Be My Future
Disclaimer: This fanfic is based on the manga series "Please save my earth". All characters Belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki form Rurouni Kenshin series.
Chapter 1 – The Arrival
Kaoru looked around at the airport of Tokyo smiling. The trip from America was long and exhausting. Closing her eyes and breathing fresh hair, her smile became wider.
"Ah... Tadaima." She opened her eyes once more and excited came to retrieve her three enormous bags. She watched the bags being dragged by the rolling carpet and waited for them to come.
Her hair was down, and the ends were curly, just like her fringe. She wore blue jeans and a black top with a brown short jacket on top of it.
Once retrieving her things and passing trough people with difficulty she now waited. She watched as people returned to their familiars and friends with joy. The girl smiled seeing those images. Her parents stayed in America because of their work.
Four years ago they moved to America with her. That year she lost school and failed, taking it next year. She was too sad for having to leave Japan against her will so her mother promised the girl to return after she finish her school in America and be a student at Tokyo university.
It was a challenge and so she studied hard to return. If she was to fail and not be able to be in Tokyo University, she wouldn't leave America. She was now happy. It took her four years from the year taken when she left and now she was 19 and very happy to be home.
Looking at the entrance of the airport, she waited as she watched people entering and leaving until finally she recognized a familiar face. Taking her bags with her as fast as she could Kaoru came to meet with the person. Seeing that the person haven't seen her yet, she called him.
"Sanosuke!" She waved her hand widely as she tiptoed towards him.
The man looked at her instantly and a smile along with a widened eyes appeared in his face. Coming to greet her as she left the carried bags behind to finally run and embrace him. His hair was short but enough so that the bangs reached his eyes. He wore jeans with a blue t-shirt from Levis.
"Jou chan!" he said surprised putting his arms around her. "I almost didn't recognize you!" he gave a step back to look at her "Just look at you! You're amazing!"
She smiled "Thank you. You're amazing too! It's so great to see you!"
"Yeah," he smiled and hugged her again "We're so happy you were able to come back Kaoru."
…
"So, where are you going to stay?" asked a very concentrated Sano watching the road in front of him as he drove. They were already inside his car.
"At my old house, my mom kept it for me if I returned." She replied.
"Ah the one in front of Kenshin's" he said
"Yeah." She closed her eyes leaning in her seat "The house is huge for me to stay. I should have asked my mom to rent a little apartment. That would do for me."
"I think you're great where you are." Sano replied smiling. "Besides you have Kenshin close to your house. It mustn't be such a big problem."
Kaoru looked at Sanosuke surprised for a moment. The car slowly stopped at a red signal and Sano relaxed on his seat as he waited for it to turn green. When he felt Kaoru's eyes on him he turned to her. "What?"
"I thought you didn't like Kenshin." She said with a confused and suspicious face "Besides since when did you start calling him by his name instead of 'brat'?"
Sano laugh "A lot happened after you went to America." He said staring at the peaceful road.
"Why didn't you ever mention that on your letters?" She asked curious "You could have told me."
"Well, it was recent" he said pressing the foot on the accelerator as the signal turned green. "Besides," he paused "I thought it was better for you to know when you came back."
"Why is that?" she asked confused.
Sano's hand came to touch his hair nervously "Well, because you knew we didn't get along and all, I wanted to surprise you."
She looked at the window watching the road passing and Sanosuke watched in the corner of his eyes her reaction. "You sure did." She closed her eyes smiling. "You always thought he was annoying, how did you started to get along anyway?"
Sanosuke smiled never looking at her with deep thoughts. You don't want to know... "It's a long story but I can tell you that he was the one to talk to me first. " She looked at him surprised "He's very mature for 12 years old boy."
"Twelve years old? He's already twelve years old?" She asked surprised and smiling.
"Why are you so surprised? Do the counts, it's obvious he's 12" He said laughing. Kaoru still was amazed.
"That's so amazing, I hope everything is going well with him." She said looking to the road which she recognized it was near her house. Kaoru looked down thinking. Sano looked at her by the corner of his eye.
"What are you thinking about?"
She closed her eyes "It's just curious."
