Little Plans
By: Silver Teardrops
Disclaimer: Don't own anything so far. O.o what a shock!
______Chapter Eight________
"Aki, are you sick?" Aoshi asked as Aki was a lot paler than she was last time he seen her, and she was even quieter than before. Something was wrong, and Aoshi wanted to know.
"No...don't worry, it's just lack of sleep, you know the projects that were due. So what did you want to ask me that was so important?" Aki asked changing the subject because, it hurt her too much that she was about to break down and cry. Aoshi noticed her eyes a little red and watery but decided to ignore it and answer her and finally ask her.
"It may seem too sudden for you...but...would you go with me?" Aoshi said nervously but smoothly as if he was just saying "hi" and nothing so important as that. Aki was taken back, but her heart leaped from its confines. He liked her! Out of all the girls he liked her! And she liked him too! She smiled polietly and blushed.
"It's not too sudden but yes I would love to." Aki replied looking away to hide her blushing cheeks. Aoshi just asked her to be his girlfriend and no way was he letting her hide what she felt and looked like at that moment, so in turn he took her chin and turned it towards him and smiled.
"I'm glad you accepted being my girlfriend. But from now on...no more secrets okay, my Autumn Angel." He leaned closer and placed a quick and light kiss on her lips and she nodded.
"No more secrets." She said, but how could she tell him about...Ryouta...how he's been treating her since she was 8 years of age, how? She decided, this was one promise she had to break, for Aoshi's sake.
"Um, Aoshi, so are you sure that you like me enough to be with me? I mean I'm not much to look at and I'm not very talkative and I- I'm not right for you. Are you sure you got-" Aki was cut off by another kiss to her lips.
"I'm sure I got the right girl, and right then you were talking too much. So everytime you talk too much, I'll give you a kiss, to stop you that is." He smirked as he held hands with her.
"When can I meet your family?" Aki asked, wanting to know everything, everyone of his family-since he looks so well brought up.
"A question must be answered before I answer that- When will I meet your family?" Aoshi countered, and Aki stopped in her tracks. Aoshi was suddenly pulled back by his hand and looked back to Aki, who was paler, and looked even scared.
"What? Is there something? Was it something I said?" Aoshi asked quickly examining the area for any threats or trying to remember if he offended her in anyway by his questions or remarks.
"No, I mean, it's nothing at all. I just had to catch a breath that's all. And what you said about meeting my family, I'll tell you when you can, but I really want to meet your family first, onegai?" Aki puppy-doged face him and Aoshi caved in and invited her to dinner with his whole family tomorrow night. Aki kissed Aoshi lightly on the lips as she entered her house.
"See you tomorrow koiishi." Aoshi whispered before she left and she smiled in return.
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"Who the fuck was that?" Ryouta screamed throwing Aki's back to the kitchen counter, immediately creating a wound on her backside. Aki bit her lip and tried her best to not get him anymore angry than he was now.
"I asked you a fucking question now answer it you bitch!" Ryouta threw a plate at Aki's feet and it crashed to the tiled floor breaking into little shards and cut Aki's exposed skin.
"He's...Shinomori Aoshi." AKi asnwered scared, and falling to the floor with her arms above her head and her legs curled up.
"Shinomori? Rings a bell. His family owns a big deal hotel?" Ryouta asked calmly.
"H-h-hai." Aki mumbled.
"Ah...you've finally done your business straight. Going for a rich dude like that, you've finally put your whoring into good use!" Ryouta laughed and Aki couldn't help her reaction.
"I"M NOT A WHORE! AND AOSHI IS NOT LIKE THAT! I'M NOT LIKE THAT! SO SHUT UP!" Aki yelled and immediately was knocked out cold.
Ryouta had punched her straight in the stomach and was glaring at her unconscious figure evilly. He knew that he's been abusing his sister for years on end and each time, he ended up liking the feel of someone's pain, or someone's torture and it was all caused by him. He smiled wickidly and kicked her fallen figure to the corner of the kitchen and shoved the broken pieces of the plate around her.
"It had nothing to do with me, she's just so clumsy." Ryouta made up an excuse as he chuckled and went upstairs to his room.
Ryouta passed his mother on the way up to his room and she glanced briefly at him and knew he had done it again. Even though she acted indifferent to what was going on, she knew everything that went on in this house, every little thing. Aki's mother went into the kitchen and as she thought, there Aki was knocked out cold and injured once again. So she sighed as she made her way towards her only daughter.
