EVERLASTING
By : HCK Holy Reimaund

Author's note : Story is inspired by the melancholic theme of BoA's song of the same title. Rurouni Kenshin is also owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki, Shonen Jump, and Sony Productions. But the story plot is all mine.

Chapter 5 : Truth

Kaoru had been more listless and quiet the past few days. Truthfully, she no longer has any will to go on everyday life. Ever since his wedding, she had become even more withdrawn to the point that it is already disturbing. Right at the very last moment, she expected him to get up and suddenly pronounce that she's the real person he is intended to marry. The very person he truly loves.

'I guess he doesn't really love me'

She knows it's unfair to think that way when she knows that every little time, minutes and seconds, they spent together is shared lovingly. She could never deny the love she felt from him during those times. And that's what makes it more painful. To felt a love so deep and just to lose it like that. Maybe she's also to blame, she never voiced out any of her own feelings from the time the engagement was announce right at the very wedding.

She had dreamt of it. He promised her that. Seeing the promise came into reality, only except that she's not the person beside him on the altar. He gladly gave everything away, killing her by saying 'I do'. That very moment she knew the only little life she had come to an end. She is now nothing but an empty shell trying to painfully live out her days.

Everything has been painful, just to breathe is painful. A constant reminder that she's still alive and must still undergo this eternal torture. The last straw had been 2 nights ago. She just went down to fetch a glass of water when she saw him enter the mansion. He breathed her name the same way he had always done. If she didn't witness the wedding herself she would like to believe in the love she heard from the way he breathed her name. She shook her head and went her way back upstairs to her bedroom.

Kenshin followed her. Breathing her name, pleading at her turn back and look at him. She did turn back and look at him. Letting him see what he had done to her. The silent tears and pained expression. Without a word, Kenshin knew that she's been in a torture. And although only he can save her, she doesn't have a nerve to steal him away from her sister. Not after seeing the happiness that radiated from Misao on her wedding day. She would never let her sister feel the same pain that she's feeling right now. So with just one word…

"Don't…"

Kaoru ended everything. Sealing away her selfishness

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Misao had confronted their parents. But they didn't answer. Not that they refuse to, they just practically avoided the subject. This makes her more curious. She started looking for signs, anything that might lead her to her parent's secrets. And that's what she's doing right now

Few days ago, she heard her parent say something about 'dying'. Their sentences were so vague that she couldn't come up with anything logical about what they are saying. She tried asking her parents but the result is zero. So she did some research of her own. She tried finding anything that would be related to the word 'dying'. She asked their maids, tried to find out if her parents or sister is sick. Until she found a calling card of someone named Dr. Gensai. She called his office and was even surprise when she learned that he knows about her and immediately set an appointment. This is why she is here.

Today she is in his clinic. Waiting anxiously for the doctor to meet her. She's 30 minutes earlier. Her curiosity is just too much to bear. The secretary led her to the waiting room with other patients. She tried busying herself by reading some magazine. She went through it but nothing registered in her mind. After 5 magazines, she finally gives up. She sat there quietly and stared at the door.

Finally after what seemed to be hours, the doctor went out and motioned for her to enter the room. She quickly stood and followed the doctor to his office. He led her to where she can sit. She quickly sat and waited for the doctor. The doctor, though, is looking for a file in his cabinet. After minutes of searching, he was able to find one with her last name written on it.

The doctor turned to look at her and breathed a sigh. He opened the file and read through some things written on it. The doctor sighs every page that is being turned. This got her even more worried. Just what is really going on? Finally the doctor chose to speak up.

"Finally, I've been waiting for you to come here. I was told you don't want to go on the process yet"

Process? What process? And why is the doctor waiting for her?

"The sooner we administer the cure, the better chance of survival even for you who inherited this at birth." The doctor continued. Misao's mind is reeling. What does he mean by cure and survival?

"I'm sorry doctor Dr. Gensai but, I don't exactly have any clue what's going on here" The doctor eyed her and was shocked to find out that she is saying the truth. The doctor straightened up from his seat and seems to be thinking of what he needs to say next, but before the doctor could speak up

"Could you please tell me the truth Dr. Gensai?"

