Important: Sorry but I'm not going to update for quite some time…wah my grades

are slipping…but I MIGHT if you (the readers) want me to update. I spent a lot of

time planning and writing this fic and if only a few of you want me to update then it

isn't going to be worth my time. So send in reviews IF you want me to update as

soon as possible! Thank you and enjoy reading.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

~*~*~*~*~ Us After This ~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 6:  Choices

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~…~ = Thoughts

"…"= Speaking

~*~*~*~*~*~*~Previous Chapter~*~*~*~*~*~*~

 "Tell me what's wrong with Kenshin, Enishi!"

Enishi was filled with hesitation but couldn't resist telling Kaoru the truth.

~ Kaoru…I'm sorry…I don't want to hurt you…but it's the truth. You're my long time friend, you have to know this before you get hurt. ~

"Kenshin has been toying with your feelings…"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Kaoru woke up the next morning feeling very weak. She began to recall the event that happened just yesterday night with Enishi.

~*~*~*~*~*~ Flashback ~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Kenshin has been toying with your feelings…" Enishi said silently to Kaoru.

Enishi began to explain to Kaoru what he heard when he happened to be at school when Kenshin was having his meeting. Kaoru slowly dropped to the ground. At a moment like this she would've cried but she didn't.

~ That was the missing puzzle! That was why Kenshin was acting fond of me! Everything that was a mystery now fits…~

Enishi bends down and held the silent Kaoru. Kaoru began to whisper silent words to him but loud enough for Enishi to hear.

"This is how friendship ends..."

Enishi opens his eyes with regret with what he going to tell Kaoru next.

"I'm leaving on the last day of school before winter vacation starts, Kaoru. I'm going to move to where my sister lives with her fiancé. I'm sorry…"

Kaoru's eyes snapped opened and began to cry. She didn't cry because of Kenshin, she cried because Enishi was her childhood friend since preschool till her life now. He helped her go through all the pain in life and now he's going to be gone. This is the last thing he is doing before he leaves: help her from pain. Kaoru threw herself around Enishi and sobbed.

~ Someone who's been like a brother to me is leaving…leaving…forever…~

~*~

Kaoru woke up to shower and met up with Megumi and Misao downstairs. The whole room was silent for Megumi and Misao knew what Kaoru was upset about. The rest of the weekend was silent and went by quickly.

~*~

It was the last day of school before winter vacation started. Kaoru left early to school early purposely not to see Kenshin. The whole day she was avoiding Kenshin, and finally it was lunch. Kenshin however didn't notice Kaoru's strange behavior.

Kaoru met up with Enishi as soon as they saw Kenshin walking together with Yumi. The headed themselves towards the football field.

"Let's go Kaoru…"

Enishi grabbed Kaoru's hand and pulled her close to him to hide behind a tree while listening to Yumi and Kenshin talk.

"Did you finally get Kaoru to like you?"

"Sure did…"

"Very well…when are you planning to finish this plan?"

"I'm going to ask her out to a date tonight and dump her there."

"Perfect…I'm sure Mika will like this plan…"

Kaoru heard Enishi growl and she began to shush him. Across Kaoru and Enishi heard another plan going on from where they were.

"That Kenshin is really getting under my skin. Stealing all the girls I want to be with," the short, fat guy grunted out.

"Don't worry…we're going to get rid of him today…after school…just wait…Himura is going to die in a matter of hours," a tall, thin guy said with a high squeaky voice.

Kaoru who heard the whole thing began to worry making her hard to breathe. The bell rang and ended lunch.

"We got to go Kaoru," Enishi said gently to her.

"ENISHI! Those guys are going to hurt Kenshin!" Kaoru blurted out all the sudden.

"Who is Kaoru?"

"Remember those two guys…the fat and skinny one? I over heard their plan…Kenshin is going to be hurt!" she screamed.

"What do you want me to do?" Enishi cried while shaking the frightened Kaoru.

"I don't know!" Kaoru screamed once again frustrated with herself for not making a choice.

"It's up to you Kaoru…I'll go now…" Enishi said quietly while turning to leave.

"No Enishi…"

Enishi turns around to see Kaoru standing with her bangs covering her eyes. Her fists were clutched tightly on her sides.

"I can't allow him to be hurt…even though he is a jerk…I can't allow his life to be taken away!" she said to Enishi with eyes closed.

After those words Kaoru's eyes snapped opened and a gush of wind blew her long hair past her face. She has made her choice and she's not going to change it.

"Very well Kaoru…I'll see what I can do…" Enishi quietly said to Kaoru as he left.

Kaoru quickly ran to her class.

~ Telling Misao and Megumi will only make the situation worse. If I tell everyone they'll think I'm one of those lunatic fans of Kenshins. I'll make sure those guys won't hurt you Kenshin…I promise…~

~*~

The end of the day neared. Kaoru still hated Kenshin by she couldn't allow him to be hurt so she kept her eyes close to him as much as possible. Her eyes scanned through her Chinese class, Mika was also looking at Kaoru as though she's waiting for something big to happen. They both gave the same glare to each other.

~ I'm not going to let you win that easily Mika. I don't care whose sister you are to. I'm not going to fall at your knees. ~

The light staring contest ended between Kaoru and Mika when the bell rang. Kaoru's eyes flashed to Kenshin and her breathing began to increase. Kaoru exit outside the door and saw Enishi walking slowly to Kenshin.

"I need to talk to you, Kenshin…" Enishi said quiet while eyeing Kenshin.

Kenshin eyed back and the two guys left privately leaving a worried Kaoru behind. Kaoru once again saw the two guys from lunch and followed them.

~*~

"I know your plan Kenshin…" Enishi said to the redhead guy.

