Fading Away

Part Two

By Maria Cline

Megumi clutched the letter in her hand as she watched the scenery changed.  It had been several years since she had been in Tokyo.  Her clinic had kept her very busy but not too busy to answer the call of her friends.  She could remember the time when she had rushed from Tokyo to Kyoto because Kenshin needed her.  Kaoru may be able to keep Kenshin's heart going but his body belong to her.  Megumi was aware of every weakness in the small man's body.  The only time when she can see him naked was when he was injured or sick.  After she met him, she sensed a kindred spirit within him that understood the pains of having a bloody past.  He killed with a blade and she killed with a drug.  For a while, she thought that she could win his heart but then Jinchuu happened and she watched Kenshin fall apart at the sight of the Kaoru's supposedly dead body pinned against the dojo wall.

She was foolish not to do an autopsy like any good doctor but a part of her was afraid that if the body was faked, Kenshin would not fall for her.  It was a selfish and stupid decision that made her realize that as long as she watched them together, she cannot fully embrace her duties as a doctor.  She left Tokyo and any hope of a future with she and Kenshin together.  Now, she was on her way back to Tokyo to aid them in one final battle; not with a madman but with unbeatable foe called Syphilis. 

The carriage stopped and she stared at the dojo through the window.  It had not changed despite the obvious increase number of students.  She could just order the driver to go back and pretend she never received the letter but it was her duty as a doctor and a woman to go there.  She had to go for Kenshin's sake. 

Finally, she opened the door and took out her luggage.  Tsubame opened the door and sighed in relief, "Megumi-san!" She exclaimed as she picked up her bags.  "Thank you for coming."

"Hey, I can't let those two die without a fight." Megumi smiled bitterly.  "Where are the patients?"

"This way." Tsubame said as they walked through the hallways.  "It has been awful since Kaoru-san's collapse.  Yahiko and I had been taking care of them and Enishi-san has been a big help but Kenshin… Kenshin has been getting worse."

"Enishi?" Megumi repeated, "Enishi has been here?!"

"Hai, he visits on a constant basis.  I was a little nervous at first but he has been a complete gentleman.  He even helped with the chores when Yahiko was busy with the students." Tsubame said as she looked down. 

"I only do what I can.  Hello, Megumi-san, you look well." Enishi said as he came in.  Megumi gasped at the sight.  His hair, his eyes, his clothes, they were all different.  If it weren't for the voice, she could have sworn it was a completely different man. 

"Hello, Enishi-san." Megumi nodded. 

The man stepped forward with a hand behind his back.  He was dressed in a brown pair of pants with a white t-shirt.  "You don't look all that scared." The man observed.

"I've been with worse." Megumi replied as she held up her medical bags.  "I must see Kenshin first."

"Okay, I must go too." Enishi said as he reached from behind and heaved an ax over his shoulder. 

Megumi's jaw dropped at the sight of a bladed weapon in this former psycho's hand and the man quickly amended, "I have to chop firewood." He bowed and walked away with the ax in his hand.

The doctor sweatdropped and thought, /And to think he can fit in so well here./  Tsubame led the woman into the bedroom where Kaoru and Kenshin were sleeping.  Megumi silently came up to the two and knelt down.  Her heart ached at the sight.  The man she cared about had withered away.  Many times, she had seen patients come into her clinic with similar symptoms but most of them were strangers who had nowhere to go.  The disease robs them of their bodies, their pride, and finally their minds.  Kenshin opened his eyes and smiled, "Hello, Megumi-dono." He sat up and rubbed his shoulder. 

"Ah, Ken-san, I came here as soon as I could." Megumi said as she looked at him.  "You are a mess, Ken-san.  Haven't you learned to take care of yourself properly?" She shook her head.  "I swear, you're just a glutton for punishment."

"Gomen nasai, Megumi-dono." Kenshin said as he bowed his head.

