Hi Hi
I would like to apologize up front that this chapter is short. I hope that you like this chapter. ^.^
Echoe Shayne
The Battousai stood there his eyes trained on the prone bloody figure that lay on the ground not that far from his feet. Shifting his gaze he looked a the sword that he held in his hand and the ruby blood that ran of it's tip, for a few seconds before turning his full attention back to the girl that lay there on the ground forgotten by everyone in the world at this moment save for him.
With a flick of his wrist the air was momentary filled with crimson droplets as he rid the sword of her blood. They seamed to hang in the air forever in front of him or maybe time had stopped that was what it felt like at least to him. His katana still held out from his body he took a step forward.
The sun that had been rising began to filer in through the cover of the trees lighting the fallen angel that lay on the ground a misted the scattered leaves, and twigs that covered the forest floor. Her own blood was pouring out around her. The puddle that she rested in only getting bigger by the second.
'how could I have done something like this?' he thought taking yet another step closer to the woman before stopping again. Her ebony hair was spread out around her in a cloud held behind her by a deep purple ribbon. The dark gi that she had been wearing was torn in several places. His attention was drawn her hand that was still loosely gripping the Katana.
Slipping the sword back into it's sheath he crouched next to the body. His eyes shift from her to his own hands that were splattered with blood. How could he have done it? Reaching out he clasped his hand around her cold fingers tightening the grip that she had around the hilt of her sword. His hands still lingering there his eyes shifted back to her face.
Not able to look any more he bowed his head.
______________-
The people had left. The house was now just a burnt out skeleton covered in smoldering ashes. Falling to her knees she looked around her. Kaoru. Had her friend been able to get in the house? Had Kaoru even been in the house to begin with? She didn't know her mind was too confused from the night's actions to think clearly. If Kaoru hadn't been in the house then she would have been here right now wouldn't she? She would have came as soon as she saw the blaze. Because as big at the fire had been surly she would have seen it from anywhere in the city. The fact that she wasn't here could only mean. With her hands digging threw the soldering piles of debris, tears coursed down her cheeks. 'Dr Genzi' she would be there she would be with Him wouldn't she? Rising to her feet she took off running in the direction of the clinic. Maybe something was wrong with her arm that could be the reason that she had never came. No something like that would never be able to keep her away.
Stepping into the front room she looked around her.
"Dr Genzi?" she called out making her way deep into the house. The place was slilent there was no rustling with the sounds of people getting up there was no friendly call back to tell her where they were. Making her way to the back she saw heard the sliding door behind her open spinning around she a figure standing there outlined by the orange light. She had seen this before and it affected her just as much as it had the first time. He took another step forward and Kaoru shook like a rag doll in his arms and she knew that some was terribly wrong. 'No' her mind muttered before her knees gave away and she sank to the ground. With teary eyes she glared up at the man since she had seen him he had only brought them trouble. It was all his fault, that's what she wanted to tell herself but something told her that he wasn't entirely to blame. As much as she wanted to believe that it was true something in her would allow it.
He stood there glaring down at the pathetic woman. Nothing, her crying face meant nothing to him. He could feel nothing, it was like he was dead inside and he knew that he was.
______________-
"Mommy." Suzume said looking at her mother who was laying there next her. Her sister was breathing normally. "Grandpa.." her voice trailed off as she spoke and tears sprang to her eyes.
With thoughts of her father tears sprang to her own eyes. She wanted to see her father or at least see where the woman had buried him. How she hated her how she hated Kaoru she had been pushed away because of her. She was never good enough. No matter what she did she was always second best to that woman. What was so special about her anyway. Why did she always get pushed aside? It was her fault Kaoru's fault.
"Mommy." She never saw her mother cry her mother was always strong. Leaning over she wrapped her arms as best she could around her mothers shoulders. "It's alright."
"I'm so sorry you shouldn't have to see me like this." She hated it to know that she had a breakdown in front of her daughters. But now that the tears had started she couldn't stop them. Reaching out she took the small girl into her arms holding her close. "Why couldn't he love me? I'm his real daughter." her throat closed for a second and she had trouble getting it out. "Not her she was nothing, is nothing. Why do I feel such."
Suzume looked from her still stained hands to her mother. She didn't like seeing her mother cry she didn't want to see anyone cry she had, had enough of it. Still she pulled herself closer to her mother before drawing back so she could see her down cast face.
