Broken
Chapter 5: Torn
He could hear voices in the distance…way out there. They seemed casual, familiar somehow.
"Don't worry…longer."
He could barely make out the rest, something about rain. Or was it grain? There wasn't a way he could know for sure.
It's been some time, although Yahiko wasn't really sure how much. It was dark now, so maybe a few hours. He got up and walked toward the living room. Empty. It was rather unusual, but maybe she was cooking…he half hoped not; despite his growling tummy. Also empty. Kaoru's room. Empty. Kenshin's room. Empty. Bathroom. Also empty.
"What the hell?"
He kept on looking until he got a glimpse of something bright. A candlelight to be sure, coming out of a room in the back they used for training. Train, THAT was the word!
As he moved closer he could make out the scene a little better. There was more than just one candle, MANY more since the light was very bight for just one. He could also make out a silhouette in front of the door, blocking it. It was someone with average height; slender…she almost looked good. At least he thought it was a she. He kept on going. Definitely a she, but not who she thought she was. It was Kaoru.
"Ew."
She turned around, eyes wide open. The moment she saw who it was her eyes eased. Also she let go of the ceramic vase she was going to hit him with.
"You're finally awake" she spoke turning back to the other room.
"What's going on?"
Yahiko peeked over her shoulder.
Genma stood in the middle of the room, slightly squatted and his eyes closed. He could feel the warmth of the candles al around him…16 o be exact. He could also feel the presence of someone else. Not Kaoru, she'd been standing there the whole time, but someone else…smaller somehow. Apparently the boy had gotten up already. He wouldn't stay still though, which was annoying.
"Would you mind if I asked you to stay still and shut up?" Those last words came out as a shout…not that he minded though. The boy deserved it anyway.
Back to the candles. They were positioned in five rows, three on the first two rows, three on the last two rows, and four on the middle row which was directly in front of him.
With a deep sigh, he lifted his arms until they were parallel to the first and last rows of candles.
The first two candles went off.
Then he threw a punch to the air with his right hand.
The first candle on the second row and the second one on the first row went off.
He swung his fist backward toward the fourth row.
The first on the fourth and the second on the fifth went off
Only ten candles left.
And finally, with a loud groan he drove his fist wildly forward directly in front of the row before him.
All, of the remaining candles went off as if swept by an invisible wave.
"Woah"
Yahiko's jaw dropped. Did he just put out all those candles without touching them? All ten?!
Kaoru had left a few seconds ago. Too bad because she missed it. He felt an urge, but his pride wouldn't let him get it over with. He kept on resisting it for a while, not being able to decide whether he should…
"What are you doing?"
Genma was practically hovering over him, staring down like a giant. That's when he noticed that Genma actually WAS, kind of a giant. Six feet easy.
"What, you got dumbstruck, kid?"
"What's your problem?"
Genma bent down until his face was inches from Yahiko's.
"My problem is that you're an ungrateful, dumbstruck kid who won't even answer a question when somebody asks you. Do YOU have a problem?
"Your breath stinks."
The giant burst into a loud laugh, the kind that makes your milk come out of your nose. Of course there was no milk at the moment…thankfully. Suddenly he stretched his hand toward Yahiko, as if expecting a handshake.
"I'm Genma."
"Yahiko."
They shook hands for a while which was complemented by a rather awkward silence.
"So, how'd you do it?" Yahiko asked hesitantly."
"Do what?"
"That thing with the candles."
"Want me to show you?"
But before he could answer Genma was already pulling him inside the now dark room. He lit the first candle of each row.
"Alright now you stand here." He spoke signaling to the front of the middle row.
"And just punch as hard as you can."
The young boy did as told, but nothing happened.
"No, no, no."
He forced Yahiko to squat by pushing on his shoulders. Then he took his right arm and held it toward the lit candle.
Yahiko, feeling a little uncomfortable just wanted it to be over, but this guy was pushy, VERY pushy. The fact that he started poking him on his back made it all worse.
"What the..?"
"Straight back"
Yahiko straightened his back and the poking stopped.
Finally.
"Try again."
He tried again.
Nothing.
"Don't rush it."
Again.
Nothing.
Silence.
The boy looked around, but Genma wasn't around.
"That bastard!"
"I heard that!"
Had he heard right? From the sound of his voice apparently Genma was all the way to the kitchen and he still heard Yahiko call him a bastard?
"I don't hear you throwing punches though!"
He resumed this…thing he was doing. Only one thing kept spinning around in his mind, but it wasn't the most interesting one…How the hell did I end up here?
"What are you doing?"
He walked into the kitchen slowly, trying not to startle Kaoru who was merely sitting on a chair beside the counter.
"Are you alright? You seem worried about something."
"I'm fine."
Genma gave her an untrusting look. There was definitely something wrong with her.
"You'd probably think I'm weird if I told you."
Bingo.
"Try me."
She let out a long sigh, not relieved but almost melancholic.
"It's just that he should be back by now."
"He who?
"Kenshin."
His name seemed hard and sharp, truly a warrior's name. Or was it for some other reason?
She started to laugh all of a sudden, a sweet laugh, so joyful and warm it could tear apart a devil's heart. Well, at least it tore Genma's heart.
"It's really stupid." She kept on going. "I mean he's really good at taking care of himself and he always keeps his promises."
Her voice seemed to crack for a moment.
"But whenever he's late I can only think that the worst has happened and…"
A lonely tear rolled down her cheek. That's when he knew…these two were in love, crazy for each other. Or at least she seemed crazy for him, the Man Slayer. Who would have known?
She kept on talking between sobs and was barely understandable.
"I don't know if this helps…"
Kaoru looked up at Genma, his face seemed troubled.
"Before my wife passed away we used to argue all the time."
He noticed Kaoru's confused expression and continued before she could ask why this would make her feel better.
"I always asked her not to worry about me when I was away and she always did. We ended up arguing. But even though I always asked not to worry about me I understood how she felt."
"Why is that?" She asked wiping tears and snot off of her face.
"Because she was always in my mind when I was traveling. I was always thinking: 'How is she doing? Is she okay? Is she worried about me?' It was already painful enough to be apart, but made it even more painful to think that she was sad, thinking that I might not come back, rather that thinking that I might."
There was a moment of silence as she thought about it.
While doing so she felt Genma's large hand rest on her shoulder.
"I'm pretty sure he's thinking like that right about now."
That last phrase put a small, but happy smile on her face. He never thought somebody could be this beautiful and yet there he was comforting her.
"Thank you." She spoke softly.
Kaoru stood up from her chair and started toward her bedroom.
"Good night, Genma."
And she left to sleep.
"Good night…Kaoru."
He could feel his heart sinking slowly. What was he feeling anyway? Why did Kenshin's name sting him so hard? But more importantly, why seeing her like that make him did feel so sad, so broken?
Author's Note: Thanks for your support honey bisquit XOXO! And no I'm not abandoning this fic, I'm actually enjoying it -.
Anyway, BnK, Whoever you are this IS a KnK romance, but there won't be any rated m romantic scenes. As I said before its rated M for strong violence. Also, I made it rather confusing to add a little depth to the story. I mean it's no fun reading a story where you already know what's gonna happen and my goal is simply to keep the many readers (Who don't review! death glare) guessing.
Peace and love people!