Passing of the Forbidden
Very sorry... busy busy busy. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed! ^.^
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Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that.
-- Michael Leunig
The course of true love never did run smooth.
-- William Shakespeare
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There was no sound from the table in the corner of the restaurant. Kaoru had a long pale face. Next to her was seated Soujirou, with an unreadable expression. Gina looked from one to the other. Okita gripped his wife's hand.
"May I take your order?" The waiter asked.
Okita quickly ordered and they were left in silence again.
The newspaper was laid on the table. It's headline read, "Himura's Love Affair with Hero's Wife" The story was on Kaoru and Kenshin's relationship.
"When did this start?" Soujirou's voice cut through the air.
Kaoru winced, "Just after you left..." Her voice was a whisper.
The silence fell again. Gina swallowed uncomfortably. This was not the way it was suppose to happen.
"Why..." Soujirou's voice cracked.
Kaoru hung her head, "Love cannot be controlled."
A tear slipped down Soujirou's face. He wiped it away quickly, "Was I a bad husband?" Soujirou mumbled, "I wasn't a good one that I know... but was a truly horrible?"
Kaoru began to tear, "No... you're so kind..." Her head dropped.
"I can't be..." Soujirou raked his hand through his hair.
"No no..." Kaoru protested, "I love you... I'm just not in love with you like I am with Kenshin."
"I can't give you that fairy tale life you wanted... and he can..."
"Soujirou, your're just not her k-" Okita started.
Gina elbowed her husband, "Soujirou... Kenshin may not give Kaoru her fairy tale ending.... but she loves him..."
"Then go."
Kaoru glanced up. Soujirou had pushed himself away from the table and walked to the balcony of the restaurant. "Just go to him."
"I've dishonored your name..." Kaoru began.
"Just go. Don't worry about my name... I worry about yours."
"Soujirou..."
"Go Kaoru." His voice was firm and inexpressive. It was as if he had been sucked of all emotion.
Kaoru's face broke into a smile. She flung herself at Soujirou and hugged him. He did not respond. She stepped back, hurt. "I do love you." She said as she hurried away, probably to mail Kenshin a letter.
Gina and Okita sat in thier seats, dumbfounded. Soujirou walked towards them, "If you love something let it go. If it comes back to you, you will keep it forever. If it doesn't, it was never yours." His eyes wandered past the doorway into the crowded street and beyond the mountains that touched the clouds.
Okita grinned and patted his friend on the back, "You're a good man Soujirou."
Gina nodded in accord, "Very good man."
Soujirou, having seen the paper, had been encumbered with befuddlement, but now he felt his decision helped bring a heavy heart to peace. He held is stoic face, hoping to ease the sharp pain in his heart.
***
"You have DISHONORED your family... your wife... your SONS!" Kenshin watched in disgust as his father drivelled his words out.
"Son sir." Kenshin pointed out to his angry father. This time he was not ingratiate, like he had been usually with his father.
Kenshin's mother was in tears. She knelt by the altar, lighting incense. Her soft strain chant to the ancestors were useless, Kenshin scoffed. They were dead, what could they do? She was only praying as her form of castigating him.
"It's that evil writing of yours that has brought this upon this family. In that devil book Passing of the Forbidden... how DARE you!?" His father inveighed at his son.
Tomoe silently looked at her hands. She slowly traced the urn with her smooth fingers, "Kenji..."
"I still want to marry Kaoru." Kenshin snapped. "You can't stop true love. A cold-heart monster like you wouldn't know about love anyways." He slammed both hand into the wall with a closed fist.
Kenshin's father stumbled back a few paces before collecting himself, "I leave that decision up to your wife." He replied acrimoniously.
Tomoe turned her head and walked outside. She gazed at the rain falling around her.
So much had changed...
"Tomoe."
Tomoe glanced behind her, "Kenshin."
She stopped by the willow tree and leaned against it, "Where have our lives taken us?"
"Tomoe... please... we need to talk."
Tomoe waved her hand, "I need time..."
Tomoe conintued to watch the wind whip her hair and face. Her dress was wet, but she did not mind. She plucked a green leaf from the air and twirled it in her hand. She let it go, watching it be lifted by the strong gust of wind and taken away in a tortuous dance. Away...
She entered the house and came to her father-in-law's study. Kenshin was sitting there with his father. "I have made my decision." Tomoe proclaimed.
