Butterfly Kisses chapter 18, a rurouni kenshin fanfic

Date started: March 15, 2006

This is it. The last chapter of Butterfly Kisses. I hope you guys enjoy it. I am on spring break now, so I have time for this chapter. Chapter 18.

Butterfly Kisses

By: Hotaru

Rating: R; for language, gore, and some adult material

Standard Disclaimer:

I do not own Rurouni Kenshin in any way whatsoever. I do, however, own any characters that I may introduce as my own, and this plot line. If I catch you stealing it, you grovel at my feet and beg forgiveness, or die.

"If that is the case, and Kaoru is indeed forever gone, then die, bitch!" He unsheathed his sword and made for her with his godlike speed.

Polaris smiled, and icy flames surrounded everyone's bodies. Before they could stop the Battousai, his sword stabbed into her body, and then she fell to the ground, him going with her, as he tossed his sword aside, and the flames encircled him as well.

The flames that encased his body felt cool against his skin. They no longer held the freezing temperatures they had moments before. Battousai felt the warm body of Polaris up against his, as he lay on top of her. He dared not to look at the woman, the one whom he had injured with his sword. Instead, he looked around to try and see what had happened to the others. The sight that met his eyes was astonishing. The blue of the fire was all around him, and extended into nothingness. He saw the ninja off to one side standing fully conscious. Turning his head another direction, the gold eyes noticed Sanosuke, and Shishio as well, wide awake. 'This isn't right... we are all supposed to be dead.'

That was when he decided to look at the body of his love. He saw that her eyes were closed, and a few black tresses fell across her pale skin. He softly cried out to her, "Kaoru..." A calloused hand brushed the hair out of her face, "What have I done?" He felt the blood coming from her side against his body. Glancing down at the wound, he was horrified at his own work. He saw her chest rising slowly. She was still alive, but not for much longer. Her face was already white as a ghost. She let out another soft breath. He knelt closer to her; his face was barely an inch from the girl's.

He grasped her around the shoulders, and held her close to him. A tear fell down his cheek onto hers. The first tears he had cried in years. During the moment he had plunged his sword through her body, it seemed as though time itself had frozen. He saw Polaris's eyes go wide in shock, and then turn a clear blue. It was already to late, as he realized what was happening.

"Please don't go," He whispered. He kissed her lightly on the forehead, one cheek, and then the other. He hadn't realized that someone had come up behind him as he was in his distraught state. Finally, his lips met the deathly cold ones of the one he loved. A hand placed itself upon his shoulder, startling the seasoned assassin.

A calming voice said, "Do not worry Kenshin. All will be well." The man froze, and then slowly turned his head. It was her. No, someone who looked exactly like her. A gentle smile was upon her face, "Polaris is gone. I have taken care of that. Kaoru should be fine in the end." The red head was shocked.

"But... but her body is, her body has been..."

"Shh," She comforted, "The wound shall be healed, for I can stop the bleeding. But it will be up to her in the end whether or not she will wake up. And as a small comfort, I will give a gift to the world. Then, I shall be gone."

At that moment, a strong wind blew up. The woman who looked so like Kaoru brought her hands together in front of her as the wind blew her hair about. It continued to grow stronger, as Kenshin merely stared in awe. Lightning struck the figure, and then all was still. The blue flame world disappeared, and everyone was back in the library of Shishio's mansion.

Kenshin looked down at Kaoru's body. Her face looked a little more lifelike than moments earlier, but she was out cold. He caressed her face with one hand, as he continued to sit there by her side. He failed to notice that Shishio was trying to escape the room, or that Aoshi and Misao were going to stop him. The assassin did not care to realize that Sanosuke was walking towards him, his face pale with fear. All that the man cared about, at the moment, was Kaoru.

Shishio sat tied up to a chair in a small room. He was seething in fury. The red haired brat had finally got him. There was no doubt in his mind that the assassin would have him killed. Not only that, but the empire the man had been so close to having, was now going to lie in ruins. It would all fall apart and the world would crumble. Polaris and her powers were now gone. The manslayer had seen to that matter.

The man twisted in his bonds in a futile attempt to try and escape. Even if he did get untied, he wouldn't be able to leave the room. All he could do was wait. Something the ex-leader was loath to do.

"Why haven't you killed him yet?"

Sano's voice brought Kenshin out of his thoughts. The shorter man turned away from the fire, "I don't know. I won't do anything to him until she wakes up." A small flame awakened in his eyes, "I want him to see that she lives, and that he has lost once and for all. Then, maybe then, I will kill him."

The group had taken refuge in the huge mansion that Shishio was now a prisoner in. Kaoru had been rushed to a hospital the night before. Several hours later, a doctor had told Kenshin that she had suffered severe blood loss, but the treatment given to the wound had been what saved her life. All they had to do now was hope that the girl would wake up from the coma she was in.

The tall fighter tried to talk to the red head, "There are reports of healthy foods randomly growing in third world countries. That many of the sick are being healed."

"I'll be back." The assassin grabbed his coat, ignoring the words, "I'm going to see her. Don't give Shishio any food. Make sure Yahiko doesn't know I've gone to see her. Keep the boy here, and out of harms way."

Kenshin paid the taxi driver and exited the vehicle. He stepped up to the huge hospital that was the best in the metropolis. A small wind blew as he went up the steps that led to the main entrance. After entering the doors, he walked up to the front desk, "I would like to know the room number of Kamiya Kaoru." His voice was steely. The woman sitting seemed a little startled, but curtly replied, "I'm sorry sir, but visiting hours are-"

"I don't care!" The assassin cut her off, "I need to see her." The secretary's eyes widened slightly, but then said, "If you are related..."

