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.

Standard disclaimer… Uh,,, no special note (._.") tee-hee-hee…. Now on with the story

Chapter 6 : Truth

Enraged, Aoshi growled down looking at his brother with pure contempt, ignoring Kaoru's gasp. His eyes blazing fire in anger as he stared at his brother. And before Kenshin knew it, Aoshi's fist connected with his left cheek. Stumbling backwards, Kenshin barely have a second to prevent a second blow from his brother. Right at that very moment, Aoshi is too angry and disgusted with Kenshin to even remember that they are blood related. What he heard just few minutes ago had prompt him to become violent like this. This is how Hiko found them.

Hiko watched shocked as he saw Aoshi attacked Kenshin with a series of punches. While Kenshin tried to defend himself, never did he try to blow an attack against Aoshi. Momentarily rooted to where he is, Hiko only woke up from his shock when the struggles in front of him manage to knock huge porcelain Jar. He bellowed for the two stop right away before many more damages occur. To his surprise, Aoshi did stop...

…But only to glare at him…

His younger son stared at him with so much hatred that he was taken aback. He literally took a step backward before he regained his composure. He met his son's glare head on, challenging him to say what's on his mind knowing full well that he wouldn't dare. Yet once again to his surprise Aoshi did step forward to glare at him some more. He saw his son's jaw tightened as he grit his teeth in anger. Then he spoke with his voice low and full of venom

"Why?"

He smirked. His son has the audacity to look at him like that. But he can't even finish a decent sentence, or in this case a question. He met his son's glare head on, meeting it with his own mocking grin. This only fueled his son's anger

"Why What? I don't know what you're trying to ask Aoshi. Honestly, you've become quite unlike yourself lately?"

It's is obvious that he's ticked off, Aoshi never dared land an attack on his father. Even if he tried to, it will be futile. The man is as strong as his enigmatic presence even through his age. Neither he nor Kenshin, at the prime of their youth, can't overcome the aging but strong man that is their father.

"Why did you do this? She's dying. You didn't tell me anything even though you knew my plan of wooing her. You even something as low as marrying her to Kenshin. He doesn't even love her! You're deceiving her in her last few days! Aren't you even feeling guilt?" Aoshi bellowed, his voice booming in the hallway where they in. Melting down a little, Hiko looked at his son with compassion for a fracture of a second before his gaze returned back to it's commanding one.

"Why? If you knew, do you have the power to make her last days happy? You, too, know how much she adores Kenshin. Do you really think she would choose you? Like what you're brother said, only he can ensure her last days of happiness. What can you do for her anyway? If you really care about you wouldn't act this way!"

Aoshi anger seems to cool down a bit with what his father had said. Truth to be known, he knows it. Misao would never choose him over his brother. Ever since they were little, her affection always belonged to his father while his to her. It's just so hard to accept that his father is capable of a deception like this. It's very hard to accept that his father will brought forth his own misery.

Kaoru stood there, unnoticed by the three man. As she witness what is happening, she only realize one thing. Her sister is dying. She realized all those time when her parents is so worried they already look terrified. The times Misao had fainted, looked pale and even nose bled. The very reason why her parents practically ignored her and focus they're attention on her little sister. All because she is terminally ill.

For once in her life, Kaoru felt hatred for her parents. They let her go through all the bitterness in this world because her sister is dying. Not that she blame Misao for this, it hurts to know that her parents didn't think she would understand. She would definitely understand why they will give Misao more attention but she would at least expect them to tell her and make her understand. Because of what's happened, they practically devote themselves to Misao and had totally forgot she's also their daughter.

Nevertheless, he heart softened in pain and worry. For even though Misao became the source of all her bitterness, Misao had always been a loving, affectionate and caring sister to her. That alone had kept her sanity, combined with Kenshin's love for her. With these two she felt loved, an affection she had been craving for all her life. The thought of her dying makes her feel that the last stray of hope going gone. After she lost Kenshin's love, Misao's cheerfulness kept her sane. But with the knowledge of her dying, she felt herself falling apart.

