Part 3

Kaoru sat with Kenshin for the entire night and for the beginning of the next day. Sano had moved the rurouni into his room, where he lay silently in the dark, his soft and shallow breaths the only sounds. Kaoru was quiet beside his futon, merely watching his face and holding his hand. Though he loathed it in every way possible, Sano settled himself down to wash out Kenshin's bloody clothes.

He dipped the old worn gi into the water, surprised when a tiny flower floated up to the top. It was a jasmine, which had apparently been tucked into Kenshin's gi. Sano picked up the little blossom, eyes saddening. 'He must have bought it for Jou-chan,' he thought, twirling the stem lightly in his fingers.

The small flower was almost perfect, but blood covered the bottom of the stem. How it had managed to stay clean while the rest of Kenshin's gi was covered in the stuff was a miracle to Sano, but the ex-street-fighter was glad that what was ruined could be cut off and the flower could still be presented to Kaoru.

Using his teeth he removed the blood-covered part of the stem, then stood and went to Kenshin's room. He looked sadly in, seeing Kaoru lying on the floor beside Kenshin's tiny form. She was awake, he could tell by her fingers gently playing with a lock of flame-colored hair. "Jou-chan….."

She turned to look at him, her fingers still touching Kenshin's hair lightly. "What is it Sano?"

Sano was surprised at her appearance. The normally cheerful blue eyes were gone, replaced by dull emotionless orbs. Her face was pale, and smudges accented the pallor even more. Her hair was unkempt, wisps falling around her face where they had escaped the blue ribbon in her hair.

Sano moved closer, stepping lightly. It seemed wrong to break the silence of the room. He held out the flower, which Kaoru took uncertainly. "I found it in Kenshin's gi Jou-chan."

Her eyes widened, and then filled with tears. "He was out there for me……" she whispered. "He remembered……." She cradled the flower to her chest, closing her eyes and allowing the tears to flow.

"Jou-chan," Sano started hesitantly. "I know you're sad, but this isn't helping Kenshin at all." Kaoru looked up at him, her eyes wide and startled. "You know that Kenshin will wake up." Sano smiled encouragingly at her. "He's too strong to just fade away like this. You need to help him, and you sitting here feeling sorry isn't going to help at all."

She stared at him for a moment, then the spark flickered to life in her eyes again, and she nodded, her lips set in a firm line. "You're right Sano." She stood, then, almost as an afterthought, knelt again and placed the jasmine on Kenshin's chest. Sano smiled, knowing that she felt as though it would remind her of her purpose every time she looked at the wanderer. She walked towards him, smiling at him as she came closer. "Arigatou Sano. I owe you."

He grinned. "No problem Jou-chan. We're all here for Kenshin, right?"
She nodded, following him out the door with a sad smile back in Kenshin's direction. "Right Sano. And be here for Kenshin we will."

(4 years later)

Kaoru was still there for Kenshin, as was the rest, but she was growing worried. Since that day four years earlier Kenshin hadn't moved, not at all. There was nothing, not even a flicker of his face. He was as still as death, as though he was already dead instead of only sleeping. Even though his flesh wounds and broken bones had long ago healed there was still no change in his sleep. She had kept up her strong exterior, but it was weakening as time wore on. There was only so much a girl could handle after all. Having the love of your life sacrifice himself to save you and end up in an eternal sleep was stressful.

Late that night Kaoru sat in Kenshin's room once more. She fed him every night, dripping soup between his colorless lips and rubbing his throat to make him swallow. It wasn't much, but it kept him alive. This was done four times a day without fail, along with water more frequently. But despite Kaoru's efforts he was fading. Kenshin's hair had long since lost its sheen, becoming the dull color of dried blood. His skin was pasty, eyes sunk back in his skull. He was thinner than ever and getting dehydrated. Megumi did what she could to help Kaoru by giving him medicines, but it wasn't working.

Kaoru finished feeding him sadly, watching as his throat worked the water down. That was the only movement she ever saw, besides the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed. It was still hard to believe that beneath those blankets lay a 33 year old man, who had aged over the years even as he slept. His body showed it little, he still looked as young as 20. Kaoru was a woman of 22 now, and she certainly looked it. She was taller, and she was more mature now. As Sano often said, "I don't know if I can call you Jou-chan anymore. You're not so little now!" This usually brought a smile to her face, and she welcomed those moments.

Yahiko had spent much time at the dojo, helping her out to her own great astonishment. The young boy seemed to be in shock for about a year, still scared over seeing the man that he idolized covered in his own blood. It never seemed to leave him, and he would avoid the subject of Kenshin whenever possible. But he still cared for the rurouni, Kaoru could see it in the way that Yahiko sometimes offered to help her feed and take care of Kenshin and clean up around the dojo.

Megumi visited often, always getting a sad expression on her face when she saw Kenshin. The female physician was afraid for the gentle man; Kaoru could see it every time he was brought up. However, she too helped out Kaoru whenever possible.

Kaoru had seen the most improvement in Sano. The ex-street-fighter had committed himself to staying with her, protecting her and Kenshin from any and all harm. He even helped her out by cleaning the dojo and doing laundry occasionally. He was deeply fond of Kenshin, and he too was determined to keep him alive.

She set the bowl and spoon on the floor beside her and gently picked up Kenshin's limp hand. "Please wake up soon Kenshin," the girl murmured. She reached down to stroke Kenshin's hair away from his face. "I miss you." She touched his cheek, tracing the cross-shaped scar there. "We all do. We wish you would come back to us."

There was no response from the tiny form beneath the blankets, which came as no surprise to Kaoru. She squeezed his hand, hoping for a reaction. There was none. Tears welled up in her eyes and she allowed them to flow unbidden. "I love you Kenshin. So much……" She cried for a moment, cradling the hand to her cheek.

There as a sudden movement against her skin. Her eyes flew open, a gasp escaping her lips. Kenshin's fingers twitched against her cheek, and she lowered her hands to look at his face. His eyelids flickered, and then slowly fluttered open.

She let out a sob, clutching at Kenshin's hand. "Kenshin! Oh Kenshin, kami, you're awake!" She closed her eyes, a wide smile spreading across her face. "I thought I'd lost you……"

She opened her eyes again and was startled to see a look of confusion on Kenshin's features. His voice was cracked and faint, but she heard his question as though he had shouted it in her ear. "Who are you?"