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Crossing the Line	By : HauntedReality Category: Rurouni Kenshin > General Views: 5367 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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CROSSING THE LINE - Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans�

DISCLAIMER: Of the many things that are mine to possess,
Rurouni Kenshin and his companions are not among them.

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For a moment he thought the pain was causing him to
hallucinate. He had turned his head expecting to see his friend, the girl he
thought of as a sister, but instead he was greeted by a vision of true beauty.

Her eyes were filled with radiant light, and her smile
touched his very soul. And even though he knew it was crazy, he would have
sworn that she was glowing. He could do nothing, but look at the angel before
him. The angel, whose heart he must crush.

�Kaoru��

�Kaoru? Since when do you call me by my name?� She asked
laughingly, and walked closer to him.

Sano dropped his head, not wanting to look at her any
longer. She was just making it more difficult.

�Sano, what�s wrong?�

He tried to speak. He really did, but nothing was coming
out.

�Sano, where is Kenshin?!� she demanded, becoming afraid.
She had never seen Sano at such a loss for words, and had only just realized
how quiet everything was in the courtyard.

Finally, he managed to say the only thing he could--the only
thing that made sense--�I�m sorry Jou-chan.�

Shaking her head slowly, she struggled to stay in control.
She could feel her body go cold, her breath froze in her lungs, and her muscles
tightened. The world seemed to slow to a standstill. The only thing she could
hear and feel was the beating of her own heart. It was beating so loudly now
that she was sure it was going to explode.

�No.� she whispered.

Then she heard the screaming.

Who was that? What was happening? The screamer sounded so
lost--so inconsolable--but who was screaming?

And then as screams melted into painful shaking sobs, she
realized, it had been her. As she exhausted her energy, the sobbing slowed to
crying. And when there were no more tears, she simply rocked herself slowly.

She was sure she was going to pass out. She welcomed it. The
dark was inviting. Nothing would be there to hurt her. She wouldn�t have to
think about how happy she had been. It was the happiness� fault after all. If
she hadn�t felt so good, then this wouldn�t have hurt so much.

In the dark she wouldn�t have to realize he had left her
again. She could be comforted, safe, and loved. There would just be dark, and
nothingness.

As she embraced oblivion, she realized something had been
embracing her. Someone was holding her, and carrying her to her room. Her
consciousness fought back to see who it was.

She could feel the strong arms encircling her. It was like
that night--that night with the fireflies. �Kenshin?� her mind hoped as her
blurred vision worked to clear itself.

�No�it is Sano,� she corrected herself. �He looks so sad.� And
for a moment, she forgot about her pain and the disappointment that it wasn�t
Kenshin. She just wanted to comfort her friend--the one who was still by her
side.

She slowly moved her hand to his nearby cheek, and stroked
it reassuringly. �Shhhh�it�s alright Sano.�

Shocked chocolate eyes met her watery blue ones. Nothing was
said, but as they sank down to her futon their embrace tightened.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

They had been walking for quite a while, and although it had
not been the most direct path, they had finally arrived at the clinic.

At first Yahiko had been too upset to think about where he
was going, or to even realize she was following him. But once his mind cleared
of the venomous thoughts toward Kenshin and Sano, and concern for his
soon-to-be heartsick instructor, he realized he should escort Megumi home. If
one could call meandering through the woods without speaking as someone trailed
behind, escorting.

They didn�t nee ack acknowledge each other�s presence. It
was understood. That is what Yahiko liked about Megumi. Although she would be
the first to point out he was still young, she was the last to internalize it.
She treated him just as she treated the others, and if that was mocking
respect, then at least it was equal mocking respect.

�Have a seat over there. I�ll get the bandages.�

�Bandages?� At least he thought he understood her, but that
was certainly confusing. Then looking to his hand, he understood. When the wood
in the bokken had splintered some of it sliced his hand. He had been too
wrapped up in other thoughts to even notice.

Megumi looked over the wound. The bleeding had stopped on
it�s own, and there was no significant damage. It looked considerably worse
than it actually was. She cleansed and wrapped the injured hand with skillful
ease.

�Your hand will need some time to heal. Care for it as best
you can, and be gentle at first, but rest assured, it is strong and will
recover.�

It wasn�t like Megumi to be so indirect, and he appreciated
it. Of course he knew she was talking more about Kaoru than his hand, but he
was glad they didn�t have to do so formally.

