Standard Disclaimers Apply.

Accepting Love

"Kaoru, we're here!!" Yahiko exclaimed as he jumped the last remaining steps of the stairs from the airplane.

"Kyo… to," Kaoru whispered as she surveyed the area.

"Anoo… Kaoru-chan, Tsubame-chan and I will be on our way back to our house. I take it that you guys already know your way around?" Tae asked.

Kaoru nodded and waved goodbye absent-mindedly. Kenshin… I can't wait to see you.

Tsubame hugged Yahiko for the last time and then followed Tae to the car.

Yahiko waved his hand in front of Kaoru's face to snap her back to reality. "Earth to Kaoru…"

Kaoru gave Yahiko a weak smile and asked, "So where do you think we should go?"

"Let's start with his house in Kyoto. You know where that is, right?"

Kaoru nodded as she raised her hand to hail a taxi. She said to the driver, "Seijuro Manor, please."

~~~~~

Kenshin packed up his most important belongings. He looked around the place he called home for 18 years of his life. With a sigh, he headed to the airport. He checked his watched and saw that he only had 15 minutes left.  I have to move fast, I might miss my flight.

~~~~~

"He's not here!!!" Yahiko yelled in utter frustration as he peered inside the house.

Kaoru's eyes darkened, losing the little ounce of hope she had left. Her shoulders slumped as she turned around to leave.

Just then, Yahiko jumped up, startling Kaoru. "That's it!" he exclaimed.

Kaoru gave him a questioning look as he replied, "I know exactly where he is!!!"

At that, Kaoru's eyes brightened with much hope and said, "Come on, Yahiko!! Let's go! I can't wait to see Kenshin!!"

~~~~~

Attention flyers, Flight 1039 Nikkon Airlines is now boarding. Attention Flyers… Flight 1039 Nikkon Airlines will depart in 10 minutes.

Kenshin jostled through the thick crowd, dragging his baggage with him. With his ticket and passport on one hand, he peered out of the window and stared at the airplane that will transport him to out of Japan. Then it occurred to him… he wasn't just leaving Japan, he was leaving the continent. Kenshin closed his eyes and sighed.

Kaoru… am I ready to do this?

Can I do this? Yes, I can. For us, Kaoru, I will do it. With that final thought, Kenshin boarded the airplane that will bring him to his new future.

~~~~~

            "Yahiko!!! Where do you think you are taking me!?" Kaoru demanded as she struggled to keep pace with Yahiko.

            "Just hurry up, Kaoru!! We need to get there as soon as possible. You wanna see Kenshin, right?," Yahiko yelled, grabbing Kaoru's arm. With one jerk, he dragged Kaoru into the deeper recesses of the mountain.

            After that long journey, they had reached their destination. Yahiko sighed, "Wow! This place had really changed!!! It used to be an old shack and now… it looks like some sort of a resort!" He gaped the his surroundings.

            Suddenly, Kaoru cradled the side of her head and fell on her knees. She creased her eyebrows and gritted her teeth.

            Yahiko immediately came to her aid and helped her stand up. He said in a worried voice, "Kaoru, is everything alright? Are you ill?"

            Kaoru shook her head and said in a strained voice, "It's just that when I saw this place, my head throbbed so badly. Don't worry about me, Yahiko. The pain is bearable. How did you know that Kenshin would be here?"

            "Ano… well, ano.." Yahiko stuttered. Che! How am I supposed to tell her that this is where we found Kenshin after he left us back in the Meiji. This is really insanity. "He told me once that when he wanted to be alone, he goes to this place."

            Kaoru gave him a slight smile, motioning to enter the bungalow. When they entered the residence, they saw empty cans… burned woods… etc. Kaoru also observed this but her perception was sort-of dulled because of her headache.

            "Kenshin had been in here!!!" Yahiko said triumphantly.

Just then, Kaoru's eyes glistened as the realization dawned upon her, "Yahiko… you just said had… where is he now?"

            Yahiko shrugged and looked around the place "At least we're sure that he is staying here. Maybe he just left to train of something," Yahiko said, keeping his voice optimistic.

            "Maybe not," Kaoru said weakly as she held a piece of paper with her trembling hand. Her breathing became shallow as she clutched her chest, feeling her heart tearing up into a million pieces. The world around her started spinning and then… all went black.

