AN: Okily Dokily, last chapter here, people. Be excited, be very excited…Or if you thought it was that good…be…be sad…I guess…But, yeah, this is the ending. I don't think it's really a sad ending…But I dunno, I thought that one fanfic I wrote wasn't too sad and I ended up making people cry so…w/e, just read and uh, I hope you enjoy the grande finale! that…isn't really…that…grande…Be warned, it's very, very, very, very, very, very, boring…sorry…but hey, what do you expect from someone like me.

Disclaimer: same as the rest…

Part Eleven: the Edge

Kaoru held her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Oh, how she missed her Kenji…He was such a beautiful child. He would probably return with a wonderful young woman, that is, if he ever returned at all…

Kaoru stood up with anxiety as she saw Kenshin walking towards her, "What happened, Kenshin? What did Megumi say? Oh, Kenshin, are you alright?" Kaoru was near tears as he just walked past her, not saying a word, his face tired and sorrowful.

She turned and let her eyes follow him to their bedroom, where he went in and shut the door…Kaoru gave a great and sorrowful sigh and let a tear spill down her cheek, "Kenshin…" He was sick, and she feared that Megumi bore him ill news about his condition.

Keshin lay on the futon in their bedroom, trying to figure out what to say to her, just as she walked in with a tray of hot food. She set it down by the bed and knelt next to him, silently, pulling the blankets over him. He felt a tear splash onto his face that was burning hot with his fever, as she bent over him, making sure there were no wrinkles in the blanket and arranging the food dishes on the tray perfectly. She then began to feed him, and he let her put the food in his mouth and he swallowed it. For once it was exceptionally good. He let her feed him until there was no more food to be eaten…

Kenshin sat on the porch, examining the rotting flesh on his arms, the pang of hot tears in his eyes. Why now? They were so happy together. Why now? Was this God's way of punishment for everything they had done in the past? It sure was cruel of him, indeed. A fitting punishment, though, perhaps, it was true…But Kaoru didn't deserve any pain…She was his beautiful angel…Even through the hundreds she killed, she was still innocent to him. Why was God doing this to them?

Suddenly he felt Kaoru's cool palm on his neck and he gasped. She sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"What is it?" She asked with a cracking voice, but calmly, "What did Megumi…?" She couldn't go on…

Kenshin let his eyes fall shut, "I'm so sorry, Kaoru…I love you…You know that…right?" Kaoru nodded her head against his arm, "But…I…we'll be parted soon…I have no chance against this disease. At last I meet an enemy…that I cannot defeat…I just want you to know that I will still love you…even after death…"

Kaoru broke into a sob, "Kenshin…! It isn't true…It isn't!" Kaoru wept into his sleeve for a while then finally whispered, "…Why…?"

Kenshin let a single tear fall, "I don't know…I'm sorry…So sorry…"

Kaoru's crying receded and she heaved a sigh. She had made up her mind…

"Kenshin…sh…" She hesitated, "…Share your pain with me…Kenshin…please…"

"Kaoru, no…You shall not be put through this suffering. I…I can't. I can't let you…"

With that, Kaoru cried out, "Have you no sympathy?" She shook with sobs, "I…I don't want to be alone! I…I don't want to die without you…I can't live, knowing that you aren't…"

Kaoru stood up and pulled him inside and to the bed, "Please, Kenshin…let me bear some of your pain…You need someone to be there with you…Let me be there…" She pulled him down onto the futon and they lay next to each other, peering into each other's eyes.

"Kaoru, I…" Kenshin started. But Kaoru captured his words by kissing him, her brows furrowed, still unable to cope with Kenshin's fate.

Kenshin pulled away and rolled over so that he was on top of her, "Kaoru, I'm sorry…" And he kissed her again as he spread his pain to her, horrified by his actions, but not being able to say no to his love. Somehow they found pleasure in their pain and Kaoru moaned into him, not letting him stop. They were to be linked for all eternity…

The next morning Kaoru awoke with a fever. So soon? she thought. But it was better that way. The closer to Kenshin's condition she was, the better…Kaoru was about to get up and make breakfast, ignoring the heat in her face and the exauhstion of not getting enough sleep. Kenshin was still sleeping beside her. All pleasure was gone. Only the pain remained.

A few weeks later Kaoru's condition got serious, Megumi often had to take trips to the dojo, giving them both a dose of putrid medicine, hoping it would prolong their lives, even if it was just by a little.

