Chapter 3
The Angel Of Death
PREVIOUSLY
One morning, an old woman visited the dojo.
"Yes, I came here to tell you about your past," the old woman began. "My past?" Kaoru asked, quite intrigued. "Yes. Did you know that you were adopted, Kaoru-san?" Kaede Obaa-san asked calmly. Kaoru gasped, obviously shocked like the others.
"I told you, I expected that you wouldn't believe me. But let me tell you something, Kaoru-san. A prophecy was foretold when you were born. Deep blue is the color that will embody the child. Blue like the ocean so deep, so is the sorrow that will drown her. When she reached the age of 18, she will suffer a great loss. And when all hope is loss, death will awaken. Thy salvation will be thy rebirth," she declared. Kaoru felt a chill over her spine at her words. It seems that the prophecy was really directed to her.
After that, the old woman left, never to be seen again. That night, none of them can sleep, especially Kaoru & Kenshin.
Few weeks later, a group of rebels revolted against the government. But they were not ordinary rebels. Most of them were from the government itself. Saitoh, Kenshin-gumi & the Oniwabansho were called to help the government.
At the battle site, the prophecy will come into place.
Kenshin & the others fought against the rebels. They were having a hard time since the rebels have guns & canons on their side. They all got wounds from the battle.
"Kenshin, I'm not useless! I wont leave you guys here!" Kaoru argued.
"Kaoru-dono, please stay back. You won't be able to fight & protect yourself any longer with your wounds, that you won't." Kenshin pleaded. True, Kaoru had 2 scrapes of gunshot on her left leg & left shoulder. She also had bruises & cuts from the fight. She mentally berated at herself for being weak, again. "Fine." Kenshin was relieved to hear her say that. "Thank you. Yahiko, stay with Kaoru-dono." "Ok Kenshin."
During the fight, they hid behind a huge rock. Yahiko helped her drape her wounds. Unbeknownst to them, one of the rebels had sneak into the back & onto them. Kenshin felt an unfamiliar ki around Kaoru & Yahiko. He panicked & shouted at their direction. "KAORU!!! YAHIKO!!! WATCH OUT!!! NO!!!" he screamed. He tried to run in his god-like speed to save them but he was too late. The man darted towards them & slashed Yahiko who went in front of Kaoru to protect her. The blade went into Yahiko's right hip up to his left shoulder. Yahiko screamed in pain as he fell forward with a hard thud. Kaoru shrieked. Saitoh came & slashed the man before he could slash Kaoru. Kaoru went to Yahiko & placed his head on her lap. "K-kaoru…" "Shhsshh… save your strength." Kaoru was sobbing.
Kenshin, Sano & Misao left the battle in front of them & rushed towards Yahiko & Kaoru. Sano immediately put pressure on his deep wound causing Yahiko to wince in pain. "It's alright." Sano tried to calm Yahiko & compose himself. "K-kenshin… I protected busu." "Yes you did Yahiko." Kenshin answered, tears welling up in his eyes. It's my fault! If I get here sooner… "It's not your fault Kenshin." Yahiko said, as if reading his mind.
"You're her hero, Yahiko-kun." Misao said as she cried as well. "Am I going to die?" Yahiko asked fearfully. "No you're not! You'll get better. And later, you'll scold me for being careless & such a pain, ne?" Kaoru voice wavered. Yahiko tried to laugh but cough off blood instead. Kaoru wiped the blood off while he smiled, "You're right... I'm so cold, Kaoru. Can you hold me?" he was crying now. Kaoru held him to warm him up. "I don't feel the pain anymore, Kaoru. I'm sleepy." His voice was more than a whisper now. "No fight it, Yahiko! Don't sleep. Please!" she sobbed harder.
Kenshin held Kaoru. "Damn it! Don't you give up now Yahiko!" Sano was furious. "So sleepy…" His breathing ragged, his face became paler, & his pulse beat became slower by the minute.
Not a minute too soon, Yahiko died in Kaoru's arms. Kaoru trembled so hard as she screams her heart out, "NO!!!!!!!!" Misao cried even harder & hugged Kaoru too. Kenshin & Sano couldn't contain the loss & cried as well. They lost a dear brother today.
Kaoru was still crying. Suddenly she heard a voice in her head. When she reached the age of 18, she will suffer a great loss.
No! Why is everyone I cared for leaving me? What wrong have I done to deserve this? I don't want to be alone anymore. I don't to be HERE anymore.
