Disclaimer, same as always, Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only and can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I'm sensitive. For all other comments you may contact me through this website or my own.
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Part I: Phantoms & Reality
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/ August 9th (1879), The first year after Enishi's Jinchuu (And approximately four years ago . . . ) /
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Chapter Two
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Kaoru started, coming awake in a drowsy second as she tried to shake the remnants of her drug-induced slumber. Remembering all afternoon as well as Dr. Genzai's words, echoing now like a distant warning she used to fuel her movements.
He had left, she knew, without looking or trying, she knew. He had been so damn smart, she thought, rolling to her feet with only a bit of grimace as her bruised back protested the movement.
Finding the closest, robe, yukata whatever the hell it was, she couldn't see and putting it on. Snatching up whatever obi she'd left laying around and running out with it; beginning to tie it at the front door, where she switched sandals. Impatiently kicking some of the others out of her way as she raced to the gate, opening it with one hand as she tried to knot the obi one handed before using both and then opening the door.
Blindly running out in what might be the likeliest way, figuring there were only so many places he would have gone before she headed towards the river at top speed as she wondered how long she'd been asleep. Once again surprised and angered at his ingenious. He'd had to knock out the whole household, of course, but he'd done what he'd meant to do. He'd gotten her out of the way so he could leave unhindered. Good-for-nothing-baka rurouni, oh how she was going to scream when she found him she thought, coming to a stop at the desolate stump by the river with Kenshin, nowhere near in sight.
I am going to kill you, she thought, looking around for a second before she figured Tae's or the police station were the only other two places he would have gone . . . Besides Yokohama that is, but she wasn't going to start stressing about that until both of her other places turned up empty.
Which they better not, she thought, running at top speed as worry began to get the better of her. Wondering where in the hell, he could have gone, at a time like this. What business could he possibly have at this hour, she fumed, tripping suddenly over a loose rock and landing messily on her face.
Great, she thought, carefully getting up from her tumble and blowing on her smarting hands before touching a gash beneath her chin. That's just great, she thought, looking around for her stupid sandal before spotting it a few feet back.
Oh, but he's going to pay for this, she thought, beginning her jog into town a little slower as she maneuvered through some dim spots, disappointed soon enough when Tae's came up rurouni free.
Wondering once again, where, could he have gone—when it occurred to her, that maybe, if Kenshin had missed him enough . . . Maybe, he might have gone to Sano's house. It was unlikely but likelier than the police station, she thought, heading in that direction despite knowing it was in the rougher part of town.
Convinced that Kenshin had no need to be at the police station. Why would he, she asked herself, he'd caught the men who'd almost . . . who'd hit her, she hedged, still refusing to look back on her attack with any kind of real clarity.
He has to be there she told herself, he has to. He wouldn't have left again, he couldn't have, she repeated, over and over again like a mantra; willing that to be the case as she let out a shuddering breath, weaving through narrower streets as the watchman's bell rang in the distance, eyes going wide as up ahead, a shadowed figure swooped from the roof tops and down on Kenshin.
Slivers of mental, clashing bright . . . as it began to rain and pour, flashes of lightened split the sky, the roar of thunder breaking her out of her thoughts as she began to run. Calling for Kenshin who was still too far to hear . . . But as he moved, evading his assailant's blade with ease, the unknown man pulled back his hand, tugging back a chain, she had not seen connected his blades.
Trapping Kenshin, she realized as he jumped away from his blade, pulling the chain with him as Kaoru screamed for him to stop, still some distance away but not completely unheard . . .
As they turned to look at her, faces pale and marred by the wash of rain, Kaoru caught her breath, numb as she realized, this was just as he'd described . . . So much like before he would confuse Kenshin, she thought, beginning to move again when something glinted through the air, the whispers of an object coming to her too late. As the hilted end of the blade hit her on the side of the head, Kaoru felt pain like shock, reverberate along her skull; knocking her down to the ground, with a sickening thud. And for a heart-stopping minute loosing touch of her sight, as water pelted down on her . . .
