Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Scars ❯ The Call ( Chapter 1 )

"Hey Kenshin! Megumi, Misao and I are going out tomorrow. Think you can cover for me until 11:00?" Kaoru asked her friend sweetly. Kenshin gave her his rurouni smile and nodded to her.

"I suppose Aoshi and Sano will be covering for Megumi-dono and Misao-dono tomorrow night also then?" He asked her laughing.

"You know it! All my patients are covered with other nurses, so all you really need to do is watch out for Yahiko Miyogin." Kaoru smiled at him.

Kenshin watched her walk off down the hall and smiled. Being a doctor had its ups. He had enjoyed watching Kaoru develop into a fine doctor with help from Megumi. Misao had still along way to go, but she was younger than everyone else, so Kenshin had no doubt she would do great in her exam for a full medical contract. Sanosuke, goofing off at every chance he got, amazed everyone when he got one of the highest scores on his doctor's test. And Aoshi with his quick thinking and confidence was one of the best surgeons Kenshin knew. They had all met in medical school and had become close friends right away.

"Kenshin, you're not going to believe this! I just got stuck with midnight shift!" Sanosuke complained storming down the hallway. Kenshin smiled. Megumi had gotten to Sanosuke before he was able to get away.

"So did I Sano, but I only have to stay to 11:00." Kenshin laughed at his fuming friend,

"That fox…I swear, one of these days I'm going to get her back for everything she's done to me!"

"Sano…" Kenshin waved his hand. Sanosuke's eyes twitched and he leaned up against the wall.

"Eh, whatever." He sighed tiredly. He looked at his watch and yawned. "Well at least my shift is over." Sanosuke rubbed his eyes. "When do you get off?" He asked Kenshin who also yawned.

"In half an hour. I shouldn't be home no later then midnight, but then I'm still on call." He mumbled.

"I can cover for you Himura. I've got tomorrow off until 7:00." A voice from behind him said. Kenshin turned his head and saw Aoshi walking towards them stiffly. Kenshin sighed thankfully.

"Thank you Aoshi. I'll make it up to you." He said reaching for his gym bag behind the receptionist desk. He said goodbye to them and quickly left the hospital emergency room. Kenshin hopped into his jet black Jaguar (A/N I know cheesy…just along with it!) and revved up the engine. He saw Kaoru speed through the perking lot in front of him and she waved, Kenshin smiled and waved back as he followed her out into the dark street. Kaoru's Spyder took a left turn and Kenshin tuned right. He watched to make sure she made it to the corner that curved around the hospital parking lot, and took off toward his own home.

When he arrived at his pad, Kenshin immediately made for his bed. He didn't even bother changing out of his scrubs. He crawled into his bed gingerly and set his alarm clock for 7:00. He deserved a long rest after such a hectic day at the hospital. Kenshin's main working area was supposed to be the emergency room, but he sometimes traveled over to the children's ward where Kaoru was training to become a pediatrician. He hadn't had anytime to see any of the children today though. The E.R. had been busy as ever and he didn't get a moments rest. Kenshin yawned one last time before drifting off into some well-deserved rest.

The Next Day ~*~*~

"Yahiko get back here and take your medication!" Kaoru yelled chasing the boy through the children's hospital halls.

"No way busu! That stuff tastes like crap! You can't make me!" He laughed quickly dodging her frantic hands. The nurses casually moved aside and the children rushed out into the hallway to watch this mornings chase. It seemed Yahiko was actually getting away. The two ran past Misao who expertly moved an IV out of the way from past experience.

"Go Kaoru! You can catch that little brat!" She cheered watching the two fly by. The other kids cheered and yelled from their rooms as Kaoru closed in on Yahiko. She reached for his collar and nearly got hold of it. She tried again and this time succeeded.

"Gotcha." Kaoru panted pinning him down. Yahiko struggled against her and glared at the doctor.

"GET OFFA ME FATSO!" He yelled. Kaoru's eye twitched and she exploded.

"ALRIGHT! That's the last straw you little TWERP!" Kaoru yelled reaching for a needle on one of the trays close to her. Yahiko gulped and yelled.

"HELP! STOP! I HATE SHOTS! LEMME GO!" He pleaded desperately. Sanosuke entered the Children's ward just in time to see Kaoru threatening poor Yahiko (A/N I'm sorry, did I say poor? HA!) With a vaccination.

"Whoa Jou-chan! Hold up!" He cried running over to the two. He gently pulled Kaoru off of Yahiko and pulled her away from him. He was surprised to find Kaoru just standing there motionless.

"Hm? Jou-chan?" He asked worriedly. Kaoru began to shake and she lifted her head, and to Sanosuke's surprise, he saw her…laughing!

