Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ A Walk in the Sunlight ❯ The Beginning of the End ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer - Sadly, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. It is the sole property of Nobuhiro Watsuki and the many companies who have purchased the rights.

Chapter 11 - The Beginning of the End

Sano let a small smile play across his lips as the day finally slid into night, the welcome darkness freeing him at last from the stifling confines of Kenshin's empty house. It was one thing to be trapped from the sunlight within the confines of the mansion that housed what was left of the Ishin clan, but an entirely different matter when he was stuck within this small two bedroom house. Especially when his only source of conversation had decided to ditch him for the entire day.

Scowling at the thought, Sano silently wandered to the back door and gratefully stepped out into the stifling heat of the late summer night. Casting a quick glance to the quiet house next door, he settled down heavily on the edge of the porch and shook his head sadly. But he wasn't alone in the waiting, was he? To be honest, he was still a bit shell-shocked by what Kenshin had told him this morning before he'd left. At first he hadn't believed, he'd thought that his old friend had finally lost his mind but then Kenshin had forced him to read an article detailing the disease Kaoru had. He had never, in all the time he'd roamed this earth, seen a disease like the one killing Kaoru. He'd seen everything from common colds to the plague but never a disease that stole the sun from humans. Ever. It was just.... wrong that something like that could happen.

But now everything made sense.

Up until this morning he hadn't understood why Kenshin would choose to wander the darkness again after so many years of being free to live under the killing rays of the sun. But now it was crystal clear... as was the truth of just how far Kenshin had fallen for this little wisp of a girl. The tortured look on the redhead's face this morning had said it all. Kenshin had, in just a few weeks, managed to get himself tangled even deeper with Kaoru than he ever had with Tomoe.

Shaking his head sadly, a tiny, ironic smile whispered across his lips as he absently scanned the empty backyard before letting his eyes drift back to the dark house next door. Leave it to Kenshin to put himself in another situation where he was going to have his heart ripped out. The last time had been bad enough, this time it just might kill him.

Snorting softly, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees as he scanned the area again for some sign of his host. One thing he still didn't understand though was why Kenshin opted to let this disease kill her when, if he truly wished to keep her with him, all he had to do was have her changed. Granted, the redhead wouldn't be able to do it himself thanks to Iizuka's treachery, but that didn't mean he couldn't have another do it for him. Hell, even he would do it if Kenshin asked.

His train of thought was suddenly interrupted when a shadow flashed into the yard and materialized into the form of his best friend. "Any sign?" He asked as Kenshin made his way up the yard to where he sat.

Kenshin shook his head and stepped up onto the porch. "No. I found a couple of dead ends but that's it. It seems he's finally learned how to cover his tracks." With that he headed for the door.

Frowning at the slight droop in his shoulders, Sano pushed off the polished wood and followed Kenshin into the house. Flipping on the light in the kitchen, he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms as the redhead started down the hall to his bedroom.

"Hey Kenshin, I've been thinking..."

Kenshin bit back a weary sigh and stopped as he glanced over his shoulder. He knew what Sano had been thinking about. The same thing he himself had since the day he'd found out she was dying.

"... Why don't you have someone like me or Hiko change her? Then she wouldn't die."

The sigh he'd managed to keep in check whispered from between his lips and he smiled sadly, "Because the one thing Kaoru wants most in this world is to be able to feel the sun without pain..." with a small shrug he tucked his hands into his pockets, "...She has only one hope in this miserable world and that is her god will give her a second chance at life and allow her to have the sun. I won't take that chance away from her."

A heavy silence fell as Sano peered at him through narrowed eyes, the look on his old friend's face was one he would rather not acknowledge. Taking his silence as understanding, Kenshin started for the bathroom again when Sano finally spoke.

"Are you sure there is no way to make her like you?"

A small sardonic smirk quirked the corner of Kenshin's lip and he nodded his head, "I’m certain. Katsura is dead." Ignoring the sudden confused look painted across Sano's face, he spun on his heel and headed for the shower, "I have to get ready to meet Kaoru. I'll be out in a little bit."

An almost deafening silence, that he chose to ignore, followed him into the bathroom. Silently he slid the door closed behind him, doing his best to overlook the ache centered around his heart, and grabbed a couple of towels from the closet. Quickly divesting himself of clothing, he stepped into the bathing room and set to work.

