Gunshot Roses
Chapter Eleven:
Finale
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"Kaoru, damnit! I'm tired of all this waiting!" Kanryuu took her wrist and threw her away from him. "Three days! Three goddamn days is what you have! And if you're not ready by then, I won't care!"
Kaoru sat on the bed, her legs folded under her. Kanryuu stared her down angrily. He then sighed and said, "I understand... you're barely out of being a teenager, so I'll be lenient..." Kaoru shifted so that she sat cross legged. Kanryuu shook his head, "I know you're going to ask to sleep in your own bed tonight, so go ahead, do so... but remember, when you're three days are up, you belong entirely to me."
Kaoru nodded, silently, and walked out of the room.
Kanryuu watched her go thinking, I have the rest of my life with her... Let her dream her silly dreams of being saved by that cowboy for a little longer, and then when he does not come, it'll be proof enough to her that there are no such things as dreams...
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Kaoru stared out her window, her hands busy with sewing. She looked down at her work and smiled lightly. It was a shirt of Misao's.
She got up and placed the article of clothing on her dresser. She walked over to her bed and sat on the edge. She then looked down at the item in her palm. It was a pocket knife with engraved initials: KH.
She smiled for a second, then as her happiness faded, as it always had done to her, she lied down, and closed her eyes, thinking, He has to come... He promised he always would... There's no way he can't come... Please, God, please let him come...
She drifted to sleep, her thoughts on him, and was soon plagued with the nightmares that always haunted her.
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Kaoru stared out a window, while listlessly stirring a pot. She was expected to be a "homemaker" now, so she cooked a bit, even though it wasn't going well.
Bethany, one of the older maids in the mansion, walked in, and ran over to Kaoru. "Child, what are you doing?!" she shouted, while grabbing a pair of oven mitts. Kaoru was startled, and she looked down at the pot; it was burning to the point of being unrecognizable. She jumped back and Bethany took hold of the pot, and poured it into the sink.
Kaoru sighed and shook her head. "I can't seem to get the hang of this..."
Bethany nodded, "Yes, well that's obvious... Why don't I cook for you, honey? I think I'll do a bit better."
Kaoru shook her head yes and sat down on a kitchen chair. Bethany started to hum and she prepared another meal. Kaoru stared at the floor, thankful that Bethany was there.
Bethany was a chubby, elderly African American woman, with graying hair. She was warm and down to earth. She was the one who always protected Kaoru and helped her.
Kaoru sniffled, thinking that she couldn't do this any longer. She could not try to be some good house wife to a man she did not love. Kaoru's eyes started to tear. Bethany turned around and sighed. She walked to Kaoru and hugged her. "Oh, child, it'll be ok..." She gave her squeeze, and pulled back a bit with a smile. "You'll see... it'll all turn out ok, honey."
Kaoru nodded and stood, while wiping her eyes. "I'm going to go visit my sister."
Bethany smiled and walked back to the pot.
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"Tsubame? Tsubame?!" Kaoru called out in the servant's quarters.
Tsubame peeked her head out of a room. "Yes?"
Kaoru smiled and rubbed her arm. "Hello..."
"Kaoru!" Tsubame squealed, and hugged her sister. "Come on!" Tsubame tugged her in the room. "We have much to talk about!"
A half an hour later, Kaoru was sitting on the edge of her old cot. Tsubame was talking about everything form Soujiro's new carving projects, to Aoshi's annoyance in Misao's absences. She brought up a new topic suddenly.
"What was that boy's name that is friends with Mr. Himura?" she asked, blushing.
Kaoru smiled, "That's Yahiko Myojin... He's a good kid... really funny. Why?"
"I saw him hanging out with Mr. Himura and that man that used to deliver letters here... Sanosuke Sagara was his name, right?" She started to play with the edge of her skirt. "Well, anyway, he's really handsome..."
"Yes, I guess, for a young man." Kaoru nudged her sister. "Little Tsubame has a crush!"
"Hush!" Tsubame gasped. "Brother cannot know!"
"Alright..." Kaoru sighed. "If I must keep quiet..."
"Speaking of love... How are you dealing with Mr. Himura's disappearance?" Tsubame wondered, looking up at Kaoru.