Kenshin saw her expression and knew instantly that world is crumbling apart. He knew that her heart, the little pieces that had been broken already is being broken even more. He immediately scooted himself up and selfish run to her, the first time since his wedding. He tried to hold her, hug her to him but as soon as Kaoru look up at him she swatted his arms and step back. Tears started to stream down along her pale cheeks. She broke down on the spot where she's standing just few seconds ago.

Misao locked herself in her room, her and Kenshin's room. She ignored her parent's cry for her as they bang on the heavy mahogany door that will usher them inside the room. She barred the door lock ensuring her that they will stay out of reach from her. Inside, she saw everything that reminds her of her marriage to Kenshin. Some few gifts, their engagement pictures, her things, his things and their wedding picture. That ultimately made her broke down. Knowing full well Kenshin's intention of marrying her is not because he loves her but because he was obligated by their parents to marry her and take care of her while she dies from leukemia.

Dropping down on the floor, she started crying. Countless drops of tears fall from her eye and into the lush carpet below her. She felt stupid having fallen prey in all of this. To think her parents are the mastermind of all this. This is all nothing but a show, a lie that is supposed to make her laugh for fake happiness until she dies. She never knew Kenshin would agree to something like this. And most of all, she can't believe Kenshin never truly love her. Her devotions to him since she's a child, all unrequited it seems.

Pain is starting to push the air out of her lungs. She can't breath, all she can think is about their deception. She felt her heart breaking more and more as seconds go by. Hearing her parents cry for her to let them in only fueled her misery more. So all this time Kenshin never really loved her. That thought is the last straw

She started to scream, her vision become blurry with tears. She's not used to this, she never felt heartbroken before. All her life she is nurtured with all of her parent's attention. She also held Kenshin's promise to her, making her all the more happy in her life. She felt all fulfilled, not knowing that everything was actually a lie. Some could say her parents did that because they love her but she won't listen to that reasoning as of the moment. The realization of Kenshin's love being fake is to overwhelming that she really felt dying. She screamed even more.

Hearing her screams, her parent become even more violent. She can hear her mom crying as well while her father is already trying to crashed the door. Standing up, she started flailing her arms and screaming at the top of her lungs to relieve her misery. She destroyed everything inside the room. She went to their side table and throw their wedding pictures out in the window, breaking the window's glass in the process. She went to the vanity table and pushed everything away. She got a hold of the lamp and flung in on the mirror. Her adrenaline is getting high and in her despair she tried to destroy everything she got a hold of. She wants everything to be as broken as she is.

Her parents just outside the door is now panicking. They need to get inside and stop Misao. Not because they worry about the cost of the damages she make inside the room but because if she happens to hurt herself and bleeds it could definitely be lethal. They need to get inside before Misao kills herself. And by the sound of what's coming out from the room, she's definitely trying to get herself killed. Misao's mom hurriedly run for help.

Kaoru's mind is still trying to process everything as she lay sitting on the ground. She could feel Kenshin's worried eyes on her but she never did anything to respond to it, nor did Kenshin try to say something to her. Her mind is still whirling when she heard her mom wailing for help. Her mom run to them and like her dropped down on the ground crying like crazy. Kaoru is wide-eyed. She never saw her mom broke down like this.

As three shocked eyes turned towards the wailing woman, Hiko quickly regained his composure and tried to make the woman stand up, steadying her on her feet. Kaoru's mother, for full 3 minutes, did nothing but cry. She tried to give them the details but her hiccups is always on the way from making them hear her properly. Until she finally swallowed and spoke clearly

"Misao, she found out. Now she's inside Kenshin and Her's room. She locked herself in and screams. We heard crashing noises. If she bleeds… Hiko-sama, help us please… oh god please!"

Not wasting any time, Aoshi moved as quickly as he can, running in the same direction where the woman had come from. He was followed closely by Hiko and her mom. Kenshin looked at her, now they where left alone for the first time.

She looked into Kenshin's eyes. The violet orbs so gentle it makes her want to lose herself and selfishly run into his arms. She knows she will be welcomed. If there is any consolation at what is happening right now is the knowledge that Kenshin truly did love her. But that would be selfish of her to even think of that. At the current moment, her sister is locked in that room, suffering the same heartbreak that ate her own life in the past month. She can't be selfish, never grew up to be one. So once again, she let go

"We can't… Misao's…"

And she never finished her sentence. Running off to the same direction to where it would lead her to his sister, Kaoru pushed back her tears. For now, Misao needs them. And so for now, she will stay strong.

