Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or anything thereof, which, when you think about it, is probably for the best ^_~, and I'm not writing this for profit, but for pure enjoyment.

Author's Note: Just for ayone who's wondering, this takes place sometime after the Kenshin-gumi return to Tokyo after the Kyoto Arc. Here it is...hope you enjoy it! (Oh yes, and reviews are very much appreciated!) ^_^x

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"Out of a Nightmare"

Where was she? It was dark, very dark. She was aware of a floor beneath her. It was cold and hard, probably made of stone. She reached out, through the darkness on either side of her, but could feel no walls, and yet she felt a sense of confinement. It pressed on her very soul, weighing her down, making her feel as if she were suffocating.

Suddenly she saw something. It was ahead of her, far, far away. She blinked and looked again, thinking it was only her imagination, but it was still there, faint but solid in the endless void around her.

She began to run. She was gaining on it. Now she was only a few feet away. The figure turned around, and for the first time, she saw it clearly. Kaoru stopped dead.

"Kenshin," she whispered, her voice seeming to fall away into the darkness.

He said nothing. He simply smiled, turned, and kept on walking. She had to catch up. She had to go after him. Without realizing it, she started running again. He was going at unbelievable speed, and yet he looked like he was walking at a leisurely pace. He was slipping away from her. He disappeared into the darkness. He was gone. She would never see him again. She stopped running and sank to the ground.

"Kenshin," she spoke through her tears. "Kenshin, please, please don't leave me..."

She heard his voice. It seemed to come out of the darkness. It was speaking softly, saying something, though the only word she could make out was "Kaoru-dono."

Slowly, the darkness fell away, and she returned to reality. She was aware of someone holding her hand. Now she could hear his voice clearly, "Kaoru-dono, wake up. It's okay. Please wake up."

With a huge effort she opened her eyes. It was Kenshin that was holding her hand. His face was bent over hers, and he looked worried.

She sat up and embraced him. She felt his body tense and then loosen, as he wrapped his arms around her in response.

"Please don't leave me again, Kenshin. Please don't leave," she breathed into his shoulder.

"Never, Kaoru-dono. Never."