I appreciate everyone's reviews.  They've all been really nice but don't be afraid to criticize.  I need it.  A lot people also said that Kenshin was being an ass which wasn't my intention but perhaps he was.  He's just confused.  I also decided to use jou-chan in this chapter sometimes instead of little missy and I'm aware they mean the same thing.  I just felt like spicing things up.  Anyways on to the next chapter.

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Chapter 3

Take my Sun Away

            "I think she'll be okay for now," decided Megumi after feeling Kaoru head for the last time.  The heat had finally died down a little.  "There's nothing more we can do now; we should be getting back to the party."  Hopefully Sanosuke would be back.  She smirked.  He was being particularly aggressive tonight.  To her surprise, Megumi found herself blushing.  Great, I'm in love with a chicken-head.

            "Yeah, you're probably right," replied Yahiko while moving his gaze from a flushed Kaoru to an equally flushed Megumi.  "Um, are you okay Megumi?  You're all red.  Maybe the big ugly caught some disease and now you've got it too.  I hope that doesn't mean you're going become ugly too now!"

            "You shouldn't say such things!" yelled Megumi while whacking Yahiko. "Though it's true I am extraordinarily beautiful, you can't expect just any old martial arts trainer to compare."

            "I wouldn't go that far…"

            "What was that?!"

            "Uh oh, I'm out of here," declared Yahiko while running out of the room, Megumi hot on his heels.

            Following their exit, the dark figure that had been peering at them through the window came out of hiding and towards Kaoru.

***

            How could Sano be such a fool?  Kaoru didn't love him.  How could anyone love him?  He was a murderer, the battosai.  Kenshin had found his way to the river.  Sitting along its edge, he watched it flow.  The shinning moonlight made it look pristine just like Kaoru….. Subconsciously, that was why Kenshin had chosen this place.

It's not like I don't love Kaoru.  I do very much…  Alright are you happy battosai?  I love her!  But what does that matter?  She could never return my affections and I could never expect her to.  No one deserved that fate.  I could never make her happy.

            What about Tomoe? 

Humph, almost sympathetic thought the rurouni.  But he wasn't going to let his guard down again.

            What about Tomoe?  Look what happened to her.  I couldn't even protect her, let alone make her happy.

            …

            Standing up, Kenshin left the river and wandered back to the dojo.

***

            As Megumi chased Yahiko back to the party, she was pleased to hear that it had picked up again.  As they got closer, Yahiko disappeared into the crowd.

            "You're not getting away that easily!" yelled Megumi as she dived in. Now I know why Kaoru always gets so worked up.  Where did you go?  Her eyes darted from side to side, scanning the room.  Suddenly they caught sight of the little pineapple head.  "There you are!"  Megumi lunged forward but instead of catching the little bugger she caught a… chicken head?

            "Oh my, I'm so sorry Sano," stammered Megumi while trying to retain her usual calm and collected nature but there was something about this night that made her hormones race.  Maybe it was because she was on top of Sanosuke who was now pinned to the floor.  "I was just-"

            "No, need to apologize.  I know how hard it is for the ladies to resist me," smirked Sanosuke, "but perhaps next time you should be a bit more subtle about it."  Winking, he placed his hand on her chin and tipped her head up so she could see that the entire party's eyes were now on them.  She blushed.

            "Don't be silly Sano," replied Megumi calmly standing up.  "I was merely chasing Yahiko and you got in the way." 

            "Heh, whatever you have to tell yourself." If looks could kill, glare Megumi gave Sano would surely have sent him to his grave.

            "Wow, Megumi you sure throw some really interesting parties," commented some random guest.

            Turning her glare to the rest of the crowd, "Do I have to tell you to get back to the party a third time?"  Once again, the party was alive with conversation.

            "So how's the little-missy doing?" questioned Sano as he too got to his feet.

            "Well, she blacked-out after Kenshin left but she's fine now.  I move to one of my spare bedrooms," replied Megumi folding her arms she wasn't going to forget his comments so easily.

            Blacked-out?  That's certainly unlike her, she usually so vibrant and full of energy.  It was something he'd expect from one of the other girls in here but jou-chan was such a strong woman.  "Mind if I go check on her?"

            "Go right ahead; she's right down that hallway, first door."  Her gaze still at the corner of the wall and not on Sano.

            "Thanks and… sorry about that."  Sano started to walk away.

            "What?  Sorry about what?" stammered Megumi.  "Nothing to apologize about."

            "Whatever."

            Err, damn chicken-head.  You can be more aloof and indifferent than me sometimes.  She watched as he walked away into Kaoru's room. 

            Curses, next time I won't drop my cool.  I'll get you back Sanosuke.  She chuckled to herself at thought of having Sano on his knees begging for mercy.

            While Megumi was busy plotting her revenge, Sanosuke came bursting out of Kaoru's room.

