Disclaimer: I have not, do not, and will not ever own either "Yu-Gi-Oh!" or "Rurouni Kenshin."
Chapter 3
~*~
Yugi entered the room, and saw the red-haired youth lying on the bed. His eyes were closed, and he appeared to be sleeping. Better come later, he thought, turning to go.
"Who are you?" asked a soft voice behind him.
Yugi turned and noticed that the figure on the bed was indeed awake, and now looking at him with lavender eyes. \Wait a minute, lavender eyes? I've rarely seen anyone else's eyes that color...\
\\ It is indeed a strange phenomenon...\\ Yami added.
Yugi just stared at his eyes, trying to tell if they were real or just colored contacts.
Kenshin shifted a little under the scrutiny. /What is he staring at? I don't look that odd, do I?/ Kenshin wondered.
//Well, we did stick out before, with red hair and all. Maybe times have not changed as much as I thought,// Battousai suggested.
/That's true,/ Kenshin said, sighing. His eyes wandered around the room again. /To have progressed this much and still stare at someone with red hair.../ Kenshin's gaze slid back over to Yugi. /Although, I'm sure his hair would attract more attention than mine,/ he pointed out, studying Yugi's tri-colored hair. Battousai shrugged mentally.
Yugi finally noticed that he had been staring, mistaking Kenshin's break in eye contact for embarrassment under scrutiny. "I'm sorry!" Yugi quickly apologized. "It's just that, well, I've never met anyone else who had eyes a similar color to mine. I didn't mean to stare."
Oh, so that was it, Kenshin thought. "It's alright, I usually tend to stick out in a crowd for one reason or another," Kenshin said, trying to lighten the mood.
Yugi suddenly remembered Kenshin's earlier question. "Oh, I'm being rude. My name is Yugi Mutou. I was the one who found you in the alley. You look a lot better now than you did then. What happened?"
Kenshin thought it best if he stuck with his original story, until he found out more about Yugi. "I'm not exactly sure myself. I can't really remember much, aside from my name," Kenshin shrugged, apologetically.
"Oh. That's an interesting necklace you've got there," Yugi said, changing the subject while pointing at the Millennium Mask around Kenshin's neck. "Do you remember where you got it?"
Kenshin stiffened a little as the Mask was singled out, but relaxed when he sensed only curiosity in Yugi's aura. He closed his eyes, remembering.
~*~ Outside of Kyoto, 1861 ~*~
A large group of people walked slowly down the dusty road leading away from Kyoto. They had finished trading slaves the day before, and were now headed to the next town. Three of the new slaves they had gained, Akane, Kasumi, and Sakura, had immediately taken a liking for the small red-haired boy, already part of the slave caravan. They felt sorry for him because he was so young, just a child, and because he was small for his age, which meant that he was punished for not being able to do the same amount of work the other slaves could do. Although he had been a slave for a year, Shinta was still a kind child, innocent and always trying to help the girls who looked on him with an almost motherly concern. As they were walking, Kasumi reached into her sleeve and pulled out a necklace with a solid gold pendant. She handed it to Shinta, who looked at it with wide eyes and then looked back at her, confused.
"I want you to have this. It'll protect you," she told him.
Shinta shook his head. "But you could buy your freedom with that," he said softly, still staring at the object in her hand.
Kasumi just shook her head. "Oh, they'd take it alright. Then they'd make up some excuse about it not being real, not being worth enough, or maybe just because it was in the hands of a slave, it's already rightfully theirs," she said, disdainfully. Then her face softened. "Please. I want you to have it."
Hesitantly, Shinta reached out his hand and accepted it. The pendent seemed to glow in his hands. He broke out into a huge grin and flung his arms around Kasumi's waist.
"Oh, thank you!" he said, hugging her tightly.
"You're welcome, Shinta. Just remember, you must always hide it, for if anyone sees it, they'll take it away and sell it," Kasumi warned him.
Shinta nodded exuberantly. "I'll keep it safe," he assured her, slipping the necklace around his neck. The rope was too long for his small body, enabling him to hide the pendent beneath the folds in his gi.
