Chapter 6 - A day at town

She waited until sunrise to get up. She checked her clothes… They were still wet. I am going to take his clothes…. And later I will find a way to send them back to Kenshin.

Kaoru spent all night thinking of what to do. Should she run away? He offered her his house… but after that dream she became terrified… His eyes… they were what scared her the most…
He didn't recognize her… that she was sure. But there was something between them… She couldn't tell exactly what it was, but Kaoru was aware that he felt the same way about her. Maybe it was a connection… he made her feel safe... not totally comfortable, but safe…. So why was she so worried about a stupid dream?

"Kaoru-dono?" – she heard him calling her from inside.
Well if I wanted to run away… now it's too late. – she thought
"I am here!" – she replied – "I was checking my clothes." – Kaoru walked to the porch as Kenshin stepped out – "But they still drench."
The raid haired man smiled: "What did you expected? It rained all night."
She sighed. Kenshin could sense a bit of anxiety in her. "Is everything ok, Kaoru-dono?"
She turned to him. Why is he asking if I am ok? "Yes… But why are you asking?"
"You look tense." – he passed her and went to the kitchen - "You haven't sleep, did you?" – she followed him – "I did… not the entire night… but I did sleep maybe four or five hours…"
"Because of that nightmare…" - Kenshin opened the cupboard looking for something to cook for them.
She gulped – "Partly."
"I am sorry Kaoru-dono… I have nothing for us to eat." – he said.
"That's ok Kenshin… I am not hungry." – she lied… she was starving.
"You are a terrible liar." – he gave her a smile – "I think we should take the breakfast out. I am just going to chop some wood for you to take a warm bath…"
"What do you mean? Don't you have to work today?" – she asked surprised with her own tone of happiness… why am I so happy?
"Well… Apparently Today my job is you." – his response made her stare at him.
"What?"
He shook his head: "Katsura asked me to take you to his place tonight. He wants to reward you for saving Sakura and the children."
Kaoru stepped back: "I don't need that."
"I know you don't, but give him a chance to thank you…" – She doesn't realize that by saving those people she was saving herself too… Katsura is so thankful to her that he asked me to protect her… Even thought I would do it even if he didn't ask me to.

"And I thought that maybe you would like to wear something different from my clothes for the dinner tonight."
Kaoru looked to herself: "But my clothes still…"
"I know." – he interrupted her – "That's why I am telling you we should take the breakfast out so that we can buy you some new clothes too."
Kaoru stared at Kenshin: "Buy me clothes?... Kenshin are you going to shop with me?" – she smirked. She couldn't imagine the red-haired man walking in and out of shops with her… he would get tired fast… It's not as if She was the kind of woman who spent almost an hour to decide what to buy… but she was still a woman… and women spend much more time than men when it comes to shopping… And that usually drives men crazy…
"Do you think I am not up to the job?" – Kenshin asked not really offended, he was trying to create a relaxed atmosphere around them.
"It's not that… I used to shop with Misao and…" – Kaoru abruptly stopped talking remembering of her friend… Remembrances of the last days together came to her mind….

Misao and Sano were always around her showing their preoccupation… Reversing their schedules Trying not to leave her alone for long periods of time… And now… she was here…but... and what about them?

Kenshin realized her humor changed since the moment she remembered someone from her past, but he really wanted to help her, so instead of asking about what mad her so sad, he tried a different approach: "I will prove you that I am a good companionship… "
She shook her head and smiled: "It's not that Kenshin… I will love to hang out with you… But… I don't have money to spend… So I think that maybe I should wait until my clothes get dry."
He came close to her: "Kaoru-dono, it's not like I am going to let you pay for the dresses!" – he said.
Why is she so defensive about accepting something from me? Women always accept gifts from men… Usually they are sustained by men… and she is living under my roof so Kaoru will be sustained by me.

On the other hand Kaoru was wondering Why Kenshin seemed so offended? "Kenshin I am not going to be a burden to you." – she tried to explain.
He sighed: "You're not. Take your bath and as soon as you finish we leave." – he asked.
Kaoru wanted to fight back but ended up nodding. "Yes."

