Chapter32

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Shinta stared off into the fading sun as he had for the last few evenings. The brilliant display of color didn’t help to sooth his nerves the way he had imagined they would. He vaguely remembered getting up every morning to watch the sunrise and he told himself that was not an act of a killer.

 

He bit his lower lip, wincing as he drew blood. Who was he to say what an act of a killer was when he didn’t even know one… In some ways this amnesia made him as naive as a child, and he wanted through with it. It had been a long time since he had ‘woken up’ and whatever heartbreak that had brought him there seemed shallow in the face of the emptiness not only in his future, but surrounding his past.

 

He jumped, startled as he heard the sound of rustling grass in front of him. He had been so caught up in his daze that he had not noticed the three approaching figures that where silhouetted in the setting sun. Something about the figure of the first man seemed familiar, but as they now only seemed like a blurry shadow, it was hard to tell.

 

Shinta put a hand to his head, feeling a real headache coming on. It was always like this when he thought he was about to remember something, but this time he mentally forged right into the pain, coming up with only one thought.

 

‘Demon!’ he looked at the figure startled. It was the figure of the demon in that dream he barely remembered. But that was ridiculous he thought, the dream must have been based on some past experience though, as he doubted he’d just see someone in a dream that he’d never met before in his life.

 

The demon was less than ten feet away now, as he let his gaze drift to the two people with him. A petite girlish figure with loose, yet form-fitting clohing walked close to his side, she almost seemed afraid of something, yet the look in her eyes was determined.

 

Those eyes.. they drew him in deeply as he found himself ignoring the demon and enthralled by the girl. He looked at the ground when she flinched, as if stabbed. Did he know this girl once? He asked himself, Is that why she seemed to interest him so? His intuition answered his question with a yes, and he gazed up at her in apology, wondering what could erase the pain of being forgotten.

 

Kaoru almost backed away at the forlorn look in Kenshin’s eyes. He was looking at her like he would erase all the pain she’d ever suffered if he could. She swallowed and kept walking alongside Enishi, Enishi threw a sidelong glance at her, as if noticing her mental hesitation. Why was he always so perceptive even when she didn’t want him to be, she wondered.

 

She sighed as they stopped in front of Kenshin, who was still looking at her, apologizing for whatever world of pain she’d been put through. She glanced up at Enishi, uncertain; he looked strait ahead, not even acknowledging her look. She smiled. He was rough around the edges, but that made what was inside so much better.

 

She looked back at Kenshin, her eyes had lost whatever it was that he had felt like he had to apologize for, because his expression had turned into one of confusion. Her heart grew warmly, and she was finally able to look at Kenshin without feeling the pain of what she could have had.

 

She was even glad for all the pain she’d gone through since that day, because without it, she would not have been able to know Enishi, might not have ever seen him again after he returned her to the dojo. She loved Enishi more than anything, and those rare moments, she realized, where they had shared a quiet happiness, and those moments he had laughed, and even those moments he had tormented her, were the fondest memories that she could remember having.

 

She chuckled, and then started outright laughing, as she realized how lost Kenshin looked. Enishi looked at her with a raised eyebrow, but finally broke with a faint smile. Kenshin looked even more confused.

 

“Oro?” he spoke. “Do I know you?” he asked finally after a pause, doubting the conclusions he had arrived on. Kaoru nodded her head.

 

“You used to live with me” She said smiling, as if it was the simplest most insignificant thing, as if she were offering someone a cup of water, or giving them the time. Mao smiled from his standing point five feet behind. It looked like he wouldn’t have to play any games to get them together now. He shrugged. Enishi might still be a difficult one, so he might still have a chance, he thought as he silently chuckled.

 

Shinta stared at her in silence for a few moments as he stared at her. His hand rose to his scar when the sun turned red on the horizon, casting a tint that looked much like blood on the girl standing before him. He started shaking, and when he pulled his hand away it also was covered in blood.

