Tears at Midnight
By Moonseeker
Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Never will. I do own seven of the DVDs however. Does that count for something?
Author Note: This is my first RK fic, but not my first story period. This is just a little interlude; I'm not sure when it takes place, except for one night. Anyway, I first wrote the rough draft of this when I was sitting in bed at 11:31 p.m. on August 20 and I was pretty sick that night. I tried to get the feelings I had then down on paper just for practice, but then I realized I was making it into a pretty good fic. It's really short compared to my other ones, but I think it's still one of my better ones. So, I decided to share it with you lucky people.
Read and review if you like, I'll be sure to thank you somehow. If you flame, I'll just ignore you. Sound good?
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mune no katasumi kaketa tsuki ga hitotsu aru dake demo donna ni hosoi michi mo terasu you ni hikaru
Excerpt from 'Tsuki no Ie' from Outlaw Star
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Things seem so frightening sometimes, as I lie in bed.
Thoughts of mine swirl around in the darkness like flying fairies of the evening. My fears and suspicions all rise to the top of my mind in an unorganized revolt. I clutch the blanket closer in a futile attempt to comfort myself. My breath comes in ragged, sobbing gasps, as I ask myself, What am I afraid of? I can't seem to control my body as I begin to tremble.
What if everyone leaves? I think. Being left alone is a fate almost worse than death. Loneliness grips a human heart like an ice-cold fist, and mercilessly chokes the life out of it. These sentiments only cause me more discomfort, and my knuckles turn white from the tight grip on the covers. All the people I care about won't be around forever; death claims us all someday. But still… But still…! Thinking becomes difficult for a moment as my mind floods with anxieties.
The darkness seems to close in on my thoughts and I whimper soundlessly. The notes of my usually strong voice being lost in the shroud of ebony light surrounding me. Oh, Kami-sama, where am I? Where do I fit in this world? Megumi lives as a doctor, Sano as a fighter, but I am neither. I will never be content to sit around the house, performing domestic chores. Nor will I ever be happy knowing that in my hands lies the power of life or death.
I sit up suddenly, the covers still held tightly to my breast. My breathing quickens as more worries take over my exhausted mind. I allow my self to utter a sound, something between a whimper and a moan.
I never knew he heard me.
The door slides silently open, and with catlike steps he slowly enters and closes the door behind him. Tears roll down my face freely. They felt hot as a coal from a fire and cut burning paths down my cheeks and underneath my jaw. Without a sound, he crosses the room to me, then kneels beside my futon. With gentle hands he takes the blanket from my own shaking ones and settles it back into place around me. He traces light fingers across my left cheek, removing what tears lingered, although they were quickly replaced.
Strong arms wrap around my in a wonderfully warm and protective embrace. I bury my damp face in to his chest, not at all ashamed at how childish I feel I'm acting. One hand strokes my ebony hair, which is as dark as the night that plagues me. The other rests warm and heavy across my back.
"Kaoru-dono, daijoubu, de gozaru ka."
And, for a while, I am able to believe it is.
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There is but one eclipsed moon in the corner of my heart... May it shine enough to light up whatever narrow path you take.
Translation of excerpt from 'Tsuki no Ie' from Outlaw Star
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All lyrics taken from Animelyrics.com