Disclaimer: I still don't own it.

Author's Rant: Ah, the actual beginning. I was surprised by the quick reviews. Arigatou, Minna-san. :) But, I'm afraid this chapter's rather slow. Oh, the horror. Well, enjoy.

Advanced Warning: Still, the spacing is screwed. Grrness.

In this Chapter::

:: ... :: = Thoughts

--- = Breaks for flashbacks/locations

+ + +

For the first time in months, Himura Kenshin felt his heart stop, eyes widening in absolute shock.

:: I'm standing in blood. ::

An unnatural breeze radiated about him then, his hair swaying wildly against his back.

:: Something isn't right... :: Kenshin thought, his distraught eyes narrowing as darkness consumed him.

"What's happening to me..."

+ + +

Rurouni Kenshin

~ Shattered Memories ~

---

+ Part 1 +

Takani Megumi never ran so fast in her life. The young doctor's heart thrashed wildly against her chest as she sprinted down the main street of Tokyo, passing various foreigners and pedestrians.

:: How could he just... collapse? How could Ken-San... this just isn't right! ::

Megumi's legs began to throb, causing her to slow rather curtly. "Kuso!" she rasped, dragging her arms over her knees, gasping for breath. Completely unaware on her choice of vocabulary, the doctor whisked back a lock of silky dark hair, determined to continue. Her mysterious royal blue eyes glanced ahead of her, practically sensing the tensions surrounding the Kamiya Kasshin dojo.

:: So close... ::

---

Kaoru passed back and forth, the soles of her feet striking against the wooden floor in impatience. Pale hands clutching the collar of her kimono, the young assistant master gazed nervously at her own room, eyes trailing over the patterns of the closed entrance. She could feel Kenshin's pained breathing, in and out... over and over.

:: Megumi... hurry... onegai...::

Little known to the anxious young woman, a certain shaggy haired student watched her from the distance, every so often tapping the pommel of his shinai. Yahiko's crimson red eyes narrowed in deep thought, cringing after each nervous sigh and striding step from his sensei.

Today was a hectic start... first the strange behavior from Kenshin, then the abrupt collapse he endured shortly after. Yahiko bowed his head, remembering Kaoru's frightened scream as they both ran out of the dojo. It was a disturbing, frightening sight... to see his own idol collapse. It wasn't a gentle fall. Himura Kenshin fell downwards in a pained force, as if he were thrown off a twenty foot cliff. As far as he was concerned, Yahiko never wanted to hear such a noise ever again.

"Hey," a low voice mumbled from behind Yahiko, a strong finger jabbing him in the ribs. The boy turned his head, miffed.

"What do you want, Sano?"

Sanosuke scowled at him, his brows furrowing. "You should learn to respect your elders, Gaki."

Yahiko snorted. "Elders? You don't even count! You're an idiot!"

That settled the score. Kaoru blinked up a storm as her student suddenly went flying past her, arms flailing as he thrashed against the closed entrance of her room.

"Nani?!" she hissed, face twitching.

Sanosuke smirked proudly, rolling up the sleeves of his gi. "Heh, serves the little runt right. I've always wanted to do that..."

"SAAAANO!!!" Kaoru roared, lunging at him. Grabbing the collar of his gi, the enraged young woman began to shake the startled man wildly.

"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?! KENSHIN'S IN THERE RESTING!!! DON'T ADD TO HIS STRESS!!!"

Yahiko sat upwards rather stiffly, clutching his throbbing head as the two engaged in another physical argument. "Baka no Sano..." he growled, dusting off his shoulders.

At this point, Sanosuke face faulted, the sides of his mouth twitching as he was jerked around. "And you think you're helping any? At least I'm not SCREAMING at the top of my lungs!" he barked.

Kaoru's face twisted into her classical "I'm pissed" mode, releasing the rattled Sanosuke. "Just don't do that again! I swear-"

"Kaoru! Sanosuke! Where's Kenshin?" Megumi's voice suddenly shouted from down the hall, interrupting Kaoru. The group glanced at the approaching doctor, rather disoriented for the moment. Megumi sighed, shaking her head.

"I've made it as fast as I could. Don't give me that look. Now, where is he?"

Kaoru, finally remembering why she was pacing back and forth nervously, returned to her nervous estate. She gestured at her room, eyes veiled in fear. Megumi nodded, walking towards the entrance. Her hands opened the sliding door slowly, as the group followed from behind.

And what she saw, she would never soon forget.

---

Darkness. Complete, absolute darkness.

There was no breeze, no dojo... nothing.

Himura Kenshin reached out pointlessly, striving to feel some sort of contact with... anything. His heart never ceased to settle, nor did his turning stomach.

Where was he? Why was it so dark? Why was it so cold?

"Kaoru-dono?" he whispered, picturing the young woman's pleasant face within his mind. Hoping that this was all complete nonsense, the wanderer continued to move forwards.

"Yahiko? Sanosuke!" his whispers rose to a yell. He was surprised by the frantic tone in his own voice.

Kenshin's stomach lurched as a low, gentle chuckle responded to his calls. Instinctively, Kenshin shot his right hand to his left, expecting to feel the rugged pommel of his sakabatou. However, the only thing Kenshin contacted with was air and cloth.

:: My sword... :: he dwelled nervously. He never goes anywhere without his sword.

Another lose chuckle rumbled from behind him. Frantically, Kenshin jerked around, gritting his teeth. His eyes struggled to search for the figure through the darkened void. He still couldn't see.

"Who are you? What do you want with me?" the wanderer demanded, clenching his fists.

Another chuckle.

"So many questions, Battousai."

Kenshin's breath hitched. "...I am no longer such a man, that I'm not."

