AN: Tis another late night of random inspiration in the life of the fanfiction author. Due to the email of a very very cool fan of this story, I shall begin another tedious and long task of continuing One Night in the Rain. *sigh* I hope you like it when I'm done!

For the supporters of this extremely slow story, I love you all with the deepest and utmost respect!! If I were you, I would've given up on me about now...lol ^_^;;

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Chapter 3: Hidden Drama

            Night breezes are the most tranquil moments of nature. Night breezes after a supple rain shower even more so. While the happy and content people of Kaoru's village gave each other another smile before they retired to their beds, a single person watched dully from the outskirts of the surrounding forest. The trees were thin and the moonlight sifted through the leaves easily, its glow resting in small glints on the mysterious figure. He lay propped up against a tree, his head lolling to the side, his eyes staring unblinkingly at the small village as it prepared for the night.

            He'd been lying there for sometime. His body was weighed with fatigue, yet he could not rest. Instead, he continued to gaze with that piercing eerie look. He hadn't moved for so long a bird had mistaken him as apart of the ambience, fluttering onto his shoulder entirely unaware. Even so, his stare never wavered. The only sign of life in him was the intensity of his eyes, his golden yellow eyes, shining with the soul of one who has seen more than what he asked for. Those were the eyes of a warrior.

            A great warrior in fact. So great, he himself despised his own greatness. So much blood had been spilled by his calloused hands...the blood of hundreds, no, thousands even. And not one drop has been erased from his memory. Every moment of his sleep, he sees the dead spirits returning from their eternal rest. Every breath he takes, he sees the deceased crying for the joy of living breath. For him, life was nothing but a nightmare one cannot wake from. Yet death meant joining his victims in their flaming torture in hell.

            A grimace befell his face as he cast his eyes downward to the old sword lying beside him. No matter how many times he cleaned and polished it, the crimson tint of the blade could never be washed away.

            So why was as great a warrior as he to be found in the outskirts of a small urban village? He himself didn't even know. Something just pulled him to this place. Perhaps it was the gentle air of peacefulness that surrounded the small countryside town. Or perhaps it was something else.

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[Kaoru's Home]

            I yawned. I'd just finished wishing Yahiko and Jii-san a good night's sleep. The sky was speckled with night stars and the village was quiet except for the melodic chirps of crickets. Even on such a tranquil night as this, I couldn't sleep. Sitting outside the fronts steps of my home, I stared in peaceful silence at the round, snow-white moon sharing its light with the earth. I exhaled, enjoying the night breeze as it sifted through my long black hair.

            A gentle tap on my shoulder startled me from my reverie. "What keeps you up?"

            "Sano?" I said, eyeing him as he sat down beside me.

            "Something troubling you?"

            I paused to think. "No."

            He gave me a wary look.

            "At least I don't think so," I added, observing his doubtful face.

            He breathed out with an attitude of understanding. "I don't really know what's bothering you, but whatever it is, you'll get over it. Because you're Jou-chan," he said with a smile and ruffled my hair. My mind was still clouded with thoughts but my heart was nevertheless relieved with Sano's kind words. Only Sano could say just the right things at just the right time.

            I tilted my head toward Sano. It seemed I wasn't the only one with troubles hanging over my head. Sano's earth-tinted eyes reflected a sort of uneasiness as well. His lips were slightly pursed and his fingers couldn't cease to fidget. I watched him with knitted brows.

            "Is there something wrong?"

            "Hmm?" I said, his head snapping toward me, his eyes confused and surprised. I gave him a strange look.

            "I suppose there's something wrong then."

            "When did the sympathy turn to me?" he chuckled, "I'm fine."

            "If you say so."

            We sat in silence. I liked it that way. The tranquility of the night enveloped me and I sunk into the soft rhythm of my breath. In...out...a toneless lullaby I could sleep to. I heard a small ruffle of clothing next to me, but before I could look up, an arm wrapped itself around my shoulders. Warmth spread throughout my body; quite comforting on a breezy night.

            Sano pulled me close to him with a movement that hinted slight hesitation. My head naturally fitted onto his shoulder. I looked to his face to find it facing away from me.

            "Sano?"

            His grip on my shoulder involuntarily tightened. I could feel his breathing was hurried and his heart pulsed with nervousness. At the time, my mind was cloudy from my own fatigue, and I hadn't guessed what he was intending to do.

            When his face was finally visible to me, I almost gasped. Never had I seen so much emotion in anyone's eyes; they seemed like they would melt into tears, yet they gazed so forcefully at me, I felt hollow and transfixed. I even felt a tinge of fear.

            "If, if you need anything, please remember that you have me." His voice was faint but audible, even when his lips barely moved.

            "Please remember that I'm here for you..."

            I was paralyzed. His gaze were so intense, it trapped my soul. Even when I could feel his breath sweep across my cheeks, my breath refused to let loose from my lungs. His eyes dipped closer to mine until I was dizzy from staring at them. I felt every thought in my mind ricochet off one another, threatening to burst from my skull, when one of those thoughts slammed into my conscience, and I saw the beautiful flames of red hair sifting through the wind over jeweled amethysts.

             A sound erupted from the forest, scattering the shadows of ravens into the sky. I turned my head abruptly toward the sound, my hearting beating uncontrollably against my chest. Even my breath came in short whispers. I gladly drew away from a startled Sano.

            "I have to go," I said in a faint voice. I turned and fled, my feet thundering on the wooden floor of the house. My lips were pressed to the palm of my hand as I ran back to my room and collapsed onto the floor. I sat there, panting, as my eyes rose slowly to find my Wasurenagusa flower silhouetted in the moonlight. My lips trembled and my eyes creased.

            And I cried.

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AN: sorry if this chapter wasn't quite as articulate as the last one. I may proofread it, but not right now. Feel free to send me suggestions or editing changes through email. ^_^

Once again, thank you readers, for all your support!! 3

Luv ya,

~meow-chan~