Hoowie, I got many a review for the last chapter… I hope to beat that this next time around.
Here ya go, people… Response time!
Rekka's Angel: Heh heh, thanks! I'm glad I hooked another person… it's so great to hear that more people continue to stumble across my story and seem like it… It impressed you? Wow… more comments like that and my head might explode ^^, jk! Thanks for reading and I hope the rest of it keeps you interested as well ^~
GoldAngel2: Wowie… thank you so much for reviewing so many of the chapters… from what it looked like, you read the majority of what I have up in one day… Again, wow… You are cool! You wrote so much, and every word touched my heart. It's so good to hear from yet another Christian who understands this story on around the same level as I do… I haven't seen the Christian Arc yet, but I'm hoping to either rent the DVD's or buy them if I get some extra money. About Kaoru's Christian character and Kenshin's personal struggle, I'm hoping to be as true to life in many areas of this simple story and especially with how those two are dealing with life. If you want a more personal, heartfelt answer to the reason why I chose to write this story, you can email me at home… my addy's in my bio ^-^… Take care, and again, thank you!
Satu-Chan: Prepared for what, you ask? You'll get to see a glimpse of it here in the next chappie, but not in it's entirety… I like keeping up some of the suspense ^^… And Kenshin's tears are for a reason, and you'll see why in a minute or so. Your loyalty and endurance through all the cliffhangers astounds and humbles me the same. Indeed, I thank you ^-^…
Midnyteshadow: I'm happy to pray for another soldier by name ^^… And I agree, there can never be too much prayer… Happy belated New Year to you too! I hope you had a great time celebrating the arrival of 2004!
JDFielding: Hello again ^^… Yup, no Kenshin/Kaoru interaction in the last one, but I think this new chapter may make up for some of that ^^. I really do hope I'm keeping the characters true to their originals… It's fun to think of what might be going on in their heads and writing it all down, but I'm sure you know how that is ^_^. And I love the way you described what you felt as you read certain parts of the story… I always wonder what's going on in the reader's mind when their eyes take in what I've written ^^, and now I know. Thanks for your patience… it was much appreciated. You, too, like all the others will be blamed for the enlargement of my cranium… I'll be called "big head" again, just like when I was a child… hold on, that was "big forehead". *shudders* Darn brothers and their evil nicknames…^_~ Hope you like the next chapter!
Alli: I'm sorry for the cliffhanger from the last time… My mom even told me I was mean for ending it in such a way. I explained to her that, in reality, it does make the story a little more exciting and interesting, just as you said. And behold, here I am with another chapter for you to read ^_^ Enjoy!
MisaoGirlBandit: Shocked, in a good way, is… good ^_^. Another Christian! Coolness… I'm glad you could feel yourself sympathizing with the characters ^^… I do so too while writing it… I was teary eyed as I wrote the end of the last chapter. Oh, my story in manga form? Sounds like a good idea, but email me at home first before I give you my final answer ^^… It would be fun to collaborate with you on something like that!
Chell: Hee hee… I laughed pretty hard at the imagery your review gave me. Issa must have looked at you funny at seeing you jump like that! It's super cool to hear you're so into the story that you tune everything out. Thanks again for your review, even if you didn't make it as #100… #102 isn't too shabby though ^~
Lucy-Locke: Thanks for your commitment in reading this story! You consider it one of the better RK stories out there? Goodness, thank you! I've read some pretty awesome RK fics on my own, and I never imagined my own story to remotely compare with the majority of them ^_^…
Valerie: Hiya! Yeah, the suspense is know to be quite fatal ^^… jk! Continue reading and, in due time, your wonderings will be put to rest.
