Mornings After

by hye-kyo

Disclaimer: Nope, RK isn't mine…

Author's Notes: OKay, so it took me a really long time. So sorry for the dealy. I totally forgot about it since haeps and heaps of requirements were being demanded. So here, I don't know if this would be okay. I hope so. Sorry for being super senile... Love you guys!

Read and REview!

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Chapter fifteen: unfair

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Kaoru awoke in the middle of the night with a cold sweat on her brow. She had a dream, a bad dream. But whatever that dream was she couldn't remember.

She made her way through the dark to the refrigerator. She opened the door and poured herself a glass of milk. She sat on the sofa, studying the dark living room. Her eyes grew accustomed to the dark and she lifted her feet off the floor and tucked them close to her chest as she huddled in one corner of the sofa.

She closed her eyes and suddenly remembered the dream, as if a surge of memories came flooding through her. She was running, she was running from something she could not see. Whenever it comes closer she would feel like she was drowning but after bobbing her head up and down in the water she'd finally be able to swim away from the danger and she'd be able to see the reflection of whoever it was running after her.

And the figure of that person or thing was something she couldn't remember.

---

"How long would it take?" she asked worriedly as she stared at her car. She misses it so.

The man with the spikes grinned at her, "I'm telling you Jou-chan you should just have it towed and buy a new one."

She frowned, "It's been with me for a very long time. How can I let it go?"

"There are things that you should let go of," he said seriously.

His words were weighted with meaning, "I'll think about it Sano. Anyway, how's Megumi? She's due in a month?"

"I told her to quit her job for a couple of months until she's fully recovered," he said, scratching the back of his neck.

Just then a man with long hair with hands covered in grease approached them, "I'll be out for lunch boss. Do you want me to buy something for you?"

"Sure Tsunan, the same thing." And he handed him some rolls and turning to Kaoru, "What would you like Jou-chan?"

"Nothing," she said with a wave of a hand, "I'm heading back to the office anyway."

"Okay," and he shooed Tsunan away. "Anyway, I heard Tomoe's back."

"Yeah." So everybody knows about it now. "News really spread so fast."

"Gossip." He laughed.

"I'm going back now. I'll come visit again. Call me if anything's come up."

"Sure, and next time I'll show you a catalog."

"I'll take that to mind," and she frowned.

---

"I'm going," he said as he straightened his jacket. His father was sitting on the couch watching nonsense in the boob tube.

There was no answer. A wordless gruff sounded just as Kenshin was pushing the door open.

"I heard Tomoe's back," his words caused him to falter.

"Who told you?" he asked, turning to glare at him.

"None of your business," was the sarcastic remark.

Kenshin shrugged it off and endured the pelting of his father. He turned the knob and pushed the door open.

"You finally getting married?"

He sighed and without even turning back he left.

---

Tomoe nodded, as if the person on the other line could see her. "Yes, I will." She nodded again, sadly.

"When," she stammered but nevertheless continued, "When are you coming to see me?"

She looked down on her feet as she listened. She knew it, she shouldn't have hoped. It was wrong.

"Alright," she whispered. And then there was a click. She wanted to say more, to tell him more. But the conversation ended abruptly and she was left to stare at her own feet. Maybe she was becoming pathetic. She was starting to regret the decisions she had made.

---

Misao accompanied Megumi to the clinic. Megumi was on the family way.

"I haven't talked to her yet," Misao said as they waited. There was a long queue. "We should've come earlier."

"Yes," Megumi nodded, holding the mound, "It's really heavy now."

"Where's Sano?"

"At work," she said absent-mindedly, "Is Kenshin still seeing her?"

"Maybe, I really don't know."

Megumi stood up and looked around. "I haven't seen Kaoru."

Misao clucked her tongue, "I talked to her, but she hadn't said anything. I think she'd not be of any help."

"Why interfere anyway?" Megumi sat down again and began gently stroking the mound.

Misao thought for a while and then pouted, "I don't like her. She hurt my brother before. It's nothing to her if she'd hurt him again."

"Who knows? Maybe this time it's going to be alright."

Misao rolled her eyes and pursed her lips.

---

The curtains opened. She was wearing a white wedding gown. Her hair was in a neat bun. She was holding her skirt in one hand.

