Even the Bakamatsu can have a Happy Ending
Even the Bakamatsu can have a Happy Ending
By: Shiara-dono
Standard disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Sadly.
Chapter 5
A few nights later, Kaoru awoke to find Kenshin gone. "Where is he?" She yawned, clutched her yukata closed, and walked out into the hall. There was a light on in the main room. Hesitantly, she entered.
Katsura was sitting at the table, drinking some tea. He looked up as she came into the room. "Ah, Kamiya-san. Join me for tea?"
Kaoru sat, accepting the offered cup. She sipped, sorting through her questions. "Where is Kenshin?"
"…Himura-san is working tonight."
In other words, he's killing. Kaoru thought. Her eyes filled with tears.
Katsura noticed. "Kamiya-san, do not worry. He is very skilled. He will return."
Kaoru set her cup down. "That is not why I worry. I worry about how this killing is affecting his heart."
Katsura also set down his cup. "Himura-san mentioned he wishes to stop killing." He sighed. "Kamiya-san, Himura is the best hitokiri there is. I am sorry that he has to kill when he doesn't want to, but we need him. Without him, the revolution may never end." He paused. "His being a hitokiri bothers you?"
Kaoru remained quiet for a moment, thinking it over. "I don't care that he's a hitokiri. He's a good person, despite that. I just worry what it does to him, is all."
"Kamiya-san, …do you love him?"
Kaoru looked down and fell silent again. She was silent for a long time. "Hai." She replied in a tiny voice. "I do."
Katsura smiled, but something in him rebelled against her response. Last time, love from a woman almost destroyed Himura. What will it do to him this time? He cleared his throat. "Did Himura-san tell you how he got the scar on his face?"
"I… iie."
"When he returns, perhaps you should ask him."
Kaoru sat in the courtyard a little later, thinking over what Katsura had said. She heard a small sound and looked up. Kenshin had just returned. He went over to a barrel and used the water to wash the blood off his face and hands. Suddenly, he stiffened, hand straying to his swords. "Who's there?"
"It's just me?"
"O… oro? Kaoru? What are you doing out here?"
Kaoru stood and walked toward him. "I was doing some thinking while waiting for you?"
Kaoru, you should be inside. You might-"
Kaoru cut him off. "Kenshin?" She asked, narrowing her eyes. He had just washed his hands, so why was there still blood dripping from his fingers? She grabbed his hand before he could evade her. There was a long tear in the sleeve of his gi. She gently pushed the sleeve up, revealing a long cut on his arm. "What happened?!"
Kenshin looked away. "Don't worry about it, Kaoru-dono. It's just a cut." He pulled his arm free.
Kaoru gave him a scathing look. "I was under the impression that you don't get cut that often. Was your target skilled?"
"Iie. Just a baka."
"I see. Then why'd you get cut?"
Kenshin's eyes blazed with anger and bitterness. "Leave me alone, woman!" He yelled, turning to walk away. "It doesn't even hurt!"
Kaoru's eyes narrowed even farther. He was definitely bothered about something. She stepped closer, slipped her hand inside his sleeve, and gripped his arm where the wound was.
He couldn't help it. He cried out in pain.
Kaoru loosened her grip and slid her hand down to his. "Doesn't hurt?" She asked softly.
He made a sound that was half sigh, half growl, and allowed him to lead her to his room. Once there, he sat on the floor and slipped his gi off.
Kaoru gently washed his arm. "What's bothering you, Kenshin?"
He closed his eyes. "I don't want to kill anymore."
"I know." She tore some cloth and began bandaging his arm. "Tell me what else."
Kenshin half-smiled. She was getting better at reading him. "I… it was a stupid mistake. I let pain get in the way."
Kaoru finished bandaging his arm. "Pain? You're hurt somewhere else?!"
Kenshin opened his eyes, watching her. "I went to see a doctor a few days back. The sword wound in my abdomen has infection in it. He gave me some medicine, and a salve to put on it, but it flared up. I didn't tell you, because I didn't want you to worry. Gomen."
She crouched down to examine him. The wound was partially scarred over, but had turned an angry red color. "Have you been putting the salve on it?"
He lowered his gaze, red-faced. "Iie. But I have been taking the medicine."
"Baka. He gave you both for a reason. Where is the salve?"
He pointed out a loose floorboard. She pried it up, retrieving a small jar. "Lay down."
"Oro?"
