Author's note: I don't know if this is a Kaoru/Kenshin fic anywmore! Well, honestly, I prefer battousai rather than rurouni but some people prefer the rurouni. Oh well.. 

Chapter 9

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She was dazing off to sleep but opened her eyes suddenly when she remembered something,
"Damn it! I left father's bokken and katana!"

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Kaoru hurried to the place. She saw the sun was rising. 'Oh man! Faster! Faster!' Kaoru thought. She arrived there and saw the bokken but the katana was nowhere to be found. 'Where is it?!' Kaoru tried to find it but the sun had rise completely. She had to go home or else Dr. Genzai would know that she was missing. But that katana was the only katana her father had! 'Go to town with little kaoru and then try to find it again!' Kaoru planned in her head.

She ran back home and as she arrived at the front door, she fell to her knees. At the same time, Dr. Genzai opened the door. He looked straight ahead and didn't look down, therefore he couldn't see Kaoru kneeling down. "Hmmm… Where is Myojin-san? It's still early, no way she's out there taking a walk. Maybe I'll check around the dojo," Dr. Genzai said. He turned back into the house and closed the door.

Kaoru sighed with relief. Man, she was right in front of him but he couldn't notice her! Lucky.. She heard Dr. Genzai opened the dojo's door so, Kaoru raced to her bedroom. As she laid on her futon, she heard Dr. Genzai screamed. "Aaahh!! The Katana is gone! The Katana is stolen!" Kaoru closed her eyes tightly, 'Uh-oh.. He noticed already.'

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That morning, Kaoru and Dr. Genzai searched around the house and around the dojo and as Kaoru expected, they couldn't find it. Dr. Genzai looked so worried, Kaoru had never seen him like this before. He was usually calm and cool. So, Kaoru decided to ask, "Is this Katana really important to Kamiya-san? I mean.. urrmm.. If he loses this katana, he can buy another one, right? But you seemed to be worried a lot about this."

Dr. Genzai forced a smile and explained, "This Katana is very important to Koshijiro. He used this katana in all his wars and battles. And because of this Katana also, he began to realize that 'Swords that protects'. And to tell you the truth, because of this katana also, he met his wife." Kaoru was utterly speechless. Her father never told her how he met her mother but Kaoru expected it to be more romantic.

"How did they meet, Dr. Genzai?" Kaoru asked.

"They..," Dr. Genzai was about to answer but suddenly, little Kaoru showed and said, "I'm ready, Saori-neechan! Let's go shopping!" Kaoru was disappointed. She really wanted to hear the story. But suddenly she remembered that this was her chance to find the katana. "Let's go!" Kaoru then grabbed little Kaoru and hurried out leaving a puzzled Dr. Genzai.

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After visiting the cemetery, Kaoru brought little Kaoru to the place. "Kaoru, help Saori-neechan find something, okay? If you find a katana, tell Saori-neechan. Understand?" Little Kaoru nodded in understanding. They searched for it for a few minutes then, a voice startled them. "What are you doing here, raccoon girl?" Kaoru didn't turn around at first but she thought, 'Raccoon girl? Only one man called me that..' She turned around and saw Saitou.

She was surprised though, when she saw Saitou was holding Okita's limp body. "He's sick again. I don't know if he'll make it. There's no doctor around here," Saitou explained emotionlessly. Kaoru felt her heart grown sad but she remembered something, "AAHH!! Follow me! I know a doctor. Come on! Kaoru, let's go home!" Saitou followed Kaoru and little Kaoru back home. 'That Katana can wait.. Maybe..,' Kaoru thought panicly.

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Dr. Genzai was in the room with Okita for an hour already. Little Kaoru was sleeping and Kaoru and Saitou was waiting impatiently outside. Breaking the silence, Kaoru asked, "How long since he know he has this tuberculosis?"

Saitou said sadly, "Last year. He's still a kid. Why must he die young!"

Kaoru was felt sorry for them and felt very miserable but she was quiet angry when Saitou said that, "Saitou-san! You shouldn't say that! How do you know he will die?! There's still a chance for him. We just have to hope and pray for him. You shouldn't let your hope down. He's fighting for his life, he must live!" Kaoru felt tears forming in her eyes. 'Why am I crying? Because of Okita-san of course.. Okita-san, please be okay!'

Saitou who saw her tears smiled inwardly. 'She worried so much about Okita. They should be together. I'll make sure of it!' He promised to himself. Then, the door opened and Dr. Genzai stepped out. Saitou asked, "So, how is he?"

Dr. Genzai looked at him and spoke, "For now, I'm not sure if he's gonna live for a long time. But I'll try to treat him with the latest treatment and medicines. But for that, I need him to stay here for a while. Do you mind, Hajime-san?" Saitou thought of it for a while. But the Shinsengumi.. No, they still have him! Saitou nodded.

Saitou went into the room and knelt beside Okita. "Okita, don't worry. You'll be alright. You have to stay here to get better. I'll be handling the Shinsengumi," Saitou declared.

"But.. what about the..," Okita protested.

