Disclaimer: you know it, I know it, the owners of RK know, it. That all rights belong to them, not me. Just borrowing the character, nothing else.
"Megumi?" Yahiko pulled the shoji door open to the room Megumi was resting. He wanted to ask her how Kaoru had been doing since she had just checked her. He was surprised to see Megumi sitting by the window weeping. "Megumi-san, what's wrong?"
She wiped her tears with the ends of her overcoat and looked at him. "Yahiko-chan."
No one had called him that in so long, save Tsubame. It wasn't very appropriate for a man his age now. But he let it go, now wasn't the time to let old peeves take hold of him.
"What is it Megumi?"
"She's so strong." Megumi spoke softly. For the first time he could ever recall, she was speaking in a gentle voice about Kaoru. "So foolish at the same time, but its all very admirable." She let out a heavy sigh and returned her gaze to the window. "Do you know Yahiko that she is sick because she herself allowed it?"
Yahiko didn't understand. He went to Megumi and sat across from her.
"What they have… what Ken-san has. It only spread to her because she slept with him after he became sick. Probably when it was already in its visible stages. And she knew that this would happen. She knew the whole time because I told her so and I told her not to. But she did." She paused, thinking something over. "I asked her why she did it today. I asked her why she would doom her own life that way. You know what she told me?"
Yahiko had some clue.
She looked back up at him. "Because she loves him, and as his wife she will never let him carry any burden alone. Not even this one. She shares his pain, anguish, joy and love. All those things though aren't physical. And while she will always have those things with her, she had to share this with him, because it was a cause of some of that pain. And as his wife, she must try to ease his burden, even if it means letting him know that she shares some of it too."
More tears sprang from Megumi's eyes. The freely flowed down her cheeks and she made no haste to wipe them away. "I have never understood her. The only thing I was ever sure about was her love for him, but I never knew how much love did for her. She is strong for him. She smiles for him. Everything for him!!! I used to tell her that if she cared for Ken-san she must protect him. She couldn't let him fight anymore. I told her that if she did, she would lose him. But Ken-san had to keep fighting. And she wouldn't stop him like I told her to. Even then she was sharing his burden. She knew that he wouldn't say no to his battles, and so she followed him, and let him fight because that meant more to him than his body. And whatever meant more to him meant more to Kaoru. She's so foolish sometimes!! She's just as foolish as he is!!!" Megumi was screaming now and her face revealed anguish over something she couldn't understand. She couldn't understand their love and their actions.
Yahiko bent forward and pulled Megumi into his arms. She wept on his chest until she began to relax and felt foolish herself.
"Its ok Megumi. Don't apologize. I know, its hard. I don't understand either."
Dear Kenshin,
I don't understand. Megumi doesn't understand. None of us do. None of us know the same kind of love that you and Kaoru had. The kind of love that made her follow you to every battle to ensure your safety and return. The love that sent you into absolute insanity and paralysis when you thought Enishi had killed her. That love was the only thing that could draw you from you surrender to death to go find her. That love made Kaoru throw herself in front of Enishi's Jichuu, saving your life.
We will never understand this kind of love. I think its that rare form and you are lucky to have found it in Kaoru.
And now, this love has brought her to the point of death.
I am happy that you two have this epic love that is so unattainable for us all. But I did not realize that the consequences of this love would be so dire. And somehow, something so glorious as love is the source of pain and suffering for the rest of us. It is the reason I have to sit and watch the only woman I would consider as my Okaasan and Otousan , dying.
I have to say, I can find the heart to understand Enishi now.
Tomoe was his sister, and he loved her like no other. Her love for you got her killed. And now Kaoru's love for you is leading to her death. And I can think of no other to blame but you. But neither of them blame you. They would both say it was their choice.
So the difference between Enishi and myself is that I don't blame you. I blame love.
"Hang in there Kenshin." Sanosuke shouted as they rode the horse down the Chinese Mountain range. Kenshin was seated in front, leaning on Sanosuke who was wearing a great tiger skin about his shoulders. "I'll get you home in time. Just remember Kaoru."
"Kao…ru." Kenshin spoke lightly under his breath. His hands clutched at the letters with an amazingly strong grip as he let the scent of his wife's hair ribbon fill his nose. "Kao…ru." He murmured again.
"Soon Kenshin. Soon"