Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Hey there readers, if I do have any…hahaha, sorry for the delay. But still, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I will try my best to edit the previous chapters!


Chapter 18

Enishi was sitting next to a bed, his eyes strained on one particular person.

Kamiya Kaoru.

She was alive. He had found her in the forest, among the trees. She was unconscious and drenched in rain. From his calculations she should had been there for at least five days.

Kaoru was not sick, just lost and trapped in her own mind. She had closed up herself and she couldn't hear anything or respond to anything. Enishi had tried to feed her, but her mouth just wouldn't budge. So now a tube was connected to her arm, keeping her alive.

Enishi truly felt grateful for his connections at this time, he never thought that it would come in handy. His own wounds were healing wonderfully, but Kaoru was dying. Her body was working fine. It was her mind, her soul.

Enishi could feel her slipping away more and more away each day, and he prayed, he prayed hard for her.

Please, god…she doesn't deserve this…


Battousai saw three men ahead of him; they were moving fast and heavily armed.

He caught up with them, but he would be invisible; he did not show himself so easily.

"I know you are there, Kenshin…" one of them said.

Battousai came out and stood in front of them, his amber eyes sparkling in annoyance. He knew that voice. It was his father, Hiko Seijiro. The other two men were Okina and Soujiro.

Great, just when he thought he had enough to deal with…

"Where are you heading to?" Battousai asked coldly.

"Where are you heading to yourself?" Hiko retorted, equally cold.

Soujiro stepped forward. "Himura-san, have you seen Kaoru anywhere? Sano, Yahiko and Megumi are looking for her right now, she disappeared several days ago."

Battousai snorted. "Why would I know? That filthy woman."

Soujiro flinched at his words, angry with the Battousai's ignorance. "What do you mean?"

"Don't tell me that you didn't know, that woman had been watching me and betraying me all along…"

Soujiro sighed, "I know about that."

Battousai took a step towards Soujiro menacingly. "Don't tell me that The Aorta enlisted your help as well…"

"No, not me. Only Misao and Kaoru's."

Battousai kept quiet, his eyes hard on Soujiro.

"Kaoru did not betray you at all, she didn't tell The Aorta anything." Soujiro continued.

"How would you know?"

"She told me herself, for a while she wasn't sure who to believe but she decided to trust you in the end."

Battousai looked away for a moment, and turned back to Soujiro slowly. "I'm confused, 'who to believe'? What did The Aorta say to her?"

Okina interrupted the conversation, "It's obvious that many of us are ignorant of many things…why don't we sit down somewhere and proceed with the conversation?"

Soujiro looked at Battousai enquiringly. Battousai nodded stiffly.


"Misao?" Aoshi said softly. She was at his side again, looking after him. His injuries were healing but it still pained him to move.

"Yes, Aoshi-sama?"

"Aren't you supposed to forget as well?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I saw you in my memories, I saw Koishijiro telling me that both of our memories will be erased. But you remember, don't you?"

"Yes, I do…"

"But I don't understand, Misao…why did they only erase my memories? And not yours?"

"No, they were not that nice…they didn't even try to erase my memories, they jumped straight to trying to kill me."

"But Koishijiro told me that I would just tell you to leave and they will erase your memories and that's it…Koishijiro never said anything about killing you."

Misao snorted. "That man cannot be trusted. He told me that you are the one who wanted me dead. But you know that I won't give up so easily, my sadness turned into anger and so I attacked…"

"You attacked them?"

"Yeah, luckily I had some gadgets with me or else I would have never survived. I managed to injure the men enough to escape. I was barely alive at that time. I thought that I would never make it but I did…the next thing I knew, I was in a white room and recovering…"

Aoshi nodded. "How about Okina? Does he know about The Aorta?"

"I think he suspected but he isn't sure yet…he sure knows about you, you said that he spoke to you back at my villa right?"

