Disclaimer: Glares at the courtroom I don't own them... feels sharp nudge from the policement and I confess that I did try to steal 'em.

Summary: Kaoru, a recently orphaned teen, is struggling to discover herself and her 'gifts.' What will she do when a young man forbids her from further discovering them?

In A Bed of Roses :Chapter One

Here are some pointers on grackles. The can't see out of both eyes at once, so they're always looking at two worlds. They can see life and death, so they know whether a still animal is asleep or dead. I'm telling you some ways they're superior to us, so you'll have more respect for them. They see more colors and more distance than you could ever hope to. They're wise and extremely fair, but the have a very subtle, almost malicious sense of humor.

- The Spirit Window, Joyce Sweeney

"Kaoru…"

My name echoed within my mind. Tears stung my eyes as I held my mother's head in my lap. Why had it been so sudden?

But, why had she been here in the first place? Why was she here?

Did she have visions as I did? So many unanswered questions popped into my mind, one by one. So I wept, for my mother and my questions that never would be answered.

"Kaoru…"

Again, that soothing voice called out to me. It was like a beacon calling me to safety, but I refused to go. I refuse to be saved. Towering over my mother's dead body, I bent down and kissed her cold cheek. Crying wouldn't bring her back, but it was something I could not stop. It was out of my control to stop crying, and that's why I did it.

"Kamiya-san…"

The voice that was calling me switched to a more formal tone. Suddenly, the wrenching feeling overcame my senses as I was violently pulled out of my vision. Unwillingly, might I add. Rough hands shook my shoulders in an effort to wake me up. Slowly my eyes adjusted to my surroundings and I found myself faced with a red-haired man who seemed as old as I am.

"Who are you?"

I didn't expect an answer, but then something suddenly clicked. How in the hell did he know my name?

"It doesn't matter who I am." He glared at me with his mysterious amber eyes and his grip on my shoulders tightened. I suppressed the urge to groan at the sudden pressure, but it was obvious that he wanted that so I let him go on disappointed.

"There's nothing here to steal."

"I don't want anything."

"If there isn't anything you want, then leave."

His glare was powerful and made me feel skirmish inside, but I didn't let any emotion reach my face. I was too proud to let him see what he was doing to me.

"How do you know my name?"

"I know a lot about you, Kamiya-san."

His cold, rough, deep voice taunted me. His cold-heartedness was evident in his slow and offensive tone. I know I should be scared, torn up, and battered at the sudden abuse right after my mother's supposed death, but there was something defiant within me. Something that I've always had; my curse and blessing. I was a stubborn girl and there was nothing my mother could do that would change that.

"What did you see?"

Again his words rolled off his tongue as sharp knives. His eyes seemed to stare straight through me and I felt exposed.

"I see you."

"Humor won't save you, Kamiya-san. I demand to know what you've seen."

The defiant flame within me burned and I stubbornly shook my head, knowing that I should fear this man because of what men can do to women when they're all alone. Still, I was also considered a strong girl and despite my tight kimono I could fight.

Again I was aware of his hands gripping my shoulder and I tried to shrug them off, but it would seem he was stubborn as well.

"What do you want?"

His eyes flashed angrily in, what I suppose, anger.

"Kamiya-san, you may think your 'visions' are jokes and games, but I tell you that there is something more to them than you can even imagine. I know your mother died, but tell me what did you see?"

My head snapped up at his sudden viciousness.

"My mother is not dead. What I've seen… maybe it's just a bad dream."

"You're so naïve to actually try to believe such a ridiculous lie. Those are not dreams, Kamiya-san."

His formality was grinding on my nerves.

"Kaoru."

"What?"

"It's my name and I demand you use it."

I knew, full and well, that I should push him away and run, but something held me here. I glared at the man with, what I hoped was, equal intensity.

"Kaoru-dono-"

"Just Kaoru."

I know it was wrong and to be so informal to a possible thief, but I couldn't help it. All formality, custom, and shit died along with my mother. My reputation or appearance didn't matter.

