My Little Princess
A/N: Hi everyone! Wow... (o.0) It's officially nine months since I last updated. I am very, very, very, very sorry, that I am. School is just rubbing in on me and I'm quite lucky that I finally got time to finish this chapter. We're nearing the end of MLP, so, hehe, stay tuned. lolz! Oh yeah, to those of you who don't know, I have started Yoshiwara--my first fic with a BattousaixKaoru pairing. And surprise, surprise! Aoshi will be making an appearance in that fic as well. -grins-
MLP has been nominated at the RKRC (rkrc-dot-meijitales-dot-com). I don't know who nominated it, but in case you're reading this one, thank you! Being nominated is already an honor. Hehe!
To all EVA fans who might happen to have been reading and following this fic, I opened the EVA Fanfiction Webring (EVAMade-dot-org and EVAFics-dot-org were both nice enough to be my affiliates). So yeah, check my profile page and do join the ring.
As for things other than that, I underwent surgery last June of this year--I had throid cancer, so they had to take it out. :-S But no worries folks, I am now completely alright and healthy. So yeah, don't want to worry you or anything, and besides, you all should be reading my installment now, ne? Please enjoy!
Warning: Just came from a writer's block. It's an often overly used excuse, but well, yeah...So, forgive me if you find anything wrong with this chap.
Disclaimer: RK is not mine.
Chapter 26. Tangled
So this is why I always felt different around her...
Those thoughts raced in Kenshin's mind over and over again as they stared at each other with eyes wide open.
He heard Kaoru gulp and then she broke their eye contact. She heaved a heavy and shaky sigh while lowering her head. Her trembling hand came up, the tips of her fingers covering her lips; her other hand was palm down on the floor, supporting her body.
Kenshin opened his mouth, ready to apologize, but then he closed it again. He couldn't find his voice. Seemed like his voice was now inside his balled fists proclaiming anger at himself. He gulped, and then looked away running his hand through his hair and then looked back at her. He wanted to kill himself right there and then. He wanted to run, beat himself up or god, whatever it may be, he wanted to just disappear.
Especially now...
Especially now that he understood everything.
Kami-sama help him. He loved her! He loved her and he didn't even know how...or when...or why. All he knew was that those brief moments that their lips meshed, he loved her, and he wanted her so much.
And he knew. Yes, he knew now...
That he can't have her.
"Kaoru, I-I..." he closed his eyes tightly, looking for the right words to say. He came closer, placing his hands on both sides of her shoulders. She kept her head low. "I'm sorry..." he whispered.
Kaoru slowly raised her head up upon hearing those words. Her hand wanted nothing more but to slap him as hard as she can muster. She removed her hand from her face, ready to strike--she sighed inwardly and closed her eyes deciding against her attempt, letting her hand drop freely on her side.
Sorry? That's it? Sorry! She screamed at no one inside her. She cursed herself for being so stupid all these time, but to hear him say sorry for kissing her?
"Sorry?" She tried to keep her voice steady while meeting his guilt-ridden eyes. "You should have never said that." her lips trembled.
"Kaoru...I'm---" Kenshin's hold on her shoulder became tighter.
"No." Kaoru said through her teeth. "Don't you realize? I'm already full of your apologies...you never understood..."
"Kaoru, what--" Kenshin moved his eyes over her crumpled feature, trying to make sense of what she was saying. Never had he seen her like this.
She briefly eyed his hands atop her shoulders and then she pushed them off coldly with a hand. "Tell me, Kenshin. Do you love me?"
He was caught off-guard with that question.
Do you love me?
Was there a need to ask such a thing?
Ever since she was a child, he learned to love her like his own sibling.
But...that was then...
He never thought of any answer, nor to even answer.
"Do you love me more than just being your little princess?" Kaoru asked in a demanding and an almost whisper like voice as she stubbornly fought with coming tears.
Kenshin felt his heart rip at the way she looked at him. She was angry, but behind those fury-laden eyes were...what was this? Glints of hope?
Could it be? How could he not notice earlier? Did she...did she learn to love him in another way he never imagined she could?
