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Burned in Memories	By : PinayTiger Category: Rurouni Kenshin > AU - Alternate Universe Views: 1853 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own anything in the terms of the Rurouni Kenshin fandom. The brilliant master mind behind all of the characters is Watsuki himself, and I make no money off of this,

Chapter List
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Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is Rurouni Kenshin related other than the story being written. The true genius behind the characters we know and love all belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki.

Burned In Memories

Chapter 3

Brotherly Love

By PinayTiger

It was hard enough to imagine Kaoru placing exceptionally high on the scale of tremulous violence, remaining this unsteady volcano of molten emotions when she blew her top, the rivers of lava sure to burn and liquefy any and all in its path. But Kenshin glanced at the shadowed figures, amazed at the walking facsimile that was Yahiko, her alleged younger brother. The redhead waited patiently in Terminal Two's short-term parking in Lindbergh Field, thankful he chose the holiest of all lots to park. The most ridiculous things about international airports-especially one in which the city stood proudly in America's top 10 largest-were the even more ridiculous prices found from mundane manufactured materials. A cup of vanilla latte from Starbuck's cost a fucking ridiculous six bucks…. He couldn't win it all, and sighed, waiting for the two to approach. He grew to accept Kaoru would take some of her sweet time in gathering her what-seemed-to-be-a-very-unwanted-guest, flooding in resentment for having to slosh several bills for parking. Just another perk in a large city with a pretty large airport.

Kaoru indeed took her time in retrieving Yahiko, her intentions as pure as a Golden Retriever's epic and religious ritual of gathering the daily newspaper to his owner. But unlike the newspaper, Kaoru found her hands dripping with Yahiko's snide remarks, the words a slimy, wet, and gross collection of his preteen drollness. Not even four minutes into their encounter, and the small smurf bickered about how old she was, and how she still wasn't married. He also had to rub in that she was just too appalling instead of appealing for even a herd of the nerdiest guys to bestow a second glance.

"You do know they have sites for single women, don't you?" Kaoru didn't know whether to fall face forward on the hard, grey, somber cement or chuck Yahiko's morbidly obese carryon bag full throttle at him. "I've developed my computer skills pretty well. I can understand how big of an obstacle dating can be for someone who probably wakes up to a mirror breaking every morning. But I can at least lend my expertise on the internet for charity."

Charity he says? Better yet, expertise… why, I ought to shove that stupid shinai of his up his-"You win, Yahiko! I've been keeping a secret from you and Father!" Kaoru was trying hard to quench her sweltering desire to slug Yahiko. Maybe her fake tone could go unnoticed for a few more hours, days, and maybe years. "There is…someone-in fact-that I've been seeing!" Kaoru redirected her gaze from the cracked sidewalks, after counting how many chewed up, wrinkled, and shriveled pieces of gum sensually caressed the ground to Yahiko's surprised look. "You're going to meet him, since you have to spend time with me!" She smiled.

"W-what do you mean you've been seeing someone?" Kaoru was shocked to see her younger brother's eyes fill with emotions she couldn't quite clarify. Oddly enough, hurt and resentment washed over the boy, the waves crashing down hard. It was accretion of being left out with no knowledge of Kaoru's present life and another…thing…that might keep Kaoru from coming back home to him and their father.

"I've been dating someone the last several months. It's been a very nice ride, but it seems like he just walked into my life yesterday."

Yahiko bit his lip in defiance, and threw his gaze in an adjacent direction of his older sister's form. "So what?"

"What do you mean: so what, Yahiko?" It was an exasperated statement rather than a question, jabbing her feet into the ground as if to prove a point. "You do know that typically men get better with age, right? In this case, you're spoiling so fast that not even the sun will make you taste better when your raw hide dries to the latest definition of 'nothing'."

Yahiko grunted, and ignored her remarks. He had to admit, she was getting wittier. "You're never coming back are you?"

"What's it to you? I am eighteen years old; and last that I checked, I am more than capable of living my life, and what good would it do? Remember, I coulda sworn you were the brat who marched up to my room before I left Father and you, dumping all your video games, marking your territory as if you pissed all over my belongings!"

He twitched at the remark. He deserved it. Their childhood (or at least what he considered it to be) never amounted to the cultural myth of the true American family: happy-obedient-little-saps-who-droned-over-the-television-set-while-mom-and-pops-set-an-amazing-dinner-together-harmoniously. She was seventeen when she moved out, and Yahiko turned 10 before finding out about her voyage to some foreign place called "college". It was heartbreaking that his already broken family was going to lose a member. He lost people in the past-at least that was what he was told, what he grew up believing….

