Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Kaoru's Wish ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

DISCLAIMER: Rurouni Kenshin and Rurouni Kenshin characters are exclusively owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Sony Entertainment, Jump Comics and associated parties. Please note, this is purely fiction and for entertainment purposes only. This story is not meant for sale or profit.

Author's Notes: Kaoru made a wish and it came true. Will she suffer any consequences from her wish? Kaoru's Wish Fanfiction by Gypsy-Chan. Enjoy! (completed and posted 8/27/01; re-edited 6/2003)

A mile from the dojo Kenshin sat eating lunch. The two voices appeared in his mind again.

"I don't want to go to Kyoto. There are too many bad memories there."

"You'll get use to it again."

"Why did you have to tell her that you didn't love her?"

"That was the only way that I could get rid of her. Besides, I only have love for Tomoe. This girl could never fill my heart the way Tomoe did."

"But you don't know her."

"Why do I want to know her? What's so special about her anyway?"

"Kaoru is a very courageous girl. She is also very kind and compassionate. She accepted me for who I was and welcomed me into her home. When I was the Hitokiri, I fought hard to protect the happiness of this country. But with all the violence during that time, I hadn't attained my goal. That's when I met Tome. It was she who helped me to regain my sanity and to set me on the right path. After Tome's death, I thought that I would never find happiness again, that is until I met Kamiya Kaoru. It was her kindness and her strong beliefs in her father's teaching, the sword that protects, which drew me to her. Her love for me is unconditional. I only wished that I could return her love. But I…"

A crackling sound was heard. Someone was nearby. The young Battousai looked around and saw Sano, Yahiko and Kaoru standing before him.

"What do you want?"

"I've come to take Kenshin back home to his family where he belongs."

"Go back home. The rurouni you once knew is no more. I am the Battousai now. I will never let the rurouni return to you."

She took out her shinai and pointed it at him. "Then I challenge you Battousai for the life of Himura Kenshin." Sano and Yahiko were shocked.

"What! Jou-chan, you can't be serious!"

"Kaoru don't do it! He's much stronger than you!"

Kaoru took up her fighting stance. She had a fierce look upon her face. "I will do whatever it takes to get Kenshin back."

The young Battousai stared at her. The voices appeared in his mind again.

"That fool! She challenges the Hitokiri Battousai with a wooden sword? Why is she doing this? Doesn't she know that I could kill her in an instant?"

"Hai, she knows. I told you that she was a very courageous girl. I only wish that she wouldn't do this. But I know she will never back down."

"Then I will accept her challenge."

"And I shall protect her. I will not allow you to kill the woman I love."

"You killed Tomoe, the woman I loved."

"Hai, I know. I will always regret what happened to Tomoe, but that doesn't make taking the life of another right. I love Kaoru-dono and I will do everything within my power to protect her."

"Well then this battle should prove very interesting."

Kaoru noticed that the Battousai seemed to hesitate slightly. He then spoke up.

"I accept your challenge Kamiya Kaoru. Prepare yourself for battle."

Sano yelled, "No! Fight me instead!"

The Battousai glared dangerously at Sano and in a low threatening voice responded, "This battle is between the woman and me. Do not interfere!"

"Sano, I'll be alright," she firmly replied as she kept eye contact with her opponent. "Please stay back and let me do this."

Sano could see the determination on Kaoru's face.

"Jou-chan I know that I can't stop you but if I see that you are in trouble I'm jumping in. Agreed?"

"Agreed!"

Kaoru was prepared for battle. With a commanding force she shouted, "Let's do this!"

The young Battousai gave an impish grin. "Come and strike me if you can."

Kaoru grew angry. She charged at him with great speed with her shinai aiming for the Battousai's shoulder. He avoided her attack with ease. He laughed. "Is that the best you can do? Why don't you just give up? I'll spare your life if you quit now and go home."

"No! I will never give up on Kenshin!"

"Do you love him that much? Enough to die for him?"

"Yes! I love him that much!"

Kaoru took up her fighting stance once again. This time she charged toward the Battousai jumping up right before the attack and swung the shinai with great force hitting him in his stomach. He fell to the ground in pain.

Sano and Yahiko couldn't believe their eyes. "Why didn't he avoid her attack like he did before?" Sano smiled slightly. "Kenshin must be trying to control the fight." Yahiko scratched his head. "Huh?" "Kenshin would never allow the younger Battousai to harm Jou-chan." "Oh I get it. He would rather get hurt than fight her." Sano nodded. "I just hope Jou-chan stays focused on the battle and not worry about injuring Kenshin."

