Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ A Walk in the Sunlight ❯ Difficult Explanations ( Chapter 16 )

[ 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 16 - Difficult Explanations

Kenshin sighed softly and pushed off the wall as a light 'ding' announced his arrival on the third floor. Stepping lightly from the elevator as the door slid back, he tried to shake of the bone deep fatigue pulling at his limbs and tucked his hands into his pockets as he silently made his down the empty corridor leading to Kaoru's room. It had been an extremely long night already. Unfortunately they hadn't made as good a time as he'd hoped they would, which had left a strain on them all. Thankfully, they'd made it to Naha before the sun had come up...just barely. For him it didn't matter but for his companions it had been a close call. Granted with the cloaks they would have been safe for an hour or so in direct sunlight, still it had been too close for comfort. However all was well now, they'd made it and now Sano and Megumi were safely tucked into a hotel a couple of blocks away. And soon he would be joining them, but not until he saw Kaoru.

Rounding the corner in the hallway, he let his eyes drift to the door halfway down the hall and smiled gently as he closed the last few yards. Sano and Megumi had tried to talk him out of coming so early but he hadn't been able to stop himself. He knew she was most likely sleeping at this time of the morning nevertheless that didn't matter; he needed to see for himself that she was still here within his reach. He needed to know that he still had a chance, even if it was a slim one.

A tiny knot tightened in his gut and he tried to ignore the sudden twinge of anxiety tightening his chest. And therein lay his greatest worry, whether or not she would even want to see him or talk to him after what had happened. He couldn't blame her if she wanted nothing more to do with him after what had happened to Sampson. But he couldn't let this chance pass. All he could hope was that she had somehow found it in her heart to forgive him.

Kenshin grimaced as the knot tightened a little bit more and took a deep breath to settle his nerves as he finally came to the closed door leading to Kaoru. Tucking his fingers into the handle, he glanced through the window to see if she was still in this room and smiled as his eyes settled on her curled form facing away from him, her loose raven locks splayed across the pillow behind her.

Relieved, he silently guided the door back and stepped into the heavily shadowed room. Easing the door closed behind him, he quietly made his way to the chair on the other side of bed where she lay facing the heavily curtained window. Settling down, he smiled gently at the serene peacefulness softening her sleeping features. Megumi had been right. It was probably for the best, he wasn't quite sure if he was ready to find how she felt just yet anyway.

Shaking off the thought, he reached out and gently trailed his finger along her hairline. She had healed quite a bit since the last time he'd seen her. The burns on her face had dulled considerably, at least as far as he could tell in the subdued light. Glancing to the arm tucked against her chest, he smiled at finding it free of bandages. She was healing well, it wouldn't be too long before he could set his plan into motion. Well, that is if she let him...

Frowning slightly at the thought, he settled back and sighed as he watched her chest rise and fall with each breath. There was nothing he could do if she didn't, if she chose to die then he would have to let her. And he knew, if she chose to die there was no hope. There was no second chance... for anyone. He'd lived long enough to know that all living beings had one chance... and that was all. She would never get the sun unless this so-called heaven truly existed, which he honestly didn't believe it did.

The slight grating of the door sliding back snapped him from his thoughts and he glanced up. He inhaled sharply when he saw one of the two people he'd hoped to avoid by coming this early stepping lightly into the room. Suddenly ill at ease, he was just about to get up and leave when Kaoru's mother smiled and waved for him stay where he was. Doing his best to ignore the twinge of guilt tightening his chest, he did as she bid even though every nerve in his body was screaming for him to leave. To be honest, he wasn't ready to face any of them, least of all her.

But unfortunately that didn't seem to matter. Biting back a weary sigh, he forced himself to glance at her as she came up beside him and inwardly winced at the drawn look marring her features.

"She'll be happy to know you're back. She's been waiting for you."

Kenshin managed to keep himself from flinching at her tired tone and whispered, "I'm sorry."

Kazumi glanced at him and smiled gently. "Don't be, this wasn't your fault."

Kenshin smirked sardonically, "Yes, it was. She wouldn't be here and Sampson wouldn't be dead if I had never interfered in her life."

Kazumi shook her head in disagreement. "If you had not come into her life then she would have never known love and that's a far worse fate than this."

