A SECOND CHANCE

A/N: Ok, I sorta know what I'm doing now. Standard Disclaimers still apply, la. I don't own any of the character, 'cept for the ones not found in RK. (Well duh!) But I still wish I did: P

Chapter 2: Sapphire Pools

Kaoru… koiishi. Is it really you? Do you remember me? Kenshin couldn't help but wondering whether or not Kaoru knew. Kenshin had gotten his memories of the Battousai and Rurouni back. Maybe it's best if sessha stay away. Sessha is not worthy of her… but then again, no one is. Going to a new school was hard, but the last thing I expected was to see her again. How I've missed gazing into those sapphire pools. How I've missed her smile. How I – No! Sessha must not. Sessha must not put her in any more danger… I… I – I killed her! She – died because of me! Once again… I couldn't protect the one I loved. During Jinchuu, when I saw her with a cross shaped wound on her left cheek and a katana through her heart, I had no reason to live. I truly wished that I had died instead. Then, I find that she's alive. I was so happy knowing that what I saw was merely a puppet. I gave myself hope, and for what? To see her take the bullet that should have been mine? To witness her death once more and be completely helpless? Kenshin had been standing in front of his front door for sometime. It was like he was in another world. All he could do was think about the girl with sapphire pools, the girl who had complete and utter control over him, the girl who unconsciously held his heart in the palm of his hand and the very girl who had died because of him. Kaoru…

"Are you coming in or what baka-deshi?" Hiko called while opening the front door. "I mean seriously! You've been standing there for half an hour! Get in here before the neighbours call the police!" Hiko complained while pushing the dazed Kenshin into the house. "Say something, god-dammit! How was your day?" Hiko asked, starting to get nervous over Kenshin's quiet behaviour. Under normal circumstances, Kenshin would have been highly amused to see his shishou nervous, but right now, he just wasn't paying attention.

"Kaoru…" Kenshin whispered just loud enough for Hiko to hear. Hiko sighed. Kenshin wasn't the only one who had gotten their 'historical' memories back. Seijiro Hiko the 13th, master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, the Hitokiri Battousai's master had also remembered.

"So you've found her, huh? Don't tell me you're still sore about what happened." Hiko scowled trying not to sound too nice. Although Hiko acts really tough with Kenshin and constantly insults him, deep down, Hiko really cares about his 'baka-deshi'. Hiko's just never been the emotional type of man.

"Hmm? Gomen shishou. Sessha is fine. Sessha is just tired, that I am. Sessha isn't hungry so sessha will just go to bed now, that I will." Kenshin lied as he went upstairs to his bedroom.

Baka-deshi! I've looked after you for two life times and you think I wouldn't know what's going on in that thick skull of yours? I admit I may have been drunk most of the time but, being the brilliant man that I am, I would be able to tell. The truth was, Hiko had an alcohol problem, even if he'd never admit to it, in either lives.

Neither student nor master said anything about the matter and just went to bed.

"Kaoru-chan! You'll never guess what happened with Aoshi-sama yesterday!" Misao screamed as Kaoru walked through the gates of school.

"Hmm… Don't tell me. Let me guess. He finally got the guts to ask you out?" Kaoru asked. Kaoru knew that sounded a bit mean, but Misao understood. Each and every 'date' the two went out on, were all Misao's idea. Aoshi was just so… stoned! He never showed any emotion at all.

"As a matter of fact, he smiled, but that's not all." Misao replied, not at all deterred by Kaoru's comment. "I asked him to go shopping with me and we did! We had the best time, and then, when he dropped me off at my house, he was being so nice and then he just smiled at me…" But Kaoru was too distracted at the moment because Kenshin had just walked through the gates. As soon as Kaoru saw Kenshin, she was reminded about last nights dream. Unlike the one before, where she was somewhat confused, she knew exactly what was going on. She knew every little detail of her last life, from her childhood to her… death. She could only wonder if Kenshin knew it too.

"Ohayo! Kaoru-dono, Misao-dono." Kenshin greeted in a somewhat strained cheerful manner. Kaoru and Misao didn't notice. All Kaoru noticed was how Kenshin still constantly called her Kaoru-dono. Mou! Even in this lifetime, he can't drop the dono! Kaoru thought, beginning to fume. Kenshin and Misao noticed Kaoru's behaviour and immediately stepped a bit further away. "Kaoru-dono, is something the matter?" Kenshin asked, somewhat unsure of whether or not he wanted to know. Kaoru had a pretty scary temper back in his past life and Kenshin was willing to bet that she still had it now.

