OKAY, THIS IS THE STAGE AND CHAPTER WHEREIN THE FUTURE OF MY STORY LIES…IN SHORT; I THINK THIS CHAPTER MIGHT RUIN THIS STORY. DON'T KNOW WHY, I JUST HAVE THE FEELING IT WILL. ERR, WELL, MAYBE BECAUSE I FIND IT A LITTLE BIT CHEESY…PLEASE DO TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF IT AFTER YOU'VE READ THIS CHAPPIE!!!! PLEASE??? I DON'T KNOW, I'M BEING SUCH A PARANOID…
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THE RURUOUNI KENSHIN CHARACTERS AND PLACES…ONLY TAKA IN CHAPTER 1, MR. SAKURAGI AND THE SNOOTY LADIES AND THE YOUNG BOY IN CHAPTER TWO, SAYURI IN THIS CHAPTER. NOTHING MORE…YET.CHAPTER 7 OF WILL IT HURT TO LOVE AGAIN?
DECEPTIONKaoru's face turned white. Her lips were trembling and her hands were sweating. She can't seem to understand why does fate have to meet them again. She thought she must have been hallucinating when Sano said the name of the man she thought was already dead to her. But there he was, trying to fit into her absurd world again to bring misery to her now peaceful life. But is it misery? She doesn't seem to care what it is. All she wanted was to erase him fully from her memory and tell him never try to knock on her door again.
But there he was, and all she could do was to stare at him like he was a ghost. She was too shocked to move, too devastated to utter a word. Her mind went in space, she turned numb.
Koshikawa Taka was there to destroy her life again. Her now peaceful life, with Kenshin Himura in it. No she won't let him. She would never. Ever.
She tried to fight, tried to move, but she was too stunned to. It seemed as though her feet were rooted to the ground. It was as though someone had cast a spell on her that her body suddenly felt numb.
Wait. He's moving towards her. Oh no! What is he going to do? He never had hurt Kaoru physically but…will he now? Her heart was beating faster than ever. He was coming close, towards her, near her. She wanted to scream, but no sound came out.
Oh no! He was coming closer. He suddenly held out his hands, stretching his arms wide forward. Is he going to do what I'm thinking? He's going to choke her to death! Kaoru gasped for breath as he was drawing nearer, hands outstretched…
Kaoru never felt this weak before. Of course, she could have taken him down early but…
He's going to kill me! Scream! Cry for help, for crying out loud! Bakeru! Why won't you scream? Kenshin!
His arms were getting nearer, his hands, and his arms stretching wider…
Kaoru closed her eyes and prayed. She was going to die. She was going to leave this world without even telling Kenshin how she really felt about him. She was going to leave all the people she loved in despair.
Heaven awaits me……maybe not…
Taka wasn't going to kill her. No, he wasn't even thinking of choking her. Kaoru was extremely dumbfounded. Taka was embracing her whole-heartedly – the way he embraces her when they were still together.
But…w-why?"Kaoru…" she heard Taka whisper.
No, there has got to be some mistake!But then replied, No, Kaoru. There's no mistake about it.
"Kaoru," whispered Taka, "at last I could feel the warmth of your body again. How I've missed you! I love you, Kaoru, I love you so much."
Love? Me?Kaoru pushed Taka away from her slowly. She can't believe what he was saying.
"Taka, what on earth are you talking about?"
"Kaoru, I love you. I admit it. I have been a complete schmuck and an idiot that I left you but I promise that I'll change. I can't help it, Kaoru. It's you I want to be with forever."
This doesn't make any sense at all! This has got to be a trick!"H-H-HEL –!" But Taka covered her mouth from calling for help.
"Please, Kaoru! I'm not here to hurt you or something. Please! You've got to believe what I'm saying!" Taka begged.
Beg? But he never begged to me before. Is all of this true?But, to tell it fortunately or unfortunately, it was true. In his eyes, Kaoru could tell he was concerned. There was concern.
"Kaoru," Taka whispered again, caressing her face, "please forgive me. Please forgive me for hurting you so much, for leaving you torn. But now, I realized that it's you my heart longs for. Not Sayuri, no one else but you. I love you, Kaoru."
Then he reached for his pocket something that made Kaoru couldn't believe it – a ring. He slipped it carefully on her finger.
"Kaoru, please, marry me."
Marry him…a ring…It was only then that memories flashed back in her head.
…The nights that passed when all she did was cry for thoughts of losing him, thoughts of him leaving her…being a fool…
…The day her fears were confirmed. She was just a toy of his affections. I must have been a fool…
Kaoru slapped him hard.
