Yesterday's Memories
Chapter Four: Meet the Neighbors
Enishi stepped out of the bathroom, rubbing a warm towel through his wet hair. The heat escaped into the coolness of the hallway as he walked out. Stopping as soon as he came out, he heard shuffling in the room diagonal to the bathroom. Curious, he went into the room to find Kaoru laying out a blanket over a futon.
She heard him and turned to acknowledge him. "I found a spare futon. I hope it's comfortable enough."
He nodded. "It's fine, Kaoru-ch..."
Enishi stopped himself from finishing his sentence. After clearly stating that she couldn't marry, he wasn't sure whether or not he should use the name he had called her when they were children.
Understanding why he didn't say anymore, Kaoru straightened a crease from the blanket and offered him a warm smile.
"It's okay. You can call me by that if you want to."
Enishi hesitated, but the gentleness of her voice was enough to assure him. "Thank you, Kaoru-chan."
"No problem," she replied and got ready to leave the room. "Well, I got to get bed. I have work in the morning."
He hid his disappointment as he moved aside to let her pass. Kaoru gave him another smile before she left.
"Good night."
He nodded, and she walked out of the room. Enishi suddenly felt cold again, but he ignored it. He hung the towel over a nearby chair and sunk into the futon. The warm bath that Kaoru had drawn for him had dulled his senses to the point that he only wanted to sleep.
He sniffed the blanket underneath him. Her scent still lingered there.
Despite what happened, Enishi was happy when Kaoru had found him in the streets. His anger was nearly forgotten when he recognized the blue eyes and raven bangs that adorned the face that he had already memorized. He was amazed by how much she had grown. The little, round-faced girl that he had known had matured into a petite young woman with a short temper. She was still brazen and spunky as ever, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
But her eagerness to take him into her home when she had mistaken him for a stranger...that worried him. If it had been any other man in his place, they would probably have taken advantage of the situation and Kaoru's trust.
His hand gripped the blanket involuntarily at the thought. Kaoru shouldn't be so willing to help people she didn't know, especially if she was single and didn't have anyone to protect her.
He sighed. How long has she been living like this? It was fortunate that Enishi had came to Tokyo when he did. If Kaoru kept lending a helping hand to complete strangers, then it's a possibility that someday her good intentions would backfire on her when someone decided to take her money or rob her of her things...
Or worse, kill her in cold blood.
Enishi bristled. That wouldn't happen. He wouldn't let it. As long as he was here, no one was going to hurt her.
He would die before he saw his Kaoru-chan harmed.
* * * *
Kaoru stared at the ceiling above her head, her body weary from searching for Enishi in the rain. Normally, she would've stayed in her house during a thunderstorm, but she was too worried about her guest that she had to go out into the city to find him with her fingers plugged into her ears.
She looked to the clock on the nightstand. The digital numbers read ten minutes until midnight. It was late, and she had work in the morning. Kaoru would probably have to wake up earlier to make breakfast for herself and Enishi...
The white-haired man invaded her thoughts. Who knew that the mischievous little boy that she knew in Kyoto would come back after so long and show up in front of her apartment?
He was cute when he was little. Now, Kaoru had to admit that he had grown into a handsome man. With his unruly silver-white hair, lean, but muscular build, and deep turquoise eyes, Enishi was so attractive that he was almost sinful...
A blush warmed her cheeks and Kaoru scolded herself. She shouldn't be thinking such things about a childhood friend. It wasn't right, she chided.
...still, he really was more handsome than most men...
Her thoughts were shattered by a low rumble from outside. She almost squeaked at the noise; it meant that the thunderstorm had not passed over the city yet. How in the hell was she supposed to get any sleep if the weather wouldn't let her?
When the rumble passed, the steady downpour of the rain was all she heard. Her eyelids batted slowly, and the room was beginning to dissolve in darkness.
A few minutes later, Kaoru fallen soundly asleep. Hopefully, the night would be good to her.
She needed her strength in case tomorrow held any more unexpected surprises.
* * * *
Tomoe was probably worried about him right now. After all, he didn't leave any note informing anyone about his whereabouts. He practically gathered his laptop computer and clothes in a suitcase and went to the airport. Although the thought of his sister worrying saddened him a bit, Enishi felt that he HAD to go to Tokyo.
And he still felt that way now.
When he had known her, Enishi never thought of Kaoru as actually 'forgetful'. He didn't blame her for not recognizing him on sight, but he wondered how she had forgotten the reason he had given her the ring. Surely, Kaoru would've been the kind of person to remember such things.
What could have possibly made her forget?
The question crossed his mind several times when he had wandered out in the rain, and now, he couldn't block it out. It made him restless and almost frustrated that he couldn't even sleep. She shouldn't have forgotten, it wasn't like her.
He stiffened against the futon when he heard a muffled noise in the room next to his. Enishi was still, straining his ears to detect anything else.
Rustling, and then a whimper.
He quietly slipped out of his futon and left his room as quickly as he could. The rustling grew louder as he approached the door at the end of the hallway. He was silent, but his heart was racing inside of his chest.
Muscles tense and ready to take action, Enishi creaked the door open.
To his relief, he saw no intruder or ax-wielding murderer leaning over Kaoru with a weapon poised in his hand. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, and all he saw was a small form huddled tightly in the blankets that surrounded it.
