Hello, Stranger
by Uenki

Chapter 4

Don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

He knew that she was coming, her footsteps were echoing in the white marble flooring of the hospital. The panel from the door slid open with a slight push of her hand. Long raven curls shifted, as they danced with the air. In her hands was a bouquet of carnations, his favorite flower. So she cared for him. He smiled, with her walking towards him, as he sat in his wheelchair. At least she was still there for him.

"It had been so long, Kaoru-chan," he said, brushing through his shoulder length, greenish-black hair. Kaoru smiled, as she went over to the flower vase, which laid not even a single stalk of flower. She arranged the carnations, and he turned back, wanting eye contact with her. Slowly, she met his longing gaze. She knelt down by his side, holding his cold hands, and brushing away locks of hair from his pale face.

"Right. So long, perfectly right. I missed you so, my dear friend," she murmured, as his gray eyes sparkled. A soft, genuine smile left his lips. Brotherly-like, he patted her on her head, and to overwhelm in the sweet scent of jasmine. He had no regrets, if he were to die by her side.

"My little Kaoru had finally grown up into such a fine young looking lady!" he teased, as a vein popped in Kaoru's head. Standing up, she smacked him on his head playfully. They attempted to try and not laugh, but both failed miserably so. Soon after, Kaoru sat on the bed with a sigh. Even though she was accompanying her first crush, now brother-like figure, similar to Aoshi, she felt that the deepened dull mood had not been lifted up.

"Ne, Haku-kun…" He adverted his attention to her, as she had wanted to raise up the topic. He knew that she had been avoiding the topic for a long time, more than a half year, when he found out that he was in the terminal stage for cancer. She inhaled the air sharply, and mustered up her courage.

"Haku-kun… When are you… when are you," translucent tears that looked like shining pearls fell from her azure blue orbs, and she sobbed quietly, "going to." She stopped, she could not continue any further. It was killing her inside. Fancy something asking her best friend, a brother, when he was going to die.

"This week, or next week, or the week after. I don't know, but I felt that my time is up, just like the snows that are melting," Haku said, softly, as he pushed his wheelchair by the wheels to the big, glass window. Outside, the snow is melting because of the afternoon sun. Kaoru cried, her hands covering her face.

Soon…
Soon, the sands in the hourglass would be falling…
When the sands are there no more, his time would be up.

"Don't be sad. Be happy for me, Kaoru-chan," he turned back and head towards her; he stopped in front of her and pulled down her hands. Gently, he wiped her tears away. "I have fought bravely against the demons within me, but I have lost… Still, a new life would continue after I have finished this path called existence. I will be walking on this path called afterlife. And I will be right beside you… and to watch over you." He said, tenderly. Kaoru calmed down, and took down the necklace that she was wearing. She handed the necklace to Haku, who just accepted gladly.

"Thank you so much… for everything. Thank you for being there for me when I needed someone to turn to… Thank you for being so strong even though you are facing Death itself. Thank you for being you, Haku-kun," she murmured, with her head bowed low, "when you gave me this necklace, you have told me that it suits me because I was a crybaby. But I am going to return to you, because I won't cry anymore…" Haku smiled brightly.

She really had grown up… to be brave.

Haku wore the necklace. "You have grown… you really did. Because you aren't the little Kaoru-chan whom will hide behind me because of some little things, you have grown to be tough and determined." Kaoru smiled softly.

"He… He was somehow like you in one way or another. And he gave me the courage to continue on." Haku gave a little sigh, but his smile grew wider. Gray eyes sparkled merrily.

"Who is he? How was he like?" he asked, excitedly.

"His name was Kenshin… And he looked like an angel." She said, tinge of pink reached her cheeks. Haku chuckled softly upon seeing Kaoru's embarrassed moments. If he were to have a camera, he would have taken a shot of it. He gave a soft nod.

"I see."

An angel had the beauty of a devil's, yet a heart of gold. He who tried to help others, end up hurting himself the most. Maybe an angel had such fine qualities, to help others, that led to the shortage of his lifespan. That's why people cherished the angels, and worshipped them, because of such kind wills… And that was the reason why he couldn't be Kaoru's angel. He was selfish, and God was cruel, God granted him an illness… to extinguish his greedy desires. To live longer…

So the time was up.

–

"I'm back, Kenshin!" Kaoru greeted as she stepped into her house. Welcoming her was the mouth-watering dishes that Kenshin had made, and eating dinner with Kenshin were times that she greatly cherished.

"Welcome back, Kaoru-dono." He said with an adorable smile playing on his lips.

Jinchou Haku, had died from the illness the next day, while sleeping with a small smile on his lips. He was contented that Kaoru was happy. He could rest, for eternity.

–

AN: Actually, Haku is not much of a major character, so don't worry about it. Heh. Uenki pouts Hey! I am a major character! I am the authoress! Why no one is worrying about that? O–o;

To my darling BETAs:

bows I owe you guys so much. I am forever in your debt. Thankee, rain-sama and rayne-sama!

November 22, 2004.