sapphirebubbles: ohayo, minna-san! this is my first fanfics so... i hope you will like it! i also accept reviews and some constructive criticism! just a warning, i am a 100 ken-kao fanatic, so for tomoe fans, gomen! i have nothing against her, but i dislike her just the same! hehehe! arigato gozaimasu! ja ne!

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin! Wish I do, though! Anyway, they are Watsuko-sama's! Enjoy!

Last time...

"Tell me about yourself..."

Chapter 5: Painful Memories

Old wounds can never heal,

Can never be forgotten,

So hold me, and replace it with

Happy memories...

She smiled inwardly, knowing about his intentions which will come sooner or later. She sighed, deciding on sooner.

"My father is a kendo instructor. He taught the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and I am his successor. I was an only child and my parents love me dearly. My mother is a British woman..."

So that explains the blue eyes... Kenshin thought.

"We were... so happy until... my mom died of cancer..." she choked back a sob.

"She lived her life fully, Kaoru..." Kenshin consoled.

"Hai. She died happy. I was there, holding her hand, and she said she loved me... then she died." Kaoru took a deep breath, smiling shakily. "Otou-san... he, after mom died, he devoted his life in teaching kendo, and me... for 3 years, our life was peaceful until... until... he died... he died of cancer too, I guess he was stressing himself too much... I tried to teach kendo but no one wanted a girl as a sensei. Instead, offers of marriage were given to me. They said a man is more suitable to teach kendo. It was futile, so I left my dojo to a friend and... you know the rest, Kenshin..."

Kenshin was silent, unable to do anything. "Kaoru..." he reached out and hugged her. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

Kaoru smiled softly, leaning her head on his chest. "Thanks a lot, Kenshin... just, hold me..."

Kenshin tightened his embrace on her. "I didn't know you had to endure so much... you suffered so much..."

"Kenshin?"

"Nani?"

"Tell me about yourself." He grinned ruefully.

"I guess it's fair. You said yours, I should say mine." He took a deep breath. "I was an orphan too. My parents died of cholera when I was seven. Then, a group of bandits sold me and I became a slave. Incidentally, my shishou, and his wife found me. They took pity on me and bought me from those slave traders. My master taught me swordmanship, the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, and treated me as their own. Then came Aoshi."

"You mean, he is not your brother?"

"Not really. My master found him too, I guess he was 5 then, two years older than me. He was in the same state as me. He was taught under Okina, an omnitsu my father knows. In our highschool years, well, he met Misao. Misao is Okina's granddaughter, and well, she has a crush on Aoshi since they met, which is like when she was 4 years old. They became an item when Aoshi is 16 and Misao is 14." He chuckled. "Misao sure fainted."

"Kenshin?"

"Hai?"

"How did you get your scar?"

"Oh, I got that when those slave traders branded me as their property. It hasn't healed still."

"I see..." she reached out a hand, caressing his scar. He closed his eyes, leaning on her touch. She rubbed her hand on the still-raw wound, hoping her touch can erase the memories it brings back.

"In my sophomore year, I met her."

"Her? Who is she, Kenshin?" still caressing his scar.

His eyes hardened. "My girlfriend, Tomoe." Her hand abruptly left his face. He blinked, confused at the loss of her touch.

"W-where is she, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked, her head bowed.

"We broke up, two years ago. I found her with her ex-boyfriend, Akira."

"I see... do you? Do you still love her, Kenshin?"

"Of course I do. I still love her. I cannot forget her." Kenshin said sorrowfully. "That's why it still hurts..." Kaoru's heart broke.

Baka, baka, baka! Now, you broke your heart! a voice said in her head.

Of course. It was foolish of me to think that someone like Kenshin can love me... Kaoru thought, her heart squeezing painfully.

"Nobody can love me..." she whispered softly, eyes clenched shut, a teardrop falling. Kenshin stilled, hearing her whisper, so softly murmured, he almost didn't catch it.

I love you... a voice said in his head. Shocked in this revelation, Kenshin decided to play innocent, his mind still confused.

"Nani? I didn't quite catch that." he said. She blinked, then wiped the tears away.

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Continue your story, Kenshin." she said, smiling brightly.

Kaoru, why do you hide your feelings from me? "I believe she left Japan and went to Italy, marrying Akira. I haven't heard from her since."

"I see..."

"Anyway, that's all in the past, right? All that matters is the future, right?"

"Of course."

"Let's have some fun, Kaoru. All this talk is making me lonely again. So, should we go?" he asked, holding out his hand.

"Go? To where?" Kaoru asked, perplexed.

"Somewhere! Anywhere! Let's go!" With that, he grabbed her hand, then they flew down the stairs. Once, Kaoru tripped, but it is enough to sprain her ankle.

"ITAI!"

"Oro! Kaoru, does it hurt? Can you walk?" he asked, concerned.