"Aki-chan...wake up please." The mother cooed softly but to no avail was the girl in her arms going to wake anytime soon. So she moved the pieces of the porcelin and carried the light-weight girl to the couch in the living to dress her wounds. She loved Aki, don't get her wrong, it's just that-she worries too much for the family to just worry about one little girl. Her father has been playing her behind the family's back and giving money away to sluts and whores while the family was practically living off of the her small earnings. She gasped as Aki moaned a bit as she tied the bandaged a little too tightly. She finished cleaning her up and kissed Aki lightly on the cheeks and went to make dinner for the family to enjoy, if there is anyone coming down here to eat anyways.
"Don't...Aoshi...no." Aki mumbled and her mother caught that familiar name. Shinomori Aoshi? Isn't that the boy of her best friend? She's going to call her just to make sure, and find out what is with the first name basis.
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Kenshin kept watching as Kaoru became awfully silent on the trip back home. It took ages to finally tear her apart from her father and Yahiko was still frustrated when he entered the limo-because he punched the window and it cracked. Kenshin didn't mind, because he wanted to the exact same thing but dare not lose his emotions.
"Kaoru..." Kenshin whispered reaching to hug her once again. Kaoru gave no resistance as she was pulled into another comforting hug from Kenshin. She didn't care what happened then, she could care less if the limo got into an accident-wait. She rethought, she could care less if she died right now.
"Yo' busu, I know what you're thinking. But you can't just not be yourself. Tousan gave me responsibilities as well he gave you yours, and we have to live to keep it. Don't you dare go up and die on me." Yahiko said knowing exactly what expression she wore and what she was thinking. Kenshin nodded in agreement combing his fingers through her silky hair.
"I-I don't think I can keep it up." Kaoru meek voice came from Kenshin's chest. Yahiko and Kenshin looked at each other and Yahiko left Kenshin to talk to her.
"Kaoru-dono, you can keep it up. Don't think you can't. Look at all the people who are by your side in a flash if you ask for help. Look at Yahiko, your brother, and all your friends, and don't forget me. We'll help you through it all." Kenshin softly reassured her that living was best, especially when she's way too young to die.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru looked up into the most beautiful purple eyes. Kenshin looked back down at her, just as memorized by her midnight eyes.
"Can...can you stay with me tonight? I don't think I can stand being--alone." Kaoru whispered and Kenshin caught it and return with a sad smile.
"Hai, I will. Yahiko where will you be staying tonight?" Kenshin asked. Yahiko looked from the floor up to the two hugging people.
"Can you drop me at Tsubame's? I think, I think I need her." Yahiko said as tears flowed freely from his eyes once again full force. He turned away after he saw Kenshin's brief nod and sobbed quietly to himself.
The limo drove Yahiko to Tsubame's and drove the other two back to Kaoru's mansion.
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Knock-knock
"Whose coming here at such a late hour?" Tsubame's mother wondered in the kitchen as she dranked her tea. Tsubame happened to come out of the training room in time to get bossed around by her kasaan.
"Go answer the door honey."
"But-I'm still training with Aoshi!" Tsubame countered feeling drained but happy that Aoshi said she was improving.
"No buts, Aoshi can wait. Go answer the door this instant." Her kasaan left no room for arguments so Tsubame made her way towards the door and opened it to find a dishelved and crying boyfriend of hers.
"Yahiko...what happened?" Tsubame asked out of concern and her face was immediately changed from irritated to worry.
"Tsubame...so much has happened...I don't want to think of it anymore..." Yahiko walked in and buried his face in her shoulder as he held her, his body shaking all over. Tsubame slowly wrapped her arms around him and tried to calm him down a bit. Just then Aoshi came out of the training room, quite pissed that Tsubame promised to be back in 1 minute but it's been 5 minutes. He saw his mother and then suddenly felt something bad has happened and quickly grabbed his mother and the two ran into the guest area and saw the front door wide open and Tsubame hugging Yahiko.
"What happened?" Aoshi asked softly to Tsubame and she shrugged hugging Yahiko tightly, crying with him. It was hard not to break down especially when your boyfriend, the one who protects you, comes to you so you can protect him. Her mother walked up to them and hugged the two of them crying too. She also felt what Aoshi had, something terrible had happened to Yahiko, something that's never going to heal properly.
