Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Now and Forever ❯ Returning home ( Chapter 5 )

~ Now and Forever ~

Chapter 5: Returning Home

As usual… standard disclaimers apply. Me just write for fun ok. Me definitely have no money and me have no job… me still studying, so don't sue.

Author's note:

To those who have been sending me those reviews and mails, I give you guys my most heart felt thanks. Sorry it took me this long to update but, (sigh), it just can't be helped. I got sick for a week and I'm still on recovery, but I'm doing the story right now for those who appreciate my fic! Minna Arigatou!

Yuki-chan

Chapter5: Returning home

Scarcely a month had passed since the lives of Kenshin-gumi had been turned upside down with the letter of Kenshin's death at Kyoto. No longer can the smashing of kendo sticks be heard or the shouting of two people in the midst of their teasing banter. All that can be heard now is the deafening silence that befell on the Kamiya dojo.

Kaoru, who had flatly refused to eat or move, had finally succumbed to sickness. Not even the pleas and tears of her friends can make her move, more or less… show some emotion. So much pain caused by one single letter…

Placing a cold towel on her forehead, Megumi again checked her patients pulse. Sighing, she moved some of Kaoru's hair to the side as it started to sling to Kaoru's damp skin. Her heart spasmed painfully to know that there was nothing she could do to help her friend. Her pain didn't come form outside her body… it came from within. And it hurt, it hurt so much for her to watch her friend suffer and there was nothing she could do to help. Yes, she was a doctor alright, but how could she heal someone who doesn't want to be healed? For the very first time, fox lady Megumi Takani was at loss. Adjusting the blankets that covered Kaoru's frail form, she rose and left the room silently.

Yahiko stood in the middle of the dojo. Holding his shinai tightly in his hands, he started his usual practice. His mind replaying every single move he had learned from Kaoru.

Swing

Swing

*Your swings are a little far off Yahiko!*

His eyes snapped open, hands pausing in mid swing.

Frowning he continued…

*Yahiko you little brat! You better learn those new moves I taught you or you're in big trouble!*

This time, Yahiko stopped completely. Panting, he threw his shinai away form him. Flopping carelessly on the floor he remembered the time he had spent with Kaoru and Kenshin. Happy memories. Though he had insulted and teased Kaoru non-stop, he saw her as the big sister he never had. He really never meant all the things he said to her, he just said them to rile her up. It was really fun to tease her. His memories changed from happy to Kaoru's recent condition. The usually exuberant and lively kenjutsu instructor abed pale and deathly white.

*Kenshin… I know you're out there… come home to us…we need you… Kaoru needs you.*

Yahiko started when he felt someone hold him by the shoulder comfortingly. Looking up, he saw the ex-gangster and Megumi looking down at him with understanding.

"Oi. Jou-chan wouldn't want to see you moping down there you know."

"I know…"

"Then what are you doing down there?"

"Just reminiscing old memories…"

"Oh…"

"Sano…"

"Yeah…"

"Kenshin's alive."

"EH?" came the duet

Yahiko looked up at them incredulously.

"Do you guys really believe that Kenshin's dead?"

Sano looked at Megumi and Megumi looked back at Sano.

"Truthfully Yahiko…no" answered Megumi

Yahiko grinned.

"But this has affected Kaoru too much." Megumi added

Yahiko's grin faded. "She'll be alright, ne?"

"I don't know Yahiko… I really don't know…"

Outside in the pouring rain a cloaked figure stood in front of the gates of a dojo.

*Kamiya Kasshin Ryu Dojo….*

The figure slipped inside the gates of the dojo. Expecting to hear howls of enraged shouts coming from a boy and a girl, the figure tilted his head slightly when all he heard was the deafning silence and the pouring of the rain. Slowly making his way to the dojo where he felt three familiar ki's he stood in silence as he watched his three friends looking at each other with uncertainty in their eyes. The little kid sitting on the floor was almost going into tears. He frowned.

"Just why is everyone looking so gloomy in here?"

All three heads snapped up to the person who spoke.

Sano frowned, "Who are you?"

Inside the cowl the person smirked.

Sano growled.

"How a lot could change in such a short time. I can't believe you forgot who I am…"

"Quit playing games with us!" Sano yelled

Yahiko stared at the man in front of them, *It can't be… could it…?"

