Note that italic texts in parenthesis, eg. "Kenshin...", are 'thought' texts, whilst others are emphasis. Enjoy!
Part 5: The Shining Smile
Hokure reached for Kaoru's lips, but she refused him flatly that she was able to avoid them.
"KENSHINNNNNNN!!!!" her scream ran again. He slapped her again, saying, "This is why I want to kiss you - to shut your big mouth!!!!" He grasped tight Kaoru's head, and was about to kiss her mouth shut, when all of a sudden --
"DON'T EVEN THINK OF DOING THAT TO KAORU!!!!" a voice screamed. Hokure turned, and his eyes widened. With a swing of the reversed edge sword, he was thrown off Kaoru to the side. Kaoru looked up wearily, and afforded the most helpless smile.
"Kenshin..." she called weakly. Kenshin rushed to her, unbound her with the cut of his sword, and cuddled her close in his arms. "Kaoru..." he brushed his fingers through her untied hair, and held her cheek. A tear was seen falling on his cheek.
"Don't... cry..." she said. He shut his eyes, and uttered, "Gomen nasai, Kaoru... I failed to protect you like I always should..." A kiss landed on her forehead - his first impromptu gesture on her. That was enough to reveal a little bit of his feeling towards her.
Even in such exhaustion... she could still sense the warmth of Kenshin's lips. And she used to think that she could live without him. She was WRONG. Even if Kenshin loved Tomoe... Kaoru realized that she needed Kenshin. More than she ever needed anyone in this world. Her life is Kenshin. Her love is Kenshin. No sense to live any longer without Kenshin...
At that very moment Kenshin felt Kaoru in his arms, it was as if he had found his life back again. She was close to being sexually abused... and he was thanking Kami-sama greatly that he arrived just in time before Kaoru was molested to the end. Only now, he learnt how much she meant to him. How much he treasured her in his heart. If he kept hiding this fact from Tomoe, he was lying to her, and to himself. He couldn't deny it any longer. Kaoru is his true light... and he loves her. More than anyone else. More than his own life...
Hokure raised his head, and looked around. His escorts were all down on the ground, bleeding in deep injury. Then, he saw Kenshin holding Kaoru affectionately. His eyes narrowed. "Who is he to take away my girl for the night???" Slowly, he took a large stick, and went over behind Kenshin.
As if Kenshin won't notice. His eyes blinked, and as fast as the lightning, he reached for his sheathed sakabatou, and with great momentum, pushed it behind --
Hokure swing the stick from over his head, "You're just interrupting -- !!!!!" The sakabatou's hilt hit his nose, as it broke and bleed. The impact brought him down behind Kenshin. Kenshin glanced to him, and said with his husky, serious voice, "Haven't I taught you enough lesson??!"
Police whistles broke the silence of the cold air. They gathered to arrest Hokure and his men. Kenshin, seeing the crowd of people, began taking off his gi - his only piece of shirt - and wrapped it around Kaoru. She watched him - topless with only his hakama on, and said concernly, "How about you?" He smiled, and said, "You need it more than I do. I'll be fine."
The police chief went to inquire Kenshin, "How are you both??" Kenshin replied calmly with a grimace, "We're allright. I just hope you can punish these men for their indecency. If I'm still Battousai, I could have killed them for doing that to Kaoru..."
The chief gulped, as Kenshin cheerfully told him, "It's a joke, chief!" But then he told himself that he could have... if he is still the hitokiri everyone feared. Then, the resthouse owner came to inquire about the same thing. As usual, Kenshin answered it politely. The owner was offering to pay for Kaoru's medical fees, but Kenshin refused.
"It's allright..." he said, "I know a doctor who can attend to her. I know you're upset about the case that they actually kidnapped her from your resthouse..."
The owner looked down. "Gomen nasai," he bowed to Kenshin, as he replied, "Daijoubu." Then, he bowed slightly, and turned to Kaoru. He slipped his arms - one around her back, and the other below the bends of her knees - and carefully carried her.
"Come on, Kaoru... we're going home..."
