Disclaimer: I don't own RK.
Hello! I am glad to announce that updating of chapters would be a lot quicker! It's all because I found out that I only have about 5 days before I go to University and that I couldn't bring my laptop yet so I'll be away from the computer for a long while...
I'm actually very sad about it because I dunno if this is the last story that I will ever post in seeing my hectic sked and I don't think College life would be eezy breezy for me. So to all of those who reviewed my stories, THANK YOU VERY MUCH...
Upon arriving home, Kenshin automatically was in front of Kaoru's door and knocking. When she opened it, he asked if he could come in and talk to her. She hesitated for a while but nevertheless, obliged.
Kaoru didn't seem ready to recieve him since she hasn't even bothered to fix her hair in her usual ponytail, instead she let it fall down, the ebony strands framing her pale face and she gave the impression that she was very tired and wary. She would often avoid any eye contact from Kenshin and just gave him a strained smile when he asked if she was alright.
He handed her the medicine Dr. Gensai gave. "Miss Kaoru, will you accompany me to the meadows later this afternoon?" He just blurted out without even trying to. Kaoru stopped in her musings and just stared at him for a really long time as if contemplating whether what she heard was just her imagination or reality.
She just tilted her head sideaways and looked at Kenshin with such an innocent charm that for a while Kenshin forgot how it was to breathe. "Why Kenshin? What are we going to do in the meadows?"
Gathering his resolve, he spoke in a soft voice of the happenings in the morning. "A friend said that it is especially windy there during afternoons. You might want to walk around a bit, you could even pick flowers along the way and we could put it in your room." With that said, he gave her an expectant look and thought that that brief moment that she thought of her answer stretched to eternity.
"Why are you doing this, Kenshin? I mean, seriously are you planning something?", looking from the corner of her eye, she, out of nothing else to do, fumbled with her hair and it was only then that she realized her unpresentable look. She immediately blushed at this realization and suddenly found her hands interesting to look at.
"No, no, Miss Kaoru. But, one cannot help but notice how sad you have been this past few days and this one only wished to cheer you up.", looking up Kaoru saw the evident concern on the rurouni's face and thought the melancholy she shrouded herself in was enough to break anyone's heart. And here was Kenshin, trying to cheer her up and beaming at her expectantly for a positive answer.
Kaoru couldn't resist the man's smile. He seemed so eager to make her happy. But she doesn't know if anything can make her happy now. Even so, she wanted to give it a try. She nodded and was surprised as the man gave her a hug. "You've never been this affectionate before..." she mentioned while still in his arms. She only just realozed that in the past few days she had been acting like him, keeping her feelings intact and Kenshin was acting like her in his eagerness to cheer her up.
He did seem to realize this and his grip slackened. Kaoru leaned her head on the arc of his shoulder. "Don't let go yet. I need you...now, more than ever..." Kenshin tried comforting her as best as he could and decided to run his fingers through her soft hair, relishing in its beauty and inhaling her scent of Jasmine. How he loved this woman so much, there was no means to measure its greatness...
"Thank you, Kenshin. Thanks for being here." She just whispered as she cuddled into his warmth, happy that he could show more of his emotions now than first eh came into her life.
While at the meadows, Kaoru was thinking that she probably had never felt this peaceful since she could remember. It was a good idea to come with Kenshin but where was he anyway?
She looked around and saw the rurouni emerge from behind a tree having a sheepish grin on his face. His hand at the back of his head. Suddenly feeling delight at being with him, Kaoru ran towards the man. On the way however, she tripped on one of the stones. But, Kenshin was quick on his feet and before her face slammed to the ground, she was already in his arms.
"Thanks." She couldn't help but blush. 'How embarrassing', she thought. But Kenshin didn't seem to mind and just looked at her, eyes deep with concern.
"Are you alright?" Kaoru looked at her leg and tried to move it. "Ow..." Kenshin winced at the sight. "It might get sore. You better lie down." His face was now grim at what happened and he proceeded on helping her.
He carried her on his back and all Kaoru felt was his warmth. His smell was so wonderful it made her close her eyes and lean closer. He put her down under the shade of a tree. Kaoru watched him as he meticulously inspected her leg.
"This unworthy one is sorry." he said.
Kaoru's eyebrows almost knotted together. "What are you talking about? If it weren't for you catching me, my nose would be bleeding by now."