"Kenshin?" came the timid squeak so unlike Yahiko

All eyes turned to Yahiko

"Yahiko…" Megumi started

"At least someone remembers me…" came the reply

Megumi and Sano stared as the cloaked figure removed his cowl. Revealing fiery read hair and deep violet eyes.

"Oh"

"My"

"God." Megumi stared along with Sano as Kenshin regarded them with scrutinizing amethyst eyes.

Yahiko grinned. "Kenshin!!!!!!!!!" he yelled as he launched himself to the red head.

Turning to Sano and Megumi he grinned, "Told ya!!!!! Now everything's going back to normal!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Kenshin smiled gently at the little kid in front of him. He was surprised when he felt Sano knock him on the head with surprising force.

"Orororororo….."

"Kenshin! Where the hell have you been?!" he yelled

"Oro? Sano I was on a mission remember?"

"Yeah. You were on a mission but what the fuck took you so long?!"

Kenshin was surprised by Sano's outburst. Then his eyes rested on Megumi who regarded him warily. Somehow, deep inside of him, a spark of worry started to grow. He stood up. Warily watching Sano, Megumi and Yahiko, he quickly made his way to their room… his and Kaoru's.

He faintly heard Megumi call out to him uncertainly. Sano yelled for him to stop. And Yahiko shouting for him to wait. Not listening to them, he opened the door to their room. He stood in stunned silence when he took in the visage in front of him. Kaoru lay in their futon… pale and deathly white. He slowly entered, kneeling beside her, he felt her forehead. She was hot with fever. Kenshin's eyes narrowed and slowly shifted to a golden hue. His senses felt fear beyond the door behind him. He growled. *They promised him that they'll keep her safe… what happened?*

Kenshin was tired. He looked at the door behind him and told himself that he'll get answers tomorrow. But for tonight, he need rest. Sitting on the wall across Kaoru, he propped his sword on his shoulder and cast one loving look at his beloved before giving himself up to oblivion.

Kaoru woke up with a faint pounding on her head. Weakly, she raised her hand to her forehead to ease the headache. Still weak from her sickness, Kaoru almost dropped back down on the bed when she tried to sit. She groaned, this was definitely not her day. Her whole body was aching and she felt like she was on fire. She gasped as she tried desperately to hold her position while sitting, her whole body wracked with chills.

Senses wary even in sleep, Kenshin's eyes snapped open, hands moving to the hilt of his sword as he heard someone groan. His sharp amethyst tinged amber eyes scanned the room until it stopped on the gasping form of Kaoru as she tried to sit up. In just a second flat, he was right beside Kaoru tying to help her. His eyes widened in surprise as his beloved Kaoru shed away from him the moment she laid her eyes on him. Fear, uncertainty, and disbelief clouded her beautiful blue eyes. She whimpered at the sound of his voice when he softly called her name.

*What the hell?* Battousai said form deep within his mind

"Oro?! Kaoru!" Kenshin gasped. Amethyst gone only to be replaced by dangerous amber as Kaoru shed yet again, away from him.

"It can't be… they told us…" Kaoru whimpered

"Told you what Kaoru?"

"It can't be… must be dreaming"

"Kaoru this isn't a dream. I'm here. Right here."

She looked at him warily. Slowly she reached out to touch him tentatively. From his eyes, to his cheek, to his cross scar, then slowly to his lips.

"Is this really you Kenshin…?"

"Hai, koishii… I'm home…"

Kaoru smiled…. * He's home… he's home!!!!* her mind screamed before launching herself towards his arms.

Kaoru cried as he held her. Kenshin had a lot of questions to ask, but he decided to wait until morning. He and Kaoru needs to rest. Tomorrow, he'll get his answers. He'll get everything he needed to know. Especially with what happened to Kaoru. Laying her down on the futon, he slid his body along side hers and cuddled his beloved.

Kissing the top of her head, he whispered, "Tadaima."

Nuzzling his neck in response, Kaoru replied in a soft, husky voice. "Okaerinasai… anata."

To be continued….

Chapter 6: Secrets Revealed

A.N.

So…. Whaddya think? Short? Anyway… bwahahahaha, watch out for the following chapters! Saitoh appears and Kenshin gets in to his full Battousai mode! Sorry if it took me this long to update! Thanks for Angel for the reviews!!!!!

Yuki-chan (",x); mwahhhhhhh!!!!!!