D/C: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Hello! I apologize for the long wait, but I've been busy writing some other stories and couldn't find time to work on this one…and let's not forget the fact that my teachers are drowning me in homework. Anyway, thank you all for your nice reviews…and without further ado; I present to you…Chapter 6! Enjoy!

Chapter 6: Realization

'What do you think of this one, Megumi?'

Kaoru raised the black skirt she had been examining in front of her, and looked questioningly up at Megumi, the all-time fashion expert. The later frowned at the skirt for a while until Kaoru started feeling irritable. Megumi then reached out and felt the fabric of the skirt with her fingers.

'Well…the fabric's really nice an' all, but…don't you think it's just too plain?' Megumi said.

Kaoru snatched the skirt away from her friend and held it tightly to her chest. 'Well, you're not expecting me to wear something flashy to work, are you?' she almost snapped.

'Oh,' Megumi said, comprehension dawning upon her face. 'It's for work then? I didn't know that! If I did, I would've said it was absolutely perfect! The right length, the right design, the…'

'Megumi,' Kaoru interrupted her. She wasn't I a mood that allowed her to listen to a full fashion commentary from Megumi. 'Thank you.'

Megumi smiled and leaned back against the wall, while Kaoru started looking through the other items in the boutique. 'So, where's Kenji?' she asked her, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.

'I left him at home with Kenshin,' Kaoru replied. She picked up a shirt, frowned at it and put it back in its place. 'Kenshin returned home early today, and offered to take care of Kenji while I went shopping…isn't he a darling?'

Come to think of it…Kenshin had been returning home early for the last three days. Kaoru quickly pushed that thought out of her mind. She assumed that the reason behind that was that they probably didn't have much work at their hands in the company nowadays. But that is not what's worrying me. Kenshin had been returning home with a clouded expression everyday and he'd been showing off a lot of characteristics she didn't know he had before. Like…when did Kenshin ever cuss?

Megumi pushed herself away from the wall and started looking through a clothes' rack. 'Do you think it's…safe to leave Kenshin alone with Kenji?' Megumi asked slowly, averting her eyes from Kaoru.

Kaoru scowled at her. 'What do you mean, safe?' she demanded.

Megumi sighed. 'Oh, come on, Kaoru, you know what I mean,' she said. 'You remember how he was like when we went to the club…you remember what he did to Sano…what if he, accidentally, went and did something to Kenji?'

'Megumi, how could you?' Kaoru said angrily. 'Do you honestly think Kenshin might do something to harm Kenji? That's completely absurd! Kenshin loves his son! He would never do anything if he knew it would hurt Kenji, and you know that!'

'Yes, yes, I know,' Megumi said quickly. 'I'm sorry.'

Huffing angrily, Kaoru turned back to her shopping. She was feeling a bit tense now, though. Megumi's words struck a cord. Could Kenshin really…? She shook her heard and stifled a nervous laugh. No, her Kenshin would never hurt Kenji. Still…

I wonder what they're doing at the moment….

-

'Wow! He did all that?'

Battousai smiled down at Kenji. He had been, at the boy's request, telling him stories about Battousai for the last hour, and he, Kenji, had been totally enchanted. Somehow, Battousai felt more pleased by Kenji's awe than he ever was pleased by the respects and admirations paid to him by other assassins long ago. They even were far more greater than the compliments the organization he was now working for, gave him.

'Yeah, he did,' Battousai said softly, reaching out to ruffle the boy's hair. 'He did all that and more…'

'He must've been really strong!' Kenji said with feverish excitement. 'I never heard of anyone who could take on ten men all by himself! That's only possible in video games! Tell me more, dad! More!'

Dad. Battousai simply felt happy when he heard Kenji say that word. When he had first met Kenji, he was absolutely sure he was going to hate the kid forever, but now…let's just say, he couldn't imagine a day passing without seeing him.

'Okay, kiddo, what else do you want to know?' he asked him.

Kenji thought for a moment. 'Did Battousai have any kids?' he finally asked.