Kenshin interrupted, "Before anything... I do love you Tomoe. I have always loved you. I just.... Kaoru..."
Tomoe eyes brimmed with tears, "I know.. that's why I agree to the divorce."
Her father-in-law leapt from his chair, "Tomoe... you can't be serious."
"I am. I myself have longed to seek my own life. Best of wishes to your new wife and child."
Kenshin nodded, "I will never forgot you."
"You are welcome here Tomoe." Her mother-in-law replied. "Daichi may stay with us when you seek your life Tomoe."
Tomoe smiled, "I am very fortunate."
Kenshin grinned, "As a I."
***
Daichi was sitting on the outside steps, reaching his chubby hands into the cool rain.
Tomoe seated herself next to her son. "Daichi... Grandmother says she still has to feed you... you're going to learned to use chopstick okay?"
Daichi looked at his mother and nodded cheerfully, "M'kay."
"You're very brusque too... no manners... a little spoiled... we're gonna make you a good little boy Daichi." Tomoe leaned her head against her son's black hair.
Kenshin walked out, under the umbrage of the roof. He watch his son and wife. Tomoe noticed him and motioned to him to sit.
He held the urn in his hand as he sat down next to his son.
"Wha's ta?" Daichi pointed to the jar.
Tomoe leaned over, "That's your little brother."
Daichi turned to his mother excitedly, "Is he a lil tiny boy?"
Kenshin nodded, "Yes he is."
"Can I play with him?"
"Kenji is far away now... one day you can play with him." Tomoe replied.
"Promise?"
Kenshin patted his son, "I promised."
The three sat in silence, listening to the drumming of the rain; a small nebulous glimmer of an evanescent peace....of a family.
***
Kenshin returned to the busy city. He heard no news on Kaoru. The affair though, was still the talk around town. It had caused consternation for everyone, as the affair was denounced by the old as abasement and revelled by the new as true love.
He rented a larger apartment. He sent word to Gina, but recieved nothing back.
For days he wandered the streets in hopes of catching a glimpse of Kaoru, in case her husband did not let her go.
Under the umbrage of the stand, Kenshin paused to peruse through soome new books. He remembered seeing a small store, empty and on sale. What if he...
He made a quickly dash back, and in a dew short days, he was the proud owner of his very own bookstore. Then again, he had the prerogative of being a well-known author and the man had instantly sold it to Kenshin.
The lurid news of the affair soon died down. Kenshin was content with working his small business and writing on the side. The job was sinecure, and he was free most of the day. He still dreamed about Kaoru coming to him.
He was about the close up on night when a thin pair of arm threw themselves around him.
He did not even need to turn around to know it was her, "Kaoru."
She giggled, "Saw the store..."
Kenshin turned to face her, "How does it look?" She winked at him coyly.
"A bit bare..."
"I was taking about myself."
"I was too." Kaoru gave another musical laugh.
"So... you staying for good..."
Kaoru heaved a sigh, "No..."
"Soujirou won't-"
"It's not that..." Kaoru began, "I mean.... I'm staying with you... but first you need to pick up all my stuff."
"You're... staying?" Kenshin's eyes grew wide.
Kaoru nodded, "We're a family now... right?"
Kenshin looked into her eyes. "That question doesn't even need a reply." He leaned in and kissed her, in the doorway of thier new life.
Their life........ together.......
***
"Miss me?"
Kenshin grinned, "Kaoru... of course I have."
"Baby's coming soon..."
"Three monthes... I know." Kenshin kissed Kaoru deeply.
"Okita and Gina leave in a month for the United States. Okita is so proud, his child, an American."
"Still jealous of them?" Kenshin kissed her again.
Kaoru giggled, "When I've got you? Nope."
Kenshin straightened the books on the shelf.
Kaoru sat down comfortably in a chiar. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in her abdomen. She gasped loudly.
Kenshin rushed to her side, "Kaoru? Wha's the matter?" His face was etched with worry.
"I--I--- th--th---th--ink---ink---- baby--com-"
Without another word Kenshin called the hospital and the doctor. He hurried to call a cab.
They were at the hospital in less than half an hour. Kenshin took the time to send a boy to Gina's apartment.
Kaoru was in labor and the doctor demanded Kenshin leave due to some "complications."
"Any news yet?" Gina asked breathlessly. She was quite large herself, breathless even after a short paced walk.
