Disclaimer: I DO own Rurouni Kenshin! I have Volumes 1,3, 5, & 10 in my closet!
The Cliff
Ami woke up slowly. Uncurling and rolling to lie on her back, she propped a hand over her eyes, squinting up at the sky. There was a continuous rustle of leaves from the soft breeze, and as the sunlight peered through the interchanging gaps between foliage, she found it nice to listen to. Leaves flickered from dark green to light, because of the sun. Her eyes adjusting, she took away her hand and intertwined her fingers with a growth of grass, tugging on the tuft absentmindedly.
She smiled faintly, content, and then turned her head to the side to look for Kenshin, expecting to perhaps see him still resting against the tree. He wasn't there. She blinked slowly in detached surprise, still in a stupor, and raised herself up off the ground, brushing the dirt off her clothes, gathering up the kimono that she had used as bedding. She stood, the bundle in her arms, looking around. She could see the ashes from their campfire, Kenshin and her pack lying to the side, but the clearing was truly empty of his presence.
Tinges of worry crept upon her, and she shook the kimono and folded them up into her pack. She stood in the camp space uncertainly, still scanning the area as if she might have overlooked Kenshin and that he was really here. Now sure that he really wasn't, she walked slowly away from the site.
"Kenshin," she said, calling out so softly that it sounded like a whisper. With no answer except for the rustling of trees, a prickly feeling began on her neck. Her shoulders raised and she stood still, trying to figure out why Kenshin had gone. The only excuses she could come up with were that maybe he went out to relieve himself, or to search for water to bathe. Her cheeks burned, because she didn't really believe her excuses, but if he was doing something private and she kept looking for him and found him… it wasn't a scenario she wanted to happen. Still hesitant, she gave the area another tentative scan, and then crept back to camp.
She waited for three minutes until setting out to search for him again.
As she walked further and further away from camp, she wondered if she was being foolish. Perhaps Kenshin had just wanted some time on his own. At first, she called out his name to let him know that she was coming for him, but because of this thought, she fell silent, deciding that if she found him and there was no problem, she'd creep away as silently as she came and wait back at camp to let him finish whatever he was doing.
Just as she recalled that Kenshin's sakabatou had not been left at the site, she heard him. She heard the trampling of leaves, and the faint whooshes of wind that was made by a sword swinging. She froze for a second, trying to figure out where the noise was coming from, and then, heart pounding, she crept as quietly as she could to where he was, bending down to stay hidden.
Once she got over the initial shock, she thought him to be beautiful.
The sakabatou was drawn, a silver flash that's movement was too hard to follow with her untrained eyes. She could see the force in his lithe form, lunging, thrusting a stroke, red hair trailing behind him- a jerk, and then the movement reversed, he was leaping back from an invisible enemy.
Suddenly, he jumped.
She had never seen anything like it. He hadn't even needed to crouch down for the spring, or if he had, she hadn't seen it. He was up in the air, yelling as he brought his sword down, and the whole world seemed to spin. Fallen leaves on the ground blew away from him on the impact as he connected to the ground. Ami stayed in her crouched position, eyes wide, unmoving as the leaves reached her and flew past.
She didn't imagine men falling from his attacks, blood flying. All she could see was the perfected beauty… the swiftness, how his body twisted and turned to perform each move, how each stroke was so powerful and deadly and some she could barely see… A tremor ran through her body as he yelled a battle cry that made her heart pound so hard that she could feel it in her ears. And then suddenly, she realized that she was trembling.
She didn't quite know why.
She watched on, and he stole her breath. Small blots of shadows and light danced over him as the wind blew, shaking the leaves above. He sheathed the sakabatou, and then drew it again, hard. The sharp zinging sound snapped at her senses. She could see how his body glistened with sweat, how narrowed his eyes were with deadly concentration.
I never saw…"HYOH!" A sharp cry. The sword pounded down into the earth, creating a shock.
I never knew that he…"Oh…" she breathed. Suddenly, she found she couldn't watch any longer. She bowed down low on the ground from her hiding place, extending her arms forward reverently, slowly, before clasping her hands together in front of her, in the position of a bow.
