Summary: Kamiya Kaoru is the young owner of a flower shop. Every day of the
week, her customer, Himura Kenshin, comes to pick up fresh white roses, a
dozen of them, for his late wife. Kaoru can't help but fall in love with
this mysterious customer. But how can things ever be if Kenshin's still
grieving the death of his wife?
AN: I lied in my first chapter. This isn't my first RK fanfic, I forgot about the one shot I wrote a couple weeks ago. ^^;; Ooops. It totally slipped my mind. So yes, this is my second RK fanfic. I was so shocked to see all the reviews I got for the story! Wow! Thanks, you guys, all those reviews made me decide to write this second chapter in a jiffy. =P
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Declaimer: I don't own Kenshin.
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As I Bloom
Winds of Fortune
Chapter 2
I was never one to drink, and I'd always disliked the taste of sake. I dealt with pain a whole different way. Dealing with pain was hard enough, but it was the guilt that drove me mad in the end. Certainly no one as perfect as Tomoe deserved to die so young. And her death must have been caused by me, as her brother used to always say.
It wasn't until ten months after her death that I finally dragged myself out of my pitiful position and picked life back up again. I still remember that day when I finally returned to the apartment kept for me, showered, and dressed in a suit again. I felt like filth wearing such fine material. Feeling the suffocation of the apartment, the little reminders of Tomoe, I left in search of.. something new.
What I found was you.
I saw you in the window of the shop, all decked out in simple shirt and jeans. You were watering the many potted plants, eyes concentrating on their leafy arms, hands steadily pouring out the stream of water. Your hair was blue-black, swept up in a ponytail and I thought you were beautiful.
But it wasn't your beauty that caught my eye, it was something else. Something that I still don't know what.
-------------
My feet guided themselves, my mind wandered as well. The two didn't cooperate, each going in their own direction. While my feet took me north, my mind was wandering south where home was. Finally, I stopped. I didn't know where I stopped, but my feet were in a world of their own, and I could do no more to control them than I could my mind.
Tomoe.
I turned to look listlessly into the shop to my right. Roughly, I brushed my long hair out of my face, and stared with unseeing eyes at the shop full of flowers and plants. And that was when I saw you.
Tomoe.
It couldn't be, because the two of you looked nothing alike. But my eyes roamed over your face and all I could think was Tomoe. What was it? Was it your eyes? No, because Tomoe's eyes were a deep brown. Your hair? No. Then what?
My heart stopped, my breathing stopped, and I blinked in vague surprise at your lovely face.
You turned, jumping slightly to find some stranger standing outside your shop, staring so boldly at you. But you smiled nonetheless, a little nervously, but surely. "Welcome! How may I help you, sir?"
Breath.
I drew a deep breath, and quickly pushed my hair back again.
Think.
"Uh.. I'd like to buy," my eyes fell on some flowers, "roses."
You nodded, extending a hand to gesture me into the quaint shop. "Please, come in sir. What color roses would you like?"
My wife had only died ten months ago. I have only just managed to get over the guilt of her death today. I felt like I was cheating on my wife. "A dozen roses," I said stupidly. Well, it was about time I visited Tomoe's grave.
"Yes," you nodded patiently, speaking slowly as though I were a child, "what color would you like, sir?"
I blinked, and let my eyes wander till I found some roses. "Those are good, white roses." Tomoe liked white. White is a good color.
"Ah, well, I have a bouquet right here if you'd like to buy it today, sir."
I found myself smiling into your kind face. I couldn't help but pull out some money. "That would be good."
White stood for purity and innocence.
White was forgiveness.
-----------------
I was surprised to see him there.
He stood tall, with his white white hair and small glasses. Tomoe always said those glasses did nothing but make him look cool.
Yukishiro Enishi half turned toward me, a scowl already in place. I don't think I've ever seen that man smile, or perhaps he just never found a reason to smile at me.
He sneered now, his lips pulling back in disgust at the sight of me. "So you have come as well. Do you come everyday?" He gestured at the roses I had placed there the day before, "What is this? Some attempt to feel better about murdering my sister?"
