Shattered Reminiscences

By Scarlet Rayne

Chapter 10

"Hey Kenshin, wanna go grab some beer?" Sanosuke asked cheerily.

"No."

"Why not? It's the time to relax!"

"I'm not in the mood."

"But beer is good for your soul!"

"I said, no."

"Aww, C'mon Kenshin! Let's go drinking and maybe pick up a few hot chicks!"

Shooting him a deadly glare, Sano immediately shut up as he watched Kenshin turn his back, and coldly walked out of the locker room. He sighed, as he shook his head in disbelief.

Another attempt, another complete failure.

Never in his life was Kenshin this cold towards Sano.

Kenshin had suddenly turned mute for the past few weeks, cold and untouchable, even towards Sano. Now he had a very hard look on his face, so hard, it almost looked bitter. He almost never opens up, and all he does is return home after work. Nothing else. No more hang outs, no more dinners. Before this Kenshin was only half of what he was now when they went out for missions, but now…

"Kaoru, what have you done to him?" Sano shook his head silently.

"I brought you some cherry blossoms, I hope you like them." Kaoru said softly, as she laid them down. "I'm sorry I haven't visited in such a long time."

Moist eyes blinking slowly, she touched the cold, hard stone. "If only you were here to tell me what to do." Kneeling herself down, she continued. "If only you were here to guide him, and to tell him what not to do."

Feeling the wind blowing in her hair, she gradually lifted her face up to the sky. Gazing at the clouds and the deep blue sky, she closed her eyes, feeling the ease of the situation.

Silence enveloped, as a few seconds passed.

"Do you remember the time where you taught me how to sew…? I ended up having plasters on each finger, complaining that I would have probably lost half of my lifetime's blood supply."

She smiled.

"But then you told me that practice makes perfect." She recalled. "And even if I did loose half of my lifetime's blood supply… you would give me half of yours."

Looking back down, she felt a small tear roll down her cheek. Quickly wiping it away, she mumbled silently, "I'm sorry. I know how much you hated to see me cry."

Hands roaming to the name that was neatly engraved, she murmured. "I miss you so much," Feeling a lump rising in her throat, she looked at the beautiful Cherry Blossoms, an attempt to divert her thoughts so that no more tears would come down. "I miss you so much, Tomoe."

He slammed the door roughly, as he threw his keys to the coffee table. Switching the lights on, his furniture came to sight.

Feeling tired, he lied himself down on the couch and stared blankly at the ceiling.

What was happening to him?

Outside, he could hear the wind howl, sending a whip of cool air through his open window.

He had never felt this pathetic in his life. He had never felt so much pain, anger and frustration boiling in him at the same time, it was unbelievable that he hasn't jumped off the building yet. The emotions stirring in him were killing him bit by bit, but he had to endure it day by day. Because he knew he had to move on.

But the million dollar question was, how?

She haunted his mind and his dreams every single minute of everyday. The memories of her laughter, her smile, the way her eyes twinkled when she was up to something mischievous… they played in his head all the time.

Then his pain would start fuming up to the next level, when thoughts of her lies, her disloyalty comes to mind. Her betrayal.

Her betrayal to him and their promises.

To his heart.

Squeezing his eyes shut, he tried his best to push away the ever growing sorrow in him. His hands reached to his eyes, and he stayed in that same position for a moment.

But not a heartbeat later, the tears came rolling down. He couldn't take it anymore, it was just too much to bear. Too much for him to take.

And not long after that, quiet sobs could be heard from Kenshin's apartment, as the wind continued to blow.

"Kaoru?"

She turned around, and saw Enishi standing in front of her. He had his coat over him, protecting him from the chilly breeze. In his right hand, there was a small bouquet of white flowers, and she could smell the beautiful scent from where she stood. She turned her attention back towards the grave, muttered a small prayer, and bowed in respect.

Ignoring him, she walked away towards the other direction.

Enishi laid the flowers down, and immediately went after the raven head. He caught up with her and grabbed her arm, causing her to stop abruptly. She stared blankly at him, as she yanked her hand away. Turning around a bit too quickly, she didn't pay attention to where her foot was and fumbled onto a big stone, causing her to loose her balance. He instantly grabbed hold of her, but unfortunately her legs were in such an awkward position she twisted her ankle and fell onto another piece of stone.

The impact caused the surface of the stone to tear her skin, which soon led it to bleed.

She gasped.

Holding onto her ankle tightly, she tried to suppress the pain, but it was so overwhelming she let out a soft cry.

