Chapter 4

Kenshin awoke to Kaoru's voice and a hand shaking his shoulder gently. "Kenshin. Wake up, Megumi's brought you that wheelchair."

He opened his eyes slowly, focusing on Kaoru's worried face hovering above him. She smiled when he opened his eyes. "Well good morning sleepy head."

He raised a hand, rubbing at his eyes. Before he could do anything else He felt an arm slip beneath his back and he was lifted from the futon. He yelped, looking up into Sano's grinning face. "Come on now Kenshin; let's put you in that chair."

Kenshin blinked, but sat quietly in Sano's arms. The taller man carried him out of the room, into the dining area. Megumi was there with a strange-looking chair on wheels, smiling at him. "Ohayou Ken-san."

Sano placed him gently in the chair, and Kenshin held onto the armrests with white-knuckled fingers. Megumi frowned. "What's wrong Ken-san?"

He looked up at her. "Just…a bit dizzy… I'll be alright."

Kaoru was currently scolding Sano. "You didn't even give him a chance to wake up fully, that's why he's dizzy you baka! I wish you would just leave things sometimes! Mou!"

Kenshin grinned at their argument. "I'm alright Kaoru-dono, no need to worry. I was just a bit thrown off. I'm fine."

She threw another glare at Sano, but smiled at the redhead after doing so. "Okay Kenshin."

Kenshin smiled at Megumi. "Arigatou for this Megumi-dono. I owe you…"

Megumi cut him off. "Absolutely nothing Ken-san. I wouldn't ask anything from you, even for this. Consider it a gift."

Kenshin blinked, and then smiled gently. "Arigatou."

Kaoru grinned at the sight of Kenshin out of a bed. This was progress, even though it didn't really have anything to do with his walking. He was mobile again, and this way very good. She smiled and put a hand on Kenshin's forearm. "Are you hungry Kenshin? I've made some miso and rice balls."

Kenshin smiled. "I would like that Kaoru-dono."

Kaoru finished with her teaching and turned around to see Kenshin sound asleep in his chair, head leaning to the side against his shoulder. She smiled, setting her bokken aside to go to him.

She knelt beside him, pulling the blanket that she had put around his legs earlier up and wrapping it around his shoulders. He mumbled in his sleep, face tightening for a second and then relaxing.

It was now early winter, about 2 months after Kenshin had been robbed of the ability to walk. He was adjusting well, and Kaoru had started working with his muscles. He hadn't been able to get up from the chair yet, but Kaoru was positive what they were doing was working. Every day she massaged the muscles in both of Kenshin's legs to try and get the feeling back in them, and then she flexed them gradually, having to do all the work for Kenshin.

The redhead felt helpless because he could do nothing to help the young woman with her task, he could only sit and watch as she worked with his dead limbs. There was still no improvement with them, but he still smiled and told her that he appreciated every thing she was doing to help him.

Kaoru gently brushed a crimson strand away from his closed eyes, a soft smile coming to her face as she watched him sleep. He was trying so hard, she knew, to still be of use around the dojo. He still did the laundry, although he had to use the porch to help him with it. He still did the cooking, but Kaoru had to be close at hand in case he needed something that was higher than his little chair. But most of the cooking things had been moved so they were within his easy reach, as did most of the things inside the dojo.

Even though he couldn't use the sakabatou very well, he still kept the sword with him at all times. Kaoru reached down to where it rested in his lap, leaning it against his chair within his easy reach. She was so proud of the redhead, and she told him that often. He acted often as though he didn't have a disability, and he was able to pretend most of the time that he didn't.

The students had left the dojo by the time Kaoru stood up from her position besides Kenshin's chair. The redhead still slept quietly, not noticing anything around him. Before she left to make some dinner she bent over and picked up the mending that Kenshin had been doing before he had fallen asleep. That was mostly what he did now; sitting in the corner mending rips, tears, and holes in their clothing.

She cooked quietly, methodically adding spices and ingredients. She knew somewhere inside that Sano would show up soon with Yahiko, the two had gone over to Megumi's earlier to help out the lady-doctor with some moving she had to do.

