Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ To Love You Again ❯ Could it be love? ( Chapter 8 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Hello, Minna-san! *Hana-chan takes a bow* Domo Arigatou gozaimasu... I thought you all had forgotten me. I feel happy that you didn't. I figure that if I had started this story in Portuguese, it would already be finished. But then, there wouldn't be an English version, so... Forgive me for taking so long to update.

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. If I did, it wouldn't be fanfiction, ne?

For Jo-chan.
Special thanks to Firuze and Kathie for all the comments. You girls are the best.

To Love you Again

8. Could it be love?

'It was dark. A cold moonless night. I was coming out of a dark alley. A faint smell captured my senses and made me strangely aware of where I was. It was the smell of blood. I stared down at my hands in shock. They were tinged with a crimson liquid. My eyes widened in terror. Whose blood was that?

'I looked back from where I was coming from and saw that the dark alley was filled with bodies. Lifeless... Just like the leaves of trees in the fall. I heard something behind me. I turned, drawing a sword that I didn't know that I had with me. Metal hit metal, as swords crashed against each other.

'A couple of moments later, that man without a face that was attacking me was on the floor... I dropped my sword to the ground. It fell with a metallic thud, as I stared at the mess I've done. I had killed him... Not only him, but all of them... All those people. What was I?

'I woke up panting. Damn those dreams. I couldn't sleep anymore. The clock was marking 3 AM. I thought I was over this kind of dreams. I guess they don't really go away.

'I got up. There is no point in keep lying down if you know you aren't going to sleep anymore. Maybe a glass of water would make me feel calmer.

As I was walking to the kitchen, I saw Kaoru's bedroom door slightly opened. I peered at the dark room. She was sleeping peacefully. I felt jealous of her. They say that people who have a guilty conscience have trouble sleeping. Is it really true? I have nothing to feel guilty about and I have nightmares most nights. Kaoru probably has something in her past and she sleeps like a baby. It's clear that she went through things she wants to forget. What is her mystery? What is she trying to hide?

'I came closer to her, as if I looked a little closer, I'd find out her secret...'

I get stunned by her beauty. Her skin is milky white. Her lips are a lovely pink hue. Her long eyelashes decorate her closed eyes. They are blue under her eyelids... Cerulean blue. Her yukata knot has come loose... Why does it always have to be loose? I sighed. I could see the curve of her breasts.

'Damn... Hentai old man... Hovering over a sleeping girl... Demo... She is anything but a girl. She is a young woman, turning eighteen today. What is wrong about wondering about a young woman?

'There I go, being selfish again. Thinking about my needs and not being concerned for her feelings. Kaoru sighed in her sleep. I was worried that she would wake up and find me there, but she didn't give any signs of waking up just yet.

'I was taken by the desire of kissing those pink lips. Would they be soft under mine? I leaned closer and kissed her. I kissed her forehead. I couldn't give in to my desire and take without being given.'

"Ken...shin..." She mumbled in her sleep. Kenshin was taken aback by her mumbling. She was dreaming about him. Though he wanted to stick around and hear whatever other things she would say in her sleep, he didn't want to get caught in her bedroom.

Maybe he could do something for her. Give, to prevent his will of taking.

***

Kaoru woke up. While stretching on her bed, she remembered the conversation she had had with Kenshin. She felt truly happy when he had said he would miss her if she went back to live at the Akabeko.

She opened the curtains of her room, and stared at the new day that was beginning. Why didn't it feel like any other day? Was she missing something? 'Oh... My birthday... I almost forgot it.'

She smelled food. 'Everyday here is the same thing. Kenshin gets up early to make breakfast for us. It's funny how he manages to wake up so soon even when he doesn't sleep well at night.

'Sometimes I hear him walking through the house. I have to restrain myself so that I won't get up and keep him company. I'm afraid of what he would think if I did that. He doesn't know, but he keeps me company when I can't sleep. I keep hearing his footsteps... His breathing. It calms me down.

'I have crazy dreams. Sometimes I dream about Kenshin, but it's a different Kenshin. It doesn't quite feel like him.'

