Chapter 12

Believe Me

Kenshin saw her walk towards him. She made no attempts at looking up and so didn't even notice him standing there until she almost walked right by him.

He had stood motionless as he watched her walk up to him. Her eyes were teary and the expression on her face broke his heart. All he ever wanted her to do was smile. He didn't say a word as she nearly passed right by him, and only when she looked up did she notice him.

"OH! Kenshin! W-What're you doing here?" she exclaimed.

"Kaoru…I…well me and Misao were worried and we came around to look for you. Misao showed up to school saying how she hadn't heard or seen you." He kept his voice soft and slowly walked towards her. He stood only inches away from her and desperately wanted to hold her.

"I…well…I'm sorry to worry you guys but…"

He could see her breathing was labored and she stole her eyes away from his to hide the pain.

"Kaoru, I heard about your dad. Your neighbor saw me waiting and told me everything. I…I'm sorry. What happened?"

Kenshin saw her swallow hard and she kept her eyes averted from his own. She looked towards the front door of her house and closed her eyes for a few moments. He assumed she was reliving the entire ordeal all over again.

"I…I was leaving for school and checked on him. He just started…shaking and fell to the floor. My mom came home just then and left with the paramedics" her words came out in barely audible whispers.

Kenshin stepped closer to her to hear her better as she continued to speak.

"He…he was just shaking so much and I didn't know what to do. I…I just stood there…" her voice began to break. He saw her warm blue eyes become overcome with tears and she began to cry.

"Th-There was blood…everywhere," she finally cried out.

As if something automatically took control of him, Kenshin stepped forward and enclosed her in his arms. She buried her head in his chest and began to cry harder.

"I…I didn't know what to do…" she sobbed, "I just…just stood there."

Kenshin could feel his crisp, white school uniform shirt become damp from her tears. But all that mattered to him at this point was to comfort her. He wasn't sure if she simply began to trust him more or was just too upset to care whom she spoke to at this point, but he was glad that had he stayed behind to wait for her.

He instinctively buried one hand into her soft hair. It was still held loosely back by her ribbon, but hung limply down her back. He dragged the palm of his other hand up and down her back and could feel the soft fabric of her blouse under his skin. His chin rested on her head as he mumbled words of comfort.

"Shhh, it's not your fault Kaoru. You were scared, and he's where he can at least get some help now. Don't blame yourself for this."

The anger inside him momentarily welled up at the thought that Kaoru could blame herself for her father's actions. "I can't believe she blames herself for his shit. She's gonna beat herself up for no reason."

The girl continued to hold onto him and at this point he didn't care if any of her neighbors saw them. Even the Saturday night when she got drunk and they had kissed, he never felt this close to her. He wanted to save her from her life, and have her live beautiful, peaceful moments. He wanted to do so much for her at this point. "I'll show you how much you deserve to be happy."

He didn't care how long she wanted to remain clung to him. But the annoying rings of his cell phone disrupted the moment and she pulled away from him. He felt her warm body break away from his own, and he was instantly angry with the person who was interrupting. Without looking at the caller ID, he flipped his phone open and barked a, "HELLO?"

"Kenshin?"

It was Misao. "Kenshin, hey it's me Misao. Listen I didn't see Kaoru anywhere…"

"She just got here. She's standing right in front of me. Her…ah…there wan an emergency at home and she couldn't make it in."

Kenshin looked towards Kaoru and noticed that she looked at him with curiosity.

"Oh…thank goodness she's alright. Listen, should I come back there…or…"

"No! No! No need for that Misao. In fact could you please tell someone at school that Kaoru had a family emergency and that's why she won't be in for the rest of the day? Otherwise they'll hold the absence against her." Kenshin continued to look towards Kaoru as he spoke.

Kaoru sniffled a few times as she tried to compose herself and stop crying.

"Uh..Okay Kenshin. Is she alright?" Misao asked.

"Yeah, she's just a bit shaken up. You wanna' talk to her?" Before he heard a response from the other line, he held up the cell phone for Kaoru.

She looked at him and gently took the phone in her hand.

"Hello?" she barely got the word out.

"Yes Misao, I'm okay. I…It was dad. They took him to the hospital."

Kenshin heard Misao's mumbling but couldn't make out what she said to Kaoru.

