Standard Disclaimers Apply.
Chapter Fourteen: Matrices of Memories
Battousai no Kokoro Act 1- Heart of Sword: To Protect the One I Love.
Author's Notes: the a/n in the beginning of the chapter seems weird, but it is really important that you read this. As of the moment you are reading this, Sano, Megumi, Aoshi, Misao, Yahiko and Tsubame still has no idea of their past life as presented in the previous chapters. They may have had dreams, incoherent flashes, unexplainable memories but they are just that. They haven't found any logical reason for those so they shook them off as plain insanity.
Take note: The characters won't be enlightened at the same time. Different scenes will trigger different reactions from each character.
Kaoru-dono?
Rurouni?
~~~~~
Megumi and Misao sat beside each other on the front row as the curtain unfolds. They were watching the expressions playing on the lead character's eyes as they stood to face each other in shock.
~~~~~
Back on the stage, Kaoru felt her knees grew weak as the images that kept coming and going in her mind suddenly bombarded her that second. She paled when she dawned in the realization, It's him… Kenshin is the man in my dreams… Pink gi and white hakama… I remember it all now. She slowly took steps towards Kenshin when she felt someone hit her right shoulder with a sheathed katana.
Gohei Hiruma, the man who played as her assaulter, lifted her up, holding her kimono as he said his practiced lines. Kaoru stared at him in confusion for she cannot hear him say anything. All she can hear is the rapid beating of her heart as sweat dropped from her forehead.
~~~~~
Meanwhile, Kenshin felt his heart shatter as his dreams slowly made sense to him. He held up his hand in front of his eyes and stared at it guiltily, imagining blood pouring from it. Not his blood. Blood of those he killed. The closed his eyes, Oh God! I am him… I am really him… the Hitokiri Battousai… When he opened his eyes once more, he was surprised to see a man harassing Kaoru. He said in an icy voice, "Remove that hand de gozaru yo!"
Hiruma looked at him wide-eyed in confusion, That's not written in the script… Why isn't he following the script? Think fast… I'll just play along. He said shakily, "… Red hair, cross-shaped scar on his cheek… This man …"
Kenshin rested his sakabattou on his left shoulder and said, "I forgot to mention one thing. The swordmanship of the Battousai the Manslayer is neither Kamiya Kasshin Ryu or any original sword style you use. He used Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, an ultra-sonic killer style that is used to slay anyone unless used with a sword like this."
~~~~
Standing alone inside the technical room, Sano stared at the drama unfolding before him, "Chikuso! Kenshin is really getting into the role… I wonder if…" Nah…
~~~~
Hiruma rubbed his chin and said, "Interesting…." Lounging forward, he yelled, "Die Battousai!!!!"
Leaping up in the air, Kenshin swiftly dodged Hiruma's attack as he lunged down on him hitting him.
~~~~
Sano dropped the fishbone he was chewing when a dream he had weeks ago replayed itself more vividly before his eyes.
"Zanza…"
"The fight isn't over, not by a long shot… Let's finish this fight, Mr. Fucking Ishinshishi!"
"Fine, let's finish this fight…"
He snapped his eyes open and mumbled, "That's… that's…."
~~~~~
"… Ryu Tsui Sen," Yahiko whispered in the middle of the theater as he gawked at the scene. Huh? How did I know that? I haven't even watched Kenshin train, but… I'm sure of it… it's a Ryu Tsui Sen.
"You were saying something? Yahiko-kun?" Tsubame asked, glancing at Yahiko.
"Nothing…" I'm not mistaken…
~~~~~
Hiruma laid on the floor defeated. Kenshin looked towards Kaoru and gave her a half smile, "Sorry, Kaoru-dono. I didn't mean to hide it from you. It's just that I didn't want to tell you if it wasn't necessary." Turning around he said, "Well.. take care…"
"…Baka! I'm not saying I want Battousai to stay. I want to rurouni to sta— If you insist on going… at least tell me your name."
"Kenshin… Kenshin Himura," he said smiling at her.
Kaoru gave an audible sigh and croaked, "Aren't you going your way?"
"I'm a little tired of wandering, though I don't know when I'll wander again…" Hearing Kenshin's voice, Kaoru's smile widened. She turned around to face him then the lights went out.
~~~~~
From the audience, Megumi nudged Misao and whispered, "Hey Misao, did they change the script again?"
Misao shrugged and looked dumbfounded, "I really don't know… all I know is that they made slight changes in the villains."
Megumi smirked and said, "That wolf is so fickle! He even made me change the costumes of the characters. Oh well, this play might have a surprise in store for us after all."
Misao was about to say something to Megumi but the stage slowly lit up showing a man dragging another wounded man. They were being chased by a group wearing Shinsengumi uniforms.
Upon seeing them, the man panicked as he tried to ran away from them. Hiding in the shadows, Kenshin said to them in a low voice, "Don't worry, they're mine."
Kenshin lounged at the Shinsemgumi and attacked them in swift, agile movements. Soon, they were all lying on the floor knocked out. Only one of them remained standing. His face remained expressionless as he said, "Nice to meet you again, Himura-san. You're Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu has much improved." He smiled at his opponent to show his calmness as he unsheathed his katana. He was about to run towards the legendary Hitokiri when a hand grasped him on the shoulder.