Kenshin watch as she run away from him yet again. Her anguish broke his heart. Her voice that seems stripped of life broke him even more. The knowledge of what he cause the sister eat him alive with guilt. Two women is current nursing a broken heart just because of a decision and promises he can and cannot fulfill. Knowing he will be needed to appease Misao, he hurriedly followed where the for people went to.

Aoshi run to the room where he knew Misao is. Upon arriving and hearing Misao's anguished cries, he too panicked right away. In a single second he is beside her father pleading for her to open the door. He tried crying on top of his lungs, crashing all of his weight to open up the door but it didn't even bulge. He's becoming desperate. Hiko after him is looking around, searching for anything that would help them open the door.

"LEAVE ME ALONE YOU TRAITORS!!"

A loud crash came just right on the where the door is. An indication that Misao threw something on the other end of the door and is probably lying broken on the other side. Her father soon followed breaking down on the floor. Aoshi, still in his coherent state of mind, tried pleading at Misao again

"Misao please let us in, it is not healthy for you to be this way." He calmly pleaded. He, as well, felt tears threatening to fall from his eyes. Everything is whirling, happened in just the last thirty minutes. And still, everything gets more and more complicated.

Truthfully, he had been in-love with Misao since he was fifteen. A feeling he kept hidden up until now. He tried to tell her of his feelings. Of course being her childhood tormentor, he never expected her to swoon right away. He planned courtship, to try to disarm and win her with his charm. He promised himself he'll do anything he can to make her realize his love for her. Sadly even before he had the chance to do so, she was quickly married of. To make matters worse, it is his brother who whisk her away from him.

He had been shocked to see a blur of red passed by him, only to realize that his brother is opening the door to the room Misao is currently wrecking havoc in with a spare key of his own. The moment the door pushed open, six people quickly came rushing in to find a hysterical Misao. The room is all wrecked. Drapes had been strewn, bed covers is disarray, lots of shards glasses.

Luckily, Misao is still unharmed. Kenshin moved forward and quickly trying to appease down his... wife. Misao, upon seeing Kenshin, clung to him as tightly as she can. She cried even more harder in his arms but she madness seemed to die down a bit. Kenshin held the delicate girl in his arms and shushed her. Trying to tell her everything's ok, even if it's not.

"Kenshin! Oh Kenshin, please… please…" Misao pleaded, blindly clinging to him. She's dying yes, and he is the only lifeline she knows

"I'm here, Misao, I'm here."

Although hearing it seemed to assure her, it only made her panicked more. He's here now but she's not sure if he will still be there in the next few minutes or so. She's very afraid, she's dying and she needed him

"Please Kenshin don't leave me… I know you don't love me, but please… Don't leave me now…"

"No I won't. I'll stay here. I'll never leave you Misao. So please calm down"

"I love you Kenshin, I love you so much"

"I Know… and I…" Kenshin look up to see Kaoru was there, listening intently on their exchange. She as well looks as vulnerable as the petite sick girl in his arms. But he knows he must do this. And he knows that she now understands. So even if he knew that it will broke both of them.

"…also love you Misao…"

He spoke the words both of them would dread to hear.

She understood.

She knew he would say it. And it causes her pain but she understands full well. Seeing how her sister clung to him. She was right after all. She doesn't have it in her to be selfish and let Misao feel the same torture she had been in. This is the final straw. She knew what she had to do. She will not let Misao suffer anymore than her sickness already gave her.

Although it would kill her, she turned around. Hearing Kenshin's words of love not directed at her only fuel the pain she is harboring in her heart. But she knows he needs to do this. As she leaves the room, only one thing is running in her mind, trying to put some justice in her broken heart

'...I knew I can never be selfish..."

There... newest chapter...

How was it?

And yeah, sorry for the long wait again... I've been busy with work. Yup, I know this is always been my excuse. But you know, it was worth it

I GOT PROMOTED!!! WAHHOOOOO!!!

...ehem...

see you next chapter

Signing Off

Holy Reimaund -HCK-