Within These Padded Walls

By

Black Twilight

You could say I'm crazy
You could say I'm wrong
But in the end I may be just like everyone.

-- BROTHER

(Author's Notes and Disclaimer @ end of chapter. Until then...enjoy!)

"Yukishiro-san, are you ready?" a feminine voice called.

Enishi grumbled and straightened his white lab coat before heading out the door. He was greeted by Megumi Takani, one of his associates at the 'facility', or at least that was what everyone else called it. In truth, he worked at an insane asylum. A nut house. A loony bin.

Despite his protests he enjoyed his work. Helping people overcome their illnesses made him feel better. It made him feel like all the lives he took in his previous job were slowly being replaced.

Yes, he thought, this job is much better than being an assassin.

Enishi returned from the clouds and stared at his colleague. She smiled and handed him a clipboard.

"So," he said flipping through the papers, "who's up today?"

"Kamiya Kaoru. You remember her?"

"Yes…the raven-haired girl. She checked herself in about 2 years ago. I thought her treatment would be over by now."

Megumi sighed and stared at the floor, a habit Enishi recognized . It unusually meant she had bad news.

"Well, so did I. But the benzodiazepine isn't working anymore…and her condition has gotten worse."

"Worse?!"

"Maybe it was a side effect, I don't know."

God, last time I saw her she was all skin and bones …I wonder what she looks like now. He shook his white mane, trying not to think about her condition. Truthfully, he didn't want to know. The implications were too much to handle.

"Sir?" Megumi's hesitant voice whispered.

"Alright. I'll go check on her."

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Enishi walked through the asylum's hallways and cringed. White, white, white….Everything was white. It was nauseating. However, he tried to think of things in a different light.

You know, a little voice said, white is the color of purity and righteousness.

He laughed out loud. "But to see a white cat in Europe is bad luck." He stopped chuckling when he realized he was talking to himself. With a sigh he wondered if HE should be in a padded room. But his thoughts were cut short when he reached the end of the hall.

There it was. Room 666. Strangely ironic.

He pushed open the door .

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Kaoru was sitting on the metal cot the hospital had provided, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her back was turned to him and her eyes were glued to the wall; staring at nothing. Or perhaps it was just something he couldn't see.

Enishi closed the door with a rough 'slam' but Kaoru didn't even flinch. He bit his lip and reached out to touch her shoulder. The paper gown constricted over her small, bony frame. She was so thin that her ribs could be seen through the once tight-fitting robe. Enishi sucked his breath in at the sight.

"Kamiya Kaoru?" he called.

No answer.

"Excuse me? I'm Yukishiro Enishi, a doctor. I'm…going to try to help you."

The same blank stare.

"You need to eat something."

The girl paid no attention to him and continued to stare at the white paint. She sighed contentedly and her head dipped forward slightly. What was she seeing? Enishi grew more and more curious.

"Kaoru-dono?" he called.

It was then that she whipped around to stare at him; face resembling that of a trapped animal. Enishi sat there in shock. However, she took that opportunity to attack him, nails slashing across his tanned face. He yelped and pulled away….or attempted to. She grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer.

Cobalt blue met sapphire.

Kaoru broke down.

Her head slumped against his shoulder while her back arched with sobs. She made a sound halfway between a wail and a moan. Not really knowing what to do, Enishi awkwardly patted her back. Kaoru stiffened and pulled away.

"Get out," she whispered.

Enishi's eyes widened in surprise. Most of his patients were mute and considering her state…he didn't even think she could speak.

"Go. Away," she gritted through her teeth. However, Enishi had a will of steel. Nothing would scare him off.

"You need help," he persisted.

She glared at him through her black bangs. Ever so slowly Kaoru raised her fist. As quickly as Enishi had entered the room, he ran out of it.

Well, most things didn't scare him off.

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Enishi ran out of the room, afraid of what she might do next. He took deep, even breaths to calm him himself and then slumped against the door, slowly sinking to the floor.

That woman, he thought, perhaps a little sadly, how come I can't reach her?

He was so deep in his thoughts that he barely heard the sound of Megumi's black boots clacking down the hallway. Enishi lifted his head to meet her smiling face.

"So, how was the examination Yukishiro-san?"

Enishi grunted and held his head in his hands. He could just feel the headache coming…But to his surprise he felt a cool sensation at his fingertips. He pulled his hands back.

He was bleeding. For a moment he just sat there in shock, for the second time that day. He…was bleeding.

"Oh, my goodness! What happened?" Megumi's worried voice cooed as she started to dab his face with her coat.

"She attacked me."

"With what?" she traced her hands over his wound. "This cut is pretty deep. It's probably going to scar."

Enishi sighed, "Her fingernails."

"Really? She looks pretty harmless to me. Besides, all she does all is stare at that damn wall." Megumi laughed a little bitterly. "Look, she's even doing it now."

"What?!"

Enishi scrambled to his feet. He peered the door's window. Sure enough, she was at it again. Hands folded in her lap, back turned…How could such a lively person be so contained like that? Animated enough to wound him on minute, but then she just sat there the next. He continued to stare.

"Hey! HEY! Earth to Yukishiro!"

"Huh? Oh…just thinking."

"Anyways, let's get your face cleaned up. It's bleeding all over my floor."

He grumbled and reluctantly let her drag him down the hallway. They both walked in silence until Enishi finally spoke.

"You know, her room number matches her personality."

"Hn?"

"666. That girl is the devil…"

Megumi arched an eyebrow, but said nothing.

-------------------- end of chapter one -----------------------------------------------------

Medical Terms:

anxiety disorder. A group of conditions marked by persistent disturbances in mood or emotions, as well as elevated blood pressure, rapid breathing and rapid heart rate.

benzodiazepine (ben-zo-di-AZ-uh-pene). A class of sedative medications sometimes used to treat anxiety disorders.

Author's Notes: Well, I see you've stumbled across my RK fanfic, 'Within These Padded Walls'. So some of you may be asking, why God? Why EnishixKaoru?!!! And to make a long story short, I love alternate pairings. A lot. ^_^ A veeerrryyy special 'thank you' to Crystal Renee for reviewing this story before it hit fanfiction.net. I love you, and I shall dedicate WTPW to your wonderfulness! Maybe I'll write a haiku for you sometime in the future.... Hehe. Anyways, feel free to e-mail me with any questions or death threats you may have for me at blacktwilight96@yahoo.com. And PLEASE review!! This story actually required research *gasp* and science stuff. Oooooo....

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, Samurai X, or the characters. They are the prouct of Nobuhiro Watsuki's genius mind. If I had it my way...Aoshi would be locked in my closet along with Seifer Almasy, Legato, and my bishie army. However...I DO own this story and basically anything you see in the following chapters. Any similarities to any other stories are purely coincidental.