I took a long time to update...again. So to make up I tried to write a longer chapter.
I still own nothing, for the record.
Chapter six
Kaoru stared into a sapphire sky with white cotton swirled all over it. Everything looked more beautiful to her after the war; about three years had passed after the bloody Meiji Revolution that marked the end of the rule of the Shogun and the Samurai in Japan and the death of her father…
Kaoru ran to school, after realizing she day dreamed too long in the woods of her village. She was still teaching a different use of the sword: protection and not destruction, something that she strongly believed should be taught after all that had happened. It was funny how Kaoru looked completely different in her beautiful silk Kimonos and perfect long hair. Her hair was shorter and disheveled during the Revolution. She had a gentle appearance now with silky long hair and scars of war hidden deep in her soul.
Kaoru's life had gone fairly smooth. She had decided to continue her father's old school and she glad becasue she felt less lonely.Latley strange man claiming to be the Battousai was destroying the name of her school, though. Hewas killing others in her name. She taught the Kamiya Katsushin Ryu style which taughtand to not kill others. Kaoru was not sure if the Battousai had really returned, it wasn't his style to go around and disgrace little schools.
Sometimes Kaoru still wondered if Kenshin could change. He did save her life once, and he had moments of slight kindness. But she remembered one conversation where she spoke briefly to him and he stated that the sword could have no good use. He killed so many…
Kaoru was traveling alone one night to a village not terribly far from her home; she was going to repair her sword at a one of the better sword shops. Before Kaoru got there she was startled by the Battousai…
"You shouldn't travel alone. Someone might kill you." He casually looked at his sword then at her with amber eyes.
"I can defend myself." she said it strongly but she felt the twinge of fear even though he had shown a kindness to her. For some reason she was still scared of him. They way he looked at his sword…
"You speak bravely but I can see fear in your eyes..." He paused, "Still afraid of me?"
"Battousai, the sword could have a better use!" she spoke firmly and very abruptly ignoring his question. She felt he could be a good person; she just wanted to bring it out.
"Honto?" he said slightly surprised by her bold and abrupt statement, but then he shook his head and said, "What else can it do but kill?"
"No Kenshin Himura, I believe one can protect with the sword, I will teach it one day to others like my father tried to teach it to me. I did not listen! Now...I have killed people." Kaoru said sadly.
"No one has spoken my name in a long time…"
Was his face red? It was so brief Kaoru wasn't sure it really happened…it was the Battousai after all; he did not blush…
His messy bangs flew freely in the wind and he did not speak. Kaoru's hair strands also blew in the wind—blowing across her sad face and she shivered.
Kenshin did not know why but it made him feel…feel something…to see the strong maiden so vulnerable. Kenshin actually didn't want to hurt her. He did not even know why.
Kaoru couldn't read the look on his face.
"Here" he said huskily and almost awkwardly
"Yamero…I'm fine…" she started uneasily
"You are cold." He finished with a mauve look to his eyes.
"I am." She blushed and took his blue shirt, leaving him in his white under shirt.
Kaoru remembered Kenshin so well…she could almost feel Kenshin's thoughts even though it was so long ago. That was after she battled Kenshin and before he said goodbye…
"There I go again! Day dreaming about stupid Kenshin from three years ago! I'll be late and I'm the Sensei!"
-The Next Day-
A lot of Kaoru's students had left because their parents made them; the parents of these students were afraid of "Battousai". She would find this liar who disgraced her name! She had been wandering around rather aimlessly all day with her sword hidden beneath her Kimono. Real swords were not really allowed.
Then she heard it.
"Now die in the name of Kamiya." Kaoru heard off in the distance
"No!" she gasped in shock
Kaoru ran down the market street were she had heard the false remark, but it was too late. She looked around, but she saw no one. She did not see a maimed victim or even a scared person around. Kaoru sighed heavily. She was so close! What would she do to this man, though? Kaoru never killed anymore. She did not know what to do, but she would defend her name! She could just beat the freaking kuso out of him. She smirked to herself.
She pointlessly walked around becoming angered as the day dwindled. Kaoru was beginning to go over the edge with anger when she saw something that shocked her for the second time. Did she just see Kenshin? No, just a man with red hair…she had been thinking of him recently that's all…wait!
"It might…it might be the man I'm after." she thought, "You!" Kaoru yelled pointing her index finger at the unsuspecting man, "Are you the one killing people in my village?"