Kaoru swallowed hard, "Well, it's not easy, let me tell you that... There's always that thought... you know... 'will he still want me now that I've married Kanryuu,' or 'will he think I'm weak for doing so?' It's hard, you know. To be away from him... to have to love Kanryuu, or fake it rather. It's hard to try and keep hoping, everyday, that he'll come for me. It's hard, especially with Kanryuu pressuring me to do... things... I guess I'm dealing with it well." Kaoru turned and looked at her sister. "I guess I'm not only and bad sister, but and horrible role model... I didn't get the man I wanted in the end, and I gave in to something I shouldn't have..."
Tsubame's eyes welled up with tears. "Not at all! You're a wonderful sister and role model! You're a strong beautiful woman who did all she could!" Tsubame wrapped her arms around Kaoru and cried into her shoulder. Kaoru stroked her head lightly. "I wish we could have been stronger for you!"
Kaoru shook her head, "No, Tsubame, you did all you could, and more then what was expected of you... I'll always thank you for that. And I'll always love you, ok?"
Tsubame nodded, "I love you too, sister..."
"Now dry those tears! I'm inviting you and Aoshi to dinner tonight!" Kaoru smiled.
"What?!"
"Well, by contract, Kanryuu had to have freed you and Aoshi and Sou because I married him! So, if you're free, you can dine at the master's table!" Kaoru smiled and hugged her sister tightly "I'll go inform Miss Bethany to make more food!"
Kaoru got up and quickly walked back to the mansion. Tsubame watched her go and wiped the tear in the corner of her eye.
"Oh Kaoru..."
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"Kaoru! I'm home!" Kanryuu bellowed from the front hall.
Kaoru heard him and quickly walked to him. She smiled, deceitfully, and allowed him to kiss her on the cheek. She smiled again as he pulled away. "You should relax," she said to him, taking him coat and bag. "Would you like some coffee or tea?"
"Ah, no thanks, my dear." He walked past her and went into the living room. He seated himself in a plush chair and picked up a newspaper. "When will dinner be ready, dear?" he asked as she came into the room.
"Very soon," she answered, not really knowing when. She sat on the arm of his chair and put her arm around the back of it. "Speaking of dinner, I wanted to invite my sister, brother and cousin. Would that be alright with you?"
Without looking up, he answered, "Most certainly not."
She slid off the chair and stood. "But why not?"
He stopped reading and said, "Because it's improper for master and slave to eat at the same table. You know that." He picked up the paper and started reading again.
"But you promised! You promised me their freedom!"
"Kaoru calm down. There's no need for you to draw attention to yourself." He looked at her again. "I did say at one point that they'd be free if you married me, but you never answered me on that. You never said anything, until I was forced to get and answer. If I was forced to get an answer, I would think that the offer I proposed along with marriage would be null in void." He stood and nonchalantly walked over to his humidor.
"You're talking in circles!" Kaoru said, angered.
Kanryuu sighed of deep frustration. "Basically, you were too slow to answer and I withdrew the offer to free them."
"That's deceitful! You lied to me!"
"And what is that smile when I come home from work? Hmm?" He turned around and towered over her. "As master of this home, my decision is final."
"But-"
"Shut up!" He pulled his hand back, as if ready to slap her. She closed her eyes tightly. "That was just a warning," he stated impatiently. "If you step out of line again, I will not hesitate."
Kaoru lowered her head. They stood there in silence for a moment. "I'll go finish dinner," she said, trying to break the agonizing stillness.
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They sat and ate in silence, for yet another night. Kaoru's mind raced. She had to do something, or he might break another promise he made. A promise that, if broken, she would be scared by.
"Kanryuu..." she almost whispered. "What is it that you do? I don't think you've ever spoken about where your job is in town and yet you go out to business a lot."
"Well... I own a... store... Yes, I own a business." He started eating, not bothering to explain.
"Well, which store? I know them all well and I don't think I've heard mention that you own it." Kaoru stared at him, confused.
"Well, it's more of a store people don't mention... Anyway, I don't think you should be concerned with that, my dear. It should be enough for you to know that I can always provide for you." He turned to his food once again.
