Rain of Blood

-revised-

Standard disclaimers apply, I don't own RK.

Chapter Three

Time

The wind caressed his face like a soft whisper, then there was silence. He did not open his eyes; it was soothing to be lying here like this. He slept soundlessly in a dimension he was not aware of; unbelievingly his steady heartbeats told him he felt absolute serene and secure. His left cheek was buried into silk fabric and his hands were holding onto something warm, the scent of cherry blossoms only lured him deeper into a gentle embrace.

He felt a hand resting softly on his head and he found himself sinking into the tender touch. He opened his eyes revealing his lavender orbs; the color of pink sakura petals overwhelmed him as he breathed in. His head was resting on someone's lap. The warm source in his hands belonged to the owner of whom he was clinging onto. He looked up and a ray of sunshine dawned upon his face, he blinked and saw a shadow looming over him blocking away the light. He reached his hand up and made contact with soft, soft skin.

"Rest, Kenshin."

He opened his mouth and called out that person's name, but he could not hear his own voice.

"Close your eyes…"

He obeyed, and drifted into another deep slumber.

＊

When Battousai shifted back to conscious his eyes felt sore and realized there were two paths of dried tears on his cheek. He touched them and frowned at his hands. His concentration shattered when he heard the calm breathing the sleeping form on his futon made. Staring at her face for a short while, he then got up and went to clean himself for the morning.

After finished eating breakfast, Battousai went inside his room again and saw Kaoru's eyes opened and fixed at the ceiling above.

"You're awake."

Kaoru tried to lift herself up but Battousai's words stopped her.

"Your wounds haven't healed yet."

Kaoru gave out a sigh. "I had a dream last night."

Battousai lifted his eyebrow at the coincidence, he thought he had one last night too but he couldn't recall much of it. All he remembered was the loneliness his heart felt when he woke up… and those tears.

"I dreamed of fireflies, it was at night… and I felt very, very sad." Hearing no reply, she smiled wearily. "Gomen, you're probably not interested."

Battousai remained impassive. "If you're hungry, food's on the table." He pointed and turned to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

He looked back at her and Kaoru saw rebuke in his eyes, but that did not stop her. "You're going to pick up your sword, am I right?"

"Go to sleep."

"Battousai, I don't believe slashing your katana brings happiness."

"Little girl like you wouldn't understand. I have my beliefs, and you have yours, leave it that way."

"I do understand! My family…" Kaoru's hands tightened into grips. "My family was murdered." Battousai's eyes expanded in shock, questions surrounding her two days ago all found their answers at this moment. He looked away as silence engulfed them.

"I'm sorry." He spoke quietly.

Kaoru shook her head and her eyes watered. "I'm the only one alive, and I understand what it was like to have your family's lives taken away from you."

"…I don't know what family is."

Kaoru looked up at him; she didn't expect this assassin to have a blissful history but she was surprised at the fact that he survived all on his own through many years.Her face saddened. It must be hard, excruciating even.

"Otou-san… otou-san once told me a swordsman's belief is the reason for him to never let go of his sword." She started, Battousai's eyes trailed to the floor.

"For a brighter future, Himura, sacrifices must be made."

"Is wielding your sword to slay part of your belief, Battousai?"

He gripped his katana firmly. "I know the weight of my weapon."

Kaoru's eyes stayed on his silver blade. "It was ironic that my life has been saved by your hands, but the object you hold is the nightmare I've been running away from."

Memories of that night flowed back to Battousai like a stream of water. "Is it better if I leave you in pools of crimson?" he decided to ask.

"To tell the truth… I don't know." Battousai's heart thumped upon hearing her answer but he didn't know why. "Sometimes I wonder why kami-sama left me alive and breathing, when I should have been dead and gone to another world with my family."

Battousai stared at her delicate face, and in his mind words suddenly broke out. You cannot die. You most possibly can not die. You must live.

And the next moment he became confused. He didn't understand why his heart would shrink in fear by just imagining her face painted with droplets of blood. The only thing he was sure of was he cannot bear the sorrow and pressure the image in his head gave him.

"You must live…" He murmured. "You cannot die."

Kaoru's blue orbs were locked with his amber ones, after that she became silent.

She forgot about the throbbing of her wound when she rose and headed toward him, forgot about the sword he held in his hand, she forgot what they were talking about before.

