Counterfeit Love
Chapter 17
I'M SORRY!!!!
Well, sorry for the wait, but this is winding down and my other fic, New York and Cherry Blossoms, was booming and not to mention Gunshot Roses!!
Well, I hope that this LAST CHAPTER will settle well with you. I really enjoyed this fic, an I hope you did too
---
7 months later . . .
"Kaoru?" Kenshin spoke softly too his wife over a young baby boy.
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
"I love you to Kenshin," she mumbled slightly
"And I love you," he said to the young baby boy in between them
The baby nestled closer to his mother and seemingly smiled in his sleep. Kenshin smiled and leaned over to kiss Kaoru, who was already asleep.
------------
"Hey Jou-chan!" Sano said waving from the gate. Kaoru waved and continued to sweep. Sano walked over and took the room, "I'll do it."
"Why are you being so nice?" Kaoru said suspiciously. "You want money don't you?"
"No, just don't wanna see a lay in distress go un-helped."
"Distress?"
"Yeah know, that big lump on you?" Sano laughed. "Oh wait that's your pregnant stomach!"
"Sano!!" Kaoru smacked him in the back of the head. "What's wrong with you?"
"Seriously, I just wanna help you out, at least till you got that little boy to help you and do the chores. But then I'll have to teach him how to get out of it!" Sano laughed again.
"You will not! He'll be good and learn well from me!"
"Yeah, yeah . . . he'll learn . . . I'm gonna teach that kid how to throw punches and gamble and . . ."
"You most certainly will not!" Kaoru barked, "I won't let you ruin him like you did Yahiko! That boy always has his mind in the gutter!"
"Whatever . . . you didn't say anything to Kenshin when he went gambling"
"He did what?!" Kaoru said getting up to find the old rurouni. She found him sitting in front of a wash basin, "Kenshin Himura, have you ever gone gambling?!"
"Oro . . . Kaoru-dono, did Sanosuke tell you that?"
"It's true?!" she yelled. "But it's illegal!"
"So's carryin that sword!!" Sano yelled from across the yard
"I know but . . . I don't think I would want our son to pick that up! Kenshin?"
"Oro . . . Kaoru-dono, I really only went once with Sano." Kenshin grimaced, "And I'm not going again that I most certainly am not"
"Alright," Kaoru said skeptically, while moving
"Kaoru-dono, I really do not like gambling" Kenshin smiled.
"Yeah but he's got the best eye in the place! He won me a lot of money!" Sano called again
"Oh, gosh . . ." Kaoru sighed
---------------------
Kaoru woke, and sat straight up. She looked down and saw Kenji sleepy quietly. She thought of her dream . . . or rather, her remembrance. She looked at Kenshin who slept as quietly as Kenji. She smiled and thought of Sanosuke, wherever he was now. Kaoru closed her eyes and laid down, a single tear escaping.---
As the months past, Kenji had grown into a bright and happy young child. He was quiet but with a mother like his everyone thought he'd grow out of it. Everyone had been happy for the couple, but had soon begun to leave . . .
First was Sanosuke, who got into some trouble and fled. They got letters from him every so often but they hadn't seen him in months. Kaoru missed him, and the way he teased her, but she knew she had to let him go and roam the world. She had cried when she received a letter that stated how deeply he really cared for all his make-shift family. He had written how he had always loved Kaoru like a sister and always would. No matter where in the world he went.
Then was Megumi, who lefted for Aizu to start a clinic. She wrote saying how happy she was and that if they ever needed anything, to just call. She had come by, but only for a day or so; she never was able to stay long.
Yahiko, who was nearing 15, went to live in Sano's row house to give Kenshin and Kaoru –privacy-. Tae told them that once in a while she saw Tsubame go home with him . . . Yahiko came to the dojo a lot and helped out with various things. Kaoru was proud him, he turned out to be a really good kid, despite the horrible upbringing. Kaoru would laugh and say how she wonders how Yahiko go to be such a good man.
