Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and its characters are property of Watsuki Nobuhiro. “I’m the Only One” was written and performed by Melissa Etheridge.

A/N: I have been in a slump recently due to some tragic events happening in my life, but this song finally gave me some inspiration today, so here I am with another songfic. Hope you like. A/U. OOC. Kaoru’s POV. Lyrics in bold italics.

Rating: G

~*To all my K&K fans…just because…*~

~*I’m the Only One*~

Please, baby, can't you see
My mind's a burnin' hell
I got razors a rippin' and tearin' and strippin'
My heart apart as well
Tonight you told me
That you ache for something new
And some other woman is lookin' like something
That might be good for you

“I think I might ask Tomoe to go to the prom with me.”

Hiding the extreme pain that rips across my chest at your softly spoken statement, I peer up into your violet gaze with wide sapphire eyes. Your expression is thoughtful as you absently stir a straw in your strawberry milkshake, unconsciously blowing crimson bangs away from your face as you try to gauge my reaction.

I keep my features carefully blank, lifting my chocolate cone to my mouth and making a show of catching the spare drops that are weaving sluggishly down the sides.

“What do you think she’ll say?” you ask and I flinch inwardly.

Will you really make me respond to that question? Can’t you tell that I love you? I always have, always will. I’ve loved you since before I can remember. Everything about you. Your soft-spoken nature, the mystery that surrounds you, the way you speak, your politeness. I love your very breath.

“Kaoru?”

Are you really so blind?

“Kaoru?”

Are you truly so oblivious to my feelings?

“Kaoru, are you all right?”

You must be.

“Kaoru?”

“I’m fine, Kenshin,” I lie easily.

It has become so easy, pretending. My relationship with you is a sham. I don’t want to be your friend. I never have. The only reason I pretend to be is because it is the only way I can be close to you. This is all I can have, all you will give me. I continue with this façade, day after endless day, and you act like it is nothing. You can’t see me. You look through me.

“Are you sure?”

Dear God, can’t you see? You’re killing me…

“I’m perfectly fine.”

“So, what do you think she will say?”

I stand quickly and you watch me in surprise. “I have to go.”

“But—“

Before you can finish your protestation, I am walking out the door. I know you will not follow me. You never chase me. You always let me go. Perhaps it is best this way.

It will make it easier on the day I finally walk away for good.

Go on and hold her till the screaming is gone
Go on believe her when she tells you
nothing's wrong
But I'm the only one
Who'll walk across the fire for you
And I'm the only one
Who'll drown in my desire for you
It's only fear that makes you run
The demons that you're hiding from
When all your promises are gone
I'm the only one

I walk until my feet are sore and my hands feel numb. The night is dark, the wind is fierce, but my mind is buried amidst thoughts of you.

You have never told me about your past, about the darkness that haunts you. I never thought to ask. I wanted you to tell me of your own free will. I wanted you to open up to me, to reveal yourself.

It’s been years since we first met and I know you better than anyone, perhaps even better than yourself, but you still have yet to share your secrets with me, your deepest desires.

I am the only one who can heal you. I am your completion. Why can’t you see? I would never leave your side. She can never love you like I do.

Please, baby, can't you see
I'm trying to explain
I've been here before and I'm locking the door
And I'm not going back again
Her eyes and arms and skin won't make
it go away
You'll wake up tomorrow and wrestle the sorrow
That holds you down today

“I think she’ll say yes.”

You stare at me in shock, holding your front door half shut. The clouds overhead have given way to rain and my clothes are soaked through. Unbidden, my feet have led me here to you. You are wearing your favorite flannel pajamas and your hair is pulled up into a mussed ponytail. You are still blinking away sleep as confusion slowly overtakes your features.

“Who will say yes?” you ask groggily.

“Tomoe,” I answer quietly. “I think she will say yes. If you ask her to prom, that is.”

You are silent for a moment. Then, “Kaoru…you walked through the rain at four in the morning just to tell me that?”

I gaze into your jeweled eyes for a short eternity, then shake my head. “No…no, that’s not the only reason…”

“What’s wrong, Kaoru?” you question, reaching for my arm and tugging me into the foyer. “You’re going to catch your death. Wait here, I’ll get a towel.”

I lean back against the wall, icy water dripping onto my forehead from my drenched hair. My teeth are chattering and my shirt is plastered to my damp skin. Suddenly, I realize how foolish I have been. What is my true purpose for coming here? Will a few words make you see what you have been oblivious to all these years?

You reappear with a pair of towels and approach me silently, draping one over my trembling shoulders and gently beginning to pat dry my face with the other. “Kaoru, you know you can come to me if you are having problems…talk to me…you know I am here for you.”

Yes, you are here. It feels like you always have been. You’ve been my shoulder to cry on, my constant support. And it is in this moment that I realize why I have come to you tonight. I would gladly take the name of fool if it meant being able to be with you.