Looking at him with his messy red hair and shining violet eyes, Kaoru gave him a small but relieved smile. She tightened her embrace around his neck, and clinged lovingly to him, as Kenshin walked solemnly out of the forest. As they left, they could hear voices chattering about them from the small crowd there...
"Lovely couple..."
"Look at the man... he's so loving towards his wife..."
"Such affectionate lovers..."
Kaoru grimaced. She wished that she and Kenshin are couples as the crowd whispered among themselves. She gave her mind a rest from thinking about who Kenshin's heart would choose. All that matters now is that she was in his arms. And that he cares about her... loves her... needs her. It became more convincingly true as she moved her head next to his, and felt the muscle of his jaw creating a smile like hers. He loved those remarks too. Therefore, the police were able to arrest Azumi Hokure and his three men. The resthouse has became peaceful again. And that street had became a memory waiting to be forgotten... and a beginning to a better future...
Gensai-sensei was treating Kaoru inside her bedroom. Watching from the outside the closed door was Kenshin, who was already dressed. Sitting down, leaning against the post of the corridor, he thought how chaotic that day had been. He nearly lost the most important person of his life. Only now he realized it. It was love that drove him to his instincts to save her. It was love that gave him that madness when he knew Kaoru was in trouble. It was love that created that spontaneous act of expressing his hidden emotion when he kissed Kaoru's forehead. And he didn't even called her 'Kaoru-dono' now...
"Yes..." he whispered to his own audibility, "I love her..."
He closed his eyes, "I love Kaoru......"
"Omedeto, Himura Kenshin!! At last you said it!!!" a cheerful voice suddenly rang in the air.
"Oro...?!" Kenshin was surprised. Tomoe was hugging him, and then watched him, "After a long time, you finally said it!!"
Again, he was astounded by the way Tomoe was reacting. He had never seen her this cheerful before. Then, he took a glance around him. There was a tall Japanese gate about a hundred feet behind Tomoe, and the rest - again - it was a breath-taking atmosphere. The sakura seemed everlasting; there were lush, green trees around the place; not to be missed the beautiful sun and the thin patches of clouds with a blue sky at the background.
"You know, Himura-san... that's one phrase you'll bring till the day you die," Tomoe told him. Kenshin looked at her blankly, "Why are you so cheerful about it...??"
She looked away towards the skies and smiled, "Because at last you're able to know who your true light is. The one whom you TRULY love, and the one whom you'll spend the rest of your life with..." She turned to him, and gave him a soft tap on his shoulder, "I'm happy for you, Himura-san. At least, I've done my job well."
"Your job??" he dazed. Kenshin gazed at her for a moment, and began to make sense of what had happened. The time when he yelled out her name and made Kaoru ran away... and the white plum scent at the bridge, after meeting the old woman who had seen Kaoru. Somehow his sharp instincts were able to identify them. Tomoe purposely plotted this incident to show Kenshin her point.
"I think you know," Tomoe percepted. Kenshin nodded with a smile, "Yes. You know, you nearly killed me because of losing her..."
"But that's how I made you tell the truth," she grinned. He asked, "Well... aren't you hurt...? I mean... we were..." he swallowed a bit of his nervous feeling, "... married once..."
Such an odd question from a former hitokiri. But Tomoe put up a positive expression straight from her heart. "We were compelled to. We've been close before. Even now, we're still friends. To Kaoru-san, though, it's completely different. That love you have for her, is a love for a woman - your soulmate whom you're willing to share your life with."
Kenshin sighed, and smiled, "True... I'm glad you understand."
Tomoe grinned, and explained, "All these years, I've seen you keeping those bloody secrets you had. And I know you feel bad when you think about me. I feel bad that I caused you such sadness, and so this is something I could do to replace that sadness with a smile that will last you a lifetime..."
Kenshin gave her a gaze of appreciation. She had been a considerate, kind and honest friend. He reached out for her, and hugged her.
"You're so kind, Tomoe-san... arigato gozaimasu..."
