I gaze at the mask, feeling slightly scared. I remember it well, as the one
worn by the man who had nearly killed Kenshin..The man who had killed
Kenshin, before Megumi and I went back to save him.
I wonder if the mask is here as a threat, or because it was donated to the Dojo. The monkey face smiled evily at me, as I stared at it, feeling tears of anger and sorrow bubbling up in me. Holing the mask like it is a dead cat, I throw it out near the path to the river. I know Kenshins at the river, still trying to make sense of what had happened, and I leave him there, because Sano says I am probably becoming a nuisance, constantly crouding Kenshin. So I prepare dinner, with a recipe Megumi lent me, and decide to make tea, and brink it to him. If he want's we can eat together near the river. I smile slightly. It would be nice, but I would only stay if it was offered.
I take a small bite, and find it to taste just a tiny bit off of Megumis normal cooking, a huge improvement upon my normal skills, though I would never admit to it. Satisfied, I take hold of the tray, and head down to the river, ignoring the mask that glints in the moon light. Kenshin looks up as I approach, smiling faintly as he eyes the tray. He breaks off a small peice of what I have brought him, and deciding it tastes well, motions for me to sit next to him.
It is then that I notice something seems to upset him. I ask him what is wrong, but he pretnds not to have heard me, chewing loudly. "Kenshin..Please tell me what's wrong.."
He swallows, looking at me with emotion in his eyes I have never seen before, and I blush lightly, looking down. "Miss Kaoru..." He sighs softly not knowing what to say, taking moments to decide. "Miss Kaoru, I care for you deeply, but I could never do anything to hurt you. Here I am torn. If I leave, you will be hurt..If I stay, you could be killed, that you could." Something urgent in his voice causes me to look at him again, and he grazes my cheek gentaly with his thumb.
Growing worried he may leave, my lower lip quivers slightly, but in the dark it cannot be seen. "But--" He raises a finger to his lips, then pulls me close, hugging me. Stunned, I find my arms wrapped around his back, as he sighs softly, pulling away. It is then I remember he told me he loved me, just before dieing. "Kenshin.." I mutter softly, not sure what to do.
So I embrace him, pulling him as close as I dare, feeling secure when he returns it. My head rests upon his shoulder, and for no reason, I feel myself crying. "Miss Kaoru..Are you alright?" I suppose I may be sobbing, because he pats my back softly, never breaking the hug.
"When I pull away, he touches my cheeks gentally, wiping away my tears which had ceased again. "Don't go.."
He takes my hands in his, gazing at me in a way that would have bothered me a year ago. I sniffle slightly, and he closes his eyes, smiling slightly. "I coudn't leave if I tried...That I could not.." I kiss his cheek gentally, and he opens his eyes that widen slightly, before grancing me with their pleasure. He leans foreward, whispering into my ear that he loves me. I do the same. He gazes at me quizically, obviously wondering how that could be.
An arrow flies at us, breaking the moment. Kenshin leaps up, drawing his sword, leaving me sitting upon the ground, stunned. A chuckle pierces the darkness, but I am not sure where. Kenshin cannot tell either. I take in a quick breath as cold metal touches my neck, and I know at once it is a sword. Kenshin turns having heard my gasp, eyes floating into a look of anger, as he realizes he can do nothing.
The man holding me hostage wears the mask I had thrown I can tell as soon as I see it. He pulls me roughly to my feet, chuckling at Kenshins help- less-ness. Kenshin lowers his sword, and I think a tear forms in the corner of his eyes, as he watches the man. "Battousai..Remember the offer I made you a year ago today? This one, you cannot refuse. You come with me, and I let the girl go.."
Kenshins eyes swim with defete, and he glances at me, obviously hiding tears. Feeling I cannot speak, i whimper, and Kenshin lays his sword upon the ground. "Let Miss Kaoru go...I shall come." The man throws me roughly into Kenshin, and I begin to cry. He holds me for a moment, the kisses me softly. "I will come back, Miss Kaoru, that I will..." The man jerks Kenshin away, poking him roughly in the back with his sword."Take care of my sword, Miss Kaoru!" And then he was gone..I decided I would have to save him, alone this time.