She could hear the distant clinging of metal, the swoosh of a blade and cutting through iron, as she blinked trying to get her vision to fully focus, the image of Kenshin began to clear—
watching him as he allowed himself to get caught; breath seeming to catch as the chain around him tightened. His sakabatou switching hands as the other hitokiri jumped off the rooftop blade up high and with the intent to kill . . . when Kenshin's blade cut through the air, as she sat up awash in a sudden rain of blood as he fell to his knees. Breath ragged and course, as blood from a wound on the side of head ran along his throat. He slowly began to come to as he realized . . . She had seen him . . .
And she knew. If she didn't sooth him, if she didn't try to reason why he'd had to this, he'd loose himself completely.
As he began to rise, unbidden tears brimmed her eyes. "You can't leave me," she told him. "I know who you are." I know and I should care but I don't, she thought, as his blade clattered to the ground deep golden like eyes began to narrow.
"Kaoru . . ."
He had killed. He had killed. He had killed. He had killed, her mind screamed, as he shook his head, Kaoru moved forward. "Please," it wasn't your fault, she almost said, as she watched him, slowly shake his head, eyes narrowing like he seemed to be trying to focus, Kaoru moved to hug him, embracing him as he lost his footing.
"Something . . ." he murmured. "Something in my drink." He trailed off, eyes closing beneath his bangs as the rain around them, refused to stop.
And what could Kaoru do but cling to him and cry, unable to help the trembling along her limbs, as the rest of her grew numb.
It was dark and cold, and they were so very alone she thought as she shielded his face from the pelting rain. Tears lost to the dizzying spell, she tried to hold at bay—as a shadow emerged from not too far off.
"Kamiya-san . . ."
"Chief Uramura," she exclaimed, holding Kenshin close to her breast he as ran to her.
"What happened?"
"Someone tried to kill Kenshin," she murmured, watching as two more men followed him close behind.
"Fugita-sama sent me to fetch him," he told her. "He must have known this would happen, he must have tried to warn him," he told her, eyes going wide as he noticed the other hitokiri some feet away.
"It was self-defense," she exclaimed, grabbing him by the arm until he looked at her. "Kenshin would never hurt anybody. You know that. Saitou can clear this up," she insisted. "He can testify."
"It's all right Kamiya-san. I know." He soothed, motioning for one of the other officers to come close. "You need to help me carry him home." He commanded. "Seki . . ." he glanced back to say, "You need to wait here till we come back—we'll get Himura-dono's statement when he wakes up," he told her, helping her stand as the other officer took Kenshin from her.
"Please be careful," she called as the other officer carried him away—Uramura tugged on her arm, putting her off balance as the world around her began to spin.
"Kamiya-san, are you all right?" he asked.
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/ As she succumbed to the ever present ache just behind her eyes . . . /
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"Kamiya-san! Kamiya-san!"
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/ The world faded from her sight. /
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It was hours before she calmed and even then, she suffered in sleep. Tossing and turning, as she seemed unable to find peace, clutching at the sheets so tightly, he wondered what she dreamt. And if at all, had anything to do with him—when she whimpered, he leaned forward to soothed her, laying his hand over her forehead as he slowly caressed her face, skimming ever briefly over the fleshy pout of her mouth as she silently sighed turning into the warmth he withdrew when she turned further into his hand.
He didn't want things to go as they once had. And that was reason enough to ignore her but . . . She'd seemed so content, as he'd touched her, so soft and warm . . . He shook his head, knowing he should at least make the effort and ignore this . . . Before it got out of hand.
"Kenshin . . ." / She dreamt. /
The soft almost wistful sound of her voice, setting of a kind of blankness over his features, as he refused to acknowledged what his heart had concluded from that one breath. Aware that even as he lingered over her sighs; he would have to decide how things remained between them.
The only problem, aside from his lingering doubts on the subdued rurouni personality, revolved around the oddity of his fragmented thoughts . . . Of memories, which since he'd woke up, had realized, were blurred over a lot of parts, most of them to do with the last few months. Nevertheless, either way, he was as he had always been. And that he remembered had cost him dearly, too much in fact for him to risk ever loosing her in the same way—not if he could keep her from meeting the same fate.
"Kenshin . . ."
