Standard Disclaimers Apply
Author's Notes: Ta-da! Another chap! And, guys, ending is quite near but not that near. I don't see any serious fighting yet, so that means it'll extend much longer than I expected. I want Kaoru to seriously kick Hoshi's sorry butt! I'm so into Kaoru being one very good martial artist, you know.
School is sometimes taking its toll on me so please bear with some short chaps in the near future. I can't update that fast either, ne? Only during weekends or some none school days, though I sneak to my room and open the computer without anyone knowing... 0_~
===
Chibi-angel--The tea had some powdered potion in it. Also, Hoshi already revealed that to her father in chapter 9. Hoshi, I suppose, concucted the potion from their clan's book of medicine. Herbs and plants are used, since back in the Meiji, I don't suppose there are already like modern medicine. Better hang on to that point since there is a reason WHY Kaoru studied medicinal arts...
Keep on sending me your comments, criticism or suggestions! Please leave a review for me so I can be inspired to write chaps more faster! ^^
===
--====--
Chapter 12: Something I Must Do
--====--
Hoshi sprinted fast, her sword neatly tucked to her side. Her black hair was flowing freely behind her, green eyes blazing with fire. She stopped in a nearby stream, the flow of the water raging.
"Where is she?!" Hoshi asked to herself, gritting her teeth in obvious frustration. Kaoru was nowhere to be found, and she was sure that Rei's group was near their camp. If so, Kaoru must've at least intercepted them. But why can't she find them? Where have they gone to? She released am irritated sigh, before she ran again.
Unfortunately for her, a man was delicately watching her every move. He followed where she went, hiding himself in the darkness of the forest.
--==--
[Happy.]
Yes, the red-haired man should be happy. His eyes bore guilt and pain, well- hidden behind the facade of cheerfulness.
[Joy.]
He brought her joy. She had companions, friends whom she can turn to. Someone she can depend on, trust on, hopefully, forever.
[Content.]
"Are you content, koishii?"
[Beloved.]
"Hai, anata." She answered him, snuggling herself into his warm embrace. She could feel him smile, his violet eyes looking at her face.
[Peace.]
"What about you? Are you content with yourself?" She asked. She knew that he understood what she meant.
"Yes, I am. I am at peace with myself, because of your help." He replied, kissing her forhead. "For that, koishii, I thank you."
[Love.]
She smiled, her twinkling blue eyes staring straight into his violet ones.
"You're welcome," She giggled, her nose touching his. "I love you."
This time, he smiled--a genuine one. So full of life. "Watashi mo...Kaoru- koishii." He whispered huskily, before giving her a passionate kiss.
[Eternity.]
"Kenshin..."
--==--
A loud gasp escaped from Kaoru's lips, her eyes wide. As her heart slowed to its normal pace, her body sensed someone's arms around her. Out of instinct, she pushed the body that held her aside, but only softly. The person tumbled a step backward, the light shinning on his face.
The first thing that Kaoru saw in his eyes was hurt. Deep sorrow and complete sadness sparkled in his violet eyes.
"I...I'm sorry," Kaoru whispered before she even comprehended what she had said. "I didn't mean to."
Kenshin swallowed a lump on his throat. "That's alright, Kaoru. You seem to have been a bit...restless in your sleep."
"Tell me something," Kaoru stated, looking away. "Why are you in my dreams? Why do you haunt me? Why am I thinking of you anyway?" She asked, voice rising a pitch everytime the question ended.
"Because...because..." Kenshin paused. How could he tell her? How could he say that she loved him, and that he loved her?
"Kao-chan."
Both turned to the owner of the voice. Rei stood behind them, a determined expression set on his face.
"That's Tsuki, not Kao-chan or Kaoru!" Kaoru hissed, irritation evident.
Rei sighed. "Alright, Tsuki. You must remember again what did Hoshi put in your tea. How did it taste like?"
"I have a very fague idea what Hoshi put in my tea," Kaoru said, walking towards the direction of the camp. "And I will go back to camp just to confront her about it."
"No need, Tsuki."
The trio looked up to one of the surrounding trees and found Hoshi perched on a branch, eyes a piercing green. She jumped down then started to take a step forward in their direction.
"Hoshi!" Rei shouted. "What did you do to her?!"