It was true, he'd had finally found the answer. The way to make Kaoru's dream come true and allow her to live, but it didn't matter now. Katsura was dead. Without Katsura there was no way to create the past all over again. None.

Scowling, he did his best to shake off the hopelessness weighing down his limbs and quickly scrubbed the dust and dirt from his body and hair. No use worrying about it now, there was nothing he could do to change reality. Just one more reason to draw out Iizuka's death as long as he could. God help the little snake when he finally got his hands on him.

Slightly mollified by the prospect of Iizuka's impending doom, he let the thoughts fall away and shifted his mind to the other problem he now faced as he grabbed the showerhead to rinse. Letting the hot water wash over his head, he sighed. Hopefully tonight Kaoru would tell him what was wrong. That was the other thing he'd tried to work out while he'd searched for some sign of Iizuka to no avail. It saddened him that she still didn't feel comfortable enough to trust him to help her overcome her fears.

The water pouring over his head started to cool and Kenshin exhaled softly as he set the showerhead back in its holder and shut it off. Snagging one of the towels, he quickly dried himself then grabbed the other one and wrapped it loosely around his hips before he headed out of the bathing room. No use worrying about that either, hopefully she'd come clean tonight and then he'd do his best to help her through whatever she was afraid of. A sudden concern that she didn't want his help filtered through his veins and he tried to shrug it off as he tucked his fingers into the door handle leading out of the bathroom. Starting to slide it back, he stopped dead as the shrill chime of his doorbell echoed into the quiet house.

Who -?

And then it hit him.

Flinging the door open, he shot towards the front door, "Sano! Don't answer that!"

Unfortunately the tall, black-haired vampire was already swinging the door open when Kenshin rushed into the foyer. The sheepish grin plastered on Sano's face enough to make him growl. So much for Kaoru not meeting Sano yet.

Biting back a sigh, he shifted his attention to Kaoru and was just about to explain when his eyes lit on her stunned expression. Surprised, he quirked an eyebrow and simply watched as color slowly suffused her cheeks, her silence almost deafening. She couldn't be that surprised to see Sano, could she? Granted, he was tall, pasty white with the same strange eyes he himself had, but that still shouldn't warrant her impossibly wide sapphire eyes or her slightly agape mouth. And then slowly it dawned on him that whatever had rendered her speechless was something about himself, not Sano, since her attention was solely fixed on him. To be more specific, his chest. Confused, he glanced down and inhaled sharply as it hit him just why she was staring.

And then, much to his dismay, Sano spoke up from beside him, the laughter he was trying keep suppressed leaking through his tone. "You might want to go get some clothes on. You're going to scare jou-chan dressed like that."

Kenshin felt his cheeks heat up and swung a death glare at Sano as he fisted his hand tight around the joined pieces of cloth to assure the towel stayed where it was suppose to. Ignoring the smug grin twitching Sano's lips, Kenshin finally shifted his attention back to Kaoru who, as far as he could tell, hadn't moved on inch. His embarrassment was quickly forgotten though when he noticed the tiny grin slowly lifting the corners of her mouth. So she liked what she saw huh? That was good to know. Clearing his throat loudly, he almost laughed when she snapped her eyes to his, her cheeks darkening even more.

"Would you like to come in?"

For several heartbeats she simply continued to stare at him in silence as the blush overtook her entire face. Waiting patiently for some type of reaction, he was just about to ask her again when she scowled and shook her head as if she'd just grasped what he'd asked. "I can't. I just came over to tell you that I have to go to town for a little while."

Kenshin's smile vanished and he asked, "Why?"

Kaoru's scowl instantly fell away and she absently started nibbling on her bottom lip, the look in her eyes making a shiver of dread whisper down his spine. "I... um... have to go see Dr. Genzai."

For several moments, he simply stared at her hoping she would divulge a bit more about this surprise appointment. When she remained quiet he finally asked, "Is this about last night?"

A slightly pained expression flickered across her face before she pasted on a fake smile. "Yeah. He has to check something. I... ah... have to go. I'll see you when I get back." And with that she spun on her heel and was just about to bolt off the porch when Kenshin shot his free hand out and grabbed her wrist, stopping her escape. "Wait, I'll walk you."

Kaoru stumbled to a stop and threw a surprised glance over her shoulder. "You don't have to. You have company."

