Disclaimer: Still don't own Rurouni Kenshin… (So you know, it's still illegal)

Whispers of the Wind

Chapter 2: Embrace the Wind

Kaoru sat on her bed, staring blankly at the floor. Her inner voices were battling it out, and Kaoru was the bystander, listening numbly.

Maybe we shouldn't have told him… One voice said, the one Kaoru had named 'Angel'.

We learned long ago that if we keep it hidden it's worse when the find out. Remarked another, Kaoru's decided 'Devil'.

Well… we just blurted it out! We where way to open with someone we just met!

Don't tell me you didn't feel it?

Feel what?

Kaoru felt it, I'm sure, so you should have too.

Felt what?

Kaoru spoke now, softly. "I felt as if I'd known him before. As if we spent a lot of time together, so I was comfortable with telling him."

Oh… well… still… This is odd, I'm being the good guy for once… weird…

No! I'm being the good guy! Kaoru had originally been upset about telling him, and wished she hadn't. So I'm defended her real wishes! You're defended her dark heart's wishes.

So complicated.

Oh be quiet! Make me! Maybe I will!

"Both of you! Shut up!" Kaoru yelled, hands clamped over her ears. She hated when they argued, which was most of the time. So she sat, huddled on her bed, hands over her ears. Until the disgusting beep of her AZT beeper filled the room. Kaoru quickly took a pill before dragging herself down the stairs.

When she arrived downstairs her mother, Aoshi and her step-father were all seated at the table. Kaoru took her seat in between her mother and step-brother and stared at her plate. It was full of beans, mashed potatoes and pork. As the others began to eat, Kaoru merely stared at the plate, no hungry.

"Dear?" Her mother asked, worried. "Are you alright?"

"She's fine," Aoshi cut in. "A little shaken from the trauma at school."

"Trauma?"

"Yeah, her AZT beeper went off at lunch, and everyone was staring at her. Luckily only one person really cared to ask."

"Who?"

"My new friend, Himura Kenshin. He was sitting right next to Kenshin. Oddly enough, she told him. Just up and told him."

"Yes," Her mother said, staring at her daughter. "It is odd. But hunny… are you alright? Do you have a cold or something?"

Kaoru smiled into her plate. Of course her mother was worried about her health. When you have AIDS your immune system is less effective and the smallest little bugs, such as a cold that would only bed a person for a day, can kill you. "I'm fine Mom, like Aoshi said, just shaken up from the trauma."

"If you say so… so Aoshi, how did your first day go?"

And the conversation returned to normal, her family laughing around her when she merely just stared at her plate. Soon they were done with dinner and, promising to come back down to eat later, Kaoru climbed up to her room. Not to long after, there was a knock on the door and Aoshi called her down. Expecting Misao, Kaoru came down in her usual shorts and t-shirt, who as at the door, however, was a big surprise.

RKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRKRK

Kenshin immediately cast his eyes on the floor. "Oro…" he muttered, as Aoshi laughed at him. His friend walked up to Kaoru and slung an arm around Kaoru's shoulder, explaining something. But Kenshin wasn't listening. He was to busy suppressing his anger that Aoshi was touching Kaoru in such a way… as if they were… dating.

"This how our Kaoru walks around. You get used to it." Aoshi was saying and then left them, muttering about homework.

Kenshin began to cool off and looked up at Kaoru, beat red. "He-Hello Kaoru-dono… I came… to talk to you."

"Well alright, come with me." She turned and led him up the stairs, leaving Kenshin hard pressed not to stare at the way her hips moved.

They arrived at the top of the stairs and she pushed open a door, standing aside to let Kenshin in. He did so, and examined the room. It was small, with sky blue walls, a single bed, dresser and desk. Kaoru motioned to the desk chair as she walked to her closet.

Kenshin continued to look around the room until his gaze fell on Kaoru, where she was switching her t-shirt for a sweatshirt and her shorts for pants. Kenshin stared, eyes wide.

Kaoru turned and smiled. "Sorry," she said quickly. "I'm used to having a boy around. This happens with Aoshi all the time, so I just forget sometimes."

"Uh… sure…" Kenshin choked out. "I wanted to… talk about… school today."

"Oh… alright…" Kaoru moved to the bed, and sat down, crossed legged.

"I was just wondering… why you told me… so open like…"

Kaoru shook her head in a childish way. "No! You'll laugh at me and think I'm a weirdo."

"I could never think that."

"Well… alright… It was just… for one reason, I learned that keeping it a secret too long ended in trouble. Plus… I felt as if I knew you… really, really well."

Kenshin nodded, smiling softly. "I feel the same way… and that's why… I'm willing to share my secret with you…"

Kaoru gestured him over and he moved to the bed, sitting next to her in the same position. Kenshin took a deep breath and began, "It all started when I was born. I was the son of a samurai and was taught the art of the sword early on. I was quite skilled at it, and progressed quickly. By the time I was five, I was the best swordsman at our dojo, including the adults. It was then that they realized my problem." He paused when Kaoru leaned her head on his shoulder. After snaking his arm around her waist he continued.

"I had this thing inside of me. And when I was enraged it overtook me. And I was uncontrollable. My skills increased ten-fold and my eyes change color. This thing is the reason I'm an orphan. I don't remember how, just that I awoke in a sea of blood. Standing below me where the bodies of my family, mother, father and sister(I just added that in, Kenshin doesn't really have a sister). I didn't understand, and asked the instructors that were crying nearby. And they told me. The thing, no I, had killed them all, and then they left me. Left me there to cry. Alone. My only comfort the dead bodies of my loved ones, and their warm blood on my hands."

Kaoru stared up at him. "Kenshin," she breathed. "I'm so… so… so sorry. I didn't… you didn't… have to tell me."

Kenshin smiled down at her. "But, it's like you said. You feel as if you know me, and I feel as if I feel I know you. That you know me, body and soul. That's why I could tell you. I hope this doesn't affect our relationship."

She smiled up at him and lifted her head up towards his, and kissed him lightly on the mouth. "Don't worry," she whispered. "You can't catch anything from me."

"Even if I did," Kenshin said softly, leaning down to capture her lips. "I wouldn't care."

A/N: Does that clear things up? I hope so. This might seem rushed too, but I just got back from Vacation. I'm going out for a b-day soon and wanted to get this out for you guys! Thanks so much!