He watched her, shifting ever closer in sleep as he shook his head, decidedly moving back before standing up and quietly leaving the room. Aware that while the rurouni had been drowned beneath his fear and guilt, all he harbored was a great regret for what'd happened. Still, it was this, most likely, which would forever keep them apart. No matter how wished otherwise—
Kenshin paused. Coming to a halt at the edge of the room as an unknown ki approached him. Weaving through the house with a familiarity, he-himself could not yet display, as he wondered who else might have woken from their drugged induced slumber, he began to tread the hall, silent as a shadow as the figure stepped into a bit of light cast from the outside.
"Oi! Isn't anybody home—" Sano murmured, as he paused to look around at the abandoned meals and cups, left previously by the others.
"What are you doing here?" Kenshin asked; voice deceptively low as he sensed movement from another room.
"Che!" He yelped, turning a startled look on Kenshin as he paused some distance away. "Fuck," he breathed, running a slightly trembling hand trough his hair before pointing out— "I've told to you not to do that, fuck." He swore, sighing deeply before trying to squint through the darkness. "What's up with you man? When did you get all silent on me?" He asked, covering his previous fright with a bit of aggression. "Where the fuck is everybody at?"
"Keep your voice down."
"Or what? Come on Kenshin, what the hell happened? Where's Jou-chan?"
And it was hard, he found, for pale eyes not to narrow then—"She's sleeping,"
"Oh?" The first stirring of amusement and Kenshin's hand unconsciously drew to the hilt of his blade, making the ex-gangster chuckle, as he noticed his hands. "What's wrong with you?" He asked. "Did something happen while I was gone?"
"No."
"Then why the scary face? You look like you've seen Saitou or something." Sano guessed, his own eyes beginning to narrow as he wondered what was up. "He hasn't been by here . . . Has he?"
"No."
Sigh—"Then what's wrong?"
"No-thing."
"Nothing, huh? Well then I'm just gonna see Jou-chan real quick, see if she'll lend me some money till I get back on my feet, ok."
"No."
"It won't even take a minute."
"I said, no."
And oh, he could sense Sano's comprehension; his eyes narrowed, as something dangerous shifted between them.
"What did you just say?"
Nothing at all, it seemed as for a second, as his features became unreadable, Kenshin dropped his hand and turned just seconds before Kaoru entered the room.
"Kenshin," she rasped, rubbing the back of her hand over her eyes as she tried to fully wake up. "Where . . ." she trailed off, as she caught sight of Sano.
"Sano," she exclaimed, "When did you get back? I thought you were going to be gone for months or something?"
"I was . . . but I kinda changed my mind." He lied as he took in all of her pale-ghost like features. He frowned. "Are you all right?" He asked, beginning to take a step towards her when Kenshin's arm seem to materialize around hers, gently grasping her by the hand before leading her a few feet back, quietly whispering something he couldn't quite make out before allowing her to turn.
"The extra futon is still in Yahiko's room, if you want to stay Sano. We'll see you tomorrow, kay."
"Sure. I guess, good night, then."
"Goodnight," she bid back, pulling on Kenshin's hand until he stopped and did him the same, murmuring—"Goodnight," in a voice like shards of glass—waiting semi-patiently for him to retreat before returning his attention towards her once more. "You should get to bed," he told her as he released her hand and stepped away, Kaoru's head tilted ever slightly. Eyes narrowed as she tried to detect what was wrong.
"I think I've had enough sleep for one day, don't you? That is unless you've found a different way to administer that damn tea Dr. Genzai gave you?"
"Kaoru," he sighed, slightly shaking his head before turning his back and leading her towards her room.
"What? Kenshin?" She gasped, surprised to hear her name without the honorific for a second before following. "Kenshin?"
"Aa," he murmured, taking a seat on the floor beside her futon as she hesitated underneath the doorway.
"Are you . . . all right? I mean with what happened, earlier?" She asked. Taking a seat beside him as dawn began to filter through the walls. "You don't . . . you're not going to leave, are you?"
"Kaoru . . ."
"Because you don't have to. It was self-defense and you couldn't see, there was blood in your eyes and he hit you. He would have killed you Kenshin. I - it was self-defense," she stressed. "You don't have to leave. You don't have to wonder off."
"I'm not going to."
"You're . . . What?"
"I don't think I will," he told her, watching her carefully as understanding, made her face pale even more. Her large blue eyes widening terribly before they began to fill with sudden tears, she tried to blink away.
"You're not . . . You're not him anymore." she insisted. "You're not him."
