People claim I'm crazy… I think it's true…

I hope you enjoy!

Standard disclaimers apply…

Chapter 2: Killer Haircut, Killer Past

Kenshin was making breakfast for himself. Sano had gone to gamble with some friends of his. Illegally of course. He was sitting at the table eating when he heard a knock on the door. He set his fork down and went to the door. He opened it and was surprised to see Kaoru.

"Well, um, hello Miss Kaoru. What brings you here?"

"Hello, Kenshin. I was wondering if you were doing anything today."

"Uh- well, no I don't think so. Would you like to do something?"

"Well yeah, I was wondering if you would like to go to lunch this afternoon."

"Sure, that would be great. We can get to know each other."

"Great. Thank you Kenshin."

"What time?"

"Ten-ish?"

"I'll be ready."

"Okay." She smiled then turned and walked away.

Kenshin closed the door. He laughed and shook his head.

Kaoru looked at her watch. 9:47, she sighed. 'I hope he isn't a jerk… Sano said he wasn't bad. He seemed sweet. But a lot of guys seem sweet in the beginning… I'll have to see.'

Kaoru knocked on Kenshin's door. He greeted her with a pleasant smile.

"Hello, ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready."

"Where do you want to go?"

"Hmm… How about Central Park?"

"Whatever you want."

"Then Central Park it is!" She said happily.

Kenshin and Kaoru wandered around Central Park for a while. They sat on a bench taking a break. Kenshin leaned forward and placed his forearms on his knees.

"Kenshin, what's your job?"

It startled him and he looked at her. "I'm mainly a bodyguard. Sano hooks me up with people who have been threatened or are important. It's a good paying job," he said honestly.

"What do you mean 'mainly'?" she asked with a confused look in her eyes.

"Well I do side jobs like training young bodyguards, and new police officers."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, I have lots of connections." He smiled.

"You train new cops?"

"In hand to hand combat," he said as he looked at the ground.

"Wow, but why haven't you worked lately?"

"Not many people need guarding right now I guess, and I just finished training some officers two weeks ago."

"You have quite the interesting life, Kenshin."

"Not once you get used to it… what do you do?"

"I'm a high school teacher, but the school needs to let this one woman retire… then I take her place… I get by on unemployment. She is leaving next year. Sometimes they let me teach a class, or substitute… the kids seem to like me."

"You lead a nice non-threatening life," Kenshin joked.

She smiled. "Kenshin…"

"Yes, Miss Kaoru?" He turned to her again.

"I- I-, um nothing, never mind."

"Well, I have a question for you," he said mischievously.

She laughed. "What is it?"

"We just met yesterday… and normally it takes people a while to warm up to me. I think it's the way I look. I could be an asshole or something and you don't even seem to care…"

"Are you?" Kaoru cut him off.

"Well, no-"

"Then there is you're answer."

"But-"

"Let's go to lunch! I'm getting hungry."

Kenshin blinked in confusion. "Um, yeah, ok."

Kaoru smiled inwardly. He looked cute when he was confused, an innocent look on his face.

Later that afternoon, lunch was past, and the two were walking in Times Square.

Kaoru looked at Kenshin. An idea popped in her head. She smiled. "Kenshin, when is the last time you had a hair cut?"

Surprised by the question he shrugged his shoulders.

"Do you want one?"

"Um, I guess… do you think I need one?"

"Yes… definitely."

"Alright, where do I go?"

"I'll give you one."

"What!?"

"You don't trust me?"

"Well, yeah, but… what are you gonna do to me?" he asked nervously.

"Just make is shorter."

He gave her a suspicious look. "How short?"

She looked at him as if picturing it. "Above your ears."

"That short!?"

"Yep."

Kenshin put a hand to his hair. After a long pause he gave in, "Alright, if you think I'll look better."

She smiled. "Oh, I do."

Kaoru's first cut took off about two feet of Kenshin's hair. Several others got it to the length she liked. She snipped a few times to get it perfect. She grinned at her work. He looked much better, and not to mention, more handsome.

"Are you done?" Kenshin asked.

"Open your eyes."

He did as ordered. He gazed at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

"Do you like it?"

"It's- It's great." He brushed his fingers through it. It felt weird, not having long hair.

