WWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG, I am SOOOOOO
sorry minna-san!!!!!!!! I really shouldn't be making up excuses, but
everything has been so incredibly insane... I have written a few new
chapters but they're not typed up yet but I've had to deal with getting my
license (I'm on the road, wah ha ha!) evil final exams and graduation (yes,
Lunar-chan in out in the real world!!! Look out minna!). And I've had
absolutely NO COMPUTER TIME. WAH!
Neko: Aa... Lunar-chan has been insane these past couple of months.
Kenshin: Hai. Lunar-dono is frightening when she's going crazy. Especially
since...
Yahiko: ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE DOESN'T LET US OUT OF THE
BASEMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lunar: ::pouts:: I have too.
Yahiko: I was down there, BY MY SELF, for TWO WEEKS!!!!
Neko: But that's because you were being obnoxious and you almost spilt soda
on the sacred comp.
Lunar: Yea! You were being punished!!
Yahiko: I didn't mean to! Busu tripped me!!!!
Kaoru: NANI??? I did nothing of the sorts, YAHIKO-CHAN!!!
Yahiko: WHY YOU-! ::Lunar-chan clamps hand over his mouth::
Lunar: Shut up. Or you'll be downstairs again for another two weeks.
Yahiko: ::moves Lunar-chan's hand:: I can't go downstairs! I'm in this
chapter!
Neko: He's right.
Kenshin: Aa.
Lunar: ::sighs in defeat:: You're right. Oh well, here we go with the
OVERDUE, LONG AWAITED, CHAPTER SIX!!!! ::idiotic clapping:: DON'T FORGET TO
R + R MINNA!!!! (it keeps me going and happy ^_^)
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
FYI:
"...": Speaking
[...]: Thoughts
~*~*~: Scene change
(...): Lunar-chan notes
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~*~Someday: Chapter Six~*~
~*~DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Hmm... maybe I can buy them
with my graduation money. ::glared at by man in black suit:: Uh...
::sweatdrop:: Never mind.~*~
~*~Either learn from the past or repeat it. Although it's a tough lesson to learn, it may save your life.~*~
(::shudder:: WAH! I thought he got fed up with me and left... no such luck...)
"Yoku!" fourteen-year-old Yoku Mizuta turned to see his girlfriend Takao Shimizu run up behind him. She kissed him on the cheek and smiled. "Where were you at lunch?" Yoku grinned sheepishly.
"Ano... I fell asleep in History. Fujitani-sensei wasn't very happy with me and made me stay in class during lunch." Takao frowned.
"Are your dreams bothering you again?" Yoku's face became serious and he nodded.
"Hai." Takao grasped his hand.
"It's okay." Yoku clenched his jaw.
"Let's just go. I'll walk you home." Hand in hand, they walked toward the school gates. As they go close, someone brushed past Yoku, causing him to stumble. His eyes flashed. "Oi! Watch were you're goin'!" The person who had bumped into him turned, her blue eyes flashing. She blinked when she saw him, then a small smile crept across her lips.
"Iie." Yoku clenched his free hand into a fist.
"Why you..." Takao bit her lip.
"I'm not going to apologize for anything. You should calm down... let out some steam. 1,000 swings, now." She demanded. Yoku face faulted.
"1... 1,000?" She nodded.
"Come on, go get your bokken. Don't make me wait." Yoku growled.
"Are you crazy busu?"
"Don't call me 'busu' Yahiko-CHAN!"
"DON'T CALL ME 'CHAN'!!" The second that phrase exited his mouth, Yoku's eyes widened.
Kaori smiled and turned to Kenji, who had been watching the argument unfold with a smile on his face. He chuckled a bit at Yoku's expression.
"Come on Kenji, let's leave him to his 1,000 swings." She waved at the two stunned fourteen-year-olds. "Ja ne!" they turned and walked through the gate. Yoku blinked.
"Ma... MATTE!" Kaori halted and turned with an annoyed look on her face.
