Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin and its characters.

A/N: Hi everyone. Thank you for the Reviews. I really appreciated them. And I do hope you'll like this chapter. I'd like to have afew words to some of my friends who had supported me through everything and giving me their opinions, suggestions, ideas and so on for this story. To Opp Well I know it's afew days until your birthday..but hehheh. You know me..Happy Birthday, Wish you all the best in life and I do hope you'll like my present. Thanks for the tips abut being poetic na ja. To Howard. Thanks for editing this chapter again. I owe you a lot dude. To Dan. Nothing much to say there except..'Get Well Soon'.

Okay enough ranting. On with the story….

Story Format: "SPEECH" and -THOUGHTS-

Evangelistic Evanesce

Chapter 2

Heavy rain poured non-stop onto the stone balcony of a large, eerie looking mansion. A lightning streak across the sky, illuminating the room inside with its faint glow.

Seta Soujrou stepped into the room and shook his head at his friend who was staring absently into the raining world outside the glass pane. "I really wonder why you seem to like it when it's pouring."

Kenshin turned around slowly, his eyes a dazzling cool purple shade.

"Nothing. I just…find it really soothing." Stepping away from the ceiling high window, he sank down onto one of the deep red velvet armchair. "So what brought you here at this time of the night, Soujirou?" His amethyst eyes studied the way his friend seemed abit reluctant about what he was about to say.

"I think you better return to the 'down unders'..Hiko's been acting really grouchy lately. Maybe you could…"

Smirking lightly his cool purple shaded eyes was instantly flecked with swirls of gold. "Sorry..Seta. but I do not wish to return home. I simply like it here. And as far as I've remembered my guardian is always grouchy. Nothing unusual."

His eyes narrowed slyly. "There's something else isn't it? Just say it Soujirou..You can never keep anything away from me."

"Sharp as always." Soujirou muttered darkly amid his friend deep bemused chuckle.

Slowly he sat himself down on another velvet armchair facing his friend. "Princess of Rhea had returned to her kingdom yesterday…"

Kenshin's hand froze midway from the glass of wine he was reaching to. His bangs fell to cover his eyes from view, making it impossible to read his expression. Each second snail by in a deafening silence. "I thought she couldn't return unless…." He trailed.

Soujoru nodded silently. "Car accident."

Kenshin sipped slowly at his glass of wine a low smirk escaped his lips. "No wonder it's raining."

"So are you coming home?" Soujirou asked once again.

Kenshin took another sip before he drawls lazily back. "I won't return unless I want too. It's late. You better go home." The finality in his tone causes the younger guy to stand up and heave a sigh.

"Fine. Just think about it alright…" And he stood up and quietly exited the room leaving Kenshin alone in the almost darkened room.

As soon as Kenshin felt his friend's ki vanished, he stood up once more and walked over to the window.

"It's really raining because of you, Kaoru." He whispered to himself as another streak of lightning flash through the sky.

-""-

Kaoru stood over a cliff overlooking a clear blue lake below. Her lavender colored gown fluttering in the light breeze. It had been over a week since she had found herself in this realm and to her own surprise, she felt more at home with each day. Most of her previous life's memories are now safely restored into her brain. She only wish that it would be abit more pleasant each time she had one of those flashbacks. Landing face down on the stone floor is definitely not one of her likely choice of how to regain lost memories. Too bad she had no choice.

Shaking her head she sank down onto the soft green grass. Everything is turning out splendidly only the quirky feeling of loss wouldn't leave her no matter how much she tried. At first she had convinced herself that it was just temporary and that it all happened because she missed her earthy friends. But after a week the feeling not only worsen, now it nearly drove her insane. Sighing she let herself drown into the beautiful scenery before her eyes. She would have been happier if it wasn't for the stupid feeling.

"There you are! I was looking all over the place for you." The now familiar voice of her friend brought her out of her thoughts.

Giving the younger girl a faint smile, Kaoru patted the ground next to her. "Hey…Sit down.."

