Title: Dance of Fireflies
Author: Third_ReInCaRnAtIoN
Disclaimer: Heh,Heh,Heh. I had a debate over this with my friend. If we changed our name to the owner of Rurouni Kenshin's maker, does that mean we can claim it as our own? My name, last time I checked is still the same so I guess I still cannot claim the characters as my own. If I did, I would also stop Kenshin from dying in Kaoru's arms. Am I the only one who has a PROBLEM WITH THAT!!!!!?
Summary: Sometimes we sacrifice ourselves for the ones we love, even if they don't remember us afterwards. Battousai/Kaoru

Chapter 1:

Kaze o oikakete hashiru
kimi no senaka nani o
sagashimotometeru no?
itsumo hitamuki na sono
hitomi miteru dake de
mune ga KYUN to atsuku naru yo

Run with the wind that
blows at your back
What is the wish you're seeking?
Always facing you, I only have to look in your eyes:
In my chest, my heart pounds with heat

- Tange, Sakura

Kaoru tossed and turned in her sleep. Her dreams of unholy horrors danced before her eyes. Images of torn flesh, glaring amber eyes and heart pounding fear made her spine tingle and her heart palputated in her chest. She'd never dreamt like this before. Never had her nightmares been so violent and utterly terrifying. It was the flashing eyes that scared her the most, those eyes that seemed uncanily like Kenshin's, but with a darker, shadowed look. Almost as if they'd known every kind of betrayal and sadness.

A shudder passed through her body as she wrenched herself from her sleep. Opening her eyes she felt a strange kind of disorientation. Like perhaps she didn't belong here. She pushed it away angrily. 'Why would you feel as if you didn't belong in your own dojo, baka' she thought angrily to herself. Angrily she wiped the bluriness from her eyes.

Someone wrapped on the outside of her bedroom door. "Miss, are you awake?" Kaoru sat stilled. The voice was that of a female and no one she knew would ever address her as a 'Miss' in any shape of the word. But it had sounded so familiar. "Who is there?" She asked cautiously. The lessons her father taught her started to kick in.
'Papa said that the first rule was to never let the enemy see fear or confusion, for that is where they will first strike' A pause followed Kaoru's words. Then the gentle voice continued. "Forgive me Miss, you must be confused. We found you this morning lying infront of the dojo gates, you seemed to have passed out. My husband said that we should let you rest here until you are well." Kaoru's eyes widened.

She'd suddenly remembered where she'd heard that polite female voice before. "Mama" she whispered to herself. She shook her head. 'How could it be possible?' she thought. 'Don't be foolish Kaoru. It's probably Tae playing with you and she's come to give you some food because Yahiko's been complaining down at the Akebeko about your cooking' But no matter how she tried to dismiss the thought that her Mother was standing opposite the shoji door, it kept coming back to haunt her. Finally Kaoru came to a conclusion. "You may come in" she said firmly. The only way to stop the riddiculous thoughts running through her head was to kill them with the simple truth that her Mother had been dead for many years and was no coming back.

The shoji door slid open and was snapped shut again by the lady that had walked in. As she turned Kaoru gave a startled gasp. The woman that stood before her was roughly the age of 23 with long black hair, it framed her porcelin face and fell to her waist. Kaoru's eyes then roamed over the woman's face. The shape of the face itself was an oval. The lady's eyes were a startling honey brown that glinted blue in the wispy rays of sunlight that shone through the curtained window. Kaoru's heart ceased movement and for a second she was sure that she'd died in her sleep somehow and gone to heaven.

That thought faded however when the lady tripped over her kimono and fell forward landing in Kaoru's lap. She smiled sheepishly, and jumped back blushing horrendously. "I'm s-so sorry Miss! I'm very clumsy you see, I-I, well, I'm the wife of a Sword Master and I have no co-oridination. The only thing he's asked me to do for him is cook, I'm afraid that I'm not much good for anything else." Kaoru smiled and ignored the pain in her leg on which her mother had landed. She was sure of it now. This lady was her mother. The way that she'd been so clumsy and her facial features alone were enough to confirm it. Add to the that the fact that Kaoru recognised her voice and she knew she was more than possitive.

