I am extremely sorry… and extremely pressed for time. I wish I could respond to your lovely reviews, but I'll see what I can do about sending them out personally, via email or something ^^… Enjoy the read!
Disclaimer: Um… do I really have to say anything?
Chapter 15
Clear skies weren't seen for the next couple days, the heavens hiding behind a thick layer of heavy clouds. The layer of covering started giving way under the weight it bear, a steady shower of rain slipping from it's grip. It continued on for over a day, steadily increasing until it became a violently heavy downpour.
The afternoon Kaoru had been carried into the Aoiya's yard was still fresh in a young man's mind. Afraid of the unknown, Kenshin stayed by Kaoru's side, day and night, waiting to see if his prayers would be answered in the way he desired. He continued to pray as best as he knew how, whispering a word here and there while watching every small movement Kaoru made in her sleep. Her eyes would often tighten as if she were having a bad dream, and there were times when her fingers would twitch where they lay outside of the warm blanket covering her.
Heavy laden eyes opened from their decent in sleep and swept to a hand sliding the door open, more of the dulled light being let in from the hall. Megumi returned the smile she was given by the man she deemed stubborn.
*Stubborn, but romantic as well.* She sighed in her head while seating herself near the sleeping woman's head, the bowl of water and cloth in her hand now resting beside her. Kenshin had said that he wouldn't leave Kaoru's side until he saw her open her eyes and gaze upon his face again. Those words left the tall woman in awe in his devotion to the young Kamiya. It was beautiful and at the same time heartrending to be witness to, both young people unaware of each other's love.
"Anything change?" The doctor asked, her nimble hands working the excess water from the piece of cloth with a twist. Sitting in the perfect position to watch him out of the corner of her eye, Megumi noticed Kenshin shift a bit in his spot against the wall. She knew he was tired, but he would deny it with every breath. Kenshin left Kaoru's side only three times since they arrived seeking the Oniwaban's help.
"Nothing has changed." His gaze lazily followed the path of Megumi's hand as she wiped at the perspiration collecting on Kaoru's face.
The silence lifted Kenshin's sleep deprived eyes to the eyes of the doctor, her locking him with a serious stare.
"I know her condition, Kenshin. I'm asking you about yours." Kenshin looked away, not chancing the betrayal of his words with emotions. It's true he was tired, but he would endue anything to do just as he said, he'd wait until he saw Kaoru's eyes open and look upon him once more.
"Kaoru is the only one you should worry over. Don't spend your time in concern over me."
"Is that what you tell everyone, Kenshin?" Megumi shook her head and returned to wiping the woman's face. "Is that what you told Kaoru? If so, I'm sure she spoke out against your point of view." A familiar sound absent for the last few days surprised her once reaching her ears, enough so that she stopped in the middle of what she was doing to turn her eyes back toward the man from whom it came. Kenshin was laughing.
"As a matter of fact, she spoke quite strongly against it, that she did." Megumi laughed as well, glad to see a genuine smile come upon the man's face in the middle of all that's happened.
The amusement of the moment eventually lifted and Megumi left the room, leaving Kenshin in the company of the woman he treasured and the thoughts he promised her he'd think of. Thoughts concerning what Kaoru's God offered him, and if it was possible to give up his struggle of finding forgiveness on his own.
She stirred in her bed again, her head moving from side to side with a frown of discomfort on her beautiful face. He quickly made his way to her side and brought a hand to caress her cheek, her skin hot to his touch. He watched on in silence, his hand's presence easing the frown away and allowing her peaceful expression to return. With a sigh he removed his hand but permitted his eyes to linger. Her breathing, now stronger than before, had a mesmerizing effect on him. So calm, so steady… it all began to drag Kenshin's mind into a place where he couldn't protest. Kaoru's peaceful breathing and the slowing of the rain complimented each other, a harmonious pair that proved powerful enough to bring anyone to sleep. Kenshin's tired body and over-exhausted mind didn't stand a chance of not falling under it's spell. He was being lulled to sleep and he didn't even know it. His mind, bordering on the unconscious level, didn't even register his actions as he laid his head down next to Kaoru's, almost instantly falling asleep alongside her bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The morning came and went and as did the rain. Thankfully it's inconsistency went unnoticed by the two sleeping soundly next to one another. Just before noon the downpour decided to take a break after giving the earth one more pounding. It had been a while since the storm quieted down and now everyone was gathering to eat the next meal.
With the smell of lunch heavy in the air, Yahiko was sent on his way to see if Kenshin wanted to eat at the table or have his food brought to the room. Once the swordsman-in-training stepped foot into the room the boy stopped, smiling at the sight in front of him.
