EVERLASTING

By : HCK Holy Reimaund

Author's note : Story is inspired by the melancholic theme of BoA's song of the same title. Rurouni Kenshin is also owned by Nobuhiro Watsuki, Shonen Jump, and Sony Productions. But the story plot is all mine.

Chapter 7 : Blood

Kaoru looked on at the other side of the mirrored window. She sees everything. Taking every details of what's happening. Her parents had been more stressed nowadays. Aoshi had become even more angrier to their parents and his brother. And Kenshin? He had been nothing but an epitome of a perfect husband. It hurts her that the wife is not her.

Why is she in the hospital anyway? It is because for her to be her sister's keeper. They tested everyone on their family, immediate and extension, to see if anyone will have the same match of tissue genetic types for bone marrow transplant needed to extend Misao's life a little longer. Extending a life of terminally person… who're they fooling? That would only make Misao more miserable!

She doesn't want to be cruel, but, what's the use? Their parents had already been cruel enough not just to her but also to Misao. Hiding a serious health condition to the patient herself for so long is just the most terrible thing to do to a person. Had Misao known about her condition before things became complicated then she would have been able to do things she would like to do. Never mind the fact that she has to sacrifice her own happiness as she understands everything now. Misao would have done things she likes to her heart's content if she had known of her disease. She would use her time left to do everything she can before she gets confined to a hospital bed. Their parents should have told her to do so. Then Misao wouldn't be like this. She wouldn't be miserable than she already had. She will be dying but at least she would be happy if she had used all of her time.

Time…

That's what their parents had stolen from Misao. Her precious time is wasted. Misao is always the type of person to use her time leisurely, thinking she always have all the time in the world… like how she took so much time carefully trying to select the best dress to wear when she found out that Kenshin is coming back home. Come to think of it, she always loved her sister as much as how their parents are spoiling her. They had always been close. Their relationship as sisters only started to drift apart after Misao and Kenshin's engagement had been announced. And it is her fault too.

Misao, after all, is not aware of her real relationship with Kenshin. After the announcement of their engagement, Misao had been gushing all day about some whirlwind romance she's currently living on. Like always, Misao's sharing her newfound happiness with her sister. But as broken hearted as she is, she can't stand being in the same room with Misao which just saddens and confuses her. For the life of Misao, she just couldn't understand why her always quiet but ever-loving sister suddenly grew cold towards her. Yet with the happiness she sees in Misao, she couldn't bring herself to burst her bubble. That the woman the man she's going to marry really loves is not her but her sister. That the promise of ten years ago is nothing but a silly promise used to make her stop crying. That there was never any truth to the promise that kept Misao's spirit uplifted for a whole decade. No, as much heart broken as she is, she cannot be that cruel to anyone…

…Most especially, not to her own sister…

She heard footsteps on her back and turned to see her mother. She can't help but feel extreme contempt towards this woman who happens to be her own mother. She and their father ruined both her and Misao's life. But she also knows that their foolishness is done out of love… a wrong way of showing love… which makes her keep her anger at bay.

"…They found a donor, Kaoru, that's you. Your blood's components matches that of Misao's perfectly. With your bone marrow, it will ensure another year or so of her life… Thank goodness, she would live more. It is for her own good, right?"

That did it. She's normally calm and quiet but everything is going so wrong since the day of engagement. She can't keep up with their parent's foolishness anymore. She can't keep sacrificing herself anymore. She's older of the two but she had always lived in Misao's shadows. She needs to speak up, for her own sanity and for Misao too.

"…Oh, Mother… Don't you get it? Of course I will do the transplant if that would make Misao stay with us longer… But it's you who put her there! Whatever you did while you're pregnant with her is now making her suffer! You not telling this to Misao took out all of the time she could've used to live her life to the fullest! Is it really for her own good or yours? If she lives longer, and suffer longer, would she really be happy? Did you ever really think how it would kill Misao's spirit to lose her time to do things before she gets confined to this bed? Why would you keep something so big from her?" She spat with such disgust in her voice. Asking this wouldn't even make any difference. She looks down at her mother and tears starts to form on both of their eyes. Her mother shaking her head violently, taking in everything she says as guilt starts to eat her alive.

"…We did that for your sister's own good. If she had known how sick she is, she would never live a normal life—"

"Normal?" Kaoru cuts her mother off. No explanation from her mother would matter now. If guilt would eat her alive, then so be it. Her mother needs to realize their mistake. She grabs her mother's forearm and force her to look on the mirrored window where Misao lies on a single bed with all the respirators and tubes containing fluid is stuck in her veins. Misao doesn't look normal, she looks like she's dying really fast.