I take a deep breath, nervousness builds in my stomach, but I force the words passed my lips before I can think better of it. “Kenshin, I love you.”

Your movements still, your eyes widen.

I swallow thickly as your hands drop to your sides.

I speak quickly into the tense silence that has sprung up between us. “I…I have been contemplating telling you for years…but I waited because…I waited because I was scared…and now…now school is almost over…and we might have to go our separate ways…and I just need you to know…”

You say nothing as I trail off uncertainly. My chest feels excruciatingly tight.

As the seconds turn into minutes, I force myself to speak once more. “Kenshin…won’t you say anything?”

“I…I don’t know what to say,” you respond.

“Do you feel anything for me?” I ask, fighting back tears.

“Of course I do, Kaoru…you’re my best friend…”

“Your best friend,” I repeat dimly. “And is that all I am to you? Is that all I can ever be?”

Your eyes drop and silence fills the room once more. Then, quietly, “I honestly don’t know.” And my heart breaks.

Go on and hold her till the screaming is gone
Go on believe her when she tells you
nothing's wrong
But I'm the only one
Who'll walk across the fire for you
And I'm the only one
Who'll drown in my desire for you
It's only fear that makes you run
The demons that you're hiding from
When all your promises are gone
I'm the only one

It’s been two months since we last spoke. Ignoring you has been agony, but it seems you have been avoiding me as well.

I’ve come here alone tonight. I don’t know why I am torturing myself. It will be hell to see you with her, to see you happy, see you smiling at someone else. My soul will bleed when you hold her close.

It feels like I am drowning. My yearning for you engulfs me. I never thought it would end this way, but I suppose that life never goes like we plan. Life is unpredictability defined.

We promised to be friends forever. I am sorry that I cannot keep that promise. I cannot be your friend. I know it is selfish, but to have you near me without ever being able to touch you is truly more than I can bear. I admit my weakness. I would do anything for you. I would sail ships, rip buildings apart, pull down the sky…but I can’t force myself to ignore my feelings. And if loving you completely means letting you go, I can accept that. But never forget…no one else can love you like I do, know you like I do…no one else can name all your favorite movies and no one else has memorized your walk, your expressions, the lines of your face…no one else can feel for you like I do…no other woman can give you what I can, be what I can be to you…she doesn’t exist. I’m the only one.

I see Tomoe enter the room and my spine stiffens. She is dressed in a simple black dress. Her hair is twisted into an elegant coif at the nape of her neck. She wears no other adornments. She needs none. I can see what draws you to her. She is loveliness personified.

As she steps onto the dance floor, I finally force my eyes to the man at her side and I am surprised to see it isn’t you. His hair is dark, his face handsome and kind. I recognize him from my physics class. His name is Akira, I believe.

For several intense seconds, I can only blink stupidly, then suddenly I am on my feet and, before I realize what I am doing, I am standing before Tomoe, clutching my small purse tightly to my chest.

“Hello, T-Tomoe,” I stammer out nervously, fidgeting slightly. “Aren’t you here with Kenshin?”

“Kenshin?” she repeats slowly, shaking her head. “No.”

“Oh,” I say, feeling stunned. “I was under the impression that he was going to ask you.”

Tomoe shakes her head once more. “No. The last time we spoke, Kenshin mentioned that he probably wouldn’t be coming.”

“I…I see,” I whisper. “Sorry for interrupting…”

I walk across the crowded dance floor and make my way to the balconies, stepping out into the cool night air and leaning against the railing as my thoughts spin uncontrollably. So, you hadn’t asked her after all.

All at once, I feel relieved and incredibly saddened. You were my only reason for coming here. You are my only reason. Everything I do is for you.

I sigh shakily. Perhaps it is for the best. Seeing you here with her would have only destroyed me. It is better this way.

I turn back towards the door, fully intending to leave this place, to walk away and never look back…but you are suddenly before me and my breath freezes in my throat.

You look so handsome. Not for the first time, your beauty overwhelms me.

For a moment, you stare at me in silence, then, “Dance with me…”

I drop my eyes to the hand you are extending forward, then raise my gaze to meet your amethyst orbs.

You say nothing else as I slip my hand into yours without hesitation, but your eyes speak volumes. ‘Stay with me…’

I follow you onto the dance floor and smile slightly as you pull me into your arms. The music starts, slow and melodic, and I rest my head against your chest as your hands settle on my waist.

I will stay with you. Today, tomorrow, forever. I’m the only one.

~*OWARI*~

Thanks for reading, minna! This was my first fic in this style, so let me know what you think. It is short and simple, just how I intended it to be. I will try to update my other fics soon! Please review me! I need inspiration. Feed my muses.

~Midori^_~

/