Rating: PG

Warnings:

- Some parts are manga-ish, but the characters are mostly based on the live action movies. More mature.

- Umm…another character appears.

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Notes:

- kokoronagomu: Thank you for your detailed reviews. And it's also because of you, this is the first time for me having more than 100 reviews outside my previous fandom *smile* I'm not Nobuhiro-sensei so my Kenshin and Kaoru are definitely different from his version. It's fanfiction after all. As for Saito, this is your call.

- Thank you so much for the reviews, alerts, and faves *big hugs to you all* Thank you also to my silent readers. Your support means so much to this one. And, happy weekend, minna-san :)

Beta: orchid14

Chapter 13

Kaoru didn't feel the pain. She felt her body became lighter and as she was being held by strong arms. Her breathing was shallow.

"Kaoru…no…please…not again…"

Kaoru looked up and saw Kenshin hold her. He looked at her with pain in his eyes and she smiled.

He is safe. It's all that matters.

Kenshin's eyes watered and the memory of holding another woman in the same position flashed in his mind. But this time it was more painful.

"Kaoru…why? You shouldn't have done this," Kenshin said with a raw voice.

Kaoru raised her bloody hand and stroked Kenshin's scarred cheek, her blood made a mark, but the man didn't seem to care. "I guess…love makes you do…stupid things, ne?"

"Please, Kaoru…no joking." Kenshin glanced over to Kaoru's shoulder. The blood smeared the white gi and his heart clenched painfully. He had seen Kaoru bleeding, pinned on the dojo wall, but it was a doll. He had thought he lost Kaoru once, Kenshin didn't know how he could survive if he truly lost her forever. This time it was the real Kaoru, shedding her blood for him.

"Kenshin, look…at me. You…hate blood, ne? Don't…look at it. Please, look…at me," Kaoru whispered, and the redhead swordsman raised his head and his eyes made Kaoru want to hug him. "I remember…Megumi-san asked me…if I can do what…Tomoe-san did, sacrificing…" Kaoru tried very hard to speak and Kenshin unconsciously held her tighter. "Sacrificing…my life for…you. I guess…I already did."

"No! Kaoru! Stay with me! You are not her! I won't let you have the same fate as her. Kaoru!"

Kaoru's eyes fluttered close. "I love you…Kenshin." And her hand turned limp.

Kenshin's eyes widened. "Kaoru! Kaoru!" He shook the girl's body frantically until a hand stopped him. Kenshin looked up and saw Yosuke with Dr. Naruse stood next to him.

"Himura-san, let the doctor tend to Kaoru. I, too, won't allow her to leave us like that. Not after what she has done for the sake of this dojo," Yosuke told Kenshin and the redhead reluctantly nodded. "Besides, it is over now. The local officers are here. Finally."

Yosuke gestured the doctor and Kenshin to a room. Kenshin stood up and began carrying his love in his arms. He could feel Kaoru was slipping away from, but he would never give up.

Kenshin lay Kaoru on the futon and stepped backwards to allow the doctor some space to work. He clenched his fists when he saw the doctor tore the gi opened. The dark side of him fought to surface, wishing to strangle the man who dared to touch his woman, but Kenshin calmed himself in the end. He knew the doctor was his only hope. Kenshin stared at the man who tried to keep his beloved alive, and Kaoru who struggled to hold onto life. He couldn't just watch after the woman almost lost her life in exchange for his. And, he still wanted to hear Kaoru's answer to his proposal of marriage.

"If we survive this, I will consider your proposal."

"Only consider?"

"It will probably a yes."

Kenshin stepped forward and pushed aside his hate for blood.

"Let me help."

x

Kaoru blinked and realized her surroundings as the riverbank, the familiar path to her Dojo in Tokyo. But, it was so quiet and peaceful, and foggy. Kaoru furrowed her eyebrows. The last thing she remembered was being stabbed by a sword and now she was here…? Kaoru looked down to her clothes and she wore her favorite kimono, dark blue with pink flowers. She took a deep breath and started to walk to the gate of her dojo.

It's good to be home.

The sound of footsteps echoed and Kaoru stopped, sharpening her eyes. The fog seemed to clear a little and a woman figure appeared. She was slightly taller than her with dark hair, and her dark eyes stared blankly. Her clothes made Kaoru shivered. It was a white kimono which dead people wore. Does it mean she is…dead?