"Okita-kun, I ask you to sit this one out."
~~~~~
Misao clasped her hand on her mouth in shocked, "I can't believe it! Professor Fujita dressed up as a Shinsengumi and went on stage!!!!"
Megumi shared the same expression as she mentally noted her speculation… That man had always adored Saitoh Hajime… Could it be that he gave the role to his son… so he can take over at the last minute.
~~~~~
"Teme!" Sano yelled as he banged his fist on the table. By know, most of Sano's memories were already vivid, giving him an advantageous insight of the situation. Fujita got it all figured out! That wolf! Now he won't let his son fight because he knows that Kenshin is transported back to the Meiji! Chikuso!!! Does he know, too?
~~~~
Souji looked at his father quizzically but he made way, trusting his father enough and not letting his puzzlement ruin the play. He tried to act naturally and said, "Don't worry about me. I am the Shinsengumi First Division Captain."
Fujita looked at him in a manner his son can't refuse and said with must authority, "You're still in no condition to fight."
Souji nodded and took steps back.
Kenshin looked at the scene before him with an intense glare.
Fujita took an offensive stance and said, "I, Hajime Saitoh, the Shinsengumi Third Division Captain, will kill you…. Die Battousai!!!!"
Both rushed towards each other as the lights slowly faded. The only sound, which could be heard, was the clanging of the swords.
~~~~~
Dr. Genzai approached Kenshin on the backstage and asked him, "Kenshin, are you alright?"
Kenshin continued to stare into space, unaware of his surroundings.
Fujita exhaled his smoke from behind and said, "Don't bother talking to him, Dr. Genzai. Looks like our Battousai had gone schizophrenic and does everything on his own.
"But…." Dr. Genzai stammered.
"I think our internalization session was too intense for him. He's now feels that he's truly in the Meiji and that he's truly Battousai. Don't mind him as long as everything turns out fine."
Dr. Genzai was very skeptical about Fujita's explanation but he decided to let it pass and just ask Kenshin himself after the play.
Fujita inhaled deep in his cigarette as he smirked, He is definitely Battousai… no… he was Battousai… My hunch is right.
~~~~~
Sanosuke grinned from the technical room and said, "It's time!" Pressing a couple of buttons, he made a beautiful and almost surreal visual effects of dancing fireflies on the stage.
As the stage slowly lit up, it revealed the river setting, which the scene took place. Kaoru sat on the middle of a log as she stared blankly at the sight in front of her. When she heard shuffling noises, she turned around. When she saw Kenshin with a grim expression on his face, she stood up and faced him.
He said, "I'm going back to Kyoto."
"Kyoto…" Kaoru whispered. She asked sadly, "When you go, will you return to the Kenshin of ten years ago?"
"I don't know… Over ten years, I thought I had put away Battousai but fighting Saitoh made me realize that the Hitokiri was still living deep inside of me."
Kaoru fisted her hands as she fought back the tears forming in her eyes. I wouldn't give up. I won't give up Kenshin. She raised her voice a little louder as she reasoned, "But you could get rid of him even though you came close to become Battousai… Kenshin will always be Kenshin… A rurouni who doesn't kill!!!"
Kenshin walked closer to her and said calmly, yet no matter how he tried to hide his feelings, deep sadness could still be traced in his voice, "If I stay here, I'll put you all in danger and slowly become the Battousai again, loss by loss." He paused for a moment and looked straight into her eyes, "When I met you the first time, you told me that you don't care about my past... I was so happy. I thought I could live a normal life with you and just be a samurai." Closing the distance between them, he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her for a tight embrace. He felt his heart sank at that moment. His mind was in turmoil because he didn't want to leave this kenjutsu instructor that he had learned to love. However, he had already made up his mind that he will not endanger her. Slowly, he whispered into her ears. "Thank you so much. I am a rurouni… I am going to return to my journey. Sayonara."
Hearing him say that broke the dam that was holding Kaoru's tears. She closed her eyes as silent tears fell. For what she thought was the last time, she inhaled Kenshin's scent as she relished her last moment with the rurouni who owned her heart. She wanted to reason with him again but the words won't come out of her mouth. She had lost all energy. Finally, Kenshin let her go and walked away. She just managed to whisper, "Ken… shin," as she fell to her knees, breaking down and cried. With that, the lights went out and a soft musical was played in the background.
~~~~~
Tsubame observed the scene being acted out closely, "Yahiko-kun! Kenshin and Kaoru are really good actors, aren't they?"
Yahiko stuttered, not getting his eyes off the couple on the stage, "Ano… Tsubame… I don't think they are acting anymore…"
~~~~~
****The first act of the play had just finished. We have a fifteen-minute interval before the second act begins. We would like to request order among the audience in this short span of time. Thank you.****
Preview of Next Chapter:
Revelations
Author's Notes:
You might think that this is a bad version of anime… sorry. The dialogues are copied from anime because they represent their past lives… Like I said, memories sometimes tend to be incoherent so expect that the scenes of the play won't follow their traditional order. I chose these scenes meticulously so that they would still flow naturally for the regular viewer, yet significant enough for the other main characters i.e. Sano, Megumi, Aoshi, Misao, Tsubame, Yahiko.
Questions? Clarifications? Post them and I'll gladly answer them.
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