Yes, here it is readers, Chapter 4! As some of you may have noticed,
the gap between updates has grown larger. My sincerest apologies on that.
But finals are here and studying is crucial. So after I put this out,
don't expect another update for a while. Summer is near, while means more
writing time. Remember people, a little patience goes a long way.
I have decided not to put personal thank you's for the reviewers. Not that I don't appreciate them, it's just it takes too much time, especially when I could be typing the actual story. Many thanks to the people who have been reading since day one, much love to you guys.
Some Inuyasha along with RK in this chapter. It's kinda a glimpse of the future and all. You'll see what I mean.
All for now. So enjoy!
Much luv
Sephiress
I DO........not own Rurouni Kenshin or Inuyasha, never will. They're just too cute for me...sigh...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Don't Let Goby Sephiress
Chapter 4) That Foreboding Feeling
Everytime Kenshin was around Hajime Saitoh, it brought back not-so wonderful memories from his days as a revolutionist. Hajime was cunning, so hence his warrior-name, "Mibu's Wolf". He was vicious, wise, and never felt guilt or remorse. Yes, the name suited him.
His office was dark and full of cigarette smoke. Ashes littered the room and the small ashtray on the desk needed to be emptied. Kenshin wrinkled his nose in disgust, such a filthy habit.
"Please take a seat, Battousai." The wolf settled into a chair and motioned Kenshin to do the same. The redhead's eyes narrowed, openly showing his distaste.
"I shall stand, that I will." Putting himself in a vulnerable position was never an option of the warrior.
Saitoh shrugged. "Suit yourself. Forgive me for trying to show hospitality."
"I don't particuly care. Now get to business, Saitoh." Kenshin's eyes flickered gold. "I don't wish to be here any longer then necessary." His voice was poison, threatening to spill over in the form of a sword.
Hajime's eyebrows shot up. Himura was in a bad mood, that was clear enough. Not that he expected undying friendship from his former enemy. But to see the Battousai so stressed and tense was unusual. The man had made a reputation for compressing his emotions, so what was the change this time?
"Whatever," he replied simply, deciding not to press into Kenshin's personal life. 'I'm getting too old for this' he thought with exasperation. Hajime took a long drag from his cigarette before flicking the ashes into his tray.
"I summoned you here, because as much as I detest saying so," Saitoh looked at Himura with the most serious eyes one had ever seen before continuing.
"...we need your help."
Kenshin would have burst out with laughter, or at least his Battousai side would have, at the expression on the former Shinsengumi squad leader's face. But helping the police force usually meant one of two things: leaving the city for investigation, or a battle. And as much as it amused both sides of Kenshin to hear Saitoh's request for help, he could not for the obvious seriousness of the situation.
Saitoh sighed again as the corner's of Himura's mouth twitched up with surpressd laughter. Why did he feel like he had just sold his soul to the devil, or in this case, a red-headed manslayer?
"We need you to escort a certain killer back to Tokyo." The tone was final, as though Kenshin had already agreed. "You should know his name."
"Soujiro Seta."
Kenshin's eyes raised nearly into his hairline at the assignment. Soujiro? What did the government want with the young tenken? And as though Saitoh had read his mind, he answered the unspoken question.
"He murdered three families last month and is now being held in Hokadate. But since Tokyo is his home town and also the capital, he must be trialed here, because of the seriousness of his case.
(A.N.: Now keep in mind I have no idea of Japanese government or where Sou- chan was born, but it's for the sake of the story so go with it! )
Now Kenshin was really surprised. Had Soujiro really taken up killing again? He thought he had led the boy against the muderous ways of Shishiou Makoto. Apparantly not.
"No one on the police squad is willing to do this, because Seta is far too skilled for any of them. And I can not leave Tokyo because of my job as captain. I know that you are perfectly capable of handling the Tenken, so I need this favor out of you Battousai." Saitoh tried to keep his voice free of pleading, but he really needed Kenshin to do this.
Kenshin thought hard. Hokadate was very very far away, nearly halfway across the country.
"How long do you presume this would take?"
Saitoh sighed. He knew this would be the main problem from the beginning. Himura was reluctant to leave his family. He saw it when he had left for Kyoto. The way his eyes had flashed when Saitoh mentioned the Kamyia girl...
"Around three months."
