Hi everyone!
First of all: Thank you for all your reviews and opinions. My school is over for a month so i think i am going to post with more frequency than now.
Second, thank you all for helping me to improve my grammar.I haven't correct the previous chapters, but now i will.
Ned Flanders thank you for your reminder in what concerns to Kaoru's nationality. I will explain that not in this chapter but probably in the next one.
What can i say? I am soooo happy you are all liking this fic!
I hope you enjoy chapter 5.
Chapter 5 – Your Truth is a fantasy
Kenshin was in his way to the place he agreed to meet the others.
… I Just can't sit there and watch them die!... Her words remembered him of a young version of himself arguing with his stubborn master Hiko. Kaoru was strange… But he sympathized her. As if she possessed the innocence that they took away from him since the moment he agreed to be a member of Ishishinshi.
He felt unkward next to her. It didn't mean that he disliked being near her… But he felt strange... Her eyes seemed to engulf him… he felt trapped sometimes… like when she said that his role as a samurai was to protect people… He had to admit that even if they called themselves "Protectors of the people", things were not so beautiful when it came to the truth.
Death is not beautiful. Never. Especially when caused by his own hands.
"Hitokiri Battousai!" – he heard someone calling him. It was a challenge, he could tell that by the tone the other man used. Kenshin didn't turn back. He was tired of this useless fights…
He felt the enemy running in his direction. Kenshin unsheathed his sword and turned to face him.
"Kyiosato, please stop! Don't do this!" – an old man yelled, but it was already too late…
It happened so fast… Kyiosato didn't get the chance to see Kenshin's movement or defend against his strike... The only thing he felt was the pain of the blade slashing him…
When his body hit the floor, he realized Battousai also killed his old friend…
He dragged himself to reach a flower maybe a meter away from him.
A Familiar face appeared in his mind… How stupid was I?... Forgive-me anata… I hope you to forgive-me Tomoe…
Kenshin tried to understand what he was mumbling about, but he only heard the name Tomoe…
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. This man had a family…
While cleaning his sword he glanced at his own reflection and only then he realized the bleeding on his left cheek. His eyes widened when he touched his face. It was a cut. It didn't hurt but it was bleeding a lot. I dindn't notice… Kenshin glanced back at the man behind him. He was already dead. Your wish to kill me was strong… he walked next to him pick up the flower he once tried to grab and put it in Kyiosato's hand. I wish you were successful…
The red-haired man got up and made his way to Katsura's place.
One more night… one longer and dirty night.
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Kaoru couldn't sleep. How was she supposed to sleep in a house that wasn't hers?
Not to mention that never in her life she saw someone being killed in front of her… That image was still in her mind… Kenshin and his amber eyes along with his sword dripping with blood.
She sighed.
His eyes were so different in her dreams. And he seemed kinder. Well, it was nice he let her stay in his house, but, she thought he would stand by her side and explain her why she was here.
He does not know either. She realized that during their conversation. He does not know you, your foolish girl! The dreams… they were your dreams not his… So why am I here? She looked at the ceiling… And how is this possible? Kaoru got up and started walking around his place… There was no such thing as televisions, radios, micro-waves, electric-light… They seemed to be living in other century.
It's a Time Machine, Kaoru!... her eyes widened remembering her father words in that dream.
"A Time Machine… It can't be…" - her hand flew to her chest. Did my father finished that machine? She shook her head. .. That's impossible.
The nightmare… She remembered that in her nightmare her father seemed older and ill… "Is my father's death connected with everything that's happening to me?" – she asked out loud
This is nonsense.
"What in the world is happening to me?" – she cried – "I wish I could change everything… Change my past… change that you're gone…" – Kaoru went outside and watch the rain falling – "I am all alone, not even Sanoor Misao are here anymore… " – She crossed her arms around herself – "I don't feel… me…"
She step out of the porch and felt the raindrops in her face, her hair… She was going to get wet again, but it didn't matter. At the moment she wanted to forget where she was and try to find herself again in the middle of all that mess… With eyes closed she turned her face up. "What is my purpose here?"
