Sorry for the late update... school's really stressing me out w/ tests and
hw lately so I had very little time to post chapters, but I'll try to
update whenever I get the chace to write mmk?! Once again SORRY and thanks
for all the replies!!! happy reading!!
I do not own rurouni kenshin
TWENTY-ONE
Kaoru opened her eyes as the bright sun lit her room. She sat up in her bed as she drowsily looked around. Kaoru
cautiously searched the room for her "tormenters." It was a daily morning ritual Kaoru went through after she woke up. When
Kaoru comforted herself that they weren't inside of her room trying to get her, she got out of bed and walked into the
bathroom. Kaoru picked up her toothbrush as she looked up to a mirror covered with light pink fabric. Her face was so
unrecognizable the first two weeks that she would cringe every time she looked at herself in the mirror, so the maids
covered up all the mirrors in the house. Kaoru slowly started to take off the pink fabric from the mirror as she carefully
started to see herself for the first time in 3 weeks. Kaoru's deep blue eyes caught the attention of her reflection. Kaoru
smiled for the first time since 3 weeks. She was starting to look normal again. Her hair covered her scar on the inside of her
head and her scarred face was almost completely back to normal. The tiny marks on Kaoru's face were barely noticeable
now. Kaoru quickly finished brushing her teeth and she walked out into the dining room with an exuberant smile across her
face.
"Good morning Kaoru-sama!" one of the maids said joyfully realizing Kaoru was smiling.
Kaoru smiled even brighter, "It is a wonderful morning isn't it!"
Another maid came into the dining room with Kaoru's breakfast, "You're looking much better this morning Kaoru-sama."
"Thank you! I'm feeling much better. Where's Jino?" Kaoru asked quietly.
"He's in Kenshin-sama's room," the maid whispered.
Surprisingly everyone in the house knew about Jino except the one person that couldn't find out, Grandfather Hiko. Grandfather
Hiko was constantly traveling around Japan because of business so he never had too much time at home anyway, but when he
did stay at home his room was so far away from where Jino usually stayed he would never find out.
"Is Kenshin-san back?!" Kaoru asked expectantly.
The maid tried to smile, "Not yet Kaoru-sama."
Kaoru's smile disappeared as she started to pick at her food. The last time Kaoru remembered seeing Kenshin was when
she thought she would die.then he swooped her from the cold and brought her into warmth. That's all she could remember of
seeing Kenshin. It had been 3 weeks since Kaoru returned to normal and Kaoru hadn't seen Kenshin once.
The first person she asked for after waking up from collapsing was Kenshin, but unfortunately he had left for America as soon as
he knew Kaoru would be okay. Kaoru had high hopes of Kenshin after she realized that he did care for her. That she
really did mean something to him, but when she found that Kenshin had left for Sates.she was disappointed but still hopeful.
What Kaoru didn't know was that she meant the world to Kenshin. Kaoru didn't know the pain and the torture Kenshin
went through while she was sick, as the household called it. Kenshin thought he'd go insane, but he made sure he
didn't show it.
"Do you know when he'll be returning?" Kaoru asked hopefully.
The maid looked even sorrier, "No one's exactly sure Kaoru-sama."
Kaoru got up from her seat as she bowed to the maids for the breakfast, "Thank you for the breakfast."
The maids smiled pleasantly as they looked at Kaoru's untouched food. They sighed as they watched she gloomily walk
away her nightgown hanging limply on her thinning body frame.
Kaoru walked into her room sullenly when the old fashioned phone started to ring excitingly. Kaoru ran towards her phone
as she picked it up 2 seconds after the second ring.
"Hello?!" Kaoru asked expectantly.
There was a long silence at the other end before Kenshin finally talked, "Is this Himura residence?"
"...Ken...shin... san?" Kaoru asked with her fingers crossed.
There was another long silence on the other line. Kenshin felt his whole day brighten up at the sound of Kaoru's angelic
voice, "Yea."
