Disclaimer: I don't own RK
AN: Hey sorry for taking so long to update. I've been working on my other story and I had a lot of homework.
'Thoughts'
"talking"
XXXXXX-time/scene change
Last chapter:
"Well…there are these weird claw-like wounds on his shoulder and back, as if they were created by a bear or animal of that sort. He also has many burns and smaller cuts and bruises all over his body."
"Where's Kenshin?" asked Yahiko.
"He went to his room," said Megumi.
"Again. He's been in there all day," said Kaoru with a frown on his face. "Did he tell you anything else?" asked Kaoru worriedly.
Megumi told them what Kenshin had told her and then left with Sano accompanying her. Kaoru and Yahiko decided to start on their lessons for the day. Each with thoughts as too what was going to happen in the days to come.
Chapter 3:
Kenshin woke up the next morning to a knock on his door. "Kenshin, breakfast is ready," came Kaoru's hesitant voice through the door. "I'll be out in a minute," Kenshin said so softly, that Kaoru thought she had imagined his answer. "Alright," she said walking back to the dining room.
Kenshin's mind was now completely that of the 17 year old. He didn't even remember that he was supposed to be 28. It was buried so far in the back of his mind that it felt as if he was somehow transported into the future and memories were implanted into his mind. He felt that he was supposed to be in the Bakumatsu and that he didn't belong here.
Kenshin ran his hand through his fiery red hair and got up and changed. He pulled his hair into a high ponytail and slipped his sakabatou into his belt. He was slightly surprised not to find a wakizashi lying next to his sword, but quickly brushed it off and headed into the hallway. As he walked toward the hallway, he checked his surroundings out of habit. There were only three others here. Kaoru, Yahiko, and it turns out, Sano had already shown up too.
As Kenshin walked into the dining room, the three about to start were slightly surprised to see Kenshin. Not only was he in his Ishin uniform and his hair in a high ponytail like the other day, but he also had the armguards that swordsmen normally wore and his eyes were a dull amber color. The three of them just stared at him as he sat down at the table. All three of them had woken up that morning hoping that the day before was just a dream, but seeing the youth sitting here in front of them quickly dashed those hopes aside. Kenshin kept his head down and when everyone seemed to stop staring at him, he picked up his bowl to eat.
As he began to eat, he nearly gagged on his food in surprise. His eyes watered as he forced himself to swallow the food in his mouth. Knowing that it was cooked by Kaoru, he was ready for the onslaught of bitter and burned ingredients on his tongue that usually came with the rice and soup, but he was not expecting to taste the metallic taste of …blood.
"…Kenshin are you okay?" asked Kaoru. She touched his arm when he didn't respond, and immediately regretted doing that. He flinched even more violently than the day before and his head snapped up uncovering his suddenly raging amber eyes. His left hand had also gone straight to the sword sitting beside him. His intense gaze was directed straight into Kaoru's sapphire blue eyes, but they were instantly lowered when Kenshin realized that he was causing Kaoru discomfort with his eyes.
"It's nothing," he said in a monotone and continued to eat as if nothing had happened. The other three followed suit and before they knew it, Kenshin had finished and gotten up. He gave a stiff bow and left the room. The three seemed to let out a sigh when Kenshin had left and all looked at each other.
"Is it just me, or are Kenshin's eyes creepy?" asked Sano as a shudder ran down his back just thinking about them.
"They are, especially when they are looking directly at you," nodded Kaoru.
"So, what are we going to do about this?" asked Yahiko. "I mean, we need to find out how to change him back don't we?"
"Yeah, but in the mean time I think we should just try to act normally around here. I don't want Kenshin to feel that we are treating him differently because of this. He might feel like we are treating him like a stranger or something," said Kaoru.
"Yeah I guess you're right Jou-chan," said Sano.
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About an hour later, Kaoru was found walking towards Kenshin's room. As she reached his door, she lightly knocked on his door and a soft "come in" was heard. She slid the shoji open and found Kenshin sitting next to his window fingering a top in his hands. He was staring out of the window with an expressionless look on his face.
"Uhh…Kenshin I was going to go to the market to buy some groceries and I was wondering if you wanted to come with me," said Kaoru. Kenshin continued to stare out the window.
"…no, I think I'll just stay here," he said slowly.
"Oh, well okay," she said a bit disappointed that he had refused to join her. "I'll be back in a while then."
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Later that evening, Kaoru came home to find Kenshin sitting on the porch with the same faraway look on his face. She walked up to him and he seemed to snap out of his thoughts. He looked up. "Hi Kenshin, where's Yahiko?" said Kaoru.
"He went to the Akabeko. He said that he had promised to work this evening," replied Kenshin.
"Oh alright," she said and left to put the groceries away. A few minutes later, she returned to Kenshin and sat down next to him. "So…how was your day Kenshin?" asked Kaoru trying to start a conversation with the youth.
