A/N
A belated MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone!
Heh, I know this chapter is extremely delayed…but I hope it was worth it. I do remember promising to finish this fic this year, and I still plan on doing that!
Since has disallowed review-responses at the beginning of chapters, I just want to say a quick THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed! If you're a registered member and reviewed, I hope I replied to it, though if I didn't, I most certainly will do it soon. Anonymous reviews I can't reply to, unfortunately, but I still really want to thank everyone who reviewed!
Heh, on with the chapter then, eh?
Chapter Eighteen: Revelation
Kaoru looked up as she heard a knock on her closed room door. "Come in," she said, before looking back down at the essay she was working on, and completing the sentence she had been writing. When she was done, she looked up and smiled to see her mother standing in her room, an unreadable expression on her face.
"Okasan," she said, her smile wavering slightly when she saw the paleness of her mother's face. "Is everything OK?" Mrs. Kamiya nodded hurriedly, mentally chiding herself.
"Oh, yes," she said, giving her daughter a weak smile, "I just…well, I wanted to see whether you wanted anything…" Kaoru could not resist raising an eyebrow at her mother.
"Er, no, not really…" she said, puzzled, "Why?" Her mother looked sharply at her. "O – Okasan?" Mrs. Kamiya frowned inwardly as she saw the concerned expression on her daughter's face. What was wrong with her? If she wasn't too careful, she would end up blurting everything out to Kaoru first…and…her rejection was something she didn't think she would be able to bear.
"Sorry if I disturbed you, Kaoru," she said at last, after a small silence, "Go ahead and carry on with your work…" Giving her another weak smile, she turned around and headed back towards the door, when she paused. "Kaoru…I…" When her mother paused, looking as though she was struggling to say whatever it was that she wanted to say, Kaoru was really worried. It wasn't like her mother to act like this. What's going on here?
"Okasan are you feeling alright?" she asked, slowly, "If you are, why don't you…lie down or something? There'll be no need for you to make dinner; we can always ask Otosan to get something from somewhere on his way home." She grinned, "Or I can always cook…"
Mrs. Kamiya could not help but smile at her daughter's suggestion. "I don't think you, your father or Aoshi would want food poisoning, Kaoru," she said, "And neither would I."
"Okasan! My cooking's not that bad!" exclaimed Kaoru, indignantly, "Is it?" Shaking her head and not answering, Mrs. Kamiya walked out of the room, closing the door behind her as she did so. Kaoru stared at the door, frowning slightly as a voice inside her head told her that her mother's behaviour was really odd, but shrugged it off and turned back to the essay she was working on.
She didn't notice Mrs. Kamiya leaning against the closed door, her deep blue eyes saddened as she stared at nothing in particular in the corridor. "I'm so sorry…Kaoru…" whispered Mrs. Kamiya, before she pulled herself together and headed downstairs.
Meanwhile:
Saito Kazuko didn't stare. Well, she must have when she had been a small child…but she was sure that she didn't make it a habit to continue to stare at people at her present age. Especially when the 'people' were those such as her son; and even more so when she was staring just because he was…well, looking as though he was in a good mood.
Saito nodded at whatever his mother was saying as he continued to stare at the TV, his legs stretched out on the couch. Sensing eyes staring at his back, he sighed inwardly and turned around to find his mother still standing there, her eyebrows raised.
"Is there something wrong, Okasan?" he asked, in a different tone of voice to what he usually used on anyone else he knew. His mother shook her head, or rather, seemed as though she was going to shake her head, when she nodded.
"Well…it's not that there's something…wrong…" she said slowly, knowing that she should choose her words carefully lest her son should clam up again and not talk to her. "It's just…" she paused. "Hajime, did…anything good happen in school?"
Saito cocked an eyebrow, "…Why do you ask?"
"You're…looking c – " his mother stopped. She had been about to say cheerful when her consciousness had thankfully reminded her that it was the wrong word to use. Since when has Hajime been cheerful anyway? "You seem to be in a very good mood." Saito's amber eyes gleamed in amusement as he continued to observe his mother for a moment or two, before shrugging and turning back to the TV.
"It's not a crime, is it Okasan?" was all that he said. Kazuko stared at the back of his head, stunned. Something was definitely going on.
"Oh, Hajime…" Biting back a growl, Saito turned back around.
"Yes?"
"Remember…remember what you told me about Kaoru? Uh, Kamiya Kaoru?" She didn't see her son's eyes widen slightly. "Well…are she and Aoshi – well, are they…involved?"
Saito could not stop himself from frowning. He had completely forgotten about that. Che…I only said that to worry her into telling the poor kid about his mother, I hope she didn't take it seriously. He looked at the worried expression on his mother's face. Or maybe she did. Crap. And it's quite clear, at least from what I saw of his behaviour during break, that he's in love with someone ELSE. Even though she's more of an immature weasel than what I would have expected.