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Misao nervously got out of the car and waited for Soujiro to come to her side. He did in a few seconds and took her hand, striding quickly into the pakced airport. Everyone was wearing casual clothing except for a few and those few including Misao and Soujiro. Soujiro finally spotted who he was looking for and ran over to him.
"Yusuke! Over here!" Soujiro shouted to his niisan and his head turned to see his little bro running towards him with a kimono clad girl in tow.
"Oy! Soujiro! Did you kidnap that girl?" Yusuke joked as Soujiro neared and when he was in close range, Yusuke knocked him right upside his head as a greeting.
"Don't lie on the ground, get up and introduce me to this lovely lady." Yusuke smirked at Misao and she blushed.
"Oh, this is Makimachi Misao, we were coming back from the Yume restaurant. She agreed to come see you off, isn't that nice of her." Soujiro began to rub it into his niisan's face, hoping he thought what he wanted him to think.
"Oh I gotcha! Hello Misao-chan!" Yusuke greeted Misao so casually that she loved him right away. Instead of a normal handshake or bow, Misao opted for something different.
"Hello Yusuke-kun! So nice to meet you!" Misao ran up to him and hugged him tightly, and Yusuke surprised at first, but return the hug just the same. He liked Misao, maybe Soujiro has finally found someone who will unlock his emotions, his past, and paint a new path to his future.
"Wow! You found a good lady right here! Too bad I'm leaving or I would snatch her away from you." Yusuke laughed as Misao giggled, not really understanding the joke. Soujiro understood every word and was pissed off by now.
"When are you leaving?" Soujiro gritted out between his teeth. He was staring at how close the two were, Misao arms still around his bother's neck and Yusuke arms still wrapped around her waist.
"Oh! Right now, I was waiting for you to arrive before I entering on board. Well I'm going to miss you little bro, and Misao-chan I'll miss you too! I hope you the best of luck in the future and call me when you have a wedding." Yusuke let go of the blushing Misao and picked up his one carry-on bag and went over to Soujiro.
"I'll see ya soon alright?" Yusuke nudged Soujiro a bit and he nodded in reply. Then Yusuke did the unthinkable, he hugged Soujiro, brotherly of course.
"Take care." Yusuke whispered and then left to the terminal of his plane.
"He seems, nice enough." Misao commented as the two walked back to the car.
"He is, once you get to know him, and you seem to know him well." Soujiro said laughing a bit, but he was jealous inside. Misao nudged him playfully.
"But since he said...when we get married call him? Does that mean you told people that we're going out together-like boyfriend and girlfriend?" Misao asked seriously.
"Well, erm, if you don't mind-I did, but if you do-then I didn't." Soujiro thought if he said that, he might have a chance.
"Well I don't mind, you should've told your GIRLFRIEND first then tell EVERYONE later." Misao joked and her giggles subsided as Soujiro's hands grasped her gently and he bent over to whisper in her ear.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me, Koiishi." Misao blushed and nodded looking into his eyes, feeling- that she never felt this way before, even when she thought she loved Aoshi, she must really be in love with Soujiro and didn't even know that feeling was love.
"I forgive you, as long as we can spend more time with each other tonight." Misao whispered.
"Let's go walk in the park then, for a while." Soujiro suggested and Misao smiled and he led the two on the sidewalk under the bright stars of the darkness.
________________________________________
"Is someone on duty inside?" Kenshin asked Kaoru as he carried her limp body in his arms. She protested at first but then realized she's become so weak that even the slightest wind could probably knock her over. Kaoru shook her head no and Kenshin sighed.
"Do you have the key?"
"No."
"How do you suppose we get in then?" Kenshin asked, slightly amused by her answers. Kaoru smiled weakly, painfully and pointed upwards. Kenshin looked in the direction and saw a thin ladder-like wall was leading up to an open window.
"Okay then, get on my back and hold on tight." Kenshin instructed Kaoru as he set her gently to the ground adn waited for her hands to clasp around his neck.
"I can make it on my own." Kaoru said stubbornly. Kenshin shrugged and let her go first, just in case. Kenshin watched intently as Kaoru took the first few climbs up the wall. Then he saw her sudden lack of strength and was underneath her right away and caught her just as she fell.
"I think you can too, but tonight let me take you up there, okay?" Kenshin said softly and sincerely that all Kaoru could do was nod and climb onto his back and hold on tight. Kenshin climb up in just mere seconds and placed Kaoru gently on her bed.
