If you have not read chapter one with Kenshin, go back and read it now!
AN: Well, thank you for the reviews! I never realized how much reviews mean to an author, they really are addictive. Sorry about not updating in weeks…I hate it when authors leave you hanging, but I honestly don't know where I'm going to take the story, so I've been thinking a lot. Too much, in fact. If you have any ideas as to where you want the story to go, just give me a review and I'll try to incorporate it. Finally, does anyone out there want to beta my story:crickets in background: Alright, then. I guess I can find one on ebay…
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin and I'm not making any money from this fan fiction.
When You Can't Let Go
Chapter 2: Getting To Know Us
After two weeks with us Soujiro was no longer a guest, he was going to be staying with us for quite a while. He took up the chores that Kenshin had, and he helped me teach classes twice a week.
For some reason I had more students after Kenshin left. I know the parents feared the old hitokiri, but I never knew how much they begrudged him. So with 10 new students, two being girls around 8yrs old, Soujiro helped teach the more advanced classes while Yahiko helped out some with the beginners.
Soujiro was amazing with his sword, as good as Kenshin. I'm still not quite sure about his past. All that he's told us is that he has been wandering for a year, his story sounds similar to Kenshin's.
Sometimes I still lie in bed at night wondering about Kenshin. Hopefully his journey is going well, and he hasn't encountered any trouble from past rivals or other crazy people. I truly hope he's happy, even if it's not with me. I realize that he carries a burden greater than any I could ever imagine, but my heart still hurts when I think about how he couldn't share it with me. I would've helped him! I loved him. The question now is, do I still love him? Will I wait for him?
Thus, my dilemma. Soujiro is kind, and warm. The way he hides things behind a smile is endearing and I can't fault him for being reclusive, not when he has opened himself to me as much as he has so far. He's told me that soon he would tell me everything. Kenshin never told me anything…I can already feel myself falling for Soujiro and my heart has made a permanent space for him. Will Kenshin come back to me before I let Soujiro know how I feel?
I remember the day we taught an advanced class together.
Flashback
Kaoru was exhausted. She and Soujiro had sparred with everyone in the class.
Spreading herself on the floor, Kaoru laid down and gazed at the wood of the ceiling. She glanced over at Soujiro, who had taken up a similar position to hers with his hands cushioning his head that hadn't broken a sweat.
"How are you so good, Sou-chan?" Kaoru caught her mistake too late, but Soujiro merely smiled.
"Well, Kao-chan," Soujiro's eyes sparkled with amusement while Kaoru's shone with embarrassment. "I learned swordsmanship early on from a great fighter. I…I killed many people working for this man. I thought what I was doing was right, but then a great swordsman fought with me and showed me that there's more to life than the teaching I followed. So I began to wander, hoping to atone for the sins of my past."
Soujiro looked to Kaoru, praying he would not find horror or anger at his past. He found neither in her compassionate gaze. Kaoru looked at him.
"Soujiro, I don't care what you did in the past as long as you're a good person now. You can't change your past actions, but you can mold yourself into a person of great character now. I don't hold anything against you. In fact, I'm honored you would help me teach the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu."
Soujiro had never found Kaoru more attractive than at that moment. Her eyes blazing with conviction and face tinted with the results of hard exercise. Kaoru's damp bangs clung to her forehead as she closed her eyes and told him a little of her past.
"My mother died when I was very young, I barely remember her. My father, he began teaching me the way of the sword when I was 6 years old. My father died a few years ago. I never got to learn about being a girl, but that doesn't matter now because I have a dojo to run." Kaoru's blue eyes glazed over with memories, only to focus again on the present. "What's done is done, but maybe you could tell me more about you sometime soon, Soujiro."
"I will Kaoru, don't worry. I have a feeling I'll be telling you a lot more in the future."
The two fighters lay on the wooden floor in silence for a while before Yahiko came in and demanded why they weren't cooking dinner yet.
End Flashback
Yes, I don't know who exactly it was that Soujiro worked for and I don't know who this great fighter it was that changed his mind about what his old master taught him. I'll find out in time.
Hmm, but I wonder what he meant when he said he'd be telling me a lot more in the future…more what? I'm not very attractive, but I'm not repulsive. Maybe if I dress up some more, he'll notice me like Sano notices Megumi. Though, with any luck he won't treat me the way the Sano treats the fox-doctor.
…..
Kaoru chewed her breakfast pensively. I noted the gentle way she held her chopsticks, the tendrils of ebony escaping her high ponytail, and the far-off look her inward gaze held. I've been staying with this Kamiya Kaoru for two weeks. Already I've decided that this is where I will stay for as long as she will allow, which will hopefully be a long time.