"Pain is a burden that we all must bear." She said remembering what Kenshin had told her the night before. They were words that she could never forget they were burned into her mind.
Meyame's head snapping up she looked at her youngest daughter. Her eyes were different like they had lost some of their sparkle but she knew the truth her daughter had lost her innocence. It had been ripped away from her it had been ripped away from them both. No matter what she did she would never be able to give it back to them. Here she was worried about her self and look at her daughters. With the realization her heart sank how could she be so cold? What kind of mother was she? 'Pain is a burden that we all must bear' her daughters words ran over and over in her mind. Only serving to make her feel worse "I will be strong for you." She said wiping at her face as she looked down at her daughter.
"It's ok to cry, because right now I'm here for you."
"No, I should be the one that's here for you. You're still a child you shouldn't have to take care of me."
"But I will because you're my mother." Though she tried to hold them back tears were pouring down her cheeks. Then she was lost as her mother pulled her closer to her resting her head against her heart. It was calming and soothing. Her hands came up to try and wipe the tears away but more fell in their place.
"You go ahead and cry as much as you want to. I'll be here. Stay my little girl for just a while longer."
"I want to see my grandpa." Her voice came out in little more then a whimper "Did you have to be so mean to Kaoru niichan?" Suzume asked between hiccups.
"Why do you call her that?"
"Because she is my niichan. We were the only family that she had. and now she is alone."
___________-the next day -__________
It was early morning when they arrived at the clinic they had come early so as no to run into Kaoru. Meyame wasn't ready to see her yet she didn't think that she would ever be ready to see her. But that woman wasn't going to stop her from bringing flowers to her father grave. Suzume was walking next to her while Ayame was cradled in her arms. She had tried to get them to wait at least another day, so that Ayame could get more rest but they wouldn't hear anything of it so they were. Rounding the corner to the back of the clinic were she knew he father would be buried There was a woman crouched there but it wasn't Kaoru. Meyame recognized her from the Akabeko, that was all that she knew. It appeared that her daughters knew the woman's name for they called out to her.
Tae was crouched on the ground she had finished her task some time ago but she couldn't move her legs wouldn't allow her to stand. Her hands were gripped in the lose dirt that was beneath her. Closing her eyes she heard someone call out to her. Turning slowly she looked at the two little girls and their mother through the stray hair that had fallen over her eyes.
Meyame was taken by the look on the woman's face. Such sorrow, it hung in the air around them, thick and suffocating. Her face was dirty and her hair was disheveled some of it hanging down half obscuring her face. But it did nothing to hide the pain that lingered on her features. She didn't look at them long, if she had even been seeing them with her vacant stare.
It was clear that it was this woman that had dug her father's grave. The thought angered her why hadn't Kaoru done it? Why had she left it up to some...some stranger. She didn't like Kaoru but at least then she would have known that her father was put to rest by someone that loved him. She could deny many things and she didn't like Kaoru, but Kaoru loved her father like he was her own. Her free hand clenched into a fist around the stems of the flowers, the feel of her nails biting it to her palm keeping her from flying into a rage.
Taking a step forward her hand fell slack as she looked at her fathers grave. There was a second smaller mound next to his, a charred sign resting on top of it. Taking a step closer she was able to make out the almost unreadable words that graced the sign and she knew why Kaoru had not been the one to dig their father's gave. 'Kamiya dojo'.
Her heart broke. She hated her. She hated Kamiya Kaoru so why did she feel like this? Sinking to her knees next to the woman that her daughters had called Tae their sorrow mingled.
Ayame felt a wrenching in her chest as she looked from the grave that she knew was her grandfathers to the one that was Kaoru's. She hadn't been able to save her grandfather. Pulling away from her mother she took a few steps moving to stand between the two graves before sinking to the ground herself, with her face buried in her hands in attempt to hold back her tears. "How.. I couldn't save them I couldn't do anything." Her dropping on of her hands from her face she looked at the ground her hand moving to rest against the cut that she knew was there. "This was for nothing.. everything was for nothing."
Suzume looked from her mother to her sister. After a moments of hesitation she made her way to her sister standing behind her. "It wasn't for nothing."
"Yes it was what good was I? Grandpa died.. how Kaoru niichan."
