Disclaimer: character's are not mine. Really..

Author's Note: Okay, okay I had writer's block. I barely had time writing in my blog, it's been tough times really.. I wish I'd get over all of this real soon. Here is the fourth installment with my story. I wish you'd all enjoy it.

How Can You Leave

Chapter Four

She stared at herself in front of the mirror. She had the same cinnamon eyes and black hair, the same full lips and high cheekbones. However, the sides of her lips tend to droop more nowadays, and her cheeks are shrunken from her lack of sleep. She shook her head and continued dressing. She tends to wear looser kimono underneath her doctor's frock. Its been three months and her stomach is showing, barely but she is conscious of the new life inside her. And that alone brings the light in her otherwise empty excuse for a life.

Satisfied by how her clothes hide her stomach, she grabbed the package lying in the floor and headed out the door. Since nobody else knows about her pregnancy saved for Kaoru, she tries to live her life normally. Not that she is ashamed by her situation. She just doesn't want to deal with people asking questions, that includes keeping her job with Genzai-sensei. She wonders if the good doctor is suspicious of her situation, but as long as the doctor is not asking anything, this is fine by her. She once again checked herself in the mirror, a tiny smile escaping her lips realizing that sometime between three months ago and today, she found herself happy.

-----

Kaoru is standing near Megumi's gate. She had taken it as her life's mission to walk Megumi everyday to work. She had been a witness to Megumi's suffering since Sanosuke went away. But lately she's been noticing some changes in Megumi's attitude.

One cannot miss the sparkle in her eyes, or the knowing smile that sometimes tend to graze her lips. Or the dreamy look that sometimes brighten up her face as she stared at the sky and absent-mindedly placed her hand in her abdomen.

Kaoru smiled as she remembered how beautiful Megumi looked at that time, her black hair tousled by the wind as she stared up into the heavens. A wistful smile lighting up her pretty face as her hands caressed her abdomen lightly. She knew that at that time, Megumi learned to live for her unborn child and not for Sanosuke's memory.

"Kaoru-Chan" she heard her name called

Kaoru smiled as she watched Megumi walked towards her, "I'm here earlier than usual, shall we go?" she asked opening the gate

"Why must you do this? I will be fine, you don't need to walk me to work everyday", she said

"I wanted too, besides there is nothing to do in the dojo. Not since Yahiko took over beginners' classes" Kaoru reasoned out

"Actually I'm thankful that you are here," she said

"Why is that?" Kaoru asked curiosity shining in her eyes. "Have you made me godmother yet?"

"Of course you are" she smiled. Then her eyes suddenly turned serious and faced the younger girl. "I'm leaving for Aizu"

Kaoru was so shocked she almost stumbled into the ground, "what?" she exclaimed

"I've been offered a position there, since the town is badly in need of doctors. And I accepted" she continued softly

"But... Megumi... what about...?" Kaoru stammered

She smiled at the younger girl's concern. "Don't worry I'll be fine, I've been on my own before, right?"

Kaoru sighed "I know, but not like this, there ought to be a difference"

Her cinnamon eyes followed a raven as it traveled across the morning sky. She closed her eyes as she felt the warmth of the sky on her face.

"I'll be fine" she smiled at the younger girl

Kaoru was about to say something when she saw Ayame and Suzume running towards them, smile lighting up both their faces. Laughing, the girls grabbed Megumi's hand and pulled her towards the clinic.

"Megumi-sensei! Megumi-sensei!" Ayame cheered

"Where have you been?" Suzume asked, worry clouding her innocent face

She smiled at the little girl, "I've been sick but I feel better now. I didn't come to work because I'm afraid that you'll get sick because of me."

A smile brightened up Suzume's face, "ok" she nodded

She turned towards Kaoru, "I'll see you later, I'll drop by the dojo, ok?" she said

Kaoru nodded slowly, "just don't do anything just yet, please?"

"Ok, bye Kaoru-Chan!" she said as she entered the clinic

"Bye Megumi" Kaoru said cheerfully. She then turned towards the market to buy their lunch, but she can't get what Megumi just said out of her mind.

"She isn't really leaving, isn't she? Kaoru whispered to her self. Unconscious of the wind blowing through her petite frame, lifting her hair behind her like a silken river as she continue her way towards the market.

Kaoru sighed, maybe she can't help what is happening and can't stop everybody from leaving. First, Sanosuke, then Megumi, pretty soon Yahiko will move out too. He would want to find himself in the world and again she would be alone.

'And Kenshin?' inner voice asked

"I don't know" Kaoru shook her head. She is still puzzled about Kenshin as to whether he will stay or he will go. She still gets scared when the time comes when he has to leave her behind. She lowered her head, her hair falling around her like a black curtain that shielded her from the world.

Kaoru remained motionless for sometime, moving only to brush the strands of her hair away from her face as she content herself with watching the sakura blossoms fall gently on the river below.

