Okay I'll make this simple…hi readers…..that was it, NOW TO THE STORY!
Last time on I promise:
"Kaoru, I'm getting you out of here, you are going to be okay" Kenshin whispered
"Don't do this." Kaoru pleaded
"I have to…I'll be okay…I promise." Kenshin said as he caressed her cheek.
"You…promise?" Kaoru asked a sudden wave of pain coursing through her body.
"I swear." Kenshin promised. The last thing before Kaoru passed out was Kenshin standing there his sword ready to fight.
But the scariest thing was that it was flipped.
This time:
"Sano, carry her to the medic." Kenshin asked Sano.
"Sure thing man, but if you don't come back, and you break her heart, I will personally come kill you." Sano said as he held the dying woman.
"Sure thing, but you need to leave, I don't think she can wait any longer." Kenshin said, urgency in his voice.
"Okay, you have me, and me alone." Kenshin said yelling into the dojo.
"Battousai, why are risking your life? You were once the great manslayer, and now you're a , well, you know what you are…pathetic." The man said.
"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Kenshin said calmly. "What did you come here for?" Kenshin asked impatiently.
Kenshin POV
If I had known that he was just going to talk I would have left one of Kaoru's training dummies, if he wants to fight, then fight, because I have somewhere to be right now!
Regular POV
"I came to fight, anybody who was still alive. I see Gohan did a number on Raven, and from the looks of it, you did a number on Gohan." He continued.
"I thought you had a vow never to kill again?" He asked
Kenshin's face considerable paled. He had broken his vow, the vow he had kept for almost eleven years, and now. What would Kaoru think?
Kaoru loves us and right now she needs us and this ass is keeping us from her! Let me take over and kill him. I mean that other bastard hurt us so he had it coming, so let me have him! (Dark is Battousai)
"I did have a vow, but it was thrown out the window when he attacked Ms. Kaoru that it was." Kenshin growled.
"Good, makes the fight more fun when blood can be spilt." The man whispered.
Doctor Gensai, we need you help and any other doctor who isn't busy!" Megumi yelled out.
"What happened?" The old man said as he came out. At the sight of his long time family member he gasped as the condition she was in.
"What happened to her?" Doctor Gensai asked as they set her down and undressed her.
"She was stabbed in abdomen." Misao answered as they helped as much as they could.
"It looks pretty bad, boys I need you to please leave Kaoru to us." Doctor Gensai asked
Sano and Yahiko looked like they didn't want to but they knew they needed to continue undressing her and it would be improper to stay in there. But in the end they left, sending their prayers to Kaoru.
"…his sword.." Kaoru breathed out.
"What Kaoru?" Megumi asked as she cleaned the bloody wound. It was pretty bad, the sword hadn't damaged anything vital, but her blood loss, was tremendous and she needed blood.
"…his sword, was turned…he wasn't him." Kaoru said he words slurred from blood loss.
"Kaoru, we need you to turn on your side just for a second okay, it will hurt, but we need to clean the back wound." Megumi told Kaoru.
"Okay, 1, 2, 3." Misao counted off as they turned Kaoru on her side. Kaoru hissed and instinctively wanted to turn on her back again.
"Hold on Kaoru, we're almost done." Megumi said her tear stains still on her cheeks.
"…I have to help him…I have to!" Kaoru said loudly.
"Kaoru, were done, were going to turn you back on your side." Doctor Gensai explained.
"…Kenshin…" Kaoru called out.
"Kenshin is coming Kaoru, he's coming as soon as he can." Megumi reassured Kaoru.
"..No…his sword, was turned, he needs me!" Kaoru said, and with a sudden rush of adrenaline she tried to get up.
"No, Kaoru you need to stay down!" Megumi yelled. And with her yelling the boys came in and saw Kaoru attempting to get up.
"Missy, what are you doing?" Sano asked as he lightly pushed her down.
"Let me go Zanza, Battousai needs me!" Raven yelled as she continued to get up.
"Kaoru, lay down!" Misao yelled
"No, no one understands, he needs me…" Kaoru said as she fell forward, but Sano caught her.
"What is going on?" Yahiko asked looking at Kaoru who was in considerable pain.