Misao plopped down beside her friend. "Feeling any better? That faint yesterday look real straining."

Scrunching up her nose she shook her head. "Honestly I still feel like someone just cracked my head open with a sledge hammer."

Misao had to grin at her friend. "So Megumi's medicine didn't help much then."

Kaoru glance around to see if there's anyone within the hearing range. If what she was about to say in any way got into the Megumi's ear, the next thing she finds in her food might be poison.

"Not only it didn't help much, Misao. The taste is killing my poor tongue." She whispers making the young girl to burst out laughing.

Kaoru too joined the laugh.

"Tsk Tsk Tsk. I'll definitely have to tell Fox about that, Jou-chan." Sano's voice boomed as he approached the two girls, a bright smile adorning his face.

"No you won't. Admit it Sano you hate Megumi's dose as much as everyone else." Misao replied still trying to suppress her laughter.

Kaoru grin along with her friend. It really does feel good to have a best friend that shared with her so much. She remembered how they used to be inseparable and how they had wreaked havoc on the elders when they were younger.

"Yea..Sano you can't say it because you're Megumi's boyfriend and she'll---" She was cutted off mid sentence when another flashback invaded her mind.

It was getting more intense each time and she was glad that she was not on her feet.

Fragment of her life flash right before her eyes.

A long darken hallway appear. Someone was standing there. She ran towards the figure but stopped abruptly as she eyes locked with a pair of startling amber orbs. Something happened…she sank to her knees crying. A guy with fiery red hair stood towering her crying form. As he turned to leave she desperately reach out for his hand. Once again her eyes met cold-emotionless amber stare.

The vision spin faster as her heart felt like it had been struck with a lightning. A name seeped its way into her brain. "Kenshin…"

As the world seemed to right itself once more, Kaoru found herself lying on Misao's lap with Sano fanning for her.

"Kaoru! Kaoru! Are you alright!" Misao's worried face was the first thing she registered.

Groaning she sat up. Rubbing her head she takes in a deep breath. "I'm fine now…"

"But I still think we better call for Megumi." Sano said as he stood up, ready to run for the doctor.

"No..don't. I'm fine." Kaoru said slowly.

"But, Kaoru---" Misao started only to be stopped by her friend.

"I'm really okay, Misao. It's just another flashback."

Sano sighed in exasperation. "Alright. I'll go get some water for you then. And you don't have a say in this, missy." He trod off without waiting for her consent.

Misao studied her friend's troubled face and started to get uneasy. "You really sure you're okay?"

"I…." Kaoru gazed deeply into her friend's eyes. "I…..Misao? Who is… Kenshin?"

Misao's large blue eyes widened as her face paled. An awkward silence followed.

"You remember anything about him yet?" Misao asked uncertainly.

Kaoru shifted her gaze away towards the lake. "I don't know….I was having this flashback and then the name just popped into my head…is he the guy with the red hair?"

Misao bite her lower lip, contemplating what to say. Still having no idea what to say she did what came first to her mind. She hugged Kaoru tightly. "Please. Don't leave us again. No matter what, don't go. It's really lonely without you around."

Kaoru blinked confusedly. –Okayyyy…this is sure getting awkward.- She patted her friend's back soothingly. "It's okay, Misao. I'm not going anywhere. I'm just asking…who is Kenshin."

"He's…er..er…" Misao started reluctantly.

"He's the heir to the dark kingdom's throne." Sano finishes as he trod back, a glass of water in his hand.

Kaoru's eyebrow shot up. "Dark kingdom? There is a dark Kingdom?"

Sano handed over the glass of water before sitting down on the grass. "Sure, there is. And don't get the impression wrong it's not a hideous place. It's actually a very nice place in it's own way.

Only you don't see much sunlight over there."

"Yea. Right! I bet it's just a teeny weeny bit nicer than hell." Misao drawled sarcastically.

