Adelaide: This story is of my own imagination. No, I do not own Kenshin. No, I do not own the song Waiting for a Girl Like You. I could wish I was that creative, but I'm not. This is part of the little creativity I have. I'm sorry. And no, this is my standard disclaimer for this story, it will not be changing at all. I don't own anything but the idea and words that form this little story.

Chapter Two: First Visit

Maybe I'm wrong, won't you tell me if I'm coming on too strong
This heart of mine has been hurt before, this time I wanna be sure

A battlefield, rivers of blood, a man standing on a hill, his hair blowing in the wind, cut loose of its pony tail. Blood splattered on his gi and hakama. Bloody bodies littered the ground around him, limbs torn from their bodies, slashes across their chests, arms and legs. Tears and rips that would have to repaired. Blood that would be easily wiped off of his body, but never so easily wiped off his memory or soul. Never.

It was raining, pouring as a man went through the streets. He was dressed in traditional swordsman's clothes of a blue gi and white hakama pants. He had a sword tied at his waist and his bright red hair tied into a high pony tail. In one swift movement the sword was out of its sheath and blood was splattering the walls of the alley he had been walking down. The rain mixed with blood as he stood on the opposite side of the alley, twisted, bloodied bodies laying in the puddles behind him. He cleaned his sword, placing it back in its sheath.

Another night, more blood, screams echoing through the silent night, the moon high and bright in the sky, lighting the manslayers path from death and destruction, to a place of rest.

Snow red with blood, a woman's body falling into his arms. A woman he had killed. The young woman lifted the dagger that she held and added a swipe to cross the other one that graced his left cheek. He had killed the woman he had loved. He fell to his knees. The woman he had loved. He fell bloodied, broken over her dying body.

Karou dropped her head forward, closed her eyes. Kenshin had seen the same memories that Karou had seen. "Karou. Karou, are you okay?" Kenshin asked. He let go of her hands and reached up and cupped her face in his own hands. Her hands slowly fell from his own, resting in her lap. She opened her eyes and he say the hurt and sadness that was there. It deepened the blue to a much warmer color, yet left them so cold that it almost froze his heart. He pulled her to him, gathering her into his arms, wanting to take the hurt away. She buried her face in his chest, when she finally spoke, he could barely hear what she was saying.

"Kenshin, from the moment I met you I felt as if I have known you my entire life."

"Karou?" Kenshin said, looking down at the girl in his arms.

"Those memories, those images, could not have been you. They were of a killer, a man that had no heart. I know you have a heart, you are not a manslayer. Those images where not of you. I know your heart, I see your eyes. They are not ones of a cold blooded killer. They are ones of a kind and gentle soul. That woman that man loved, he didn't kill her, she got in the way, but it was not you. It looks like you, but it isn't. It couldn't be you." Karou said looking into his face again.

"Karou. I..."

"No, it is not you." Karou said leaning up and kissing him gently on the cheek. She pulled away and slipped the gloves back on to her hands, buttoning the delicate pearl buttons.

I've been waiting for a girl like you to come into my life
I've been waiting for a girl like you, your loving will survive
I've been waiting for someone new to make me feel alive
Yeah, waiting for a girl like you to come into my life

"Karou." Kenshin said gently. She looked up at him with her wide eyes. The hurt and pain from the images where still there. No matter her faith in that the man in the images were not him, he was certain that he had a bloody past, one that he wanted to protect Karou from. One he needed to protect her from. He slowly leaned forward, giving her time to move away, yet she never did, she moved closer as well. Her lips where soft under his. He pulled her closer and then broke the kiss a few moments later.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean too..." Kenshin started.

"It's alright." Karou said leaning against him, putting her legs over his lap.

"I don't want to hurt you Karou. I never wanted to hurt you." Kenshin said. "Even though we only met tonight..."

"I know. I have the same feeling." Karou interrupted him, linking her hand with his.

"Why, why do we feel as if we've known each other our entire lives?" Kenshin said, looking at their linked hands. See her hand in his, he finally noticed how frail her hands looked. Her long, tapered fingers, engulf by his own hands.

"I don't know Kenshin. Maybe we'll find out someday." Karou said.

They sat like that for a long time. Talking about their families, friends, majors and college life. Megumi and Misao came in to see Karou curled up in Kenshin's lap, asleep, and Kenshin asleep as well, peacefully. Kenshin was still, and even though his eyes where closed, they could tell they were not moving around. Sano and Aoshi came in shortly afterwards, Megumi and Misao placing their fingers on their lips telling the two guys to be quiet. Kenshin, the lightest sleeper any of them had ever seen in their lives, hadn't even woken up when the girls had come in, being loud, or when the guys had come in, still hadn't awaken. For the first time in as long as Kenshin could remember, he had slept through the entire night. No nightmares, not awakening to any little sound in the house. He felt at peace for the first time as well.