Not wanting to start another argument, she nodded.
I really am curious, she thought to herself. Maybe I'll just have to find out for myself.
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The next morning Kaoru awoke, as Kanryuu was slowly getting ready to leave. She quickly got dressed and rushed downstairs. Kanryuu looked up and she came down the stairs.
"Kanryuu?" she asked, sweetly. "May I come into town with you? I need to do some shopping."
Kanryuu sighed. "If you must... But why don't you fix your hair first?"
"What's wrong with it?" she asked, feeling her ponytail for bumps or loose hairs.
"I just think you should do your hair in a more... less-flattering way."
Kaoru sighed and went up stairs. She stared in the mirror. What could I do with it? she wondered. She finally settled on an up do that most women in the town had. She looked at herself in the mirror.
Since being married to Kanryuu, most of her older clothes were thrown away, in yet another attempt to tell the world that she was owned by Kanryuu by means of marriage. Most of her dresses were long sleeved, and had buttons in the front to her waist. She wore a belt with them mostly. The one she had on now was a dark charcoal color, and was made of heavy wool.
She hardly recognized herself. She was nothing of the girl she used to be.
Kaoru went downstairs. Kanryuu smiled and nodded in approval. They headed outside, where a carriage was waiting for them.
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"Meet me here at one o'clock and I'll get a carriage to take you back home, alright?" Kanryuu smiled.
Kaoru nodded. Her mind sped, That's enough time to follow him, find out what's going on, then make like I was shopping.
Kanryuu started walking away. Kaoru watched him go, and then looked around. No one was paying her any mind, so she started to sneak through the crowds, following his trail.
Kanryuu walked down the normal streets, till he got to one alleyway. He looked around and creped into it. She stood behind the corner and peeked around. He opened a side door and went inside the building. Kaoru looked at the building she was hiding behind; it was "The Brother's Market".
She frowned. What was going on here?
She sneaked into the alleyway, and peeked into the small window in the door. Kanryuu had her back to her. There was another man, to whom he was talking to. Kanryuu handed him a small package. He turned to leave, and Kaoru's heart started beating fast.
Apparently the other man had grabbed him and held him back to ask him something.
Kaoru took this opportunity to run. She quickly hurried out of the alleyway and back to the place where Kanryuu had left her.
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Kaoru had started shopping, as her thoughts continuously preoccupied her.
Who was that man?
"Ma'am?"
What was in that package?
"Ma'am?"
What is going on in this damned town?!
"Ma'am?!"
Kaoru was startled. She turned around. It was a young man, with black hair and brown eyes. He smiled and tipped his hat. She dipped her head. "Sir Kanryuu," he began, "told me to come find you. I'm the cab driver that is to take you home. Are you ready?"
She looked down at her bag. She had bought a loaf of bread, some vegetables, some salt and other various items. Thinking that it was enough to convince Kanryuu that she was shopping, she nodded. "Yes, thank you." She followed the young man through the crowd.
"Oh dear! That's the fourth death in the past two weeks!"
Kaoru turned and saw two women, huddled over a newspaper. She stopped and listened in on them. The driver stopped as well.
"They say it was opium again!"
"Oh that's awful! Was it anyone we know?"
"Oh dear... it was Mr. Rutterger. He owns the hat shop in the town square, you know."
"Oh yes, yes, I knew him. That's terrible..."
"Yes. Would you like the paper? Jonathan has one at home already."
"No, no dear. Thank you, though."
Kaoru perked up, "Excuse me ma'am, I'll take it if you don't mind!"
The woman turned and smiled softly. "Oh, of course, Mrs. Takeda. Here you are." She handed Kaoru the paper.
Kaoru gave her a slightly questioning look and took the paper. She headed back towards the driver and he kept going.
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Kaoru took out the paper as she rode home in the carriage. She scanned the headlines for the one she wanted.
"Ah, here you are," she whispered to herself.
"DRUG EPIDEMIC HITS WEST:
Mr. John Rutterger makes the death toll for opium over 50"
She skimmed through the rest of the article that was filled with names and death dates and other boring facts. As she read, she made a mental note of the town where each victim lived.
