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 Twenty-one



...."What happened to Dr. Kamiya?"

Sano rested his hand upon Kenshin's shoulder and said, "She's no longer here. She was forced to resign."

Kenshin sat stunned by the news. He parroted the ending of Sano's sentence. "Forced to resign?"


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

"Yes," he replied while casting his eyes downward. "I found out that she was taken to see Warden Fugita after the riot three days ago. He kept her in his office for hours questioning her. Two days later, she was called before the medical review board. They told Dr. Kamiya that her actions were clearly unprofessional and that the review board doesn't tolerate unethical behaviour.

The doc tried to explain why she got involved, but her efforts were in vain. Those old foggies on the review board wasn't going for it. Even Warden Fugita, or whoever he's suppose to be, tried to help out Dr. Kamiya. He told them that Dr. Kamiya was instrumental in solving a government case. The review board said that they took that fact under consideration but still refused to rescind their decision. Dr. Kamiya was forced to resign."

Kenshin stood frozen in silence.

"I stopped by her office yesterday," said Megumi. "Kaoru told me that the review board gave her until the end of the week to clear out of the office. She seemed to have taken the news well. She looked fine." ("I hope he believes me. I can't bring myself to tell him how hard she really took the news. It would crush him.")

Kenshin still remained silent. Megumi felt a knot forming in her throat. While reaching in her pocket for a tissue, she remembered the note that Kaoru had given her.

"She asked about you Kenshin. I told her that you had a few minor bruises. I didn't want to worry her about your having a concussion or anything. She seemed relieved to know that you were under my care and was going to be alright."

After seeing his facial expression change slightly, Megumi pulled a small piece of paper out of her pocket.

"Please take this. Kaoru wanted me to wait until she had left before giving it to you, but I think you need to see it now."

Kenshin took the paper from Megumi. He slowly unfolded it and began silently reading the note.

"Kenshin, please don't worry about me or feel sorry for me either. I will be fine. I want you to concentrate on starting your life over again once you have received your full pardon. You deserve a second chance at life. Take care... Dr. Kaoru Kamiya."

"It's all my fault," he mumbled while slumping down upon the bed. "Her job and career is over because of me. I shouldn't have...."

"Kenshin, listen to me," said Sano as he grabbed him up by the shoulders. "Don't start freaking out by blaming yourself and getting all depressed and stuff! Everything is going to work out fine. You got that!" he yelled as he shook him really hard.

Kenshin began to wince in pain over his injuries.

"Idiot! Stop shaking Kenshin like that," chided Megumi while jerking Sano's hands away from Kenshin. "He still has many bruises and a mild concussion. You'll give him a head trauma if you don't stop."

"Sorry Kenshin," replied Sano as he began staring at Kenshin. "Geez, I forgot about his injuries. I shouldn't have shaken him so hard."

"Don't just stand there staring at him, help me get Kenshin back into bed," frowned Megumi as she wrapped Kenshin's arm around her neck allowing him to lean against her body.

Sano helped Megumi lay the weakened, depressed man back into the bed. Megumi quickly poured some medication into a small medical dispencer. She gently lifted Kenshin's head and said, "I need you to take this Kenshin, it'll make you feel better."

Kenshin sipped down the medication and rested his head back upon the pillow.

"You needn't worry about Kaoru," smiled Megumi while pulling the blanket on him. "She's a strong woman. I know she will be fine. The important thing is for you to get some rest. You'll need your strength if you ever intend on getting out of this place and seeing her again."

"Why would she want to see me after I have destroyed her professional career," sighed Kenshin.

Megumi began staring down at the disheartened man. "He must really love her. Kaoru, how could you be such an idiot! I told you not to get involved. Why didn't you listen me! sigh* Poor Kenshin. I better keep an eye on him. I don't want Kenshin doing anything foolish in his state of depression."

She pointed her finger at Kenshin and began chastising him. "Don't be foolish. Why do you think Kaoru went through all that trouble? She cares for you very much. I'm sure she wants to see you again. Now, if you don't get some rest, next time I'll adminster your medication with one of the biggest needles in the infirmary."

Kenshin chuckled softly before closing his eyes falling into sleep.

