Forbidden Phase
by Uenki

Me no own RK.

He brushed away a lock of hair from her sleeping face that seemed so angelic. She looked so innocent like a newborn child. His violet eyes focused on his dearest Kaoru. Sweet, innocent Kaoru. Ever since the day that he came to his only living relative house, both his uncle and his master, he saw her. She always seemed to be asleep, lying down, wearing long dark kimono that was not from the era that he was living in. Her midnight raven, waist length hair fell into place on the huge bed, forming a scene that was only found in a portrait.

She was like a piece of crystal, so fragile and beautiful, yet she never does seem to be awake. Ever since he was a little child, he asked his master about her, being hidden deep inside the chambers of the mansion. Yet his master never seemed to reply, just sipping his sake and ushering him to train and sharpened his swordsmanship. He shifted his position on the bed, and held her icy cold hand that seemed soft to the touch. He lay down, placing his face right beside her and closed his eyes.

"Only you, Kaoru… Only you understand my feelings…" he murmured gently. For years, he enjoyed the fuzzy sensation that he had when he lied down beside her, as if it was just meant to be. He does not believe in magic or fantasy, he just took it to what it shall be. Kaoru, he gave her the name, for he thought that it suits her perfectly.

"Oi, baka-deshi!" the loud hail from his master, Hiko Seijuro, the 12th Master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu. He bolted up from the bed in an instant, slightly shocked. He put down her icy hand and her chest and gave a smile holding his gaze onto her face lovingly. Whispering words that were barely audible, he rushed down in a blink of eyes.

We shall meet later, Kaoru. I do hope that you are having a sweet dream…

"Oi, baka-deshi, do you really get it?" Hiko raised up an eyebrow to his idiotic pupil who was leaning by the door, staring at his master yet seemed so far away. As his gaze met his master, he gave a short nod. Hiko rolled his eyes and ushered –yelled at him to go for his errand. Kenshin just grabbed his sword and dashed off, not wanting to incur the wrath of his master. As he went off, the master stood up from the coffee table, went into the hallways, down the trapdoor and went into another room.

There was once a sleeping beauty,

Under the forlorn skies,

In a room with four walls,

Forever so grey.

Forever she slept,

Forever she wept,

She was always waiting...

Hiko's footsteps were slow, and his every step had a resounding echo. His master, the 11th Master, had told him that 'she' was here ever since; long before the 10th Master was here. His master taught him the ways of life, and told him a legend of that 'girl who never wakes'.

There was once a girl with undying beauty,
who was cursed in a way it shall be,
who was betrayed in a game of truth and dare.

She lost the battle of will,
and was asked to fulfill the dare.

To kill the man she loved,
in fourteen days.

"You must be having a dream that never ends, eh? Replaying and rewinding what had actually happened, again and again," he remembered, his master had told him that the girl was waiting, waiting for someone to reunite with her. Waiting for someone to forgive her.

He breathed a sigh of relief as exited the boundaries of the tofu market. It was so tight nowadays and tofu was so rare to be bought, considering that people are saving up for the raging wars. It was only time like this that he will be walking through the shortcut path back to his master's house. Someone… there was someone following him as he walked… He stopped hastily, dropped the bucket of tofu, and pulled his sword out. The sword's hilt met a gypsy's neck who was draped in black coat. He sheathed the sword immediately, seeing that it was only an elderly. The gypsy was calm, and gave a slight smile while pulling out a small bottle of potion in his coat. The gypsy's hand was wrinkled, as he caressed Kenshin's scar on his left cheek. The old man chuckled, seeing Kenshin's reaction. The gypsy pulled Kenshin's hand and placed the bottle of potion in his palm.

"Young boy, young boy… The scar was not meant to be here… You were never meant to be here." The gypsy said in a chiding manner, his toothy smile was full of concern. The gypsy's gaze then dropped onto the potion on Kenshin's hand.

"That," he said slowly, "is magic. It will fulfil your wildest desires… Drink it, and you will have your wish granted. Only you, young boy, only you…" The gypsy turned back, while Kenshin was still rooted onto the ground. As he regained his composure, the Gypsy walked further and further into the forest, as he disappeared in the thick fog.

My wildest desires… Kaoru… will be alive…

He wanted to meet her, it was now or never. He pulled out the stopper from the potion bottle, and finished the potion in a gulp. His vision blurred, and his world was spinning. Slowly, the darkness claimed him, swallowing him alive in the depths of hell.

"Excuse me, sir; you are awake, aren't you?" Kenshin stirred, and open his eyes. A woman, dressed in purple robes, with sleek black hair came into his view. He sat up slowly, and flinched. Once violet eyes darkened into a deep shade of blue. Such mere scratches were nothing to him.

"Who… who are you?" he asked in uncertainty, and added, "Why am I here?" The woman gave a slight chuckle, giving out an air of forceful aura. Her piercing gaze never went off him; such clothing's were never from her world and this guy was cold, unlike his appearances.

"My name is Takani Megumi , the doctor of this village," she spoke quietly and politely, "The girls found you in the forest, injured, and they brought you back here." Her voice was soft, yet her unwavering gaze told him that she was suspicious of him. He slowed down his breathing, had his head bowed low and gave a nod of thanks.

"I see… Thank you very much." He spoke curtly.

"Megumi! Is he awake yet?" Someone was approaching the room as the footsteps gout louder and louder. The shoji door slid open, and his breath was caught in his throat. His steel blue eyes widened in disbelief.

Holy… No way!

Right in front of him was Kaoru, the woman where he dreamt of every single day, alive.

Author's note: I knooooow! This is waaaay too long! I am rusty, I know, and I can't thin of any one-shot to melt my writer's block. This story had been stored in my computer for way too long, and I just can't continue. However, Rayne-sama helped me with the plot and this is the product. This is only chapter one, and I know that my poems sucked. XD Still, please continue to support sessha and I will give you more of these yummy chapter goodies. 'Uenki smiles' :D

Review, don't incur the wrath of evil authoress! XP

Just kidding, gimme yer opinions, kay?

Love and Chocolates,
Uenki.