Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Time Changes All ❯ I'm Sorry ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer: Of course I own Rurouni Kenshin! What are you talking about? U doubt that I'm Watsuki-sensei? Hmm maybe if I get a sex change and get older. . . possibilities are looking up

". . ." dialogue

`. . .' Kaoru's thoughts

*. . .* Kenshin's thoughts

(. . .) author's useless commentary

I'm Sorry

By Hoshi-ni-Onegai

Kaoru, Kenshin, and Soujiro were making there way to the cemetery while Soujiro and Kaoru were talking about little things here and there; however Kenshin's solemn face seemed persistent. At arriving at the cemetery Kaoru led Kenshin through the maze of family burial plots. They arrived at one, a simple one much like any other. In the middle stood a polished stone, slightly taller than the other ones at the plot it read "Kamiya-ke" (means Kamiya family). On the right of it was a stone with the names of those buried there, and on the wooden sticks sticking out from behind the tall stone were the names given to those buried after death (in Buddhism a person is given a name they use after death, you have to pay to get this name and a shrine gives you one. . . not u, but ur family gets it for u. . . since u'd be dead and all. . . is this even making sense?)

"I'll go get the water Kao-chan. Kenshin would you mind helping her clean up around it?"

"Of course, that's why I came." Kenshin did not smile like usual his eyes downcast avoiding looking upon the stone.

Soujiro smiled (like always) and walked off to the other side of the cemetery to get water to clean the plot. Kaoru started sweeping up the death leaves and flowers that were piling up on it and Kenshin was doing the same. Kaoru looked out of the corner of her eyes and noticed that Kenshin still had the same look on his face.

"Ken-chan?"

A moment of silence stretched until Kenshin finally answered, "Yes Kaoru?"

`Kaoru? He never calls me that when we are alone. . . what happened to Koishii?' "Are you okay Ken-chan? You seem a little. . . distant."

Kenshin looked up with a forced smile on his face, "I'm sorry I was just a bit distracted by something I was remembering. . ." *I'm sorry Koishii. . . *

"Remembering what?" Karou tilted her head to the side.

"I'm so-" his words were cut off as Soujiro came back with the bamboo pale in one hand and the bamboo ladle in the other.

"Kao-chan! I couldn't find your pail so I got the public usage one, is that ok?"

"That's fine Soujiro, let's clean it and finish up soon."

They finished cleaning the plot and poured water over the stones to wash away the pilling up dirt. The replaced the withered away flowers and lit the incense. The three of them kneeled in from of the plot and paid their regards.

`Hi mommy, hi daddy. I guess I'm talking to you a bit differently than usual, it is your meinichi (death day) and Soujiro was once again kind enough to come with me. . . oh! And this red head to my right would be none other than Kenshin! I told you about him the other day, remember? He asked if he could come, so here he is. . . mommy. . . daddy. . . it's been so long since I last saw you. . . eight years. . . I miss you two so much. . . `

*Hello Kamiya-san, Kamiya-san. It's been awhile, I came back and met Kaoru. I recently met her again when I transferred to this school. I guess you were right Kamiya-san we met again. . . I am sorry to have heard about your death, I had no idea. No one told me, then again no one had an obligation to tell me. Do not worry about Kaoru I will protect her (he couldn't bring himself to call her Koishii in front of her parents). No matter what happens. . . I will try to the best of my ability to be by her side.*

(call both husband and wife `san'. . . sorry if u can't tell them apart but I'll try to show which one I'm talking about)

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

"Ken-kun?" A seven-year-old Kenshin turned around, the familiar mess of red hair flying around as his head whipped around. As he looked up at the voice he smiled.

"Hello Kamiya-san! How are you today?"

Kaoru's father looked down at the good-natured boy and gave him a half smile. "Ken-kun, what can I do for you today?"

Standing outside the door of the Kamiya residence that lived next to him he continued to give his famous smile (could u not melt with the smile? ^o^).

"I was wondering if Koishii was able to play today."

". . ."

"Kamiya-san?"

"Kenshin, I have to ask you a favor."

Taken back by the sudden change in saying his name without the friendly "kun." After the initial shock he put on his smile again (he's only 7 u know).

"Sure Kamiya-san! Anything for you!"

"Why do you call her Koishii?"

"Because she's my most favorite person! We also promised to get married! We even have an engagement ring!" Kenshin replied with overflowing enthusiasm and pride.

"Then will you do me a favor, a favor that you must keep forever? I guess you could call it a promise. . . about Kaoru?"

"Anything! I'll do anything for Kaoru!" Kenshin exclaimed with his hands balled in fists at this side with determination.

"Protect her."

"W-what?"

"Protect her. Kaoru is strong, but vulnerable."

"No, Koishii is one of the strongest people I know! She can fight!!! She can beat me up any day!"

"Maybe she could, that's why you have to be stronger. She maybe strong and be able to defeat all her come up to her in when she is older; however, she's not as strong on the inside. Don't get me wrong, she is strong but she never lost anything really important to her."

Kenshin looked guiltily at Kamiya-san, ". . . Is this about me having to move away?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Am I going to break her? Am I going to hurt her?"