Kaoru, blinded senseless by her rage (like she is sometimes) attempted to strike the red haired stranger with her fist, "Maybe Kenshin did come back to terrorize people."
The man very quickly jumped gracefully away, only to fall like an idiot. He tripped over his Kimono and was at Kaoru's mercy.
"Oro!"
Kaoru gasp, "I, I am sorry", "What am I thinking?"She did not even know if it was that liar or if it was Kenshin or if Kenshin would really do that…she, she didn't know anything!
"Red hair, scar…Is it really you, Kenshin the Battousai?"
"Oro" he whispered again before he said, "One glance at my blade, miss and you can see that I haven't killed anyone. I am only a Rurouni that I am."
"It cannot be The Battousai! He looks nothing like a killer. Wouldn't he recognize me too?" she was confused, "He looks different…."
"I am sorry, Mr. Wanderer." Kaoru smirked, "What is so unusual about your blade then? Kenshin handed Kaoru the sword. "Your blade! It's on the wrong side!"
Kenshin thought she looked familiar, "What is your name?"
"I am…" she paused. Should she let him know? Kaoru heisted still uncertain of the whole situation, "Megumi." It was the first thing that came to her.
"You look like…" he whispered
"Honto?" she asked
"I said—nice to, er, meet you Megumi-dono" he placed his and on the back on his head and smiled.
"Truly, he has changed if it is Kenshin!"
Kaoru couldn't help it, he was cute. She smiled back and bowed politely, but determined to completer her mission she continued her search.
As she walked down the street Kaoru stole one more glance at the red-head, which took her attention away from what was in front of her. A strong looking man came out of a store casually. He saw his opportunity and struck. He had brutal force, but Kaoru had not slacked on her training. When he grabbed Kaoru's slim waist and threw her against the store's wall, with immense force, she was able to get up quickly and draw her sword. She ignored the pain.
"A real sword my love?" he mocked, "Isn't that against the laws of this land?" the hooded stranger spoke.
Kaoru's back hurt from the impact of the wall. "He is stronger than the usual man."
"And that is shiny wood?" Kaoru demanded.
He laughed and pointed his sword at her.
Kaoru tried to see his face but he also had a thin black mask on.
Kenshin watched the ordeal through slit eyes. If she could not handle the man he would help.
Kaoru noticed Kenshin watching.
Once again that brief moment gave him time to strike.
The man raised his fist instead of sword and gave a blow to Kaoru's head. She began to feel herself leave consciousness. Kaoru briefly wondered why he didn't use her sword, but it was her last thought.
The red-head was there with his god-like speed and he used his reverse blade to knock the man away. The hooded man was surprised was surprised.
"Honto?" he said slightly off-balance. He peered closely, "Battousai?" and then with a flip of his cape was gone and his plans were delayed.
Kenshin grabbed the unconscious maiden and picked her up gently.
"A brave one she is." Kenshin started too smiled then he paused "She does seem familiar"
Later on…
Kaoru's eyes fluttered open and sunlight burned them through the drapes in her room teasing her with blindness. It shone on her long locks of hair adding a beautiful gleam to it and a warm glow to her dark eyes. Kaoru blinked several times, "Where am I? What happened?" Her memory was momentarily blank. Then her mind burst with the information of the day…the Battousai…the hooded man…her aching head…
Kenshin stared at her for a moment looking at how beautiful she was then spoke, "Miss Megumi?"
"Where is Megumi?"
Kenshin smiled, "You're awake and you do not remember the name you gave me."
"Oh um, Ohayo (good morning) Kenshin!" she said, "My name…"she smiled, "he knows I told a complete lie."
He looked at her and smirked.
"You have saved me again, arigato." Kaoru said without thinking.
He gave her a questioning look, "Again?" but he knew why she said that.
"Um…" she thought quickly, "I am still slightly confused, Watase Yuu, Rurouni. Gomen, I am tired. I'm grateful to you."
Kenshin smiled and said, "Dou itashimashite (you're welcome)".
Kaoru felt a little afraid to have him in her house and know her whereabouts at first, but she really had no reason to give him a false name and be afraid. Kaoru began to feel happy? She was excited to see him again…she blushed..."Rurouni" Kaoru laughed quietly, "Battousai—The Battousai? A Rurouni?"
Kenshin heard her, "Why is she laughing?"
She saw the look on Kenshin's face, "Gomen, I do not feel like myself." Kaoru said.
"Iie, nothing to apologize for. You took a hard blow to the head. You wound is still bleeding"
She placed her finger tips to her temple and brought them to her face; there was still some fresh blood.
