I am late again, but not by too much. Hopefully all of the cute moments I put in here will help you to forgive. AND KAORU IS STILL EIGHT! I know that when some of you get to reading, there will be some hentai thoughts going on *glares at all the perverts*. Ahem, anyway, I think you'll enjoy this.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SAYING GOODBYE
Kaoru lay awake that night trying to come to grips with everything that had happened so far in the last four months. She had resigned herself to the beatings of Shinji, was saved by this strange red-headed stranger, and now she was going to be left with even more strangers. She hoped that maybe she could talk Kenshin into taking her with him. She didn't have high hopes though, because after traveling with him for four months, she had learned that Kenshin was a man of his word and very protective of her. He would go to great lengths to see that she was unharmed.
She turned trying to get comfortable on the futon but her attempts were fruitless, she wasn't used to sleeping with the simple luxury of a bed, complete with blankets and pillows. After several minutes of tossing and turning, she decided she would go see Kenshin.
*-*-*-*
Kenshin sat up against the wall of his room. After traveling for a year sleeping against trees and on the ground he gained little comfort from the futon he had yet to roll out. His thoughts weren't so comforting either. He didn't have much information about what he was going to see the police chief in Saitama about, but he was pretty sure it had to do with the rebellions against the government across the country. He wished he could take Kaoru with him but if things got dangerous, he didn't want Kaoru hurt or even threatened for that matter.
Kenshin's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his door opening. When he looked up he saw Kaoru, big blue eyes shining in the moonlight that was streaming through the window behind him.
"Kaoru, why are you awake you're supposed to be asleep." His eyes showed his surprise but his voice was meant to comfort.
"I couldn't sleep. The futon was too comfortable." Odd as the sentence sounded, it made sense to Kenshin who knew all to well of what she was talking about. Only Kaoru's problem was probably doubled because she had spent the whole of her life sleeping on the ground, on a thin blanket no less. Kenshin beckoned her to sit in his lap and she was quick to obey, sitting across his legs.
Right now Kenshin was the only solid person in her world, the only one she felt safe to trust. She settled into a more comfortable position across his legs, her cheek resting against his chest as he supported her back with one arm before she spoke.
"Kenshin, when are you leaving?" She turned her face up to look into his eyes.
"The day after tomorrow." His heart melted when he saw tears begin to puddle in her eyes, " I won't be gone long Kaoru. Then I'll be back to spend more time with you."
"You promise?" He made no reply to this except to smile. He didn't want to promise her to be back, when there was a very good possibility that he wouldn't. He had an odd feeling that this would be the case, no matter how much he hoped it wasn't.
The tears streamed down her face and fell onto the exposed part of his chest as she cried against him. He sincerely hoped that fate would be kind to this small girl, who's world was already upside down and chopped to pieces. He used the sleeve of his jacket to wipe the tears from her face as Kenshin's distinct scent of the forest lulled her into a comfortable sleep.
*-*-*-*
Megumi checked Kaoru's room once more to make sure she hadn't missed the little girl. She had already been there twice trying to find out where she had gone. She thought about alerting Kenshin of her disappearance, when a sudden idea struck her. Maybe the girl had gone to sleep with Sir Ken. After all the eight-year-old did seem rather attached to him when they had arrived. Maybe she was afraid of being here and went to Kenshin? Hmm…she went to his room and quietly slid open the shoji. What she saw was more beautiful than any picture ever painted.
Koaru sat in Kenshin's lap in a spot under the window, her cheek resting on his chest. His own cheek lay on top of her head, the sunlight playing on his hair to create a golden halo atop the crown of his. The dust danced within the incoming light creating a calming effect to the atmosphere. Birds chirped happily in the background, and Megumi thought it looked like something out of a story book.
Megumi slid the door shut as quietly as humanly possible. That picture would stay burned in her mind until the very day she died.
*-*-*-*
"Okay, put this foot here, and you can get more thrust behind your punch." Sano directed Kaoru as he placed her feet and hands in the right position.
"Like this?"
"Yeah, now try it." He held a hand up in front of her.
"Are you sure? I don't wanna hurt you." Her nose was wrinkled up slightly and her eyes scrunched. Sano laughed.
"I'm sure. Go ahead take your best hit." Kaoru shrugged and pushed her hand into the palm in front of her as hard as she possibly could. A resounding crack echoed in their ears and Sano's jaw dropped in shock and pain. She hit harder than he thought she could.
