The Best of Intentions
Chapter II
Kaoru sat upon the back stairs of the Aoiya and watched as Misao threw her weapons of choice into an unfortunate dummy for target practice. By the time the female ninja had completed her exercise there was little left of the straw figure.
Looking at the figure Kaoru recalled being kidnapped by Enishi a few months prior. A replica of her own body had been utilized to fool her friends and loved ones into believing she was murdered instead of kidnapped. The shock had severely impaired Kenshin and according to Sanosuke it had been very bad.
If it hadn't been for the quick wit of Aoshi Shinomori, it may have been too late before the others realized what had really happened to her. The funny thing was, even though he kidnapped her, Kaoru never hated Enishi.
Seeing him made her think of Yahiko and what would have become of him had she been killed right before his eyes. Enishi was misguided, but she didn't fault him for his pain only for his means of dealing with. Kaoru was lost in her reflections on the troubled white haired man.
For some foolish reason, Kaoru had thought that since her 'death' had so deeply affected Kenshin that perhaps upon rescuing her he would tell her how he truly felt about her. Kaoru wasn't an idiot; she knew that he cared about her deeply. But, did he love her the way she wanted and needed and deserved to be loved?
"Kaoru?" Misao asked the distracted kendo teacher as she sat beside her on the wooden steps of her home. Kaoru looked up and smiled in response, trying to clear her mind of depressing thoughts. There was no need to ponder the issue, for no matter how hard she thought about it, she had no ability to read the rurouni's mind.
"Your skill improves every time I see you in action," Kaoru complemented, her heart felt lighter as she saw Misao's face break out into a proud grin.
The younger woman stood up and hooked her fingers into the pockets of her ninja uniform. "That's because as leader of the Oniwabanshi, I, Misao, must make it my duty to improve all the time."
Misao sat beside Kaoru on the steps again, a comfortable silence falling upon the two female warriors as their minds digressed in different directions. "Say Kaoru, do you have any plans for your stay here?" Misao asked abruptly, bored with the silence.
Kaoru shook her head, "No not really, at least, not until next Wednesday." She answered absently, not realizing that she just let one of her biggest secrets slip out of her mouth.
"What's next Wednesday?" Misao asked confused. She couldn't think of anything important about June 17th. Was it some sort of holiday she wasn't familiar with that was celebrated in Tokyo?
Kaoru continued to gaze out in the distance absently. "That's when I visit Kilik," she replied, mind still focused on her troubles with Kenshin.
"Kilik?" Misao demanded. "Who's Kilik?"
Kaoru snapped out of her daze. Her sapphire orbs grew the size of saucers as she realized her mistake. "Um, I didn't say Kilik….I um…." Kaoru stalled. She had never lied about Kilik before, but the idea of any one else finding out about him depressed her. She never cared for pity and if she told Misao about him then that's what she would receive.
Misao frowned at her dear friend and placed her hand upon her shoulder and looked down at her as she stood up in front of her sitting figure. "Kaoru-chan, I am your friend. It is very wrong to keep secrets from friends. Now tell me who Kilik is?" A mischievous smile broke out upon her face. "Have you been seeing someone behind Himura-san's back?"
Kaoru offered a weak smile and brushed off Misao's hand from her shoulder. "No, Kilik was….." she trailed off, unsure of how to explain.
"Kilik was?" Misao prodded, not about to let Kaoru dodge the question.
Kaoru looked off into the distance again, letting the warm memories of Kilik rush back to her. If she was going to share him with Misao then she owed him to tell her the whole truth. "Kilik was my betrothed."
Misao's jaw dropped. "You were supposed to be married?"
Neither of the women noticed the man with icy eyes that happened to be walking close by them and pause on his way to the temple at hearing the last statement. Curious, Aoshi hid his presence in the wooded area near the two women, his interested piqued.
Kaoru laughed a softly at her friend's surprised exclamation and offered a sad smile. "Believe it or not, I should have been wed on my sixteenth birthday."
Misao sat on the stairs beside the blue eyed woman who was becoming more mysterious to her with a heavy thud. "But, you're nineteen now. What happened?" She asked, a bit more gently as she could see a great sadness in Kaoru's features as the girl seemed to take on pallor as the blood drained from her face at the memories that seemed to haunt her.
Kaoru shook her head, a single tear falling from her eye. "No, I can't tell you about Kilik like this. Let me explain how we met and then what happened."
Misao nodded, anticipating a story that was sure to make her cry, she already had tears in her eyes waiting to spill at seeing Kaoru in so much obvious emotional turmoil, even when she tried to hide it behind her front of false cheer.
"As you know, my father was a great sword master and taught the Kamiya Kashin Ryuu, the technique he created that Yahiko and I use today," Kaoru began. Misao nodded, obviously following along. "His school was always full of young boys and sometimes girls eager to learn and master the technique."
