By: O. Juice
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In the felt box was the diamond necklace she fell in love with while shopping with Soujiro.
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I look for a shooting star to place my wish on. But the dawn comes too soon and I am unable to find one.
Hanabi (Fireworks), Ayumi Hamasaki.
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Chapter 13
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Kaoru's stomach was churning. The smell of gasoline was dizzying and so were the cramped aisles and the mass of people. The plane hadn't even left the airport left and already she was suffering from a bad case of motion sickness. Kenshin sat next to her, flipping through a magazine, apparently oblivious to Kaoru's dilemma. She had taken a few travel pills Soujiro suggested before leaving the apartment, but it seemed its effects wore off before she even stepped on the plane.
Flight attendants were now checking the overhead bins and began their explanation on the emergency exits. Then plane began its crawl to the runway. She glanced at her watch, hoping she would get there soon. At least that woman wasn't coming along for the ride. Kenshin explained, while they waited for their flight, that something had suddenly come up and she wouldn't be tagging along. It wasn't like she missed her, if anything her not being here ensured a carefree and more relaxed Kaoru, but she couldn't help but wonder why she couldn't make it. During the conversation they all had that Christmas Eve, it seemed like she was set on coming along.
'Oh well,' Kaoru opened the window next to her, 'it's her loss.'
"Kaoru," Misao sat next to Kenshin and buckled her seatbelt, "you're looking a little green."
"She hates planes, that she does." Kenshin said, not looking up from his magazine, seemingly lost in thought.
"Oh?" Misao sent her a sympathetic look, "Well, don't worry. You know what they say, airplanes are the safest form of travel."
Kaoru grumbled, her head swimming while the plane continued its slow movements. They paused once in a while, until it was their turn to take off. She shut her eyes tight; Kaoru despised the sudden weight on her head as the plane would begin its ascension. It always seemed to her that in that moment everybody held their breath, said a silent prayer, and waited to see if they did manage to cheat death again and make it up on the air.
The plane began to rumble as it picked up speed. Kaoru winced, she really hated planes. Just as she thought she was going to lose her mind, she felt a comforting hand on her own. Her eyes slowly opened as she sent Kenshin a glance. He looked at her, magazine back in the seat pocket, and just smiled.
The plane and everybody else seemed to disappear, even the pounding pressure on her head seemed to go away. The only thing that seemed to register in her mind was Kenshin and his comforting hold. Kaoru smiled back, her fears all chased away by one person.
::-::
There was a magic in the air Kaoru couldn't put her finger on. Perhaps it was the beautiful scenery Misao's grandfather's estate had to offer. Or maybe it was because it was New Year's Eve, an occasion which, by default, had a magic all its own. Or maybe it was the alcohol? Kaoru put down her drink for a moment before deciding the electricity in the air was most likely just from the fleece blanket she sat on.
She waited for midnight to arrive by the fire. Misao's, and Soujiro's, relatives were having a frenzied good time playing cards or the occasional board game for the younger members of the family. Sano was busy talking up one of the many cousins Kaoru was introduced to, and Soujiro was busy keeping their grandmother happy, but he promised to return and keep her company around midnight. Kenshin was sitting with her only moments before, then suddenly decided to get some food. She checked her watch. That had been five minutes ago.
"Kaoru!" She heard Misao's frantic call, "Do me a favor?"
Kaoru nodded, "Sure."
"All right," Misao grinned then handed her some keys, "Find Kenshin and tell him to come with you to the cellar down bellow. I need you two to get the boxes of champagne for me, is that okay? We're running low and it's nearly midnight. I've got my aunts breathing down my neck at poker, so I can't go myself. And who knows where Soujiro went off to?"
Kaoru shrugged.
"Thank you, Kaoru," Misao grinned, turning to return to her aunts. "Oh, and when you leave, be sure to lock the doors. Gramps is particular about keeping the door locked." She called out over her shoulder.
"You're going somewhere?" Kenshin materialized next to her, a plate full of food.
"Right," Kaoru glanced at the shiny key in her hands before turning to Kenshin, "We have to go do Misao a favor."
"A favor? Now?" Kenshin picked up a carrot and began to chomp on it.
"Yes, now."
Kaoru and Kenshin walked down to the cellar where she supposed they used like a pantry. Even though they were relatively far from the party, they could still hear everybody cheering, laughing, and having a great time. Kaoru unlocked the door, not bothering to pull the key out.
