Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Chance Encounters ( Chapter 4 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer - I don't own RK


Chapter 4 - Chance Encounters

Kaoru groaned and burrowed deeper into the pillows trying to drown out the god awful sound floating to her from the other side of the closed door. With a growl she popped her head out from underneath the blankets long enough to take a quick peek at the clock, the glaring red numbers read 6:00 am. Burying her head again she tried to ignore the off key singing echoing around the apartment.

When a particularly high note crashed into her ears she finally admitted defeat and slipped from bed. Stomping over to the door she flung it open with a crash, "What the hell are you doing up at six o'clock in the morning!"

Sano peeked around the corner of the kitchen and grinned, "Cooking your breakfast."

Kaoru growled and spun around to collect her robe, staying with Enishi was starting to look better and better. Heading into the kitchen she pierced him with a murderous glare, "You do know that some of us have to work for a living."

"Ah jou-chan when was the last time you had one of my famous omelets?"

Kaoru rolled her eyes and walked past him to set the teapot to heating, ever since he'd gone to the states for a fight he'd been hooked on the American breakfast dish. Once he'd even made her eat one with tuna in it, involuntarily shivering at the memory she cast a quick glance at the pan. She sighed in relief when she saw the remains of the shiitake mushrooms she'd bought the other day on the cutting board. Well at least it didn't look like it would be tuna this time.

Taking a deep breath she had to admit they did smell delicious, glancing sideways at him she asked, "Are both of those for me?"

Sano chuckled, "Getting greedy in your old age?"

Kaoru swung her hand out to smack him upside the head, "You're a year older than I am roosterhead and don't forget it!"

Dancing out of her reach he grinned, "Hey, hot stove. Be nice or you aren't getting either." Flipping the omelets onto the awaiting plates he walked them both out to the table, "So what are we doing today?"

Kaoru fixed her tea and followed behind with a scowl, "WE aren't doing anything today, I have to work and Megumi wouldn't be happy with me if I didn't show up because YOU are here." Settling down across from him she dug into her breakfast to keep from saying the rest of what she was thinking. Megumi was not going to be happy that Sano was back in town, the last time those two had seen each other it had been a complete disaster, right now Megumi would just as soon kill him as look at him.

Sano secretly smiled, that was the answer he'd been hoping for. He'd been a little worried she would stay home just because he was there, he wouldn't have been able to go about collecting the information he needed if she'd decided to keep him company.

Digging into his own breakfast he ate in silence thinking over what Kaoru had said. It had been nearly seven months since he'd last seen Megumi she couldn't still be mad at him could she? He had to admit he'd been a complete ass the last time they'd seen each other but she'd be over it by now wouldn't she? Then again....

"So the fox is still mad at me huh?"

Kaoru looked up and pierced him with a withering glare, "What do you think? You broke her brother's arm. If I were you I'd stay very far away from her for a while or she might decide to disembowel you."

Sano flinched then frowned, "How was I supposed to know he was her brother all I saw was another man laying his hands on my woman."

Kaoru just shook her head, kami he was thick. "First of all she's not YOUR woman and second said 'man' was her fifteen year old brother! Maybe next time you should ask instead of pounding on him first."

Sano shrugged, "I didn't pound on him all I did was grab his arm, how was I to know he had weak bones." A smug grin crept across his features as an impish gleam lit up his eyes, "She'll forgive me, you know she can't resist me."

Finishing up her breakfast Kaoru rolled her eyes and headed into the kitchen, "Keep thinking that and she just might kill you." Glancing over her shoulder she gave him an appraising look, "You know I just might hold you down so she can."

Sano snorted, "Like you could jou-chan you weigh what, a hundred pounds soaking wet? I think you might have a hard time."

"We'll see roosterhead", Kaoru tossed over her shoulder as she headed into her bedroom. "I have to get ready for work so make yourself useful and do the dishes."

Sano scowled at her back, who did she think she was, his mother? Heading into the kitchen he started the hot water and set to work, she may not be his mother but her volcanic temper was touchy at best it was better not to provoke her.

oooooooooooooooooo

"I called Misao and asked her to drop off her key for you. She said she'd be over soon."

