Sentiments of gip-k: -Hi, everyone. This is the ELLEVENTH! chapter. Oh my goodness, we have gone far. This chapter, a few things good are going to happen… yes, it is called "Shattered Glass". Read on and see why.
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Disclaimer: Kenny-san! (Is hugging Kenshin ridiculously tight)
Kenshin: (Gasping and fumbling) ORO! The… (gasping) disclaimer… uhhh… Miss gip-k does not own… Rurouni… Ken-… -shin… it belongs to… Wat… Wat-suki… Nobu…Nobuhiro. (Collapses in my arms)
Me: (Lets him go and looks him over, swirling eyes, big head of ruffled red hair and frail body in all) Um… sorry? (Heh) HELLLPPPPPP! I accidentally strangled Mr. Himura! (Started running) Somebody call an ambulance. o.0
(Good thing he told you the disclaimer!)
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---Shattered Glass---
The next morning, before the rise of the bright autumn sun, I paced back and forth in my rooms nervously, bare feet making soft thumps on wood beneath them. Thought raged within me like water pushing hard against the strongest dam, wanting nothing more than to flow out. Flow out… yes… that was what I wanted them to do!
Frustrated, I flipped around, realizing that I'd reached then end of my horizontal pace of my rooms. Then I paced again.
When I flipped around the second time, I froze. My brain froze just as soundly, and my now dark eyes fixed on a certain picture sitting on a very simple, yet elegant table in the corner of the room. It was framing in the nicest wood possible… Kazuma's words rushed through my head, on top of Megumi's… on top of Kenshin… Sano's… Yahiko's… my father's. Thousands of phrases, thoughts, and possible actions surged through me, filling my head with a dull ache, and my heart with sheer frustration. I squeezed my eyes shut and…
Almost involuntarily… without any thought at all, I seized the picture in a white knuckled fist and hurled it with all my might. I only heard my loud cry after I was done… a faint ringing in my ears.
I blinked, shocked at my own sudden and convulsive wave of rage and violence. When I came to, all I felt was ice cold calm… the kind you get when all of your fury has been released as energy in a short, yet strong tantrum. That was exactly what I had just done.
I peered down. The table had a large dent in it- or rather cut- from the edge of the picture's frame. The frame itself was partially in splinters, all mangled and the like. The glass sprawled on the ground like sharp scattered raindrops. I frowned down at them and then at the large, red welt in my hand. Surprisingly, there were no shards of glass in the skin of my bare feet, which were so near the wreckage. The most surprising thing was that the picture itself was completely and totally unharmed. Strange…
I still felt that icy cold calm. The sun was slowly starting to rise in the east and it casts its illuminating glare through the thin walls of my room and unto the small slits of shrapnel, making them seem to glisten. They shown brightly, almost as though they had a light of their own. The picture underneath suddenly seemed enhanced to my eyes. The sun continued to shine through.
I felt irritation, and more emotions flutter through me, but I squashed them all. Well, all of them except the one sure emotion of determination. I had something important, to do today.
I put on my clothes hurriedly, and almost soundlessly. The determination was starting to melt away all the ice. I would survive. I would not turn into a shriveling wimp in front of anyone- no, not anyone. That included Megumi Takani.
After about forty-five more minutes, I was through the city, and standing in front of the woman's medical station, where she usually was. I walked right in, and I was startled when I realized she was standing right in front of me.
"Kaoru."
"Megumi."
We spoke at almost the same time, overlapping each other's voices at particular intervals. I gave Megumi a hard, icy stare. Surprisingly, hers was soft, completely calm, and… abashed? I gave Megumi a curt nod, signaling that she be the first to speak.
"Hey, raccoon girl," she said casually. Her voice was extremely stiff, though, and her eyes filled with regret and perhaps sadness. "I… just wanted to say I'm sorry for what happened yesterday." I did not speak, simply stared at Megumi. "I…" she continued with a sigh, gazing at me intently with her dark blue-eyed stare. "I kinda went off my rocker. Even a doctor can lose control, sometimes I guess."
She turned around, and began idly stroking the edge of her desk.
"You do not have to… find the others, Kaoru. I was wrong to put such responsibility on your shoulders, Kaoru. I was being both selfish and unkind," Megumi sounded bitter, but her voice softened considerable at her last phrase. "Please forgive me."
I was quite surprised, at that, and barely stopped my jaw from dropping down. This was unlike Megumi. I, however, put all that to the side, and finally spoke.
"There's nothing to forgive, Megumi," I said softly. Megumi flipped around to look at me. I stared at her, my jaw set in determination. "You were right."
"Well," Megumi said. She looked a bit proud… ACK! Stupid fox. This was no time for jokes.
Megumi seemed to notice that, for after only a fraction of a second her face returned to its previous, more serious state.
"Continue, please," Megumi said. "I want to know what the little raccoon has hidden up in that little mind of hers."
"I am going to start by finding Sano," I could not help but let my mouth tighten a bit, at that. My hands clenched into fists. Not from anger, really, but rather from frustration and bitterness. "But for that, I need your help."