Kenshin snorted softly and released her wrist as she slowly turned back to face him, "I wouldn't call Sano company, more like an uninvited guest." A disgruntled 'Hey!' came from beside him but he ignored it in favor of convincing Kaoru. "Really, it's okay. I'm sure Sano won't mind if I walk you to town."

Kaoru eyed him with a look that said she was about to tell him 'no' and he threw a meaningful glance at his best friend. He smiled when a spark of understanding lit in Sano's eyes. He wasn't about to let her walk all the way to town by herself with Iizuka still lurking in the darkness somewhere.

"It's okay, jou-chan..." Sano spoke up with a smile. "... I don't mind. Besides, I'm stuck with him all day, you can have him all night."

An almost undistinguishable frown flickered across her lips before she masked it behind a weak smile. "Okay, if you don't mind."

Confused by her reaction, Kenshin was just about to ask her why she didn't want him to go when Sano suddenly spoke up cutting him off. "I don't mind. To be honest I don't think he'll be very good company if he's worrying about you..."

The question died on his lips when Kaoru blushed, her smile growing into the one he was so use to seeing. Lightened by the sight, he grasped her hand and led her into the house. "Now that we have that settled I suppose I should go get something on..."

Kaoru tensed all of a sudden and Kenshin almost laughed when she tried to rip her hand out of his, her face instantly beet red. Must be she'd forgotten just how he was dressed. Holding on tight, he grinned and led her into the livingroom. "I'll be back in a couple of minutes..."

"It's okay. I'll keep jou-chan entertained." Sano drawled as he came in behind them. Shooting him a scowl, Kenshin reluctantly released Kaoru's hand, "Be back in a minute."

Kaoru swallowed nervously as Kenshin vanished from sight, effectively leaving her alone with a complete stranger. Doing her best to ignore the tiny flutter of anxiety dancing deep in her belly, she gathered her courage and slowly turned around to meet the chocolate brown eyes fixed on her. Finally taking the time to really look at Kenshin's guest she was taken aback when she noticed that this person had the same strange eyes as Kenshin. Without thinking she asked, "Who are you?"

The tall, fair skinned man Kenshin had called Sano gave her a crooked smile and dropped a small bow. "Sagara Sanosuke at your service."

Kaoru cocked an eyebrow, "Are you two related somehow, Sagara-san? You have the same kind of eyes as Kenshin."

Sano visibly flinched. "Please, call me Sano. And yes, I guess you could call us brothers."

"Loosely..." Came a retort from the hallway. Kaoru snapped her head around and grinned at the now fully dressed redhead making his way into the livingroom, "How so?"

Kenshin smirked and nodded towards Sano. "He'd be the unwanted step-child or something like that."

Sano snorted loudly. "It's your fault, so get used to it."

Kenshin rolled his eyes and Kaoru couldn't help but smile. They may not look like each other, except for the eyes, but they definitely acted like brothers. Shaking her head she cast a quick glance to her watch and swore under her breath. "We have to go... Now!" And without waiting for either of them she headed for the door. "Dr. Genzai is going to kill me if I'm late. He was busy today and he's really tired."

She felt more than heard Kenshin come up behind her as she headed out into the warm night air. "Tell Dr. Genzai it was my fault." He said as he closed the door behind him.

Kaoru smiled as she skipped down the stairs and headed for the road, "I won't have to. We should make it, but it's going to be close."

"Oh, okay... "Kenshin whispered as he came up and matched her stride. Kaoru swallowed nervously as a shiver of dread whisper down her spine at the change in his tone. Unconsciously holding her breath, she waited for the question she could feel hanging in the air.

"... So, are you going to tell me what happened that scared you so much last night?"

Kaoru sighed softly and kept her attention fixed on the moonlit road passing under her feet. Yep, should have gone with her first instinct earlier and just gone to the appointment then explained to him later.

Biting back another sigh, she swallowed and shrugged, "I'm nineteen years old now and the disease will most likely be going into its final stage soon." Studiously avoiding his gaze, she tucked her hands into her pockets and shrugged again, "I more than likely overreacted last night but I still need to go and get checked tonight."

Silence as thick as the humid air filled the night and she hazarded a peek at Kenshin out of the corner of her eye. She felt a fist slam into her chest at the slight frown marring his lips, the faraway look in his eyes cutting her deep.

