Author's Note: well hello again. Please enjoy the chapter. And, PLEASE,
R&R. I hate for my writing to go unnoticed, whether the attention be good
or bad. Anyway, this chapter contains a bit of AU, since I'm not sure
about everything in Kenshin's past (I never saw the OVA (or is it OAV) or
anything), but hopefully most of what I say will make a bit of sense. But
enough from me, let's get on to the story, which, I guess, is more of me,
but anyway...oh, dammit, just go ahead.
"But Kenshin, you have to stay!!!" pleaded Kaoru. "You can't leave again!"
"My remaining here is endangering you all. I will not allow anyone else to get hurt." He put on his sword and made to leave the room. Kaoru ran to bar his way. He looked at her, but didn't seem to see her.
"Move," he said. She didn't budge. He repeated himself, and when she didn't do anything, he sighed and dropped his stuff on the ground. He reached forward and embraced her. She was sobbing into his shoulder.
"Do not worry," he said. "We will see each other again. I will take care of Korajin, and then I will return. But now I must go. I must protect you and everyone else here."
"B-But...what if...if he k-kills you first?" she sniffed. He smiled warmly at her.
"I will not lose. You have my word." He picked up his possessions and walked past Kaoru. She turned and took a step after him. Then she dropped to her knees and began to cry even louder. Now resolved to leave, Battousai acted as though he couldn't hear her. He left the dojo without looking back.
* * * * *
Shinomori Aoshi watched as the Battousai left the dojo. It appeared as though he was leaving hurriedly, as though he wanted to get away as quickly as possible. Aoshi followed Battousai through the city. Battousai stopped outside a run down building and looked up at it. Then he entered. Aoshi turned away. So the Battousai was staying at an inn. But for what? Why did he leave the girl? Aoshi decided he would keep watch on the Battousai and walked away.
* * * * *
Battousai entered the small, grungy room he would be staying in. He dropped his things on the bed and left the inn. Today would just be a day to gather information. He could find out a bit about Korajin's whereabouts while, at the same time, letting the criminal underworld know that he was no longer at the Kamiya Dojo. Just another way to protect Miss Kaoru.
* * * * *
A boy with red hair. A girl with brown hair. Both in their late teens. The boy had a sword, but it was sheathed. The two seemed to be in a dank, dark, ugly bar. The floor was wood, but the wood was rotting. The tables were all empty. The boy was talking excitedly to the girl, and she was smiling happily back. The scene changed to outdoors. The boy drew his sword, stepping in front of the girl. A man with silver hair was standing in front of them, holding a sword dripping blood. The man flew forward, knocking the boy down. His sword flew to the side. The man raised his sword and swung it down. The girl jumped in front of the boy. The sword flew straight through her right arm and buried itself in her stomach. The boy stared in shock. The man was smirking, and pulled his sword out of the girl. He raised it again. Just then, two men appeared at the end of the road and began running toward him. The man leered down at the boy and disappeared. The two men ran after the silver haired man without stopping. The boy cradled the girl's head in his lap.
"I'm sorry," he said, tears pouring down his face. The girl managed to smile.
"It's...alright..." she said. "I...I'm glad I could...help you...sorry...we couldn't have...more...time..." Her grip tightened on his arm, and then she went limp. The boy gently lowered her to the ground.
"Only...only a week!" he sobbed. "WE ONLY HAD ONE FUCKING WEEK!!!" He picked up his sword and sheathed it. Then he turned to the girl and picked her up. "I'm sorry," he whispered again. He walked down the road with her.
Kaoru sat bolt upright in bed. She was sweating and sticky. She buried her face in her hands.
"Kenshin." The boy had been Kenshin. The silver haired man had been Korajin. But who had the girl been? Kaoru lay down and rolled onto her side.
"What happened to you?" she murmured.
* * * * *
Battousai returned to the inn that night, having spent the whole day traveling from one sleazebag to another. He collapsed onto the bed.
"I hope Miss Kaoru's all right," he said aloud. He closed his eyes.
"Himura?! Himura Kenshin?!" The boy with red hair turned and looked across the empty bar for the source of the voice. A pretty girl with long brown hair was making her way toward him. He put down his drink and stood up.
"What?" The girl smiled as she reached him.
"So it's true. You are Hitokiri Battousai."
"If you're looking for love, I'm not interested. Already tried it." The girl nodded gravely.
"I know all about what happened with you and Tomoe. I'm not here for that."
"What do you want, then? You're wasting my time." The girl grinned wider that before.
"I've got a surprise for you," she sang teasingly. He grunted.
"Yeah? What?"
"Do you remember your parents at all?" Battousai glared at her.
"No."