            "Um Megumi are you sure that's the right room?"

            Megumi's mind came back down to earth. 

"Yeah, of course." Gracefully, she walked towards Sanosuke, masking her uneasiness. She was there seconds before, what could have happened.  As she reached the room Kaoru was suppose to be in, she looked inside.  The futon was empty.

"What on earth?  Sh-she was just here."

"You don't think the little missy went out looking for Kenshin do you?" Sano theorized.

"Not a chance, she was out cold."

Sano rubbed his bumped.  "Maybe just for good measure I'll check the other rooms." 

"Humph, do as you please."  She wasn't going to lose her cool again tonight. 

One by one, Sano opened and closed the remainder of Megumi's doors, no Kaoru.

"You know Sano, those of us with better skills of observation may have taken into account the fact that the window, in the room I claimed Kaoru was in, is open which leads to a high probability that someone left through it.  Since last I was there, it wasn't open."

"Damn fox.  Why didn't you say something before?"

"You just seemed so proud of yourself, thinking that you were playing me for a fool."  Megumi laughed.

"I was just thinking of Kaoru."

"Whatever," Megumi replied crossly, "you don't think Kenshin came for-"

"No way, Kenshin was pissed.  I don't think I've ever seen him like that before and I don't like he likes Kaoru seeing him when he's in an even remotely bad mood.  Plus, I think he was pretty convinced that Kaoru hates him."

"Heh, his oblivion is almost amusing sometimes."

"Yeah, tell me about it…  On second thought though, maybe you're right.  Maybe I finally convinced him…"  Megumi stared in belief, "Well, it could happen.   Besides I can't think of any other explanations.  I'll go look for Kenshin."

Sano left the party for the second time that night and darted towards river.  Geez, the things I do for you jou-chan.

No luck, neither Kenshin nor Kaoru were there.  Sano took a little break to think and have a breather.

Aw, where did you go now? thought Sano panting.  Hmm, well if he came back for Kaoru then he'll probably want to take her back to the dojo.

Taking his hands off his knees, Sano started running in the direction of the dojo.

***

Kenshin wandered lithely towards the dojo; he was dazed.  His mind had a decided that the extreme emotions coursing through his being were too much.  So, he set his mind off.

Slight traces of his recent interactions with emotion could still be seen and felt.  His face was still slightly moist with the remnants of fallen tears.  His eyes still stung.  And as hard as his mind tried to hide it through his daze, his heart still ached.  What was wrong with him? He thought through the daze.  Since becoming the battosai, he had only ever cried one other time… when he lost Tomoe.  But he couldn't even think of Tomoe every thought always finished with Kaoru.  And for that he felt dreadful, Tomoe was suppose to be his only love.  But there was no denying who his heart belonged to now…  Finally, his body could no longer take the pain, one last tear fell before he collapsed at the dojo's gate.

Seconds later, Sano came running up to him.  When his eyes caught the fallen samurai, his speed picked up.

"My god, not you too."  Sano kneeled over Kenshin.  "You really love that racoon girl don't you?"  He smiled but soon realized that Kaoru was no where to be found which means she wasn't with Kenshin.  Feverishly, he started shaking Kenshin.  "Kenshin, you baka, wake up!"

Kenshin was at peace in the emptiness of slumber but something was calling him back.  No, I don't want to go back to the pain.  He didn't want to remember.  He could just stay here and be empty… but in no pain. But the incessant calling didn't stop, eventually Kenshin had to listen.

"… ru… gone… ke up… Ka… Whe…  Kaoru," Kenshin's ears perked.  "Kaoru's gone."  Kenshin's eyes shot open.  Sano was kneeling over him, shaking him frantically.  When he realized Kenshin's eyes were open, he stopped.

"Sano, what happened to Kaoru-dono?" questioned Kenshin alertly.

"I don't know.  After you left she just fainted." Kenshin's body tensed. "So Megumi toke her to one of her spare bedrooms and when I went to check on her she was gone."

Suddenly, Kenshin's eyes were engulfed in amber flames.

"That man," he growled.

Sano shuddered. Okay, that was scary.

"What?  You mean that Arima guy.  He did seem a little off his rocker and he was quite taken with Kaoru but I don't think he'd- I mean once Kaoru woke up, he'd just get the crap beaten out of him again."

"No Sano, I'm sure of it.  I knew something wasn't right about him since I first set eyes on him."  It was amazing how quickly Kenshin could regain his composure when Kaoru was in danger.  He stood up.

"Um, are you sure about that Kenshin?"  Kenshin started running away.  "Kenshin, don't you think you're being a little hasty?!"  Kenshin didn't even look back.  "Kenshin!"  Alright fine, do whatever the hell you want Kenshin.  I'm not going after you.  Rubbing his bump, Sano started walking back to Megumi's house. Damn baka…