Kenshin mentally bashed himself in the head. ' One more day....just ONE MORE DAY....' Kenshin was getting fairly tired of walking through town with Tae and his mother. The festival was tomorrow, and he still had to find himself something nice to wear. Tae and Naomi were INTENT on finding the PERFECT outfit for him. They had already stopped at 4 vendors...Tae bought herself a Kimono sometime during the day and so had Naomi...
Kenshin shook his head and sighed. He had tried so hard to convince Naomi to let him stay home and watch over Kaoru....but no such luck. As he was leaving he could hear Kaoru getting sick near the dojo...the sound tore him apart, how he wasn't there to rub her back and sooth her through it. Tae's squeal brought him out of his thoughts.
"This is perfect Ken-san!!" Tae held up a very dark purple gi and medium gray hakama, while Naomi held up the tabi that went with the set. Kenshin had to agree...it was a very nice gi and hakama...Kaoru would like how the dark purple would set off his amethyst eyes. Naomi saw the pondering look on his face and turned toward the vendor, handing the money over.
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With the outfit crisis over and done with, Tae returned to her restaurant to finish off the plan's for Kenshin and Kaoru's dinner while Kenshin and Naomi headed home. They reached the dojo around sun down...and were welcomed by a deep sarcastic voice. "Where the hell were you all day....?" Kenshin's eyes widen and he looked up...eyes then bulging out in surprise. "S-SANOSUKE!!..W-What are you doing back!?"
Sano pushed off the dojo porch support beam and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Katsu and I finished our trip and came home...what's it to you? And why weren't you here with the missy, she's sick you know...!" Kenshin rubbed the back of his head, as Naomi stepped forward. "That's my fault I believe....."
Sano tilted his head. "Who's this Kenshin...?" Sanosuke took in the older women's appearance, and shook his head out of confusion a few moments later. "Don't tell me she's your MOTHER!!" Kenshin nodded sheepishly. "It's a long story Sanosuke...a VERY long story..." Kenshin then looked around. Sanosuke smirked, and pointed to the dojo. "Jou-chan's in there..." Kenshin smiled slightly before walking off to the dojo.
Sano shook his head at the red haired samurai and shoved his hands in this pockets. Naomi looked up at the tall man before asking. "Sagara-san? Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?..."
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Kenshin slowly opened the training halls doors and looked inside. In the center of the room he spotted her. Her body was lined with sweat, hair clinging to the side of her face. She was breathing harder than usual... ' Why is she out here...she knows she's ill...' Kenshin then watched with fascination as Kaoru cried out a battle cry and lunged foreword. All Kenshin could do was stare, hypnotized by her graceful, strong movements. He stared at her face and his eyes widened. ' She's.....crying..? ' Her words from the other night echoed in his ears "My father came in and saw me crying...I remember his words, how he spoke them. He was angry, angry at me, angry at himself....at Okasan...he told me it was time for me to grow up and stop crying. So, I did. I grew up that night and I faced the storms. But...then he left as well..."
' Such strength...such innocents...why do you put yourself through so much pain Koishii...?' Kenshin was brought out of his thoughts as Kaoru stumbled onto one knee, chest rising and falling at an uneven and quick pace. Kenshin was by her side in seconds. "Kaoru..! Are you alright!?" Kaoru nodded meekly sweat falling from her face onto the dojo's polished wood floor. Kenshin lifted her face to his and looked into her eyes "What are you doing out here...training no less! You should be in bed...your not well...." Kaoru averted her eyes from his gaze. "Stop it..." 'What did she say..?' "Kaoru-dono...?" "STOP IT!" Kaoru pushed back away from Kenshin, new tears forming in her combat blue eyes. "I don't want you protection or pity Kenshin!" Kenshin's eyes widened at her reaction. "I really think you should get back to bed..." Kaoru shook her head...she ached all over, she thought training would loosen her up, but it brought nothing but more pain. Her focus was gone, her energy low...Kaoru met his eyes, mouth open panting for air. "Why...." she whispered. "Why do you do this to me...?" Her voice was soft...unsure. Kenshin blinked, confused. ' Why is she acting like this...?' "Kaoru-dono...please tell me-" "I won't!! Just...leave me alone!" Kaoru's tears flowed freely now and Kenshin began to panic, finally he gathered her into his arms.