"Yeah…"

"Aoshi, tell me, what really happened between you and Koishijiro? I would like to know…"

"He told me that if I don't ask you to leave, he'll kill you. Being attach with someone is not allowed in The Aorta…so he said that if I get rid of you and erase both of our memories from each other, he'll let you go…"

"But he lied, he tried to kill me straight away. I guess that things between us are just not meant to be…"

Aoshi looked pained. "No, Misao…it was just at the wrong time…"

"All those things you said…all the hurtful things…it has always been echoing inside my head…"

"No, Misao. I didn't mean anything that I had said, all that I said was trying to safe you. If I don't hurt you, I know that you won't leave…"

Misao looked at him sorrowfully, tears falling down her cheeks silently.

"Please, Misao. Try to understand…"

Misao shook her head. "Let me be alone for a while, Aoshi-sama…I'm confused." Misao whispered, and with that she left the room.

Aoshi stared after her, his heart heavy and painful.


"So The Aorta took them away forcefully while I was away, said that I was the one stealing all those women's powers and covered it up by saying that they went on a holiday with Enishi?" Battousai finally growled after Soujiro explained everything to him.

"Kenshin." Hiko said sternly, his eyes hard on his son. "We want to know this: Is what The Aorta saying, true? Did you really take all the powers so that you could start another illegal organization yourself?"

"No." Battousai said firmly, his voice low. "I did not do any of those things that they say."

Hiko nodded solemnly.

"Kaoru was very insecure about everything; she wasn't sure who to trust or what to believe. You see, the man who told her what you've supposedly done is her father, Koishijiro Kamiya. And you're the man she loves." Soujiro continued.

"Koishijiro is her father?" Battousai asked and then chuckled, "Love? If she loves me, she would not have teamed out with the Aorta, all the time she was deceiving me. And I don't love her, so we are even."

Okina sighed and shook his head, "No, she didn't believe what they said is true. She chose to believe you in the end, she risked everything and put her trust in you. The only reason she went along with The Aorta was because they threatened to kill her and everyone else. Don't you understand the burden she was carrying herself?"

Battousai remained silent and unwilling to believe what Okina had said.

Finally, Soujiro broke the tensed silence.

"Himura-san, what happened between you and Kaoru when you brought her to your luxury yacht?" Soujiro asked softly.

Battousai looked surprised. "How did you know about that?"

"Kaoru told me on the day when you were suppose to take her out. She told me everything that day, but we were interrupted by Yukishiro-san."

"How would Kaoru know that I was going to bring her to my yacht? It was meant to be a surprise."

"I suppose Yukishiro-san told her."

"Well, Enishi didn't know that I didn't bring her there in the end." Battousai said softly.

"Where did you bring her then?"

"I had someone pick her up from the villa to be brought with me to a hotel."

The other three men stared at Battousai with narrowed, stormy eyes for a long time.

"What did you do to her?" Soujiro said finally, his voice barely above a whisper.

The Battousai shrugged, "I made her paid for it."

"What do you mean by you 'made her pay for it'?" Soujiro asked again, his voice dangerously low.

Battousai told them what happened steadily, without blinking twice. Like as if Kaoru deserved everything that he had done to her.

Soujiro was trembling by the time Battousai finished telling them what had happened. Before he could say something, Okina beat him to it.

"You should be ashamed of yourself!" Okina exclaimed, kicking Battousai off his chair.

Battousai sat on the ground in confusion and got up, angry. His eyes were blazing again.

"What did you say, old man?" he growled, "Ashamed of myself, you say? That filthy woman should be the one who should be ashamed…"

Soujiro sighed and shook his head sadly, "No, Himura-san, you're wrong. You've gotten it all wrong about Kaoru…"


There was someone calling to her, someone whispering her name faintly together with the teasing wind.

She was standing in a flat grassy meadow, all alone. She could not identify who it was calling to her, yet the soft, mellifluous voice sounded strangely familiar.

She spun around in frantic circles, her eyes searching wildly, but there was no one there.