"You look much better." She smiled.

Kenshin laughed. He turned to her. "It's funny- nah… never mind."

"What?"

"Nothing… It's just…" He shook his head. "I think I look great… thanks, Miss Kaoru."

"True, you do."

Kaoru's eyes gazed on Kenshin's handsome features. Then she looked at his scar. It looked like it was a painful injury when he got it. "Kenshin…"

"Yes, Miss Kaoru?"

"Where- Where did you get your scar?" She traced the back of her finger down his left cheek. He caught her hand. He looked at her sadly.

"I- it's two different scars."

"Do you mind that I ask?"

"No, it not like it's not visible. People often stare at me for it." He smiled. "I have never told anyone about it, well except Sanosuke." He looked at his feet. "Miss Kaoru…it's very personal. My past is dark and I want to forget it, but… by keeping it locked away…" Kenshin sighed. "If you want to know I will tell you. Let's go into the living room… we should sit."

He led her into the living room and sat her on her couch. He sat in the chair. He took in a deep breath and exhaled. He looked into her eyes. "Normally I don't tell people these things, but I want you to now that now, I'm a completely different person and I ask you, please, don't judge me by my past."

Kaoru looked at him with confused eyes.

Kenshin began, "When I was 7 my parents died of Cholera. I was orphaned and wandering the streets. Three sisters found me… they were orphans too, but they were between the ages of 15 and 20. I lived with them awhile. But a bloodthirsty gang attacked us one day and slaughtered them. They were about to kill me when a tall, bulky man showed up and saved me. He was so strong and I wanted to be just like him.

"Hiko was his name. And took me in reluctantly. At the time my name was Shinta. He didn't like that name. Said it was wimpy, and so he named me Kenshin. He had worked for the government. A retired secret agent. He taught me all he knew in every combat; hand-to-hand, guns, swords, anything, you name it. He even taught me an ancient fighting style called Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryu. Before I could master it though I got mad and left. I was 14 then. The government made me a secret agent because I was much more skilled than any of their top agents. I began killing for them.

"One day, a man got in my way, he wouldn't let me do my mission. He was a bodyguard. I killed him, but not before he put this horizontal scar on my cheek. His last word was 'Tomoe.' At the time I thought nothing of it. I got lots of different assignments and I had killed many men. More than I can count." He sighed.

Kaoru just stared. She was shocked… 'Kenshin… killed? Sweet Kenshin killed?'

Kenshin saw the look on Kaoru's face. He knew what she was thinking. He tried to explain, "I did not kill because I wanted to. The people I killed were all against our government. They were terrorists. The one man that got in my way, though, he was not my target… Anyway while I was on an assignment I was fighting the guards of this Big-Name-man. I had saved a girl who was about 18. I took her to the hotel that I was staying at. They were with our government. Many other agents were staying there too. Including the man who gave me my assignments, Katsura.

"Her name was Tomoe and she never had smiled at me. She told me of her fiancé. And here he was the man I had killed; he was the one whose last words were 'Tomoe.' I never told her about him.

"I married this girl when I was 15… I learned to love her. We moved to a snowy village in Japan, waiting for my next assignment. I was 19 then. We became friends of the villagers and we sold medicine. One day she was kidnapped by the enemy. I fought through many men finally getting to her, but each had taken away once of my senses; Sight, hearing, excreta. My last opponent stood between me and the shack in which they were keeping her. He matched my skill in combat. Finally, we both got in our stances… and we would both surely die. I didn't care. If it was to save Tomoe, I would give my life. She came out of the shack and saw us. I didn't notice her. We lunged at each other. At the last minute, she jumped in front of me trying to block the enemy's blow. But sadly, my blow killed my opponent AND Tomoe. I held her in my arms crying. And then she finally smiled for me. Then she took her dagger, one that she always carried around, and finished the scar." He touched his scar tracing Tomoe's mark... Tears streamed down his face. "Finally I retired from the life of a secret agent. I vowed never to kill again." Kenshin tried to choke back tears, but to no avail.

"Kenshin, don't blame yourself for Tomoe's death."

"But I killed her. I am the one who killed her, and if I had not married her she would have never been kidnapped."

