Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ The Past Returned ( Chapter 5 )

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

Disclaimer - I don't own RK

Quick note - One of my reviewers from the last chapter asked a very good question that I think some of you may have also wondered about. She asked why Kenshin didn't recognize Gein. In the past Gein wore a skull mask so Kenshin never saw his real face and in the present Gein doesn't wear the mask that's why Kenshin didn't recognize him. Thanks again to the one who brought that to my attention.


Chapter 5 - The Past Returned

Kaoru collapsed in the chair and crossed her arms on the desk, laying her forehead on them she closed her eyes tight and fought to calm her racing heart. Taking several slow even breaths she finally managed to gradually bring herself back to some semblance of normalcy. It all seemed so surreal now that she was back in her office but the image of the hurt expression on his face still kept rising to the surface stabbing a knife into her heart each time it did.

Shoving the heart wrenching image away she sat back and flung her arm over her eyes. Yep, she might as well commit herself right now because she had officially lost it. There was no way he could be flesh and blood and yet she could still feel the heat of his hand warming her skin where he'd held her arm, the slight tingling of his fingers forever imprinting themselves on her flesh.

A knock on the door followed by the slight creaking as it swung open roused her from her musings and she peeked out from beneath her arm.

"Are you ok Kaoru, Ayame said you came flying through the clinic as if the devil were hot on your heels."

Dropping her arm to her lap she gave Megumi a wane smile and nodded, "Yes, I'm ok. Nothing serious."

Walking further into the small office Megumi eyed her suspiciously. Coming to a stop just in front of the desk she peered at Kaoru closely, it was then she noticed the paleness of her skin and the haunted look in her eyes, "Kami you look like you've seen a ghost, are you sure you're ok?"

Kaoru dropped her eyes and waved her negligently, "It was nothing really, I was just startled is all."

Grabbing the waving hand Megumi ignored the hiss of pain that escaped Kaoru, "How did you burn your hand?" Shifting her gaze to the desk she noticed the lack of a tea cup. "Where's your tea?"

"I spilled it when I bumped into someone and it burned my hand."

Releasing the hand Megumi grabbed her wrist instead and dragged her out of the chair, "Come on we have to get this taken care of and then maybe you should go home."

"I don't need to go home, I'm fine." Kaoru protested trying to free her wrist. When Megumi's grip tightened she gave up and stumbled after her trying to figure out how she was going to get around telling her boss what happened. That was one thing Megumi was known for, if she wanted to know something she would drag it out of you one way or another.

Leading her into one of the examinations rooms Megumi let go of her wrist and pointed to the chair. "Sit."

Kaoru reluctantly took a seat and watched Megumi warily as she collected what she needed. Shifting her gaze to her hand she grimaced, the skin was an angry red and the dull throb aching up her arm forced her to clench her teeth to keep from groaning. So much for a good day.

Hanging her hand over the arm of the chair she snuggled into the cushiony comfort and closed her eyes trying to ignore the pain. Involuntarily her thoughts drifted to the incident that had happened just moments ago. Why did she feel things for this person she didn't even know? Who the hell was he? He shouldn't exist, and yet the man conjured by her overactive imagination had stood before her not ten minutes ago. Without warning his face flashed across her closed eye lids and she noticed something she hadn't noticed until now. The man she'd seen on the street had had a cross shaped scar on his cheek, she didn't remember the one from her dreams having one.

A flush of embarrassment suddenly flooded through her body, how could she be so stupid she had made a complete fool of herself. Shaking her head she groaned, he may have looked similar to the one from her dreams but he wasn't. If he was he wouldn't have had that scar on his cheek. But then again that didn't explain why she felt drawn to him, confused she shook her head, it was all too strange.

"Well I'm glad to see some color back in your cheeks."

Kaoru's eyes popped open and her cheeks flushed red again at the sardonic look on Megumi's face.

"So are you going to tell me what happened?"

Kaoru sighed and rubbed her forehead with her good hand, how was she going to get around this? Sneaking a peek at Megumi she stifled the groan that tried to escape, by the look in her friend's eyes she wasn't going to just let it drop.

Meeting Megumi's curious gaze she shrugged and put on what she hoped was a convincing smile, "It was nothing really, I accidentally bumped into someone on the sidewalk outside of Tae's and spilled the tea all over my hand end of story."

Megumi gave her a skeptical look, she knew that wasn't the whole story. Besides that weak smile wasn't hiding anything, leveling a hard look on her friend she said "And..."

When Kaoru remained silent she shook her head, "Kaoru I know you better than that, nothing scares you so what happened that had you running all out through the clinic?"