Pasting on the best smile she could, she chirped, "It's probably nothing. Last night I was trying to kill time and spent three hours typing in some files. I'm sure that's why my fingers went numb."

Her smile faltered at the skeptical look Kenshin fixed on her. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

Kaoru shrugged and turned her attention back to the road, "It doesn't matter what I believe. It's going to happen whether I want it to or not. I can't change my fate but I can live each day the best that I can until Kami-sama says it's time to leave."

Her heart clenched painfully at the sigh that whispered into the quiet night.

"There isn't anything anyone can do to stop this?" Kenshin asked as he coaxed her hand out of her pocket and wrapped it in his.

Warmed by the feel of his palm against hers, she finally let a real smile play along her lips, "No. Dr.Genzai has been working on it for years and he hasn't found anything. It's okay, I've known this was coming my whole life, so it's nothing new, I just wish..."

Trailing off, she bit her lip unsure if she should complete that sentence or not. She was surprised when Kenshin tightened his hold on her hand and whispered, "You wish what?"

Kaoru felt her face heat up, her heart skipping a beat at his gentle tone. "I... ah... I just wish... that... I had met you earlier. Th..then maybe we could have had a bit more time... to get to... know... each other," she stumbled as her cheeks flushed even darker. Keeping her attention fixed on the stones gleaming in the pale moonlight under her feet, she didn't see the slightly pained, sad smile flicker across Kenshin's lips.

"Don't give up just yet, okay?"

Surprised, Kaoru hazarded a glance at him as they made their way onto the road leading into town. She swallowed as her eyes met the beseeching violet gaze fixed on her. "I...I won't. But... what can you do that no one else can?"

When Kenshin didn't answer, she quirked an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're a god and have simply been holding out on me," she chuckled in an effort to lighten the suddenly heavy mood.

"No. Not a god..." Kenshin whispered, his tone sending a shiver down her spine. Waiting patiently for him to finish, she was surprised when he pulled her to a stop then released her hand. "We're here. I think I'll wait out here if that's okay."

Startled, Kaoru snapped her attention to the building they stood in front of and was surprised to see that he was indeed right. Trying to ignore the twinge of regret swimming through her chest at the loss of his touch, she gave him a small nod. "Okay, but you don't have to wait if you don't want to. The tests might take a little while."

Kenshin grinned and leaned in to drop a light kiss on her lips. "I'll wait."

A tiny smile twitched the corner of her mouth, "Okay, but don't blame me if you're stuck out here for hours."

Kenshin chuckled. "I won't, I promise." And with that he pulled the door open and motioned for her to go inside. "You better hurry before Dr. Genzai thinks something has happened to you."

Kaoru grinned and was just about to assure him that Dr. Genzai would think no such thing when her adopted grandfather came to the door.

"Do you plan on coming in? Or are you going to let all the cool air out first?"

Startled, Kaoru flushed a deep red and grumbled, "I'm coming..."

Slipping past him, she swallowed when she heard him ask, "Will you be joining us, Himura-san?", the tone of his voice sending a chill down her spine. This was the first time she'd ever heard him sound so hostile. Spinning around to go to Kenshin's defense, she stopped when she met the violet eyes fixed on her, the slight shake of his head holding her tongue.

"No, Genzai-san. I just wished to make sure Kaoru arrived safe and sound. I'll wait for her out here."

She saw Dr. Genzai tense slightly but because his back was to her she couldn't see his expression. Swallowing nervously, she was just about to intervene when he gave Kenshin a curt nod and turned to walk past her back into the clinic. Kenshin gave her a reassuring smile before letting go of the door, effectively closing her off from himself and the sounds of the busy night.

Sighing softly, she shook off the feeling that she was missing something and slowly made her way into the examination room. Glancing into the small room that held the CT computer system she felt a flutter of anxiety settle deep in her belly.

"Are you ready?" Dr. Genzai asked suddenly, as if he'd sensed her unease.

Kaoru shrugged half-heartedly, "As ready as I'm ever going to be."

Dr.Genzai gave her a sympathetic smile and went back to entering whatever it was that made the machine run. Taking a deep breath in an effort to settle her nerves, she turned and grabbed the hospital gown resting on the table beside the door separating the two rooms before heading for the privacy screen in the corner of the examination room.

Quickly changing out of her street clothes, she tried in vain to convince herself that this scan was going to come up clean. She knew there was no way that could happen because the tingling was still there in her right hand. As far as she could tell it hadn't gotten any worse but it also hadn't gone away. It was still there and would be from now until the end.

