And here we go again...it seems like my touch has faded, or perhaps fandom has just dwindled, not just for RK, but anime and fanfiction as a whole. I had been hoping to stay the same as far as writing goes, if not improved, but it has been a long time. Maybe I don't write as well as before, which would suck, but this is a different decade after all.
Kenshin does not belong to me, it belongs to Noubihiro Watsuki and Company.
Moment of Vulnerability
By lightning-storm
After what seemed like forever, Ariel choked back her tears. Why had she cried again? Oh yeah she didn't know...but for some reason, she felt empty. Putting on her courageous face, Ariel took a deep breath and stepped out of the stall. Ariel Umay was not weak. She would not cry. She would be happy, not only for her family long gone, but her friends and mostly herself. Besides the gang was probably worried about her by now. With that Ariel smiled and walked to the sink, washing her hands and splashing water on her face to clear the tears. this was a happy day! And she was acting like a moody whelp. She had absolutely no reason too. She had friends who loved her, a strong heart and a winning smile. With that Ariel smiled and adjusted her kimono. No need to worry today, but still...her mind couldn't get what the girl's had said out of her head.
"Kenni! Kenni!" the children called and Liam smiled softly before looking away from the golden sky and patting them on the head.
"Liam, " he corrected and the two girls shook their head vehemently.
"Iie!" the youngest of the two sister's said, a scowl on her pretty face, "Your name is Kenni, Kenshin!" and the violet eyed man's went wide.
The children had seemed so confidant in what they were saying, even when Liam had denied it. How is it they could be so certain when nobody else could. Was it just the innocence and faith of children that all happy children seemed to hold on too? Ariel shook her head and smiled, shame on her for her angsty thoughts. This was not like her at all, but Liam, or Kenshin as they called him, why did that name strike so much emotion in her heart. She was warm, confused and even hollow. If what the girl's said were true, who was Kenshin? Why did he effect her so?
Ariel closed her eyes, pushing back those strange thoughts and the unusual tears that begged to spill. She really shouldn't concern herself about her new aquaintance so much, after all she had just met him. Yet, since than Ariel had felt a warm, yet sad feeling in her soul, not entirely unpleasant, but not pleasant either. Ariel scowled. Its not as if Liam had done anything wrong, in fact other than their little accident, he had been nothing but sweet and polite. Ariel felt terrible for unleashing her temper on him earlier.
"So why do I feel so out of balance?" Ariel said to no one in particular, stooping over the sink. "Why does it hurt when I think of you?" she whispered. Ariel sniffed as a sweet smell wafted to her nose. What is that? she thought to her self. "White Plum Blossom?"
Ariel felt a cool breeze surround her as she spoke. What felt like an icy finger traced her neck until her shoulder, and Ariel felt her heart jump. Startled, she looked up to see a striking woman with sad black eyes, clear while skin and silky black hair beside her. Surprised, Ariel jumped away from the mirror. She looked to the side of the room, she saw nothing and Ariel put her hand on her heart before looking at the mirror again. The image of the woman was still there. Thinking her mind was playing tricks on her, Ariel settled for leaving the restroom instead. However, the door wouldn't open. When she turned around she was faced with a materialized beauty with a sad look on her face. Many things had happened to Ariel in the past, but nothing like this. Not sure whether to run or faint, Ariel settled for backing as far away from the beauty.
"Who are you?" Ariel asked before she could stop herself. When the woman said nothing, Ariel spoke again, "Are you real?"
And the woman smiled sadly before nodding her head.
"What do you want from me?"
Still nothing, and Ariel found herself intimidated by this figure's prescance. She didn't like to be intimidated. "What do you want?" she nearly cried, and she briefly registered the sound of someone pounding on the wall and trying to open the door.
"Ariel! Ariel!" she heard from outside the room, through her fear she couldn't register whether it was a man or a woman, and frankly she didn't care, far too focused on the looming figure in front of her.
"Are you a," Ariel gulped at her conclusion, not quite believing it, "Are you a...a spirit?"
And the woman smiled bigger and nodded. Panicked, Ariel backed against the wall. "Why are you? Why are you here?" she finally managed to Croak out, and the woman smiled broadly before pointing to the door and disappearing into a gust of wind and flurry of Sakura Petals. Trying to wrap her mind around what had just happened, Ariel shook her head before picking up a fallen blossom and hurrying out the now unlocked door. Relieved she didn't even think before heaving open the door and running straight in the strong arms of a crimson haired man who smelled of the Earth and sweet spices.
"Ariel-dono, there you are, " spoke the familiar baritone voice, "We were wondering what happened to you, that we were."
Ariel looked into the man's violet eyes before backing to the door instinctively.
"Ariel-dono," he asked, a slightly confused expression in his eyes, "What's wrong?"