Megumi looked at tad bit surprised.
"My help?" she breathed softly.
"Yes," I said calmly, and seriously. "Sano seemed to have some sort of a connection with you," I stated. Megumi raised an eyebrow, and I hurriedly continued. "And after all, you were the last to see him, most likely, and you've been in town all the time… well, you know."
"And so what are you implying I do?" Megumi asked.
"I am-" I cleared my throat. "I am implying that we split up and you help me search for him. The last that I saw of Sanosuke, he was as angry with me as a… well… he was angry with me."
"He did look quite upset," Megumi said with a grimace. "I think I'd seem him a few times around that time, he was storming around like thunderclouds, and mad enough to chew wood, or maybe knock a tree down with his head. I had had no idea what had upset him so…" Megumi paused, the expression in her eyes one of askance. I knew exactly what that meant.
"Megumi," I said, barely concealing my temper. "I've forgiven Sano, and I wish to ask him to forgive me for treating him unkindly. If you think you find some more fault in him than in me, then you're wrong!"
I realized I was shouting, as well as lying, and froze. I was more wrong than Sano… I had thought he had not cared about Yahiko- that was the greatest wrong, no matter how you looked at the situation.
Megumi was staring at me. She was a fox again- an angry fox, this time, right on the brink of an attack.
"If I have to set you straight again little raccoon-"
"You don't," I said firmly.
"Hey," Megumi said. "I know Sanosuke may be kind of a jerk sometimes-" she nearly scowled at that, however strange that was. "All men are idiots- thinking that their the best-" this time, she grimaced, but there seemed to be something affectionate about that grimace. Then her face broke into a mischievous smile. "Humph! I'm going to give that man a good talking with when we get him back… and an examination, too."
Fox ears re-appeared, and Megumi began snickering like a mischievous little boy with candy. I could not help but smile. Megumi was back… and so was I.
We began searching all over the city that very day. We tried not to let it slip who we were actually looking for. It seemed that there was no sign of Sanosuke, anywhere.
While Megumi was on the other side of the city browsing around, I was on the side near the docks. Darn! Sanosuke was so tall, and that white coat with "evil" or "bad" written on the back of it was unable to miss! Where was he?
I continued searching, and was startled when I saw someone else. His beautiful brown eyes and that muscular build, as well as rusty working clothes that looked near perfect on him, caught my eye. He was staring out into the water, eyes glazed, face filled with indescribable emotion. Kazuma…
I just stared at him for a few moments… watched him watch the waters. He was so handsome… so beaming with emotion. The emotion I felt was… sadness. It was all coming from that one man.
My heart fluttered a bit as I gingerly walked up to him as not to startle him. I was so happy to see him, but still uneasy. He had a scary look on his face. I touched his shoulder and he flipped around. The surprise in those gold-brown eyes was enough to kill me, and the look of utter amazement- joy that flooded into him to me, was overwhelming.
"Kazuma…" I breathed, touching his cheek softly.
"Kaoru!" he exclaimed. A boyish grin appeared on his face, then just as quickly disappeared. He looked very concerned, and before the words worried words could slip his lips, I kissed him. It was rougher than the way he usually kissed me, but I wanted to kiss him fast before he could speak. Why, I did not know, but I did anyway. It felt so… exhilarating.
I released his shoulders, and peered deep into his eyes, where I saw mixed emotions of surprise, fear, love, joy, and frustration. With were both left breathing hard for a while. I almost felt my cheeks heating up.
"You're not… mad at me anymore, Kaoru?"
"Mou, no!" I cried. I almost felt like weeping. "I was never mad at you, Kazuma dearest. I just needed time… to myself."
Kazuma seemed to understand a little. After all, I had nearly taken my life recently. I hoped he thought that was it… but the question marks portrayed clearly in his eyes said otherwise.
"Why?" he asked softly. He seemed to read my emotions… read that I was hiding something from him. "Please tell me, Sweetgrass… please tell me.
I averted his eyes. They tore so much out of me, those eyes. All his emotions were displayed clearly in them, like a mirror to his mind. I loved him so… I feared this might hurt him. I bit his lip.
"Kaoru, you should tell me," he sounded stern now, and frustration edged his tone. "I do not want you to hide things from me. Tell me everything…" His voice once again softened, and he lifted my chin the way he always did. "Please."
The word please always worked with me, somehow, half broke my heart for him, half killed me and rent me in two. A tear nearly rolled down my cheek at the thought of lying to him… I could never lie to my dearest.
"The… Kenshin Gumi," I replied, weeping. "I'm trying to put it back together."
Kazuma stiffened. I could almost feel him swaying in my arms. His eyes were for the first time… blank… expressionless. It frightened me so much, but before long, there were back to normal, this time filled with pain. He stayed quiet… very, very, very quiet. I sat there, staring at him, deep in his eyes, trying to read his emotions. Then I saw… understanding, affection. He still did not speak, though, so I decided to.
"Um, I… visited Yahiko's grave, yesterday," I said. Rather, I choked out in a raspy voice. "I believe this is what… he wanted."
