The Difference Between Infatuation and Love

Ayashi no Tenshi

Author's note: All right, now that Kenshin's hurt, something is going to start developing. Thanks to those people who reviewed!

WoW! 13 reviews! I think that's pretty good for a beginner…

By the way, about Kenshin's "I'm-all-macho" personality, he's gonna get softer in the much much later chapters, just to show that Kaoru's teaching him a lesson…

But enough about that. I'm giving too much away.

Anyhow, I just want to tell you guys that I've got this story planned out. I've finished it, though I didn't add the small details. I try to fit all your suggestions in.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ruroken. I own nothing. My parents basically are the ones paying for what I have. I'm still looking for a real job… well, it's not like I've graduated from college already… But enough about me. I probably own the gifts I've got from people, and the OC.

Chapter 4

Kaoru waited outside the emergency room, seated on the white bench. She was still quite pale. Misao sat beside her, as clammy as the sapphire-eyed woman, as Sanosuke paced the floor, muttering under his breath, his hands in his pockets. Megumi had to be with the attending doctor, so she was in the emergency room with Kenshin. Tomoe and Akira sat beside each other, Tomoe clutching Akira's hand. Soujiro and Ayane had taken the two girls home, saying they'd babysit the two. Yahiko tried to read a magazine, but everyone could see his eyes weren't moving. Aoshi went out of the hospital, saying he couldn't take the smell of alcohol. No one bothered to follow him, not even Misao.

Kaoru began in a small voice, "Do you think… do you think… he'll be okay? I mean…"

"Of course he'll be all right," Sanosuke replied briskly. "He's a tough guy. Remember all the scrapes we put ourselves in? He managed to survive."

"But he got hit by a car," Kaoru reasoned out. "Even if he's tough, he can't last forever."

"Kenshin's not going to die just because a car hit him," Yahiko said firmly. "I'm sure, in a week he'd be up and about. I mean, he wasn't hit hard; the car wasn't speeding! Kenshin's a strong guy. Stop worrying, busu, or you're going to get wrinkles."

"It's natural that Kaoru would be worried," Misao said quietly. She smiled at her friend. "Don't worry, Kaoru. He'll be fine."

"What do you mean, it's natural for me to worry about him?" Kaoru demanded.

"Why, because you two are a couple, that's why," Tomoe said, smiling weakly. "You just don't realize it yet. Kenshin doesn't show it, but he cares for you so much, more than anyone else in this world even."

"You're wrong, all of you," Kaoru defended fiercely. "Kenshin cares for me like… like a sister, that's all! You guys don't know what you're talking about! You think you've got us all figured out, but that's not true! He doesn't want me to be--- to be his girlfriend –or something! He's content in having me as a friend! …Or at least… that's what I think…" she added quietly.

A smile played on everyone's lips. Something that needed to be defended so vehemently must be something not quite right.

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About thirty minutes later, Megumi went out of the ER, looking exhausted but relieved. "You can stop looking worried, Tanuki-chan," she said a bit tiredly as Sanosuke put an arm around her and led her to sit. "We were worrying over nothing."

"What's with everyone referring to me about Kenshin?" Kaoru complained as she pouted. She was back to her old self again.

"He's suffered two broken ribs. But we've mended that, so, he should be fine. He only needs bed rest, a liquid diet, and a lot of care." Megumi smiled. "The nurses will be watching over him overnight. He'll be fine."

Relieved smiles found their way on everyone's faces. "But of course," Tomoe stated a-matter-of-factly, "we'll have to take turns in watching him."

"After all," Yahiko said brightly, "we're his family right? We'll have to take care of him, no matter what."

"No problem."

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Kaoru called her secretary to tell her she wouldn't be working that day. "I had to be the one chosen to look after Kenshin today," she grumbled as she packed up her laptop. "I'll just have to bring work with me today."

She wore her light green half-sleeved blouse and a black skirt, three inches above the knee, which she had carefully chosen. What are you dressing up, anyway? She asked herself. It's not like you're going on a date or anything!

Just because it's Kenshin and not anyone else…

She blushed at the prospect of her being alone with Kenshin in his hospital room. "It's not like he's going to hit on you or anything. He'll be lying in pain, and you'd be working your butt off."

"Talking to yourself, Kaoru-chan?" Soujiro said, poking his head into Kaoru's room. His sister frowned at him. He merely smiled, as always. "Well, Tomoe-nechan wanted me to tell you that breakfast is ready."

"I'll be right down," Kaoru replied. She grabbed her purse and went down to breakfast.

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Kenshin frowned. He didn't like this situation at all. He just found out that he was in a hospital room, his lower body wrapped in bandages.

"Yech, that means I'll have to stay here." The hospital food, the rude nurses… he cursed. "Someone better get here soon. I want to leave this damn place."