"…Involved?" he echoed. His mother nodded, not willing to elaborate further. It was bad enough that she was prying into her nephew's private life anyway. No need to elaborate on it. "Er, I…" Saito paused. What should he say? The truth? No, I don't think so. Then what - ? "I don't think they're involved," he said at last, "That kid wouldn't get involved with anyone…" Unless they're immature weasels…
Kazuko looked surprised. Whatever answer she had been expecting, it was clear that it wasn't this. "They're…they're not?" Saito shook his head, and followed the action with a shrug.
"I don't think they are," was all that he said, before he turned back to the TV, desperately hoping that his mother wouldn't question him further. He could feel his mother still staring at the back of his head, but didn't turn around. He did not feel comfortable talking about the…little white-lie he had told her. Ignoring the voice in his head that said it wasn't a simple white-lie, he tried to focus on the TV.
Sagara-Residence:
"Dammit." He paced up and down his room, the particularly bad scowl on his face growing as sounds of gunshots and of swords-clashing filled the air. He spun around to glare at the figure seated cross-legged in front of the small TV in his room, a console in his hands, "Will you please stop that?"
The figure either didn't hear him, or just heard him and ignored him. Either way, he kept on playing the game, his eyes focused on the screen as he moved his fingers across the console accordingly, wincing occasionally as the character he was controlling got hit once or twice.
Growling, he walked past the seated figure and, crouching down behind the TV, reached out and quickly pulled the plug for the TV out of its' socket. When he stood up again, he could see the seated figure staring at the TV, scratching his head and wondering why on earth everything had just turned blank.
"What just happened?" he asked, looking at his friend.
"I yanked the plug out," replied the brown-haired figure, looking satisfied with himself. "Save it Yahiko, I'm not in the mood to listen to you yelling at me too," he snapped, seeing his friend open his mouth looking as though he was ready to argue with him. Yahiko glared at him for a minute or two, before he dropped the console on the floor.
"Couldn't you have told me before you did that? I would have saved the progress; I've never actually gotten past that big block-head before you know," he muttered, "But I guess you don't really care about that, do you?" Sano shook his head as he sank down on his bed.
"I swear to god…I am going to kill him one day…" he mumbled, his voice muffled as he placed his face in his hands. Yahiko wondered whether he should act thick and ask him who he was talking about, but decided that in the mood his friend was in…it would be wiser to not act ignorant.
"Don't worry, I'm sure that you won't have to do it alone," he said, "I can think of quite a few people who wouldn't mind helping you dispose of him."
"He had the nerve to – to do this to me!" exclaimed Sano, looking up at Yahiko, his brown-eyes blazing. Yahiko winced as he saw the ugly bruise on the right side of Sano's face. And he knew that by the next morning it would be a distinct blue-black colour…not that it wasn't distinct enough already.
"…Yeah, well, Saito's just an – "
" – And why the hell did Aoshi hold me back again?" wondered Sano, his eyes narrowing, "I mean, I was quite prepared to left-hook the greasy haired slime-ball back…but Aoshi didn't let me…"
Yahiko sighed inwardly, "Remember the last time you tried attacking Saito?" He saw his friend tense and nodded, "Yeah, I thought you still remembered; well, if Aoshi hadn't stopped you today, who knows what would've happened?"
"That's not the point!" snapped Sano, "I could have at least tried! That amber-eyed…bastard punched me and…I couldn't do a thing about it!"
Yahiko refrained from saying anything; which was probably wise. It wouldn't do if what he really thought were to slip out of his mouth now; and what did he really think? That Saito was anyway going to get hold of Sano and punish him, so, it was just better really that he had done it sooner…and with just a punch. Well, fine, not just a punch…a well-placed, strong punch. But something tells me that Saito won't stop here...he doesn't strike me as being the kind of person who'd just punch someone and forget that they'd gotten him into late detention a while ago.
His eyes widened as a sudden thought popped into his head. "Hey…sensei and Kenshin never turned up for practice, did they?" Sano, who had been muttering to himself while Yahiko had drifted away with his thoughts, looked up suddenly.
"Hmm…you're right…" he said, "But, they were both there…I mean, Kenshin was there during break and then Sensei came up to speak to Kenshin during break, right?"
"Could they have…gone somewhere?" Sano raised his eyebrows.
"Oh? And where would they have gone?" he asked. Yahiko shrugged.
"I don't know it was just a suggestion…" he mumbled. A knock on the room door snapped them out of their thoughts.
"Sanosuke, dinner's ready. Bring Yahiko-kun with you, will you?" Sano sighed.
"Yeah, sure thing, Kachan," he mumbled, listening as his mother's feet faded. When he was sure she wouldn't be able to hear him, he looked at Yahiko, an alarmed expression on his face. "What am I going to do?" he asked, "When they – when she sees my face…she's going to think I've been fighting again…"
"Well, that's true, isn't it?" asked Yahiko.
