Disclaimer: I desperately wish that I own Rurouni Kenshin… But I don't!
A/N: Hello everyone. I'm back again. I don't know how I came up with this story but I did (somehow). So I really need to know how you think about it. So please do leave your comments. And once again a big thank to my friend, Howard who edited this chapter for me. Thanks dude. And I know this will sound weird but I might be continuing some of my sister's unfinished stories. So let's see how that will turn out….For now. Hope you'll enjoy the story. Abit on the story format.
"SPEECH" and -THOUGHTS-
Evangelistic Evanesce
Chapter 1
Television cameras and a large crowd assembled eagerly outside the yellow tape that the police officers had drawn around the treacherous scene. Nurses and polices bustle about trying to clear the scene and remove the injured to the hospital as fast as their limbs could allow them. Some people were too shocked at the scene that they had to turn away unable to bear the horrendous picture sprawled right before their eyes.
The tiny black sport car that was being pulled away from the scene, looked no more than a squished up piece of metal while the truck had it's front scrunch right up to the windshield.
Kamiya Kaoru felt her vision spin in and out of control as her mind vaguely registers the sound around her.
"This one is seriously hurt."
A voice sounded from somewhere. She tried to squint at the source of the voice but her eyes were too heavy to listen to her command. All she could make out is a fussy blur that was starting to scare her. What had happened? Why couldn't she move any part of her body? Why is everyone shouting and what is this other sound that she kept hearing from time to time?
At that moment she felt something tug at her arm while another something hauling her body onto yet another something she couldn't quite place. A weird sensation shot through her and a loud beep echoed around her. The shouting went up once more this time louder.
"We're loosing her. Heart beat dropping. Get someone, fast!"
Kaoru felt the shouting and stammering going fainter and fainter as start to feel her body bit by bit. She couldn't understand what was happening to her, why she suddenly felt so light as if she was flying.
When the fog she felt earlier vanished, she slowly opens her eyes and sat up. Her eyes widened as she took a sweeping look at where she was.
"What the heck?" She said as her eyes roam the unfamiliar room she was in. –What is going on….where the hell am I? What happen?- She thought as she continued to stare bewilderedly at the magnificent space. A room decorated with soft white furnishing brimmed with gold. The ceiling looked so high that for a slight second she wondered if it was endless. To her side a large window was threw wide open to let the gentle breeze to flutter lightly into the room. Getting up from the bed she was on, she gingerly made her way to the large double door that seemed to make up of the purest gold. As her hand was about an inch to the handle, the door swung open to reveal an elderly man clad in what she would call an 'ultraly neat' attire.
His face broke into a large smile at the sight of her. "I see, you've awaken."
Kaoru would have returned the smile if she wasn't too curious as to where she is. "Who are you? Where am I? What happened?." She blurted out.
Flashing her another small smile he patted her shoulder and steer her to one of the plush chairs in corner of the room. "This is a very long story. I…really don't know where to start."
"Well you might as well start with where the heck is this place and how did I get here." She replied bluntly. Kamiya Kaoru is not a girl with that much of a patience, being born the only daughter of a high-ranking government official.
"I'll get to that..er in abit. But as of now. My name is Okina….and I take care of this place."
Kaoru tried desperately not to snap at the poor guy. Clearly he is an elderly and she was taught respect the elders. "Okay. Okina,..I can call you that, right?" A tiny nod came from him, "Look. I don't care if you take care of this place or not, I just want to know why am I here and where is this place. Finish. That's all I want to know." She said firmly.
Okina glance at her and look as if he was contemplating what to say. "Okay..Kaoru--"
"No no..please call me Miss Kamiya. I don't think you know me well enough to call me by my first name." –Oh way to go Kaoru. Now he'll think you're a regular snob.-
"It's quite alright. I know you're not a snob. So can I call you Kaoru?" A bemused twinkle appears onto his eyes.
"What? How did you…did you just? Impossible!" She cried her bright blue eyes widening.
A smug smile flitted onto his face but then it was replaced with a serious expression.. "I'll get to that later as for now.. this might sound weird but…Kaoru, you're…um..you're dead."
Kaoru blink absently at the elderly man. "Huh?…Right. I'm dead? And what am I now…some type of a ghost?" She shot back sarcastically.
"No..not a ghost. Never a ghost. You're an immortal being." Okina replied smoothly.
Getting no instant replies he went on.