"Hey watch it, weasel girl. You're actually insulting my birth kingdom, there." Sano protested.

Misao rolled her eyes irritatingly. "Well if it's that nice over there, why don't you just go back? No one's keeping you here."

"I'm in no mood to have a verbal battle with a girl who knew nothing." Was the guy's tart reply.

"Why.. You!" Misao fumed and jumped up. She rolled up her sleeve and was about to attack the rooster head when Kaoru merely mutter.

"Pleeease…Misao. Don't give me anymore headache.."

Sitting back down in a huff she gritted her teeth menacingly. "Fine..But beware rooster head. I'll have Aoshi sama hunt you down the next time you got on my nerve."

"Whatever.." Came his instant reply.

"Sano..you said you came from the dark kingdom?" Kaoru's interest seemed to be attracted to this unknown country.

The guy nodded. "Yes and proud to say so."

"Then you must know this….." She paused at the name. Somehow she felt like she couldn't say it, as if it's forbidden.

Sano smiled sadly. "Oh yes, I knew him….and you do as well."

Kaoru gaze drift lazily over the lake. "I know…it's just I still don't remember everything yet. But he does give me a weird feeling though."

Misao shift uncomfortably while Sano spoke up once again. "Kaoru do you want me to tell you about..Kenshin."

The younger girl's eyes widen almost to the size of a frying pan. "Sanosuke! Are you out of your mind!"

"Don't you think that she has the right to know! She'll remember sooner or later. Maybe it's better if she knew it from us. Maybe..it might change something." Came his brusque reply.

"But…."

"I want to know. I really want to." Kaoru said firmly. "I feel that whatever you will tell me won't be a pleasant thing but, I still want to know."

Sanosuke nodded. "Six centuries ago………"

-""-

Kenshin walked down the long-dingy path with a flaming torch in his hand. The dampness and the darkness of the area did not bother him in the slight bit. He was used to the atmosphere. He walked on as his footstep echoed loudly on the cold stone floor. How long since he had last walk down this path, he himself isn't entirely sure. But it had been a very distant past.

His feet halted at the end of the passage. Holding the torch in his hand higher, the light touches a floor length mirror, so old that Kenshin couldn't even see his own reflection through all the dust and cobwebs. Slowly he reached out his hand to wipe the dust away, causing a cloudy reflection of his face to appear.

"What exactly am I doing…." He whispered to himself as he took a step away from the mirror. Finding no answer to his own question he closes his eyes and concentrate. A strong wind from an unknown source blew swiftly through the passage, putting out the fire from the torch. Kenshin opened his eyes slowly to see the image inside the mirror.

A nicely lit corridor lined with ancient portraits and heavy black velvet chaises had replaced the cloudy reflection of him.

Laying the torch towards one side of the passage, Kenshin carelessly walk through the mirror, feeling the long forgotten feel of coolness on his skin. Stepping on the neatly carpeted corridor he spun around to see the mirror he just stepped through showing nothing but his own reflection. –I've forgotten so much about this place.-

Shaking his head lightly he took a leisure walk down the deserted corridor.

"Thought you said, you're not coming." Soujirou's voice broke the silence as he shimmered onto one of the velvet chaises.

Kenshin shrugged listlessly at his friend. "I couldn't change my mind?"

Soujirou stood up and trod over to his friend. "I thought you'd come sooner."

"Don't act like you know what I'm thinking, Soujirou." Kenshin said slowly as he shot his friend a warning glance.

The younger guy took no notice of the red head's tone and sigh. "I knew I don't know what you're thinking but the question is…do you know what you're thinking?"

Kenshin acted as if he hadn't heard the sentence and walked on. –You don't know what it's like…to be me, Souji.- He thought bitterly.

Shaking his head, the younger guy trod off after his friend.

-""-

Kaoru's glassy eyes snapped close as Sanosuke finished with what he had to say.

"If you want my opinion…I say running away isn't the right way out, Jou-chan. Maybe…well..try talking to him."

