Sentiments of gip-k: -Er, hi, everyone! Looks like we'd gotten quite a few teary eyes. But I have news… well, come to think of it, that news would just spoil my story! So I have no news. :XD It seems to you all with just have to live through the agony until the story ends, after which I do not know how you'll be feeling. :XD Well, to the story.
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Disclaimer:
Me: Um, Watsuki?
Watsuki: What is it, here to beg for some bonus chapters of Rurouni Kenshin manga? (He is smiling)
Me: Er, no. I was just wondering if you could give me some of the rights to Rurouni Kenshin.
Watsuki: Sorry, it's all mine! Hey, but you can have some free manga if you beat me at Samurai Showdown.
Me: Er, no thanks, Watsuki.
Well, looks like I don't own Rurouni Kenshin! Bye, gotta go!
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---Confusion---
Some days went by quickly, and some slowly. I was frustrated. Sano and I began to argue even more, and Kenshin became more distant than ever. I worried about him sincerely, with all my heart, but I truly didn't think that anything was wrong with him.
I had tried to put off the meeting with Tsubame as long as possible. I didn't think I could be of much help to her, but after two weeks Tae, along with my conscience, coaxed me into trying.
So, I walked into the marketplace, my heart fluttering in my chest. My stomach was in terrible twists, for seeing Tsubame nowadays seemed to have that effect on me.
When I finally reached the Akebeko, I walked in, searching for the small girl. Tae was wiping down one of the tables vigorously, a mixed look of anxiety and anger displayed on her face.
"Hello, Tae," I said in a hollow voice.
Tae looked up at me, surprised. She smiled, and nearly all of her negative emotions disappeared from her face.
"Why, hello, Kaoru!" Tae replied cheerily. "I wasn't expected you today."
I gave her a tight smile, and her face then darkened.
"Did you come here to speak to Tsubame?" Tae asked.
I nodded. Tae looked relieved, yet still in despair, somewhat.
"She's hardly working,'' she said. "As you know, this is her job, but she hasn't been doing it."
"Where is she, Tae?" I asked , my eyes scanning the shop for any sign of the child.
"She's outside, in back of the shop," Tae replied, gesturing without looking.
I nodded, and walked out of the Akebeko. I turned around and traveled down the ally behind the building. I heard two voices, speaking. When I finally rounded the corner, I was surprised at what I saw.
Tsubame was leaning against a wall, next to an older boy. She was listening carefully to what he was saying. I hardly recognized her.
Tsubame was as pale and dark-eyed as the day of the funeral- almost. But she had painted her lips red, like Megumi, and wore a fancy, dark blue kimono that would have matched her eyes to near perfection if they had been the way they used to be. It was embroidered with beautiful flowers and leaves. I did not like it completely, though. The neckline was too low, as was the hem, and the kimono had a slit on one side of it, just displaying more skin.
Tsubame and the boy looked up at me, surprised.
"Tsubame, what are you doing here?" I asked, flabbergasted.
Tsubame looked down to the ground for a moment.
"Tsubame, can you hear me?" I looked back and forth from the boy to her. "Tsubame, Tae says you haven't been working. You're not even wearing your uniform."
"She doesn't have to work if she doesn't want to," the boy said. He walked and stood near Tsubame, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.
The boy was at least four inches taller than Tsubame. He was handsome, with gorgeous dark hair. His eyes were a dark blue that went well with his black button-up coat and matching trousers. He had a good three or four years on Tsubame, and despite the fact that his smile seemed to hold mostly warmth and courtesy, I could see the near invisible mischievous twist in it. Also, there was something about him that I disliked- and that was not counting the fact that he had his arm around Tsubame's shoulder.
I very nearly snarled.
"Who are you?" I asked in as polite a voice as I could muster.
The boy just smiled some more. Tsubame began blushing.
"My name is Wuki Miyazaki," the boy said. "What's your name?" he asked with a glint in his eyes.
My jaw tightened. Did this kid actually have the nerve to play his silly games with me?
"That's non of your business," I growled. I turned to Tsubame. "Tsubame, come with me, we need to talk."
Tsubame shook her head. I softened my voice further.
"Please, Tsubame," I replied, trying to sound pleading.
"No," she replied, looking up at me with a level gaze. "Wuki… is my friend." She looked up at Wuki, and gave a smile that hardly touched her eyes when he gave her a reassuring look.
"See, Tsu wants to hang out with me," he replied, giving me a haughty, challenging look. He looked down at Tsubame. "Come on. Let's us go hang with my friends, shall we?"
