Chapter 5

Kenshin was watching rather blankly as some of the medical personnel pushed Megumi's bed to her designated room which was located at the fifth floor of the small building. The hospital hallways were inexplicably quiet and deserted, Kenshin observed. And for such reason, he could not help but note the screech the hospital bed's wheels were creating. For a moment, he feared slightly that it might give way to its patient's weight.

Their group loaded the elevator and passed several wards and hallways. Without Kenshin mentally noticing it, they reached the floor and he managed a curt remark of gratitude as the medical personnel left him and Megumi alone in the quiet of the average-sized room. Slowly, he went over Megumi's bed, gently smoothing and tucking some loose endings of the bedclothes. He began rearranging various items in the room, too: piling the clothes in the shelf, assembling the some foods in the small bureau, and setting the heater to its standard temperature.

Kenshin then proceeded to the bathroom. He prepared a fresh towel and a basin half-filled with tepid water. Cautiously, he started removing her thin outer garments. He soaked the towel in the basin and wiped her body, starting with the neck. He brushed some loose strands of her hair away then he continued to her arms and her back, gently wiping the parched skin of his wife.

As his hand reached the soft curve of her waist, he stilled instantly. The unwanted details of her infidelity flooded his mind with clarity: the joyous expression on her face as she spent time with her lover, time away from him, and their life together. Their marriage had been a sacred vow to him, an eternal promise to love her, a hallowed ideal that he would always be hers, and she would always be his. His face hardened, grim and unforgiving at the unbidden recollections.

Now, glancing up at Megumi's body, Kenshin felt as if he had lost a part of his soul, as if a priceless treasure suddenly became worthless, as if another had marked and claimed something that was rightfully and strictly his.

Megumi belonged to him, but not anymore.

Kenshin watched as the curtains dance lightly with the cool wind, allowing the shafts of sunshine to flicker around the room. All over again, he felt a sense of bitterness and indifference. He could not still understand it. Like Kaoru, he had searched for answers, for explanations, for reasons to rationalize her betrayal. He had searched the depths but could never find them. Or perhaps he had already found it, but the answer he found was one he could not bear to admit.

Kenshin felt his heart sinking and beating fainter and fainter each time. He let his gaze fall. His hand dropped the towel in the basin with a wet plop. He took a protracted sigh; Kenshin found out that he could not look at her without feeling repulsed in some way. As he lazily pulled a blanket over her still form, his eyes became cold and empty.

Standing up, he immediately headed for the door and his trembling hand reached out for the knob. The steel was so cold and lifeless underneath his fingers. Kenshin glanced at Megumi one last time and then stepped out of the room.

As he walked on the empty lobby, Kenshin had become so certain: he had fallen out of love.

"Kenshin Himura."

Kenshin started at hearing his name over the hospital's intercom and proceeded to the counter with caution. The old woman behind it looked a little harassed. He slid his card across the counter with familiar ease and glanced around the lobby while the cashier completed the payment. To his surprise there was a small convenience store which he had failed to notice in the past. His gaze ran slowly over the flowers, gifts, and magazines before stilling on a familiar looking figure. Her long, obsidian hair was cascading down her back, shining under the soft glare of the sun. She was wearing a blue jacket that matched the color of her eyes. Smiling unconsciously to himself he realized who it was: Kaoru.

Turning back to the cashier his smile dropped, her annoyed expression clearly displaying her displeasure at his obviously wandering mind.

"If you don't mind sir, I have other patrons to attend to," she remarked sarcastically. Kenshin apologized quietly.

With quick, resolute steps, he went over the store and his eyes mechanically scanned the area for a mass of long hair. When he had sighted her just right in front of him, Kenshin inexplicably felt a burst of lightness. He was not sure where the gladness came from but he quickly let it build. Kenshin tapped lightly on the glass panel of the store to catch her attention and succeeded on the second try.

Kaoru whirled towards the direction of the sound and found Kenshin standing behind the glass panel, a small smile playing on his lips while he waved to her. Kaoru managed a quick nod, and she felt a smile tugging at her lips too.

Kenshin glanced at his black watch. He had not eaten for lunch yet. A thought came to his mind and he made certain actions to relay his message across. He put a hovering hand over his stomach. He then closed his hands, as if he were holding a spoon and a fork, and alternatively brought them close to his mouth, as if he was eating. The thought in his mind was in fact to ask her to have lunch with him.

Kaoru watched with amusement as Kenshin acted out his request. She nodded to show her compliance. Kaoru then made a cue for him to wait outside while she hurried to finish her minor shopping.

Flashing a boyish smile, Kenshin nodded and watched as Kaoru's figure walked to the general direction of the cashier booths. Turning around, he sat on a hospital bench in the hallway. His lips unconsciously curved in delight, lingering with a lightheartedness he hadn't felt in a while.

After a minute or two, Kaoru emerged from the double doors of the store and looked around for a mass of red hair and pair of patient amber eyes. Kenshin saw her and immediately shot out of his seat.

"Here, let me carry those for you," Kenshin offered as his hands reached for the bags Kaoru was carrying.

"Oh, thanks," Kaoru managed as she handed him some of her purchases. Momentarily, their hands brushed lightly against each other and Kaoru paused to feel her heart skip a beat. She mentally reprimanded herself for having such a strange, random feeling.