Her breathing became uneven, gasping for air. She grasped her chest where her heart is located. Kenshin looked horrified. It looks like she was having a heart attack. "Kaoru-dono?" "Kaoru!" "Jou-chan!" voices called her. She managed to speak, "Can't breath!" Kenshin can feel her heart pounding faster. Kaoru felt like her heart would jump out of her chest. Then a strong pulse of KI came out of her, then another one. At the third one, her ragged breathing stopped. It seems to even out. As Kenshin was about to place a hand on Kaoru's face to look at her, huge energy pushed Kenshin, Sano & Misao away, causing them to be thrown a mile away.
"What happened?" Aoshi asked as he run towards Misao. "Kaoru." That's all she managed to say. The fighting abruptly stopped as strong gust of winds passed them & into Kaoru. It builds in volume & encircled her like a tornado. She stood up; her eyes were still closed, her hair became black & longer, reaching her waist. All of them saw the transformation. Someone shouted from the rebels, "She's a witch! Kill her!"
Thousands of bullets race towards her. "Kaoru!!" They all shouted. Kenshin tried to run to her side again, but was stop by the wind. "Kaoru!" he yelled again.
Kaoru's eyes open & her eyes were plain black with no glitter or liveliness in them. It's empty like her body, heart & soul. She heard a voice inside her again. And when all hope is loss, death will awaken.
She raised her right hand in front of her seemingly blocking the bullets. A few inches to her hands, the bullets stopped in mid air. All their mouths dropped open to what they were seeing. "How did Kaoru do that?" Misao was mystified. "The prophecy was true. What the old lady said was true." Kenshin realized. Sano's eyes widened in shock & realization.
Then out of nowhere, canons were being fired at her. It strikes the target as smoke & fire enveloped her. "Kaoru!" They all yelled again. Then with one hand, Kaoru wipe the smoke & fire away. They all couldn't believe it, not one scratch was on her. She began to walk. Each time her feet touched the grass it died instantly. Rebels ran off to her & tried to slash her. Her friends & Saitoh tried to help but were paralyzed to where they stand. "I can't move!" Sano exclaimed. "Spells." Saitoh muttered.
As the blade touches her, it broke into two pieces but didn't cut her. And when she touched the rebels with her skin, they screamed & fell dead. "How?" Misao was scared of Kaoru & for Kaoru at the same time. "Death." Aoshi answered. "And when all hope is loss, death will awaken. Those were the very words of Kaede Obaa-san! Kenshin!" Sano called Kenshin & look at him worriedly. But Kenshin kept his eyes on Kaoru. "Kaoru-dono."
After Kaoru killed all the rebels that went to her, she stared at the direction of the canons. She narrowed her eyes & the canons were caught in fire & exploded, killing all the people near it. In a matter of few minutes, all rebels were wiped out, dead.
She then walked back towards Yahiko. The spell that bound her friends had worn off. They ran towards her. Before they can reach her, she cast them a menacing glare that made them stop. "Don't come near," she warned them. She then kneeled in front of Yahiko & cried again. Hearing her cry Kenshin walked towards her. "Kaoru-dono…" "I said don't come near!" she glared at him & all of them gasped. She was crying not tears, but blood. She faced Yahiko again, extended her arms in front of his body & closed her eyes. Her arms produced a bright white light causing his body to glow & his wounds to heal up. When she was finished, the light was gone. She opened her eyes & called to Yahiko. "Yahiko, wake up. (pause) Open your eyes Yahiko." Suddenly, Yahiko's eyes darted open as he gasped for air like it was his first time to breath. "Yahiko!" Their friends all shouted. He looked around & saw them. "I'm alive?" He looked at Kaoru. "Busu is that you? You look different. What happened? Why is there blood on your face? Are you hurt?"
Kaoru smiled at him. She then hugged him. Gasped can be heard in the background. They were all shocked that Yahiko was still alive after Kaoru touched him.
"I have to go," she announced. "Where are you going, Kaoru-dono?" "I'm leaving this place. I don't want to live here anymore. I don't want to stay in this FILTHY earth."
"What are you talking about?" Yahiko & Misao said at the same time.
"I'm tired of living here. It's so lonely. It hurts so badly. It's difficult to even breath. I lost my faith in humans. But when you saved me, I decided to give hope to the young ones. You're still a kid. You've much to learn. Just remember never to lose yourself when you grow up."
"I don't understand what you're saying, Kaoru. Did I miss something here?" Yahiko said in confusion.
Kaoru looked at Kenshin & said, "Take care of the dojo for me. You can all have it. Thank you for everything, minna. I love you all."
Suddenly, a fire engulfed her body as they stared in utter shock. Sano & Misao had to hold Kenshin for he wanted to go to her. To die with her.
The fire burnt out, leaving Kaoru's body as they were before. Blue eyes & blue hair. But no soul. She was dead. "Kaoru!!!"
