Disclaimer:
Kenshin announces to readers, "Nobuhiro Watsuro-dono owns me, Sano, Yahiko, Megumi-dono, Misao-dono, Aoshi, Shishio, Saitou, Soujiro,. ."
Sano: "Why don't you just say everyone you idiot?"
Kenshin glares at him and continues, "Nobuhiro-dono owns everyone except Kaoru-dono."
Sano looks up at him confused.
Kaoru asks, "Eh? What do you mean Kenshin?"
Kenshin glances at Kaoru and winks.
Kaoru blushes.
Yahiko looks at the couple annoyed, "You guys make me sick! Bleh!"
~ A Memory Forgotten ~
Chapter 10
They waited until mid afternoon when they heard the familiar shuffling of footsteps. Both of them held their breath as the familiar man with red hair and a cross-scar walked into the room. They looked up at him silently.
Kenshin smiled and pleasantly said with the familiar rurouni smile, "Hi Sano and Yahiko. Where is . . ." His smile started to falter when he saw the mellow look on both of his friends' faces as he greeted them. Kenshin looked over at Sano and saw that he was clutching something tightly in his fist. His eyes stared down at the familiar blue cloth. His eyes grew wide and everything went black.
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Kenshin could feel that there was something wrong when he first approached the dojo. It was too quiet. Kaoru was not there to greet him with her usual smile and say, "Okaeri nasai, Kenshin." He could also sense the air of sadness around the entire place especially when he entered the room where Sanosuke and Yahiko were sitting around quietly. He began to greet them when he noticed the blue ribbon and how it was tinged with blood. Blood?!?!?! He started to feel weak as his knees gave way to the ground below.
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"Kenshin?! KENSHIN! KENSHIN!" both Sanosuke and Yahiko were yelling at the man clad in the magenta gi as they rushed to his side. He was on his knees when they reached him. They looked at his eyes, even though they were open, they didn't focus on anything. It was just glazed over. Yahiko was shaking the body back and forth while yelling his name. Sano ran out of the room and came back with the laundry tub.
SPLASHHe dumped the water on top of Kenshin's body. Kenshin started to blink and his mind began to register what had happened.
Yahiko glared daggers at Sano, "You could have at least told me you were going to dump water on Kenshin!" The poor boy was soaking wet now, his hair was matted to his forehead. Sano just grinned at him. "I'll get you back for this you tori-atama!" Yahiko said viciously with his fists clenched in the air waving it at Sano.
Kenshin snapped out of the daze and looked at both Sano and Yahiko with trembling eyes. "Tell me what happened to Kaoru-dono!" he demanded frantically.
Sano and Yahiko stopped their little bout and looked solemnly at Kenshin's face. They told him exactly what had happened and what the police had found so far. Kenshin could only sit stupefied throughout the entire tale.
Kaoru. . .I should never have left your side. . . This .. this .. this is all my fault, Kenshin thought in pain as he looked down at his hands.
Sano and Yahiko looked how distraught the man was in front of them. They didn't want him to return to what he was when he thought that Kaoru had died. Sano acted quickly and pulled the man back up on his feet and dragged him to the front gate. Yahiko followed them carrying his trusty bokken.
"Kenshin," he started firmly, "Nothing is for sure yet. We need to go to the police station and find out what those bastards know about our Jou-chan. Come on. This mood of yours won't save Kaoru from where ever she is right now."
Kenshin looked up at him with a renewed optimism. Yes, her body wasn't found at that hide out. She could be fine. I have to go find her and save her, he thought with determination. Sano reassuringly patted Kenshin's back as they started to trek towards the Tokyo police station.
Yahiko looked on at the scene before him with a new respect for Sanosuke. He acts like a baka sometimes, but he sure knows what to say, he thought with a smirk as he started to follow his friends out the gate of the dojo.
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Kaoru had many dreams the night before as she woke up from her sleep in the mid-afternoon. She looked around her and adjusted to her surroundings. Then she heard a shoji door slide open, she turned her head towards the visitor.
"O—ohayo, Kamiya-san. I was just going to wake you up to tell you that breakfast is done," Soujiro said with a smiled, surprised that she was already awake.
"Arigato, Sou-chan. I'll be ready in a minute," replied Kaoru.
Soujiro nodded and left the room. Kaoru got up slowly, but surely and picked up her old kimono. Eh? It's clean? And the tears are mended? Kaoru looked at her clothing confusedly, then she smiled warmly at her next thought. Sou-chan must have cleaned and mended my kimono. She changed into her kimono and walked out to the kitchen with a bright smile on her face.
The boy saw Kaoru as she walked in and smiled at her. She looks so beautiful when she smiles. I hope to see her smile more often, he thought. I wonder what this feeling in my heart is when I look at her and see her smiling at me. But whatever the feeling was, Soujiro just knew that he enjoyed it. He brought her some miso soup and fish that was not burnt this time.
Kaoru looked at the fish and then glanced back up at him. "So Sou-chan, you didn't burn the fish this time, eh?" she questioned with an eyebrow raised.
