OK- This is where this story begins to take off with Shinta's memory/past life starts to come back with a vengeance.

First and second chapter had taken place in one day- a Friday.

Shinta may seem odd or a bit OOC. He truly isn't OOC, its just he's a paradox in the making. At times he seems like Shinta, then he acts like Kenshin, and at times his cruel Battousai/Assassin side comes out.

Reene24-

Disclaimers: I don't own RK-
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Chapter 3: An Old Wound

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Himura Kenshin slowly picked his hand up and raised it in front of his face. His head hurt with a sharp twinge of pain. His vision was blurry as if looking out a blood-red tunnel.

"Tomoe," He groaned as his feet slid over the icy ground. He fell painfully to one knee. Kenshin picked his head up and looked through his tunnel vision. Deaths silence over came his hearing, he was now among the living dead. He scampered to his sandal-clad feet and began his journey down the road of fate when out of nowhere, an iron claw dug deep into his wounded shoulder.

Kenshin screamed in agony as he pushed the man back, only to be countered by the same claw slicing across his back. Battousai's heart and mind were at war with each other, he moved out of the way only to find that his sword pierced his attacker and a second explosion occurred. He stumbled away from the heat and headed toward his final opponent.

The pain was dying as the voices of his mind chimed, telling him to lay his weary head upon the blanket of snow and eternally rest. He resisted. His vision was now spiraling and waving as his enemy closed in.

He took a kick to the head and went spinning through air like a feather on a breeze. His enemy charged again, this time sending Himura's body sailing through the air and hitting a tree trunk. The rough bark grated his skin; Battousai hissed out in pain. He stood, this time finding a new strength.

He yelled back, calling out a warrior's battle cry. Battousai held his sword high, both hands keeping a firm grip and he charged at his god-like enemy. The sword began to descend down ward, cutting into bone and flesh; blood splattered like rain.

His mind and heart continued the battle, his internal struggle broke and his mind calling out to him with Tomoe's words. "You could have lived this way if you had never picked up a sword."

"TOMOE!" He shouted.

*End Dream World*

Shinta opened his eyes, realizing there was a sharp knock coming from his apartment door. He rolled over and rose to his knees. His vision was nothing but a blur of bright colors. He walked toward the door, his balance wavering back and forth.

"Shinta are you home?"

"Kaoru-dono," He leaned forward holding his head and moaning in pain. "It's open."

Kaoru opened the door, only to find Shinta injured on the other side.

"Kami! What happened?" She rushed to his side.

Shinta continued to hold the wound on his forehead and gently rock. The entire left side of his face was caked with dried blood. Kaoru gasped at the cut, a slice was visible down his left cheek.

"You need stitches."

Shinta pulled her hand away, "Why are you here?" Kaoru rested her hands on her knees.

"I got worried when you didn't show up for School."

"School?" Shinta asked.

"It's Monday." She raised a hand to his forehead again. "No fever... Are you okay?"

"I was out for two days," Shinta groaned as he got up from the cold floor and sat on the couch. Kaoru took a seat next to Shinta.

"Do you have a first aid kit?"

"Under the bathroom sink," He replied, barely realizing any words had slipped pass his lips. Kaoru left his side only to return shortly after with the kit and a wet wash cloth.

Shinta had relaxed and snuggled back into the couch cushions. He felt a cool hand running over the flesh of his left cheek. Kaoru held his head so Shinta couldn't move; gently she washed the blood away from his wounds.

"This is going to sting."

She took out a cotton ball and dipped it into a white iodine solution. Kaoru carefully straddled his lap to get closer and steadier. She thought for sure he'd make some little reaction from the cleansing, but he remained sullen and very still. She patched the wounds with an adhesive bandage, then closed the kit and placed it on the coffee table.

Kaoru stood up and pulled back, "Shinta, your face is going to have a scar."

"Hunhh," He groaned lightly with his eyes still closed.

Kaoru looked toward the floor where Tomoe's diary now laid, also caked with Shinta's blood.

"Great, now they will make you buy this thing." Kaoru lifted the book.

"This is what cut your face." She looked at the top corner, a piece of skin clung there with blood. Shinta's eyes snapped open and his eyes once again blazed with amber. Shinta reached out and grabbed her hand, the one that held the book.

"Shinta, what are you doing?" Fear toned Kaoru's shaky voice. "Please let go...You're hurting me." Kaoru's pleas could not reach the depths of Shinta's mind, his personality completely changed. His eyes closed again and he deeply growled like he were trying to control the rage within.

"Kaoru...Koishii..." He breathed her name and his grip loosened. Kaoru dropped the book and it landed on the coffee table. Shinta snapped out of the trance and stared into the deep pools of Kaoru's azure eyes.