When she said nothing he leaned slightly in and put his hand on her shoulder, "Are you scared?" he managed to gulp out and the raven haired girl shook her he vehemently in response. Barely managing to choke back a sniffle, Ariel looked up just in time to see the ever present worry on her new friend's face. Noticing the deep crease in his forehead, Ariel couldn't fathom why the man who she had literally just bumped into a couple hours earlier could show so much worry and concern for her well being. Not to mention she couldn't very well tell him that she had been spooked by a mysterious ghost. Before she had a chance to get around the semi-inconvenient obstacle that now blocked her path to the reservation room, said obstacle placed a firm hand on her shoulder and gently coaxed her chin up before observing the delicate features of her face. Her bright blue eyes were dim with a hazy gaze, and a light flush shined prominently on her high cheek bones. Her eyes slightly puffy and shining with unshed tears and her rosy lips were set in a firm line. Not quit sure how to respond properly, Liam paused for a minute studying the expression she now held. Noticing the careful scrutinizing of her companion's intense blue violet gaze, Ariel shifted nervously.
The slight movement broke him out of his revelry and Liam stepped back, startled by his familiarity. "Ah! Ariel..." he said"Gomen, but" he paused fro a minute, " Were you...were you crying?"
He immediately received his answer as she quickly broke away from his grasp and stood up proudly, tense look in her eyes. "Of course not!" she sputtered defiantly, and Liam looked on in amusement as she tried to push past him.
"I don't believe that, that I don't." he smirked before grabbing her forearm in efforts to stop her. Embarassed at being caught Ariel turned a pretty shade of pink before ripping her arm away from his grasp.
"What does it matter anyway?" she sputtered, and the man stiffened before am intense look flickered throughout his eyes.
"It matters plenty," he responded, his soft voice deepening just a tad, then lowering his voice just a tad, he leaned towards her, his gaze intense as he noticed the traces of tears that had trailed down her cheek, "I'd hate to think..." lifting his calloused fingers to her cheek he frowned slightly, "that after your generous offer, I had managed to make you cry."
Ariel felt the world around her still as he seemed to lean ever closer to her form, a gentle look in his eyes. Without realizing it, she her self began to lean into his touch, forgetting for a moment about everything around save the beating of her heart and the warmth of his presence. It seemed as if time would stop when he followed her lead the gap between them growing ever smaller, until the warmth of his breath caressed her lush and rosy lips. Ariel felt her eyes drift shut as his lingering finger brushed across her mouth. He was just about to kiss her when the familiar sound of the door chime broke through their thoughts. Ariel snapped her eyes open, and noticing the position they were in, the two hurriedly pulled away from one another.
"Ah anou;" the both said at the same time.
"Suma-" the said in unison again, gesturing to one another
"You go" When the spoke in stereo for the third time, both parties began to chuckle. When the laughter had finally died down, Liam was the first to speak.
"You were gone awhile, that you were." he spoke quietly. "Everyone was beginning to worry."
"Ah gomen, I had to think for a little bit."
"Ah, demo..." he paused, and Ariel looked at him curiously, lifting her eyebrow as she waited for him to continue .
"Why were you crying?" he asked again and Ariel blushed prettily.
"Ah...it no-nothing," she stammered.
"Ariel-dono?" he asked again, his fine voice lowering and octave, and she waved him off, a sad look in her eyes.
"Iie," she explained, "It's fine."
Liam looked at her with a skeptical look in his eyes. Though he had barely met her, he couldn't help but be bothered by her response. He supposed it wasn't his business, but maybe one day, and with that he widened his eyes in alarm, quickly blocking the wave of thoughts his mind was going through. He was about to say something, when he felt a spirited boy run up behind him. The boys footfalls were enthusiastic as he stepped behind them.
"Oy Busu!" the tan boy with spiky hair called out to them, a gruff tone in his voice. Ariel felt her annoyance flare up as he continued, stomping by them in frustration on his way to the restroom, "What's taking you too so long?"
And Liam blushed while Ariel snarled at her friend's little brother. "Why you-" She was about to say more before her kindly companion placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Ah, gomen Alois-chan," he said after a moment, then with a gentle squeeze on his companion shoulder, 'I just bumped into Kaoru-dono, that I did," neither paying attention to the unusual name, "We'll be going back now."
Ariel pursed her lips in response, "Damn Alois-chan," she grumbled sourly, and her red haired companion smirked before jerking his head towards the room of their companions.
"We should go, that we should," and Ariel jumped before shuffling after her companion.
"Stupid, stupid stupid!" she called to no one in particular and Liam turned to see the dark look on her face before he smiled.
"What's that about," he teased and Ariel jumped a little before a bright red blush covered her face.
"Ah, Gomen Liam" she stated nervously, and Liam couldn't help but chuckle in response. This girl was so amusing, he couldn't wait until he got to know her more. With that, the handsome young man released her from his hold and headed towards the room with all their companions. It certainly had been an interesting day. He couldn't wait to see what the future would bring.
To be continued...
And that's it. It seems my stories are being passed over, or maybe the writing is just bad. I should proably read more normal books, after all if you read good books, you are bound to take in some of the author's techniques. I hope this chapter is okay. Next up, school returns. What will the day bring?
