Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ How the Past Can Change ❯ Bad News Comes in Twos ( Chapter 32 )

How the Past can Change

A K&K Rurouni Kenshin Romance FanFiction

by: bunny ;D

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. I do not own and did not create the series or its characters...I'm just a fan, and I have no money anyways, so NO SUING ME!! :D

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A/N: This story is altering the original story of Rurouni Kenshin / Samurai X. It also has some OOCness, (especially with Battousai.) If you don't like that idea, or can't handle it…I would advise you not to read this fic. If you are a hard-core Tomoe and Kenshin forever kind of person, I would advise you to not read this fic. Don't get me wrong, I like Tomoe, this is just a different story ok?

Ja ne,

Bunny ;D

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"I hear he's claiming to be the Hitokiri Battousai." Another voice said, also male.

"I didn't know the Hitokiri Battousai was from the Kamiya dojo." Commented the first voice.

"Yeah, me either. My son used to study there, but we pulled him out as soon as we heard about the Hitokiri Battousai being one of their students. My wife and I didn't want our son to become a cold-blooded killer."

Up in the tree, a Kenshin with blazing golden eyes, not hiding his anger restrained a seething Kaoru.

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Chapter Thirty-Two - Bad News Comes in Two's

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Both of them had quickly walked home, keeping silent about their anger, so that passer-bys wouldn't overhear their conversation and spread the rumors further. While Kenshin was angry that someone was killing innocent people, and using his name, Kaoru was upset that the name of her good dojo was being ruined by the name of an assassin. By the time Kenshin and Kaoru returned home, Kaoru was beyond livid. As they stepped into the courtyard, she slammed the gate behind her, and finally broke the silence in her outburst.

"BATTOUSAI!!" she screamed at the top of her lungs.

Kenshin froze for a moment at the outburst. It was the first time she had ever yelled out the name of his alias, and for a moment he feared that she was addressing him directly.

"I have NEVER been so INSULTED in MY ENTIRE LIFE! Just who do they think they are spreading rumors like that about MY dojo?!?! Kaoru began her rant, too side-tracked to noticed Kenshin's tense reaction to her outburst. Kenshin relaxed for a moment as he realized that Kaoru wasn't addressing him. "THE HITOKIRI BATTOUSAI, Kenshin" She continued venting to him, her arms gesturing wildly in his general direction, " The cold-blooded manslayer!" Kaoru continued her tirade, even more worked up now than when she started.

Kenshin realized as she was screaming about him, that although she didn't realize it, she was still technically talking about him at this point. He hung his head, concealing his eyes from her, to hide the hurt at her words, and the shame over his past. His past and the name that came with it, as well as all the horrible rumors connected to that name. It was a new experience for him with Kaoru - to see how she felt about the rumored Battousai, and he would be lying if he didn't admit that it hurt to hear her say such hateful things about him.

"The most feared samurai of the whole revolution!! HERE!! Studying!! In MY DOJO!! NEVER!!" she hissed.

Kenshin winced at her words and wondered fleetingly if he should just leave, but quickly dismissed that Kaoru had never been told the truth, and even if it hurt him, she deserved to know before he did anything like leave her all alone. "The sword that protects!! The sword that protects, Kenshin!! Doesn't ANYBODY GET IT?!?" Kaoru finished and threw her arms up in the air in complete exasperation.

Kenshin, keeping his face down replied quietly, "I'm sure he's just an imposter Kaoru."

Startled at Kenshin's sudden input that was so calmly stated Kaoru was struck silent for a moment as she processed this new angle on her situation. "Hmm." She finally said, "I suppose that's possible, but does it really matter? The name of Hitokiri Battousai, in connection with my school could be disastrous; it is a great dishonor to our teachings. I'm surprised you aren't more angry Kenshin, I mean, I know that Kamiya Kasshin wasn't the fighting style that you grew up with, but even still you have been teaching and using it for the past 10 years." Kaoru said.

'True.' Kenshin thought. 'But worse is that innocent people are dying, and they are using my name as the scapegoat.' He fumed to himself. Kenshin took a calming breath. The more he thought about the whole situation, the angrier he got, and the angrier he got, the more he wanted the culprit's blood. Wanting blood after vowing not to kill was not a healthy feeling, and worst of all was that now he needed to tell Kaoru about his past and not on his own timetable. 'First, I must tell Kaoru the truth. Then I'm going to find this man and show him what happens when you anger the real Battousai.' He thought darkly. Finally, he looked up at Kaoru, to answer her question she had patiently been waiting for as he had thought up his plans. "I am angry Kaoru, but I'm more angry that someone is using the name of Battousai to kill innocent people on the streets of Tokyo." Kenshin replied.

