Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only. FF can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I'm sensitive. But for all other comments 0o you may contact me at or through the website.
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Any life, no matter how long and complex it may be,
is made up of a single moment -
the moment in which a man finds out,
once and for all, who he is.
- Jorge Luis Borges
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Chapter Twenty-Six
His gun was still raised, aimed at the perp. as he called her to him, sparing her a glace before his eyes returned to the falling man. A part of him noted she was half way to him when the man's arm hit the pavement, the gun hitting last. As a loud shot resonated out of it, he watched in horror as the bullet caught her in the back.
"Kaoru."
No, he couldn't believe . . . No.
"Kaoru!"
She was going to fall . . .
"Kaoru!"
He ran to her side, shouting her name, seeing only confusion in her gaze as she fell to her knees.
"Kaoru!"
Her head connected with the cement, eerily making no sound as he picked her up, turning her in his arms. The warm wetness on her clothes made his heart sink. "Koishii?" He put his hand over her breast trying to stop the flowing of her blood, as it stained his hands and clothes all he could do was try to stop it from seeping out. His free hand traveling to the cut on her temple, seeing more of the dark liquid oozing out, coating her dark hair. "Koishii . . ." He felt the hot sting of tears behind his lids.
"Himura!"
Loud sirens swept over the block as police and ambulance stopped in front of the bank. Men and women bolted out of their cars, rushing to the scene a bit too late.
"Himura the ambulance's here!"
And still, his ears heard nothing but the rushing sound off her blood escaping the confines of her heart. As tears sprang to his eyes, feeling like his heart would literally tear apart. "Koishii . . ." his voice cracked, chocking on words—on emotions too overwhelming to ever see past.
"Can you hear me?"
"We need to take her." A hand settled on his shoulder and he shook it off, snarling at the stranger until he realized it was a paramedic. As hoped bloomed in dying embers, he thought—they could save her. Heart screaming, he nodded and hugged her tightly, a few of his tears falling on her face as he kissed her pale lips and relinquished his hold, if reluctantly.
"He's still alive! Someone, get another medic."
It was this that made him turn suddenly; golden orbs, glinting crazily, as he stood. Gaze locked in the direction of his car, where another paramedic crouched, kneeling besides the man who'd shot his wife.
"We'll have to take him to -" The paramedic could not finish, as he was shoved aside, he could only watch as Kenshin stood over the body, unloading his gun in a succession of five point-blank strikes. Kicking the body over, making sure the man was dead.
"Wha -what are you doing?" He said, watching Kenshin turn, pale faced and glinting eyes, hands stained red with blood. "Take my wife to the hospital." He raised his gun. "Now."
The paramedic scrabbled to his feet immediately, fleeing away from the crazed man as he ran past several officers and even more PSB agents on his way back to the ambulance.
Silence reigned, despite the sound of sirens and helicopters—and people rushing to get the media behind some yellow tape. Kenshin stood stock-still, watching as the ambulance drove away . . . for a moment before his gaze moved back to where it'd been.
A sudden flash on the right of him made him suddenly aware of the line of reporters standing just behind a line of caution tape, PSB agents were trying to control. As he looked at them, a moment, with dark-yellow feral eyes, glinting eerily in the dark of night, he gazed at them, with such menace. He couldn't have made his statement any more clear; he wanted to kill them all.
Too much, maybe—as he stood there, a dark scowl etched on his weary face. Anger and hate veiling around him like an invisible second skin . . . He turned away.
"Himura! You can't just leave."
"I'm going to the hospital." He said, continuing to move towards his car.
"We can't let you go."
Kenshin turned, fixing his old commander with a deadly look while Iwakami Toru leader of the Kagemusha just shook his head. "I'm sorry Himura."
"Not as sorry as you could be."
Arms went up at his tone of voice and still he stood unflinching, with his hands at his sides, making no move to draw out his gun.
"Come Himura, we can take care of this quickly and then you can go. I swear it."
Kenshin's gaze moved in the direction the ambulance had gone, he regretted not getting in with her, but he'd known what would happen after shooting the robber.