Later on that night, they were attacked by bandits. Chaos reigned supreme as the bandits came forth from the darkness, slaughtering all who fled before them, slaves and traders alike. Three girls rushed to escape, carrying a small, red-haired child. They were surrounded, however, and could do nothing more than crouch on the ground, trying to shield the boy with their bodies. Sakura rushed forward to plead with the bandits.
"Please, don't hurt him--ack!"
Shinta heard her scream and then the sound of something heavy being dropped on the ground. "Shinta, don't look--oh, my dear sister, no!" Kasumi cried in anguish. Akane also rushed forward.
"Please, spare this child!"
She did not scream, and Shinta only heard the sound of metal slicing through something soft. He also felt something wet and warm splash on his face. Kasumi fell forward, shielding him with her body.
"Shinta--Shinta, you must listen to me! Your life has not been chosen for you, so you must live. Listen! Our fates have been decided tonight, but you must survive to honor those who did not--ahh!" One of the bandits picked her up off Shinta, holding her by her hair. He took his sword, and ran it in the back of her neck and out the front. She feebly grasped the blade as the bandit pulled it out, letting her fall to the ground.
Shinta watched in horror, knowing he was next. He tried to run, but his legs seemed to be frozen in place. He tried to scream, but he could not make a sound. He just sat there in shock, unable to do anything while the bandit slowly approached him, raising his blade. Then there was a flash of light, and Shinta knew no more.
When he awoke, there were bodies all around him. He recognized the traders and slaves, but was surprised to find all of the bandits dead, as well. They're all just victims, now, he thought, sadly, as he found a stick and started digging graves for them.
Three days later, Shinta had finished. He had fashioned markers by tying two sticks together and sticking them in the ground to mark each grave. All except for the three that he stood before now, which had stones. He had searched for flowers, but had been unable to find any, as it was the wrong time of year. Suddenly, he heard a man walk up behind him.
"So you made graves for the bandits, as well as your family."
How did he know about what had happened? "This wasn't my family-- they were slave traders. But that night they stopped being bandits or traders, they were all just victims," Shinta said, sadly.
"And what about those three?" The man gestured to the stones.
"Akane, Kasumi, and Sakura." Shinta pointed to each grave in turn. "Even though I had only known them for a day, they protected me like I was their own."
"I see. You probably didn't need them to protect you. You were pretty quick when you dodged that bandit's sword. You've got a lot of potential, but it's still lucky for you that I happened to be walking by that night. What's your name?" the man asked.
"Shinta", he answered distractedly. What is he talking about? I didn't dodge that bandit's sword--I couldn't even move! But, then why am I still alive? Why can't I remember what happened?!
"A child's name; too soft for a swordsman. From now on, you will be known as 'Kenshin'."
"Ken-shin?" Shinta looked up at the man.
"I am Seijuro Hiko XIII. Learn the name of your new master. I have found a pupil. Consider yourself fortunate."
~*~
"A close friend gave it to me when I was a boy. She said it would protect me. I sometimes wish that she had kept it, because she was killed very shortly thereafter," Kenshin said, shaking his head, with a melancholy smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry," Yugi said, shuffling his feet.
"It's okay, it happened a long time ago."
Yugi paused. "Wait a minute--I thought you said you didn't remember anything?" Yugi said, looking at Kenshin curiously.
Kenshin looked startled, and he quickly thought up an explanation. "You must have triggered my memory when you asked about my necklace," he said, appearing to study the pendant thoughtfully. He was actually reading Yugi's ki to see if he believed Kenshin's lie.
"Oh," Yugi said. I guess that makes sense, he thought to himself.
They were silent for awhile after that, before Kenshin spoke up. "I wanted to thank you for helping me. You are very kind. You could easily have passed me by, and not done anything."
Yugi looked absolutely horrified at the thought of not helping someone who was in need. "You talk like that happens a lot! Is it like that where you come from?"
Kenshin mentally slapped himself. Kenshin no baka! he thought. Aloud he said, "I'm not really sure why I said that. I can't really remember."
"Sorry. I guess only certain things will trigger your memory, huh? I thought maybe some vague questions might help, but apparently not," Yugi said, feeling powerless to help Kenshin regain his memories.
"That's okay, don't worry about it."