Still the voice called to her, "Kaoru…Kaoru…"

She was beginning to feel afraid.

Who is it?

Suddenly a woman dressed in white appeared before her, a sad smile on her lips.

Kaoru backed away a little in fear, "Who are you?"

"I'm your mother, Kaoru-chan…" the woman said, her words echoing, as if it was coming from far, far away.

Kaoru blinked. Her mother?

She tried to focus her eyes on the woman's face. The woman had dark brown hair and deep blue eyes. Deep blue eyes just like hers. "Mother?"

The woman nodded sadly, "Yes, Kaoru-chan…"

"Aren't you dead?" Kaoru whispered hoarsely, unable to believe what was before her eyes.

Her mother nodded again, "Yes, I am dead…"

"Does that mean I am dead as well?"

Her mother shook her head, "No, you are not, Kaoru-chan. But you will be soon if you don't wake up."

"Wake up?" Kaoru asked, confused. "I'm already awake."

"No, you're not. You are trapped in your mind, Kaoru-chan…you did this to yourself and" her mother gestured at the clouds, "you're this close to death."

"Are you here to stop me from going to the clouds?"

"No."

"No?"

"It's your own decision, Kaoru-chan. I'm not here to stop you. But is death really what you want? Do you think death can bring you happiness and make you feel better? Think about it…"

Kaoru frowned. Is death really what I want?


Kaoru choked and her eyes flew open. She gasped for breath and saw someone coming towards her, but her eyes were blurry so she couldn't see who it was.

She shrank away and continued gasping. Where am I?

She could feel it again, the pain in her chest and the constriction in her throat. Air! Air!

"Kaoru!"

A man was calling someone… Kaoru….who is Kaoru?

"Kaoru!"

Who is it?

Then, she felt strong arms circling around her and she was lifted from wherever she was resting on.

And everything went dark.


"What is wrong with her doctor?" Enishi asked.

"Due to the mental strain on her body, she is very vulnerable to asthma attacks; I understand that she has been this way since young?"

"Yes." Enishi replied gravely, "How is her condition now?"

"For now, we have managed to help her through this attack, but she might not be so lucky the next time. I suggest that she go to a hospital with the required facilities."

"You know very well that I can't do that, it would just expose The Aorta to the public."

The doctor nodded and sighed, "I know. But I am not trained to deal with patients like this. Her genes are not like normal humans, and her asthma attacks and recent mental breakdown has damage a part of her brain. She might experience memory loss when she wakes up."

Enishi's eyes widened in fear, "Memory loss?"

The doctor nodded, "Yes."

"How bad is it?"

"That I cannot be certain, we will have to wait for her to wake up. I'll try my best to help her."

"Thank you," Enishi said gratefully.

"You're welcome," the doctor said, a sad smile on his face. "She matters a lot to you?"

"Yes," Enishi said, his voice strained.

The doctor nodded sadly again, "I'll pray for her."

Enishi nodded too.

The doctor walked out of the room, closing the door behind him, he sighed again. Poor man, his love won't even remember him…


They stood in front of him, their swords drawn. Koishijiro was on the ground, looking up at them with a smug look on his face. He was wounded very badly, blood splattered wildly about him. His blood.

"You'll pay dearly for what you did to Kaoru…"Battousai growled, "I promise you that you will die a slow and painful death."

Koishijiro laughed, "For what you did to her, you mean? I didn't do anything to her, you did. She is dying, Battousai. She might even be dead already."

"You're lying!" Battousai thundered.

Koishijiro laughed bitterly, "I never meant for anything like this to happen…my plan was to take her with me. I wouldn't kill my own daughter."

"Bullshit." Battousai shouted, "You know very well what your intentions are,"

"But you can't deny that she is dying, Battousai…I know that she is. I know how her body works better than even herself. She is sick; Battousai and she could not withstand all that Ki energy in her…"

Battousai glared at the dying man in front of him and remained silent. Then, he walked away from the corner, leaving the three others behind him.