"Arigatou." Again, unlike Kaoru, her voice came out meek. Kenshin was starting to worry, she was slowly losing herself, losing her ideals and attaching new ones that weren't that satisfying to others that care for her. Kenshin went and sat down beside her, grabbing a blanket in the process and wrapped both of them in it. Kaoru felt warm, and oddly, safe with Kenshin beside her. Her dad told her to beware who to trust, because he thought his best friend could be trusted but suddenly back-stabbed him and that turned into a lesson for his children to learn from. So Kaoru was still very opiniated about trusting whom she just became friends with.
"Do I stay here with you all night? Or do you wish me to leave you alone now?" Kenshin asked as he held Kaoru closer as she shivered.
"It does not matter. Do as you wish." Kaoru whispered, not hinting at what she wanted, but inside she wished he did choose to stay.
"Okay then, I'll stay with you, until you fall asleep." Kaoru smiled, it was the same in most ways.
"Kenshin...when did we switch to first name basis?" Kaoru asked noticing they were exchaning names as if they've been good friends since grade-school.
"Um..." Kenshin looked around nervously; whilst Kaoru giggled inside and waitied calmly for his explanation.
________________________________________
Tsubame had asked Aoshi to close the door adn asked the two to leave Yahiko and her alone for a while, to let him explain for his rash actions.
"Yahiko, please, tell me what happened?" Tsubame pleaded once again, wiping new tears that flowed down her cheeks and onto her hands. Yahiko looked from the floor up to her eyes and saw that he made her cry and instantly felt guilty.
"I--Tsubame...my-my f-father died." Yahiko stuttered and before he could start his new streams of tears, Tsubame began her own.
"Nani? No! He, he can't be, no, they're lying he's still alive!" Tsubame met Yahiko's father once and immediately wanted to call him her father too, but how could this be? Before-before they even had a chance of getting the two families together that he...died?
"Tsubame!" Yahiko yelled to stop her trashings, he was starting to think that he was really meant for her, because the two acted so...rash when it came to big news. Tsubame quieted down. but she still could not believe it so.
"Gomen." Tsubame whispered as she feriously wiped at her tears. Yahiko needed someone to lean on, not someone to lean on him, so Tsubame did her best to stay strong.
"Come here." Tsubame pulled Yahiko into another embrace and Yahiko didn't pull away or anything just accept it openly, and lovingly.
"Arigatou...for everything." Yahiko whispered as he slowly drifted to sleep on her, and Tsubame slowly letting her tears drip from her face.
"You shouldn't cry to yourself, it does nothing good for you." Aoshi's strong voice cut through the quiet sobs of his sister. Tsubame looked up and saw Aoshi stadning there, blanket and a pillow in his hands.
"Aoshi, you can't believe it's true can you?" Tsubame knew her brother listened in and quickly questioned him the one question thats been plaguing her mind.
"Aa...I can't. But, we are mere humans, and mere humans cannot change the course and will of life." Aoshi's strong adn wise words were a lot to take to mind and since Tsubame had time, she pondered that phrase.
"Kasaan heard and I'm going to comfort her for a while, but you get some rest and remember, crying without anyone hearing you, is just a waste as lying to someone who was not there to begin with." Aoshi said as he kissed her forehead and went upstairs to the den to comfort his crying kasaan, their father was away on business trip until further notice, so Aoshi was the man of the house.
________________________________________
"Kaoru..." Kenshin asked after their comfortable silence was settled in. They had a nice chat about their life, or mainly about Kaoru's. Kenshin noticed how quieted she became and noticed her breathing become evenly and questioned her name.
"Kaoru?" Kenshin asked once agian to make sure. Then he looked at her face that was snuggled on his chest and smiled, she was sleeping. He looked briefly over at the clock nad saw that it was almost near sunrise- 5:45 am. They've been awake almost the whole night, and Kenshin was sure that the two siblings would not go to school today in their conditions, and neither was he, until they returned.
~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_
A/n: HiWo! How are you all? I guess everyone's forgotten about this fic, but I would styll like it to keep going. Please review it, I know you're probably mad at the long wait til the next chapter, but I was quiet...tired. So I took an extremely long break and then decided that if I start something I must see to it that its finished. So I recently started to post a new fic up also RK and then updated my Inu fic that I love my readers for reviewing, and now I've finally finished this one to update on. So please forgive me, and I hope you like how things are developing, and if you don't drop a line and tell me, because I think my writing has rusted a bit. Thanks for all the reviews I hope to get more! Here's to hoping! -.-onegai!
