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New Friends
Chapter 4
Dragon Heart flew until night came upon him and Kaoru. They flew across the plains for quite sometime. They thought it would be best if they rested for the night. Dragon Heart decided to rest off by another river. Kaoru decided to head into the village right near them, to supply themselves on food, water, and Kaoru decided to buy herself a few dresses. Knowing Dragon Heart would protest, Kaoru reminded him, she was quite old and capable of taking good care of herself. Dragon Heart trusted her with his life, and decided to let her do what she wanted to do. With a simple nod of understand, Kaoru picked herself up and left.
The village was pretty quiet that night. There was no one left in sight. Kaoru walked through the village, hoping to meet a few people who could help her find out with figuring out the village. Kaoru continue to walk alone until, she noticed a few people by a hut talking. Kaoru didn't want to interrupt them. She watched the fire glow in the dark night showing the people to be a couple of boys and girls. She watched them eat some delicious food, making Kaoru wish she could join them.
"Would you like to join us for a meal?" said a strange voice. Kaoru was startled by this voice. She turned around quickly hoping this person wasn't going to do her any harm. "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you. I saw you walking around the village as though you were new here. I thought maybe you will like food, as well as a place to stay."
"You barely know me, yet, you are willing to invite me into your home, to stay for the night?" asked Kaoru. The man who stood before her was tall. Compared to her petite figure, her head reached his chest area. He wore a dark cloak to hide his clothing. His appearance seemed to be friendly. He smiled at her, a friendly smile, his eyes all wide and innocent.
"Yes you're a stranger, but I could tell you are a good person. Plus a young woman like yourself shouldn't be walking out at night. People look for the opportunity, to attack someone like you," replied the young stranger.
"Yes, but I could also be different. I could be a dangerous person you know," snapped Kaoru, who looked at him with very suspicious eyes. She had to get back to Dragon Heart before he worried about her, and did something stupid.
"I'm sorry for being rude. My name is Soujiro Seta. I am from this village. How about you?"
"My name is Kaoru Kamiya. I am not from this village as you can see. I'm nothing but a mere wanderer, traveling from place to place, that's all."
"Are you traveling alone? I only ask this because I do feel that you have a need to be somewhere else at this point."
"No I'm traveling by myself. I just want to leave this village as soon as possible," said Kaoru. She felt bad, because she lied to him. She noticed he was a very good observer. He was able to pinpoint things, which usually a usual person couldn't pinpoint. Just then she heard another voice called him. The voice was a high pitch voice, but had a soothing way to make Kaoru feel a little bit better.
"Soujiro, there you are! I was looking for everywhere! We have to get back inside before people start getting too suspicious. Oh I see you have a new friend," said a young woman. She was about Kaoru's height. Her raven hair was down. She unlike Soujiro, didn't wear a cloak. She wore a beautiful dark pale green dress. She had innocent eyes like Soujiro.
"Sorry little sister. I found this young woman by the name of Kaoru Kamiya wandering by herself in this village. I thought it would be kind to let her stay with us tonight, if you don't mind Misao," said Soujiro.
"Poor young lady, she must be tired, and hungry from her long journey. I'm surprised she survived the plains. They go for miles, without ever ending, now that the forests are gone. Would you like to stay at our house for tonight Ms. Kamiya? asked the young woman brightly.
"I'm sorry, but I'm in a hurry. I have places to go, and I'm afraid that resting would only delay my journey. Thank you very much Ms. Seta and Mr. Seta," replied Kaoru. Before the other two could say anything, she left.
Kaoru headed back to Dragon Heart. She was very happy to be able to leave Misao and Soujiro where they were. She knew if she didn't retreat from there as fast as she could, she would lie more to them, and only make her situation more suspicious. For some reason she felt odd talking to them. Usually people were not as observant as Soujiro was. He was able to pinpoint many things, about how nervous she was. He knew she didn't travel alone. If she did, something bad would've happen to her already. As she got closer to Dragon Heart, she felt something different.
"Dragon Heart? Dragon Heart what's wrong?" asked Kaoru in a worried tone. Dragon Heart crouched his body. He looked like he was going to attack something, but what? Kaoru hoped for no one to find him and her. Anyone who found them, would sure likely get rid of them. Kaoru could never forgive herself if she lost her very dear friend Dragon Heart.
