Complete Me
Rating: T for angst, some gore and dark situations
Summary: AU, sequel to Broken Pieces All Kaoru wants to do is forget the past and move on with her life. But when Kenshin becomes involved in an investigation that will unearth their forgotten history, they find themselves unwillingly drawn into a bloody power struggle.
Author's Notes: Oh yeah, I've decided to focus solely on this story and finish it before continuing with all the other ideas in my head. That being said, I still like to write little snippets from other stories. So if you want to read them, I will be posting them on my livejournal (see link on my profile or remove spaces from l-i-n-a-y . livejournal . com) What? I updated this? No way. I hope you like it. I reread the whole story and I must say that I am not particularly happy with chapter 2 but I will forge onward rather that go back and edit. Read on.
Chapter 5: New Descent
Peace begets prosperity;
Prosperity begets pride;
Pride begets prejudice;
Prejudice begets war;
War begets poverty;
Poverty begets peace.
- Anonymous
Its scent was unmistakable. Distinct and yet subtle, he could smell it everywhere he went in the city. It wafted in with the quiet whispers that passed under closed doors. It rose like a faint perfume whenever he observed the shifting eyes of a local shop keep or the rushed steps of a woman herding her children across the street.
Kenshin waited at a busy intersection and inhaled the odor of fear.
The light turned green and he started to walk across, his keen eyes taking note of the understated bustle of the crowd as they tried to go about their business without making eye contact with anyone else. It was apparent to him that the people of Tokyo had not yet forgotten the raids or the lingering effects of an almost-civil war. The grey city was just crawling out of poverty, its crumbling concrete buildings slowly being replaced by more solid houses and businesses. He had heard that before the Choshu takeover, Tokyo had been the stronghold of organized crime. Purging Tokyo of crime bosses and gang violence had been a long process that had involved heavy policing. But, Kenshin reflected, it had been done. The police captain, Saitoh, had fully explained how his force had stormed every dark corner to flush out the criminals with his own brand of swift justice. And yet, the apprehensive fragrance of dread and suspicion was heavy in the smoggy air, evident in furtive glances and ineffectively concealed weapons.
His eye caught a sudden flash color and his gaze was immediately drawn to the vivid blue sash that held a child's hair up in a ponytail. He couldn't help but think back to his last interaction with Kaoru in the dojo. After that tear-filled, emotionally charged sparring match, she'd walked out on him. When he'd finally collected his wits, he'd rushed out into the courtyard, only to be met with the spiky-haired boys glare. Yahiko hadn't said a word, even when Kenshin had demanded to know where Kaoru had disappeared to, but the anger in his chocolate eyes had spoken loud enough. He'd glared and then spun on his heel, stomping off. The tall man, Aoshi, had been nowhere in sight.
And so, Kenshin had done the only thing he could think of. He'd returned to the police station to work - which he now regretted. The stern captain had called him out almost as soon as he'd arrived. In a cantankerous tone, Saitoh had announced that their unit was being transferred to Tokyo. He'd been gruffly handed a sheaf of papers and told to leave immediately to scout out the area. Stunned, Kenshin had asked why – only to be told that they were now in charge of the new witness security program. After a long shocked silence, Saitoh had grudgingly shared that the government had requested that several key witnesses and sources on the Ten Swords militant group were to be protected in case of a trial.
Kenshin wondered why they had chosen to hide their first protégé in this particular city. It wasn't by any account a welcoming community and it couldn't be considered safe by the most liberal of standards. He absently rubbed the end of the lacquer scabbard of the short sword that lay concealed against his back under his leather jacket. He only had a day left to scout out the area around the housing that had been arranged for the woman who would be arriving by private jet before dawn. With a barely perceptible sigh, he turned another corner to investigate the ins and outs of a nearby alley.
He still couldn't shake the feeling of regret regarding the way that he and Kaoru had parted ways. Even though she had not returned his phone messages, he wasn't completely willing to give up on their budding relationship, tumultuous as it was. It had only taken him three hours to get to Tokyo on the bullet train; perhaps he could commute back and forth to see her every once and a while. Again, he recalled her tear-streaked expression and felt a pang in his chest. He wondered what she was doing and if she was alright.
She was leaving. It would be better that way. She glanced at the small hand that lay near hers on the arm rest. To be precise, were leaving. She had demanded that Yahiko be allowed to accompany her – not only because she didn't want to go alone, but because she couldn't help worrying for him. He'd protested like the cocky kid he was, but eventually agreed – partly because of some persuasion from Megumi and Aoshi, who had not even been allowed to see her off.