For a moment, he stilled, pausing where he stood as he tried to decide his course of action. If she was badly hurt which he feared she might be. She might not make it. And just the thought of it, seemed enough to make his heart constrain. So, maybe, if he hurried up here, they would release him right away . . . like they promised. Kenshin turned, focusing his attention back on Toru, hoping that was the case, he said. "If I don't get there in time . . ." his eyes burned . . . "I'll have to come back here." His not so subtle threat to kill them all didn't go unnoticed but he didn't care. Madness and despair were closing in, his world was slowly collapsing, fading into darkness with the threat of her passing. And that, he knew he could never bear.
· · · · ·
Kamiya Kenji ran through the halls of the hospital, feeling his heart somewhere in his throat. He angrily rushed down a hall, muttering and cursing. He knew. He never should have left her all alone. She should have never left his sight at all.
Stopping suddenly in front of the nurse's desk. "My daughter," he wheezed. "Kamiya Kaoru," he took a breath. "Please, where is she?"
"Kamiya-san!"
He turned, seeing a woman a few years older than Kaoru call his name.
"Kamiya-san, she just came out of surgery." Sekihara Tae had dashed to his side the moment she saw him run past her. "She's been moved to the ICU, it's on the west wing of this floor. Come on I'll take you."
He nodded and quickly followed the brunet that would lead him to his koneko. Heart pounding, constricting in his chest, he was suddenly glad he'd decided to come back to Tokyo. He hadn't been able to rest since talking to her on New Year's eve, so he'd come, been on his way to their house in Shinjuku when his cell had rang.
They came to stop suddenly and in front of them he could see, rows off beds on either side, each set several feet apart. Sound's of respirators and heart monitor's was all he could hear as he took a step in, frantically looking to where his daughter might be.
"This way," Tae said, pulling on his sleeve, leading him to the last bed on the left.
Moisture gathered at the corners of his eyes, seeing her hooked up to so much machinery, the sound of her own monitor overshadowing her shallow breathing. "Kaoru," Kenji reached for her hand, as bad as it had always been when she'd fallen into her deep sleep, she'd never once looked this bad. "It's your papa." He said, noting with growing worry just how cold she really was. As he pulled up a blanket by her feet, covering her all the way to her chin, he brushed a finger against her cheek, lightly caressing.
"This is all his fault," he said.
Making Tae jump, slightly, startled by his statement. Like many of the other nurses here, she'd been glued to the tv, watching the scene outside the bank unfold. And as a witness to what'd happened—she couldn't understand, how he could say that. No one could say he hadn't tried. "He killed the man who shot her -"
Kaoru's father turned, his eyes glittering with anger and grief. "I should have come for her sooner. I should have taken her with me the last time I came." He turned back to his only child, moving some strands out of her face. "What's her condition?"
Tae sighed. "She was semi-conscious when she arrived." She paused afraid of how he might react. "She - she told the doctors not to give her a new heart, no matter what."
"What?"
"Please Kamiya-san," she tried to appease him. "We're in the ICU." She looked around nervously. "They removed the bullet without any complications, she's weak from loss of blood, but she has a good chance of pulling through."
"But she'd have a better one with a new heart."
Tae was reluctant to respond but his eyes bore into her, dragging the truth with his penetrating gaze. She lowered her eyes and nodded, feeling wretched for revealing the truth. Kenji released the young nurse, his eyes moving away instead to the monitor by his daughter's bed. The numbers didn't give much hope. As his gaze turned back to the laying form. "As her father, can I not void her decision?"
"She's over age."
"But if she was declared incompetent and the hospital was provided with proof, couldn't her decision be overturn then."
"Kamiya-san, I - I don't think you should go against her wishes." Tae's eyes brimmed with unshed tears.
"But can I?" He insisted, turning his face to stare her down. "Can I?" He snapped
"NO." Kenshin appeared to the right of the bed, startling the other two people at her side. "She's my wife." Kenji half leapt, reaching across the bed with surprising strength and hit him, brining blood out of the corner of his mouth. Kenshin eyes glinted wildly though he remained in place. "Does that make you feel better?"
"Killing you would make me feel better." Kenji spat, loathing the mere right of him.
