DISCLAIMER: Rurouni Kenshin and Rurouni Kenshin characters are exclusively owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Sony Entertainment, Jump Comics and associated parties. Please note, this is purely fiction and for entertainment purposes only. This story is not meant for sale or profit.


Author's Notes: This is my first Alternate Universe Fanfic about Kenshin and Kaoru falling in love during modern times. It's not your typical love story and it is OOC. (Drama/Angst/Romance) Fatal Love Fanfiction by Gypsy-chan Enjoy!

Please Note: This story was not written to offend those in the medical profession or in the law enforcement field. It was written from my over-active imagination. The characters, the characters in various professional capacities and the events in this story should not be taken literal in anyway. OOCness and unethical practices will prevail throughout this story. Thank you and Enjoy! ^_^



FATAL LOVE
Part Fourteen



.....Thank you Dr. Kamiya and take care," smiled Kenshin before being escorted away by the guard.

Kaoru put her hands on the glass pane and as it slid down she silently cried, "Kenshin!"

********************************

As Kenshin was escorted down the long corridor, he began to reflect upon Kaoru's reaction to his parole being denied.

"She was truly disheartened by what I had told her. It was written all over her face. Dr. Kamiya probably spent many hours studying my files, hoping to convince the review board that I was ready for parole. She no doubt, expended her time and energy in finding various ways to convince me that I deserved a second chance at life. It was clearly evident by the way she conducted our counseling sessions.

During our sessions, it seemed that no matter what horrible experience I recounted, she always found something positive to say. Her compassion in wanting to help me is what finally broke through my depressive spirit. If only I had more time, I could have expressed that and many other things to her. But now it is too late. Goodbye Dr. Kamiya. I wish you well in life."

While Kaoru sat outside of Saitoh's office, she became lost in her thoughts.

"I feel so sorry for Mr. Himura. That poor man has suffered all of his life. Why can't he enjoy happiness like everyone else? Why does he have to continue to suffer? Also, there's something strange about this new warden. When he first introduced himself to the staff, I didn't pay him much attention. But now he's aroused my suspicions about him. How could he just deny Mr. Himura parole without reading my report? I don't know what is going on, but I swear, I'll find out."

Kaoru was suddenly startled out of her thoughts at the sound of her name being called.

"Dr. Kamiya."

"Yes?"

"Warden Gorou will see you now," replied Saitoh's secretary.

Kaoru rose to her feet and then determinedly entered Saitoh's office. She saw Saitoh sitting behind his desk writing something on a notepad with his left hand, while taking a long draw of his cigarette with his right hand. As she bent down to sit in the chair, she noticed how Saitoh kept writing in his notepad while ignoring her presence. Kaoru cleared her throat and began,

"Excuse me Warden Gorou."

"I'm a busy man Dr. Kamiya, what do you want," he answered as his eyes stayed focused on his writing.

"I want to speak with you about Mr. Kenshin Himura. Before you took Warden Matsushita's position, he had emailed me with the names of several inmates who were eligible for parole. He instructed me to conduct a review with each one of them, write out a report and submit it to the reveiw board. I hadn't finished conducting my review of Mr. Himura. We still have more counseling sessions to do. I was wondering how it came to be that Mr. Himura was denied parole without my report?"

Saitoh slowly raised his head and narrowed his eyes at Kaoru. After exhaling the smoke from his cigarette he replied,

"I reviewed the reports submitted by various psychiatrists who had analyzed Mr. Himura's state of being over the past ten years of his imprisonment. I submitted all those reports to an outside psychiatrist who once worked with the prison system. His name is Dr. Aoshi Shinomori. He has his own private practice now."

Kaoru's eyes widened at hearing Aoshi's name. Saitoh smirked at her as he continued speaking.

"I can assume from the expression on your face, that you are familiar with Dr. Shinomori. So I'm sure you will trust his opinion considering he is a fellow colleague of yours."

Kaoru sat frozen. She could feel that Saitoh knew more about her relationship with Aoshi than he was leading her to believe. Her mind began to drift upon her last conversation with Aoshi.

Flashback:
"....Has your love for a murderer grown to where you would actually insult a fellow colleague?"

"I never said that I loved him Aoshi, you did. You've been accusing me of such an unethical practice from the moment you walked into my office. I'm the one who should feel insulted."

Aoshi stared at Kaoru in silence momentarily before saying, "I apologize Kaoru for offending you. It's just that I'm concerned about you as a fellow colleague and as a friend. I have a bad feeling about Kenshin Himura. ....getting involved with a man like that will prove to be fatal."
End of Flashback

"Oh Aoshi, what have you done? Has Warden Gorou said something to make you believe that I am in danger? Do you think that you are protecting me by writing a false report about Mr. Himura?"

She then turned her attention back to Saitoh.

"After carefully reviewing Dr. Shinomori's findings, I've come to the conclusion that Mr. Himura still has murderous tendencies. I've always believed that a manslayer will always be a manslayer just as a wolf is a wolf. Men like Kenshin Himura will never change."

"That's where you're wrong Warden Gorou," replied Kaoru as she glared over to him. "There is good in Mr. Himura. Why can't anyone see that! Why must everyone continue to condemn him for his past! He's repented over his sins and have paid his debt to society. Mr. Himura can live a productive life. He just needs the chance."