I knew Kenshin was a swordsman… I had no doubt that he was one of the best…but I've never seen a swordsman at work like this, and now I can truly appreciate…
She remembered how he had crashed into the house to rescue her the day they met, how he had knocked that bear of a man unconscious. She remembered his speed when he stopped the thief that had stolen Domon's money pouch and the three that he stopped without laying a finger on them. For the first time, Ami truly realized how great he was, the hidden power inside the smiling, kind man who took care of her. She felt as if she had somehow been ungrateful to him in her ignorance.
I never knew. He's so skilled, talented, something truly special. I have to serve him better than I have been. He's even more extraordinary than I thought, and I've got to make it up to him, for letting me be the one to stay beside him… The situation I'm in… the life I'm living right now… it's better than I could have ever imagined, living with someone like Himura Kenshin.
She heard the steady crunch of footsteps, and knew Kenshin had discovered her. The crackle grew louder and then stopped, and she knew that he was standing in front of her, separated by the plant growth that had served to cover her. Without looking up, Ami knew that he was staring down at her.
She stayed in her bowed position and didn't look up during the silence, still paying him reverence though he did not know of her intention. Finally, she unclasped her hands and pushed herself off the ground, brushing off her knees before tilting her head up to face him. The hair fell from her face to reveal a regretful smile.
"I'm sorry," she said, "for spying on you."
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Kenshin looked down at Ami speechlessly, listening as she explained to him why she had gone out looking for him, asking again for forgiveness. Her smile was pure, with a tinge of embarrassment for being caught like this.
He had been so caught up in his exercise that he hadn't noticed her presence until the sound of a breathy gasp. He had lowered his hands, lowered his sword, and walked over to the sound and peered over the tall grass to see her, bent down with her arms out to him as if he were a kami.
His first thought was that maybe she was afraid. Her body was still, stiffened. When he thought of the possibility that she was afraid of him, he felt himself become cold. What had gone through her mind as she watched him? Surely, that he was no ordinary man. Did she suspect him for what he was? He had been one of the greatest warriors from the Bakumatsu, now under the guise of a harmless vagabond.
But once she tilted her face up at him, revealing that smile, his fear vanished. When her eyes opened to look at him, they were filled with the same love as always, shining. She finished talking, eyeing him, blushing.
"That was really…" her voice trailed off, but he could hear the wonderment in her voice. She looked away and then looked back at him again, raising a hand hesitantly. "You look tired…"
Her fingertips brushed against his bangs, and then she put her palm to his skin, wiping away the sweat from his forehead. Kenshin took a breath and gently grasped her wrist as she drew her hand away, bringing it down so that he could look her in the eyes.
"Were you scared?" he asked.
Her lips parted and red painted her cheeks, staring at him. Her wrist was warm in his hand, and he felt her pulse quicken slightly.
"No," Ami said. She smiled again, more fumblingly. "I thought… that you looked really… amazing."
Kenshin suddenly smiled, a warm feeling in his heart. He let go of her wrist and stepped over the tall grass, and they began to walk back to camp, falling into step beside each other naturally.
On their way back, Ami grew bolder, and with eyes shining she complimented him over and over again, excitement in her voice as she described to him how he looked as he had done his kata. Her eyes kept flickering to his sweat, and her hands wavered as if she wanted to reach out and wipe some away again, a movement that Kenshin had thought was surprisingly bold of her.
"What was it?" she finally asked, breathless.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu," he said smoothly.
"Hiten…" she started to repeat, and then stopped. Her eyes turned up to his. "So it's a special style?"
"You can say that. Only one other man I know besides myself knows the technique, and he's the one who trained me."
Her eyes rounded. "Wow." And then, mostly to herself: "It really is a special style then, if only two men…"
She was quiet for a moment, and it seemed like she was going to let the subject drop, but then she piped up again.
"Have you ever… done this before, since we met? While I was sleeping?"
Kenshin shook his head. "I don't need to full-out practice like that too often."
"Ah…" her eyes roved over him again. "You really… it looks like a lot of work."
Then she dashed forward. He follows her path with surprised eyes. Their camp was just up ahead. She took cloth from her pack and wetted it with her water pouch, and spun around to await him. He stepped into the clearing and she held out the wet cloth as an offering.
