Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Standing Tall ❯ Standing Tall ( Chapter 1 )

A/N: *sweatdrop* I don't think I'll ever finish any of my other stories if I keep on writing short stories....anyway, this is my third--err--second short RK fic, so please go easy! Anyways, once again, this takes place during that month between the battle with Shishio and Cho's little visit *huggles Cho plushie* Isn't he kawaii!? Anyway, here's the story...*grin* Arrigatou, Ja ne, and Review, onegai!

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin wa watashi no dewa arimasen. Watsuki-sama no desu. (Translation: *I hope this is right* Rurouni Kenshin is not mine. It's Watsuki-sama's.)

As days turned into weeks, the progress in rebuilding the Aoiya Restaurant was going fairly well. Though it wouldn't be ready for another few weeks at most, the Oniwabanshuu members along with the able Kenshin-gumi worked as hard as they dared, for some were still recovering.

Kaoru wiped her brow as she ascended the stairs. She had been working all after noon with Misao and Omasu on the former first floor, clearing away debris to make space for the building that would start tomorrow. When they had finished, the sun had already set and the full moon was hanging high in the sky.

As Kaoru passed the room Kenshin rested in, her semi-happy mood fell. The thought of the rurouni still healing in there made her heart ache, and the fact that he offered to help them more than once made her want to cry. Didn't he care about his own well-being? For Kami's sake, the man nearly lost his life fighting Shishio Makoto, couldn't even get out of the futon he'd occupied for the past two weeks, and he was offering to help rebuild the Aoiya? Couldn't he be selfish once in his life?

Kaoru stopped to stand in front of his room, a slight glare befalling her features. The man needed to stop trying to be so helpful. She placed her fist over her heart and sighed. Getting angry wouldn't help, nor would getting sad. Kenshin was just being Kenshin...nothing new, ne? That still didn't stop her worrying.

As she was about to walk away, she could hear a faint rustling coming from the rurouni's room, and a muffled cry. Kaoru's eyebrows arched and she leaned in closer, trying to hear what exactly was happening. A crash, and more muffled cries. What the heck was going on in there?

As she slid the shouji open, she was surprised to find that no one was in the room watching over Kenshin, and even more surprised and tad bit angry to find the rurouni on his hands and knees, trying to push himself upwards to stand. When he heard the sound of the door opening, his violet eyes shifted up to find Kaoru looking down at him, frowning. "Mou! Kenshin, what do you think you're doing?" She hissed, shutting the door behind her and walking towards the ex-hitokiri.

Kenshin pushed himself into a sitting position and looked up at her, plastering his classic Rurouni Smile (TM) across his still-pale face. "Konbanwa, Kaoru-dono."

Kaoru stood over him, fists planted firmly against her hips as she started to scold the man like she would a child. "Kenshin, you're still healing! Why can't you just lay here until your wounds are better?"

Kenshin's smile faltered a little. "Because Sessha wants to help, de gozaru." He replied softly.

The Kaashin Ryu shihondai knelt down next to the wanderer, her anger slowly fading. "Kenshin, I know you do, but we have more than enough people helping. All we want is for you to get better."

Kenshin lowered his head so his bangs obscured his eyes, and spoke in a soft voice. "Sessha is the reason why the Aoiya is damaged..."

Kaoru sighed hard, trying to supress her anger. But before she could say anything, Kenshin was on his knees, trying to get to his feet. Kaoru stood up and looked down at him, frowning. "Kenshin, please lay down. You're only straining your body."

"Iya, daijoubu, de gozaru yo." Was her response.

Stubborn baka. She thought, her eyes filled with worry. At this rate, he'd pull the stitches in his shoulder and side, and then he'd have to spend another week or two healing. "Kenshin, stop right now." Kaoru ordered, placing her hands lightly on his shoulders.

Kenshin gently shrugged away her hands and continued, much to Kaoru's dismay. "Kenshin..." She said with a sigh; He never gives up, does he?

"If I help you, do you promise to lay down afterwards?" Kaoru asked, kneeling down once again to look at his face.

"Hai." Kenshin responded, giving her a smile.

Kaoru sighed, then wrapped her arms gently under the rurouni's arms and around his back. With a count of three she stood up, picking Kenshin up until he stood on his feet. He braced himself using Kaoru's shoulders, his eyes squinted together in pain. "Kaoru-dono...gomen nasai." Kenshin whispered, his eyes saddening.

"Wha--Why are you apologizing?" Kaoru asked, pulling away to look at his face.

"Sessha always worries you..." Kenshin replied, resting his forehead against her shoulder.

Kaoru hugged him a bit tighter, a small smile coming to her face. "That's because you put the entire world on your shoulders." She explained, resting her chin lightly on his shoulder.

Kenshin moved closer, his arms going around her to hug her closer to him. "I worry because you make everything your problem, your dilemma...and you never let any of your friends help you."

The two leaned back to look at each other, and Kaoru hushed Kenshin with a finger to his lips. "I know you want to protect us...but we want to protect you too, Kenshin. We want to help you...I want to help you."

Kenshin lowered his head, his bangs once again covering his eyes. "Sessha--"

"Don't you dare argue with me, Himura Kenshin. No matter what you say or do, it won't change our minds. You're part of our family...we can't just let you go off and fight to get yourself killed." Kaoru said sternly, the last part a mere whisper.

Kenshin smiled and leaned his forehead against Kaoru's. "Arrigatou, Kaoru-dono..."

Kenshin's legs suddenly buckled and he fell forward, but Kaoru hugged him tightly and slowly lowered to the ground, bringing Kenshin with her. "Rest now, okay? You'll make me worry more if I know you're in here straining yourself."

The rurouni nodded, reluctantly pulling away from Kaoru to lay on his futon. Kaoru smiled at him as she pulled the blanket over him, then leaned down to place a kiss on his forehead. "I'll come by in the morning with breakfast, alright?"

She sat up and glared down at him, her smile still on her face. "And I better not find you like I did tonight."

"Hai." Kenshin replied, smiling weakly up at her.

Kaoru stood up and walked to the shouji, pausing to look over her shoulder at Kenshin. "Oyasumi nasai, Kenshin."

"Aa, oyasumi Kaoru-dono." Kenshin replied.

When he heard the shouji shut, he let a sigh escape his lips. Part of a family...I've never thought of our rag-tag group as a family. A smile found it's way to his face once again. I guess they feel the same way about me as I do them. At this thought, the rurouni's eyes drifted shut as sleep overwhelmed him. And that night, not a single nightmare that usually plagued his dreams appeared.

A/N: What do you think? I know I seem a bit obsessed with this part of the series...BUT THEY DON'T SHOW ANYTHING! A whole month left unexplained! Stuff like this had to happen, ne? Anyway, please review sessha's story, please? It'll make me a happy little rurouni-writer. ^^