"That's not the point here!" glared Sano, touching his cheek and wincing, "You know that I'll be dead meat! They banned me from all of that fighting I used to do before, remember?" Yahiko nodded; how could he forget? A few years ago, Sano had been every bit the teenage gangster; beating people up for practically no reason…and scaring the daylights out of everyone else. If it hadn't been for a younger but pretty much the same cheerful Kenshin…and he supposed, Mr. and Mrs. Sagara's threats, he'd still be the same gangster. Fed up of the numerous amounts of detentions and eventually, the letter of suspension and further talks of possible expulsion, Sano's parents had somehow managed to knock some sense into him.
Which was why he was now worried that his parents would think that he was starting to fight again. "Maybe they'll believe you if…you say you fell down the stairs or something?"
"Yeah, and I happened to get such a large bruise because of that, huh?"
"If you have any other better ideas, go ahead," said Yahiko, as he stood up, "But can we go downstairs now? I'm hungry."
Sano scowled, "Some friend you are…" he muttered, before he wrenched his room door open and walked outside, closely followed by Yahiko.
Meanwhile:
As he brought the car to a halt in front of the traffic-lights, the expression on his face was one of anger. He didn't relax his grip on the steering-wheel one bit…in fact, his hands clutched it tighter. Even though he was staring ahead of him, his thoughts were far, far away. He couldn't believe what had been revealed to him that afternoon. Growling, he moved his head around and his eyes narrowed dangerously when he saw the aged piece of paper lying on the seat next to him.
His temper rose as he simply looked at the damn thing. Damn that letter. Damn Shinomori Yuuji. Damn Kaeri. Damn that bastard kid…dammit…dammit ALL!
"Just you wait, Kaeri…" he muttered, as he turned his attention to the traffic-lights once more. Normally, he wouldn't have doubted his wife so suddenly – and simply because of some old letter – but it all made complete sense. He would receive some explanation before the day was over; he promised himself that.
Kamiya Residence:
Aoshi let out a long sigh as he entered his room, closing the door behind him. It had not been a good day for him. Mentally threatening his inner-voices, he prevented them from starting to talk about the…many things that had been revealed; especially during break-time. He really didn't need those thoughts to plague him again. It was bad enough that they had made it impossible for him to concentrate in class or even during athletics practice.
Athletics practice…he sighed as he remembered the 'main-event' of that practice; Saito and Sagara. Inwardly, he was somewhat relieved that his cousin had left it at a single punch – that he hadn't pursued the fight with Sagara Sanosuke. If he had…well, either Sagara would foolishly have lost all self-control, or he would have been dragged into the fight. It was bad enough that Saito had looked amused when he did hold Sagara back from foolishly attacking Saito, saying something about protecting the weasel's friends. Hah, well, he was right; you WERE protecting her friend –
STOP. Aoshi immediately silenced the inner-voice when it started commenting again. At least until I have a nice, long shower…he mentally added, knowing that it was useless to hope that the inner-voice – or voices – would stop bothering him for good.
Dropping his sports bag on the floor beside his desk, he stretched his arms out in front of him. He desperately wanted to flop down on his bed, but…he knew it would be better to have a shower first – and thus get out of the sleeveless white t-shirt and baggy, dark-blue shorts that he was wearing. Besides, a shower would hopefully clear up his mind…and make him feel a tad bit better.
He had only just opened his wardrobe, looking for a change of clothes, when he heard the knock on his door. He stared at the closed door, frowning at it. Who could that be? He was hoping that he'd have time to grab a set of clothes together with his towel and rush into the bathroom, without answering the door, but he was forced to stop when he heard the familiar voice call him.
"Aoshi?" Throwing his towel onto his bed, and heaving a large inward sigh, he crossed the room swiftly and opened the door. If he was surprised by the half-worried expression on her face, or the way she was nervously wringing her hands, he did not show it.
"Kamiya-san…" he said, nodding at her. Mrs. Kamiya flashed him a weak smile – at least, she hoped it was a smile.
"Aoshi…" she seemed to be about to say something else, but…she just stopped. The two of them stood where they were, staring at each other for a while.
It was Aoshi who broke the silence – and it wasn't because he was uncomfortable with it, he just wanted to go and have his shower. "Is there something you'd like?" he asked, as politely as he could.
Mrs. Kamiya took a deep breath. She really didn't…want to do this…but it was, well, it was now or never. Steeling herself, she looked right into the black-haired teenager's ice-blue eyes, trying to push aside memories of someone else's similar eyes…although they were usually alight with amusement. "I…I need to talk to you, Aoshi," she said, wondering how she managed to keep her voice steady, "It's urgent."
Aoshi stared at the lady standing in front of him with the air of someone ready to…go into battle. He racked his brains, trying to remember if he'd done anything wrong, to offend her. He hadn't, had he? "…Now?" he asked. Mrs. Kamiya nodded.
"Yes please," was all that she said.