Taken aback, Kenshin's eyes widened slightly as he saw one tear collect and silently slide down her cheek. At a loss, he simply watched as Kazumi reached out and gently trailed her fingers along the same path he'd done earlier down Kaoru's face, "She deserves to know love before Kami-sama steals her away from us, and you have given her that. For that I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Kenshin shook his head and smiled softly, "For that I need no thanks. I couldn't have stopped myself if I'd tried."

Kazumi smiled gently and glanced at him as she absently wiped the wetness from her cheek. "Kaoru was right, you are different from the rest." Glancing back to Kaoru she sighed softly, "I just wish she had found you earlier..."

Kenshin simply smiled and bit his tongue to keep from saying something that would give him away. She had no idea just how different he really was yet. Now the question was whether or not she would still see him in the same light when he finally broke the news to them. Sobered by the thought, he tried to ignore the sinking feeling settling into the pit of his stomach and rose before she could say anything more. "Is Dr. Genzai in yet? I need to speak with him."

Kazumi nodded. "He's in his borrowed office on the second floor. Second door on the left from the elevator."

Kenshin inclined his head and whispered, "Thank you," then eased his way around her and headed for the door. He'd only made it a couple of steps though when she asked, "Will you be back soon? Kaoru would love to see you."

Kenshin sighed softly and shook his head as he glanced over his shoulder, "Not until tonight. It was a long trip and I need to rest, but tell her I will be here as soon as the sun sets."

Kazumi smiled and nodded in understanding, "She will be waiting."

Giving her the best smile he could, Kenshin inclined his head and quietly left the room. He still didn't think Kaoru would be all that happy to see him, especially not after their last conversation. Shoving the thought from his mind, he quickly made his way back to the elevator and jabbed the button. Moments later the door slid open and he stepped in, hitting the button for the second floor. He could only hope that what her mother said was true, that she had somehow found it in her heart to forgive him for stealing her best friend away, because if she hadn't then his task would be that much harder.

Moments later the elevator door slid back to reveal an empty hallway and he made his way to the second door on the left. Rapping his knuckles against the cold metal, he waited patiently for Dr. Genzai to answer.

"Come in."

Sliding the door back, he entered silently and waited for the good doctor to glance up to see who his visitor was. He almost smiled when the old man finally glanced up from his paperwork, the surprised look on his face quickly vanishing under a small smile.

"Himura-san. Welcome back." Shuffling together the papers he'd been working on, Dr. Genzai set them aside. "... Was your trip... successful?

Kenshin hid a smirk at the tightness in the good doctor's voice and seated himself in the empty chair before the desk, "Yes. If she will allow me to, I can give her the sun... and a full life to enjoy it."

Dr. Genzai sagged heavily into the soft chair back and breathed a heartfelt sigh of relief. "Thank you..."

Kenshin grinned and shook his head. "No. Thank you for convincing them to keep Kaoru here until I came back."

Dr. Genzai chuckled lightly and shook his head. "That wasn't me. Kaoru-san was the one who managed to convince them to let her stay. She refused to leave before she found out where you laid Sampson to rest."

Kenshin tried to ignore the knife of pain that stabbed deep into his chest and forced a smile. "Did she…?"

Dr Genzai's eyes narrowed slightly at his tone and then an understanding smile whispered across his lips. "Kaoru-san is not upset with you. She only used that reason because she knew there was no way her father would let her stay if she told him that she was also waiting for you."

Somewhat relieved, Kenshin smiled sheepishly and whispered, "Oh..."

Dr. Genzai snorted softly and gave him a small reassuring smile then asked, "How soon can Kaoru-san undergo this... change?"

Kenshin sighed heavily as his earlier worries vanished under the incredible weight of what he still had to do, "Unfortunately, that is something I don't really know yet..."

The air in the room thickened suddenly as Dr. Genzai narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why?"

Giving the aged doctor a small smile, Kenshin settled back and bit back a tired sigh, "Because right now Kaoru has no idea what I am. First I have to tell her that and then, if she will still listen, I have to explain to her exactly what I want to do and hope she will accept this risk..." Wearily passing a hand across his face, he continued as understanding dawned in the aged doctor's eyes, "...because there's a very good chance she won't survive the most important part of the change."

"You mean... what you have to do could kill her?"

