~Crimson~
By: Alithiel Daystar
Disclaimer: Hey, all! How R U? I was bored at work one day, and I got a GREAT idea for a Kenshin short fic! 'Tis a bit angsty, but I think it's pretty good anyway. Of course, I don't own any part of Kenshin *sighs irritably*. Tho I wish I did about three times a day.usually at mealtimes. And just so you know, I only have a slight knowledge of the Revenge Arc of the series, so I'm just winging it here, all right? Arigato!
Part 1: Onset
A soft, playful breeze blew through the open-air courtyard of the Kamiya Dojo in Tokyo. The wind carried on it the scent of blooming sakura blossoms and other smells of spring, and birds sang loudly in the trees.
However, not everyone could enjoy it. One of the dojo residents wobbled about the yard, mumbling under her breath.
"Kenshin no baka."
Kamiya Kaoru, assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, puttered around, searching for her wandering samurai boarder. Her long, black hair was mussed, carelessly thrown into a high ponytail, her white hakama and gi were in disarray, and her sapphire eyes were bloodshot. She coughed hard into her hand
Miyojin Yahiko, her one and only student, came round the corner of the bath, looking at Kaoru darkly. "What are you yammering about, busu?"
She had the good grace to scowl at the kid. "If I had my bokken, and if I felt better, I'd beat you all over that spiky head of yours." She rasped out, coughing. "Have you seen Kenshin?"
"He said he was going to the market." A creak from the front gate caused him to turn and wave. "Yo, Sano!"
Sagara Sanosuke waved back, swaggering toward the teacher and her pupil, hands jammed in his pockets. "Morning, Yahiko, jou-chan." A sudden breeze caused his white shirt to flap. The black kanji for 'bad' rippled in the air. He took a closer look at Kaoru, concern in his brown eyes.
"You feelin' ok? You look flushed."
"I'm fine, Sano." She rasped, swaying a little as a wave of dizziness passed over her. "I just need to talk to Kenshin."
She almost fell then, if Sanosuke hadn't caught her. "Hey! You are so not fine. You should be in bed!"
Kaoru gave him a hard shove in the chest. "Get!" She doubled over with a wracking coughing fit. She took a deep breath when it was over, her eyes watering.
"Ano, what's this all about then?"
The group turned to the gate. Himura Kenshin stood just inside, a net bag full of packages slung over his shoulder. The crimson red of his hair shone brightly in the light as he gave his friends his best idiot rurouni smile. He rubbed the X-shaped scar on his cheek absently.
"Good morning Kaoru-dono, Sanosuke, Yahiko.Kaoru-dono? Are you feeling well?" He asked with concern.
Kaoru stomped over to him. "Where WERE you?!?" She rasped out, glaring blearily at the wandering samurai.
"Oro!" Kenshin squeaked, purple eyes going beady. "Maa, maa, Kaoru-dono! Sessha merely went grocery shopping, de gozaru yo."
Kaoru's eyes slid to half-mast. "Well, warn me." She started to sway. ".next time."
With that, she passed out completely. Kenshin was barely able to catch her in time. He barked orders as he slowly dropped to the earth with her tightly in his arms.
"Yahiko! Go get Doctor Gensai or Megumi-dono! Sano, help me get her inside!"
The two men carefully lifted the unconscious form of Kamiya Kaoru and carried her inside the dojo.
/////
Takani Megumi appeared from behind the sliding door to Kaoru's room. The expression in her reddish eyes was solemn as she rinsed her hands in the ready water bowl. She did not meet the eyes of the three waiting for her diagnosis.
"Kaoru has scarlet fever."
There was a gasp from Yahiko. 'That means."
"She could die." Kenshin finished quietly. He was seated against the wooden roof post, sakabatou leaning against his shoulder. His eyes were shut.
Sano smashed his fist into the wooden planking. "Damn!"
