I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Rated T for violence and blood.

Enjoy Chapter 10!

Chapter 10

As the fever plagued Kenshin's body, his delirious mind began to wander, shifting through his memories that constantly haunted him. He had just barely managed to escape falling into that dark pit and was slowly regaining his consciousness, but only to the point where he could feel the pain that ravaged through him. Though he was trapped in a deep darkness, he was still vaguely aware of the fact that the strength in his body was slowly fading. He was struggling just to maintain his beating heart. It was so hard…so painful to continue in this manner, but he had to. Why? He couldn't remember. The reason meant the whole world to him, but why couldn't he suddenly remember?

Panic filled his heart as he felt some dark hand grab him. Kenshin felt fear like no other as he struggled harshly against the hand. This only caused more pain in his body. Then, he couldn't move. Something was holding him down, preventing him from escaping that hand. He wanted to yell or do something to run away, but he couldn't do anything. He had no voice and no strength to raise his sakabatou against his invisible adversary. It was a hopeless battle – one that Kenshin was losing.

The hand didn't hesitate. As soon as Kenshin stopped struggling, it dragged him back down in the endless pit of his nightmares.

"Sanosuke, you can go rest now," said Kaoru as she entered Kenshin's room. To her surprise, Sanosuke wasn't sitting next to Kenshin as she thought he would be. Instead, he was hovering over his friend, holding him down as a spasm attacked Kenshin's body.

"What's wrong with him?" demanded Yahiko, peeking around Kaoru's stiff body.

"I don't know," Sanosuke hissed, "He was motionless until a second ago, and I didn't even touch him! I think the fever is finally affecting his head, but whatever it is, flailing around definitely won't help him any."

Then, as suddenly as his most recent attack, Kenshin became as still as a statue. The only sign that he was still alive was the pain that was written all over his face. Sanosuke frowned as he pulled away from his friend, staring at him. He was sweating harder than before and his breathing had grown shallower. His normally pale face paled further, contrasting deeply with his fiery red hair.

"Kenshin…" he murmured, his concern increasing ten-fold.

A slender hand rested on his shoulder, "Go get some sleep, Sanosuke. Yahiko and I will take care of him from now on," said Kaoru, gently.

Dumbly, Sanosuke nodded and stood up, quickly leaving the room, casting one last look at his fallen friend before heading back to his own room.

As soon as he was out of that tense place, his worry was overshadowed by anger and irritation at his friend.

"Damn it, Kenshin!" swore Sanosuke, punching the nearest wall in aggravation, "If you die, I swear I'll drag you back from hell and beat you right back!"

Jou-chan, Vixen, and Yahiko still need you. I need you. You can't go anywhere yet, Kenshin. I didn't say you could! he thought as he remembered Kenshin's promise that he "wouldn't leave without his say so," but here he was, breaking that promise one more time.

"Yahiko, put another wet cloth on his forehead," commanded Kaoru as she gently wiped away the sweat on Kenshin's body.

Yahiko obeyed without a comment. It seemed like he was shocked at how badly Kenshin looked, his pale face showing more pain than he had ever seen before. Kaoru, on the other hand, had somehow managed to compose herself in front of the man that she had grown to love. Her heart felt as though something was clenching it tightly, but she ignored it, sealing away her worry for another time.

Tears and worry wouldn't help Kenshin now. Just comfort and a strong heart will help, and that was what Kaoru was planning to give him.

Kenshin found himself wandering around a place that seemed familiar, but still mysterious to him. The ground was covered in human skulls and bones that seemed to go on for miles. The sky was a bleak darkness that showed no signs of sunlight coming through. It was entirely empty – void of any life whatsoever.

He looked down upon himself, still confused. His hands were covered in dark blood and he had two swords at his waist. The dark clothes he wore were blood-splattered and tattered. Everything just somehow clicked then.

Ah…so I'm back in hell once again, he thought, Am I dreaming again?

"If you're dreaming, would you be able to feel pain, Battousai?" came a familiar voice, one that Kenshin hoped to never hear again.

Kenshin slowly turned around to see Makoto Shishio grinning at him beneath those layers of bandages that covered his hideous burned face. "Shishio…"

Suddenly, Kenshin was acutely aware of a burning pain in his chest. His hand shot up to clench at his clothes.

Shishio grinned, "It's not a dream, is it, Battousai? You're not supposed to feel physical pain in dreams. Tell me, are you dying? I can feel your spirit here growing stronger and stronger. That could only mean that your spirit in the other world is failing."

"No…" he gasped as it grew harder for him to breath. "I have to return. I can't stay here…"

"Why? You belong here, Battousai. You know you do. Keep me company, Battousai, as everyone you have ever killed tears you apart!" Shishio cackled.

