A/N: okay! Here is the next chapter! Here are the people that I would like to thank for reviewing! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Misao-chan122

FaYE04

Kenshinlover2002

Lazy reader

Kristy-chan

Miharu Kawashi

Lathayan

Aznmoonstargurl

Krystle

and I thank everyone else! Sadly I'm too lazy to type down your names and I'm sorry! So don't kill me::hides behind Reno from FF7 AC: (yes I love him! And Kenshin!)

Reno: hey! Don't use me as your shield!

Shinta-FAn: sorry!

Chapter Twelve:

Kenshin was awakened by his alarm clock and grumpily turned it off and checked the time.

"12 o'clock! What the hell! I don't remember putting it at this time!" Kenshin said to himself. The door suddenly burst open and confetti flew around the area of the opened door.

"Happy Birthday too meeee!" Kaoru sang in a high tone. She looked at Kenshin who looked at her shocked. She giggled.

"Sorry for scaring you." She said sitting at the edge of his bed. Kenshin looked at her sheepishly as he realized something.

"You're the one who set my alarm huh?" Kaoru smiled.

"Heh heh! Guilty as charged!"

"Happy Birthday Kaoru. Now go to bed and let me sleep!" Kenshin said putting the blanket over him.

"But I can't go to sleep! It's my birthday!" she said out loudly with a hiccup. Kenshin opened his eyes and sat up looking at her. He raised an eyebrow as she smiled at him swaying a bit.

"Have you been drinking?"

"Drinking? No? Yes? Uh I forgot." Kenshin stood up and pulled her up.

"Geez Kaoru. How many sips did you take? You know your not suppose to drink." Kaoru leaned on him.

"I'm tired Kenshin."

"You were supposed to be asleep. You're gonna have a hang over tomorrow." He said taking her to her room. He laid her down and pulled the blanket over her. Before he could leave Kaoru grabbed a hold of his hand making him look back at her.

"I really like you Kenshin! Stay with me!" she pulled him to her taking him by surprise. Kenshin stared with wide eyes, their nose barely touching, he blushed as he felt her body against him and not to mention the two were on the bed.

"K-Kaoru! Let go! I-I need to go back to sleep."

"You can sleep with me!"

'heh wouldn't that be nice.' He grinned but pulled himself up.

"Lay right here Kenshin!" she said patting the empty space next to her.

"Fine. But only until you fall asleep." Kaoru closed her eyes and nodded sleepily.

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Kaoru was warm and she liked the warmth so she snuggled feeling a chest? Kaoru opened her eyes and found Kenshin next to her and he was.. was half naked! She quickly moved away from him and stared at him blushing madly.

"I take a few sips and this is where it brings me.." she whispered to herself. She noticed Kenshin had awakened and looked at her.

"Uh..heh..hi."

"D-did we?" Kenshin stayed silent and grinned. Kaoru didn't know if she could get any redder.

"Don't worry we didn't do anything. But you did tell me that you really really liked me." He said moving towards her. ", how come I never knew that?"

"I don't remember that." Kenshin surprised her as he put his hands to her waist and pulled her to him for a hug.

"Happy Birthday Kaoru." Kaoru slowly wrapped her arms around him and snuggled into his chest. He was warm and she liked it. She didn't know why she did it but she was blushing but so was Kenshin. She wanted to stay like this but the phone rang and she let go and answered.

"Hello?"

"Kaoru! Where are you?" Sano's voice replied.

"Sano?"

"Ya. Hurry up. Where ever you are! We're getting hungry!" Kaoru looked at the clock.

"Oh crap! Sorry Sano! We'll be there soon!" she hung up the phone and got out of bed. She turned around and looked at Kenshin.

"Come on! Hurry up and get changed! Ugh! Kenshin no baka! You should have stopped me from drinking so much! I have a headache!"

"Eh! It's not my fault!" Kenshin got up and helped her walk.

"I need aspirin!" she moaned. ", how am I suppose to take a shower!"

"I can help you." He said grinning.

"Ew! Get away from me!"

"I'm just kidding!" he said with a laugh.

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"Hey there they are! Hi Kenshin, Kaoru!" Misao screamed as they walked over to the table.

"We ordered food already, as you can tell," she said pointing to there food ", yours is on the way." Megumi looked a Kaoru and noticed something.

"Kaoru. Are you okay? You seem kind of pale." She looked down as everyone looked at her. She then looked up putting on a fake smile.

"Come on guys! I'm fine! Just because I look pale doesn't mean I'm sick!"

"You sure Jou-chan?" Sano asked worriedly.