"You're not dead. Not yet."

The woman said and stopped a few steps in front of her. Kaoru could see her clearly. However the woman's face seemed familiar.

"You're not supposed to be here, Kaoru-san."

Kaoru tilted her head. "Who are you? You look familiar."

The woman smiled a little, and the smile almost reached her eyes. "I'm sure you know me, at least from the stories told by Enishi or your beloved."

Kaoru froze and slowly she could solve the puzzle.

Enishi…

The woman's face…

Tomoe.

Tomoe smiled again. "You should go back. He needs you."

Kaoru's face became stoic. "He needs me, but not in the way I hope he would."

"You are wrong. He loves you."

"He still has you in his heart."

"Not as much as what he has for you."

Kaoru only stared at Tomoe.

"I know he feels guilty of my death. He didn't know I was already dead inside the day he killed Akira. Our relationship was wrong from the start. I couldn't give him all the love I had." Tomoe said quietly, "Unlike you."

Kaoru didn't say anything. Tomoe turned to look at the river.

"In return, I also feel guilty about him. I've been watching him and all along I wished he could find happiness, one that I couldn't give to him. And I know my wish came true the moment he met you."

Kaoru lowered her gaze.

"And, the day when he said goodbye, I knew I was no longer a part of his heart."

Kaoru raised her head again. "You still love him?"

Tomoe smiled and stared at Kaoru's face. "I do, but I'm not the one for him." She slowly approached Kaoru and held her hands. Kaoru expected to hold cold hands, but they were warm instead.

"You have to go back. I might be able to pull him back when he thought you were dead before, but this time I don't think I can if you continue to stay here."

Kaoru blinked owlishly.

"You will have a long journey ahead with him," Tomoe said wistfully. "You will give him everything I can't give before."

Kaoru smiled coyly. "Are you coming here to prevent my death?"

Tomoe laughed in low voice. "You could say that." She looked over her shoulder to the dojo and back to Kaoru. "If you go there, he will lose you forever. He will never be happy."

"What about you? Are you happy?" Honestly, Kaoru didn't know where that was come from.

Tomoe's eyes turned soft. "Yes, now that both of you are. But, I still have to find my way to the eternity. I can do it without any burdens now."

"You helped me on Enishi's memories. You kept me safe."

"It's the least I can do for both of you, and for my brother."

Kaoru blinked. "Is Enishi alright now?"

Tomoe's eyes widened a little. She knew Kaoru has a kind heart, but her empathy for Enishi who had kidnapped her made Tomoe hold respect for the young woman. "He will be. Eventually. Thank you for giving my diary to him."

Kaoru lowered her head again. "It's for his own good, and also Kenshin's. They both have your memory in their hearts. I just wanted to make everything right."

Tomoe stood motionless. Kaoru astonished her. She was sure Kaoru was everything Kenshin needed, more than she could ever been even if she was still alive. And, she turned Kaoru's body to the opposite direction and the fog, again, cleared, showing a path. "You're wasting your time here. Now go. And be happy."

Kaoru stared at Tomoe's face and smiled her real smile. "Thank you, Tomoe-san."

Tomoe smiled back and could only nod.

Kaoru turned her head back to the road and took a deep breath. She slowly took her steps and then, she remembered something. She turned and saw Tomoe's figure slightly disappear into the fog.

"We will visit you every Obon."

Kaoru could feel Tomoe's slight smile. "Thank you," she answered.

Kaoru smiled to herself and turned again. This time, she was half-running. She couldn't wait to see Kenshin.

Tomoe watched Kaoru's retreating figure.

"Be happy, my second love. And now, I can let you go."

x

Kaoru could feel the pain and a lot of happy voices around her. A hand held hers and someone caressed her forehead, smoothing her hair.

She opened her eyes, her vision blurry, but a red hair caught her sight before she closed her eyes again. In between her unconsciousness, a soft voice of a man was heard and Kaoru knew she made the right decision to come back.

"Kami, thank you for bringing her back to me."

x

Kaoru's brief consciousness didn't mean she was safe from death. The doctor along with Kenshin constantly kept their eyes on her. Kenshin reluctantly left Kaoru's side when Yosuke asked him to clean himself from the blood.

Kaoru's blood.

