Disclaimer: I do not own either "Yu-Gi-Oh!" or "Rurouni Kenshin."

A/N: I probably didn't get all the facts right about the Bakumatsu (sorry!) and I'm changing when things happened in Kenshin's life. I know it's wrong, but he just couldn't be eighteen for my story!

Chapter 20

Yugi, Ryou, Tea. Tristan, and Joey all walked to Yugi's house together after school. Yugi led them in the back and they heard two people talking in another room--well, arguing, really.

"Kenshin! What are you doing?!" Grandpa's voice could be heard from another room.

"Oro? I was thirsty so I was on my way to the Kitchen to get some water," Kenshin's voice was a bit quieter.

"You should be resting! Why didn't you just call me? I could have gotten it for you. I don't want you to strain yourself." Grandpa had become over-protective of Kenshin since he'd been in the hospital two of the three weeks he'd known the Mutous. Grandpa was going to make sure Kenshin didn't over-exert himself this time.

"Grandpa, I'm fine. The doctor said it's okay for me to be walking around, and they wouldn't have released me if I still needed to be resting all the time. I'm fine!" Kenshin argued. Yugi smiled. Usually he was on the receiving end of Grandpa's over-protective tendencies.

"How many times did you tell me you were fine after you re-opened the wound on your side?" Grandpa countered. When Kenshin didn't answer, he continued. "And just because you're out of the hospital doesn't mean that you don't still need to rest," he admonished Kenshin.

"I haven't been allowed out of bed since Saturday!" Kenshin whined, "Surely that's enough resting time to allow a little bit of activity on my part?" Kenshin knew he was fighting a losing battle.

/./He's almost as bad as that evil nurse!/./ Battousai complained. He wasn't sure if coming home had been an improvement or not.

/He's just worried about us, that's all,/ Kenshin said, trying to carry on two conversations at once. Just then Yugi and everyone walked into the living room.

Kenshin saw Yugi and silently asked for his help. Yugi got an evil look in his eye. "Kenshin! What're you doing up? You should be resting!" Yugi said, repeating Grandpa's words from earlier. Kenshin shot a death glare at him. Yugi just laughed. It was then that Grandpa noticed everyone else in the room.

"Oh, hello, kids. What brings all of you here today?" he asked.

"We jus' wanted to come an' say hi to Kenshin, ya' know, welcome him back an' all," Joey explained. The others nodded their heads in agreement.

"Oh, alright, then I guess I'll leave you kids alone." He gave Kenshin a stern look. "Remember, you're supposed to be resting, Kenshin."

"Hai," Kenshin said, sighing.

Grandpa left, and everyone else sat down in the chairs and on the couch.

"So, Kenshin, how was your stay at the hospital? Did you have any cute nurses?" Tristan asked. Tea hit him on the back of the head.

"I haven't been allowed out of bed since Saturday. Five days, strict bed rest, with Kaiba as a roommate. I think hospitals were created as another way to torture people," Kenshin said, seriously.

"Whoa, Kaiba was your roommate?! And you couldn't leave to get away from him?! Man, you musta' had it bad!" Joey exclaimed.

Kenshin looked at Yugi as though he'd betrayed him. "And you! I couldn't believe you said that just now! You're supposed to be on my side!" Kenshin said, looking at Yugi disapprovingly.

Yugi grinned. "It's nice to see someone else on the receiving end of Grandpa's care sometimes," he said, still smiling.

"So you feed me to the wolves, huh? After what I've done for you, I don't understand your methods of paying me back. Yours or his," Kenshin said, shaking his head, referring to Yami taking Grandpa's side about Kenshin going to the hospital after Kenshin had pushed him out of the way of Bakura's attack.

Joey, Tristan and Tea looked at each other blankly. Ryou understood what Kenshin was talking about, and looked down, ashamed. Kenshin saw this, and decided to talk to him later. Yugi changed the to conversation to school.

"So, Kenshin, will you be back in school on Monday? I know Grandpa won't let you out of the house tomorrow--you'll be lucky if he lets you out of your room!" Yugi said, still smiling.

Kenshin glared at him again. "I hope to be back in school on Monday, if all goes well. Unfortunately, I suspect that I'll need your help convincing Grandpa. Whose side are you going to be on?" Kenshin asked. He didn't like relying on other people, and Yugi was proving to be very fickle.

