D/C: I don't own RK.

Wow! Thank u for the reviews! I was really glad u liked the chapter. Um, I just want to clear some confusion (if u have it…if u don't, just read anyway) this story takes place in four days only, not more than that as some of u might think. And MoonKitti, I know cell phones aren't allowed, but tell me this, if u happen to be in Kaoru's place, will you even remember that u have a cell phone in ur pocket?

Anyway, I won't keep u in suspense any longer…read on to see what happens.

Enjoy!

Chapter 9: Chances

'Kaoru…'

Kaoru spun around. 'Kenshin, is that you?' she cried. 'Where are you!'

Her surroundings were totally dark, she couldn't even see her own hands, let alone see Kenshin.

'Kenshin!' she cried.

And then she saw him…

Despite the darkness of the place, Kenshin was outlined with an eerie glow, making him brighter than everything else.

'Kenshin…' she whispered happily, feeling his warm glow upon her.

But Kenshin looked anything but happy. Even as she looked into his face, she couldn't quite fathom the look he was giving her.

'Kenshin?' she said softly. 'What's wrong?'

Kenshin didn't say anything. He just smiled sadly at her, and began drifting away.

'NO! Kenshin, come back! Please don't leave me alone in this dark place!' she cried, going after him.

Oh, but haven't you left him in a murky, dark place before when you left him and didn't give him a second glance, a voice in her head nagged her. Why should he wait for you after what you've done?

'No! Kenshin! Please, come back! Take me with you!' Kaoru cried, feeling the tears fall openly from her eyes.

But Kenshin kept drifting away, smiling sadly and watching her with sorrowful eyes…

'Miss…'

'Ken-shin…' The tears felt really wet on her face.

'Miss, please wake up'

'Ken…Kenshin…huh?'

Kaoru blinked her eyes open.

A medic was standing over her, holding a glass of water…apparently, he was splashing water on her face-this was the wet tears she had been feeling…

'What…what happened? Where am I?' she croaked, rising from the couch on which she was curled up. She pushed the blankets which were covering her away, and looked around apprehensively. 'What am I doing here?'

'You're in the hospital, remember?' the medic told her. 'And you fainted…don't you recall that?'

Kaoru massaged her temples. 'The hospital…right' she murmured, groggily. She suddenly gripped the medic by the neck of his shirt. 'Oh my God! Kenshin! Kenshin, how is he?'

She remembered the charges the doctors were giving him, she remembered the way he was jerking up from the bed, she remembered the doctors dragging her out of ICU, and…she remembered why…Kenshin's dead life line…

'How is he!' she demanded. 'Is he…is he…?'

She just couldn't bring herself to say it.

Is he dead?

The medic smiled and eased her hands away from his shirt. 'No, he's not dead' he told her.

'He's…not?' she whispered, and her heart flooded with relief and joy. She opened her mouth to say something, but no sound would come out; she was totally overjoyed. Tears of happiness shimmered within her eyes.

The medic laughed. 'Do you want to see him?' he asked gently.

Kaoru nodded vigorously, pulling her self up from the couch.

The medic led her out of the waiting room, and down the corridor to the ICU section.

Kaoru found herself constantly looking at the medic, opening her mouth, and shutting it again. The medic, apparently, noticed that.

'How?' he asked, helpfully.

Kaoru nodded; glad he was able to understand her.

'Well, it wasn't easy, the doctors had to use surgery…they found out he was suffering from internal bleeding in the area of the chest…' he told her, and Kaoru couldn't help but utter a soft gasp. 'But don't you worry, he's alright now, the doctors have fixed him up for good'

Poor Kenshin…

'He's asleep now, still under the effects of drugs' he continued. She nodded. 'It won't be long before he wakes up though'

'Alright, we're here' he said, pushing the door of the ICU open. 'Make sure you don't touch his bandages, his stitches are still fresh…you know your way'

Kaoru nodded again, swallowed hard and stepped into the ICU.

As fast as her feet could carry her, she made her way to Kenshin's bed.

The sight of him nearly made her burst with tears, but she fought them back, and, almost uncomfortably, she sat down on the chair next to his bed.

She looked upon him; his body was now more bandaged than ever, and he was looking paler than before.