"What?" he asked anxious.
"When I was in the plane to Japan, I fell asleep and had a weird dream with all of my friends here on Japan, including Kenshin." She paused opening her eyes. "We were in Tokyo, an ancient Tokyo. We all whore kimono's and hakama for the boys. There were some people I didn't recognized who seemed to be my friends. We lived in a dojo. It was old but very beautiful-"
Sano suddenly lost control of the car for a moment making it turn to his left, adding loud noises on the road. Kaoru wasn't expecting that and nervously looked at Sanosuke who was too now nervous. The cars behind him suddendly stopped too not expecting such behavior and started buzzing ate them "Sano are you ok?"
He never looked at her. His hand passed trough his forehead nervously. "I'm sorry, it must have been some hole. I lost control of the car." Kaoru looked at him worried and he just stared at the road.
"Are you sure?" The asked again "You look seriously nervou-"
"Yes Kaoru, don't worry." He interrupted her with a calm voice. She then gave up and Sanosuke resumed his driving yelling ate the cars behind "Yes yes, move allong!"
Looking at the road, Kaoru stayed silent wondering what made Sano suddenly so nervous. The silence between them was making her nervous so she tried to pick a subject.
"So," she started looking at her friend "How Is Megumi? Am I going to meet her today too?"
"Yeah, but it's later night." He answered smiling "She has some work to do at the university, she'll meet up later at your house."
"That's great!" she said happily. They arrived her house and Sano parked the car slowly in front of it. As they stopped, Kaoru got out of the car slowly looking at her old house with a smile. She missed it so much. Running to the front door, she quickly opened letting out a gasp. With no furniture inside, the house seemed huge. Besides that it looked clean and new. Someone had cleaned it, but whom?
Walking inside, the sounds of her footsteps sounded trough the hall. It was where her parents had decided to be the room where they watched television in family. In the same room, there were stairs to the rooms above. At her left it stayed the huge kitchen where she had every meal with her parents.
She was now alone, but Kaoru didn't care, she was home again.
Sano came to the door with her three huge bags and a tired face. "You could at least help me!" he said annoyed and she turned around giggling.
"Where is that strong man that I so read about in my letters?" she answered smiling, coming to help him.
He entered the house carrying only two bags. "The house looks new."
"Yes" she said turning to him "I was wondering who could have cleaned it, because I know it couldn't possibly be you, did you make Megumi do it?"
"Of Course not!" He said laughing "Besides Megumi wouldn't do it, she would make me do instead." He got to the stairs "Maybe it was Kenshin's mother, she was so anxious of your return, I told her you where coming and would possibly stay here again."
Kaoru's face was surprised but smiling. She did all this by herself? I have to thank her later! "She was so nice…" she said smiling coming to climb the stairs right behind Sano.
"She was very excited when I told her you were coming back." He continued to say going to her room. "I think you should expect Cakes and stuff. You won't be that alone."
"She is so kind." She repeated smiling and searching in her old memories the face of the red head woman who liked her so much. The three of them lived on the same district. She had wonderful memories with Kenshin and his mother. "I wonder how she's been lately, I wasn't able to talk much. She called me once but it was all she could manage. I couldn't make any calls to Japan from there."
As Sano listened to her they finally got to the door of her room, which was the only that was closed. She noticed that and was a bit confused. Sano looked at her and opened the door. Letting some space for her to enter, Kaoru passed trough him, gasping admired.
The room was all decorated. There was new furniture too. New tables for her to study and new big wardrobes. The room was painted with blue, which was the colour she loved most and in the table there where some old photos when they all get along before she left. She picked up some frames to see. In her face there was a big smile as she remembered the moments.
There was a photo where she was with Sano and Megumi all smiling and hugging each other and there was another one where she smiled with a little Kenshin at her front, putting her arms around his neck. Behind those there were still photos with Kenshin and her mother with her, another with Megumi and her eating an hamburger with an ugly face, which she giggled a little. Another with Sano picking her up by his back, it was back that time when they still were together. In her mirror there was pasted on with a colourful paper, written "Welcome Back"
"Now, this" he said indicating the room "This I still helped, it was a surprise." She heard him saying to her back. "It was Kenshin's idea and of course Megumi was also involved in this."
