A/N Hey! For those who know me I bet you're wondering why do I keep startling new fics and never finish the old ones. To answer that I say: I HAVE NO IDEA!!!! Anyway this fic is a pure K+K I'm using the American Cartoon Network version because I haven't seen the Japanese one yet. Also I've only seen the episodes up to where Kenshin defeated the Oniwabanshu Group. I'm sorry if I stray away from the original story line. You can blame the editors at Cartoon Network for that. Well…I think that's enough rambling for no. On to the fic!!

Disclaimer I don't own Rurouni Kenshin…what do you really think you'll gain if you sue?

Chapter 1 Inner Demons

It is said that a scar never truly fades.

 Whether physical or emotional, a scar can never be erased.

 Never be forgotten.

 It is there always to remind the wearer of what happened.

A scar is a mark.

It can bring one a sense of pride or disgust.

 Everyone has some sort of scar.

Some say a true scar is a mark of a vicious and painful moment in one's past.

 Scars can never be erased…they are always with you.

 Haunting you until you die.

~*~*~*~*~

"Keep up Yahiko! How do you ever plan to master the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu techniques if you don't even try?" Kaoru snapped.

'Why don't you just shut up!" Yahiko retorted thrusting his shinai upwards. Kaoru easily evaded his sloppy attack.

"You have to FOCUS Yahiko!" Kaoru said. "You aren't even trying."

Yahiko didn't respond. Instead he began to run circling Kaoru taking in her stance and position. Meanwhile Kaoru remained poised, eyes closed and shinai out stretched before her.

"Who do you think is going to win?" Sanosuke asked.

Kenshin only sipped his tea. "The battle could go either way. That it could. Yahiko has gotten stronger but his mind isn't on this battle. That is why he will lose. That he will."

"Care to make a wager?" Sanosuke asked elbowing the red head.

"Er…nope. I like my money and like to keep it. That I do."

Suddenly Yahiko stopped running abruptly and charged at Kaoru from behind. Still she didn't move. An arrogant smile crossed Yahiko's face as he brought his shinai down but at the last moment Kaoru vanished leaving Yahiko to hit the ground where she had once been.

"What the?" Yahiko muttered but by then it was too late. Kaoru had jumped and was now coming back down ready to deal the final blow to Yahiko. The young boy closed his eyes waiting for the blow to come and was surprised when he was lightly tapped on the head. Opening his eyes he saw Kaoru standing there smiling. Her shinai resting on his head.

"Ha! I win." She gloated.

"Whatever…" Yahiko mumbled. "I almost won…"

"Sure you did…" Kaoru said sarcastically. "That's enough for today."

"How come the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu only teaches defensive techniques?" Yahiko asked offhandedly.

"Well I wouldn't say only. There are some offensive techniques but they are very advanced and you aren't ready for them yet." Kaoru explained walking over to Kenshin.

"I am too!" Yahiko retorted. "Tell her Kenshin!"

"Miss Kaoru is right. That she is. You have much to learn. That you do." Kenshin said before sipping his tea.

"Figures you'd side with her." Yahiko muttered. "When will you guys realize that I'm not a little kid. I'm practically a man!"

"Well sir! Why don't you go get a job or something?"  Kaoru said crossing her arms. "As a matter of fact why don't you all get jobs? This place isn't running itself! There are bills to pay and food to buy and your lounging isn't helping at all!"

"Maybe if you had some students…"Sanosuke began.

"What was that?" Kaoru asked cracking her knuckles and glaring at him.

"Er…nothing…"

"I would have students if a certain somebody hadn't scared them all away." Kaoru said glaring at Kenshin who in return sweat dropped.

"Now now Miss Kaoru…"

"Don't you Miss Kaoru me Kenshin! How am I suppose to keep this dojo open with nobody working?" Kaoru asked.

"You could always get a job." Yahiko ventured. "Wait! What are you doing with that stick? Aahh!!!"

"Wait until I catch you ya little rat! I'll teach you the Kamiya Kasshin style first hand!" Kaoru said chasing after Yahiko.

"I'm not afraid of a sweaty girl like you!" Yahiko said while running.

"I'm going to kill you!" Kaoru shouted.

"Excuse me." Came a soft voice causing them all to stop and look up at the new comer.

"Oh hi Megumi." Kaoru greeted, her hands wrapped around Yahiko's throat.

"Hello." She said walking towards Sanosuke. "I made a bit too much and was wondering if any of you would like anything to eat."

At that exact moment Yahiko's stomach growled loudly followed by Sanosuke's. Even Kenshin drooled at the wonderful scent coming from the package Megumi had.

"Well I was going to cook…" Kaoru began letting go of Yahiko. "but that does smell good."

A little while later they where all sitting around the table eating Megumi's wonderful food. Although Kaoru was hungry her mind kept going back to there last fight with Aoshi and the Oniwabanshu. Something told her that that wasn't the last time they would see Aoshi. He was hell bent on getting revenge and she knew he still was. Something else was bothering her but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Laughter from Megumi brought her attention back to her food. Yahiko and Sanosuke were arguing over who would have the last pork bun. (I LOVE 'EM!!) Both where glaring daggers at each other. Suddenly there was a swift movement and the bun was gone. Everyone looked to see Kenshin happily eating the last one.

