Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ A Walk in the Sunlight ❯ More Than Friends ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer - Sadly, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. It is the sole property of Nobuhiro Watsuki and the many companies who have purchased the rights.

Hello all. Sorry, once again, for the lateness of this chapter. I never intended it to take this long to post this but I'm now officially a karate mom so my time is limited during the week. Between making sure my son does his homework and chauffering him to karate class, it's a fight to get decent time to work on the chapters during the week but I will do my best to update a little bit more often.

Anyway, that aside, I would also like to bring to your attention a new piece of artwork MelyCat at devART did for me. It's not a fanart of any story but a pic I requested of Kenshin in his hitokiri days but not in full Hitokiri mode. If you'd like to check it out, pop over to her devART account when you're done.

And now, with all that said, on with the chapter...

Chapter 9 - More Than Friends

Kaoru grinned and finally let herself relax as she walked Kenshin out onto the front porch. It was over and they had both survived. Miracles never ceased. Snorting softly, she smirked and turned to face the only person who had gone up against her father, and won. "Thanks for coming tonight."

Kenshin smiled softly. "It was my pleasure. I'm glad I had this chance to meet your family."

Kaoru bit back a sarcastic chuckle and gave him a sideways look, "Don't lie. Meeting my father couldn't have been all that pleasurable."

"Maybe not pleasurable..." Kenshin agreed with a grin. "...but he only did that because he loves you, Kaoru. And I think he now understands how I feel too, so maybe the next time we meet it will be less stressful, for both of us."

Kaoru felt a tiny blush pinken her cheeks at the reminder of their conversation on the porch and she nervously scuffed her foot on the polished boards. "I doubt that. Mom most likely talked to him while we were out on the porch, that's why he kept quiet through the rest of dinner."

Kenshin gave her a small indulgent smile and shrugged. "It doesn't matter. I meant what I said out there, and nothing is going to change that."

Kaoru frowned slightly and did her best to ignore the sudden increase in her heartbeat. She still couldn't quite believe he felt that way about her, no matter what he said.

"You still don't believe me, do you?"

Startled, she smiled sheepishly and shrugged, "I... I guess I don't, at least not fully..."

Kenshin simply smiled and took a step towards her. Resisting the urge to take a step back, Kaoru stood her ground and did her best to ignore the violet eyes boring into her.

"Has anyone ever told you, you are a very stubborn woman?"

Kaoru narrowed her eyes in mock irritation and glared at him, "All that have usually find themselves on the ground at my feet. Count yourself lucky, Himura-san."

Kenshin stared at her for a few seconds before a small smile whispered across his lips. Then he sighed, "What will it take for you to believe me, Kaoru?"

Stung by his disheartened tone, Kaoru shrugged, "I don't know. It's not that I don't believe you, it's just..." trailing off, she took a deep breath and stepped back to settle against the porch rail, "I guess it's more like I still don't understand why. I'm not like most people who can accept those words on blind faith, not when most people befriend me to get close to my father... or ... because someone bet them to..."

A sharp pain pierced her chest at the reminder of her most recent dealings with the opposite sex; a small scowl flitted across her lips. That one still hurt... a lot. Dropping her eyes to the polished wood beneath her feet, she didn't see the nearly feral scowl that crossed Kenshin's face or the bright gold that flickered through his eyes before he closed them.

Sighing softly, she trailed her big toe along a crack in the wood and whispered, "...and no one has ever gone so far as to say they love me. Ever. To be honest, I don't know what to believe right now."

All remained quiet as Kaoru traced the cracks at her feet, the only sound coming from the leaves dancing quietly in the light breeze. Wilting slightly as the silence stretched on, she felt the gulf between them growing once again. It was her own fault really, she just couldn't accept this so easily, no matter how she felt herself.

A featherlight touch on her cheek snapped her from her thoughts and she glanced up, startled by the contact. She inhaled sharply when she found Kenshin only inches away, the dead serious look in his eyes making her pause. And then a small grin played across his lips and he whispered, "I'm not going to force you to accept me, Kaoru, but... I'm also not going to give up."

And with that he leaned in and dropped a soft kiss on her forehead before he spun on his heel and headed for home. Startled, she simply watched him go and then, two steps from the top step, he stopped and glanced at her over his shoulder. "Will I see you tonight?"

Warmed by the look he had fixed on her, Kaoru smiled and nodded, "Just because I don't fully believe you love me, doesn't mean I don't believe you're my friend."

