Alright! New RuroKen fic! This is a KenshinxSanosuke fic, so if you don't like, don't read! Naturally, all standard disclaimers apply.
"He going to be alright, Vixen?" Sanosuke asked sincerely, peeking into the Rurouni's room hesitantly. Megumi, standing between him, Kaoru and Yahiko, nodded slowly.
"He will probably be alright, yes."
"Probably?" Kaoru echoed, face pale. Megumi nodded gravely.
"I'm sorry, Kaoru. He really took quite a serious wound this time. I'm sure that he'll pull through, though. Or at the very least, he'll fight it to his…" Megumi couldn't bring herself to finish. Kaoru ducked her head and entered the room, followed by Yahiko. Megumi stood with Sanosuke in the hallway. "You aren't going in?" She asked, watching the ex-fighter-for-hire carefully.
"Nah. Jou-chan's killing herself with worry. Making a fuss won't help. I'm going home." Megumi noticed the slightly drawn look Sanosuke had, and tried to lighten the mood.
"What? And leave a beautiful young woman like me to walk home alone along the dark streets of Tokyo?" She was surprised when Sanosuke turned away.
"Sorry Vixen. You can probably stay here. I'm sure Jou-chan would like you around. See you." He exited swiftly, and Megumi felt a pang of sympathy. He was worried, but he wouldn't tell anyone. He was too busy worrying over Kaoru. Megumi sighed – he was more like Kenshin than he knew. Megumi looked into the dark room and sighed heavily, watching Kaoru lean over Kenshin and change the fabric on his head. Yahiko was just standing behind her, staring at the silent face of his idol.
"Sanosuke!" Yahiko yelled, bursting into his room in the long house and making Sano choke on a cup of sake. "Sanosuke, Kenshin's awake!" Sano was up and running towards the dojo before Yahiko had even seen him move, and he was left to lock up.
"This one is sorry for worrying you, Kaoru-dono." Sanosuke stopped as he heard Kenshin's weak voice apologising. Of course that would be what he would say.
"Don't be, Kenshin. You saved me, I should be thanking you." Sanosuke grimaced as he recalled how Kenshin had come to be injured in the first place. They had all been out in town when Kaoru had gone to get a new hair ribbon. She'd been gone far too long so Kenshin and himself went to look for her. Kenshin had suddenly ran off at top speed, and Sano had lost him in the crowd. If only he'd run that little bit faster, or kept his eyes on that magenta gi, then this wouldn't have happened… But he hadn't, and Kenshin had gone alone to where he'd found Kaoru, backed into the corner of an alleyway by a gang of men. Kenshin hadn't hesitated in beating them down, and was just leaving when Sanosuke had arrived. He watched as one of the guys lifted a gun. He was too slow to warn them, and the gunshot had shattered the calm. Kenshin had shoved Kaoru out the way…
"Kaoru-dono, could this one trouble you for a glass of water..?" Sanosuke heard the rustle as she rushed to her feet and then ran from the room, colliding with Sano in her rush to be of some help to Kenshin. She ran on to the kitchen. Sano paused outside the door, just out of Kenshin's sight, wondering whether to go in. "Sano, come in." That solved that issue then. Sanosuke reluctantly stepped inside. Why didn't he feel right about being here?
"Oi. You alright?" He felt it was a stupid question, but it broke the silence.
"This one is feeling better thank you, Sano." Sanosuke looked up to see the pale but smiling face of Kenshin, sitting up in his futon and supported by a vast pile of pillows. He noticed that the smile on the red-heads features was genuine, warm and contented. He couldn't help but smile back, and sat down next to the futon.
"I'm sorry Kenshin. I should have been there. I tired to follow but you're just so damn fast and by the time I did get there I was-" Sanosuke was silenced by a finger against his lips. He blinked in surprise, looking down at Kenshin.
"There is no reason to apologise, Sano." There was a short silence, in which time Kenshin's finger released Sano's lips. But Sanosuke didn't feel the need to talk. Kenshin seemed content just to stay silent in his company, that same beautiful contented smile on his lips. Ah, how Sano loved that smile.
"Here you go, Kenshin." Kaoru chirped, walking in with a glass of water. Kenshin's smile immediately changed into a broad but less believable smile.
"Thank you, Kaoru-dono." He moved to take the glass from her, but she pushed it to his lips. He smiled, and Sano inwardly flinched. It was horrible to see Kenshin fake so many smiles, especially after seeing that lovely smile he'd been wearing only a few moments ago. He got up, ignoring the pleading look from Kenshin to stay. He knew if he did then he'd just end up shouting at Kaoru. Instead, he left the room and shut the shoji none to gently behind him. Kenshin sighed as Kaoru took the glass from his lips and began fussing over his pillows. "This one is fine, Kaoru-dono, please don't worry about that." She didn't even acknowledge his words and continued to plump his pillows.
"Going so soon?" Megumi asked outside the dojo gate, noticing the agitated look on Sano's face. Eager to let off steam, Sano quickly glanced around to make sure Kaoru and Kenshin were still inside.
"Megumi. How long has Kenshin been awake? Has Kaoru been fussing over him like that all this time? She's drowning him, and he's not going to tell her to stop! I mean for heaven's sake, he's just sitting there letting her fawn over him! Can't she tell he hates it?" Megumi nodded understandingly.
"I know, but no I don't think she does realise it. Of course, she feels guilty about it, so it's only natural that she'd wait on him hand and foot. It's just a shame he doesn't enjoy it. I did try to tell her, but it's just that look she gives you. She's like a child, completely at a loss of what to do. I feel almost as sorry for her as I do for Ken-san." Sano grunted, glaring at the wall that he knew Kenshin was just behind.
"How long before he can go out?" He asked, looking back to Megumi. Kenshin had been in bed for a week now, unmoving. He hoped it wouldn't be the same amount of time before Kenshin was up and walking again. He had every intention to help Kenshin escape Kaoru's all too eager grasp as soon as possible.
"I'm not sure. For any other person I would say at least two weeks. But had it been a normal person, I wouldn't have said they'd have woken up this quickly either. Ken-san was shot through the lung, so his extremities should all be in good condition, aside from weakness induced by lack of use. He'll just get tired quickly, and have some problems breathing regularly. I've given him some exercises, but he needs to relax while doing them. Each time Kaoru comes in, he tenses up so badly that last time he pulled a stitch." Sanosuke looked at Megumi sharply, and she shrugged. "He just needs at least an hour a day away from her." Sanosuke looked thoughtful.
"Hey Megumi, I have an idea. Listen up." Megumi leant closer as Sano whispered in her ear, and smiled widely as he spoke his plan to her.
"Perfect! I'll go and get something together. Make sure you don't send her for at least half an hour though, alright?" Sanosuke nodded, watching her run off towards town. He smiled and folded his arms in a satisfied gesture, walking back into the dojo.
Okay everybody! What do you think? Can you tell where this is going? Please review!