While lying on the ground the voices in Kenshin's mind began speaking again.

"Idiot! What are you doing? Trying to get us both killed?"

"I told you before. I will protect Kaoru-dono. I will never allow you to harm her. From this point on, I will control this fight."

"What?"

"For every attack that she makes, I shall see to it that you do not block it. For every attack that you make, I shall not allow her to be harmed."

Kaoru, Sano and Yahiko saw Kenshin struggling on the ground. He stood up and shouted, "Kaoru-dono, I shall protect you. Do not hold back in your attacks!"

Yahiko's eyes widened. "That sounded like Kenshin" He then smiled widely and shouted, "Kaoru! That's Kenshin's voice! All right Kenshin!"

Kaoru seemed confused. "Kenshin?... Kenshin!"

Sano became worried. "Yeah, the voice sounded like Kenshin but he's still trapped inside Battousai's body. This could be a trap. Jou-chan could be in danger."

"Jou-chan, don't drop your guard," he shouted. "The young Battousai may be using Kenshin's voice as a trick. Stay focused! It's the only way to get the real Kenshin back!"

Kaoru nodded at what Sano said. "Right!" She took up her fighting stance again.

The young Battousai stood up. "I see your fighting technique is very good but it is no match for Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. I know that the rurouni inside is protecting you. But I will not give up this fight. I will never allow the rurouni to return to you." He then prepared to use the Hiten Mitsurugi Do-Ryu-Sen. Kaoru recognized his attack and prepared herself.

The Battousai yelled, "Hiten Mitsurugi Do-Ryu-Sen." That attack was supposed to allow the ground to explode. But the attack was ineffective. Yahiko recognized the next attack. He yelled out, "Kaoru watch out! He's going to use the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu-Kan-Sen." Kaoru yelled back, "Right!" Then she stood firm awaiting the attack. The Battousai looked at her and said, "The rurouni was right. You are one courageous girl. But you'll need more than courage to withstand my next attack."

Kaoru braced herself as she saw Kenshin running towards her. He yelled, "Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu-Kan-Sen!" Using a very powerful swing while twisting his whole body he tried to inflict a direct blow under her skull. But that technique was ineffective too.

Sano and Yahiko were amazed. "He missed again!"

He screamed, "WHY!! WHY DIDN'T IT WORK!!"

The rurouni inside the Battousai's mind answered, "I told you before, none of your attacks will work. I will never allow you to harm Kaoru-dono. This fight is pointless. Give up!"

"No! I will never give up!"

The Battousai angrily looked at Kaoru and shouted, "PREPARE TO DIE!!!"

As he charged towards Kaoru, he jumped up and brought the sword down towards Kaoru's head. At that moment, Kaoru yelled, "Kamiya Kasshin Hodome!" She dropped her shinai and crossed her wrists and trapped his sword between the backs of her hands. Then while gripping the sword, the backs of her hands slipped along the blade until they reached the hilt. She yelled, "Kamiya Kasshin Hawatari," and finished the attack by driving the back of the sword into his chin. He fell to the ground in pain again.

Kaoru stood with Kenshin's sakabatou in hand. She looked at Kenshin lying on the ground. Kenshin slowly stood up. As he lifted his head, she could see that his face appeared to have changed. Kaoru cautiously approached him. The closer she got the more she could see that Kenshin was returning to his normal self.

"Kenshin?"

Kenshin's violet eyes were upon her. He smiled and answered her in polite manner, "Hai Kaoru-dono?"

"That voice... it's... it's the voice of the rurouni." Tears began to stream down Kaoru's face. "Oh, Kenshin I'm so sorry for hurting you."

"You didn't hurt me Kaoru-dono. I'm just glad that you weren't harmed."

"Thank you for protecting me Kenshin. Let's go home now."

Kenshin smiled at her and said, "Hai. Let's go home." He tried to move but he couldn't. "I… I can't move." He felt as though his whole body was paralyzed.

"Kenshin, what's the matter?"

"I can't move. The Battousai must be controlling my movements. He's trying to take over my mind."

Kaoru looked into his eyes. The color of his eyes were between violet and amber. Kaoru became anxious. She grabbed Kenshin's arms. "Kenshin! Don't give up! Fight him!"

Kenshin struggled fiercly. The Battousai inside the ruruouni's mind said, "She truly is a remarkable woman. If you will not allow me to defeat her than I will take your woman for myself."

"No!" Kenshin continued to struggle but he could feel that he was losing control.

