Hello Minna-san!

hiding behind desk Gomen, gomen. I know I haven't updated for quite a while, but this semester was pretty harsh. Believe me – beginning speech – never take the maximum number of credits if you're just a freshman; if you think that you can handle it, think about it twice, even three times if possible. That aside, remember that the world is not only about books and calculations, sometimes one has to have some free time to discover about other things – besides school – that can be amazing and interesting. One has to find a balance, otherwise, you're just immerse in a homogenous reality. ok, carried away…

Anyways, please, if you don't remember what's going on, read the previous chapter because this one is beginning right where the last one has ended.

At last I have decided for an end, though I think I could have done a bit better but two endings were not for my liking, so I kinda mixed the ideas. I hope I did a fair job.

My gratitude to all of those who were there encouraging me to continue this story. It really meant a lot for me. I'm sorry for not mentioning you guys, but right now I'm writing offline so I don't have your names at hand. 

Thank you very much, and I hope to read about you in my other intend-to-be-stories. -

Arigatou again! bows

Note: As you know, I'm not very good in grammar but I tried my best in revising and correcting all the possible mistakes I may have done. Please, if you find more of them – ahem – pretend they are not there :P or simply, send me a message to correct them if they bother you too much.

Warning: Just that it is a long chapter and this time, it's a bit slower than the previous ones.

Vic

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Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is not mine but creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki.

Chapter 4: Time will decide

He felt as if he was in a dream; it couldn't be. Maybe second chances did exist, or maybe it was a simple illusion from his mind, from his anxiousness to see her again.

There she was, standing under that tree with a beautiful smile. It seemed that she had lost weight; however, she was still gorgeous. The same shiny black hair, those huge enigmatic blue pools that she had for eyes, her rosy lips… his Kaoru.

He stood up from the bench and walked down towards the tree to talk to her. He couldn't lose this time, he wouldn't allow it. However, he stopped in mid way when he saw someone approaching her. Someone that suddenly was moving delicately the strand of hair that had fallen to her face; someone that was kissing her lovingly on her forehead as he used to do when she was in his arms.

His heart shattered at the vision and at that right moment, for the first time, he felt betrayed. He then finally understood how she felt when she saw him that day.

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It had been more than a year since she had gone to school, and to begin again, it sounded very exciting. Here she was, in Tokyo. It surprised her a lot when her father told her where they were after she woke up from her comma. Well, she could understand him; Kyoto did not have any good memories for both of them. The best was to leave that place and try to begin again.

Being accepted in Tokyo University although she had lost a year of school was pretty amusing, but more amusing was the fact that actually Misao was there too. She had come back from Holland last month, and with her, came someone she hadn't seen for almost ten years, her cousin Aoshi.

She remembered when he left with his mother. Until that time, he was her best friend, an older brother she could believe and trust in. It had been so devastating when he told her that he had to leave the country. She had cried for days and days; but now, he was with her.

"It's almost two. I have to go to the courts before those two kill me for being late." She mused to herself remembering the conversation she had last night with her best friend and her cousin. Since they all had different classes, except for Aoshi and Misao that shared Karate, they agreed to meet at two at the tennis courts to have lunch.

She walked through the halls and crossed some of the gardens. It seemed to be a pretty day. It was not hot either cold; the weather was just perfect. Maybe they could have lunch outside instead of going to the cafeteria.

When she arrived she saw that neither Aoshi or Misao were there, so she waited for them standing next to a Sakura tree.

"This tree reminds me the one I was sitting under when I first met him." She whispered sadly closing her eyes. She was beginning to get lost in her thoughts when she felt a soft brush on her face.

"Sleepy?" The deep familiar voice made her open her eyes.

"No, just thinking." She looked up and smiled at him.

"Ah, my little cousin, don't think too much or your head will explode." He said while kissing her on her forehead. He used to do that when they were children and because they were older now, it didn't mean he would stop.

"Where is Misao?" She asked looking for her best friend.

"Hehe, she's in Math. I met her today in the morning," he said looking at the sky.

"Ah?" It was supposed that they were getting together now because they couldn't see each other for the rest of the day.

"After calling you last night I remembered that actually we both had an early class today, so I told her to meet me in the morning." He answered her knowing her confusion.

"Mmm, I think that Aoshi is in love with Misao," she teased him.