As Megumi and Sano walked away from Kenshin's bed, Sano whispered, "Sorry for getting rough with him. Sometimes I get a little carried away."

"Sometimes?" she smirked.

"Okay.... maybe a lot," he smiled in reply. "But that doesn't matter now. I'm worried about him. I think you better keep an eye on Kenshin. I don't want him doing anything stupid before he gets a chance at his full pardon."

"My thoughts exactly," replied Megumi as she turned back looking at Kenshin's sleeping form.


After packing her fourth box, Kaoru decided to take a short break. She went over to the window sill and stood staring blankly out the window. Dark menacing clouds began to form in the sky. Soon droplets of rain began gently tapping against the window pane. Sounds of people scurrying around in the rain suddenly startled her out of her revere. Kaoru turned away from the window, casting her eyes back inside the office. Instead of finding a room filled with hope, she found an empty room with shattered dreams.

"Forced to resign," she sighed. "I still can't believe it. After so many years of training in this career, it's over in less than two days. I'm sorry father and mother for disappointing you. You both had such high expectations for me. And now... I've ruined everything. So, what do I do now? I have no job and no career."

Tears began to form in her eyes threatening to spill onto her face.

Stop it Kaoru! Stop feeling sorry for yourself. There's no point in crying because it's not going to change anything. I knew what the risks were. My friends tried warning me on many occasions. They knew that if I fell in love with him it would prove fatal to my career.

Tae, Megumi, Aoshi and even Kenshin tried telling me, but I wouldn't listen. I didn't want to admit it, but with each counseling session, I found myself falling in love with him more and more. I tried convincing myself that the long hours of research and the frequent counseling sessions were all part of my job in being a good psychiatrist.

I thought that if I set up a barrier around my heart, I would be strong enough to withstand getting emotionally involved. But the desire to help him began to erode that barrier. Every time I saw his face or touched his hand, I could feel the barrier slowly crumbling. By that time, I knew my feelings for him were wrong, and yet, I did nothing to stop it."

Kaoru glanced down at her wrists. They were still slightly discolored from the bruises she received while wearing the handcuffs. She began thinking of Kenshin. The tears that were once threatening, were now streaming down her cheeks.

"Kenshin..... I'm so sorry for complicating your life even further. I hope you can forgive me."

Suddenly, Kaoru heard a knock on her door. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and answered, "Yes, who is it?"

Her secretary Yuri slowly opened the door.

"Excuse me Dr. Kamiya, I really hate to bother you at a time like this, but the ex-warden is here to see you."

"Thank you," Kaoru said while walking over to her desk.

Saitoh casually entered her office with his hands in his pocket. He stood in the middle of the room looking around at all the boxes on the floor.

"If you've come for a counseling session, then you're out of luck," quipped Kaoru. "I don't work here anymore, remember."

Saitoh smirked at her before reaching in his pocket and pulling out a cigarette. Kaoru became annoyed as she watch him dangle the cigarette on his lip.

While reaching in his pocket to get a lighter, Kaoru pointed at his cigarette and said, "Don't smoke that smelly thing in my office!"

"Your office? I thought you didn't work here anymore," retorted Saitoh.

"Listen Mr. Fugita... or whatever your real name is, if you didn't come to help me pack, then I want you to leave. I have a lot of packing to do," scowled Kaoru as she shoved some books in the box on her desk.

Saitoh smirked at her again before strolling over to the window. As he looked out the window he said, "I just stopped by to wish you well and to tell you I'm leaving."

"Well, you've done what you wanted. So, goodbye," snapped Kaoru as she shoved more books in the box.

As he turned to leave her office he smiled and said, "Oh... There's one more thing I wanted to do. I wanted to give you a little parting gift. I'm sure you'll love it.... especially since it involves... your boyfriend."

Kaoru jerked her head up at Saitoh and stuttered, "Wha.... What are you talking about? Is he...."

"He's fine," said Saitoh as he exhaled a puff of smoke from his cigarette.

"Don't just stand there smoking," she fumed, "tell me what's happened to Kenshin!"

"I just heard that his parole has been denied."

Kaoru dropped all the books that were in her hands. "What! Denied? But I thought you said if he helped out he would be granted a full pardon."

"Yes, he would get a full pardon as long as no one challenged his parole," replied Saitoh. "Himura knew what he was getting into. I though he would have told you about that little clause."