            "Kaoru!!!" Yahiko yelled as he ran to catch Kaoru. He took the piece of paper from Kaoru's hand and read, "Nikkon Airlines… England… Flight 1039" Kuso!!! Kenshin left the country!!!!

~~~~~

Kenshin sat himself comfortably on the airplane seats and closed his eyes.

"I love you, too. Don't ever leave me, okay?"

"I promise."

Kenshin snapped his eyes open, dropped his ticket and ran towards the nearest exit. This is crazy! No!!!! I am crazy…for leaving Kaoru!!! I love you too much to leave you, Kaoru!

"Sir," the stewardess called out, "The plane is going to depart soon."

"I don't care!" Kenshin snapped, "I need to get out of here!"

Seeing the seriousness of the situation, the stewardess opened the door for him and let him out.

Kenshin ran as fast as he could until he reached outside. He hailed a cab and directed the driver to go to his house. Upon arrival, he immediately ran towards his car and drove out. Together with the loud screech of his car, he yelled joyously, "I'm coming home, Kaoru!!!!"

~~~~~

While Yahiko was waiting for Kaoru to recover, he dialed the airport's number to reserve two tickets back to Tokyo. The next flight was 4:30 in the afternoon so they still had an hour to get to the airport. There's no need for us to stay here. Kaoru's condition will just worsen… at least, back in Tokyo, we can take care of her. Kenshin, why did you have to do this to Kaoru again? Can't you see that she had suffered enough in your previous life?

            Finally, Kaoru regained consciousness but her mind and heart...

            …were still broken.

 She sat up on the sofa, staring blankly into space. She didn't frown or cry. She held a forlorn expression on her face, just looking afar.

            Yahiko looked at her worriedly as he assisted her to stand. She followed Yahiko's lead but she remained as stoic as ever. Deep inside Yahiko wanted to cry for Kaoru, for all the pain she is going through… No! He can't cry, after all, he is a man. And... he has to be strong for the both of them.

            The pair didn't get the chance to personally say goodbye to Tae and Tsubame. With Kaoru's condition, it's better that they just go straight to the airport. The plane trip was short yet tiring.

~~~~~

Upon arrival, Kenshin jumped out of his car and darted to the living room. He yelled out in a happy voice, "Tadaima!!!"

Silence.

He rushed upstairs and opened the door to Kaoru's bedroom, "Tadai— Where's Kaoru?"

"She left and we don't know where she is, Kenshin." Aoshi said in an icy voice. "Saying that she's depressed is an understatement. She went to look for you in Kyoto. Seeing that you weren't there almost killed her, Kenshin."

Kenshin's face fell, his eyes glistening, "I left because I want to come home to her. Seeing the cold look on their faces, he whispered, "I am unworthy her, am I not?"

"Fool!" Sano snapped. "If you keep on saying that then I believe that Jou-chan would feel that she'd rather be dead!"

Kenshin sighed and turned to leave, "Thank you for telling me that she's not here… I'll go look for her now."

~~~~~

            When nobody was looking, Kaoru sneaked out of the house and strolled around town with no specific destination. Just wherever her feet took her. Finally, when she had already gotten tired, Kaoru sat beside the riverbank and sighed. Unable to contain herself, she slumped her head on her hands as her tears flooded down.