He noticed that she was trembling in the sheets that she hid herself with. Worried, he went to her bedside to make sure that she was all right. Her breathing was almost erratic, her teeth clenching and unclenching as if she were being physically attacked.
A flash of lightning illuminated the room for a second, followed by a loud crash of thunder. A whimper escaped her lips, and hearing it was painful.
Drops of silver formed at the edges of her tightly closed eyelids, and they trailed down her ivory cheeks. He realized that she was crying, and then it had hit him.
She was having a nightmare.
Without waking her up, Enishi sat next to her and noiselessly swung his legs up on the mattress. He sat up against the pillows and the bed rest as he gently lifted Kaoru and positioned her against his chest. His arms silently wrapped around her, and he watched her face slowly softening into an expression of tranquility.
Her cheek rested over his heart, and her soft hair fell over his arm, tickling his skin. His hand brushed away the trails of tears that stained her cheeks, hoping that he could bring her some sort of comfort.
He shook his head. Enishi should leave. If she woke up and found her in his arms, Kaoru would probably be furious.
Enishi bit his lip in thought, a habit that Tomoe had chided him for. If he left, Kaoru would be alone to fend off the nightmare herself. Worse, she would have the thunder and lightning to fight off when she woke up.
...she was so warm. Her hair was liquid silk and smelled of spring flowers. Her breathing was in rhythm with the beating of her heart as she slept.
She looked so beautiful. So peaceful. Just like she looked whenever he held her in his arms when they were children.
She mumbled something he didn't catch, and snuggled up against him. He smiled, and he lifted the blanket over them both.
He would stay. At least until the thunderstorm passed.
It was another thirty minutes until the rain had eased into a slight drizzle and the lightning was no more. But Enishi never went back to his room.
He had fallen asleep with Kaoru in his arms.
* * * *
After thirteen years of living in this world, Sagara Yahiko had found that there were only a few people he could count on. In fact, there were only four who he trusted with his life.
The first one was Kamiya Kaoru. Although his name for her was 'busu', that was the only way he could ever show her how much she meant to him. Kaoru was an older sister, always nagging him to finish his homework or cut back on the junk food. And it's not like Yahiko really thought that she was ugly. Teasing her was just too much fun.
The second was Kaoru's father, who was now deceased. Old Man Kamiya was the one who put his brother in line, and he also treated Yahiko like a younger son. Even if he was at times stubborn, Old Man Kamiya had a great sense of humor and a heart of gold. Like Kaoru, he was always happy to help people down on their luck. But as Fate would have it, the good people were always the ones to get screwed in the end. Yahiko was still bitter about his death, and that was why he vowed to protect Kaoru as best as he could. Old Man Kamiya would have wanted that.
Himura Kenshin was the third. Yeah, the guy looked more like a lady with that unnaturally long red hair and that scrawny figure of his, but Yahiko knew that he sure as hell didn't fight like a woman. He was the best fighter that he had ever known other than his brother, and although he was a softie, Kenshin was an all-around good guy. He was also the one who saved Sanosuke's ass from a gang when he was stupid enough to shoot off his big mouth.
Last, but not least, was Yahiko's older brother: Sagara Sanosuke. His gravity-defying hair made him look like a rooster, but he didn't act like one. Sano always managed to keep his cool...unless he didn't agree with someone else. That was a problem. Sano was outspoken, and for some reason, trouble seemed to love to follow him around. And Sano was perfectly fine when it had found him.
Other than the loud-mouthed, bullheaded brother that he had known him to be, Sano was a good person. He was the one that raised Yahiko after their father decided to run off with some floozy and ditch them. Sure Sano had his faults, but he had a sense of right and wrong.
But unfortunately, Sano also had a nasty habit of gambling.
Yahiko opened the fridge only to find a carton of expired milk. He took the carton out of the fridge and opened it. He nearly coughed when the foul, sour scent reached his nostrils.
This wasn't fit for a human. Hell, it wasn't fit for any living organism.
Yahiko went to the sink and poured out the contents. Lumps covered in thick white liquid poured out, and he turned on the faucet to send them down the drain. After he was finished, he disposed of the carton and went to his brother's room.
Snoring loudly in the middle of his bed was Sano. Yahiko shook his arm. When that didn't work, he went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. After he returned, he promptly threw it at Sano's face.
Sputtering and face dripping with icy cold water, the older brother woke up. When he saw the empty glass in Yahiko's hand, he glared at him.
"What the hell was that for?"
"To wake you up. And to tell you that we don't have any food."
Sano groaned and pulled the blanket over him. "I'll get some food on my way home today."
"Well that's all fine and dandy, but what the hell am I supposed to eat until then?"
"Watch your damn mouth, brat."
"You're one to talk, Rooster-head!"
Sano sat up from his bed and rubbed his temples. "Relax, will you? I'll go to the grocery store today. In the meantime, we'll get something to eat at Jou-chan's."
Yahiko grimaced at the thought of charred toast and runny eggs. "I'm not eating her cooking!"
Sano shrugged, pulling on a T-shirt. "Then I guess you'll be going to school with an empty stomach."
