Title:    A New Beginning

Rated: PG-13 (Violence & Language)

Author: charismatic angel

Email: charismatic_angel@msn.com

Chapter Date: July 20, 2003

All the stuff you do not want to read but I have to say:

* sighs * I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Someone else owns the rights and characters to this series. You know the rest…(Please don't sue me)

Chapter 24:

Sanosuke whistled to himself as he happily carried a pizza box in one hand. The tantalizing aroma from the hot pizza drifted to his nose as he let out a greedy sigh.

'I can't wait to get home and eat! It smells so good.' Sanosuke thought to himself as he drooled.

The door to Kaoru's apartment opened, catching Sanosuke's attention.

"Hey missy, did you decide to come and join me?" Sano shouted excitedly.

A look of shock washed over his face as he watched a man exit her apartment. The unknown man turned to give him an icy stare before going on his way.

Sano had a bad feeling about him. He gave off a strange aura; something told him that this guy was bad news.

"What the…" Sano trailed, "Who the hell is he?"

'Missy! I got to make sure she's alright!' Sano panicked.

Sano pounded on Kaoru's door like there was no tomorrow. He was worried that the guy had done something to her and if he did, he'd pay for it.

"Missy! Hey Missy you in there! Open up! Are you okay?!" Sano shouted.

Kaoru was in the bathroom still in shock after reading the results of the pregnancy test. She was briefly distracted, when she heard someone pounding on her door. The knocking was urgent and she could hear the person on the other side shouting. Worried, Kaoru quickly threw the test into the garbage and raced towards the door.

She jerked the door the open to find Sano standing outside with a distressed look on his face.

"Missy are you alright?! I saw that guy leave your apartment. He didn't do anything to you did he?" Sano said in a fearful voice.

Kaoru's eyes widened and she let out a sharp gasp.

"Sano you scared me." She said pulling her hand to her chest.

"You're alright?" he said giving her an inquisitive look.

"Yes, I am alright." She lightly said.

"You sure? Cause if that guy did anything to you, I'd make him pay." Sano said knocking his fist into his other hand.

Kaoru raised her eyebrows with slight amusement, seeing that he was so ready to protect her. Kaoru wished she was able to tell him, but then he'd be in danger. Aoshi was somebody who she'd have to handle on her own.

"I'm okay." She said convincingly.

"So who is he?" He said, cocking an eyebrow at her.

"He's just someone I know. He dropped by to give me something." She said making a fake smile.

"Right…." Sanosuke said giving her a disbelieving look.

'I don't know what's going on here kid but I don't buy it. I have a feeling that this guy has something to do with you and Kenshin. I'm not sure how, but I just know.' He silently thought to himself.

"Is there anything else I can do for you then?" Kaoru said, hoping to get rid of him.

Sano nervously scratched the back of his head and remembered the pizza.

'Damn! I bet it's cold! Of all the rotten luck!' He thought miserably to himself.

"Ummm, you wanna come over for pizza? The offers still up."

"No thanks, I really want to be alone right now." She said softly.

"I understand, but if you need someone to talk to, you know where I am." He said giving her a hopeful look.

"Thanks Sano." She replied before shutting the door.

Sano headed towards his apartment to eat his cold pizza alone.

"Maybe I'm not the person you need to talk to. Hmmm…. I think I'll call Fox and see if she'll come around. Another woman might know how to handle this better.' Sano pondered.

Kaoru wasn't sure how to handle the emotions that were going through her head. She was depressed because Kenshin no longer loved her, fearful for the life of her friends, shocked by her pregnancy, and confused as what to do next.

Kaoru laid on her bed feeling melancholy. She no longer had the strength or tears to cry. She felt empty as if there was nothing more of her to give. Everything she worked so hard for was slowly disappearing through her eyes.

'I no longer have anything to stay here for. The lives of my friends are in danger. I can't let them get hurt, when all of this is my fault. I should have known better…I should have known he'd find me. I am so stupid! I wish that everything turned out differently…I wish that I had a reason to stay here for…no I mustn't think that…it's selfish of me to feel so…it would be much more difficult to leave, knowing someone loved me.' She sadly thought

'I only have a few days, so I must prepare myself. I've made my decision. I will go back to Enishi. I'm not going to let my friends get hurt. I would gladly exchange my life for theirs. There is nothing more to live for.'

Kaoru sadly put her hand on her stomach and gently rubbed it.

