Disclaimer:Nope! I don't own RK!
Sorry I was messed up when I wrote this, It was more like out of desperation that I wrote this.
I've read Vol. 5 of the Princess Diaries. "Princess in Pink." I think I have Asperger's syndrome, so are my friends. I wish I had a boyfriend like Michael or Kenshin. Okay, I'll keep dreaming...
What the?!--- I was trying to update but I couldn't I dunno, something about the server!
14 Promises
Kaoru's eyes became blank the moment she realized that Kenshin was bloody. One hand flew up to her temples. Unable to take the pain anymore, she cried out.
"Aaaaahhhh!" it was earpiercing. Misao and others had gotten up and were all scrambling towards Kaoru's room. They saw Kaoru huddled in one corner, both her hands holding her head. Kenshin was in front of her, his chest bleeding.
Kaoru stumbled unconscious on Kenshin's still bloody chest. Kenshin picked up Kaoru's trembling body. 'She's trembling uncontrollably' he noted. He picked her up and settled her on the futon. He wiped the sweat on her forehead. "She's having a fever."
"What was that all about?" Yahiko said to himself.
"It's creepy…"
"Feh! Especially when you hear it at night like that."
"I thought I was having a nightmare…"
Misao had come towards Kenshin.
"Himura, you're bleeding." She pointed out.
Kenshin seemed to have just realized that his clothes are bloody.
"Oh. I didn't notice…" he replied distantly. "Do you think she'll be okay?"
"I'm not sure, what just happened to her?"
"...I don't know…" he lowered his head so that the others would not notice his grim expression. 'It's my fault! I scared her!'
"Would you like us to call Megumi? Your wounds might need tending…" Misao's voice just seemed so distant even though she's but a foot away from Kenshin.
Kenshin shook his head and wiped the sweat off Kaoru's face.
"Megumi-dono can come this morning…"
"Kenshin, let's patch up that wound…" Sano offered.
Kenshin only nodded. Sano moved to get some bandages when suddenly Yahiko spoke.
"Do you think, she's getting her memories back?"
They all looked at Kaoru's sleeping form.
"Maybe, we could only hope for so much." Misao answered while shrugging.
Kaoru hadn't woken up for the rest of the night. The entire gang kept awake and watched her. She was constantly crying and screaming, they were wondering what she was dreaming about.
"Please! Please! Don't hurt me!" she had shouted out once.
"Make it stop! I can't stand it!" Misao said, holding herself. Her ears were ringing from Kaoru's cries and pleas. At the back, Sano was shadow boxing (you know, when you punch in the air without any enemy, sort of to cool himself.)
"Damn that Reiji!"
(You could play bittersweet romance of FF9…)
Kenshin can do nothing more than wipe the sweat off her face. Tears constantly ran through her cheeks. His eyes were stern, intent on thinking. Kaoru had gripped the end of his gi and was still sobbing constantly.
"Please stop master! I promise I'll train harder... just please... stop hurting me!..." Her body jerked from side to side, making some of her yukata come off. They had a glimpse of her wounds. Kenshin covered her with the blanket
Yahiko was sitting next to her, his head bowed and muffling his sobs.
Kenshin couldn't wake Kaoru up no matter what he do. He felt like blaming himself for everything. Starting from the day she went missing. If it weren't for him, Reiji wouldn't be after Kaoru in the first place. Kaoru wouldn't have gotten hurt. He wouldn't hear her screams and bear the idea that she had gone down to the deepest parts of herself where he couldn't reach nor protect her.
If only he had gotten leash of his passion, she wouldn't be scared halfway to death, It wouldn't trigger her pains and sorrow.
Her grip tightened.
"Somebody... help me…" was the hoarse whisper that came.
At that moment, Kenshin gathered his wits and took Kaoru.
"Hush. You are safe now. No one will hurt you, I promise"
"I Promise…"
Someone was telling her a promise…
The whip came lashing at her back once more.
"No one will hurt you anymore…"
The pain was dulling her brain…
"You are safe now…"
Safe? She looked around… her master was no longer there… Where was the whip? The books? The weapons?
She examined her body. There were no wounds and bruises.
Safe…
Someone was cradling her. Soothing her. She felt so warm. Who was it?
Kaoru had finally seized to sob. She felt sleep claiming her as Kenshin begun to rock back and forth. As she slept on, she had a final say…
"Safe?"
