**Sobs** I can't believe it's finally ending.. **sigh** My first fic, and
my first fic with more than one chapter, is coming to a close.
I'm gonna miss it, trust me. Oh well, the fun never ends for me, for I have already planned this fic to begin a trilogy of fics, the first chapter of the second part will be posted soon, just so you all don't forget about this story.. I will enjoy seeing your reviews for it. XD
Hopefully, it'll be a decent fic.
Okay, I know I'm making too big of a deal of this... But this was my first story....
Chapter 12/Final {Not to mention THE LONGEST EVER!}
Disclaimer: It's not mine. The end.
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"Kenshin!" Kaoru sobbed, as she was let go from Akira, falling to her knees.
Kenshin's gaze softened, though it was still alert. This vile man had hurt Kaoru, and the man was going to pay. With his life. He had caught Kaoru as she was falling, pulling her back to her feet, though keeping her in a tight embrace. He would be there for her, this time. Akira was not going to get away with this.
Kaoru blushed, but continued to sob on his shoulder. He tightened the embrace, to calm her nerves. Though, he enjoyed being this close to her; sharing this one moment in time.
Though, he wished it was under different circumstances.
Akira was just frightened. He hadn't anticipated the arrival of the Battousai, famous for his acts during the Bakumatsu. He just wanted to be anywhere but in that alley, with Battousai and the lady who beckoned him.
She was the dragon keeper, and the Hitokiri was the immortal black dragon, or so it seemed. He would only respond to her call. He was her lover, obviously. The Battousai didn't help just anyone.
Little did Akira know that he was not the Battousai of the Boshin and Bakumatsu. He was a new man, with a new life, and a new promise.
He swore to Kaoru he would always protect her.
And he didn't, but he would try and help her now.
"Stand, Akira." He had picked up his name earlier. "Fight like a man.Like the scum of a man you are." He said, malice dripping from his words. "You hurt and betrayed Kaoru, and for that you shall pay." He said, unsheathing the sword, the blade reversed so it was on the sharp edge. The tip was pointed at the man's neck, for he refused to stand; refused to move.
"Die like the coward you are." He said, before moving to plunge it through the man's throat.
It stopped suddenly. A force had kept it from making its mark.
"What the hell?" Kenshin questioned, looking at the blade, which now had blood dripping from the blade. His gage shifted to the cowering Akira, but there was no sign of blood on him. He then looked at a hand. A bloody, cut up hand. His gaze followed the arm, then ended in sapphire pools.
"Kaoru. Kaoru what? Why?" He asked, gasping. Kaoru had saved the man, though sacrificed her right hand. Her sword hand. The palm was all cut up, and it looked as if it would take years, if ever at all, to heal. "I'm so sorry.." Tears welled in his eyes, as she had just made the sacrifice of her life, almost. He knew that she loved kendo more than anything..
Though, not as much as Kenshin. (A/N: Awwww.. ^_^)
Kaoru gripped a piece of her kimono to stop the flow of the blood. She forced a half smile, though the pain screaming on her hands belied her smile. "You swore you'd never kill again." She said softly. "I didn't want you to break your oath. Not for me. Especially since it was my own.." She grimaced; the pain was worsening. "Stupidity that dragged you here. I'm sorry." She said softly, tears in her eyes, as well.
"Kaoru. don't cry. Please don't cry.. not for me." He said, looking at her blood soaked hand. "I did that to you. " He said softly, and even softer, he spoke: "The one person I care about most."
She had heard, much to his dismay, and smiled at him. "I care for you, too.." She began to blush as deep a crimson as Sanosuke's headband.
He looked at the man, now 'up against the wall' himself. He had heard a police whistle not too far in the distance. Another body began to cry, out of self pity.
Kenshin turned to him, disgusted. "No one wants to hear it, Akira." He snarled, as the police rounded the corner. "We've had enough of you.." He said, as he led Kaoru through the alley, making sure she was careful to not hurt herself even more.
Kaoru stopped, just to turn around and smile. "Have fun, Akira. You'll get what you deserve." And with a facetious wave, she followed the hitokiri.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* After a half hour of walking, both with heavy thoughts clouding their minds, Kenshin stopped her at a bridge overlooking a small pond.
"We. I..I should really clean that wound for you." He said softly.
She nodded in agreement but said nothing.
He sat her down on the bridge, and she moved so her face was reflected in the water.
"It's funny how we don't appreciate what we have.. Until it's almost taken away." She remarked softly, looking at him, though his face was downcast, looking at the water, apparently in deep thought.