"Hey! That's mine!" Yahiko and Sanosuke yelled at the same time diving towards Kenshin.

A smile crossed Kaoru's face and her heart began to beat a bit faster. It was moments like this that she really enjoyed. Seeing Kenshin so relaxed and carefree made her happy. Sometimes it was hard to even believe that he had been the Battousai. She still had trouble believing it. Kenshin was so kind and caring. How could he have every been the horrible manslayer that terrorized Japan for so many years.

"If you stare at him any harder your going to hurt yourself." Came Megumi's voice to her left. The whole time she had been aware of Kaoru's starring while eating.

"Huh! I don't know what you're talking about." Kaoru said blushing slightly. "Besides…you shouldn't talk. I've caught you staring more then once at a certain zanba wielding man."

At this Megumi also blushed slightly but managed to keep her composer. "That's different. You should know that I think you two would go nicely together…"

Kaoru didn't say anything but her blush deepened.

"I only hope you are prepared to deal with the things that come with the Battousai." Megumi said softly. Before Kaoru could comment Megumi stood just as the fight ended. Naturally Kenshin won. "I should be going now. I'll see you all later."

"Hey wait up Megumi!" Sanosuke said recovering from the lose of his pork bun. (Yahiko: HIS pork bun! I saw it first!) "I'll walk you home!"

Kaoru watched the two leave troubled by her friend's cryptic word. 'Kenshin's given up killing. What could be the harm in having a relationship with him?' she asked. 'If I wanted to that is!' Again Kaoru snuck a glance at Kenshin. "If I wanted…." She muttered softly.

~*~*~*~*~

Kenshin stood in the middle of a field surrounded completely by at least ten  soldiers. His eyes where closed and a steady rain was beginning to fall from a blood colored sky. One of the soldiers was holding a thick chain and swinging it while eyeing Kenshin. Suddenly he released the chain and it wrapped around Kenshin's sword arm and neck. The other men took this as a sign to attack and began to charge. At that moment Kenshin's eyes opened though they were not their normal violet color. Instead they were a fiery amber color filled with hate and anger. This man was not Kenshin. He was the Battousai.

Even though his arm was chained  Kenshin raised his sword and unsheathed it with his mouth while skillfully dodging all the soldiers attacks.  Jumping Kenshin was able to loosen the chain enough so to grab the sword with his hand. On reaching the ground Kenshin slashed at the man holding the chain slicing his throat. Before any of the other soldiers could react Kenshin swiftly turned. A few were skilled with a sword and fought back but most of them were quickly killed. By the time the last body hit the ground Kenshin had his sword sheathed.

Amongst all the blood and carnage of the battle Kenshin stood there enjoying the sight of the dead men laying on the ground. Suddenly something caught his eye. One of the soldiers was wearing a red ribbon around his head. He looked a lot like…Sanosuke. Frantically looking around Kenshin saw that it was Sanosuke and Yahiko lay beside him both bloody and looking up at him with lifeless eyes.

"No…" he muttered as the rain began to fall harder.

Nearby lay the bodies of Megumi and Ayame and Suzume. Each equally battered and looking at him with eyes filled with pain and death.

"No…it can't be." Kenshin muttered, his eyes full of tears. Slowly everything around him darkened except the body of one solider. Only he knew it was no solider. The body had long silky black hair and wore a yellow ribbon.

"NO!" Kenshin shouted falling to his knees. His now violet eyes full of tears. He closed them refusing to believe the horror around him. "I am so sorry. That I am…"

"Kenshin…" came a soft whisper causing Kenshin to open his eyes. He was staring into the lifeless eyes of Kaoru.

"Kenshin…" the voice whispered again. Kaoru's voice.

Kenshin moved forward but suddenly Kaoru's body was engulfed in flames. Her scream reaching his very soul. "KAORU!" he shouted before he too was swallowed by the fire.

~*~*~*~*~

Kenshin bolted up in bed, sweat causing his hair to mat to his head. At first he reached for his sword before realizing that it had all been a nightmare. Trying to slow his breathing Kenshin tried to regain his thoughts. For a dream this one had been very realistic. He had killed the ones who meant the most to him.

It was something he worried about every time he fought. That he might lose control and revert back to his old ways. 'No.' he said to himself strongly. 'You promised to atone for your sins.' Then why was he still plagued by these images? He asked himself. He had no answer.

Suddenly overcome by sleep Kenshin lay back down and fell into and uneasy sleep. This time he sleep without any dreams or nightmares.

~*~*~*~*~

A/N Wow! That dream was intense. I hope it was just a dream…Well I hope you all like this first chapter. The fic will get better as it goes along. Now comes your part. Just click that little button below that says review. I'll be updating soon since this entire story is already written out. All I have to do is type it and post it. Let's just say the more reviews I have the quicker the next chapter, ok? Well Ja ne until next time!