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
Chapter Three
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Kaoru was slumped on the floor crying. It had happened again. He had left. He'd left. She felt like she was falling into something. The feeling in her stomach, she felt sick.
She had been slumped on the floor when Megumi had rushed in. "Kaoru! Kaoru you need to get out there before he kills someone." Megumi's tone was frantic.
Kaoru understood the words and it took her a moment to process them but once she did she ran out. She forgot. She'd completely forgotten that he was a danger to everyone out specially himself.
She ran into the courtyard. The eerie silence was deafening. She spotted the battoussai right away his sword drawn, standing over Sano's crumpled form. Somewhere behind her Megumi gasped.
Both women flew down the steps and into the yard. Kaoru threw herself over Sano. The tears coming back slowly.
Megumi touched his neck feeling for a pulse. Letting out a breath when she found one.
"Sano, can you hear me?" Kaoru asked as she leaned over Sano's body. Her hands touched his chest just before she was pulled back.
"What do you think you're doing?" His voice had a cutting edge to it.
"I . . ." She didn't understand the question.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her behind forcefully.
"But Sano . . ." She began. He whirled around so fast she walked into him. Her nose and mouth brushing his cheek.
The cutting words he'd been about to say were lost while he looked at her. But just as fast as the feeling emerged it was hidden again. He turned around and dragged her back to the house. The walked past their tea, past the kitchen, past her room and finally his room. He tossed the door aside. He threw her into the room and she fell onto the futon which hadn't been made.
"Kenshin?" She said startled by his actions.
"You lied to me." He hissed with his back to her while closing the door.
Her eyes grew wider in confusion. First he said he didn't believe she was his friend and now he accused her of lying. She shook her head in response. She watched him turn around and walk back to her but stop a couple of feet away with a thunderous look on his face.
"Kenshin I don't understand?" She exclaimed.
"Who are you?" He repeated watching her face closely.
"I told you already. Kenshin we're friends. I care for you a lot." She finished.
Convincingly if he might add. Still he didn't believe her. He kneeled in front of her and took her face into his hands. "You're a liar." He stated his breath wafting over her.
She blinked slowly, almost lazily. Her mouth opened with the same sluggishness, almost sensuously. "Kenshin," and the way she said his name confirmed his thoughts. He eased his face down giving into the slightest touch of her lips. She didn't resist and closed her eyes. His control clicked back into place and he pulled away. He broke all contact with her as he stood up to look down on her again. She opened her eyes slowly.
He'd given her a chaste kissed and lasted for less then a half a heartbeat but it had been enough to burn the blood in her veins. Licking her lips, to where they had touched she focused on his face. She tilted her face in confusion.
"It's obvious to me we are more than friends. Why do you lie about it?" He asked her in a clipped tone.
Her face flushed at the insinuation and she looked down to the floor. Being accused by other people was different than being accused by him. "Kenshin. Things are complicated. It's not so easy to define." She spoke to him even though she looked at the floor.
That made him think for a bit. Maybe she was ashamed of what they had. She was twenty and unmarried. He'd been living with her . . . "Are you or are you not my woman?" He asked.
Her face turned a crimson red. "Kenshin where did you hear that?"
She evaded the question. "That doesn't matter. You will tell me now what you are to me? Are you shamed of our relationship?" He asked fury taking over the clipped tones.
She shook her head. "Kenshin we don't have . . . ."
"So you don't love me?" He asked with an unforgivable anger.
"That's not it, DAMN IT! You're twisting things," she cried out.
"If you don't. Tell me so I can leave." What point was there in staying if she didn't want to carry on. He felt his mood darkening.
She rose to her feet faster than he thought she could. "I do. Kenshin I do." She cried into his shoulder.
His arms came around her waist. Utterly confused by the situation. He let her cry. Her arms found their way around his neck as she cried. Everything was all wrong.
After sometime she remembered the others. She pushed him away and a scowl came to his face. "The others."
She tried to push past him and instead he blocked her. "They don't matter." He said.
Her face formed into a frown. "What do you mean they don't matter they're our friends." She said in an exasperated tone. When he didn't move her hands went to her hips. "Move Kenshin."
He looked at her curiously but still didn't move. He felt the rise in her ki and to be honest it amused him. She stomped her foot and with great vehemence pushed him aside. But she couldn't get him to budge. "Kenshin baka." She said as she tried to move past him.
The way she spoke to him they were very familiar with each other. He let his eyes trail over the curves on her form. She was more than pretty, now that he really looked at her. And it didn't have anything to do with the fact that he now knew they were on an intimate level.
