By Hotaru
Disclaimer: This writer owns nothing even close to RRK. Only the claim to Battousai's dance of madness after endless sleepless nights and nightmares. (Yare, yare, for someone who's had that since he/she was 5, there's no reason to complain. Me just get doctor. Gomen ^_^)
Warning: Angst, a little dark here. For S/M fans out there, you might find very little interaction here.
REVISION ALERT!!!: The prologue, plus chapters 1-6 have been revised. A few major details in chaps. 1-5 were changed (e.g. Enishi's a protege of Dr. Takeda Kanryu—he didn't get his expertise from his father as previously mentioned.) Anyway, if you want to re-read, do so. Reviews are welcome. Also, I'm planning to turn this fic into an e-book/publication (heck, even with just me reading it), to be posted in my website soon. So expect a lot more revisions and of course, the story's bound to have more twists —sorry, can't help it. But please enjoy this. Thanks for the reviews but most of all, thanks for reading this!!! ^_^
By the way, the comments on the reviews for the previous chapter will be found at the end of this one. Now, sit back and get something to eat. This might be long.
Chapter 8: Dance of Demons
Your eyes cut deeply
Like blades
Your blood runs cold
Like rain
Your hands hold me
Like spaces through sand
I slip and slide and vanish
Lost in the dance of demons
They break me senseless
Into shards
That will never be whole again.
Gray.
Black.
Gray.
Black.
Moonlight tore through shadows as blood and rain colored his eyes, dripping through, and blurring into different shades of darkness.
They were the color of death.
He stopped. Amber eyes looked up, narrowed, calculating, tense.
But focused.
The Institute of Pre-cog Development and Technology…
Dr. Genzai…
There were doubts.
He looked at the crumpled mass on his arms.
Eyes closed, breathless, colorless as rain soaking his hair, her skin…
He unsheathed his katana with one free hand and measured the thick glass doors with his eyes. In the next second, the glass broke in a million pieces, falling like a curtain of water, smooth and precise.
He had always been precise.
Kicking the metal doorframes to shake the rest of the glass splinters out, he stepped inside, bundle carried through another darkness.
Of course there's the alarm to take care of…Not that it would even get in his way…
Then the stairs. He never trusted elevators. And he can still run.
But something first must be done about those stairs…
And that includes disabling all the guards as well…
Not that he had to feel guilty about it. The "sentinels" are nothing more than androids stationed at specific security posts in the facility. All it takes is a scrambler, a code with which to confuse their sensors, and he could walk past them without worry. In fact the procedure was nothing unfamiliar—after all, it wasn't the first time he would be infiltrating a government facility.
And certainly not the first time he would be breaking all the rules in the book…
Machines. Unlike humans, they hide no secrets that cannot be decoded.
So systematic…so logical…so predictable really…
And foolish…Practice makes it even easier to outwit them all…
He felt something wet trickle down his side.
Blood.
Dammit, I don't even have time for this. Just have to do it the old-fashioned way I suppose…
He slashed the first guard that came his way, wires spilling out of the sentinel's skull. A silent humming followed, then static.
The android fell in a loud clutter, but without sending a final warning signal to the rest of its companions.
Shit…and I thought I was retiring…Arm throbbing, he laid the body slumped against him on the floor gently, before facing another armed sentinel pointing a gun at him.
No, not near enough…not good enough… The blast died as soon as it came, his sword slashing through shoulders, torsos, and heads, turning the small army into stockpiles of metal carcass.
Twenty seconds…First flight, second flight, a third, and fourth…
He cleared the guards in the area in thirty seconds flat.
Must be getting slow for this…He returned to the first floor and with aching slowness picked off the floor what he had left there--a heap wrapped in a black mantle—and cradled it in the other arm as the other dangled the long sword that still trickled blood.
His own blood this time. The fight had more than mangled his arm, now bleeding from two bullets he had carelessly allowed to get to him in the course of escaping Enishi, then Saitou.
Two enemies in one night…
One girl whose life now depended on him…
One more battle…one more duel to face in the darkness…
But it could wait. It better wait. As it is, he was running out of time…
He began dragging the metal bodies into their respective positions on the landing where he needed them.
Of course, they make poor obstacles. But all he needed was a sign, a warning, just in case somebody stupid enough gives chase, using the same route…
He sighed, heaving the bodies up one by one with his one free arm, sword now held between clenched teeth. The sentinels have their use after all…
That done, he brought the sword down, flexing his fingers as they clasped the familiar length of the handle. Two more flights… Nothing.
Another staircase. Seventh floor.
Apprehensive eyes looked up, purple depths meeting glass. Laboratory Systems Analysis it said.
This must be it.
He nudged the door open with the point of his sword.
It was unlocked. Now that could mean one of two things…
Damn security personnel…He looked around sensing things in the dark. He could feel some movement somewhere close, lurking tentatively in the shadows, the absence of the hum confirming a human presence…
"I knew you'll be coming, Battousai…"
THAT made him stop, wet fingers coiling around the hilt of the sword even tighter.
The figure couldn't be too far. Ten? Twenty meters from him at the most?
"Stay where you are," he told the invisible presence, eyes scouring the darkness as fingers flexed around the sword handle, ignoring the pain of the movement.
Nothing.
Gods, I have no time for this…"Listen goddamit…" he stepped forward, rain dripping from the edges of his coat, sword hissing as he moved it deftly with the same arm that must have seen better days "…one false move and I won't hesitate to attack..."
"So you would dare attack an unarmed man, is that it?"
The voice was unfamiliar. Not that it mattered.
Outside, lightning traced slivers of blue and yellow against the night sky, illuminating dead shadows on walls.
But there was nothing to fear in that. After all, for an ex-assassin such as himself who had been acquainted with darkness and shadows for the longest time, dead people walking are better companions than live enemies armed to the teeth.
A streak of light flashed through the glass windows, revealing a tall, lean figure in a long white coat standing by the curtains.
The fucking lowlife is not even good at hiding…
Without warning, Kenshin grabbed the figure by the front of his white overcoat and pushed him back, ramming his head against the glass panels that covered an entire wall of the laboratory. The young man, though taller and as evenly muscled as the ex-assassin could do nothing but stumble backwards, clenched knuckles pinning him helplessly to the frosted glass.
"You think this answer satisfies?"
The figure winced, feeling the solid hardness of a sword hilt bruising his chin, cold eyes glaring at him through mere pinpoints of light.
"Get your hands off me, you fucking sonafabitch!!!"
Kenshin glared at him, pushing him harder to the wall. From beneath the mantle, he felt something wet and thick crawl down his skin, making him flinch.
The Kamiya girl is bleeding to death and the man is getting in his way…
Purple eyes flickered. "Tell me who you are and where Dr. Genzai is, or you'd be speaking through your ass the next time..."
