Fanfic by Blueroseulan

AN: IM BAACKKKKKKKK! Hell week… I mean exam week is over , So I bring you the fourth chappie of breaking! Disclaimers apply though… RK doesn't belong to me…

I'll stop my ranting and let you read in peace ,

"Arigatou for coming to check on Kaoru doctor Genzai" Kenshin bowed respectfully as he escorted the aged doctor to the door. The older man waved a hand, smiling towards the red head that stood beside him. "That was nothing Himura. I'm just glad that nothing has been affected in her system aside from her legs. It's a real pity that we still haven't found something useful that might help your wife…" he trailed off, noticing the disappointed look that had flashed on his face, "Demo—at least Kaoru-chan is still preferably well." He finished, giving the man a tap on the back. Before the swordsman could reply though, he heard a loud cry, a familiar voice accompanied by the hurried pitter patter of someone's geta.

"KEN-SAN! KEN-SAN!"

"Oro! Megumi-dono… what's the hurrying all about?" he asked quizzically, surprised to see the lady doctor ruffled and without poise practically fly inside their dojo.

"KEN-SAN! OH KEN-SAN! I FOUND IT! I FINALLY FOUND IT!" she panted, clutching his arm in an effort to slow down her breath.

"Whatever did you find Megumi?" the old doctor inquired, "I thought you were going down to the pier today?"

The lady nodded, turning an ecstatic face to the two men. "I found it doctor Genzai! I found the solution! Kaoru-chan might still walk again!" she cheered, tears suddenly flowing in her face.

As the other doctor helped her regain composure, Kenshin in the meanwhile stood transfixed. Kaoru…might still walk again? But how? Careful not to get his hopes too far up, he silently asked how. Seeing that the man was cautious not to get too excited, Megumi motioned the two men to sit in the dojo porch.

"It goes like this." she started. "I went down to the pier today and asked a friend of mine if there had been any new medical breakthroughs coming from the Westerner countries. He said yes, and in fact gave me a list of it. And I saw this." She said, producing a piece of paper from her pocket. It was a picture, an image to be exact of a wooden structure that seemed to reach the high ends of the waist. It was all supported by a huge ring that sloped further downwards towards the floor. As both men curiously studied it, Kenshin perked up, confusion evident in his face. "Demo, Megumi-dono, how will this help Kaoru? How does this thing work de gozaru na?" A quick smile lit her face. "Like this. Kaoru's waist must be firmly supported by these rings." She pointed towards the circular radius. "Then, she should grip these wooden arcs right here," she mustered, tracing a finger towards the picture, "And then, she must lean all her weight on the structure and drag the whole thing with her body in it. Inch by inch, the muscles that had atrophied in her legs would slowly react with the slight pressure. I've never seen one here in Japan, but I could give this sketch to Sanosuke and have him create something that would resemble this. It isn't something so easy to do, but we'll at least give it a try." She concluded, eyes sparkling with hope for her friend.

"Domo…Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu Megumi-san…" Kenshin bowed deeply, kneeling on the floor, his forehead connecting with the ground. It was a custom to the Japanese people to bow low whenever they were indebted to someone. And for Kenshin, bowing wasn't even enough. "Thank you… Thank you for helping me bring Kaoru back…" he murmured, voice low and shaky. Too stunned to say anything, she hastily extended an arm, ushering him to stand up. Explaining that it was her job to see for a fact that she tried her very best to help her patients. Bowing once again, he quickly excused himself, wanting to relay the news to Kaoru as quickly as possible.

Night had begun to creep in as he slowly opened the parted shouji door. Scanning the room, he found what his eyes sought for. There, in the middle of the room, bundled under what seemed like three heavy mattresses, was his dear Kaoru, breath rising and falling with the gentle pattern of sleep. Moving, he wordlessly slipped under the covers and carefully spooned her in his side, causing her to stir slightly.

"Ken…shin…?" she murmured, suddenly confused with what was happening.

