~Chapter eleven- A content heart~
"His recovery is remarkable!" Dr. Genzai exclaimed to Kaoru in the dinning room.
It had been about a week since Kenshin had woken up, and he was slowly getting better day by day.
The sweet spring atmosphere had returned to the outside world.
The birds were singing again! And the skies had never been so blue.
"It's amazing…" Kaoru spoke softly to Dr. Genzai from his first statement. "…We are all so thankful….to have him still with us. I'm so glad."
Dr. Genzai smiled at Kaoru's tender voice when she spoke of the rurouni.
She turned to the open screens and stared out at the sunny day.
Out in the yard, Yahiko practiced his swing lessons, and Ayame and Sazume watched and cheered him on.
Sanoske was down at the dock helping out with a shipment of food which had come in from over seas. He was doing it to earn some extra money (believe it or not) so that he could help out with the dojo's damages, which had come to be because of the storm, and Kaoru hadn't enough money to get them fixed herself.
Magumi was back at the doctor's office again, helping patients of Dr. Genzai's and her own, because Dr. Genzai was still tending to Kenshin.
All in all, things were so peaceful.
Back to normal again.
Kaoru was loving every minute of it.
The wind chimes outside made her wish she could go out and play as if she were a little girl again.
"I…think I'll go check on Kenshin. I haven't seen him all morning." She decided aloud.
Dr. Genzai nodded, and continued to work on some papers.
~With Kenshin~
Kenshin laid in his futon, fresh sheets now, and listened to the birds sing outside.
So lovely…
He was almost wondering to the point if he had actually already died and gone to heaven! But everything was too real for that…and he was happy for it.
The screens to his room opened, and Kaoru looked in on him. "Kenshin?"
His face lit up when he saw her. "Kaoru! Good morning!"
Kaoru walked into the room and sat done in her spot beside the futon.
It had been claimed hers, for she had spent most of her time that whole week there with him.
Kenshin looked her over.
She was wearing a purple kimono, and her hair was up with a blue ribbon.
She was so beautiful.
"…How do you feel?" She questioned after a moment.
Kenshin smiled. "Actually…I'm feeling better then I have my whole life. I'll be up in another day or so."
Kaoru laughed. "Ohhh! I see! You just wanna be lazy, right?"
Kenshin smiled up at her.
He had never seen her so happy before either.
Maybe…the events that had taken place removed a gap between them.
He hoped that was the case.
"Do you want me to bring you anything? Some tea? Food?" Kaoru offered.
Kenshin shook his head. "I'll pass. I'm okay."
Kaoru nodded. "Well…"
"Miss Kaoru?? You home?" A voice interrupted Kaoru's talk from outside in the back yard.
Kaoru stood up and went to see what was going on. "Be right back."
She walked to the back screens, and opened them quietly.
Out in the yard, Tae was standing and smiling.
"Miss Tae! It's so good to see you! Aren't you working today though?" Kaoru questioned.
Tae's grin grew. "Well, I was down at the Accebeko opening up for breakfast, when a surprise walked in my doors!"
Kaoru blinked.
Tae stepped a side. "Look who's here to visit us!"
It was Misao!!!
A smile bloomed on Kaoru's face. "MISAO!!!"
She ran to the 16 year old Oniwobon girl and embraced her.
Misao returned the hug openly as if Kaoru were her older sister.
They really did act like sisters most of the time anyway!
"When I got Magumi's letter saying what happened with Himura, I had to come and check things out!" Misao explained, and then with a wink added, "And of course to see my family! I haven't been here since last Autumn!"
Kaoru was filled with joy. "Thank you for bringing her, Miss Tae! Would you like to stay for lunch?"
Tae shook her head. "No…I gotta get back to work! I just thought Miss Misao might need some direction as to how to get here! I swear, these streets are getting trickier to follow every year!"
Kaoru nodded dot Tae, and watched her depart.
Then she turned to Misao and laughed. "I'm so happy you're here! Come on! I'm sure Kenshin is wondering what all the commotion's about!"
Misao nodded, and followed Kaoru into the dojo.
"Awww! It smells so happy! I missed it a lot here!" Misao stated.
Kaoru stepped into Kenshin's room with a smile. "Guess who's here?"
Her blinked. "I have no clue!"
Kaoru stepped back and Misao jumped into the room. "HIMURA!!! I HAD TO COME MAKE SURE YOU WEREN'T DEAD!!!"
"ORO?" Kenshin blurted at Misao's strange way to greet herself.
A few minutes later, Ayame, Sazume, Yahiko, and Dr. Genzai were all in the room, hugging and talking with Misao.
All Kenshin could do was smile!
Practically everyone was there now in Tokyo!
It was a time he never wanted to end…
~A few days later~
Things were quiet again.