"I'm still me." He reasoned, as her hands fisted over her thighs. "I am who I've always been."
"But you're not—"
"—who you know," he interrupted. "But I'm still me. I'm not a stranger, I know who you are and that should be enough for you to want me . . . Here." He amended, as her eyes widened once more. "Kaoru if you're going to be uncomfortable. Then I'll go, this is you're home and—"
"Baka," she hissed, angrily wiping away at a few stray tears. "I never said . . . You can stay, of course. I don't want you go. This is where you belong."
"Then it settled." he told her, beginning to rise as she caught his hand.
"Wait," she halted, "Where are you going?"
"Outside, Saitou's on his way."
"But you're . . . You get angry and I—don't you think it's a bad idea, I mean should you be alone with him."
"I'm not going to kill him, if that's what you're asking, me."
"I didn't say that," she replied, still clutching at his hand as he looked down on her. "All I meant, I mean I'd feel better if I was there."
"Kaoru," he reasoned, bending down at eye level so he could speak to her. "This is between him and me. I don't need interference."
"Interference?" She echoed.
"Aa," he replied, brushing her bangs away from her face as her eyes widened. "Let go of my hand Kaoru. He's at the door."
"But . . ."
"I won't leave," he promised, gazing at her a moment longer as she released his hand.
"Don't let him make you angry."
"I won't," he promised, leaving the shoji open as he left the room. Wondering how long it would take her before she tried to sneak in on their conversation.
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It wasn't long or come as any kind of surprise, really, when he stepped out into the yard to find Saitou already seated on a back step, blowing a cloud of smoke as his ever-present smirk, chaffed against his nerves.
"What took you long?"
Ignoring him, Kenshin took a seat beside him. "What did you find out?"
"What, no hello? No thanks for the warning?"
"What did you find out?" Kenshin asked, as pale eyes followed the line of sun, Saitou shifted beside him.
"Well, aside from the fact that Kurama Kotetsu paid someone to . . . What's the word? Oh yes do away with you—nothing much really."
"Kurama?"
"Aa," he murmured, blowing a cloud smoke in his direction as Kenshin exhaled loudly. "He seemed to think, he owed you a favor. So like most of us," the Mibu smiled. "He seemed to think getting rid of your weakness was the best way to repay a debt. Wasn't that nice?"
"Is that all?"
"No . . ."
"Then what else," Kenshin asked, as the tension between them seemed to mount, Saitou only smiled, gripping his blade close by as Kenshin turned to look at him.
"Okada—that's who you killed," Saitou pointed out, "Had become a very busy bee." He mused. "He killed anybody you didn't seem to like as well as anyone near your woman."
"How?"
"What, you want details? Or you wanna see the bodies?"
Sighing, ever deeply in hopes of remaining calm, Kenshin responded with as simple, "No . . . Saitou. I want to know how he knew."
"—to kill everybody for you?" He guessed. "He was watching you. You're an idiot most of the time but I would have assumed, at some point, even you would have had to have felt him nearby."
And that was true—at some point, soon after waking from a nightmare or in between a small shifting in behavior, he had felt something close by but then the rurouni personality had been too strong for him to properly recall.
"Is it over?"
"I would assume so." Saitou said, rising from his place with only the flick of his cigar. "Everybody's dead and he did complete the agreement he had with Kurama, so . . ."
"Was he a Shinsen-gumi?"
"Are you implying something?"
"Aa," he replied, standing up as Saitou turned around. "How long have you know, who it was?"
A smile and rise in ki made Kenshin grip the hilt of his blade, "Not long Battousai. I only found out."
"You mean like three days ago?"
"I though you told Uramura you couldn't remember what'd happened." Saitou asked.
"That is not the discussion at hand." Kenshin growled. "You knew the other night, before Kaoru was attacked."
"I'd watch myself, if I were you." Saitou warned. "I'm not a liar and I won't hesitate to kill you, in front of your woman."
"Don't threatened me," Kenshin whispered, the edges of his hair fanning out with his rising ki. "Those days are over and you'd be dead before you're hand could reach that sword."
"Is that so?"
"Aa," he guaranteed. Watching him through narrowed golden eyes as the Mibu forced a smile.
"You're woman's coming."