All that mattered, was this man standing in front of her. At this minute, at this second.

She became lost in his eyes.

It was an incredible long gaze between them, in reality maybe only two minutes passed but it felt like they traveled through two centuries.

"Battousai…"

"That's not my real name."

Kaoru touched his face, this time he didn't flinch. He closed his eyes and leaned in to her touch, unexpectedly his eyes started to sting.

"My name is Kenshin…" it came out as a whisper.

Kenshin.

Kaoru started to tremble. She knew that name.

Time seemed to travel back many decades ago, there was something between them they did not know, something buried and forgotten.

But then Kaoru's head started to hurt. She withdrew her hand and she fell into Battousai's arms, snapping them both out of their reverie.

"You…" Battousai noticed Kaoru's pained expression.

"My head…" she breathed heavily, "it hurts…"

Battousai touched her forehead with his own, "So hot… you're having a fever!" he picked her up swiftly and trotted to the doorway, but was stopped by Kaoru's firm grasp on his arm.

"I'll be fine… leave me here."

"I'll take you to a doctor."

"No, please." Kaoru looked pleadingly into his eyes.

Battousai studied her for a while, then gave out a sigh and walked back to his futon. He helped her lie down and covered her with blankets, placing a piece of wet cloth on her forehead.

"Thank you…" Kaoru said in a small voice.

Battousai watched her as she closed her eyes.

Something about her, he voiced in his mind, I cannot refuse her.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out, he dropped his eyelids as silence filled him. When he re-opened his eyes, they burned in amber flames.

Picking up his katana and casting back a last glance, Battousai got up as a voice echoed at the back of his mind.

Battousai is the title you are willing to bear. The only mission you are going to fulfill is to wield your katana

You don't think, emotion doesn't mean anything to you.

Battousai's pace quickened as his amber bangs hid away his eyes.

There was no turning back the instant he picked up his katana; he knew it was a path he chose voluntarily. But why did his heart tear up when he walked out of his room? With his back to her?

Back inside the room, Kaoru heard his footsteps descending further and further away. She understood nothing could be done if she continued to stay here like this. There was a place she wanted to go and to stay there only. She had to go there now. Having her mind set, she forced herself up ignoring the condition of her body.

Battousai roamed through the streets of Tokyo. He spotted his prey earlier and kept his follow for a while. It was all he could do right now, partly because it was daytime and partly because he could not concentrate. In his mind a battle was raging. Was it all right to leave that girl alone like this? Should he head back? But what about his task? Was it really fine?

Battousai himself was surprised how his aim had wavered ever since Kaoru bumped into his life. Her words would always find a way to breakthrough his barrier uninvitingly, and what he was most confused at was his reaction when they first talked.

"We finally meet."

He could never erase those words, and the sound of his heart breaking after hearing her speak.

He was sure they had never met each other before this, but why oh why, did grief and insecurity washed over him then?

And the event that happened back at his quarter, he even told her his name.

He never told anyone his name. He never told anyone anything about him in fact.

"Damn it." Battousai cursed when he lost track of his prey due to his questions pouring inside. He turned to a corner and searched around, still no sight of him.

"Oh… my stick… young one, have you seen my walking stick?" Battousai noticed an old woman making her way to cling onto his hakama, bearing her whole weight on him with shaky grips. "My walking stick, I can't walk without it, have you seen it?"

Battousai picked up her stick lying a few centimeters away and handed to her wordlessly. The old woman gasped and thanked him, it was then Battousai realized she was blind.

"Thank you, thank you. Young one, what is your name?"

"You don't need to know." That was right, he should have said this.

"I hear trouble and inconsistency in your voice," The old woman smiled, exposing gaps of her missing teeth. "Something is bothering you."

Battousai turned to stride away.

"Don't let what your mind thinks confuse you, follow your heart."

He stopped.

"What does your heart tell you? Don't regret it before it's too late!"

Battousai whirled around only to find that old woman gone out of sight. He looked at the road out of this small valley and saw crowds of people, not even catching a glimpse of that old woman. Her words repeated in his mind as he stared at his katana.

"What does your heart tell you?"

Images of Kaoru flooded his vision.

Can't leave her.

Her touch that still lingered on his cheek.

I can't leave her.

He cursed again and changed the direction he was heading to originally.

Author's note: Whoa I'm thinking of taking my original chapters out so I can sort them out correctly!