Fanfic by Blueroseulan
August 22, 2004
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The restaurant was a fancy one, expensive from the looks of it. Parking his car in the widely spaced parking lot, Kenshin got out and released a long heavy sigh.
Tomoe called that morning, much to his surprise. At first, he could not register her name on his phone, still unbelieving that she had already lowered her pride. She said she wanted to meet him that afternoon and that she'd treat him to lunch. Though he had planned on spending all day at home and perhaps pay a short visit to Kaoru, he had agreed to meet her, out of respect for the lady. But aside from that, he really wasn't in the mood to meet her right now.
He spotted her sitting beside the window, eyes carrying a faraway look. She was, just as usual, dressed elegantly, her diamond earrings and accessories glittering and catching his eyes even from afar. She was beautiful. Yes, he had to admit that, but somehow, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. Wishing that someone wearing just plain jeans was his companions. Yeah, and her hair must be tied with a large pink ribbon too…
Her face immediately seemed to light up when he showed in front of her. Relief crossed her eyes when he sat down.
"Kenshin, I'm really glad you came to meet me here." She opened, flashing him a smile.
He shrugged his shoulders in an uneasy manner. "Hai… so what do you want to tell me?" he asked, wanting the discussion to end.
Her smile slowly disappeared. With the tone of his voice, she could easily sense that he wasn't really at ease with her.
"Well… I… I just wanted to ask you if you could reconsider our relationship."
"What?"
She wrung her hands together, unconsciously showing how nervous she really was. "I… I mean… We just had a heated argument… it's just our tempers flaring up you know? Maybe we could patch things up and be together again…" she murmured, voice toning to a hushed whisper in her last words.
"Please anata… I find it hard to cope up without you..."
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Kaoru groaned.
For the last fifteen minutes, she had been standing on a cold damp shed, waiting for a bus to pass. Rain had been falling non stop since morning, and puddles of water were forming everywhere. She was scheduled for a check-up with her ob-gyne today and yet she found herself stranded in a waiting shed, waiting either for the rain to stop, or a bus to pass.
Unfortunately, none of the things mentioned above was happening and Kaoru was soon shivering in the biting cold of the wind.
Kami-sama! I f I don't get a ride soon, I'll most likely catch a cold… and it could affect my baby! 'kuso… what am I going to d—
Her musings were cut short when a speeding car wheezed in front of her, carelessly splashing puddle-water to the already shivering woman.
Yelling different colorful curse words to the driver, by now her clothes were dripping wet and even her hair was damp too. Exasperatedly running a trembling hand over her locks, she tried to think of a way to escape her situation.
Call Kenshin… Ask him to pick you up… afterall, you're really late for your check-up…Sapphire eyes suddenly perking up, she was just about reaching her phone in her pocket when she stopped in hesitation.
But he may be busy with his work or something… it would be unfair to pull him out just there and then… She frowned and for a moment considered hiding her phone away, when her mind argued back.
Aww come'on Kaoru! Do you want to get sick? How about the baby? I'm sure Kenshin wouldn't mind…
After a moment of some serious thinking, she finally decided that calling him was probably the best choice now. Trembling hands dialing his number, she held her breath and prayed for him to answer.
"Moshi moshi… Kenshin…?"
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When he heard her voice at the end of the line, relief and concern seemed to swim in his mind. Relief because she had called him—in the nick of time—and gave him an excuse to avoid Tomoe's question. He felt worried though, for Kaoru never called him, unless there was an emergency—which only happened once when she wanted to show him the contract she had written.
Excusing himself, he went far from her earshot, unwanting her to overhear what they would be talking about.
"Kaoru? Is that you?"
Silence and then…
"Hai… um Kenshin… are you doing something now?" she asked voice sounding a bit shy and embarrassed. By heck, he could bet his job she was blushing deeply right now.
"Why?"
"I… well… it's just that I'm stranded right now here in a waiting shed and I still have to go to doctor right now… Do you mind picking me up? I've been standing here for an hour now and there's still no bus…" her tone sounded uneasy and a bit weak, alarming him all the more.
"I… well… sure! Where are you right now? Give me your exact location and I'm on my way." He finished, hearing her give a large breath of relief.
After knowing where she was and putting the phone down, he quickly made a beeline where Tomoe sat. Grabbing his coat and putting it on, he bowed hurriedly.
"I'm sorry Tomoe, but I have an emergency to make… Let's just talk some other time. I'm sorry and I hope you'd understand." He bowed hastily and before the woman could react. He was already out of her sight.
"Wait!" she called out but to no avail. Kenshin was already walking to his car leaving her no choice but to watch as he pulled out of the parking lot and feel the bitter sting of tears in her eyes.
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He found her huddled in a damp corner, shaking and shivering in the bitter cold. Wasting no time, he pulled off his coat and wrapped it around her quivering shoulders.
"Hey…" she greeted weakly, a small smile tugging at her lips. One look at her and a thunderous frown appeared in his face.