Yannick: Yup, go ahead and look me up when you have your fics written… I wouldn't mind reading them ^-^
LadyHimura: Long chapter? Oh, yeah, it was kinda long, wasn't it? But I'm glad you liked it ^~! Hee hee, you huggled Sano! I'm glad it made your day, that I am ^^. And no problem, I'm glad you found anything about this story a gift to you. It's always nice to hear… Happy late Holidays to you too! I hope they went well…
aNiMePeRfEcT: Hee hee, my story? Great? Aw, shucks… thanks a bunch! And the "wowzerz" you started with killed me, great stuff…
ChibiBattousai: I need no applause, but thanks anyways ^^… Hearing that I appeased the hunger for fanfiction for yet another person is truly great to hear ^-^
Disclaimer: Yeah, still nothing… Even after Christmas and New Years… nada!
By all means, read on, read on! ^_~
Chapter 13
Kind eyes glanced over at the form of a young woman for the fifth time in one hour. She had been sitting on a chair in the front room of the inn for a long while, a warm wool blanket wrapped around her shoulders as she sat with eyes unmoving from the front door. The innkeeper turned away from his paperwork again and shook his head sadly at the sight, understanding that the look in the woman's eyes was one of patient expectance.
She was waiting for someone.
The black haired man associated it with the departure of that young looking man with whom she and the others had arrived. From what he remembered, the redheaded man had left sometime ago, donning a worried expression as he stepped into the street.
The man's cheeks immediately felt the touch of the biting wind blow through the partially open door. He moved to shut it the rest of the way hoping to keep the cold air at bay. Kaoru's eyes blinked a couple of times before turning to fall on the inn keeper's smiling face.
"I'm sorry Miss, but it is a bit cold out today. Night is almost here and, if the storm continues, it will become colder still."
Her lips broke out in a tired yet understanding smile, her head nodding softly at the information. "I understand. It's just that I'm waiting for my friends to come and I'm starting to get worried they won't make it back till after nightfall."
"No need to worry, Miss. Here, I'll put this sign out front so they know to knock when they arrive." He held out a simple wooden board with a message painted on it. "Either my wife or I will hear it and let them in." He watched as Kaoru nodded again, this time lifting a hand from the blanket piled around her body to stifle a yawn.
"Okay, thank you sir." She moved her left shoulder to where it leaned against the wall. A wave of exhaustion hit her hard a little while ago so she struggled to keep her eyes open in case they came any minute. *Kenshin, Yahiko, where are you two?*
Yahiko walked a couple of steps, slowing down as his heavy thoughts caused the dragging of his feet, his mind exhausted from everything pertaining to the last half of the daylight. He was alone when he found his feet standing in the street in front of the inn.
*I guess I have no choice to tell them everything. They'll understand, and that's not what I'm scared of. I'm scared for Kenshin... he wouldn't tell me what was going on in his head.*
Yahiko began rehearsing the explanations he would use once asked the questions he knew were awaiting him upon his return. He had had enough after learning that his young heart wasn't as prepared as he had hoped it be, now burdened with the news he had heard while standing by Kenshin's side. He was told to prepare himself for what may be revealed, but the truth hit him hard. Harder than he had expected. It baffled his still immature mind to find how the same news affected the rurouni, him the one speaking of preparing the heart for whatever may come. It seemed, no matter how much Kenshin prepared himself beforehand, he didn't expect it to stay with him like it did.
Surely, the words of the murderous government rebels shouldn't have shaken the swordsman up so much. He should have realized what they wrote about him was a lie, but did he?
With a deep breath he took the needed steps to reach the door, his heart pounding faster at the position he would find himself standing in once on the other side of that door. His left hand came up to knock on the wooden surface in accordance with the sign posted there. With his right hand clasped around three flowers, water dripping off their pale yellow petals, his heart told him not to think beyond the words Kenshin told him to tell the others…. The words he was asked to tell Kaoru.
The creaking of wood upon wood made Yahiko cringe, his ears having been accustomed to hearing nothing but the steady beat of rain around him and the sloshing of mud beneath his feet. He smiled as politely as he could as he bowed to the innkeeper's wife as she held the door open for him to enter. He quickly placed his sandals and umbrella next to the door, both incredibly wet.