There was Kaoru, lying asleep on her futon as expected, yet with someone to keep her company lying beside the bed. Kenshin was turned on his side facing Kaoru, no pillow or blanket covering him. Yahiko realized what must have happened and he simply smiled, unable to shake the picture from his mind as he quietly made his way out the door and back to the people awaiting his word.
The faint thud that came from Yahiko closing the sliding door reached Kaoru's ears, her senses beginning to awaken with her slowly opening eyes. The light of day, though darkened and subdued in the comfort of the room, hit her sensitive eyes with a pain that made her wince.
*Where am I?* This was the first thought that became clear in her groggy mind. The ceiling of the room was too high to be that of the one at the inn. *The inn…* The mention of it brought her to cringe, the memories rushing to the surface, quickening her breath as they overwhelmed her. Memories… as real now as they were then…
The flames grew closer to her, their fury shown as it hissed from every direction. And then there was a voice… someone calling her name from the other side of the suffocating fume. Her fingers tightened around the worn leather of the Bible she gripped to her chest as the smoke choked the air from her lungs. She coughed hard and lifted her eyes to see beyond the layer of black that clung to the separating her from her rescuer… or was it rescuers? A patch of air, untainted by the fire, allowed Kenshin's figure to appear and behind him blazed a light far brighter than the hungry flames surrounding her. The light wrapped around the rurouni's body and seemed to be protecting him, pushing away every flame swaying dangerously near him. While he made his way to her she blacked out, her chest hurting from the lack of oxygen. The last sight registered in her mind was of Kenshin's arms reaching out toward her.
But now, she was safe… lying in a strange place. Her body was comfortable, but her mind remained cautious. Something red stuck out in the corner of her eye and she turned her head to the right, expecting to see the remainder of the unfamiliar room but instead was met with a different sight all together.
There he was, eyes closed in a peaceful sleep, his left arm folded and pillowing his head, his right lying still in front of him. Kaoru smiled, feeling much more at ease having seen him there beside her. She scooted closer to the edge of her bed and slid her right hand from under the blanket. She wiggled her fingers a bit and smiled. The air of the room felt good to her overly warm skin.
*Kenshin…*his name a whisper in her mind bringing her to smile more. The serenity displayed on his face was like no other she'd seen, not from him at least. It was a serenity she prayed would come his way, and from the glimpse she was given she prayed for it to never leave. Such a thing was so unfamiliar to him but it suited him just the same.
*Once again, you've helped me… another act for yet another person, not himself.* Her tired eyes glanced down at his hand and slid her own beneath it, lacing her fingers with his. The last thing she saw, before sleep cradled her mind and body again, was Kenshin's face. With this fresh in her memory she slipped into a light sleep, full of dreams to be had.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sano was the first to finish his food, the outside calling out to him, allowing him a place to sort out his mind and get some things straight. He felt a bit crowded at the table and needed to get out some place where he could breathe. The usually assertive young man leaned against a wall looking out toward the little garden in the yard, unease eating away at his stomach. He hated this feeling, he hated not knowing what to expect. With only his white over shirt on he shivered, hugging his arms around his upper body. The cold chill that rode the breeze stole his warmth from him.
"Cold?" Asked a voice, sweet yet familiar. Turning his head slightly he threw a sidelong gaze at the woman now wrapping her arms around one of his, having loosened it from his self-hug.
"What makes you say that, Fox?" He tried to smirk but ended up frowning, yet another shiver shaking through his body.
"Hmm, I don't know… maybe because you seem to be freezing out here." Megumi waited for a smart retort to come from the mouth of the object of affection but he remained quiet. Something wasn't right and her fears were confirmed with seeing Sano's lips pressed into a grim line on his face. She knew of what bothered him for it lay heavy on her mind as well. Uncertainty, the scent of it growing more palpable in the air ever with every day that passed. If a moment could be spared, a moment to dwell on something other than the threat looming on the horizon, some of their sanity could be found salvageable.
Megumi was so lost in thought that a chill of her own ran down her back, causing her arm to tighten around Sano's. He smiled down at her, still watching her out of the corner of his eye. He pulled his arm from her's and draped it across her shoulders, bringing her closer to his warmth. She smiled at this, resting her head against him. After a short while he heard a gasp and returned curious eyes to the woman cuddled next to him.