Kenshin stopped walking around the school.

"And?" he grunted snobbishly.

"If that's what you feel about Kaoru then so be it. I can't do anything about it. I just want you to know that she's someone who has gone through so much pain than you'll ever know. If you feel that you must cause more pain to her then fine. Just remember that her friends won't forgive you," Enishi said in a deadly tone.

He continued once again, "Including me…"

Kenshin only stood still and listened. Enishi glanced at his watch.

"I got to go now. I'm leaving here for I don't know how long. Kaoru asked me to keep you here as long as I can. That is all I can do…"

Enishi slowly walked away to where his ride is going to pick him up.

"Why is she doing this?" Kenshin suddenly asked following behind Enishi.

"To protect you," Enishi said quietly as he began to enter in the car.

Kenshin opened his mouth once again to say something but was interrupted by Kaoru's running. She ran to Enishi, handed him a note and gave him a farewell hug.

"Goodbye Kaoru…" he whispered to the girl hugging him.

"Goodbye Enishi…" she replied back.

Kaoru lets go of Enishi and watched him close the car door. The car began to move out but before it went away Enishi rolled down the window and faced Kenshin.

"Don't be blind…" was the last words he said before leaving.

The words were strange but familiar as Kenshin began to think to himself.

~ Those words--something is familiar about it. Where have I heard that before? ~

Kaoru gently approaches the impassive Kenshin and taps him on the shoulder. Kenshin turns to see Kaoru and smiled back.

"Shall I walk you back to your house Miss Kamiya?"

Kaoru smiles back to Kenshin.

"Sure thing…"

They began to head down the Sakura road together. Kaoru began to think silently to herself.

~ It's not up to me…it's up to you Enishi. If your choice is against mine then I guess that I'll have to pay my life for it. ~

~*~

Enishi sat in the back of the car. He began to read Kaoru's letter. His eyes flashed opened with alarm.

~ It's where the guys are going to strike! Near-by Kaoru's house! Kaoru why did you leave me to do this?  ~

He panicked and quickly picked up his cell phone and called 9-1-1.

"Hello officer…?"

~*~

Kenshin momentarily forgot about what he and Enishi talked about a while ago as he began to focus onto his plan. Kaoru also forgot about what Kenshin was going to do to her as she focused onto what's going to happen in a matter of minutes.

"Kaoru…I have a question to ask you…" he started out slowly.

"Mmm…yeah?" Kaoru asked.

"I was wondering if you would like to go on a date with me tonight?"

Kaoru immediately stopped on her trail. Everything came rushing back to her.

~ I've been so distracted with Enishi's departure that I totally forgot about what Kenshin was going to do. ~

All the pain came back. The pain of false lies, being used, and physical pain fill back her heart as she remembered what Kenshin's plan was. Anger slowly rise within' her as she froze at her spot. Tears ran freely through her eyes but she hid it from Kenshin.

"Well?" he asked.

Kenshin faced Kaoru and saw Kaoru's tear-stained face. However, she wasn't crying. She just stood still with bangs covering her eyes.

"You're a really great actor Kenshin…" Kaoru started out slowly.

"What are you talking about?" he questioned her with fear rising.

"I really believed that I have fallen for you. It wasn't until I found out what you were going to do to me…how could you Kenshin…how? Why?" her voice was breaking.

"Kaoru…I…" Kaoru interrupted Kenshin.

"What have I done to deserve this?"

Kenshin opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out.

~ What DID she do to deserve this? ~

"I ASKED YOU A QUESTION KENSHIN! ANSWER ME!" Kaoru shouted at him while beating his chest.

"Kaoru I'm sorry," he said while trying to calm the angry girl.

"Don't try to get away with if now Kenshin! I'll never forgive you! NEVER!" she screamed and slapped Kenshin as she ran away from him blinded with fury forgetting about the plan that was suppose to happen in just a few minutes.

~*~

The slap Kaoru gave Kenshin stunned like a thousand needles making him shocked from surprise. Kenshin came back into reality and realized that Kaoru has run away. He began to chase after her.

~ Why? Why did I plan to hurt her? What did she do to deserve this? ~

He thought over and over to himself and he began to catch up to Kaoru who just barely made it cross the street. Kenshin began to run across the long street.

"How come I was so BLIND!?" he screamed at himself.

The words hit him hard as he jogged slowly in the middle of the street.

"Enishi…Enishi said those words…and someone else said it…someone from the past…SHE said it…her…" he whispered silently to himself as he halt.

~ Her… ~

~*~

Kaoru realized that Kenshin has stopped in his pace and came back towards reality.

~ He's in danger Kaoru! How can you think of yourself at this moment? What…~

Her train of thought broke when she heard police sirens.

~ Police sirens…only mean a chase…that meant that Enishi called! But then it's approaching here which means that the guys aren't stopping! Kenshin! ~

Kaoru's mind rang out as she saw a speeding car approaching with police cars tailing from behind.

"Kenshin! Get out of the way! Kenshin! Can you hear me?" Kaoru shouted to the fazed out Kenshin.

Kenshin didn't move from his spot, he only kept on thinking of Enishi's words. The car is approaching closer, much faster now, the cops are trying to catch up as Kaoru watched the scene.

Kaoru continued to shout Kenshin's name but he was oblivious to the world around him. Kaoru reacted to her instinct and ran towards Kenshin while the speeding car approached with powerful speed.

Soon a deafening loud screech was heard followed by a crash. Soon it was drown in police sirens ringing loudly throughout the whole neighborhood. 

~*~

Special thanks to:

            Tearose66- for putting me as one of your fav authors! Thank you!

Jmlkawaii-angel- for putting this story as one your favorites and me as your favorite author. Thanks a lot!

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