She blinked, realizing he wasn't listening.
Slowly, however, he nodded, remarking: "Too true." His heart ached with the potential thought of Akira and Kaoru together, but he guessed she was speaking of.. -other- things than his one sided love for her.
He slowly dipped his hand in the water, submerging it so that the liquid reached his elbow. Before she could protest, he ripped the wet cloth off of his gi, and looked at her.
"Your wound, Kaoru. Please, let me see it." He said, as she reached her left hand out, and he took it in his.
Kaoru blushed, and so did he, as her left hand wasn't hurt at all. Though, neither minded the hold they shared on the other, though it only lasted for a moment.
"Kaoru.." He said, still not using the usual 'miss' or 'dono'. He hadn't noticed, as it only felt right, and it gave Kaoru some kind of hope that he cared for her, if only a bit. "Please. I need to wrap your wound." He said softly, though not wanting to look at her hand, nor let go of her other one.
She, still blushing scarlet, reached out her right hand, the blood dried on her palm.
"Don't. don't use your gi." She said, moving to rip what was left of her kimono sleeve, though this time another hand stopped damage.
This time, however, the hand belonged to Kenshin.
"Don't rip up your lovely kimono, Kaoru." He said to her, gazing into her eyes with his famous look of longing.
She returned the look, becoming lost in his amethyst orbs. "I wouldn't call it lovely.." She replied, her voice hardly more than a whisper.
He blinked out of the eye hold, and looked at the bloody hand encased in his own. He began to wash it, not looking at her.
"Ouch! That stings." She said, though it was more to herself, he over heard.
"I'm sorry." He said again, continuing to wipe the blood away. "The last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt you."
She blinked, not knowing quite what to say. "Oh." She had already ripped her kimono, and she handed a piece to him, asking: "Will you wrap it for me?"
He nodded. "Of course." Wrapping the silk remnants around her hand, he began to feel even worse, (If it was possible), and when he finished, he looked at her.
"Kaoru. to be honest with you. I left." He said, though his gaze remained at her hand.
"Left?" She asked him, obviously confused.
"I left the dojo.I was about to wander again." He replied, softly.
"B-Because of Akira?" She asked, wondering what he was getting at.
"Kaoru." He took a deep breath, then began again. "I was jealous.. of Akira. Because you loved him and.." He looked into her eyes, wondering if he should tell her. "Because I love you, Kaoru. I was jealous that he held your heart." He said, trying to be honest.
Kaoru's mouth widened in apparent shock. "Kenshin.he could never take your place.in my heart. " She said, her heart not wanting to believe he loved her. Because what if she heard wrong? Then she'd make a fool of herself.
It was his turn to not believe her. "Kaoru.." He said, then taking her left hand in his, he leaned down, and brushed his lips against hers.
Her eyes fluttered close, in extreme happiness, as he deepened the kiss, and the hold on her frame. He let go of her hand, to embrace her, and they remained that way for a beautiful moment, until he pulled away.
"I love you, Kaoru.." He said softly, looking at her, relieved she hadn't done what he had thought she did, and break his heart. And all the while she was relieved he hadn't broken her heart.
And she loved him, she really, truly did.
But why did it become so much more difficult to tell him at that moment?
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Evil cliffhanger, ne? Gomen nasai. ^^; But, I really hope none of you are extreme Tomoe fans. Because she is probably going to have a not-so-nice part in my next fic. In fact, death has made her bitter. XD
But, *sigh* I do not want to lose any readers by that, so if you'd rather me not make her that bad guy, I guess I can change the plot. But, I suppose she would only be an enemy to Kaoru..But, you'll see.
Here's the summary for the next fic in the series, entitled: Nightmares and Dreamscapes. (Don't ask how I got the title for it.. It sounds so familiar, yet I cannot place it. O.o Anyone have any ideas where it came from!? I don't!!!!!)
Enjoy, and until the next fic,
Kaoru-dono
(You'll see how bad I am at summaries below. )
No one lives in a perfect world. It's impossible. But life has become a lot more bearable now that the rurouni and the tanuki (and I say that with pride, that being one of my nicknames! XD) have professed their love to the other. And now everything is perfect, right?
WRONG!!!
An unseen force tries to drive the two apart, but no one knows who.. or why. The Kenshin-gumi believe it is Kaoru's inability to stay with Kenshin forever. A fear to commit herself. But is that really it? Or is there more there than meets the eye. Will this drive their relationship apart?
And what happens when Kenshin sees her distorted thoughts? Will he know her well enough to separate fact from fiction, or is this one relationship that wasn't made in heaven?