Fending off the nearly overwhelming sense of hopelessness trying to weigh her down, she quietly folded up her clothes and headed back out into the exam room where Dr. Genzai sat in a chair beside the CAT scan waiting for her.

"We'll do the scan first and then if the deterioration has started we'll do the normal tests to see how far along it is."

Kaoru swallowed and simply nodded before she whispered, "You haven't called mom and dad yet, have you?"

"No..." Dr. Genzai said as he stood and motioned for her to lie down on the table that would draw her through the machine. "... I don't want to worry them if it hasn't started."

Kaoru smiled as a rush of relief filtered through her body and did as he asked. Good, she didn't want them to worry either. Not to mention if they didn't know she was being tested then she still had a chance to convince her adopted grandfather not to tell them if he found anything, at least for a little while longer. She didn't want to leave. Not yet.

"Now stay still and breathe shallowly. I'm going to do a couple of scans just to make sure."

Kaoru nodded and tried to ignore the hard table beneath her head. Moments later she heard the door slide closed between the room she was in and the computer room and then the machine slowly started to move. A gaggle of butterflies exploded in her belly as the table slid smoothly towards the scan and she slowly closed her eyes.

In less than a half an hour she would have confirmation. But was she truly ready for the truth?

Kenshin sighed as the door closed behind Kaoru, the dull thud sounding too final for his liking. Casting one last glance at the door, he slowly made his way across the road. Silently wandering into the shadows on the far side of the building he had perched on the last time, he blended into the darkness and hopped up onto the roof to wait for Kaoru.

Settling down against an unused air conditioning unit, he carefully inspected every person and shifting shadow along the street and did his best to keep the fist that had taken up residence around his heart from crushing it into dust. So soon. He hadn't expected her deterioration to start so soon. He'd read a little bit about what was going to happen to her, at least what he could understand amidst all the medical jargon. Which sadly hadn't been much, but what he had gleaned from the articles he'd read was that once the deterioration started she likely only had, at most, six months left.

Leaning heavily against the cool metal, Kenshin let his head drop back and stared at the moonlit sky above. But he could change that, couldn't he? All he had to do was ask and Sano would change her. Hell, even Hiko would do it if he explained the situation. But could he do that to her? Could he turn her into a killer simply so she could live? Ignoring the sick feeling settling into the pit of his stomach, he scowled and dropped his eyes back to the clinic as a couple passed in front of the closed door; their hands clasped lightly, their carefree chatter reaching his ears. No, he couldn't. He wouldn't take away the chance for her wish to come true. No matter what, he would let her live and die as she should so she at least had that chance, as slim as it was.

Deep down he knew this decision was for the best. If he couldn't make her into someone like him then the sacrifice would be more than she should have to pay. But knowing that still didn't make it hurt any less. He had never felt so helpless in his life. Not even when Tomoe lay dying in his arms all those years ago. Maybe it was because even though Tomoe had been dying he'd known, in some deep recess of his mind, that there was nothing he could do to stop it, but with Kaoru there was. If he could bring himself to do that to her.

A heavy sigh escaped from between his lips and he rubbed his face wearily. If only Katsura was still alive there would be no problem at all. She would have the sun and a life span even she wouldn't be able to comprehend. But he wasn't and there was no use dwelling on what couldn't be changed. All he could do was stay with her for what time she had left.

And once Iizuka was dead there would be nothing stopping him from doing just that.

Kaoru slowly slipped her light blue t-shirt over her head and took a little bit more time than was actually needed to straighten it in an effort to avoid the inevitable. The scan was over. In the end Dr.Genzai had done four scans. Usually he only did two so she knew what she'd feared was true. A hollow emptiness settled into her chest and she shook her hand in an effort to get the tingling back. It had gone numb about halfway through the scans but she hadn't been able to do anything about it at the time.

She smiled sadly as her fingers started to tingle after a few more shakes. Well at least she hadn't lost feeling completely yet. The thing that hurt the most was that once she did it would be the end of her freedom. There was no way she would be able to take care of herself if she couldn't use her hands.

