Title: A New Beginning
Rated: PG-13 (Violence & Language)
Author: charismatic angel
Email: charismatic_angel@msn.com
Chapter Date: July 21, 2003
All the stuff you do not want to read but I have to say:
* sighs * I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Someone else owns the rights and characters to this series. You know the rest…(Please don't sue me)
Chapter 25:
The next couple of days were an agonizing wait for Kaoru. Her mind was busy with thoughts of her friends, especially Misao. Kaoru wondered if she as all right and hoped Aoshi would keep his promise not to hurt her.
'I am sorry Misao, for letting you get caught in the middle of this. It's my fault that you are in this predicament. If only I would have stayed…things would have been different. You would be safe along with the rest of my friends. Running away was not worth it, it wasn't supposed to be like this.' Kaoru sadly thought to herself.
She felt detached from everything around her. She no longer had the will to fight back. Her friends were in danger and the only way to prevent them from getting hurt was to go back to Enishi. Kaoru was determined to sacrifice her well being for her friends, no matter what her fate may be when she got back.
Tonight, she would leave with Aoshi, back to Japan…back to Enishi. Kaoru packed the small suitcase she arrived with and readied it for her journey to Japan. She packed a small amount of clothing and a few necessities. The rest of the things she acquired would have to stay. Her possessions had no meaning to her anymore.
The last thing she had to do was, write a letter to Sano. She couldn't tell him in person because it would be too hard. Knowing him, he'd put up a fight and would ask too many questions. Kaoru knew Sano wouldn't buy any of her excuses. He was aware of her ex fiancée and his capabilities. She would be better off leaving everything in a letter, that way he wouldn't get hurt.
Kaoru not only wrote a letter to Sano, but also one to Kenshin. She needed closure before she left and a letter would provide that for her. She felt guilty about not telling him everything in her past. Kaoru wanted to write an apology for not being honest with him. The letter was kind of ironic, considering he dumped and didn't love her anymore. Nonetheless, Kaoru wrote the letter with everything she had in her heart.
Kaoru cried all throughout writing the letters. She was deeply saddened, having to leave behind such good friends. In the time that she got to know Sano, he had become like a brother to her. No matter what, she would never forget him or the kindness he bestowed upon her.
Kenshin's letter was a little more heart wrenching. She had a hard time figuring out how to start it off. What do you say to someone who no longer loves you? After a few sentences the words poured out onto the paper as she revealed some of her deepest feelings.
When Kaoru finished the letters, she put them into separate envelopes with their names on the outside. She gathered her things by the door and then sat on the couch as she blankly stared outside her window.
"I'm sorry everyone." She whispered.
Kaoru took the matchbook out of her pocket and opened it up. The handwriting scrawled inside stated the time and location she was supposed to meet Aoshi. She looked at the clock and let out a deep sigh.
'Only 12:45am? Two more hours before we meet. I guess now is as good time as any. It's going to take me awhile to get there, so I should be on my way.' She thought, as she slowly rose from the couch.
Kaoru noticed the star certificate that hung on the wall. She had forgotten all about it since the turn of events. Kaoru remembered how loved she felt when he gave it to her. Her mind drifted to the magical night they shared together. She would never forget the happiness she felt when Kenshin told her he loved her. Even if it was a lie, it was the only thing she had to hold onto.
Kaoru absentmindedly threw the matchbook on the coffee table and walked to the door. She picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. She checked the front zipper pocket for her passport and other papers before leaving. Kaoru glanced at her apartment one last time before shutting the door quietly behind her.
Kaoru wasn't sure if Sanosuke was home or not and wanted to be extra quiet so he wouldn't hear her. Kaoru silently knelt down on her hands and knees and pushed the letters through the crack underneath his door. She slowly got up and smiled, hoping he would understand.
"Goodbye Sano. Thanks for everything." She whispered.
Kaoru walked away with a deep sadness in her heart and exited to the stairway. She was just about to go down the stairs when she remembered something.
'The rooftop…I want to see the stars one last time.' She thought, as she slowly ascended the stairs.
************************
Too tired to do anything, Sanosuke lazily napped on his couch. Sano's long legs hung off the end of the couch, since he was big to fit in it properly. He thought about gambling tonight but decided he was too tired and broke to go.
Sano was awoken by his nap when he heard a slight rustling coming from underneath his door. He popped one eye open and looked at the floor by his door.
"Hey no solicitors!" Sanosuke yelled, upon seeing the envelopes.