As Kenshin moved forward, control just barely restrained, his hands fisted at his sides just barely stopping himself from acting on impulse. "If you weren't her father," he said voice like ice. "I'd make you eat the floor."
"Her heart rate's dropping." Tae said worriedly, tapping her finger against the monitor. "I'm going to get a doctor."
Kenshin picked up her left hand, hurt by the absence of her ring. His heart felt small in his chest and all at once, he found it hard to breathe. "Koishii."
Kaoru's eyes fluttered open, hands gripping those who held them. She licked her dry lips; her head turning from left to right. "Papa, you've met Kenshin?" Her voice was coarse, grating against her throat with the effort of every word.
"Koneko," he pulled on her hand trying to draw all her attention to him.
"He's my husband papa." She gripped his hand. "I wanted to be his wife . . . before I - I fell asleep, again." She blinked suddenly, trying to focus on her father, her gaze already faltering. "It looks like I'll be sleeping soon."
"Don't say that." Kenji begged.
Kaoru smiled regretfully. "I think I always knew this is how it'd end. I'm sorry I have to leave you papa. I never planned to leave you." Tears filled her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. "I had plans to go back with you but- I found Kenshin. I'm sorry, so sorry papa." Her monitor beeped drawing her attention to the machine. "Papa, please, can I speak to Kenshin alone."
Kenji glared at the silent man but nodded just the same, bending over, he laid a kiss on her cheek and released her hand. "I won't be far koneko."
Kaoru waited until her father left before her attention came to rest on the redheaded man in front of her. Her eyes, shinning a clear blue, filled with too many emotions for him to read. "Kenshin," his name was life off her lips. As she sighed, feeling regret fill her soul. "I'm happy I got to have your affection," she said, "even a fraction of it . . ." She pulled her hand in, trying to bring him closer. "I love you, you know, more than you could ever imagine."
"Kaoru I lo-"
"Shh," she waved off his statement. "All I need from you is the promise that you won't let them take my heart."
"But if it will save you."
Kaoru shook her head. "I can't live with another heart, I won't." She gripped his hand. "I have struggled too much with this one to let it go. There's been so much I've had to overcome so that I could be with you." She raised her hand to wipe a tear from his eyes. "I have waited-" Her monitor beeped, again drawing her attention. Her hands were beginning to tremble and she felt her time growing short.
"Please Kaoru, if you loved - "
"Don't," she cut him off. "I don't want to pass on angry." She amended in a softer tone. "Please don't make this harder than it already is."
Tears fell from his eyes and Kaoru felt the trembling in her hands now spread to her limbs. "I thought I'd only see you cry at the birth of our children." She didn't remember ever seeing him cry. Though it was hard to say if that were truly the case, her past memories were hazing over.
"I love you."
"No," her hands flew to her heart as pain cut across her chest. "Why did you say it?" She hissed, feeling the tearing sensation in her heart grow strong. "Kami," her monitor began to beep continuously. "It hurts, my heart -" Her lips parted in pain.
"Kaoru," she ignored his worried tone, the anguish on his face. His pain, it brought her no joy now; she didn't revel in it like she'd once thought she would. Though sadly she realized, "We're even . . . now" She griped his hand as a pang cut across her chest; the pain was growing worse.
"Some day, Oow." She took a half a breath. "We'll meet again." She gasped as tears slipped out of her eyes. Whimpering, at the knot forming in her throat. "I'll be free." She trembled feeling her heart expand. "Ken-" Her binds shattered and the rhythmic beeping of her monitor wailed a long flat sound.
Kenshin's face twisted in agony; as life as he knew it was ripped away from him. Rational thought abandoned him and without thinking, he picked her up, shaking her body in an effort to restore life. "Kaoru." His heart was numbing over. "No," he whispered, halting his shaking. He drew her body closer, holding it to his chest. "Kaoru." He laid his forehead over hers, closed his eyes and breathed against her mouth, "Koishii, please-"
He was pulled back suddenly, caught off guard as her body was forced from his grasp. And he fell, struggling against the others trying to pin him, restrain him from breaking free. As he fought, almost wildly, pushing and thrashing, refusing to let them take her from his sight—Kenshin struggled until he managed to stand, again. Trying to catch sight of her—until he felt a small prick on his arm and he turned in time to see something been injected . . . As they wrestled him back to the floor, he moved grief stricken eyes back to her bed, watching from below as doctors and nurses moved around her bed, assiduously trying to resuscitate her. For him, hope was dying but something else, something stronger whispered in his ear, brining life to dying words as he thought . . . Oh what he wouldn't give for the chance . . .
