Tapestry of Lives - Chapter 5
My Life Before Yours
Coralie rushed through the hallways of the Central Web with Kenshin in tow as quickly as she could without lifting her skirts to her waist. "Did you learn anything, Kenshin," she asked nicely as she raced around a corner.
Kenshin kept silent as he stared at her small hand holding onto his increasingly see-through wrist. He'd been known to run pretty fast every once in a while, but never had he flown at such speeds while floating in the air behind a tiny girl. This was quite the new experience for him. He heard her repeat her question and sighed. "Sessha was introduced to Keiko- Dono. She's a very nice woman, that she is."
"You met Keiko?" Coralie took another swift turn to cut through the bedroom area. She hissed as her attempts to avoid running into sleepy Preistesses were nearly ruined by two of the older Preistesses in robes chatting in the center of the hallway. "Get Out Of My Way," she cried out as they turned with unbelieving faces. The Coralie they knew was usually so composed, not running through the halls like a madwoman with a spirit in tow.
"You're right, Kenshin. Keiko is very sweet. I'm actually surprised you met her though. She doesn't normally show herself to the occupants of the Well."
Kenshin gulped as they began running through a kitchen area full of people with knives which Coralie seemed to barely avoid as she dashed through teh maze of countertops. "Coralie-Dono, you should slow down, that you should. That tall man is now running after you with a rather large kitchen knife."
Coralie turned around and grinned at him the best she could around the sugared bun she had in her mouth. " Nah Hawhen," she grunted at him and jumped into a doorway.
"Oro?"
^.^
Aya's eyes were closed when she first felt Coralie's tug at her mind. What's up?
Bring Kenshin's body out, Aya. The reentry might upset them.
You got him back?
Yeah, he's floating along behind me making this really funny sound whenever I almost slam him into a wall.
Understood. Front door or back?
I'm coming up on the front door right now, I can't go through the back.
Aya ignored the stares and Nadine's sharp bark as she walked over to Kenshin's prone body and slung it over her shoulder. Why? Did you get the kitchen staff mad at you again?
Well, when I was in there earlier telling them we were ready for the food I saw that Gesh was making those sweet buns that he's so good at so I had to grab one.
Right out form under his nose, eh? Good one kiddo, I taught you well Aya walked out of the room and turned to the left in full view of the rooms occupants. You know, I don't think I can feel him breathing anymore.
That's why I'm running. Walk a bit away from the doorway will you? I don't want them scared out of their minds. Forcing a soul back into its body is not a pretty thing.
Aya shrugged and took a few steps. She shifted the red haired body around till she was holding it in her arms. Gosh, he's tiny. She blinked at the sense of anger that came through her and Coralie's link. What? Are you mad I called him tiny.
Hmm? No, of course not, is that you there?
Yeah, I see you. Get ready for the toss.
Really, Aya he's not a football.
Hut Hut Hut!
You spend altogether too much time in that world, you know.
Aya laughed aloud as Coralie spun to a stop in front of her presenting the floating diaphanous soul to her. With a quick grab she had the dimming glow wrapped around her hand. Coralie turned around just in time to see dark patterns emerge from underneath Aya's skin as she held the body close with her now glowing hands.
"Seal it, Quickly" Aya whispered to Coralie.
With a nod, the blue clad Preistess raised her hands and began chanting softly. The dull aura that had been Kenshin shaped as it flew behind her was now just a fuzzy glow around his quickly dying body. Even though she had her eyes closed she could still see the seal forming in her mind. It's intricate pattern of knots and layers torn seemed torn apart and haphazardly tied together. With a precision born of experience gained under extreme pressure she began reshaping the patterns of the seal. "Aya, you'll have to support him for a moment. This will take longer than I originally thought."
Aya tried to nod but her neck muscles were too tense to allow her head to move. Sweat began beading on her forehead as she watched Coralie at work. "I can't hold his soul for too much longer, Coralie. Hurry up." She could see the seal floating in front of Coralie, could see the many broken patterns and messily tied knots. As she watched them reform under her friend's ministrations Aya coulsn't help but wonder why such as sloppy job had been done. Realization caused her eyes to open wide and her mind to forget the pain she was going through. "Coralie," she whispered as she watched Kenshin's eyes flutter open to look blindly into hers. "They didn't want him to survive, did they?"