"No Misao, I'm okay. My mom went with him. You go on to school, really."

A few more moments of silence as Kaoru listened to her friend on the other end.

"Okay Misao, just stop by after school then. Thanks for everything okay? Bye."

She flipped the phone close and handed it back to Kenshin.

They looked at each other and both were speechless. "What can I say to her?" he thought. Before he could say anything, Kaoru spoke up.

"Kenshin, I…I'm really sorry for worrying you guys. I should've called, but I had to take Yahiko to school, and…"

"Kaoru it's okay! Really! I only got really worried when Misao told me she hadn't heard from you this morning". He lied to her. He knew it. He was worried the moment he noticed she wasn't on time to school as usual. But he just couldn't go on and let her keep feeling so horrible.

She quieted down and looked around the neighborhood for a few moments. He stood in silence as well, not knowing what to say to her. He almost wanted to let his instinctive habits around women take over but he knew better than that. With this one, he'd have to be more considerate. And this time was especially difficult for her. He knew that she would open up to him at her own pace.

"How long where you out here for?" she finally asked.

"Ah, not long. I just came with Misao and we didn't get an answer at your door. She decided to walk back towards school and see if we'd missed you from the car. I stayed back and waited here, that's when I ran into your neighbor."

"They're so damn nosy sometimes" she replied.

Kenshin couldn't help but hear the anger and sourness in her voice.

"Ah…well…come on in then" she instructed him towards the front of her house.

He knew she was nervous inviting him in, and couldn't help but smirk a bit at the fact that he'd finally see her house. He'd finally be inside her home with her. "Damn Kenshin, the girl is all crying over her dad being in the hospital and look at what you're thinking of!"

He followed her inside without another word. They entered into the front hallway and he saw warm, wooden floors and a table in with several envelopes scattered on top. To the right of him was a stairwell leading to the second floor, and directly in front was a narrow hallway.

"This way…ah…lemme' get you something to drink".

They two quietly walked down the hallway and as they passed the first room to the left, he couldn't help but look in. The pale green curtains were pulled open and he could see a messy room inside. The carpet and couch seemed to be stained all over, and there was an undeniably sour stench coming from within. He noticed several sheets and two pillows thrown about carelessly and empty liquor bottles as well. The table had a cold tray of food resting on it. Aside from the obvious disarray, he also noticed the sceneries and trinkets that adorned the room. They were all covered in dust as if no one had cared after them.

"Strange…she doesn't seem like a messy person."

Eventually he was led into the small kitchen and Kaoru invited him to sit at the small wooden table. There were only four chairs and the kitchen itself was in much better condition than the previous room. Kenshin took a better look around as he heard Kaoru fiddle in the fridge for a drink.

The countertops, tabletops, and even shelves were completely free of any dust or grime. The cabinets were also pristine and even the small decorations around the room were dust-free. There was an arrangement of different types of potted green plants in the large windows just above the sink. The morning sunlight flooded inside the windows, and he didn't even notice until he looked at the ceiling that there were no lights on.

The warm sunlight filled the kitchen and all the colors seemed to melt and flow into each other. The room glowed with warmth and vitality. Kenshin imagined how Kaoru's mother probably prepared their meals in here everyday. He longed for such a warm room in his own house.

He stopped looking around and snapped out his thoughts as he noticed Kaoru approached him with a tall glass of orange juice. He took it from her and took a gulp.

"Thanks. Aren't you gonna' have something?"

She shook her head and took a seat adjacent from him. Her soft blue gaze fell on the wooden tabletop. Kenshin set his glass down on the table and looked at her with concern.

"Kaoru, talk to me." He knew that it sounded a bit demanding, but he also knew that she shouldn't keep everything bottled in. He was there for her and wanted her to know that.

She let out a long sigh and looked at him through teary eyes once more. Instantly he took her hands in his own and held them firmly.

"Kenshin…I… I was so mad at him last night. He…left the front door open and had gone out." She sniffled as a tear came rolling down one of her cheeks.

"I was just so mad at him, and now…now he could…he could be dead!" She began to cry and he leaned in closer to her from his seat. He soothed some bangs out of her face and wiped her tears.