Kaoru closed her eyes and settled back against the headrest. She'd heard from Katsura. It had almost been unreal – she'd picked up the phone and heard his elegant voice again, asking her about her health and her job as if he were an old family acquaintance. But before she'd recovered from her initial shock, Katsura had cut off her questions with a simple command: Leave Kyoto. She'd been astounded and then angry, demanding how he could expect her to pick up and leave now that she'd finally found peace. He had laughed in response and it had been the sound of a man being pushed too far. Then he'd described the way that Takasugi had died. Kaoru found herself crying as she listened to his carefully controlled anguish. And when Katsura offered to take Kenshin off that particular murder case in return for her cooperation, she found that she couldn't refuse. So, she had packed her meager belongings, taking care to stow his worn swords in her baggage.
Sighing and turning to look out the airplane window, she wondered if Kenshin had already noticed her absence. She wondered if he missed her. Rubbing her temples, Kaoru shook the thoughts from her mind. It didn't matter.
As they descended from the sky in the half-light right before dawn, Kaoru pressed her forehead to the cool glass of the window and stared. Grey mists rose above the grey coastline of a grey city. She sighed and turned away. She'd been sleeping fitfully when the change in cabin pressure had alerted her to their impending landing. A few minutes later, she could make out the landscape in miniature – a diorama dotted with toy houses and tiny cars. She felt Yahiko stir in the seat beside her. He rubbed his eyes groggily and sat up in his seat.
"Are we there yet?"
Kaoru leaned back in her seat to give him room to see out the small oval window. The city seemed much larger already. Yahiko was nearly climbing over her, his fingers pressed to the pane. She heard him expel an awed breath and caught herself smiling.
"First time in a plane, huh, kid?"
"Shut up, you hag." He didn't even look at her as he snorted, his eyes glued to the city below.
A cold, unfeeling voice came from behind them both. "Sit down, kid."
Kaoru was only slightly surprised when Yahiko complied without comment. He obediently sat back into his seat and buckled his seat belt. The two paused to exchange raised eyebrows. The man sitting directly behind them was positively scary and neither of the two wanted to provoke a fight, let alone conversation. The man was unreasonably tall but unlike Aoshi who was practically unreadable, he exuded hostility.
"Now there's one policeman I would never run to for help," Yahiko muttered under his breath.
"Shut up," Kaoru hissed, pinching his arm.
Behind them, their escort glowered and puffed on a cigarette, completely disregarding airline policy. Kaoru seriously doubted that any flight attendant or pilot would have the gall to challenge him anyway.
Then the small plane lurched and Kaoru held her breath as the wheels hit the tarmac.
Kenshin walked out of the airport terminal and onto the landing strip where the small, unmarked private jet had just slowed to a stop. He was dressed in civilian clothes, opting for a black, fitted hip-length leather jacket over black dress pants. The outfit seemed to match the somber atmosphere of the bleak city. He strode out confidently, conscious of the hidden weapon strapped tightly to his lower back. It was only a dagger, but his long sword was safely stowed on the driver's side of his two-door sports car.
He could already see the baggage crew begin hauling a few ratty suitcases from the cargo hold. As he approached the small jet, the door was pushed open to reveal a short flight of stairs. First, a tall figure ducked out of the small hatch. It was Saitoh. He didn't bother to wave or call out, but simply sauntered down the steps with a half-smoked cigarette hanging brazenly from the corner of his lips.
Then, two smaller figures emerged. They tottered down the steps. The woman was obviously directing a choice comment to the captain of police, who was calmly ignoring her in favor of locking eyes with his subordinate. The child at the woman's side was desperately tugging on her shirt, trying to get her attention.
"Himura," Saitoh finally grunted as he neared, "This is Kaoru, your protégé for the time being. I hope everything is in order."
At the woman turned to see him walk up, her face a picture of frozen shock, he carefully schooled his own expression to express nothing. They stared at each other for a full moment before Saitoh cleared his throat loudly.
"Now why do I think introductions will be unnecessary?" He smirked at their apparent discomfort. "I'll be back in a week." Without another word, Saitoh turned and climbed the stairs nonchalantly. "Play nice, kids."
