Leaving
Kaoru awoke, she yawned and pulled the covers back over her head once again. Sounds of birds and life wakening up kept the woman awake. She blinked, letting bits of light come in. Smells of food being cook reached the raccoon girl. Food! She shot out of bed, changing into her lavender kimono, knowing how seemed to match a certain Rurouni's eyes. She tied her hair up in usually bouncy ponytail with a matching ribbon.
Outside were glories. No clouds lay in the wake of the warm sun; cheery petals covered the ground, leaving behind a sweet aroma for the nose. Greens of every shade bloomed from the leaves of trees. The every air was taste of spring life caught with in a moment. Kaoru smiled blissfully, Kenshin came around the corner, hold the food. His breath caught in his thout. Seeing this once girl a woman before him. There was no words to formed in the man's mind at the image he saw of Kaoru, the cherry blossoms following like a pink snow around her, air gentle playing with her hair, everything about this woman could not be defined to this man.
'Miss. Kaoru, I see you are awake early' his voice gentle and soft, his own hair being pulled by the wind.
Her eyes fell on the red haired man, smiling. ' Good Morning Kenshin, the girls should be coming over later this morning.' She said in turn.
A bright smile lit up the Rurouni's face, thinking of the two bright beams of sunlight of the girls. Kaoru watched him smile, thinking how he would make a great father someday. Such thoughts bring a faint blush to her cheeks. How could she think of such things! Kenshin only saw her a sister, no more then a girl. Yet she wanted him not to see her as a girl, but a young woman. Only once had she seen him look like that, like a man. Not the Rurouni mask. That night, after the fight with Saito. He had given her one kiss, making the faint pink turn deeper. She turned a little, hoping Kenshin could not see her blushing like a child.
Yet nothing was not seen by the samurai's gaze, he loved it when she blushed in such a way. His smile grew more deeper, one moment she was a gentle woman, the next, bounding his poor head with a brokken. He let out a soft laughter; there was not a woman in Japan like his Kaoru. His? When did such thoughts enter his mind? More then the man would let out to himself, or her in turn.
" Well, I better cook start breakfast before Yahiko wakes up. He has been eating like no tomorrow, that he has!' Kenshin said
" Well he is getting older, I can barely make enough to keep up with his endless stomach and body. I think he has grown 5 inches these past weeks. Haven't you Kenshin?' she said, turning back to stare into those lilac eyes.
" Indeed I do Miss. Kaoru! I will also start the laundry, the girls love to help me, that they do!" the young man walked away saying.
She smiled, heading for the seating area, and then Kaoru saw it. The calendar date May 14th. Her heart stopped, every inch of her body froze. Today was the day, the one they had come to dread.
Soon, sounds of two hyper little girls filled the spring air. Yahiko was in the dojo, practiced his swings then left to go see Sano about something with the Vixen. Sano, sleeping. As for the Kenshin, he was doing the laundry with the little ones. Kaoru watch him, eyes falling back to the date.
'Nice and clean!" Kenshin said
' NICE AND CLEAN"" both the girls echoed, their laughter once again filling the spring air. Yet someing about man was being faked to the girls. Kaoru could tell by his laughter and smile. He too knew the date.
Kaoru could barely stand in her skin. Would he leave? Leave her? Leave the dojo and his life? Had Kenshin not done enough in his youth to serve Japan? becoming the Hitokiri Battosai? Killing and almost loosening his soul in blood and battle? Her anger spilled out into her hands, the fist and nails digging into her skin, the pain making her come back from her head. Kenshin had felt the anger bloom in sword woman, this emotions was so new to him in her. Why was she angry? Those normal serenity blue eyes seem ablaze for a moment, then dying back to the blue he had come to love.
Dr. Genzi walked into the dojo, his granddaughter running about, hugging his legs.
'Lets all go to the beef pot!'' his cheerfulness in tone with his grandkids.
Kaoru smiled, flakily. Kenshin could see the smile was forsed. Frowning a little, he worried about Kaoru. Yet it was hard to contact the dots. This was the day to make his choice. He knew why she was angry and worried so much, deep down he too felt guilty for making Kaoru feeling this way.
' Its to believe its been hardly a year sense Kenshin came to live with you?'' Dr. Genzi said.