Tomoe hugged him back. As she experienced her joy, Kenshin had his as well. The old memories are now just memories, and he has a long time coming to think about. They parted, and she touched his cross scar. "This scar is no longer a pain to you, Himura-san. It's a remembrance that you've been one of Japan's most powerful swordsman ever in existence."
"I agree," suddenly a voice from behind Tomoe said. As he appeared, Kenshin was stunned. He put his arm around her shoulders, and pressed her closer to him. "Himura Battousai is a legend we'll never forget."
"Kiyosato..." Kenshin said. He was Kiyosato Akira, Tomoe's fiance that he killed around twelve years ago. For a while he felt tense in the air, but after seeing Kiyosato's joyful expression, Kenshin knew that there wasn't any revengeful feeling inside him. "I owe you both my sincerest apologies," he stated, and bowed slightly. Kiyosato uttered, "It's your job as an Ishinshishi at that time. I don't blame you. You've taken care of Tomoe-san, and seeing your attitude now, I'm touched by your sense of value."
"It's something I felt obliged to do. Arigato," Kenshin replied. Kiyosato nodded, "Well, I wish you a good life ahead."
He and Tomoe began to move slowly behind. She waved, and spoke out to Kenshin, "Sayonara, Himura-san... you and Kaoru-san take care..."
Kenshin stood there wordlessly, and nodded. He watched them leave, heading towards the gate behind them. Tomoe and Kiyosato... finally together. Suddenly, he felt some sense of joy inside himself. Tomoe was already united with Kiyosato, and now it was his turn to be united with the woman he was destined to love...
Kaoru................
"Kenshin!" Gensai-sensei patted his shoulder. "Oro...?" he said emptily. He turned, and knew that Gensai-sensei had finished his treatment on Kaoru.
"How's she?" he asked. Gensai-sensei smiled, as he adjusted his backpack, "She's suffering from some bruises and exhaustion. Other than that, she's fine." He took Kenshin's hand and gave him a packet of medicine, saying, "Here are some medicine for Kaoru. I've just given her some just now, and now she's resting. After one week, bring her to the clinic for checking. Don't forget."
"Of course," Kenshin answered. He greeted Gensai-sensei farewell, before heading back to Kaoru's room. He stood outside the door screen for a while, and placed his hand on it. He was nervous. Before this, he never felt this way for Kaoru. Yes, he had loved her from the beginning, but today... he felt much more closer. Closer than they had ever been.
Despite the short hesitation, he slid the door, and saw Kaoru lying on the futon mattress, kept away from the cold by the thick quilt. Silently he shut the door, leaving them both parted from the outside world. He went next to her, and knelt beside her. Watching her fair face, her unbound dark hair, her closed eyes... he never thought he would scrutinized them this deep. She was still wearing his gi. Her hands gripped the quilt tight.
"Kaoru..." his fingers ran through her fringe, "... you're so beautiful..." He couldn't believe he had whispered those to her. But he did. She had been a bad tempered, hard headed, noisy and irritating young girl. Yet other than that, she was loving, caring, enthusiastic and strong. Those were the characteristics of the Kamiya Kaoru he had fallen in love with.
At that very moment, as he was looking at Kaoru's sleeping face, he wondered why didn't he fell for Megumi? Or even Tomoe? Megumi had everything a true feminine has - elegance, beauty and attitude. Tomoe is someone similar... in addition to her blooming loveliness and kind heart. But at the end, it was the one with the least of all those womanly criteria - Kaoru. Maybe that was the attraction -- her lively enthusiasm. Her endless strength. Her beautiful heart...
Suddenly, Kaoru's eyes leaked. A tear flowed down from her eyes. Kenshin pulled his hand away, thinking that his gestures had disturbed her. But no. Later, she became restless. Her head moved slightly from left to right, as if her visions were haunted with nightmares she never wanted to see. Kenshin was clueless. He wanted to wake her up, but he was afraid. What would she think if she found out that he was sitting at her bedside...?
She became much more panicky. All of a sudden, he heard a name... a familiar name being called...
"Ken..."
He glanced to her, hoping for her to continue -
"... shin..."
