Saddened Past, Loving Future Chapter Four

It had been an hour since Kaoru and Yahiko had left the dogo, leaving Sanosuke with the sleeping Kenshin. Kenshin had not stirred once since he had been given the medicine which left Sanosuke at ease. He would, at times, gently stroke Kenshin's cheek and smile at the rurouni's innocence.

"Well, he seems to be in a peaceful dream right now, doesn't he," asked Megumi in a whisper which scared Sanosuke.

"Damnit, Kitsune-girl, must you scare me!" whispered Sano angreily.

"Yes, I find it quite amusing," giggled Megumi but stopped as she noticed Kenshin stir. Seeing that he was still sleeping, she turned her attention back to Sano. "How has he been?"

"He woke up this morning with a small headache but Ginsai-san came and gave him some medicine. Ever since Kenshin took the medicine, he has been asleep," exclaimed Sano.

"Well he does look better than he did yesterday," said Megumi looking Kenshin over.

"Hai, that is what Ginsai-san said," replied Sano.

"Is there anything you need to me to do?" asked Megumi as she took her attention to Sano.

"Iie, I haven't eaten anything but I am fine. I don't want to leave his side," said Sano with a frown as he looked over at Kenshin.

Megumi looked at him, then at Kenshin, and then back to him. She let a smile form on her face, "I will go and fix you something." She said, walking towards the door.

Sanosuke blinked a couple of times and looked at her. "Why in the hell are you being so nice all of the sudden?"

"Well we wouldn't want you to starve and besides it is good that you are doing something nice for once in your life," answered Megumi.

"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!" asked Sanosuke but was shushed by Megumi. She winked at him before leaving the room. Sano grumbled angreily to himself before hearing Kenshin stir. He took his attention to Kenshin and noticed his eyes open slowly.

Kenshin looked around before resting his eyes on Sano and smiled. "Hello there, Sano."

"Hi, you have been a sleep for an hour and a couple of minutes," replied Sano as he helped Kenshin sit up.

"Gomen na sai, if I have put you, Kaoru-san, and Yahiko through any trouble, that I am," said Kenshin weakly.

"Don't worry about it, pal. We all just want you to get better," said Sano gently.

"Domo arigatou, Sano. I am happy to hear that, that I am," replied Kenshin. He was quiet for a second before speaking to Sano, "Before Kaoru-san came into my room this morning, you were going to say something. What was it you were going to say?"

Sano's eyes widened before a blush formed on his face. He then quickly turned away so that Kenshin would not see. "Iie..."

"Sano, it isn't like you to leave something unsaid, that it isn't," said Kenshin. Sano turned and looked into Kenshin's eyes. How gentle and distant those eyes looked. He wanted to say what was on his mind, how he felt about Kenshin. But sadly, the words just didn't want to come out. Fear was starting to surround him when he felt he had the courage to say what he wanted to say.

Megumi then entered the room with a tray of food and set it down next to Sano. Seeing that Kenshin was up, she gave him a warm smile.

"It is nice to see you are up," said Megumi.

"And it is nice to see you as well, that it is," replied Kenshin with a weak smile.

"How do you feel?" asked Megumi.

"I am better," answered Kenshin.

"Would you like me to get you anything?"

"Iie, I am fine. Thank you for asking," said Kenshin with a nod.

"Alright then, I will leave you two alone then," said Megumi as she took her eyes from Kenshin to the eating Sano. "Rooster-head, don't make Kenshin sick while gorging yourself with food." When Sano gave her a quick glare she smiled at him before leaving the room.

Sano quickly ate his lunch with Kenshin watching him. Sano set the last empty bowl down and gulped down his tea before looking at Kenshin. "Are you sure there is nothing you need?"

"Iie, I am fine, Sano, that I am," said Kenshin. "Will you tell me what is on your mind now?"

Damn, he never gives up does he? said Sano to himself as he looked at Kenshin. Sanosuke then looked at the ground, trying to find the guts to say the words that his heart wanted him to say. And even if I did tell him he would reject me because I am a guy.

"Sano?" asked Kenshin snapping him out of his concentration.

"Kenshin, I...I ...," said Sano as he tried to gain more courage to say the rest. "I have feelings for you."

Sano looked at Kenshin, his face crimson. Kenshin only blinked, a small blush on his face. Sano then turned away and frowned knowing what was going to come next. He would be rejected, his mind knew it all to well. But he was now glad that Kenshin knew. Tears formed in his eyes and shut them so the tears could not escape.

Kenshin watched Sano for a couple of minutes. He could feel Sano's chi was full of sadness and betrayal. Kenshin looked down at his hands, trying to take in the words that had been spoken to him. From the way Sano looked now, he must have felt this way for a long time. Kenshin had never been told that someone had feelings for him. Tomoe then popped in his mind which made him frown. Tomoe is a thing of the past and her death is a memory I am burdened with. Yet, now knowning that there is someone that loves me, it frightens me but also brings a sense of peace to me. But how can I love him? How can I open up an emotion that I locked away? Kenshin allowed himself to continue thinking, wondering what he should say or do for Sano. Nothing came to mind but a picture of Tomoe in his mind suddenly appeared.

"Move on," Tomoe said in his mind before vanishing and an iris petal falling to the ground from where she once stood. Kenshin blinked, confused at this. Tomoe never had told him to move on but only to live. Did Tomoe's spirit just tell me that? He then jumped to the soundto soft whimpers from Sano. He frowned and moved over to Sano. His body was weak from the sleep but he was able to gain to the strength to reach out to Sano and hold him close. Sano gasped but then rested his head on Kenshin's chest and wrapped his arms around him.

"Sano, I am happy to know of what you feel, that I am. Demo...I am unable to do the same. I am frightened by this emotion yet happy at the same time. So I am at a crossroad, that I am," said Kenshin with a frown.

"I understand, gomen na sai, Kenshin," said Sano quietly.

"Iie, there is no need for you to apologize, that there isn't," replied Kenshin as he stroked Sano's hair. At first, he was surprised that he was doing it but ignored it.

Sano looked up at Kenshin, he was almost nose to nose with him. Sano could feel Kenshin's soft breaths on his skin. He allowed his eyes to looked into Kenshin's. He could feel nothing, no emotion, but confusion. Sano then kissed Kenshin lightly on the lips, not caring at the reaction he might get from it.

Author's Notes: Fluff how cute adorable.

Kenshin: Oro! OO

Sano: Wow...OO

Hitomi:

Sano: O :whacks Hitomi upside the head:

Kenshin: ORO!

Hitomi: OWWWWWWWWWWWWWW :cries:

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