Kaoru's breath caught at the smile he gave in return, and then he nodded and stepped from the porch to vanish into the darkness between their houses.

A soft smile played along Kaoru's lips and she pushed off the rail to head into the house. Quietly opening the door, she slipped inside and gently closed it behind her, leaning against it she rested her head against the hard wood. Maybe she was being too stubborn. Maybe, just maybe he really had somehow fallen in love with her. Blushing at the thought, she rubbed her forehead with the heel of her hand and sighed. Maybe just this once she should throw caution to the wind and take him for his word. After all, he was the one and only person she'd ever known who could face her father like he had without serious repercussions.

"Kaoru? Would you come in here for a minute?"

Kaoru jumped as her mother's voice broke into her thoughts. Sighing, she pushed off the door and headed into the kitchen where her mother was feeding Sampson a few choice scraps of leftovers. Rolling her eyes, she shook her head, "Mom, he doesn't need that."

Kazumi smiled and tossed Sampson one last piece before cleaning the bowl into the garbage. "It won't hurt him, besides, I have a feeling you haven't given him any scraps since you moved down here."

"Of course I haven't." Kaoru chuckled, reaching over to scratch Sampson's head. "Why would I want to kill my best friend?"

Kazumi shook her head and set the empty bowl in the sink. "Your cooking isn't nearly as bad as you think. Have you made anything for Himura-san yet?"

Kaoru snorted, "Now why would I do that? I don't want to kill off the only friend I've ever made."

Kazumi smiled and shook her head in mild exasperation, then quietly set to work rinsing the dishes. Figuring that's all her mother had to say, Kaoru turned to head into the livingroom where her father sat nodding off in the chair beside the front windows.

"Are you sure Himura-san is only a friend, Kaoru?"

Kaoru stopped dead in her tracks and turned back to face her mother as the blood drained from her cheeks. "Yes, he's only a friend. Why?" she asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. What did her mother think she knew?

Kazumi finished rinsing the last dish and grabbed the towel to dry her hands as she turned around. Kaoru's face went even whiter when she saw the understanding look in her mother's sapphire eyes. Sighing, she swallowed and whispered, "He's only a friend. There's no time for anything more. No matter...."

Shrugging, Kaoru trailed off as a great weight settled on her shoulders, the look in her mother's eyes cutting deep. Scowling at the tears burning the backs of her eyes, she spun on her heel to leave before her mother could pull anything else out of her. Her mother had always been an expert in getting her to confess and face her problems, she had a feeling this time would be no different no matter how hard she tried to keep this to herself.

"Kaoru?"

The gentle, demanding tone of her mother's voice stopped her dead in her tracks again and she glanced over her shoulder.

"Don't hold him at arms length. I truly believe all he wants is to stay with you for as long as he can."

Surprised, Kaoru stared at her mother, at a loss for what to say. She hadn't expected that at all. Her mother had never spoken for or against anyone before this. Why the sudden change?

Kazumi simply smiled and reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "Accept what he is willing to give. You deserve to know this before Kami-sama steals you away from us."

Kaoru felt her heart constrict painfully at the sadness lining her mother's voice. "But... how can I be sure? I know he's different from the rest, but what would make him fall in love with me?"

Her mother's smile widened. "Everything. Just because you've been stricken with this disease doesn't mean you aren't beautiful, and for the first time I think someone else has seen that too."

The color rushed back into Kaoru's cheeks, "But -"

"I want you to have this, Kaoru," Kazumi cut in gently. "Please... just think it over."

Kaoru simply stared at the woman before her, wondering who she was and what she'd done with her real mother. That question became null and void though as a teasing smile settled on her mother's lips and she added, "Besides if he turns out like the rest your father will be more than happy to set him straight."

Kaoru smirked, now this was the mother she knew. Defeated, Kaoru shook her head and sighed, "We'll see what happens. I don't know if anything more will happen or not but I won't hold back if I really think he loves me. Sound fair?"

Kazumi inclined her head. "Yes." Neatly folding the towel, she set it on the counter. "Now I think it's time we headed for bed, your father isn't use to staying up all night anymore."

"Looks like dad's already given up," Kaoru chuckled, casting a glance at her slumbering father.

Her mother smiled and headed into the livingroom to wake her father and then they both said goodnight and set off for the spare bedroom. Watching them go, Kaoru flicked off the kitchen light then turned out the lights in the livingroom, "Come on Sampson, its bedtime."

