From: Ashfae I started this a long time ago. To be honest, I then completely forgot about it. I found it a few days ago and started polishing it to see what would happen, and now have regained my interest. Neat. This story takes place soon after the end of the Kyoto saga Shishio), and before the Revenge Arc. It has spoilers about Kenshin's past, so if you don't know who Tomoe is, you probably shouldn't read this. (actually, there aren't any spoilers yet, but therewill be later) Before I begin, I want to thank Battousai no Miko's Shrine to Battousai...for inspiration and information both. This is one of the best Kenshin websites I've ever seen, and this story could not have been written without extensive use of the biography provided here. Arigatou!!! Visit her site at: http://fangirls.icestorm.com/battousai/ This fic is dedicated to Tae-san, one of the biggest Kenshin-Kaoru fans I know. I've edited it since I asked you to read it for me. =) =) Ashley B. AKA Ashfae ashfae@duct-tape.mit.edu http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/8264/anime.html "Somewhere out there is a smile looking for a face. I hope it finds yours." ************************************************* Past and Present A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic by Ashfae Prologue ************************************************* The human mind is a complicated thing. The human heart is even more complex. In times of desperation, thought and emotion are cast aside so that a person can act freely, without hesitation. In the heat of battle, this is easy. In the heat of battle, unnecessary thoughts are cast aside, because confusion leads quickly to a lack of attention, and then to death. Many decisions are made in the heat of battle. Only afterwards are they considered. ************************************************* The night was dark, as night tends to be. The stars glittered, and a breeze whistled through the trees. A man was walking on the road, alone. This was not unusual. His goal was to find the Hitokiri Battousai. Some would claim that this goal was not unusual either. He walked quietly, and carried a sword, and looked straight ahead. Towards Tokyo. ************************************************* Takani Megumi wiped her forehead with her sleeve. She cast a glance over her shoulder at the candles burning on the desk; all but one had burned out. She sighed, and decided not to bother finding new ones. It was long past time she was in bed, anyway. She had taken to sleeping at the clinic lately; there had been an unusual number of midnight accidents, and it was good to have someone there in case something went wrong. She was young and had more strength than Dr. Genzai, so it was better that she be the one to stay. She smiled to herself, realizing that she'd spent almost all of her time at the clinic of late. Indeed, she only left to visit the Kamiya Dojo; she hadn't been to her own home for any significant amount of time in almost a week. But then, what was there at home? Empty rooms, the sound of her own footsteps echoing...here, there was work. And at the dojo, there were friends. And Sanosuke. Megumi's smile grew a little broader. She'd had a lot of time to think while everyone was in Kyoto, and had been surprised by some of her conclusions. First- that she didn't miss Kenshin nearly as much as she thought she would. Any feelings she'd had for him beyond friendship and gratitude had disappeared for good when he left without saying goodbye to her. She knew that he'd never been interested. Instead, she had found herself worrying constantly about Sanosuke. The man was impetuous, arrogant, stubborn, troublesome, obnoxious, and altogether idiotic- and she could not get him off of her mind. He was younger by several years, and immature to boot. But he was also protective, compassionate, determined...and, she had to admit, devilishly attractive. They'd gotten off to a rocky start, but he'd helped her on any number of occassions. Just as much as Kenshin had, in fact. She'd been shocked when he'd returned from Kyoto with his right hand ruined, but deep down, a small part of her was pleased as well. Because now, she had an excuse to make him come see her every week on the button, so she could examine his hand. And her own heart. Megumi's smile was one of anticipation and resolve. There was no hurry; sometime soon, she would take steps to figure out how he felt- though she already had suspicions. And then she would act. Humming softly, Megumi blew out the remains of the candles and went to bed. ************************************************* Kamiya Kaoru watched the stars twinkle, and fretted. This was something