"Most of them were here!" she said loud, shocked.
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"Are you alright, my dear?" Kanryuu asked, across the long dinner table.
Kaoru looked up and smiled. "Yes. I was just thinking, Kanryuu."
Kanryuu went back to his food, smiling. "Well, my dear, don't think too hard, you might get a headache. I'm good for all that thinking." He laughed lightly, and took a bite of his food.
Kaoru swallowed his words hard and made a face. I more then a pretty face...
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The next day, Kaoru was plagued with disconcerting thoughts of herself and Kanryuu.
Today is the third day, she thought. What am I to do? Should I let him go ahead and have me? Should I fight back? But if I harm him, he'll surly harm my family. If I let him have what he wants... will he let me go? No... probably not. What am I to do?
She threw the rag she had into a bucket of sudsy water. She sat on the steps of the front hall and looked down at her now perfectly clean floor. She sighed and wiped off her forehead with the back of her hand
I always think better when I clean. She sighed and got up to go to the kitchen. She sat in a chair and sighed, looking out the window again.
Will you come? Will you come and save me? Now, when I need you the most... Will you let me down? Did you ever mean anything you said? Did you ever... love me?
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Kanryuu came home early that day. They ate dinner, while Kanryuu went on about different things. Kaoru quietly ate. While half listening to him. Her mind was running away with the idea that perhaps Kanryuu had forgotten.
"Kaoru?" She looked up suddenly and Kanryuu was smiling at her. "I hope you've remembered about our 'little deal'. Tonight's the night. If you're not prepared, I feel awfully for you."
Kaoru swallowed hard and put her fork down. She wasn't really hungry anymore.
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There was a soft knock at his door. He allowed entrance for the knocker, and Kaoru came in. Her hair was down and she had on a robe that hung to just above her knees.
Kanryuu was standing near his bed. "Beautiful," he smiled wickedly. She closed the door behind her. "Come," he commanded her.
She slowly walked towards him. She sat on the edge of the bed. She looked up at him and pleaded, "Kanryuu I don't know if I'm really ready... I mean I am very young..."
"Bullshit, there are girls half your age who have done this already!" he said, coming towards her. In her head she calculated half her age. That's only 9... I doubt they'd subject that young a girl to this until they at least hit puberty... she thought to herself. She saw Kanryuu coming towards her and she backed up a little bit. Kanryuu sighed heavily. "Kaoru, he's not coming back! So forget him! You have me! And I'm more of a man then he is!"
She bite her lip and back up to the bed post. She could hear the thunder outside roaring. It was pouring rain that night, even though it hardly ever rained.
He came towards her, his hand outstretched. She shook her head no. He nodded yes as he came closer to her robe's collar. She squeezed her eyes shut tight. He pulled down her robe slowly. She could feel it slipping off her shoulder and she knew her breast was partly showing. He pulled it down farther. She felt her face getting red and she swallowed hard.
"BANG"
A thunderous knock at the door made the two jump away form each other. Kaoru held her robe up. "Shouldn't we get that?"
Kanryuu brushed it off. "No..." His head headed for her chest again.
She slapped it away. "Kanryuu what if it's my family? What if something happened to my sister, or my bother, or even Sou? Isn't that the only reason someone would bother us at this time of night?"
"Fine!" he sulked. "But be quick about it!"
Kaoru hopped off the bed and slid into her slippers. She walked down the upstairs hall and down the front staircase into the front hall. She stood by the two hue double doors. She sighed to herself and opened the door a bit.
She realized that her robe was slipping off her shoulder and turned quickly to fix it. She heard whoever it was step inside and she said, while tying the knot in her robe, "Can I help you?"
She checked herself once more, and gazed at the floor. As she turned, the visitor slightly laughed. "I sure hope so."
That voice! her mind screamed.
She stared at his feet as she turned towards him. Slowly her eyes followed him up. He had on brown boots and brown pants. Her eyes kept going up and she saw his shirt was white, tucked in at the waist, and the top two buttons were unbuttoned. She caught a glimpse of his long scarlet hair that was tied back. And she looked into his eyes.
They were a soft amethyst color!
Kaoru closed her eyes tight, and then opened them again. He was still there.
