She was so warm and peaceful like this. He had often fantasized about her when he was with other girls. He caught the battosai staring at her as well.
"She's so fragile." He said, his voice a whisper. "She pretends to be cold and hard, but she isn't. Aoushi was the only person she ever loved. it hit her hard when he died. She hasn't cried, though. She hasn't cried since her parents were killed when we were kids."
Kenshin watched her as her chest rose and fell slowly, deeply. She was out.
"I'm going to get her to love me." Kenshin's voice startled them both.
"What?" Sanouske said, turning toward the red headed man.
"I'm going to make her love me, and I'll protect her happiness with my life, that i will." Kenshin said, his voice more confident than he felt.
"Good luck." Sanouske said, "You'll need it."
"Aa." He nodded.
Kaoru shifted in her sleep, her eyes fluttered.
Then she was awake. "hey, how long have i been asleep?" She asked, her voice deep and tired.
"A while. You want me to warm up that soup?" Sanouske asked, standing.
"hmm. Sure." She said. turning to watch him move around the room.
When Sanouske left, her attention shifted to Kenshin. "You look tired." she pointed out bluntly.
He said nothing.
"Go home and go to sleep." she said, surprising herself.
"no." he said.
"Then go to sleep here. Just get some rest. If i have to, then you do too. Have you eaten? There's plenty to go around. Eat some beef stew when he gets back or I'll kick your ass." she said, closing her eyes again. This time, though, she did not sleep.
"You awake?" sanouske said loudly as he came back into the room.
"Of course, rooster head." She grinned.
"Here's your beef stew." he said, setting a huge bowl down in front of her. Then he set down a stack of smaller bowls and a bowl of rice.
"Thanks." she said, filling up a bowl of the steamy broth and vegetables and meat. She looked pointedly at Kenshin, staring at him until he filled up a bowl of his own and began to eat.
Nodding happily, she ate quickly, not realizing how hungry she had actually been until now. "Sai's getting better at this." She said, closing her eyes and letting the meat melt in her mouth.
"I see the patient is awake." Came an annoying voice.
"Megumi." Kaoru said, nodding in the general direction of the voice. "Help yourself. It's good stew."
"I will. I thought i sent some hospital food down here?" she asked.
"You know i don't like that crap. plus, this is better for energy anyways." Kaoru said, opening her eyes to glare playfully at the doctor as she helped herself to a bowl.
"Good point." Megumi agreed.
"Tell Gensai to come down, i know how much he enjoys the akabeco." Kaoru said to Sanouske, who was already finished. He left the room to fetch the doctor.
"Kensan is a great help you know." Megumi said slyly.
Laughing at the doctor, Kaoru kicked at her playfully.
"Anywyas, your grandparents are coming in a few hours, so i'd rest up till then." Megumi said, as the head doctor came in.
"Kaoru-chan! How are you feeling?" Gensai said, grinning as he encompassed her in a bear hug.
"I'm feeling great. These idiots won't let me up out of bed, though." She griped. Knowing it was on his orders.
"Is this for me?" He asked, looking at the bowl still half full of stew.
"If you want some." Kaoru said, grinning.
The old man's face lit up and he dug into the soup, practically inhaling it.
Grinning, Kaoru sipped the sweetened tea. Some things never changed.
Thoughts of Aoushi flitted through her mind and she forced them back, along with the impending tears.
Leaning back against the still raised bed, she held the warm cup in her lap and listened to the happy conversation around her.
Kenshin plucked the cup from her hand as it went limp, setting it down on the bedside table. The conversation grew quiet, and they left him and Kaoru alone.
Her grandparents came and left, and the sun set in the window, casting a warm glow over the room.
propping his head on his arms, he watched her sleep from his perch on the side of her bed, and was soon asleep himself.
That's this chapter, I know, you hate me for this. But hey, It's getting there.
Nada. -me.