"Oh, that's okay....what is your name?" Kaoru asked politley. She knew that she couldn't just blurt out 'Hey look at me, did you know I'm your daughter and I'm somehow stuck here, where I seem to be reliving the past and I don't know why!'. Kaoru was pretty positive that saying that would be the fastest way to be slammed into a cell with doctors visiting her everyday. "My name is Kamiya Rukea." Rukea bowed and nodded. "And what is your name Miss?" Kaoru smiled. "My name is......" she paused.

'I can't possibly tell her my real name! She'll think I'm insane!' Kaoru scratched her head.Then she said the first thing that came to her mind. "My name is...Himura! Ahem, I mean, My name is Himura, Kaoru" Rukea laughed. "You have such a beautiful name!" Kaoru blushed. It was one thing to use Kenshin's last name, but it was another to have someone tell you that your name sounded beautiful that way.

Rukea kneeled down by the foot of Kaoru's bed. "So Miss Himura, are you feeling better now?" Kaoru remembered that earlier Rukea'd told her how she'd been found outside the dojo gates. "I'm better now thank you." she replied. Rukea nodded. "What happened to you Miss Himura?" Kaoru waved her hand. "Please call me Kaoru." Rukea smiled cheerfully. Then she frowned. "You were not come apon by a hitokiri were you? That must've been so dreadful!. You were not with company were you, you're husband was not harmed I hope!" Kaoru blinked. "I'm not married" she blurted out. Rukea's eyes widened. "Not married! No wonder we found you outside the dojo! You must've been overcome by thugs! They linger on the streets these days, it's a horrid era we live in."

"Oh Kaoru-chan!" Rukea continued. "Poor girl, what happened? Did they hurt you?!" Kaoru's mind whirled ferociously. 'How will you explain this!' she asked herself angrily. She'd somehow been transported to the past with no idea why or how. 'Is this the doing of Kami?' she wondered. Glancing at her Mother's expression she knew that she had to think of something fast! Her mouth opened, explainations on the tip of her tongue.

A small angry voice cut off her voice. "Mama!!! Haruko-kun's teasing me again!!!" Rukea let loose a small sigh and smiled apologetically. "That's my daughter, she shares your first name funnily enough. Kisatsu, my husband, as I said earlier is a Sword Master, he takes on many students each year. Unfortunatley his student Haruko-kun and my little Kaoru don't get along very well. I think they're both strong willed and refuse to believe that they are ever wrong."

Kaoru was about to tell her that she wasn't stubbon, that in fact she let people voice their opinions often. But the words didn't make it from her mouth. The shoji door snapped open and an angry young girl stamped in. Her arms were folded and a cross pout was twisted about her mouth. "Oh Kaoru, what have you done now?"

Little Kaoru scowled. "It wasn't me Mama! It was Haruko kun!!! He pushed me and I fell in the mud!! Look at my yukata Mama! It's ruined. Then Papa told me off for smaking Haruko kun with my bokken!" Rukea shook her head and sighed again. "Oh Kaoru, Papa expects you to be a polite girl, that's why he was mad and we can wash the dirt from that yukata." Little Kaoru sniffled. "I don't care Mama, I hate Haruko kun and I hate Papa, I'm never going to speak to them again!!!!!!"

Rukea gasped. "Kaoru! Don't say that about your Papa! And to be so crude infront of our Guest!" Kaoru smiled at the younger version of herself. She remembered this day. Haruko in her opinion was a little baka. He was always such a horrible little boy but he grew to be a humble, smart man. Still she felt a misplaced indignation rise within her. After all these years, she realised, she still believed that was Haruko's fault for her poor yukata. "No, it's okay." Kaoru said firmly. "I don't believe that there is a world in which there cannot be conflict." She turned to the version of her younger self.

"Hello, my name is Himura Kaoru, pleased to meet you." She held out her hand which the little girl took eagerly. "My name's Kaoru too!" the younger version of Kaoru said, past anger suddenly forgotten.
Her eyes lit up and she bounded around the room. Then she aruptly stopped. "Mama! Look, it's getting dark. Can you take me out and show me the Light Souls?" Kaoru glanced out the window suprised that night time was there already. Then again, she didn't know how long she'd been unconcious.