"I didn't think so. Then, I would assume you don't remember me, either?"
"No."
"Of course. Well, we do have a lot to talk about, so why don't you buy me a drink and we can sit down." Battousai stared as though she were insane.
"What the hell do you mean?! D'ya think I have time to go around buying drinks for every stranger who wants one?" The girl put her hands on her hips and sighed impatiently.
"Okay, my name's Reiko. Now we're not strangers. C'mon, I've got something really important to tell you."
"Shit!" Battousai sat up straight. A dream...just a dream. Battousai stood up and reached for his sword. Why had he dreamt about her? It had been over twelve years since...
Battousai left the room carrying his sword.
* * * * *
Kaoru was cooking something in the kitchen absently, thinking of her dream the previous night. Just who had that girl been? Was it another of Kenshin's previous loves? One was enough...
Where was Kenshin? Had he been injured? What was he doing? These and a thousand other questions flooded her mind.
"Kaoru?!" Kaoru jumped and whirled around. Yahiko was staring at her from the doorway and looking confused. "What's wrong?"
"Oh...nothing...just thinking..." Yahiko gave her another questioning look before leaving the room. She slumped against the wall. "Shit...I'm not gonna be able to do anything around here until I know that Kenshin's all right."
* * * * *
"The Battousai is nearby." The silver-haired man looked up at the man who spoke.
"Where is he?"
"Just go down the road and turn right. He's busy fighting some disposable warriors, so he'll be there when you get there."
"Excellent." Korajin stood up. The man made a small noise. Korajin looked over his shoulder. "Yes?"
"Well...not that it really matters...but the Battousai is with a girl."
"Another woman? Has he not already learned his lesson?"
"Apparently not."
"Very well. This may actually be a bit more fun than I thought." Korajin left the building in search of the Battousai.
Korajin lifted his head from his pillow. There was a smile on his face as he recalled the dream. A knock sounded on his door. He got up.
"What is it?" he demanded as he pulled open the door. The innkeeper was standing there.
"Well sir, you told me if I received any information...regarding the Battousai...I should let you know...immediately." Korajin nodded. "The Battousai is staying at the inn across the street. He is asleep now." Korajin grinned as though Christmas had come early.
"Very well." Korajin drew his sword straight through the innkeeper. The man's torso hit the door across the hall with a sickening splat and his legs crumpled to the floor. Korajin stepped over the body and left the inn.
"Your time is up, Battousai." HiHhhhhH
* * * * *
Run. That was what Aoshi had said at his window, less than thirty seconds ago. He is coming.
Battousai was already gathering his things. He hadn't expected Korajin to get here this soon. He must be watching everywhere. Battousai flung his bag over his shoulder and leaped through the window. The shattering of the glass would make a good deal of noise, but Korajin would already be inside the building, too late to turn around.
Battousai hit the ground and ran. Not enough time. He wouldn't be able to face Korajin for a while still.
He had gotten a full block away before he heard Korajin's enraged scream. A smirk played about his lips and he slowed to a walk. Where to go now? Well, it wouldn't take long to find somewhere else; this city was full of inns. He just needed one where he wouldn't be found. Not too hard; Tokyo was a big city, after all.
* * * * *
Battousai barged into the room. Reiko was there with her shirt off, and another man was holding her. A scream of rage escaped him and he moved forward. The other man yelled and leapt backwards to the wall. Reiko pulled on her shirt and stepped in between them.
"What is it, Kenshin?" she demanded, her eyes narrowed. Battousai glared over her shoulder at the man she was with. Reiko cleared her throat and he shifted his gaze to her.
His face was red with fury, and he could barely speak for the anger building up inside him, "He...he dares...with you...get...GET OUT!!!!" The guy stared at him.
"Why should I? Who the hell are you, anyway?" he asked. Battousai placed a hand on the hilt of his katana.
"Don't even think about it," said Reiko sharply. Battousai let the sword go reluctantly.
"I will not stand by while you two do...this! I want him out NOW!!!" Reiko shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but he has just as much right to be here as you. I don't have to listen to you, Kenshin. You're not my father." Battousai stepped back, hurt. Then he halted. Strange. Since Tomoe, he had not allowed any emotions to interfere with his actions. But now...she had brought grief to his heart with simple words. She really is something special, he thought.
"Very well, Reiko. I will allow this to carry on. Do not do this ever again...or..." he paused, and a small smile appeared "or if you do, do not let me catch you." He left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Sun was pouring through the windows. Battousai opened his eyes. Another dream. Longer, more detailed. Why, though? Why now? Korajin could be the only reason...that bastard had killed her so quickly...so ruthlessly. He would pay. Battousai would make sure of that, for Reiko's sake.
