Disclaimer: I sort of forgot to do one last chapter…heheh. So…I do own Kenshin, Kaoru, and the rest of the gang. But none of the evil characters….WHAT? Fine, I DON'T own Rurouni Kenshin, any of the characters, and all that crap. Satisfied?

A/N: YAY! I got my braces off today! Finally…(I know, I know, that has nothing to do with the story. But, it's just so exciting…lol) Anyway, uh…I went and corrected a little mistake in the last chapter (something about Kaoru watching Kenshin practice, except I had accidentally put Kaoru watching Kaoru practice, or something like that…) Got five whole reviews! Now, I hope to get more than that on this chapter…what do you say? Glad those who DID review liked it…and here's the second chapter:

Chapter One:

Ten Years Ago Today

"Ten years ago, today…" Kaoru murmured, as she looked at her calendar. No one else heard her. But she didn't want to be heard. Then, Kaoru saw the the infamously hyper Misao bouncing (Misao's version of walking) towards Kaoru.

"Kaoru! Guess what? Aoshi asked me to go out with him! He finally asked me out! I can't believe it!" Misao practically shouted into Kaoru's ear. Kaoru swore she could see the hearts in Misao's eyes.

"Good for you Misao." Kaoru said, in a monotone voice, and just looked back in her calendar, in which the date DECEMBER 10 blared back at her in big letters.

"Huh? You're not happy for me? Wait, I know you've been waiting for this day for me ever since I set eyes on Aoshi-sama! What's wrong Kaoru, what's wrong?" Misao asked, concerned.

Kaoru merely showed Misao her assignment book, the date blaring up at her, reopening the wound. December 10th, the last day Kaoru ever saw Kenshin. The day they promised each other never to leave one another's side. The day before Kaoru's heart tore in half, and never healed. She may have only been nine, but she knew she had loved Kenshin. Tears began to gather in Kaoru's eyes.

"OH! I'm so sorry Kaoru! I really didn't mean to-to, well-"

"Rub your love in my face the anniversary of the day I lost my own?" Kaoru said, her voice wavering. A tear fell down her cheek. Misao hugged Kaoru.

"You'll see him again. I promise-you'll find him one day!" Misao said to Kaoru, which made her break down even more.

"D-d-don't-don't ever say that w-w-word! Promise! No one ever keeps their promises. HE didn't!" And Kaoru ran out of the cafeteria, the wound totally open, tears pouring down her face. She didn't hate him. She just loved him. Equal emotions. Have you ever read "The Lady or the Tiger" in literature and discussed it? Love and hate, the same thing…Kaoru loved Kenshin so much, but hated him for leaving her, for breaking his promise.

Kaoru eyes had tears in them the rest of the day, and she wouldn't speak to Misao. She felt too vulnerable to talk to anyone. When Kaoru got home from school, she finally called Misao and apologized.

"Misao, hi, it's Kaoru. I'm sorry for earlier, it's just today…well, you know…" Kaoru broke off, trying to think of what to say.

"It's alright, Kaoru," Misao replied. "I understand. And you will see him again. I know it. People like you aren't supposed to be separated from their soul mates-huh?" The tone came up when you have a phone and someone hung up, but you didn't. Kaoru had put the phone down after Misao had said, "You will see him again" and began to cry. She couldn't help how this day affected her, even though it had happened ten years ago. The wound had never fully healed…

The next day at school, Kaoru apologized again. "Misao, I'm sorry, AGAIN. Now let's change the subject, to something totally different. And forget about you know what until next year."

Misao agreed, though she knew Kaoru wouldn't forget about it. She would think about it every day, the wound slowly healing, until a year from yesterday, when it burst back open and began to bleed. Like a scar with strong emotion behind it…which the wound really was, except the wound was mental, not physical.

The last few weeks of the semester passed by peacefully, with no more public displays of distress or tears of anything. Everyone studied, took their exams, and went away to vacation when winter break began. Then, the new semester started…

Review Responses: (and if you you didn't really ask a question or put something I can't really respond to, I'll just say thanks)

LittoGrrlStephie – Nope, sorry, Kenshin's not going to turn Battousai in this. This story's going to be more focused on Kaoru than Kenshin. And, the story's already prewritten (otherwise, I'd never have finished it)

Kayhoka Ayanithne, Kenshinhimura_luver – thanks for reading! Glad you like it…

Uenki – Oooh! You said it was "quite a plot"!!! Yay! Glad you like the plot…hope you like the rest of it, lol

Brittanie Love – You think it's sad? (that's good). It means I can actually write to change people's emotions! (That one of the things I really look for in stories...glad it's actually in mine!)

So, Please review and tell me what you think!!!

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