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Us After This
Chapter 10: A New Light of Hope
By: S3r3nity
'…' = Thoughts
"…"= Speaking
Previous Chapter
Kenshin backed up into the living room wall with fear as Aoshi and Sano approached him grinning mischievously. Kenshin was soon pinned against the wall, Aoshi held one arm and Sano held the other. Misao soon came in between Aoshi and Sano with a long rope.
"Hehehe…" she chuckled as her eyes shimmer with a plan. Kenshin only whimpered, "Oh no…"
Chapter 10
Hours have passed and Yumi was still chattering with Kaoru happily. The feeling of suspicion has been erased and was replaced with a feeling of friendship.
"So that's how you met him…how cute!" Kaoru shouted with excitement.
"Yup!" Yumi said happily, "You know…I personally have never thought of becoming friends with you…"
"I know…I agree…I guess now we understand each other a lot more now…" Kaoru said with a friendly tone, "I guess that you can judge a person by their looks, just like how you can't judge a book by its cover!"
"Got that right!" Yumi held up her hand, "High five girl!" Kaoru raised her hand as they did a high five and laughed loudly.
"So what's it like to be in love?" Kaoru ask curiously while looking at the older girl.
Yumi chuckled, "You shouldn't be so curious! You'll find what love is soon enough…"
"But how can I? No one wants me…I'm just some violent girl with a super short temper…" Kaoru said sadly, "And now that I'm blind that makes me even more unwanted…"
"Don't say that…people love you for who you are, not what you are…" Yumi said obviously irritated by Kaoru's self esteem.
"You're right…I'm sorry for misunderstanding that…" Kaoru said quietly and grasped her blanket tightly.
"Don't worry…you're not like Mika…she wouldn't accept that fact…she'd rather force someone to love her…" Yumi said sadly, "I'm glad I really got to know you, it proves that there are much more kinder people of earth. I'm happy you proved me wrong."
"No problem…" Kaoru said happily, "Uh…what time it is?"
"It's…oh my, already 9:40 at night…we've been speaking for hours!" Yumi shouted with surprise, "I came here around 5:00…wow…time really flies when you're having fun…I have to go now Kaoru."
"Okay good-bye!" Kaoru said cheerfully, "Thank you for keeping me company!"
Yumi stand up to leave but stopped and ran back towards Kaoru and hugged her. Kaoru first instinct was stunned but eventually found a way back to return the friendly hug.
"No…thank YOU! You're the only one that listened to something I say…I'm really happy for that…no one has done this before…for once I feel really important." Yumi said gratefully while tears filled her eyes. Kaoru however didn't see it since she was blind.
"Everyone is special in their own way, no matter how good or bad they are," Kaoru whispered. 'I mean everyone…'
"Except for you…you're more than that, especially since you're the one who opened his heart…" Yumi whispered loud enough for Kaoru to hear, and she left.
Kaoru heard the door closed but a question still remained in her mind.
'What did Yumi mean by I 'opened his heart'?'
3 hours ago
"That's the deal okay Kenshin?" Misao asked the struggling Kenshin that was tied up on a chair with ropes surrounding his body.
"Fine…wait—no! No deal!!! I refuse to do that!" Kenshin cried loudly, "Sano, Aoshi…save me!"
"Not until you agree…" Sano chuckled out loud. Aoshi stood by Sano drinking apple juice.
"Don't just stand there, Aoshi! Save me against your scary girlfriend!" Kenshin shouted desperately while struggling in his chair.
Aoshi paused to think and continued to drink, "I saved your life from Misao once…this time you're on your own."
Kenshin jaw dropped and Misao smirked, "Megumi…another feather please."
Megumi grabbed a feather out of the feather duster and handed it to Misao. She bent down and held down Kenshin's bare foot. Misao held the feather and cackled. She began to tickle Kenshin feet.
"No! You evil girl! No! Stop!!!!" Kenshin shouted while laughing hard.