The young kendo instructor has grown on me, and so has the little samurai that lives with us. The freeloader makes quite the amusing companion. All in all, I believe I have finally found peace.
Nightmares are few and far between when I'm sleeping in the room next to Kaoru's. Her even breathing soothes me and Shishio-sama's teachings seem far away when I'm near her. They're far away because I now know the answer. I will protect the weak.
Kaoru may not be 'weak' but she needs protection, as does Yahiko.
I would protect them with my life. My stained life is nothing compared to their innocent and vibrant lives. They may be weak according to Shishio-sama, but they are strong in their own rights-and I will protect their strength.
…..
A calm and comfortable silence had settled over the three eating breakfast when a loud voice broke the quiet.
"Yo! Jou-chan! What's for breakfast?" The words were audible before the three saw the spiky haired rooster enter.
Thudding without a hint of grace, the ex-fighter for hire sat himself next to Soujiro and Yahiko. Smiling, he reached over and filled an extra bowl with rice.
"Hopefully the little missy didn't make this." Sano inhaled deeply. "Heh, doesn't smell like it. In fact, smells like Seta was the one who made this wonderful meal!"
Kaoru gripped her chopsticks tightly and restrained herself from hitting Sano over the head with a bokken. Her eyes flashed dangerously as her saccharine voice directed itself to Sano.
"Sano, how nice of you to join us for breakfast…" Kaoru's vein was almost popping out from the frustration she felt at the rooster-head as he sat nonchalantly and shoved his face. "It is also so nice of you to volunteer to wash the floors! We are going to be a bit busy today. Yahiko has to teach the beginners class and Soujiro-kun and I were going to go out to the market and buy dinner. The floors are a bit dirty, but I'm sure you'll be able to handle it. You are a big strong man, after all."
With a tanuki smirk, Kaoru rose from her spot and began to clear the dishes. Yahiko angrily yelled with a full mouth as she attempted to take away his almost empty bowl.
"I wasn't finished yet, Busu! Gimme it back!" With deliberate movements, Kaoru deposited his bowl into the pile of dishes to be washed.
"Oh, Yahiko-chan. You were done. What else could you have done to get more? Eat the bowl itself? Tsk, tsk. I believe it's time for you to start your practice before the younger children arrive. Hurry up, Yahiko-chan."
Yahiko lunged at Kaoru, "Don't you call me -chan, you ugly old hag!"
Soujiro's arm moved faster than anyone's eye could catch as he grabbed Yahiko's gi. "Yahiko, I believe that you should listen to your teacher…" Soujiro said with a smile. With a sharp glance and crossed arms, Yahiko nodded and stomped out to the dojo.
Sano gaped. "You can control the brat? Good grief, Seta! What've you got that keeps hold on him?"
Soujiro simply smiled and said, "Well, I'm not sure. Are you done, Sagara-san?"
The rooster-head grimaced at the honorific, " Pssh. Don't call me Sagara-san, makes me sound old. Just call me Sano. And don't call me rooster-head either, but I'm sure you have enough self-preservation sense not to do that."
"Alright, Sano."
…..
The day was hot and humid, without the balm of a slight breeze. Soujiro was concentrating on washing the laundry, and Kaoru was absent mindedly hanging it.
Augh, it's so hot. I need to take a bath! Hmm. Kaoru's eyes glinted, and it wasn't just the sun-she was plotting. I need to have a good laugh. Now…I'm sure I can think of something that'll unnerve the smiling ronin washing my laundry. Yahiko and Sano are too predictable, with Soujiro, I'll need to be incredibly sneaky…
Kaoru surreptitiously made her way over to the wash basin where Soujiro was kneeling. "Soujiro, are you having fun? Would you like to switch places?" Just as the unsuspecting wanderer turned his head to reply, Kaoru pushed him into the large water container.
Quick as lightening, Kaoru found herself on top of Soujiro…inside the water basin. "AAUUGHH! What was THAT for Soujiro!" she sputtered indignantly.
"Ah, Kaoru. I thought there might have been danger, so I removed you from the path of the possibly dangerous projectile-"
"-THAT WASN'T EVEN THERE!" Kaoru finished for him.
Jeez. I can't even pull a good prank on him because he's so gosh darn…Augh. Whoa. He has some firm stomach muscles.
Kaoru shifted slightly from her position on top of Soujiro. Their faces were inches apart, and she could feel his breath on her skin. Their clothes were soaking wet, but they weren't so hot anymore. Well, not hot from the weather, Kaoru's face was burning from embarrassment at their predicament. She attempted to remove herself from atop Soujiro only to slip more and fall onto him again.
Soujiro chuckled and caught her from her second slip. Kaoru's eyes met his and they started laughing.
