Love Beyond The Sword
Chapter 2: Reminiscences and Hope
Kaoru opened her eyes to the new morning light, it still foggy and drizzling the rain. It took a minute or two to realize her surroundings, as she then discovered she had cradled Kenshin's sword in her arms somewhere throughout the night. Her grip must have been very strong on it, because there were red marks upon her arms from the imprint of the hilt. She smiled slightly, and hugged the broken and battered sword to her chest, closing her eyes. She wished it was Kenshin she hugged to her. She noticed that it still had Kenshin's blood on it, her heart aching as the thoughts rushed back to her head as she remembered the slim odds they had of rescuing Kenshin. She squeezed her eyes closed, as the rain hit harder outside. Kaoru was very afraid. This was real and Kenshin might actually die. There was no comfort of his sword protecting them anymore. His own blood on his own sword broke that. Kaoru was the only thing that stood between him and death. But she was so weak. How could she defend against an army of bloodthirsty murderers, that nearly killed Kenshin? Kaoru always rooted Kenshin on, but never imagined her weak aura to be the only thing protecting Kenshin. But then she remembered her friends. They would be there to protect her. And help her bring Kenshin back home. Alive. Maybe they could save Kenshin against the will of hate of so many of his enemies. Kaoru gulped and got up, pulling her hair out of it's braid as she got dressed, into the kimono Kenshin had embraced her in when he went to Kyoto. She didn't even bother to put her long hair up, she just didn't care anymore. She grabbed Kenshin's sheathed sword, and began to walk out of the dojo. But then she caught herself in the mirror, and she looked. Her eyes had dark circles under them, and her face had lost it's color. She then remembered the police chief's words. "Before you can bring Kenshin home, you have to bring yourself home..." Kaoru smiled to herself a sad and uncertain smile. She had to be strong, and get a hold of herself if she was ever to have the wits it took to stand strong against the deadly men surrounding Shishio's mansion. Kaoru then walked out, the rain subsiding and the sun beginning to peak it's weak morning light out. The birds chirped as she stepped out onto the porch of the dojo, her zori sandals getting a bit wet in the puddles that had gathered from last night's torrential rain. Kaoru stepped off the dojo porch, and made her way into the garden, as she gathered a bucket of water and a cleaning cloth as she sat herself down on the damp grass, and took Kenshin's sword out of it's sheath, holding it in her hands. It was so broken...so chipped...so bloody..so much like Kenshin. She then took the cloth and cleaned the blood of the blade, admiring it with special care. She then laid the blade down carefully and then picked up the sheath, cleansing the dirt and blood off of it. Kaoru bit her lower lip. Kenshin had lost a lot of blood before he was kidnapped by Shishio. And with the blood that was lost already, plus the torture, there was no telling how bad of shape Kenshin was in. Kaoru closed her hues. It was best not to think about it. He was strong and would not go down so easily. But still..the thought of him not being able to move and be hurt made her grieve even more. If only she hadn't yelled back at him..then he wouldn't have rushed to fight so quickly..at least she would have had one more precious moment with him..but his mind was on Tomoe, in which she could never compare, not in a million aeons. She bent over and began to cry, her tears falling into the bloody water she had used to clean Kenshin's sword. What if she rescued Kenshin, and he would not even acknowledge the love she felt for him? She then sat up, wiping away her tears. She still loved him enough, even if it was unrequited, to save him and bring him home. She would give her life for him. She then felt a blanket go around her, as she turned, and Misao stood, with a blanket wrapped around herself. She offered Kaoru a warm smile. " It's quite chilly out here." Misao then sat down beside Kaoru, looking to the clean blade and then to Kaoru. "Please don't cry Kaoru. I promise you we are going to rescue Kenshin, and you'll be reunited with him once again. We can be alright, all together again." She smiled gently, her smile warming to Kaoru. Kaoru flashed a teary smile in her direction, nodding gently. The sun began to rise, it's light shining down through the cherry blossom tree in the garden Kaoru's great grand father planted when he had established the Kamiya Dojo. The cherry blossoms began to fall by the hundreds, the cascading pink petals falling gently around them. Kaoru stared at the blade for the longest, and then she finally got the courage to talk to Misao, sniffing. " I have been in the deepest love for Kenshin ever since he saved me from Gohei. Ever since he said goodbye to me for Kyoto. I didn't know what to do, but every time he fought, every laugh he gave, I fell deeper in love with him, and