"I can't believe you actually thought I was going to give the little brat a shot!" She giggled holding her stomach. Sanosuke slapped his face and shook his head.

"Don't scare me like that okay? You really freaked me out!" He said irritably, though he couldn't help but smile at her. Yahiko, seeing this as a fine opportunity to make a getaway, silently got up from the ground and tiptoed away. Kaoru stopped laughing in time to see him try and sneak away, and her temper immediately came back.

"HEY! You weasel get back here!" She yelled continuing her chase for Yahiko. Sanosuke shook his head as he watched the two run off down the hall as he headed for the E.R.

"Hey Kenshin. I thought you'd be training right now." Sanosuke said about an hour later as Kenshin walked through the door. He smiled at his friend and set down his gym bag behind the receptionist desk.

"I was too tired this morning, so I'm going to train tomorrow night instead when I have time. I just didn't have enough energy to practice kenjutsu!" He smiled at his friend.

"What time is it anyway?" Sanosuke yawned.

Kenshin looked at his watch and back to Sanosuke.

"Around 5:00. I only came here today because I have to cover for Kaoru-dono tonight." He sighed tiredly. Sanosuke smirked and patted him on the back.

"Yeah, well, we can both be tired tonight okay? I hate to work midnight shift…" He grumbled.

8:30 That Night~*~

"Alright I'm off! Thank you so much for covering for me Kenshin!" Kaoru hugged him tightly. Kenshin felt like he was flying. He loved Kaoru with all his heart but didn't dare tell her, in fear of rejection, and the fact that he knew she could do much better.

"Of course Kaoru-dono." He smiled back at her. Kaoru gave him one last grin beforing hurrying off to Megumi and Misao who were waiting for her at the E.R. doors.

"I would do anything for you." He whispered.

"That's pretty romantic." A voice from behind said. Kenshin jumped two feet into the air and turned around to see Sanosuke laughing at him.

"SANO!" Kenshin yelled clutching his chest. Sanosuke put an arm his shoulder and straightened himself.

"Lighten up would ya? Everyone except Jou-chan there knows you've got the hots for her." Sanosuke grinned at his friend. Kenshin, a little shocked at first to hear this, shook his head.

"It doesn't mean anything…there's no way in a million years she could ever return those feelings towards me. Besides…what about my past" Kenshin said softly.

"Kenshin, we all know that night Tomoe died was an accident. It was nobodies fault. You couldn't do anything." Sanosuke tried to reassure him.

But Kenshin couldn't help think that a close friend died because of him. He remembered all of it. Kenshin and Tomoe were the last ones to leave a party and he was walking her home. It had been dark. They got to her apartment and out of nowhere, some whacko jumped out from the bushes with a gun. Kenshin tried his best to protect Tomoe. He was caught up in a fight with the man and was shot in the arm. Everything started to spin, and become blurry. He fell to the ground in pain and tried to get up, but couldn't find the strength to. The last thing he remembered was a gunshot and Tomoe screaming before falling into unconsciousness. He woke up three days later in the hospital, with Kaoru looking down at him with red eyes and fresh tears running down her cheeks. Everyone else was in the room and Kenshin could hear Misao's crying in the corner. Megumi was buried in Sanosuke's arms, who had a confused look on his face, and eyes looking for answers. It was then that it hit Kenshin. Tomoe hadn't survived. She was gone, and wasn't coming back.

Kenshin remained in the hospital for three more weeks because of his gunshot wound. He dropped into a state of depression, not eating anything and hardly sleeping. He had nightmares of Tomoe being killed by that same crazed man. He screamed out in the night, and nurses had to calm him down with types of tranquilizers. Kaoru was always next to him though. She practically lived at the hospital, so that during the nights she could be there to ease his pains. Eventually, Kenshin recovered and he slowly came back to earth from his depression. He tried not to think of that night, but couldn't help think it was his entire fault Tomoe died.

"Sano, I love Kaoru." Kenshin admitted. Sanosuke grinned at his best friend and slapped him on the back.

"Then tell her you baka!" Sanosuke said ruffling Kenshin's long, red hair.

"I can't Sano!" Kenshin protested, trying to straighten his hair.

"Oh I get it. You're scared huh?" Sanosuke teased.

"No, that's not it."

"Well then what is it?"

"I just…I…"

"Yep. You're scared." Sanosuke said nodding his head. Kenshin sighed and gave up.

"You wouldn't understand Sano. I guess I'm just afraid something will happen to Kaoru, and I won't be able to protect her…" He trailed off.

"I thought that was why you started taking swordsmanship though." Sanosuke said confused. Kenshin shrugged and sighed again. "Oh come on Kenshin. It's been four years. We all miss Tomoe. But you need to move on. C'mon. I'll by you a soda." Sanosuke said actually patting Kenshin on the back softly. He yawned and watched Sanosuke walk off towards the doctor's lounge. It was going to be a long night.