"Just try to remember, I am only here because of Father's wishes, and I am not-I repeat-not becoming some pathetic pet of yours or even a friend."

Kaoru felt a vein twitch on her forehead, and made to reach for the boy's annoying, black, spiky hair. A yank or two wouldn't hurt; she promised to leave him intact. Instead, she mentally chained and harnessed the aggravated jaws of her arms, and smiled, knowing they were heading back to Kenshin.

Yahiko was more than thrilled to actually meet this "someone" that Kaoru's been seeing; he just wasn't ready to admit defeat on the first night spending time with his adversary: the scary and ugly hag next to him. Though Kaoru stood a foot taller, and significantly older, she still held regard for the boy as if he was years passed his real age. The downfall to Yahiko was his immense pride, and his hate of being looked as weak or inexperienced. And so, with the newfound affinity for a lack of tact and a sharp tongue, he proceeded to the parking lot behind Kaoru. Waiting to see this man. Waiting to let him know he's probably not good enough for his perfect sister-but he would never tell her that, that she was perfect. Waiting to let this mysterious guy know she only needed her brother and father. Waiting to break them apart if he disapproved.

Kenshin sat on the hood of his car, carelessly sipping the hot contents of his overly priced vanilla latte. He watched the vast blue skies, the wind melodiously moaning through the rivers of green and jade palm trees. It wasn't too hot-shit, it never got too hot in America's Finest City-and he wondered about taking Kaoru's younger brother to the beach. Come to think of it, he never recalled her mentioning her sibling until last week, surprised that she even had a brother. She went several months without mentioning several minute, little-though horribly important-details about her life. Not that Kenshin was on the same boat...

Tawny eyes flicked from the scenic background and planted seed on Kaoru's sapphire gems; she drew in a long, lingering breath, and felt shivers trace their fingers down her spine. How the hell does he do that? She stopped an arm's length away from Kenshin, who in turn cocked his head to the side, ignoring the young boy next to her. "You took much longer than I thought you would." The rich, glowing, sensual tone he hissed promised a punishing kiss, and she saw the impish hue in his eyes.

"It was hardly an hour," she said, tossing Yahiko's bag on the floor. "Kenshin, I'd like you to meet-" She extended a hand toward Yahiko, intending an introduction.

The youth stopped her mid-sentence: "Kaoru, you never told me you were dating a-what was it that Yutaro put it at school once?-a fag!" Words from a child, ignorant, spiteful kid of course….

The raven-haired girl's eyes grew the size of the sun, and she turned to meet her gaze with her brother's, death and banishment to Dante's 7th level of hell a promise she was about to deliver in a matter of unearthly milliseconds. "Yahiko, I thought we talked about this!" She whispered, bowing to face him levelly.

"I told you, already, Kaoru! I am not here to play dolls with you. I'm only doing this for Father's sake!"

"Grow up, asshole!"

"What was that, ugly?"

"You sure gotta come up-" she brusquely foisted Yahiko off the ground, "-with something better than that if you plan to win a pissing match with me. Got that boy?"

Unannounced, Kenshin meandered quickly and quietly to a neighboring trashcan, tossing the paper cup away, and walked to his car to open the door graciously. "So it's Yahiko, is it? My name is Kenshin." He smiled. "You are right when you lightly put that your friend Yutaro classified gay men as "fags"; that is the accepted vernacular. ...However, I am not of that demographic, and I like, what your friend might also call, a thing called pussy..." Kenshin overtly smiled ear to ear, amusement locked in his eyes seeing Kaoru go red with embarrassment. "So if you please refrain from using those words, and get into the car, we can drop our differences, and maybe have a good time. Once we get to know each other, of course."

The young boy didn't like the speech patterns of this weirdo; to him, he sounded like one of his teachers lecturing a group of ignorant kids, with words suggesting arrogance and a man on a high-horse. He tightened his jaw, gritting his teeth in sheer vexation. Yahiko's brown eyes traced Kenshin's form, noting the silky swooshing sound the man's red, ribbon-like hair made. Kenshin's smile dropped to a thin, grim line, and Yahiko placed the right words on labeling him: dark, silent-and dare he even venture-unknowingly deadly.

The heat from Kenshin's gold stare bore into Yahiko's now timid gaze (where was the spunky preteen?); the youth assented to the redhead's proffered gesture to the car, dragging his bags behind him. "I'm gonna keep watch on you," he exchanged to Kenshin, before closing the car door with a loud, resonating clank.

