Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Coincidence ❯ Three Months ( Chapter 3 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, and especially thank you for taking time to read this story. It’s still the beginning so it’s a somewhat slow chapter. I hope I don’t disappoint anybody. Enjoy ^_^


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Three Months


He jumped from building to building, letting the air of that night guide him, following the direction. Stopping abruptly, he looked back, seeing the red and blue lights from the passing police cars, going toward the area he was fleeing.

Kenshin took a couple steps toward the ledge of the building, hearing the sirens go off. They have found the body.

He had just finished a job, it was easy. It usually was.

Looking down, he was a bit glad to see that there wasn’t much blood on his clothes. However, there was still that twinge of guilt he felt afterward; an occupational hazard he supposed.

Taking a deep breath, feeling the chilly air fill his lungs, he could still smell the metallic scent of blood. It was in the air because of his doing.

Eyes looked up, the moon was full, a reason why he finished the assignment so fast. He didn’t feel like wasting time that night. His victim didn’t even see him coming, didn’t even get a glimpse of him.

He stood there for a while, listening to the far of noises of the city, mostly trying to hear the conversation amongst the investigators.

Muscles involuntary tensed as he sensed he wasn’t alone.

He quickly turned around, taking his katana out, just in time to block the oncoming attack.

Grinding his teeth, he stood his ground as both strengths were being tested, he pushing up against the other katana that was pushing down on his own. Kenshin managed to shove his opponent’s weapon to the side, taking the opportunity he crouched down in a fighting stance and quickly dashed to finish his foe in one blow.

However, the challenger wasn’t a rookie. He brought his sword vertically down, along his body, blocking Kenshin’s attack.

Red-head slightly slid as he stopped, quickly turning around to face the man who attacked him.

He was tall and thin with dark hair sleeked back. A few rebellious hairs came undone, roughly farming his features. His sharp, narrow eyes looked back at Kenshin. He recognized that man, there was no forgetting him.

“If it isn’t the Lone Wolf of Mibu himself.” Kenshin lowly said.

“Battousai.” Saitoh equally acknowledged.

The cool late autumn breeze blew as both men slowly got into a fighting stance; Kenshin sheathing his katana ready to attack as Saitoh brought his left arm back, right arm extended, ready to execute his Gatotsu.

They stood still, sizing each other up.

They have been in that very same circumstances before; a good time ago when they were rival assassins. However, their battles were never finished. One way or another, it was always interrupted.

At exactly the same time, both men set off, blades crashing against each other, gleaming against the moon’s light as they battled.

Once one thought they had a good strike in store, the other would block. This continued for a while; both fighters in an ongoing dance of striking, jabbing, blocking, and dodging, with the occasional kick and punch. It was a constant, un-rested fight.

Seemingly unable to continue their combat, the fighters stopped, once again standing opposite each other, both glaring, both out of breath.

Saitoh was the first to stand straight again, the shorter man still in his line of sight. A rough laughed escaped him. Kenshin raised an eye-brow in confusion.

“Battousai, tonight won’t be the night we finish the duel we have started years ago. There are bigger things than you and I that need attending to.” he said as he put his katana away.

Amber eyes followed his movement, taking some time to read his ki and then proceeding to do the same.

“Bigger things? Like what?”

“How is business doing?” Saitoh asked, changing the subject.

Kenshin knew what the taller male was doing, “Business is booming.”

“Ha. How good for you.”

There was a pause as Saitoh reached for his pack of cigarettes, lighting one as he took his time to take a couple drags. He held out his pack, offering Kenshin one, but he shook his head not accepting the wolf’s sharing.

Saitoh grinned, “So tell me, Battousai, how do you sleep knowing you continue to shed blood and that you continue to be good at it?”

“I should be asking you the same question.”

“You’re confusing what we do. I do it for justice. I go by the ‘Swift Death to Evil’ code. You do it for other reasons.”

“So, going by your code, do I need to be killed? Would it be one of those ‘kill one and save millions’ scenario?”

“No. Like I said, there are bigger things than either you or I.”

“Mind elaborating?”

He blew some smoke out before answering, “Shishio Makoto. Heard of him?”

“Yes.”

“Top drug-lord. We have reasons to believe he’s planning on taking this city down.”

“We?”

“The police.”

“Ah, right. I’ve heard you’ve become a pig.”

Eyes narrowed all the more, “Watch it.”

Kenshin just smirked, “So, now that you’re a cop…what’s stopping you from putting me behind bars?”

“I’m afraid you’re of better used to me out of jail. Join us in bringing down Shishio.”

Red-head snickered, “This is a joke, right?”

“Why would I joke about this, you idiot?! Shishio wants to build an army. We need to stop him before he does so.”

“Seems a bit over-dramatic to me.” Kenshin calmly responded, turning around, making his way to leave.