Author's Note: I hope everyone likes it. For those who have not yet realized how Reiko is related to Kenshin, you'll find out soon. As I said in the beginning, some of the facts might be a little off, but bear with me here. Hope you had fun, the next one comes soon.
"But Kenshin, you have to stay!!!" pleaded Kaoru. "You can't leave again!"
"My remaining here is endangering you all. I will not allow anyone else to get hurt." He put on his sword and made to leave the room. Kaoru ran to bar his way. He looked at her, but didn't seem to see her.
"Move," he said. She didn't budge. He repeated himself, and when she didn't do anything, he sighed and dropped his stuff on the ground. He reached forward and embraced her. She was sobbing into his shoulder.
"Do not worry," he said. "We will see each other again. I will take care of Korajin, and then I will return. But now I must go. I must protect you and everyone else here."
"B-But...what if...if he k-kills you first?" she sniffed. He smiled warmly at her.
"I will not lose. You have my word." He picked up his possessions and walked past Kaoru. She turned and took a step after him. Then she dropped to her knees and began to cry even louder. Now resolved to leave, Battousai acted as though he couldn't hear her. He left the dojo without looking back.
* * * * *
Shinomori Aoshi watched as the Battousai left the dojo. It appeared as though he was leaving hurriedly, as though he wanted to get away as quickly as possible. Aoshi followed Battousai through the city. Battousai stopped outside a run down building and looked up at it. Then he entered. Aoshi turned away. So the Battousai was staying at an inn. But for what? Why did he leave the girl? Aoshi decided he would keep watch on the Battousai and walked away.
* * * * *
Battousai entered the small, grungy room he would be staying in. He dropped his things on the bed and left the inn. Today would just be a day to gather information. He could find out a bit about Korajin's whereabouts while, at the same time, letting the criminal underworld know that he was no longer at the Kamiya Dojo. Just another way to protect Miss Kaoru.
* * * * *
A boy with red hair. A girl with brown hair. Both in their late teens. The boy had a sword, but it was sheathed. The two seemed to be in a dank, dark, ugly bar. The floor was wood, but the wood was rotting. The tables were all empty. The boy was talking excitedly to the girl, and she was smiling happily back. The scene changed to outdoors. The boy drew his sword, stepping in front of the girl. A man with silver hair was standing in front of them, holding a sword dripping blood. The man flew forward, knocking the boy down. His sword flew to the side. The man raised his sword and swung it down. The girl jumped in front of the boy. The sword flew straight through her right arm and buried itself in her stomach. The boy stared in shock. The man was smirking, and pulled his sword out of the girl. He raised it again. Just then, two men appeared at the end of the road and began running toward him. The man leered down at the boy and disappeared. The two men ran after the silver haired man without stopping. The boy cradled the girl's head in his lap.
"I'm sorry," he said, tears pouring down his face. The girl managed to smile.
"It's...alright..." she said. "I...I'm glad I could...help you...sorry...we couldn't have...more...time..." Her grip tightened on his arm, and then she went limp. The boy gently lowered her to the ground.
"Only...only a week!" he sobbed. "WE ONLY HAD ONE FUCKING WEEK!!!" He picked up his sword and sheathed it. Then he turned to the girl and picked her up. "I'm sorry," he whispered again. He walked down the road with her.
Kaoru sat bolt upright in bed. She was sweating and sticky. She buried her face in her hands.
"Kenshin." The boy had been Kenshin. The silver haired man had been Korajin. But who had the girl been? Kaoru lay down and rolled onto her side.
"What happened to you?" she murmured.
* * * * *
Battousai returned to the inn that night, having spent the whole day traveling from one sleazebag to another. He collapsed onto the bed.
"I hope Miss Kaoru's all right," he said aloud. He closed his eyes.
"Himura?! Himura Kenshin?!" The boy with red hair turned and looked across the empty bar for the source of the voice. A pretty girl with long brown hair was making her way toward him. He put down his drink and stood up.
"What?" The girl smiled as she reached him.
"So it's true. You are Hitokiri Battousai."
"If you're looking for love, I'm not interested. Already tried it." The girl nodded gravely.
"I know all about what happened with you and Tomoe. I'm not here for that."
"What do you want, then? You're wasting my time." The girl grinned wider that before.
"I've got a surprise for you," she sang teasingly. He grunted.
"Yeah? What?"
"Do you remember your parents at all?" Battousai glared at her.
"No."
"I didn't think so. Then, I would assume you don't remember me, either?"
"No."
"Of course. Well, we do have a lot to talk about, so why don't you buy me a drink and we can sit down." Battousai stared as though she were insane.
