The Brush Stroke

Space! Oh, parched Wasteland of Stars!

Let's stake everything on this life of mine!

The only thing I am after is just a life,

at the end of which I can laugh as I die.

(Anime) Arcadia of My Youth: Waga Seishun no Arcadia (Arcadia of My Youth)

Last time

All the girl did was nodded, not in the mood to talk. A corner of her visions was getting a little blurry. Swaying in out of the talking of the two. " Damn it! I lost to much blood!" she thought, " Just got to last until the dojo, then I can patch my self up." Her breathing was becoming labored a little. Kenshin took note the girl was falling behind them. Sano looked back a little.

Light, it fluttered around the teen laying on the futon. Her red hair was spilled around her, making the girl look almost childish sleeping. A small man sat near the door, feeling the breeze on his back, the warmth of the sunlight. Kenshin's own eyes opened to the dawn. Landing on the teen, her breathing even.

A day had passed so far. His thoughts drifting back to Megumi-dono after she had taken care of the teen now sleeping.

" She lost a lot of blood by her side, and the shoulder should heal clean. I did notice something that worries me Sir-Kens.."

He looked at the woman, holding the question back. " Wolf has scar, not normal scars, fighting scars. She has a deep one on the back of her left shoulder; it covers half way down her back. Near her lower front, there are bulleted holes Kenshin, and other miner scars. This young woman has had a life of fighting and pain.." her eyes narrows to the man, he scowled a little waiting " Her wound will not scar or her back, this child has had enough done to her body. Kenshin, watch over her!"

The vixen left, leaving the red head to think about many things. He looked Wolf, remembering those swords like eyes the first time he meet her. Now, two weeks had gone. Wolf was only provoking to be more of a puzzle to all of the gumi. She could be silly at times, chasing Yahiko around the dojo, doing dishes, and now working at the beef-pot/ then, the other, something inside the girl was hurt, and bleeding. Craving for release only in battle, and her bleeding scar. Who was Wolf?

Kenshin rubbed his temples, giving him a headache. Dealing with a messed up teen age girl was not on his list. He was use to people trying to kill him, and his life at the dojo. It was simple, but now. His eyes drifted to the girl, something about this teen talked to him. He felt a connection of some kind with the street teen.

'Kenshin?" Kauri called to him, walking in with a cup of tea.

Kenshin turned from his thoughts smiling " Karuo-dono, this one sees you have tea for mw. Thank you"

She warmly at the man, letting her eyes drift so the young girl. Having gotten the same talk by Megumi, Wolf was hurt not only in her body, but her soul. A lot had to be done to heal her wounds both in and out. Yet who was she really behind those sword eyes?

" Wolf will be fine Kauro, don't worry. With us she will!" Kenshin's voice carried a seriousness tone. His eyes also on the girl.

She noded, saying " I better get back to the dojo, Sano is coming by to see you.'

He nodded, smiling and sipping his tea. She left, knowing Wolf was in good hands for now. Kenshin relaxed a little, hearing the teen mutter in English. She was ok, for now. Sano peeked behind the door, eyeing Wolf.

" Sano, you can come out." Kenshin said

He smiled childishly, walking into the room. " Hey, how's the kid?'

Kenshin looked up at the taller man " Her wounds are healing fast, and she ate some soup a little. Then feel back to sleep. She also keeps muttering English a lot."

" Kenshin, she is from the States, remember. So she's going to mutter in English!" he snorted a little though his nose " Any way, go get something to eat, I'll watch the pup for now."

Kenshin eyed the man a little and noded. Getting up and walking to the kitchen for some food. Sano sat down, eyes on the girl. Wolf was waking up, slowly. Letting her sense and body tell her some things. She was laying down on a futon. From the light on her lids, it was late in the day. Still warm though for fall. Her left side ached lightly, but was bound. Taking a deep breath, the teen opened her eyes slowly. Blurry was the world at first, making out a tall white outline. Sano was in the room, with her…alone. His eyes where closed, sleeping " What a slacker' she thoughts, sitting up slowly. World spinning in and out for a moment. Hunger gripped at the tummy.

Sano's eyes fluttered open, seeing a smirking Wolf up. He fell back for e moment, caught off guard. " Man, I must look bad if your running away at first sight1" Wolf laughed out laud.

He stood up, blushing. " Well, I did just wake up. Sheesh kid!" he dryly said

Wolf snickered a little; tighten up the sleeping robe saying, " How long was I out for?"

" A day about, Kenshin should be back with some food. Anyway Wolf, you gave us a few more gray hairs." Sano said, sitting back down.

Wolf looked around the room, one eye brow up at the man " OOOOOOOKKKKKK, so where are we?'