Kenshin nodded as the sigh he'd managed to keep in check whispered from between his lips, "Yes, after the initial change she will need to take something that is meant to kill vampires, not help them. It was that which nearly killed me all those years ago."

Dr. Genzai's eyes widened, "How did you survive?"

Kenshin smiled sardonically, "My shishou force fed me his blood to save my life." Raising a hand to stop Dr. Genzai from voicing the question he was just about to ask he added, "He has already agreed to help me with this but there is no guarantee everything will happen as it did back then."

Dr. Genzai exhaled softly and sagged even further into the chair. "This is going to be... difficult. Kaoru-san aside, I don't know if her parents will even entertain the idea with her already so close to the end."

Kenshin rubbed his forehead wearily and gave the aged doctor a crooked smile, "To be honest, I'm more worried about Kaoru. I don't even know if she will accept what I am let alone accept the change."

Dr. Genzai gave him a small humorless smile and nodded. "I understand why you never told her what you are, but unfortunately that may have been a very big mistake. Kaoru-san has been lied to far too many times, she will most likely see your silence as just that."

Kenshin winced at the actuality and frowned. What the good doctor said was true, his silence was just as bad as if he'd told her straight out that he wasn't a vampire when she'd mentioned it that night so long ago. But even so, how could tell her something like that? Tell her that he wasn't who she thought he was, that he was in fact the living, breathing embodiment of all she'd been taught was evil.

Stifling a sigh, he swallowed around the knot trying to form in his throat. But now he had no choice, he had to tell her or lose her and that wasn't something he was going to do. Not unless she made him.

"I think it would be best if you talked to Kaoru first before approaching her parents." Dr. Genzai said softly breaking into his thoughts.

Nodding once, Kenshin sighed and was just about to agree when the soft grating of the door being opened behind him stopped him. And then the blood drained from his face as Koshijiro's steely voice filled the room.

"Approach us about what?"

A block of lead instantly materialized in his gut as he slowly turned around to face the imposing figure filling the doorway. Swallowing nervously, he watched silently as Koshijiro quietly stalked into the room closely followed by Kazumi, who gave him a small apologetic smile. How much had they heard? Suddenly sick to his stomach, he was just about to ask that very question, or something similar, when Koshijiro pinned with him a piercing glare and spoke up, repeating his question.

"Exactly what is it you need to approach us about?"

Kenshin bit back a sigh of relief and shook his head tiredly. So they hadn't heard anything but that, lady luck must be smiling on him today. Resisting the urge to smile at the thought, he instead quietly answered "Nothing. At least not yet. I need to talk to Kaoru first and... explain some things..."

Koshijiro's eyes narrowed as his face darkened with a scowl. "You have no right to talk to my daughter. It's because of you that she's here with her life all but over!"

Inwardly flinching at the cold truth, Kenshin simply met the angry glare fixed on him and tried to figure out how to proceed. He'd known Koshijiro would be angry but he hadn't been prepared for this cold rage. Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, he inhaled deeply and finally did the only thing he could, apologize. "Yes, it's my fault she's here when she should be home with Sampson, who should still be alive and not a casualty in my private war. For that I cannot even express in words how sorry I am. She didn't deserve - "

"Then tell me why I should let you anywhere near her?!" Koshijiro bit out angrily, clearly not in the mood to listen to his apologies.

Kenshin sighed wearily, "Because even though I've stolen so much from her, I now have something to give in return... if she will let me."

A heavy silence fell as Koshijiro's face darkened even more but before he had a chance to say anything more Kazumi spoke up and asked, "What is it you can give her?"

The unmistakable trace of hope in Kazumi's voice made Kenshin wince. Casting a glance her way, he gave her a tiny smile and shook his head. "I can't say right yet. First I need to speak with Kaoru."

Kazumi simply stared at him as if she was going to say something more and then she finally inclined her head in understanding. Stifling a sigh of relief, Kenshin shifted his attention back to the irritated man still glowering at him and added, "And I have every intention of doing just that whether you allow me to or not."

Koshijiro's eyes widened in surprise at his direct defiance. Suppressing a smile, Kenshin waited patiently for the elder Kamiya to threaten his life for such a blatant show of disrespect. But instead of growling the angry retort he expected, Koshijiro slid his attention to Dr. Genzai who was sitting quietly listening to the exchange. "You know what it is, don't you?"

