(-REVISED-)
BURDENING VISIONS
Chapter Two: An Arrow's Warning and Misao's Mystery, Prelude to the Clash of the Clans
The sun was at its zenith, glaring down like an angry eye. Despite the golden heat, it was a beautiful day with wisps of white clouds that decorated the clear blue sky.
The lavish surroundings, however, went unnoticed by the swordsman walking alone, a hand lightly resting on the two swords at his waist. Beneath slanted brows, his eyes had returned to their calm amethyst. These eyes slowly shifted about, taking in his surroundings.
Tents of the Hiten Clan were scattered here and there. The warm day had lured many out to the shade of the few trees that sprouted out from the verdant grass. Kenshin stopped in his tracks, fingers curling more securely around his swords. "Soujiro." He stated in a firm voice.
Kenshin turned around to see a dark haired boy smiling up at him. The smile however, was not one of happiness but merely an impenetrable mask that hid the boy's thoughts and emotions that were bottled up deep inside with a strong barrier erected around it.
That is...if he still had any emotions to show, Kenshin mused to himself. Soujiro was a tough one to figure out, more mysterious than most and different in his own way.
The smile only broadened even more. "You sensed me Himura...as always. No one can sneak up on you."
"OHOHOHOHOHOHOHO! But I can, Sir Ken!" Kenshin paled slightly as an ebony-haired woman seemed to slip out of nowhere and latch onto his arm. He turned his head away as the female doctor of the Hiten Clan babbled without cease and showed affection in her 'fox' manner.
"Excuse me Miss Megumi, Soujiro," Kenshin said voice soft but strong.
Megumi immediately let her hands fall away and she and Soujiro watched Kenshin disappear amongst the tents.
"Oi! Kenshin!" Kenshin looked up to see a tall man jogging over to him, dark messy hair kept in a spiky mop accompanied by a worn red bandana. He towered over most everyone in the Clan, wearing white pants, and a white overcoat with a "bad" sign slung over his shoulders and a bandaged torso, giving him an outdoor, arrogant, gangster, and a sort of I-just-got-out-of-bed-who-cares?-look.
"Hey, Sano." Kenshin let a smile come upon his face. Sagara Sanosuke, known to be lazy, and often stomach empty was a very good friend to him and a valuable combat comrade.
Sano immediately noticed a slight dim to the short, nonetheless strong warrior's violet eyes.
"Things didn't go to well with the Oniwaban Clan, did it?" he concluded aloud.
Kenshin sighed and shook his head, "Wait until I tell Lord Hiko...."
Kaoru was sitting down, legs curled beneath her. The shade that was a wondrous gift on this summer day shifted across her face as the small yet welcome breath of wind danced with the leaves high above her.
This small token of nature, however, went ignored by Kaoru, not because she was ungrateful but because she had descended back into the corridors of her world again—her mind.
"Kaoru!" Misao called as she ran around the Oniwaban site. "..Kaoru!"
"Hey, Kaoru where are you........Kaoru?" Misao approached her cautiously, noting the glassy sheen over her eyes.
The usually energetic girl mellowed herself down to not surprise Kaoru. It wasn't exactly good to startle a Dream Weaver when they had lapsed into their own universe.
Still, Misao was worried over Kaoru. The two had become good friends when they were very young, darting between elders' legs naïve and unaware. Tough years in the Oniwaban had not separated them, but only made their bonds tighter.
Misao placed a concerned hand on Kaoru's shoulder. "K--!"
Amber flickered through Misao's eyes, violently like a lunging sword, followed by a ruby flame, splattering blood, and engulfing shadow.
She immediately withdrew her hand, gasping for breath, the last glimpse of gold, silver, and snowy blue leaving...forgotten. So this is what Kaoru sees...But what...what was that...?
"Misao?"
"K—Kaoru....I.....I think I just saw into your head!"
Kaoru gasped. No way!! Perhaps Misao is...
Kenshin swept an elegant bow to his lord in front of him, Seijuro Hiko the Thirteenth, current leader of the Hiten Mitsurugi Clan. Power radiated from him, as well as a smug look in his eyes that covered the fondness he held for Kenshin. Kenshin was his nephew and heir to him in the position of succeeding as the Hiten Leader, though Kenshin was not much fond of the idea.
And that white and red collared cloak sure looks heavy...Kenshin added to himself mentally.
"Well?" Hiko asked voice loud and booming.
Kenshin's eyes slowly met Hiko's own, his eyes bright against his dark ones.
"The Oniwaban has chosen to oppose us."
"And?"
"They have a Dream Weaver amongst them, looking between the age of eighteen and twenty, dark haired, blue-eyed....."
Hiko's eyes narrowed. "Well, what are you waiting for then? Ready the Clan for battle."
"Yes, Lord Hiko."
Kaoru stared up at the moon, a white and untainted luminous orb that glowed in the mystery of the night amongst peering stars.
She was wide awake, not prepared to be attacked in the depths of horrifying dreams yet this evening.
A whirring noise hurtling towards her brought Kaoru out of her deep reverie. She looked up and jumped away, a startled yelp escaping her lips.
An arrow had embedded itself where her leg had been perched seconds before, shaft still quivering from the shot.
A crimson cloth was attached, knotted near the end of the arrow's length. Embroidered on it was a large milky H.
She snatched up the arrow and dashed towards Aoshi's tent as from afar weapons clanked against one another in battle song joined with determined voices drawing near.
"Lord Aoshi! It's the Hiten Clan!" Kaoru yelled, not caring as she barged into her Leader's tent.
Notes/Reviews:
^-^; Ehuuuh...I was supposed to update earlier, but I was out shopping, not to mention that I just finished writing it out in this old notebook in front of me...I've got lots of stuff planned, it just needs to be written out. I liked the previous chapter better! ^o^
Oh! And I need some help with the Oniwaban! Does anyone know the names of the Oniwaban? There's Misao, Aoshi of course, Okina, Hanyaa(who are the others that died?) those two girls and those other two...I'll be trying to find out myself too!
Dragowolf: Cool name! Anyways, yah, thanks for the idea! But it's still a mystery as to what Misao is!!!!
Waterflash: Well, I do like the smell of shampoo...Lol, I hope so! I love your K/K one-shot! ^___^
Hitokiri-san: I have no clue what you're talking about, but I love you're writing style! It's hard to find great writers like yourself on ff.net, ^-^
Brittanie Love: You all make me happy! ^___^ Thanks!
Nicky9: I think I read one of your fics and I liked it a lot!
Nicolette: Thanks, I was never really into describing the scenery. O__O There might not be much improvement on that this chapter though because I just read your review now.
Next Chapter: Some battle action!!! Not to mention a few problems...
Hope you review, that I do! :D