"Oh my god..." she whispered.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and her feet left the floor. "Kenshin!" she shrieked. He laughed and tightly held her. "I thought you-! You didn't-! I was so afraid you'd-! You left me all alone and I wasn't sure if you'd ever come back and just didn't know what to do and please don't be mad!" She released him and pulled back. "Wait... You left without saying anything..."
Kenshin closed his eyes with a dreading look on his face. Her hand met his cheek with a loud smack. "Don't you dare do that again!" she yelled at him. "Oh but you're back..." she said, kissing his lips. "I can't believe you left! You just left me all alone!" She kissed him again. "I'm so mad at you! You have no idea of the hell I went through!" Her hand got tangled in his hair and she caught his lips again. "You're so dead...!"
They both jumped suddenly at the sound of a loud gunshot. Kenshin covered Kaoru's head and bent down instantly. Kaoru looked up at the doors. There was a large bullet hole in the closed door.
"Yes, he is dead," she heard Kanryuu say. She felt Kenshin let up on his grip and she got up and stood behind him. Kanryuu was standing at the top of the staircase with his shot gun pointed at Kenshin's head. Kenshin took out both of his revolvers and aimed them at Kanryuu.
They stared each other down for a long while, unsure of what to do. Kanryuu suddenly barked, "Kaoru get over here now!"
Kaoru took a sharp breath in. Kenshin whispered to her without taking his eyes off Kanryuu, "Kaoru, don't go..."
Kaoru closed her eyes. She was unsure if what she was about to do was sane or not, but she thought it didn't matter anymore.
She started walking towards Kanryuu. Kenshin's expression was that of disbelief. She stepped in front of Kenshin and stopped. She outstretched her arms and stared up at Kanryuu. "You'll have to kill me before you touch him!" She closed her eyes tightly. This isn't going to work! This isn't going to work! her mind shouted. What are you doing?!
"Kaoru!" both Kenshin and Kanryuu shouted at the same time.
Kanryuu became angry. "Kaoru get away from him this instant! You're my wife! You should be here!"
Kenshin coughed. "What?! Wife?!"
"I will not allow you to hurt him," she shouted, not opening her eyes still.
"Fine." Kanryuu shook his head. "You leave me no choice."
Kanryuu sighed.
As he inhaled, his aim turned to Kaoru. Kenshin picked up on what was going on and knocked Kaoru out of the way. Kanryuu pulled the trigger and the shot meant for Kaoru hit Kenshin's right shoulder. Kanryuu exhaled. Kenshin aimed as the force of Kanryuu's bullet pushed him down and a bullet emitted from the gun in his left hand. He tossed away that gun as he fell to one knee and used his left arm to aim his right hand and shot Kanryuu again.
Kanryuu fell to his back, his gun falling out of his hands and sliding across the floor. There were two bullet holes in his stomach. Kenshin panted heavily from his place on the floor as his wound bled. Kaoru sat on the floor near him, her legs folded under her. Her hand reached out to him and he shifted, starting to pick himself up.
"Kenshin..." she whispered.
"Stay," was all he said to her. His tone was harsh, serious. He rose and started to climb the steps, a gun still firmly grasped in his right hand and his left hand clasping his wounded shoulder.
He reached Kanryuu and stood over him, aiming the gun at his head. Kanryuu looked at him, wincing from pain. He smiled mightily, even though he was on his back.
"What," he asked, "will you do now? You've attack a law-abiding citizen, unprovoked."
"Oh, I'm provoked," Kenshin near growled. "But that's not why I came here."
"If it's for her, you know this whole thing is-."
"It's for this," Kenshin said, taking a piece of paper out from his jacket. He held in up in front of Kanryuu. He craned his neck and read it.
"MYSTERIOUS DEALER HAS GOVERNMENT BAFFLED: A slippery crook falls through the cracks once again as government workers try to stop him from dealing more death."
"So?" Kanryuu raised an eyebrow.
Kenshin put away the headline and shook his head with a slight knowing smile. "You don't get it. I've been on this case since the end of the Civil War. And I'm finally almost done."
"You can't possible believe that a humble man such as myself would be the drug dealer that's been around for 12 years!" Kanryuu laughed. "You're crazy."