"I am sorry that you had to come into the world at a time like this. You were very unexpected. I wish things could be different and that I was able to keep you. Even though your father doesn't love me, I love you...and because I love you, I can't let you be born into this world." She softly whispered in a heart broken tone.

********************

Later that day, Kaoru decided it was best to clean up her affairs before she departed. She only had a few days to get everything in order and there was no time to waste. The lives of her friends, especially Misao's depended upon her.

Her first order of business would be to inform Tae that she wouldn't be returning to the Akabeko.

*********************

Tae was despondent when she heard Kaoru was leaving. She tried to convince Kaoru to stay until she was able to find a replacement, but Kaoru sadly declined. Tae didn't quite understand why she was leaving and was sorry to see her go.

The second person Kaoru wanted to see was Tsubame. Tsubame had been such a good friend to her since she arrived. It was going to be hard saying goodbye to her.

Tsubame arrived to see Kaoru returning her uniform. She gave Kaoru a confused look, not fully understanding the situation.

"Kaoru, what are you doing here?" Tsubame said giving her a puzzling look.

Kaoru gave Tsubame a sad smile, "I'm saying goodbye."

"What?" Tsubame gasped.

"I'm going back to Japan in a few days."

"Why? I thought you liked it here? I don't understand."

Kaoru cast her eyes to the floor as she spoke, "Kenshin and I broke up and I think it'd be best if I were to leave."

"Oh Kaoru!" Tsubame said as she ran up to Kaoru and embraced her.

"I didn't know. I'm so sorry. When did you guys break up?" Tsubame asked.

Kaoru separated herself from Tsubame and tried to compose herself.

"We broke up yesterday." She whispered

"Only yesterday!? And your leaving?! Kaoru you can't go…it's only been a day. Things will get better you will see." Tsubame said trying to sound comforting.

"No, things won't get better."

"Kaoru, you can't say that!" Tsubame snapped.

"I'm pregnant Tsubame. I'm pregnant and he doesn't love me. He probably doesn't even want this child." Kaoru said tearily.

Tsubame put her hand on Kaoru's back trying to comfort her.

"How do you know he doesn't want this baby? Did you ask him?" she said softly.

"He's gone. I don't know where he is." Kaoru sobbed.

Tsubame pulled a Kleenex out of her purse and handed it to Kaoru so she could dry her tears.

Kaoru took the Kleenex and began to dab her eyes.

"I can't have this baby Tsubame. I've made an appointment for tomorrow."

"Kaoru are you sure you want to do that? You should think about it some more before you go through with it. Once you do it there's no going back."

"I've made up my mind." Kaoru replied.

"Kaoru, you are my friend and I'm not going to let you do this alone. If that is your decision I'll go along with you." Tsubame said reassuringly.

"Thank you Tsubame. Your friendship means a lot to me." Kaoru said giving Tsubame a hug.

"That's what friends are for." Tsubame smiled.

********************

Kaoru sadly walked back to her apartment, thinking about what tomorrow would bring. She made it to her door when she saw Megumi and Yahiko standing outside of Sano's place.

Megumi turned to see Kaoru.

"Hello Miss Megumi and little Yahiko." Kaoru greeted.

"Don't call me little!" Yahiko shouted.

Megumi shot Yahiko a disappointed look.

"Hello Miss Kaoru. Yahiko here is a little tired, because he didn't get enough sleep this afternoon."

'He must be one sleep deprived child, because he acts like that all the time.' Kaoru laughed to herself.

"Do you know where Sano is? I wanted to talk with him but it doesn't look like he's home." Megumi spoke

"No, I'm sorry I don't know where he is." Kaoru replied.

"Oh, well do you think Yahiko could use your bathroom? I don't have a key to the rooster head's place."

"Sure." Kaoru said unlocking her door and inviting them in.

"The bathrooms right through there." Kaoru said, pointing towards her bedroom.

"Go on Yahiko." Megumi said giving him a gentle push.

Megumi looked around Kaoru's place and noticed it was a lot better looking than Sanosuke's place.

"You did a nice job of cleaning this place up." Megumi complimented.

"Thanks."

"Would you like something to drink? I can make some tea if you'd like."

Megumi waived her hand in front of her and said, "No thanks."

There was an awkward silence between them until Megumi spoke.

"I'm sorry to hear about you and sir Ken." She whispered.

'I was right, everyone knows.' Kaoru seethed

"Ya." Was all Kaoru could say.

