Part II

Nearly three months have passed.

Kenshin knelt beside the washbasin, his arms submerged up to his elbows in soapy water as he worked at scrubbing out the dirt of one of his spare uwagi. He kept his senses alert, his eyes constantly traveling the yard even as he hummed a mindless tune. Yahiko practiced by himself inside the training hall, trying to keep up his practice until Kaoru was feeling better. Sanosuke disappeared from the dojo every morning, returning in the evenings just in time for dinner. He never said where he went during the day but Kenshin had his thoughts. When he went to the market he noticed the thugs looking skittish and even more so when they caught sight of him. There had always been a leery, watchfulness when he was in town but now it'd grown to outright fear since news of the attack had spread. No one wanted to draw his attention. It didn't help that he'd been on edge since then.

Kaoru…

Kenshin sighed, shifting his eyes to the engawa nearby. Things had definitely changed in the dojo. The days were unusually calm and silent. After three weeks of hiding in the house, Kenshin finally managed to convince Kaoru to sit on the engawa. She sat in the same spot every day since then, always within sight of Kenshin. The bruise on her left cheek had faded by then and Kenshin was relieved to see it go. He hated the blackish-blue mark that marred her beauty and it served as a constant sharp reminder that he failed to protect her and she'd paid the price. His fingers clenched in the cloth beneath his fingers and he turned his gaze back to the soapy water. She was wearing that oversized uwagi again. He glanced at her. Yup, she was trying to make herself as small as possible.

He quickly rinsed the uwagi he was scrubbing and rose to hang it carefully on the poles to dry. Kaoru watched him though she lacked any real emotion. Gone was the strong, vibrant young woman who'd challenged him on the foggy streets of Tokyo. In her place was a shattered woman, her eyes dull and staring. She often cried and, though she tried to hide it from him, he still heard.

"Kenshin?"

Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper but he was attuned to her. He turned, smiling softly. "Hai, Kaoru-dono?"

She ducked her head, her fingers twisting anxiously in the sleeves of her uwagi. "You―you don't have to force yourself to stay here."

Kenshin blinked, straightening from when he bent to pick up another article of clothing. She didn't look up at him, instead focusing on her lap. He frowned and he saw her head sink lower. "Force myself, Kaoru-dono?"

A soft sniffle reached him and his hand tightened on the cloth. Her tears affected him like nothing ever had. "Hai. You don't need to stay. I understand if you don't want to stay with a―a ruined woman."

She said ruined with such hate and self-loathing that Kenshin was caught off guard, muttering a soft, "Oro?" He quickly regained himself when he saw her shudder and heard a sharp sob. "Gomen, Kaoru-dono. I don't think you are ruined, that I do not."

She sobbed into her hands and Kenshin dropped the piece of clothing he was about to wash to quickly comfort her. He'd gotten better at offering her comfort though the initial contact was still awkward. Kaoru didn't seem to notice and she clung to him. Kenshin rested his cheek against her head, holding her gently. "Would you like to see Megumi-dono? She might have more tea, that she might."

She shook her head and Kenshin sighed. He knew she hated the tea but she wasn't sleeping. Kenshin knew because he wasn't sleeping either. Her sleep was plagued by nightmares and she'd often wake screaming. The first few nights, Yahiko had nearly collided with Kenshin running to Kaoru's room with a bokken in hand to defend her. After that, Kenshin could see him lingering in his door, pale and shaken but afraid to move any further. He knew Yahiko's sleep was plagued by nightmares, too, dragged forth from the deep recesses of his memories.

Since his own sleep was troubled, Kenshin took to prowling the dojo at night instead. Something he hadn't done since the Bakumatsu. It left him feeling threadbare and strained, but he'd be at Kaoru's side the moment her dreams took a turn for the worse in attempt to save Yahiko from further scarring and Kaoru reliving her own horrors.

Kaoru's sobs eventually quieted but she didn't move away. It was then he noticed it. A slight waver in her ki. It wasn't quite wrong, which was why he dismissed it the few other times he'd felt it, but it wasn't quite right either. His hands shifted and he tilted his head to give it a closer examination, but Sanosuke entered the dojo, calling, "Oi, Kenshin! When's dinner? I'm starving."