Kaoru fixed her yukata before walking out of the room. She would hate to begin her birthday by yelling 'Kenshin no hentai!' She blushed.

Kenshin was setting the table when Kaoru walked in the kitchen.

"Ohayou gozaimasu." She greeted.

"Ohayou." Kenshin answered. "I made pancakes."

Kaoru was moving to sit down, but Kenshin's strong arms hugged her from behind.

"Happy birthday." He said and kissed her cheek, before letting go of her.

Kaoru giggled a bit embarrassed. Her cheeks had turned as pink as a cherry blossom. She sat and Kenshin served her.

"I'm taking you out to lunch today." Kenshin said, sitting down. "I hope you like French food."

"Yeah, sure... French fries are my favorite." Kaoru said, in a mocking tone of voice. "I've never been to a French restaurant before."

"So... It will be your first time." Kenshin said, biting his pancake. "Don't worry... I'll be gentle."

Kaoru blushed an unbelievable shade of crimson. She was about to think the word 'hentai', when he smiled lightheartedly. 'Mou... What is happening to me? It was just a joke, Kaoru...' Kaoru fought the urge to fan herself. 'I think I'm starting to get too hentai...' Kaoru sighed.

"Didn't you like the food?" Kenshin asked, concerned.

"It's wonderful! Thank you!" Kaoru blurted out, trying to forget her previous thought.

'I got you there, didn't I?' Kenshin smiled to himself. 'It's so easy to make you blush, Kaoru. You have no idea. Maybe you are just a naïve girl after all... But you are still young. You can be taught. What the hell am I thinking? Didn't I promise Tomoe I wouldn't pull any moves on the girl? Well, Kaoru can be everything but a girl. Not quite a woman yet, but sure not a girl.'

"What are you smiling about?" Kaoru asked.

"The pancakes are good, don't you think?" Kenshin answered, innocently.

"Hai..." Kaoru agreed, but deep inside she didn't believe that Kenshin was thinking about how his pancakes tasted.

Kenshin watched her eat. She looked absolutely lovely, even if she was eating as if there was no tomorrow. It was silly of him to behave like that. But he couldn't deny that he felt attracted to Kaoru, even if she was eleven years younger than him.

'I need to stop thinking about this. While she lives under my roof, I must treat her with all the respect she deserves. Specially because I don't want her to feel like she owes me something.' A smile came to his face. 'But it's so much fun to tease her! She blushes too easily. It's heartwarming... Or lustful, I'm not sure. When she blushes, I don't know if I want to pet her, or ravish her. Orororo! Where did that come from? Who would guess that it's so hard to live with an eighteen-years-old under your roof...'

The rest of breakfast went on in silence. Kenshin kept grinning and then frowning most of the time. Kaoru was pink most of the time.

"Get dressed. I'm taking you somewhere special." Kenshin said, when he noticed she was done.

***

"An antique shop?" Kaoru said, when they pulled over in front of a small shop.

"Hai. You may choose anything you like. It'll be your birthday gift." Kenshin said, getting off the car.

'Anything I want? Is he crazy?' Kaoru thought to herself before following Kenshin.

The shop was bigger inside than it seemed by the outside. Kaoru was stunned looking at the things from the past. Kenshin stared at her, her mouth gaping open and her eyes wide in delight.

"Ohayou gozaimasu, Himura-sama." Greeted the smiling salesman. "What can I do for you today?"

Kenshin smiled at the salesman, and took a last look at Kaoru, while she disappeared behind some large pieces of antique furniture.

"I'm shopping for gifts." Kenshin finally replied. "I need a wedding gift."

"Do you have anything in mind?" The salesman asked, without stopping smiling.

"I don't know... Candlesticks?"

"I have just the perfect thing. Follow me, please." The salesma motioned Kenshin to follow him. "These are 100 years old. They came from Netherlands. They were polished by their previous owner and are in very good condition."

"How much?" Kenshin asked.

"US$ 800.00."

"You are crazy." Kenshin stated matter of factly.

"That's how much you pay for originals from good precedence in such a good condition."