Kenshin smiled. "So, loving brother, he is!" He sidestepped to Kaoru, kicking the fat carryon bag to the side. "And who would've thought he was related to you…." he mused, sliding and slinking his arms protectively around Kaoru's waste, walking up from behind.

"Mmm, I don't know," she reached above, hands finding a temporary pedestal on Kenshin's head, combing through his copper hair. "He's very… uppity today? I think that's the word. He's always been a brat, but I think he's intimidated by you." She turned to face Kenshin; he smiled at her, but kept his concentration on her lips. "Kenshin?"

"Hmm?"

"What is it?"

"You," he smiled, brushing his lips tentatively over hers. With barely controlled passion, Kaoru deepened the kiss by tilting her head slightly; Kenshin took her invitation, slipping his tongue through her mouth, crushing her to his hard body. Finally, he withdrew, leaving Kaoru grunting her protests. "We're still in public, remember? Last time, Megumi almost poisoned us with her scathing words." Kenshin spun on his heel, Kaoru dazed at his unearthly speed, as she noticed the door to the passenger's side buckle open. "We should get going."

She nodded and slumped in the car, her cheeks burning. That feeling that pit in the base of her stomach whenever he was around-whenever he kissed, touched her-left her with goose flesh, and she dragged the last bag of Yahiko's into the car. The kid in the back narrowed his eyes in distaste, "Way to go, making out in public…."

He was barely loud enough for Kaoru to hear, but Kenshin adjusted his rearview mirror so his gaze met with the young boy's. Yahiko instantly sat up, arms folded over his chest as if to ward of the intruding gaze of amber eyes. He manned up, mentally coaxing himself, and met Kenshin's stare; the redhead smiled, and shook his head. "Yahiko, are you hungry?"

"What do you think? I've been on two flights today, and had a 2 hour lapse in Portland. Of course I'm hungry; why bother asking some stupid question?"

"You know, men like us-" Kenshin forced the key into the ignition of his car, flicking his wrist, the beast purring to life, "-don't always speak what we feel. I am most certain a fine young gentleman as you owns a large appetite. Do the honors of answering this: have you ever spent time in this city?" It irked Yahiko that Kenshin managed to drive, but also have his gaze constantly fixed on his. But it was also different that Kaoru's suitor was very polite, very respectful. This Kenshin guy couldn't be too bad, now could he?

"Umm, no," he sighed. "I've never really been outside of the Seattle area."

"Is that so?" Kenshin averted his gaze from the rearview mirror, and shifted the gearing, as he blindingly buzzed passed the sloths on the street. They approached a stop light, and he signaled to make a left on the corner of Harbor Drive and Grape Street. "Well, for starters, we have SeaWorld. If that seems too childish for you, we're a couple hours away from Magic Mountain, and Disneyland. I'm sure there are a few things you want to do;places to see maybe?"

"I've never been on a rollercoaster before!" Happy, high pitch banter.

"When do you have to fly back home?" Kenshin flicked his right blinker, merging on I-5 North.

"A little under a week. I think Father wants me home on Sunday so we can focus on my studies." Yahiko was amazed with how many palm trees littered the embankments of the black urban river. "It's so sunny here." He shyly smiled. "It's different…."

"Yahiko," Kaoru breathed almost silently, "how is Father?"

"He's good. He misses you like crazy!"

She pouted. "I'm sorry. I know my leaving caused some heartache."

"I've advanced on my swordsmanship…." Yahiko added as an addendum.

Kaoru shot him an astonished look, and almost smacked Kenshin with the careless, fluid jerks of her arms. "You started practicing with a sword?"

"No-he's still got me using that stupid wooden toy. Tried graduating me to a bokken, but I refused many times over."

"What's wrong with a bokken?" Her nostrils were flaring again. Kenshin wondered if Kaoru was on her monthly gift; maybe Mother Nature was extremely gracious with her red magic. "I use a bokken."

"And you're still weak, then. That stuff's for kids, for babies."

Kenshin directed his attention to Kaoru, and knit his eyebrows in confusion. He never knew her as the girl to take up martial arts, let alone practice any form of sword style. Her next words almost drove him (and the car) off course.