Megumi continued. "There is a chance she will pull through, and a pretty good one, considering how strong Kaoru is. I gave her some fever-reducing herbs." She looked over her shoulder at Kaoru. She was safely tucked in her futon, a damp cloth placed on her forehead. She looked so tiny, unnaturally pale under the flush of fever and rash, breathing with a terrible rasping sound. ".but the rest is up to her."
"Can we.see her?" Sano asked in an unnaturally quiet way.
"Maybe." She answered just as quietly. "But I will not leave until she gets better.that I promise."
/////
Light.pure white light surrounded her. Kaoru fluttered her eyes open, feeling strangely weightless. All was featureless whiteness, and she floated within it.
"Am I.dead?" She asked herself absently, remembering her collapse and not really caring either way.
"If you so choose, Kamiya Kaoru." A mellow woman's voice responded. Turning her head, she saw a woman approaching. She had incredibly long, black hair, and lovely dark eyes. She was dressed in a pure white kimono. The mysterious woman smiled at Kaoru.
"If I.choose?"
"Yes.here you are able to choose your fate. Kaoru, you are very ill." The woman sighed. "However, there are two choices available to you. Either you feel your work is done, and choose to pass into the afterlife, or you choose to live, and continue."
A strange feeling of recognition passed through the girl. "To live."
"Of course, you will be able to view how your collapse affects those who care for you.And this is a very rare thing, for most people do not get this chance."
"Sometimes, I feel as if no one cares at all."
The woman smiled. "No?"
"I mean, look at me." She spread her arms out at her sides. "I am a woman, running a dojo on her own! I have only one student who disrespects me every chance he gets, a freeloading mercenary, A crazy kitsune of a doctor who can't stand me, and an idiot rurouni."
She felt a sudden tightening of her heart, or rather, where her heart would be if she were physical, when she mentioned Kenshin. The woman nodded, then waved her hand. Beneath her palm the whiteness rippled, clearing a space where a large, oval mirror appeared, a picture of the dojo shining on its smooth surface.
At Kaoru's utterly confused look, the woman laughed.
'This is the Mirror of Truth. In it you will see and hear everything that transpires while you remain here, and in some cases, even hear the thoughts of the people you care about. Of course, you must have a very strong connection with them."
The mirror zoomed in, showing Kenshin, Yahiko, and Sano on the porch. A strange softness came to the woman's eyes. Recognition dawned.
"You're?!" Kaoru gasped.
"Yes.I'm Tomoe. Kenshin's first wife."
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Part 2: Infection
Yahiko sat beside the futon of Kaoru, staring down at the flushed face of his sensei. Her breath rattled in her throat ominously as she breathed. Lightning cracked outside as rain pounded on the roof with the force of a thousand hammers. Yahiko couldn't help but smile a little. She was so afraid of thunder, it was strange that she didn't sit up screaming her lungs out for someone, ANYONE to help her. He sighed, and to his surprise, moisture gathered in his eyes.
"Busu no baka.don't you dare die on us." He choked. "You haven't taught me all of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu yet! I'm not gonna let you die until you teach me all of it, even if you have to live a thousand years.I can see it.you ugly old crone yelling for five hundred swings."
He felt a strong hand fall on his shoulder. Yahiko looked op to see Kenshin kneeling beside him, concern in his violet eyes. He looked very tired.Kaoru had been unconscious the whole day, and now it was nearly midnight, but none of them had been able to sleep, not while their friend was ill. But Kenshin.Kenshin had taken it the worst.
"Are you all right, Yahiko?" He asked in a whisper.
"Of course!" Yahiko snapped, rubbing his forearm across his eyes. "I just have something in my eye, is all." He watched the samurai smile sadly, not his normal dumb rurouni smile. "Kenshin? Are ~you~ all right?"
The wanderer just shook his head, resting his hand on the hilt of his reverse-bladed sword that lay on the floor near his side. "To be honest, I've never felt more lost in my life." He lowered his head, hiding his eyes from view. "For all my promises to protect Kaoru-dono.Jin- eh.Gohei.Shishio.and Enishi.I defeated them all. But."
