Hey guys! Oh man…ur probably wondering by now "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!" and I probably do deserve that! I am sooooo sooory! Ever since school started it's been weird …I got a virus from some hacker and it just made my computer go crazy…so ryt now I have a replacement…so now that I'm back I'll continue the story…again I apologize for taking forever.

Chapter 10:

-Last time-

Kaoru stood in front of Enishi silently as he looked back down at her.

"Why?...why can't I at least be your friend?" Kaoru asked. Enishi turned around and walked away.

"Enishi! I still love you! Even if you cheated on me! I have forgiven you! I should have understood Karin's situation! Enishi!" she started to choke on her words sobbing. She closed her eyes wiping away her tears. She was suddenly pulled into an embrace. She looked up at Enishi who had his eyes closed with a pained expression.

"I'm sorry Kaoru. I-I don't think I can handle it….I need to forget about you…I'm leaving Japan..," Kaoru's eyes widen ", and moving to America permanently next month."

"Why?" she barley whispered.

"I don't think I can bare it when you….when you…." Enishi had no courage to finishi his sentence but Kaoru knew what he was talking about. ",Kaoru…really I love you...and I don't love Karin..i only went with her because she needed support. I love you Kaoru. I love you too much. That's why I need to forget about you."

"Kaoru!" both separated from their hug and looked back. Kaoru found Misao running towards her. Misao hugged her crying.

"Misao…Misao what's wrong?" just then Kenshin caught up and behind him was Megumi and Sano.

"Don't leave! Don't leaaaavvvee meee! I can't be happy if you're not happy! Pleaaasse!" Kaoru pulled Misao close and rubbed her back.

"Shhh…I'm here Misao." Kaoru said calmly.

"What the hell is everyone talking about!" Kenshin interrupted.

"This is none of your business Himura." Enishi said coldly.

"This is my damn business because I'm Kaoru's Husband!" Megumi touched Kenshin's shoulder.

"Kaoru will tell you when she's ready."

"No! This secret has been making me wonder! If you don't want me to know stop giving me these damn remarks!"

"You want to know!" Enishi shouted ", then I'll tell you! Kaoru is dying! That's what!" Kenshin looked at Enishi. " That's right! She's dying! She has Leukemia! That's why she looks so pale, that's why she gets sick easily, that's why it's none of your damned business!" Kenshin looked at Kaoru shocked. Misao cried even louder and harder. Kaoru kept quiet and looked away ashamed. Megumi put her hand on her mouth and tried her best not to let her tears spill. Kenshin kept on looking at Kaoru.

"Misao…please..please stop crying. I'm here..i'm right here." Kaoru paused a bit choking on her words as tears spilled once again.

'…Kaoru…….why?'

---- ----- ------ ------ ------- ------ ------ ---- - - - -

Kenshin quietly looked at Kaoru's sleeping form. She looked peaceful, more relaxed. It had been three days since Kenshin found out that Kaoru had Leukemia. That day when he found out, they took Kaoru and Misao back home for they didn't feel like finishing school. As soon as they got home, both of them felt sleepy and went to bed. The next day there was an awkward silence between the group but none of them spoke of what happened. Later on everything turned normal, Kaoru was once again her usual self and Misao was loud and obnoxious.

Kenshin chuckled remembering just yesterday how Misao and Kaoru started to fight because Misao was being too loud at a museum they went too. He once again looked at Kaoru. They had gotten home early and she had wanted to take a nap but strangely she asked him to stay with her until she fell asleep, so he did. Kenshin tucked a stranded hair behind Kaoru's ear and got up from the bed looking at her one last time before going out of the room. Just then the doorbell rang and he went to answer.

"May I help you?" he asked.

"This is the Himura residence?" the person asked.

"It is."

"Is..Kaoru-san here?"

"She's asleep. And you are?"

"Tomoe Yukishiro."

- different view –

" I see…so Kenshin know's now." Mrs. Kamiya said softly looking at Sano.

"I thought Misao had told you what happened..but I guessed wrong." Sano said.