"What happened to you?" Kaoru choked on her tears. "It was like you weren't even here," She pouted and rubbed her wrist, " You were someone else."

"It was the pain. I think maybe I should get it looked at." His hand drew back to his forehead and he pressed the heal of his palm to his brow.

"I can call for help."

"No!" Shinta raised his other hand to stop Kaoru in her tracks.

"You can drive my car."

"I only have a permit and you're not a capable driver."

"So what," Shinta replied.

Kaoru hesitated at first, her teeth clamped down as she bit her bottom lip. It was visible that he was indeed hurt, but she couldn't tell how serious it was. Her ability to drive was less than adequate and she was afraid she might get into a wreck.

"Fine." She helped Shinta to his feet and they began to move toward the door. Shinta had to lean on Kaoru, depending on her balance rather than his own. His vision swirled and became spotted with bright yellow specks of light.

"Shinta?" Kaoru stopped when his walking became heavy and hesitant. Shinta gripped her with both hands and fell to his knees almost taking Kaoru with him. His hands lowered as he tried to keep from toppling completely over. "What's wrong?" She asked, but there was no answer.

His breathing became heavy as if being strangled by an unseen force. Shinta coughed and gasped. He fell over onto his back and stared blankly toward the ceiling.

Kaoru ran for the phone and started to dial for help. She reached through to the hospital operator only to be stuck on hold.

She growled, ~Here Shinta is, lying on the floor, possibly dying and they're playing a flute in my ear.~ She tapped her finger nails and scraped them down the receiver handle; her grip tightened and a sweat drop ran down her cheek. Still no reply.

She turned around to check on Shinta, but to her amazement, he was sitting back up, no he was attempting to stand on his own. The phone slid out of her hand. It was like nothing had happened. He turned back and smiled.

"I feel fine now, Kaoru-dono." His personality seemed different and he was more at ease with himself. Also, what was up with saying 'dono'? or 'Koishii' for that matter. He never use to say that. Kaoru watched his actions as he finally got up off the floor.

It was as if he'd never been hurt, even though they both knew different because of the cut on his face and the bump on his head. The operator picked up the extension just as Kaoru hung up the receiver. After that, the room remained silent until Shinta cleared his throat.

"I feel better," Shinta replied. "So, why did you come over?"

"You still need to get your head checked out." Kaoru replied.

He shook his head, that wasn't the answer he was looking for.

"I stopped by because You weren't at School."

"So."

"So? Is that all you have to say?"

He lightly nodded as he reverted back to the Shinta she had come to know.

"I hit my head. Didn't I," He lifted a hand to the bandages. Kaoru found it odd that he didn't remember her patching his wound.

"I went through all your files and put them in a portfolio according to date and subject." Kaoru picked the case up from the hall.

"Arigato," He muttered. He reached out and took the black case from her hands. "But- I have all the information I need concerning the Battousai's life." He reached out and picked up the diary. "This book was fate. Take it and read it. You'll believe as I believe." Kaoru saw the pleading in his eyes, She took the diary from Shinta's hands.

"I'll read it tonight."

"Promise."

She nodded "I promise." She stood away from him. "If you don't mind, I think I'll stay here tonight."

"Isn't your father back yet?"

"No, not until Thursday."

"Oh." Shinta couldn't refuse her company. "I'll sleep on the couch, you can have my room."

"No. I'll take the couch." She moved the coffee table back and viewed the blood stain on the carpet. "By the looks of things you are accident prone."

Shinta looked down, "That was the weirdest thing that's ever happened. I've never fallen before." He rubbed the sore bump on his head and tossed back a lock of fire-red hair.

"Maybe you should go take a shower." Kaoru pointed out the obvious. "It might also help that memory of yours."

He looked down at his shirt and jeans. The blood from his injuries had splattered all over the place, like he'd been ruthlessly beaten to a pulp. "Maybe I should."

Shinta got up and headed toward his bedroom to find some clothes. Kaoru took the diary and sat down on the couch. She carefully opened it and began to read. When Shinta returned, he noticed Kaoru was on the couch reading and thought it wise not to disturb her.

She was doing as she promised. He closed the bathroom door, but left it unlocked. He trusted Kaoru, it wasn't like she'd peek. It was just in case he went into another dizzy spell, or fell again. Shinta reached and turned the knob on to the shower. The water spurted from the shower-head and began to fall over his sore and brutally battered body. He hurt everywhere and the worse part was he couldn't explain why.

The hot water ran along his jaw line, it turned red and drip from the tip of his chin. He watched each droplet fall and splash into the water that pooled at his feet, not to long later the pool had turned reddish pink from blood.

