( The first half of this was written before the tragedy of my best friend Shannon's death)

A/N: It is a stinkin' hot summer day and I should be in the pool, dangit. However, no one else is in it right now and I'd feel a little awkward splashing around by myself. And anyway, when compared, Kenshin is better than some pool! Ne?

Anyway, I've been really stuck on what I should do for this story. I had kind of sketched out a little plot for it before I started, but I'm not so sure if I should go that way or not. I feel a little pressured because I want to write this story, but I don't want it to turn out like a curve ball story; starting off serious and really dark into 'wtf happened.' You know?

Anyway, I think this chapter is going to be more of a small progression of Battousai's curiousness about Kaoru's character. 'Course, he's too stubborn to try anything…and too vain for that matter.

Anyway, I'm really unstable on how I'm going to continue this story, but I'll put more brain power into it and think of something.

Anyway, onward with the chapter! Sorry for those who reviewed! I try to respond to you this time.

Disclaimer – I don't own Kenshin, Battousai, Kaoru or her fever…in fact, I'd rather not own her fever, thanks.

Warnings – intense swearing, my folks.

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Chapter 7 – A Cat's Curious Fever

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"A Fever!"

He was mad.

There was no doubt of that as Battousai's voice carried lividly across the base.

"She's got a damn fever now?"

Katsura gave an unpleasant sigh as he continued to receive Kenshin's relentless complains. For his most skilled assassin, his talents with a blade most surely didn't make up for his sudden lack in maturity.

"Yes, Kenshin; she most likely developed a fever in her few weeks stay. That can happen with the sudden crowding of new people; she was most likely used to solitude, or at least, much less of a number of people around her."

Battousai gave a goaded hiss as he attempted to control his anger and compose what little patience he possessed.

"I don't care how she retrieved the damn fever. I just want to know how we get rid of it! Dammnit, I'm not going to be demoted to bed duty for that…that-" Battousai shifted his blistering gaze to the floor as he shook his head in a desperate attempt to match the rightful word akin to the level of his displeasure.

"I believe that is enough-" Katsura attempted to politely interrupt his effort to find the word, lest he stoop to something excessively offensive. However, in Battousai's bitter mind-set, he refused to let his opinion fall upon deaf ears and interrupted his superior…

"-That fucking whench!"

…Something he most certainly should not have done.

"That is enough!"

Katsura's sudden booming voice startled the teen into shocked silence. The man had abruptly stood at Kenshin's final comment and his usual face of a placid calm had contorted into a scowl of disapproval.

"I've had enough of your ridiculous complaints, Kenshin Himura! Not only have you interrupted me several times today, but have gone against my word as well! I have tolerated your unusual, immature behavior for long enough! You have crossed the line with your colorful interpretation of Kamiya-san's demeanor."

Battousai stood stock-still; his golden eyes wide with stun.

"I have given you the responsibility to take care of the girl until we can confirm she can be freed from our confinements. If it is going to be another week from now, so be it! A month, two months, a year! It will have to be tolerated! However, I will not have you storming about the base in this unbelievable manner!"

Battousai's voice bravely weaved its way into projection.

"Why must we take care of her…why can't we just toss her into a brothel and be done with her…!"

Katsura closed his eyes in an effort to hold in his anger.

"We've gone through this already, Kenshin. She knows too much about us. Get rid of her now and she could reveal not only your identity, but mine as well."

"Why can't we just kill her then!" The distress in his voice was apparent.

Katsura shifted his eyes to gaze into blazing gold.

"…Have you lost all reason as to what we are fighting for, Kenshin? Have you truly forgotten?"

Amber eyes were suddenly directed to the floor.

"…Enough. You are dismissed."

No words were exchanged from then on as Battousai straightened his posture, bowed to save what little dignity he could with the man and with a wounded pride, turned his back and walked out.

Once the shoji slid shut with a definite 'click', Katsura produced a long, tired sigh. He sat down quietly once the room's silence promised further postponement of interruptions.

He rubbed his temples in aggravation and slight remorse for his earlier actions. Though he knew his measures were necessary, he still hated being so hard on the boy.

Perhaps he needed that scolding long ago…

- - -

An expression of unenthused defeat greeted the eyes of those who dared take a glance at the shadow assassin. His steps were heavy with the burn of his injured ego. It hadn't been the first time he had been admonished by someone older than himself…however, to be referred to as immature and unbelievable was a flame that had yet to burn him.

However, he had a chance to back down and prevent himself from damaging his character. However, he had licked the flames with a tart tongue and the consequences spread upon him like hell fire.

The importance of this girl had become much too costly for his taste. He was not at fault for her sudden illness, so why should he be the one to bare the cross? He took full blame in admitting that he was, perhaps, vaguely too bitter about it all. However, she ignited something deep inside of him that coaxed him almost provokingly to slam her to his attention and demand she answer all the questions she elicited. The way they acted around one another fluctuated so spontaneously, it made his head spin out of control into a dizzy dance of perplexing disorder.

He hadn't noticed that his profound pace had come to an end and he was standing gravely outside his room; silence overtaking as a negative harmony with the eerie ring of his eardrums. A sigh broke the music; whether it came from himself, he failed to perceive. Behind the thin door of paper-rice was the object of his brooding; ill and forlorn.

His hand gripped the shoji and gently pulled it open and stepped only half way though the door; halting after only one step. With wide golden eyes, he started as his stunned gaze was held by shades of glossy sapphire. She was awake and staring at him directly, waiting for his return. Her eyes held an unreadable emotion that once again, teased Battousai's furious curiosity.

She blinked only a few times, shifting her gaze only slightly before he gave off a breath he didn't know he had been holding and continued into his room. His movements were slow, yet quiet and untamed. He felt an unnatural chill run up his spine and grit his teeth as he saw she continued to stare at him, never faulting in her gallant gaze. He knelt down next to her and reached for the small wooden tub that lay idle next to her head which rested on the head rest of his futon.