"Thank you." Yahiko said as he wiped his dirty feet on the thick mat just inside the doorway, bending down to remove his soiled socks. The woman with slightly graying black hair smiled in return but held a finger to her lips.
"It's no problem at all. Just make sure to wake your friend." She pointed with the same silencing finger toward a bundle of blankets sitting on a chair. Dark black hair spilled out and over the top where it was resting against the wall, the boy recognizing immediately who is was.
"Oh, okay. I'll be sure to wake her." Yahiko took a step forward before the voice of the older woman drew his attention back.
"Poor thing was worried sick for you and the other young man that left earlier. By the way, where is your friend? You know, the redhead who paid for the rooms?"
"He should be back… soon." Yahiko hoped, his voice trying to convince himself that it was true. In reality, he felt that the load on the redhead's heart was much greater than he ever let on. His heart, it seems, was more unprepared than he had let on. Yahiko prepared his heart to be confronted with pain and anger at what he was about to hear at the Aoiya, but something different attacked Kenshin's resolve and he was feeling it deeper than he ever confessed through what Yahiko saw in those violet eyes. They stared ahead for most of their walk and only when his feet stopped their tread did he dare turn them onto Yahiko, an unspoken hurt unraveling behind them. Still Yahiko remained quiet, listening to what the man told him without a word, watching on while Kenshin visited a vendor's cart on their way and returned with four freshly cut flowers.
Yahiko shook his head, making his way to the sleeping form of his sensei. He knew she would ask the most questions concerning Kenshin's absence, but he already understood why it would be so.
Even though a bit naive due to his age, Yahiko could tell there was something more between Kaoru and Kenshin. But things had changed, according to the distance in both Kenshin's voice and eyes. He was dealing with something he didn't want anyone to see, quite possibly out of the desire to bear the burden alone. He needed time to think, and Yahiko hoped that Kaoru would accept it as it is and give the man his space. He wished and hoped for understanding on Kaoru's part, but he knew he was hoping for too much.
*Selfishness and love are the same sometimes,* he remembered hearing from Sano. Yahiko only now understood the truth behind those words.
Lifting his free hand he nudged the bundle of wool blanket a couple of times before receiving a grumble and moan from within it. Kaoru's head soon came out at the top, her face appearing from the mass of blue she had buried herself with.
"Yahiko?" She asked, sleepy still from her recent awakening.
"Yes, Kaoru. It's me…" He swallowed hard when he saw her eyes roam about the area around him. He knew her question even before it left her mouth.
"Kenshin, where is he? Didn't he bring you back?"
"Yes and no. He left to go see someone and said that he didn't know when he'd be back." Yahiko watched in the dimly lit room as Kaoru's eyes began to show signs of the thoughts stirring around behind them. After a couple of seconds of silence her eyes wandered down to what Yahiko had in his right hand.
"What are those flowers for?" She asked, intently watching the boy as he began to fidget where he stood. He slid one of the flowers out of his hand and stared at it for a second before handing it over to Kaoru.
"Kenshin told me to give this to you, and to keep the other two for myself." Her hand took the slender steamed flower with slight trepidation, something telling her that this wasn't a sign of affection… but of an apology.
And she was right.
"He said to tell you that he is sorry… about everything." Yahiko's brows gathered together as his eyes stared hard at the ground, looking away from the pain climbing to the surface of Kaoru's expressive eyes. He hated feeling helpless… he hated feeling without strength, especially when those he cared for hurt around him. All he could do was stand there, a witness to the pain of others, with only his fists and teeth to clench.
Kaoru shook her head out of the dark haze around her, her heart urging her to do more than just sit around. She slowly pulled the blanket off of her and started walking towards the steps that led to their rooms. Yahiko was left to follow, curious and afraid of the determination he had seen all of a sudden take a hold of her.
He ran up the stairs behind her and stopped right next to her door. The sound of the rummaging of clothes and Megumi's questioning voice reached his ear and he stood still, the flowers hanging limply from his grasp.
