Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ How the Past Can Change ❯ An Understanding ( Chapter 28 )

How the Past can Change

A K&K Rurouni Kenshin Romance FanFiction

by: bunny ;D

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. I do not own and did not create the series or its characters...I'm just a fan, and I have no money anyways, so NO SUING ME!! :D

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A/N: This story is altering the original story of Rurouni Kenshin / Samurai X. It also has some OOCness, (especially with Battousai.) If you don't like that idea, or can't handle it…I would advise you not to read this fic. If you are a hard core Tomoe and Kenshin forever kind of person, I would advise you to not read this fic. Don't get me wrong, I like Tomoe, this is just a different story ok?

Ja ne,

Bunny ;D

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Once again Kenshin hesitated and opened his mouth to protest, but his protest died as she continued, "Dad isn't here to get mad at you for sleeping with me now." She began to gently tug on his arm that she held at his wrist, and Kenshin felt his resolve melting as he slowly slipped under the covers with her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Thank you." Kaoru said sweetly before yawning and once again falling into a deep sleep.

Kenshin wanted to feel like this was wrong in every way, but it felt too right and he was too tired to think much about it. It had been one of the longest days of his life, and he had been up all of the previous night. Wrong or not, now was the time to sleep. So he closed his eyes and pulled Kaoru closer, hoping that they would be able to work everything out between them, and sooner, rather than later, because he patience was running out.

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Chapter Twenty-Eight

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'Mmmm. Kenshin.' Karou thought as she began to wake early the next morning. Remembering that he had agreed to stay with her the night before, Kaoru wigged closer to the other side of the bed to get more warmth from her dearest friend. After moving at least a foot across her futon, Kaoru grumpily opened an eye only to discover that Kenshin was in fact, no where to be seen. 'MOU!' Kaoru thought as she pouted to herself for a minute, reaching over to feel where he slept as if he would magically appear if she wished it enough. Her frown lifted a bit as she discovered that Kenshin's side of the bed was still warm. 'So he hasn't been up long.' She thought. 'Why didn't he wake me up? Why did he have to go and leave like that?' Kaoru slightly fumed. She had been looking forward to seeing what he looked like first thing in the morning, but like most of her other wishes concerning Kenshin, it was not to come true…or so she thought. With a slight frown of disappointment finding a permanent place on her face, Kaoru forced herself to get out of bed and dress.

As she walked into the kitchen a cheerful Kenshin greeted her. "Good morning Kaoru!" he said as he placed two hot bowls of miso soup on the table and took his place across from Kaoru.

"Mou! Kenshin, why didn't you wake me up?" Karou said as she picked up her bowl and began to cautiously sip her hot miso.

Kenshin smiled before replying, "You looked too peaceful. I wanted to let you get in a bit more rest. We are going to have a rough training session today." Kenshin smiled again, before adding, "Besides, you always sleep in longer than I do."

Kaoru slapped her empty bowl down on the table and crossed her arms across her chest. "Is that so?" she replied. "Since when did you know what time I wake up every morning? It's not like you've ever stayed with me the whole night!" she exclaimed.

Kenshin grinned. "You sound disappointed." He commented at her outburst.

Kaoru's entire face flushed. "KENSHIN!" she exclaimed, too embarrassed to say anything else.

Kenshin chuckled and startled Kaoru further by reaching across the table and taking one of her hands in his. "Kaoru." He began in all seriousness, "The day I decided to stay here I promised your Father that I would always protect you. That includes knowing where you are and what you are doing at all times." He finished.

Still blushing, Kaoru snatched her hand out of Kenshin's and replied with nothing more than a lame, "oh."

'She's so cute when she's embarrassed.' Kenshin thought as he stood with the dirty bowls and headed to the sink to wash them.

Karou, in some-what of a daze followed after him and as she helped by drying the clean bowls she dejectedly whispered, "well, I would have liked to have been able to cook breakfast with you."

If Kenshin didn't have as sharp of hearing as he did, he would have missed her comment, but he heard it and sighed. "I'm sorry Kaoru. I didn't know you wanted to cook with me." He said.

Karou put the last bowl away and looked at Kenshin. She clutched the wet towel she had been drying with to her chest as she said, "Kenshin. My Father just left to go to war, maybe never to come back. You are the only person I have left. I want to be with you every second of everyday, regardless of what it is that you are doing."

Kenshin smiled at her and said, "Ok." Then he turned and began walking towards the dojo for their morning practice.

Kaoru narrowed her eyes. 'That was too easy.' She noted. "That means you have to sleep with me every night too!" she yelled at his retreating back.

Kenshin stopped dead in his tracks.

"Did you hear me?" she called when he didn't turn around. "I said-" she began to repeat herself, only to find Kenshin in front of her with one hand over her mouth and the other holding her against him around her waist, as if holding her close would help to silence her.

"I heard you." He hissed under his breath, his eyes narrowing to amber slits. "Do you have to announce it to the whole neighborhood? They are going to think I'm doing things I shouldn't be doing with you." He whispered loudly as he pulled her even closer to him.

Kaoru shivered at the intimate way he was holding her, silently demanding her obedience. She knew he was mad, but she couldn't think of anything except how sexy he was when he was angry, especially since he was talking about 'things he shouldn't be doing with her'. Kaoru shivered again at her wicked thoughts. 'Even his eyes change color.' She noticed. Kenshin had never lost his cool in front of her. This was a completely new experience for her, and she couldn't believe how much she was enjoying it.

Then just as suddenly as Kenshin had pulled her to him, he released her and stepped out into the courtyard. "Good morning Doctor Genzai! Ayame! Suzume!" Kaoru heard Kenshin greeting their friends.