Shoulders slumped over in defeat as Yahiko's stomach grumble loudly. His brother had a point: food is food, after all.
After Sano brushed his teeth and attempted to comb his hair, they left their untidy apartment and were about to go across the hallway over to Kaoru's home.
Before they knocked on her door, a familiar voice stopped them.
"Good morning Sano and Yahiko."
"Oi, Kenshin!" Sano's jovial voice greeted the redhead. "What are you up to?"
He smiled as he approached them. "Not much. How are you doing?"
"Same as always," Sano answered. "Hey, have you eaten yet?"
The redhead shook his head. "No, that I have not."
"We're getting some breakfast at Jou-chan's. I'm sure she wouldn't mind having you over." Sano quickly added when he saw the hesitant look on his friend's face.
Too hungry to wait in the hallway any longer, Yahiko twisted the knob and opened the door. He knew that she usually kept her door unlocked in case he or Sano needed something.
They entered Kaoru's apartment. Yahiko had to hand it to her: even if she couldn't cook for shit, Kaoru still managed to keep her home decently neat.
That thought instantly disappeared when Yahiko saw the overturned coffee table in the middle of the living room.
Panic gripped him when he saw the fallen piece of furniture.
"...what happened here?" Sano was the first to speak, Kenshin in ominous silence.
But Yahiko spoke the name that first came to his mind. "Kaoru? Kaoru?!"
Before either man could stop him, Yahiko bolted down to Kaoru's room, hoping that the tomboy was asleep in her bed.
* * * *
Kaoru's eyes fluttered open. Her room came into view after her vision had adjusted. She looked at her clock and saw that it was almost seven in the morning.
She set her clock at exactly seven. How was it that she was able to wake up when her alarm didn't even go off?
Brushing away the thought, ten more minutes of sleep sounded tempting. Kaoru nuzzled against what she believed to be her pillow, but then stopped.
When did her pillow have muscles?
Kaoru found that she was staring at a well-built chest thinly veiled by an undershirt. Her eyes looked up and saw the snow-white hair and the sleeping face of her guest.
Enishi was in her bed. And his arms were around her.
Before Kaoru could even say anything, her door swung open. Her eyes left Enishi and settled upon Yahiko, who stood at the entrance of her room.
The boy's auburn eyes went wide and his mouth fell open when he saw them. Kaoru could see that the muscle in his jaw was twitching, and she knew he was trying to say something.
"Yahiko!" Sano's voice beckoned the boy. "Is she here—"
He was cut off when he had seen the white-haired stranger holding a blushing Kaoru in bed. Kenshin followed in, and his eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
And it was so not helping that a few of her pajama buttons had come undone during her sleep.
A few tense moments passed, until Sano was polite enough to break the morning quiet.
"WHO THE HELL IS THAT?!?"
Kaoru, red-faced and flustered, tried to find her voice when Enishi decided to finally wake up. His eyes groggily blinked open, and he yawned loudly. He smiled lazily when he found Kaoru in his arms, but his expression was quick to change when he saw the alarm on her face.
He looked to the door and saw the two men and boy gaping at Kaoru and him. Not bothering to hide his annoyance, he glared at them.
"Can I help you?"
Yahiko was about to give the stranger a piece of his mind, until Sano shoved him back.
"Yeah," he began, "you can start by getting your hands off of her."
Enishi must not have liked the hostile tone in Sano's voice because his arms protectively tightened around Kaoru, who was still too shocked and embarrassed to say anything.
"And who are you to come barging into a young lady's home so early in the morning?" Enishi drawled coolly.
"And who are you to be sharing that same young lady's bed?" Kenshin asked. His voice was composed, but it was obvious that he didn't like this man at all.
Enishi smirked. "I believe I asked you first."
"If you MUST know, I'm her neighbor," Sano shot back, his words dripping with venom. "Now, mind telling us who you are?"
Kaoru looked expectantly at Enishi. It was bad enough that she couldn't even begin to explain to her friends that this certainly wasn't what it looked like when she didn't even know what was going on.
She could only hope Enishi wouldn't say anything that made the situation look even worse.
His eyes grinned at them as he affectionately held her. "I'm her fiancé."
"BULLSHIT!!!"
"ORO?!?"
"THE HELL YOU ARE!!!"
Kaoru cursed to herself, burying her face into her hands.
Today was going to be another long day.
* * * *
"Kaoru-dono?"
"Yes, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked while she handed him another plate to dry.
"Yukishiro-san...how do you know him?"
Kaoru sighed, rinsing off another soapy dish. "He's a childhood friend of mine from Kyoto. We met when I was eight."
"Forgive me for saying, but he seems to act like you two are more than just friends."
She blushed, almost dropping the dish in her hand. "Well...it's a long story."
Kenshin noticed the pink that swarmed her cheeks briefly as he rubbed the cloth over the surface of the dish, but he decided against commenting about it.
"How long is Yukishiro-san staying?"
"I'm not sure. He really didn't say."
He hesitated, but asked, "Will he be continuing to stay here?"
"Yes," Kaoru replied, handing him another dish. "I figured that since he went through so much trouble looking for me, the least I could do was offer him a place to stay. Hotels aren't exactly cheap."
"I see."
Kaoru looked up at Kenshin from her long bangs, her lips drawn downward. "Kenshin, is something wrong?"
