Love Once?
After another day of Kaoru showing them around the country side, Kenshin sat quietly in the hammock. The sun had lowered in the evening sky, leaving a fresh, cool breeze to relax him while he enjoyed the lush garden. His thoughts were once again on Kaoru and he just couldn't help but remember the meek young woman he would see on occasion so many years ago.
Yet so much had changed between then and now. They both seemed to take completely different paths in life. She getting married and wanting to start her family so young. He getting out of a long, rotten relationship and wanting nothing to do with a commitment to anyone. Life had a weird way of bringing people together again under the oddest circumstances he began to muse.
He lay with a hand under his head and the other on his chest looking up into the late afternoon sky. In another few days, he'd have to travel back to Milan for the company luncheon. After that, he'd be back on a plane to New York and then what? The thought left a distinct throbbing in his heart. "I won't see Kaoru after that."
"Kenshin?"
The red head looked over at the sound of her voice, snapping from his thoughts. Kaoru walked up to him smiling and carrying a tray with two glasses of iced drinks on it.
"Hey" she smiled once discovering he wasn't asleep, "I thought I'd make everyone some lemonade and they said you were out here. Everything ok?"
Kenshin sat up in the hammock and smiled, "Yea, I just find this place so relaxing and wanted to sit out here in the cool breeze."
"Oh, sorry to disturb you then" she smiled. "Sano is taking a nap in his room and Aoshi and Misao went out for a stroll."
"No, no it's nothing in fact you shouldn't have gone through all the trouble for this" he grinned sheepishly while taking a glass in his hand. "Thanks though!"
"No trouble" she replied sweetly. "I actually enjoy working my way around in the kitchen. When I'm working I have no time for anything else! So with you guys here, at least I have a crowd to cook for."
The two walked over a few paces to the patio set and settled comfortably into the chairs. They sipped their drinks quietly and looked out towards the gardens around them.
"This place is really so relaxing" he commented.
"Yea the minute I saw it, I just knew I wanted it" she smiled.
Again, something inside begged him to ask her more. "Kaoru" he hesitated for seconds and continued, "Do you ever find it difficult to live so far from home?"
She looked at him and he suddenly felt a wave of regret wash over him, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"No, it's alright" she interrupted him. "I just…" her voice lowered, "it was hard at first. It was difficult and soothing at the same time actually."
He looked at her and allowed her to continue.
"Hard because I really missed having all of them around. My mom, dad, Aoshi and Misao and my other friends. But I couldn't physically make myself go back there again. After the accident I just had to leave otherwise I thought I'd drive myself insane."
"How did your parents take it?" he asked softly.
"Not well" he looked down at her drink, "My dad was really quiet and had no clue what to say to me. My mom was supportive and tried her best to say the right things. They did the best they could, given the circumstances."
After a few more seconds of silence she continued, "It wasn't their fault, but soon other family members started whispering and adding their own two cents into everything."
Her tone turned slightly sour, "My aunts and cousins were telling my mom to have me move on. They said I was still young, still this and that." She closed her eyes and for the first time since being there, he saw her scowl across her features.
"It was such nonsense so just so damn irritating to hear. Either they were treating me like a stupid child or acting as if the fact that my husband had passed away wasn't that big of a deal. I mean how do you tell someone that you should start dating and looking for another man in your life after something like that?"
She opened her eyes and seemed to realize the anger in her tone, "Sorry…"
"It's alright and very understandable where you're coming from. So that's why you moved so far away from them?" Kenshin replied.
"Partly why. The other reason being I just couldn't walk down the same streets or be in the same places that reminded me of him. I couldn't look at the same places where he would hang out, or where we'd go."
Kenshin gave her a slight reassuring smile, "I don't blame you in the least bit."
She smiled back at him and for few moments their eye contact didn't break. Just as quickly though, she smiled and looked down at her drink again. "So explain about what Misao was saying the other night."
He looked at her curiously, "About?"
"Remember she said something about you getting over someone?" Kaoru hinted, with a smirk.
Kenshin's eyes widened slightly and he chuckled, "God Misao is something else!"
He looked down at his drink, "I was sort of in this long, and I guess you could say, serious relationship with someone. It got a bit complicated and went from bad to worse soon after that. Misao, Aoshi and Sano knew the gist of it since we fought in front of them a few times and that's why she thinks I'm hung up on her."
"Are you?"
The question caused him to look back at her. He couldn't help but smile slightly at the young woman, "You never really forget someone that was such a huge part of your life, but do I still hold out hope of us getting back together? No, I've moved past that."
"Ah" she replied, and then grinned, "Is that why they were saying how you're a bachelor for life."
Kenshin laughed, "Sano and Misao are out of their minds. It's not about wanting to be a bachelor; I just never found someone else."
