=Author's Note= This fic is coming to an end soon. Maybe one more chapter to tie things up. It was meant to be a one-shot, but ended up too long. Enjoy! And thanks for all the reviews!

=Disclaimer= I do not own any of the characters from Rurouni Kenshin.

----------------------------- Chapter 6 -----------------------------

Kaoru hugged her knees to her chest as she stared blankly at the wall. She knew he'd left. She had sensed his presence as he'd stood outside her door, as if contemplating whether or not he should check on her. In the end, he had just walked away, murmuring a soft "Sayonara Kaoru" before walking away.

Baka. You really don't care for me . . . why didn't you just say so? Was I just a plaything all along? You acted like you cared for me but was it really love? Or was it just lust? I just wanted you to open your eyes . . . but you couldn't do that. I tried, I really did. I let myself get drawn in by you . . . yet you wouldn't let me get any closer. You wouldn't stop pushing me away. What did I do wrong, Kenshin? I'm so ashamed of myself for falling apart . . . I let you see how vulnerable I really am. I openly confessed and bared my heart to you, yet you couldn't even find a way to assure me that all my foolish attempts were not in vain. How many times did I have to tell you that I didn't care about your past? If you really wanted me to be happy, you would've stayed. I cry and I hurt . . . because I love you so much. Tatsuha makes me happy, yes, but he could never replace you.

And now you've left . . .

Why did you run away, Kenshin? You'd stay and fight for our lives . . . but you wouldn't stay and fight for something that already belongs to you? My heart was yours from the very beginning.

Did you ever know that your eyes betray you? I'm more observant than you think. And I waited, time after time for you to just come around and tell me. I wanted to hear some kind of reassurance, not just the hidden emotions you thought I couldn't see in your expression. However, I'm beginning to realize that perhaps I'd been mistaken. Have I been interpretating it wrong all this time?

So this is it. You cared for me, but once another man was able to take your place, you just upped and left . . .

I'll move on then. Although it hurts so much. You walked away with my heart but I'll find it again.

I gave you your chance. If you ever decide to come around, you'll be too late, Kenshin . . . I just wonder if I'll ever see you again.

The young kendo teacher drifted off to sleep, never hearing her shoji door slid open, never noticing the other presence kneeling down beside her. He laid her down on her futon in a more comfortable position and tucked her in securely with the blanket. For several minutes, he sat there, watching her angelic face faint with troubles that bothered her in her unconscious state. He'd promised himself that he would just check on her before leaving. The thought of his last memory of Kaoru in tears pained him. Instead, those several minutes turned into an hour . . . then two hours. Finally, he brushed a lose strand of hair back from her beautiful face and kissed her forehead gently. A small smile crossed Kaoru's lips, followed by a soft "Ken . . . shin" Even in her dreams, after all he'd done to her, she still thought about him. He didn't deserve her. Reluctantly, Kenshin stood up with one last loving gaze over his shoulder, and walked out without having the intentions of ever returning.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sanosuke was walking along the road towards the clinic, whistling merrily, when a familiar red-haired figure passed him. "Oi! Kenshin!" The rurouni stopped and turned slowly, regarding the younger man with cautious eyes. "Where are you going this late at night?"

"Sessha decided to go for a walk." Sanosuke nodded and dug his hands into his pockets.

"Listen, you're not still mad at me about the thing with Jou-chan, are you?" He snorted "I mean i-"

"Iie, Sano. Daijoubu. You were just trying to be a good friend, sessha understands that. Ano . . . do sessha a favor and just watch over Kaoru-dono for him." The ex- gangster nodded in relief before finally noticing the small bundle Kenshin was holding.

"You're leaving." This new discovery was stated flatly with an undertone of disbelief.

"Hai. Sessha has decided it was time he wander again." Sanosuke chuckled grimly, his brown eyes narrowing unhappily.

"You bastard! I won't let you go without a fight." The rurouni held up his hands as his friend began to advance towards him.

"Maa, maa . . . Kaoru-dono is happy and better off without me. This is for the best."

"You're wrong! She's supposed to end up with you!" Sanosuke cracked his knuckles, preparing to knock some sense into his dense pal's head.

"Iie, Sano. I make her miserable. You know I can't possibly give her the happiness she deserves."

"That's a bunch of crap! She needs you! And you're walking out on her! Do you even care?!" He was so frustrated with Kenshin that he hadn't noticed the rurouni had dropped his degrading reference of himself.

"Of course I care!" Kenshin retorted. "I love her and I want her to be happy! I know she won't be happy with me! I can't even tell her I love her and Kami-sama knows I've tried! At least I can leave knowing that she'll be in good hands with Yamada-san. He cares for her and will give her everything that I can't."

"So that's it, huh Kenshin? You're just giving up like that?" Kenshin nodded. "You're a bigger wussy than I ever thought possible!"

"Oro???"

"I never knew the legendary hitoriki was so afraid of love." At that taunt, violet eyes narrowed. Sanosuke knew he was pushing on the rurouni's last nerve. The man, as skilled as he was, could only be patient for so long. The stupid rurouni . . . instead of forcing him to come to his senses about Jou-chan, he was running away instead. Great. He was getting sick of trying to get them together. Kenshin was a total moron!

"You don't know anything, Sanosuke!" was the cold reply he received. Shrugging, Sanosuke stuck his ever handy fishbone in between his teeth and chewed on it, studying his friend. Kenshin took a step back, startled, as a bright grin made its way across Sanosuke's face. His eyes told another story however. Frustration, anger and sadness resided among the brown.

"You're right, Kenshin. I don't know anything . . . but if there's one thing I do know, it's that you're her heart and soul." Turning, he called over his shoulder as he began walking once more towards the clinic. "Only you have the power to make her hurt so badly, but you're also the only one who can give her the happiness she needs." With a wave of his hand, the young man disappeared around the corner. "Have a great journey, Kenshin. Come back and visit!" Kenshin stared off into the distance, deep in thought before continuing along his way.