"I'm her boyfriend." It was the quickest thing he could come up with. And in its own way, it was true.

She didn't buy it, "I'm sorry, but Kamiya-san is engaged to the nations leader if you haven't noticed yet. Unless she were in an affair, which I highly doubt-"

"She was kidnapped by him, and used-" Kenshin seemed to realize what he was saying, and finally said, "Just let me see her." The lady seemed to sense the desperation in him, and finally agreed. After a moment of typing, she said, "She is in room 1043." Without a second glance to the woman, he headed for the elevator. He was growing very impatient, as the thing seemed to crawl up to the tenth floor. At long last, he heard the little bell, and the doors opened.

The assassin stepped out, and into the hallway. It was very quiet. The halls were dimly lit, creating a peaceful atmosphere. He began walking down the hall and looking at the room numbers. He spoke softly to himself, "35, 39, 41, 43." He stopped in front of the door that was cracked open. He had a moment of hesitation, and then softly pushed open the door.

Kaoru had remained on the star when the counterpart of Polaris had disappeared. She had felt a searing pain in her side, but it had faded away after a few minutes, as if it had never been there. The girl had not returned to her body. She was at a loss of what she should do, for she did not know how to return. Ever since then, she had wandered around the silvery plains of the sacred star, not knowing where to go.

She spotted a familiar structure, and walked towards it. Upon reaching the doorway, Kaoru sat herself on the ground, and pulled her bare legs up to her chest. She rested her forehead upon her knees, and she became overwhelmed. 'The lady said I would be taken back! That I would be able to see him, and that Shishio would be taken care of...' Silent tears began to fall down her cheeks.

"Kaoru..."

Her blue eyes opened wide at hearing her name. Bringing her head up, she expected to see someone, but didn't, "Where are you?"

Kenshin stood beside the hospital bed that the petite girl lay in. She had an IV in one arm. Her hair was in a braid that fell over one shoulder. She looked angelic in that bed, "Kaoru..." His golden eyes were sad, as was his voice. The man sat on the side of the bed, looking down at her, "I need you... I need you to wake up and be with me. If you aren't here, the blood lust will consume me. I won't be able to live."

She heard the words of need. The voice she was hearing was so familiar, "Kenshin!" Standing up from her spot on the ground, Kaoru turned around in circles, trying to see him. Her voice cried out, "I want to, but I don't know how!" The girl hoped that he could hear her. She could hear him, so why shouldn't he be able to hear her?

He could feel her presence. Her ki was awakening. Hope began to rise in the assassin. Kaoru was making a struggle, a struggle to awaken. Her ki had not surged in so long, and now that it was, "Kaoru! Fight! I'm here, right beside you." Urgent whispers of encouragement escaped his lips. He placed one hand on her cheek, caressing it, "What must I do to help you wake up?"

Again, he felt her life surge, unseen. Kenshin wanted to kiss her. Despite her unconscious state, he needed to do so. He inched his face closer to hers. Right before his lips brushed hers, he whispered, "I love you, Kaoru." And then, his lips touched hers.

The girl felt something very soft touch her lips. It was invisible, but it was so gentle. The touch reminded her of a time when a butterfly had graced itself in front of her, and its wings had brushed across her lips. She had always thought of it as a butterfly's kiss. Kaoru didn't see a butterfly this time, however. All she could do was feel it, "Come back." In an instant, Kaoru realized that she was indeed receiving a kiss, but this was not that of a butterfly. It was a kiss of a human, a kiss given by the one she belonged to. This butterfly kiss was given by a certain someone named Kenshin.

Her deep blue eyes closed, as she imagined him in front of her.

Kenshin barely noticed when an arm slithered around his waist. Not until the grip tightened, and the velvety lips underneath his moved, did he notice that Kaoru was responding to him. Opening his eyes, he was met by happy blue ones gazing up at him. It took another moment to realize what was happening.

"Kenshin." Her voice whispered, and she moved her arms around his neck, bringing him down on top of her, as she held him close, "I thought I would never see you again!" She clung to him as though letting go would cause him to disappear, "I was so alone there..."

His low voice whispered back, "You won't be alone. Never again." Kenshin's face lifted up to look her in the face, "That's a promise." Kaoru's blue eyes crinkled in joy, and she smiled, "Thank you." She pulled his head back down, and softly kissed him. It seemed not to be enough, and the red head deepened the kiss, as they relished in each other's presence, knowing that even if times were bad, they would be together, bound by the butterfly kisses that had awakened Kaoru's soul.

The End

PLEASE DONT KILL ME.

やった！！本当に嬉しいですよ！おわったよ！ -you need japanese to read it...

I don't know. I gave you guys a very sappy, happy ending. At first, I was going to be really mean and have Kaoru die, and then have Kenshin commit suicide and follow her in death... but I changed my mind. I purposely left the fate of Shishio hanging, so you can leave that to your imagination. You can do that for the future of the other characters too. Have your own fun with their fates.

I hope you guys like the way I ended this story. I have never finished a fanfic before in the history of my writing, so I was kind of troubled by how readers prefer endings to be. And so, with the ending of this story, I am going to publish another one very, very soon. I plan on continuing my other fics as well, especially my Sailor Moon one.

I would like to thank all of my reviewers, including the few flames I received. They were all greatly appreciated, and taken to heart. I plan on going back and doing serious amounts of editing in a few months. There are several things at the beginning of the story that don't make sense with the second half of the story. So, I need to fix the plot errors. And now, I say farewell to those who only read Butterfly Kisses out of my works. I hope you guys go read my other stories, if you haven't already, and to see you soon!

-Hotaru

Date finished: March 17, 2006