"Kaoru, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself for what he does. What happened wasn't your doing!" He was adamant about this. Kaoru was so hurt and depressed from her father's actions, and now she was blaming herself for everything. This only made him more angry and frustrated. He wanted desperately to be able to help her. He wished that there was something he could do to make all her sadness and troubles go away.

"I know Kenshin. But my poor mother…God! She just gotten through the door from working all night, and then rushed right back out with him to go to the hospital. She must be so tired."

"Kaoru, she's his wife. She has a need to be with him. I mean she stuck by him through all of this right?" He realized he was saying a bit too much. "Damn, she's gonna' figure out I spoke to Misao about her family."

He decided to act fast, "Listen, I'm not leaving you home all day alone. Go and get cleaned up and change if you want. We're going out for some fresh air."

She looked up at him with a confused expression, but he left no room for argument.

"Come on, come on, and hurry up. I'll wait for you here!"

"But, but Kenshin…"

"Kaoru, you want to make up for making me worry today right?"

She nodded a yes.

"Then go and get washed up. I'm taking you somewhere."

"But where?" she exclaimed with disbelief.

"That's a surprise." He shooed her out of the kitchen and heard her walk up the stairs. "It'll be a surprise for the both of us, since I don't even have an idea where to go!"

He walked around the kitchen a bit and observed the rest of the room. He even opened the fridge and took a peek inside. It was well stocked and for some reason that relieved him. "Argh, they have family problems dumb ass, they're not POOR!"

Still, he knew that only Kaoru's mother worked and supported the family, and he just needed to placate himself.

Soon he heard her come back down the stairs and entered the kitchen. She had washed her face but her eyes were still puffy and slightly red from crying. He noticed that she changed into blue jeans and a pale, army-green t-shirt with a graphic logo on the front. Her hair was swept back neatly into a high ponytail and held in place by black elastic band.

She looked different to him, and he felt gratified to be able to see her in comfortable clothing. It was as if he were observing a rare, exotic creature in its natural surroundings. The experience left him breathless, but her sad expression soon brought him back to reality.

"Can I use your restroom?" he asked her.

She nodded and seemed to think for a minute. "Ah, yeah…sure! Just head up the stairs and walk down the hallway. It's the second door on your left. I'm just gonna get grab my sneakers."

He nodded and walked out of the kitchen. As he walked up the stairs, he noticed the warm scent of perfume radiating down towards him. He reached the top of the stairs and looked down the carpeted hallway. He walked forward looking around him and noticed the room door half open as he passed by. Looking in, he knew instantly it was her room. The walls were a light neutral shade, and sunlight was flooding through the windows on shining on the neatly made-up bed.

Not even remembering the last time he bothered to make his bed, he couldn't help but peek in for a moment. The room smelled just like her and radiated with warmth. A simple study table and nightstands stood in the room and he noticed there were no posters on the walls. She truly wasn't like most girls he'd known.

Usually the walls were reserved for pictures of cute singers or actors. Even the slightly offbeat chicks he'd hung out with had at least gothic-style pictures and odd objects on the wall. He looked around and noticed that she had a few interesting books on the table aside from the usual textbooks. Her dresser seemed to hold the most amount of items: a simple wooden jewelry box, bottles of body spray and perfume, some hair products, lotions, and other primping items.

"She's a little girly girl I see" he smirked.

His attention went to a few framed pictures on the nightstands and he walked over to get a better look. They were pictures of her family from seemingly earlier years. One of her in her karate uniform and in a fighting stance…he thought she looked simply adorable. She couldn't have been more than 9 or 10 years of age.

He decided that it wouldn't be good to get caught prying through her room and quickly exited to use the bathroom. A few minutes later he walked casually down the stairs, and met the girl in the front hallway. She stood in front of the hallway table and was rummaging through the mail that littered the top.

He smiled to himself and approached her, "Hey, you ready to get outta' here?"

She looked up and seemed worried, "Kenshin! I…I don't know if I should even leave. What if my mom comes back? Or she calls from the hospital? I mean I should probably stay home."

"Kaoru, we won't be long I promise! Let's just get some fresh air…I think you need to relax a bit after the morning you've had. And besides, I know how these hospitals work. They'll be doing a million tests on him and won't rush through it."

She still didn't seem satisfied with his answer, but before she could protest, he walked to the front door and held it open for her. "Come on" he softly directed.