Kaoru drew away from him immediately and Kenshin rose to his feet, eyeing Sanosuke's disheveled appearance. The man had fresh bruises and new bandages wrapped his knuckles. Brown eyes flicked over the two of them and Sanosuke smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Hey, Jou-chan."

The words tried to come out casual, even cheerful, but Kenshin didn't miss the strain behind the words or the awkward smile that came with them. Kenshin didn't blame him. The fighter-for-hire was attempting to return things to normal. Or, establish the new normal. Kenshin stepped toward the kitchen to see about preparing a meal, but a tug on the sleeve of his uwagi stopped him. Kaoru tugged on his sleeve again, knuckles white. Lost eyes turned up to him. "Kenshin…"

"Kaoru-dono?"

Kaoru closed her eyes, taking a deep, shaking breath. "I don't feel right."

Tears filled her eyes and her lips quivered. Her ki flared, sparking against his, and Sanosuke moved forward but Kenshin was closer and moved faster. Kaoru's eyes rolled back in her head and she fainted. Kenshin caught her, cradling her in his arms, and Sanosuke leaned over them. "What happened?"

Kenshin brushed her hair back from her eyes, quickly scanning her features and then the rest of her body for some kind of explanation. She groaned and his jaw tensed. "Get Megumi-dono."

"Kenshin―"

Violet eyes flashed up at him briefly and Sanosuke shifted away, startled. Without another word, Kenshin scooped her up and moved swiftly into the house. Knowing that if he followed Kenshin would likely lash out, Sanosuke quickly left the dojo, hurrying for the clinic. Megumi was sure to be at the clinic at this time of day.

Kenshin kicked open Kaoru's futon and carefully settled her, tucking blankets around her before kneeling beside her. Kaoru shifted restlessly, groaning softly. Hours seemed to pass before Megumi entered the room, followed by an anxious Sanosuke.

"You didn't have to manhandle me, you birdbrain. I am perfectly capable of walking. Kaorus fine…"

She trailed off when she took in the scene before her. Emotions raged within the redhead's eyes even if his features remained calm. He looked a step away from turning into the Hitokiri Battosai and slaughtering every poor soul that got in his way. Kaoru groaned and her gaze shifted to her. Megumi strode to the futon, briskly setting the medicinal box down as she knelt. "How long has she been like this?"

"I already told ya, Kitsune."

Megumi ignored Sanosuke. "Kenshin?"

Kenshin's hands clenched periodically where he placed them on his knees as if anxious to do something, anything, to help. "She's been feverish most of the day."

She nodded, pulling the medicinal box to her and swiftly opening it. "Anything else?"

Sanosuke snorted but said nothing. Kenshin frowned, gazing into the distance. Megumi continued her work silently, waiting for Kenshin to gather his thoughts. Finally, deep violet eyes focused on Megumi's hands sliding over Kaoru's forehead, his words hesitant and unsure, "Her ki is…off."

Her hands stilled and she looked up. "What?"

"Her ki―"

Megumi's lips pursed, interrupting, "How?"

Kenshin's eyes swept over Kaoru. "I'm not sure. Just…down here. There's something. A disturbance in her energy flow."

His hands moved above Kaoru's torso and abdomen, long fingers stroking the air as if feeling the energy that swirled around the unconscious girl. Megumi's frown deepened and Kenshin jerked back when Kaoru groaned. Megumi cleared her throat. "Leave the room."

Kenshin's eyes narrowed but Megumi remained firm. Sanosuke moved into the room and put a tentative hand on Kenshin's shoulder. "Come on, Kenshin. Megumi will take care of Jou-chan."

Reluctantly, Kenshin followed the taller man from the room. Sanosuke slid the door closed and turned to Kenshin where he restlessly paced the hall. Sanosuke gave a quiet grunt and leaned against the wall, folding his arms. "Do you know what's wrong?"

Eyes flashed and Kenshin stilled, staring unseeing towards the dojo gates. Silence stretched for several long minutes before Kenshin turned away, choosing a different topic of conversation. "Did you find them?"

*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*

Kaoru felt like her head was stuffed with feathers and her limbs felt like lead. Her groan sounded loud in her head and she forced her eyes open. She was in her room, tucked securely in her futon, the shadows long across the room. Voices gradually filtered through the fog in her head.

"She'll sleep for a while. She needs rest."

Megumi. Kaoru struggled to follow her thoughts. What was she doing here?