When all the good doctor did was nod, Koshijiro probed even more. "Will it save her?"

Kenshin inhaled sharply and held his breath as he too fixed his entire attention on the aged doctor and prayed he wouldn't inadvertently give something away.

Dr. Genzai simply smiled softly and shrugged. "It may... or it may not... but we will never know if you don't allow Himura-san to speak with Kaoru-san," he answered in a quietly authorative tone.

The tension in the room immediately dissipated and Kenshin expelled his held breath silently as a relieved smile whispered across his lips. Having the good doctor in his court was proving to be his greatest asset, at least where the elder Kamiyas were concerned.

As if to prove his thoughts, Koshijiro sighed in irritation and grudgingly gave in. "For now, I will allow you to see Kaoru but if she decides she doesn't want whatever you have to give then that will be the end." And without another word the elder Kamiya headed for the door. Watching him go, Kenshin smiled. He'd won that fight, now all he had to do was convince the only one who mattered and all would be well.

"I will let Kaoru know you will be in to see her tonight." Kazumi said as she came up beside him. Inclining his head slightly, he watched as she followed in her husband's footsteps. Moments later the door slid closed behind them and Kenshin sighed in relief as he sagged heavily against the chair back, "And now the hard part begins."

Dr. Genzai snorted lightly in agreement. "I believe you are right, but Kaoru-san does trust you so there is still a chance."

Kenshin scoffed softly and rose. "Tell me Sensei, would you still trust me if I told you what I'm about to tell her, with no prior experience with my kind?" He smiled sadly as the aged doctor's face suddenly darkened with concern, his silence almost deafening. Stifling a sigh, Kenshin dropped a small bow and headed for the door as the silence lengthened. "I didn't think so. But I can't let that stop me. I will make her understand and maybe once she does she will accept what I have to give."

The silence remained unbroken as Kenshin slid the door back and he resisted the urge to glance over his shoulder. And then just as he was about to step out into the hallway he heard the doctor whisper, "Good luck, Himura-san. She deserves this chance."

Kenshin couldn't help the smile that flickered across his lips and wordlessly agreed as he lifted a hand in farewell and continued out into the hallway. Stifling a yawn, he absently weaved his way around the nurses now making their rounds and headed into the elevator that would lead him to the ground floor. Yes, she did deserve this chance, more than anyone else he knew. Now all he had to do was figure out how to go about breaking the news to her. Smirking slightly, he gave in to the yawn this time and leaned heavily against the wall as the elevator descended. First he needed to rest and then he'd try to figure out how best to go about this, because he was only going to have one shot and he wasn't about to blow it with so much at stake.

Kaoru nervously picked at the hem of her pale blue blouse and glanced out the shielded window for what felt like the millionth time in less than an hour. The last few rays of sunlight steadily continued to fade as she watched the world beyond finally succumb to the coming night. If what her mother said was true it wouldn't be too much longer before Kenshin came. Ignoring the flutter her heart gave at the thought of him, she absently nibbled on her bottom lip as a field of butterflies took flight in her stomach. She'd been a nervous wreck all day. She had no idea what to expect. None, what so ever. They hadn't parted on the greatest of terms the last time they'd seen each other. What would he think? Would he think she hated him? That she blamed him for Sampson? But if he thought that then why would he come? Wouldn't he have decided to give up on her instead like everyone else?

Frowning at the unanswerable questions, she shook her head in an effort to clear her mind and continued to worry at the loose string dangling from the bottom button. She didn't hate him. She didn't even think she could no matter what happened. He was the first to ever see her for who she was. How could she give that up? Especially now with the end so close.

"Kaoru, maybe you should take advantage of the freedom Dr. Genzai gave you and go outside now that the sun has gone down."

Roused from her thoughts, Kaoru shook her head and glanced at her mother, who was packing the last of her reading material away before she headed back to the ryoken for the night. "I can't or Kenshin won't be able to find me."

Kazumi smiled. "I will stay until he arrives and let him know where to find you."

