Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Closed Doors ❯ Chapter 2

This chapter focuses more on the 'youthful' side of Kaoru Kamiya back in the days she was in her teen years and has the hots for Himura. Hope you like this one. PLEASE, PLEASE REVIEW!!! Again, this is A/U and there's a lot of OOCs so I hope you wouldn't get disappointed by how things are going on. Thank you so much.

Standard disclaimers apply. Me broke, don't sue. ^_^;

"Closed Doors"

Chapter 2:

Just as when Kaoru shut the doors of her room inside her private apartments within the Dojo, a knock was heard from behind the main door. She went out again to see who it might be since it was almost past bedtime hours. When she opened the door, a tall man was in front of her who dressed like those westerners here in town.

"Yes…? May I help you sir?" she asked the man.

"Konbanwa Jou-chan! How come you don't recognize me?" said the man removing his hat. His spiked-hair was revealed. Could it be…?

"Sanosuke? Sagara Sanosuke? Is that you?" Kaoru said as she tried to look more closely at him in the dark.

"Yah, yah its me… now are you gonna give me some tea or what?" he jokingly said.

Kaoru smiled at his retort, "You're Sano alright! Come in!"

She led him to her small kitchen inside. Sano exclaimed at the classy abode, "Whoa! This Dojo's really different from the one I was in before, neh? How time flies!"

Upon hearing Sano's reaction, all she did was smile. Upon reaching the destination, "Would you like anything more? Bread, rice, anything?"

"No, arigatou Jou-chan. I've already eaten at the inn I'm staying at present. Just tea please."

"Huh? That doesn't sound like you Sanosuke…"

"Oi Kaoru! What d'ya mean??? Just give me some tea will ya??"

Kaoru laughed. "Haha! Now THAT sounds more like the Sano I know! Wait here then…"

The tanuki girl went now to the kitchen to fix him the tea he wanted.

A few moments later, as she watched him sip some from the tea she made, she finally asked him, "So Sanosuke, how's France huh?"

Without looking at her, he said, "France is great! I mean--the place is nice, the sights plus the girls of course-but its so nice that it could make you go homesick often!"

Kaoru gazed at him in wonder, "Really? Oh how I wish I could also go there! I will take along Yahiko and the others! Most especially Megumi…" she looked at him mischievously.

Sano almost choked at the sound of Megumi's name. He composed himself before he tried to change the topic. "Speaking of them, how are they?"

"Oh, they're all okay. Yahiko still teaches here at the Dojo, Tsubame gets to be the one to stay at their house--your pad, do you remember? Yahiko had it remodeled. Dr. Genzai and the kids are fine! They have grown up already-they live here actually. They live next to my apartments…" she stated.

Sano pause for a while, "How 'bout you? You finally came over 'it'?

Kaoru's sudden change of mood from a jolly to a depressed one alerted Sano. "Uhh, well… you could disregard my last question you know, Jou-chan…"

The girl felt Sano's worry that she might relapse again to her grief, she tried to lighten up her face, "Nah, its okay Sanosuke. Its just that this day has really been long for me and I got so tired…"

Indeed she seemed tired. Her eyelids look heavy. Sano took the opportunity to say goodbye, "Yeah, you look like you fought with a dozen men!" he said as he got up, "Arigatou Jou-chan, for the nice tea…"

Kaoru hesitated, "Sano…"

"What?"

"Gomen nasai…" she said as she shook her head.

Sano patted her shoulders, "Oi Jou-chan, that's nothing okay? I still have a long time to stay here so we still have many chances to talk. We'll talk about you, neh? You seemed bothered. Much as I wanted to know it right now, I'm afraid I may have to let you sleep. Thank your already drooping eyes…" he said as he chuckled lightly.

Kaoru smiled in gratitude, "Arigatou Sano. You still hadn't changed. You're still the bestfriend I've always had…"

The ex-gangster grinned at her in response as they came at the Dojo gates, "Of course. I will still be here for you Kaoru, no matter what."

She interrupted him as she remembered where could he be staying for the night, "Arigatou again. Hey wait, where are you going now? Do you have somewhere to sleep at?"

Sano proudly replied, "I think I'd be visiting my old house to see Yahiko for the meantime. Don't worry, I'm staying at an inn just right downtown. So, sayonara for now?"

Kaoru smiled "Hai. Take care Sanosuke. Sayonara."

With that, she closed the gates again and went back to her room.

Though tired, sudden flow of memories came flooding her mind. The smile she gave Sano a while ago didn't fade just yet. She remembered the kind of friendship they had once shared way back before.

After the tragedy that had struck Kaoru before, if Yahiko had been a younger brother who took care of her together with Misao and the others, Sanosuke would be her 'clinging staff' as she slowly learned to face the world anew again. Without his help, she wouldn't have gone through it all.

Sano was 'mean' to her in a way before, but he was kind in general. She took in Sano who was an ex-streetfighter, and offered him free stay at the Dojo. But as time passed, and most especially after what happened to her, he became the only person she trusted her secrets to, that sometimes she would not tell Yahiko.

But there was no point where Sano tried to court her. She and Yahiko would argue about it before.

"Hey busu! I think the rooster's gone gay. He could've been one handsome chicken…" laughed the still-youngster Yahiko then.