"…Here?" asked Aoshi, surprised. Mrs. Kamiya nodded again. Not showing any indication if this had surprised or bothered him, he stepped aside, allowing her to walk inside. He watched as she stood uncomfortably in the room that did not show any signs of an 18 year old living in it; there were no posters, no notices…nothing. "You can sit down," he said, after a minute or two. Smiling at him, Mrs. Kamiya sat down on the bed, although she was tensed.
Now a little curious, he headed towards the chair that was by his desk, when Mrs. Kamiya stopped him. "Could you…close the door please?" she asked. Aoshi stopped, staring at her out of thoughtful ice-blue eyes, before shrugging and turning around. Closing the door, he made his way to the chair and sat down, looking at her.
Since she wasn't speaking, and since he just wanted to clear the small doubt he had in his head, he spoke first, again. "I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
"What?" Mrs. Kamiya realized what he had said, and shook her head, "Oh, no…you didn't do anything of the sort. If anything, I'm the one who did something wrong; something very wrong." Even though the last part was whispered, Aoshi heard it. Leaning back in the chair, he ran a hand through his now slightly longer hair, brushing the long bangs out of his eyes as he did so.
"…………" It seemed as though Mrs. Kamiya had finally decided to start speaking; or so he thought, judging by the way she shifted on the bed and squared her shoulders.
The look she shot Aoshi could only be described as being pleading. "Aoshi I…understand that you will probably never talk to me again, after hearing what I have to say – and I don't think I'll ever be able to blame you for it…" she stopped, "but please, you must understand that…I had no other choice…alright?"
The first thing that popped into Aoshi's mind was that Mr. Kamiya had somehow kicked up a fuss again, and that he was going to be kicked out of the house…and probably sent somewhere else. If this was the case, he hoped that he would be returned back to his aunt's house…even though it would mean living under the same roof as his cousin.
"…I…will try and keep that in mind…" he said, dully, just wishing she could hurry up and tell him what was going on.
"And…and will you promise not to interrupt me until I'm finished?"
"…Yes," said Aoshi, hoping they could get on with things now. Mrs. Kamiya took a deep breath.
"When I was younger, I wasn't brought up in the way most children are brought up today; I didn't have much freedom to do anything, whether it be going out for a walk to clear my head or…associating with anyone I wanted…" She sighed heavily, "My family, you see, was very rich. My father was an extremely successful businessman and he had a lot of profit…and he also came from a traditional Japanese family."
She paused, trying to put her sentences together carefully. "And that meant that he only bothered about social-status and wealth…nothing else. Well, in any case, when I was around six, I made a friend. He had just arrived in the district we were living in, although his father had lived there for a long time." Aoshi made no move to interrupt her as she spoke, guessing that it must be something important for her to actually bother to tell him. "The…boy's father happened to be an engineer – " Mrs. Kamiya gulped, " – and his father happened to be on the team of engineers that worked for my father."
She smiled, "Regardless of that, the two of us…grew quite close at first, going to the same schools and everything. In fact, when the time came to chose High-Schools, I was upset that I would not get the chance to see my best-friend again; we had become best-friends by that time." She fingered the edge of the blanket on the bed, "Luckily, however, we both ended up going to the same high-school, even though we did not know it until we had moaned about being apart for some time. He wanted to be an engineer too, like his father, and it was known that almost all universities here in Japan had a high-regard for students from Eigamura – especially students who wished to pursue a career in engineering…so it was quite natural that he went there. As for me, well, Eigamura had a really good reputation for a school, and it was a little more expensive than usual schools…so, naturally, my father had to send me there."
Aoshi did not notice the sarcastic tone that had entered the older lady's voice when she spoke about her father. His attention had only been captured when she had mentioned Eigamura…his old high-school, and he knew that his father had gone there too. It was then that he remembered one of the conversations he had heard during dinner, while staying at the Kamiya Residence…a conversation that revealed that Mrs. Kamiya had attended Eigamura High-school as well.
And Otosan wanted to be an engineer too… He frowned, although Mrs. Kamiya didn't seem to notice it. Was this…heading in the direction he suddenly had a gut feeling it was heading in…? Or was it just his…imagination?
"What was his – " he stopped, remembering he had promised her that he wouldn't interrupt her while she was speaking. Mrs. Kamiya smiled sadly at him, seeming to have guessed what his question would be.
"His name?" she asked, her voice shaking. Aoshi nodded. "…Yuuji; Shinomori…Yuuji."
Kashiwazaki Residence:
Misao shook her head as she flipped through the channels on TV, while listening to Soujirou who was seated next to her. "I guess it was a good thing that Aoshi stopped Sano," she said, growling mentally as her cheeks felt warm at the mere mention of his name, "But…I can understand why Sano would have got so upset. I mean, it was just a late detention. Saito didn't need to go and make a big deal about it…" She sighed as Soujirou raised his eyebrows at her. "Fine, maybe it was a big deal – for Saito at least – but…did he really have to punch Sano?"