"BAKERU! WHAT DO YOU THINK I AM? SOMETHING TO PLAY WITH? SOMETHING TO TREAT LIKE I AM NOTHING BUT A SCUM? YOU ARE THE SCUM, TAKA! NOT ME! FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, IT'S AS IF MY HEART WAS TELLING ME THAT YOU'RE ONLY USING ME AND THAT YOU'RE WITH ANOTHER WOMAN THE WHOLE TIME! WHOA, BOY! WAS I STUPID ENOUGH NOT TO LISTEN TO MY OWN HEART? YES, I WAS BECAUSE YOU BLINDED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THROUGH MY OWN SOUL, TO LISTEN TO WHAT MY HEART WAS WARNING ME THE WHOLE TIME YOU WERE WITH THAT WHORE OF YOURS BEHIND MY BACK! I THOUGHT AT LAST, YOU WOULD LOVE ME FOR ME AND NOT BECAUSE I'M SOMEONE WHO COULD BE EASILY PLAY WITH WHEN YOU'RE BORED. I'M NOT A TOY, TAKA! I'M ONLY HUMAN BUT NOT A STONE LIKE YOU! I HAVE FEELINGS. BAKERU! I GAVE YOU LOVE, CARE AND BOY WAS I HUMILIATED TO REALIZE THAT I WAS EVEN WILLING TO GIVE YOU MORE THAN THAT!" bellowed Kaoru. She was never this angry before. Sure, she was enraged when she found out he was with another woman all the time. But today, it was as if her heart was the one cursing him more.
Tears started to fill her eyes.
She could still remember that day…
Flashback
"Dr. Gensai, what do you think?" giggled Kaoru as she turned around to show him her white kimono embroidered with small pearls.
"Very lovely, Kaoru. But not as lovely as the one wearing it."
"Oh, Dr. Gensai, please stop it. I'm blushing like a tomato," Kaoru confessed and she turned around once more. She felt like she was a princess. A very happy one.
"Kaoru-chan, you're very beautiful," remarked Yumi and Suzi nodded happily.
"Arigato, Yumi," blushed Kaoru.
"I want to be like her. Like, like a fairy princess!" squealed Suzi.
"Oh you will be, Suzi. You just have to wait a few more years before I let you though," laughed Dr. Gensai.
"I can't wait to wear this gown in front of Taka. I can't wait to be with him…forever…" Kaoru blushed upon saying this.
"Speaking of Taka, why won't you go meet him? You know tomorrow's your wedding day and it would be better if you meet him today and make sure everything's fine beforehand. I heard he's at Lenny's. Tae mentioned it to me when I bumped into her when I picked the kimono up from Mrs. Yabuki," said Dr. Gensai.
"I-I don't know," muttered Kaoru.
Dr. Gensai heaved a sigh, "Kaoru, it's not good to think of something bad about Taka. He's a very remarkable young lad and I think that he couldn't even be able to do such disgrace. You've got to believe in him."
Kaoru silenced for a moment then decided that maybe it was just a fright. Maybe it was only anxiety that made her think of nasty things about Taka.
End of flashback
"KAORU! PLEASE! I REALLY MEANT WHAT I SAID! I LOVE YOU AND I DON'T EVER WANT TO LOSE YOU AGAIN! PLEASE, YOU'VE GOT BELIEVE ME!" pleaded Taka.
But Kaoru was too angry to listen to what he was saying. That traumatic incident was still fresh in her mind. It was as if it happened only yesterday.
Continuation of flashback
Kaoru peacefully made her way towards Lenny's, step be step. Tomorrow's the big day ever in the history of a once nothing girl. She was going to be married. She was going to be married to someone she had loved so dearly ever since childhood, Koshikawa Taka. At last, she would spend her life with him, serving him and bringing up little children of her own. She was so in love with him, dreaming always of their perfect little home. Of course, she would still pursue her dream of teaching students the Kamiya Kasshin Kendo Style while attending to her wife and motherly affairs. It was just like a dream come true.
She arrived at the restaurant and was greeted by Tae.
"Mushimushi, Kaoru-chan. Are you going to order beef steak? Please do tell me now so that I could prepare for you," smiled Tae.
"Oh no, it's alright, Tae-chan. Um, have you seen Taka?"
"Koshikawa Taka?"
"Hai."
"Oh yes. Actually, he's here. He's with his cousin. Oh yes! I forgot. Tomorrow's your wedding! Kaoru-chan, I'm so happy for you."