Yugi laughed. "Don't worry, I'll help you," he assured Kenshin. "You haven't missed that much in school. We're still studying the Bakumatsu in history," Yugi said, watching for Kenshin's reaction. Kenshin kept his face expressionless. The others, however, were more than willing to share their feelings on the subject.

"It's so bogus that we have to study this. I mean, who cares what happened? Some peasants didn't like the government at the time, they started a rebellion, and in a stroke of luck, they won the battle. Big deal," Tristan said, in a bored tone.

It was then that Yugi got the reaction he was waiting for. Kenshin's eyes hardened as he looked at Tristan sharply. Tristan was a little surprised at the anger he saw there.

"The Bakumatsu wasn't fought just because the peasants didn't like the government. It was fought to create a new era where all people would be equal. Before the samurai were allowed to treat their servants and their servants' families however they wanted. They could even kill them and no one would say a word. The life of one person had no value unless he was born in a higher class. The Bakumatsu brought an end to that with the fall of the Tokugawa regime. You say it was a stroke of luck? There is a reason the Bakumatsu is called the bloodiest war in the history of Japan. The very streets of Kyoto ran red with blood. Countless people lost their lives fighting for what they believed in. Show a little respect," Kenshin said, never breaking eye contact with Tristan.

Everyone was stunned by his sudden outburst. "Wow," Tea managed to say, "You're really into history, aren't you?"

Kenshin realized the situation he had just gotten himself into. "Sorry, I'm just familiar with the events surrounding the Bakumatsu. I had a really good teacher who made it seem like I was really there. It was an important time in our history. You shouldn't make light of it," Kenshin hurriedly explained, hoping they believed him. They all seemed to accept that--Yugi more readily than the others. He couldn't wait to talk to Kenshin later.

/./Well, that was interesting. These people are really gullible, aren't they?/./

/Yes, and it's a good thing for us. I can't believe I lost it like that. Usually I'm more careful!/ Kenshin berated himself.

/./He should show a little more respect. There's a reason they have to study it, you know. It had a big impact on history. They might still be living under the Tokugawas if we had failed,/./ Battousai said.

Everyone seemed to notice Kenshin spacing out, so they decided it was time to leave. Kenshin noticed, and decided to make his move. He stood up with them and noticeably winced when he put weight on his right leg. "Ryou, my leg seems to have gotten a little stiff while I was sitting there. Could you please help me to my room? I think everyone else is probably going to the arcade with Yugi. Would you mind?" Kenshin asked, as Ryou started to follow everyone else out of the room.

Ryou stopped, a little nervous at being singled out. "Sure," he said, uncertainly. Kenshin put his arm around Ryou's shoulder and leaned on him as they walked up the stairs. Once they got to Kenshin's room, however, Kenshin took his arm off Ryou and closed the door behind them. Ryou was now more than a little afraid. Kenshin had singled him out, and gotten him alone in his room. He obviously had not needed any help and he was currently blocking the only exit.

Kenshin, sensing Ryou's growing fear, turned around and smiled at him reassuringly. "Don't worry, I'm not going to eat you. I just wanted to talk with you away from the others," Kenshin explained.

Ryou calmed down somewhat, but his eyes darted to the door that Kenshin was still blocking. Kenshin saw this and walked across the room to sit on his bed. "You can leave whenever you like. I do, however, hope that you will stay and talk for a few moments first," Kenshin said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. Ryou, feeling a little better now that he had an escape route, sat in the offered chair.

Guessing as what Kenshin wanted to talk about, Ryou decided to put Yugi's theory to the test. "I'm sorry I attacked you in the alley and at the park," he said.

Kenshin looked at him, as if deciphering something only he could see. Ryou squirmed a bit under the scrutiny. "It wasn't you who attacked me," Kenshin said, at last.

Ryou looked up. "What?"

"It wasn't you who attacked me. He used your body, but it was not you. And I'm guessing you have no memory of either event because I was not the one attacked in the park. That was aimed at Yugi. And at school after the first attack, you said you didn't remember what happened. At the time I could tell that what you said was only partially true. While you didn't remember, you had a pretty good idea if what had taken place. Am I correct in my assumption?" Kenshin asked, watching Ryou's reactions.

Ryou was stunned. Yugi was right, Kenshin could tell the difference between him and his yami.. Not only that, Kenshin could tell when he was lying too. "Y-yes, you are correct on both accounts," Ryou said, still staring at Kenshin with wide eyes.

