Disclaimer: If you haven't figured it out already, I do NOT own Kenshin or any of his pals/cohorts/enemies/foes/family members/etc. OK?!
Council Part Four: Happy Ending?
It was another meeting day. Kaoru got out of bed and lugged herself downstairs (causiously) to the meeting hall. Everyone else was already seated as usual: Sano next to Megumi, Misao next to Aoshi (slowly scooting her chair closer to his), Yahiko, Tsubame, and Tai in a close group. Kenshin was still sitting fairly away from the rest of everyone else, an empty seat next to his. She sat down in her place next to her best friend.
But today he did not greet her with a smile and an,"Ohayou gozaimasu, Kaoru-dono." No, this time he sat silently, staring at the others with a blank face.
"Kenshin, is everything all right?" She asked worriedly.
"Of course, Kaoru-dono, why wouldn't it be?" He replied. But still no cute smile. He was lying to her.
"I don't appreciate being lied to, Kenshin. Especially not from my best friend. Tell me what is wrong, Kenshin."
By now, the little conversations between the usual groups had stopped. They were focused on Kenshin and Kaoru now.
"I'm still drowsy, that's all, Kaoru-dono…" He said with a lame attempt at a smile that didn't actually resemble a smile at all, but more of a wince.
Kaoru did not believe him one bit and she knew he still wasn't telling the truth. But she gave up for now and decided to wait until after the meeting……
At the end of the day everyone decided to head in for the night and the meeting ended. Nothing happened today. Everyone pretty much just chatted. Kaoru and Kenshin were silent mostly all day. They didn't speak to each other at least anyway.
Once Kaoru was back in her room she changed into a nightgown and was about to get to bed when she remembered that she wanted to talk to Kenshin.
Not even changing back into her formal clothes she rushed to his room. She knocked on the door. A few seconds later Kenshin opened the door.
"Hello, Kaoru-dono, what may I do for you?" He asked blankly.
"Smile," She said.
"What?"
Misao tossed and turned in her bed, unaware that Aoshi was doing the same. They were…dreaming about…each other?
Misao got up and decided to go to the kitchens and grab a snack. But, unbeknowist to her, Aoshi did the same.
Misao walked towards the hall that the kitchens and dining halls were in. Aoshi did the same. (AN: Getting the pattern yet? tee hee…)
But, unfortunately, it was dark, and she ran right into him. She almost fell back but his quick reflexes made him able to grab her arm and keep her from falling. She gasped at the familiar touch of his hand. He pulled her up straight and, as her eyes got used to the dark, she stared up at him.
"Are you okay?" He finally said.
She nodded frantically, "Thanks to you. What are you doing out here?"
"I was going to check on you…"
"I-I was just getting a snack but…Um…I guess I'll go back to bed then…"
But he tightened his loose grip on her arm, making her uncapable of walking away.
"I said smile…"
"Kaoru-dono?"
"Just do it! You're making me sick, Kenshin! What is wrong with you?!" Without realizing it she started crying and pounding on his chest with her small fists. Then she fell into his arms.
He wrapped his arms around her and she hugged him tightly. He stood there appearing emotionless still but in turmoil inside. Here was the girl he had know for most of her life crying in his arms and he didn't know what to do.
"Why wouldn't you speak to me all day?" She cried into his yukata, "You wouldn't even smile…"
"Kaoru-dono…I…I thought you…"
"Thought I what, Kenshin?!Thought I didn't want to ever look at you again? Thought I didn't need you?! Kenshin!"
"…I…I'm sorry…but…I did…"
She backed out of his arms and into the wall at the other side of the hall, staring at him in horror. His head was down now and he looked pained. She placed a hand over her heart, "How could you think that?! Because I wanted to be alone? Is that it? Everyone needs solitude once in a while! Kenshin, just…think sometimes! It's not always about everyone else! I've known you most of my whole life and here you ar thinking that I hate you?"
At that she ran back to her room in tears. She couldn't believe it. The man she had found comfort in for years was disbelieving in their friendship. How could he do this?
She flew into her bed and pulled the covers over her head like a frightened child. It wouldn't be long until he came in through the door and she wasn't looking forward to it. She wanted to think right now. But she couldn't think with all the tears that kept coming.
Suddenly someone pulled the covers off of her head and stroked her hair as she lay there blinded by her tears, figuring it was Kenshin that sat there by her, wishing he could make her feel better. He pushed her hair out of her wet eyes and waited for her to calm down.
"Kaoru-dono," Came his voice at last when she stopped crying as hard, "Please, stop this. You're like a sister to me and I don't want to hurt you. I'm very sorry...Forgive me? I can't bear to see you cry…"
She pried her eyes open and stared into his violet eyes. Then she smiled at him, "I'm sorry too…"
"Misao…I'm sorry I rejected you so much. I just never wanted to admit to myself that you're not that bad…"
Misao smiled slightly and then jumped up into a tight hug knowing that at least now she knew his feelings.
Just then Yahiko and Tsubame walked into the kitchen hand in hand. Misao fell off of Aoshi and they stared at the two children who immediately let go of the other's hand. They all chuckled.
In case you were wondering about Sano and Megumi…Well, they've always liked each other. It just took a while for them to figure that out.
Rewind
"That's it? That was a sucky ending, busu! And why'd I get paired with Tsubame?!"
"Thanks, Yahiko-chan…I'll remember that when you show us something that you worked really hard for too."
"I'm just saying, you kinda rushed, don't you think, guys?"
Sano and Megumi were speachless. Misao, however, jumped onto Aoshi's neck, "It was perfect! Perfect, perfect, perfect!!!"
"It was cute…" Tsubame said.
"Where's Tai?" Yahiko asked a random question.
"Didn't you see her leave in the middle of the movie? The Akabeko wasn't going to wait all day. You must have been more absorbed than you claim, Yahiko!"
With a smile of triumph Kaoru looked over at the person sitting next to her. He looked back.
"It was nice, Kaoru-dono…" He smiled. But inside he thought, She feels only sisterly love toward me…
Yahiko yawned, "Well, you guys should be gettin' home cause I wanna go to bed. See ya tomorrow at work, Tsubame…"
"Yes, it's getting late, everyone, you should be heading out. I'm glad you watched my movie, guys. You don't know how much it means, even if it never does get out for the world to see. Have a good night," Kaoru led them to the door and watched as everyone hopped in their cars sleepily and left. She then turned back to her home and stretched, "Well, it was nice to gather everyone here again. It's good for our health, I guess. Heh, Misao's always a good workout…"
Kenshin smiled and stood up, ready to hit the sack. Yahiko was already stumbling up the stairs to his room. Kaoru watched as the men she called family headed up to go to sleep and thought of how much she really loved Kenshin. Sure, she'd never tell because she knew that he didn't like her back but that couldn't change the way she felt about him.
Depite the fact that his love for her was but a dream, she still secretly hoped that someday his heart would open up for her as well…
AN: It may seem like an ending but this fic is NOT done, ok? I plan on writing a few more chapters before dropping it, awright? So just…stay tuned…or…something…Oh, and sorry for the wait this time. To make up for that, I have most of the next chappie written!
PREVIEW!!!
Sunlight poured onto Kaoru's face as it finally dawned on her what that really annoying beeping sound was.
"I'M LATE!!!!"