Title: Innocence and Blood
Chapter 2 – Blood
Series: Rurouni Kenshin
Rated: PG13
Summary: The world is soon to collapse under a war to which no one has ever seen before. Kenshin has fallen into a coma, and the only thing that can save Earth now is innocence and blood.
- - - - -
"Where.. where am I?" For the longest time Kenshin seemed tossed in darkness, silence his only companion, his words choked as his mind was lost. Now, however, from the darkness a bright light shone, and soon the tired rurouni found himself in a forest clearing. The sun shone bright, blinding him momentarily until finally his eyes became more focused.
His last question left unanswered, Kenshin stood slowly to his feet, confusion rising to his dizzy head. He had no idea where he was, or why he was alone. It was almost like a dream, and for a moment he thought it was until a voice caught his attention.
"Hello Battousai!"
Kenshin's eyes narrowed as he looked behind his shoulder where he was sure the voice had called to him. "I no longer go by such a name," he stated, his voice low and warning.
"But you will." The voice came now from another direction, in front of Kenshin where he immediately shot his head. The voice was so innocent, so pure. Almost like that of a child's. He began to wonder if this really was all a dream.
"Who are you?" Kenshin called, his voice echoing off the tree's, causing birds to take flight into the air. Gazing up, Kenshin watched the birds in astonishment. Their wings were like light itself, silhouetted off the bright sun hovering it the sky. They were almost like clouds, their song much like that of the voice Kenshin heard through the wind. It was a song.. a song.. They seemed to speak in another tongue, though their song was beautiful none the less. It seemed to calm the rurouni, the sweet melody calming him and entrapping him in their wonders. Though he couldn't understand what it was they were singing, three words stuck out clear. "Innocence and blood."
"They are angels Battousai, but pay them no mind."
Kenshin turned, hesitantly away from the harmonious song, where his eyes finally fell upon a little girl. She was very small, and though her outward appearances made her seem no older than a seven year old, her eyes bore down the truth of her age. Past lives of those who walked the Earth when it was young, she seemed to be the very birth of heaven. And yet..
"You are confused, I can see. But I have brought you here for a reason."
"Where is here?" Kenshin asked, his own words echoing off the tree's, much unlike that of the child's.
"Here is where you have always been. Where have always been able to go, and what you use daily."
"I am afraid I do not understand.." Kenshin stated.
"Exactly," stated the girl, a small smile creeping on her lips as though it was the reaction she were expecting; as if, in some way, he had pleased her. Her smile soon faded away however, and her eyes locked cold to his own. "There is a war coming. The Battousai shall rise again."
"I will not," Kenshin stated, his face becoming serious. "I will no longer be such a man."
Instead of debating with the determined rurouni, however, the girl continued as if he hadn't said anything at all. "In this war creatures like man has never known will rise up from Hell itself. They wish no gold, and they wish no government. They have no desire for religion or shoes or the finest of woven silk. They only dark desire. To kill. To feed. And to multiply. They are monsters who are driven by blood lust alone, their souls tainted with the blackness of their hearts. This war will not be fought for a better life for others, but for life itself."
"And you wish for me to help fight?" Kenshin inquired.
"You will fight," the girl continued on as if he hadn't even spoken. "The Hiten Mitzurugi Ryu will have no place in this battle, and will have no use. You are about to learn a style that that of man has been banned to ever use. You will listen to me, and question me you will not."
"And I will fight to preserve mankind?" Kenshin asked.
The girl paused. Whether it was because she was debating on the question or just ignoring him he could not tell. Finally, however, she answered. "No one can fight to preserve mankind. Fights bring death and nothing more." She stepped up closer to Kenshin, and slowly held out her hand. "Shall we begin, Battousai?"
Kenshin closed his eyes, and exhaled a deep breath. For a moment, he was silent until finally his eyes snapped open, his gaze that of determination. "To save those that I love and those whose hearts still beat on Earth.. I will do as you say." And with that he placed his hand in the child's.
"Your destiny is forged, your true path has just begun." The child said, her voice low. "May blood calm the storms.. your training will now begin."
