Sentiments of gip-k: -Hello, everybody! We're to the tenth chapter, now. Surely hope your happy about the way things have been going. Things are going to change just a TINY bit more this chapter so I hope you guys are ready for it!
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Disclaimer: I do NOT own Rurouni Kenshin. It belongs to Watsuki Nobuhiro.
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---And She Returned---
I woke up that late one Thursday morning. It was not very bright outside, for the looks of things, and perhaps that had been the reason why I had slept in so late. Yet it was… oh such a wondrous day! There were not as many birds chirping about since it was later, but I felt almost evilly good.
I threw back the covers of my bed, and as my eyes roved to the right, in plain site was a brown and white framed photograph. I let in a deep sigh of contentment. It was the picture that had been taken of us when we had gone down to ride the first train in Japan. I stepped out of bed and picked up the picture from its place on a table, in the corner of the room.
I examined the picture with light-hearted amusement. Sanosuke was standing on the right, as stiffly as a stick! He had thought that camera's stole your soul, and that the train was operated by ghost. Yahiko… Yahiko was sitting down casually, making a "V" for victory with his fingers. He was smiling brightly, similar to they way I was. Kenshin was off to the left. He had that classical Rurouni smile on his face. Kenshin… I thought softly. A felt a tiny tightness in my chest, and replaced the picture in its place. I remembered what Kazuma had said.
"Don't fight the past, Kaoru. By hiding that picture, you are hiding part of your heart and soul. You need to be brave, and face your fears courageously…"
I let out a sigh. He was… right- however painful him being right was.
After a quickly dressing, I set to sweeping the dojo. I had trained some boys the day before, but none had a real, real zeal for kenjitsu. Others did not seem to take too well to be trained by a female, and I had had to throw them out. Well, it would be okay. I had to find a new student… someday.
Then I heard a knock at the gate. I stopped my whistling. It was not Kazuma's knock.
"Coming," I said cheerily.
I set down the broom somewhere in a corner and hurried to the gate. I gasped at the site of the person. I would recognize that face anywhere.
"Megumi," I breathed, shocked to see her.
Her red-painted lips did not quirk into the mischievous smile that I was so accustomed to seeing on her. Rather, her face was hard and serious, lips bent down in a deep frown.
"Why, come in, Megumi," I said, opening the gate.
Megumi stepped right in immediately. As I closed the gate, she whirled on me quickly.
"Where on earth have you been?"
I blinked.
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"I have not seen you, or anyone in this dojo for a long time," she replied.
Then she turned away from me, and stalked forward a bit, then stopped.
"It's… too strange, here," she said, eyes roving back and forth like the eyes of a wary fox. "Someone's… missing."
She turned back to me.
"Where is Sir Ken?" she demanded.
"He's gone," I replied, blandly.
"What do you mean he's gone?" Megumi asked, face turning from anger to concern.
"He… left," I said. "He said there was some trouble down south, and he went to take care of things."
"What?" Megumi asked incredulously. She stared at me with disturbed blue eyes.
Then it dawned on me that I had forgotten to tell Megumi of Kenshin's departure.
"Oh Megumi!" I cried. "I'm terribly sorry-"
"Why are you still here?" Megumi asked incredulously.
"What do you mean?" I asked, once again confused.
"Why haven't you gone looking for Sir Ken?" She asked.
There was a deep, odd silence between us. I looked down to the ground, and chewed on my lips as I struggled to ponder out an answer.
"I- he-"
Then I spilled out to Megumi everything that had happened. Her face darkened a bit more with each word I told.
"So, you see, Megumi, I love Kazuma now," I said. "And-"
Megumi brought her hand with such speed, that I barely had time to block her hard slap with my left hand.
"You silly little raccoon girl!" she shrieked.
"Megumi-"
"Don't give me silly excuses!" she said. "You don't… you don't love this Kazuma boy," she said, practically spitting out the word "love". "You're just using him as an excuse."
I swatted Megumi's hand away angrily, and glared at her.
"Megumi what is the meaning of-"
"Kaoru," Megumi said, tears in her eyes. "Kenshin and Sano are both gone. I have not seen Sanosuke in ages," she sniffed contemptuously. She added in a lower voice half to herself. "Only Kami knows what that man is up to-" Megumi directed her attention back to me. "You must bright Sir Ken and Sanosuke back! You must."
Tears threatened to come to my eyes, but my anger outshone them.
"Megumi, this is nonsense!" I retorted hotly. "I do love, Kazuma! I have gotten over Kenshin. Kenshin Himura is a thing of the past!"
Megumi stared at me. I felt no pity for her. I did love him, I did! I glared at her. Megumi walked over to me, and grabbed my arms. I protested, but she shook me.
"Listen to me, girl!" Megumi said. The look of deep concern and pleading in her dark blue eyes froze me. I stopped my fighting and really looked at her. She paused for a long while, and then finally spoke, this time in a calm, soft voice. "Who created the Kenshin Gumi… who created it, Kaoru?"