 

Kaoru stared on, her eyes wide as she watched Kenshin dig his fingernails into the scar on his face. She almost felt like retching as she saw his eyes change color. He seemed to hiss, but not in pain.

 

“That’s right” he rasped “That’s right” he said again, his voice dropping any politeness “I killed you” He smiled, but it quickly fell into a shallow frown, his expression cold. “This is what happens when I try to remember what should not have been recalled” he laughed almost brokenly, the tone reminding Kaoru of the laugh she had once heard from Enishi… Had they just traded sanities?

 

Kenshin fell to the ground and wept. Finally he halted as he looked back up at Kaoru. He put one bloody hand to his sword, and in a quick movement, faster than an unsuspecting eye could see, he swung at her and resheathed in one movement, now standing on his feet as blood dripped down his face. Kaoru barely dodged it, as she herself wasn’t expecting it, but luckily he wasn’t quite as up to speed as he usually was as battousai.

 

“It seems that the only thing to do now is finish the job” he said coldly, and Kaoru found herself wishing to hear a gozaru, or dono from him. She didn’t want to fight him. “And after I kill you again… maybe I’ll remember the past” he continued, and then his eyes turned to Enishi. “You, I will kill afterwards, as I believe you must be the embodiment of the killer in me.” He looked down at his bloody hand on the sheath “That damn cop knew it the whole time, he knew that I was battousai..” Kenshin sneered as he got ready in battle stance, facing Kaoru once more.

 

Kaoru smiled lopsidedly, not liking this as she unwrapped her own sword, tossing the sheath and wrappings to Enishi, who caught them and stepped away, giving the two room to fight. Kaoru wasn’t sure she could hold her own against kenshin, having seen him fight, but she trusted if things got out of hand Enishi would likely step in. All in all, she did prefer to take care of this herself.

 

Kenshin charged at her, and Kaoru was surprised to find herself moving as well, It was almost instinctive now, the subtle movements of her wrist, and the gliding movement of the sword. The weapons clashed against each other in a loud display, setting of sparks now and again.

 

Kaoru panted five minutes into the fray, surprised she was even keeping up, but it was apparent that although she had vastly improved, Kenshin was still faster. Kaoru clenched her teeth to avoid making a sound as she was thrown back by the impact of the swords. Had kenshin been going easy on her up till now? She looked at him, panting himself and shaking erratically.. No he hadn’t He wasn’t even in complete control of his movements.

 

Kenshin knelt next to her, taking her face in his bloodied hands. His eyes looked at her with sadness, like a little boy who had given his sister the knife she had taken her life with.

 

“I don’t want to do this” He whispered. Kaoru was about to say then don’t, but was interrupted before she had a chance to speak by his next words. “But you’re already dead, and I don’t even remember you.” He wept “I find myself not caring about this, and it scares me, it scares me” He hugged her close, sobbing into her chest, and Kaoru was somehow reminded of the boy who had been torn apart in the pit.

 

Her memories were soon clouded though, as she felt a sharp pain in her side. He eyes widened as she pushed kenshin away, finding more blood on him than before. She looked down at herself, only to find a knife to the side of her stomach, and all she could do was hope it hadn’t hit any vital points, and wonder when he’d gotten a knife.

 

She clenched her teeth against the pain and stood, looking down at Kenshin, who was either laughing or crying, either way the sound was disquieting. She picked up her own sword, her hand s slick with her own blood as she stood above him. She swallowed as she made a quick, precise movement with them, severing the tendons in Kenshin’s right hand.

 

That amount of skill in an insane man was dangerous, she thought as her breathing became a little difficult. She half groaned as she realized she was going to faint. She hated feeling weak… Enishi caught Kaoru as she fainted, and started to carry her off to the hotel, pausing to look over at Mao.

 

“Pick him up an deliver him to the appropriate address will you?” Enishi said, pushing his glasses up on his nose, Kaoru still in his arms. Mao nodded, and slung the retired bloody manslayer over his shoulder as he headed in the opposite direction.