Kage no Kumo - ch1

Kage no Kumo
Chapter I: Touch

I swear, I'll never let you be alone again....

The shady promise echoed continuously throughout the red-head's mind as he stared at the clear, grey, winter sky. He couldn't quite place where it came from or even if he had said those words at all; they were just there.

"Kenshin! Stop staring and finish the laundry!" Kamiya Kaoru's voice scolded from inside. "I'm still mad about what you said earlier, and you're going to make up for it by working!"

"Oro? What I said earlier...?"

Kaoru came into view from the shadows with a cold glare. "Don't 'oro' me! You know what you said." Kenshin just stared back with a confused smile. "I'm not going to repeat it!" She put on the saddest expression she could manage and hugged herself. "You and the other two free-loaders can be so insensitive.. It broke my heart to hear those words..." She sobbed, getting him to quickly apologize - even though he didn't know what for - and get straight back to work.

It was towards the end of the day when Kenshin, Sanosuke and Yahiko had finally finished the major chores they were assigned to by Kaoru, and so had finally earned their long awaited break and a walk away from the boss.

"I'm getting tired her telling me what to do," Yahiko griped to himself, walking closely behind the other two. "Just because she's older--"

"And your teacher, and is the person who's letting stay for free at her house..." Sanosuke sarcastically finished. "She has the right, especially with the way you talk about her."

"HEY! You're worse off than I am--"

"But I'm older than Raccoon--"

"Not by much..."

Sano popped him on the head. "I don't live with her either."

The fighting duo and Kenshin stopped off at the small bridge over the river before they made their way back to the rest of their work and watched as the sun darkened its shades as it sank into the horizon. Leaning over the rail, Sanosuke noticed his red-headed friend in deep thought.

"What's wrong Kenshin?" he asked with his back to the sun. "Worried about the boss?"

"Not at all," he answered, smiling weakly at his reflection.

"Then why so quiet?"

Kenshin didn't answer, just stared at the water and making his concerned friend upset.

"HEY!" Sano grabbed Ken in a headlock and ruffled his hair. "It's not like you to be so gloomy! What's the problem? You can tell your ol' friend Sano, right?" he growled.

"S-Sano, it's nothing big, just a thought."

"Thought?" He let his friend go and leaned against the rail, looking at him with a raised brow. "What kind of thought?"

"Well, this one promise keeps repeating in my head, but I'm not sure where it's from--"

"Is that it?!" the tall fighter interrupted with a snort. "It's probably something you over heard a while back from someone else."

Kenshin smiled. "Maybe, but since this morning, I've had this uneasy feeling--"

"That's just Kaoru's bossiness at work."

"I guess that could be."

"Don't say 'I guess', say 'You're completely right, dear friend Sano! How could I ever, ever get through things like this without you?' Then a quick pat on the back," he demonstrated on his friend, "and a treat to the Akabeko!"

"I don't think so, dear friend. We need to get back to work."

"Fine..." He sighed heavily then looked around. "Where's Yahiko?"

"I believe he went on without us."

"Typical: He says he hates doing the work, but does it anyway knowing that he's not getting any dinner."

Kenshin smiled as he walked on with his friend.

Black clouds blanketed the night sky and set the land in a cold silence; a whistle of the wind breaking through every now and then. Staring contently into the darkness from the Kamiya porch, Himura's mind wandered into the darkness, caught up in the scenery. He didn't actually think about anything in particular, just whatever came to mind; mostly to the words from before, still not sure where there were from.

"Isn't it a lovely night Miss Kaoru?" he interrupted himself.

"Yeah..." she smiled back. "It's so peaceful..." They shared the quiet for a minute, both satisfied with their day - almost. "NOW GET BACK TO FIXING DINNER!!!" Sipping her green tea at the table, Kaoru giggled at her own brilliant plan. Not only did I get most of the day off, but I got Yahiko and Sano to finally do something useful instead of bashing me! Brilliant plan, Kaoru! That's why they call you the "Flower of martial arts"! She snickered at herself. Why, thank you! I am proud of it...

With a nervous smile, Kenshin went back to his post. Fifteen minutes later, he walked in with a pot a stew, rice, and whatever else Kaoru had requested. Yahiko eagerly sat himself down, looking starry-eyed at the fresh meal.

"Wow, Kenshin, you really out did yourself this time!" he complimented, drooling over the night's dinner.

Kaoru turned to him with a snake's glare. "How do you know I didn't cook it? EH?!"

Sanosuke let out a short laugh, sticking some rice in his mouth. "You've been wasting away in here, sipping your tea the whole day; we know you did take the time to fix all this." He chewed, smiled, and patted her on the back. "Besides, we all know you can't cook this good, Raccoon; but if we roll over and die, then we'll say "Thanks".

"Why are you even still here? Don't you have your own place and food?"

"Heh... You had me working like a dog for a lie, but I took it like a man and so deserve some of Kenshin's fabulous food." He smirk at her with chopstick in his mouth. "If you would've cooked, I would've left. It's your fault."

"YOU....!" She lunged at him with a fist.

Kenshin watched the two wrestle playfully (or not) and, as he did before every dinner, gave thanks for having found such friends; a calm smile showing for his luck. He reached down for a bowl, trying not to get caught between the fighting two, when a warm grip held his shoulder. Looking to his right he saw nothing but Yahiko picking morsels away from the others.

"Did you need anything, Yahiko?"

The Kamiya student looked at him confused. "I didn't say anything." And went back to eating.

Shrugging off the feeling, he resumed his feast; but something was still bothering him. After dinner, with his smile still up, he stood and excused himself, walking out into the cold.

"Where's he going?" Kaoru blinked, Sano pinned beneath her.

What was bothering him he didn't know, but something just didn't feel right. He walked around to the front walkway. "What is it....?" The scarred wanderer stood in front of the dojo's gates and thought about it all again, the uneasy feeling rising as his body flinched from the cold. What....? He stood there for a moment in thought, finally deciding to head back. As he took his first step, he froze - the gentle touch of warmth had started on his shoulder and lift to his scarred cheek. Quickly, he turned to his left, yet nothing. "Who...?" At a loss he continued his way back to the others.

"'I'll never let you be alone again...'" Kenshin spun around at the soft voice, his hand defensively hanging over the hilt of his reversed-blade.

"Who's there?!" No answer. He couldn't get a feel of the other's presents; he sensed nothing. "Just imagined...?" He stood straight, letting down his guard, and looked up at the winter night. What... is it...? Again, slowly, the warmth stroked his chin and scar. His stomach twisted and his knees weakened as it covered his back and chest; surprising him into a gasp as a weight came over him.

'I'll never let you be alone...' The only thought repeated endlessly in his confused mind, still not knowing from where. Then, the weight increased, sending him gently to his already loosened knees; a pressure touching his left cheek. Alone... The warmth, he could swear, was safe and allowed it to stay, giving him time to gather his lost thoughts. As the wind became colder its hold became warmer, smoothing over his chest and tightening comfortably around him.

"Ken-chan..." the name whispered gently into his ear as if a warm blow of wind. "I'll be coming back for you soon..." With that, his marked cheek felt the sharp, iciness of the cold wind as the weight lifted and left him alone.

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