Sano glanced up from the magazine he'd been flipping through and checked the clock, "Leaving for work a little late aren't you?

Kaoru shrugged pulling on her jacket, "Enishi set a watchdog on me so I figured if he was going to shadow my movements the least he could do is take me to work."

Sano dropped the magazine and scowled, "What.......is he afraid you're going to find someone whose worthy of you?"

"Saannoo" Kaoru whispered in a threatening tone leveling a hard look on him, "What did I tell you."

Throwing his hands up in defeat Sano sighed, "Alright, I swear I won't say anything against the bastard but it's pretty sad when you can't leave your apartment without a babysitter."

Heading for the door Kaoru didn't say anything, he was right but there was nothing she could do about it. "See you tonight, try not to turn into a complete couch potato."

Sano held his tongue as he listened to the door close behind her. That bastard was doing more than just annoying him now. Really it was probably a good idea that Enishi had someone watching her but it sickened him that it was needed in the first place.

Shaking his head he got up and made his way out onto the balcony, the cool crisp spring air cleared his head as he watched Kaoru slip into the black Mercedes parked across the street in front of the building. A sudden movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention as the car pulled away and he snapped his head around, his eyes narrowed as he watched the tail end of a bright red ponytail vanish from sight followed by the quiet grating of the sliding glass door closing.

Confused he eyed the now vacant balcony and wondered about the man next door. Why did it feel like he knew that man? Something about him seemed familiar yet he knew he'd never met him before.

Shrugging he made his way back into the apartment, he'd figure that out later right now he had to wait for Misao then he had to see about moving back to Tokyo. At least if he was here he would be able to keep an eye on Kaoru himself and maybe if he was lucky he could convince her to drop that bastard who didn't deserve to breath the same air as she did. It was worth a try anyway.

oooooooooooooooooo

Kenshin leaned against the cool glass and tried to calm his racing heart, the blood thumping madly through his veins caused a lightheadedness he hadn't felt for decades to flood his body. Letting his head drop back onto the door he closed his eyes and smiled. She was still beautiful, even from so far away he had seen her sapphire eyes sparkling in the morning sunshine, the gentle smile on her lips lighting up her entire face making it glow almost as bright as the sun. Everything about her was exactly as he remembered, her luscious black tresses even carried the same blue sheen he remembered from so long ago.

All of a sudden an overpowering need to wrap her in his arms drove him to push off the door and head into his bedroom to collect his jacket. The only way he could quiet the ache throbbing in his chest was to get away, to go out and let the chill morning air clear his mind. Shrugging into the jacket he headed out the door and into the elevator, one more day, he only had one more day before he would come face to face with the one stolen from him so long ago.

Closing his eyes as the elevator jumped into motion he sighed, one day seemed like such a long time and yet he still hadn't found the way to awaken her memories of him. That in itself was going to be the most difficult thing to do because if he made one mistake it could cause her more pain than he would ever wish her to endure. He didn't want to cause her anymore pain, he'd done enough of that in her previous life. Enishi had killed her before he'd gotten the chance to tell her he loved her and that's what hurt the most, she had died believing she was nothing but a friend to him, that his heart still belonged to Tomoe.

The dinging of the elevator bell drew him out of the depressing thoughts and he headed out into the bright morning sunshine. Stopping he closed his eyes and let the sun warm his face and heart. He had and still did hold a special place in his heart for Tomoe and always would, but what Enishi had done was unforgivable. He had never meant to kill Tomoe but Enishi had killed Kaoru in cold blood simply to get back at him and that one cruel act had almost broken him.

Stuffing his hands into his pockets he started down the sidewalk letting his feet carry him to some unknown destination of their own accord as his mind wandered over the past. It had been among the broken remnants of the once proud samurai class in Rakinmura that he'd been given a second chance to live and await his beloved's rebirth. If not for that chance encounter he would have died there along with the rest, a broken man forgotten by the world.

