Blame it all on the moon

A Fanfic by Slayer Infiniti

Prologue: Amidst the Nightmare

Blood. There was blood everywhere. It was on his hands, his sword, his clothes… He runs to the river, frantically scrubbing at the scarlet stains, watching with fascination the blood tint the river.

"Blood is corrosive, Battousai, it taints all that it touches, and some times the stains never come out."

Oh, Shakku, you were right, he thought as he looked down at his hands. The stains won't come out now…

Lightning flashes. Thunder roars.

"Kenshin!"

Kenshin woke to see the worried face of Kamiya Kaoru, who was leaning intently over him, inches away.

"Uh, What? K- Kaoru-dono?" Kaoru sighed with relief.

"You were having a nightmare, Kenshin. You kept rubbing your hands together and muttering. Are you alright?" Worry flashed through her eyes, an echo of the lightning outside.

Give her the rurouni smile, dolt, she's worried! He smiled his wide, charming smile to the face so close to his, stumbling to his feet.

"Ah, y- yes, sessha is fine. Sessha was just having a nightmare, that I was." Idiot! She just said that! Are you trying to be stupid? His mind screamed at him. Still, she didn't look worried anymore. Not that she was easy to read, other than anger. Anger he could see. And feel, if she had a bokken handy. I could read Soujiro better than her. Women. Why do they have to be so darn mysterious? He smiled with more sincerity as Kaoru turned her head away and yawned.

"Must be the full moon."

"Oro?"

"The full moon. Westerners say that the full moon can cause people to act strange." She turned back to him and smiled at him.

Oh, man, she's cute. He thought for the umpteenth time.

"We're going to Izu today, remember? We'll find some good hot springs and relax. How's that sound?"

Hot springs, huh? Hmm… No, no. Knock it off, Rurouni, she didn't mean it that way!

"Uh, yeah, sounds real good, Kaoru-dono, that it does." She looked a little closer at him.

"Are you sure you're ok, Kenshin? Your cheeks are red; do you want me to get Megumi?"

"No, no, sessha's fine Kaoru-dono, that I am."

"Okay, breakfast in an hour?"

"Alright, Kaoru-dono." She left. He plopped back down with a sigh, sword resting on his shoulder.

"Kenshin, you baka. We should change your name. Hi, I'm not Rurouni Kenshin anymore, I'm Rurouni Baka. Man, I sure blew that one." He sighed again.

"I agree." Kenshin yelped and pivoted, hand going to his sword. Sanosuke slid the door shut behind him.

"No offense, bud, but that was just awful."

"And here comes Sano, ready to salvage a rurouni's wounded pride." Up came the rurouni smile.

"Tch. Like you need it, Kenshin. You…" Kenshin stared down at his maroon socks, a truly pitiful look on his face. Sano changed tactics.

"You didn't do so bad. At least you didn't trip, or faint, or, or…"

"Giving me ideas for the next episode of Rurouni Baka? Thanks, but sessha thinks someone needs to make sure Kaoru-dono doesn't blow up the kitchen…"

BOOM.

"…Or help her clean it up." He amended. And with that he stood, placed his sword in its place, and strolled to the kitchen.

A little angsty, but it gets funnier, I promise! This is a three-parter, so stay tuned! Chapter 2: Amidst the bubbles will be coming soon.