Sano got up; irritated that someone had the nerve to stick something he didn't want underneath his door.
Sano stretched and let out a big yawn. He looked at the clock and saw it was nearly 1:00am.
"Damn! Don't those idiots know what time it is?!" he whined.
Sano ran a hand through his hair and walked to the door to pick up the envelopes.
"Hope they don't want a donation, because they sure as hell aren't getting one from me." He said sarcastically.
Sano flipped the envelopes over to see his name neatly scrawled on the front of one envelope and Kenshin's on the second.
"What the hell?"
Sano ripped open the envelope addressed to him and began to read it.
Dear Sano,
I'm sorry that I have to say all of this in a letter but I wouldn't be able to follow through with my plans if I told you in person. Since the break up with Kenshin, things haven't been the same. I know if I stay here to long, things will not work out for the best. I have decided to go back to Japan. There are just too many memories here.
I want to say thank you for being such a good friend. You have done so much for me, and I have done so little for you. If I had a brother, I wish he were just like you.
I hope one day you'll understand and forgive me for leaving.
Since I am not able to take everything with me, I am leaving my possessions to you. Please do whatever you like with them. I have no need for them where I am going.
Take care Sano,
Kaoru
"No, this can't be?!" Sano gasped, "Missy!?" he said, as his eyes grew wide in horror.
"Kenshin, I have to find Kenshin." He panicked.
Sano raced to his coat, which was lying on the floor. He searched every pocket pulling out loose change and bits of paper until he found what he was looking for. He opened the envelope and removed the piece of paper in it. He studied the address and then shoved it into his jeans pocket.
Sano grabbed his cell phone off the kitchen counter and raced out the door. He hurriedly punched the buttons on his cell as he ran out the front door of the building.
The phone rang a couple of times before a woman answered it.
"Hello." The woman groggily replied.
"Fox! I need your help." Sano said breathlessly.
"What do you want Sano? It's 1:00am. You're not in trouble are you, because if you are I'm not bailing you out!" Megumi snapped.
"It's not like that…It's missy, I think she may be in trouble. Can you find someone to stay with Yahiko? I need you to stop by my place…I'm going to find Kenshin."
"Sano" Megumi whispered.
"Please, do this one thing for me. I am asking you…no I am begging you, please!"
"Alright. It will take me awhile to find someone to stay with Yahiko, but I will be over there as soon as I can." Megumi replied
"Thanks fox I owe you one."
Sano hung up the as he reached the end of the block. He noticed a cab coming from the opposite direction and hurried towards it to flag it down. Sano frantically waived his arms in the air until the cab stopped.
He jumped in and slammed the door behind him.
"Where to?" the driver asked.
"Here…" Sano said breathlessly, "…need…to…get…there…fast"
The driver read the location and sped off.
**********************
Kaoru stood alone atop the roof. The stars above were bright as they twinkled merrily across the black sky. The wind picked up, blowing a few dead leaves around her ankles. Kaoru tightened her jacket closely against her as the breeze flittered past.
She walked to the spot where her and Kenshin had their one night of bliss. A lonely tear escaped her eye as she thought of the moment. She closed her eyes and opened them again, hoping that this was a dream and she would wake up.
Kaoru let out a sigh and dried the tear running down her cheek, with her hand. She lovingly rubbed her tummy and smiled to herself.
"I'd like to think you were created the first night Kenshin and I made love up here. No matter what the consequences may be, I promise that I will always try to protect you. I will die before something happens to you. I have to be strong for you because you are all that I have right now. You're a miracle, and because of that I will forever treasure you. No matter what I thought before…I could have never gone through with my first intentions and I am sorry for ever thinking that I could have.' She silently thought to herself.
Kaoru let out a deep sigh and decided she had spent too much time there. She took one last look up at the sky before turning to leave.
**********************
The driver turned sharp corners and ran yellow lights as he sped towards the destination. Sano worriedly glanced at his watch.
'Come on! There isn't much time!'
Sano noticed they were now on the outskirts of the city. The tall buildings diminished and small houses lined the landscape. As they got further out the houses separated farther apart and the landscape became more barren.
The driver took a few more sharp turns and he was now on a gravel path. Sano could see a house up ahead and the lights seemed to be on. He hoped Kenshin was still there and that he wasn't too late.
The cab drew nearer as Sano's heart raced.
"Please Kenshin, be home." Sano whispered.
The car came to a stop and Sano jumped out.
"Hey where do you think you're going?" the cab driver yelled.
