AN: Only one more chapter left after this! Enjoy, and let me know what you think. It would be nice to reach 100 reviews, not with just this chapter (that's asking a little much, I think.) But it would be nice if the reviews for this chapter and the Epilogue would take the reviews up to at least 100 (it's only 19 away...)
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.
Always and Forever
By: Mika Saito
Chapter 17- A Promise Fulfilled"Tomoe!" Kaoru gasped, stopping in front of the older woman.
"What is it, Kaoru?" Tomoe asked, looking concerned.
"You have to help me," Kaoru grabbed her arm and tried to pull her towards the door.
"Whoa. Help with what exactly?"
"Just come on, I'll explain on the way," she pulled again. Tomoe gave in, grabbing Megumi's arm as she was pulled out of the building. Megumi opened her mouth to ask where they were going when Tomoe pushed her closer to the car.
"You'll get your answer in a moment," she told the woman. Tomoe got in the driver's side and started the car.
"Where..."
"The airport," Kaoru interrupted. "Where's your cell phone?" Tomoe handed over the small phone before pulling out of the temple parking lot. Kaoru dialed, then talked into the phone in a hurried and quiet voice, quiet enough that Tomoe couldn't hear what she was saying.
"All right, explain," Tomoe demanded when Kaoru flipped the phone shut.
"Enishi called off the wedding," Kaoru said, a delirious smile on her lips.
"What!" Tomoe and Megumi asked in unison.
"He told me to go to Kenshin," Kaoru giggled, sounding moderately hysterical.
"Why would he do that?" Megumi asked, dumbfounded.
"Because he loves someone else as well," Tomoe answered.
"How did you know that?" Kaoru asked.
"He's my baby brother, I'd have to be blind not to see it," Tomoe shrugged.
"Is that why you were trying to get me to call it off?"
"It's one of the many reasons. Another being that even I could see, from one small interaction, that you and Kenshin were meant to be together."
"And now we can be," Kaoru whispered breathlessly, letting out a small laugh.
"What's your plan?"
"I have two seats reserved on a plane to Kyoto that leaves in an hour."
"Two seats?" Tomoe raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not going to leave Megumi here, not when I may need her help to find Kenshin."
"Like I'd let you leave me here," Megumi smirked, "I have to make sure you don't break Ken-san's heart again."
"I wouldn't, Megumi. It hurt too much to do it once without attempting again."
"Here we are," Tomoe smiled, putting the car in park. "Call me and let me know what happens. And don't forget to grab your bag out of the trunk, I packed a change of clothes for you and Megumi-san."
"Thank you, Tomoe, for everything," Kaoru smiled, leaning over to give Tomoe a small hug before she slipped out of the car. Megumi climbed out of the back seat while Kaoru grabbed the over night bag from the trunk of the car. Waving at Tomoe over her shoulder, Kaoru led the way into the terminal.
Kaoru paid for their tickets before they went into the bathroom to change out of their wedding finery. Afterwards, Kaoru paced by the gate where their plane would be boarding.
"Calm down, Kaoru, pacing isn't going to get you there faster," Megumi chided, laughing.
"I know. Though I wish it would," she sighed, flopping into a seat next to Megumi.
"Now boarding flight 2772..."
"That's us," Kaoru said, checking the ticket information before standing again.
"Lets go then," Megumi smiled, grabbing the travel bag as she stood to follow her friend.
A few hours later the plane landed in Kyoto. Megumi and Kaoru left the terminal, looking for Sano, who had called them the moment Megumi has turned her cell phone on after they'd gotten off the plane. Tomoe had called him and asked if he could pick them up, solving one of their problems.
"Where would Kenshin be?" Kaoru asked Megumi; her blue eyes watching her friend look for the tall, spiky haired man.
"I'd say work, but I know he won't be there. He said something about taking the day off." Megumi responded distractedly, having spotted Sano. "Come on."
"If he's not at work, where would he be?" Kaoru pressed, following Megumi.
"Other than his apartment, I don't know. You would know more places he'd be than I do, even after being away for five years."
"I suppose..." Kaoru said thoughtfully.
"Hey Megumi, Missy," Sano grinned as the stopped in front of him.
"You're taking us to Ken-san's apartment," Megumi told him, ignoring his greeting. Sano ignored her and turned to Kaoru.
"I suppose I should be congratulating you, Mrs. Enishi Yukishiro?" He asked jokingly.
"No. I didn't marry him. Now can we please get going?" Kaoru growled, her eyes narrowing as she glared at Sano.
"All right. I parked over there," he motioned behind him.
"He's not here," Kaoru said, slipping into the back seat of Sano's car.
"Where do you want to try next?" Megumi asked, twisting around in her seat so that she could look at her friend.
"The park, where we all used to hang out," Kaoru responded slowly.
"You think he'll be there? None of us have gone there since you left for America..."
"Kenshin and I met there before I left for Tokyo with Enishi. He re-iterated his promise there... I'm sure he'll be there," the blue eyed woman murmured.
"You sure you want us to stay here?" Sano asked as Kaoru opened the door.
"Yeah. If he's here, which I'm sure he is, I want to talk to him alone," she said, slipping out of the car.
"Okay, Missy. We'll wait here, just in case."
"Thank you, Sano." Kaoru smiled at him before turning to walk down the path into the park.
She drifted down the path, wanting to rush to where she thought Kenshin was, yet also wanting to delay the moment when she finally saw him. A few minutes passed as she wandered towards the spot where she and Kenshin had been only a week ago. Looking up she glimpsed his red hair through the trees, only a few meters away.
"Kenshin," she called his name softly, gaining his attention. He turned and looked at her, surprise shinning in his amethyst eyes.
AN: The End. Seriously, that's where the story ends. The epilogue will be posted either Sunday night, or sometime Monday afternoon, it depends on when I can get to a computer long enough to post it, it is done though, edited and everything, so it won't be late.
Thank you to those who reviewed:
sapphireracoongal- You'll find out who Enishi loves more in the epilogue.
Eternal Spring89- Thank you for reviewing both chapter 15 and 16.
xx Screaming Infidelities- Thank you for reviewing. By the way, I love your name.
animebdoll- Thank you for reviewing!
Mikki G- I know a lot of people read and don't review, I tend to do that to... but it's still rather depressing to get only 2 reviews for one chapter...