Disclaimer: Enishi's hair is cool.

Author's Rant: Next chapter. This one is kind of slow, actually. -_-'

Advanced Warning: The spacing is *still* screwed. Feh.

In this Chapter::

// ... // = Replayed conversations/memories

:: ... :: = Thoughts

--- = Breaks for flashbacks/locations

+ + +

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, head tossing towards Kaoru's direction. Now, it was Kaoru's turn to stop breathing.

His scar...

It was bleeding.

+ + +

Rurouni Kenshin

~ Shattered Memories ~

---

+ Part 2 +

It was late afternoon. The weather was heavily overcast, with various raindrops here and there. Sagara Sanosuke, face masked in frustration, jolted down the alleyway, striving to reach his destination. "Damn Kenshin..." he mumbled, eyes narrowing. "Damn, damn, damn Kenshin..."

:: You better be all right. If you... if you get any worse, I will kill you! ::

Sharp, rolling thunder began to rise within the heavens, making Sanosuke groan. "Of COURSE there's a storm. Why the hell not? It's not like it adds to a BAD DAY!!!" the six foot brawler threw his arms into the air, shouting and raving to one in particular. As he ranted, Dr. Genzai suddenly popped forth from a nearby house, silver stained brows raised in question.

"Sagara Sanosuke? What brings you here?"

Sanosuke froze, several sweat drops forming. :: Uh, oops... I guess I got here faster than I thought... ::

The elderly man waited patiently for an answer, his deep chocolate eyes reflecting a hidden fear. He knew something was wrong, judging from the young man's troubled expression.

"Aa, er..." Sanosuke coughed, running a hand through his wild hair. "...eh, Genzai-sensei, we have a little problem..."

---

Kaoru's heart rose to her throat, practically choking her. Megumi had already treated the scar, her face glistening in sweat. Kenshin still continued to thrash and turn upon her futon, moaning.

Kaoru lifted a shaky hand to her face, trembling against her own fear. :: Oh, Kami-sama, onegai... let him wake up, wake him up... ::

"Kaoru," Megumi spoke deeply, her hands pressing another strip of cloth against Kenshin's bleeding scar. The blood soaked through rapidly. This was the fifth applied bandage.

Megumi's royal blue eyes briefly closed. :: How could an old scar, which was never reopened in the first place, be bleeding so heavily? It just doesn't make any sense... scars don't open up by themselves. They need added aid to do such a thing... ::

"Kaoru," Megumi repeated, snapping out of her combatant of a mind.

"H... hai?" Kaoru replied in a soft tone, eyes glazed. She didn't even notice that Megumi was looking straight at her.

Megumi sighed. "Kaoru, he won't stop bleeding."

For the first time in Kaoru's life, fear seethed into her very soul. Sure, she felt it remotely before when Kenshin fought against Saitou; or even Aoshi... but this was different. He wasn't fighting another opponent... he was fighting himself. Something was wrong. And Kaoru wanted to know what was happening to him.

"I know." She spoke, tone drowning in pain.

:: Onegai... ::

Megumi's heart sank. True, the two had constant quarreling moments, but, Kaoru was still a close friend. And watching this young woman breakdown slowly... it was too much.

Megumi briefly closed her eyes, lowering Kenshin back into the futon properly. Kaoru glanced up at her, confused.

"Kaoru, I'm going to go search for Sanosuke. I wasn't thinking at that moment... I didn't exactly tell him what herbs to collect. Dr. Genzai hasn't seen Kenshin yet, so he wouldn't exactly know..." Megumi trailed off, noticing how nervous Kaoru was. She sighed.

"Are you going to be alright with him alone?"

Kaoru returned her gaze to Kenshin, slowly nodding her head. "Hai."

Megumi forced a smile. "Good. Don't worry, Kaoru. He's going to be fine." The young doctor rose to her feet, quickly walking out of the room. Kaoru listened to her footsteps, step by step, until they could no longer be heard.

Silence graced the dojo.

Tears stung the assistant master's vision while the wanderer groaned, blood staining the covers. "Kenshin..." Kaoru whispered, reaching for his scar. She pressed another strip of cloth to the searing wound.

"Kenshin... it's just a bad dream... wake up... onegai..."

Silence.

Kaoru forced back a sob. :: I can't be a crybaby. I can't! Kenshin's ill... I have to be helpful, not useless... ::

"Kenshin, when you wake up, I'll treat us all to a nice dinner. How's that? Then Yahiko could continue training... and Sanosuke would pick a fight with him... and..." The tears just wouldn't stop. She lost her own battle.

Bowing her head, Kaoru placed a hand onto his shoulder, gently crying. :: Kenshin... wake up... :: At that very moment, it began to rain, heavy tears of silver shards, falling harshly upon the protective roof.

"K... Kao..."

