Disclaimer: Don't own. Probably don't want to own. Can you imagine the hassles I might go through trying to get people to stop harassing me if this were cannon? They'd kill me!

The water was too cold for Kaoru's taste right now. The air was even colder. No matter that the water was being heated for her bath; the water being used to wash her right now was far too cold.

And Kaoru knew that she was a complete mess. Even with her hair cut off, it was still matted and dirty. Megumi had helped her with cleaning her arm, but Kaoru was uncomfortable letting the older woman help with anything else. So now, Megumi sat staring at her, apparently assessing the damages that had been done, while Kaoru cleaned herself with near torturously slow speeds.

"Let me wash your hair at least, Kaoru." Kaoru shook her head. She just wasn't happy enough about her hair to let someone else touch it. "It will make things go more quickly. I'm sure a country girl like you would rather be in the warm bath water than out here. A quick rinse won't do, either, so just let me help you."

"Fine, Megumi, if you really feel like it."

"Good. You're taking too long at this, and I need to get back to the clinic after I make sure none of your injuries will be infected." The doctor stood and walked behind Kaoru, rinsing her hair with soap. "Should I be thankful that you're treating me better than Ken-san?"

"Let's not talk about him."

"Hmm. I was just wondering if maybe you don't like him anymore? I'll take him if you don't want him, you know!" Megumi started laughing.

"If you want a guy who won't fight for you, you can have him." Megumi stopped laughing. "He doesn't care about any of us, you know. It's all an act. I don't know, maybe he did care once, but he definitely doesn't now. I bet it's just so he can stay here."

"Kaoru, he can hear you. You're being cruel." Kaoru shook her head. Megumi didn't understand. He'd betrayed her. He didn't deserve kindness. "Things might look different after some rest, little raccoon. And if you're so nasty to him, you'll regret it."

"I will not."

"Saitou was right then, wasn't he? You're acting like a little brat." Megumi took some of the water from the bath and dumped it over Kaoru's hair. "You aren't the only one in the world to ever have been hurt." Kaoru sputtered a bit, getting the water and soap out of her mouth, rubbing at her eyes. "And you certainly aren't the last."

"Saitou was right? Saitou and Kenshin are just the same. Both of them, living in a different era, expecting people around them to do the same. Kenshin goes on about how he's protecting the Meiji era, but it's all just so many words to him. He said he'd protect me, once, and look what happened, Megumi! He didn't even punish the people who did this. What right does he have to protect this era?"

"Because he isn't perfect, you're willing to speak so viciously of him?" Megumi walked around to Kaoru's front, staring into her eyes. "Are you perfect then, Kaoru?"

Kaoru frowned and looked away. I'm not perfect, but Kenshin is... He's supposed to be... not perfect. "But he is perfect, isn't he? Wouldn't break his vow because he's so perfect."

"Would you love him more for breaking his word? Would you love him for making sure you could never trust him?"

Kaoru sighed. I can't answer that... Could I trust him if he couldn't keep his word to himself? Kaoru shook her head. No, no, that isn't right. "I can't trust him now either, Megumi."

Megumi nodded. "Looks like you've gotten everything. Let me see the rest of you." Kaoru looked up blankly at Megumi. "Between your legs. So I can see if there's an injury."

Kaoru blushed. "I'm just sore there." Megumi tilted, then shook her head. Kaoru sighed, then opened her legs a little.

Megumi peered down. "All right then." Megumi stood. "There aren't any obvious injuries that I can do anything about. I'll send some medicines over for you to take after you've rested. Take your bath, then rest. Understood?"

Kaoru nodded. She felt very tired all of a sudden, but wanted the bath. A nice long soak would make her feel much better. She watched Megumi leave, then tested the water. It seemed warm enough.

She got in and forced her muscles to relax. Relaxation was the key to a good bath. Well, that and warm water. It didn't feel so cold right now. It was warm in the bath. As warm as her bed on a cold morning. As warm as good tea on a winter night. Relaxing, warm thoughts filled her mind.

She closed her eyes, letting her mind wander. It wasn't long before she heard the sounds of conversation on the other side of the wall. It might not be her business to listen, but still, she wasn't about to ignore a conversation about her.

"I'm sure she doesn't mean what she says." Megumi sounded like she was trying to console Kenshin. Kaoru shook her head. Of course Megumi would try that. She didn't really understand, after all, and she was in love with Kenshin. Maybe I should tell her that she can have him? I shouldn't have him anymore. He's perfect, I'm not anymore...

"This lowly one knows. Kaoru-dono is unwell. When she is better, she will not think such things. For now though..." For now though, he's going to try to think of me? I don't want him doing this for me. And it has to be just what he's saying to Megumi. Maybe it's to discourage her? He's never liked her the way she likes him...

"Just be there for her, I suppose. It's a hard, for a woman." Kaoru snorted. Obvious Megumi.

"Will she... might they have impregnated her?" Kaoru held her breath. She really hadn't thought of that possibility. I haven't really thought about much, have I...

