AN: Here it is, my new chapter! And finally we are making it to the first song. I know you were a little disappointed with a prologue without songs, but as I said I never planned on a prologue but suddenly knew that I would need one. So here's you first song: Now start your Buffy 'Once more with Feeling'-OST, program song no. 1 and enjoy!

Kenshin: Sessha doesn't want to.

A-chan: But you have to.

Kenshin: But sessha still doesn't want to.

A-chan: That's changing nothing about the fact that you still have to.

As you see I'm having a bit of trouble getting my cast to sing their parts but… I have better points…

.:THWACK:.

Kenshin: .:swirly-eyed:. Oro…

A-chan: .:casually waving the shinai:. And now: Sing!

ON WITH THE STORY!


Disclaimer: FANfiction – If you ponder this word for but a little longer you'll surely come to the conclusion, that I'm just one of those 'FAN's and am therefore making no money with this little ficcie. I'm just trying to get a little acknowledgement out of my readers, and even that's not working very well.So don't even think about sueing me!


Once more with Feeling : RK Style

:-:- CHAPTER ONE -:-:
Going through the Motions


Night had come and the heat of the day had long vanished. Now the stars were coming out, glinting mysteriously yet bringing a soothing light onto the dojo.

Kenshin lay in his bed, wide awake. Throughout the dojo could Sano's loud snoring be heard, so that was why Kenshin couldn't sleep.

With a sigh he sat up and looked over to the clock. It was close to midnight. 'The hour of ghosts', he thought. Then he shook his head. He didn't believe in ghosts, though his own haunted him since the Bakumatsu.

An extraordinarily loud snore of Sano's rang through the dojo.

That's it! Now Kenshin stood up and started dressing. If he couldn't get sleep he could as well go out on a walk. He had done that a lot since the fight against Enishi. Ever since Kenshin hadn't gotten any sleep at night, walking the streets of the outer parts of Tokyo, trying to sort out his thoughts and feelings. Especially the ones he had for Kaoru.

So he left the dojo – and Sano's snoring – behind. 'Poor Megumi-dono…', he thought, 'Does she even know what is awaiting her with marrying him?'

He locked the gate and went down the street to the left.

And while he walked suddenly the words came to his mind. It was like he'd finally found the perfect description for his situation… And so he started singing:

"Every single Night
The same Arrangement
I go out and fight the Fight"

It felt good to speak it out loud at last, and so he continued.

"Still I always feel
This strange Estrangement
Nothing here is real
Nothing here is right
I've been making Shows of trading Blows
Just hoping no one knows"

He passed a temple when he suddenly heard a voice calling out for help. So he ran into the temple gardens, just to meet the oddest scene he'd ever seen: There was a young girl tied to one of the trees and a couple of men were doing some sort of ceremony, clearly intending to kill the girl in the process.

"That I've been
Going through the Motions
Walking through the Part
Nothing seems to penetrate my Heart"

Kenshin blinked.

He knew the men! But weren't they… dead?

The ghosts of Shishio, Jinei, Hoji and Usui were doing the ceremony!

"I was always brave
And kind of righteous
Now I find I'm wavering"

Kenshin sighed and drew his sakabatou. This had to be some kind of weird dream.

And so he attacked.

"Crawl out of your Grave
You find this Fight just
Doesn't mean a Thing"

Hoji simply dodged his attack and stated:

"He ain't got that Swing"

Kenshin shrugged and answered:

"Thanks for Noticing"

Hoji, Jinei and Usui took each others hands and started some kind of dance (again) while singing:

"He does pretty well
with Fiends from Hell
But lately we can tell"

Then Jinei and Hoji sang together:

"That he's just
Going through the Motions
Faking it somehow"

And Usui sang a 'Going through the Motions' in different tone.

This all annoyed Kenshin so much that he speeded up a bit and knocked the three of them out with one stroke. But then he heard something that made his eyes flame amber. Now Shishio sang:

"He's not even half the girl he-"

.:THWACK:.

"Ow…"

Kenshin sighed satisfied at the quiet, and then turned to the girl still bound to the nearby tree.

"Will I stay this Way forever?
Sleepwalk through my Life's Endeavor?"

As the girl was freed she nearly jumped him, singing:

"How can I repay?"

Kenshin gave her an odd look. Then he pushed her away.

"-Whatever
I don't want to be"

He leaved the temple grounds and continued his walk through Tokyo at night.

"Going through the Motions
Losing all my Drive"

He reached a spot where he had a good view on a few grass covered hills and, in the distant, a bunch of trees. Kenshin stopped and watched this peaceful scene.

"I can't even see
If this is really me
And I just want to be"

The first rays of sunlight were already appearing, and a little surprised he looked upwards, seeing a sparrow flying by.

"Alive"

Then he went still. After a while it hit him.

"Oro? Is it already morning?", he murmured to himself, "Sessha's better going home now, before the others awake…"

So he turned and began walking back to the Kamiya-dojo.


:-:- END OF CHAPTER ONE -:-:
Going through the Motions


NEXT CHAPTER:
Killer bunnies and nightmares! So please stay tuned!
AN:
Yeah, I know it's short… But it's a song, and I have to keep the tempo of the song a little bit, y'know? And if anybody wondered why Ken-chan could hit the ghosts… uh… ah… dunno! But it's necessary for the scene, ne? And, yeah, the night was over a little fast, but I wanted a sunrise for the end of it. It just fits the mood so well!

Was it good? Was it bad? Go on and tell me! Even if it's just to tell me how much you hate my story… but I need a few opinions on this, oki?

If you wondered: The glossary is now officially moved to my author's page. I decided to place all the japanese term I know there, just in case that they might someday appear in one of my Fics.

And a huge 'Thank you' to my dear beta-reader Mary Snape-Evans!


Replies to reviews:

TennyoAkana: o.O" Whatever. But finally the songs have started – you like it more now? Thanks for reviewing, anyway. You're the only one up to today… ;.; … nobody likes me… .:sniff:.


Push the button! You know you want to!