Kaoru lifted her head upwards, her heart skipping a beat. :: Kenshin just stirred! And his breathing calmed down a bit... ::

"Kaoru?" the wanderer whispered, his violet eyes slowly opening.

The assistant master felt her spirits soar through the roof. :: He's... he's going to be alright! ::

"Kenshin!" Kaoru replied, quickly drying her tear streaked face. Her pale lips formed into a relieved smile as the groggy wanderer rose from the covers, his eyes glancing about.

"...where am I?"

"You're in my room."

"Your room?"

Kaoru blushed immediately, realizing what kind of a gesture she must have made. "Eh... well, when you collapsed... my room was the closest place with proper bedding... so, um, Sanosuke and Yahiko moved you here... that's all!"

"I collapsed?" Kenshin questioned, completely unaware of her shy behavior.

Kaoru blinked. "Hai. Don't you remember? You dropped the basin... then you fell..."

Kenshin's eyes narrowed. :: I thought... that... ::

"Kenshin?" Kaoru spoke, concern masking her face. She placed a worried hand onto his shoulder. "Are you alright?"

Kenshin sat there for a moment, until a sweet smile graced his features. "Hai, Kaoru-dono. I feel perfectly fine, that I do."

// So many questions, Battousai. //

"Are you sure?"

// Why do you turn from me? Is it because of that woman? //

"Hai."

Kaoru smiled, a small blush tinting her cheeks. "Well, why don't you just rest here for a while? What a relief! Megumi and Sano went to Genzai- sensei's for a while, but they should be back soon. Yahiko is outdoors somewhere... I should tell him the good news! I'll make some tea, to. I'll be right back!"

Kenshin nodded, watching the spunky young woman bound out of the room, humming a familiar tune.

The wanderer sighed, rubbing his forehead. :: I collapsed? I fell. It was a nightmare. ::

Without thinking, Kenshin ran a calloused finger over his scar. He gasped when the rough surface stung, followed by a sticky liquid. His violet eyes darted to his fingers.

:: Blood? ::

// Emotions are not the foundations of a samurai. //

Kenshin's stomach lurched again, that same disturbed darkness dwelling within the depths of his mind.

// You disgust me. //

// What kind of warrior are you? //

Kenshin began to shiver, leaning over his knees and grasping onto the covers. Truth was... he wasn't alright. Not even close. "What's happening to me..." he pleaded, yearning for an answer.

// So many questions, Battousai. //

Then it clicked. The nightmare. Kaoru. Tomoe... the blood. All of it. "Battousai..." he murmured, his eyes widening.

// ...not the foundations of a samurai... //

"Oh no..."

---

"His scar reopened?" Dr. Genzai replied to the explanation. Lightening clapped from outdoors, nearly shaking the small, cozy cottage. "That's no good... was he training too roughly?"

Sanosuke lolled his head backwards, groaning. :: Does this old man ever listen correctly?! ::

"Iie, old man... he collapsed earlier this morning. He's been out ever sense. Then the scar reopened by itself. Must I repeat this..."

Dr. Genzai's eyes widened immediately. "Oh! I see. Why didn't you say that earlier?"

Sanosuke growled, banging his head against the wall. :: Must... not... throttle... ::

As the two sat in silence, the front entrance was suddenly opened, revealing a soaked Megumi. Sanosuke spluttered, his face turning red as he starred at her. "Whoa! Note to self, Megumi's not the type to look at when soaked!"

The young doctor's face twitched. "What was that?! Listen, Sagara, I have no time for your arrogant behavior."

Sanosuke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. Wait a minute... what are you doing here?"

Megumi's eyes narrowed. "It's Kenshin. He's getting worse."

Sanosuke stood, gritting his teeth. "Nani? What's wrong with him? Is he ill?"

Megumi only sighed. "I don't know, Sano. I really don't. He might just be overly exhausted."

"Overly exhausted? Woman, you should learn to evaluate your patients better. He's far from being exhausted." a deep voice boomed from behind Megumi, causing her to jump.

Sanosuke automatically lifted his fists into defense as Megumi twirled around, facing the speaker. Dr. Genzai blinked. "Oh! Another guest!"

Sanosuke's eyes narrowed. "Who are-"

"Feh, foolish boy. You should know better that your petty attacks won't affect me much." the speaker interrupted.

Both Sanosuke and Megumi gasped as the tall figure stepped into the room, flinging a dead cigarette out onto the grass.

"Saitou!"

+ + +

Naomi: Whoa! I never knew the Kenshin' section was so popular. O.O Thanks for the many reviews, minna-san!

Chibi Yahiko: Feh!

Naomi: *glares* You really are an annoying little brat, aren't you?

Chibi Yahiko: *flips off author*

Naomi: o.O

Chibi Kenshin & Kaoru: *both collapse over anime style... again*

Naomi: Guess that answered my question. Well, see you all next chapter.