Surprised, Kaoru was just about to tell her mother there was no need when she was suddenly assaulted by an almost overwhelming desire to feel the gentle breeze she'd seen whispering through the leaves outside of her window against her healing skin. It had been so long since she'd been allowed out of this room. Granted the first couple of days had been filled with nothing but pain due to her burns, but thanks to Dr. Genzai's special cream she no longer had to deal with that, all that remained of her earlier burns was the slight stiffness of her still reddened skin and the blister spots on her shoulders and upper arms. And those would remain covered until the new skin beneath toughened up enough to be exposed.

Making up her mind, she cast a hopeful glance at her mother and asked, "Is it really okay? I know dad is waiting for you."

Kazumi chuckled lightly and nodded. "Your father can wait a little while longer. I'm sure Himura-san will be here soon."

Kaoru didn't need anymore convincing. With a grin she jumped off the bed and headed for the door only stopping long enough to kiss her mother on the cheek and whisper "Thanks, Mom. Tell him I'm in the courtyard."

And then she was out the door and heading for the elevator. Relishing the freedom, she opted not to wait for the elevator and instead made a beeline straight for the stairs. Moments later she pushed open the door leading to the first floor and followed the path Dr. Genzai had described to her earlier. Quickly weaving her way down the hallways she soon came to a set of doors that according to her adopted grandfather would lead to her salvation. She chuckled at the memory of the knowing smirk he'd given her when he'd finally given her the green light to leave her room. He knew how much she hated being trapped. Even as a child she'd been out the door as soon as the sun set every night no matter what the weather was, much to parents irritation.

Slipping the fingers of her good hand into the handle, she silently prayed that the nurses had left it open like they'd said they would and gently tugged. A bright smile lit up her face as the door effortlessly slid back; the warm, briny scented breeze flowing through the opening teasing the loose strands she'd left framing her face tonight. Sliding it open far enough for her to step out, she inhaled deeply as her smile widened. Now this was a little slice of heaven.

Silently sliding the door closed behind her, she stepped out onto the lightly lit pathway that weaved its way around the shrubs and flower gardens sprinkled throughout the entire courtyard and headed for a bench on the other side of the moonlit garden. Glancing up as she made her way beneath the lone tree standing sentinel to one side of a well tended flower bed, she sighed in contentment as she watched the breeze dance playfully through the leaves. She had missed this so much. It was just as the saying she'd heard so many times over the years said... you never know what you have until it's gone.

Snorting softly, she shook her head and continued on. She had never really believed that until she'd been stuck in that nine by nine room for four days straight. If she had a choice, she never wanted to endure that again. Ever.

Closing the last few feet to the bench, she happily let the last four days of misery flow away like water and settled down. It was over now, that was all that mattered. Leaning her head back to stare up at what should have been a star studded sky, she frowned slightly at finding nothing but the residual light of the city reflecting back at her. Disheartened, she sighed softly and closed her eyes, instead focusing her entire attention on trying to hear the ocean she knew was only a couple of blocks away.

And this time she was rewarded as the everyday sounds of the city slowly faded away, the crashing of the waves against the beach beyond the only sound reaching her ears. Smiling gently, she lost herself in the familiar rumble; all her earlier worries fading away to nothing. Time seemed to stand still as she continued to listen intently to the rhythmic whoosh of the waves battering themselves across the sand.

So lost in her own private world, Kaoru didn't hear the door across the courtyard open, nor the soft tread of the newcomer as he made his way towards her with a gentle smile. Inhaling deeply as the man she'd been waiting for finally reached her, she let the breath out slowly as a smile tugged at the corner of her lips and finally opened her eyes to the world again. She jumped and nearly screamed when she found herself unexpectedly staring into a pair of smiling violet eyes. The owner of said eyes standing so close that his knees were almost brushing against hers. And then she felt her face heat up as a tiny smirk curled the edge of his lips.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you..." Settling down beside her on the bench, Kenshin smiled. "You looked so peaceful, I didn't want to disturb you."

Doing her best to get herself back together, Kaoru mock glared at him and gave him a disbelieving smirk, "I think it's more like you get some kind of sick pleasure out of scaring me..."

Kenshin chuckled lightly and shook his head. "I promise I only wished to let you enjoy whatever it was that brought such a contented look to your face. You deserve it after all that's happened."

Kaoru's smile slowly dropped away at the innocent reminder of the last few days and she sighed softly. She had hoped to avoid this conversation but she should have known better.