"Then I suggest you leave."
"Oh? Don't tell me she doesn't like me." He taunted, smiling venomously, as Kenshin right hand fisted at his side.
"You've had your say, Saitou, now get out of here."
"Or what?"
"Saitou."
"I was just leaving anyways." He told him, narrow wolf like eyes honing in on Kaoru as she stepped out into the yard. "I hope you at least are thankful," he tossed, as he made his way to the gate. Kaoru's eyes like magnets on his back. "That good for nothing idiot would have never married you." He cajoled, throwing a hidden kunai at Kenshin as Kaoru gapped at him.
"I'll see you around Battousai."
And with that, he was gone, leaving Kaoru to nervously stare at Kenshin as he dropped the kunai aimed at his face, silently fuming, as despite his best efforts, he'd still gotten the best of him. Fucking Shinsen-gumi, he thought, as eyes like gold focused in on Kaoru.
"Didn't I tell you to go bed."
"What?"
Ok, so taking it out on her was not the best of ideas, he realized, as her ki spiked with murderous intent behind it, he blinked at her trembling form, perplexed to some extent by the fisting of her hands.
"You are not my father Kenshin."
"I didn't mean anything . . ."
"No, I know you never mean anything," she tossed back, looking like she would spit on him any moment now before turning around and stomping back inside. Loudly grumbling about stupid red headed man, as Kenshin wondered why he couldn't ever catch a fucking break.
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She was on her futon, getting ready to go back to bed when he walked inside, blood aflame as he watched her dark-blue eyes open to meet his—her anger, oh, so visible in the brightness of her ki. "I need my rest," she ground out. "I wouldn't want you to have to resort to the tea again."
"Why are you so angry?"
"Because you're an idiot," she said, astonished that he could even ask. "Now, Go Away." Echoes
"Kaoru."
"Goodnight," she snapped, throwing the covers over her head as he exhaled a silent breath. Knowing he should know better as he ripped the blanket off her.
"Kaoru."
"What the hell is your problem, Kenshin? I'm not going to be afraid of you just cause you're not the rurouni anymore, now let go of my blanket." She snapped, yanking it out of his slack hand as he just, gazed at her. Somewhere deeply amazed, as he was angered.
"You're acting like a child." He began, only to have Kaoru uncover her face, her pale features becoming bright with anger.
"What the hell, do you want?"
That was the question, wasn't it? Why had he followed her inside, when he knew, more than anyone else just how deep her temper ran?
"We have to talk."
"About what," she sighed, temper coming under control as he took a seat beside her.
"About what happened?"
"Oh," she squeaked, deflating immediately as he continued to gaze at her.
"I can't remember everything that happened?" He revealed, watching her expression as it varied from surprise to worry.
"You mean tonight?"
"No," he whispered, as Kaoru met his gaze. "I mean over the last couple of months but yes, especially tonight."
"So my attack?"
"No, I was there for that." He said, watching her bite her lip as she tried to recall, something other than the fright she still harbored from the memory of those men.
"You didn't kill them."
"No, you were crying and however much I wanted to, I had to get you away."
"Oh . . ." she murmured, glancing briefly down at his blade before turning away. "I'm sorry." She whispered, blinking tears back again as he wondered what she meant. "It's always because of me—"
"No," he cut off. "It's always because of me, because of my mistakes and my inability to protect . . ." What's mine, he thought, watching her as she frowned at him. Still too young to understand him but not for lack of trying—"I could have prevented your attacks. "
"By what? Killing them?"
"Kaoru," he chided, surprised she would even dare throw that in his face.
"Sorry," she apologized. "I just- I don't want you to ever feel like you need to regret anything to do with me."
Koishii, he thought, feeling a glimmer of warmth spread along his limbs at her tone of voice. "I don't regret anything to do with you," he carefully, said, watching her eyes fill with hope as his eyes paled ever slightly.
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Wow. Two whole chapters. That's a best I must say, considering I have summer school and a summer job. So, chapter two, of course is longer than chapter one. Like all chapters should be, this runs to twenty pages and is the real, beginning of the story.
Now, while this story is the continuation of Echoes, it can also stand alone, I will go through everything for those readers who have not—nor will ever read the prelude of this story. Like always, I will include the small notes, along with the occasional author's note.