Or perhaps it was driven apart in hell.
I'm gonna miss it, trust me. Oh well, the fun never ends for me, for I have already planned this fic to begin a trilogy of fics, the first chapter of the second part will be posted soon, just so you all don't forget about this story.. I will enjoy seeing your reviews for it. XD
Hopefully, it'll be a decent fic.
Okay, I know I'm making too big of a deal of this... But this was my first story....
Chapter 12/Final {Not to mention THE LONGEST EVER!}
Disclaimer: It's not mine. The end.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Kenshin!" Kaoru sobbed, as she was let go from Akira, falling to her knees.
Kenshin's gaze softened, though it was still alert. This vile man had hurt Kaoru, and the man was going to pay. With his life. He had caught Kaoru as she was falling, pulling her back to her feet, though keeping her in a tight embrace. He would be there for her, this time. Akira was not going to get away with this.
Kaoru blushed, but continued to sob on his shoulder. He tightened the embrace, to calm her nerves. Though, he enjoyed being this close to her; sharing this one moment in time.
Though, he wished it was under different circumstances.
Akira was just frightened. He hadn't anticipated the arrival of the Battousai, famous for his acts during the Bakumatsu. He just wanted to be anywhere but in that alley, with Battousai and the lady who beckoned him.
She was the dragon keeper, and the Hitokiri was the immortal black dragon, or so it seemed. He would only respond to her call. He was her lover, obviously. The Battousai didn't help just anyone.
Little did Akira know that he was not the Battousai of the Boshin and Bakumatsu. He was a new man, with a new life, and a new promise.
He swore to Kaoru he would always protect her.
And he didn't, but he would try and help her now.
"Stand, Akira." He had picked up his name earlier. "Fight like a man.Like the scum of a man you are." He said, malice dripping from his words. "You hurt and betrayed Kaoru, and for that you shall pay." He said, unsheathing the sword, the blade reversed so it was on the sharp edge. The tip was pointed at the man's neck, for he refused to stand; refused to move.
"Die like the coward you are." He said, before moving to plunge it through the man's throat.
It stopped suddenly. A force had kept it from making its mark.
"What the hell?" Kenshin questioned, looking at the blade, which now had blood dripping from the blade. His gage shifted to the cowering Akira, but there was no sign of blood on him. He then looked at a hand. A bloody, cut up hand. His gaze followed the arm, then ended in sapphire pools.
"Kaoru. Kaoru what? Why?" He asked, gasping. Kaoru had saved the man, though sacrificed her right hand. Her sword hand. The palm was all cut up, and it looked as if it would take years, if ever at all, to heal. "I'm so sorry.." Tears welled in his eyes, as she had just made the sacrifice of her life, almost. He knew that she loved kendo more than anything..
Though, not as much as Kenshin. (A/N: Awwww.. ^_^)
Kaoru gripped a piece of her kimono to stop the flow of the blood. She forced a half smile, though the pain screaming on her hands belied her smile. "You swore you'd never kill again." She said softly. "I didn't want you to break your oath. Not for me. Especially since it was my own.." She grimaced; the pain was worsening. "Stupidity that dragged you here. I'm sorry." She said softly, tears in her eyes, as well.
"Kaoru. don't cry. Please don't cry.. not for me." He said, looking at her blood soaked hand. "I did that to you. " He said softly, and even softer, he spoke: "The one person I care about most."
She had heard, much to his dismay, and smiled at him. "I care for you, too.." She began to blush as deep a crimson as Sanosuke's headband.
He looked at the man, now 'up against the wall' himself. He had heard a police whistle not too far in the distance. Another body began to cry, out of self pity.
Kenshin turned to him, disgusted. "No one wants to hear it, Akira." He snarled, as the police rounded the corner. "We've had enough of you.." He said, as he led Kaoru through the alley, making sure she was careful to not hurt herself even more.
Kaoru stopped, just to turn around and smile. "Have fun, Akira. You'll get what you deserve." And with a facetious wave, she followed the hitokiri.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* After a half hour of walking, both with heavy thoughts clouding their minds, Kenshin stopped her at a bridge overlooking a small pond.
"We. I..I should really clean that wound for you." He said softly.
She nodded in agreement but said nothing.
He sat her down on the bridge, and she moved so her face was reflected in the water.
"It's funny how we don't appreciate what we have.. Until it's almost taken away." She remarked softly, looking at him, though his face was downcast, looking at the water, apparently in deep thought.
She blinked, realizing he wasn't listening.
