YAY! MY MUSE RETURNED! Sorry, had a bit of a lapse there didn't I? Oh well, onto the story! Hope it lives up to your expectations…….

Chapter 5

(Kyla)

"Please Shinta, open your eyes!" I sobbed, hugging my brother to my chest and burying my nose in his hair. "Please….Wake up Shinta….."

Kaoru suddenly ran in, and then gasped when she saw me. "Kenshin!" She ran from the room and I heard her yelling. "Yahiko! Go get Megumi!"

I rocked Shinta gently, stroking his hair and whispering to him. He was shivering in my arms, breath ragged and painful. Kaoru came back in the room and I saw tears rolling down her cheeks. I knew there were tears on my own face, but I paid them no mind.

"What happened?" the younger woman asked as she knelt beside me.

"A man." I murmured. "I was sleeping when I heard a cry from Shinta. I noticed an unfamiliar ki and chased it out of the dojo." I put my nose in Shinta's flaming hair, closing my eyes. "I was blinded by rage. I killed the man."

Kaoru saddened, but she understood my reasons. "It's alright. You were worried about Kenshin."

"That doesn't make it right Kaoru." I said. Yahiko and a woman suddenly burst into the room, the woman carrying medical supplies. She glanced at me and surprise appeared on her face, but she moved for Shinta.

I tightened my grip, but Kaoru reassured me. "It's alright Kyla. This is Megumi, she's a doctor." I released Shinta reluctantly, laying him on his futon.

Megumi, as she was called, began to examine my younger brother. I looked away, and then noticed something lying on the floor. I picked it up, and then growled slightly.

Kaoru moved to my side, and then called to Megumi. "Come look at this!"

The woman took the needle from me and looked it over. After sniffing at it she ran to Shinta. "It's poison." She began removing medicines and needles, her face serious.

"Is it fatal?" Kaoru asked shakily.

Megumi looked at her for a moment, and then continued with her work. "Usually. However, we managed to catch this fairly early. That will improve Ken-san's chance. Also, Ken-san is no ordinary man, and he's a fighter. I may be able to save him." She shook her head sadly. "But I don't know for sure."

In that instant my world shattered. I looked to Shinta, pale and breathing heavily on the futon. I might lose the one family I had left, the one that I had been searching for most of my life. My brother might die, and I would be alone once more.

(Roughly one hour later)

Shinta was moaning. I had to resist the urge to cover my ears and run. His agonized groans echoed around me, taunting me in a way. He was shaking beneath the blankets, his eyes squeezed tight in pain.

Megumi was mixing herbs in a bowl, preparing some kind of medicine that was unknown to me. I focused on Shinta again, startled to find his lips a sickly blue. I moved closer to him and put a hand on his cheek, pulling back instantly. "His skin is like ice."

Kaoru's sapphire eyes were worried as she ran out to get some more blankets. Megumi came closer and I helped her pull Shinta into a sitting position. She set the bowl to his blue lips and poured it into his mouth. She poured a bit of tea in the back of his throat as well. Kenshin swallowed on instinct, and then choked on the herbs. I quickly slung him over one arm and pounded on his back until his coughs slowed and finally stopped. He hung limp over my arm, his head resting against my chest. I sighed and lay him back down.

Kaoru then came in, carrying many blankets in her arms. "Here, cover him up with these."

We covered him with the blankets, but still he shook. I watched in fear as he shivered beneath the cloth, heaving a sigh of relief when his moans quieted and he finally lay still. This part of the danger was over, at least for now……

(1 hour)

Shinta had turned the tables on us by changing to a horrid fever. Megumi sighed as she stood, closing her medical bag. "I need more. I'll be back soon."

I changed the cloth on Shinta's forehead, setting a new one soaked in cold water there. My brother moaned, squirming beneath the blankets. I smoothed his hair from his skin, soothing him slightly. "It's alright Shinta. It's okay….."

I held back the tears that burned at my eyes, knowing it would not help if broke down.

Kaoru put a hand on my shoulder, trying to comfort me. "It'll be alright Kyla. Kenshin is strong, he'll pull through."

I nodded. "I know he will Kaoru. It's just hard to think that I could lose him, even though it's a slim chance. I'm only frightened."

"I understand your fear Kyla, but we must believe in him," she smiled shakily. "He needs our support."

I smiled, touching her hand lightly. "Arigatou Kaoru. Shinta is lucky to have you my friend."

She blushed and looked way from me. I chuckled lightly, then both of us turned our attention to the futon as Shinta moved and moaned.

"Look, he's waking!" Kaoru, hope very prominent in her voice.

"Kaoru-dono? Onee-san?" His eyes fluttered, and then he began to whimper. "Where are you? What's going on?"
"Shinta, calm down, it's alright. We're both here." I murmured, trying to keep my voice from cracking.

"Where?" he whispered, stretching out a hand in my direction.

I threaded my fingers in his and moved closer to him. "Here otouto-chan, I'm here." I hugged him tightly, allowing him to bury his face in my black gi. "It's okay Shinta. I'm here……"

My brother had indeed been saved, but another tragedy had occurred. Instead of taking his life the poison had taken his sight. Shinta was blind.