^_Silver Teardrops^_
By: Silver Teardrops
Disclaimer: Don't own anything so far. O.o what a shock!
______Chapter Eight________
"Aki, are you sick?" Aoshi asked as Aki was a lot paler than she was last time he seen her, and she was even quieter than before. Something was wrong, and Aoshi wanted to know.
"No...don't worry, it's just lack of sleep, you know the projects that were due. So what did you want to ask me that was so important?" Aki asked changing the subject because, it hurt her too much that she was about to break down and cry. Aoshi noticed her eyes a little red and watery but decided to ignore it and answer her and finally ask her.
"It may seem too sudden for you...but...would you go with me?" Aoshi said nervously but smoothly as if he was just saying "hi" and nothing so important as that. Aki was taken back, but her heart leaped from its confines. He liked her! Out of all the girls he liked her! And she liked him too! She smiled polietly and blushed.
"It's not too sudden but yes I would love to." Aki replied looking away to hide her blushing cheeks. Aoshi just asked her to be his girlfriend and no way was he letting her hide what she felt and looked like at that moment, so in turn he took her chin and turned it towards him and smiled.
"I'm glad you accepted being my girlfriend. But from now on...no more secrets okay, my Autumn Angel." He leaned closer and placed a quick and light kiss on her lips and she nodded.
"No more secrets." She said, but how could she tell him about...Ryouta...how he's been treating her since she was 8 years of age, how? She decided, this was one promise she had to break, for Aoshi's sake.
"Um, Aoshi, so are you sure that you like me enough to be with me? I mean I'm not much to look at and I'm not very talkative and I- I'm not right for you. Are you sure you got-" Aki was cut off by another kiss to her lips.
"I'm sure I got the right girl, and right then you were talking too much. So everytime you talk too much, I'll give you a kiss, to stop you that is." He smirked as he held hands with her.
"When can I meet your family?" Aki asked, wanting to know everything, everyone of his family-since he looks so well brought up.
"A question must be answered before I answer that- When will I meet your family?" Aoshi countered, and Aki stopped in her tracks. Aoshi was suddenly pulled back by his hand and looked back to Aki, who was paler, and looked even scared.
"What? Is there something? Was it something I said?" Aoshi asked quickly examining the area for any threats or trying to remember if he offended her in anyway by his questions or remarks.
"No, I mean, it's nothing at all. I just had to catch a breath that's all. And what you said about meeting my family, I'll tell you when you can, but I really want to meet your family first, onegai?" Aki puppy-doged face him and Aoshi caved in and invited her to dinner with his whole family tomorrow night. Aki kissed Aoshi lightly on the lips as she entered her house.
"See you tomorrow koiishi." Aoshi whispered before she left and she smiled in return.
________________________________________
"Who the fuck was that?" Ryouta screamed throwing Aki's back to the kitchen counter, immediately creating a wound on her backside. Aki bit her lip and tried her best to not get him anymore angry than he was now.
"I asked you a fucking question now answer it you bitch!" Ryouta threw a plate at Aki's feet and it crashed to the tiled floor breaking into little shards and cut Aki's exposed skin.
"He's...Shinomori Aoshi." AKi asnwered scared, and falling to the floor with her arms above her head and her legs curled up.
"Shinomori? Rings a bell. His family owns a big deal hotel?" Ryouta asked calmly.
"H-h-hai." Aki mumbled.
"Ah...you've finally done your business straight. Going for a rich dude like that, you've finally put your whoring into good use!" Ryouta laughed and Aki couldn't help her reaction.
"I"M NOT A WHORE! AND AOSHI IS NOT LIKE THAT! I'M NOT LIKE THAT! SO SHUT UP!" Aki yelled and immediately was knocked out cold.
Ryouta had punched her straight in the stomach and was glaring at her unconscious figure evilly. He knew that he's been abusing his sister for years on end and each time, he ended up liking the feel of someone's pain, or someone's torture and it was all caused by him. He smiled wickidly and kicked her fallen figure to the corner of the kitchen and shoved the broken pieces of the plate around her.
"It had nothing to do with me, she's just so clumsy." Ryouta made up an excuse as he chuckled and went upstairs to his room.
Ryouta passed his mother on the way up to his room and she glanced briefly at him and knew he had done it again. Even though she acted indifferent to what was going on, she knew everything that went on in this house, every little thing. Aki's mother went into the kitchen and as she thought, there Aki was knocked out cold and injured once again. So she sighed as she made her way towards her only daughter.