She looked at him shyly and asked, "So…how does it look?"

He was bewitched. He couldn't answer.

"You look good ma'am," the attendant answered for him.

"Really?" she asked the attendant and turned towards the mirror. She twirled her skirt. "I thought it wouldn't look good." She then gestured towards Kenshin, "Right?"

"It…it does look good," he finally said.

She smiled and slowly made her way towards him. When she was close enough she said, "I'm glad you came here with me. I wouldn't know what do without you."

Kenshin wasn't able to say anything. He simply nodded and smiled. Tomoe was beautiful and she was taking his breath away.

"I'm sure you'd have a happy wedding ma'am," the attendant broke into the conversation.

"Thanks," Tomoe murmured, looking down at the embroidery on her skirt.

"Your future husband was bewitched," the attendant continued. She turned to Kenshin.

Tomoe simply looked away, not being able to say that it wasn't Kenshin. She waited until Kenshin would say something but he didn't. She turned to Kenshin and smiled a weak smile.

Kenshin returned the smile. But though he is smiling, the pain was great.

---

Kenshin turned to the brunette who was glancing at him. When their eyes met the girl instantly looked away. They were now walking along the paved streets, overlooking the sea. He decided to ignore the girl.

"Are you hungry?" Tomoe finally asked. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Ah, no…not really," he said. His hunger had long gone.

Tomoe smiled apologetically at him, "I took a lot of your time."

He was about to answer when she suddenly leaned closer.

"Here," she said, smiling, "There was something on your collar." She brushed his collar with her fingers.

"Ah," he said awkwardly, the brunette was now looking at them, "Thanks." He wondered who could that be.

---

The telephone rang. Eri, one of Kaoru's co-workers, picked it up.

Kaoru stared at the clock. It was only three in the afternoon. She buried her face back in the papers.

After a while, Eri's voice came from the so many noises in the background, "Kaoru."

Kaoru bobbed her head up from the stacks of papers, "Me?"

"Yes," Eri beckoned to the phone, "It's Ayu, she said she wanted to tell you something."

"Ayu?" Kaoru wondered. Yes, she hadn't seen Ayu this morning. Sekihara-san told her Ayu suddenly went on a trip. Kaoru doesn't know the details.

"Hey," Ayu's voice came through.

Kaoru stared at Eri's back as the latter walked back to her cubicle. "Where are you?"

"Hey," Ayu said, "I hadn't the chance to tell everyone…I had to see my mother here in Nagoya."

"You're in Nagoya?" Kaoru glanced at the watch again.

"Yes, I arrived this morning," there was a sound of a car honking in the background.

"You wanted to tell me something? Eri said so," she wanted to make this conversation quick. She had to finish a lot. She doesn't want to go on overtime again.

"Ah yes," there was hesitation in her voice.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Ah…Himura-san…Sekihara-san told me about him—"

Kaoru frowned.

"—I've seen him a couple of times already since he always comes to fetch you…so I doubt that I could be mistaken—"

"What?" she asked, getting confused.

"I saw him…earlier…I'm sure that it's him, though I could be mistaken. But I'm sure it's him. I mean, he has peculiar features, very good looking…so I mean there's no way I could mistake him for someone else right? I looked many times and every time I become more certain that it's him—"

"Ayu, Ayu, so? What are you trying to tell me?" Kaoru's brows furrowed.

"He's with a woman, a very pretty woman." Then there was a long pause. "Here, in Kobe."

Kaoru thought for a while. In Nagoya? It is possible. "With a woman?"

"Y-yes…"

"With long hair? Pretty?"

"Yes."

Kaoru frowned. It is possible. Kenshin was with Tomoe.

"Kaoru…"

Kaoru felt something cringe. Not now, she doesn't want to know about it. "Why are you telling me anyway?"

There was a long pause, much longer than the first and then finally, "Because…because Sekihara-san told me he is…he is your boyfriend…"

"Boyfriend?" Kaoru clucked her tongue.

"Yes, so I thought I should tell you because he might be cheating on you. Actually, they are so sweet Kaoru." Ayu continued rambling on.

"Ayu," Kaoru stopped her, "I…I don't really care about them."

"Eh?"

