Disclaimer: I am RK's number one fan. If I am a fan that means that it is not possible for me to own it!
'...' indicates thought
The Secret Kept From Yahiko
Chapter Six
I dipped my hand in the soothing water and went to lay it on Yahiko's forehead. To my astonishment, the water droplets that fell off of my hand before I got to him landed on his forehead, sizzled, and disappeared.
As my hand made contact it was like playing with fire. My hand flew off of him and plunged itself into the water bowl.
"Sanosuke! Ken-San! Kaoru! Come quickly!" I yelled feeling the panic well up in my throat. The urgency in my voice brought all three of them running around the corner of the house as fast of their legs could carry them.
"Megumi-Dono?"
"Megumi?"
"Fox?"
"What's wrong?" they asked in unison.
I looked up sadly. "His temperature is to say the least, at least 110 degrees and rising." A single tear dripped down my cheek. "If a miracle doesn't happen soon he is not going to make it."
Yahiko POV
I opened my eyes to the burning heat that was radiating off me. Off me? I felt like I was on fire. And I was seeing nothing but red flames licking at my clothes just waiting to engulf and consume me into their fiery Hell. Where was I and why was I so hot?
"Konnichwa Yahiko," a soft voice spoke coming from my right. I turned but continued to see flames.
"Who's there?" I called uncertainly, "and where are you?"
"My name is Sapphire. I am coming to you. Hold on one second please."
"All right..." Suddenly, a bright white light (yay three rhymes in a row! Hehe!) appeared and seemed to shoot through the crimson tongues and stop right next to me.
"Here I am." A raven haired girl in a long white robe who was wearing wings stood next to me.
"Who are you? I have the feeling I'm asleep..."
"You are correct."
"Then how are you here?"
"Ah yes. You might not believe me Yahiko, but I'm an angel."
"An angel? You mean like someone from Heaven?"
"Exactly."
"Ok. So what are you doing here?"
"I've come to convince you that it is not your time to die now."
"I'm dying?"
"Sad but true."
"How?"
"You're fever has gotten out of control and you are going to die from it. Hence, the hot feeling you are feeling right now."
"So if it isn't my time to die, but I'm dying how do I live?"
"You see, I'm giving you that chance. Do you want to go back?"
"Yes... no."
"Why not?"
"My whole life I've been on the streets and never been happy since my mother died. Plus, if I go back, Gasuke will just catch me and the whole thing will happen again even though I know the truth. Besides, I have nowhere to go. Nobody cares about a street brat."
"You think? I know some people who care a lot about you."
"Yeah? Like who?"
"Your parents for one thing. They wouldn't want you to die so young."
"Their dead and if I die then I might be able to see them."
"All right. Kenshin, Kaoru, Sanosuke, and Megumi care for you. They all want you to get better and not die."
"But why? I have nothing to give them in return. And even if the do care about me does that mean I have somewhere to live or are they going to put me back on the streets?"
"I believe that Kenshin and Kaoru are planning on having you stay at the dojo."
"I would like to go back but-"
"Excellent." Sapphire clapped her hands together with glee. "I'm going to send you back now. You'll be in a lot of pain and that burning feel will be even stronger there. As a word of warning, if you do not fight your fever you will die and I cannot help you a second time. Get ready to go back."
"But-"
"No buts, here you go! 3...2..1!"
Sapphire disappeared and I was left standing there with the thought I had been trying to get out for the last few minutes. 'But what if they don't like me?'
End Yahiko POV
Kenshin POV
He couldn't just die; he couldn't. Not after what he had been through. A living nightmare that he wasn't able to wake up from because he was already awake. And now he is sitting right in front of me dying.
His whole body shook with each breath of air that he took and you could tell just from watching that he was stuck in a raging torment of fiery ice and freezing fire. Nothing any of us did helped. We were losing him.
A/N: I know this is a weird place to put in my notes but I am here to say I'm sorry. Why? Because my PC had an error and closed out my story. I lost 4 pages of type so the following will not be as good as the original. I knew I needed to save more often. On with the fic!