"Aki-chan...wake up please." The mother cooed softly but to no avail was the girl in her arms going to wake anytime soon. So she moved the pieces of the porcelin and carried the light-weight girl to the couch in the living to dress her wounds. She loved Aki, don't get her wrong, it's just that-she worries too much for the family to just worry about one little girl. Her father has been playing her behind the family's back and giving money away to sluts and whores while the family was practically living off of the her small earnings. She gasped as Aki moaned a bit as she tied the bandaged a little too tightly. She finished cleaning her up and kissed Aki lightly on the cheeks and went to make dinner for the family to enjoy, if there is anyone coming down here to eat anyways.
"Don't...Aoshi...no." Aki mumbled and her mother caught that familiar name. Shinomori Aoshi? Isn't that the boy of her best friend? She's going to call her just to make sure, and find out what is with the first name basis.
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Kenshin kept watching as Kaoru became awfully silent on the trip back home. It took ages to finally tear her apart from her father and Yahiko was still frustrated when he entered the limo-because he punched the window and it cracked. Kenshin didn't mind, because he wanted to the exact same thing but dare not lose his emotions.
"Kaoru..." Kenshin whispered reaching to hug her once again. Kaoru gave no resistance as she was pulled into another comforting hug from Kenshin. She didn't care what happened then, she could care less if the limo got into an accident-wait. She rethought, she could care less if she died right now.
"Yo' busu, I know what you're thinking. But you can't just not be yourself. Tousan gave me responsibilities as well he gave you yours, and we have to live to keep it. Don't you dare go up and die on me." Yahiko said knowing exactly what expression she wore and what she was thinking. Kenshin nodded in agreement combing his fingers through her silky hair.
"I-I don't think I can keep it up." Kaoru meek voice came from Kenshin's chest. Yahiko and Kenshin looked at each other and Yahiko left Kenshin to talk to her.
"Kaoru-dono, you can keep it up. Don't think you can't. Look at all the people who are by your side in a flash if you ask for help. Look at Yahiko, your brother, and all your friends, and don't forget me. We'll help you through it all." Kenshin softly reassured her that living was best, especially when she's way too young to die.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru looked up into the most beautiful purple eyes. Kenshin looked back down at her, just as memorized by her midnight eyes.
"Can...can you stay with me tonight? I don't think I can stand being--alone." Kaoru whispered and Kenshin caught it and return with a sad smile.
"Hai, I will. Yahiko where will you be staying tonight?" Kenshin asked. Yahiko looked from the floor up to the two hugging people.
"Can you drop me at Tsubame's? I think, I think I need her." Yahiko said as tears flowed freely from his eyes once again full force. He turned away after he saw Kenshin's brief nod and sobbed quietly to himself.
The limo drove Yahiko to Tsubame's and drove the other two back to Kaoru's mansion.
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Knock-knock
"Whose coming here at such a late hour?" Tsubame's mother wondered in the kitchen as she dranked her tea. Tsubame happened to come out of the training room in time to get bossed around by her kasaan.
"Go answer the door honey."
"But-I'm still training with Aoshi!" Tsubame countered feeling drained but happy that Aoshi said she was improving.
"No buts, Aoshi can wait. Go answer the door this instant." Her kasaan left no room for arguments so Tsubame made her way towards the door and opened it to find a dishelved and crying boyfriend of hers.
"Yahiko...what happened?" Tsubame asked out of concern and her face was immediately changed from irritated to worry.
"Tsubame...so much has happened...I don't want to think of it anymore..." Yahiko walked in and buried his face in her shoulder as he held her, his body shaking all over. Tsubame slowly wrapped her arms around him and tried to calm him down a bit. Just then Aoshi came out of the training room, quite pissed that Tsubame promised to be back in 1 minute but it's been 5 minutes. He saw his mother and then suddenly felt something bad has happened and quickly grabbed his mother and the two ran into the guest area and saw the front door wide open and Tsubame hugging Yahiko.
"What happened?" Aoshi asked softly to Tsubame and she shrugged hugging Yahiko tightly, crying with him. It was hard not to break down especially when your boyfriend, the one who protects you, comes to you so you can protect him. Her mother walked up to them and hugged the two of them crying too. She also felt what Aoshi had, something terrible had happened to Yahiko, something that's never going to heal properly.