The figure shot him an ice-cold look, silvery blue eyes receding into their hollowed depths.
"My name's Toshima. Noburo Toshima. I'm Dr. Genzai's assistant."
"That so? Well, Toshima, perhaps you can tell me where Dr. Genzai is…before I get desperate…"
"Fuck the hell. You think I'll tell you anything, you bloody fucking bastard???!!!"
Bastard am I?
In the next second, Toshima was down on the floor, curled in a tight ball, the force of the punch wrenching his insides like muscles being pulled in different directions.
"Get up. I don't have time for arguments but if you won't tell me where Dr. Genzai, I'd let my sword do the talking."
Toshima stared at the ex-assassin, wiping the blood on his lips as the ex-assassin stood there, sword in hand, the blade catching flickers of metallic blue from the window, illuminating its deadly length, which, in the darkness, shimmered like the eyes of a killer.
But the weapon was only half the mystery. Battousai stood in the shadows before him, streaks of light slivering through glass to cast pale reflections on his face that betrayed no vulnerability, save the scar that seemed to be the only reminder that the man was of flesh and blood, and had, in fact, at least one weakness that made the wound possible to inflict.
He can still be wounded…
He must have his limitations…
"Don't force me to take necessary measures to make you wanna talk, doctor. Because I promise you it's not gonna be pleasant."
"Are you threatening me, Battousai? For an assassin, you don't seem all that intimidating…"
He regretted it the moment the words came out.
With a broad sweep of his arm, Kenshin brought the sword down against glass, the force and impact so sudden that the window seemed to implode, pieces falling to the floor in one sudden movement, its pieces scattering in different places.
Then the wind blew, sending the curtains flying all around him, billowing and arching like wings.
From his position, Toshima could only watch and stare, almost awed …
Black against white. An angel of death…
Not that he tolerated superstitions…
But the slivers of lights darting through rain couldn't have helped make the ex-assassin's visage less frightening even if it were flawlessly beautiful: Long streaks of red hair matted by something that seemed to have caked there like clay, rain dripping through it, oozing the color of blood in frightening trickles between yellow, piercing eyes… clothes in a clammy mess, torn into scanty shreds by the shoulder, hiding deep wounds that might explain the thick wetness that soaked it to the skin…boots wet and caked with mud…blood splattered thickly on black leather as well as on the mantle covering his torso and chest…
But when the dark angel moved his arm slightly to sheath the long Japanese sword, he saw the movement constricted by pain, more blood trailing down the fingertips that held the hilt tentatively, staining the blade that glinted dangerously in the semi-darkness.
Then trickles. He heard the tiny sound and felt it, dripping down the length of the ex-assassin's blade, pooling on the floor beneath. And it didn't come from the sword alone. In fact, it wasn't from the sword at all…
It was coming from something that lay beneath the black mantle draped on the ex-assassin's chest, covering his torso and reaching down his knees, frayed edges waving against the wind.
It was undeniable. The heavy mass bulged considerably to confirm what his initial impulses could only haphazardly guess…
The girl…
It can't be…
Then it came to him…snatches of conversation overheard that afternoon…
The doctor will be taken into custody—for the time being at least…
Classified operation. The trackers will be deployed, fully armed …
Battousai will be arrested this time--if he's lucky not to get killed…
It might be difficult. He might use her as bait…
But the instructions were clear…Kaoru Kamiya must be recovered intact.
Kaoru Kamiya…
It can't be…
He hadn't forgotten her…
They met two years ago, when the JIB sent her to Dr. Genzai's laboratory for a series of physical, psychological, and psychometric examinations. In their first meeting, she had already made a distinct impression on him—her childish warmth blending with the sweet sadness that almost always accompanied her smiles, even her laughter, seemed to betray a mystery which to him was both charming and disturbing … And her eyes…those sapphire eyes seem to see into your soul, its peculiar color receding into its darkest depths when she was sad, worried, or in pain, and surfacing when she was happy. Just watching her emotions rise and fall with her smile and her eyes was enough to keep him interested in fact… not that he could have done something to arouse as much interest on her part. As doctor and patient, their interaction had always been limited to clinically precise questions and answers—nothing even remotely personal, unless symptomatic of some emotional or psychological disturbance. Despite it all, he saw—no, "sensed" rather—that the girl's health was suffering due to extreme psychological and emotional traumas that border on torture, not unfamiliar to the rest of the human race.
Loneliness…
Whatever was the source of that, however, baffled as much as intrigued him.
Because the girl had always tried to be cheerful—something quite incomprehensible to him, really, given that he hadn't really met anyone who can afford as much optimism. Of course, he wouldn't deny that the fascination had also to do with his particular interest as a doctor and scientist…After all, the girl had the most unique mind among all the pre-cogs he had researched, analyzed, and even trained. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that no one even comes close to her abilities…not in the whole world as far as medical research goes.
But of course, rumors have it that there is yet another one…
Only, that has never been confirmed.
The point is, though, Kaoru Kamiya deserves better treatment.
And the mere possibility that Battousai still has her…that he could expose her with such careless abandon by bringing her in a place where he could be watched, could be attacked at any time, only made things even more frustrating.
His debts would be unforgivable…
Toshima edged closer, glaring at the stranger's possessive grip on the bundle beneath the mantle.
"Kaoru Kamiya… Did you bring her here? Is that the reason?"
Kenshin's eyes flared at the sound of her name in a stranger's lips.
Kaoru Kamiya? The fact that she was known to the doctor unnerved him for some reason. Is this another of Saitou's trap???But Toshima had no intention of leaving him to his thoughts…
"You bloody bastard!!! If you've even as much as touch Kaoru--"
"Touch her???" Kenshin asked, eyebrow raised, amber eyes shooting daggers. And who the hell does he think he is, asking stupid questions like that? The fucking boyfriend? Like I care about the stupid jealous sonafabitch …In the next instant, Toshima was lunging at him, silver blue eyes meeting amber…
But Kenshin was faster, more agile, bringing the heavy weight of the katana up and at the level of his chest and pointing it straight at the doctor.
The doctor kept on charging.
Shit!!!
His arm was numbing in several places, making the movement slower, less precise, but he tried just the same. All things considered, he wouldn't want the doctor to die.
But that doesn't mean he could let him intrude into his personal space…
Which, by the way, included Kaoru Kamiya…
With achingly painful speed, he swung his body at an angle against the doctor, forcing the hilt to move between wet fingertips at the crucial moment, quickening as his body uncoiled in position. In seconds, the razor-sharp side of the sword grazed the doctor's throat, trickles of sweat falling on the long, flawless sheen of the blade.
The doctor was speechless, eyes dilated as he felt the ex-assassin's breath against his ear, and sensed the cold, hard look staring at his nape.
