.
Indigo
by: MrFoshizzlePro
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. It is owned proudly by Nobuhiro Watsuki.
Chapter 3
The next day proved to be no better for Kaoru's worries.
Kaoru was out in the dojo yard sparring with Yahiko. "You have to put your back into it!" she told her student as her bamboo sword echoed a loud smack against Yahiko's. The boy grimaced, pushing back off Kaoru's bokken with as much force as he could muster from his tired arms. He retorted, "I'm trying!"
"Well your not trying hard enough!"
Kaoru was readying to launch another attack when Kenshin stepped in front of her before she had time to move. "Miss Kaoru," he began. "Yes Kenshin? What is it?" Kaoru lowered her bokken and looked at Kenshin.
He smiled."Sessha is going to be late coming back to the dojo tonight, that I am. I'm going to pick up some tofu on the way back." Kenshin started to walk away. Kaoru gaped after him, her eyes wide with surprise. He's going to be late...? He's never late coming back unless it's something important!
"Kenshin, wait!" Kaoru reached out and managed to grab hold of his swaying gi sleeve. He twisted his head around, his mouth forming a small 'o'. Then, he smiled softly, took her hand and unlatched her fingers from his gi. "I'll be back in a little bit," he whispered. "I promise." And with that, he was gone.
Kaoru waited outside until a scarlet sunset overtook the skies. Still, there was no sign of Kenshin. Where is he? As she turned around and was sliding the door open to go in, a familiar voice struck her heart, filling it with mixed feelings.
"I've returned, Miss Kaoru," said Kenshin with a smile. Kaoru whisked around, her heart pounding. "Oh..." She tried to smile but her eyes were quavering with emotion. "I'm...glad your back." He dipped his head in reply, brushing past her gently. Before he could open the shouji door to his room, Kaoru stopped him with her question.
"Where did you go to?"
"I went to town."
"Oh..." She paused. "Um...could you tell me where-"
"Sessha is rather tired Miss Kaoru..." His voice was low and emotionless. "...I'll explain later, I will. For now, I'm going to bed."
Kaoru nodded briskly. "O-okay," she stammered shakily. "Goodnight...Kenshin."
Kenshin merely dipped his head before his shouji door slid shut, hiding Kaoru's view of him. She let her smile fall and felt her throat constricting. He didn't say goodnight back.
She slipped into her bedroom and, after changing, pulled the covers over her body and laid her head comfortingly on her pillow. Her blue eyes were glazed with unshed tears. He wouldn't even tell me where he was. She shifted the blanket so it covered her mouth and nose and she closed her eyes.
Maybe he's just tired. Tomorrow, I'm for certain, he'll be back to his normal self.
But as tomorrow came, Kaoru was beginning to doubt herself.
He keeps giving me the same excuse of coming back late and then he just leaves! What is he up to?
Kaoru decided that she needed someone else's perspective. Decidedly but rather begrudgedly, she went to see Megumi the moment Kenshin left. She knocked on the door, waiting impatiently, arms folded. By luck, Megumi answered the door, her expression one of surprise as she laid eyes upon Kaoru.
She frowned. "Oh, it's you." A sigh. "Well, what do you want? My schedule is a little filled today, so make it quick."
"I came here to talk, Miss Megumi." Kaoru's expression turned grave. "It's about Kenshin."
After the Explanation...
"So, Sir Ken has been leaving during the day only to come back late at night?"
"Yes."
Megumi untied her hair and let it fall over her shoulder as she worked her fingers through it to untangle it. "If you ask me, it sounds as though he may be seeing another woman."
"WHAT?" Kaoru couldn't believe what she was hearing. How could Kenshin be seeing another woman? Her face reddened and she shook her head mentally. Come on, Kaoru! It's not like you and Kenshin are -well- together. What should it matter to you if he's seeing someone? But she couldn't help but feel her heart drop into the pit of her stomach at the thought of it.
"That would explain the reason he keeps leaving..." she murmured the thought quietly to herself. "Still. Who could he possibly-"
Instantly, her mind flashed back to that day back at the other dojo where she had taken notice of Kenshin speaking and heading away with that girl. The realization struck her hard. He's...seeing that girl, then?
Kaoru left the doctor's office, returning to the dojo late that afternoon. You shouldn't assume so quickly, she nagged herself. The least you should do is stay in his room until he comes back to confront him personally. Then, you'll truly know whether he's seeing another woman or not.
And so, she went with her plan, grabbed her bokken and awaited in Kenshin's bedroom until the sun went down over the horizon and the sky turned dark with night. That was when she had caught Kenshin red-handed with another woman's indigo ribbon clenched in his hand. That was when Kaoru had found out the truth. And that was when all pieces of her heart shattered and fell into a pitless void...
Owari