Hoshi mearly gave a smirk, then waved Rei out of the way. Rei was pushed back by a string force and crashed into a tree, breaking the trunk because of the heavy impact. Kenshin unsheathed his sword, eyes all golden, a growl escaping from his mouth.
"When Rei cannot even defeat me, how can you ever compare yourself to me?" Hoshi said.
"Because my will to protect outlasts the will to kill," Kenshin answered. "I won't let you harm Kaoru!"
"Go away, swordsman!" Hoshi cried, flinging him away. Kenshin immediately flew from his position and into another tree near Rei.
"Kao...ru..." He whispered, before blackness overtook him.
--==--
Kaoru could only watch while the two men who tried to at least protect her from Hoshi's clutches crash into a tree, both passing out. She glared at Hoshi, eyes all piercing blue. Her fangs faintly shown themselves.
"What do you want?!" Kaoru asked.
"You," Hoshi answered. She quickly gripped Kaoru's neck and started choking her. "I never want you to go out of camp, Tsuki!" She snarled.
"You can't make me!" Kaoru replied. "I will go out whenever I want to, and you can't stop me!" She released a burst of ki, making Hoshi release her and jump away. Kaoru glared at her hard, eyes flashing in anger.
Hoshi stared at her, having absolutely no control over her...except...
She quickly went to Kenshin's form, lifting his head by his hair. Hoshi unsheathed her sword, the blade resting closely on his throat. Kaoru's eyes widened, her ki wavering.
"No...you won't..." Kaoru whispered, voice filled with dread.
"Oh, yes, I will, Tsuki. Go back to camp with me now and I won't touch any of this people." Hoshi said icily.
"This is utter blackmail!" Kaoru shouted. "Why do you have to harm humans just to get to me?!"
"It is the only way I'll ensure the thought of you going back to camp." Hoshi replied. "I know you wouldn't want this humans to die, will you?"
Kaoru scowled, but she knew Hoshi was right. There was no way she could endanger them. /Why am I feeling so close to them?! I don't even now those humans!/ Kaoru couldn't answer right away, visibly thinking of another way to save them, rather than going with Hoshi.
"Let go of the humans, Hoshi." A man's voice commanded. He stepped into the light, showing his identity.
"Otou-sama!" Hoshi cried, eyes wide. "What--?"
"I said, let go of the human, Hoshi!" Honou exclaimed.
"No! Not until Tsuki returns to the clan!" Hoshi yelled, the sword in Kenshin's throat nearing his skin. "I want her back! I want Tsuki back to the clan!"
"You cannot force me to go back, Hoshi," Kaoru responded, voice flat. "I can leave now, not caring about these humans, but I'm much more merciful and pitiful. So, I suggest that you take what Honou-jiisama told you and release them!"
Unbelievably, Hoshi complied, dropping Kenshin's unconscious form to the ground. But she suddenly run past them both, going back to the direction of the camp. But not before Kaoru heard Hoshi say those words:
"I will kill you all who betrayed the clan!"
Kaoru snarled at what she said, gazing her fast-fading form. "Honou- jiisama, check the human and Rei-chan, onegai shimasu." She said, not looking at him. Honou nodded, quickly walking towards them.
"Oi! Kenshin! Rei! Are you here?" Kaoru heard a voice call. At that moment, Sanosuke arrived at the clearing. He glanced at Rei and Kenshin's unconscious form across from him, their bodies slumped to the ground. Honou was examining them, while Kaoru stood, still watching the direction where Hoshi went.
Sano cursed under his breath, before glancing at his back. "Yahiko! Here! I found them!" After Sano's call, the young boy sauntered to his direction.
"Holy~!" Yahiko cried as he saw the damages. "What happened here?! Is Kenshin alright? What about Rei-san?"
"Don't worry, Yahiko-chan. Kenshin and Rei are strong men. They'll be fine." Sano answered. Just this once, Yahiko let the '-chan' in his name slip.
The voices faded away, as Kaoru thought of how Hoshi acted. There must be a reason why she was seething when Kaoru went out of camp. A reason why she held panick in her eyes when she saw Kaoru with the humans. A reason why...Kaoru couldn't remember...them...
/I must go back to camp!/ Kaoru resolved, her decision firm. /There is something I must do to relieve me of these problems!/ With that, she silently prowled away, leaving the others behind.