Kaoru sighed, she wasn't going to get away without saying something. Avoiding the incident itself she asked, "Have you ever run into someone you've never met before but felt drawn to them?"

A small smile formed slowly on Megumi's lips and she nodded, "The first time I ever met Sanosuke. Do you remember that?"

Kaoru giggled and nodded, how could she forget that, it was the same day she'd met Megumi herself. A little over two years had passed since that day, Sano had been matched against Anji, the reigning kickboxing champion, at the championship fight. It had been an almost even match between the two men but after five grueling minutes of neither besting the other Anji had landed a particularly hard kick to Sano's chest and he'd flown clear out of the ring landing hard on his arm snapping the bone. Needless to say he'd hollered the whole way to the hospital about wanting a rematch and hadn't shut up until they'd reached the hospital and Megumi,a nurse in the emergency room at the time, had come out and smacked him upside the head threatening to simply amputate his arm if he didn't stop scaring the other patients. To this day if asked about that fight Sano would rant about losing but then he'd stop and smile slyly saying that if it hadn't been for Anji he would have never met his woman, so his loss had been worth it in the end.

Megumi shook her head and chuckled herself, "I thought he was one of the most obnoxious jerks I had ever met and yet while I was casting his arm that day something deep inside of me felt drawn to him, it felt as if he was the one and only man for me." Shaking her head again she scoffed ignoring the slight pull throbbing in her chest, “Show's how much I know huh. He definitely isn't the one for me, there's no way he could be."

Kaoru could only stare at her friend surprised at the confession, she hadn't expected that answer at all. Maybe Sano still did have a chance, she wouldn't tell Him that though. She hissed as Megumi grabbed ahold of her hand and started cleaning away the sticky tea.

"Why do you ask, is that what just happened to you?"

Kaoru felt her cheeks burn crimson again. "No! That's not what happened, I just bumped into someone that's all!" she lied, kami if she kept this up Megumi would have the truth out of her yet. Pursing her lips she shifted her attention to her hand, she wasn't about to tell Megumi that someone she had dreamed up had decided to become flesh and blood, she would definitely be committed then.

Megumi stifled a sigh, she didn't believe Kaoru for a minute, something must have happened that had shaken her friend and whatever it was was really bugging the young woman. Inwardly shrugging she decided to give up, she could tell by the look in Kaoru's eyes that she wasn't going to fess up about what happened, well at least not yet. Applying the burn salve to the raw skin she wrapped Kaoru's hand up and stood to put the items away, "Are you sure you don't want to go home? Enishi's back right? I can call him if you want me to."

Icy cold fear suddenly shivered down Kaoru's spine, damn she'd forgotten about Enishi. Gein must have told him by now. This day seemed to be getting worse and worse.

Heaving a sigh Kaoru pushed out of the chair, there was nothing she could do about it now she would just have to deal with whatever happened. Heading out the door she cast a quick glance over shoulder, "I'm not going home, I'm fine. Besides I'm sure Enishi will be here soon anyway."

Confused by the last statement Megumi watched her friend leave the room, something was definitely going on and she was going to find out what it was if it killed her.

oooooooooooooooooo

Enishi flipped the phone closed and leaned back gazing at the set of katanas hanging on the wall. It seemed they would be drinking more than just the idiot's blood. Shifting his attention to the man standing before his desk he eyed him over the black shades perched on his nose, "You have information about this Himura Kenshin?"

Hei Shin nodded, "He arrived in Tokyo ten days ago. He was scheduled to fly out to London four days ago but he canceled his ticket and moved in next to your woman instead. The old man couldn't tell us why only that Himura had told him he'd found what he was looking for."

Enishi leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk he steepled his hands and rested his chin on them, "What was he looking for?" He didn't really need to ask in his gut he already knew the answer. For some reason this man had an interest in Kaoru and now what he needed to know was why.

"The old man didn't know but he did say that Himura has been searching all over the world for whatever it is."

Confused Enishi leaned back again and began tapping his fingertips against the smooth wood, his irritation slowly growing into a cold anger. Why would this man be searching all over the world for Kaoru? What was she to him? How did he know her?

Turning a hard look on Hei Shin he asked, "I trust the old man is still alive?"

A sickening sweet grin came to Hei Shin's lips, "He is but the kid that lives with him has learned to regret his big mouth."

"I don't care what you did to the kid but I want you to bring the old man here. I want to see if I can persuade anymore answers out of him."