With a grunt, Sampson pushed off his pillow and headed for her bedroom. Smiling, Kaoru followed behind him and quietly slid the door closed behind them. Padding softly across the room, she lifted the edge of the curtain covering the window facing Kenshin's house. She still couldn't quite believe her mother had said what she had. It was unnerving, to say the least, especially considering she and Kenshin's conversation earlier in the evening, and on the front porch for that matter.

Sighing, she rested her head against the frame of the window and stared at the dark house next door. But maybe she should take this leap of faith and trust where she never had before; Kenshin had given her no reason to doubt his sincerity. And more than likely this would be her last chance to have this one treasure.

A sharp pain pierced her chest and she dropped the curtain and set to work getting ready for bed. Who was she kidding? There was no way she would be able to simply remain his friend, it would hurt too much. The constant throb in her heart was proof that she was already lost, she just didn't want to admit it.

Wrapping the pale blue sleeping yukata around her tight, she snuggled into bed and finally accepted the truth she'd been trying to avoid. She would take what he was willing to give but God help him if he was like the rest. She wasn't going to take that kind of pain again, not with so little time left.

He would face her wrath should he prove false. She wouldn't need her father to set him straight, she'd do it herself this time.

Kenshin passed a hand wearily over his face and slowly made his way into the darkened house. Without bothering to flip on the light, he navigated the darkness into the livingroom and dropped down heavily onto his sofa. Flopping back into the cushions, he sighed and simply stared into the black nothingness as his heart clenched painfully, the truth finally kicking him dead in the chest.

One year...

A tiny ripple in the vast ocean of his twice cursed life. No, even less than that, it wasn't even enough to disturb the surface.

Closing his eyes, he sighed again and flung an arm across his face. What had he done to deserve this? No, the better question would be... what had Kaoru done to deserve this? She, of all people, deserved a whole life... and the sun. Both of which, up until now, he'd taken for granted.

A sick feeling settled into the pit of his stomach again and he shoved off the sofa to wander to the window facing her house. Lifting the edge of the curtain, he simply stared at the dark house. No, she deserved so much more than just those two simple things but no one else was listening, and the only one who was couldn't do anything about it.

Doing his best to ignore the fist tightening around his heart, Kenshin dropped the curtain and spun on his heel heading for the bedroom. And this would be a second reason to kill the snake who'd done this to him. Iizuka would die an excruciatingly slow and extremely painful death for taking the life of, not one... but two women now.

God help the little snake when he got his hands on him.

Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly to cool his heating blood and slipped out of his clothes then settled down on the wide bed. The day would come when he could extract his revenge on the man who had caused him so much agony but not right now. Right now he had to somehow prove himself so that he'd have this one measly year with Kaoru.

And thankfully that was one thing he could do...

Kaoru had no idea who she was up against. None whatsoever.

Kaoru hid a yawn behind her hand and watched as her mother finished packing. Ignoring the moisture collecting in the corners of her eyes, she gathered up the few items scattered on top of the dresser and handed them to her. "I can't believe it's already time for you guys to go home. It feels like you just got here."

Kazumi gave her a small, understanding smile. "You know, you can come home if you want to. Your room is still the same as it was when you left, except for clean sheets."

Kaoru glanced at her mother out of the corner of her eye and snorted softly, "What happened to my accepting Kenshin, hmm? That would be kind of hard if I was back in Sapporo?"

Her mother's smile widened slightly and she folded the last blouse and set it neatly in the suitcase before zipping it closed. "That's true. To be honest, I don't mind leaving you here now that I know there is someone who will take care of you."

Kaoru felt a blush pink her cheeks. Doing her best to ignore it, she mumbled, "I don't need taking care of, I can do it myself."

Kazumi shook her head and gave her a long sideways look. Moments later she settled down beside Kaoru and wrapped her arm around her shoulder. "Just do me a favor and stick to what we agreed to last night. Himura-san means you no harm, I honestly believe he meant what he said when he told your father all he wanted was to take care of you."

Completely defeated by the love washing off her mother, Kaoru sagged into her embrace and whispered, "I'll give him a chance. I promise."

Kazumi gave her a hug and nodded. "That's all I ask." And with that her mother dropped a light kiss on her forehead and stood. "Now I think it's time your father packed the car and we headed for Naha."

As if he'd heard her mother, her father suddenly materialized in the doorway. "Are you ready?"