"It's snowing, Sano, look…" He did as he was told and watched the few spots of white multiply until as they filled all view of the yard, their steady descent quiet and calm. The doctor snuggled her face into Sano's shirt, sighing in contentment. This was something she needed, something everyone needed. A peaceful time to watch the snow fall and playfully dance upon the breeze. Time itself seemed to stop as they enjoyed the scene performed before their eyes.
A small laugh brought the beautiful moment to a close and Megumi looked across Sano to his left and saw Yahiko standing there.
"First Kaoru and Kenshin and now you two…" He said, his young eyes bashfully avoiding the couple in front of him. Finally he caught sight of Megumi's kindhearted smile and returned to look at the floor.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything… I just wanted to ask you guys something."
The three of them sat down on the floor of the covered deck, all facing the yard and not each other. Sano still had his arm around Megumi's shoulders, their combined warmth something he didn't want to give up. Yahiko sat next to the taller man, his dangled feet kicking at the snowflakes in the air around them.
"Go on, Yahiko, we're listening." Megumi was the one to prompt, elbowing the man beside her as he rolled his eyes.
"I wanted to have a meeting, you know, like the ones where we could sing and stuff." The two adults remained silent and Yahiko took it as a sign of refusal so he continued on hurriedly. "Whenever mom and dad would feel upset or down they said singing to God helped them get through it. I've tried everything, but I still feel, I don't know, weird about everything that's going on." With a doleful sigh he rested his head in his upturned palms, his elbows bracing against his knees.
"It sounds like a wonderful idea. Don't you agree, Sano?"
"Yeah, you might just have something there, you little runt." The street-fighter's large hand plopped down on Yahiko's messy black hair and messed it up even more. The young boy looked up and saw a smile on the other's face, happy to see that he was genuine about liking his idea. All three of them got up and Megumi drew her arm from around Sano's back, straightening out her kimono and wrap.
"Okay, I'm going to go check up on Kaoru and then we could plan out something to do tonight." Finally they had found something to look forward to. A time of prayer, singing, and reflection to refocus their minds and still their hearts. After all, when was the last time they did this together, bringing all that has happened before the One with whom they identify, Christ. Megumi's heart was encouraged and slightly ashamed at not having the courage that Yahiko had in bringing this up. They needed some time to spend together, as a group, as a family, and find the looked-for strength they lacked in such a time.
Megumi smiled in anticipation of what she knew she would see upon entering Kaoru's room. The door slid open easily with only a minor creak to be heard. The grin on her face widened even more as she studied their figures more closely. Yahiko had only mentioned that they were asleep next to one another, but not how close they were. Another thing that made the doctor's eyebrow quirk upward was their interlocking hands. From their position, Kaoru must have woken up and moved closer to the rurouni.
*How sweet,* Megumi thought to herself. With as little noise as possible she made her way to the far right corner where the iron stove stood, a few of her medical supplies sitting nearby. There she picked up a ceramic cup and filled it with some water from a bucket. In the liquid she placed a ball of cloth wrapped around some herbs she knew would help Kaoru in regaining her energy. While training an eye on the color of the water as it changed, Megumi's ears picked up something other than the crackle from the stove's fire beside her. Turning her head she could see Kaoru's eyes begin to open. The young woman's gaze fell on what was a few inches away, a tiny smile forming on her flushed lips.
Megumi stood up and walked to her, the brew clasped loosely in her hands. Kaoru's eyes moved off of Kenshin's face towards the cup now being held above her.
"Miss Megumi…" She started, her already soft voice more delicate than before and a little raspy. The older woman's face softened and helped her patient drink some of from the cup.
"Shh, Kaoru… Just drink, we will talk as soon as you are done with your tea."
With a few more sips Kaoru finished the brew and rested her head back, returning to look upon Kenshin again. Megumi caught this and sat down on the floor, sighing wistfully as she watched on.
"You love him, don't you, Kaoru?" Kaoru turned her head to face the other woman with a smile.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Well, yes… Besides a certain rooster-head told me about some advice he gave you a few days ago."
Expecting more than a smile out of the girl, Megumi was surprised to see Kaoru's smile disappear behind a serious expression.
"I promised him I would wait…yet my fear still remains." Her eyes locked onto the hand she continued to hold. "This group of killers who are out for more blood… who knows what more they are capable of. I fear for him, Megumi. His heart is undecided and…" Her bottom lip began to tremble, tears pooling in her eyes. "… I'm afraid that something might happen to him, and I might never see him again." A lonely tear strayed from one of her eyes, rolling down her flushed cheek. All Megumi could do in return was nod, feeling a touch of the weight Kaoru had allowed to be put on her heart.