*She's not going to look for him, is she?* Yahiko thought to himself. Once she emerged from behind the door he noted she had changed into her training gi and hakumas, an outside coat slung over her arm.
"What do you think you're doing?" He asked as he stepped in front of her, blocking her way to the stairs.
"Yahiko, get out of my way." Kaoru she ordered with a calm breath. Yahiko simply stared at her, defiance written in his stance. He wasn't planning on moving any time soon and Kaoru was slowly losing her cool. "I said, get out of my way."
"I heard you, but I'm not moving until you tell me what you're planning to do."
She looked at her student more closely, her frustration slowly ebbing away to an understanding sorrow. "Yahiko, I need to find Kenshin. He has nothing to be sorry for." Her bottom lip trembled a bit before she closed her dark blue eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly she opened them again, the shimmering of tears present in the pleading gaze she held Yahiko with.
The boy watched this, the tough act he was trying to keep up crumbling to pieces in seconds. Soon he found himself looking toward the ground, unable to carry the weight of Kaoru's eyes.
He spoke with downcast eyes, exhausted and upset. "He thinks it's his fault that our parents died. Kaoru, he's blaming himself."
Kaoru bit her lip and lifted her eyes toward the ceiling, keeping the tears from spilling out of her eyes. She sighed heavily and dropped her eyes to the boy's level. "I know, Yahiko, I know." Taking a couple steps forward she placed a hand on his shoulder. "That is why I am going to find him. He can't go on believing such a lie. The burden he bears is too great as it is, and for him to take this upon himself..." Yahiko agreed, knowing what she meant. He tightened his fingers around the flowers still settled in his small hand. Kaoru's face softened into a faint smile, and pulling her coat over her shoulders she descended the steps.
"I saw him walk off in that direction, towards a small hill about three blocks away." Yahiko pointed to his right, meeting Kaoru's grateful smile. Bending down she quickly slipped on her sandals, picked up the umbrella from near the door and disappeared out into the cold, the door sliding shut behind her.
The flower in it's wooden container spoke against his dream... The same dream that began showing great promise through the words spoken by the woman he now understood he loved. Kaoru's words of faith, along with her lifestyle, spoke greatly to his hungering soul. A life, free of the past and it's burdens, started to become a tangible reality. His mind had yet to decide what to do with the words and his indecision added itself to the confusion surrounding what he knew of himself. The presence of the blossom in his hand told of his relation to the grave on which it would be placed, a relation to one who once lived beside him and one whom he loved. Such evidence weighed down even heavier on his already weary soul.
*Another life taken by me… by who I am.*
He held his breath, closed his eyes, and walked a few more steps down the small path till he reached where it was he wanted to go. He placed the flower down and fell on his knees before the marked grave. Upon retracting his shaky hand from the flower he covered his face with it, closing his eyes to silence the quiet tears trailing their way down. Images of a steady stream of blood dripping off his sword choked any other thought from entering his mind, causing him to grit his teeth at reliving the moments he wanted to forget. The moments before her life slipped away, the moments as she lay bleeding in his arms, all growing in detail and more real behind his clenched eyes. More and more the memories came, faster and faster they played themselves before him in his mind. His heart began beating harder with every memory of the battlefield, the pale moonlight glimmering across his blood drenched blade, and the thickness of each victim's blood slick upon his hands. There he stayed, finding himself knee deep in the earth he covered with blood countless times before. Instead of blood there was rain soaking the ground, the substance known to cleanse falling ineffective upon the man, alone as his tears intermingled with it.
But, wait, there was something out there, a simple noise strong enough to distract his troubled mind. The rare sound of footsteps made it's way through Kenshin's horrific thoughts, his keen ears having found the direction of where it came from. He turned solemn eyes to greet the person he knew was coming, having felt her presence even before she reached the path.