Out of the blue I heard a cough coming from the form in front of me. The coughs were wracking his body and he was shaking violently. I raced over and gently propped him up and started rubbing his back with my hand hoping to ease the coughing fit.
One of his eyes cracked open glazed over in pain with a feverish look about them. "Ken...Shin?" he rasped out.
"Yes, Yahiko it's me."
'It's so cold, and so hot."
I didn't really know what to say to that comment so I just said, "I know." His eyes softly closed and for a brief second I thought I had been the one to hear his last words, but I realized he was still alive when the harsh breathing was back.
"Megumi-Dono? May Seesha have a word with you?"
"Yes Ken-San I'm coming." The young doctor walked toward me from across the lawn and knelt down next to me.
"Is it possible for Yahiko to wake up?"
"If he did wake up then most likely he would live but seeing as he has not..." she shook her head sadly.
"But Yahiko did wake up Megumi-Dono. He spoke to Seesha."
"What? He woke up? Please move over Ken-San.
End Kenshin POV
Megumi POV
My first thought was impossible! Ken-San must have been imagining things. But I knew Ken-San would not lie, and especially when it was such a grave matter as life or death. I reached over and laid a hand on the boy's forehead. The fever had gone down just a little bit.
"When he woke up Ken-San, what did he say?"
"He said my name and that it was cold and hot whatever that means."
"It means that his fever is making him cold so that he wants heat, but the added heat is only making him hotter."
"Seesha understands now, that he does."
"Did he say anything else?"
"No, but he did cough a lot."
"Ah I see. That is to be expected. He does have some nasty internal injuries that may lead him to cough, not counting the fact that this fever most likely isn't helping matters."
"Oro?"
"Ken-San, assuming he does live where is he going to stay? I can't see putting him back on the streets especially after what happened."
"No, Seesha would not put Yahiko back on the streets, that he would not, no Seesha will keep Yahiko here at the dojo with Kaoru-Dono and Seesha."
"And Kaoru will have no objections?"
"Seesha hopes not and besides Seesha does not believe that Kaoru-Dono would want him out there again, that I do."
"That's good. Because I do not trust the baka tori to take of him and I myself would not have the time to take care of him because I have other patients so it would have to be up to yourself and Kaoru."
"Seesha understands Megumi-Dono, that he does."
"That's good. Now we just have to hope that he lives."
"Seesha has not doubt that he won't not make it. I do not think that he wants to die yet, that I do not."
"I hope for his sake that you are correct Ken-san."
End Megumi POV
Yahiko POV
I could remember waking up and talking to Kenshin for a few brief moments. And I remembered that cough. It burned in my throat and hurt my chest. The pain, the cough and the sound of hazy voices all rushed out to greet me as I felt myself coming back into consciousness.
I felt that burning feeling of a cough creeping up my throat and it came so that I could not hold it back and it came pouring out of my mouth. I sounded like a goose. I felt someone rubbing my back in efforts to help ease the pain from my coughing fit. It was helping.
"I told you he would make it Megumi-Dono, that I did."
"Yes you did Ken-San."
The voices were starting to separate themselves from each other and I recognized them as Kenshin and Megumi. Kenshin's voice was coming from behind so he must be the one doing the back rubbing.
All of a sudden a sharp jolt like lightning hit me soundly in the forehead. I didn't say anything seeing as it seemed that neither Kenshin nor Megumi had seen it.
I was standing in a room. It was a big room and there were a lot of men standing around as if waiting for someone or something. I saw what it was as a person stepped out from behind a door amidst loud cheering and clapping that I could not hear. It was Gasuke.
It was then that I noticed that not all of the men standing around were from the Shuei. There were quite a number from other groups including the Yamchus, Dibreios, and Weuraws; which were some of the more powerful syndicates in the area. What were they all doing here?
Gasuke was talking to the whole group and then drew out his sword and made a slicing motion across his neck. All the men cheered even louder and pounded their feet. Someone was going to die. But who? Then it struck me. They were setting out to kill... me.