"Maa, maa Kamiya-san. It was by accident I burned it last time," he said with a laugh. They had a very enjoyable breakfast. Both of them ate and laughed to their hearts' content. After breakfast, Kaoru suggested that they go outside and take a walk. Soujiro agreed.
They went outside and Kaoru noticed how blue the skies were and how green the trees were. Soujiro watched Kaoru's expressions as she gazed at the nature before them. He smiled. I like being with her like this. It gives me peace, he thought.
Kaoru looked at him and said, "Let's take a break and sit down here." He nodded and they both sat down on the old log.
"Sou-chan," she began as Soujiro gazed in her direction. "I've been having these weird dreams lately. I think they have something to do with my past." She fidgeted and looked down at her hands. Soujiro smiled at her, but was a little sad because he didn't want her to leave him once she remembered her past. He put his hand on hers and squeezed, encouraging her to continue what she was saying.
She looked up at him and her courage came back.
"Well, in my dreams the images I see are blurry. I can't put a name or face to anyone. However, I do hear voices. Voices that are mere murmurs and are not distinct," Kaoru let out a sigh because she was having so much trouble remembering her past.
Soujiro saw that she was distressed and patted her back lightly.
She looked down and played with her hands as she continued, "In my dreams, I hear people calling me. At .. at least I think they are calling me. I - - I think they called me Kaoru. One voice in my dream called me busu though." Her face frowned when she mentioned this.
Soujiro laughed lightly and stopped himself when she looked at him with a pout. "Iie. . Kamiya-san, you are very beautiful," he said warmly.
Her heart fluttered when he complimented her so sincerely. She blushed and then continued, shifting her gaze to the tree in front of them, "That's all I can remember right now. I wonder .. I wonder how long it will take me to remember everything. . . but what if .. what if I don't?" She looked at him with watery eyes and hands clenched together.
Soujiro looked at her eyes and said, "Don't worry Kamiya-san .. or should I call you Kaoru-san?" he said with a smile. Kaoru .. Kaoru .. that is such a beautiful name for such a beautiful woman, he thought as he continued to watch her as she returned the smile. He put an arm around her and said to her, "I'm sure that you'll regain all of your memories." Pausing then continuing while looking into her eyes once more as he grew serious, "I want you to know that I'll always be here for you no matter what, Kaoru-san."
She gazed into his blue eyes and she smiled, a smile from her heart. I wonder .. I wonder if and when I do get all my memories back . . . . can I still be with you . . . Sou-chan?, she thought. Then she rested her head on his shoulder and both of them watched the purple and blue hues of the sky as the sun began to set.
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"SAITOU!" Kenshin demanded fiercely as he barged into Saitou's office. The man looked up from his desk and saw three unwanted figures looming near the doorway.
He smirked. "Battousai, not even a formal greeting? What did I tell you about coming in here unannounced?"
Kenshin, not flinching, continued with a low growl, "I don't have time for your games, Saitou. Tell me what happened to Kaoru."
Sano and Yahiko gasped when they heard that he had left out the –dono.
Saitou looked him in the eye, pleased with what he saw. How interesting, he thought as he watched the dance of amber and purple hues in his eyes. "My, my . . .," he sighed as he took a puff of his cigarette. "It seems that someone woke up on the wrong side of the futon." A slight wolf-like smirk appears on his face as he looks at his fingers.
That bastard is enjoying this, Sano thought furiously with his fists clenched by his side.
Yahiko upset also, narrowed his eyes at the wolf.
Kenshin let out another low menacing growl, "Saitou. Don't play with me."
Saitou got up slowly from his desk and walked towards the door. The three of them glared at his back from behind. The man turned around and looked at the three of them casually.
"Well, why are you standing there? Let's go pay a visit to the people who took your woman," he said as his mouth curled up into another smirk. I'm enjoying this too much, thought Saitou as he glanced at the well-controlled fury playing on Kenshin's face. Kenshin followed behind Saitou with his eyes looking straight ahead. Sano and Yahiko trudged behind them guided by the smell of nicotine and once again they were in the familiar dark hallways of the Tokyo jail.
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- To be continued
Author's Notes:
Please read and review !!
Thanks for all the comments so far.
If you didn't catch the earlier part in the beginning where she thought she saw Kenshin (cuz of red hair and magenta gi) it was because of an episode that she was having due to amnesia. So she doesn't recognize Kenshin's appearance etc.
Oh yeah .. about Kenshin's personality coming up in the later chapters:
He's not going to go totally battousai. (gomenasai battousai fans ..) Eh .. he'll be kinda half and half somewhat.. balancing both personalities.
Thanks to all my reviewers!!
Nicky, AnimeFreako, wolfpack, Uenki, somebody, Princess of Darkness, Tsugoi Kakarlena, kenshinfan, kato, Souryusen, chibi, Briar, shippo, beriath, chibi frog, Luna Angel, hoots, kaoru-no-tanuki, Ana, CurlsofSerenity, pushpitake, Inugirl, kiki, kim, john, Poohbear, Jouchano8, anime lover, Clemen, Miya-chan, Kyoznekozukigirl, Aino Saori, wudnt u like 2 kno, kuru kuru 17, Moonwind, and Sanosuke Sagara for your support!