Three months...That was around how long the Shishio event had taken. How could Saitoh ask him to leave his family? To leave Karou-dono again would be shattering. But even as Kenshin opened his mouth to decline, her voice spoke once again that evening.
'I don't love you.'
Kenshin internally winced. From the way she had said that, Kenshin doubted she would even miss him. On any other circumstance, the rurouni would have never agreed to this assignment that would take him so far from his beloved. But his feeling were too raw, the wounds too fresh.
"I will accept the case on one condition." Kenshin leaned over the table and looked Hajime in the eye. "I want you to keep watch over Kaoru-dono. And Yahiko and Sanosuke. If anything happens to them, I will personally make sure that you join Shishou in hell."
Saitoh snickered. He would accept Battousai's challenge with bells on. (author pictures Saitoh with bells on...laughs madly)
"You won't have to worry about the kid and the rooster. I've already spoken to both of them about this and they demanded to help with the case." Saitoh lit another cigarette, having finished his first. He watched amusingly as Kenshin's eyes widened.
"But Yahiko-" he began.
"-is not your son." Saitoh cut him off before the Battousai could intervene. "Nor is he your responsibility, Himura." He watched as Kenshin's face swirled with different emotions. This was getting old.
"Himura, not like I care, but the boy has been feeling left out since you forbid him to help in the Shishio case." He breathed in his precious smoke and puffed it out again. "Let him prove his worth, if only to himself."
Kenshin ran his long fingers through hair in exasperation. Saitoh was right, as scary as the thought was. Yahiko was not a child anymore. And it would be an insult to the boy's honor to forbid his involvement. And Sano was could handle himself, he hoped.
"Alright...when do we start?"
Saitoh smirked, his menace role falling back into place.
"Three days."
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"Three days..."
Yahiko stared out the drying window, while Sanosuke leaned against the support beam of the house. Both had a depressed look on their faces. And Kenshin...Kenshin just stood there, the only sign of him being alive was the worry flickering across his eyes.
"Have either of you told Kaoru-dono yet?" Kenshin asked. It was numbing to talk about her, even as the two knew nothing of what had happened. Or maybe it was just his wound. Saitoh, Yahiko and Sano had noticed the cut, but Kenshin had deemed it nothing more then a scratch. Nothing compared to his inner turmoil.
"No, we should have though." Sano answered.
"Sessha will tomorrow. She's asleep right now", Kenshin said. He didn't need to ask to know that she had settled down for the night. Her ki was obvious to him even as he spoke.
"Sessha think it's time he settles down for tonight. Megumi-dono will have my head if she knows sessha was up this late and aggravating his arm."
'Again with the 'sesshas'...' Sano and Yahiko thought. 'When will he stop believing that?' But both of them knew they couldn't do anything as they watched him walk away.
Suddenly, a thought struck Sano.
"Hey Kenshin! Why was Jou-chan so depressed?" He demanded. "Come to think of it, why were you so...so dead out there!?"
But Kenshin never responded. No pause in his step, no unevening of breath. Just a man who seemed more like a machine. He continued to walk down the wooden hallways of the house, seeing his room at the end of the corridor. But something made him stop.
"...Kenshin..."
The voice was faint, so light that it could have been weighed down by a feather. He turned to where he heard it coming from.
Kaoru-dono's room.
Kenshin reached out to feel her ki, and she was obviously asleep. But why would she dream of him? It was quite clear that the young woman had no reflected feelings for him. His curiousity taking over, Kenshin silently slid the paper door open and walked into her room, closing the shouji behind him.
He could make out Kaoru's figure, thanks to the many years of training in the revolution. Her body was twisted amongst the futon which she slept on. Sweat dotted her forehead, revealing she was plauged by a nightmare of some sort.
"Kenshin...no..."
His eyes widened at the frantic tone of her voice. He wished he could dive into her mind and desintegrate the wretched dream. Because whatever caused Kaoru pain, it wounded Kenshin ten folds because he could not keep his promise. His promise to let nothing hurt her. Ever.
And now, as she called his name over and over, he stood powerless. Even in her dreams, he was causing her pain. So what good would it do to wake her and see the real him before her eyes. So he did the only thing he could think of. Kenshin knelt down by her side and took her hand, stroking her alabaster skin so gently for a man who had once killed hundreds.
His hand and stroking thumb seemed to calm her. Kaoru's breathing steadied and her body relaxed beneath his gentleness. Kenshin smiled, feeling he had done something right for once.
