By: animechick001
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki but the plot is thankfully mine… thank goodness sigh.
A/N: "talking", 'thinking', happened in the past
Chapter Two: Confrontations of the Past
The clouds filled the sky as the moon hid behind its shadows. Its color resembled the darkest gray and not one was aware of its meaning, too enraptured in their activities. But it made its presence known by its distinguishable roar of thunder.
One by one, droplets started to fall.
Then rain fell.
People became instantly aware of the rain's existence as some scrambled to find a roof to be sheltered upon and the rest of them opened their umbrellas and shared them with their companion. Yet one stayed without protection from it.
The liquid droplets surrounded her in its cold embrace. Kaoru didn't bother to find shelter; rather, she felt security in the feel of the water pouring down on her. She continued to walk forward, undaunted by the rain, her destination unknown to her.
Her long sleeved white blouse almost became transparent due to the water that continued its onslaught. Her blue checkered pleated skirt clinging to the swell of her hips. She looked so solemnly ethereal.
But she really didn't care.
Little preparation went into her choice of clothing. She felt careless and aloof that she didn't care what she wore. She just put on anything that was easy to get her hands on, which was her school clothing that hung near her bathroom door. She just wanted to go outside to shake off her giddiness, and just relax. Should she have taken the time to look out the window, she could have saved herself from being wet.
Step by step, she aimlessly wandered the streets unperturbed by the stares she had carelessly earned. Many of them are men and their eyes shamelessly staring at her. Their leery eyes, seemingly tracing her curves. And she was quite aware of this fact…
But she still didn't care.
She didn't care if her parents might worry about her. She didn't care that she might get sick because of the rain. She didn't care that her husband might look for her.
Her husband…
Yup. She didn't care at all.
' Yeah right. He's probably with his woman; all cuddled up near the fireplace. He's just damned busy to care for me anyways. As if he cared for me in the first place.' She inwardly sneered. But she already knew that he really cared for her, heck, she even thought that he loved her once.
' I made the biggest mistake about thinking so. He only cared for me as a friend. There's no hope in me left that he might love me as I hoped he would.'
She already knew about her husband's relationship with another woman.
' Tomoe. Yukishiro, Tomoe. Kenshin introduced me to her a couple of months ago. She is indeed a lovely woman. I truly envy her. She made Kenshin fall in love with her.'
At first, she just shrugged it off, thinking that it might be another fling just like many others. She kept thinking that after they wed, he would break it off with Tomoe. She was terribly wrong.
And it was one mistake she promised herself wouldn't happen again.
And the scene she had witnessed earlier strengthened her resolve.
As she reached the koi pond of the park, she saw two shadows in each other's embrace. As she watched them, her heart was immediately warmed at the scene, a smile drawn upon her face…
Tears began to prickle behind her eyes and she furiously blinked it away.
' Too much tears have been shed for him. Too damn much.'
But then as the couple pulled themselves out of the embrace, the man looked into the eyes of his lover. The young woman that has been watching had recognized the man's eyes. Violet, no… amethyst eyes that sparkles under the light of the moon. Long crimson hair that adorns his handsome young face…
Kaoru shivered from the lack of warmth, but not from the rain. Her heart began to squeeze lightly at the feelings. She felt unbelievably empty, and it made her ache. She furiously tried to stop her thoughts from continuing, but her attempt was futile.
No matter how much she tried to stop them, the tears dropped one by one…
She hugged herself and rubbed her forearms attempting to create comfortable heat. She wanted nothing but to escape the harsh reality that seemed to bind itself to her.
" Kaoru…" he uttered softly…
" Kenshin…" she whispered to the rain, almost inaudible.
Warm tears started to fall from her eyes and started to blend in with the cold rain. She tried to wipe them from her eyes, as it threatened to overwhelm her.
She started to take steps, bigger than the other, and then she began to run.
She had hoped that running away that she would escape the hurt that continuously followed her. She wished that all of it would go away.
She ran blindly, occasionally bumping another stranger, shouts of complaints drifted to her ears unheard. She ran, unaware of the car speeding towards her, until a scream got her out of her thoughts.
" KAORU!"
She looked at her side and was blinded by the car's headlights. Then as if by magic, time slowed. Images of her past suddenly appeared before her eyes…
' You promised.'
' Gomen nasai.'
' …'
' I promise I'll make it up to you…'
' How?'
---
' Here, just keep this. Promise you won't lose it, okay? I'll be back for it, and I'll also be back for… you.'
---
' I love you K-'
Fragments of her thoughts were slipping away as she tried to grasp them as she was suddenly aware of her surroundings, despite that she still had her eyes closed. She still felt the rain pouring on her and thought that she was still outside.
Her body felt sore. Kaoru can barely move her arms. She didn't feel any pain; actually, she can't feel anything. Except for the arm that rested above her torso that held her close, and the hand that cradled her head.
She felt security in the arms of the stranger. Warmth radiated from the body next to her, it came in soothing waves.
She slowly opened her eyes, only to see concerned, turquoise eyes.
" Kaoru, are you alright? Answer me… please." A familiar voice called to her, seemingly pleading for her to respond.
" Who are you?" she barely managed to answer, her voice sounded awfully weak.
" It's me…" the voice said, but it slowly started to fade.
Suddenly darkness enveloped her with the thoughts of rain, lights and soft turquoise eyes accompanying her as she willingly gave into oblivion…
Author's Notes:
Care to guess who the turquoise-eyed stranger is? Anyone who can guess will get a Christmas cookie!
This is my advance present to you all! Merry Christmas!
Shorter than I plan it to be… sigh Anyways please R&R or else… I'll turn the pairing into KenTomoe. cackles evilly I'm deathly serious.
Luv ya!
---animechick001