Disclaimer: Oro?

Author's Rant: Hmm. Pardon the long delay. I will be leaving for quite some time this month, so the fic will be hanging about till I return. I've noticed that several reviewers disapprove Kenshin's behavior. Please bear with the red headed rurouni, explanations shall reveal themselves soon. There's a reason behind the bizarreness. Also, brief spoilers are evident in this chapter. So, unless you know about Kenshin's past with Tomoe, you have been forewarned!

Advanced Warning: Hold on. I think I left it in my closet...

In this Chapter::

// ... // = Replayed conversations/memories/Kenshin's disturbed mind

:: ... :: = Thoughts

--- = Breaks for different locations

* ~ * ~ * ~ * = Flashbacks

+ + +

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... ::

+ + +

Rurouni Kenshin

~ Shattered Memories ~

---

+ Part 4 +

Falling. She was falling.

Kenshin's amber eyes widened in disbelief. She was falling.

Silence drifted about the deserted forest as the silk-bound angel collapsed into blood stained arms. Hitokiri Battousai stood above her, katana drawn; eyes glazed.

He felt numb, nearly mad. What was this thick liquid upon his hands?

// Murderer. //

Eyes reverting violet, Kenshin slowly glanced down at the cascading pool of warm liquid, shaking. :: Warm. Red. Warm... ::

Kenshin's heart stopped.

:: Blood. ::

Time froze. The heavens thundered. Kenshin collapsed to his knees, watching the blood burn within his soul.

// Disgrace. //

"T..." his pale lips parted, heart sinking. Absentmindedly, the samurai closed his eyes, pulling the angel closer to him, tears falling upon her snow white face.

:: What have I done... ::

// You killed your own wife, Battousai. //

Kenshin choked back a sob, burying his face into the silent woman's kimono. "Iie... I didn't..."

// Murderer. //

"Oh Kami-Sama..."

* ~ * ~ * ~ *

"K...Kenshin... your... eyes..."

Himura Kenshin remained slumped over his waist, clutching his head. His pale lips moved with incoherent words as he shuddered, eyes burning.

Kaoru raised a shaking hand to his shoulder. "Kenshin?"

Her fingers barely even grazed Kenshin's shoulders. In God-like-speed, the wanderer caught her wrist harshly, snapping his head upwards. Releasing a small shout, Kaoru automatically flinched, rising her good arm into defect.

Nothing happened. Confused, Kaoru opened her eyes, gazing at Kenshin. Suddenly ignoring the searing pain her wrist now bestowed, Kaoru gasped.

:: Not Kenshin. ::

// You killed your own wife... //

"I would restrain from such contact, Kaoru." The amber eyed man murmured, face expressionless.

"K- Ke...n..." Kaoru managed through a closed throat, unable to breathe. :: Oh Kami-sama, what have I done? He... never calls me "Kaoru"... ::

Rather distraught within his own personal manners, the silent warrior released Kaoru's aching wrist, casting a long sided gaze towards her. Heart still hammering, Kaoru nervously fidgeted beneath his intent glare, finding any possible way to escape. Or speak.

"Um... Kenshin, would you like some tea? I... uh, st-"

"Stop ignoring the situation at hand, Kaoru." Kenshin interrupted curtly, voice low.

:: Situation at hand? What is he talking about? :: Kaoru dared to wonder, swallowing painfully. "Um... Kenshin, I don't know what you mean."

Almost mockingly, the red headed wanderer glared at her, jaw tightening. Completely acting in hidden intentions, Kenshin suddenly leaned towards her, arms locking between a shaken Kaoru and the wall.

"You know what's happening. You know who I am. And yet you deny this." He whispered darkly, his breath trailing down Kaoru's neck.

Shuddering, the young assistant master calmed her wits by taking in a deep breath. "Denying what, Kenshin? You're not making any sense. Perhaps you need some rest-"

Immediately, Kenshin rammed Kaoru against the wall, hands pressing forcefully against her shoulders. "I don't need rest, Kaoru. I don't need your suggested needs for getting well. I don't need these hidden veils of kindness. I don't need your lies."

Voice caught between a silent scream and a groan, Kaoru forced herself to stare at him, hiding her own fear beneath endless shields of pride. "You're hurting me."

Kenshin strangely revealed a small smile, before lowering his rough hands to Kaoru's waist.

"N-nani?!" she hissed, jumping.

In little effort, the amber eyed wanderer leaned into her shamelessly, eyes half closed. "Why do you keep running?"

