Chapter 2
The Prophecy
PREVIOUSLY
"I need to tell you something." She stared at the ground, unable to look at his eyes. "What is it?" She took another deep breath. "I love you." She held her breath. She cast a glance at him & saw a stunned look written all over his face. She smiled. "I've love you ever since the day I met you. I was very shocked when you told me that you had a wife before. To tell you the truth, I was really jealous. She held your heart all this time. But after you fought Enishi, I think that you have move on. Kenshin, let me help you heal." She let a sigh of relief after her confession.
"Kaoru-dono, Sessha doesn't know how to say this but, Sessha loves you too." Kaoru's face lit up. "But, Sessha only love you as a SISTER & nothing more." He emphasized the word sister. "Sessha cannot accept your love, that it is. Gomen nasai."
I'm sorry, Kaoru-dono. I hate myself for making you cry. But Sessha is not worthy to be with you. You're too pure & innocent for me. We're far too different. Please don't take it very hard. This is the only way. Sooner or later, you'll forget the love you have for me & find someone else more worthy of you. But Sessha promise to protect you always & be with you as long as you want. A single tear trailed to his scarred cheek, for he too, was heart-broken that very same night.
As weeks & months past by, Kaoru became more & more depressed. She ate less & her usual cheerfulness was gone. Kenshin & Kaoru still treated each other the same way as before. But Kaoru's behavior towards Kenshin became more distant. Kenshin would often cast a glance at Kaoru when she's not looking, a look of longing & regret in his eyes.
Not long after, their friends started to suspect things, thanks to Kaoru's odd behavior. Kenshin took the initiative to tell them what happen. At first, they were mad at him. But they later understand & respect his decisions. Tae & Tsubame would often come to see her & cheer her up. Even Misao & the others came to visit.
Kaoru, on the other hand, kept everything to herself. She smiled on the exterior, never faltering once. She would tell them, even Kenshin that she was all right. At the previous nights, she would cry herself to sleep. Until she couldn't cry anymore & her tears seemed to dry up, leaving an empty shell outside. Once in a while, she will have a distant look on her face as if in a trance & would stare at nothing.
Sano, Megumi & Yahiko even tried to make her mad to bring her old self back. But she would just ignore their insults. But deep down inside, it scarred her already broken heart, more & more.
One morning, an old woman visited the dojo.
"Yes may I help you?" Kenshin asked the old lady. "Ah yes, my name's Kaede. I'm looking for Kamiya Kaoru." She replied. "Kaoru-dono is not here right now, that she was. But she'll be back in the afternoon. Would you like to stay & wait for her?" Kenshin offered. "Yes thank you very much."
Ayame, Suzumu, Megumi, Dr. Genzai, Sano, & Yahiko happened to be there. Kaede Obaa-san patiently waited for Kaoru's return while she played with the kids & talked to them.
When Kaoru arrived from her work, she was surprised to see an old woman waiting for her. They all went inside the dojo to talk. Ayame & Suzume were already in deep slumber & both sleeping at Kaoru's room.
"You came to see me, Obaa-chan?" Kaoru asked the old lady politely. Kenshin came in with a tea for everyone. Kenshin handed Kaede Obaa-san her tea. "Thank you my son." Kenshin smiled. When Kenshin handed Kaoru her tea, a sad look past between them as they both smiled. Kaede Obaa-san noticed it.
"Yes, I came here to tell you about your past," the old woman began. "My past?" Kaoru asked, quite intrigued.
"Yes. Did you know that you were adopted, Kaoru-san?" Kaede Obaa-san asked calmly. Kaoru gasped, obviously shocked like the others.
"From your reaction, I assume you don't. I expect that you won't believe me, but please hear what I'm going to say. Kamiya-san, your mother, can never bear a child, you see. They went to China to undergo some treatment that could possibly treat her condition. But instead, they found you. Have you ever wondered why you do not look like your parents?" Kaoru nodded but said nothing. None of them dared to interrupt. Your mother was a gypsy, you see. But your father was Japanese. I guess you had taken his genes for your physical looks. Back at China, they see gypsies as witches & monsters, for they can do curses. They were not accepted there because they were afraid of them. So they hunted all gypsies & those that might have a connection with them & killed them. Your mother & father included. They gave you to me to escape. I never saw them again after that day. I was about to die at that time but your father, Kamiya-san, rescued me. Your mother treated my injuries & told me their sad fate. I decided to let them adopt you & told them to leave China immediately. After a while, they found me & barely manage to escape. I've been wandering all over Japan these past few years to look for you."
"That's an unbelievable story Obaa-chan. But you can't expect us to believe you." Yahiko remarked.
Kaoru looked at Dr. Genzai & asked, "Dr. Genzai, did you know that my parents can't have a child?"
"Jou-chan, you don't expect to believe her." Sano protested.
Dr. Genzai shook his head. "No, I don't recall your parents telling me about that," he answered.
"Obaa-chan, do you have proof of what you say is true?" Kenshin asked.
"No. I'm afraid not." The old lady replied. "See!?" Yahiko exclaimed.
"I can only tell you this. Kaoru-san has a white birthmark on the right side of her stomach that resembles a butterfly. Am I correct?" "Yes." Kaoru replied. "But anyone can know that if they knew you're parents. It's not impossible. Still, it doesn't prove anything." Sano argued.
"I told you, I expected that you wouldn't believe me. But let me tell you something, Kaoru-san. A prophecy was foretold when you were born. Deep blue is the color that will embody the child. Blue like the ocean so deep, so is the sorrow that will drown her. When she reached the age of 18, she will suffer a great loss. And when all hope is loss, death will awaken. Thy salvation will be thy rebirth," she declared. Kaoru felt a chill over her spine at her words. It seems that the prophecy was really directed to her.
After that, the old woman left, never to be seen again. That night, none of them can sleep, especially Kaoru & Kenshin.
