Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or Conway Twitty's song "I can't see me without you"

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"Not me without you"

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Kaoru arose from her short nap. She gazed around the room and was confused at first, but full understanding hit her quickly enough. Kenshin's room, but he was not here.

He went so suddenly she found herself in tears each time the memory came to mind, such as now. She gasped "Kenshin please… please come back". In her blurred sight she saw that odd red hair she had come to adore. Doubtless it was simply a memory; she closed her eyes to dispel the idea. Sitting up the terrible sadness overcame her again. It seemed she wept forever these lonely days and nights. That dear peaceful swordsman… where could he be?

The hope for his safety alone frightened her, because the following thought always was the hope that he concept of his mortality felt like a whispered lie, but she knew the red haired samurai could be wounded.

With Kenshin living at the dojo, Kaoru believed she truly grew. She grew to better understand the world, and what it meant to go by the Kamia-Kashin teachings- to fight to protect others. With him gone though, she simply did not feel the same. She didn't feel the same life in her body as she had whenever he would greet her, or when listening to his odd yet wonderful manner of speaking.

Covering her face she whispered "Kenshin I don't feel like myself without you here". Moments later she heard Yahiko shout. She paid him no mind until hearing quick footsteps nearby. She opened her eyes and saw the boy run to a man walking on the path toward the dojo. Believing her eyes were playing yet another cruel trick, she turned away. Upon hearing a familiar voice she stood, and looked again toward the path.

"Red hair… it can't be" as he neared she found her legs becoming flimsy, and held onto the door for support.

Two feet from her, he stopped. "It is good to see you Miss Kaoru, that it is". All was a blur as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, ignoring the blood on his kimono.

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The end

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