Well hello all! Fancy seeing you here...and what not. I know I haven't written in awhile, so I decided it was time for a new fic! It's mu fisrt RK one...so I'm a little nervous. This chapter is just a tesy run, to see how people react and ness. So...it'll be short. Anywho...back to business. I apologize for any grammatical or spelling errorsfor I am typing in the dark with no spell check. Okay then on with the story!

Oh and...disclaimer...I don't own RK...damnit all to hell.

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The monotony of her life bore itself into her skull. Kaoru groaned and rolled over praying to the sandman for sleep. Her words were to no avail. For the past nights, she had been plauged by nightmares, and had woken up painted in sweat and screams. Several times her shaking would not...could not ease. Her eyes were laced with dark circles, and her movements were slow. She had spotted Kenshin glancing at her now and again, but when she tried to catch his eye, he would look away, embarrased for staring.

Tears dripped and moistened her pillow ever so slightly.

"Ugly." She whispered to the wicked reflection in the mirror. 'It's no surprise Kenshin looks away.' she thought. 'Yahiko is right to call me ugly. I'm a wretched ugly talentless fool.' Tears fell faster. She was alone in her sorrow.

Her eyes spoke to the darkness asking for some consolation. Her head swum through the silence as she bit back a soft wail. As if pulled by strings, she rose from her futon. Her feet padding softly against the floor, she made her way outside, sliding the shoji closed quietly. Slipping on sandlas, she picked her way across the yard. She stopped in the middle of the courtyard and looked up to the stars. He hair fell back softly from her face, and her skin was pale, etheral in the moonlight. She looked back down at her hands in distaste.

'I look sickly...and the skin is so rough, calloused from my bokken.' She sighed and looked back to the sky, 'Is that all I truly have? My sweat? My tomboyish clothes? My bokken?' Another tear escaped. 'I am worthless.'

"Kaoru-dono?"

She wipped around suddenly, startled at the abrut break in her musing. Kenshin stood on the porch watching her, his brow creased with concern. She just stood there, her face impassive. He shifted on his feet.

"What are you doing out here so late?"

She sighed inwardly. "I'm sorry did I wake you?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, and Kenshin could barely hear her. Her words were tinged with remorse. His frown deepened.

"I was already awake. But why are you out here?"

"I couldn't sleep that's all." She turned her face back towards the sky, her eyes roaming aimlessly.

"Kaoru-dono...is something the matter? You have not been yourself these past few days. This one would like to know what is bothering you." His face was so earnest, bu Kaoru took no heed of his expression. Her gaze was focused solely on the stars.

"So you think the stars ever get lonely Kenshin?" She asked him sotfly. He was startled by her question.

"I...I don't know Kaoru-dono...I do not know is the stars can feel." He fumbled over his words.

"They're so far away...and yet...yet, I feel as if I could reach out and touch one." As if to emphasive her words, she streched out one long slender arm, her muslces straining towards the sky. She sighed sadly and quickly withdrew her arm, as if disguted by the sight of it. 'Something so worthless should not be in the prescense of such magnificence.' She thought sadly as the stars twinkled in her eyes.

"...u-dono. Kaoru!" Unbeknownst to Kaoru, Kenshin has been calling her name. She suddenly snapped back to reality and turned to look a question at the wanderer.

"Please Kaoru," He said dropping the honorific "Tell me what is wrong!"

She merly smiled and laughed wistfully. "Nothing is wrong Kenshin. I'm sorry to have worried you." She looked down sadly. Kenshin let out a growl of frustration and stepped off the porch, closing the distance between them in a few steps. He enveloped her in his arms, bit she remained stiff.

"Please!" He said softly, burying his face in her hair. When she made no response, he drew back slightly. It was then that he took in her dishiveled state. Her robe was haging from one pale shoulder, the knot was clumsily tied at her waist. Her eyes lacked luster, and were cloaked with exhaustion. Her hair was tangled and looked as if she hadn't combed it in awhile, and her skin was as cold and as pale as death.

She simply stared at him, her face blank. Unsure of what to say, he pulled the loose cloth back onto her slim shoulder, and started re-typing the knot. A click from behind turned him. Yahiko stood on the porch staring at them.

"Good god at least get a room. No one wants to see busu in her nightgown. Gross!" Yahiko made a face before walking off to the bathroom. Kenshin turned back to Kaoru. She flinched and drew back into herself. Her hair fell in front of her face like a curtain.

"Kaoru?"

Slowly, with small hands, she withdrew herself from Kenshin. "I'm sorry to have worried you Kenshin" she whispered, and her voice was hollow. "Goodnight." She chocked on the last, a tear escaping, but before Kenshin could comment, she fled.

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Well what do you think so far? Yes I know this was short, and if you review and tell me to continue, of course they will be longer. I hate short chapters...well I mean realllllllly short...and ness. Okay well HAPPY NEW YEARS!

REVIEW! Do it now. Or...else...