiful aren't they?"
"Oh yes. Whenever I hear they've come for the season I come to see them as often as I can."
"I see…"
She continued. "I can't understand why. I feel as though I'm waiting for something or someone to come back to me."
He clutched his chest. Something was wrong. Her words were innocent, yet they created chaos in his heart. Though Shinta's turmoil increased, Kaoru remained unaware of the confusion in the man beside her.
Suddenly, firefly flew up to him and started to hover around his eyes, as if to hypnotize him. He laughed. Hypnotize me? I must be going crazy.
"Is something funny?"
"Oh, no. I was just thinking about something."
They both turned as they heard voices coming behind them. It was a young couple.
"Do you really have to go?"
"I'm sorry, but they need me for the work."
Shinta felt as if someone slapped him. Why did these words have an effect on him?
"It's work you shouldn't be doing! Don't they know you quit a long time ago?"
"Yes. But it's very urgent."
"Please promise to come back to me…"
Shinta's heart was going crazy listening to their conversation. Why is it beating so wildly?! Like someone is trying to take over my heart! Make it stop…
"GoodBye…"
He felt his soul explode. His mind was racing… memories… of bloodshed… Kaoru-dono… Yahiko… Sano…
His eyes shot up.
Kaoru was still standing and watching the mesmerizing fireflies. It seemed that Kenshin was the only one who had been changed in that moment. It seemed that way. "Kaoru-dono…"
She looked at him with different eyes. So much deeper than the cool blue from before, so intense they could see into his soul. The truth was mirrored in each other's eyes as they met in a gaze.
Kaoru was on her knees clutching her head in her hands. She was sobbing uncontrollably. Kaoru's eyes were widening and her face began to stain with tears as a flood of images danced in her head. Why am I crying? Why is my heart telling itself to unlock? Why… She found herself repeating something over and over. She stopped the memories in her head to hear…
"Kenshin… Kenshin… Kenshin…"
Suddenly all went white.
It was just Kenshin and Kaoru and one more…
~+~+~
Thank you SOOOOOOOOO much to all the lovely people who reviewed!!
And to answer the Q, no I'm not from France! =)
I don't think this chapter is as good as it could be… darn it! I'll keep trying though!
!~Un sourire pour tout le monde~!
