NYMPHA FABELLA

Chapter Two: Dark Sightings

The fairy watched as the rurouni stirred in his sleep. He was her next case, and she looked on carefully at his sweating face. She knew well enough that he was having a nightmare. She even knew what was happening in it. She had chosen to give him that horrid dream, after all. Not that she feasted in making humans suffer, but it was necessary, and this was only because everything would have to go as she planned.

Fairies were supposed to aid human beings—something she had not done in a long time. Creatures like her were not forbidden to have a hiatus, but were encouraged to help as much as they could.

And so help this man she would. And the town as well. And that tanuki who was being held under that Sorcerer's hold. And the tanuki's brother. So it had been a long time since she had last cast a spell…so what? That did not technically mean that she was losing her touch.

After all, she thought that the case she had decided to work on was difficult; but it was not impossible. She was officially back in 'business.'

Kenshin woke up, bathed in sweat. He had had one of those dreams; the sort which took him back to when he was still the Hitokiri Battousai. It had been several years since, and yet he knew that some parts of him had not changed at all from that proud warrior.

He was not as violent, and of that he was sure. Sometimes though, and this he was also aware of as well, he would shift into a cold mood, one where he would act a mite bit differently, and was more prone to scoffing and scowling.

He was in the room the widow had given him, and he lay back down in his futon again, panting. 'Maa, Kenshin, get a hold of yourself! It was just one of those nightmares--you should get some rest for the journey tomorrow, it's bound to be tiring.'

As usual, though, he had the same nightmare, and once again woke up, sweating, the pain in Tomoe's face still etched in his mind. It was not as if he wasn't getting over her. She was long gone, and somehow he had decided to let go, despite a feeling of loneliness he would get every now and then, from being a lost wanderer.

He was heading for Seijuro Hiko's, which was still some distance away. He had not seen his sensei for a while, and hoped he was doing well. Kenshin stood up in the dark and decided to change into a fresh gi to replace the one that was dripping wet and sticking to his body.

The generous widow had given him a room which was small, but cozy all the same. He had been told it had been her daughter's, and how it had not been used for quite a time.

The fairy frowned in concentration. To follow her plan, she had to simply steer the man's thoughts on the town. It was imperative. She had to cast the spell on him now, before it was too late.

Having nothing else to think about, Kenshin's thoughts now shifted to the weird place he was in, and he began to wonder how such a kind widow like his widowed friend, Aika-san could live in such a lonely hamlet.

'Demo,' Kenshin thought, 'This place wasn't always like this…it can't have been. The whole town is a mess, and yet no government officials come to help.' He lay back down on his futon, thinking. Last time he had visited Hiko, the man had told him he was too obsessed about making up for his assassin days.

But then again, he knew his shishou meant well, and that there was certainly something wrong. Sighing, he tried to go back into his usual shallow slumber, remembering how Aika-san had turned lonesome when they had discussed the matter during supper. Whatever was happening, it was definitely not a good thing.

Kenshin tossed and turned. He knew it was none of his business. This did not concern him at all. Did he dare try to even investigate on the matter? After all, he was just a 'washed-up old samurai, as many folks he had passed by had called him. Why he felt like it was his job to aid the town…he knew not. Kenshin tried to reason with himself about the matter.

Sure he wanted to help people, but that would be when he was really involved in the problem, and was in the right to help, but this time, he had only decided to stay overnight at someone's house. The widow didn't ask for any help from him. No one else did. So the town was weird. A lot of things were weird as well, so why did something in this town bother him so much? And all of a sudden as well?!!!

He turned and tossed again, and spotted a piece of paper tucked under his pillow. Curious, Kenshin pulled it out gently, lifting his head a bit. He put a dim light on his oil lamp, and set his eyes on the crumpled and almost half-torn piece of parchment.

It turned out to be an unfinished sketch, one of a family. The father, in the picture, looked young and energetic, his arm around a woman whom he recognized as his widowed friend around her early thirties, carrying a child whose face had only been half-finished.

Kenshin let out a grim smile. Something about the picture nagged at him, and something new filled his veins.