"I don't know, but I feel worried for Kenshin." Megumi said.
"I know, but what are going to do bout Kaoru?" Misao asked.
"She needs a blood transfusion." (I don't know if they had that back then, but someone who does know tell me and I'll change it to something else, but I will need help on that too. So give me a reason why I need to change it and then give me an idea) Megumi said sadly.
"What's a blood transfusion?" Yahiko asked
"Kaoru has lost a lot of blood, and for us to continue she needs to be "re-filled" with blood again. It's very new, I've never had to use it on anyone before. But for this you need the right blood. So unless I can find the correct blood type, we are unable to help her." Doctor Gensai said sadly, his eyes clouding over his "granddaughter"
"I am so sorry Kamiya-san, I said I would look out for your daughter, but I can not." Doctor Gensai said.
"Well can we help?" Yahiko asked?
"Kaoru is type O. And I also know myself and Sano aren't type O." Megumi said
"Neither am I" Misao said.
" I think none of us are, so what does that mean?" Yahiko asked
" It means Kaoru needs prayer, because we can't do anything to help her at the moment." Sano answered.
"Well then I am glad I came in when I could." A voice said opening the shoji."
"LORD AOSHI!" Misao screamed
"Yes, I'm glad I came when I did." Aoshi said rolling up his sleeves. "I am an O type." He continued.
"Are you sure?" Doctor Gensai said
"I am sure, Himura helped me, and now I will repay him with helping Kamiya-san." Aoshi stated.
"Thank you." Megumi said as she ran around trying to get everything ready.
"Okay, this will hurt a bit." Megumi said.
"Lord Aoshi is not hurt by anything." Misao said
Megumi took out a needle and began to proceed doing the same to Kaoru.
"Please tell me if you need anything, this procedure is very tiring, if you feel at all dizzy or nauseous, please tell me. But don't be all tough and pretend that you're a man, if you feel sick at all, we will stop." Megumi said explaining this to him.
"I understand Takani-san." Aoshi said
Kenshin panted heavily. His chest heaved up and down, sweat clung to his tan skin. The hidden man had revealed himself to be known as Kiro. The man had exceptional sword skills. I mean he was giving Battousai a work out.
"Kiro, what do you want?" Battousai asked
"It's not what I want, but what my people want. They want a new Japan, without goody-two shoes like you and Raven walking about. We've disposed of others like you, and now you and Raven…well, I guess now, it's just you." Kiro said.
"Who are you working for?" Kenshin asked
"Now, that would be telling wouldn't it?" Kiro said toying with him.
" Do you believe in what your fighting me for?" Kenshin asked
"I believe in what I am paid for." Kiro said as he lunged forward
Kenshin blocked and turned dodging Kiro's sword. Kenshin switched sides rotating his body into his ultimate attack. Kiro had no clue what was about to come, he could not dodge this attack. And soon after his was finish, he would go to Kaoru and see her.
"Takani-san, I am feeling a bit dizzy." Aoshi stated
"Okay, thank you, Shinimori-san" Megumi said as she took out the needle connected to his arm.
"How is she?" Sano asked
"She seems a bit better, enough to continue fixing her wound. The blood Aoshi gave should be enough to sustain her during the procedure." Megumi explained
"Should be?" Yahiko asked concerned that there might be some chance that it wouldn't work.
"Yes, she lost a lot of blood, and Aoshi could only give so much, but lets not think like that, it will work, I promise." Megumi said giving hope to Yahiko and the others.
"Kaoru, we are going to continue fixing your wound, " Misao said
"….where's Kenshin?" Kaoru asked softly
"He's coming, I promise." Sano said " I told him, of he didn't come, I would kill him." Sano said slightly laughing.
"Kaoru, were going to let you rest, okay, if you need anything, let us know." Megumi said, but Kaoru was already asleep.
"Have I mentioned I am worried for Kenshin?" Yahiko announced
"Yeah, we are all worried." Sano replied.