Kaoru didn't want to sound too attached so she tried hiding her eagerness as best as possible, "Kenshin-san...are you
staying in States for a long time?"
This time Kenshin answered right away, "I'm returning tomorrow."
"Really?!...I mean.Jino has been looking for you lately and Grandfather Hiko has returned from his business trip and..."
Kenshin quickly cut Kaoru off.
"I don't have time to talk about Jino and gramps right now Kaoru. I don't have time to keep you entertained on the phone.
Just tell someone to pick me up tomorrow at JAL at 1:00 P.M. Make sure they're on time," Kenshin said as he abruptly hung
up leaving Kaoru stunned at what just happened.
Kaoru thought to herself, "It's probably just a bad connection."
Then suddenly a dreaded thought came to Kaoru, "We've always had bad connections...always..."
"No! Kenshin cares for you! He loves you." Kaoru told herself over and over again. She wouldn't give up hope. Not
when that was the last thing she could cling on to.
Kaoru took a quick glance at the clock on her wall as she quickly grabbed a sky blue knitted cardigan as she ran into the
living hurriedly. Mr. Kobayashi sat waiting at a couch as a maid held sky blue sandals in her hands.
"Mr. Kaobayashi shall we go?" Kaoru surprised the maid and the driver.
"Kaoru-sama you're looking extra beautiful today," Mr. Kobayashi said encouragingly.
The maid chimed in as she set kaoru's shoes down in front of the wide opened doors, "I'm sure Kenshin-sama will be
very surprised with you quick recovery."
Kaoru smiled hopefully, "Do I look okay obasan?"
The maid nodded enthusiastically, "You look wonderful Kaoru-sama."
"Thank you for watching over Jino until I get back obasan," Kaoru said thankfully.
"It's no problem Kaoru-sama. You must hurry or you'll be late," the maid said urging Kaoru to go.
Kaoru took in a deep breath as she put on her shoes and headed outside. Mr. Kobayashi already had the bad door open to the
black Lexus as Kaoru hopped in excitedly.
As the car pulled out of the house towards the main gate a parade of reporters surrounded the opening of the gates with
cameras and news crews. Kaoru looked out of her tinted window watching the reporters surrounded the car.
"What's going on Mr. Kobaysahi?" Kaoru asked curiously.
Mr. Kobayashi smiled uncomfortably, "You're the famous fiancé of one of the richest men of Japan, of course there will be reporters
mobbing the front gate."
Kaoru just smiled as she thought it strange that they were never there before, but she was too excited over Kenshin's
return that she just ignored the mysterious appearance of the large crowd of reporters.
Mr. Kobayashi smoothly pulled up to the entrance of JAL. Once the car stopped someone swiftly opened
Kaoru's side of the door. Kaoru looked surprised at one of the bodyguards that worked for the Himura family. Kaoru bowed
awkwardly as she got out. Outside were two other bodyguards blocking all the press from squishing Kaoru. Kaoru was
extremely confused but she felt like she had to move so she just walked along as the bodyguards protected her from the vicious
mob.
It took 30 minutes to get to the gates where Kenshin would be coming off. As soon as they got there they saw Kenshin
walking out. Automatically flashes from cameras started to pour out towards Kenshin. He seemed very used to it as he stopped
and pleasantly smiled and waved for the cameras.
"Turn this way Kenshin-san!"
"Wave one more time!"
"This way too please!"
"Now with your fiancé!"
Photographers yelled out randomly as Kenshin did what they asked to keep them happy. Kenshin motioned for Kaoru to
come over. Kaoru slowly started to walk towards him as she looked shyly at the cameras.
"Why'd you come out?" Kenshin asked quietly while smiling at the cameras.
"Get closer!"
"No closer!"
"Look this way please!"
Kenshin awkwardly put a hand around Kaoru's tiny waist as Kaoru slightly scooted into Kenshin. The photographers
seemed satisfied because they weren't demanding as much as before.