My heart clenched. "Enishi," I began.
"Shut up, I don't want to hear it." He turned back to the grave with Tomoe's name engraved in the thick stone. Himura Tomoe. I sighed, and put the flowers I bought today down beside his own brilliantly colored bouquet.
We stood side by side as the sky began to turn orange and red.
"You didn't deserve her."
I know.
My eyes closed and I breathed in the warm air.
I know.
"You don't deserve anything." Enishi turned his cold stare to me. "You aren't good enough."
He spun on his heel and walked away briskly, as though he could no longer stand my presence. .
"No," I murmured, "I'm not."
But it doesn't mean I didn't love her.
-----------------
"Himura san," you said, full of good cheer, "How was your day?"
I smiled contently, "It has been good." Good that now I have seen you. I looked down at the roses in my arms. I don't know what I'm thinking.
"I am so tired today," you sighed, "and I haven't even done anything! I feel so lazy."
I nodded, watching you clear off the counter and put supplies away. You were always so open, telling me everything that was on your mind. You trusted me before I even learned to trust you. I'd wondered before why I continue to come back to your store. Perhaps it was a way of punishing myself. I would come buy flowers from a beautiful girl and then go to the grave of my beautiful wife. It was almost like a ritual.
"You know, sometimes I feel like I can just go to sleep and never wake up. Sometimes, I just want to drop everything and lie down. But I'm afraid that if I do, I'll lose everything I have now. It feels like.. like my life is slipping through my grasp, and I can't do anything about it, so I have to keep my eyes wide open or I'll miss it." You laughed and walked out of the store, "I'm being silly, aren't I?"
I watched you lock the door before shaking my head lightly. "No, that is not a silly thing to think."
I feel the same way.
My hand came up and brushed at the hair in your face, involuntarily. I could feel their silkiness between my fingers as you blinked your large blue eyes at me in surprise.
Tomoe, my mind told me. It was a constant reminder of her.
I let your hair slip through my fingers, and pushed back all thoughts of kissing you.
"Forgive me," I said, backing away from you, "I should be on my way."
You gaped at me without speaking, so I bowed and turned to leave. "Good day, Kamiya san."
As I walked away, I heard your soft whisper, "Good day, Himura san."
Perhaps, I should not come to see you again. Perhaps I should never go back to that store to buy flowers. But my heart is weak, and I know that tomorrow at this time, I will be by your side again.
Tomoe. Will she forgive me for this?
I can't help but like you.
:End Chapter 2:
AN: o.O It's haard writing with Kenshin's mindset, I think I'll just stick to Kaoru's. =P Thank you to all my reviewers!
Wistful-Eyes – you guessed right, and thx for complimenting my writing. I feel so loved. ^^
Kitsune KeNsHiN – Wow!! The first time someone said my summary attracted them to the story! I suck at summaries, so I'm glad! Thank you!
Aryana1 – firstly, sorry! I don't know what story you're talking about. I haven't read any like that, but I'll try to help you look for one like that. Secondly, thx for adding me to fav!
Nigihayami Haruko - *jaw drops* reading ur review was hecka cool. I need to go check out ur stories cuz u write well! Thanks!
Himura Kamiya Kaoru – wow, adding me to favorite stories after only one chapter? I feel so honored. But that scares me too, I'm afraid that my story won't be good as I continue -_-. Haha, and it was ur pushing that made me write this chapter so quickly! thx
Dusty Pens – Haha, thank you! WoW, I'm so glad u don't think my writing is bad. And thx for the advice, I'll try to add more emotion to them. Yea, I guess things are pretty dead pan right now. Thx for ur suggestion! I'm trying to use it right now. *grin*
Alli – alas, I lied, this isn't my first fic. Sorry! My one shot totally slipped my mind. But thx for the comment. ^^
Goldmund/ do/Kagura/The evil witch/ Erisu L. /Usagi Tuskino/MZ. AMbER EYES – Wow, thank you guys for ur reviews. I'm so glad u guys found it cute and all. *Grin* and thx for saying that I kept their charm and personality, cuz I did try. =P Thank you!! You guys rock.
