Title: Because It Hurts
Chapter Three: Where is My Hero?
Pairing: Kenshin/Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke/OC, slight Megumi/Sanosuke
Summary: The death of Kaoru leaves Kenshin in heartbroken grief as he escapes to the depths of his mind. Yahiko, Megumi, and Sanosuke try their hardest to try and revive the Kenshin they know and love but things turn to the worst as the Legendary Man Slayer Himura the Batosai seems to be reviving instead. Will the arrival of an old friend be any help? Or will we lose of beloved Kenshin to the likes of his former self?
Disclaimer: I do not own the anime Rurouni Kenshin.
"I see your body's caught up to your age, Yahiko," said the brown clad figure. "But your still a runt" he finished off laughing with a smirk.
"Grr. I'll let that slide for now just because Sano and Kenshin are fighting." Said Yahiko through gritted teeth, hands clenching at his sides.
"What!" gasped Megumi. Yotaros eyes narrowed, a curious look taking the place of his smirk.
"That's right!" exclaimed Yahiko momentarily forgetting Yutaro and started telling Megumi how he'd seen Sanosuke yelling and Kenshin and trying to literately knock some sense into the guy before he'd raced here to get her.
"Let's go. Well take my carriage." Said a now serious Yutaro as he walked ahead towards it, closely followed by Megumi and Yahiko.
As they headed off towards Kamiya Dojo Megumi and Yahiko couldn't help but wonder whom the young lady seated next to Yutaro was. Though her eyes were closed, Yahiko could see her stunning violet-blue eyes in his mind he shuddered slightly as Kenshins' own dead violet gaze took its place, so empty yet haunting.
Sanosuke stopped staring down at the limp body in his harms. "…what…" He blinked, shaking his head and bringing up a hand to rub at the side of his head while the other held Kenshins' prone body. "What…happened?" He closed his eyes tightly before snapping them open, eyes glinting in pain as he looked down once more and remembered how he'd lost his cool and almost beat the life out of the man in his arms. "…Ke-Kenshin…I'm …I'm sorry…" He closed his eyes hiding the pained dark orbs and looking away almost as if burned at seeing the proof of his lost control. "…I'm sorry…"
Yahiko burst through the gate with Yutaro running along side him, a hysterical Megumi trying desperately to keep up as the youths turned the corner ahead of her.
"They're not here!" yelled Yahiko as he came to a stopped before the hall where he'd last seen Kenshin and Sanosuke.
Megumi came up behind them, wringing her hands in a nervous gesture as she looked around for some clue as to the combatants' whereabouts.
"What's that?" questioned Yutaro pointing where Yahiko was standing. All eyes turned to him as he leaned down and placed two fingers into the warm gooey substance. "Is that…-" he stopped his eyes widening.
"-blood" finished Yahiko.
Megumi's eyes widened more if possible as she started shaking, "You don't think-"
"No! Sano wouldn't do that! Don't even think about it!" snapped Yahiko bringing his hands over his ears as if not hearing the words would take away the images now running through his head. Before he could open his mouth again Yutaro's soft voice broke through.
"They could still be here. There's not enough blood for it to be serious but just enough for an open wound."
Yahiko blinked the tears from his eyes before straightening up, regaining his composure. "They might sti-"
"What's all the racket about? Jeez if I didn't know any better I'd think someone had di-"
All three jumped as Sanosuke's voice erupted from behind them, only for Megumi and Yahiko to promptly interrupt him as they yelled, "Don't DO THAT!"
Sano shrugged before moving to leave only to catch a glimpse of Yutaro. "…Do I know you.?…."
"Actually-"started off Yutaro with a small smile.
"Where's Kenshin!" interrupted Yahiko getting worried after seeing the blood stains on Sano's clothing.
Sano looked away frowning as his earlier guilt was renewed and he cringed as images of the limp-bruised body of Kenshin danced in his mind, "he's…resting," he finally said through gritted teeth as he tried to control his thoughts,
Three pairs of eyes widened at his word.
"You mean…" started Yahiko
"…He can't be…" gasped Yutaro with a disbelieving look.
"…He's…dead…" as the words left her mouth Megumi fainted falling to the flush greenery of the garden.
Kenshin lay against the wall watching the sky with clouded eyes through the open screen door.
"Kenshin… Don't do it… I'm fine…See…" she blinked tiredly, her head swaying slightly as she moved in and out of consciousness. "Don't…"
"Ms. Kaoru!" he yelled turning from the fight as he raced to her.
"I'm fine…" with that last whisper she fell forward almost falling off had it not been for Kenshins sudden appearance before her.
"Ms. Kaoru, are you alright?" he asked concerned shaking her slightly as he trying to keep her awake.
"I am now…that you're here…my brave hero…" she whispered before succumbing to the warm darkness and fainted in his arms.
Kenshin's eyes widened slightly as she slackened in his arms. "Ms. Ka-….it's okay she's still alive…" he reassured himself as he checked her for injuries and felt her strong pulse. "…You scared me Ms. Kaoru…that you did…" a smile appeared on his face as he tightened his arms around her. "..you scared me…that you did…this Kenshin doesn't want to lose you…"
Dazed violet eyes blinked clearing the daze that had previously had a hold of his thoughts. Pale hands reached to the sword at his waist as the somewhat loud thudding of feet became louder.
Three figures seemed to appear out of thin air as Megumi, Yahiko, and a third figure appeared before him. He blinked.
"Sir Ken, are you injured? Are you alright? Thank goodness you're not dead!" cried a close to hysterical Megumi.
"Oh calm down," said Sanosuke as he appeared at the screen door. "It's not like I would kill the guy…"
Megumi fell silent and looked away from all as felt guilty for even doubting Sanosuke for a second. "I owe you an apology Sano."
Raising an eyebrow Sanosuke gave her a confused look before his eyes narrowed slightly and he let out a tired sigh, "yeah whatever don't worry about it Megumi. As you can see he's fine theirs nothing to go fainting about" he gave her a pointed look before he moved to exit. "Night"
Off to the side,Yahiko cleared his throat, bring all attention to him from those who remained. "Now that we know everything's alright," he turned to the man standing next to him, "care to tell what you're doing here, Yutaro?"
"Yutaro?" asked a bewildered Kenshin, though neither his voice nor face showed any of his curiosity.
"Yahiko I will talk with you later but for now I must speak to Mr. Himura alone. If you'd be so kind?" he looked pointedly at Yahiko and Megumi after seeing Yahiko wasn't about to be ignored nodded to both Kenshin and Yutaro before dragging Yahiko out and closing the screen door behind her. All the way down the hall Yahiko's complains of "Let me go! I have a right to be there!"
"Still as loud mouth as ever," whispered Yutaro to himself as he listed until all but the sound of the nightingales was left. "Now" he said turning his head towards the silent occupant across from him, "Mr. Himura, I have just one thing to say to you." His eyes narrowed and a shine replaced the serious façade as Yutaro knelt before the unresponsive Kenshin. "Where is my hero?"
Kenshin snapped into attention as the question seemed to implant itself into his thoughts, in what seemed to be a repetition without end.
"Where is the man that saved, fought bravely before me so many years ago when I was nothing but a foolish child still. Where…is my hero?"