"Here," she said hesitantly. And then she stepped forward to wipe his forehead again. Kenshin sighed and relaxed, closing his eyes as the damp cloth moved comfortably across his skin. Being coddled like this by Ami was something he was soon becoming used to. Having her dote over him made him feel strange, but also good to be cared for so much. He couldn't help but wonder if she'd keep on this attitude to him if she weren't so naïve.
Swordsmanship teaches one how to kill. If Ami had realized this as she watched him and thought of how many men he could've felled with each swing… but no. She saw the grace and precision instead, and Kenshin was glad for that. Kenjutsu was something to be enjoyed, when not used for murder…
Have you heard of me, Ami-chan? The infamous Hitokiri that prowled the streets of Kyoto, using swords as claws to rip the flesh of men? Do you know what they call me? Have any stories they told imbedded fear of Hitokiri Battousai in you?
And if you have… look what you're doing, Ami-chan. I feel the cool of the cloth wiping across my skin. I can feel the pressure of your hand behind it. I can sense your agitation, your wonder, I can guess the pulse of your wildly beating heart. And at times like these, I feel complete faith in you, that if you learned the truth, you would accept me anyhow… the man you know is not the hitokiri. If the world could see me like that…
A journey of redemption. Even Ami, who he kept so many secrets from, knew that much about him. She barely knew anything of his past, and yet she tread so carefully on the subject. Kenshin grasped her hand gently, stopping her ministrations and opened his eyes. Soft lavender met frightened amber, with flecks of dancing, questioning gold.
"Thank you. That's enough now," he told her, taking the cloth from her. Ami nodded, and watching as Kenshin wiped the back of his neck.
Such adoration…I have to try and be worthy of that. I will protect you, until the ones who chase me come. And then, perhaps… I'll leave you and you won't ever have to know about Battousai. Retain your innocence and only remember me as I am now…
The sweat had dried. They had delayed long enough.
Ikuzo!The left the grove and climbed up the path, trudging up the yellow dust of the mountain.
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I have every feature of you memorized,
The shades of your hair, those gentle eyes-
But if someone asked me to describe you,
I don't think I would be able to start.
When we travel like this, my mind wanders.
We pass other travelers, shop stalls, goat herders. The road is built to make going across the mountain easier, but I like the sensation of climbing higher and higher. The mountain is beautiful, and I tell you so.
-'I used to live on one of these mountains, surrounding Kyoto,' is the unspoken thought in Kenshin's mind. Instead he nods and agrees with her.-
There were temples built here, you told me. Tourists make the climb to see them, and pray. As we choose a different path, we are more alone. From the stalls, we bought vegetables. It's nerve wracking, putting together soup when there are so little supplies, let alone spices. But I told you I wanted to do this myself, a gift from me to you, and so you stood away, leaning against a tree, thinking thoughts I wanted to know but didn't want to pester you by asking. When I watched the vegetables being cooked in the pot, hanging over the fire, I realized we didn't even have separate bowls, and that we would both have to eat out of the pot.
There must be some decency in this meal, I had thought, and I scavenged quickly for some wood, and prepared a set of chopsticks for us both. I made sure yours had no splinters, and were even.
-Your face was so feverish, trying your best to prepare an excellent meal from what little we have…I wish I could help you and that you wouldn't tire yourself over such a insignificant thing, Ami-chan…however, all I could do was compliment you as we ate, and it seemed to be enough.-
You smiled at me and thanked me for my hard work. We ate, talked, and laughed as we finished it together. You, who is always so understanding, I don't know whether or not you sense all of my feelings. That I would do this every day, if it wouldn't take up such time and money. It's to thank you over and over again for letting me be with you. My life is so happy being beside you, just walking with you and watching you. How many girls would want to take my place? I've got to be the best for you. My heart soars watching you do the simplest of things.
At night, I've fallen into habit of sleeping near you, as you rested your back against the tree.
-"Doesn't it hurt your back?" you asked me sometimes, as we stared into the fire, thinking and waiting for sleep to claim us.
"If you ever want to sleep on the ground, I could use my clothes and make you a good bed."
"Have you always slept like that?