"Smile brighter Kaoru-san!"
"Kenshin-san look towards here!"
"Don't ignore this side though!"
"No, keep your hand around her waist!"
Kaoru and Kenshin smiled and posed for the cameras for a little longer. Kenshin finally put an end to it as he pulled Kaoru
by the hand towards the exit. It took awhile to get into the car and onto the highway but after 30 minutes of pushing and
shoving through journalists and photographers they finally were able to have a quiet conversation inside the safe walls of the
Lexus.
"Why'd you come out?" Kenshin asked looking out the window.
Kaoru felt the cold words run up her spine, "I haven't seen you for so long and.I just thought I'd go out to pick you up."
"If you didn't come then I wouldn't have been stuck with those damn photographers for 30 minutes," Kenshin said upsettingly.
"I'm sorry Kenshin.. san..." Kaoru said dejectedly.
"Wake me up when we get home," Kenshin said frustratingly.
Kaoru nodded as she watched Kenshin fall asleep not giving a single care for Kaoru. Kaoru looked down at her sky
blue summer dress and her matching cardigan. She looked confusedly wondering if he didn't like her clothes. Kaoru then felt
her French braided hair wondering if her hair was the problem. She then silently pulled out a mirror from her small blue
handbag as she checked her face. The light powder covered up all that was left of her scars. Kaoru sighed confusedly
wondering why Kenshin was so disappointed in her. After going over reason after reason Kaoru realized they were already
home.
"Kenshin-san...we're home..." Kaoru said quietly.
Kenshin stirred at the soft sound of Kaoru's voice. He ignored her as he got out of the car and walked into the house like
Kaoru was never in the car. Kaoru walked out of the car with her head down and the tears forming in her eyes. She took
her time as she walked into the house. Kaoru took off her sandals and hopefully looked around for Kenshin but he was
already out of sight. Kaoru headed for her room as she undid her French braid and pulled off her cardigan.
"What did I do wrong..." Kaoru thought to herself dejectedly, "What did I do wrong?" ~Aya~
Kaoru opened her eyes as the bright sun lit her room. She sat up in her bed as she drowsily looked around. Kaoru
cautiously searched the room for her "tormenters." It was a daily morning ritual Kaoru went through after she woke up. When
Kaoru comforted herself that they weren't inside of her room trying to get her, she got out of bed and walked into the
bathroom. Kaoru picked up her toothbrush as she looked up to a mirror covered with light pink fabric. Her face was so
unrecognizable the first two weeks that she would cringe every time she looked at herself in the mirror, so the maids
covered up all the mirrors in the house. Kaoru slowly started to take off the pink fabric from the mirror as she carefully
started to see herself for the first time in 3 weeks. Kaoru's deep blue eyes caught the attention of her reflection. Kaoru
smiled for the first time since 3 weeks. She was starting to look normal again. Her hair covered her scar on the inside of her
head and her scarred face was almost completely back to normal. The tiny marks on Kaoru's face were barely noticeable
now. Kaoru quickly finished brushing her teeth and she walked out into the dining room with an exuberant smile across her
face.
"Good morning Kaoru-sama!" one of the maids said joyfully realizing Kaoru was smiling.
Kaoru smiled even brighter, "It is a wonderful morning isn't it!"
Another maid came into the dining room with Kaoru's breakfast, "You're looking much better this morning Kaoru-sama."
"Thank you! I'm feeling much better. Where's Jino?" Kaoru asked quietly.
"He's in Kenshin-sama's room," the maid whispered.
Surprisingly everyone in the house knew about Jino except the one person that couldn't find out, Grandfather Hiko. Grandfather
Hiko was constantly traveling around Japan because of business so he never had too much time at home anyway, but when he
did stay at home his room was so far away from where Jino usually stayed he would never find out.
"Is Kenshin-san back?!" Kaoru asked expectantly.
