Chapter One

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Kaoru stood in the shadows, carefully and purposely hidden. She watched as her

husband wrapped his arms around a slim figure that was not her own. His mouth was at the woman's neck, nuzzling her affectionately. Kaoru pushed out the thoughts in her mind that repeatedly reminded her how he had never done that to do that to her.

He was elegantly dressed in a dark navy suit, the ideal compliment to the deep sapphire gown that the woman donned. They looked like a perfect couple; harmonizing in every sense. Kaoru's heart mourned in envy. She couldn't stop the lone tear from trailing down her face. It was at that exact moment her husband gazed right at her. His deep amber eyes seemed mocking as he smirked at her. Kaoru felt her heart clench painfully. His eyes told her everything she didn't want to hear, but knew was true.

"I don't need you."

He turned around abruptly and left with the woman without a word, his hand wrapped around the woman's waist. Not even a second glance back.

Each night was the same, but Kaoru couldn't seem to get use to it. Each night she died a little inside as she watched her husband walk out with a different woman. Each one better suited for him than she ever could be.

She still was hurt even though she knew that their marriage was merely for convenience; set up by their parents to bind the two family companies together.

Yes, Himura-Kamiya Corporations flourished like no company had ever before. They practically ruled Japan's entire economy with strongholds in shipping, trading, and manufacturing, as well as the media. Together their assets were worth a combined total of 78 billion yen. Though even with all that wealth and fortune, Kenshin and Kaoru's relationship was far from ideal.

Kenshin never acknowledged their marriage because deep down he truly yearned to be with his first love, a beautiful girl named Tomoe Yukishiro. But marrying Tomoe would've done the family business no good since she came from an only moderately wealthy family, so Kenshin's parents adamantly denied his wishes and forced him to wed Kaoru. To him, Kaoru was just a replacement who held no spot in his heart, even if they had grown up together.

On the other hand, however, Kaoru had secretly loved Kenshin from the first time they met 18 years prior as young preschoolers. She loved the way he smiled softly when something amused him, and the way his eyes light up at the sight of his favorite dish, peach cobbler. And the way he covered his mouth when he was distressed, but wanted to hide it. But she had known that he had fallen for the soft spoken, elegant Tomoe from long ago, so she kept her love silent. To this day it remains silent, even though they have both been married for two years already.

When Kaoru was a teenager she was a rather plain girl. She had thick glasses, a drab haircut and quite a bit of baby fat, but as she matured her body became curved and shapely. Her sapphire eyes were luminous and beautiful, and her waist length raven locks would've put pure silk to shame. It was too bad that not many could've admired her beauty, because of her growing depression due to her failing marriage caused her to spend half her days in bed rest and the other half watching her so called husband go off everyday with different women. She was dying, emotionally at least. The house staff was worried for they beloved mistress for she rarely ate, stating that she would not eat unless the meal was with her husband. This resulted in a lot of lonely nights of waiting. The head maid, Tae, had the most concern for Kaoru's failing health. She even telephoned Kenshin while he was at his office, telling him of Kaoru's refusal to eat. Surprisingly, Kenshin actually returned home for the night, the first time in months. The house staff was silent as they watched their master wait outside the master bedroom door. Kaoru was just inside speaking softly to Tae.

"Mrs. Himura, you must eat something! Just a bit of porridge, please." Tae urged, holding a small china spoon closer to her beautiful mistress's lips. Kaoru moaned softly as she shook her head.

"Don't call me that. I don't deserve it." Kaoru whispered softly. Her usually melodic voice a bit scratchy from lack of nutrition.

"Miss Kaoru, please, what would Master Himura say if he saw you in such a state?" Tae argued.

"Good riddance, I suppose," Kaoru smiled sadly, "You know, sometimes I wonder if he would even notice if I was gone." Her eyes closed shut as her exhaustion overcame her. Tae looked on sorrowfully, until she heard soft footsteps from behind her. Her head whipped around and hers eyes widened as she recognized the signature long crimson hair of her employer, Himura Kenshin.

"Sir, you got my message, I suppose," Tae whispered softly as she stood to bow. Kenshin gave a slight nod as his eyes fell to the still figure of his wife.

"Leave," he ordered curtly. Tae bowed again and fled out of the room after she glanced one last time at Kaoru.

Kenshin's amber eyes gazed down at his ill wife emotionlessly. She looked much skinnier than her had remembered. Trailing a hand down her side he could feel her ribs clearly through the thin cashmere of her blanket. Her cheekbones were prominent and her forehead covered in sweat. Her eyes slowly opened as he raised his hand to stroke her face. Brilliant sapphire met bright amber.

"Himura-san," Kaoru murmured softly. A pang went through Kenshin's heart, and he didn't quite understand why. She flinched under his touch and diverted her eyes. Kenshin's hand didn't left her cheek.

"You have a fever," he said, careful to sound indifferent. She scoffed quietly.

"Shouldn't you be on a date right now? I'm sure one of your girlfriends must miss you," she replied. It hurt her to say those words, but deep down she knew it would've caused her even more pain to even pretend for a second that he actually cared.

"You're right, but I have more important matters to attend to," he said simply as he took a seat in the armchair beside her bed. He reached down for the towel in the wash bin beside her bed and deftly wiped her forehead with it.

"Don't," Kaoru whimpered. Kenshin shot her a confused look. She shut her eyes and whispered so softly that Kenshin had to strain to hear her.

"I want to die."

A.N. Let me know what you think. :