Intoxicated: Chapter 5

Disclaimer: I own nothing, and I fucking miss my soul, … damn manga artists, thinking they own everything, … oh wait, they own all that counts, … all but chocolate and caffeine……

The lock clicked into place, crushing Kenshin's fragile heart before Kaoru's eyes. Oh, crap. That fucker is such an asshole. She sighed to herself. But had she really expected Sano to welcome Kenshin back with open arms? No, but tucked away in a small place in her heart, she had. She had hoped that Sano would live with Kenshin for the rest of time and that it would all be a nice little fairytale. God knows he's earned it after what he has lived through.

The sound of the lock closing was like a hammer to his fragile hopes, his perfect world of glass was falling to pieces around him and he couldn't do a thing to stop it. So he didn't. He let his emotions run wild, collapsing to his knees with too sad to cry. He sat there for a few minutes, letting himself fly to pieces. The world was spinning and he couldn't stop it. For once he couldn't draw his sword and fix everything. It spun and spun until he thought he was going to puke. So, he reached into the swirl of the outside world and grabbed something, anchoring himself and letting his composure rebuild itself. I can't let anyone else see me like this. I hope that Sano is in the back of his house, he doesn't deserve to see what he did. One tear slid down his face, and with it went his love, his last naïve dream for a safe happy life with someone he loved. And then it was gone, his emotions were locked back in a box inside his chest, right next to the one that held his heart.

Kenshin gracefully drew himself upright. He turned to Kaoru and smiled.

"This one guesses it is time to return to the dojo. Come, there are things to be done and they will not be accomplished standing here." He smiled wider and started back to the dojo, with a dumbstruck Kaoru in tow.

"I'm gonna kill him!" Yahiko screamed and tried to grab his bokuto. Kaoru had explained the situation to him after he wouldn't shut up about why they hadn't taken him with them. He had pouted for a long time after hearing they had gone to a bathhouse without him. I may not like being clean, but a bathhouse has girls.

"He doesn't need someone to rescue him. He needs some space and some time to heal." Kaoru grabbed Yahiko and sat him back down. And if anyone rescues him, its gonna be me, she thought to herself.

"Just as long as you don't try to cook to cheer him up. That'll hurt more than heal." And with that Yahiko ran from the wrath of his teacher.

Kenshin was in his room, cleaning his sword. The numb haze of this morning hadn't lifted yet, nothing really felt real. Feet thudded through the dojo and Yahiko screamed. Kenshin chuckled to himself, just as if nothing happened. Maybe it was all a dream…. No. No dream that he had ever awoken from had hurt this much.

It was a dreary day. The gray sky pelted them with cold rain and winds rustled the doors, occasionally blowing one open. It fit Kaoru's mood perfectly.

Kenshin wasn't at breakfast. He needs his rest, but he also needs his strength. I'll bring him breakfast in bed, like a treat. Kaoru arranged the food on a tray with a cup of tea. I don't care how much he hurts; no one will drink sake before noon in this dojo.

Kaoru put the tray down on the floor, preparing to open the door. He's not even snoring; I hope he is dreaming of something peaceful. Kaoru slid the door open and expected to see Kenshin's serenely sleeping form. It wasn't there. His mat was folded with the sheets and pillow piled onto top of it in the corner. Just like it had been when Kaoru folded it the other morning. The door was blown open and the mat was wet, like it had been open for a while. Kaoru, somewhat puzzled put the tray on the floor in his room and went to find Kenshin. It's raining, but maybe he decided to practice in the woods. He always goes in there for practice, he doesn't' want anyone else to learn Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. It's taken enough from him without taking others.

She closed the door behind her and latched it. Hopping off the ledge into the mud, she jogged into the forest. A little way in, she discerned a path in between the trees. Her breath clouded in front of her. I should have brought an umbrella, but I never knew he went so far into the forest.

By the time she found it, she was soaked and frozen to the bone. Kenshin was about a half mile into the forest, in a small glade. His skirt was a soggy pile next to a tree. Standing in the middle of the clearing, his hakamas clung to his wet skin; his hair stuck to his forehead and was the color of blood when wet. His skin steamed in the cold and his sword left trails in the raindrops after each swing. It was beautiful and Kaoru was entranced. She stood there watching him train for what seemed like forever before she realized, he was going to freeze in the rain.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru shouted over the wind. He took a second, but then he looked up and a mixture of anger and surprise crossed his face. He settled on surprise, sheathed his sword and walked over to her.

"Kaoru-dono, you really shouldn't be out in such bad weather. Let's get you back inside." He picked up his shirt and tried to usher her toward the dojo, she pulled her arm away and glared at him defiantly.

"How long have you been out here?" Kenshin was putting on his shirt and waiting for her to walk with him back.

"I went out after dinner. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to train."

"That was yesterday!"

"I lost track of time, I can't notice any change during this weather." He turned to start back, but she caught his hand. Kenshin waited, surprised and a little confused at her behavior.

"Don't do this to yourself. Please?" She asked in a whisper.

"I'm not doing anything to myself. Don't worry so much." He kissed her forehead and led her back t the dojo. The rain continued to fall steadily, covering the slow tears that fell from Kaoru's eyes.

Back at the dojo, Kenshin said he was going to take a bath, he was feeling chilly, he said. Kaoru left him and went back to the kitchen. She was distracted and burned the food more than usual. Yahiko teased her about it, but he got no response other than, "Oh, really? I'm sorry. I'll do better next time."

"What is wrong with you? Usually you bite my head off after I mention your cooking. What's going on?"

"Nothing. Go practice your footwork." She cleared the dishes and went to her room.

Llama's notes:

Bokuto- a wooden sword, usually used when learning before graduating to a metal sword.