Stronger than Friction
By Vitreux
Standard Disclaimers Apply.
Warning: It's an alternate pairing fic- AoshixKaoru! Don't read this if you can't accept! I wanted to try something different!
Chapter One
Departure
The wind blew through her black locks as the words rang out clearly and firmly. She didn't know why her legs felt so weak all of a sudden, or why her hands had difficulty grabbing the tray. Her fingertips felt cold from the breeze; pressing harder to the rigid surface she thought it was only her imagination.
The scene before her became a blur of colors. It was when the sound of shattering glass surprised them enough to turn around, only to find a shaking Kaoru with pieces of broken teacups beneath where she stood.
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin stood straight up; the look in her eyes shook him deep to the core while he froze.
"Go… gomen nasai!" she suddenly apologized, ignoring the tears that were obviously flowing in her eyes. Bending down she began to gather the broken pieces in haste.
"Are you all right?" the officer that was sitting across from Kenshin asked, staring at the young girl. "Do you need any help?"
"I-iie! I can clean this myself." When she was finished she gave the officer an apologizing look and left, unaware of the deep looks Kenshin had for her… he was watching her the whole time.
***
Could times be anymore different? When they came, they always took Kenshin off somewhere far, to a place she couldn't be at. Kaoru often questioned herself, wouldn't there be a stop? Would she woke up one day, finally finding the officers and the damn troubles gone, so they could leave him alone and she could finally spend her life with the one person she loves?
It sounded so easy at first. But as time went on… the pieces of her dreams began to fall apart. The Tokyo police needed him. The government needed him. Everyone needed him. Haven't anyone noticed, the one that needed him the most and wanted him the most was her? Kaoru, of all people was a beautiful young woman by the age of seventeen… everyone thought she was strong, too strong she recognized. They didn't know the biggest support of her being belonged to a flame-haired rurouni. Everyone thought it was natural for Kenshin the ex-hitokiri to save the world, to prevent Japan from going downfall.
Every time he would leave, and she would stare at his outlines, trying to believe he would be back soon. It was always like this.
"Kaoru-dono?"
Roughly, she wiped her tears away and turned, plastered on her face was a small smile. "Are you hungry, Kenshin?"
"Kaoru-dono…"
"I'll make you some sweet cakes, perhaps you want more tea?" she turned again, so her backside was facing him. Picking up a small tray, she stopped when she felt his hand on her shoulders.
"Kaoru, stop. I'm not hungry." His soft words made her tremble inwardly.
They stood still for a moment, with her slowly placing the tray down.
"The police… he left?"
Blinking, Kenshin retrieved his hand and answered. "Ah."
"You're leaving again, aren't you?"
There was a long pause. "I'm sorry."
Taking a deep breath in, she calmed her speedy heartbeats. "When?"
"…Later this evening." He heard a light gasp, and he picked his head up, trying to turn her around to face him. When he did, he wished that he hadn't told her the news so soon.
She was sniffing, no she was crying. Her whole body trembled, her usual clear azure eyes were now clouded with mist, dark strands of loose hair fell around her perfectly shaped face, covering her features he wished he could see. And worst of all, she refused to meet his eyes.
"Kaoru-dono… oh Kaoru," he wrapped his arms around her trembling form and rested his chin atop of her hair. "I'm so sorry. I promise I'll be back. I promise. Please stop crying."
"Kenshin… no… baka!" she said between her cries. "Just go and make the world peace! People need you," she said against his chest.
"This will be last time." He whispered. "Did you hear me Kaoru-dono? This will be the last time."
"It… better… be!"
***
"Yahiko, listen to Kaoru-dono when I'm not here, please? It will only be the two of you here while Sanosuke is off dealing with some of his old gangster problems."
"Hai, hai!" Yahiko closed an eye and placed both of his arms behind his head.
"Be careful with the bath water. You need to check every five minutes."
"I will."
"And… please be cautious." He looked at Kaoru. "If you have any problem, write to Katou-san, he will deliver it to me."
