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REAL DREAMS
Chapter Ten

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Kenshin sighed aloud when his brother disappeared once again, leaving him alone to face the shapeless void around him. Letting go of the katana that had appeared when he first came to in this place, he sat down quietly to ponder on the events surrounding the recent… hours? days? weeks?

'How long has it actually been?' Kenshin thought absently as he combed through his hair with his fingers, removing the tangles created by his movements. Then, he put his elbow on top of his knee and his chin atop his hand to think more. He smiled sadly when a particular image came to mind.

'Kaoru-dono must be really worried by now… If I only knew what this is really about…' he thought absently as his other hand started to stroke the faded scar on his left cheek. He sighed heavily again as he let his thoughts wander.

'Oniisan… I've always wondered what had happened to him, what it would be like to cross over to the Other Side… Apparently, nothing really changes physically to those who die.' he grinned. 'How I missed having someone like him to talk to, to be with, to laugh with… I'd forgotten how good it felt to have a sibling.'

Kenshin lay down on his back and placed both of his arms underneath his head. Relaxing, he let himself forget the worries of the present and closed his eyes. With his mind's eye, he began recalling memories of the great times he had with his brother in his childhood.

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He doesn't know how long he'd lain down. He didn't really care since time had no meaning in this void. Nothing really mattered so as long as it didn't take shape to form other painful memories buried within him of the troubled life that he had led.

From thoughts of his brother, Kenshin eventually found himself thinking of Kaoru and what she really is to him. He sighed again as he recounted how he had been during the crisis with Enishi.

Life… He had forsaken his life and lived the life of a recluse in a despicable place. Everything, he gave up to be left alone and he pushed away the only family that he had come to care about in his wandering days.

'They all called me selfish and I really was. I tried to stay away in order not to hurt them… and myself. But, what really happened? What happened to make me break that barrier?' he thought when the answer suddenly broke through.

With his mind's eye, he pictured Kaoru, wearing a tender and accepting smile, beckoning him to come out of his little shell. He used to notice her advances toward him but dismissed them for childish affections. He soon realized that they weren't and that he himself was falling for… 'Tomoe was the first one to draw me out like that. But, look what happened…'

He recalled that fateful day that he had accidentally killed the one person that mattered most to his life. How he had lived through those times, Kenshin had no idea. However, by some miracle or by some intervention, he had lived another ten years relatively unscathed.

'Now, it is different… I have accepted to stay in the dojo but I can never fully understand why I never left as it is something I have done over the years…' He thought of the time he did leave. 'How ironic… I decided to leave that day so that I wouldn't get attached… Yet, I came back, came back to make sure she was safe.'

He returned only to find Hiruma Gohei making a mess out of the dojo and to the young woman. He helped and was practically forced to stay.

Kenshin smiled as he remembered those days. 'How simple everything was back then… Enishi, did it have to be you to actually pound into my brain how much I really cared?' he chuckled. 'However, thank you…' He felt an unusual flutter in his stomach and in his chest.

Moments later, he was still shuffling around his life when his thoughts came right back to Kaoru. 'Yare yare.' [Oh well.] he smiled. 'Kenshin no baka…'

However, no matter how much he tried to avoid a particular train of thought concerning Kaoru, he can't seem to avoid coming back to it every now and then. Sighing in his defeat, Kenshin let his thoughts wander more on the young and beautiful raven-haired girl. A little while later, Kenshin eventually found out that he was smiling at nothing! Opening his eyes quickly, he wondered at that.

But, the moment his eyes took focus, he had to quickly shove those thoughts away when he saw something descending towards his head in the form of another katana.

Quickly, he jumped to his feet, grabbed his own katana, and came to crouch some distance from where he laid down moments ago. Then, with a thump, the sword landed precisely where he had lain upon. Glancing quickly around to assess his surroundings, he noticed that there was nobody around. Confused, he inched his way closer to the sword that pierced the 'floor' perpendicularly.

He never got there.

Tap… Tap… Tap…

Kenshin heard some footsteps echoing within the void and so, he jumped a few paces back while he peered in all directions. It was getting dark and the shadows were being cast everywhere so much so that Kenshin couldn't see more than a few meters ahead.

A figure resolved itself in the shadows although it was still vague on details.

Tap… Tap… Tap…

The figure came closer and closer yet no matter how much Kenshin strained his eyes, he could not figure out who the individual was.

'Ano hito wa dare desu ka?' [Who is that person?] Kenshin asked himself silently while he felt his body tensing in his stance. Reaching out, Kenshin felt the other's ki.

His eyes narrowed slightly. 'Why does it feel… familiar?'

Tap… Tap… Tap…

Finally, the figure managed to reach the sword. By this time, shadows covered every inch of the void they were in with little light splashing in and out randomly. Kenshin could still not identify who the intruder was but he felt dread growing within him for some reason.