If I was home, In this weather I would be at bed along with my headphones listening moonlight sonata. Within an hour I would feel the pleasant smell of coffee and fresh bread, and my mother would be calling me to take the breakfast...
"I star to believe that you want to get sick."
Kaoru grasped realizing she was not alone. "Kenshin!"
He was staring at her, probably wondering what in the world was she doing outside getting wet, when he had lent her his house, so that she could rest.
"I am sorry… I wasn't…" – Kaoru noticed is face bleeding – "What happened to your face?"
Kenshin's hand covered the wound : "It's just a small cut."
Kaoru came closer: "It bleeds a lot, we must take care of that. Where's the first aid kid?"
"What?" – he asked
Seems like they don't use that here… Facing her silence Kenshin decided to start moving to the inside andKaoru followed him.
"I am going to fetch some water to clean the wound. " – she informed passing behind him.
"That's not really necessary." – he said
"Off course it is."
"Kaoru-dono, I just need to rest, I take care of that after." – he took of the sword from his hip and placed it on the porch.
"It's just a second, and I will stop bugging you." – she replied. Kaoru wanted to do something to help That was her way of being thankful to him.
After five minutes she appeared on the porch along with a bucket of water and a strand of cloth. Kaoruknelled beside him and started cleaning his wound.
"How did this happen?"
He didn't replied and she realized that it was for the best. Kaoru didn't needed to know if he did something that would scarred her.
"This cut… It will leave a scar…" – suddenly an image came to her mind… His image on her dreams… He used to have a scar… An X… "The first part…" – she murmured
But he captured her words: "The first part? The first part of what?"
She shook her head: "Nothing…" – she said nervously.
But she was being too mysterious and he was already in an alert state."Kaoru-dono, why don't you tell me the truth?" – it was easy for him to realize she was hiding something. "I told you I will not hurt you… " In his mind the only reason for her to be afraid of telling something was lack of trust.
"I know you don't wanna hurt me." – she answered - "You saved me." – she put the cloth inside of the bucket and took a deep breath. "It's just that it doesn't make any sense."
Kenshin leaned forward to look her in the eye: "Tell me." – his tone was calm. He could feel that she was experiencing a dilemma and he wanted to help her.
"You're going to assume that I am crazy." – she turned her head to the side avoiding his gaze, but he didn't let his chance escape, Kenshin gently touched her chin forcing her to face him. "I thought you were crazy when you gave away your life to save someone you didn't know… So… Try."
His eyes were scrutinizing every muscle of her face, anticipating her words or encouraging her to talk...
Kaoru felt that she would sound foolish if she told him the truth, but, the way he looked at her… It was as if he would know if she lied… "I… think I've seen you before." – her words sounded like a whisper but once again he captured it.
"When?" – he asked is face not showing any difference from before.
She took another deep breath and said: "In a dream."
This time he reacted… He lifted his eyebrow "In a dream?"
"Ye…Yess… But in the dream you're a bit different." – Kaoru's hands were shivering – "I know you would think I am crazy, so let's just stop right here." – she has about to get up but Kenshin's arm made her stop. "I want to know the rest. Please how different was I?…"
Kaoru swallow hard - "You looked older… And… You had a scar… An X… in your left cheek."
Why does she look like she is saying the truth, when everything she tells me seems to be invented? It's her eyes… her eyes show me that she is not lying… But her truth seems a fantasy...
Kaoru stood there waiting for his reaction… At the beginning she thought he was going to say she was out of her mind… Then he opened his mouth to say something… to question her further… but for some reason he gave up and ended up staring at her.
"We should rest." – it was his last sentence.
Kaoru closed her eyes and sighed: "You don't believe me… I can't blame you… I am still trying to understand how I ended up here… "
"Kaoru-dono, you seem tired and confused. You probably haven't slept since yesterday, so you need to rest." – he got up and helped her to do the same – "Tomorrow I will help you to realize what happened ok?" – Kaoru sighed once again.
