Hullo! and welcome to Deep Wounds Heal But Slowly by me, Shinto Sakura. I really hope you don't think I own any of the Kenshin-gumi, because if you do, you seriously have some delusion issues.

Prologue

"Sir Ken… Can you hear me? Don't move if you can help it…"

            Kenshin Himura's eyes peeled open to reveal a bright room and the slightly blurred face of Miss Megumi Takani.

            "What's hap-" His eyes came into better focus, as did a sharp pain in his side, as she silenced him with two soft fingers.

            "Please Sir Ken, I'm going to have to ask you not to speak right now, your body has just gone through a lot of trauma."

            "You got hurt pretty bad Kenshin," The emotionless voice of Sanosuke Sagara came from a dark corner, "But Megumi's just removed the bullet that brought you down…"

            "Bullet…" Kenshin tried to move and see him better.

            "Shh… look what you've done! You should be ashamed, getting him all excited in his state!" The woman doctor glared at Sanosuke's seeming lack of sensitivity before turning to smile at Kenshin, "I don't think you have anything to worry about, as long as you give yourself adequate time to heal…"

            Suddenly, the main door slammed open and a strong spring breeze blew in a few cherry blossoms from the many trees surrounding the dojo. Kaoru Kamiya could be heard steadying her breath as she hastily kicked aside her sandals and ran to the makeshift operating bed on the floor.

            "Kenshin… oh Kenshin! Are you in much pain? Miss Megumi, will he be alright?" the girl took a quick visual inventory of his wounds as her initial panic began to subdue. "Oh… I came as fast as possible, as soon as Yahiko told me!"

            "Calm down ugly… you're gonna make him worse!" Yahiko Myoujin ambled in after his teacher.

            "Miss Kaoru…"

            "Go on now, all of you!" Megumi snapped, "You're disturbing Sir Ken! He desperately needs sleep if there is to be hope for a full recovery!"

            Kenshin shut his eyes again, all the yelling was making his sore head pound worse. *I wish… I wish they would all calm down and let me think… I… I'm not even sure why I'm here…* The chatter soon began to bleed back into his thoughts.

"Really now, I think if we have to leave, you should too Miss Megumi!" Kaoru snapped back.

"Fine!" Megumi pursed her lips.

Yahiko and Sanosuke shuffled out obediently, but Kaoru waited by the door until the doctor had gathered her things. Megumi reluctantly allowed her to be the last to leave Kenshin's side.

Kaoru could not help but feel a bit proud of herself as she scurried down the dark hallway. For once, she had not allowed Megumi to push her around. Why that woman felt the need to be so cold and sarcastic around her, she had given up guessing.

            At the moment though, there were bigger questions to be answered. Fortunately, she had a pretty good idea where she could find those answers.