Slowly, however, he nodded, remarking: "Too true." His heart ached with the potential thought of Akira and Kaoru together, but he guessed she was speaking of.. -other- things than his one sided love for her.
He slowly dipped his hand in the water, submerging it so that the liquid reached his elbow. Before she could protest, he ripped the wet cloth off of his gi, and looked at her.
"Your wound, Kaoru. Please, let me see it." He said, as she reached her left hand out, and he took it in his.
Kaoru blushed, and so did he, as her left hand wasn't hurt at all. Though, neither minded the hold they shared on the other, though it only lasted for a moment.
"Kaoru.." He said, still not using the usual 'miss' or 'dono'. He hadn't noticed, as it only felt right, and it gave Kaoru some kind of hope that he cared for her, if only a bit. "Please. I need to wrap your wound." He said softly, though not wanting to look at her hand, nor let go of her other one.
She, still blushing scarlet, reached out her right hand, the blood dried on her palm.
"Don't. don't use your gi." She said, moving to rip what was left of her kimono sleeve, though this time another hand stopped damage.
This time, however, the hand belonged to Kenshin.
"Don't rip up your lovely kimono, Kaoru." He said to her, gazing into her eyes with his famous look of longing.
She returned the look, becoming lost in his amethyst orbs. "I wouldn't call it lovely.." She replied, her voice hardly more than a whisper.
He blinked out of the eye hold, and looked at the bloody hand encased in his own. He began to wash it, not looking at her.
"Ouch! That stings." She said, though it was more to herself, he over heard.
"I'm sorry." He said again, continuing to wipe the blood away. "The last thing I'd ever want to do is hurt you."
She blinked, not knowing quite what to say. "Oh." She had already ripped her kimono, and she handed a piece to him, asking: "Will you wrap it for me?"
He nodded. "Of course." Wrapping the silk remnants around her hand, he began to feel even worse, (If it was possible), and when he finished, he looked at her.
"Kaoru. to be honest with you. I left." He said, though his gaze remained at her hand.
"Left?" She asked him, obviously confused.
"I left the dojo.I was about to wander again." He replied, softly.
"B-Because of Akira?" She asked, wondering what he was getting at.
"Kaoru." He took a deep breath, then began again. "I was jealous.. of Akira. Because you loved him and.." He looked into her eyes, wondering if he should tell her. "Because I love you, Kaoru. I was jealous that he held your heart." He said, trying to be honest.
Kaoru's mouth widened in apparent shock. "Kenshin.he could never take your place.in my heart. " She said, her heart not wanting to believe he loved her. Because what if she heard wrong? Then she'd make a fool of herself.
It was his turn to not believe her. "Kaoru.." He said, then taking her left hand in his, he leaned down, and brushed his lips against hers.
Her eyes fluttered close, in extreme happiness, as he deepened the kiss, and the hold on her frame. He let go of her hand, to embrace her, and they remained that way for a beautiful moment, until he pulled away.
"I love you, Kaoru.." He said softly, looking at her, relieved she hadn't done what he had thought she did, and break his heart. And all the while she was relieved he hadn't broken her heart.
And she loved him, she really, truly did.
But why did it become so much more difficult to tell him at that moment?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Evil cliffhanger, ne? Gomen nasai. ^^; But, I really hope none of you are extreme Tomoe fans. Because she is probably going to have a not-so-nice part in my next fic. In fact, death has made her bitter. XD
But, *sigh* I do not want to lose any readers by that, so if you'd rather me not make her that bad guy, I guess I can change the plot. But, I suppose she would only be an enemy to Kaoru..But, you'll see.
Here's the summary for the next fic in the series, entitled: Nightmares and Dreamscapes. (Don't ask how I got the title for it.. It sounds so familiar, yet I cannot place it. O.o Anyone have any ideas where it came from!? I don't!!!!!)
Enjoy, and until the next fic,
Kaoru-dono
(You'll see how bad I am at summaries below. )
No one lives in a perfect world. It's impossible. But life has become a lot more bearable now that the rurouni and the tanuki (and I say that with pride, that being one of my nicknames! XD) have professed their love to the other. And now everything is perfect, right?
WRONG!!!
An unseen force tries to drive the two apart, but no one knows who.. or why. The Kenshin-gumi believe it is Kaoru's inability to stay with Kenshin forever. A fear to commit herself. But is that really it? Or is there more there than meets the eye. Will this drive their relationship apart?
And what happens when Kenshin sees her distorted thoughts? Will he know her well enough to separate fact from fiction, or is this one relationship that wasn't made in heaven?
Or perhaps it was driven apart in hell.