---
One fine June afternoon, Kaoru sat with Kenji on her lap on a blanket in a cherry blossom groove. Kenshin sat near her and they were softly talking amongst themselves. Kenshin was pretending to steal Kenji's nose when a loud voice came shooting through the summer's breeze.
"Kaoru!!!!!"
A girl with black hair that had a red tint came running over. She had charcoal hakamas, a pink gi and black boots. Her hair that was to her back was flying loosely in the wind. A tall man with an overcoat and black hair trailed behind her.
"Misao!!" Kaoru said getting up and rushing over. With her free arm, she hugged her friend. "I'm so happy you could make it!"
"Anything for you Kaoru!" Misao said. She put her arms out to Kenji and he gladly went to her. He loved when his Aunt Misao came to visit. "Oh Kenji," she said spinning him, "You're getting too cute!"
Kaoru sat back down next to Kenshin and Misao walked over with Kenji on her hip. The man trailed Misao yet again and sat.
"Aoshi, so good to see you!" Kaoru said acknowledging him.
He smiled and nodded at her, "You have a very handsome son."
"Thank you," Kaoru said smiling.
"And Himura," Aoshi said to Kenshin, "How does it feel to be a father?"
Kenshin smirked, "It's wonderful . . . although he can be a handful that he can."
Misao raised the little boy into the air, "But he's so adorable!"
"Kaoru!" Yahiko called, waving at her. Tsubame was following him and had a smile. When they came over, Tsubame scooped up Kenji and she and Misao tickled the young boy. Yahiko said hello to Aoshi began a conversation with Kenshin and Aoshi about how women came take the longest time to get ready.
"Oh!" Misao shrieked. "I just remembered! Someone came to say hello, Kaoru!" Misao got up and went by the path. She disappeared from site and came back with a familiar man.
Kaoru rose to her feet, "Reijiro . . .?" The man smiled and quickened his pace. "Reijiro! So good to see you!" she hugged him lightly. "It's been years!" Reijiro smiled and nodded to everyone. Kaoru sat down and smiled.
"Kaoru-chan! Misao-chan! Ken-san!" another voice said coming toward them fast. Kaoru, Kenshin, and Misao turned. Megumi came rushing across the groove. "Hey! You can't start a party with out me!" she smiled as she sat down next to them. Kaoru leaned over and hugged her while greetings were exchanged.
Kaoru looked around at everyone who was so happily talking and eating. She sighed and looked up at the sky thinking of the one person who wasn't here.
"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked, still holding onto the honorific in public. "What's troubling you?"
"Nothing, it's just that everyone's here . . . except . . ."
"That stupid tori-atama," Megumi sighed.
"Last I heard, he was in Shanghai," Yahiko said sighing. "That was where the last letter was from anyway."
"Yes . . . perhaps we'll see him soon," Kenshin nodded.
Kaoru looked at her husband and smiled, "Perhaps."
---
Kenshin, Kaoru, Megumi and Kenji walked toward the dojo. Misao and Aoshi said they had some business to attend to and Reijiro had to come. Yahiko and Tsubame had to the Akabekco. Megumi held Kenji and bounced him up and down as they walked. Kenshin and Kaoru watched, and smiled. Kenshin slipped his hand into hers and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
Suddenly, a voice came from the dojo gate, "I've been waitin' here forever!! Shessh, don't you keep it unlocked anymore?"
Kaoru stopped dead and saw Sano leaning against the doorframe. His hair was longer and he looked rougher, but it as still the same old Sanosuke. "S- Sano?" she took a few steps ahead of Kenshin.
"Hey, Jou-chan!" Sanosuke grinned. Kaoru ran toward him and threw her arms around him. He swung her around and smiled down at her, "Miss me?"
"Baka! Of course I have!" she shouted.
"Yo Kenshin!" Sano held out his hand. Kenshin took it gladly and they exchanged silent words that only they could understand. Sano grin widened, "You're enjoying being father, aren't you?"
"Very much so," Kenshin nodded.
Megumi stood there holding Kenji with her mouth open. The reason that provoked her most to go back to Aizu was that Sano had just up and left. Sano turned toward her and smirked, "Hey fox."