Not always, Ami-chan. Thank you for your concern… but what I don't tell you is that I like sleeping up because it's easier for me to watch you. It may seem strange, but I enjoy watching you, my young charge, slowly succumb to sleep. Seeing your soft, slumbering face as the last thing of the day seems to make my own sleep more pleasant.-
I used to not sleep close to you, because I was worried of how you would take it if I set up my sleeping space next to you. But we've fallen into that, lately. Sometimes, I'm afraid if I'll do embarrassing things as I sleep, like drooling or waking you up.
-Did you know you murmur in your sleep, sometimes, Ami-chan? Your lips move, inaudibly, and when you stop you smile softly, dreaming good dreams. But sometimes, I can hear the words you speak. "Ken…"-
"…shin" I say, spreading out my kimono for you, over the grass. "Do you… do you know how many layers you want?"
We've camped in a spot where there is no old, large tree for you to rest your back comfortably against. You're going to sleep on the ground tonight, with me. I'm willing to give you all the robes to make you a comfortable sleeping spot, and I may sleep on the grass itself. But it won't come to that, I know.
"That's good enough," Kenshin tells me, waving the next robe away. "Keep some for yourself, Ami-chan," he chides.
I nod obediently, and after I finish setting up our bedding, I stand beside mine and look down at my work. In particular, I wonder about the space between our beds. My cheeks burn warm as I look down, and I feel tense in my chest. Will Kenshin mind? Are we too close to each other? I hope he doesn't think anything of it, because I had made it on purpose, that we wouldn't be too far from each other. My skin tingles with fear. Oh, I hope that he won't think of it. I just wanted to look at him, closely…
Kenshin gets up from his kneeling position by the fire. He had been making sure that it wouldn't spread by sealing it off with stones. He's probably double checking it because he'll be sleeping on the ground also tonight and won't be able to see it as well as when he sleeps sitting up…
When he turns around so that he's facing me, I quickly remove my sandals, brush my clothes down slightly, and climb onto the robe, trying not to fidget. I can't look at him anymore. I know my face is burning and so I lie on my stomach to hide my face, but I know that Kenshin knows that's not how I usually sleep, so he probably knows I'm nervous.
I'm propped up on my forearms, looking down with my hair hiding my face. I listen for him. I hear the scuff of his sandals, him sitting down, and then him taking them off. I can hear the rustle of his clothing, too.
I think I'm going to burst. I was so stupid for manipulating the space so that we'd be a little closer than natural. If I looked at Kenshin, he'd somehow know what I had done and this would never ever happen again and I just ruined it all-!
"Oyasumi, Ami-chan."
My heart stops. That pause helps to slow the beating down, but not by much. I wait a second before peeking at him slightly. He's lying down, his head turned to the left to look at me. He undid his topknot, too, so his long red hair is sprawled down underneath his head. His bangs lie against his face, and his eyes are so bright, reflecting the light of the night.
"Good night," I whisper back, entranced. His lips curve up in a small smile, and then he turns back to face the sky, eyes closed.
The pace of my heart rises again as I look at him. I let myself watch him for a long time. I lie on my side, watching the rise and fall of his chest, memorizing his sleeping face. My nervousness melted away into a comfortable feeling, as I watched Kenshin sleep. After a while, being beside him like this felt so natural. Finally, my eyelids feeling heavy, I turn to lie on my back and let them fall shut. I'm smiling.
"Kenshin…" I breathe so quietly that my lips form his name and barely any noise escapes them. Saying his name makes me feel even more at peace, and I can see his image in my mind. I'll have good dreams, maybe, I think before I fall asleep.
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"I have something to show you," Kenshin tells her.
He reaches back and grabs her hand, leading her off the path. Ami follows, loving the feel of their hands holding, growing excitement mounting her as she wonders what Kenshin wants to show her. What could be…?
They slow to a stop, standing side by side.
"You wondered how high we were," he tells her. He smiles. "This should give you some idea. But even here, we're not seeing all the way down…"
At his words, Ami walks forward, still holding onto his hand. In fact, his hand tightens as she nears the edge, walking over worn yellow stone.
"Oh," she breathes, looking down. They're on the edge of a cliff, and the bottom is so far below…
She laughs suddenly, out of wonder and fear, nearing the edge as far as she dares. She resists the urge to get upon her knees and crawl. She takes a few steps back and turns to look at him. "Hold on to me?"