Kaoru's head swam and felt that the only thing that kept her from floating away into the sky was the feel of Yahiko's fingers tightly laced around hers. It was a rare occurrence and she was distantly aware that she must be gripping his hand with painful intensity. She closed her eyes and took several deep cleansing breaths.
When she opened her eyes, Kenshin was still staring at her, his eyes guarded.
"Hello," she ventured.
"Hello."
There was another long, awkward pause. Kaoru coughed into her fist as Yahiko shifted uneasily beside her. She felt very, very light.
"So, you are enrolled in the Witness Security Program."
She looked down and nodded.
"Well," he said, as if they had never met before, "Come this way."
He turned and began to walk away. Kaoru turned to grab her luggage.
"Leave it," Kenshin said without turning.
"No," Kaoru answered, setting her chin defiantly, "I need it."
His shoulder blades moved as he shrugged without slackening his pace, and Kaoru did not miss the way that the leather moved over the dagger fastened to his back. Her head began to pound as her fingers fumbled to find her suitcase's handle.
"Hey," she heard Yahiko shout suddenly on her behalf, "Wait up!"
She stilled and snuck a glance Kenshin's way. He had paused in his clipped gait to cast a glance at them. In the span of a heartbeat, Kaoru hastily looked away and, tugging on her baggage, began to shuffle after him with her eyes trained on the heels of his shoes.
In that moment, his eyes had not been the dark, almost purple color she'd grown accustomed to in the past few weeks. His irises had been such a light brown that his intense gaze was golden.
Somehow, Kenshin had returned to his senses during their silent drive into the city. After parking the car, he'd brushed off Kaoru's attempts to carry her own suitcase. He walked beside the woman and child as they headed toward their new home, carrying her suitcase easily with one hand. But as they rounded the corner of a small house and trudged down the concrete steps to the door to her basement suite, Kaoru made every attempt to avoid eye contact.
"So," he said, his voice regaining some of its usual pleasantness as he opened the door and ushered them in, "This is it. It may seem a bit dark, but I'm sure it will be comfortable."
He watched Kaoru take a quick look around the space. There were only a few windows, which were small and high up, but it was clean and well-furnished with a couple of cushy couches in front of a small television in the living room. There was a tiny kitchen in the corner and a small round table and chairs off to one side. Kaoru walked toward a short hall, her steps halting.
"There are two very small bedrooms," Kenshin filled in as she pushed open the door to each, "And one bathroom." He watched as she wandered back out into the main room. "I'm sorry it's not as big as your last place."
"Who lives upstairs?" She asked, stopping in front of a low shelf and running a finger over its dusty surface.
"I do."
He could see that she had avoided spinning around to stare at him by the way she jerked suddenly, pressing her knuckles into the wood of the shelf.
"I'm sorry if that makes you uncomfortable, but those are the directives of the Witness Security Program. I will be your Marshall, responsible for your safety until I am told otherwise."
"And Yahiko?" Her voice was merely a whisper.
"He is not enrolled in the program, but I am sure he will be fine."
They weren't aware of how hushed their tones had become until Yahiko barreled back into the living room.
"I want the room at the end!" He said, trying unsuccessfully to cover his excitement at having his own room.
Kaoru turned around and gave him a strained smile. "Sure, kid."
She barely heard what he said as he dragged his small duffel bag into his new room.
"So," Kenshin asked quietly, "Are you his sister? Or his mother?"
Kaoru snorted in a very unladylike fashion. "His mother? Oh please."
"Sister?"
"No way."
"Then why is he with you?"
Kaoru sighed and stared at the carpet. "He's just really special to me. That's all."
"Do you think it was wise to drag him away from his family and into a dangerous situation?"
She looked up toward one of the small windows. "He doesn't have a family." She pulled on the loose strings at her sleeve. "He's an orphan and I didn't want to leave him alone."
"I see."
Kaoru held her breath as Kenshin stepped toward her. But instead of pausing, he walked right past her.
"Please unpack," he told her in a business-like tone, "And then come upstairs." He motioned toward a set of stairs she hadn't noticed before. "These steps lead to the main floor." He opened the door and stepped over the threshold. "There are a few things we need to discuss," he said, "And I will expect you within the hour."
The door closed before she could respond.
He paced the kitchen, waiting for her. Several sheets of police paperwork were spread across the kitchen island. He had moved into the main floor of the house days ago and had already stocked up on groceries and other supplies.
