Disclaimers : Standard disclaimers applied.



Mirrored Shadows

- Chapter 2 - Staying.... or leaving

By : Reita Homoeshi (reita_homoeshi@yahoo.com)



"Oi, Kenshin. This miso soup is really good, you know. Your cooking is really digestable, unlike 'someone's' I know," the ever so annoying self- claimed Tokyo Samurai said.



"For once, kid," chuckled Sagara Sanosuke, realising the glare he received from Kaoru and Yahiko, the latter annoyed with the 'kid' remark, "I agree with you. The tanuki's food would make us suffocate in 1 minute at most of the time." Now, if looks could kill, the chicken-head would be dead by now.



"Hmph! You two, don't you have anything else to do than commenting about my delicious cooking? It IS delicious, isn't it, Kenshin?" Kaoru said.



"Yes, Kaoru-dono's cooking had improved, de gozaru." Kenshin replied, smiling a little. This said, the 'family' continued eating in silence...



----in the midnight, Kaoru's room----



'Why couldn't I sleep? It's not like I'm not tired or so, for god's sake I've been practising pretty hard today, It's ironic, isn't it, I'm tired but I can't sleep. Well, looks like I'm taking the fresh air outside. Maybe then, I could sleep.'



She walked, silently, careful not to wake anybody up, especially the red- headed rurouni.



'Kenshin, why are you acting like this? Does the rurouni in you are restless, like the wind that knows no halting? Do you want to be free, to be freed from me? Oh, Kenshin, don't you know how I feel about you?'



Sighing, she made her way to the roof, where she always went when she is depressed. Suddenly,



"Kenshin, what are you doing here? Aren't you suppose to be sleeping?" Kaoru, obviously shocked.



"Orororo. Kaoru-dono, you've startled me." Kenshin said, a large sweatdrop can be seen at the back of his head.



"Oh, really. You're telling me that the greatest swordman in whole Japan are startled because a girl is speaking to him. Really, Kenshin, couldn't you sense me coming? You're getting careless, you know."



"I know that, Kaoru-dono. It's just that I'm thinking about something too deeply that I didn't realise you're here."



"And what are you thinking about?"



"."



"Kenshin, don't give me that look. Surely you can trust me. Or don't you?"



"I'm sorry, Kaoru-dono. I trust you, but..." then, silence engulf them.



Nothing was said and after a few minutes of silence, Kaoru couldn't take it anymore.



"Kenshin, do you want to leave?" she softly said.



"How do.....no, of course not, Kaoru-dono."



"You don't sound too sure about that." Kaoru said, smiling a little, though only god know how her heart felt. ' I know you wanted to go, Kenshin. Admit it, I won't cry. I promise.' "Tell me the truth, Kenshin. You can't fool me. I've been through too much, I'm not a little girl anymore." Kaoru said bravely. 'Not since Father left me.'



"Kenshin, I know how you felt, and I wouldn't stop you if you really want to go. I can't stop you, Kenshin. And please tell me truthfully, do you want to leave, Himura Kenshin?" Kaoru said.



"Kaoru-dono..." Kenshin said, helplessly.



"Tell me."



"Yes, I want to go. I want to go wandering again. I wanted to go around Japan, helping people where I can. I want to be a rurouni again. But, Kaoru- dono, I don't want to leave you." Kenshin said, not looking at Kaoru all the while.



Fighting back the tears that threaten to fall from their prison, Kaoru gained her courage and said, " Kenshin, I won't ask you to stay if you really want to go. I'll let you go, but with one condition,"



"What is it?"



"Please don't go now. If you please, wait till tomorrow, if that's okay with you."



"Kaoru-dono, are you sure about this?" Kenshin asked her worriedly.



"Of course I do." Kaoru said while smiling sweetly. "Oh well, looks like I have to go to sleep now. Keep your promise, okay."



Then, both of them retire to their respective bedroom.