"I think that she got hurt." She never said anything she took care of me. She took care of me. "She killed him." The little girl said unaware that the two women behind her were also looking at her. "The man that did this to grandpa she killed him, Kaoru killed him."
Tae looked at the little girls there was something different about them. They were more grown up then the last time that she had seen them. It was hard to think that it had only been yesterday that she had seen their happy faces as they laughed and played in their grandfather's house. 'she killed him, Kaoru killed him' had she? A image of Kaoru's dead eyes flashed though her mind and she was speaking before she could stop herself. "How do you know that?" the words left her in a strangled cry. Kaoru couldn't have. She didn't want to think that her friend was capable of something like that. Even though she had seen so much she didn't want to accept it.
Suzume heard the voice behind her but she didn't turn rather she met her sisters eyes who had turn her head to look up from her crouched position. "I saw him."
"Did it help?" she had to know all this pain that hung around her heart she was a little jealous of her sister at that moment. Though she didn't get the reaction that she thought that she would her sister just stood there shaking her head.
"It didn't help though I couldn't let go.but I'll never be able to let go."
"Me neither." Looking away she looked at the two graves and her sister knelt next to her head bowed.
Kaoru had killed him. The man that had done this to her family. The ach in her heart got worse as she looked at her daughters then down to Flowers that she held in her hand. Dividing them in two she stood. Moving to her fathers grave she placed half of the white flowers there looking at them a few minutes before holding what flowers were in her hand out to her daughters.
"Why don't you put these on my sister's grave."
Standing there she watched as the two girls placed the flowers on Kaoru's grave. An odd sense of peace that she had never felt before washed over her and she knew that her father was smiling down on her.
That's all for now ^.^ there will be more.
Kitsune Kenshin- I updated it may not have been as soon as you wanted but I got something up. Thanks for reviewing.
Alex- I will. Me write a lemon I blush when write a kissing scene ^.^
Shiningcrystal- ^.^
PsychoSushi- you are just great and wonderful and I can't say how much I apreachiate your comments. Thanks for reviewing I hope to hear from you again. And I hope that this chapter was more to you like it was shorter then most of my chapters sorry about that.
I would like to apologize up front that this chapter is short. I hope that you like this chapter. ^.^
Echoe Shayne
The Battousai stood there his eyes trained on the prone bloody figure that lay on the ground not that far from his feet. Shifting his gaze he looked a the sword that he held in his hand and the ruby blood that ran of it's tip, for a few seconds before turning his full attention back to the girl that lay there on the ground forgotten by everyone in the world at this moment save for him.
With a flick of his wrist the air was momentary filled with crimson droplets as he rid the sword of her blood. They seamed to hang in the air forever in front of him or maybe time had stopped that was what it felt like at least to him. His katana still held out from his body he took a step forward.
The sun that had been rising began to filer in through the cover of the trees lighting the fallen angel that lay on the ground a misted the scattered leaves, and twigs that covered the forest floor. Her own blood was pouring out around her. The puddle that she rested in only getting bigger by the second.
'how could I have done something like this?' he thought taking yet another step closer to the woman before stopping again. Her ebony hair was spread out around her in a cloud held behind her by a deep purple ribbon. The dark gi that she had been wearing was torn in several places. His attention was drawn her hand that was still loosely gripping the Katana.
Slipping the sword back into it's sheath he crouched next to the body. His eyes shift from her to his own hands that were splattered with blood. How could he have done it? Reaching out he clasped his hand around her cold fingers tightening the grip that she had around the hilt of her sword. His hands still lingering there his eyes shifted back to her face.
Not able to look any more he bowed his head.
______________-
The people had left. The house was now just a burnt out skeleton covered in smoldering ashes. Falling to her knees she looked around her. Kaoru. Had her friend been able to get in the house? Had Kaoru even been in the house to begin with? She didn't know her mind was too confused from the night's actions to think clearly. If Kaoru hadn't been in the house then she would have been here right now wouldn't she? She would have came as soon as she saw the blaze. Because as big at the fire had been surly she would have seen it from anywhere in the city. The fact that she wasn't here could only mean. With her hands digging threw the soldering piles of debris, tears coursed down her cheeks. 'Dr Genzi' she would be there she would be with Him wouldn't she? Rising to her feet she took off running in the direction of the clinic. Maybe something was wrong with her arm that could be the reason that she had never came. No something like that would never be able to keep her away.
