"What exactly is wrong with me?" Kaoru asked Megumi in disbelieve.

"Would you calm down?" Megumi snapped. Kaoru and Kenshin had come to Megumi's clinic early that morning, to discus some strange symptoms Kaoru was having. They couple sat rigid, Kenshin's eyes darted back and forth, always landing on his wife, it was almost like he was afraid she would disappear.

"It's only the flu," Megumi rubbed her temples and sighed. "Honestly, you two are acting like she's dieing."

"Megumi," Kenshin began softly. "Is Kaoru sick because we slept together?"

"Kenshin!" Both Megumi and Kaoru screamed out, Kaoru's face turning steadily redder.

"No!" Megumi shook her head violently. "I told the first, second and third time you asked! No sexual contact will cause Kaoru any pain!" Kenshin sighed inwardly; he was prepared to abstain for the rest of his life if Kaoru needed him to. No matter how painful it would be.

"Kenshin," Kaoru had asked the morning after. "Are you at all, sad, that we can't have any more children?"

"No," Kenshin answered honestly. Kaoru's face fell a bit.

"Kaoru," Kenshin had tried his best to sooth her, rolling over so her body was pinned tightly under his. "I don't think I could go as long as we did without doing 'this' again. Also," Kenshin buried his face in the crook of Kaoru's neck. "It was far too close."

"What?" Kaoru had been confused at his answer, and she still was. "Too close?"

"I nearly lost you," Kenshin's reply was muffled as he started to nuzzle her neck with his mouth and nose. "I can't handle it, I can't do that again!" His voice had been strained.

"Kenshin," Kaoru ran her fingers through his hair, trying her best to calm his invisible fears. "Megumi said that I had a healthy pregnancy, healthier than most." That conversation played loudly in Kenshin's ears as he and Kaoru walked back to the dojo. He grasped her hand tightly in his, afraid for some reason.

'Kaoru's right,' Kenshin lightly scolded himself. 'I do have invisible fears. But for some reason I believe this flu is something more.'

Tomoe couldn't sleep, couldn't eat. The normal functions her body was supposed to perform had stopped and a deep pit of guilt, remorse, and pity filled her. She had begun to use her poison. She had waited for Kenshin to make Kaoru's meal, when she slipped in to talk to him. He had been so distracted during their conversation that Tomoe had no problem slipping the poison into the food.

"Only small doses," the old man had told her. "Otherwise it will be far too obvious when she dies." Kenshin would never suspect her of doing such a thing, and he took the tray to Kaoru and let her eat.

'I can't believe I did that!' Tomoe had screamed at herself. 'That I am doing this!' Deep inside Tomoe, she knew, she wasn't going to quit despite her horrible feelings. Kaoru didn't deserve this, didn't deserve to die. She had a wonderful life laid down before her, a beautiful baby boy and a loving, and highly attractive, husband.

'I promise you this Kaoru,' Tomoe whispered in her mind, a desperate attempt to ease her growing guilt that wiggled in her gut like a snake. 'When you die, I will make sure your son will live happily. I will raise him as my own, for you Kaoru.' It helped a bit, knowing her horrible murder wouldn't affect an innocent child. He would be too young to even remember his true mother. He would avoid pain all together. Kenshin, she was sure, would fall into a deep depression. But she would be able to life him out of it, coax him back to the real world. Tomoe entered the kitchen. The old man was dead; he had died mysteriously on the same night Kaoru gave birth to Kenji. But his directions were clear enough for Tomoe to follow.

"Every meal," he had told her. "Put only a small amount into her meal. In the time of three weeks she will be gone." As Tomoe repeated the directions in her head, she silently dumped a little powder into Kaoru's rice, stirring it up. The rice looked completely normal when she was all done.

Kaoru sighed happily as she rested her head against the doorway. Despite her growing illness, she couldn't help but feel joy. True, Tomoe had not left the dojo yet, but all thoughts that Kenshin would disappear with her had disappeared. For a strange reason, he couldn't get enough of her lately. Every night he connected with her, once he even did it twice. Just the other day he had cornered her in the middle of the day while the dojo had been deserted. Out in their secluded yard Kenshin made her his underneath the sun, in broad daylight!

