"You Are Not Alone…"
Khmer Moon Blossoms
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Or Kendo.
Author's Notes: Yep, I'm back!
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Chapter Six
Kaoru's POV
I soon awoke to the blinding sunlight through cracks of my windows. I shielded my irritated eyes and woke up into a daze.
That nightmare…it seemed so real.
And Kenshin…what could he think of me?
I found myself frowning so much that it hurt. I clasped my head and did my usual routine for the school mornings.
I quickly jumped the stairs down to the living room. Before I reached the kitchen, I heard laughter…
Sweet, melodious laughter that came from my household that I haven't heard for so long.
I walked into the kitched to find the commotion.
Sano and Yahiko were laughing….with Kenshin. Kenshin stood there, hands in his pockets and that small, trademark grin of his I had come to love seeing on him every morning at school. I smiled. He probably had come to pick me up and drive me to school. The thought of him doing that everyday made me blush…of course, if we would ever become a steady couple.
I stared at him for a while…like I could do it as long as time gave me. He laughed with a small ring in his voice that seemed so welcoming. Of course, he sensed someone standing at the doorway of the kitchen, and so he turned to me.
His ameyhst eyes and my sapphire ones interlocked. His were wide with surprise of seeing me awake, and mine closed abruptly out of embarrassment that he had caught me staring at him.
"Good morning, Kaoru." He greeted, walking over to me. "I've met your brothers, and your father just left to go upstairs to get ready for work. I wanted to know if you would like to walk with me to school."
"Yes, Kenshin!" I blurted out without thinking. But I liked my answer all the same.
"Kenshin is so awesome!" Yahiko shouted, tugging at my sleeve. "He takes kendo! I wanna take kendo when I'm in high school, Kaoru!"
I smiled at my younger brother. For a split second, I saw nothing but Yahiko's big smile on his small face. It held so much joy…a joy I haven't seen for a long time.
And Sano. I turned to my older brother.
"Sano, have you met Kenshin?" I asked.
"Of course. I'd like to practice kendo against him sometime." He said, grinning. "Of course, if you aren't to scared." Sano said, turning to Kenshin beside me.
"He's not scared!" I defended, jumping up to Sano's height and smacking him on the head.
"Okay, okay, Kaoru. Jeez, I was just kidding," He whispered, rubbing his head where I had come in contact with. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you too were boyfriend and girlfriend."
I immediately blushed. "No-no…Kenshin and I…no we're just friends…" I hung my head and closed my mouth. I heaved out a long sigh. "Be quiet, Sano."
Yahiko let out gurbles of laughter, pointing teasingly at me. "You like Kenshin, don't you?"
I heard Kenshin let out a small gasp, and then chuckle immediately afterward.
"Okay, okay." Sano cooed, calming me down. "Yahiko, come on. We've got to go. Go get ready and I'll drive you to school. Kao, we'll see you later."
I glared at my two brothers walking slowly up the stairs, mumbling: "you'd better go."
I felt warm fingers intertwine with mine. Instinctively, I down at my hand, seeing Kenshin's skin color almost mix with mine. I looked at him, giving him a surprised look, awaiting the usual explanation.
"We'd better get going. We'll be late." He murmered, pulling me outside of the door. I blushed for the third time that morning.
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Kaoru's POV
Kenshin started the conversation with ease. "You're family is so nice. They are so cheerful all the time."
Thanks to you…I thought happily. You've saved all of us….
"Yeah," I whispered, closing my eyes. As if to add relaxation, the wind played with my hair and blew gently across my face. A few petals from nearby trees landed on my head.
"Here," Kenshin's voice added to the natural feeling. "Let me get that." I opened my eyes and felt him picking off a few flower petals off of my hair.
I blushed once again. "Thank you."
He looked at me. "Of course." After a heartbeat, he asked: "Kaoru, you don't mind me walking you in the morning, do you? I really like to meet your family. I am thinking about doing it every morning."
I felt an uprising joy within me. "Sure," I said as calmly as I could, restraining the urge to hug him. "I don't mind at all, Kenshin."
"Great." He answered, looking forward.
There was an awkward silence between us. I could sense that Kenshin wanted to say something, but was hesitant to because he played with his fingers.