"How could you do this to him!" yelled Kaoru as she pounded her fists upon her desk. "Kenshin risked his life for the government and this is what he gets in return? How can you be so cold and unfeeling!"

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

Kaoru glared at him before saying, "So that's it? You waltz in my office, tell me Kenshin's been denied parole and just leave? Isn't there something else you can do?"

"Yes, I did have a backup plan in mind, that is, until you screwed it up Dr. Kamiya."

Kaoru narrowed her eyes at him and asked, "What are you talking about?"

"I told you not to get involved, but you wouldn't listen," said Saitoh as he glared into her eyes. "I knew that Himura would be able to do the job. So I had no doubt of him getting his full pardon. However, if someone challenged his parole, I knew that I could rely on you to defend him in front of the review board. You were his psychiatrist after all. Unfortunately, now that you no longer have a job here, that further complicated the matter. There's nothing either one of us can do."

Kaoru's knees began to weaken causing her to slump into her chair.

"Oh my god, what have I done?"

She quickly swiveled her chair around to face the window. "Please leave me now, I have to get back to my packing," replied a depressed Kaoru.

Before leaving the room Saitoh stood near the door and said, "Like I said, there's nothing either one of us can do. However, according to prison policy, if there was someone else who could defend Himura in your place, then maybe he can still get paroled and then recieve a full pardon. But you had better hurry and find someone before the end of the week. Otherwise, it's all over for Himura."

Kaoru quickly turned her chair around to face Saitoh. "What! What did you say," she anxiously asked. "Who am I suppose to get on such short notice?"

"You're a smart woman, figure it out," smirked Saitoh as he left her office.

"Wait!" cried Kaoru as she ran out of her office after Saitoh. She quickly looked down the corridor and saw that he was gone. As she walked back into the reception area, she stood in front of Yuri's desk muttering, "I still have a chance to do something right. But I don't know what to do."

Yuri looked up at Kaoru and saw her standing in front of her desk talking to herself.

"Dr. Kamiya?"

Kaoru was still standing in front of Yuri's desk muttering ideas under her breath.

"Dr. Kamiya?"

"I'm sorry Yuri," said Kaoru. "I guess I was a little preoccupied. What did you want?"

"Why not call that friend of yours?"

"Who are you talking about?"

"You know, the tall dark guy with the icy blue eyes and strange vibes. Isn't he a psychiatrist too?"

Kaoru's eyes widened as she finally realized who Yuri was talking about. "Yes, that's right. Dr. Aoshi Shinomori."

"Would you like for me to get him on the phone?"

"Uhm.... no," replied Kaoru. "I'll do it."

Before entering her office Yuri said, "Don't worry Dr. Kamiya, everything will be alright. I can feel it. I've always known that you and Mr. Himura were meant for each other. You both have the same vibes."

Kaoru smiled at Yuri while standing in front of her office door and said, "Yes, I guess we do." Then she closed the door and went inside her office.

While picking up the books that fell on the floor, Kaoru found the book that Aoshi had given her. Kaoru looked at the inside cover and smiled upon seeing Aoshi's picture. While tracing his picture with her fingers she became lost in thought.

"I hope that you will help me Aoshi. I know you'll probably lecture me on how I threw away my career for the love of a prisoner. You'll also scold me for not listening to you and tell me how life with Kenshin will lead to more trouble. But, you don't know Kenshin like I do. Kenshin is a gentle kind hearted man who has suffered many atrocities in his life. I know that he would never hurt me. And if given the chance, I'm sure that he can contribute much to our society. I hope I can convince you to help Kenshin before it is too late."

As Kaoru put Aoshi's book on the desk, she noticed an odd colored paper.

"What's this?" she asked aloud while picking up the paper. Kaoru's eyes widened upon reading the note that Saitoh had discretely put on her desk. The note read: "The man who is challenging Himura's parole is named Enishi Yukishiro."

Kaoru gasped, "Enishi Yukishiro. Oh no! I've got to see Aoshi to save Kenshin!" Kaoru knocked over a pile of books as she ran out of her office.

Yuri ran out the door behind her yelling, "I'm coming too! Wait for me Dr. Kamiya!"