A/N- Sorry! I meant to update sooner but I had exams two weeks ago and they were just brutal. Thanks to PrettyChelsea, FrenchieLeigh and Strong D for reviews! You guys are great.

Would it be awkward to ask you not to expect too much of this chapter?

Warnings- Swearing, unnoticed spelling mistakes and disappointment.

Kaoru POV

Hospitals were always bad news. Just think about it, even if the person whom you were visiting was alive, another even three rooms away could be fighting the reaper. I was a bit of a selfish friend and tended to avoid going. Instead I usually sent someone else in my stead with a six pack of beer. When I had no idea who we were even visiting it freaked me out even more.

"Seriously Sano! Tell me who we're visiting!" I scream-whispered. Sano put his hand over my mouth in an attempt to shush me. I just slapped it aside. "God no-it was Yahiko wasn't it? That stupid kid got in an accident. He wasn't wearing his helmet. Was he? Dammit. Always playing around on that stupid motorcycle. He called you first probably…"

I rambled on, unaware that I was being pulled swiftly through the hospital.

"Shhhhh its okay." Sano whispered in a soothing way. "Kaoru he's fine- he's okay."

I didn't understand how he could weave through the halls this quickly, like this wasn't the first time.

Has this fucker already been here before? Don't tell me he's been here before?

Everyone kept their own secrets and I understood that well. But if this had something to do with my little brother that it was understood that the rule was nullified. It must of been my feminine intuition, but the gears in my head wouldn't stop turning.

Yahiko, being the spineless twerp he was; must of called Sano instead. That's who he was on the phone with! That was why he was so distracted! When I got my hands on him- and Sano! I chuckled a little thinking about all the shit that he was going to get from me. He would never see it coming.

Quick as a flash, as if those fourteen minutes of anxiety never occurred we stopped walking. Second floor, room twenty two-B.

Before I could open the door Sano grabbed my wrist."Please don't start yelling." How could I not yell at Yahiko from telling Sano to keep this from me?"He still has stitches and nurses want to keep the excitement level low." Sano begged.

"Stitches!" I shrieked. "He has stitches!" I was only a pitch shy from hysterical. "He's got plenty to be excited about!" Now I had certainly reached that classification.

I couldn't wait any longer and yanked the last barrier down.

A shock of red hair and a familiar squinty eyed bastard in the corner. It didn't dawn on me that-

"Kenshin. Kenshin. Kenshin."

–I was the one so pitifully calling his name. I took a few steps and stopped. My hands were over my mouth trying to stop the gasps. This world was swimming in tears. The cornerstone that I had lost and replaced was in front of me. Well replaced would be a laughable description. More like a completely different rock crudely shoved into the gap before collapse could commence.

And like a fool in love I ran away because I couldn't bear to see the truth.

Later that evening I arrived at Misao's apartment with two suitcases; the large one with clothing and essentials and the smaller one with memories.

It didn't take much more than a look to see who I was and a second to notice the red face and watery eyes; for Misao to wordlessly let me in.

Saito POV

"Don't feel bad Kenshin. I bet it was just the shock of seeing you so unannounced. I bet she'll come back to chew you out soon enough."

"You mean you didn't bother to tell her." Was the flat reply. Even Kenshin sounded a bit put out by Sano.

This was torture; watching a kicked dog licking the wound of another snarling one. Despite my pains of telling the urchin to take the first step; he continued to throw away perfectly good advice.

Of course Kenshin was no better. The idiot was determined to become a martyr and this whole fiasco could have been avoided had he just listened to me and placed her in protective custody.

Honestly Kaoru deserved better than these asses. Those two twits could keep each other company.

"Urchin head. I trust you to look after Smokey here."

Before the twit could protest I sent a scathing glare.

"The dangers have faded considerably since Yumi has fled to China and I'm tired of babysitting. I miss my Tokio." I really shouldn't of but it was hard to resist kicking the dog. "Besides, I'm pretty sure she made it clear, but Kaoru won't want to see you tonight."

And my job was done. It was far more entertainment to be the sadistic bastard than the sympathetic friend and both angles got the message across. Honestly there were only so many chances you could give before your patience wore thin and trust was worth jack shit.

If you've had the patience to read up to chapter 10 of this fanfic then I'm certain you have the patience to leave a review. I'm sorry if this comes off bitchy but its supposed to.