Heart-Broken Memories

[Destroyer2000]

Starting Note; This is about what might would happen if Kenshin DIDN'T return after the fight with Shishio. It may contain SPOILERS, so read at your own risk.

"You have to eat, Koaru!" Yahiko paced back and forth across the dojo's porch, occasionally glancing at the moon. "Koaru, remember, you aren't the only one who's lost someone. Sano and Aoshi have returned, either." Yahiko looked about, a hint of sadness in his eyes, and left her alone in her room.
That's true... Koaru thought to herself, but Misao and Megumi don't know what I'm going through..it's been three months since Kenshin left, and no news or word of him has come....all we knows is that Shishio was beaten, along with the rest of the Jupon-Gattana...
Koaru stared at the wall, her eyes sunken in and red with tears. She managed a sip of tea, and then she fell over on her futon, and went into a deep sleep, exhausted from being awake for 2 days.

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Sano sat in the corn quietly chewing on his fishbone, trying to enjoy the small amount he was concious. He slept most of the time now, to try and increase his recovery. His wounds were healing slowly, but he was in much better shape than Kenshin. He glanced over at the little rurouni, and sighed. "You'd better not die on me, Kenshin. I'd never forgive you." He thought he saw a smile tug at Kenshin's lips, but he figured that he just imagined it. Kenshin had been in a coma for over a month now.
Later, Aoshi walked in and sat down on a nearby bench. "How much longer until you can walk?" he asked. Sano just looked at him. Nothing ever really surprised him, but this did. "Do you really expect us to travel ANYWHERE in the shape Kenshin is in?!" Sano yelled, "The travel will kill him!" Aoshi answered him calmly, but somewhat crossly. "We're going back to Tokyo, you idiot." Aoshi paused for a moment. "The Kamiya girl can do more for him than any doctor ever could."

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Yahiko walked inside to find Kaoru aslep on her futon. "Koaru..." he wakled over to her and felt of her head, and discovered that she had a fever. He then rushed out to get some medicine that Megumi had left, and a warm, damp rag. In his hurry, he nearly knocked Tsubame over while running. "Sorry," he said. "Hey, what are you doing out here this late, anyway?"
She replied, "I heard Miss Kaoru was ill and I came to check on her, and to say hi. I thought I might be able to cheer her up."
"Thanks for the concern," Yahiko said, then he looked down sadly, and added, "but she's asleep right now. Please don't wake her. This is the first time she has slept in two days. She's been so worried about Kenshin that it made her sick, and she has a fever. I was on my way to get some medicine." Tsubame nodded and accompanied him to the main part of the dojo. As they neared the entrance, the dojo gate burst open to reveal five bandits all brandishing swords of different sizes.


To Be Continued...