"Wow you took it much better than I thought." He added giving her a light smile. Getting up he gave another smile before pacing the large room. "I never thought you'd remember everything this fast, it's extraordinary. And there I am totally horrified about how to break the news to you. But then again, you've always been the special one." He stopped his pacing and turn to look her in the face. "You're the same as ever. Come here let me hug you." And without notice he threw himself at her and gives her a big bear hug.
"Welcome home, dear." He whispered.
Kaoru froze. –What the hell is going on!- She pries herself out of Okina's hug and stared at him aghastly.
"What on earth are you talking about! I'm not dead. I'm a human. And I'm most definitely not home! Look, who's behind all this? I know someone's behind this prank." She said on the verge of a major temper outbreak.
Her mind flashes to all her friend that was likely to pull this type of a prank on her. A name popped up and she immediately brought up her annoyance. "Tetsu! I know it's you. Come on out! Tetsu! You think you got me! Hah. dream on pal!" She shouted as she search the room for her friend.
Okina's smile fell. –This is even harder than I first thought it might be.- He thought as he watches her search behind the curtain.
"Kaoru…there's no other in this room. And this is no prank. You really are dead."
Kaoru paused and spun on her heel to meet the elderly man. "Oh really? Look, how can I be dead when just attended a birthday party? When I still feel alive. I'm actually breathing here."
Okina shook his head sadly. "Let me ask you then. What did you do after the party?"
"Drive home ofcourse…" She answered automatically.
"Then how come you're not home?"
Kaoru's mind spun as she slowly felt like a bucket of ice had slip down her back. Her mind went back to what had happened. She was at Tetsu's birthday party. She had downed some alcoholics but not enough to deranged her driving. She left his house, it was drizzling. Her favourite music is turned on to match her own heartbeat. Everything is fine until a truck appeared out of nowhere. That's when everything started going fussy.
She fell to her knees unable to accept it. "I..I'm dead." She stuttered as a tear ran down her cheek.
Okina shook his head as he bend down to soothe the young girl. "It's not that bad. You're home now, Kaoru."
She shot him a glare. "Not that bad? I'm dead and I'm not home!"
"Kaoru. Really. Please don't cry. We still need to talk."
"Fine go ahead. I'm dead anyway..I had an entire eternity to listen to you!" She snapped.
Okina sighed lightly at the girl. She was indeed listening to him. "First off. You're dead---""I don't need to be reminded!"
Okina shook his head. "Let me finish. And please stop jumping down my throat. Alright. In fact you might be dead on earth. But since you're the princess of this kingdom..you merely come back here. Which mean you are pretty much alive. And as you've already mentioned it yourself. You have an eternity before you, which means you're an immortal."
The word alive brought back some relieve for her but what Okina said is still kinda odd. "Wait…who's the princess of what?"
"You are the princess of this kingdom. Or infact you were the princess until you decided to go down to Earth." He stated simply.
"I still don't get it. You mean I used to live here? I used to be immortal? Then why would I ditch it all and go to Earth?" She asked curiously.
A frown crossed the elder's face. "Long story. I think you'll remember it by and by now that you're home."
"But if what you said is true then there must be a new princess by now…" She said as a matter of factly.
"No..No one can replace you. No one can be our ruler except you. While you're way I'm just filling in your post."
Kaoru's eyes widened slightly. "Oh I see. Well cool. So you're the ruler of er.. this place for the last eighteen years.."
"This place you kept referring to has a name and it's 'Rhea'..and it's not eighteen years…it's six-hundred years." He stated simply.
The young girl blinked rapidly at his word. "S-six hundred years? But I'm only eighteen!"
Okina waved impatiently at her. "Yes…yes I'm quite aware of that. But this is not the first time that your Earth life had ended. For the past six hundred years that you decided to go down to Earth eventhough your mortal life ended. True you returned here, but after awhile you descended back down to Earth to start another mortal life. And if I'm not mistaken it's been about twenty or so times already. And as you are the princess…no one can stop you."
Kaoru threw up her hands in total annoyance. "Why would I do such thing. Hello, why would I give up immortality for such a painful life? I'm not that stupid."
Okina sighed darkly. "Said that everytime." He muttered almost to himself.
"Pardon?" Kaoru asked not catching what he just said.
"Nothing. I really do wish you would stay this time. We all really miss you."