There was nothing left to say, so Yugi excused himself, and left. As soon as he was gone, Kenshin withdrew to his soul room to talk with Battousai. Battousai was waiting for him in the corridor between the two rooms.
/Well? Is that the hikari you sensed before?/ Kenshin asked, guessing at the answer.
//Yes, it is. It is odd that his yami didn't come out to speak with us, or that he didn't say anything about it, though,// Battousai said, thoughtfully.
/Perhaps he has a Millennium Item and his yami has not yet been awakened?/ Kenshin suggested.
//Or, perhaps he was trying to get more information about us before giving too much about himself,// Battousai countered. //He did ask about the Mask specifically, when asking about nothing else.//
/He did, but that could also be because that is the only item that I have, aside from these strange garments./
//True. I'm assuming that they were provided for you when you were brought here? I must say, if these are the latest fashions, I must decline,// Battousai said, rather scornfully. Wearing nothing but a hospital gown left him feeling a little exposed.
/But what about my katana and wakizashi? And my arm guards? I assume that, since he was the one who had found me, he took them. The doctor said it was rather odd that I had sword wounds in the first place, and I'm sure he would have mentioned something, if I had been brought in with any accessories having to do with swords,/ Kenshin pointed out.
//I suppose so. I just don't know right now, Kenshin. I think this might be a little easier to figure out after we get some more rest. I'm still worn out from trying to time travel in an already exhausted state, and Hiko wasn't exactly holding back on that last attack, you know,// Battousai said, somewhat dryly.
/I know, he hit my body, remember? Although, I'm not in any pain. The doctor said something about having given me some painkillers. Wonder what they are? That might explain why I don't hurt with six slashes on my body. If only we had had this back during the Bakumatsu..,/ Kenshin said, thinking back to some of his more painful injuries.
Battousai smirked. //Listen to yourself. Back during the Bakumatsu... you sound like an elder, and you're only 15! Although, now I guess you are old, seeing as you were born in the 1800s and we're now way beyond that...Oh, well,// he said, stifling a yawn.
Kenshin took pity on his yami. Battousai did look tired, and Kenshin himself wasn't feeling too opposed to a nap. /I'm returning to the body now to get some sleep. You should try to rest as well./
Battousai nodded, retreating back into his room.
Kenshin took control of his body once more, when he thought he heard a door close. I thought Yugi left a little bit ago, he thought, as he looked towards the doorway. No one was there, so he dismissed it as his imagination, lay down and let sleep claim him.
~*~
Yugi was walking down the hallway towards the elevator. \So, what do you think, Yami?\
\\I'm not sure. He's definitely hiding something, though.\\
\Are you sure? After all, he did lose his memory. Maybe you're just over-reacting.\
\\Over-reacting?!\\ Yami asked, indignantly.
\Well, you have been under a lot of pressure lately...\
\\Well, if you think that I am over-reacting, then how do you explain the swords the boy was carrying? If I am not mistaken, swords were banned over a century ago.\\
\The swords! How could I have forgotten to ask him about the swords?!\ Yami winced as Yugi yelled in his mind. He'd have to remind him not to yell later, after he had calmed down.
Yugi, meanwhile, had rushed back to room 207, and let himself in. "Kenshin, I forgot to ask you abo-" Yugi stopped short when he saw Kenshin. The red-haired youth was sitting on his bed and, although his eyes were half-open, he didn't seem to be awake. His eyes were glazed and unfocused, and he almost seemed to be in a trance. Yugi walked over and waved his hand in front of Kenshin's eyes. No response.
\Uh, Yami? I take back what I said earlier,\ Yugi said.
\\Hm? What changed your mind?\\ Yami asked, curiously.
\Well, when I go to my soul room to talk to you, my friends have told me what it looks like on the outside. Kenshin is either tripping out on some sort of drugs or he's in his soul room talking to his yami,\ Yugi explained, looking at the unresponsive form in front of him.
\\Yugi, I think it would be wise to not be in the room when he comes back,\\ Yami warned. \\We'll have to keep a close eye on him, however, it would be best if we watch what he does before he realizes that we know about his yami.\\
Yugi decided that Yami's advice would be their best option right now, and left the room as quietly as he could, not seeing Kenshin's glance to the spot he had stood only seconds before.
~*~