Her gaze turns to the edge again, ensnared by the sight. It was beautiful beyond imagining. The drop was so sheer, and they were so high up. Perhaps she should've felt as if she had conquered the mountain, being so high, but instead she felt small at the vastness. It wasn't a bad feeling. She was with Kenshin, after all. And now, he was…
Now he neared her, switching his hold on her so that his right hand held her right. His left arm wrapped protectively around her abdomen. Feeling tense and exhilarated at all of this, together they walked back to the edge.
Ami leaned forward slightly to look down again, pushing against Kenshin's arm. Her stomach seemed to drop both from the sight and the touching.
"Hold on tight," she whispered, nervous and blushing, her toes curling.
He looked with her, his chin brushing against the side of her head.
"I won't drop you." He promised, and held her even more securely. Ami could feel the warmth from his body, and his face was so close to hers.
Together they stared silently down at the drop, Ami's heart pounding. Her eyes roamed over the small blotches of scattered shrubbery and trees, lining the bottom and scaling part of the cliff. Her eyes caught onto the winding length of a thing road.
"That's our trail," Kenshin pointed out. "We'll be down there soon, descending off the mountain."
"Ah," Ami murmured quietly, resting in his hold.
The sun shone brightly on all of this, and a sudden shadow passed over Ami's eyes. She looked up. A predatory bird, a hawk maybe, was flying above them. The wind blew softly at them and Ami felt the breeze that the hawk was riding.
Fly.
She had talked to Kenshin about flying before, hadn't she? Had he remembered? Is that why he showed her- no. That wasn't it. But still…
Thank you.
The breeze grew stronger, and Ami closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Her left hand rose up from her side, fingers reaching out and extending over the emptiness. She opened her eyes again, the amber eyes flickering intently as she watched her hand play over the wind. She sighed, wistfully.
"I wish I could fly. Right off the cliff, just for a while…"
"Like the hawk?" Kenshin asked, having seen her earlier glance skyward.
"Mm-hm," came the soft reply.
Kenshin untangled himself from her right hand, crossing both arms over her body now. He spread his legs and planted his feet firmly, leaning forward with her. "It could be a little scary, ne?" he pressed.
Not when you're holding me like this, she thought. "I'm safe."
With both her arms free, she reached forward for the empty air, the top portion of her body leaning forward. For a moment, she was afraid. Her muscles seized and she wavered over the open space, looking at the ground far below. She felt Kenshin's hold on her tighten, and her stomach churned more from it than the threatening plunge below.
"Wow…"
"When is Ami-chan's birthday?" Kenshin teased softly.
Ami blushed and slowly let her eyes close again, arms still extended. "In the spring, I think."
"Then it's probably already passed," Kenshin mused thoughtfully. He gave a small laugh, and it felt strange and wonderful to feel him laughing against her. "I think I can give you a late present, no?" He started to pull her back from the ledge and paused. "Have you had enough?"
She nodded, and they drew back, Kenshin releasing her and brushing his sleeves down. He walked back to the ledge alone and peered down, calculating. He smiled, musingly.
"Well, I wouldn't normally do this because of the effort… it's much more peaceful to walk all the way down…"
"Huh?" She asked, her face still pink.
He turned back and smiled at her. "I'll take you flying, as close as I can mimic it. If we walk a little farther…" he gestured below the cliff, "We can jump down to the trail."
Ami's eyes popped out as she comprehended what he meant. "J-jump? How? All the way down there?"
"Ami-chan," he said gently, "the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu is designed after a dragon, and so you have to be able to strike powerfully from above. As a practitioner of the style, I can jump very far."
Ami wordlessly looked up with questioning eyes to the hawk. Kenshin followed her gaze with a flick of his eyes.
"I can reach it," he said. Her jaw dropped. "It's actually not that far away-" Kenshin added hastily. "Only about 20 meters-"
His voice fell away when her hand found his again. Her eyes shone. "Okay. Show me," she told him.
They fairly ran down. At least, the older man trying to keep up with the scrambling girl.