Dr. Genzai had returned to his office with Magumi, but had promised to return later on for a dinner.
Ayame and Sazume stayed behind to be with Misao and the rest of the dojo residence.
Kaoru pulled on her favorite kimono, a blue one with white butterflies decorating the sleeves, and a pink ribbon in her hair.
She walked down the hallways to the practice room of the dojo.
Misao and the girls were sitting on the floor painting.
"Oh! I love your picture, Sazume! It's beautiful!" Misao exclaimed.
Sazume grinned up at Misao, paint dripping from her hands and cheeks. "YEAH! My picture is good!"
Misao and Ayame laughed.
Yahiko sat out on the porch, and stared up at the sky, still blue as the sea.
"Good Morning, Yahiko." Kaoru spoke softly as she walked outside and stood beside him, picking up her white parasol from the corner of the dojo, and opening it.
"Where are you doing dressed like that?" Yahiko questioned.
Kaoru put on a sour look. "What'd yah mean "dressed like that"??"
"Won't it get dirty?" Yahiko growled back.
Kaoru smiled into the sunlight. "I'm going for a walk on the hills where the shine is! It's too nice of a day to waste this opportunity! And if my kimono gets dirty, I'll just have YOU wash it!"
Yahiko grew angry. "I'LL NEVER WASH YOUR CLOTHES!!! NO TELLING WHAT YOU DO IN THEM!!!" He screeched.
Kaoru was already walking out the front gates, her head held high, ignoring Yahiko's babble.
Yahiko cringed. "That stupid..--" "YAHIKO!!!!" Misao burst out from the dojo and tackled Yahiko to the ground.
Misao was laughing hysterically. "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! OKAY! NEW GAME! TRY AND CATCH ME! THE GREAT MISAO!!!!"
Yahiko screamed. "UGLY WEASEL!!!!!!!!!!! I'LL GET YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"WHAT'D YOU CALL ME???!!!!" Misao screamed back.
They began to chase one another around the dojo.
Ayame and Sazume just stared in bewilderment.
"They're weird." Sazume commented.
"You're telling me." Ayame replied.
"What's all the noise out here?" A calm and contented voice spoke from the front screen doors.
The two girls turned around to see who it was, and their faces lit up at what their eyes met, and Misao and Yahiko stopped combating on the ground.
~With Kaoru~
Kaoru's sandals clopped on the shine steps as she walked up each one carefully.
When she reached the top, she bowed to the shine, and then turned off onto a path leading into the hill's trees.
The sun poured down from the trees above her head, creating beams on the ground below her feet.
The tree's were green and spectacular, and the birds sang their songs from the branches.
Kaoru's lips curved into a smile as she came closer to her destination.
Finally, she reached it. The hill top looking over all of Tokyo below, and the ocean off in the distance.
Her blue eyes tinted in the sun. "I knew today would be a perfect day to see this."
She sat down on the ground, and twirled her parasol around and around above her head.
She sighed happily, and stared out into the gorgeous day.
The flowers danced around her.
She only wished a certain someone could have come with her on this perfect day.
Her heart beat in a steady rhythm when she thought of him.
The breeze past her, and she felt so content.
To have a content heart….
That was what she had wanted all along.
She knew that it was the same for the rurouni back home.
The rurouni….
Kenshin Himura.
Things got quiet for a moment.
She couldn't even her herself breathing!
Then…entering her ears was the sound of footsteps!!
Her eyes widened when she saw a familiar shadow fall over her.
She smiled.
"Miss Kaoru?" A voice said.
She turned around, and moved her parasol out of the way.\
Her heartbeat fastened.
"Kenshin! What are you doing up?! I thought you were still in bed!!" She stated.
Kenshin nodded to her. "I woke up and realized I felt just fine and that I didn't need to waste this day sitting in bed. Um…..might I join you?"
Kaoru, completely forgetting her manners, exclaimed. "Oh!! I'm sorry! Please sit down!"
Kenshin did so and smiled.
For a while, nothing was said.
Then, he spoke. "It's so beautiful out. I've never seen it like this before. Maybe it's just me."
Kaoru nodded, and kept her head down.
She was blushing frantically.
Kenshin watched her for a moment. "You know…I've been thinking…..about what I was supposed to tell someone. I know…I'm supposed to tell you. The thing it was….but I just can't recall."
Kaoru made no movement. "I..it's okay. Really! Don't think on it."
Kenshin got quiet again. "…..Everyone told me how upset you were…..when I was sick. They said lots of things I couldn't believe you had done. I…almost feel responsible. I didn't know…I could cause someone so much grief."
Silence….
Kenshin went on….decided to be completely open. "However……….I don't blame you. I would have grieved the same…..if something like that happened to you."
Kaoru's looked up at these words and turned to face Kenshin.
A concerned look came over the rurouni's face for some reason when he looked upon her.