He stopped and faced the door to the basement as he heard the stairs creak. The door opened slightly as Kaoru gingerly stepped into his kitchen. Still managing to avoid looking him in the face, she turned to shut the door.
"Would you like some tea?"
"Yes, please." It was all falsely cordial.
She perched on one of the bar stools and gratefully accepted a steaming mug of hot tea, cradling it with both hands and staring at her reflection in the green liquid.
"So," Kenshin began, pushing a piece of paper across the table top, "This is your new name. Since it would best if you kept the same first name and initials, we've chosen to rename you Kaoru Kitagawa for the moment. Yahiko will take the same family name."
Kaoru nodded, her eyes scanning the document.
"And here is a list of potential job opportunities," he continued, "But you will receive a monthly stipend for awhile. We tried to find some work that would be similar to what you're used to."
Again, she nodded. Then she sipped from her mug. "Thank you."
"It's my job."
She set her cup down. "Is that all?" She asked, not daring to look up.
"No."
She lifted the cup again and pretended to take a long drink from the near-boiling tea. She watched from the corner of her eye as he deliberately put down his own mug and stepped around the kitchen island.
"Kaoru."
She lifted the tea cup higher, swallowing and letting the liquid burn her tongue. Then, she felt his fingers on hers as he gently pulled her cup away and set it down on the table.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I only found out a couple days ago." She stared at the collar of his shirt. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry," his voice came harshly, his breath on her forehead, "Just explain the situation to me clearly."
"Is that also part of your job?"
She gasped as he caught her face with both hands, pulling so that she was forced to meet his eyes.
"Don't pretend this isn't personal, Kaoru."
"Look, Kenshin," she said, fighting the urge to look away, "You're not here for me. You're here because you're assigned to protect me. Maybe it would be better if we just left it at that. It's already complicated enough as it is."
His expression darkened and he leaned in closer, the tip of his nose even with hers. "How can you say it like that?"
"Because that's the way it is, isn't it? I trust that you are capable of protecting me – shouldn't we be professional about this?"
He studied her face for a long moment, searching her pleading blue eyes. "I don't believe you."
His fingers shifted against her face, one hand sinking into her hair and cradling the nape of her neck. For a brief moment, Kaoru thought he would kiss her. But then he pulled away, gently dragging one thick lock of her hair through his fingers as he did.
"If that's the way you want it to be, Kaoru," he said, lips tight.
She slid from her stool. "It's better, Kenshin, for everyone." Biting her lip, she turned and headed downstairs, conscious of his eyes on her back as she left him standing in the kitchen.
Kaoru walked through the shadowed streets, a pen thoughtfully tapping against the corner of her mouth. She'd been scouring the city in search of a job, scratching off the names of businesses from the list that Kenshin had given her a few days ago. The first place she had visited had been the city library. But the head librarian had been a tad too touchy feeling for her liking, his smooth fingers lingering on hers a bit too long after a loose handshake and his eyes roving a little too low while he spoke. So, giving up on the idea of returning to a world of books, Kaoru had gone for interviews at second-hand book shops, restaurants and retail stores. Although several places had expressed interest in hiring her, none of them had felt just right.
Perhaps, she thought to herself as she glanced around, it was the constant darkness that covered the city – whether it be day or night. The people seemed harried and worried; almost no one seemed to walk with their head up. The city smelled dank and the shadows of ruined buildings cast strange patterns on the few open spaces there were. She wondered why Tokyo was so different that Kyoto. What could have possibly happened here?
It probably wasn't helping that Kaoru could feel Kenshin trailing her. She hadn't yet caught a glimpse of his rust-colored hair but she didn't have the confidence to really look either. But she knew he was there. She could practically feel his eyes watching her every move, analyzing her next steps.
She paused suddenly and looked up. Above her was a bright neon sign, boldly announcing the name of the small corner shop. The flashy sign was a stark contrast to the dim interior protected by thick iron bars on all the windows. Shrugging, Kaoru checked the name against the one on her list and then bravely pulled open the glass door.
The tinkling of bells accompanied her entry and a wizened old lady, who seemed unreasonably small behind the check out counter, greeting Kaoru with a narrow smile. The small convenience store seemed overly crowded with wire shelving packed with junk food, bulky refrigerators filled with drinks and alcohol and a grey linoleum floor that must have been white once. Her wyes wandered back to the old woman, who was waiting with an expectant smile.
"Um," Kaoru said, stepping closer, "I'm here about the job ad?"