The doctor looked at her for few minutes before sighing again. The doctor stood up and handed her the file. The she found the very first file dated a month and a half ago, a week before Kenshin's party when she fainted and woke up after Aoshi helped her.

"Mrs. Himura, you have Leukemia. And you only have 2 years or less to live"

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He's bitter in everything that is happening. His parent seems to forget that he is already grown up and keeps and giving him shallow gifts to pacify him with what happen. Damn them, after years of being a good son, trying to catch up to his brother to make his parents proud. The only thing he ever wanted in his life and his parent has a hand on making sure he will never ever get it.

Aoshi spent his days studying and studying even more. He buries himself with pile after pile of paperwork just to forget. He loathed everything that happened in the past month and a half. Most of all, he hated his brother, the last person he expected to betray him. He will make sure to beat him in his own game. If he had to be more intelligent, then he will.

While working on his paper, he forgot a book he need for reference. He trudged his way to his parent's office where he remembers leaving it. Looking in the half opened door, he saw his father and brother talking and was supposed to go back to the library when something caught his ears

"I'm sorry son, I know this hurts you and Aoshi too. But I owed Kamiya a lot of favors. This is their wish, for their youngest to felt happiness before her time comes"

"I know father, it's just that I can't help but feel like I betrayed Aoshi…"

Aoshi's full attention is now on the conversation his father and brother is having. And as he listens more, he had never been anguished in his entire life.

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Kenshin sighed as he finished talking to his father. He had been bothered by the look Kaoru gave him and the spat he had with his brother earlier this week. With all the work plus the fact that he is avoiding sharing the bed with Misao is finally taking a toll on his health. Talking to his father help in the least to lessen his burden. He exited to the right in the direction of his room when he felt a hand suddenly pulled him in the corner by his collar. It was Aoshi

"Why did you hide it?"

He though of feigning innocence but the look from his brother told him that Aoshi heard every bit from his conversation with their father. He sighed and continued to stare at his brotherly pitifully to which Aoshi became more angered. He didn't try to avoid Aoshi's fist.

He stumbled on the ground and spat blood out as Aoshi hit him square in the Jaw. He couldn't bring himself to look at his brother nor do anything to defend himself from Aoshi's attacks. He simply took every thing Aoshi did.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why? At least in a way I would understand. If you'll be the reason why her last days will be happy, I would give way. The least you could do is tell me so I can be there and watch her and take care of her before she dies!" Aoshi cried. It's the first time he let his frustrations out

Kenshin looked at his brother, tried to touch him but he turned away. Kenshin slowly stood up and face his brother, he has to tell them sooner or later anyway. With one last sigh, he let the truth be told.

"Misao didn't even know. She was born sickly but because she's been well the last few years, they thought that she overcome it. She inherited leukemia from her grandmother from her father's side. The past few years she had been well because I promised I will marry her when she grows up. I can't deny her the happiness knowing she'll die in few years time. So I sacrifices my own and yours and followed her parent's wishes."

Their heard a gasp from the left. And what they saw made Kenshin's eye soften with worry. There stood Kaoru hearing everything he just said.

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Misao barged in her parent's room with tear stricken eyes. She had been a mess since leaving Dr. Gensai's office. She felt betrayed. Everything hurt more after she found out that her parents hid everything from her. And she's even more of a fool seeing the signs but not actually realizing it.

She throw the manila enveloped full of files in front of her shock parents. The shock become more horror-stricken seeing their daughters tear stained face. Looking at the clinic logo and back to their daughters face, they knew they have some explaining to do

"What's to meaning of this? Why didn't you tell me I'm dying?" Misao asked her parents, demanding and explanation of their deception until something struck her mind. With a quivering lips, she asks…

"Does Kenshin knows about this?"

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I know I know… 1 year is a long time. No excuses. But I will make sure the next update is going to be sooner and longer. Thanks for those who will read.

Signing off
-Holy Reimaund HCK-