Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin and it's charaters.
A/N: Hello! Seems like we meet again! Well..First off, A Billion, Trillion, Zillion Thank yous to all of those who had given in their Review!! I would like you to know that I really do appreciated it very much no matter if it was a long or a short review. It is still a review, and that's what counts. So thank you once again. To Mayme: Don't ever stop writing; I'm saying this not only as your sister but also as a reader. I really like your writing. Practice makes it better, don't ever forget that! Opp! One word...well alot of words actually (hehehe). Can't wait to see you. Miss you!!! Howard: I know you sacrificed alot of your free time juts to edit all these chapters for me. Even though I never really show how much I appreciated your effort...well I hope you know that I do. And you remained the best soul mate I could ever find on this earth. No one can replace you mann! (well excluding Oppy, who's my best of best friend! !). And to all those who read this story. I hope you enjoyed it! Wohhhh...look how long I've been yapping here. Okay no more blabbering. On with the story. And don't forget to Review!!!
Story Format: -THOUGHTS- & "SPEECH"
Couple Crisis
Chapter 10
Kenshin threw open the door and grasp. He was shocked beyond words. His whole body seemed to be made out of steel. He couldn't seem to move any part of his body. Behind him, he could hear Sano grasp as well. His eyes widen and he couldn't seem to find any word to say. From behind him he heard his best friend whisper in a shocking tone the name he had not spoken off in years.
"Tomoe..!!"
He heard two more grasps coming from the background. But to Kenshin, the world seemed to be stumbling down on him. He wondered painfully to himself, how ironical it is. After all these year that he couldn't rid her from his memory. All these years that he had suffered. And when his wound was starting to heal, when he had finally found someone. When he had finally moved on. Why did she come waltzing back into his life?
"Why..." was all he could say. A single tear streaked down his handsome face.
The young woman before him seemed to be very sorry yet desperate about something. Her usual neat hair was unkempt and Kenshin noticed that she no longer have on that eternally confident look.
"Kenshin..I..."
"What do you want?" Sano asked coldly stepping infront of his best friend who looked as if he was ready to break down to pieces any minute.
"Kaoru, Take Kenshin inside!" Sanosuke commanded making Kaoru shuddered. She had never heard him sounded so demanding before.
"Sano...Please, I really..." Tomoe pleaded.
"Kaoru!" The young man repeated again loudly.
Megumi also seemed thunderstruck at her boyfriend's voice.
Kaoru moved forward tugging Kenshin's elbow lightly. But he jerked his arm out of her clutch.
"It's okay Sano. Let her talk." Kenshin said slowly in a would be calm tone. And he turned swiftly and glided back into the depth of the apartment. Kaoru couldn't clearly make out his expression.
Tomoe meekly followed him. Kaoru turned to see Sanosuke wearing a very sour expression.
"Sano, I think we should leave." Megumi urged pulling her boyfriend's arm, but he seemed to stood his ground and frown darkly. "No. You can leave Megumi, but I'm staying." He answered with finality and strode briskly after Tomoe back into the apartment.
Megumi turned to Kaoru and nodded.
Kaoru looked back at her friend nervously and said. "Er..I'm also staying." And with that she also glided away from the older girl, who stood frowning at the entrance.
"Fine!" she sighed exasperatedly and having no other choice she trodded after the others.
In the living room Kenshin sat looking at his ex-girlfriend with a hurtful expression. While Sano stood right behind his friend throwing glares at the older girl. Neither of the three seemed to notice another two girl that just padded silently into the room. Everything went silent not a sound was heard. Kaoru studied the girl sitting primly on the armchair opposite Kenshin for the first time and was stunned. –She's the girl in the picture. Who is she? Sano doesn't seem to like her. What's her relation with Kenshin or is she...?-
Kaoru thought was cutted short by the quivering voice of the redhead who had gone visible pale.
"So...why are you here?"
"I think we should discuss...personally." Tomoe said uncertainly gazing at the other people in the room. Sano acted as if he didn't hear what the lady just uttered and continued to stand there as if he was a statue. At that, Megumi and Kaoru started for the door.