Kazumi nodded and handed him the suitcase. Without a word her father took it and disappeared to load it into the car.

"Kaoru, would you please go ask Himura-san to meet us at the car?"

Kaoru felt her stomach hit the floor. Snapping her attention to her mother, she blurted out, "Why!?"

Her mother gave her a small smile and fixed her with a look that said she would do it whether she liked it or not. "Because I never thanked him for taking care of you up until now."

Doing her best to ignore the look, Kaoru shook her head, "But what about Dad? He hates Kenshin."

Kazumi secretly smiled and headed out into the livingroom. "Please, just do as I ask."

All Kaoru could do was watch in stunned silence as her mother vanished from sight. Swallowing nervously, she pushed off the bed and slowly made her way out into the livingroom.

"Thank you."

Giving her mother a wane smile, she glanced to her father in hopes he would say something. When all he did was give her a small nod she headed into the foyer to don shoes then headed out into the warm night. What was her mother thinking? Kenshin didn't deserve to be pitted against her father again. Last night had been bad enough.

Shaking her head in dismay, Kaoru stepped from the porch and slowly made her way across the moonlit yard between their houses. She'd only made it a couple of steps though when she was brought up short by the silhouette of the man she'd been going to fetch coming across the yard towards her. Confused, Kaoru waited until he'd closed the distance between them, then asked "What are you doing here?"

Kenshin flashed her a smile and shrugged. "I wanted to wish your parents a safe trip home. Why? Were you heading over to my house?"

"Um... yeah..." Kaoru mumbled, unnerved by being caught so easily. Scowling at herself, she shrugged and started heading for the car, "Mom asked me to come get you so she could talk to you before they left. They'll be out in a minute."

Silence met her statement and Kaoru resisted the urge to peek over her shoulder at him. Reaching the small Toyota, she settled against it and finally gave into the desire to sneak a peek. Her breath caught in her throat at the picture of him in the pale moonlight. Tonight, he'd decided to wear a white shirt that seemed to make his pale skin and strange violet eyes glow in the waning moonlight; the image setting her heart to thumping in her chest.

"Would you like to go to the park after your parents leave?"

Kaoru jumped as his voice brought her back to reality. Blushing four different shades of red at the knowing look plastered across his face she nodded and mumbled, "Sure," then immediately shifted her attention to the front door in hopes that her parents would come walking out. And thankfully seconds later, the door swung open and Sampson bolted out the door, soon followed by her mother and father.

Dropping to her knees she waited with open arms for Sampson to come running up for his hug. Wrapping her arms around him tight, she tried to take what strength she could from him before standing back up to face her mother and father alongside Kenshin. Why they had to do this again tonight was beyond her but at least this would be the last time.

Moments later her mother and father reached where she and Kenshin stood and her mother stepped up so she stood directly in front of Kenshin, "I asked you to come so that I could thank you for taking such good care of Kaoru up until now."

Kenshin smiled and cast a glance at Kaoru, setting her blood to rushing through her veins before he shook his head and quietly answered, "No thanks are needed, it's been my pleasure."

Kaoru felt her face heat up again at his tone and thanked every god she could think of that it was too dark for anyone to see. Keeping her attention fixed on her mother, she simply watched as her mother smiled and gave Kenshin a nod in understanding before stepping back to stand beside her father. And then her eyebrows disappeared into her bangs when she saw her mother surreptitiously elbow her father lightly in the side. Narrowing her eyes she watched both of her parents closely. Something was going on, she'd never seen her mother do that before. Her suspicions were proven right when he father took a deep breath and stepped forward so he stood directly in front of them both and then he inclined his head slightly in Kenshin's direction.

"Thank you for taking care of my daughter... and please continue to do so. For now, we will leave her in your hands." And with that her father cast one last glance at her before he turned to get into the car.

Stunned speechless, Kaoru simply stared at his back as he made his way around the car, the miniscule slump in his shoulders almost more than she could bear. Suddenly the feeling that he was walking away from her for good tightened her chest, stealing her breath away. Sickened by the thought, she finally found her voice and whispered, "Dad?"

Her father turned around at her call and she saw, for the first time in her life, a pain she'd never seen in his eyes before. Unnerved by the sight, she ran around the car and flung her arms around him, hugging him tight. "I love you, Dad."

She gave into the tears burning her eyes as her father's strong arms wrapped around her tight. "I know. I love you too. Come home soon, the dojo isn't the same without you."

