Well, hello, again! Nobody has reviewed my old story, so, here's another. I hope this one does a bit better...you know, like someone acknowledging that you wrote three more chapters on a story...but, whatever. I hope everyone likes, and please (I can't stress this enough) R&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Disclaimer: I own no parts of Rurouni Kenshin or anything, so don't sue. I have nothing to give you.

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Forgotten Memories by Supersaiyanchicken

"What a day!" Kaoru leaned against the wooden railing of the bridge and dropped her bags. Kenshin smiled at her. She looked so peaceful, with the river running behind her and the sun setting just over the horizon.

"Tired, Kaoru-dono?" he asked. She nodded. "Perhaps we should not have gone to that last store..." Kaoru grinned at him.

"I needed a new kimono. What's wrong with that?" Kenshin shook his head. Kaoru leaned back, but no one noticed a soft crack that came from the railing.

"Kaoru-dono, we really should be returning home. Yahiko will wonder where we are." Kaoru made a small noise of agreement but didn't move. The railing gave a sudden snap and fell away. Kaoru's eyes opened wide as she dropped back.

Kenshin saw Kaoru fall as if in slow motion. He lunged forward and grabbed for her, but his hand closed on nothing but air. He swore and jumped after her. The fall was short, but Kaoru landed hard on the rocky bed of the river and instantly fell unconscious. Kenshin landed more gracefully than Kaoru had and immediately began to swim after her. The rapids were powerful and he was losing control.

"Kaoru!!!" he called. "You have to wake up! The waterfall is just up ahead!" She didn't reply. He tried to swim faster, but his arms were already burning with exertion. He could hear the distant roar of the waterfall...but it wasn't so distant anymore. Just up ahead, he could see the water dropping away into a seemingly bottomless abyss. Soon, if he could not get to her, Kaoru would drop off too. He used up his last bit of energy and reached her. He wrapped one arm around her waist and pushed with all his might with his other arm. There was a rock only a few yards away. He could reach it.

Kenshin set Kaoru on top of the rock and began to climb on top of it himself. Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, a huge tree branch came speeding down the river. It slammed into Kenshin's head and he fell from the rock. Kaoru opened her eyes in time to see Kenshin shooting out over the waterfall and hanging there for what seemed like eternity. His eyes grew wide as he stared at her.

"Goodbye, Kaoru," he whispered. Then he disappeared. Kaoru screamed and looked away. It didn't happen! He's still fine. He couldn't die from something like that! She looked up. He didn't reappear. She curled up on the rock and began to sob.

* * * * *

Kaoru stood anxiously over Kenshin's body. They were back at the dojo. Kenshin was lying on the futon that had been in his room since the first day he had been there. It had never been used until now. He hadn't yet awoken. Dr. Genzai had said that he would be okay...but what if...?

"Ughhh." Kenshin sat up unsteadily. Kaoru cried out in delight and ran toward him. His head whipped up at her and she jumped backwards. She stopped and stared at him. His eyes were no longer the violet of the peaceful rurouni. They were instead deep amber. She had only seen this twice before-once when he fought Jin'e and once when he fought Saitou-but she knew what it meant: Kenshin was no longer Kenshin. He had become Hitokiri Battousai.

"Kenshin?" she asked worriedly. His eyes narrowed.

"How do you know my name?" His hand moved toward the hilt of his sakabatou. Kaoru gasped in fear and took a step back.

"Kenshin...it's me. Kaoru. Don't you...remember me?" Kenshin looked uncertain.

"Where am I?" he demanded. "Who are you? What's going on here?!" Kaoru looked at him in horror.

"Not Kenshin?" she whispered. "Battousai?" Battousai's eyes widened.

"You know my name?" She nodded. He flew forward. Kaoru found herself pinned against the wall with his fingers around her neck. She choked and tried to speak, but he tightened his grip.

"What is going on here? If I let you go, will you tell me?" She managed to nod. He dropped her and took two steps back. Kaoru fell to the ground, stood up, and began to talk while massaging her neck, "You...you've been here for...four years."

"What year is it now?" interrupted Battousai. Kaoru stared at him

"It is the fifteenth year of the Meiji. After the Bakumatsu, you disappeared for ten years. Four years ago, I met you on the streets here in Tokyo. You...you saved me from Hiruma Gohei. then you decided to stay here. A little over two years ago, you went to Kyoto to fight Shishio Makoto. You beat him, and then you came back. You've been here since then." Kaoru finished her tale and looked down. It was too strange, to stare into those once familiar eyes and now see nothing; no friendliness, no twinkle. Battousai's eyes were cold and dark.

"It makes no sense," said Battousai, turning away. "I feel like I just killed them recently...wait, who the hell are you?" He rounded on Kaoru and pressed her against the wall again. "Why am I staying here with you?" Kaoru faltered, unsure how to answer. Why was he staying here? It was obvious that he had never intended to make their relationship anymore htan that of a friend.

"Perhaps I did decide to stop killing after the war was over..." battousai walked away from Kaoru and began to think aloud. "If I truly decided not to kill, it would make sense that I would find a place to settle down." He turned back to Kaoru. How many years was it before I met you?"

"ten" she replied. Battousai nodded. He grabbed and drew his sword. Kaoru screamed and flattened herself against the wall, but Battousaid idnt' strike. He was staring at the blade of his sakabatou.