"Not unless you agree to the deal…" Misao said happily and continued to wave the feather around his feet.
"NEVER!!!" Kenshin managed to choke out, and tears formed around his lavender eyes, "FINE!!! I GIVE UP! STOP! I'll do it!"
Megumi stopped holding onto Kenshin's feet and Misao stopped tickling.
"Promise?" Misao asked with suspicion and watched him carefully.
"Yes I promise now let me go…!" Kenshin cried while trying to break the bonds around his hands. Misao went next to Kenshin and cut off the ropes. Kenshin immediately ran out the door and drove away. The room suddenly became quiet.
"Do you think Kenshin really kept his promise?" Misao asked Aoshi and Sano who was stunned at Kenshin's speed and remained silent with wide eyes.
"Ohohoho—he will…trust me! Ohohohoho…" Megumi laughed out loud with fox ears popping up.
"How would you know Megumi?" Misao asked while wondering what her foxy best friend could do.
"It's called black mail…OHOHOHOHOHO!" Megumi laughed loudly whole holding a camera. Misao, Sano, and Aoshi sweat drop and managed to murmur, "Megumi is scary…"
Kenshin finally drove back to the park panicking and out of breath.
"Oh god…Kaoru's friends are scary…huh what's this?" Kenshin said while picking up an envelope from the passenger seat next to him. He began to read it...
Dearest Kenshin,
Ohohoho…thought that you could get away from it huh? Well then…if you're unwilling to cooperate with us then I guess I'll have no choice but to do what I must do. Look inside the envelope.
Kenshin carefully lifted up the enveloped and pulled out a picture: It was Megumi laughing with her fox ears. Kenshin sighed and took a closer look at the picture Megumi was holding something. He gasped, "Oh god…she took a picture of me when I was tied up! And I'm bare footed and laughing hysterically!" He quickly flipped to the back of the picture there laid a note...
Like it Kenshin? Well…accept the deal or I'll show the world this…Ohohoho…make your choice carefully...Bye!
- Fox (A.K.A Megumi)
Kenshin finished reading the letter then groans, "Oh no…" and slams his head on the car horn. Later a loud honk. echoed throughout the neighborhood.
3 hours LATER
A pair of silver eyes shot opened and instantly drove off towards a certain hospital to see a certain girl.
Kaoru sat and waited for a while and soon moved her hand over to the alarm clock.
"It's Ten O' Clock…Ten O' Clock…" Kaoru shuts off the clock and waited with eyes of hope.
Soon she heard running steps down the hallway, then sliding, then crashing…she began to giggle.
"I'm here, that I am!!!" Shinta shouted while panting. Kaoru laughed loudly.
"What's wrong?" Shinta asked.
"I'm sorry for laughing…but I have to admit…that was a grand entrance you made…" Kaoru managed to choke out.
"Okay…that was a mistake…that it was," Shinta started to sound irritated, "Now can you knock it off?"
Kaoru immediately stopped and Shinta brought out a small bag, Kaoru could hear the bag crumble, "Are you hungry, Miss Kaoru?"
"No I'm not…you could go ahead and eat…" Kaoru started then her stomach growled loudly. Her face blush bright red as Shinta laughed.
"Knock it off," she mumbled while turning slightly pink.
"Okay…I'll stop…" Shinta said cheerfully as he handed Kaoru a cup to drink along with some other food, "here eat…"
"Thanks," Kaoru said gratefully as she took a bite off a muffin, "Oh my gosh! This is so good!"
"You really think so?" Shinta asked, "I never thought it was good at all."
"It really is!" Kaoru mumbled under a mouth full of food, she began to drink out of her cup, "Is this the drink you gave me yesterday?"
"Yes it is, Miss Kaoru," Shinta replied. Kaoru began to choke.
"I thought you had to visit a friend…if I'm eating their food then what do they eat?" Kaoru asked with a worried tone.
"Don't worry…my friend is sleeping so I came by to see you. And beside I made extras, that I did." Shinta replied cleverly and Kaoru began to relax.