Hei Shin nodded and spun on his heel heading out the door. It wasn't very likely the old man would survive Enishi's questioning but considering the answers his boss wanted pertained to his woman it was rather understandable. When it came to her nothing stopped him.

oooooooooooooooooo

Kenshin pushed the door open and stepped into the quiet of the dojo, the image of Kaoru's ashen face still imprinted on the back of his eyes digging painfully into his heart. He couldn't shake the feeling that the mistake he'd made was going to cost him the woman he loved again. How could he have been so naive? What had made him think he could get away with tormenting her in her dreams?

Shaking his head he sighed, he knew what it was. He'd been waiting for the chance to touch her for the last one hundred and twenty eight years and having the chance to, even if it was only in her dreams, had pushed him to do it without thinking about the consequences of his actions. And now everything he'd been waiting for was about to slip through his fingers again. Somehow he had to find a way to stop that because if he lost her again it would kill him.

A light thumping slowly penetrated the depressing thoughts as he headed further into the dojo. Following the sound he wandered across the empty room to the back of the dojo, coming to the open door of the family training room his eyes widened slightly in surprise. Yahiko stood in the middle of the room moving through the ages old katas of the Kamiya Kasshin Ru, but something was seriously wrong with the familiar picture, he was doing them one-handed. His left arm hung uselessly against his chest in a sling and a blood speckled bandage decorated his forehead just over his right eye. From the looks of it he'd been in some kind of fight.

Confused Kenshin continued to watch for a minute before he called out. "Yahiko?"

Yahiko started at the voice, stopping mid swing he swung his head around, "Himura-san, when did you get here?"

Ignoring the question Kenshin walked further into the room eyeing the boy in front of him, "What happened to you?"

"He and I had a late night visit last night."

Startled Kenshin and Yahiko both swung their heads around at the gravelly voice, "Ojiisan!"

A short man about sixty years old stood in the doorway Kenshin had just vacated. The slight smile on his face belied the hard edge in his nearly black eyes and the rigid stance he still held even at his age. Walking further into the room he pinned Yahiko with a hard look, "Didn't I tell you not to push yourself, your head is bleeding again."

Yahiko ducked his head trying to avoid the angry eyes, "I'm not pushing myself ojiisan, I'm fine."

The old man snorted in disbelief, "Put the bokken away and go take care of your head before you bleed to death, Himura-san and I have to talk."

Yahiko scowled and stole an angry glance at his grandfather, Kenshin couldn't hide the grin that surfaced as Yahiko passed him mumbling something about being treated like a baby. It was scary how much he resembled his namesake in looks and attitude. Shifting his attention to the old man the smile fell away, "What happened?"

Satoshi waved him into the office and closed the door, taking a seat behind the desk he looked him square in the eye, "You have made some very powerful enemies already."

Taken aback Kenshin gave him a questioning look, "Who?"

"Last night two members of the Yakuza came here looking for information about you. For some reason you have caught the eye of their boss and he wants to know who you are."

Confused Kenshin just stared at him, how would the boss of the Yakuza have known about him yesterday? He hadn't met any of them until today. Taking a seat he asked, "How would they know about me?"

The old man shrugged and leaned back in the chair, "I don't know but they were adamant about finding out about you as you can tell by Yahiko."

"So they did that to him" Kenshin growled, how dare they come here and hurt a boy simply to get information. Standing he leaned on the desk and capture the old man's gaze, "Who are they?"

"I don't know who the men were who came here last night but their boss is Yuk-..." A sudden knock on the door followed by Yahiko throwing it open stopped him mid sentence.

"Ojiisan, they're back!"

Surprised Kenshin and Satoshi exchanged a quick glance before heading out to the main training room, coming to the door that split the two rooms Kenshin hung back as Satoshi and Yahiko went on ahead. Taking the chance to sum up the enemy he eyed the two men standing just inside the door. Neither looked very imposing, the tall one was the image of a typical thug, black hair, black suit and black sunglasses and the other was a weasely little man with shifty eyes who obviously thought quite highly of himself if the smug grin plastered on his face said anything about his character. Kenshin remained where he was as weasel face stepped further into the dojo and sketched an insulting bow.

"Myojin-san the boss would like to have a few words with you."

Satoshi stood his ground and stared him down, "Why, I've told him everything I know."

A sly look came to the short one's face, one that had Kenshin's hand itching for his sakabatou. "The boss seems to think you may be hiding information about Himura-san and he is rather anxious to find out more about this mysterious man claiming the name of the infamous Hitokiri Battousai."