Kaoru gasped at the intense golden color of his narrowed eyes, she had seen these eyes before, yes…but not in anger…not in real life…only in dreams. Although it didn't scare her, the reality of Kenshin's anger in real life was astonishing. "Ken-" Kaoru began but was cut off as Kenshin said, "There are a few tings that we need to discuss. Why don't we have a seat on the porch?"

"A-all right." Kaoru replied as she took a seat next to him on the porch and looked over at his tensed up form expectantly. They sat there for a few minutes. Kaoru with wide blue eyes, Kenshin with narrowed golden ones that got narrower and narrower, the longer they sat there.

"You are right Kenshin. The reputation of my school is not as important as the fact that innocent people are dying. It was selfish of me to be thinking that way." Kaoru finally said.

Surprised at Kaoru's confession, Kenshin's mood shifted and he turned wide violet eyes to meet her apologetic blues. 'She has such a beautiful heart.' He thought wistfully. "Well…we will have to do something about this then won't we?" he said, trying to lift up her spirits.

Kaoru gave a weak smile. "Did you know him or something?" she asked, changing topics.

Caught off guard at her quick change of subject, Kenshin let out a confused, "who?"

"The Hitokiri Battousai…I got personally involved vibes from you." She admitted, with an embarrassed blush.

Kenshin's eyes narrowed again, but this time kept their distinct violet color, "…or something…" he replied before turning his gaze away from her and back to the courtyard.

Surprised at his answer, Kaoru's eyes widened even further. Just as she opened her mouth to voice her one million and one questions, a voice called through the front gate, "Miss Kamiya Kaoru?"

Both residents of the Kamiya dojo glanced up towards the front gate at their intrusion. Upon seeing an officer, Kenshin frowned and stood. Kaoru, a bit rattled at the sudden interruption, attempted to gather her wits and somehow proceeded to gracefully stand and make her way across the yard and over to the officer. 'It must be her kenjitsu training.' Kenshin thought absentmindedly as he watched her collect herself so quickly and gracefully.

"Yes, I'm Miss Kamiya Kaoru. Can I help you?" Kaoru asked the officer as she arrived at the gate.

Kenshin stood next to Kaoru, ready to step in if needed, while wondering what business the officer could possibly have with Kaoru. 'If it's about this Battousai imposter, and they do something to Kaoru, like take away the dojo…I'm going to hunt him down and kill him.' He thought vehemently. However, the officer held up a letter and handed it over to Kaoru. Kenshin took in a surprised breath and held it. 'Oh no. Not already.' He worried, hoping that he wasn't correct on the contents of the letter. 'But what other letter could she be getting from the police?' he argued. 'It must be something else…it's too soon.' He hoped.

"I'm very sorry." The officer said as Kaoru took it from his hand.

Kaoru gave the officer a puzzled look before he turned and walked away. "I wonder what this is." She said to Kenshin as she walked back to the porch and after sitting back down began to open the letter.

Kenshin followed her, and knew what the letter said. The apology from the officer, confirmed his worst thoughts and he hid his face from Kaoru as he sat next to her and prepared himself to hear the news that he had always known would occur, and that he had always hoped to prevent. He tensed with anxiety as he heard the crinkling of the paper Kaoru was slowly opening and worried over her reaction as she read silently to herself.

Only a few moments passed before Kaoru cried out, throwing the letter away from her as if it carried a deadly disease and threw herself on Kenshin, sobbing inconsolably.

Kenshin wrapped his arms around Kaoru's small form and knew for a certainty the contents of the letter.

Kamiya Koshijiro was dead.

Without a word, he lifted the young woman into his arms and carried her into her room. He laid them both down on her futon, and let her sob for hours on his shoulder, until finally she fell asleep.

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A/N: Well…that's it for chapter 32. More drama than the past few chapters…and there is yet more ahead. I hope everybody enjoyed this chapter. I had GREAT AMOUNTS of difficulty writing it to my liking. I almost completely trashed the first draft. It was all rather frustrating. Ok…I'm done venting now. LOL. Please let me know what you thought about the chapter.

And in other news, prepare for the next party. We're almost at 750 reviews, which means party time. :D Hopefully I'll be able to write the next chapter of the story this week too. Although I'm getting upset at my first drafts…at least I don't have writers block anymore. LOL.

FanFiction.net seems to be having issues showing me the reviews page, so no individual thanks this time. (Sorry Everybody!) I do want to thank everyone very much for all your nice and informative reviews!! It's my inspiration!! group hug LOL ;D

Take Care Everybody!

Bunny ;D