------To Be Continued-------------
Author's Notes: Ta-da! Another chap! And, guys, ending is quite near but not that near. I don't see any serious fighting yet, so that means it'll extend much longer than I expected. I want Kaoru to seriously kick Hoshi's sorry butt! I'm so into Kaoru being one very good martial artist, you know.
School is sometimes taking its toll on me so please bear with some short chaps in the near future. I can't update that fast either, ne? Only during weekends or some none school days, though I sneak to my room and open the computer without anyone knowing... 0_~
===
Chibi-angel--The tea had some powdered potion in it. Also, Hoshi already revealed that to her father in chapter 9. Hoshi, I suppose, concucted the potion from their clan's book of medicine. Herbs and plants are used, since back in the Meiji, I don't suppose there are already like modern medicine. Better hang on to that point since there is a reason WHY Kaoru studied medicinal arts...
Keep on sending me your comments, criticism or suggestions! Please leave a review for me so I can be inspired to write chaps more faster! ^^
===
--====--
Chapter 12: Something I Must Do
--====--
Hoshi sprinted fast, her sword neatly tucked to her side. Her black hair was flowing freely behind her, green eyes blazing with fire. She stopped in a nearby stream, the flow of the water raging.
"Where is she?!" Hoshi asked to herself, gritting her teeth in obvious frustration. Kaoru was nowhere to be found, and she was sure that Rei's group was near their camp. If so, Kaoru must've at least intercepted them. But why can't she find them? Where have they gone to? She released am irritated sigh, before she ran again.
Unfortunately for her, a man was delicately watching her every move. He followed where she went, hiding himself in the darkness of the forest.
--==--
[Happy.]
Yes, the red-haired man should be happy. His eyes bore guilt and pain, well- hidden behind the facade of cheerfulness.
[Joy.]
He brought her joy. She had companions, friends whom she can turn to. Someone she can depend on, trust on, hopefully, forever.
[Content.]
"Are you content, koishii?"
[Beloved.]
"Hai, anata." She answered him, snuggling herself into his warm embrace. She could feel him smile, his violet eyes looking at her face.
[Peace.]
"What about you? Are you content with yourself?" She asked. She knew that he understood what she meant.
"Yes, I am. I am at peace with myself, because of your help." He replied, kissing her forhead. "For that, koishii, I thank you."
[Love.]
She smiled, her twinkling blue eyes staring straight into his violet ones.
"You're welcome," She giggled, her nose touching his. "I love you."
This time, he smiled--a genuine one. So full of life. "Watashi mo...Kaoru- koishii." He whispered huskily, before giving her a passionate kiss.
[Eternity.]
"Kenshin..."
--==--
A loud gasp escaped from Kaoru's lips, her eyes wide. As her heart slowed to its normal pace, her body sensed someone's arms around her. Out of instinct, she pushed the body that held her aside, but only softly. The person tumbled a step backward, the light shinning on his face.
The first thing that Kaoru saw in his eyes was hurt. Deep sorrow and complete sadness sparkled in his violet eyes.
"I...I'm sorry," Kaoru whispered before she even comprehended what she had said. "I didn't mean to."
Kenshin swallowed a lump on his throat. "That's alright, Kaoru. You seem to have been a bit...restless in your sleep."
"Tell me something," Kaoru stated, looking away. "Why are you in my dreams? Why do you haunt me? Why am I thinking of you anyway?" She asked, voice rising a pitch everytime the question ended.
"Because...because..." Kenshin paused. How could he tell her? How could he say that she loved him, and that he loved her?
"Kao-chan."
Both turned to the owner of the voice. Rei stood behind them, a determined expression set on his face.
"That's Tsuki, not Kao-chan or Kaoru!" Kaoru hissed, irritation evident.
Rei sighed. "Alright, Tsuki. You must remember again what did Hoshi put in your tea. How did it taste like?"
"I have a very fague idea what Hoshi put in my tea," Kaoru said, walking towards the direction of the camp. "And I will go back to camp just to confront her about it."
"No need, Tsuki."
The trio looked up to one of the surrounding trees and found Hoshi perched on a branch, eyes a piercing green. She jumped down then started to take a step forward in their direction.
"Hoshi!" Rei shouted. "What did you do to her?!"