I cared for him like no one I had before. But I am sure you know of the story of Tomoe, since we talked last. I couldn't compare with Tomoe, I couldn't die the way she had for him, and still be remembered. I could never die that way..in his honor..it would be impossible for me..because the pain they had felt in the revolution...that kind of passion I have never experienced..so I couldn't die like that..I wouldn't know how.., though I want to save him." Tears started down her face again, as she squeezed her midnight hues to a close. " I'm sorry, Misao..I can't help all these tears..but..I..." Kaoru had put her hand on her face in shame, as she chocked with sobs on the last words. "I love him so much and I want him to be with us again!" She had fallen over crying into her lap, and Misao put a comforting hand on Kaoru's back. Misao then smiled. She knew how much Kaoru loved Kenshin, and it was so painful to them both. " Kaoru...I understand how you feel, but you can't blame yourself for this. You love Kenshin so much and I am sure he wants that..I am sure he knows this. Tomoe may be the heart of Kenshin, but she could not give Kenshin the love you possess, because he was so young and he was Hitokiri Battosai, not yet discovering the Kenshin Himura we know today. Kenshin is much softer these days, and he will accept, I am sure, the grand love you have of him. I am sure he will love you just as much Kaoru." Kaoru's cries subsided as she wiped her eyes with the blanket and sat up, still shaking with the aftermath of her heartfelt sobs. "Thank you so much, Misao. You have put up with me all morning, and I could never thank you for the comfort. It is a deep and fearful realm I am in..lost in the darkness..without Kenshin to bring me home...so..now..I must bring him home and let him recover the wounds of battle, and the wounds of this love triangle." Misao patted Kaoru on the back, and stood up. " You look hungry Kaoru. How about some of your awful Miso soup for breakfast?" Kaoru smiled sadly, and got up and nodded ,walking into the kitchen with Misao following behind.
After a brisk breakfast, Kaoru and Misao set out on the roof of the house, the sun high in the sky. Kaoru layed down, staring at the endless horizon above. She began to think to herself, as the clouds passed the golden sun. " Kenshin...If I could only hold you...If I could only be with you...If only...I promised myself that I would stay strong and I would attempt to rescue you with my life to pay the price of your survival. You have saved me so many times, so many times I wish I could have fought your battles for you, but now, I return the favor. I want to save you. As for Tomoe, I know I can never replace her, but at least let me take care of the wounds you still bleed from, inside and out. Let me heal the love that Tomoe left behind. I would never even want to replace her, for she is a special person to you. I just want to be with you, and heal your scars. And help you remember Tomoe a little better than before. Kenshin...I miss you so much." Kaoru then shut her hues, thinking of the past with Kenshin. She couldn't cry anymore, for her body had been emptied of all of the precious tears that she had laid away for the grieving of Kenshin's sorrow. Misao was quiet for a while, letting Kaoru think. Then she smiled and looked to her. " Kaoru, all of our friends want to meet up down by the edge of the river. We all want to talk about the plan to take Shishio's mansion by storm." Kaoru then nodded, and sat herself up. Her and Misao climbed down the dojo wall, and headed for the river.
When they arrived, everyone was there that would be taking place in the battle. Aoshi, Master Hiko, Sanosuke, Megumi, The new Oniwaban group, Yahiko, Miss Tae, Jinpu Kaze, (The Feng Shui master) , and even Saito joined the crusade. Kaoru smiled. Maybe they could win. But Kaoru then remembered she alone had to face Shishio. Kenshin's worst adversary. She then swallowed the thought and knew she had to if she ever was to save Kenshin. The group then sat down with the sun at their backs over the horizon of the river. " Alright. The plan is devised and complex. There are going to be police officers assisting in the fight. We take out whoever we come in contact with, and we give Kaoru safe passage to the mansion. Real complex plan..isn't it?" Sanosuke said ironically. Kaoru smiled. " I can't thank everyone enough for helping me get to Kenshin. With everyone's help, we will truly succeed. I know it. Kenshin is waiting for our arrival!" Kaoru stood, for the first time with hope reborn, her hand shooting in the air as if reaching for the victory of saving Kenshin. " Kenshin needs us, and I know we will bring him home, after so many times he has saved us. Now he needs us more than ever. We should gladly repay the favor." Misao said, supporting Kaoru. Then Sanosuke stood, and so followed the rest of the group. "FOR KENSHIN!"(Except Saito and Aoshi e.e) They all exclaimed, over and over to raise the hope of finding and saving their beloved friend, but most of all, Kaoru's love.