Something Wrong

By: Hitokiri Musei

Rated: T

Summary: Kaoru Kamiya and her friends go to Doshisha University in 2004. She, Sano, and Megumi have a shy friend named Kenshin Himura, who was always alone before he met them. Kaoru is going to find out why, and what she does discover will change their lives…..

Warnings and Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin characters. This is a modern fic, so it is going to be extremely different. Just a random idea I had. I'm going to screw with Kenshin's character quite a bit, so he's going to be OC, at least a little. I'll try to keep him similar to the original as much as I can. Read and Review please!

/Shinta/

/Kenshin/

(You'll understand...)

Chapter 1

My name is Kaoru Kamiya, and I am 21 years old. I'm a college student, and I go to Doshisha University in Kyoto. This is my second year here, in 2004. I only just moved into my apartment the other day, so I've been getting used to the accommodations. I'm enjoying though, and I've found that a few of my friends are here with me. Sanosuke Sagara, 22 year old jerk that he is, is living not far from me. He's a bit of a freeloader, but he's a good friend. He's only a few doors down in my apartment complex, as is my long time girlfriend Megumi Takani. We've been through thick and thin, Megumi and I, and I was really happy when I found out that she was in my apartment complex. All of us live right next to each other, first me, then Megumi, then Sano. We live in 1 room apartments, similar to the dorms on campus, but we wanted to be close to each other. Each room has a kitchen connected to the bedroom, which is the first thing you walk into. A bathroom branches off from the bedroom on the opposite side of the kitchen. Megumi, Sano, and I share a laundry room.

The other friend of mine that is here with us is Kenshin Himura. Kenshin lives on the other side of me in the apartments. We've only known him for a little while; in fact we met him in our first year together at the university. He's a very quiet man, generally keeping to himself. He was always by himself last year, but we managed to talk to him and befriend him. He's very shy and soft-spoken, but he's very kind and funny once you get him comfortable with you. He's only 22, like Sano, and it really surprised me when I found out that he had no friends. Soon, however, I would find out why he was by himself so often, and what I discovered would change the course of our lives……

Kaoru moved into her room in silence, leaving the cool night air. She had been out looking at the stars as she did sometimes, just standing out there enjoying the sky and the cool breeze. Her small balcony was perfect for this, and she did it often. She shut her door quietly, and then turned around to face her bed. She absentmindedly tightened the rope on her bathrobe as it became a bit loose around her slender frame, then she folded her legs and knelt on her bed. Her hair, which she had unbound as she stood in the breeze, floated around her shoulders. She picked up the midnight strands and braided them into a tight length, then slipped beneath the covers and closed her eyes to sleep.

Just as she had done so a sound alerted her and her eyes flew open again. She narrowed sapphire orbs and sat up again, looking curiously towards the door. She cocked her head, listening intently for the sound again. There. A slight sniffling, at least by what Kaoru could tell. She rose to her feet slowly, and went to the door of her room. She listened there again, and the sound came to her as she opened the door.

She walked down the hall, pausing periodically to listen for the noises. She eventually ended up in front of Kenshin's room. She blinked in confusion. 'Kenshin?' She knocked lightly on the door, not wanting to barge in on the redhead. "Kenshin?" She called softly.

There was a sniffle from the other side, and the sound of cloth rustling. When there was no answer from him Kaoru pushed the door open slowly, as not to frighten the man. "Kenshin? Are you alright?" She was greeted by silence, and she moved slowly into the room, startled to find Kenshin's bed empty.

Sniffles came to her ears from the far corner, shrouded in darkness. She walked over there, and soon her eyes could make out a huddling form in the black. "Kenshin…." she murmured gently. She saw the figure flinch and jerk, and she knelt next to him and put a hand on the shaking shoulder. "Kenshin, what's the matter?"
He lifted his face and Kaoru gasped. His face was red from crying, and his eyes were watery with unshed tears. But what shocked her were his eyes. They were big and child-like, a deep amethyst that sparkled with hope and yet sadness. He whimpered and shrank away from her, and she lifted her other hand to gently wipe away a tear as it trickled down his cheek. "Kenshin?"
His voice shook when he answered her. "Kenshin's not here right now pretty lady…." Kaoru's eyes widened and she backed away from him in fear. "My name is Shinta. Kenshin's sleeping."

