Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only. FF can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I'm sensitive. For all other comments 0_o you may contact me at kaoru_koishii@yahoo.com

There are some notes I forgot to post up last night, for chapter 4. I tend to post the chapters really late at night and I forget stuff.

In the RK movie the Kenshin gumi go to Yokohama for a visit, there we see Yamagata Aritomo, secretary of the Meiji Government. Kenshin's friend from way back. I think most of you remember him from the anime. Episode # 04 He tries to bring Kenshin back with him but Kenshin refuses. Ok I think that was it.



Chapter Five

*************

"Ease her down carefully," Tae moved around Sano to make sure Kaoru was all right.

"Are you sure, you can do this by yourself?" Sano asked stepping back.

"Hai." "Arigato for your help. I'll call you when I finish." She said turning to him with a smile.

Sano nodded and left the bathhouse.

"Kaoru-chan try to stay awake. Come on, just for a little while. I'm trying to make you all nice and clean. Don't you want to smell nice?" Tae smiled at Kaoru, whose eyes were closed.

Kaoru whimpered when Tae washed her hair. "It's ok; I'm almost done." "Just stay still" Tae said as she propped her into a sitting position and ran out the door. "Sanosuke!" She ran back in, "Kaoru we're going to get you out of the water, all right."

Kaoru's eyes opened a fraction before they closed

"Bring her out the way you put her in, slowly though. Slowly. All right, now just try to hold her up from under her arms so I can get her out of the wet yukata. Close your eyes." Tae said holding out the clean one.

"What?" Sano gave a nervous laugh.

"Close your eyes." This time Sano did as he was told, he held Jou-chan at arms length and waited for Tae to finish. "Ok, now let's go set her down for her nap. She had very little breakfast but it was a start." Tae continued to talk but Sano slowed down his pace. "Jou-chan, if you remember this, don't tell Kenshin I was present when you were stripped. I like my limbs were they are, Ok?" Kaoru murmured something intangible; Sano took that as an ok.

*************

The battoussai saw the scenery change out of his window. Changing faster as the train picked up speed. He was on his way home now, but it would still be hours before he got there.

The job he took had been uneventful. There had been no more incidents since the train station when he met Mizu. He hadn't killed anyone. It was something he didn't know how to feel about. He felt deep anger inside, anger that could only be pacified with someone's death. No, that's not true either. Not just anyone's death. Who ever took Kaoru didn't know who they were fucking with. The battoussai's eyes turned amber and felt the corner of his mouth turn up slightly.

His smile turned to a frown. He wondered how Kaoru was doing. Had she woken up? Was she still just sleeping? Was she dreaming? He hoped she wasn't having nightmares. Kenshin patted the packages next to him, closed his eyes and decided to rest for a while

*************

"There's a package here for Himura," Yahiko stared cop before taking the package; "I'll take it." The cop didn't say anything else and handed Yahiko a long thick package. Yahiko tried to balance the package as he made his way to Kenshin's room.

"What's that?" Sano's voice came off to the right.

"Something for Kenshin, Open his door."

Sano watched him struggle with the package. He could always help he'd suppose but that wouldn't be as much fun.

Sano looked at the package closely, wondering what could be inside. "Come on chicken-head let's go out side." They both walked out side and sat on the steps of the dojo looking out into the yard.

"When are we going to tell Kenshin about the other notes, Sano?"

Sano looked around nervously, "I don't think we should talk about that, here. Kenshin could just walk in."

"But he's not here."

"I think the rurouni can handle reading them. But the battoussai can see them only when Kaoru's one hundred percent better. Despite his anger, I think she might be able to persuade him to settle down. Or at least not kill. So we have to wait." Sano continued to look around, he didn't want to talk about this here.

"What if Dr. Genzai decides to tell him before she's all better?"

"Kid, I don't know what to tell you. I don't think it would be wise but he did find them so I guess in the end it is up to him."

They both continued to look out the yard in silence for the next half-hour till they got called in for lunch.

*************

"She's doing so much better, I think. She has a bit more color and she's eating. Well sipping, but that's a sign that's she's getting better." Tae was very excited.

"Did she know who you were Tae? Sano did mean to bring her down.

Tae's face fell a little, "well, not really but I think that's only because she can't stay awake for more than a couple of minutes at a time. Today at lunch has been the longest she's been awake." She nodded re-affirming herself.

"Dr Genzai said he was coming over for dinner, he can look at her then," Yahiko said not being fazed in the least, Kaoru was strong, she would be healthy all too soon and then was 'Busu' gonna get it for scaring them. Yahiko smiled and continued on eating.

*************

The Battoussai walked through the gates of the dojo happy to be home. He stopped on the porch; this was usually where she stood to greet him. "Okarei Nasai," His mind supplied with a memory of her voice. "Tadaima, de gozaru yo." It's what I would say. His weak sentiments had gotten the better of him in the past. There was no point to the rurouni any longer; his purpose was to protect with a sword that didn't kill and look where that had lead. Kaoru getting hurt. He knew why he became the rurouni just like he knew now, why he would remain the battoussai. He held his package a little closer to him and went inside, straight to Kaoru's room, slightly nodding to the others drinking their tea on his way to her.