"I am the assistant master to Kamiya Kasshin Ryu! I am the one who started you off the right path!" That shed some light to a few things; Kenshin finally understood why she never had the softest of hands. He had asked her once, and all he got in response were sobs and wails, Kaoru frantically apologizing that she wasn't as soft as other women. He also recalled her smacking him on the head a few times after asking. The conversation about sword training died the moment those last words jeered from her pretty red and plump lips. Kaoru looked forward, leaving Yahiko alone. It hasn't been a full 2 hours, and they've had enough arguments to last a month. She read the approaching exit signs: Exit 28 for La Jolla Village Dr.

The boy who sat in the back passenger's seat was brilliantly alert at the neighborhood surrounding Kenshin's already posh, sleek, black sports-car. He lost count with how many nice cars housed public parking; even more radiant was the sight of a blue-green ocean sensually placed beneath a heavenly sky. Yahiko could see a stretch of velvet brown which he associated as La Jolla Cove Beach from Kaoru and Kenshin's side conversation. Kenshin parked the car in-between a nice dark maroon BMW and an older Mercedes, and the redhead was already out the car, opening Kaoru's door.

"I hope you enjoy seafood, Yahiko," Kenshin beamed radiantly, his voice as warm and comforting like the heat that caressed the youth as he stepped out from behind Kaoru. It was around three in the afternoon, and the sun was luminous as ever, affording tinges of orange, molten gold and burnished tangerine to hug the city. "We're going to be eating at Cody's."

Lunch was such a comforting welcome to Yahiko! Kaoru had her usual Roasted Seafood Bouillabaisse, the entrée a lush garden of delicious, seasoned, colorful shellfish. She poked at a black clam during her conversation with Kenshin, and it squirted something oozy and brown, causing her to almost yak. Kenshin smiled at her, shifting his hand that sat sleeping on his knee to Kaoru's, and affectionately traced unrecognizable shapes on her exposed flesh; he felt her shudder under his ministrations, slightly satisfied with the blush tainting her alabaster cheeks. "It's already dead, Kaoru," his deep gold eyes flashed amusement. "I can order something else; you're more than welcome to have some of mine." Kenshin took his free hand to stab the oozing clam, banishing it to hell for making Kaoru sick to her stomach, and savored the flavor. "Silly, it's not that bad!"

Kaoru tossed his hand off her leg, and stuck her tongue out. "That's just gross!" She looked away to Yahiko, trying hard to evade Kenshin's distaste in her remonstration toward his small, private show of affection. The kid was off in his own world, shoving fry after fry into his mouth, the hamburger, cup of soup, and the Portobello Sandwich pulverized somewhere in his black hole for a stomach. "Yahiko!" she griped, annoyance setting in place of her momentary feigned queasiness, "learn to chew and swallow!"

"Schwut it-" he slurred and swished words, his mouth full of food, "-en lemme eat!" Kaoru felt a piece of…something…land on her face, and reached for Kenshin's fork, who forcibly yanked the probable silver weapon away, forcing Kaoru back to her seat. She gave Kenshin a death glare, who in turn smiled, feeling a drop of sweat trail down his forehead.

Three entrees and a stuffed Yahiko later, Kenshin tossed a large bill to their waiter, advising the courteous gal to keep the change. Kenshin slid Kaoru's chair back, and looped his arm around hers, readying his company to make their pilgrimage back to the car. Yahiko grunted his dissent, and failed several times to stand. "Where to?" he asked, using his chair as a third leg.

The redhead smiled, shaking his head, wondering how such a boy existed. It was one thing having Yahiko go from hating his guts upon first meet, to openly accepting enough food to feed a starving family in less than twenty four hours. Kenshin clasped Kaoru's hand in his, and threw over his shoulder, "Home."

The boy groaned even louder, the agonizing sound resonating so much that it put shame on California's yearly dose of earthquakes who rumbled their tyranny, shaking the Golden State with rocking tremors.

"Kenshin! This is where you live?"

"It sure is, Yahiko."

Thud, clank, yank, snap. Kenshin winced. Somewhere between the fight with the seatbelt, and the abrupt door swinging open, a piece of his car either broke off or garbed a new gash. Yahiko made a beeline to the door, amazed at the house in front of him.

"You usually see these in movies! Holy shit! This is gonna be one fucking awesome Spring Break!"

"Yahiko!" Kaoru corrected, "Watch your language!"

"Now I see why you keep this guy around! He's loaded."

"Kaoru, remember, he's just a kid, he's just a kid, he's just a kid." She was singing her mantra, calming her nerves, and the jolts and spasms surging through her vein like an electric current to murder Yahiko.