His hand tightened on the sword, his voice turning fierce.
"But I was unable to protect her from so small a thing as a sickness.!"
"There was nothing you could have done." Megumi said, entering the room. She sat down on the side opposite Kenshin and Yahiko. "She's been working herself too hard with too little rest. It's tanuki-chan's own fault." Even as she called the girl the familiar nickname, her eyed turned sad when no screaming response came. After a moment of silence, where the three just sat and listened to the thickness of Kaoru's rasping breaths, Kenshin stood.
"Sessha is going for a walk, de gozaru yo."
/////
Kaoru watched what happened on the mirror in silence, feeling horribly self- conscious. After the image faded, she glanced at the woman behind her. She was so lovely.no wonder Kenshin.She shook her head. Better not to think of it.
"So..you're Tomoe." Kaoru stated.
Tomoe smiled. "Yes, I am."
Kaoru hung her head. She should have known that this pretty and kind woman was Kenshin's deceased wife.the gods certainly liked playing cruel tricks on her.
The woman shook her head. "No, don't worry. Thought I was Kenshin's wife long ago, I no longer hold that specific place in his heart."
"But."
She held up her hand to silence the young woman. "Kenshin may feel guilt for my death, but his love has shifted elsewhere." Tomoe looked pointedly at Kaoru, who looked slightly.puzzled? She, even in her spirit form, felt slightly peeved that the girl didn't get the point.
The girl stood in silence for a few moments, considering the statement Tomoe made, but not quite understanding what she meant. "Oh!" Kaoru exclaimed. She had returned her attention to the large mirror, where the surface as rippling again.
/////
Sagara Sanosuke had never felt angrier in his entire life.not since Captain Sagara and the rest of the Sekihoutai had been murdered.
That's to say he was pretty damn pissed.
Sano was climbing a steep hill, hands jammed in his pockets, the rain beating down on him in tune with his troubled thoughts. How could the gods allow a nice kid like Kaoru to get so sick? I can't call her a kid, though, he amended his thought. She's only a year younger than I am.
He finally reached the top of the hill, soaking wet and muddy to the thighs. Sano plopped down on one of the many rain-slicked rocks that were scattered atop it in an attempt to calm himself. Sitting there with the rain falling on him and thunder crashing overhead would probably help him get his thoughts in order. Actually, it was having the opposite effect: making him even more angry. His right hand curled into a fist as his anger built.
What if she died? His thoughts raced. Yahiko would be homeless again.and what about Kamiya Kasshin Ryu? It would die with her. Ayame and Suzume would be grief stricken, and so would Dr. Gensai.
And.What about Kenshin.?
"Uah!"
Sano slammed his fist into the stone beside him, watching as it shattered into dust. Futae no Kiwami.the technique that Anji the monk had taught him. He wiped his fist off on his shirt, glaring at the sky above him angrily.
"HEY! Whichever one of you gods is listening!" He yelled defiantly. "You better not take Kaoru away from us, or I'll come up there and use this Futae no Kiwami on every single one of you!"
/////
Kaoru couldn't help but smile a little as the mirror clouded over once more. "That's just like Sano.yelling at the gods for something that's my fault." Then she shuddered. "Sheesh.I wouldn't want to be whichever god he used that punch on."
"It just goes to show you how much your friends care for you." Tomoe pointed out. "Any one of them would give their life to take your place."
"And I would give my life for any of theirs." Kaoru looked sheepish. ".even Megumi."
At the mention of her name the mirror cleared once again.
/////
"Megumi!" Suzume called sleepily. It was now morning in the physical plane and the rain had ended. A timid sunshine rose over the hills surrounding Tokyo, shining on the fallen sakura blossoms sticking to the wet earth. Megumi smiled tiredly at the little girl just sitting up from her futon.
