Disclaimer: RK is not mine.
Author Notes: Thanks a lot for the reviews and if somebody thinks I'm a jerk for asking 200 reviews, gomen! It's my last wish before I go. Right now, I'm trying my very best to finished this fic before December. (Sigh) Sorry, no replying reviews for this chapter.
My model, my love
Chapter 14
By: Blackz
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Kaoru helped Kenshin carried all the groceries into the house with a stern look on her face. After their fight at the supermarket, they haven't said a word to each other. Kaoru went into her room to change into shorts and sleeveless top and came back to the kitchen to help Kenshin cook lunch. Kenshin also who had changed into his normal clothes was busy washing the vegetables.
Kaoru couldn't help smiling with the sight of Kenshin wearing a pink lacey apron but she manages to keep her stern look.
"What can I do to help?" Kaoru leaned against the counter.
Kenshin who isn't smiling after their fight at the supermarket said, "You can help chopping the carrots."
Kaoru looked at the knife she was holding on her right hand and a carrot on her other hand. "I don't think I know how to chop these." Kenshin looked at her smiling gently. "Its okay let me teach you." Kenshin came stood behind her and guided her using the knife. "You chop the carrots into these little pieces like so…" Kaoru felt comfortable being near to him like this and her anger towards him just ceased a bit. She closed her eyes and leaned against him. Of course Kenshin noticed this and chuckled a bit.
"Kaoru…we're still learning you know…"
Kaoru quickly straightened and start chopping the carrots but Kenshin stopped her hand from doing so. His hands went to her waist and just being there, he nuzzled her ear. "I think you can manage from here right?" Kaoru nodded. Her heart was thumping and her body was so tensed. Kenshin whispered to her right ear.
"Why can't you just admit that you're pretending? Can't you see how much I…"
"Tadaima!" Soujirou arrived and Kenshin quickly let go of Kaoru and continue washing the vegetables. Suddenly, Kaoru felt so cold, her warmth just been taken away from her. Soujirou stepped into the kitchen and hugged Kaoru. "My darling is cooking huh?" winked Soujirou.
"Uh...yeah!" Kaoru gave him cut-that-out look. Of course Soujirou was confused and Kaoru grabbed him and pulled him to the living room. "Umm…Kenshin? You can manage with out me right?"
Kenshin nodded while giving her a warm smile. "Yes I can and don't worry. You must have something important to talk about."
When both Kaoru and Soujirou in the living room and clear from Kenshin's hearing range, Kaoru explained the situation. "I think we should stop what we're doing!"
"But why? A minute ago you're the one whose babbling for not stopping all these nonsense and now when I trying my best to pretend, you asked me to stop doing that?!" Soujirou almost yelled and quickly Kaoru covered his mouth.
"Ok...ok…I'm sorry. I know I'm making the situation confusing for you but when you came back just now, he was just trying to tell me something and he sounded so serious." Kaoru sigh.
Soujirou sat on the sofa and make Kaoru sat beside him. Then he patted her hand. "Kamiya Kaoru, my dearest cousin and my best friend. Just one man can make you world upside down…" Soujirou chuckled. "…but please stop this nonsense if you truly love him for the sake of both of you. He suffered enough and you too. Just admit your feelings and I don't think you should worry about rejection because from the looks of it, I think he'll return your feelings."
"But Sou-chan…he had been really weird for the past few days. I think I've lost the man I love." A tear slipped from eye.
"I think not just yet. There still time."
"But at the supermarket, he said he doesn't have the intention to flirt with me or whatsoever! He said that and I'm so sad…"
"Now…now…he's human! He's not perfect and nobody is perfect! There is time that he said something that can make you feel sad, you got to understand the situation. And the only thing you should do is..."
"…try to pretend for the last time so I can really make sure that he really loves me!" Kaoru lighten up and hugged Soujirou. "It's perfect! Thanks for your advice Sou-chan! You're the greatest!" Kaoru hopped to her room leaving the confused Soujirou. 'Why can't you realize that you're making the same mistake?'
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At lunch
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The lunch was great. Kenshin cooked a lot of food for the three people in the house. "Wow, Ken-san! You think we can manage to finish all of this food?"
