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Disclaimer: Don't own Kenshin & Co. They belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki (did I spell that right?) and Sony and other people.

Tears of Sorrow

Chapter 2: The Night Dreams Ended

Kenshin looked at Kaoru again. She was sitting with a book in her lap, looking at the pages, but he could tell she wasn't actually reading. Her eyes weren't moving and they weren't focused on anything.

"Kaoru-dono?"

Kaoru jumped a little and looked over at Kenshin. "Yes?"

He gave her a concerned gaze and smiled slightly at her. "If something is wrong, you would tell me right?"

She didn't want to lie, but she didn't want to involve others in her grief. She had endured over the years on her own and she would continue to do so. "I'm just remembering the past, Kenshin. Don't worry. I'm fine. Nothing I haven't handled before!" She gave him a small reassuring smile and closed the book. She let her head fall back against the wall she was sitting against and closed her eyes.

Kenshin glanced at her one last time before getting up to prepare dinner.

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Yahiko ran as fast as his legs would carry him to Megumi and Dr. Genzai's clinic. He rounded the last corner and ran straight into what felt like a brick wall. Standing up and rubbing his poor tail end, he got ready to spit out an angry exclamation when a familiar voice greeted him. "Well, if it isn't Yahiko-CHAN!"

"Sano, I don't have time for this. Kaoru is having some sort of problem that Tae won't tell me about and I'm worried. Tae told me to ask you, Megumi and Dr. Genzai to stay over at the dojo tonight." Yahiko looked up at the ex-gangster with such maturity that Sano forgot he was a kid for a second.

Sanosuke rubbed the back of his head. "Sure, I'll stay over. What's up with Jouchan?"

"Like I said, Tae won't tell me, but she said she knows what's bothering her. I'll tell you the rest with Megumi and Dr. Genzai."

The two entered the clinic to find it empty. Yahiko heaved a sigh of relief and called out, "Megumi! Dr. Genzai! I need to speak with you, please!"

Both doctors emerged from an office. Dr. Genzai greeted them happily. "Oh, Sanosuke and Yahiko! Come on into the office. What brings you here?" He motioned for them to sit and they did so silently.

Yahiko spoke first. "I need to talk to both of you. Kaoru has locked herself in the room at the end of the hall today. You know, the one no one can enter except for her? Anyway, she won't come out, she won't talk to anyone and I'm worried about her. Tae

won't tell me what's going on and just said I needed to surround her with friends and be extra nice to her."

Dr. Genzai looked puzzled and then it hit him. "Oh my goodness. How could I have forgotten about today?"

Megumi piped in. "OHOHOHOHO! I'll just have to go over and take this opportunity to show Ken-san that Kaoru is just a child who pouts in her room all day."

Dr. Genzai practically yelled, causing the other three to whip their heads to him. "YOU MOST CERTAINLY WILL NOT! IF YOU DARE, I WILL FIRE YOU FROM MY CLINIC! IS THAT UNDERSTOOD?!"

Megumi looked ready to burst into tears herself, but kept her composure. Dr. Genzai took a deep breath and began again. "Kaoru-chan has not had an easy life as you all know by now. Today is a day she remembers with a heavy heart. She truly needs support. So much was taken from her six years ago today. And tomorrow is the three year anniversary of another tragedy."

They all nodded and Dr. Genzai stood. "We will close the clinic early and head over to the dojo in a few moments. You two go on ahead."

Yahiko and Sano nodded and took off.

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Kaoru swung the bokken down again. Harder and harder, she would swing. Practicing was a more productive outlet than wallowing in self-pity. She finally swung one final time with an ear-piercing scream and with all her might. The force made her spin around and she stumbled into a wall and slid down, finally crying the tears she couldn't earlier.

Kenshin came running into the dojo with Sano and Yahiko behind him. Kenshin saw her sitting there and his heart felt like it would burst from his chest. She had her head down, her shoulders were shaking with sobs and she sounded like she couldn't breathe, she was crying so hard. "Kaoru-dono?"