"What is it he wants to know about me?" Kenshin asked taking the opportunity to make his presence known. Stepping into the room he leveled a hard look on the weasely little man.

Startled Hei Shin slid his eyes from the old man to the red headed violet eyed one who now stood behind him. A flicker of unease shivered down his spine at the look in the small man's eyes, "Ah Himura-san so nice to see you, I don't believe we've met. My name is Wu Hei Shin."

Kenshin simply continued to stare at him as he stepped up to stand beside Satoshi, "Why is your boss interested in me?"

Hei Shin involuntarily took a step back then stopped when he remembered he wasn't alone in the presence of this man. Bolstered by the presence of his associate he met the intense gaze leveled on him, "He would like to know why it is you decided to stay in Tokyo and move in next to his woman."

Confused Kenshin narrowed his eyes, his woman? What did he mean his woman? And then it struck him like a bolt of lightening, this little weasel meant Kaoru. A sudden surge of jealous rage exploded in his limbs, flying at the unsuspecting little man his eyes immediately took on their amber hue as he wrapped his hand around Hei Shin's pencil thin neck and picked him up slamming him against the wall. He felt more than heard the other one move towards him, "Come any closer and I'll snap his neck."

All movement stopped in the dojo and then out of the corner of his eye he saw Satoshi come up to stand between him and the man in black. Assured that he wouldn't be interrupted Kenshin shifted his full attention to the deathly pale man hanging from his fist. "Who is your boss?"

Hei Shin blanched at the glowing amber eyes leveled on him, trying to swallow he sneered, "You have no need to know him or his woman."

Kenshin tightened his hold and slammed him against the wall again, "What's his name?"

From behind him Satoshi spoke up, "Yukishiro Enishi is the name of the Yakuza's current boss Himura-san."

Kenshin's body went rigid as the name crashed into his ears, his fist involuntarily tightening even more. Images of the destruction and agony that man had caused in his previous life crashed into his mind, the past making an all out assault on his sanity. It couldn't be him could it? Deep down he knew it was, in all the years he'd walked this earth that one name had been the one he'd hoped he would never cross again but it looked like fate was against him yet again. His vision began to bleed red as the full implications of what had been said finally clicked together in his head, in this lifetime Kaoru was with Enishi. His fist tightened even more at the thought of Enishi touching Kaoru with the same bloodstained hands he'd used to thrust the blade through her chest so long ago.

A choking gag pulled him back from the edge and his eyes slowly refocused on the man beginning to turn blue in his hand. Releasing him he grabbed ahold of Hei Shin's collar as he fell and dragged him to within inches of his face, "Tell Yukishiro that if he wants to know who I am he can come find me himself." With that he threw him against the wall and spun on is heel heading back across the room. "Also tell him that if he sends anymore of his miscreants here I will hunt him down and kill him."

Hei Shin coughed and rubbed his bruised neck, picking himself up off the floor he choked out, "You have just signed your death warrant Himura. Enishi will kill you."

Kenshin stopped mid step and glanced over his shoulder, he smirked as the little weasel take a step back shying away from his piercing amber gaze, "He can try but he will not succeed. I have waited too long for him to rip everything out from underneath me again. This time I will have what is mine and he cannot stop me." With that said he headed back into the family dojo the rage pulsing through his veins nearly uncontrollable. Grabbing the bokken reserved for his practices from the wall he settled himself and began to move fighting against the overpowering urge to hunt down Enishi and kill him right now.

Falling into the familiar dance of death of the Hiten Misturugi Ru one thought continuously hammered through his head feeding his rage, by what sick twist of fate did Kaoru end up being with the man who had killed her in her last life? How the hell could something like that happen?

So lost in his own thoughts and the familiar movements Kenshin didn't notice the audience watching him from the other room. Hei Shin's eyes widened as he watched the small man execute flawless parry and slash techniques, each one more intricate and deadly than the last. Forcefully pulling his attention from the sight he cast a quick glance to his associate and saw the same sense of awe written on Genbu's face.

Enishi was an expert swordsman but the small man in the next room surpassed him by miles. Should their boss ever face off with Himura Hei Shin doubted Enishi would survive the confrontation. Now he could see why he claimed the name of the infamous Hitokiri Battousai, he must be the man reincarnated.

Shaking his head he caught Genbu's attention and nodded towards the door. Turning to leave Hei Shin cast one last look over his shoulder, as he watched again the ease and grace with which the man in the next room moved he was suddenly struck by the feeling that a war was about to start........one that no one would come out of unscathed.

No one.

oooooooooooooooooo

Please review and let me know what you think.