"Does Aoshi know?" he shook his head.

"But maybe its better if he didn't know that none of this had happened. He's probably gonna blame Kenshin for making Misao and especially Kaoru crying." Sano said getting up from his seat. Megumi then came into the room and bowed politely.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Kamiya but we have to go."

"No. It's okay." Mrs. Himura followed them and locked the door once they were out. She turned around and leaned against the door closing her eyes.

'…Kami-sama…onegai…please don't take Kaoru-chan from me.'

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"Hey Megumi? Can we stop by at Jou-chan's house? She forgot her book in class today." Sano said walking beside Megumi.

"….Sano..about Kaoru…are you still in love with her?" Sano looked at her in surprise at the sudden question and raised his eyebrow. She had been acting weird before and asked if he liked anyone, but that was a long time ago. Now she's acting weird again. Megumi looked at him then looked away.

"I know it's random ..but I'm just curious…" she said in a whisper. Sano looked straight ahead and sighed.

"…Yeah…I'm still in love with her. But I shouldn't be."

"I see."

"What about you fox? Are you in love with someone? Hmm?" he asked in a teasing tone as Megumi blushed madly and pushed him away.

"Baka! I don't like anyone!..Anyways..what is that paper in your hand?"

"Oh this? If you don't recall we have to do an essay on what career we want to be...," Sano paused. A bit with an angered tone he continued. ", I think it's a stupid Idea, knowing that the teacher knows about Kaoru's situation. Anyway what are you going to be Megumi?"

"I'm gonna be a doctor for the 100th time." She said annoyed.

"What? I never heard you talking about your career."

"Yes you have! I was talking to Kaoru over lunch. You were spacing out and eating like a freeloader you are! Then you ask what's going on and demanded that we told you what we were talking about!" Megumi started to walk a little faster.

"Oh come on! Don't get so angry! And don't think I forgot about you liking someone!" This made her walk faster. ", I knew you were changing the subject! So tell me who you like! Hey! Wait up!"

different view – ( oh ya just to tell you Kaoru know's how to speak in English. So in italic they're speaking English and normal font is in Japanese. Just so u guys wont get confused )

"How are you feeling Kaoru?" Tomoe asked.

"I'm good. How are you? I haven't seen you in a long time." Kaoru gestured her to sit down out in the balcony. She smiled at Tomoe and was glad that the doorbell had woken her up. She wanted to talk to her. Tomoe looked out into the view.

"I'm sorry for what my brother did. I tried to change his mind but he wants to go back with me to America."

"It's fine. I just…..don't want him too leave before I.." Tomoe put her hand on Kaoru's interrupting her.

"Don't talk like that Kaoru-san. You're like a little sister to me." Kaoru smiled sadly at her.

"Sorry." Kaoru decided to lighten the mood. " I heard that you can speak a bit of Japanese. Care to try?" Kaoru asked with a grin making Tomoe smile.

"Don't make fun of me because I didn't make fun of you when you learned how to speak English for that year in America." Kaoru giggled

"Don't worry I wont..okay..let's see…um I don't know..say anything!" Tomoe cleared her throat.

" I recently met a guy in America last year, his name is Akira, and now we're together."

"Whaaat! Are you serious! How come you didn't tell me when I e-mailed you?"

"Sorry. It must have slipped my mind." Just then Kenshin stepped out of the door.

"You guy's mind if I sit with you?" they both shook their head.

"You know, you speak really well in Japanese Tomoe. Enishi said you would be bad."

"Thanks. You know my brother always teasing." Kaoru looked at Kenshin.

"Oh..this here is Kenshin Himura." Tomoe looked at him. Kenshin was now feeling awkward as he heard them speak in English which he did not understand at all.

"He's the guy that your mother set you up with! Wow he's cute."

"Tomoe! You should be angry! Not say its okay for me to see another man!" Tomoe laughed.

"Sorry. But I don't really seem to mind. It's probably for the better. I know you two love each other still. That's all it matters." The two started to giggle making Kenshin once again feel awkward.

"Um.. do you guys want me to leave?" he asked getting up.