"I'm sorry, Kaoru, for everything." Kenshin said softly, misinterpreting her sigh.

Smiling gently, Kaoru glanced at him and shook her head, "None of this was your fault, Kenshin. If anyone should be sorry, it should be me for making you feel like it was when you told me about Sampson." Kenshin's eyes narrowed in obvious disagreement and Kaoru quickly held her fingers against his lips to stop him from saying whatever he was going to say. She smiled gently at the stunned look that flashed across his face at her bold move. "There is nothing you could have done to stop what happened. But what you did do was save me by getting me inside. If you hadn't done that then I would most likely be dead by now."

Kenshin's lips slowly turned up into a smirk beneath her fingers and she blushed when he kissed them lightly as she started pulling her hand away. Shaking his head, he gave her a small knowing smile, "You're wrong, I could have stopped what happened if I'd been there. But..." he quickly added as her face darkened with a scowl, "... I know there is no way to change the past, even if I wish I could. All I can do now is make the future as bright as I can, which I have every intention of doing if you will let me."

Kaoru sighed in resignation and rolled her eyes. "I give up. You're too stubborn for me," she grumbled in mild exasperation. Casting a sideways glance at him, she decided it was time to change the subject. "So, what do you think you can to do to brighten what's left of my future, hmm?"

For a split second Kenshin's face darkened in apprehension before he quickly hid it beneath a serene mask. Surprised and just a little bit unnerved by his sudden unease, Kaoru bit her lip to keep from saying anything more and waited as patiently as she could for whatever it was he was hiding. After several more moments of an almost stifling silence, Kaoru was on the verge of asking him again when he finally glanced her way and asked, "Do you trust me, Kaoru?"

Taken aback, Kaoru tried to ignore the knot of worry tightening in her stomach and eyed him confused. "...Yes... why?"

Kenshin gave her a crooked smile and leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. Fixing his attention on his gently clasped hands, he sighed, "Because there is something that I haven't told you about me yet that will most likely shake that trust...if not destroy it completely." Pausing, he let his eyes drift back to her and she found herself suddenly trapped in his intense violet gaze as he continued, "...but I promise you that no matter what you may think my feelings for you are real and that will never change."

Now thoroughly confused, and just a little bit alarmed by his confession, Kaoru tried to shake off the icy fingers of dread wrapping around her heart and swallowed nervously, "Kenshin, you're not making any sense. Why would my trust be shaken? You haven't done anything wrong."

The humorless smile that touched his lips made Kaoru's blood run cold and she fisted her hands tight in her lap to keep from throttling the man beside her. "Fine, then tell me what you did wrong so I can beat you and then we can get back to being normal again," she grouched half-heartedly in an effort to lighten the mood.

A tiny smile whispered across Kenshin's lips and he exhaled softly. "It's not what I've done wrong, per se...” he said softly as he shifted his attention back out over the moonlit garden. "...but what I haven't done that I should have a long time ago when you first brought it up."

At her wits end, Kaoru reached over and grabbed Kenshin's chin, forcing him to look at her. "If you don't start making some sense soon, I am going to beat you!" When all he did was smirk, she released him and grumbled, "What do you mean 'when I first brought it up'? We've talked about this before?"

Kenshin nodded. "In a round about way..."

Kaoru bit back an irritated growl at his evasive answer and instinctively swung her fist at his head out of sheer frustration. She was surprised when Kenshin effortlessly caught her wrist and then he sat back up and fixed her with a look that made her breath catch in her throat, "Do you remember when I asked you what you would say if I was a vampire like Dr. Genzai claimed I was?"

Caught completely off guard, Kaoru could only stare at him with widened eyes as he let her wrist go. Yes, she remembered that but... he couldn't be saying that he...

An almost deafening silence fell between them as she tried to wrap her mind around what he seemed to be implying, at least what she thought he was implying. No longer quite sure she'd heard him right, she decided she needed some clarification to find out if she'd really heard what she thought she had. Absently tilting her head to the side, she asked, "Are you trying to tell me that you're a ... vampire?"