It was true, from the way he looked at her, the way he talked about her. Her cousin was simply in love with her best friend. It was wonderful but at the same time intriguing. Amazingly enough, it resulted that Misao had gone to the same school as Aoshi's for her internship in Holland, and it was even more surprising – for Misao – when she discovered that actually the gorgeous Japanese guy she had met was Kaoru's cousin.

After knowing and learning about each other for a year, both Aoshi and Misao felt in love. Of course, like in other cases ruled by the common factor of love, none of them knew about each other's feelings.

At the end of her internship, Misao unconsciously convinced Aoshi to come back to Japan. She only asked him if he missed his motherland and without too much effort, she had him in the same plane in direction to Tokyo.

Kaoru was happy for them. Although both didn't know about their love, she knew that soon or later they would find out about their true feelings.

"Maybe I am. I'm not sure, but I know that I care for her a lot," Aoshi looked deeply at his cousin's eyes. "You know what? I'm glad she's your friend," he smiled warmly.

"She is the best," she turned to gaze at a couple that were playing in front of them, "I'm sure she loves you too," she said looking at him from the corner of her eyes.

"Mmm… Kaoru, about him, you…"

"Hey guys!" A high pitched voice called from behind them.

"Hi, Misao" They said in unison.

"How was Math?" Aoshi asked with mockery in his voice. He knew how much she hated it.

"Let's see… What is my answer every single time? Oh yeah… a.l.i.v.i.n.g.h.e.l.l." She emphasized.

"Maybe you should study more." A girlish giggle was heard next to her.

"Kaoru, stop teasing me. You know that I'm just bad for numbers." Misao crossed her arms in front of her chest.

"Ok, ok… I don't know you, guys, but I'm hungry. Shall we go now?" Kaoru asked pointing at her stomach.

"Yeah, let's go. But first, can we pass by Mr. Korusawa's office? Misao and I need to pick up our schedule for karate." Aoshi said remembering Misao's complaints about beginning training so soon.

"Ok, but hurry up ice man." Kaoru walked ahead of them.

She was too distracted listening to Aoshi's and Misao's curses to Mr. Kurosawa, that she didn't notice the red-haired man approaching her from one side of the field.

"Kaoru" He said her name with a tone full of emotions.

She stopped her pace at hearing that very familiar but unwanted voice. She looked at where that voice was coming from and felt that her heart was beginning to beat very fast.

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He felt betrayed, but on the other hand, he had hurt her and she didn't have anything to answer him.

But it was painful too see the one he loved in the arms of someone else.

Just when he was about to leave the field with a broken heart and the defined thought that without a doubt he had lost her, he saw that Misao was there and the way that man was looking at her.

It was the same way Kenshin looked at Kaoru.

It was love

Kenshin regained his hope again and decided that this time he would fight for his Kaoru no matter what. Almost unconsciously he felt that his legs were moving him to where she was, and before he could think about what to tell her, where to begin, he was already calling her.

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"Kaoru" He said again but this time staring at her surprised expression. How much he wanted to get closer and take her in his arms, to kiss her sweet lips again, to be able to tell her that he…

"What are you doing here, Himura?" Misao asked coldly moving next to Kaoru.

"I'm studying here, Misao. And it's nice to see you too" He answered without moving his eyes from the woman he had longed to see again.

"I can't say the same thing," Misao controlled the urge to punch him, "If you excuse us, we have to leave." She took one of Kaoru's arms and continued walking; however, she was stopped by one strong hand holding Kaoru's other arm.

"Please, I need to talk with you, Kaoru." His hold was unbreakable. He looked at his lost love with pleading eyes that threatened to make some tears come from her eyes.

Don't do it. He'll hurt you more. Leave, leave.

Her stubborn mind was telling her, but deep inside her heart, she wanted to hear what he wanted to say.

"She's not free today. Please, can you let her go? We need to leave." This time it was Aoshi's turn to speak. His expression was unreadable, but Kenshin could tell that he – like Misao – was protecting Kaoru from him. It wasn't their fault to act this way; he knew he deserved it.

"Please, Kaoru." He pleaded again; he wouldn't let her go this time. No matter what her friends would do to him, he wasn't going to give in easily and watch her go away again.

"I-I…" Kaoru was without words. Her mind was blank and the only think she could think about was the hand that was holding her so firmly.

