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Once Upon a time: Chapter 26
by white seraph
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Kaoru woke to a splitting headache, she had vaguely remembered what happened after someone putting a soft cloth over her mouth. She looked around; The place didn't look familiar. "Where am I?" She asked herself, not really expecting an answer.
"Where are you?" A masculine voice repeated, and then laughed. "You're at my domain, dear girl."
She turned to see the owner of the voice, and couldn't help but give an involuntary gasp. A mummified man, with skin burnt like charcoal. "who..who are you?"
He smirked smugly "You don't have to know who I am, you just have to stay here docilely, and be a good little girl."
Another woman appeared from the door. "Why it's good to see you, Lady Kaoru." She smiled evilly "It's a miracle you're still alive after the Soujiro trap." She cracked into mad laughter. Oh how good it is, to see this girl again, this girl she hated with such seething passion, this girl. Yes it was this girl who precluded her from becoming the queen. And if it weren't for Soujiro's pleas to spare the girl's life, she'd have been dead already!
"What trap?" Kaoru asked stupidly, thinking hard trying to figure out what she meant. Then, as a film of events played in her mind, knowledge dawned. "So.So you were the one who wrote the letter!" Kaoru gasped. "Why!"
"Why?!" Yumi laughed, was this a rhetorical question? "Why! Shishio-sama! She asks why!" Yumi told the man next to her.
Kaoru couldn't control her emotional burst, and fiercely charged up to Yumi and slapped her, hard on the face. "You bitch!" Kaoru shook her so hard that Yumi fell onto the floor. "I hate-" Kaoru shouted with anger, but suddenly, something pulled her back, yanking her up. But that didn't discourage her from her attacks. Instead she tore herself away from the assaulters behind and straddled on to yumi again, slapping her with all she could "How dare you!"
Yumi couldn't take the attacks anymore, and fought back, pushing Kaoru away. "Get off me you stupid whore!" Without her direct orders the people behind were smart enough to pull Kaoru away.
"Tie her up" Shishio ordered the people, "we can't tolerate such obstinate people" And before she even realized, thick ropes pulled her hands together from behind, scrapping her skin mercilessly.
Little did Kaoru know that it is because of her abduction that caused the kingdom into a chaotic mess; with the king mysteriously missing, and the nobles fighting for power, civil war and internal fights fired and churned within.
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Kenshin wandered aimlessly down the meandering streets, carrying the sleeping corpse, not bothering the attention and stares he attracted. It was all his fault that she is dead. All his fault. So what if he was Himura Kenshin. So what if he was the king. He couldn't even protect her. He closed his eyes. How long had it been since he ate? Where was he? What day of the week was it today? Nothing of that sort seemed to matter. Nothing more than the guilt and self-blame mattered to him. Nothing but Kaoru. Hopelessly clinging to the belief that one day she will pop back up alive to hear him say 'I love you' he didn't bury her. No he couldn't, for if he did, it would certify her death.
He looked around, trying to force himself back to reality, back to the phenomenal world. It was notable that everyone around looked quite miserable and despondent, as if they too, were mourning over the lifeless girl in his arms. So was this life? To fill himself with happiness, and suddenly losing it all, was the purpose of life to live through this pain? Or perhaps, there is no meaning to life? He kicked a stone that was in his way. What is the meaning of life? Happiness? But wasn't it just proven just again that no happiness can be sustained?
[A/N does it make sense? I hope not cos I'm just rambling on about nothing :D]
Suddenly he slipped over the wet mud, dropping his dear Kaoru onto the soft turf. Quickly grabbing her, as if she'd sink into the earth the moment he let go, he quite insanely started soothing her corpse, as it she had feelings, as if she would understand him, as if she was still alive.
"Baka Deshi!" A voice yelled from behind, catching a hand of people's attention down the half desolated road. "Just that the hell do you think you're doing?" The large man continued, letting his roar echo into the closing day.
As if he couldn't hear, and couldn't see, Kenshin anyone, he didn't turn to his master, but instead, he only stared at the sleeping face of Kaoru, who was as white as a sheet.
The large man was frustrated and angered upon the neglect and carelessness the lad displayed of the kingdom. Hid kingdom. "Is she your latest besot or what? Have you not even the decency to protect your country from invaders?!" He ran up to the redhead and shook him hard, trying to wake him from the dream. "Shishio and Enishi are invading the castle tonight! They've arrived at the castle already! You hear me?"
No response.
He followed Kenshin's gaze. So the woman was the source of his distraction. Very well. He drew out his sword and stabbed the dead body like a mad man, making a bloody mass out of the corpse. "Now she definitely won't jump back to life anymore, right?"
Still no response. Suddenly he caught a glimpse of silvery metallic substance hidden under the bloody wounds, with his curiosity aroused, he poked at it with his sword. This didn't seem right. No it definitely wasn't right. He plunged his sword into the body to dig out the strange threads.
But a strong grip wrapped itself around his wrist, precluding his sword from reaching the body. "Don't". Was all kenshin said, he was face low, and hidden behind the long loocks of hair, but his voice reflected all this emotions; sadness, remorse, guilt.