"What the hell do you mean?! D'ya think I have time to go around buying drinks for every stranger who wants one?" The girl put her hands on her hips and sighed impatiently.
"Okay, my name's Reiko. Now we're not strangers. C'mon, I've got something really important to tell you."
"Shit!" Battousai sat up straight. A dream...just a dream. Battousai stood up and reached for his sword. Why had he dreamt about her? It had been over twelve years since...
Battousai left the room carrying his sword.
* * * * *
Kaoru was cooking something in the kitchen absently, thinking of her dream the previous night. Just who had that girl been? Was it another of Kenshin's previous loves? One was enough...
Where was Kenshin? Had he been injured? What was he doing? These and a thousand other questions flooded her mind.
"Kaoru?!" Kaoru jumped and whirled around. Yahiko was staring at her from the doorway and looking confused. "What's wrong?"
"Oh...nothing...just thinking..." Yahiko gave her another questioning look before leaving the room. She slumped against the wall. "Shit...I'm not gonna be able to do anything around here until I know that Kenshin's all right."
* * * * *
"The Battousai is nearby." The silver-haired man looked up at the man who spoke.
"Where is he?"
"Just go down the road and turn right. He's busy fighting some disposable warriors, so he'll be there when you get there."
"Excellent." Korajin stood up. The man made a small noise. Korajin looked over his shoulder. "Yes?"
"Well...not that it really matters...but the Battousai is with a girl."
"Another woman? Has he not already learned his lesson?"
"Apparently not."
"Very well. This may actually be a bit more fun than I thought." Korajin left the building in search of the Battousai.
Korajin lifted his head from his pillow. There was a smile on his face as he recalled the dream. A knock sounded on his door. He got up.
"What is it?" he demanded as he pulled open the door. The innkeeper was standing there.
"Well sir, you told me if I received any information...regarding the Battousai...I should let you know...immediately." Korajin nodded. "The Battousai is staying at the inn across the street. He is asleep now." Korajin grinned as though Christmas had come early.
"Very well." Korajin drew his sword straight through the innkeeper. The man's torso hit the door across the hall with a sickening splat and his legs crumpled to the floor. Korajin stepped over the body and left the inn.
"Your time is up, Battousai." HiHhhhhH
* * * * *
Run. That was what Aoshi had said at his window, less than thirty seconds ago. He is coming.
Battousai was already gathering his things. He hadn't expected Korajin to get here this soon. He must be watching everywhere. Battousai flung his bag over his shoulder and leaped through the window. The shattering of the glass would make a good deal of noise, but Korajin would already be inside the building, too late to turn around.
Battousai hit the ground and ran. Not enough time. He wouldn't be able to face Korajin for a while still.
He had gotten a full block away before he heard Korajin's enraged scream. A smirk played about his lips and he slowed to a walk. Where to go now? Well, it wouldn't take long to find somewhere else; this city was full of inns. He just needed one where he wouldn't be found. Not too hard; Tokyo was a big city, after all.
* * * * *
Battousai barged into the room. Reiko was there with her shirt off, and another man was holding her. A scream of rage escaped him and he moved forward. The other man yelled and leapt backwards to the wall. Reiko pulled on her shirt and stepped in between them.
"What is it, Kenshin?" she demanded, her eyes narrowed. Battousai glared over her shoulder at the man she was with. Reiko cleared her throat and he shifted his gaze to her.
His face was red with fury, and he could barely speak for the anger building up inside him, "He...he dares...with you...get...GET OUT!!!!" The guy stared at him.
"Why should I? Who the hell are you, anyway?" he asked. Battousai placed a hand on the hilt of his katana.
"Don't even think about it," said Reiko sharply. Battousai let the sword go reluctantly.
"I will not stand by while you two do...this! I want him out NOW!!!" Reiko shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but he has just as much right to be here as you. I don't have to listen to you, Kenshin. You're not my father." Battousai stepped back, hurt. Then he halted. Strange. Since Tomoe, he had not allowed any emotions to interfere with his actions. But now...she had brought grief to his heart with simple words. She really is something special, he thought.
"Very well, Reiko. I will allow this to carry on. Do not do this ever again...or..." he paused, and a small smile appeared "or if you do, do not let me catch you." He left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Sun was pouring through the windows. Battousai opened his eyes. Another dream. Longer, more detailed. Why, though? Why now? Korajin could be the only reason...that bastard had killed her so quickly...so ruthlessly. He would pay. Battousai would make sure of that, for Reiko's sake.
Author's Note: I hope everyone likes it. For those who have not yet realized how Reiko is related to Kenshin, you'll find out soon. As I said in the beginning, some of the facts might be a little off, but bear with me here. Hope you had fun, the next one comes soon.