Shinta felt the pain enter his mind again. It was beating like a drum. What was this sensation? He lifted his hand and tried to massage the pain away, but it made things feel worse. He hissed out and the visions began to appear. A sword, death, chaos, and then it turned to black nothingness. The tunnel vision lifted and he was back in the shower. His stomach churned as if he had eaten something that didn't agree with him and the pain in his head was like the day after a drinking binge. After a few minutes of letting the water run over his naked body, the pain miraculously lifted and he felt like before. Like nothing happened and no memory of the occurrence.

Shinta got dressed and walked over to the medicine cabinet mirror. He took the towel he had used to wipe away the steam that coated the glass. His reflection revealed the hideous gash on his face, part of it peeking out from under the adhesive strip. Kaoru was right, it would indeed leave a huge scar. He passed it off. It wasn't like he had much of a social life anyway. He took out a hair dryer and plugged the cord in. Shinta dried and brushed his long scarlet hair and put it back in the usual ponytail.

After cleaning his mess up and dressing, he left the bathroom.

Kaoru was still on the couch, reading the diary. She must have made it to the part where Tomoe wrote about her lover's death. Tears were streaming down her beautiful face. If it was the case, Kaoru now knows of the Battousai. Shinta padded across the floor and lifted the diary out of her hands.

"Why did you do that for?" She wiped some of her tears away.

"Let's go out and get something to eat."

"You want to go out?" she muttered. "With me?" She pressed a single finger to her chest.

"It's not a date! I'm hungry and I can't leave you here alone." Shinta felt like slapping himself. He was being rude to her without cause. "What I mean is...I know a great sushi restaurant. It be nice if you join me."

She folded her arms, "You're hurt, we can't leave. We could call for take out. That way we don't have to leave"

"If that will make you feel better," Shinta replied. Kaoru searched the phone book and found the number she was looking for and dialed it. She ordered some sushi rolls, chicken teriyaki, pork and rice. "That should tide us over until morning."

Shinta had sat back down and started to go through his notes. "Saturday, I will be visiting the Kohei shrine for clues. Do you want to come?"

"Sure," She took a seat next to him. "Are you going to the Sakura Festival Friday?"

"I'm in it," Shinta replied. "There's going to be a samurai exhibition and I'm one of the fighters."

"Are you fighting with bokken or kendo?"

"Neither. I'll be using this," He pulled out a sheathe and sword from under the couch and handed it to Kaoru. She withdrew the sword and immediately noticed the blade had no sharp edges.

They want a realistic fight. I even have to wear this Samurai kimono and hakama outfit."

"Can I see it?"

"You can see it Friday if you happen to get a good seat at the show," Shinta laughed.

Kaoru's face soured, "It's not like I asked you to put it on."

The door bell rang and Shinta answered it. It was the delivery guy with their dinner. He paid but didn't bother to tip the guy; He did close the door in his face.

Shinta sat the bags down onto the table and they started eating dinner.

"So, you can tell me what it looks like?" Kaoru took her chopsticks and picked up some rice.

"It's a light blue outer kimono and white hakama." He stuffed his mouth so he didn't have to talk.

"Shinta," Kaoru sighed.

"Huh?" He lifted his eyes.

Her cheeks tinted as she played with her chopsticks for a moment. "The night at the pool. You were scared. Why?"

"Nani? (What?)"

"You were trying to explain something but you didn't say it because I was too busy running away."

"Oh..." Shinta sighed. He turned his own head away, allowing his dark red bangs to hide his eyes.

"The reason is because people never stay in my life too long."

"Oh," Kaoru sighed and picked at her rice from her meal and ate it. She put on her best facade and acted like it wouldn't bother her if he left tomorrow.

"Why, would you miss me if I got up and left tomorrow?" He gave a trembling sarcastic laugh.

"Miss you? Yeah right." She jested.

Shinta smiled, "I thought so."

Kaoru lifted the diary. "Well, you have your proof. Why go looking for the sword?"

"Because a single diary isn't enough," Shinta replied. "I want to know the whole truth." He yawned, still tired out from his wounds. "We can talk about this tomorrow."

"It's only ten," Kaoru sighed.

"Busy day tomorrow, that it is!" He smiled.

Sleeping arrangements were made. No one had the couch. Instead, Shinta slept quite peacefully on a fold out futon in his bedroom. It was just to put Kaoru at ease. She slept in his bed.

Her heart raced as his scent fluttered over her senses and heated her desire. She was lying on the same spot he does night after night. She would have preferred to share it with him.

After she fell asleep, he quietly looked toward the bed. He was over come by her beautiful face and how sound she rested upon his bed. His lips slightly curved into an ironic grin, "I wish I could tell you how I feel, but you are forbidden to me."

He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

To be continued…