He immediately shook his head and he smiled. "I am fine Kaoru-dono."
Kaoru smiled back at him and rolled up one of the sleeves that was beginning to roll down her arm, and she continued to wash the dishes.
"...is Yukishiro-san really your fiancé?"
Another deep blush, but Kaoru was quick to reply. "No, of course not! I'm sure that he was joking with you guys. We're just friends!"
Kenshin proceeded drying, allowing the gentle clinking of the dishes and the sound of the running water to calm him. He shouldn't have anything to worry about, right? Kaoru said herself that this Yukishiro Enishi was a childhood friend who plainly came to visit her. He had no reason to fret over it.
Yes, that was all Enishi was...just a friend.
* * * *
Enishi looked back nonchalantly at the man and the brat sitting across from him. He noted the look of suspicion in the older one's eyes, and he could see the brat boring holes into him as he glared at him.
Kaoru certainly did have interesting neighbors in Tokyo.
"So...you're the kid that Aoshi told us about."
A simple nod was Enishi's answer.
"Mind telling us why you're in Tokyo?"
Enishi grinned. "Simply catching up on old times."
"Then why the hell were you in Kaoru's bed?" the boy hissed.
"Chill, Yahiko," Sano scolded him and looked back at Enishi. "My little brother has a point, you know. Normal people don't usually jump into bed with someone that they haven't seen in fourteen years. Mind explaining yourself?"
Yahiko winced at what Sano's statement. He knew that his brother didn't mean it, but the way that he spoke implied things that he didn't want to even think about. It was bad enough finding this guy with Kaoru in his arms. The thought of him being intimate with busu was enough to make him throw up his poorly prepared breakfast.
"I don't see why I have to explain my actions to you."
Sano quirked an eyebrow, obviously not liking this man's aloof nature. "Just who the hell do you think you are, pal? What made you think that you had every right to suddenly show up out of nowhere and invite yourself into Jou-chan's apartment—"
"She invited me."
"That still doesn't mean that you had to get cozy with her!" Sano spat at him.
Enishi's grin settled into a thin line. "Nothing happened. Even if that were the case, it's quite strange that for being her neighbor you're unusually possessive of Kaoru-chan."
"Don't call her that!"
Both men stared at the boy. Teeth gritted and fists clenched, Yahiko glowered at the stranger.
"You don't even know her, you bastard! Stop talking about her like she's your girlfriend or something!"
Sano placed a hand on the boy's rigid shoulder and pushed him back onto the couch.
"You better listen to me, 'cause this is the only time I'll say this," Sano said threateningly, turning his attention back to Enishi. "I've been living next to Jou-chan in this apartment way before you met her, and she's been like a little sister to me. If you do anything, and I mean ANYTHING to hurt her..."
Their eyes locked together as each man glared at one another, one stoic and the other clearly grim.
"I'll rip you apart and send your limbs back to Kyoto in a coffin."
His threat made him feel both smug and offended. Enishi didn't see Sano as a threat to him, despite his ominous threat, but he didn't like the way that this man was talking to him. It was like he was accusing HIM of being the one that would harm Kaoru, and Enishi thought himself as being the last one to do anything of the sort.
Rather than replying with a smart comment, Enishi kept quiet when Kaoru and the redheaded man came back into the living room. Kaoru had two lunches that she was kind enough to make for Sano and Yahiko after she heard that they had run out of food. The boy took it, but not after insulting her about her lack of culinary skills. An argument ensued between the high school teacher and the brat with Sano trying to break it up.
In the midst of the chaos, Enishi managed to get a better look at the redheaded man. Despite his frail features, there was a quiet strength in his presence. After studying the art of Garyu-Watoujutsu since he could walk, Enishi could sense the aura surrounding the man.
This man was also a fighter. And a skilled one at that.
His violet eyes locked onto him, the slightest trace of a frown on his face. For once, Enishi did not throw an intimidating smirk his way. Instead, he glared coldly at him, undaunted by the redheaded man.
He didn't like him. In fact, he was sure that he disliked him more than the brat and his loudmouthed brother. He especially loathed the way this little redheaded man acted towards Kaoru. Like her neighbor, he seemed to want to protect her, too.
But not as an older brother would protect a sister.
At that moment, it was clear: the redheaded man was to be Enishi's rival.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Well, guess that answers your question about a love triangle, huh?
Okay, I guess I would like to say a few things right now. First of all, thank you for your support. I truly CANNOT thank you guys enough for all the feedback. It's very helpful to me; you have no idea.
Second, why are some of you being so hard on Kaoru? You're entitled to your opinion, but still! I know it was a little out of character for her to forget that little 'promise', but can you honestly say that you remember EVERYTHING when you were eight years old? Oh, and I have something more behind her forgetfulness, but that won't be coming up until after a few more chapters.
Third, I'm really happy that most of you think I've got Kaoru and Enishi down! YAY, I DID SOMETHING RIGHT!!!! ^_^
I still plan to have more RK characters to show up, but for now Sano, Yahiko, and Kenshin will have to do!
Well, back to writing! Thanks again!
P.S. I have read the Great Gatsby, and I still hate Daisy's guts. I liked the book, but it was a little lengthy.