For several extremely long moments Kenshin simply stared at her as if he was gauging something and then he sagged against the bench and silently nodded. Startled, Kaoru's eyes flew wide and she simply stared at him in stunned silence. He couldn't be serious. There was no way he could be serious! A vampire! For Kami's sake vampires weren't even real! They were nothing but a figment of someone's overactive imagination that had sparked a kind of twisted fascination with the masses! Did he really think she was gullible enough to actually believe something like this? And why the hell was he bringing this up in the first place? Was he trying to push her away for some reason? Or was he really just like the rest? Playing her and then ditching her when she no longer held his interest?

Sickened by the thought, she scowled as bitter tears started to burn her eyes. Refusing to give him the satisfaction of breaking her like the rest, she quickly rose from the bench and pierced him an angry glare, "I don't know what you are trying to do but if you think you can break me with a wild story like that then you have another thing coming!"

And with that she spun on her heel and headed for the doors on the other side of the courtyard as her heart clenched painfully, the tears she'd managed to hold back forcing their way out of the corner of her eyes. Angered by her weakness, she was just about to lift her good hand to wipe away the evidence when she found her wrist all of a sudden locked in a tight grip and then she was harshly spun around. Letting out a surprised hiss, she valiantly tried to keep her balance as the world spun uncontrollably. Somehow managing to keep her feet under her, she inhaled sharply when her eyes clashed with the blazing violet gaze leveled on her.

"Do not lump me with the rest of those idiots who were out to do nothing but break your heart!" Kenshin growled angrily as the hand wrapped around her wrist tightened to the point of almost being painful. Stunned by his fierceness all she could do was stumble forward as he pulled her closer and pinned her to the spot with a look that seemed to enhance his strange eyes. "I promised you I would never lie to you and that has not changed. I am what I say I am..."

Kaoru involuntarily shivered at the cool finality in his voice. He couldn't really be saying that he was a vampire... could he? But as she continued to stare into his brutally honest gaze, she felt her stomach tighten as her anger melted away to be replaced by an almost sickening dread. Everything she'd ever heard or read about the creature he claimed to be suddenly assaulted her mind and she simply stared at him in horror as the world started to spin. If that was true then he was... he was a... killer...

Recoiling at the thought, she bit her tongue to keep from gagging and shook her head in an effort to get herself back together. "But if that's true... then you.... " She trailed off unable to put voice to the label that would condemn the only man she'd ever fallen in love with.

Sensing her reticence, Kenshin nodded once and finished what she was about to say. "... Lived off the life of others."

Kaoru recoiled as if she'd been slapped, the confirmation shredding her already damaged heart. The weeks she'd spent in his company flashed before her eyes, all the smiles and laughter now tinged a bloody red. Trying in vain to shake it off, she wrenched her wrist out of his hand and stumbled back as an almost overwhelming anger ignited in her veins. And then she finally broke and screamed, "Why didn't you tell me! Why did you let me fall in love with you! Why!"

Kenshin flinched as she fired off the questions and grabbed both of her wrists this time to keep her from bolting away. "Because I didn't want to lose you!" That stopped her dead and Kenshin smirked as she gasped softly. Taking advantage of her distraction, he pulled her towards him again and held her arms flush against his chest as he leaned in to within inches of her blazing eyes. "To be honest, I never had any intention of telling you what I am. And I would have kept my silence if not for the fact that I now have a way to give you the sun, if you will take it."

That caught her completely off guard and Kaoru simply stared at him in stunned silence until the absurdity of his statement hit her square between the eyes. And then she busted out laughing, the insane pitch to her voice scaring even her. She was losing it... she had to be... a vampire with the means to give her the sun. That was just... insane.

Several moments later her laughter finally died down and she shook her head as she tried to wrench her wrists free. "That's impossible, not even a creature like you can give me the sun." Kenshin flinched at her harsh words and Kaoru almost regretted calling him that. Feeling his grip slacken slightly, she steeled herself against the hurt in his eyes and pulled her wrists from his hold then took a couple of steps back. "I... I have to go. I... I think it would be best if we just let it end here, okay?"

Without waiting for an answer she smiled sadly then spun on her heel and ran as fast as she could for the doors. Half expecting him to give chase again, she sighed softly in relief when she reached them without pursuit. Sniffling back the tears trying to break loose against her will, she chanced one last glance over her shoulder and nearly lost her resolve when she saw Kenshin standing where she'd left him, the defeat written in his stance driving a nail deep into her heart. Steeling herself against the almost overpowering need to go back, she flung the door open and rushed in; racing towards her room and the silence she desperately needed to come to terms with what she'd just been told.