"She hasn't been sleeping, that she has not."

Kenshin.

A quiet scoff. "Neither have you, Ken-san."

Tea cups clinked against a tray and, with some effort, Kaoru turned her head towards them, squinting to see through the dim light. It was later than she thought. What happened? Kenshin was kneeling across from Megumi, a tray with tea things between them, and she saw him give a strained smile. "I cannot."

Megumi's lips pursed and she set her cup down, leaning forward and brushing her hand across his forehead and clicking her tongue disapprovingly. "You are no good to her sick, Ken-san."

Kaoru lifted a heavy hand to her own head and her movement drew their attention. Kenshin was at her side in a moment, leaning over her and searching her face anxiously. "Kaoru-dono, how do you feel?"

Tears welled in her eyes and she tried a weak smile. "Kenshin."

He smiled gently, his hand reaching for her before dropping to his side again. "You'll be fine, Kaoru-dono."

The effort to keep her eyes open proved too difficult and she closed them again with a sigh, murmuring, "It's quiet."

"Hai. Sano took Yahiko for tonight. You need to sleep."

Kaoru grimaced as her lower belly cramped. The feeling was familiar, but different. Sharper. She hadn't noticed it earlier so Megumi's drugs must be wearing off so she voiced a previous thought, "What happened?"

Kenshin's expression shifted slightly and he glanced at the doctor, but didn't answer. Megumi knelt next to her, taking her temperature and running through a general examination. "How do you feel? Any pain?"

Kaoru was silent, assessing her body. "Not really."

Megumi nodded. "Good. You'll be uncomfortable for a few days but it'll pass," she turned to the redhead. "Ken-san, I gave you a ginkgo tincture that should help with any depression. Remember how to mix it?"

"Hai, Megumi-dono."

Kaoru fatigue dragging her back to sleep. She pushed against it, sensing something amiss that the others hadn't mentioned. "Kenshin…"

Kenshin put the items Megumi handed to him aside, settling next to her futon. "Hai, Kaoru-dono."

"What happened?" she repeated.

Megumi swooped down, handing Kenshin a teacup. "It's passed; you're on the mend. You were just…" she trailed off, glancing at Kenshin before deciding to ignore him. "You're just late for your cycle. You'll feel better in a few days."

Despite her obvious fatigue, Kaoru frowned in confusion, struggling to form a question. "My cycle? But I―"

Megumi shushed her quickly, ignoring the suspicious look Kenshin gave her. "Just rest up, Tanuki. Everything will be fine."

"I haven't been called 'Tanuki' in a long time," was the sleepy murmur before Kaoru dropped once more into a drug induced sleep.

A sad smile touched Megumi's lips. "I know, Tanuki."

She turned and packed her belongings, pointedly ignoring Kenshin's gaze. The man was smart, no matter what he led others to believe.

"Megumi-dono."

Just her name, spoken softly with just an edge of steel behind it, and she flinched. Her hands stilled for a moment, the only sign that she had heard the unasked question. She heard the slow intake of breath behind her and she too took a breath, attempting to calm her rioting emotions and present him a calm expression. She could cry when she was alone.

"Megumi-dono."

Once again, just her name but the demand was unmistakable. She would not be able to leave without answering. She closed her eyes, taking another breath and releasing it slowly before she turned to meet his sharp look. For a moment, thought fled. Violet eyes seemed to read her face like an open book. His jaw tensed and his mouth thinned and he waited.

"It's just woman issues, Ken-san. Nothing to worry about."

His eyes flickered, analyzing her words. Hearing what she'd left unspoken. "I see."

He dropped his eyes to the sleeping young woman. No doubt he did see, Megumi thought. The former man-slayer saw more than he let on most of the time. When Kenshin said nothing more, Megumi rose to her feet and picked up her medicinal box.

"Is it over?"

She hadn't expected him to ask any more questions. "There should be nothing new."

Kenshin nodded without looking up at her. "Sano will walk you home."

Megumi opened her mouth to protest, but then thought better of it. She needed the company. She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder, feeling him tense beneath her palm. "You might want to tell her."

"Oro?"

Her hand dropped from his shoulder. "She needs to know she's still loved. Especially now."

"Aa."

AN: There will probably eventually be a Part III. I've got to have some kind of conclusion to this drama.