Always the Bridesmaid, Never the Bride

Chapter Two: At the Reception

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Haaaay.

I almost forgot to tell you. He's coming… I almost forgot to tell you. He's coming… He's coming… He's coming… He's coming…

What am I going to do? God help me.

He's coming… He's coming…

"Stop!" I suddenly blurted gaining attention from one of Misao's visitors in the ladies' room. I exclaimed just the same time an old lady in her forties went out from one of the cubicles. She stared at me oddly and I could clearly see she has that big question mark on her face.

In my most cheery voice I sang an unfamiliar song that I heard long time ago. "…in the name of love… before you break my heart… stop! …in the name of love… hmmm… hmmm…" I pretended to fix my hair and pretended to not mind her presence. I looked stupid humming that old song. I can't believe I was actually doing that foolishness just to make her leave me alone. I almost appeared crazy to the woman.

Fortunately, I supposed she was convinced everything was okay. So the old lady shook her head, played an incredulous smile and left.

I sighed in relief as I watched her figure disappear from the scene.

"Argh! What am I doing? Wake up Kaoru!" I mentally banged my head in the mirror. "Stop fretting already. You're tough. You can handle this," I pep talked myself.

I leaned back on the edge of the sink as I tried to dry my face with a tissue paper. I sprinkled water on it hoping I could ease the anxiety I was feeling. Staring blankly at the mirror, Misao's voice emerged in my head again. The unexpected news she told me occupied my entire system that I almost tripped off while walking down the aisle earlier. Luckily, I regained my balance before I could completely fall. My heart was thumping faster and faster every minute I could almost feel it coming out of my body. I knew I shouldn't be selfish because it was my best friend's day but my mind was strolling somewhere else during the ceremony. I didn't even notice the wonderful scenario ended. If my foxy friend Megumi didn't tug me for the picture taking, I wouldn't know the wedding has come to an end.

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Misao's POV

I looked at my loving husband as he beamed at the visitors one by one. I knew we have so many people to thank but I can't help it.

"Aoshi, I can't believe you didn't tell me Kenshin's coming. If I didn't overhear you talking to him on the phone last night, I wouldn't know," I confronted my husband about the hanging issue we left while still smiling sweetly at the guests.

"Hon, this is not the right time to talk about this. We have a lot of guests to entertain," he answered me in between shake hands and thank you's.

Clutching his left hand, I insisted to continue the discussion. "Since when did you have a contact with him?"

He didn't answer.

"I told Kaoru about him coming anytime today and I'm really worried about her."

He didn't respond again. Instead, he continued to drag me around the reception area and continued to thank some relatives for coming.

"You knew what happened between them in the past. Aren't you concerned?"

Seeing my husband's nonchalance over the matter, I stopped from walking and squeezed his left hand. That made him face me and look at my serious stare. He knew exactly what my predicament is all about.

"You're right. What happened between them is already in the past. It's been four years Misao," he answered emphasizing my name. "And besides, Kaoru is mature enough. She can handle herself."

Hearing him drop the endearment, I figured he was already irritated so I kept quiet.

I was confounded when he spoke again. "I thought you knew Kaoru better than anyone else… She's tough." He squeezed my hand gently assuring me everything would turn out to be okay.

"Yeah you're right. She's strong. I shouldn't be worrying about her." I cupped his cheeks and gave it a soft touch. Remembering the earlier conversation with my best friend, my optimistic outlook changed. "But I wish you saw her reaction when I told her. I think she isn't ready for-" I didn't manage to continue my sentence since he was already busy waving at a certain redhead who just appeared from the entrance. My eyes grew big when I realized who it was.

It's Kenshin.

"Man! How are you doing?" Kenshin exclaimed responding the wave that Aoshi gave. He excitedly got close to where Aoshi and I have been standing. Aoshi released his grasp of my hand and gave Kenshin a warm manly hug.

"Congratulations dude. You're already a family man." Kenshin continued to talk enthusiastically not minding my presence.

"Yeah. Finally," my husband replied on his usual icy tone. He would be classified as a laconic type of guy. "How 'bout you?"

Kenshin gave out a hearty laugh while examining Aoshi's look. "Nothing's changed huh? Still the icy Aoshi I know." He paused for a while. "Me… What about me?" He chortled haughtily again pretending he didn't know what Aoshi meant. Then he noticed I was beside his long time friend. He glued his eyes on me and gave me his warmest best wishes.

"So here's the bride. Wow." His lips formed an "O" shape. "Best wishes! …I'm warning you though." He talked as he pointed his fingers to Aoshi. "These guy over here can be very demanding." He joked.

Still struck by the arrival of someone who left my best friend hanging for four years, I replied not knowing what my reaction should be. "Thanks… yeah…"

My mind was whipped. I remembered Kaoru. I looked at the table where she was seated a while ago along with Sanosuke and the rest of the group but she wasn't there. I swung my neck from left to right and I found none.

Where could she be? Now I'm really worried about her.

My contemplation was cut when my husband abruptly held my left hand. They have been talking for a while. Aoshi forgot about all the entertaining we have to do.

Suddenly, Kenshin spoke bluntly. "About me?" He coughed. "Seriously, I have good news to tell. And that's part of the reason why I came back here," he stated sincerely as he put his hands inside his pocket.