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Misao nervously got out of the car and waited for Soujiro to come to her side. He did in a few seconds and took her hand, striding quickly into the pakced airport. Everyone was wearing casual clothing except for a few and those few including Misao and Soujiro. Soujiro finally spotted who he was looking for and ran over to him.
"Yusuke! Over here!" Soujiro shouted to his niisan and his head turned to see his little bro running towards him with a kimono clad girl in tow.
"Oy! Soujiro! Did you kidnap that girl?" Yusuke joked as Soujiro neared and when he was in close range, Yusuke knocked him right upside his head as a greeting.
"Don't lie on the ground, get up and introduce me to this lovely lady." Yusuke smirked at Misao and she blushed.
"Oh, this is Makimachi Misao, we were coming back from the Yume restaurant. She agreed to come see you off, isn't that nice of her." Soujiro began to rub it into his niisan's face, hoping he thought what he wanted him to think.
"Oh I gotcha! Hello Misao-chan!" Yusuke greeted Misao so casually that she loved him right away. Instead of a normal handshake or bow, Misao opted for something different.
"Hello Yusuke-kun! So nice to meet you!" Misao ran up to him and hugged him tightly, and Yusuke surprised at first, but return the hug just the same. He liked Misao, maybe Soujiro has finally found someone who will unlock his emotions, his past, and paint a new path to his future.
"Wow! You found a good lady right here! Too bad I'm leaving or I would snatch her away from you." Yusuke laughed as Misao giggled, not really understanding the joke. Soujiro understood every word and was pissed off by now.
"When are you leaving?" Soujiro gritted out between his teeth. He was staring at how close the two were, Misao arms still around his bother's neck and Yusuke arms still wrapped around her waist.
"Oh! Right now, I was waiting for you to arrive before I entering on board. Well I'm going to miss you little bro, and Misao-chan I'll miss you too! I hope you the best of luck in the future and call me when you have a wedding." Yusuke let go of the blushing Misao and picked up his one carry-on bag and went over to Soujiro.
"I'll see ya soon alright?" Yusuke nudged Soujiro a bit and he nodded in reply. Then Yusuke did the unthinkable, he hugged Soujiro, brotherly of course.
"Take care." Yusuke whispered and then left to the terminal of his plane.
"He seems, nice enough." Misao commented as the two walked back to the car.
"He is, once you get to know him, and you seem to know him well." Soujiro said laughing a bit, but he was jealous inside. Misao nudged him playfully.
"But since he said...when we get married call him? Does that mean you told people that we're going out together-like boyfriend and girlfriend?" Misao asked seriously.
"Well, erm, if you don't mind-I did, but if you do-then I didn't." Soujiro thought if he said that, he might have a chance.
"Well I don't mind, you should've told your GIRLFRIEND first then tell EVERYONE later." Misao joked and her giggles subsided as Soujiro's hands grasped her gently and he bent over to whisper in her ear.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me, Koiishi." Misao blushed and nodded looking into his eyes, feeling- that she never felt this way before, even when she thought she loved Aoshi, she must really be in love with Soujiro and didn't even know that feeling was love.
"I forgive you, as long as we can spend more time with each other tonight." Misao whispered.
"Let's go walk in the park then, for a while." Soujiro suggested and Misao smiled and he led the two on the sidewalk under the bright stars of the darkness.
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"Is someone on duty inside?" Kenshin asked Kaoru as he carried her limp body in his arms. She protested at first but then realized she's become so weak that even the slightest wind could probably knock her over. Kaoru shook her head no and Kenshin sighed.
"Do you have the key?"
"No."
"How do you suppose we get in then?" Kenshin asked, slightly amused by her answers. Kaoru smiled weakly, painfully and pointed upwards. Kenshin looked in the direction and saw a thin ladder-like wall was leading up to an open window.
"Okay then, get on my back and hold on tight." Kenshin instructed Kaoru as he set her gently to the ground adn waited for her hands to clasp around his neck.
"I can make it on my own." Kaoru said stubbornly. Kenshin shrugged and let her go first, just in case. Kenshin watched intently as Kaoru took the first few climbs up the wall. Then he saw her sudden lack of strength and was underneath her right away and caught her just as she fell.
"I think you can too, but tonight let me take you up there, okay?" Kenshin said softly and sincerely that all Kaoru could do was nod and climb onto his back and hold on tight. Kenshin climb up in just mere seconds and placed Kaoru gently on her bed.