Rukea nodded to her daughter. "Okay Karou-sweetie," she turned to the larger Kaoru. "Would you like to come out also?" Kaoru nodded eagerly. There was nothing for her to do inside and she must've been asleep for over 12 hours. "Sure, I'd love to go outside, it seems like I've been cooped up all day sleeping!" Rukea chuckled. "Just be careful though, there are some steps down to the garden that I always seem to trip over." Kaoru laughed. 'That isn't really saying much Mother' she thought. 'I'm glad I have my Papa's co-ordination.

******

"Aren't the stars so beautiful?" Minature Kaoru asked. The sun had set and let it's crimson light fade until the sky had become a dark blue. The stars and moon sat in the sky, the moon acting as the night's halo and the stars, shimmers of fairydust. 'Ahhhhhh' Kaoru thought. 'I certainly had an eye for beauty when I was younger.' Images of Kenshin smiling and looking adorable with utter confusion slid into her mind. 'I guess I still do' she chuckled, a small smile gracing her lips.

"Mama, will you tell me the story of the Light Souls again?" Rukea sat down on the garden bench. "Miss Himura, would you like to hear my tale? It's about the goddess of the fireflies; Hontaru." Kaoru nodded. "Hai, I'd like to."

'It's odd, that I was only thinking about fireflies last night and suddenly I'm in the past, being told the story once again by my mother. Perhaps this is a dream, a dream that'd I'd gladly dream forever if only Kenshin,Yahiko, Sanosuke and all my other friends were here' Finding a soft peice of grass she sat herself down and got comfortable.

" It was a long time ago, some say it predates history itself, some say that it dates back to when the Sun Goddess locked herself away in the caves and the world was in perpetual darkness. There was a girl. She was a beautiful girl, pale snow skin, long ebony hair, red lips and the most peculiar eyes. Her eyes seemed so bright, yellow, green, orange her eyes changed their colour to match the rainbow. She was so beautiful that many men admired her and wished to take her for their bride. But she was a stubbon girl, she never took any of their hands, neither the rich, nor poor, nor handsome, nor brave. She would take no hand until she found her true love."

"Her heart was bound to the notion of love. One day she met a knight. A samurai warrior, who was loyal and true. When she saw him her heart started beating faster and faster. She had fallen for this man. With his steel eyes and firm lean body. She wanted to belong to him. But he would not have her. Not for all her beauty or spirit would he love her or make her his wife. So she despaired. She loved him dearly, but she found he was already in love with another. She'd never before felt as if she'd never been pretty enough or smart enough to have someone worthy of her love but now she wondered. Then one day the news came that his love had been killed in battle. Instead of being happy an overwhelming fear took over her. When her beloved recieved the news that his fiance had died he went into a terrible rage."

And Hontaru's heart broke seeing him in such a state. Ruled by his grief and stuck in an agony that would never end.So she cried for him and took up a pilgrimage. She swore that if he could never find true love than neither would she. So she went to the nearest Shinto shrine and prayed. For seven days she sat, without sleep, not water nor food. On the seventh day she died. She floated into a sleep that no one could wake her from. On the sunset of the seventh day, the warrior she loved so dearly came to pray for his dead love. There he found Hontaru lying infront of a statue of kami. He walked towards her and dropped his sword. He'd known that she'd loved him but had refused to adknowledge her, refused to believe that she truely loved him like the other girl did."

"He sat her down and listened for any sign of a heartbeat but there wasn't one. He noticed that she was clutching at something tightly in the palm of her hand. Carefully he pulled her hand open and was amazed to see a flittering little light. You see, in the days that Hontaru was praying she'd been asking kami if she could die, she'd willingly give her soul, if she could come back to earth every full moon and grant the wish of a person who's soul was crying about a love that it could not have."

"Kami agreed, he didn't own a soul that was as beautiful as Hontaru, so he granted her this favour. But he gave her one condition. She could grant the wishes of those who mourned unrequiented love, but the wishes they made could not be for themselves nor for the one they loved. That left limited options. Not many people could think of a wish, but then one day Hontaru went to a women who was crying because her love no longer wanted her, she was not as pretty as she used to be and he'd found a sweetheart that was young and vibrant. He'd thrown the girl away like trash. So Hontaru went to grant her wish."