"Kaoru, I--," Kenshin began as he stood up, but Kaoru wouldn't allow him to continue. She dropped the umbrella upon reaching him, and immediately brought her arms around him. The sudden warmth of her embrace drew his mind out of the clouded haze of remorse that had consumed him for the past couple of hours. She stayed quiet, her face pressed against his chest, offering him a simple act that gave warmth to his soul while he returned the gesture. He tightened his arms around her lithe frame and hugged her even closer, finally giving in to the kindness he felt unworthy of.
"Kenshin," Kaoru said, her voice barely heard over the falling rain. She spoke into the material of his already drenched gi, her breath warming the his skin beneath it. "You are not to blame." Her eyes moved upward trying to reach his, praying for her words to get through.
"My past, who I am… I've put you in danger and…" His eyes found a spot beyond the safety of the sympathetic blue searching out his soul with their gaze. But the touch of a warm hand pressed against his left cheek twisted him out of his guilt ridden trance, his voice lost before speaking another word. Violet flittered toward midnight blue, losing themselves in the depth of emotion on display.
"Listen to me… What happened back in Tokyo wasn't your fault, and you know that. You've suffered so much, but it doesn't have to be that way anymore." From the way Kenshin trembled under her hand she knew he wanted to look away, but she wouldn't let him. Not just yet. "God brought you into our lives for a reason unknown to us, yet all I do know is that we need you…" Her soul was vulnerable, open enough for her next words to be proven true from looking into it. "Kenshin, I need you."
At a loss for words, Kenshin brought his calloused hand to cover where her's cupped his cheek. He was confused and at the same time awestruck at what it was he heard. His lips curled upward into a kind smile, the images of his blood covered past fading away from his mind's eye.
"You are too much, Kaoru." He said, bringing her to smile also. But neither one moved, her hand still lingering on his cheek and his hand keeping it in place. The rain never lessened, it's steady descent the couple more with each minute they stood there. Kaoru's right hand ran over his skin a couple of times, the texture of it changing as she went over his scar. With her thumb she traced one branch of it, the one that cut below his eye. She feared he would jerk away and disappear like he did in her dream, but he stayed still, his eyes slightly closing at her tender touch.
He blinked a couple of times before returning his eyes, fully alert, to roam over the details of her face.
*Her beautiful face.* He thought, a quiet laugh escaping his cold lips. Her hair was just as wet as his and part of it clung to the right side of her face. He removed his hand from where it covered hers and reached out to tuck the hair behind her ear. His eyes watched on as her smile softened even more, her lashes lowering gently as his hand lingered in it's stroke. The increased beating of his heart wouldn't let him ignore the feeling, the urge growing inside of him. As if in expectation of what was to come Kaoru began to close her eyes and tilt her chin up. Kenshin felt his face heat up despite the cold and his lips tingle in anticipation of the touch a breath away…
A frightening flash cut across the sky above their heads, a loud roar of thunder quickly following it. Kaoru instinctively jumped, and in the process stepped away from Kenshin.
The sudden distraction made both of them feel a bit sheepish as they looked away from each other. Sadly, not a one noticed the setback in the other's eyes. A flash of yellow on the ground caught Kenshin's attention and he turned toward the grave.
"Miss Kaoru," he said, hand extended out to her, "I would like you to meet someone."
Kaoru stepped over her slight disappointment at the formality and placed her hand in his with genuine interest. She then turned her eyes to what he was kneeling before earlier. Staring at the grave she listened as Kenshin spoke.
"Kaoru Kamiya, meet Tomoe Yukishiro, my wife." He turned to her with a forlorn smile, his eyes dropping back toward the grave. "She died a little before I began my life of wandering. Her last breath was of an encouragement to me, telling me to continue on living… and that she forgave me."
"Forgave you?" Kaoru asked in a whisper, regretting it after seeing his face trying to hold back a grimace as he thought of a way to answer, a hidden pain slowly burning it's way to the surface.
"She died by my sword. It was an accident when I was engaged in a fight…" His lip began to tremble and Kaoru squeezed his hand in a comforting manner, drawing him to take a calming breath before continuing. "She jumped in the way of my blade just as I was about to deal the last strike. The strike of death intended for my enemy took her life instead."