"This one should have never been behind that tree, so then, you wouldn't have come and tripped."
This is ridiculous. Kaoru lightly slapped him on the cheek. The man looked surprised but after he got over the shock he had on his I-deserved-it look. Kaoru couldn't help feeling angry with this.
"Kenshin, not everything is your fault. Everything happens for a reason. If I haven't fell then I wouldn't be able to tell you how silly you're acting. So, don't blame yourself, alright?"
Kenshin smiled at her. He understood. He was glad she was getting back a part of her old self.
What should've been a walk in the meadows was reduced to just sitting around doing nothing in the meadows. Great. And to think he planned making her as comfortable as possible. But when he looks at her and sees the peacefulness on her face, he didn't seem to mind.
They enjoyed sitting under that shade and watching as the wind blew and grass and flowers swayed. They enjoyed seeing people walking by bidding them good day and smiling. It was a beautiful afternoon.
Kenshin would often steal glances at the young lady beside him. Her face was a myriad of peace and sadness. There was also something else that he saw in her eyes, something awfully familiar to him. It was guilt. Whatever she was feeiling guilty about, he had no idea. Kaoru had been the purest and most innocent creature he was blessed to behold.
It was only brief moments that guilt showed itself in her eyes and then it would be gone and sadness would overcome her features. It hurt to see her battling emotions and not be able to do anythinga about it. In the past few days, she had acted more like him and less like herself. She encompassed herself in a cocoon of smiles, trying to hide the pain. While he on the other hand, is relating to her more. He was suddenly thrown into the position she was in when he was the one going through hard times. Now he understood how hard it was to just wait for someone dear to breathe out to you their sadness...
"I'm glad you took me here, Kenshin. Really I am even though I sprained my ankle, I'm happy.", she said, breaking the silence. Again, she smiled and it broke his heart to know that she was only doing it so he wouldn't worry.
'So this was how she felt when I tried to hide my pain from her.'
"I'm glad you feel the same way, Miss Kaoru. I was feeling worried about you because you were so sad."
'Even if you don't tell me, I could feel your sadness as if they are my own...'
"I'm sorry I neglected you in the past few days... I was too absorbed in my grief."
'I'm sorry. I must've caused you pain when it was me who needed comforting. And now, I don't even know what to do to help you...'
Kenshin only looked at her praying that she'll continue talking. He wanted to know what bothered her. He wanted to heal her pain just like she did.
"Do you know what the letter said?" Kenshin held her hand for comfort, "It said that someone dear to me has passed away." Her tears started flowing. "I couldn't accept the fact that he was gone and that I haven't been there for him."
Kenshin did his best to comfort her and control himself as her racking sobs shook her.
"This unworthy one is glad that you told him. Would you like this one to comfort you?" he felt her head nod. and he held her closer.
After her cries had subsided, Kenshin didn't know what came over him. It must've been from the feeling of elation when she finally opened up to him. He kissed her...on the forehead. Kaoru felt this and shocked as she was, she looked at Kenshin. He immediately felt ashamed and looked away.
"This one is sorry. Something just came over and...and... this one is speechless. You can put down your punishment if you wish."
"Kenshin? Am I your granddaughter?" Kenshin looked at her and shook his head.
"Then why did you kiss me on the forehead. You kissed me like you're my grandpa!" she said jokingly then she leaned her head closer, giggling to herself. She playfully poked his side and he was so surprised at this that he almost yelped but Kaoru just laughed, her problems tucked away. She could mope around later but for now, she had to get back to her old self.
On the way home, Kaoru was riding on his back. and her head rested on his shoulder. "Kenshin, will you let me be honest?"
"This one would not mind...You could tell this one anything that is in your heart."
"The man who died... he was...supposed to be my..." she stopped because of hesitation.
"What is it, Miss Kaoru? Who was he supposed to be?"
"He was supposed to be my fiancé'..." a tear then trickled from her eye.
Almost immediately, Kenshin stopped on his tracks. He could feel the wetness upon his shoulder, Kaoru was crying to him.
"Miss Kaoru had a fiancé'?"
I don't think it's such a big surprise about that so sorry if I disappointed some people. I'm also sorry that I haven't been updating as often as everybody would've liked (including myself). Like I said I only have a few days before I go to University and I also had to finish one that I am writing. It's not a fanfiction, it's a novel from where I am seeing things.