That was the only time I had the urge to observe how he looked like. No questions asked he's still the good-looking Kenshin from high school even though he has some circles around his eyes I guess from lack of sleep. His usual high ponytail now was set in low. His face was different though. Maturity was more evident and the unusual cross-shaped scar on his left cheek was striking. The history of how it had appeared, I have no idea.

Kenshin must've been from a long trip because he didn't mind changing his clothes into a more formal one. He must've gone straight here from the airport because he brought along with him his luggage.

He was acting serious at the moment but suddenly he was distracted by a familiar voice.

"Kenshin!" Sano uttered in his welcoming voice. "Welcome back!"

Sanosuke and Megumi approached our small group.

The following events were the same. They gave each other a big hug. And then they asked questions usual for friends who just saw each other after a long time of separation. Megumi was also excited seeing him.

I returned to roaming my eyes persistently around the whole reception area to continue with my search. Aoshi, who was just beside me, didn't notice I was moving uncomfortably because he was fascinated by the live conversation with his just seen friend. And then out of the blue a peculiar question disturbed me.

"So… When are you getting married Kenshin?" Sano curiously asked. "It's been a long time. I am no longer updated with your love life since you disappeared without letting us know." He put his arms on Kenshin's shoulder and acted as if he's totally eager to know.

"Yeah… What's up with you?" Megumi seconded the motion.

"Actually…" The redhead acted cool about the topic. He paused for a moment trying to find the right words to say. We were all staring at him intriguingly waiting for an answer to the query.

"I'm-" He unexpectedly stopped when he realized something bumped his back hardly.

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Kaoru's POV

I found myself in the same restroom for almost thirty minutes but it seemed like I was there forever. I walked to and from the both ends of the small room. If there were ladies who enter, I stop and pretend to be doing something fruitful.

Good Lord, please help me.

"Do you want to see him?" I asked myself. I silenced for a while. "Of course I want to see him!"

I thought again for the hundredth time.

"Then I need to get out of here," I convinced myself.

I hesitated at first but I finally had the urge to walk through the restroom door. I walked cautiously along the narrow hallway leading to the reception area. For a while, my heart subsided from thumping hard.

As I reached the main entrance, my eyes narrowed at the view that welcomed me. I was caught off-guard. I blinked. Then I blinked again to make sure it wasn't a figment of my imagination. I recognized the familiar figure that was standing and laughing with my friends. I recognized him even though his back was facing me. I knew him. I knew that red hair. I knew that stance. It was carved in my mind. He was carved in my mind.

I was stuck in that position for a couple of seconds. That moment, I got lost. Nothing registered in my head. The people around the two of us seemed to vanish. The background was foggy and all I see is he.

It was only I.

It was only he.

…In our own little world.

For the first time, I allowed my heart to dictate me. I rushed towards him not minding my saggy gown and my two-inch heels. That was the run for my life. I felt like I bumped something but I continued running. Every inch that I was getting close to him, I felt my heart leaping with joy.

When I reached what seemed to be the finish line, I lunged towards my prize. In that split second, I wrapped my arms around him.

My heart overflowed with joy…

My heart overflowed with contentment…

My heart overflowed with love…

Then I heard the voice that I longed to hear.

"I'm-" He paused. His body stiffed. He didn't respond the hug or even turned his head to see who I was.

He continued the suspended words he was about to say, "I'm engaged."

I'm engaged… I'm engaged… I'm engaged…

My brain tried to process the newly heard information.

I'm engaged… I'm engaged… I'm engaged…

Then some kind of lightning struck me from above. I was suddenly thrown back to the harsh reality. I closed my eyes. I tried to deny it but it wasn't enough. I blinked. I blinked again. Then my eyes grew big in disbelief.

"Kaoru?" I heard a familiar voice. It was Misao.

Right before my eyes, I witnessed how the white background transformed into the people that disappeared a moment ago. Sanosuke, Megumi, Aoshi, and Misao were there. They were looking at me frantically. I strayed my eyes around the area and I saw all the intrigued pair of eyes looking at the unexpected scene.

Then Kenshin coughed lightly. I consciously freed him from the tight embrace. He looked at me. Then I stepped back while looking at him. I never took my questioning eyes off him. His face paled. He was shocked.

I tried to compose myself by smoothing my gown. "Oh…Yeah-" I stuttered. "Yeah… Alright… I completely understand…"

No one said a word.

I don't know what to feel. I felt numb.

Still not knowing what to do, I grabbed his wrist and pulled him with me. His body stiffed again but I pulled him hard until he allowed himself to be dragged along.

Before we could completely walk out, I turned back to my friends who looked really worried about the unfolding situation. "I'll just borrow Kenshin for a while." Then I faked a slight smile letting them know that I was in control.

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Author's Notes: heheh. How was it? Waaaa. I didn't know this could get so complicated! When I read the first chapter again, my mind just went blank. Haha. I don't want this fic to be really a drama/angst thing. But it's leading me there. Waaaa. Well anyways… haha… wish me the best guys! I bring back all the glory to God—the source of every good thing in this world.

And to those who reviewed and included this fic in their story alerts… guys, thanks a lot. You don't know how much this means to me. You got me pressured though! I want to live up with your expectations but then I realized writing is not all about that. It's about fulfilling the desires of your heart. Haha. I'll leave you with something really helpful. "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed" –Proverbs 16:3