A Lifetime Forgiven
Chapter Four: During the Storm
Such a violent storm was unexpected by all but one. That one slept near the door while her newfound alliance slept on a futon against the back wall. His snores kept her on constant alert, though to one unknowing they would suspect she was deeply asleep.
Her peaceful expression of a human was nothing but another illusion. Though she wanted to sleep, she couldn't deny it would be a mistake to fall completely into the unawareness sleep provided. Once in awhile her invisible fox ears would twitch when thunder would roll across the angered gray clouds or when lightening would strike something far off only her ears could pick up from its distance.
And when the storm made a turn for the worst is when her companion would stir, however stay fast asleep all the while. Her thoughts that continued to be aware sometimes drifted to him, her one alliance. Other times her thoughts would drift to her hard lived past.
How'd she'd grown up alone. Protecting herself, being shunned by others. And then she would find her thoughts beginning to drift. Wandering to the sleeping swordsman who slept safer knowing he had another to look out for him. She wondered if he might have grown up the same way. Had what came to be a gentle creature in the end, what was once known as the Battousai, lived alone all his life as well? Was he really as barbaric as the legends befell him?
Another crack of the violent thunder made him stir, thus Arami's invisible fox ear twitched in his direction in compliance. He sat up slowly and cast a wary half-open eye in her direction.
"Arami?" He asked the dark.
"What?" She murmured.
"Have you slept at all during this time?"
"Sort of."
"Can you not sleep while holding an illusion?" Arami was quiet a moment, having never been asked that question.
"I'm not sure." She said thoughtfully, opening a cautious eye to her surroundings. Through the dark her demonic heightened sight could just make out the half seated Battousai. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious." He yawned and lay back down. "When do you think the storm will be over?"
"Soon." She smirked as she once again closed her eyes and fell into that state not quite asleep but not fully awake. Kenshin as well fell to that place of not fully awake, but not quite asleep, but soon drifted into a deeper state of unconsciousness. A smile formed on his lips as a dream of the one he loved formed in his mind's eye.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Still busy finishing this story up. Thanks for reading, special thanks for reviewing!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin™. Although I do own any of my original characters.