She took a step toward him and he stooped his head so their lips met. Megumi closed her eyes and put her free hand on his shoulder. Sano stepped back and smiled as he picked up Kenji. Megumi stared at him. Not even words had he offered her as an explanation. Just a kiss?
That's Sanosuke Sagara for you.
Everyone went inside and Kaoru offered to make tea. Kenshin followed her into the kitchen and brought Kenji along.
Kaoru laughed when they were out of earshot of Sano and Megumi. "Those two certainly are strange."
"Mmm," Kenshin replied as he sat Kenji on the counter. Kenji grabbed a carrot and began to munch on it as his parents laughed.
"Mmm," the little boy smiled as he mimicked his father.
Kenshin leaned over and kissed his wife. Kenji smacked his lips and giggled.
"Someone's talkative today!" Kaoru laughed. Kenshin placed the boy on his shoulders and they walked out with Kaoru following them, holding the tea tray.
When they walked in the room where they had left Megumi and Sano, it was apparent that they had been doing more then talking. Sano was grinning conceitedly while Megumi ran her hand through her hair and thanked Kaoru for the tea.
Sano asked if he could stay the night, since he had no money for a hotel. Megumi shook her head, "Some things never change."
Kaoru nodded, "And some things do greatly." Megumi blushed, knowing what she was referring to.
Sano flicked his toothpick into the empty bowl that was before him, "Guess so." Megumi looked at him and he smirked.
Kenshin and Kaoru looked at each other and smiled knowingly. Kaoru bounced Kenji up and down and he giggle.
Sano took Megumi's hand and brought her outside. He stared at the night sky and didn't say a word.
Kaoru stuck her head out of the door in hopes to catch some drift of conversation. Kenshin laughed and pulled her back in by her obi.
"Leave them be. It's been a while," he smiled.
"You messed up my obi . . ." Kaoru said near growling.
"Oro . . ."
Kenji giggled, "Oro!"
Kaoru looked down at her son, who had mimicked his father's favorite saying. She laughed and sat next to Kenshin. He put his arm around her and sighed.
Outside, Sanosuke had yet to say a single word to Megumi and she was getting a bit angry.
"Sa- . . ."
"I'm sorry," he cut her off.
"What?"
"I left . . . then came back and just kissed you like that expecting everything to be normal . . . I'm sorry."
"Sanosuke . . . you moron," she sighed. "I'm not someone that would allow herself to be kissed if she wish to be. You really are an idiot . . ."
"Megumi . . ."
"I'm happy your back, but I know it won't be for long . . . and you know I can't go with you, I have my clinic in Aizu to worry about. Please, just forget about me and go ahead and marry some foreign girl." Megumi sighed.
"You really want that? Is there someone else for you?" Sano asked.
"No, but . . ."
"You never loved me?"
"It's just . . ."
"Not your type?"
"I just don't . . ."
By this time a grin was on his face, "Not handsome enough?"
"Sano! Let me finish! I don't want to be hurt is all!!" Megumi shouted.
"Is that all?" he grinned and put his arms around her. "Why would I ever hurt a pretty little fox like you?"
She leaned on him, "Sano . . ."
"Look, I know I'm unreliable, and immature, and a free-loader, and a jerk and a whole bunch of other stuff I'm sure you could think of, but . . . I really never intentionally wanted to hurt you. I had to travel, being cooped up just isn't my style . . . please forgive me." He pulled her closer.
"Are you planning on staying?"
"I don't know . . ." he sighed. "I wanna travel, but I want you by my side even more . . ."
She looked up at him, surprised.
---
"What is he doing? Proposing? This is rude!" Kaoru huffed from inside.
"Kaoru, you shouldn't really worry about them," Kenshin smiled.
"I'm not worried, I'm frustrated! I wanna listen!"
"No, no, that's not right and you know very well it isn't," Kenshin laughed.
"Your point?"
"Oro . . ."
---
"So what will you do?"
"I don't have the slightest clue . . ." Sanosuke sighed. For the second time in his life, Sanosuke didn't know which path to follow. The first being the fall of the Sekihotai where he became a fighter for hire.