"Yahiko, Kenshin and I have to meet Aoshi and Misao at my house. We're trying to figure out where Sano and Megumi could have possibly gone. Demo, you and Tsubame are welcome to join us." Kaori had to suppress laughter as she watched the looks on their faces.
"Yo... Yoku..." Takao murmured. "Perhaps... we should go with them." Yoku just nodded. Takao tugged on his arm, forcing him to move. Kaori snapped her fingers in front of his face.
"Oi, Yoku-chan. Snap out of it." Yoku blinked, then glared at Kaori.
"How many times do I gotta tell ya not to call me 'chan'?"
"As soon as you get it through your thick skull not to call me 'busu'. Unfortunately, old habits die hard." Kaori smiled. Yoku's eyes widened then a grin spread across his face.
"Oi, Takao! It's really them!"
"Took you long enough to figure that one out." Kaori said.
"Demo Kaori, you didn't give him much to go on. One argument that short isn't a lot de gozaru."
"You're right Kenji." Kaori turned back toward Yoku and Takao. "So, what are you're names?"
"Mizuta Yoku." He said.
"I'm Shimizu Takao." She said shyly.
"Kakkoi. You guys, follow me." Kaori looked at Kenji. "Good thing Otou-san isn't home. He'd flip out if he knew I was having five people over to talk about out history, of all things."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After a round of introductions, the partially reassembled Kenshin-gumi was sitting in Kaori's living room. As soon as they were all settled down, Kaori cleared her throat.
"Okay, I just want to get one thing straight. Everyone has had dreams, correct?" Everyone nodded. "Okay."
"What I really wanna know is," Yoku spoke up, "what exactly happened to you?" Kaori bit her lip.
"You want the truth?"
"Iie, I want you to lie. OF COURSE I WANT THE TRUTH!" Kaori sighed and looked down at her hands, which were intertwined with Kenji's. Kenji squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"I... Kaoru... was killed by..." She licked her lips nervously. "Kenshin." Everyone gasped in horror.
"Kaori are you joking? You can't be serious!" Yoku yelled.
"Maa, maa minna, let her finish." Kenji said quietly.
"At least, that's what Kaoru was let to believe. But now... I know that isn't true. Someone took the form of Kenshin and caught me off guard."
"Are you sure?" Akito asked.
"Of course she's telling the truth Akito-kun!!! Why would she lie about that?" Mayo exclaimed, and then blinked. "Right Kaori?"
"Hai." Kaori said. "How about you four? What happened afterwards?" Yoku clenched his jaw as Mayo and Akito looked down in silence. Takao looked as if she was about to cry.
"Yahiko... and Tsubame..." Yoku started. "They died, at the Akabeko... at the hands of Kaoru's ghost."
"NANI?" Kaori exclaimed. "What the HELL are you talking about? How could that had possibly happened?"
"Ano... Tsubame and Yahiko... they... we were working late on night at the Akabeko. Tae had gone home early, demo, they had a lot to clean up. I was in the back washing dishes, when I... I heard..." Yoku stopped, his hands tightening into fists. Takao lightly touched his arm and looked up at Kaori.
"He... had heard me scream. I had been sweeping the dinning room when I heard a noise... the next thing I knew; I was on the ground... in a lot of pain..." Her eyes watered and tears threatened to fall.
"I... found her like that... with Kaoru standing over her, a bloody sword gripped in her hands and an... evil looking grin on her face... it scared the hell out of me."
"Before I black out... I saw Kaoru charge at him... he had absolutely no time to react..." She shuddered involuntarily. "The last things I remember is the sword... plunging into his... body. Then I went unconscious." Tears started to drip down her cheeks slowly. Yoku grabbed her hand and held it tightly.
"There's just one thing I couldn't understand. Kaoru started yelling at me as she attacked... she was yelling, blaming us for her death... telling me I should have done something... to change the past." Yoku inhaled shakily as an uncomfortable silence settled over them. Then, Mayo spoke up.
