Reliving the Teens

Ch 2

Pt 1

Welcome back everyone! To those who reviewed THANK YOU SO MUCH! I cant believe so many people reviewed! Have fun with this chapter... and dont forget to review!

Kaoru kept a close watch on Kenshin the next few days, but he never woke up during that time, or moved much or spoke for that matter. Megumi continually returned to rebind Kenshin's wounds and monitor his fever.

On the third or fourth day Megumi shared the good news with the others. "His fever is breaking and his wounds are starting to heal so that means Ken-san should wake up soon."

"That's wonderful!" Kaoru exclaimed and ran to hug the doctor who laughed and patted her on the back. "That's very good news." Sano added.

Kenshin slowly drifted awake and opened his eyes. After blinking and stretching slightly, he realized that his surroundings weren't as familiar as they should have been.

'This isn't my room in the inn,' he thought, making an observation of everything in the room. Then he stiffly got to his feet and quietly walked to the door and opened it. 'The hallway isn't the same either.' Kenshin observed, and slid the door shut again. He looked down at himself and was relieved to see that he was wearing his same dark blue outfit

(His pink one was ruined in the battle and the blue one was his only spare). Then Kenshin touched the back of his head to find his hair in a low ponytail at the back of his neck and perhaps slightly longer then he remembered. To reassure himself Kenshin undid his hair and retied it in his normal high ponytail. After he had done so, Kenshin readjusted his clothes, opened the window and soundlessly slipped out of it and onto the roof.

Once he was on top of the roof, Kenshin studied his surroundings. The inn, or dojo as he guessed it was, was much smaller and was surrounded on all sides by a wooden fence, with a small wooden gate inserted in the middle of the side that led out onto a dirt road.

Past the fence was a dense forest of trees; one that Kenshin noted would make an easy escape. He refocused his attention when one of the three dormant ki's inside the dojo suddenly burst into wakefulness. To make things worse the ki, which he recognized as a women's, was slowly moving towards the entrance of the dojo, and towards him.

Cursing softly Kenshin pressed himself against the tiles of the roof, trying to make himself as invisible as possible. He watched as a woman stepped out of the doors to pause uncertainly. All that Kenshin could see of the women was that she had long black hair tied into a ponytail, and wore a robe over her sleeping clothes. To his surprise, she also carried a shinai in her right hand.

"That's odd," the women commented quietly, easily overheard by Kenshin with his heightened senses, as she rubbed her head, "I thought I heard something." Then she sighed and began to walk back inside when Kenshin's foot slipped on a tile and he found himself sliding off the roof and falling towards the ground. Reflexively Kenshin twisted in mid-air and did a few flips to land lightly on his feet, until his ankle gave out and he collapsed to the ground.

The women gasped and ran to kneel in front of him. "Kenshin, are you alright?" She asked worriedly, watching as he held his ankle and grimaced slightly at the pain.

Kenshin, who had his head lowered so his bangs hid his face, suddenly raised his eyes to meet hers when he heard the familiarity in her voice.

Kaoru gasped as she saw Kenshin land lightly on his feet, then suddenly collapse to the ground after he had fallen off the roof. She hurried to his side and automatically asked if he was all right after she saw Kenshin grip his ankle and wince slightly.

Kaoru expected him to answer with his usual smile and, "Daijoubu, Kaoru-dono. Arigatou." But instead his head rose and she found herself staring into a pair of unsettling cold blue eyes.

Kaoru gasped, she hadn't expected that at all. Glancing over the man she had thought was Kenshin, Kaoru realized that he only had the vertical cut of Kenshin's usual scar, his eyes were blue instead of violet, and he was much smaller then she remembered Kenshin being.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked uncertainly and she shifted uncomfortable under his questioning blue gaze.

The Kenshin look-alike started slightly, then asked quietly, "How do you know me?"

Kaoru noticed the lack of Kenshin's usual speech patterns, but decided to ask about it later. "What do you mean Kenshin?" She put a hand on his forehead. "Did that smoke bomb make you lose your memories?"

'Smoke bomb?' Kenshin thought surprised. 'I don't remember a smoke bomb in the last few days.'

"Kenshin, you're scaring me." Kaoru said after his lack of response, or facial emotion.

He turned back to look at her. "I'll ask again, how do you know me?"

Kaoru frowned. "What's your name?" She countered.

Kenshin regarded her calmly, trying to decide whether to give his name. Ordinarily he was supposed to go by his nickname, but Katsura-san had taught him to be polite to women.

"It's Himura Kenshin." When Kaoru didn't respond he continued, "May I ask yours?"

Before Kaoru could stop herself, she blurted out, "Kamiya Kaoru." 'So this is Kenshin, but why does he look and act so differently?'

Kenshin smiled. "It's nice to meet you Kaoru." He paused. "May I ask you a question?"

Kaoru nodded.

"Would you happen to know the whereabouts of a man named Katsura Kagoro or another named Orishi? Or perhaps even another who goes by the name of Hiko Seijiro?" Kenshin asked hopefully, looking her directly in the eyes.