His eyes grew heavy and his body relax, too late, he realized they'd drugged him. And as he felt his captors easing their hold on his arms and legs, slowly, drawing away from him as his vision began to blur. The thought distantly . . .
"Kenshin . . ."
He caught her last breath. As the orderlies watched him, sadly, begin to slump against the cold white sterile floor. His deep violet eyes, already closing, breath, stilling. They could only watch as one of the doctor's, shook his head.
"She's gone."
All eyes turned to the still form on the bed. Her lips parted, with half a formed name.
"No."
Eyes wide, they all turned as he blinked. Blinked and steadied a normal breath. Light amber eyes, flashing, deepening to the color of molted gold as he stood, growling menacingly. His hair rising with his ki, billowing around him, moving with unseen force as something in having been a samurai whispered of his strength, breathed life in him again and wrapped all around him, enclosing about his instincts until he almost unconsciously, reached for a weapon he no longer possessed. Probably wouldn't even need . . .
As he took a step stirring fear and dread, his ki escalated to heights unseen by normal men and though they no longer understood, they could sense the on coming danger, emanating from the lithe man.
"Haven't you done enough?" Kenji asked, tears streaming, features twisted in grief and pain, already at his daughter's side.
Gold wavered then hardened. "She's mine, no matter how much you detest the fact. She's mine and will be buried with me and me alone." Kenshin said before turning and stalking out of the ICU.
Along the corridor as he almost neared the elevators, he began to feel his adrenaline start to waver, fading with every step until he felt darkness begin to pull on him again, calling out for him to come and rest but he shied away, staggering in his step.
His eyes narrowed on a sign as the borders of his vision blurred, his gaze losing focus, he shook reading the name of a shrine. He blinked and tried again, this time reading the sign properly.
He sighed and made his way, slowly pacing the last couple of steps until entering a chapel. His mind, though a little fuzzy, registered no surprise as he stepped into emptiness. Not many people in Japan were of Catholic faith so . . . Reality seemed to blur, for a moment as the objects in his vision seem to dim; he was forced to sit, slumping into a bench in a dark nearby corner, where the shadows there at least seemed to offer him a little solace.
As he sat there despite knowing what he did, his mind still seemed a bit reluctant to understand. Everything had been fine, just this morning he had awoken with her in bed; arm draped across his chest, happily asleep until he'd brought breakfast to eat in bed. Kissing her lightly, licking sugar off her cheeks—that he would never get to that again—Kenshin suddenly laid his face into his hands. He didn't understands, at all. How could she leave him when he could still feel her. Close his eyes and see her . . .
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Lips, slightly parting, drawing breath as he slowly drove coherent thought from both their heads. Slowly, at first, while he watched her take short, shallow little breaths before giving in to her insistent hands and conceding to what she liked. As he growled, deep his throat trying to bear her whimpering and mewling, almost caving in as she panted out his name . . . All he could think, as he kissed the side of her throat is just how much he truly wanted her, all of her; mind, body and soul . . .
"You belong with me." He said, slowly trailing kisses up her jaw. "There isn't any place . . ." she could go where he wouldn't follow and bring her back to him. She was his. And as she arched against him, silently begging him to release her body from its torment, he whispered, "mine." Softly against her cheek before kissing her, so deeply, he felt the threads of her love twine around his heart. Enslaving, it to a fate he couldn't quite yet comprehend. Not that it mattered, for him or for her, as he kissed a trail down her throat—"There's no escaping that," he thought. As she closed her eyes, arching her body into the heat of his mouth and loving hands . . .
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Kenshin pulled his gun out of its holster, unnoticed tears falling on his lap, as he carefully looked it over. He knew they hadn't wanted to let him keep it; afraid he'd shoot someone else, in his state of mind. As he held it, counting the bullets in his clip . . . He thought, he could -
"Onii-san."