"Yes…"
A smile crept up her lips…
Kenshin had tended to his own wounds, it was, after all, nothing he couldn't handle. He had stayed awake for a few more hours calming Kaoru down. After a few moments, Misao decided that he should rest. He obediently went to sleep as the others kept watch.
And now, it was time to prepare breakfast. Megumi came immediately after Sano informed her. She said it was nothing serious.
In regards to Kaoru…
"I have to admit, Ken-san, I am at a loss with Kaoru's case…"
"That's alright, Megumi-san. I think everything will come back to her once she realizes that we are not her enemies…"
Sano had walked her back to the clinic.
Once she realizes that we are not her enemies…
Kenshin felt his spirits drop. After what happened last night, she'll definitely not trust him. He chopped the vegetables.
He couldn't stop himself. It was almost a year, somehow the time spanned eons. He had wanted so much to hold her. When he realized that she was about to escape, he had acted purely on impulse. And that scent… He couldn't take it.
"Itai!" he had shouted in between his musings. He had accidentally cut himself. He let out an exasperated moan and put the injured finger up his lips. He felt a sudden "ache" when he realized it was the hand he had slid inside her clothes. He had it in his mouth! Hentai! He reprimanded himself.
"Himura!" Misao's 10,000-men-powered-lungs bellowed all over the place.
"Ah! I can't stand her!" Yahiko passed by him and went to the dojo to practice.
"What is it Misao-dono?" he still had his finger in his mouth. He went to Kaoru's room and found Misao there, looking anxious.
"What happened to you?" she asked him.
He realized that he was still sucking his injured finger. He quickly removed it.
"You yelled, Miss?" he asked her, sounding oh-so-butler-like.
"Listen, I don't know what happened between the two of you last night, but, Kaoru's acting strange. She's been looking at nowhere since she woke up."
Kenshin gulped. What could Misao have known? Did she suspect something? He wanted the ground to open up and eat him. It was his fault…
"Kenshin?" Misao called out.
"Oro?!"
"Really, Himura! Kaoru's bad as it is! Don't go blank on me like that!"
"Why did you call me, Misao-dono?" He tried changing the topic. Should he tell them about last night?
"Ah, why don't you look after her instead of me…"
Kenshin begun to protest. He started by telling her about breakfast, his chores, the laundry and finally
"…and she hates me…" it was hard to admit but after what he's done…
"Who cares! She hates all of us! And about breakfast, I'll do it. Your other chores, I'll get Yahiko." Then she stormed off.
He entered the room with hesitation welling up from every inch of his being. When he peeped, there she was, uncaring. She had a lost look in her eyes. He watched her heave one sigh after another. What could she be thinking?
Who was right?
Battousai or her master?
Why was her master so cruel?
Wasn't he supposed to be the good guy?
Why were these people nice to HER?
Especially him…well except last night but other than that...
Could it be?
Could she have been wrong?
It's not possible, is it?
…Yes, It was possible.
Her memories… will she… get them…back?
Why push it all away?
She needs answers.
An answer that doesn't come from Reiji,
nor Battousai, but,
…from her
"Kaoru-dono?"
She looked up and saw Kenshin.
"Oh, how nice to see you!" she voiced sarcastically. She picked up the cup Misao offered her moments ago and threw it to Kenshin. She hit him square in the face.
"I came to check in on you." His voice seemed small, cautious. He was rubbing his nose. It was in a weird angle."Misao-dono was worried…"
'Liar! YOU were worried'
"Well, now you've seen I'm still alive, would you please get out of my sight?!"
Guilt rushed in immediately. He bowed his head.
"I know you're upset about last night,"
"Of course I was, you pervert!" she balled her fists and threatened him with it.
He swallowed his breath and begun toying the end of his gi. Why was he so nervous.
"I'm sorry" he bowed his head and kneeled in sat in front of her.
"I know there's no excuse for my behavior last night but sessha... sessha is really sorry Kaoru-dono, that I am! " He made sure that every word was spoken firmly so as to burn his words into her memor.
Kaoru was quite taken aback. She hadn't expected that. Where did that come from?
"And now, If you wish for me to get out of your sight, as you said. I will go outside. I will be behind this door, if you need anything."
She only stared at his retreating back. She needed to say something! Insult him, attack him, curse him… forgive him? Besides the man missed her...
Now, where did that come from? He had shut the door now and has settled himself on the floor, his sword resting on his shoulder.
