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Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters, they belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki -I am only borrowing them for my story. Thank you!
Chapter 1 - Just a normal morning
It was a normal luminous morning at the Kamiya dojo. The birds were chirping happily all the while skipping aroun from roof to roof. The inhabitants were all busy carrying out their chores. Well Sanosuke did nothing of course but that too was just ordinary.
"I'm going to the market for some vegetables Yahiko. Keep training." Kaoru said to the boy. Yahiko nodded shallowly as he was far too into his training to actually answer. Kaoru got up with great care. Her breathing was somewhat harsh but Kaoru simply dismissed it to be a cause of a hot day. She padded to the entrance of the dojo and quietly slid it shut. Well out in the front yard she could see the neighbouring doctor sitting on his porch. She waved and smiled as so did he.
"Heading out?" He shouted more as a statement rather than a real question. Kaoru nodded.
"I'm going out for some vegetables. And besides, the weather is so nice and sunny that I could not bear staying inside!" The good doctor nodded and waved goodbye and Kaoru walked on.
"Man, am I tired!" Yahiko shouted and tossed himself down by the lunch table.
"It is training that makes the swordsman Yahiko." Kenshin said and smiled.
"I know, that's why I'm training so hard!" Yahiko answered and dug in on the rice in front of him. Sano quickly filled his plate and ate without barely without interruption to breathe. Kenshin worriedly searched the room for Kaoru.
"Have any of you seen Kaoru-dono? This one couldn't find her in the dojo." Kenshin uttered nervously. Sano raised his gaze from his bowl too meet Kenshin's.
"I haven't seen Jou-chan since this morning." He then said as he lowered the now empty bowl. Yahiko gulped down the rice he had been chewing.
"She was going down to the market I think." Yahiko started slurping from his bowl of miso-soup. Some of the worry disappeared from Kenshin's face.
"When was this?"
"Oh that was ages ago. I had just started my training by then." Kenshin's gaze passed over to Sano but he shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe she just stopped by Tae's." Sano suggested. Kenshin nodded slowly.
"That might be it. But nevertheless she uses to tell us these things beforehand."
"Don't mind ugly Kenshin. I'm sure she just forgot about the time or something. Let's just eat." Yahiko said and filled his rice bowl for the third or forth time. Kenshin hesitated a bit before lifting his chopsticks.
"It's just odd."
The sun climbed higher as the hours passed by. Still no one had touched the chopsticks Kenshin had left out for Kaoru. Yahiko hadn't thought much about it at lunchtime but now he too was getting if not worried, then curious. Sano stared at the blazing sun.
"Sano."
"Yes Kenshin."
"I'm going down to the market."
"I'll wait here in case she'll come back." Sano answered were he sat, still staring. The sound of Kenshin's feet disappeared down the wooden porch.
"So much trouble Jou-chan, so much trouble." Sano said and spit out a grass straw he had been chewing on.
"Is she okay?" Yahiko asked and sat down next to Sano.
"Sure she is." Sano answered and ruffled Yahiko's hair.
"Why wouldn't she be? It's as I said, she's down at Tae's." Yahiko grinned. He didn't even complaint at Sano for messing up his hair.
Kenshin hurried down to the market. This late many of the salesmen and women had closed. However Kenshin knew where Kaoru used to stop and luckily he immediately spotted Mrs Yamada, the old lady who handled with tofu.
"Ah, Kenshin! What can I do for you child?" Mrs Yamada asked and smiled as Kenshin approached. Kenshin smiled nervously.
"Yamada-dono, This one was wondering, have you seen Kaoru-dono? Yahiko told this one that she went here." Mrs Yamada scratched her cheek.
"I am afraid I can't answer that. My granddaughter took care of my table up until an hour ago." Kenshin sighed but bowed and thanked Mrs Yamada for her help. He turned around and tried to figure where to go next. But he didn't need to think for much longer before he was interrupted.
"Kenshin! Kenshin!"
Kenshin quickly turned around towards the sound of Tae's voice. She stopped in front of him and panted heavily.
"Tae-san!" Kenshin stuttered surprised.
"Ah Kenshin… I was just coming to get you all at the dojo, lucky that I saw you here before going there. It's Kaoru." Kenshin's eyes widened and he grabbed his sword.