One day Kenshin disappeared. He returned a that same night and Kaoru didn't question him. She only cried in joy over his return and they went inside, both weezing and tired. That's when Kenshin noticed. Kaoru looked old and worn. She wasn't the same laughing angel she used to be. And inside he cried, for he was the reason or that. He made her this way because she asked him to. He was killing her and he choked, stopping her as she led him back to the house.

Kaoru turned and faced him, "Kenshin, love, can you make it to the house?" She couldn't even smile anymore. He kicked himself and started pulling his hair, tears streaming down his face.

"Kenshin? Kenshin! Stop! What's wrong? Anata!" She knelt beside him and gripped his shoulders as he sunk to the ground, clutching his head.

"Kaoru…Kaoru…Why? Why did this happen to you? It's because of me! It's my fault…? I did it to you…" Kenshin was barely able to speak, his voice was harsh and raspy, "You should still be laughing, you should be smiling. But you aren't…I…I kill everything I touch…everything I love…"

"Kenshin! Stop! This is foolishness!…It isn't your fault, Kenshin…! I wanted this, Kenshin, remember that…" Kaoru coughed over her shoulder, "I can still laugh and smile, but not without you, Kenshin. You must stay with me…until the end…Kenshin…oh, please…please, stay with me…"

They went into the house and Megumi stood there, shocked and horrified, "What are you doing! Get in bed! Where have you been, Kenshin-san!"

Kenshin was wrapped in bandages all the way up to his neck. His coordinations were shot, as if he were drunk, and he hardly ever woke up at all.

Kaoru wasn't faring much better, either. She wasn't able to get out of bed and was always calling out for her Kenji. She wanted to see him, at least one more time.

Yahiko came to see how Kaoru and Kenshin were doing and fortunately they were both awake. He had grown and was very strong after Kaoru's many training lessons. He remembered when Kaoru first started to seem sick. He wished now that he had come to visit more often. He hardly ever came at all…Always there was work to do at the Akeabeko. But why hadn't he just told her that he wanted to visit Kenshin and Kaoru?

Kaoru grabbed Kenshin's fragile hand when Yahiko stepped in and said with a voice little more than a whisper, "Oh, Yahiko. Why, we haven't seen you in a while, have we?"

Yahiko looked down, tears about to fall, "I'm sorry. I swear I will do anything in my power for you. Anything in the world you want…Everything that you've done for me…and I wasn't here enough…You're both sick…I'm still not strong enough to be here for you guys…Why didn't I just…?"

"Oh, Yahiko, you're strong, and I know because I taught you. It was an honor, Yahiko. Wasn't it, Kenshin?"

Kenshin looked over at Kaoru and tried to smile. Then Kaoru thought of something. And she stared up at Yahiko with sad, dying eyes.

"Yahiko…Something…I wish for you to do…"

"Yes? Yes, Kaoru? I will do it. Was it is that you need?"

"Yahiko, bring my son to me…" And then Kaoru's voice trailed of and she fell into sleep, her chest rising and falling with ragged breath. Kenshin turned his head to look at Yahiko and gazed at him with eyes that wouldn't see for much longer, then he shut them, and fell asleep as well…

Yahiko looked at Megumi, and Megumi looked at him. Each stare was as sad as the other for their friends, who didn't deserve to die so soon. And Yahiko then turned and left the room.

A few days later Yahiko had returned, with Kenji. Kenji stared down at his sleeping parents, who were both on death's doorstep. He pitied them as he stood there. He looked just like Kenshin. But as he stood there and watched his mother and father, he thought, they were not strong. No, they could never have been…These people are weak. They are not my parents. I will be stronger than anyone. These people are not strong…

And he cried for them, for he knew that what he thought was just a bunch of lies. He just didn't want to believe it, that they were dying, rotting right in front of him.

Suddenly Kaoru's eyes opened and she met Kenji's tearful gaze, "Kenji…Oh, my Kenji…How I missed you…How I've seen you so often in my dreams. You look exactly like your father…Is Kenshin awake?"

Kenji looked over to his father, sleeping and breathing harshly, eyes clenched shut, as if he were wincing in pain. Kenji shook his head at his mother, who sighed and let a tear fall.

