"You don't have to do this Kenshin," Tomoe said in a soft, sensuous voice. She was leaning against the bath house, watching Kenshin as he kindled the fire.

"It's my pleasure Tomoe," Kenshin smiled briefly at her before returning to his work.

"You're so good to me," Tomoe lowered her eyes as she quietly spoke the same words Kaoru had said to Kenshin that morning. Kenshin stopped, the same sentence sounded so different from her.

"You were always good to me," Tomoe raised her eyes and gazed at Kenshin. It felt strange, for Kenshin, for their eyes to meet. Only for a moment they stood still and time stopped. The wind gently rocked Tomoe's hair around her body, framing her face, gently scraping across her smooth cheeks.

"Kenshin," Tomoe started to speak, her voice flowed smoothly over her lips like honey, but was interrupted. A terrible scream erupted through the dojo, tearing the mood to shreds. Kenshin's heart stopped, he felt his blood run cold. It was Kaoru's voice, he knew instantly. He dully felt his arms drop the wood he had been carrying; he didn't even hear it as it clattered on the ground. Before he knew it his legs started to carry him towards the sound, his arms pumping madly as he sought to find his wife. He whipped around the corner of the dojo at record breaking speed. Sano was there, cradling Kaoru in his arms.

"Kenshin!" Sano cried out when he saw him. "I don't know what happened, she just fell over!" Kenshin didn't hear Sano speak, only noted that his lips were moving. Kaoru was clutching Sano, her fingers entwined in his clothes. She was madly gritting her teeth together, trying to forget the pain. In an instant, Kenshin was there.

"She's been calling for you," Sano informed him as he carefully shifted Kaoru into his arms. As soon as Sano said this, Kenshin heard Kaoru whimper out his name.

"I'm here Koishi," Kenshin wrapped one arm around her back and his other over her plump belly. He gently rubbed his nose against her forehead. "I'm here."

"Kenshin," Kaoru arched her back in pain and cried out. Her spine felt like it was on fire. Kenshin tightened his grip.

"Sano," Kenshin looked at his friend. "I need you to go get Megumi, and hurry!"

"On it," Sano sprinted off.

"What's happening?" Yahiko crouched down beside his teacher. "What's happening to her?" His eyes were filled with fear.

"Yahiko," Kenshin caught the boys gaze and held it. "I need you to get me a bucket of cool water and a cloth. I'm going to move Kaoru into our room."

"What's wrong?" Yahiko stammered out. "I don't understand."

"Just do it," Kenshin urged, his eyes flared to amber, only for a moment. That sent Yahiko scurrying for the items he wanted. Kenshin lowered one arm down to Kaorus' knees and his other around her shoulders. As gently as possible, Kenshin lifted Kaoru's body into the air. She cried out again and Kenshin felt his heart crack. He hurried into their room and placed her upon their futon. His arm cradled her head, acting as a pillow.

"It hurts Kenshin," Kaoru rolled her head from side to side.

"What hurts Koishi?" Kenshin asked, his voice cracked from fear. "What's hurting you?"

"Everything," Kaoru gasped out.

"You can't think about the pain," Kenshin brought her body closer to his. "Stop gritting your teeth."

"I can't," Kaoru moaned. She tried to rock her body back and forth but Kenshin refused to let her, trapping her within his arms.

"Here," Kenshin brought his hand up to her face, gently rubbing her cheek with his finger. "You have to bite something, bite my hand." Kaoru stopped her struggle, looking him in the eye.

"Kenshin Himura," Kaoru's voice still held authority though it was only a whisper. "I will not bite your hand."

"Good job Koishi," Kenshin smiled down at her. "You've stopped thinking about the pain."

"Kenshin!" Megumi burst through the door, followed by Sano and Yahiko. "What seems to be the problem?"

"I don't know," Kenshin felt panic grip him. "Look at her, please!"

"Calm down," Megumi tried to sooth everyone's fears, but her voice was near hysteria itself. "I need you to leave."

"I won't leave," Kenshin growled. "She needs me here."

"Kenshin," Megumi looked him in the eye. "If you want me to do my best, I need you to leave. Wait outside, all of you!"

"Come on," Sano placed his hand on Kenshin's shoulder. "The fox is right. Everything will be all right." Kenshin allowed Sano to steer him out of the room, though reluctant. He cast one last glance back at his wife before the door was shut.

Megumi leaned back on her heels and sighed. She had managed she calm Kaoru, diminish most of her pain with medicine. But there was still one inevitable problem left, what was wrong with Kaoru? It wasn't contractions, it was far to early for that, and also Kaoru had described a burning sensation along her spine. Megumi had only heard of that once, and only briefly, it was some sort of complication with the baby. Megumi had no idea how to fix it.

"Megumi?" Kaoru's voice floated up to her. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes," Megumi lied. "It was early contractions, that's all." Megumi lied through her teeth, no use in worrying her friend. Kaoru would be a wreck.

"I'm sorry for creating all that fuss," Kaoru's voice was small and hoarse.

"It's fine," Megumi turned her face away, afraid that Kaoru would be able to read the lie there. "Just sleep, okay?"

