Hello everybody! Since chap 8 is all fixed already, I took out the apology. ^_^
"Masaka"--- oh, no; it's not possible
(reformatted)
………………………………………
She was immediately beside the little man fallen in the snow, dressed thinly in red and white. Beside him the brown parcel was dropped, unopened, in her shock. She shouted his name, shook his shoulders, even slapped his face, in order to receive any sign of life. She received none. She felt for his heart. It was still beating, but faintly. He was still alive, but for how much longer?
"Masaka………..masaka…………this is not happening……….no, it isn't…………..don't do this to me…………."
The thin figure lay lifeless before her, the flowing fiery hair half buried in snow. She could not possibly carry the man alone, being a small woman and pregnant. Yahiko was too far away and too asleep to be called to help. All the neighbors were also asleep. There was no one who could assist. There was nothing that could be done in a hurry. In less than an hour, the figure would truly be a ghost.
"Kami-sama……….don't…………please don't……………please, Kami-sama……..I need him………..I need him alive!"
Just then a heavy hand rested on her shoulder.
"Jo-chan?"
It was a familiar voice, and a familiar heavy hand. She quickly looked behind her, and saw a familiar towering presence.
"Sanosuke!"
She violently held him by his coat and wept incessantly. Any shoulder to cry on right now was Kaoru's absolute necessity, and that the shoulder was familiar made the tears flow faster. She poured out all her anguish and helplessness in those tears.
"Yeah, I'm happy to see ya, too, jo-chan, after all this time……….but I do think the tears are too much!" He happily responded to the crying young woman. He tried to console her by placing his warm hands on her cold shoulders.
"Sano……….I beg you………….help me…………no time to explain now……………..Ken…………….Ken……….."
"Kenshin? What about him, jo-chan? How are you two?"
Kaoru cried even harder. "SANOSUKE………..now please!…………..Ken………Ken………."
It was then that the rooster-head finally saw the fallen figure in the snow. He was taken aback, eyes glared wide. "Kaoru! Tell me what happened! Tell me it's not true!" he demanded.
Kaoru looked intently into his eyes and pleaded earnestly, "Sano…………please………..no time…………Oguni clinic…………..Hayata-sensei………………..suddenly fainted……………had a long day…………….hurry, Sano!"
Sanosuke nodded understanding. With some effort he lifted the lifeless form from off the snow, then slung it on his back and shoulders. "Still breathing, jo-chan, thank goodness. I can feel it on my neck," he reassured her, and ran toward the clinic.
"Thank you, Kami-sama," Kaoru gratefully prayed. "Now please let Sano get there in time………."
Kaoru and Yahiko arrived, huffing and puffing, at the Oguni clinic twenty minutes later. In her left arm was the parcel Kenshin handed to her, half damp from melted snow.
"Sensei, sensei……..please tell me he is alive," she begged the doctor.
"He was brought here just in time," the doctor replied, as she sighed in relief. "Five or ten minutes longer, and you would have been made a widow." She paled again.
"But what happened?" Yahiko inquired.
"Your husband is overworked, Himura-san, and he has not had enough rest or food for a while," the doctor explained to Kaoru. "He is terribly weak, and is burning up with fever. He is still unconscious now, but breathing normally."
"Kenshin no baka……" Kaoru whispered as another tear escaped her.
"Come, Himura-san. He's in the next room. He has not stopped calling for you since he was brought here."
The doctor opened the white curtain to the adjoining area. The room contained three beds, all well made with white sheets. Beside one of them, Sanosuke was seated in a rickety chair, anxiously viewing the man in the bed. The harsh lights emphasized his white pressed shirt over unpressed brown Western pants. His dark leather coat was thrown aside over one of the spare beds.
Under blankets and a cool towel, lay the emaciated and worn-out form of Kaoru's foolish husband. Now that she had a better view, she saw the effects of two long weeks of emotional anguish and physical torture. His rosy cheeks were replaced by sunken white ones. His closed eyes sank deep in their sockets, surrounded by dark rings. His breath came slowly and softly.