"That's plain ugly." They turned around to see Kaoru standing behind them.

"I can drop the price..." The salesman started, but was interrupted by Kaoru.

"Why are you buying candlesticks?" Kaoru asked staring at the ugly things that were called antiques.

"Tomoe's wedding gift."

"She is getting married??" Kaoru was visibly surprised.

"Hai. She told me to invite you..."

"Like a date?"

"Perhaps..."

"There is no way my date it going to take such a hideous gift." Kaoru said, nodding her head for emphasis.

"You heard the lady." Kenshin said, with a victorious smile. "Ano... No candlesticks then... What are we going to take?"

"I saw something back there." Kaoru said, pulling Kenshin by his sleeve.

Kaoru took him to the back of the store.

"What about that?" She pointed out.

It was a vanity dressing table. Very old and beautiful, as if it belonged to a fairy tale.

"Good choice, lady." The smiling salesman moved closer to the piece. "French Victorian style. It has three swing mirrors framed in a pear colored wood frame, craved with flowers. It's a lovely choice."

"It's gorgeous." Kaoru said, holding her breath.

"How much?" Kenshin asked.

"US$ 1,295.00"

"You are going nuts..."

"It's a preciosity. You won't find another like this in such a flawless state."

"It's just like a princess'." Kaoru sighed. "It would be perfect for Tomoe-san."

"Too expensive." Kenshin said, hearing what Kaoru had just said. "You have to cut down the price."

"I can't... It's a..."

"I know, a preciosity, in a flawless state, I won't find anything like this again." Kenshin completed.

"My boss is going to be mad with me..." The boy sighed. "A thousand American dollars."

"Still too expensive."

"Come on... It's my commission there."

"I'm not going to pay so much for it..."

"Nine hundred."

"Eight."

"Eight fifty. I can't drop it more than that. It's take it or leave it."

"I'll take it. By the way... I know you are your own boss, Soujirou. Don't try to pull the boss move on me."

"I should know you were smart, Himura-sama." Soujirou's smile grew wider, as if that was possible. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"Have you seen anything you like, Kaoru?" Kenshin asked the young woman.

"Do you happen to have a bokken here?" She asked Soujirou, with a smile on her face.

"As a matter of fact, I do. I just bought this huge lot from a collector. It has bokkens and even real swords." Soujirou said, motioning her to follow him.

The young man showed Kaoru the bokkens, while Kenshin just leaned on the counter and watched. Kaoru's eyes were shining, as if she was a child that had just got a new toy. She tried a couple of swings with a bokken.

"What do you think, Kenshin?" She asked, showing him the weapon.

"Pretty." He said, with a smile.

"Mou! It's not supposed to be pretty! It's supposed to be good!"

"Gomen!" Kenshin said, taking a look at the bokken. "It's in pretty good shape. It looks new."

"That one is new. My brother-in-law bought this for my nephew, but the little guy was interested in kenjutsu for a week or so." Soujirou explained. "I'm selling it for them."

Kaoru handed Kenshin the bokken and he tried it.

"It's light. Good to handle. It seems strong. Wrap it up." Kenshin said, giving the bokken to Soujirou.

"No way! I'm going to swing it a bit longer." Kaoru said, taking the wooden sword from Soujirou.

"There is something else I want to show you, Himura-sama." Soujirou said, picking up a box on a shelf. "I don't know why, when I got this, I remembered you. You used to compete in kenjutsu matches, didn't you?"

"A long time ago." Kenshin replied.

"Usually people who have good skills in kenjutsu are also interested about real swords. I know I am." Soujirou stopped smiling. "This sword is strange."

Soujirou opened the box and took from it a sheathed sword.

"Take it from it's saya and you'll know what I mean." Soujirou said, enigmatically.

Kenshin held the word. It felt strangely familiar. The sword slid away from the sheath with the usual 'clic'.

"Oro..." Kenshin muttered. "Sakabatou wa..."

"The blade is reversed, as you see." Soujirou said, his face was still serious.

"Where did you get this?" Kenshin asked, unable to take his eyes away from the blade.