Kaoru shook her head in disbelief, not knowing how profound the grief was that shadowed his soul. What she saw of it now was far beyond what she had initially imagined.
"But you said she forgave you of it, yet it looks as if you haven't forgiven yourself." Kenshin nodded and turned his back to Kaoru, not wanting to see her face as he spoke his next statement.
"I can never forgive myself of what I've done… No matter how hard I try to leave it behind me, it finds a way to come back to haunt me. Tomoe forgave my deed, yet I know of no one else willing to spare me the same grace."
"You're wrong…" The couple words boldly stated by Kaoru were so delivered with such passion Kenshin had to let go of her hand to turn and face her, astonished and apparently affected by her accusation. "God will forgive you, but you've been too busy thinking otherwise to see the truth. He wants to forgive you and get rid of all your burdens be they past, present, or future." She stepped closer to him once again, her hands shaking as she clasped them together. Was it the cold getting to her, or was it the daunting reality that he might not believe her words? She didn't know, but still she remained strong and focused on getting the message across somehow.
"He could forgive me?" Kenshin shook his head sadly. "How could someone who is said to be perfect look upon someone as bloodstained as I?"
"Grace… it's by His grace, that's how. He loves you, Kenshin. You've heard Him call your name through so many things: our late night talks, the sparrow you saw in the morning, the words of my father… and the mere fact that you were brought into my life. If that's not the intervention of God in your life, I don't know what is."
"B-but…," Kenshin stammered, unable to grasp that it was as simple as she had explained it to be. Her words fought with the thoughts that berated him continually, each fighting over who had precedence in his mind. He closed his eyes and stooped his head low, the battle raging inside of him giving him a headache.
She had laid it down to him earlier on the train, telling him to choose a path to follow. It seemed it wasn't as gray toned as he constantly made it out to be, always condemning his life to be unredeemable in the end.
Yet here it was, black as night and white as a ray of sunlight. It's simplicity was astounding to him, allowing him to understand that anyone could be given this choice, no matter the darkness surrounding their soul. If a chance like this was offered to him, a soul darkened and haunted by many a demon, it had to be a grace like no other that presented such a thing.
Would he follow God and His leading, or ignore it and walk away?
He lifted his bowed head, with eyes now open to look upon Kaoru's compassionate face, her eyes pleading for an answer. He swallowed hard and looked away, his silence saddening Kaoru's heart.
*I thought I was reaching him… but he continues to pull away.* She sighed and dejectedly lowered her head, a couple of coughs following it.
"Miss Kaoru, you are drenched to the bone. We should be heading back, that we should." Kenshin walked to her side, switching the concern focused on him earlier towards her and away from himself.
She wanted to sigh again after noticing something about the man walking by her side. *He's too selfless… always putting others before himself. It's good thing to do, but not when someone is offering to give him a helping hand.*
Night came on their way back to the inn, fear of pushing the other away stealing any exchange of words. He had left her without an answer and he could see how it troubled her greatly. He still couldn't believe that the God she was speaking of could possibly heed his situation. The concern filled eyes with which she regarded him, patiently awaiting his answer, played before his eyes even when he closed them to get some sleep. But, it would seem, sleep decided to abandon him once again.
With hands behind his head, Kenshin stared blankly at the ceiling of the room, the competing snores of both Sano and Yahiko filling the otherwise existing silence. Since the moment he told Kaoru goodnight he struggled to shake the image of her sad concern that played across her face that moment she poured out her heart to him, telling him of a choice he never expected to be brought his way. And now here it was, as simple as a babe taking one step, and still he found it difficult to give an answer. He realized their awkward evening must be plaguing her dreams as well, keeping her away from finding rest amid the sadness he knew he brought to her.
The state of his soul and mind concerned her that much? Was he worth the strength and conviction flowing from her passionate words?
Kenshin sat up and ran a frustrated hand through his hair, the strands still slightly damp from the rain. He was mad and his anger was aimed at himself once again. He knew he had to do something to settle his heart and the only thing he could of think of was to ease Kaoru's pain.