Okina stood up and strode to the door. "I'll leave you for now. But I think you wont' be able to rest for awhile."
Kaoru shot up from her seat. "Wait. If I used to live here. Then how come I can't remember it at all?"
Okina halted his steps, without turning around to meet her gaze he replied softly. "Because you chose not to remember."
Kaoru's brows furrowed together even more as the gigantic door swung shut. She sighed lightly. Her mind seems to be in a very confused state. First..she's dead…but she's alive in a total strange realm, in which she was a princess. And to top things off she's now an immortal being. Kaoru shook her midnight tresses out of her face, as her mind drift to her parents and friends. How would they feel when they find out she's dead? Her parents might even rejoice. They had never really loved her. She was just an unwanted personnel in their household. Her father had never wanted a daughter. It was his greatest disappointed that she was born a girl. He had hoped so much for a son. And her mother had only seen her as a nuisance. They had cast her away as soon as she was old enough, giving her a large sum of money each month to spend any way she want on only one condition that she would not disgrace the family name. The last time she had seen her parents was about six months ago at the family Christmas party.
It had been so long that she had kept up the snobbish façade. Having no idea how to act in public, she assumed the air that most girl in her stature would. By the age of twelve she was already the hot tempered, stuck up girl to the world. Save only afew close friends that knew the real her.
'Kaoru..Why do you have to act like that to other people, when you're really a nice, kind hearted person?'
'Because it's only what they expect from a girl like me.'
'Pity, Kaoru. I really want the whole world to know the Kaoru that I knew.'
'They wouldn't want that, Tetsu. They wouldn't…'
She sighed again darkly. Akamatsu Tetsuka is the only person she had opened up to. He was her dearest friend. A kindred spirit. The person she had went to pre-school, elementary, middle and high school with. She wondered if he would cry at her funeral. Ofcourse he would. Oh what she wouldn't give to see the girl-magnet, Tetsuka cry. A light chuckle escaped her at the idea. Maybe it was all for the best that she is here. Maybe she wouldn't feel that strange emptiness in her heart any more.Eventhough Tetsuka was a guy with all the best quality; she had never felt attracted to him. Worse, she had always felt like she was missing a big chunk of her soul. The feeling had grown stronger these past few years. And sometimes she had to admit it was quite unbearable. All those unexplained feeling had annoyed her and she was tired of it. Shrugging she threw herself back onto the fluffy bed and close her eyes. "Hope it goes away…I'll leave it all behind and start afresh." She muttered to herself.
Kaoru's eyes were shut and her mind wandering off to some unknown place. She didn't realise the light creak of the door or the entrance of a young girl with a long glossy braid that fell almost to her waist.
She leaned on the door and grin at Kaoru that was sprawled on the bed. Giving no warning she pounced. "Welcome home!"
Kaoru shrieked in surprise at the girl. "Who are you!"
Still grinning toothily from ear to ear the young girl just shook her head. "Gosh how I hate it when you just return and still couldn't remember me."
Kaoru sat up slowly. "Sorry."
"Don't' have too. You'll remember soon enough. I'm Misao. Gramp said you're awake so I came to welcome you home. I bet the others would show up soon enough. Rooster head's somewhere. I couldn't care less where he is. Megumi's at the clinic. Don't' think she could visit until nightfall. Oh and the ultimate surprise..tada—" The girl held up her finger to show a brilliant emerald ring. "—I'm engaged. And you'll know who it is ofcourse…If it wasn't Aoshi sama, I would've kick the guy's ass to the moon and back." She said at the speed of lightning.
Kaoru could only gape back at the girl. "I-I'm sorry. I really had no idea what you're talking about."
Misao's shoulder slumped slightly as she sat next to Kaoru on the bed. "Never mind. I'll help remind you. Like I've said. I'm Misao. We've been friend ever since we're born."
"Oh I see…"
"Yep Yep Yep. Sanosuke or Sano for short, but I call him Rooster head--." Seeing the confused look on the girl's face she wave impatiently. "You'll see why, when you meet him. Well he's the so-called Prime Minister of this kingdom though I've never really see him do anything much. Don't know how they still let him keep that position."
Kaoru nodded lightly.
"Megumi is the royal court's doctor and she also had her own clinic. Then there's Yahiko..he's almost like your younger brother. He came to see you before he went off to school but you're still unconscious then. He'll come around soon enough. Hmm who else…Ah. You've met my gramp just now and then there's Aoshi sama.." Misao said as she clasp her hand to her chest and had on a dreamy expression.