"I've always wanted to do this," Kenshin had whispered so passionately into her ear when he entered her. "I have always wanted to make you mine in the sun, to see your body underneath the sunlight." Kaoru had objected at first, she always did. But she gave in as well, as she always did. And to top it all off, Kaoru had an amazingly cute baby boy named Kenji. He was adorable, a smaller version of Kenshin only chubbier.

"Life couldn't get any better," Kaoru told herself, even as a coughing attack hit her.

Kenshin stopped washing the laundry. He could hear Kaoru coughing inside the house. Her flu had been getting worse. To say he desired her above everything else was an understatement. Kenshin craved for her constantly since the birth of their son. Every night he had her, and sometimes that wasn't enough and he had to take her during the day. Even now he wanted her more than anything. But Kenshin steeled himself as he went to find his coughing wife. She was on the porch, leaning slightly on the post because her attack. Her small lithe shoulders shook violently as the coughs racked through her fragile body. Gently, Kenshin came behind Kaoru and pulled her into his arms. He propped her against his chest and soothingly rubbed her back, chasing away her coughs.

"Thank you," Kaoru's voice was croaky and shaky; her eyes had watered up from her attack.

"Sit," Kenshin lower Kaoru to the ground and rested her against the post. "I'll bring you some tea." Kaoru simply nodded and closed her eyes as Kenshin walked to the kitchen.

'This isn't a normal flu,' Kenshin thought to himself as he put some water over the stove. 'But I don't know what it is.' When the tea was finished, Kenshin went back to his wife.

"Kaoru," Kenshin nudged her awake. "I have your tea."

"Thank you," Kaoru sat back up and took the tea from her husband.

"Feeling any better?" Kenshin asked as he watched her drink the tea.

"Yes," Kaoru nodded happily, but flinched on the inside. She did not feel better, what kind of flu was this?

"If you're feeling better," Kenshin gently nudged his nose against the soft skin of her cheek. "I can find a way for us to pass the time."

"Hmm," Kaoru set her empty mug aside and leaned her cheek into her husbands' nose. "It couldn't be what we've been doing so far could it? What we did last night, yesterday, and the night before, and the one before that?"

"Are you sick of our little 'game'?" Kenshin asked as he dragged Kaoru over to sit in between his legs.

"Not at all," Kaoru replied as she settled in, nestling her body comfortably into his chest. Kenshin rested his hands on her stomach and closed his eyes.

'Maybe,' Kenshin thought to himself. 'If I just think to myself that I'm touching her, rubbing her, I might not have to really do it.' Kenshin settled his head on her shoulder and tested his new theory. He imagined his hands rubbing Kaoru's stomach, moving upward to pinch her stroke her,

"Kenshin!" Kaoru shrieked. Kenshin immediately withdrew his hands muttering sorry under his breath over and over.

'Let's see,' Kenshin bean to ponder Kaoru's illness again. 'I am the only one feeding Kaoru and I know that's healthy.'

"You know Kenshin," Kaoru broke his thoughts with a shy but seductive voice. "I didn't tell you to stop." Kenshin's train of thought was broken completely and a smile crept over his face.

"Kaoru," Kenshin entered their room carrying her breakfast. Her flu had taken a turn for the worst. She could no longer get out of bed and Kenshin brought everything to her. Kenshin looked at his slumbering wife and shuddered. She looked so much like she did the night she had died. Her face was pale and her breath was shallow. Her chest rattled every time she took a breath. She didn't stir at Kenshin's call to her, laid still and deep in her slumber. Kenshin placed the tray on the floor beside their futon. Gently, Kenshin lowered his lips to his Kaoru's ear.

"Wake up Koishii," Kenshin whispered softly, his breath brushing against her skin and caused a few hairs to rise. Yet Kaoru did not wake.