The little vision was gone as quickly as it had come but left me with a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. I sat bolt right up and looked wildly about me as if they were going to attack at any second.
"Yahiko? It's all right. We are not going to hurt you, that we are not."
"Yes," chimed in Megumi, "you are among friends now."
"Is something wrong Yahiko?" asked Kenshin.
"No... Everything is fine." I coughed again. That wasn't what my mind was saying. 'No! You are not all right. You just saw the future or what you thought could be the future and from the looks of it, it included killing you!
"All right. Seesha is going to bring you inside now, it is getting chilly out here, that it is."
"Yes, Ken-San, bring him inside before he gets even worse. I will be back tomorrow morning to check up on him. Time for me to go back to the clinic. Abayo Ken-San."
"Good bye Megumi-Dono. Be careful on your way back."
"Don't worry 'bout the fox Kenshin, I'll make sure she gets back safely."
"Where did you come from tori atama?"
"I've been trying to rescue the fish from Jou-Chan and her cooking skills. Honestly, that is the first woman I've seen in my lifetime who can't even cook a meal without burning it. Guess I'll have to stop in at Akabeko for dinner. How's the kid?"
"Yahiko will be just fine that he will as soon as I get him into the house. You should take Megumi-Dono home now Sanosuke."
"Ok. Good to hear that about the kid. Come on Fox, time to get you back to the clinic. Ja ne Kenshin."
"Time to get you inside out of this weather Yahiko. It seems that a storm might even be brewing. In we go."
As Kenshin stepped over the threshold into the house which looked quite homey, but the smell of burning fish and rice did not help to add to the appearance.
"Kaoru-Dono? Where should I put Yahiko and is everything all right in there?"
"Everything is just fine Kenshin. Dinner should be ready in a little bit. Kenshin? Could you please leave him outside?"
But why Kaoru-Dono?"
"I don't think I would sleep well with a dead body in the house."
"I'm very much alive thank you," I retorted to her comment. Kenshin chuckled at my little outburst.
"He's alive? He's awake? He's talking? Put him in the guest room I guess." To me she sounded very surprised.
"Arigato Kaoru-Dono."
Kenshin walked down a hall into a room complete with a futon already laid out, a dresser, and a window that would be letting in light if the sky had not been covered in black thunderheads that were rolling in from the east.
Kenshin put me in the futon and pulled the covers up to my chin. "Kenshin? I have a question."
"What is it Yahiko?"
"Why are you so polite to everyone? I mean I can understand Megumi, she's a doctor, but why Kaoru? She's ugly!"
"Yahiko that isn't very nice to say about Kaoru-Dono, that it is not."
"But it's true."
"Seesha thinks that Kaoru-Dono is very pretty."
"You have a weird sense of pretty."
Kenshin laughed. "Get some rest Yahiko, you need it."
"All right. Good night Kenshin."
"Good night Yahiko."
After the door had closed behind Kenshin, I didn't want to admit it but I was scared. Not only because of that strange vision that I had had, but because I hated storms. I used to think that they were cool and had been fascinated by lightning until Gasuke decided to stick me to a metal pole in the middle of a particularly bad storm to see what would happen if I was struck by lightning.
I had been very lucky and not been electrified but the thought of it would never leave my mind. I had been eight, and memories like that especially to a kid don't fade quickly and are never forgotten.
It was best that I follow Kenshin's advice and get some rest. Problem was, as soon as I would close my eyes I would get the unwanted images in my vision and be awake again. Eventually though, fatigue overtook me and I fell into an uneasy slumber.
End Yahiko POV
Kenshin POV
After putting Yahiko to bed I went towards the kitchen with the thoughts of my most recent conversation running through my head. Did I really think Kaoru-Dono is pretty?
'She is to you, you baka!' My mind yelled back at me.
'And you are starting to fall for her aren't you Kenshin,' chimed in my heart.
I just blushed a deep red to match my hair and walked into the kitchen to rescue dinner. I was just in time to save the rice that Kaoru- Dono had left cooking unattended on the stove.