The walkway was a curving shape of brown and auburn brick, the grass neatly trimmed and pristine. The corridor that crouched above the stretch of tan-russet, with its looming fingers of palm trees and banana tree greens, gave an appeal of a far away tropical paradise. Yahiko beat the couple to the entrance, Kenshin and Kaoru taking the bags from the car. Kenshin swung the doors open to welcome his guests, and Yahiko found himself drooling.

"Kaoru, so we're staying here?" His brown eyes shone with excitement, and he rushed for the second floor.

Kaoru sighed.

"What is it, love?" Kenshin stalked to his glass dinette, hopping up on the clear counter, grabbing a bottle of vodka. He took a swig straight from the bottle.

"Umm," Kaoru didn't know where to start. "I know it's rather abrupt, but I'm convinced he'd have a better time here, instead of being cramped in my condo. We don't even have a spare bedroom, and Misao and Aoshi would probably feel stepped on. At least they'd have no privacy for several days."

Kenshin leaned over his folded legs, calculating her words. "I don't mind. I'd prefer you here with me." The amber in his eyes intensified and Kaoru looked away. "Of course you can stay…." Kenshin jumped off the table, taking another gulp from the glass bottle. He tossed the empty canister into the trashcan, and undid his tight, high-rise ponytail. Somehow Kaoru didn't notice his shirt landing on the cold, bare floor of granite. The gleam of his lean, taut muscles rippled beneath his undone mane of red. "There are only two beds to use, however." He looked over his shoulder, and gave Kaoru a devious look, "I'm going to shower."

She blushed under his heated stare. "I'll show the brat which room will be his for the week, and get him situated."

Kenshin nodded his approval, and disappeared up the flight of stairs.

Yahiko came bounding down the steps, his scream a shattering and deafening roar. He missed Kenshin's ascent to the second level, but bumped Kaoru to the hard ground.

"Could you at least watch yourself," Kaoru rubbed her bottom, and fisted her free hand, teeth grinding down hard.

"I found what room I'm gonna be staying in! It has a PS3, and a shit load of games, and a huge chair, and a fridge with lots of soda and sweets. This. Is. Gonna. Be. Awesome."

"That's the game room, stupid!"

"I don't care! I can sleep on the floor, if I want. I'm sure your boy toy won't mind."

"FYI, brat, he is not my boy toy." Kaoru trudged to the fridge, and snatched a bottle of cold water. "Besides, go get that stupid shinai of yours and let's do some sparring. I want to see if your words hold true…."

Kenshin came bounding down the stairs after his shower, and searched for his two guests. His body adorned an overly white and overly plush bathrobe, his hair dripping sloppily. He brushed passed the sliding glass door that lead to his balcony to see Yahiko fall to his butt on the grass underneath the shelter of large queen palms. Kaoru stood above Yahiko rather magnificently, a walking stick held to her side.

"I thought you'd gotten stronger," she admonished as she wiped a stray bead of sweat from her brow.

"You cheated," Yahiko frowned.

"Get up off your butt, and give me 5000 swings…."

The child grunted. "Fack…."

Kaoru saw Kenshin smile under hooded bangs, and rushed to him affectionately. "Kid claimed your game room…."

"That's more than fine," he greeted warmly wrapping his arms around her. "You never told me your practiced swordsmanship."

Kaoru winced at that. "You never asked?" There was that intense look in his amber eyes, again, and she looked away. I swear, sometimes his eyes are scarier than hell. "Yahiko seems to like you…" Nice way to evade the topic.

Kenshin noticed the derision in her voice. He let the conversation die on her lips, and hugged her closer. He drowned the background out of his senses, Yahiko's huffing and hitting of an imaginary object and the wailing of a radio on the balcony becoming silent. He embraced the welcoming scent of jasmine, and closed his eyes. This was going to be a very pleasant and very leisurely week.

"Three-hundred-forty-one." Huff, swing.

The radio's bawling turned to an emergency newscaster.

"Three-hundred-forty-two."

"Drug cartels becoming more eminent along the California and Mexican borders…"

"Three-hundred-forty-three."

"Violence is surging, raging, rising…"

"Three-hundred-forty-four." Pause, hard, laborious breathing.

"Four decapitated bodies found in Barrio Logan linked to kidnappings from Tijuana Estuary incidents in Imperial Beach; Mexican Government baffled with the severity of killings."

Kenshin sighed heavily, but not because of Kaoru's closeness.

"Three-hundred-forty-five."
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Burned in Memories