For a minute, he thought she would've said no to him as usual and asked him to leave. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to wear the calmest expression he could across his features. "Come on Kaoru, just take a chance!"

After what seemed like an eternity of her just standing there, she moved towards him and walked out the front door. He beamed inside, but kept his expression the same. She locked the door behind them and they walked to his car.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"You'll see" he simply replied.

"Kenshin!" she sounded irritated at him, "Listen, I need to be home soon. Please just tell me!"

He was caught off guard by her sudden tirade, but decided to continue to play cool.

"Kaoru, let's just grab some breakfast okay? I know you haven't eaten and neither have I. We can do that and I'll drop you right back home."

They reached his car and she hesitated a few more seconds before she climbed in. He shut her door after she settled into her seat. He ran around the car to the driver's side, "Okay Kenshin, don't screw this up!"

The engine came to life and he drove off with her sitting beside him. "Okay, now where to go for breakfast? Hmmm…somewhere quiet and decent…where…" he drove through the residential neighborhood trying to figure out where to take her.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked.

She was unresponsive for a few moments, but finally answered. "Ah…I'm not really hungry. Sorry. I just…I dunno'. I haven't had breakfast yet, but I just don't seem to have an appetite."

Kenshin looked at the time on the dashboard of the car, "9:45 am, okay where to go?" He was quiet for a while as he continued to drive and think about where to go.

"Got it!" and he sped up towards his destination.

Finally, they pulled into the parking lot of a diner that Kenshin passed a few times but never bothered to stop into. He had wanted to try the food, and knew that the morning rush would be clearing out just as they arrived.

Both of them climbed out of the car and walked towards the entrance of the diner. Kenshin held the door open for Kaoru who muttered a 'thank you' and walked inside. He could still see that she was upset and unsure of being out with him. He didn't blame her for feeling that way.

They walked into the brightly lit establishment and took a look around. Kenshin would've normally brought a girl to a fancy a new place to really knock her socks off, but he knew that was the last thing Kaoru was thinking of. And he honestly didn't want anything from her but her trust in him. "Aoshi said I'd have to approach her differently, but damn I feel completely lost sometimes."

He noticed the diner had a fifties vibe to it and heard familiar American rock music over the speakers. The waitress led them to a booth and both slid into seats across from each other.

"Anything to drink?" she asked handing each of them a menu.

"Hmm…could bring us both orange juices" Kenshin replied without missing a beat.

Kaoru looked at him and he caught himself, "Ah, is that okay with you?" he asked her.

Kaoru nodded and looked back down to her menu. The waitress walked away and Kenshin could sense the uneasy tension at the table.

"Kaoru, I know you're very worried about your dad…"

"Kenshin, I…I don't want to talk about it okay! I am honestly worried about my mom. I just hope they won't keep her there for too long. She needs to come home and sleep!"

Kenshin looked at the angry young woman across from him. She had gone from being quiet and gloomy to livid, and he couldn't figure out why. He looked into her angry blue eyes as she stared at the menu. He knew she wasn't reading it.

"Kaoru, I…I know what it's like to have someone in the hospital. It's not easy. I was just as scared as you when…my mom got really sick." He reflected at his comment as the blue-eyed girl looked at him. Never had he been so forthcoming with someone about those times in his life. But he knew that she understood, because she was going through something harsh as well.

The two continued to look at each other and he saw her anger dissipate.

"I'm…so sorry…I know how I'm acting…it's just that…"

"Here you two are!" the waitress announced, as she interrupted their conversation.

"Ah, thanks", Kenshin muttered.

"You two decide what you'll have or you need another minute?"

Kenshin looked at Kaoru this time before he answered. Kaoru shook her head and he caught the hint. "You know what, I think we need some more time."

The waitress walked away and said she'd be back in a few to take their order.

Kenshin looked around the diner and saw that the place was practically empty except for a few elderly people scattered here and there. They were having a coffee and reading the newspaper from cover to cover. He didn't know how to strike up another topic of conversation with Kaoru. In actuality all he wanted was for her to pour her heart out to him. "Yeah, you take her to a cheap diner and she'll tell you her entire life story. Smooth!" he sarcastically chastised himself.

