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! ^_^
Part Sixteen
The guard flashed the light back into Kenshin's face and remarked, "He's gone now. So shut up and get back to sleep." Kenshin nodded in response. The guard turned his back and continued his watch down the corridor.
********************************Kenshin breathed a heavy sigh of relief and then turned over to face a frightened Kaoru. He could feel her body trembling against his through the blanket.
"Are you all right Dr. Kamiya?"
"Yes, I'm alright now. I'm sorry to cause you trouble. I was frightened by that big rat. I hate rats. They're horrible creatures."
"Yes, rats can be frightening. But I don't think that one will be back for a while," he replied as he glanced over to where the rat had been. "The sun will be shining in this cell soon. Rats are generally nocturnal creatures. So that one will probably keep burrowing through until he finds a nice dark spot to nest in."
Kaoru breathed a sigh of relief in knowing that she wouldn't be seeing the rat anytime soon.
"How did you get in here?"
"Your security guard friend named Sanosuke helped me get in. He provided the prison clothes for me and then swapped lunch hours with one of the guards on this detail."
"Dr. Kamiya, this is a very dangerous area," he said while frowning on what Sano had done. "He shouldn't have brought you here."
"Please don't think harshly of him. I insisted on coming here to see you. So he and Megumi made it possible for me to get in here."
Kenshin's eyes widened as he asked, "Dr. Takani helped too?"
"Yes, she helped me with the disguise. Megumi lent me this short black wig of hers. I also put on an old pair of green contact lenses I wore back in college. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't recognized by anyone."
"Why would you go through such trouble of seeing me? I'm not wor....."
Kaoru placed her finger over his lips. "Shhh.... Wait. I don't have much time. I must ask you something very important before Sanosuke come back to get me."
Kenshin nodded.
"What did Warden Gorou say to you the day before you were transferred?"
Kenshin averted her eyes and stutterd, "I... I can't tell you."
"Why not? Why can't you tell me Mr. Himura?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't."
"You can't or you won't."
Kenshin didn't respond.
"Does your being denied parole have anything to do with me?"
"No it doesn't."
"Then, why can't you tell me?"
Kenshin remained silent.
"I thought you trusted me Kenshin. During our sessions, you revealed things to me that you hadn't told to anyone else. But now, I don't understand why you can't tell me what's going on. Why won't you let me help you Kenshin?"
Kenshin looked into her compassionate eyes and saw tears beginning to form. His heart was compelling him to tell her everything, but his mind refused to let her know the truth.
"Dr. Kamiya, I really wished that I could tell you, but I can't get you involved. You have your job and career to think of."
After hearing the words, "job" and "career," Kaoru reflected upon those same words in which Saitoh mentioned to her the day before.
Flashback
"....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...."
End Flashback
Kaoru put her hand over her mouth and gasped. The tears that had formed in her eyes earlier, had now begun to spill over onto her cheeks causing them to stream down her face.
Kenshin looked into her face and wondered what could have caused her to become upset to the point of tears. "Dr. Kamiya, what's the matter?"
Kaoru burst into tears and cried into his chest, "I'm so sorry Kenshin. It's all my fault that you've been locked away in this horrible place with hardened criminals, mean guards and big rats."
"Now, now, please don't cry," he said while trying to console her. "You shouldn't blame yourself for my mistakes. I'm the one at fault, not you."
"No, you're wrong," she said while lifting her head up to face him. "Your being locked into this section is my fault. I wanted to help you so badly that I didn't heed the warnings from Tae, Megumi and Dr. Shinomori. They could see that I was getting too close to you; that I was about to cross the line and break prison policy. Instead of listening to them, I blindly continued in my quest to help you. I never stopped to think about the consequences of my actions and how it would affect you. Warden Gorou..."
Upon hearing her mentioning Saitoh's name, Kenshin abruptly cut her off and asked, "Did you go to see Warden Gorou about me?"
"Yes. I went to his office after you told me he had denied your parole. I didn't think it was fair, so I wanted to speak with him personally. I had hoped that he would hear me out, maybe change his mind. But that never happened. Instead, we got into a heated discussion over your right to be paroled. I told him that his assessments of you were wrong. That's when he pulled out a videotape.
Warden Gorou had been secretly taping our sessions. He made me watch a videotape of a session where I touched your hands and dried your tears as you wept in my office. I'm sure that's what he used to base his final decision to deny your parole. Now your chances of ever being eligible for parole is over because of me. You'll probably be stuck in this wretched place for the rest of your life. Please forgive me Kenshin." Kaoru began to weep profusely.
