Disclaimer: Pickles are scary.

Author's Rant: Chapter no. 3. Yay.

Advanced Warning: I ate it.

In this Chapter::

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

:: ... :: = Thoughts

--- = Breaks for different locations

* ~ * ~ * ~ * = Flashbacks

+ + +

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!"

+ + +

Rurouni Kenshin

~ Shattered Memories ~

---

+ Part 3 +

Kamiya Kaoru hummed cheerfully to herself, gently placing several tea leaves beneath the teapot. Though it still continued to rain, her spirits were high. All essence of fear was gone. She could finally breathe again.

:: Kenshin's fine... :: Kaoru thought proudly, face beaming.

"Well... I only have enough for one person..." she mumbled, wrinkling her nose. "...oh well. Kenshin needs it more than I do."

Kaoru never noticed the pair of eyes on her.

"...ACK!" the assistant master hissed, drawing her fingers back from the steaming water. She wasn't paying attention. :: Damn water! I spaced out... :: she thought nervously.

:: ...something isn't right... ::

Mumbling to herself, Kaoru quickly snatched the pot, growling as she poured it rather hesitantly into a lone cup.

:: ...Iie, I'm just a bit nervous still. That's all. ::

Shrugging it off, Kaoru picked up the steaming tea, walking towards her room. "I hope he feels alright. He still looks a bit pale..."

"I'm fine." a low voice replied.

Kaoru nearly screamed at the looming figure in front of her.

"K-Kenshin?" she stuttered, placing a hand over her rattling heart.

The wanderer gazed at her, face distorted in pain. Blood trickled down his chin. His scar was still open.

Kaoru felt her fingers slip from the cup, barely flinching as it crashed with an obnoxious shatter onto the wooden floor bellow. Kenshin cringed.

"...A...ano... Kenshin... you... your..."

// I shall end this. //

Kenshin's jaw tightened. "Kaoru-dono..." he began, only to close his mouth again. His whole body began to quake.

"Kenshin, go lie down! You're far too ill to be standing!"

The wanderer shook his head reluctantly, shaking fingers running over his scar. Blood smeared across his face as he clutched his head, mumbling something incoherently.

Kaoru felt her whole demeanor of strength shatter. Something is wrong with Kenshin. Something completely, utterly wrong. And she began to fear the reason why.

// What kind of a warrior are you? //

Kaoru lifted her arm out, willing to comfort the shaken man. Her fingers barely even grazed his shoulder as Kenshin collapsed to his knees.

"Kenshin!"

// Things will never be the same. //

"...leave..." the wanderer whimpered, shuddering when the young woman grasped his arms.

"N...nani?"

:: What is he saying? :: Kaoru screamed within her mind, frantic to help him. She began to shake his shoulders, blinking back burning tears.

"...Onegai... iie... B..."

---

"What are you DOING here?!" Sanosuke hissed, flexing his arms. Megumi stood her ground, eyeing Saitou suspiciously. Dr. Genzai blinked at the tall intruder, clueless as usual.

The samurai chuckled, tilting his head back. "Don't be arrogant, boy. You should remember who you're speaking to."

Sanosuke snorted. "I know who I'm speaking to. And as far as I am concerned, you're unwelcome here. I suggest you get the hell out of this room, before I do it for you."

Saitou's pale lips turned into a scowl. "Such taunting words. Learn to listen to a man's reasons before attacking."

"You HAVE no reasons." Sanosuke snapped.

"Sano!" Megumi scolded, her eyes blazing. "Listen to what he has to say! We have further things to worry about... such as Kenshin. Set your quarrels for another time. Now, if you please Saitou-san, we have little time to waste. Why have you come here?"

Sanosuke face faulted, frowning in defeat. :: She gets me every time... ::

Saitou smirked. "You seem to be having a difficult time with Battousai."

"Battousai?" Dr. Genzai questioned, stroking his beard.

"He means Kenshin," Sanosuke mumbled, folding his arms.

"Oh! Why didn't you say that earlier?"

"Hai. Kenshin... he's ill." Megumi spoke over the cursing Sanosuke, shoving him back from the confused Dr. Genzai.

Saitou scoffed. "Ill? He isn't ill, woman."

"How in the HELL would you know?!" Sanosuke roared, his face turning red in frustration.

Silence crept upon the humble room while the two men glared at each other. Sanosuke lifted his right hand up, forcing it into a fist. "It's strange how you always show up when there's trouble." He growled, ignoring Megumi's pestering frown.

"Call it a natural talent." Saitou mocked. "Now, I have no time to argue with a little boy and his ridiculous companions. Do you wish to hear my explanation or not?"

"Hai, we do." The young doctor spoke over Sanosuke's mumbling tone. "It's about Kenshin, isn't it?"