�I should be getting back,� he said finally. Megumi nodded.
What he didn�t say was thanks, but as so many other things between the two, it was
understood.

�You�re welcome, Yahiko-san. Take care of her.�

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kenshin was running through the forest at an incredible
pace. His feet and heart were pounding in time with one another. He desperately
tried to concentrate on the task at hand to keep his mind off of Kaoru, but
unfortunately he could dodge branches and traverse rough terrain on instinct,
leaving his mind free to think.

�I�ve left her again. How many times can she forgive me? How
much more can I ask from the person who has always given me all she has to
offer and more?

�This would be much easier if she just didn�t care for me.
Why does she? I�ve been a killer, and to atone for this, I must often leave her
side. If I do not then how can I even begin to repent for the lives I took?�

A flash of crimson to his right drew his attention away from
the fair-skinned girl with raven hair. In something much shorter than a moment
swords were met with a clash, and then both men were being repelled away from
each other with force.

The wild-eyed fugitive mocked Kenshin from a low tree
branch. �I see they sent one manslayer to catch another. And what makes you so
special while I rot in chains, hmm?�

More swift movements, another sword slash, but the fight remained
a draw as a very intense Kenshin stared at his opponent. �What makes me so
special?�

Thoughts of Kaoru flooded his mind. Her mischievous teasing
as he would do chores, her bright-eyed innocence, her accepting smile, and the
way they could sit in perfect contented silence together all told him the same
thing. She made him special. If someone like that could love him, then who was
he to deny it?

�Love? Could Kaoru-dono truly love me?�

There was another flash of crimson. This time it was not the
other man�s shirt. No, this time it was blood soaking into Kenshin�s shirt. He
had fended off the attack just in time to prevent the sword from taking his
life, but he should have been able to escape entirely.

�No! I must stay focused. I must return to her as I
promised.�

Kenshin�s powerful legs pushed off from the ground, and soon
he was high above the land. But the other man was already gone.

�Kuso!� The man he chased was more interested in freedom
than fighting a former Hiri. ri. �This is going to take longer than I expected.

�Please forgive me Kaoru-dono.�

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sano didn�t know how long they had remained in each other�s
arms.

He held her to his chest, and her hands rested comfortably
around his neck. Her head was nestled under his. And he could feel her warm
breath on his neck.

Her weeping had stopped some time ago. And now he could feel
the shaking in her body even out. She was asleep.

He knew it was time to lay her on her futon, and leave the
room. But something inside him just wanted to stay as they were.

With the girl asleep, his consoling turned to thoughts of
vengeance. �How could he be so selfish? How could he leave her again?!

Then looking back down to the now peaceful face, he realized
his friend wasn�t entirely to blame. �No, this isn�t Kenshin�s fault. I�m the
one who got Jou-chan�s hopes up. I�m the selfish one, who was trying to soften
her up so I could borrow money for my gambling debts.

�I swear to you Jou-chan. I will do everything I can to make
this right for you.�

�I�m so sorry,� he whispered out loud as he lightly laid her
on the futon, and removed her arms from around his neck.

Still sleeping, she murmured back, �Ken�shin.�

Hearing her call out his name made Sano�s heart freeze in
place for a moment. �Of course she would call out his name. She loves him.�

�Kaoru and Kenshin are my closest friends in the world. They
are my family. I want nothing more than their happiness. Earlier today I was
scheming to get them together for their own good, as well as mine,� he thought.

�So why did hearing her call out his name hurt so much?�

Sano slid the shoji screen to her room closed quietly so as
not to disturb her. He tried to shake his mind free of his traitorous thoughts
when he found himself face to face with a very intense Yahiko.

Nothing was said for a long time as guilty eyes met angry
ones. Then Yahiko turned and headed for the courtyard, expecting Sano to
follow. They had some talking to do, and it would be best not to disturb Kaoru
with it.

Once outside the tension only increased as they faced each
other without words. Sano was prepared to allow Yahiko to take out more
aggression on him. Then the wind fluttered Sano�s loosely hanging shirt back
exposing the bruise Yahiko had dealt him earlier.