Coralie lowered her hands to Kenshin's chest and slid the seal into his torso. She sighed as the woven light disappeared into his graying skin and took a step back. "We need to speak of this later, Aya. It seems they are moving much faster than we thought they would."
Aya nodded and watched as Kenshin's chest lifted as he filled his lungs with air. She chuckled as he coughed. "Breathe shallow for a bit, Himura," she told him. "Your lungs have been still for some time."
"Place him against the wall," Coralie ordered her. Aya suddenly realized she was holding the waking man in her arms as if he were a child, albeit a very large child but still... She leaned against the wall herself and sighed in pleasure as she allowed ehrself to slide down the cool stone until she was sitting sprawl legged in the floor with Kenshin still held close to her. "He's so different from Battousai, isn't he?" She grinned as his head fell onto her shoulder. "Like a little kid."
Coralie smiled. "Are you gonna let him go?"
Aya smiled up at the Preistess. "No, I don't think so. Not just yet. His body is too cold. I'll let him warm up a bit longer."
Coralie shrugged and kneeled on the floor next to the two reclining warriors. "We need him alive," she whispered. "We cannot afford to have him die at this time."
Aya leaned her ehad back against the wall and sighed. "He'll be mine to protect, Preistess," she announced in a formal tone of voice. "His life will be before mine, him and all of his companions. I swear by the embroidery on my sash, none of them will die under my care."
With a small smile Coralie nodded and placed a hand on Kenshin's exposed right cheek. A soft glow emanted from her hand and faded into his cheek. "That should help him when he wakes up. Why don't we just stay here for now. Nadine should be finishing up with his friends pretty soon here."
Aya nodded and closed her eyes.
doobie doobie doo
Kaorus' concern showed clearly on her face as Nadine ushered her out the doorway. The dinner they had been provided with had been fabulous, the explanations slightly unbelievable but very cut and dry. Where most everybody else's mind was mulling over the story they'd just been told though, hers was reeling over the fact that the short female hadn't returned with Kenshin yet. As she took a few steps out she turned and gasped loudly.
The short female, Aya was her name, wasn't it, was up against the wall with Kenshin in her lap. Immediately roiling thoughts of death and destruction began boiling over until she really looked at Aya's arms. They were cradled aorund him protectively not lovingly. Her face in its sleeping repose reflected more of a scowl than the blissful expression that Kaoru knew she would have if Kenshin had ever fallen asleep with her like that.
"Oi! Busu," Yahiko cried form behind her. "You're holding us up here." He was immediately shushed by her hand slapping over his mouth.
"Shhhhhh.." She pointed and then frowned at the muffled squawk he tried to emit once he realized what he was looking at.
Kaoru lifted her hand and took a step toward the two but stopped when she saw the little Presitess snuggled up to Aya's left shoulder. She tunred around to look atthe crowd behind her. "Shhhhhh.." she commanded again. "They're sleeping. Helping Kenshin must have tired them out." Hiko's disbelieving scowl and neck craning caused a slight tic in her forehead. "I SAID..."
Kenshin's eyes opened to fuzzy light and double vision but his ears seemed to be perfectly sound as he heard Kaoru begin screaming at his Shishou. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of his Kaoru running after Shishou with her bokken. If ever a man needed a good hit to teh head it was Hiko Seijuro. He sighed and snuggled deeper into the warmth that seemed to wrap around him. Maybe this morning he'd put up with Kaoru's cooking just so he could have a lazy morning in bed. He didn't do that too often, actually never.
His brow furrowed as he heard Sano's deep voice try to quiet Kaoru down uselessly. It was strange that the streetfighter would be at the dojo this early in the morning unless something was wrong, or he was really hungry. Kenshin yawned and forced his eyes to focus on the bright blur in front of him. He was sleepily wondering when he had changed his blanket to a blue color when a caustic comment in a clearly recognizable voice opened his mind wide.
