Truly Madly Deeply

Written By:

Leona Blake

The dark azure night slowly gave way to the cherry and buttery yellow of the morning sky. A nightingale began a tender melancholy song, which weaved its way through the hidden shrine. Kaoru lay on her futon, her form rising and falling with each breath. Her skin shown with an unearthly glow and her hair reflected the brilliant sunshine, which burst in through the window behind her. Kaoru wore a silken pink robe that touched her skin with a heavenly softness. The pink dressing gown was held together with a loose velvet sash around her waist. Her eyes were open, taking in the freshly waxed hardwood floor, the sent of a cooking breakfast wafted heavily through her room.

I follow the night…

Can't stand the light…

When will I begin…

To live…

Again…

Kaoru gradually sat up in her bed. She turned her head to the corner where the voice seemed to grow from. There in the corner of the room stood a form of a girl, not much older then Kaoru herself.

"Wh-Who are you?" Kaoru whimpered through a half shut mouth. Struggling to not look as frightened as she really was.

"My name is Tomoe…I was once Kenshin's lover…"The girl looked sullenly at Kaoru, her eyes blank, her face white, her lips an ungodly purple. Her kimono was old and tattered, and there was a large stain of dried blood where the heart should have been.

"What do you want?" Kaoru gasped at the ethereal figure.

"To warn you…Kenshin is in danger! You must help! HELP HIM!" Tomoe began to glow, a bright light forming out of her stomach. Before either girl could do anything, she was gone, and Kaoru was still sitting there, afraid.

***

Sesshomaru sat in idle silence, sipping his tea from a decorated glass dish. I form of Kaoru appeared in the doorway. Slowly she came forward face a shade paler then usual, nonetheless unnoticeable by the cream colored kimono donning her slim figure.

"Ohayo gozaimus Sesshomaru-sama." Kaoru bowed graciously before her munificent provider.

"Ohayo Kaoru-san, you look pale, is everything alright?" Sesshomaru sent a worried glance in her direction, which was politely overlooked by Kaoru's slight shaking of the head.

"Nothing to be worried about Sesshomaru-sama. I was wondering however, if you would be so kind as to provide me with a training gi and a full-length sword. Preferably something similar in size, weight, and shape to the bokken used to train. And if possible a confined area where I can train is solitude." Kaoru stated her wants carefully, as though she had long since practiced what she was going to say.

"Of course we can afford you with such items, however, if it is curiosity that killed the cat, then I fear I won't be living very long. Why would a lady like yourself be in need of a sword, so suddenly?" Sesshomaru pointed out the last statement about her abrupt request in an almost false astonishment.

"My father had not always believed that the sword is there to protect. Long before he opened his school he had been skillfully trained with a real sword for the very real reason of killing. I feel that there is more that I can do, rather then sitting here and being pampered while others cover my tracks and protect me. I feel that I can be doing more. When I was little my father taught me to use a bokken, and I have perfected my abilities into a more improved style then the Kamiya Kashin. Regrettably I now find myself in a position where my child like style will be of no help against these monsters that hunt my friends and me. I now need the Saisei Akui [reborn malice] style, the perfected Kamiya Kashin, no longer with a bokken, but with a real sword."  Kaoru huffed a breath through her mouth as she finally came to an end of her speech.

Sesshomaru gazed gloomily at the child before him. Her tresses were in an elaborately designed bow that made her cheekbones seem more prominent. With a flick of his wrist a guard appeared and Sesshomaru repeated Kaoru's requests. Not even minutes later two maids entered carrying a fighting gi and sword. The guard held back in the corridor.

"Ki-su will lead you to the training room, otherwise the rest of the shrine is up to your uses. I must admit Kaoru-san; I did not expect you to rise up like this. What ever planted the seed in your head that made you like this, may it rest in heaven for all of eternity." Suddenly a chill came over the room and there seemed for a moment to be light emitting from Kaoru's body as a long unappeased soul finally entered the body which was once meant to be her re-incarnation.

~~~ Far away along the road near an old field where once stood a barn….~~~

Kenshin abruptly gasped for air, it was a jarring feeling, as though two halves had finally joined.

Well? What did you think? Please review! I know it's felt like forever after eternity since I last wrote, but sophmore year unexpectedly took off with an overwhelming start and I have barely had time to write at all. I'm warning all the people that say they read my things ;) there's only two chapters left.  :D PEACE!

~Leona S. Blake~