OHAYO! IT'S ME AGAIN. AND HERE I AM WITH YET ANOTHER CHAPTER. GOMEN NASAI IF I KEPT YOU WAITING. I DON'T KNOW, BUT SCHOOLWORK REALLY KEPT ME BUSY, WITH OUR INTRAMURALS ON THE WAY AND ALL. ANYWAY, AUTHOR'S NOTES AND SOME REVIEWER'S NOTES LOCATED AT THE END OF THE STORY. AND HERE WE GO… (I kind of enjoyed writing this chapter!)
STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES: yaddah yaddah yadah, except Tomachi in this chapter
WILL IT HURT TO LOVE AGAIN? By Sutefani-chan CHAPTER 9A day in the life of Kenshin Himura. What happened when he was out buying tofu, in other words, a flash back. (This is when Kaoru had asked him to buy tofu and when Sano recklessly 'killed' the door)
CROSSING PATHSBright sunrays. A beautiful morning.
He looked around at his surroundings. No doubt about it. The marketplace was packed with people today, not only buyers, but vendors too, and most of them were flower vendors. Flowers of different kinds: jasmine, iris, you name it. It was as if the marketplace was turned into a huge garden.
In his arms, he carried a bucket of tofu, his sakabatou tied in his waist. Kaoru-dono's cooking today, he wondered. He thought of thinking of an excuse not to eat lunch today, especially since Kaoru's cooking. But he would never do that. He never did that. He always appreciates her cooking, even if it may not appear to be delectable – or edible. He scolded himself for thinking such a rude scheme on Kaoru-dono, who, amidst all the taunts of Sanosuke and Yahiko, didn't give up on trying to do better in everything that she does, especially in cooking. That made him realize that Kaoru was being thoughtful anyhow. And how could he ever repay her thoughtfulness? For the past five months, she agreed to let him stay with them in her humble dojo, and all she could do was to help in the chores. But he knew he had to do better than that. Really.
He passed by a lady selling flowers.
"Flowers! Flowers for sale!" were the words the lady kept saying as ignorant passers-by pretended not to have heard her and went on with their own businesses. She noticed Kenshin stopped by her booth and was examining the flowers.
"Ohayo de Gozaimasu, young man. Are you going to buy flowers? They're sweet and still fresh. Perfect to brighten up your loved one's day! I would like to recommend to you Jasmine. It's in bloom this season, you know. And it's what people usually buy these days, especially since it's Tanabata."
Kenshin smiled. Tanabata day…would it hurt to…? Nah, I guess it wouldn't. But would she mind? Just one flower, maybe as a token of appreciation for letting me stay in her home? I have to do better than that.
He reached for money from his gi. There has got to be some change here or something. Much to his dismay, there wasn't. Sigh! So much for a token of appreciation.
"Gomen, I'm not buying, " he apologized as he went on his way home.
So it means I have to do better than that. Really.
She was really being kind, despite those times when she would hit Kenshin for worrying her too much. I always worry her? But she was only being thoughtful. Kaoru was really a caring and thoughtful friend.
Friend…
Is she only a friend to him? She is a dear and close friend, he assured himself. Anywhere beyond that line was out of the question.
However, he thought, there were some heated, err, not-so-platonic times that happened between them. Kaoru's a great person and all but, there was something in her that Kenshin was attracted to most. In other words, Kaoru was sort of more than a friend to him.
Kenshin shook his head. Can't be, I'm too old for her. Well, four years isn't that much a problem. Kenshin's only twenty-eight and Kaoru's like, twenty-four.
Always finding an excuse to deny the fact that you like her, eh? Said a voice in his head.
"Oro…"
Don't! Do you want to become a bachelor for the rest of your life? And besides, who would be stupid enough to keep it all to himself?
"Oro…"
Admit it, you like her. You're falling for her. At last! I thought you wouldn't be that stupid enough not to have realized it.
"Oro…"
And to buy her flowers will change all of that?!? Obviously, you have to do better than that. Don't lose this opportunity, Kenshin! Go! Before someone might take her away from you! But if you're too coward and dumb, suit yourself.
"Okay, so now my ego's reprimanding me for being too slow?"