"Look, Toshima…" Kenshin hissed, eyes matching the glint of the long sword. "I don't give a fuckin' shit about you and your problems, but if you won't tell me where Dr. Genzai is—"
"You expect me to know where he is???" Toshima laughed sarcastically, eyes meeting the swordsman's death glare. "You're the one screwing the JBI, you're the one who hurt Kaoru, you're a demon and you can go to hell for all I care!!!! In fact, there's nothing more I want than to see you die and rot in hell, you bloody fucking bastard!!!"
Kenshin's eyes narrowed, taking in the abrupt display of emotion that only made him more edgy for some reason.
Not that what the doctor said was untrue.
But it wasn't entirely false, either.
After all, he did hurt the girl, didn't he??? He let them hurt her…
Perhaps even kill her…
Kenshin looked down for the first time and saw what the doctor must have seen.
The dead whiteness of skin against black.
Black.
Darkness.
Death.
No…
Not now. His personal fears can wait…
He lowered his sword, eyes hovering thoughtfully, suspiciously, mind contemplating the odds.
He didn't have much time.
The doctor stood immobile, eyes widened in fear and frustration as he felt the sword waver, then drop, heels echoing on cold, marble floors as the ex-assassin finally released him, stepping away to keep his distance.
Their eyes met.
But there was no amber. Only purple depths that betrayed…
Concern?
Toshima raised an eyebrow, perplexed.
Kenshin must have noticed his discomfort, and looked away. "Look, doctor. If you care about Miss Kaoru that much you better find a way to help her NOW because I'm not sure if she can hold out much longer…"
Even in the darkness, he could see the silvery blue eyes staring at him, weighing his words.
For some reason, he found THAT look uncomfortable, if not unnerving.
"Look. It's not like I even trust you, doctor—because I don't."
"Trust?" a grunt. "And what is it to you if Kaoru Kamiya lives??? You kidnapped her because you wanted to use her as bait, didn't you???"
Bait???"But of course, why wouldn't you??? You're an assassin aren't you?? Why would her life mean anything to some goddamned, god-fucking killer like you???"
Kenshin raised an eyebrow, eyes back into slits of yellow. "If you're through with your questions, I suggest you go to work as soon as possible, doctor…cause if something does happen to this girl, make sure I'd dig your grave in hell!!!"
"I bet you'd give me yours, Battousai. If nobody puts you in it sooner…"
"Like the hell I care."
"For an assassin, hell must be a familiar place."
Kenshin's eyes flared, but decided to keep to his thoughts as the doctor approached to check the patient.
Toshima stopped. He expected damage, but even THAT was not enough to prepare him for what he saw…
The body was slumped bonelessly on rain-soaked shoulders, blood spilling everywhere—from the veins crawling out like threads from punctured flesh, to seared openings indicating the paths of the bullets which exploded and forced their way through muscle and tendon. Of course there were also some other deep injuries like torn skin exposing charred surfaces and deep burns, multiple cuts and bruises on bared chest, shoulders, neck, arms, even hands…
Toshima could only gape in horror.
There was just so much blood…
And he couldn't even think.
She looked so calm…
He sighed finally, moving a fingertip to wipe away a trace of blood that darted across the young girl's face, towards closed lids that had turned ashen gray against the frightening paleness of skin that stretched over her childish features.
But his hand was stopped mid-way, a firm grasp holding it away.
Kenshin's gaze was unreadable. "I think that's unnecessary…"
"And you think your concern isn't?" the doctor lashed at him, pulling his hand away, eyes glinting. "With the extent of the damage, do you think anyone can save her now? Even if I cared, I doubt that I can…"
He had to stop. Before him, the ex-assassin's eyes burned amber, his sword coming for his throat in seconds, tracing a thin line of blood where blade met skin.
On his arms the girl lay peacefully, body wrapped tightly in Battousai's cloak.
"Perhaps you haven't heard me, Toshima," the ex-assassin hissed, mincing words. "She lives or you die. And that's not a goddamn request you can refuse."
. . . . . . . . . .
Megumi was certain she had heard something crash downstairs, something that distinctly sounded like glass breaking. Since the intruder would have been intercepted by a guard, or by some kind of alarm that would have sounded once invisible barriers have been broken, she could only regard it with a passing curiosity, intent on finishing the job in her hands without unnecessary interruption.
Another crash.
Shit!!! What the hell is going on down there???
She withdrew a diskette from the computer console and began picking up files she had rummaged into, in the course of her research.
Gods, if they even find out I've been going through all this classified bullshit…
Another crash.
Dammit!!! That almost scares me…and of course, what perfect timing, just when I'm doing something that might REALLY mess things up when the JBI does find out…But if I live through this, I need to remind Tomoe she owes me a LOT…
Gods, if I'd live long enough to even remember…
She stacked the files in a filing cabinet, and grabbed her bag and briefcase as she sped towards the nearest exit.
But something blocked her path.
She stared through the semidarkness, watching the metal slide smoothly under her heels when she tapped it with her foot.
A sentinel…???
Or what he used to be…
She paled several shades lighter than her already blood-drained face.
What the fuckin' hell is going on here?
She pushed the bucket of bolts aside with a foot and proceeded down the steps.
Then a stench…She knew the smell so well…
It smelled of blood.
She looked up.
Yellow eyes glared back.
She dropped her briefcase, hands going to the railing as the face edged closer, steps echoing between them.
She turned and ran like hell.
. . . . . . . . . . .
The smell of sunlight…
Flashes of yellow blinded her, making her flinch as she turned her eyes towards the clear horizon of blue stretching in the distance before her eyes.
She was on a field…It was green and had all the other colors she liked—violets, yellows, pinks, blues…
Reds…
Red. Red hair. Blood.
She closed her eyes, feeling the throbbing returning, making her head swirl.
Red. Purple. Amber.
No…please…Those eyes…
He looked at her with amber eyes… So cold…yet so warm…
Almost warmer than this sunlight…
…Then black…
Darkness.
Black fingertips reached out…
Someone reached out and touched her shoulder.
That warmth…the same warmth on her skin…
But now it was cold—cold as ice…
How can she be so cold under all this warm sunshine???
Things just don't make sense…
Finding a spot under a tree, she sat down, wondering why she felt so exhausted in the first place. It was getting more difficult to breathe every passing second, it seems…
She closed her eyes, and saw it in her mind's eye the way the image had been playing over and over in her mind…
Gloved hands touching her face, wiping the blood away…
Blood??? She must be confused. She didn't feel a single pain…nothing…just…just this certain coldness that seemed so surreal…
Of course, the sensation must be new…After all, she had never been touched before…
Perhaps doctors did. So many times in fact…
But THAT was different. The touch wasn't there to protect her…
But those hands… they pulled her close, kept her warm…
Those hands have no reason to protect her. After what she had done…
After what she had made them do…
So much death. So much blood.
