Hey everyone! Been a while, no? Well I'm thinking of deleting my other stories, I don't think they're all that great. But I'm hoping I've become a better author in the months away from writing them (although, I don't see how) and this story will be alot better. I think it is. What do you all think? Oh, and please review after you finished the story, Note: I put the rating at PG-13, but might put it at R later on, what do you all think?

Fear Awakened
By: Nanakilover/Brukaoru

It was dark as the moon was clouded over in the sky for a brief moment, until it once again casted a eerie red glow on to the corridors of Japan. At midnight, the clock struck, making a chiming sound that resounded as just a soft murmur within the Kamiya dojo. Everyone slept soundlessly, with the occasional sigh of their lungs escaping a brief exhalation. But Kaoru Kamiya was not sleeping as peacefully as the others, with the constant turns within her futon, her legs had become entangled within the sheets. Her eyes were wide awake, as she stared at the ceiling of her room. She did not know why she could not sleep, but something in the back of her mind was tugging at her and making her feel as if something was coming. A bad something... Something she did not want to experience. Her body was urged to go sleep near Kenshin, so she could feel safe. But she forced herself not too, knowing that it would be rude and inconsiderate as to wake him just because she felt paranoid. She sighed, feeling fustrated that she would not be getting any sleep tonight.

An hour later she found herself in the same state, however her eyelids were drooping heavy with weariness, until finally her eyes closed shut for the night. Making her mind go into a state of illuding her with illusions of the dreamworld. As her breath became even and she feel into a deep slumber, a shadow fell upon her bedroom door. The quiet opening and closing of the door went unnoticed by anyone except for the lurker of the shadows, who began to stare down at her with the most gleaming pair of dazzled eyes that seemed to cut through the darkness of the night itself. The amber glow that receded off of him cast a forlonged gaze as he seemed to not take his eyes off of the sleeping beauty that was unaware of his presence. Suddenly, a metallic sound echoed in the room as a sword was drawn from the sheath the figure pocessed at it's hip. The light casted off the moon revealed the lurker's face to be shown, and the cross-shaped scar on his left cheek to stand out. When the moon was once again clouded over, the figure lifted his sword over her head and...



Kaoru shot up in her futon, gasping for much needed air. Beads of sweat covered her face as she looked around to see any sign of anybody being in her room. She then heard heavy footsteps running down the hallway and stop at her bedroom door. The door then slammed opened...

"Kaoru-dono!" A voice yelled, filled with concern and worry, the voice that she knew belonged to Kenshin.

"Kenshin," Kaoru's face showed puzzlement and surprise, "What are you doing here?"

Kenshin removed his hand from the hilt of his sakabatou, but the frown he wore still remained in place, "forgive me for barging in like this, Kaoru-dono, but sessha heard you scream..."

Kaoru had stopped listening as he rambled on with apologies, forgetting she had screamed during her nightmare.

"...Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin called, trying to get her attention as it seemed she was not listening to him.

Kaoru smiled, trying best to conceal the fear that her mind was still plagued with. "I'm very sorry to have woken you up, Kenshin. I had a bad nightmare. I... didn't mean for you to worry," she said apologetically.

Kenshin's frown turn into a sad smile, "Sessha is sorry to hear that you had a nightmare, Kaoru-dono, is there anything sessha can do to ease you back to sleep? How about getting you some fresh-brewed tea?"

Kaoru smiled, 'he's so thoughtful,' She shook her head, replying, "no Kenshin, I'm fine. Thank you anyway."

Kenshin put on his famous smile and wished her a goodnight, closing her bedroom door after him. Once he left, she dropped to her futon, wrapping her arms around her knees, after she had wrapped a blanket around herself. Kaoru hadn't had such nightmares... Since he left for Kyoto... Her eyes began to sting with memory and tears threatened to spill, but she held them back not wanting to have him hear or see herself crying. The next thing she knew, she had cried herself to sleep.

-----------

Kaoru woke much later, stretching her numb legs. Seemed like she had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position last night. She yawned and got up to put on her training outfit. She felt the need to beat Yahiko for trying to pull that stupid prank of his on her yesterday.