"Himura is fine, I know it." Misao said
" While I was gone I found information on Gohan and the group he was talking about. It seems he is right, the Blood Dragons did dissipate after the death of so called Mamoru. Only one man knew he was still alive who was in the Blood Dragons." Aoshi explained
"That Muegan guy wasn't it?" Sano asked
"Correct. When Muegan was killed by Kaoru, Mamoru came out of hiding." Aoshi said
"This we already know." Yahiko said annoyed
"Wait you ungrateful child!" Misao scolded
"... I'm not a child.." Yahiko mumbled
"Well yes. When Mamoru came out of hiding he was already working for someone else. Mamoru thought they knew that he just wanted to kill her. But when this group found out that this girl he wanted to kill was the Raven, they showed Gohan to Mamoru. Mamoru thinking this was all to kill Kaoru was fooled. Truly Gohan was there to find out information on Kamiya and Himura. The group used Gohan's info to track all of us down. Our group is a threat to them." Aoshi explained
"Who is the group?" Yahiko asked
"The group is called The Devils Advocates" Aoshi answered
"Devils Advocates… I've never heard of them." Misao surprised at this new information.
"They've been so secret, politicians using ex-samurais to do there dirty work. The killings never come back to them." Aoshi said
"Why are they trying to kill Missy and Kenshin?" Sano asked
"After they use a manslayer they usually kill them, but both Himura and Kamiya left the war before it was truly ended." Aoshi replied
"So, your saying, one of them worked for the Devils Advocates and they never got the chance to kill them , and so after like ten years their here to kill them?" Yahiko asked
"They would have never found them if Mamoru hadn't been looking for her too." Aoshi said.
"But ten years is a long time to be gone, what where they doing? I mean Mamoru was supposed to be dead? And this is the first time I have ever heard of this group. What where they doing?" Megumi wondered.
"I don't know, but I believe something big." Misao said
"Like Shishio big?" Yahiko asked.
"Maybe even bigger." Aoshi answered.
Kaoru POV/Dream
She saw Kenshin laying there, covered in blood.
"Kaoru, where were you? I needed you." He said his eyes glazed
"I'm sorry, I tried! I wanted to be there, but I couldn't get there!" She cried. She was on her knees and crying.
"I would have come for you, but you leave me, you left me to die." Kenshin said softly
"No, Kenshin I will always come, I will always come!" Kaoru screamed
"Your promises mean nothing to me. I hate you, your never there for me. Where are you Kaoru. Where were you when I needed you?" Kenshin pleaded
"I need you!" He screamed
"Kenshin I tried, but I am so tired!" Kaoru said
"I'm never too tired for you, your weak, pathetic, and a waste." Kenshin sneered.
"No, Kenshin I need you, I'll always be there for you!" Kaoru screamed
"Then where are you!" He yelled
"Where are you!" Kenshin screamed
Kaoru screamed as her wound felt like it had been re-stabbed.
Regular POV
"Kenshin!" Kaoru screamed "I'm trying! I wanna be there!" She yelled
Everyone came in when they heard her scream.
Kaoru was trying to get up towards the door. Her wounds had re-opened and blood was staining the floors. Her eyes were silver glazed. Her face sweating, pale, and in pain.
"Kaoru, stop, you re-opened your wounds!" Megumi yelled
"..I need to save him.." she pleaded as she was picked up by Sano, and again she was place down on the futon.
"Please let me save him…he needs me!" Kaoru said in a haze.
"Kaoru calm down, I need to heal the wounds!" Megumi said as she struggled to contain Kaoru.
"I need to see him one more time…I need to help him.." Kaoru pleaded.
"I need Kaoru to be awake for this, guys hold her down please." Megumi asked.
"No, I need him…" Kaoru said as she cried. It took all Misao could not to let her go, so she could just see her friend okay.
"Kaoru, please calm down. She's losing all the blood we gave her! Megumi said as she panicked.
"I can't stand her like this, let me go get Kenshin!" Yahiko said as he stood up.
"…Kenshin, needs me…just let me be there!" Kaoru continued
"He told me, he needs me…I need to save him." Kaoru told them.
"I don't know what's going on. The wound completely re-opened!" Doctor Gensai said.
"I'm so tired, but I need to….Kenshin…"Kaoru said as tears ran down her face.
"Missy, come on, Kenshin is coming!" Sano said
"I need to tell him…I'm always here…I need him…to…" Kaoru said as her eyes slowly closed.
