Title: Because It Hurts
Chapter Seven: Relapse
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.
Sanosuke's eyes widened as he looked on in horrid fascination.
A violet shudder racked through Tori, a voiceless scream escaped her lips and it was all Sano could do to keep himself from falling down the stairs in his haste to reach the collapsing form below.
Yutaro snapped up, silk sheets cold and wet from his sweat slipped body. Toris echoing scream still fresh in his mind. 'What was that…' he raised a hand to his rapidly beating heart. A second scream rang in his ears and he was up in an instant, tossing aside the sheets and rushing towards the source.
Sanosuke didn't know what to do. He struggled with to keep the desperately struggling Tori from hurting herself by restraining her flailing arms to her sides. "Calm down, your gonna hurt yourself!" he gave a grunt, taking in a sharp breath as one of her feet caught him in the shin. "Damn woman, calm down!"
"What's going on?" Yahiko gave a wide yawn, freezing in his actions when he caught sight of the dueling pair below. "What, Tori? Sano? What's going on?"
He barely had time to process the dashing Yutaro as he ran past him towards the struggling Tori. He took her into his arms, a small whimper escaping Tori as silent tears ran down her pale cheeks. "Shh, its okay now.."
Yahiko came down the steps in silent admiration, coming to stand next to a disheveled Sanosuke. Both watched as slowly the whimpers died down, and Tori feel into a quiet sleep, the only sign of her earlier torment the small glistening streams running down her cheeks.
"What happened?" Yahiko whispered, chocolate gaze straying from the slumbering Tori to question Sanosuke.
Yutaro seemed to remember his audience, he took gave Sano a calculating look before he shifted Tori into a more comfortable position and lifted her limp form into his arms. "Wait here." he instructed as he headed up the stairs.
Yutaro closed the door behind him, relaxing against its solid surface as he let out a relieved breath.
Tired brown orbs looked up at the red headed battousai leaning just outside his own room.
Violet orbs raised to met brown, Kenshin gave a silent nod before returning to his room.
Yutaro was sure he'd caught sight of glinting metal in the moonlight.
Yahiko gave a sigh for what seemed the umpteenth time in the last ten minutes. Across from him Sanosuke didn't even move, the ex-fighter-for-hire had been quiet since Toris little episode and Yahiko didn't know whether it that was a good thing or bad.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Yutaro said, entering the room and moving to sitting down a comfortable chair facing the two of them.
When no one moved to talk Yahiko couldn't help but flinch inwardly. "…"
Yutaro gave him a tired smile, "It would be best to leave this conversation for later. When everyone was here."
"Spit it out already," Sanosuke said, leaning forward and clasping his hands before him. His brow creased as he stared defiantly at Yutaro.
Yutaro gave a sigh, " Very well then. Sytorika-"
"Who?" Yahiko asked instantly.
Yutaro raised a brow at him, "What do you mean who? The woman who arrived with me from Germany."
"What?" Yahiko frowned in confusion. "But I thought her name was Tori?"
Yutaros brow creased for a moment before he nodded. "Your right. She says her name is Tori because that is what she's been told."
Sanosuke frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You misunderstand. Sytorika, well Tori, has amnesia."