Rurouni Kenshin don't belong to me. Hope you enjoy the story. P
Chapter 3 : The Talk by The River
The next morning, Soujiro's memory of his conversation with Kyoko was still fresh in his memory. He whistled and hummed while working his accounts. Kazuma thought it was weird. Soujiro was never happy doing the accounts. They gave him headache, that's what Soujiro always said. Since that day, Soujiro spent almost everyday with Kyoko and Yamato. Hibiki didn't mind much since he thought it was part of Soujiro's plan to get close to his younger sister. The more Soujiro knew about Kyoko, the more he liked… loved her. He can tell that the feeling was mutual but he… they said nothing about it. They just enjoyed each other company, and Yamato's too
That day, Soujiro was on his way to his usual visit to the Morisato residence. But when he reached the house, the servant said Kyoko and Yamato had gone out. Soujiro was very disappointed, he really want to see Kyoko today. ' Although I just she her the day before yesterday, I already miss her.'
Soujiro didn't plan to go back to work so he decided to take a stroll along the river. When he reached the river, he met Yamato, fishing with three boys in his age at the riverbank. Soujiro called Yamato's name. Yamato ran towards him when he saw Soujiro. They had grown quite close with each other. They have one thing in common; both of them like Kyoko.
Soujiro asked where Kyoko was. Yamato said Kyoko was going somewhere but she didn't tell him. " Kyoko-neechan let me play by the river bank while she was gone…." Yamato explained enthusiastically. Soujiro nodded and let Yamato continued to be with his friends.
" Where is Kyoko," Soujiro muttered as he continued his walk. His mind kept racing to figure out Kyoko's whereabouts. He was in deep thought when he heard a faint moan. He stopped. He was near to the bridge. He strained his ear to hear out the cry again. Then, he heard it. The faint moaning, moaning in pain. ' Somehow… I know that voice.' The thought hit him. " It's Kyoko," Soujiro yelled to himself and started looking for Kyoko. He saw a figure under the bridge. He ran towards the figure. From afar, he could see the woman he loved. She was sitting on the ground; her face was cringing with pain. Soujiro ran towards Kyoko. Kyoko noticed that Soujiro was coming to her. " Soujiro…. Thank goodness….," she whispered to herself.
Soujiro knelt beside her. " Kyoko! What's wrong," Soujiro asked as he eyes ran wild on Kyoko, looking for wound or injuries. " Kyoko pointed to her ankle. " I think I sprained my ankle. Soujiro gently hold the ankle to take a look at it. Kyoko groaned. Soujiro examined the ankle. " We better take you to a doctor." Kyoko smiled. ' How can she smiled in this kind of condition? She was supposed to be in pain!.' " That's what I've been trying to do; bringing myself to the doctor but I fell each time I tried to get up. And the pain got worst every time I tried," Kyoko explained. Soujiro nodded. " I'll take you to the doctor.." Kyoko was confused. "How?." Soujiro swapped one of his arm behind Kyoko's back and the other under her knees. Then he lifted her up. " This way…," he answered with a smile. And he started walking by the river, heading towards the clinic.
Kyoko was blushing furiously. Soujiro noticed that her whole face was red and he cannot help laughing. Kyoko forgot about her embarrassment and got mad. " Why are you laughing," she yelled. Soujiro made no reply and smiled. Kyoko was stunned. She didn't say anything more and made herself comfortable. She cuddled Soujiro's neck and placed her head on Soujiro's shoulder. Soujiro glanced down at Kyoko's face. " Kyoko..," Soujiro called. " Hmmm?." " What do you think about the two of us?." " What do you mean, Soujiro?." " The two of us being together?." Kyoko said nothing for a while. " I like it. I like the idea of it…," she answered slowly. Soujiro smiled at her remark. " So, what would you say if I ask you to marry me," Soujiro asked again. Kyoko's head bolted up from Soujiro's shoulder. She looked into his eyes.
Kyoko placed her head back on Soujiro's shoulder. " I would love to..," she whispered. " But not now, Soujiro. I have an important things to settle." Soujiro nodded. " Tell me when the important things are settled and when you're ready to be with me, will you? I'll be waiting..," Soujiro replied thoughfully. " Don't worry… I will…"
On the way to the clinic, Yamato followed them. Soujiro met him at the riverbank, still fishing. When Soujiro told him he was going to bring Kyoko to the clinic, Yamato followed them. After Kyoko's wound was treated at the clinic, Soujiro once again carried her home. " Soujiro, you better put me down. You've been carrying me for a long time. Don't you feel tired," Kyoko asked with concern. " No!." Kyoko looked Soujiro in his eyes. ' She always looked into my eyes. For her, that's the only place where she can find the truth about people.' Soujiro smiled and Kyoko said nothing.
Kyoko glanced at Soujiro's face. ' Whenever he noticed I was looking at him, he replied with a smile. A kind and comforting smile. His genuine and sincere smile. I rarely see he smile this kind of smile to others. Maybe it's because he's being sincere and genuine when he's with me…'. Kyoko smiled at that thought.
They reached the Morisato residence. Soujiro placed Kyoko carefully in her room. Kyoko was feeling guilty. " I'm sorry for the trouble, Soujiro. You have to carry the heavy me to the clinic and back home." Soujiro smiled and said, " I like carrying you around. I could always get a carriage but I prefer to carry you.." Kyoko blushed. " I appreciate you like carrying me but it's a trouble to you and I don't like troubling you," Kyoko explained. Soujiro stood up. " Doing something for the people that you like is not a trouble." Soujiro left with a smile on his face.