Kaoru began mumbling again after a while, but her voice was so subtle, that not even Kenshin's sharp hearing could make out the words. The rurouni leaned over, in hopes of hearing what was going through her mind. His face a mere inch from hers.
"...I..." She whispered to some unknown dream figure. And Kenshin, straining to hear, was shocked as her face raised an inch, bringing her lips to his.
The contact was bliss. Sheer, undiluted, powerful bliss. And for the life of him, Kenshin could not pull away. Their mouths moved in sync, letting him taste the essence that was Kaoru. He had never had the courage to do what he was doing now, although he had dreamed of it many long nights.
"...mmm..."
She groaned and his eyes blinked open rapidly. Gods, what was he doing? She didn't love him for Kami's sake! And with this realization, Kenshin painfully pulled away, her taste still on his lips.
Kaoru began to shift again, seeking the contact that had disappeared. And Kenshin removed his hand from hers. He had no right to even touch her. He had saved her from the nightmare, sure, but her kiss was worth so much more then that. And the most painful fact was that in her mind, she wasn't kissing him.
She had nightmares about him, so how could she dream of what they had unwittingly shared? For a moment, Kenshin was maddenly jelous of the man the dreamed about.
'Probably some younger, more handsome man... without blood on his hands', he thought bitterly.
"This unworthy one is sorry Kaoru-dono." he whispered, knowing he would never forget what had happened tonight. But also knowing it would never happen again. He threw her one more glance before rising from his postion and leaving her room, silent as the wind.
But as he left, Kaoru stirred. The hand Kenshin had been holding seeking comfort once again. Because as her previous nightmare was long past, a new one was beginning. The shadows stirring from the furthermost recesses of her mind.
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Dark, dreary, and void of life.
That's how he liked his lairs. Whenever you were you looking for him, your best guess was a poisonous swamp or underground cave. But not many people looked for him, which made the 'void of life' part all the easier. Yes, all knew who he was. Wherever he stepped, there was a cold wind, a dusty lifeless earth, a sense of death. You could sense his evil a mile away, but those who ran could never get far. When it came down to it, once you knew he was near, kiss your family and pray.
And the world-wide fear of him was why Kagura was so bored. Naraku's latest hideout was a dead forest in the middle of nowhere. Oh how she missed the screams of pathetic humans as they fled from her. She couldn't help but lick her lips at the thought. Fear had a tantalizing flavor.
Kagura snuck a glance at her half-demon master. The baboon skin he was known for laid to the side while he sat amongst a clearing of particularly large trees. His face was calm, his muscles relaxed, making Kagura all the more frustrated. What a waste of time! Here she was, aching to reak havoc, while he meditated with a pile of wood.
And speaking of calm, where was Kanna do you ask? Well she got to go and scope out the neighboring villages. The wind demon's teeth ground even more as her tension mounted. Why did the little one always get to have more fun?!
"Patience Kagura. You will have your turn soon enough." Naraku's voice was sinfully smooth. Every word pronounced with such an air of superiority that the wind seemed to slow at his call.
She needed to kill something. She needed to feel bones shattering beneath her once delicate fingers.
And he was taunting her. The bastard.
Naraku. The half-demon master that had brought her up from a simple paper fan. He had created her to be a formidible demon assassin bent on fulfilling one task: deliver a dead Inuyasha to Naraku's waiting hands. And she obeyed like the loyal servant she was, despite her inner objection to some of his plans. Naraku was all stratgey while she was blind strength. They were countering forces trying to reach the same goal. The perfect opposites.
And she loved him for it.
Kagura wondered if Naraku knew of her growing infatuation for him. The demon had created her, so did he know the workings of her mind more then she thought? His silky voice that dared opposition could stop her breath, while the arrogant smile that graced his lips practically begged her to caress them.
And appart from his physique was the depth of his mind. His choice to summon the priestess Kikyou was a valuable choice. Though the woman had threatened the eventual death of Naraku, she had given him the Shikon shards belonging to Inuyasha's pack. Naraku had known of Kikyou's hate of Inuyasha and had used it for his own benefit. Brilliant and at the same time, deceptive. And Kagura was swooned by it all the more. Who had ever said that evil knew not how to love?