The maid tried to smile, "Not yet Kaoru-sama."
Kaoru's smile disappeared as she started to pick at her food. The last time Kaoru remembered seeing Kenshin was when
she thought she would die.then he swooped her from the cold and brought her into warmth. That's all she could remember of
seeing Kenshin. It had been 3 weeks since Kaoru returned to normal and Kaoru hadn't seen Kenshin once.
The first person she asked for after waking up from collapsing was Kenshin, but unfortunately he had left for America as soon as
he knew Kaoru would be okay. Kaoru had high hopes of Kenshin after she realized that he did care for her. That she
really did mean something to him, but when she found that Kenshin had left for Sates.she was disappointed but still hopeful.
What Kaoru didn't know was that she meant the world to Kenshin. Kaoru didn't know the pain and the torture Kenshin
went through while she was sick, as the household called it. Kenshin thought he'd go insane, but he made sure he
didn't show it.
"Do you know when he'll be returning?" Kaoru asked hopefully.
The maid looked even sorrier, "No one's exactly sure Kaoru-sama."
Kaoru got up from her seat as she bowed to the maids for the breakfast, "Thank you for the breakfast."
The maids smiled pleasantly as they looked at Kaoru's untouched food. They sighed as they watched she gloomily walk
away her nightgown hanging limply on her thinning body frame.
Kaoru walked into her room sullenly when the old fashioned phone started to ring excitingly. Kaoru ran towards her phone
as she picked it up 2 seconds after the second ring.
"Hello?!" Kaoru asked expectantly.
There was a long silence at the other end before Kenshin finally talked, "Is this Himura residence?"
"...Ken...shin... san?" Kaoru asked with her fingers crossed.
There was another long silence on the other line. Kenshin felt his whole day brighten up at the sound of Kaoru's angelic
voice, "Yea."
Kaoru didn't want to sound too attached so she tried hiding her eagerness as best as possible, "Kenshin-san...are you
staying in States for a long time?"
This time Kenshin answered right away, "I'm returning tomorrow."
"Really?!...I mean.Jino has been looking for you lately and Grandfather Hiko has returned from his business trip and..."
Kenshin quickly cut Kaoru off.
"I don't have time to talk about Jino and gramps right now Kaoru. I don't have time to keep you entertained on the phone.
Just tell someone to pick me up tomorrow at JAL at 1:00 P.M. Make sure they're on time," Kenshin said as he abruptly hung
up leaving Kaoru stunned at what just happened.
Kaoru thought to herself, "It's probably just a bad connection."
Then suddenly a dreaded thought came to Kaoru, "We've always had bad connections...always..."
"No! Kenshin cares for you! He loves you." Kaoru told herself over and over again. She wouldn't give up hope. Not
when that was the last thing she could cling on to.
Kaoru took a quick glance at the clock on her wall as she quickly grabbed a sky blue knitted cardigan as she ran into the
living hurriedly. Mr. Kobayashi sat waiting at a couch as a maid held sky blue sandals in her hands.
"Mr. Kaobayashi shall we go?" Kaoru surprised the maid and the driver.
"Kaoru-sama you're looking extra beautiful today," Mr. Kobayashi said encouragingly.
The maid chimed in as she set kaoru's shoes down in front of the wide opened doors, "I'm sure Kenshin-sama will be
very surprised with you quick recovery."
Kaoru smiled hopefully, "Do I look okay obasan?"
The maid nodded enthusiastically, "You look wonderful Kaoru-sama."
"Thank you for watching over Jino until I get back obasan," Kaoru said thankfully.
"It's no problem Kaoru-sama. You must hurry or you'll be late," the maid said urging Kaoru to go.
Kaoru took in a deep breath as she put on her shoes and headed outside. Mr. Kobayashi already had the bad door open to the
black Lexus as Kaoru hopped in excitedly.