"Am I?" Kenshin questioned. "Twelve years ago you were living in Virginia. You had acquired a large sum of money and claimed it was inheritance. After two years, your money grew and you decided to move out west."
"And you think I moved so that I could sell opium out here?" Kanryuu spat.
"Ah, you've slipped up. I never said anything about opium." Kanryuu stopped and stared at him. Kenshin grinned, "You're ass is mine now, buddy..."
"Fine... Seeing as how I'm in no position to get myself out of this one, I admit it. I'm the underground opium dealer," Kanryuu snorted.
Kenshin smiled, "After nearly five years... I finally got you..."
"At least, I won't go to jail without a memento..." Kanryuu snickered. Kenshin looked at him and readied his gun. "Your woman... she's quite the wild one at night..." Kanryuu laughed manically. Kenshin clenched his jaw, disgusted.
He swung the handle of the gun he was holding into Kanryuu jaw, knocking him out cold. Kenshin stood there for a moment, staring at the despicable man. He turned and started coming down the stairs.
His head started to get light. His breathing was shallow. He kept coming down the steps. He saw Kaoru in the distance and tried to reach her.
"Kaoru..." he barely whispered as he pitched forward. Kaoru had already gotten up and rushed to catch him. He fell into her lap and the double doors swung open. A hoard of police men swarmed in. She looked around; they were all shouting and giving out orders.
"Help!" she pleaded, with whoever would listen. "Please!" A tall, older looking cop with slicked back black hair and a wolfish face stopped by her. "Please, Kenshin didn't do anything! He was trying to help me! Please don't think that he's the culprit here because I'll-"
"Oh, stop nagging," the cop rolled his eyes, annoyed. "We know what's going on... I guess we know more then you. You're a selfish woman to think that Himura came all the way here just to help you. He had his own agenda, you silly girl."
Kaoru looked down at Kenshin; he was still out cold. She looked back up at the cop. "Well you must help him! He's been wounded!"
"Pht... That stupid moron allowed someone like this to injure him? How weak has he gotten?" The cop took out a cigarette and lit it. He turned to another cop, "Hey, Michael, help this lady out, will you? We're not paying you to stand around and look pretty."
The sop jumped to life and Kaoru had to smile at his slight clumsiness. He spoke to her, "Umm, ma'am, what happened to him?"
The older cop shook his head "He was shot in the shoulder. Isn't it obvious? Now, why don't you help the man before he dies of blood lose!?" he barked at the cop called "Michael"
Michael looked nervous now. "Uhhh... ma'am, you'll have to let us take care of him, now. I'm sure he'll be fine..."
"Now that's real convincing..." the older cop mumbled, sarcastically
Kaoru smiled, and looked down at the unconscious man in her lap. He was so peaceful looking. "Kenshin..." she barely whispered to him, stroking his face.
A few police officers came around her and heaved Kenshin up. She watched him go, then stood, and fixed her robe. She turned to the older officer and smiled. "Am I allowed to go get a change of clothes? This is hardly an appropriate thing to wear in front of all these men."
"Please, do," the officer snorted.
Kaoru started to go, but stopped. "What's your name?" she asked the officer.
He smirked. "Saito Hajime, why?"
"No reason." She smiled.
"Women..." he grumbled, under his breath.
Kaoru shook her head, deciding that that was just his nature and hurried upstairs. When at the top steps, she saw that Kanryuu was now regaining consciousness, and calling out.
"Kaoru!" he shouted, upon seeing her. "Kaoru, tell them I'm innocent! You're my wife, you must vouch for me!"
The officers around Kanryuu stopped and starred at her. She looked and Kanryuu, then the front doors. She smiled at the officers. "My 'husband' is a despicable man. I'm sure whatever Kenshin Himura has accused him of is entirely accurate." Kanryuu's jaw dropped and she winked. "Take him away, boys."
The officers all started laughing "What'd you do? Not buy her nice enough clothes or something?"
"Maybe he didn't treat her good!" Another officer laughed.
Kaoru walked away, with a smiled on her face. She snuck into her room and locked the doors. She shifted through her closet and found a more appropriate attire.