“Don’t underestimate this, Battousai. Put your skills to good use and help the police or change your occupation and get out of our way.”

He stopped, looking behind him to Saitoh, “It’s none of my business…”

“It’s as much your business as it is mine!”

“…besides I can’t change what I do.”

“Why the hell not?”

“It’s what I’m good at, and business is booming.”

“That’s pretty screwed up. Isn’t it?”

Kenshin didn’t answer as he looked forward, walking away.


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It’s been about three months since their ‘first date’ at the Akabeko, and Kenshin was surprised to see that Kaoru hadn’t seemed to bore him yet. On the contrary, she still fascinated him as much as the first time he laid eyes on her.

He felt as if there was something different about her. It was more than just her looks. She was a natural beauty with a curvy yet lean body to boot. He was aware of all the gaping men looking at her direction and he took pride of that as he either slid an arm around her waist or over a shoulder, letting others know that she was taken.

No, there was more to it than that.

They were actually able to hold a conversation. Their talks were endless; she always had a response, a smart-ass comment, or a tease to match his own.

Plus, he liked seeing her smile, and she smiled a lot. Kaoru’s face would light up, along with her expressive eyes when she smiled. Those sapphire orbs were the epitome of ‘windows to the soul’.

Yet, it was much more than that. Kaoru didn’t seem to be scared of him, even when she flirted around with the uncovering of his alias.

That day was still very clear in his mind.

Unlike most women, she never invited him over to her place. So, he had to do something he rarely did… invite her over to his.

Kaoru looked around his apartment, observing his living space.

“I didn’t picture you as the modern home living type. You seem more of the vintage type to me.” she said, voicing her out her conclusion.

“You considered me the ‘player’ type when you met me.” Kenshin pointed out, tranquilly watching her as her eyes darted about his living room.

“What I meant is that you have an old soul. There is something wise about you.”

“Is that so?”

“Would I lie to you?”

“Not sure yet.”

“Right, right. Innocent till proven otherwise.”

“Did they teach you that at your fancy law-school?”

She playfully glared at him, “Don’t hate, Himura.”

He chuckled in response.

“So, tell me about this.” she signaled with her eyes at the center piece above his black sofa.

“It’s a sakabato or…”

“…a reverse-blade sword.” she finished.

Lightly frowning, he made his way to stand next to her as she stared at the sword in awe.

“It’s a fascinating weapon isn’t it? A katana is used offensively, with the purpose of killing, of course. So, the purpose of a sakabato is for one who can’t let go of a sword, for the one who can’t stop from killing. Or it could very well serve the person who has shed too much blood and has vowed never to take life again. It’s very symbolic.” she looked over at her companion, “What do you think, Kenshin?”

Her words hit him to the core. He wasn’t quite sure how to respond, except with, “I guess.”

A giggled escaped her, “Then why do you have one?”

Kenshin tore his eyes from the blade on his wall to look down at her, “I’m not sure.”

Slightly tilting her head to one side, she studied him. Her hand came up and reached to push his bangs to one side, then came down to lie on his left cheek. She gently rubbed the skin under it with her thumb.

“Red- hair… and a cross-shaped scar on the left cheek…” she said, locking eyes with him, “I’ve heard of someone resembling you.”

“Is that so?”

“Mm-hmm. Are you the legendary Hitokiri Battousai? The man-slayer?”

“What if I am?” he asked, softly pulling her hand away from his scar and holding on to it.

Smiling, her eyes twinkled as she said, “I don’t think my dad will be too happy about that.”

Not the response he was expecting, but…what did he expect? The usual shaking with fear? The running? A scream?

Although, who was he kidding? Most people don’t imagine the ‘legendary man-slayer’ to be so… short or outwardly normal. The only thing instantaneously giving him away is his hair coloring, but there were so many red-headed foreigners it made it easier for him to blend in… well to a point. His scar was another matter.

“So, are you going to show me the rest of your pad?”

“Well, what you see is what you get.”

“Then what does this lead to?” she asked finding the stairs.

“A dojo.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Afraid I am.”

“So, when are you going to challenge me to a fight? I know a thing or two about sword fighting you know.”

He grinned at her, “I’m sure you do.”

After that, Kaoru didn’t ask or brought up the subject again. She left it and he wasn’t sure whether he was relieved or not. He was half hoping she was joking about his ‘other side’ and half hoping she knew.

It was probably better that she didn’t. The raven-haired girl had too much on her plate as it is. She had warned him about her busy schedule. Her school work took up most of her time.

There were times when he found himself having nothing to do for the day and his boredom would lead him to go look for her at her University.

Kaoru didn’t mind if he accompanied her while she studied. She would lead him to the library where she would find an empty table, pull out her books, lab-top, and start reading. The younger woman read a great deal, which he would assume was a requisite for her classes.