"What happened?" Kenshin asked anxiously as Tae tried to catch her breath.
"We don't know that much. She was over by Tokona-san's when she suddenly complained about the heat and just fainted!" Kenshin's violet eyes seemed to shift in golden in the light of the midday sun. His skin had turned pale after hearing the news.
"Where is she now?" He urged. Tae jested that he should follow her. As they passed all the tables, people turned around and stared. Some whispered whilst others just quietened. The reason for that was not hard to discover. In Kenshin's upset ness he kept holding the handle of his sword as if he was to draw it in an instant. Tae gave Kenshin a worried look but she said nothing. After all, she was as worried as he was.
"I wanted to bring her to us but the doctor wouldn't have that." Tae excused herself when they passed her restaurant. Kenshin nodded.
"He lives a few minutes from here. I would have come sooner to get you but I didn't want Kaoru to be alone."
"It was very kind of you." Kenshin said still wearing a grim look. Tae shrugged when she saw his face and refrained from saying anything more. Those few minutes Tae had mentioned felt like hours. The houses they passed never seemed to end – and neither did the people disturbing their walk. When Tae stopped in front of a big house surrounded by a thick wall Kenshin took a deep breath. A branch overgrown with purple orchids stretched itself over the rock wall.
"We are here." Tae murmured and moved forward through the narrow opening at the side. Kenshin followed. The inside was breathtakingly beautiful. The classic Japanese garden was expressively perfect. The branch visible from the street was attached to a gigantic leafless tree. The orchids grew from the trees roots and the fragrance was not of this world. The garden's greenness was available because of the small river with its little falls here and there. Everything carefully planned with no doubt. If this had been another time Kenshin would probably stop and take a good look at this paradise. But as it were now he clearly had other things on his mind. Tae carefully passed the gardens greenery and walked over to the huge house. It had the same style as the Kamiya dojo although its details were far more refined. Tae slid the door open and entered.
"Doctor Chan?" She took of her shoes and waited a bit for Kenshin. He entered and went trough the same procedure as Tae had.
"Doctor Chan?" Tae said whilst walking longer into the house. Kenshin followed closely.
"Ah you are back Tae-san!" A young Chinese male said and stuck his head out a small door. Tae smiled at the sight of the man and turned to Kenshin.
"Kenshin, this is Doctor Chan." Chan opened the door widely and greeted Kenshin with a bow.
"Ah, Kaoru-san's friend! Do come in!" Kenshin gave Chan a weak smile and followed him into the room. The room was quite big. Six mattresses with luxurious space between them fitted in there. Only one was filled. Kenshin took the space between the door and the bed in two steps. Kaoru's face was pale and although she was sleeping peacefully her breathing was disturbingly shallow.
"I gave her something to sleep on to regain some of her strength."
"What…" Kenshin started but had to swallow before being able to continue: "What kind of sickness?" Chan gave Kenshin a quick look.
"I think it might be better to talk over a cup of tea." Kenshin was in no place to object even though he really did not want to leave Kaoru looking like this.
The trio walked out on the sunny porch. The doctor jested that they should take a pillow from the pile. Then they all sat down around the table standing in front of them. A short young lady followed them out and stopped to bow.
"What can I do for you today doctor?" She asked politely.
"Asuka-san, we would all like some green tea. Ask Madam Eiko to brew her special."
"Certainly Doctor."
"Now, where were we?" Chan asked and turned back to his two guests.
"Ah yes, Kaoru-san's disease." Kenshin nodded and leaned forward. Tae bit her lip and stared intently at the doctor.
"From these symptoms it is really hard to pinpoint anything I'm afraid. However, I can easily say that this is no ordinary case of too much sun and heat." Kenshin swallowed.
"How so?" Kenshin whispered.
"Huh? Ah yes well Kaoru-san's greatest problem is her breathing. The heat makes breathing harder for everyone but especially so for Kaoru-san."
"I would like another doctor to have a look too." Chan looked startled but nodded a second later.
"Certainly, someone else might discover something I have missed. But I must ask you not to move Kaoru-san just yet. It is my opinion that she needs some rest. When she wakes up she might be ready to be moved."