She walked out of her room, and into the kitchen, where Kenshin, Sanosuke and Yahiko were all sitting at the table, eating.

Yahikoo glared at her, "it's about time you woke up, busu!"

She glared back at him, "what to you mean?" She asked as she took her usual spot and sat down next to Kenshin.

Yahiko chewed a mouthful down before he was able to reply, but before he could Kenshin did instead, "Kaoru-dono, it is late in the afternoon, we are eating lunch..."

Kaoru glared, "why didn't you wake me up?!" Kenshin sweat-dropped and scratched the back of his head nervously.

Yahiko intervened, "I tried to wake you up, but JEEZ do you snore loud, I'm surprised you can even sleep!"

And the chase was on, Kaoru chased after Yahiko outside with her bokkon flying dangerously in her hands. Kenshin sighed, 'there he goes again' he thought. Truth was, when Yahiko was going to go wake her up, Kenshin had asked him not too, telling him she was up late last night.

Sanosuke seemed to be oblivious... That or he had gotten used to their fighting, and so he just kept eating. He swallowed his last mouthful, thanking Kenshin before he left the dojo.

When Kaoru came back in, she took her seat, ate her share of the meal and offered to help Kenshin clean up the dishes. Kenshin nodded, and when Yahiko came back on, Kenshin noticed several bumps had formed on his head.

"Oro..."

Kaoru looked up when she heard that, glaring at Yahiko when she saw he had finally came back in.

"Alright, Yahiko-CHAN, go start practicing and I'll be right there." Kaoru ordered him, as she picked up some rice bowls and tea cups.

Yahiko glared, a vien surfacing on his forehead, "don't call me chan, BUSU!" He said, running soon after.

She hurriedly cleaned up the dishes with Kenshin and ran to the dojo to give Yahiko a piece of her mind, leaving Kenshin alone to clean the dishes.

-------

As Kaoru and Yahiko practiced and Kenshin heard a sound of a shinai hitting another shinai every once in a while, all was silent besides the chirping birds, the slight howling of the blowing wind, and the sound of scrubbing in water as Kenshin did the laundry. With the last article of clothing done, he shook it off and hung it on the line. 'Spring is approaching' He thought, noticing it had gotten a little warmer each day, for which he was thankful.

As the dojo went silent for a moment and all noises stopped within, Kenshin looked up to see Yahiko walking out.

"I'll see you tomorrow Kenshin." Yahiko said over his shoulder as he left the dojo.

Kenshin nodded, which went unnoticed by Yahiko as he closed the gate. Kaoru walked out, standing beside Kenshin.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru said happily, "I've been meaning to ask you if you wanted to out eat tonight at the Akabeko."

Kenshin smiled, "if Sessha is not too much of an inconvenience, he would love to go." Kaoru shook her head, but smiled anyway. She know he would probably never stop saying 'if Sessha is not to much of an inconvenience,' or 'Sessha doesn't want to be a burden' she had to hear him say countless times. She almost sighed, when she realized he was staring at her.

"Well then... I'll take my bath early so we can go..." Kaoru said.

Kenshin nodded, "Sessha will prepare it for you. But, uh, shouldn't we let Yahiko and Sanosuke know?"

Kaoru frowned, "why should we tell them? I'm the one paying for it! Those lousy freeloaders don't do anything but cause trouble around here! Besides, it will be funny to see Yahiko serving us food," she said giggling, already imagining it happening.

Kenshin couldn't help but smile, her laughing always seemed to calm him and put him in a better mood. "Aah, Sessha will prepare your bath now, then."

Kaoru nodded, going inside to grab some clothes to change into.

Kenshin's smile fell from his face, as he began to throw firewood into the bathhouse. He had been anything but eased all day, despite putting on his mask, and acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary. This nagging at the back of his mind was really getting to him, but he shrugged it off thinking he was just being paranoid.

Or was he?

-------

I know, a little boring, but hey! I don't want to make this story in only two chapters, you know? Got to put a little incentive into it, right? --

I would like your thoughts on this, please? All you gotta do is give a little, what's the word I'm looking for? A little... REVIEW!

Oh, little note: Yahiko works at the Akabeko. Sorry if you were confused!