Author Notes: Okay, we're on the second chapter…AGAIN. YAY! Haha, I hope you guys like this version, Sorry If it's been confusing. I deleted all the old chapters and started over, so I hope it isn't confusing. So far I like the story a lot better. That's a good thing right?
Do not be afraid! I love reviews and suggestions and ideas, etc.!
Disclaimer: Hello, for those who don't know me, my name is Himura Kenshin, the ex-manslayer, Battousai. I have come by Adelaide's computer on my Rurouni ways to tell you all that she doesn't own me, Kaoru-dono, Sano, Megumi, Misao, Aoshi, any other RK characters, any other animes. The only thing she owns is this idea and story. There is also a chance that there might be some swearing, do forgive Sano for that.
Chapter Two: Glimmers of the Past
as moon draws darkness
under trees, as gaping streetlights
:---:
"Kaoru, Kaoru, come on, it's time to wake up." Megumi said, shaking Kaoru lightly.
"Megumi?" Kaoru said, coming awake.
"The guys went to the market; we're making breakfast for them. Come on, get up, it's already ten o'clock."
"I'm up, I'm up." Kaoru mumbled, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
"That's good. Get washed up and what ever and come to the kitchen." Megumi said, leaving Kenshin's room.
Kaoru rubbed her eyes, and stretched her arms above her head. The bright sun was streaming through the window behind her, and she heard Misao and Megumi starting get the pots and pans out. She quickly went to the bathroom, brushed her hair with Kenshin's brush, tied it back and washed her face, then went out to the kitchen.
"What do I need to do?" Kaoru asked as she entered the small kitchen.
"Why don't you set the table and get the dishes out?" Megumi said.
"Yeah, we've got the cooking under control. And we don't want you ruining the food." Misao said, turning from the stove where she was making French toast.
"I'm not that bad of cook. I'm also getting better!" Kaoru said as she went to the cupboard to get the dishes, plates, glasses and silverware out. She placed a big plate next to Misao for the French Toast, a bowl next to Megumi for the eggs, than set six places at the table for the group.
"I'll get it!" Kaoru said from the eating area when they heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?" Kaoru asked, looking through the peephole.
"Yo Ugly!" Yahiko said, smiling and waving at her.
"Yahiko-kun, don't call Kaoru ugly!" She heard Tsubume scold her boyfriend as Kaoru opened the door.
"Yahiko, I swear! If you call me ugly one more time! I swear I'll kick you from here to California!" Kaoru yelled as the boy came in, Tsubume's hand clasped in his own.
"I'm sorry Kaoru, it's just that, well, you are ugly!" Yahiko said, ducking Kaoru's first punch, but not seeing her other hand going for an uppercut that landed him on the floor.
"See Yahiko? Will you never learn?" Tsubume said as she helped him up, as Kaoru going to the Kitchen.
"Have you two had breakfast yet?" Kaoru asked.
"No, we haven't Kaoru, let me help." Tsubume said, as she left Yahiko and went into the kitchen.
"Its fine, everything is almost done, just waiting for the guys to come home from the market." Megumi said.
"I want to do something though. I hate being a freeloader, let at least me do something to help." She answered.
"Okay. What needs to be done yet?" Misao asked.
"Tsubume, you can pour the drinks when everyone gets here. I always end up spilling some." Kaoru answered.
"Thank you. I'll do that. That way I know I helped with something."
"Yeah, we ran into them on our way back here from my training." Yahiko said, sitting on a stool at the kitchen island. "We came down here after a bit because we knew we could get breakfast, and hopefully not Kaoru's cooking." He said.
"I'm getting better!" Kaoru exclaimed, her head in the cupboard getting more plates down.
"Getting better at what Missy?" Sano asked as he entered the apartment.
"Cooking. Yahiko was hoping I wouldn't be cooking." She answered him, stomping her foot and setting the two extra seats.
"As we all were. That's why we woke Megumi and Misao up first, then had them wake you up." Aoshi answered coming into the kitchen.