And just as quickly as he'd hugged her, he let her go and turned to get into the car. Understanding his sudden actions, Kaoru smiled and whispered, "I will, I promise." His only answer was a nod and Kaoru's smile dropped into a smirk at his obvious attempt to keep his dignity intact. He may be a tough man, but he was a softy where she was concerned and she knew it even though he did his best to hide it.

With a contented sigh, Kaoru wiped at the wetness coating her cheeks and made her way back around the car to where her mother stood waiting beside Kenshin.

"You guys drive carefully, and call me when you get back home so I know you're safe."

Her mother nodded and leaned over to wrap her in a tight hug. "Remember what I said, you have nothing to fear from him." And with that she let Kaoru go and settled into the car. Moments later they pulled out of her driveway and headed down the road towards town. A sharp pain speared her chest as their lights vanished from sight. Fighting off the tears burning her eyes again, she took a deep breath as a wave of homesickness struck her like a fist.

"Maybe tonight wouldn't be such a good night to go to the park." Kenshin whispered beside her.

Taking a deep breath to get herself back together, Kaoru shook her head and smiled, "Its okay, I'd love to go. Can I bring Sampson?"

Kenshin smiled. "Sure."

Flashing him a quick smile, Kaoru took off for the house, "Let me grab his leash and then we can go."

Kenshin simply nodded and watched her disappear into the house. Glancing down the road, he couldn't help the satisfied smile that whispered across his lips. So, in the end he had managed to somehow win over her father. Although he didn't need the acceptance, he was very happy to have it. Now all he needed to do was convince the only one that really mattered, and from what he'd overheard her mother saying maybe it wouldn't be as hard or take as long as he'd feared.

The slamming of the front door snapped him from his thoughts and he glanced to the woman jogging towards him. The fist around his heart clenched a little bit tighter at the sight. One year. Not enough time at all. Schooling his features to a serene peacefulness he didn't feel, he smiled as she dropped down to hook the leash on Sampson, "Are you ready?"

Kaoru flashed him a smile and stood, but before she had a chance to say anything Sampson jumped to his feet and started pulling her towards the road. Chuckling, she hauled on his leash to slow him down, "I think he is, we better get moving or he's likely to drag me down road."

Kenshin smirked and jogged to catch up with her. "Eager isn't he?" he chuckled, reaching for the leash. Surprised, Kaoru released the handle and let Kenshin take over.

Shrugging, she tried to ignore his nearness and kept her attention fixed on the road before her. "I can't really blame him, he hasn't been out like this since before you started practicing with me."

"Really? I guess he deserves it then."

A comfortable silence fell between them after that and Kaoru let her mind drift over the problem she now faced. Somehow she had to figure out how to broach the subject she'd effectively closed last night between them. She had absolutely no idea how to do this. How was she suppose to let him know what she'd finally decided? It's not like she could say, Oh, by the way, I decided to give us a shot. Still up for it? or some such. But then again....

Fighting the urge to roll her eyes, she exhaled softly and shook her head. How could this one man manage to turn her world upside down in two weeks? She really was a lost cause.

"Penny for your thoughts."

With a sigh Kaoru peeked at him out of the corner of her eye and shrugged as she headed towards the park entrance ten feet away. "It's nothing really. I was just... ahhh... just... thinking about how strange the last couple of nights have been," she muttered, fumbling for a decent excuse.

"They have definitely been different." Kenshin agreed, coming up beside her. Glancing at him, Kaoru's breath hitched painfully in her throat as he gave her one of those heartwarming smiles she found so hard to resist, "But, I now have permission to take care of you and I'm not going to take that lightly. Whether you like it or not, your father has left you in my care."

At a loss for what to say, Kaoru just stared at him as he set off into the park and headed towards the back to where Sampson could run free. The independent side of her rose up in a rush, objecting to what he implied. Fighting off the desire to tell him that she didn't need anyone to take care of her, she slowly followed in their footsteps. She was sure he didn't mean it that way, but still...

Scowling at herself, she wandered to where Kenshin sat in the moon-drenched grass, Sampson already long gone to investigate the perimeter. Dropping down beside him, she tucked her legs up against her chest and wrapped her arms around them tight. "Y'know, you don't have to do what my father said. To be honest I'm still a bit shocked he said that at all...." smiling softly, she rested her chin on her knee and whispered, "I wonder what mom had to do to get him to finally accept you."