None of this would've happened if I hadn't been so stupid…it was my fault…even though she had said it dozens of times now, but saying it made her feel like she was punishing herself, and she knew she deserved it.

Kaoru suddenly felt the hot tears rolling down her cheeks.

'Kenshin…oh, Kenshin' she choked, burying her face in the bed sheets. 'I'm really sorry'

But she felt like none of her apologies would ever make up to her mistake.

Suddenly, she felt a hand smoothing back her hair.

Startled, she jerked her head up.

Kenshin smiled weakly at her, his hand falling back onto the sheets.

'Kenshin!' she cried, throwing her hands around his neck. But she heard him wince, and she remembered what the medic had said about the stitches. She quickly drew away. 'Sorry' she murmured.

'It's alright' Kenshin croaked.

Kaoru shook her head, the tears leaking out a lot more than before.

'Now, now, there's no need to cry…I'm okay, nothing happened' he whispered.

Nothing happened! Nothing but the fact that you almost died and I almost lost you happened!

He reached out and started to wipe the tears away. Kaoru clutched his hand with both of hers, and held it there…against her cheek.

'Kaoru?' he murmured.

'Oh, Kenshin! I'm really sorry!' she choked. 'I had been so stupid! I'm so ashamed!'

'Kaoru…' Kenshin started.

'No! You don't have to say anything! It's me who should be seeking forgiveness!' she sobbed, letting go of his hands. 'You didn't do anything! It was my entire fault!'

'No, Kaoru…' Kenshin whispered.

'Yes, Kenshin!' she replied. 'Don't you wanna know what happened? Don't you want to know the stupid mistake I've done, the misunderstandment which had nearly finished us both off, and nearly killed you!'

'I…' he said.

'Alright, I'll tell you!' she sobbed. 'I…'

But she was surprised when Kenshin held up a finger to her lips. 'Sssh' he whispered, shaking his head.

Kaoru stared at him. 'But, Kenshin…' she started to protest.

'No, Kaoru…at least not now' he told her.

'But, Kenshin! You've got every right to know after what I've done to you!' she told him. 'It wouldn't be fair to you!'

'But I don't want to know, Kaoru' he replied.

'But…' Kaoru said, yet again.

'Kaoru' he said.

'Kensh…' she started.

'No' he told her.

'I…' she sputtered.

'Ssssh' he whispered again, this time covering her mouth with his hand.

Kaoru nodded, and he pulled his hand away. He smiled again, and she smiled back.

He patted a spot beside him on the bed. 'Come here' he told her.

'Oh, no, Kenshin…the doctor said not to touch you, your stitches…' she said quickly.

'I'll risk it' he said impatiently.

Kaoru couldn't help but smile at him. God, he's such a sweetie, how did I ever think he was cheating on me?

Reluctantly, she curled up on the bed beside him. Kenshin couldn't quite make room for her, since it was too painful for him to move, so she sat with most of her body sticking out, but she didn't care, at least she was beside him.

Kenshin leaned his head against her, and she put her arms gently around him.

'I feel so tired' he murmured.

'After what you went through, who wouldn't?' she said softly.

'Where you hurt when I pushed you off the road?' he asked, concerned.

'No…thanks to you' she whispered. She bent down and kissed his forehead. Then she started smoothing his hair. '…so I say a little prayer, and hope my dreams take me there…' she sang softly.

Kenshin sighed contentedly and she smiled, and launched on with her song.

'Where the skies are blue to see you once again, my love…' she went on.

She could feel Kenshin's body relaxing under her arms.

'Over seas and coast to coast, to find the place I love the most…' she murmured, as she smoothed his hair. 'Where the fields are green to see you once again…my love' she finished.

She bent down to check on him, and smiled when she saw him sleeping.

'Sweet dreams, Kenshin' she whispered.

A/N: YAY! Kenshin lives! I bet u r all whooping and cheering for joy now, huh! But really, wasn't that sweet? I'm sorry I cheated again and used the song "My Love", but I tried to come up with my own lyrics and I just couldn't! I simply suck at that department! Anyway, this isn't the end yet, I've still got one more chapter and then I'll rid your hands from me for good! Now I bet you're wondering about what else I can do to those two…well, keep wondering until next Friday, maybe you'll get the answer…

-ZEN.