"It's a conspiracy. You are all conspiring against me!" Kaoru said, facing her friends, her hands on her hips.
"Your up. That's good." Kenshin said, coming in with the last of the bags, kissing her on the cheek and went to put the food away with the two others. "How are you feeling this morning?" He asked.
"You weren't feeling well Kaoru?" Yahiko asked.
"It's nothing. I just had another one of my dreams." Kaoru answered, sitting down next to Yahiko at the counter.
"You've been having more and more of those recently. I wonder if there is a connection to something." Misao said, finishing off the French toast and taking the plate to the table as Tsubume filled cups with tea and orange juice or whatever the person preferred.
"I suppose. I don't know if there is a connection to anything, I don't know why I get them." Kaoru answered.
"Have you ever been to a doctor?" Yahiko asked.
"When I was small. Mom and dad got concerned after awhile. It's strange to see your child suddenly not be able touch anyone. At that time I would just pass out. When I woke up a few minutes later and they asked what happened, I wouldn't be able to answer them because I couldn't remember anything that I saw." Kaoru said answering him. "They figured out that gloves helped one winter. Like any mother, Mom would bundle me up when I went outside and it was cold. One day, she grabbed my hand instead of my arm or wrist like she normally did, but nothing happened. She realized it was because of the gloves I was wearing. It was from then on I wore gloves. The doctors couldn't figure anything out. They were baffled that it was the touch of my hand that would provoke such things. I don't remember much of what went on during those days."
"It must have been tough." Sano said, standing across the counter from her.
"Yeah it was. I only have one vision that I remember seeing when I was that young. It was done by accident, but I was about 5 at the time I think. Mom was helping get out of the bathtub and I slipped, putting my hands out to break my fall, I came in contact with Mom. I never did tell her what I saw, it scared me so much. Maybe if I had told her they would be still alive today."
"What did you see Kaoru?" Aoshi asked.
"I saw their deaths ten years before they were killed. Had I told them that day, or maybe sometime after that when they asked different things that I had seen, maybe they wouldn't have gone out that night, or been warned to be careful when they went out. "
"Kaoru, it's not your fault. You had no way of knowing that it would be that night. It could have been any night." Megumi said softly. "Well, breakfast is getting cold, let's eat before it gets colder."
"Your wrong Megumi. I knew it was that night. I kept having these senses of deja vu. This sense of dread that they wouldn't be coming back. I just stood there as they put their coats on, smiling, telling them how great they looked and saying that I hope they had a good time." Kaoru said, standing at her chair at the table.
"It's still not your fault Jou-chan." Sano said from his spot next to her. "You weren't there. You wouldn't have been able to save them."
"I could have told them I had a bad feeling, a chance that they would have stayed home that night."
"And there's no proof that it would not have happened the next night, or the next week, or the next month when they went out." Aoshi said. "You can't blame yourself for something you couldn't prevent six years ago. You've lived your life the way your parents would have wanted you too, you moved on, and lived. You're going to university, you have a boyfriend that you love and that loves you. That's what they would have wanted, you to be happy, am I right or wrong?"
"Your right Aoshi." Kenshin said from next to Kaoru. "I didn't know your parents, but they would have wanted to live and not worry about what you might have been able to do."
"Thank you." Kaoru said quietly, leaning over and kissing Kenshin on the cheek. "Your absolutely right."
"What was this dream about Kaoru?" Megumi asked.
"Kenshin and I were both in it, but we weren't as we are now. It was in the past, I wore a kimono and Kenshin wore hakama and a gi." Kaoru started. "Kurogasa kidnapped me because he wanted to fight Kenshin, and bring out the Battousai." Kaoru said, stopping suddenly. "Kenshin! Himura Kenshin, the legendary Battousai! Kenshin, it's the project Dr. Saito is giving to us!"
"Could that be the connection?" Misao asked.
"No. It was definitely Kenshin and I. We'll have to see what we can find on him though, if I remember, he used the Hiten Mitsurugi." Kaoru said.