"I bought it with some other swords. It belonged to a collector who died recently. His family was eager to get rid of the old man's junk. What they call junk is my business." Soujirou smiled. "They sold it to me really cheap. They didn't know how rare it is to find a Sakabatou. They say it's almost impossible to forge it." (*)

"It means your are going to charge me big for it."

"No..." Soujirou shook his head emphatically. "It's yours. Free of charge."

Kenshin stared at the young man for a second. 'Oro... How much is he going to charge me for that bokken??'

"I'll have the Sakabatou delivered at your home, Himura-san. I want to get it clean before handing it to you." Soujirou said as if he had just made the biggest sale of his life.

After paying, Kenshin and Kaoru left for the street. Kaoru looked dazzled with her knew bokken. And for Kenshin's sake, it wasn't as expensive as he had thought it would be.

"An instant photo-booth!" Kaoru squealed, as they were heading for the car. "Do you have a coin? Let's get our picture taken!" Kaoru pulled Kenshin towards the machine.

He was more than happy to comply with the young woman's desires. She was so happy and for some reason, her happiness made him happy. Why? It was a mystery. But he wanted to see her smile as much as he could.

"Say cheese!"

Kenshin smiled, not because she said so, but because she was hugging him. And his smile didn't vanish while he watched her to pick the pictures and give it to him.

"Keep it safe." She said and Kenshin's smile grew broader. "You are smiling a lot today." Kaoru frowned.

'It's because you are happy.' Kenshin mentally replied. He nodded and didn't say a word. It was fun to watch her do her 'mou' face as much as it was to pretend to be clueless.

"What else did you buy at the antique shop?" She asked.

"A sakabatou."

"Sakabatou?"

"Hai. A reverse-bladed sword." Kenshin said with pride on his voice.

"Why would someone would make a sword that doesn't cut?"

"That's precisely the point. It makes it harder to kill with such sword."

"Though if you land a precise and strong blow, you can kill someone, even if you are using a bokken." Kaoru said. (**)

"That's why we have to be very careful…" Kenshin said with a lost look on his eyes. He was remembering the dreams he had where he was a swordsman.

"Kenshin? Daijoubu?"

"Aa… Are you hungry?" Kenshin asked.

"Yeah. But I'm not sure about French food… I heard they eat slimes…" She made an eecky face.

"Do you want to eat junk food? It's your birthday. We'll eat everything you want."

"That sounds great."

'Whatever makes you happy. I wished you were always happy. But how can I make you happy, dry up your tears and comfort you when you are sad? I don't know what makes you sad… do you miss your family? I would gladly be your family… do you have any family left? Who took care of you after your parents died? How can I know this without splitting up your heart?'

***

Kenshin looked at the photos once more. She looked so cute in it. He never smiled so much in a single day. It was great to spend the entire morning with Kaoru. But as fate would have it, he had to work, and so did she.

"Kirei…" Kenshin sighed. He cut two of the pictures and put the rest in his wallet.

'What would she think if she knew what I'm about to do?' Kenshin put one of the small pictures in a frame, with one of Yahiko's pictures. 'Family' He thought, without realizing.

A knock on the door made Kenshin look up. The door opened to reveal Kamatari's face.

"Shinomori-san is here." She said, opening fully the door and allowing Aoshi to step in.

"Himura." Aoshi said with a reckoning nod, before sitting in front of Kenshin's desk.

"I have an assignment for you." Kenshin said, handing the second picture he had cut. "The girl's name is Kamiya Kaoru. I need you to find as much info about her as you can. I believe she might be in trouble with the law. If you find something to confirm that, you must tell me immediately."

'Because… if she is in trouble with the police, I'll have to hire the best lawyer money can pay.' Kenshin thought to himself.

Aoshi wrote down her name on a small notebook.

"Do you know anything else that might help with my search?"

Kenshin thought for a moment.

"She told me her parents died in a car crash, about two years ago. She seems to know kenjutsu, but I don't know about her skills. That's pretty much what I know about her." Kenshin said and then mentally added: 'Besides the fact that she is beautiful, lovely, stubborn in a sweet way… gods… I'm in love with her.' Kenshin blushed to the roots of his hair.