"Fine," he answered.
"Did you do anything fun while I was gone?"
"No"
"Anything interesting?"
"…No…"
"Did Yahiko say when he would be back?"
"No."
"You wanna do something fun tomorrow?"
"Sure."
"Do you always have to answer with one word?" asked Kaoru as she started to become agitated. "I'm trying to start a conversation here."
"Sorry," mumbled Kenshin. "Not really used to talking a lot. During the Revolution, most people avoided me."
Kaoru's eyes changed from a look of agitation to a look of sympathy and regret for getting mad in the first place. Suddenly, Kenshin stiffened and reached for his sword. "Kenshin, what's wrong?" asked Kaoru. Before she knew what was happening, Kenshin's hand was in front of her face holding a kunai that was thrown at her. His hands began to drip with blood from catching the blade with his bare hands, but as Kaoru looked at his face, she saw that his face was set in concentration, searching out the person that had thrown the kunai. Kenshin lowered his hand and dropped the blade to the ground. His eyes were blazing amber as they darted around the yard.
Kenshin couldn't sense the person. Well, he could but it seemed to be coming from everywhere at the same time and it was becoming frustrating. Just when he thought he found him, it would change to two separate positions at the same time. Finally, he decided to go for the direct approach. "Show yourself. I know you are out there," said Kenshin in a deep demanding voice.
Laughing was heard echoing around the yard. "What's wrong Battosai? Can't find me yourself?"
"Shut up and come out, you coward!" demanded Kenshin. His voice had surprised Kaoru. Whenever she had spoken to him before, he was always all quiet and soft spoken. Now his voice was deep and intimidating. She glanced up at his eyes and a shudder ran down her back. His amber eyes were scanning the yard and they were filled with an irate fire.
"There's no need for me to come out yet. You will meet me soon enough. Just be patient Battousai," taunted the voice.
"What do you want from me?" he asked quietly.
"What do I want from you? I want for you to suffer! Suffer for everything that you have ever done in your sorry life!" yelled the voice.
"Then leave my friends alone! It's me you want, leave them out of it."
"Sorry, I can't do that. Be on guard Battousai, or else one of your friends may end up hurt and maybe even dead. You never know when I will make my next move. It can be later tonight, or maybe next week, or maybe even next month. You'll just have to wait and see," sneered the voice as it began to fade and his ki disappeared altogether.
"Dammit!" cursed Kenshin under his breath as he turned around and relaxed his tense muscles somewhat. He looked over at Kaoru and she had a look of fear and shock written on her face. He briskly walked up to her and touched her shoulder. "You alright?" he asked his eyes softening a little bit.
"Y-yes," she stuttered. They stood in silence for a few seconds until Kaoru finally seemed to snap back into reality and said, "Thank you. Kenshin you saved my life again... Let me see your hand."
Kenshin kept his hand down and bowed his head so that his eyes were covered by his long bangs. "The only reason you were in danger in the first place was because of me. If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have needed to be saved," he said.
"Kenshin, stop blaming yourself for everything and let me see your hand!" she scolded as her earlier frustration and agitation returned. She winced as she inspected his cut hand. It was bleeding profusely and looked very painful yet Kenshin didn't seem to show any pain in his eyes at all. Kaoru pulled Kenshin towards the living room and grabbed a first aid kit. She ordered him to sit and began wiping up the wound with alcohol.
"We'll get Megumi to clean it up properly in the morning," said Kaoru as she gently wrapped the bandages around his hand slowly. Kaoru smiled as she finished and began to put her supplies away. "Thank you," said Kenshin in a soft voice yet again. She turned to him and gave him a great big smile that reached all the way to her eyes. "No problem! I'm just happy that I can help in some way," she said cheerfully. "Besides, you got that cut because you were saving me from that kunai."
Her eyes turned serious. "So do you have any idea who that guy was?" she asked. Kenshin shook his head and looked at his hands that were in his lap.
"What exactly did that guy do? I mean you seemed be having a hard time locating him."
"I...don't really know. It was wierd. I mean I could sense his presence, but he seemed to be...manipulating his ki all over the yard at the same time," he answered.
Just then, Yahiko came in. "Hey you guys, what's going on?" he asked totally oblivious of what had happened until he saw Kenshin's bandaged hand. It was already beginning to be soaked in blood again. "What happened?" he asked.
"We had a guest earlier, but he left. Don't worry about it," said Kenshin as he got up and headed toward the door. "Good night," he said as he left the confused boy with Kaoru and headed to his room.
AN: well theres the next chapter. I'm hoping it turned out okay. Review and tell me what you think and for those of you who read my other story "Best Friends Forever?" and haven't told me yet, tell me which story you like better in your review. I want to know what kind of stories to write in the future.
