Chapter 20
My Love
The two men were standing in silence looking at each other as the Kamiya women looked on in disbelief. Kaoru couldn't believe that Kenshin had decided to come back and actually face her parents, namely her father!
"He came back," she thought looking at him "he came back because of me? Do you love me that much Kenshin?"
Her thoughts were interrupted by Kenshin introducing himself to her father. "Mr. Kamiya? Nice to meet you, how are you feeling?" he extended his right hand for a handshake and got no such response from the man except a stare.
"Dad, please just shake his hand!" Kaoru mentally begged. "Oh God, no fight, no fight, please!"
"Kenshin is it? Well ah…please have a seat and um…I suppose we might as well get this all cleared up" Kaoru's mom interrupted nervously all the while looking at her husband.
"Thank you" he smiled back at her and sat on the couch. He didn't so much as look at Kaoru after making his entrance. Wanting to be as respectful as possible in front of an already agitated father, Kenshin tried not to make any contact with their daughter.
He had heard the man's tone over the cell phone and knew what had happened, which is why he'd decided to race back over and see if she was alright. Except for a few tears, and a broken cell phone, he hadn't noticed any bruises or marks and had calmed himself down. "I know she's your daughter, but I don't think I could've controlled myself if you had touched her" he thought obviously not knowing about the slap.
Kaoru's mother meanwhile quickly moved towards her husband and was at his side in order to calm him down. She placed her had on his chest and the other on his arm as she gently spoke to him, "Why don't we all just calm down and sit and talk like adults? Let's just talk to them?" she looked pleadingly at her husband hoping that he wouldn't explode with rage.
The man stood in silence as he looked at Kenshin sitting on the couch and then at Kaoru standing just next to him. He moved in silence and sat down in the small armchair adjacent to Kenshin. He kept his sight on both of them as his wife brought another chair from the kitchen and sat down across from Kenshin. The only thing that separated them was the small wooden coffee table in the middle. Kaoru remained standing and decided to keep her distance from Kenshin so as not to alarm her father any further.
There was an uneasy silence in the room as the four decided who should start first. Yahiko wanted no part of the discussion and had returned to his room upstairs satisfied that his father was no longer out of control with anger.
Her mother spoke first, "Kenshin…I'm not sure what the situation here is, but, well for starters why did you get Kaoru such an extravagant gift like that?"
But before he could respond to the question, her father spoke up, "Let's start with what you and my daughter have going on! You must be well aware of the fact that Kaoru is NOT allowed to date" he stated looking back over at Kaoru as he finished. Fierceness filled his light brown eyes as he seemed to be stalking the both of them.
Kaoru gulped and wondered how on earth Kenshin would respond to that. "This is going to turn into an interrogation followed up with a persecution. Damnit Kenshin, you should've just ignored his screaming and left it alone."
"I understand that Kaoru is your daughter and that you're very protective of her for obvious reasons. She's really a wonderful person and I can promise you that my intentions are not to hurt her in any way. If you would please just…"
"You still haven't answered my question" her father interrupted.
Kenshin took a breath as he collected his thoughts. Kaoru's stomach tensed and churned as her head swirled in anticipation of where this would lead. "Things have gone from mundane to completely unpredictable. Who would've guessed 6 months ago that I would be standing in front of my parents with a guy in the living room trying to tell them that we go out?"
"Sir, I guess the truth is that well…we're dating" he didn't continue after that.
Kaoru's father looked at her and her mother in near rage and his brows creased again into a frown. Her mother jumped in to keep things calm. "Well, where did you two meet?"
Kenshin happily answered her question, "In school actually. I moved here a few months ago from the US with my father and we have most of our classes together."
"And how long has…this…been going on?" she asked hesitantly.
"Well…ah…" he looked at Kaoru trying to tally up all their days together, "It's been a little over 2 months."
Her father snickered at the answer, "So you two have been sneaking around for two months? And when did you intend to tell us any of this? Or did you?" he looked at Kaoru angrily once more.