Kaoru dazedly followed Kenshin outside to greet the good Doctor and his granddaughters. Out of pure habit, Kaoru walked to Dr. Genzai and took Suzume from his arms. She was the younger of his granddaughters that he took care of and couldn't walk far distances yet, so they carried her just about everywhere. "Why hello everybody!" Kaoru chirped to Suzume, trying to cover the fact that she was still stunned from Kenshin's actions a moment before. She noticed Kenshin and Dr. Genzai talking quietly to each other and began to walk over to them, only to be stopped by Ayame.

"Kaoru-nee!" Ayame exclaimed as she tugged on Kaoru's sleeve to get Kaoru's attention.

Kaoru glanced down at the younger girl who she considered to be like a sister and answered, "Yes Ayame-chan?"

"We get to go fishing today! Wanna come? Wanna come?" she said while clapping her hands together in excitement.

Kaoru opened her mouth to reply, but Kenshin beat her to it. "We would love to come Ayame-chan, but first Kaoru and I have to practice our kendo and teach our classes." He said as he crouched down to meet Ayame at eye-level.

"Ok." Ayame replied with a large smile. "See you later then!" she added as Dr. Genzai took Suzume back and the three headed out towards the river.

"Bye!" Kaoru yelled at their retreating backs. 'Everything seems to be moving so fast today.' She thought to herself with a frown.

"That was nice of him to come by and check on us." Kenshin said to Kaoru as he took her hand and began to lead her over to the dojo.

"Huh?" Kaoru asked feeling even more confused than before.

"Dr. Genzai." Kenshin replied. "He came by to see how we were doing without Dad around." He explained.

"Oh, right." Kaoru murmured while still distracted by her thoughts, as she pulled her hand away from Kenshin's to retrieve her bokken and begin their lesson.

"Once we have completed your training in Kamiya Kasshin Ryu…I am going to teach you my style." Kenshin announced as he also grabbed a wooden sword.

Surprised, Kaoru exclaimed, "I thought you already taught me your style!"

Kenshin smirked. "No. I taught you a few basic ideas behind my style that have helped you with your speed, and your awareness of your opponent. You have barely scratched the surface of learning my style. I want to teach it to you though. I think you would be very good at it." He said.

"Well, why can't we start now?" Kaoru asked her interest perked.

"I want to wait until you are a bit older." Kenshin explained.

"A bit older?" Kaoru questioned in disbelief. "I'm almost 17 years old Kenshin! I'm old enough to be married you know, and that certainly makes me old enough to learn a new style!" she argued indignantly.

Kenshin heart stopped for a moment at Kaoru's outburst. 'Did she really need to bring up the marriage thing again?' he thought. "Ok, Kaoru, you are right." He said. "You are old enough to be married now, so now is not the time for you to be learning a new kendo style, I should have taught you when you were younger. I'm sure you would rather be out finding a husband." He finished, his tone sad.

"What?!" Kaoru exclaimed, even more upset than before. 'Ok. THAT backfired.' She thought. "I don't want to go out and find a husband! I want you to teach me kendo!" She clarified.

Kenshin didn't say anything; he just stood there looking at her in the most curious way, almost as if he was seeing her for the first time.

Kaoru looked down at the old dojo floor and held back her tears. "What…do you want me to go out and find a husband?" she whispered, her heart breaking.

'No, but I don't want you to feel forced to be with me. I need you to want to be with me, like how I want to be with you...forever.' He thought. Instead he replied just as softly, "I…can't tell you what to do with your life, Kaoru. It's your life and it's a decision that you need to make."

'But I never thought I would need to look for a husband because I always had you.' Kaoru said to herself. 'He…he didn't say yes though.' She consoled herself as she looked up at his blank expression. 'I'm not going to give up on you just yet, Himura Kenshin!' she resolved before saying, "But Kenshin, I am supposed to become the best swordswoman in Japan!"

Kenshin's eyes widened at her words, remembering the day he had told her that, and what she had said about it. 'What is she trying to say?' he wondered, his heart soaring with hope.

Kaoru took a few steps closer. "Do you remember the day you told me that Kenshin?" she softly asked. 'Please understand what I am trying to say…' her heart pleaded.

'Do you have any idea what you do to me Kaoru?' Kenshin asked himself as he took the last two steps toward her, closing their distance and reaching behind her head with one hand, he tugged her hair ribbon free. As Kaoru's hair cascaded down her back Kenshin replied in a low husky voice, "I remember everything about that day."

Kaoru smiled. 'He…we…he understands.' She thought her heart comforted. 'It's been so long…where does that leave us…now that I'm old enough…' her thoughts trailed off as Kenshin gently ran his fingers through her hair. 'You are so beautiful, my Kaoru' Kenshin's words from that day as he had run his fingers through her hair ran through her head. He didn't say it today, but she knew he was saying it by his actions.

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A/N: Ok, so that's the end of Chapter 28. Did you like all the K&K WAFF? (Bunny loves K&K WAFF!) I hope everybody liked it ;) I have been doing some major brainstorming for this fic recently and I have all kinds of fun things in store for us to read about. I hope everybody will like it ;) In any case, let me know if you are still enjoying the fic by leaving me a review.

Thanks!

Bunny ;D

p.s. the next party won't be till 750 reviews because they are becoming too frequent. If you DO want to be in the next party (if there is one) please let me know and what you want to do! ;D

p.s.s. I was thinking that I would really like to give all my chapters names. You know…so that as a reader when you come back to my fic after it's been a while…you can remember where you left off by the chapter title. (I have found that I really like it when authors do that.) The problem is, I'm really horrible at coming up with titles. I AM!! I'm awful at it. So I was hoping that maybe some of you would be willing to give me some ideas? If you have any, please send me an email: bunny@princessserenity.net or you can leave it in the review, either way; I would really appreciate the help!

Till Next Time! (Which should be SOONER rather than LATER!)