I stared at Megumi for a long while, lips trembling as my mind began to work. Then the thought suddenly came to me…
***FLASHBACK***
…"Hey, I'm a part of the Kenshin Gumi too!" Yahiko yelled defiantly as he came out from his hideout underneath the steps. "What the hell were you thinking leaving me out of this?"
Kenshin jumped, crying "oro" millions of times.
"The what?" Kaoru asked incredulously.
"I have one, you say?" Kenshin asked, confused.
"You have one hell of an imagination, kiddo," Megumi replied.
"And you say that way to much," Yahiko said. Sanosuke was waving his finger at Yahiko. Yahiko rounded on him immediately. "And you… you Sanosuke!" He jumped up. "Quit doing that!"
"Maybe in a hundred years, kiddo," Sanosuke replied, amused…
***FLASHBACK***
"Oh my God," I replied. "It was… Yahiko!"
"Exactly," Megumi replied bitterly. "Yahiko's death did not change the fact that we are the Kenshin Group. That was what he wanted… for us to be… together." A solitary still fell down Megumi's cheek. "And there's no such thing as the Kenshin Group without the Kenshin," she replied.
"But Megumi I can't-"
"Yes… you… can!" Megumi retorted, shaking me more. "You can do this if you only stop whining and covering up and gain the courage to try! You were Yahiko's master. I would be pretty damn ignorant of you if he was the only one getting the teaching."
I stared at Megumi blankly. She released me.
"Now," she began. "Do you have the courage to try, or do I have to slap you silly?" It sounded like a joke, but Megumi's face was serious. I simply glared at Megumi. She sighed. "All right, fine. Be a stubborn little girl if you like! But…" she stared at me intently once more. "Don't crush the kiddo's dreams while doing it."
With that, Megumi turned around, and walked straight to the dojo gate. Without hesitation, she opened it, and stormed out.
For a moment, I just stared after her. Then I realized what had happened… and my knees gave way straight under me. I began to weep- hard and loudly. Stop whining and covering up… you were Yahiko's master… don't crush the kiddo's dreams…
When I finally got myself to calm down and stop the tears from flowing, a soft creaking sound made me start. I immediately rubbed my face clean with the edge of my kimono sleeve and sniffed.
"Hello, Kaoru!" It was Kazuma's voice. I did not look up at him. "I got the day off work and decided to pay you a visit." He sounded like a proud peacock, and a colorfully happy one at that. He knelt down beside me. He waved something in front of my face that I was not focusing on. "Aye, Kaoru can't you see?"
I focused. I the flowers only cheered me up a little.
"They're beautiful, Kazuma," I said softly, sniffling again.
"Hai, they are," Kazuma replied just as softly. "But they're not just any flowers, Kaoru. They're special… look at them."
Kazuma put the bouquet in my hands, and I did look at it. I gasped.
"They're anemones!" I cried, admiring the lovely array of white and light purple flowers. "Oh," I said, losing my joy once more. I looked up at Kazuma intently. "But you can't afford them."
"Hai I can," Kazuma replied. He put his hand under my chin and gently lifted it. "I can afford anything for you, Kaoru-chan."
I looked deep into his gorgeous brown eyes- I saw true… love… and affection there. I was drowning in them again.
Kazuma brought his face close to kiss me, but I pulled back away from him. He blinked, looking hurt. I avoided his gaze.
"What's wrong, Kaoru?" Kazuma asked, voice sounding deeply sorry.
"I-" I did not look at him. "Please go away, Kazuma. I would like to be alone, for a while."
"But- why?" Kazuma asked. He was vexed to the very core.
I felt the tears returning to my eyes. I did not want him to go… but he had to. I turned back to him, my dark blue eyes no doubt shining with tears, now.
"Please go!" I pleaded with him, clutching his arms close in his.
Kazuma looked very, very hesitant. Most of all, hurt. He stood up, and gave me a very stiff bow. Then he turned and left, half-slamming the gate behind him in an act of obvious frustration.
Kenshin never said he loved me, I thought painfully. He never called me beautiful… I subconsciously touched my face. Then I took it away, suddenly vexed. Yahiko… you came up with the idea of the Kenshin Gumi! Please tell me what to do! There was no answer, and it seemed that the sky grayed a little more. Then it suddenly dawned on me like the light of the bright sun. I had never visited Yahiko's grave since his death. I was still running…
Soon I really was running, but not away from the past- to it. I ran as fast as I possibly could, kimono flaring up. I had never run so fast. My heart throbbed uncontrollably, a fast, hard thump-ing in my chest.
I was soon running through the Tokyo streets, ignoring peoples' vehement protests as I cut in front or around them. I took a right… then a left. Then another left. I kept running, knowing exactly where I needed to go.
After a good long time of running, I was in front of the cemetery. I stopped at the gate to catch my breath, then entered.