Chapter Four: Meet the Neighbors
Enishi stepped out of the bathroom, rubbing a warm towel through his wet hair. The heat escaped into the coolness of the hallway as he walked out. Stopping as soon as he came out, he heard shuffling in the room diagonal to the bathroom. Curious, he went into the room to find Kaoru laying out a blanket over a futon.
She heard him and turned to acknowledge him. "I found a spare futon. I hope it's comfortable enough."
He nodded. "It's fine, Kaoru-ch..."
Enishi stopped himself from finishing his sentence. After clearly stating that she couldn't marry, he wasn't sure whether or not he should use the name he had called her when they were children.
Understanding why he didn't say anymore, Kaoru straightened a crease from the blanket and offered him a warm smile.
"It's okay. You can call me by that if you want to."
Enishi hesitated, but the gentleness of her voice was enough to assure him. "Thank you, Kaoru-chan."
"No problem," she replied and got ready to leave the room. "Well, I got to get bed. I have work in the morning."
He hid his disappointment as he moved aside to let her pass. Kaoru gave him another smile before she left.
"Good night."
He nodded, and she walked out of the room. Enishi suddenly felt cold again, but he ignored it. He hung the towel over a nearby chair and sunk into the futon. The warm bath that Kaoru had drawn for him had dulled his senses to the point that he only wanted to sleep.
He sniffed the blanket underneath him. Her scent still lingered there.
Despite what happened, Enishi was happy when Kaoru had found him in the streets. His anger was nearly forgotten when he recognized the blue eyes and raven bangs that adorned the face that he had already memorized. He was amazed by how much she had grown. The little, round-faced girl that he had known had matured into a petite young woman with a short temper. She was still brazen and spunky as ever, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
But her eagerness to take him into her home when she had mistaken him for a stranger...that worried him. If it had been any other man in his place, they would probably have taken advantage of the situation and Kaoru's trust.
His hand gripped the blanket involuntarily at the thought. Kaoru shouldn't be so willing to help people she didn't know, especially if she was single and didn't have anyone to protect her.
He sighed. How long has she been living like this? It was fortunate that Enishi had came to Tokyo when he did. If Kaoru kept lending a helping hand to complete strangers, then it's a possibility that someday her good intentions would backfire on her when someone decided to take her money or rob her of her things...
Or worse, kill her in cold blood.
Enishi bristled. That wouldn't happen. He wouldn't let it. As long as he was here, no one was going to hurt her.
He would die before he saw his Kaoru-chan harmed.
* * * *
Kaoru stared at the ceiling above her head, her body weary from searching for Enishi in the rain. Normally, she would've stayed in her house during a thunderstorm, but she was too worried about her guest that she had to go out into the city to find him with her fingers plugged into her ears.
She looked to the clock on the nightstand. The digital numbers read ten minutes until midnight. It was late, and she had work in the morning. Kaoru would probably have to wake up earlier to make breakfast for herself and Enishi...
The white-haired man invaded her thoughts. Who knew that the mischievous little boy that she knew in Kyoto would come back after so long and show up in front of her apartment?
He was cute when he was little. Now, Kaoru had to admit that he had grown into a handsome man. With his unruly silver-white hair, lean, but muscular build, and deep turquoise eyes, Enishi was so attractive that he was almost sinful...
A blush warmed her cheeks and Kaoru scolded herself. She shouldn't be thinking such things about a childhood friend. It wasn't right, she chided.
...still, he really was more handsome than most men...
Her thoughts were shattered by a low rumble from outside. She almost squeaked at the noise; it meant that the thunderstorm had not passed over the city yet. How in the hell was she supposed to get any sleep if the weather wouldn't let her?
When the rumble passed, the steady downpour of the rain was all she heard. Her eyelids batted slowly, and the room was beginning to dissolve in darkness.
A few minutes later, Kaoru fallen soundly asleep. Hopefully, the night would be good to her.
She needed her strength in case tomorrow held any more unexpected surprises.
* * * *
Tomoe was probably worried about him right now. After all, he didn't leave any note informing anyone about his whereabouts. He practically gathered his laptop computer and clothes in a suitcase and went to the airport. Although the thought of his sister worrying saddened him a bit, Enishi felt that he HAD to go to Tokyo.
And he still felt that way now.
When he had known her, Enishi never thought of Kaoru as actually 'forgetful'. He didn't blame her for not recognizing him on sight, but he wondered how she had forgotten the reason he had given her the ring. Surely, Kaoru would've been the kind of person to remember such things.
What could have possibly made her forget?
The question crossed his mind several times when he had wandered out in the rain, and now, he couldn't block it out. It made him restless and almost frustrated that he couldn't even sleep. She shouldn't have forgotten, it wasn't like her.
He stiffened against the futon when he heard a muffled noise in the room next to his. Enishi was still, straining his ears to detect anything else.
Rustling, and then a whimper.
He quietly slipped out of his futon and left his room as quickly as he could. The rustling grew louder as he approached the door at the end of the hallway. He was silent, but his heart was racing inside of his chest.
Muscles tense and ready to take action, Enishi creaked the door open.
To his relief, he saw no intruder or ax-wielding murderer leaning over Kaoru with a weapon poised in his hand. His eyes adjusted to the darkness, and all he saw was a small form huddled tightly in the blankets that surrounded it.