"Something similar happened at the Aoiya."
"Kami-sama... not you too." Kaori whispered, her voice barely auditable.
"We were eating dinner... it was kind of late at night. We heard the door open and both Okan and Omasu went to answer it. We were closed for the day, but sometimes we would randomly get drunks wandering in. We all immediately heard them scream, then silence. Shiro and Kuro were out there next and we didn't hear anything happen. Aoshi and Misao... they... we were both totally on our guard... until I saw everyone's bodies. Then I saw Kaoru and dropped all my kunai right then and there. I thought... that... I was dreaming..." she fell silent.
"I remember..." Akito started, "almost loosing my grip on my kodachi... by the time I realized what exactly had happened... she was so fast... and my guard had only been down for a split second..." Akito said softly. Mayo was shaking.
"I remember watching his... h... hea... head fall off..." she choked down a sob. "Then... the feel of the blade... in my back..." tears started streaming down her face. Akito wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
By the time bother stories were done, Kaori was shaking beyond belief and unshed tears shone in her eyes. Kenji was gripping her hands, trying to stop her from shaking.
"Son of a bitch." Kaori spat out, pure venom dripping off her words.
"There's just something I don't understand..." Kenji murmured to himself.
"What don't you understand? The bastard that killed me went and killed all my friends!" Kaori said, becoming even more upset.
"I don't get why I was left alone." Kaori blinked.
"Eh?"
"He didn't come after me Kaori. I was left alone and lived out the rest of my life... without anyone."
"Maybe he knew he couldn't take you on." Yoku said. Kenji shook his head.
"I had a hard enough time fighting with Aoshi. For this person to be able to kill the entire Oniwabanshuu without receiving a scratch... and so quickly... he is a powerful foe. Obviously stronger than I ever was." He looked up. "This person intentionally left me alone for a reason."
"And the way he did it..." Kaori mused. "It was planned. A plan designed for ultimate suffering. There were only two or three years between deaths... that's barely enough time for the heart to heal."
"So... we know how and when..." Akito said. "We just don't know the why or who."
"Great." Kaori sighed. "And those are the most important aspects!"
"K'so." Yoku growled. Although it wasn't voiced, the feeling was mutual. Everyone was feeling equally frustrated.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Far away, although not far enough, in a dark, dank cave, sat a man surrounded by candles. He was muttering incoherently to himself, glowing a pale red. His yellow, cat like eyes snapped open and the red glow intensified as his body changed. His tanned skin turned a bluish-green hue and scaly. The pudgy fingers grew thin and pointed; the round face grew thin and narrow with pointed ears. As the red glow faded, he shook like a dog flinging water off its skin.
"Much better. That form was bothering me." He muttered in a raspy, gurgling voice. Brushing imaginary dust from his arms, he stood up, grinning. "They're almost all together... perfect. It's almost time... Battousai, I've waited too long... you will suffer again."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ WAH!! ::Neko-chan glomps her Kenshin plushy:: I was sooooooooo scared. It's so sad!!!! ::Neko-chan starts to wail:: Lunar: ::sweatdrop:: Ano... I didn't mean for it to be that morbid. Yahiko: Well, you didn't succeed, did you? Lunar: ::glares:: Shut up. Neko: WAH!!!! Lunar: NEKO-CHAN!!!! Calm down!!!! This is a major plot development and maybe a little evil cliff hanger. Neko: ::sniff:: But it's evil and so very sad. Lunar: Gomen. Next time should be better, I promise.
NAMES!!!! YEA!!!!
