Oh my, so many reviewers sharing the same resentment for the Kaoru/Sanosuke pairing as I do ^^'' Then again, I did mention in the last chapter that Kaoru just having a man was an essential key component for the plot to move along... and it also allows for this unworthy writer to come up with her own line of twists and turns for future chapters hehe. I'm sorry if it's offended anyone, but it was a must-do that simply could not be avoided no matter the direction I went.

Thank you my dears for your reviews, however :) I appreciated every one of them. And there's no need to fret, this will end as a Kenshin/Kaoru story, because like everyone else, I can't see any man who could fit her better than our funny little redhead. Now, let us go on to the next chapter, eh?

Warning: Rating may change in later chapters.

Someday Soon

by This Writer's Essence

Chapter 2

Kaoru awoke to the blinding rays of sunlight filtering into the bedroom the following morning.

A bird or two perched on the branch of the old oak tree that stood outside of the apartment complex. Their unblinking black eyes stared at her before a car flew by, causing the pair to flutter away in haste. However, she noticed the way their beady eyes looked at her; it was as if they were wondering what the meaning was of the tears subconsciously rolling down her cheeks.

'Stop it,' she told herself firmly, wiping the stinging tears from her clammy skin as she struggled to keep a strong outer exterior. She patted her cheeks a few times to wake up her senses. 'Kenshin's gone, but I know he'll be back soon. You're use to his job driving him away from home so much, how is this any different?'

As much as Kaoru wanted to believe her own sweet lies, somewhere deep down, she realized there was a much bigger meaning to this than anything she could possibly imagine.

"He left?!"

Her close friend Makimachi Misao gaped, the Styrofoam cup dropping out of her grip and onto the tiled floor. The contents within spilled out, leaving a large brown puddle to accumulate on the ground.

Kaoru confirmed it with a silent nod.

She had decided on breaking the news to her friends at the nearby coffee shop they always came to discuss and enjoy each other's company. The occasion, however, was all but a delightful time as she explained Kenshin's disappearance to them, leaving out the kiss he had given her before departing.

The tallest of their group, Sanosuke, crossed his arms and leaned back on the rear legs of the chair. He said, "Something about this doesn't feel right. Are you sure he didn't say anything about where he was heading off to, or at least gave you a hint or two to go off on?"

"I already told you what he said," she murmured. "He left without saying a word about his whereabouts or what he had to do..."

"Then I guess we got no lead on him," Myojin Yahiko muttered, propping his feet onto the glass table and mimicking Sanosuke's arm crossing. "So much for that."

Misao glared at the child and smacked him upside the head with a balled fist. "You should be more considerate of Kaoru's feelings!" She exclaimed upon receiving an annoyed look from him. "She was closer to Himura than us, so she's probably having a harder time dealing with this than either one of us."

"Really?" Yahiko snorted, throwing a glance toward Kaoru. "Then why not ask her how she feels before deciding for her?"

All eyes turned in Kaoru's direction, and she raised her gaze from the floor to meet each of their curious stares one by one.

'The path I chose to walk with Kenshin is a path that's long and rough, but it's still the path I've chosen for myself in the end. If something like his job gets in the way of our lives, it doesn't bother me in the slightest. But...'

"Knowing he left the way he did..." She mumbled aloud. "It... makes me worried that he might never come back..."

"Jou-chan?"

"Huh?"

Kaoru stopped in the midst of her reverie, focusing her eyes back on Sanosuke who was looking at her over his shoulder. He was standing shirtless in the doorway of the bathroom, his pants still on but his hands working at slipping the belt from the loops. She sighed, running a hand through her unruly raven-black bangs.

"Oi, is everything alright?"

He sat down beside her on the unmade bed, tempted to put an arm around her shoulders and to hold her close in any way that would make her cheer up, but settling for being at her side in case she needed him. She stared down at her bare feet, unable to meet her fiancée's eyes.

"I don't know," she answered truthfully.

Sanosuke brought his arm around and secured it about her waist. Then, he smiled considerately at the idea that came to mind and asked, "How about we head to the coffee shop for a bit? Maybe getting out of this stuffy apartment might make you feel better."

It was a long wait in line just for a cup of coffee.

Kaoru growled irritably through bared teeth, attempting to open a little packet of creamer to give the jet black pool flavor. She was beginning to regret her decision to not have Sanosuke come along.

I can never open these damn things.

As usual, it had been a tough task to persuade the man to let her go alone. They could have sat on the bed and argued until they were blue in the face, but instead, Kaoru tried to come up with a valid motive for wanting to be by herself.

"I just need a little time to myself to think things over," she reasoned.

As honest as the thought had been, Kaoru only said it to end the interrogation so she could leave. And thankfully, Sanosuke gave in, digging into his pants pocket and drawing out the keys to the car and the apartment. Before he fully complied, though, he enclosed the desired silver keys in the palm of his hand.

"Just make sure you be careful, Jou-chan. The last thing I'd want to see is for you to get hurt."

"I will." She smiled, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek as a way to assure him that she'd be fine.

Well, Kaoru would be all fine and dandy if the stupid packet would open. She let out a groan as her efforts failed yet again. "Who the hell are they trying to keep out of these things?" She mused.

A tap on the shoulder caused her head to twist around. She was about to snap at the perpetrator who dared to interrupt her concentration, but her colorful choice of words became lost in the back of her mind as her eyes fully focused on the person standing before her. Only one word escaped her mouth, but the word she spoke stood as a name for someone she had not addressed in a very long time.

"K...Kenshin...?"

I apologize for the long wait! School recently started back up for me (and I have to prepare myself to go again tomorrow T-T), but that hasn't stopped me from updating! An early appearance perhaps, hm? Yes, I thought so too, but his early appearance plays a major role.

By all means, let me know what you think thus far!

TTFN! Thanks for stopping by!