A Lifetime Forgiven
Chapter Fifteen: Peeping Toms and Turning New Leaves
Arami found the river quickly enough. She sighed after having lowered herself into the lukewarm water; she'd forgotten how relaxing a much-needed bath could be. Though truthfully, the reason she wanted a bath so much, was her briefness of humanity.
True it was, that she no longer despised humans, but she did still have her disagreements with being a human herself, even if it was for only one night every single month. The thought of being fully human disgusted her, yet not for the reasons most would think.
To put it simply, she wasn't used to being weak. However, it was also because of what it reminded her of. When the night came when the demon half of her blood would temporarily cease to flow and she turned into a human, the memories she'd tried so hard to block out would pour steadily back into mind, filling every one of her pores with forgotten hatred. Worst of all was that the memories would stay fresh for days on end, keeping the forgotten hatred standing on tiptoes.
A familiar scent drifted to her as she sat there, wallowing.
"See anything you like," she fingered a rock near her right shoulder. "You peeping Tom!" In a flash she'd picked up the rock and thrown it over her shoulder. It shot into a large bush with unknown fierceness. A split-second later there was a sworn oath before a loud…
Thump!
Again Arami sighed before ducking her head under the surface and swimming to a deeper section of the river.
Twenty minutes later she lifted herself from the water and dressed noiselessly. Before heading back to camp she walked over to the bush she'd thrown a rock at and plucked an unconscious Ri from the underbrush.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." She whispered under her breath.
Within a few more seconds she'd reached camp once again. Unceremoniously, she dropped the unconscious form she'd carried back and gazed over at her one companion and ally. Kenshin only glanced at Ri's limp form, yet continued eating like he wasn't bothered.
"Why didn't you stop him?" Asked the annoyed half-demon.
Ri made a disgruntled sound from his place on the ground before settling back into an unconscious air. Her one ally smiled up at her from his seated position.
"I did not think there was much reason to, that I did not." Rolling her eyes, Arami went and away from Kenshin, the very air about her in an annoyed huff.
Later, once she'd had time to relax a bit, she returned to camp and noticed Ri was conscious and sitting with his back to her grudgingly. With a smile she sat near the dying fire and began to rekindle it so it would last some time into the night.
After awhile of her ignorance, Ri turned to face her, still frowning while Kenshin watched with a knowing smile from across the fire.
"You didn't have to throw the rock so hard." Grumbled the former Battousai, a lump the size of his fist still protruding from his head. Arami's smile widened but she kept her head down enough to cover the laughter in her eyes, though it was evident in her voice when she next spoke.
"I had to guarantee you wouldn't awake and peep again."
A crack somewhere in the forest that only a demon could hear quickly sobered her though and she stared off to her left, trying hard not to alarm the former manslayers… unfortunately both were terrific at reading telltale signs.
"What is it?" Asked Kenshin first, his voice deep as though this sign alone meant he already knew something was wrong.
The half-demon took a deep breath, inhaling scents from miles around and a frown curved her lips as a peculiar scent came to her.
"A man, he stinks of ancient magic."
"Shishio's spy," finished Ri, his eyes widening in something remote to fear. Arami nodded slowly, and before her head had even bowed Kenshin was on his feet.
Author's note: Dang. I really hate these depressive ruts of mine. That and this completely annoying country song my sister's blasting in the other room (and singing along to ^. ^ ßlaughs).
Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin™ I don't own… I only own my original characters and most of this plot.