Silent Tears of Agony – Thx for being my first reviewer!! *grin* and I'll remember. Hope u enjoyed the second chapter.
AN: I lied in my first chapter. This isn't my first RK fanfic, I forgot about the one shot I wrote a couple weeks ago. ^^;; Ooops. It totally slipped my mind. So yes, this is my second RK fanfic. I was so shocked to see all the reviews I got for the story! Wow! Thanks, you guys, all those reviews made me decide to write this second chapter in a jiffy. =P
--------------------------
Declaimer: I don't own Kenshin.
--------------------------
As I Bloom
Winds of Fortune
Chapter 2
I was never one to drink, and I'd always disliked the taste of sake. I dealt with pain a whole different way. Dealing with pain was hard enough, but it was the guilt that drove me mad in the end. Certainly no one as perfect as Tomoe deserved to die so young. And her death must have been caused by me, as her brother used to always say.
It wasn't until ten months after her death that I finally dragged myself out of my pitiful position and picked life back up again. I still remember that day when I finally returned to the apartment kept for me, showered, and dressed in a suit again. I felt like filth wearing such fine material. Feeling the suffocation of the apartment, the little reminders of Tomoe, I left in search of.. something new.
What I found was you.
I saw you in the window of the shop, all decked out in simple shirt and jeans. You were watering the many potted plants, eyes concentrating on their leafy arms, hands steadily pouring out the stream of water. Your hair was blue-black, swept up in a ponytail and I thought you were beautiful.
But it wasn't your beauty that caught my eye, it was something else. Something that I still don't know what.
-------------
My feet guided themselves, my mind wandered as well. The two didn't cooperate, each going in their own direction. While my feet took me north, my mind was wandering south where home was. Finally, I stopped. I didn't know where I stopped, but my feet were in a world of their own, and I could do no more to control them than I could my mind.
Tomoe.
I turned to look listlessly into the shop to my right. Roughly, I brushed my long hair out of my face, and stared with unseeing eyes at the shop full of flowers and plants. And that was when I saw you.
Tomoe.
It couldn't be, because the two of you looked nothing alike. But my eyes roamed over your face and all I could think was Tomoe. What was it? Was it your eyes? No, because Tomoe's eyes were a deep brown. Your hair? No. Then what?
My heart stopped, my breathing stopped, and I blinked in vague surprise at your lovely face.
You turned, jumping slightly to find some stranger standing outside your shop, staring so boldly at you. But you smiled nonetheless, a little nervously, but surely. "Welcome! How may I help you, sir?"
Breath.
I drew a deep breath, and quickly pushed my hair back again.
Think.
"Uh.. I'd like to buy," my eyes fell on some flowers, "roses."
You nodded, extending a hand to gesture me into the quaint shop. "Please, come in sir. What color roses would you like?"
My wife had only died ten months ago. I have only just managed to get over the guilt of her death today. I felt like I was cheating on my wife. "A dozen roses," I said stupidly. Well, it was about time I visited Tomoe's grave.
"Yes," you nodded patiently, speaking slowly as though I were a child, "what color would you like, sir?"
I blinked, and let my eyes wander till I found some roses. "Those are good, white roses." Tomoe liked white. White is a good color.
"Ah, well, I have a bouquet right here if you'd like to buy it today, sir."
I found myself smiling into your kind face. I couldn't help but pull out some money. "That would be good."
White stood for purity and innocence.
White was forgiveness.
-----------------
I was surprised to see him there.
He stood tall, with his white white hair and small glasses. Tomoe always said those glasses did nothing but make him look cool.
Yukishiro Enishi half turned toward me, a scowl already in place. I don't think I've ever seen that man smile, or perhaps he just never found a reason to smile at me.
He sneered now, his lips pulling back in disgust at the sight of me. "So you have come as well. Do you come everyday?" He gestured at the roses I had placed there the day before, "What is this? Some attempt to feel better about murdering my sister?"
My heart clenched. "Enishi," I began.