"It's possible. One of the medicines I give will be to keep that from happening, but these things aren't always successful. I've only really read of them; most people don't want to stop themselves from having children, after all." No, most people go to the doctor to ensure that they do have children.

"'Tis no common situation, this." Kenshin paused. "Kaoru-dono is a strong woman, though. She will recover." He has so much faith in me now, does he?

"With your help, Ken-san. If you leave her now, she might not." Thank you, Megumi, for having so little faith in me. You think I need Kenshin to get better? I don't.

Kenshin sighed. "This lowly one does not want to leave, however, if Japan is in need, he cannot simply ignore that need." If Kenshin wants to go, I will not be following him to Kyoto or wherever else he has to go.

"She needs you too." I do not.

"'Tis understood... You should go back to the clinic, Megumi-dono. Please be careful on the way."

"See you then, Ken-san."

Kaoru sighed and closed her eyes. Kenshin has more faith in me than Megumi, doesn't he... Maybe he does still care. She smoothed the water around listlessly. Did it really matter if he cared? Did she even want him to care? No matter what else, he hadn't killed those men, and she didn't want to forgive him for that. At least, not yet.

She was so tired now, though. It was as though the anger had been sustaining her all this time, and now all she wanted to do was sleep. The water and relaxation had helped her sore muscles and bruises. The cuts and scrapes were beginning to really ache at the heat. Her private areas felt swollen, like they were in some old pornographic wood carving.

She stood up and got out of the bath, grabbing her yukata and tying it as best she could. "Kenshin? I'm done in here." Much as she might enjoy watching him do the extra work for no reason, she couldn't justify wasting the wood.

"Do you need any help, Kaoru-dono?" he called. She frowned. That had come from just outside the door. That meant he'd already stopped stoking the fire. What was he doing, waiting for her to come out?

She slid the door open. "No. I don't need your help."

Kenshin nodded. "Will you go to bed?"

Kaoru looked at him and considered saying no, just to see what he'd do, but she decided against it. She was too tired to have an argument. "I guess."

He smiled gently, then put his hand on the small of her back, guiding her towards her room. She pulled away uncomfortably. "What are you doing, Kenshin?"

He looked at her apologetically. "This lowly one is sorry if he offended you, Kaoru-dono. He only wishes your happiness."

"So you say."

"Kaoru-dono, please..."

"Oh never mind. I just want to go to sleep now..." Kenshin nodded and walked her to her room.

"Kaoro-dono, this lowly one wishes to ask a favor of you."

She shook her head. "I don't feel like giving you any favors right now, Kenshin."

"Please allow me to remain in your room while you are resting."

"Why?"

"'Tis something this lowly one needs right now. And if Kaoru-dono should have a nightmare, this lowly one will be there to remind her that she is not alone."

Kaoru sighed. She didn't particularly want him there, but... well, she was probably going to dream of them, after being hurt for so long. And if Kenshin were there, she could easily ask him to get something if she needed it. Like if she needed to have a glass of water, or if she woke suddenly hungry, she wouldn't have to search for him or even get it herself.

It was just practical, wasn't it?

"All right."

Kenshin smiled as though she'd just told him she was happy with his unilateral decision to allow the bastards to live. She walked into her room. He followed, closing the door behind him.

She lay down under her covers while he sat down, his sakabatou leaning against the wall. She closed her eyes and waited for sleep to come.

And waited. And waited.

"I can't sleep like this!" She sat up and looked at him. "You'll have to leave."

Kenshin stared inwards for a moment, then looked back at her. "Are you thinking of them? This lowly one knows that this is difficult for you. You are a very strong woman, but there is no weakness in crying here with me."

"I cried enough before. I never want to taste my tears again. I wanted to taste their blood." She scowled at him. "But no, you wouldn't let that happen."

"Blood? You want to taste blood?" Kenshin shook his head. "Would that make you happy, Kaoru?"

"Yes! I want their blood! I want to see them dead!"

"You cannot have their blood. You cannot see them dead. But if you need to taste bloodÑ" Kenshin pulled his sword from its sheath and made a small cut on his thumb. "You can taste mine."

Author's Notes

Geez, that last one was short! It seemed long when I was writing it with Word, but when I posted it, it was just so darn short! I hope this one seems like a proper length.

And thank you once again for making this an obligation! It's good for me. Keeps me from working on business reports...

Fabi-chan - sorry, for some reason, I didn't get a notification on your review last time, didn't mean to ignore you. Happy ending? Hm... I think so, because unhappy endings are much harder to write properly.

Shiomei - soon enough? Hey I don't think I'm doing too badly on this, especially considering I don't have a full blown plot to work from. I don't tend to be long enough though...

Lebleuphenix - Kenshin IS very sweet...

Cdkobasiuk - Megumi and Sano's POV? Well, I'll see what I can do, but I'm not as close to those characters, plus they're really just supporting the story...

Jin - AFAIK, yes

Kard of Dark - ahh, good, as long as that came through

Shunu No Miko - Kenshin's mean? I've gotta figure out what her reaction to that last statement is going to be... I don't think she'd kick anyone out though. She's just not that kind of character.