A tear slipped her eye and she turned to him "Oh Sano, you shouldn't have!" she said coming to embrace him "Did you buy the furniture too? You shouldn't have!"
"No, no, no!" he said laughing hugging her too "It was your mom who asked us to buy it for you, she sent us the money."
She backed away from him and punched him playful "So you already knew where I was going to stay at!" she said smiling punching him again.
"Oi jou-chan!" he said trying to defend him "It was a surprise! You know, people are supposed to not say anything!" she hugged him again laughing.
"Thank you!" she whispered, backing away once more to take another look at the pictures. She picked the one with Kenshin and his mother and smiled. Putting it again in its place she continued to stare at it. "I'm going to meet them now."
…
DING? DONG?
"Kaoru! You're already back!" the red head woman said throwing her arms around Kaoru's figure. The woman was thin and looked young for her age. Her red hair was still as beautiful as she remembered. She was dressed with and apron behind her. She was probably cooking. "You're so beautiful! You are a woman now!"
"Aww c'mon, it only passed 4 years!" she said laughing making the woman laugh too.
"And you think its little time? You should look at Kenshin before you say that!" the woman backed away from the girl and both smiled. The woman came to touch her check softly. "It's so good to see you, welcome back!"
"I'm happy to be back too." She said happily and the woman made way for her to enter. Sano passed too greeting the woman and both stayed at the entrance.
"Please, feel yourself at home!" the woman said coming to the kitchen. "I'm just going to prepare something for you!"
"Oh, it's not needed really!" Kaoru tried to interfere but the woman was already gone. She looked at Sano and smiled "She hasn't changed much."
"Yup" he replied smiling.
"Kenshin!" The woman called from the kitchen "Came down now! I have something to show you!"
"Is she talking about me?" Kaoru asked Sano confused but still smiling.
"I think it's obvious," Sano turned around from her coming inside the house like it was he's own. "I'm going to the bathroom."
She looked at him confused. Since when did he walk around Kenshin's house so freely? Well, as she remembered, Sano was always like that every time he walked inside a house. He stooped doing it inside hers because one day he saw her parents doing something he didn't want to see. She giggled as she remembered his nervous face.
A crack came form the stairs and instantly she looked up to see a red haired boy coming down slowly. Her eyes widened as she recognized him. If she didn't know he had 12 years old, she would possibly think he had 14. His face matured a lot, his eyes changed form childlike eyes, to a mysterious ones and his body grew so much that he almost was at the same height as her.
His way of dressing changed a lot too. His hair was short but still enough to touch his chin. He whore a big t-shirt on top of big blue jeans. A hand was on the handrail as he stared back at her who was examining the boy now from the boy before. He was changed. She could see too that he was surprised to see her and she smiled.
"Hello Kenshin." She said startling him, making him lift his hand form the handrail. She noticed his nervousness "It's so good to see you again."
He nervously descended the stairs slowly. "Hey." He paused "It's good to see you too." Her eyes widened once she heard his voice. What a change! His voice was so strong now, she almost shivered as she heard him. He finally came all the way down and nervously putted his hands inside his pockets.
"Oh my God! You changed so much!" she said throwing her arms around him making him gasp surprised. She laughs happily and he nervously putted his arms around her body. She backed away with her hands still in his shoulders. "And you look handsome too! I bet you won some girls already haven't you?" she asked playfully
He looked down with a sad smile "Not really."
"Oh you finally met!" Sano said coming from the hall.
"Sano why didn't you tell me Kaoru was coming today?" Kenshin said smiling
"It was a surprise!" he replied lifting his arms and hugging both of them. Which made Kaoru laugh
"You're full of surprises today." She said backing away form him giggling and Kenshin watched her smiling.
"That's what people call a person full of surprises!" he answered proudly closing his eyes with chin up.
"I don't think so." Answered a confused Kenshin and she laughed when seeing Sano's disappointed face. She then turned to the boy remembering something.