"K-Katsura died twelve years ago Kenshin, and I've never heard of someone named Orishi." Kaoru exclaimed, and then quickly continued when Kenshin's face became emotionless again. "As for your Shishou, I think he still lives in that miserable place he calls a cabin."

Kenshin looked confused. "Katsura-san can't be dead, I saw him a day ago, and Orishi a day before that!" He exclaimed, and then buried his head in his hands.

As soon as he said that Kaoru realized something. 'Yesterday? But,' "How old are you Kenshin?" She asked him out loud.

Kenshin looked up at her through his bangs. "Fourteen, why?"

Kaoru jumped to her feet in shock. "Fourteen! But that means-" She shouted at him, causing Kenshin to glance up at her with mild surprise.

"That means what?" He asked calmly, although he was wondering if she was secretly crazy.

Before she could answer a new voice entered their conversation.

"Hey Missy, what's up with all the shouting?" Sano asked, walking over from inside the dojo. Then he noticed the redhead sitting on the ground. "Hey, Kenshin! You're up, I'm glad you see you won out!" He exclaimed.

Kenshin looked over at the source of the voice to see a teen, several years older then him, with spiked black hair, wearing a long, white jacket standing next to Kaoru. "Do I know you?"

Sano frowned, the fish bone hanging halfway out of his mouth. Then he laughed. "Course you do Kenshin! Don't scare me like that buddy." When Kenshin didn't answer Sano walked over to peer at him closely.

Kenshin inwardly squirmed; he hated to be in the spot light.

"Hey Kenshin, are you alright? You look younger, than you usually do I mean." Sano observed.

Kenshin rolled his eyes. "I'm fourteen, how can I look younger then I already am?" He asked pointedly.

Sano's response was nearly the same as Kaoru's. "No way! You're fourteen! I mean you've always looked younger then you really are, but I mean fourteen?"

Kenshin smiled annoyedly. "Do you want me to repeat myself rooster, or are you really that slow?"

Kaoru broke up at that and began laughing hysterically. Kenshin was looked at her surprised, and Sano annoyed. "What's so funny Missy?"

Kaoru laughed. "He called you by your nickname and he doesn't even know you!" She gasped.

"Huh?" Sano turned to Kenshin. "What's she mean?"

Kenshin smiled. "I'll say it again, do I know you?"

Sano gaped at him. "Wait, your not saying 'sessha' or 'this one.'"

Kenshin scowled. "Do you know anyone who says that anymore?"

"Yes, you!" Sano exclaimed, pointing at Kenshin.

Kaoru decided to step in. "Kenshin, this is Sagara Sanosuke, the dojo's resident idiot."

Kenshin smirked. "Nice to meet you rooster."

"So are you really fourteen?" Sano asked excitedly.

Kenshin rolled his eyes. "Yes I am. Why?" 'Why can't you get that fact through your thick skull?' He asked silently.

"Cause that means you're younger then me." Sano explained grinning.

"Just ignore him Kenshin, most of us do." Kaoru said, glaring at Sano. "Are you hungry?"

Kenshin nodded. "Yes."

"Oh no, you don't want her food Kenshin, you'll get food poisoning." Sano warned, making a slashing movement across his throat.

"Maa, maa, I'm sure its not that terrible." Kenshin said, shaking his head.

"Oi, buso!" Shouted a young voice, and Kenshin looked up as a young boy, younger then him, with pointy black hair came running around the corner. "When's and where's breakfast?" He asked as he skidded to a halt.

At Kenshin's curious look Kaoru introduced the boy. "Myojin Yahiko, my student."

Yahiko saw Kenshin and gleamed with happiness. "Kenshin! Your awake, and up! Hey, you can make breakfast!" He announced.

Kenshin pointed at himself. "Me? Make breakfast?" He scratched his head. "I don't know."

"C'mon, please?" Yahiko pleaded. "I want to eat something edible."

"What did you say?" Kaoru shouted angrily and proceeded to chase Yahiko around the dojo with her ever-handy bokken.

Phew... that was fun to write. Oh, thanks to Yanikei for beta-ing this. And if your thinking 'That was an odd way to end it.' I know it was, don't worry there's a whole nother part of this chapter. I promise to have that up soon as well. And I always keep my promises. ;P

To my reviewers:

FIVE REVIEWS! You do not know how HAPPY you guys made me! Thanks sooooooooo much!

Kristy-chan: Thanks, I'm glad. Don't worry (see above)

Punx13: Awwwwwww, thnx. blushes Uh oh... 'alter ego'? SCARY! And don't worry I have at least one more chapter written... I think. winces As for BK I might get to that... but see he not QUITE Battousai yet. As for e-mail... you should get one... I have four! WAHAHAHHAHAHAHA!

Sekamu: Great, Im glad. And don't worry I will.

ruruken: Wow... that was 'interesting.' jk. Thnx, and yes she is... with Kenshin anyway. He's probably the only one. Don't worry, I promise to (see above). Yippee!

Dragoneyes: Hey urself. Thnx! Im glad and ill keep going... for awhile anyway... jk.

Thanks to everyone for the reviews and input! Please keep it coming. If anyones confused let me know and Ill try to help... as much as I can. ;p

See ya later

miji-chan