Himura_battousai
Copyright© 2011 by Murasame
Chapter 160: Thoughts at Dawn
(Early the next morning, Kaoru is sitting alone at the table.)
Tsubame (entering the room): Good morning, Kaoru.
Kaoru (turning): Oh, good morning, Tsubame--
(She freezes.)
Tsubame (her hair sticking up every which way): Isn't Mr. Himura back yet?
Kaoru: Tsubame, you really slept on your hair funny.
Tsubame: I did? Ack!
(Kaoru sits her down in front of a mirror and begins to comb it straight.)
Tsubame: I'm sorry, this always happens when I change pillows.
Kaoru: Hm, then morning will be tough for a little while. You must have been up pretty late last night.
Tsubame: Yes. I was scared, so I watched from the shadow of the dojo, but--Kaoru?
Kaoru: Yes?
Tsubame: These things that keep happening, they're so terrible. What's going on?
Kaoru: Tsubame, you don't have to worry about that. That's what I'd like to say, anyway. To tell the truth, I don't know what's going on either. (suddenly fuming) Sanosuke knows all about it...
Tsubame (as her hair is being pulled): Kaoru, that hurts...
Kaoru: When Kenshin comes home, I'll try asking him again.
Tsubame: I don't think he'll answer, though.
Kaoru: You're too smart. Kenshin always tries to handle everything by himself. It's his personality.
Tsubame: Kaoru, you're not too worried? When Mr. Himura left for Kyoto, you were so...
Kaoru (looking embarrassed): Ah ha ha ... please forgive me for that. I was so pathetic. There's no excuse for doing that to you all. (The readers were pretty harsh about that too... ) You're right. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried. But ... You never know what the future holds, but whatever happens to me, whatever happens to Kenshin, there will never be another good-bye like that one. After the battle in Kyoto, it's the one thing I'm sure of ... okay?
(She goes back to combing Tsubame's hair.)
Tsubame (thinking): Kaoru and Mr. Himura ... they should be happy together.
Kaoru: Okay, all done. It's almost dawn. It's a little early, but let's wake Yahiko up and have breakfast.
Tsubame: Um, his door was slightly open so I peeked in. He's not there.
Kaoru: What? That's weird. That lazybones never gets up early ... Unless he never came home last night?!
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