He gulped.
It wasn't right. He didn't want to see those bits and pieces of hope grow any further.
It would hurt them both, but...
Kenshin closed his eyes and once he opened them, gave her the most emotionless face he could ever come up with.
"No."
His answer was simple and cruel. Uncaring and tact.
Kaoru gave a wry smile. "Thank you, Himura Kenshin."
She stood up with her chin raised proudly. "Goodnight."
That was her last word for the night. Her footsteps grew fainter as she disappeared into a corner.
Kenshin didn't dare watch her departing figure nor give a retort. He found himself alone again, listening to the evening breeze and the thud of his heart against his chest.
The wind suddenly picked up and a flash of lightning was seen on the night sky followed by a rumbling thunder.
He saw the box--the ticking watch still inside--lying coldly on the wooden floor just a few inches away from where he was.
"Liar..." he whispered sardonically to himself.
And that's when he knew...
He had lost her.
oOo
Aoshi stood in front of his bed and idly removed his night robe revealing his lean upper body. He wasn't really bulky, but his defined muscles suited his tall figure. He was about to hang the robe on its place when his eyes caught something.
A small and genuine smile crept upon his lips as he set the robe carelessly on the bed's side. He moved closer to the bed's headboard, the hems of his night pants brushing silently against the carpet. On top of the wooden headboard were three picture frames that stood side by side.
He sat on the bed's edge and gently took the picture frame on the leftmost part running his fingers ever so briefly on the frame's wooden edges.
It was a half-body picture of him and Kaoru during their high school graduation. He looked at her young face which seemed to smile endlessly, and then his smile drowned out as he saw his face. He couldn't think of any words to describe his appearance--it felt like he ruined the whole picture, and then he remembered it was Kaoru who insisted they take a picture. She was about sixteen, and he was around eighteen in that picture, he recalled.
"Stop being such a killjoy will you!" Her agitated voice came at him while she pulled him by the wrist.
"But Kaoru--" He protested politely though he let her drag him along. He was glad there weren't much people left inside the auditorium.
"Mou!" Kaoru muttered and looked up at him with her brows knit.
He sighed and knew he was already defeated. They came upon a backdrop with a pattern of blue marble and in front of them was the camera man.
"Ready?" The cameraman asked, adjusting the tripod.
Kaoru nodded politely.
"Alright, ready...1, 2, 3..."
And before Aoshi knew it, the flash lit, momentarily making small circles appear in front of his eyes. He couldn't even remember if he was able to move any muscle in his face to form even the slightest smile.
"That didn't hurt, ne?" Kaoru teased smiling at him.
"Not much, I guess." He returned and a short chuckle reverberated in his throat.
Aoshi woke up from his stupor and looked at the picture again thinking that his presence wasn't really that bad. After all, Kaoru was with him in that picture, and for all he cared, it was her smile that he liked the most--not to mention her azure eyes that seemed to be so full of zest and life.
He returned the framed picture onto its original place and then took the one in the center. This time, it was a picture of them during Hiko's farewell party just a year or so ago. It was a random picture taken by one of the photographers during the event, a flood of other people filled the background. But in here, he could quickly notice Kaoru's more matured features--she looked so beautiful in her simple white gown and her hair which was fixed in a bun that greatly complemented her high cheekbones. He frowned once again as he saw his image on the picture, but he dismissed his repulsion as he caught sight of Kaoru's arm comfortably intertwined with his own
Indeed, they have known and have been very good friends for quite some time now. Come to think of it, he considered Kaoru as his one true friend. Way back when he was still a student, he was a loner and never really dared nor cared to "socialize". But when they finally met that night--in the school's balcony--she unmistakably opened a part of him to the world and he never regretted that.
He tapped his fingers twice on the frame's edge and then returned it like the previous one. Using one arm to support his body, he extended his other arm to reach out for the last picture frame which was on the rightmost side of the headboard. It was perhaps his most favorite picture of all. But before he could look at it closer--like he did every other night--the house paging system caught his attention and he quickly returned the frame into position.
