Azure Dreams
by Uenki

Disclaimer -Sessha no own Rurouni Kenshin, gomen-ne.

"Are you off your rockers, Kaoru?" a girl at the age of nineteen exclaimed to her ex-senior, now friends. The older woman laughed, eyes twinkling merrily while locks of ebony fell onto her face. Long, raven hair cascaded down in layers to her hips. She wore an ebony side-tie sweater and jeans while split from her knee to the end. Sitting onto the sliver bar chair, she shook her head in a pleasant manner. The girl with bright green eyes looked –stared at her.

"Your eyes is going to bludged out if you continue to look at me in this manner, Misao-chan." Kaoru commented, and Misao tore her eyes away from the woman and her eyes sparkled with the gift in her hands. She held the necklace in her hands like some piece of glass, which was going to shatter if she held in tight.

"Are you sure that you're giving this to me, Kaoru?" she asked, emphasising on the word 'sure'. Rolling her eyes, Kaoru gave a firm nod. Placing the necklace carefully into the box, Misao grabbed her friend's hands and squeezed it; her dramatic sense took hold of her as tears welled up into her eyes. Her braid behind was bobbing furiously, as she gave a sniff.

"Well," she placed her left hand on Misao's hands, which was grabbing her right hand; "I've heard that you are going to a ball next week, with Shinomori Aoshi as your partner, so I guess this gift had been bought by me in a good time, hm?" she teased, while Misao blushed an angry red. They both pulled back their hands while Kaoru ordered another glass of martini. The necklace was indeed beautiful, made from crystals and pearls.

Kaoru stood up after taking a glance at her watch.

"I'm sorry, Misao…" this caught the jaded eyes girl attention, "I have to go. I booked the flight to Paris, it's setting off in half an hour time…" Misao nodded her heart cheerfully, while Kaoru was walking towards the entrance of the bar. Few moments later, she was gone from slight after waving Misao good-bye. Misao shook her head and gave a sigh.

"That Kaoru… Duh, travelling around the world seemed to be an occupation for her. Well, I shall see her in a few years time!" she exclaimed to herself merrily, and saw the notes on the table, when she wanted to pay for the bill. Sighing again, she floated out of the bar with a precious necklace in her hands.

--

Kamiya Kaoru was sprinting to the nearest check-in counter, the attendance smiled when Kaoru ran to her, waving her passport in her hands. She knew her, the woman was always running around the countries and going for sight seeing. A few moments later, she was in front of her by the counter, gasping for air as her cheeks turned pink momentarily.

"Flight… Had it taken off yet…?" she spoke through pants and cough. The attendance smiled in reply, and shook her head while looking at the woman through her frameless glasses.

"Kaoru-san, your flight was delayed by 30 minutes…" she explained, and stamped the stamp onto her passport, while Kaoru nodded her head. Handing the passport back to its owner, Kaoru headed for the air-conditioned snacks store, khaki coloured rucksack in her hands.

"Excuse me? Tama-san? Anyone here?" Kaoru called, as she placed her snacks (sandwiches, a bottle of mineral water and a few packets of junk food) onto the counter. An older man came out from a room, while tying the curtains up, a small smile came when he saw Kaoru standing there, fumbling her knapsack for her wallet. A gleeful smile came when she took hold of her wallet and saw the old man standing.

"Oh my, you have aged in years, Tama-san!" she cried, as the old man chuckle in pleasure.

"Of course I do, Kaoru-chan, old man do aged." He replied simply as he placed the snacks into a paper bag, handing to her. "All these snacks in on me, Kaoru-chan." He offered while Kaoru looked horrified, and shaking her hands wildly.

"No! I shan't!" she flustered, and the old man laughed.

"You shall…" end of conversation, and Kaoru find no words to reply. She gave a weak smile and gave a child-like hug to her grandfather figure, and strolled back to the lounge.

--

Finishing her snacks and food, which seemed to satisfied her stomach, she threw the packets and the empty bottle to the bin. The Public Address system called for those who would take Flight 875 (her flight), and Kaoru went to the attendance once again.

"Checking in!" she sang and hummed a merry tune. The attendance gave a small smile.

"I'll see you soon, Kaoru-san!" she greeted and Kaoru waved while inside the luggage area. She walked inside the arrow bridge that linked the flight and the airport; her smiled had never been faded.

"Paris is a place so nice, with sceneries to be seen, and masterpiece to be sold…" she sang in a soft tune, that acts like some great musical piece. True, Kamiya Kaoru was born to have the gift of singing, and she treated the gift like gold.

Soon, she reached her seat, by the window. Placing her knapsack beside her legs, she settled down onto the comfortable recliner, knowing that it would be hours for her to reached Paris. Shutting her eyes, slowly, a red head called.