"Oro?"
He wasn't in bed, he was being held by Aya-Dono, the Warrior that Coralie- Dono had been speaking to! And Kaoru-Dono really was about to chase after his Shishou with her bokken, at least she sounded like it. In a useless attempt to pull out of Aya's arms Kenshin found himself flat on his back with the Warrior sprawled over him. His eyes were violet spirals as she began snoring into his stomach.
Coralie yawned and rubbed her eyes as the riot around her quieted down quickly. The sudden absence of Aya's shoulder had jerked her away from a wonderful dream of waterfalls and little oarnge fish. She blinked the sleep out of her eyes and almost fell over at what she realized she was staring at. Aya was now using Kenshin's stomach as a pillow and his companions were all wide mouthed in disbelief, well some of them were.
The Preistess giggled as Kenshin lifted his head and looked over to her. "Coralie-Dono," he whimpered. "Help?"
She nodded while still giggling and stood up on sleepy legs. Two steps brought her to Aya's shoulder which she shook several times. "Aya, I'm sure your feather pillows would be much more comfortable thna Kenshin's stomach."
The Warrior mumbled and flipped over onto her back. "Don't care.. am sleepy.. stupid souls.. am hungry too.."
To Be Continued.......
Author's Notes: OK OK.. I know it's kind of a dull ending, but I just couldn't go on......... It's already a long chapter and the next scene will be even longer so just bear with me please.
A BIG THANKYOU to all my reviewers!!
JML: I was referring to the three Original characters Aya, Coralie and Nadine, though there might be some prophetical phrases spewed out regarding the Gumi-Girls at a later point.
Diablo: I'm trying to cut down on teh confusing part.. Hopefull I'll be able to explain it thoroughly without just breakig down and crying in frustration.
Nemo: O.O.. Good of you to catch that... but Shhh.. she's a secret.
Marstanuki: hopefull I fulfilled the good part that you were expecting.. tell me if I didn't
My Life Before Yours
Coralie rushed through the hallways of the Central Web with Kenshin in tow as quickly as she could without lifting her skirts to her waist. "Did you learn anything, Kenshin," she asked nicely as she raced around a corner.
Kenshin kept silent as he stared at her small hand holding onto his increasingly see-through wrist. He'd been known to run pretty fast every once in a while, but never had he flown at such speeds while floating in the air behind a tiny girl. This was quite the new experience for him. He heard her repeat her question and sighed. "Sessha was introduced to Keiko- Dono. She's a very nice woman, that she is."
"You met Keiko?" Coralie took another swift turn to cut through the bedroom area. She hissed as her attempts to avoid running into sleepy Preistesses were nearly ruined by two of the older Preistesses in robes chatting in the center of the hallway. "Get Out Of My Way," she cried out as they turned with unbelieving faces. The Coralie they knew was usually so composed, not running through the halls like a madwoman with a spirit in tow.
"You're right, Kenshin. Keiko is very sweet. I'm actually surprised you met her though. She doesn't normally show herself to the occupants of the Well."
Kenshin gulped as they began running through a kitchen area full of people with knives which Coralie seemed to barely avoid as she dashed through teh maze of countertops. "Coralie-Dono, you should slow down, that you should. That tall man is now running after you with a rather large kitchen knife."
Coralie turned around and grinned at him the best she could around the sugared bun she had in her mouth. " Nah Hawhen," she grunted at him and jumped into a doorway.
"Oro?"
^.^
Aya's eyes were closed when she first felt Coralie's tug at her mind. What's up?
Bring Kenshin's body out, Aya. The reentry might upset them.
You got him back?
Yeah, he's floating along behind me making this really funny sound whenever I almost slam him into a wall.
Understood. Front door or back?
I'm coming up on the front door right now, I can't go through the back.
Aya ignored the stares and Nadine's sharp bark as she walked over to Kenshin's prone body and slung it over her shoulder. Why? Did you get the kitchen staff mad at you again?
