"You are Not Alone…"
Khmer Moon Blossoms
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Or Kendo.
Author's Notes: Sorry, I had to go visit a friend a few hours out of town for a week, and didn't get to update! Sorry, again!
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Chapter Eleven
Kaoru's POV
I ran to my bed and flopped onto my bed. The tears came out willingly on their own again.
"I'm sorry, mom," I whimpered out, as if she could hear me. "I lost you again,"
Her courage, all of it, had left me as it streamed down my face through a river of tears.
How could things seem to brighten around the house, yet then darken the next moment? My father had seemed to open his eyes about our lives….and yet….
Feeling my heart drop in me and my throat growing scratchy, I irritatedly forced myself to fall asleep.
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Kaoru's POV
A dark figure stood before me, looming with cloud-like wisps of air floating at her ankles. Her hair was darker than the night and fell to her waist. Her blouse was bright yellow, and her pants were white. They were darkened with the color of the bright red of blood.
She continued to make her way towards me. I recognized who it was right away.
"Don't you remember?" she asked me out of nowhere. "That I've told you I'll always be with you, no matter what?" Her arms outstretched before her, reaching me.
I walked into her embrace, holding her tight. I felt like I was holding nothing at all, but the mere appearance of her presence made me feel happy. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I held her tighter; still feeling nothing in my arms. I even almost forgot the blood all over her body. I don't think I even felt that, either.
"You aren't with me anymore." I whispered. "Come back, mom. Come back,"
"You don't need to see me," She whispered. That voice. I had missed it so much. It was like a long, lost memory that seemed to find its way back into my mind. "I'll always be with you in your mind, our memories, your heart, soul, and spirit."
It was just the wise things she would tell me if she were alive.
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Kenshin's POV
I awoke the next morning, getting up hastily and changing into my school uniform. I tied my hair into a thick, flaming ponytail that trailed down my back, and finished up my morning routine.
I ran downstairs and grabbed a blueberry muffin from the table, taking a seat next to Megumi.
"Mornin, Kenshin," My mother called from the kitchen.
"Good morning, Mom." I greeted back. I also greeted my father reading a newspaper and all of my sisters. They happily greeted back, all except Megumi.
She glared at me-I could feel the hot intensity of her eyes suffocating me. She was trying; inaudibly, to remind me to tell my parents about Tomoe. I pretended to not notice her glare, chewing the muffin thoughtfully. I stood up to leave, shouting a farewell over my shoulder. I couldn't wait to race to Kaoru's house to walk her to school. I started making it a chore that I always wanted to do every morning and afternoon. Kaoru seemed to enjoy the walks, too. It made me happy that she enjoyed my company.
So…it wouldn't be counted as a chore, really…
Tsubame stood up from the table and walked to me. "Kenshin, don't forget that today is Saturday."
I looked down myself, staring at my uniform on me. I looked around the table, and everyone except my parents were in their pajamas.
I smiled sheepishly at my sister. "Thanks for telling me,"
Without paying attention to the muffled giggles from my father and sisters, I pushed away from the table, hearing the chair screech uncomfortably.
I blushed and ran upstairs to change into my casual clothes. I walked over to my door and closed it shut. Sighing, I took a look at my calendar on the back of my door. How could I not know that today was Saturday?
I took a look. There, in dark red ink, on this Saturday, were the words: "Kendo practice three o'clock."
I mouthed the words to myself silently. I had almost forgotten that I had practice today. I had already missed the first one this week thanks to Enishi, and my teacher would not feel pleasant if I missed the second one.
It was only seven o'clock, so I had enough time to spend some time with Kaoru before practice.
I smiled.
There you go again…
My mind told me.
Always thinking of Kaoru, eh?
Maybe she would even like to come to practice since she missed the first one. I felt myself glowing from the inside out like a firefly.
I ran back downstairs and slipped my sneakers on. Starting on my right foot, I took a lace in each hand and began stringing it over each other into a tight bow. Beside me, I saw Megumi's free feet. I felt her gaze over me. I naturally looked up at her.
"Where are you going?" she hissed, narrowing her eyes and pushing the strands that fell in her way. "You have explaining to do, remember?"
"What explaining?" My mother asked. She was seated at the table, feeding Suzume by stuffing a green, peas liquid into her small mouth. Suzume ate it, but only to spit it back out onto her bib. Her brown eyes glittered with amusement in opposition to my mother's angry orbs.
I eyed Megumi out of the corner of my eye. "Nothing mom,"
"Where are you going, anyway, Kenshin? Just running off like that. You'd better not be getting into trouble." My mother told me absently, more focused on feeding Suzume.