Kaoru, don't come any closer. There's a tiger here, the last of his kind. He won't be afraid to attack at all, responded Dragon Heart, as he continued to look at the tiger before him.
"What type of tiger is he Dragon Heart? If he's dangerous, let me handle him. Maybe I could get him to talk to me before we attract unwanted attention," said Kaoru in a soft voice.
No Kaoru. I would never leave you to try to communicate with such a wild animal. He'll hurt you and if he does, I will hurt, no probably kill him, replied Dragon Heart in deadly tone. He'll never trust anyone around his dear friend, after all he did swear to protect her with his very life.
"Please trust me Dragon Heart. I won't let him hurt me. I promise. Remember to have faith in me, as I have faith in you Dragon Heart," she whispered, for only him to hear.
Dragon Heart didn't trust the tiger, but however, he did trust Kaoru. If Kaoru said she was going to be fine, then he knew she meant it. She never let him down before. He wondered why she had so much courage. Kaoru once told him, she believed everyone had a good side to them. What just happened to them was they lost all hopes of the good feelings because of the war. Dragon Heart never wanted to believe what Kaoru said, but then he couldn't explain why he always had a good heart when he was around her. After a few moments of just staring at the tiger, in his aqua eyes, he shifted his position for Kaoru to see him.
Kaoru was awed when she saw the tiger in front of her. His body was large from his tale to his head. His sharp claw rendered the earth. Just like how Dragon Heart was, he was crouched in attack position, getting ready to attack his prey. His aqua eyes looked into Kaoru's sapphire eyes, waiting, willing himself to attack her.
"Please don't be afraid. I'm not here to hurt you. We won't harm you at all. If you wish us to leave, we will leave," Kaoru whispered. The tiger really astonished her. He was rare creature to come across. Most of his species died, making him a rare animal. She couldn't believe how he survived this long in the plains, without ever being detected by the humans, or maybe someone is helping him to survive.
The tiger, with black stripes, the rest of his body white, was ready to attacked, when someone called him back. Kaoru was astonished to see who it was.
"Soujiro? What are you doing here?" asked Kaoru hoping Dragon Heart was out of sight. Instead Dragon Heart went before, he shielded her petite figure from Soujro's view.
"I knew you were different from the other wanderers. A young woman like you can't survive the plains like this," he said. He was smiling just like how he first met her. Dragon Heart was getting ready to strike. Kaoru was amazed how Soujiro stood there smiling, without flinching a muscle. He looked so calm.
"I'm sorry for how Dragon Heart is behaving," said Kaoru shakily. She walked away from Dragon Heart's wing, to stand in front of Soujiro. Soujiro's tiger got into a protective stance, ready to attack Kaoru any second. Kaoru looked at her friend, and then Soujiro. Soujiro patted his friend on his back as if to sooth him, calm him down from attacking.
"Dragon Heart, this is a new friend I met in the village. His name is Soujiro. Soujiro, this is my best friend Dragon Heart," replied Kaoru.
Soujiro came forward and bowed in front Dragon Heart and Kaoru. "I have to say that I'm impressed you made friends with a dragon. For you Kaoru to be friends with Dragon Heart, must show how remarkable you are to get along with such Mythical Creatures"
"I thank you for your compliment Soujiro, but he's the only friend that I have from the dragon species. I'm not as great as you think I am."
"Ah, but you are! Making friends with a dragon, shows how honest you are as a person. There is something special about you, for you to gain the trust of your dragon friend here."
"Well then, I must say the same for you. You have something special about you, in order for you, to gain such a friend like that tiger."
"Thank you Kaoru. I saved him from the brink of death. The people of my village poisoned the animals that once lived here, leaving him to die here. I saved him, but he took more liking with my sister, since she's very good with animals."
"Like once again, I will like to say I'm sorry. If you want, my friend and I could leave," said Kaoru quietly. She gestured for her friend to leave.
"No Kaoru. You don't have to go. I know who you are. I know are one of the chosen ones. I thought my sister, her boyfriend and I were the only survivors left from the raids, but seeing you, made me know how wrong I was. Please don't leave," whispered Soujiro.
Kaoru turned at his last remarked. She couldn't believe his smile left his face. She wanted to stay, but she couldn't. She didn't know how to explain, she had to head to a different place. So many lives depended on her. She couldn't let them down.