"Oh yes, I'm Kyoko Takemura – the store manager," the woman's face collapsed into wrinkles as she grinned toothlessly, "Thank you for coming. Would you like a tour?"
"Well," Kaoru said, shifting her shoulder bag, "Don't you want to interview me first?"
"Perhaps we could let you work for a week as a trial, instead," the woman said, coming around the counter, "I get so few decent-looking applicants as it is."
Kaoru shrugged and followed Kyoko as she wove around the narrow aisles, listening as she enumerated all the different products. She fought the urge to sigh as Kyoko laughed about the popularity of an anime themed candy bar. From university librarian to convenience store clerk, Kaoru thought to herself. She supposed it could be much, much worse. At least the manager wasn't a lecherous old man, she thought, as she settled in for an afternoon of stocking shelves and working the cash register.
Yahiko raced up the steps to the main floor and flung the door open. His padded feet pounded across the kitchen linoleum only to slide to a sudden halt. His eyes were fixed on the sword point at his sternum.
"Yahiko, what are you doing?" It was Kenshin's voice, rough from sleep.
The sword point was immediately withdrawn and in the darkness, Yahiko heard the blade slide into its scabbard.
"Kenshin," he panted, "She won't stop."
"What?"
The boy was breathing heavily and Kenshin could see the whites of his eyes. "Something is wrong," he fussed, his fists clenching and unclenching, "With Kaoru. Something is wrong with Kaoru."
Before he could utter another word, Kenshin flew past the boy and down the steps into the basement suite. Without hesitating, he rushed into Kaoru's room. Dressed only in flannel pajama pants, Kenshin dropped his sword and crouched by her bedside. The girl was thrashing wildly in her sleep, her mouth opening and closing in silent screams.
"How long?" He asked of the boy who had just skidded to a stop beside him.
"I don't know," Yahiko said hurriedly, "I ran up as soon as I saw her."
"Has it happened before?"
"I don't know."
Kenshin grabbed one of her flailing limbs and she arched up from the bed, her other arm flashing toward him. He caught her stone hard fist and rose above the bed to push both her arms into the twin mattress. Kaoru continued to buck under him, her legs blindly kicking air.
"Get me a glass of water," he ordered, his eyes trained on her contorted face.
He waited until the boy rushed out. Then, he grit his teeth and let go of one of her arms to deliver a sharp slap to her cheek. It only served to make her thrashing more wild.
"Kaoru," he said through clenched teeth, "Kaoru wake up!"
Kenshin grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her hard, lifting her torso from the bed just as Yahiko returned with the water.
"What are you doing?" The boy nearly shrieked, dropping the glass and attacking the older man's shoulders with his fists.
"Back off!" Kenshin shoved Yahiko back harshly with one hand. Then he gathered the girl into his chest, his arms binding her close to him. "Kaoru," he crooned in her ear, "Kaoru." He pressed her head into the crook of his neck.
Slowly, Kaoru began to relax against his body, her rigid muscles releasing their tension. When she lay completely limp in his arms, he gently lowered her onto the mattress.
"Is she sick?" He didn't look away from her face as asked the boy who was picking himself up from the floor.
"Not that I know," Yahiko replied gruffly, bending to pick up the glass he had dropped.
Kenshin stood and turned, easily lifting Kaoru's form to his chest. He paused only to reach for his sword. Yahiko stepped into the centre of the doorway, blocking his path.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Taking her upstairs where I can keep an eye on her."
"No."
"Please get out of the way."
Yahiko paused before stepping sideways. He glared up at Kenshin. "If you hurt her, I will kill you."
"Understood."
Kenshin carried Kaoru through the home, stopping at his own bedside to gently put her down. He tucked the blankets up around her chin and settled in beside her, carefully easing his body onto the mattress. He lay on his side, above the covers, his tawny eyes watching her now placid face. Gently, he stroked her cheekbone with a knuckle, and without thinking, he planted a chaste kiss on her forehead. Then he leaned back and tried to sleep.
Kaoru drifted into the waking world slowly. With a slight smile, she inhaled deeply. The musky scent of cedar filled her senses and she snuggled closer to the source. Somehow, she had kicked off all the blankets in her sleep and now she felt the chill of morning. She suppressed a shiver. Since there seemed to be a warm presence on the bed beside her, Kenshin must not yet have gotten up to cook breakfast. A rare gift, she thought as she hooked one of her legs around his and threw an arm across his bare chest. She pulled herself closer to him and buried her face into his shoulder, sighing. How she loved his smell. Her fingers trailed along the taut muscles of his arm, up his collar bone and through his thick hair.
