Response time!! Yippee!
LaRoyia: Thanks a ton girlie! I am so happy you're enjoying my story… maybe more camp people could read it too! You are the third one from staff to read my stuff! Once again, thanks!!
Ari and Kat: I am happy you're glad that I am alive… I wouldn't have it any other way ^_~… You and your grammatical corrections… thanks!!! ^-^
JDFielding: Fantastic? Goodness, you spoil me so! Yeah, the cuddling scene was really fun writing along with the dream sequence. It all was quite imperative to the story, so I am pleased with the way it turned out. Thanks for the kind words concerning the story and my writing. Really, you are spoiling me! ^-~ Read on, friend, I write this stuff for people like you ^-^!
LadyHimura: Hee hee, Kaoru and Kenshin are cute, huh? Yahiko is a sweet little boy sometimes, and I wanted to show that side to him more in this story. I sympathize with his loss in both the anime and my story… Sano is a loveable one, isn't he? Sorry for not updating the night you wanted me to… a little too early for me ^_^…
Midnyteshadow: I had to write a paper on Indiana Jones for my Archaeology class… it was kinda fun outside of the stress factor concerning my printer flipping out on me (darn thing needs ink!)… yes, school is a blessing, especially in this country. That's one of the reasons my family came to the States ^^… anyhoo, thanks for dropping me a line ^-^.
Califpinay3001: Thanks, glad you love it! ^_^
Satu-chan: Yup, they're taking a trip! I'm so happy everyone liked the more involved K/K part I included in the last chapter… I was hoping to come off a bit balanced where that was concerned. A few people wanted more of that, so I hope I fulfilled their wishes.
Chell: Planned in advance, you say? It was, if you count the little outline I threw together before Art History one day ^-^… You smiled throughout the entire thing? Cool! I was hoping that would be the case ^-~… And we all know Sano and his opinion of trains ^-^… I couldn't pass that up!
Disclaimer: Nope… Not a chance… I'm not rolling in dough, thus, I do not own Rurouni Kenshin…
Chapter 11
Standing amid the rushing bodies brushing against her, a wavering serenity sitting in her half lidded eyes, Kaoru's heart shown through both excited and nervous at the next step she was about to take. A hand was held out to her, it's owner offering her his help with a friendly smile gracing his lips. She looked up at him, her kimono's skirt lifted in her fisted hand, and she took his offer to be lifted on the train. In one graceful movement she stood on the train's ledge next to that same man who brought tears of joy and sorrow to her heart and soul. She gave him a smile, hiding behind it her thoughts of her desire to comfort him, and wondering what he could possibly be hiding from her behind his own. Her eyes lingered on his face, her smile fading a bit when his scar came in view. Her fingers itched to touch it and whisper words of a real hope in his ear, words of healing, but her heart told her to wait… and see where God would lead. Following Kenshin's fluid movements as he walked into the train, Kaoru folded her hands in front of her with an affirmed grasp of what she was to do. She needed to trust that all would fall into place, everything in it's own season.
Their seats were near the back of the train, the front occupied by those with much more money to spend on tickets. Since Megumi was a doctor, and prone to be called to treat a patient at last minute, she purchased the more easily attainable of the tickets which were the cheaper ones. But not a one was complaining and each thanked her again for the tickets. That is, everyone except for Sano who was sleeping peacefully thanks to Megumi's doing.
"Hey Miss Megumi, how did you get Sano to fall asleep so quickly?" Kenshin spoke, asking the question on the minds of the other two.
Megumi's sharp eyes looked at Kenshin and Kaoru, both sitting next to each other with the same curious expressions.
Looking at the tall man sleeping next to her, his head resting against the window, she smiled. "I kissed him." They gawked at her, not understanding why a kiss would knock the tough man out. "I had a sedative in my mouth and gave it to him that way. Since I'm quite immune to the medicine, it didn't effect me as it did Rooster head." She winked at Yahiko and he laughed first, the other two laughing after the slight shock had worn off.
"Well, I guess he won't have to worry about the trip that way." Kaoru admitted.
"Yeah, Megumi did say she would take care of Sano, and she was right." Yahiko covered his mouth to muffle his laugh.