Soujirou shrugged, letting out a long, weary sigh as he did so. "I don't know, Misao," he admitted, rubbing his temples wearily, "I just…I think I'm getting fed up of it all…" Misao quickly tore her attention away from the TV and shot her best-friend a concerned look.
"Sou?"
"…This probably sounds stupid – no, scratch that, it is stupid…" started Soujirou, smiling, "but…I really getting fed up of everything that's going on…" He paused. "And I don't even know why."
"What do you mean?" asked Misao, as she knew that the boy seated next to her would never say something like that unless something was seriously wrong.
Soujirou made a face. "I don't know…I mean, nothing that's happening around me affects me – well, except for your injuries…and now Sano's problems with Saito…and, well, Saito himself…and I think – " He stopped when he sensed Misao staring hard at him, and turned around. "Did…I say something wrong?"
Misao shook her head hurriedly. "No, no…" she said, "I'm just trying to figure out how all of that affects you…" Soujirou shot her and incredulous look.
"Misao, what happened to you affects me because you're my friend – my best-friend," he said, "And Sano, Yahiko and everyone else…they're my friends too, aren't they? And then Saito…making those remarks about my family…." He sighed, "Even Kenshin's acting a little weird…" Misao's ears perked up.
"Kenshin?" she asked, "How?"
"I don't know…he just…I really don't know, he just seems a little different to me," said Soujirou, before groaning – something that really surprised Misao. "I guess I just don't know anything anymore…"
Misao placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, now rather worried about her friend. "OK Soujirou, spill the beans; what's really bothering you?"
"What do you mean?" asked Soujirou, still not looking at her. Misao snorted.
"Yeah, fine, maybe those things you mentioned do bother you…but I know you well enough to know that something else triggered something to make you feel so fed-up," she said, "And I'd like to know what it is."
Soujirou looked uncharacteristically thoughtful, and waited a while before he answered. "Well…the truth is, Misao, I don't – "
" – If you say I don't know one more time, I swear to god that I will whack you so hard you won't remember who you are," interjected Misao, looking like she would do it too. Soujirou chuckled as he saw the expression on her face. Misao, Misao, Misao…you'll never change…
Seeing Misao waiting expectantly for an answer, he shook his head. "Er…well…" he paused, only to be jabbed hard in the side courtesy of Misao's elbow. "Itai, Misao…" he mumbled, as it was true. His side was sore after all the running they had to do at practice, especially since sensei hadn't been there and Saito had taken the practice – without Kenshin to hold him back. "Well…it's just, do you think there's a reason for all the cold-looks that Aoshi-san sends m – " Soujirou broke off in mid-sentence as he saw the tinge of red enter his best-friend's cheeks. He didn't know if she noticed it…but judging by the way she quickly turned away from him, he guessed she did.
But…did I say anything that would embarrass her? All I did was mention Aoshi-san's…His blue-eyes widened as it hit him. Of course…why hadn't it hit him before? When everyone else had been talking about it? Scenes from different conversations were flashing around in his head. Yes…Kaoru…she had been right, as had Megumi and the others. Why hadn't…why hadn't he realized it? Ano…am I REALLY that naive?
"S…sorry…" said Misao, regaining control of herself and turning back to him, "Uh…what were you saying? About…about Aoshi?" Soujirou was too busy observing Misao's behaviour to answer her at once.
He gave himself as well-deserved mental-kick. Now that he thought about it…it was quite clear that what Kaoru and Megumi had been saying had not been a joke; Misao did have a huge crush on Aoshi. And here I was, about to talk about the frosty-looks he sends me. Soujirou no baka.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when Misao waved a hand in front of his face. "Gomen, Misao…I just…uh, never-mind," he said, the usual smile back on his face. Misao shook her head and waited for him to continue. It soon became quite clear that he wasn't going to.
"Sou! What were you saying?" she asked, getting a little impatient, "Huh? You were saying something about…cold-looks and…Aoshi…" She watched as Soujirou shook his head hurriedly.
"Ahaha…ano, I was just…heh, well, I was just talking about the…uh, the looks he sends Saito…" he stammered, aware of the fact that he wasn't making sense with what he said – and that Misao knew it too.
"He…what?"
"Ah, Misao, look at the time," said Soujirou, glancing at his wrist-watch as he said that, "I really should get going. I have quite a bit of work to do for tomorrow…" He stood up hurriedly, smiling as he saw the scowl form on Misao's face.
"But you only came a while ago!" she protested.
"Yes, but I didn't intend on staying here for very long any way, Misao," explained Soujirou, "I really am busy these days…" He smiled once more at her. "I'll try and drop by tomorrow, Misao – " He stopped when he felt the firm grip on his arm, "Misao…come on, I do have – "
" – No, no, no!" said Misao, stubbornly shaking her head. Not only did she really want the company, she also knew that Soujirou had been about to say something else…about why he was getting fed-up these days, but, for some reason, had changed his mind. And that was strange, as the boy never hid anything from her.