"All right," Kaoru turned her head away from Megumi, closing her eyes. "Wait,"

"Yes," Megumi turned to face Kaoru before she left.

"Can I see Kenshin?"

"Yes," Megumi smiled faintly. "I'll send him in." Megumi quietly closed the door and took a deep breath. It was going to be a lot harder to fool Kenshin than Kaoru. Megumi turned and nearly fell over. He was right there, worry written all over his face; his eyes were as wide as mirrors.

"Megumi?" Kenshin asked hesitantly, afraid of her answer.

"She'll be fine," Megumi turned her head, hiding her face in her hair. "It was early contractions."

"Megumi," Kenshin's voice held a slight warning. He had picked up on her lie as soon as it left her mouth. "Tell me the truth, please."

"That is the truth," Megumi moved to go around him. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have other patients to attend to."

"Megumi," Kenshin caught her arm, holding her in his iron grip.

"Kenshin," Megumi tore her arm away from him with much difficulty. "Let me through, there is nothing else to tell and I am busy." Kenshin turned to watch Megumi go; she could feel his gaze burning into the back of his neck. She felt her hair rise a bit, but she just tightened her shoulders, quickened her pace, and left. As soon as she was gone, Kenshin bolted straight into his room. Kaoru appeared to be asleep, her hair was unbound, scattered about her like raven feathers. Her skin was unnaturally pale, her lips and eyelashes contrasted greatly with her skin. Her breath was ragged, or at least it sounded like it to Kenshin. She was still beautiful, like a porcelain doll that would break at his touch. There was nothing more lovely to Kenshin than his wife.

"Kenshin," Kaoru slowly opened her eyes, two deep blue pools. Kenshin was at her side in an instant. Gently, he scooped her up into his lap and rested his cheek against hers.

"Kaoru," Kenshin breathed in her scent to calm him. "What did Megumi tell you? What was wrong?"

"Megumi said it was early contractions," Kaoru replied faintly. Kenshin tore his face from hers to look her intently in the eye.

Koishi," Kenshin pleaded; his voice frayed and desperate. "Please tell me the truth."

"Kenshin," Kaoru's eyes looked like liquid, like pools of water Kenshin could swim in. "That is what Megumi told you." Kenshin tightened his grip on her and crushed his forehead against hers. He clamped his eyes shut and breathed as deeply as he could.

"I'll be all right love," Kaoru nestled closer with what little strength she had left.

'I hope so," Kenshin thought to himself. 'I don't think I could live without you Koishi.'

Tomoe stayed by the bath house, she stayed there through the whole ordeal. Kenshin never did return to finish her bath, and Tomoe was a bit miffed.

"Kaoru," Tomoe hissed to herself. "She must of done this on purpose, right when I was getting through to Kenshin." Kenshin was truly an idiot sometimes, Tomoe had been trying to contact with him the whole time she had been here, and he never seemed to get it. Sometimes they would almost contact, almost. But something would happen, something that would tear Kenshin's attention away from her.

"Give yourself a little credit," Tomoe sighed out loud. "You have put stress on their relationship." She didn't want to ruin Kaoru's life; Kaoru was always polite and kind to her. And Kaoru was no fool, she knew that Tomoe wanted her former husband back, but she did little to stop her. No, Tomoe did not want to ruin Kaoru; she just merely wanted her husband back. Poor Kaoru just happened to be in the way

"I love him," Tomoe thought sadly. "I really, really do." Kenshin hadn't killed her as everyone thought, but he did manage to wound her seriously. Seriously enough that she forgot her memory for several years. When it finally returned, Tomoe had woken up in some strange hospital. After proving she could handle herself to her doctor, Tomoe had immediately set out to find her husband, join him again, so they could continue to be man and wife. It was hard, she heard many stories about him, and he defeated evil men, saved countless people, helped and also fought against the police. But with all the stories she still couldn't track him down. Finally Tomoe went to Hiko, Kenshin's former master.

"That idiot apprentice of mine," Hiko took a sip of his tea before answering, tasting it painfully slow. "He's staying at a dojo in Tokyo with a martial arts teacher." Tomoe immediately took of. She easily tracked the dojo down from there. She had dreamt years for that moment, the moment she would be rejoined with the life of her life. But it had turned out all wrong. She walked into the courtyard, and saw him, her Kenshin, for the first time in so many years. But another woman was in his arms. They cutting vegetables together and Kenshin had been sitting behind the woman, his arms wrapped around her and his hands resting on top of hers, helping her cut. Their faces were so close together, and they looked so happy. Tomoe wanted to cry.

"How can I compete," Tomoe thought wildly. "This woman is so much younger than me, so much lovely for the eye. She makes a perfect wife for him. All I am is an old hag!" Kenshin didn't even recognize her. They both looked up from their 'work,' blushed furiously, and de-tangled themselves from one another. Tomoe was heart broken, she would of never thought the martial arts teacher was a woman, let alone Kenshin's wife!

"I need you Kenshin," Tomoe thought bitterly, feeling tears running down her face. "I need you."

Thank you so much for reviewing, thanks for all the advice, I'm still trying to work out the kinks and I desperately need it.