Blood….
She can taste it even now. Blood on her lips…her blood…his blood. They were together at that time…
Demo…I was alone…It's always been like that…
Then the bullets…They hit her in the darkness and she fell into arms that waited, arms cloaked in the shade of death…
Death???
She shook her head, trying to remember, trying to see through the haze that racked her brains, darts of pain making the effort ten times harder.
Whose hands, whose--
The bullets…
The sound in her ears was deafening, the crash unbearable as all the sensations returned to her in full force, filling her lungs with air that forced its way out through her throat …
She screamed.
The blood…the warmth spilling out of her body…the openings that seared her very soul…
Gods…
What if…what if she wasn't able to stop them? What if she was too slow? What if…
He couldn't die.
But who? Who almost died?
She grabbed her head, forcing herself to remember.
Blood red hair. Eyes that could kill…eyes that have loved…
He had a woman, didn't he?
He had a woman…
He loved her…
Kenshin…!!!
Darkness…
Not like this sunlight…This sunlight…
This sunlight…
His world had always been dark. Tiring. The darkness, the despair, the endless nightmares that never saw the light…
It was all so tiring…
But now, there would be no more of that. She can stay here in this endless sunlight…this perfect world where there will be no one to call to her, no one to hurt her, no one she could hurt…
Just a dream…
She grabbed her head, wanting the voice to stop.
Just a dream…
But its what you've always wanted isn't it???
The endless dream where you will and can never wake up…
Indeed…a dream of death…a passing over where there will be no turning back…
A strange pilgrim…an even stranger journey…
She had always wanted to get away…far away…
But now…
But now she was all alone.
Again.
Her lips trembled.
I hate it here.
Above her, the sun shone through an infinite white and blue, the splendor almost blinding in radiance.
But she winced, flinching away, shutting it out completely from her mind.
Gods…
I hate it here…
She looked up, forcing her mind to reach out through the infinite barrier of space above her.
Through and above the infinite blue…
Kenshin…
Amber eyes. Blood. Hate. Despair. Darkness.
Kenshin…
Death…
Healing…
Forgetting…
Demo…
I don't want to forget…
Kenshin…
Kaoru Kamiya closed her eyes, accepting the inevitable…
For the first time in her life, she wanted to live…
Even without the light…
Even with just the endless, boundless space of dark and shadow that had always been there…
Waiting…just waiting…
Embrace the darkness Kaoru…and you will find what you're looking for…
She reached out, opening her arms.
What I'm looking for…
She felt the cold, suddenly shivering at the sensation.
In the darkness it will be always like this…
Cold…lonely…
It will hurt like hell…
Demo…
I'm ready.
I will endure it.
I will embrace the darkness.
Because it's the only way I can help him.
If Kenshin's life depends on it...
I will be there…
It will be my atonement…
. . . . . . . . . . .
Static. Nothing but static.
Toshima pumped the valve, adjusting the settings to a higher current.
The machine hummed. He re-connected the wires. The blue liquid bubbled as electric impulses surged through the conduits securing the body in the tank.
He turned on the switch.
Static.
Nothing.
Then the sound of heels screeching on the floor, followed by muffled voices speaking.
Voices?
He turned around and the glass door opened.
"Megumi?"
A gloved hand let go of her mouth and she stumbled towards the doctor, eyes glaring at the man who had dragged her into the laboratory.
"You stay away from me you…you--"
Kenshin ignored her, walking past the woman and the doctor who was still holding her to him, trying to restrain her violent protests.
Something was suspended in a glass chamber filled with blue liquid at the center of the room. Kenshin stared at it, then with a moment's hesitation, turned away, his face livid.
"Would you care to explain this, doctor???"
Toshima walked over to where the ex-assassin was, dropping the protesting Megumi to a chair on his way.
"Uhhh…which one?"
He noticed that the ex-assassin was actually flushing. Or was it the experience of handling a difficult hostage like Megumi Takani? Toshima knew that the lady doctor could be very difficult. Even under normal circumstances…
"Miss Kaoru is undressed."
The ex-assassin sounded almost angry.
"Oh, THAT. It's part of the procedure."
A grunt, eyes flashing dangerously. "You mean there's a medical explanation to this?"
Toshima couldn't believe that the ex-assassin was complaining about something so trivial as THAT.
Perhaps, he had higher expectations…
"Does it disturb you all that much, Battousai?"
He flinched. He didn't expect that line of questioning. After all, the doctor was his hostage. Shouldn't he be answering his questions rather than the other way around?
"No. I just don't appreciate your methods."
"I see. I thought my job was to revive her. That doesn't include pleasing your sense of, shall I say, decency? In fact, I didn't know assassins have it in their vocabulary…"
Kenshin gritted his teeth. "Fine, doctor. Should I presume then that you've revived her?"
"No."
"Which no is that?"
"No, she hasn't yet."
He angled towards the doctor, gripping his collar. "And do you intend to join her in that tank, doctor?"
Toshima looked away, unable to withstand the yellow glare that pierced him like knives. He cleared his throat, stepping back cautiously.
"Look," he began, ignoring Battousai's calm protest, which consisted of fingers tapping on an arm drawn tightly against chest in frustration, "…the process isn't all that simple to begin with. First we have to wait until some of her body signs have stabilized before we can give her another shock treatment..."
Kenshin drew out his arm, eyes flashing incredulously. "Shock treatment? Do you think a body like that can withstand electric shocks doctor???"
Toshima raised an eyebrow. "So you've noticed?"
"What?"
"How small and fragile she really looked…"
Kenshin felt the meaningful gaze and looked away. "As could be expected of anyone who had to carry her all the way here I suppose…Are we still on the subject?"
This time, it was Toshima who blushed, forcing Kenshin to look away for the nth time.
The girl was in danger and here they are, behaving like perfect idiots…
He sighed and reached deeply into the pocket of the cloak the doctor had returned to him minutes ago. The cloak still smelled of blood, but he needed it more to keep the shoulder from trickling blood on the floor, rather than to protect the wound. It was, still, after all, bleeding…
He fingered the pocket.
Empty.
This time, eyes flared, feeling the familiar insides of the cloak again.
Still nothing.
"Something wrong? You seem to have lost something…"
Kenshin sighed. Just something I'd have to deal with when I get back. Not that Tomoe has to know I lost my own ring…
"Just ignore me and go on."
Toshima gave him a quizzical stare but decided to shift his attention back to the tank. "As I was saying, the liquid's supposed to repair some of the damaged tissues, and keep her temperature within normal levels. It also keeps her bloodstream going, providing some oxygen to the brain temporarily. If her heart doesn't pump though, there's nothing more we can do… Unless you want to keep her in this tank forever…"
Kenshin's eyes narrowed dangerously at that, arm automatically reaching out to grab the doctor by the front of his coat. "Is that a trick question?"