'No,' Battousai murmured. Or rather, he wasn't given the chance to have any kids. His jaw tightened. Tomoe. 'No, he didn't have any amazing kids like you Kenji.'

Kenji looked upset. 'Wasn't he married?' he demanded. 'Didn't he have Mommy like you do?'

'He…he did,' Battousai said quietly. 'But…the bad guys came and killed his wife. She died.' Battousai felt his chest constrict at the memory. Tomoe…if only you hadn't…if only I didn't…if I had just kept my eyes open a second longer…

Kenji's voice drew him out of his thoughts. 'Battousai must have been so upset,' he said softly. He looked up at Battousai with shining eyes. 'Would you be upset if Mommy died? Would you miss her?'

'Yes,' Battousai said without thinking. 'Yes; I would miss her a lot.' And he meant it. He would really miss Kaoru if she were to die; she had become a part of his life now, and to lose her like he lost Tomoe…he didn't think he would be able to handle it.

Kenji sniffed. 'Me too,' he admitted.

'Kenji, do you know what Battousai was famous for?' he asked him, and Kenji shook his head. 'A scar…before his wife died, she gave him a scar.'

'A scar?' Kenji repeated; shocked by the idea.

'Yes; the scar was shaped like those crosses you see when you go to church, it was on his right cheek,' Battousai told him. 'When anyone used to see the scar, they would immediately know that it was Battousai…'

Kenji was looked absolutely astounded. 'Oh, wow, dad! You mean you and Battousai have the same scar?' he exclaimed.

Battousai frowned. 'Huh? Same scar?' he repeated. 'But, Kenji, I don't have a scar on my face.'

'Yes, you do!' Kenji insisted, bouncing up and down on the couch. 'It's right there; on your right cheek! Just like the real Battousai!' He pointed resolutely at Battousai's cheek.

It was now Battousai's turn to be shocked. I have a scar on my right cheek? Without another word, he got up to his feet and darted towards the bathroom. He threw the door open and walked in. He took a deep breath and stepped up before the mirror hanging above the sink. His jaw dropped at what he saw.

There, on his right cheek, a cross-shaped scar was starting to itch its way on his skin. Battousai raised a hand slowly to his cheek, and touched the newly formed scar. Before, he had thought it was some sort of illusion, but now he could feel the carvings in his skin…and it was no illusion. The question was; how? He was pretty sure he hadn't even been scratched on his missions, so how could he have possibly gotten this scar? Was it because it was because he was Battousai? That the scar was part of his identity, and it was taking over just as his spirit took over?

Whatever the reason was, Battousai was sure this scar was going to lead to a lot of awkward questions.

-

'Hello! I'm home!'

Kaoru shut the door closed and shrugged off her coat. She hung it on the wooden peg next to the door and walked further into the house. She had cut her shopping trip short and headed back home, and earned herself a smug look from Megumi. Even though Kaoru tried to tell her that the reason she was going home wasn't what the later had in mind, but Megumi just wouldn't buy it.

'Admit it, you're worried about Kenji,' Megumi had said.

Even though she had said no, Kaoru knew that was a perfect lie, because, ashamed as she was to admit it, she was worried about Kenji. Megumi had been right; what if Kenshin lost his temper on Kenji and managed to hurt him somehow?

'Kenji!' she called as she walked into the living room. No one was there. Her jaw tightened. She heard a sound from the bedroom and hurried to it. She threw the door open. 'Kenji, what…?'

Her words died in her throat as she saw the object in her son's hands. Kenji was sitting on the king-size bed holding a long, unsheathed sword. To Kaoru, it looked more or less like the sword they had seen at the museum. Battousai's sword. She uttered a sharp gasp, and that's when Kenji looked up.

Kenji grinned. 'Mommy! Look at Daddy's sword!' he exclaimed. 'It's just like the one which belonged to Battousai…isn't that cool?'

Kaoru managed to find her voice. 'Kenji, put that sword down,' she said quietly. 'You could get hurt.'

'No! I like it! I want to be like Battousai!' Kenji protested.

Kaoru tried to remain calm. 'Kenji, haven't I told you never to play with knives?' she chastised him gently. 'Haven't I told you that you could cut yourself with a knife and then you'd bleed?'