Kenshin sighed heavily as he watched Kaoru vanish back into the hospital. Back-tracking to the bench they'd been using moments before, he sagged down bonelessly and dropped his head into his hands as her words continued to ring hollowly in his ears. No it was not okay to end this here! But how in the hell was he suppose to make her understand! Biting back a frustrated growl, he fisted his hands tight in his hair, the pain helping to dull the sharp ache ripping through his chest. What he had to do was figure out how to get around this. Right now, she didn't even want to see him, let alone listen to any explanations. But he wasn't going to let this stop him. He would make sure she knew the 'how' and then she could make a decision based on that and not what she'd just been told.

A light scuffling sound signaled the arrival of the two who had been watching the entire exchange from the roof and Kenshin sighed again as he released his hair and sat back up.

"Well, that went well." Sano grumbled sarcastically. "I told you, you should have let us be here."

"Sano, shut up!" Megumi bit out before Kenshin had a chance to say anything in return. "He didn't want us here because he didn't want her to feel like she was being ganged up on."

Relieved that at least one of them understood, Kenshin simply smiled ironically. "Things went as I'd figured they would. I knew she would hate me. Now I just need to find a way to make her listen to the true reason for all this and that I'm afraid is going to be the difficult part."

Megumi shook her head. "No, it won't if you let me go talk to her," she said softly, giving him a tiny smile. "If anyone can understand how she's feeling right now, it would be me."

Surprised, Kenshin immediately shook his head but before he could say no she held up her hand. "Our circumstances may not be the same but I think she will listen to me when she finds out that I didn't choose this life."

The refusal died in Kenshin's throat and he sat up a little straighter as what she meant slowly became clear. And she was right, if anything Kaoru might listen to her simply because Megumi was not one of them by choice. He knew her well enough that even if she was angry with him, she might still listen if the one talking could sympathize. Sure, it was a gamble but one that was worth taking if it would give him any kind of chance.

With a sigh, he inclined his head in consent. "Try to at least make her understand the difference between us so she knows that I'm not the monster she thinks I am. If you can manage that then I will be able to offer her the chance to have the one thing she has wanted her entire life."

Megumi gave him an understanding smile. "Leave it to me. I'll do everything I can to convince her that you are worthy of her love."

Kenshin smirked at her keen insight as she nodded one last time to him and headed for the door. Maybe... just maybe everything would turn out as he hoped.

"If anyone can convince jou-chan, it'll be her." Sano chuckled as Megumi vanished into the hospital.

With a sigh, Kenshin pushed off the bench and cast a glance at the now closed door. "I hope so..." Wearily passing a hand across his face, he glanced to Sano and whispered, "All we can do now is go back to the hotel and wait for her to come back."

Giving him a knowing smirk, Sano clapped him on the back, hard. "Don't worry, jou-chan will be yours again soon."

Caught off guard by the action, Kenshin stumbled forward as a pain-filled hiss exploded from between his lips. Swinging his head around he was just about to rip into the tall vampire beside him when he saw the stupid grin plastered across his best friend's face. Exhaling softly, he shook his head as the tension Sano must have sensed slipped away.

Giving his old friend a grateful smile he waved to the rooftop. "Let's go wait at the hotel. I'm sure this will take a while."

Sano smirked and without a word effortlessly made the three story jump. Casting one last glance at the stark white hallway beyond the doors, Kenshin exhaled silently and followed in his friend's footsteps. This had to work because if it didn't...

Ignoring the knot tightening in his gut again he shoved the possibility out of his mind. Sano was right, if anyone could get through to Kaoru right now it would be Megumi. And all he could do now was wait. And what a long wait it was going to be.

Please review and let me know what you think.

Also, I have a feeling some of you may be wondering why Kaoru didn't seem to remember that even though Kenshin is a vampire, he can still go into the sun. That little oversight can be chalked up to the fact that he basically just blindsided her with that information. She didn't see that one coming at all. Right now, she is so confused and horrified by the truth that she's forgotten key information, at least for now.