she did a great deal, actually. In general she was happy, but she still did a lot of fretting. With two freeloaders, several friends who stopped by constantly to eat food, a dojo without its full share of students, and the occassional psychotic killer dropping in to cause trouble...well, there was a lot to fret about. Nor was it a surprise that her thoughts were concerned with primarily with one of those freeloading guests. The one with red hair, a cross-scar on his cheek, and eyes that were always filled with secrets, to be exact. She had followed him to Kyoto, and brought him back to Tokyo. She was sure of her feelings. But she couldn't guess what he felt, and that was where her musings always stopped. She couldn't, in all honesty, call Kenshin a freeloader; he did his share of work around the house and then some, leaving her enough time to train Yahiko and any other students who wished to learn. It was very easy to let him cook and clean and play with Dr. Genzai's granddaughters, and treat him as though he would be around forever. But would he? He cared; that much was certain. But did he care enough to never resume his journey as a rurouni? Was what she had to offer him, here, enough? She'd never actually told him how she felt. She assumed that he knew...she'd never been good at hiding her feelings. Traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto just for him must say something. But she had never actually told him, and wondered if she needed to. If not for his sake, then for her own. Kaoru was tired of being confused, tired of staying up at night fretting. After Kenshin had left for Kyoto, she'd wallowed in misery for several days, making an utter fool of herself in the process; she was not pleased with the memory. Normally, she was a strong, forceful girl. She'd learned strength after her father died, when she'd taken over the dojo and all its considerations and lived alone. Lived successfully alone. She'd been doing just fine until Gohei had shown up and frightened her students off. Even then, she'd survived. She kept the dojo running. With Kenshin performing all the regular chores, she was able to earn enough money to support the both of them, and Yahiko besides. If Kenshin left...she'd find the strength to go on. Somehow. She'd been afraid of being left alone, but she wasn't; she'd gained a younger brother in Yahiko, and many new friends. So it was time to stop worrying about what would happen if he left, and put her efforts towards ensuring that he didn't. And it was time to tell him how she felt. She needed that; there was too much unspoken, too much she needed to say. If she could just find the right moment... ************************************************* Myojin Yahiko was at the half-way point between sleeping and waking. Part of him was pleased and content; the rest of his mind was working furiously. It had been a while since they'd come back from Kyoto, and longer since the battle at the Aoiya, but he remembered it clearly. On his own, he'd beaten one of the Jupongatana. He'd taught himself a technique from the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, just by watching and practicing in his free time. He might only be ten years old, but he was _good_...and getting better. It didn't mean much next to Kenshin's strength, though. Kenshin was the best swordsman Yahiko had ever seen, or could even imagine. He lived his life protecting the people he cared about, without killing, with perfect control over his techniques. That was what Yahiko dreamed of having. Power, and the wisdom to know how to use it or not use it. And what Yahiko wanted, more than anything, was for Kenshin to agree to teach him. Kaoru was good- though he'd've been caught dead before admitting it- but Yahiko wanted more. All the knowledge he could get. He wouldn't rest until he had it. And then maybe, just maybe, Kenshin would see him as an ally rather than a liability. Instead of just a child. With these thoughts on his mind, Yahiko gradually drifted into sleep. ************************************************* Sagara Sanosuke looked down at his right hand in disgust. _Feh. Torn to ribbons. Doctor-lady says I won't be able to throw a punch for weeks, and that I shouldn't use it for anything until then. How _boring_. Of course,_ he thought, looking over at the redheaded swordsman sitting beside him, _Kenshin's strength isn't really his speed or his power. It's his ingenuity- he always comes up with new things to surprise his enemies. I could do worse than to try doing that for a while. Probably a waste of my time, but what else am I gonna do? Flirt with the cute doctor? She'd just laugh, call me a