She cautiously approached the bed, until she was close enough to hold his hand. His hands felt like Kaoru's teacup filled with new hot water. His forehead was even hotter to the touch.
"Kaoru……….dono………" The pale lips separated slightly and whispered.
"I'm here, Kenshin, I'm here." She held both his hands tighter.
The eyelids fluttered open to show the dull purple hue in his eyes. They looked far above the ceiling, as if he was only aware of the voice and the touch --- nothing else. His mind was still in front of the Kamiya dojo gate, out in the midnight cold.
"Open it, koishii……Don't look at me like that………."
She peered down at the parcel under her arm. "The package? I haven't, anata. I was so worried about you."
"Open the parcel, please. Koishii……."
"Yes?"
"I am sorry, for that night………"
"You are forgiven, many times over. Do you forgive me?"
"Yes………. And koishii………."
"Yes, anata?"
"…………….It is wonderful to hear your voice again………..Kaoru."
His head nodded away from her, and his eyes closed again. The hand grew limp and dropped onto the bed. His breaths came in a more natural pace, as of one at rest. He drifted off to a deep, peaceful sleep.
Kaoru faced the man in the chair, and bowed low to Sanosuke. "To you, I am forever grateful. I don't know how you came to be there just then, but I thank Kami-sama that you were."
"By the way, pal," Yahiko slapped Sanosuke on the back, " What are you doing back in Japan?"
Sanosuke pouted. "Oh, you don't want me here? That's too bad. I intended to stay until spring, but since you don't want me…………"
Kaoru smiled gratefully at him. "No, you're wanted. If you didn't show up at just that time……….who knows what might have happened…………."
"It's nothing, really, jo-chan. The ship docked in Tokyo Bay last night. I slept in this morning. Just took a stroll tonight to the old haunts after having a few bottles, when I saw you out in that freezing cold. Figured that the rap against me would've died down by now, so I could visit a while, make some noise here, then travel again. I've missed Tae's sukiyaki! Chinese food is definitely NOT to my liking, and I've had quite enough for a while!"
"Yup, same ol' Sano," Yahiko happily declared.
"But you won't get free lunches as often as you used to," Kaoru cheerfully warned, pointing to Kenshin. "HE controls the money now----the annoying tightwad!…………….He's still alive to harass me about those pickles…………"
"Daijobu, jo-chan," and he grinned. "I'll make him see things my way, when he's all better. But what package was he talking about, jo-chan?" Sanosuke asked.
Kaoru remembered the parcel under her arm. She looked at it, wondering at her husband's earnest request.
"Well, open it, you hag!" Yahiko plodded.
Kaoru slowly untied the twine and unwrapped the brown paper. Inside was another layer of paper lining, and this she removed as well. Suddenly she dropped the package to the wooden floor, and gazed in surprise and wonder at her husband, fast asleep. The package fell noiselessly, but Kaoru looked as if she had dropped a treasure box, one that did not belong to her. She backed away with a start, as if she had been caught with a priceless jewel.
Out fluttered a small piece of paper. It contained only one line of scratchy writing:
With all my love.
"Masaka…………..jodan ja nai……………" She mumbled, her whole body quivering. It was impossible, yet it was not a joke. "The kimono……..My dream kimono…………….Ken………shin……….impossible………….."
"Now that's smooth!" Sano chucked in admiration of his best friend.
It was indeed the kimono of her dreams. She ran through the royal blue silk, felt the delicate embroidery, gazed at the colorful flowers at the borders, touched the golden butterflies, convinced herself that it was real-----that it was hers. It reminded of her of that dark blue night under the stars, surrounded by tiny flowers, illuminated by golden fireflies. She remembered all over again, the unintelligible words, the embrace, the sayonara, her tears.
It's not everyday you see a kimono like that! She recalled saying to him, roughly a month ago, gazing dreamily at a shop window. Oh, I just wish someone would buy it for me! Her words haunted her now.
Someday a kimono like that will fit you beautifully. He had told her then, after worrying about the cost. She never realized what was on his mind at that time.