"No. Just a reality check, Mr. Himura."
"Oh. And you think you can use THAT name as well, doctor?"
"I just thought you hated the name Battousai…"
"What makes you think that?"
"You scowl whenever I say it."
"I don't scowl, doctor."
"Oh, in fact you just did."
"And I'm also under observation, is that it? Why don't you work on saving Miss Kaoru instead of wasting all that attention on me?"
"My attention is mine to waste, Mr. Ex-Assassin."
"Will you two quit arguing like lovebirds and settle down???"
It was Megumi standing feet apart, arms akimbo, her eyes dejectedly looking at the two figures getting into each other's nerves, one hanging by the collar in the grip of another.
"I don't really know what's going on but I'd appreciate it if you'd be so kind as to enlighten me on the subject."
Kenshin turned to her, eyes receding into their purple depths. "If you want the truth, I don't think I can help you at all."
He released the grip on the man's collar and slumped on the nearest chair, flexing his arm.
Megumi hated being ignored.
She walked up to him, arms still akimbo, feet tapping on the floor.
"You should talk, you bastard!!! I'm not going to be an ignorant hostage if I'm going to be one hostage at all…"
"You are my hostage. That's not an argument."
"I don't intend to argue. In fact, I would be out of this room by now if you were some lard butt who can't even give a proper chase…"
"Arigatou, if that's a compliment, demo…I wouldn't have chased you if you didn't run away."
"It's not like I'm just gonna drop dead in your arms, Mr. Himu—"
Something in her mind clicked. Wasn't that what Toshima called him? Himura? Battousai?
Could he be…???
Kenshin looked up, eyebrows raised. Megumi Takani was staring at him, mouth half-open to say something. Not that it was indecent. He just wasn't comfortable having people regard him like that.
He glared at her, faking anger---anything just to get her attention off him. "What now, doctor?"
"You…you're Kenshin Himura aren't you?"
Another name...another question…
He looked away, eyes settling on the blue tank across him. "I don't think I will answer that."
Megumi peered into his face, forcing him to lean back, avoiding contact.
"You ARE Kenshin Himura…"
He sighed, meeting her gaze. "And what is that to you, Miss Megumi Takani?"
"Oh, and have we met? How did you know my name?"
Kenshin would have chuckled at the question if he were in the mood, but he wasn't so he looked away, avoiding her eyes. "Your I.D. You're still wearing it. And I'm not exactly far-sighted."
She blushed. The answer made her look quite…naïve. She flipped her hair back, staring him down, waiting to see those terrible eyes look back tauntingly. Despite his rugged appearance, she would have to admit that Kenshin—her cousin's fiancée—is quite an interesting specimen.
Actually, he's more than just interesting…he's quite perfect.
Perfect…it's not a gradable adjective to begin with…
Maybe it's the scar…or the eyes…or that overbearing protectiveness about him that Tomoe might have to worry about…If she saw how concerned he was with that Kamiya girl…
But then again, he doesn't seem to be the skirt-chasing type. More like the type who'd love you down to your bones and be loyal til-death-do-us-part that kind of bull…
And then again, maybe I'm just overworking my imagination… I mean, he's not even my type…
Just the same, I think he has to know about Tomoe…And why I intend to drag him out of this place for good once I've got the chance…
Like that's even possible…I mean, he doesn't even look like someone I could even invite for a cup of coffee…
Demo…a start's got to start somewhere…
"Look, I don't know if you'd be happy to know this, but…"
Kenshin stood up all of a sudden, pushing past her, almost forcing her to lose her balance.
"Hey, don't be such a push-over you—you moron!!!"
But Kenshin ignored her, all eyes on the tank, staring at the girl who lay suspended in the thick fluids, attached to a mass of wires and electrodes.
He could have sworn he heard her voice.
She was calling out his name.
But there was no movement in the tank.
Nothing.
The machine read static.
But he could have sworn…
He touched the glass, fingers wanting to reach out to shake the girl out of her soundless sleep.
Then a flicker of red.
Two reds. No three. The machine was practically humming.
This time it was Toshima who panicked.
Kenshin didn't want to interfere but a single look at the doctor told him that things were getting pretty out of hand.
"Is there something here you're not telling me, or do we have to argue about this???"
The doctor pushed some buttons, looking alarmed, his face an unreadable mask of emotions as he bent down to adjust some wires.
"Her vital signs…We're losing her…"
Kenshin would have grabbed the doctor by the collar having found that a convenient way of getting his attention, when his shoulder throbbed violently, causing him to stumble back, falling on Megumi who had been watching from behind, eyes gaping at the sight before her.
"You're—you're bleeding!!!" she told him, catching him by the arm. "Let me look at your arm…Gods, you're hurt that bad??!!"
Kenshin brushed her aside. "It's nothing, Miss Takani." He removed her hand gently, forcing himself to walk back towards the tank. "Look doctor, you better start explaining right now what's happening to Miss Kaoru or I'll--"
The doctor met his glare with a look that sent a chill right through him. "We've just lost her… I guess there's nothing more—"
Amber eyes surfaced, but this time, they turned to the tank that stood just mere inches from him, revealing a figure suspended there with arms clasped on her chest, hair flying around her face, eyes closed as if in sleep.
The sleep of death…
So serene, so peaceful at last.And there was no more blood.
Still…
He turned around to face the doctor…
He would have said something sooner—a threat perhaps, or a plea, he wasn't so sure—but his shoulder was throbbing even more persistently this time, forcing him to fall on the tank for support, hands reaching out to lean on the shiny glass surface.
Kenshin…
It was unmistakable. Her voice…
Kaoru???
Silence.
Dammit!! Speak to me!!!
Silence.
Kaoru!!!
A sudden flare. He felt it in his mind—the wave of energy pulsing like a faint heartbeat.
He couldn't be mistaken…
His mind reached out into the darkness like a net, spreading, tentatively feeling the empty spaces, trying to catch anything…even a tiny flicker of that energy…
Kaoru???
Something caught in it, tugging faintly, then stronger, as he felt a connection snap in place.
You're…you're alive??? Kenshin???He was confused at the question, sorting out the logic behind it. But her voice pushed him past all that, urging him to respond eagerly.
Hai…
He felt a smile.
I was so worried, Kenshin…
Worried? The Kamiya girl was worried about him? It didn't make any sense…
And yet…
Demo…there's no reason to be worried…you're the one who had sustained some damage, therefore…
A pause.
…Therefore…???
In his mind, she sounded just as confused.
Should he say it? Something in his chest constricted, urging the words out…
What is it Kenshin…??? He measured those words in his head, wondering at the effort that made it all so difficult to keep inside…He had no reason to feel that way. Or maybe he does. She, after all, just saved his life.