"When will she be back to health?" Tae-san asked. Chan turned his eyes towards her.
"I can't say. But I do believe that this disease has been going on for some while untreated. I don't want to scare any of you but I can't say for sure that she will be all right. For the time being however, I'd say she is safe." The doctor's tone was severe and gentle at the same time, leaving the listener greatly confused. Tae said nothing more but her face had grown paler.
"Tae-san, would you be as kind to go fetch Sanousuke and Yahiko for me? I'm sure they too would like to talk about this." Kenshin said and put his hand on Tae's shoulder. Tae bit her lip but nodded and rose from the porch, bowing to the doctor and Kenshin.
"As for me, I'd like to talk a bit more to the doctor." Kenshin's voice sounded urgent. Doctor Chan smiled nervously. Their eyes met and once Tae had disappeared Kenshin put his hands on the table. Suddenly, breaking the atmosphere, the young woman carrying tea appeared.
"Oh, I do hope I do not disturb you!" The doctor seemed relieved and looked at Asuka and smiled.
"Of course not Asuka-san! Do serve us the tea." Asuka nodded and put out the cups.
"And the third…?"
"Oh just take it with you back in, our other guest just left."
"Certainly doctor." Asuka poured the tea into the cups and went back into the house. The doctor nervously took a sip of the tea.
"Excellent tea if I might say so. It is a privilege to have Madam Eiko here." Kenshin nodded and tasted a mouthful.
"Now Doctor." Kenshin said, putting down his tea on the table. "I'd like you to tell me what sickness you think it might be." Doctor Chan sighed.
"You must understand that I cannot precisely decide from this scarce information and investigation…" The doctor tried
"I understand. But please, tell me what you think." Kenshin urged. Chan swallowed.
"I believe it concerns her lungs."
"Her lungs?"
"Yes. There is something disturbing her breathing. I have had patients with this kind of problem before. They only survived for a couple of months."
"No." Kenshin said simply, calmly beginning to drink some more tea. The doctor scratched his forehead.
"I know this might seem unbelievable…"
"No, you see Kaoru's trouble breathing cannot be as severe as you implies. Only a few days ago she was practising sword techniques together with Yahiko." Kenshin tried.
"Believe me, I have seen and heard the same story before. This sickness sneaks upon you, makes you weak and kills you in a couple of months. It is possible to seem quite healthy while at the same the sickness grows stronger."
The doctor's eyes met Kenshin's again and he knew that the man would not believe his words.
"You are free to visit any other doctor you wish. They will all give you the same answer." Doctor Chan said without a doubt. Kenshin nodded.
"Thank you for your effort doctor Chan. Now I'd like to sit by Kaoru if that is alright with you doctor?" Kenshin asked and rose from his seating. Doctor Chan followed Kenshin back to the patients' room.
"I don't think she will wake up soon. But your presence can be soothing. Please do not hesitate to ask anything of my household. I must get going; I have some homes to visit. Take care now." Kenshin nodded and sat down next to Kaoru. The room's window was closed shut to keep away the heat – and the light. In the darkness Kaoru's white skin glowed. Kenshin took a deep breath. A string of her hair had loosened from the braid. Kenshin's hand shivered as he stroke it back.
"Kaoru…" He mumbled. Slowly he touched her hand. It felt cold. As if Kaoru's blood were absent. A swordsman never thought about this. Diseases were something you got if you weren't active enough to die from flesh wounds. One could say a disease was a luxury not meant for a samurai. But that someone he hold dear would pass away like this. It was as if Kaoru were under attack, by an enemy who could not be seen nor fought. Kenshin pulled his hair as he thought about it. But nothing could be decided until Kaoru had been examined by Megumi. And if nothing else, hope was still there.
"Kaoru…" He repeated, now taking her hand.
"This one will not allow you to die. Just as this one do not allow anyone to die in front of him. Rest assured. You will soon be back at the dojo, fighting with Yahiko and Sano just as old times." Kenshin wooed sounding, like the ronin we all know. Kaoru mumbled in her sleep but did not wake up. Kenshin leaned at his sword while intensely watching over Kaoru and everything around her; an ant crawling up a wall, far away voices sounding through a wall, the fragrance of lotus from Kaoru's hair…
The end of chapter one
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