Trying to Forget

By youkokurara

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Chapter 2: Making You Remember

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He woke up feeling warm, too warm for the winter season that it was, but it was nice, and for once, he didn't feel haunted by the ghosts of the past. It was a wonderful feeling. One he didn't want to wake up from, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't go back to sleep, so he kept his eyes closed tightly so he wouldn't have to face the harsh reality that it was all a dream.

Too bad, though, as it seemed that Nature was against him. Wondering what he drank last night, Kenshin opened his eyes and closed them just as quick as the bright light of morning hurt his senses. Yes, what exactly did he drink last night? And why was he holding a sleeping Kaoru in his arms? His eyes shot open and he looked to see the young kendo instructor sleeping peacefully on her side, her head resting on one of his arms.

His free hand reached out and gently brushed her smooth cheek, relishing in the feeling of her sweet soft skin. Memories of the night came back to him, the feeling of her body against his own, the sweet feeling of being with her-the satisfaction of being the first to have her like that, the first and the only. But there was a flaw; he never told her his feelings, for all he knew, she thought he did it all because he was drunk and horny.

Kenshin's hand paused mid stroke at the thought. He didn't want her to believe something like that! Kaoru was special to him, a goddess he wanted to keep safe and treasure forever. He loved her and wanted to claim her as his own. And he did so, only that he had been drunk and just forgot to tell her the reason why he did it all. In the back of his mind, Kenshin swore he heard Hiko's voice calling him an idiot.

The need to stay at her side until she woke rose deep within his chest but so did the need to pee, and Kenshin decided that he would be back in time to see her wake up and then he would tell her. Getting out from underneath the blankets, Kenshin made his way quickly yet quietly to the bathroom.

Kaoru, meanwhile, was awake; she had woken up not long after Kenshin had started to brush her skin with his warm hand. It had been a comforting feeling, one she had wanted to continue, but he had left the room in a hurry and she took the time alone to think. Her memories of the night before came back quickly, and she knew to continue with her resolve; but what about when he was touching her cheek? Did that mean something? Would he even return?

Questions and doubt filled her mind and Kaoru sat up, wincing at the aching of her muscles before she stood up. Yahiko would be over for breakfast soon, and she should be getting dressed before he appeared.

Getting up, she felt pain spread through her body and stood still for a moment, trying to calm her breathing before slipping into her sleeping robe. Leaving her room, she went to the bathroom, intent on taking a bath-cold or warm-to get her skin feeling clean, for she felt dirty and it wasn't like she was covered in dirt or sweat. A different kind of dirty, one she couldn't put into words to describe.

Reaching to open the door of the bath, who else would appear but Kenshin, looking a bit lost before his eyes landed on her, those orbs brightened as he said his good morning with an extra shining smile. It hurt to look at him, wondering if he remembered anything at all.

He walked quickly to her and swept Kaoru into a tight hug. Her body froze as his lips captured her own in a light kiss. Kaoru hissed to herself that she shouldn't like the kiss-even though she did-because it was wrong, all of this was wrong. Even though she loved him, he had no right to take her in such a way. None what so ever!

When Kenshin released her, Kaoru tried to keep her cool but couldn't keep everything; she did have a temper after all (not that she was ashamed of it). "What was that for?" she demanded, looking Kenshin in the eye as the lost look once more took over his face. For his sake, he kept quiet and looked at her, trying to understand her meaning the best he could when it dawned on him what she meant.

"The kiss, Kaoru?"

Her breath hitched in her throat-he didn't call her "dono." The suffix he normally used was gone, he called her just by her name!

No, no, she thought. You have to be strong! You can't let Kenshin get to you like this! Gathering her wits, Kaoru replied, "Yes Kenshin, the kiss."

He blinked; now he was confused. She looked like nothing had happened the night before, but he did feel that there was something going through her mind; it reflected clearly in her blue eyes. Yes, she knew something though she wasn't saying anything.

"Don't you remember last night?" Kenshin said slowly, thinking his words through as he did so. Something flashed through her eyes, he noted, but what it was he couldn't tell as for once, she was guarding her feelings by placing something in front of her emotions. Now, he could easily read people, but he couldn't easily read Kaoru when she did something like this, which wasn't often, making it rather hard for Kenshin to look through.

"Something happened last night? All I remember was you getting drunk-which should be giving you a nasty headache considering how much you drank. Maybe your just not feeling well," Kaoru said off handily, shrugging as she did so, reaching for the door of the bath once more but Kenshin's hand grabbed her own in a tight grip. Silently, she had congratulated herself on how she handled her words, so distant and nonchalantly, that was until he took hold of her hand in a way that it actually hurt.

"Listen Kaoru," he started, stressing her name once more. "I know what happened last night-and so do you. And I'm going to make you remember."

He released her and walked off, his eyes looking at hers while an eerie light blue. He usually looked like that when was facing off with an opponent; did that mean she was his opponent? A shiver went through her body at the thought; no, she would rather not be against him, but if that were to happen then so be it.

What happened last night should not be remembered. They weren't married and if any word of it got out, well, her whole family name would be tarnished by her actions! No, she would not let her family end like that. She had too much pride for something like that to make everything fall apart.

Kaoru would come out of this still alive and kicking, she would keep her dojo intact even if it meant she died in the process. But some voice in her head told her that Kenshin wouldn't let that happen to her and she just brushed the voice and feeling it brought away before it sank in.

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I really hate not updating as often as some people would like, and I am really sorry for that, but inspiration doesn't come all that often. Again, I am REALLY sorry for such a slow update as this has been (I don't even know the date of when I posted the first chapter). And this chapter is about 1,235 words long, so I hope it counts for something. Anyway, thank you MoMo-ChAn for proofreading this for me.

And our lovely review answers, I like these actually, even though I'm not to found of writing the author notes!

Carrie the Open Minded: Personally, if I hadn't deleted the "review alert" emails I get I wouldn't have remembered to e-mail you, but I am glad you like the story and wish to know when it is updated. And I hope this chapter is also to your liking.

Alea Seikou: I am glad my story affected you so and that you enjoyed reading it. As for the phasing movement, I did that unconsciously, and I doubt greatly that it will happen again (and if it did, I didn't know it was happening).

chibiBattousai: The self debating had to go somewhere, and it seems Kaoru is standing firm to her resolve. And I'm sorry you had to wait so long for the next chapter.

LivEviL: Rereading your review makes my cringe, the "getting around to updating part" in any case-and, once more I am really sorry for such the slow progress. I am really glad you like my story and left me a review, and it wasn't meant to be a one-shot, I really meant to update but I had no inspiration at all for anything I've been writing.

Thank you very much for reviewing and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as you did the first!