"I'm sorry Kaoru-dono but the Battousai is getting stronger. I'm losing control of my mind as the rurouni. My mind is beginning to fill with thoughts from the days of the young Battousai." Kenshin's body grew limp. He nearly fell to the ground. Kaoru caught him and held him in her arms.

"Kenshin! Kenshin!" Kenshin look at her and smiled. "I love you Kaoru-dono. I have always loved you. I'm sorry that I can't protect you anymore. You must go now before the Battousai returns."

"I'll never leave you Kenshin. I love you." Kenshin began to slowly slip from her arms.

"Ka-Kaoru! I love..." Kaoru grabbed him before he slipped away from her arms completely.

"I'm not letting go of you! Kenshin! Kenshin!" She turned his face toward hers and kissed him with all the love that she had within her. As they kissed, Kenshin felt as though his whole body was engulfed in flames. In his mind everything was blurry. Suddenly, he saw her. Kaoru had entered his mind. She stood before him holding his sakabatou. She was the embodiment of purity.

Kenshin tried to go to her but he couldn't move. He was shackled to his past. All the pain and suffering that he had experienced as the young Battousai was weighing him down. His clothing was stained with the blood of men.

"Kenshin, I have come for you."

"No you must go back Kaoru-dono. Go back before it is too late."

"I will never leave you."

"Kaoru-dono, don't worry about me. Please go. I can't protect you anymore."

"It is I who will protect you my darling. Release your mind and give me your heart. I shall set you free with the love we share."

Kenshin relaxed his mind and then surrendered all his love to her. She could feel his love entering her body.

Kaoru lifted the sakabatou and struck the chains that surrounded him. She had released him from his past with the power of their love. He looked at his clothing and saw that it was now cleansed from the blood of men. She had purified him. He was now free to love her in the way he always wanted too.

As Kenshin approached Kaoru, he felt a presence behind him. It was the Battousai. "Kamiya Kaoru you truly are a worthy opponent. I can see why the rurouni loves you. But our battle has only just begun. You may have won the rurouni's heart this time, but next time we will battle for his mind. I will take control of his mind and you will become my woman." "I will never allow you to control Kenshin's mind," she firmly stated, and I will never be your woman." He smiled. "We shall see, Kamiya Kaoru, we shall see." With that everything grew dark. She was all alone. "Kenshin! Kenshin!"

"Kaoru-dono, are you alright? Kaoru-dono?" Kaoru slowly opened her eyes and noticed that she was back in her room. Kenshin was sitting next to her.

"Kenshin?"

"Sorry Kaoru-dono for entering your room without your permission but you appeared to be having a bad dream. You called out for me and I…."

Kaoru was puzzled. "A bad dream? How could that be? It all seemed so real." She looked at Kenshin and grabbed his face into the palms of her hands. She began to closely examine his face. "Your face, it's… it's much older." She released his face. "I really must have been dreaming."

Kenshin arched is eyebrow. "Well, actually I don't think I look too bad for a man of 28." Kaoru giggled. "Does my face really look that old to you Kaoru-dono?"

Kaoru gently put her hand on his face and smiled. "No Kenshin. I think your face is very handsome. I could look at your handsome face for the rest of my life."

"Kaoru-dono, I really don't think you should be wasting your time on me."

"Kenshin, I don't want anyone else. I only want you."

"Kaoru-dono, we've already discussed this last night. You deserve to be with a younger man. Now if I were 18…"

Kaoru immediately jumped up. "No!! I don't want you to be 18 again! That is not what I wish for you any more."

"Oroo? 18 again? Wish for me any more? Kaoru-dono what are you talking about?"

"Kenshin no baka!" She whacked him on the head. "Oroo!"

"Why can't you get it through your thick head that I love you just the way you are."

"But…I…"

Kaoru cut him off before he could say anything else and kissed him. After they broke the kiss, Kenshin was a little stunned. Kaoru blushed and then began to babble.

"Kenshin...I... I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I..."

Kenshin put his arm around her and smiled. "You mentioned a wish. Did your wish come true?"

"No. Not the way I wanted it to."

"I'm sorry Kaoru-dono."

"There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm just happy to be here with you." Kenshin took his hand and gently stroked her face. Kaoru blushed and asked, "Did you make a wish last night Kenshin?"

"Hai."

"Did it come true?"

"Hai. I wished that I could be freed from my past so that I could hold you in my arms and love you forever."

Tears streamed down Kaoru's face. "I guess wishes really do come true."