I wonder if the mask is here as a threat, or because it was donated to the Dojo. The monkey face smiled evily at me, as I stared at it, feeling tears of anger and sorrow bubbling up in me. Holing the mask like it is a dead cat, I throw it out near the path to the river. I know Kenshins at the river, still trying to make sense of what had happened, and I leave him there, because Sano says I am probably becoming a nuisance, constantly crouding Kenshin. So I prepare dinner, with a recipe Megumi lent me, and decide to make tea, and brink it to him. If he want's we can eat together near the river. I smile slightly. It would be nice, but I would only stay if it was offered.
I take a small bite, and find it to taste just a tiny bit off of Megumis normal cooking, a huge improvement upon my normal skills, though I would never admit to it. Satisfied, I take hold of the tray, and head down to the river, ignoring the mask that glints in the moon light. Kenshin looks up as I approach, smiling faintly as he eyes the tray. He breaks off a small peice of what I have brought him, and deciding it tastes well, motions for me to sit next to him.
It is then that I notice something seems to upset him. I ask him what is wrong, but he pretnds not to have heard me, chewing loudly. "Kenshin..Please tell me what's wrong.."
He swallows, looking at me with emotion in his eyes I have never seen before, and I blush lightly, looking down. "Miss Kaoru..." He sighs softly not knowing what to say, taking moments to decide. "Miss Kaoru, I care for you deeply, but I could never do anything to hurt you. Here I am torn. If I leave, you will be hurt..If I stay, you could be killed, that you could." Something urgent in his voice causes me to look at him again, and he grazes my cheek gentaly with his thumb.
Growing worried he may leave, my lower lip quivers slightly, but in the dark it cannot be seen. "But--" He raises a finger to his lips, then pulls me close, hugging me. Stunned, I find my arms wrapped around his back, as he sighs softly, pulling away. It is then I remember he told me he loved me, just before dieing. "Kenshin.." I mutter softly, not sure what to do.
So I embrace him, pulling him as close as I dare, feeling secure when he returns it. My head rests upon his shoulder, and for no reason, I feel myself crying. "Miss Kaoru..Are you alright?" I suppose I may be sobbing, because he pats my back softly, never breaking the hug.
"When I pull away, he touches my cheeks gentally, wiping away my tears which had ceased again. "Don't go.."
He takes my hands in his, gazing at me in a way that would have bothered me a year ago. I sniffle slightly, and he closes his eyes, smiling slightly. "I coudn't leave if I tried...That I could not.." I kiss his cheek gentally, and he opens his eyes that widen slightly, before grancing me with their pleasure. He leans foreward, whispering into my ear that he loves me. I do the same. He gazes at me quizically, obviously wondering how that could be.
An arrow flies at us, breaking the moment. Kenshin leaps up, drawing his sword, leaving me sitting upon the ground, stunned. A chuckle pierces the darkness, but I am not sure where. Kenshin cannot tell either. I take in a quick breath as cold metal touches my neck, and I know at once it is a sword. Kenshin turns having heard my gasp, eyes floating into a look of anger, as he realizes he can do nothing.
The man holding me hostage wears the mask I had thrown I can tell as soon as I see it. He pulls me roughly to my feet, chuckling at Kenshins help- less-ness. Kenshin lowers his sword, and I think a tear forms in the corner of his eyes, as he watches the man. "Battousai..Remember the offer I made you a year ago today? This one, you cannot refuse. You come with me, and I let the girl go.."
Kenshins eyes swim with defete, and he glances at me, obviously hiding tears. Feeling I cannot speak, i whimper, and Kenshin lays his sword upon the ground. "Let Miss Kaoru go...I shall come." The man throws me roughly into Kenshin, and I begin to cry. He holds me for a moment, the kisses me softly. "I will come back, Miss Kaoru, that I will..." The man jerks Kenshin away, poking him roughly in the back with his sword."Take care of my sword, Miss Kaoru!" And then he was gone..I decided I would have to save him, alone this time.