Kaoru felt like her ears were going to burn off and fall, the way he was looking at her. "Kenshin." The call of his name brought him back. "They're my friends and they're very important to me." She pleaded with him hoping he understood at least that. Since he didn't seem to care about them himself. After a moment he nodded and opened the door himself. He caught her hand as she ran past him. Together they walked down the hall back out to the yard. They didn't get that far though. Yahiko sat nursing his stomach and Kaoru broke away from Kenshin to Yahiko.
"What happened? Oh Yahiko what happened?" She said a bit frantic, checking him over for more injuries.
Yahiko glared at the man behind her. Kaoru's face was tinted pink from all the crying and her voice was hoarse too. "Why don't you ask the battoussai." He said with venom.
Kaoru turned her eyes to him. He stood straight and with no trace of emotion on his face. "He wouldn't." She began. "Kenshin would never."
Yahiko laughed and it was a cynical laugh. Something she would have never pegged him for. "Kenshin as the rurouni, never. But that man over there is not Kenshin."
The words cut through straight to her heart. It was true in a sense. "Are you alright though?" She asked brushing back some of his hair like he was a small child.
"I will be when he leaves." Yahiko muttered.
"Yahiko please don't." she pleaded with him. She'd had such an emotionally draining day. She couldn't take much more.
"If I leave you can rest assure she will leave with me." Came the icy reply. The battoussai left the room with out another word.
Kaoru gave a deep sigh and helped Yahiko up. Together they walked outside to the court yard where Sano was already sitting up.
"Ouch, Fox! Watch what ya'r doing." Came Sano's voice.
"If you stayed still, Baka." She said sticking the needle into his skin making him cry out in pain again.
"Shit, when Kenshin is Kenshin again he's really gonna get it." He muttered.
"You mean the way you showed him today." Piped in Yahiko who was being supported by Kaoru.
"At least I stood up to more than one punch." Sano said in return.
Yahiko glared at Sano. "But I'm not the one boasting I can kick his ass. Chicken head."
Sano grounded out his teeth.
Megumi gave an exasperated sigh and knocked Sano on the side of the head.
"Damn it!" Sano bit his lip to keep himself from calling her anything else. "Are you almost done?"
"Baka," she said pulling on the bandages that covered his ribs. "There." she said rising to her feet.
Kaoru looked down on him guiltily. She let go of Yahiko to embrace Sano. "I'm so sorry," she said. He winced on contact but let her cry. "I'm so sorry."
"It's alright Jouchan." He said smiling at her. "I'm still here." His face turned to the side then. The battoussai stood in the doorway watching. His amber eyes glittered perilously. Sano's eyes narrowed in anger. So he hadn't left after all. He pushed her back a bit to look at her eyes. He felt bad for her. Out of everybody here she'd had it worse. These small scars, courtesy of Bastard Battoussai would heal but the emotional stuff Kaoru was subjected too. He was surprised she wasn't insane yet. "You look tired," Sano said wiping a tear away. "You need some rest."
That was all it took. The battoussai stood next to her in the next instant. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her up closer to his body.
Sano looked at him in anger. "She's not a doll." He began but was caught off. As the battoussai leaned down.
"This will be the only time I warn you. Next time you touch the hands come off." The battoussai's low whisper was more threatening than any opponent with a gun or sword could be.
Sano's eyes opened wide in disbelief. "You gotta be kidding me?" He muttered.
Kaoru pulled on the battoussai's arm. "Kenshin." She cried in embarrassment.
"Ken-san." Megumi said at the same in disbelief.
He pulled back with Kaoru at his side again. "I am Himura to you." He said addressing everyone in the yard. He was sick and tired of them addressing him as anything else.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru began not sure she could call him anything else.
"It's alright for you," he said with a ghost of a smile. It was different from the rurouni smile. This one, it looked odd considering the color of his eyes. "Because you're my . . ."
She covered his mouth before he said it in front of other people. Still they all watched as her face turned beat red.
They narrowed their eyes at them. "She's your what?" Sano questioned. The battoussai threw him a withering look and said nothing else to him.
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"Kenshin I need for you to be nicer to them." Kaoru pleaded once they were back in the dojo. He looked at her for a moment the feeling of uneasiness was gone. He'd only felt that way when he'd been away from her. Which confused him. The whole situation confused him and that pissed him off. Kaoru shook her head in annoyance he wasn't even listening to her. He was such a . . .
"Do you sleep in my bed?" He asked her with out any warning. Her face burned a shade darker than his hair. Unable to form words she shook her head furiously.