Kenshin put the clip back in immediately, turning, his eyes fell on a small child. Familiar in a way he couldn't quite explain. She seemed about the age of five, with long dark hair and blue-black eyes.
"Have a cookie."
Kenshin looked at the offered treat, pink and blue pale frosting swirled over the top . . . like the colors of her cotton candy . . . He felt knot form in his throat and he watched, almost absently as she wave the cookie around before placing it in his palm. Adding, more grief to the already hollow, feeling he felt rising somewhere inside him . . . Beneath the shell, of what he'd been maybe of what he'd always been until he'd met her.
"My name is Kaiya."
Kenshin nodded, trying to focus. "My wife's mother-" He paused, momentarily consumed by too much grief. "That was her name too." He said, after a moment, swallowing the knot in his throat.
The little girl smiled, laying a tiny hand on his knee. "Eat the cookie; it'll make everything all right. You'll see."
She was so earnest. His eyes narrowed, slightly, feeling there was more to what she said. Before he realized, sadly, he wanted to believe her, so much—he s hook his head. It seemed he was already loosing his mind, he thought as he tossed the cookie into his mouth, chewing it twice before swallowing it.
"It'll be okay now." She said, patting his knee. Almost reassuringly before she turned, slowly moving away, heading back towards the door where she seemed to pause, just a little, as she smiled at him. "Just sleep," she said.
As a drowsy feeling began to descend down upon him, Kenshin frowned but it was too late, already his eyes were closing as he turned, head cocked just a little to the side, looking at the smiling child with half lidded eyes. He heard her whisper . . .
"Just sleep now Kenshin. It'll be all right. You'll see."
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It was dark when awoke. Half sitting, in the initial startled rush, as he was released from the dream. Sweat beaded down his brow. Confusing him, for a moment as all those old feelings of pain and loss, washed over him, all over again—until anger surged into his veins. Though it vanished just as quickly as it came, he had no other choice but than to slump back onto his cot taking several deep breaths before unconsciously raising a hand to his face, wiping at the drying trail he found . . . there . . . almost, as if he'd been crying. Again—he'd been crying.
"Himura let's go!"
Himura Kenshin; age thirty-six and long time agent of the PSB rose in the dark, already dressed as he made a mad dash for the door and into the corridor where several other men ran down the hallway along with him, men he'd known for years as well as some newer ones the academy had just sent over. Either way, they all ran in the same direction, heading down to the front where they'd all form into a single line before filling into the van.
Now as Kenshin took his seat near the front bus, more than glad this was his last job. He took the assignment board from the driver before quickly reviewing the details as his men filed in . . . He read the repost on the assault on the embassy. Before scanning down, eyes narrowing, catching details. He noted it was classified, a Red-level 2 which meant there were hostages involved, important people no doubt with even higher connections. A 'Do not compromise' clause had also been added which meant, they would have no other choice but than kill the captors.
As he looked up, the doors just closing, he stood up, holding on to the rail on the ceiling as the van began to move. "We have a black code eight at the embassy," he said, watching the newbies carefully. "There is a 'no arrest clause' on this assignment. So load your weapons, this is a contract assignment."
· · · · ·
It was fall and Kamiya Kenji stood atop a large grassy span. Looking around with dark, sad eyes, seeing all the reminders of his daughter's youth as he clutched at the deep blue Azure Alliums he held in his hand, cotton candy almost forgotten now, had been bought in her favorite shades of pink and soft, pale blue swirled into a perfect cloud. A favorite of hers, he thought . . . when she'd only been just a child.
"So this is where you ran off."
Kenji turned seeing the apple of his eye, standing in dark robes, smiling larger than life. He presented his gifts rather dejectedly. He'd known this day would come, though he'd always hoped for it to happen later. Much later, perhaps once he'd passed on. He sighed knowing how selfish he was just in thinking that . . .
"Papa, you act as if I've been diagnosed with a terminal decease." Kamiya Kaoru said, smiling at her father before enveloping him in a hug. "I'm twenty-five. Please rest assure. I am more than capable of taking care of myself."