Kaoru's eyes drifted over towards a nearby corpse of trees, she had a feeling that someone else was listening in, but it was about time she told someone about her own past voluntarily. "Kilik's village had been burnt in a terrible fire and he was the only survivor. A Buddhist monk took him and raised him from the age of eight until he was ten years old at a temple. He could see that Kilik was a restless spirit, destined to be a warrior and decided to introduce him to my father, a man who believed in peaceful sword styles."
Kaoru could picture her six year old version meeting Kilik for the first time with her father. There was something about the quiet older boy that attracted her to him and the pair had been nearly inseparable after meeting one another.
"My father took him into our home and agreed to teach him the technique. Kilik and I were the best of friends. He was four years older than me but he never made me feel like a little kid. Whenever he and the older boys would do something he always made sure I was invited. He was always there for me, especially when my mother died when I was nine, three years later." Kaoru closed her eyes as she recalled how the thirteen year old boy had held her as she fell asleep every night while her father was dealing with his own sadness.
"So he took care of you, like my Aoshi-sama," Misao sighed at the comparison, not noticing the slight frown that marred Kaoru's mouth at the comment.
"No, not exactly. Kilik was still a kid, same as I was. However, as we got older, things began to change between us and when I was thirteen he told me he wanted to marry me. I thought he was playing pretend, I didn't realize how serious he was until the next year." Kaoru could still remember as the seventeen year old took her into his arms and carried her up the small mountain near the springs not far from the dojo. He was so handsome, that the young teenaged Kaoru felt giddy at all times in his presence. Not to mention she was always happy.
"The next year, he informed father that he would be joining the army for a two year term and that when he returned, since I would be of age to marry by then, he wanted to make me his wife." Kaoru closed her eyes, searching for the strength to continue.
"Wait," Misao interrupted. Kaoru turned towards her, trying to keep her eyes from tearing up too much. "What did Kilik-kun look like? You can't tell a story like this without describing him!"
Misao was enjoying the tale; it seemed as if she had missed the point that it had a tragic ending. Aoshi shook his head at her childish insensitivity. 'Couldn't she tell that it was hard enough for Kaoru to share this memory without being badgered?'
"I suppose you're right," Kaoru agreed. "Kilik was very handsome. He was tall, and leanly muscled, light brown hair that hung near his shoulders, and he always wore a long red cape that he had been presented with as a gift from the Buddhist temple on his sixteenth birthday."
Misao frowned at the description, not finding it detailed enough. Kaoru noticed and sighed. "Okay, how about this, picture Aoshi with lighter hair and eyes the color of Sanosuke's. Now add in Yahiko's mischievous smirk. That's what Kilik was like."
Aoshi felt his lips twitch in the upwards direction slightly in arrogance at her description. 'Since she compared him to me and described him as handsome that must be how she views me.'
"If he looked like Aoshi-sama he must have been handsome," Misao agreed. Kaoru sighed, the girl was impossible, really.
"Kilik went off to the army and fortunately there were no wars at the time, but there are always skirmishes in Japan now-a-days. Kilik was the sort of person that would die saving a friend's life." Kaoru's eyes closed once more. "And that's exactly what happened, two weeks before his term in the service would have ended."
Misao gasped and reached over to embrace Kaoru in a comforting hug, even though the older woman was stiff in her arms. "I'm so sorry Kaoru-chan! And it was so close to you marrying your childhood sweetheart."
Kaoru shrugged, encouraging Misao to release her from the impromptu hug. "I visit his grave every June 17th. No one knows about it but Yahiko."
"How does Kenshin not know?" Misao prodded.
'Stupid!' Aoshi thought to himself at the words that just spilled out of the ninja's mouth.
"He's never been around when the anniversary comes and it's not any different this time around." She noticed Misao's mouth open again and decided to intercept the inevitable question. "And I've never told him because it's in the past. I tell him all the time that the past doesn't matter. He has his own memories to haunt him; I don't need to tell him about my losses."
Misao chewed on that information for a short while before asking another question. "How does Yahiko know?"
"He followed me last summer. He thought I was going to visit my father's grave and he wanted to pay his respects for the man who created the sword technique he trained under. When he didn't recognize the name, he wanted to know about it. So after swearing him to secrecy I told him." Kaoru explained. "I guess now you know why I hate when Kenshin and Sanosuke go off to fight. Kilik never broke a promise to me and he was supposed to come back, but he didn't. How am I to know that they will return? I lived alone for a year, I'm not sure I could do that again."
Misao looked thoughtful but didn't know how to respond so after a few moments and no words were spoken she rose to her feet. "Well I better go inside and see if Okina needs me to run into town for anything. You'll come with me right?"
"Sure, I'll go with you to town later if need be," Kaoru replied, looking back towards the corpse of trees.
As soon as the door shut behind Misao, the figure of Aoshi Shinomori stepped out of the foliage. Kaoru wasn't surprised as the stoic figure sat beside her on the wooden steps. It seemed strange that they shared the same step as they sat in one another's company in silence.