She touched her cheeks and found tears streaming down.
She was crying without her will to control it.
"…Kaoru…why do you shed tears for me?" Kenshin asked, his voice cracking.
Kaoru looked up into his eyes through her watery ones. "B…because……the very thought….of losing you…..rips my heart out…..and kills me…."
Kenshin stopped breathing at her words of confession.
Things got extra silent now.
Slowly, Kenshin picked up his hand, and wiped away Kaoru's tears gently.
As he pulled away when the tears were gone, Kaoru reached up to take it before it could escape.
She held it tightly.
"Kenshin……..promise me……..that whenever you do pass on…….." She moved closer to him, "…that……you won't say good-bye to me…when I'm there at your side….holding your hand like I am now…" She whispered.
Kenshin saw the look in her eyes.
Pure wonderment and care for him.
"….I promise…." He replied.
Before he could get closer, she moved away. "…O…okay…" She couldn't face him.
She was so afraid….but of what?
Kenshin sighed and sat back.
He watched as two birds flew across the sky together.
The breeze brushed through her pulled back red hair, and covered his violet eyes. "I'd….better get back to the dojo."
Kaoru's eyes widened when she heard the tone in his voice.
She seemed….to be missing a part of himself now!
He wasn't complete.
Was that her fault?
She didn't look at him as he stood up from the ground, brushing his hakama's (pants) off, and then beginning to walk away.
She listened as he got farther and farther away….
Each step she was losing him……
She shut her eyes tight.
She wasn't afraid anymore!
She wouldn't lose him like this!!
She jerked around quickly. "KENSHIN!!"
He was no where to be seen!
Too far up the road to hear her!
She picked up her parasol and ran as fast as she could after him, trying to mind her left leg, still in pain, but not so much for her to trudge as fast as she could after the rurouni…..who might be lost forever from her heart.
She spotted him up the road now.
She was getting closer and closer.
She ran faster now.
"KENSHIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She cried.
He stopped and turned around.
She push herself farther, going faster and faster!
She dropped her parasol to the ground, and threw herself forward.
"WAIT FOR ME……" She stated.
Kenshin held his arms out as she flew into them, and held tightly on.
Her ribbons fell out and her hair floated loosely down her back.
She sobbed into his kimono. "Please…don't forget about me….please…"
Kenshin held her up to face him.
His expression was gentle.
So very gentle.
She had no words for him, and nor did he her.
She just wrapped her arms around him and stood there under the trees, sun falling over them.
Kenshin returned her embrace just as much…and maybe even more.
He pulled her back, and looked into her eyes.
"….I won't forget you……..I will always wait for you……..I will never leave you……because……you are my family…..and you are my home……..and no matter what happens from this moment on……I won't go away. I won't walk out of this town not intending to come back! I will never say good-bye. Because everyone here cares about me….and wants me to live. I don't think I've ever known anyone to care about me as much….as you. Can you understand that when you were dreaming and I was there…when you said those things to me…..I realized that I couldn't leave! I shouldn't! I will never allow myself to drift again. Because I can't bear the thought of losing you to time and death either!!!"
Now…tears streamed down his cheeks as well as she.
They held onto one another for so long.
It seemed like hours.
They stared into the other's face with so much comfort.
There was no more gap now.
Kaoru leaned closer. "……I love you Kenshin Himura….." She whispered.
They held on tighter, and he laid his lips over hers with care.
Their hearts finally beat as one.
The wind swirled around them, carrying leaves with it.
The perfect day became a day that they would never forget.
And as Kenshin pulled apart from her lips gently, and looked back at her with a smile, Kaoru knew that this was the contentment……
This was the peace.
This was what she had been awaiting.
The reason why this rurouni came along one day……and changed her life forever.
About 10 minutes later, Kaoru picked up her parasol and held it over both their heads.
Their feet walked aliened, and their hands were folded together.
It was as if this was a natural thing, but however the situation, they were loving every moment of it.
When they reached the shrine steps, Kaoru's hand tightened around Kenshin's as she turned to him.
"Let's go home, Kenshin." She smiled.
Kenshin nodded.
Home…..
Back to their family….and friends.
Their life.
The sun shown brightly.
The wind blew lightly.
A contented heart is a pure heart they always say….and two contented hearts……..create the sunshine days…..and give birth to a fresh start.
There is always something new to learn….and it seemed to Kaoru and Kenshin…..that they learned on their own…..that…..
We cry into our hands and wish and pray with all our might to never walk away. To never say good-bye. Those words hurt too much.
*~The End~*
~ALL DONE!!!! WOOOOOOO!!!! ^V^ YAY!!! I hope you enjoyed it! I did! Anywho, please e-mail me for any comments you might have, k? I'll be hoping to hear from you all soon, that I will!
~Smile B~