He nodded. "I just don't see why you need to move out?"
Kaoru shook her head, long strands of black swaying to the sides with the moment. "I need to be closer to the hospital, you know that. It's taken eight years to become a doctor and I just think that it would be best for me to live with the other interns for a while." She sighed at the expression on his face. "I'll tell you what, If living at the North Gate doesn't work out then I'll move back home."
Kenji nodded.
"I'll still be close papa." She tilted his chin, making him smile as she tugged on his hand. "Come on," she pulled him along. "Let's go celebrate my graduating Med-school." Together they walked off the campus, heading for the car, parked not too from where they'd stood.
Despite it all, Kenji couldn't help but smile, feeling a lot more at ease now with the promise and the hope of her returning to him soon. He smiled, a bit more genuine this time as he thought of his koneko, a doctor; it was still so hard for him to believe. Not that he wasn't proud of her or anything but he'd always harbored this small of hope of her following him into business maybe even sharing a few of the ceo duties. Still being an MD, how could that not make him just as proud. Pediatricians made good money and the way she shopped, well he was just glad she'd found a calling that paid so well.
Opening her door open, waiting for her dainty feet to be in before he closed it and walked around, over to his side. As he sat, starting up the car, he said. "I'd made reservations at Kaigan (Seashore) by the side of Tokyo Bay but Maekawa wanted me to bring you by first, is that ok."
Kaoru nodded, watching his face. "You know, we don't need to drive all the way to Kaigan, right." She wasn't too fond of seafood and if this was her last chance to get out of it . . . she'd take it.
Kenji smiled to himself, carefully backing out. "I figured you might say that, so I told him we'd be going there after the ceremony."
She nodded in acceptance; she'd take the House of Pasta over any restaurant, on any day. It was her favorite place, after all, so . . . She yawned suddenly, leaning her head against the back seat. She tried to stay awake but she was just so exhausted from all the cramming she'd had to do these last couple of days. They'd been tested almost right up until the very last day. With minimal amounts of sleep and tons of coffee, Kaoru had barely managed to stay alert. But now the tests were over and she couldn't help but yawn, as she settled further into her seat, closing her eyes for just a minute . . .
A thoughtful look appeared on Kamiya Kenji's face as he wondered whether or not; he should take her out still. It had been a good idea a month ago, when he'd realized, she'd really be graduating at the end of terms but now . . . He could only imagine how stressful these last couple of days had been. She didn't appear tired in his company, usually but that didn't mean she wasn't. As his eyes went back on the road, gaze remaining fixed, he carefully drove out of the city, quietly making his way back to Shinjuku as he avoided all the major streets. It would be a longer drive but a quieter one as well . . .
Sometime after, as Kaoru's eyes began to open, slowly, still yawning as she sat up. She noted the car had actually already come to stop, parked outside the House of Pasta, she imagined with her father already inside. As she closed her eyes, shaking her head, clearing it of a few cobwebs her short nap might have provided. Before looking around, glancing at the ignition, making sure the keys weren't in the car—before stepping out. Lightly, feeling a cold breeze brush against her neck . . . Kaoru turned, face perplexed, as she looked around, noting the oddity of the day. Her eyes slightly narrowed; fog wasn't an uncommon occurrence in Tokyo but there was something about it . . . today, she couldn't quite explain. Still—sighing she dismissed the thought and closed the door.
A few seconds later, chimes announced her entrance as she walked in to the restaurant. Seeing her father already seated by the kitchen doors—"Papa," she called, bowing respectfully to Maekawa-san.
"Congratulations, Kaoru-chan we're all very proud of you," he said.
Kaoru smiled, "Thank you." She said, a slight blush tainting her cheeks. Maekawa chuckled and pulled out her seat as she nodded her thanks again to, he excused himself as he was suddenly called away.
"I changed our order to takeout, I thought you could use the rest."
Kaoru opened her mouth in protest but readily closed it instead deciding that maybe she could really use the rest. "That's fine I guess."
Kenji smiled and ruffled her bangs. As much as he'd been looking forward to having a celebratory meal, he'd pass it up and drop her off at the North Gate. She started work early tomorrow and he didn't want her to be late.
