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.
Yahiko sat at Kaoru's side. She was sleeping still, but she fidgeted and beads of sweat rolled from her forehead. "Kaoru." He spoke softly to himself.
She stirred at the sound of his voice and her eyes slowly opened. There was a sadness when her dull sapphire eyes met his. She thought it might be her husband, finally home.
Seeing the dismay in Yahiko's expression, she reached up and touched his cheek. Even her fingertips burned. "Yahiko."
He clenched his teeth together, fighting impending tears, being strong for her.
"I am very proud of you Yahiko. You turned out to be a fine young man. Probably much like the son my father wanted to have." Her hand fell and rested over his fingers on his knees. They curled and tightened around them, locking their hands together. "I am happy that you will be the one carrying on the Kamiya Kasshin budo. I am glad you are my successor. I wouldn't want it to be anyone else but you. My very best and loyal student. A member of my own family."
Yahiko turned his hand over so that it was palm to palm with hers and clasped her hand. So this was it. This was their goodbye. She was saying it now, maybe because she already letting go. She has decided to give up.
"He's coming you know. Sano is getting him. He is coming." Yahiko cried fervently.
Kaoru nodded, "I know. I just wanted to say things now. I wanted you to know."
"You should rest." Yahiko turned his face from her, not wanting her to see his brimming eyes. Not wanting to continue the goodbye.
"I've rested enough. Besides I think its time to take that retched medicine Megumi insists upon." She took the cup at her side and began to sip it, her face scrunching in reaction to the taste. She made a motion that she wanted something to wash it down with. "Would you?"
He nodded and she smiled in thanks.
Just before Yahiko closed the shoji door, he turned and faced Kaoru who was still trying to finish her tea. "Kaoru?"
"Hmm?" She looked up from her tea and met his dark gaze.
"Since we are saying things." He paused for a moment trying to find his words. His hands kept busy fiddling with the paneling on the shoji door. "I just want you to know that I am only what you made me. If there is anything about me you are proud of, then really you should be proud of yourself for making me that way. Everything I am was only possible because you gave me a home and something to strive for." He paused again, looking down at the floor, no longer able to face her soft eyes and no longer able to hold back his own tears. Slowly he found his voice again, but he spoke softly, hiding the quiver of his words. "You are my family. And losing you will be like losing my mother all over again."
"Yahiko…" He looked up at the sound of her soft voice. "you aren't losing me." She gave him a gentle smile, a true smile, and suddenly, he believed her words. She turned back to her cup of medicine and took another sip, cringing at the taste.
"I'll go get that tea for you." Yahiko closed the shoji door behind him and wiped away his tears. He didn't know if he could bear their conversation any longer and was glad that Kaoru had given him an excuse to leave.
He hurried to the kitchen to find Tsubame and asked her if she would bring Kaoru some tea. He avoided her stare and worried inquiries, keeping his head low, and retreated to his room. He couldn't sit with Kaoru after that. He couldn't say goodbye again.
He pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen.
Dear Kenshin,
Goodbyes are hard. I suppose that's why you always avoided saying them to us, and just took off instead. But I think we would have appreciated you goodbyes. Because I think in the back of our minds, even if we know you are coming back, there is a thought that maybe you won't. It would have been nice if you said goodbye this last time. Just in case.
I'm sure you said your goodbyes to Kaoru. You always did. Ever since you thought you lost her, you have never hesitated to tell her things you want her to know. Just in case you don't get the chance to say it later.
I suppose that is what Kaoru and I have just done. Its unlikely she will leave us today, but just in case, she wanted me to know. I don't know what prompted her to tell me today, but I am glad she did. And I am glad I got to tell her how I felt before it was too late. I would hate if she didn't know.
Same with you. I would hate if you never heard some things I have to tell you. I hope Sano finds you and brings you back safely. Then I can tell you. In fact, I think it will be the first thing I do when you come home. That way I can be sure that you know.
Just to be on the safe side, I should tell everyone how I feel always. After all, life is so unexpected. Things happen just like
"YAHIKO-kun!!!!"