"Lay down!" Her eyes blazed angrily, so he gulped and complied.
She dipped her hand into the jar, then placed her salve-covered hand on his wound.
Kenshin shivered.
Kaoru knew very well it wasn't from the salve. The salve was cool to the touch, but not cold. She gently began to rub it into the wound, working to cover all the redness.
"Ano… this feels really weird."
"Why?"
"Normally people don't treat my injuries."
"I've noticed." She muttered dryly, eyes sweeping over his chest to look at the scars. "Seems you get a lot more cuts than people are aware of. …besides, I've treated this injury before. Of course, if I'd taken better care of it-" She trailed off, shaking her head. "I talked with Katsura-san earlier. He said I should ask you how you got the scar on your face."
Kenshin groaned. "He would tell you to ask that. I suppose you deserve to know." He paused a moment to collect his thoughts.
Kaoru stopped her administrations, giving him a quizzical look.
"Please." He whispered. "Don't stop."
Kaoru blushed and pulled some more salve from the jar.
"When I first became a hitokiri, I was cold to the world. I let no emotions show, just killed, and killed, … and killed. One of my targets had two bodyguards. I couldn't leave witnesses, so I killed them too. One was a horrible swordsman, but had a strong will to live. He gave me the first half of my scar."
Kenshin swallowed. This part of the story was harder. He noticed vaguely that Kaoru was rubbing salve into some of his older scars. "A man was sent to kill me once, but I killed him instead. A woman saw the whole thing, but for some reason, I couldn't kill her. The war turned bad for a while and I had to go into hiding. For appearances, and for other reasons, Tomoe, the woman, became my wife."
Kaoru's hand twitched. Kenshin glanced at her and saw that she was trying to conceal her emotions. He smiled; she was jealous.
"We were only married for about six months. I was temporarily blinded in a battle, and I… I…" He felt tears forming. It was still painful, even two years later. "The man had a concealed dagger. She jumped in to stop him from killing me. That dagger gave me the other half of my scar."
Horror was written on Kaoru's face. "You killed her?"
Kenshin nodded sadly, sitting up. "I couldn't see, but that's no excuse. …after her… death, I read her diary. Turns out the man who first injured me was her fiancé. I'll never know why she married me instead of killing me." He stared at his hands.
Kaoru managed to gain control over her emotions. She gently embraced Kenshin.
After a moment, he returned the embrace, pulling her closer. "Sumimasen. I lashed out at you earlier. I was thinking pushing you away would be the best thing."
"Baka. You need me."
He turned his face, burying it in her hair. "I know. But… I don't want you to die… like she did."
"I won't." She said simply, pushing him back. She was startled to discover he was crying. She brushed his tears away. Then she blushed, looking into his eyes. They were fading to the soft violet she was familiar with. "A… ano, in our talk, Katsura-san asked me a question."
"Oro?"
"He… he asked me if… he asked me if I love you."
Kenshin's breath came to a roaring halt. Why would he-?! What did she tell him? "Wh… what did you tell him?"
Kaoru gave him a shy smile. "Hai. I… I love you, Kenshin."
A strange warmth filled Kenshin. He opened his mouth to speak.
"You don't have to say anything!" He told him hastily, cutting him off. "I just wanted you to know how I feel." She stood, bowing to him. "As late as it is, I think I'm going to take a bath. I'll be back shortly."
Kaoru was almost to the bath when she heard someone running up behind her. She had enough time to half-turn before she was gently pushed into the wall. She got a brief glimpse of red hair and violet eyes. Then Kenshin's mouth was on hers. The kiss was sweet with a hint of passion. After a few minutes, he pulled away and fled back to his room.
She slowly raised her hand to her mouth, feeling herself beginning to smile. Wow. She thought, continuing in a daze toward the bathing area. Does that mean he likes me too?
Yatta! Another chapter done! Only one chapter left. Arigato, minna-san, for reading my story. Ja ne!
Glossary:
yukata: summer kimono or nightwear
hitokiri: manslayer
hai, aa: yes
iie: nogi: a type of Japanese shirt that allows easy movement
dono: 'miss.' Kenshin uses it. It's more formal than -san
baka: idiot
gomen, gomen nasai, sumimasen: sorry. Each is more formal than the preceding one
ano: um
yatta: Yes! Finally! Exclamation upon completing or finding something
arigato: thank you
minna-san: everyone