"I doubt it!" Kenshin smiled as he put rice for each bowl. Kaoru sat beside Soujirou and he himself sat beside Kenshin. Kaoru was talking animatedly with Soujirou and Kenshin would just listen. Kaoru sometimes would put some food in Soujirou's bowl and to Kenshin's surprise she was spoon-feeding him!
"Ya…you shouldn't do that! I can eat by myself…hehehehe!" Soujirou was feeling really uneasy about this but Kaoru kept insisted and he decided to play along. Kenshin looked at them without showing any emotion. He ate his lunch quietly and as soon they finished their lunch, he washed all the dishes.
Around two o'clock, Sano and Megumi came back bickering. "Sanosuke Sagara! Why can't you agree with the wedding planner just once in every single thing? To the flowers and food arrangements… even my dress! If it will be like this, we shouldn't hire a wedding planner and you can be the planner!"
"But it's not my fault! I'm the one whose going to get married not him! And don't you see him? He was flirting with you! 'Darling this…darling that!' I don't even call you darling!"
"You're jealous aren't you?" Megumi wrapped her arms around her fiancé's waist. "Don't worry…I'm not onto him! By the way, I like it when you call me your sexy babe…" And that Sano kissed Megumi passionately unaware of two people watching them.
"Eww…get a room! Or can't you wait till your wedding night?" Kaoru said and Soujirou and her started making sick faces. Sano flashed them a cocky smile. "Where are you guys going?" Megumi asked while running her fingers through her silky black hair.
"Tonight we're going to watch a movie so me and Sou-chan going to the local video store to rent some tapes." Kaoru jumped excitedly.
Sano and Megumi watching them go and as the blue Honda disappeared from their view, Sano sigh. "Kaoru had changed a lot when we arrived here. Have you noticed that?" Megumi nodded. "Not to mention Kenshin. He had changed a lot too. Remember when he kissed Kaoru out of the blue? That's shocking!"
"Yeah, I bet there's something going on and they're not telling us." Megumi nodded and wrapped her arms around Sano's waist.
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Kenshin sat near the cliff out looking the beautiful sea. The wind blows his red hair and he was thinking really hard. 'Now I realized that I've been acting really childish and I'm so sorry Kaoru. After out first kiss, I thought you felt the same way as me…although it was an accident, it gave me a chance to show that I truly love you…'
He watched at the waves hit the rocks below and the sun is setting. How he wish that Kaoru would be here with him, but no…she's with her cousin. My love for you is endless and why can't you see this love loving you…. Is it because you're afraid? Kenshin sigh. Maybe tonight he will confess that he loved her and if she reject him, and he will step out of her life…forever.
A taxi stopped in front of the house and Tae was back. Kenshin ran back to the house to greet her. "Tae-san!" The young man smiled warmly and helped her carry all the packages that she brought back with her. "Whoah! Load of stuff you got there! You went shopping and you didn't asked me to come with you?!" Kenshin said jokingly and both of them laughed together. They put the entire load in the living room and both of them sat onto the sofa and sigh together. They look at each other and laughed. Tae start telling Kenshin about her day.
Tae told him while laughing. "My sister was so happy when I visited her and she dragged me shopping with her! You know, she just got back from Canada and I haven't seen her for so long since…" Tae's head drooped with a sad expression on her face.
"Since when?" Kenshin asked confused by Tae's actions.
"Since…since Kaoru's parents died." Kenshin was stunned. "Can you tell me how they died?" Knowing that the story is painful to tell but kept trying. Tae took a deep breath and began her story.
"As you can see, Kaoru's mother, Sae and me are sisters. Sae got married first and then me. Kaoru's mother was the last one to marry…" She gave a weak laugh and continued. "…When she went into labor, she died giving birth to Kaoru. Her husband raised the child until she was four and later, he died in a car crash. He was on the way to Kaoru's birthday party you know…All of us were waiting for him but he never came." Tae was crying now. Kenshin gathered the older woman into a hug and urged her to continue her story.
"Both of Sae and me know that Kaoru's parents wish was to have their daughter to be a model and now here she is all grown up and a supermodel…" Kenshin smiled weakly and patted her hand. So this is Kaoru's past.