"I almost forgot the reason why I came here for!" she said touching Kenshin shoulders making him tense again. "Thank you so much for the surprise!" she hugged him again "It made me so happy to be home again!"
"Ah-" he tried to say "It's alright, you don't have to thank me." She backed away and smiled at him. He blushed. And nervously looked down.
"Are you ok?" Kaoru asked still holding his shoulders. And Kenshin stared at her nervously.
"He's not used to." Sano said smiling to them. Kaoru looked up at him confused.
"Used to what?" he asked curious
"Remember when you still lived here?" he asked her "People in Japan usually don't touch much. 10 seconds have passed and you hugged him twice and never took your hands of his shoulders." Kaoru gasped and Sano laugh
"Oh- I'm sorry, I forgot that" She apologized taking her hands off the boy and he smiled to her never saying anything. "In America, people acted differently. When I first got there I stayed the same way as you are now." Kenshin heard still smiling. There was something in that smile that made her think. It wasn't a mere child smile. It was different and mature.
Kenshin's mother came out of the kitchen and meet up with them in the hall. "You're still here in the hall?" she asked smiling coming behind Kenshin softly passing a hand trough his hair. He looked at his mother and smiled. She looked at his smile again. Definitely, he's changed a lot. "Kaoru have lunch with us, I already prepared it and it's enough for everyone." The woman turned around with spoon in hand "And I won't take no for an answer!"
Kaoru sighed hopeless. "Well, if she had all the work to do it, why not?" she said to Kenshin
"You're right." They walked side by side to the kitchen and Sano watched sadly.
…..
Kaoru, Kenshin and Sano had gone to a bar after lunch. It wasn't a normal bar, it looked western because of its designs. Kaoru looked around the bar. It was empty, it didn't have many people, no one frequented bars that hour. Sano was gone to do something and Kenshin and Kaoru stayed alone. She saw that billiards tables were a little far from the coffee zone.
Kenshin was standing by a table looking at her actions all the time with a smile on his face and a deep stare. She finally turned around to him and once seeing his face her eyes turned into confused ones. His smile became wider and she nervously smiled.
"Do you know where Sano went?" she asked coming to stand beside him
"He's probably talking with the waiter on service." He answered indicating to the billiards tables with a finger. "We're going to play billiard. That's what we usually do to kill time, it's fun."
She looked at the tables again with a stunned look and looked again t the boy. "I don't know how to play. Well, I don't remember how to play it. I was a bad player back in America so I just lost interest in the game."
Kenshin smiled at her "it's ok, you can stay on my team. I'll teach you how to play."
"That seems nice, I never had anyone to teach me." She said looking down with a smile. He saw that but remained silent.
That moment Sano entered again with a box full of balls inside. He started to walk to the tables and Kaoru and Kenshin followed him. She was still unsure if she would play or not. She looked at the billiards-cue hanged by the wall and unsure picked one that would suit her well.
She looked at it and suddenly a hand grabbed on next of hers. She looked at the person and Kenshin smiled at her. It was smaller that hers but it suited him well.
"Shall we?" he asked with a reassured smile that made her feel confident again.
"Hai."
They played for a while, Kenshin always gave her instructions and she nervously tried to follow them. He played really well and Sano was getting frustrated by his score. Kaoru was happy that she was winning but she had to thanks the boy for that, he really was a good teacher.
"Ah, this sucks" Sanosuke answered putting his billiard-cue to one side of the table, leaving. "I'm going to do something no one else can for me. It's your turn so." Before he closed the door of the bathroom he turned to them "No cheating!"
"Alrigth!" Kaoru said laughing.
Sano closed the door and Kaoru and Kenshin were once more left alone. She looked at their game realizing it was her turn and trying to find a position and place. The white ball was a little far so she was finding difficulties on how to position herself. Kenshin was looking at her with a deep stare again and she looked at him now smiling.
"Help?" she asked with innocent eyes making him smile and come to her side.
"Here," he said exemplifying, putting the billiard-cue behind his back, into the table and showing the movement. Once seeing that, she tried to do the same but was finding some difficulties. Her billiard-cue was always slipping from her hand and she was becoming to feel frustrated.