'Yes…' Kenji mumbled.

At that moment, Kenshin came into the room. He reached out to hold Kaoru. 'I thought I heard you…' he said, and his voice trailed off as he saw the sword in Kenji's hand. 'Kenji! Put that sword down!'

'No!' Kenji cried, his resolution strengthened by his father's anger. 'I won't! I won't!'

'Kenji!' Kenshin said angrily. 'Give me that sword…now!'

Kenji started to cry. Kaoru sighed and moved in front of Kenshin. 'Let me handle this,' she muttered. She knelt down next tot the bed. 'Kenji, sweetie, this sword could cut your fingers…it could really hurt you,' she said softly. 'I don't want you to get hurt, Kenji…now be a good boy and give that sword to me, okay?'

Slowly, almost hesitantly, Kenji handed the sword to his mom. Kaoru sighed in relief. She grabbed the sheath and slid the sword back into it. Then she kissed Kenji on his forehead.

'Thank you, sweetheart,' she said. 'Now run along to your room, okay? I just want to have a little chat with Daddy, alright?'

'Okay,' Kenji agreed. He slid off the bed and hurried out of the room. Kaoru closed the door after him and turned around to face her husband.

'Kaoru…' Kenshin started.

'Where did you get this from, Kenshin?' she cut him off. 'Where did you get Battousai's sword from?'

Kenshin looked away from her. 'I got it from the museum,' he murmured.

'Allow me to rephrase your sentence, Kenshin, please,' she snapped. 'You actually stole it from the museum!'

'No! I didn't steal it!' Kenshin disagreed. 'This sword is mine; it rightfully belongs to me. I just went and reclaimed it from the museum.'

Kaoru laughed. 'Reclaimed it? Oh, for God's sake, Kenshin! Who do you think you are? Battousai?' she demanded. 'Are you crazy? And you even went to the extent of drawing a scar on you face, as well? What the hell is wrong with you?'

'Nothing's wrong with me, Kaoru,' Kenshin said calmly. 'I'm perfectly fine.'

'No, you're not!' Kaoru snapped. She felt close to tears now. 'I don't know who you are anymore! You've changed so much in the past few days; I've started to think that you're not even Kenshin!'

'You're right; I'm not Kenshin,' he told her, and she stared at him. 'Although I look like Kenshin and sound like Kenshin, but I am, in fact, not Kenshin…I am Battousai.'

'Okay, you're delirious,' Kaoru said, starting to back away from him. 'You are not Battousai, Kenshin, okay? You've just become really obsessed with him.'

Kenshin grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her close to him. 'Look at me, Kaoru…look at me!' he said sharply. Kaoru looked. 'Now…tell me, is it possible for Kenshin to change so quickly just because of a simple fascination with Battousai? And pray tell me; wasn't he obsessed with Battousai ages ago, so why pick now to suddenly want to be him?'

'I dunno…I guess it's because of the sword he saw at the museum,' she mumbled.

'Exactly, it's because of the sword,' he whispered. 'You see, Kaoru, I had been trapped in that sword for a very long time…I could only break free if someone were to hurt themselves with the blade of my sword, and when they did, I'd automatically move into their body…and Kenshin happened to cut himself on the sword that day…remember?'

Kenshin's eyes were gleaming now, and Kaoru was starting to feel frightened. She struggled in his grasp. 'You're insane!' she shrieked. 'Let go of me! Let go!'

Kenshin let her go. Kaoru flattened herself against the wall, her chest heaving up and down before her. 'I'm going to call the hospital, or the police…I don't know, but I'm calling some one,' she said, her voice shaking. Her expression softened. 'I don't want to do it, but it's for your own good, Kenshin…you need help.'

'No, Kaoru, I don't need help, I just need you to believe me,' Kenshin said softly. 'Please, Kaoru…think about what I had told you. Kenshin started to change after the trip to museum…it all makes sense.'

'No, it doesn't!' Kaoru cried. 'You are not Battousai! I must admit that the story you fabricated is incredible, but it's not possible! You can't trap souls inside swords, and you can't transfer souls from a sword to a person! Kenshin, you need help!'