"I'm sorry, but I can't stay. Tomorrow I have to head to forest Minko. I seek very important news there. I hope that I didn't disappoint you Soujiro," Kaoru whispered.
"No you haven't disappoint me in anyway Kaoru. If you don't mind I will like to go with you on this journey. Staying in this village doesn't do me, my sister, and her boyfriend any good. We are tired of pretending to be normal humans, when we are not," replied Soujiro, now smiling again.
Kaoru looked at him for a few minutes. All that can be heard was the wind blowing. The little light that came from the stars showed his image. Kaoru was impressed by his courage and determination. If he and his family wished to go with her and Dragon Heart, she will let them come. She nodded of her head and then left with Dragon Heart.
Soujiro couldn't believe he met one of his own kind. Ever since he was younger he believed his younger sister Misao, and her boyfriend Aoshi were the only survivors left of their clan. Soujiro thinking this was very sad. There was no way they could survive on their won. The forests were gone, and most of the Mythical Creatures died. The only one who survived was his tiger friend named Pantheray. Pantheray protected his little family, while Soujiro found the best way for them to fit and live with the normal humans. At first it was hard because they couldn't use magic, but eventually Misao, Aoshi and himself, found a way to work around it. As they grew older Misao told him they had to leave the village, as soon as possible before anyone found anything about them. Soujiro agreed. Now was his important opportunity to leave with his family.
When he first met Kaoru, he found something intriguing about her. She was not only beautiful, but she was graceful, serene, and carried a somewhat of a carefree spirit if she chose too. She knew how to operate herself with animals. If he gave her sometime to get to know Pantheray, she would certainly gain his trust in no time. What amazed him more about her, was the fact she had a dragon as her friend. In order to have a dragon as her friend, the dragon has to see that person as a truthful person. If her friend called Dragon Heart trusted her, he saw her as an honest person who would risk her life for not only him, but for others. Soujiro knew when she lied to him, about her traveling alone. He knew a girl like couldn't last long. A young woman with her exquisite beauty, wouldn't go unnoticed by men. The only way to protect her from the outside world, from men who would like to take advantage of a young beautiful woman like her, was he had to accompany her with her journey. Somehow Soujiro knew she wasn't a regular chosen one like his sister, like her boyfriend, and like himself. She was special. She carried a special aura, more like a soothing one. When she spoke, he bet anyone would give anything to hear her voice forever. A young woman like her would never leave his sight. Once upon a time Misao argued with him, about finding the girl who he should spend the rest of his life with. He told her he would let her know when the time came. She told him, a time like that would never come, not in this lifetime. He proved Misao wrong. There is no way Kaoru would leave him so easily. Tonight he met the girl, who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
Dragon Heart and Kaoru laid by the river. She wasn't hungry anymore. She was contented to know she was with her friend. She was safe with him. She didn't have to worry anymore about his well being. She loved him a lot. He was a friend, who always knew how to make her happy.
As she laid by the river, she heard his voice. Kaoru do you ever make wishes to the heavens above? Asked Dragon Heart.
"Yes there are many wishes I make to the stars above. I only hope for them to come true that's all," replied Kaoru quietly.
Do you know what I wish? I sometimes wish you could have wings, so we could fly to the heavens above, said Dragon Heart. He rested his gaze on the beautiful face of his friend.
"Someday, your wish will come true Dragon Heart. Someday it will. When it does happen, I promise you that night will be ours alone. We will fly to the heavens above, and not only that. I will command the very heavens to let it snow. I know you always wanted to see how the world looked like when it snowed. Will I make it come true my dear friend. I promise you Dragon Heart. I promise you," Kaoru whispered. And with those words she fell asleep, leaving Dragon Heart to watch over her.
In the shadows Soujiro lurked. He knew she was special, from the first time they met. He was right. She was the chosen one the Prophecy spoke about. She was the only hope to ending the long war. Soujiro vowed to not let anything happen to her. No matter what he wasn't going to let her go on the journey alone to wherever her destination was.
Kenshin's horse galloped from the dead forest to the never ending plains. He needed to find the young woman, and fast. He had a bad feeling something bad was going to happen, and it was going to happen to her. He needed to find her wherever she was. Behind him, Yahiko followed, as well as the other horse, which carried the supplies. The only thing Kenshin could trust was instinct. He believed with his instincts alone, he could find the young woman.