'' I know, but it feels like he's always been apart of our family.'' She smiled softly walking down the road. Kenshin was a head, the little one on his shoulders, the other holding his hand talking and pointing about simple things that a child can only see in such a bright day, only on such a day was the sky the purest blue to be seen below.
' The first fireflies of spring'' Kenshins' voiced asked
Kaoru could see something in his eye, the little girls talking on. Deep sadness untouched by anyone flashed in those lilac eyes. Kaoru had seen such pain once on Kenshin's face; the first time was after Yahiko had come to them. He had seemed to be dreaming about something. When he awoke, the pain was echoed in his eyes. Such pain, she had wanted to hold him, like now.
' We should all come down tonight and watch the fireflies tonight Kenshin.'' She walked, over, bending down slightly. Her eyes trying to tell him to say yes.
'Watch the fireflies huh?'' Kenshins' voiced softly
Before anymore was said, a large foot hit the poor man on his head. Sano's trademark grin covered his face.
" Your not thinking about do what that guy asked are you?'' Sano's voice angered.
' I worry about you Sir Ken, your so kind.'' Megumi deep voice came to the ears of Kenshin.
' Ya just because he asked ya Kenshin, don't do it!'' Yahiko slammed his fist into his hand, brown eyes lighting up slightly.
Kenshin could hear them, his friends carried about him. Inside, the former manslayer felt warmth for his family. Yet one pair of his found his, blue to lilac. She said nothing to him while the others spoke. Kaoru only smiled, a sad smile just for him and him alone. Kenshin could only knobbed a little.
'Well then I better be going to talk to Lord Okubo'' he said, smiling
" Do you even know where he is?'' Sano asked, the fish bone dangling from his mouth.
" Yes, so I better be going that I should' Kenshin said, walking way. A weight of sapphire eyes trailing behind the man.
Any intention of going to the beef pot was lost to Kaoru at that moment, she made an execute about not feeling well. Walking back to the dojo. Yahiko had offered to walk back, yet she had said no. All of them could sense the young woman needed to be alone for a time.
Her thoughts lingered on the first time she seen Kenshin, think he was the Battosai, yet seeing him, wondering how such a gentle man could even carry a sword. Small, light and the deepest eyes she had ever seen in any person. Kenshin Himura the Rurouni. She laughed at her reaction of finding the truth during the fight with Gohihi. The moment Kenshin had said he would stay, the first smile surfaced. Altering both their paths in life. Life was never dull with that red haired man around. All of her now family was together just by him being here with them.
Cherry petals fell around the warding woman, her own thoughts floating as the petals did. Kauro's smile fell into a calm line. More and more her thoughts drifted to the events of the past mouths. Yet it worth all of it for one man.
" Kenshin." A soft sound escaped her lips, caring on the wind with the scent of Jasmine to one man.
The death of Lord Oboea rocked the nation of Japan, casting out waves still felt to later years. After talking to Saito and learning of what the Wolf of Medua was about to do. The samurai made his way to the bridge. Voices rang out in panic, what was going to happen to the Nation.
'If my freedom is the price for Sir Ken killing, I would weather take the hang's man noose."
" If things had not changed, it would be that guy killing Kenshin, you old guys made the messes, not Kenshin"
" He made the choice not to kill anymore, becoming a Rurouni, and not you want him to kill again!"
' We will never let our Kenshin go to Kyoto, he's out wanderer, not your manslayer any more!"
His friend's words echoed in his head, Kenshin drained out the panicked voices from the people around him. Still one more pair of words took hold his very soul. " A manslayer is a manslayer until he dies!" These words held a ring a truth as clear as the ringing of sword being drawn.
" There is no doubt that Battosai, is for ever a part of me. An angry manslayer only liveing in heat and blood of battle" his eyes closed for a moment, feeling the part of him stir, his own voice echoing in his mind " The times are drifting by, and they are no longer letting me remain still like they use too."
Kenshin's heart ached like never before. Part of him thought he was ready to fight, yet the other part wanted to stay, return back to the dojo and start dinner, his friends around him, laughing and joking. The man known as Kenshin made his choice, a pair of light sapphire eyes flashed in his mind, the scent of jasmine reaching him, a soft voice reached hi ears " Kenshin".