Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Feelings Surface ❯ Feelings Surface ( Chapter 2 )

DISCLAIMER: YET AGAIN, I DON'T OWN KENSHIN!'-'X

Author's note: Chapter 1 was short, that much I will admit. Anyways, I don't know if your enjoying the story so far, but if you weren't you wouldn't be reading it now right? So...Kenshin was left in her room. Does she make a move and take him in as her own, or does she refuse. Read to find out.

Surfaces

Chapter 2

Confusion

"Why isn't Kenshin doing the dishes? I mean why do we have to do it!" Yahiko snorted with a disgusted look upon his face. In front of him sat a large pile of dishes that seemed so much of a task to do. He approached it with caution and pulled out a couple of bowls and began to clean.

"How the hell should I know? You act like you're the one in this whole dojo that cleans up everything. The truth is you don't do anything at all, let alone perfect your sword's man ship." Sano responded.

Holding back his demeanor, Yahiko ignored Sano for the time being and placed the bowls down on a rack. He looked for any signs of Kenshin's whereabouts, there were none. He gleamed over at the kitchen to see Sano drifting to sleep. His attention was then caught by the sounds and whimpers of Kaoru. He headed toward the source at which it came from, leading him to her bedroom. Yahiko didn't have the heart to barge in as his usual self and decided to leave her be.

He did however, for a brief moment, press his ear against the thin paper wall and listened for voices. None were heard. He turned and headed back to where Sano lay asleep.

* * *

Kaoru was still positioned near the corner adjacent to Kenshin. She was trembling as if in a coma. Kenshin finally came back to his senses and looked her over. She still didn't look him directly in the eyes and Kenshin gave the impression that she had to. He peered to the left to get a better look of her features, yet she turned away. He gritted his teeth in rage. Frustrated from not receiving eye contact, Kenshin arose to his feet and took subtle footsteps in Kaoru's direction.

"Ms. Kaoru," his voice quivered with acceptance, "please?"

He kneeled down and placed one hand on her cheek, and then gently stroked it. Kaoru allowed it for a moment longer and at last looked up to Kenshin's amber eyes. She was caught in an opulent gaze. With his free hand, Kenshin reached behind Kaoru and hovered it over her back. He hesitated to pull her closer to his body. He gently lowered his hand in the little of her back, edging to her waist. She gave a little sigh of confusion and then she felt herself being swept into Kenshin's grasp. Within his arms, he embraced her and held her close.

After what seemed like an eternity, Kaoru finally spoke. "Kenshin…" she uttered. Before she could finish, Kenshin tucked back her long strands of hair and placed his hand on her neck. He found his palm resting on her nape and directed her head closer to his. Mine. You're all mine.

"We can't do this Kenshin."

"What do you mean?"

"Doesn't it seem like too much? The hugging, and the touching?"

Kenshin looked vaguely into her eyes trying to understand where she was coming from. "We can't do this Kenshin." Those words hit the pinnacle of his emotions. What is she referring to? We can't do what? Did she forget that she belongs to me?

"I still don't understand Ms. Kaoru. Is there something wrong? You don't tell people often enough to let them know how you feel. You tend to keep it in and hide it from others, but that doesn't work with me. I'm trying as hard as I can to help you. You've been crying for over an hour now and I'm worried. It's not necessarily true that I only worry about when you get hurt or cry; you're constantly on my mind. It's just that when you show such an emotion as fear, hate, or anger, I want to be there…no matter what the cost." The rurouni part of him answered.

Kaoru was surprised with his confession and reassured her that he did love her enough to protect her. The question of what he felt for her still nudged at her in the corner of her mind. She shook her head in disbelief. "You're constantly on my mind." That phrase that was just spoken a few minutes earlier lurked in her thoughts.

She still remained within Kenshin's hold by the time she gave in. She rested her head on his bare chest, practically closing her eyes. Kenshin leaned back on the wall to give Kaoru a more comfortable position to appease by. She drifted into a light sleep and placed one hand inside of his gi, laying it flat on his chest. He felt her breathing decrease to a steady rhythm, making his follow the same lead. He stayed in this pose for quite some time until Kaoru stirred.

Kenshin noticed that with the movement of her delicate body, she barely made a small recovery from her crying. He sat up to relieve the pain that was pushing against his back. Kaoru sat upright from his arms allowing him to stand. She felt a weakness in her legs that made her stay at which position she was. Kenshin noticed this and picked her up off the floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he headed for her futon. His eyes cast a dark hue of amber.

He looked to the futon and then to the person he was carrying. Kenshin placed Kaoru down on her bed carefully. He sat himself near her dreary body. The both of them stared into each other's eyes. Kenshin found himself drawn to her stare and he approached her on all fours. Right beside her, he positioned Kaoru between his knees and arms. He gently pushed her hair away from her side and lowered himself on her. Kaoru felt that she was being invaded and sat up instantly.

"Kenshin!" She protested, "What are doing?"

"I just thought, well…" he replied trying to finish his answer.

"You thought of what?"

"Ms. Kaoru, please."

"You thought? Did you have no consent on how I would have felt?"

Kaoru stood up in a flash and looked at Kenshin. His eyes were pleading for her to stay. Kaoru told herself not to get caught in the same predicament again and she headed out from her room. Kenshin tried desperately to get a grip on her hand but she had already stepped out of her room. He fell on the floor from the previous leap that was meant to stop her. He got up and remained in her room.

