Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Sadly, I never will.

Gin-Soaked Roses

Chapter Six

"Katie! Katie, are you okay?!"

"Mommy!"

The shouts came to her from what seemed to be a distance, through a foggy haze that clouded her mind. They grew louder and louder by the moment, accompanied by intense earth-shattering pain that spread across her forehead. Swatting away the voices, she moaned and held her head.

"Is Mommy going to be alright?"

"I think she is, Jake."

The second voice was his. The man who had occupied her drunken dreams, though she couldn't remember a single one. A cool hand ran over her forehead, wiping away the beads of sweat that pooled there.

She blinked slowly, the fog fading away to see two identical men, one small and breathing in her face, the other leaning over her with concern all over his face. Kenshin gently pulled Jake away from Katie, so she could sit up or simply move her head. She replied with a grateful groan, resting a hand on her forehead and lying back on the couch. Wait. The couch? She looked around, confused.

"You passed out and fell off the stool at the counter. Jake found you and opened the door for me when I came to take him to the park. We laid you on the couch." He spoke in a soft, gentle voice that didn't aggravate the pain searing throughout her entire head.

"Thank you," she whispered, ignoring the urge to slap him for touching her at all. Yet, she really didn't want to. She wanted to return that caring touch... "No!" she shouted suddenly, gasping at the onslaught of horrible pain. Thankfully, he didn't question her outburst as he lifted her up to place a pillow beneath her head and wiped away the gathering sweat from her forehead. He wiped the hand on his jeans.

"Mommy, can I go to the park with Uncle Kenny?" Jake whispered in her ear, and she couldn't ignore Kenshin's hopeful look.

"I guess so, maybe in a little while. After breakfast, at least," she said quietly.

"Mommy, it's after lunchtime."

"Oh." She closed her eyes, wishing the throbbing headache would go away.

"Go play in your room, Jake, while I talk to your mommy, and then we'll go to the park. Okay?"

"Okay Uncle Kenny!" She heard his small feet patter into his bedroom, the door closing behind him. Kenshin picked up her feet, and the couch shifted as he sat down and placed her legs on his lap. He rubbed her legs comfortingly, and she couldn't deny how good it felt.

They just sat there, not speaking, for the longest time. Her thoughts were filled with him, and what he was making her feel, and how she really didn't want to feel these things. She couldn't guess what he was feeling.

Eternities passed. She felt him take a breath to speak.

"I still love you, you know. I never stopped. The reason I came back was because I couldn't get you out of my mind. I told myself it was for the best, for your sake and Kenji's, and that I was being selfish. But at the end of it all I had to see you again. I still love you Kaoru. I know you don't love me anymore, Katie, but even if you send me away I'll still love you. Forever," he said softly, his voice gentle on her hangover. So many things shot through her at once. She sighed, sick of crying but feeling those ominous tears rise up yet again.

"You bastard," she said softly. "You've ruined my life, you know that don't you? You think you can just show up and I'll fall at your feet and forget everything you've done to me. I can't, Kenshin."

"Kaoru, what are you saying?"

"I just... I just can't love you."

"I know. I've done too much to deserve forgiveness." She opened her eyes to stare at his downcast eyes. "But that doesn't change the fact that I love you. And I always will."

"Leave. Now."

"Don't fight it, Kaoru. If you love me, you can admit it." He had risen from the couch but he knelt down beside her. She looked away from his pleading eyes. "I know your mind and anyone you've talked to is telling you to turn me away, to not fall in love with me again. But what is your heart telling you...?"

"Leave. Leave right now. And don't call me Kaoru."

His sigh echoed and crashed against her ears.

"Alright." He walked to the door. Her breath was stuck in her throat. She couldn't breathe, waiting for him to rush over to her and kiss her or walk out that door. "I love you." Waiting... waiting...

The door slammed behind him.

To be continued...

A/N: Uh oh, what's going to happen? It occurred to me that Kaoru/Katie cries a lot in this, especially in the beginning, and while I think she is an incredibly strong person and a kick ass character, I think anyone would cry on this emotional roller coaster. So I don't mean to offend any Kaoru fans. I hope you liked it. Next chapter is the last! Please review!

Gasp! No preview this time! Duh duh duh! (Can't give it away)