Kenshin Himura - Kenji Hirama Kaoru Kamiya - Kaori Kanama Aoshi Shinomori - Akito Suzukaze Misao Makinachi - Mayo Matsuda Yahiko Myoujin - Yoku Mizuta Tsubame Sanjo - Takao Shimizu Shiro - Shizuo Inao Kuro - Komi Hirose Omasu - Osuka Shirai Okan - Okawa Ando
FYI: Japanese glossary
Hai: Yes Minna: Everyone Gomen ne (nasai): I'm (really) sorry Ja (ne): See ya (later) Demo: But De gozaru: something Kenshin says after every sentence. It basically repeats what he just said. Kami-sama: God Nani: What? Sensei: Teacher Oi: Hey Iie: No Busu: Ugly -Chan: suffix given to younger children. Can also be translated into "Little" Yahiko-chan = Little Yahiko Matte: Wait Kakkoi: Cool Otou-san: Father Gumi: Group Maa, maa: Now, now Kami-sama: God K'so: Basically a swear. Usually translated into "Damn" or "Shit"
Now, aren't you glad I updated? I'll probably update much faster now that school's out. It would be nice if I got A LOT of reviews (hint, hint). Chapter Seven should be up sooner or later, now, please R + R... and remember to keep the peace, love and ANIME!! JA NE!!!!!
~*~Either learn from the past or repeat it. Although it's a tough lesson to learn, it may save your life.~*~
(::shudder:: WAH! I thought he got fed up with me and left... no such luck...)
"Yoku!" fourteen-year-old Yoku Mizuta turned to see his girlfriend Takao Shimizu run up behind him. She kissed him on the cheek and smiled. "Where were you at lunch?" Yoku grinned sheepishly.
"Ano... I fell asleep in History. Fujitani-sensei wasn't very happy with me and made me stay in class during lunch." Takao frowned.
"Are your dreams bothering you again?" Yoku's face became serious and he nodded.
"Hai." Takao grasped his hand.
"It's okay." Yoku clenched his jaw.
"Let's just go. I'll walk you home." Hand in hand, they walked toward the school gates. As they go close, someone brushed past Yoku, causing him to stumble. His eyes flashed. "Oi! Watch were you're goin'!" The person who had bumped into him turned, her blue eyes flashing. She blinked when she saw him, then a small smile crept across her lips.
"Iie." Yoku clenched his free hand into a fist.
"Why you..." Takao bit her lip.
"I'm not going to apologize for anything. You should calm down... let out some steam. 1,000 swings, now." She demanded. Yoku face faulted.
"1... 1,000?" She nodded.
"Come on, go get your bokken. Don't make me wait." Yoku growled.
"Are you crazy busu?"
"Don't call me 'busu' Yahiko-CHAN!"
"DON'T CALL ME 'CHAN'!!" The second that phrase exited his mouth, Yoku's eyes widened.
Kaori smiled and turned to Kenji, who had been watching the argument unfold with a smile on his face. He chuckled a bit at Yoku's expression.
"Come on Kenji, let's leave him to his 1,000 swings." She waved at the two stunned fourteen-year-olds. "Ja ne!" they turned and walked through the gate. Yoku blinked.
"Ma... MATTE!" Kaori halted and turned with an annoyed look on her face.
"Yahiko, Kenshin and I have to meet Aoshi and Misao at my house. We're trying to figure out where Sano and Megumi could have possibly gone. Demo, you and Tsubame are welcome to join us." Kaori had to suppress laughter as she watched the looks on their faces.
"Yo... Yoku..." Takao murmured. "Perhaps... we should go with them." Yoku just nodded. Takao tugged on his arm, forcing him to move. Kaori snapped her fingers in front of his face.
"Oi, Yoku-chan. Snap out of it." Yoku blinked, then glared at Kaori.
"How many times do I gotta tell ya not to call me 'chan'?"
"As soon as you get it through your thick skull not to call me 'busu'. Unfortunately, old habits die hard." Kaori smiled. Yoku's eyes widened then a grin spread across his face.
"Oi, Takao! It's really them!"
"Took you long enough to figure that one out." Kaori said.
"Demo Kaori, you didn't give him much to go on. One argument that short isn't a lot de gozaru."