Aoshi hastily pulled his robe from the bed's side and at his pace, was almost running. The house's lights were already shut off, except for the small bulbs that lined the walls. He was still at the stairs when he saw one of their elder male servants opening the main door.
"It's alright, I'll get it." Aoshi called out in a low but audible tone as he went down the stairs with some occasional hopping over three or four flights down.
The servant bowed down and turned on some light for Aoshi instead.
"An umbrella, young sir." The servant handed one before Aoshi could even get out of the door.
Aoshi peeked, and it was indeed raining accompanied by the usual dance of lightning and the sing-song of thunder.
"Ah. Doumo, Aki-san." Aoshi gave a half bow upon taking the umbrella and then raced outside.
The main gate was already half opened when Aoshi got there, the headlights of a car in dim level lit his way.
"S-sorry for coming in here without telling you...at, at this time...I-I..."
Aoshi wanted to frown at the sight he saw. Judging from how her hair and clothes were soaked, he was sure she had been there for a long time or perhaps, she was going in and out of her car, unsure if she should let her presence known. But he didn't want to think nor ask about those things at the moment. Truly, something was wrong--he knew it, he could see it at the way she fidgeted and how her words were jumbled up--but again, he didn't want to ask for the time being.
"Kaoru, please, come in. I'll just have someone get your car inside." Aoshi's calm voice seemed to drown out all of Kaoru's agitation and worry.
Kaoru briefly wiped her wet face with her palms and nodded. Without any word, Aoshi removed his robe and draped it over her head and almost reached past her thighs. She looked up at him as she pulled the robe around her shoulders tightly. Before she knew it, his arm was already around her shoulder in a very protective manner while he held the umbrella above their heads.
Kaoru felt her cheeks flush as her skin made contact with Aoshi's own. She closed her eyes, accepting the feeling of safety-ness and acceptance as she let him lead the way. Indeed, his solid stature was the epitome of a sure and steadfast wall that one can lean on to without the fear of it being torn down.
The two made it inside quite fast without getting soaked much further. They were met by Aki who promptly handed them towels.
"Would you want me to serve tea for you and Miss Kamiya, young sir?" Aki asked as he took the umbrella from Aoshi.
"Thank you, Aki-san, but I'll do it. Please do assist Kaoru for the mean time."
Aki bowed down. "As you wish young sir."
Aoshi then turned to look at Kaoru who was still wearing his robe while drying her hair. A very faint smile was on his lips though it immediately disappeared as she looked at him. "If memory serves me right, you have some clothes left here, right?"
Kaoru slowly nodded and gave a small smile. "Yes, I have."
Aoshi gave a nod back and then walked away with the towel hanging around his nape and covering half of his back. If he were to actually choose, he would rather stay with Kaoru right now instead of making the tea. He didn't notice it when they were out in the rain, but just a while ago, he couldn't be more sure that she had been crying. And because of that, he decided to distance himself for a while. Questioning things wasn't really his best quality. He decided to make tea not because he didn't want to know what's wrong with her, he just wanted to calm himself for a while. Seeing Kaoru like that was one of the things he never wanted to see.
So it wasn't just the rain that she wiped away from her face a while ago... He thought as he remembered her actions outside.
Aoshi made his way to the kitchen asking himself what could have happened. Strange, she was doing alright during her birthday party this afternoon--and very happy at that. He sighed deciding to push the matter off for a while, counting one to ten as he did so.
oOo
"Ah yes, sorry I went off without telling you." Kaoru's voice came in through the receiver, Hiko was half-sitting on his desk. A grandfather's clock was in front of him. It was already past 1 AM.
"You had me worried, my dear." Hiko returned closing his eyes and then opening them again.
"Sorry, really, it's just that, me and Aoshi have this work to rush. Deadline's in a few days...so..." Kaoru frowned at her lie. She knew it won't really work, but perhaps Hiko would understand. He always did.
Hiko sighed. "Alright then, but will you be coming back home later today?"