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They went off the worn trail to stay near the edge. Ami was excited, sliding down the dusty rock, letting loose pebbles. Kenshin peered off the edge every fifteen minutes or so, until finally, he judged the distance to be close enough.
"Well, this is it," he sighed. They stood together, Kenshin pointing out their landing spot, where the vegetation wasn't as thick. Once they landed, they would walk back onto the trail, and by doing so skip at least three hours worth of walking.
"I'll take you flying, as close as I can mimic it."
Kenshin… Ami looked at him, feeling wistful in her heart. You must be in a good mood today… to be doing this for me. She smiled, glad for him. Thank you.Kenshin looked back at her, smiling. "Come on," he gestured.
As was to be expected, Ami blushed crimson as she climbed onto Kenshin's back. Her heart thudded loudly, and she felt uncomfortable when Kenshin's arms hooked under her legs. She struggled to stay still and not fidget.
"I…" she struggled to say, trying to adjust her hold around his neck, not wanting to choke him. Kenshin stood up, and Ami's face flushed as she felt him move against her. "K-Kenshin?"
"Yes?" he asked. His ponytail brushed against her face.
"I…" she couldn't think of what to say. She smiled, a blushing, shy smile. "I hope it'll be fun. Thank you." Her face blanched suddenly. "I mean, it will be fun, I really wonder what it will be like, I've never ever done this before-"
"Shhh," Kenshin said soothingly. He stood at the edge, and Ami tensed against him in nervousness. "Try to relax," he murmured. Unbeknownst to Ami, Kenshin's heart was going faster than usual as well. He didn't know why he was feeling so playful today, but it was still a good feeling. He felt so content with this little girl beside him… and he wanted to repay that with a flight worth remembering. This would be one of the first times he had used this ability for pleasure, not to mention for a child's.
"Ready?" he asked.
Ami snapped to attention, adrenaline rushing through her veins and sweat gathering on her forehead. "Hai!"
"All right then!" Kenshin cried, and he crouched down and sprung up with a powerful yell.
They were in the air. They were rising upwards with incredible speed, and there was nothing beneath her, around her, nothing except for Kenshin. Ami screamed wildly, and as their speed lessened and they seemed to hover in the air before gravity pushed them back down to earth, her screams turned into laughter.
"WE'RE FLYING, WE'RE FLYING!" she shrieked in terrified glee as they feel back, her hair flying upwards. "WE'RE FALLING!"
Kenshin started to laugh, and Ami laughed with him, her thin arms desperately clutching at him, his grip on her steady. She looked up, the dark strands of her hair whirling around her, Kenshin's red hair doing the same. She saw the tip of the cliff and its wall rushing past them as they fell.
"YES!" she crowed, exhilarated, terrified, and happy all at once. She was afraid to adjust her grip on Kenshin in case of screwing up his balance and thus his landing.
The landing!
She looked down and saw the earth rushing up at them. Terror gripped her for a moment, the tops of the trees looking deadly. "KENSHIN!" she screamed in warning.
"Hold on!" he roared back. "Use your legs!"
She hooked them more securely around his waist, and he let go, spreading his arms for balance. They landed with a horrible jolt and Ami almost shook loose. They skidded down the slope, large clouds of dust rising, and then Kenshin leapt again, landed, slid down for a second, and jumped again, until their speed slowed down and they weren't in any danger. Ami flinched with each landing and when they finally stopped, the dust swirled around them and her hold on him was incredibly tight.
"Hoh," Kenshin said, satisfied. Ami still held on, her arms and legs wrapped around him tightly, eyes wide. She felt as if she had frozen stiff. After a moment, she regained control of her eyes and they darted around their surroundings, stunned. They were on the trail. They were alive. And Kenshin wasn't even panting.
She was afraid she would scream again, this time in thrilled astonishment. A grin that threatened to crack her face in two spread across her face. She found she couldn't keep the scream in.
"WOW!" she shrieked, perhaps in Kenshin's ear. "WOW, WOW, WOW!"
She saw Kenshin smile and gingerly try to pry her off. He knelt down and firmly undid her hands from their tight clutch on his gi, and then placed his hands on her legs and slid her off. Her legs were shaky and she stretched out her arms, sore from being so tense.