He was fast asleep a few moments later, his dream now of a young couple and their child, the only good dream he had for many countless nights, when even the brightness of the moonlight outside seemed to rob him of sleep.

***@***

The moonlight streamed through the window, its faint blue light filling the whole bed. The room smelled of jasmine now, and an eerie silence loomed about, except when it would be interrupted by a few sobs now and then, bringing about tears which wet the soft, smooth pillows, as fingers trembled and clutched at the warm blanket of the bed.

Kaoru felt more tears run down her cheeks. No matter how warm the room was, she could feel a sad, cold wind about her as she cried herself to sleep. Homesickness never was a good feeling, after all.

She missed her younger brother, she missed practice with him, and even cleaning the yard. She missed all their neighbors, and everything about the simple life she had once led. Yukishiro Enishi was not satisfied with stealing her dojo, and keeping her in that cursed manor. Now, he was planning on renovating her family's property to another one of his estates.

As for Yahiko, Kaoru had no idea whatsoever about his whereabouts, or if he was even alive. Finally, as though she had run out of tears, Kaoru got up, feeling empty and wary at the same time.

She headed for one of the large windows and drew aside its elongated curtain, staring nonchalantly at the smooth lawn below her, and the stars above. 'Kami-sama, onegai, don't leave me like this forever…there must be SOMEONE, someone out there who can help me.' She thought desperately, though feeling thoroughly ashamed.

After all, Kamiya Kaoru was known never to give up. She was strong and brave, and she didn't care about what other people thought about her. Not that she hadn't tried to escape from her captor. Only a few weeks ago she had sneaked out of the manor, knocking out a dozen gaurds with a shinai she had seen displayed in the huge escutcheon.

Unfortunately, the manor gates themselves were under enchantment, and the moment her fingers touched them, she felt a strong, burning pain in her body. It had taken her days to recover, and received only a smirk from Enishi, and a warning that if such an escape was ever attempted by her again, she would take more than months to recover.

But she would not lose hope; what more pity herself. She was never one for such, and she was not going to begin to do so at a time like this.

Thinking about her current situation for the ten thousandth time since she had been brought there made her head hurt, and dizzily she made her way back to her grand four-postered bed, not knowing whether Kami-sama had heard, and not seeing a spying sprite-like entity, watching her from outside one of the windows; the creature's green-black hair flowing with the wind, paper-white skin shining in the moonlight, red lips in a mysterious smile, and devious brown eyes twinkling. It was the same one who had given the rurouni the nightmare.

***@***

The alley's stench was overwhelming. All around lay refuse and rotten food, while a small, dirty creek ran along its side; not even sparkling one bit as the early morning sun shone on it.

However, the young boy who sat in one of the same alley's corners kept his head bowed, as if eager to blend with his surroundings instead of trying to find a better place to stay in. Only when he heard the sound of footsteps did he look up, and start to reach for the bokken which lay by his side.

The stranger seemed pretty young for someone who carried a sword by his side, but that was not what caught Yahiko's attention. The man had long tresses of red in a low ponytail and an ugly cross-shaped scar on one cheek. He caught Yahiko's eye for a mere second, stopped, and frowned thoughtfully at the boy who was dressed in a muddy gi and torn hakama.

This was enough for Yahiko, and he stood up right away, ready to defend himself if necessary. "Oro?" Was the unexpected reply he got, the man's eyes widening ten times than its normal size. "What's the matter? Sessha is only passing by…"

Yahiko continued to glare at him, his eyes determined. "Passing by?! I don't believe you, mister. What's with the sword then, huh? Don't try to hide it! I know your one of his men, and it's no use trying to run!"

The man shot him a look of complete puzzlement, his eyes still wide open. "Ororororo? Maa, I told you, I was just passing by--there is no use in attacking someone like me." Kenshin felt slightly alarmed, and yet curious. It wasn't every day he would pass by a young boy who would start interrogating him. "Oh yeah? Well if that's the truth then you should have no trouble telling me where you're headed!" The boy demanded.