She began to hyperventilate while trying to speak between sobs. "Ken…Kenshin…
I'm…I mean…my…parents…I…"

Kenshin silenced her with a gentle voice. "Shh. It's okay, Kaoru." He wrapped her up in a hug and sat her on his lap, rocking her while she cried. "Please calm down, Kaoru. You need to breathe." He continued to rock her until Dr. Genzai knelt down beside them.

"Kaoru-chan, you need to calm down. Slow down and take deep breaths." He patted her hand while she struggled to get her breathing under control.

Megumi realized now how evil she had been earlier. Certainly whatever problem Kaoru was having, it was a major one. She had never seen her cry like this, so broken and forceful. Kaoru was usually strong and independent, but right now she was a frightened young woman who needed her friends' help.

She had finally calmed enough to speak. "I'm sorry, everyone." She gave a sad, watery giggle. "Poor little Kaoru, crying over things that transpired years ago. I'm really sorry to worry you all like this."

Dr. Genzai shook a finger at her. "You should know that what worries them is that you won't talk about it. I understand it's painful, but these people are your friends and won't shun you for things you had no control over."

A moment of shame passed Kaoru's face and Kenshin suddenly was angry. If his worst suspicions were true, he would hunt them down and make them pay. He quickly changed his thoughts to happier ones, not wanting to upset Kaoru further. "Kaoru-dono, you can talk to us. Like I told you earlier." Kaoru nodded reluctantly and rose from his lap.

"I'm fine, really. You all are worried over nothing." She waved a dismissive hand and tried to smile. "Sometimes girls just need a good cry. Right, Megumi?"

Megumi nodded at her, trying to be supportive. Her doctor's instincts took over and she quickly added, "A small cry maybe, but a breakdown like that means something, Kaoru."

Kaoru turned on her heel and left the training hall without saying another word.

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Dinner was relatively silent that night. Kaoru didn't eat much, just stared at her food. It began to waver behind the tears in her eyes and she began to cry again. It was more silent than before, but still noticeable.

Kenshin set his chopsticks down and shot a questioning glance to Dr. Genzai. The old doctor just moved to Kaoru's side and patted her hand, while Kenshin repeated his earlier actions. "Kaoru-dono, please tell us what is bothering you."

The desperation and fear in his voice made Kaoru relent. "All right. I'll tell you. Six years ago today, my mother passed on. She was the most amazing person I've ever met. Beautiful and graceful, the perfect wife. But, she had this fiery spirit and determination. She was brave and strong, standing up for those weaker than she was. She practiced swordsmanship with my father in private, but in public she was demure and reserved. I wanted to learn so much from her, but I was young enough that she hadn't started to teach me much. I had learned to sew, clean house and the manners expected of a woman. But I never learned to cook, play a musical instrument, ikebana, so many other things we're expected to know." She began to cry again and Dr. Genzai continued for her.

"Kaoru-chan's mother died of cholera. There was nothing I could do." He looked back to Kaoru. "You should tell them about tomorrow, Kaoru-chan."

A look of terror passed her face. Her skin went white, her eyes wide and fear-stricken focused on the floor. All in a rush, "Myfatherdiedthreeyearsago! That's all that happened." She ran from the room crying full force. She threw open her shoji and slammed it, rattling the whole house.

Dr. Genzai looked at the rest. "Perhaps, I should tell you about her father's death. That day Kaoru wanted to kill herself, but I didn't let her." He paused and took a shaky breath.

Sano looked at the old doctor. "If it's that hard to talk about, maybe you should let Jouchan tell us when she's ready."

Dr. Genzai nodded and rose from the table. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve. "I'll be heading to bed now. Everyone, don't let Kaoru be alone tomorrow. Take turns spending time with her." He left the room and turned back to look at Kenshin. "I need YOU especially to be with her. She feels closest to you." Kenshin nodded and Dr. Genzai

left the room.

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A/N: I have NOT read the manga. So, any timeline inconsistencies, I'm very sorry. I would love to read it, but I can't read Japanese and I can't find a good manga translation web site. If anybody has a suggestion, I'd love to know where I could read it! Anyway, hope you liked and I'll try to post chapter 3 sooner than I posted chapter 2! Please review!