"For a second I though I was eating your friends food…" Kaoru said while she continued eating.
"No you weren't, Miss Kaoru, forgive me that I didn't tell you that earlier. I'm very sorry, that I am." Shinta said unhappily.
"No…that's all right…" Kaoru said cheerfully, "Shinta, are you ok?"
"Oro…I still feel bad…" Shinta replied sadly.
Kaoru stopped and began to think to herself then an idea popped up, "How about this, you bring me food every night for this week and I'll forgive you ok?"
"Okay…that makes me very happy, that it does!" Shinta replied energetically, "I see Miss Kaoru has gotten much better than yesterday."
"Yeah… I feel better now even if I'm blind. I'm just getting use to this condition," Kaoru said happily, "I feel "normal" again."
"I'm happy for you, that I am." Shinta began to ask another question, "Um…are you still mad at the guy who caused this problem to you?"
Kaoru faced Shinta; she did some thinking and looked back, "No I'm not mad…I can never be. I caused this problem to myself first so that's what I get."
Shinta looked at the time and faced Kaoru. She could feel his strong gaze upon her. Kaoru shifted nervously in her bed and giggled uncomfortably.
"I have to go now Miss Kaoru, I'll see you tomorrow, that I will," Shinta said as he gently put his hand on Kaoru's shoulder.
"Okay then…bye!" Kaoru whispered, she then heard the door close, and she sighed contently.
"A week has passed Kaoru!!!" Misao shouted happily, "You'll be home tomorrow!"
"I know!" Kaoru replied happily.
"Wow…missy looks much more healthier each day, what have you been taking?" Sano exclaimed.
"Nothing that you should know stupid rooster!" Megumi roughly replied.
"Where's Kenshin?" Kaoru asked curiously.
"He's been getting really tired lately, as if he haven't slept for days…so we decided to not let him tag a long this time, don't worry Kaoru…he'll be doing something for you tomorrow…" Aoshi said with a smirk, "possibly for the rest of your high school years…"
"HUH?" Kaoru was now confused. Misao immediately interrupted, "You'll see…it's a surprise ok? So chill and don't worry."
"Oh…ok then…"
"Well we got to go now…is that okay with you?" Megumi asked Kaoru.
"It's fine…have fun! Bye guys!" Kaoru said cheerfully.
"Bye Kaoru!!!" everyone shouted as they left. Kaoru was finally left alone and she lay on her bed happily.
"This week has been great…everyone was visiting me, Yumi came around everyday too just to keep me company. I think we've become close friends, although we kept our friendship a secret. I never knew how much she loved Shishio, that explains why she's not going to see me today," Kaoru giggled, "I can't wait to be home but what about Shinta?"
'What about Shinta? He's been keeping you company too…can you really leave him? What are you going to do?'
Kaoru let's out a frustrated sigh and slammed a pillow against her face.
Ten at night
Shinta slowly entered the room and Kaoru heard him.
"Miss Kaoru…I have some news for you…" his voice was filled with sadness, "My friend has finally recovered from her disease, tonight will be the last time I'll see you."
Kaoru sat up and her eyes were filling up with tears, she felt a warm palm cover her face.
"Don't cry Miss Kaoru…what ever you do…don't cry…promise you'll NEVER cry for me," he said sternly, "That's the last thing I'll never want to see you do…"
Kaoru stared down and her tears dried up, "I promise I won't cry for you…I also have to tell you that I'll be leaving tomorrow…"
"Then tonight shall be a celebration," Shinta said to Kaoru. Kaoru put up a smile, "What shall we do then Shinta?"
"Yeah…what shall we do?" Shinta snickered and pulled Kaoru up to her feet.
"Shinta what are you doing?" Kaoru shouted in surprise and she felt herself wrapped in Shinta's arms. She felt Shinta move one of his hands off her shoulders.