"Hiko should know something, I'll call him, then check with Saito. He'd definitely know something probably." Kenshin responded.
"What was the rest of the dream Kaoru?" Sano asked.
"To bring Battousai out, Kurogasa attacked me with a, hm…Shino-ippo, causing me to suffocate. I had to overcome the attack or Kurogasa being killed were the only ways to overcome the attack, if not I would have died. I overcame the attack, but Kenshin had already returned the Battousai, but in the dream he stopped before he could kill Kurogasa." Kaoru said, finishing the re-telling. "Kenshin used the Hiten Mitsurugi, the same technique that our Kenshin knows."
"There has to be some sort of connection." Kaoru stated.
:---:
"Kaoru?" Kenshin said softly as they walked through the park later that day. The group had planed to meet by the river to practice, but to also have fun, and they were on their way in their practice uniforms of white hakama's and blue tops, the University's colors.
"What Kenshin?" Kaoru asked, looking over at him. She smiled, it was days like this that she liked best. The sun was shining, and the breeze was picking the ends of their pony tails up. Kenshin's hair looked like it was on fire, a complete opposite of his calm and usually quiet demeanor. They had been laughing a few minutes earlier, and the sparkle was still there slightly, even though he had turned serious.
"I've been thinking about your dream last night. About all the dreams you've had since we've met. What if there is a connection between us, and the Kaoru and Kenshin that are found there, and deep within my thoughts." Kenshin said, looking up into the sky. "Wonder if the answers we have been seeking would be found there."
"I've been thinking of that as well." Kaoru answered. "It seems the most logical answer. I have also had a thought about Kenshin and Battousai. I wonder if the Himura Kenshin I have been seeing is the Himura Kenshin that Dr. Saito has been teaching about, the one also known as the Legendary Battousai. It would seem most logical that this is the same Kenshin in my dreams, since Battousai has been brought up in my dreams as well, especially the one last night. And the first night I read your memories, I'm wondering if that was Battousai."
"It would seem most logical that the man in your dreams, Kenshin Himura, and Battousai are the same, as well as the same man we have been learning about that was a key part bringing the Meiji into existence." Kenshin said. "Hey there's everyone else, lets keep this from them for a bit, until we know for sure." Kenshin said, waving at the group.
"Okay, sounds good to me. I'd like to worry them, they already worry about me. Misao and Megumi have been worried quite a bit lately. I don't think I've had this many dreams in the amount of time I've known them put together." Kaoru said, waving as well.
"Hey there guys, what took you so long. Misao's already kicked Aoshi's ass."
"Really? I thought he'd be able to last a bit longer than that. You've really gotten soft on her Aoshi." Kenshin said chuckling.
"It's not that. I've taught her everything I know, and she's good at it too." Aoshi said, resting his hands on his knees, catching his breath.
"You have been teaching me for…lets see…12 years now, I was eight when we started." Misao said, patting Aoshi on the back. "Don't feel too bad. Plus, I'm younger than you."
"Only by two years, don't get too cocky little one." Aoshi said standing up and swinging his leg out, taking Misao's feet from under her, sending her to the ground. "You have a few things to get better at yet." Aoshi said, squatting next to her and smirking.
"How are you feeling, Kaoru?" Megumi asked.
"I'm fine Megumi. You don't have to keep playing doctor." Kaoru said laughing was straightening. "Are you ready for me to kick you butt Yahiko?" She said, turning around.
"Anytime your ready Ugly!"
"Let's get started then." Kaoru answered, her smile turning into a smirk as she took her position across from Sano. "Kenshin, do you mind Refereeing this match?"
"Sure, Kaoru." Kenshin said, coming to stand between the two.
"Ready. Start!"
:---:
"Hello?"
"What have you heard of our target?"