Kaoru sighed. She felt sorry for him. She stood up and walked over to him. She knelt by his side, and wiped the tears from his face. He looked at her a little shocked. She gave him a faint smile. "Kenshin, why did you tell me? I mean, I know why… but why me?"

He smiled, wiping the last tears from his face. "I'm not sure… I guess you're the first to ask me about my scar… well except some children." He looked into her eyes. "Miss Kaoru, thank you for listening. I appreciate it."

"Anytime, Kenshin." She smiled.

"Well, I better get going…" He said with sudden forced cheeriness. "Sano might be wondering where I am. Never told him we were going to lunch. And it's five o'clock."

"I had a good time Kenshin."

"So did I, Miss Kaoru. I'll let myself out."

Kenshin closed the door behind him. He cursed at himself. 'I can't believe I just told her all that! I'm such an idiot. The only other who knows is Sano. But he only knows because of my government files. I don't even know how he got those.' He sighed as he opened his apartment door.

Kaoru sat on her couch with a worried look on her face. "I can't believe it," she said to herself, "Poor Kenshin… he went through so much…" She frowned. "He killed for the government… but he asked me not to judge him…"

She stood up and closed her eyes tightly. "That was his past… Father always told me not to care about someone's past… and Kenshin is so sweet… he would never harm me…" Kaoru looked at her carpet. "I will not judge."

Kenshin pulled a frozen pizza out from the freezer. He wasn't hungry but he knew Sanosuke would be when he came home… probably only in his underwear…

Kenshin smiled… Sano was so reckless…

As if on cue Sano came in the door, fully clothed, and looked at Kenshin. "You been home all day, Kenshin?" he asked with worried eyes.

Kenshin smiled and shook his head. "No, I spent the day with Miss Kaoru."

Sano grinned slyly. "You like her, huh?"

Kenshin's eyes widened. "N-no! W-well, Yeah… b-but, I mean… in a friendly way! I swear!"

Sanosuke laughed. "Never seen you so worked up over a girl, Kenshin! You really must like her… what happened between you two?"

Kenshin shook his head while saying, "Nothing much… I just told her… you know."

Sano's eyes widened. "You told her!? Kenshin! Why?"

Kenshin shrugged. "She asked… I figured if I was going to be here a while… she should know about me… that's all."

Sano smiled a crooked smile. "You really do like her don't you, Kenshin?"

"I've only known her for one day… but right now… I'd say I do… she's so kind and sweet…" Kenshin said truthfully, "And she is beautiful… but… again, I've only known her for one day…" Kenshin looked at his feet. "And anyway… Friendship is all I can offer…"

Just then, Sanosuke noticed that most of Kenshin's hair was missing. "Kenshin! What happened to your hair!?"

Kenshin blinked and then brushed his hand through it. He smiled and said, "Miss Kaoru did it… you like it?"

Sano smiled and nodded. "Killer haircut, man…"

Kenshin laughed.

"Kenshin, will you see her tomorrow?" Sano asked with some interest.

Kenshin shrugged. "Not sure… Sano, tell me though… how old is she?"

"Twenty-four…"

"What!?"

Sano nodded.

"So young…"

Kaoru flopped on her bed… "I want to see him again…" she said to herself.

Suddenly the phone rang. She picked it up. "Hello?"

There was no one. She shrugged and hung up.

Kenshin looked at the clock… It was 11. He sighed and closed his eyes. The nightmares would come, he knew that, but after this many years… he was almost used to them… he was never a heavy sleeper… he always woke up to the slightest sound.

Soon he drifted off into an unwanted sleep full of horrors of his past and maybe even things to come.

Did you like it??? I hope so… anywayz! One and a half more days of school! And guess what? I have my first detention tomorrow! My very very first one… you wanna know how I got it? I asked for it… literally! I walked up to the vice principal and asked "Can I have detention tomorrow?"

She's like SURE!

The funny thing is, I'm never bad… I just wanted a detention… I could have mouthed off to a teacher… but I didn't… I asked for it…

Think I'm crazy? My friends do… anyway

I added the sentimental value with the not judging people by their past… Cuz Kaoru's dad is dead… Her mom too. I thought it was good…

PLEASE REVIEW!!! I love you all so much…

Wolf Creek