"I'm…" I tried to think of an excuse.
"Going off with a girl?" Megumi spat at me hoarsely.
"Oh! How is it between you and Tomoe?" Mother asked me, turning to me finally.
I stared back at her, giving her a strange look. "Tomoe?" I rolled her name over on my tongue. It felt strange. I haven't thought about her in days.
"Yes, Tomoe," My mother repeated.
"Your betrothed," Megumi whispered rudely. I eyed her angrily. She was making this all too suspicious in front of our Mother.
"Fine," I lied before I could stop it. I threw the laces down in front of me, and they whipped the ground in snake-like forms. Megumi gasped and glared at me. Seeing I would not tell my mom, she stomped upstairs to her room.
"Tomoe and I are fine," I repeated as I heard Megumi slam her door to her room. I had already performed the lie, and I saw no use in going back on it now. I would explain the truth later.
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Kenshin's POV
I found Kaoru sitting on a bench at the park. "You came!" I said, relieved.
"Of course," She answered sweetly. "I found the address."
"Great." I checked my watch. "After the park, I have to go to Kendo practice at three o'clock. Do you want to come watch me spar?"
"Sure!" She said, standing up beside me.
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Kaoru's POV
As we walked around the park, I felt an awkward silence come between Kenshin and me. I accepted the earful of dead air and ran my thoughts through my mind.
I had woken up this morning, aghast with fear and mixture of confusion. I wished Kenshin was there; beside my bed, helping me. But mom told me that she will always be with me. I wasn't afraid to cry anymore.
'Tears do not make a person weak…'
'I'll always be with you, in body, mind, heart,'
'Always with you, in your heart,'
'in your heart…'
'heart….'
'heart….'
I smiled. She was with me in my heart.
Kenshin brought me back to Earth by breaking the silence with a question.
"Did you tell your parents about Enishi?" he asked me.
"No." I didn't want to lie to him. "I couldn't…."
"To tell you the truth, I have something to tell my parents. They don't know that I'm hanging out with you instead of my girlfriend."
"You have a girlfriend?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. But it came out to be more of a wavering, slippery, watery voice than a sturdy one I had intentionally wanted.
Kenshin, taking note of my voice, simply said: "Not really," he avoided my face.
"Kenshin, you shouldn't be seen with me then," I said, leaving his side.
I knew it…he didn't care for me at all…it was too good to be true. I didn't dare cry in front of him. I tried to walk faster…tried to get home. Anywhere but near him. My heart pounded deep into my chest, and I thought my ribs were to explode. My head felt as if it were to burst. I tried to hold it all in, and didn't dare turn towards Kenshin to show him the miserable look I probably had on right then.
"No, no." he pulled me by the shoulders, afraid I would leave. "I don't love her."
Hearing this, I relaxed the tension in my shoulders and stopped dead in my tracks.
He took a deep breath and released me.
I mimicked his actions, taking a deep breath. Love was strange. I mentally let out a laugh. How could I contradict Kenshin, after all we've been through together? How could I think of such a thing: to think Kenshin was cheating on me?
Besides…he wasn't like that at all…I should have known that…
My confidence rose again, and I slowly turned to face Kenshin to listen what he wanted to say.
"You see, she's my betrothed. My parents are very traditional…and well, they would like to choose my bride for me. But I secretly dumped her a few weeks ago. I've always kept the secret to myself." He said. "Until now,"
"You should tell them." was my simple response. "And don't worry, I'll keep the secret away from them unless you want me to say something."
"No." He hung his arms loosely at his sides. "Keep it a secret."
"Well, it seems we both have something to tell our parents," I said sheepishly. He looked at me and smiled.
"We should both tell them." He said surely. "And no matter what happens, we should both know that we'll always have each other,"
He took my hand and clamped it in his grip. I clutched his hand back and smiled at him.
When a small realization took place in my head, I mentally let out a gasp.
Why wasn't I blushing? I darted my eyes up and down Kenshin, thinking that there was something wrong with my bodily functions. But seeing Kenshin not blushing either let me go into a relaxed state.
My conclusion: I guess we were comfortable with each other now.
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Kenshin's POV
"Well, we have a problem." I stated, gripping her hand a little firmer. "I have Kendo practice at three."
"Okay," I heard her say, dragging out the word. "What's the problem? I'll go."
"Really?" I asked. "That's great. Let's go or I'll be late again,"
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Author's Notes: No, I didn't give up on this fic! I was just caught up in other things…promise the next chapter will come up in a few days to make it up for ya, kay?
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