Kenshin smiled at Ryou's reactions. "I just wanted to let you know that while your yami may cause more problems in the future, I will not hold you accountable for his actions. After all, you only have limited control over your yami," Kenshin said.

/./You're admitting you only have a limited control over me?/./ Battousai asked, all to innocently.

/I'll deal with you later. Right now, I'm trying to talk to Ryou. Can you please be quiet for once in my life?/ Kenshin asked, a little annoyed at being interrupted.

/./Touchy,/./ Battousai had to get in the last word before falling silent.

Ryou looked at Kenshin curiously. "I'm guessing that you have a yami as well as Yugi and myself. What's his name, if you don't mind my asking," Ryou inquired.

/./Don't you dare././

Kenshin smirked mentally. "I call him Battousai."

/./Why don't you just broadcast it to the entire world!/./ Battousai snapped, annoyed. Giving enemies any information was not his style.

/Well, if you insist.../

"Battousai? As in the Legendary Hitokiri Battousai? Wow, no wonder you know so much about the Bakumatsu--you have one of the prominent hitokiris living in your head!" Ryou said, in sudden understanding. Kenshin frowned.

/./Prominent hitokiri...? I think like this kid!/./

/Don't let it go to your head--you were only in control of my body half the time, remember?/ Kenshin reminded him before his ego got too big. Living with an arrogant Battousai was down right impossible.

"So, what's it like, living with a manslayer in your head?" Ryou's curiosity got the better of him. "Does he ever take over your body by force? And, do you remember what happened afterwards?"

Kenshin's eyes got a far away look in them as he recalled certain memories. "He used to, but he hasn't for awhile," Kenshin said after a minute. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Kenshin? Are you in there?" came Yugi's muffled voice.

"Hai, Yugi. You can come in, it's open," Kenshin replied.

Yugi walked in and saw Ryou. "Oh, I'm sorry, am I interrupting you guys?" He asked.

Kenshin shook his head. "No, we were just discussing Battousai," Kenshin explained. "Why don't you join us? You look like you have something you want to ask me," Kenshin said.

Yugi took a seat on the bed next to Kenshin. "Um, well, actually, it's about your past. You don't really have amnesia, do you?" Yugi said, deciding to be blunt.

Kenshin didn't look at all surprised by the question. He had been wondering how long it would take before Yugi figured it out. "No, Yugi, I do not," Kenshin confirmed. But Yugi wanted to know more.

"Well, where are your parents? Where did you live before? Where did you learn to fight like that?" Yugi asked, not giving Kenshin time to answer.

Kenshin held up his hands. "Easy, Yugi! One question at a time, please. Well, I suppose I might as well tell you about my past," Kenshin said, "I lived in a small village on the outskirts of Kyoto with my parents. We were farmers. When I was eight, my parents died of cholera. I, having no other family to claim me, was sold to a group of slave traders. I was with them for a year. I told you Yugi about the girl who gave me this?" Kenshin asked, holding up the Millennium Mask. Yugi nodded, not wanting to interrupt him. "She was among three girls that had been picked up by the traders a few days before the attack. We were walking late into the night when a group of bandits suddenly attacked. They killed everyone, slave and trader alike. Those three girls died trying to protect me. I remember being the only one left alive. One of the bandits stood over me, preparing to end my life. The next thing I know I wake up on the ground with the bodies of the bandits all around me. I still do not know exactly what transpired. I buried everyone. It took me three days to do it. Shortly after I had finished, a swordsman came up behind me. From the way he talked, it seems that he had happened upon the scene and saved me that night. He took me on as his apprentice, and I learned Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu from him on a mountain outside of Kyoto."

At this point, Yugi couldn't contain himself any longer. "Wait a minute, Kenshin, didn't anyone notice the massacre?" Yugi asked incredulously. Sure, there could be illegal slavery operations, and thieves, but no one noticed any missing persons? The police didn't even go investigate it?

Kenshin looked at him a little curiously. "Yugi, such things were commonplace back then," Kenshin said.

It took Yugi a minute to realize that Kenshin meant back before the Bakumatsu and not a years ago. "Wait a minute, Kenshin. Are you saying, you're from the past?"

/./Perhaps he's not as bright as I thought,/./ Battousai said.