He noticed that she was trembling in the sheets that she hid herself with. Worried, he went to her bedside to make sure that she was all right. Her breathing was almost erratic, her teeth clenching and unclenching as if she were being physically attacked.
A flash of lightning illuminated the room for a second, followed by a loud crash of thunder. A whimper escaped her lips, and hearing it was painful.
Drops of silver formed at the edges of her tightly closed eyelids, and they trailed down her ivory cheeks. He realized that she was crying, and then it had hit him.
She was having a nightmare.
Without waking her up, Enishi sat next to her and noiselessly swung his legs up on the mattress. He sat up against the pillows and the bed rest as he gently lifted Kaoru and positioned her against his chest. His arms silently wrapped around her, and he watched her face slowly softening into an expression of tranquility.
Her cheek rested over his heart, and her soft hair fell over his arm, tickling his skin. His hand brushed away the trails of tears that stained her cheeks, hoping that he could bring her some sort of comfort.
He shook his head. Enishi should leave. If she woke up and found her in his arms, Kaoru would probably be furious.
Enishi bit his lip in thought, a habit that Tomoe had chided him for. If he left, Kaoru would be alone to fend off the nightmare herself. Worse, she would have the thunder and lightning to fight off when she woke up.
...she was so warm. Her hair was liquid silk and smelled of spring flowers. Her breathing was in rhythm with the beating of her heart as she slept.
She looked so beautiful. So peaceful. Just like she looked whenever he held her in his arms when they were children.
She mumbled something he didn't catch, and snuggled up against him. He smiled, and he lifted the blanket over them both.
He would stay. At least until the thunderstorm passed.
It was another thirty minutes until the rain had eased into a slight drizzle and the lightning was no more. But Enishi never went back to his room.
He had fallen asleep with Kaoru in his arms.
* * * *
After thirteen years of living in this world, Sagara Yahiko had found that there were only a few people he could count on. In fact, there were only four who he trusted with his life.
The first one was Kamiya Kaoru. Although his name for her was 'busu', that was the only way he could ever show her how much she meant to him. Kaoru was an older sister, always nagging him to finish his homework or cut back on the junk food. And it's not like Yahiko really thought that she was ugly. Teasing her was just too much fun.
The second was Kaoru's father, who was now deceased. Old Man Kamiya was the one who put his brother in line, and he also treated Yahiko like a younger son. Even if he was at times stubborn, Old Man Kamiya had a great sense of humor and a heart of gold. Like Kaoru, he was always happy to help people down on their luck. But as Fate would have it, the good people were always the ones to get screwed in the end. Yahiko was still bitter about his death, and that was why he vowed to protect Kaoru as best as he could. Old Man Kamiya would have wanted that.
Himura Kenshin was the third. Yeah, the guy looked more like a lady with that unnaturally long red hair and that scrawny figure of his, but Yahiko knew that he sure as hell didn't fight like a woman. He was the best fighter that he had ever known other than his brother, and although he was a softie, Kenshin was an all-around good guy. He was also the one who saved Sanosuke's ass from a gang when he was stupid enough to shoot off his big mouth.
Last, but not least, was Yahiko's older brother: Sagara Sanosuke. His gravity-defying hair made him look like a rooster, but he didn't act like one. Sano always managed to keep his cool...unless he didn't agree with someone else. That was a problem. Sano was outspoken, and for some reason, trouble seemed to love to follow him around. And Sano was perfectly fine when it had found him.
Other than the loud-mouthed, bullheaded brother that he had known him to be, Sano was a good person. He was the one that raised Yahiko after their father decided to run off with some floozy and ditch them. Sure Sano had his faults, but he had a sense of right and wrong.
But unfortunately, Sano also had a nasty habit of gambling.
Yahiko opened the fridge only to find a carton of expired milk. He took the carton out of the fridge and opened it. He nearly coughed when the foul, sour scent reached his nostrils.
This wasn't fit for a human. Hell, it wasn't fit for any living organism.
Yahiko went to the sink and poured out the contents. Lumps covered in thick white liquid poured out, and he turned on the faucet to send them down the drain. After he was finished, he disposed of the carton and went to his brother's room.
Snoring loudly in the middle of his bed was Sano. Yahiko shook his arm. When that didn't work, he went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. After he returned, he promptly threw it at Sano's face.
Sputtering and face dripping with icy cold water, the older brother woke up. When he saw the empty glass in Yahiko's hand, he glared at him.
"What the hell was that for?"
"To wake you up. And to tell you that we don't have any food."
Sano groaned and pulled the blanket over him. "I'll get some food on my way home today."
"Well that's all fine and dandy, but what the hell am I supposed to eat until then?"
"Watch your damn mouth, brat."
"You're one to talk, Rooster-head!"
Sano sat up from his bed and rubbed his temples. "Relax, will you? I'll go to the grocery store today. In the meantime, we'll get something to eat at Jou-chan's."
Yahiko grimaced at the thought of charred toast and runny eggs. "I'm not eating her cooking!"
Sano shrugged, pulling on a T-shirt. "Then I guess you'll be going to school with an empty stomach."