"Excuse me?" she snapped her eyes opened, she had a clearer look of the man. Neither tall like the other guys she knew, nor icy cold, he sat down beside her with a pleasant smile on his face. Kaoru looked at him in awe, and shifting her eyes from time to time. Even though it was a phrase that mothers always taught kids, she trusted strangers. She knew that he looked beautiful, maybe more beautiful then the Tokyo tower at night.

His hair was a slight lighter shade of blood, maybe closer to fire. She noticed that he had lavender eyes, a very alluring purple. She held out her hand to the stranger.

"Kamiya Kaoru." She offered. The man, though taken aback, gave her hands a firm shake. Kaoru felt a tinge of electricity while his hands touched hers, and she vividly remembered someone from her past, her childhood.

"Himura Kenshin." He replied, and his grip loosened, causing her to pull her hand back.

"Ah, I see." Kaoru said causally, trying to brush those memories away that haunted her, which was also the reason that she had travelled all around the world from places to places to look for him. This man, looked like her childhood friend…

No! Shinta is Shinta, Kenshin is Kenshin! They are not the same!

Her conscience snapped furiously. Kaoru gave a smile, and placed her arms on the arm pad. "So," Kaoru started to speak, while the man shifted his attention from the crowds to her, "why are you going to Paris anyway?" trying to strike up a conversation.

"Sessha is a painter, Kaoru-dono." He replied smoothly, smiling. Kaoru smiled back and nodded her head, while placing her headphone down.

"It's a nice occupation actually, but isn't financial so… tight?" she commented, and Kenshin laughed, more of a chuckle.

"No, besides, I still have the inheritance from my parents… And a few of my art works worth some money too, as a matter of fact." Kaoru's mouth formed an 'o' when she browsed through the Paris brochures she had collected.

"Wait a minute…" her eyes went wider and wider when she saw the name that appeared under Musee du Louvre, which was considered the world's greatest art museum. It was clearly printed out, " 'Wind' by Himura Kenshin was one of the top three artworks that was considered a masterpiece by the looks of the world. Rating: 10 to 10."

"Oh my god," Kaoru breathed, and Kenshin replied cheerily.

"That is neither god nor goddess here, Kaoru-dono." He peered into the brochure and saw his name printed there, and gave a small gasp of uncertainty.

"Oro?!" he cried out lid while Kaoru shifted her gaze to the man who looked slightly appalled. Pointing to the red head, she laughed heartily at his antics. She smacked him playfully on the head, and threw the brochures in his hands, while scanning through every other brochure that had his name printed under the Musee du Louvre category.

"Well, is that really your work, Kenshin?" she demanded, with burning embers in her eyes. Kenshin gulped and nodded. The fire seemed to melt by ice and a grin was sprawled on her facial features.

"Let me ask, why are you here for, Kenshin?" she questioned.

"Uh…" he hesitated, "for inspirations?" he replied, uncertain of his words as he spoke in a fluent manner. The woman grabbed his arms like a child and her grin widened.

"In another words, you have nothing to do at Paris?" Kenshin gave a soft nod and gulped once again, seeing that her grin seemed to reach her ears.

"Great!" she exclaimed proudly, "then you shall go sight seeing with me!" Kenshin muttered something under his breath that sounded like oro and more oro. Kaoru gave a triumphant smile and he smiled too when he saw that gentle smile. It works like a charm that ordered him to calm down. The child like woman seemed to be gone, replaced by one who seemed so demure and gentle.

They talk no more and Kenshin started to put on her headphone, enjoying the show on the television located at the back of every seats.

A few hours later, waking up from his slumber by something that weighs heavy, lavender eyes snapped open when he saw Kaoru's head leaning onto his shoulder. One of the stewardesses passed by and smiled.

"I am sorry, mister. But Kaoru-san sleeps like that…" she whispered, apologetically. Kenshin seemed surprise for the fact that they actually knew this woman.

"Kaoru-san is actually a traveller, from countries to countries… Travelling around the world, so we actually get to know her…" the stewardess explained, in soft tones, carefully not to wake the raven head up.

"It's alright…" Kenshin said as the stewardess walked away. He took his coat that was resting on his lap and draped it over Kaoru's shoulders.

"Oyasumi-nasai, Kaoru-dono." He whispered and fell asleep once again.

Author's Note: Well, I certainly felt depressed. Examinations are round the corner, hm, five more days actually and I didn't even started my revision. Well, if you like this ficcie, please review. (A request I hadn't make for a long long time.)

Musee du Louvre –Home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the Louvre is considered the world's greatest art museum, with an unparalleled collection of items covering the full spectrum of art through the ages.

To continue or not to continue?

P.S. The plot will be thickened.