"Kaoru" He said her name again, this time, his eyes shone brightly with hope. Koishii, please, just listen to me.

"I… I can't." She didn't know if it was the best to do, if she was doing wrong, but she wouldn't let him hurt her again.

He let go of her and stepped back a bit. He saw that she wasn't looking at him… he knew that expression. She wasn't sure, he still had a chance.

"Kaoru… I'll be here tomorrow at noon."

"And she won't be here, thank you." And before Kenshin could say anything else, Kaoru was leaving with Misao and Aoshi.

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"I'm so strangling him!" Misao was walking back and forth as if she was hypnotized by a spell. She, Aoshi and Kaoru were now in the living room of her house. School had ended a few hours ago and it seemed that the effects of the little encounter were still present – at least for Misao.

"I'm wondering how he got here?" Both Aoshi and Misao looked at Kaoru who for the first time after the incident was speaking about it.

"He said that he's studying here too" Aoshi said while standing up holding a teapot in his hands. "I'm going for more tea."

The two women saw how he left the room, and as soon as the door was shut Misao sat next to Kaoru and held her hands.

"You're not going tomorrow, right?" Since the accident, she swore that nothing would hurt her friend again. She almost lost her that time; she wouldn't take the same risk again.

"I don't know, Misao," Kaoru sighed, "I'm confused. I thought I would never see him again and here he is, in the same university."

"Kaoru, but… you-you don't love him anymore, right?" Misao knew the answer but she needed to ask Kaoru.

It had to be done

"I," Kaoru bowed her head, "When I heard his voice and when I saw him, my heart began to beat very fast just like when I first met him. My mind was telling me to get away from him, to run and not turn back, but I was frozen. I don't know why but I wanted to stay there and hear what he was going to say."

And before she could blink she was embraced tightly by Misao.

"Kaoru, do what you think will make you happy," Misao whispered softly to her friend who now had tears in her eyes, "Just make sure that you can keep that happiness within your heart."

"Thank you" Kaoru said between sobs and just then Aoshi opened the door bringing a tray with tea and cookies.

"I'll be there for you, for anything," Misao let her friend go and smiled at her, "We'll be always there."

"I know. Thank you" And the tears were replaced with a bright smile.

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It was almost noon and he was already there waiting for her. Would she come or wouldn't she? He really had no idea.

He spent the whole night pondering about what he would tell her if she came and also, about what he could do if she didn't come. At least now he knew she was in the same place and that if he tried, he would be able to find her and do whatever he needed to do to have her back.

A soft breeze cooled his troubled face and he closed his eyes to stay calm. He was nervous about what could happen today; actually, he was scared. He didn't know how much she meant to him until he lost her, and now, he had the opportunity to be with her again but what if he screwed up? What if she hated him too much to forgive him, to even accept a friendship relation he was willing to give her? But he couldn't maintain it as such for too long because, he didn't just want a friendship, he wanted her complete love, something that he stupidly had refused to cherish with all his heart.

He opened his eyes and checked for the time in his watch. It was already twelve fifteen; maybe something has stopped her for a while.

His hands were sweaty and he began to get desperate. He was a fool, she wasn't going to come. When she answered him yesterday, she said she couldn't listen to him.

"Patience, she will come… just wait" He glanced at his watch again. This wasn't helping at all, and when he was starting to think the worst a question behind him washed away all his doubts.

"What do you want to tell me?" Kaoru was standing behind him. Her mind was in turmoil, and it wasn't until a few minutes ago that she was sure she really wanted to hear what he had to say.

"You came," he turned around and looked at her lovingly. Gods, she was everything for him, "I knew you would do it."

Kaoru leaned her head on the tree's trunk and looked up, "Be fast," she said with a neutral tone.

"I want you to look at me first." Kenshin took her chin delicately with his hand and moved her head to face him.

She was surprised by his action but she wouldn't let that to affect her.

"I'm looking at you, now speak." Her voice was still neutral, though little she knew that her eyes were showing her surprise to the man in front of her.

Kenshin smirked at her stubbornness but he continued holding her face. He lightly traced her jaw with his fingertips and when he moved his face closer to hers, Kaoru moved apart and walked forward. She stopped a few steps in front of him and embraced herself as if she was cold.