"Kaoru-Dono," I chided, "what was the biggest part of our cooking lesson yesterday?"
"That was an easy one Kenshin. Never leave anything cooking when you're not paying attention..." her face paled. "Good God! The rice!" She turned towards it to see me cooking it. "You're a lifesaver Kenshin!"
"Kaoru-Dono, how about you go set out the plates and Seesha will finish cooking dinner?"
"That sounds like a plan Kenshin."
I came out if the kitchen a few minutes later with the remainder of the dinner that I had salvaged. "Here we are Kaoru-Dono."
"Looks great Kenshin, lets eat!" And so we did. Kaoru-Dono eating nothing like a lady and instead like this was the last meal that she would ever see.
"Kaoru-Dono? Yahiko is allowed to stay here at least until he is better, ne?"
"Of course Kenshin. Even though he did call me ugly, I can't turn him out to the streets. What would become of him? Besides I am going to need an apprentice to the Kamiya Kasshin style you know. Do we know anything about him?"
"No Kaoru-Dono, I'm afraid not. We only know his name, that he is an orphan, and that he was with the Shuei Yakuza Syndicate. Oh yes! And that a secret of some sort was kept from him. That is why he was injured so badly; he found out the truth whatever it may be."
"As soon as he is up I shall interrogate him. I don't need a thief living under my roof."
"Kaoru-Dono you forget. He is already a minor thief. A pickpocket to be exact."
"I knew that, of course I did. Just forgot for a moment, that's all."
"Ok Kaoru-Dono. Seesha is going to wash the dishes and then go to bed. You should do the same."
"Ok." Kaoru-Dono yawned. "See you in the morning Kenshin."
"Sleep well Kaoru-Dono."
End Kenshin POV
Overall View
Kenshin was woken up to two things. The first being a clap of thunder; the second barely heard over the boom was a whimper. Judging by how tired he was Kenshin determined that it was about 2:30 in the morning.
Deciding to investigate and see what the noise was; Kenshin opened his shoji door just a crack, and the howling wind slammed it shut so fast that Kenshin had almost lost some fingers. He had to get out though. Somebody needed help.
Mustering up some extra strength Kenshin shoved the door open, and due to his quickness was able to get out the door before it slammed closed once again. Now where had that noise come from?
End overall View
Kenshin POV
(A/N: not sure why I did that; I guess just to try it... I like POV better )
As I was waling down the little outside path that leads to the rooms of the house wondering which room the noise had come from; my instincts told me that it was from Yahiko's room.
I went along the path clutching onto support beams as I made my way to Yahiko. When I reached his door, I let go of the beam I was holding and lunged for the place where my hand would go to open the door. Luck was with me and I happened to be going with the wind. I slid open the door and the wind pushed me inside and then the door closed with a loud bang.
The room was pitch black and I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face? How was I supposed to find Yahiko in all this?
I made my way carefully across the floor until my left foot came to connect with the oak dresser. The futon was just a bit to the right... Yes. My foot had collided with the soft feeling of the extra blanket to the side.
I knelt down next to the futon; my eyes searching for Yahiko. The boy was tossing and turning in his sleep. It was a nightmare. A bad nightmare. I stopped his movements by placing my hands firmly on his shoulders. Then I shook him gently and called his name hoping that he would wake.
I could tell he had woken up when I felt him go rigid and from the emotion radiating off of him it was fear.
"No... please no... I don't like it... please!"
"Yahiko it's Kenshin. It's okay. Nothing is going to hurt you."
"Kenshin? A small hand reached up and traced my scar. "It is you."
I heard the boy sigh in relief. "Yes, it's me. Are you all right?"
"Yeah. It was nothing. Just a bad dream."
"That looked like more than just a bad dream. Would you like to talk about it?"
"No. You wouldn't understand. No one will."
"How do you know I won't Yahiko? Have you ever tried explaining it to anyone before?"
"No, but I know you wouldn't. I don't think it has ever happened to anyone else before so no one will ever be able to relate to it."