A soft sigh beside her drew her attention and Kaoru felt her heart constrict slightly at the sound. Resisting the urge to glance at him, she mumbled, "I'm sorry. I have a tendency to see the darker side of most issues. It must be the lack of sunshine in my diet."

When nothing but silence met her apology, Kaoru rolled her head to the side to see if Kenshin had somehow vanished when she wasn't looking. She snapped her head up when her eyes clashed with the stormy violet gaze fixed on her. Then he spoke and she realized just how angry he really was...

"It doesn't matter why your father said what he did. All that matters is that he did. I know you've been hurt in the past, and if I could I would hunt every one of them down and beat them to within an inch of their life for thinking they could do that to you." Pausing, Kenshin took a deep breath and let it out slowly before he continued, "Your mother was right, you have nothing to fear from me. I swear, on my wife's grave, that I will do nothing to hurt you so please, accept what I am willing to give before it's too late."

Startled, Kaoru simply stared at him in stunned silence. Here it was, the opening she'd been looking for. And yet, for some reason she couldn't seem to form the words that would let him know what she'd decided. Ripping her eyes from his, she turned her attention back out into the moonlit field before her in an effort to gather her thoughts and tried to dig up the courage to tell him what he wanted to hear.

A thick silence heavy with tension settled between them and Kaoru tried to think of how to do this. Finally, with the weight threatening to drive her into the ground, she threw caution to the wind and whispered, "Okay..."

The tension all of a sudden lifted but in its place rose an almost deafening silence and Kaoru hazarded a glance at the redhead beside her. She had to bite her lip to keep from busting out laughing at the stunned look painted across the face of the man she'd somehow managed to fall in love with. This was the first time she'd seen him like this, usually he was the one always in control.

"Okay what..?" He finally asked with a hint of disbelief settling into his eyes.

A soft smile played across Kaoru lips and she unfolded and turned to face him fully, "I'm willing to give you a chance. You must be for real, because if you weren't you wouldn't continue to press your case. And this time, I swear I won't doubt you. But, I will tell you this... if you're lying to me in any way, you won't have my father to deal with... you'll have me."

A gorgeous smile lit up Kenshin's face and he reached over and dragged her forward into his arms. "I swear, if I'm lying to you, I'll let you do whatever you want to me. Okay?"

Wrapping her arms around him, Kaoru inhaled his unique scent and smiled, "Sounds fair." Loosening her hold on him slightly, she leaned back and met the smiling violet eyes fixed on her, "So, now what. I've never done this before."

Kenshin simply smiled and, without a word, he quickly closed the distance between them, his cool lips all of a sudden covering hers. Caught off guard, Kaoru froze for a split second, unsure of what to do and then instinct took over and she hesitantly kissed him back, the feel of his soft lips moving against hers heating her entire body. Wrapping her arms around him tight, she gasped when he trailed his tongue along her bottom lip. As if that was what he'd been hoping for, he slipped his tongue between her lips and started gently caressing hers. Surprised, Kaoru involuntarily shivered at the sensations this new level of kissing sent rushing through her body. And then she knew no more as the kiss ignited another sensation deep in her belly; the fire spreading out from her center threatening to consume her whole.

Falling completely into the sensations coursing through her body, she lost all track of time until finally, the need for air became too much and she reluctantly broke the kiss. Still feeling a little out of sorts, she simply held on to him and leaned back, "So... um that's what, huh?"

A suggestive smile played along Kenshin's lips and he whispered, "That's only the beginning. There is so much more I plan on showing you but for now we'll start with that."

Kaoru blushed a deep red at the purr in his voice and shifted her attention out across the park in an effort to get herself back together, "Um... I suppose we should collect Sampson before the sun comes up."

Kenshin nodded and reluctantly dropped his arms. "I suppose we should. The sun will be up soon and we have to get you back home."

Feeling the loss of his warmth keenly, Kaoru pushed off the ground and was just about to call out to her best friend when he suddenly materialized beside her. With a smile she attached the leash, "So you knew it was about time, huh?"

Sampson barked once and started pulling her to the entrance.

"He knows when the sun comes up, doesn't he?" Kenshin asked in wonder as he came up to walk beside her.

Kaoru smiled fondly and nodded, "Yeah, he does. My parents brought him home to be my friend but they got so much more than just that. They've often said that had they brought Sampson home sooner I most likely wouldn't have had the accident I had when I was four years old."

Kenshin's eyebrow's shot up. "Accident?"