And on top of that, she was too young to be taking on that kind of responsibility.
She was nothing but a child.
And to think that his life depended on her. A mere child…
So shouldn't he feel indebted at least?
Wasn't that the reason why he was so concerned in the first place?
Of course. That would have to be the reason.
Kenshin??? Are you upset?
Upset? Why should he be even upset?
Why do you ask?
You were so quiet…
Oh…
You were trying to say something actually…Then you just became so quiet…
The observation was acute and precise, almost like what--
Tomoe would have said—
He bristled at that. Tomoe? It doesn't seem proper that he should be mentioning other women… Not that Tomoe was another woman…Gods… Even in his mind, he didn't know what to think…
How can that happen? Him confused about himself being confused? Kenshin sighed.
Stop thinking too much, Kenshin…
He chuckled. The girl was just full of advice…
Demo… with you using your abilities like this, I don't think we can have a conversation any other way, do you???
It was her turn to chuckle. Come to think of it…Are you worried about me Kenshin?
Worried like hell, and it's killing me...
He blanched. What did he say again?
She suppressed a blush, wondering if he "saw" that, or if, much worse, she was just imagining it on her own…
Silence.
Kenshin??? Hnnn???
It's alright.
What do you mean?
It's alright. You don't have to worry now…
Demo…
Promise you won't worry about me again…
Demo…
Just promise me, Kenshin…
Demo…
You're so stubborn, Kenshin, do you know that?
Hai.
So do you promise?
It sounded so childish. But he had to concede one way or another…
Hai. Not that I should be the only one following orders around here…
Orders?
Well, let's just say you have to follow some rules too, little girl…
Little girl!!!
Like not getting killed. That wouldn't be too hard a rule is it?
It's not like I purposely wanted to get killed, Kenshin!!!
Not that he'd have to know of course…
Just the same, you won't do that sort of thing again. Not for me. Or for anyone. It's not worth it. My life especially.
Don't say that!!!
I'm serious Miss Kaoru. You will NOT risk your life EVER, for me, or anyone again. Is that understood???
Silence.
Miss Kaoru?
I can't promise you that, Kenshin.
Don't you think you're just being a little unfair?
A chuckle.
Life's unfair.
I'm serious.
So am I.
What should I do to keep you out of trouble?
I don't know Kenshin. I always get into trouble. That's just how it is. Not that you can't say the same for yourself…
Don't change the subject. What should I do to keep you out of trouble?
Hmmm…talk to me. Even once in a while. I do get lonely.
Women…
What's that??? I can't believe you said that, Kenshin!!!
A smile. Don't worry…I didn't mean it like that…Just wanted to know your reaction…
And why is that???
Because if you're strong enough to get angry, you're strong enough to live through this. I'm glad you're alright.
Kenshin…
Hnnn???
You're hopeless…
I know.
Demo… I think I like getting to know you a little better. You seem like a harmless little guy…I shouldn't feel afraid should I???
That's NOT a compliment!!!
Hey, you said I weigh a hundred and twenty!!! That's sooo NOT a compliment!!!
A grunt. I don't wanna know…
Don't be peevish… You're not a perfect gentleman all the time…
Somehow, I think I deserved that.
Gomen. I wasn't serious. But I really like you, Kenshin. We should talk a little more when I get better.
That would be easy. You always have a way of finding a back door.
What's that???
Nothing. Just get back to sleep.
What back door???
Sleep.
Kenshin!!!
Sleep. Or at least let me.
Oh, alright. Peevish!!!
Fine. Goodnight.
Goodnight Kenshin…
. . . . . . . . . .
Lights…
He was lying down on something hard and almost cold, blinding lights shining down his face.
There was someone bending down, feeling his wrist, adjusting something that pricked him senseless.
Needles…They must be needles…He remembered the last time he was forced to lie down like this, needles pricking his arm, his torso…
It was a long time ago but he could still remember the sensation all so clearly. Like it was just yesterday…
Then a voice. It sounded clinical to his ears…a voice that is not so unfamiliar.
"I think he's gonna be alright. He lost so much blood it's a miracle he can even stand up. If I have known…"
"This is Battousai, Takani-san. You really should have higher expectations…"
"Battousai or not, we both know the limits of human physiology, Toshima-san. However strong he is, he's not superhuman, no one is."
"Hai. But I could only care less…"
"How's the girl?"
"She's alright—for now. I just can't understand it. For a moment I thought I lost her. Then her heart suddenly starts beating like hell. Not that it's something I shouldn't thank the gods for. Kamiya deserves to live. I'm just glad that the miracle came in time…"
"Miracle? That's hardly what I'd call it. Notice anything before that happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not so sure…"
The contact…Some kind of natural conduit allowing energies to pass through…
"Takani-san???"
"I don't know…Usually, patients whose life signs dropped that low are beyond helping…And of course, we all know that bio-fluids only react to certain kinds of energies…The valves weren't pumping when the fluids began to react…I mean I read the screen. Static. There were no electric impulses. It's just so strange that something should even happen right at that moment…"
Toshima looked away, turning to face the patient lying on the operating table, red hair strewn loosely around his deathly white face. "I still say it's a miracle…"
. . . . . . . . . .
"Secretary Katsura?"
"Saitou?"
Long strides brought the JIB intel agent before a large oak table, his face as cold and anxious as rain pelting the windows before him.
"I came to report…"
"I know. I'm getting in touch with Shinomori right this minute…"
Gray eyes flared. "Aoshi Shinomori?"
"Hai. Any news about him? The tracker's been out of touch lately…"
"Sorry, Secretary. No news about him either."
"Are you sure, Saitou?"
"Quite sure, Secretary."
"About Himura…"
"He'd live through it…He's wounded but the bastard's been through worse. I can't say the same for the girl though…"
"Kaoru Kamiya should have been taken alive. Those were your instructions…"
"The situation, I would have to admit, got a little out of hand…"
"A little out of hand?" Katsura slammed his fists on the table, eyes glaring through the semi-darkness of the room. He sighed. "I want to know who's responsible, Saitou. I didn't give orders to have your trackers engage in a shoot-out operation …and with the girl within range…Gods!!!"
"I'm trying to trace that right now, Secretary. But it's going to take some time."
"What do you mean? Are you humoring me, Officer?"
"No sir. Just want to inform you that the tracker is not one of ours…"
Katsura's eyes dilated, his face going livid. "What do you mean not one of ours???"
Saitou's lips thinned grimly, as he pulled out a crumpled sheet of paper from the inner pocket of his cloak, now glistening with rain under the dim lights.
"We recovered this…"
Katsura reached out to take the package. Inside was a single bullet.