"Oh, hello, sir. Not much yet, surveillance is still on her, but activities have been those of a normal University student. The group of friends including Takani Megumi, Sagara Sanosuke, Shinomori Aoshi and Makimachi Misao went to a local bar by the name Shirobeko last evening, heading the male's apartment and the girls stayed the night there. Today the guys went to the market while a Myojin Yahiko and Sanjo Tsubame joined them at the apartment for a short while. From there each couple split and did there own thing. Last report had the group at the park practicing their martial arts and kendo skills. All are very talented sir." The man sitting at the desk said into the phone.
He was working late, the setting sun making the shadows grow in his office, the dim light now hardly enough to light his desk so he could see. His boss was a hard man to work for, but he was one that could see that it was important to work hard to get what you want, no matter what means it took.
"Yes, I have seen all of their talent. Himura's skill with the sword, I believe he has studied the ancient art of the Hiten Mitsurugi school."
"Yes sir. Will you be wanting me to go the Tokyo University Kendo match this week, or will you be attending yourself?"
"I will be going, but I would like you and the boy to accompany me as well. We will meet at the school, one half hour before the match. I would like to talk to both of you."
"Yes sir. I will let the boy know."
"Good night." The boss said, hanging up the phone.
"Good night Sir." The other man said into a dead phone line. Yes, this man would get him what he wanted from life. Prestige, money, importance and power.
:---:
The afternoon went quickly, with match after match, laughs, and a few close calls, and come backs. Before the group knew it, the sun was setting.
"Hey guys, let's get something to eat! I'm starving!" Sano said.
"Your always starving Rooster head!" Megumi said back to him.
"I am not always starving, Fox." Sano said.
"Uh-huh. I don't think that's a complete truth Sano." Kaoru said, laughing.
"What do you mean by that Missy!" Sano yelled, walking to where Megumi and Kaoru where standing, Kaoru putting her towel and Bokken and other things back in the bag she had carried with her.
"You're always hungry! That's what it means!" Kaoru yelled back.
"Maybe not always for food than." Sano said for only the two to hear.
"Tori-atama! Your Baka perv!" Megumi said turning around so quickly that Sano didn't get a chance to back away quickly enough. His punishment was a large red welt on his left cheek.
"Fo-ox, why'd you go do that? It hurt!"
"You deserve it Rooster!" Megumi said, striding away.
"Why do you say such things Sano?" Kaoru said sitting down next to where Sano was sitting on the ground. "You know you'll get slap if you do."
"Because when she turns like that, pissed at something I've said…her eyes Kaoru. They're the most beautiful thing in the world." Sano said smiling a bit. "I doubt you'd understand."
"I know what you mean Sano." Kenshin said, helping his friend up, then turning to Kaoru to help her up. "Kaoru's are the same way. Beautiful all the time, but when she's mad at someone, her eyes are even more beautiful."
"Kenshin."
"Okay, now it's getting too mushy." Sano said, walking off to catch up with Megumi, "But the make up is also much better."
"He'll never learn will he?" Kaoru asked Kenshin as they walked off, the last ones leaving the area they had been practicing.
"I doubt it. It's just part of their relationship. That's how they show their love for each other." Kenshin said, taking Kaoru's hand and kissing it gently.
:---:
"Isn't it beautiful Kenshin?" Kaoru asked as they crossed the bridge going back to the apartment. "To find such a bridge in today's world. It seems like time slows down here. Here, you can escaped to a different time, a different world."
"Hai." He said, stopping, pulling Kaoru into his embrace.
"So beautiful tonight. It's really turning into spring isn't?"
"The Cherry Blossoms will be out soon. The buds are starting to come out."
"Yes. I can't wait for the Festival. Misao, Megumi, Tsubame and I are going shopping for new Kimonos this week sometime. It's such a wonderful time of year." Kaoru said. "Kenshin?"
"Hai? What is it Kaoru?"
"Do you mind if…if I take my gloves off?"
"Sure, are you too hot?" Kenshin said, break contact with her.