Shoulders slumped over in defeat as Yahiko's stomach grumble loudly. His brother had a point: food is food, after all.
After Sano brushed his teeth and attempted to comb his hair, they left their untidy apartment and were about to go across the hallway over to Kaoru's home.
Before they knocked on her door, a familiar voice stopped them.
"Good morning Sano and Yahiko."
"Oi, Kenshin!" Sano's jovial voice greeted the redhead. "What are you up to?"
He smiled as he approached them. "Not much. How are you doing?"
"Same as always," Sano answered. "Hey, have you eaten yet?"
The redhead shook his head. "No, that I have not."
"We're getting some breakfast at Jou-chan's. I'm sure she wouldn't mind having you over." Sano quickly added when he saw the hesitant look on his friend's face.
Too hungry to wait in the hallway any longer, Yahiko twisted the knob and opened the door. He knew that she usually kept her door unlocked in case he or Sano needed something.
They entered Kaoru's apartment. Yahiko had to hand it to her: even if she couldn't cook for shit, Kaoru still managed to keep her home decently neat.
That thought instantly disappeared when Yahiko saw the overturned coffee table in the middle of the living room.
Panic gripped him when he saw the fallen piece of furniture.
"...what happened here?" Sano was the first to speak, Kenshin in ominous silence.
But Yahiko spoke the name that first came to his mind. "Kaoru? Kaoru?!"
Before either man could stop him, Yahiko bolted down to Kaoru's room, hoping that the tomboy was asleep in her bed.
* * * *
Kaoru's eyes fluttered open. Her room came into view after her vision had adjusted. She looked at her clock and saw that it was almost seven in the morning.
She set her clock at exactly seven. How was it that she was able to wake up when her alarm didn't even go off?
Brushing away the thought, ten more minutes of sleep sounded tempting. Kaoru nuzzled against what she believed to be her pillow, but then stopped.
When did her pillow have muscles?
Kaoru found that she was staring at a well-built chest thinly veiled by an undershirt. Her eyes looked up and saw the snow-white hair and the sleeping face of her guest.
Enishi was in her bed. And his arms were around her.
Before Kaoru could even say anything, her door swung open. Her eyes left Enishi and settled upon Yahiko, who stood at the entrance of her room.
The boy's auburn eyes went wide and his mouth fell open when he saw them. Kaoru could see that the muscle in his jaw was twitching, and she knew he was trying to say something.
"Yahiko!" Sano's voice beckoned the boy. "Is she here—"
He was cut off when he had seen the white-haired stranger holding a blushing Kaoru in bed. Kenshin followed in, and his eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
And it was so not helping that a few of her pajama buttons had come undone during her sleep.
A few tense moments passed, until Sano was polite enough to break the morning quiet.
"WHO THE HELL IS THAT?!?"
Kaoru, red-faced and flustered, tried to find her voice when Enishi decided to finally wake up. His eyes groggily blinked open, and he yawned loudly. He smiled lazily when he found Kaoru in his arms, but his expression was quick to change when he saw the alarm on her face.
He looked to the door and saw the two men and boy gaping at Kaoru and him. Not bothering to hide his annoyance, he glared at them.
"Can I help you?"
Yahiko was about to give the stranger a piece of his mind, until Sano shoved him back.
"Yeah," he began, "you can start by getting your hands off of her."
Enishi must not have liked the hostile tone in Sano's voice because his arms protectively tightened around Kaoru, who was still too shocked and embarrassed to say anything.
"And who are you to come barging into a young lady's home so early in the morning?" Enishi drawled coolly.
"And who are you to be sharing that same young lady's bed?" Kenshin asked. His voice was composed, but it was obvious that he didn't like this man at all.
Enishi smirked. "I believe I asked you first."
"If you MUST know, I'm her neighbor," Sano shot back, his words dripping with venom. "Now, mind telling us who you are?"
Kaoru looked expectantly at Enishi. It was bad enough that she couldn't even begin to explain to her friends that this certainly wasn't what it looked like when she didn't even know what was going on.
She could only hope Enishi wouldn't say anything that made the situation look even worse.
His eyes grinned at them as he affectionately held her. "I'm her fiancé."
"BULLSHIT!!!"
"ORO?!?"
"THE HELL YOU ARE!!!"
Kaoru cursed to herself, burying her face into her hands.
Today was going to be another long day.
* * * *
"Kaoru-dono?"
"Yes, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked while she handed him another plate to dry.
"Yukishiro-san...how do you know him?"
Kaoru sighed, rinsing off another soapy dish. "He's a childhood friend of mine from Kyoto. We met when I was eight."
"Forgive me for saying, but he seems to act like you two are more than just friends."
She blushed, almost dropping the dish in her hand. "Well...it's a long story."
Kenshin noticed the pink that swarmed her cheeks briefly as he rubbed the cloth over the surface of the dish, but he decided against commenting about it.
"How long is Yukishiro-san staying?"
"I'm not sure. He really didn't say."
He hesitated, but asked, "Will he be continuing to stay here?"
"Yes," Kaoru replied, handing him another dish. "I figured that since he went through so much trouble looking for me, the least I could do was offer him a place to stay. Hotels aren't exactly cheap."
"I see."
Kaoru looked up at Kenshin from her long bangs, her lips drawn downward. "Kenshin, is something wrong?"