"No! no! Sorry Kenshin. I was just telling Tomoe-san about who you were." Kaoru said urging him to sit back down.

"Does she know how to speak in Japanese?"

"Yes."

"Hey Jou-chan! Kenshin!" the three looked out and found Megumi and Sano coming forward.

"Hey Sano, Megumi." Kaoru replied.

"You left this at school." Sano noticed the third person. " Tomoe?"

"Hi Sanosuke."

"Ne Jou-chan when did she get here?"

"Just today. She's just visiting." He turned to Tomoe.

"How you are? How? You are! You are!" Kaoru and Tomoe burst out in laughter making Sano frown. He knew he said something wrong. Kaoru occasionally taught him a bit of english ever since she came back from America and occasionally he would try to talk in English being silly. But since his face was really serious at the moment it was just to hysterical to not laugh. By now Kaoru was clutching her stomach from laughing to hard and she wiped the tears from her eyes calming her self down.

"Jou-chan! Shut up!" Sano grabbed her tickled her as she struggled to get away from his grip.

"S-Sano! S-stop! Sorry! Sorry! I won't laugh anymore! Ahahahahahaha!"

"Hey! Shut up!" Sano was now officially embarrassed. Even though Kenshin and Megumi didn't understand English they practically got what happened and tried to hold in their laughter but that didn't work for long and they too started to laugh.

"Ugh! You! Don't laugh! You too Kenshin!" he went after Kenshin and as Kenshin saw this he ran towards Kaoru and hid behind Kaoru holding her shoulders as Sano tried to catch him.

"Ugh! Forget you guys! Jou-chan! I'm hungry and I'm gonna eat!" he said going inside Kaoru's house and slamming the door shut.

"Sano! We won't laugh anymore! Promise!" Kaoru said going after him as the other two followed into the house. As Kaoru got to the kitchen she found Sano stuffing his mouth with ramen angrily.

"Sano you're such a baby! Hmm..Just looking at ramen makes me hungry! You guys wanna stay and eat? Though one of you is gonna have to help and I pick Kenshin!" Kaoru said pulling him with her. Thirty minutes later the food was done and set on the table and everyone began to eat.

"Good food Kaoru" Tomoe said taking another bite out of the sushi as Megumi passed the bowl of misou soup to Kenshin.

"Thanks." Kaoru replied.

"Tch. It's only good cause Kenshin helped out." Sano was soon on the ground and it was obvious how he got there. Kaoru dusted her hands and sat back down. Tomoe looked at her watched and got up.

"Sorry Kaoru but I have to go. Enishi is probably wondering where I am." Kaoru stood up with her.

"I'll be back guys. Tomoe has to leave." Kaoru then followed Tomoe out to the door.

"Thank you for visiting. I really hope to see you soon. Hopefully before you leave Japan?" Kaoru asked in a wishing tone. Tomoe hugged her.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to visit before we leave. Enishi also, even if he doesn't want too." As Tomoe left Kaoru turned around only to be surprised finding Kenshin right in front of her.

"Kenshin! Mou! You scared me!" he slightly smiled.

"Sorry." He whispered. He put his hands around her waist and pulled her closer.

"Eh…um..we should go inside." Kenshin ignored her and smashed his lips on her, catching her by surprise. He kissed her then took a step back. It was just a kiss nothing more, it wasn't short nor was it long.

"What was that for?" she asked blushing.

"Nothing. I Just felt like it." He said shrugging his shoulders.

"Just felt like it?"

"Hey, I'm your husband remember? It's only natural." Kaoru blushed even more. He moved forward to kiss her again but a car suddenly honked startling them both a bit. Misao was at the driver's seat and Aoshi was next to her.

"Oh no…" Kaoru whispered softly.

" Great…hope he didn't see that." Kenshin said. Misao got out of the car and happily went to them, followed by Aoshi.

"MMmm! I smell food! There are other shoe's here. Is Sano and Megumi here?" Misao said taking her shoes off.

"Yes." Kaoru answered.

"Kaoru." A low voice called her.