He watched her body language and it was hard to tell if she was lying or not. She'd lied before about their relationship. For what reason he didn't know but the fact remained she could just as easily be lying about this now. I mean three years with out touching. That just seemed impossible. His thoughts formed patterns while his face and body remained still. His eyes however remained watchful over her.
Eventually feeling too tired to play this game with him she spoke to him. "Kenshin I need some rest." She raised her head just the slightest. "I'm going to take a nap before dinner." She started to walk away and was almost to her door before she noticed he'd followed her. "Kenshin." She warned. Just because he was sick didn't mean he could take advantage of the situation. Well maybe not sick, stupid wish. Still the fact remained he should have known better.
He walked past her and into her room. He'd asked if she slept in his but he'd never asked if he'd slept in hers. Kaoru stomped into the room in a fury. "Himura Kenshin." She snapped. "You get out of here right now. Hentai. I need to rest." She was ready to pummel him. Rurouni or not. Instead her eyes widened when he laid back on her futon. Her hands fisted together. 'This guy,' she thought. 'Was making some pretty big assumptions here.' "Kenshin." She said trying to keep her temper in check. The whole day had gone to hell. She really didn't need this. Her nerves where on edge.
"Did you not ask me, not to leave you." His question hung between them. How did she explain things to him when she wasn't sure about the answer. How could she when the rurouni had never given a direct response.
"Kenshin," she said before rubbing her temples. She felt his hands ease her to the futon. Maybe she could just ignore him and he'd go away. Yes that's what she'd do. Her eyes felt heavy anyways. With one last yawn she laid her head down. She was too tired to notice the firmness of her pillow.
The battoussai looked at the small women. She was confusing indeed. She was older yet younger than he. He was of course older in age but his mind. Damn it to hell. Fifteen! What kind of sh . . He took a deep breath trying to calm down. That was another thing. He'd always been quick tempered but now. Though it had only been one day, things were different. It was almost like something was wrong. The problem was it was hard to say whether it was because of his memory loss or because of something else. His mood changed while looking at her. He'd never been draw to a women before. Not as a man. He'd never been with anyone. His hand trailed down her cheek to her neck were he could feel her pulse. As an hitokiri he barely got any sleep and any sleep he did get he got while sleeping in a sitting position. Looking at her made him want to sleep, like a normal person. Maybe he could pretend for a while. He pulled her further into him until she faced him, her head still resting on his shoulder. She looked soft and he knew she was as he touched her face and arms. His arms eventually wrapped around the back of her waist. It was a bold move but as his woman she was probably used to more. He hid his face in her neck and hair and slowly drifted into something akin to sleep.
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He was running through the streets. Chasing someone. He couldn't tell who it was only that they were eluding him. He ran faster but it didn't seem to make a difference. Why couldn't he catch up? He paused in the middle of the street, closing his eyes and stretching his senses. He could feel no one. He opened his eyes again and he could see the shadow, lingering up ahead. Just standing there waiting for him to take chase again.
He took chase and so did the shadow. "Oi!" He yelled.
The shadow made no move of acknowledgement but somehow he knew the shadow heard. "Oi." He yelled again.
How can anyone not stop when they hear you calling them?
"Stop!" He yelled and this time the shadow's step faltered as it ran ahead. He was becoming angry. "Stop!" He yelled for the last time. His deep tone carried the anger he felt. He gripped his katana and blurred for a moment. His speed had increased to an unbelievable point. He pulled out his sword and not being able to see in the dense fog, he swung out blindly. He heard a thump. The fog had gotten thicker. He reached down and felt a shoulder.
"Oi!" His voice had lost all edge. All feeling. He wanted answers and he wanted them now.
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Kenshin woke up with a start. He'd actually fallen asleep. He glanced around the poorly lit room. It looked like night was setting in. Time for work . . . . except tonight there would be no work.
"Kenshin," she cried, almost yelled.
He shook her a bit and she woke up. She was aware of his face hovering over hers as she looked up at the ceiling. Such a weird dream. She felt his hands moving and quickly her eyes turned to his face.
Deep purple eyes revealed not so much as a thought as they gazed down into her blue orbs. She blinked slowly in confusion. He'd been asleep. Here. In her room. She grounded her teeth and he simply blinked at her.
"Hentai. Playing innocent with me won't work." She spoke in a curt tone.
"Then tell me what will." He responded in kind. Her mouth opened not sure what to say. It made him wonder. He was curious to see what it would be like to really kiss her. Would they kiss like they normally did or would she slow down and teach him how.
The look he was giving her started to slowly melt her bones. "Kenshin," She breathed. "We need to get out there and have dinner." Despite her words she made no attempt to get up. He lowered his face down to her and her eyes closed.