END CHAPTER 2
Chapter 2 – Blood
Series: Rurouni Kenshin
Rated: PG13
Summary: The world is soon to collapse under a war to which no one has ever seen before. Kenshin has fallen into a coma, and the only thing that can save Earth now is innocence and blood.
- - - - -
"Where.. where am I?" For the longest time Kenshin seemed tossed in darkness, silence his only companion, his words choked as his mind was lost. Now, however, from the darkness a bright light shone, and soon the tired rurouni found himself in a forest clearing. The sun shone bright, blinding him momentarily until finally his eyes became more focused.
His last question left unanswered, Kenshin stood slowly to his feet, confusion rising to his dizzy head. He had no idea where he was, or why he was alone. It was almost like a dream, and for a moment he thought it was until a voice caught his attention.
"Hello Battousai!"
Kenshin's eyes narrowed as he looked behind his shoulder where he was sure the voice had called to him. "I no longer go by such a name," he stated, his voice low and warning.
"But you will." The voice came now from another direction, in front of Kenshin where he immediately shot his head. The voice was so innocent, so pure. Almost like that of a child's. He began to wonder if this really was all a dream.
"Who are you?" Kenshin called, his voice echoing off the tree's, causing birds to take flight into the air. Gazing up, Kenshin watched the birds in astonishment. Their wings were like light itself, silhouetted off the bright sun hovering it the sky. They were almost like clouds, their song much like that of the voice Kenshin heard through the wind. It was a song.. a song.. They seemed to speak in another tongue, though their song was beautiful none the less. It seemed to calm the rurouni, the sweet melody calming him and entrapping him in their wonders. Though he couldn't understand what it was they were singing, three words stuck out clear. "Innocence and blood."
"They are angels Battousai, but pay them no mind."
Kenshin turned, hesitantly away from the harmonious song, where his eyes finally fell upon a little girl. She was very small, and though her outward appearances made her seem no older than a seven year old, her eyes bore down the truth of her age. Past lives of those who walked the Earth when it was young, she seemed to be the very birth of heaven. And yet..
"You are confused, I can see. But I have brought you here for a reason."
"Where is here?" Kenshin asked, his own words echoing off the tree's, much unlike that of the child's.
"Here is where you have always been. Where have always been able to go, and what you use daily."
"I am afraid I do not understand.." Kenshin stated.
"Exactly," stated the girl, a small smile creeping on her lips as though it was the reaction she were expecting; as if, in some way, he had pleased her. Her smile soon faded away however, and her eyes locked cold to his own. "There is a war coming. The Battousai shall rise again."
"I will not," Kenshin stated, his face becoming serious. "I will no longer be such a man."
Instead of debating with the determined rurouni, however, the girl continued as if he hadn't said anything at all. "In this war creatures like man has never known will rise up from Hell itself. They wish no gold, and they wish no government. They have no desire for religion or shoes or the finest of woven silk. They only dark desire. To kill. To feed. And to multiply. They are monsters who are driven by blood lust alone, their souls tainted with the blackness of their hearts. This war will not be fought for a better life for others, but for life itself."
"And you wish for me to help fight?" Kenshin inquired.
"You will fight," the girl continued on as if he hadn't even spoken. "The Hiten Mitzurugi Ryu will have no place in this battle, and will have no use. You are about to learn a style that that of man has been banned to ever use. You will listen to me, and question me you will not."
"And I will fight to preserve mankind?" Kenshin asked.
The girl paused. Whether it was because she was debating on the question or just ignoring him he could not tell. Finally, however, she answered. "No one can fight to preserve mankind. Fights bring death and nothing more." She stepped up closer to Kenshin, and slowly held out her hand. "Shall we begin, Battousai?"
Kenshin closed his eyes, and exhaled a deep breath. For a moment, he was silent until finally his eyes snapped open, his gaze that of determination. "To save those that I love and those whose hearts still beat on Earth.. I will do as you say." And with that he placed his hand in the child's.
"Your destiny is forged, your true path has just begun." The child said, her voice low. "May blood calm the storms.. your training will now begin."
END CHAPTER 2