"*yawn* Oh, Megumi." Kaoru said as she sat up.  "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"It's my duty as a doctor." Megumi said as she reached into her bag.  "Now, Ken-san, I have to check on you first and then Kaoru."

"Okay, I will leave you two alone." Kaoru moaned as she got up and then took a deep breath. 

"Do you need help?" Megumi asked concerned as she watched the former dojo master struggle to walk.

"No, thank you." Kaoru smiled slightly and walked away.

*****

The sun beat down as the ax flew through the air and struck the piece of wood.  In a clear crack, the wood split in two and the man picked the pieces up and laid then into the growing pile.  Enishi wiped his hands as he studied the wood carefully.  It became one of his duties to the dojo while he was staying in Tokyo.  He did not mind it so much.  He chopped wood all the time while he was wandering and while he was training.  Whenever he felt frustrated, he had to do something. 

The man paused as he looked up to see Kaoru standing there watching in awe.  "Kaoru-san, you should not be going around."

Kaoru smiled at him and replied, "I am not that frail, Enishi-san.  I like being outside, it's getting warm and soon the cherry blossoms will be in full bloom."

"I see." Enishi put down the ax and gazed around.  "Spring is coming."

Kaoru sat down on a bench and Enishi sat down with her.  "I love it when the cherry blossoms fall, they look so beautiful then." She said as she looked at the bare cherry trees. 

"Yes." The man stared at the trees.  "Tomoe loved it when cherry blossoms fall too; she said it looked like snow only warmer.  Akira proposed under a rain of cherry blossoms." He paused when he realized he was rambling about his dead sister again.  "I'm rambling about my sister again."

The woman shook her head and put her hand onto his.  "It's okay.  I'm glad you have good memories of Tomoe, I think I will like her when I see her in heaven."

"You're not going to die yet." Enishi said as he tightened his grip on her hand.  "I won't allow it.  You are too kind to die so young."

Kaoru sighed as she looked at her hands.  "You are still so protective and possessive.  I had led a full life, my dojo had become one of the most famous in Japan, I married the man I loved and my son had grown into a fine young fighter.  Shinta is with me so I can just wait until this disease took me in." With that statement, she smiled again.

Enishi frowned.  "How can you keep on smiling like that despite the fact that you are going to die before winter?"

"I thought you like it when women smile.  Megumi told me that if I smile, that scar on Kenshin's face will heal.  I smile often and so it became a habit.  Maybe, my smile can get rid of those strands of white hair." Kaoru said as she pointed to the patches of white on Enishi's temples.

"I see." The man became quiet again.

"Oh, Enishi, would you like to join us when we have a cherry blossom picnic?" Kaoru asked hopefully, "It would be so nice to have everyone together for once; Tae, Tsubame, Yahiko, Shinta, and even Kenji.  You should meet Kenji, he is your nephew."

"Only through marriage with Shinta's first wife." Enishi corrected, "Do you think that he would really want to meet the man who kidnapped his mother and tried to kill his father?"

"He has met stranger men." Kaoru insisted, "He may need someone to help him understand Shinta and you knew him in a different way than most of us can admit.  As much as I hate to admit it, he need to know about the Battousai as well as the Wanderer."

Enishi sighed as he held her hand again.  "You know that I would do anything for you, Kaoru-san."

"Arigato, Enishi."

*****

Megumi took off her gloves as Kenshin put on his gi again.  The woman closed her eyes.  "You really let yourself go." Megumi said as she knelt down beside her bag.  "Shishio is nothing compared to that stupid disease.  Still, we have to work as hard as we can to win over this."  She got out a small envelope.  "I have some medicine to aid your immune system.  It's a rare ginseng herb all the way from China so you and Kaoru must be careful with that.  I have some other pain killers and other equipment to help you out." She paused when she noticed Kenshin was just staring out.  "Ken-san?  Kenshin?"

"Huh?" Kenshin blinked and shook his head.  "Gomen, Megumi-san, what were you saying?"