The man shrugged. "Sessha will head for the next forest a little after this town. My friend who lives around here needs help, and sessha will return for her after visiting my shishou for a while--is there anything else you'd want to ask?" He smiled warmly at the boy, his violet eyes shining kindly.

Yahiko put his bokken down. "So you're really not one of his men?" The man frowned. "Iie, not at all. But tell, me who is this guy you keep mentioning? Are his men after you?" He asked, with a surprising amount of concern in his voice.

Yahiko frowned at him, then snickered. "You don't know who I'm talking about? Boy then you really must be just a passer-by! I'm talking about the evil man who has come to destroy this place, baka." 'What an idiot…passing by this town and not knowing the dangers of it! Not to mention he looks kinda freaky.'

At these words the man crouched in front of Yahiko, a serious _expression on his face. "Evil man?" Yahiko rolled his eyes. "Hai, an evil man. Hasn't your 'friend' told you about him? He's really powerful, and I don't just mean in the fighting arts."

The man frowned. "Oro? What do you mean?" Yahiko narrowed his eyes, thinking. How in the world could he possibly explain this to this guy without making it seem like he was just an orphaned boy who had lost his mind? And why was he so…nosy?

"Well, I know it sounds weird (and don't start thinking I'm mental), but he--he knows some kind of magic, or something." To Yahiko's surprise the last word did not seem to make the man think he was lying. Instead, the stranger continued to watch him intently, as if Yahiko was talking about school, or other things of normality.

"Magic, my friend? What kind of magic?" "Well, bad magic, you know, the real dark one? Or so he says, but everyone can see it's not a bluff. He burned thousands of families in their household with a single word, and managed to curse certain areas around town by just glaring. No one knows where he came from--not even his real identity. To us, he's just the devil who came to destroy us."

"So he is the man…" The stranger stood, the _expression on his face hard to read. Suddenly he looked at Yahiko from head to toe, and smiled kindly. "How impolite; Sessha has not introduced myself. My name is Himura Kenshin."

He kept the smile on his face even as he recalled breakfast earlier, with the widow he had met, Mimasaka Aika. Remembering how a sudden fiery curiosity had entered his system about the town and its very few inhabitants the night before, he had finally found the courage to ask Mimasaka-san what was going on. She had refused to tell him much, leaving him puzzled.

Yahiko shrugged again, seeing no harm in returning the greeting. "Kamiya Yahiko." Kenshin continued to smile at him. The boy was dirty, and though he tried to hide it, Kenshin could see that he had not had much sleep, because of the dark circle under his eyes. Yahiko's clothes hang around him loosely as well—too loosely, in fact. Poor kid…

"All right then Yahiko, since we both know each other, how about you go with me to my shishou house? It's in the next forest sessha told you about. After all, you seem like you could use some help?"

Yahiko goggled at him. Was this guy mentally unstable? He had only met him, after all, and now he was trying to help? Kenshin started to walk away, and when he realized Yahiko did not follow, he turned around and grinned. "Sessha will not bite, you know. Sessha will even offer any help you need, if you want."

Yahiko hesitated for a second. "Demo, we're coming back, right?" After all, he had some business to take care of himself. "I mean, you said you'd come back for a friend? And if you're some kind of bandit you'd better say so right now, mister or you'll regret it!" He waved his bokken at Kenshin threateningly.

Kenshin smiled again, then continued to walk away. Yahiko bit his lip, then finally shouted for him to wait up. Turning one last time to the town proper and the alley he was in only a few minutes ago, he made a silent vow.

'I'll be back, busu and I'll bring help back, I promise.'

A/N:

Are you guys getting confused yet? Oh well, I promise things will get better…? Clearer? Huh? Anyway, I hope you guys don't think it's that bad :) ;) And I hope you won't give up reading it just yet…please give me some time to adjust…

"No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars,

Or sailed to an uncharted land,

Or opened a new heaven to the human spirit."

-Helen Keller

Heehee. I just got that from an SMS, and I'm the kind of person who writes poems as well and is a sucker for quotes. If you read my other story, you'll see I even used Shakespeare; I apologize if you guys find me overwhelmingly weird though… *Evil Laughter*