Running her fingers through her hair, she pulled it into a ponytail and wrapped the ribbon securely around it again. But really it wouldn't matter, her hands were only a warning. The true attack would happen to one of her major organs and there was no way to know when or where. All she could do was wait. It was twisted really, to have to wait for death. She almost wished there was some way to end it now, but to do that went against everything she'd been taught. Besides, that was the easy way out and she'd never been one to take the easy way. She would fight to the very end even if it was a futile fight. Maybe that would earn her the second chance she so desperately wanted.

Shaking her head sadly at the thought, she hastily folded up the hospital gown and finally ventured back out into the examination room. She quirked an eyebrow at finding the room empty. Padding softly to the room that held the CT computer she was surprised to see that also empty. Tossing the gown into the basket that held the soiled ones, she headed back out into the main room and smiled when she spied her adopted grandfather sitting quietly in front of the small exam table that he used for the patients who didn't need to change for their exam.

Quietly making her way to where he sat, she slid up onto the table and waited for him to speak even though she didn't need him to say anything. His face said it all.

With a weary sigh, Dr. Genzai smiled sadly. "It's started. And it's further along than I thought it would be when it finally started showing." Sitting back heavily against the chairback, he sighed again. "Some of the peripheral nerves have degenerated so much that I had a hard time seeing them at all."

Kaoru's eyes dropped closed and she did her best to keep the tears burning in them at bay. He was only confirming what she already knew. Why did it hurt so much?

Taking a deep breath, she swallowed back the pain and slid her eyes open, "So what does this mean?"

Dr. Genzai simply stared at her as if he was trying to think up a way to break the news to her gently. "It means that it's time for you to go home. If the deterioration is this far advanced in less than a week, then it's very likely that it's already breaking down the nerves controlling your lungs and heart."

One lone tear made a wet trail down her cheek and she smiled, "You haven't by chance found that miracle cure yet, have you?"

Dr. Genzai simply shook his head. Kaoru tried to ignore the nearly crushing pain gripping her chest. So this was it, but she couldn't leave. Not yet.

Sobered by the thought, she wiped the wetness from her cheek and took a minute to get herself back together. She wasn't going to let this ruin what time she had with Kenshin. This wasn't going to steal away the one thing she'd been dying to have.

Staring at her hands, she gathered her courage to ask for the impossible and whispered, "Please don't tell mom and dad yet. I can't go home. Not yet."

A stifling silence filled the room and Kaoru dared a glance at Dr. Genzai. She flinched back from the hard black gaze drilling into her head but refused to drop her gaze. She would win this fight if it killed her.

"Why?" He finally asked, the steel in his tone sending a shiver down her spine.

Kaoru shrugged and fought the urge to drop her eyes. "Because for the first time in my life someone loves me and I don't want to lose that. Not yet."

Her adopted grandfather's face darkened even more and he bit out, "I suppose you mean Himura-san."

Surprised by his reaction, Kaoru slowly nodded and met his glare with a hard stare, "Yes, I mean Kenshin..." pausing, she narrowed her eyes, "... What is so wrong with Kenshin anyway? Mom and Dad have accepted him. Why can't you?"

Dr. Genzai was visibly taken aback by her statement. Quirking an eyebrow, she waited for him to explain to his sudden surprise. Finally he asked, "Your parents are okay with you and Himura-san being together?"

Kaoru smirked, "Mom was the one who told me to accept him." Pressing on before he could think of another reason to deny her request she softly said, "So please, don't tell them just yet. Let me, for once, enjoy the happiness I've found while I can."

For several moments Dr. Genzai simply stared at her as if he was weighing something and then he finally gave her a curt nod. "For now I won't call them, but I want you in here for a scan every couple of days. I will not let you die here."

Kaoru let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and slid off the table. "Okay. So you want me in here again Wednesday night?"

"Yes, unless your fingers go completely numb. If they do, get in here immediately"

Kaoru smiled, "I will, I promise." Leaning down, she wrapped him in a tight hug. "Thanks, Dr. Genzai. And who knows maybe Kenshin will be able to help." Releasing him, she almost laughed at the stunned look on his face. "Kenshin said not to give up yet. Maybe he knows something we don't."

A small scowl flickered across Dr. Genzai's lips and Kaoru decided it was time to go before he changed his mind. Quickly heading for the door, she was just about to say goodnight when he spoke up again.

"Please tell Himura-san to stop by tomorrow. There is something I'd like to speak to him about."

Taken aback, Kaoru stopped dead in her tracks and glanced over her shoulder, "What do you need to talk to him about?"