"You're right Kenji." Kaori turned back toward Yoku and Takao. "So, what are you're names?"
"Mizuta Yoku." He said.
"I'm Shimizu Takao." She said shyly.
"Kakkoi. You guys, follow me." Kaori looked at Kenji. "Good thing Otou-san isn't home. He'd flip out if he knew I was having five people over to talk about out history, of all things."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After a round of introductions, the partially reassembled Kenshin-gumi was sitting in Kaori's living room. As soon as they were all settled down, Kaori cleared her throat.
"Okay, I just want to get one thing straight. Everyone has had dreams, correct?" Everyone nodded. "Okay."
"What I really wanna know is," Yoku spoke up, "what exactly happened to you?" Kaori bit her lip.
"You want the truth?"
"Iie, I want you to lie. OF COURSE I WANT THE TRUTH!" Kaori sighed and looked down at her hands, which were intertwined with Kenji's. Kenji squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"I... Kaoru... was killed by..." She licked her lips nervously. "Kenshin." Everyone gasped in horror.
"Kaori are you joking? You can't be serious!" Yoku yelled.
"Maa, maa minna, let her finish." Kenji said quietly.
"At least, that's what Kaoru was let to believe. But now... I know that isn't true. Someone took the form of Kenshin and caught me off guard."
"Are you sure?" Akito asked.
"Of course she's telling the truth Akito-kun!!! Why would she lie about that?" Mayo exclaimed, and then blinked. "Right Kaori?"
"Hai." Kaori said. "How about you four? What happened afterwards?" Yoku clenched his jaw as Mayo and Akito looked down in silence. Takao looked as if she was about to cry.
"Yahiko... and Tsubame..." Yoku started. "They died, at the Akabeko... at the hands of Kaoru's ghost."
"NANI?" Kaori exclaimed. "What the HELL are you talking about? How could that had possibly happened?"
"Ano... Tsubame and Yahiko... they... we were working late on night at the Akabeko. Tae had gone home early, demo, they had a lot to clean up. I was in the back washing dishes, when I... I heard..." Yoku stopped, his hands tightening into fists. Takao lightly touched his arm and looked up at Kaori.
"He... had heard me scream. I had been sweeping the dinning room when I heard a noise... the next thing I knew; I was on the ground... in a lot of pain..." Her eyes watered and tears threatened to fall.
"I... found her like that... with Kaoru standing over her, a bloody sword gripped in her hands and an... evil looking grin on her face... it scared the hell out of me."
"Before I black out... I saw Kaoru charge at him... he had absolutely no time to react..." She shuddered involuntarily. "The last things I remember is the sword... plunging into his... body. Then I went unconscious." Tears started to drip down her cheeks slowly. Yoku grabbed her hand and held it tightly.
"There's just one thing I couldn't understand. Kaoru started yelling at me as she attacked... she was yelling, blaming us for her death... telling me I should have done something... to change the past." Yoku inhaled shakily as an uncomfortable silence settled over them. Then, Mayo spoke up.
"Something similar happened at the Aoiya."
"Kami-sama... not you too." Kaori whispered, her voice barely auditable.
"We were eating dinner... it was kind of late at night. We heard the door open and both Okan and Omasu went to answer it. We were closed for the day, but sometimes we would randomly get drunks wandering in. We all immediately heard them scream, then silence. Shiro and Kuro were out there next and we didn't hear anything happen. Aoshi and Misao... they... we were both totally on our guard... until I saw everyone's bodies. Then I saw Kaoru and dropped all my kunai right then and there. I thought... that... I was dreaming..." she fell silent.
"I remember..." Akito started, "almost loosing my grip on my kodachi... by the time I realized what exactly had happened... she was so fast... and my guard had only been down for a split second..." Akito said softly. Mayo was shaking.
