Bring me to Life Chapter 4: Somewhere I Belong, a rurouni kenshin fanfic

A/N: DESPITE the fact I only got three reviews for the last chapter, I'm gonna just blow past it and continue this fic anyway. I just have one review to reply to from a previous chapter. To anonymous: well you suck too.

Oh and this one's just a quickie, I have exams to study for.

Only when Kaoru got in her car to drive home did she let her mask fall. Sano knew her façade, but didn't say anything; he knew better.

She started the car and cranked up the volume on her CD player.

I had nothing to say
and I got lost in the nothingness inside of me
I was confused

She remembered listening to this song so much, relating it with how absolutely crummy her life was. Honestly? Her life could be made into a dramatic, sickeningly stupid soap opera…minus all the incest and homosexuality. Come to think of it, more like a Shakespearean tragedy; drama, drama, drama…

And I live it all out to find,

But I'm not the only person with these things in mind
Inside of me

When she was born, she was Daidouji Kaoru; only daughter of Sonomi and Kazuki. When she was three, both died in a car accident. They were the only family she had left, so naturally she was sent to a foster home, also with all her inheritance…her parents were millionaires, so to put it simply: she was the youngest millionaire in all time, probably.

But all that they can see the words revealed
is the only real thing that I got left to feel,
nothing to lose

She was adopted by Kamiya Arashi and Kasumi. Arashi was a highly respected kendo instructor, who really didn't want a girl, for he wanted a son to carry on the school when he died, but Kasumi talked him through it. She acted as a true mother to Kaoru, but soon everything was gone. Kasumi died of sickness a year later, and Arashi immediately changed.

Just stuck, hollow and alone
and the fault is my own and the fault is my own

"No, no, NO!" Arashi yelled, swatting Kaoru on the head, "Can't you get anything right? 100 more!"

10 year old Kamiya Kaoru winced and lifted her arms over her head and locked them together over and over again, in attempt to learn the Kamiya Succession Technique.

Arashi walked around her sweating form as she did what she was instructed to do. He trained her as hard as he could these past 2 years, dressing her like a boy, having her act as a boy, so he could cope with having a daughter.

I wanna heal I wanna feel what I thought was never real
I wanna let go of the pain I've felt so long.
Erase all the pain 'til it's gone
I wanna heal I wanna feel like I'm close to something real,
I wanna find something I've wanted all along
Somewhere I belong

He wanted a successor to his family school. He wanted a son he could call his own. Instead, he had an adopted daughter. So naturally, he pushed her like he would push a son; passed her limits.

What he didn't expect was for her to catch on so quickly. He started training when he was 3, and learned the succession technique at 15. Here was this scrawny little girl who started at age 4, and learning what took him 13 years in 6. He wouldn't ever admit it, but he was proud of the little girl

And I got nothing to say.

I can't believe I didn't fall right down on my face
I was confused

Kaoru never really fit in while she was in school. She was forced to grow up too fast and too soon; she was too serious and mature to make any male friends. Due to her training, she acted more like a boy than anything, and never gained any female friends. The only person that helped her along while she was little was Arashi's nephew Sanosuke, and his friend Cho. Although she appreciated it, she still never felt like she was part of the group. She felt that she was different from them; there was something missing in the friendship

Looking everywhere only to find
It's not the way I had imagined it all in my mind
so what am I

4 years later, a mental patient had escaped a nearby clinic and attacked her one day on her way to class. The police treated him with no mercy; all their words reduced the crazy madman into a crying, blubbering fool. Kaoru felt something close to sympathy, and from that moment on, she vowed she would work to help these people.

What do I have but negativity
cuz I can't justify the way everyone is looking at me
nothing to lose

When Kaoru was accepted to college, she figured this was the time to start fresh. She would shed her tomboyish habits, try to be more girly. Maybe then she would find what was missing from her. All that happened was she got even more confused.

She didn't fit in with them either, and she felt even more alone now that Sano went to another University. She had a few girl friends now, but they just weren't the same…

Nothing to gain, hollow and alone
and the fault is my own
and the fault is my own

In a moment of desperate measures, she decided she needed to talk to someone; her best friend Cho. However, when they met, all Cho did was swear and diss his head off. His subject? Sagara Sanosuke.

