by Suiren
Kaoru's asleep, which is good, because she'll need her rest. We bury Ken-san today. It's not quite dawn yet, and I'm awake, watching her sleep. She is so ill. And so alone. I just hope I can save her from death. That's what good doctors do, right? Save people from dying? Then why do I feel so bad about it?
I wish the rooster was here. Yahiko's become so serious and quiet that nobody gets a laugh around here anymore. Sano could probably cheer me up. But it's no good -- he's gone. I sigh and finish the letter I've been writing. It will be sent to Aoshi and Misao -- I think they need to come here. Maybe seeing Misao will cheer Kaoru up a little. I don't know. If I could write to Sano, I would, but I can't -- for two reasons. I'd probably lose control of myself and write something crazy like please come back. I need you here. And, of course, nobody knows where the stupid rooster is. Baka.
The door slides open slightly, enough so that I can see Kenji as he steps inside. He needs to cry, and he hasn't cried yet. He looks so much like Ken-san -- Kaoru must be proud of him. But I bet it hurts too, every time she looks at him. He still has a lot of growing up to do. Yahiko is helping him with that. He sets Kenshin's old reverse blade sword against the wall and sits next to me. I wish he'd cry, instead of holding things inside. Maybe he thinks it's weak to cry -- he's so determined to be stronger than his father. But he's still a boy, and the bottom line is, he needs to cry.
~*~Kenji's POV~*~
Megumi is inside my mother's room. She's been staying in there ever since she's arrived, trying to save my mother's life. But I know something she doesn't.
Okaasan wants to die. I can see it in her eyes every time they open, and I don't understand. She wants to be with that idiot who left us alone so often -- that idiot who came back one last time just to die and cause her even more pain. And what's even worse is she'll chose death with him over life with me. Megumi's a good doctor -- but Kaoru won't get better unless she wants to get better. She doesn't. She wants to leave me...to be with him.
Yahiko has tried to explain my father to me on multiple occassions -- and I...I just don't get it, I guess. All they ever talk about is how great he was.
I promise you, Okaasan, I will be greater. You will be proud of me. You'll love me more than him, because I will be stronger.
I can't stay in this room -- the sickness and sadness is overwhelming, and so before I even say anything to Megumi, I turn around and leave. I see Yahiko and Tsubame leaning against the wall engaged in some sort of quiet talk. I know Okaasan is like a mother to him, too, but at least he has Tsubame to comfort him. I have no one. I step out of the dojo and as I do so I hear Yahiko call after me.
"Where are you going?" He asks.
I don't turn back to face him, and I can feel the coldness of my voice when I reply. It's like a bitter, icy wind. "For a walk."
And then, I'm gone.
~*~Yahiko's POV~*~
I've been leaning against this wall outside Kaoru's room for what feels like days, head down, eyes closed, still and silent as death itself...wait...considering the situation, that's not a very good pun. I didn't even notice when Tsubame approached me and placed a hand on my shoulder, and I flinched when she did. She quickly drew her hand away, as if stung by my actions and I sighed softly.
"Gomen, Tsubame."
"How long have you been standing here like this, Yahiko-kun?"
"Since Yesterday."
A frown crosses her beautiful face for a moment and I watch as a familiar figure steps out of Kaoru's room. It's Kenji.
"Where are you going?" I ask him. I can almost feel a cold breeze when he replies without looking at me.
"For a walk."
It's a good thing he can't see the expression on my face, but Tsubame does, and she waits for Kenji to be gone before she speaks.
"Yahiko-kun.."
"Yes?" I ask, glancing back at her. Her eyes are filled with concern.
"I know how important Kenshin and Kaoru are to you." She says softly. "It's...it's okay to...it's okay to cry."
She takes my hands in hers and suddenly I can't hold back my tears anymore. They drift down my face in slow, cool rivers, and I find myself pulling her into a hug as I rest my head on her shoulder. She releases my hands and runs her fingers through my hair, like massaging my head which hurts from holding everything inside for so long. I close my eyes, and we stand that way for a long moment. Were the circumstances better, I probably would have liked the feeling.
"Thank you Tsubame." I murmur finally, opening my eyes and leaning over to lightly kiss her forehead. She smiles up at me.
"Ai..."
She's interrupted by another voice. It's Tae, who walks inside after coming back from Akebeko. She's closed it for the morning because of the funeral. She looks at us with an expression of mild amusement although I can tell she's sad, too. Her expression becomes more serious as she bows her head, and I release Tsubame, realizing how inappropriate we probably look at the moment. She's blushing as she leans against the wall next to me.
"It's time."
Megumi and Kaoru come out of Kaoru's bedroom, and I go to help Megumi guide Kaoru into the main room where we stand in silence. Kenji's not back yet, and Kaoru's face becomes filled with sadness when she notices his absence. I find myself stealing Hiko's phrase: baka deshi. My student is causing his mother pain.
It's almost time for the funeral to begin. Kenji better hope he makes it in time...
Megumi has a letter folded up in her hand. I know what it is -- she told me she was going to write it last night. It's to Aoshi and Misao...requesting that they come to visit as soon as possible. It means that Kaoru's not getting any better.
And with Kenji being so stubborn it's quite possible she'll only get worse.
~*~Sanosuke's POV (YES! The Rooster is in this fic!)~*~
I wonder if Kenshin survived the trip home. I've almost gotten things wrapped up here, and ever since I've seen him, they've all been on my mind. Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko...and especially one foxy doctor named Megumi. Maybe I should try to go back and visit them all, even if it's only for a short while. They are my friends, after all.
Yes. I think I will. I can catch a boat in Shanghai.
Look out, Kitsune. The rooster's coming home.
A/N: Told you I'd devote a chapter to everyone else. Well...except for Tae...and I think you guys can forgive me for that. I hope I've done a good job. It's a little bit depressing, but think of this fic as a "U-shape" and realize that eventually I do plan on getting back up to having everyone happy. This is after all, my attempt at relieving Seisouhen depression! ^_^ See ya next time. Forgive any spelling/grammar errors as I'm writing this basically free-association with no editing and I'm severely crunched for time. See you next chapter!
-- suiren