Author's Note: Hey y'all! Thanks for all the reviews! Luv it so much! I hope you enjoy this chapter. (^_^) I'm a Shinsengumi lover!!!!
Chapter 10
2 weeks had passed and Okita had recovered and it was time for Saitou to 'take' him. Okita had been acting weird after the day when Souzo visited. He ignored Kaoru, kept silent or blushed when Kaoru touched him. But last night was the freakiest.
(Flashback)
It was already midnight but Kaoru couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about Okita's weird attitude. Was he mad? But he had no reason to. It was all too confusing. Moreover, she kept thinking about her sweet home back then.. or maybe in the future.. with Yahiko, Sano, Megumi, Dr. Genzai, Ayame, Suzume and especially.. Himura Kenshin. Her nice, polite rurouni. But there will be no more Kenshin in her future nor Yahiko, Sano and Megumi. She just wanted to cry at that thought.
Just then, Kaoru heard someone opened her door. She controlled her breathing and pretended to be asleep. It was Okita. 'Okita-san? Hentai.. Wait till I crush his face and..,' Kaoru's thought was cut off by Okita saying, "Such a beautiful lady." Kaoru nearly jumped at his statement. Now, she was having a hard time pretending to be asleep. 'Relax Kaoru. Relax,' Kaoru calmed herself down.
"Dr. Genzai said I can leave tomorrow morning. I was happy but sad at the same time. Sad to leave you. But I guess my departure doesn't really matter to you. My heart really ache at that thought. I'm so sorry for ignoring you. I just don't know what to say. I was so jealous of that guy. But who am I to stop you from liking another person? I'm not worthy," Okita whispered slowly. Kaoru struggled not to cry. Not worthy.. That was what Kenshin used to say.
Okita continued, "You look like an angel when you sleep. Myojin-san, I know I'm an idiot for not saying all of this when you are awake but I'm too shy. Even though you can't hear me right now, I just want to say I really care about you. And no matter what happens. I'll protect you. I promise." With that, he kissed Kaoru's forehead gently and left the room.
As he left, Kaoru opened her eyes and touched her forehead. "Okita-san.. Arigato."
(End Flashback)
Kaoru walked through the hallway into the kitchen when she heard voices. It was Dr.Genzai and Saitou's. They were standing outside the gate. Okita was there too. He looked somewhat.. emotionless.
"Dr. Genzai, is there anything else?"
"Oh yes. Let him have plenty of rest. Don't involve him into too many works. His body is getting weaker so, please be careful. Okita-san, you must be careful. If you don't listen to what I said, you are shortening your own life."
"I'll remember that but we have to go. There are plenty of works to do. Come on Okita," Saitou reminded. Okita only nodded and looked around as if searching for something or rather someone. Saitou could only sigh. Okita looked depressed but smiled weakly at Dr. Genzai.
"Arigato Dr. Genzai for taking care of me. I don't know how to repay you. Urmm.. And say thanks to Myojin-san for me. Thank you," Okita bowed and started to walk away. Just then, he heard a soft whisper, "Okita-san.." He stopped abruptly and turned around. His heart leapt in joy as he saw his beloved Myojin-san stood in front of him. Saitou saw this in his eyes just smirked.
"Okita, I'll wait for you outside. You better be fast," Okita smiled gratefully at Saitou. Saitou left the spot as well as Dr. Genzai, obviously trying to give some time for these two lovebirds. Okita looked at Kaoru with deep passion dancing in his eyes. Sadness, love and most instantly recognizable was joy. "Myojin-san..," Okita started but cut off by Kaoru.
"Okita-san, you should eat more nutritious food and don't get into so many fights or not involve in any fight at all. You should take care of yourself because I will not be able to do that anymore. You must live happily and peacefully and if possible you should find a girl who can look out for you and..," Kaoru couldn't continue as stream of tears ran down her pale cheeks. Okita at once embraced her.
"Myojin-san, you need not worry about me. I'll be fine. Please don't cry, Myojin-san. I can't stand it," Okita whispered softly. Kaoru leaned closer to his hug and relaxed.
"Okita-san, live joyfully because I know you're the one who deserves it most. I'll miss you," Kaoru spoke lovingly. Okita broke the embrace and held her hand.
"I'll miss you too, Myojin-san."
Unexpectedly, he kissed her.. on the cheek, that is. He bowed and departed while Kaoru stood there dumbfounded. She touched the spot, where Okita had kissed her all of a sudden, and smiled.
"I hope to meet you again, Okita Souji." (A/N: Is it Souji or Soushi?)
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Kaoru checked her father as usual before going out. He was still in coma, there was not even a slight progress in his recovery. Kaoru sighed and closed the door. Themarket was full of people. Kaoru looked around and nothing interest her.. until shecaught a glimpse of a blue ribbon. She remembered giving Kenshin her favourite blue ribbon when he was about to fight Jin-eh. But he stained it with his blood and they ended up running happily together.
Kaoru smiled sadly at the sweet memory that would never occur. Never. How she hated that word! She never really experienced her parents' love, she could never live happily with Kenshin without someone trying to kill him, and not just that, she could never beat Tomoe in Kenshin's heart because he.. he never loved her. Never.. Kaoru wiped a single tear running down her cheek and decided to buy the ribbon.
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She walked silently back home. She couldn't help but wonder what Okita was doing. 'Will he be alright? What's he doing right now? Hmm.. He probably does his training! Mou! He never listens to me! He should.. Wait a minute! What am I thinking?!' Kaoru blushed suddenly.
