Disclaimer:
I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
Summary:
She thought he was in love with another girl, when he realized that he was in love with her. This is a story of how a man falls in love with the best friend and how he will do everything to make her realize what he feels for her is true.
Note:
Four years have passed… again. Kaoru is junior (in junior high aged fourteen) as Kenshin is a freshman (in high school aged seventeen). Tomoe and Akira are in college.
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I'll make you… Chapter 3: Nothing will change…"Once there was a young boy who had red hair and purple eyes. Others saw him as different and so other kids picked him on. He sought help and one came to answer. She was beautiful. He gaped when he first saw her. He thought of her as his angel. She saved him from his loneliness, as she became his inspiration to become strong and be better. That boy was me. And his angel was Tomoe Yukishiro betrothed to Akira," he narrated.
He looked at Kaoru and was surprised her in a pensive mood. He approached her, and it was then they both heard it… the rumble of Kaoru's stomach.
"Hehe, guess I'm hungry," Kaoru said sheepishly as she scratched her head with one hand and her stomach with the other.
Kenshin only sweat dropped and the matter disappeared as Kaoru gobbled down the food.
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Early in the morning a group of girls gathered by a street corner. A little farther a girl can be seen looking amused and sorry for the one who held the girls' attention. After a few minutes, she looked at her watch. She looked up and then at her watch again, when she decided.
"Kenshin! I'll go ahead to my school!" with that she turned and ran to her class.
In the midst of the flock of girls, a young man stood with his long red hair and deep violet eyes. He looked up slightly as he heard her. Then he looked at the crowd and offered them a smile. He excused himself, and the girls couldn't help but swoon at the sound of his voice and gentle manner.
He ran and caught up with his friend, "Kaoru!"
The girl stopped and looked backs smiling at him and waited for him to reach her. Kenshin was smiling when he greeted her good morning.
"Another school day, neh?" Kaoru smiled at Kenshin as she walked backwards to face him.
Kenshin only shook his head, "You're enjoying my trials, neh?"
"Of course," she replied cheesily as she gave him a wide toothy grin. Kenshin laughed outright.
Yes indeed, it was another ordinary school day.
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At lunch, Kenshin went to their favorite tree at the campus. He waited for Kaoru quietly as he looked about. It was then that he noticed Tomoe with Akira walking down the street hand-in hand. Probably on a date. Nowadays, he didn't know why but seeing them together became more bearable and even acceptable.
"Hey, Kenshin. Got you some bento… and no, I did not cook it."
Kenshin looked up and saw Kaoru making her way towards him. He was thankful for her. Without her, he did not know what he would have done. Maybe he would be lost in pining for Tomoe, when she showed to look at it as a challenge to become better to catch her eye. Maybe he would have become distant, when she showed him the earth and its simple truths and friends. Maybe he would have had an ego bigger than his heart, when she showed him that he had a purpose to help and not neglect. Maybe he would have become ignorant, when she treated him like any other bringing him to his senses.
She was a sister, a friend, but most of all his savior of his spirit. Even if she did not know it, she saved him. Though Tomoe saved his childhood and encouraged him to become the best. It was Kaoru who showed and accompanied him on the journey of discovering life's lessons. What's more, she put up with his silly request to pose as his girlfriend. Without him knowing it, she became a very generous part of his heart.
She offered him his bento, disrupting his thoughts. He smiled gratefully at her, "Arigato, Kaoru." She only smiled and started digging in her own bento.
Just then they were joined by their other friends: Sanousuke Sagara (a prized member in the martial arts club though struggling with his grades can keep up) and Megumi Takani (who has harbored feelings for Kenshin and cannot help but feel jealousy at his comfort found in the person of Kaoru, but dismisses her as she has not interest in Kenshin other than a friend).
"Hey, bud. Hey, jou-chan," Kenshin smiled at Sano as Kaoru glares at him at his nickname.
"Good noon to you Ken-san, Kaoru," they smiled at her and then Kaoru turned to her lunch.
"How has it been with you Sano, Miss Megumi?" Kenshin asked.
"Fine, though the morning was quite boring… thanks, jou-chan," he said as he got a tempura from her bento.
"Hey, I was going to eat that," she glared, Sano merely shrugged. Kaoru gave him a noogie and continued eating. As Sano nursed his hair to stand up, Kenshin chuckled softly as he gracefully placed one of his own tempura in Kaoru's bento, which she takes gratefully. She smiled at him.
Kenshin, seeing a piece of rice near her mouth, gently took it and plopped it in his own mouth. Kaoru blushed slightly at her manners and thanked Kenshin.