"Shut up, I don't want to hear it." He turned back to the grave with Tomoe's name engraved in the thick stone. Himura Tomoe. I sighed, and put the flowers I bought today down beside his own brilliantly colored bouquet.
We stood side by side as the sky began to turn orange and red.
"You didn't deserve her."
I know.
My eyes closed and I breathed in the warm air.
I know.
"You don't deserve anything." Enishi turned his cold stare to me. "You aren't good enough."
He spun on his heel and walked away briskly, as though he could no longer stand my presence. .
"No," I murmured, "I'm not."
But it doesn't mean I didn't love her.
-----------------
"Himura san," you said, full of good cheer, "How was your day?"
I smiled contently, "It has been good." Good that now I have seen you. I looked down at the roses in my arms. I don't know what I'm thinking.
"I am so tired today," you sighed, "and I haven't even done anything! I feel so lazy."
I nodded, watching you clear off the counter and put supplies away. You were always so open, telling me everything that was on your mind. You trusted me before I even learned to trust you. I'd wondered before why I continue to come back to your store. Perhaps it was a way of punishing myself. I would come buy flowers from a beautiful girl and then go to the grave of my beautiful wife. It was almost like a ritual.
"You know, sometimes I feel like I can just go to sleep and never wake up. Sometimes, I just want to drop everything and lie down. But I'm afraid that if I do, I'll lose everything I have now. It feels like.. like my life is slipping through my grasp, and I can't do anything about it, so I have to keep my eyes wide open or I'll miss it." You laughed and walked out of the store, "I'm being silly, aren't I?"
I watched you lock the door before shaking my head lightly. "No, that is not a silly thing to think."
I feel the same way.
My hand came up and brushed at the hair in your face, involuntarily. I could feel their silkiness between my fingers as you blinked your large blue eyes at me in surprise.
Tomoe, my mind told me. It was a constant reminder of her.
I let your hair slip through my fingers, and pushed back all thoughts of kissing you.
"Forgive me," I said, backing away from you, "I should be on my way."
You gaped at me without speaking, so I bowed and turned to leave. "Good day, Kamiya san."
As I walked away, I heard your soft whisper, "Good day, Himura san."
Perhaps, I should not come to see you again. Perhaps I should never go back to that store to buy flowers. But my heart is weak, and I know that tomorrow at this time, I will be by your side again.
Tomoe. Will she forgive me for this?
I can't help but like you.
:End Chapter 2:
AN: o.O It's haard writing with Kenshin's mindset, I think I'll just stick to Kaoru's. =P Thank you to all my reviewers!
Wistful-Eyes – you guessed right, and thx for complimenting my writing. I feel so loved. ^^
Kitsune KeNsHiN – Wow!! The first time someone said my summary attracted them to the story! I suck at summaries, so I'm glad! Thank you!
Aryana1 – firstly, sorry! I don't know what story you're talking about. I haven't read any like that, but I'll try to help you look for one like that. Secondly, thx for adding me to fav!
Nigihayami Haruko - *jaw drops* reading ur review was hecka cool. I need to go check out ur stories cuz u write well! Thanks!
Himura Kamiya Kaoru – wow, adding me to favorite stories after only one chapter? I feel so honored. But that scares me too, I'm afraid that my story won't be good as I continue -_-. Haha, and it was ur pushing that made me write this chapter so quickly! thx
Dusty Pens – Haha, thank you! WoW, I'm so glad u don't think my writing is bad. And thx for the advice, I'll try to add more emotion to them. Yea, I guess things are pretty dead pan right now. Thx for ur suggestion! I'm trying to use it right now. *grin*
Alli – alas, I lied, this isn't my first fic. Sorry! My one shot totally slipped my mind. But thx for the comment. ^^
Goldmund/ do/Kagura/The evil witch/ Erisu L. /Usagi Tuskino/MZ. AMbER EYES – Wow, thank you guys for ur reviews. I'm so glad u guys found it cute and all. *Grin* and thx for saying that I kept their charm and personality, cuz I did try. =P Thank you!! You guys rock.
Silent Tears of Agony – Thx for being my first reviewer!! *grin* and I'll remember. Hope u enjoyed the second chapter.