She was too concentrated on trying to do the position right that didn't even noticed Kenshin nearing her. His hands came to encircle her body to grab her billiard-cue behind preventing it from falling. He was almost her height and she looked at him, right in his eyes, surprised. His face was turned to hers too and was a little close than usual. His eyes were serious as he gazed her. Their bodies touched as much as it was possible to.
"I'll help you." He said with a deep voice and she remained silent. She was nervous by his closeness and decided to turn her face around and look at her game. Kenshin never took his eyes from her face and closed his eyes inhaling her scent. Her breath was becoming fast and he noticed that. Helping her with the movement of her arms and not needing to look at the table, they stroke the white ball, touching one of theirs, and making score again.
"There." He replied now showing a little smile. She looked at him with a nervous look and finally he let go of her, standing back and coming to the other side of the table slowly. She always followed him with her eyes and stopped where he stopped walking.
The bathroom door opened and she turned to see Sano just returning to where they were. She looked again to Kenshin with a surprised look that looked back at her with his strange eyes.
"So, have you played?" Sano asked looking at the table anxious. Kaoru looked at him and to the table and to Kenshin again who was talking to Sano. She wasn't too interested on hearing what they were saying for she was too confused by the boy's actions. She looked at her billiard-cue and to her hands.
"…right Kaoru?" Sano said and her head came up suddenly. Sanosuke noticed her face and became worried "Kaoru? Are you ok?"
She looked at Sano then to Kenshin and answered "right…I'll be right back." She turned around, leaving the billiard-cue behind and going to the direction of the bathroom. She opened and closed the door fast and Sano stared at it confused. Turning to Kenshin and seeing him distracted at looking at their game, he knew something happened.
"What did you do?" he asked sighing. Kenshin looked at him by the corners of his eyes. "Don't fool with me, I know something happened."
"I helped her with the game." Kenshin simply walked a little around the table.
"Something unusual happened?" Sano asked again, his voice serious.
"I'm not going to answer that."
"Look," Sano started with a serious face "This isn't going to work if you do unusual things got it? We agreed to do slowly and simple, she will know when the time comes. She doesn't even have the memories."
"How do you know?" Kenshin looked at him with serious eyes.
"She told me." He said, with his hands making pressure at the table. "She had a vision in her sleep, a little vision."
"What vision?" Kenshin asked, voice starting to be anxious. "What did she tell you?"
"She said little," Sano hesitated looking down sighing "She told me she saw you and me and people she didn't recognized."
Kenshin showed a smiled "It must Yahiko she's talking…"
"I don't care whom she's talking about!" Sano said raising his voice Kenshin narrowed his eyes a little "She could be someone else! She could be Tae, Tsubame, even Misao!" Sano said desperate "We agreed to not rush things, don't try anything. You will leave her more confused!"
"You don't tell me what to do Sano."
"But I can tell you that if this happens again, I won't help you anymore."
They stayed silent for a while, staring at each others. Kenshin's behaviour was strange to Sanosuke. Kenshin from the past wasn't like this. Well, just a little. The boy then looked down, closing his eyes and smiling to himself.
"Don't worry," Kenshin answered looking trough his hair at Sano "I'm sorry, it was something beyond my control, it won't happen again."
Sano then let out a relieved breath closing his eyes "I don't want to talk with you like this either, let's just wait ok? She will remember when the time comes."
"I'll wait." The boy replied looking down. That exact moment Sanosuke's phone rang trough his pocket. Immediately he picked it up and started to talk trough it.
"Mochi mochi?" Sanosuke asked "Are you ready?" pause "Yeah, she's already with me, Kenshin's here also" he pauses looking at the boy and saying with his lips 'Megumi' "Do you want me to pick you up at the university?" pause again "Hm, ok then, I'll meet up with you at your house then, bye" he hung up the phone and putted it on his pocket.
"I'm going to pay," Sano said starting to retrieve the balls to the box. Kenshin helped him clean the table and in seconds they had already putted all the ball inside the box and Sanosuke was gone to pay.