"Miss Kaoru…would you do the honor-- of giving this unworthy one a dance?" Shinta asked gently. Kaoru stood with her jaw hanging opened and simply replied, "I would love to…"
Shinta leaned over to click a button; soon soft gentle music flowed throughout the room. Shinta gently slithered his arms around Kaoru's waist and Kaoru wrapped her arms around his neck. They both swayed their bodies to the soft music. Kaoru continued to blush throughout the whole dance but also enjoyed it. The music soon ended and Kaoru smiles in content. She suddenly felt tired.
"Thank you Shinta…I believe this was the highlight of my life…" Kaoru whispered as Shinta lifted her onto the hospital bed.
"Thank you for giving this unworthy one a dance he'll never forget…I'll never forget you Kaoru…" he replied.
"I'll never forget you too Shinta…" she said quietly before drifting to sleep.
"Good night my princess…" Shinta said silently and pulled the covers over Kaoru's body, "This won't be that last time we'll see each other…we'll meet in the future…" Shinta bends down and gently gave a peck on Kaoru's cheek before leaving.
"MORNING KAORU!" a voice rang out of nowhere and Kaoru shot up from her bed.
"Misao! I was sleeping!" Kaoru shouted through her gritted teeth.
"Sorry…I just got really excited that you're coming back! I'm so sorry!" Misao said sheepishly.
"It doesn't matter…" Kaoru said silently as she got out of bed, "Well…let's go home…"
"Wait a minute…missy…looks like there was a party for two last night…there are fresh roses on the table…there were also lots of cups…were you drinking!?" Sano demanded, "Who was with you!?"
"I wasn't drinking! It was a friend I met at the hospital, he was here last night. It was a small party to celebrate my leave. That was it!" Kaoru shouted angrily.
"What does a girl like you know…you're blind…you don't know what that guy looks like…he's probably fat, short, stupid, and perverted…he was probably trying to get you drunk last night…" Sano mumbled, "trying to take advantage over a handicap…"
Megumi immediately pummeled Sano onto the floor. "Shut up…I'm pretty sure Kaoru knows how to defend herself…" she said angrily, "You should've known that well enough by now!"
"Kenshin was right about you being a scary fox lady…" Sano slurred half in his unconscious state, "Very SEXY though..."
"WHAT!?" Megumi shouted and she began to beat up Sano.
Misao, Aoshi, and Kaoru began to laugh as they watch the fox bite the roosters head off.
"I'm am so going to hurt you to the point where you would want to regret saying that!" Megumi growled.
"But I am regretting what I just said…" Sano whined.
"That's not good enough!" Megumi cried as more punch sounds continued to echo throughout the room.
Kaoru continued to laugh as tears of joy formed around her eyes.
'How long has it been since I laughed this hard, and how long was it since Megumi and Sano fought like this? It sure feels good…'
Kaoru stopped laughing as soon as Megumi cries stopped and waited for someone to say something.
"Megumi…Sano looks like he's growing all kinds of potatoes on his head…" Misao mused out loud while admiring Megumi's work of "art". Aoshi gulped in fear hoping that Misao won't do that to him in the future.
Kaoru slightly giggled and soon something disturbed her. She slowly began to see light and colors, her vision what still blurry but she could picture all, more like seeing all her friends in front of her.
"How is this possible?" Kaoru asked herself as her vision began to clear. Then something rang in her mind, the words that Shinta said on the first night they met, the time when she felt like she lost all hope of regaining her eyesight.
"As long as YOU have that hope, miracles will bound to happen…"
GASP! Could this be? Yes it is! It's the end of the chapter! Mwahahaha! If you
want me to update quickly then send in reviews! This is now going to get
interesting…so quickly review! Otherwise I won't feel like doing it! Well…
thanks or reading! Tune in next time! Bye!
Review Response:
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Peridot- Kenshin is upset when Shinta visits Kaoru because…uh, I can't tell you yet…SORRY! I'm so sorry for not updating for some time!!! SORRY! I was really busy with my other fics…thanks for the review!
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