"Sumanei Kaoru…" he was however, quick to offer an apology. Usually, he just allowed her to sleep, for her check ups with Genzai-sensei left her tired and sleepy. But not tonight… this is most important… Kaoru needs to know this…

"Gomen koi, for waking you up… but there is something important I must tell you…" he admonished gently as he felt her snuggle deeply into his warm embrace. "What is it anata? Is it really important?" she muffled against his chest, slightly irritated by his intruding of her slumber. He laughed softy, smiling at the cute pout that had somewhat blossomed in her lips. Important? That would be an understatement… "Hai koi. It is. However…" he added impishly, "Kiss me first."

Eyes widening, she looked up to him. Surprised by the light tone in his mood. I can't understand him sometimes… "Mou! No fair! Kenshin no baka! Using the situation to steal a kiss…" she giggled, placing a tender kiss on his lips. "There… now, will you tell me?" Nodding, he proceeded to relate what happened that afternoon.

"I can't believe it! Me? Wa-walk again!" she exclaimed, ecstatic with his news. For a while, she felt warm tears in her eyes, but she disregarded them. Now is not the time to cry… I could walk again! Walk! Kami-sama!

"Yes love. You're going to walk again and we are going to help you." he finished gently for her. Pressing a warm kiss on her forehead. "Promise?" she chided, just like a child asking for assurance. He laughed quietly, pressing her hand and placing his lips on her waiting ones. Megumi-san told me that this isn't going to be an easy process… but for the sake of Kaoru and her happiness, I will gladly help her in anyway I can…"Hai… yakosuko yo koishii."

From then on, Megumi daily came to the Kamiya dojo every afternoon to help Kaoru learn how to walk again. It wasn't such a simple thing to do…far from it and the pain that accompanied it made Kaoru think if it was really worth it. Everyone, that including Sanosuke and Yahiko were very supportive. They cheered and jeered for her whilst she took one painstaking push. It seemed to Kaoru that her body was wearing out, yet her spirit was still glowing brightly inside her… Or at other times, it was the other way around. But altogether, she was glad that change had decided to step in her life and maybe once, just this once, fate could really be altered.

"That's it Kaoru, one last step and we're done." Megumi coaxed as she carefully led the sweating woman towards the middle most part of the room.

"There! We're done." She exclaimed happily, easing the tired woman on to a chair. "You did well Kaoru-chan. In a little almost a few days, you could as well cross the whole room itself."

Kaoru beamed in delight, taking in the cup of water the doctor offered. Lifting it up for more, she thought of Kenshin while she drank her second cup. I wonder how he is doing in the police station. Ever since I've been learning how to walk again, Fujita-san had agreed to give him a three day work shift, giving him time to spend the rest of the week with me. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she frowned. Speaking of Kenshin, he should be here any moment now…

As if on cue, Kaoru heard a quiet 'Tadaima' and her head quickly whipped towards the direction of their gate. "Kenshin!" she called, wanting to see him and tell him about her progress. Normally, he would take over the doctor's place in supervising her when he didn't have work at the office and she was just bursting to show him how far she had reached today.

"Konnichiwa Megumi-dono." He bowed respectfully as he entered the room. "Kaoru! How's the session today?" he asked, glad to see her smiling. She flashed him a large grin, and at once, words started to spurt from her mouth like a fountain, making Kenshin laugh quietly.

"Sou desu ka? Omedetou Kaoru-chan!" he cheered while placing a kiss in her lips.

"Ah… Sumimasen Ken-san… I better be going now, Genzai sensei had asked me to close the clinic for him." Megumi said, slightly embarrassed to be caught up with the two. Nodding in understanding, Kenshin almost saw a hint of jealousy flash in her eyes for a while making him confused. Oro! Demo, she's with Sanosuke now isn't she? Oh well… "I better escort you to the gate Megumi-dono." Courteously he said. But the doctor was quick to refuse. Not wanting to intrude more on their privacy. "I…I can do it myself… Good day Ken-san, Kaoru-chan." She swiftly murmured before hastily bowing and exiting the room.