Before Kaoru could reach the door, Kenshin's voice pierces through the air again. "Please stay, Miss Kaoru. And if you don't mind, please come and sit here." Kenshin said looking straight into the younger girl's bright blue eyes as if asking for her support.
Kaoru looked uncertain, from the corner of her eyes she could see Tomoe staring at her. She tilted her head to see Sano nod assuringly to her. But still, something nagged at her. –Should I really stay? She might have something very personal to talk to Kenshin.-
"Jou-chan.." Sano nodded again. This time Kaoru silently made her way to the empty seat next to Kenshin. Meekly she sat down and in a flash her hand was being held tight in Kenshin's. She stared at him surprised but he kept his eyes fixed on the pretty lady who sat looking very uncomfortable.
"Kenshin I think...." Tomoe started but was drowned by Kenshin's voice once again.
"I have no secrets with both Miss Kaoru and Sano. "
Tomoe seemed to think something over but she gave an exasperated sigh and nodded.
"Alright. I know you hate me and I'm not here to ask you to forgive me..."
Sano snorted at that causing the older girl to shift her gaze to him. "I'm really sorry Sanosuke. I really have no choice..."
"Keep that." He replied indifferently.
"....You should know Tomoe, that I never hate you. Never did and never can." Kenshin said clamly trying to keep his voice neutral but with the utmost difficulty. "It's just that you disappeared without giving me any notice. The next thing I know...you're married. And for four years...four years...you never contact me, not a single word...."
Tomoe, Kaoru realised was also on the verge of tears. – Oh! This is realllllyyy awkward.-
"I'm sorry...Kenshin..I really am sorry..." She cried tears streaming down her pretty face.
Kenshin didn't seemed to hear what the pretty girl said as he continued so "..And now you're back. I want to know the reason. Why did you decide all of the sudden to waltz back into my life again?"
Tomoe seemed to have only one word to say. She kept saying 'sorry' over and over again. Making Kaoru feel uneasy. Deciding that if the situation continued on like this, it won't be good for both Kenshin and Tomoe, so Kaoru did something that came first into her head. She pulled her hand out of Kenshin's firm clutch and rush to Tomoe's side. "Please don't cry." She pleaded tears streaking down her own face.
It makes her feel so miserable to see such a pretty woman cry so desperately.
"Miss Kaoru..." Kenshin whispered to himself at the sight of what the young girl did.
He was shocked to see this young girl was so concerned about someone she had not even known. And that second he knew where his heart lies. With that he fully let go of all the sad memories he had condemn himself in all these years.
Sano scoffed at the scene infront of him. "Why are you crying now?!" He said not caring if he was hurting the lady's feeling.
"SANO!!" Kaoru shouted hushing her friend instantly. "Kaoru...why...?"
Kaoru continued to kneel at the side of the sobbing woman asking her to stop crying. She turns to Kenshin who sat stunned on the chair. She shot him a hopeful look.
And after what seemed like an eternity, Kenshin stood up and walked slowly over to the two girls. He gently placed his hands on Tomoe's shoulder making her look up in her tear-stained face.
"Kenshin...?" She sobbed "..I'm really sorry..."
"It's okay. Please don't cry anymore." He said soothingly. With that the young lady calmed down somewhat. "...Kenshin, I'm---"
Shaking his head lightly he said quietly."It's okay...You don't have to."
"Miss Kaoru could you...."
Kaoru nodded understood what he meant. She tugged onto Tomoe's arm lightly.
"Come, let's go wash your face." Kaoru said kindly. Tomoe obediently let Kaoru help her up and together the two girls make their way to the bathroom down the hallway.
As soon as the two girls disappeared from sight. Sanosuke quickly advanced on his friend.
"Why are you being so kind to her?! Have you forgotten what she had put you through all these year?!"
Kenshin shook his head lightly. "I never blame her for leaving me, Sano. I tried to hate her...but I just can't."
"Oh great! She DUMPED You For CRYING OUT LOUD!!" Sano shouted shaking his fist wildly.
"Sano...I found Miss Kaoru. I just realized that Miss Kaoru meant more to me than anyone. Do you understand?"