· · · · ·
"Mo-ou," Kaoru muttered as she ran home. It really was always something with her, she thought. Just as she'd thought that once her internship had started, she'd be able to leave homework-filled days behind her but no—baka. Of course, her mentor would assign the reading of her book. Why wouldn't she Kaoru thought, as she sighed, quickening her pace . . . The bookstore wasn't too far from her old house but it was quite a bit longer from where she now lived, so, she had quite a bit more distance to—.
"Umph," Kaoru suddenly reeled, arms flailing ungracefully as she tumbled back. A set of strong arms reached out for her in time, catching her before she fell. As Kaoru smiled, grateful for the save, the words in her mouth died on the tip of her tongue, entangle by a set of such intense blue-violet eyes—her rescuer helped her gain her balance again before slowly letting go. Though she remained in place even after his arms had dropped away.
Kaoru stood in front of him, feeling her heart leaping over several bounds. Snared by his gaze—so involved in his eyes, she'd failed to realize her proximity to him, standing less than half a foot away. The corners of his mouth turned up, just slightly, noting what she had yet to realize.
"What's your name?"
"Kaoru," she answered, mindlessly unaware.
As life drifted back into his eyes, he smiled, a soft enigmatic smile. "Like the empress." He said, watching her nod and smile.
"Yes, you know the story."
His smile slipped and sadly shook his head.
Kaoru noticed the sadness in his eyes despite his quickness in covering it up. "We'll maybe I'll tell it to you sometime. I have homework so I have to go but-" She hesitated. "Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?" She blushed furiously, biting her lip in embarrassment. She wasn't used to asking people out.
Nonetheless, his eyes darkened and his tone lowered, dropping an octave when he said. "American style food makes nice for a first date."
The soft drawl of his voice made her stomach tumble and her heart pause in its wild sprint as she just barely nodded at him. "There's - there's a bookstore about two blocks south from here." She said, blushing. "We can meet there, if you want."
He nodded.
"Kay, I'll see you tomorrow then." Kaoru smiled and turned, aware of his gaze as she walked away, almost as if he were waiting for something . . . Kaoru's step suddenly faltered, remembering, she turned. "Wait . . . your name?"
"Himura . . . Himura Kenshin."
For a moment, recognition seemed to fleet across her face and he thought she might remember but then she smiled pronouncing his name as if it were the firs time. 'Kenshin,' it seemed to roll of her tongue, Himura Kenshin, she smiled.
"See you tomorrow then . . . Kenshin." She raised her hand to wave at him before she continued her jog home.
"See you tomorrow . . . koishii." He whispered to her disappearing form. As he smiled, turning back towards his apartment. He thought, she might not remember him but he did remember her. The haunting dream he'd had of them had been quite disturbing—his previous choices leading to her death. But they'd been younger in the dream, almost four years younger, which was almost just as long as the dreams themselves had managed to daily haunt him.
Even now . . .
He'd been dreaming about her for so long now, catching a glimpse here and there, every time he fell asleep. Without end, the dream continued from where it'd left. And because it did, some of the choices he'd made in the dream he'd avoided in real life. Mainly because . . . he'd been afraid. Wondering, if he found her . . . would he doom her to the same fate. If he could live through that again though He had thought . . . perhaps in time . . . he could seek her out.
But that had been before the dream had unexpectedly completed the night before. Now after seeing her . . . he knew things would be all right. They were even now. His pain, had in all its overwhelming claim of him, mended the rupture in her heart. The torment he'd felt at her death, the pain—all that suffering had served for something, at least, he'd given her peace.
This, he knew, would be their second try, only this time he held the upper hand because he knew her every weakness . . . he felt her every thought. And by Kami, he would exploit them to his advantage. He'd make her fall in love with him before she even realized who he was.
As Tae had told him, 'some people marry on their first date.' Tomorrow, he thought, he'd see just how much truth there really was to that statement. Before smiling and slowly walking off.
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Don't forget, anything between these lines means dream sequence, okay.
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Now, like always email me if you have any questions. Otherwise continue onto the Epilogue, all right. Thanks for reading and please, don't forget to review.