Yahiko's teacup fell on the table, "That. Those, they were real swords. The kind they used during the Bakumatsu, Aren't they?" Tae's cup was still in mid air, "His clothes. They're new. White hakama. And the blue Gi. It's the color of her ribbon."

"Shit," was all Sano said.

The door to Kaoru's was open.

"Dr Genzai?"

The doctor looked up, "Kenshin; you need to stop startling people. I just started, have a seat." The battoussai took a seat and noticed she looked a bit healthier. The doctor shook her a bit. "Kaoru."

She was slow to open her eyes. She felt groggy; her lids were heavy and the she felt disoriented. But she managed. She blinked once then twice trying to make things come into focus.

"Kaoru-chan." Dr. Genzai sat back a bit trying to give her some breathing room.

She made a gurgling sound. Dr. Genzai sat her up slowly and gave her a glass of water Kenshin had served. When he took the cup he asked her, " Kaoru-chan, do you remember me?"

Kaoru looked at the older man; "Kind of. Everything seems weird though."

"But you remember me?"

"Yes, Dr. Genzai."

"All right, do you remember how old you are?" She thought for a bit but it was useless that answer was not in her memory, "No."

"Do you know who you are?"

"Kind of, I know my name is Kaoru but I don't recall my last name."

"Do you remember your father?"

She thought and again she drew a blank. "No."

"Hmmm, Will you come forward so she can take a closer look at you;" He motioned for Kenshin to come closer.

Kaoru had not been aware there was anyone else in the room but she saw someone step closer. The someone, was a he. She felt her heart speed up. He was beautiful, very long gorgeous red hair, and intense blue eyes. She had goose bumps.

"Do you know him?" The doctor watched her closely.

The battoussai sat right by her, affecting her ability to form coherent thoughts.

"Kaoru-chan, do you know him?" She turned to the doctor. "No I don't." Turning back to Kenshin she said, "but he feels familiar."

The battoussai felt puzzled.

"Kaoru do you remember where you live?"

"Yes, at a dojo."

"And do you live alone?" She thought and there was no memory.

"I can't say. There are things you ask me that I know the answer to, but there are some that I don't know the answer to simply because their is no memory to draw an answer from."

"I see, I think you have selective amnesia. In most cases patients will remember up to a certain section of their life. Your case seems a bit different though. Because your missing fragments from your whole memory, not just a certain section." The doctor saw kaoru yawn; " you should go to sleep Kaoru. Tae will bring you something during dinner." "Tae's here. Oh, send her in doctor, please. Wait a minute who else is here? And who's he?" True she felt a little tired but sleep could wait.

"Himura Kenshin." His voice sounded deep yet silky. She got goose bumps, something the battoussai noted but not the doctor.

She was very interested but refused to show it, "Can I see Tae?"

"All right if you think you can handle it, I'll send her in." Dr Genzai rose to his feet and so did the battoussai. Both left her room. The battoussai could feel her gaze on his form as he left; though he wanted to, he didn't turn around.

"Kaoru-chan, How do you feel?" Tae was ecstatic.

"I feel like I've been asleep for days. Did Dr. Genzai tell you about my amnesia?" Kaoru was glad to see her long time friend.

"Tell me what happened, better yet tell me about my life?" Kaoru made her eyes pleading something she knew Tae couldn't resist.

"Kaoru I don't know where to begin, you don't have a certain year from where I should start."

"Mou," she sighed exasperated. "How about you give me a short summary on my life up to the point when I met the red head." Kaoru smiled.

So did Tae, "Well, Kamiya Kaoru you have lived here at the Kamiya Dojo all your life. You're mom past on when you were very young. Your father was the one to raise you; he was the instructor here. He taught you the ways of his budo, the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. He passed on when you were about sixteen yrs old. You have been the instructor here since then. Aside from your father no one else lived here with you till a bit after your seventeen birthday.

"Is that when I met him?"

Tae smiled, "Yes it is. I don't know if you remember this but you are very impulsive.

Kaoru only smiled.

"Well someone was going around killing people calling himself The Hitokiri Battoussai, he said he was using the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu to kill his victims. You became upset at that. You lost your students and felt he was ruining the school's name. So you set out to catch the guy, problem was that you didn't know what he looked like. You ran into YOUR red head then accusing him of being the battoussai. While confronting him the bad guy showed up, you ran, confronted the bad guy, he cut your arm and before he could kill you, the red head saved you. He brought you back to the dojo. He told you he was a rurouni but you were thankful to him so you let him stay here. He kind of walked in on you while you were bathing though so you locked him in the shed to teach him a lesson." She looked to Kaoru who was beat red, obviously embarrassed.

"Well when you went back to let him out he was gone. By the time bad guy came to your home to kill you, you knew who it was."