' Megumi's, we brought you here after the fight. And did get chewed out about you being hurt and all.' He said

Wolf studied the man, not sensing any hate from him. " So, Sano, you don't hate me anymore huh?"

Her question caught the man off guard. He shook his head no " You risked you life for a kid, took down four men unarmed, and still tried make back to the dojo hurt Wolf. Your tough, so you got some respects from me, and a little trust."

She stared at the blankly, then stated to laugh. Sano soon joining her. Kenshin heard the laughter of the two, wondering if they gone insane. But it was good Wolf was awake now, and she and Sano where getting along. One less thing for the red head to worry about now.

A Few Days Later

Wolf was back at the dojo, after having a long talk with the Vixen. She had to come back twice a day for a check up. Wolf shook her head thinking ' Docs!" In one more day, she could back to work, which for the teen was good. She was getting a little lanky staying in the dojo all the time. But when you have Kenshin, Kauro and Yahiko watching your every move…it's hard to have a little fun!

Lying on top of the roof, she was enjoying the last of fall's sunlight. Frost was in the air. Wolf signed, turning to her right side. Being grounded was hard for a teen use to her freedom. Yet it was not Kauro enforcing it. Kenshin was. Every time she had tried to sneak out, the man was there! Kind of creepy in a way. Wolf growled a little. She did not angst very well, she was teenager!

" Wolf! You up on the roof again?" Yahiko's voiced traveled up to the teen.

" Ya Yahiko, what is it?" she said, looking up at the clouds a little.

" Megumi's here! Better get down!" he yelled

Wolf singed, sitting up and sliding to the edge of roof, with a quick jump. Landing in front of boy. He shook his head, pointing behind the girl. Megumi's expression was hard at the girl. Wolf looked back a little, shagging.

" Look Wolf! If you want to heal faster, don't do high impact things….like say…JUMPING OFF ROOF TOPS!" she yelled. Pointing her finger in the teen's face

Wolf grabbed the fingerer, making the vixen grow still and Yahiko " Look Megumi, I know your trying to help, but I know my body. So back off a little ok. You know from the scars I have I am use to this shit by now.'

The young woman walked away, heading the training hall. Megumi's sad eyes watched the girl. 'I know Wolf, but you shouldn't be use to pain…' her thoughts drifting

Night fell on the dojo, Wolf ate with others. Sano could tell something was on the girl's mind. She was barely eating anything again. Dazed was the teen and her fork. Kenshin too could see this, sharing a look with Yahiko and Kauro. Wolf stood up, saying '' I need some sleep, see ya in the morning peps."

The gumi looked at either wandering " What was wrong with the teen again.'

Wolf's eyes snapped opened, the dream had come back. Blood, the fire of a gun, the slicing of flesh. Her scar started to bled once again

"Shit' her muttered, standing up and heading for the kitchen, pressing her hand to the old scar. Kenshin woke, sounds of someone walking echoed down the night. Wolf was up.

This had been going on for almost every time this week. Wariness filled the man about the teen. He slipped open the shoire, making his way to the kitchen once again. Wolf pressed the cool cloth to her cheek, her eyes closed. Flashes of memories repeated in her mind's eyes. A sound of someone entering the doorway, bright the girl back. Kenshin stood in the outline. Wolf started a little

"You're bleeding again, your scar." His voiced softly

Wolf looked at the man, the blood dripped from her face. Something in her eyes was reflected back to her. Kenshin knew, that her soul was crying out. Yet her eyes would not let go of a raw pain.

" Mind your own life Himura!" She spat out the words. " I don't need someone looking over my shoulder and my life, so back the fuck off!

Kenshin kept a cool face, walking over to the teen. The light in her eyes died to his warm ones. A gentle hand took the cloth from the girl and dipped it back into the water, pressing it to the wound. Wolf flinched at being touched; Kenshin's eyes softened a little. She use only to painfully touching, not a gentle one.

" So much pain is in this girl's heart' he thought " She looked like child right now, weighting for me to do something wrong…'

Wolf eyes lowered to ground, regretting the words she had said " I'm sorry Kenshin' she said delicately.

All the man could do was smile kindly. Some of her walls where going down around the gumi. Yet they're so much to heal still, and that darkness in her eyes…he shook his head. One step at a time for now.

' Well, it stopped bleeding, you should get some sleep Wolf. This one is too!' he said, smiling

All the teen could do was nodded, heading for the door. Her scar no longer burning where Kenshin had touched it.

Next Chapter

The Artiest!

Wolf looked at the old woman, then two the strange young man. Never in her life had she felt someone so un tainted. Pure…

"Kagome who is this?" A wonder falling on her face

" His name is Kazuya, and he is deaf' She said

Marry Yule ppl! And Happy new years! No Drunk Driving please!