"They seem pretty well stocked, that they do," Kenshin mumbled as he turned on the lights. Kaoru only nodded in agreement.
"How many boxes do we need?" Kenshin walked to the stack of boxes.
Kaoru shrugged, leaving the door slightly ajar as she headed deeper into the pantry. She placed her hands on her hips as she counted four boxes. "I think all of them."
"All of them?" Kenshin grunted, picking up a box, "Misao owes us, that she does."
She laughed, "Here, let me get the door."
Kaoru's face blanched as the doorknob remained stiff and refused to turn. She sent Kenshin a pleading look as he juggled the box in hand.
"Oro? What is it, Kaoru?" Kenshin adjusted his hold.
Kaoru jiggled the doorknob again, before a panic rose in her. "I think we're locked in."
::-::
Soujiro's smiled as he heard them talk. True, his smile wavered just thinking of the mutiny in store for him should he do this and they find out it was him, but it was for her own good. He had been quite the schemer these days, and if he manages to fail at this one thing, all the smug smiles and well-placed comments would go to waste. Slowly, he pushed the door while the two still conversed over the boxes. There was a barely audible click, and with sweaty palms, he locked the door.
He let go of a relieved sigh, seeing all went well and Kaoru had yet to find out the terrible news. Soujiro made his way back up to the party, making a mental note for him to come down there in a few minutes.
::-::
(A few days earlier.)
Kenshin tossed in his bed. He had delivered Hiko's tea and manage to even give Kaoru her present. He smiled, remembering the excitement in her eyes. But then his smile quickly disappeared, remembering what Hiko had asked him.
If you don't love her, why are you two still together?
He groaned, pulling the sheets over him as he tried to salvage his morning. The question was simple enough, Tomoe and he had been going out for a while now, but the idea didn't seem to sit well with him. She was a nice girl, that he wouldn't argue about. But what was it that he didn't like about her? What was that one thing that always seemed to prevent him from even placing a simple kiss on her lips?
Kenshin closed his eyes for a moment, dispelling all thoughts as he meditated for an answer. But one image couldn't seem to unstick itself from his mind. His face twisted, the image of Kaoru's large beautiful eyes lingered in his mind even though it had been a few hours since he had last seen her.
'Stop that, Himura,' his mind scolded him, 'Kaoru doesn't think of you like that.'
He sat up suddenly, realizing what it was that always held him back. A new-found determination in him fueled him to pick up the phone and dial a phone number. His hands tightened its grip as two rings went by.
"Hello?"
Kenshin took a breath, "It's me. We need to talk."
::-::
Kaoru sat on the floor, tired of banging at the door. It seemed everybody was caught up doing something, anything, to hear their cries for help. Kenshin, on the other hand, refused to panic being the level-headed person that he is. Instead, he opted to eating or drinking whatever it was that was on hand.
Kaoru rubbed her aching head, tired of being trapped in the cellar. It wasn't that she was in the least bit claustrophobic, nor was it the company something she detested, it was more of a combination of both. She sighed, his rhythmic chewing was getting the best of her. Kaoru stole a glance at Kenshin who had popped open a can of soda; he was a living reminder of the unattainable happiness in her life. She frowned, but that was something she was already used to.
Kenshin glanced at Kaoru who seemed to be quite afflicted thanks to their situation. He placed his soda can down thinking of what to tell her. The news hadn't reached her yet, in fact, it hadn't reached many aside from Hiko. Would she be happy? Would she be annoyed? His tension turned into a need to say something, anything really, to try to brighten up her mood.
"Maybe Misao will get impatient and come down," Kenshin offered some solace.
Kaoru shrugged, "Maybe, but I don't think she's the type who'd notice any time soon."
Kenshin sighed, deciding it was now he should tell her. "I broke up with Tomoe."
Suddenly, she felt her chest bloom with joy and happiness. She wanted to tell him how much she hated her anyway, so it wasn't something to be remorseful about. But she didn't want to risk telling him about how she feels anything, either. She cared greatly for Kenshin, that she was sure of, but the idea of losing him only scared her witless.
"What? How come? You two looked relatively happy together." The words forced out of her mouth left a bitter taste.
Kenshin simply shrugged, refusing to tell her the reason he had to end it with her.
