Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Don't Let Go ❯ The One For You ( Chapter 2 )

****Previously****

"Kaoru..." She nearly gasped. Her name, free of honorifics. It sounded so wonderful, so free, like birds in the spring.

"Kaoru, arigatou for letting me stay. It's just..." He looked into her bright eyes with hope. "...I couldn't imagine hurting you in any way. I want to be the one that protects you."

"Kenshin..."

"Kaoru...I..." He had to say it. It was now or never.

"I think I'm in love with you."

***************

Don't Let Go_by Sephiress

Chapter 2) The One For You

Kagome looked into her hand, where yet another shard of the Shikon no Tama lie. It really was amazing how this little piece of pink glass could enhance the power of any being who possesed it. Every breathing creature on the planet coveted it, and she knew this from experience. But at least it would be safe with the other shards in the little jar on her desk at home. But that didn't send away the nerve-wrecking feeling in her stomach. She was worried.

This was the last shard that had been lost when the jewel spilt. They had spent almost a year searching the furthest corners of the Feudel Era, looking for these little pieces. And this was the last one. But they still didn't have them all, and that was why she was worried.

Worried because Naraku would come.

Naraku...The thought of him sent shivers down her spine. Everything about him terrified her. He had more shards then they did, which gave him immense power. From the way he could create horrid demons at his will, to how he changed his body to fit against his opponet's weaknesses. And especially the way he hurt her friends in every battle they faced against him.

Speaking of her friends, she should be getting back to them. Only Kami knows how much trouble they could get in when she wasn't around. Plus, she still had to make sure Inuyasha didn't hurt his most recent injuries even more. The wound he recieved from their last battle had yet to recover and the violent hanyou's attempts to look tough had only prolonged recovery.

******Flashback*******

"Get back Kagome!!!!" shouted Inuyasha as he fought viciously with the large youkai.

Naraku had once again sent one of his largest and most foulest youkai to face of the gang in the battle for a shard of the Shikon. This time it was a gigantic serpant beast. The gleaming white spears that were its fangs seemed dangerous enough. But then there were the three eyes and the many spike covered tails, five to be exact. And not only was the beast strong, but it was fast, leaving one hell of a job for Inuyasha and Sango.

"Inuyasha!" came the strong voice of Sango. "I'm going to try to cut off some of this thing's tails! Watch my back!"

"Got it! Kagome, where is the jewel shard?!"

Kagome peered closely, scanning every inch of the demon's hide. She couldn't see anything until a flicker of pink light caught her eye.

"Inuyasha, it's on the back of its head!" she yelled out, her tone sure and confident.

Inuyasha jumped for the snake's head, holding the Tetseiga in striking position. With a flash of red and silver, the blade was jabbed into the skull of the youkai. He demon yelled out a large hiss and began lashing wildly in its last moments of life. Inuyasha dug his claws into its head to keep balance, so focused that he didn't hear Sango's warning. One of the tails came out of no where and a spike sliced across Inuyasha's right leg.

The hanyou gave a loud shreik of pain before jumping off the beast using his good leg, only to collapse on the bloody ground.

"INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

*****End of Flashback*****

Kagome shook her head, trying to rid herself of the near-death experiences that had become an almost weekly routine. She didn't know how much longer this could go on. One day, they would come across an enemy they could not beat and then... She didn't even want to think about what would happen.

She walked through the dense forest towards their small camp. Right now, their whole pack was vulnerable. Sango had recieved some blows as well, though not as bad as Inuyasha. So if they were attacked, their last defense would be Miroku's wind tunnel and her own magic arrows.

The young miko was so deep in thought that she didn't even notice that she had reached the camp until a spark from the fire landed on her knee sock. She yelped and was trying to brush it off when she heard a chuckle from her side.

"And just what is so funny?" she snapped to the silver-haired half demon sitting on the ground.

"Heh, nothing", he said, not taking his eyes off her. He had that smirk on his face, and the way he looked just melted all her anger away.

Kagome sat down next to her demon counterpart, basking in the glow of the fire. She hugged her knees to her and looked into the flickering flames. She savored these moments of peace. No Naraku, no shards, no attacking youkai. Yes, just her and her Inuyasha. 'My Inuyasha?' She smiled lightly, not noticing the curious hanyou that watched her.

"What has you so happy?"

Kagome looked up at him, the smile still on her face. Inuyasha looked so amazing right now. His gi was off showing off his lightly muscled frame. The firelight flickered over his face, causing shadows to dance over his features.

She breathed a sigh of content. "Just enjoying the peace and quiet. I miss it compared to the never-ending action that I see when I'm here."

"Mmmmm...I know what you mean. It's so beautiful now." He looked down at her seriously. "But you know it's not going to stay that way for much longer."

Kagome nodded her head. She didn't want to talk about this right now. She just wanted to share the moment a little longer with Inuyasha. He couldn't seem to comprehend that though.

"Kagome, are you worried?"

"...Yeah I guess I am. I really don't want any of us in danger again. Especially with you and Sango's condition. And we don't really know when we could be attacked or by what. But I'm positive that Naraku isn't going to leave us alone for very long. He wants our shards so bad that nothing will stop him from his goal of completing the Shikon", she said this all so intensly that she didn't even notice the small tear trickling down her eye.

Kagome gasped when she felt Inuyasha's thumb graze over her cheek, wiping the tear away. She looked up at him with watery eyes. He smiled.

"I just want you to know that no matter what, I'll always be here to protect you." he said this in the gentlest tone she had ever heard him speak. "But this time, I'm willing to say that we are going to need some help. And if it means protecting you, then I will even ask my ass-hole brother to fight with us."

