Well, I had fun writing the last installment of this story, and so,
without further ado, I shall continue with the story!!
Chapter 10,
With Every Fiber of My Being
And so, our heroes passed the stormy night in the dank and damp caves, huddled closely together for warmth. But not all was to be so dreary, for though some of them stood at the brink of death, the love for them from their companions was there to see them through. Sano held Megumi close to him, whispering small prayers that she might recover, Sora had awoken around 3 in the morning and had moved about, checking on her horses, Yahiko, and the others. Kenshin sat off in the corner, still peacefully sleeping. Sora had decided it would be best if she strolled off to enjoy her peaceful morning for herself; after all, peaceful moments were rare for her.
She headed to the top of a small over hang that was shrouded from sight by a forest. There she was able to climb the tallest tree she could find, and accompany the sun as it rose from behind the snow crested mountains. Sora gazed out across the landscape, and then contented herself with leaning back against the tree and dozing off. She was later disturbed by the calls of her companions and so, she hastened back to them.
To her great surprise, Sanakoo rode out to meet her, Kira trotting by his side, and who else do you think they bore upon their backs? You guessed it! Megumi and Yahiko, though still bandaged up, they were ready for travel, and would not stand to be delayed a moment longer. This thrilled Sora, though her other companions vainly insisted on their resting longer.
Sora: But we can be at our destination by tomorrow morning if we hurry!
As you can imagine, this set them all a flutter, for they hadn't realized how close they had come to their goal, and how soon the fight would come to achieve it. They set off later on that morning, Yahiko and Megumi saddled upon the horses, Sano and Kenshin carrying the few minor supplies they had left, and Kaoru walking patiently beside the horses. But then there was Sora, filled with a restless spirit and a longing for the young children she held so dear, she clutched the map and leapt and bound through the woods, practically flying on the air as it drove her onward!
That after noon, they had taken a break for lunch, but not Sora, she went without her meal, too invigorated to eat, despite her friends' attempts at trying to force food on her. She contented herself with collecting her weapons and polishing each one till her reflection shone in them, before she situated them on her petite form.
Her weaponry consisted of, and mind you she was careful to take them out and ready them away from her friends' vision, for fear it would cause them worry; a newly strung bow and several arrows, her mighty sword, an elegant whip, and an untraceable amount of spinning stars, daggers, and small kunai. Yes, I believe we would all agree that Sora, without a doubt, was ready for any type of skirmish that her enemies could cook up for her. Upon her return to her friends from her dressing they were quite shocked to see her so armored! Her entire personality seemed altered, she would not speak, or eat, or even smile. She was quiet, as the lioness is before she strikes her prey, yet and odd energy hovered about her. In some way she seemed ignorant, though entirely without bliss. Sora was driven, and ready for battle. Lust shone in her eyes, her mouth watered for a heart felt battle cry, and her body even slightly shook with a craving for its own adrenaline. Sora was ready, for her revenge, for her glory, for her freedom, and her fingers twitched with eagerness to do her minds bidding, but her truthful heart held them a bay, coaxing, bribing them to release her sword's hilt until the opportune moment.
They rode on until darkness; by then Sora's energy had spread to her mounts, and with every pause they made, the horses would begin to prance and toss their heads with anxiety, for they too longed for the rustic clanging of blade on blade, spirit against spirit, and body verses body!
Sora: Calm yourselves, you will be in the thick of it soon enough, do not wish it upon yourselves so quickly now.
That night, Sora redid her paint jobs on her horses, restoring their haunting ferocity to its peak, and she even took the liberty to darken her infamous angel wing birthmarks, which looked as though they were flapping as her shoulder blades shifted beneath them!
After carefully plating her glowing blonde hair into a tight braid, she wove into it several eagles' feathers, and placed a silver clasp at the braid's end to hold it. The clasp had her name inscribed on it, Sora Catherine Shietan. She also wore a new gi, it had a black top with a giant twisting silver dragon sewn on it, and a white bottom. Her golden eyes were shimmering, and they seemed as though fires roared behind them.
