-1Our World is Full of Despair and Loneliness

Chapter 1: Proposal

Disclaimer: I do not own Kenshin, Kaoru or any of the Rurouni Kenshin/Samurai X characters. Wish I did, but don't. I will also try to keep the characters as close to their original personalities as I possibly can.

Bold Anger, Outrage, You get the idea.

Italics Thoughts, and monologues if you will.

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The night was silent, only a few crackles of cindering fires lit sound into the air of tents. A few horses in the distance clonked along the hard ground as their riders patrolled the forest around them. Tents were lined as far as the eye could see, stopping at the trees surrounding them. No one was bustling, even making a sound. But also, none were asleep.

The entire army was awake, laying on their backs, looking at the light from the moon that could be seen through the top of their tents. All were wishing, praying, for a miracle to happen. None of them wished to die the next day. None of them wished to leave their parents, wives, children behind. Some were crying silently to themselves, holding pictures or items that showed memory of the world they knew so well back home. For at least half of them, their time and places in this world, would end the next day.

Kamiya Koshijiro was one of these people. He was not a man to show feeling, but for this man, his daughter not having a father scared him to death. Kaoru most definitely needed someone to defend her in times of need, when Koshijiro was not there to help her. He knew that Kaoru was alone right now, waiting for him to return to her, but he would never be the same. Koshijiro normally smiled softly at his dear daughter, hiding the pain in his mind and heart. He had always showed her not to hurt people, and to always practice as hard as she could to be ready for times when he was not there for her. He had to stay alive, for her, for his swordsmanship. He would fight his hardest to make sure to come home to his dear daughter. It was true that he was not exactly part of the army, but he was in the police swordsman force, and he was needed just as much as the rest. This battle would hopefully be the last of this Seinan War.

"Kamiya-san?" muttered a voice in the next futon.

"Yes?" Koshijiro sighed back.

"Kamiya-san, do you think…" the man stuttered, he had obviously been crying. "Do you think that everything will be okay?"

"Tokomo, I believe everything will come out as the God's wish it to," He said back to the smaller man. "You should be happy that they did not draft your son, and that you are able to protect your family."

"You know his condition Kamiya-san." Gozuru stated back. "He could not fight even if he wished to, he is like a stick."

Koshijiro chuckled at the man's response. "I believe Hayao-kun will be able to find his own mission in life, which is great."

Gozuru smiled, it was great. His son had the right to choose whatever he wanted to do with his life. "I am worried about him, what about your daughter? What if something happens to you?"

"She is a big girl, she can take care of herself," Koshijiro stated. It was a complete lie, he worried about her being okay right now at this very second. She was naïve and very trusting towards people she did not know. What if someone was taking over the dojo right now, without him there, Kaoru would just let everything go. What if she was dead and he did not know? Could he live in the next world knowing that his only child was slaughtered. Could he know that she was not being taken care of by a man she cared for? How did he know, how would he ever know, while he was here.

"Gozuru…?" Koshijiro asked.

"Yes?" Tokomo answered back, rather taken back by his leader's use of his name. "Sir?"

"I want you to do me a favor Gozuru." Koshijiro stated, the darkness overwhelming his face. Gozuru could see the war painted on him, and the sadness in his eyes, even if they were covered by his hair. With the moonlight, you could see the tears glistening in his eyes.

"Anything Kamiya-san, anything you ask for, I will fulfill." Gozuru said, a new found strength covering him. His leader never asked anything seriously of him like this, was it the battle tomorrow or the talk of his daughter, or both?

"If anything happens to me tomorrow Gozuru," Koshijiro said, his voice wavering slightly, he felt weak. "I want you to take care of my daughter, Kaoru."

"Sir…?"

"Gozuru, I want you to promise that Kaoru will be safe in your hands, and that you will take care of her."

Gozuru was taken back by this plead from his elder, he had been asked his question once before, by his late wife, to take care of his two sons. He had never imagined being asked such a serious question by another man. But this was war, and many unexpected things happened in a war. "Sir… I…"

"Gozuru, please, she can be bound to Hayao if you wish, just please, take care of her." Koshijiro pleaded, his own voice was wracked with tears and slight sobs. The older man had turned to his side, sighing and letting the small tears fall from his wrinkled face.