/Apparently, they thought that you were they only one from the past,/ Kenshin replied. He turned his attention back to Yugi and Ryou. "Yes, I am from the past," he confirmed. Yugi and Ryou just stared at him. After all, how many people do you meet that practically come from your history book? /They still haven't realized exactly what that means. It'll probably take a few more minutes,/ Kenshin said, making conversation to the only one who was so stunned as to not be capable of speech.

/./What do you mean?/./ Battousai asked.

/Well, they know that you are Battousai the manslayer. And now they know that I was alive during that time period. How long will it take them to realize that I killed people during the Bakumatsu?/ Kenshin asked.

/./Don't know. Who do you think will realize it first?/./

/Well, it depends on whether or not Yami helps Yugi. I'm pretty sure that he knows about the power of the Mask, so he probably figured it out on Saturday. However, if he lets Yugi find out for himself, I think that Ryou will figure it out first,/ Kenshin replied.

As Kenshin predicted, Ryou was the first to realize who he was. His eyes widened as he looked at Kenshin, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Yugi beat him to it.

"How did you get here?"

"The Millennium Mask. It has the power to travel through time," Kenshin answered.

/./Sure, go ahead and tell them everything we know! Why don't you teach them how to read people's auras and their ki so next time Ryou's yami might actually beat us! Have you forgotten that he knows everything we tell Ryou?!/./ Battousai yelled, seething.

Kenshin winced as Battousai's voice tore through his brain. Ryou noticed. "Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes, Battousai doesn't like the amount of information I'm giving out, and he's yelling at me," Kenshin explained.

Both Yugi and Ryou winced in sympathy. They knew what that felt like.

/./Is there anything you're NOT going to tell them?!/./ Battousai was used to no one even knowing of his existence and now Kenshin is telling these two every single thing he did!

Kenshin looked at Yugi and Ryou a bit apologetically. "Would you excuse me for a moment?" he asked.

"Sure," they replied, a little uncertainly.

Kenshin looked forward, his eyes losing their focus as he turned his attention towards his yami.

/I don't see what the problem is,/ Kenshin began.

/./ The problem is the amount of information you CAN'T keep from those two! That's some very personal information you're giving out. The only other person who knows about your past is Hiko!/./

/Why do you care who I tell about my past?! It's my past and I don't see why it should bother!/ Kenshin was rapidly losing his patience with the hitokiri.

/./Because they can use it against you!/./ The truth was, Battousai was becoming a little jealous of Kenshin's new friends. He was used to being the only one that Kenshin could confide in, the only one that knew everything about him. Now, there were two more people he had to compete with. And one was a potential enemy.

/What are they gonna do, take hostages?! Everyone from my past is dead!/ Kenshin was yelling as loud as Battousai now.

Battousai saw an opening and took it. Kenshin was distracted, so Battousai easily took control of the body.

Yugi and Ryou, who were watching Kenshin, saw his eyes shift to amber. He glared at both of them.

"You shouldn't be so nosy. It isn't good for your health, if you know what I mean," he said, before relinquishing control to Kenshin.

Kenshin's eye's changed back to violet, but his expression didn't change. In one fluid movement, he ripped the necklace off and threw it to the head of his bed. He glared at it for a moment before turning his gaze to the white-haired boy. "Don't even think about it," he said in a voice as cold as Battousai's.

Yugi and Ryou looked at him, confused. "Don't even think about what?" Yugi asked.

"Who are you?" Kenshin asked, never taking his eyes off of Ryou. Ryou looked confused. "What do you mean, Kenshin? It's me, Ryou," he said, nervously.

Kenshin shook his head. "No, you're not Ryou. You are a spirit residing in the Millennium Ring. I ask again, who are you?" Kenshin repeated his question, his tone more commanding than before. Yugi looked at him surprised.

Bakura, who had take over when Kenshin removed the Mask, saw that he couldn't fool Kenshin, gave control back to Ryou who looked a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry about that," he said, "I can't control Bakura."

Kenshin smiled, his features softening. "It's not your fault. He thought he could get the Mask, since I took it off, if he pretended to be you. It's alright, nothing happened," Kenshin said.

Just then Grandpa came and knocked on the door, telling them it was time to go to bed. He said he'd drive Ryou home and Yugi went with him, leaving Kenshin alone with his thoughts and the Mask.