'Stop calling me, Kenshin, damn it!' he snapped. 'I'm not that little wuss! I'm Battousai and you know it! Stop lying to yourself, Kaoru!'

Kaoru swallowed down a lump in her throat. 'Okay, suppose I believe that you're Battousai…if so, then where is Kenshin?' she asked.

Kenshin smiled and pointed to his head. 'He's still in there, struggling to regain control over his body,' he told her. 'Which is a total laugh if you ask me; Kenshin overthrowing Battousai…ha! As if!'

Kaoru's eyes welled with tears. 'Kenshin, please…stop,' she choked. 'Don't do this to yourself…don't do this to me; I can't take it.'

Kenshin scowled. 'Kaoru, you know, it will be a lot easier for both of us if you'd just believe what I'm saying,' he said irritably. He suddenly reached out for her hand, and before she could pull back, he had placed it on his scar. 'There…can you feel it? It's real…do you think I'd go and carve a scar into my face just because I want to be like Battousai? And even if I did, do you think it would've become a scar in a matter of just an hour?'

He was right; the scar felt absolutely real. Tears clouded her vision. 'No,' she whimpered.

'That's right,' he said. 'The scar is a part of Battousai…and today, it itched itself onto Kenshin's face; taking over Kenshin's body as I did…do you believe me now?'

Kaoru pulled her hand away. She shook her head; she didn't want to believe him; but somehow, it all made sense to her. 'No way…you can't be Battousai…you're Kenshin…Kenshin!'

Kenshin sighed wearily. 'Kaoru…' Kenshin started, reaching out to touch her.

'Don't touch me!' she shrieked, slapping his hand away. He looked hurt, but she didn't care. She pounded at his chest with her fists. 'Let him go…let Kenshin go! Get out of his body!'

Kenshin…or rather, Battousai now…smirked. 'No can do,' he tantalized her, grabbing hold of her wrists. 'I like my life…and I'm not about to give up on it. I have money, I have a wonderful kid…and I have an amazing wife…you, Kaoru…why would I want to give up on all of that, eh?'

Kaoru wrenched her hands from his grasp. 'I'm not your wife,' she hissed.

He chuckled. 'Well, you used to believe you are for the last few weeks…remember?' he said softly.

Kaoru cringed, as memories of what she and the supposed-Kenshin had done together. Her cheeks flushed with anger. 'You bastard…' she rasped.

Battousai frowned. 'Wow…you can quickly change your attitude, eh?' he said. 'First I'm your beloved husband who needs help…and then I'm this bastard who needs to be done through…right?'

'Let Kenshin go!' Kaoru screamed. 'You have no right to take over his body like that! It doesn't belong to you!'

'No,' Battousai snapped. 'You see, Kaoru…it's not a matter of rights anymore…it's not a matter of who this body belongs to; I could've taken any other body had I gotten the chance…it's a matter of what I want and what I need…and I need a vessel…and Kenshin happened to be the lucky winner…'

-

Kenji curled up into a tight ball beneath his sheets, and wrapped his arms around himself. He wasn't feeling cold…he was just feeling scared…

Mommy and Daddy are fighting again…and it's all because of me…if I didn't play with Daddy's sword, then this wouldn't have happened…

He cringed at every shout and yell that carried over from his parents' bedroom to his room. He didn't like it when they screamed at each other; it made him feel extremely tense. And scared. He wanted them to stop screaming.

Stop it! Stop it! Don't fight! Please!

But they wouldn't stop. His mother continued to shout and scream at his father. Kenji loved his father…and he loved his mother, too. He didn't know whom he should side with.

Unable to do anything…Kenji started to cry.

-

A/N: AWW! Poor Kenji, eh? And finally Kaoru finds out that Kenshin is not Kenshin anymore! You were all waiting for that, weren't you? Sorry this chapter was a bit shorter than usual, but this is all I could come up with. Hope you liked it just the same, coz I'm expecting reviews, okay? Wait for the next chappie!

- S. N. B.