Kikyou. As much as she was grateful to the bitch for the shards, Kagura could not stand knowing her master still had love for the dead archer. And worst of all was the fact that she was human. Human for Kami's sake! How could Naraku choose a simple human over her? It sent homicidal thoughts through Kagura's already bloody mind.
She needed to kill.
And it seemed fate had decided to relieve her of the stress and provided a distraction. This in the form of her younger demon sister.
"Lord Naraku." Kanna's voice always had that gentle echo to it, as though she was speaking across a vast canyon. While Kagura allowed her thoughts to openly show, one could never tell what Kanna was thinking. The light colored eyes that shone on her face were always emotionless, unreadable, and half-lidded, as though the girl had drunk many bottles of heavy sake.
"I have news from the villages." As always, her voice was a whisper.
Naraku never rose from his lotus position on the bare ground. His eyes remaining closed peacefully.
"Yes, Kanna? Tell me what you have learned."
She began, "There is a village about thirty miles from here. Inuyasha and the miko are about a day's walk from there."
Kagura interjected. "And no doubt they will attept to find shelter. Although the villagers will no be so welcome since it is close to planting season."
The demon lord stood from his meditation, his face that of one who was deep in thought. Kagura hoped this was a sign of near approaching battle. Kanna was her usual expressionless self.
"Yes..." His face was settled, the expression eager.
He turned to the two warriors.
"We will strike on the eve of the planting moon. They will never expect it. All the townsfolk will be bustling with preparations for the beginning of the season." Kagura's face lit up with excitement and admiration for her master. The fields would soon be watered with fresh blood as the liquid of life seeped from the villagers' bodies.
These were their lives. Spending the days ending the breath of those they thought unworthy. This was the life of Kagura.
"It is perfect my lord..."
Naraku smiled and chuckled wickedly. A few weeks and it would begin. He would soon bathe in Inuyasha's filthy blood, a delicious thought.
Unknowning to them, across the fabric of time, a woman with sapphire eyes awoke from her dream. A dream of what was yet to come.
"No..."
Author's Notes As I wrote this, I was listening to a piece called 'Bolero' by Simon Standage. It made me feel so decietful and that created the forbodeing tone near the end. All you authors out there should download it if you want an inspiration song.
WHEW! It was hott today! It was that kinda chapter where you would write a lemon.
GOOD? BAD? Just plain boring? Tell me in a review. I got some good ones last time and you guys gotta top 'em.
much luv
Sephiress
I have decided not to put personal thank you's for the reviewers. Not that I don't appreciate them, it's just it takes too much time, especially when I could be typing the actual story. Many thanks to the people who have been reading since day one, much love to you guys.
Some Inuyasha along with RK in this chapter. It's kinda a glimpse of the future and all. You'll see what I mean.
All for now. So enjoy!
Much luv
Sephiress
I DO........not own Rurouni Kenshin or Inuyasha, never will. They're just too cute for me...sigh...
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Don't Let Goby Sephiress
Chapter 4) That Foreboding Feeling
Everytime Kenshin was around Hajime Saitoh, it brought back not-so wonderful memories from his days as a revolutionist. Hajime was cunning, so hence his warrior-name, "Mibu's Wolf". He was vicious, wise, and never felt guilt or remorse. Yes, the name suited him.
His office was dark and full of cigarette smoke. Ashes littered the room and the small ashtray on the desk needed to be emptied. Kenshin wrinkled his nose in disgust, such a filthy habit.
"Please take a seat, Battousai." The wolf settled into a chair and motioned Kenshin to do the same. The redhead's eyes narrowed, openly showing his distaste.
"I shall stand, that I will." Putting himself in a vulnerable position was never an option of the warrior.
Saitoh shrugged. "Suit yourself. Forgive me for trying to show hospitality."
"I don't particuly care. Now get to business, Saitoh." Kenshin's eyes flickered gold. "I don't wish to be here any longer then necessary." His voice was poison, threatening to spill over in the form of a sword.
Hajime's eyebrows shot up. Himura was in a bad mood, that was clear enough. Not that he expected undying friendship from his former enemy. But to see the Battousai so stressed and tense was unusual. The man had made a reputation for compressing his emotions, so what was the change this time?
"Whatever," he replied simply, deciding not to press into Kenshin's personal life. 'I'm getting too old for this' he thought with exasperation. Hajime took a long drag from his cigarette before flicking the ashes into his tray.
"I summoned you here, because as much as I detest saying so," Saitoh looked at Himura with the most serious eyes one had ever seen before continuing.