She then hurried downstairs to see Kenshin.
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Kenshin clenched his jaw. "Ouch!" he shouted at the surgeon.
"Calm down, Mr. Himura, it's only iodine." The surgeon laughed.
Kaoru came and sat down next to Kenshin. Kenshin smiled at her, and then winced from his wound being treated. "He's merciless..." Kenshin muttered.
"I heard that," the man smiled.
Kaoru giggled. Kenshin looked at her and sighed. "Bet you're confused." She shook her head vigorously and he laughed. "Well, I should start from the beginning, and it all started with the war. The government complimented my skills by offering me a job to hunt down this 'Dealer of Death', as his name had become in the underground. So, I accepted."
"And how did Sano, Megumi, Yahiko and Misao get mixed up in all of this?" Kaoru questioned.
"Well," Kenshin laughed, "Sano's an old war buddy. I saved his hide countless times. Megumi was a southern doctor that used to always say that, "medicine has no sides," and treat us after battles. Yahiko we met, when he came through Megumi's door, completely battle worn and passed out."
"And Misao?"
"Well, I met her in New York, right before I started this job." Kenshin smiled and scratched at the bandages the doctor had just put on. "They decided to come along. While hunting around for questions... we often got ourselves in trouble. Especially Sano... And we had quiet a few fights with various names in the underground... I guess that's how we got our reputations... Although the thieves part I never understood... Anyway, I've been chasing this opium dealer for nearly five years. It was only till recently that I realized what was going on in this town..."
Kaoru gave him a curious look. "What do you mean?"
"Ah, I didn't think you'd know." He smiled again and rolled his head around to stretch it out. "Kanryuu had most the town paid off. He was trying to control this town, by telling the main business owners the wrong doses. They'd end up dead, and he'd buy their property from their families when they went into bankruptcy. It was a pretty nice deal. He actually pulled it off in one other town, nearby."
Kaoru stared at him, shocked.
Kenshin nodded. "Yeah I know. When I found out, I was so happy; it meant I'd keep my job." When Kaoru gave him a confused look, he elaborated. "You see, earlier, I had gotten a letter from the government saying that if I didn't find the culprit with sufficient evidence by the end of the month, I'd be relieved of my duties. I sent a message back that I had the man and the evidence, so they met me halfway and we devised a plan to raid. Did you meet that scary looking older cop? He's nasty and sarcastic?"
She nodded. "Oh yes, him."
"Yeah," Kenshin laughed, "well, he was a southern officer once upon a time. He's not that bad of a man, just a little sadistic."
Kaoru smiled and stared at Kenshin's wound. "Does it hurt?" she asked, motioning to it.
"Nah, it's nothing." He slipped his arm into his sleeve so it wouldn't be noticeable. They both stopped talking and starred at the pouring rain beyond the porch.
"I don't get one thing." Kaoru asked, suddenly. Kenshin looked up. "Why didn't you come for me sooner?" she groaned. "You have no idea what it's like to be "Mrs. Takeda!"
"You're right." Kenshin smiled. "I wouldn't... Thankfully."
"Not funny!" she pleaded. "It was awful! He is so boring! He has nothing interesting to say, and he expects me to listen!"
Kenshin shook his head. A thought came across his mind and his mood darkened. "Kaoru?" he asked, quietly.
"Hmm?" Kaoru leaned over and was curious at his sudden change of mood.
"Did Kanryuu ever... Did you and Kanryuu... ever... uhh..." He stuttered and was at a lose for words.
"Did I ever sleep with Kanryuu?" Kaoru asked, smiling a little bit. He nodded and gave her a hopeful look. "No. You weren't as late as you thought." She smiled again, and he sighed deeply.
"I didn't think so..." he muttered.
"I don't think I'd be able to face you ever again if that happened." She looked down at the floor.
He shook his head. "Something like that would never make me love you less. There's hardly anything that would."
"What if I..." She contemplated what she'd say. "What if I said I didn't love you?"
"Then I'd follow you till the day I died, to make sure you were always safe." He smiled and stared into her blue eyes.
"What if I was unfaithful to you?" She bit her lower lip.