"Just that there were some 'complications.'" Kenshin sighed, "I hope its nothing."
Okita let his face go blank, but a look from his wife confirmed she had the same fear as he. What had happened to Tokio may happen to Kaoru.
Soujirou walked in slowly. He met Kenshin's eyes briefly before turning his face to glace out the small window.
"Does he have to be here?" Kenshin whispered to Gina.
Gina frowned, annoyed, "Yes he does. He cares about her too. Goodness, you think just because she loves you that you're the only one that cares about her. Soujirou loves Kaoru and there's no doubt about that." Gina snapped before stomping over to the man staring at the sun setting.
"Souj'?" Gina calmly called out.
Soujirou did not even acknowledge her presence. He just stood looking at the ruby red ball fading into the darkened sky.
Gina motioned to her husband. Okita placed a hand on Soujirou's shoulders. Okita felt a shudder runn from his hand, chilling his bones. "Souj..."
"She's not going to make it." Soujirou said quietly.
"How'd-"
"I don't know... I just know she's in a lot of pain... she's not going to make it."
"Don't say something like that." Okita said, "Kaoru's strong."
"She's too strong..."
"She'll be fine. You'll see," Okita gave a wide grin before return to his chair.
Soujirou looked up at the stars, "Kaoru...."
***
He knew before the doctors even came out with the news about her condition.
He had already sensed the passing. She was now at peace; she wasn't in pain.
And he was almost relieved she would be fine. She was in good hands.
Of course, he didn't see the doctor, it wasn't his place.... anymore.
Gina came and told him the news, her eyes brimming with tears.
He sat there, silently.
He had felt it when her pain had overwhelmed her... and then nothing...
He felt her mind slip away from him.
Don't go... His mind called to hers as he felt her slipping away. You have so much!
I'm sorry. Her voice was tearful but sanguine. I must go...
Then go. Once again he had to say those words. Once again he felt her leaving him... forever.... all over again...
But this time she felt it too... becuase she was letting go too. She was leaving... forever. I love you.
Just go. I'll be fine. He brooded tranquilly. Love you too.
Soujirou... Her mind when blank.
And he knew.... she was gone. There was a deep black empty void in his mind... he felt it in his heart.
***
Kenshin looked at the doctor, "She's..... gone?"
The doctor looked depressed, "She went in labor way to early. The child died in her. She lost too much blood... there was nothing we can do. I'm sorry."
"I bet you are." Kenshin said bitterly, "YOU'RE not the one with a DEAD son... and now a WIFE... and ANOTHER SON!!" Kenshin was spitting worlds out in fury.
The doctor duck from the blow Kenshin had for him. Okita manged to intercept the blow, twisting Kenshin's arm behind him. "Calm down..."
Kenshin swung aorund like a mad man. He didn't care anymore. He was angry and sad.
Gina reached for Kenshin's other hand. Her fingers slipped grabbing his wrist and he slammed the back of his hand into her face.
She gave a sharp gasp as she tumbled to the floor. Soujirou leapt from his chair.
Kenshin was still thrashing with Okita holding tightly to one arm. Soujirou frimly gripped the red haired monster by the shoulders. "Stop." He said authoritivly.
The red monster stopped. Okita released his grip, rushing over to tend to his wife, who needed some help standing back up.
The crazy yellow look in the monster's eyes faded into a dull luckluster gold eyes. A man was now shown in the what had been a monster. Kenshin glanced at Soujirou, who kept his grip on his shoulders.
The two men locked eyes. They were going through the same thing... a loss of a woman... the same woman.
They were tied by the bond... the bond of a smiling woman who brought a sliver of happiness into thier lives.
And she was gone....
All of left... was them....
A void....
A shell...
All becuase...
She was gone.
***
It wasn't fair. Kenshin sobbed as the bright sunny day was picked for the funeral.
It just wasn't fair.
As he watched the last of the dirt thrown onto her grave, he knew another chapter in his life was over. He knew what he was going to do now, where he was going. His life was turning in a fast pace now. His past was gone, start out with a clean slate.
Just one thing before he left.
He needed to warn them... of the coming danger.
He peered around for them...
Gina was sobbing on Okita's shoulders as Soujirou was placing a white lily on the grave.
Them...
Sorry... so busy... no time to talk. Please review though! Thanks!