Disclaimer: No…I'm afraid my birth certificate doesn't claim that I am Nobuhiro Watsuki…

A/N: I'm weird, I'm masochistic, and I'm back…Anyway, I know I shouldn't have gone off like that but I had more important things to handle that required all my concentration. Or most of it, anyway. I'm also really pissed right now, so, I'm sorry if this will be lousy. It's just that I have a lot going on right now. Hope to hear from you guys. That would really cheer me up.

*masochistic in not a perverted manner, you green minded critters!!!*

Chapter 14: Fairies

So sad…so painful. Like a needle piercing the heart. Each breath hurt like hell and neither Kenshin nor Battousai was in control. He lay there, panting, staring at the cold stone ceiling. Grime and slime filled its crevices. The man who was lying on the ground, clutching his sakabatou wondered if his life could be likened to the ceiling: stained, cold and rotten.

The wounds were nothing to the throbbing pain in his chest. Enishi. Kenshin's eyes widened then shut in despair. Had he…?

***@***

Panting, sweating, Kaoru looked up as she knelt on the floor, holding Yahiko. The impact had been so strong and blinding it had made her think they would all burn in the heat of the moment.

The ki had simply flown in torrents from Battousai, not unlike a huge wave washing over her. For now, however, there was silence in the lonely chamber—up until one melodic voice spoke up, in a tone that suggested it was answering an unvoiced question.

"You killed no one, Rurouni."

Kaoru whipped her head in astonishment. A few paces to her right stood a woman whose eyes were focused on Battousai. Her hair moved in an invisible wind and her eyes twinkled with mystery and something else Kaoru could not name. Next to her, Kaoru felt strange, and unmistakably bewildered.

She looked familiar…too familiar, and as the tall woman glided gracefully to where the red-haired man lay, Kaoru gaped openly. She was the woman she had seen, right before Enishi had dragged her off to this room!

"Who are you?" Kaoru's voice came out as a squeak. She gathered herself together. She had had enough; if she could face Enishi then surely she could face this strange woman.

But the stranger only glanced once at her, then crouched near Battousai. "He's hurt. I suspect he passed out only a few moments ago." She turned her sharp, mysterious eyes to Kaoru. "I may need your help here, mortal though you may be."

What the…? Mortal though she may be? Kaoru clenched her jaw tightly. "You haven't answered me yet. I don't know who you are or how you got here, but I'm telling you right now," She started to lift Yahiko slowly, though her wounds were hurting as well. "I've taken enough of all this. I'm going to get my brother and myself out of here and…"

"And leave Battousai here, am I right? Leave this place, forget everything that happened and most importantly, forget you didn't get out of this alone. Do you think it was mere chance that Battousai defeated someone as powerful as Enishi?" She gestured to the unconscious sorcerer.

Kaoru watched her closely. "I don't know what you're trying to say—

"What I'm trying to say, tanuki, is…"She continued to kneel beside the unconscious, red haired man. She held out her hand in front of her, as if asking for a blessing, and a white orb appeared on her palm. "I helped you until this point, and I won't let you put all that work to waste."

Entranced, Kaoru stared at the glowing orb. The woman's voice swept over her like a cold winter breeze. "Show me what you want, Kaoru. Show me all your heart's desires."

Before she knew it, Kaoru's eyes were already focused on the white orb. And all her desires surfaced like a tidal wave of dream-like emotions. She saw Yahiko and herself, settled once again in her dojo, bickering but happy; she saw students lined up outside, eager for a lesson; daily visits to her parents' graves…She saw all the good things she wanted back, and nearly burst into tears without knowing it.

There was a soft melody playing, a lullaby she had known since her childhood. Time was a lost thing that floated unnoticed, and then quite suddenly all the images of happiness disappeared as if they were never there at all; an eternity that had lasted only a few seconds

***@***

"…So that is what you want…" The strange woman's words were a low murmur. Kaoru looked up, stunned and indignant. Instead of retaliating though, all she could do was gape. They were outside in a magnificent forest where they were showered with fine sunlight and surrounded by budding flowers and shrubs from every side. She was kneeling on the grass, and beside her leaning on a tree trunk was Yahiko, who looked as if he wasn't hurt at all.

"Don't worry, tanuki, you'll have all those things you want soon enough." Despite herself, and not realizing all her physical aches were gone, Kaoru scowled at her. "I still don't know who you are; and I don't think I can trust you. If this is your doing—

Kaoru gestured to the towering trees and singing birds around her. "I'm thankful you brought us out of that horrid place, but I think I've had enough with people who can do magic, so I would be more than happy to see you leave."

Sharp brown and extremely mysterious eyes met hers. "I will have you know I did more than this for you, tanuki. Besides, I can't leave until you have thanked me, and this nice man over here." She pointed to the man who was struggling to his feet, weak, but certainly unwounded. Kaoru caught a glimpse of deep violet eyes and a crown of long, flame-red hair. "Battousai…" She managed in a glazed murmur.

The man looked up and she had almost wished she had not opened her mouth. However, he just looked around them innocently and turned his attention to Kaoru. "You must be Yahiko's older sister." His eyes fell on the seemingly asleep boy. "Is he…"

Beside him, the strange woman rolled her eyes. "Mortals…" She muttered, and in a louder voice. "Oh, for goodness' sake, he's fine; I've healed his wounds-and yours too, Rurouni. And no, you didn't break your 'vow' because you didn't kill Enishi. Now aren't you going to thank me?" She asked Kaoru haughtily.

