A Lifetime Forgiven
Chapter Ten: Over Time
"Arami?" Asked Kenshin, after they'd walked in silence for nearly a day. The demon disguised as a human, allowed a glimpse at him over her shoulder.
"What?" She asked sounding annoyed.
"A while ago, you said I reminded you a lot of yourself. Why is that?" He asked more quietly as a group of people passed. For a moment Arami didn't answer, and Kenshin was about to give up when she unexpectedly stopped and glanced in a window of a pretty abandoned restaurant.
Without questions being asked, or answers being given, Arami swiftly ducked into the restaurant and was right away greeted by a young woman near Kenshin's age. Kenshin gave Arami a questioning glance, but already knew he wouldn't be given an answer, and so he stayed silent as Arami spoke.
"A private table, if you please." The young woman nodded and showed them to a small closed-off area where a short table stood with cushions on either side. Arami and the young woman exchanged nods and Kenshin was sure he saw Arami pass the young woman a pouch of what he could only guess was gold, before Arami sat down and waited for him to do so as well.
He had just sat down when she spoke.
"You remind me of myself, are one way to put it, and probably the best way to explain it. I've been thinking, and maybe I should answer some questions before we go to battle Shishio." Kenshin wasn't sure how to react so he nodded awkwardly, wearing a serious expression.
Though he waited for her to go on, she didn't. Instead a girl arrived, much younger then the first, wearing a bright toothy grin.
"Would you like anything to eat or drink?" The little girl asked eagerly.
It was then Kenshin figured out that Arami had heard the little girl coming and that's why she hadn't gone on. He searched his pockets momentarily; only to find a few moths fluttering out of places he had once kept money. A goofy smile came to his lips as the last moth fluttered out a nearby window, he aimed the smile at the young girl who giggled.
"I'm afraid I don't have any-,"
"Order whatever you like. My treat." Interrupted Arami, her eyes closed though a miniscule smirk had appeared on her lips.
His mouth began to water as he ordered practically the entire menu. Both girls, Arami and the child, seemed surprised by his eagerness, though Arami overcame her emotions more swiftly as she had seen him eat before.
"Miss," the little girl turned to Arami, her mouth hanging open a little. "Are you sure you can afford…"
"Yes, I can. Thank you, now run along," Arami opened one eye to watch the little girl run off, glancing over her shoulder at them every so often.
"That is very generous of you, Arami." Said Kenshin, smiling widely. "Will you not be eating…?"
"I don't need to eat as much as humans. Besides that, I'm not hungry." Answered Arami with a plain shrug. Kenshin's smile began to fade; knowing now would be back to business.
"What was that priest's name, that helped you?" His voice became barely above a whisper. Again Arami didn't answer right away. Sadness came to her expression, which she quickly covered up before answering.
"His name was Sanyo." She answered dejectedly, opening her eyes now and staring at the table with longing shone in her eyes.
"Did you," he paused, knowing it would be rude to ask, but he was very curious about this man from ages ago. "Did you love him?" Came Kenshin's rushed question.
"Yes." Sighed Arami, and slowly looked up with Kenshin with a weak smile. "How couldn't I have? He was the only person ever to show me kindness. The others acted like that woman…" her expression became sour, "back there."
Now was Kenshin's turn to be silent a moment. Then, "I remind you of yourself, because once I was shunned? Because I was Himura the Battousai."
Arami smiled weakly once more, and nodded.
"You weren't shunned, like I was, but you were feared. Therefore, you would know somewhat, what it's like for me. But also, like myself, you were able to change. Though you exceeded me greatly, for now you are not as feared and have many friends." At this point Kenshin was beginning to pity the half-demon.
'How unfair her life has been' thought Kenshin sadly.
"Any other questions?" Asked Arami pointedly.
"What happened to the others… like you?"
Arami looked a touch stunned at his question. Instantly he began stuttering apologies, but she just brushed them aside with another delicate smile that stopped him before he could make tracks.
"The demons began to wage war amongst themselves. Most wanted land, others wanted power. In the end, very few were left. For quite some time after that, demons lived furtively, apart from others so as to avoid another war. Then came Shishio. No demons knew where he came from, or when he'd begun his killing spree. All they knew was he wanted all demons dead, half-demons or quarter-demons alike."
"Quarter-demons?" Interrupted Kenshin, his eyes were already wide with the information he had received.
"Where half-breeds are rare, quarter-breeds are much rarer. They are the offspring of a half-demon who has mated with a human."
"Why are half-demons so rare?" Questioned Kenshin before he could stop himself.
"As I've told you before, pureblood demons find it weak for one of their own to mate with a human. Producing an offspring, which will be a half-breed, is evidence of that weakness, and less than a handful of demons would even think of doing such. When the birth of a half-breed did occur, the parents and half-demon were swiftly killed." She stopped abruptly and glared at him, as if daring to ask another question before she could finish answering the first.
"Shishio killed the remaining of your kind?" He asked, not having caught (or perhaps ignoring) the expression given.
"Yes. I am the last, though I'm only a half-breed…" her hardened gaze softened as she averted her gaze to the nearest window.
"You said they didn't die out-?"
"In the Sengoku era. In the end, demons were mercilessly killed off."
"But if you were shunned by demons, why is it you wish to avenge their deaths?"
Again, Arami was silent a moment. Slowly her sapphire-silver eyes moved back towards him until she was gazing directly back into his sapphire-violet eyes.
"Here you are, Sir." Came a little girl's voice, interrupting Arami before she could begin an answer to Kenshin's question. Piles upon piles of dishes were set before Kenshin until there wasn't anymore room for his meals to be set. He gazed down at the food, his mouth beginning to water, but when he looked back up he found no Arami, only three small pouches, set where she'd sat just a second before.
Author's note: Thanks for reading, and extraordinary thanks to my (very few) reviewers!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin™. I do own any of my original characters.