"I see." Megumi frowned.  "Your mind is getting worse.  How bad is it?  Tell me." She pleaded as she tightened her fists.  His body was falling apart in front of her but what she can't handle was his mind being the same way.

Kenshin shrugged as he looked away.  "Megumi-dono, I… I… things are… harder for me to put together." The man struggled to find the right words as he rung his hands.

"We have to keep a close eye on that." Megumi leaned over and whispered, "Kenshin, there may be a time when you would lose all bearings of reality.  What do you want when that happens?"

A moment passed between then and finally Kenshin said, "I… I want to keep fighting but… when the time is right, just let me go."

"Let you go?" Megumi whispered as she stared at him.  It was a reasonable request but the idea of just letting the man she cared about fade away was unbearable.  Still, it was her duty as a doctor to accept his wishes.  "Okay, I will tell them that."

*****

Tsubame stirred the soup like always as she waited for Megumi to bring the trays.  It had been a month since Megumi showed up at the dojo.  Without much planning, she, Yahiko, Megumi, and a slightly reluctant Enishi joined together to take care of the sick couple.  She was in charge of cleaning and cooking since she was the best cook.  Yahiko take care of the visitors, help train the students, and contacting all of their friends.  Megumi was in charge of taking care of Kenshin and Kaoru such as giving them medicine, making sure they eat enough, and finding out how healthy they are.  Enishi also take care of Kenshin and Kaoru but more in getting them from one place to another, talking to them, doing the hard labor chores, and helping Yahiko with the finances.  The girl smiled as she thought of the strange group that formed.  They had become more of a family than a group of strangers. 

She poured the soup into the bowls and Megumi came in with the trays.  "Ah, Tsubame-chan, finished already?" The woman asked as she helped the younger woman put the bowls on the trays.

"Hai, Megumi-san." Tsubame said as she put the spoons onto the trays.  "Will they be eating in their futons again?"

Megumi sighed as she stared down.  "That woman can't let him eat alone and he was too weak to go around on his own.  I'm sure they will regain their strength once they eat.  Did you put in the garlic I asked you?"

"Hai."

"Good.  Garlic has been known to help with the circulatory system and every little bit helps." Megumi said as she took a sip.  "Ah… can't even taste it.  You are a much better cook than me."

"It is all I can do.  I wish I can do more for Kenshin and Kaoru." Tsubame whispered as she bowed her head. 

"You are doing fine." Megumi comforted, "We all want to do more than what we can do.  Tiger cares even if he doesn't show it."

"I had nothing else to do." Enishi said as he came in.  "And I wish you wouldn't call me 'Tiger'."

"Why not?" The woman smirked as she held out a tray.  "Here, make yourself useful and help me take these to our patients."

"Yes, Megumi-san." Enishi smirked but took the bowls and followed her to the bedroom where Kaoru and Kenshin were waiting.  They were dressed in their sleeping clothes as always since they rarely got out of the room if not the dojo. 

"Ken-san, Kaoru, it's time to eat and take your medicine." Megumi said as she smiled and got out the pouches.

She handed the two pouches to the patients.  Kenshin's pouch was somewhat larger with more ginseng and other medicines mixed in for maximum effect.  The man stared at it as Enishi got out the tea.  "Go ahead and drink it down before you eat." Enishi urged as he put the tea on the tray.  He glanced at the old tea cup to see the intricate designs of plum blossoms.  Carefully, he made it faced the sick man.

Kenshin picked up the pouch and downed the powders.  He grimaced at the taste and he picked up the tea.  He saw the picture and stared at it.  The picture should have meaning and yet he could not figure out what it meant.  Finally, he drank down the tea and rubbed his throat.  "Bi…tter." He muttered.

"Medicine is meant to be bitter." Megumi said as Kaoru took her own medicine. 

"Can't you make this taste better, Megumi-san?" Kaoru asked.

"Not without diluting the effects of the medicine." Megumi said apologetically.  "Will you two stop complaining every time you have to take medicine?  It's good for you."