9:45 Doctor's Lounge

"Man. Slow night." Sanosuke commented eating his salad. He and Kenshin were both eating a late dinner, after Nurse Tae had told them they could take a break. Kenshin nodded and opened his water bottle. He took a sip and looked at the clock. Only 9:46. Kenshin looked down at the clipboard he was holding that told of a patient's physical condition, and tossed it on the table Sanosuke was eating at. He stretched out on the couch he was sitting on and laid down. Kenshin stared at the ceiling and put his hands behind his head as a pillow. He wanted to go home and sleep. And dream about Kaoru.

10:50 Doctor's Lounge

"How fricken' long have we been in here Kenshin?" Sanosuke said laying down a card. He was playing a game of solitaire and Kenshin was reading a book. Kenshin looked up from his reading glasses and took out his watch.

"Well, considering that one emergency that lasted about an hour, and you went to the bathroom twice…" Kenshin thought and counted backwards. "I think we've actually been in here for at least an hour and a half. Or more." Kenshin said thoughtfully. Sanosuke groaned and threw his cards in the air.

"That's it. If I'm not gonna get any action, I think I'm going to go crazy!" Sanosuke complained. Kenshin chuckled and went back to his book.

"This is totally wack. The girls are out having the time of their lives, while were stuck here in Dulls Ville!" Sanosuke said going to the bathroom for the fourth time. Kenshin smiled. He hoped they were having a good time.

11:30 E.R. Waiting Room

"Well, your ankle doesn't seem broken. Looks like it's just a bad sprain. Go with Nurse Tae and She'll take you to get an x-ray." Kenshin said examining a small boy. He stood up and walked over to Sanosuke as the boy was placed into a wheelchair and led to get an x-ray.

"So how did that happen?" Sanosuke asked curiously as the boy disappeared down the hospital hallway.

"Tripped and fell down his stairs trying to get a drink of water." Kenshin said yawning. He looked at his watch and frowned. "Kaoru-dono said she'd be back around 11:00. I'm starting to worry" Kenshin said watching the E.R. doors nervously. Sanosuke yawned and looked back to Kenshin.

"Huh?" he asked tiredly. Sanosuke looked at the clock and his eyes widened. "Hey, the fox said she'd be back at 11:30 too! You know what this means don't you?" Sanosuke asked Kenshin frantically. Kenshin's eyes widened waiting for the answer.

"Those lousy women gave us the slip! I bet they didn't go anywhere at all! They're probably all at their own houses sleeping right now!" He said shaking a fist angrily.

"Oro!" Kenshin fell over.

"Dr. Himura! We just got a call from one of our ambulances! There was an accident on highway 63. Four individuals were involved in the crash." Tae said running up to Sanosuke and Kenshin.

"Do you have anymore information Tae-dono?" Kenshin asked putting on his medical coat.

"Not much. Just that it was a head on collision. The car that was struck had three passengers, genders not know just yet. The driver in question was drunk. We have no names and no vitals. It was a quick call in doctor. I'm sorry I can't give anymore information." Tae said. Kenshin shook his head.

"That's alright." He replied.

"Tae, do you mind calling the fox or Jou-chan on their cells? This is really their time, so they need to get down here and help us." Sanosuke said putting his own medical coat on.

"Well, I tried, but…it says that their numbers can't be reached. Like it's out of service or something…" Tae said quietly. The three stood in silence. They all had the same lurching feeling in their stomachs.

"Alright look. We all know what we're thinking, and we can't be sure right it's really them okay? So let's keep our heads together, even if it is the girls. Tae, I want all nurses here in the E.R., and call Aoshi Shinomori from surgery. Tell him to come down as soon as he can." Sanosuke said taking charge. His voice trembled slightly though, and his face showed a worried complexion.

"Yes sir." Tae bowed hurrying off. Sanosuke looked to Kenshin, who was staring at the ground.

"Kenshin? C'mon buddy snap out of it. The ambulances will be here soon. You have to relax." Sanosuke said shaking him. Kenshin nodded and walked over to the E.R. doors. He looked out nervously as the ambulance drove up. He rushed out with Sanosuke right on his heels. The back doors to the vehicle swung open and an E.M.T hopped out.

"We have internal bleeding and slight loss of consciousness! Concussion, Broken leg, and what appears to be a dislocated shoulder! She's having a lot of trouble breathing so we already bagged her!" The E.M.T. said pulling the stretcher out of the ambulance. Kenshin's heart stopped when he saw who it was.

"Oh God…" Sanosuke said breathlessly.

"Kaoru…" Kenshin said frozen in place as she was pulled out of the ambulance.