"You saved me and I never even asked you your name" "Is it really you Kenshin?"
"Watashi no name wa Kenshin Himura desu"
She lightly gasped and smiled sleepily, "Arigato" she whispered close to his ear. Then her head fell softly on his chest. "I can't believe its Kenshin—he's wearing pink." The simple converse stole her energy.
Kenshin's eyes widened in surprise. He felt himself go tense through out his body; he was shy around women. Kenshin smiled and briefly ran his fingertips through her hair. "So it's Kaoru." He relaxed and gently sent her back on her bed. Kenshin did not understand the josei (females). He felt content being back in this town and with her again. He had thought it was Kaoru and that's why he decided to bring her to this house and bandage her head. He hoped to the gods she wasn't the wrong women. It would have been rather bad if he had put the wrong person in the wrong house.
A few hours later Kaoru woke up feeling a little better. She stumbled out side and looked for Kenshin. She was glad to see he was still at her home. He was leaning against a tree looking at the sky.
"Kenshin?" she said.
He looked at her and smiled for hundredth time that day. Kaoru never saw Battousai smile that much.
"What is it Miss?"
"I lied to you…I'm sorry." She paused, "My name is not…" Kenshin cut her off.
"…Megumi, but you are Kaoru that you are." He said
For a moment Kaoru thought she saw that familiar smirk and the amber eyes of the Battousai when Kenshin spoke her name but she ignored it and said, "I guess that's how you found my house. So you did know." she blushed.
"Not at first that I did not, you look a lot different…" he hung on that last word and looked at her with that Battousai look again, "You did not look like that, um…polite" he stuttered because he was thinking 'you are even more beautiful' but he was a shy Rurôni.
Kaoru just stared at him. Kenshin put his hand behind his head and gave a nervous laugh.
"Kenshin…" Kaoru started again. She walked over to him and looked into his eyes. She halted briefly then raped her arm around Kenshin. He was shocked and all the sudden he didn't know what do with his arms and he just turned red.
Battousai yelled at him, "Grab her and kiss her idiot!" but Kenshin controlled himself and placed his arms around her waist.
"I missed you." she whispered close to his ear. He was instantly aroused.
Kaoru let go and look at him again, "Where have you been and what have you done for three years?"
Kaoru could tell he suppressed his Battousai side, she could still see him in Kenshin's eyes.
"I…" Kenshin averted his eyes from Kaoru's, "I have become a Rurouni to help others as the only way I know to pay for…"
Kaoru stopped him and said, "I understand."
Kenshin felt relieved; she just…understood and didn't make him say what he couldn't. "Kiss her" said his mind again.
Kaoru saw the fleck of gold and smirked. Kenshin couldn't change himself completely.
A man in black kamen mask and cape watched Kaoru "Was the Battousai now living with Kaoru?" He would have more trouble now if the otome maiden refused him again…
Kenshin's eyes moved into the familiar slits, when he recognized a threat. That presence…it was somehow familiar.
"What is it Kenshin?" Kaoru said with worry.
"Do you sense the Ki?" he answered in a deeper voice.
She concentrated "I know you, masaka!" she knew the presence.
"Hai" said the familiar voice coming out of the shadows, "I have come for you Kaoru"
"Kumara" said Kenshin and Kaoru in unison.
Kumara took his mask off since he was revealed himhe was the same.
"Kaoru, will you not marry me now?" he said so sadly
"Kumara, it has been so long" she shook her head sadly, "After all this time, you still want me?"
"We can start over. Gomen-nasai Kaoru, please.
"Zettai yurusenai, how can I forget all?"
"Hai, wa ka ri ma su. (Yes, I understand)" said Kumara. He fell silent. His eyes, devoid of emotion,went blank again and he became angrier. This side of him did not understand, or just did not except. Kaoru did not see or notice the shifts in personality, but Kenshin did. He thought he might even understand this man better.
Kaoru couldn't believe after three years and a few months Kumara comes from nowhere proposing. He was psycho—he had to be!
"Then you must die." Kumara said full of revenge. Kumara' flare of rage sent his blade tip straight to Kaoru's heart...
Ok, I know I probably annoyed you with the "do you like it" kuso, but u gotta understand! I just didn't think anyone would actually like my writting. I enjoy writting; I just figured it wasn't all that great, but I put it on the site anyway...go figure. I love you people now. Mad-4-Manga gave a lot of comments, arigato!
Sayonara ,
Maui
