Disclaimer : Don't own them, just Ryu... So don't even think about sueing!
It was Karou who finally broke the kiss, wanting to explain everything before they went too far - and did something that they shouldn't. And there was the ever present danger that was growing - she needed to tell them before it was too late… Karou slowly sat up, brushing her hair out of her eyes as she said in a serious voice "Listen - we need to talk.." but didn't get any farther as Kenshin reached around her and gently set her in his lap facing him. His amythest eyes laughing, he asked her "What could be so important?.." but Karou hushed him quickly. Her laughter gone, she said quietly "Kenshin - we need to get something straight - I'm dead."
She took a deep breath, and continued, "When I died, I was given the choice of becoming a goddess, or going to where mortals go when they die - I chose to be a goddess. I was allowed to marry a mortal, ONLY if I could succeed in completing a set a minor tasks, which I did…" She could see the confusion in his face, and said "But someone is after me - they were against me in the first place, and now I'm being hunted - that's why I came to warn you, and to…" Karou swallowed hard, then gently took his face in her hands, and said "I have the power to make you a god - and Ryu, would eventually grow up to be a god too…" and waited for the news to sink in. When the news finally hit, Kenshin calmly placed his hands on hers and gazed deep into her eyes, unblinking and murmered "I'll do anything to be with you, koshii…"
Karou blinked, tears forming in her eyes when she whispered sadly "To make you a god, I would…" but was overcome with sobs and had to pause. Kenshin began to rub her back and soothe her with soft words until the tears ceased and she was able to go on. She grasped his hand, and quickly spat out "To make you a god, I would….have to kill you with my own hand.." and waited for Kenshin's reaction. To her surprise, he kissed her gently and said "I'll do whatever it takes for you to be with me again - even if it comes to that.." and looked around. Where was Ryu? He called out harshly "Ryu! Where are you?" and glanced around the small hut, but the youngster was no where to be seen.
Karou, sensing his urgency, asked quickly "Is something wrong?" and hurried outside, Kenshin on her heels. A slashed tree lay to the right of the hut, and Kenshin could sense the fading presence of Ryu's chi near there. He ran to it, his eyes hard and searching when he saw what he feared - Ryu's dagger lying beside it innocently. Karou stifled a gasp as she recognized it, and barely had time to look at Kenshin before he was off, almost to the point of flying through the crowed forest. Karou followed silently, her face grim….
Ryu lay near a stump, crying and whimpering beside it. How dare that lady? Just walk in and do that kind of stuff with his father - IN FRONT OF HIM! He had always been protective of his dad, and this was just too much for the young boy to bear. On top of that, he had lost his dagger - the one Kenshin had given him when he was old enough… The boy hiccupped a bit, then peered about a bit to see if he knew where he was. Nothing seemed familiar - every tree seemed to be alike, every stone seemed to be an exact copy of another close to it - was he lost? Deep within Ryu's heart he knew he was hopelessly lost, but he wouldn't admit it. He got up and wandered in and out of the trees until he got tired, then sat down near a large boulder to rest, when a eerie voice echoed behind him and said "Aw, is the little boy lost? I can help you…". Ryu jerked around, only to gasp and scream in horror…..