The boy shrieked and covered his head with his arms, cowering from the shadow above him. Kenshin wanted to comfort the boy, but the shadow wouldn't let him. It raised his hand again and again, striking the boy, trying to silence him. The shadow spoke with Kenshin's voice.

"Quiet! Who are you to be so bold? Stop crying or I will hit you again! Quiet!"

But the boy was beyond orders or reason. His screaming became louder; he scrambled away from Kenshin, no longer attempting to shield himself from the blows, only concerned about getting away. Unable to see where he was going, he hit a wall, and, thinking it was Kenshin, his scream took on a momentarily higher pitch. Realizing what it was, he calmed for a moment, breathing raggedly.

"But… why? He gasped. "Why… are you… doing… this?"

"Why? You know why. It's because you deserve it. After what you've done…"

"No… No… I… I said… It's not… not my…not my fault…I… had to… had to…"

"You didn't. You wanted to."

"I didn't…!"

"Before you deny it, consider what you have done. What you will do."

"I… I would never…"

"You will. Or you'll die…"

Kenshin jerked awake, covered in sweat, unsure whether he was too hot or too cold. He sat up, afraid of going to sleep again. It wasn't yet light out, but he walked into the darkness anyway. No one was awake yet, and he was suddenly restless. He headed for the dojo gate, deciding to wander the town in the early hours. The night greeted and embraced him.

Few places were still open to customers, and those that were, he had little desire to enter. He passed small restaurants, kicking out the last few drunks, the pleasure quarter, where poor families sold their daughters, the hidden alleys and dark parts of town kept from the public eye. He passed them all, watching his feet, step by step, carrying him with the beckoning night wind. At the river, he stopped, and sat down on the bank, watching water and memories flow past him. He could never quite look at the memories long enough to think about them, but he didn't care. He didn't want to look at them, think about them. Some of them he willed to be washed away with the river, gone with the ever- changing road of water. The dream still haunted him.

Or you'll die…

Those words… He didn't want to kill anyone. Where had they come from? Where had the dream come from? And that boy. Who was he? He hadn't noticed it in the dream, but now he realized the boy had looked familiar. Where had he seen him before? Kenshin couldn't remember. Hours passed, and the night moved on, bringing her blessed release to tired creatures in other places. Light streaked across the sky as Kenshin rose from his position, ready to head back, and deciding to forget the dream for now.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru was surprised when she woke and found Kenshin missing. She searched the property, wondering where he could be. As she passed the gate, she potted him slowly making his way toward it. "Hey, Kenshin! Where have you been?"

Kenshin started at the voice. He blinked slowly. "Just… walking. And thinking. Here." He held out a folded bit of cloth. Kaoru took it and unfolded it. It was a pale blue silk handkerchief, embroidered with colorful flowers, and two birds.

"Oh, Kenshin, it's beautiful! But… why?"

Kenshin shuddered slightly, her words echoing those from his dream. In truth, he didn't know why. He had seen it and bought it on impulse.

"Because… it's pretty." It was the only answer he could come up with. He could only hope she wouldn't ask any more questions, because after the previous night, he was barely able to hold himself together, much less to stand up to an interrogation.

He didn't know if he would be able to make it through the day, but it he still wished it would never end, holding the night -and his dreams- at bay.

That's all I have for now… Please be kind if you review, this is my first attempt at fanfiction. I'm sorry if it's not very good... It'll get better, I hope. If not, well… I don't know. Stop reading it, I guess. Find someone better. As for the title, it's a song by the Delgados. You'll probably recognize it if you watch Gunslinger Girl.