"...we need your help."
Kenshin would have burst out with laughter, or at least his Battousai side would have, at the expression on the former Shinsengumi squad leader's face. But helping the police force usually meant one of two things: leaving the city for investigation, or a battle. And as much as it amused both sides of Kenshin to hear Saitoh's request for help, he could not for the obvious seriousness of the situation.
Saitoh sighed again as the corner's of Himura's mouth twitched up with surpressd laughter. Why did he feel like he had just sold his soul to the devil, or in this case, a red-headed manslayer?
"We need you to escort a certain killer back to Tokyo." The tone was final, as though Kenshin had already agreed. "You should know his name."
"Soujiro Seta."
Kenshin's eyes raised nearly into his hairline at the assignment. Soujiro? What did the government want with the young tenken? And as though Saitoh had read his mind, he answered the unspoken question.
"He murdered three families last month and is now being held in Hokadate. But since Tokyo is his home town and also the capital, he must be trialed here, because of the seriousness of his case.
(A.N.: Now keep in mind I have no idea of Japanese government or where Sou- chan was born, but it's for the sake of the story so go with it! )
Now Kenshin was really surprised. Had Soujiro really taken up killing again? He thought he had led the boy against the muderous ways of Shishiou Makoto. Apparantly not.
"No one on the police squad is willing to do this, because Seta is far too skilled for any of them. And I can not leave Tokyo because of my job as captain. I know that you are perfectly capable of handling the Tenken, so I need this favor out of you Battousai." Saitoh tried to keep his voice free of pleading, but he really needed Kenshin to do this.
Kenshin thought hard. Hokadate was very very far away, nearly halfway across the country.
"How long do you presume this would take?"
Saitoh sighed. He knew this would be the main problem from the beginning. Himura was reluctant to leave his family. He saw it when he had left for Kyoto. The way his eyes had flashed when Saitoh mentioned the Kamyia girl...
"Around three months."
Three months...That was around how long the Shishio event had taken. How could Saitoh ask him to leave his family? To leave Karou-dono again would be shattering. But even as Kenshin opened his mouth to decline, her voice spoke once again that evening.
'I don't love you.'
Kenshin internally winced. From the way she had said that, Kenshin doubted she would even miss him. On any other circumstance, the rurouni would have never agreed to this assignment that would take him so far from his beloved. But his feeling were too raw, the wounds too fresh.
"I will accept the case on one condition." Kenshin leaned over the table and looked Hajime in the eye. "I want you to keep watch over Kaoru-dono. And Yahiko and Sanosuke. If anything happens to them, I will personally make sure that you join Shishou in hell."
Saitoh snickered. He would accept Battousai's challenge with bells on. (author pictures Saitoh with bells on...laughs madly)
"You won't have to worry about the kid and the rooster. I've already spoken to both of them about this and they demanded to help with the case." Saitoh lit another cigarette, having finished his first. He watched amusingly as Kenshin's eyes widened.
"But Yahiko-" he began.
"-is not your son." Saitoh cut him off before the Battousai could intervene. "Nor is he your responsibility, Himura." He watched as Kenshin's face swirled with different emotions. This was getting old.
"Himura, not like I care, but the boy has been feeling left out since you forbid him to help in the Shishio case." He breathed in his precious smoke and puffed it out again. "Let him prove his worth, if only to himself."
Kenshin ran his long fingers through hair in exasperation. Saitoh was right, as scary as the thought was. Yahiko was not a child anymore. And it would be an insult to the boy's honor to forbid his involvement. And Sano was could handle himself, he hoped.
"Alright...when do we start?"
Saitoh smirked, his menace role falling back into place.
"Three days."
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"Three days..."
Yahiko stared out the drying window, while Sanosuke leaned against the support beam of the house. Both had a depressed look on their faces. And Kenshin...Kenshin just stood there, the only sign of him being alive was the worry flickering across his eyes.
"Have either of you told Kaoru-dono yet?" Kenshin asked. It was numbing to talk about her, even as the two knew nothing of what had happened. Or maybe it was just his wound. Saitoh, Yahiko and Sano had noticed the cut, but Kenshin had deemed it nothing more then a scratch. Nothing compared to his inner turmoil.
"No, we should have though." Sano answered.
