I've gotten a few threats, so I better update Chapter 4! he he

Kaoru, now too weak from hunger, relied solely on the help of Sano, Kenshin, and Yahiko. Each of them took turns seeing to Kaoru's needs and making sure that she ate, even though she claimed that she was sick to her stomach, despite the loud growls erupting from her belly. She lie in bed all day long and kept her eyes closed to play possum and bypass the interrogations of Sanosuke and Kenshin, who were very worried about Kaoru's state.

That day, without warning, Megumi the fox doctor showed up to help Kaoru's 'sickness'. When she stated that she couldn't find anything wrong with Kaoru despite her lack of food, Kaoru decided that she couldn't lie any longer.

"Miss Megumi..." Kaoru whispered with dark, faded eyes that could no longer see reality, "It's not a physical sickness that I'm suffering from...I'm just down right now...that's all..."

"Why? What's wrong? You sure are worrying sir Ken and the rooster head and I, even Yahiko is worried. We hate to see you so down like this, what could be so serious that would cause you to lose your usual cheerfulness?" Megumi said, stroking Kaoru's hair, deeply worried for her. She knew that it was much harder to heal a psychological wound than a mortal wound on the flesh.

Kaoru turned her head away from Megumi to hide her tearing eyes. She hated worrying her friends, but she was so helpless inside that it was starting to affect her physical being. I thought I could be strong, but it's killing me...

I've got to be strong...I've got to do it..for Kenshin...

Kaoru slowly and painfully rose to her feet, regardless of the efforts of Megumi to keep her in bed. She walked the first few feet with difficulty, but she got walking down to a pattern after a few feet.

"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?" Megumi yelled loudly, vexed that her patient refused to sit still despite her need for rest.

"K-Ken...Ken...sh...in..."

Kaoru collapsed.

When she awoke she found Megumi kneeling over her. She had only passed out for a minute or two and had a cold washcloth on her forehead. "The boys are at the store, Sano and Yahiko had to drag Kenshin along, he really wanted to stay with you...Do you think you can handle a warm bath?"

Kaoru sank down to her chin in the warm, soothing water and let her long raven hair swirl atop of the water. She stared at the clear liquid and decided to go deeper to reach all of the warmth that she could. Go deeper...she was falling deeper..sinking...drowning...she was drowning in the sea of memories that haunted her subconscious...soon she would be swallowed by it...soon she would be totally submerged...air...need air..Air..AIR!

Kaoru opened her eyes and lifted her head above the water. SPLASH! Water went everywhere! Kaoru caught her breath...she had drifted into a light slumber when she had awakened underwater and when she raised her head out of the water it had sprayed several feet, as a result of her hair being so long.

Another chapter, another cliffie. TO BE CONTINUED.

MWAHAHAHAHA! Dontcha hate that? Hehehehehe! (Don't kill me)

Don't worry, I'm staying on the computer to write chap 5, so that'll come very soon, I promise! Scout's honor!

(Psshhh...like I'm a scout...)