Fatality of the Strong

Chapter 7: The Glowing

By: Nikumu Chan

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Author's note: Sorry guys, I was planning to do this earlier but school work had me all tied up and it still does but . . . I needed a break so I'm going to write this for ya'll. Read, enjoy, and review please!

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Yahiko slowly knocked on Kaoru's closed and locked door. "Kaoru?"

"What?" A dull response emerged through the door.

"Kaoru, dinner's ready. Come eat . . ."

"I'm not hungry, Yahiko."

The boy sighed. 'Just like before,' What could have happened between Kureno and Kaoru to have her act like this? What did he do to her?

He suddenly felt an unstoppable anger towards Kureno . . . He'd made Kaoru's life like before, when Kenshin wasn't there!

******Later that night in Kureno's room******

Kureno punched the wall. What on earth happened to Kaoru? She didn't even come out for dinner!

Grr . . . he couldn't help but be angry at her for acting this way. It was going to be his life if it happened the way to should . . . he had the right to know, ne?

Kureno sighed and slumped to his bed, staring at the ceiling.

Suddenly, a memory hit him at full force.

******Memory******

Kaoru was there, slumped into a corner, presumably unconscious. She looked hurt and he saw a visible wound slashed across her cheek and arm, both bleeding freely.

He saw Kenshin staring at her in horror, piercing amber eyes wide in . . . fear? Fear for her safety? Health?

To his other side were Yahiko and Sanosuke. Yahiko looked to have a broken arm and a head wound. Sanosuke was struggling to his feet but they wouldn't support his abused body and he fell.

Kenshin then faced the enemy. A man wrapped in . . . bandages? He was laughing like a maniac and Kenshin seemed furious. Kenshin attacked . . .

******End Memory******

That man had obviously hurt Kaoru and the others . . . but why? Who was he? He though back to his previously recovered memories. Bandages . . . a man in bandages?

That man, the one who hurt Kenshin's friends . . . that man must have been Shishio.

******Flash Back******

Kaoru looked up at him and smiled sadly. "You look just like him," she said quietly. Kureno blinked. "Like who? And who is it that everyone keeps calling me?" he asked. Kaoru's smile faded slightly but never left.

"That's 'him'," she said, wiping away her tears. Kureno nodded while thinking. "So . . . I look like this 'Kenshin Himura'? And this 'Kenshin Himura' was someone you knew? But, someone killed him, right?" Kureno said.

Kaoru smiled. "Somewhat right . . . yes, you look like Kenshin. Yes, Kenshin was my friend. But no, someone did not kill him . . . he killed himself for Yahiko, Sanosuke, and I- all for his friends' safety. He killed himself for his friends' own welfare, their safety, and only theirs . . . not for his" Kaoru explained.

"Killed himself? How do you know?" Kureno asked, shocked at the news. Kaoru felt a new wave of tears well up in her eyes.

"I was there," tears rolled down her cheeks but she continued, "I saw him pierce his heart with that dagger, I yelled at him, tried to get him to stop . . . to come back home with us, I confessed so many things that I would have never imagined me telling him, I said I loved him, that I couldn't live without him, and he just ignored me. He said it was for the best and I was stupid enough to believe him. I was wrong; it's been living hell for me without him here- for two years I've had to live without him and they were the hardest years of my life." Kaoru said then looked down, embarrassed for letting him see her cry.

******End Flash Back******

Realization struck like a blow in the stomach.

Kenshin thought he was the reason they were getting hurt and he felt it was best if he . . . if he wasn't there . . . that meant suicide. He killed himself for his friends!

"'He killed himself for his friends' own welfare, their safety, and only theirs . . . not for his,'" Kureno repeated slowly.

Oh God, why? Now that he knew of this memory, he wished he didn't. Kureno sighed; he had to talk to Kaoru . . . and now!

He hopped from his bed and walked out of his room.

Outside, it was almost dark and the moon was glowing unusually bright but Kureno didn't notice.

When he reached Kaoru's room, he hesitated. Now, why did he want to speak with her? Was it to seek comfort or to comfort her . . . maybe, to tell her that he remembered? Why?

The door slid open from the other side and Kaoru emerged. She gasped when she saw Kureno. "What are you doing here, Kureno?"

"I, honestly, don't know." He answered. "You? Where are you going?"

Kaoru grew meek and shyly mumbled, "I got hungry."

Kureno laughed slightly. "That's what you get for not eating," He teased.

Kaoru ignored his comment. "Why were you at my door?"

"I already answered that. I really don't know . . . but, I did remember something."

Kaoru smiled brightly, already forgetting her previous intentions: one, avoid Kureno, and two, get food. "Really? What was it?"

Kureno grew deathly serious. "You were hurt. It was Shishio. He hurt you, Sanosuke, and Yahiko. The red-head attacked. I understand what you meant by what you said when we first met. 'For his friends' own welfare,' I understand now."

Kureno backed up into the moon light. "I now understand that they were very wrong about the Battousai, that he was a caring, selfless man, and I now understand . . . why you loved him."

The moon pulsed violently.

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Nikumu: Done with this one. I hope you liked it! Please review!