A/N: This is the last chapter, officially, although there will be an Epilogue. But those who like tragedies, you should probably just stop here. ;p

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, nor the main plot. This chapter had some major changes.

Hiko smirked. "I know. Can you believe it? You and Kaoru know each other for ten years now and in just two more days it will be the last time you'll ever see each other."

"Nnh ya, long time… wait… what?" Kenshin choked on his food. 'What the hell did he mean it will be the last time I'll ever see her?'

Chapter six
Realization

"What? What does that mean? I won't see her?"

"Oh didn't you know? Kaoru came over an hour ago and made those noodles for us. She told me she's leaving for the U.S. with her boyfriend in just two more days."

"Boyfriend!"

"Yes. A boy from your class. I think his name is Enishi."

Kenshin stopped eating. 'So Kaoru is going to go back to Enishi.' His sensei looked at his unfinished food.

"Something wrong baka?" Hiko knew what Kenshin was thinking but pretended not to. If his deshi didn't want him to know then he'll just have to pretend.

Kenshin shook his head. "No sensei. I'm full. I think I'll go to my room."

Kenshin POV (make more detailed)

Each step up to my room felt like more weight being put on my shoulders. Out of the country, why? Doesn't she know Enishi is just a jerk? Doesn't she know I like her?

No. I don't just like her, I love her. I loved her from the moment I first saw her. She was the only who cared about me, but I pushed her away. Damnit!

My fist flew out and smacked dead on to the metal door frame, but I didn't have time to think of it. The second I felt that metal touch my fist, I was reminded of those times I pushed her into the locker. I would stand there and laugh at her futile strength to resist me. Now how I regret that, to know the pain she felt when her head would snap back and hit the lockers and sometimes her whole side would slam into them. Why was I such an idiot hitting her like that?

I KNOW I love Kaoru more than that idiot. Enishi's a jerk, wanting her as a trophy, he'll dump her again, and she'll be alone. He's going to take advantages of her, I know he will. Damn why do I care? Because you love her, you love her, you love her. Shut up, I know I love her; I don't need some soft side telling me that. Shit, why did I say and do all those things to her? Why didn't I just admit I loved her?

Not only that, what am I going to do now? I can't imagine my life without her. I thought for sure she was going to Tokyo University. I heard her talking about it that was the only reason I decided to go there. I really don't know how I will live my life without her.

…….. (Normal pov)

Kenshin leaned over his bedroom window. He saw Kaoru changing her clothes. Just then she glanced over and saw Kenshin watching her. She threw a shirt at him.

"What do you think you're doing you Peeping Tom?"

He blocked her shirt. "Can you come over?"

Kaoru looked at him; his eyes were mixed with purple and gold. 'He looks so sad.'

She nodded. "Okay."

Kenshin pulled her across from her house and into his room. She sat down and started to look around. She never had been in Ken shin's room before but he was always in hers.

"Well what do you want to talk about?"

Kenshin looked at her with sad eyes, such a pure purple shade by now touched Kaoru. She has never seen his real eye color before, it was amazing. It was beautiful, with so much dept as if to represent a painful longing.

"Umm...is it true you're going to the U.S. in two days?" he asked softly.

"Oh you heard about it already?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why do you care anyways?"

So much for purple eyes, as his turned golden once more.

"Why do you always assume that if there's something involving you that I don't care?"

Kenshin started to frighten her as she backed up into a corner. She was shocked. She never saw him this mad before.

"Because you never seemed to care before."

Kenshin grabbed her wrists and held them up. "Well you know what? I DO care." He began to let her go. "It's just that you don't care about me enough to realize it." He sat down on his bed.

She sat down next to him. "Kenshin...what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Please tell me."

Kenshin looked at Kaoru. His mind kept telling him that this will be the last time he will ever see her. 'It's now or never. I might have this last chance to keep her. It's either my pride that has to go or her.' Kenshin took a deep breath and told her exactly how he felt.

"I love you."

Kaoru stood up in shock. "What!"