"How long does it usually take to get to Kyoto, Miss Megumi?" Kenshin asked, this being his first time on a train.
"About ten hours… These tickets allow us to switch trains in Yokohama and then Nagoya before arriving in Kyoto." Megumi said, hoping that it wouldn't come off as too much of a hassle. After all, she had taken the train before and had gotten used to it. She secretly hoped that Sano would be able to live through the other two trains without having to be medicated again. Megumi had only one more sedative and she didn't want to waste it on the man.
"That seems rather reasonable, that is does. By foot or carriage it would have taken us around a week at least. I'd rather take a train over walking that distance any day. Don't you agree, Miss Kaoru?" Kenshin asked, glancing at the woman beside him. Her eyes weren't focused on his, but were staring out the window into the landscape passing them by with a far away look in them. He waved a hand in front of her face and only then did she snap out of her reverie.
"Sorry Kenshin, what did you ask?"
He answered her with a serious look of concern, not liking the fact that she seemed a little more reserved ever since they stepped foot on the train.
"It's nothing of importance. Are you feeling well?" He asked, covering her folded hands with his own. The warmth in his eyes reached out to her and she nodded.
"I feel perfectly well, my health is in top condition." She reaffirmed him.
"I'm not speaking of your health, Miss Kaoru…"
"Kenshin, I'm fine. Stop worrying so much. I'm not a child, you know…" She sat back, her head resting against the red velvet colored cushion of the seat. Next to her she heard a soft snore and turned her head to see Yahiko sleeping peacefully, as if not having a care in the world. She smiled softly, her heart wishing she had the unconditional faith that was characteristic of a child. He slept with the only comfort he knew of, and the hope that brought it all about.
Kenshin watched as she sighed and leaned back into the plush of the cushion again, this time staring past Kenshin out the window.
"Would you like it better if we switched seats? I think you would enjoy the trip much more if you sat next to the window, that I do." Kenshin was always the gentleman, offering to comfort others before himself. She nodded and scooted over into his former spot after he stood to make room. Megumi watched with a keen eye, catching hints of something more than a mere friendship between the oblivious two. Kenshin made himself comfortable in between the two youngest ones of the group, watching out of the corner of his eye the change in Kaoru's countenance as she leaned closer to stare out into the coming night. The lack of direct sunlight cast a bluish hue upon everything on the outside, a darker shade of it mixing with the shadows in their train car. Kaoru was beautiful in his eyes, a perfect balance of power and gentility. With that thought he pulled his gaze from her pretty face and decided to join Sano in resting his eyes.
After an hour, they needed to board the second train heading towards Kyoto. It was about a half an hour into the trip when they arrived in Yokohama. Soon the steady sound of steal upon steel and the bumps of the semi-smooth ride did nothing to the increasingly weary travelers, the last of them drifting off to sleep a little after they boarded the train that would carry them seven more hours. Megumi's eyes were accustomed to the dimming of lights and staying up hours upon hours when working on patients, so she was the last to remain awake. She watched with mild curiosity at the young couple of adults sleeping across from her. They pretended to be polite out of the sake of being polite and yet each one had a special way of looking at the other, a way they shared with no one else. It made her a little jealous at the thought that the young woman, she lovingly called Raccoon girl, might actually end up getting married before her. Feeling a movement off to her right side, Megumi smiled at what she saw. Sano, the big baby that he was, moved his head from against the window to a spot on the cushion next to her. Poor thing was still sleeping from the sedative she gave him. A grin immediately spread across her face. Maybe she was wrong about being jealous of Kaoru… After all, she had been seeing Sano for over two weeks now, and even though he didn't immediately promise courtship, she knew that he wanted their relationship to last. Lacing her arm around his, Megumi leaned her head against his and let her mind quiet itself enough to allow sleep to drift in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The train trip had taken the Kenshin-gumi through the night and into the very early hours of the morning. It was still dark out when Kenshin's eyes fluttered open. He woke up after being jolted awake after the train had gone over a large bump. Glancing around until his eyes adjusted to the lack of light, he was relieved to find he was the only one disturbed from his sleep. They had all resumed the same seats and positions after boarding the second train and Kenshin was glad. His eyes moved toward the individuals opposite him. Sano had his arm intertwined with Megumi's and both slept peacefully in a cuddling position.