"Good morning." The lady doctor said, opening one of the medicine drawers. "Where's your grandfather?"
"I'm here." Old Dr. Gensai called, entering the room with a very sleepy Ayame by his side. "How is Kaoru?"
"I don't know.she hasn't regained consciousness since she passed out yesterday morning." She yawned as she bundled up more medicines. "I'm going to go back and keep close eye on her."
"Have you determined if it's contagious?"
Megumi shook her head. Her normally perfect black hair was in disarray, and her dark eyes had deep circles beneath them. "It's not contagious.she probably wore herself out and that's what caused her illness."
"Just like you're doing, I might add." Gensai pointed out. "When you get back to the dojo, I want you to go to sleep. All of you; I'm sure Sano, Kenshin, and Yahiko have not gotten any sleep either."
"But." Megumi began to protest. The doctor shoved the bundle of medicine into her arms.
"Doctor's orders!"
/////
"Megumi." Kaoru murmured from the spirit world, surprised that the one woman who seemed to hate her would be so concerned. She focused on the mirror, sapphire eyes shining with tears.
Tomoe took this opportunity to study the girl that had finally changed the Battosai. She wasn't very tall, but then again neither was Kenshin. On the spirit world, humans were shown in the clothing that best described their soul. Kamiya Kaoru wore a white hakama and gi, displaying her brave and strong soul. However, a sky blue ribbon edged with gold and red was tied in her black hair, showing her loyalty, kindness, love and devotion. Tomoe smiled. This girl was special indeed.
Kaoru turned to look at the woman who was once the Hitokiri's wife. "So.where is Kenshin?"
The mirror swirled and cleared once more.
/////
Oooohhh, cool, ne? No, I'm NOT gonna kill Kaoru, so don't ask. Why would I kill my own character? Anyway, read and review, please! And yes, I'm pretty sure about the scarlet fever thing, considering I've had it myself at least three times. It can be caused by lack of rest, but most people only get strep. Scarlet fever sux.
Alithiel Daystar
By: Alithiel Daystar
Disclaimer: Hey, all! How R U? I was bored at work one day, and I got a GREAT idea for a Kenshin short fic! 'Tis a bit angsty, but I think it's pretty good anyway. Of course, I don't own any part of Kenshin *sighs irritably*. Tho I wish I did about three times a day.usually at mealtimes. And just so you know, I only have a slight knowledge of the Revenge Arc of the series, so I'm just winging it here, all right? Arigato!
Part 1: Onset
A soft, playful breeze blew through the open-air courtyard of the Kamiya Dojo in Tokyo. The wind carried on it the scent of blooming sakura blossoms and other smells of spring, and birds sang loudly in the trees.
However, not everyone could enjoy it. One of the dojo residents wobbled about the yard, mumbling under her breath.
"Kenshin no baka."
Kamiya Kaoru, assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, puttered around, searching for her wandering samurai boarder. Her long, black hair was mussed, carelessly thrown into a high ponytail, her white hakama and gi were in disarray, and her sapphire eyes were bloodshot. She coughed hard into her hand
Miyojin Yahiko, her one and only student, came round the corner of the bath, looking at Kaoru darkly. "What are you yammering about, busu?"
She had the good grace to scowl at the kid. "If I had my bokken, and if I felt better, I'd beat you all over that spiky head of yours." She rasped out, coughing. "Have you seen Kenshin?"
"He said he was going to the market." A creak from the front gate caused him to turn and wave. "Yo, Sano!"
Sagara Sanosuke waved back, swaggering toward the teacher and her pupil, hands jammed in his pockets. "Morning, Yahiko, jou-chan." A sudden breeze caused his white shirt to flap. The black kanji for 'bad' rippled in the air. He took a closer look at Kaoru, concern in his brown eyes.
"You feelin' ok? You look flushed."
"I'm fine, Sano." She rasped, swaying a little as a wave of dizziness passed over her. "I just need to talk to Kenshin."