"That woman…" Kazuma whispered, as if not hearing or seeing me.
"What woman?" I asked in that same weak voice.
"That woman I saw leaving the dojo when I came, yesterday," Kazuma said. He returned to normal, and then gazed at me intently, life once more pouring out of those golden brown eyes.
"You mean Megumi Takani," I said. It was not a question.
"Yes," he said. "Isn't she the medicine woman? What was she doing at the dojo, yesterday? What did she tell you, Kaoru-chan?"
I stared at Kazuma, trying to keep my face expressionless. Inside, I was boiling.
"She told me…" I began. I licked my lips. "She told me nothing, Kazuma."
I felt that I was going to drop dead from the lie. I nearly fainted in Kazuma' eyes. Colors swirled in my brain, and my stomach did a horrible flip-flop, making my knees buckle. Kazuma had to keep me from falling.
"Oi, Kaoru-chan," he whispered. "It's all right. You don't have to tell me."
My lips trembled, and I bit down on them hard to keep from crying compulsively.
"Where is she, now?" he asked. He sounded pained to put me through this torment, but his curiosity far outweighed that desire now. His eyes were burning with… eagerness, almost. I averted his gaze.
"She's looking for… Sanosuke Sagara," I said softly. "Zanza."
"Oi!" Kazuma said. Then he became serious. "He was one of your friends, wasn't he? The tall man in the picture."
I nodded. Kazuma nodded also, which nod I saw from the corner of my eye. Then all we heard was the sound of the waves crashing against each other in the vast oceanic waters, and the call of the birds above our heads. All was completely, and totally quiet. The silence was eating away at me.
"Kazuma," I said, shifting in his arms to look at him.
"Hmm, Kaoru?" he asked. His eyes carried a faraway look, as if he was in a daze. I felt my heart beating hard in my chest.
"I still love you," I said. It sounded so out of place. The waves crashed against each other, once again. Kazuma finally broke the silence, and rested his chin on my forehead.
"Thank you," he said in a soft voice. "I think I know what you're getting at, and…" he flipped me around, lifted my chin once more. I looked deep into his gold-brown eyes, now radiating with deep affection and loyalty. "I don't care if you're re-creating the Kenshin Gumi. I love you, Kaoru. Whatever makes you happy… is immediately accepted by me."
He then kissed my forehead, and held me closely. I let myself rest in his arms. Oh… Kazuma.
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gip-k's Post chapter Statements: -Dun-dun-dun… tee-he. Uh, hope you liked that, Stacey! ^_^ I was not planning to end that chapter like that, but it seemed appropriate. Kaoru obviously loved this guy, and he loves her… but the Kenshin Gumi is being created it. So everything's all bubble-gummy and sticky, but I think I like it that way. I hope it's not too suspenseful. ~_~
Well, here come my special thanks.
Chibi Fyrefly
Hey, thanks so much for reviewing. I really, really appreciate that, and I sure wish you great luck with all your works! Thanks for adding my story to you're favorites. I applaud you, for that. ^_^ Good choice!
Soujiro/kaoru fanatic
Weird… you're my best friend's ally, now, because you support Kaoru/Kazuma, too! ^_^ By golly gee whiz… isn't that nice! ^_^ Thank you SO much for reviewing. I'm glad you like this story… everyone does.
Waterflash
You're another of the new reviewers! Coolyo! ^_^ Look above you for the rest, LoL. I like your review. You hope it ends Kenshin/Kaoru. Well you're a majority. But sometimes, if the majority don't follow my heart's true feelings… (Shrugs) I just stay with my root idea. No one goes into the mind of gip-k. (Lightning flash)
BubblyBoo
Yee-haw! You're my newest reviewer! This story made you cry, and you want to kill Wuki? GREAT! That was all intended. :D I am REALLY happy people like this story so much. They find it sad, addictive… evil… golly. You guys are such an encouragement. Thanks, everyone!
Queen Kagom
Yippie! You gave me three reviews that day. You rock- yes, you rock! Thanks for reviewing.
Dragon Ladysupreme
Ooh… the evil lingo is missing from speech… where is Kenny? We most get him and return the evil lingo! : XD We MUST! Thank you for reviewing. Good luck with all your stories. Don't forget to give me an update here and there. JA NE!
Brittanie Love
You seem to be taking the angst disturbing too well… you seem… excited? I love keeping you in suspense. :D I'm in the business of that. Also disturbing, I guess… well here is your long awaited update. Come up to expectations? Hmmm… maybe I should make it angstier. I do not see necessity for that but… (shrugs) thanks for reviewing, anyway!
Female Hitokiri Battousai
… … … So, good bad or ugly? How was this chapter? I put a little more kissy-wishy. Yes, kissy-wishy! I really need you to like this chapter. (Freaks out if fhb. doesn't like it.) Coolyo! Well, this is this chapter. Things will change soon. Perhaps… I still have consideration. Thanks all your nice good reviews, mi amiga! I really appreciate them.
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Sanosuke: Yeesh. Too many reviews.
Me: o.0
(interpreted as… "What the h*** is he doing here?")
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