"Dad…I….we…" she stammered. How many times had she truly wanted to tell them everything? All those times she'd stopped in tracks for one reason or another. Between hospitals, family drama, stress, and high blood pressure, she'd kept her mouth tightly shut so as not to cause more trouble. She now wished that she could take that back.
"You see we wanted to tell you, in fact we both wanted to be honest and truthful. But Kaoru knew that you both were under a lot of stress and strain from the recent hospital stay," he looked over at her mother, "and you were under so much stress from work that she felt guilty over adding any more to your worries."
"Yes, but you two should understand that no matter what we're Kaoru's parents first and foremost. Whatever she does in her life is our top priority and you two shouldn't have hid this for so long," she looked over at her daughter, "this all just creates mistrust."
Kaoru looked apologetically at her mother and mentally cursed herself for not just coming out with everything sooner. "At least if I'd have told her, she could've helped us out right now."
"This is all bullshit!" her father spat angrily. "Boy and girls dating at such young ages. You two don't even know where you'll be in 5 years, what the hell do you two know about how the world works?"
"Well I know that Kaoru plans on attending college shortly for medicine and I plan on getting into business law shortly myself. I can promise that her studies will never suffer because of our relationship. Her school is just as important to me as it is to you and to her" Kenshin responded trying his best to keep his cool and keep the smart ass out of his tone. The man would obviously not be swayed so easily and Kenshin would have to be the one to remain level headed. "There's no point in arguing and fighting with the old man…it'll just make it easier for them to say no" he thought.
The conversation seemed to carry on forever to Kaoru. She remained standing there in silence, seemingly invisible to the other three as they continued to talk. Her father more or less continued to disapprove and voice his anger over them not being honest. Her mother tried her best to keep the man calm and get more information from Kenshin in her sweet, motherly way. She smiled at him a few times, but for the most part let it be known that this was a serious matter for her as well. It all left Kaoru completely unable to figure out where her mother stood on the matter.
"Won't YOU at least take our side mom? You have to know that you can trust us, you can trust me! Please, please, please let her understand."
After another 20 minutes of just going around in circles, Kaoru began to grow tired of her father's indifference toward Kenshin. The man didn't seem to have a reasonable bone in his body and all they wanted to do was make him understand. After every other comment about how disrespectful they were, and how no girl in his family's history had ever dared to do something like this, he would glare at Kaoru and make her feel about 2 inches tall.
Finally she began to teeter at the edge of frustration as she grew more impatient. "Why can't you just understand dad?"
"So young lady, what is your decision?" her father disrupted her thoughts.
"Wha…What decision? About what?" she asked looking towards her mother.
"You have to tell me right now whether you'll listen to us or continue to disobey?" he asked.
Kenshin seemed as if he tried his best to reason and was blue in the face over explaining himself.
"Honey…" her mother tried to reason.
"BE QUIET! You've encouraged her too much already. She needs to tell me her answer now!" he yelled.
Kaoru's resolve snapped and all the anger, pain, and frustration that she'd harbored for the man came bubbling to the surface. "DAD! STOP YELLING AT HER!" she screamed, determined to stay strong in front of the man.
All was silent as Kenshin looked on in amazement at her outburst.
Kaoru continued before someone could disrupt her. "I…just…I'm so tired of all this! Do you have any idea what you've done to us over the years? Any idea? We all love you more than anything and no matter what happens, you're my dad and will always be my dad. Ever since you stopped teaching and closed the school I've felt like you abandoned me…you just abandoned all of us. You used to be so proud of me and I used to do anything to make you proud. Competitions, tournaments, medals, studying extra hard at school, but you just stopped caring. Do you even know what me and Yahiko like and dislike? "
She began to choke on her words as a lump formed in her throat. Fighting the tears she continued on, "Even through the alcohol, the hospital, the whole stupid drama we stuck with you and all because we love you. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner but when did you expect me to? Did you know it was Kenshin that dragged me to see you in the hospital? I was scared out my mind to see my own father hooked up to tubes and laying helplessly in bed, but he insisted on taking me. Dad how could've I told you in that place about all this? And mom? How was I supposed to tell you after seeing you work day and night and still have to worry about dad and us?"