He immediately shook his head and he smiled. "I am fine Kaoru-dono."
Kaoru smiled back at him and rolled up one of the sleeves that was beginning to roll down her arm, and she continued to wash the dishes.
"...is Yukishiro-san really your fiancé?"
Another deep blush, but Kaoru was quick to reply. "No, of course not! I'm sure that he was joking with you guys. We're just friends!"
Kenshin proceeded drying, allowing the gentle clinking of the dishes and the sound of the running water to calm him. He shouldn't have anything to worry about, right? Kaoru said herself that this Yukishiro Enishi was a childhood friend who plainly came to visit her. He had no reason to fret over it.
Yes, that was all Enishi was...just a friend.
* * * *
Enishi looked back nonchalantly at the man and the brat sitting across from him. He noted the look of suspicion in the older one's eyes, and he could see the brat boring holes into him as he glared at him.
Kaoru certainly did have interesting neighbors in Tokyo.
"So...you're the kid that Aoshi told us about."
A simple nod was Enishi's answer.
"Mind telling us why you're in Tokyo?"
Enishi grinned. "Simply catching up on old times."
"Then why the hell were you in Kaoru's bed?" the boy hissed.
"Chill, Yahiko," Sano scolded him and looked back at Enishi. "My little brother has a point, you know. Normal people don't usually jump into bed with someone that they haven't seen in fourteen years. Mind explaining yourself?"
Yahiko winced at what Sano's statement. He knew that his brother didn't mean it, but the way that he spoke implied things that he didn't want to even think about. It was bad enough finding this guy with Kaoru in his arms. The thought of him being intimate with busu was enough to make him throw up his poorly prepared breakfast.
"I don't see why I have to explain my actions to you."
Sano quirked an eyebrow, obviously not liking this man's aloof nature. "Just who the hell do you think you are, pal? What made you think that you had every right to suddenly show up out of nowhere and invite yourself into Jou-chan's apartment—"
"She invited me."
"That still doesn't mean that you had to get cozy with her!" Sano spat at him.
Enishi's grin settled into a thin line. "Nothing happened. Even if that were the case, it's quite strange that for being her neighbor you're unusually possessive of Kaoru-chan."
"Don't call her that!"
Both men stared at the boy. Teeth gritted and fists clenched, Yahiko glowered at the stranger.
"You don't even know her, you bastard! Stop talking about her like she's your girlfriend or something!"
Sano placed a hand on the boy's rigid shoulder and pushed him back onto the couch.
"You better listen to me, 'cause this is the only time I'll say this," Sano said threateningly, turning his attention back to Enishi. "I've been living next to Jou-chan in this apartment way before you met her, and she's been like a little sister to me. If you do anything, and I mean ANYTHING to hurt her..."
Their eyes locked together as each man glared at one another, one stoic and the other clearly grim.
"I'll rip you apart and send your limbs back to Kyoto in a coffin."
His threat made him feel both smug and offended. Enishi didn't see Sano as a threat to him, despite his ominous threat, but he didn't like the way that this man was talking to him. It was like he was accusing HIM of being the one that would harm Kaoru, and Enishi thought himself as being the last one to do anything of the sort.
Rather than replying with a smart comment, Enishi kept quiet when Kaoru and the redheaded man came back into the living room. Kaoru had two lunches that she was kind enough to make for Sano and Yahiko after she heard that they had run out of food. The boy took it, but not after insulting her about her lack of culinary skills. An argument ensued between the high school teacher and the brat with Sano trying to break it up.
In the midst of the chaos, Enishi managed to get a better look at the redheaded man. Despite his frail features, there was a quiet strength in his presence. After studying the art of Garyu-Watoujutsu since he could walk, Enishi could sense the aura surrounding the man.
This man was also a fighter. And a skilled one at that.
His violet eyes locked onto him, the slightest trace of a frown on his face. For once, Enishi did not throw an intimidating smirk his way. Instead, he glared coldly at him, undaunted by the redheaded man.
He didn't like him. In fact, he was sure that he disliked him more than the brat and his loudmouthed brother. He especially loathed the way this little redheaded man acted towards Kaoru. Like her neighbor, he seemed to want to protect her, too.
But not as an older brother would protect a sister.
At that moment, it was clear: the redheaded man was to be Enishi's rival.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Well, guess that answers your question about a love triangle, huh?
Okay, I guess I would like to say a few things right now. First of all, thank you for your support. I truly CANNOT thank you guys enough for all the feedback. It's very helpful to me; you have no idea.
Second, why are some of you being so hard on Kaoru? You're entitled to your opinion, but still! I know it was a little out of character for her to forget that little 'promise', but can you honestly say that you remember EVERYTHING when you were eight years old? Oh, and I have something more behind her forgetfulness, but that won't be coming up until after a few more chapters.
Third, I'm really happy that most of you think I've got Kaoru and Enishi down! YAY, I DID SOMETHING RIGHT!!!! ^_^
I still plan to have more RK characters to show up, but for now Sano, Yahiko, and Kenshin will have to do!
Well, back to writing! Thanks again!
P.S. I have read the Great Gatsby, and I still hate Daisy's guts. I liked the book, but it was a little lengthy.