"Kaoru-dono" a voice whispered in her ear

She jumped "Kenshin!" she screamed, her hand going to her heart. "you scared me, never do that again!" she scolded him

Kenshin bowed his head, "suman Kaoru-dono, I did not mean to startle you, that I don't" he whispered

Kaoru smiled, "don't worry I just did not see you, are you ready to go?" she asked

Kenshin grinned, "thank you for waiting, Kaoru-dono" he held out his hand, "shall we?"

Kaoru took his hand, "hai" she murmured shyly.

They walk silently for a few moments, enjoying each other's company. Kaoru was very conscious of her hand held protectively by Kenshin's own. It is in moments like this that Kenshin really puzzled her. Ever since they came back from Enishi's, Kenshin has been extra sweet and attentive, permitting himself to an occasional hug or handholding. Not that she is complaining, oh no she doesn't, she is just wondering what it all means.

Kenshin noticed the troubled look in Kaoru's blue eyes, he stopped walking and faced Kaoru.

"Kaoru-dono" Kenshin began

"Nani, Kenshin" Kaoru asked stopping to face her rurouni

"Is there something bothering you? you seem quiet" Kenshin asked

"It's nothing Kenshin, don't worry about it" Kaoru said softly fixing her gaze at the river

Kenshin grabbed her arm, "I don't believe its nothing, tell me, please" Kenshin pleaded

Kaoru's blue eyes looked at Kenshin's hand at her arm, she raised her eyes questioningly

Kenshin met her gaze, soft but burning with an emotion she cannot comprehend. She found herself staring in his violet eyes, as if to make certain on what she is seeing is real.

Kenshin himself was lost in her eyes, he felt himself drowning in her eyes of china blue. He felt that he could stare at her for the remainder of forever and never stop for anything. In Kaoru's eyes he found something he had been searching for all his life.

Kenshin found himself home.

-----

Kaoru heard laughter in a distance and found herself staring in Kenshin's violet eyes. She felt a blush creeping up her cheeks as she lowered her gaze.

Kenshin smiled at the all of a sudden shy girl in front of him. he placed her finger under her chin and he lifted her head to face him. "Will you tell me what is wrong now?" he asked softly

Kaoru shook free from Kenshin's grasp and she stared at the river. "I've been thinking. Sanosuke has left, pretty soon Megumi and Yahiko will, and I'm sure you will sometime. And I will be alone again. I am just preparing myself" she said hugging herself.

Kenshin smiled. He approached her and placed his hand on her shoulders. He felt her shoulders flinched at the contact. "Whoever did told you I was leaving?" he whispered in her ears.

Startled, Kaoru whirled around and found herself in Kenshin's arms. Panic and astonishment was visible in her eyes.

Kenshin's eyes were serious, "Kaoru-dono, I have told you before that I am eternally grateful that you have welcomed me in you life..." he began

Kaoru found herself lost in his deep violet eyes, all she could see is Kenshin, his deep violet gaze and his hair set ablaze by the setting sun. She can barely register what he is trying to say.

"I know that the time for doubts have come to pass" Kenshin continued, "I am now ready to say that with you I have found my home. You are my home, Kaoru-dono," he whispered

Kaoru's china blue eyes filled with tears as she continue to stare at Kenshin dumbfounded.

"Aishiteru Kaoru-dono" Kenshin whispered.

Kaoru just stared at him in disbelief.

"Kaoru-dono please say something" Kenshin pleaded, his eyes sad. 'she didn't believe him or maybe she is not feeling the same' Kenshin felt like an idiot laying his feelings on the line and all.

Kaoru smiled as she noticed Kenshin's sad eyes. 'surely he is not believing that....' she thought

Kaoru threw her arms around Kenshin's neck which caused the man to almost lose his balance. "Of course, I love you too, you baka" she sobbed in the crook of his neck.

Kenshin recovered from his shock and gathered Kaoru in his arms, he buried his face in the fall of her hair, certain to himself that he will not let her go ever again. "I do not deserve you" Kenshin whispered

Kaoru lifted her eyes to meet his deep violet gaze and smiled. "Do not ever for one second believe that. It is you I do not deserve. Heck, I do not even know how to cook properly and...."

Kenshin placed a finger on her lips. "none of that, I love you and that is all that matters" he said, his gaze intent on her lips

Kaoru stared at his lips and how she wanted for him to kiss her right at this moment. And for one heart-stopping moment she felt his lips descend down on hers, and she felt herself lost to everything except for the sensation of his lips dancing over her own.

The sun was setting over Kyoto that afternoon but for two people, it is just the beginning of their lives together.

-----

In a dark, smoke-filled room, a meeting was taking place.

"She will be coming soon," a cold voiced said

An old man turned around a grim smile breaking his otherwise crinkled face. "She should be," he said as he lifted his cigarette to his lips. "Make sure to give her the welcome she deserves" his smile did not quite reach his eyes

The other man bowed and left the older man in the room.

"Soon you will pay, Takani Megumi," he whispered watching the smoke form gray patterns in the dark room.

"Soon" he vowed into the dark

TBC

There is the fourth installment. what do you think guys, do you think I should continue? All you have to do is press the button below.

Thanks for reading you all!!!

Amai-chan!