Chapter 3

Alone in the Dark

(Kaoru)

I remained quiet, absently petting Kenji's hair as he sat in my lap. He was moving worriedly on my knees, and I could sense his discomfort.

It had been about a half an hour since Sano and Megumi had disappeared into the clinic, and I was growing more and more anxious. I looked up sharply as I heard a door open. Sano walked out, raking a hand through his brown hair.

He sat beside me, sighing heavily. "He's gonna be okay, according to Megumi. She says he's got a fever and his breathing's still a little off, but he'll be okay." He put out a hand. "I'll take Kenji, if you wanted to go see him."

I shook my head slightly, standing with Kenji balanced on my hip. "I'll take Kenji with me. I'll be back in a minute."

I walked silently into the back, my hands shaking slightly. I spotted Megumi kneeling beside a futon, where there lay the thin form of my husband. I sat beside her, watching Kenshin's pale face as he breathed.

Kenji struggled out of my arms, squirming against Kenshin's side. "Daddy?" he asked, leaning against his father's stomach. "Daddy?"

I held back tears that welled up in my eyes. "Daddy's sleeping Kenji."

He settled his head on Kenshin's chest, a place he liked to put it. He'd always loved to listen to Kenshin's heart, and I found it incredibly adorable. "Okay Mommy."

I sighed, reaching out and twisting my fingers in Kenshin's limp ones. 'Onegai, wake up soon anata…'

(Kenshin)

I struggled up out of unconsciousness slowly, but when I opened my eyes I was greeted by darkness. I blinked, but it remained the same. "K-Kaoru?" I called, my voice trembling.

There was no answer, and I gulped, pushing myself into a sitting position. "K-Kaoru!"

I tried to use ki, but found to my horror that I couldn't. I was alone in the dark, with no way to tell where I was, who was there, and who wasn't. I began to panic. "Kaoru!

I forced myself into a standing position, stretching my hands out in front of me. "KAORU!"

(Megumi)

I was awoken by a cry. I sat bolt upright in my futon, listening. I heard the cry again and I recognized the voice of Ken-san, calling for Kaoru. I stood tightening my sash and leaving the room. 'Why does he sound so panicked?' I thought.

I found Ken-san in his room, huddled in a ball on his futon. I knelt by him, reaching out to touch his shoulder. He cried out and leapt away from me.

"Ken-san?" I asked loudly.

He blinked. "M-Megumi-dono?" He put out a hand. "Where are you?"

I stood, getting a lantern and lighting it. I spotted Ken-san's futon, messed up, the blankets hanging off it. "Ken-san, are you alright?"

His head turned in my direction. "Megumi-dono, where are you?"

I blinked. "I'm right here Ken-san."

His hand stretched out in my direction, and he crawled forward. "I cannot see you Megumi-dono, you have to direct me."

This hit me like a slap in the face. "N-nani?" I shakily put out my hand, touching his. He wrapped his calloused fingers around mine, moving forward cautiously. "Please look at me Ken-san." He turned his face to me, and I saw that his eyes were covered with a hazy white film. "Oh Kami…"

He sighed, his fingers lifting to seek my face. I allowed him to do so silently. He frowned. "Don't cry Megumi-dono. Let me explain."

I blinked; I hadn't realized that I was crying. "You know why you're blind Ken-san?"

He nodded. "It will be difficult to understand, but please know, everything I say is true." I nodded, knowing that he would feel it though the hand on my cheek. He settled down beside me, his hand traveling down to grip my own, and then began. "When Kenji was born, he was blind and deaf. I bargained with a deity I didn't know so he wouldn't have to live with those disabilities. Unfortunately, the payment is my own sight and hearing."

My mouth was gaping open. "Demo, I delivered Kenji myself! That child was perfectly healthy!"

"Iie Megumi-dono, you only believe that. Your memories were altered. I am the only one that can clearly remember that night," he said softly. "That past year when I got sick, it took a little of my sight with it. I can still see light, so it is not completely gone," he murmured, looking down.

"So every three years…" I murmured, calculating in my head the years of Kenji's life to when Ken-san had gotten sick.

"Hai. By the time Kenji is nine I will be completely blind, and when he is 18 completely deaf. At least, this is what I believe." His voice was extremely quiet.

"Oh Ken-san…" I whispered. "I'm so sorry."

He shook his head. "Don't be Megumi-dono. I would willingly give my life for my son, do not let this sorrow you."

I sighed, and then finally noticed how warm and clammy his hand was. "You should be resting Ken-san, you still have a fever!"

He nodded. "Alright." He lay down slowly, closing his glazed eyes. "Arigatou for listening Megumi-dono."

I smiled, placing a wet cloth on his forehead. "It's no trouble at all Ken-san. Now please, rest, and get up your strength again." I stood. "I'll be back in a moment."

It was only when I'd left the room that I allowed myself to weep for him.

Unfortunately Ken-san was wrong. The next morning I checked his eyes in the light, and his sight had completely vanished. He now lived in a world of black. His prediction of being fully deaf and blind by Kenji's 18th birthday dwindled to his 15th. I could see the fear and sorrow etched in every aspect of Ken-san's body, even though he pretended he was fine, if only for my sake.

