Kage no Kumo - ch2

Kage no Kumo
Chapter II: Morn

"Ken-chan..."

The sweet, childish voice that called his name echoed softly through Kenshin's dream, a faint memory of a once forgotten past.

"Ken-chan..."

The wanderer found himself sitting on a fallen tree, the rising sun's reflection waving on the glistening lake it overlooked.

"Ken-chan!"

He ignored it and concentrated on the starting of a new day. Narrowing his eyes in thought, he was unaware of the presents behind him.

"Ken-chan, you're ignoring me..." the young voice complained, quietly enough to remind the other of its being. Young Kenshin smiled with a sigh, still staring at the water, and leaned on his knees.

"Gomen," he answered in a whisper. Both were quiet to enjoy the serene moment, finally being broken by a soothing touch on Kenshin's shoulders. He closed his eyes as the comforting hands slowly slid down his chest until finally he felt the soft breath of his friend upon his neck and the warmth of cheek against soft cheek.

"Ken-chan, I'm happy now that you're here..." The young red-head answered with another smile as the hug tightened lightly around his neck.

The loud, obsessive cries of a passing bird woke Kenshin from his dream early that morning. Letting out a relaxed yawn, he sat up and stared at the opposite wall, trying to remember what he could.

"I can never remember when I want to..." he whined softly, careful not to wake Yahiko sleeping noisily next to him. He sat quietly, leaning on his partially crossed legs and played with the ends of his loose, soft-red hair; the harsh cries of the lone bird pounding into his mind as he unsuccessfully tried to see the forgotten face by the morning shore. He let out a defeated sigh; it was no use with so many thoughts and noises. Finally, choosing to stay up over getting more rest, he quietly dressed in his usual, put away his futon, and made his way to the cold outside. Looking up at the dark morning sky, he wondered if there was any truth to his dream - if ever once he had sat on a fallen tree to watch the sun rise over a clear, blue lake and have someone hold him in soothing arms from behind, happy that he was their company.

He slapped himself lightly.

"I'm going to start getting obsessed with these weird things happening to me sooner or later." He combed his fingers through his loose hair, making an annoyed face when he snagged a few tangles. Need to barrow a brush from Miss Kaoru when she gets up. Ready to head back to his room, he turned away only to have his attention brought to the outside once again by a caw.

"Oro!" He searched for the bird in the dark trees but stopped after realizing it was useless looking for a black animal at night. "I need my rest, bird," he smiled blankly. "If you choose to stay then I'm going to have to ask that you remain quiet, and I might give you some breakfast scraps." The bird let out a short cry and flew from the top of the house to the ground next to Kenshin. "A raven, eh?" He crouched down and smiled. "You woke me up from a rather odd dream, you know?" The coal-black bird tilted its head left as the man talked. "As I said before, I'll save you some scraps later this morning if you stay quiet. I'd say that's a fair enough deal." he added, extending his hand as if expecting a shake. After remaining in that position another minute, he gave it a nervous smile and pointed out its right eye, closed with a vertical, white scar over it. "You have a pretty bad mark there. I take it you're blinded?" The bird cawed at his idiocy and flew back to the roof, letting out one last cry at the shade of light starting over the horizon.

"Already?" Kenshin politely smiled, looking up at the animal. "I'm starting breakfast now. Stay quiet for at least an hour and the rest is yours." He walked in, not waiting for a response, and headed for the kitchen; tieing his thick, silky hair before he started.

"Kenshin, that smells wonderful!" Kaoru complemented as she walked down the hall from her room. She sniffed the air once more, the sweet aroma of boiling rice, vegetables, meat, and whatever else the wandering-chef could find made a small droplet from the corner of her mouth.

"You shouldn't be drooling all over the place in front of people, you know."

She turned her attention to Sanosuke who was already eating. "Why are you here so early?"

"I've been here since yesterday; never left." He swallowed the rest in one gulp and started on seconds. Kaoru sat opposite of him and slammed her hands on the table.

"You invited yourself to stay the night?!"

"Of course not," he snorted. "That would've been rude. Kenshin and Yahiko asked."

"Where did you sleep?" the Kamiya girl growled.

"With Kenshin and Yahiko."

"I completely forgot you were there, Sano." Kenshin walked out of the kitchen with a bowl in his hands and sat next to Kaoru. "You were so quiet that I forgot all about you."

"Yeah, well, I'm a sound sleeper."

Annoyed, Kaoru snatched the bowl from the red-head's hands.

"No! Miss Kaoru--!" Before he stop her, she ate a piece of rotten vegetable and meat. "Miss Kaoru, I told you, that's for the bird."

"AHH!! YOU SAID NO SUCH THING!!!!"

Sano laughed. "You really shouldn't eat other people's food, Raccoon."

"Shut up!!!" She lunged at him with a fist.

Letting out a sigh as he watched the two, he quietly stood and took the bowl outside. Looking up at the morning sky, he breathed in the fresh air and smiled at the thought of a new day. Placing the red bowl in the middle of the yard, he looked to the roof where he saw the same black bird. "Oi! You kept your side of the deal, so I'll I keep mine. Here's what I had." Noticing it's features ruffle, he smiled and stepped away. "I'm going in now. Call when you're done."

"K-Kenshin... Who were you talking to?" Kaoru asked, holding Sanosuke at her height by his collar.

"I was just feeding a bird," he smiled.

"In one of my bowls?!" She dropped Sano and ran out to see the large raven sitting on the rim and carefully picking out its choice. "That's one of my favorites!" she whined.

"I can always wash it out for you."

"That's not point, it's the principle: I don't want some filthy crow--"

"Raven," Kenshin corrected casually.

"I don't care! It's eating out of my - MY - bowl!"