The speaker's deep tone scoffed. "You disgust me, Kenshin. What kind of warrior are you?"

Before the confused wanderer could even respond, flashing images of the past blurred before him. Numerous dead bodies, clashing blades, flowing blood; and... Tomoe. Kenshin took in a painful breath. "T...Tomoe..." he whispered.

:: How is she... ::

Reaching out with a shaky hand, Kenshin's fingers barely grazed the deceased woman's skin... as they went straight through her. He shot his hand back immediately, eyes widening. :: That's... not Tomoe... who...? ::

Kenshin shuddered as the speaker seemed to circle around him, laughing. "Don't you even recognize your own woman?"

Kenshin frowned, squinting his violet eyes. Then his mind reeled. Fear came crashing upon him like needles. That wasn't Tomoe.

"Kaoru!"

"Hai, your little Kaoru-dono." The speaker mocked, followed by a disturbed release of steel against wood. Kenshin froze.

"What are you so afraid of, Kenshin? Why do you turn from me? It is because of that woman?"

:: What is he... :: Kenshin dared to wonder, starring at the silent Kaoru.

"...I see. You little fool. Emotions are not the foundations of a samurai. I shall end this,"

Kenshin felt his soul break as the figure loomed in front of him. It all happened so quickly. He was starring at... himself.

The imposter grinned dangerously, their amber eyes destroying what little courage the wanderer had into shattered memories. Kenshin's violet eyes widened in fear as a glistening blade suddenly came crashing down, faster and faster...

"Iie..." Kenshin whispered, struggling to move. :: The blade... it's too close... ::

His mirror reflection smiled morbidly. The katana struck Kaoru right in the chest, a clean cut, something that no victim should ever survive. Kenshin's mouth fell open.

"Ken... shin..." the transparent Kaoru whispered, her small form crumpling over.

The wanderer just stood there, frozen by his own fear, starring at the collapsed young woman. The imposter tossed back his head, laughing deeply.

"Iie..." Kenshin repeated, covering his shaking face with blood stained hands. "Iie! Not again!" he choked, tears streaming down his face.

His reflection only smiled, vanishing as Kenshin fell to his knees, grasping onto the deathly still Kaoru. "This isn't real... it's just a nightmare... this isn't real..." he reassured himself, slowly rocking the sleeping woman back and forth. "I... wouldn't kill... just for... for..." As he held her, Kaoru's body began to vanish as well, slowly forming into drifting sakura petals.

"Wait..." Kenshin pleaded, hands clutching onto nothing but darkness. The blood was still on his hands.

The wanderer slowly stood upwards, face bowed. Strands of red hair fell across his eyes as he stood, arms shaking. The darkness began to swirl even faster, turning and bending into frightening demons and shadows. Something wasn't right. He could feel it. We was going to snap.

And he did.

"KAORU!" he roared, soon to be swallowed by the shadows.

---

"Kaoru, hurry, fetch me a small jar of water. Yahiko, go find a piece of cloth. Sano..." Megumi trailed off, lifting Kenshin's head from the futon and onto her lap. His face was distorted in pain. Sweat rolled down his pale face as his breathing became more and more labored. To be blunt: he looked horrible.

"...Sano, get me some herbs."

"Herbs? What mind? I don't know anything about medicine," Sanosuke mumbled, shrugging his broad shoulders. Megumi tightened her jaw.

"Oh, just go to Dr. Genzai! He'd know what to give you."

Sanosuke raised his hands in defeat, walking sluggishly from the room. Yahiko left the dojo minutes ago, claiming to go practice. "Kenshin's going to be fine," he constantly ensured Kaoru, handing Megumi a piece of cloth before exiting the room.

But, as stubborn as Kaoru really is, she remained by Kenshin's side, chewing her bottom lip and tapping the jar of water nervously. Megumi acted quickly, dipping the cloth into the water and placing it over the wanderer's forehead.

The doctor gazed up at Kaoru, smiling to herself. The young woman had been starring at Kenshin for nearly an hour, barely moving from sight. Megumi could feel herself chuckle. Kaoru snapped out of her daze. "Megumi?" she questioned.

That's when the infamous fox ears appeared. "Looks like Kaoru's quite concerned with HER Kenshin! OHOHOHOHOHO!!!"

Kaoru blinked, her face turning as red as Kenshin's hair. "Wh-what d-do you mean, Megumi? I... um, I'm just... concerned, that's all! Just like everyone else!" she quipped, stuttering.

"Suuuure," the doctor winked, enjoying the younger girl's reactions. She took a quick glance at Kenshin while Kaoru coughed nervously, noticing how pale he had gotten over the hours. But something else caught her utmost attention. His scar... it was almost as red as Kaoru's face. Strangely enough, it seemed to have gotten bigger as well.

:: Wait... that's no pigment in the scar... :: Megumi thought, a small gasp fighting through her parted lips.

Kaoru tilted her head, her face further distraught in nervousness. "What's wrong?"

"His... his scar..." Megumi breathed, her eyes widening.

Kaoru frowned. :: If she's trying to scare me again, I swear... ::

"...K... Ka..." Kenshin's pale lips suddenly quivered, tossing his head towards Kaoru's direction. Now, it was Kaoru's turn to stop breathing.

His scar...

It was bleeding.

+ + +

Naomi: Whoaaa. What a disturbing nightmare. Poor Kenshin. *laughs evilly*

Chibi Kenshin: *eyes bug out*

Naomi: Oh, don't worry. Yet.

Chibi Kenshin: *splutters* "YET"?!

Naomi: *grins*

Chibi Kenshin & Kaoru: *both collapses over anime style*

Naomi: Er... whoops. Heh heh. This chapter seemed to have gotten a little... bizarre. Oh well. I warned you, didn't I? :)