She was startled out of her stupor when she heard a battle cry, then a scream and a thump from the other room where she had put Kenshin, scaring her into dropping her spoon. She ran into the other room to see Kenshin in a shivering lump on the floor, trying desperately to drag himself back to his chair, the blanket, slipping down his thin form.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru cried, running forward to help him up and into his chair. She had learned in the past two months how to help Kenshin get from his chair to his futon and back, and she was doing well with it.

Once Kenshin was back in his chair he smiled shakily at her. "Gomen nasai Kaoru-dono."

She frowned. "Kenshin, what happened? You scared me half to death."

He looked down, a light flush spreading across his cheeks. "I…I had a dream, and it startled me. I tried to stand when I woke up, and ended up falling. Gomen."

Kaoru sighed, kneeling down beside him and brushing his bangs away from his eyes. "You don't need to be sorry Kenshin; it's not your fault. It happens to everyone at some time. I'm just glad you're safe."

Kenshin looked at her with wide eyes. "Kaoru-dono…"

She cocked her head. "Hai?"

Kenshin looked away slightly. "I…Arigatou. You've stayed with me throughout all of this, and I just wanted to thank you. You've done so much for me, and I don't deserve your kindness."

Kaoru shook her head firmly, setting one hand on his left cheek and turning his head so she could look into his sad violet eyes. "Don't you ever tell me that you don't deserve what I give you Kenshin, not ever. You couldn't be more wrong. I could never be too kind to you."

Kenshin sighed, closing his eyes. "I don't know Kaoru…"

She resisted the urge to give him a good strong whack across the head. "Kenshin, listen to me. I don't care about your past, and I can't remember how many times I have told you this now!" She tapped her knuckles against his temple lightly. "I'm still not sure when I'm going to get that though your cute little skull."

It took about three seconds and Kenshin's wide, surprised violet eyes to get Kaoru to realize what she had said. A blush spread across her cheeks in an instant, and she looked down. It was Kenshin's gentle fingers beneath her chin that finally caused her to look up. "Kaoru…"

She gasped. "Kenshin…"

His hand cupped her cheek gently and he smiled at her. "Kaoru, I've never realized how lucky I am to have you until now. You are everything I could ever want in a woman."

She blushed deeper. "But I'm not really even a woman Kenshin…"

He shook his head. "You are more a woman than most women I have met in my lifetime. Besides, you should be telling me to back off. I'm ten years older than you Kaoru…"

She poked him in the forehead, stopping his thoughts where they were. "Don't you even think that bothers me. I could care less how old you are Kenshin; it's what's on the inside that I care about. And you are as sweet as chocolate on the inside."

It was Kenshin's turn to blush, and he smiled. "Aishiteru Kaoru…" the words slipped out of his mouth, and he blushed deeper.

Kaoru's smile grew. "Kami-sama, I've waited to hear you say those words Kenshin." He blinked as she leaned closer and pressed her lips into his.

Kenshin didn't do anything for a moment, too surprised. And then, with hesitant arms, he reached up and pulled her close, deepening the kiss. Kaoru tangled her fingers in his crimson hair, pulling at the hair tie impatiently. Kenshin chuckled into her lips, and then pulled back to rest his forehead against hers. "Easy there koishii."

Kaoru smiled at the endearment, and then grinned with a wicked smile. "Fine then my tora, I guess you just don't know how to have fun."

Kenshin blinked. "Tiger?"

She giggled. "I guess I've always called you that in my head. Why, does it bother you?"

Kenshin chuckled and shook his head. "Iie Kaoru. But if you get to call me tiger then I get to call you kitten."

She cocked her head as if thinking. "Koneko…" She gave a mock sigh of defeat. "Fine, I guess I'll have to live with it." She grew serious. "If you really are my tiger Kenshin, then you need to have more faith in walking again. I can tell every time that I work with your legs that you don't really believe they're going to get any better."

He sighed. "Alright Kaoru. I'll try. For you." He suddenly paused, sniffing. "Is something burning?"

Kaoru let out a shriek. "KUSO!"

Kenshin laughed as she dashed from the room, folding his blanket on his knees and rolling himself into the room after her.

YAY! Finally, confessions. I couldn't help it; it was getting boring without love in the mix. More soon, please review!