Kaoru opened her mouth, closed it, and then spoke. "What are you talking about Kenshin? What do you mean?"
Kenshin shook his head, his unbound hair swaying gently around his shoulders. "Kenshin's sleeping. It's only me, Shinta." He suddenly seemed sympathetic. "Oh, you don't know do you pretty lady? You don't know 'bout me…." He smiled, just the barest of expressions. "I'll let you talk to Kenshin…."

Kaoru watched in shock and fear as Kenshin's body suddenly jerked, his eyes rolling up into his head, then he blinked and his eyes were once again the normal soft violet. This was not quite the deep amethyst she had just seen, a more gentle violet color that she could compare to a lavender blossom.

"Kenshin?" she whispered, her voice shaking with fear.

He looked at her, and then raised a hand to his face. He shivered suddenly and she watched as more tears began to course down his face. "I'm sorry Kaoru, so sorry for what I've done."

Kaoru was dumbfounded. What was going on? "Kenshin?" She grabbed his shoulders and gave him a shake. "Kenshin, talk to me. What was that? Who is Shinta? What were you talking about?"

Kenshin's eyes widened as she mentioned the name Shinta. "You…he told…..oh no….no no no……" He suddenly shook his head violently, focusing back on her. "You deserve to know Kaoru."

Kaoru was confused, but she settled on her knees in a more comfortable position. "Know about what Kenshin?"
"Something's wrong with me Kaoru." Kenshin whispered. "Something is horribly wrong. I've been like this as long as I can remember, and it's the reason I'm always alone. I'm schizophrenic Kaoru; I've come to this conclusion on my own. It's like I have two other people inside of me, and I can't figure out why."

Kaoru's eyes were wide in shock and disbelief. "S-Schizophrenic? So I was talking to one of your other personalities?"

Kenshin nodded slowly, watching her warily. "There are two others, my child-like personality Shinta, and then there's….." Kenshin paused, shivering. "Then there's Him. I don't know where He came from, but He is the dangerous personality. He got lose only once before, and He killed my girlfriend, Tomoe. This happened 3 years ago, when I was 19. I've never been able to control Him, but Shinta and I can co-exist. Shinta is like my shield, I've found." Kenshin looked down, and Kaoru watched as his shoulders began to heave again. "I'll understand….if you….if you wanted to go…."

Kaoru watched the broken man for a moment, watching with wide eyes as he sobbed. She then moved closer to him and drew him into a gentle embrace. "Oh Kenshin….It's alright Kenshin, I don't want to leave you. I don't mind this, I still care for you. You've been my good friend, and this isn't going to change anything."

Kenshin's wide lavender eyes met her gaze. "Really? You, you don't care?"

Kaoru shook her head gently. "I don't care. I can still be your friend, even through this, and I will." She smiled at him, and he was able to send a small smile in her direction.

"Thank you Kaoru. So much." Kenshin murmured. "I wasn't sure if I could tell you, but I knew that you would find out sooner or later. I'm glad that you understand."

She giggled lightly. "It's a bit much to swallow, that's for sure, but I'm sure we'll get along fine." She released him slowly and stood. "You'd better get some rest Kenshin, if you can. We'll talk more in the morning alright? We don't have any classes tomorrow, and I'm off work for the next little while." She switched to a serious outlook. "We'll need to tell Sano and Megumi you know."

Kenshin sighed and nodded. "I know. Do you think we could tomorrow?" He wrung his hands nervously. "I would rather get it over with, as soon as possible."

Kaoru thought for a moment. "I don't think that they have to work tomorrow. I'll send them messages on their laptops, I'm sure they'll get on right away in the morning like they always do. Be online in the morning alright. I'll see you then."

Kenshin watched her leave his small apartment, a smile on his features. "Thank you Kaoru. I'm glad that you understand."

Shinta smiled inwardly as well. /I told you the pretty lady would understand us. If only you'd listened to me at first/

/I had to make sure that it wouldn't scare her off Shinta. You know that many people would be afraid of us if they found out. But yes, you were right. Now come on, let's get some sleep./ Kenshin replied, moving to his bed.

/What was wrong? You were so upset Kenshin, I do not understand./ Shinta said softly.

/Today is the day Tomoe died Shinta, remember/ Kenshin answered, closing his eyes as another tear slid down his cheek. There was silence from his child-like personality, and Kenshin knew he was remembering.

/I see…./ Shinta murmured. /We should sleep. Goodnight Kenshin./

/Night Shinta./ Kenshin whispered, settling himself down to sleep for the night, hoping that he would be able to tell his friends in the morning the whole story, about what he was, and what he had been dealing with all his life.

HM: -shrugs- I dunno. Review please, let me know what you think.