Chapter 5

(Kaoru)

We left the hospital late that night, glad that we didn't have classes the next day so we could come back to visit him in the morning. I was reluctant to leave Shinta, but we were forced to do so anyway. Yes, still Shinta. According to the more child-like personality Kenshin wasn't going to come out any time soon.

I now sat at my laptop, studying MPDs, (Multiple Personality Disorders) on the internet until Megumi and Sano came to get me when we went back to the hospital. I scrolled down on the page, reading the words.

"MPD (Multiple Personality Disorder), or DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) is a mental condition in which the personality becomes fragmented ("dissociated") into two or more distinct identities, each of which may become dominant and control behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the others. These identities are called "alter personalities" (often simply "alters") and each maintains its own integrity of characteristics and habits. Each has its own age, name, sex, intelligence, and personal tastes."

I nodded to myself. This sounded like a good description of what Kenshin had. As far as I knew Shinta was the younger, how old he was I didn't know. Maybe I could ask him, if he would tell me. I could hear the childish tones in his voice, but when he wanted he could sound similar to Kenshin. I had never heard anything from Him, nothing but snarls and growls. He had a deep guttural tone, at least from what I had heard.

A knock came to my door. "Hey Tanuki, let's get going." It was Megumi, come to get me so we could go see Shinta.

"I'm coming!" I called back, closing my laptop and grabbing my keys. I stepped out to see Sano and Megumi standing there. I smiled briefly at them, then turned and locked my apartment. "Alright, let's go."

The ride to the hospital was quiet, with nothing but the radio playing. I didn't pay much attention to the music, I thought more about Kenshin, or Shinta. 'Why did you never tell me Kenshin? I would have understood. I would have helped you.' I thought. I stared out the window, watching trees as they flew past.

We arrived quickly, and we went up the elevator, still quiet. Megumi finally spoke in the stuffiness of the elevator, in a soft voice. "It'll be good to see him. I wonder how he's feeling now."

"I wonder if it's still Shinta." I whispered into the warm air. I got no response from my friends.

When the elevator door opened I was surprised to hear shrieks of fear coming from room 123. I heard the shouts of nurses and doctors, as well as Shinta's cries. I ran for the room immediately, startled to see 3 nurses holding Shinta down by his arms and shoulders, two doctors holding his legs, and another nurse approaching with a needle. Shinta was shaking madly, and I could see the sheer terror in his amethyst eyes

I barely heard Sano let out a shout of protest; I was caught in Shinta's liquid gaze. 'Help me,' his eyes screamed. 'Help me Kaoru!'

Before I could do anything Shinta let out another cry as the needle pierced the skin of his arm and the nurse injected the stuff into his veins. I let out a cry of rage, and began to walk into the room with a determined air. I was held back by a doctor. "Calm down Miss," his voice murmured in my ear. "It is only a sedative, to help him sleep. It will not hurt him."

I froze at his words, and watched as Shinta's eyelids began to droop. He fought it, still struggling weakly, but his limbs fell to the bed, his eyes falling shut in a forced sleep. I took a deep breath, turning to the doctor holding my arm. "Release my arm or you will no longer have that hand." I said, venom in my voice.

He dropped my arm like it was a poisonous snake, which it very well could be with the temper I was in. "Maa maa Miss….."

I cut him off, sticking a finger in his face. "Don't you dare 'maa maa' me mister! Why did you drug him? What has he done?"

He put up his hands in a placating gesture. "He is exhausted ma'am, but he hasn't gotten any sleep for a long while. We can tell in the way his body reacts to our tests. He hasn't eaten for a few days, so we're trying to help him sleep. He needs the rest."

I had no comment for that. Kenshin hadn't been eating or sleeping? I looked to where the redhead was limp on the bed, his face pale. It was only now I noticed the sharp angles of his shoulders and face, and through the small opening in the front of his hospital gown I could count many of his ribs. There were also faint shadows under his eyes, besides the fact that his features were paler than normal.

I sighed, moving away from the doctor to sit beside Shinta. "Just go…." I murmured. I didn't expect the man to obey, but he left the room quietly. I held Shinta's hand, squeezing his fingers. I got no response, he was too deep under.

Megumi frowned, examining the papers on the side table. "They don't think he'll be able to come home for a few days."

I blinked, looking up at her. I then glared slightly. "Not if I have anything to say about it. He'll be coming home tonight."

(Shinta)

Coming to was harder than I expected. It was like fighting to swim with no energy. Everything was muffled, as though I was underwater, but slowly I began to understand voices.