But the large man only pushed him aside, his curiosity still persisted. He dug the sword in, and very unexpectantly plucked out a few threads of wire. 'Oh my.' His eyes wide open at the sight of the dripping red wires, but quickly resumed back to his old self. "She's a doll, now you believe why she won't jump back alive." He turned to Kenshin, who he could tell, had snapped out from trance, and was equally shocked.
Knowledge dawned on him, as the his master finally revealed the corpse' real identity, he suddenly felt a rush of happiness and hope, a strong sense of anticipation in life. So she was alive.and he still had chance. His mind was still spinning, trying to sort all the new, unexpected news, when suddenly Hiko roared into his ears, still thinking he was in a dream.
"Look Kenshin! We're not going to waste time here looking at a dead doll alright? Shishio and Enishi have come to attack the kingdom, now one's in command, the soldiers are misinformed, the nobles have all left! WE. HAVE. TO. GO! NOW!" Kenshin felt himself yanked up and pushed.
* * * * * *
There were no vehicles around, and the two men have been running on their feet all night, in hope to reach the capital by sunrise, just in time to defend the castles. "Hey, how did you find me?" Kenshin asked out of curiosity, he hadn't seen his master and advisor for years, yet he suddenly appears out of nowhere, to save him once again.
"What?" Hiko asked, still not letting his feet rest "I think maybe because I was walking and I saw you carrying a stinking doll like a madman?" No, he had been spying on every event that happened behind the castle walls everyday, he had seen and known everything that had happened. And how could he do nothing when foreigners were attacking, and nobles were escaping? Right, he had followed kenshin from his first step out of the walls.
Kenshin dropped the subject, knowing by the sarcastic answer that his master wouldn't want to tell him the real reason "Actually, you know, I have been thinking, Kaoru.I mean the girl who was supposed to be dead, she.she was abducted, and don't you think it's a bit too unrealistic for this to be a coincidence? That she is abducted and immediately there is a foreign attack? And that the corpse is only a doll? Don't you think they just wanted to trick me out of the castle so they can attack?"
The other man only bellowed a loud laughter in response. "It took you long to figure that one out!" He paused trying to catch his breath. "Hurry, the sun is rising." He wuicked his pace, each step carrying him closer to the capital, closer to war.
A/N sorry I know that was a sucky chapter, please allow me to blame it on the fact that I want to finish this fanfic in the next few chapters.or else it will drag on and on till something like 184 chapters..:D Cheers babaies, I love you all
Once Upon a time: Chapter 26
by white seraph
**************************************************
Kaoru woke to a splitting headache, she had vaguely remembered what happened after someone putting a soft cloth over her mouth. She looked around; The place didn't look familiar. "Where am I?" She asked herself, not really expecting an answer.
"Where are you?" A masculine voice repeated, and then laughed. "You're at my domain, dear girl."
She turned to see the owner of the voice, and couldn't help but give an involuntary gasp. A mummified man, with skin burnt like charcoal. "who..who are you?"
He smirked smugly "You don't have to know who I am, you just have to stay here docilely, and be a good little girl."
Another woman appeared from the door. "Why it's good to see you, Lady Kaoru." She smiled evilly "It's a miracle you're still alive after the Soujiro trap." She cracked into mad laughter. Oh how good it is, to see this girl again, this girl she hated with such seething passion, this girl. Yes it was this girl who precluded her from becoming the queen. And if it weren't for Soujiro's pleas to spare the girl's life, she'd have been dead already!
"What trap?" Kaoru asked stupidly, thinking hard trying to figure out what she meant. Then, as a film of events played in her mind, knowledge dawned. "So.So you were the one who wrote the letter!" Kaoru gasped. "Why!"
"Why?!" Yumi laughed, was this a rhetorical question? "Why! Shishio-sama! She asks why!" Yumi told the man next to her.
Kaoru couldn't control her emotional burst, and fiercely charged up to Yumi and slapped her, hard on the face. "You bitch!" Kaoru shook her so hard that Yumi fell onto the floor. "I hate-" Kaoru shouted with anger, but suddenly, something pulled her back, yanking her up. But that didn't discourage her from her attacks. Instead she tore herself away from the assaulters behind and straddled on to yumi again, slapping her with all she could "How dare you!"
Yumi couldn't take the attacks anymore, and fought back, pushing Kaoru away. "Get off me you stupid whore!" Without her direct orders the people behind were smart enough to pull Kaoru away.
"Tie her up" Shishio ordered the people, "we can't tolerate such obstinate people" And before she even realized, thick ropes pulled her hands together from behind, scrapping her skin mercilessly.
Little did Kaoru know that it is because of her abduction that caused the kingdom into a chaotic mess; with the king mysteriously missing, and the nobles fighting for power, civil war and internal fights fired and churned within.
