Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin

Chapter 11

She woke up feeling the warmth of the sun against her skin. She stretched out her stiffed neck and numb body.

Suddenly, somebody was pounding on her door, chasing her peaceful morning away.

"What!" She shouted. Feeling so annoyed.

"Hey, Kaoru Kamiya... Didn't I warned you that if you don't call me back I'm gonna pound on your door." As she heard the voice, she shuts her eyes tightly.

How the hell she would get away from this cursed life of hers. There really is no way of escaping this, does it? She sighed heavily in resignation. "Then let's face it, Kaoru. You can do it! It all be over before you knew it. In a month or two, they'll be gone...forever. I wish."

"Okay, I'll be right out there in a minute." She shouted back as she walks into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. Then she combed her hair and tied it to a high ponytail. She didn't bother to change her outfit, faded blue pajama, and oversize tattered white shirt.

She was about to open the door when a brilliant idea strikes her pounding head. She reached for her phone and dialed Misao and Megumi's number. After talking to each one of them, she bolted out of her bedroom door.

Her visitors looked up as they heard her door opened. She froze in shocked when she saw who was with Tomoe. She felt her face drained of blood. What the hell is he doing here?! Her mind asked frantically.

"You're sick?" Tomoe walked up to her side and anxiously feel her forehead.

"Oh, I'm okay... don't worry." She smiled weakly. Oh, God... please let Megumi and Misao get here as fast as they can.

Tomoe lead her to the sofa adjacent to Kenshin who was eyeing her with utmost... concern? Really?! That could not be.

"Yahiko just left..." Tomoe informed her. "Let me take a look in the kitchen if he left some breakfast so you can eat. Maybe you're just hungry. Wait here, ok?"

"No... Wait! I'll help you."

"No, please don't, Kao...and you knew exactly why..." Tomoe smiled teasingly. "Hon, look after her for a while please." Then she turned and walked into the kitchen.

Kenshin sits still while Kaoru fidgets. Both desperately looking away from each other.

Is she really sick? Kenshin peeks at the woman almost next to him. Kaoru was busy looking at her tapping feet. She's wearing blue bunny slippers which made him smile involuntarily. His eyes slowly wandered at her bare face which he thought was slightly damp. How come she still looks young and innocent after all these years?

Anyway, she really looked sick when she came down earlier but now with those blushing pink appeared on her cheeks? He would like to change his judgment.

Is he looking at me? My God, why the hell did I choose not to change clothes? Not even wore some lip balm for my chapped lips, Tsk! I really don't have any idea that he would come here... with her. What a nerve! Oh, wait. Does he really look at me? She suddenly felt hot. Oh, damn... Did she just blush? This can't be! She then looked up only to found out her instinct was true.

"What?!" She blurted out in a harsh tone.

Kenshin almost jumps in surprise. Oh, crap! A sweat formed on his forehead.

"What?" She repeated irritation in her voice.

He didn't know what to say... he looked down. Making his mind up on what to do next. It's safe if he would just leave her alone and follow Tomoe in the kitchen but somehow...he doesn't want to. Instead, he looks at her straight in the eye and before he could stop himself from asking ..."Are you really sick?"

She was stunned. She did not expect that question... especially from him... "Errr..." She stuttered and looked down. "So what... as if you care," she muttered. She felt a pang of pain in her heart.

He clearly told her that he did not love her anymore. Of course, that means he doesn't care about her, too. So, what the hell was his problem for asking her a question like that? She felt her eyes starting to get wet. Oh no... alarmed she instantly wipe it with the back of her hand.

"Kaoru..." He called, his voice filled with worries.

She looked up upon hearing her name through his lips. She hated how much it affected her... it felt so good but hurt as hell as well.

"Don't ever talk to me that way again as if we're friends! Cause like US, our friendship was long way over. And you know what, I don't want you to even call me by name." Then she stormed out of the living room, into her bedroom.

That's when the doorbell rang.

This made Kenshin snapped back to reality. He slowly got up and opened the door.

Its Misao and Megumi.

They both froze at the sight of him. After a moment, their expressions changed, Misao worried eyes wandered around to find Kaoru while Megumi gave him a scrutinizing look which made him so uneasy. Thanks to Tomoe perfect timing on emerging from the kitchen.

"Oh, you came just right in time! I just finished preparing breakfast." She said smiling brightly at Misao and Megumi. "Where's Kaoru, Kenshin?"

"Erm. She went into her bedroom."

"Oh, maybe she still feeling dizzy or something...I'll go and check on her... maybe she'll want her breakfast in bed -"

"No, I'll do that..." Misao cut her in. Without looking back, she darted straight into Kaoru's room.

After almost half an hour, Misao came down from Kaoru's room. Telling them that Kaoru was so sick to get down and she was sorry could not assist them in their wedding preparations. Since she was newlywed and this wedding preparation was still fresh on her mind, she volunteered to help them instead.

But in fact, Misao just wanted to help Kaoru escape the torture that might eventually kill her friend's already battered, heart.

Thank God, Tomoe nodded in agreement for her good offer. No more question asked.

"Hey, Kao! It's me... It's been a month. The wedding preparations have been going on smoothly. Thanks to your friend, Misao. I'm sorry to say this. But I think if it's you and me, it will not be this easy. Believe it or not, wedding preparations are rather complicated. Are you still busy? When are you going spare some time for me anyway? Please call back." toot... toot...

She sighed heavily as she pressed next button on her answering machine.

"Kao, love... how are you? I'm sorry I wasn't able to visit you lately. I've been dead tired since I've been helping your friend Tomoe. But it's okay as long as you know that I'm doing it for you. See you soon, my dear friend. Please don't try killing yourself by drowning to work or I'll kill you myself." She smiled at that. Oh, Misao...I need a hug. She thought.

She then sank down on her bed, burying her face in her pillow. Not wanting to feel and think anymore. She was so tired, so damned tired...

Her body's already worn from working all day, seven days a week in a month. Her brain's pounding from trying hard not to think how cursed her life is. But what's really exhausting her...is the heart that never stops aching, time after time.

She wanted everything to end soon so that her life can return to its normal state.

If Kenshin's gonna marry someone...she could get over it...over time... some way...somehow...and it will be a lot of help if he will not going to show his face in front of her anymore, not ever again.