"Sessha will tomorrow. She's asleep right now", Kenshin said. He didn't need to ask to know that she had settled down for the night. Her ki was obvious to him even as he spoke.
"Sessha think it's time he settles down for tonight. Megumi-dono will have my head if she knows sessha was up this late and aggravating his arm."
'Again with the 'sesshas'...' Sano and Yahiko thought. 'When will he stop believing that?' But both of them knew they couldn't do anything as they watched him walk away.
Suddenly, a thought struck Sano.
"Hey Kenshin! Why was Jou-chan so depressed?" He demanded. "Come to think of it, why were you so...so dead out there!?"
But Kenshin never responded. No pause in his step, no unevening of breath. Just a man who seemed more like a machine. He continued to walk down the wooden hallways of the house, seeing his room at the end of the corridor. But something made him stop.
"...Kenshin..."
The voice was faint, so light that it could have been weighed down by a feather. He turned to where he heard it coming from.
Kaoru-dono's room.
Kenshin reached out to feel her ki, and she was obviously asleep. But why would she dream of him? It was quite clear that the young woman had no reflected feelings for him. His curiousity taking over, Kenshin silently slid the paper door open and walked into her room, closing the shouji behind him.
He could make out Kaoru's figure, thanks to the many years of training in the revolution. Her body was twisted amongst the futon which she slept on. Sweat dotted her forehead, revealing she was plauged by a nightmare of some sort.
"Kenshin...no..."
His eyes widened at the frantic tone of her voice. He wished he could dive into her mind and desintegrate the wretched dream. Because whatever caused Kaoru pain, it wounded Kenshin ten folds because he could not keep his promise. His promise to let nothing hurt her. Ever.
And now, as she called his name over and over, he stood powerless. Even in her dreams, he was causing her pain. So what good would it do to wake her and see the real him before her eyes. So he did the only thing he could think of. Kenshin knelt down by her side and took her hand, stroking her alabaster skin so gently for a man who had once killed hundreds.
His hand and stroking thumb seemed to calm her. Kaoru's breathing steadied and her body relaxed beneath his gentleness. Kenshin smiled, feeling he had done something right for once.
Kaoru began mumbling again after a while, but her voice was so subtle, that not even Kenshin's sharp hearing could make out the words. The rurouni leaned over, in hopes of hearing what was going through her mind. His face a mere inch from hers.
"...I..." She whispered to some unknown dream figure. And Kenshin, straining to hear, was shocked as her face raised an inch, bringing her lips to his.
The contact was bliss. Sheer, undiluted, powerful bliss. And for the life of him, Kenshin could not pull away. Their mouths moved in sync, letting him taste the essence that was Kaoru. He had never had the courage to do what he was doing now, although he had dreamed of it many long nights.
"...mmm..."
She groaned and his eyes blinked open rapidly. Gods, what was he doing? She didn't love him for Kami's sake! And with this realization, Kenshin painfully pulled away, her taste still on his lips.
Kaoru began to shift again, seeking the contact that had disappeared. And Kenshin removed his hand from hers. He had no right to even touch her. He had saved her from the nightmare, sure, but her kiss was worth so much more then that. And the most painful fact was that in her mind, she wasn't kissing him.
She had nightmares about him, so how could she dream of what they had unwittingly shared? For a moment, Kenshin was maddenly jelous of the man the dreamed about.
'Probably some younger, more handsome man... without blood on his hands', he thought bitterly.
"This unworthy one is sorry Kaoru-dono." he whispered, knowing he would never forget what had happened tonight. But also knowing it would never happen again. He threw her one more glance before rising from his postion and leaving her room, silent as the wind.
But as he left, Kaoru stirred. The hand Kenshin had been holding seeking comfort once again. Because as her previous nightmare was long past, a new one was beginning. The shadows stirring from the furthermost recesses of her mind.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dark, dreary, and void of life.
That's how he liked his lairs. Whenever you were you looking for him, your best guess was a poisonous swamp or underground cave. But not many people looked for him, which made the 'void of life' part all the easier. Yes, all knew who he was. Wherever he stepped, there was a cold wind, a dusty lifeless earth, a sense of death. You could sense his evil a mile away, but those who ran could never get far. When it came down to it, once you knew he was near, kiss your family and pray.
And the world-wide fear of him was why Kagura was so bored. Naraku's latest hideout was a dead forest in the middle of nowhere. Oh how she missed the screams of pathetic humans as they fled from her. She couldn't help but lick her lips at the thought. Fear had a tantalizing flavor.