"Kenshin. . ." He looked down at the boy that had his head hung low with his fist still at his sides, but shaking.

"I'm sorry."

"It can't be helped that she'll be sad when you move, but she's not one to hate someone over something like that. You know that better than anyone else. I am asking you to protect her because when it comes to Kaoru I trust you more than anyone else."

Kenshin stopped shaking but continued with his head hung low. "How can I protect her if I'm far away?"

"You two won't forever be apart. I think. . .no, I know that you two will meet again. You're meant to be. Will you protect her?"

Kenshin slowly raised his head his eyes slightly glimmering with tears that seemed refuse to fall. Kamiya-san's breath suddenly caught, he saw in Kenshin a determination that a boy of his age never has. The determination backed by. . . love?

"Yes, I will protect her with my life."

**************************Flashback Ends**************************

After finishing with paying their respects they headed home. As they walked home Kaoru and Soujiro talked and Kenshin still seemed a bit distant. The same way they were when they were walking there.

"Kao-chan, Kenshin-san, I guess I'll be heading this way now." Soujiro pointed to the right. Kaoru looked at him then straight down the road.

"I guess we'll be headed this way. See you tomorrow at school Sou-chan!" They waved their good byes and Kenshin and Kaoru headed toward their apartments.

`Why is he so quiet today? I wonder what he was trying to say befo-` Her thoughts were interpreted by the words of Kenshin.

"I'm sorry. That's what I wanted to say earlier."

"W-what? H-how d-did you know what I was talking about?!"

"The Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu allows me to predict very accurately what a person's next attack is."

"Ok, for one: wow, that's so cool! And for two: that doesn't even answer my question."

Kenshin smiled slightly. "Sorry, I meant I can sometimes sense what a person is feeling or what they are going to say."

"Oh. . . can you tell what I'm thinking now?" Kaoru looked at him.

"You're wondering why I said sorry."

". . ." Kaoru stared at him with her eyes wide and mouth hanging open.

Kenshin chuckled, "I was right huh? Well. . . I guess I said `I'm sorry' because. . . I broke a promise."

`A-a promise? Is he talking about our promise? He has a girlfriend? He's married? He has children?!' At this point Kaoru's face changed from worried to sad to skeptical to panicked. Seeing all the emotions fleeting across her face Kenshin didn't know what to say. *Is she mad? Of course she is. . . I should leave her alone. . . let her collect. . . it is a day of bad memories after all.*

"Kaoru, I have to go buy something at the convini (what Japanese call convenient stores like 7-11). I guess I'll see you tomorrow!" Kenshin said forcing a wide smile across his face and ran off in the other direction of the apartment.

"Ken-chan. . ." Kaoru looked after his disappearing figure. `Now I know why you didn't called me Koishii.' she turned in the direction of her apartment and broke out in a dead run. A few minutes later she slammed the door of her apartment shut and ran to the butsudai (it's like a mini-shrine that ppl have in the house to respect their dead family members). And she started crying.

"D-daddy. . . m-mommy. . . e-eight y-years p-passed, but I. . . miss you. . ." she looked up at the butsudai and looked to the right where a picture of her mother and father was sitting. "why did you leave me?" Tears were streaming down her face when a warm embrace came up from behind her. "W-what?!"

She turned her head around slightly and so a mass of red. "Kaoru. . . " Kenshin nose was at the crook of her neck and he continued to embrace her tightly.

"K-ken-chan?! What are you doing here?!" Kaoru was blushing at the placement of his face.

"To be with you Koishii. . . I promised your father that I would protect you with my life. . . I failed. I'm sorry."

". . . you called me Koishii. . . that's the first time today. . . "

"Is that why you're crying?"

". . ."

"I'm sorry. . . it seems that the promise I made you father is constantly being broken. . . I can't seem to be able to live by my word."

"How have you broken the promise?"

"Because I'm not just supposed to protect you physically. . . but emotionally as well. I left you to be hurt by yourself. . . I left you when your parent passed away. . . I left you to deal with it alone. . . that was all years ago. . . but I made the same mistake five minutes ago. . . I left you alone."

There stretched a long silence. "That wasn't your fault. . .you're here now. . . you didn't forget our promise?"

Kenshin moved his nose slightly and gave a peck of a kiss on her neck as if a silent comfort. "I could never forget the promise. . . please don't cry alone. I won't look at your face. I won't see you cry because you don't want me to. Just don't cry alone, I won't look at you. . . just cry."

Kaoru looked at the pictures of her parents and bawled out crying once again.

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A/N: Ok for one thing that kiss on the neck was nothing more than comfort ok? Nothing like a hicky. . . ok now that we have clear. . . I want ppl to also know that I think Kaoru is a very strong character that she really is strong physically and emotionally. . . the only reason she seems weak in the manga is because Kenshin and Sano are too strong. . . I just wanted ppl to know that so ppl won't think I think lowly of Kaoru when I seriously don't. . . but the loss of parents is hard on anyone. . . well I hope u read and review! See ya next time! ^o^