Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Closed Doors ❯ Chapter 8

Standard disclaimers apply.

"Closed Doors"

Chapter VIII:

Life went fast for Kaoru. The dojo became so busy because of the new enrollees coming in for the next year. Kenshin continues to send roses to her office everyday. And after trying his best to know what color she really likes in them, which is white, he never sent any color other than it anymore. Kaoru had got used to this habit of Kenshin. And when sometime the rose delivery got late, her eyes automatically look for them in her office.

She was about to go somewhere that afternoon when Yahiko came inside her room.

"Douka shita no, Yahiko?"

"Kaoru, Hutano-san's assistant came to my office a while ago. He said his employer met an accident yesterday. He's at Dr. Genzai's clinic now. Will you do me a favor? Can you cover for me in the meantime? Visit him."

"Then why don't you come with me?" Kaoru asked.

"I'm afraid I cannot. I have a meeting outside now. I can visit him only tomorrow."

"You promised neh?" she said. "Hai, I'll go. No problem."

"Arigatou."

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

In the clinic, as she was about to head for the room of Yahiko's friend, she accidentally came by a nursery. The curtains were shoved aside by the caretaker. There were few people looking on and Kaoru was not able to control herself not to do also.

Kaoru was glancing on the man at her side, waving happily to a baby being held by what she believe was a nurse. She was surprised when he talked to her.

"That's my child. He's cute, right?"

She slightly smiled. The man continued to speak.

"My wife just gave birth yesterday. How about you? Is your baby here? But you don't like somebody who just gave birth," he added as he laughed. "By the way, I'm Tanaka."

"I'm Kaoru." She was just staring at a baby sleeping. "I have a baby there," she said suddenly. She pointed to one. "There."

"Really? You just gave birth?" he disbelievingly said as he looked at her body.

"H-hai. I had an easy time that's why I easily recovered," she lied. "My son's so kawai, neh?"

"Aaa, they all are."

"You know what? When I bore him, I thought I hated him. That was because I was so young then. And I felt, here is a child that needs my care, while I needed someone to take care of me also. It was so unfair, neh?"

The man looked at her confused. He suddenly became worried with Kaoru's sudden sad expression.

"Why don't you sit for the meantime, Kaoru-san? You look tired," he said while assisting her to sit in a chair at the clinic's hallway.

Kaoru was lost in her thoughts. After she had seated, she heard nothing of the man's story as he talked about his wife. She did not mind the people passing by. Her mind was completely in the memory of the same event that happened not so many years had gone…

~õ~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

It was midnight then, Kaoru woke up by Misao's complain. She rubbed her eyes after the light coming blinded her shortly from her lamp. It was long before she had focused her sight on Misao's distraught face. She nervously sat up by her friend's expression.

"N-naze? Something happened to Kenji?" she worriedly said.

"Kaoru, I woke up to check him. He was almost blue when I came. After I had given him first aid, he breathed again but I think it would be better if we take him to the clinic now. His condition is not good." Misao told her.

Kaoru quickly stood up and went in the next room where Kenji lay. She held up her perspiring son. He can hardly breathe.

"Wake up Sano and Yahiko, Misao. We're going to take him to the clinic right now," she commanded.

In a matter of seconds, the group was prepared to rush Kenji to Dr. Genzai's clinic.

While walking, Kaoru embraced his son tightly. She caresses her son's small body softly in her bosom.

Sano and Yahiko would occasionally glance at the mother's condition. They could see her lips pressed tightly. Her sighs continuous.

"I don't know what to do if he dies…" Kaoru's voice was trembling.

"Sshh, Kaoru. Don't speak like that," Yahiko hushed her.

"Hai, Jou-chan. Kenji will be alright, you'll see…"

Kaoru bit her lip. She tried to swallow the bading tears. Fear is lurking from behind.

Shortly after, they arrived at the clinic. Dr. Genzai quickly treated Kenji and the other nurses inside a room.

A few moments after, the doctor announced that Kenji was in bad condition. He was asking Kaoru her permission to let them operate on Kenji. Kaoru initially opposed to the idea.

"An operation? He's just a year and four months. He cannot make an operation like that," she said bursting to tears.

"Its true that it is dangerous to do it because he's still too young demo, sumanu, at this point, this is the only way to save him," Dr. Genzai explained.

"Dr. Genzai, are you sure you can save my son?" Kaoru added to ask.

"I cannot promise you anything aside from the promise that we will do anything we can just to let him live, Kaoru."

