Rating: T some swearing and lime
A Fight for LoveBy The Dead Writer
Summary: How a one month vacation turned into another life. KxK
PART IV – The Fountain
(POV Kaoru)
DAY 16, when Kaoru took residence in New York.
He's early today. Why does he always come to my bench? Not that I mind… I secretly looked at him. He's good for the eyes. I grinned. He can even keep up with my conversations.
"Good morning, Kaoru. Want to go for a ride?"
What is he planning now? I'm not letting him pay for another dinner… "Do you know another place where we can picnic quietly?"
"Picnic?"
"Yes, you've already paid for two dinners. One, that I insisted on paying."
"But I told you I wouldn't be a gentlem…"
"Gentleman if I let you pay. I know!" I showed him my mischievous smile. "That's why I packed dinner." I showed him the basket. "And don't worry, I didn't cook it, only take-out from a salad bar close by."
He opened the basket and smelled.
"Mmm, bacon,… How convenient. I would have suggested take-out anyway. So, will you go with me?"
"Where will you take me?"
"I can say that to you, but it is even better if you see it."
Can I trust him? I looked at him and I think he saw my hesitation, because he said: "I'm a gentleman. I just want to share something with you. I think you would appreciate it. At four I have to be back at the office. So that will leave us with a bit over five hours."
"…"
"Please?" He put his hand out.
I glanced in his eyes. Yes, I can trust him. He never gave me a reason not to. I took his hand and he let us to his car.
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After an half hour driving around, he parked the car. We were still in the city, the richer part.
Why did he bring me here? All I saw, was a road, trees and huge fences with matching gates.
"Are you coming, Kaoru?"
"Uh, sure."
He took my hand and carried the basket in the other.
"It's just a few minutes further."
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
My breath vanished from my lungs when I saw the view on top of the hill. The autumn sun brought shadows over the city. It seemed like the darkness was swallowing the life out of the city. And it was winning territory if the sun went down. In the morning you'll see the city fight for it's life against the darkness… A cycle… of a fight to exist.
"Do you like the view?"
My eyes widened. I forgot about him… "Yes, thank you for bringing me here."
He smiled. "There is more to see here than just the view. And everything is as breathtaking as this sight."
My attention was back on him. "There is?"
"Yes, I'll show you later. I thought this would be a perfect spot to eat our lunch."
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
I glanced at his hands when he skilfully placed the blanket on the ground. Strong palm, long fingers… Wonderful hands. I wonder how those hands would feel on my body. I felt my blood race to my cheeks. Bad thoughts, Kaoru, bad.
We arranged the food and mixed our salads. He really likes bacon. He looks like a child eating happily his favourite food.
"Is something wrong? You spaced out again."
"Oh, sorry. Thank you again for bringing me here. It's beautiful and silent…"
"You don't see many tourists this time around. The other people live a busy life, loaded with work. They can't appreciate the beauty of a view. Nor give it a meaning."
"You're a businessman. You made time to value it. Why can't others?"
"I think they just forgot about it."
"How can they forget simple things?"
"Money is more important."
"More important than fantasy?"
"Why do you think fantasy is more important than money?"
"You can bring happiness to another persons life by just thinking of little gestures. No money is involved! Bringing happiness is very important. It's a real pity that other people do not value that. Life would be so much more bearable…"
I watched the city once more. "Kenshin, have you ever been here at night? It must be fantastic. Everywhere you'll see yellow lights against a black background… It could be a reflection in a pond from the sky. Or wandering fireflies."
"It is a wonderful sight at night. I have seen it. When I couldn't sleep, I came here to calm my soul down."
"What kept you up?"
"Violence in the streets."
"Are there many dangers at night?"
"Yes." In his eyes I saw my reflection. "Promise me, you won't go out at night alone."
"I won't." I gazed back to the city. "It's hard to believe that there are dangers out there if you see the city from here. Do you think many shadow-walkers are among them?"
"That depends on your definition of a shadow-walker." His voice had deepened considerably.
What has him on the edge? "What does a shadow-walker mean to you, Kenshin?"
"A man with many secrets. Too many to have a normal life. And you?"
"A man that lives two lives, the second one is more his nature. The first is just a mask."
"Are you carrying a mask?"
"Doesn't everyone?"
"Is everyone a shadow-walker?"
No, he's right. Not everyone is a shadow-walker. "No, his second life is against the rules made by the high-class society. That makes him different from all the other people with a mask."
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"Where are you taking me now, Kenshin?"
"Are you always so impatient?"
"No, you're making me impatient."
"How?"
"It's hard to explain. It's like saying to a child that you have candy, but you aren't giving it. So the child becomes impatient."
"But I am giving it to you."
"Not now!"
"I have some candy in my pocket. You can have it if you stop asking me those kind of questions."
"That depends on the candy."
He took the sac full of candy sticks out of his pocket.
"Oh, I'll stop!" And I happily started munching on my candy stick.
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
"Ok, I have to ask you to close your eyes now."
"Why?"