"Whatever you do, Shinomori, don't let the cops know you know about her."

"Don't worry. You protégé's secret will remain a secret." Aoshi said, closing his notebook. "But if she just turned eighteen, there might be information about her that is classified because of her age. Like previous convictions, anything… I have source that might be able to find things out, if we pay his price. He's with the police, though. But his silence can also be bought."

'We aren't safe nowadays. Even the police can be bought.' Kenshin sighed.

"If you can't find anything about her, you may contact him. But only as a last resource."

"Understood." Aoshi said, getting up. "If I find anything, I'll let you know."

Kenshin stood up, until Aoshi left the room. Then he finally let himself fall back in his chair. 'In love… I can't believe this… No. It can't be. It's just that attraction. Yeah, that's it. I'm attracted to her. And it's not good to be attracted to her, as long as she's living with me… and I want her happy because? Because I like to see people happy. Nothing more.'

Thinking about that, Kenshin picked up his phone and called Megumi.

"Is Friday good enough for us to have that drink?"

***

Kenshin thanked the gods that Tae had given Kaoru the Friday off. Since she had gone back to work, he always was there to walk her back home. He didn't feel comfortable about she going home alone late at night. And he was sure Megumi wouldn't like if he interrupted their 'date' to walk home her prospect rival.

Megumi had talked him into, instead of the drink, they had dinner together. He could heard the surprise in her voice, when he agreed. The worst part of the bargain was Kaoru's slight frown when he told her he would be out to have dinner with the woman she hated so much.

'She'll get over it.' Kenshin thought, when he leaned over to kiss Kaoru's cheek good-bye.

"Don't wait up." He said.

Kaoru's face was a mix of all sorts of emotions. She tried to smile, but her eyes shone in an unusual way. Kenshin tried to forget her face all during dinner, but the memory of Kaoru was always coming back to him.

They were in a small Italian restaurant. Megumi was trying to make conversation, but Kenshin would only reply with a 'yes' or a 'no'. Soon after, she gave up and they ate in silence.

´Why do I feel like this? Megumi is a beautiful woman. She is the right age for me. She is independent, self-confident. She is all a man could want... But she is not for me. What am I doing here? I should be home...

'Home with Kaoru. Blast. Why do I always have to think about her? Could I love her? She's smart, funny and beautiful. She has a caring heart. Just to be near her makes me happy. It makes my insides twist and I feel warm.

'Maybe it isn't just an infatuation. Would this explain why I can't imagine being away from her for too long? Or why I love to make her blush? I feel so stupid. People are stupid when they are in love...

'But what if she doesn't feel the same way I do? What if she sees me only as a friend? Then I'll have to win her heart. That's what I'm going to do.'

"Take me home." Megumi asked, somewhat bitterly.

***

"I won't ask you to come in. You obviously doesn't want to." Megumi said, when Kenshin parked in front of her home.

"Gomen nasai, Megumi-dono." Kenshin said, without looking at her.

"It's okay, Ken-san. Don't feel bad about it. We are friends, aren't we?"

"I would like to think that."

"We've known each other for long... There was a time where I was in love with you. But you chose Tomoe over me. I really let go of you, though I love to tease you. I know you never felt this way about me. I was surprised that you wanted to have dinner with me." Megumi smiled. "We sat together, but we didn't enjoy dinner together. Your mind was elsewhere. I won't ask you what is your problem. I only hope that you can sort it out."

"I already have, Megumi-dono. Thanks to you, actually. Arigatou."

"You always knew, didn't you? The way I felt for you back then?"

"Hai. That's why I chose you to be Yahiko's pediatrician. I trust you. I couldn't return your feelings back then. I have always loved Tomoe. Since we were fourteen or so. I couldn't love you because I already loved someone. But I always thought you were a wonderful person and I wanted to be your friend." Kenshin stared at his watch.

"It's getting late. Thank you for everything, Ken-san." Megumi said, leaving the car.