"Ya. Don't worry." She said softly as she smiled. Sano blushed and looked away as he stuffed his mouth with food. Kaoru looked at him confused and laughed.

"Oh! Nee-san Nee-san! Look what I got yoou!" Misao said handing her a present. " , But don't open them now. Open them later!" Kaoru thanked her. As she looked at Sano she noticed a bruise on his face.

"Sano! What happened to your face!" he looked at her.

"Oh this…it was when…Kenshin was teaching me self defense." At that very moment everyone could feel the tension. Megumi and Misao were now curious and wanted to know what was going on.

"Can you guys go to the buffet line and grab a lot of desserts please?" Megumi asked the three guys.

"Why can't you just send one person?" Sano complained.

"Just go!" the three got up and left hearing a grumble from Sano. Kaoru just laughed and drank her glass of water. As she set the glass down she noticed Misao and Megumi looking at her waiting for an explanation.

"Eh…what?" Megumi scolded her.

"Oh come on! Explain! What's up with the tension?"

"Ya!" Misao butted in.

"That's what I wanted to know. I asked Kenshin about it before but all he said was that it was nothing."

"You're kidding," Misao said. ", Nee-san… you don't know how Sano really feels?" Kaoru looked at her confused.

"Feels? What are you talking about?" she asked looking at the two. Megumi chuckled.

"My Dear sweet Kaoru! You are so naïve. Maybe that's why every guy falls in love with you."

"Kaoru! Sano is in love with you!" Misao said cutting to the chase. At first Kaoru thought it was a joke but when she saw the serious look on the two she knew it was for real. She looked over to where Sano was and then back at them.

"……No…I- I don't believe that." Kaoru's face began to pale. All this time she had thought Sano would have liked someone else. She knew Sano liked her. He was so obvious, the way he looked at her, hugged her, took care of her, worried about her, she wasn't as naïve as they thought she was, she only pretended not to know. She had hoped Sano would forget about her and like someone else. She didn't want to hurt his feelings. She KNEW he was in love with her.

"I'm so stupid…" Kaoru whispered. ',…I'm hurting everyone.' Kaoru felt something coming up her throat and covered her mouth to prevent herself from puking.

"Kaoru?" Megumi said in alarm. Kaoru quickly got up and ran. Behind her she could hear the voices of her sister and Megumi screaming her name. Kaoru quickly went to the restroom, opened one of the stalls and threw up blood in the toilet. She coughed roughly as a bit more blood came out.

"Kaoru!" Kaoru quickly closed the door and locked it. Megumi tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge.

"Kaoru!" she said once more. Kaoru wiped her mouth putting her back against the wall sliding down to the floor.

"Kaoru! Are you okay! Please open the door!" She closed her eyes and ignored Megumi's voice. She wasn't surprised that she coughed up blood. It wasn't the first time it happened. It began yesterday. It was a symptom that her doctor warned her about when the disease would get worse. At that time she had become very weak when she first threw up blood and now she felt weak again. She had a feeling she had little time left in the world and tried to ignore her fear.

The women's door burst open and Kenshin called out to her not caring if he wasn't suppose to go in there.

"Kaoru!" She opened her eyes half way.

"Ken—shin.."

"Megumi call an ambulance now!" Megumi nodded and quickly left. ", Kaoru…please open the door." Tears were now falling down Kaoru's cheek as she lifted her hand and opened the door. She cried harder as Kenshin took her in his arms. The last thing she heard and saw was Kenshin, and then darkness took over.

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Sapphire eyes slowly opened and looked at a familiar ceiling. It was the hospital. She breathed in and out of the oxygen mask that was on her and heard the heart monitor beep. She turned her head to the right and found Kenshin on the chair asleep. She slowly took her oxygen mask off and sat up slowly. Kaoru removed the blanket on top of her and moved her legs at the edge of the bed.

She hated the hospital. She was tired of it. Ever since little she was always in the hospital. Always having exams, x-rays, blood samples. Needles where put into her and she hated it. She felt like she was in prison. Not seeing the sunshine, the beautiful nature outside the cooped up place made her depressed.

Kenshin stirred as Kaoru watched him.

'He must have been watching me all night…' Kaoru gave a slight smile. ', if he found me like this he would probably freak out and tell me to lay back down.' A knock came from the door startling Kenshin awake. In came Mrs. Kamiya.

"Okaa-san." Suji dropped her bag and ran to Kaoru hugging her. Right then Mrs. Kamiya cried pulling her daughter closer to her. Kenshin quietly got up and left the room giving the two privacy.

Kenshin closed the door and decided to leave the hospital for a while and come back later. Besides he needed to freshen up a bit. As he reached home he reached in his pocket and took his keys out to open the door.

