Koonichiwa Minna's! I thank all of you for your reviews and I hope you keep on reviewing my story!... Aya45
Chapter 3
We walked along the dirt trail that led to the Forest of Gionova. "Oh hey the let me tell you the legend of the forest of gionova!" Misao exclaimed as she began walking backwards.
Everyone expect Kaoru and Aoshi rolled their eyes as Misao began telling them the legend, "The legend goes that once a young princess named Tomoe, fled from her kingdom because she did not want to marry her betrothed. No one new his name, but they said he was evil and very cruel. She fell in love with a merchant named Akira, and was told to meet him in the very forest where going to cross, well when she got there the merchant wasn't there and she was left in the bitter cold for 4 days and nights, until she died. Of course people where sent to look for her but it was not only because she was the last heir to the throne but also because she was a kind and generous soul who gave to the peasants. Now they say her soul still lingers with anguish and betrayal for the man she came to love. They say that to now she is there she sings a beautiful yet sad melody to her beloved…and whoever hears it will die from the grief she feels. Therefore, they began to call the forest; The Forest of Gionova; Gionova meaning land of grief."
A/N: I just made the up the name Gionova and the meaning so bear with me... Aya45
Kaoru softly said, "So her soul is still there…what a downfall nightfall is coming."
Everyone's eyes went bug eyed and they thought, "Oh no…"
Kaoru looked ahead and pointed her staff to the shadowed forest and the medium sized entrance that led a dark trail.
Yahiko scoffed and said, "Okay if this is the only passage to the Dragon King Slane then lets get going before nightfall comes!"
Kenshin said his ever-famous 'Oro!' and replied, "Well it's not that easy if we hear that song Yahiko then…we die…"
Sano being the rooster head he is bragged, "Yea well I can probably knock some sense into that ghost!"
All six slowed there pace as they reached the entrance of the dark forest.
"You little weasel! You had to tell us that legend before we even got to the forest!" Megumi said irritably as she looked ahead and got a little bit closer to Sano.
Kaoru shook an eerie feeling that came to posses her off as she walked ahead of the group and said, "We should get going or else were going to get lost in the trail."
Kenshin nodded agreeing with Kaoru's statement as he replied, "Yes Kaoru-dono has a point we should get going…will pair up how does that sound to everyone?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Misao quickly grabbed Kaoru's arm and said, "Me and Kaoru can bond and become better friends while we pair up so will be partners!" She said this cheerfully as she was watching Kaoru's reaction that steadily formed to an expressionless face like Aoshi's.
Kenshin's face lowered some and Aoshi quickly took notice as he grabbed Misao's arm and said, "Misao why don't we pair up…Kenshin and Kaoru-san can pair and Sano, Takani-san and Yahiko will pair."
Misao carefully nodded as she said, "Okay…Kaoru-chan is that okay with you?"
Kaoru turned her head toward Misao as she smiled softly replying, "Yes of course it does not matter to me."
"Alright so it's set lets go in!" Misao exclaimed as they all began to walk in the dark forest.
Misao chuckled fearfully as she grabbed Aoshi's arm, making her elbow bump into the hilt of his kodachi as she thought to herself, "Well…if I don't live through this I just want the readers to know that…I'm madly in love with Aoshi and I've always wanted to be a sorceress although I sucked with basic magic tricks…--…"
"Will need light…I can hardly see in this darkness…"Kaoru said quietly as she touched the ruby orb with her index finger and muttered under her breath an enchantment that was only basic magic.
The ruby orb glowed brightly making everyone see the long trail, but anyway they kept close as they followed both Kenshin and Kaoru.
"You know Kaoru-dono…if you hide away your pain for to long it will eventually consume you in grief…if you talk about it to someone…then…you'll know you have people that care for you…and are willing to listen to your worries." Kenshin said as he looked at Kaoru's expression.
Kaoru's eyes flickered with a passing emotion but she stared straight ahead, as her eyes showed a serene and calm form. Then memories flooded in as Kaoru reminisced years of childhood.
Flashback:
12-year-old Kaoru "Elder brother why do you argue with mother and father so much?" Kaoru asked as she laid her head on her brother's broad shoulder as they sat down on the grass.
Her brother was tall, lean, and broad he had beautiful blue eyes and a hansom face. His name was Kino Kamiya. The first son of Lord Ichiro Kamiya of the land of Bashino.
"My young sister you would not understand what I have been through with those people we call Mother and Father…Kaoru why don't we start a rebellion against this castle…"Kino asked as he looked at Kaoru's startled expression
"Kino how will we do that? Mother and Father love us dearly!" Kaoru exclaimed as she took her head off her brother's shoulder and looked him in the eye.
"…Kaoru at your age I was still in intermediate of sorcery! Both of us combined can destroy this so called palace!" Kino said as he looked up at the sky.
Kaoru looked at the ground and replied, "Brother your 17 years old your much better then me…can you not do it alone…not that I want our home destroyed what grudge do you hold against father and mother that he does not agree on!"
Kino looked at Kaoru and sighed heavily while replying, "I want to travel Kaoru! This world is so big yet all we do is do daily routines and Mother and Father think were happy…don't you agree baby sister?"
Kaoru fiddled with her white pants and then said meekly, "…Yes…"
Kaoru then muttered something under her breath grimly, averted her gaze toward a pile of hay, and set it on fire.