As the car pulled out of the house towards the main gate a parade of reporters surrounded the opening of the gates with
cameras and news crews. Kaoru looked out of her tinted window watching the reporters surrounded the car.
"What's going on Mr. Kobaysahi?" Kaoru asked curiously.
Mr. Kobayashi smiled uncomfortably, "You're the famous fiancé of one of the richest men of Japan, of course there will be reporters
mobbing the front gate."
Kaoru just smiled as she thought it strange that they were never there before, but she was too excited over Kenshin's
return that she just ignored the mysterious appearance of the large crowd of reporters.
Mr. Kobayashi smoothly pulled up to the entrance of JAL. Once the car stopped someone swiftly opened
Kaoru's side of the door. Kaoru looked surprised at one of the bodyguards that worked for the Himura family. Kaoru bowed
awkwardly as she got out. Outside were two other bodyguards blocking all the press from squishing Kaoru. Kaoru was
extremely confused but she felt like she had to move so she just walked along as the bodyguards protected her from the vicious
mob.
It took 30 minutes to get to the gates where Kenshin would be coming off. As soon as they got there they saw Kenshin
walking out. Automatically flashes from cameras started to pour out towards Kenshin. He seemed very used to it as he stopped
and pleasantly smiled and waved for the cameras.
"Turn this way Kenshin-san!"
"Wave one more time!"
"This way too please!"
"Now with your fiancé!"
Photographers yelled out randomly as Kenshin did what they asked to keep them happy. Kenshin motioned for Kaoru to
come over. Kaoru slowly started to walk towards him as she looked shyly at the cameras.
"Why'd you come out?" Kenshin asked quietly while smiling at the cameras.
"Get closer!"
"No closer!"
"Look this way please!"
Kenshin awkwardly put a hand around Kaoru's tiny waist as Kaoru slightly scooted into Kenshin. The photographers
seemed satisfied because they weren't demanding as much as before.
"Smile brighter Kaoru-san!"
"Kenshin-san look towards here!"
"Don't ignore this side though!"
"No, keep your hand around her waist!"
Kaoru and Kenshin smiled and posed for the cameras for a little longer. Kenshin finally put an end to it as he pulled Kaoru
by the hand towards the exit. It took awhile to get into the car and onto the highway but after 30 minutes of pushing and
shoving through journalists and photographers they finally were able to have a quiet conversation inside the safe walls of the
Lexus.
"Why'd you come out?" Kenshin asked looking out the window.
Kaoru felt the cold words run up her spine, "I haven't seen you for so long and.I just thought I'd go out to pick you up."
"If you didn't come then I wouldn't have been stuck with those damn photographers for 30 minutes," Kenshin said upsettingly.
"I'm sorry Kenshin.. san..." Kaoru said dejectedly.
"Wake me up when we get home," Kenshin said frustratingly.
Kaoru nodded as she watched Kenshin fall asleep not giving a single care for Kaoru. Kaoru looked down at her sky
blue summer dress and her matching cardigan. She looked confusedly wondering if he didn't like her clothes. Kaoru then felt
her French braided hair wondering if her hair was the problem. She then silently pulled out a mirror from her small blue
handbag as she checked her face. The light powder covered up all that was left of her scars. Kaoru sighed confusedly
wondering why Kenshin was so disappointed in her. After going over reason after reason Kaoru realized they were already
home.
"Kenshin-san...we're home..." Kaoru said quietly.
Kenshin stirred at the soft sound of Kaoru's voice. He ignored her as he got out of the car and walked into the house like
Kaoru was never in the car. Kaoru walked out of the car with her head down and the tears forming in her eyes. She took
her time as she walked into the house. Kaoru took off her sandals and hopefully looked around for Kenshin but he was
already out of sight. Kaoru headed for her room as she undid her French braid and pulled off her cardigan.
"What did I do wrong..." Kaoru thought to herself dejectedly, "What did I do wrong?" ~Aya~