A Lifetime Forgiven
Chapter Thirteen: Morning
She didn't sleep all night. When morning finally came, the temporarily human Arami was more then just grateful. The sun could just barely be seen, peaking over the summit of a large mountain. With the sunlight her demon blood began to flow again.
At once her hair regained the crimson tint that created the auburn illusion just as her delicate fingernails became sharpened claws. Also her humanoid ears vanished and reappeared atop her head, back to their normal fox-likeness. Lastly, her instincts recovered.
Kenshin opened an eye to see Arami's full recuperation and was thoroughly amazed by it. Instead of making a show of it however, he closed his eyes once more and began to drift into an easier sleep. He'd been the one on guard all night, as Arami hadn't had any defenses. Though she too had stayed awake, which Kenshin could only guess was for her own reasons.
"Hey!" He didn't move from his seated sleeping position. Arami gave an annoyed huff when he gave no show he'd awoken, so tried once again. "Kenshin!" This time he was startled into opening one eye to gaze at her. She'd never said his name before! "At midday I'll awaken you. You'll eat, and then we'll start out." Kenshin gave a weak nod before closing his eyes once more, this time drifting into a much deeper sleep.
Arami went out to hunt almost as soon as he'd closed his eyes, but something wasn't right. There was a scent in the air she couldn't quite define. It took her nearly ten minutes to sort where the scent belonged, and when she finally did she began to growl. With a glance at her sleeping companion she jumped off in the direction the scent was strongest.
Only a moment passed while she sprinted through the forest with amazing speed. Finally she skidded to halt and glared at someone across from her in the clearing.
"What do you want?" Growled a suddenly very angry or annoyed half-demon.
"Shishio has sent me as a messenger." At this announcement Arami's growls ceased. "He's received the message from the one called Arami." Sweat dripped from the brow of the man she recognized as the manslayer she'd sent as a messenger just two days prior. "And if the demonness is truthful, she will kill this Ri. When he does not return, Shishio will know his Fate." The message ended with that.
Arami smirked and readied her claws, but didn't strike.
"Then Ri, whom I suppose is you, will not return." With that she leapt and sliced precisely at his shoulder. Once she'd landed, Ri fell to kneeling, but he was still alive. "You will follow me. If you want to live, nurse your injury once we reach camp, otherwise it will become infected and I'm sure you don't want that painful a death. Then again, if you wish for death, just try to escape."
With that she walked forward and disappeared into the lightened forest surrounding the small clearing. The injured manslayer was swift to follow.
Author's note: Thanks for reading and/or reviewing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin™. I do own any of my original characters and this plot.