D/C: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Ok, here I am, back with my third chappie! Thanks for those who reviewed. Anyway, I'll stop talking now and let you get on with the chapter.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER 3:

Spring of 1879

My companion in the cell got executed at dawn, along with all his friends. I heard the gun shots as I sat here on my hard bunk, unable to sleep due to the wounds given to me by the warden's whip…that's why I haven't been able to write in my journal for a long while…

The warden suspected that I had helped my cell companion to escape, and he had been whipping me and putting me under extremely tiring tasks to try and get me to confess, but of course, I didn't; I hadn't taken any part in the escape plan and for the first time in my life, I was innocent. I was innocent and yet they didn't believe me. That really made me angry.

He only stopped when my companion had been caught. It was the first time I've ever seen the warden look so pleased. Two weeks after his escape, I saw him being dragged back into prison with three of his friends. They put them in some other cell and they executed them at dawn. There were too many gunshots and too many screams…I'm still thanking God I didn't agree to escape with him, or I would've ended up the same way he did.

And if you'll believe it, the warden brought me a doctor to clean me up yesterday! I don't think he was doing it of good will, I only think he was doing it so I would be able to get up and work, seeing as my condition wouldn't allow me to perform any task. He brought the one doctor I would've wanted to see if I needed a doctor…Megumi Takani.

It's not as if I liked the woman or anything, but she was a friend of Kaoru's, and I could ask her about Kaoru…that made me really happy. But, unfortunately, Takani didn't want to do as much as look at me, and when she did, she'd look at me with an expression of deep loathing. I asked her many questions, but she didn't answer a single one of them. She just kept tending silently to my wounds. She was a good doctor, anyway, I felt much better when she was done with me…I saw that she had treated the wounds in a very proper way, not the hasty, unprofessional way I expected her to take.

She had helped me back into my prison clothes, packed up her medication kit, told me how to change my wrapping…she left me a few bandages and ointments…and left the cell. The warden pulled the door of the cell shut, and I expected her to leave then. But she just stood there, and I could see the ghost of a small smile hovering over her red lips, and then she said, "Kaoru says hello…and tells you to take good care of yourself."…and then she left.

I couldn't believe it. Kaoru had actually sent me a greeting with her friend! And she told me to take care of myself! For the first time in days, I felt genuinely happy! Kaoru apparently cared for me!

I paid dearly for my obvious joy. The warden, apparently, was horrified to see me so happy, and he gave me extra hours of labor so he could wipe the blissful smile off my face. But no matter what he did, I still felt happy. What Megumi told me really sent a feeling of euphoria into me which none of her drugs and medicines seemed to grant me.

But what if Kaoru didn't say that out of care for me? What if she said it as a way of being polite and nice? What if she really didn't mean it? I like to think of Kaoru as a sweet and trustworthy person, but I can't help these thoughts from creeping into my head.

I mean, why would she care for me? What have I done so she would think of me? Nothing. I have caused her nothing but absolute pain and grief, I can't remember her smiling when she had been with me on the island…and why would she smile for some one like me?

Maybe she said it out of contempt and pity…yes, that seems the most likely reason. She pitied me, and so told Megumi to deliver the message as a way of showing that she pitied me.

I was an idiot to think that she even cared for me. Nobody ever did, and nobody ever will…I don't care, anyway, I don't need anybody's love, I'm fine on my own…

…if only I could have Tomoe back, though…

A/N: That was my third chapter. Sorry it was too short, but I hope you liked it just the same, and I really hope you'll send me a review after this. Wait for my next chappie!

-ZEN.