Just then Kaoru felt Kenshin's hand move a little under hers. Bringing her other hand upon it, she stayed there and held it until his violet eyes were fully awake. She smiled as his eyes met hers an immediate expression of relief flashing through them right before he lifted himself up off the ground, scratching his neck with an embarrassed grin. His eyes followed where his right hand still was, his mind slowly registering what it was he was seeing. Kaoru was holding his hand.
"I am happy to see you awake, Miss Kaoru, that I am." His cheeks began to take on a faint shade of pink as his eyes held fast to their interlocking fingers.
"Kenshin, thank you for staying by my side." She turned her eyes away bashfully, eyeing the blanket still lying across her lap.
"How could I not?" Kenshin responded, his eyes displaying a touching honesty. His left hand came up and traced a path on the side of her face, his face suddenly worried. Kaoru's eyes slowly drew up to see the change in his expression as well as his voice. "Have you cried?"
She was rendered speechless, so moved by his concern but embarrassed to either confirm or deny his observation. Silently, she gave a small nod of her head.
"Why?" He whispered.
"I…I'm not too sure. It did come as quite a shock waking up in an unfamiliar room. That may be it."
Kenshin knew there was more to it, but he didn't want to press the issue further. He smoothed some of her loose hair away from her check again, this time wet from perspiration and not the rain.
Megumi watched the exchange and thought it best to leave the two of them alone. She didn't want to take the chance of hindering either one's confession of love. They adored each other, that much could be seen to the common eye, but to a woman sharing a similar love their adoration delved much deeper than any eye could see. It was pure… beautiful, and above all God sent.
Kenshin caught sight of the retreating Megumi and reluctantly turned from Kaoru for a moment to address her.
"Miss Megumi, do you know where I can find either Aoshi or Okina? I wish to thank them for their kindness and hospitality, that I do."
Kaoru smile dimmed a bit at the idea of him leaving her side, even if it was selfish of her to entertain such a thought. Megumi's eyes picked up on the shadow that fell across the assistant sensei's face, and her heart fell along with it.
"We've already told them. They know that we appreciate being welcomed without hesitation. Besides, someone needs to remain here in order to see to Kaoru's needs…" Kaoru turned away from the look Megumi threw her way with the last comment, a even greater flush overtaking her already heated skin.
"It's alright, I'll be fine. Go on, I'm sure you've been cooped up in here for far too long." Violet turned towards midnight, Kaoru reassuring him of her word with a smile.
"Are you sure? Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?"
Kaoru merely shook her head, squeezing his hand before retracting her own. "I'm sure, Kenshin. Give them my thanks as well." Kaoru saw Megumi shake her head at what she had done. The young Kamiya had given him another chance to escape from facing the truth of what was growing between them.
The brown-eyed fox gave Kaoru one last look before being the first to leave the room, Kenshin following closely behind. Kaoru tried to hide it, push it away, but the disappointment dropped like a lump to her stomach, her smile slowly fading away into nothing. Her throat, still dry and sore, constricted and she began to cough in effort to open the passage again. The painful gasps she let out from her lungs made her frown. She couldn't help but compare her comfort in sleep to the agony she was feeling upon her awakening. Her eyes began to water, blurring her vision. The now familiar creak of the door lifted Kaoru's eyes upward where a blurry image of Megumi was the first thing she saw. The doctor returned to her patient's side and started doing a routine check, looking in her throat and eyes and asking her to breathe in and out a couple of large breaths. Small talk turned into the revealing of upsetting news, and the not too shocking words of hatred quoted from the townspeople. Suddenly Megumi became quiet, a small frown finding it's way on her lovely face.
"Kaoru…" Megumi suddenly moaned, sweeping her arms in the direction of the door. "Why'd you encourage him to leave?"
Wiping at her eyes yet again, Kaoru squinted at the woman towering over her. "Goodness, Megumi… What was I going to do? If he's been here with me the whole time then he needs some fresh air."
"But you've barely woken up… and I was hoping you would do yourself, not to mention the poor guy, a favor by telling him what you told me. You love him… why not tell him so?"
"It's not the time for such a thing."
Megumi couldn't keep her expressions to herself as she stared at her patient like she was crazy. "What makes you say that? Can't you see that he feels the same way?"