There was a brief silence and then Kaoru replied with a staggered sentence, "Ahm...m-maybe the day after that...I'm not so sure though. Will let you know."
Another moment of silence.
"Uncle, don't worry. I'll be alright. And besides, I have some stuff over here, so don't bother Kamatari to bringing some over." Kaoru gave a small chuckle.
"Alright then. You take care and tell Aoshi I might break his bones the next time I see him...making you go out into the rain for the project." Hiko returned sarcastically but with no hints of anger whatsoever.
Kaoru smiled. "Yes, yes, I'll tell him to be careful. Bye for now."
"Goodbye my dear." At that, Hiko pressed the end button and returned the handset to its counter.
He crossed his arms as he slowly looked at Kenshin's leaning form on one of the walls. His head was low and his bangs covered most of his face.
"She's alright. She's at Aoshi's house." Hiko spoke coolly as he gazed at the grandfather's clock that stood in front of him across the room.
Kenshin didn't respond nor flinch. But the mentioning of Aoshi's name made his insides churn. Jealousy? He wasn't so sure himself.
Hiko straightened himself up and headed for the door. His footsteps were slow and sure. Just before placing his hand over the door's knob, he stopped. "Wake up and let it go."
Kenshin's head went up, but before he knew it, the door was already closing and eventually it closed with a quick but silent bang.
He was alone again.
Wake up and let it go... Those words repeated inside him. He wondered if Hiko meant he should face the truth that he and Kaoru can never be and that he should let her go. On the other hand, it could also mean that he should accept his feelings and make them known to Kaoru.
He let his right fist hit his forehead sending the back of his head hitting with the wall. He felt the sting that reverberated in his skull but he didn't care.
Where should he go from here?
o0o
Aoshi approached the house's lobby, a tray containing empty tea cups and other chinaware in his hand.
"Where's Kaoru?" He asked Aki who was standing there and seemed to have been waiting for him.
"She went upstairs to change, young sir. She told me to tell you." Aki returned politely.
"Oh, I see. I'll bring this up then." Aoshi looked briefly at the stairs.
"A robe for you, young sir?" Aki raised his left hand a little where a fresh navy blue robe hung neatly.
"Ah, thank you so much Aki." Aoshi returned, handing the tray to Aki for a moment so that he can wear the robe.
"Do you need help with this, young sir?" Aki asked as he looked at Aoshi who was fixing the robe to himself.
"Thank you Aki, but I can manage. You've been a great help, as always." Aoshi smiled and took the tray from the older man's hands. To him, Aki was like his surrogate father, grandfather, or something along those lines. He was a man of wisdom and Aoshi never thought of him as a servant. In fact, Aoshi once told him not to call him "young sir" but Aki didn't approve saying that such a thought would go against his ideals.
"As you say, young sir. Please have a good rest, and extend the same to Miss Kamiya." Aki curtly bowed his head.
"Thanks again Aki. Please have a pleasant rest yourself." Aoshi shook his head a little and then headed upstairs with the tray in his hands.
o0o
"Kaoru, are you in here?" Aoshi called out lowly as he entered Kaoru's room--well, at least the room that became hers as a result of her sleeping over at Aoshi's house every now and then. There was no answer, only the orange light that emitted from one of the floor lamps. Aoshi shook his head on one side and placed the tray on top of a night table near the bed.
He went over to the bathroom's door and briefly knocked. "Kaoru, are you in here?" he asked again. But for the second time, he got no answer.
Odd...he thought. Aki told him she was supposed to be here. Thinking quickly, he took the tray from the night table and went out of the room knowing exactly which room she'd be in--out of the fifteen other bedrooms in the house.
"I knew I'd find you here." Aoshi's voice filled the room as he came in with the tray. He placed it on top of the round table that stood near to the wall just beside the door.
"Hey..." Kaoru looked at him and smiled.
He found her sitting on the carpeted floor of his room. She was already in a fresh pair of pajamas, but she was still wearing his robe that he put around her a while ago. On her lap was the framed picture he wasn't able to look at before she arrived. He smiled back at her.
