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Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin series. If I did I will be happy, but I don't. : (
Tears of Blood
Chapter 3
The rain stopped. The fires in the forest died. The life the forest once had, full of life, now was dead. The only survivors of the forest were those who made it to their own safety. The gryphons, part eagle and lion all cried, for their Gollum, the forest spirit, also known as the forest God, who died. Kaoru couldn't fight back her tears any longer. She wished she could've been there to at least save the forest spirit, but she wasn't. She blamed herself for being irresponsible. She regretted leaving them behind. She left the gryphons, and the unicorn near the dead corpse who once was Gollum. She wandered deep into the dead forest without looking back. So many Mythical Creatures died because of her kind, yet they accepted her as though she was different. She was a murderer just like them. All she cared about was her stupid freedom and not the others. Because the lack of her sincerity, one of the most important gryphons died. Without his life the forest was certainly doomed to its faith.
Kaoru fell down on the ground. Her hands buried her face. Tears falling one drop after the other from her eyes. She thought of herself as nothing but a burden. Someone who couldn't help others in need. She thought of herself as a useless person, brought to the world with no purpose to live. She wanted to walk off the face of earth. She never wanted to see anyone in her life. Her heart swelled with so much grief. Her breathings were heavy. She crouched herself low to the floor, to try to blend herself to the dead forest. This forest known as Gollum was her homeland. She had many good memories here, but they were all taken away from her, within seconds. It was like yesterday when the forest spirits were teaching her, her magic. They were training her to fight; they taught her to survive in the woods. They taught her how to heal others in pain. They taught her so many things about herself and life, until they became dear to her, more like her family. They hated her kind, which were the human race. But they told her she was a lot different from them. They told her she wasn't human, but a chosen one, who were rare to find now a days. They told her about her past and how the war first started between the humans and the Mythical Creatures. Even though she never knew her parents, she loved them. All the peaceful times she had in the forest known as Gollum, is nothing but memories, because of her.
Kaoru cried and cried until, she fell asleep. She never got to hear what her friend Dragon Heart was discussing with the unicorn who saved her from her fall. Through mental communication, they were able to talk to each other.
Oh poor dear. I want to stop her from crying so badly, but I couldn't. I wish I did something to help her out, the unicorn replied to Dragon Heart.
Don't worry Bella. I know Kaoru could make it through the night. We will always be there to protect her from danger. I just only hope she doesn't blame everything on herself, said Dragon Heart. His sky blue eyes were staring at his dear friend with worry and concern.
She does blame herself for Gollum's death. Why else did she cry for all those long hours? When I looked deeply into her mind, I sensed she was mad at herself for not being there to save his life. She blames herself for the death of this forest. She blames herself for not taking good care of her family when they needed her. She thinks of herself to be irresponsible, said Bella. She looked at Dragon Heart with so much concern for Kaoru.
But still, if there's anyone who I know could make it through all of this, it's Kaoru. She once told me, to have faith in her, and that she will never leave my side. Well I have all the faith I could ever hold in my heart for her. I will never leave her side unless she wants me to, replied Dragon Heart with a lot of determination in his eyes. He had known Kaoru since she was a child. She always made him happy. She had a compassionate nature. Always thought of others, then herself. The only time she ever did, was when she wanted her freedom. There were many times Dragon Heart had her went flying together, and through all those times she always put his happiness first. She was always willing to do whatever he wanted. She never put up an argument with him. He noticed the simplest things made her happy. For example, he was her only friend, and knowing that she only had one friend, she was still happy. Kaoru never knew her real parents, but she accepted the gryphons as her family. She was still contented either way. Also she was always giving. She was born with the nature of giving. If she had anything left, she was willing to give them away. She shared most of her happiness with others. To Dragon Heart, he knew he could never find himself a better best friend then her, who was so compassionate, who was so giving, and who could find the simplest things in life to make her happy.
Well we better get her out of here in the morning. Stay close to her Dragon Heart. Give her the comfort that she needs. The only person she might respond to is you. Got it? asked Bella retreating to the other gryphons. Oh yeah, tell her it's not her fault that Gollum died. Tell her that even if she was here, the same thing was going to happen anyways. Wish her my best of luck and everything happens for a reason.
As Bella slowly galloped away, Dragon Heart could barely hear the last words in his mind, but he could have sworn he heard how good of a friend he is to Kaoru.
Kenshin's horse galloped as fast as he could. Kenshin decided to take his servant boy with him to find this maiden his father wanted so badly. He had so many questions. He believed this young maiden may be able to help answer them. He wanted to see how she looked like. He wanted to know if she was as beautiful, as her voice. There were so many things he wanted to know about her, he couldn't help contain himself as he ordered his horse to gallop faster to the dead forest known as Gollum. Behind him was his faithful servant Yahiko, and a extra horse, which carried all of their necessary supplies.
