Disclaimer: How many of these am I going to have to do? See any of the previous chapters for this evil thing…
MUWAHAHAHAHAHA! I still live! J/k. I've been caught up with school work lately but I finally got to finishing this chapter. So enjoy!
Final Genesis: Thankies:) Death abound, and death galore, tisn't that Battosai's life? XD
AuburnMoonlight: I'd become like the worst KxK writer if Kenny killed Kaoru like that! I could never do that anyway!
Khmer Moon Blossoms: I'd never end the story like that on you guys! Anyway, little secret, this story is going to be over 30 chapters by estimate. :)
Reignashii: Thanks, enjoy the new one!
Sims are awsome: Um, I dunno… I am the writer, I am God! I will choose what they do! J/k. I dunno what I was thinking; I kinda just wanted them to finally get around to that before Battosai poufs away from Kaoru for like five chapters.
royal blueKitsune: Oro? Strange? W/e, I'm just glade you liked it!
davis45108: This one goes out to you, Foamy, and Tiny! And us crazy otaku girls! Cheers!
Rurouni Kenshin: The Whispers of Insanity
Chapter Nine: Crossed Paths
By DJ Baka-chan
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"Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me." -Carol Burnett
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Whit the strength she had left in her, Kaoru pulled open the door to Megumi's clinic. These wounds were why more than she could handle and she was starting to lose too much blood. After weakly making her way inside, Kaoru collapsed on the floor. Her vision became blurred and she could see what seemed like Megumi ran over to her crumpled form.
'Was this what it was like for Kenshin on that night?' She thought to herself, recalling the night he fell right into her arms. Death's hand was grasping at her soul, pulling her ever closer to the eternal fate that awaited her in Hell. Kaoru tried to stay alive, struggling to find the will to live. Kenshin's face then came to mind. If she died because of him, what would he do? Would he kill himself out of misery? Live a pointless life alone and forgotten? Kenshin was what Kaoru needed to stay alive. But he wouldn't help her stay conscious. Kaoru hacked up some more blood then faded to the world of black.
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"Kaoru-chan? You awake?" Kaoru's eye edged open at Megumi's voice.
'How, how long have I been out?' Kaoru pushed herself up to find she was completely nude under the blanket. Quickly pulling it up over her chest, she blushed.
"Megumi! Why in the hell am I naked!" Kaoru's face remained flush.
'It's not like Kenshin's staring or anything…Kenshin…!' Kaoru regained her calm and looked at Megumi's level eyes.
"Kaoru, how did you get those wounds? Those were very serious; you haven't woken up in 3 days. If you had waited any longer to get here you would have died." Kaoru looked at Megumi's serious face. If she told her it was Kenshin he would surly go to prison. Or worse, be executed.
"It was an accident, I'm fine." Kaoru held the blanket to her chest and attempted to stand.
"Kaoru, don't-!" Kaoru fell and hissed in pain; tears stung the corners of her eyes. She clutched her shoulder wound, her mouth open in a quite scream. She felt the blood began to seep through the bandages wrapped around her wound. Megumi pulled out a roll of bandages and tended to the reopened wound.
"Kaoru, that stab wound was right under the sub-calvin artery, and just barley managed to nick it. It if it was ruptured you would have been dead in less than 20 minutes. You're going to be weak for awhile. It'll take you a good 2 weeks to heal." Kaoru waited for Megumi to finish trying the bandages before sitting up. It was still sore, and stung a lot. She fingered the bandaging; wishing Kenshin was here to reassure her everything was alright.
He'd say that. He'd make sure he got at least one smile out of her before telling her to rest. It was the only thing the brought out his true smile. But what was it the he hid behind the false ones? A past soaked in so much blood should hold some painful memories. Kaoru had seen his face when he though about it.
The day of the first snowfall. She remembered how much the snow seemed to spook him. Then he went off into Kenshin world when they were drinking tea. What made him chose the life he had? Why was he so torn the day she had found him? Who could do that to someone?
Kaoru vividly remembered the wounds she had treated. There were numerous stab and slash wounds all over his body. There were lashes across his chest and back and gashes all over his face. The words suffer, torment, anguish, pain, and remember were carved into his back and shoulders. There were cuts around his neck, evidence that his throat had been slightly slit to release pints of blood at a time then sealed without anesthetic. There were wounds that showed large hooks had been stuck in to his arms and shoulders. There were needles and nail still in his body. Shards of glass had been used to stab his wrists and were then sewn inside. There were needles driven into the leg and arms, nail marks on the hands and cuts that had tried to rearrange his organs. Many wounds had been cut all the way to the bone. Kaoru remembered the foul stench of blood that stung at her senses and severity of the wounds. It was pure, utter torture.
"Kaoru-chan, you need rest if you want that to heal. Get some sleep." Kaoru was awakened out of her world and nodded. Crawling under the cotton blanket, she drifted into the world of dreams, thoughts of Kenshin etching away at her pain.