*I'll remember to ask Sano about that later. Him and Miss Megumi, who would have thought?* Kenshin's mind brought about a smile, allowing him to remember that night a couple days ago when Kaoru huddled against his chest as he held her in his arms. His continued smiling after seeing the peace in the faces of those around him, everyone taking advantage of the time of day to rest. Getting up, he stretched out his cramped limbs, trying to get some of the blood flowing again. He made his way around their belongings, many of which were cramping the area around their feet. Finally, reaching the aisle, Kenshin decided to go and explore the train and see as much of it as he could. It was his first time on such a thing and his often suppressed curiosity was wide awake and ready to lead him forward. Many people crowded the other seating areas just like the one he was sharing with his friends. One sight in particular made him stop, a sad look overcoming his eyes as he looked on. There was a little boy, most likely around 4 or 5 years old, cuddled in between a man and a woman, most likely the young one's parents. The boy's red hair was short yet messy, reminding Kenshin much of himself when he was a child. His mind didn't allow him to dwell on that comparison and not bring up what happened in his years of innocence. Kenshin stood still, unable to move or shake the images playing before his eyes once again. Images of his hands, blistered and dirt stained from digging the graves for those he loved. His heart had experienced a great loss at such an early age, an experience that added itself to his heart. Little did his once pure mind know that more scars would soon come with the passing of his youth.
The sudden jarring movement of the floor beneath him brought him back to the present, his eyes refocusing on the young family sleeping. For some reason his eyes were pulled away from the boy's face to the window just beyond them. His sharp eyes made out the form of a small bird flying along side the train. It's speed matched that of the moving locomotive and it looked as if it were suspended in the air as it moved gracefully through the currents. He was in awe at how persistent the little creature was proving to be, giving it's all to keep up with the train's incredible speed. The little black bird swung up and down in the air and then came closer to where it flew right next to the window's glass pane. After a few seconds, it receded and fell behind and out of Kenshin's view.
*Odd… Why was I so drawn to that little sparrow? I must still be somewhat sleepy…* He turned around from where he had come and returned back to his friends. Their part of the world began to awaken and the coming sun shone the promise of it's arrival in the lighter shades appearing all around them. When he got back to their seating area, Kenshin noticed that Kaoru was leaning up against the window with a book lifted in front of her face. He noticed the tattered cover to be that of her father's Bible. From the way she held it Kenshin took it that she was trying to read by the faint light outside. The plush of the bench dipped as he sat down in his spot, bringing her to lower the book enough to offer a sleep laden smile.
"Is their enough light for reading? I'm not sure you should strain your eyes, Miss Kaoru." Kenshin said, hiding his hands in the sleeves of his blue gi. He sat his head back all the while keeping his eyes trained on the young girl's changing expression. She frowned and nodded in agreement, closing the book softly before placing it on her lap.
"Yes, Kenshin, you're right. I just felt compelled to read over one of my favorite passages, that's all." She folded her hands over the book and let out a sigh, letting her eyes wander about their little confined box of an area. Kenshin watched, not caring much if she found him staring. He was too tired to not dwell in the simple luxury of admiring her beautiful face.
"What was the passage about?" He inquired.
Kaoru raised a brow, "Hmm? Oh, the passage… It speaks of our importance to God. He uses a few comparisons to demonstrate how much He cares and watches out for us."
"Comparisons? I'm interested in hearing of them, that I am." Kenshin curiosity shown bright in his eyes despite the lack of light. Kaoru moved away from leaning against the window and reclaimed her spot next to the man whose attention was fully hers.
"Well, He speaks of how He knows the very number of hairs on our heads. Oh, and it's said He knows when every sparrow falls, and since we are more important to Him, He watches us even more closely. You know, He's more concerned about us than He is of a mere bird."
"Did you say sparrows?" He asked, thinking that the connection must have been a coincidence. His mind's eye drew him back to that moment he glanced out the window, the little black bird flying and delivering him from his tormenting memories. *It wasn't a coincidence…* Kenshin thought, his mind bringing about a bewildered and awed light to his eye. Kaoru watched him, curious herself as to what triggered such an unexpected look to appear on the young swordsman's face.