"Are you okay?" Enishi asked, worry etched in his eyes. He saw the deep red scratches and the blood rushing out from her wound.

"I'm fine." She replied flatly. He held onto her arms trying to help her up, but she wriggled and slapped his hands away. "I said I'm fine." She snapped stubbornly.

He looked at her, and slowly folded his arms. He had a sarcastic and arrogant look on his face, but it was evident that he was worried nonetheless.

"If you're so fine, try and stand up."

Shooting him an annoyed look, she used all the strength she had to help herself up. But as soon as she stood up, she let out another cry of pain as she fell back down. Frustrated and feeling her ego bruised, she glared at her ankle.

Well, think of it this way, she thought. Things couldn't get any worse, now can it? Worse come worst, she can always crawl back to the house. She didn't need this bastard's help. And even if her body fails to help her get back to the house, God would. She prayed a lot, so doesn't that earn brownie points with him? Yes, of course it would.

She was about to tell Enishi to bugger off because she was better off left alone, when suddenly the sky grew dark and she could feel a drop of rain on her nose.

Oh brownie points my ass. Bloody hell!

"Oh my goodness! What happened?!" Aya gasped when she saw Enishi carrying Kaoru into the kitchen through the backdoor dripping wet. Enishi gently laid Kaoru on the kitchen counter, as he took the towel from Aya and wrapped it around his seething companion.

"She fell down and twisted her ankle," he replied bemusedly, as he took the other towel and wiped his hair. "Get the First Aid Kit for me." Aya nodded obediently and went to get what he wanted.

He turned to look at Kaoru, who slowly wiped her hair, avoiding his eyes. Then he suddenly spoke up. "Doesn't this remind you of the time you fell down and broke your knee? You were …riding on your bike and got distracted by a cow who let out a moo."

She didn't show any response for a while. But slowly, but surely, a smile broke from her face. "Yes," she whispered. "I have never seen a real life cow before then."

He took some hot water and poured it into a bowl. Taking a piece of clean cloth, he dipped it in the hot water and cleaned her wound.

She winced at the stinging pain, causing him to look up. She looked back into his eyes, and she saw how fast worry rushed into his blue-grey orbs. He was sincerely concerned about her, she could see, and that made her feel a bit … awkward. When was the last time he actually fussed over her and tended to her needs?

But what surprised her was something else that she saw deeper in his eyes … it showed something familiar. Something that pulled her heart, something she vaguely remembered he had it in him. His eyes didn't show the arrogance and superiority that he always had to boss her around, but instead it showed something else. Something she couldn't quite place her finger on.

Well, it definitely was something.

"It's going to hurt a bit," he said lightly, as he turned his concentration back to her wounds. Gently, he started to clean them, dipping the cloth back and forth in the hot water. And all the while, she was just looking at him, tending to her wounds.

"Here it is! Here's the First Aid Kit!" Aya entered abruptly, as she gave it to Enishi.

He opened the box and took out the iodine, and later on he bandaged the parts where her skin got torn off. Then, he took out some ointment and started applying it to her ankle.

"You won't be able to walk properly for days, or probably weeks, depending on how fast your ankle heals." He said when he finished, as he got up. "Aya, go upstairs and prepare her bath."

Aya nodded, as she went up to perform the task.

The two of them said nothing, as the sound of rain outside embraced the silence. He cleared up the medicine and placed them back into the Fist Aid Kit, and was about to take her in his arms to carry her up the stairs, when he stopped.

"Now, before you throw a chair at me, would you rather spend your evening crawling up the stairs, or would you want me to carry you up in two minutes?"

Days passed, and her ankle started to heal. Even then, she still could not move, and she was bored out of her mind. Limping around the house, she decided to go back to her room, to maybe read a book or something.

Inside the room, she could hear the sound of water running from the shower inside the bathroom. Enishi must be taking a shower, Kaoru thought. Walking past the dressing table, she noticed a printed piece of paper. Curious, she picked it up and read it.

"… Isn't this a receipt?" she mumbled to herself. "Enishi Yukishiro… three hundred dollars, paid in full, … mmmhm.. Hua San Ps- …What?"

But before she could read any further, she heard the sound of the running waters stop. Quickly placing it back down, she limped over to the bed, and sat down. Just as Enishi walked out through the door, dripping wet.

He smiled at the sight of her, but she just looked down, refusing to acknowledge his presence.

"How's the ankle?"

No reply.

