Kaoru wasn't there.

Kenshin quickly glanced over the room to notice that her pillow and futon were wet before turning to find her. Darkness and the frigid hours of the night were steadily advancing and Kaoru wasn't even in the house! Kenshin hastily poked his head outside of the dojo to see a limp figure with long, raven hair sitting on the wet grass.

"Miss Kaoru! What are you doing out here? It's raining, you'll catch a cold, that you will!" Kenshin said as he hurried over to her and tried to help her up. She had her head bowed and gave no reaction to Kenshin's touch excluding a small moan that issued from her mouth. He gently picked her up and quickly took her inside and to her room, where he laid her drenched body. He was puzzled that Kaoru gave no resistance nor reaction to him picking her up and that her body seemed light and thin and her hair wasn't in a high ponytail like it usually was.

He smoothed the dripping ebony hair out of her pale face and lightly shook her shoulders to see if she was awake. She winced and slowly opened her eyes to see Kenshin's fiery red hair and soft violet eyes, which were now filled with worry.

"Kenshin...the rain feels so good...the raindrops felt so good against my skin...I'm sorry if I worried you... " she whispered faintly. She began to shiver and chill bumps ran up her arms, which she made sure were covered.

"You'll catch a cold, Miss Kaoru, please change into something dry." he said as a plead, while a soft command at the same time. He left long enough for her to change and returned to her room. "Why were you outside in the rain?"

"I...I haven't been feeling well lately and the rain felt so cool and refreshing on my skin...I love staying outside in the rain..." Kaoru breathed softly to him as he helped her get into her futon and cover her up.

"Have you been crying, Miss Kaoru?" Kenshin asked with a warm hand on her wet pillow, which was now soaked yet again with her long wet hair. She slowly looked up at him with faded, tired eyes, which in itself seemed to answer his question. Her eyes held an incredible depth of darkness which he had never seen in her before. Her usual smile was replaced by a weak frown, her bright eyes which sparked with life were replaced with orbs that reflected emptiness and pain, her pale yet strong body was now weak, fragile, and even more pale, she was also thinner.

"Miss Kaoru...what's wrong?" Kenshin silently waited for a reply. When he got none, he shifted and gently laid her head on his lap (which was quickly doused by her hair) and softly ran his fingers through her lengthy black locks. The warmth of his body filled Kaoru's heart and a tear rolled down her cheek, she knew that her horrible state was worrying him. She didn't want to cause him any more pain than he had already endured, so she came up with a quick excuse.

"I've just had a small fever lately...it's noth-"

Kenshin's hand had rested upon her forehead and almost seemed cold. "You do have a fever, why didn't you tell me that you were sick? I would have taken care of you."

More tears fell...she had lied and he believed her...and he wanted to help her through sickness, but she needed for him to help her through this deadly depression...but he wasn't even aware of how desperately in need of help she was.

"I'm sorry Kenshin..."

She wanted to tell him...why couldn't she say it? She wasn't okay, she was hurting very badly...but she said that she was only sick.

"Kaoru, it's alright, everything's going to be fine...don't cry...shhh..."

Everything was so confusing, Kaoru felt like she was dying inside, and here was her perfect chance to tell Kenshin what was wrong...but she couldn't. She just couldn't. Her fever was rising and all of her thoughts became even more blurred. Now miserable and frustrated, Kaoru sat up and cried on Kenshin's shoulder. "I'm just sick Kenshin...please don't worry about me..."

Surprised, Kenshin slowly wrapped his arms around her wet back and smoothed her hair. He felt and sensed that her fever was rising, but she was so absorbed in crying to him that he decided it best not to leave her to get a cold cloth now. When her sobs had subsided, Kenshin delicately laid her back upon her futon and covered her with blankets. "I'll be right back, Miss Kaoru." he whispered and left.

By the time he came back with a cool washcloth, Kaoru's eyes were closed and she was half asleep, loosely holding on to reality for fear of her memories and falling ever deeper into the eternal nightmare which plagued her thoughts.

Her breathing was slow and deep and she was barely able to feel the cold cloth on her forehead and the soft kiss that he had planted on her cheek. Inside, Kaoru was screaming for Kenshin to realize her lies and save her from this oncoming darkness, but he was deaf to her silent suffering.

Sorry, this is a short chapter, but I'm sick and tired (literally). Hope you liked it, cuz it gets worse. Mwahaahhaahaha! Thanks for all the reviews!