"You're sick. You have fever." He declared, lifting her all of a sudden and carrying her towards the car, much to her protest.
"KENSHIN!" she shrieked. "I could walk you kn-kn—ASHEU! ASHEU! ASHEU!"
He grimaced. "And a terrible cold too. You better change clothes, your almost soaking wet. I've got an extra shirt and jogging pants in my trunk. I'll go get them for you." And before she could stop him, he was already out in the pelting rain, rummaging through his trunk. Though she had really wanted to protest, there was a commanding tone in his voice that forced her to obey.
"Here." He handed her a large gray tee-shirt and a pair of black jogging pants.
"Well?" she waited expectantly.
"Well what?"
She groaned irritatingly. "TURN AROUND!" she barked, making him do as he was told immediately.
Though Kenshin tried very very hard to ignore the thought that a woman was indeed shedding her clothes beside him, he couldn't avoid but catch a glimpse of her skin in his side mirror. He gulped. Once, twice, trying to steel himself away from the… well… view…but unfortunately, his eyes seemed to be frozen on the spot and he couldn't help but admire her ivory colored skin and the graceful way her hair fell like gentle waterfalls in her back.
"There. You could turn around now." She declared, totally oblivious to his thoughts. Snapping out of his lustful stupor, he overheard her thanking him for 'rescuing' her from the rain and monster-like cars that tend to drench her in every puddle they traveled on. He laughed, gazing at her form that wore his own clothes.
"My clothes seem to fit you perfectly." He commented, eliciting a slight giggle from her. "I like the thought that you're wearing what's mine" he added, his tone somewhat implementing something. She immediately stopped giggling and looked away, hiding her flaming cheeks from his sight.
"You know, we really should get going… I'm late for my check-up…"
He nodded and drove away, trying hard to put out her naked image out of his busted mind.
From afar, the two hadn't noticed that a sleek white convertible had appeared around the corner and follow them from behind.
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The doctor was already taking too long and Kaoru was starting to worry. Normally, if there wasn't any problem, the results of her check-up would be out in about a few minutes. Now, Kaoru felt that eternity had passed and gone her by and still the doctor wouldn't come out of his office. She shivered and wrung her hands together, silently praying to the gods that the baby was fine.
She was nervous…tense. He had known her far too well to be able to read her body language. Though it was his first time to accompany her o her gyne, it was obvious that there was something wrong in the picture. His hand came to gently grasp her waist, surprising her in the process. Squeezing gently, he shot her a comforting gaze, silently telling her that everything would be alright.
The white door swung open and the woman was already at her feet, walking towards the lady doctor who still walked with elegant measured steps, despite the beads of sweat forming in her forehead.
"Takani-sensei…" Kaoru trailed off, heart beating when she noticed the grim line that had formed on the doctor's lips. The doctor nodded and bowed, suddenly directing her gaze to the man that was standing beside Kaoru, his arm placed around her shoulders in a protective manner.
An eyebrow slightly quirked up when she saw the notion.
"Oh, Takani-sensei…This is Kenshin Himura" Kaoru slightly stuttered, noticing the take of attention he took from the doctor.
Bowing slightly, she busily flipped through her medical folder, "Ah…Himura-san…Your wife here…"
"Um no..I'm not…" she ushered, cheeks flaming red with embarrassment. The doctor gave her a look of surprise, but nevertheless continued, "She may be having problems bearing your child. It's obvious that your wife is very slight and petite." The doctor voiced, flipping her files and totally oblivious to the negative hand signals Kaoru was throwing her. The red head, seeing that Kaoru's attention was in the name calling thing rather than the baby, whispered in her ear.
"Kaoru, let's deal with the name calling later. For now, listen to what the doctor has to say."
His tone surprised her and her arms dropped flaccidly back to her side.
"So, what's the real problem Takani-sensei?" he asked, eyebrows knitted together, concern evident in his voice.
She shook her head. "Basically, the weight of the baby is too much for her. She's rather small to carry a child, and it sprains your back a lot right?" she asked the other woman who seemed rather surprised.
"H-hai." Kaoru bowed, secretly glancing at Kenshin.
"Well, we'd have to do away with it. Rest and some bone strengthening medication might help ease the pain during your pregnancy. I also don't want you straining yourself too hard." Turning back to him, she added as a conclusion. "I hope you don't let her overdo herself Himura-san. The baby's far too heavy for your wife and we don't want her to strain her back don't we?"
"Hai."
The doctor finally nodded and bowed deeply before excusing herself. And as they walked back to the parking lot, Kaoru found herself unable to meet him in the eye.
"Kaoru," he motioned, halting her steps, "I want you to follow the doctor's advice okay? Take your rest regularly. I'll buy you calcium tablets on the way home." He was just about to open the door of his car for her when she stopped him by placing her arms around his form, face pressed in the firmness of his chest.
"A-arigatou…" she murmured breathlessly, heart beating wildly against her chest.