The battle ready, young woman waited until the others had finished their dinner and then she walked off to seek seclusion and silence, where she could practice in peace. Yahiko attempted to follow her, but Kaoru stopped his pursuit with an icy glare. So the young boy contented himself with sneaking off to spy on Sano and Megumi, who were spying on Kenshin because he had gone off to find Sora to see if she was alright. So Kaoru was stuck by herself anyway, and she had no idea where any of them had gone!
Kenshin had located his friend and so, with extreme caution, he approached her, hoping not to disturb her training. But his attempts were fruitless, for he had taken just one too many steps in her direction, and as she turned, a frightening smile playing about her face, she stopped the sword just as the edge touched his cheek, drawing one drop of crimson blood.
Kenshin: You have good self control.
Sora: Oh my gosh, I'm sorry, are you hurt?
Kenshin: No, I'm fine, that I am, but I was wondering what you were doing out here all alone. We've been worried about you Miss Sora that we have.
Sora: We, or you've been worried about me?
Kenshin: That's it; I demand to know what you mean by that, that I do!
Sora: Why ask for the answer to a question you already know?
Kenshin: Oro!?!?
Sora: Don't you 'oro' me, oh, but I did want to apologize for my rude conduct last night.
Kenshin: That's ok, you were angry, and I should be saying sorry to you.
Sora: That was kind of nice though, (she stepped closer to him as she said this, and Kenshin stepped back)
Kenshin: What was, Miss Sora?
Sora: (stepping forward again, and giggling as Kenshin backed up against a tree) When you helped me last night, not many people would have done that for me you know?
Kenshin: Well, I would think any of us would have been just as willing to aid you.........
Sora: Oh Kenshin you talk waaaaaaaaaay too much!
And as she said this she stepped towards him again and pressed her lips to his, he went stiff for a moment, but she reached up and touched his cheek with her hand before she let him pull away.
Kenshin: Miss Sora, are you feeling alright?
Sora: Only as good as a man slayer can feel before a fight!
Kenshin: Do not say such things, you are no manslayer,
Sora: (frowning) Oh please Kenshin, you aren't stupid, you've seen me, I am a monster, and that is where you and I are so different! People may tell you, that you are a manslayer, and that it haunts every fiber of your being, but that is so not true! Manslayer for you is nothing but a word and a title! And you only fear it for what it did to you in the past! For me though, it is as real as anything, for with every fiber of my being I am, and always will be, a manslayer! I was born and bred for that very purpose, and that very blood runs in my veins. I can only keep it under control for so long.
Kenshin: You do not know of what you speak, you are not like that, and how can you stand there and not fear me, or even say you don't fear what I was, or what I could become again?
Sora: Because I am what you could be, what you were, and we are one in the same in our spirits, and therefore I do not fear you! How can I fear what I have experienced myself? I have no fear! There is nothing on this Earth or in Heaven or Hell that can even startle me in the slightest! Yet you stand there and tell me to fear you, a harmless wandering boy?
Kenshin: You know that isn't true.
Sora: What?
Kenshin: You fear one thing if nothing else, and that is the loss of your friends.
Sora: You think I am afraid?
Kenshin: I know you are, for I could see it in your eyes and in your actions, the way you care for others close to you. You have such a passion for life, and yet here you are going to stand and tell me that you are heartless and without fear?
Sora: I am without fear, not without heart, and there is a fine line between the two!
Kenshin: Fine, just, forget I ever said anything about this; it isn't getting us anywhere, that it isn't!
Sora: Maybe it's better if I do not forget, but I'll settle for ending it on a good note.
Kenshin: (stopping and looking over his shoulder) And how would you do that?
Sora: Like this,
At that moment she closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his again.
A/N: Wow, isn't she aggressive?
This time she did not let him pull away; she laced her arms around his waist and leaned against him.
Sano and Megumi had been watching the scene bellow, with Yahiko sitting in the background, and though they could not hear what had been said, they saw what was happening!
Sano: (whispering to Megumi) Wow, frisky little viper, isn't she? The blond and the red head, who'd a thunk it?
Megumi: Well, she's got guts, but the question is, how will Sir Ken react to this little maneuver?