Well, when I was in there earlier telling them we were ready for the food I saw that Gesh was making those sweet buns that he's so good at so I had to grab one.
Right out form under his nose, eh? Good one kiddo, I taught you well Aya walked out of the room and turned to the left in full view of the rooms occupants. You know, I don't think I can feel him breathing anymore.
That's why I'm running. Walk a bit away from the doorway will you? I don't want them scared out of their minds. Forcing a soul back into its body is not a pretty thing.
Aya shrugged and took a few steps. She shifted the red haired body around till she was holding it in her arms. Gosh, he's tiny. She blinked at the sense of anger that came through her and Coralie's link. What? Are you mad I called him tiny.
Hmm? No, of course not, is that you there?
Yeah, I see you. Get ready for the toss.
Really, Aya he's not a football.
Hut Hut Hut!
You spend altogether too much time in that world, you know.
Aya laughed aloud as Coralie spun to a stop in front of her presenting the floating diaphanous soul to her. With a quick grab she had the dimming glow wrapped around her hand. Coralie turned around just in time to see dark patterns emerge from underneath Aya's skin as she held the body close with her now glowing hands.
"Seal it, Quickly" Aya whispered to Coralie.
With a nod, the blue clad Preistess raised her hands and began chanting softly. The dull aura that had been Kenshin shaped as it flew behind her was now just a fuzzy glow around his quickly dying body. Even though she had her eyes closed she could still see the seal forming in her mind. It's intricate pattern of knots and layers torn seemed torn apart and haphazardly tied together. With a precision born of experience gained under extreme pressure she began reshaping the patterns of the seal. "Aya, you'll have to support him for a moment. This will take longer than I originally thought."
Aya tried to nod but her neck muscles were too tense to allow her head to move. Sweat began beading on her forehead as she watched Coralie at work. "I can't hold his soul for too much longer, Coralie. Hurry up." She could see the seal floating in front of Coralie, could see the many broken patterns and messily tied knots. As she watched them reform under her friend's ministrations Aya coulsn't help but wonder why such as sloppy job had been done. Realization caused her eyes to open wide and her mind to forget the pain she was going through. "Coralie," she whispered as she watched Kenshin's eyes flutter open to look blindly into hers. "They didn't want him to survive, did they?"
Coralie lowered her hands to Kenshin's chest and slid the seal into his torso. She sighed as the woven light disappeared into his graying skin and took a step back. "We need to speak of this later, Aya. It seems they are moving much faster than we thought they would."
Aya nodded and watched as Kenshin's chest lifted as he filled his lungs with air. She chuckled as he coughed. "Breathe shallow for a bit, Himura," she told him. "Your lungs have been still for some time."
"Place him against the wall," Coralie ordered her. Aya suddenly realized she was holding the waking man in her arms as if he were a child, albeit a very large child but still... She leaned against the wall herself and sighed in pleasure as she allowed ehrself to slide down the cool stone until she was sitting sprawl legged in the floor with Kenshin still held close to her. "He's so different from Battousai, isn't he?" She grinned as his head fell onto her shoulder. "Like a little kid."
Coralie smiled. "Are you gonna let him go?"
Aya smiled up at the Preistess. "No, I don't think so. Not just yet. His body is too cold. I'll let him warm up a bit longer."
Coralie shrugged and kneeled on the floor next to the two reclining warriors. "We need him alive," she whispered. "We cannot afford to have him die at this time."
Aya leaned her ehad back against the wall and sighed. "He'll be mine to protect, Preistess," she announced in a formal tone of voice. "His life will be before mine, him and all of his companions. I swear by the embroidery on my sash, none of them will die under my care."
With a small smile Coralie nodded and placed a hand on Kenshin's exposed right cheek. A soft glow emanted from her hand and faded into his cheek. "That should help him when he wakes up. Why don't we just stay here for now. Nadine should be finishing up with his friends pretty soon here."