"That doesn't matter right now…" Kaoru held back a cringe as she spoke the truth, that statement enough to brake her heart if she allowed it to. "He promised me he'd think about God, salvation, and where his life falls among it. I don't want my feelings to be the deciding factor, he must come to his conclusion on his own." She stopped to run her hands over the blanket on her lap, smoothening out the material carefully. "I've made him a promise too… I told him I will wait for him. Whatever he decides will decide something for my heart as well. If he chooses to follow God my love for him is truly real, but if he leaves to continue trying to find his own way then I'll be left to cope with my foolish and broken heart."
"Oh, Kaoru…" The older woman wrapped her arms around the other's thin form, giving her a big warm hug. "I'm so sorry. I wish it was much easier."
Kaoru hugged her back and closed her eyes so as to not cry. "Me too…"
No sound was heard of the door this time around allowing Kenshin to enter the room unnoticed by the other two. He walked in, wondering what brought about the sight in front of him. It was, in many ways, heartwarming. Kenshin knew Kaoru to be an compassionate one, and now such a side was being shown by Megumi. He remained quiet as he stepped backwards, trying to reach the door without a sound. The last thing he wanted to was to disturb the moment being shared between friends.
Kaoru opened an eye and saw Kenshin as he was about ready to flee.
"Kenshin, what are you doing?" She asked, breaking the hug and wiping at her eyes once more.
"Um... nowhere." He laughed as he closed the door from behind. "I saw Sano on the way here and he told me he wanted to see you, Miss Megumi."
"Oh, thank you. We're planning on holding a little time of song and prayer later on tonight if you want to join us." After picking up the bowl and cloth she had left there earlier, Megumi observed the others wondering if they would accept. "If not, I understand. You need your strength, Kaoru."
"I would love to… but it's true that I don't feel too good right now. But you never know, maybe God will lend me enough strength to come and sit with you."
Both women then turned towards Kenshin who kept silent in his spot on the floor against the wall. He had taken out his sword and set it across his lap, going over the side of the blade with a couple steady fingers. His eyes were focused on the sword but they looked far beyond the metal reflecting his image back to him.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked.
With his hair a bit wet from outside, stray bangs splayed across his brow and cheeks, he raised his eyes. An innocent questioning appeared in place of the dark cloud that shadowed his features as he studied his sword a moment ago.
"Yes? Miss Kaoru?"
Kaoru couldn't help but feel the skip of a heartbeat, her heart being wrenched in two directions, one telling her to tell all and confess her love, the other urging her to wait… His voice saying her name, his eyes with genuine concern and inquiry, his ears ready to listen: everything about him screamed for her to take notice. And she did, to the point of not knowing what else she could do when around him. Ever since that night when he told her that his promise would be kept she saw the strength and power his faith would have if… if he would just believe.
She blinked and returned to the words she thought of before losing track. "Will you come? To the meeting, I mean?"
"If you wish my presence, I will come." The side of his mouth lifted up, offering her a small smile before turning his face to his weapon again.
"Okay then, it's set." Kaoru stated cheerfully, a small yawn then pulling her smile away. Kenshin and Megumi laughed a bit, and Kaoru looked down bashfully. "I guess I'm still a little tired."
"As is expected… I'll have someone bring you two something to eat. You both missed lunch, not to mention many other meals as well." The last part was directed toward the rurouni, his innocent face coming up once again.
"Oro?"
"You heard me…" She turned to Kaoru and whispered behind a hand. "He wouldn't even eat any of the broth I fed you. He's one stubborn man."
"Miss Megumi, it's not nice to talk behind another's back, that it is not." Kenshin said in mock hurt. This made all of them erupt in laughter once again. With this Megumi gathered her things and left, leaving Kenshin and Kaoru with each other's company. Kaoru got comfortable underneath the covers once again, pulling them up to her chin and breathing out a sigh of relief, anticipating the sleep ahead. Kenshin stayed by her in his usual spot, just like the days before. Kaoru fell asleep with a prayer of guidance and comfort for herself and also for Kenshin. Once he saw her eyes fall closed he turned his head to watch the fire in the stove, the tiny glow of the fire danced, reflected in his eyes. His thoughts were along the same lines of the woman now peacefully asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aoshi had consented to the meeting Yahiko asked for after speaking about it with Okina. The old man started to see beyond the hateful words of the public and took note of the dignity and honor possessed by those who call themselves Christians. What really helped the Oniwaban elder accept a different view were the words Misao spoke so adamantly some time ago. She was upset with his decision to disallow her from assisting the Doshisha. She was so mad that tears began to flow. And for such emotion to be displayed by such a girl as her, it had to be something of great importance to trigger it.
Together the most influential of the Oniwaban watched over the yard and into the street from their balcony view. They were near Okina's room, the elder having asked to speak with the young man.