"Kaoru, you were saying before she came and interrupted. It's just what?" he recalled the last words she'd spoken.

The girl looked down at her orange juice and fiddled with the plastic straw poking out the tall glass. She bit down on her lower lip and began swirling the straw in the drink.

"It's just that…I…last night…he left the front door wide open like he usually does and I was so angry at him. I mean ANYONE could've walked right in. And only Yahiko and me were home. God, I was so mad at him. I…I cursed him and wished he'd just…go away!" Her voice seemed to soften to a hushed whisper and he realized how upset she was. "I…I can't help but think if I hadn't cursed him and wished him away…that…" she was loosing herself again to tears.

Kenshin reached across the table and grasped her hand. He held it in his own two and massaged the top of her hand gently. "No Kaoru. This isn't your fault. He…his drinking is the cause, not you! And you can't go blaming yourself like this."

She looked up at him as she tried to control her tears. He could tell she was uncomfortable in the diner and didn't want anyone else to see her crying.

"Can we please leave…I can't eat anything" she asked in a whisper as she began to wipe away her tears.

"Yeah sure" he rose from the seat. "You sit for a minute and lemme' just go pay for these juices." He ran to the counter and went towards the register. The waitress was behind and it seemed surprised to see him walking towards her.

"Ah sorry ma'am but we've lost our appetite, how much for the juices?"

He paid the bill and walked back to Kaoru, "this is definitely not going well! Bringing her here was so stupid. Why would she want to eat when she's going through so much crap this morning? Ah Kenshin, you truly are an indiot."

The two walked out of the diner and to the car. She still cried as she climbed in and buckled herself in. He couldn't take her pain any longer.

"Kaoru, please, please don't blame yourself…it's not your fault…please don't cry!"

"IT IS MY FAULT. DON'T YOU SEE? I WANTED HIM OUT OF OUR LIVES. I WANTED TO BE FREE TO DO WHATEVER! I…I HATE HIM!"

Kenshin sat dumbfounded by her sudden outburst. She'd practically screamed and cried through it all and he could do nothing to calm her.

Both her hands cradled her head as she looked down and cried. "Oh God! I am such a horrible person!" she sobbed.

He couldn't take it anymore. Without thinking he reached towards her with both hands and tried to make her listen to him.

She winced away from his touch and began to cry even more in agony.

"Kaoru, please! Listen to me for a minute". He was fighting a loosing battle it seemed. He saw her clutching her head, the palms of her hands covering her ears as if she were in pain. The more he tried to hold her arms, the more she struggled to get away from his reach.

She pushed away his hands and continued to yell at herself, "NO! NO! I AM A HORRIBLE PERSON…I…I AM!"

Finally he had had enough, and reached across and grabbed her face with both hands and drew her so close to him that their noses practically touched, "KAORU! LISTEN TO ME!" he raised his voice only to drown out her yelling.

She quieted down as her teary blue eyes stared into his and she held his arms with her hands. Her head squirmed in his grasp, but soon she stopped struggling against his strong hold when he didn't let go. Their faces were only inches apart, his glowing eyes looking into hers.

He repeated himself more calmly and tenderly, "Kaoru, please just listen to me".

He kept her face close to his and began to brush her tears away with his thumbs, never letting her go and never breaking eye contact. He continued to speak to her in his tender and soft tone, but gave her no chance to interrupt him. She would have to wait and hear him out first.

"I know that you think I'm some degenerate rich kid who doesn't care about girls. I know that you think I have no problem with playing girls and leaving them. But I am not that much of a degenerate to know that you're hurting because I've been there too. I knew that the first time you told me about your dad. And I would never, ever hurt you in any way. The moment I saw you I was breathless, but you're so much more than just beauty to me. You're strength, courage and…and you're someone who actually put me in my place for a change. I don't pity you Kaoru, and you're not a charity case. You are definitely like no one else I've ever met. None of this is your fault. Not your father's drinking and not his going to the hospital."

He touched his forehead to hers and kept his gaze into her eyes. He could feel her warm breath on his face and held her near. She continued to cry softly and he whispered to her, "Believe me? Hmm?"

She continued to look into his eyes and they stayed like that for a few seconds. Then even to his surprise, she wrapped her arms around him. Her crying face buried once more in his shirt and she cradled her head against his chest.