"And what makes you say those kind of things, Yahiko? He's so kind…"

"Yeah I know. But it just makes me think why he doesn't make any move though I can see he's really so into your life, neh?"

"Yahiko, we're just friends."

"What?? What 'just friends'? With the way you both treat each other, its no doubt why the fox lady left for Aizu so suddenly! Are you sure he's not your lover, busu? You can tell me, you know." he said as he grinned in mischief to Kaoru .

"He's NOT my lover, Yahiko. I swear to Kami…"

"And he's not even courting you?"

"Nope. Definitely not."

"Poor rooster," said Yahiko while shaking his head in disbelief.

Kaoru also thought of the idea before on why Sano had begun to be so kind to her so sudden, but was not even courting her. Not one but many would think they're lovers. But as time flew by, Kaoru had proven to herself that it's only friendship she and Sano share. A kind of friendship much deeper than any romantic relationship of other couples.

It's nice for Sano to drop by at this time, she said to herself. I need his help. I know he'll understand me.

Kaoru was sleepless that night. What went around her mind was one thing that happened way back when her perception of life was still not that complicated. Back when she thought she would stay young… no care for the world…without big responsibilities to serve as burdens…

Actually she was the one who started everything. She was the one who turned the wheel of fate against herself. She was the one who made the situation. The one who made the way. What would she think, in her young mind, that that way she made will bring her to a road so steep, so dark and without assurance?

Many things floated in Kaoru's mind. There was beautiful music. There were people all around her. And in the center of that event, a man she knew very well, caught her attention as he'd always would. A man who sat at the corner of the place. Alone. Busy watching the happy people in the center of that big garden…

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

It was, at that time, the wedding anniversary of Kazue and Makiko-long-time friends of the Kamiya family. Kaoru did on purpose to dress beautifully for that occasion because Megumi told her that tonight would be a now-or-never for her and Kenshin. The Kenshingumi were also invited.

The gathering was on its highlight when Kaoru felt hopeless about hers and Kenshin's situation that night. She didn't know that probably she has already drank a lot of sake when she saw him sitting in one corner drinking by himself. She watched him anxiously from the distance while he was watching the people celebrating.

Kaoru decided to step closer. When Kenshin's face became clearer to her, she felt her heart skipped a beat.

She thought fast on what to do. She brushed her long hair in a ponytail with her fingers and slightly fixed her kimono and finally took a deep breath.

Kaoru felt the thump in her heart. Ssshhh, she said and put her hand in the part of her heart, as if trying to silence it.

She ran over a servant offering sake. She kindly asked for some, gulped at one sip of it and proceeded towards Kenshin's direction.

When she finally came near him, she acted as if she tripped on something and she spilled some sake on his hakama.

"Ororo!" a surprised Kenshin muttered.

"Oh I'm sorry Kenshin! Gomen!"apologized Kaoru. Afterwards she flashed the most sweetest smile on her face at him, while finding her own handkerchief inside her sleeves.

"I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"Hai, Kaoru-dono. No harm done," Kenshin smilingly replied to her as he got his own handkerchief. Kaoru's heart beat faster as she saw his killer ruruoni smile once again.

"Please sit Kaoru-dono." he offered her.

Kaoru sat down very quickly. A few moments after, she was cursing herself silently because she doesn't have anything to say. She looked at Kenshin's cup.

"What are you drinking?" she asked.

"This Kaoru-dono? Sake, of course." he answered.

"Can I try it?"

Kenshin did not know what to say. "I don't think you should Kaoru. They serve a stronger type of sake here. You wouldn't even be able to…"

But before he could finish what he was explaining, Kaoru had already drank from his own cup. After tasting it, she wasn't able to hide the terrible expression on her face. She coughed so hard and blushed. Kenshin worriedly shoved Kaoru's back with his hands.

Kaoru embarrassingly looked at Kenshin If a while ago her curses weren't that bad, now its like reaching heaven. She was taken aback of the burning sensation that 'that thing' had brought to her throat.

"What was that you're drinking? Don't you think maybe its already expired?" she innocently asked Kenshin.

Kaoru did not expect Kenshin's laugh. He laughed and laughed until some people already began looking at them. Smilingly, but with a knot on the forehead, he looked at Kaoru. When his laugh faded, he continued his disbelieving stare at her.

"You know Kaoru-dono? You surprise me in many ways." he said.

Seemingly insulted, she reacted. "Mou!"

Kenshin only shook his head. Afterwards they heard beautiful music coming from a piano inside the house. Some stood up from their seats to dance. Soon afterwards, Kenshin stood up and offered a hand to Kaoru. She astonishingly looked at Kenshin. Again, a small smile began to play on his lips.

"Could you give sessha the honor of dancing with you Kaoru-dono?" he whispered to her softly.

"H-hai…"

Unknowingly, Kaoru gave her hand to him. She let him lead her into the dancing people. She trembled slightly when Kenshin pulled her body gently against his and placed his hand to her waist.

Kenshin gazed across her blue eyes and tenderly set her head on his shoulder. Kaoru felt herself somewhat being cradled with this. Softly. She closed her eyes and felt the warmth of the moment.

In the closeness of their bodies, Kaoru paid attention to Kenshin's own heartbeat. Its like every beat of his heart comes in sync with hers.

Oh how she wished that night would never end….