Disclaimer: Don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
Chapter 15: Yes I Will
It had been a week since Kenshin had proposed to Kaoru. She missed him and called his apartment everyday, but he never answered or returned her calls. It upset her but she couldn't say yes to marry him. It wasn't time yet. Kaoru was still young, she was going to college, and they hadn't been dating too long.
'Maybe dating someone older was the wrong thing. I love him but I can't marry him.'
Kaoru had gown to the mall with her friends Megumi and Misao. They saw how down Kaoru had been lately and wanted to cheer her up. They had shopped at a few stores and the two had seen that Kaoru was less than enthusiastic about the nice yet expensive jean jacket that Kaoru had been wanting, especially that it was on sale for half the price. Kaoru brought the jacket and the three went to the food court and got some pizza.
"Alright, raccoon girl, what's wrong?"
Kaoru hesitated, "Nothing's wrong."
"Don't play dumb Kaoru. You've been miss mopey for a week."
"And you weren't even happy to get that jean jacket at half the cost. What's wrong little raccoon?"
"Okay, Megumi stop calling me raccoon cause I'm really not in the mood" Kaoru said angrily gritting her teeth "And Misao I've just been upset."
Misao looked at her friend, "Than just tell us."
There was a slight pause.
"Okay, I'll tell you, but it's very big and very important. I mean you can't tell a single soul about it. And you have to promise, I mean really promise that you will not say a word to anyone about what I have to say."
Megumi and Misao nodded their heads in agreement and Kaoru told them everything about Kenshin and the proposal.
"Wow, I had you pegged all wrong raco-, I mean Kaoru. Who knew you'd get involved with an older man especially since he's our teacher."
"Was our teacher. He isn't anymore. And thank you for not calling me raccoon."
"So, are you going to marry him?"
"No, Misao. I'm not."
Misao gasped, "Why not? You love him, don't you?"
"Of course, but it's too soon."
"Are you kidding me? The guy proposes to you out of the blue just by smelling your scent, he loves you, and you say no" Misao looked at her in disbelief.
"Like I said it's too soon."
Misao jumped across the table, grabbing Kaoru's collar, and shaking her "It's never too soon Kaoru. Never. A man who proposes to you for no reason except that he loves you and wants to be with you for the rest of his life is never too soon. You should have said yes."
"Misao, let me go. I don't want to talk about his anymore."
Misao let go of Kaoru, got up, and mumbled something about Kaoru being stupid and going to the bathroom.
After Misao had left Megumi started talking, "Don't listen to Misao, Kaoru. You're doing the right thing."
Kaoru looked at Megumi in surprise, "Thank you for agreeing with me."
"Of course, I mean it'd be wrong to marry a man 20 years your senior."
"He's only 11 years older than me, Megumi. It's not so huge."
"Of course, but a man like that would only be interested in your figure."
Kaoru put down her soda in frustration, "Kenshin's not interested in me for my body. He loves me for me. Even if I lose my temper."
"Maybe, but lets face it. He's more mature. He probably just felt the need to propose to you because he wanted to sleep with you not because he loves you."
Kaoru slammed her hands in frustration, "That's not true! He loves me! Me! Kaoru Kamiya! He proposed to me because he loves me and wants to be with me! Not the other way around! And I love him! And I want to be with him!"
"Then why don't you tell him that."
Kaoru's eyes widened and then a smile curved her lips, "I have to admit, you're very cleaver."
Megumi flipped her hair and smiled, "Of course I am."
Kaoru grabbed her bags and got up from her seat, "Got to go. Thanks Megumi."
"You get him girl."
Kaoru ran from the table and left the mall to Kenshin's.
Kenshin was sitting on his couch staring at a picture of him and Kaoru. They had taken it in a photo booth at a carnival they went to one day. They were both smiling and happy. He sighed.
'I miss her so much, but she didn't say yes. I love her and want to be with her, but how can I when she doesn't want me.'
He heard a knock on the door and stared out the peep hole. He was surprised and opened the door.
"Kaoru?"
There she was, the woman he loved, standing outside the door with a shopping bag in hand.
"Kaoru? What are you doing…"
Kenshin's sentence was cut off when Kaoru wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Kenshin was surprised but wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her back. Kenshin moved her into the living room, Kaoru dropped her bag, and he closed the door. He then laid her on the couch and continued kissing her.
"I missed you" he said breathless.
"I missed you too."
"I'm sorry about…"
"I will."
Kenshin stared at her, "What?"
"I will. I want to."
"Are you saying you want to marry me?"
"Yes. Kenshin, I was such a fool. I love you and I want to be with you forever. If you'll have me?"
Kenshin cupped her face and smiled, "Always now and forever."
Kaoru smiled back at him and they kissed passionately. Knowing that this was it and that it is the real thing.
I hope you enjoyed these two chapters. Again, I'm sorry for the long delay, but with the deaths of my two uncles I decided to take a break. I wish I could have updated sooner and now I will update more over the summer.
Sadie Hawkins Pt2 will be out this week. Also, I updated 'Baby' story if you haven't read that yet.
There will be more to come as 'True Love' winds down to the end.
Thank you for reading and please review.