Hi guys! Well, what can I say? I'm happy you've liked it so far!!!
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Kaoru sighed as she rolled onto her stomach on the large canopy bed. She was going to formally announce her wedding plans to her friends. She bit her lip in worry. What if the didn't approve? They were the closest to family she had.
"Everything will be fine." Soujiro's voice flittered comfortingly in her head.
Kaoru looked at the ceiling, Soujiro was right. She shouldn't worry. If Soujiro made her happy then they should approve. Either way, she was still marrying him.
He was the one who put her back together after the divorce, he was the one who was always patient when she went broke down. He was the one who always beside her whenever she needed someone to talk to.
He was perfect.
Kaoru shook her head, changing her mind. No, he wasn't perfect. She had married perfect, and it didn't work out for her.
The raven-haired woman sighed once more, looking at the engagement ring on her finger.
Everything should work out. It will work out; she can't have it any other way.
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Kenshin eyed the phone with stonily after he finished his conversation with Sano. He wasn't sure why he was acting this way.
Kaoru's getting married…
Kenshin turned away from the phone, opting to stare out his window instead. Why was he thinking about this? Kaoru wasn't a part of his life anymore, that ended when they divorced.
You care for her.
Amber eyes narrowed at this, of course he cared for her, after all, she had been his wife for some time. They were friends once as well. He could never stop caring for her.
And yet even though you say you CARE for her… you still cheated on her didn't you? Made a complete fool of her… now she's getting married to a man who loves her… a man who DESERVES her.
Kenshin almost growled at the thought. He was steadily getting annoyed by the voice in his head that wouldn't seem to leave him alone.
Why so angry? Feeling guilty? Or is it something else…?
He snapped his head away from the view, closing his eyes. Yes, he was guilty. He wanted to apologize to her. To make up for all the things he did against her.
Too bad… someone else has the privilege of doing that now. Your chance has long gone.
Gold switched to violet then to gold again. He just wanted one last chance… even just to congratulate her… anything to remove the pain in his chest.
Like she'd want congratulations from her cheating ex-husband…
Kenshin smiled bitterly. Who was he kidding? She'd never want to see him again. Not after everything he'd done.
The voice seemed to disappear after this.
He had lost her.
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2 WEEKS TO WEDDING!
Kaoru smiled happily, coming from the fitting she had. She had picked out the perfect wedding dress. Soujiro was going to be blown away! She grinned at the mental image of her fiancé drooling over her. She couldn't wait! She felt like a girl again.
She looked around the streets, immediately spotting a quaint little café and walked towards it. She needed an energy boost badly. Shopping with Misao was tiring after all.
Kaoru walked into the café, trying to see through the small flood of people. It seemed to be crowded everywhere these days. She lined up at the cash registrar to wait for her turn to order.
After waiting for about five minutes, she had her turn and ordered a mocha latte. She turned around, immediately bumping into an unknown person. Caught of guard, she immediately latched on to the nearest thing available to regain her balance, which was the person infront of her.
"I'm so—" she started apologizing, looking up… only to find surprised amber eyes staring back at her. "Kenshin…?" she said in surprise, almost disbelievingly.
"Hello Kamiya-san." Kenshin answered after a few moments. "It's nice to see you again."
Kaoru almost winced at his polite tone. They acted like total strangers now. She didn't know how to react. "It's… nice to see you as well."
An awkward silence fell on them as they fought to find the right words to say.
What do you say to the philandering ex-husband?
What do you say to the woman you've wronged so badly?
"I—"
"Would—"
They said at the same time.
"You go first-"
"You go first-"
Kaoru broke out into a smile, melting the tension in the air. "This brings back memories, doesn't it?" she remarked wistfully.
"Yes, it does." Kenshin agreed. "Would you like to catch up with eachother over coffee? He asked out of the blue.
Kaoru looked at him in surprise, before nodding slowly. "I'd like that." She whispered gladly.
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Hours passed as they talked to eachother in the café. They conversed about anything and everything that came into their minds, after that, the contented themselves in sipping their coffee and relaxing in the comfortable silence between them.
Kaoru smiled at the peace. It felt like old times---
Everything came to a halt as her past with Kenshin came flashing through her mind, leaving her with a terrible migraine.
What was she doing talking to him?
She was getting married for goodness sake! What was she doing?
Feeling tense all of a sudden at the comfortable atmosphere she had with him. She broke it.
"I'm getting married in two weeks." She blurted out suddenly before slapping a hand over her mouth.
Kenshin jerked in surprise, looking at his ex-wife over the top of his coffee cup. "I know."
"You… know?" she blinked. "How did you… I haven't told you…" she mumbled in confusion.
"Sano told me." He said, clearing it up for her.
"Oh…" she whispered, feeling a weird rush of relief. Then he knew. Why was she relieved that he knew? It wasn't like she was worried… "Aren't you going to congratulate me then?" she joked, grinning.
Kenshin raised a fine eyebrow at her. "Why are you marrying him, Kaoru?" he asked.
Kaoru seemed to still at his question. "W-what?" she stuttered.
"Why are you marrying him?"
This was what she was afraid of… that he would convince her otherwise of her impending marriage. She refrained from smacking herself on the head; she shouldn't have agreed to talk to him. It only reminded her of the past… the past she was so desperate to forget.
"Why are you asking me?" she shot back, eyeing him levelly.
"I was curious; I find it hard to believe that you fell in love with someone else so soon. If I remember correctly, you said you were in love with me." He reminded her of her words on that fateful night.
Kaoru bristled under his gaze, her blue eyes shooting flames at him. "That was a long time ago."
"Ten months to be precise." He murmured quietly.
"Talking to you was a mistake." She hissed angrily, standing up with such a force that her chair almost fell backwards. She turned around to leave when his voice stopped her dead.
"You're making a mistake."
"This coming from the man who cheated on me?" she retorted viciously.
Kenshin winced at the insult. "I'm sorry, it wasn't my place." He apologized, after a few moments. When she asked him to congratulate her, he felt an irrational surge of anger. Whether he was angry at himself or Kaoru, he wasn't sure.
Kaoru didn't reply, and instead walked out the door.
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Review please!!!