"Kaoru," Kenshin shook her lightly, careful so not to alarm her when she did awake. She didn't, Kaoru remained still and unmoving on the futon. Kenshin felt fear and bile rise in his throat. Hastily Kenshin shoved it back down.

"Kaoru," Kenshin shook her again, harder. She still did not wake; Kenshin felt his skin prick with terror.

"Wake up Kaoru," Kenshin's voice began to grow in volume and desperation. He began to shake her harder and harder, praying and pleading to God that she would wake.

"Kaoru!" Kenshin could no longer hear his own voice, could no longer sense anything around him.

"Kenshin," Sano peeped his head in the door, looking around. "We heard you yelling, is everything all-,"

"Sano," Kenshin's voice was softer, but it wasn't his own. It sounded like it belonged to a small child who had lost a parent and was alone in a crowd. "Please, Sano, please go get Megumi."

"Kenshin-,"

"Go!" Kenshin's voice became harsh in an instant and Sano felt no need to stay and argue. Kenshin turned back to his wife who was still. With his hand shaking terribly, Kenshin checked Kaoru's pulse. It was still going, signifying life was still within. Kaoru was still alive but un-waking. Kenshin sighed in some relief. There was still hope, Kaoru was alive.

"Koishii," Kenshin whispered to her, his voice cracking terribly. "Please, I can't lose you again." Kenshin heard Sano's footsteps as he entered the dojo, Megumi was with him.

"What seems to be the problem?" Kenshin heard Megumi ask Sano with a faint voice.

"I don't know," Sano replied between gasps. "You're just going to have to ask Kenshin." Kenshin took a deep breath and waited patiently for the two to enter the room. He could hear them come down the hall, they were outside the door.

"Megumi," Kenshin spoke as soon as the door opened. "Kaoru won't wake; she still has a pulse and breaths but won't wake." Kenshin's voice was strangely calm, his eyes were closed and it seemed that he was more irritated than anything else. Deep within, Kenshin wanted to scream, he wanted to shake Megumi and demand that she fix this, to make Kaoru better. The only thing keeping Kenshin calm was the tiny faint pulse beating within his wife who was lying so silent beside him.

"She still hasn't recovered from her flu?" Megumi asked, disbelieving.

"No," Kenshin answered he sighed, forcing all his bottled rage out in his breath. Megumi crept forward, checking Kaoru's pulse and temperature, among other things.

"Kenshin," Megumi slowly spoke, carefully choosing her words. "Kaoru's temperature has risen to a dangerous level. Her body is attempting to rid itself of the flu by heating itself up. Have you,"

"Yes," Kenshin too, spoke calmly. His eyes still closed and his powerful fists clenched. "I followed all your instructions, all your orders, everything. I cannot imagine what is wrong because I have done everything."

"Well," Megumi thought for a moment. "I,"

"Kenshin!" Yahiko stepped into the room, looking nervous. "Uh, there are some people out here who demand to see you."

"Now?" Kenshin opened one eye to look at Yahiko. "Right now?"

"Well," Yahiko shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "They're police men." Everyone, including Kenshin, jumped slightly.

"Did they have a reason?" Kenshin asked coolly.

"No," Yahiko shook his head. "They, uh, just want to see you." Kenshin pushed air out through his nostrils to calm himself before climbing to his feet. Kenshin brushed past Yahiko so quickly he blinked. The sunlight stung Kenshin's eyes but he did not blink, he would not allow himself the comfort. Three policemen stood in the courtyard of the dojo, looking nervous yet firm themselves. When they saw Kenshin they immediately hardened their eyes, tightened their grip on any weapon they had, and straightened their backs.

"Himura Kenshin," the head policeman spoke firmly, yet fear still gripped his voice. "We place you under arrest, you are to remain quiet and come with us."

"What?" Kenshin asked, startled. He certainly hadn't been expecting that. "Under what crime?"

"The attempted murder of your wife, Himura Kaoru."

Sorry it took so long to update. I broke my thumb on my stupid boatlift and it is incredibly difficult to type. It's in a cast and I won't be able to move it for a good four months.