"KAORU!" Kino yelled as he got up quickly and pointed his index finger at the hate as he said, "Water of the seven seas wash away the fire that destroys innocent live."
A shot of powerful water was sent to the burning fire and it instantly let out.
"Sorry Kino my magic is set on my emotion's I can't control it to well." Kaoru answered innocently
Kino threw his hands up and then thought about something his short ebony hair shimmered in the light and then he smiled widely as he picked up Kaoru and thrust her over his shoulder gently as he laughed and said, "I have an idea baby sister!"
"KINO! Let me down!" Kaoru yelled out as she started to giggle loudly Kaoru was light for her age so Kino could easily carry her over his shoulder.
They entered a small workshop that was located in the palace. Kino instantly let Kaoru down, grabbed a long oak wood, and searched for a contraption that would shape the wood into a long staff. He grinned enjoyably as he found what he was looking for and began shaping the wood he had found.
Kaoru sat down on a wooden chair and put her hands behind her head as she sighed and thought, "What is Kino doing?"
1 hour later
"Finished Kaoru look at what I have made you!" Kino exclaimed proudly as he looked at it fondly.
Kaoru's eyes shot open as she woke up from the sleep that had overcome her while watching her brother make a staff.
"What have you made me Kino?" Kaoru asked lazily as she groggily got up and walked over to her hansom brother.
"What else baby sister a staff; A staff is to be said to control your power and help you cut your magic in half so you won't end up hurting anyone!" Kino explained logically as he handed it to Kaoru who by then looked interested.
Kaoru's dark eyebrow went up delicately and then replied, "Brother isn't a staff suppose to have a magic orb of some kind?"
"…Of course so that's why I'm going to take my leave right now and find you an orb especially created for you…I'll be back Kaoru tell mother and father that I went out for awhile and I'll return soon enough, but do not tell them of what I have made you alright?" Kino said as he checked if he had what he needed and a clock to keep him warm.
"Brother…but…alright I won't tell them but return soon." Kaoru said quietly as she felt her staff.
Kino gave Kaoru a light kiss on the cheek and said his farewell as he ran off toward wherever he was going!
Inside palace
Night
"Where is that so called son of mine?" Lord Kamiya roared as he paced in his throne room.
"Dear I'm sure that Kino will be back…" His wife answered quietly
"No this is the last straw Kaoru told me that he would be back soon! Yet, he did not say when soon! He just left little Kaoru alone like he always has don't you agree Miya my dear wife?" Lord Kamiya roared even more loudly
Kaoru stood behind the wall, which was near the large open door that led to the throne room.
The queen's face changed to a calm nature to an angry scrunched up face as she said; "He left my little Kaoru alone! That no good son of mine!"
Kaoru's fist tightened with furiousness as she muttered, "How dare they brother never leaves me alone…he loves me more then anything else in this world!"
She turned around and walked toward her room as she muttered curses under her breath.
Midnight slowly came and Kaoru was fast asleep until she felt a soft nudge on her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open as she came face to face with her brother who was crouched down.
"Kaoru it took me a couple of hours but I finally got it a powerful magical orb that we can put on top of the wooden staff I created you!" Kino said as he smiled softly and grabbed the glowing ruby orb from his small pouch and showed it to Kaoru.
Kaoru stood up from her bed and her eyes went wide open.
"Kino where did you get that ruby orb?" Kaoru asked excitedly as she slowly touched it and withdrew when it glowed brighter.
"It doesn't matter where I got it, it's yours baby sister where's that staff I made you?" Kino asked
Kaoru got out of bed and walked over to where she had hid the staff and quietly got it as she gave it to Kino, he then muttered an ancient language Kaoru did not know and the ruby orb which he held slowly levitated and set itself on top of the staff.
"Won't it fall?" Kaoru asked
"No it has magical power that makes it stick on the staff and they slowly will become one over the years." Kino explained
Kaoru giggled and hugged her brother's neck and whispered, "Thank you Brother."
She slowly took the staff and made sure that the orb would not fall and then said firmly, "Mother and Father where talking bad about you! I want to teach them a lesson!"
Kino stood up and smiled as he said, "Then let us destroy this so called castle that doe not even take pity on the poor and travel."
Kaoru "Yes! You have taught me all I know brother…ancient languages, demonic languages, martial arts, swordsmanship, and sorcery…everything to you I am grateful."
End of Flashback
Kaoru thought sadly, "How I regretted what I had done…"
Kenshin sighed heavily and walked ahead thinking, "She won't tell me anything! Though I will not give up…she'll be mine…oro! Where did that come from?"
"We should rest up here Himura!" Misao said as she and the rest of the group stopped and sat down.
Kaoru ears pricked up as she instantly stood up and turned around. Aoshi "What is the matter Kaoru-san?"
"Do you not hear her? That melody…" Kaoru said as she saw a faint light the glowed in the thick forest.
Yahiko "Hey don't freak us out!"
"I'm not…she is coming." Kaoru said as she prepared herself.
TBC…
There will probably be a KK moment next chapter so please review and I hope you liked this chapter! I will update ASAP! There is still more to Kaoru's past…probably there will be a flashback next chapter and Kaoru will start to open up to Kenshin as well tell her about how Kino.