"I think he's waking up….."

I smiled inwardly. Kaoru, that was her. I fought harder to wake, and was able to force my eyes open to look into her worried face. "Kenshin?" she murmured.

I shook my head slightly. "Still Shinta…."

She frowned, but I felt her slender fingers squeeze my hand. I squeezed back slightly, still trying to wake up. While I was doing this I reached into the recesses of my mind, searching for Kenshin. I could feel him, though faintly. He was terrified, and I couldn't get him to speak. /Kenshin/ I called, still willing to try. /Please talk to me./

I got silence as my response, so I focused back on Kaoru's face. She was speaking, and I quickly paid attention to what she was saying.

"I've talked to the doctors, and they say you can come back to the apartment, if one of us is willing to stay and watch you," she said with a smile, sitting back a little.

I grinned. "I have a feeling you threatened them Kaoru."

She put on an innocent look and I laughed lightly. She touched my face suddenly, pushing my hair away from my forehead. "Are you alright Shinta? You're awfully pale."

I sighed. "I'm fine Kaoru." This was a lie. Since He had escaped I had only gotten worse. My stomach was still doing acrobatics in my belly, and my head was pounding from the drug they had given me. I knew I was getting sick, but I didn't want Kaoru to worry too much.

Kaoru studied me, and then spoke. "You're lying." I blinked, and opened my mouth to tell her no, but she stopped me. "Don't you lie to me, I can tell you are. You're not feeling well at all. I can see it in your face."

I sighed. Couldn't fool her after all. A doctor suddenly walked into the room, a disgruntled look on his face. "You may leave, if one of these young people will keep an eye on you."

I nodded and smiled, then looked to my friends. Kaoru handed me a tee shirt and a pair of jeans, smiling. "I decided I'd stay with you Shinta. Is that alright with you?"

I nodded, then pushed the covers back and stood. I nearly fell, but Sano held me up. I was confused. Why was I so shaky? With a frown on my face I made my way to the bathroom and changed into the clothes Kaoru had given me. She looked worried when I came out, and I smiled in an attempt to calm her.

"I'll be fine Kaoru." I said softly as we left. "I was only a little shaky from being in bed, and maybe the blood loss."

She didn't seem convinced, and I couldn't blame her. I wasn't sure either, and I sure had sounded like I didn't know what I was talking about.

The ride back to the apartment was quiet, all of us thinking on our own. I stared out the window, trying and failing to contact Kenshin again. He was silent, and it was almost like he wasn't there at all. I could still feel the dark presence of Him, and it frightened me a little.

Kaoru startled me out of my thoughts when we arrived back at the apartments, and I followed her quietly to my room. I opened it, and was surprised to see every bit of blood cleaned up. It was like nothing had happened at all. I looked in shock to my friends, eyes wide.

Sano grinned. "Least we could do buddy." He waved and turned. "See ya later!"

Megumi smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. "I hope you're feeling better Shinta." She looked sternly at Kaoru. "Take good care of him tanuki, and don't get yourself any ideas staying in here with him."

She flushed about an instant after I did, and I couldn't help giggling slightly. "Shut up Megumi."

She laughed her trademark laugh and waved a delicate hand. "Be good now!"

Kaoru shut the door forcefully after she left and turned to smile at me, the blush receding from her face. I could still feel my cheeks burning, but I smiled back at her shyly. She sat on my small futon, gesturing for me to come over. "Shinta, I have a question for you."

I sat next to her, cocking my head slightly. "What is it Kaoru?"

"How old are you?" she asked seriously.

"Well, Kenshin is 23." I said hesitantly, not quite sure what she meant.

She blinked. "Really? I thought he was 22."

I shook my head. "No. Our birthday was just a few days ago."

She smiled. "Well, that's not what I meant. I want to know how old you are Shinta."

I blinked. "I'm 10 this year…."

She cocked her head. "You sound really mature for a 10 year old."

I looked down. "I've had to grow up really fast. Kenshin needed me."

"What about Him?"

I hesitated, looking at her with wide eyes. "Why do you want to know that Kaoru?" She shrugged, and I looked down again. "He is 16."

She put a hand on my shoulder. "I can tell I'm making you nervous. Gomen." I smiled at her, but it was shaky. She grinned. "How about some dinner? It's nearly 7:00."

I smiled. "That sounds great Kaoru."

HM: Wow, long chapter. Hope you liked it!