"Please hurry up, I don't have much time"

"Are you cold?" Kenshin took off his jacket and placed it over her, and then he moved to her right.

"As I said yesterday, I wanted to talk with you," he turned his face to look at her, "I want to say that I'm sorry, for everything, I'm deeply sorry." He looked at her eyes and then, he switched his gaze and looked straight.

"I didn't mean to hurt you but…"

"But you did," Kaoru interrupted him. She turned her face to him and sighed, "Look, what happened is part of the past. Everything has changed, and as dad says, it's better to not look back. I…" She sighed again, "I forgive you…" Kaoru gave him back his jacket and smiled slightly.

"Don't feel guilty; I forgive you," she put a hand on one of his shoulders, "Now is time to move on for both of us." And when she was about to leave she felt two arms embracing her from behind around her waist.

"I can't move on," Kenshin rested his forehead on the back of her neck, "I can't because I need you."

Kaoru didn't know what to do. She should have expected this, but heck, she thought that he would only ask for forgiveness and then leave her. Besides, she was almost sure that he had forgotten her and that the only reason he wanted to talk with her was to lessen his guilt.

"Kenshin, don't do this…"

"I need you," his head moved to her shoulder and now he was whispering to one of her ears, "You are my everything and I was too stupid to realize that," he tightened his hold around her. "I love you, I never stopped doing so."

Her heart was beating too fast and her mind was shot with millions of thoughts. She didn't know what to do.

"But I-I don't trust you anymore," she whispered lowering her head.

Kenshin released her and clenched his fists.

"But do you love me?" He asked waiting for the worst.

"I… I…" She couldn't say that she still loved him; she was afraid, afraid that he could hurt her again.

Kenshin sensed her fear and knew that for now, he couldn't rush anything.

My koishii… I know that after all, you're still afraid… however, this time, I'll do anything to keep you with me, to have you back, your love. You're my life and I won't give up.

He unexpectedly embraced her again – this time from the front – and used one of his hands to caress her hair. "At least, at least let me show you that you can trust in me again," he kissed the tip of her nose, which definitely was something she wasn't expecting.

She moved her head to one side and then she motioned him to release her.

"Time," she said softly, "time will decide what will happen." Then she caressed his face and kissed him on the cheek. "But for now, we can be friends and then we will see."

I'm not sure about what will happen; I can't trust in you completely, not yet. However, I still love you and it will depend on your so called love that I might or might not accept you again, give you all of me again.

Although they weren't lovers again, although he had to teach her once more that indeed she was his life, at least she wasn't refusing him at all, and that meant a lot for him.

He could win her back, step by step, and as she just mentioned, time would decide. But he knew that the final outcome would be having her once more in his arms. In his heart, she would be his again; he had hope and he knew that his love would help him to reach his wish.

"Then you'll be the friend that has my heart in her hands," he took her hands in his, "And I'll show you, I'll make sure it stays in that way."

She smiled and shook her head, "You're being too optimistic."

He let go of her hands and moved her bangs to the side, "It's not optimism; it's hope and love."

"We'll see," she said turning around, "I have to go back now. Enjoy your day," she began walking and waved at him, "See you later."

"Kaoru," She turned around, "Want to have a coffee at five?" Kenshin felt excited, as if he was asking for a first date with her again.

"Ok, I'll meet you here then." He smiled brightly, and she smiled back.

"And Kaoru… I love you." He winked.

"See you." She giggled and continued her way, but deep in her heart, she was glad he said those words.

Maybe, maybe this time things could be better. After all, people learn from their mistakes.

"I love you too." She whispered softly and let the wind caress her face.

Kenshin watched her disappear but this time he wasn't worried about not seeing her again. He knew that she was there with him, and although there was a small gap between them, he would make it smaller day by day.

Time, time would decide it all, which for him it meant that soon or later they would be one again, forever. He only had to wait.

-Owari

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Ok, that's the end. To be honest, I don't know how it is but I tried my best. I didn't want to write something happily ever after because honestly, it is not easy to forgive when someone you loved has hurt you so much, but on the other hand, you can't hate that person or try to hate him because you still love him with all your heart. Yeah, love is complicated.

Anyways, I'm glad I'm done with this. Thank you again for your support, and hope to read your reviews in my other stories which I'll be updating pretty soon. :P

Take care,

Vic -