The samurai went silent, a disturbing grin erupting across his strict face. "And what if it was?"

---

"Kenshin... onegai, you need to lie down..."

Himura Kenshin only slumped over, a clenched fist ramming against the wooden floor. Kaoru flinched.

"...Kaoru-dono, you... I... need to leave..." he repeated, his words slurred together.

"What... what do you mean..." the young woman whispered, tears freely flowing down her face. "...Kenshin..."

// I shall end this. //

"...I will hurt you... if you..."

:: Hurt me? :: Kaoru repeated his frightening words in her mind. "Ano... why would you hurt me?" she questioned carefully. Kaoru knew the answer. She knew very well what was going on. But she denied the truth.

"Shimatta!" the wanderer cursed, clutching his head once more. "I'm no longer such a man... I..."

Kaoru's body went numb. Kenshin's eyes...

They were amber.

---

"So... what your saying is..." Megumi whispered, bowing her head as Saitou walked passed the entrance.

"Your "Kenshin" is no longer a wanderer." He repeated, face grim.

Sanosuke had been sitting silent for quite some time, eyes averted to the floor. His shoulders tensed. "What..." he began, jerking to a stand.

"...the hell do you mean?! Kenshin would never become Battousai again! He vowed to us that we wouldn't. He could never kill with his sakabatou! Answer me, damn it!" he shouted in a rushed manner, clearly out of it.

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

Saitou remained silent, watching Kenshin stand near the river. His shoulders were hunched, head bowed, sakabatou lying on the ground.

He folded his arms, slowly walking towards the wanderer. "I... killed him, Saitou." Kenshin's soft voice suddenly murmured. Saitou stopped.

"I killed a man. Just for... trying to hurt Kaoru-dono and the others. I could have stopped him, without killing..."

Saitou smirked. "He made you mad, didn't he? No surprise there, Battousai."

Kenshin tensed. Almost in a pained action, the wanderer turned around, violet eyes narrowing. Blood stained his hands.

"Don't ever call me by that name again." He replied, voice low.

Saitou frowned. "You still deny what the past taunts you with? Fool. Have you not learned anything yet? Though you are determined to never kill again... you can never hide from your fighting spirit. You may carry about a sakabatou, and help innocent souls in repent for your sins, but that doesn't change who you really are."

Kenshin's eyes widened.

"You will always be a manslayer, Battousai. You will always yearn to fight. You still do. Becoming a wanderer was a foolish thing to do. You keep shifting between wanderer and manslayer. Don't you understand? You are still the same. You are still Battousai."

Kenshin averted his eyes to the river again, tightening his jaw. "He was a brutal assassin. He only killed when needed. But when he did..."

Saitou sighed. "Himura Kenshin," he interrupted, rewarded with a surprised glance from the wanderer.

"Stop running from yourself. It will be your death."

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

"Battousai is still evident within his personality." Saitou stated. "He is constantly reverting between his two sides... as the wanderer, and the manslayer. Though his skills with the sword are superior, his abilities are lacking due to this unbalanced behavior."

Dr. Genzai frowned. "He is at a struggle with himself? Why, that's no good. No good at all."

"We know about Battousai. But Kenshin's a strong warrior... he can move on without it." Sanosuke whispered to himself. His heart began to quicken its pace.

"Stop denying the situation at hand, Sanosuke." Saitou snapped. "Your "Kenshin", based on my knowledge, is at the Kamiya Kasshin dojo as we speak. Alone with that other woman."

Sanosuke scowled at the tall samurai. "She's just helping him!"

As the two bickered at each other, Megumi went deathly pale.

// ...is at the Kamiya Kasshin dojo as we speak. Alone with that other woman. //

"Oh... Kami-sama..." she whispered.

Sanosuke glanced at her. "What's wrong now?"

"Kenshin... is with Kaoru alone."

"So?"

Megumi shook her head, face panicked. "But, if Battousai..."

Sanosuke went silent. :: Oh shit. ::

Without another word spoken, the six foot brawler jolted past Saitou, bursting forth from the room. Saitou chuckled as the young man sprinted towards the dojo.

"What ridiculous behavior. What does he think will happen? Battousai kills the woman? He has better dignity than that."

Megumi clutched her beating chest. :: ...Kaoru... what have I done... ::

+ + +

Naomi: *dramatic gasp* Kenshin killed someone? What a troubled situation. And Sanosuke really doesn't like Saitou...

Chibi Sano: *cracks knuckles, and mumbles something about a new "punching bag"...*

Naomi: *ignores Sano* Well, that's it for chapter 3. Came out a little... off, to me at least, but oh well. Next chapter should be a little more interesting. See you then, minna-san.