Sano: Well, if he wanted to get away, he certainly isn't trying too hard.
Megumi: (giggling as her little fox ears popped up) He's probably in shock!
Sano: See, why can't you be like that?
Megumi: What, throw a sword around at you and then throw myself on you?
Sano: Well, I certainly wouldn't mind that kind of attention.
SMACK!!
Megumi: Hey, I'm a human being, not a buffet!
Sano: OUCH! Sorry, I wasn't intending on being rude, why do you have to be so rough?
He was on his back on the ground, and as he sat up he held his hand to the smarting red handprint on his cheek. But before he could make another move Megumi had made her way over to him and was sitting beside him, her head resting on his chest, and her arms wrapped around his neck.
Megumi: Because it's the only way I can get your attention.
Sano: Well, I'm not that oblivious you know, there are other ways of getting my attention.
And he leaned in for a kiss, but of course, there was Yahiko, cat calling and whistling away.
Sano: Yahiko, go and mind your own business, I'm sure Kaoru would love some company!
Yahiko: Oh, little lovers have been discovered! For shame, and exposing my innocence to your seductive ways!
Megumi: What innocence? And I think you're just jealous.
Yahiko: Oh what?
Megumi: Of us, because, little Yahiko-chan, you know that you could NEVER capture Tsubame's attention like this!
A/N: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhh, Yahiko got burned!
And indeed, this was a crushing blow to the youngster's ego, and his cheeks flushed such a bright red that he had no choice but to run off and hide his burning face.
Sano: Boy that was harsh.
Megumi: Well, I'm tired of him interrupting us, and by god, if I have to put up with one more of his smart-alecky remarks I'm going to knock him into next week! Plus, I really wanted that kiss.
Sano: (scooping her up into his arms and carrying her back towards the camp) Well then, you can have it!
With that he fulfilled his word and held her close till they arrived back at their small camp.
Anyway, back to Sora and Kenshin!
OOPS!! Time to end the chapter, guess you'll just have to wait till next time, but hey, it was a longer chapter wasn't it?
Chapter 10,
With Every Fiber of My Being
And so, our heroes passed the stormy night in the dank and damp caves, huddled closely together for warmth. But not all was to be so dreary, for though some of them stood at the brink of death, the love for them from their companions was there to see them through. Sano held Megumi close to him, whispering small prayers that she might recover, Sora had awoken around 3 in the morning and had moved about, checking on her horses, Yahiko, and the others. Kenshin sat off in the corner, still peacefully sleeping. Sora had decided it would be best if she strolled off to enjoy her peaceful morning for herself; after all, peaceful moments were rare for her.
She headed to the top of a small over hang that was shrouded from sight by a forest. There she was able to climb the tallest tree she could find, and accompany the sun as it rose from behind the snow crested mountains. Sora gazed out across the landscape, and then contented herself with leaning back against the tree and dozing off. She was later disturbed by the calls of her companions and so, she hastened back to them.
To her great surprise, Sanakoo rode out to meet her, Kira trotting by his side, and who else do you think they bore upon their backs? You guessed it! Megumi and Yahiko, though still bandaged up, they were ready for travel, and would not stand to be delayed a moment longer. This thrilled Sora, though her other companions vainly insisted on their resting longer.
Sora: But we can be at our destination by tomorrow morning if we hurry!
As you can imagine, this set them all a flutter, for they hadn't realized how close they had come to their goal, and how soon the fight would come to achieve it. They set off later on that morning, Yahiko and Megumi saddled upon the horses, Sano and Kenshin carrying the few minor supplies they had left, and Kaoru walking patiently beside the horses. But then there was Sora, filled with a restless spirit and a longing for the young children she held so dear, she clutched the map and leapt and bound through the woods, practically flying on the air as it drove her onward!
That after noon, they had taken a break for lunch, but not Sora, she went without her meal, too invigorated to eat, despite her friends' attempts at trying to force food on her. She contented herself with collecting her weapons and polishing each one till her reflection shone in them, before she situated them on her petite form.
