I know it's been a hell of a long time since I've updated, but part of the reason that I haven't posted is because of one thing:

THE LACK OF REVIEWS.

I got a total of ONE review on the last chapter (which was from my friend Haley, may she be blessed a thousand times over. and I'm not excluding you Britts, you've already reviewed twice, may you also be blessed a thousand times over) in like, what? A month? And that last chapter was a pain in the ass to write! So I've kinda been freaking out for the past couple weeks. "Is my story that bad? Are they all busy? Have they lost interest? Is the story too clichéd/reads through frantically/ What the hell is going on?" Yeah. That's basically what kept going through my mind as I struggled to write this chapter. I don't know if I've made this clear or not, so let me get the message out. I'm a REVIEW-WHORE. Sad to say, but that's the truth. I live on praise! One of my selfish reasons to write, but hey.

Short chapter. Deal with it; I'm not in a good mood :P

/complete mood swing/ But please review! - haha…..hahah….hahahaha….. /collapses in maniac laughter/

Doctor: What you see before you is insanity resulting from the dreadful condition commonly known as "reviewer neglect".

REVIEWS? WHERE?

"Damn it all, I can't see anything through these trees," Sano grumbled in annoyance. "Are you sure we're going the right way, woman?"

"Of course I'm sure!" Megumi glared with resentment at his back as she pushed a branch from her face and tried to keep up. "And in case you've forgotten, I do have a name." she informed him hotly.

Sanosuke seemed to pay no mind as he continued to move branches and brambles aside for them to pass. (a/n: hey, how come you didn't have to push crap aside? - x: um…luck?)

A few more seconds went by when he said victoriously, "Ha! Found em'. Looks like you were paying attention after all, Vixen! Take a peek." He set his right hand on her back and pushed her forward to stand in front of a hole in the bushes made by Sano.

Choosing to ignore the physical contact and the fact that he called her the 'v' word again, Megumi peered at the scene taking place near the grand tree. What she saw seemed to surprise her. "What's going on?"

Soundless moments passed. If not for the summer breeze that stirred the couple's hair and clothing, time appeared to be stopped. Finally Kaoru's trembling voice emerged.

"What's wrong with me? This is…insane!" she said in a confused tone that was barely below a shout. "Why can't I just walk away like I know I could normally? Hell, I can't even think normally anymore!" To her horror, she could feel her eyes starting to burn as the words that had been suppressed all day began to tumble from her mouth.

"First, Sanosuke and Megumi and Yahiko chew me out and then all I can think about—all my mind will let me think about—are emotions and feelings and 'How do I feel?' or 'How should I feel?'." She put a palm to her eye; it had begun to water. She managed to keep the tears from falling, but the task of stopping her mouth from running on was a feat she couldn't muster the strength for.

"And no matter how hard I tried I couldn't stop it! Voices that I never even knew existed kept telling me 'Go for it!' and 'Take action!' and I just didn't want to listen to them anymore," she gushed uncontrollably. "I've just become more and more confused, and I don't know what to do anymore; it's all so infuriating because no matter how I look at it, it all seems to be caused by one person; not Sano or Yahiko, I can't even blame it on Megumi! This all because of…because of…!"

"Me?" he asked quietly. His hand fell away.

"W-wait, no!" she stammered quickly as she turned around. She bit the inside of her cheek in humiliation at her outburst. Bowing her head she mumbled lamely, "That's not what I meant to say." She let her head hang; waiting for the judgment she knew was coming.

After a few seconds, he said, "From what you've said, I can only imagine it must have taken a great deal of strength to endure an incident such as yours." His attitude wasn't at all unkind, but Kaoru could feel the stiffness in his tone. She kept her gaze fixed on the ground.

"I also realize it takes an even greater amount of strength to endure the awkwardness of admitting it to someone else." Kenshin's smile was thin and ironic. "Especially when that person is the cause of said incident," he added shrewdly.

Ashamed, Kaoru didn't interrupt. Suddenly she heard the sound of Kenshin's soft footsteps on the grass-covered ground leading away from her, and she raised her head to see him walking away. Still too guilt-filled to say a word, she followed like a silent shadow.

"I apologize if I made you feel as if you were obligated to tell me that." The swordsman stopped at the other side of the blooming tree and seemed to examine the flowers on one branch as he said, "Since I pushed you to tell me something that was obviously difficult to reveal, I think it's only fair that I should be equally honest with you." Still looking away from her, he continued, "I'll tell you something that's been on my mind for some time now."

Kaoru stopped a couple paces away from him, stunned by this new concept. He's been worried about something? Where she had felt guilt only moments ago, there was now surprise and curiosity.

Kenshin seemed not to notice as he gazed into the pale pink flowers. "How long has it been since I first arrived here?" he said conversationally. "Six months? A year? I honestly can't recall." Kaoru looked on as he tenderly plucked a cherry blossom from the branch and let it rest in his palm. He smiled softly.

"All I know is that ever since I came here, I've never been so wonderfully at ease as I am now with you and everyone. I've never…had so many friends." Though the expression on his face did not alter, Kaoru detected the slightest change in his eye. She knew at once something unpleasant had entered his thoughts.

"I am grateful that I have been given the chance to know so many people this well…but," His fingers closed lightly around the tiny flower in his hand. "I've also come to find that it is a double edged sword. The more people I associate with and become close to, the more danger I put them in. I cannot hide the fact that I still have many enemies, enemies that could easily use these people for their own advantages." He was no longer smiling.

"And no matter how hard I may try to protect them," he said as he unclenched his hand to reveal the untouched flower once more. "Someone will always be hurt."

Kaoru watched in disappointment as a breeze ripped the delicate petals in different directions and sent them flying away to an unseen place. All that was left in Kenshin's palm was a forlorn-looking piece of the stem. The swordsman angled his hand and let the piece fall to the earth, where it lay it its petal-less misery. He turned away from it; his back now facing Kaoru.

The gesture suddenly made her very uneasy. She knew these words. At least, they had a similar ring to words she had heard before. Words that now made her feel that familiar anxious fear at what she hoped wouldn't be what Kenshin would say next.

"It is because of this that I now know that the best thing for you—for everyone, to keep you all from harm's reach would be…" He hesitated, and Kaoru's eyes widened in horror and realization. She held her breath, but she knew now it wouldn't do any good.

"I would have to leave…and never come back."

It was only then that Kaoru let her repressed tears roll down her cheeks.

A cliffy for all you to think over and freak out about. Just like I freaked out over your lack of reviews/wail/

Doctor/smack/ Don't take your own insecurities out on the fans! Think about it: if you complain too much, they won't review!

Me: oh yeah…./twitch/ I don't know how much longer I can take this!

Doctor: Take pity on this poor girl and leave a review!

Me:..review…/twitch/ REVIEW? WHERE?

It just occurred to me that Kaoru's whole "there are voices in my head telling me what to do" thing could be taken for schizophrenia….hm.