The other individual paused for some time before the sword, his stance and posture suggesting that he was assessing the redhead in front of him as well. Then, his right hand extended from within his clothing and pulled the katana embedded upon the 'floor'. He flicked his wrist and quickly sheathed the sword.

With growing anxiety, Kenshin suddenly realized in that short period who this individual was by just watching that movement. The ki, the way the other held himself, and the way that sword was just handled all fit and all led to a single conclusion.

'Masaka…' [Impossible] Kenshin thought incredulously as his eyes grew wider with the prospect. 'It's plain impossible for this to occur! He… He… He can't be…!'

As these thoughts ran at a rapid pace through his mind, Kenshin watched as the individual pause for a bare moment. Then, the figure stepped forward. What little light there was suddenly illuminated a very familiar face… In fact, it was very familiar…

It was his own.

Kenshin's breath caught on his throat as he gazed into the features that was his except that the one in front of him had no laughter, or even humor, etched onto his face. In fact, Kenshin felt a chill pass through him as his gaze went higher… higher… until it reached the eyes. What he saw there made his heart freeze.

They were yellow.

The eyes of the killer.

Hitokiri Battousai.

Kenshin immediately dropped into a battoujutsu stance in anticipation for any movement, any action at all from his counterpart. Although he is surprised at seeing his own self separated physically, Kenshin cannot forget that the katana the other was holding had almost chopped his head off a few minutes ago.

"Omae wa dare de gozaru ka?" [Who are you?] Kenshin asked in a low voice, eyes alert for any subtle movement the other may do.

The Hitokiri only smirked, a chilling half smile that betrayed no emotion whatsoever. "I need not answer, do I?" came the taunting reply.

"I suppose not." Kenshin replied right back.

"Hn." the Hitokiri snorted before taking another step forward. Kenshin took one step back. The Hitokiri's eyes narrowed slightly before interest made itself known in its depths. The Hitokiri only smiled.

'Why do I fear?' Kenshin asked as he took the step backward. 'He and I are one… right?' he asked himself further as he stared at the individual who was supposed to be his other self. 'So, what is he doing there,' he thought, looking at the Hitokiri, 'and not here?' he inquired as he imagined pointing to himself.

The Hitokiri seemed to sense the rurouni's discomfort yet made no move to explain his presence at all. Instead, he only seemed to radiate more menace.

Kenshin wasn't blind to it all and, when he felt the danger he was in, tried to find ways in order to get away unscathed. However, no matter what he did, his body simply refused to move. And, before he could think any further, he found the Battousai beside him.

Although he felt fear and shock, Kenshin did not show it. Instead, he kept his face impassive.

However, the Hitokiri seemed to be interested in making him feel fear. He snorted and narrowed his eyes further as he assessed the rurouni from head to toe.

"So, you are him… me… Interesting…" Then, he cocked his head to the side, as if listening to an unknown voice. He grinned menacingly.

'Not an interesting sight…' Kenshin thought as he stared at his other self, glued to his position yet alert for any life-threatening movements.

The Hitokiri reached out suddenly with one hand and used his index finger to touch Kenshin's forehead. So quick was the movement that Kenshin wasn't able to dodge it.

Almost immediately, a glow emitted at the point of contact. Soon, Kenshin felt a slight pain entering his body from the place where the Hitokiri held him. Then, a few moments later, it grew in intensity. Kenshin yelped in pain yet the Hitokiri kept the contact, a full demonic smile now making its presence known in his features.

'Ittai…!' [Ouch!] Kenshin thought as he felt his hands move out of reflex towards the source of pain. However, they never reached their destination as the Hitokiri's other hand shot out to swat away the rurouni's.

It felt like a tidal wave breaking its way out of his head and moving towards the rest of his body. Unable to bear the pain, Kenshin fell on his knees, the Battousai following suit in order to not break the contact. Kenshin could see dimly that the Hitokiri was now also grabbing his head in pain yet he couldn't do anything about it as it felt like his body was breaking apart piece by piece.

Kenshin yelped again and he hugged himself, trying to break free. But, the Hitokiri held fast and true. Black spots started to form in front of Kenshin's eyes but he could see that the vastness of the void around him start to waver, to shimmer out of existence.

'Curious…' was all he could think of when his body was assaulted again with pain.

The void started to waver again and, beyond, he could see… his room. It was as if the void he was in was a curtain that separated him from reality. Then, for some reason, his contact with the Hitokiri is slowly lowering that barrier, making him able to reach forth and return to the present.

But the pain was an entirely different story as it tore through his body like a hacksaw.

With one final cry, Kenshin gave himself up to unconsciousness as he finally saw the last of the void drop away from his sight.

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Short note: Ehehehe… Hope this is making sense! ^^;; C&C appreciated! ;p