Kaoru smiled and her face turned bright pink. She entered the restaurant and headed to where Taka is as indicated by Tae.
Wait…cousin? He never mentioned to me that he has a cousin.
When she was near the booth to where Taka and his cousin are, she heard muffled voices – they came from Taka's booth. She stopped for a while and listened. They came from Taka and…a woman.
A woman?
But what are they talking about?
Then she remembered what Tae had said to her, He's with his cousin.
"Oh," Kaoru said to herself and was about to enter the booth when she heard the woman say, "What about your fiancée?"
Taka paused for a moment then, "Sayuri, I love you and you're the only woman for me. I'll leave her if I have to for you. She's a nice girl but I don't really love her. I just gave her a chance because she seemed crestfallen when she was orphaned and now she has nothing but an old man who pretends to be her grandfather and two stupid girls leaving in her filthy dojo – YAAA!" Taka gave a loud yelp. Kaoru was standing on the doorway and was glaring madly at him. Her fiery eyes transfixed at his shocked gaze then turned to Sayuri.
"HOW – DARE – YOU!" bellowed Kaoru at Taka.
"K-KAORU!"
"Y-YOU'RE N'NOTHING BUT A FILTHY LIAR! YOUR COUSIN, HUH? FUJIWARA SAYURI? AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS HOW MANY TIMES BEHIND MY BACK? HUH? BAKERU!"
"K-Kaoru, please let me explain," Sayuri suddenly pleaded.
Kaoru's glare turned to Sayuri, " and YOU! HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME? YOU'VE BEEN LIKE A DEAR FRIEND TO ME BUT INSTEAD YOU STOLE MY FIANCE FROM ME! FILTHIER THAN DUNG! BAKA!" screamed Kaoru.
People started to approach their booth to see what was going on. Then, Tae came rushing to them.
"What's going on in here?" Tae asked while gasping for breathed. Then she noticed Kaoru fuming with anger. "K-Kaoru-chan?"
But Kaoru wasn't listening. Her face was flushing red. Tears came rolling down her cheeks.
"K-Kaoru-chan, a-are you o-okay?" Tae was getting worried.
She took the ring from her finger and threw it at Taka's feet and with that she left the restaurant, leaving it with whispers and hushed voices.
End of flashback
Kaoru fell on her knees and was crying pathetically. Yes, she had loved him more than she had loved Kenshin. And even though she tried so hard to forget him, still the pain was unbearable. She thought she didn't care about him but then…
This made her realize that all the time she actually didn't forget him; that he was there all along. He was still a part of her life. And a small part of her was still in love with Taka.
It was only then that her eyes opened to everything. She was still in love with Taka…but now part of her is in love with Kenshin. She felt it of course. She loves Kenshin more than Taka, if that's the case. She could have told him her affections for him but what was hindering her from doing so?
Maybe…
Taka…
Kaoru's face tuned white. She stared at his face with horror. She couldn't believe it. She really couldn't.
Taka was the hindrance all along.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Okay, I know what you're thinking. Taka is a wimp. He really is. And this is the stage where I am currently dreading that this chapter might put an end to this story, for the sake of this story. No, it's not yet over but the outcome of this chapter might put an end to it. So please do tell me what you think about it so that I may decide whether to go on or not. TO GO ON OR NOT TO GO ON, THAT IS THE QUESTION. Argh! What's happening to me?! And to go on with my reviewer notes…
Whoa! 11 new reviews, 4 new reviewers! Sorry if I may be a little cheap, it's just that you make me guys happy! And I'm happy to make you happy. Why am I being so perky again…?
Birdy06: Thank you for reviewing my fanfic and I do hope you keep on reading. Don't worry, I'll try to prevent more typographical errors.
Aikawarazu Ai: Well, this new character seems to be the past burden of Kaoru, but is it only the past? I do hope you keep on reading. Many thanks! By the way, what do you mean by "Had, you know…"? Anata wa means 'you', right?
Kensan-nixme: Hey there! Sorry if I always leave you hanging. But thank you though for reviewing this fanfic of mine. ARIGATO DE GOZAIMASU!
Ruronichik13: Sorry too if I left you hanging (GOMEN NASAI!). Please do accept my apology. Thanks for reading and reviewing my fanfic!
Samuraiduck27: hey, how are you doing? Thanks for reading and reviewing my fanfic. Really! Welcome aboard!
And with this I must go. See you next chapter! (I wish)
Sutefani – chan