"It took me a long time to get over the divorce from Sanosuke. I loved him, even though he was a stupid rooster head most of the time." Megumi giggled.

"Listen, it may seem hard at first but time heals all wounds. I realized that it would have been a lot easier if I had someone to talk with."

Kaoru gave Megumi an aggravated look.

"Don't tell me 'time heals all wounds.' That's a bunch of garbage. Who do you think you are, coming in here and preaching about love to me? You have no clue what I am going through right now." Kaoru snapped.

"I know exactly how you feel." Megumi calmly replied.

"Oh, really?! Why don't you try saying that when your boyfriend breaks up with you for no reason…when he leaves you behind…when he leaves you pregnant with other choice…" Kaoru stopped mid sentence and clapped her hand over her mouth.

'Oh my god! I said too much! She made me so angry I couldn't control myself.' She silently scolded herself.

Megumi cocked her eyebrow at her, understanding the situation.

Kaoru turned her face away.

"Does he know?" Megumi softly asked.

"No." Kaoru whispered.

"I shouldn't tell you this, but I know for a fact that Sanosuke knows where he is."

Kaoru looked back at Megumi with a look of surprise on her face.

"You know where…he…is?"

Megumi nodded, "Sano does and I'm sure he'd tell you where Kenshin is, considering the situation."

"I don't need to know where he is. It's better off that he doesn't know, because I've already made my decision. I have an appointment at a clinic tomorrow." Kaoru said solemnly.

Megumi's eyes popped open.

"You're not going to tell him?!" she gasped.

"It's my choice and besides, Kenshin doesn't love me anymore."

"That makes no sense! I don't agree with what you are doing. If that is your choice, then I cannot stop you. You should stop being so selfish and reconsider telling him about your pregnancy. You could at least give him the choice as to whether or not he wants to be a father!" Megumi shouted.

Megumi's words hit Kaoru like a ton of bricks. Everything that she just said was true, but Kaoru had already made up her mind.

"Please don't tell anyone what I just said, especially Sanosuke." Kaoru whispered.

Megumi nodded her head.

"I won't say anything even though I think it's wrong."

A few moments later, Yahiko emerged from the bedroom and jumped into his mother's arms.

"I'm sorry for troubling you Miss Kaoru." Megumi said before leaving.

'Am I really so selfish?' Kaoru thought, once she was alone.

*********************

The next day Tsubame picked Kaoru up, so they could go to her appointment at the clinic. Kaoru's stomach turned the whole way there. She was beginning to have second thoughts about going through with the procedure.

After the talk with Megumi, Kaoru realized how selfish she was being. Nonetheless, there was no turning back now. She knew Enishi would never allow her to keep the baby.

Silent tears formed in her eyes as she pictured her and Kenshin sitting together, holding their child. A lonely tear escaped her eye and trailed down her cheek, as she dreamt of what would never be.

The car stopped, they were finally at the clinic.
Tsubame turned to Kaoru, "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

Kaoru nodded her head and somberly got out of the car. Tsubame also got out and waited for Kaoru to join her on the other side of the car.

'I can do this, I can do this, I can do this.' Kaoru repeated to herself.

Kaoru walked to the front of the car and paused for a slight moment. Tsubame saw her hesitation and hoped Kaoru wouldn't go through with this. She knew that Kaoru had reservations about going through with it. She hoped Kaoru would come to her senses before she did anything she'd regret.

Kaoru sunk to her knees and put her head in her hands as she began to cry.

"I can't do this! I just can't do this!" she sobbed.

Tsubame raced over to her. She knelt down and put her arms around Kaoru's fallen figure.

"It's alright…you don't have to do this." Tsubame whispered

End of Chapter 24

Wow! Okay what a shock, for those of you who thought Kaoru wouldn't do a thing like this! I know I said Kaoru couldn't have children, but that was so I could create a little drama…I didn't plan on being that mean! Anyways, I will explain later as to why she "couldn't" have children etc….so bare with me!

I know this was a short chapter but I'll try to make it up next time! There is a still lot more to come, so please stay tuned!

I would like to thank MiraiGurl for giving me the idea to have Sano see Aoshi as he was leaving Kaoru's apartment. This could be the turning point, which causes some alarm…some way or another.

I would like to thank everyone for the charming reviews and suggestions! I've missed all of your replies, since ff.net has been down. I'm glad everything is back up and running once more!

Thank you for reading!

~*Charismatic Angel*~