"She has a point there." Enishi agreed as he filled the tea cups. 

"Gomen ne." Kaoru said as she bowed her head and then she started to drink her soup.  She glanced at Kenshin who picked up a spoon with shaking hands and slowly ate.  Megumi and Enishi watched the man carefully.  Slowly but surely, Kenshin managed to made it half-way through when he winced in pain and dropped the spoon onto the tray.  He stared at for a while and then Enishi picked up the spoon and handed it to him. 

"Here."

Kenshin smiled at him and continued eating.  Enishi sighed as he put his hand onto his eyes.  Lately, Kenshin had been speaking less and just spaced out more.  Most of his sentences were one worded and there were times when he would try to speak more but had lost track of reality and space out.  Many nights he would stay at the dojo and watched the Kenshin sleep.  He would gasp out in pain many times.  Enishi would get out his pistol and aimed it at the man's head.  It would have been violent and noisy but at least it would end things peacefully for the tortured man.  However, he could not bring himself to pull the trigger.  His sister and Kaoru would be mad at him.

Finally, the two were done and fell asleep like they always did.  Enishi and Megumi with ninja like stealth picked up the trays and cups and walked out.  After Megumi closed the door she sighed, "The medicine is having less of an effect on them.  Ken-san's condition is not getting any better and I don't have much ginseng left."

"You mean this?" Enishi asked as he reached into his pocket and handed her a huge envelope.  "I may not be a mafia warlord any more but I have contacts in a few places."

Megumi smiled as she accepted the envelope.  "You sneaky little tiger, I was wondering how my supplies had lasted as long as they did.  You have been sneaking them in while I was not looking!"

"I don't know what you are talking about." Enishi denied as he crossed his arms. 

"Liar." The two walked toward the kitchen where Yahiko and Tsubame were waiting with their food. 

"How are they?" Yahiko asked as he handed the bowls of rice to Megumi and then Enishi.

"They complained about their medicine being bitter but they took it." Enishi said as he started to eat.  He glared down at the tea cup with the blossoms that was sitting to the side.  "He's forgetting her." He realized.

"Excuse me?" Tsubame asked, "Is Kenshin forgetting Kaoru?"

"No." Enishi held the cup in his hand.  "He had been talking less, he barely say anything at all.  I'm afraid that he may have forgotten my sister.  It's nothing."

"I'm sorry." Tsubame said as she looked down.  "I know how much your sister meant to you."

Enishi just looked away and crossed his arms.

Before anyone else could talk, there was a knock on the door.  "I'll get it." Yahiko got up and went to the door.  He opened it to see a police officer.  "Yeah?"

The officer bowed and said, "Hello, Yahiko-san.  Is it true that you have some syphilis patients here?"

"Yes." Yahiko nodded, "A couple of close friends but we are taking care of them and making sure we don't catch anything."

"Who is it?" Tsubame asked as she, Enishi, and Megumi showed up behind Yahiko.

"Ah, hello." The officer bowed, "I am here to escort the syphilis patients to the clinic where they will be taken care of."

"We are taking care of them just fine." Yahiko said as he gritted his teeth. 

"There are professionals there that can help them."

"Yes, one doctor for every twenty patients, that's wonderful." Megumi said as she came up.  "I am Dr. Megumi Takani and I am in charge of their care.  I can most assure you that they are given the best treatment they can get."

The officer blinked and said, "But, these facilities are much better than the free ones.  They will get the latest medical technology."

"I know, I helped supported those facilities." Enishi said as he came up.  "Kaoru-san has plenty of money and friends to help her and Kenshin.  We don't want the Government's help."

"Why not?" The officer asked, "We know what is best for your friends."

Enishi's eyes flared as he grabbed the officer by the collar and lifted him up.  "Since when does the government gave a damn about Kenshin?  The last time the Government did what they thought was best for Kenshin, they sent him killing hundreds of people!  Leave us alone!" He dropped the man onto the floor and stomped away.

"What?" The officer asked stunned.