Kenshin stood up with her. "I love you."

Kaoru couldn't believe her ears. "Wait...do you know what you're saying?"

He nodded his head. "Yes and I do mean it. I love you Kamiya Kaoru." She moved away from him.

"Do you know what you're saying? I'm going to leave Japan in just two more days with Enishi. I'm planning to be with him forever."

Kenshin nodded his head sadly. "I know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

Kaoru sighed in relief. "It's okay."

But then it hit Kenshin. "NO!"

She looked at him surprised. "What do you mean 'No'"?

He looked at her directly, his face swirling with mixed emotions. "Why should I be sorry for saying that I love you? It's the truth!"

Kaoru backed up again, shaking. He tried to move near her to comfort her but she pushed him away. "No! After all this time you say that you love me?" He looked at her sadly.

She looked at him through her tears. "I'm sorry Kenshin. I want to be with the one I love."

Kenshin looked at her back. "But do you really love him?"

She paused. She thought about it and couldn't find the answer herself. So she didn't answer and looked away.

He thought that was the answer. "It's okay because I truly love you, and all I can wish for is for you to be happy." He leaned over to hold her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead. "Goodbye."

Kaoru looked at him as he walked away. "Kenshin...wait."

He felt a stream of hope surge through him. "Yes?"

"Is it okay if I take something of yours as a memory?"

That flicker of hope instantly died. He bowed his head down. "Go ahead. Take anything you want." Then he left his room and Kaoru left too. He had just lost his hope, pride, and worst of all, Kaoru.

He didn't know it but his journal was gone.

Part 24

"Boarding Flight Number 637! All passengers please come aboard at this time."

Kaoru looked out the window of her airplane seat, looking at Japan for the last time. A wave of panic and fear swept through her heart as if she knew she was doing something wrong. Enishi sat down next to her. He held her hand and gave her a little smile.

"Don't worry sweetie. It'll be okay just as long as we're together."

Kaoru gave him a weak smile and nodded. Enishi looked at her carefully.

"You sure are pretty today. Remember back then when you were so much like a guy? I mean I couldn't believe that I had dated you back then."

Kaoru was taken aback. 'Does look always have to matter?' she thought.

She sighed and didn't listen to Enishi as he continued talking. She pulled out of her handbag the book she took from Kenshin. She didn't know exactly what it was except that it had his name on it.

She opened it up. 'Oh my gosh! I took his journal!' She closed the book instantly, but her curiosity got the best of her. She opened it up; the book was held in place by something. She took it out and saw it was a little bundle strand of hair tied together by an ivory ribbon. She realized it was her hair and the ribbon was the same one Kenshin took from her when he pulled on her pigtails.

Tears fell down her face as she held onto her hair; realization just hit her as she finally found out how long their friendship has been. 'Oh God, Kenshin...you had loved me so long ago?' She began reading his entries.

October 20

Too close. I can't believe it. It had all happened so fast that I didn't have time to think. I would have lost Kaoru if I hadn't seen that blade falling. If it did fall and kill Kaoru ...what would become of me? She'll be gone forever, leaving me in this cruel and lonely world. You would have thought that I would have told her that I loved her right then because I came so close to losing her. But I didn't. When I pushed her out of the way in time, I also chopped off her beautiful long hair. I know it was her prized possession. I said something really stupid and now she hates me forever. Why must I always hurt the one I love the most?

Kaoru paused in shock. After all these years, she had blamed Kenshin for cutting off her hair when all he did was risk his own life to save hers. More tears slipped down her face as she continued reading.

February 14

Ha Ha! Hey, today I was teasing Kaoru in the cafeteria again. She was so mad. She hated it when I called her Macho Man. Is it my fault she looks so much like a guy? Hmm...But underneath all that she was the still same Kamiya Kaoru that I love. It's so hard telling her how I feel cuz every time we talk; we end up arguing or dissing each other about something. It's Valentine's Day today and I don't even have the guts to give her the dozen roses I have right here, surrounded by Jasmine flowers. She always smells so fresh just like Jasmine. I hope she's not out with some other guy though...