"What's with her?" Kaoru quizzically asked, slightly surprised with the sudden shift of behavior with the doctor. Shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, Kenshin turned back to his wife. "She could take care of herself already… now… where were we?" Nuzzling her hair, ignoring the fact that she still smelled of sweat with her exercise. "Kenshin no baka!" she giggled, playfully slapping his arm. "I could really use a hot bath right now." She reminded him, her laughter dying down to be placed with a slight gasp with his reply. "With me in it?" he asked impishly, eyes flashing the color of amber.

"KENSHIN NO BAKA!"

As it ended out, he did join her in bath. Blushing fiercely while she now combed her hair in their room, she remembered how soothing and how good it felt when he massaged the aching muscles in her calf and legs. Untying every knotted nerve, she had slowly begun to relax, the water lapping lazily on her body that was tightly enfolded with his. Hmmmpphh! That rascal! I should have known…And of course, she should have known that after the massage, their bath would lead to different things. Mainly interesting things. Kenshin no baka! She inwardly sighed when she recalled how good it was to be held in his arms, and how savagely passionate his kisses were. Smooth or rough, she loved the way he put her body on fire.

"Love…" he whispered so suddenly in her ear that she almost shrieked aloud. "Kenshin! Don't scare me like that!" she berated, frowning more when she heard him laugh. "Fine. Laugh all you want.' She pouted, turning away from him in mock anger.

"Come on love, you know I didn't mean to scare you…" he whispered in her ear, wrapping his arms in the slim of her waist. She sighed, leaning to his touch. Too much… this man is too much for me… I love him so dearly to ever let go… She felt his breath in her ear, and she mustered all her strength to move her body alongside with his so she was now facing him. Reaching out, she held his cheek in the center of her palm, heart racing wildly when she felt him kiss and lave it with his tongue.

'Kenshin…" she trailed off as his lips had finally covered her own. Any coherent thoughts she had turned to quick black fog in her mind as she lost herself in his kisses, body slightly leaning in to ask for more. Groaning loudly, he roughly pulled her to him, for once forgetting how delicate her condition was, mind focused in giving in to his primal needs of having her and satisfying her own desires.

Later, as two lovers lay naked, bodies bathed in the light of the moon, the man sat up, elbows supporting his sweated body as he glanced lovingly towards the woman who was slumbering peacefully at his side.

"Kaoru…" he murmured. And in response, her body leaned closer to his. A warm gentle smile caressed his lips as he stared fondly at his woman. His… yes… this wonderful woman was his. This brave and compassionate woman, the one who had saved his life even risking her own was his… even the sweaty foul mouthed tomboy who couldn't cook for a damn was his… yes… everything about her was his.

His smile faltered dimly. Glancing back at her resting form, he gently smoothed a hand on her face. He was glad that her therapy was going well. Her body had responded positively with the treatment Megumi had tried and Kaoru did her very best to improve her state of being every day. His smile darkened. Even if Kaoru seemed bright and cheerful during her exercises, he knew deep down inside that she was scared, terribly scared and frightened of what might happen. He had heard her, crying in their room face buried in the palm of her hand as she shook with fear and pain. Trying her very best to hide what she felt, merely induced the feelings of unhappiness and depression. Even as he comforted her in any soothing way he can, he knew that she was frightened on how things will turn to be. Covering her true emotions with mock bravery and sheer guts, Kenshin felt that she was doing the act, not for herself but for his and the other's sake as well.

Kaoru… my dear sweet Kaoru… you don't have to feel afraid… I'm here… and as long as it remains that way, you will always be safe by my side… I only wish, that you would trust me… and yourself…you can do it, love… you can walk again… and you Will walk again… that's how much I believe in you koishii…

TBC…

AN: What Megumi was talking about is called a walker. I hope you have an idea what I'm talking about… it's the thing babies push around when they're starting to walk…

Generally, this chapter had a lighter mood in it, compared to the last one. And I actually have a favorite line! Here it is: Smooth or rough, she loved the way he put her body on fire … Tee hee! So whaddya think guys?

Better leave a review to let me find out!

Ja!

Bluerose