In a few minutes, the door creaked open. "Thank goodness," he muttered. A nurse came in. "Damn!"

"I'm here to take your statistics, Himura-san," the nurse said quietly.

"No, you won't." The nurse looked surprised. "You'll be getting my clothes, because I'm outta here!"

"Now Himura-san… we have orders from the attending doctor to keep in you in here. Even if I wanted to discharge you I couldn't do it myself."

"Then get the damn doctor and get him to discharge me!"

"Now, what's all the fuss about?" Kaoru entered the room.

"Kaoru, get the doctor and tell him I want to get out of here!"

"Kenshin!" Kaoru exclaimed. "You're not well yet! You only got here yesterday!"

"What is this, a vacation trip or something?" Kenshin shot back. "I don't want to lie here all day. I have work to do!"

"Kenshin, with your present condition, you can hardly lift a shinai!" Kaoru argued. "I'll bet that you can't even get up without help! And the hospital staff are here to help you!" To the shocked nurse, she whispered, "A sedative would really be good right now."

"I heard that!" Kenshin yelled in the background.

"I'll… I'll call the doctor, Himura-san… and…" the nurse hesitated. She didn't know what to call Kaoru.

"Kamiya-san," Kaoru supplied for her.

"You better not get any sedatives either!" Kenshin yelled at the nurse's retreating back.

"Himura Kenshin, now you stay put and shut up!" Kaoru said. "You'll never heal quite as fast if you're babbling all the time!"

"I'd heal much faster if I were back at my place," Kenshin muttered under his breath. But he kept quiet after that. Kaoru patted his head.

"Good!" she exclaimed, smiling. Kenshin sunk back into his pillows, in no mood to be treated like a baby who had just come from a very big tantrum.

After a few minutes, an elderly man in a lab gown came in. "I'm doctor Genzai," he greeted. "What seems to be the problem, Himura-san?"

"I want to get out of this junkyard."

Dr. Genzai, apparently, was a very good-natured man. "I'm sorry, Himura-san, but your state of body requires you to stay here, under the my watch."

"Sensei, I've made it clear," Kenshin said in an attempt to be polite. "I---DO NOT ---want to stay here."

Dr. Genzai rubbed the stubble of his chin thoughtfully. "If you were to be discharged, where would you go?"

Kenshin rolled his eyes. "Home, of course!"

"And who resides at home, besides you?"

Kenshin faltered. "I… well… only me."

"So, who do you expect to take care of you? I think Dr. Kamiya would also be busy with her family and her internship here."

Kenshin looked around for a good a way out. "K-kaoru will!"

Shock rippled through the room, mostly evident on Kaoru's face. "M-me? Kenshin, don't talk foolishness!"

"Of course you will, Kaoru! You're a smart girl!" Kenshin stated confidently. "You can take care of me, no problem! I mean, you had training once, didn't you?"

The doctor turned to Kaoru. "Is this true?"

"I had informal nursing training before… but it isn't sufficient!"

Kenshin frowned. "Okay then. Whether you like it or not, I'm going." He started getting up, with great difficulty. Soon, he was groaning in pain.

Kaoru could only watch him. "That's right, Kenshin, get up! Then you'll learn how wrong you are!"

But Dr. Genzai was shaking his head. "If he keeps struggling like that, the bones that we've set are going to be broken again!"

"Should I get a sedative?" the nurse asked.

"No, not yet, I want to see if he's giving up yet. If ever he doesn't, I'll have to inject him with one. But the side effects aren't going to be pretty…"

Kaoru looked down. Should I just take him home and take care of him?

The nurse, meanwhile, was trying to restrain Kenshin.

She turned to Dr. Genzai. "What're the effects of a sedative to him?"

"In most cases I've seen," Dr. Genzai stated, "the user would get addicted. I'm sure you know the effects of addiction, Kamiya-san." Kaoru nodded.

"Then, I'll take him home."

"Are you sure, Kamiya-san? It might be a burden for you, considering that we'll have to put a lot of restrictions on this man, and he's a very stubborn one."

Kaoru smiled at the old doctor. "Well, I have a bit of an advantage over you people, no offense meant. I can control him at least."

Dr. Genzai nodded. "Then let me right down instructions and a list of medicines. Nurse Konami, have the documents ready for Himura-san's discharge."

Kenshin at once stopped struggling. He relaxed. "Fine. Make it quick, Konami."

The nurse, startled, went outside at once to comply. The doctor nodded and made his way out too. Kaoru marched to Kenshin's bedside and slapped him on the head.

"Happy now, Himura?"

Kenshin, rubbing his head, smirking, said, "I couldn't be any happier."

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TBC…

I told you guys I'd finish this in a hurry! The real fun starts in the next chapters! Hang on till then!