There were hundreds of graves. It felt… eerie in here, but I squashed my silly fear. This was exactly where I needed to be, right here, right now.
As I walked slowly among the graves, I stopped, hearing a soft noise. It sounded like… whimpering. I continued walking, and tried to follow the sound. I walked slowly… very softly, as well. I continued until I finally heard that the sound seemed louder, and knowing that I was close, sped up a bit. I stopped, and let out a gasp.
Tsubame was sitting on the ground in front of Yahiko's gravestone, tears running down her cheeks.
"Forgive me…" she whispered.
I blinked at Tsubame, and then forced myself to study her. Her blue kimono was worn, and her make-up had been cried off. She looked… ruffled. Furthermore, she had bruises on her wrists and a blue spot on her chin, as well as a large, ugly purple welt on between her left cheek and nose.
"Tsubame?" I whispered, incredulously.
Tsubame looked up at me, startled.
"Kaoru!" she replied. She stared up at me with big dark eyes.
"Tsubame what are you doing here?" I whispered softly and sat down beside her.
"K- Kaoru," Tsubame replied. "I- I- I still love Yahiko. I always did. When- when I asked Wuki if I could go visit his grave… he told me I didn't need to. I argued with him. He- he- hit me, Kaoru," Tsubame was sobbing violently. "And then I ran away and came here when he finally let me go. Him and his- his- he- his friends. They… hurt me."
"Oh, Tsu-"
Tsubame continued on, interrupting me.
"Do you- do you remember that time that I came into the dojo soaking wet?" She asked. "Do you remember? I had jumped in the water- I had- had tried to drown myself. But I- but I couldn't- because I thought of…Yahiko. And even though I could not swim- I fought. I fought and struggled and I learned to swim and I got out of the water. Then I ran."
"Tsubame," I breathed, shocked. I instinctively embraced her and hugged her close, and she cried on my shoulder. "Why did you -?" Then I realized I did not have any words to say. All I could do was crying.
When all our hugging and crying was over, I finally noticed an old bottle leaning against the side of the gravestone. I gasped.
"What is this -?" I asked, picking up the bottle. It had a red ribbon tied around it, and behind it was a small scrap of leather. I picked up the scrap of leather, as well, then turned my study to the bottle. It was a bottle of sake- the very expensive kind.
"What in the world?" I began. I studied the leather scrip. Tsubame looked at me quietly, and intently. I noticed a small slit in the letter, and a flash of white in it. I tugged gently, and out came a piece of paper. I scanned it hurriedly. It wrote:
Hey, kiddo, it's me. I don't know when you'll get to drink this, but I'm giving it to you, anyway. Everyone deserves a good drink of sake, even a little brat like you. Rest in peace, kid.
Awl, what the heck! I'm pretty sure you know who this is, but I'll sign it anyways.
-Sanosuke Sagara
"Oh, Kami," I whispered softly, almost dropping the note. I quickly re-read it. Sanosuke Sagara… "So he really did care."
"You didn't know?" Tsubame asked quietly.
"No," I replied. Tears came to my eyes. "I was so selfish! I threw him out because I thought he did not care! I should have known he did! What the hell is wrong with me?"
"Everyone makes mistakes, Kaoru," Tsubame said softly.
I looked up at Tsubame. She looked so grown-up. But there was something… different about her. Her eyes seemed more… bright.
I replaced the sake bottle and the note besides Yahiko's grave. Then I took a deep breath. I read the words on the gravestone. It just stated a name and a time of birth and death. No one had really cared that a brave, honorable boy was buried there. Don't crush the kiddo's dreams… Megumi's words nearly made me shiver.
I immediately stood. Tsubame seemed surprised at how quickly I had, but she stood, as well. I put a hand on Tsubame's shoulder.
"I'm going to take you to Tae's place," I stated firmly. Tsubame nodded placidly. Then what? I thought bitterly. Yes, then what?
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gip-k's Post Chapter Statements: -Kaoru's faults are high, and she's not yet sure she can pay for them. And even if she could… is she ready to? (Cliffhanger music plays in background)
Okay, CUT! Well, let me see… that seemed pretty cool. (Evil snicker) Well, might well leave you guys in suspense and go on to my special thanks.
Female Hitokiri Battousai
I know you haven't review, but- you- will! (Singing to the tune of unknown song) You did not have time but- you- will! If you think you don't then you do and all, and so I know- you- will!
Crazed Fanatic Anime Fan
Ooh… you were left behind! Uh-oh. -_- You weren't the first reviewer last time… ooh! :D Well I forgive you because your computer was giving you problems. But never hit your computer, because then it WILL give you problems! So when you get angry… fix your comp! It seems crazy but it really works… well, thank you for reviewing anyhow. I appreciate it!
Brittanie Love
Your reviews are awesome! (She's gonna-be-happy-when-she-sees-I-have-too-updates Song) I am REALLY glad you love this story so much so keep on reading! Yip-dee-do! _________________________________