"I gave you a candy stick. So stop asking those kind of questions."
"One isn't enough."
He chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. If you behave, you can have another one."
Thinking of the fortune of having another stick, I closed my eyes. He guided me towards a place and told me to open my eyes. Just like the sight over the city, it was also breathtaking. We were in an inner courtyard. In the middle was a huge fountain decorated with sculptures. The surrounding buildings were neatly decorated and renovated.
"Kenshin, where are we?"
"We are in the Menington estate."
"Menington?"
"Yes, I thought by bringing you here, you would get some inspiration for your next adventure."
"You did?" How thoughtful.
"And you were always sitting on that bench, so I thought you haven't been sightseeing yet."
"You're right. But if I knew that something so beautiful was this close by, then I wouldn't be in the park anymore."
"Wait until you know the tale of Menington. But first let's visit his house. I'll tell you the tale when we're inside."
He took my hand again and we entered the house.
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
I followed him in a huge room with a magnificent fireplace. Automatically I walked towards it. My finger trailed the decoration.
"The tale starts here. Menington was a private man. He always carried a white mask. Why? No one knew for sure but they guessed. They thought he was hideous under it, but no one had ever seen his face and lived." He advanced towards me. "He was of high-class society, so to keep face he forced himself to organize parties at his estate. On one of his parties he met her." He gestured towards the painting above the fireplace. "Lenore Alexandra Stevingson. Her father lost all his money through betting. And he lost her too. Because of a bet, she became engaged to a rich old fool. That night on Menington's party, she wanted to hang herself." He pointed to the decorations. "She was trailing her finger over the decorations of the fireplace when she caught his eye." He took my hand. "A waltz was playing and for the first time in public, Menington danced with the beauty." Without music, he started to dance. Enchanted by his words and moves, I imagined the music. I imagined being there and seeing the story evolve. "She fell in love with him on the spot. That mask did not fool her. Someone who can dance with such elegancy and guide her into his protection, cannot be repulsive. Her fiancé saw her attraction to Menington." We stopped dancing and he bowed. "To thank the beautiful Lenore for the dance, Menington bowed. Her fiancé took out his gun and shot…" My face became white. Who did he shoot? He took my hand and ran to an open window with a balcony. "Lenore ran towards the garden, right into the maze." I could see a huge maze. At the centre was a weeping willow. "No one saw her ever again. Menington recovered from his arm injury, but not from his heartbreak. When he wanted to be alone, he went to the middle of the maze. He would whisper hours to his beautiful Lenore. Through his hums and tears, grew a weeping willow. One day, he did not come back. The servants found his mask and a note on the tree."
"What did the note say?", I whispered.
He turned towards me.
"My beautiful Lenore, may our souls find each other in the next life. Without you, my life is just as empty and meaningless as the mask I wear each and every day."
The silence shadowed us. The tragedy had touched me. Just like his words and gestures… Who is he? Why can he make me feel whole?
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There it was again. The outside fountain with crystal water. I wanted a closer look. He trailed after me.
"They have to clean the fountain each year. It takes them about a month. It is a good profit. Tourists throw money in it, among other things."
"Thank you for that handy information, Professor Himura. But I am more interested in that thin ledge."
"Why?"
"Well, I like to walk over the ledge, but there is no way you can balance yourself on it."
"I can." And he grinned.
"And walk from one sculpture to another?" I looked at him sceptical.
"Yes, what are the stakes?"
"The winner chooses."
He jumped up and walked over it. "Well?"
And I pushed him in the fountain. I started to laugh, while looking at his wet form. "I can't believe you fell for that!"
"Oh, you better run."
And I took his advice. As suspected he caught me and advanced to the fountain.
I struggled. "No, please…" I gave him my innocent look. "I'll be a good girl."
"But you still need your punishment."
He jumped in the fountain with me in his arms.
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Like wet kittens, he believed we looked more like drowned dogs, we walked back to his car. He had an extra set of cloths with him and he wanted me to wear them. Something about a cruel autumn and me catching a cold… I told him, I was not going to wear his clothes and that he could not make me. To put the whipping cream on the ice-cream, I told him flat out that if he wanted me dry, he would have to stop this pointless quarrel so that he could take me home where I could change into my dry clothes. That's why he is standing, dry I may add, in my living room admiring the few paintings.
"You haven't giving your answer yet, Kaoru."
"Huh?"
"You look so cute when you're clueless… Remember, a room full of stiff suits?"
"Oh, when is the ball?"
"Tomorrow night. Do you have something to wear?"
"Yes, I have."
"All right. I'll pick you up around seven o'clock."
"Where and I did not agree yet."
"Here, at your apartment. Oh, I'm sorry that I can't keep you company when I have my lunch break, tomorrow. I have to go to my tailor… I'll see you tomorrow night?"
"Okay, I'll see you then."
He kissed my cheek and paced out of my apartment.
"Kenshin?"
He turned around.
"Thank you for today. I had fun."
"So did I."
He walked away, this time without turning. My hand was on the cheek he kissed.