Kaoru always knew they disliked each other, and simply nodded when he complained with one ear, and listened to Sano with the other.

At that moment, she found herself offended at what Cho was talking about. Complaint after complaint, Kaoru became more and more stressed. Just then Sano walked into the café and soon, World War III struck.

Kaoru couldn't take all the yelling and slapped them both. Sano had stared at her in shock, and gave a dejected sigh as he calmed down. Cho was a different story.

I will never know myself until I do this on my own
And I will never feel anything else until my wounds are healed
I will never be anything 'til I break away from me
I will break away; I'll find myself today

"What the hell was that for, bitch?" Cho demanded, fury coursing through his veins.

"…stop it, just STOP!" Kaoru yelled back, tears streaming down her face.

"What the fuck is your problem? Time of the month again? Gosh I shoulda known better than to talk to you."

"Hey you shut up," Sano had jumped to defend his cousin, but the damage was done.

Kaoru simply looked up at the blond, rage evident in her blue eyes.

"We're through, Sawagejou. As far as I'm concerned, I never met a man named Cho," she whispered icily and walked away.

Kaoru sighed and finally pulled up at the dojo. Sadly, she still lived with her father.

"Tousan, Tadaima!" she yelled as she came in, and was greeted by the squeaking of a wheelchair.

"Okairi." (sp?) he greeted as she came in, "How was the first day at the clinic?"

"It was…interesting."

I wanna heal I wanna feel like I'm somewhere I belong

Somewhere I belong

"Well, Takani-sensei called and said to make it there tomorrow morning at 8:30"

At mention of the clinic, Kaoru's thoughts strayed to a certain redhead.

'…maybe there's somewhere for me after all…'

-X-

Kaoru had brought Kenshin to the Takani Clinic's private beach, sitting under a giant palm tree and relaxing to the sound of the ocean and each others' conversation…Until Kenshin voiced his thoughts.

"Kaoru-dono, is there something the matter? You've been in deep thought for quite some time now…"

Kaoru blinked in surprise that he'd notice, but shrugged it off with a wave of her hand.

"It's nothing, really. Well at least it's rather unimportant…I promise you that…" Kaoru smiled at him, but he seemed to get the idea she didn't want to talk about it.

"Ok, if you say so!"

Kenshin was about to say something else, until a volleyball was suddenly tossed their way and about to hit Kaoru. Out of habit and reflex, she struck out at it with her arm, knocking it to the sand before it could hit her.

"Hey, sorry about that! Could you toss that over?" yelled a guy from behind the gate that cut off the Takani beach from the public beach.

Kenshin stood up and tossed it over to the guy and made his way back to Kaoru, a little amazed.

"Wow, Kaoru-dono, you have quite some amazing reflexes, do you do any martial arts or fighting of any sort?"

She blinked in shock, and nodded her head, leaning back against a tree.

"I've been trained in Kendo since I was four years old, and my Father was the sensei of the Kamiya Dojo before he retired."

"Sugoi…" he exclaimed and mimicked her, leaning against a tree, "I've heard of the Kamiya Dojo. I wanted to go when I was younger but my adoptive uncle taught me some other technique."

"You fight?" Now Kaoru was bewildered. This scrawny little man who could hardly hurt a flea, had an obsession with washing his clothes, and who looked like a woman was a fighter?

He shrugged, "Kinda, but it's probably best if I don't, it brings out my other side…"

Kaoru noted how uncomfortable he seemed in talking about his other personality, but she wasn't surprised…it must be just a little unnerving knowing that there was a crazy murderer who took over you when you least expected it.

"Is it scary? Knowing that this guy can take over anytime and hurt people?"

Kenshin's eyes glazed over as he glanced at Kaoru, violet eyes stricken with fear. "It frightens me more than anything, knowing that there's something inside me I can't control. Something that's dangerous and can hurt people…"

Seeing the fear in his eyes pulled something in Kaoru's chest, and she immediately regretted bringing it up.

