Chapter 13: Three Weeks Later...
A/N: Well, I'm having some problems deciding where to go from here, but I think I can make this work. I'm also having problems concentrating, cause the puppy is missing and I have bronchial sped-ness. (Sped means "Special Education. Or Retarded for those select SPED's out there.) It hurts to breathe, but fortunately for you it doesn't hurt to type! WOOHOO! Lemme see, I have a 6 weeks test tomorrow, but it's only vocabulary, and I should be ok in that department. I've drank so many carbonated things trying to get rid of this bronchial...CRAP that I'm all...carbonated. I'm also having problems deciding whether I should stretch this out or just end it. If you guys have any suggestions, PLEASE let me know, I'm realllllllly losing my touch here. There's no angst for me to go on! NOOOOO! Lol. Well, I had fluff in the last chapter! WOOHOO FLUFF! YAAAA! *giggles* Well, I think I've stalled about all I can for this A/N...Darn.
Disclaimer: I Don't own RK, but I do own this empty Dr. Pepper bottle sitting beside me here at the computer. Actually, no I don't, someone else bought it for me. DARN!!
~^~^~
"Fjork, I can't! I...I just...can't..." Hitomi cried, pushing against his prodding fingers. "Come on Hitomi! It's been three weeks since you remembered that YOU HAVE A SON and you still haven't even made contact with him!" Fjork exclaimed. "The poor guy is probably very comfuszulated since you let him remember so suddenly!"
Hitomi grinned at Fjork's new word. He seemed to make new ones up all the time. Then she grimaced as Fjork raised his eyebrows. "Now what are you going to do Miss Hitomi?" "I'm gonna go tell my Shinta that--FJORK I CAN'T DO IT!"
"Sure you can! Just...DO it." Fjork grinned, poking her in the ribs. Hitomi shied away, giggling. "But the only thing is...I'm younger than he is...well sorta." Hitomi complained. "He won't believe me!" "Now Hitomi, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but he's not exactly the oldest lookin' fella."
"Well DUH, He's my Shinta, doomed to be perfect!"
Fjork mildly smacked his forehead in exasperation. "Am I going to have to teleport us down there?"
Hitomi stuck out her tongue. "You CAN'T teleport, idiot."
Fjork frowned. ".....so?"
~^~^~
"Yahiko, be quiet! Kenshin is resting! He may act like he's ok, but remember he is still very sick!" Kaoru scolded. "Yeah, yeah. I know." Yahiko grumbled. Kaoru hummed quietly in the few minutes of near silence that ensued as Yahiko watched her roll rice balls. "Hey...Kaoru?"
Kaoru nearly dropped the rice ball she was rolling. She didn't, luckily, but what she did do was squash it to a pulp. Since when did Yahiko call her Kaoru instead of busu or ugly? Usually he only called her Kaoru when he was worried, or scared, or wanted something, or needed to talk to her, or--
"Is Kenshin going to be ok?"
Kaoru smiled. So that's what was wrong. She laid the mutilated rice ball down and hugged Yahiko. "Of course he is...he just needs some time." Yahiko stayed in her embrace, happy to accept comfort, well as long as no one else was watching...
"Hey Yahiko, I never knew you and Jou-chan were so close!"
Yahiko immediately turned beet red and started struggling out of Kaoru's grip. "I'm not close, the busu's trying to squash me like she did that rice ball!"
"MOU! Yahiko, I would have thought you would have at least been more considerate! YOU'RE THE ONE THAT ASKED!!"
"I DID NOT, UGLY!"
"UGLY?!?!?!?"
Sano smiled. So these two were feeling ok, at least. That probably meant that Kenshin was doing better. "I'll see you two later, I'm going to check on Kenshin." Kaoru and Yahiko didn't even slow the tempo of their bickering. Sano rolled his eyes and walked out of the kitchen.
Once outside the kitchen walls, it was relatively peaceful in the dojo. The gentle caress of the wind tickled the blossoms on the tall sakura tree; a few fluttered softly in a graceful descent to the ground. Fall was on its way, that was for sure! The slightest nip was in the wind, only enough to make the former Seki-Houtai member even more proud of the jacket he wore.
The few flowers Kaoru had decided to plant that year were still in full bloom, though a few of the oldest were dying. The bright red, yellows, oranges, and a few purples smiled up at him gaily, reminding him of Kaoru's buoyant mood. 'It was a good idea for her to brighten up the dojo, it can get so gloomy here sometimes.' he thought.
Now to see Kenshin. The rurouni seemed subdued lately, probably pondering what exactly had happened during his fever. Sano couldn't swear by it, but he thought he'd noticed something wrong the past few days. Like Kenshin was hiding something from them. Sano paused outside Kenshin's door. What would he find when he entered?