"I want to go with you . . ." Megumi whispered.
"What?"
"Maybe . . . maybe I could study in other places, like Germany, who have advanced medical knowledge . . . and I could help those who are poor and can't afford medical attention. Sanosuke . . . would you let me?" Megumi pleaded.
---
"She's not serious, is she?"
"Kaoru, sit down . . ." Kenshin sighed.
"Hush . . ."
---
"Uh . . . Megumi . . . do you really want to? It's a rough life, and you know not very cleanly . . ." Sano scratched the back of his head.
"Please?"
---
"What is she doing? What about Aizu?"
"Kaoru . . ."
"I mean this is sudden . . ."
"Kaoru . . ."
"At least they'll together, I guess . . ."
"KAORU LEAVE THEM BE!!" Kenshin barked. Kaoru stared at him and he sighed, "Leave them to be alone . . ."
"Oh no you don't, Kenshin Himura!" Kaoru shouted back. "You don't yell at me like that! Did you forget gave BIRTH to YOUR son?" Kaoru smacked him in the head.
"Oro . . ."
---
"Megumi, it's up to you . . ."
"I want to go . . ."
"Well . . . then . . . I guess we should be going . . ." Sano said abruptly.
"What?! I have to take care of some things before we leave!" Megumi looked at him surprised.
"Alright, but you can't be to long, I'm on the boat that leaves in a week."
"Don't worry about me . . . Why don't you go spend some time with Kaoru- chan before you go. She missed you an awful lot . . ."
"Really now?"
They walked into the sitting and saw Kenji asleep o the floor, Kenshin passed out, and Kaoru red in the face.
"What happened here?" Sanosuke questioned.
Kenshin mumbled from his place on the floor, "Never try to teach a 24 year old woman manners . . ."
"Mou! 23! You don't even know your own wife's age! Some manners!" Kaoru huffed.
"Yeah well . . . guess you heard, Jou-chan?" Sano sighed.
"Heard what? Hmm? I didn't hear anything!" Kaoru said, trying to play innocent.
"You're a lousy liar and a spy . . . Anyway, Good news, eh?"
Kaoru nodded, "Of course . . ."
"Well . . . uh . . . I'm gonna retire . . . it's been a long day for me," Sanosuke said getting up.
"Sure . . ." Kaoru smiled.
Sanosuke hugged her lightly, "Good night, Jou-chan. Kenshin." He left the room.
Kaoru smiled as he left and said to Kenshin, "He's never been like that before."
"Like you said Kaoru, some things change greatly," Kenshin nodded. "Right, Megumi-dono?"
Megumi stood at the doorway, watching Sano's retreating figure, "Mm-hmm."
---
A week soon past, and Megumi and Sanosuke were getting ready to set sail for Shanghai. Everyone stood at the dock, and with tearful eyes watched the couple get on the boat. Kaoru, who was holding Kenji, waved to Sano, choking back tears and said, "Don't forget us now! We'll always be waiting here at home for you two!"
"Don't worry Kaoru; Tokyo will always be my home!" Sano called back.
Yahiko grinned, "Give your lady a kiss, Sano!" Misao elbowed him and he laughed, "What?"
But, as instructed, Sanosuke leaned over and kissed Megumi on the lips. He looked back at Yahiko and winked while Megumi blushed.
"Hey, Kenshin!" Sano called out again. "Don't forget! You gotta promise to take care of Jou-chan! If you don't, I'll have to kick your ass from here to kingdom come!"
Kenshin laughed and nodded, "Of course."
"And weasel girl! Good luck with Shinomori!"
"HEY!!!!!" Misao yelled and turned red. She threw some kunai at Sano's head, but missed intentionally, "You jerk!!"
"And Shinomori!" Sano called out. "Uh . . . keep sipping that tea!"
Aoshi shifted, but a slight smile appeared on his face. Megumi shouted at Sano to shut up because he was making a fool of himself and Sano said at this point, he didn't care.