The room was dimly lighted as well, only the two lamps mounted on either side of the bed served as light in the room. He didn't care anyway.
"Why are you still wearing that?" Aoshi asked, a bit amused as he picked up the tray and made his way to join her.
"Oh this?" Kaoru brushed the right sleeve of the robe.
Aoshi lay the tray in front of them and then sat beside her, leaning his back on the bed's edge. "Yes, that. Isn't it wet or something?"
"Not really. I couldn't find another robe in my room, so..." She looked at him, a smile genuinely plastered on her lips.
"Oh, sorry about that. I'll bring one later, okay?" Aoshi told her as he took one cup and filled it with green tea, steam rising up as he did so. He did the same with the other cup. He then handed a cup to Kaoru and took the other one for himself.
"Thank you." Kaoru said with a small smile. She took a small sip. The tea was perfect as always. "Mmm, that feels nice." she uttered as the warm liquid went down her throat and pooled at her stomach.
Aoshi watched her contently from the brim of his cup as he sipped his own tea.
"What do you put into every tea you make anyway?" Kaoru raised a brow as she brought the cup to rest on her palm.
"If I tell you, then, you won't drink it anymore." Aoshi replied with a mischievous smile.
Both of them stared at each other before giving out a quick laugh. Kaoru sipped from her cup again.
Aoshi caught sight of the framed picture lying on her lap again. It was a picture of them in their favorite spot under the Oak tree--it was springtime back then. Kaoru caught his gaze and then picked up the object with her hand.
"You know," she said while holding it in front of them "whenever I come here and see these...these pictures of us together, I feel so special." Kaoru produced a wry smile as she studied the picture.
"That's great to hear." Aoshi returned silently as she watched Kaoru observing the picture.
Aoshi took that shot, she recalled--tried his best to set the camera at just the right angle and position so that it'd take them both nicely centered. The picture emitted peacefulness--her head gently leaning on the crook of Aoshi's neck while his right arm was protectively wrapped around her. Her left hand was loosely draped over Aoshi's up drawn right leg.
There was a momentary silence. Only the occasional sipping from their cups could be heard at those moments until both finished their tea and Aoshi offered to return the empty cups back to the tray.
Kaoru lay the picture frame on her side gently and then looked at Aoshi--their eyes of differing shades of blue met. "Listen, Aoshi. Sorry for coming here without telling you. Something came up. I-I, I just can't bear to stay at the house right now. Really, I--", her voice became a bit hoarse.
Aoshi placed a hand over hers and gave it a squeeze cutting her sentence off. He looked at her intently as he spoke, "Kaoru, of all people, you never need to explain anything to me. The doors of my house is and will always be open for you, understand?"
Kaoru's eyes were glazed as tears threatened to form--the memories of what happened just a while ago swelling up to the surface again. Aoshi saw it and wanted nothing more than to have his arms around her--to comfort her and make her feel she wasn't alone in whatever she was in right now. And so, he did. He stretched out his hands with a sad but comforting smile. Kaoru didn't hesitate and she quickly hid herself in his arms that became her refuge for so many times.
She hugged him back--tightly--as she fought with her tears. She buried her face in his strong chest while he gently stroke her back.
Aoshi closed his eyes and gulped. He didn't completely know what happened, but he didn't care for now. Part of himself was assured because he was with her at this moment and that is all he wanted right now. Kaoru was strong, he knew that. She was one of the greatest reasons why he is what he is now. But Kaoru was as much of a human as he was.
And so, he continued to stroke her back as her tense body slowly relaxed against him.
The foreign pain in Kaoru's heart subsided. She took a deep breath, taking in Aoshi's scent--a mix of green tea and eucalyptus--and then she shifted to rest her chin on his right shoulder.
"Aoshi...?" Kaoru asked quietly as she stared into the other pictures that stood proudly on Aoshi's headboard.
"Hmn?" Aoshi muttered as he looked at her form from the corner of his eyes.
