Prologue: Dancing with death
A/N: I believe this will be a more serious Fanfic than my last one was, sorry if it lacks that comedy aspect that so many of you loved. I really don't know what's going to come of this, I was just suddenly hit with inspiration. Maybe it won't suck.
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Ouch. That's like driving nails in my foot. Painful.
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"Kenshin, can you watch the dojo today? I really don't feel very well." Kaoru said, her beautiful face drawn and gaunt. I could see she really felt much worse that not very well. "What's wrong, Kaoru-dono?" I asked, mentally kicking myself for adding '-dono' yet again.
She'd asked me to stop that, and I was trying, I really was! It just wasn't happening.
"Not much Kenshin, I just need to rest I believe." She'd replied, turning back to head for her room. I'd almost believed her, almost got caught up enough in her treachery to drop my guard. But then as she walked to her room, her steps began to fall less and less evenly, more and more weakly.
I'd been doing the laundry at the time, pondering why I didn't tell her how I felt. Laundry just has that relaxing factor to it. You can think about things and not really pay any attention to what you're doing. When she'd turned back to me with that crazed, blank gaze in her eyes, I'd almost been surprised.
Almost.
But then again, that's what I get for letting my guard down. I should have been more careful. I'm sure whatever is wrong with Kaoru is my fault. Nothing would happen to her if it weren't for me. I suppose this is why I don't tell her how I feel. Nothing else seems to be holding me back.
Kaoru is, was, and will always be the chief matter of concern in my life. I guess that's why her illness has struck me so hard. There's nothing I can do about it, no one can figure out what it is. Yet she seems to be dying, dying from the inside out.
She'd given me that empty stare long enough for me to see that. She is much, much more than just tired. Something is very wrong, and I intend to figure out what it is. To save her life, to save my future.
She means everything to me. Without her I am nothing. What could this be? And why is it attacking my Kaoru? I have so many questions, and so few answers. This could literally be the undoing of me. I've never felt such a sense of urgency, and I've never been much of a scientist.
But I must for this. Kaoru must be cured. It's a matter of life and death, and not just hers. As I watched her fall, knowing I should catch her but unable to move, I'd never before felt such a shadow hang over me. What is wrong with her?
I ask this again, and still I find no answer. Physically she SHOULD be healthy. Megumi has checked over and over again, finding nothing every time. It's as if this malignant force cannot be seen, can't be detected. But IT IS MOST CERTAINLY KILLING HER. I'd known this when I'd reached her chilled body, lifted her limp frame to rush for Megumi.
Who found nothing wrong.
I could scream with frustration at this problem. Not even my comrade's botched attempts at hitokiri assassinations had caused me this much grief. I MUST FIGURE THIS OUT. If I don't...no one will.
Kaoru, my precious flower, light of my life, you must hang on. Please. If not for yourself, for me. I love you, even if I can't tell you. Please keep yourself alive until I can fix this. I know in time I will. But that I fear is something I don't have. Time. Pleading with death.
How ironic, before it was I that had people on their knees begging for death to pass them by. But just like back then, I fear that death will be swift and unmerciful to Kaoru. Unless I can fix it. WHICH I MUST. Whatever has afflicted her will be eradicated. If it's the last thing I do...
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A/N: Told you this one would be more serious. Let's see what happens in later chapters. This has potential.
A/N: I believe this will be a more serious Fanfic than my last one was, sorry if it lacks that comedy aspect that so many of you loved. I really don't know what's going to come of this, I was just suddenly hit with inspiration. Maybe it won't suck.
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Ouch. That's like driving nails in my foot. Painful.
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~
"Kenshin, can you watch the dojo today? I really don't feel very well." Kaoru said, her beautiful face drawn and gaunt. I could see she really felt much worse that not very well. "What's wrong, Kaoru-dono?" I asked, mentally kicking myself for adding '-dono' yet again.
She'd asked me to stop that, and I was trying, I really was! It just wasn't happening.
"Not much Kenshin, I just need to rest I believe." She'd replied, turning back to head for her room. I'd almost believed her, almost got caught up enough in her treachery to drop my guard. But then as she walked to her room, her steps began to fall less and less evenly, more and more weakly.
I'd been doing the laundry at the time, pondering why I didn't tell her how I felt. Laundry just has that relaxing factor to it. You can think about things and not really pay any attention to what you're doing. When she'd turned back to me with that crazed, blank gaze in her eyes, I'd almost been surprised.
Almost.
But then again, that's what I get for letting my guard down. I should have been more careful. I'm sure whatever is wrong with Kaoru is my fault. Nothing would happen to her if it weren't for me. I suppose this is why I don't tell her how I feel. Nothing else seems to be holding me back.
Kaoru is, was, and will always be the chief matter of concern in my life. I guess that's why her illness has struck me so hard. There's nothing I can do about it, no one can figure out what it is. Yet she seems to be dying, dying from the inside out.
She'd given me that empty stare long enough for me to see that. She is much, much more than just tired. Something is very wrong, and I intend to figure out what it is. To save her life, to save my future.
She means everything to me. Without her I am nothing. What could this be? And why is it attacking my Kaoru? I have so many questions, and so few answers. This could literally be the undoing of me. I've never felt such a sense of urgency, and I've never been much of a scientist.
But I must for this. Kaoru must be cured. It's a matter of life and death, and not just hers. As I watched her fall, knowing I should catch her but unable to move, I'd never before felt such a shadow hang over me. What is wrong with her?
I ask this again, and still I find no answer. Physically she SHOULD be healthy. Megumi has checked over and over again, finding nothing every time. It's as if this malignant force cannot be seen, can't be detected. But IT IS MOST CERTAINLY KILLING HER. I'd known this when I'd reached her chilled body, lifted her limp frame to rush for Megumi.
Who found nothing wrong.
I could scream with frustration at this problem. Not even my comrade's botched attempts at hitokiri assassinations had caused me this much grief. I MUST FIGURE THIS OUT. If I don't...no one will.
Kaoru, my precious flower, light of my life, you must hang on. Please. If not for yourself, for me. I love you, even if I can't tell you. Please keep yourself alive until I can fix this. I know in time I will. But that I fear is something I don't have. Time. Pleading with death.
How ironic, before it was I that had people on their knees begging for death to pass them by. But just like back then, I fear that death will be swift and unmerciful to Kaoru. Unless I can fix it. WHICH I MUST. Whatever has afflicted her will be eradicated. If it's the last thing I do...
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A/N: Told you this one would be more serious. Let's see what happens in later chapters. This has potential.