Kaoru let out a little laugh. It figured Kenshin would write something like that. She flipped the book all the way to the last entry; she had to know his last thoughts of her, if he even wrote about her.

July 7

I love camping. Yesterday I was out camping with everyone and the most important of all, Kamiya Kaoru. That stupid bastard, Enishi, tripped so that I would fall into a pit but like always, Kaoru was there for me. I don't know what to do without her. We talked about our past together and of course, she reminded me of how I tortured her. Underneath the moonlight, she looked so pretty. I began to realize that my childhood happiness was all because of her. She didn't laugh at me when she found out my fear. And you know what? Since Kaoru was down in that dark hole with me I've overcome my fears of the dark... But I'm still afraid to admit to Kaoru that I love her. What if she rejects me? All I know is that I can't live without her...

Kaoru shut the journal. She began to do some thinking of her own, his worst fear was that she would reject him, and that was exactly what she did. She looked over at Enishi, who was sleeping. Then she realized it. All her tears and happiness were all because of Kenshin. He was the only one who was able to make her laugh or cry. She knew right then she needed to get off of that damn plane. Enishi may have been her first boyfriend, but she never loved him. She's always loved Kenshin, always. Only then did Kaoru realize she loved Kenshin just as much as he loved her.

"Flight 637 is preparing for take-off."

No, I need to get off. I figured it out. I figured out who was my first love, who IS still my love. I have to get off. NOW! Kaoru thought panicking.

"Miss, if you would please put on your seat belt, the plane will be taking off in a few short minutes." A flight attendant came by to remind her the plane was already starting to move.

"I need to get off" Kaoru whispered, she didn't want Enishi to wake up.

"I'm sorry, unfortunately that will be impossible. Please remain seated."

No, why is this happening to me? Why?

She looked out the window as the plane took off on the run way. This was her last time looking at Japan, she realized. She'll never see Kenshin again, being a whole ocean apart they'll never meet again. Slumped in her seat, tears started to roll down her face as she just realized how fatal her mistake was.

(Kaoru POV)

I'll never see that silly face who mutters oro at me again. I'll never see that swirl of purple and golden color in someone's eyes. I never knew eyes could be so attractive. There no way we'll ever meet again, I can't believe this, I can't just let my first love slip away like this. There's nothing I can do anymore. It's not like I can jump off the plane. Why, WHY didn't I realize this earlier? Why did I wait till it was too late to know what is important to me? I can't believe this, ten years of friendship and love, ending just like this. Fate wouldn't like this happen; no one is cruel enough to let this happen.

I looked out the window again as I saw when the plane took a turn to head off to US, I saw a redhead standing there facing the sky miles away from the parking lot. He ran along the side of the plane! Oh my god, he tried to keep up with the plane. He was there; he was waiting till the last minute for me to change my mind. He's always been there for me. My eyes, my face was drenched with tears as I watched my redhead turn around heading back to the parking lot. I let him down, I lost my only love. This is the end to us.

…………………….

Kenshin watched the plane for Flight 637 slowly get on the run way. He got out of his car and quickly ran on the side of the freeway that was right next to the runway… he wanted to keep up with the plane hoping to get a glance of Kaoru if by any luck. There was none, fate was cruel as the plane flew off the runway leaving Kenshin there, still as a statue, assaulted by smell of the plane's exhaust. Tears threaten to fall down his cheeks as he started to head back to the parking lot.

'It's over.' It repeated into his mind all the way back to the parking lot. Kenshin got into his car. He leaned against his seat and looked at the sky still not believing what just happened. She was gone, out of his life… forever. He couldn't take it anymore, covering his face; he let out an agonizing scream. The redhead broke down as his eyes stayed purple for the last time… he cried.

A/N: for tragedy lovers, this is the last chapter. Although for those who would like an alternative ending, an Epilogue will updated soon.