Shaking his head he chuckled, it had taken him years of investigation to discover the full name of the stooped old man who had told him the secret to immortality and the way to bind his soul to Kaoru's. When he had finally found the truth he'd almost succumbed to the overwhelming rush of guilt that had engulfed him until he realized that Tomoe's father must have known who he was helping even if he himself hadn't known who his savior was.

A small twinge of regret rose up in his chest and he smiled ruefully, had he known that the old man was Tomoe and Enishi's father he may not have killed Enishi but by the time he had found out the truth the deed had already been done. He had truly found no pleasure in killing Enishi but the killer in him had demanded retribution for the death of the one who had not deserved to die such a cold and lonely death.

Looking back on all that had gone wrong in that time of his life he sighed the past was said and done, there was nothing he could do about it now. It was time to move into the present and seize the chance Tomoe's father had given him.

Glancing up from the concrete he made a small change in his direction and shifted his mind back to the present and the problem that still stood before him, how to awaken Kaoru's memories. All the old man had said was that it could be anything a name, a saying or even an object that would trigger her memories, something that her soul would connect with from the past.

There were so many things that could trigger her memories but which one was the one that would allow her to remember them whole. If he chose wrong he ran the risk of losing her again, he couldn't let that happen. The only thing he feared was the memory of her death, that one memory alone could break her. He would be walking a very fine line when that one surfaced, she would have to trust him by the time he awoke her memories or that one memory could drive her over the edge.

Fighting down the knot of fear that tightened in his chest he continued deeper into the city heading for the dojo, maybe it would be better if he simply became her friend, maybe in the end she wouldn't need her memories she would love him anyway.

oooooooooooooooooo

Kaoru slipped from the car without a backward glance at her 'chauffer' and headed into the clinic, hopefully today they would have a light schedule but it wasn't very likely. Ever since Megumi had opened her clinic in the heart of East Shinjuku she'd been buried under patients, but seeing as it was the only clinic in the area that dealt with minor sicknesses and injuries and was open to any who walked in it was rather understandable.

Glancing around the waiting room she sighed, they already had two people waiting to be seen, there was no way it was going to be a quiet day. Heading through the door that led to the examination rooms she heard a shuffling of paper.

"G'morning Megumi, looks like another busy day" she called over her shoulder as she headed towards the broom closet she called an office.

"Hey Kaoru got a minute?"

Kaoru stopped and back stepped to Megumi's open door, walking into the office she settled into the chair in front of the desk, "Sure what's up?"

Megumi set the stack of papers aside and sat back eyeing the young woman in front of her, "Tomorrow's your big day right?"

Kaoru sighed and rubbed her forehead, "Yeah, I don't know why I let Enishi talk me into it." Snuggling a little further into the cushiony chair she scowled, "Maybe it's because he set the damn thing up without telling me and wouldn't take no for an answer, that could be it."

"He did it because he knows you have talent and you deserve to be recognized for it." Megumi said glancing at the painting hanging on her wall. Kaoru had done one of the clinic and the surrounding buildings but the way she'd done it set the clinic in the forefront with the rest just blurry shadows in the background. It was the most precious gift anyone had ever given her and yet this young woman couldn't see the beauty she'd created.

Shifting her attention back to Kaoru she smiled, "I'm giving you tomorrow off so you can be ready for the opening."

Kaoru sat up straight and frowned, "Why I don't need to get ready for anything it's all done. Besides I'll go stir crazy if I have to deal with Sano all day."

"It doesn't matter you're off tomorrow," Megumi answered in a tone that brooked no argument and then suddenly the rest of what Kaoru had said sank in and she scowled, "You mean to tell me nobody's killed that roosterhead yet."

Shaking her head Kaoru chuckled, she'd been right Megumi would rather see him dead, "No, actually he's quite alive and probably loafing around my apartment right now." Giving her boss a sly look she grinned, "You know he's going be there tomorrow night."

"If he comes within ten feet of me I'll kill him. Yutaro's arm still hasn't healed completely."

A bright smile lit up Kaoru's face and she shrugged, "I told him you might feel that way but you know him." Rising she headed towards the door, "I'm heading over to Tae's for a cup of tea before we get started do you want anything?"