"H-hai, it hurts... and I guess I can't walk, Kenshin, gomen..." she bowed her head.

"What are you sorry for?"

"Because we can't go now, with my sprained ankle..."

"That's no problem! Here you go!" He lifted her up, carrying her, bridal-style.

"K-kenshin!"

"Let's go!" He flew down the flight of stairs with god-like speed. Kaoru clutched him like a lifeline.

"Aaaah!!!" The students who they passed only saw a red and black blur whiz pass them. They ignored it, deciding it was a hallucination. In front of the school, Kenshin stopped, looking down to grin at the raven-haired beauty he carried. What he saw made his breath catch.

Kaoru was leaning on his shoulder, her hands gripping the front of his shirt tight. Her face was flushed, breathing heavy, her hair became loose, framing her hair in soft waves. Her pink lips were slightly parted, and he felt a sudden urge to kiss those lips. Instinct taking over rational thought, he bent his head to kiss her.

Kaoru gasped at his sudden outburst. His lips ravaged her mouth hungrily, exploring the insides of her own. He sucked at her tongue with an urgency she was surprised he have shown. He pressed her to himself nearer, crushing her to his chest. A wave of desire washed over her. Straining to deepen the kiss, she tightened her grip on him. A shot of pain from her ankle told her to stop. Panting heavily, she broke the kiss, burying her head on the crook of his neck and shoulder.

Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod.... It was a litany in her mind.

"Kaoru?" his voice was a husky whisper, sending shivers down her spine. She shuddered. He smirked, realizing that he had an effect on her. He bent his head down, nipping softly on her neck, soothing the lovebites with his tongue.
She shuddered again.

"K-kenshin? Shouldn't we be on our w-waaaaaay???" Kaoru asked breathlessly, the last part a moan when he sucked steadily at her neck.

"Of course..." he drawled, taking his time on languidly stroking her neck with his tongue. After a moment, he lifted his head, under great protest, not before giving her a chaste kiss on the lips. He nuzzled her hair, then asked her.

"Let's go?"

"How about school?" she asked, her mind still not functioning properly.

"Oh yeah. Wait a sec." He placed her down, but she still leaned on him because of her ankle, then took his cellphone out of his pocket.

"Sano?" he said on the phone.

"Kenshin! Where have you been, man?" the voice replied.

"Oro? I'm with Kaoru, and we're skipping school. Uh, tell the teacher that Kaoru sprained her ankle and I... uh, will take her home, got that?"

"Uh-huh. Sprained ankle, you say? I can't believe you are on that stage already, Kenshin. I mean, you need not lie to me if you wanna have some time with her alone, you know?"

"S-SANO!" Kenshin blushed ten different shades of red. "She really has sprained her ankle. You see, when w-we went to the r-rooftop then she tripped on the s-stairs then--" Kenshin babbled, flustered.

"Sure, Kenshin. I was just kidding. Aren't you defensive? Ok, ok, I will make some lame excuse to the teacher. Now go, before I lose my patience with you, little man." Sano said on the phone, obviously grinning.

"Thanks, Sano." Kenshin sighed in relief.

"Yeah, yeah. Kenshin?"

"Hai?"

"Tell me the juicy details later, ok?"

"SANO!"

"Sorry! Have fun! Ja ne!" He hung up. Kenshin flipped his phone shut.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked.

"Huh? Oh, let's go." Kenshin said, looking ever so fondly at her. Kaoru blushed at his intimate stare. Now, if she ever remember her past, she won't definitely feel grief or anything, instead, she'll remember the passionate kiss she and Kenshin shared. She blushed at the thought. Definitely no grief.

Unnoticed by the two, a boy smirked, his camera flashing noiselessly.

---------------------------

Japanese Terms:

1. otou-san- father

2. nani- what

3. shishou- master

4. omnitsu- spy

5. baka- stupid, foolish

6. itai- ouch

7. hai- yes

8. gomen- sorry

9. ja ne- see you

A/N: Oro! Gomen, readers! I presume the next chapter will be about Kenshin/Kaoru and a little Sano/Megumi! Don't worry, the couples will be the original one in the show. and... didn't I say I dislike Tomoe? I did? good, it was just a warning for tomoe fans. gomen again! promise, i'll add the next chapters! i have big plans for this story, i have a dozen or so ideas! so, ja ne, minna-san! sayonara!

P.S. Oh yeah , I would love some reviews please! Hehehe! Arigato!

sapphire-bubbles: thank u for the reviews! i will update this soon, but for the meantime, this is the only one! hehe! thnx, kaoru-chaness, Shin1, Kodora Fairy, half-breed-demon-fox, Kean, Lady Yuya Shiina, sweetyfanfic, blue3ski, Black Magician Master! thnx for the reviews! i'm so touched! this is my first fanfic and i'm glad you appreciate it! arigato gozaimasu! i will update soon, yakusoku! :)