Kenshin picked all the billiard-cues and hanged them on the wall. Looking at them thinking, he slowly turned his eyes to the direction Kaoru had taken. She hadn't come out yet. Sanosuke was right, he should wait. The last thing he wanted was to push her away from him.
Walking to the door of the bathroom he waited. His eyes were sad as he looked at the door. So close yet so far…he thought looking down. His eyes frowned for a moment and his hands closed into fists. I just want to know why. With that thought he turned away, still wearing the same face.
….
Kaoru looked at her face in the big mirror of the little bathroom. She stared at it not knowing why, thinking the last events just seconds ago. Kenshin's behaviour was strange but mature. The reason why he suddenly acted like that she didn't know, only that it scared her.
She gave a step forward still looking at the mirror with sad eyes. It not only scared her, it made her feel strange at the same time. A feeling she couldn't name. A feeling which upset her somehow.
Looking down she thought how to face the boy once she got out of the bathroom. Sanosuke might have been really confused by her reaction. She didn't want to think about this anymore. Maybe it was just her head making tricks in her eyes. Maybe nothing this happened at all. It was impossible.
Looking again at the mirror, she smiled. I must be tired, the trip was long after all. Passing a hand trough her hair as to make it look better and then she turned to leave with a big smile in her lips.
….
"Megumi lives at a apartment in the city now." Sanosuke said driving. Kaoru was next to him and Kenshin was just behind her in his seat, looking at the window with a thoughtful face. Kaoru watched him by her mirror with worried eyes, wondering what the boy was thinking. She didn't answer Sano and for a moment the man turned his eyes to the girl for a few seconds turning them back at the street. For a moment he looked too at Kenshin from the mirror, knowing she was looking at him. He wanted to know badly what happened when he went to the bathroom. He decided to continue and somehow wake her up.
"It's rented but it's enough for her. It's closer to the university and has one free room. It's supposed to be for a female student. We don't' know who she is yet."
Kaoru turned her eyes to him "Why did she move?"
"She said it was for the best. She decided to do it so she could concentrate on her studies more."
Kaoru thought about the situation. Her family had money so it was easier for her to do that. She wouldn't be able to concentrate with her sister and all. Her dream to be a doctor is more vivid now. She was happy for her, two more years and Megumi will be able to succeed. Looking back at her mirror, she found Kenshin staring at her. His face was on top of his hand, hiding his lips. Not knowing what to do, she smiled. Kenshin took his hand away and smiled back at her.
"How did your friends react when you told them you were coming back to Japan?" Sanosuke asked again, always keeping his eyes on the road.
Kaoru smiled to herself "They were sad, they thought I was going to university with them and all. They begged me to stay." She gave a small laugh.
Sanosuke smiled "You made lots of friends back there."
Kaoru laid her head in one of her shoulders with a sad smile. "Not really, my first year there was really difficult. Jamie and Steve were the only true friends I had. It's really difficult to socialize in those schools."
"Hmm" Sano thought stopping the car in a red signal "You mentioned them in your letters. How are you going to contact them now?"
"The same way I did with you and Megumi: by letters." She said smiling sadly looking at the window and to the mirror, especially at the silent boy. "I was sad to leave too, but I wanted to return to the only place I can call home." Kenshin smiled one of those sincere smiles. She saw that and smiling turned her eyes to the street "I hope to see them someday though."
"You could invite them, they could stay at your house." Sano said thinking "I would like to meet them too."
"I would like too." Kenshin's voice finally came. She looked at the boy and to Sano smiling.
"You will someday, I'll try to invite them in my next letters."
"Yosh!" Sanosuke said smiling. Kaoru laugh and Kenshin concentrated and smiling face turned to the window once more. "We're here."
Kaoru looked at the window looking at a building with three floors. They got out of the door fast and rang to her apartment. She opened the door and they got to her floor fast.
"I'm so excited to see her, I wonder how much she has changed." Kaoru commented following Sanosuke. Kenshin was at her side.
"She changed a little, but it's something you have to see, you're going to be surprised." Kenshin told her with hands in his pockets. She looked down at him with curious eyes.