"It's from a 967 magnum resonance gun, sir. It couldn't be one of ours."
"I see… And what does that imply?"
"Sir…" Saitou leaned closer, hand supporting his weight as the Secretary stared at the bullet, eyes seeming to register a faint recognition he would not betray so soon… "I think there's someone else we failed to put into the equation…"
"Like who?"
"I'm not sure but…whoever's involved certainly have connections with both the JIB and the underground…"
"Are you suggesting something I should know about in detail?"
"It's not a suggestion, sir, but a theory… If I'm not mistaken, our questions would lead us right back to the Labyrinth…"
"That can't be. They want Kamiya alive more than anything…"
"This bullet answers that question, sir…"
"How?"
"Kamiya was shot with only seven bullets…"
"And?"
"A 967 magnum carries eight bullets. The 8th bullet is lethal, designed specifically to kill, rather than just maim or disable the target. Not that trackers cannot be employed in combat. It is our understanding however, that though they have the skills, their objective is to hunt—to track down pre-cogs operating illegally, as is often the case… But as I was saying, when we attacked Himura, we were using all seven tracker bullets…given that our weapons do not and could not have been deploying this kind of resource."
"Of course. Our magnetic resonance blasters, in fact, came out as an attempt to redesign the 967 magnum prototype…and one of the features which have been revised included the slot for the 8th bullet. These bullets" he pointed out, holding the object to the light, "…shouldn't in fact be around. I thought we've carried out necessary measures to make its manufacture both illegal and impossible…"
"I guess such 'necessary measures' didn't cover a few things, Secretary…"
"And would you have a clue?"
"The Labyrinth…"
"That's impossible. As I said before, our intelligence reports say that Kamiya may have connections with the Labyrinth… And that means, they would want her alive…"
"Oh, I think she would be alive, sir."
Katsura's eyes shimmered, incredulity and shock written all over it as he shifted his attention back to the outspoken silvery gray eyes that met his.
"But you said she's been brutally shot?"
"Brutally shot sir…but, along with Battousai…"
"I don't understand what you're getting at."
"Himura was wounded with the same bullet you're holding in your hands… Which means that whoever the tracker was, he wanted both to be tortured…but not dead…"
Katsura fell to his seat, eyes glaring at the single bullet held between trembling fingertips. "You're saying that whoever shot them both wanted them to live through the ordeal, but without suffering extreme excruciating pain? How was the tracker to know that Himura and Kamiya would live through it all? Unless of course, he had reasons to know…"
Katsura stopped, eyes dilating, his stare more than enough to indicate what he failed to say in words. Before him, Saitou stood, eyes gleaming with uncanny satisfaction, like he had just confirmed a brilliant insight that's been festering in his mind for so long.
"Indeed, Secretary Katsura…Whoever the tracker was, he had reasons to know…"
. . . . . . . . . .
"Sano?"
"Yeah? Don't you ever go to sleep, Takani? Or did you wake me up because you've just dreamt about me? Wanna talk about those fantasies?"
Even in his slurred, sleepy voice, she could detect a hint of amusement. She winced.
"Look, you ass-licking pervert, I called to tell you that I've found my man."
"Hell, Takani, is that a way to talk to your significant someone??? And in the middle of the night—no dawn for Chrissake!!!"
"Stop babbling you moron and listen. Himura—he's here."
"WHAATTT!!! Here where???"
"Kenshin Himura's here at the Pre-cog Institute. He was badly hurt so I had to get him to stabilize…"
"Wait, hold on. Himura's hurt? How the hell did that happen?"
"Look, I didn't call to have you ask questions you're supposed to answer for me. What I wanna know is to what extent your organization's involved in all this. Because I'm sure that the JIB's not behind this—not by a long shot!!!"
"Sheesh, Takani, you think we'd gonna blow the brains out of THE only person we need for the job? How's the girl???"
"You know about that too???"
"Of course. Kaoru Kamiya's supposed to be with him. Don't tell me the JIB has her, cause that's gonna mess up all our plans…not that I should be telling you this of course."
"Well, I appreciate the trust but the girl barely made it. And by that I mean, she's survived by some strange twist of fate that almost comes close to a miracle…"
"You have your doubts of course?"
"I always have doubts."
"That's a pretty nasty habit you got there, Takani."
"Not half as nasty as yours, Sagara.
"Fine. Guess you don't get off as often as I do, then."
"Sanosuke Sagara, THAT will be the last time you're gonna bring up any of that crap, you hear me???"
"Loud and clear Ma'am. So what's the REAL problem this time?"
"967s are illegal. That means some crazed killer's out there who wants both Himura and the girl dead."
"Oh? That's nothing new. Himura's been living a living hell dodging assassins and god-knows-what-else-the-devil's-got all his life. What I can't figure out is why the girl should be in it too…"
"Well…it's really strange. This pre-cog you refer to by the name Kaoru Kamiya…Something tells me she's not just ANY pre-cog. I think there's a lot about her that remains to be seen, and I wanna know if you can give me some answers…"
"You know I don't' play that game, Takani. Military logic dictates that I be careful about "kitsunes" like you who're determined to rip us apart body mind and soul and leave us for dead. You know what I mean, don't you? Classified info is not something I can share with anyone just like that. Though I like you like hell."
"I don't care about your fucking military logic Sagara!!! Like what I told you, I'm positive this is not the work of the JIB military police!!!"
"How sure are you Miss?"
"He's been shot by a 967 magnum resonance gun. Only the bullet went through so the poison didn't affect all his vital organs."
"Y' mean bullet 8?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
"Hell, even if it didn't it's just a matter of time…"
"I'm telling you it didn't. Somehow, the poison was neutralized…"
"That's shit, Megumi. You don't neutralize a poison like that. That's why the magnum's illegal in the first place."
"You think I don't know that already?"
"I think you need some loving, woman. All this work's making you a little stressed out…"
"I think I'd call you when you've found your brains Sagara. I don't have time for this fooling around, if you know what I mean?"
"Okay, kay, fine. I'd be there in twenty minutes."
"Make it fifteen."
"Gods, you're a hard woman, ain't you?"
"It's nice to know someone appreciates it. Bye."
. . . . . . . . . .
"W-where am I?"
"Here."
Kaoru opened her eyes and found herself staring at silver blue hues peering into her face. She tried to sit up but hands pushed her down gently by the shoulder, making her want to struggle.
"Please…you need to rest…"
"There's no time for this…"
Toshima shook his head. "After what had happened, I'm not letting you out of my sight Kaoru Kamiya…"
She looked at him closely, wondering at the meaning of those words. She didn't recognize them, but the voice seemed familiar.
Silver blue eyes…
"Dr. Noburo?"
"Toshima would be a start."
"Why am I here?"