Kaoru was in and out between her sleeping and awaken state. She was still delirious over the medicine effect and Kenshin decided to stay at her room until she was better. Yosuke didn't make any comments over that, especially after his talk with Kenshin earlier.

"I have a request, Fujiya-san," Kenshin spoke in a soft voice to Yosuke in the master's room, head bowed, when he left Kaoru under Dr. Naruse's care. He already changed to a clean gi and hakama.

Yosuke watched the man in front of him. He had seen Kenshin fight, a very good warrior he was, but now he looked like he had just been defeated by his worst enemy. His eyes showed deep sadness. Even the strongest warrior could feel that way when someone he loved was between life and death.

"Just name it. I promise to make it happen."

Kenshin raised his head and stared at Yosuke's eyes with full determination. "I wish to stay with Kaoru-dono in her room until she gets better. She had done the same thing for me several times whenever I got wounded from my battles and now I want to do the same thing for her. And…to ask for your permission to court her. Kaoru-dono lost his father and she-"

Yosuke raised his hand. Kenshin understood the signal and stopped talking.

"I understand. You don't need to say more," Yosuke lowered his hand. "Your arrival to my home is a very clear way to show everyone here, including me, that you are her suitor. I suppose you will ask for her hand in marriage?"

Kenshin nodded sharply. "Yes. That is my intention."

Yosuke nodded in satisfaction and smiled a little. "Then, you have my permission. I'm sure you are the one that Kaoru needs right now."

Kenshin felt relief and then bowed low to Yosuke. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Fujiya-san. I appreciated it."

Kobayashi's attack to Fujiya Dojo alerted the local officers and Kenshin sent news to Saito through them for taking care the aftermath. The former Wolf of Mibu came to the dojo in short time and Yosuke stared in awe when he saw Saito. He probably never thought Kenshin could have connection with the police officers or the government officials.

Yosuke began fixing his dojo with the help of his students. Some local officers were also helping him, as 'punishment' from neglecting Kobayashi's bully for months, courtesy of Saito. Kenshin didn't pay much attention to that for his focus was entirely on Kaoru.

At night, Kenshin sat next to Kaoru's futon, his sakabatou on his right shoulder, watching Kaoru sleeping. Sometimes he glanced at the white bandage on Kaoru's right shoulder. At least Kaoru could still hold a bokken, even though it would take time. He frowned when he remembered the blood and how the girl asked him to look into her eyes. In her wounded state, Kaoru still thought about his well-being.

Kenshin wanted to move forward. After several days with Kaoru in this dojo, though she didn't say she loved him-minus before she passed out-, he knew Kaoru loved him. He admitted he wanted to be happy, to feel loved, without the shadow of doubt, distrust, or betrayal. For a man like him who took away so much happiness from others, he was allowed to feel one. It was the most precious gift he had ever been given. Kenshin silently wished over and over again he would not waste anymore time to make Kaoru his when she recovered. With or without her answer, he would wed her. His darker side nodded in satisfaction over his decision.

His heart felt with love for the girl who lay next to him and he scooted closer. Kenshin brushed away Kaoru's hair and gently leaned down to kiss her forehead. He leaned their foreheads and closed his eyes. The faint scent of jasmine reminded him Kaoru was with him and he would never her go.

Kaoru stirred and Kenshin pulled away. He watched the girl slowly opened her eyes.

"Kenshin?"

Kenshin smiled. "How do you feel, Kaoru?"

Kaoru blinked and a faint smile tugged on her lips. "My shoulder is sore."

He had to chuckle over that. "It will be like that for a while, that it will."

Kaoru sighed and her eyes closed. "I'm still tired."

Kenshin caressed Kaoru's hair. "Go to sleep, koishii. I'll be here."

Kaoru slowly opened her eyes again and raised her free hand. "Stay with me, please."

Kenshin eyed Kaoru's hand and smiled. He took his sakabatou and moved to Kaoru's left side. He held Kaoru's hand after putting the sword next to the futon and opened the blanket to lie down next to the girl. Kaoru leaned her head on Kenshin's shoulder and fell asleep again. Kenshin closed his eyes and wrapped his right arm to Kaoru's body, careful not to touch the bandage. His left hand instinctively touched the sakabatou in case someone was daring enough to barge on them and caused trouble.

Since Enishi's Jinchuu, this was the first time Himura Kenshin lay on a futon.