Kaoru's eyes widened in shock. "Nani? Why should I?" The strange woman drew herself up magnificently, smiling at both Kaoru and the man beside her. "Because I, dear Kamiya Kaoru, am Megumi of the Fairies. I, my dear girl, brought him," she pointed at the red-haired man. "To you. I cast a spell on him, to help you out of Enishi's clutches. If I hadn't done that, your younger brother over there, Sleeping Spiky Hair, would've been killed trying to rescue you out of that place.

I asked you to show me your heart's desire so that I could make all those positive images into salves that would heal you, Rurouni over there and your brother from the wounds inflicted by evil. Do not fail me and tell me you cannot believe this, girl. You have been held captive by a sorcerer; can you not face the fact that I am a fairy?"

Kaoru opened her mouth to reply, but the so-called Rurouni spoke up first. "I believe you." His voice was solemn. "At least, I know for sure that you cast a spell on me, and that you healed all of us. I never believed in supernatural things, but I think that after seeing all those things, all I can really do is be grateful to you for helping Yahiko and me rescue his sister."

Kaoru stared at him in astonishment. "You were really coming to save me? With Yahiko? And you don't mind being put under a spell and all…Battousai?" He blinked at her, as if realizing she was really there for the first time. He gave her a small smile. "I go by Himura Kenshin now, Kaoru-dono, is it?"

Megumi yawned. "Well, you two bore me." She turned to Kenshin. "It seems I will have to accept your thanks alone, for now." She stared meaningly at Kaoru. "By the way, my dear girl, there is one thing I cannot help you with: Even though I stripped Enishi's power through his defeat by Kenshin, I still cannot break the spell on your dojo. Right now, even if you tried to break in, you would not be able to. The place is surrounded by a deadly spell, which would turn you into ashes. You can only break the spell, if you look for the Hidden Sapphire."

Kaoru shook her head. "I'm sorry I could not believe you at first, but if possible my disbelief now is even greater. How can I find something I've never heard of before?" Megumi shrugged. "It's a jewel, smaller than the palm of your hand. It is said it is in the possession of the Naiads—they reside in the northern hills. You had better hurry up, though; the longer you delay, the more the spell will destroy and corrupt your humble abode." She yawned again, and disappeared.

***@***

Kenshin turned his attention from the spot where the fairy had once stood to the young girl whose head was bowed. She was wearing a simple, blue and white kimono, and her whole appearance looked as disheveled as his. "Kaoru-dono? I understand this is a very hard time for you, right now—

"Why?" Kaoru's head looked up at his and she watched him naively. "Do you think I'm going to let what she told me get me down? After everything I've been through?" She laughed. "Then you really don't know me yet, Mr. Put-Me-Under-A-Spell-Anytime. I'm going to hunt that jewel down if it's the last thing I do." She marched over to Yahiko and prodded the kid with her foot. "Hey, Freaky-Boy, wake up, will you?"

Yahiko leapt up with a vengeance. "What did you just call me? Is this the thanks I get for trying to save you! Just because you were able to get away from not thanking that fairy properly doesn't mean you won't be thanking me, Ugly!"

"So, you were awake all along, were you? Well, my little eavesdropper of a brother, you're going to find us an inn tonight so we can look for that jewel as soon as possible!"

Kenshin blinked. She was acting as if nothing unusual had happened and that they had never been in any danger. He shrugged. What was he still doing there? He had defeated Enishi, and from what Megumi-san had said, he did it without killing him. He had no reason to bother Yahiko and his sister with his presence anymore. He started to walk away.

"Yo, Kenshin!!!" Yahiko's voice rang out. "Where do you think you're going?" Kenshin halted and gave him one last look. "I was very happy to have helped both of you. I guess I will be going now, but not without wishing you a safe trip and success as well." He smiled.

Yahiko stared at him. "What?! Aren't you going to help us find the jewel? Come on, Kenshin! It'll be a real adventure! Besides, what other better stuff do you have to do than this?"

Before Kenshin could reply, he received a blow on the head that nearly made him unconscious. He looked up at Kaoru.

"Well, it seems like my brother has taken a liking to you, Kenshin. And from what Megumi kept calling you, I do think that this adventure will be worth more than wandering. Why don't you just come help us find the Hidden Sapphire?"

Kenshin watched them carefully. 'Innocence.' He thought. 'Hai, that must be it. Why else would they ask a former hitokiri to accompany them? However, he felt something tug at him. He would hate to leave, knowing he had let a young woman and a kid wander off south without proper protection. 'After I have helped them this one last time, I will leave them in peace.' "All right then, Kaoru-dono, Yahiko, if you wish, then I will accompany you in your…travels."

Yahiko leapt into the air. "Yeehah! Alright!" Kaoru laughed, and for some reason, Kenshin found himself doing the same.

***@***

'Voices!!!' A tired, hungry and tired Sano thought, standing up wearily. For a long time he had been lost in that stupid god-forsaken forest, and all the money he laid his hands on turned into rocks and pebbles.

He struggled to get up. Those people had to help him. If not, he would certainly be forced to use his fists to get them to lead him out of the forest. 'I'll show that stupid ugly witch whom she cursed…'

He strained his ears and followed the sound of laughter.

A/N: 

Well there you have it!!! I hope it wasn't too bad. I had a hard time thinking of what would happen next, mind you all. So don't be too harsh now … that was one long chapter, but I hope you guys enjoyed. Please, please let me know what you think. Suggestions are welcome. Flames? Nah…

Hope you guys will continue hanging around!!!

Oh, by the way! I'm not only masochistic; I'm also sarcastic, schizophrenic, idiosyncratic, optimistic, and just a wee bit idiotic.