Misao shot him a shocking glare. "That's the worse opinion ever! How did you come up with that!"

Sano shrugged nonchalantly, ignoring the young girl. "Kaoru..I know I had no right to say this but as a friend..I think you should talk it over with him. Leaving things like this is not good, for both you and Kenshin."

"Sano! He left. He didn't care…and you're telling Kaoru here to go talk to him?" Misao gave a loud smirk and stuck her nose up into the air. "Riiight…I forgot…you're his friend. Obviously you'd take his side."

At that, Sano's temper took control. "I might be his friend, but that doesn't mean, I agree to everything he did. And if you haven't notice it before. I'm also Kaoru's friend…Why else would I still be otherwise…" He shouted.

Misao's face fell and she seemed to know that she had really stepped over the border. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what I was thinking." She replied timidly.

Kaoru who seemed to be lost in her own thought looked at her friends with an unreadable expression.

"Sano…do you know why he…." She trailed unable to make herself to finish the sentence.

He shook his head miserably. "I might have some clues but no one, Kaoru, no one knew exactly what is going on in his head..maybe except for you." His eyes shot over to the girl with a slight sparkle in his brown eyes.

She got up abruptly and walked closer to the edge of the cliff. Kaoru let her eyes gaze at the setting sun on the horizon. –It's so beautiful. I remember how pretty this place is…but..I can't keep running away like this. So until I've settle all my problems…I couldn't stay.-

Turning back to her friend her eyes sparkled with determination. "Sano. Do you know where he is?

I..I want to talk things over with him. And whatever happens, I won't be sorry. This might be the only way for me to move on."

Misao got onto her feet and rush over to her friend. "Kaoru! You're not going to leave us again are you! I won't let you go! You don't know how lonely it is without anyone to talk to!" She cried hugging her friend tightly.

Stroking her friend's hair lightly, Kaoru smiled. "Misao, I know I've been very selfish in the past..but this time it's different. I'm not running away..so..why don't you come with me?"

The younger girl blinked rapidly back. "You mean..I could go with you? Seriously?"

Kaoru grinned toothily back. "Duh…yea I'm serious. I think I could do with someone to talk to as well. But maybe you would prefer to stay here with Okina and…Aoshi."

"You kidding! Gramps is soooo boring. And Aoshi-sama is always busy. I don't think he'll mind if I tag along with you." She screech jumping up and down not bothering to hide how excited she was.

Kaoru smiled contently. "So Sano do you know where he is?"

Scratching his head he shook his head. "No idea….for all I know he might be in the dark kingdom or…tsk…for someone like him anywhere is a likely place."

"Easy. Just get into the dark kingdom and we start from there. It couldn't be that hard to find. Himura kinda stands out from the crowd." Misao suggested clearly more interested in the subject.

Rolling his eyes at the younger girl, Sano scoffed. "You can't enter the dark kingdom from Rhea. Well you and Kaoru couldn't."

Misao's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Why exactly?"

Kaoru shook her head despairingly. "Because they've got this barrier that will ward off any being that is not from their kingdom."

"What! That is so unfair! You mean you people from over there can enter our kingdom anytime you like but we couldn't enter your's!" Misao shouted with fury.

"Exactly." He shrugged at the girl who went on a rampage of stomping her foot and muttering

presumably swear words in frustration.

"So where do we start…" Kaoru mutter to herself.

Sano tapped his finger irritatingly on the grass and then paused. His eyebrows furrowed in thought and a second later his face broke into a triumphantly grin. "I think I know where he is or atleast how to get into dark kingdom."

"Where?" Kaoru asked shortly while Misao stop stomping her feet and turn around to listen.

"Earth." Was Sano's instant reply…

A/N: Alright…so what do you think? Please leave any opinions, suggestions, ideas, comments..you want. In other word…Please..REVIEW! And if you have any question feel free to email me. I'll be more than happy to answer them for you. Thank you….