"I remember watching his... h... hea... head fall off..." she choked down a sob. "Then... the feel of the blade... in my back..." tears started streaming down her face. Akito wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
By the time bother stories were done, Kaori was shaking beyond belief and unshed tears shone in her eyes. Kenji was gripping her hands, trying to stop her from shaking.
"Son of a bitch." Kaori spat out, pure venom dripping off her words.
"There's just something I don't understand..." Kenji murmured to himself.
"What don't you understand? The bastard that killed me went and killed all my friends!" Kaori said, becoming even more upset.
"I don't get why I was left alone." Kaori blinked.
"Eh?"
"He didn't come after me Kaori. I was left alone and lived out the rest of my life... without anyone."
"Maybe he knew he couldn't take you on." Yoku said. Kenji shook his head.
"I had a hard enough time fighting with Aoshi. For this person to be able to kill the entire Oniwabanshuu without receiving a scratch... and so quickly... he is a powerful foe. Obviously stronger than I ever was." He looked up. "This person intentionally left me alone for a reason."
"And the way he did it..." Kaori mused. "It was planned. A plan designed for ultimate suffering. There were only two or three years between deaths... that's barely enough time for the heart to heal."
"So... we know how and when..." Akito said. "We just don't know the why or who."
"Great." Kaori sighed. "And those are the most important aspects!"
"K'so." Yoku growled. Although it wasn't voiced, the feeling was mutual. Everyone was feeling equally frustrated.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Far away, although not far enough, in a dark, dank cave, sat a man surrounded by candles. He was muttering incoherently to himself, glowing a pale red. His yellow, cat like eyes snapped open and the red glow intensified as his body changed. His tanned skin turned a bluish-green hue and scaly. The pudgy fingers grew thin and pointed; the round face grew thin and narrow with pointed ears. As the red glow faded, he shook like a dog flinging water off its skin.
"Much better. That form was bothering me." He muttered in a raspy, gurgling voice. Brushing imaginary dust from his arms, he stood up, grinning. "They're almost all together... perfect. It's almost time... Battousai, I've waited too long... you will suffer again."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ WAH!! ::Neko-chan glomps her Kenshin plushy:: I was sooooooooo scared. It's so sad!!!! ::Neko-chan starts to wail:: Lunar: ::sweatdrop:: Ano... I didn't mean for it to be that morbid. Yahiko: Well, you didn't succeed, did you? Lunar: ::glares:: Shut up. Neko: WAH!!!! Lunar: NEKO-CHAN!!!! Calm down!!!! This is a major plot development and maybe a little evil cliff hanger. Neko: ::sniff:: But it's evil and so very sad. Lunar: Gomen. Next time should be better, I promise.
NAMES!!!! YEA!!!!
Kenshin Himura - Kenji Hirama Kaoru Kamiya - Kaori Kanama Aoshi Shinomori - Akito Suzukaze Misao Makinachi - Mayo Matsuda Yahiko Myoujin - Yoku Mizuta Tsubame Sanjo - Takao Shimizu Shiro - Shizuo Inao Kuro - Komi Hirose Omasu - Osuka Shirai Okan - Okawa Ando
FYI: Japanese glossary
Hai: Yes Minna: Everyone Gomen ne (nasai): I'm (really) sorry Ja (ne): See ya (later) Demo: But De gozaru: something Kenshin says after every sentence. It basically repeats what he just said. Kami-sama: God Nani: What? Sensei: Teacher Oi: Hey Iie: No Busu: Ugly -Chan: suffix given to younger children. Can also be translated into "Little" Yahiko-chan = Little Yahiko Matte: Wait Kakkoi: Cool Otou-san: Father Gumi: Group Maa, maa: Now, now Kami-sama: God K'so: Basically a swear. Usually translated into "Damn" or "Shit"
Now, aren't you glad I updated? I'll probably update much faster now that school's out. It would be nice if I got A LOT of reviews (hint, hint). Chapter Seven should be up sooner or later, now, please R + R... and remember to keep the peace, love and ANIME!! JA NE!!!!!