"Now, what this girl suddenly lacked in looks, she made up for in smarts. She wished that those who loved her would have a good life. Hontaru granted this wish happily but there was a side effect that she hadn't been expecting. From the wish granted tiny lights shot forth. They became the light in dark times and the hope for love lost. They became known as Hontaru or Firefly in honor of their creator. It is said that sometimes the wishes are granted in secret and sometimes she shows her face. But whatever she does she always grants a wish. Even if she sometimes meddles."

Kaoru's face paled as the tale finished. How could she have been so stupid? "I wish that I could stop Tomoe Yukinshio from being killed, it will grieve me, but it would save him so much pain." Somehow the wish had become muddled. She hadn't meant that she wanted to go back in the past to save Tomoe. She'd only meant that her wish could've done something to save her. "Perfect" she muttered under her breath. Rukea watched Kaoru's strange mutterings. "I'm afraid that I must put this little one to bed" she said, pointing to a sleeping little Kaoru curled up in her mother's kimono. "If you wish I will escort you to your room." Kaoru sighed.

"No, I'm alright. I must go out into the town now anyway, I've just remembered that I'm searching for someone." Rukea's eyes went comically wide. "No, Miss Himura! You mustn't! As I told you before this is an unstable era, especially for those without husbands, men will try to take advantage of your weakness!" Kaoru waved away her Mother's concern. "I'll be fine, but perhaps I could borrow your bokken? I've had some training with swords you see and I should be able to protect myself if trouble arises."

Rukea paused, then handed her precious load over to Kaoru. "Hang on to her and I'll just grab one, I think Kisatsu keeps his spare bokkens in the Training Hall." Kaoru watched as her mother sped off, stumbling over invisable obstacles on her way. Sighing Kaoru sat down on the small bench and nursed a tiny Kaoru on her lap. Little Kaoru's eyes fluttered open. "Miss Himura?" Kaoru nodded. Then her face became serious. "Listen to me Kaoru, be nice to your Mama okay? She's a very delicate woman and she's very precious to both you and your Papa. So never forget to tell her you love her and always behave the best you can. She won't be around forever."

Visions of her Mother's death haunted her memories. Minature Kaoru looked up at her in confusion. "Miss Himura.....I don't understand" Kaoru looked at the returning figure of her mother and sighed wistfully. "It's okay Kaoru, just remember what I said okay?" Baby Kaoru nodded and drifted back off to sleep. Rukea ran over waving a bokken at Kaoru, stumbling over stones she tripped and landed with an 'oof'.

Kaoru winced as she heard the thud, followed by the snap. Opening her eyes she saw her suspicions confirmed. The bokken Rukea had been carring was now snapped in half. Rukea pulled herself upright and started bowing. "Oh, gosh! I'm sorry! I'll get another one! I'm so sorry." Kaoru laughed slightly and passed the sleeping child back to it's mother. "That's fine Mrs Kamiya, I don't need a weapon really, I'll be fine." Rukea's face borded on worry and concern. "Okay Miss Himura, if you say so. Will you be coming back after tonight?"

Kaoru thought about this. "Yes, I probably will. I don't think that I'll find him right tonight. I'm just going to look for some leads." Rukea beamed. "Oh good Miss Himura! I'll cook for you tomorrow! A wonderous meal to make up for my clumsiness." Kaoru shook her head and smiled. "It's not necessary, but thank you." She leaned forward and gave the sleeping child and her mother a hug. Turning away she whispered. "Goodbye Mother"

Rukea watched as the strange,young,remarkable woman she'd just met walked through the dojo gates. There was something so strange about her that she just couldn't put her finger on. Like the way she seemed so familiar. She was also strong and gracious. 'She even knows how to fight' Rukea thought. Looking at her sleeping daughter she giggled. "Now my sweet pet, I hope you turn out a bit like her."

******

Kaoru wondered the streets, ignoring the dark alleyways and the drunk men walking around stupidly and it could almost pass for something....okay, well she was trying to fool herself. None of it made her feel safe or reminded her of her time. It was unfamiliar and scary. Foreign territory but in her own home. Shuddering she felt the feeling that someone was watching her. She began to walk a little bit faster, but the prickily feeling was still there so she started to run and headed for the nearest building

Without looking she walked in and sat down at a table. The bickering and yelling that echoed around her suddenly stopped. She looked up from her table huffing. She'd run so quickly and now she just wanted to catch her breath. Suddenly her breathing ceased altogether. These men...this place. Her face slowly started to heat up. She'd walked into a Geisha tea house, where prostitution and gambling spread their infested ideals into people's minds and she'd just run in looking like a complete idiot.