Wuki tried to pull Tsubame along, but she did not follow, at least immediately. I gave her a desperate pleading look, and she turned away, a sad look on her face. Then she let herself be dragged away by Wuki.
"Tsubame, wait," I called after her. "Tsubame!"
Tsubame's eyes darted to me temporarily, and she and Wuki stopped walking. She walked over to me, dark eyes studying me. I knelt down before her, ignoring Wuki's mock-impatient attitude.
"Tsubame, what is happening to you?" I whispered softly. "You're pale, and ill-looking. Tae told me you don't work anymore. Why?"
Tsubame stared at me for a long while, her dark eyes growing cloudy.
"There's no reason to," Tsubame replied blankly.
"What do you mean there's no reason?" I demanded, my eyes filling with tears. "Tsubame, you've got to hold on. Just relax. Please listen to me. I promise you that you will get over this- you will be just fine, Tsubame."
"There's nothing to get over," Tsubame said in a hard voice.
My emotions then seized me, and I grabbed Tsubame's shoulders tightly.
"Tsubame, listen to me!" I said in a harsh whisper. "Look at you! You've painted your lips, and your kimono is one of the most indecent things I have seen a girl wearing!"
Tsubame's face turned to ice.
"It's not indecent," she replied. "It is one of Wuki's favorite colors. And Wuki says that I am beautiful with my lips painted."
I squeezed my eyes shut, ready to scream, but instead, shockingly, my voice came out in pure calm.
"How old is Wuki? Thirteen? Fourteen? Fifteen? Tsubame, you are a ten year old girl," I replied firmly. "What would Yahiko say if he saw you cuddling with Wuki? He would be angry- his heart would be broken! Do you think he saved your life so that you could waste it away in such a life style? Tsubame-"
"Yahiko's dead," she said, cutting me off. "If he loved me so much, why wouldn't he just let me die? At least I would've been in peace."
I stared at Tsubame in pure horror, her words as effective as a slap in the face. My vision blurred with sudden tears.
"Tsubame, Yahiko died- he left us all because he wanted you to live," I said, swallowing. "He did all of that, for you. He died in peace… he died in peace because he knew you were alive and well."
Tsubame stared at me for a long moment.
"Well- well- I have Wuki now," she replied sternly. "I don't care about Yahiko anymore. He never called me beautiful or nice. Also…" Tsubame paused for a moment to swallow, and the rest of her words came out unsteady. "I'm- I'm not going to let my heart be broken because of him. Wuki's more fun, and he tells me everything is going to be all right, and that he likes me. Wuki says I shouldn't let sorrow over… over Yahiko take me to the grave with him. I won't, Kaoru, I won't!"
"What in the hell is wrong with you!" I screamed, my temper flaring up suddenly. "You always say Wuki said this, and Wuki said that! Wuki doesn't love you, Tsubame! He doesn't care about you at all. Wuki is a sly fox- he is a liar!"
"No he's not!" Tsubame retorted hotly, shoving me away from her suddenly. Her eyes filled with tears. "Wuki cares about me! He does!"
Tsubame began to cry- trembling, shaking sobs. She rubbed at her face vigorously with the edge of her kimono sleeve.
As if he were her loving savior, Wuki flew to her side, hugging her close to himself. He gave me an accusing look, and then spoke comforting, coaxing words to Tsubame, and the two of them walked away.
I glared after Wuki, but inside I felt hurt. Tsubame's words rang in my head… Yahiko is dead…
I stood up from my place on the ground, and rubbed some of dirt off my kimono. I very nearly reached for my bokken- to smash something or someone in my sheer frustration and pain, but then I realized I didn't have it. Then I heard footsteps behind me. I flipped around, ready to glare at a person who was disturbing my concentration during such a vital moment. I was only a faintly surprised to find Tae standing in the ally way. The look of anxiety and sorrow in her brown eyes told me that she was aware of the fact that things had not gone well at all.
"You… heard the shouting, didn't you," I asked. It was a near croak.
Tae nodded slowly.
"I take it that things did not go very well," she replied.
I shook my head.
"Far from it," I replied, a small amount of sarcasm evident in my otherwise bare voice.
"I'm sorry for putting you up to this-"
"No, it's all right," I replied quickly, and bitingly.
Tae walked over to me, and gave my arm a comforting squeeze.
"I'm sure you did your best, Kaoru," she replied.
I nodded numbly. Evidently my best had not been enough.
"You look pretty down, Kaoru," Tae said softly. She gave me a tight smile. "Do you feel like something to drink."
"No thank you, Tae," I said just as softly. "I think I'll just go home, now."