"Himura brought you here. He was--"
"Where is he????" she panicked, sitting up all of a sudden, legs swinging down the bed. She would have jumped down and walked away in hurried strides if her stomach didn't hurt, forcing her to double over and clutch it, her face constricted with pain.
"I told you, you're not supposed to be up yet," Toshima told her, pulling her head down his chest for support.
"Demo…Kenshin…"
"Why are you so worried about that bastard??? He almost got you killed!!!"
Kaoru shook her head, struggling out of the doctor's embrace, sapphire eyes defiant. "That's not true. I got in his way. They were going to kill him and I can't let that happen…"
Toshima's stare was one of shocked disbelief. "You saved that madman??? That fucking bastard who goes around killing people, and getting people killed??? He's a JIB assassin for gods sake, and you risked your life to give that devil another chance at life??? Where's the justice in that??? I thought you said you wanted to save the world, help people, that sort of thing. Where's the logic in saving a good-for-nothing bastard like Himura???"
Kaoru stepped back, small shoulders shaking as she looked at the doctor full in the face, her eyes holding back tears.
"Because I'm the reason why he suffers so…"
. . . . . . . . . .
Kenshin heard it. All of it. And he couldn't understand—didn't understand any of it.
He was alone when he woke up under the lights of the operating table—a sure sign that whatever had happened must have something to do with his needing medical attention. The stitches in his arms and torso hurt, but he tried to walk, swinging his legs down the table to take faltering steps towards the rack where he found his cloak and shirt hanging. With difficult efforts, he pulled them on, then proceeded to walk the rest of the dim hallway which led to another room separated by a thin paper screen.
The voice. He recognized the voice, and the shadows from behind the screen merging as hands caught her fall. He would have broken through the screen to stop him from doing what he thought he was doing if Kaoru protested. But the girl seemed to welcome the touch, so he stayed, wondering if he should take the cue and leave.
After all, who would bother to listen to insults about himself? The doctor just engaged in some extensive name-calling which he didn't in the least appreciate.
Then he heard her say something in muffled tones, forcing him to stop and turn towards the paper screen in time to catch those words…
Because I'm the reason why he suffers so…
The reason why I suffer…
He didn't know, couldn't know what she meant by those words…though he knew what suffering felt, why he allowed it to happen, why he wanted to endure it, still, hearing it said from another's lips seemed unbelievably…
Astute. Like hearing fortune tellers say what you already knew and felt as true.
Perhaps real truths are old truths that have no meaning until you've heard it over and over again, the way memories keep repeating themselves in order to be remembered.
And hearing her say it makes it no easier to accept.
But why would she blame herself for something he had brought upon himself? What does she know about him? Why does she know about him?
She was struggling from the doctor's embrace, who was pinning her down the bed, perhaps forcing her to relax. After all, with all the damage she had sustained from the wounds, she shouldn't really be getting herself all worked up.
Then maybe again, the perverted leech has something else in mind.
Then he sensed it. A movement. Somebody was watching him in the dark and it had a weapon…
Reflexes took over. After all, it wasn't just his safety that matters now …
The paper screen gave way as he slashed through it with his own body, arms reaching out for someone…
"Kenshin!!!!"
Toshima was too slow to react, surprised to find him beside the bed next to Kaoru, arms gripping her shoulder.
"What the fuck--!!!!"
Kenshin glared at him, then turned to the girl who met his gaze with the most incredulous blue eyes he had ever seen.
They were mesmerizing.
"Kaoru…"
Toshima struggled to get up from where he had been pushed, preparing to lunge at the ex-assassin.
But it was the voice as deep and dangerous as the muted whisper of death that called his attention, as it echoed in the darkness of the hallway beyond…
"If you even dare move Battousai—"
He froze, recognizing the voice from a dim haze of memories that kept his mind searching for clues. Of course he had been threatened before, countless times in fact, but this one…
He braced himself as the memory returned...
Shinomori???
He knew who he was and knew that the danger could be just as real as death…
"Kenshin???"
Her voice. He turned to it, and the danger made his heart just skip another beat…
"Kenshin!!!"
He heaved her in his arms, pushing her head towards his chest where cakes of blood stuck to her cheeks and arrested her nostrils with a stench that almost frightened her.
He didn't look at her, his eyes straight ahead…measuring glass.
Her eyes grew wide as purple turned amber, his legs working towards closing the distance…
"You're not—"
"Close your eyes and stay down, Kaoru. That's an order!!!"
"Demo…Kenshin!!!"
The glass was coming closer...
Something warm closed in on her as she closed her eyes, clutching arms that pulled her close…
The world crashed around them…and then there was nothing but darkness again.
. . . . . . . . . .
Author's comments:
Minako: Thanks for enjoying the fic so far!!! I'll try updating regularly, I promise… though it's March and March is always a very busy month for me. In fact, my other fics must wait 'til I can fit them into my schedule…Demo…thanks again!!! ^_^
Sandy: Always happy to know you're still around!!! I hope you'll enjoy this too. And I promise to send a personal e-mail to thank you more properly. I hope you'd be around by the time I finish this one. It might take months---Geez…why am I such a slow poke when it comes to plot? It drags, but don't worry. Things will be a bit faster in the next chapter. I think I've put enough effort here to tie some loose ends (only to make new ones…I'm fagged out!!!!) Again, thanks a lot!!! Give my regards to your family, and until next time!!!^_^
bittersweetKandy: Oh, I'll update sooner I promise!!! Thanks for reading this!!!
yuki: I know I know. Little S/M here but there'd be a lot next time, promise!!!
Nightrain: Yeah, I shot Kaoru, but she's alive now, so I hope you enjoyed this. Thanks for the support!!! Hope you stick around!!!
Moonwind: Ah, another Filipino??? I hope you continue reading this stuff. I'm a bad, lousy poet but when you said I describe feelings like poetry, I was so flattered it made me feel like I wanna be a poet overnight!!! Heck, it's never gonna happen but I can write some for fun, can't I? Thanks for the review, and most of all for reading the fic. THANKS!!! ^_^
Shojin Takaru: So much pain, anguish…I know. I hope there'd be more fun in the next chappie. Want to suggest something FUN??? Please do!!!
Akai Kitsune: Thanks for liking the "character growth." I hope they outgrow this stupid, immature writer in me who can't get enough of RRK… Again, thanks!!!!
Tsaieric: Kaoru's alive!!!! Yeah, it's a cause for celebration!!! WIIIPPPEEEE!!!!!!!
Jason M. Lee: Oh, you reviewed this one again!!! Thanks!!! Uhhhh, careful about the lava though…I promise not to hurt Kaoru THAT bad again (Maybe not in the upcoming chapter). But the LAVA!!!! Now, do you ever wonder why your name scares the hell out of me??? Love you though, for always being there. Thanks, thanks, THANKS !!!^_^