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:

After a year, Kaoru is a senior (in junior high) as Kenshin is a senior (in high school). Tomoe and Akira are in college (and married).

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I'll make you… Chapter 4: I had always…

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."

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Months breezed pass and it was Kenshin's second year, except Kenshin and Megumi were promoted a grade (they're in third year) leaving Sano in second year high school.

As he entered the schoolyard, Kenshin couldn't help but feel overwhelmed at the attention he was getting. Girls, old and new were gawking at him. Boys, old and new glared at him in jealousy others were in complete adoration.

He felt uncomfortable. Megumi didn't help in the matter as she strutted alongside him, capturing a multitude of boys' attention and a great number of distaste and envy from the other girls as she was walking beside their Kenshin.

Kenshin shook his head in embarrassment. When he reached his new locker, he already found it filled with notes declaring their love for him, a few congratulating him on his success, others saying how great and incredible he is, some were offers to become his girlfriends, oh, and did I mention letters declaring love for him?

He sighed as he took his books and went straight to class. He wasn't looking forward much in the school year, for he felt alone without Kaoru. Not to mention lost. Without Kaoru to turn to as a 'girlfriend', he couldn't easily dissuade suitors.

He got promoted. Sometimes having the brains get you nowhere.

He picked a seat in the farthest corner. To his discomfort, Megumi followed him. Over the months, they were still friends. But he saw her wistful looks when she thought he wasn't looking.

He sighed. She was still infatuated with him. He only hoped that she would get over him… and quick.

The only thing that made him go through the days was the festival where he promised to take KaoruMeanwhile Kaoru was happy and disappointed at the same time. Happy because Kenshin got promoted to third year, and disappointed because they won't be graduating together.

She was in her last year in junior high and him on his last year in high school. She wouldn't be able to catch up on him.

Oh well, it's not like they won't be seeing much of each other. After all, there were still the break times, where they could meet each other as they used to. With that in mind, she was enlightened and got through the day without feeling gloomy.

Besides, later that lunchtime they would meet up… and she'll be able to give her gift, and also later evening Kenshin would take her on the festival. Kaoru clapped her hands at the thought. It was always so fun watching the fireworks. Maybe there'll be swirlies… swirlies, much like Kenshin's eyes when he's confused.

At last, it was lunch break. Kaoru waited patiently under the tree. She was excited as she cannot help but toy with her package. Inside was a ring, embedded inside was 'Nothing will change – little one'.

She smiled thinking what his reaction would be. Maybe he'll say – 'It's not even my birthday…' She was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't realize that he was right in front of her. Only after he gently brushed off a strand of bang from her face, did she notice him.

She touched her chest slightly as she was startled.

"I'm sorry, little one. But that obtrusive bang looked tempting to brush off," he said as he laughed a little at her surprise. She pouted a little, but the remembering, pulled him to sit by her side.

He stumbled at first, but soon straightened up as he saw her happy face. As he sat, she presented him a tiny a dark onyx velvet case.

"What?" he looked at her confused. But she only gave it to him and motioned him to open it.

Open it he did. Inside was a silver ring with a tinge of cobalt hue. Inside, he saw her words. He smiled slightly and then turned to pout at her.

"What?" it was her turn to question him.

"You didn't have to. And I don't have anything to give to you in return though I would rather know what the occasion is for. I remember that the first time we met was some time in January."

Kaoru laughed. "It's my gift to you for your promotion." She continued laughing.

Kenshin blushed as he again said that she didn't have to. "But wait a minute," said Kaoru, interrupting Kenshin's murmurs. Kenshin looked up at her.

Rubbing her chin as if considering, "We didn't meet in January. We met sometime in autumn."

"Oh?" Kenshin said.

"Yeah! I can't believe you forgot!" with that she hit him in the head. Kenshin got swirly-eyed.

They were disturbed as Sano and Megumi approached them. Much to Kenshin's discomfort and Kaoru's smugness, he and Megumi remained very good friends or at least Kaoru thought so. In fact, it seems as if Megumi has gotten over it quite well.

Megumi was happily flying school like a breeze and (though she won't admit her amusement) bickering with Sano. He gave a careless air, tempting her to pick a fight with him. He happily accepts it, and annoys her greatly.

Kenshin had high hopes that they would end up together. As for Kaoru, she was oblivious to relationships for she was still too busy thinking and observing others, while she completely forgot herself. And so was oblivious to Megumi's stares at Kenshin.

What they didn't know was that everything Megumi did to become better was her effort to show her worth to Kenshin. Just like Kenshin as he tried to garner Tomoe's attention.

Lunch passed with Megumi subtly flirting with Kenshin with her 'accidental' touches, smoldering looks, and with an extra grace in her movements, with Sano trying to steal Kaoru's food, with Kaoru trying to protect her bento, and with Kenshin ignoring Megumi's flirtations, laughing at Kaoru and Sano's battle, and eventually sharing his food with Kaoru. Soon, lunch was over and afternoon classes were starting.

Kenshin was back in his seat, looking contented at looking at the window. Hmm…what would Kaoru want? He thought as he fingered the ring.

wwwwwwwwwwwwwww

Festival time, Kenshin told Kaoru to meet at the steps… and so there she was. She was wearing her gray kimono, which faded to a dark black along the edges and was decorated with silver threads for stars, with a black obi secured by a silver cord.

She looked up and saw the sun setting; she couldn't help but be mesmerized. Unknown to her, Kenshin was slowly walking towards her. He was captivated at the lights playing against her giving her an ethereal glow and giving her hair a certain sheen. He reverently approached her, afraid to break the scene and yet he couldn't quench his sudden desire to hold her tight.

As he neared her, he gently gathered her into his arms as he wound it up in her tiny waist as he buried his face into her mass of dark raven hair.