"No." She said as she slipped each finger out of the slot. "I have this feeling. Almost like Déjà vu, but not quite. I want to see what our thoughts tell us, that is all." Kaoru said. "Do you mind?"
"Are you sure? With the exercise you experienced this afternoon, are you sure you won't be too weak? Maybe tomorrow?"
"No. I need to do it here, now. It's like I have a thought, or maybe it's a memory right at the edge of my mind, but I just can't quite remember it." Kaoru said, reaching out her hand.
Kenshin looked at her, than her hand, and reached out and took it, clasping her fingers in his own. Kenshin was to use the rigidity that Kaoru's body took when she first started seeing the memory, from there on, Kenshin had no clue what would happen. Her face would show the reflection, whether it would be a happy or horrid image. After a moment, Kaoru's body relaxed, and she had a serene expression on her face, the hold she had on Kenshin's hand was more like one that she would use when they were walking along campus, in town, or in the park, as they had been before they reached the bridge. This was a good memory of his, for once, a good memory would be remembered.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked turning towards him as he stopped on the bridge.
"Kaoru-dono, it's beautiful tonight, hai?" Kenshin said, looking to the sky.
"Hai. There are so many stars out tonight." Kaoru answered him.
"Fall will be here soon, it looks like it will be a nice one, a peaceful one. For that, this one is glad." Kenshin answered her.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru said quietly.
"Hai Kaoru-dono?"
"W-will you be staying here? With all of us now, or will you be continue to wander?"
"Over the last six months that this one has stayed at the Kamiya dojo, here has become this one's home. Sano, Yahiko, Megumi-dono, Gensai-sensei, Ayame and Suzame and you have become my friends," Kenshin said, looking back at Kaoru, holding out his hand. "My family." Kenshin said when Kaoru took his hand.
They stood there for a long time, looking up into the sky at the stars, talking quietly, both them at peace. They had walked home, still holding hands, Kenshin's slightly bigger one, the calluses on his palms protectively holding Kaoru's, the long slender fingers that where also callused, just as strong and just as protectively holding on to Kenshin's own hand.
"Kaoru?" Kenshin said quietly.
"Hm?" Kaoru said, slowly opening her eyes.
"It was a happy one? A happy vision?"
"Hai. They were standing right here. Kaoru asked if Kenshin would stay or continue wandering, I guess that is how they met, while Kenshin was a wanderer. Kenshin said that he wouldn't leave. That this was his home now. Where his friends and family were. They stood on this bridge just as we are now, walked home just as we do usually, walking hand in hand." Kaoru said against Kenshin chest as he pulled her into his embrace.
:---:
"Where's Kenshin, Kaoru?" Megumi asked as the sat down in the cafeteria for dinner Monday night.
"Their coach is having extra practices all week. He'll be there until 8 o'clock every night this week." Kaoru answered her.
"The match is on Saturday right?" Sano asked, coming to join them.
"Yeah. It starts at 9. Kenshin thinks his first match will be around 10." Kaoru said.
"What time are you going down to the hall?" Misao asked.
"I'll probably go down with Kenshin. He has to be there at 8." Kaoru said.
"Are they going to do well?" Misao asked.
"They seem to be doing well. Kenshin was helping out with the extra practice, so I stopped by to watch a few minutes on my way here. They have quite a few strong members. Kenshin's doing really well and is probably one of the best on the team. He won't say that though."
"It sounds like they have it all together. Do you know who Kenshin is up against first?" Yahiko asked, joining the group.
"No, he won't know until Saturday."
"That's to bad, he'd be able to study his opponents better that way." Sano said.
"They've been watching video footage on the teams though. That's what he fell asleep watching last night. He's been helping Nakai Mugen with the Stats of the team too. He says the teams seem pretty well matched."
"Capt. Nakai is graduating this year isn't he? Is he training Kenshin for his spot?" Yahiko asked.
"Kenshin doesn't know. Nakai hasn't said anything to Kenshin specifically. It certainly seems that's the case though. As a junior he would be eligible for the spot. Nakai has said Kenshin's skill on the floor, as well as behind the scenes would get him a prominent spot on the team, that was at the beginning of last semester, or maybe even last year, I can't remember now." Kaoru said.