"Kenshin." A voice called out to him and he wasn't too happy on whose it was. He sighed turning around and found no other then Sano.

"What are you doing here? Who's watching Kaoru?" Sano asked in a demanding voice. He turned around and opened the door annoyed going inside. Sano followed shutting the door.

"Mrs. Kamiya is with her. Kaoru has already awakened. I thought I would give them some time alone. I'm here to freshen up and bring some cloths for Kaoru." He said going in the kitchen and preparing himself coffee. Sano sat down as Kenshin looked at him.

"So are you going to sit there all day? Or are you gonna visit Kaoru." Kenshin said in a mocking tone.

"Tch. It's none of your damn business. Where is Kaoru's bag? I'll bring the cloths to her." He asked getting up from the chair.

"Did you not hear me? I said I was here to freshen up and bring back cloths for Kaoru." Kenshin was now angry and wanted to punch him. Sano was bugging the hell out of him.

"Just because you're married by tradition doesn't mean Kaoru is yours. She still has a choice. And she could get a divorce if she wants to. But this is her mothers wish." Kenshin walked Sano's direction.

"I don't see her complaining about anything." Sano gritted his teeth and punched him taking him by surprise. Kenshin frowned as he wiped blood from his mouth.

'Damn…he had packed a good punch.' Kenshin frowned and dodged another punch from Sano and kneed him on the stomach making Sano take a few steps behind trying to gasp for air.

"Get out. You're not worth the fight." Kenshin paused. ", Besides. Kaoru would hate to see us like this. We've already caused enough trouble." Sano glared at him as Kenshin walked to his room and slammed the door shut. Kenshin sighed once again as he heard the front door open and shut. He unbuttoned his shirt and decided to take a hot shower. As he walked to the bathroom with a towel around his waist he shut the door, went to the tub and turned the knob. He knew there was to be trouble with Sano but didn't expect it so soon. It wasn't the way he wanted it. He was hoping Sano would be mature enough and put that matter behind and think of Kaoru. But his childishness got to him instead. As he got in he took his high pony tail down and let the warm water massage his head. Problems were keeping him busy and before he knew it he was in the shower more than five minutes. He turned the knob off as steam surrounded him, opened the curtains as he grabbed the towel.

After he changed he went into Kaoru's room and opened her drawers picking out clothing's that she would like to wear. He then brought the bag out with him and went to the kitchen to get coffee then it was back to the hospital.

"Hey Kenshin!" as he stepped out of his car he looked up and found Misao and Aoshi coming his way.

"Hey." He responded.

" Did you go somewhere?" Misao asked looking at the bag he was carrying.

"I decided to get Kaoru's cloths."

"Oh. Did you eat yet? I brought donuts." She asked as they started to walk again to the entrance of the Hospital.

"The doctor asked Kaoru to stay for a few more days in the hospital but Kaoru refused to stay. Being the stubborn girl she is. They say she's fine but it would be much efficient for her to stay here." Aoshi said interrupting Misao. Misao gasped.

"Kenshin! What happened to your face?"

"I rather not talk about it." He said opening the door to Kaoru's room. Kaoru and her mother looked up at them. Kaoru gave a smile.

"Hey guys." Misao put the donuts down and ran to give Kaoru a hug.

"Nee-san I'm glad you're okay!"

" Don't be silly! Of course I'm okay!" she said trying to cheer her up. She looked up at her brother. " How about you Aoshi? I hope you weren't worried throughout the night."

"Not as much as Kenshin was. He never left the hospital." Kaoru looked at him surprised as he looked away. Kaoru smiled and shook her head.

"I'm sorry guys. It's Christmas vacation and you guys are stuck here with me in the hospital. You should be outside having fun."

"What are you talking about?" Kenshin grunted. ", I'd rather be here than freeze outside in the snow." He walked over to her and plopped her bag next to her. She looked at him confused.

"What is this for? I'm not going to stay overnight!"

"Ne! Kaoru! I brought donuts!" Misao said opening the box. Kaoru's expression lit up.

"Ooo! I want some!" Mrs. Kamiya stood up from her chair.

"I hate to leave but I have to go too work." She went to give Kaoru a hug. ", Kaoru you can go home but I don't want you doing anything that will make you tired."

"Okay Okaa-san." She then gave Misao and Aoshi hugs before she left.

"Did Sanouske stop by?" Kenshin asked as Suji left.

"Hm? Um yeah he did…He left just before you guys arrived. Though he did seem rather distracted. I'm thinking it was because of me."

"No. It's not you. Trust me." After that there was an awkward silence.

"Um so. Why don't we go know! I don't want stay in this stupid hospital anymore!" Kaoru said breaking the silence.

