"Let's take a break..." said Kenshin wearily, a veil of bangs covering
his eyes.
"I agree, it's almost been three hours of story telling." Sano responded
calmly, trying to hide the turmoil he felt with in his very core.
So everyone, except for Kaoru and Kenshin, walked into the Dojo. The
wheels in their brains spun around and around, trying to make sense
of
this dark situation. There was no sense to be made.
* * *
Kaoru sat there, staring at her feet, as if they could give her an
answer. But they weren't answering her, and Kenshin....he was so near,
yet so far. She wanted to reach out to him and pull him out of his
sea
of thoughts before he drowned. She reached out and touched his hand,
hoping to wake him. Instead, she felt him shutter.
"Kaoru-dono....with all due respect, would you please leave me? I need
a
moment alone." Two hot tears fell onto his hand, near the very spot
Kaoru touched.
"Hai, Kenshin. I understand." She stood up, and walked to the front
of
the dojo. Then she crumbled onto the ground and cried.
* * *
"I don't believe Kenshin killed Tomoe...he'd stay with his woman for
life, no matter what the circumstances." Yahiko said, trying his hardest
to play the ‘serious man'.
"Maybe we ought to head back...I'm worried for Kaoru-san." responded
Tsubame.
"Hai...but where did that Sanosuke go?" Megumi puzzled.
Sano had heard a muffled sound coming from out front. He stepped out
onto the stoop, and looked around cautiously. One could never be too
careful with Enishi and company on the loose. But there was not a soul
in sight.
Sighing, Sano turned around to go in. The sound, a little louder,
brushed against his ears again as he turned. This time he stepped off
the wooden stoop, and gently bent down to the ground.
"Jo-chan...."
Kaoru glanced up from her fetal position on the ground. Only one person
ever called her that. The only person who ever dared treat her like
a
child. She slowly sat up, and looked him in the eyes.
"Sano....I....you're right to call me ‘Jo-chan'." she spit out between
sobs. "Part of me is the budo master...the strong Kaoru who could take
on anything...but the other part is still just a little girl, who
foolishly fell in love and is dependant on him. As..as long as that
part
is there, I'll never be strong, I'll never be mature like Megumi...I'll
always be just Jo-chan."
"Jo-chan...iie, Kaoru...you're one of the strongest women I know. It's
true, you're a baby sometimes, but you have to remember...you don't
exactly live like a normal girl. Your life has pressures that boggle
my
brain, and I've wondered how the hell you've managed...but you have.
Cry...let it all out...but then brush away those tears, and put aside
that sorrow. You won't have to do it alone, either." His hand reached
out and using his thumb he gently pushed the tears out of her eyes.
"Kenshin...he'll never be mine, will he?" Kaoru asked, holding back
more
tears. Sano scratched the back of his head, unsure how to answer this.
"I'm no expert on love...but Kenshin has always put the past behind
him
before...and hopefully once this whole fucken mess is over, he'll put
it
behind him for good. After all, how could he not ever come around to
a
beautiful and talented woman, such as you....he'd have to have totally
lost it." Sano could feel the blood rush to his face, turning his cheeks
slightly red. Not knowing what else to do, Kaoru reached out and
embraced him, and Sano slowly moved his arms around her to embrace
her
in return. He held her for a few minutes, until Tsubame stepped onto
the
stoop.
"Sano-san, Kaoru-san! Is everything alright?!"
"Hai, hai Tsubame-chan, Jo-chan here just needed a hug." He lifted her
onto her feet, and helped brush the dirt off her kimono.
"Oh...okay....we were about to ask Ken-san to continue..." Sano nodded.
"We're on our way." Tsubame stepped back inside, and Sano gave Kaoru's
hand a little squeeze. "Remember Kaoru, if you ever need to be Jo-chan,
and need a shoulder for support, come to me." Kaoru nodded in response,
and he dropped her hand. They walked to the back stoop at different
paces, with different expressions on their faces. Kaoru took her seat
by
Kenshin, and Sano propped himself up against the back fence. There
may
be a sea between her and Kenshin, and she was determined to not only
rescue him from it, but cross it as well. It was comforting to know
that
if the sea was ever too stormy, she had refuge in the arms of a very
good friend.
The End
Notes:
Hai equals yes, and iie equals no, which I'm sure you already knew.
"Jo-chan" is an expression like "little missy" which is why Kaoru
would
take this as "being treated like a child"
I hope you all liked my fan fic! Remember to send all comments/questions
to jochanrk@aol.com! Till then, ja ne!