Tae nodded.
"Well, thank you for coming, Kaoru," she replied. "Thanks for trying so hard to help."
I nodded. Then Tae and I exchanged farewells, and I walked out of the ally way and into the street.
When I finally arrived home, I found that the laundry was not done. Which was a complete surprise, seeing that was always something that Kenshin made sure was done.
Sano was outside, practicing his dice throwing. He was muttering to himself, as well, as if it was the most important thing in the world. From what I saw, in his little simulation world that he'd suddenly created, he was losing terribly.
I continued through the dojo, ignoring Sanosuke's dark mood. If he thought he could find comfort in throwing a pair of dice around like a fool, then he'd have to be told otherwise- but not now.
When I finally found Kenshin, he was in the front of the dojo. He was standing upright, frowning as if in deep thought. He touched his sword occasionally. He had the frightful look on his face, and I thought it might be best to leave him alone. However, I battled several emotions of mixed worry and sadness in my mind, and I finally decided to approach him.
He seemed not to notice me coming. I reached out, my heart pounding, and softly touched his hand. He jumped, hand seizing his sakabato nearly faster than I could blink, halfway drawing it. He blinked uncertainly when he saw me. I stepped back away from him, my eyes widening by the minute as they darted almost involuntarily from the sakabato to Kenshin.
"K- K- Kenshin?" I stammered, fright seizing me.
Kenshin slid his sword back fully into its sheath, and when he looked at me, his face softened to such a degree of apology and sympathy that I nearly began to cry.
"I apologize Miss Kaoru," he said. "This unworthy one has no excuse for his actions, that he does not."
"It's- it's all right Kenshin," I replied softly.
Kenshin turned away from me, that distant look coming back to his face. I waited a while before speaking.
"Kenshin?"
Kenshin snapped back out of his trance and looked down at me.
"Are you all right?" I asked worriedly.
"Yes, Miss Kaoru," Kenshin replied, giving me a small smile that faded almost the instant it came to his face.
"You- didn't do the laundry today," I said.
"Oro!" Kenshin cried in the sudden remembrance. "I apologize, Miss Kaoru. I shall go and do it now, I say."
Kenshin tried to walk away, but I stopped him by touching his arm.
"Kenshin, are you sure that you are all right?" I asked, growing more worried by the instant.
Kenshin gave me his classic Rurouni smile, and it nearly broke my heart.
"Yes, of course, Miss Kaoru," he replied cheerfully.
I held his hand in both of mine and looked deep into his violet eyes.
"Kenshin," I said levelly. "If something is wrong, please tell me."
Kenshin looked at me for a long while, but he did not speak.
"Please, Kenshin," I begged softly. "Please tell me what is wrong."
"I… don't exactly know, Miss Kaoru," he replied. His eyes grew distant, again. "It seems that… I am unsure of what it seems like, Miss Kaoru."
"Please tell me the truth, Kenshin," I said pleadingly, my eyes filling with tears. "I know something is wrong," I sobbed out. "Oh please tell me!"
Kenshin looked at me with even a more sympathetic look, and it caused me to break out into tears. I did not even know why I was crying, just that it had started suddenly.
Kenshin embraced me in a gentle hug, and I wept on his shoulder.
"Shhh, Miss Kaoru," he said. "Don't worry over me. I am unworthy."
I did not say anything, just wept harder. Everything was so… confusing.
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gip-k's: Post Chapter Statements: -Not much development here, just more sorrow. (SNIFF) It was quite painful writing about Tsubame and Wuki. We all know his "true" intentions, and it pains me to have to say things just might be able to get worst than this. u_u I apologize if things have been a little hard on my readers, but this is a Tragedy/Drama. I can't advise you to stop, because it seems that when people read a sad story, they keep reading it until the end. You'll just have to stay with me.
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And here are the special thanks.
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Thanks to my anonymous, nameless reader! -_- I fear that I discovered too late that an Asia people are cremated. -_- I guess things will just have to be the way things will just have to be.
Crazed Fanatic Anime Fan
Thanks for all your reviews! ^_^ I love them!
Dee-chan
Hey, thanks for the reviews. The way you're going, you will be able to predict the entire story even before it's over! ^_^ You always seem to know what I am going to do, even when I haven't told ANYONE! I hope you're enjoying the story, and please stay with me!
Brittanie Love
Hey, big thankies for reviewing! I hear that you cried when reading my story. (SNIFF) That honors me because that means that I actually wrote it right and it isn't corny or anything like that. It is REALLY supposed to be sad, and I succeeded. ^_^ So thank you, and stick with me!
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