"Kenshin no." She said just before their lips touched. She pushed up at him. Trying to make him move. It upset him. It more than upset him it pissed him off. She didn't want him. Any warmth in his eyes perished in that second and broke away from her completely. He didn't understand, it was too many . . . . . there were too many feelings.
Kaoru noticed the instant he became cold. "Kenshin, I . . ." She was speaking to his back since he wouldn't turn around. "I just want you to be you when you kiss me."
He turned around immediately at that. "What does that mean? Act my age? Control my temper? Quit feeling possessive?" Tell me what that means." He barked at her.
She stepped back at his tone. She'd always been afraid of the battoussai. He being here meant Kenshin was gone. "Kenshin you don't understand." she began.
He grunted. How many times did his teacher say that. Baka-deshi you are to young to understand. Too young. He shook his head clearing his mind of the memory. His eyes glittered with anger. She brought about feelings he'd never experienced before. But worst of it all was she wouldn't explain. He turned his face away and walked out. The others would be there most likely. Grounding his teeth and setting his jaw he walked out to find the others talking amongst themselves. He took his seat, which is where Kaoru had sat him both times earlier in the day. Kaoru came out a bit after that. She gave them a watery smile as she sat on Kenshin's left.
They all knew she'd been crying probably since he'd woken up. So they acted as if nothing was wrong. Meanwhile the battoussai kept his eyes focused on some point on the far wall.
"Are you feeling better Sano?" Kaoru asked noting he looked much better than when she'd gone of to nap.
The battoussai's eyes turned to Sano, with something close to hate in his eyes. Sano frowned at the look and redirected his gaze at Kaoru. Kenshin was looking at her menacingly.
The whole room had gone quiet after Kenshin had come in. They had all seen the way he'd been looking at Kaoru. Though only Sano had seen the hate in his eyes for him. Kenshin finished eating first. He placed his bowl down and left. Kaoru followed suit after him. The rest of them exchanged looks before sneaking after them.
"Kenshin wait." She called out to him.
"I'm not leaving the property." He said as he continued to walk.
"Kenshin." She called after him as she began to cross the yard.
"What am I not allowed anywhere with out your direct permission." He said as he stopped in the doorway of the practice hall.
She stopped a couple of feet away from him. "Kenshin," She didn't understand why he acted the way he did.
"I think perhaps I should leave until my memory comes back. I'm sure I can find people I know." He said stepping the rest of the way in.
The others crept along the side of the dojo, straining to hear. If they moved any further though he'd sense them. They saw Kaoru walk in after him.
"So you want to leave." Her voice choked on her emotions.
He turned around and she stopped. He noticed she didn't approach him and only when he seemed to make her mad did she address him with familiarity.
"Why do you insist in keeping me here when you don't want me here?" He watched her eyes widen at his observation.
"Kenshin no matter what. I need . . . I would like . . . for you to stay." She was afraid of revealing too much. She was afraid of the battoussai and it's true she didn't want him here but it was still Kenshin and she couldn't let him leave. He was dangerous like this. She swallowed her fear and approached him. Her trembling form stood in front of him. She stretched her hand much like she did on that road over two years ago when she welcomed him home.
He looked at her hand like some foreign object. He didn't take it. Slowly her hand dropped and her eyes teared up.
"Why is Sano always here?" He asked her.
"Because he's our friend and he helps out around the house sometimes." she spoke quietly.
He wouldn't be able to remain here. It was too quiet. He should give it a chance though since this was his home after all. Still being surrounded by strangers. One's he didn't like. "I can't stay here." He said turning to meet her tearful eyes.
All right there you go. End of chapter three. I'd tried once to upload it but I realized it was too small. At ten pages I thought it was too small. Grrr. Anyhow I stopped once I found a good spot which also happened to be ten pages later. I hope you guys like it.
Small Note: All right some things I need to clear up for some of you. Kenshin is still 31, it's only his state of mind that's receded to the age of 15. That said. Kenshin's not used to feeling this confused and being left in the dark makes him feel like he's still a pupil. Someone who doesn't know better. The confusion lays in that he has conflicting emotions, some which he has no idea where they came from.
In the OVA the battoussai appeared to be in a dark mood most of the time. Reserved as he may have been he didn't appear friendly.
Now I stated that she pieced together that he was more himself at the age of fifteen that at any other point in his life. While he may have not been deliriously happy. He was content to do what he was doing because he was protecting those who could not themselves. I really hope this clears things up for you guys.
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Please remember anything between these lines means dream sequence. In this chapter it was Kenshin who had the same dream.
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Thanks again to all those who've already reviewed.
Please continue to read and don't forget to review.