Kagome's eyes lit up. 'Inuyasha...Oh Kami-sama, please do not let this be a dream.' It wasn't a dream, and she knew it when Inuyasha's lips pressed against her forehead. But as soon as the feather-light touch came, it faded away.

"I think it's time we get to sleep. Like you said, we need to be ready and that means getting enough rest." Kagome nodded in agreement, still too dazed to speak. Inuyasha gae her one last heart-warming smile before settling against a tree and closing his beautiful golden eyes.

Kagome watched him for some time before settling down in her sleeping bag.

'He's right, we are going to need some help this time' she thought as her eyes began to drift close.

'And the only person that is strong enough to help us, is just beyond the waterfall...'

***********************************************

Drip...drip...drip...drip...

The steady pattern of drops hitting the floor perked his ears. Chocolate eyes turned wearily to the noise and sighed. There was a hole in the roof.

Jou-chan would not be happy.

Sanosuke Sagara ran his bandaged fingers through the thick mass of chestnut strands he called his hair. The whole day had been dreary. And when Kaoru came back, it would get worse when she found out about his. He wondered when she would be back.

He sighed. That's what he had been doing all day. Waiting and wondering. Kenshin had left early this morning to try and find the missing dojo owner. And now it was dinner time and no sign of either of them. His stomach grumbled, but for once in his life, he did not notice. He just wanted this whole day to be over and Jou-chan to be back. Then all would be well again and they could go back to their "normal" life.

"I guess I have to go get a bucket then", he said to himself.

"Don't bother, I got one."

Sano turned around to see a young boy around ten stading with an empty bucket. He wore a green-grey hakama and a yellow gi. His face was tired, but his eyes still held the fire that had been there from day one.

"Arigatou, Yahiko."

Yahiko looked up at the gangster's face with his eyebrows raised. Noramlly, it would be, 'Thanks brat' or 'Arigatou, Yahiko-CHAN'. But Sanosuke just wasn't in the mood today, Yahiko felt the same way. Neither of them had anything to do the whole day except wait for the rurouni's return. Mother nature seemed to sense their mood and sent the rain to heighten the feeling of gloom. Yahiko was sick of this and it seemed a good time to change the atmosphere.

"Wow, next thing you know I'll be hearing 'Yahiko-san' from you, tori- atama" the young samurai snickered with a slight smirk.

Sanosuke stood there dumbfounded for a second before his smile returned, fishbone and all. "Heh, don't bet on it...Yahiko-chan. Megumi would give up Kenshin to Jou-chan before that would ever happen."

"What did you just say rooster?!"

And once again, the endless battle between the two commenced. By the end of the day, there would be bruises and ripped out hair, but it was better then sitting there listening to the skies shed its tears of rain.

**************************************

Kaoru couldn't speak. She couldn't move, and even breathing was taking some effort. Her hearing must be going because Kenshin had just told her he loved her.

But it seemed that life had a funny way of twisting her life.

"Kaoru, I know I am not worthy of you, but I can't help it. I've fallen in love with you. Everything about you has entranced me so much that I can't help but fall this deep. I-" Kenshin would have gone on, but the look in Kaoru's eyes told him to stop.

"Kenshin, never say that again. Never will you be unworthy of me" she said in all seriousness. 'It is I that is unworthy of you', she did not say this outloud, but in her heart, she knew it was the truth. His eyes spoke volumes to her. This was the first time he had left his emotions out for her to see.

It would kill her, what she was about to do.

'Forgive me, my beloved Kenshin'

Clearing away the emotion in her eyes, she looked up into his handsome face. And she said the words that would forever scar them both.

"I don't love you..."

The lightning flashed. The thunder boomed. But neither of them blinked. And then those hateful words registered in both their minds. Kenshin's arms slowly dropped from where they had been holding her shoulders. Until they lay at his side again. His eyes frantically searched her face, seeking any sign to contradict her declaration. He found none.

"I-I understand. I'm sorry Kaoru...dono." His words were strained, as though it was taking every fiber of his being to speak. He stood up and walked past her, cursing each step that led him away from her. "We should return to the dojo, Sano and Yahiko are probably worried, that they are." He continued to walk, not waiting for her, never turning back.

Kaoru watched with teary eyes as he walked away. She couldn't take the pain she caused in him, but it had to be done. She never would admit it, but her feelings for the red-head were reciprocated just as strongly, if not stronger. But if he ever knew...

This was why she kept her feelings for him in check. Because she knew he loved her as well. Ever since Kaoru had met the wanderer, she had loved him. From his quirky smile he showed everyday, to the sultry baritone of the Battousai when he bacame angry. He was sincere, yet the passion he held was raw. In truth, she craved it all, every aspect of him.

But she knew it could not work. Because she could not return the full honesty to him. She made a promise long ago to keep her inner demons to herself, never show them to anyone. And if she and Kenshin wed and produced a family, what would he say when their offspring developed youkai traits?

No, it could not, would not work. Kaoru had accepted long ago that she could never marry and have a family. And she would not do this to Kenshin, the one man who ever treated her with love, respect, and honesty. And yet, even as she thought all this and closed the matter, she could not help the words from whispering from her lips.

"Aishiteru...Kenshin-koishii..."

****************** ************************

End of Chaper 2

*ducks under shelter* Pleeeeeeeze don't kill me!!!!!! I said K/K remember?!?!?!? Don't worry, it's not the end for them. But this is a dramatic fic so there must be pain and suffering!!!!!! mwahahaha ^_^* uhhhhh yea.....

This was my longest chapter yet! Yay, but neeeeeeeway, review review!!!!!!!! And ill work faster to get the next chapter out!!!!!!! Like, no like???? Lemme know in a review!!!

much luv
*Sephiress