The boat sailed away, slowly, into the horizon and the couple disappeared. Tears streamed Kaoru's face and her husband placed his arm around her. "They'll be back again," he whispered.
"Yeah, Kaoru, cheer up!" Yahiko grinned. She looked at Yahiko and smiled.
"Let's go back to the dojo," she said softly. "I'll make some lunch for everyone."
Misao took Kenji from Kaoru as they headed towards home. Aoshi watched Misao fondly and Yahiko came up behind him and whispered something in his ear. Aoshi stepped back from Yahiko and shook his head. Yahiko laughed and ran ahead toward Misao to play with Kenji.
Kenshin and Kaoru walked behind everyone else, slowly. Kaoru walked on Kenshin's left side while his arm rested on her shoulder. She looked up at him and he smiled down. She noticed his scar and reached out to touch it. He smiled again and said, "Its lighter, ne?"
"Hai . . ."
"It's because of you Kaoru . . . Your love and your warmth . . . and our son . . ." he looked toward Kenji.
"He'll be a handsome young man, won't he?" she giggled.
"Yes, with your brilliant eyes."
"And your loving spirit," she rested her head on his shoulder. "And your gorgeous features."
"Is that how you view me, huh?" Kenshin laughed. "Gorgeous?"
She laughed, "If you only knew . . ." She brushed some hair out of his face and he smiled.
Misao watched them silently. Yahiko noticed her silence and laughed, "Wow, what's wrong? You're quiet!"
"Huh? Oh . . ." Misao turned back forward and smiled lightly.
Yahiko noticed Kenshin and Kaoru and knew what she had been looking at. "You and Aoshi not getting too far, huh?"
"It's just that, even though he'll talk to me, he never shows ay sign of liking me . . . at all. I wish he'd see me as a grown woman for once . . . I'm freaking 22!" Misao turned red with anger. "Just because I'm kinda short, and don't have as nice a figure as other women, doesn't mean I'm not an adult!"
"Of course it doesn't," said a voice, but it wasn't Yahiko's. Misao turned red as she saw Aoshi walking next to her. Yahiko took Kenji from her and walked a little bit away, to give them privacy. Aoshi sighed and smiled at Misao. She made a sour face and looked ahead. "Misao . . ."
Misao was completely red, "Go ahead and just tell me I'm not old enough to understand . . ."
"Is that what you want to hear?"
"That's what you're going to say . . . isn't it?"
"No . . . I was going to tell you that I would wish for us to go out together later. Perhaps to Sae's sister's restaurant. That is, if you want to."
Misao turned redder, if it was possible, and nodded.
"It seems," Kenshin commented to Kaoru, "that today is the beginning of new things, rather then the end of old."
"I guess so . . . Which means, I shouldn't be sad . . . everything will be alright, won't it?"
"I truly hope so Kaoru." He kissed his wife's head and they walked toward the gate.
---
A man sat in a dark corner.
"Do you see them? I know you see them . . ."
A guard turned around, "Eh?"
Another guard said, "Don't listen to that one, he's mental."
"I know you see them . . . Don't you see the sakura petals? They are all around me."
A pause . . .
"They float around me to remind me of her love . . . My love . . . And her love . . . HIS love . . . don't you see? It's forever . . . My love; my woman; my only will be waiting for me . . . Always. And his love will always stay with him. Don't you see? Don't you see the love? It stays forever . . ."
Another pause . . .
"No matter what . . . she will always love him. No matter what, their love stays true. That is true love . . . that is what it is . . . That is what I had. I had her; a woman. A beautiful and wonderful woman. Just like her. He is lucky she still lives . . . and I almost took that away from him . . . I've never realized what I've done takes away peoples happiness . . . Never did I think, because my happiness, my life, and my love was taken away so I thought an eye for an eye . . . tooth for a tooth . . . love for a love . . . Why did I . . .?"
Again, a pause . . .
"I saw them though . . . they were so happy . . . I am glad she lives . . . She is my living sakura petal, but she is his . . . she belongs to him . . . Always . . . because they love each other . . . and theirs is a love, that will not be broken no matter what . . . not even death will stop those two . . . To love someone with that ferocity is . . . inconceivable."