"Kenshin was the Battousai and he wants to stay here." Yahiko explained, "Thank you but leave." He closed the door in the officer's face.

*****

The dojo's training room had not seen action for months.  Before, it was filled with students training with their bokkens until Kaoru had to leave to wait for Kenshin.  The other dojos were used to give the students room to train so the main dojo was empty until now.  A solo man held a bokken in his hand as he thrust and kicked at an invisible enemy.  Enishi rarely got mad at anyone but he still had a temper like a tiger.  He spun around to see Megumi watching him.  "Megumi."

"Well, just when I thought you had lost your claws, you have proven me wrong." Megumi said as she sat down.  "Do you still have a grudge against the Meiji Government?"

"The government killed my sister, my sister's fiancé, made an assassin out of a fifteen year old boy and drove me insane.  What do you think?"

"True." Megumi agreed, "I am a little mad at those Imperialists for what they did against Aizu, my family, and Ken-san.  I found my sister through Saitou of all people and helped find out what happened to the others.  I would not have done those horrible things if I wasn't separated from my family."

"I know." Enishi held his fists.  "I thought I was doing the right thing during Jinchu.  I thought I was punishing an evil manslayer.  If I had not lost my sister, I would not have been a mafia warlord.  I may have been a simple merchant or a sailor or even a painter.  But, shit happens."

"Yes.  The world is never fair to the good ones."

"Especially those who deserved it like Kaoru."

"Or Ken-san."

The two stared out and Enishi said, "You still love him don't you?"

"Yes but you have a thing for Kaoru." Megumi accused.

"Yes."

Silence passed between them.  Finally, Megumi asked, "Have you ever told her?"

"No.  You?"

"I never said it out loud but I did imply it.  Kenshin's heart belongs to Kaoru.  I can't get in between of that.  I may be a fox but I do have a conscience."

"Me too." Enishi stared up at the ceiling.  "I found myself thinking of her when I started my travels.  I thought it was just obsession but then I realized how much I love her.  By the time I found out, it was too late.  Kaoru was married to Kenshin and has a son.  Not even I would interrupt their happiness.  Tomoe would hate me if I did that."

"You make it sound like you still talk to her." Megumi said as she stared at him.

"I don't see her like I used to." Enishi closed his eyes.  "I see her in my mind and my memories.  She's with me in my memories and in the journal I read.  That was why I didn't like the idea of Shinta forgetting my sister.  With him forgetting her, it's like I'm losing her again and it hurts." He put his hand on his chest. 

"He will forget about us soon." Megumi said as she put her hand on his, "He will not recognize us by name, or even know how he knew us.  It will be hard in the next few weeks.  If you don't want to help, I can understand."

"What makes you think I'm going to give up?" Enishi asked insulted, "I don't even know why I told you this.  I'm getting too soft." He tossed his head and snorted.

"Then, we have to go on for their sakes; the ones we love but can't love back." Megumi said as she got up.  "They are our family after all."

Enishi nodded and looked at the room where his brother-in-law slept.  Kenshin and Kaoru were family to him.  They meant everything to him even if he didn't want to admit it.  Then he looked to the side.  "You can come out now, Yahiko.  Don't think that I didn't notice you."

Yahiko came out from behind the door.  "Looks like you still had your warrior's instincts." He commented as he crossed his arms.  "I need to go to Kyoto to get drag Kenji's butt back here.  I know I promised Kenshin that I will let him come back on his own but… Kenshin is getting worse.  I don't want Kenji to show up only to attend a funeral.  I trust you two to watch them while I'm gone."
"Of course, Yahiko-kun.  They need him back." Megumi agreed, "I suggest you take the train.  It's the fastest way there."

Yahiko stared down.  It hurts him to have to break the promise but he had no choice.  Kenshin was going to die before he can see his son.  While his mind had muddled, he still have a degree of awareness with those he cared about.  Kenji must go back to Tokyo.  "Thanks." He said as he bowed.

To Be Continued…