"Goodbye Kenshin."
"Goodbye Kaoru-dono. Yahiko. I will be back soon!" with that, he hopped onto the horse and trotted with the policeman alongside. His red hair is the horizon on fire, burning into Kaoru's mind.
"He sounded like a mother!" Yahiko snorted and laughed, only to receive a punch from Kaoru. "Oww! That hurt busu!"
"Yes, well here." She thrust a broom into his hands. "You are to clean the floors of the dojo several times. It's got so much dust in there."
"Where are you going?" the boy asked, holding the broom.
"To the market. We're out of stuff to eat."
***
What's for dinner? Fish? Kaoru thought to herself as she passed a small stand of fishes. Maybe not… last time I tried to cook a fish, I almost burned the whole dojo down. She sighed. Just what's wrong with cooking?!
After what seemed like hours to buy the ingredients for dinner, Kaoru paused in the middle of the bridge. She stared into her reflection in the river.
Am I… strong?
"Of course I am." She said quietly to herself. "I am strong, I will be strong… I'll have to be strong."
A droplet of tear. Two.
She quickly shook her head. No time being a cry baby! You have work to do! She straightened her back and breathed in fully, satisfied with her decision. She was about to turn when something hard hit her.
"Oh Christ-"
"Move it girl! I ain't got all evening!" a gruff man towered above, creating shadows on her face.
"Excuse me! You're the one who pushed me!" she shot him a fierce look.
"Well, well, don't we have a pretty girl here." The man tsked. "What's your name?"
Kaoru got up wearily and backed away. "What my name is have no business to do with you."
"Fierce one, are we?" the man stepped toward Kaoru and held up his hands, as she tried looking for a weapon of some sort. She found none. Well, since it came down to this- you asked for it!
PUNCH!
Before she knew what was happening, the man who was trying to grab her fell down with a loud thud. She blinked. Another tall shadow stood in front, his back protecting her from the sunlight. She raised her eyebrow delicately.
"Ano…" she started.
He turned around. Her wide blue eyes met his cold turquoise ones.
"Aoshi…"
***
"So, you're just here in Tokyo because of some ninja business?" Yahiko picked up a sweet cake and popped it into his mouth.
"Yahiko," Kaoru hissed. "Be respectful. Ah sou ka!" Aoshi looked at her as she clapped her hands in delight. "If you don't mind, you can stay here for a day or two." Kaoru offered, then she smiled. "You've helped us a lot back there in Kyoto. I can do this for the least. Isn't that right Yahiko?"
"Ah," he continued eating. "Sure you can! It's kind of bored here without Kenshin and that rooster baka."
The smile faded from Kaoru's eyes. Yahiko noticed this somehow as she turned quiet. He got up and announced, "It's kinda late, and I'll go to sleep for now. And busu?"
Kaoru looked at him.
"He'll be back." He gave her a thumb up and disappeared into the dark hallway.
"Battousai… he's…?" Aoshi asked when the two of them sat alone in the room, with only a candle for light. The shadows danced on the white wall.
"He's off with the Tokyo police. You know these things… and Sanosuke, he has some past gangster problems to deal with."
"So there are only you and that boy in this dojo for now?"
"Hai." Then she looked like she remembered something. "Ano… I want to thank you earlier today at the market."
Amusement was shone on his face. "You should be more careful."
She pouted and giggled, but later she spoke something that Aoshi had expected.
"I miss him, you know. He's always off, saving the world with his own hands. That was his dream." Listening silently he stared at the young woman before. "I wonder what he thinks, having this crazy thought and all?"
Another moment of silence passed, Aoshi got up from his position, looking like he was about to leave the room. He thought she needed some time alone.
Suddenly, he felt a hand grab his ankle. Looking back slowly, he found Kaoru still on the floor, holding onto him with a shaky grip.
"Please… I-I don't want to be alone… not right now…"
He hesitated for a mere second before giving in. Sighing for a bit, he dropped his knees to face her.
"Arigatou…" she managed to whisper.