Smiling gently, Soujirou removed his arm from Misao's grasp, "Ja, Misao…" he said, ruffling her hair as she pouted at him, before turning around and walked towards the front door. Thank-goodness I didn't tell you about Aoshi-san's glares and cold-looks. I wouldn't want your opinion of him to change…especially since you seem to like him.
Misao stared after him, the pout changing into a small frown. What had that been all about? He was hiding something from her; she was sure of it…but…what could it be? Did it, perhaps, have something to do with…Aoshi? But…what would it be?
Meanwhile:
Kenshin stood in front of the grave, the expression on his face one of sorrow. Reaching out, he touched the smooth surface of the tombstone and let out a heavy, burdened sigh – something you rarely heard from Himura Kenshin. The sky around him was dark…and the wind that blew across the cemetery was cold, but he didn't care much about it.
"I…I'm back, Tomoe…" he said, softly. He raised his hand unconsciously to his cheek; touching the cross-shaped scar that had been practically carved on it. He gave the grave a sad smile. "I survived that night with just this scar…and a leg-injury…but you…" he swallowed, "you passed away, and it was because of me…" He was silent for a while after that, as he thought about what his sensei had told him. He had to admit that Hiko Seijiro had been right; he felt a little bit better after telling him what had happened. Not that it meant he blamed himself any less…he just felt a little bit at ease.
He dropped his hand, away from his cheek, "I wish I could bring you other visitors, apart from just myself, but…I can't," he said, looking at the grave, "I know someone who would want to come here; she even reminds me of you sometimes, although most of the time she's a refreshingly different person. You…would have liked her, Tomoe…" He smiled sadly again. If only you were here…
"What are you doing here?" Kenshin spun around as he heard the spiteful hiss from behind him. His violet eyes widened when he saw the tall, pale-haired man standing behind, glaring at him out of eyes full of loathing.
"Enishi…!" The two men stayed where they were, one glaring and the other one simply staring. Trying to look anyway but into the blue-eyes full of hatred, Kenshin noticed the flowers and the incense that the younger man had in his hands. "I see you brought her favourite flowers…" he said, smiling softly.
"Why would you care?" hissed Enishi, venom practically dripping from his voice. "I thought I told you never to come here again! I thought I told you to stay away from Neesan's grave…"
"Enishi, I – "
" – No! I don't want to here anything from you!" snapped Enishi, "You…you killed her! Isn't that enough! Why must you keep on bothering her dead spirit by visiting this grave?" He glowered at the red-haired man, "Why must you keep bothering me?"
Kenshin shook his head hurriedly. "Enishi, please, listen to me; if I knew what was going to happen, I wouldn't have – "
"I said I DON'T want to hear any of your pitiful excuses!" yelled Enishi, "I TOLD you that two years ago!" He lowered his head, "Please, in the name of humanity, just…leave…" Kenshin stared at the younger boy, a saddened expression on his face as he did so. It seemed that the past two years hadn't done much to reduce the boy's hatred towards him; and he could understand that. He wouldn't have forgiven himself either, if it had been his sister.
With a last sad look at the grave, Kenshin turned his back on it. "I'll…see you around, Enishi…" he whispered, before walking away. I'm sorry I killed your sister…and for the pain it caused you…
Kamiya Residence:
Kaoru fought the urge to bury her face in her hands as she recalled the events that had taken earlier on that day. She just couldn't believe that Saito Hajime had to be the one who found her notebook. Well, fine, it was pretty stupid of her to write down stuff like…that in her notebook…but she had only done it because she tended to forget things often!
And…if Saito had been telling the truth about points 1 and 2…then it meant that Aoshi knew. She groaned aloud, glad that she was alone in her room. Aoshi-san knew that Misao had a huge crush on him. And – oh god – he knew what she had planned on doing; getting the two of them together!
Mou…for ONCE in my LIFE why can't things work the way I planned? WHY did I even have that notebook in my bag in the first place? And it didn't help when Saito knew about her…her feelings for…for Kenshin.
"Kaoru-chan no baka! It's your fault! Misao's going to kill you when she finds out what has happened!" she muttered, groaning again. She only hoped that the sudden discovery didn't ruin whatever feelings Aoshi had towards Misao. If that were to happen…well, she'd do Misao a favour and killed herself.
Feeling hungry all of a sudden, she looked up, pushing her embarrassed thoughts out of her head. A stroll into the kitchen and a small snack would surely help her stop thinking about the earlier events. Standing up, she opened her room door and walked out into the corridor. For a moment, she wondered whether Aoshi would be hungry too, but quickly decided that it was too bad if he was, as she was not going to face him that day…especially not after that embarrassing scene during the last few minutes of break.
Turning hurriedly, she headed for the stairs, her stomach growling at her to hurry up.