I sighed, watching as he drank his medicine. "Kaoru said that she and Kenji are coming to visit sometime today."

A faint smile came to his face. "Are they now? Did she say when?"

"Iie." I took the empty teacup from him as he held it in my direction. "She only said that she would come. But knowing her, it will be fairly soon."

"Probably as soon as Kenji wakes," he murmured, lying back down with a yawn. "You didn't slip a drug into that tea, did you Megumi-dono?"

I chuckled. "Iie Ken-san, although I was considering it. You need the rest. But this medicine makes people drowsy on its own."

He closed his eyes, sinking into the futon limply as the medicine began to take effect. I sighed once I was sure he was asleep, replacing the cold cloth on his forehead. He still had a fever, but it was fading. I knew for a fact that he hadn't slept since waking sometime ago, and he needed that precious sleep if he was to get well.

There was suddenly the sound of the front door opening and I stood, going to the main room. Kaoru stood there, Kenji holding her right hand and looking around with big eyes.

I smiled. "Ohayou Kaoru. I'm afraid Ken-san's only just fallen asleep, and as you know, he needs his rest."

She nodded. "It's okay Megumi. I just want to sit with him, so we'll be the first people he sees when he wakes up."

I winced inwardly, but I decided to send Kenji away. I would let his parents tell him the news. I knelt, getting down to his level. "Kenji, why don't you go see Daddy?" He nodded, releasing Kaoru's hand. I put a finger to my lips. "But you need to be quiet okay? He's sleeping."

He nodded, his simple child's logic understanding instantly. "Okay Aunt Meg." He opened the door he knew Ken-san was behind, tiptoeing in.

I smiled, but it faded when I looked to Kaoru. Her face was full of fear, and her hands were clenched in her kimono sleeves. "Megumi?"
I sighed. "Sit Kaoru. This is very big news." She did so, chewing on her lip. I looked down. "Ken-san is going to be okay, but this strange illness has permanently damaged him." Kaoru was staring at me with wide teary eyes, her mouth slightly open. I glanced towards Ken-san's room, tears welling up in my own eyes. "Ken-san is blind Kaoru."

Her tears fell, and she shook her head. "Oh no…Onegai, don't let that be true."

"Gomen Kaoru, but I can't do anything." I stood, putting out a hand to her. "Come on, you'd better go sit in there. I'll let you and Ken-san tell Kenji."

She dried her tears, trying to remain collected for Kenji's sake. We walked inside, but I stopped. "I'll let you be alone." I hugged the younger woman tightly. "It'll be alright." I whispered. "You must trust in Ken-san." And with that, I left.

(Kaoru)

It was taking everything I had not to cry in front of Kenji, but I remained calm. The sight I first saw nearly broke my dam, and I choked on the built up tears.

Kenji was lying snuggled up to Kenshin's stomach, his head on his father's chest and one hand tangled in Kenshin's loose crimson hair. He was fast asleep.

I knew that if I cried it would wake Kenji. He was always so attuned to both my and Kenshin's emotions. I sighed, tangling my fingers in Kenshin's.

It had been only about 15 minutes when Kenshin began to stir. This woke Kenji, and he looked up at Kenshin with big eyes.

Kenshin opened his violet eyes, and I nearly choked again. Those beautiful lavender irises were clouded over with white, unseeing. He raised his free hand, his fingers gliding up Kenji's back to touch his hair. "Kenji…" he murmured.

Kenji moved back as Kenshin sat up, grinning up at his father. "Ohayou Daddy!"

I felt Kenshin squeeze my hand. "Ohayou Kenji."

I leaned forward, gently touching Kenshin's cheek. "Ohayou anata." I guided his lips to mine, and he smiled sadly at me.

Kenji reached up, his little fingers touching Kenshin's face. My husband had not noticed his movement, and the light touch startled him. He jumped slightly, and then relaxed. "Kenji."

Kenji, however, was confused. "Daddy? Why'd I scare you?"

Kenshin sighed, his blank eyes filling with sadness. "Kenji, Daddy couldn't see you move." Kenji still seemed confused, and then Kenshin spoke again. "Daddy can't see anything anymore."

Kenji blinked. "Daddy can't see?"

Kenshin shook his head. "Iie, I cannot."

Kenji clambered into his lap, patting his face with little hands. He peered at Kenshin, staring into his father's glazed eyes. "Daddy's eyes changed colors," he murmured. He suddenly looked at me. "Daddy will be alright Mommy. I'll take care of him!" he declared to me proudly. "It won't be hard for him!"

I smiled, but it changed to shock as Kenshin gathered Kenji into his arms, settling his chin on Kenji's shoulder. A single tear slid down his cheek. "Oh aisoku…" he murmured. "I love you so much…"

Kenji wrapped his arms around his father's neck hesitantly. "I-I love you too Daddy." He put his cheek against Kenshin's, and I sniffled, trying to keep the tears in.

'We'll be alright," I thought doggedly. 'Kenshin can do this. We all can.'