"Kenshin no baka!" Kaoru screamed whacking Kenshin with a boken that came out of nowhere and stormed off. I swear! Kenshin can be so dense sometimes! Kenshin no baka! Kaoru thought as she left the group.

"Shizukane! I have just handed out your next assignment. You will be working in your allocated groups of two. You will choose a time period in Japanese history and write a diary for someone living then." Seta sensei announced. "Himura Kenshin will be working with Kamiya Kaoru… Mikamachi Misao will be working with Shinamori Aoshi… Takani Magumi will be working with Sagara Sanosuke…" I looked over at Kenshin. This is great. I might just be able to see if Kenshin really remembers… I mused, a smile spreading across my face. Misao and Aoshi, Sano and Megumi, Yahiko and Tsubame… Everyone is here. I wonder if any of them remember…

"Kaoru-dono, what time period should we do?"

"Umm… How about the Meiji? Otousan's been telling me about it. Well, at least the beginning of it. So how about it?" I asked as 'innocently' as I could. At that moment, Kenshin's face seemed to go very pale. I pretended not to see. (A/N: Kaoru's already calmed down)

"Hai, Kaoru-dono. We'll do the beginning of the Meiji, that we will." Kenshin replied, trying to sound as if nothing was wrong.

Kami-sama! Why must you torment me so? Now it's going to be even harder acting as if nothing is wrong! Kenshin was looking very pale at this point.

"Kenshin, is something wrong?" Kaoru asked, looking slightly worried.

"Iie, Kaoru-dono, sessha is fine, that I am." I replied.

"I just had a really good idea. Otousan told me about this imperialist who was the best swordsman in all of Japan and I thought you could be him and I'll be some girl he meets. Okay? Battousai. His name was the same as yours Kenshin. Might you guys be related? This is going to be so cool!" Kaoru looked so excited.

Kami-sama! Why-O-Why-O-Why? Why do you hate sessha so much?

I hope my last request wasn't too pushy. Kaoru sighed. Oh, Kenshin. I know you remember. You wouldn't have squirmed if you hadn't. Why won't you admit it? Mou! Bakayarou!

Kenshin sighed mentally. I'm pretty sure Kaoru-dono remembers. I'm also pretty sure that Kaoru-dono knows that I know. Well, it's not like I did a very good job of covering it up.

You got that right Rurouni! Kaoru's never been stupid! We wouldn't have to go through this if you'll just –

No Battousai. For the thousandth time, I AM NOT GOING TO TELL HER I LOVE HER! I am not worthy of her…

How dense can you get? She's been waiting for us! How long do you expect her to wait? She's already waited more that one lifetime! If you're not going to make a move, I am! And god dammit! I don't care what shishou said so you better make a move soon!

A war was going on in Kenshin's head. Even though shishou said that I'd never loose to you after learning the Amakakaru Ryu No Hirameki, you still continue to argue with me! When will you ever go away?

Kisama! Look, I'm part of you whether you like it or not, so get used to it! Kenshin could see the Battousai mentally sticking a tongue out.

A/N: Ok, that's all for now, la. Poor Kenshin, la! But then again, I do torment the ones I love… I hope there aren't that many spelling mistakes, la. I'm not really sure where this story is heading, but… It's going to work out… I hope.

TBC…

Glossary:

Koiishi: An endearment meaning my love, sweetheart, something along those lines.

Jinchuu: Earthly justice

Baka-deshi: Idiot pupil or idiot apprentice. It's what Hiko calls Kenshin all the time, but personally I don't see what's so idiotic about Kenshin.

Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu: Kenshin's sword technique. It roughly translates to something like: The school of Heavenly Swords.

Sishou: Master

Anata: beloved etc. Similar to koiishi.

Ohayo: Hi.

Shizukane: Quiet

Kenshin no baka: basically calling Kenshin an idiot, but I realized that it's translated into 'Kenshin, you jerk' in the anime. -

Boken: Wooden sword

Kami-sama: God

Bakayarou: Big idiot

Kisama: 'You' in a very impolite manner. Could be translated as 'You bastard', but it doesn't have to be so severe.