Megumi shook her head and picked up the files for the two people out in the waiting room, "No I've got to get going or we may not get out of here early tonight, kami I would love a night off."

"Alright I'll be back in a minute."

Heading out of the clinic Kaoru stopped to bask in the bright morning sunlight. She was so happy the sun had finally decided to come out of hiding. If she'd had to suffer one more dreary day it probably would have driven her over the edge. With a spring in her step she crossed the busy street and made her way up the sidewalk. Slipping through the door of her favorite coffee shop she smiled, even the ever present eyes following her every move couldn't dampen her spirits, today was going to be a good day.

"Good morning Tae."

A young black haired woman turned from the cappuccino machine and smiled, "Kaoru, how are you doing today?"

"Not bad but I'm dying for a cup of tea, I have a rooster who likes to crow off key at the crack of dawn invading my apartment."

Tae chuckled as she poured the cup of tea, "So Sano's in town huh, is he here for your show?"

Kaoru nodded accepting the cup Tae held out to her, "He showed up on my doorstep yesterday afternoon so don't be surprised if he comes here begging food off of you. He's a bit short on money since he had to sneak away and I haven't gone grocery shopping lately."

Tae laughed outright as she collected the money from Kaoru's outstretched hand, "Thanks for the warning, one of these days I'm going to make him pay the tab he's run up over the past three years."

An evil little smile played across Kaoru's lips, "Either that or make him work it off, a little manual labor would do him good."

"You know I just might do that," Tae replied mirroring Kaoru's smile.

Happy that she may have made Sano's life a little more interesting Kaoru grabbed the change Tae held out and turned to leave, "I've got to get back across the street we already have patients waiting so I'll see you later."

"Alright see you later."

Kaoru waved over her shoulder and headed out the door into the light morning traffic on the sidewalk, poor Sano was in for it if he thought he'd get away with another free meal out of Tae. Chuckling lightly she took a sip of the tea and started making her way across the sidewalk, glancing across the street at the clinic she all of a sudden came to dead stop as an intense ray of sunlight reflected directly into her eyes from the roof of a passing car. Ducking her head to shield against the glare she blinked several times trying to clear the dots dancing before her eyes and took another step forward.

A solid wall instantly materialized right in front of her stopping her dead in her tracks again, stumbling backwards she nearly lost her balance until a strong firm grip wrapped around her arm to steady her. A hiss of pain escaped her throat as hot tea cascaded out of the cup scalding her hand as it washed over the exposed skin.

Fighting to regain her balance Kaoru dropped the tea and shook her hand trying to alleviate the pain, she grimaced as the hand wrapped around her arm suddenly tightened nearly cutting off the circulation. Managing to finally get her feet under her she shook her arm trying to loosen the grip and slowly looked up from her burning hand, "I'm so sorry I didn't me-"

She stopped dead as her eyes met the stunned gaze of the red headed violet eyed man still holding her arm. For several seconds all she could do was stare until the throbbing pain radiating out from the grip on her arm brought her back to reality. Ripping her arm out of his grasp she backed away from him as an unexplainable fear washed over her, her breath catching painfully in her throat. She was losing it, there was no way this person could be standing before her.

Unable to believe what his eyes were telling him Kenshin could only stare as his arm fell numbly back to his side, his fingertips still tingling from the contact. Fighting to calm his racing heart he fisted his hands tight to keep from grabbing a hold of her, he had to be careful or he could screw everything up right now.

Taking a deep breath he put on the most benign smile he could and reached out towards her burnt hand, "Are you-" A knife of pain stabbed through his heart when she flinched away from his touch and took a step back. It was then that he noticed the haunted look darkening her sapphire eyes.

She was afraid of him. The realization cut him to the core, shredding his soul into tiny little pieces.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you," he whispered frightened by her reaction.

Struggling to breath Kaoru took another step back fighting down the panic that suddenly gripped a hold of her. That voice, she knew that voice. The blood drained from her face as he took a step towards her, the hurt look on his face pulling at something deep inside of her. All of a sudden she felt an overpowering need to touch him, to smooth away the look of pain marring his handsome face.