She almost fell then, if Sanosuke hadn't caught her. "Hey! You are so not fine. You should be in bed!"
Kaoru gave him a hard shove in the chest. "Get!" She doubled over with a wracking coughing fit. She took a deep breath when it was over, her eyes watering.
"Ano, what's this all about then?"
The group turned to the gate. Himura Kenshin stood just inside, a net bag full of packages slung over his shoulder. The crimson red of his hair shone brightly in the light as he gave his friends his best idiot rurouni smile. He rubbed the X-shaped scar on his cheek absently.
"Good morning Kaoru-dono, Sanosuke, Yahiko.Kaoru-dono? Are you feeling well?" He asked with concern.
Kaoru stomped over to him. "Where WERE you?!?" She rasped out, glaring blearily at the wandering samurai.
"Oro!" Kenshin squeaked, purple eyes going beady. "Maa, maa, Kaoru-dono! Sessha merely went grocery shopping, de gozaru yo."
Kaoru's eyes slid to half-mast. "Well, warn me." She started to sway. ".next time."
With that, she passed out completely. Kenshin was barely able to catch her in time. He barked orders as he slowly dropped to the earth with her tightly in his arms.
"Yahiko! Go get Doctor Gensai or Megumi-dono! Sano, help me get her inside!"
The two men carefully lifted the unconscious form of Kamiya Kaoru and carried her inside the dojo.
/////
Takani Megumi appeared from behind the sliding door to Kaoru's room. The expression in her reddish eyes was solemn as she rinsed her hands in the ready water bowl. She did not meet the eyes of the three waiting for her diagnosis.
"Kaoru has scarlet fever."
There was a gasp from Yahiko. 'That means."
"She could die." Kenshin finished quietly. He was seated against the wooden roof post, sakabatou leaning against his shoulder. His eyes were shut.
Sano smashed his fist into the wooden planking. "Damn!"
Megumi continued. "There is a chance she will pull through, and a pretty good one, considering how strong Kaoru is. I gave her some fever-reducing herbs." She looked over her shoulder at Kaoru. She was safely tucked in her futon, a damp cloth placed on her forehead. She looked so tiny, unnaturally pale under the flush of fever and rash, breathing with a terrible rasping sound. ".but the rest is up to her."
"Can we.see her?" Sano asked in an unnaturally quiet way.
"Maybe." She answered just as quietly. "But I will not leave until she gets better.that I promise."
/////
Light.pure white light surrounded her. Kaoru fluttered her eyes open, feeling strangely weightless. All was featureless whiteness, and she floated within it.
"Am I.dead?" She asked herself absently, remembering her collapse and not really caring either way.
"If you so choose, Kamiya Kaoru." A mellow woman's voice responded. Turning her head, she saw a woman approaching. She had incredibly long, black hair, and lovely dark eyes. She was dressed in a pure white kimono. The mysterious woman smiled at Kaoru.
"If I.choose?"
"Yes.here you are able to choose your fate. Kaoru, you are very ill." The woman sighed. "However, there are two choices available to you. Either you feel your work is done, and choose to pass into the afterlife, or you choose to live, and continue."
A strange feeling of recognition passed through the girl. "To live."
"Of course, you will be able to view how your collapse affects those who care for you.And this is a very rare thing, for most people do not get this chance."
"Sometimes, I feel as if no one cares at all."
The woman smiled. "No?"
"I mean, look at me." She spread her arms out at her sides. "I am a woman, running a dojo on her own! I have only one student who disrespects me every chance he gets, a freeloading mercenary, A crazy kitsune of a doctor who can't stand me, and an idiot rurouni."
She felt a sudden tightening of her heart, or rather, where her heart would be if she were physical, when she mentioned Kenshin. The woman nodded, then waved her hand. Beneath her palm the whiteness rippled, clearing a space where a large, oval mirror appeared, a picture of the dojo shining on its smooth surface.
