A Split Soul
By: NekoYokai
Disclaimer: The Rurouni Kenshin characters in this fic belong
to the brilliant Watsuki Nobuhiro, not me, but Kabu-chan
and Steve DO belong to me! So there!
Summary: There are two parts to Kenshin Himura, The
Rurouni, and the Hitokiri. When those two separate, how
can anyone get them back together? Especially when they like being separate!
(A/N at bottom along w/ replies 2 reviews)
Chapter 4: You've got some explaining to do!
P.O.V: Normal
Kaoru ran through the streets as though possessed, feeling the necklace Steve had given her pulsate with a warmth and light only she could feel. The gem guided her as she ran, leading her around corners and soon she found herself standing next to a familiar river. There stood Battousai, his amber fixated on the blue hair woman, as though he were facing the evil himself.
All Battousai could do was stand there, paralyzed with an emotion he had never felt before, but instinctively he knew what it was. Fear. The legendary hittokiri feared this slip of a girl more then all the criminals in the world. Even as the irony of it all struck him he could do nothing but gaze in fear.
Kaoru edged closer to him, and he backed away by instinct looking like a cornered tiger. The only thing holding him there was the ever-present fear, which made his legs weak and his heart speed up.
Unconsciously Kaoru moved forward and before she knew what was happening she had touched his cheek and whispered his name.
"Kenshin..."
The sound of her voice broke Battousai from his spell of fear and he pre pared to flee only to be stopped by Kaoru's hand.
'Since when was Kaoru so strong?' he wondered to himself absently, but he stopped trying to struggle.
"Are you real?" Kaoru's voice rang inside his head.
I don't know, he wanted to answer, but he knew that an answer like that wouldn't help.
He almost wanted to flee again, images of rejection crossing his mind. Everyone was afraid of him eventually, and he didn't know if he could stand his family despising him.
"Let me go," his demand was filled with icy dread, but Kaoru did not respond and held onto his arm tighter.
"LET ME GO!!" Battousai pushed her back and off him, only to be stopped by the voice of a little boy.
"St-stop."
Shock held Battousai still as a little boy jumped out of the trees.
"I think you owe Kaoru and I an explanation Kenshin."
"Yahiko-chan!" exclaimed the already confused Kaoru.
P.O.V: Kenshin-Rurouni
A shiver ran down my spine and an unexpected feeling of dread made me stop in the middle of the screen door.
"Oi, Kenshin, you coming?" Sano's voice reminded me of where I was and I followed him in still slightly uneasy.
"Well time for lunch!" I told myself. No use worrying about it now there was no time.
P.O.V: Yahiko
I looked at Battousai...no....Kenshin defiantly though I felt my knees turn to jelly at the sight of those amber eyes.
'Get a grip of yourself Yahiko,' I muttered to myself, 'This is no time to be getting cold feet!'
Just half a couple of minutes ago I was safely in my hiding place in the trees and all of the sudden I'm screaming at Battousai! Man, my mouth needs to learn to wait for my brain sometimes.
"Explanations?" Battousai growls, "If I could explain any of this I wouldn't be knee deep in shit...You guys are just as clueless as I am."
"Well you must know something more then we do," my voice shook only a tiny bit, but I knew Battousai noticed it.
He looked at me with a sad little grimace.
"I am telling the truth and don't worry Yahiko-chan I won't bite your head off."
I felt a little ashamed. No matter what form he took this was still Kenshin! Just a more ruthless, dangerous, bloodthirsty....ARGHH! This train of thought was getting me nowhere.
"Well then we'll help you guys find out what's going on," it was Kaoru who had finally pulled herself to her feet and was now motioning them to follow her home.
Battou...errr...Kenshin looked at her like she had just told him she'd decided to marry Saitoh, and I think I did too.
"What?!" Kenshin yelled hoarsely at her, and I gave her a look that clearly said "I always knew you'd get us killed one day."
"Well, I figure you're still Kenshin and you're family! We should all help, it is our duty to." She looked at Battousai and her gaze softened a bit.
"Welcome to the family Himura-san."
P.O.V: Kaoru
We all walked home in a tense silence, but I felt relived. So I wasn't crazy after all, and I think things might actually work out. I was also relived that I had the courage to invite the Battousai in. Kenshin's a wonderful person, but from what I've seen of Himura-san he is not.
As Himura-san and Yahiko talked I had just sat there fighting with my self. He might be Kenshin, but he was also Battousai the man who killed Tomoe and so many others. Yet he was also a human being and I couldn't ignore the need in his voice. I knew I had done the right thing, but that didn't stop the unease I felt around Himura-san one bit.
P.O.V: Saitoh
The battousai was different, but I couldn't place my finger on what was so different about him. His ki though...it was strange. Even for many years after being an assassin there are some things you never forget, some qualities that you never forget. Yet he seemed strangely....I paused searching for what he seemed when my thoughts were interrupted by a certain rooster behind me.
"What was this visit really about Saitoh?!" I could see the weariness in his eyes.
How cute. He thought I was planning something. I could salvage my pride yet.
"If you haven't figured that out yet you're more of an idiot then I thought," I said to him. Vague, but true, it worked like a charm as I saw the rooster head get red in the face.
"Dammit Saitoh, I'm not playing around here!" His response was more or less expected and though I would've loved a good fight, I didn't want us coming to blows around my now sleeping son.
"Where's Battousai?" an obvious, but necessary change of subject.
"Going to see where Kaoru-dono went with no tofu tub, and Yahiko," I spun around and sure enough there was Battousai, holding a full tub of tofu.
The surprise at hearing my rival's voice behind me was easily hid by a mask of suspicion.
"What?!" Sano's voice was white noise in the background as I pondered a new question.
Why hadn't I sensed him?
I couldn't feel his presence unless I consciously searched for it, almost as though he didn't really exist.
I felt a pang of unease, but my thoughts were interrupted by a cry of, "We're home!"
A/N: Sorry for being so slow! So much to do with school starting again and what not! Hope you are all still there...sighs Also hope you liked this chapter! sorry it's not very long....
Review Replies!
Kenjutsu Priestess: Well I'm glad you checked! ;; Sorry I didn't update very fast....
Bubblyboo: my little puppets, but there is no place to hide!! cackles
Chibi Binasu-Chan: Glad you like it! Hope you will get on with MIV sometime soon! ::isn't one to talk -.-;;::
chan: I feel so inadequate in my Saitoh knowledge! Glad you liked it! :: I need to think of something more original then that...::
Sailor Earth13: To bad this one was so slow...Glad you liked Steve! ::Huggles Steve::
The Hittokiri Battousai: Oh, much, much torture!!