'But I sure miss him,' Kaoru thought gloomily. Deep in her own thoughts, she didn't realize she was followed by three perverted guys. (A/N: I know.. I know.. RAPIST AGAIN?! Let's just say, that's the only thing I have in mind right now. :P) After some time, she noticed it so, she walked faster but the three guys just laughed and said, "A very shy girl we have here!"
Kaoru then ran at high-speed, didn't care where she was going as long as she eluded them. 'DAMN! I never learn from my mistake! Souzou won't be here to save me again! Stupid Kaoru!' Just as she was about to lose them, unfortunately for her, she tripped. She looked around and comprehended that she was actually in a forest! Her hope for someone to save her had vanished completely and so, she determined to fight them. But now, her right foot was broken and it was killing her!
"You bitch! We had a hard time catching up with you. But maybe today is our lucky day for you to wait patiently here for us," the nasty muscular guy cackled. Kaoru just spit at his face. The guy growled and slapped Kaoru harshly at her face. It was so hard that Kaoru got dizzy. Just then, a piercing voice cut through her spinning head.
"Touch her and you'll fly to hell in no time."
Kaoru and the guys turned around to see a figure with red hair with his burning eyes looking deadly as ever. The infamous Hitokiri Battousai.. but the guys didn't seem to know him. Plain idiots.
'Really? And you're saying that a skinny, short guy like you will send us there? That's the funniest joke I've ever heard! Listen kiddo, you should gain some muscle or maybe even weight before talking to us like that!" the nasty guy laughed hysterically with the other two followed. In a split second, the nasty guy was slaughtered and his head came rolling towards his friends. Kaoru looking away, disgusted.
"That's what you get for speaking to the Battousai with such manners," Battousai spoke clearly. The two trembled in fear, now that they knew who he was. They dropped to their knees and cried, "Please don't kill us, our lord Battousai. We are sorry. We didn't know she was your woman. Forgive us." But Battousai didn't say anything or correct them, he just plunged his katana through their hearts mercilessly. He turned to the shaky Kaoru and whispered silently, "It's over. You can turn around now."
"Battousai..," Kaoru murmured, looking terribly shocked and she was in that state for… quite some time.
Battousai smirked slightly and teased, "Your welcome."
Kaoru looked down, clearly embarrassed and muttered, "Thank you for saving me."
"I'm not saving you. I was just in the mood for killing. Woman, I want you to go with me and tell me everything. Who are you? Why are you disturbing my life? If you refuse, I'll.."
"No."
"Woman, you don't want me to scar your face, do you?"
"No."
"You.."
Just then, Kaoru could feel some strong ki around the place. She looked at Battousai and found him looking serious as well. She saw him gritting his teeth and clenched his fist, "Shinsengumi bastards.." (A/N: HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT!!!)
Kaoru's eyes widened. "Okita!" She stood up but a stinging pain from her foot made her faint. She was caught by strong arms and the last thing she saw was golden eyes.
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Darkness. No light. Where was she? Battousai wouldn't lock her up, right? No he wouldn't. It was her dream. She found herself lying on the ground with pure white snow falling down from the everlasting sky. She sat up and looked around. It was snow all around her. It was endless. Nothing else, not even a single plant.
"Kaoru-dono.." a gentle voice could be heard.
Kaoru looked up and saw a firefly flying down to her from nowhere. Its light was dim, yet so bright for Kaoru. She was about to catch it when it suddenly turned into a red liquid. Blood. She saw the white snow was shading the colour of red. She looked up once again to find it was raining. Rain of blood. She could feel herselfturning small. She was a little girl again and she was crying. "Daddy.. Mommy.."
Later, a strong wind blew everything away and she was back to her form and it was darkness once again. A strong, bright light pierced through the black space and her goddess was there. She smiled at Kaoru and whispered, "Kaoru, don't be afraid. I'm always here for you. Do you want to go back home?" Kaoru only nodded. The goddess knelt down in front of Kaoru and caressed her face. "Remember this my dear Kaoru. This is your chance to go back home, to where you belong:
When the sun and moon kiss,
Darkness will rule the world,
The maiden will shed her tears,
The future will freeze, cold.
And then she opens her eyes,
To the place where she belongs,
Her paintings will be torn into pieces,
With the face of her lover will she recovers."
Kaoru shook her head, "I don't understand it."
The goddess nodded encouragingly at her, "This is your fate, Kaoru. And no one can change fate." Kaoru still didn't understand what she meant. The goddess smiled sweetly, "Take care." And everything faded.
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Kaoru fluttered her eyes wide open. Her head hurts like hell. She massaged it for a while and gazed around. She was in a room and it was so silent. She didn't clearly remember what she dreamt of but she knew it was something important. 'What was it? It's about a poem. Hmmphh.. But what?! Oh gosh..'
At that moment, she could hear small voices. She focused her ears on it. (A/N: Focused her ears? Lol!) One belonged to a woman and the other belonged to a man. Kaoru walked slowly to the door and opened it slightly. She peeked through and saw the two people she never wanted tomeet. It was Battousai and Tomoe! She panicked and as if it was her unlucky day, she fell and knocked the door over. The couple looked at her in amusement.
Battousai stood up and walked towards her with his katana pointing at her. "I see you're awake, miss Myojin Saori."
'AAHHHHHH!! He's gonna kill me!'
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HoNeYZ-RiNoA: Yo people! Sorry sorry sorry sorry for the very very very very long update. My computer was having a problem. I actually finished this chapter months ago and unfortunately for me, my story was gone!! I have to remake the chapter and I changed it a lil bit. Anywayzzz, thanks for those people who emailed me and to those who reviewed and will review. Please review. v(^^)v