The guards stared at him . . .
"Don't you see? Don't you see true love? Don't you see the petals . . . the beautiful sakura petals . . . My beautiful love, and his lovely woman . . . his lovely woman . . . the Hitokari . . . the Battousai . . . Incredible that even he . . . has love . . . just as I . . . have . . . mine . . ."
The man slumped over and his final breath passed through his lips, whispering, "Sakura . . ."
The one guard stared at the other, "Maybe he wasn't so crazy after all . . ."
"Get Saito in here . . . we gotta clean this up . . ." the other said. He looked at the dead body of a murderer, "May you find rest with your girl in the after life . . ."
---
Kenshin sat straight up, "Kaoru!" He breathed heavily and stared at the dark room. He turned to one side of the futon; Kaoru wasn't there. He turned to the other side; she wasn't there. He panicked and held his breath, while beginning to rise from the futon.
He heard small footsteps coming toward him, and felt the aura of his wife. He didn't rest until he saw her figure sit down on the futon. She looked up at him and he sighed deeply and fell backwards onto the futon.
"You worry so much," she giggled. "Kenji had been crying, so I went to calm him."
"I see . . ."
She lay down and nestled closer to him. "Did you have a dream?" she asked, knowing that sometimes the revolution haunted him.
"Not about what you think . . . it was about you. I dreamt you were killed."
"Oh . . ."
"Kaoru? Do you believe in everlasting love?" Kenshin asked her.
"Love that will never die? Yes . . . I believe . . . because that is what I feel for you." She turned over and rested her forehead on his chest. "Will you love me forever, Kenshin?"
"Kaoru, I will love you beyond the end of eternity . . ."
"Truly?"
"Truly."
Kaoru reached upward and the married couple kissed.
Since their first meeting, the fate of Kenshin Himura and Kaoru Kamiya was sealed.
Everlasting Love . . . Nothing Counterfeit about that.
---
Well . . . it's over . . . and as Boy George says on "I love the 80's: Strikes Back" Break up songs of the 80's:
Are you prepared to let go now?
I'm not and I know for certain that Nkechele isn't!!! Haha!! But, I want it to be over, but I enjoyed writing it. I know the writing is horrible and there are spelling stuff and stuff wrong, but what can I do? It was my first POSTED fic, so I am excused . . . slightly. I hope you liked this last chapter, I liked writing it.
Overall, I hope you enjoyed this fiction and I just wanted to thank everyone who reviewed:
Princess of Darkness and Me; Neko-Vixen; shadowfox25; Super Sheba; cyberdemon; wolfpup; Mika; tigerrelly; Scarlet Rayne; Bishonen lover Sango; ZSilver; thunder sister; Kaoru Himura2 (who hasn't updated in a reeally long time); Ona no Baka (who had a chapter dedicated to her); sano650; dark- luv-dove; Aislinn6; Knives-girl; Kyo Terayashi; Yotaka; LeiLeiLeiko; shanasheart; Lady Himura (I can't express enough how much you rock! And update that fic your doing with Crystal Renee); (this spot was going to be for PenguinofEvil, but, no) (You know, Lady Himura, HERSELF, liked my story so, NAH!); Koishii Sweet (You know, it's because of you this story went on) (you know why); Fireruby; allin656 (you just review all my stuff, don't you? Lol); Riho; one black tear; Fan 4000; moonspell; Shin1; Charmed18; shura-chan27; Chibi Felix; aglaia102 (You're another on who reads everything); Silver Eyes Bright
Forgive me if I forgot you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm really, really tired!
Special thanks to Koishii Sweet again, because she's just so great and to Lady Himura, who's very supportive even though, looking back, I think this fiction sucks writing quality wise.
And please, visit my new website! It's pretty good! Also, it'd be much appreciated if you'd read Gunshot Roses, since I am a little lost with that one . . .
I really wish I could keep writing more, just to prolong having to end this but . . . . well, you know . . . .
So, this is my final goodbye . . .
Ciao, and may you find Everlasting Love!