Hoshi mearly gave a smirk, then waved Rei out of the way. Rei was pushed back by a string force and crashed into a tree, breaking the trunk because of the heavy impact. Kenshin unsheathed his sword, eyes all golden, a growl escaping from his mouth.
"When Rei cannot even defeat me, how can you ever compare yourself to me?" Hoshi said.
"Because my will to protect outlasts the will to kill," Kenshin answered. "I won't let you harm Kaoru!"
"Go away, swordsman!" Hoshi cried, flinging him away. Kenshin immediately flew from his position and into another tree near Rei.
"Kao...ru..." He whispered, before blackness overtook him.
--==--
Kaoru could only watch while the two men who tried to at least protect her from Hoshi's clutches crash into a tree, both passing out. She glared at Hoshi, eyes all piercing blue. Her fangs faintly shown themselves.
"What do you want?!" Kaoru asked.
"You," Hoshi answered. She quickly gripped Kaoru's neck and started choking her. "I never want you to go out of camp, Tsuki!" She snarled.
"You can't make me!" Kaoru replied. "I will go out whenever I want to, and you can't stop me!" She released a burst of ki, making Hoshi release her and jump away. Kaoru glared at her hard, eyes flashing in anger.
Hoshi stared at her, having absolutely no control over her...except...
She quickly went to Kenshin's form, lifting his head by his hair. Hoshi unsheathed her sword, the blade resting closely on his throat. Kaoru's eyes widened, her ki wavering.
"No...you won't..." Kaoru whispered, voice filled with dread.
"Oh, yes, I will, Tsuki. Go back to camp with me now and I won't touch any of this people." Hoshi said icily.
"This is utter blackmail!" Kaoru shouted. "Why do you have to harm humans just to get to me?!"
"It is the only way I'll ensure the thought of you going back to camp." Hoshi replied. "I know you wouldn't want this humans to die, will you?"
Kaoru scowled, but she knew Hoshi was right. There was no way she could endanger them. /Why am I feeling so close to them?! I don't even now those humans!/ Kaoru couldn't answer right away, visibly thinking of another way to save them, rather than going with Hoshi.
"Let go of the humans, Hoshi." A man's voice commanded. He stepped into the light, showing his identity.
"Otou-sama!" Hoshi cried, eyes wide. "What--?"
"I said, let go of the human, Hoshi!" Honou exclaimed.
"No! Not until Tsuki returns to the clan!" Hoshi yelled, the sword in Kenshin's throat nearing his skin. "I want her back! I want Tsuki back to the clan!"
"You cannot force me to go back, Hoshi," Kaoru responded, voice flat. "I can leave now, not caring about these humans, but I'm much more merciful and pitiful. So, I suggest that you take what Honou-jiisama told you and release them!"
Unbelievably, Hoshi complied, dropping Kenshin's unconscious form to the ground. But she suddenly run past them both, going back to the direction of the camp. But not before Kaoru heard Hoshi say those words:
"I will kill you all who betrayed the clan!"
Kaoru snarled at what she said, gazing her fast-fading form. "Honou- jiisama, check the human and Rei-chan, onegai shimasu." She said, not looking at him. Honou nodded, quickly walking towards them.
"Oi! Kenshin! Rei! Are you here?" Kaoru heard a voice call. At that moment, Sanosuke arrived at the clearing. He glanced at Rei and Kenshin's unconscious form across from him, their bodies slumped to the ground. Honou was examining them, while Kaoru stood, still watching the direction where Hoshi went.
Sano cursed under his breath, before glancing at his back. "Yahiko! Here! I found them!" After Sano's call, the young boy sauntered to his direction.
"Holy~!" Yahiko cried as he saw the damages. "What happened here?! Is Kenshin alright? What about Rei-san?"
"Don't worry, Yahiko-chan. Kenshin and Rei are strong men. They'll be fine." Sano answered. Just this once, Yahiko let the '-chan' in his name slip.
The voices faded away, as Kaoru thought of how Hoshi acted. There must be a reason why she was seething when Kaoru went out of camp. A reason why she held panick in her eyes when she saw Kaoru with the humans. A reason why...Kaoru couldn't remember...them...
/I must go back to camp!/ Kaoru resolved, her decision firm. /There is something I must do to relieve me of these problems!/ With that, she silently prowled away, leaving the others behind.
------To Be Continued-------------