At Kaoru's utterly confused look, the woman laughed.
'This is the Mirror of Truth. In it you will see and hear everything that transpires while you remain here, and in some cases, even hear the thoughts of the people you care about. Of course, you must have a very strong connection with them."
The mirror zoomed in, showing Kenshin, Yahiko, and Sano on the porch. A strange softness came to the woman's eyes. Recognition dawned.
"You're?!" Kaoru gasped.
"Yes.I'm Tomoe. Kenshin's first wife."
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Part 2: Infection
Yahiko sat beside the futon of Kaoru, staring down at the flushed face of his sensei. Her breath rattled in her throat ominously as she breathed. Lightning cracked outside as rain pounded on the roof with the force of a thousand hammers. Yahiko couldn't help but smile a little. She was so afraid of thunder, it was strange that she didn't sit up screaming her lungs out for someone, ANYONE to help her. He sighed, and to his surprise, moisture gathered in his eyes.
"Busu no baka.don't you dare die on us." He choked. "You haven't taught me all of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu yet! I'm not gonna let you die until you teach me all of it, even if you have to live a thousand years.I can see it.you ugly old crone yelling for five hundred swings."
He felt a strong hand fall on his shoulder. Yahiko looked op to see Kenshin kneeling beside him, concern in his violet eyes. He looked very tired.Kaoru had been unconscious the whole day, and now it was nearly midnight, but none of them had been able to sleep, not while their friend was ill. But Kenshin.Kenshin had taken it the worst.
"Are you all right, Yahiko?" He asked in a whisper.
"Of course!" Yahiko snapped, rubbing his forearm across his eyes. "I just have something in my eye, is all." He watched the samurai smile sadly, not his normal dumb rurouni smile. "Kenshin? Are ~you~ all right?"
The wanderer just shook his head, resting his hand on the hilt of his reverse-bladed sword that lay on the floor near his side. "To be honest, I've never felt more lost in my life." He lowered his head, hiding his eyes from view. "For all my promises to protect Kaoru-dono.Jin- eh.Gohei.Shishio.and Enishi.I defeated them all. But."
His hand tightened on the sword, his voice turning fierce.
"But I was unable to protect her from so small a thing as a sickness.!"
"There was nothing you could have done." Megumi said, entering the room. She sat down on the side opposite Kenshin and Yahiko. "She's been working herself too hard with too little rest. It's tanuki-chan's own fault." Even as she called the girl the familiar nickname, her eyed turned sad when no screaming response came. After a moment of silence, where the three just sat and listened to the thickness of Kaoru's rasping breaths, Kenshin stood.
"Sessha is going for a walk, de gozaru yo."
/////
Kaoru watched what happened on the mirror in silence, feeling horribly self- conscious. After the image faded, she glanced at the woman behind her. She was so lovely.no wonder Kenshin.She shook her head. Better not to think of it.
"So..you're Tomoe." Kaoru stated.
Tomoe smiled. "Yes, I am."
Kaoru hung her head. She should have known that this pretty and kind woman was Kenshin's deceased wife.the gods certainly liked playing cruel tricks on her.
The woman shook her head. "No, don't worry. Thought I was Kenshin's wife long ago, I no longer hold that specific place in his heart."
"But."
She held up her hand to silence the young woman. "Kenshin may feel guilt for my death, but his love has shifted elsewhere." Tomoe looked pointedly at Kaoru, who looked slightly.puzzled? She, even in her spirit form, felt slightly peeved that the girl didn't get the point.
The girl stood in silence for a few moments, considering the statement Tomoe made, but not quite understanding what she meant. "Oh!" Kaoru exclaimed. She had returned her attention to the large mirror, where the surface as rippling again.
/////
Sagara Sanosuke had never felt angrier in his entire life.not since Captain Sagara and the rest of the Sekihoutai had been murdered.
That's to say he was pretty damn pissed.
