"I Won't Lose You!" ( An Untold Episode: Part I)

"Something's wrong with Kenshin today." "I know Yahiko, I noticed it too. He's too quiet" Kaoru said worried. "Ever since he defeated Shishio, he's not really been himself, and today, he seems worse! I'm going to go talk to him. He's probably down by the river again. And you, Mr. Smart-pants, make sure to scrub the dojo a hundred times. I want it spotless when we come back!"

"What!!! Kaoru this is forced labor! You can't leave me to do all the chores here while you and Kenshin make out.!" Kaoru, red in the face, turned to Yahiko and said "One more word from you and I swear I'll give you no dinner for a week!" "Ah, c'mon Kaoru! Don't you think that's too much.darn it!!!" Yahiko didn't finish his protests. He didn't see much point in talking to a closed door. "Well," Yahiko whispered after a while. "Good luck Kaoru!"

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"There you are Kenshin! I've been looking all over for you!" Kaoru said as she approached Kenshin who was sitting by the river. She sat down beside him and waited for his reply but the wanderer stared straight ahead without saying anything. They sat in silence for a long time watching the river flow.

Suddenly, Kaoru's vision blurred and she felt nauseated. The feeling passed quite quickly and so she thought nothing of it. She looked up the sky and saw that it was almost dusk. "I think I'll go on home Kenshin. If you're ready to talk, I'll be here" Kaoru said and she started to get up.

"Why do you put up with me?" Kenshin asked, speaking for the first time. "I've given you nothing but trouble ever since I came here, and still you have welcomed me home when we arrived from Kyoto."

Throughout Kenshin's short speech, Kaoru kept her eyes on him, trying to read his expressions as he spoke. A lot about Kenshin is still a mystery to Kaoru including this one. She wondered what could have gotten Kenshin so withdrawn. Nonetheless she responded to his question.

"I put up with you because you are a member of this family" Kaoru said smiling. And also, I put up with you because, umm.well, because, I L." Kaoru's words were cut short when the same nauseating and dizzying feeling came back. This time much stronger and this time, it wasn't fleeting.

Kenshin, alert, caught Kaoru just in time before she fell to the ground. "Kaoru!" Kenshin shouted, at the same time shaking her trying to wake her up. Kaoru.Kaoru.KAORUUUUU!!!"

to be continued....(c",)

AUTHOR'S NOTES: This is my first attempt at going for a second chapter so be kind ok and PLEASE, PLEASE leave your reviews^_^ and as some of you might have noticed, I used the english-dubbed names for this chapter but now I've *winks* seen the error of my ways and decided to change it to the original names..hope you guys like it more now^_^

Part II summary: Kaoru is sick, her life hangs in the balance, and Kenshin is faced again with the thought of losing her. Join Kenshin, Kaoru, and the whole gang as they try to resolve this unexpected turmoil which can break them apart.or bind them together.(c",)