"You sure are spoiled for a teacher of martial arts." Sano patted the frustrated girl on the back and smiled at Kenshin. "Our friend here just has a soft spot for out-casts."

"I don't care if he offers it to stay here," she growled, giving him a cold, snaky glare. "I just don't want it eating out of MY bowl!"

Thinking it over a bit, the red-head walked back out and crouched next to the eating bird. "I'm sorry," he smiled, grabbing hold of the rim, "but Miss Kaoru is very insistent and would like to have her bowl back; this is her house you know." The bird obliged with a caw and allowed him to take it and pour the food on the ground. "I truly am sorry."

Watching the two, Sanosuke crossed his arms and lightly bumped Kaoru's rear with his foot. "See that? You just ruined that bird's vital meal."

"Of course you'd defend one of your own, Rooster."

"Hey! Only that twisted cop calls me that; even then, I hate it..." They glared at each other from the corner of their eyes, ready to jump in with another insult or punch, until Kenshin stepped in.

"Miss Kaoru," he smiled, seemingly oblivious to the arguement, "I'll wash it out for you." Quickly changing glances, she gave him a big smile and followed him into the kitchen to get away from her pest-of-a-guest.

"What a pain," the tall fighter let out a heavy sigh and flopped down to the floor, placing his hands over his face. "But I have to be strong if I want some of Kenshin's cooking; rather die if that girl were in the kitchen.

"What was that?!" Kaoru growled.

The ex-fighter-for-heir shut his mouth and turned to face the raven. Picking up its head, a sliver of meat dangling from its beak, they stared at each other for a minute when, suddenly, the creature let out a piercing screeched; a great shock to Sano's heart. Jumping to his knees, he watched as the bird wildly flapped and shrieked in a cloud of ebony. With his eyes steadily fixed wide with shock, he could do nothing but watch as it struggled with an unseen opponent.

"Sanosuke!" His trance was broken by a call from Kaoru, running in to see what the commotion was about. "Sano! What did you do to it?" He hesitantly turned to her, taking a while to talk. Letting out a worried growl, she ran back to find Kenshin staring out the window, seemingly in his own little world. She knew there was something heavy on his mind. Reluctantly, she went back to take care of things herself. Building up a small amount of courage, the Kamiya girl stomped her way to Sano.

"Alright!" She pulled up her sleeves and grabbed his arm. "We're gonna help it."

"W-we?" Sano stuttered, standing by force.

"Yup! You need to help your kind in need." Ignoring the comment, he followed behind as she carefully sneaked up on the frantic bird. Alright, she encouraged herself, Kenshin was able to befriend it so can I. Getting her hands ready to snatch it up, she heard a voice call from the gates. Distracted, she didn't notice as the bird quickly recovered and flew straight at her. Falling on her back, she growled and winced in pain; feeling a warm liquid trail down her cheek. Hearing the call again, she grabbed Sano's arm and pulled him down.

"You! Why didn't say anything?"

"About what?" he smirked.

"About the bird!" She pointed to a small wound on her cheek. "It could've taken my eye!"

"Sorry 'bout that, but it was aiming for your eye." A smile showed on his face as he noticed Kenshin watching them. "Your friend tried giving Kaoru a kiss."

"Are you alright, Miss Kaoru?"

"Just fine," she growled, picking herself up. "I'll answer the gate." Upon walking to the front, she found, amongst the smaller body-feathers, a single, larger feather pinned straight up in the ground. On some strange impulse, she picked it out and continued on on her way. Murmuring insults and plans to get Sanosuke back, she stomped to the gates and pushed them open.

"May I help you?" she answered in a curt manner just as the person was about to leave; she, Kaoru noticed, turned back with a polite smile.

"I was beginning to think no one was home." She walked up to her and bowed fairly low, sending a wave of sweet perfume to the other's nose and caused her waist-length, ebony hair to fall over her shoulders with a sleek sheen. "I'm sorry to disturb you," she stood straight with a slight bounce that made the dark-blue cloak she worn around her shift, "but I've come to issue a challenge to the head of this dojo."

Kaoru was lost in the intriguing scent for a second. You don't smell something like that very often anymore. "Ch-challenge?" she realized, supporting herself against the gate from the news. "Now?"

"We-well, if not now..."

"N-no, it's fine, I was just... uh..." She thought for a second; she's really never been challenged before. Should I...? Yes! I will accept! She clenched her fist and thought about the barrage of insults she's been getting from the ungrateful Yahiko and Sanosuke. I'll show them both, and Kenshin, that if they mess with me, they'll be sorry! She giggled at her plan. "I'm sorry that you'll have to be the example, though..."

"What was that?"

"Oh! No-nothing." She bowed with a nervous laugh and stepped aside. "I gladly accept your challenge. Please, come in and have something to eat while I get ready." Another soft smile appeared on the challenger's lips, one of which, Kaoru thought, suited her. Leading her inside, she, softly, called out to Kenshin. "Could you, please, fix one more meal for our guest?"

"Alright!" he answered happily out of sight.

"She'll be at the table!" She sat her guest down, "I'll be right back," and quickened her to her room.

"Miss Kaoru, is there anything in particular you'd like me to make?"

"Anything is fine." the stranger replied in a soft voice.

The red-head peered in at the new voice. "Anything is al--" He cut himself mid-sentence and stared at the smiling guest in disbelief. A numbing sensation filled every fiber of his being as he stood frozen; the sweet smell of white plums drowning every sense. His stomach twisted, his breath quickened, and, most of all, his heart ached in remembrance. "T-Toh..." He couldn't even get the word past his dry lips as he stared at the lost figure sitting before him. "To... moe..."

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leona_plague@yahoo.com
1/7/01