"Stay here, I won't be long." Sano shouted towards the disgusted cab driver.
Sano ran to the door and immediately started pounding on it as soon as he was in reach.
"Kenshin open up!" He shouted.
Kenshin was in the kitchen, fixing something to eat when he heard someone knocking on his door.
"I wonder who it can be?" He said underneath his breath.
Kenshin abandoned his cooking and walked to door. As he got closer the knocking seemed to get more persistent. Worry etched his face as he began to run to the door.
Kenshin swung the door open and was now face to face with Sano.
"You son of a bitch!" Sano shouted, as he pulled back his fist and punched Kenshin in the face.
The force of the punch forced Kenshin back a few steps.
"Sano what's wrong?" Kenshin said, holding his cheek with slight shock.
Sano stormed inside.
"What's wrong?! You tell me what's wrong?!" Sano said with absolute fury.
"Missy's gone and it's all your fault!"
"Miss Kaoru's gone?" Kenshin gasped.
"Yes, and she left these." Sano said pulling the envelopes out of his pocket.
He shoved the envelope in Kenshins in hands.
"She left this for you." Sano said glaring daggers at Kenshin.
Kenshin tore open the envelope and removed the letter that was inside.
Kenshin,
I'm not really sure how to start this, since I'm not used to writing letters like these, so here it goes.
By the time you read this letter I will be in Tokyo. I have some unfinished business; I never told you about that I have to attend to. You are probably wondering why I telling you this, right?
I feel guilty that I wasn't honest with you from the beginning. There are things about my past that I was scared to tell you about. I wanted to tell you all along, but I wasn't sure how you'd accept me afterwards.
I know you probably don't care about this now, since you have no attachment to me, but I had to let you know.
A part of me will always love you, even if you don't return my feelings. I want to thank you for bringing some happiness to my life, even if it was short lived.
I have no regrets.
Love,
Kaoru
Kenshin stared at the letter with astonishment. His mouth opened but he wasn't able to say anything.
'After all I put her though, she still loves me.' He thought.
"Kenshin we don't have much time. We have to find her before it's too late." Sano chimed in.
"She wants to leave. We shouldn't stop her." Kenshin said lowering his eyes.
"Damnit Kenshin!" Sano shouted," I think she's in trouble."
Kenshin's violet eyes widened.
"What do you mean?" he replied
"Listen, some weird guy came out of Kaoru's apartment a couple days ago and ever since she's been acting really strange. I sent fox over to talk with her, hoping it would help. I don't think it went well, fox wouldn't tell me much. Anyways I got a bad feeling about that guy and somehow I think he's tied to her ex."
Kenshin crossed his eyebrows.
"What did the man look like?"
"I don't know…a little taller than me, black hair, he was wearing a trench coat and had a really creepy cold look in his eyes."
"Aoshi Shinomori." Kenshin whispered narrowing his eyes.
"You know him?" Sano asked.
"We have to find her. Miss Kaoru may be in danger." Kenshin said urgently.
"Go back to the apartment. I have a feeling that she's going to meet him. We need to find out where…there may be something back at her apartment that will tell us."
Sano nodded.
"How are you going to get there?" Sano asked
"Don't worry I have a vehicle. Just go ahead…I'll meet you there." Kenshin ordered, his eyes now flickering dangerous amber.
"Uhhh Kenshin, one thing….do you think you could lend me some money for the cab…I kind of forgot my wallet." Sano grinned widely.
Kenshin took the wallet out of his back pocket and threw it towards Sano.
Sano caught it and opened up his eyes in amazement.
"You're giving me your whole wallet?!"
"Take it Sano."
Sano smiled and headed out the door and back to the cab.
Kenshin grabbed his sword and hurried outside to his SUV. He bought it a couple years back, just in case he had to wander off again. It was a dull silver Yukon Denali with tinted windows.
He hopped inside the driver's side and started the car and put it into gear.The tires spun on the gravel as he put the car into the reverse and made a sharp turn. He put his foot all the way on the gas pedal. There was no time to lose.
End of Chapter 25
So how do you guys like? It looks like Kenshin will be off to try and save Kaoru. Hmmm…. wonder if he will find her in time? You'll just have to wait and see, because I am an evil person….lol…..(No I am not really)
Thanks for reviewing; it's helped me a lot with the progression of this story. I hope you continue to read, because there is certainly a lot more to come.
Thank you for reading and have a good day!
~*Charismatic Angel*~