Aya nodded and closed her eyes.
doobie doobie doo
Kaorus' concern showed clearly on her face as Nadine ushered her out the doorway. The dinner they had been provided with had been fabulous, the explanations slightly unbelievable but very cut and dry. Where most everybody else's mind was mulling over the story they'd just been told though, hers was reeling over the fact that the short female hadn't returned with Kenshin yet. As she took a few steps out she turned and gasped loudly.
The short female, Aya was her name, wasn't it, was up against the wall with Kenshin in her lap. Immediately roiling thoughts of death and destruction began boiling over until she really looked at Aya's arms. They were cradled aorund him protectively not lovingly. Her face in its sleeping repose reflected more of a scowl than the blissful expression that Kaoru knew she would have if Kenshin had ever fallen asleep with her like that.
"Oi! Busu," Yahiko cried form behind her. "You're holding us up here." He was immediately shushed by her hand slapping over his mouth.
"Shhhhhh.." She pointed and then frowned at the muffled squawk he tried to emit once he realized what he was looking at.
Kaoru lifted her hand and took a step toward the two but stopped when she saw the little Presitess snuggled up to Aya's left shoulder. She tunred around to look atthe crowd behind her. "Shhhhhh.." she commanded again. "They're sleeping. Helping Kenshin must have tired them out." Hiko's disbelieving scowl and neck craning caused a slight tic in her forehead. "I SAID..."
Kenshin's eyes opened to fuzzy light and double vision but his ears seemed to be perfectly sound as he heard Kaoru begin screaming at his Shishou. He couldn't help but smile at the thought of his Kaoru running after Shishou with her bokken. If ever a man needed a good hit to teh head it was Hiko Seijuro. He sighed and snuggled deeper into the warmth that seemed to wrap around him. Maybe this morning he'd put up with Kaoru's cooking just so he could have a lazy morning in bed. He didn't do that too often, actually never.
His brow furrowed as he heard Sano's deep voice try to quiet Kaoru down uselessly. It was strange that the streetfighter would be at the dojo this early in the morning unless something was wrong, or he was really hungry. Kenshin yawned and forced his eyes to focus on the bright blur in front of him. He was sleepily wondering when he had changed his blanket to a blue color when a caustic comment in a clearly recognizable voice opened his mind wide.
"Oro?"
He wasn't in bed, he was being held by Aya-Dono, the Warrior that Coralie- Dono had been speaking to! And Kaoru-Dono really was about to chase after his Shishou with her bokken, at least she sounded like it. In a useless attempt to pull out of Aya's arms Kenshin found himself flat on his back with the Warrior sprawled over him. His eyes were violet spirals as she began snoring into his stomach.
Coralie yawned and rubbed her eyes as the riot around her quieted down quickly. The sudden absence of Aya's shoulder had jerked her away from a wonderful dream of waterfalls and little oarnge fish. She blinked the sleep out of her eyes and almost fell over at what she realized she was staring at. Aya was now using Kenshin's stomach as a pillow and his companions were all wide mouthed in disbelief, well some of them were.
The Preistess giggled as Kenshin lifted his head and looked over to her. "Coralie-Dono," he whimpered. "Help?"
She nodded while still giggling and stood up on sleepy legs. Two steps brought her to Aya's shoulder which she shook several times. "Aya, I'm sure your feather pillows would be much more comfortable thna Kenshin's stomach."
The Warrior mumbled and flipped over onto her back. "Don't care.. am sleepy.. stupid souls.. am hungry too.."
To Be Continued.......
Author's Notes: OK OK.. I know it's kind of a dull ending, but I just couldn't go on......... It's already a long chapter and the next scene will be even longer so just bear with me please.
A BIG THANKYOU to all my reviewers!!
JML: I was referring to the three Original characters Aya, Coralie and Nadine, though there might be some prophetical phrases spewed out regarding the Gumi-Girls at a later point.
Diablo: I'm trying to cut down on teh confusing part.. Hopefull I'll be able to explain it thoroughly without just breakig down and crying in frustration.
Nemo: O.O.. Good of you to catch that... but Shhh.. she's a secret.
Marstanuki: hopefull I fulfilled the good part that you were expecting.. tell me if I didn't