Aoshi stared. That was all that he could do; stare. He watched Mrs. Kamiya tuck a strand of black hair behind her ear, and unconsciously noticed that her hand was shivering slightly. An awkward silence had settled between them.
"I…didn't have a choice, Aoshi. My father, he – he was strict…and he didn't like it when he wasn't listened to…" Mrs. Kamiya paused, rubbing her eyes as she did so, "He threatened to…to do something to Yuuji…" She sighed heavily. "In…any case, Yuuji agreed that we should break our…relationship off, not wanting to hurt me by making…making Otosama mad at me, and I agreed because…I didn't want Yuuji to get hurt because of me."
She didn't dare look at Aoshi as she said the next bit. "What we didn't know – not me, not Yuuji, not Otosama or Okasan – was that…I…I was pregnant…" Aoshi had a feeling he knew what she was going to say even before she said it, and a part of him screamed inside, begging Mrs. Kamiya to stop her story, begging her to just stop, period. "…Pregnant…with Yuuji's child…"
Aoshi's hands were clenched into fists as he eyed the black-haired lady out of ice-blue eyes. He wasn't aware of the fact that he had turned pale. And, quite honestly, he didn't care. His mind felt as though…it was on overdrive…and – what was that tight feeling in his chest? That feeling that made it seem as though…something was going to explode inside him soon?
"Aoshi – " Mrs. Kamiya thought better of what she had been about to ask him when she saw the frosty look he sent her. Fighting back the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes, she continued with her story. Stay calm, Kaeri…you knew that this would happen; you knew he would reject you afterwards…you decided that you had to take that risk… "When my parents found out, my father was furious. I thought that my father would either disown me and throw me onto the streets…or otherwise ask me to have an abortion or something…but, coming from such a traditional family, abortion was completely out of the question." She paused, "Yuuji was informed, as I was told that I would not be allowed to keep the child, to keep you, because I was supposed to…marry someone else…"
Aoshi didn't want to listen to what Mrs. Kamiya was telling him. He just wanted to…clamp his hands over his ears…or better, yet, get up and run out of the room, and keep running until he felt a bit better. His entire past was…just being told to him…making him discover that he had been living a…lie. Why? Why did this have to happen? Why did she have to spoil everything by telling me?
"My father told Mr. Kamiya and…Hisashi that he was sending me abroad for a year, to stay with my cousins, and they believed it. Only, in reality, I was in Kanagawa, practically hiding during the…nine months. When my child – our child – was born…Yuuji was the one who was by my side. It wasn't my mother, my father or anyone else that I knew of; it was Yuuji…and Kazuko…" Mrs. Kamiya's voice broke, "I couldn't stay with my child or Yuuji for long; I got a message saying that my father expected me back."
She bit back the sob that was threatening to come out of her mouth, "Kazuko…had already given birth to her son at that time…and when Yuuji told me that I should go back…I tried telling him that a newborn child needed his mother, but he…he just shook his head and told me that he would manage. I…I returned to my parents…and a year later…I married Hisashi. A year after that…Kaoru was born…"
She didn't bother to hide her tears when she turned to Aoshi again, seeing the…expression on his face, or rather, in his eyes. "Aoshi, please, I know I don't deserve it, but please, forgive me…" She bit her lips, preventing sobs from leaking out, "I…I wasn't able to be there for you…or for Yuuji and – "
" – Stop it." Her deep blue eyes widened when she heard the tone of his voice.
"Aoshi – "
" – I said stop it," repeated Aoshi, his whole body rigid. "How…could you?" His voice was low, even threatening, as he glared at Mrs. Kamiya – as he…glared at his…mother.
"Please, Aoshi, you have to – "
" – All my life…I thought…my mother was dead," Aoshi sounded as though he was speaking through gritted teeth, "And now…now…I learn that she's been alive for the past 18 years…living a different life, with different people?" Mrs. Kamiya shook her head as a sob did manage to escape from her pursed lips.
"I didn't enjoy the fact that I had to – "
" – Fine, you might not have cared about…me, but what about Otosan? Didn't he mean anything to you at all?" Mrs. Kamiya could tell from the tremors in his voice that…this onslaught would continue for a while, or rather, that it would continue for as long as it took for him to…get rid of the sudden emotions that he was feeling…the pain he was going through.
"I cared about Yuuji!" she said, her voice hoarse, "I loved him – I still do! I did what I did, thinking it would be better for him! Do you think I wanted to end up marrying him and then have my father do something to him? Do you?"
"How am I supposed to know? You're the one who made all these 'decisions' after all."
"I – " She was interrupted by the quick knock on the room door. Aoshi tore his gaze away from Mrs. Ka – from his moth – from the lady seated on his bed, and turned towards the door. The question hit him just then; did Kaoru or Mr. Kamiya know about…this? He glanced back at Mrs. – at the lady, to see her shaking her head. "No-one…no-one knows. I plan on telling Kaoru but – "
"Okasan? Are you in there?" Mrs. Kamiya's eyes widened when she heard her daughter's voice, and she stood up to answer the door when Aoshi shook his head, moving towards the door.