Kaoru awoke the next morning. Her mind was so dizzy. She was very hungry. She still felt the aching pain in her chest. A few tears fell from her eyes. She was still depressed about Gollum's death. She knew the others and her had to leave the dead forest soon, because Lord Zayon's men were going to be coming after them. Kaoru looked to her side. She saw an angel like wing which enfolded her in its embrace. She smiled, despite her sadness. She couldn't help think Dragon Heart to be so caring. The other gryphons looked at Dragon Heart and her in disbelief. They couldn't believe to see a dragon that actually cared about her. They didn't know what to do. In all their eyes, she saw they held protectiveness. Yet they wouldn't attack, unless she allowed them too.
She smiled a sad smile to them. She guessed she looked bad. Her raven hair has to be disheveling, and her white dress dirty, from sleeping on the dirty floor. She also guessed her eyes were puffy and red from all the crying she did last night after the lost of a family member. She decided to call upon the winds to fix her up a little, so she make herself look a little more presentable in front of the rest of her family. As she got up slowly, afraid to awake her dear friend, she saw tiny darts blood on his wing. She wanted to know where the blood came from. She looked down at her petite figure, to find blood drops on her dress. A few more tear fell from her eyes. What she saw shocked her. She saw blood tears. Her tears were not normal tears, but tears of blood. She took her index finger to wipe away one drop of her tears away from her face, and saw that it was real blood.
My dear, you cry for those who die. Each tear you cry, represent those who die, Bella said as she walked closer to Kaoru. She communicated with Kaoru using her mind, however, Kaoru chose to speak out loud, but only to whisper it.
"What are you talking about?" Kaoru asked shakily. Her hands tremble as she put her wild strands of raven hair behind her ear.
You are connected to each Mythical Creature and chosen one. If something happens to us, you cry blood tears, to represent their deaths, their pain, and their sorrow. Because you could do this we believe you to be as the chosen one we waited for all these years, replied Bella slowly as not to startle Kaoru anymore.
"You believe me to be some savior, when it's my fault Gollum died. If I was here, none of this will ever happen. Nothing like this. I was the reason he died, and I can never except his death. Never. I will never forgive myself. I'm sorry, you must have the wrong person," said Kaoru full of blood tears. She crouched in the low position to hide herself from everyone's piercing eyes.
She then felt someone's wings effulged her in its warm embrace. Kaoru felt happy to know she had Dragon Heart as her friend. Kaoru, someone wise once told me, to have faith, that they'll always be by my side. Well no matter where you go, or what you do, I will always have faith in you, whispered Dragon Heart in her mind.
Kaoru was very proud of her friend Dragon Heart. As she rose slowly to her feet, she knew he supported her. The gryphons and Kaoru's new friend Bella supported her as well. All the Mythical Creatures supported her, they all needed her to stop the long war that had been going on for years. Kaoru never believed in the Prophecy, but she knew she will never give up her hope.
She climbed onto Dragon Heart's back and firmly held his neck. He swooped into the air with one gentle flap of his angle like wings.
"Take me to Appla river. There I will tidy myself up before we meet with the others in the forest Minko. Understand that?" she asked her friend. She was so glad to be herself once again. Dragon Heart nodded his head. He was ready to serve his friend whenever she asked for his help.
When they got to Appla River, Kaoru went for her bath there. As quickly as she got rid of her old dress, she made a new one for herself. Dragon Heart waited at a distance. He looked away from the river, watching the plains around them. His five senses were all alert, waiting for an enemy. Now that Kaoru got herself away from Gollum, he could watch her better. She will always be around the corner.
"Hey Dragon Heart! What do you think? Does it look better then the other dress?" Kaoru asked. Dragon Heart turn to her, and nodded his head. Through his sky blue eyes, Kaoru could see her own reflection. She wore a dress that hugged her upper part, around her chest and waist area. The black dress flare to the below her hips giving her more leg space. The top of her came down in an apropiate v-neck. Her long raven hair was held high in a ponytail. The hair braided in her ponytail. She looked like a new person, ready and waiting for her next mission. She really was beautiful.
With a quick motion, that Kaoru couldn't see, Dragon Heart picked her up, and flew into the sky. He thought they stayed by Appla river long enough. He decided no matter where they go, they should stay up to a certain amount of time, because he didn't want to have anything happen to Kaoru, now that her life was in danger. Lord Zayon wanted her. Dragon Heart vowed he will protect Kaoru with his life.
Meanwhile
Kenshin got into Gollum as fast as he could. He was surprised to see the dead forest. He and Yahiko tied the horses to the dead trees. The place look so gloomy, it reminded him how he felt on the inside. As Kenshin continued to walk, he smelled something like blood. Blood was a familiar smell to him because of the people he killed from his father's orders. The bloodshed he caused, the lives he took, were forever stained on his hands.
Kenshin got closer to the ground. On the dirt, he saw footprints. Most of them were different sizes belonging to the gryphons. The gryphons were saved from the fire, but the forest spirit was dead. He came up with the final conclusion that Gollum died. As Kenshin continued to observe his surroundings, he found small footprints, which looked more like human footprints. He considered it to be the footprints of the young maiden he was looking for. He kneeled down to examine it closer. He found what he smelled, blood.