"Sorry to mention it…" she murmured, now feeling guilty.

He simply closed his eyes, and relaxed. She glanced over his facial features with interest. It was really unfair that this man…had such a pretty quality to it; prettier than hers. A small narrow face, adorned with perfectly small lips and such big, shining violet eyes…the only imperfection on his face was that cross-scar on his face, but it gave him a certain appealing rugged, manly look. That was about the only thing that clued people he was, in fact, male.

Her train of thought was cut as his eyes snapped open, and smile broke on his face.

"It's really no big deal…it feels good to tell people what makes you happy…telling them your fears…it's like something's been taken off my shoulders, and I thank you for that, Kaoru-dono."

Kaoru sighed and flicked him on the forehead. "You're one strange guy, Kenshin,"

The redhead laughed, and Kaoru found herself joining in. It was strange how she felt so comfortable in his presence, when she never felt like this before.

"I'm sure nothing's gonna happen, you wanna spar? I wanna see your technique!" she blurted out as she jumped up and picked up her kendo bokkens she had repaired from her car and tossed one to him.

Kenshin looked hesitant, but Kaoru kneeled down before him, looking up at him with the biggest, dewy eyes she could manage and pouted cutely.

"Oro!" he laughed, but stood up anyway, with a small smile, "Sure…let's go then…"

"YOSH!" she exclaimed and danced around, "Who gets the first hit wins, ok?"

Both got into position across from each other, and stared each other down, waiting for one person to make the first move. Impatient, Kaoru lashed out.

She struck from the side, which Kenshin easily blocked and pushed her away, responding with a jab towards her stomach while she knocked it away and flipped over his head (rather easily, not much vertical difference) and tapped him lightly on the shoulder with her bokken.

"I win!" she yelled triumphantly with a huge grin on her face, Kenshin laughing at her childishness, "But that was a nice jab and block while they lasted!"

"Don't even joke, I'm so rusty, I haven't trained or practiced in months, being indoors all day everyday…" he laughed nervously, "Now I've seen firsthand why the Kamiya Dojo was so prestigious…"

Kaoru laughed in response, and her watch started to beep, signaling it was time for them to go. She jumped and went to go grab their stuff under the tree.

Suddenly, Kaoru sensed Kenshin freeze behind her.

"…Kenshin?" she asked, puzzled, as she turned around, seeing the redheaded man frozen in place, eyes wide in…fear.

"Kaoru-dono, please run to the car and get the guards, and whatever you do, don't stop…"

"Kenshin, what are you--" she started, but whatever Kaoru was going to say was lost as she stared at Kenshin, who started to hyperventilate.

Before she could say anything, his head shot up to her eyes and she gasped as his eyes were narrower, colder, and definitely looking dangerous. The thing that shocked her most was that his eyes turned to a golden-amber color.

She then decided it was probably a good idea to obey the orders he had hastily called to her before he changed.

She pivoted on her foot to turn away and run, but was shocked to find him right in front of her after she turned. She grabbed the bokken in her hands and tried to whack him with it, but he simply grabbed it and yanked it from her arms.

"What's wrong, Kaoru-chan? Scared of the big bad Battousai?" he sneered, the usual smile she was used to gone, and an evil sadistic smile in its place.

She kneed him in the crotch, causing him to gasp in pain and release her, giving her the chance to run.

When the guards were in sight, she called to them frantically as loud as she could, and they noticed her and the danger she was in when Battousai crept up behind her and grabbed her.

"That wasn't very nice…" he hissed in her ear, pulling her wrist behind her none too gently.

Kaoru started to struggle once again, but felt herself weakening. Suddenly, his hold relaxed and his weight knocked her over.

She looked up to see him unconscious, and Megumi putting an empty sedative away.

The guards pulled Kenshin off her and lifted him onto a bed and pushed him back to his room. Kaoru rubbed her wrists as Megumi approached, concerned.

"Are you alright?" she asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Kaoru nodded shakily, not focusing on Megumi's face. "What…was that?" she asked, looking into Megumi's eyes, which seemed uncomfortable.

"Well to put it simply, you just met Battousai…Kenshin's other half."

-X-