Dr. Genzai pushed out of the chair and headed for the backroom. "That's between he and I. Just tell him to be here tomorrow at noon."

And without a backward glance he vanished into the back room. Completely confused, Kaoru was tempted to chase after him and wheedle the reason out of him but decided against it. More than likely if she did, he'd go back on his promise and call her parents. She couldn't risk it.

Forcing herself to take the last few steps to the door, she peeked over her shoulder one last time before she pushed it open and stepped out into the humid night air. For some reason she had the feeling that Dr. Genzai talking to Kenshin was a very bad idea. Maybe she should just not tell Kenshin. Letting the door slip from her fingers, Kaoru glanced around for some sign of her escort and smiled when she saw him crossing the street. But if she didn't then Dr. Genzai would call her parents. There was no doubt in her mind that would be another chance he would go back on his promise. Stifling a weary sigh, she shook off the feeling as Kenshin came to a stop before her, his question clear in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Kaoru shrugged, "It's started."

The pain that flickered across his face hit her hard and she felt her chest constrict painfully. "I knew it was coming," she whispered as she started down the road towards home, "Its okay. I'm ready."

Kenshin came up beside her and gently took her hand. "I doubt that. No one can be ready for this."

Kaoru tried to ignore the intense pain materializing around her heart again and switched the subject, "Dr. Genzai wants to see you tomorrow at noon."

Kenshin's eyes flew wide and he stopped dead in his tracks, pulling her to a stop alongside him. "Why?"

Surprised by his reaction, Kaoru shrugged, "I don't know. He wouldn't tell me." Narrowing her eyes suspiciously, she asked, "Does he know something about you that I don't?"

A guilty look flickered through Kenshin's eyes so fast that Kaoru wasn't sure she'd seen it at all and then he shook his head as he started leading her down the road again. "No. I'm not sure why he wants to see me. I guess I'll find out tomorrow."

Kaoru nearly sighed in relief, "So, you'll go?"

Kenshin smiled. "Why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know..." Kaoru whispered evasively, avoiding his gaze, "I'm glad you'll go though because I managed to convince him not to tell my parents yet. I think he'd tell them if you didn't show up, then I'd have to go home."

".... Home, to Sapporo?" Kenshin asked quietly, his grip tightening slightly on her hand.

She smiled sadly and nodded, "Yeah. I'm not ready to go home yet. Not when you'll be here and I'll be there."

Kenshin's hand tightened even more as he stopped suddenly and turned her to face him. Startled by his actions, she barely managed to keep her balance and glanced at him to see what the matter was. Her question died on her lips as her breath hitched painfully in her throat, the disarming violet gaze he had fixed on her stealing her ability to speak.

"You don't have to worry about that...." He whispered with a smile as he lifted his hand to trail his fingers lightly down her cheek. "I told you I wouldn't leave you and I won't. Whether it be here or there, I'll be with you until you no longer want me around."

Shivering at the contact, Kaoru was at a loss for what to say. Did that mean that he would really go all the way to Sapporo? Just for her? No. He couldn't mean that. Why would he uproot himself just for her? Swallowing around the lump suddenly lodged in her throat, she was just about to ask him that very question when he all of a sudden tensed; his attention immediately shifting to the quiet street around them.

Unnerved and just a little bit scared by the feral scowl slowly growing on his lips, she whispered, "Kenshin? Is something wrong?"

Kenshin visibly jumped as if he'd forgotten she was there for a minute and then he smiled and shook his head. "No. I just... thought I heard something." Shrugging, he grasped her hand gently again and started guiding her towards home again, their pace picking up just a little bit. "It was probably just my imagination. We should get you home though. It looks like rain."

Kaoru frowned at the hard look still lingering in his eyes. Resisting the urge to act like a child and stop dead in her tracks to demand the truth, she instead tried to fend off the feeling that something was seriously wrong. The night had changed somehow, the humid air stifling her lungs a little bit more than normal. Fighting off the feeling that something ominous was lurking just beyond the trees lining the road, she gripped Kenshin's hand even tighter and didn't complain when he picked up his pace even more as they turned onto their road.

She nearly sighed in relief when they finally reached her front door. Quickly slipping in the key she unlocked it and hastily swung it open. She stumbled back with a hiss when a growling Sampson nearly knocked her off her feet as he tried to get past her and out the door. Startled, she grabbed his collar to keep him from bolting out the door, and put all of her strength into hauling him back inside, "Sampson! What are you doing?!"