"…Look inside and tell me where in that picture is normal… Tell me! Make me understand why you have to keep this away from her for so long. You're wrong Mother. Misao is not that shallow. Had she known about this then she would live happier day by day. Livelier day by day. Because she understands that this is the only time she could live and she will live each day being happy as much as she can because it just might be her last day. What you and father did is so selfish. You're so afraid of losing your precious Misao that you selfishly keep her time for yourself! That's the lowest any parent could do—"

SLAP

Kaoru tenderly cradles her swollen check with her hand. Tears flowing steadily as deeper resentment swirls in those blue orbs that is her eyes. She looks at her mother whose own eyes is clouted with guilt, sadness and suffering. Her mother is breathing heavily as she drops her right hand that earlier connected with her cheek. Her eyes follow the hand which is slowly being put down to her mother's side. Then she found her voice again. Looking down at her feet, she spoke in a voice too calm that it made her mother panic even more.

"…You and father had always been selfish… Not just by keeping this cruel reality to Misao, but also for not caring about me. Tell me Mother, while you think of your precious younger daughter, did you ever try to think about me too? It's always Misao who gets your affections. She always has gifts during Christmas and Birthdays. At night, she always gets hugs and kisses before going to sleep. During new school year, she always gets new uniform and school supplies. Every month of March at school's recognition day and during her class's PTA, you would always be there for her. She always gets everything first hand… yet I get nothing but rejection…"

She looks up. Her eyes deadly with anger she can barely contain. The hurt, pain and anger for rejection and neglect she suffered in all 21 years of her life, now coming out to say her piece to her mother.

"…I'm not jealous of her, I'm angry with you for not being fare. But it's okay cause I learned to accept the fact that you will not see me as your daughter no matter what I do. That's why I also dedicate myself to being Misao's sister… This is why I don't understand what you did… I thought you loved her very much… Yet you were always had been selfish… Trying to save your own self from pain thinking Misao will not fight for her own life had she known she's sick… That's not and never love! You never loved both of us. You just care for yourselves. You shouldn't have been parents!"

Kaoru spat and walks away before she could do anything physical towards her mother. With shaking hands, she wipe away her tears as she practically runs to get as far away from her mother as she can. She ignored her mother's cries of asking her to go back. No she's not selfish. She will do the transplant. She just needs to reign back her emotions again. She can't give her bone marrow to Misao while feeling this way.

Kenshin enters Misao's room wearing a scrub suit, gloves, mask and hair cover that the hospital orders to visitors of patients like Misao. Luckily Misao is awake when he visits. He saw the way she perks up upon seeing her. At 18 years of age, she's still nothing but a child. Which is why it is heartbreaking to see her like this. Misao had always been so full of life. She's always smiling and greeting everyone. Warmth, Happiness and Life is always so apparent in her eyes. To see her as sick as this is just so unearthly wrong. He moves the plastic curtain away to get to her beside and ruffles her hair as soon as he's beside her.

"How have you been today?" Kenshin asks a goofy as he can. He have to do this, Misao can't be depressed about this. When Misao hold on to him, hugs his arm and puts her head on his shoulder, he obliged. After all, she is his wife.

"Anata, when can I come back home? I really want to come back home. See, I want to at have a child really soon. I will not be able to do that if I stay here. Besides, hospital food is the worst. If that is the food, then I'd rather not eat…"

He chuckles. Misao, like kids, always says the darndest things. He ruffles her head again before giving her forehead a tender peck. He then looks at Misao. Misao is really nothing but a child that is already content of having everyone she loves to be near her. To think that this young woman would have to die painfully bring waves of heavy emotions on his heart.

"Before worrying about that, you should get healthy first. They finally found you a donor, Kaoru will be. She agreed to donate bone marrow to you so you can get out of her soon. Then we can talk about that child you want. Okay?" Kenshin pressed on, wanting to both cheer up and encourage Misao to keep fighting off her disease. Although it is a futile fight, he doesn't want Misao to go and give up her life easily. He looks at his little wife and notice a far off look in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" Kenshin asked worriedly. He tried to feel her forehead if somehow she's sick when she suddenly looks at her with seriousness in her eyes. Misao then shifted so that they would be face to face. Dear Lord, this is making him nervous.

"Ano ne, this may sound stupid but I think Kaoru is angry with me for some reason. Do you think she's really willing to donate for me?"

Sometimes Misao just pull off a cuteness-overload moment like this. Ignore the question and ignore the setting. Just look at her and she's just so cute. Which brings him back to square one : How does God stomach the fact that a child like this to die so early in her life?