Letting out a big sigh Sano gave a weak smile and shook his head. "I see. But you should have told me earlier so I wouldn't have to say all that nasty stuff."
The two friends stared at each other and exchange a wink.
At the other end of the hallway, inside the small bathroom, another set of friendship was also starting.
Kaoru handed a mini towel to the older girl. Tomoe took it gently and dabbed her wet face with it.
"Thank you." She said smiling weakly at Kaoru.
Kaoru use another piece of towel and quickly dried her own face.
"I must have looked really foolish." Tomoe sighed placing the towel onto the sink.
Kaoru shook her head fervently her ebony hair swaying behind her. "If you look foolish then I guess I must have looked even more absurd. This time it was Tomoe's turn to shook her head. "No. It was really kind of you, Miss...er..sorry I don't think I've—."
Kaoru smiled sweetly back. For some reason Kaoru seemed to find the pretty lady quite agreeable and there's something in the way she speak that she admired. "It's Kaoru. Kamiya Kaoru."
"Kamiya? Hmm...Sounds familiar." Tomoe looked thoughtful, tracing her pretty lips with her index.
"Oh um and I'm Yukishiro Tomoe."
The younger girl nodded. "I've seen your picture on the niche. But you're even prettier in person."
Tomoe blushed shyly at the younger girl's compliment and muttered,"Thank you."
"You really deserved someone like Kenshin, Kaoru.." Tomoe said loftily making Kaoru to blush ten different shades of red and stammered. "I-I'm not his girlfriend!! Well he never even ask?! And we just met not very long ago."
Tomoe looked at the younger girl who flopped onto the closed toilet seat and smile sympathetically.
"It's just a matter of time, trust me."
Kaoru looked up swiftly at the older girl causing Tomoe to quickly say."Er sorry! It's none of my business actually."
"It's okay. You seemed to know him very well."
Sighing, Tomoe lowered herself onto the edge of the bathtub. "I might, but that's not important anymore. I'm not going to blame him if he hates me. I more than deserved that. But at that time I was really confused. I met my husband but I'm going to with Kenshin. And I realised that I didn't love Kenshin, not the way I have always thought. It was different..Everything was complicated. I didn't know what to do. I thought it would be better if I just disappeared." Tomoe buried her face in her hands. "I was so foolish!"
She felt a soft hand landed on her knee and looked up to see a bright blue eyes staring into her brown one. "Don't live in the past. There's today and tomorrow to look forward too."
Tomoe smiled sadly. "You're a real angel Kaoru."
"Nahhh! I'm no angel, I'm just me." Kaoru said bouncing up from the floor. "Let's get out of this place. Or else Sano would think we've flushed ourselves down the toilet."
That made the older girl to chuckle heartily. And stood up taking Kaoru's outstretched hand.
And together they walked out the bathroom hand in hand.
Sano lounged on the sofa next to his best friend that was sitting up straight looking as if he was concentrating very hard on something.
He sneaks another glance at his friend. "Hey I think we should check up on those two." Sano said jerking his head in the direction that the two girls had disappeared sometime earlier.
Kenshin ignored his friend's comment and said lightly. "They're coming." Before Sanosuke could even protest, he heard the sound of a door being shut and footsteps echoing into the silence of the place.
Within second he was even more bewildered by what he saw. The two girls walked hand in hand into the room. –When did they get so chummy?- Putting that thought aside he noticed another thing.
The two of them looked very similar. From the height, the built and the sharp feature of the face to the dark coloring of the hair. –These two could easily be sisters.- But he noticed that Kaoru's bright blue eyes looked more attractive then Tomoe's dark brown ones.
"Thought you'd spend the night in there." Sano uttered trying to keep his voice in a careless tone.
The two girls ignored his shrewd comment and sat down on the sofa opposite Kenshin.
Kaoru looked around the brightly lit living space and remembered that she haven't seen Megumi anywhere for awhile now.
"Where's Megumi?" she asked turning to look at the two guys in turns.
