Change of Heart

Chapter 5

Life is a Pain

Disclaimer: I don't seem to own any animes… including this on. Kinda sad… ;_;

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AN: Well, last chapter was very depressing. I will continue to make Kaoru's life a living hell as long as I have to. It's not the best thing in the world to do, but an author's got to do what and authors got to do…o_O

Glossary:

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The tears poured out of Kaoru's eyes as she sunk to the floor. She wanted to touch her mother's cheek, but felt like it was her fault and couldn't bare it. She sat there with silent tears streaming from her eyes. She was in such a state of shock; she couldn't make the slightest noise. Her socks were drenched in blood but she felt numb and didn't care. The only people who knew and loved her were gone. She had no one left now…

Kaoru heard a small rape at the door. Great, another person to come and make matters worse. She stood up, supporting herself on a dresser. She wearily walked down the stairs to the door. She never thought she had that much strength in her to do this. She almost felt pulled to the door. She heard the knock again. She unlocked the door and opened it a bit.

"Who's there?!?" she asked from behind the door to hide her face.

"Oro?!?! Miss Kaoru?? Is that you??" a familiar voice came from the other side.

"Kenshin?" she questioned, surprised a bit.

"That would be me?? You don't sound yourself. What's wrong?" Kenshin tried pushing the door open a little more.

Kaoru forced it back to its place. She couldn't afford having Kenshin see her like this. "I just have a…" she paused. "Cold." She finished.

"Oh my! Let me help you! I have come to see you, you know." Kenshin pushed the door harder. Kaoru not realizing what happened couldn't react quick enough to push back.

She looked up, red, blood shot eyes looking into Kenshin's. Kenshin had a cheerful smile on his face but it immediately faded at the site of Kaoru.

"What is wrong?? You look like someone had died!!" he said scanning her body to see how fragile it was. Kaoru had disbelief written all over her mind, but didn't show it.

How does he DO that?? She wondered over all the thought racing through her mind.

Kenshin spotted her socks and his jaw dropped open. "Di-did some get hurt??" he asked.

Kaoru burst into tears and fell forward. Kenshin, with his excellent reflexes, caught her and held her in his arms.

"Shhhhhhh… It's ok." Were his soothing words.

After Kenshin's shoulder was completely soaked, he suggested they headed inside. Kaoru used Kenshin for support and stumbled inside the house. Kenshin sat her down by the table and prepared some tea. Kaoru, still crying, sat up and looked over to Kenshin.

"Wh-why are you so kind to me??" she asked, in a quiet voice.

"You are in distress. I find it my duty to comfort you." Kenshin smiled warmly at her.

His smile made Kaoru swell up. It was sweet and always happy. She felt so secure with Kenshin, but what made him so special?

Kenshin placed the hot cups on the table. Kaoru picked it up and sipped the warm liquid. A warm shiver ran through her body. Tea always calmed her nerves. Kenshin sat across from her and read her expression as her drank his tea.

"Would you show me your parents when we're done?? Not to be rude or such. I would just like to see them." Kenshin said, trying not to offend Kaoru.

Kaoru simply nodded her head and continued to enjoy her peace.

**

Once they were both done, Kaoru lead Kenshin up to her parent's room. She stood outside the door.

"You don't' have to go back in if you don't want to." Kenshin suggested.

Kaoru nodded her head and walked a few steps away to keep out of sight. Kenshin slid open the door and saw the bodies sprawled on the floor. His eyes widened and he walked closer. He examined the wounds and began muttering to himself. Kaoru peered in at Kenshin to see what he was doing, holding back the tears.

Letting a few tears escape, she couldn't help but wonder what he was doing. He was acting all strange and getting a bit worried. She observed him closely and searched his face for any sign of expression. Kaoru couldn't tell what he was doing or thinking, but she could have sworn she saw a drop of sweat glisten on his forehead.

He snapped his head up. Kaoru quickly stepped back and acted as if nothing happened. She took a few steps forward when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Ahh!" she yipped from the sudden move.

"Gomen nasai de gozaru yo." Kenshin apologized. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's alright." Kaoru replied.

"Arigato Miss Kaoru, but I must go now." Kenshin looked concerned.

"Why?? I thought you would stay a little more??" she desperately didn't want him to go.

"I need to find something out. I must go." He said in a firm voice.

Kaoru moved from the hall to let him pass. Why does he always go so suddenly?? He's the closest person I have to a friend! She felt her stomach swell up as she watched him walk down the stairs. She propelled herself with all of her strength left to go down.

Little by little she made her way down. She began to breathe hard. She felt warm tears sting her eyes. In her perspective, everyone who cared for her was going away and never coming back. She couldn't let that happen. She broke into a slow jog to the front door just as Kenshin made his way down the walkway. She swung open the door and called, "Wait!!"

Kenshin spun around to see who had called his name. "Miss Kaoru?? What is it??"

Kaoru ran up to him. "Kenshin, you have to promise me you'll come back. Here take my favorite indigo ribbon." Kaoru untied her hair and let it flow down her back.

Kenshin stared at her as she does so. "W-why are you doing this?? I will come back." Kenshin was curious.

Kaoru, not knowing why she was doing this, replied, "Don't hold yourself responsible…" she thrust him the ribbon and walked back to the house. Before Kenshin could say a word, Kaoru had already shut the door. What did she mean??

Kaoru had walked inside and looked around at the house. She felt uncomfortable and out of place. It didn't have its warm homey feeling to it anymore. No smell from the kitchen, no talking about the house, no floor boards squeaking, no anything! She picked up her books from the floor and headed into the kitchen. She pondered about her wise words, 'Don't hold yourself responsible'. She pushed her hair behind her ears and dumped her books on the table.

A yellow sheet of parchment rolled out of her bag onto the table. She gasped. How could she have forgotten about that afternoon?!?

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Ok…so that wasn't much of an ending but it was still really good. I mean Kenshin was the sweetest lil thing in the world! ^_^ Me like him that way. I just had to make him show up…

Well, anyway, that was a really short chapter. I have a bad feeling that I'm going to get writer's block soon. The next few chapters I think will be a bit short. Hope you ENJOY a lot!! (u better) ^.^

-s.w.i