"Silly! Of course she's willing. She already gone through the physicals and even spoke to the doctor on what she needs to do before going to the procedures. She's not angry with you, I think she's just stressed out nowadays…" And with that thought, his voice faded out. Of course Kaoru is stressed. Not only that, but she's also in extreme pain from betrayal he did. He can't help it though, he just wants to help encourage Misao to live on. But God, there was never a day that he doesn't wish for her presence in his life. There was never a night that he never dreamed of holding her and waking up with his longing even worse than the night before.

He couldn't help himself any longer and just suddenly hugs her tight, praying thanks to god that she never run away and never tried to escape from his embrace. He finally have his oasis from all of the stressful things that had happened.

Kaoru's mind clouted both by hurt and wanting to hug him back. She saw it clearly, hear it without a doubt. Kenshin favors her sister over her. She can't be too selfish and claim him now when her sister needs him the most. But she can't deny herself any longer. She wants her man back to her. She wants him back on her side. Until when can she hold on her sanity with him being on another woman's embrace is something she doesn't know, but knows it won't be too long until she snaps.

The thing is, it's not just any woman. It is her sister, who is gravely and terminally ill at the moment. Whose source of motivation to live is also her own source of sanity. She will enjoy his embrace for now, she will worry about it later.

"How can you live as despicable as this day by day?"

Kenshin looks up and see his brother. He put a hand on his temple gentle massages it. This petty arguments Aoshi had been triggering is making his lose patience already. Really, for the past couple of weeks, he is nothing but annoying. He, too, loses his temper and diplomatic self if provoked like this on daily basis.

"How can you be so annoyingly angry day in and day out, only caring about yourself and not caring about other's sacrifice?" Kenshin shot back

Aoshi punched him. Losing his temper, he finally fights back. It's very painful to sight to see that brother who once held so much respect fight as bloody as this. Everytime Aoshi throws a punch, the normally calm Kenshin now punches back. This only makes Aoshi even more hurt and angrier. Truthfully, Aoshi is blinded by his own suffering. Kenshin understands but one can only comprehend as much. Kenshin tackled Aoshi over and made him sunk on the floor. His brother may be bigger and taller than him but his strength will still win him over Aoshi.

"Can't you get it in your head? There's nothing else we can do but to give her what makes her happy. Can you make her happy? She doesn't want you? Why are you so selfish and just think about your own pain? Do you think I'm not suffering too? Do you think this is like heaven on earth for me? How crazy do you think I am that I would enjoy this?" Kenshin spat on his brother who tried to tackle him over. In a few minutes, Aoshi was able to successfully free himself from Kenshin. Then he throws a punch again, repeating the same cycle until Kenshin was able to pin him down again.

"Seriously, what's wrong with you—" Kenshin started but was suddenly cut off by Aoshi.

"You don't love her! That's what's bothering me! I don't care if she doesn't love me back. I understand that she loves you! But I'm only willing to give her up to you if you love her back! You don't love her and it's making me angry! You say you're doing this to make her happy… B*** S***! That's not making her happy, that's taking her for a ride! If you want to make her happy, then really fall in-love with her! Otherwise, give me a chance to do it for her because I love her for real!"

Kenshin loosened his grip and let Aoshi go. It is only now that he sees what he is doing wrong…

Misao woke up in the middle of the night. Damn! Everything really feels so painful and difficult nowadays. She understands now wholeheartedly that she's extremely sick. But with the bone marrow on the way, she was told of a big chance of getting healthy like before. She can't wait to be healthy again so she can start the family she longed to have with Kenshin.

She tried to get up, she's really thirsty and could use the toilet. It's summer and the humidity is seeping through even though her room is in A/C and, well, guarded with all this anti-bacterial thingy-majiggy around.

She took a glass full of water that was just beside her bed and drink it all up in just one gulp. She proceeded to walk towards the toilet. Each step is took with so much care. After all, she just have too many IV fluids with tubes connected in her veins and she doesn't really want to tug at it. After 5 minutes, she was finally able to reach her destination, the toilet that was just 5 feet away from her bed.

She opened the door, turn on the light, caught a glimpse of the mirror and her world crashes down. She grabs the mirror on each side then shakes her head. She plashes water on the mirror and tried to wipe everything out of it. But the image stays

Her hair, or what is usually her hair that's always been on her head, is almost gone…

CRASH!

She thrashed the mirror on the floor and sunk down, no longer caring if the dextrose pins tugs and tore at her veins. She just cried and cried through the night…

Yep, that took 2 years… I mentioned last time that I was promoted at work. I render 6 hours of over time every day. Thus, it means I spend 15 hours a day at work which only leave me 5 hours of sleep a day since 4 hours is needed for me to commute to and fro home and work… and my rest days are either spent rendering 6th day over time or hibernating at home that I never really got time to work on this.

…But now I resigned from that job, I got time again. Thanks for waiting!

Signing off

-Holy Reimaund HCK-