"Kenshin, Kenshin!" she said excitedly, her heart still beating fast. "Kenshin, that was so amazing! Thank you so much, I never thought it would feel like that… the wind was so incredible and…" she couldn't complete her statement, craning her head back to look up again. The cliff tip looked so far up. How far had they fallen, exactly? However far it was, it was big. Ami's heart felt fit to burst. Kenshin was absolutely amazing.
"Thank you so much," she said again breathlessly.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Kenshin smiled at her, truly. He felt incredibly warm. "I've never enjoyed jumping so much before either."
"That can hardly be called a jump," Ami said, her arms still spread wide, turning dizzily. "A leap, a bound! It's a word that hasn't been invented yet!"
A grin spread over Kenshin's face, too. "It was something," he agreed, not so much on the leap, but about the joy it had caused her. It was unusual, but… he wanted to embrace her, or put an arm over her shoulder. Instead, he settled for making her laugh again. He wiggled a finger in his ear.
"I think you've broken my eardrums, Ami-chan," he winced, exaggeratingly.
"Oh! I'm so sorry… it's just, it was so… I couldn't help it!" She reached out and took his arm, hugging it. "Sorry!" She put her cheek against his arm, a blush spreading over her young face again. Despite that, her grin still left a smile in its wake. "W-well… let's… let's go! Huh? We're almost off the mountain, right?"
"That's right. We should reach ground level by the end of the day." They took some steps forward, Ami still holding onto his arm. She made herself let go so that they could walk easier, and hopped the first few steps, happily.
She considered it the best day she had ever had. She and Kenshin had touched more than they ever had. He had taken her flying. Kenshin was in a good mood, and they would also be leaving the wretched city Kyoto that hated Kenshin far behind now. Nothing could hurt her. And the memory all began with Kenshin leading her by the hand to a yellow cliff…
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I'm sorry! It's so long! It's just… I had to get the cliff scene out of the way. It's actually IMPORTANT for the future, and I'm planning to wrap up this arc soon. (Oh god… yes, this is a trilogy. Ack!) I've been experimenting with a style in this chapter, the part when I FINALLY got that soup scene over with. It might not be great, but I think the style at least got that scene over faster than if I was writing from Ami's POV solely, or this would be even longer. I'm so incredibly thankful for the reviews. I feel honored that this story manages to catch your attention. I hope the waiting time wasn't too long this time.
Capito Celcior: Thanks so much. Your review particularly made me want to get this one done quickly… it definitely would be a shame if you forgot. I wouldn't want to put you through rereading all of this again.
Meiharu: You ARE faithful!It's too much to ask for! Thanks so much! And as for Ami and Kenshin… they will meet again, someday. There's so much more to write that I'm afraid you'll get tired of it by the end.
Random Reader: It's been so long, and I'm glad that you still have interest for this story. Your review cheered me up so much, I can hardly describe it. I really hope you enjoy this chapter, because again, your words meant a lot to me.
pego: It always amazes me when someone joins in and reads through all of the chapters I've already written. It must be tedious. I'm really glad you like it, and Ami. I'm so proud of her. Ha, I wonder if Watsuki ever feels proud of his characters? He should be. Thanks for reviewing!
moeru himura: Thanks so much for reviewing, your comments were VERY valuable to me. Thanks for letting me know you thought it was dragging too- I'm trying to wrap this arc up. Hopefully in the next story, I'll be able to write a little faster, because the plot is all laid out for me there. And everyone seems to have gotten to know Ami and Kenshin's relationship well; I'm not doing any random cutesy scenes anymore, from here out, it's getting ready for the ending. And Ami will find out about Kenshin's old identity when she's older, but not quite so old as that… I thought that it was really awesome you thought about them during your shower. I thought it was only the really good fictions that stay on your mind after reading them, so that really impressed me, along with you following along so closely... Thanks again!
the sacred night: Thanks for the compliments on Ami. I'm glad she doesn't seem like a Mary-Sue. I'm so glad that she is a successful character.
Shauntell: Ami will get to meet Kaoru, in the next story. I'd be honored if you stuck around till then! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing.
So... let me know how I'm doing, k? Don't worry, it'll all be over soon. :P (Well, even that's not true... this arc, at least.)