Stepping into the front room she looked around her.
"Dr Genzi?" she called out making her way deep into the house. The place was slilent there was no rustling with the sounds of people getting up there was no friendly call back to tell her where they were. Making her way to the back she saw heard the sliding door behind her open spinning around she a figure standing there outlined by the orange light. She had seen this before and it affected her just as much as it had the first time. He took another step forward and Kaoru shook like a rag doll in his arms and she knew that some was terribly wrong. 'No' her mind muttered before her knees gave away and she sank to the ground. With teary eyes she glared up at the man since she had seen him he had only brought them trouble. It was all his fault, that's what she wanted to tell herself but something told her that he wasn't entirely to blame. As much as she wanted to believe that it was true something in her would allow it.
He stood there glaring down at the pathetic woman. Nothing, her crying face meant nothing to him. He could feel nothing, it was like he was dead inside and he knew that he was.
______________-
"Mommy." Suzume said looking at her mother who was laying there next her. Her sister was breathing normally. "Grandpa.." her voice trailed off as she spoke and tears sprang to her eyes.
With thoughts of her father tears sprang to her own eyes. She wanted to see her father or at least see where the woman had buried him. How she hated her how she hated Kaoru she had been pushed away because of her. She was never good enough. No matter what she did she was always second best to that woman. What was so special about her anyway. Why did she always get pushed aside? It was her fault Kaoru's fault.
"Mommy." She never saw her mother cry her mother was always strong. Leaning over she wrapped her arms as best she could around her mothers shoulders. "It's alright."
"I'm so sorry you shouldn't have to see me like this." She hated it to know that she had a breakdown in front of her daughters. But now that the tears had started she couldn't stop them. Reaching out she took the small girl into her arms holding her close. "Why couldn't he love me? I'm his real daughter." her throat closed for a second and she had trouble getting it out. "Not her she was nothing, is nothing. Why do I feel such."
Suzume looked from her still stained hands to her mother. She didn't like seeing her mother cry she didn't want to see anyone cry she had, had enough of it. Still she pulled herself closer to her mother before drawing back so she could see her down cast face.
"Pain is a burden that we all must bear." She said remembering what Kenshin had told her the night before. They were words that she could never forget they were burned into her mind.
Meyame's head snapping up she looked at her youngest daughter. Her eyes were different like they had lost some of their sparkle but she knew the truth her daughter had lost her innocence. It had been ripped away from her it had been ripped away from them both. No matter what she did she would never be able to give it back to them. Here she was worried about her self and look at her daughters. With the realization her heart sank how could she be so cold? What kind of mother was she? 'Pain is a burden that we all must bear' her daughters words ran over and over in her mind. Only serving to make her feel worse "I will be strong for you." She said wiping at her face as she looked down at her daughter.
"It's ok to cry, because right now I'm here for you."
"No, I should be the one that's here for you. You're still a child you shouldn't have to take care of me."
"But I will because you're my mother." Though she tried to hold them back tears were pouring down her cheeks. Then she was lost as her mother pulled her closer to her resting her head against her heart. It was calming and soothing. Her hands came up to try and wipe the tears away but more fell in their place.
"You go ahead and cry as much as you want to. I'll be here. Stay my little girl for just a while longer."
"I want to see my grandpa." Her voice came out in little more then a whimper "Did you have to be so mean to Kaoru niichan?" Suzume asked between hiccups.
"Why do you call her that?"
"Because she is my niichan. We were the only family that she had. and now she is alone."
___________-the next day -__________
It was early morning when they arrived at the clinic they had come early so as no to run into Kaoru. Meyame wasn't ready to see her yet she didn't think that she would ever be ready to see her. But that woman wasn't going to stop her from bringing flowers to her father grave. Suzume was walking next to her while Ayame was cradled in her arms. She had tried to get them to wait at least another day, so that Ayame could get more rest but they wouldn't hear anything of it so they were. Rounding the corner to the back of the clinic were she knew he father would be buried There was a woman crouched there but it wasn't Kaoru. Meyame recognized her from the Akabeko, that was all that she knew. It appeared that her daughters knew the woman's name for they called out to her.