"I know of your plan, Aoshi. Are you sure this will sit well with the police? After all, that captain from Tokyo was set on taking care of the Doshisha's security himself."
Aoshi's face remained impassive as always, even with the beautiful dance the snowflakes played in the air around him. His eyes were set to a spot down the road to his right. He knew of the risks he was taking by sending some of the Oniwaban members to the school to guard it, having taken the idea from Misao. Despite his stony appearance, he harbored a soft spot for the young girl's spirit, her resilience. But he was feeling a touch of the cold in his mind, an unsure thought playing over and over in his mind.
"I know, Okina. You need not worry about Saitou, I will handle anything that may come as a result of my actions." Only the blinking of his ice-blue eyes was seen, not one trace of anything else.
Down below was the large room used for training, very similar to the halls of Kaoru's dojo. There Sano, Megumi, and Yahiko sat in a circle, not a one speaking. Megumi glanced from Sano, who gave her a shrug of his shoulders, to Yahiko, who sat there moving his eyes everywhere but at the people around him. He was nervous, having called this meeting and seeing that nothing was taking place. The room was full of blank stares and the occasional scratch behind the neck.
"So…." Sano said, cutting through the heavily awkward air. "Someone say something…" He ordered, the authority lost on the people now staring at him. "Oh, alright. I'll start it with a prayer."
Megumi and Yahiko smiled, their faces lighting up at finally beginning the meeting.
"Dear God, we're here to talk to you again and come before you with what's been troubling us. And plus, Yahiko asked to have this meeting, so here we are." Megumi had to resist the urge to roll her eyes behind her closed lids. "I pray for this time we spend to be good. Thank you for loving me even if I'm not too great at this out-loud speaking with you. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen."
With Sano having started the pace, they started reciting Bible verses, singing songs, and praying some more. It had been only ten minutes from the time they began and still Kenshin and Kaoru had yet to show face. Megumi offered a silent prayer.
*Give both Kaoru and Kenshin the strength to make it, one for the body and other for the soul.*
Meanwhile, in the room now left to the tending of the shadows of night, Kaoru slept on guarded by Kenshin's ever watchful eye. He had placed his sword aside and leaned his head back against the wall, not knowing what to do next to help the time pass. His eyes took him back yet again to Kaoru's face. Peaceful, angelic, she proved to be more than Kenshin had ever imagined. She was the same young woman he saved literally from the clutches of street thugs a few months ago. The memory made him smile, remembering the surprise in her eyes when he arrived willing to put those assaulting her in their place. Her eyes, wide and full of astonishment at how easily he took down all the thugs, caused him to smile. He never knew he could smile or laugh as genuinely as he had after meeting her.
She stirred a bit as she woke up, her eyes blinking as they adjusted to the dark. With balled up fists she rubbed at her sleepy eyes much like a little child would do. With her back still turned to Kenshin she surprised him when she suddenly gasped, a barrage of coughs attacking her for doing so. Kenshin crawled to her, his hand steady upon her back as she cleared her lungs.
"What is it, Miss Kaoru?"
"Do you hear that?" She asked. Kenshin focused his hearing, trying to pick up anything out of the normal. There, finally he heard it. It was a sound unusual to the halls of the Aoiya and it was… singing. Kenshin walked over and cracked the door open a little to hear it better, positive that it was indeed voices in song, some off tune compared to others. Kenshin turned to Kaoru who was smiling.
"I take it they started already… Would you care to go? Are you feeling up to it?" She nodded her head, bracing her hands on the to get up. She had a notion that her arms could support her weight but she was wrong. Kenshin saw her shakily lift up onto her knees, her body collapsing forward as she tried to stand. Her hand flew to rest on his chest as he caught her, strong hands holding her by the shoulders so she wouldn't fall. He picked her up and that's when she fell against him, her face hidden in the crook of his neck. Kenshin stayed there holding her to him, his arms circled around her thinning frame. He looked down at her head, concern flooding his heart. It was unbelievable how weak she had gotten in the course of but a few days… the same few days that weakened his mind, his heart, and all because of the guilt he was trying to be rid of. A precious offer came by way of a message from above, an encouraging word, and an empathetic tear shed as his own poured forth. She cried for him, Kaoru cried with him… and all out of a love he knew didn't come solely from her. She was imparting a love far greater than she could create, a piercing love that saw far beneath the surface of a soul and farther even than her profoundly wise eyes could go.
"Kenshin," Kaoru murmured, her warm breath whispered along his skin. He had to hold back on the gulp he wanted to take in result of it.