Kaoru swallowed hard. So they were together? "He isn't my boyfriend. We don't have any relationship whatsoever."

"Really? But Sekihara-san said—"

"Forget about what she told you." She was getting irritated. Kenshin was going out with Tomoe again. Were they back together?

"Oh, alright…" there was hesitation in her voice. To Kaoru, Ayu apparently didn't believe her.

"Anyway, I still have to finish a lot of things. Do you want to talk to Eri?"

There was a deep intake of breath, "No, not really. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Okay." Kaoru hesitated and then said, "Ayu?"

"Yes?"

She sighed, "Thanks…for the concern." The last phrase sounded like an afterthought.

"Yes, don't mention it," and then there was a laugh. "Bye, see you tomorrow," and the call ended.

---

It was eleven in the evening. The phone rang and Kaoru, on her overtime, computed the statistics. She picked it up and said, "Hello?"

It was Kenshin. Kenshin's voice was hushed yet solid. "Are you busy?"

"Why?" she asked, it is better with caution.

"Are you busy?"

She debated on saying yes. But she said no because she wanted to see him. "Nope…not really…"

"Come over here." Kenshin's voice was groggy.

She thought for a while. "Where is that?"

"I'll tell you the address."

"Alright," she fiddled with the pen on her desk.

---

Kaoru paid the fare, got on her heels and looked around. She saw the signage Kenshin told her about. She hurried towards it.

She was wondering if it was alright to come. After everything. After what happened earlier. He didn't even ask her if it was alright, if it was okay for her to come. He said it like following him was the most natural thing for her to do.

But she had come. Nevertheless she had come. No, not that she wanted to see him. She just wanted to scold him.

She pushed the glass door open and found him at a lonesome corner. He was drinking. Kenshin wasn't the type who'd drink. But here he was drinking. She walked over to him. "Hey," she said, taking a seat across him.

He looked up, his eyes were red.

She frowned at him and took a bottle from the table. She took a swig and then forked whatever it was on the plate in the middle of the table and popped it into her mouth. "You should've told me you're going to drink, I could've come earlier."

He stood up as she started speaking.

Kaoru abruptly turned to him who was now on his way to the door.

"Hey," Kenshin called, one hand already on the handle.

She frowned at him.

He eventually walked to her, grabbed her arm and dragged her to her feet.

"Where are we going?" she asked, trying to return the fork she was holding, "I thought we were going to drink."

"Drive me home," he said, his voice was hoarse.

"What?" she asked, being dragged to the lot. She saw Kenshin's all too familiar car in the distance.

He relieved her arm just as they stood in front of the car. He tossed her the keys then slid into the passenger's seat.

"Hey," Kaoru stammered, staring at the keys.

"I'm too drunk to drive," Kenshin called out, now putting on his seatbelt. "Come on," he called again.

Kaoru stammered and frowned, nevertheless she entered the driver's side and started the engine. She glared at Kenshin.

---

"We're here," she said, killing the engine.

"For a while," he replied, "Let's stay for a while." He closed his eyes and leaned against the seat. He took in a deep breath.

Kaoru looked down on her lap. "You…you should thank me…and apologize to me…"

Kenshin opened one eye and glanced at him, "Hn?"

"Thank me because…because I drove you home even if it's very late…and…and apologize to me because you left me the other day…and because…and because I drove you home even if I know that…" she trailed off. She looked away. The cringing in her chest came back and her eyes felt stung.

Kenshin turned to her and smiled, "Come on." He unlocked the door and stepped out. He looked at Kaoru and beckoned her to get out.

Kaoru sighed and stepped out nonetheless. She pushed the door close.

He walked over to her and said, "It's late, you'd better get going."

Kaoru felt her tears welling in her eyes. She simply nodded and then turned around. She looked down on her feet and stopped. She was waiting for Kenshin to say something, to tell her he doesn't want her to go away yet, to tell to stay, to tell her he was sorry. But there was nothing.

"I'll call you," that was all.

And Kaoru walked away. Tears rolling down her cheeks. She wiped them unceremoniously with the back of her hand and broke off into a run.

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A/n: So how was it? I'm in a rush...can't say anything. My classmates' written reports are misisng. I don't know what we will pass tomorrow...