Chapter 3
(Kaoru)
I bandaged the mysterious cuts worriedly, murmuring nonsense words to try and keep Kenshin calm. He seemed to respond to my voice, his face relaxing slightly.
I sighed, moving away from him again. I had never seen the rurouni sick, and this was a serious thing. And what about the gashes? Was someone after Kenshin?
Megumi entered the room, a bowl in her hands. "How is he?"
I shook my head sadly. "His fever's still high, and he hasn't lain still at all." I waved a hand at her. "But this really worries me. Come look at this." I showed her the cuts on Kenshin's arm and collarbone, surprised to see the bandages already soaked with blood.
"How did this happen?" Megumi asked, helping me change the cloths.
"That's the problem, I don't know." I said slowly. "I must have dozed off, but when I woke up he was bleeding."
"Help me," the woman murmured, beginning to reposition Kenshin. "We need to get some more of the medicine in him."
She touched the bowl to his pale lips, gently rubbing his throat to make him swallow. He coughed, gagging on the liquid. After a few moments he had drank most of the mixture and Megumi and I lay him back down.
"I'll bee back later," she said, rising to her feet and leaving the room.
I looked back to Kenshin. He was panting slightly, sweat trickling slowly down his face. He was still shivering madly, despite his high fever and the sweat soaking his skin. I gently touched his fiery red hair, which hung limp over his closed eyes. 'Please get well. For me Kenshin.'
(Kenshin)
I was running again, running wild-eyed from the monster behind me. I could hear his laughter in my ears, coming from just on my heels, and it only served to drive me on. The falling rain pelted me in large drops, at one point splashing into my mouth. I coughed and gagged as the liquid slid down my throat. Blood. It was raining blood.
"Keep running now," the voice behind me taunted as I faltered. "I enjoy this chase." He was close, dangerously close.
I gritted my teeth and tried to run faster, but I lost my balance on the slippery ground and fell. With a cry I hit the blood-soaked ground, wincing as the impact jarred my bones.
Once again I heard a snip and my hair fell loose around my shoulders, then I was dragged painfully up by the blood-red strands. I felt a few tears of pain and fear make their way down my face as I looked into amber eyes.
The Battousai snorted, dropping me back to the ground. He knelt beside me, putting one hand under my chin. A smirk was on his face, sending fear through me. "You look so much like a woman with your hair down and those tears on your face," he murmured, and I bit back a cry of horror. He traced my jaw lightly, lust filling his eyes. I gulped heavily, a fine tremble running through my body.
He put his head forward, lips brushing my ear as he spoke. "Such a beautiful body…." I whimpered, trying to pull away. A sharp tug on my hair stopped that. "Such…." he paused, and I felt his grip loosen slightly. "Innocence…." I gulped, tensing my body slightly as I prepared to make a break for it. "I must have you……"
I leaped to my feet in that instant, running away from him. I didn't get very far however. The ground beneath my feet was suddenly gone and I fell straight down, a scream of fear escaping my lips. I was plunged deep in water, no, not water. Blood! My eyes widened as the liquid forced its way down my throat, filling my lungs. The world grew black at the edges as the lack of oxygen took its toll on me and I knew no more.
(Kaoru)
I was sitting quietly when suddenly Kenshin's body jerked violently, a choked cry coming from his lips. I rose quickly and ran to him, getting there just in time to see his eyes open wide, all violet color gone. I gasped. "Kenshin!"
His body convulsed as he coughed and gagged, then suddenly his jerks stopped and he was deathly still on the pallet.
"KENSHIN!" I screamed, putting my hands on his neck and searching for a pulse. There was nothing, not even the rise and fall of his chest. I looked at his face, and then screamed again. His eyes were still open, the wide expanse of white staring at me hauntingly.
Sano burst into the room, followed by Megumi. "Kaoru!"
I backed away in horror from Kenshin's still body, trying to wipe the terrible image of his white eyes from my mind. Megumi fell to her knees beside Kenshin, and then called to Sano. "Sano, hurry! He's not breathing!"
She bent over and breathed hurriedly into him, Sano pushing on his chest. I was backed against the wall, watching worriedly as they tried to revive the rurouni. Sano pumped at his chest again, and then Kenshin came to life with a loud cough, gags following that. Blood trickled down his chin, and then Sano turned him quickly on his side as blood came out in a flow. Kenshin was throwing up blood.
Megumi's eyes widened. "What is going on here?"
Sano looked at her, horrified. "I don't know Megumi, but it's going to kill Kenshin if we don't do something soon."
She nodded, watching as Kenshin's body finally lay still on the pallet. "We have to save him."
