Puppeteers

Note: I'm working at school and at nights... I... will... have... this... done! Probably one or two more chapters after this... Just because I swore to have it done be the 25th of May... thank you all for the reviews... I'm depressed, because I have to find a song I would want to listen to for the rest of my life, and I'm running around trying to find it. I keep thinking, 'You know... if I were MSW-sama, I'd never have this problem... if I could talk to her, she'd tell me some fabulous song I could have...' 'Course... her review wasn't completed... YOU TRIED TO TELL ME SOMETHING!! I NEVER GOT IT!!! TEEELLL ME!!! ::sweat drops:: It's early... gimme a break...

Disclaimer: Second verse, same as the first, only a little bit louder, and a little bit hoarse.

Chapter Eight- Better This Way

'It's better this way, I said, having seen this place before. Where everything we said and did hurts us all the more. It's just that we stayed too long in the same old sickly skin. I'm pulled down by the undertow, never thought I could feel so low, and oh, darkness, I feel like letting go.' –Sarah McLachlan 'Full of Grace'

I stood at the corner of a street, the sun streaming through my hair to my downcast eyes. I sighed, turning my face to the sky, bangs falling back as I stepped into the street calmly. Misao had been so upset that I had left, just a few moments before.

Kyoto hadn't changed at all. Still the bustling city it had always been, still full of people afraid of some horror that lay in the shadows. Shishio Makoto threatened the people with his terror, and Saitou and I were the only ones who really seemed to be able to do anything. I fingered the hilt of my new sword gently and kept my focus on the street ahead of me. A little boy stumbled into me, and I caught him. His mother bent over to scold him, turning her face up to mine to smile in gratitude and apologies.

Her face froze, eyes tracing the scar on my cheek; falling on my red hair. I helped the boy up and stepped away, quietly muttering an apology. As I walked away, I heard the woman turn to another woman standing with her.

"Did you see? It was him! I'm sure!" There was an inaudible pause, doubtlessly a sigh. "I wonder why he's here... If he's here to join... to join..." Her voice fell down below my range of hearing.

Soon... Soon... I thought to myself, pressing my will to keep walking and ignore the stares and none-too-discreet comments.

As I looked up to the sky again, I sighed in frustration as my thoughts lingered back to Kaoru. I knew that I shouldn't, for fear that things would get so complicated... I didn't need to linger on her... It was because of her that I'd let my sword catch and break. Slowly shaking my head, I tried to pry her from my thoughts again.

"I don't care who you used to be! I don't care that you're Hitokiri Battousai! I don't!" Misao was distraught as she stared painfully at him. "Don't leave me alone again! Don't leave me like you left that poor woman in Tokyo!"

"Kenshin!" My head jerked down instinctively, knowing that voice so well... No...

It just wasn't possible...

I stared across the street at Kaoru, her arm guards on, kimono in slight disarray, waving violently toward me.

My eyes unconsciously searched for Hiro, but there was Yahiko, and not Hiro. I stood still in the street, staring at them as time froze.

Kaoru's eyes met mine. I stared deep into them, searching for some sign, half expecting her to look away as the memory, that memory, burned in my mind.

She stepped into the street, one step toward me. I tried to stop her, beginning to open my mouth, only to find that my vocal cords were frozen.

A second step. Yahiko tried to take her hand to stop her.

She pulled away and took a third step.

I didn't even recognize she was running as the scene played in slow motion before my very eyes. I blinked, dropping my bag to the ground and opening my arms as she hit me, a crying, yelling mess.

"K-Kaoru..." I choked out, instinctively closing my arms around her.

Yahiko stood nearby, watching us with his arms crossed over his chest, shinai strapped to his back.

She stared up at me, pulling her hand over her eyes to push her tears away. "I... we..." She was trying so hard to force the words out, putting them together in her mind. "Shinimori Aoshi... he's coming here... to Kyoto..."

I stared at her, helping her right herself. "You came to Kyoto to tell me that?" It was a stupid response.

She nodded feebly. "Yes..."

I stood farther away from her than I preferred. "You shouldn't have come."

She nodded again. "I know..."

I felt miserable, knowing I was chastising her, when I should have been holding her tightly. "Where's Hiro?"

She stared down at the dry, dusty ground. "In Tokyo... I..."

Yahiko cleared his throat, obviously trying to prevent her from saying something she may have regretted. She nodded slowly.

"Thank you." I said evenly, barely letting the emotions and thoughts raging through my head break through to let her see.

She looked up at me with bright, clear eyes. "I wanted to see you..." She whispered almost inaudibly, for only my ears to detect.

I stared at her in disbelief. "Why...?" I whispered back to her.

Her eyes were dimmed, but a small glimmer of light shone in them as she spoke to me. "Because I don't want you to be gone."

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Note: Muahahahahaha! Short chapter! But fluuuuuffy!!!! Please review and I'll try to get another one up tomorrow or on Monday. ::Grins:: And I have the Sou-chan dolls... ::hands one to everyone:: And... everyone's taking such glee in torture... we've had aluminum bats, electrified cattle prods... And Hiro hasn't been a jerk in this chapter... ::grins:: But he'll be back next chapter. ::gently leads a twitching Hiro forward:: the poor guy... ::sits him down and begins handing everyone big, soft, fluffy pillows:: In honor of this fluffy chapter, I give you fluffy pillows to attack Hiro with... ::leans over to whisper to the reviewers:: he doesn't know that there's bricks in them.