Tae was crouched on the ground she had finished her task some time ago but she couldn't move her legs wouldn't allow her to stand. Her hands were gripped in the lose dirt that was beneath her. Closing her eyes she heard someone call out to her. Turning slowly she looked at the two little girls and their mother through the stray hair that had fallen over her eyes.
Meyame was taken by the look on the woman's face. Such sorrow, it hung in the air around them, thick and suffocating. Her face was dirty and her hair was disheveled some of it hanging down half obscuring her face. But it did nothing to hide the pain that lingered on her features. She didn't look at them long, if she had even been seeing them with her vacant stare.
It was clear that it was this woman that had dug her father's grave. The thought angered her why hadn't Kaoru done it? Why had she left it up to some...some stranger. She didn't like Kaoru but at least then she would have known that her father was put to rest by someone that loved him. She could deny many things and she didn't like Kaoru, but Kaoru loved her father like he was her own. Her free hand clenched into a fist around the stems of the flowers, the feel of her nails biting it to her palm keeping her from flying into a rage.
Taking a step forward her hand fell slack as she looked at her fathers grave. There was a second smaller mound next to his, a charred sign resting on top of it. Taking a step closer she was able to make out the almost unreadable words that graced the sign and she knew why Kaoru had not been the one to dig their father's gave. 'Kamiya dojo'.
Her heart broke. She hated her. She hated Kamiya Kaoru so why did she feel like this? Sinking to her knees next to the woman that her daughters had called Tae their sorrow mingled.
Ayame felt a wrenching in her chest as she looked from the grave that she knew was her grandfathers to the one that was Kaoru's. She hadn't been able to save her grandfather. Pulling away from her mother she took a few steps moving to stand between the two graves before sinking to the ground herself, with her face buried in her hands in attempt to hold back her tears. "How.. I couldn't save them I couldn't do anything." Her dropping on of her hands from her face she looked at the ground her hand moving to rest against the cut that she knew was there. "This was for nothing.. everything was for nothing."
Suzume looked from her mother to her sister. After a moments of hesitation she made her way to her sister standing behind her. "It wasn't for nothing."
"Yes it was what good was I? Grandpa died.. how Kaoru niichan."
"I think that she got hurt." She never said anything she took care of me. She took care of me. "She killed him." The little girl said unaware that the two women behind her were also looking at her. "The man that did this to grandpa she killed him, Kaoru killed him."
Tae looked at the little girls there was something different about them. They were more grown up then the last time that she had seen them. It was hard to think that it had only been yesterday that she had seen their happy faces as they laughed and played in their grandfather's house. 'she killed him, Kaoru killed him' had she? A image of Kaoru's dead eyes flashed though her mind and she was speaking before she could stop herself. "How do you know that?" the words left her in a strangled cry. Kaoru couldn't have. She didn't want to think that her friend was capable of something like that. Even though she had seen so much she didn't want to accept it.
Suzume heard the voice behind her but she didn't turn rather she met her sisters eyes who had turn her head to look up from her crouched position. "I saw him."
"Did it help?" she had to know all this pain that hung around her heart she was a little jealous of her sister at that moment. Though she didn't get the reaction that she thought that she would her sister just stood there shaking her head.
"It didn't help though I couldn't let go.but I'll never be able to let go."
"Me neither." Looking away she looked at the two graves and her sister knelt next to her head bowed.
Kaoru had killed him. The man that had done this to her family. The ach in her heart got worse as she looked at her daughters then down to Flowers that she held in her hand. Dividing them in two she stood. Moving to her fathers grave she placed half of the white flowers there looking at them a few minutes before holding what flowers were in her hand out to her daughters.
"Why don't you put these on my sister's grave."
Standing there she watched as the two girls placed the flowers on Kaoru's grave. An odd sense of peace that she had never felt before washed over her and she knew that her father was smiling down on her.
That's all for now ^.^ there will be more.
Kitsune Kenshin- I updated it may not have been as soon as you wanted but I got something up. Thanks for reviewing.
Alex- I will. Me write a lemon I blush when write a kissing scene ^.^
Shiningcrystal- ^.^
PsychoSushi- you are just great and wonderful and I can't say how much I apreachiate your comments. Thanks for reviewing I hope to hear from you again. And I hope that this chapter was more to you like it was shorter then most of my chapters sorry about that.