Chapter 3

Kaoru let lose a gasp, hands flying to her mouth. "Never walk again? Are you sure Megumi?"

The lady-doctor nodded sadly, moving closer to Kenshin. "I'll show you. May I have your hand Ken-san?" Kenshin lifted his left hand and Megumi took it in her own gently.

Kaoru didn't understand, but she remained silent as Megumi poked and prodded at Kenshin's palm. "Ken-san can feel this, correct?" Kenshin nodded as she asked this. She moved down to Kenshin's legs, pinching his right leg just above his knee. "He can't feel this."

Kaoru looked with fearful eyes to Kenshin's face. "Iie," the redhead whispered. "I cannot."

Megumi's hand hovered over Kenshin's stomach, just below his ribs. "Everything below here is paralyzed." She helped Kenshin to sit up as he tried again, letting him lean against her.

Kaoru was sobbing into her hands, shoulders shaking. Kenshin reached for her, pulling her close even though he had to lean against her to remain sitting. She transferred her crying to his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his waist.

He petted her hair gently, whispering softly to her. "I'll be alright Kaoru…It's okay…" Kaoru didn't notice as he dropped the honorific.

She shook her head fiercely. "Iie Kenshin, it's not okay! You might never walk again! Never stand, never use the sakabatou again, there's so much you're not going to be able to do! It's just not fair!"

Kenshin sighed, knowing that what she said was the truth. He couldn't think of anything else to say to console her, so he merely held her and petted her hair quietly. She cried for a bit longer, and then simply sat with her nose buried in his yukata.

Megumi stood quietly. "I'm going to go. I'll leave you two alone. Call for me if you need anything at all Ken-san. I think you'll be fine by yourself now." As she turned to leave she looked back. "I think I know of something that we can get you to help you get around on your own. I've heard about something called a 'wheelchair.' I think I can get a hold of one for you."

Kenshin nodded at her. "Arigatou Megumi-dono."

The woman nodded and then left. Kenshin looked down to Kaoru as she raised her face. "Are you alright now Kaoru-dono?"

She sighed. "Hai. Arigatou, for just letting me get that out of my system." She frowned bitterly. "But it's still not fair."

Kenshin chuckled slightly at her expression. "Hai, I suppose it's not Kaoru-dono, but there is nothing that can be done about it. Besides, Megumi-dono said that she had something I could use to get around in."

Kaoru looked up at him with determination sparkling in her eyes. "There is something that can be done Kenshin. Megumi said you 'may' never walk again. She never said there wasn't a chance that you might. Maybe if we work your muscles and try to get you to stand and walk again it will work."

Kenshin considered this. "True. We could try."

Kaoru grinned triumphantly. "You bet we will!" She suddenly gasped and giggled as Kenshin's stomach rumbled loudly. He blushed faintly. "You must be hungry. I'll go make you something alright?"

Kenshin smiled and nodded. "That would be wonderful Kaoru-dono, arigatou."

She slowly helped him lay back down comfortably and then rose to leave. She paused before the door. "I suppose I'd better tell Sano and Yahiko. They've been waiting to hear how you are for a little while now. I think they're just outside the dojo."

Kenshin sighed. "Hai, they will need to know."

She turned away. "I'll be back soon Kenshin. Call if you need me."

He sighed as she left, closing his eyes and relaxing tense muscles. He could feel nothing from his legs; it was like they were a dead weight on the end of his abdomen. He tried to move them, but nothing happened. Kaoru would hope, but Kenshin had to wish that she wouldn't get her hopes up too much.

Kaoru found Sano and Yahiko outside the dojo, just as she had expected. The two were sitting anxiously, as Megumi had probably told them that Kenshin had woken. Sano came up to her as soon as she came out.

"Jou-chan, how's Kenshin? Kitsune only told us that he woke up, nothing else," the tall man said worriedly, obviously concerned for his smaller friend.

Kaoru sighed sadly. "He's fine Sano, if a little tired, and he still has those few wounds. But there is one thing…" She hesitated and Yahiko put a hand on her arm, being uncharacteristically caring.

"What Kaoru? Tell us please," the boy murmured.

Kaoru pulled in a shuddering breath. "The blow to the small of his back damaged his spinal cord. Megumi says that he's paralyzed from the waist down. He may never walk again."

Sano couldn't restrain a gasp. Yahiko merely gaped. The thought of his idol paralyzed and never standing again was mind-blowing.

Kaoru looked up determinedly. "But Megumi never said it was permanent. I think we can help Kenshin walk again, if we work with his muscles and help him through this. I know he can walk again." She smiled. "And Megumi said she's going to bring something to help him get around a bit easier."

Sano grinned. "You bet Jou-chan, he'll walk again. Kenshin's too strong to just stop walking now, even with this injury. We'll get him walking."

Yahiko nodded his agreement, clenching his left hand into a fist. "Whatever it takes, Kenshin will walk again!"

Kaoru smiled at her two friends. "Thanks for your support guys. I really appreciate it."

Sano moved towards the dojo. "I'm going to go see Kenshin. Yahiko, why don't you go to the kitsune's clinic and she if she needs help with that thing for Kenshin. What is it Kaoru?"

"A wheelchair she said it was called."

Yahiko nodded. "Alright. Tell Kenshin I'm glad he's alright." With that the boy left the dojo.

Kaoru went towards the dojo. "I'm going to make some food, Kenshin's hungry. See you in a little bit Sano."

The tall man made his way into Kenshin's room, smiling at his smaller friend. "Hey Kenshin. How are you doing?"

Kenshin smiled sadly from his laying down position. "I feel fine, but I can't feel my legs." He sighed. "I know you found me Sano. Arigatou for that."

Sano cocked his head. "Did one of the girls tell you that?"

Kenshin shook his head. "I was partially awake when you were carrying me home, but it was sort of a hovering consciousness thing. I couldn't move or speak, but I knew you were there."

Sano grinned. "No problem. I'm just glad I found you in time for the kitsune to save your life." He looked down. "I'm sorry about your paralysis Kenshin."

The redhead reached up a hand to pat Sano's arm. "You don't have to be sorry Sano; it's not your fault."

Sano grinned. "We'll help you walk again Kenshin, don't worry. There's no way we're gonna let some little thing like this keep you down."

Kenshin smiled gently. "Arigatou my friend."