"I wonder if Sou-chan's looking for me," Kaoru said aloud, remembering his promise he made her not too long ago.
Kenshin felt his agitation rise at the nickname, "Soujiro?"
"Yeah," Kaoru sent him a curious look, "I don't think you like him too much, do you?"
"I just don't like him."
Kaoru frowned. Kenshin was a peaceable person and normally wouldn't be in opposition with a person enough to state it so blatantly. Her face twisted. To her, Soujiro was the apotheosis of what was a friend; and to top it all off, he made time for her when Kenshin seemingly didn't. What was not to like?
"A lot of things," Kenshin said, taking a sip of his soda.
Her eyes slightly widened, 'Did I just say that out loud?'
She bit her lip. "Like what?"
Kenshin shrugged. "I just don't like him, that I don't."
Kaoru's mood turned sour at Kenshin's obvious dislike for her friend. She never liked it when two of the people she cared for didn't like the other. It always seemed to tear her apart. Her mind searched for something she might think Kenshin thought of as offensive, and the only thing she could think of was the fact that Soujiro seemed to be readily available for her.
"Is it because I spend a lot of time with Sou-chan?" Kaoru ventured.
The light caught the color in Kenshin's usual violet eyes and for a moment, they flickered yellow. "Yes."
"I never said anything when your time with Tomoe." Kaoru could feel her temper rise as she stood up.
"But did you like her for it?" Kenshin stood up as well.
Kaoru's head began to spin. She could feel dread form at the pit of her stomach as the realization of what was happening hit her. How come they were at ends again? Her mind searched for a reason. The noise outside seemed to grow louder as the last few seconds were being counted down.
"Well, Kaoru?" Kenshin pressed on, grabbing her shoulders. "Did you like Tomoe?"
Five.
She bit her lip, afraid of what would happen if she answered. Should she lie? No, her mind reasoned, it's too late to lie now. Should she tell the truth? No, she felt her fear of losing him constrict her, she can't tell him; she would rather have him happy with somebody else instead of lose him forever.
Four.
Kenshin's eyes looked into her own, searching for an answer. For once in her life, his eyes looked like they were pleading at her, begging her to say something. But what could she say? Kaoru broke away from his grip, suddenly tired of running from the truth.
Three.
"No," Kaoru said as tears started to form; a dam was being broken in her, "I hated her! I hated her for taking you away from me. I hated how you would always be with her and barely even spend time with me. I hated how perfect she was and how I couldn't even begin to compete."
Two.
Kaoru wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "It's funny, isn't it? How when you realize what it is that you need, it's already too late."
One.
Her words hung in the air as the sounds of fireworks popped outside. People cheered, laughed, and was merry, but inside the cellar things couldn't have been anymore tense. Kaoru continued to cry, her feelings, sorrow, pain, agony, frustration, and all the rest had seemed to materialized into her ever-flowing tears. She wanted to take her words back, rewind things to a time when everything wasn't complicated between them both. He hated her now, she was sure of it. And why wouldn't he? Kaoru already hated herself. She had turned into this prideful, hideous, fearful creature. Who could ever care for a person like her? Kaoru wiped her tears away again, afraid to look at Kenshin and feel the pang of rejection first hand; she was sure he'd see her for what she truly had become.
Her eyes suddenly widened. With one swoop, Kenshin grabbed her again and kissed her. His arms were wrapped around her, as if he had always held her since the beginning of time. She felt like she was home as Kenshin's scent and everything else about him swirled around her; he was her drug that helped her forget everything that troubled her. For a second, the risk of losing him seemed to drift far away, and all she knew was him.
But almost as soon as the drug had taken effect, it was quickly dispelled and she was once again faced with the inevitability of good bye. The door suddenly opened, abruptly stopping the two. Kaoru faced a startled Misao and Soujiro. Overwhelmed, Kaoru ran out of the cellar, leaving a hurt and confused Kenshin behind.
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Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin!
Author's Notes: I hope you all liked this. It's a little weird, a little off, and a little jumbled; but I fear if I take any more time to work on it, it'll never be up. So I put this up (a few hours early, too), hoping you all liked it and will excuse the sloppy work. The next update will be sooner than usual - August 26 (Thursday). So don't fret. The conclusion is coming.
Thank you so very much to those who have reviewed! x]
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