He usually sat by or across from her with a book of his own and just spend time with her. It was relaxing and the silence didn’t seem to bother either of them.

However, Kenshin would at times finish his book, and he would patiently wait for Kaoru.

Thinking, he couldn’t help but compare his blue-eyed companion to the other meaningful woman in his life. Tomoe.

They were similar in features; long, dark hair, light skin, and slender. But they were as different as night in day when it came to their personality.

Kaoru is opinionated where Tomoe was quiet, Kaoru is upfront while Tomoe was discreet, Kaoru is a content person and Tomoe seemed haunted, and Kaoru is much more spirited.

“Do you mind?” came the annoyed voice across from him.

His attention was brought over to Kaoru, seeing her irritated expression directed at him. Her eyes looked at his hand, his fingers drumming against the table.

He stopped and sighed, “You’re taking forever.”

“I’ll take as much time as I want.” she snapped back.

Definitely feistier than Tomoe.

“Besides…” she continued, a wicked little smile making its appearance, “…you’re here on your own free will. No one’s forcing you to stay.”

He momentarily looked at her from behind messy bangs, seizing her up. Kenshin subsequently stood and walked around the table to stand in front of her. Leaning down, he brought his face close to hers, having her lean back in her seat. He placed one hand along her jaw-bone, fingers circling behind her neck and pulled her toward him, his breath hovered above her lips.

She could hide it as much as she wants, but he knew Kaoru was highly attracted to him.

Kenshin heard her gulp, and he grinned as he softly rested his lips on her own. Honey. That’s what her kisses reminded him of. They were sweet, smooth, luscious.

Kaoru slightly opened her mouth giving him the chance to deepen the kiss. A throaty moan escaped her as their tongues mingled, the sensation highly stimulating. It gave him more initiative as he gently bit her bottom lip, knowing from the first time they kissed that it caused her to inhale sharply, illustrating the jolt of liking. Then he continued their lip-lock.

Breaking apart, he looked down at her, noticing the blush along her cheeks and the dewiness of her lips. An irresistible sight for him.

“Ready to go?” he lowly whispered.

As if brought back from a state of hypnosis, she blinked repeatedly then scowled, “No, not yet. I’m almost done.”

‘Damn woman.’ Kenshin thought as he sighed in defeat.

His bright-eyed girl-friend was annoyingly stubborn.

When had he started to consider her his girl-friend?


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It was early evening and it was still light, but not for long as the sun started to set.

Kenshin walked alongside Kaoru, with his arm thrown around her shoulders, trying to keep her close to him in order to maintain her warm from the chilly day.

“What movie do you want to watch?” she looked up to ask him as he felt her hand snake around his hips.

He hadn’t been to a movie theater in what felt like ages, and he wouldn’t be going tonight if it wasn’t for her.

“It doesn’t matter to me. I’ll watch whatever you want to watch.” he answered.

“Oh, really? Even a chick-flick?” she mischievously tested.

Kenshin wrinkled his nose in disgust, making her laugh.

“Ok, ok, not a girly movie. How about an action movie?”

“Much better.”

He lowered his head and placed a kiss on her head. It hadn’t taken long but he had grown to care for her. It’s been a while since he had anyone to call his own.

“So… Kenshin…”

“Yes?”

“Finals are coming up. My friends want to go out after to celebrate. Any chance you’d want to go?”

“What friends?”

“Well, just the gang. Megumi, Misao, her boyfriend, and Sano would be there behind the bar.”

“So it’s safe to assume this will be at JJ’s?”

“Yes. So, how about it? Interested in going?”

“I’m not a ‘people person’.”

Kaoru frowned, “So, I’ll take that as a ‘no’?”

“It’s a maybe.”

She grimaced all the more and took a glance behind them.

At first, the red-head thought she was over-reacting to his lack of commitment to meeting her friends. However, that thought was discarded when he felt something was wrong as his muscles tensed.

“Kenshin, someone is following us.” she silently told him.

Great, just what he needed; some goons after him.

It infuriated him. He didn’t need this, especially when he was with Kaoru. If they connected her with him and if they ever hurt her… he didn’t even want to think about it.

He couldn’t go after them. That would mean he’d have to leave his Kaoru behind and he couldn’t risk that, but he never left home without protection; if needed he would use the hand-gun he had hidden.

They continued walking at the same pace, staying silent.

After a while, he felt them leave.

“Kenshin… what did they want?”


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A/N: So what did you think? It’s mostly Kenshin’s POV. My intention was for K&K to be in a relationship and to show the connection and attraction between them, as well as first signs of Kenshin’s protective and possessive side toward Kaoru. Ooh, and I had a hella good time writing the Kenshin and Saitoh scene. ^_^