Sano was climbing a steep hill, hands jammed in his pockets, the rain beating down on him in tune with his troubled thoughts. How could the gods allow a nice kid like Kaoru to get so sick? I can't call her a kid, though, he amended his thought. She's only a year younger than I am.
He finally reached the top of the hill, soaking wet and muddy to the thighs. Sano plopped down on one of the many rain-slicked rocks that were scattered atop it in an attempt to calm himself. Sitting there with the rain falling on him and thunder crashing overhead would probably help him get his thoughts in order. Actually, it was having the opposite effect: making him even more angry. His right hand curled into a fist as his anger built.
What if she died? His thoughts raced. Yahiko would be homeless again.and what about Kamiya Kasshin Ryu? It would die with her. Ayame and Suzume would be grief stricken, and so would Dr. Gensai.
And.What about Kenshin.?
"Uah!"
Sano slammed his fist into the stone beside him, watching as it shattered into dust. Futae no Kiwami.the technique that Anji the monk had taught him. He wiped his fist off on his shirt, glaring at the sky above him angrily.
"HEY! Whichever one of you gods is listening!" He yelled defiantly. "You better not take Kaoru away from us, or I'll come up there and use this Futae no Kiwami on every single one of you!"
/////
Kaoru couldn't help but smile a little as the mirror clouded over once more. "That's just like Sano.yelling at the gods for something that's my fault." Then she shuddered. "Sheesh.I wouldn't want to be whichever god he used that punch on."
"It just goes to show you how much your friends care for you." Tomoe pointed out. "Any one of them would give their life to take your place."
"And I would give my life for any of theirs." Kaoru looked sheepish. ".even Megumi."
At the mention of her name the mirror cleared once again.
/////
"Megumi!" Suzume called sleepily. It was now morning in the physical plane and the rain had ended. A timid sunshine rose over the hills surrounding Tokyo, shining on the fallen sakura blossoms sticking to the wet earth. Megumi smiled tiredly at the little girl just sitting up from her futon.
"Good morning." The lady doctor said, opening one of the medicine drawers. "Where's your grandfather?"
"I'm here." Old Dr. Gensai called, entering the room with a very sleepy Ayame by his side. "How is Kaoru?"
"I don't know.she hasn't regained consciousness since she passed out yesterday morning." She yawned as she bundled up more medicines. "I'm going to go back and keep close eye on her."
"Have you determined if it's contagious?"
Megumi shook her head. Her normally perfect black hair was in disarray, and her dark eyes had deep circles beneath them. "It's not contagious.she probably wore herself out and that's what caused her illness."
"Just like you're doing, I might add." Gensai pointed out. "When you get back to the dojo, I want you to go to sleep. All of you; I'm sure Sano, Kenshin, and Yahiko have not gotten any sleep either."
"But." Megumi began to protest. The doctor shoved the bundle of medicine into her arms.
"Doctor's orders!"
/////
"Megumi." Kaoru murmured from the spirit world, surprised that the one woman who seemed to hate her would be so concerned. She focused on the mirror, sapphire eyes shining with tears.
Tomoe took this opportunity to study the girl that had finally changed the Battosai. She wasn't very tall, but then again neither was Kenshin. On the spirit world, humans were shown in the clothing that best described their soul. Kamiya Kaoru wore a white hakama and gi, displaying her brave and strong soul. However, a sky blue ribbon edged with gold and red was tied in her black hair, showing her loyalty, kindness, love and devotion. Tomoe smiled. This girl was special indeed.
Kaoru turned to look at the woman who was once the Hitokiri's wife. "So.where is Kenshin?"
The mirror swirled and cleared once more.
/////
Oooohhh, cool, ne? No, I'm NOT gonna kill Kaoru, so don't ask. Why would I kill my own character? Anyway, read and review, please! And yes, I'm pretty sure about the scarlet fever thing, considering I've had it myself at least three times. It can be caused by lack of rest, but most people only get strep. Scarlet fever sux.
Alithiel Daystar