Sano jumped. He had completely forgotten about his girlfriend. And judging from her absence, he knew that she had gone home. Which meant. Big trouble! He had promised to drive her home. –Oh...I'm sooo dead!- he thought desperately. Having no choice but to go after his girlfriend, he got up. "I think I better go after her. That fox lady can be vicious when she's angry. So see ya!" With that he dashed off.
With Sano's departure the room was thrown into silence once again. Until Kaoru's voice spoke up.
"So are we going to sit like this all night? Because I don't think I'll be able to do that."
"Miss Kaoru..." Kenshin smiled and turn to his ex-girlfriend who sat twisting her hand nervously.
"Tomoe...are you here to talk to me about something?" He asked gently a curious look on his face.
The pretty woman looked up and stare straight into the violet orbs that sparkles so brilliantly. –He is so kind. The same as I had remembered him.-
"I er-there's something I want to ask for your help." She paused and looked at his reaction. Then continued. "You see..my company is encountering a financial problem for two years now. All of our program's ratings dropped with each year. When other companies heard about this...they all tried to take over my company. I've tried my best to ward them off. It worked somehow. But there are still these two big companies that wouldn't give up."
"Mean people!" Kaoru rasped and slapped her hand onto her knee angrily.
Kenshin listened in total silence. Tomoe sighed and carry on. "Then last month I got a phone call from the President of one of the two company. He gave me a choice of selling my company to him at a very high price or bring the rating up by twenty points with one drama series."
She sighed tiredly. "I"m going to say it shortly. You're my only hope in this. Could you please reconsider the answer you have given to Enishi?!" Tomoe bowed her head low waiting for the redhead to say something back. She didn't have to wait long for his distinctive voice spoke clearly back. "I see. .If only Enishi tells me the situation....but again even if he did. I think I'd still answered him as I did."
Tomoe's face fell at these words. "I'm sorry for everything Enishi did."
"You don't have to apologize for your brother's action, Tomoe." He paused before going on."I'll think it over..with my manager."
Tomoe was so glad to hear this she let the tear of joy brimmed her brown eyes and say in a quivering voice."The deal is as Enishi had already told you. Thank you, Thank you so much!"
Kenshin put up a hand. "I'm not saying I'll sign the contract yet Tomoe..and even if I decided to help you...I wouldn't accept any paying from you."
Kaoru gaped at the redhead infront of her. – Hmm..he's really good-hearted.-
"But, but I can't obviously make you work without paying you at all! That's not fair to you." Tomoe grasped.
The idol shook his head. "That's what friends are for, Tomoe..To help each other in time of need."
"K-Kenshin...but—" Tomoe started but was cutted off my Kenshin. "That's all I can do to help. But I'll have to talk to Soujirou about this though. So no promises yet" He said scratching his head.
"Thank you so much.."
"I think you better go home now. Don't get me wrong...It's late and it's dangerous to travel alone at night."
"Tomoe got up and smile faintly. "I know you have always meant well to all of your friends. And I'm glad that you considered me one of them. After what I did to you."
Kenshin stood up after her. "No problem. I'll walk you to the door then."
Kaoru decided to stay where she is and sit back repeating the older girl's story over in her head.
-Those company are so mean. Taking advantage of a troubled company.-
At the front door. Tomoe stood looking at her ex-boyfriend. "So Goodnight." He nodded in reply.
As Tomoe approaches the elevator's door, Kenshin decided to run after her causing the girl to spin back to meet him. "I was wondering which two company that er..."
Tomoe sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't ask."
"Why?"
"Because....err..." She whispered turning away from him.
"Just tell me." Kenshin said a little more seriously this time.
Tomoe looked down at her own feet. "Oniwaban and Hiten..."
She heard a sharp intake of breath from the redhead. "So it's Aoshi and....."
She nodded solemnly. "Goodnight!" she said for the second time then walk off, leaving Kenshin to stand unmoving in the corridor.
A/N: Ooohhh! Finally another long chapter. Hmm..I hope you liked it. And please, please and please Review. It would help alot with my writing speed. Which means the more reviews there is the faster the next chapter will be posted!! (grins evilly.) Anyways...Enjoy!