She watched Kenshin's car turn the corner, before a tear could run through her face. "You always saw me as a 'wonderful person', but it's the second time you fall in love with someone other than me."

***

Kenshin took a deep breath, before opening his apartment's door. He could still remember the look in Kaoru's face when he left. He was to blame for making her upset. The living room's light was on. 'Don't tell me she is waiting...' The television was also on he could hear it. 'She is waiting...'

He walked to the living room. Kaoru was asleep lying on the sofa. She had been watching a movie. Kenshin sat next to her stomach, leaning over her, what caused her to open her eyes sleepily.

"Kenshin?"

"I told you to not wait." He said, tugging some hair behind her ear.

"I wasn't waiting. I was watching a movie." She said, without moving.

"What are you watching?"

" 'French Kiss.'" She said and then blushed a little.

"Can I watch it with you?"

Kaoru nodded, getting up to make room on the sofa for him. Kenshin sat and pulled her so that she would lie pillowing her head on his lap. He kept playing with her hair, and Kaoru sighed.

"It's still early... Bad date?" She asked, after a while.

"No, actually."

"Is there going to be a second date?"

"No."

"Good." Kaoru said and just then realized what she had said and tried to cover it up. "I don't like that woman."

"I know." Kenshin said, with a sigh. "Megumi-dono is a good woman, Kaoru. I wished you two could get along."

"As long as she stops teasing me..."

"She is only teasing. You are funny to tease."

"What do you mean by that?" Kaoru raised her head, so she could look at Kenshin.

"I only meant that you take it seriously. It's funny."

"Oh." Kaoru said, lying her head again on his lap. She yawned and then closed her eyes.

Kenshin watched the rest of the movie alone, because Kaoru was soon fast asleep. But he didn't care, as long as she was near him.

========
(*) My friend Miguel says it's impossible to forge a Sakabatou. I didn't do research to see if he's right or no, but let's keep it this way.
(**) This info I got from my sensei. There was a samurai called Musashi that actually killed using bokkens just as easily as anyone would kill with a katana. It's like Miguel says: "If you hit well enough, you could kill someone with a broomstick."
==========
More Author's notes: I researched the antiques on e-bay. Thanks to Isabel for suggesting the vanity as a gift. And the prices are the real thing too. I couldn't believe how expensive some of those stuff were.

Jason M. Lee: Thanks for the compliment on Kaoru and Megumi's interaction. That was the only part of the chapter that I wrote in English. Thanks for the correct spelling of sakabatou. I never saw the word in hiragana or katakana, so I went with how everybody writes it. My mistake. =^x^=

Vesca: Thanks for the support. You have no idea how it was to translate. It's good to know people enjoyed it.

Gypsy-chan: You always make me blush! Thanks for the wonderful compliment. You are one of my favorite authors. I really love all your fanfictions!

Kenta Divina: Thanks. *blushing* Sometimes it's easier to write fanfiction in English. And I think the best way to learn a foreign language is to use it. I know I make a lot of mistakes, but it's the idea that counts, ne?

Inuki: I hope that I didn't disappoint you... I already have tons of things that must happen on this fic... And everything here will follow the right course. If you feel that things are getting too calm, pay attention, because there is a storm coming.

Nemo: I would ask my brother to review my English... The only problem is... I'd get too embarrassed... Not only there is too much waff, but there are a few things that will happen that would make me blush like hell.

SyiveSe: Thank you for your support. It makes it worthy continue this story.

Omochi: I talked a lot to Firuze about karma when I was coming up with the plot. The reversed roles are part of it. It's good when people notice it.

MP: Thanks!

Susan: I'm not going to tell about Saitou! And Karma really is a wonderful thing... But about the Kaoru cooking... You are right, good thing Kenshin is doing the cooking or they would get food poisoning.

Chri: Thank you for the wonderful review. I wrote it like this because I experience a lot of deja vus. I like the concept of people meeting each other on different lives, but I wouldn't write them remembering everything. After all, just the other day I scared a friend of mine because I told him what he had been on a previous life.

To everybody else that reviewed chapter 7, I thank you very much. And please press the button down there and make an author happy. =^x^=