"It sounds like Kenshin has good standing with Captain Nakai and I've heard Coach say good things as well." Sano said.
"How's Aoshi doing Misao?" Kaoru said. "I didn't see him at the practice, but he's not here either."
"Meditating. He was at practice, but when the extra practice starts he wanted to meditate." Misao answers.
"Doesn't he do that plenty normally?" Sano asked.
"Every morning, yes, but during these stressful times it keeps him centered. He's able to center his full being on his strength, moves, and his opponents. He's sitting there looking over each stat sheet in his head, memorizing attacks, weaknesses, strengths." Misao answered.
"Meaning, he actually has a plan before he goes into action, unlike you Rooster-head." Megumi said to Sano.
:---:
"Kenshin!"
Kenshin glanced over his shoulder to see Hiko standing on the side of the mat. He rolled his eyes and turned back to the freshman he was talking to. "Keep up the good work, you've almost got that new move down, you should be able to get it by Saturday. Why don't you practice a bit longer, I need to talk to him a few minutes, then I'll help you a bit more okay? Practice the swing and grip." Kenshin said, turning and walking to where Hiko was standing.
"Yes Hiko? How may I help you now?"
"Are you ready for the match on Saturday?" Hiko asked. He had been watching Kenshin while he had been helping the younger boy, he had gotten better, and was a good teacher, Nakai had the right idea of suggesting Kenshin for the Captain position after he graduated.
"Yes. I feel pretty confident about it. I've been watching video coverage of their other matches as well as looking at the statistics sheets. Will you be attending the match?"
"I will be. But there is something I'd like to talk about with you. Is there someplace to talk privately?"
"Yes, this way." Kenshin said, walking past Hiko to the locker room. The room was empty now, either the team was still in the hall practicing, or had gone home long ago. "What is it Hiko?" Kenshin asked when the door had closed.
"I have never told you the story behind the Hiten Mitsurugi. With Kaoru's reoccurring dreams, there have been some things that have, caught my attention, jogged my memory."
"Like what?" Kenshin asked. Since his parents had died when Kenshin was three, he had lived with Hiko, his father's best friend since grade school, the only relative the Himura family had had. It hadn't been too long after he had started living with Hiko, that Kenshin had his first memories of learning the sword technique.
"It's true that my one ancestor knew the Hiten Mitsurugi, but I have always told you he didn't have a student, but he did. A student much like yourself." Hiko said, sitting down on one the benches.
"What do you mean?" Kenshin asked, standing where he was.
"His name was Himura Kenshin."
"The Battousai, Himura Kenshin was your ancestor's student?"
"Yes, Kenshin was taught the final mastery techniques, but the technique was never passed down because Kenshin did not want to pass the technique on, even to his own son. After Kenshin was done with his Hitokiri days, he wanted to atone for the wrongs he had made and the people he had killed. Not passing the Hiten Mitsurugi down to an apprentice, was one way he did this."
"So Kenshin was the last student of the Hiten Mitsurugi?"
"Yes. My ancestor, Hiko the 13th master did not take another student. He had tried to dissuade Kenshin from going off to war, but could not. Hiko partly blamed himself for the hurt Battousai caused during the war."
"Do you know anything else?"
"No. When you picked the Bokken up about 6 months after you started living with me and started doing the strokes and slashes of the sword, I had no idea where you picked it up. Your father hadn't picked up a sword since college when he and I where on the Kendo team. I was the same."
"What are you saying?"
"Maybe Kaoru's dreams aren't so far from the truth. I wanted to tell you this not to dissuade you from continuing. Continue, you have a great skill that you should use. I wanted to tell you this so you wouldn't see it from somewhere or someone else. Find the truth, and you might find that piece you've always felt was missing." Hiko said standing up. "Maybe you share something with my ancestor's student."