He relished the feel of her in his arms once more, and slowly he too embraced her with the same passion. The side of his face touched her temple and he could feel her soft, silken skin brush against his cheek. Gently he pressed his lips against her temple and cooed her to stop crying. His hands never stopped traveling up and down her back and through her hair.

Still pressed against him, he heard her saying something through her crying. He couldn't understand her at first, and had no desire to let go of her for any reason.

"Please Kenshin…I…I'm sorry about this" she cried. "I never wanted to involve you in this, and now look!"

"Kaoru, I want to be with you. But you need to know that it isn't because of or in spite of all this. It's because…I…really care about you. I don't care about what happens next."

She broke from his embrace and looked up at him. The two were still leaning towards each other from their seats.

"But Kenshin…I told you my dad…he won't allow this, and…"

"Shhh, we'll cross that bridge when we get there" he interrupted. "The man will want to KILL me but, why make her worry over that now?"

He gently wiped more tears from her cheeks and saw her close her eyes. He reveled at the sight of her. She was teary, scared and broken. But now she was completely calm and responsive to his words and touches. A part of him demanded he reach over and kiss her and hold her in his arms like before. He wanted to close his lips on hers and take in the sweetness of her mouth.

"Easy does it Kenshin. You barely got this far, don't lose her now." He did truly feel grateful that she had confided so much in him. His sensible thinking restrained his desires. "She needs some space and more time."

She continued to look at him and wipe at her face. "She looks so adorable with those big blue eyes". Kenshin was reminded of the picture on the nightstand in her room.

"Buckle up. I'll drop you home now. I think you've had a long day and you should rest". He instructed her while fastening his own seat belt and starting the car. The last thing he wanted was to take her home. In fact if all they could do was just sit in the car just as they were, it'd make him happy. The thought of her leaving left his heart aching.

He looked back over at her and noticed that she had remained frozen in the same pose. She just looked at him, her face was solemn and he couldn't figure out what was going on inside her.

"Kaoru…" he wanted to comfort her, especially if she needed it.

But she interrupted, "I…I don't wanna go home." She looked down and repeated herself, "I don't want to be there right now. Those sights, the smells…I think it'll drive me crazy."

He couldn't believe what she was saying at first. "She doesn't want to go home? What is she saying? What do I do now?" Her comments had caught him completely off guard.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked her curiously. "She's a bag full of surprises isn't she?"

"Anywhere but home" was her solemn response.

He thought for several minutes while continuing to look towards her. "She needs to take her mind off of all this…but where to take her?" Something flashed through his head and without another word he put the car in gear and drove out of the parking lot.

Kaoru had buckled herself in and quietly looked out the window. Unlike before, she didn't question or argue over where he was taking her. She just seemed to be content at the moment, and that's all he wanted.

He glanced over at her and she seemed lost in her thoughts.

"She's daydreaming…I wonder about what" he thought. "Don't worry Kaoru I'll take your mind off of everything."

A sly grin crept across his lips and he kept his expression averted from sight "She'll love it…"

END CHAPTER

ONE QUESTION TO ALL THE READERS OUT THERE THOUGH…do you think the story is lagging a bit? I mean, while writing it, I sometimes get the sense that it's moving too slowly…maybe too much detail? Or maybe it's just taking too long for these two to hook up? Not sure…but when I reread it I don't think it's moving too slowly. I mean, I don't want Kaoru to simply jump into his arms right away. The girl has a heavy load to deal with, and you know her mental drama is definitely a huge factor in her mistrust of Kenshin initially. Of course she's still attracted to him…aren't we all? LMAO! But then again, I'm the one writing it so I can't really form an unbiased impression. I need opinions from you guys reading! PLEASE!

Well, I guess Kenshin will get a chance to woo Kaoru off her feet after all. Or at least that's his plan. See where he takes her and what exactly he has in mind for them! evil grin

So will Kaoru finally fall for Kenshin and begin to trust him? Don't you think she does already? We shall see!

Onhiro! Thanks for the reviews; it's always a pleasure and honor to read them all! Just one thing though, in your last review you mentioned that you hoped KENSHIN'S dad would quit drinking. Ah…not sure where the confusion is, but it's KAORU'S dad.