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Somewhere in Tokyo

The girl closed the doors behind her. She was experiencing pain and grief like she had never felt before…
He died last night… Murdered... murdered by the infamous assassin Battousai.
Her father words were echoing inside her head. Kiyosato was gone, forever. She would never see him, or hear the sound of her beloved fiancé's voice again.
Akira Kiyosato and Yukishiro Tomoe were engaged since last summer. Kiyosato was deeply in love with her, that was clear since they were children, and Tomoe loved him too but she was not the type of woman who shows emotion easily… Misjudging her feelings Akira decided to postpone the wedding until the end of the year… he said he wanted to become stronger to make her proud of him, so, he moved to Kyoto joined the Mimawarigumi and became the bodyguard of Shigekura. And he got himself killed. – She thought – Because of me. I was the only one who wasn't able to tell him what I really felt for him… and now he is dead… It's my fault…

"She never deserved him!" – she heard a familiar voice crying.
"Yamero!" – Another familiar voice – "Nee-chan is suffering too!" - His little brother was defending her from Akira's mother and sisters.
But inside Tomoe felt guilt and ashamed. They were right… Her body was so numb… as if her brain was not allowing her to move… A hand rested on her shoulder: "Onee-chan… Don't be like that, please…"
She didn't replied or move. Enishi froze: "I can't see you like this… Onee-chan."

Ignoring his brother words, her mind was focused in one thing only:

I need to get out of here… I need to do something to prove Akira that I loved him… He was the love of my life… He never knew that in life… Now that he is dead… I need to at least prove him that I would do anything for him…

I need… Revenge.

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Kaoru felt miserable comparing herself to the other women that passed by. They were so elegant on their kimonos, Maybe he was right about the dresses… she really needed one.

One thing she found odd was the fact that most of them walked a few steps behind their husbands… She looked at Kenshin on her side… "Why do they walk like that Kenshin?"
"It's a tradition… people say that it's a sign of respect…" –he replied looking at her – "Is it the first time you are noticing that kind of behavior?" – he asked intrigued... She was probably eighteen years old and it was the first time she realized that some women walk behind their husbands? It was odd.

"In my country people don't do that." - Kaoru asked a little disappointed with what she thought to be stupid formalities… Would Kenshin want her to act that way too?
He lifted his eyebrow: "I assumed you were Japanese… because of your name."
She smiled: "No… I was born in Portugal. My grand mother lived in Japan for a few years… and she was the one who choose my name… That's why I have a Japanese name."
The samurai nod. ´She speaks perfectly Japanese… Like a first language… he stopped walking,
She stared at him: "What happened Kenshin? Why did you stop?"
He pointed to the shop: "I think that you should come in Kaoru-dono and choose your dress in here."
Kaoru looked at the shop window. Her eyes focused on the dark blue kimono at the center of the window. "Wow… that's soo beautiful!" – she exclaimed completely unaware of the people around her.
Kenshin just smiled… It was a really beautiful kimono, she was right. "Why don't you try it on?"
Her eyes widened when she looked back at him: "Really? Can I try it on?"
"Off course Kaoru-dono. If you like it you can wear it tonight…" – Kenshin wanted to laugh at her reaction… she looked like a child receiving a long-expected gift.
Kaoru nodded and they came into the shop. She was hesitant… she had never wear something like that before… but as soon as The assistant came to her, Kaoru's hesitation flew away. The woman dressed her up and helped Kaoru with her hair.

As she stared at the mirror Kaoru heard the assistant say:

"You look amazing my lady."