"Sounds like your relationship left quite a few scars" she mused.
"Yea" he replied faintly, "She knew exactly what buttons to push and how to manipulate me."
"Do you think…" she struggled and cleared her throat, "I mean do you believe that you could find love again in your life?"
"I-I mean not you as in just you, but everyone in general" she stammered to clarify, "Do you think that some people are fortunate to find love a second time?"
He was left slightly confused by her question and even more bewildered by the faint blush creeping into her face. Kenshin smiled in response, "Honestly I don't know."
He looked up at the sky filled with soft puffs of clouds taking on the colors of the changing sky and continued, "I thought I had when I was younger, but it didn't turn out as expected."
Looking back at her, he noticed the wide-eyed, hopeful expression she had.
"But, that isn't to say that we're not capable of falling in love again. There's nothing scientific or rational about it" he smiled at her.
She was quiet for a few minutes and he guessed she was mulling over his words.
"What do you think?"
Her attention snapped back and he saw the gleam fade from her vibrant blue eyes, "I've always thought that in a life time, you only find love once" she softly replied to his question.
Kaoru's gazed shifted to her lap and she continued, "It's such a precious gift to share with someone; your feelings I mean. How can people tell so many others that they love them? How can their hearts jump from one to another so quickly? This world is so fickle sometimes. They don't understand how precious love and marriage is."
Kenshin couldn't help but note the hint of bitterness in her voice. "But everyone isn't like that."
She looked up at him and he in return smiled, "People aren't all fickle. Sometimes we make mistakes, but that's life. And sometimes its destiny and fate that play a part no matter what we do."
There was no immediate response on her part, so he continued, "What I mean to say is, if it weren't from our mistakes how else would we learn what this existence is about?"
"How can you call a relationship a mistake?" she asked innocently.
"I'm not saying that the actual relationship is a mistake, or even getting to know someone. I'm saying that some people are quick to jump into relationships and don't realize that there's no deeper connection there."
She scowled slightly, "And that makes getting married and remarried nearly 3,5, 8 times alright?"
"Eight times?" he chuckled, "You know Liz Taylor or something?"
His comment managed to break her sour and depressed mood and she joined in on the laughter. She really was naturally magnificent and he was certainly becoming more captivated despite his reservations.
After the moment passed she looked at him, "I don't know Kenshin. I still believe that we live once, love once and marry once." This time she gave him a softer smile.
"Does that mean that you can't love anyone again? Ever?" he asked seriously. He couldn't tell what incited the question, but he needed to know her answer.
"I-I don't think so" she replied nervously and unsure.
"Is it that you can't or you won't allow yourself even if love finds you?" he pressed.
"I-" she seemed at a loss for an answer, "it's just that…"
"What Kaoru?" he asked again calmly.
"It-"
"KAORU!"
Both were disrupted from their conversation as the sound of Misao's voice filled the garden.
"Kaoru! Kenshin! There you two are!" she smiled walking up to them. "I've been looking all over for you."
Misao plopped down into a vacant seat and noted the blush and nervous expression on Kaoru's face. She looked at Kenshin who also seemed as if he'd been caught doing something he shouldn't have.
"I should look into dinner" Kaoru rose from her seat.
"Uh-" Misao went to interrupt, but the young woman already began to walk off.
"What was that about?" Misao looked at Kenshin.
The red-head contemplated telling her about it, but decided against it for the time being. It wasn't as if he got an answer out of the blue-eyed beauty, and there was no sense in telling Misao which meant pretty much whispering it in Aoshi's ear as well.
"What was what about?" he asked looked at her with his best poker face.
Misao cocked an eyebrow at him, "That look on her face and then rushing away from here? From the way it looked when I was walking up to you two, there was quite a conversation going on."
Kenshin cursed mentally at her perceptive nature, "No, well it's nothing really. We were just talking about some boring life-related philosophical stuff."
"Oh" her whole face seemed to deflate. It was as if she'd been hoping they were talking about something more interesting, "that's all?" she asked flatly.
"Yea, boring to you I know" he smiled.
"Yea!" she scowled and dropped the subject. For now.
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After dinner Aoshi and Misao retired to their room for the evening. Sano had decided to go into town and explore the nightlife, which Kaoru reminded him would be sparse considering they were in a small town.
Kenshin busied himself with some last minute work on the laptop as he relaxed in the living room in front of a cozy fire. Kaoru decided to get to bed early as well and excused herself after cleaning up.
Misao giggled as Aoshi's lips traveled down her throat.
"Shhh" he reminded her as she giggled uncontrollably.
"Well stop that then" she laughed trying to keep her tone hushed.
"You left me this afternoon" he pretended to chide her while whispering in her ear.