Kenshin pulled her into his chest and held her tightly. As she continued crying, he tenderly stroked her back trying to console her. He rested his chin on top of her silky raven hair. He was grateful to be able to offer her comfort, the same as she did for him during their counseling sessions. Kenshin became angry as he though on what Saitoh had done.
"How could Saitoh use such dirty tricks on her? Using a videotape as a means of blackmailing her into staying away from me. All she wanted to do was help me. But now, after all her hard work, she'll probably lose her job and career because of me. I could kill him for that. If he wanted to use me, he should have left Dr. Kamiya out of this. My life is over, it doesn't matter what happens to me. But she is so young and innocent to the evils that surround her. She should never have been dragged into this."
Kaoru had finally stopped crying. She moved her head back from his chest and began wiping away her tears.
"I'm sorry for crying all over you," she uttered while smiling weakly at him. "I shouldn't have gotten carried away. I..."
Kenshin took his fingers and put them over her lips and whispered, "Shhh.... Don't worry about that. You have a right to be upset. Warden Gorou shouldn't have done that to you. I'm very grateful for the kindness you showed me duirng our sessions. So don't blame yourself over what happened. You've done nothing wrong."
"Thank you for trying to make me feel better but, my feelings doesn't matter. The reality of all this is that you're stuck in this horrible place with no way out," she replied before burying her head into his chest.
As her head lie buried into his chest, he suddenly felt her warm tears saturating his shirt. His heart began to feel pain with each tear and soft whimper.
"I won't allow Dr. Kamiya to suffer any further. I refuse to let her leave here today feeling guilty over what she has done for me. I must tell her the truth."
Kenshin gently took her chin and lifted it up to meet his face. While drying her tears, he looked directly into her eyes and said, "What I am about to tell you is highly confidential. After I have told you why I am here, you must promise to leave this section, never to return. I want you to get as far away from here as possible."
Kaoru's eyes widened, "Kenshin, what..."
"Please promise me Dr. Kamiya, promise me you will get away from this area and never come back."
"How can you make me promise something like that," she replied as fresh tears threatened to spill down her face.
"Because.... Because I care about you and what happens to you.... Kaoru."
"I care about you too," she replied as tears began to stream down her face after hearing him use her first name.
"I know," he smiled in response. "I've known for a long time. From the first day I entered your office, you never once treated me like another case study. Instead, you treated me with respect. Your genuine compassion is what allowed me to trust you and tell you things that I chose never to repeat to another person. I should have told you before, that all your hard work was not in vain. In all my years in prison, you were the only one who ever made me think about starting my life over again; to have a chance at a second life."
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner," she asked as she took his hand into hers.
"I had planned to but I was summoned to the warden's office."
"What did he tell you?"
Kenshin hesitated for a moment.
"Kenshin, please tell me," she begged. "I must know what happened."
He sighed heavily before explaining his conversation he had with Saitoh and Shura. After he had told Kaoru about the tainted drugs and money laundering, he concluded with the last thing Saitoh told him.
"...and Warden Gorou end up our conversation by telling me,
'If you decide to help, the government will give you a full pardon over all your crimes. If not, you'll be prosecuted and sentence again for the other murders you failed to report ten years ago.'"
"That's blackmail," exclaimed Kaoru as she widened her eyes in disbelief. "What kind of government man is he to say and do things the way he does?"
"He's the kind of man who lives by one brand of justice, Aku, Soku, Zan. (Kill, Evil, Instantly). I know that may seem harsh in these modern times, but with all the corruption that is happening in various governmental agencies they, no doubt, condone his actions as long as he gets the job done. I'm sure that if he ever were to get caught, the government would disavow knowledge of his very existence. But none of that matters now. What matters is getting you out of here and to a safe place."
Kaoru remained silent for a brief moment before saying, "I'm not leaving you. I want to stay and help."
He shook his head and replied, "No. I won't let you get involved."
Before Kaoru could answer him, Kenshin heard the sounds of soft footsteps.
Kaoru saw a sudden look of anxiety cross Kenshin's face. She leaned into him whispering, "What's the matter?"
"I hear someone coming. I must cover you up like before," he whispered in response as he pulled the blanket over Kaoru's face. "Just lie still, I'll protect you." Kenshin quickly flattened the back of his body against hers hoping to keep her concealed.
A tall dark guard approached his cell. This time, the guard took his key and inserted it into the lock of the cell door. As the key made it's final turn, he could feel Kaoru's body trembling lightly against his. Kenshin knew that he would do whatever it took to protect her. He began preparing himself for the worst.