Kenshin would no longer be indecisive, especially with something as life altering as this choice seemed to be. Tying his robe securely around himself he slipped out from under the warm covers of his bed, the cold air immediately reaching his skin through the thin material covering him. He held his breath as he walked in between Yahiko's and Sano's futons laid near the door, hoping not to make a sound. Relieved at not waking anyone, he slid the door open and walked a couple of steps into the hall, finally reaching his destination.
His mind was blank accept for the few words repeating themselves over and over again in his head.
*I must tell Kaoru something, I must tell Kaoru something…*
He was so focused on that statement that by the time another thought came around he was already standing next to Kaoru's still form, her back turned to him as she lay on her side. Just about the same time he began losing his nerve Kaoru turned over and grabbed his ankle.
"Are you going to continue hovering over me like that, or are you going to tell me what it is you want?" She asked without an ounce of fatigue. Her eyes followed to look up at his form, standing out against the dark room as an even darker shadow.
He almost stumbled back in surprise, but regained his balance in time. Kenshin rested his hand behind his neck as he smiled. "I wanted to speak with you, that is all."
"Okay then," she said, sitting up straight.
"I can't rest with knowing I may have upset you, Miss Kaoru." He said honestly, deciding to go straight with the truth.
"Yes, you did… but I don't know if you fully understand why." She began fiddling with her fingers in her lap, her serious gaze falling to them.
He nodded, taking her words as nothing short of the truth. "You are right, I don't understand completely. But I hope by morning it will be different, that I do." He crouched down beside her, his shaded eyes finding hers and fixing them in place. "I made you and your God a promise, and I'll keep to it and ponder over your words. Be patient with me, Kaoru. I will come to my decision, that I will." He pushed himself off his legs and stood up, turning his back so he could leave. A soft tug at the bottom of his robe made him stop and face Kaoru, finding her hand clinging to the hem. For a second, not one moved or said a word, Kaoru's mind mulling over the advice Sano had given to her earlier that day. Finally, she made up her mind, leaving Kenshin with her last words for the night.
"I will be patient for you, Kenshin, if that's what you ask of me."
The redhead smiled and bent down again, pulling her hand away from his robe he caressed it and held it in his own. He gently touched his lips to the smooth skin above her knuckles in a soft kiss, and before Kaoru knew it he had left without a word. He spoke enough with such a simple gesture that Kaoru hugged her hand to chest for many minutes after he had left, holding it just over her beating heart. She felt assured that he would keep his word. No remark was enough to calm her spirit as much as what he had left her with. No parting word was needed…
A/N: Again, I'm sorry for the late update… *hangs head in depression*… I just started school today and I think my schedule this quarter is going to be even more hectic than my last, seeing as I have more difficult classes. More things are going on too, and if any of you want to know more, visit my livejournal under the same pen name as here.
Anyhoo, I hope you all liked this last chapter… it was sort of slow as far as getting their first day in Kyoto over with, but with all the things I wanted to do with the characters it had to be so. The details of what Kenshin and Yahiko found out at the Aoiya will be revealed next time, along with some stuff I know I'll have trouble writing, but I'm not telling what it is ^-^… So… yeah, I hope to have the next one out by this time next week, but things may come up that keep me away from my computer, so I'm not promising anything. I wish I could, honestly, but I guess that's just the way life is…
Oh, and I didn't forget… PARTY!!!! Break out the sparkling cider and pump up the music! I now have over 100 reviews thanks to all of you wonderful people! Thank you so much… a dream of mine has been fulfilled, and for that I included a scene I wanted to omit from the story originally… It was the whole "almost kiss" moment between Kenshin and Kaoru while they stood in the rain. I was thinking that it would be too early to do something like that, but then I said "What the hay, I'll throw it in." So there you go… ^-^… And now would be a good time to be nice and leave me a review before you go, heh heh… ^^ Take care, people and God bless!