"You've been with her lately?" she asked and Sanosuke looked behind him
"Megumi and I are dating, and sometimes I'm with him so, it's obvious he's seen her."
"Hm" she said thoughtful. Kenshin looked at her to see if she suspected anything. Finally they got to Megumi's door. Sanosuke looked at Kaoru who seemed to nervous.
He belled the electric bell and they waited.
Seconds later, footsteps were heard and the door opened suddenly. Megumi and Kaoru were face to face to each other, the two surprised. One of Kaoru's hands came to her mouth and some tears left her eyes. Her hair wasn't long anymore, shortly cut where her locks touched her chin. Her face matured and made her more like a woman. Megumi smiled by her friend's reaction and came to embrace her.
"Megumi!" Kaoru exclaimed "You're so beautiful!"
"Baka!" Megumi said to the girl containing her tears. Kaoru now embraced the woman tightly, very happy to see her best friend again. Four years without seeing each other was really painful to the girl, they almost seen each other every day.
Megumi came to look to the face of her best friend who now let some tears escape. Megumi wasn't able to hold any longer and let some escape.
"Baka, you don't need to cry!" Megumi smiled trying to be harsh but failed as she showed a smile. The girl laughed.
"You're crying too!"
"That's because you were the one who started crying!" Kaoru laughed cleaning her tears with her sleeve. Megumi then looked at the door to see Sano and little Kenshin.
"I have so many guests today!"
….
"You're almost finishing your studies right?" Kaoru asked drinking her coke than Megumi had prepared for everyone. They were all sat in her tiny room with sofas around and a mini TV at a corner. "What do you plan to do once you graduate?"
"I'm still thinking about it" she answered looking at her cup. Sanosuke was at her side with an arm over her shoulders. She was smiling as she thought "But I think I will keep this apartment for some time, since it's close to the centre of the city and all."
"I'm so happy for you Megumi! You've become independent!" Kaoru said putting down her cup. She was sat in front of the couple and Kenshin was at her side, with his back falling to the couch, listening them.
"I was always independent!" Megumi answered with an arrogant tone but always joking. "I'm sad to know you've never noticed before."
"That's because you never showed it!" Sanosuke said looking at her amused. Megumi turned her face away from him and closed her eyes smiling.
"That because you're a tori atama."
"Nani!"
"That's right Kaoru!" Megumi said interrupting a very upset Sano "We should commemorate your arrival, don't you think? What about we get out as the old days?"
"Eh?" she said confused, she looked down smiling with thoughtful eyes. "It's a great idea" she answered hesitating. "But, I still have to unpack my bags, I have to find something to wear and all."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Megumi asked turning to look at Sano who just smiled "Let's hurry!"
"She's right," Sano said standing up "I'll take you home so you can unpack things." He came down to kiss Megumi "It's 9 alright for you?"
"Anytime." Megumi replied
….
Kaoru laid on her bed to rest for a while. She was done unpacking 1 bag and a half and was already feeling tired. It was 6 p.m. so she still got time to unpack another bag. Her bags were huge, it took a lot of time to unpack.
"Tired?" a voice came from the door. It was a strong but young voice. Kaoru immediately recognized Kenshin's voice and slowly stood up to look at him surprised.
"How did you get in?" she asked "Did I left the door opened?"
Kenshin smiled "You forgot how I used to enter you house?" Kaoru stopped to think for a while but the boy remembered her "Knowing you the way I do, you always left the kitchen door to the outside opened. I jumped to the kitchen-garden and easily got in."
She kept silent remembering the moment's Kenshin would do what he just told her. Sometimes he came to her crying and sometimes he just wanted to play with her. His mother realized how much the boy liked her than one day she came to ask to baby-sit him. That's how they started to get along so well.
She smiled to him "Yes I remember." She paused coming to look at her bags "I needed to take a break, I have so much stuff to unpack. I don't know I if can get in time for Sanosuke to pick me up."
They were silent for a moment. Kenshin looked around the room then back at her. Smiling he approached the girl. "I'll help you." She looked at him surprised by his suggestion.
"No, Kenshin I can't accep-"
"It's ok," he interrupt her approaching her bags, she followed him with her eyes surprised. "I have nothing to do today and besides, you don't want to miss this opportunity with your friends."