"Fine! Kaoru."

I could tell that whoever he was was still human enough to be subjected to human emotions. Sensing his anger rise, I decided to play along for a while. Seeing my willingness to listen, the mysterious amber eyed, redhead continued.

"Tell me what in the hell did you see."

Growling was for animals, and with this animalistic characteristic he threatened me with crude gestures.

"I saw death. That's it, that's what you want. I saw death and that's it." I matched his stare with a glare of my own, "I saw my mother die and I don't know if it's real or a dream, all I know is that some man pushed my mother to suicide and I'm going to find out who he is."

His mouth shut into a thin line slapped across his face as he took time to weigh out the meaning of my words.

Of course, only one thing can come to mind: revenge. My mother and I never really got along, but we were still blood family and our bond, although not close and affectionate, was one I cherished. She was strength because through her impassiveness, I found something to look up to. I found that I too should be emotionless and let, as she says, 'the wave beat against the shore because it will always return to the sea.'

Suddenly in one quick motion he threw me against the floor in disappointment. I obviously didn't give him what he was expecting.

"Did you see a tall man? He had long black hair?"

The questions threw me off as I racked my brain for the answers. Did I see a tall man with long black hair…? No, I only saw my mother and that monster.

I shook my head when I finally reached a conclusion.

"Now that I told you what you wanted to know, answer my question. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

"I'll give you the same answer I did before, my name does not matter and as for 'what I'm doing here,' that's my own goddamn business."

I don't know why, but I didn't feel intimidated. I felt nervous because this has been my longest session with a man, but other than that I felt neutral. He paced around the room, clearly not in a hurry to leave so soon. I examined him further and found him rather handsome.

I should curse myself to death for thinking of such things and moments of danger.

Suddenly, something on his left cheek caught my attention. There was a long cross shaped scar that reached from right below his ear to his chin. It must have been painful for such a wound, and even more so to have to see it every time you look in the mirror. How did he get it?

"What?"

I was somewhat caught off-guard. It would seem that I had voiced out my thoughts, which can get many in trouble. But, since what's done is done, I risked questioning him once more.

"How did you get that? That scar on your cheek, how'd you get it?" I replied while pointing at his face.

He growled once more, something that he seems to do to scar me into something else. It doesn't work however, but the cold made me shiver and he mistaken my shivering for fear.

"Are you scared, Kaoru?"

I smiled. He used my name… and I again curse my simplemindedness. He seemed thrown back by my response… well then again, seeing what kind of predicament I'm in it does seem unusual.

"Not in the least, it's just so fucking cold in here." Again he seemed surprise, well as a Japanese woman it is unusual for me to speak so much and even more so for me to curse so openly.

In turn, he surprised me by closing the windows.

"I'm sorry to tell you, but your mother is dead. It's not a dream."

I nodded my head absentmindedly. Somehow I knew she was, somehow I knew my 'vision' was true.

"Addition to that, many others and I want you to take the American ships to America, work for your trip, and forget about your visions. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

It seemed like a stupid question. Of course I understood, he wanted me to go to America and forget about everything that happened.

There was more to it than that, though. He was asking me to throw my 'silly' notion of revenge away and live my life as a 'normal' orphan child. He was asking me to run away from something I didn't even understand.

I found myself consenting to his idea before I could even stop myself. He grinned in satisfaction and with a swift motion hit me.

Before I fell into darkness, however, he did mention his name at last.

"My name is Himura Kenshin, Kamiya-san." With a strike of disappointment at his sudden formality, I succumbed into the sweet confines of unconsciousness.

TBC

Sorry about the short chapter. I'm kind of disappointed with this story, not many people seem to be reading it… oh well that doesn't matter. This one is one that I've wanted to try for a long time. It's horror, romance, action/adventure, and fantasy rolled into ONE. Oh well, I'm headed for Mississippi soon, so I won't be able to update for about five days to be exact.

Review please.