"Arigatou." Again, unlike Kaoru, her voice came out meek. Kenshin was starting to worry, she was slowly losing herself, losing her ideals and attaching new ones that weren't that satisfying to others that care for her. Kenshin went and sat down beside her, grabbing a blanket in the process and wrapped both of them in it. Kaoru felt warm, and oddly, safe with Kenshin beside her. Her dad told her to beware who to trust, because he thought his best friend could be trusted but suddenly back-stabbed him and that turned into a lesson for his children to learn from. So Kaoru was still very opiniated about trusting whom she just became friends with.
"Do I stay here with you all night? Or do you wish me to leave you alone now?" Kenshin asked as he held Kaoru closer as she shivered.
"It does not matter. Do as you wish." Kaoru whispered, not hinting at what she wanted, but inside she wished he did choose to stay.
"Okay then, I'll stay with you, until you fall asleep." Kaoru smiled, it was the same in most ways.
"Kenshin...when did we switch to first name basis?" Kaoru asked noticing they were exchaning names as if they've been good friends since grade-school.
"Um..." Kenshin looked around nervously; whilst Kaoru giggled inside and waitied calmly for his explanation.
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Tsubame had asked Aoshi to close the door adn asked the two to leave Yahiko and her alone for a while, to let him explain for his rash actions.
"Yahiko, please, tell me what happened?" Tsubame pleaded once again, wiping new tears that flowed down her cheeks and onto her hands. Yahiko looked from the floor up to her eyes and saw that he made her cry and instantly felt guilty.
"I--Tsubame...my-my f-father died." Yahiko stuttered and before he could start his new streams of tears, Tsubame began her own.
"Nani? No! He, he can't be, no, they're lying he's still alive!" Tsubame met Yahiko's father once and immediately wanted to call him her father too, but how could this be? Before-before they even had a chance of getting the two families together that he...died?
"Tsubame!" Yahiko yelled to stop her trashings, he was starting to think that he was really meant for her, because the two acted so...rash when it came to big news. Tsubame quieted down. but she still could not believe it so.
"Gomen." Tsubame whispered as she feriously wiped at her tears. Yahiko needed someone to lean on, not someone to lean on him, so Tsubame did her best to stay strong.
"Come here." Tsubame pulled Yahiko into another embrace and Yahiko didn't pull away or anything just accept it openly, and lovingly.
"Arigatou...for everything." Yahiko whispered as he slowly drifted to sleep on her, and Tsubame slowly letting her tears drip from her face.
"You shouldn't cry to yourself, it does nothing good for you." Aoshi's strong voice cut through the quiet sobs of his sister. Tsubame looked up and saw Aoshi stadning there, blanket and a pillow in his hands.
"Aoshi, you can't believe it's true can you?" Tsubame knew her brother listened in and quickly questioned him the one question thats been plaguing her mind.
"Aa...I can't. But, we are mere humans, and mere humans cannot change the course and will of life." Aoshi's strong adn wise words were a lot to take to mind and since Tsubame had time, she pondered that phrase.
"Kasaan heard and I'm going to comfort her for a while, but you get some rest and remember, crying without anyone hearing you, is just a waste as lying to someone who was not there to begin with." Aoshi said as he kissed her forehead and went upstairs to the den to comfort his crying kasaan, their father was away on business trip until further notice, so Aoshi was the man of the house.
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"Kaoru..." Kenshin asked after their comfortable silence was settled in. They had a nice chat about their life, or mainly about Kaoru's. Kenshin noticed how quieted she became and noticed her breathing become evenly and questioned her name.
"Kaoru?" Kenshin asked once agian to make sure. Then he looked at her face that was snuggled on his chest and smiled, she was sleeping. He looked briefly over at the clock nad saw that it was almost near sunrise- 5:45 am. They've been awake almost the whole night, and Kenshin was sure that the two siblings would not go to school today in their conditions, and neither was he, until they returned.
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A/n: HiWo! How are you all? I guess everyone's forgotten about this fic, but I would styll like it to keep going. Please review it, I know you're probably mad at the long wait til the next chapter, but I was quiet...tired. So I took an extremely long break and then decided that if I start something I must see to it that its finished. So I recently started to post a new fic up also RK and then updated my Inu fic that I love my readers for reviewing, and now I've finally finished this one to update on. So please forgive me, and I hope you like how things are developing, and if you don't drop a line and tell me, because I think my writing has rusted a bit. Thanks for all the reviews I hope to get more! Here's to hoping! -.-onegai!
^_Silver Teardrops^_