"Are you sure Kaoru?" Aoshi asked with a glint of worry in his eyes but never showed it.

"Don't worry Nii-san. I'm fine. Really." Kaoru said putting up a fake smile. It may have fooled him and Misao but it sure didn't fool Kenshin.

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As Kaoru got home she smiled looking around the house. She was really glad that she was out of the hospital. Kenshin walked to her slipping his hand to hers making her look at him.

"Come on." He said as he pulled her out of the house.

"Huh? We're not going in?"

"Yesterday was your birthday and I did tell you I had a surprise for you. That's where we're going. He grabbed a blind fold and gave it to her.

"What's this for?" she said looking at the black handkerchief.

"It's not a surprise if you know where it is. So put it on." Kaoru pouted.

'gee…he's in a bad mood.' Kaoru put it around her eyes and tied it. She was brought in the car and heard the engine start. It had seemed like hours that she had been in the car until she finally felt the car slow down.

"Don't take them off yet." Kenshin said getting out of the door. He opened her's and helped her out.

"It's a bit cold. Here let me help you put on a sweater." Kaoru blushed. He was being extra nice today. She wasn't used to this kind of Kenshin and was getting anxious and was starting to think if he was really Kenshin. He slid his hand next to hers and then led the way. She felt the cool air brush against her face and inhaled as she smiled. As Kenshin stopped he took her blindfold out and she gasped at her view. There was tree's, Sakura trees. The pedals were falling leaving some of the others to wilt. She looked around and found a lake not too far down from where she was. She could see other pedals falling to the lake and the ground. She was glad winter only started other wise there would be snow to cover the beautiful nature around her.

"I've decided we'll have a picnic down near the lake." Kenshin said as she looked at him with a big smile.

"How did you find this place? Where are the other people?"

"This is another part of town where the people still like there place in old tradition. And since people think this is where the old people live, not to be mean," Kaoru laughed ", no one really comes here."

"Oh this is great! Let's get the stuff!"

"I'll get it. You go on ahead." Kaoru nodded and turned around to leave. As he got back from the car he found Kaoru looking at a duck.

"Hey." She looked up and smiled as she saw the basket on the blanket. Kenshin stared at her memorizing her face.

"MMmm! I'm getting kinda hungry! Let's go!" she grabbed his hand and pulled him as she ran. They both sat down, got out two sandwiches and fruits. Kaoru popped a piece of grape in her mouth and looked out to the lake as ducks swam in them. They ate in silence enjoying each others company. Not till later Kaoru decided to get up and just watch the view standing up.

"…Kenshin?" she asked putting her hands behind her back. He got up and joined her.

"Yeah?"

"A-are you mad for not telling you about…the blood?" hearing no response Kaoru winced.

'I guess he is…'

"Ah.. Sorry! You don't have to answer that!" she said with another fake smile.

"Kaoru…." She looked at him as he stared at her. ", As I said before…it's not healthy hiding you're emotions."

"I-- "

"I want to see a real smile. Not a fake one. You may fool others. But you can't fool me." He whispered only for her to hear and moved closer to her. Kaoru's fake smile disappeared and she bowed her head in shame. He smiled slightly and moved his hand to lift up her head.

"Can I hug you?" Kaoru looked at him weirdly. He didn't need to ask, but shook it off and nodded . Kenshin wrapped his arms around her and closed his eyes.

"You scared me back there." Kaoru smiled sadly and wrapped her arms around him also.

"I thought you wouldn't wake up." Kenshin gritted his teeth. ", It made me scared. I wanted you to wake up. It's just a dream…this whole thing is just a dream…your not sick. I wanted to tell myself that. But when I saw you on the bed with the oxygen mask on..it felt like I had lost you then."

"Kenshin…"

"You don't deserve this-this illness. You've done nothing wrong. The gods are not being fair." He hugged her tighter.

"Kenshin…" she put both of her hands on his cheeks and looked straight to his eyes. He was struggling. ", it's okay to cry.." she whispered. As Kaoru put her hands down his control had broken and soon tears slid down his cheeks. He hugged her, his knees feeling weak, they both sank to the ground. He buried his face to her chest and she wrapped her arms around him with comfort. There they stayed like that. The last time he cried was when his parents died. Now Kenshin let himself cry again in Kaoru's arms.

A/N: TT :sniffs::coughs: sorry about that! Anyways! That's all for now! How did you like it? Unfortunately….hmm…I don't know if I should tell you…should I tell you guys? Na.. I'll tell ya guys in the next chapter! But I'm guessing you know what I'll say…please review! And I'll update soon! Thanx!