Surprised as he was, he nevertheless wrapped a hand around her waist, putting his chin atop the crown of her head and breathing in her jasmine scent. For awhile no one spoke, time seemingly stopping for the both of them who were trapped in their own worlds…
"Some emergency you have there."
He froze.
Tomoe…
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When she saw them in each other's arms, jealousy seemed to drive her mad, her resentment flaring in her senses and bile constricting at her throat.
"Some emergency you have there."
Stripped from her elegance and calm features, her face was now painted with lividness and rage. Elegance and sophistication had now deserted her and she was visibly shaking and trembling.
Oh my god… Quickly disentangling herself from him, she tried to put distance between the two of them, though she knew there was nothing much she can do now…
Kenshin for one couldn't move, torn between pacifying his anger-crazed girlfriend and defending the mother of his child. He watched as Tomoe circled the two of them, emerald green eyes filling with bitter tears.
"So… this is it?" she asked him decisively, "This is the woman who took my place in your heart?" glaring at him, she gave him one last look of defiance before turning back to Kaoru and pointing a rebuking finger to her. "You're a whore."
A gasp, then a shuddering breath and finally, all she could feel was the warm sting of tears in her eyes.
"Tomoe…" Kenshin warned, stepping in front of Kaoru. "You better not talk to her that way…"
She just shook her head and gave a bitter laugh. "But I'm just telling the truth Kenshin." She voiced, tone imitating an innocent child despite her tears. "Look at you." She neared Kaoru and stressed her words. "You're nothing but a street urchin. Someone who lives on somebody else's money. You used your body to get my boyfriend. But hey… do you expect him to love somebody like you? He's at the top of the world woman… and you… you're worse than a trodden worm from under his foot." She laughed though her tone was bitter and stinging in some ways.
No…Seeing Kaoru's distress, Kenshin pulled Tomoe's arm aside. "What the hell are you saying! Are you crazy!" But instead of backing down from him, she snapped back, pushing him aside. "Leave me be Kenshin. It's me and the whore alone." Turning back to the other woman, she smirked, "You're a hopeless fool to think that he would love you! You're nothing compared to us… the elite group… you're just a cheap whore who doesn't even know her own social status… so if I were you," she leered, before lowering down to whisper something in Kaoru's ear, "I'd find someone within my own standing… a person in my own cheap class." She whispered before pulling away and starting to walk towards her car.
"TOMOE! MATTE TOMOE!" Kenshin screamed, anger flaring. "You stay here, I'll go set her right." He fumed, voice carrying a murderous tone.
Watching as the man disappeared from her sight, Kaoru felt herself shake as tears began to fall. Unwillingly, her feet began to move out of the parking lot to drag her in the pelting rain. Sobbing as she felt the cold wind slam at her form, a hand rose to wipe rain water obscuring her eyes as she walked towards the nearest bus stop, fully intending to go home despite being drenched by the rain. She's right…Her mind seemed to whisper as her feet began to move one step and another. I am nothing… I don't belong in his world… Faltering in her steps, she drew a shuddering breath, salty tears mingling with the rain.
Why did I ever think he'd love me in the first place? Tomoe was right… He could never really love a woman like me…
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Her car was already speeding away and Kenshin found himself unable to follow the woman. So turning back to his heels, he headed back to where Kaoru stood, knowing he would have to do a lot of explaining.
But she was not there.
Staring blankly to the empty space that greeted his eyes, it took a moment before things clicked and he rushed towards the road. Where is she! Where is she! Oh by heck! Panic and frustration was already welling in his chest as he threw to notice to the pouring rain that drenched his form. Amber eyes scanning the area he caught her shivering form in a shed.
"KAORU!KAORU!" he shouted, hoping that she'd hear him.
Her face turned and he had to stop with the picture she made. Her visage was crumpled to tears and her sapphire eyes, even from afar looked cloudy and stricken. Wisps of hair pasted at her cheeks, she was wet from head to toe and she was visibly shivering because of the biting wind.
"KAORU!KAORU!" he called, running towards her. She spared him one last look before clambering aboard a bus that had stopped in front of the shed.
"KAORU!KAORU!" In an act of final desperation, he ran towards the bus, trying hard to catch up. Shouting her name as loud as he could, he quickened his pace, running after the vehicle. He caught her sobbing her face in the window and he hammered for the bus to stop. But it did not and he was forced to give up, form shaking with cold and tiredness, breath coming out in short winding pants. It took him awhile before he regained his composure and when he did, he quickly made a beeline towards his car, fully intending to follow her home.
Kaoru…please wait for me… don't believe Tomoe… please don't listen to her…
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The walk back home was cold and gloomy, as Kaoru soon found out as she stepped away from the bus. Though the storm was reduced to mere drizzles, the wind was still strong and she was still shivering…
"Kaoru!"
Turning back to the direction of her name, sapphire eyes widened with surprise and delight.
"Soujirou!"
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TBC…
Aye! Soujirou's finally here! (dances around) heeheh… I'm soo evil! What'd happen next? Harhar… see to the next chapter (wink wink)