"I will sir, I will make sure she is taken care of by my son and myself. Kaoru would make a beautiful bride for my Hayao," Gozuru smiled, and looked back up at the moonlight creeping through the cloth of the tent. Then, a small voice came from his leader, and Gozuru could hardly make out what he was saying.

"Thank you… all I wish for, is her happiness."

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"And there you have it," stated a much older looking Gozuru. "Kamiya Koshijiro died the next day, protecting one of our younger comrades."

Hayao looked over at his father, this was a story he had heard many times, and still his eyes danced when he heard it. Kamiya-san was a very respectable man. He had heard stories and stories of the leader from his father, and they always filled him with joy. To know that Kamiya-san had kept many alive and none dead by the use of his sword. According to Hayao's father, Kamiya-san had never shown the blade of his sword to anyone, not even enemies.

"And so, he bound his Kaoru that night to my Hayao." Gozuru looked upon the shocked men. Ones eyes were still slits, looking upon the other men in anger. The other man was looking straight forward, his eyes had become big with surprise. But then, had come back to their original size.

The crimson-haired man sighed and put his hand down to stand from the floor. He lifted himself up and walked towards the door. As soon as he was about to leave he heard a familiar yell.

"Kenshin! Are you just going to let this happen?" Sano yelled at the man.

Kenshin ignored Sano and looked upon Gozuru and his son. The lean blond man looked up at Kenshin, and Kenshin could see the happiness in his eyes. Kenshin diverted his eyes and looked outside. "This one…"

Gozuru interrupted him. "We do have an estate, as for I now work in the kimono business and have risen up in Kyoto and Osaka. She will have a very comfortable life, we have anything she could ever want back in Kyoto, where my home is."

Kenshin closed his eyes, in his thoughts, he was swimming, he wasn't hurt, or angry, but just plain indifferent. He did not know how to feel. His world, everything was being effected.

"And all of you can still live here at the dojo, and Kaoru can come and visit you here." Gozuru continued to explain.

"That, will not be necessary," Sano stated. "Without the Missie, there would be no reason to stay."

Gozuru nodded and looked at Kenshin, he did not know what the young swordsman was thinking in his mind. Neither did the swordsman. There was only one thing he could say. "This one, will step aside…"

Gozuru smiled and continued to look at Kenshin. This time, Kenshin looked back, his eyes were glazed over and slightly determined looking.

"But…"

Gozuru frowned at the younger red-haired man.

"Only if Kaoru-dono wants to leave, will I allow her to leave," Kenshin stated at the older man, and then without another glance, walked out of the dojo.

Sano smiled at the departing man.

"He cannot do this! This is set and arranged!" Gozuru yelled at Sanosuke, glaring his eyes with all his might.

Sano looked at the man and shrugged. "The reason he is saying that is because he only wishes for her happiness. The same as her father, right?"

Gozuru still glared and did not soften. "Kamiya-san promised Kaoru-san to Hayao!"

"Yes, but he also said he wished for her happiness, and what makes her happy, makes her happy." Sano said with a smile. "Yes?"

Gozuru sat there, fuming, what the tall man said was true. But still, this was arranged! This could not be re-decided!

Hayao looked at his father, "Sir… please, do not get angry."

Gozuru snapped back his oldest son. "This is arranged! It cannot be decided or changed by anyone else but her father!"

Hayao looked taken aback, his father hardly ever yelled at him. "But father, I too, wish for Kaoru-san to be happy."

Gozuru lifted himself from kneeling and walked past the tall man with brown hair. "Kaoru-san will be happy…"

"Back in Kyoto with our family!" The older man yelled and stomped out the door like a young boy who did not get his favorite toy to play with.

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I know, it's rather short and I do apologize, and I am about an hour late on my posting time, I do apologize, I was out with the man. And no, before anyone asks, I did not make up the bit about Kaoru's father. I read in the profiles left by Watsuki and they stated that Kaoru's father died in the Seinan Wars while protecting a comrade. He also never used his sword's blade to punish enemies, but he used the blunt side. (Sounds like Kenshin, ne?)

Anyways, I will have a new chapter and possibly a drawing up by April 14 around midnight. Gives myself some time to think about what I should do. Should I have Kaoru leave Kenshin and the others to live with Hayao? Or should I let Kaoru be with Kenshin? Hmm, it is very 50/50 right now. I am not sure.

Anyways, R&R and thanks to all of you who reviewed my story, it doesn't look like I am too dumb right? Lol. Thanks again, and ja!