…..
Kaoru's eyes met mine, and she started laughing. A split second after, I joined her. Laughing and smiling was safer than acknowledging the growing heat I felt inside of me. Her face was so bright and carefree, skin shimmering from the water dripping down her face.
I'll never admit aloud how much I enjoyed her cradled to my front, even if we were in a most uncomfortable position in a wash basin. Truth be told, I had heard her coming up behind me, but I never suspected that she would try to push me in. I could've stopped myself from ending up in the position that we were currently in, but for some odd reason I wanted it. I knew that I was pulling her in with me.
I've become a lecher. Way to go, Seta. Win her heart by pulling her into wash basins.
Kaoru had finally eased her laughing fit into something more manageable, and she directed her mirthful gaze to the sky. "Soujiro, what do you see in the sky?" She asked me in a hushed voice. That second, my heart skipped a beat at her pure beauty.
…..
Soujiro lifted her from his body and stood, Kaoru still in his arms. Moving to stand a little bit away from her, he answered.
"I see a sky that is indefinitely high and clear. In it, I see the embodiment of life itself. The clouds are always changing, never once the same as the moment before. And the sun and moon always have a cycle. Human life always changes, but there are always patterns that never change. In one life, or one sky, a person might see something completely different from another." Soujiro finished quietly, thinking of Shishio-sama's and Himura-san's different teachings.
Kaoru smiled. She looked over at Soujiro.
"Thank you for staying with us. I'm not sure you realize how much Yahiko and…and even I…need you." Kaoru looked over a Soujiro without any weakness in her gaze.
His heart clenched painfully at the sight of her crystalline orbs. They were laced with a pain he longed to ease away, but the strength radiating from her told him that she would make it-pain or not.
"Kaoru-" Soujiro started.
"-Missy! Stop messing around and-" Sano took in the scene before him. "-WHY ARE YOU SOAKED! That is NOT fair, Jou-chan! Who said you get to cool off while I'm over here practically dying of heat while cleaning YOUR floors!"
Kaoru crossed her arms and said, "Fine, Sano. Jump into the water basin if you really want to get wet!" Kaoru gestured towards the half empty water in the large container. "But I'm not sure you could fit your rooster-head in it…" She said thoughtfully.
Sano's eyes flashed with a mischievous light. He ran across the yard and jumped into the basin like a little kid. Water splashed the already soaking Soujiro and Kaoru.
Sano looked up at them from his position in the basin; hair limp and hanging down to his chin instead of spiking from his head. Kaoru burst out laughing. Soujiro chuckled and Sano joined them with a sniggering laughter, complete with snorts.
Yahiko opened the dojo doors and the young students filed out, yelling their goodbyes fondly to him. Yahiko glanced over at the water basin and took in a strange sight.
Kaoru with a sopping wet kimono that clung almost indecently to her curves, Soujiro laughing with a smile the looked different from his usual grin, and Sano…with wilted brown strands of hair instead of his usual gravity defying up-do.
"Ehh…" Yahiko sweat dropped. (AN: Gomen if you don't like this unprofessional tidbit. But you just can't explain it any other way! Anime sweat drops are the best in this situation!)
…..
Battousai made his way through the streets of Tokyo, crimson locks in a high ponytail much like the one he wore in the Bakumatsu. Aware of the uneasy glances that were being sent his way, the hitokiri increased his pace towards the Kamiya dojo.
Reaching the gates of his old home, Battousai pushed open the doors to be greeted by a most amusing sight.
A feral grin touched his lips and he appreciatively took in the sight of his Kaoru with a wet kimono in the hot sun. He noticed Sano in the tub and Yahiko gaping at the scene before him. A strong ki flared, drawing his attention away from the enticing woman before him.
…..
Soujiro sensed a warrior's ki approaching the dojo, so he became battle-ready. He would protect Kaoru. I haven't know her for long, but she has already reached me. I will help her any way I can.
When the doors opened, Soujiro saw the Battousai. The redhead held his head high and directed his amber gaze towards a Kaoru dripping water. Rage swept through Soujiro's veins as he saw the way that Battousai was leering at Kaoru. She is not some candy to be eyed so rudely! Although, I've found myself inextricably drawn to her as well, but that's ME and I'm different.
Soujiro felt his ki jump and Battousai turned to look at him, his eyes cold and steely.
Would this constitute as a "cliffy?" Hehe. I might have to change my story summary, because I'm not sure if my idea for kidnapping will pan out the way I wanted it to. Especially with the change of pairing I'm contemplating. Ha! You readers will not know who will be with Kaoru until the end! If you tell me what you want though, I might be able to tweak the story a bit…