Saitou cut him off, "I'll be handling that too! Just don't worry about a thing! You have to get better! Or else all the Shinsengumi will be gloomy and shatters of losing a great leader like you and so as our little raccoon girl here." Saitou and Okita looked at Kaoru whi was talking with Dr. Genzai. "She's really worried about you, Okita."

Okita smiled and nodded. Saitou stood up and left. Dr. Genzai then came in with Kaoru. He said, "Okita, you should rest. You should know your own situation. But I'll try my best to cure you. Have a nice sleep. Goodnight!" Dr. Genzai then left Kaoru and Okita alone in the room and closed the door.

"How are you?" Kaoru asked as she sat beside him.

"I'm fine. Well, it does hurt a bit. But I feel better. I have to thank Dr. Genzai for that.. and you," Okita answered.

"Me? Why me?"

"Urrmm.. Let's just not talk about that. Myojin-san, how are you lately? Did you meet Battousai recently or did he bother you?" Okita asked. Kaoru saw his concerned face and couldn't help but smile.

"I'm very fine and no, I didn't meet him lately. Okita-san.. Do not give up hope. Dr. Genzai will cure you! I'm sure of it!" Kaoru promised him.

Okita smiled and whispered, "Myojin-san, there's no way I can be cured. Dr. Genzai can only extended my time to live. Even so, I will never let my sickness alter my life. I will live my life to the fullest. But.."

"But what?"

"But.. honestly, I'm quiet scared. Maybe you'll laugh at me but I'm scared. I'm really scared to die. Scared to leave my family. I'm scared to know that I'm going to leave this place. And.. I'm scared to know that I'm going to be alone when I die. Alone..," Okita whispered as he smiled weakly. Even though he was the great leader of the great Shinsengumi, he was still a young boy who never want to be alone.

Kaoru remembered the time when her father died and she was left alone. She cried all night but Dr. Genzai came and she was never alone again when Kenshin, Yahiko and Sanosuke came. "That's what I'm scared of. Hahaha.. I know I may sound ridiculous. Sorry..," but before Okita could finish his sentence, Kaoru hugged him.

"Stop saying that! Just stop! You'll be fine! You're gonna get healthy. When that time comes, you can lead shinsengumi again. You're not gonna leave this place," Kaoru yelled while hugging him tightly. Then tears started to fall freely on her cheeks, "Okita-san.. you're ..not .. alone.. not alone.. you're going.. to be.. fine.."

After a while, Kaoru fell asleep in Okita's arm. Okita smiled and whispered, "Myojin-san.. Arigato."

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The next morning, Kaoru woke up to find herself sleeping in Okita's arms. Okita was still sleeping. Kaoru blushed and got up from Okita slowly as not to wake him up. Then, she sneaked out. But as she closed the door, Okita opened his eyes.

Dr. Genzai and little Kaoru were gone so Kaoru tried to cook the food herself. But then, a voice from outside made her jump.

"MYOJIN-SAN! THIS IS SOUZOU! ARE YOU IN THERE?!"

Kaoru walked to the front door and saw Souzou holding a katana. "Why are you here?" Kaoru asked.

"Oh.. You left your katana 2 days ago near the river. So, here.. Sorry I was late of giving it to you. I sorta have a job to do," Souzou said as he gave her an apologetic smile.

Kaoru smiled back and said, "Thank you so much, Souzou! I thought I lost it! Thank you. You're the best!" She took the katana from him and touched his hand accidentally. When she touched his hand, she blushed madly. Souzou grinned at this.

"Myojin-san, are you ready to marry me?" Souzou teased her. Man, he still remember that! Kaoru's ki flared and Souzou laughed. "Just kidding. Don't be mad. I have to get going. See you next time." He left. Kaoru smiled as she walked back into the house but was surprised when she saw Okita standing in front of her.

"Okita-san! You should be resting!"

"Ano.. Myojin-san.. Who is that?" Okita asked. His eyes shining dangerously.

"Oh.. That's my friend. Souzou.. Yup.. A friend!" Kaoru said cheerfully. The great Sagara Souzou was her friend! How cannot she be happy? Okita who saw her cheerful face thought differently. He could feel jealousy flooded over him.

"Hmm.. you two look very intimate.. Are you sure you guys just friends?"

"Okita-san! Of course we are! What's wrong with you?" Kaoru was mad. 'Why is he acting like this?' Kaoru thought.

"I'm sorry, myojin-san. It's just.. I felt weird when I see you talking with him. It just didn't feel right," he said as he walked back to his room, with a puzzled Kaoru still standing there.

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HoNeyZ_RiNoA: Heya guys! Man, I'm sorry.. I took a long time to update. I don't have anymore ideas. Really! That's why this chapter kinda boring~ Oh yeah.. Anyone wants Okita to live? And you guyz, please review this story and why don't you guys check out my other stories? If you don't mind anyway.. Yeah whatever.. So.. Gimme ideas cause I won't update for a LOONGG time without them. I know I sucks.. (-_-) Review~ See you later~ v(^^)v