Kenshin's Worst Fear

…

The Kamiya Dojo was strangely peaceful that day. No one was randomly barging to kill someone, which didn't happen very often. Kenshin, Sanosuke and Yahiko decided to enjoy that very special day by slacking off. Of course, they couldn't do that while Kaoru had her eyes on them, but she was out for some girl time with Megumi and Misao. Another thing that was special, Yahiko thought as he gobbled down mouthfuls of sponge cakes at a time, was that no one had to talk lip and nag. In fact, the only sounds they heard were the birds chirruping, the breeze gently blowing Kenshin's long red hair, and Yahiko's sloppy eating.

"So Kenshin," Sanosuke spoke, and Kenshin looked up at him. "What are you afraid of?" Kenshin shrugged, "what makes you ask, Sano?"

"It's just that in your lifetime you've faced a lot," explained Sano, "including people who are equally skilled as you that wanted to kill you. But they don't seem to be what you're truly afraid of. Heck, you're not even afraid of death!"

Yahiko nodded in approval. "Yesh!" he said, crumbs of sponge cake spewed from his mouth. "I don't think Kenshin ish avraid ov anything."

Kenshin smiled weakly. "If Kaoru were here, she'd be telling you to keep your mouth shut while eating."

"Not before she punches your lights out," Sano agreed, and he and Kenshin burst into laughter.

"Oh, shcrew that ugly!" Yahiko cursed, scoffing down more sponge cakes.

"That wasn't very nice, Yahiko, that it isn't," Kenshin frowned.

"But seriously Kenshin, what are you afraid of? And Yahiko!" Sano suddenly slapped Yahiko at the back, making him double forward, "why aren't you saving some for me?"

Kenshin considered the question for a moment. He had faced several grave moments. He had battled very dangerous opponents. He had been in the brink of death several times. And the then thought hit him. He was afraid of succumbing back to his Hitoriki Battousai self and endangering all his friends. He often had nightmares of him being so thirsty for blood shed he massacred everyone in the Kamiya Dojo in the midst of their sleep. What scared him was seeing the bloody body of Kaoru laying lifeless, her eyes still staring pleadingly at him.

"Kenshin?" Sano called out. Kenshin didn't realize that his expression was growing grim.

"I am afraid of many things, Sano, that I am," he answered gloomily.

"But what are you most afraid of?" asked Sano, trying to lift up the tray of sponge cakes, taking advantage of his stature so Yahiko couldn't reach.

Kenshin thought for a moment, until a single name escaped from his lips. "Kaoru."

Yahiko and Sanosuke burst into thunderous laughter. Kenshin looked at them, puzzled. It took him a moment to realize what he just said. "Oh, that wasn't what I meant," he muttered.

"Well," Yahiko held his stomach, trying to stifle his laughter as he talked, "Ugly can be pretty scary sometimes!"

"Seriously? That Missie?" Sanosuke wasn't doing a good job of holding back his laughs, either, "after facing Shishio Makoto and nearly dying several times, you're afraid of the Missie?"

Kenshin smiled. "Well, we all have our own individual fears, that we do." He sighed and thought to himself. They misunderstood. What he meant was.. His greatest fear was loosing Kaoru.

The End.

**I tried to keep the characters in character.. And I hope you guys like it.

**I really love this Anime. I was born the same year it was released. My Dad said he used to watch it all the time when I was a baby, and kept giving me spoilers.