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A small town between Tokyo and Kyoto
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A young man with tan brazed skin stared up into the sky, cupping a strong calloused hand over his brow to block the piercing rays of the sun from his eyes. His gi was tucked in to his torn hakama and pulled off his shoulder down to his sides showing scars that tangled across his body, cutting this way and that. Fresh bandages were wrapped around his lower abdomen, the white linen protecting that part of his chest from the scorching sky. The cross scar on his left cheek was one of his most distinguishing features, half the wound was still fresh and occasionally dripped blood.
'Two crossed paths, two crossed hearts, one man…me…' He thought. It hurt him to think of those two women, those whom had entered and left his life in displeasing ways. He had hurt them both, and his exile was punishment for that. A gale blew past and his red orange billowed in the wind. His burning amber eyes the color of glistening gold narrowed to keep dirt from entering.
"Himura!" A male voice shouted in his direction. Kenshin turned to face his foreman. "Get back to work!" Kenshin nodded in response. Taking hold of the discarded hoe on the ground, he continued to work the land before him.
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Walking into clinic the doctor there greeted Kenshin. He had been kind enough to let the young man stay as long as he worked for his own food. Going to his room, Kenshin slipped his gi out of his hakama, which loosened the lower garment. The hakama now resting lower on his hips, Kenshin grabbed his katana. He tied his belt then slipped the sheathed weapon in it. Before leaving for his nightly practice, he grabbed a small mirror that the doctor had given him.
Kenshin had never really seen his face before but in rivers and streams but the clear glass depicted him so much better. He ran his fingers down the cross scar.
'She's left her mark…' He though about Kaoru, remembering the searing pain of her knife on his skin. Her scar crossed Tomoe's, just as she had crossed his heart. He frowned, looking at his face in the mirror. He wasn't much to look at in his opinion. His eyes were scary, his hair unusual. And he thought the scar set a lot of people off that he was a dangerous person. He closed his eyes and turned away from his reflection and set the mirror down.
Who could love a murder like him? He always hurt those whom got close to him. He had brutally killed Tomoe, and seriously wounded Kaoru. His past was also a bloody one, in which many enemies had been formed. With Enishi still after his life, Kenshin could no longer let anyone get close to him. He was a simply a swordsman, honing his skills by traveling the country. A simple ronin was all he was. He had only given his last name to the people here, not wanting to risk Kaoru or anyone else finding him here. The small farming village was something he wished he had found earlier in his life. Earning an honest living through farm work calmed his raging soul and burning mind.
Kenshin headed out the back door to his usual training spot, a small clearing in a bamboo forest. He drew his katana and focused his ki, becoming aware of the world around him, then shut everything out. He let the kata com natural to him, like breathing. He moved with grace and speed, precision and technique. His eyes were content on the sword and the invisible enemies around him. He slashed forward, blocked then pivoted and stabbed upward. He felt blood begin to seep from Kaoru's wound but ignored it, slowing down just a little. He didn't want to reopen his chest wound.
"Dou-ryu-sen!" Kenshin shouted, performing his school's technique.
"Watch where you're going, Battosai." A cold voice addressed him. Opening up his ki, Kenshin sensed the figure just short of his attack. His cold, wolfish eyes glinted in the night and a small light emitted from the cigarette that lay between his lips. The man threw the cigarette to the ground and snuffed it out with the heel of his boot.
"I see your skills have little changed. Good." The man came into the moonlight. He had short black hair with a few wiry strands the fell over his face like antennae. He wore a blue police jacket; half-way unbuttoned revealing a loose black shirt underneath. Pair of well fitting blue pants were snug against his legs, showing the well built muscles beneath. Attached to the belt at his waist was a katana, which was unusual for most policemen since they all carried sabers. But Kenshin knew he was no normal man.
"Saito Hajime." Kenshin hissed, he amber eyes narrowed.
"The one and only. I see you have a whole new set of scars. Another mistake? I know all about you and the Kamiya girl. Tokyo just happens to be my district." He smirked a wolfish grin.
"So, you really are a policeman. Then what brings you here?" Kenshin was not pleased with this man's appearance. He was in no mood for battle.
"Since you are no longer held back by the girl, I've decided it's time to settle our score. If you refuse, I'll have to pull a few strings." He was still smiling devilishly and Kenshin frowned.
"I could even have the Kamiya girl executed. Or worse, you in front of her eyes." Kenshin snapped. Battosai was itching to kill this man and now Kenshin had no objections.
"Lay a hand on her head and you die." Battosai growled. Saito smiled. He had his personality back.
"Then you accept my challenge?" Battosai's only answer was the clash of his sword against Saito's.
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Alright! Done! Hope all of you enjoyed! I've branched this out by bringing in funky fresh Saito! XD Now review!