He was trying to be nice, but she knew he was not going to be capable of helping her… It was beyond his reach. But she didn't wanted to be stubborn and made him think that she wasn't grateful to him: "Ok." – she decided to let it go.
"I will sleep on the dojo. You stay in the bedroom." - he gave a smile before leaving.
"Thank you Kenshin."
Once he was gone, Kaoru went to her room… Which was in fact His room?
She covered herself with the blanket and her fatigued eyes started to shut… after a while she was in a deep slumber.
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Kaoru came into the dojo and saw Kenshin cleaning his sword. Once he sensed her presence Kenshin sheathed his sword and gave a small smile to her. She stepped closer and sat beside him offering him a cup of tea he gladly accepted. "Kenshin, why do you work for them?"
The red-haired man looked at the cup in his hand… he seemed lost in thoughts… "I thought it was for the best…"
"You're saying you're regretted of being a member of the Ishishinshi?" – Kaoru asked.
"Half."
"Why? It's because you have to kill people?" – she asked
Kenshin's eyes got deeper: "I wanted to help people not to kill them…"
She felt the sadness in his voice and the pain in his look, and it hurt her to see him this way: "But you help people Kenshin, you helped me!"
He gave her a smile as his hand closed on hers: "I am glad you're here Kaoru-dono… With you I feel… different…"
Kaoru cheeks redden at the proximity between them: "Do you?"
He caressed her face and their heads became closer… But then he stopped.
"What's happening?" – she asked
"Someone is out there, wait here." – he said before leaving the dojo.
When she was alone she started thinking about Kenshin and the moment before he left… Seemed like he was going to kiss her… she blushed and smiled… I am kissing the man of man dreams!
She was anxious for his return… she wanted more…
As a response to her wish he came into the room again.
Kenshin was facing the wall and giving his back to her. "Who was it Kenshin?"- she asked
When he turned to her his eyes were different… gold yellow: "You lied to me."
She immediately got up: "What are you talking about?"
"You're a traitor!" – he shouted – "Why Kaoru-dono? Why? I thought you cared for me…"
"Kenshin, I am not understanding… Please." – she tried to reach his arms but he refused being touched by her. She was shocked. In a moment he was being kind and now he was acting like this. Tears formed in her eyes: "I am not understanding Kenshin…"
He shook his head trying to avoid her eyes for a while… Something made him change his attitude around her… radically… What could have been?
"I have to kill you…" – his voice cracked – "I have to kill you Kaoru-dono." – there was a mix of hate, pity and pain in his eyes… he advanced to her with the sword on his hand.
Her legs started shaking and she let herself fell on her knees as he approached. "Don't do this…Please… Nooooooooooooooooo….."
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"Kaoru-dono! Kaoru dono!"
She opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was a very concerned Kenshin. His hands were on her shoulders shaking her to wake up. "Are you ok?"
She was still in shock… He realized that and gave her some time to calm down.
After a while she realized she had a nightmare…"I wake you up… I am sorry." – she passed her hand on her face.
"You were having a nightmare." – he replied – "You were screaming." – Kenshin sat next to her.
"I am sorry."
"That's ok… Do you want to tell me about what it was?" – he crossed his arms around his knees.
She shook her head negatively.
"Ok." –he replied - "Whatever it was… it was just a nightmare… Try to get some sleep now…" – he said felling helpless… If she didn't wanted to share there was nothing else he could do.
She shook her head affirmatively. Kenshin got up and left the room.
Once she was alone again Kaoru decided she wasn't going to sleep anymore… She decided.
I can't stay here anymore.
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So what? An important event took place in this chapter. Kyiosato's death...
Kenshin's troubles are about to begin... Life is never easy for our red-haired samurai...
Did you liked it?
Hope to ear from you soon.
Thanks for reading My Time Machine.
Jou-Chan Himura