"Mother...why? Why did you try to kill Kaoru? And why did I remember?"
Sano's ears perk at Kenshin's distressed voice. Was he dreaming? Wasn't Kenshin's mother dead? Maybe this was what had been bothering him lately.
~^~^~
"Fjork, you know what you must do. The obstacle must be removed, it and all its connections. There is no other way. You will do the honors."
Fjork closed his eyes. How had the Others found out? And now...now he was being ordered to kill Battousai and all his friends. And family. Which meant Hitomi. He scanned the austere room. There was no way they'd let him off this time, it was evident in their hard, set faces. Fjork sighed. "I will."
~^~^~
Kenshin sighed. This was getting frustrating. He wasn't sure whether he was supposed to pray to his mother, or just talk to her. Either way he was getting no answer. Was it all just a dream, a figment of his fever? No, he remembered still her soft, caring face.
Would she have aged much?
Had she changed as much as he?
Did she know about his father?
Kenshin banged his hands against the low desk before him. The cup of green tea bounced and tipped over. Kenshin took no heed and buried his head in his arms. He was just so tired! It had been three weeks, and still he could barely do anything. His strength was not returning.
'Why?' he thought. 'Why am I still so weak? I should be up and about by now, helping out around the dojo and proclaiming my love to dearest Kaoru, but noooo, I still remain fragile and breakable. WHY?!'
He stared at his wrists. The bandages came off a week ago, but the wounds were still there. Angry, red lines he'd carved into his self-being. Those lines made him wonder, no, he'd admit it this time, those lines made him YEARN to taste what death was like. He'd been so close, so near the brink of eternal happiness that he could reach out and touch it. He'd been close to his mother.
He missed her, whether he admit it or not.
Kenshin glanced to his sword in the corner. Would they miss him if he did it? Sure Kaoru would, but lately she recoiled from him when he reached for her. Just yesterday he'd almost fallen in his weakness, but he'd grabbed Kaoru's arm before he could, only to look back up into terror-stricken eyes. When he'd asked her what was wrong, she looked away quickly and responded with a simple, "Nothing."
He knew he wasn't the strongest, but it wouldn't take much to reopen those angry red lines. Wouldn't take much to watch his life slip from his grasp. Wouldn't take much for him to meet his parents again. Would it take much to build his courage? Could he really do it, were Kaoru's life not on the line? He wasn't sure anymore, his will to live outweighing the outstanding cons.
He crawled to his sword, unsheathing it to stare at the blade. It was still just as sharp as before. He ran his finger down the blade, hissing slightly when the edge sliced into it. He took a deep breath. He would do it, he wanted to see them again. Besides, he could always be with Kaoru later.
Kenshin pressed down on the wound. A shallow cut appeared, but it bled profusely. That shallow cut was all Kenshin needed to bring him back to his senses. "WHAT AM I DOING?! SOMEONE! HELP!!!!" Kenshin cried, wrapping his other hand around the bloody wrist. He kicked his sword away, perhaps they'd think he'd just injured it again.
Sano burst into the room as the sword slid away. "Kenshin!"
"Sano..." Kenshin gasped. "I stopped myself."
"I'm glad buddy, now hang on..." Sano tore a strip from his jacket and tied a tight tourniquet around the wound. The snippet of white jacket immediately turned bright red. Kenshin's eyes rolled wildly and he collapsed on the floor. Sano gently moved him to the futon.
When would the madness end?
~^~^~
A/N: Well I'm at it again. Oh well.
Sofa-chan: Glad you liked it, I had to make sure it would be the kind of thing that was just subtle enough to make people read it again and again. Glad you caught it, not that it was that hard to catch anyhow. KUDOS TO YOU!!!
kenshinzgurl: Glad you like! Uh...I don't know why you say that either?
Dark-love-dove: OK! OK! HERE'S MORE JUST DON'T HURT ME! Yay, a new reader! YAY! Thanks for liking my story, and by the way, if you like this, I also write with one of my friends under the joint username TwoVeryAmusedAuthors. We currently have two fics up (I think) WAIT NO THREE! And the best one of them is An Old Acquaintance, though not all of it is posted....
Falling_from_the_sky: Here's the update!! OH NO NOT THE BABY PICTURES! AHHH! GIVE THOSE BACK HOW DARE YOU RAID MY HOUSE! MWAHAHAH! But I have...THESE! *holds embarrassing pictures of NON-baby pictures of fallingfromthesky!*
Koishii-glory: You know I really don't know. She had to leave though, because by staying she was putting them all in danger, you know?
Brittanie Love: Thank you! I'm glad you like it, the main thing that pushed me through this writer's block was you guys!
yakul: Oh I understand! COOLNESS!
Playing In Traffic: Geez you so kind to me. *sigh* Don't know what I'd do without you PT!!!