Her weaponry consisted of, and mind you she was careful to take them out and ready them away from her friends' vision, for fear it would cause them worry; a newly strung bow and several arrows, her mighty sword, an elegant whip, and an untraceable amount of spinning stars, daggers, and small kunai. Yes, I believe we would all agree that Sora, without a doubt, was ready for any type of skirmish that her enemies could cook up for her. Upon her return to her friends from her dressing they were quite shocked to see her so armored! Her entire personality seemed altered, she would not speak, or eat, or even smile. She was quiet, as the lioness is before she strikes her prey, yet and odd energy hovered about her. In some way she seemed ignorant, though entirely without bliss. Sora was driven, and ready for battle. Lust shone in her eyes, her mouth watered for a heart felt battle cry, and her body even slightly shook with a craving for its own adrenaline. Sora was ready, for her revenge, for her glory, for her freedom, and her fingers twitched with eagerness to do her minds bidding, but her truthful heart held them a bay, coaxing, bribing them to release her sword's hilt until the opportune moment.
They rode on until darkness; by then Sora's energy had spread to her mounts, and with every pause they made, the horses would begin to prance and toss their heads with anxiety, for they too longed for the rustic clanging of blade on blade, spirit against spirit, and body verses body!
Sora: Calm yourselves, you will be in the thick of it soon enough, do not wish it upon yourselves so quickly now.
That night, Sora redid her paint jobs on her horses, restoring their haunting ferocity to its peak, and she even took the liberty to darken her infamous angel wing birthmarks, which looked as though they were flapping as her shoulder blades shifted beneath them!
After carefully plating her glowing blonde hair into a tight braid, she wove into it several eagles' feathers, and placed a silver clasp at the braid's end to hold it. The clasp had her name inscribed on it, Sora Catherine Shietan. She also wore a new gi, it had a black top with a giant twisting silver dragon sewn on it, and a white bottom. Her golden eyes were shimmering, and they seemed as though fires roared behind them.
The battle ready, young woman waited until the others had finished their dinner and then she walked off to seek seclusion and silence, where she could practice in peace. Yahiko attempted to follow her, but Kaoru stopped his pursuit with an icy glare. So the young boy contented himself with sneaking off to spy on Sano and Megumi, who were spying on Kenshin because he had gone off to find Sora to see if she was alright. So Kaoru was stuck by herself anyway, and she had no idea where any of them had gone!
Kenshin had located his friend and so, with extreme caution, he approached her, hoping not to disturb her training. But his attempts were fruitless, for he had taken just one too many steps in her direction, and as she turned, a frightening smile playing about her face, she stopped the sword just as the edge touched his cheek, drawing one drop of crimson blood.
Kenshin: You have good self control.
Sora: Oh my gosh, I'm sorry, are you hurt?
Kenshin: No, I'm fine, that I am, but I was wondering what you were doing out here all alone. We've been worried about you Miss Sora that we have.
Sora: We, or you've been worried about me?
Kenshin: That's it; I demand to know what you mean by that, that I do!
Sora: Why ask for the answer to a question you already know?
Kenshin: Oro!?!?
Sora: Don't you 'oro' me, oh, but I did want to apologize for my rude conduct last night.
Kenshin: That's ok, you were angry, and I should be saying sorry to you.
Sora: That was kind of nice though, (she stepped closer to him as she said this, and Kenshin stepped back)
Kenshin: What was, Miss Sora?
Sora: (stepping forward again, and giggling as Kenshin backed up against a tree) When you helped me last night, not many people would have done that for me you know?
Kenshin: Well, I would think any of us would have been just as willing to aid you.........
Sora: Oh Kenshin you talk waaaaaaaaaay too much!
And as she said this she stepped towards him again and pressed her lips to his, he went stiff for a moment, but she reached up and touched his cheek with her hand before she let him pull away.
Kenshin: Miss Sora, are you feeling alright?
Sora: Only as good as a man slayer can feel before a fight!