Kaoru only leaned back. She had gotten used to his strange antis. Once when they were younger, Kenshin would come to her home at the brink of midnight to ask for a story. Also, at times, he would just take her to the beach and peacefully nap on her lap. He said he just wanted to be spontaneous, but she knew that he just wanted to get away from it all.

But even with his desire so great, he could not fully want to part with the world afraid to be lost, and that was why he always brought her along with him on his strange mood swings.

"Kenshin…"

"Let me hold you. As I look at you, I cannot help but feel that you, so little, will be taken away from me. So please, just let me hold you, my little one," he said as he hugged her tighter.

Kaoru shook her head lightly, "Oh, big one, I have weights in my sandals. No wind can blow me away."

"Weights? You're serious?" Kenshin asked as he looked up and turned her around to see her face. He saw her smile mischievously, but saw her honesty through her eyes, with that he laughed.

He took her by the hand and they went to the fair together.

As they were walking, Kaoru began tugging Kenshin to a stall. There were stuffed toy prizes and they had to do was-

"Just knock down those three bottles over there," the vendor pointed to three bottles that were stacked upon one another and then looked back at them, "with this here ball" as he got a ball from no where, "for fifteen yen."

Seeing Kaoru's expectant face, Kenshin sighed and paid the fee. He took the ball, carefully aiming it, and threw it... and it hit.

Kaoru jumped for joy as Kenshin handed the stuffed fish to her. She hugged it close to her before clutching onto Kenshin's arm. She gazed at him with flushed cheeks. Tiptoeing she reached up and kissed him on his nose, before walking him to other stalls.

Kenshin followed mindlessly, clearly still in a daze. His little Kaoru had just kissed him on the nose. Feeling her tug him slightly, he looked down seeing her look from one stall to another. He rubbed his nose softly as he smiled idiotically.

Looking around he saw another stall, which had trinkets on display. He led Kaoru there as she still looked around. As they stopped before the stall it was then Kaoru noticed the delightful trinkets. She clapped her hands together and then crouched to get a better look at the sale.

Kenshin bended down with her and looked at her childish delight from the corner of his eye. Still my little one, that you are. He then turned to the stall. He looked about looking for a trinket to give to his little one.

He unconsciously fingered a ring on his left middle finger. Then something caught his eye. There in the far corner a ring stood out. It was almost identical with his own, but instead of a tinge of cobalt, the ring had a tinge of lavender and small sprinkles of amber.

He smiled and reached for it. Looking at it for a while, he lifted Kaoru's hand and inserted it on her left ring finger. Just as I thought. A perfect fit. He looked at the vendor, "How much?"

Kaoru didn't listen anymore after that. All she could do at the moment was be held captivated by the ring. She tilted her head and fingered it a bit. She looked up to see Kenshin's warm gaze. She held his gaze and on impulse kissed him on the nose.

Silently, she walked away from the stall still admiring the ring leaving Kenshin dazed.

The vendor waved his arm over the poor boy. After a few blinks and a shake of his head, Knshin ran after Kaoru and guided her as she clearly was not focusing in her path.

He led her to a bench on top of a hill and sat her down. He sat beside her and held her close by her waist. Kaoru responded by laying her head upon his shoulder.

"Thank you, Ken-chan," she quietly said as she still admired the ring. Kenshin chuckled slightly as he gave her a kiss on top of her head and just as quietly said, " If I knew you were going to be this happy, I would have given you a ring."

After some time, Kaoru put her hand down and gazed at the night sky as did Kenshin. Just then, Kenshin remembered a similar situation they once had when they were children. Déjà vu. It was after the time that he said he would marry her instead of letting her kiss the frog. Only this time, Kaoru wasn't asleep.

"Little on, do you remember when I didn't let you kiss a frog?" he smiled softly. Kaoru crinkled her brows in thought and then she got it.

"You mean the time, that you said you will marry me instead in exchange for me not to try and kiss it?" she guessed. Kenshin chuckled, "Yup."

Kaoru smiled as she remembered, "I remember. I said I wanted to kiss the frog for it to become my prince and he would marry me, and we would live happily ever after. But you offered me marriage so I won't have warts." Kenshin chuckled and rounded his arms around her waist, bringing her closer.

"What made you think it up?" she asked.

"Then I didn't get you a ring for our engagement. Sorry it's late," Kenshin whispered into her ear. Kaoru's eyes widened and then she laughed.

Looking at Kaoru's countenance it was then and there that Kenshin finally realized how much of his heart she held. It was then that he realized that he loved her more than he had ever loved anyone. His love for her was as strong and maybe even stronger than his will to live.

It was his second year in high school, Tomoe and Akira had gotten married and then they went to college together supported by both of their parents. He didn't take it too hard. In fact, he wished them a happy marriage. And come to think of it, so was Kaoru.

She revealed to him that she was happy that he was recovering and has come to accept. Though she was a little disappointed for she really wanted him to get the girl. She once said out loud, "Oh well, at least he's not hurt." She always did care for him.

Kenshin wondered at his own change of heart then. He was glad and he did not harbor any ill will at the couple, only happiness. Maybe it was only a small boy's crush and nothing more what he felt for Tomoe.

Looking back, he saw how pathetic (for lack of words) he was. It was indeed only infatuation, and he is glad to have gotten over it. Now, he can move on without any hesitation. He did not long for Tomoe anymore, only cherishing her friendship had become enough.

His heart beat faster as Kaoru laid back into his embrace. How? Her scent wafted his senses. When? His blood was rushing to his face. Questions filled his mind, but looking at Kaoru everything became clear. It doesn't matter, when, where, how, why. Flustered he kept looking down at Kaoru. I love her… I…had always…that's what matters, I- His eyes gazed at her lovingly. I love you.