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As Soujirou drove to the video store, Kaoru was busy setting up her next plan. Soujirou heaved a heavy sigh at his cousin's actions. "Don't you know that you'll gonna hurt him and yourself? You're taking a wrong step there!"
"NO! It's not a wrong step; it's a careful step that I'll take so I can make sure that I won't be rejected by him! Sheesh!" Soujirou sigh again as he parked the car in front of the store. Both of them entered the store to rent some movies.
"Ah…Kaoru-chan! It's been a long time…indeed a long time!" The store owner gave Kaoru cheerful smile.
"Yes, it's been long I haven't step into this store! How are you Mitarai-san?"
"Oh…I'm fine but just getting older day by day…unlike you Kaoru-chan! You're getting prettier and prettier!" The old man chuckled. "So…what kind of movies do you want to rent?"
Soujirou and Kaoru looked over the shelves and came up with to movies.
"Which one do you want to watch? Hot Chick or White Chicks?"
Kaoru shrugged. "I dunno…both are good movies."
Mitarai looked from the counter he was sitting to both people he had known since they were children. He found himself laughing at their faces trying to figure out a movie to choose.
"So you kids need some help choosing a movie?" Mitarai smiled.
"Yes!" Both of them said it together and the old man burst out laughing. "Ahahahahaha!!" Soujirou and Kaoru both sweat dropped. "If you ask me, I think you should watch your old favorite. You know like the ones you usually watched with your family when you were small."
Kaoru nodded and suddenly ran to a nearby shelf and picked up a movie. "It's been so long since I watched this movie…"
"Peter Pan?!" jaw dropped Soujirou. "Y-you want to watch Peter Pan?!"
"Yeah! Besides, I used to watch this with my dad and not to mention with you!" pouted Kaoru. "I know how much you like Wendy…you said she was a real babe when you were five." Kaoru snickered at Soujirou who turned beet red.
"I was five okay! It's not like I like her now!! Anyway, it's your choice…AND…I follow your choice not because I like Wendy!" Soujirou quickly added when Kaoru snickered. And so both of them rent the movie and quickly returned back home before dinner.
(In the car)
Kaoru who was back thinking up about her next move suddenly squealed excitedly making Soujirou stopped the car. "What were you thinking?! Don't squeal like that!!" Soujirou yelled, still need some time over his little panic attack.
"Gomen…gomen! I finally came up with a plan…" Kaoru whispered at Soujirou.
"You w-want u-u-us t-to k-kiss i-in front of e-everybody?!" stammered Soujirou. "You must be crazy! I'm not doing that!"
"Aww…just a kiss. Just think it as a family kiss. If you still worried about it, we can practice kissing in my room before we watch the movie!! So, how's bout it?" Kaoru puts on her puppy eyes. Soujirou sigh and nodded. "But I still can't believe youcame up with such a crazy idea! You're mad…" Kaoru huffed. "Am I that ugly to be kissed?" Soujirou just laughed and started the engine.
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Kenshin and Tae prepared the dinner together. As he stirred the miso soup, Tae went to greet her son and niece as the came back from the video store. "We got the movie!" Kenshin heard Kaoru giggled and he smiled. He can't wait to confess his love to her before the movie.
Soon dinner was ready and everybody dig in. Surprisingly, the quite boy, Yahiko was fighting with Sano over the fried fish and it soon over when Megumi bonked Sano over the head and muttered something like being childish. Other than that, Kaoru was talking happily with Soujirou and completely ignoring Kenshin.
"Quick Sou-chan! Finish your dinner quickly so we can practice. Hayakku!" Kaoru whispered and Soujirou nodded. They excused themselves from the table and quickly put their plates at the sink and disappeared into Kaoru's room. Tae looked at them suspiciously but still smiled.
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Everyone got settled at the living room. Sano sat on the sofa with Megumi in his arms while Yahiko sat cross-legged on warm carpet. Tae was in the kitchen preparing the popcorn and she asked Kenshin to get Soujirou and Kaoru because the movie was about to start. He smiled because he's going to take this opportunity to confess to Kaoru.