"It's crazy for me to ask but..." Kaoru gave a watery laugh, "None that I know, but have you ever loved, as in the affectionate sense, someone? A woman, of course--aside from your family..." Kaoru placed her head closer to Aoshi's neck.
Aoshi felt the pressure of her skin against his, but he didn't mind. He relaxed to it, nonetheless. "Kaoru," he started with a little chuckle, "you already answered your question."
"Well yeah, but what if you had somebody but never told me." Kaoru kept her gaze at the wall although the idea of her statement made her cringe inside for some reason.
Aoshi released one of his hands and placed it gently on the side of Kaoru's head. His cool fingertips almost made Kaoru gasp.
"You're letting your imagination fly off again, Kaoru." Aoshi tugged at her ear ever so briefly.
Kaoru smiled at his retort and his actions, and she hugged him tighter. "I told Kenshin I love him..." she told him all of a sudden, her heart began to race.
Aoshi froze for a moment, processing the words he just heard. He never considered such an idea--ever. Kaoru felt him tense up, and so, she tapped her hands lightly over his back to ease him up. "I told him I love him...I always did, but he never knew..." she continued.
Aoshi kept an open ear. He suddenly seemed to understand what has happened.
Kaoru wet her lips and sighed. "But he told me he doesn't love me...Heck...why should he anyway, right?"
Aoshi did not reply.
"Right?" Kaoru asked in a squeaky voice not wanting to show Aoshi her eyes which were now starting to get all teary again.
Aoshi held her closer, keeping her body from trembling. "Kaoru, don't let yourself suffer like this." He didn't know what to think of at that moment. Concern, pain, anger, remorse, love--and what's this? Jealousy? Perhaps it was--he didn't want to know how it got in there but they all came pitting at his stomach.
A series of silent and moist tears traced down his neck before finally being absorbed by the material of his robe. He let her cry as he continued to caress the length of her back and he eventually lost track of how long they stayed that way.
He heard Kaoru sniff a few times, and at that, she slowly released from his hold. He let her go slowly. "Aoshi, thank you so very much." She pursed her lips as she placed a hand over his cheek, squeezing it before letting it go.
Aoshi closed his eyes and smiled. When he looked at her again, she shifted from her position to lean on the bed as well. She pulled her legs up, her hands circling them. He smiled. At that, he knew Kaoru was more or less than alright.
"Kaoru?" Aoshi craned his head to look at her.
"Yes?" She looked back at him.
"I have a business trip to Europe in the next few weeks." Aoshi started.
Kaoru blinked gesturing him to continue.
"It's no vacation, but I was thinking of bringing you along...could use your help on a couple of things or so. I mean, if you don't mind." Aoshi gave a half smile.
Kaoru knew about the business trip beforehand and that Aoshi was supposed to go alone. But she understood he was using this to make a distraction for the things that has happened so far. It fared to be a good idea, in the end.
She smiled and gave a slow nod. "Of course. Who am I to say no to my boss?"
Aoshi chuckled. "Good to hear that!"
Both of them felt pleased, and with Aoshi's prompting, they decided to go to sleep--in their separate rooms, of course. Aoshi walked Kaoru to her room asking if she was going home later during the day.
"I'm not sure." Kaoru returned, intertwining her hands at her back.
"It doesn't matter." Aoshi supplied. "Could use some company around the house for a while anyway."
Kaoru smiled at him. They finally reached her room's door. They bid each other good night and then both went to retire for the day.
o0o
"Frankly, Kenshin, it was a dumb idea to say such a thing." Sanosuke shot his hands up in the air as he sat lazily on the couch.
"But Sano, you don't understand. I almost raised her like a daughter, a-a sister even for that matter." Kenshin returned shifting his gaze away from his friend.
Sano cleared his throat and looked at him, "Kenshin, you didn't. Half of her life, you were away if you aren't fully aware of that."
Kenshin shot him a look. He knew that, yes, but, somehow, he seemed to run away from it--it made him feel more guilty than he was at the moment. He always believed that she was the same girl he knew and taken care of years and years before and that his going away didn't make a difference. But now that someone other than himself mentioned the thought, he wasn't quite sure anymore.