"Then I'd take my anger out on the other man and do everything I could to try and prove to you that I am the best man you'll ever have." He laughed and brushed some air out of her face.
"Is that so?" she said, smiling. She pulled back and crossed her arms. "I could have someone better then a cowboy, if I pleased!" Her smile was growing wider as she tried to fake being arrogant.
He took her arm and pull her towards him. "Ah, but you'll never please doing something like that." He leaned towards her to kiss her. Some officers around them started hooting and egging him on. He looked at them, angered, and they backed off.
Kaoru laughed and pulled him up. She led him through the rain and under a tree in a more secluded area of the estate. She gazed up, smiling, as rain felling through the openings in the tree and onto her face. He smiled and watched her. She stared back at him and beamed.
"Kaoru?" he suddenly said, moving towards her.
"Yeah?" she giggled, as the rain tickled her face.
"I love you, and I always will." He leaned towards her and kissed her. Her arms wrapped around his neck and she stayed in the blissful moment for longer then it actually was.
When he pulled away, she smiled. "I love you too. From the first moment I saw you, I fell for you."
She hugged his neck tighter and leaned her head on him. He held her and sighed. "Never leave me again," she whispered.
"Absolutely not."
She pulled away to look at him and softly smiled. "And if you ever!"
"I know." He grinned. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her up. He spun once and abruptly stopped. He pulled back and grabbed his shoulder, while wincing in pain. Kaoru laughed and sat down on the ground with him. She tugged his shirt off his shoulder and looked at it. His wound was bleeding a bit. He shook his head. "Well, I won't be doing that again soon." She laughed and kissed his cheek. He smiled cunningly and said, "But I will be doing this." He caught her lips with his.
"You are sneaky," she said, pulling back a little.
He smiled. "I do what I must." She pulled him towards her again and kissed him. He pulled away for a brief second and spoke, "Kaoru?"
"Yes?" she said, pausing.
"Marry me?"
Kaoru stared at him for a second. She searched his eyes and, after finding no hint of deceitfulness, she gave him a watery smile. She crushed her lips against his and hugged his neck tightly. "Of course," she said, pulling back. "You've given me everything; my freedom, my reason to live... You've given me so much, how could I say no?" Tears began to stream her face.
"I don't know, maybe you still held some attachment to Kanryuu..." He grinned.
"Kenshin!" she said, slapping arm. "Don't ever say that!"
"So, I guess he never gave you anything like this..." He held out a box for her. She took it, and leaned back a little. She looked up at him again, and he shook his head for her to open the box. She slowly lifted the top off.
Embedded in the cushion, was a beautiful sliver ring, with a sapphire blue gem in the middle. "Oh my God..." she whispered, her voice becoming horse.
He took the box and took the ring out. He slipped it on her finger and she just stared at him. He smiled, "I'll take your speechlessness to be a good thing?"
She stared at the striking ring and then back at him. She hugged him tightly and squealed, "It's so beautiful! You didn't have to!"
"Of course I did, and I only tried to match your beauty when I was looking for it." He grinned. "But I also think that's impossible so I did the best I could."
"It's lovely." She sighed. She looked him in the eye. "You've given me too much... I don't deserve all this."
"Kaoru, you deserve the world."
She blushed and looked back down at her ring. "And what would you have done, had I said no?" she teased. "Would you have tried to swoon me?"
He sighed and kissed her lips. When he pulled back he stared at her. "No, I would have just died. There is no way I can ever spend the rest of my life without you."
They kissed again and the rain started to lighten up.
Now, Kaoru, you can finally be happy...
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Dreamed I saw a Desert Rose... Dressed torn in ribbons and in bows... Like a siren she calls to me...
U2; In God's Country
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A/N:
Hey! This is the last chapter! There will be a MUCH shorter epilogue, but other then that this story is done! I'm slightly relieved, but I'll be more so after the epilogue...
So, how'd you like it? I bet some of you thought I'd leave Kaoru with Kanryuu... that is if you talked to me long enough for me to trick you... I got like 5 people going! Haha!
Well, I don't have much to say!
Thank you to everyone who supported, reviewed and read this story! Love you all!
Till the Epilogue!
Ciao