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Kenshin was waiting for her near to the shop's door.. Although he was the one who told her to go there he felt like a fish out of the water in that situation. Usually women go shopping with their female friends, but he knew Kaoru didn't have anyone else apart from him… and… he smirked, she couldn't go to Katsura's house wearing his hakama… I should ask Sakura to invite Kaoru-dono to shopping along with her…
He never took a woman to his place before… But he didn't felt uncomfortable around her… Actually it was a revitalizing feeling to have someone waiting for you to come home…
On the other hand Kenshin was apprehensive about tonight's dinner. Not because of Katsura and the other guys, but because of her and Katsura's previous request. The Ishishinshi's head wanted Kaoru to stay in his house along with Sakura and the children. It's safe for her- he remembered the man's words - Kenshin did not agree with that… Sakura was attacked in that same house… he thought, also he was intrigued about Kaoru and all the secrets she seemed to carry… He wanted to know more about her.
Besides, Kenshin couldn't deny he was getting familiar to her.

"Uh..uh.." – she tossed making him look back. Kenshin's eyes focused on her. Kaoru was amazing in that kimono…
She turned around herself and smiled: "How do I look Kenshin?"
Absorbed by her beauty and surprised of how much it affected him, Kenshin was unable to say a word.
Facing his silence Kaoru's smiled faded: "You don't like it…" – she assumed.
The red-haired man blinked twice: "No….Kaoru… you just got me off my guard…" – he sighed and smiled: "You are outstanding… "
"Are you sure? Or are you just being nice?" – by the way he act it could be one thing or another and Kaoru didn't knew him well enough to be sure.
"I am sure." – he came close to her – "You look amazing in that kimono."
His words seemed truthful enought to make her blush…
After paying for the dress, The samurai offered her his hand and Kaoru gladly accepted. She really needed some support to help her walking because she wasn't acostumated with that kind of sandals.

"Where do you want to go my lady?" – he asked playfully
"I don´t know… You are the one who lives here… I am new at the town, remember?"

He couldn't explain why he felt so light near her. Maybe it was because today's job didn't involve blood… Or fighting… or discussing attacks and strategy… No. Today's job was a pleasant one for him. And that's why Kenshin felt lighter.

"First we should eat something, then I am going to show you the town." – he said.
"Ok." – Kaoru nod. She didn't felt strange around him anymore. They walked side by side like old friends. Kaoru wanted to ask him about the scar in his left cheek but thought that her question would change his mood, so she left it to other occasion… He seemed happy and she didn't wanted to ruin this moment.

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He watched his sister gathering her clothes and shook his head. He argued with his father because he didn't allow him to go with her. Old fool. Does he think he can trap me here? Enishi already formed a plan and nothing would stop him. He was leaving too, there was nothing left for him if Tomoe wasn't there and besides, what would he do if he stayed? Probably nothing.
Maybe she decided to change because she couldn't support the way people glanced at her. Akira's family really made an effort to make things worse by telling everyone that their son's death was caused by his fiancée wishes of a superior life.
Enishi hated those people. It was not her fault that he died. He died because he was weak… It didn't bothered him that he would have to leave his friends… He didn't have many anyway. And his father… they really never get well…
They were moving to Kyoto, and Enishi hoped that whatever were the reasons that lead his sister there, she could learn how to smile again.

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It had been a pleasant day for them. But as the hours passed Kenshin felt worried about the dinner. He couldn't stop thinking that Katsura's invitation would change the situation between Kaoru and him. In a normal situation he wouldn't think about that, because he would look at Kaoru as a job… But something about her touched deep in his soul. He didn't knew what it was but….
"It's so beautiful."

Kenshin looked back. He was so deep in thought that didn't noticed she had stopped walking. "What is it Kaoru-dono?"
Her eyes were locked on something: "The sunset." – she answered without looking at him.

Kenshin looked at the sun that was starting to disappear behind one of the town buildings. It was beautiful, yes, but he didn't understood what made Kaoru stop. There was a sunset every day… Unlike other things in life…that you may loose at any second.
"It's so beautiful and at the same time sad…" – she groaned
He came close to her: "Why?"
Kaoru turned his face to him:"Well, we can be in different places… different citys, different countries or different centuries… But the sun… the sun will always be the same. "
"And why does that makes you sad?" - Kenshin asked not understanding why she would be gloomy because of the sunset.
She looked down and took a deep breath: "Because there was a time that my father used to take me by the hand and we walked all the way from my house to the beach, only to witness the sunset together." – she stopped talking for a while and Kenshin noticed that those images where still fresh in her, and that was sharing her feelings with him, and for some reason we was eager to hear them.