chicken, and send me on my way. Women._ He took a long drink. "Oy, oy, ease up there Sanosuke- the night's just beginning!" Genji, one of his friends from the gambling hall, grinned and winked at him. "Exactly," Sano smirked back, downing the rest of his cup. "And it'll take hours for this stuff to put me over. Oy, lovely-" he motioned for the waitress, who walked over with a slight smile on her face. "Bring us another bottle, eh? We'll need it." He flashed her a dashing grin, and she blushed and nodded, and turned. "Heh. Never let it be said that Sagara Sanosuke doesn't know his way around a girl!" Sano smirked, eyeing the waitress as she walked away. "Oh?" Kenshin smiled. "How about Megumi-dono?" Sano glared at his friend. "It's not _my_ fault the woman's not smart enough to appreciate my talents!" "Mm-hmm." Kenshin took another sip to avoid answering- or laughing. Sanosuke snorted, not fooled in the least. He was pleased, though. The swordsman had seemed depressed lately; it had taken a lot of effort to convince him to come out for a night with the guys, to cheer him up. But he seemed to be enjoying himself, and was teasing Sano as though the time in Kyoto had never happened. Exactly what Sano wanted. "Aah, women...can't live with them, can't live without them. I was in love once, but she married someone else. Haven't found anyone like her yet." The man next to Sanosuke finished this story with a glum sigh. "Get over it, Tomo. They're all the same. Right, Sanosuke?" Genji eyed the ex-gangster, and seemed surprised when Sanosuke didn't immediately respond. "Most of them, maybe," Sano said finally. His eyes narrowed. "Some of them are arrogant, demanding, pushy foxes-" He broke off as everyone started laughing. "Feh. Bastards." He took a swig of his drink, and tried to think of a way to change the subject. He nearly spewed his sake all over the table as Genji clapped him on the shoulder. "Hah!" the gambler laughed. "Never thought I'd see a woman get the better of you, Sanosuke. That doctor's got you wrapped around her finger. That's why you'll never see _me_ get involved with a woman...I like to do as I please." He smirked. "Women live to make fools of men. They _like_ sending us running around in circles 'til we don't know which way is up or down. They're the devil's own creatures." Tomo grinned at his friend. "You're just saying that because you've never fallen for one of them, Genji. Just you wait." The other gambler took a sip of his drink. "How 'bout you, Himura? Ever been in love?" Sanosuke looked over at his friend, curious to hear the answer, and was surprised at what he saw. Kenshin stared at the table for several minutes without answering. His face was completely expressionless. When he did speak, all he said was, "It's past time I went back. Kaoru-dono will be worried." Without another word, Kenshin walked out of the bar, carefully closing the door behind him. Tomo and Genji went on drinking, laughing and teasing each other. But Sanosuke was silent, wondering what- or who- the rurouni could have been thinking about, and why the question had bothered him. ************************************************* The players are almost all gathered. Not so far away, a lone man walks the road towards Tokyo, approaching a goal that has eluded him for years. Takani Megumi sleeps the sleep of the blessed, worn out from a long day's work. Kamiya Kaoru looks up at the stars, considering her options. Myojin Yahiko daydreams of times to come, when he too will be a great swordsman protecting those he cares about. Sagara Sanosuke ponders the enigma that is Himura Kenshin. And Kenshin? Kenshin dreams. ************************************************* NOTES: I hid a bad pun in there. Megumi's name can be written to mean "blessed." Look it up if you don't believe me. Still, Megumi has always struck me as relatively tranquil compared to the other characters of Rurouni Kenshin. After the initial confusion of the first episodes where she's introduced, she becomes very secure in who she is, what she wants, and what she's doing. So perhaps it's not such a bad pun. Besides, she has Sanosuke...an arrogant bastard maybe, but such a cute one! *gryn* (I like Sano. A lot. Sue me) Thanks for reading and have a nice day. =) S. Ashley Burns (Ashfae) ashfae@duct-tape.mit.edu http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Pagoda/8264/kenshin.html --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Share your special moments with family and friends- send PHOTO Greetings at Zing.com! Use your own photos or choose from a variety of funny, cute, cool and animated cards. Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------