But is he being too slow? Well, does he really like Kaoru? To draw a fine line between like and love seemed hard for Kenshin. He liked Kaoru as a friend. But love her? Sure, he swore to protect her even if a horde of horses has to walk over his dead body before they could even touch a single strand of her raven black hair, actually, even his other friends he wouldn't going to let anything harm them. Over my dead body…
But, no doubt about it. Kaoru was special. The way he feels for her was different from the way he feels for his other friends. Not because of she was a woman, but because of…
His thoughts about Kaoru lost tracks when he noticed someone standing on the verge of the bridge.
On the verge of the bridge?!?
"Not again!" he moaned as he hurriedly went towards the bridge, clutching the bucket carefully in his arms.
"Tomachi-san!" he yelled as he approached the confused figure.
But the man ignored him, his position still aimed for the stony lake below.
"This is for you, angel-sama," he muttered and with a cry, he leapt from the brick fence and into his doom.
The man must have thought the angels were carrying him to heaven because suddenly he felt light inside. It was as if he was floating. But he wasn't moving. Not moving?
He opened his eyes. Before him was the sight of water gently making waves against the rocks.
Kenshin got a hold of his gi right after he made his jump, just in time. He hauled the confused man away from death and dropped him safely on the ground.
"Tomachi-san, really, don't make this anymore worst. This is the third time around," panted Kenshin.
Wait! The tofu –.
He warily searched for a sight of a tofu bucket sitting idly on the ground. Kaoru was going to kill him.
Don't worry. The tofu's safe. He sighed with relief as he caught sight of the tofu bucket safe. Untouched.
"Get your hands off me!" the man cried as he shoved Kenshin away from him.
Kenshin was startled, "Tomachi-san, what are you talking about –. Wait. You're not Tomachi-san."
He stared at the man who was still shaking from shock and was trying to get his feet on the ground.
The man shot him a glare.
"Just-who-do-you-think-you-are-to-interfere-with-someone's-life-like-you-own-it?"
Whoa. Talk about manners.
"Sir, however you might have seen it, I had just saved your life. Doing suicide isn't the best way to solve whatever problem it is that drove you to do that." He was still calm but certain.
"This is none of your business so, go away! Leave me alone!"
He had expected Kenshin to leave. But he didn't even budge. He just stood there staring apologetically at the man. Odd.
"W-Well, what is it now?" he managed to say.
"I want to help," was Kenshin's response.
The man wasn't sure if this was an insult or he should be flattered.
Odd…
"Well, you've helped already, right? By suddenly barging in and telling me what I should and should not do? Isn't it?"
"You seem a bit depressed," desperate more likely.
"And how would you know?" The man said in a hoarse tone.
"Well, judging that you attempted to do suicide, it appears to me that your problem isn't something to be taken lightly. Maybe I could, help lighten things up."
The man smirked upon hearing this, "what are you, a doctor?"
"Oro…iie. I'm just a simple swordsman/wanderer wanting to help."
Odd…really. Why would a stranger be that so willing to help somebody he barely even knows all of a sudden?
"Humph, I have to admit. You can be quite persuasive. All right, I give in. Of course; it wouldn't hurt to tell so, ne? Just promise me never to interfere if ever I try to kill myself again, ne?"
"Hai," Kenshin grinned.
A tofu bucket in his hands and his sakabatou tied in his waist, he listened to the man's story as they were taking a stroll. He was glad he could be of help to the poor man's desperate needs, most particularly to his seemingly torn heart.
"She had loved me like I was all she ever had," he continued, as Kenshin was intently listening to every word that he says.
"Ever since childhood, we became friends. That was when I realized that I was the one she ever got. She's an orphan; basically she doesn't have any family or relatives left. She was all alone, and all I ever did was to make matters worse. I was so blind then not to have realized that I loved her too and all I ever did was hurt her, through her heart. I know she'll never forgive me for what I did to her."
But what did you do to her? What did you do that assured you that she will never forgive you? He wanted to ask him but he decided to leave it hanging. He thought that it might only hurt him more.
"He went on, "and now, after all those times, I've finally come to face the fact that I love her. The guilt is still fresh and I could still taste it, and it haunts me even when I sleep. I couldn't take it anymore. I wanted to make things back to normal but…"
"But what?"
"It seems impossible."
"Nandayou?"
"She…she might have forgotten about me and decided to move on. I know she would never forgive me for what I did to her, but I love her. I just want to make it up to her. But…fat chance…"
"…"
"From what I've heard, she already belongs to someone else. And I bet he's a lot better than me. I'm nothing but a sore loser!"
