Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1. Check there. (Haha, yes even the same song!)
A/N: WOW! 22 reviews already!!!! THAT IS AWESOME!
::ahem:: Well, arigatou to all who are reading and reviewing!
If you are just reading, I also thank you, but I'm a review freak (aren't we all?) so I would encourage you to review.
ANYWAY, Chiruken, this fic IS set in the present. Only Kenshin has a katana. (We always knew he was unique, lol.)
~ To: Ayumi (update your story Ayumi-dono), Gypsy-chan (can't wait for the update of Roommate the Spy), and the RK BISHIE SODA CREW! (We rock! And so does our new site, ne? Best HTML I've ever done lol. You guys totally rock, oh and THANKS FOR THE KENSHIN SAKE, SHADOW!!!)~
Shifting in the Wind
By: Spellcaster the Diamond
Kenshin sat on the porch that stared into the wide yard out back. The moonlight shone high, and he listened to the wind in his ears. There wasn't any true barrier around it, just an aura around his house giving the person a subconscious warning to stay away, and they never even got the hint that maybe he lived here.
Kaoru watched him with such curiosity as to how he lived his life like this. She has only been living with him for about two days now, and still they had barely gotten to know each other.
"Kenshin?"
He turned his head towards her.
"How…do you go about living? I mean, day after day, like this?"
"You wouldn't get it even if I told you. You'd have to be me in order to not think I'm crazy."
Kaoru sighed, 'I knew it. I can't get a darn thing out of him!'
"Mind if I sit down?"
"Do what you like," he responded.
Once she sat down, she looked up at the perfect and beautiful little crescent moon that had formed in the sky.
"Kenshin, can I go back to my house tomorrow? I will return soon after, I promise."
Kenshin sighed. "What, do you want to prove to your parents that you weren't actually kidnapped?"
Kaoru turned her head away from him, "Well…I would…"
Kenshin became a bit confused, and it showed on his face.
"However…my parents are dead."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Puppies howling at the moon
For their first chance to come.
If they lose their concentration,
Quickly will they run.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"I see…"
Kaoru turned her head back to Kenshin, and he was surprised that not even a tear had formed in her eye.
'I knew this girl was a strong one. Kaoru is very different from anyone that I've ever met before.'
"Would it be bad for me to ask how?" Kenshin said, lowering his head a bit so that their eyes met, and like a connection went through the air from Kaoru's pupils to his.
Kaoru, not trying to turn her gaze away, said in a simple whisper, "…no."
Kenshin closed his eyes, "Alright," he said while sitting up straight again, "you have my full attention."
What a strange reaction he was already having to this girl. He didn't know much about her, and yet he was already acting like they had been in each other's presence for years. He shook off the thoughts nagging in his mind as Kaoru began her story:
"I remember, I was fourteen at the time, and my mother had contracted a deadly disease. Even the doctors had never seen the disease on anyone before. They only found a few facts about it. Not enough for a cure. They told my father everything that they had found, but I didn't want to know. It was so painful just to think of my mother dying, I didn't really want the details on how much suffering she would have to go through.
"Two months after the doctors had first visited, my mother finally passed away. I remember her cold hand wiping the fresh tears in my eyes," Kaoru looked up to the sky now, letting one silent tear fall down her cheek.
"It seemed to be a contagious disease, maybe family-wise, I'm not sure. Somehow, though, my father had contracted the disease as well. It was one year exactly after my mother had her first symptoms. My father quickly faded away, and went to join my mother…
"I thought I would be able to survive, but then my best friend…the only person I had left…" she clenched her hands on her skirt.
"Starting at the age of fourteen, I had watched everyone I love die around me. It was a world of death, and it felt unreal. Like some sort of movie. At sixteen, finally everyone I cared about had left me behind, alive. I've been waiting for two years to be a victim of that disease, but it went elsewhere. Even though I decided to train in martial arts just like my parents did, I'm still waiting for the day when I'll finally be able to join the people that I care about again."
Even after this whole thing, only a few tears fell down Kaoru's face.
Kenshin was shocked at the girl's story. Utterly shocked. Even though he was right there, she looked so alone. 'It's been a long time since I've actually cared about someone's emotions…' Kenshin thought, and it was almost silent even in his mind.
He hadn't comforted anyone in a long time, but Kaoru had lived in a world much like his.
Just trusting his old self, he finally just put his arms around her shoulders as gently as he remembered he could. Instead of tensing up and maybe even getting defensive as Kenshin thought Kaoru would, instead the young woman relaxed into his embrace.
'So this is what we is capable of…I wonder when he used to act like this. It doesn't matter though.'
~*~*~*~*~*~
I will not give up my chance
Until I know it's through.
Just when I thought I would come
I fell in love with you.
~*~*~*~*~*~
The next day, Kaoru returned to the old house that she used to reside in. The house that she had taken care of herself in.
Just then, Kaoru smiled, remembering something that made her feel a bit happy. "I only have one more week left of school, ever…then I can go free. Do whatever I please."
The sun's rays crept into the window as Kaoru slowly walked up the stairs. Inside her room, she took all the clothes and supplies she'd need and packed it up.
After she had finished, she sat down on her bed…'This place, last week it was home, the home that haunted me. Now it will just me a memory.'
~*~*~*~*~*~
Life becomes
Death becomes
Life becomes
Death becomes
Us all waiting patiently
For our last breath.
~*~*~*~*~*~
She ran downstairs again, ready to let this house of memories sit here as a mystery forevermore.
Then she took her favorite hat, and put it on her head in a triumphant motion.
"I can begin anew! I can wait for my turn in a new surrounding. I can move further away from my past."
Then Kaoru lowered her voice and whispered, "…and maybe I can find out what Kenshin used to be before he became an assassin…"
~*~*~*~*~*~
Life becomes
Death becomes
Life becomes
Death becomes
Us all waiting patiently
For one last breath.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Kenshin was staring up at the moon again.
This time the moon was full, and silence assumed it's position near him.
He knew that his break from killing was over, and he would go back to it this night.
'I can't stop. I'm sorry…' Kenshin apologized to the drifting wind.
The drifting wind that was talking to him.
Telling him a story that he should move on.
The only thing was, he couldn't.
A/N: You'll see what I mean later. Thank you to all who reviewed!!!
Also, anyone who has song suggestions that they think would fit with the story, please tell me. I have a few in my head but suggestions are ALWAYS HELPFUL! ^-^
I hope you guys review this chappie too, and I know I don't have to hypnotize you, but hey it worked last time!!
Sooo…..
::Takes out yo-yo:: You will click on submit review, you will leave a review. You will click on submit review, you will leave a review.
Ja ne! Hope you enjoyed this chappie!!!!!!!!!!
~Spellcaster the Diamond~