Gulping Kaoru stepped backwards away from the table, wishing desperatley that her bokken was beside her. One man laughed and stepped forward. "What have we here? Another pretty to add to my collection of women tonight?" Kaoru growled disgusted. "No, I'm not a whore and even if I was I wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole that had a 1000 mile extention!" His eyes hardened and Kaoru smacked herself mentally. 'Kaoru, you dumb baka! Jump off a cliff you wanna die this quickly!'

The angry man advanced and drew his sword. Stepping backwards Kaoru looked around for a weapon. Spying and intoxicated man who was sitting near by, she grabbed the sword that hung limply in his hands. "Ah, so the pretty wants to fight? Bring it on precious, but when I win I expect you to.." Kaoru cut him off. "You finish that sentence and I'll castrate you."

The man laughed. "Hear that Boys!" He yelled to the others behind him. "You think we can take her!?" The other men mummured their approval. Meanwhile Kaoru was once again smacking herself mentally. 'You know just how to get killed don't you Kaoru, if you don't win this they're gonna rape you y'know.' Kaoru growled at herself. 'Shut Up Brain, no one's asking you to speak, where are you when I say this stupid stuff?'

A quiet voice suddenly broke through the noisy voices. "I think that you should leave now." Kaoru looked up to see a red haired stranger standing infront of her. 'KENSHIN?' her mind yelled. He turned to look at her sensing an increase in ki. Looking up at his eyes she recoiled. The eyes were the ones from her dream. Sad and hard, harsh and unforgiving. He gave her a calculating stare then returned his attention to the swordsman.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll leave now and leave this girl alone." The men chuckled loudly. "And what would you do to us, your no more than a girl youself!" Kenshin pulled his sword from it's sheath. Kaoru gulped. There was no way she could let Kenshin attack, he'd kill these men instantly. She knew that these men probably deserved death, but their death would haunt Kenshin's soul.

Kaoru put a restraining hand on his arm. "No," then she turned to the burly men. "You should listen to him. Leave now." Kenshin shrugged away from her eyes blazing. "Why would you ask me to stop? Would you rather me leave you to them? Because I would have no problem with that." Kaoru shook her head frantically. "I told you to stop because I know that you would kill them"

The Battousai stilled but his muscles tensed. Spinning around her held the tip of his sword to her throat. "How would you know what I'd do?" Kaoru gulped as the sword nicked her neck. A small trail of blood trailed down her neck. A sudden movement caught Kaoru's eye and she saw the man charge Kenshin from behind. She moved quickly. "Look out!" she yelled.

Kenshin turned suddenly and scewered the charging man with his katana. "I warned you" he said in the cold quiet voice he'd used earlier. There was no emotion, just a monotone that frightened Kaoru out of her skin.

He withdrew his sword from the man's body and swept out the door. Kaoru stood shocked. The other men ignored her, too busy fawning over the dead body of their 'leader'. Kaoru made a hasty desicion and swept out after him

******

The streets were dark and not even the brilliant moon could light the path on which she walked. She didn't want to admit it, but she was afraid. Afraid of what could happen to her in the dark. Walking awkwardly on the cobblestones she came to an arupt halt when she realised that she didn't know where she was. She'd lost him, not that she was surprised. He was a hitokiri, it was in his nature to be elusive.

Sighing, she abandoned her search for the Battousai. She'd look for him again tomorrow, after a long rest. Kaoru turned around and headed back towards to dojo. 'How am I ever going to find Kenshin?' she pondered. 'He's a Shadow in a town full of darkness. It's almost impossible!' Flicking her hair over her shoulder she stormed through the streets, her ki flaring, warning those who'd harm her that she was not in the mood.

******

Snuggling into her futon Kaoru reflected over the day's events. It was strange, the fact that she'd found Kenshin so easily and then lost him just as quickly. Her eyes started to droop and she struggled to keep her mind focused. But as we all know that fighting a lulling sleep is to fight a losing war and soon Kaoru found herself submersed in the land of dreams.