He was sitting so close to her that she could feel his arm pressing lightly against her shoulder and his leg brush up against her thigh. She shifted slightly so that their hips were no longer in contact at least.
"I assume you heard," Kaoru remarked, breaking the peace.
"Yes," Aoshi answered simply.
Kaoru remained quiet, after his one word response but was surprised when he continued.
"I understand your loss at losing one so close to you," Aoshi began. "I find peace of mind honoring their memories while in the temple meditating. If you would like to join me sometime, it may help you." He looked down at her, his face a blank mask, but his eyes revealing something that seemed akin to concern.
"You shouldn't keep your pain bottled up inside, it will only lead to madness," he explained remembering all too well his brief time of insanity.
"Thank you, Aoshi," Kaoru replied with a small smile for the man's effort.
Aoshi stood up abruptly and began to walk inside the house, but paused at the door and looked down at Kaoru who was watching his retreat. "I will accompany you to Tokyo for your friend's anniversary."
Kaoru was baffled at the offer, but nodded her head in agreement. Aoshi graced her with a ghost of smile, probably the most he could muster before slipping inside.
Misao returned soon afterward with a list of supplies needed to be purchased, she walked past Aoshi-sama on her way to Kaoru. "Kaoru, did Aoshi-sama talk to you?" Misao demanded.
"Yes, he invited me to meditate with him sometime. Apparently he heard my story about Kilik and seems to think I might find it therapeutic." Kaoru replied as she followed Misao out the gates into the town to shop. For some reason, she didn't want to tell her friend about Aoshi's offer to accompany her to Tokyo.
"That's great!" Misao exclaimed as she hugged Kaoru tight, causing the older girl to awkwardly pat her back confused. She thought the younger girl might be jealous and read things in a wrong way; she did not expect a reaction like this.
"Why is it great?" Kaoru dared to ask once released and walking again without, as Sano like to call her, 'the little weasel' attached to her.
Misao looked at her with big, pleading green eyes. "Because Kaoru-chan now you can become friends with Aoshi and help him confess his true feelings of love for me!" She looked at Kaoru expectantly, who just stared blankly at the girl. "Of course, you'll be my maid of honor." Misao added on second thought.
Kaoru had a bad feeling about this as the young woman grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her after her onto the busy streets of Kyoto.
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Kenshin watched as the sun set over the ocean, he would be arriving on shore the next morning. The sun set was a beautiful vision, but it offered little joy without having someone special to share it with. Sano didn't quite count.
"What's on your mind buddy?" Sanosuke asked from his position of lounging on the deck. He was tossing some dice around hoping to improve his skills before reaching the mainland. He heard rumors from different sailors that the gambling joints were amazing in China.
"Sessha was just watching the sun set, that I was," Kenshin replied turning his attention to his friend and shaking his head at him. Sano really was like a big child at times.
Sano looked up with a knowing grin on his face. "Right, you were thinking about Jou-chan weren't you?"
Kenshin smiled weakly. "Was it that obvious?"
Sanosuke huffed before turning his attention back to his dice. "Probably to everyone but Jou-chan herself, it's obvious."
Kenshin groaned. "Are we back on that topic again?"
"Actually, I was thinking." Sano began as he placed his dice back into his pocket and looked up at his vertically challenged friend who was standing, while he sat cross legged on the deck. "What do we know about Jou-chan's past?"
The red haired samurai scratched his head at the question confused. "I don't know what you mean, that I don't. She lived at the dojo by herself after her father died." Kenshin shrugged. 'What else is there to know?'
Brown eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Exactly, that's all we know. What about when her father was alive? Have we met any of Kaoru's old friends? That dojo was full of youth her whole life so you know she had to have known many people. Why don't we ever meet any of them?" Sanosuke grinned with satisfaction as his rurouni friend's face grew contemplative.
"You're right," Kenshin muttered softly. "Sessha has always used Kaoru to ease the pain of his past. I wonder," he locked his concerned eyes with Sano's. "Do you think she went through something painful too? I mean, besides the loss of her parents?"
Sanosuke ran his fingers through his unruly hair. "You know, I really wonder sometimes. There is more to Jou-chan than we know Kenshin. With as much as she has done for us, I think it's only fair that we find out what haunts her late at night."
Kenshin looked back towards what was left of the sun's rays as darkness began to fill the sky. 'Kaoru, how could I have been so selfish to not realize that maybe you needed someone to be there for you. You are barely older than a child and yet, it is you that I gain my strength from. What have I given you in return besides a sense of abandonment?'
TBC
A/N: About Kilik, he's not an OC. He is a character from Soul Calibur II, his village was destroyed in a fire and he was then raised in a Buddhist temple. He meditates a great deal, like Aoshi, because within his body an evil presence resides and he must be in a constant state of balance or else the evil will possess him. The name 'Kilik' is Chinese.