----Kaoru's room----



She just sat at her futon, staring into nothingness. She felt so empty, knowing that tomorrow, her Kenshin would be gone from her life forever. She had thought of how her life had changed since she know Kenshin. Meeting Yahiko, Sanosuke and Megumi, all these had been accomplished while HE is here. Remembering them, she smiles, Yahiko, whom she called an annoying brat, is actually like a little brother to her. Sanosuke, although really likes to free-loading at the dojo, calls her jou-chan, the endearment for a little sister, not like she would mind him as a big brother. And Megumi, that fox, fits her name perfectly, a cunning fox. She chuckled slightly at this. First, she didn't trust Megumi, but bit by bit, the fox had gained her trust, and deep in her heart, Megumi is like a sister to her. A sister that she know wouldn't take her man, although she always show her affection forKenshin. She had always noticed some chemistry going on with the fox and the chicken, though.



Kenshin had made them met each other, until they bacome a big family, while before she was always alone. Perhaps not directly but still, he has some part in it. She knows that her life had gotten really complicated since Kenshin first stepped into her Kamiya dojo.



Recalling what she said to Kenshin, she remembers her own conversation with her father, after her poorly timing eavesdrop in the jungle.



F*L*A*S*H*B*A*C*K*



"Papa, would you mind me asking something?" Little Kaoru said.



"Yes, tenshi. What is it?" her father replied.



"Oto-chan. is it true that...that you want to go to the war?" Kaoru said, slightly quivering.



"Kaoru-chan, I don't know. I really don't. I'll feel guilty if I leave you alone, but out there, people are fighting for our country. I love you so very much but it seems that it's not fair if I stay here, waiting." Kamiya plainly stated.



"Papa, I think Uncle Daisuke is right. You should go fight. Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. There are many people suffering in the war, and I don't mind being alone for some time when you go, Papa. When all of these is over, I'll be waiting for you, Papa. I'll be waiting for you proudly, knowing that MY father had helped our country." Kaoru said brightly.



"Are you sure about this, Kaoru-chan? Are you sure you won't blame me, or hate me or......."



"Papa, stop it. You know I love you. I'll stay with Dr. Genzai if that'll make you satisfied. Dr. Genzai is also like a father to me. I won't feel alone. Plus, I can play with his daughter, Ami everyday. It would be fun." Kaoru said again.



"Alright, Kaoru-chan. You don't know how much this means to me. I won't fail you, tenshi. I'll come back, okay."



"I know, oto-chan, I know. I've known you since the day I was born, if you don't remember.



"Alright, tenshi. Let's go cook some dinner, shall we?" Kamiya said.



"Hai, oto-chan."



*E*N*D*F*L*A*S*H*B*A*C*K*



'And that dinner was the last for me and Oto-chan. I never thought that it would be like that of I would never let him go. And now, it's like history is going to repeat itself. Only that Kenshin didn't say that he is coming back.'



She didn't sleep a wink that night, thinking about her life and Kenshin, and after a whole night of non-sleep, finally she made a decision. A decision that'll not only change her life, but others as well. A decision that she will tell everybody on breakfast in the morning. With that, she sleep, with a sad smile on her lips...





End Chapter 2



Authors Note : Well, how bout this??? Hm, nobody tell me wether Kenshin should eave or not, so I've made MY decision. Kenshin shall go, but........... Come on, if Kenshin didn't go, there's not much to be made a story, alright? So, to ensure that this fic would be long enough to rival those of the Great Wall of China (kidding), I'll let Kenshin go.

Still, I'm sorry if I've made you wait for such a slow-moving story, but this shall help later in the story, 'kay? Oh, and don't be mad for all those cliffhangers.

AND, Please review. I would like it very much. PUH-LEEEESEEE.....

Oh, and before I forget, this story take place after the Jinchuu Arc, but Sano DID NOT go away, Megumi IS NOT in Aizu and is still an apprentice to Dr. Genzai. And Dr. Genzai's daughter, Ami is my creation. She's Ayame and Suzume's mom and so so. And please wait for the next chapter, which will be out by next week, I promise.