A/N: Now like I previously said, this story begins four years from the day we left of. (I've added dates for your convenience, so no one should get lost.)
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Small Notes:
(Ch. 01) It's morning and after a night away . . . Kenshin wakes up to a totally different life. Time has passed, drastically it seems as four years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Shock, colors his thoughts as he realizes too many things in too short a time. The first of which, are Kaoru's state of dress and her sudden familiarity with him. Her reference and use of anata, setting alarms off in his head.
She's quick (You have to admit,) to realize that something's wrong with her beloved husband. Never did it occur to her that it might have been the return of the rurouni, which she hasn't seen for years. It's no wonder she collapses, though that alone, might not be the only reason.
Sano's sudden interruption, comes as a blessing as for Kaoru, who quickly takes advantage of the fact and runs away, evading Kenshin's question as he allows her a moment.
As Kaoru runs into the kitchen, not surprised to find Sano skulking around her pots and pans, he catches the distraught expression on her face, immediately asking her what was wrong.
But even as she reveals, what the problem is, he can't believe it until he hears it for himself. And then he knows, exactly what she meant, Kenshin has reverted like nobody ever though he would, Kaoru least of all.
Because it's harder for her of all, it's only natural that she cries at the sight of him; she has lost the love and security; it took Battousai time and effort to build. To have it stripped away beneath her feet, so suddenly would be reason enough for anyone to feel like sobbing and run away.
And as she does, both of the above, Kenshin and Sano can only stare after her in both confusion and sadness.
Because while Kenshin is confused, at the transpiring set of event as well as Kaoru's reactions, Sano knows what happened. And as he's the only one left, to give testimony. He will have tell Kenshin what happened.
He tells Kenshin so. When Kenshin retorts angrily, that he won't move until he's told what happened. It annoys Sano more than frightens or angers him—because the rurouni never hurt anyone, so really, what there to be afraid of right?
Once in the room, Kenshin is bombarded by one shocking piece of news right after the other. He's Battousai (Or was for more then four years until he woke up that morning.) He's married, once more and now, he also has children. It's no wonder he faints. Poor Kenshin.
It's even sadder, when he comes out into the kitchen and is confronted by the fact, that the one place he had, the one place he could call home, is no longer his own. He-himself (as the rurouni) isn't even wanted.
It reason enough to get angry, as he stands out in the yard, wondering how she could prefer him, prefer (Battousai), of all people over the rurouni who did practically everything. (But love her as she wanted, it will come around to be said, as you continue to read the story.)
Still Kenshin has an inkling on how she might have been won over and as such, goes inside to find her; she's the only one who could answer his questions after all.
He is ever more surprised to find that he, of all people, can in fact, get jealous, which makes you wonder, just how much of Battousai, can really be gone if he's seeing undercurrents in simple gestures.
So he calls to her, in a voice, which will appease, if not comfort her a little, as he bids her to follow. And as expected, she does follow, because there is always that bit of hope, he will reveal what happened to have made him revert to the rurouni.
The conversation does not go as hoped by either side. As Kaoru begins to answer the first of his questions, Takeshi runs in, telling on his younger brother who's stolen his toy while beneath care of certain dark haired rooster. Kenshin is surprised and even more astounded to find, an immediate wonder like love for the little rascal running amuck.
His thoughts are interrupted, as Kaoru voices her main worry, which as one can only guess, is her fear of him leaving, now most of all, when they've finally built a family of their own. It is a little cold on Kenshin's part to even consider leaving them but in the end, he relents, if only she will tell him what happened.
Which after a few choice words from Kaoru and growling on both parts— Kaoru somewhat appeased, to find her husband might not be completely gone, begins the story from the exact moment we left off.
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(Ch. 02), begins on Saturday, August 9th, on the first anniversary of Enishi's Jinchuu. Which, Kenshin had been having trouble with since he decided he need space, from Kaoru specifically whom he felt completely weakened by in many regards. Distancing himself ever more as the days went by until ten days before the anniversary of Enishi's Jinchuu— which is where the previous story (Echoes) begins.
Now, Kaoru wakes up in the middle off the night to realize, he had drugged all the food in order to insure one way or another, she would be resting when he left. Very underhanded of him she thinks, as she stumbles out of her futon and out the door, finding whatever she can and putting it on as she runs out blindly in search of her stupid rurouni. And still she can't help but be astounded by the detail he put into getting away.