"Who was it?" Kaoru couldn't believe it; her life was like a story from one of the books she liked to read.

"It was Hiruma Gohei, an ex student of your fathers, he was angry because your father had thrown him out. Gohei was a blood thirsty man he wanted to use your fathers budo to hurt people so our father dislocated the thumb on his right hand, so that he'd never be able to hurt anyone again."

"Ok, now back to the red head." Curiosity was maddening for Kaoru.

"All right, well he came when Gohei was going to kill you, seems Gohei'd learned to use his budo with his left hand. The rurouni saved you again. Since he didn't kill, he only broke Gohei's left hand so that he couldn't use any budo again. When he defeated Gohei, you learned that he was the real Hitokiri Battoussai. He was going to leave then but you asked him to stay. He said the Battoussai living here would bring trouble. You told him you wanted the rurouni not the battoussai to stay."

"I don't remember any of that but it's still embarrassing hear." Kaoru had turned crimson from embarrassment.

"Well he stayed didn't he? That was almost three years ago."

"I need to go make dinner, why don't you take a nap. I'll tell you the rest later." Tae was starting to standup. Kaoru grabbed her though, "Wait, just tell me two things before you go." Tae nodded.

"Do I love him?"

Tae only nodded.

"Does he love me?"

Tae nodded again and was about to say something but Kaoru waived her of. "You'll tell me the rest later."

Tae nodded again and left, closing the door behind her quietly.

*************

"You didn't ask her if she remembered who attacked her. I need to know who it was." The battoussai tone was threatening.

"I can assure you, she doesn't know." Despite the tone of the battoussai the doctor was at ease.

"You said she remembers fragments. She might be able to tell me something."

"So what are you going to do if she does remember? If she tells you who it was, are you going to run off now that she's awake?" The doctor was becoming angry.

The battoussai remained silent.

"Her amnesia is most likely temporary and if you go off and kill someone over her and then her memory comes back, she won't ever forgive you and she will blame herself."

"I need to know. I can't be sure she won't get attacked again or that whom ever took her is just waiting for the right time to take her again or worse. I am protecting her safety." The amber flecks crept into his eyes.

"If you knew who took her, would you let it rest?" The doctor met the battoussai's eyes.

"Would you stay here and protect her or would you just run off in your search. Would you leave her here when she's so vulnerable she can't even defend herself?"

Things clicked into place for the battoussai.

"Oi, what's all the yelling about?" Sano said as he stood next to the doctor.

The battoussai studied their faces carefully and then Yahiko's when he came in.

They all knew. Yahiko wouldn't meet his gaze. They've been hiding information. The battoussai cooled him self and tried very much for the rurouni tone; " I would stay and protect Kaoru. Always. But I need peace of mind."

He had been staring at the doctor calmly. Sanosuke and Yahiko looked confuse for a bit. But then he saw understanding cross their faces. Yeah, they knew.

The doctor reached into his pocket and brought out a note he extended it to Kenshin. "Read this one first."

The Battoussai read the letter, so someone had found her. She was alive because of them or him do why would they think he'd hurt them for helping her.

"I don't think this was a good idea Dr Genzai." Sano was cut off though.

"Give me the other one."

"I trust in your word Kenshin." It was the doctors' last attempt to persuade him.

The Battoussai stepped forward and the doctor handed him the note.

The three stepped back together and waited.

The battoussai looked at them for a moment curious at there actions but then went on to read his note.

Battoussai,

How I wish I could see your face when you read this letter. I've taken you're woman, she's grown. Not Kaoru-chan anymore. Have you taught her much in the ways of life? I bet you have, must have been nice breaking her in. You really shouldn't let such a pretty thing walk all alone. It was all too easy to grab her; she's nothing without her battoussai after all. I will see you down by the river where you fought that Sanza-baka, in three days at 10:00 am, if you don't show up I will break the fingers on her hands like you did mine and she won't ever be able to hold a shinai again.


"Gohei." He sneered. "Fucking! I should have killed him the first time I set eyes on him." His amber eyes turned to the three who had stepped back closer to the door.

"When did you get this?"

"The NOTES. This is what you were talking about the other day?"

"When!" He growled. The other three saw Tae come into the room and saw a good way out. "How's kaoru doing", Yahiko asked a little too excited.

Tae had heard Kenshin mention the notes, he growled. "She's doing better. She wants to have dinner out here with all of you. She was very happy." She was lying but Kenshin didn't have to know. So she continued. "She can't remember much about her life so she asked me to fill her in, she was especially curious about you ken-san."

The battoussai didn't turn though; instead he stepped back put his hand on his katana and took his stance.

Sano was the first to answer; " the notes were with her."

The battoussai's eyes narrowed, all this time, he could have caught up with that bastard. They had purposely done this. He needed to leave before his anger clouded his judgment completely.


-


I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Again, thanks to all of those who still review. And special thanks to:

Miss d, Yami Hikaru, Leigh