"Y-yes?" He managed to croak out, swallowing as she lifted her face to look into his.
"Come on, let's go." Kaoru took one step and her limbs proved as unreliable as before. Kenshin's hands finding her waist in time to catch her.
"You are not walking… here," he said as he swept an arm under her legs and lifting her up. "Now that is better, isn't it Miss Kaoru?" She smiled a cute little smile and nodded her head, draping an arm around his neck and keeping the other in her lap as they walked out.
The hallway was an interior one, a few other rooms lining the walls. Kaoru took in her surroundings like a sponge, fulfilling her curiosity of what the Aoiya looked like. At the end of the walkway they made it outside to walk along the yard and garden, Kaoru's eyes widening at the sight of it all. It was snowing.
"Kenshin, why didn't you tell me it was snowing?" She asked looking at him with a small glare.
"I am sorry." After a second of further thought he asked, "Why did you need to know that it was snowing?"
"It's the first snow of Winter… I would always sit and watch the first snowfall. It's sort of a tradition I've kept since I was a child."
"That's beautiful." He commented, and Kaoru knew he was serious from the way he said it.
"I'm happy you think so." They shared a quiet glance, Kaoru shyly turning her face away to look upon the snow. Their walk slowed until they stood in front of the door of the training hall, the voices from before coming in perfectly.
"You can't sing that! You don't even know how it goes." They heard Yahiko comment, followed closely by the deeper voice of Sano.
"Of course I know how it goes. What do you take me for? A squeaky voiced pip-squeak who's always out of tune?"
Kenshin hid his amusement and nodded his head toward the door, Kaoru seeing that he wanted her to open the door.
"My hands are a bit occupied at the moment," he laughed as he lowered her enough for her hand to grip on the handle and slid it open.
"It took you long enough. Even gone through three songs already and we all took turns praying." Sano hooked a thumb in the direction of the young one, smirking before adding, "Yahiko keeps on repeating the same Bible verse over and over again."
"There's nothing wrong with that, besides, it's the only one I know really well." The boy started off strong, his words softening as he admitted the truth and looked down at his hands.
Kaoru, now sitting in the middle of Megumi and Kenshin, reached across the circle and grabbed Yahiko's hand, causing the boy to lift his eyes up. She smiled at him kindly.
"Tell us, Kenshin and I haven't heard this verse you know." The young one smiled and gave one firm nod before clearing his throat.
"It's from second Corinthians… um, I think verses 20 and 21. 'Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.' Hold on, I'll remember the rest, just give me a second…"
"Come on, you know it." Sano said, a hint of encouragement in his remark.
"Oh, okay. I got it now…'For he made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.' " He pounded a fist in his palm.
"That was great Yahiko. When did you memorize that?" Kaoru asked.
"I learned it after my parents became Christians. I was only 5 but a year later I became one too." A bittersweet smile flashed across his face for a second before he looked to Kenshin. "Have you picked up anything from hanging around with us Kenshin? I'm sure you remember at least something from being around so many Christians."
The older man didn't know how to respond initially, but then there were a few left an impression upon him. There was one thing in particular that struck a certain cord in his heart, a song with words that spoke directly to him. It was as if each word was chosen and written personally for him… If only he could remember what it was called.
"There was this song… I heard it only once, back in Tokyo. All I remember is that it spoke of grace…" His eyes stared at the ground below, a familiar weariness overtaking them. That feeling he had when he heard the words being sung, Just as before Kaoru eased his mind back to the present.
"It'll come to you later, don't worry."
"Oh, I have something!" Sano shouted with a snap of his fingers. "How about we… naw, we did that already." He stroked his chin in thought, everyone watching him, wondering what he would come up with. "A-ha! Now I've got it. We could… we could, uh… nope. That won't work."
"Come on already, Sano. You keep on saying that. What won't work?" Megumi was getting a bit fed up with her boyfriend's behavior. "Spit it out already!"
"Now I've really got it! There's a song about being white as snow but… I forgot the name of it… and I don't remember how it starts." He rubbed his neck with a smile, feeling a bit squirmy under Megumi's glare. Maybe he shouldn't have stalled as long as he had.
"Snow…" Kaoru said sadly, looking toward the door and imagining the snow falling outside. Kenshin noticed this and felt a little bad for not telling her of the season's first snowfall. If he had known of her yearly tradition of watching it he would have waken her up. But now there wasn't anything he could do about that. Then again, there was still time to fix that problem.
"Miss Kaoru, would you like to get some fresh air?" There he was, holding his hand out for her to take once again, like so many times before. And she accepted.