"Why don't you tell me what it was? I might be able to determine if it has ever happened to anyone before."
"I'll say this. It's not fun to be only eight and being used as a human lightning rod."
"A what?"
"You know. The thing lightning strikes if it connects with metal? I was tied up to a metal pole in a storm like this. Gasuke wanted to see what would happen. I don't like storms now, and whenever we have a big one that memory comes back and haunts me."
"I see. Wait a minute. You said when you were eight. Exactly how old are you now?"
"I'm ten. Am I right? This has never happened to anyone else before?"
"I think you're right. Why didn't you go to the police? Seesha is sure that they would have helped."
"Simple answer. There are two. One, I was an orphan and willingly went to the group so they were like my guardians even though they definitely didn't do a very good job about it. Two, I thought I was paying off the medical bills that my mother left in debt. I couldn't go to the police. I would go against the family name if I didn't pay it off."
"You thought you were paying it off?"
"Yeah. Turns out that there wasn't even a debt to begin with; they just wanted some extra money so a kid like me who had fast fingers and could easily put on an innocent impression was their key to get rich. The only problem with that whole thing was that I was the key, but I wouldn't find that out till the day that you came along."
"So that was the secret Gasuke mentioned when I came to get you?"
"Yeah, guess so."
"Thank you for telling me Yahiko. Will you be all right now?"
"Yeah you can go back to bed. Kenshin? Thanks for listening."
"Anytime Yahiko, anytime."
I made a move to open the door, but as the wind had been with me on opening it from the outside, there was no way that I would be able to get out tonight. "It looks like Seesha will be spending the night here tonight, that I will."
"Okay Kenshin." the boy's voice was starting to fade as slumber took him.
I leaned over and placed my hand on his head. Still very warm. I dipped my hand into the bowl of water I had left in the room earlier. It was lukewarm but for now it would have to do. Then I took an extra blanket and curled up on the floor and went to sleep hoping that Yahiko's memories would bother him no more tonight.
End Kenshin POV
Yahiko POV
Even though I had talked to Kenshin I was still bothered. It was still storming and I still didn't understand my vision. I had never done that before in my life, otherwise I would have hoped to have one about the debt issue. Then I wouldn't have ended up like this.
"Well of course you couldn't have a vision before silly. You weren't dead."
"Who's there?"
"Hello again Yahiko."
"Oh Hi Sapphire. What are you doing here?"
"Well I could tell you were still troubled even after you explained part of your past to Kenshin. Plus I need to explain something to you."
"How can you tell I'm still being haunted by my past?"
"Well, you see, I'm your Guardian Angel now. I know these things."
"Ok. Wait! Back it up just a minute! How did you know I was having a vision?"
"Because that is your new gift."
"My gift?"
"Yes, your gift. The reason that you got that was because when we met the first time we were standing somewhere between life and death. Closer to death. So technically, you sort of died. But since you are living now you came back from the dead and now have a special gift." (A/N: Sort of like Uswe's (sp? Help?) Eye of the Heat thing from the Kyoto Arc. Difference is, Yahiko was going towards Heaven and Uswe was in Hell)
"Uh huh. So how do I access these visions or stop them from happening? I didn't enjoy seeing the action of wanting me dead. It was me they wanted to kill wasn't it?"
"Yes they do want to kill you. As for shutting off your power, it's impossible and why would you want to do it anyway?"
"I don't want to see the bad things that people plan to do to me or even others."
"Well what about the good things in life?"
"'Dunno."
"As for accessing, you don't get to pick when or where. They just happen. People will probably notice you though. Your eyes will turn an electric blue and you'll be in a sort of trance."
"How come no one noticed the first time?"
"You had your eyes closed. No one saw anything and probably thought you were just resting. You were so out of it that anything was possible and no one will be the wiser."
"How will I know when I'm about to get one?"
"You will feel like an energy bolt is hitting you in the head. No one else will feel a thing. I suggest that you tell Kenshin and the others though. We don't need them thinking you are an evil sorcerer or anything. I have to get going. Good luck Yahiko."