"Running? Nani?! Kenshin, stop it! You're acting so... so..." Kaoru found herself trailing off. She had a good reason to. Soft lips grazed over her neck as she spoke, sending chills down her spine.

"...what are you doing..."

Silence.

"Kenshin..."

Ignoring Kaoru's question, Kenshin continuously kissed her neck, slowly rising to her jaw.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru managed to shout, struggling to pull away. But she couldn't. And Kenshin knew she wouldn't.

:: What in the hell is he doing?! Kenshin isn't like this! Battousai never does this! Does he...? ::

Warmth embraced her soul as the wanderer's arms pulled her closer. Soft lips gently brushed over her own, searching. "What am I doing..." her captor responded to her own question, eyes closing. "...what am I..."

// Murderer. //

"What am I..." Kenshin repeated, his lips barely touching her own.

Kaoru's world began to crumble. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe; couldn't scream. She didn't want to. And it scared her.

// You killed your own wife... //

// You're hurting me. //

// Disgrace. //

A small moan escaped Kenshin's pale lips, causing Kaoru to snap her eyes open. The warmth had released her.

Lost by her own inner attractions, Kaoru only sat there with her back against the wall, watching Kenshin step away, eyes wide... face pale.

"T..." he muttered, eyes reverting from violet to amber. "To..."

// Disgrace. //

:: Kenshin... what's happening to you... :: Kaoru thought, dismissing the strange incident between them both. :: Has he finally lost it all? All sense of control? All inner hope for the future? ::

Kenshin's back hit the wall from the other side of the room, startling him. His eyes were narrowed in anger and fear.

:: Who are you, Kenshin? What are you running from? ::

Silently, Kenshin glanced over at Kaoru. "I'm..." he began, tone emotionless. "...sorry." And with that said, Kenshin turned towards the hall, leaving behind a rattled Kaoru.

---

Megumi's arms went limp. Her eyes clouded over as she starred distantly at Saitou, lips parted. "Ken-san..." she whispered.

Saitou sighed in annoyance, stepping away from the wall.

"That is horrible!" Dr. Genzai quipped, his dark eyes wide in shock. "Did he really...?"

"Iie!" Megumi interrupted, voice cracking. "Ken-san would never kill! He can't! Not... he... he's a wanderer, a gentle man... he wouldn't..."

"Oh, come to your senses, woman." Saitou mumbled, shaking his head. "You know about the sleeping presence from within him. You know it can be provoked at times. Any man can easily be enraged when a loved one is in danger."

"B-but... he..." The young doctor stuttered, bowering her head. "...he..."

"He killed. Get over it, woman. All manslayers bare such tastes, whether they hide it or not. Though your "Ken-san" is now a pathetic wanderer, he will always be a manslayer."

"Then he's..."

"Hai. Battousai is now awake."

---

Sanosuke jolted down the street, hair wildly falls across his eyes. "Kuso... How many times can one person run in one day..."

Little noticed by the six foot fighter, Yahiko walked out from a nearby restaurant, face covered with rice. "Sano?" he mumbled, rising a hand against the glaring sun. "Is that you?"

"Huh? Yahiko?" Sanosuke whipped his head to the right, skidding to a stop. "What are you doing here?"

"Eating, what else would someone do in a restaurant," Yahiko mumbled sarcastically, glaring at him.

"Listen, I have little time to mess with you, gaki." Sanosuke snapped, whisking a hand at the boy and turning back towards the street.

"Nani? Wait! What's going on? Is Kenshin up yet?"

"You have no idea," Sanosuke mumbled beneath his breath. Tilting his head towards Yahiko, Sanosuke sighed heavily. "You coming or what?"

Yahiko's crimson red eyes widened in thought. "Yeah, of course! Tell me what's going on while you're at it." He quipped, catching up.

"Well, the good news is, Kenshin's awake."

"About time!" Yahiko smirked.

"Bad news is..." Sanosuke paused, watching Yahiko face fault out of the corner of his eye.

"It isn't exactly Kenshin that woke up."

"Say what?!" Yahiko shouted, face turning red.

"To be blunt: we're in trouble still."

+ + +

Naomi: Erg... what a stupid chapter. Oh well, I had to add on a little something before I left. Oi, Kenshin's nice and out of character, and poor Kaoru. Heh heh. And the confusion still flows over the unexpected Kenshin killing someone. Who was it? What was it? Where was it? I wonder how many more questions I can think of while writing this. Anyways... More psychoticness awaits us all in the next installment... BUWAHAHAH!!!

Chibi Kenshin: *passes out*

Naomi: See you then, my faithful readers. It should be more interesting then. I think. Or it could get even worse...