"Probly shoulda practiced on something else." He held his hand and looked at Kaoru as if she had sprouted another head.
"I warned you." Kaoru smiled, displaying a face full of pride.
Kenshin smiled a sad smile from his place on the porch. She warmed up to Sano and Megumi very quickly, he guessed it was the trusting vibes she received from himself. He wasn't sad about this fact, more relieved than anything that she was comfortable with the people she would be living with for a while. The problem was that he left the next morning and, regardless of how long he said it would take, had a feeling it would take longer. He wasn't sure when or IF he would ever see Kaoru again, this thought alone made his heart clench in agony for the little girl standing just a few feet away from him.
*-*-*-*
"Kenshin, I don't want you to leave." Kaoru stood in front of Kenshin, tears once again streaming down her cheeks.
"I'll be back soon, Kaoru, that I will." He brushed a finger across her cheeks to clear away the tears, only for them to replaced by more droplets. Before he could take his next breath she launched herself forward to lock her arms around his neck. He rubbed a hand on her back trying to calm her and make it easier for the both of them. It had always been hard to see Kaoru cry because she never made much noise except the occasional sniffle or hiccup, which was even worse than having her sobbing loudly.
After her tears had died down a bit, he made a move to stand and leave.
She tightened her grip, "No." Her voice would not have been audible had her face been further from his ear.
"Kaoru I have to go. Here I have something for you." He moved away from her a bit to pull something out of his gi. Kaoru's eyes widened when she saw what it was. It was an Indigo ribbon, perfectly matching her new kimono. This new gift brought tears anew and she launched herself at him once more.
"I love you Kenshin." She said in a small voice.
"I love you too, Kaoru." He stood to leave and she reluctantly let him go holding the ribbon to her as a lifeline.
She stood at the gate and watched as he slowly disappeared into the fog of the morning, until his dark silhouette vanished entirely. She stood long after he was out of sight, clutching the ribbon to her, promising both herself and Kenshin that she would wear it until he came back.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
I do believe I am going to cry. It was so sad to write. Please review and let me know what you think. By the way, the I love you thing was simple like a brother sister type of love. Nothing more……….yet *evil grin*. Please review ^-^
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SAYING GOODBYE
Kaoru lay awake that night trying to come to grips with everything that had happened so far in the last four months. She had resigned herself to the beatings of Shinji, was saved by this strange red-headed stranger, and now she was going to be left with even more strangers. She hoped that maybe she could talk Kenshin into taking her with him. She didn't have high hopes though, because after traveling with him for four months, she had learned that Kenshin was a man of his word and very protective of her. He would go to great lengths to see that she was unharmed.
She turned trying to get comfortable on the futon but her attempts were fruitless, she wasn't used to sleeping with the simple luxury of a bed, complete with blankets and pillows. After several minutes of tossing and turning, she decided she would go see Kenshin.
*-*-*-*
Kenshin sat up against the wall of his room. After traveling for a year sleeping against trees and on the ground he gained little comfort from the futon he had yet to roll out. His thoughts weren't so comforting either. He didn't have much information about what he was going to see the police chief in Saitama about, but he was pretty sure it had to do with the rebellions against the government across the country. He wished he could take Kaoru with him but if things got dangerous, he didn't want Kaoru hurt or even threatened for that matter.
Kenshin's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his door opening. When he looked up he saw Kaoru, big blue eyes shining in the moonlight that was streaming through the window behind him.
"Kaoru, why are you awake you're supposed to be asleep." His eyes showed his surprise but his voice was meant to comfort.
"I couldn't sleep. The futon was too comfortable." Odd as the sentence sounded, it made sense to Kenshin who knew all to well of what she was talking about. Only Kaoru's problem was probably doubled because she had spent the whole of her life sleeping on the ground, on a thin blanket no less. Kenshin beckoned her to sit in his lap and she was quick to obey, sitting across his legs.
Right now Kenshin was the only solid person in her world, the only one she felt safe to trust. She settled into a more comfortable position across his legs, her cheek resting against his chest as he supported her back with one arm before she spoke.
"Kenshin, when are you leaving?" She turned her face up to look into his eyes.