A/N: Well, I'm having some problems deciding where to go from here, but I think I can make this work. I'm also having problems concentrating, cause the puppy is missing and I have bronchial sped-ness. (Sped means "Special Education. Or Retarded for those select SPED's out there.) It hurts to breathe, but fortunately for you it doesn't hurt to type! WOOHOO! Lemme see, I have a 6 weeks test tomorrow, but it's only vocabulary, and I should be ok in that department. I've drank so many carbonated things trying to get rid of this bronchial...CRAP that I'm all...carbonated. I'm also having problems deciding whether I should stretch this out or just end it. If you guys have any suggestions, PLEASE let me know, I'm realllllllly losing my touch here. There's no angst for me to go on! NOOOOO! Lol. Well, I had fluff in the last chapter! WOOHOO FLUFF! YAAAA! *giggles* Well, I think I've stalled about all I can for this A/N...Darn.
Disclaimer: I Don't own RK, but I do own this empty Dr. Pepper bottle sitting beside me here at the computer. Actually, no I don't, someone else bought it for me. DARN!!
~^~^~
"Fjork, I can't! I...I just...can't..." Hitomi cried, pushing against his prodding fingers. "Come on Hitomi! It's been three weeks since you remembered that YOU HAVE A SON and you still haven't even made contact with him!" Fjork exclaimed. "The poor guy is probably very comfuszulated since you let him remember so suddenly!"
Hitomi grinned at Fjork's new word. He seemed to make new ones up all the time. Then she grimaced as Fjork raised his eyebrows. "Now what are you going to do Miss Hitomi?" "I'm gonna go tell my Shinta that--FJORK I CAN'T DO IT!"
"Sure you can! Just...DO it." Fjork grinned, poking her in the ribs. Hitomi shied away, giggling. "But the only thing is...I'm younger than he is...well sorta." Hitomi complained. "He won't believe me!" "Now Hitomi, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but he's not exactly the oldest lookin' fella."
"Well DUH, He's my Shinta, doomed to be perfect!"
Fjork mildly smacked his forehead in exasperation. "Am I going to have to teleport us down there?"
Hitomi stuck out her tongue. "You CAN'T teleport, idiot."
Fjork frowned. ".....so?"
~^~^~
"Yahiko, be quiet! Kenshin is resting! He may act like he's ok, but remember he is still very sick!" Kaoru scolded. "Yeah, yeah. I know." Yahiko grumbled. Kaoru hummed quietly in the few minutes of near silence that ensued as Yahiko watched her roll rice balls. "Hey...Kaoru?"
Kaoru nearly dropped the rice ball she was rolling. She didn't, luckily, but what she did do was squash it to a pulp. Since when did Yahiko call her Kaoru instead of busu or ugly? Usually he only called her Kaoru when he was worried, or scared, or wanted something, or needed to talk to her, or--
"Is Kenshin going to be ok?"
Kaoru smiled. So that's what was wrong. She laid the mutilated rice ball down and hugged Yahiko. "Of course he is...he just needs some time." Yahiko stayed in her embrace, happy to accept comfort, well as long as no one else was watching...
"Hey Yahiko, I never knew you and Jou-chan were so close!"
Yahiko immediately turned beet red and started struggling out of Kaoru's grip. "I'm not close, the busu's trying to squash me like she did that rice ball!"
"MOU! Yahiko, I would have thought you would have at least been more considerate! YOU'RE THE ONE THAT ASKED!!"
"I DID NOT, UGLY!"
"UGLY?!?!?!?"
Sano smiled. So these two were feeling ok, at least. That probably meant that Kenshin was doing better. "I'll see you two later, I'm going to check on Kenshin." Kaoru and Yahiko didn't even slow the tempo of their bickering. Sano rolled his eyes and walked out of the kitchen.
Once outside the kitchen walls, it was relatively peaceful in the dojo. The gentle caress of the wind tickled the blossoms on the tall sakura tree; a few fluttered softly in a graceful descent to the ground. Fall was on its way, that was for sure! The slightest nip was in the wind, only enough to make the former Seki-Houtai member even more proud of the jacket he wore.
The few flowers Kaoru had decided to plant that year were still in full bloom, though a few of the oldest were dying. The bright red, yellows, oranges, and a few purples smiled up at him gaily, reminding him of Kaoru's buoyant mood. 'It was a good idea for her to brighten up the dojo, it can get so gloomy here sometimes.' he thought.
Now to see Kenshin. The rurouni seemed subdued lately, probably pondering what exactly had happened during his fever. Sano couldn't swear by it, but he thought he'd noticed something wrong the past few days. Like Kenshin was hiding something from them. Sano paused outside Kenshin's door. What would he find when he entered?