After what seemed like hours of silence, he spoke up.
"Do you remember when we met?" he asked.
"What?" I said, a little dizzy from the randomness of the question. I digested the question whole before answering. "Yes. Of course I do."
Mom….Oh, god, why is Kenshin bringing this up?
"And…you told me yesterday…that you were going to kill yourself? Do you remember?"
"Yes," the tears from recess came back to me, brimming my eyes. "Why?" I whispered in a cracking voice. Kenshin's eyes grew wide.
"Oh, I don't mean to upset you." He said, taking me by the shoulder in order to stop our walking. His other hand was placed on my other shoulder, and I stared at him hovering over me. His features expressed his concern for me.
His intense gaze held mine. I tried to break free, but I couldn't even find myself to blink. I just stared at him, like it was all I wanted to do…to be with Kenshin…forever.
But…that nightmare….he doesn't love me. But the thought of living without Kenshin…
It frightened me.
All of these thoughts…mom gone…Kenshin gone…
That tinge of lonliness deep inside my heart, almost waiting to come out…
My mother's strength was within me….I needed to keep it. I urged myself to not cry…just to look at Kenshin and not cry…just to think he'll always be there for me…
"Don't cry, Kaoru, please." He said, apology expressed in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you,"
I didn't answer, all in fear my eyes would spill out my tears I've worked so hard to keep in…
I finally had the strength to pull my gaze to the empty road.
"Kaoru…" Kenshin said soothingly, trying to grasp my attention. "Kaoru." He repeated. I closed my eyes shut. His voice made me remember the tone he had used after mother…
….left me….
When his calling didn't work, I felt him lift up one of his hands off of my shoulder under my chin. He gently pulled it up, causing my eyes to naturally open.
"I'm sorry," he repeated once again. I felt his breathing grow warmer and warmer on my face as he closed the distance between us. Kenshin's left hand on my shoulder wandered its way to my neck, pulling me gently close to him.
I forgot about my tears…the ones I held in…
I just let him drag me close to him. I just kept staring at his eyes, getting closer and closer until I could see its depth of exciting, caring color.
The pressure on my neck grew stronger as our eyes were inches apart…our lips even closer.
I pulled my hands from my sides up to his chest, feeling the heartbeat in tune with mine; my heartbeat ringing rapidly in my ears.
So…it was true…Kenshin loves me…
I let out a realization of a gasp. I wish he would admit it to me…should I confess first?
I forgot it all when I felt his one hand under my chin pulled my face towards his, and I willingly accepted.
Our lips started to meet…so close that it seemed they were touching…but they weren't.
His breathing grew slower on my face, and I closed my eyes in pleasure…awaiting his kiss.
But it never happened.
Gradually, his hands pulled away from my neck and chin. I opened my eyes in reluctance, but kept my close distance to him as he did to mine. I realized he was looking directly behind me. I swung around angrily…who was it that interrupted?
I noticed a small glimpse of snow white hair….the one belonging to Enishi Yukishiro.
I turned back to Kenshin and pulled my small hands away from Kenshin, blushing deeply. I watched as a small blush start to form on his features, and we both laughed nervously.
I couldn't believe I almost kissed Kenshin. Without words, I could see that he loved me as much as I loved him.
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Kenshin's POV
I pulled away reluctantly the instant she pulled away from me. I mentally smacked my head.
What has gotten into me? Guys usually get slapped for doing so to a young lady….
But Kaoru didn't attempt to pull away or protest against me.
That small doubt I had from last night…that tiny doubt that she didn't like me…erased from my mind.
She had almost accepted my actions…Kaoru loved me…and I loved her. For the few weeks we had known each other…Kaoru was a wonderful young lady. And she saw how I acted in front of her family…she must have trusted me too….
It was strange. Neither of us could find the nerve to confess and vow to each other….but we could take the next huge step: Kissing.
I saw Enishi come close to us, an infuriating scowl on his face. As captain of kendo, was Enishi mad because our team had lost a match?
No…his scowl said something much more…..
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Author's Notes: Enishi? Yep. He's going to ruin it all……
I don't know if I should make Kaoru and Kenshin actually kiss in the next chapter….
Hehe…Read and Review!