The streets were running with blood. It was everywhere, it was splattered up walls and on the grass. It made Kaoru's spine tingle with fear. The blood itself was a statement that she no longer was in her own time. Clutching her hands together she prayed to Kami-sama that the danger she sensed and the ki that was overwelming her senses was not this man before her. His face was hidden by shadow but she could see the gleam of his sword. The blood was still red, running down the blade's surface in tiny droplets. He flicked the blood away and pointed the sword at her. "I'm sorry, but you must die"
Kaoru gasped short of breath and stepped backwards. Before she knew what was happening the man was right in her face. Her eyes widened as a sword rammed through her body.
"Kenshin?"
His face blurred before her eyes as she passed out.

Kaoru woke, sweat drenching her features. Groaning she slumped further into her cushions. "I'm never going to be able to sleep, why am I having all these nightmares!" she hissed. Smothering her face with her pillow she closed her eyes and tried to even her breath. As she again succumbed to sleep, she didn't see the amber eyes that were staring through her window, nor the way they roamed her with a familiarity they could not place.




'Carnation's Comments

Hey guys! I have the next chapter up! I also got twice the amount of reviews I hoped for!
Thank You!
I need to know if people want me to have chapters based on how things are going in Kaoru's time and how Kenshin's reacting to her sudden "dissapearance". Just Vote for it you want those chapters or not in the reviews okay!
Now, for the people that reviewed:

SilverLightening: Sad and Creepy? I hope that the following chapters will be better! I don't want people too freaked out and stop reading!

Zhen Ji: I'm glad you liked it!!!

Ferai: Sorry for the confusion, it's not Tomoe that came back, it's a girl called Hontaru that grants wishes for people who suffer from unrequeinted love. This chapter probably helped clear up your confusion. ^_^ Kaoru/Battousai fanfics rock!

Nicky: Okay, Kenshin does love Kaoru but he has the obligation to Tomoe. He's scared to love Kaoru. He doesn't love Tomoe anymore but in the past (the timeline for this fic) he will love Tomoe but I'm going to put twists and there will be a kind of love rectangle.

Cherry Chibi: Thank You!!!! I'm sooooooo happy that you loved it. I hope this chapter does the story proud ^_^ *peace*

Chris: Yes, Kaoru does have a big heart. Sometimes I wonder how she puts up with Kenshin. *sweatdrop* He's so stupid. Enjoy this chapter

Nanaki lover/Brukaoru: Wow! You put me on ur fav story list!!!!!! *squeals* Thank you! I'm SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

soralvr926: This chapter's for you because you wanted to read it! I'm grinning *GRIN* because you think that my writing is brilliant. Cheers!

emsdesire: Woah! You gave me my loooooooooooooongest review! I have no idea what to say to you because your review made me more than happy, I was estatic! I've never had someone tell me that I had the potential to make this a good story. ^_^!!!! So thank you!!!!!!!!!!

disturbed-demon-gurl:I'm glad you know what it's like to want to be loved ^_^ I just hope people really enjoy this story! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.

lighthawk: *tee hee hee* Wow! You're really enthusiastic about my story! *hehehehehe!* *bows* Thankies!

Okay People I Thank You All for Your Wonderful Reviews! But Please Don't take that as a Sign to stop! Noooooo! Please continue to give me REVIEWS!!! Don't be afraid!!!! Okay....I'm even scaring myself now, so....I'll stop that. But please, I'm being honest. I'd really like reviews. It's like having Christmas when I get reviews. So Pretty Please, if you enjoyed this Chapter Review.

Now, here's the Teaser:

Chapter 2:

She had no idea what to make of this. He was just standing there staring at her. She wasn't scared, but she felt....exposed. He was gazing down into her and she couldn't stop him from doing it. Finally she regained the use of her voice. "If you touch him Battousai, you'll be so sorry." He snorted and pulled out his other sword and pointed it at her. "And you are you to think you could stop me?" Baby Kaoru came out from behind her mother. "She's Miss Himura! And if you don't leave my Papa alone she's gonna hurt you!!!!!!" The Battousai's eyes widened and the sword clattered to the ground.

Quotacular:

Fate leads him who will, he who won't she drags
-Roman Saying