The smile dropped from Kaoru's lips and she took a deep breath, the remembered pain tingling across her skin once again. "When I was four years old my parents accidentally left the back door unlocked while I was sleeping one afternoon and that day, for some reason, I woke up in the middle of the day. Of course being the curious one I am, I ignored all the warnings my parents had drilled into me from birth and innocently wandered outside into the bright afternoon sunshine." A small sad smile tickled her lips and she fixed her attention on the road before them, "My mother told me I couldn't have been outside for more than five minutes when she heard my blood-curdling screams and came running. In those measly five minutes I'd been burned so badly that by the time she reached me I'd passed out from the pain."

Shrugging half-heartedly, she sighed. "If I'd had Sampson at that time, I would have never made it out the door. But no one knew that such a dog could exist."

Kenshin reached out and grasped her free hand gently. "I'm sorry."

Kaoru snorted softly, "It's not your fault I'm like this. But y'know what's really funny? I would give anything to be able to, just once, feel the sun's warm rays dance across my skin without that pain. Just once, that's all I ask for."

When nothing but silence met her statement, Kaoru glanced to Kenshin and was shocked to see a pained expression twisting his features. Startled, she asked, "Are you okay, Kenshin?" Instantly the look vanished to be replaced by a soft smile and she eyed him suspiciously as he nodded.

"I'm fine. I just wish I could make that dream come true for you."

Touched, Kaoru smiled, "No one but Kami-sama can make that dream come true. I'll just have to hold out for my next life and hope Kami-sama sees fit to allow me the sun..." pausing, she shrugged as a sardonic smirk tickled her lips, "... although I don't really believe in reincarnation, I do hope for some type of miracle."

Kenshin simply smiled a sad smile that said he knew something she didn't. Curious, Kaoru was just about to ask him what that look was for when he said, "We're here. You better get inside before the sun comes up."

Kaoru swung her head around and was surprised to see that he was indeed right; they were standing at the end of her sidewalk. Pulling Sampson to a stop, she turned to face him and smiled, "So, I guess this is goodnight, then..."

"I guess it is..." Kenshin agreed and then he leaned in and dropped a light kiss on her lips. "Goodnight. I'll see you later tonight."

Warmed by the contact, Kaoru tried her best not to blush and simply nodded then spun on her heel to head inside before she did something embarrassing. This man had no idea what his love meant to her. None whatsoever. Sobered by the thought, she cast a quick glance over her shoulder and was surprised to see him still standing where she'd left him. But then again, maybe he did know.

Smiling softly, she lifted a hand and waved before she led Sampson inside. It was hard to believe but for the first time in her life she would be counting the minutes until she could see him again. And sadly she had a feeling it was going to take a lifetime for those minutes to pass.

Rolling her eyes at her melodramatic self, she shook her head. She really was a lost cause.

Kenshin watched Kaoru until she vanished into her house. The fist wrapped around his heart tightened to the point of almost crushing it. She asked for so little and yet, that one miracle was one even he couldn't grant, no matter how much he wished to do so.

Sickened by the thought, he slowly made his way to his house, his feet dragging under the weight of the truth. What was truly ironic about this whole thing was the fact that it had been that very same dream that had killed Tomoe although the circumstances were different. Unlike Kaoru, Tomoe had been free to live beneath the bright rays of the sun and had wished to still be able to do so even after he changed her. And because of that one dream her life had been stolen too soon and he had been made into what he was now, a freak among both humans and vampires.

Scowling, he did his best to shove the unwanted memories into the back of his mind and made his way up the steps to unlock the door. Stepping soundlessly into the pitch black, he negligently tossed his keys on the table nearby. Silently closing the door behind him, he turned to head for the livingroom to flip on the light. He'd only made it two steps into the house though when he was all of a sudden brought up short by the distinct feeling that he wasn't alone. And much to his dismay moments later he was proven right...

"So my idiot apprentice is at it again...." a disembodied voice drawled sarcastically from across the darkened livingroom, "...didn't you learn your lesson the first time, or do you need to kill one more just to make sure?"

Kenshin's eyes flashed gold as his stomach hit the floor and he reached out to flip on the light to illuminate the one person he'd hoped to avoid for the rest of his worthless life.

"Shishou?"

... and now, the fun begins...

Sorry about the cliffhanger but if I was to continue this right now it would be an extremely long chapter, so I decided to stop there. I'll do my best to get the next one up soon.

Also, please review. I'd love to know what you think.