Her small form melted against his on the bed as he hovered over her.
"Mmph" she reveled under his touch and couldn't help the shivers traveling through her body.
"Where did you go off to?" his lips traveled to her belly button and he kissed trails up and down her stomach, purposely hitting every sensitive and tickle-prone spans of skin he'd memorized.
She let out another giggle and tried her best to pry his lips from her skin, but to no avail.
"I went off to see what everyone was up since you were still asleep" she quickly explained as he continued his slow, sweet torture.
"Oh and you didn't think I'd miss you? Terrible" he slipped her night shirt over her head and continued to kiss and touch every exposed part of her flesh.
"No, no, no" she giggled as he nuzzled the crock of her neck and shoulder, "I was with Kenshin and Kaoru. They were wrapped up in some deep conversation so I thought I'd join them."
His grip on her body lessened and his eyes met hers seriously, "Oh? What type of conversation?"
She pouted slightly at the sudden lack of his ministrations, "I don't know, some philosophical crap he said."
Misao reached up and began to plant a trail of soft kisses along his jaw, but his attention was else where.
"Where were they sitting?"
She stopped and scowled at him, "Should I take a picture next time from behind the bushes?" she snapped slightly. "They were in the garden after she'd made everyone some lemonade."
"Hm" he replied. "You don't think that he and she…"
"Stop right there!" she hushed him. "You're jumping to conclusions again. She's not 15 you know? She can sit down with whomever and have a serious conversation."
The mood seemed to be beyond broken at this point. He moved from hovering over her and lay down next to her in bed staring up at the ceiling.
"I just don't want her to get hurt again."
"None of us do, but do you want her to live like this for the rest of her life? Alone? Away from family and friends?" she reasoned. "I know she's practically your little sister, but we love her too. And right now what's best for her is to get on with her life. It's been 2 years already!"
"But Kenshin-hm…I don't know…"
"You're just like a typical father you know" she interrupted, "No one will be good enough for her in your eyes. Prince charming could ride in on his white horse promising her the moon and the stars-"
"Phft, please" he groaned in aggravation, "I'd kick his sorry ass."
"SEE!" she shrieked.
"Shh!" he reminded, "you'll have the whole house up!"
"Right, right" she whispered, "But the point remains. Kenshin is a good guy, but no one is saying they should be together or whatever. If they're friends, then let them be and we'll see what happens."
"But-" he tried.
"No buts!" she silenced him, "Now go to sleep! You've completely ruined the mood."
A few seconds later his hand crept under the sheets to caress her bare back that was towards him.
"You're right" he kissed her shoulder gently as he hands toyed with her firm breasts, "I'm sorry" he whispered sending shivers through her once more.
"Mmph" she mumbled and allowed him to pull her body against his. Despite her wanting to ignore his obvious request, the throbbing that was developing in her center made her comply.
His hand coxed her to turn her head as he captured her lips with his and the other hand traveled lower until he caressed the petals of her already wet core. As he began to tease and rub her, she writhed under the intimate touches.
"Promise you'll try" she whispered from in between biting back moans.
"Shh…talk about this later" he instructed and plunged his tongue inside her mouth to add to the request.
He increased the speed of his fingers and muffled her moans with his mouth as her petite frame wiggled against his hardened body.
She turned to lie on her back and he pounced on top to take the lead.
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Misao awoke early the next morning feeling slightly sore but otherwise refreshed and ready for the day. She looked back the peaceful slumbering form of her beloved and smiled.
"I need to get these alone together" she mumbled under and her breath and looked thoughtfully out the windows into the beautiful new day.
"Hmmm" she pondered, "Gotta get the bodyguard away first" she looked to her soon-to-be-husband. "Then gotta' take care of the clown" she remembered Sano. "Then I have to them alone together somewhere somehow…but how?"
Her brows furrowed in confused as she sat and continued deep in thought.
Minutes later a loud, "HA!" reverberated throughout the room, rousing Aoshi from his sleep only to find Misao grinning back at him.
"Uh, Misao?" he asked groggily unsure what to make of her clown-like giddiness.
"Morning!" she beamed, "Get up, get showered, get dressed so we can get going!"
"But where?" he asked in confusion, "What time is-"
"It's TIME to get up" she snatched the covers from over him and jumped off the bed. "Misao, you're a genious!" she giggled to herself heading towards the shower.
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Sorry to everyone about the delay in this fic. The other two are on my mind far more often than this one. But that doesn't mean I'll discontinue or delete it. I still love this fic and it's dear to my heart so just bear with me as the inspiration drizzles in slowly for it! Hehe
Promise to really start moving this along…and wouldn't you know it the mover and shaker is of course Misao.
Thanks to all for the continued support even through the long period of no updates. Sorry for that!
