Fanfic by Blueroseulan

Dec.10, 2004

AN: I decided to do a Sou/Kao fic for a change. So if ur a super KnK lover, I advice you push the 'back' button now. But if you could tolerate other pairings, I suggest you give this fic a try. I myself am a KnK lover… I just thought change would be good for once. Please minimize the flames!

STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY! RK DOESN'T BELONG TO ME!

Please review!

He left.

There was no saying why.

He just did.

He left, leaving only a note containing a single word.

Goodbye.

Never did he explain why, what or where was he going. Why… what had been his main intent on leaving?

A man such as sensible as him would not flee with no apparent reason.

It hurt.

Yes it did.

And she took it especially hard.

Why?

What made him do that?

Couldn't he stand her?

Didn't he love her?

It was the same… just like when he left for Kyoto.

Only now, the knowledge has hurt more then half as such. Knowing that he would never come back, he would never return.

No amount of consolation from Megumi, cheerful jokes from Misao or sensible words from Tae would ever suffice to take the sting away from her bitter heart.

Broken.

That was what she was.

It had been how long? A week? A month? A year? Kaoru didn't know. Didn't really want to know. It was silly actually. What for? She no longer had a reason to live. Cheesy as it may sound, it was a condemned truth for her broken soul. And so, there she was, becoming benumbed by a hard glass shell. Distancing herself from others, surrounding her frail heart with a façade so thick, a shell so strong.

She could no longer feel.

She could no longer reason.

It was driving her insane.

Not knowing what to do, not knowing what to think.

For the rest of her days, she drove herself into hard work. Burrowing herself through rigorous practices, keeping the family dojo in pristine order, groveling into her lessons, never tiring, never stopping. It was all she could do to stop herself from thinking of him.

She was angry, she was hurt

She hated him… She loved him…

She wanted him to suffer…

She was bitter… She missed him…

She yearned for him

Oh dear gods, what was she to do?

Funny how ironic life works. Just when he had wandered away… just when he had left her amidst the broken shatters of her life, someone else had wandered into her fucked up life. Life threw him in the most unexpected time, in the most unexpected of chances yet the presence she most welcomed in her time.

A man named Soujiro knocked on her dojo gate one morning and somehow, after a lot of sweet smiles, a few words and a bit of charisma, she ended up allowing him to spend the night inside her home. He seemed well enough to be trusted… though those words she could not mouth off completely. And even Yahiko seemed wary with the sudden intruder.

He turned out to be a completely entertaining man; Kaoru had to admit, for he had already sent the lost sparks in her eyes in such a short period of time. His smiles made her wonder. It was one exactly like those of Kenshin's… A smile… but not a genuine one… a smile that reflected loneliness and sadness…

She was soon intrigued about the man … though her conscience had earlier warned her that his past may not be something that was nice to talk about. She knew nothing about him… except his name. It was not after Sanosuke had reacted when she finally found out about his true identity.

"Tenken…" she whispered…

His normally smiling face was suddenly shadowed by anxiety and tension. One he tried to mask out with a grin, though she could clearly read him.

"I would understand if you would ask me to leave Kamiya-san…" he bowed respectfully, trying futilely to hide the growing disappointment in his face.

"Hell ya'h should… after what ya've done to Kenshin…" Sanosuke cursed roughly. He might be hurt and angered by the swordsman's sudden disappearance but traces of memories held in Shishio's batttleplace was the last on his list.

A grim smile spread on Soujiro's face. Yet inwardly, there was a growing ache… one of which he was not used to. I am an expert in hiding my emotions… why is it so hard now?

Kaoru had been frozen in her tracks. After all the stories she had heard from Sano… his speed, his power, she was startled to find these abilities in such a gentle man. She was stopped. Battling herself whether to catch him or allow the man who had hurt the man she had loved the most to walk away. She didn't know what to do, but seeing his retreating figure, she suddenly found herself whispering the words to stop him… almost like a flashback when she tried to stop Kenshin from leaving.

"Wait…"

He turned around. Surprised by the mere whisper in her tone. Her face had an unreadable emotion… and he was uncomfortable about it… the situation was in its more awkward dimension. He didn't know what was proper…

"JOU-CHAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?"

She couldn't reply to Sanosuke, for even her brain supplied no answer. It was just an impulse, something so natural for her to allow a friend, an enemy an intruder from suffering into the arms of the bitter cold outside. There is something about Soujiro that reminds me of him…

"I… you… you could stay for the night Seta-san…."

"JOU-CHAN! ARE YA"H CRAZY! HE COULD KILL US BOTH…THERE"S NO TELLIN' WHAT HE MIGHT DO!"

Before Soujiro could even shake his head in disagreement, her strong voice startled both him and Sanosuke.

"No. Seta-san would never do that ne?" she asked turning to him.

To say he was surprised would be an understatement. Astonishment flickered in his eyes as he wondered how trusting the woman was. She knew how he worked, why he worked and for whom he worked; yet she still allowed him to stay… Why?

"Kamiya-san's right. I would never hurt all of you. I'm a changed man." He added seriously.

Even though the older man seemed unconvinced, Kaoru still led him to Kenshin's room, telling him that this would be the place he would have to stay in for the night.

"Kamiya-san…" he asked before entering the room.

"Hai?"

Trying very hard to cover the tell tale blush from spreading onto his cheeks, he bowed reverently, his forehead touching the floor before whispering,

"Arigatou…"

Tbc…

AN: So whaddya think of it? leave a review and let me know what you think!

Here's a short teaser for the next chappie… hopefully, you'd find this story interesting and read on!

Teaser for Chapter 2:

She could no longer think, no longer speak. A thousand thoughts launching on her mind, rattling her soul. It was not after when she felt a pair of arms hold her shivering form did her mind clear, the devilish and stinging memories, fleeing.

"It's okay… Ssshhh… It's okay Kamiya-san… its okay…" he whispered comfortingly, while he rocked her in a soothing motion.

Kaoru had never been this close to a man except Kenshin. But even with Soujiro, she didn't know why, but instead of flinching, she felt comfortable and oddly comforted with him. It didn't help that he was a stranger… an enemy maybe, but still, she took the solace he offered

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