Megumi in the meanwhile couldn't help but admire Kaoru for her detachment or rather lack of interest in Kenshin, as he was clearly a great catch. It was practically known that they were only friends. It was said that they only got together so that girls would stop hounding Kenshin. Fat chance. But then again, she was grateful, for then that was one less girl to fight for her beloved Kenshin.
"Ken-san would you like to go to the library with me? I need help in doing my homework. Please won't you help me?" she said sweetly batting her eyelashes in the process.
"Hey, fox, got something in your eye?" Sano inquired. Megumi brushed him off. Kaoru merely watched amused at her efforts. Did they not know that he was still infatuated with Tomoe?
Kenshin only sweat dropped and nodded his ascent. Kaoru cannot help but laugh. They all looked at her, but she only smiled at them. Then the bell rung signaling it was five minutes before the next period.
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Recalling the events at lunchtime, Kenshin sighed. This was how he got to spend his afternoon in the library, with gawking girls and a smug Megumi.
He looked outside wishing to be at the park flying a kite, eating at the new café Kaoru and he discovered, or be at his apartment building's roof with Kaoru looking at the clouds and the setting of the sun.
But no, he couldn't refuse one in need of help. And so, he was in the library helping Megumi with a homework he doubted was hard for Megumi to ask help for. While, Sano accompanied Kaoru at the new café, no doubt, trying to get a free snack.
He sighed again. He began packing, as he and Megumi were quite finished at research. And then looked up at Megumi who was looking at him.
"Ken-san?" he straightened up at the sound of her voice. It seemed as if she were struggling to clear some things out. His heart clenched. He hoped it would not be what he thought was thinking.
"Yes, Miss Megumi?"
"No need to be formal with me. Call me Megumi, if you please." Megumi said flirtingly back, ignoring the glares of other girls as she patted him at his shoulder while looking at him deeply.
"Very well then. Only if you call me Kenshin," he said ignoring the look Megumi was giving and took his bag on, making way for Megumi as she walked pass him and together they left the library.
"Very well, Kenshin." They were already at the library's stair.
"So what do you want from me, Megumi?" Kenshin asked after a moment's silence. They were already entering a park. When he halted as he saw that Megumi stopped. He looked back.
"I- I want you."
"…" His eyes widened a little, and looked at her, it seemed in pity. He really wished that she had not said it.
"I really like you, Kenshin. And I think you already know that." Megumi said with a pleading look. Asking him silently to accept her love for him.
The truth of the matter, he knew. It was common knowledge. But Kenshin couldn't help but feel betrayed and sorry. Megumi was destroying their friendship for a chance, but he was afraid that he couldn't offer anything more than friendship.
"I am sorry, Miss Megumi," he said as he looked down.
"But-" She was startled at his eyes, which showed his hurt and regret. She felt as if she destroyed her chance. She should have waited for some more time. Maybe then… but it was too late.
"…" Kenshin only looked at her, and then silence resumed.
"Very well then. I am sorry, Ken-san for making things awkward between us." Megumi said as she looked away.
"How about we stay as friends," he offered, for he really did not want to part from her this way.
Megumi looked back and then shook her head lightly, but accepted his outstretched hand.
"Thank you, Ken-san."
"Good bye, Miss Megumi." With that he turned around and went away.
As he round the corner, Megumi let a tear drop, "Ken-san, I really like you, and even if it were only friendship I would gladly accept it. Just to be by your side. Know that I will wait for you."
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Bringing more distance between then, Kenshin stopped and leaned against a tree as he closed his eyes and faced the sky. It was then that he smelled jasmine. He opened his eyes and looked at Kaoru and in her eyes.
His eyes widened at realization. "You knew…" Kaoru looked down and nodded.
"But I never knew it would turn out this way… I knew you wouldn't accept it. But what I didn't know was how much you would take it." He looked at her feeling betrayed yet he grasped every word she said in wonder.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Ken-chan, don't take it so hard. Nothing has changed. She's still your friend and your still yearning. You think too much of things. Nothing has changed. I'm still here and so is Sano and Megumi," she said her annoyance growing at his contemplativeness.
Kenshin tilted his head as if seeing her at a new light. "You are angry at me, when you were the one that did not warn me." She stubbornly looked at him, thinking and I am not going to say sorry.
He knew it was another lesson that she wanted for him to learn, and he couldn't help but think of her efforts and way of thinking nothing more than amusing. You don't think as any sensible person would. So bright, nothing dims your light does it? He smiled much to Kaoru's surprise and kissed her lightly at her nose, before gathering her into his arms and whispering in her ear, "Thank you."
Kaoru smiled returning his embrace. "Baka, know that I'll be there and nothing will change that." He hugged her tighter and breathed in her scent of jasmine. They remained in each other's arms when he took her to their usual spot to watch the sun set at the cemetery.