"Tell me--and don't lie! Do you feel anything for her? Don't play innocent on not knowing what I'm referring to." Sanosuke looked at him sternly.
Kenshin looked away and bowed his head. "...I don't know." He silently spoke while mentally cursing himself.
Sanosuke sighed wanting to pound Kenshin down to the ground. "Well my friend, I won't pull the answer from you--whatever it may be--but don't take so long." Sanosuke paused wondering if he should continue the next words which he did anyway, "...you're not getting any younger and at her age, she might probably dump you sooner or later if you don't do anything about this."
Kenshin kept silent but all of Sano's words clawed at him clearly.
"Not that I am saying that you should reciprocate her feelings, but at least find out for yourself if you can or you want to." Sanosuke continued. "Take it from me buddy. Don't tell me you want to end up like a hermit like someone we both obviously know." He smirked at the idea but he saw no reaction from Kenshin.
"Ken-san, I'm sorry to disturb you both." Megumi's voice suddenly came in.
Kenshin nodded as she watched Megumi walk over to Sanosuke's direction.
"Dear, can you please look after Shinosuke for a while? I have to run to the hospital, some emergency came up." Megumi told him in a rushed tone.
Sanosuke rose up, pinching her nose for the briefest moment and then he placed his hands inside his pockets. "Sure thing sweety."
"I hope you don't mind Ken-san, we just have to move Shinosuke from the bedroom and into here so that you and Sanosuke can still go on with your conversation." Megumi said to Kenshin.
"Oh, no problem. But won't the baby be disturbed?" Kenshin asked a bit concerned.
"Don't worry." Megumi smiled. "Shinosuke is much like Sano when it comes to sleeping. The world could be crumbling down, but he'll still be in a deep slumber."
"Hey! I heard that! That hurts sweetheart." Sanosuke sarcastically called out while he hit his chest twice with his fist.
Megumi laughed and then went on to join Sanosuke to get the baby. They turned to a corner with some muffled sounds about today being a Sunday and all and that accidents don't choose any day in particular to strike. Their voices got fainter until he can hear no more.
Kenshin sat back on the chair and rubbed his hands over his face slowly and breathed in a gulp of air--the lavender scent of Sanosuke and Megumi's house filled his nose. His mind wandered to what happened that night and realized that Kaoru hasn't come home yet--it has been two days.
She's staying at the Shinomori guy's house, his mind supplied. To be honest with himself, he wanted to see Kaoru at the moment, but then again, he had no courage to do so. He didn't really have any idea of what to say to her or how should they treat each other.
Kenshin groaned. Things were so messy at the moment and his head was being ravaged by incoherent thoughts here and there.
What now Himura? What now?... I...I... Kenshin talked to himself in his psyche.
I...I... He was hoping to find an answer to his own questions. But he was baffled. He couldn't even think clearly at the moment.
I don't know...He said in defeat and disappointment.
Sometimes, things just go wrong that even if we want or even try to untangle things, we end up not knowing where the problem is and consequently, we tug at the wrong knot making the whole thing get worse. Some people would try to undo the mistake, but sometimes, you just can't. Some people are lucky enough to find an easier solution to untangle things by getting some sort of a scissor to cut the tangle off. But unfortunately, the scissor doesn't come in all the time, and you just have to make do of what you can, no matter how frustrating.
The tangle might or might not get fixed. The dilemma lies in which situation the tangle itself wants to be in--to be untangled or not to be untangled at all. More often than not, however, you never know which is which that applies to a certain tangled up situation.
Kenshin rubbed his face one more time with one hand and then heard Megumi and Sanosuke's voices coming from the corner again.
Tsuzuku
A/N: For some reason, authors can no longer reply to the reviews of readers. :-( So yeah, I am sorry, I always love to respond to your comments and reviews. I was thinking of putting up a message board or something so we can continue to discuss the story. Tell me what you think.
Comments, rants, flames, etc., are most welcome. Haha! Until next time everyone!
ForgottenDiary