"We'll be just outside the door. If you don't mind, could you leave the door open a crack? I want to be able to hear you from out there."
Sano and Yahiko just looked at them, the older one waving them out the door with his hand. Megumi smiled and nodded, not fully understanding why they wanted to go outside, but agreeing to it nevertheless.
The air was crisp outside the building, but a welcome change for Kaoru who felt a little light-headed from the heat of both her room and the training hall behind her. Kenshin sat back, his arms bracing his body as leaned on them for support. Kaoru had thanked him as he walked her out of the room but otherwise remained rather quiet. She was watching the snow, her eyes following each snowflake falling in the path of the light from the opening in the door, gems of sparkling white laying a covering over the dirt.
The air began to show signs of the increasing cold, the breath from their mouths collecting in white puffs. Kaoru smiled, a childhood memory playing in her mind. Once, when she was very young and her mother was still in life, Kaoru woke up in the middle of the night and found her mother up waiting for her father to come home from a trip. After being wrapped in the blanket covering her mother and held secure in her embrace, they made a game from watching their breath form in the cold air. Along with the recollection came the smell of jasmine with a hint of lilac, her mother's favorite scent. With eyes closed she could smell it now.
"Did you do this last year?"
Kaoru nodded, her eyes opened now to the time at hand, drawn from the memories hidden deep for silent moments of cherishing.
"My father stayed up with me when it came. It was a night, much like this one." Her voice was soft, her father's absence still chilling her heart.
"I am sorry… I didn't mean to open a wound." Kenshin heard the sad tone weighing down her words. He sat up, level enough to see her face as she shook her head and gave him a look he didn't expect… eyes telling of a hurting disbelief.
"You don't need to be sorry for anything, Kenshin. The wounds I've picked up over the years have had their reason, and you were never one of those reasons."
"I still can't help but--," he began again, trying yet again to take the blame. His past providing him as the animal, sacrificial and unnecessary in the world. He strived to make life better for those around him, not noticing how detrimental his actions were to his own heart and conscience, and over all on the weight already suffocating his soul.
"Please, Kenshin, listen to me. And when I say listen, I mean it." She didn't care anymore whether he saw her tears, she couldn't keep it in any longer. "You are not to blame for what happened in Tokyo."
He sat still and listened, eyes perplexed at hearing her say the same words she had that night near Tomoe's grave. This time his heart was riveted where it was, no sign of an interfering thought ready to jump and contradict Kaoru's words.
"You've been an answer to prayer for me… in more ways than I can imagine." Her tears choked up her voice, her bottom lip trembling by the time she was done.
Kaoru, with her kind and passionate soul reaching out to him, was crying, soft quiet sobs that echoed in the chambers of his heart. Hot tears poured over her cheeks and over the hands she hid her face behind. He made her cry… yet he couldn't believe that. She didn't want him to. This was the very thing she was speaking of and this time he had ears to listen. He wanted her to stop crying, to stop hurting, and he knew of only one thing he could do.
He reached out his hands and gently removed her own from the tear stained face she hid from him. Slowly, he moved in and captured her flushed lips in a soft and gentle kiss. Her sobbing had stopped along with the whole world from the unexpected move but recovered in time to respond. She kissed him back, the salt of her tears wetting his lips as they had hers. Pulling back he looked to see her reaction and smiled.
"Please, don't cry, dear Kaoru…"
She bit her lip and allowed herself to fall into his arms, huddling immediately against his chest. There she stayed the remainder of the first snowfall… it stopping a mere few second after another first was seen through in their lives…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***
A/N: Hi there people. Yes, I am still alive, but barely. I am sick once again… Sick of school, non-healthy sick, and sick and tired of my brother's gf… She bugs… Anyhow, on a lighter note, how'd you like the chapter? Pretty darn long one, huh? I was planning on doing something totally different with the end but I thought this was a nice way to go, and so I took the "lovey-dovey" path. While writing this, which took about over a week, I came across something I wrote in my notebook concerning something major happening in the plot… I originally wanted to include it in the end, but nope… I couldn't. It wasn't the right time. So be expecting some really good stuff next chapter. I hope this one wasn't too boring for you guys… if it was, I apologize.
Okay, on to the part where I ask you for reviews and seeing as my birthday is fast approaching (Feb 8) it would be nice to have a few early presents in the form of reviews… so, well, you all know what to do. And for this I thank you from the bottom of my heart ^^… Until next time, God bless! Ciao ~ The Honorable Gucci