            After a few hours, the sun had already set. The full moon was high on the eastern sky, illuminating her glassy eyes. She gave an audible sigh as she stared blankly at the currents of the rivers. She raised her fingers to trace her features, unaware that she was being watched.

~~~~~

            Kenshin didn't know why but when he found out that Kaoru left, he knew exactly where to find her. He ran as if his life depended on it towards the river that held so many memories for them. There she was.

Kaoru.

The woman he would give the world to. Kenshin almost gaped when at the picturesque sight Kaoru made. It was like, he just wanted to stare at her serene face. But, when got closer, he realized that Kaoru's face wasn't serene… it was filled with misery, loneliness and… despair? Kenshin's heart broke upon seeing that it was he who did that to Kaoru. Gathering up all his courage, he slowly approached her.

            Kaoru heard the rustling sounds behind her so she turned around. There he was.

Kenshin.

The man she would search the whole world for. The man who left her… Nevertheless, the only man she would ever love. Kaoru squinted her eyes to make sure that he is real. Unable to restrain herself, she staggered towards Kenshin and held her hand to his cheek, "Kenshin, is that you? Are you real or is my cruel mind playing tricks on me again?"

            A lone tear escaped from Kenshin's eyes when he saw all the affection Kaoru was showing him despite the fact that he left her. Taking a deep breath, Kenshin wrapped his arms around Kaoru and pulled her closer, "I'm real, love. I'm so sorry."

            For the first time in days, Kaoru smiled sincerely, "I forgive you, Kenshin." Wanting to feel him close, Kaoru also wrapped her arms around him, embracing him tight. She whispered to his ear, "Kenshin, I'm glad you came back home to me. I thought…"

            "I'm so sorry, Kaoru. I thought that leaving would be the best for both of us… I was wrong. I was so wrong because leaving you had only accomplished more harm than good. Kaoru, I want to continue loving you… but I am afraid. I am really afraid that I might lose you or worse, cause you even more pain than I already had."

            "Kenshin, we don't need to be afraid. I don't care about our past. What we must protect is our future, right?"

            "Kaoru, you're so smart. No wonder I love you so much." Kenshin smiled as he pulled back to capture her lips on his own. "You're right, Kaoru. I love you and I am willing to take all risks."

            Kaoru giggled in between the kisses and muttered, "I'm glad because if you don't then I'll just have to force you to take it!"

            Kenshin placed his left arm on Kaoru's shoulders and his right behind her knees. With one swift movement, he swooped her off her feet and carried her under the tree. He sat between the roots, placing Kaoru on his lap. Kaoru lowered her face towards his and licked his lips, signaling it to part. With that, they began their rhythmical tongue dance as Kaoru untied Kenshin's hair causing it to cascade down. She ran her fingers in its silky locks and Kenshin did the same. Feeling sated, they pulled back to give each other a time to breathe. They stared at each other's eyes for a moment, then, a pool of light enveloped them.

            A few seconds, which seemed like eternity, passed and the two lovers' sight were restored. Suddenly, Kenshin embraced Kaoru with much passion and whispered in a low voice, "Forgive me, Kaoru, for being so stupid… I should never had left… then and now."

            Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Looking into his eyes, she said happily, "Kenshin, I remember everything clearly now!"

            Kenshin nodded, smiling at her ardently, "I know, me too, my wife."

            At that, Kaoru threw her arms at him, smiling back triumphantly, "See, Kenshin? We are meant to be!!!"

            Kenshin chuckled, "Not that it matters, love. Meant to be or not, I'll never ever make that mistake of leaving you." Kenshin pulled back once more with a sly smile on his face, "Kaoru… there is one still on thing I haven't remembered."

            "What is it?"

            His smile widened as he replied in a low and husky voice, "Our first night together… care to remind me?" With that, he scooped her up and kissed her softly on the lips.

            "Oh Kenshin! I am so sorry but I don't remember anything of that sort!" Kaoru teased, blushing a new shade of red.

            "Oh well, then let's just make a new memory."

            Kaoru wrapped her arms around Kenshin's neck as she allowed him to carry her on the way home. Their home.

Author' Notes:

Thank you very much for reviewing the last chapter! I guess this answers all your questions, ne?

Demon-heiress [see… I updated today! Hope you wouldn't pull out your hair anymore! ^_~], JML, Lily, Marstanuki, Neoshipper, KuroNeko-Sama, Vesca, Jo-chan, SakuraCherryBlossom, Sabrina, Bunny, Shiari, LittleDragon5, omochi, sweetaznpnai2eva, Chibigreenwizardmon, Ming-chan, Lizzie, Chibi-hime, Nips, Aki, Tan Kimiko, Imasisara, Skipper, someone, Shin-chan, dementedchris, Hitokiri's woman, Claria, dfourthhorseman

Special Thanks to Hana-chan for pre-reading my fic! ^__^

This fic is finally finished!!! ^__________^ I hope I didn't disappoint you! Thank you for all the support you have given me. This means a lot especially that this is my first fic in ff.net. Can you believe it? In a span of less than 5 months, I had done 15 fics including one-shots and short stories. Thank you for all the feedback and encouragement. I couldn't have done it without you. Leave me a review and tell me what you think, okay? I hope you would also support my other fics in ff.net.

The sequel won't be up until I finish my three ongoing epics. ^__^ Hmm… somebody asked me if this is really the end or should I add another lemon [oh my!] chapter. Oh well, since I don't write lemons… I am leaving the slot open for any of you who would like to add an epilogue chap for this fic. If you are interested, just email me or leave your email add so I would email you. ^__^

Thanks a lot!!! :: hugs :: ^___^ Leave me a review!

Make me happy!!!!