He was in mounting concern and agony, as he held her shoulders lightly, and called softly, "Kaoru..."
"Kenshin......" she went again. More restless movements. This time her face frowned. "Don't..."
"Kaoru......" the more he became worried.
Another tear dropped. Her frown worsen. She shook her head in frenzy, "Kenshin... don't leave me..."
Kenshin had no other option but to wake her up. He shook her shoulders. She was already in a real-life nightmare just now, and at this moment, when she was beginning to rest from that experience, it came again. "Kaoru... wake up!"
"No... no..." she burst as she reached the climax of the dream, "KENSHINNNN!!!!!"
"KAORU!!" Kenshin woke her up. She opened her eyes, gazed around, and stopped when she saw Kenshin's weary face looking at her. "Kenshin..." she threw herself into his arms, "... don't leave me......"
Kenshin took her into his embrace, and calmed her down, "Baka... I won't leave you..." he embraced her closer, letting her snuggle into his gi, "... I'll NEVER leave you..."
Kaoru cooled down, before realizing that she was physically being very close to Kenshin. She parted from him, and looked into his shimmering eyes. This is the time to carry out what she had planned earlier - to tell Kenshin the whole truth about her heart.
"I don't care what your response is... and I don't care if you love Tomoe-san more... but..." it was her turn to gulp in her nervousness, "... I need you to stay here with me..."
When his ears caught the message, and his eyes caught the sight of her weak, almost unhealthy face, he knew he caused all of them. From the day they came back from Kyoto, till today. Kaoru's mental torture was all because of his sudden thought towards Tomoe. For weeks she had endured it. And today she had the shock of her life when that incident in the forest happened. "Oh... how can I be so naive...??" he thought. Gradually, he held Kaoru's cheek, and touched them gently. She was slightly shock with Kenshin's reaction. Yet she closed her eyes, feeling that simple yet wonderful gesture of care.
"Gomen, Kaoru..." he said, "Gomen..."
"You don't have to say that..." Kaoru stared at him, "Just STAY with me..."
Just now, Kenshin felt joy that he had known whom he truly loved. And now he was a million times more joyful because he knew, and he could read from her speeches that he was loved in return. Maybe Kaoru hadn't comprehend his feelings enough, so he was about to make the next gesture that will explain his heart once and for all...
"I will stay..." Kenshin began touching her lips with his thumb. Kaoru gazed at him with slight surprise over his response. But she didn't pull back... because this is EXACTLY what she wanted. She could feel his breath sweeping her lips, and just before tasting his flesh, she heard him say -
"... itsumo..."
Kenshin kissed Kaoru with full emotions. He felt so free, so wonderful. On those beautiful lips of hers, he tasted his happiness, his soul, his life. Kaoru, although pretty shocked at first, began to understand what he meant behind the kiss. After a while, she broke it. "Kenshin..." she said, touching his lips in return. Her blue eyes shone into his violet ones in spite of the dimness of the bedroom. Then, he murmured what was to be the ultimate answer to all of Kaoru's questions --
"Aishiteru, Kamiya Kaoru......" That, for her and her alone. It wasn't Tomoe whom Kenshin chose, but her. It wasn't Megumi either, but her. It wasn't other people, but her. At that very moment, her confusions dissolved completely. Kenshin loved her. Her wish came true. Her dreams became real. And she had only one word that she had reserved for him for a long time. With a smile, touching his cheek, she uttered softly --
"Aishiteru, Himura Kenshin......"
... and reached for his lips once more. Her arms went behind his neck, holding on tightly, as Kenshin, with his arm supporting her back and her waist, pressed her closer to his chest. They kissed passionately, as sparkles began to create images of their future in their minds. At one time, Tomoe seemed to pass Kenshin's mind. A little voice from his heart spoke…
"True, Tomoe-san..." his inner eye watched as Tomoe, who was smiling, with Kiyosato in the background, faded into the mist...
"Kaoru's the one for me..."
Kenshin pressed his lips onto Kaoru's, and felt the blissful end of this quest for love seeping into his blood...
"She's the one.........