The two proceeded to the small cafeteria located somewhere around the ground floor of the hospital's main building. They halted just at the entrance with surprise. The room was so crowded- medical personnel as well as other people filled the room. Unable to find an available table, Kenshin and Kaoru resorted to a hospital bench along the corridor to eat their lunch. The meal they were able to purchase was a simple one: noodles and dumplings on the side. It was not much of an attractive gastronomy, but the pair did not seem to mind.

Kaoru opened the lid of her cup noodles, the steam warming her face. Kenshin did the same and the two began eating in a companionable silence.

Kaoru secretively snuck a peek towards his direction. She did not even think that the man beside her, sharing a meal with her and keeping her from being alone, was the same man that had been hurt by her husband's disloyalty. For her, their friendship was awkward, and at first, really uncomfortable. She didn't expect this kind of kindness and companionship, especially when considering their positions in each other's lives. The man sitting beside her was the husband of the woman her husband betrayed her for; it could never be easy establishing an amiable relationship with him. But it didn't matter to her anymore whether their friendship was awkward or strange. What mattered was the company that he was willing to share this time that she needed it most.

When Kenshin finished up, he put down his cup and courteously waited for his friend to finish her meal. Kaoru notice this and she turned to him with a slight surprise on her face.

"Finished already?"

Kenshin nodded and smiled. He deliberately glanced upon her food. Kaoru's eyes followed Kenshin's sight, from her cup of noodles to his. Only then did she realize that her cup was three times larger than his was. The two looked up at each other simultaneously and burst into a good-natured chuckle.

"Here," Kaoru said, offering her cup to his, remnants of laughter still apparent in her eyes, "Have some more."

"No, but thanks though. I've had enough already."

"All right," said Kaoru, nodding. She was not sure whether her heart sped up at the sight of Kenshin's smile. Pushing the thought aside, she returned to her food and tried to finish it quickly.

Kaoru's eyes wandered over the area around them and it settled on a particular corner along the hallway. Every now and then, a person or two passed by, and then a playful idea shot through her mind, fast and clear as a lightning. She abruptly turned to Kenshin with minor excitement apparent on her features.

"Hey," she nudged his arm playfully.

Kenshin turned towards her, both eyebrows raised quizzically.

"Do you see that corner?" She asked while pointing to a particular spot about six meters from them.

"Uh-huh."

"Care to lay a wager out of it?"

"What kind of wager?" He looked at her curiously at the same time amused.

"Look," said Kaoru, her tone was chatty and relaxed, "Let's see who emerges from that corner. If it's a female, I win. If it's a male, you win," she leveled her gaze with his.

Kenshin narrowed his eyes and looked up thoughtfully at her. After a very short-lived stillness, a small smile slowly crept on his face.

"You're on," he answered, his voice edged with challenge.

The two mockingly glared daggers at each other and then swiveled their heads towards the direction of the corner, eagerly waiting for a passerby.

Kenshin and Kaoru smiled cautiously to themselves, only one thought running in their mind- to win this bet.

Their eyes were focused on the particular spot. Suddenly they heard a fall of footsteps approaching and they enthusiastically geared up for it. Kaoru even found herself mutely chanting an unnamed mantra: female, female, female!

When the much-anticipated figure materialized from the bend, it actually belonged to two people: a female nurse and another who was a male one.

Their gazes met and silence hung heavily in the air. Kenshin shrugged his shoulder, and so did Kaoru.

"Null and void."

"Agreed."

Once again, they turned their keen attention. Kaoru once more shot Kenshin a good-natured glare, which he reciprocated with an equally stern look. However, both had more trouble fighting the small smile of amusement off their faces.

A minute had ticked off the clock and not a single soul passed that way though it was not triumphant to spoil the excitement and challenge that were still building between the two.

Everything was so stationary, when yet again the sound of footsteps drifted down the hall.

They leaned forward and were looking below, at the tiled floor, where a pair of green sneakers appeared. Bit by bit, they raised their gaze to the figure's moving form. The person was wearing a pair of denim jeans, a black strap, and a loose-fitting jacket. When they reached the figure's head, the winner had then been decided.

It was a she.

Kaoru cackled with delight, she was thrilled. Kenshin purposely was staring at her- a blank, miserable look on his face.

"Congratulations," he murmured mockingly, and sighed with synthetic gloom.

"So what do you owe me?" She asked teasingly, her eyes twinkling with enchantment.

"I never agreed that there should be a grant for whoever wins."

"Oh c'mon," Kaoru said, frowning a little, "This is a bet. It's supposed to have a prize."

Kenshin looked at her, narrowed his eyes, and appeared thoughtful. After a moment or two, he spoke again.

"All right, all right," he said while nodding. "What do you have for me?"

Kaoru felt a smile tugging at her lips, "Let's see."

"Some evil plans?"

"I'll have to think about it," she said in a slightly dangerous voice.

Kenshin smiled at her and felt his heart lightening. This was the first time he had ever seen Kaoru so amused and delighted. Her lovely mouth curved with glee, her azure orbs were alight with mirth. They were so beautiful, shining under the soft glare of daylight. Unconsciously, Kenshin seemed to want to see more of it.

Between their growing friendship, there seemed to be so much ease, much less formalities and much more warmth.

His gaze wandered to the corner that had been the object of their small bet. It was the first time, too, that he ever agreed upon a gamble like that. Thinking about it now, Kenshin actually thought of it as childish, and even silly. He should have felt hesitant participating in that silliness. But looking at his friend and the look of enjoyment on her features, Kenshin felt a sense of triumph and lightness, like a nine-year-old boy who had just won a game of tug-of-war. It was refreshing.

He could barely wait for what Kaoru had in store for him.