Kaoru ran outside only to be noticed by Yahiko. The thumping of her footsteps was enough to awaken the sleepy Sano. The two looked at each other in perplexity and peered over at Kaoru. She sat at the foot of the porch under the cold night sky.

Kenshin lingered within Kaoru's room. He began to curse himself for what he did to her. He grabbed his sword and clenched its sheath. He heaved a deep sigh and began to reflect on a certain night that included both him and Kaoru.

Kaoru's back was facing a tree in the shadow of the night when Kenshin noticed her. She was staring at the fireflies that fluttered over the river. Hundreds of them were flying in the midnight sky in a dance that seemed to ease all life. The ritual of the fireflies' dance was emphasized with the making of life. Kaoru lost her self in this amazing sight that she didn't notice Kenshin.

"I see that the fireflies are out early this summer, aren't they Ms. Kaoru?"

"Yes they are Kenshin. Aren't they beautiful?"

"They are." He smiled.

"Kenshin, why don't you sit down and watch them with me?"

Kenshin took her invitation and sat down beside her. The two of them watched the sight of fireflies dancing among each other in the midst of the sky, while each had their own unique flight.

"Ms. Kaoru, have you ever heard the story of the fireflies?"

"No. I would like to hear it though."

"Well, there was a time before that the fireflies signified a love between two people. Upon nights like these, people would come to the fireflies only to exchange each other's vows of love. It was seldom that there would be people that found there true love, but there were few that did. These fireflies symbolize that. They meant so much to people that it was often two would meet in the dark of a summer night and tell of their emotions to one another."

"Wow. I never heard of that before."

"I'm not surprised. This story was handed down from generation to generation for over a century now. It seems to people that the firefly-lit-nights was nothing but a lie. However, there are still those that believe."

Kaoru thought of the story and her feelings for Kenshin all at once. She inched closer to Kenshin as they observed the sky. Kaoru faced Kenshin and she let out a little smile. Kenshin smiled back.

"Kenshin, there's something that I need to tell you."

"What is that Ms. Kaoru?"

"Kenshin, all I wanted to say is that… that I love you."

Kenshin looked at Kaoru in awe. He didn't answer and looked away. Kaoru at that time believed in the firefly story and had her hopes on hearing the same response. Kenshin merely stared at the fireflies. He stood up and then spoke.

"Ms. Kaoru, it's getting late. Shall we head back to the dojo? You wouldn't want the others worrying now do you?"

Kenshin stood up and headed to the dojo. Kaoru stood in fear of rejection and stayed outside. Tears started to trickle down her face.

Kenshin noted her emotions that night. He knew he was the one that caused her so much grief. Yet he knew he pushed her away even more today. Thinking back to the summer night only caused him to acknowledge the uncertain emotions that she felt for him. Kenshin gripped his sakabatou sword, leaned back against the wall, and folded his arms. Red locks of hair drifted down to his chest as he bowed down his head in deep thought, relinquishing to the despair of sleep momentarily. What does she really want? I need her.

* * *

"Hey ugly!"

"Leave me alone Yahiko."

"Hey, I'm talking to you. Why are you crying?"

"I told you to leave me alone! I don't need to explain everything to you."

"No. But you can explain why you acted up earlier. Aren't you a little old to be acting like a child? Why did you run up to your room like that? It's not like you."

"Since when did you have the heart to care for me?" Kaoru sniffled.

"Care for you? Who said anything about caring?"

"What did you say?"

"I wasn't going to ask about you in the first place, ugly. I was wondering where Kenshin was. I mean he did jolt up to your room in a frantic just cause of your crybaby ways! Where is he?"

"Crybaby ways?" Kaoru mocked. "Is that what you really think of me? Is that what Kenshin feels? I'm just some crybaby that sits around the dojo all day whining and whimpering. Have I not committed myself to the both of you enough? Wait that's not all," she laughed. "It must be a nuisance for such a child to house two freeloaders. Isn't it? I guess it's my mistake to allow such people in the dojo with the likings of me around! And these living arrangements! What would people think? I'm this little Kamiya girl that allows an orphan, a gangster and a wanderer to stay sheltered under my costs. I see how it is."

"Kaoru that's not true."

"Yes. It is!"

"Come on, that's not what I meant. You know as well as I that Kenshin cares for you."

"I didn't mean to overhear your conversation missy, but the boy is right." Sano interrupted leisurely. "If it weren't for you, Kenshin wouldn't be the person that he is today. Besides, the man needs a reason to stay at the dojo. Isn't it about time that you learned it is you that he stays here for?"

Kaoru hesitated to answer Sanosuke's question. She didn't understand that it was her Kenshin stayed for. The thought that she was an object that needed guarding clenched at her once more, it empowered over her and she forgot about Sano's remark. Her widened eyes eased to a glare as she turned away.

Me? I'm the reason he stays. Like that's possible. I heard it with my very own ears. I'm a distraction to the three of them. But, Kenshin stayed. He stayed at the dojo with me. He stayed to protect me. He stayed to help me. Protect me. He was there for me when I needed someone the most. A guardian. He was there every time I was in danger. When I needed someone to hold me. Protect…

Author's note: Well, right now in the plot, our hitokiri holds back for the time being of getting what he wants out of Kaoru. He also had a little flashback that indicated an occasion where she confessed her love to him. Now, he lurks in the past with confessions made and awaits the time to make his move.