She bit her lip. "He used to tell me that the moon, the stars all the greatest creations, even the sun… we were bigger than them…" – she scratched her head: "No… that's not the word he used, he said… better… yes, we are better than them."
"It's a shame that they live longer than us." – Kenshin replied.
Kaoru shook her head: "No. That's what made us so special…"
He looked at her intrigued. She continued: "We have a short life, that's truth, but, we can appreciate the sunrise and the sunset, we can make wishes upon stars we can stare at the moon and wonder how it would be to live there…" – she gave a shy laugh… "But they are not able do that to us…. They cannot be us… They just do what they are "programmed" to do… " – she crossed her arms in sight of Kenshin's odd look–

"Don't you see Kenshin? We can be the sun on somebody's life… We decide what our life is, if it is a sunny one or not… we have a choice…. They don't… They are there for us… To remember us that it doesn't matter where we are… there's always a bit of home when we contemplate them…" – she puffed.-

The samurai was out of words again. Definitively she had the talent of leaving him speechless. Kenshin smiled: "I see." Then why is my life so dark? Am I making wrong choices?

Why is he so silent? Why does he seem so distant? "Are we far from Katsura's place?" – she asked only to make him talk.
Apparently It worked, because Kenshin shook his the thoughts away from his mind and started walking again. "No. It's right there." – he said putting his hands inside of his clothes.
Kaoru started following him again. After walking for what she thought to be hundred meters, the red-haired man stopped abruptly. Kenshin turned to her with a serious look on his face.
"Kenshin?" – his eyes were deep violet and the way he stared at her… it was also deep… As if he was trying to read her mind. But why was he acting so strange? Seemed like we wanted to warn her of something…
He was chewing his lip…
"Is there something you want to tell me Kenshin? " – she asked worried about his behavior.
He sighed and nod his head: "Kaoru… These people… they are…"
"Dangerous?" – she asked concerned
"Different…" – he replied – "Well… Katsura… he may ask you to stay at his house."
Kaoru lifted her eyebrow: "Stay? What do you mean?"
"You saved his wife and he wants to compensate you… Also he says that's safer for you to stay there than in my place."
Her heart started beating faster: "You are going to leave me here…" – the look of hurt in her face made Kenshin sad but at the same time he was happy to see she wanted to stay with him.
He put his hand on her chin and forced her to look at him: "I don't think you should stay… But it's not polite to decline his request." – he answered – "I do not like the idea neither…. And that's why I am trying to convince him that you are safer with me."
His words made her heart almost burst from her chest: "Are you?"
"Yes." - Kenshin smiled. He didn't had any idea why he was telling her that, but the words just came out from his mouth .
"I hope you succeed." – she looked away. She just met him and they were going to be apart? It was unfair. Kaoru knew that somehow she ending there had to meant something and it was related to Kenshin. She needed to find the reason… and she couldn't do it if they were living in different places.

"Kenshin." – they both looked back to see a man, a samurai, waving and smiling to them.
When he smiled his eyes closed, and his skin was darker than usual… also he had a strange, almost non-existable mustache. That was for sure an odd man.
"I am glad you finally present your friend to us." – he said as he reached them
Kenshin didn't replied.
"Come on Kenshin, introduce me to the girl!" – he said in face of Kenshin's silence. Kenshin looked at Kaoru and said: "Iizuka, this is Kamyia Kaoru, Kaoru this is Iizuka, he is one of the members Of the Ishishinshi."
The other man bent a little but then turned to Kenshin: "I meet you inside."

Kaoru shivered when Iizuka looked at her. He had a cold but empty look on his eyes. For some reason, she didn't liked him…
"Lets go inside Kaoru-dono." – he said starting to walk.
Forcefully She obeyed and followed him.

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Sorry for the delay...

This one was a little longer but i hope you like it.

Jou-chan

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