"Is it any better?" he tried again. But all he got in reply was a cold, bored look. He brushed it off, and changed the topic.

"I'm taking you out for dinner tonight, how's that sound?"

Silence.

"How does that sound?" he repeated.

"If you actually gave me a choice," She said flatly, "I'd rather spend the night with the pigs."

He smiled, as he kneeled down to her height. "I'll pick you up when I come back, Tanrou."

She turned away. "Well then, I hope you don't come back."

"Are the boys ready?" a skinny, old man asked coldly as he lit up a cigarette.

"No, give them a few more minutes." Came the reply. "They're still loading up their guns."

"Good. He made a reservation at 8.45 p.m. We attack at 9 p.m. sharp."

"Yes, sir."

"Enishi Yukishiro, you are going to rot in hell." The old man sneered as he exhaled a puff of smoke.

"What do you think of the place?" Enishi asked, trying to make conversation.

Kaoru just rested her chin on her left hand, and stared at the printed patterns on the tablecloth. Fingers tracing the outlines, she started tapping her fingers on the table when she got bored studying them.

"I knew you would enjoy the dim, romantic atmosphere they have here." Enishi continued, smiling at his companion.

"Certainly," Kaoru replied suddenly, "You did not expect that I would feel this romantic atmosphere with you?" There was a hint of disgust in her voice, but he chose to ignore it.

"Lu Tanrou, I-"

"You really are a delusional man." Kaoru cut him off, smirking.

"Listen to me."

"What if I don't? What would you do? Feed me to the sharks? What?"

"Tanrou, listen to me." He warned.

Kaoru rolled her eyes as she looked at the table again, chin on her left hand. The faint music in the background managed to fill in the silence, until Enishi broke it.

"I've… changed, over these couple of years, I .. really have."

Kaoru raised her eyebrow.

"I am a different man now."

"Excuse me while I go vomit blood." Kaoru retorted sardonically. "You've changed? You're a different man? What do you take me for, a brainless, naïve, little girl? I am so sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not as stupid as you think I am."

"Tanrou, listen to me."

But Kaoru continued to vent out her annoyance. "Do you really think I am that dense? I can't believe you actually considered me to fall for something like that. I would really, rather go and hang myself."

"Tanrou. Listen to me." Enishi started to raise his voice.

She glared at him and was about to say something insulting, when she looked into his eyes for the first time that night. Immediately the words died in her mouth, as she saw something in his eyes that managed to stop her from attacking him verbally again.

She could actually see some sincerity lingering in them, much to her surprise, and it somehow suggested to her that he might be serious about what he said after all.

"I.. I started-" Enishi started, until he saw a group of men walking towards them. He instantly recognized the old man who was leading the group, and his eyes darted back to Kaoru.

By the time he got up to get to Kaoru, the men had already spotted him. The old man screamed an order, as Enishi quickly jumped towards Kaoru, making them both fall to the floor. Gun shots were immediately released and terrified screams could be heard throughout the restaurant. Kaoru was shocked, but when she recovered from it, fear seeped in.

Enishi immediately took out his cellphone and dialed a number. He yelled something over the phone, and hung up.

"What happening?" she whispered to Enishi, as he pulled her behind the table for cover. "They're trying to kill me." He replied calmly, wrapping his arms around her. He was afraid, she could see it. But what she didn't know was that he wasn't afraid for his life, but for hers.

When the fully-armed men broke down the table, Enishi held Kaoru tightly, sheilding her as much as he could. He gazed into her frightened eyes, and murmured softly, "I have really changed, Tanrou, I swear, I really have."

Kaoru's looked at him bewilderedly at his words, and her eyes shot wide open when she heard three shots. She then felt Enishi's body tense up, followed by the hard gulps that he swallowed. Sweat started dripping from his forehead, as realization on what was happening started to hit her hard.

Her breathing became rapidly fast, as she witnessed Enishi slowly turning lifeless. She couldn't seem to hear the other shots that followed a few seconds later either, or the sound of the sirens that became increasingly loud.

All she could so was look into Enishi's closed eyes in horror.

A/N: HI ALL, REMEMBER ME:D Sorry for the lack of updates, I just wasn't motivated anymore. Anyway, apologies if there are any spelling errors, because my Microsoft Word is missing some files and it can't run spell check.

Well anyway, I need some reviews to keep me going. So, review please:)

Oh and PS: NO, THIS IS NOT THE END OF THE STORY!

PSS: And yes, I will find time after my exams to fix the rest of the chapters – in terms of grammar and spelling!