"Something was out there that he doesn't like." Kenshin said as he came in and closed the door.

Releasing her extremely agitated pooch, she spun around and cried, "What!? ...What was out there!?"

Kenshin flinched at her harsh tone and her anger immediately melted away as she sagged bonelessly onto the sofa, "I'm sorry. It's just.... I felt something strange out there tonight. It felt like something... evil.. was following us home." Rubbing her forehead, she laughed nervously, "That sounds insane doesn't it."

Kenshin shook his head and dropped down in front of her. "No. You don't sound insane," he said softly as he gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Calmed by the action, Kaoru sighed as Sampson came up and laid his head in her lap; his agitation all but forgotten.

"Will you be alright here for a little bit while if I go check out the area?"

Kaoru smiled and nodded, "Yeah, but really, you don't have to check. I'm sure it's nothing."

Kenshin grinned and pushed off her knees to stand up. "It's okay. I want to check anyway, just to make sure. But do me a favor and don't open the door for anyone until I get back, okay?"

Kaoru quirked an eyebrow, "And how am I suppose to know it's you at my door?"

Kenshin smirked. "Sampson won't be trying to get through the door if it's me who's knocking."

"That's true..." Kaoru chuckled, ".. well then, I guess it'll be okay but don't take too long. This is suppose to be the night we spend the whole night together, remember?"

Kenshin gave her smile that sent her blood rushing through her veins and he leaned down to capture her lips in a gentle kiss. Any lingering fear quickly disintegrated as the feel of his soft lips moving over hers overtook all other thought and she lost herself in the taste of him; his unique scent wrapping around her like a soft blanket. She nearly whimpered when he pulled away and grinned, his finger trailing down her cheek again.

"I remember. I won't be too long, I promise." And without another word he headed for the door.

Watching as he vanished from sight, Kaoru lifted her fingers to her lips and smiled at the prospect and spending the whole night with him. The first of what she hoped would be many, at least as many as kami-sama allowed her. Sobered by the thought, she ignored the heaviness settling into her very bones and headed into the kitchen to grab a glass of tea.

No use worrying about that now. She would simply take each day as it came until there were no more to take.

Kenshin bit back a frustrated growl as he eyed the tall cloaked figure before him, "His lackeys again?"
Sano sighed and wiped the blood from his hand onto the cloth Kenshin had tossed him. "Yeah, but this time I think they saw you with Kaoru." Dropping the cloth into the garbage, he leaned heavily against the counter in the kitchen. "He's gotten smart. He sends two of them so even if I manage to take out one the other will get back to him."

Kenshin scowled and tried his best to keep his other half from breaking free. "He knows where I live... and he knows about Kaoru now. It shouldn't be long until he shows his face."

Sano nodded in agreement. "Do you want me to track the one who got away? He might lead me to Iizuka."

Kenshin mulled over the idea for a moment before shaking his head, "No. You can't go up against him yourself. I'll wait, it shouldn't be too long."

Sano shrugged. "Suit yourself but don't you think that at least you should track him, especially since the punk is bleeding pretty badly. Save you the hassle of dealing with Iizuka later if his dog leads you to him."

Kenshin snorted softly and shook his head. "I'm not going to let him steal away what little time I have left with Kaoru. I'll wait until morning and then I'll see if I can track his dog."

Sano shrugged again as he headed for the spare room. "Whatever. I'm going to go lie down, that bastard was tougher than I expected. Iizuka is choosing his lackeys with a far better eye than he was before."

A rueful smile whispered across Kenshin's lips as the tall vampire vanished from sight. Sano was right, he should go track that little snake right now and save himself the headache later on. But that was easier said than done. He couldn't do that, not tonight. Not with Kaoru waiting for him next door.

At the thought, Kenshin smiled and flicked off the kitchen light before he headed for the front door. Tomorrow would be soon enough to follow the blood trail. And maybe, if he was lucky, he'd catch Iizuka unawares in the daylight and finish it quickly. Granted, with the blood of an Elder coursing through his veins Iizuka would be able to stand up to the sun's rays for a short amount of time but it wouldn't be enough to save his sorry, treacherous hide. Not nearly enough at all.

Please review and let me know what you think.