"What the fuck is this?" he spat. "I wouldn't use something as pathetic as this, would I?" Kaoru made an indistinct noise. Battousai glared at her and took a step forward.

"Don't hurt me, please!" she pleaded. "You got that sword after you decided to stop killing. You haven't ever used a real sword since then." Battousai snarled in rage and flipped the sword over.

"It doesn't really matter," he said, advancing on her. "I can still kill you with this sword." Tears were streaming down Kaoru's cheeks as Battousai raised his sword. His eyes flashed and the sword came flying down.

The door opened. The blade froze, inches from Kaoru's head. Yahiko stepped into the room. Battousai whirled around and looked at him. Yahiko's eyes widened and he took a step back. Battousai cursed and looked back at Kaoru, sheathing his sword.

"Kaoru, what's going on? What's wrong with Kenshin?" Yahiko looked hesitant to enter the room. Kaoru made a small step towards Yahiko, and when Battousai did nothing to stop her, she ran to the boy.

"He's...not Kenshin..." Kaoru managed to stammer before collapsing onto Yahiko's shoulder. The boy fell down, but pushed Kaoru off and stood up, his eyes having never left the Battousai.

"I do not kill in the presence of children," said Battousai. "Who are you?" Yahiko looked horrified.

"You...you're...Battousai?" Battousai flinched at the sound of his name. Just how many people knew of his existence now? Perhaps it would advisable to remain here for a brief period of time, to get acquainted with the new times. If it truly was the Meiji Era, there was little chance of him getting attacked while at a young girl's dojo.

"Yes," he replied. "I will be staying here for a bit. Do not worry. I will not kill anyone here until I leave." Battousai smirked as the child quivered in fear. He walked past Yahiko and down the hall. Yahiko could feel his heart pounding much faster than usual. He kneeled down over Kaoru and tapped her face lightly. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked anxiously around, looking, for a moment, confused and disoriented. Then her eyes focused and she sat up.

"Yahiko," she said. "Where's Kenshin?"

"I...he just went down the hall. He said he was going to stay here for a while." Kaoru abruptly stood up. "What's wrong?"

"He can't stay here as Battousai. It'll be too dangerous." Kaoru walked down the hall.

Yahiko grinned and called out to her, "Hey, ugly, other way!" Kaoru stopped, turned, blushed, and went the same way Battousai had.

* * * * *

Kaoru pulled open the door to Kenshin's room and found that he was gone. There was a note on the futon in the center of the room. She hurried forward and picked it up.

"Girl, I remain true to my word. I have not left this place for good. I need a new sword, a real one, no this worthless piece of junk. Have food ready before I return." Kaoru dropped the note on the floor and stood up.

"Kenshin..." She turned and walked slowly from the room, sliding the door shut silently. She went to her own room and sat down on her own futon. Could Kenshin really be gone? Had his entire memory of her been erased in that fall? That would be too much. After everything they had been through, one little accident like this would end it all. Kaoru lay back on the futon and closed her eyes. Maybe this is all a bad dream. Maybe I'll wake up and everything will be fine. Please...

* * * * *

Battousai walked down the streets of Tokyo, feeling pleased with himself. He had tricked Kaoru a bit. Of course he hadn't planned on killing her, oh no. The fall hadn't addled his brains at all; he still remembered everything perfectly. But one thing had changed. After he had fallen unconscious, Battousai realized that now was the perfect time to take over. The rurouni side of him was temporarily inactive, so why not exercise a little power? Besides, Battousai had been waiting for ages for the rurouni to make a move on Kaoru. Now, they were doing things his way.

Sadly, he couldn't kill anyone, not yet. If that happened, Kaoru might very well completely lose her trust of him. He couldn't have that, not if he wanted to finally get something started between them. And he definitely did want to start something.

If Kaoru learned that he was still fully aware of the time, the effect Battousai had on her would be diminished. She would worry about the rurouni part of him. That would be no fun at all. But this way, she didn't have to worry about the gentler side of him. In her mind, the only person would be Battousai. This would make seducing her much easer.

I'll give her a little time to get used to the idea before I go back thought Battousai. After I get back, she won't have time for anything but me.

* * * * *

Kaoru had been unable to fall asleep, and so she had gone to the kitchen, intending to prepare dinner for Kenshin.

What do I want? she thought to herself, stopping in the doorway. Do I want Kenshin...or do I want Battousai?

"Uh...Kaoru?" Yahiko stepped into the room and looked up at her.

"What is it, Yahiko-chan?" she asked. Yahiko looked slightly put out at being called Yahiko-chan, but didn't comment on it. Instead, he said, "Kaoru, what's wrong with Kenshin? Has he really turned into the Battousai again?" Kaoru nodded slowly.

"I...I think so." She looked very sad. "He doesn't seem to remember anything about us. He was about to kill me when you came in..." She shuddered and slid down the wall. She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, still shivering. Yahiko walked over and awkwardly patted her on the shoulder.

"I don't know much about this, Kaoru, but I think we can get our Kenshin back. He's bound to remember something after a few days." Kaoru sniffled and looked at Yahiko.

"Thanks, Yahiko-chan. I feel a bit better now." She gave him a watery smile and stood up. "I think I'll make dinner for us." Yahiko nodded and left the room. Kaoru stood still for minute. Kenshin... Then she began to prepare some food.

Okay, chap 1! I know the ending's a little boring, but it'll get a little better... believe me. Anyway, one last time, please R&R. Thank you, and goodnight.