Pulling it toward him, he felt the water slosh out of the sides but ignored it as he busied himself with taking the cloth off her head and soaking it in the cool water.

"How long have you been awake." He kept his gaze away from hers, preoccupied with ringing the cloth out over the bucket. Somehow, he found it easier to speak when he was at work.

"…Only a little while." Her voice was quiet; something he wasn't used to. For another reason he couldn't explain, he hoped she didn't wake up to his shouts and argument with Katsura. He contemplated bringing the subject up but decided against the matter; he'd much rather be left in the dark.

"…I see," His reply seemed cut short from something more that he meant to say, but she seemed to accept it regardless of it's shortened form. He gave the now cool cloth one last, strong ring before placing it onto her forehead and moving the bucket back to its original place. He felt for a second like he forgot something…

He brushed it off and sat quietly as the steady rhythm of her breathing kept the silence of the night at bay. His hands twisted in his lap as he felt the need to get up and move; his legs starting to tingle from their immobility. His squirming was subtle, but it didn't go unnoticed like he had hoped.

"…I heard you and Katsura-san talking…"

There was a long pause of awkward silence once she breathed those words. Then, an irritated sigh rang out from the assassin. He was ashamed enough that he has awoken half the base with his 'immature' behavior.

"…Battousai." His name was said in a manner that requested his attention. He barely cocked his head in her direction, but it was enough to satisfy her; he was listening.

"…Why do you hate me...?"

Her question was unexpected.

He turned full gaze to her. Her question had been spoken out of mere curiosity – an emotion that Battousai was having particular trouble with recently. He felt his lips part slightly in an essence to say something; to answer her with anything that pertained to his punishment of being forced to take care of her. Something he originally detestably dreaded of doing.

"…I do not."

His voice was calm – so unlike how he was truly feeling. She cocked her head to the side, her bangs falling into her face and covering her intense sapphire gaze just enough to ease his rattled nerves. Another small wave of silence passed over and along with it, Battousai's memory of what he had forgot. With his need for the mobility of his limbs and stimulation for his mind, he quickly took off the cloth on her forehead once more and placed his hand carefully onto her brow to test the temperature. It felt so warm against his palm.

"…You don't hate me."

He was more surprised by the gentle vibration he felt under his palm rather than her voice itself. Her voice held doubt that he expected regardless of his lack in control of being slightly offended. He didn't falter, however. He distantly gazed out at the tatami mat where he bore his fist into it a month before – the hole still there. He shook his head lightly, his blood-red hair swaying with his head. Slowly, he removed his hand from her heated brow; she still had a slight fever. No harm in confirming it.

His hand tingled slightly.

The silence seemed to last too long for his liking and he tried to occupy himself with placing the cloth back onto her forehead. But the unease he felt with her staring overpowered his attempt to distract his mind. He wished she would just put away her curiosity, just for once, and rest. It would not only do good for her health, but soothe his ruffled nerves.

"…Then why-"

"Just shut up."

He learned that her spirit was just too fiery to be let down that easy. He needed to take the initiative and inform her that she was pushing her nose into his book a little too far, too soon. He was feeling uncomfortable; a feeling he hadn't felt since his immortal blood mingled with his mortal. Apparently, the gentle way he performed his speech contradicted with his command so much, it surprised Kaoru into going still for a few seconds…

The gentle rise and fall of the futon blanket had stopped.

"…What?"

"Just shut up - and rest easy."

Kaoru's gaze lingered on him for only a while longer before she let an audible puff of air slip from her nose. His gaze was still concentrated on the indent of his floorboards as he heard the soft rustling of fabric as she turned onto her side slightly.

He didn't know how long he stared, but he was brought out from his trance when Kaoru's breathing slowed to an even, steady pace. His head inclined toward her direction for a slight moment; blinking a few times to clear his dry eyes before he bowed his head and closed his eyes, standing up soundlessly and exiting the room.

He quietly clicked the shoji shut and let his right had linger on the closed boards as he turned and rested against it wistfully. Slowly, he brought his left hand up in parallel with his collar bone and gazed at it with golden eyes. It still tingled slightly.

He flexed it questioningly before he swiped it down to his side and straightened his shoulders. His curiosity was going to get him killed one day.

Slowly, he eased himself to a steady pace down the dark hallway; he suddenly felt the need to drench himself with well water.

- - -

Lendra-chan: Hello all. Updated faster than you thought I did?

Well, I wrote a lot before it happened so-

Right now I'm doing alright. I've read a few saved IMS with Shannon and she's so funny and weird I just laughed all through it. I'm gonna read Kenshin # 26 to her out loud now once I get settled into bed. Psh, the loser never got passed 23. XD So I've read 24, 25 and now 26 eachatnight to keep her occupied…or myself occupied.

Whether or not she wants to admit it, I got her into RK. –shakes fist at sky- deny it all you want! (She has for the past 3 years -cough-)

I miss her dearly, yes, but as they said in Kenshin, her memories are heavy, and carrying them will make you stronger. I'm praying for her and her family, especially.

If you want to know, their names are John and Teri. Oh, and her older brother Germy On behalf of their safety, I'll leave the last name for you to figure out in my other Author's Notes 'bout Shannon in my other three stories (GbH, DD, and TnT.)

Her funeral is Wednesday and so I'll be busy all that day. (Gosh, I'm gonna need extra tissues.)

Well, I really hope you all enjoyed this chapter.

Please pray for Shan and her Family.

RIP my best beloved friend.

And tell Kenshin and Kaoru I say a very fond 'hello', will you? (Along with all the other RK gang)

I Love you Soooo much, Shannon.