Kaoru looked at Misao. Her eyes were pleading. Pleading to help her decide.

"Let them do it, Kaoru, instead of letting him leave us without a fight," Misao said.

Kaoru gave them the permission.

While the doctor left to prepare the operating room, she was given a chance to see Kenji once more inside a room.

Kenji's image was heartbreaking to see because of the apparatuses connected to his small body. His uneven breathing was visibly hard. His eyes' sides were dark, framing his pale cheeks. There was no trace of vigor in his face. Only a picture of a child seriously ill.

The boy was naturally thin. Maybe because of his ailment. Or most probably, as Kaoru would sometimes think, because of his father's small frame. She could not deny the big resemblance of his son to his own father in physique. The amber eyes, smooth red hair, and mannerisms. But many believed that Kenji's lively aura came from her. He was easily amused like her… easily get to laugh. He would only cry if he has problems breathing.

Now that he has been learning to walk, everybody in the dojo became so fond of him.

Kaoru fears every time a day would pass. She fears that death would just snatch her son from her. But on the other hand, she knows that in each passing of time, the day will come near on when Kenji would learn to look and ask for his father. He will ask where his father is. What is she going to tell him?

But now as she gaze upon his son as he lay in the clinic bed, she prays nothing more other than his safety. If time will come when she may need to lie or find a way not to make Kenji feel hurt as he asks about his father, she will do.

She slowly held her son's hand and squeezed it lightly. She couldn't stop her tears from running down her cheeks anymore.

"Just live, my son… if I have to beg for your father to accept you, I will. If ever I could not find him, then I'll find a much better father for you. Anywhere. Anyhow. The moment you step out of this clinic, I will complete you life now, I promise. Live, Kenji… fight. For okaasan, onegai…"

Kaoru leaned over and gave his sleeping son the most loving kiss on his forehead. She dried her eyes. She tried to make herself strong. She did not left her son until Dr. Genzai came and told her the operating table was now ready.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~

Misao, Yahiko, Sano and Kaoru waited long outside the operating room. A nurse would try to tell them that they can sleep at a vacant room nearby, but Kaoru refused. Even the three refused. They want to be there for Kaoru for whatever that may happen.

A few hours later, maybe because of tiredness, Kaoru fell asleep on the bench she was sitting at. When she opened her eyes, Dr. Genzai was already beside her. His hair was full of sweat. Misao was holding her hands tightly now.

Just one look at the doctor's eyes, Kaoru knew what he was going to say. Kaoru shooked her head. She felt Misao gripping her hand more tightly.

"Kaoru, my friend…" she started. But Kaoru didn't mind her.

"He's alive, isn't he?" Kaoru asked Dr. Genzai. "You told me you're going to save him, didn't you?"

"Gomen nasai…" Dr. Genzai sadly told her.

"Gomen?" she interrupted. "You're asking me for forgiveness?" she cried. Kaoru laughed. A laugh without gladness; full of bitterness.

She stood up. Misao and Yahiko were stopping her, now both crying, but she was now frantic.

A mixture of surprise and disbelief were in Kaoru's face from what she had heard, together with grief, anger and profound hurt. She suddenly felt weak.

She was almost whispering to the doctor, "You let my child die. I trusted you. No matter how long, no matter what, anybody's apologies would not be enough…"

"Jou-chan, onegai. You have to be strong. You know that Dr. Genzai did everything they can, so let us not blame them. You can make this. We will make this. We will not let anything happen to you. Just give yourself time to let your wounds heal…" Sano told her.

Kaoru heard nothing. She stepped afterwards inside the room where her son's dead body lay.

Kaoru came closer to him. She held him in her hands, embraced and cradled him. She kissed him on his forehead, his eyes, his cheeks, each finger of his dainty hands. In every caress of the still warm, but pale lips of Kenji, there was a wild longing inside Kaoru to make him live. She will make him live by her everlasting love. They will again share the joy and laughter they always had in the dojo, with Uncle Yahiko, Uncle Sano, Aunt Misao…

But the boy remained quiet. His dark eyes kept shut. Its lifeless chest remained still.

Kaoru held her son long. Afterwards she let her tears fell from her eyes flow from overwhelming sorrow.

Outside the room, one could hear the loud and long cries of a mourning mother. Many who hear would stop and feel goosebumps all over their body.

Kaoru suddenly felt one concerned hand on her shoulder.

"Kaoru… Kaoru…"

Huhu! There you go. Two more chapters to finish. Please read and review. Thanks!