She stayed silent for a while absorbing his words. Can 4 years change a person this much? She remembered him to be childlike, always wanting to play and cry when he didn't. He always wanted to be around her and when Sanosuke was with her when they were dating, both started to fight and Sano just lost his patience with the boy.
Now looking at him, she wondered why did he change so much and felt bad for not being there to see him change. Kaoru smiled and came to be at his side. "Thank you Kenshin, I'll accept you offer."
They were able to finish the other half of the bag in 30 minutes and now there was only one more left. They talked sometimes but it was for a short moments, the air between them was somehow heavy from the billiard event. Kaoru somehow didn't talk although she wanted to, but she had nothing to say. Kenshin didn't help much since he made little to talk with her and she thought over the possibility of him not wanting to talk at all.
"Back at the billiard house," Kenshin suddenly started making her stop folding her cloths. He wasn't looking at her, looking at the bag in front of his as he passed her the cloths "I don't know what got into me and I'm sorry for the way I acted"
"Ah-"she hesitated as she remembered the moment very well. A small chill ran up her spine and she closed her eyes for a brief moment. Looking again at the boy, she found his questioning eyes staring back at her, waiting for her to say something. "It's alright Kenshin, I didn't mind at all!" she tired to answer cheerfully.
He looked down at her back with, what seemed to be sad eyes "but you thought it was weird right?" he paused and the smile in her face disappeared. "You can say it, it's alright. I wouldn't use the grown up subject as to apologize myself, but I have changed. Everyone keeps saying that I grew up so much and have become so mature, I wonder if that is a good thing."
His words made her thoughtful "Of course it is" she answered smiling to herself "Because growing up means that you're able to do things you want to and praise most, adults start to take you more seriously and " she pause looking at the young man who stared at her with intense eyes. She kept her smile "somehow you feel more confident to follow your dreams." He looked down thinking and she continued "I too think that you've grown up, a lot and I think that's just great, I like it." He looked again at her and smiled a true smile. She watched his mature face and answered with a smile of her own.
"Well there's one more bag left," Kaoru said cheerfully looking at the big bag "I think I'll be able to take a bath after this" she got up and got closer to the bag starting t open it. Kenshin kept his smile and came to her side.
"Aa"
They started to unpack her things once again. They talked better with each other now, Kaoru told him where to place her things as they help each other. At the bottom of her bag, she found a stuffed brown bear with a blue scarf on his neck. She watched it closely and reminded herself from whom she'd gotten it from.
"Kaoru!" a young Kenshin called her almost crying. He was standing on her garden gate with a brown bear in his arms.
She smiled. Kenshin when he turned to her, he saw the near in her hands and his eyes widened in surprise. Kaoru's head turned to him still smiling and showed him the bear.
"He was great company." She told him, standing up and giving him the bear. He held it with caress and look at it still surprised. "Remember? You told me to bring it back to you. You were so sad that I had to leave."
Kenshin smiled holding the fallen part of the scarf with to fingers, caressing it. She watched the gesture and thought that maybe he was thinking of a memory he must have been with that bear.
"It's time to return to his real owner," she told him "I'll feel sad about it since he's been with me all the time."
Kenshin looked at her amazed, not truly believing what she had just told him. She smiled by his face "was it?"
"Yup,"
Kenshin looked again at the bear in his hands looking more specifically to the scarf. Smiling he let it go and handed the bear to Kaoru.
"Then," he said "I'll give it to you, keep it" she took it unsure and before she was able to say anything, Kenshin interrupted her: "I'm really happy for bringing it back to me but I would be mostly happy if you kept an eye on him, for me."
Understanding his wish she hugged it with a smile on her face with closed eyes. Somehow Kenshin knew he would guard that image on his mind, forever.
"Wakata!" she said.
End Of Chapter 1
A/N: Hello everyone! I hope your liking this story. I've already started to write the second chapter but even so, I'm afraid it's going to be a while till I update. I just wanted to say that because my university is far from my home so it's hard. Please try to understand.
Please let me know your opinion!