Kaoru had her breakfast separated from everybody else. She preferred staying in her room. Kenshinbrought it for her. He hadn't talked much except remarking that she had to eat to build some energy. They were going to visit their friends this afternoon. It was a busy day. Tae and Tsubame weren't able to come after all.
After that Yahiko came in to visit her. The boy only gawked at her, she was getting irritated.
"What do you want, boy?"
"I'm not a boy!" he suddenly yelled. That caught her off guard again.
"Stop staring at me then! It's irritating!"
"Sorry," everyone has been saying sorry to her!
"Forgiven. What's your problem?" she couldn't tell, but she was interested in the kid.
"Why do you hate us?"
Why? She tried to think of all the reasons. Everything Reiji told her. But why exactly? Were all of those true anyway?
"I just don't like you" this kid was getting on her nerves! He's making her think!
"Do you hate me because… I always call you busu?"
"Maybe, I wouldn't know, I lost my memories, remember?"
She wouldn't know… exactly!
Yahiko had a triumphant smile playing on his lips. They don't need to rush things. Kaoru should sort this on her own. She only needs a bit of "help".
"Open the goddamn door! It's hot!"
Yahikko hesitated at first, thinking she might escape.
"Don't worry, the almighty Battousai would get me back if I tried escaping, won't he?"
Yahiko seemed to think it over. He decided to open the door, revealing Kenshin doing the laundry.
Kaoru had a slight smile when she saw the image. The man seemed to enjoy himself while cleaning the clothes. 'What an idiot!' Kaoru watched on, seeing him as some form of entertainment. She felt warm at the scene. Homey…
Kenshin knew he was being watched but he didn't mind. It would've been better if Kaoru didn't push away her own memories. He heard the gate open and it revealed Sano and Megumi together…
"What's that?!" Megumi demanded for the hundredth time. Sano wouldn't reveal what he was carrying.
"Just you wait, Kitsune. It'll solve some problems for a while."
"What's that?!" Misao came all of a sudden. She had been cleaning.
Kenshin had gotten up and wiped some of the bubbles off his hands.
"What's that Sano?" Kenshin asked. Sano begun feeling irritated.
"Alright!" Sano dropped the bundle and revealed about a month's worth of rice.
"We don't have food anymore so I thought of getting this."
"You didn't steal that didn't you?!" Megumi had blurted out.
"I know you hate me, but I didn't do anything like that! I got this off from my savings."
"Sano… has…savings?!" they all asked in unison.
"Alright! No more lies! Tell us where you got that!" Misao had shouted, a millisecond after she spoke, Yahiko said the same. Kaoru was unnoticed by everyone. She was also thinking along the same lines. 'A guy like that has saving?' she mused.
"Okay…okay, I've got work and I kinda asked for them to give me some money in advance."
"Where is this work of yours?"
"At a construction, they let me have some money since I'm the most useful."
"Sano has already explained himself, no need to suspect him. Thank you, Sano. This has taken away some of our worries."
'Solved some problems for me too, now excuse me, I have to escape...' she tiptoed towards the gate when she heard a drawling voice .
"Well,well,well, seems like you're having some kind of fond celebration here…" he blew some smoke. Saito looked at Kaoru and eyed him for a while. The Kenshin-gumi's eyes were fixed on Kaoru as well. Kaoru just tilted her chin up and crossed her arms across her chest and gave out a snort.
"The report on Kurosaki Reiji came just now, I'm sure some of you would like to know about this." Kaoru's face faulted and she put one hand on her mouth to restrain her gasp.
"Well then, let's all go inside." Kenshin said rather cheerfully. He was quickly by Kaoru'side.
They all moved to come inside to hear the real story of the man behind all their miseries this past year…
"You better keep watch over the tanuki, Battousai..." Saito spoke quietly, his voice inly audible to Kenshin.
"I sensed you coming and I didn't need to worry, you know that." Kenshin smiled again and guided Kaoru who looked too stunned. Saito only nodded his head.
Yeah! I know this chappie's kinda lame, but I had to think of something somehow! We had another PMT session and I think I injured my leg, I couldn't walk properly...
All in all, life sucks. I could only vent on my frustration here. I've got muscle pain and I can't walk so I'm stuck here, typing.
I've also read all of your reviews and I'd like to say thank you, it made feel a whole lot better! Please review! Make me feel happy!