It is in anger then, that she searches several places before deciding to run into the rougher part of town. Not exactly where she would expect to find him but he is close, as we all know, he left Toushi's (That's Sano Favorite bar) only moments before the watchman's bell tolled one o'clock
It begins to rain as Kaoru approaches and where she is soon frozen by the sight of an unknown hitokiri swooping down on her beloved Kenshin. She is amazed by his speed but pays it little thought as Kenshin becomes trapped by the other hitokiri's blades, which she soon finds out are connect to him by chains—like he once described when he told his story of how he met Tomoe when he was still known as the Hitokiri Battousai.
Now, we know Kurama Kotetsu spoke of Kenshin's past as if he knew what had happened. Knowing this we can safely assume, he knew how Kenshin met Tomoe and in his quest to help, Kenshin rid himself of his worst enemy, that being, the rurouni personality. He went to great lengths to find an hitokiri he could safely keep in town, watching him silently, and acting only when needed in order to draw Battousai out.
The re-enactment of The Rain of Blood, fits perfectly into his plans; slipping Kenshin a hallucinogen drug like opium into his drink before leaving, helping him along in other words, to further confuse him.
So when Kenshin fought, past and present blurred as one, acting on instincts he made have avoided a long time but which with the drugs help, were very clear and present at the time of the attack.
Kaoru's observation that it is because of her, that such things happen is not so far off, since it is the fear of loosing her, that which led Kenshin, knowing filtering Battousai's thoughts, to unthinkingly flip his blade and cut the other man in half. As he collapsed, breathe ragged and torn, he realizes at some point, and even though he'd thought her to be knocked out, Kaoru had awoken and watched him kill.
But even then, Kaoru is anything if not stubborn. And her love for him won't let her let him go, despite what he's done, or what he might be capable off. Kaoru's words halt him as she tells him, he can't leave her. "I know who you."
And that's enough; it seems to surprise Battousai for the time being, as his sword clatters to the floor, Kaoru practically runs to him. Because it becomes quiet apparent that something's wrong.
He tries to tell her what it is, when he soon falls victim to the drug, leaving Kaoru alone in the midst of pelting rain to cry over him and what happened.
Chief Uramura soon arrives though and it seems like all might not be lost. Saitou knew, somehow that Kenshin might be attacked and had sent him to fetch him. And though he arrives too late, it is declared Kenshin's not at fault. For one, Kaoru swears, two, everybody knows the rurouni would never do such a thing and third, probably the most important reason of all, Kenshin's problem (in lieu with the article and Kunii House Fire—see Echoes for reference) has been declared a government problem. That is anything that affects Kenshin, the Ishin Shishi's top hitokiri, affects the government. It is in their best interest then to make the problem go away. And as the government's watchdog, Saitou does indeed make sure it goes away. (He lets Battousai do away with, the only way he knew to rid himself of tangible evidence.)
The problem now is, with the drug he was exposed to and the blow he took the head (which is what eventually made him pass out), he can't remember things clearly. Or more specifically, has large gaps in his immediate memory. There are things he can't remember, beginning with tonight as he reveals to Kaoru in the privacy of her chambers.
A perfect moment for other truths to come out as well, as he reveals himself to have always been just below the surface—more often in the last few days, since she was attacked (reference Echoes, Ch. 09).
It is both touching and disturbing to see the extent to which he'd go and protect her but which she also reveals is quite unnecessary. She doesn't ever want him to anything that which he might regret.
And to which he answers, anything having to do with her, he could never regret, and even thought it's just in his thoughts. This is the first time (in this story) which he refers to her as his, 'koishii.'
Now I think everything else is or was quite self-explanatory. Saitou has revealed the reason for the attack and Uramura has reported Kenshin's lack of memory, everything else gathered has come from Kaoru's previous statement as well as what Saitou chose to reveal, so the case can be sealed.
This brings us to the ends of chapter two. Now if you have any further questions or inquiries let me know, just be sure to include your email address in the review so I can get back to you.
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Everybody else—thank you for reading. And please don't forget to review. All right. I'll see you all in the next chapter.