Kenshin looked at him with pity.
"Happy now?" asked the man sardonically.
Kenshin lowered his head and spoke.
"But have you tried?"
"Nani?"
"What I meant was, have you talked to her? Have you tried telling her that you truly love her, that you wanted to patch things up and that you wanted to get back with her? You may never know. Anyway, it won't hurt to try, right? Things are not always what they seem to be."
The man stared at Kenshin with astonishment. Who is this guy? A stranger had just gave him words of wisdom, a stranger he barely even knows. Kenshin was really good with words.
The man laughed, "Just who are you anyway to enlighten me with such words of wisdom?"
"I told you, I'm just a simple swordsman/wanderer," Kenshin replied.
"I never knew how well you could be with words, well, maybe it's because that I had just met you."
Kenshin shrugged and smiled, "I just want to help people in anyway that I can…in a better light, of course."
Somewhere in the road, they stopped. The man said his goodbyes to Kenshin.
"Whoever you are, arigato de gozaimasu. If you didn't interfere, I wouldn't have seen light. You're a good man, and I'm sure many are grateful to have you as their friend."
"Hai, and I wish you good luck in pursuing that dream of yours. I hope you and your beloved will be back together again and maybe live happily ever after."
"I think this is the point where I should say my goodbyes. I do hope to meet some people like you on my way. Sayonara," waved the man as he set off.
Just as Kenshin was about to leave for the Kamiya dojo, the man turned around and said, "sir?"
"Hai?" Kenshin turned around to face him again.
"Today's Tanabata day, and to give you an advice like you gave me one, treat your girlfriend or fiancée special enough. Make her feel special, like she's the only one your whole world's revolving around to. Like you said, it is never too late to make things right. But that is, if you have a girl or someone sir. Have you ever fallen in love, sir? It feels kind of confusing and deniable, ne? Well, if you haven't, just to give you a fact. Sigh, love is like a battlefield. Whether you win or fall, it's how you play it. You just got to make things right. Jore ai! Sayonara," and with that the man left.
Kenshin went on his way to the dojo. The words the man said kept on playing in his head.
Love is like a battlefield. Whether you win or fall, it's how you play it…simply confusing and deniable…
He smiled to himself and muttered, "You have no idea."
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
I know what you're thinking. If you do know and if you're assuming you that guy Kenshin talked to is really that guy, just keep quiet (winks). And if what you're thinking about what will happen next is really what will happen next, just keep on reading.
Next chapter, it is set on the present times. This only a flashback (remember when Kenshin was out when Megumi came to the Kamiya dojo and taunted Sano and talked to Kaoru? This is what's going on with Kenshin when that time was happening.)
Hey guys, sorry if I was too slow in updating this chapter. Don't worry; I'll try to update a little sooner. It's because of this darn freakin' extra-curricular activities and projects flooding in into our "assignment lockers".
And with no further ado, here are the reviewer notes:
coke-48-kenshin: thanks for the advice. Hope you'll continue to read more. Welcome aboard!
jessica (): sorry about the cliffhanger! Arigato for reading and reviewing! Don't worry; I'll continue this fic. And here I am yet again with another chapter. Welcome aboard!
Kenjutsu Princess: don't worry; I'll finish this fic! ARIGATO! Welcome aboard too!
gaby (hyatt: thanks for reading and reviewing again! What do you mean Tomoe? Are you pertaining to the one who grabbed Taka or the one who grabbed Taka mentioned? You'll find out who grabbed Taka in chapter 10 (next chappie). The woman whom the person who grabbed Taka mentioned (Do you want to have the WOMAN again?) is none other than Kaoru, not Tomoe. Gomen nasai if I somehow confused you.
samuraiduck27: thank you for reading and reviewing again! I'm really glad that you enjoyed it. Arigato de Gozaimasu!
kensan-nixme: thanks for reading and reviewing again! So about the cliffhanger cause see, I really have this thing about cliffhangers and I can't get rid of it! Somehow, I'm getting a hang of it. Forgive me.
ruronichik13: hey there! O genki deska? (How are you?) Yes, I'm trying to learn Japanese now. I'm getting the hang of it. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing my fanfic. Hope you'll continue to read more!
And with this I must leave now. See you next chapter! Kyotskete! (Take care!)
Jore ai – see ya!
Nandayou – why?