Saitoh took another long drag on his cigarette and after exhaling replied, "Are you willing to give him that chance Dr. Kamiya?"

"Yes!"

"And what if you're wrong? What if he loses control and murders again? What then?"

"I don't believe Mr. Himura is capable of doing such a thing. I am convinced that he wants to live a peaceful life."

"I believe you're blinded by something else," smirked Saitoh.

"What are you talking about?"

"I don't have time for games Dr. Kamiya. I know that you have developed feelings for Himura. That's the real reason for you're being here isn't it."

"How dare you make such false accusations!"

"There's no need for me to make false accusations when I have proof."

Kaoru eyed him suspiciously and asked, "Proof? What do you mean by proof."

Saitoh smirked at her before taking another long drag of his cigarette. He then replied while exhaling the smoke,

"I've been monitoriting your interaction with Kenshin Himura during your sessions. I've notice how on many occasions, you have not followed standard prison procedures. Prison policy dictates that a convicted murderer is to be handcuffed to the chair while in the office of professional staff members.

But yet, I have never seen Himura handcuffed while in your office. I've also noticed how you held his hand on several occasions and dried his tears. Unless you work in the infirmary, professional staff members are not allowed to touch a prisoner. No matter what the circumstances."

Kaoru sat paled in color while listening to Saitoh.

Saitoh pulled out a videotape and placed it in a small VCR on his desk. He pointed toward the far wall of his office and said, "If you still feel that I am making false accusations, then turn around toward that wall and watch the tape I'm about to play."

Saitoh pressed the play button and an image of Kenshin sitting in Kaoru's office appeared upon the wall. Kaoru was sitting next to him in the tape. Kenshin's voice was heard first.

Flashback on Videotape:
"Sometimes, I wished that I could have stayed and finished my teaching. Maybe things would have turned out differently for me. But now it's too late. My Shishou has disowned me and my parents and Tomoe are gone forever. I'm all alone in this world now. There's nothing left to look forward to."

"Mr. Himura, you're only alone in this world if you want to be," replied Kaoru as she rested her hand on top of his. "But if you open your heart, you'll find someone out there willing to help you."
End of Videotaped Flashback:

Saitoh stopped the tape. Kaoru sat frozen with her back to him.

"As I said earlier, there's no need for me to make false accusations when I have proof," smirked Saitoh. "It appears to me that your conduct with Kenshin Himura has been bordering on unethical practices. Wouldn't you agree Dr. Kamiya?"

Kaoru became enraged. "How dare you spy on my sessions! Don't you know that it's against the law to videotape a person without their consent! You have your nerves talking about ethics! You've also acted unethically by spying on me!"

"I work for the government, I don't have to be ethical," quipped Saitoh.

Kaoru squinted her eyes at him and asked, "The government? What are you talking about!"

"I work for the government as a superintendent of prisons. It's my job to investigate the suspicious activities and other misconduct that take place in the various prisons. Our office has received various reports on the mistreatment of the prisoners here at this prison. So I decided to reshuffle the prisoners according to their crimes. After reviewing Mr. Himura's files, I could see that his crimes were more serious. So I relocated him to Cell Block D."

Kaoru widened her eyes and yelled, "What! That section is filled with the most ruthless prisoners incarcerated in this prison! Why did you..."

"Dr. Kamiya, I have a meeting to attend in 15 minutes. I do not have time to continue debating with you. I've already made my decision and I will not reverse it. I would suggest that you forget about worrying over Mr. Himura and concentrate on keeping your job and career. Good day Dr. Kamiya."

Kaoru rose to her feet while glaring over toward Saitoh. He had his head down and was writing on his notepad. After Kaoru left Saitoh's office, he glanced over to the door.

"I know she's going to get in my way. I better enact a back up plan."

Saitoh took out his cell phone and called one of his special agents.
Saitoh on phone: "Okita, I have an assignment for you."
Okita on phone: "What is it Saitoh?"
Saitoh on phone: "I need for you to shadow the Kamiya woman. I have a feeling that she will try to contact Himura and get in my way."
Okita on phone: "I'm on it." (Dial tone heard. Okita disconnects)

Saitoh placed his cell phone down upon the desk and continued his paper work.

Upon returning to her office, Kaoru walked passed her secretary's desk without uttering a word. Yuri noticed how shaken Kaoru appeared as she passed by. She stood in the doorway and watched Kaoru shoving papers into her bag. As Yuri neared Kaoru's desk, she saw her filling out a form. Karou handed the completed form to Yuri and said, "Please process this immediately."

A puzzling expression was now upon Yuri's face as she gazed down at the form.

"You're going on vacation? You've never taken vacation. Why now?"

"Because I need it now. I've got to get out of this place," she responded while throwing her purse over her shoulders and walking out of her office.

Yuri stood in shock for a moment. Then she ran out into the corridor yelling, "What about your other appointments today?"

"Cancel everything and then call Dr. Choshi and ask him to cover for me during my absence. I'll contact him later," she answered as she continued down the corridor.

Yuri was perplexed by the whole scene that had taken place before her. She then shrugged her shoulders and began doing as Kaoru had instructed her to do.