With those words she departed leaving me once again trapped in the nightmares of endless torture to a little kid and knowing that that did happen in real life because it had happened to me.
I woke up the next morning with a feeling of calm. I was not sure if it was because the storm was over or because I now knew why I was seeing the future or maybe it was both. Either way, I was feeling a lot better now.
A soft snore coming from my right reminded me that Kenshin was here. It was kind of nice having him spend the night not that I would ever tell anyone, but it made me feel safer knowing that someone was there to protect me. And now Sapphire was my guardian angel. At least she could explain my power to me; now all I had to do was tell everyone else.
How would they react? Would they think it truly was a gift or would they think that I was some kind of freak and throw me back to my old life where I was fed to the dogs. I shuddered; I never wanted to go back to that life- ever.
Kenshin stirred and sat up. "You are awake already Yahiko? Are you hungry?"
"Not really."
"Seesha is going to make you something; you need to get some meat on your bones, that you do. Just lie down and rest."
Kenshin left the room and I spoke out loud, "What if I'm tired of resting? That's all I do." Kenshin entered the room not with breakfast but with a bowl of water that he set down next to me.
"We need to get your fever to ho down Yahiko. And resting will only make it better faster."
I grumbled in protest but allowed Kenshin to lay a wet cloth on my forehead. "Now stay put," he said kindly smiling at me, "we also don't need you breaking open any stitches again."
Kenshin left the room and a few minutes later I could smell the scent of cooking rice wafting through the crack in my open door. Minutes later Kenshin came in with a tray loaded with food that, if I had been with the Shuei, would have fed me for about a month.
"That's a lot of food Kenshin."
"Hai. Seesha is eating with you. Kaoru-Dono is still asleep."
"I still won't be able to eat all of it."
"Just eat what you can Yahiko."
"Ok. We ate in contented silence for awhile. After ten minutes, Kenshin had just about finished his half and I had eaten at most an eighth of mine.
"Is there something wrong with the food Yahiko?"
"No there is nothing wrong with it Kenshin. I'm just not used to eating so much."
"How much do you eat?"
"I'll give you a hint. The amount of food on the tray, all of it, would have fed me for a month."
"Then they barely fed you?"
"No, they never fed me. It was up to me to find enough food to eat to survive. They didn't care and I had always wondered why until now."
"Why?"
"If I died from starvation all it would mean for them is that they lost the free cash that they earned everyday."
"Well Yahiko you do not have to be worried about not eating enough here."
"Thanks Kenshin, for everything. You didn't have to you know."
"I might not have had to but I wanted to Yahiko."
"Kenshin I have to tell you-" my voice stopped suddenly as I saw my face in the mirror; my eyes were turning a vibrant shade of blue.
Author's Notes:
Gosh I just keep leaving you guys on cliffies! That is fun though!
I can't wait until tomorrow! Two brand new Yu-Gi-Ohs! I can't wait!
Today I tried playing tennis in my court and the two neighbor girls Lori and Rachel had to come out and try to help! That ruined it!
Now I'm starting to blabber… hehe! See you all next chapter!
Oh yeah! This is my record for words and pages! 5358 words and 17 pages!
Reviewer's Comments:
IcyPanther: Well yes of course he has to get better! And I give him future vision! Cool or what? Megumi will probably need to be called in a lot. Not sure what I'm doing yet, but with me…
Aragorn821: Yes he is too stubborn; he doesn't want to die, and neither do I! But yes he almost dies just to almost die again!
Bloody Akiko Nagi the Insane: You get to read an update to be left on another cliff. Fun huh?
StarofFoam : Seesha means as easily as I can put it, this unworthy one. Kenshin doesn't believe he is worthy of a lot of stuff even though I think he is so he calls himself that.
Risa: No he is not from Krypton or related to Clark Kent. And I know that no one could probably survive that, but that is why they call it fiction!
HalownKougra: Yep Kenshin saved Yahiko in that chapter. It stormed up where I live too!