"The day after tomorrow." His heart melted when he saw tears begin to puddle in her eyes, " I won't be gone long Kaoru. Then I'll be back to spend more time with you."
"You promise?" He made no reply to this except to smile. He didn't want to promise her to be back, when there was a very good possibility that he wouldn't. He had an odd feeling that this would be the case, no matter how much he hoped it wasn't.
The tears streamed down her face and fell onto the exposed part of his chest as she cried against him. He sincerely hoped that fate would be kind to this small girl, who's world was already upside down and chopped to pieces. He used the sleeve of his jacket to wipe the tears from her face as Kenshin's distinct scent of the forest lulled her into a comfortable sleep.
*-*-*-*
Megumi checked Kaoru's room once more to make sure she hadn't missed the little girl. She had already been there twice trying to find out where she had gone. She thought about alerting Kenshin of her disappearance, when a sudden idea struck her. Maybe the girl had gone to sleep with Sir Ken. After all the eight-year-old did seem rather attached to him when they had arrived. Maybe she was afraid of being here and went to Kenshin? Hmm…she went to his room and quietly slid open the shoji. What she saw was more beautiful than any picture ever painted.
Koaru sat in Kenshin's lap in a spot under the window, her cheek resting on his chest. His own cheek lay on top of her head, the sunlight playing on his hair to create a golden halo atop the crown of his. The dust danced within the incoming light creating a calming effect to the atmosphere. Birds chirped happily in the background, and Megumi thought it looked like something out of a story book.
Megumi slid the door shut as quietly as humanly possible. That picture would stay burned in her mind until the very day she died.
*-*-*-*
"Okay, put this foot here, and you can get more thrust behind your punch." Sano directed Kaoru as he placed her feet and hands in the right position.
"Like this?"
"Yeah, now try it." He held a hand up in front of her.
"Are you sure? I don't wanna hurt you." Her nose was wrinkled up slightly and her eyes scrunched. Sano laughed.
"I'm sure. Go ahead take your best hit." Kaoru shrugged and pushed her hand into the palm in front of her as hard as she possibly could. A resounding crack echoed in their ears and Sano's jaw dropped in shock and pain. She hit harder than he thought she could.
"Probly shoulda practiced on something else." He held his hand and looked at Kaoru as if she had sprouted another head.
"I warned you." Kaoru smiled, displaying a face full of pride.
Kenshin smiled a sad smile from his place on the porch. She warmed up to Sano and Megumi very quickly, he guessed it was the trusting vibes she received from himself. He wasn't sad about this fact, more relieved than anything that she was comfortable with the people she would be living with for a while. The problem was that he left the next morning and, regardless of how long he said it would take, had a feeling it would take longer. He wasn't sure when or IF he would ever see Kaoru again, this thought alone made his heart clench in agony for the little girl standing just a few feet away from him.
*-*-*-*
"Kenshin, I don't want you to leave." Kaoru stood in front of Kenshin, tears once again streaming down her cheeks.
"I'll be back soon, Kaoru, that I will." He brushed a finger across her cheeks to clear away the tears, only for them to replaced by more droplets. Before he could take his next breath she launched herself forward to lock her arms around his neck. He rubbed a hand on her back trying to calm her and make it easier for the both of them. It had always been hard to see Kaoru cry because she never made much noise except the occasional sniffle or hiccup, which was even worse than having her sobbing loudly.
After her tears had died down a bit, he made a move to stand and leave.
She tightened her grip, "No." Her voice would not have been audible had her face been further from his ear.
"Kaoru I have to go. Here I have something for you." He moved away from her a bit to pull something out of his gi. Kaoru's eyes widened when she saw what it was. It was an Indigo ribbon, perfectly matching her new kimono. This new gift brought tears anew and she launched herself at him once more.
"I love you Kenshin." She said in a small voice.
"I love you too, Kaoru." He stood to leave and she reluctantly let him go holding the ribbon to her as a lifeline.
She stood at the gate and watched as he slowly disappeared into the fog of the morning, until his dark silhouette vanished entirely. She stood long after he was out of sight, clutching the ribbon to her, promising both herself and Kenshin that she would wear it until he came back.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
I do believe I am going to cry. It was so sad to write. Please review and let me know what you think. By the way, the I love you thing was simple like a brother sister type of love. Nothing more……….yet *evil grin*. Please review ^-^