Yahiko had not realized how much damage his bokken had done.
Sano�s side was a very dark and sickly mix of blues and yellows. Sighing, he
realized he was never really mad at Sano or Kenshin. It was the situation, and
his helplessness to prevent it that angered him. With no anger left, concern
for his sensei filled his young heart.

�Baka rooster-head,� he said softly as he took a seat on the
porch.

Sano silently joined him. Apologies weren�t necessary. It
was understood. And the principle that had always kept this strange group
together was still true. Things were always easier together, than they were
alone.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

As Kaoru slept she was plagued by nightmares about the past.

She saw her family. They were so happy. Her Dad was teaching
kendo, and a very young Kaoru watched his every thrust and parry with a sense
of awe. She would try to imitate his moves with a tiny bokken he had made just
for her.

She would look over to see her mother standing in the
doorway. She was the most beautiful woman in the world. Her long dark hair fell
to her hips, and her favorite jade green kimono skimmed just above the dojo
floor.

Her mother�s knowing eyes sparkled as she watched her two
favorite people practice their kendo.

She was so happy then--so complete.

But the dream flashed forward, and Kaoru was a teenager. She
and her father were walking home with tofu in hand for the night�s meal. On the
peripheral there were shadows forming around them, but Kaoru didn�t notice
that. All she knew was that she was with her father and she was safe.

Years of kendo had sharpened her father�s senses, and he
knew what was about to happen. He kept his voice calm as he told Kaoru to run
back to the house quickly with the tofu so that dinner would be ready sooner.
Kaoru joked that her father was always hungry, but stopped when she thought she
saw something serious in his eyes.

She followed his wishes, but before long she was overwhelmed
by the memory of the troubled look in her father�s eyes. Doubling back, she
returned to where she had left him. As she got closer she heard the sounds of
men running away>
>

The tofu fell to the ground as she ran faster. Her own kendo
training was with her, and she was soon at her father�s side.

But it was too late. She was all alone in the night--crying
over his fallen body.

Dreamtime skipped forward again, and Kaoru was a young lady.
Her eyes were filled with tears, but she refused to let them fall. She knew she
needed to be strong for her mother.

Kaoru wetted another rag with cool water, and held it to her
mother�s burning temple. She had been sick for over a week now. Dr. Genzai did
his best to be encouraging, but Kaoru knew in her heart that time was running
out.

Her father�s death had taken its toll on both of them, and
when the sickness began hitting people in the town her mother�s body had been
too weak to fight it.

Her mother was holding on as much as she could for Kaoru�s
sake. She didn�t want to leave her little girl. But it was just as clear that
she wanted to be with her true love again, and Kaoru, who had never been a
selfish girl, could not blame her.

Kaoru could sense time was drawing near for her mother to
pass. She leaned down to lightly kiss the forehead of the most beautiful woman
she would ever know. And as her mother�s eyes closed for the last time Kaoru
whispered, �good-bye.�

Then there was nothing to prevent the flood of tears that
would fall. She felt alone, unsafe and without love.

The cruel dream continued its game as the Kaoru fromy a y a
few months ago stood near an embankment of trees, and watched fireflies sparkle
in the moonlight. She had lived this memory only too often.

Once again everything her life had been lacking since the
death of her parents seemed well within reach. And once again it was taken away
from her.

But when the dream jumped forward again there was a new
memory of loss. This one was still fresh and raw. It threatened to add another
round of torture to an already painful life. She saw that night�s events replay
through the dreamscape.

Her youthful enthusiasm was once again being shattered by
the reality of being abandoned by someone she loved.

Only this time, something was different. This time she
wasn�t crying alone. Someone was with her. Someone was holding her while she
cried. He was looking into her eyes. They were such beautiful sad eyes.

He was�Sano?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Once again, thank you all for reviewing! It really does
inspire me to write more often. This has been a lot of fun so far, and I hope I
can keep up the pace for all of you.

I was asked how many chapters this would have, and I must
say, I don�t really know. I have an idea of how it needs to end, and a loose
structure for how to get there, but I don�t really know how much I�m going to
go into something until I�m writing it. If I had to guess I would say around
10. But I am planning on venturing into other stories as well. I want to do a
Kagome/Kouga at some point because I love that pairing.
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Crossing the Line