Startled by the feeling her breath caught in her throat, kami she really was losing her mind. Eyes wild she frantically searched for a way out, for a way to get away from this figment of her seriously overactive imagination. How could he be here? He wasn't real, there was no way he could be real. None. And yet...and yet...here he stood not two feet away from her, his fiery red hair gleaming in the morning sun his violet eyes shadowed by a pain she wished she could erase.

Unconciously falling into those eyes Sano's words slammed into her mind, 'I don't know who's the one for you jou-chan but you'll know when you meet him, I'm sure of it.'

And she did, this man was the missing piece in her life, the one who would make her whole.

Shaken by the realization she shook her head and shoved away the thought, there was no way that could be true. Enishi was the one wasn't he?

Confused by the conflicting emotions she steadily backed away from him trying to put as much distance between them as she could. She jumped when she all of a sudden bumped into another solid wall. Forcefully breaking eye contact she glanced over her shoulder and heaved a sigh of relief when she saw Gein standing behind her.

"Everything alright Kamiya-san?"

"Y...y...yes, everything's ok. I..I have to get back to work."

With one last glance at the red headed man before her Kaoru shot around him and flew across the street back to the clinic. Flinging the door open she rushed inside and ran headlong through the clinic not stopping until she was safely barricaded in her office.

Kenshin watched Kaoru run away from him, a crushing emptiness settling over him as her raven locks vanished into the building across the street. A thousand questions crashed into his mind as the sight of her terror and confusion continued to play before his eyes, the image cutting deep into his heart.

One question screamed to the forefront aching to be answered........why? Why did she look at him with such fear? There was no way she could know him yet, so what had caused such a violent reaction from her?

Unless.....

With sudden clarity he saw his mistake as a fist of pain knotted his gut tearing his insides apart. He'd failed to keep his identity hidden, she knew him from her dreams. Grimacing at the physical pain aching in his chest he fisted his hand tight, the nails biting into his palm drawing blood. How could he think she wouldn't know him, their souls were linked. The old man had said that her soul would know him even if her mind didn't and he'd shrugged that off simply to tease and torment her in her dreams and now he would pay the price for that mistake.

Ignoring the man still standing in front of him Kenshin sidestepped around him and started walking slowly down the sidewalk towards the dojo, now he'd have to find a way to overcome the problem he'd created. With a sinking feeling he suddenly realized another horrible truth, his tampering in her dreams may have already started the return of her memories, if that were true then he may have already lost her. Fisting his hand again he growled low in his throat, he refused to lose her again, nothing was going to stop him from having her in his arms, not even her fear.

A heavy hand dropped on his shoulder pulling him from his thoughts. Stopping he shifted his head just enough to glance behind him. A flash of gold flickered through his eyes as they came to rest on the man who'd allowed Kaoru to escape.

Gein smirked as he eyed the slight man before him, hopefully Enishi would let him take this one out. "Stay away from Kamiya-san or I will kill you."

A sudden urge to tear the man limb from limb flooded through Kenshin's veins, narrowing his eyes he pierced him with a hate filled glare, "You can try but I Will have her this time.......she is mine."

Shrugging off the hand Kenshin turned his attention back to the sidewalk but not before he noticed the man's pinky finger. It seemed Kaoru was involved with the Yakuza somehow. Shrugging he stuffed his hands in his pockets and started down the sidewalk again, if that man tried to stop him from getting close to her he would kill him. He would cut through every last member of the Yakuza if that's what it took to get Kaoru back.

Gein watched the small red headed man wander down the sidewalk away from the clinic before he reached into his pocket and withdrew his cellphone. Flipping it open he hit the speed dial button for Enishi and waited.

Click, "What?"

"We're going to have trouble with the man who moved in next to your woman. He was here just a couple of minutes ago and scared the hell out of her. It seems he knows her somehow and he claims she's his."

Silence met his statement and then, "I'll be there to pick her up this afternoon. If he comes near her again kill him."

"Hai."

Gein smirked and flipped the phone closed. Enishi would kill that man for even thinking about Kamiya-san let alone touching her.