"He would have liked to see you again. We missed you so much, Kenji, thank god you've returned…" Then she spotted Yahiko in the doorway, "Ah, you are a wonderful boy, Yahiko. Thank you…thank you, for bringing him home…" Yahiko knelt down beside Kaoru and held her hand.

"Kaoru…Why? Why did it have to be like this? Why are you both…?"

"Oh, don't worry, Yahiko, this is how it is supposed to be…I've lived a full life, and I've seen many lives, deaths, I've even taken lives…Not it is my turn…This disease, this…leprocy…It is taking my life now, and I'm ready…I won't be able to hold on much longer…I'm not as strong as I used to be…"

Kenji knelt beside Yahiko and grabbed Kaoru's hand from him, "I'm sorry, Mother…" And just then Kenshin awoke and stared up at his son, "Father…"

Kenshin smiled but Kaoru was already asleep. Kenshin was holding onto life by a thread, and so he could no longer stay conscious. That was the last the two were to see of their son.

It was the middle of the night and Kenshin somehow could not sleep. Kenji stayed in his parents' bedroom and had fallen asleep next to their futon. Kaoru woke up and peered into Kenshin's eyes, understanding, and she started to cry.

"Kenshin, Kenshin, wait for me…Kenshin…" Kaoru didn't want him to go without her. But he was not able to hold on any longer. He held on for as long as he could for her. But it wasn't enough anymore. He couldn't do it.

Kaoru knew this and so she a let one more tear fall and said, "Okay, Kenshin, okay…"

"I…love y-you…"

I am happy. In fact, I think this is the happiest I've ever been. Looking back, I've lived a full life and I have no regrets. My son is doing well, I'm sure he'll take over the dojo once we're gone. And as I stare at Kenshin now, I understand. He has been holding on to life just so I wouldn't be alone. Now it pains me to know that we are both dying, sure, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I am staring into his eyes now, and I can tell that he is saying to me without words, "I'm sorry, but I can't stay any longer…" And I have been waiting for this time so I, too, can just give up and let death take me. There is no strength left in us. This way we'll both die together. That is how I want it to be.

With my dying strength I lean over and kiss his fragile lips. He smiles and I watch as his eyes stare at me and then his smile fades. But somehow I can tell that he can no longer see me. His eyes are glazed, unfocused, like they can see right through me. Oh, no…

He's gone.

I hope he is waiting for me. I am coming, Kenshin…

Tears eat up the rest of my strength. I am ready for death. I no longer have any feeling in my body, no sounds reach me. Tears are still falling, I'm sure, as I stare at his lifeless eyes. Vision is dark. I can't see clearly.

Am I dying?

I can no longer see Kenshin, though my eyes are wide open. I can't see anything.

Am I blind?

Suddenly I am walking forward. There is only darkness. Blackness everywhere. Where am I?

What is that? Ahead of me…

Something in the blackness. Red. Blood? No. It is hair. Red hair. It is Kenshin. He did wait for me. Oh, thank you, thank you, god for letting him wait…!

He holds out his hand. I realize, I am not tired, there is no pain. Kenshin is smiling. This is death, then? I smile back at him and take his hand. He kisses my forehead and we walk through the blackness of this place that is death. Happiness, I somehow feel happiness still.

Oh, Kenshin, this is how it should be…And do you remember how it all started as well? When we first met…We will always be together. We are together right now, even after the end of our lives, as we step off the edge of the universe, and this is death. What happens now? But it doesn't matter, for I know now that we will always be together…

fin

AN: So, was it too sad? I think it was a pretty happy ending, however the rest of the chapter was boring. It seemed like it dragged on and on and on and on…Oh, screw everything I just said, this chapter sucked… :( …But…oh, well, I tried…Don't forget, there is going to be an epilogue about our beloved Kenji of course! So don't forget to check for that every now and then. It shouldn't be that long of a wait. Feel free to burn me on this chapter, but if you do so, give some reason or advise. Don't just say "it sucked and reminded me of dragontales, it was so horrible, i hate it, bleck! ew! poo!" because I agree it wasn't too exciting, but come on. I need a bit of useful feedback, if you know what I mean. Hehe. So thank you for putting up with me. I hope you enjoyed some of the story at least, if not most of it. I'm going to put the reviewer thanks in the epilogue so that I get everybody that reviewed for this chappie too. Kay? thank you again and I'm done talking…beep…