Kenshin: Do not say such things, you are no manslayer,
Sora: (frowning) Oh please Kenshin, you aren't stupid, you've seen me, I am a monster, and that is where you and I are so different! People may tell you, that you are a manslayer, and that it haunts every fiber of your being, but that is so not true! Manslayer for you is nothing but a word and a title! And you only fear it for what it did to you in the past! For me though, it is as real as anything, for with every fiber of my being I am, and always will be, a manslayer! I was born and bred for that very purpose, and that very blood runs in my veins. I can only keep it under control for so long.
Kenshin: You do not know of what you speak, you are not like that, and how can you stand there and not fear me, or even say you don't fear what I was, or what I could become again?
Sora: Because I am what you could be, what you were, and we are one in the same in our spirits, and therefore I do not fear you! How can I fear what I have experienced myself? I have no fear! There is nothing on this Earth or in Heaven or Hell that can even startle me in the slightest! Yet you stand there and tell me to fear you, a harmless wandering boy?
Kenshin: You know that isn't true.
Sora: What?
Kenshin: You fear one thing if nothing else, and that is the loss of your friends.
Sora: You think I am afraid?
Kenshin: I know you are, for I could see it in your eyes and in your actions, the way you care for others close to you. You have such a passion for life, and yet here you are going to stand and tell me that you are heartless and without fear?
Sora: I am without fear, not without heart, and there is a fine line between the two!
Kenshin: Fine, just, forget I ever said anything about this; it isn't getting us anywhere, that it isn't!
Sora: Maybe it's better if I do not forget, but I'll settle for ending it on a good note.
Kenshin: (stopping and looking over his shoulder) And how would you do that?
Sora: Like this,
At that moment she closed the distance between them and pressed her lips to his again.
A/N: Wow, isn't she aggressive?
This time she did not let him pull away; she laced her arms around his waist and leaned against him.
Sano and Megumi had been watching the scene bellow, with Yahiko sitting in the background, and though they could not hear what had been said, they saw what was happening!
Sano: (whispering to Megumi) Wow, frisky little viper, isn't she? The blond and the red head, who'd a thunk it?
Megumi: Well, she's got guts, but the question is, how will Sir Ken react to this little maneuver?
Sano: Well, if he wanted to get away, he certainly isn't trying too hard.
Megumi: (giggling as her little fox ears popped up) He's probably in shock!
Sano: See, why can't you be like that?
Megumi: What, throw a sword around at you and then throw myself on you?
Sano: Well, I certainly wouldn't mind that kind of attention.
SMACK!!
Megumi: Hey, I'm a human being, not a buffet!
Sano: OUCH! Sorry, I wasn't intending on being rude, why do you have to be so rough?
He was on his back on the ground, and as he sat up he held his hand to the smarting red handprint on his cheek. But before he could make another move Megumi had made her way over to him and was sitting beside him, her head resting on his chest, and her arms wrapped around his neck.
Megumi: Because it's the only way I can get your attention.
Sano: Well, I'm not that oblivious you know, there are other ways of getting my attention.
And he leaned in for a kiss, but of course, there was Yahiko, cat calling and whistling away.
Sano: Yahiko, go and mind your own business, I'm sure Kaoru would love some company!
Yahiko: Oh, little lovers have been discovered! For shame, and exposing my innocence to your seductive ways!
Megumi: What innocence? And I think you're just jealous.
Yahiko: Oh what?
Megumi: Of us, because, little Yahiko-chan, you know that you could NEVER capture Tsubame's attention like this!
A/N: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhh, Yahiko got burned!
And indeed, this was a crushing blow to the youngster's ego, and his cheeks flushed such a bright red that he had no choice but to run off and hide his burning face.
Sano: Boy that was harsh.
Megumi: Well, I'm tired of him interrupting us, and by god, if I have to put up with one more of his smart-alecky remarks I'm going to knock him into next week! Plus, I really wanted that kiss.
Sano: (scooping her up into his arms and carrying her back towards the camp) Well then, you can have it!
With that he fulfilled his word and held her close till they arrived back at their small camp.
Anyway, back to Sora and Kenshin!
OOPS!! Time to end the chapter, guess you'll just have to wait till next time, but hey, it was a longer chapter wasn't it?