Kaoru smiled at him when he opened the door, although he was quick to notice the slight trace of worry in her eyes. "Aoshi-san…I'm…sorry if I'm disturbing you, but…is Okasan – Okasan, there you are!" Kaoru stepped into the room, the worried expression on her face again.
"Kaoru." Mrs. Kamiya wiped her eyes hurriedly, "What is it?"
"Otosan just got home and he – he's in a really bad mood for some reason! Didn't you hear him slamming the door behind him!" Kaoru shivered, "I've never seen him this angry, Okasan…but, he was looking for you…so I came here to tell you that." She frowned, "I don't know why he's looking for you though…I – "
Aoshi stiffened as he sensed another presence close by and as he turned his eyes away from Kaoru and…her mother. He flinched when he saw Mr. Kamiya standing in the opened doorway of his room. It wasn't the man's mere presence that made him flinch – even though he had grown to dislike the man more as Kaoru's mother had told him her story – it was the look of complete rage on his face.
"Hisashi?" called Mrs. Kamiya, not really liking the look on her husband's face, "Hisashi, what's wrong?" Mr. Kamiya stepped into the room, glaring at his wife. Kaoru stared wide-eyed at him. What was –
"What's wrong! What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong! The fact that my wife was not the sweet, innocent, well-bred woman I thought she was!" yelled Mr. Kamiya.
"Hisashi – "
" – You probably thought you were being really clever, didn't you? Hiding the truth from everyone?" hissed Mr. Kamiya, interrupting her, "And, oh god! Those photos…the Yuuji in those pictures was just a friend was he, Kaeri!" Mrs. Kamiya paled. Kaoru looked from her mother to her father, confused.
"Otosan, what's – "
" – He was so much of a normal friend that he fathered your first child did he?" He gestured at Kaoru, "No, and I'm not talking about her. Kaoru's our legitimate child – well, my legitimate child." Aoshi's gaze landed on Kaoru, and…he was not surprised to find himself feel sorry for her. He himself had just found out about…it…he could just imagine what she was going through.
"Otosan, what are you talking about?" asked Kaoru, not looking too pleased at her father. She turned to her mother, "Okasan, what's wrong with Otosan? Why's…why is he saying all of these…things? They don't even make sense…"
"They don't make sense, Kaoru?" yelled Mr. Kamiya, "Does the fact that Aoshi is your…mother's first-child make sense to you? Does it make sense to you that the reason why you and…and Aoshi look somewhat alike is because the two of you share the same mother?"
The silence in the room was deafening. Mrs. Kamiya stood up as she saw her daughter trembling – without realizing that she herself was trembling. "Kaoru – "
" – It's a lie…" whispered Kaoru, her eyes flitting from her father, to Aoshi and finally to her mother, "It's a lie…isn't it?"
"Kaoru please – "
" – This bastard and his father…ruined our family!" yelled Mr. Kamiya.
"Hisashi stop it," said Mrs. Kamiya, her voice firm, "None of this is Aoshi's or his – Aoshi!" Without a word to anyone, Aoshi turned around and, pushing roughly past Mr. Kamiya, walked outside, his face expressionless though his eyes were smoldering in their iciness. "Kaoru, please, go to your room."
"What?" asked Kaoru, sounding dazed, "No…I want to find out – "
" – Kaoru, please, listen to me and go to your room," repeated Mrs. Kamiya.
"Okasan – "
"I will tell you everything you need to know, Kaoru," said Mrs. Kamiya, a steely note entering her voice, "But right now I…need to talk to your father. Please, go to your room."
"You have no right to tell Kaoru anything any more, Kaeri," said Mr. Kamiya, "You're not fit to be her – "
"Kaoru, I told you – " Mrs. Kamiya shot her trembling daughter a pleading glance. Still looking rather dazed, Kaoru nodded at no-one in particular and walked out of the room, slamming her room door shut behind her. Relieved, Mrs. Kamiya turned to the irate man standing before her, an enraged expression still on his face. "Hisashi – "
"I have nothing more to say to you," was her husband's acid comment before he glowered at her once more, before turning on his heel and stomping away – probably to their room.
Suddenly feeling her knees weaken, she moved backwards and sank back down onto the bed, trembling. Her deep blue eyes filled with tears once more. This was not supposed to happen. This was not how things were supposed to go. Hisashi…was not supposed to know before she told him…and Kaoru…Oh god, what have I done? What have I done to my…family?
A/N
(Lets out a long breath) whew…writing that bit…man, it was hard! Something tells me that this chapter was shorter than its predecessors…but I really wanted to end it with everyone finding out. I'm glad that I managed to write that bit out. Now I just have to focus on the after-effects of this sudden revelation of truth!
Well…I hope you all liked this! Reviews will be gladly accepted!
See ya!
Siriusgirl1