"They're waiting…for me…Not yet…I can't come here yet…"

"Who is waiting for you? You can't even remember their names."

"That's…" Kenshin struggled with his swirling thoughts and fading vision. He sank to the ground, his chest heaving with the effort to fill with air.

Shishio bent down so that he was at eye-level with the swordsman. "Give up, Battousai. You belong here. You will come here."

"No…" he whispered, but his whisper was lost in the abyss. Shishio had disappeared, leaving him alone in the darkness.

Something was wrong. Kaoru could feel it. Kenshin's heartbeat had suddenly slowed and his breathing seemed to have stopped altogether. No…was he giving up already?

"Yahiko! Go call Megumi-chan, now!" she exclaimed, bending over her love.

Yahiko took one look at the tears threatening to overflow his master's eyes and ran to Megumi's room as though his life depended on it.

Within seconds, Megumi, Yahiko, Misao, and Sanosuke crowded around Kenshin's still form. Megumi shoved Kaoru and everyone to a side as she started to do emergency CPR. Kaoru was too frightened for Kenshin's life to care that Megumi was having lip contact with Kenshin.

Megumi worked furiously. She could feel Kenshin's heartbeat fading away until it suddenly stopped completely. Tears filled her eyes as she continued to press down on Kenshin's chest in an attempt to start his heart again.

"Ken-san, don't do this to me. Breath, damn it, breath!" she almost screamed.

Sanosuke's eyes widened in shock as he realized what had happened. There was no way…There was no way someone of Kenshin's caliber would have been defeated with just a some torture…There was no way…

Yahiko felt the same as Sanosuke. It was a joke, right? The fact that the man he looked up to the most lay dying in front of his eyes. There was no way this could be happening…could it?

Misao could only cry as she felt her dear friend slip away from this world. There were no thoughts. Only sorrow…

Kaoru fell to here knees, her hands cupped over her mouth as tears fell like a waterfall. How could something like this happen? Kenshin was getting better, wasn't he? What happened? How did he suddenly turn out like this?

Don't leave me, Kenshin! Don't leave me alone! she cried in her mind, stifling the sob that threatened to erupt. Don't do this to me!

She watched on in horror as Megumi continued to press down on Kenshin's chest. She could tell that he wasn't breathing anymore and his heartbeat had faded away.

"No…" she cried, "No!"

She threw her entire soul into a scream that echoed around the dark room, "KENSHIN!!!", but no matter how many times she screamed his name, there was no answer from her love.

Kenshin suddenly felt another presence approaching him: a familiar and gentle presence.

Delicate and pale hands surrounded his cheeks, brushing gently against the cross-shaped scar upon his face.

Kenshin's eyes softened at the sight of the pale, beautiful woman with long black hair tied back with a blue ribbon. Her white kimono with blue shawl was a comforting sight indeed, especially since it wasn't blood-stained, like him.

"Tomoe…" he breathed, his chest hurting to the point where he was barely staying conscious. The only thing keeping him there was the smell of hakubaiko that seemed to fill the entire air with a pleasant, nostalgic feel.

"Kenshin, what are you doing here?" she asked, "You don't belong here. Go home, back to your most precious person."

"I belong here…I killed so many people…"

"And you saved so many others! This time, you need to save yourself. Fight this, my love. If you don't, your precious person will be sad. You know what it feels like to be left behind. Don't do this to her. Go back."

"It hurts, Tomoe," whimpered Kenshin.

"I know it does, love, but it'll hurt more if you don't return," she said softly.

A sudden bell sound echoed around Hell. Tomoe looked up at the parting clouds. "Look," she smiled, "They're calling for you. You need to answer them."

"I don't want to leave you, Tomoe…not when I've finally found you again…" Kenshin protested.

Her smile grew gentler, "My beloved, as long as you are happy, I will be too. You will be happy with her, Kenshin. She's calling for you. Return to her, my love. They're waiting for you."

The pain seemed to dull as she spoke, and Kenshin could feel a pull on his soul once more. This time, he didn't resist. He could feel deep in his heart that whatever had captured him this time was something that he loved and did not want to be parted from. His eyes closed as he let himself be drawn back to where his heart belonged.

His last words in that world, was, "Goodbye, Tomoe, and thank you."

What do you think? Sorry it took so long. I completely ran out of ideas and couldn't write. Many thanks to those who reviewed, giving me more motivation to continue writing!

The story's about to come to an end, so be sure to review more!

Hope you enjoyed Chapter 10! Chapter 11 and Epilogue coming up soon! Remember to review review!!! ^.^

~chibichan38