I put these two chapters together, because three isn't that long. Hope this isn't too confusing for anyone.

Chapter three: the Red Dragon Clan

"We have to think of a way to get rid of that bastard Bottosai."

"It's impossible, he's too strong, you've seen him, as long as we stay away from his attention we're fine."

"He's right you know."

"Okay, that's why we need a plan."

The door slid open and a messenger stumbled in, "Guys! There's a quarantine sign painted on the Bottosai's door."

"Is it him? Is he the one who's sick?"

"I don't know, but it'd be worth looking in to."

"Definitely."

"And if it's him…he dies tonight."

"Agreed."

"That arrogant bastard is going down."

Chapter four: Proposal.

Kaoru came back in to Kenshin's room, "Kenshin, Megumi gave me the medicine she said she was making more so…KENSHIN!?"

He was sprawled out face down on the ground, his fingers on the pink top that he always wore.

She ran to his side and flipped him over, "Kenshin open your eyes." She put her cheek down by his nose, there was no air to warm her skin, "Kenshin breathe!" She began to cry, "Kenshin you said…please…breathe!"

She opened his mouth, and poured a little of the medicine in. For a moment nothing happened…then he gasped in a painful sounding breath of air, "Kao…ru…"

He began to suffocate again, and Kaoru desperately poured more medicine down his throat. He coughed but managed to swallow most of it.

"Are you okay?" Kaoru asked.

"'Okay' is stretching it maybe," he said, in his strange rasping whisper that still managed to be gentle, "But thanks to you and Megumi I'm better, that I am. Tired, but better."

"What were you trying to get? Miss. Megumi said that you weren't supposed to move around for a while."

"It was very important I can assure you."

"You shouldn't talk either. I wish you'd just relax. Where is it?"

"Where is what?"

"The thing you were trying to get?"

Kenshin tried to reach for his kimono top but his arm fell before he could grasp it.

"In here?" She picked up the shirt with the hand that wasn't holding up Kenshin's head.

He nodded, "Left sleeve."

She reached around inside the sleeve until she found what must have been what Kenshin was after.

"It's a box."

"Yes, it's…" He began to shiver.

"Oh Kenshin. Let's get you back into bed."

She half-carried, half-dragged him onto his futon and covered him gently with the blanket.

"Th…th…th…thank you Miss. Kaoru."

She put the box in his hand, "You're welcome, now rest easy."

He pushed the small box back into her hand, "This is yours, that it is."

"Mine? What is it?"

"I have to ask you something, something I should have asked you a long time ago Miss. Kaoru. Open it."

She did, a small ring with tiny violet stones sparkled happily at her in the candlelight.

"Kenshin?"

"Miss. Kamiya, I know it's not much of a ring, but would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

Her shocked eyes turned slowly into happiness, "Of course Kenshin. I'd love to."

He looked slightly amazed, "Really?"

"Yes…really."

"Is the ring okay? We can go back…and get another if you'd like."

Kaoru slipped it on her finger, tears in her eyes, "Absolutely not. This is beautiful…I love it, all the more because it's from you Kenshin. I would be very happy to be your wife."

She was rewarded with the brightest and most sincerely happy smile she had ever seen, "You do my heart good, that you do."

"And I as well. That's why you're going to rest and get better right?"

He nodded, his violet eyes half-lidded with exhaustion, "I hope so Miss. Kaoru, that I do. But you must be prepared, if my body fails me."

She hit the top of his head very lightly with a fist, in mockery of a punch, "You jerk, you can't just propose to me like that and then die," she started to cry again, "It wouldn't be fair, not like you at all."

He coughed, "Yes, I suppose not. But all the same, I did have to ask you. I couldn't die with out knowing your answer. But now…"

He turned into her kimono and struggled with the pain in his lungs, "You just must be prepared my dear Miss. Kaoru that you must. I'm sorry but that's the way it is."

She couldn't answer him.

He gasped in pain, "I want you to promise me something, that I do."

"Okay, what?"

"If I do die, you will continue living, and find a good, kind man and raise a family and forget about me and be happy."

Kaoru began sobbing, "Don't say that…please…'

"I have to Lady Kaoru," he smiled an reached up to touch her face, "I'm glad…I'm glad I'm dying from an illness, at your side, rather than by a sword. But one way or another, I accepted my own death long ago, I am at peace," he let his hand drop, "That I am. I have to know that you will enjoy the same peace that I feel now, that I most certainly do."

She sniffed, "I promise I'll live, but I will never forget you Kenshin."

His smile turned the slightest bit sad at the edges, "Not true, someday you will. You'll be sitting in your dojo with your children, your husband…and you'll be so happy that every thought and feeling of me will be gone. It's okay…it's life, that it is," he squirmed in pain, and coughed up some more infected lung tissue.

"Kenshin…I…"

He didn't respond…he was finally unconscious.

"I want that future with only you Kenshin."

I hope the proposal was good enough for everyone. smile it only gets worse from here I'm afraid.