She calmed down and caught her breath. Her blood raced through her veins and she struggled to keep her galloping heart stable. Kenshin looked at her in amazement and her mother looked down in sadness as she heard the pain in her daughter's voice. Her father was silent, so Kaoru decided to finish what she'd started. "Dad," she started in a softer tone with tears welling in her eyes, "I love and respect you and mom, but…but I love Kenshin and nothing can change that."
There, she'd said what she had to say and was relieved of getting everything off her chest. She continued to cling to the last of her strength and push back the tears.
Kenshin was awestruck with her bold move and looked at her as if he wanted to scoop her up in his arms. But he held back as he was still aware of the angry father sitting to his left.
Kaoru bit down on her lower lip waiting for a response from someone, anyone! She looked at her parents. Her father continued to stare at her and then looked towards his wife. "Dont be surprised if he just walks right over and slaps you half way across the room!" Kaoru thought.
"Well, I guess that answers everything." Her father's tone was cynical, sarcastic, mixed with anger and she knew that this in no way meant that he accepted her and Kenhsin. He rose from his seat and quietly walked out of the room without even looking at his daughter. It was the same indifference she'd experienced for so long, and it left her broken just the same. They remained in silence as Kaoru's words still seemed to reverberate in the room.
Kaoru looked towards the one other person that she hoped would understand her, "Mom...please...you understand?"
Her mother slowly rose from her seat and looked at Kenshin and Kaoru and gently smiled. "I hope that you two are ready for a real obstacle. He won't accept this, not right now. But...I'm here for you IF you promise to be honest with me."
Kaoru's spirits lifted as her mother continued to speak to Kenshin, "Young man she's my only daughter, so please don't make me regret this decision."
Kenshin nodded and smiled sweetly at the woman, "I realize that and I didn't come here to steal your daughter away from you." He looked over at the raven-haired girl and continued to smile, "I just wanted to let you know how much she means to me and if anything, I'd like a place in your hearts".
A bit flustered by the young man's comment, Kaoru's mother quickly excused herself, "Now I need to go and check on your father," she turned to Kaoru, "you'll see Kenshin out?"
Kaoru shook her and head and could barely whisper, "thank you" as the woman walked passed her and out the room. She then looked at Kenshin and for the first time relief washed over her.
The two made their way to the front door and slowly walked to Kenshin's car. The afternoon was dying quickly, but just hearing her mother's support Kaoru felt that there was a new beginning. She inhaled the fresh, crisp fall air and reveled in the ginger scent wafting from the red-head.
Before getting in, Kenshin turned and wrapped her in his arms in a long embrace. "Kaoru you were so brave" he whispered in her ear and brushed his lips against her forehead.
"Kenshin," she balled her fists in his shirt and clung to him for dear life as she fought to express her feelings for him and how'd he changed her life "Thanks for coming and doing this, it won't be easy, but I know we can do it together." She started to silently cry into his chest and thought about how grateful she was for having him in her life. "Thank you…"
"I know it wont be easy," he cooed while gently stroking her hair. "I'm right here, always" he nudged her chin up towards him and looked into her eyes, "but first you need to stop all this crying. I don't want to see you cry". He wiped at her faced and gently kissed her.
The sun dipped into the horizon and their silhouettes remained as one as the embrace continued.
"I love you, now and forever" he whispered in her ear.
"I love you too," she whispered back.
THE END
Well actually it should be more like THE END? Lol
I think I'll type an epilogue to wrap up any loose ends. I decided to end this story at this spot because it's become pretty obvious that Kenshin and Kaoru will be together regardless of the obstacles in their path. The intent of this story was so bring these two together and see if they could deal with all the family drama, his and hers.
I've repeated many times that this story is based on real life incidents; therefore it's pretty clear that it can't end just yet because in real life, the story goes on! Lol Maybe I'll turn it into a series of sorts. Just depends on your feedback and whether or not you guys want more, or you think it's enough where it is.
Another reason is also because, well…as you've noticed the story is getting pretty lengthy. Don't wanna start boring you guys senseless! But regardless, please review and let me know what you think. It may continue on, or I may just wrap it up.