His eyes widened at her bodies temperature. ' I need to get you in bed...' Kaoru's soft voice woke him "Please...let me go, no more Kenshin...just stop.." "Stop what Kaoru-dono...?" Kaoru clenched her eyes shut at the sound of her name. Millions of things were running through her head, she couldn't stop the onslaught of thoughts only one word seem to flow from her mouth. "Why....?" Kenshin listened patiently ' Let her go at her own pace...' Kaoru finally lifted her blue eyes to his violet ones "Why won't you just tell me.....?" "Kaoru-do-"
"No...please...anything but that..." Kenshin studied her features and sighed, finally he just gave up. Kenshin's heart tore as she buried her head into his chest and cried...
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"Sure....Jou-chan is defiantly in love with Kenshin...why do you ask?" Naomi shook her head a little. "Sagara-san...I came to see my son to make sure he was happy, and I think I might have....gone a bit to far.." Sanosuke lifted an eyebrow at the elderly women. "Why do you say that..?" Naomi sighed. "I've made it my priority for Shinta to ask for Kaoru-dono's hand in marriage..." Sanosuke promptly fell off the dojo's porch. "WHAT?!?!" Naomi looked down "Tomorrow night at the festival at the river, it's all planned out, but now, I'm regretting it..." Sano sat back up and brushed himself off. "Not to add to your problems...but, I don't think Jou-chan is going anywhere for a while...not in the condition she's in..."
As if on cue Kenshin emerged from the dojo, a sleeping pale looking Kaoru in his arms, a worried look across his face. Sanosuke watched as Kenshin brought her into the house., Naomi sighed in defeat. "I'm worried that Kaoru-dono will rejected Shinta...maybe this was all too sudden..." Sanosuke put a reassuring hand on Naomi's shoulder. "Kaoru loves Kenshin, and that's a fact...she would never tell him no. Both of them know that there are strong feelings between them. I'm sure Kenshin little, by little has been letting Kaoru know of his affections...he knows what he's doing." Naomi smiled at the tall gangster and nodded. "Your right...Shinta will know what to do tomorrow night..."
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Kenshin sat, listening to the rain pound on the dojo roof, he sighed and opened his hand, starring at the ring that lied there. "Kaoru..." How could he ask her to marry him tomorrow? She was ill, and something was bothering her, to the point where she would push him away. He couldn't put his finger on it. "Maybe this isn't such a good idea...ano, I want to be with her forever...no matter...." Kenshin stopped, eyes widening in realization...her words replaying in his head. "Promise me...you won't leave me like they left. Tell me it's ok to cry when it rains..."
She stood then, and thunder rattled the house. Exiting his room he passed the room Sanosuke was staying in, snores loud and clear. Then Naomi's room...finally to Kaoru's door. He slid her door open quietly without hesitation, and found her crying into her pillow. He walked to the side of her futon and she jumped, wiping the tears from her eyes. "K-Kenshin...! I ano..." She faltered and stopped. Biting her lip she tried to keep from crying. ' Why...Why do I cry when it rains....when I see you? ' "Kaoru..." Kenshin voice stopped her and she looked at him, his eyes looking into hers. "H..Hai...?" Her gathered her into his arms and she gasped, confused, her tear stained face met his. He brought his head down to her ear and whispered softly... "It's ok to cry...when it rains, Koishii...." Kaoru's eyes widen and new tears fell past her lashes. Her only response was to bury her head into Kenshin's chest.
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A/N- Another chappie down! *dances* I'm sorry for the slow updates. Schools been a real pain in the butt. I stay after almost 3 to 4 times a week for after school things . Anyway...this story will be concluding VERY SOON, prolly even next chapter! I wonder if any of my loyal reviews can guess what will happen! *evil laugh* Anyway Till Next Time...Ja! =^.^=
~Kawaii Ayame~