"Kaoru, come on, hang with me." Megumi said as she tried to stop the bleeding
"...Kenshin...he needs me.." Kaoru whispered
"He needs you to be alive and I will give that to him." Megumi said wiping sweat off her brow.
"I don't think I can give him that, so you have to let me help him. That's all I can give him." Kaoru said
"Kaoru stay with me...stay with me!" Megumi screamed as she held her hand over her bleeding wound.
"Kenshin…where are you…I can't help you, but please help…me." Kaoru whispered
"Kenshin…save me…." Kaoru said as she passed out.
Megumi was leaned up against the wall crying, her hands covered in blood. Sano saw her and sat next to her and held her.
"I can't help her, she is refusing it, its like her body doesn't want it!" Megumi cried.
"You are helping her, you are." Sano reassured her.
"Aoshi what are we going to do?" Misao said as she looked at her friend.
"I do not know, but I believe Kamiya wants to die." Aoshi answered.
"But, why, Kenshin loves her, and she knows it, why would she want to die." Yahiko asked
"That I do not know." Aoshi said starring at the pale woman.
Battousai, I hate to end this short, but another time?" Kiro asked
"No, fight now! You ask for one, now I'll give it to you dammitt!" Battousai screamed
"But what about that pretty little raven, wasn't she dying when we saw her last? I mean that must have been hours ago?" Kiro asked
"Kaoru!" Kenshin said realizing.
"Now, let me go, and you get to see Kaoru." Kiro said.
Kenshin POV
If I let him go, he will come back in force, but Kaoru needs me.
Regular POV
"Tick tock!" Kiro said
"Fine!" Kenshin screamed frustrated
"Go see your little bird, before she flies away!" Kiro said as he ran into the woods.
Kenshin POV
Kaoru I'm coming. Hang on!
"…where is Kenshin?" Kaoru whispered
"He is coming I promise…come on Kaoru, hang on, he is coming." Megumi said
At least she hoped. He had been gone for hours. And Kaoru wasn't lasting any longer.
"KENSHIN!" Yahiko said as he stood up
"Where is she?" Kenshin said out of breath. His clothes somewhat torn, and slightly bleeding from minor scratches besides the one he got from Gohan.
"She is in there.." Sano said but Kenshin left after he said where.
"Wait Kenshin…we think Kaoru doesn't want to live. She was fine after her blood transfusion, but now, I don't think she is going to make it." Yahiko said his eyes brimming with tears.
"Himura, I think Kamiya believes she has nothing to live for." Aoshi said his eyes quiet and solemn.
"Kaoru, Kenshin is here…" Megumi said softly.
Kaoru slowly raised her head to look at the man beside her. He hair was strewn around her face. He chest heaved slow ragged breaths.
"Kaoru…I'm here." Kenshin said as he held her hand tightly.
"I wasn't there for you." Kaoru whispered
"You have always been there for me, always." Kenshin replied
"No, I took her away, she's dead." Kaoru said as she looked in the night sky, the stars where cloudy because of the overcast.
"No, she is right here, but I need her to live." Kenshin said as he held her close to him.
"You became Battousai." Kaoru stated.
"Yes I did." Kenshin said sadly
"I was not there to stop you." Kaoru whispered
"That doesn't matter, what matters is that you get better." Kenshin said as stroked her cheek.
"It does to me, I was not there, and I needed to be." Kaoru said.
" And I needed to be here." Kenshin replied.
"And here you are." Kaoru said softly
"Yeah, here I am. I am her for you always, just as you are too."
"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked
"Yes." He replied
"You asked me something, a long time ago…what was it?" Kaoru asked
"To watch the cherry blossoms?" Kenshin said as he smiled
"Yeah, that, I promised I would do that right?" Kaoru asked as her eyes slowly fell from exhaustion.
"You did." Kenshin said.
"Good, because I wanted to do that." Kaoru said as she snuggled into Kenshin.
"I did too." Kenshin said as he let his hand slip out of hers and he kissed her on the head and slowly walked out.
"I love you Kaoru, and I hope you know that. And no matter what, I hope you always need me, just as I need you." Kenshin said as he turned around and headed out the door.
"…I promise." Kaoru whispered in her sleep.