Another, larger, piece of paper fell to the floor as Kaoru unfolded the beautiful kimono. It was intentionally meant to be seen only after the gift had been opened. On it was written:
Kaoru,
Of the income he receives from me, half and the tips went to you, and the other half went into buying this. He ate as little as possible for breakfast and lunch, to save as much of the money for you.
Whatever it is he thinks he did to you, forgive him, and soon, while there is time.
Tae
"You did not have to do it, you foolish boy, hopeless tightwad, Red Dragon…….." Kaoru smiled at her sleeping redhead, as new tears streamed down her cheeks. She kneeled beside the bed where he lay. She once again held his warm hand in both of hers, and leaned her head over it. She stroked the hand tenderly, as she said lovingly, "No matter how many ugly names I call you, anata, you will always be my Kenshin, remember that…………."
Soon, she too was fast asleep, in the early hours of the morning, still clutching his hand.
------------------------------------
Two days had past since Christmas, and the three were spending much of their time at the Oguni clinic. Kenshin was still under its care. He was still unresponsive, and had slept all of the last two days. Kaoru had not left the clinic at all. She was always at his side. She replaced towels on his forehead, and gave bedside towel baths. When there was nothing more to do, she sat on a chair beside him, and told her baby tales of adventure from only two years ago. Her child would kick with joy during those times.
The morning of the third day, as Sanosuke and Yahiko arrived, a reproachful scream pierced the air. "YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT MAN!"
"But, I know as much as you as a doctor…………" came an uneasy reply.
"Hayata, you are not listening to me! You don't know a BLESSED THING about that redhead!" a woman retorted.
The –gumi were wondering from inside the clinic who was making such a racket on such a fine morning.
"But, Takani-san………" the doctor began again.
"Takani-san?!?" they looked at each other in surprise.
"Patient history, Hayata! Patient history is just as important!! You have NO idea about this patient! Ooooooh, once I get my hands on that raccoon woman-------I warned her about Ken-san, that baka!"
"I'm done for," Kaoru gulped.
The separating curtain was pulled open forcefully, and the blue kimono of Takani Megumi appeared from behind it. "Where is he?" was her first question. The three silently pointed to the bed.
That impressive presence of a woman suddenly became a very undoctorly, very panicky, woman. In a leap she was running her experienced hands through his face, neck, hands, upper body. It was bordering on indecent, and the face of little man's wife was turning completely red.
"Chotto matte, Megumi!! Answer to me first!" Kaoru screamed angrily.
"Why should I, raccoon! I warned you, and you didn't listen!" the fox replied in like manner.
"Take it back, Megumi! He's my husband now!"
"Someone just gave him a love potion, hohoho!" fox ears appearing from the top of her head.
Yahiko was pushing his master back, and Sanosuke had his strong arms around the doctor's waist, preventing the eruption of another civil war. "STOP IT, YOU TWO!" Yahiko loudly pleaded.
"Not until she apologizes!" Kaoru retorted, glaring eyes at Megumi.
The war still ensued, and lasted for over five minutes. The men had a very hard time keeping the women's claws from each other. They could not predict how long it would last. Until……..
"A……..anou………"
Immediate ceasefire.
Another voice was heard. All four suddenly were silenced.
"What is all the noise for? What happened, please?"
They looked at each other to confirm what they were hearing.
"Anou………….where am I, please?"
Now, they were certain. They stared happily at the bed. The patient was sitting up, a hand on his head, with a confused look on his face.
"Oguni clinic, anata," Kaoru represented the thankful party in a reply.
"Anata?" he looked at the speaker with dazed eyes. "Who are you, please? Who am I, and why am I your anata?"
"Oh, no………….no…………masaka," the four responded in a distressed chorus.
"Jodan de gozaru yo." and he gave them a patented happy smile. "Just kidding."
"Not funny, Kenshin!"
………………………………
Hope you liked the roller coaster ride. ^_^ Keep your hands inside the car until the ride comes to a complete stop. We hope you enjoy the rest of your stay here!
"Jodan" --- joke. "Jodan ja nai" therefore is "it's not a joke", and "jodan de gozaru" is "it's a joke".
"Chotto matte" --- wait a bit
"Daijoubu" --- it's OK