******************************
Kenshin wandered aimlessly down the meandering streets, carrying the sleeping corpse, not bothering the attention and stares he attracted. It was all his fault that she is dead. All his fault. So what if he was Himura Kenshin. So what if he was the king. He couldn't even protect her. He closed his eyes. How long had it been since he ate? Where was he? What day of the week was it today? Nothing of that sort seemed to matter. Nothing more than the guilt and self-blame mattered to him. Nothing but Kaoru. Hopelessly clinging to the belief that one day she will pop back up alive to hear him say 'I love you' he didn't bury her. No he couldn't, for if he did, it would certify her death.
He looked around, trying to force himself back to reality, back to the phenomenal world. It was notable that everyone around looked quite miserable and despondent, as if they too, were mourning over the lifeless girl in his arms. So was this life? To fill himself with happiness, and suddenly losing it all, was the purpose of life to live through this pain? Or perhaps, there is no meaning to life? He kicked a stone that was in his way. What is the meaning of life? Happiness? But wasn't it just proven just again that no happiness can be sustained?
[A/N does it make sense? I hope not cos I'm just rambling on about nothing :D]
Suddenly he slipped over the wet mud, dropping his dear Kaoru onto the soft turf. Quickly grabbing her, as if she'd sink into the earth the moment he let go, he quite insanely started soothing her corpse, as it she had feelings, as if she would understand him, as if she was still alive.
"Baka Deshi!" A voice yelled from behind, catching a hand of people's attention down the half desolated road. "Just that the hell do you think you're doing?" The large man continued, letting his roar echo into the closing day.
As if he couldn't hear, and couldn't see, Kenshin anyone, he didn't turn to his master, but instead, he only stared at the sleeping face of Kaoru, who was as white as a sheet.
The large man was frustrated and angered upon the neglect and carelessness the lad displayed of the kingdom. Hid kingdom. "Is she your latest besot or what? Have you not even the decency to protect your country from invaders?!" He ran up to the redhead and shook him hard, trying to wake him from the dream. "Shishio and Enishi are invading the castle tonight! They've arrived at the castle already! You hear me?"
No response.
He followed Kenshin's gaze. So the woman was the source of his distraction. Very well. He drew out his sword and stabbed the dead body like a mad man, making a bloody mass out of the corpse. "Now she definitely won't jump back to life anymore, right?"
Still no response. Suddenly he caught a glimpse of silvery metallic substance hidden under the bloody wounds, with his curiosity aroused, he poked at it with his sword. This didn't seem right. No it definitely wasn't right. He plunged his sword into the body to dig out the strange threads.
But a strong grip wrapped itself around his wrist, precluding his sword from reaching the body. "Don't". Was all kenshin said, he was face low, and hidden behind the long loocks of hair, but his voice reflected all this emotions; sadness, remorse, guilt.
But the large man only pushed him aside, his curiosity still persisted. He dug the sword in, and very unexpectantly plucked out a few threads of wire. 'Oh my.' His eyes wide open at the sight of the dripping red wires, but quickly resumed back to his old self. "She's a doll, now you believe why she won't jump back alive." He turned to Kenshin, who he could tell, had snapped out from trance, and was equally shocked.
Knowledge dawned on him, as the his master finally revealed the corpse' real identity, he suddenly felt a rush of happiness and hope, a strong sense of anticipation in life. So she was alive.and he still had chance. His mind was still spinning, trying to sort all the new, unexpected news, when suddenly Hiko roared into his ears, still thinking he was in a dream.
"Look Kenshin! We're not going to waste time here looking at a dead doll alright? Shishio and Enishi have come to attack the kingdom, now one's in command, the soldiers are misinformed, the nobles have all left! WE. HAVE. TO. GO! NOW!" Kenshin felt himself yanked up and pushed.
* * * * * *
There were no vehicles around, and the two men have been running on their feet all night, in hope to reach the capital by sunrise, just in time to defend the castles. "Hey, how did you find me?" Kenshin asked out of curiosity, he hadn't seen his master and advisor for years, yet he suddenly appears out of nowhere, to save him once again.
"What?" Hiko asked, still not letting his feet rest "I think maybe because I was walking and I saw you carrying a stinking doll like a madman?" No, he had been spying on every event that happened behind the castle walls everyday, he had seen and known everything that had happened. And how could he do nothing when foreigners were attacking, and nobles were escaping? Right, he had followed kenshin from his first step out of the walls.
Kenshin dropped the subject, knowing by the sarcastic answer that his master wouldn't want to tell him the real reason "Actually, you know, I have been thinking, Kaoru.I mean the girl who was supposed to be dead, she.she was abducted, and don't you think it's a bit too unrealistic for this to be a coincidence? That she is abducted and immediately there is a foreign attack? And that the corpse is only a doll? Don't you think they just wanted to trick me out of the castle so they can attack?"
The other man only bellowed a loud laughter in response. "It took you long to figure that one out!" He paused trying to catch his breath. "Hurry, the sun is rising." He wuicked his pace, each step carrying him closer to the capital, closer to war.
A/N sorry I know that was a sucky chapter, please allow me to blame it on the fact that I want to finish this fanfic in the next few chapters.or else it will drag on and on till something like 184 chapters..:D Cheers babaies, I love you all