"Oh okay…so this Aoshi is your fiance isn't he." Kaoru said blankly.
Misao's dewy eyes landed on Kaoru. "Yes….he's the best. You're so lucky to be his sister."
Kaoru nearly choke on her own tongue. "E-excuse me? What did you just say!"
"That he's the best." She chirped.
Kaoru shook her head fervently. "No after that part."
"Oh that you're lucky to be his sister." She repeated simply.
"I had a brother!" Kaoru screeched causing the younger girl to stuff a finger into her ear to prevent herself from being deaf.
"You don't have to scream, you know. He's been you brother ever since you're born, which is like eight hundred years ago."
Kaoru looked as if she was going to be sick. "I had a brother…" she repeated not knowing weather to be happy or to cry. This is getting abit overwhelming.
"How come he didn't become the king of this place then?" Was the only sense making question that popped into her brain.
"…'Cause…he didn't want to. And he couldn't, simple as that."
Kaoru who got quite pale just nodded. "I see."
"Hey you know what, I think you better come take a walk with me. It'll help you remember things faster." Misao reach out a hand to grasp Kaoru's wrist.
At the moment the younger girl's hand touch her skin an electrical shock shot painfully through Kaoru's vein making her head instantly heavy. At that moment a stream of vision exploded into her mind.
Herself…dressed in a soft silvery gown walking through a flower garden. The scene switch to her sitting in a room filled with books conversing to none other than Misao. Another scene flitted through her mind. A man with piercing blue eyes in dark clothing stood on a balcony his expression devoid of any emotion, staring down at her. Another scene..A man with a gravity defying hair and a pair merry brown eye was laughing heartily at her as they walk down a set of spiral stairway.
The scene ended only to be replaced with another one. A woman with long dark hair was fussing over her, looking quite annoy that she had scrape her knee and a young boy seemed to be laughing so hard by her side. The picture faded slowly and Kaoru finally realised that Misao was shaking her lightly. "Kaoru are you alright?"
Shaking her head to rid the light-headed feel she nodded slowly. "Yes I'm fine. I think…is Aoshi the guy with icy blue eyes?" she asked quietly.
Misao let out a squeal and hug her friend. "Yes, Yes, Yes. You remember! What else could you remember?"
"Er…not much. I see these tiny jumbled up scenes. I saw myself..talking to you and then I saw this guy with spiked up hair.."
"That's Sano." Misao smiled.
"Then…there's this woman…she was frowning because I scrape my knee."
Misao nodded gleefully. "That's definitely Megumi."
Kaoru smile faintly. "And there's this boy..he was laughing at me."
Misao rolled her eyes and snorted. "Definitely Yahiko. Oh Kaoru I'm so happy you're starting to remember. At this rate you'll remember everything in a week's time." Jumping up from the bed she smiled broadly. "I'll let you rest then. Maybe you'll remember some more. If you're awake…feel free to walk around alright? This is your house anyway. See ya then." Misao bounced to the door but she halted in her track as Kaoru's voice called to her.
"Misao. Why did I choose to forget this place? Why did I choose to go down to the Earth?"
Slowly she turns around to meet her friend's gaze. For the first time in their conversation that Misao's eyes became troubled. "Um…just rest. See you later." And without further answer she disappeared out the door.
Once again Kaoru shook her head. Honestly her head felt so heavy after all that memory flashback.
Slowly she sank wearily into the warm bed and closes her tired eyes. Within moment she was plunged into another dream.
On the other side of the door, Misao dropped her cheery mood her mind deep in thought. Her feet involuntarily took her out of the main castle onto the path winding through the beautiful garden and up onto a hill. Stepping into what looked like a shrine at the top of the hill a faint smile tainted her lips.
She found her grandfather standing infront of the high twin door with a gold plague that seem to keep the doors securely shut.
"How is she?" He asked not bothering to turn around to meet his grand daughter.
Misao stepped up to join her grandfather. Slowly she shook her head. "I don't' know gramp. She's regaining her memories at a stunning rate….I don't want her to leave again…"
Okina nodded. "No one wish to see her leave again…but if that's her wish…"
"No one can stop her…" Misao finished.
A/N: A rather long first chapter isn't it….Well Please Review! Do let me know what you think. Thank you and goodluck to all.