He stared into the sky, it was so blue but he felt his heart slipping into dark torment, he staggered back at the sudden pain at his chest.

"Kaoru…"


Kaoru opened her eyes and tried to sit up, then, she felt her head fall back forcefully back to the pillow. What was wrong with her?

A man came rushing towards her. A man with shocking white hair and the most amazing eyes she had ever seen. Who is this man?

The man helped her to sit up, and passed her a glass of water.

"You're awake," he whispered, like it was unbelievable that she was awake.

Kaoru sipped at her water and stared curiously at him, "Who are you?"

The man looked sad at what she said, and then he quickly covered it by a warm smile.

"I am Yukishiro Enishi and you are Kamiya Kaoru," he said kindly, reaching out to shake her hand.

Kaoru put her hand in his and stared confusedly at him. I am Kaoru?

"What happened to me? I don't seem to remember anything…"

Enishi hesitated to answer but he finally said, "You were very sick, but you're recovering now. You lost your memory in the process…"

"Do I know you?"

"Yes, we were very close."

Kaoru looked even more confused at what he said. "But I don't remember you!"

"I know that you don't. But I do." Enishi said calmly, "Don't worry so much, Kaoru. Just rest and get well soon. You'll remember in time."

Kaoru nodded.

"Are you sure you don't remember anything?" Enishi asked.

Kaoru thought about it and found her head in piercing pain. She writhed and turned to her sides, her hands were on her head and her strangled cries trying to will the pain away. Her legs kicked away the bedclothes furiously, she was twisting and turning.

Enishi rushed towards her and found her suddenly limp and completely still. Suddenly she turned towards him and grabbed him on the shoulders, "I can't breathe!"

"Doctor!" Enishi screamed.


Yahiko, Sanosuke and Megumi stared up at the large house in front of them with dread. It was already well into night and they could barely see the outline of the house with all the dense trees around it.

"So, this is where Kaoru live?" Megumi whispered.

Sanosuke nodded and whispered back, "Yes, after we check her house out, I'll bring you to my place."

Megumi smiled.

"Why are you two whispering? Let's just stop staring and check if Kaoru is here!" Yahiko said loudly.

The other two frowned but began to open the gates. Sano reached for Megumi's hand, "Hold on tight,"

So they went through the trees and finally arrived at the front door.

The large massive wooden door looked so forbidding, and just the sight of it scared the hell out of them.

"Sano, do you think this place is actually haunted?" Yahiko whispered.

Sano laughed, "Look who is whispering now? Let's go in." Then, he pushed the door opened and the three of them went in stealthily.

After they switched on all the lights, they roamed the corridors and looked at the pictures on the wall. Memories of before when they were all here washed over Sano and Yahiko.

"Let's go to Jou-chan's room." Sano said hoarsely, sad at the thought of Kaoru might be dead.

Kaoru's room was completely white.

Then, Yahiko noticed a white cloth covering over what it looked like a painting. He pulled the cloth away and breathed in sharply. It was indeed a painting.

It was Kenshin's portrait. In the painting, he had kind purple eyes not the fiery amber eyes he saw.

Megumi and Sano rushed over and gasped too. Whatever that had happened to Kaoru, and whatever Battousai had done to her, Kenshin was going to be very sorry.

"There is still no clue on where Kaoru is…" Sano sighed, but instead we found this painting. "Jou-chan was so good with her hands."

"'Was'?" Yahiko exclaimed, "What do you mean by 'was'? Busu is not dead yet! Not for sure! So don't say that!"

Sano sighed and bend his head gloomily.

Megumi slapped them both on the heads, "Remember what Soujiro said? He said that Enishi is missing too and that he knows something crucial, we should look for him at the same time as we search for Kaoru."

The other two men nodded.

"Let's get out of here." Sano said.


A/N: This chapter is finally finished, I hope you all enjoy it and please leave a review to let me know what you think.

Feedback is always appreciated!