"Hi Nii-san." She said looking at Aoshi. He looked coldly at Kenshin, who only rolled his eyes.

"Even after marriage you still don't like me touching her. Oh wait that came out wrong. Let me rephrase that 'you don't like me'." Kenshin said with a grin and went in the house. Aoshi took a step forward but was stopped by Kaoru.

"Kenshin! You baka!" she turned around to Aoshi.

"Sorry Nii-san. But if you keep on acting cold to him he's only going to tease you more." She said with a smile. His anger subsided and he looked at her with calm eyes.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine Nii-san. You don't need to worry so much. Come on lets go inside. The whole gang is eating." Aoshi took his shoes off and went in.

"Is he here?" he asked.

"Hmm? You mean Enishi? No. But his sister came to visit me. She just left a while ago."

" Hey Aoshi!" Sano said still stuffing his mouth with food. (my god Sano! you eat yet you don't get fat!) Aoshi sat down next to Misao as Kaoru went to the kitchen to get an extra plate. Kaoru came back and gave the plate to Aoshi, who thanked her silently then she sat down next to Kenshin. The funny thing was Kenshin was sitting right in front of Aoshi and once again she could feel the tension in the air. There was silence.

"Okay! Why is it all of a sudden quiet?" Misao's loud cheery voice interrupted the silence.

"No reason. Aoshi is just being angry that I kissed Kaoru outside just recently." Kenshin said with a smirk closing his eyes as he heard the chair screech as Aoshi stood up ready to beat him up.

"What? You kissed Kaoru? When was this? How far did you get? Kenshin you dog!" Sano asked excitedly. Megumi hit him.

"Sano just shut up!"

"Kenshin! Stop it all ready!" Kaoru scolded him. " and Aoshi just ignore Kenshin. If not, then do it for me." Aoshi sat back down. Kenshin who still had that grin on his face was smacked on the back of his head by Kaoru.

"Hey! What was that for!" Kaoru smirked.

"That was for teasing my brother and for that goofy grin on your face." Kaoru stood up. Kenshin just looked at her questionly.

"Come on! Up! Up! Let's switch so Aoshi doesn't have to look at you."

"What's wrong with my face? Girl's swoon for me all the time. I'm sure if Aoshi took a good look at my face he would turn gay in a heartbeat!" Misao and Sano burst out in laughter and as for Aoshi he closed his eyes trying to eat his food in peace as his right eye twitched at the recent remark from Kenshin.

Once again Kaoru scolded Kenshin and sat back down sighing as a chuckle escaped from her voice. As Sano and Misao's laughter stopped Kaoru began to talk.

"Really I think out of the least mature it would have to be Sano and Kenshin."

"Ooo! I have an idea!" Misao said out loud also raising her hand as if she was in class. ", You know what we should do Nee-san? (sister) Let's put Kenshin and Aoshi in a storage and lock them up so they can know each other! Then they can be friends!" Aoshi opened his eyes and looked at Misao with a 'don't you dare' look.

"Heh heh! Ya! Ya! Or we can go shopping and bring them with us. Soon they'll get bored and they'll have to talk to each other!" Sano smirked.

"Hey. I like your thinking. I want to be apart of this plan. When shall be the day?"

"how about Saturday!"

"Tomorrow?"

"Yup!"

"What! No way I'm gonna do that! He'll kill me before I can say a word!" Kenshin interrupted.

"Well too bad!" Misao stuck her tongue out.

Kaoru smiled and looked at the three that began to argue. She decided not to stop this one. It sounded like a good idea. That way Aoshi and Kenshin would be friends. Megumi couldn't help but take part and now they, except for Aoshi, were all talking and laughing. Kaoru's smile grew brighter. She felt …happy. Everyone around her that she cared for were with her and for once she wanted it to be like this. She wanted to stop time and just laugh, tease and have fun. She had never felt like this. She had never felt entirely happy. Kaoru looked at Kenshin. She was grateful that …that Kenshin was here with her. She now knew that from now on, life wouldn't be as bad as she thought.