"Mother...why? Why did you try to kill Kaoru? And why did I remember?"
Sano's ears perk at Kenshin's distressed voice. Was he dreaming? Wasn't Kenshin's mother dead? Maybe this was what had been bothering him lately.
~^~^~
"Fjork, you know what you must do. The obstacle must be removed, it and all its connections. There is no other way. You will do the honors."
Fjork closed his eyes. How had the Others found out? And now...now he was being ordered to kill Battousai and all his friends. And family. Which meant Hitomi. He scanned the austere room. There was no way they'd let him off this time, it was evident in their hard, set faces. Fjork sighed. "I will."
~^~^~
Kenshin sighed. This was getting frustrating. He wasn't sure whether he was supposed to pray to his mother, or just talk to her. Either way he was getting no answer. Was it all just a dream, a figment of his fever? No, he remembered still her soft, caring face.
Would she have aged much?
Had she changed as much as he?
Did she know about his father?
Kenshin banged his hands against the low desk before him. The cup of green tea bounced and tipped over. Kenshin took no heed and buried his head in his arms. He was just so tired! It had been three weeks, and still he could barely do anything. His strength was not returning.
'Why?' he thought. 'Why am I still so weak? I should be up and about by now, helping out around the dojo and proclaiming my love to dearest Kaoru, but noooo, I still remain fragile and breakable. WHY?!'
He stared at his wrists. The bandages came off a week ago, but the wounds were still there. Angry, red lines he'd carved into his self-being. Those lines made him wonder, no, he'd admit it this time, those lines made him YEARN to taste what death was like. He'd been so close, so near the brink of eternal happiness that he could reach out and touch it. He'd been close to his mother.
He missed her, whether he admit it or not.
Kenshin glanced to his sword in the corner. Would they miss him if he did it? Sure Kaoru would, but lately she recoiled from him when he reached for her. Just yesterday he'd almost fallen in his weakness, but he'd grabbed Kaoru's arm before he could, only to look back up into terror-stricken eyes. When he'd asked her what was wrong, she looked away quickly and responded with a simple, "Nothing."
He knew he wasn't the strongest, but it wouldn't take much to reopen those angry red lines. Wouldn't take much to watch his life slip from his grasp. Wouldn't take much for him to meet his parents again. Would it take much to build his courage? Could he really do it, were Kaoru's life not on the line? He wasn't sure anymore, his will to live outweighing the outstanding cons.
He crawled to his sword, unsheathing it to stare at the blade. It was still just as sharp as before. He ran his finger down the blade, hissing slightly when the edge sliced into it. He took a deep breath. He would do it, he wanted to see them again. Besides, he could always be with Kaoru later.
Kenshin pressed down on the wound. A shallow cut appeared, but it bled profusely. That shallow cut was all Kenshin needed to bring him back to his senses. "WHAT AM I DOING?! SOMEONE! HELP!!!!" Kenshin cried, wrapping his other hand around the bloody wrist. He kicked his sword away, perhaps they'd think he'd just injured it again.
Sano burst into the room as the sword slid away. "Kenshin!"
"Sano..." Kenshin gasped. "I stopped myself."
"I'm glad buddy, now hang on..." Sano tore a strip from his jacket and tied a tight tourniquet around the wound. The snippet of white jacket immediately turned bright red. Kenshin's eyes rolled wildly and he collapsed on the floor. Sano gently moved him to the futon.
When would the madness end?
~^~^~
A/N: Well I'm at it again. Oh well.
Sofa-chan: Glad you liked it, I had to make sure it would be the kind of thing that was just subtle enough to make people read it again and again. Glad you caught it, not that it was that hard to catch anyhow. KUDOS TO YOU!!!
kenshinzgurl: Glad you like! Uh...I don't know why you say that either?
Dark-love-dove: OK! OK! HERE'S MORE JUST DON'T HURT ME! Yay, a new reader! YAY! Thanks for liking my story, and by the way, if you like this, I also write with one of my friends under the joint username TwoVeryAmusedAuthors. We currently have two fics up (I think) WAIT NO THREE! And the best one of them is An Old Acquaintance, though not all of it is posted....
Falling_from_the_sky: Here's the update!! OH NO NOT THE BABY PICTURES! AHHH! GIVE THOSE BACK HOW DARE YOU RAID MY HOUSE! MWAHAHAH! But I have...THESE! *holds embarrassing pictures of NON-baby pictures of fallingfromthesky!*
Koishii-glory: You know I really don't know. She had to leave though, because by staying she was putting them all in danger, you know?
Brittanie Love: Thank you! I'm glad you like it, the main thing that pushed me through this writer's block was you guys!
yakul: Oh I understand! COOLNESS!
Playing In Traffic: Geez you so kind to me. *sigh* Don't know what I'd do without you PT!!!