"Kenshin," she breathed as she levered herself up onto him. She gently began to tenderly kiss the line of his jaw until she reached his temple.
"Kaoru?"
She sighed into his hair and sleepily pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth. "Yes, Kenshin?"
"What…"
The voice trailed off as her fingers smoothed their way across the relief of his toned chest and abdomen. Distantly, Kaoru thought there was a strange tone to his voice this morning. She pushed herself up with her hips straddling his and her hands pressed to his shoulders, and blinked her drowsy eyes open.
Her eyes lovingly focused on his tan skin, his warm honey eyes and the red shock of hair spilling over the pillow. She smiled at him.
And then blinked.
Slowly, her eyes were drawn to the dated pillowcase pattern and then up to the flaking paint on the wall. Where was the mahogany headboard that she'd grown used to? Where were the down pillows in pristine white linen?
It dawned on her suddenly just as she heard his shaky voice speak her name again. Horrified, she scooted back across the double mattress as fast as she could. Kenshin, the new Kenshin, slowly propped himself up on his elbows. She inched back as far as she could without falling off the edge of the bed.
"I'm sorry," she stuttered, tugging her over-sized t-shirt as far down as she could, "I don't know-"
She was cut off by his voice, low and intense. "You," he said, his eyes piercing, "You called me by name."
She met his furrowed stare and giggled insanely. "Of course, I know your name."
"No." He was on his knees on the mattress, crawling toward her slowly. "You were kissing me, and you were calling me by my name."
"So?" She shifted backward, her eyes darting toward the door.
"Kaoru," he asked in a voice so low it rumbled in his chest, reaching out a hand, "Did you know me before I lost my memories? You must have been-"
Kaoru's heart leapt into her throat and she backed up even further. With a yelp, she tumbled backward toward the floor – only to find herself caught in the circle of Kenshin's naked arms, his eyes hard on hers.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Blood rushed to her head and she wiggled furiously out of his grasp, tumbling to the floor in a heap of blankets. Mumbling apologies incoherently, she jumped up and rushed for the door to the basement. She had just managed to pull the door open a crack when it was forcefully slammed shut in front of her.
"Please," she whispered, her knuckles white on the knob as she pulled on it fruitlessly.
Kenshin hovered behind her, his palm flat against the wood near her head from when he had slammed the door closed before her.
"Kenshin, I…" She fumbled for words, still struggling to escape to the basement.
The pressure on the door lapsed for a moment and Kaoru was able to pull it open slightly just before she was spun around and pinned back by her shoulders. Kenshin, his fingers tightly gripping her upper arms, was bent over her with every facial muscle straining under his skin.
"You knew me then, didn't you?" His voice rose in pitch and he shook her sharply. "How did we know each other? Were we …" He paused, searching her face, "Were we lovers?"
Kaoru swallowed, her gaze dropping to his chin. She pressed her lips together tightly and refused to look up, even when he cupped the underside of her chin and lifted her face to his.
"I need to know," he said roughly, "Tell me, Kaoru." His thumb moved over her hard-set lips. "Now."
Kaoru tried to wrest her chin from his grip and pushed against his chest with her open palms.
"No." His voice was so quiet it was nearly inaudible, but the tone was resolute and unwavering. "Tell me – did you know me?"
"Yes," she bit out finally, shaking her head in his grasp, "I knew you."
"And? How did we know each other?" His voice grew hoarse with emotion.
"You wouldn't understand," she whispered roughly, pushing harder against his chest even though she knew he wouldn't budge if he didn't want to.
"Just tell me." His fingers were winding themselves through her hair and around her neck. "Tell me, Kaoru or so help me-"
Her brilliant blue eyes shot up then, and caught him off-guard. Open and pleading and fearful and begging, he saw her soul exposed. When she spoke, the sound of her torn and jagged voice rang in his ears.
"I loved you"
When she spoke, the words rang clear and true through his body, vibrating through his veins so that his heart shrank and expanded in his chest. Her voice betrayed how brittle and fragile she was, and he felt that she would go to pieces on the floor. So he gathered her into himself. He pulled her bare legs over his hips and pressed his body flush to hers so that she was pinned to the door behind her. And then, winding his hands through her hair, he kissed her.