In front of Kaoru's door, he was about to knock but the door was a bit ajar. He heard Kaoru grumbling and decided to peek what was happening. To his surprised, Kaoru was kissing Soujirou.
His heart was shattered into little pieces. He closed his eyes for a moment and reopened them. He smiled sadly and went back to his room. He sat on his bed and picked up a receiver and dialed a number.
"Hello? Hi, I'm Kenshin Himura and I would like to book a ticket to Tokyo. It would be nice if you can give tonight's flight."
"Yes sir, we do have one more seat in tonight's flight. Your flight will be one am. Will that be alright with you sir?"
"Yes and thank you." He put down the receiver and started to pack his bags. He went to the living room and acted as if nothing happened.
The movie started and when they saw the title, Peter Pan, they all groaned except Kaoru, Soujirou, Tae and Kenshin.
"Peter Pan?! Jou-chan…for once can't you think up a good movie? Last time you make me and my sexy babe here watched Snow White!" Sano shook his head.
"Can't blame her because she's a busu…" Yahiko grumbled and Kaoru bonked him on the head leaving a big red bruise on his head. And so everyone watched the movie…
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When the movie ended, Kaoru soon realized that she's been acting really childish and she's going to make a huge mistake. But it was too late when Soujirou pulled her into a kiss in front of everybody. When the kiss ended, which left everybody jaw dropped, Kenshin was nowhere in sight. She let go of Soujirou who had a guilty impression on his face and ran to Kenshin's room to explain but his room was locked.
"K-kenshin? It's me Kaoru…I want to talk to you about something…"
"Kaoru…please leave me alone. I'm quite busy now." Kenshin replied.
"O-okay…" Kaoru said and made way to her bedroom and thinking what to say to Kenshin tomorrow.
------------ (Tomorrow morning, around 8 am) ------------
Tae banged Kaoru's bedroom door while shouting. "Kao-chan! Kao-chan!!! Wake up, Kens-san disappeared!" Kaoru opened the door while rubbing her eyes. "Oka-chan…what time is it?"
Tae shoved a piece of paper to Kaoru. "Read this…it's from Ken-san…" Kaoru read the paper and tears started to form in her eyes.
Dear minna,
I'm really sorry if I leave you all without saying goodbye. I wish I could stay longer but my presence is no longer needed. I may sound confusing but I can't tell you all how I'm feeling right now and I just want to be alone at the moment. I'm really sorry…
P.S: To Sano and Megumi, I'm really sorry for not being at your wedding and I hope you will find a new best man.
Yours truly,
Kenshin Himura
Kaoru was crying really hard now and Tae was comforting her. "It's my entire fault!" Kaoru said between tears. Everybody had woken up at that time and Soujirou was leaning against the wall looking at his cousin sadly. Megumi and Sano had read the letter and they were really shocked. Megumi was crying too as if she understood what the letter meant but Sano looked like he hadn't.
"What the fucking hell is he doing?!" He was yelling while comforting his future his wife-to-be. "Jou-chan tell me right now what he meant in that letter! I know there had to be something about you that he leaved." Pointing at Kaoru who was crying like hell.
"Sano don't blame Kaoru! It's not her fault!" Megumi screamed at Sano.
"No! It is my fault! If I hadn't been so stubborn, this wouldn't have happened. Sou-chan…you're right…I'm sorry." Kaoru hugged her cousin. Then she turned to her aunt, "Oka-chan…can you help me pack my bags?" The older woman nodded. "I call up the airport." Soujirou volunteered. Sano who had been gaping screamed, "Now you're leaving?!" Megumi who had lose her patience knocked her fiancée out cold. Sano who had a huge bump on his head and his eyes swirl lay on the floor unconscious.
"He really gets on my nerves…" Megumi huffed. She turned to Kaoru and hugged her best friend. "Now go and catch him before it's too late! Leave rooster head to me!" she winked. Kaoru nodded and start packing her bags with Tae helping her.
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A/N: Not a great ending there in this chapter and sorry if this chapter sucked. I've been really busy this month and I'm trying my best to update because I'm way behind schedule. This fic supposed to end in November but its December now and I'm late! So review me and I'll update!