Kagura snuck a glance at her half-demon master. The baboon skin he was known for laid to the side while he sat amongst a clearing of particularly large trees. His face was calm, his muscles relaxed, making Kagura all the more frustrated. What a waste of time! Here she was, aching to reak havoc, while he meditated with a pile of wood.
And speaking of calm, where was Kanna do you ask? Well she got to go and scope out the neighboring villages. The wind demon's teeth ground even more as her tension mounted. Why did the little one always get to have more fun?!
"Patience Kagura. You will have your turn soon enough." Naraku's voice was sinfully smooth. Every word pronounced with such an air of superiority that the wind seemed to slow at his call.
She needed to kill something. She needed to feel bones shattering beneath her once delicate fingers.
And he was taunting her. The bastard.
Naraku. The half-demon master that had brought her up from a simple paper fan. He had created her to be a formidible demon assassin bent on fulfilling one task: deliver a dead Inuyasha to Naraku's waiting hands. And she obeyed like the loyal servant she was, despite her inner objection to some of his plans. Naraku was all stratgey while she was blind strength. They were countering forces trying to reach the same goal. The perfect opposites.
And she loved him for it.
Kagura wondered if Naraku knew of her growing infatuation for him. The demon had created her, so did he know the workings of her mind more then she thought? His silky voice that dared opposition could stop her breath, while the arrogant smile that graced his lips practically begged her to caress them.
And appart from his physique was the depth of his mind. His choice to summon the priestess Kikyou was a valuable choice. Though the woman had threatened the eventual death of Naraku, she had given him the Shikon shards belonging to Inuyasha's pack. Naraku had known of Kikyou's hate of Inuyasha and had used it for his own benefit. Brilliant and at the same time, deceptive. And Kagura was swooned by it all the more. Who had ever said that evil knew not how to love?
Kikyou. As much as she was grateful to the bitch for the shards, Kagura could not stand knowing her master still had love for the dead archer. And worst of all was the fact that she was human. Human for Kami's sake! How could Naraku choose a simple human over her? It sent homicidal thoughts through Kagura's already bloody mind.
She needed to kill.
And it seemed fate had decided to relieve her of the stress and provided a distraction. This in the form of her younger demon sister.
"Lord Naraku." Kanna's voice always had that gentle echo to it, as though she was speaking across a vast canyon. While Kagura allowed her thoughts to openly show, one could never tell what Kanna was thinking. The light colored eyes that shone on her face were always emotionless, unreadable, and half-lidded, as though the girl had drunk many bottles of heavy sake.
"I have news from the villages." As always, her voice was a whisper.
Naraku never rose from his lotus position on the bare ground. His eyes remaining closed peacefully.
"Yes, Kanna? Tell me what you have learned."
She began, "There is a village about thirty miles from here. Inuyasha and the miko are about a day's walk from there."
Kagura interjected. "And no doubt they will attept to find shelter. Although the villagers will no be so welcome since it is close to planting season."
The demon lord stood from his meditation, his face that of one who was deep in thought. Kagura hoped this was a sign of near approaching battle. Kanna was her usual expressionless self.
"Yes..." His face was settled, the expression eager.
He turned to the two warriors.
"We will strike on the eve of the planting moon. They will never expect it. All the townsfolk will be bustling with preparations for the beginning of the season." Kagura's face lit up with excitement and admiration for her master. The fields would soon be watered with fresh blood as the liquid of life seeped from the villagers' bodies.
These were their lives. Spending the days ending the breath of those they thought unworthy. This was the life of Kagura.
"It is perfect my lord..."
Naraku smiled and chuckled wickedly. A few weeks and it would begin. He would soon bathe in Inuyasha's filthy blood, a delicious thought.
Unknowning to them, across the fabric of time, a woman with sapphire eyes awoke from her dream. A dream of what was yet to come.
"No..."
Author's Notes As I wrote this, I was listening to a piece called 'Bolero' by Simon Standage. It made me feel so decietful and that created the forbodeing tone near the end. All you authors out there should download it if you want an inspiration song.
WHEW! It was hott today! It was that kinda chapter where you would write a lemon.
GOOD? BAD? Just plain boring? Tell me in a review. I got some good ones last time and you guys gotta top 'em.
much luv
Sephiress