"Kenshin, are you alright? What's wrong?" Kaoru's soft words cut through his contemplative silence, her words making him smile in amazement.
"There is nothing wrong, Miss Kaoru… I believe I am more than alright, that I do. Do you wish to hear of what happened to me this morning?" Kaoru nodded her head, happy and interested in what could have affected the man so. In a few minutes Kenshin had recalled the events of the morning and Kaoru's smile widened to the point her cheeks began to hurt a little.
After a moment's pause he turned his gaze from his hands toward Kaoru, waiting for her response to his words. "What do you make of it, Miss Kaoru? Seeing as you are more knowledgeable in such things, I would appreciate your opinion."
She reached out and grabbed his hands and held them in her own, her bright smile reaching her tear glazed eyes. "I think God was trying to tell you something, Kenshin. He's speaking to you, and it seems He's gotten your attention."
"What do I do now?" Kenshin asked, his heart pounding at the idea of a sacred and powerful God being interested in him, a lowly and blood stained wanderer. Scooting closer, Kaoru turned toward him and brought her face near his, praying he would see nothing but the sincerity in her eyes.
"Now it's up to you… You've heard of the gift offered through Jesus Christ. Will you accept God's salvation and forgiveness for your soul, or look away and walk your own path?" Kenshin's breath was deep, his heart beating wildly at the choice before him. His ultimate decision, he knew, would govern whether or not he would reach the real desire of his heart, a quieted and peaceful soul.
"I…," he started, his eyes revealing the vulnerability of his soul at such a time. A part of him screamed for him to forget what he heard and turn from Kaoru's captivating gaze. But another voice told him to stop and think, not with his abusive mind but with his gentle heart. He continued to stare into her eyes, a loving pleading look hiding behind them as she patiently awaited his answer. Just as his heart set him straight and laid the words out on his tongue ready to be released, the train slowed down. The screeching wheels jolted everyone awake as it began slowing down.
"I guess we've arrived at Nagoya." He said, slightly disappointed at having been interrupted. Kaoru withdrew her eyes from him, looking off toward the waking Sano and Megumi.
"Yes, it seems we have." Kaoru turned away from Kenshin and started gathering her bags before standing up. She reached a hand and patted him on the shoulder. Her disappointment showed itself in the slight lowering of her shoulders. Kenshin grabbed his bag and stood also.
"Miss Kaoru… I still need time to think it through. It's not everyday that I am faced with this type of decision, that it is not." Kaoru turned and cupped a hand over his cheek, the same gentleness in her eyes as in her touch.
"It's okay, Kenshin, I understand."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What do you mean? I've been traveling on a train for a whole night and I didn't even know about it. How? Why? Wha-?" Megumi shoved her elbow in his ribs and raised a finger to her lips telling him to be quiet. The tall man just crossed his arms over his chest with a humph and a frown. His eyes followed Megumi's stare and noticed how quiet the two people sitting across from him were being. Having boarded the last train in Nagoya they were at last heading straight for Kyoto. Kenshin sat next to the window this time, his eyes taking on a distant glaze just as soon as they had gotten on the train. Kaoru sat next to him and would occasionally speak quietly with Yahiko about the passing scenery going past the window, tossing casual glances at the man sitting next it.
"Don't you see it, Sano?" Megumi asked, excited at the prospect of something going on between the young assistant master and the redheaded rurouni. Sano shut his eyes in the hope that once they opened again the whole thing about riding a train would turn to be nothing but a passing nightmare. He was focusing so intently on drowning out the sounds of the train tracks below that he didn't hear Megumi's whisper. He felt another jab in the ribs and cracked his eyes open glancing at the woman next to him as if he were in pain.
"Stop being stupid, Rooster head." She hissed, causing him to close his eyes again. "What are you doing now?" She asked, her amusement mixed with slight irritation.
"Somehow, this makes it a little better for me. If I close my eyes I can't see what I don't want to see. And I don't want to see myself on a train." He ducked his head closer in her direction and whispered back. "What is it you wanted, Fox?"
Megumi frowned at his nickname for her and rolled her eyes. Leaning closer to the tall man's head, she whispered again, this time adding to her earlier comment. "I think there's a little something between Kaoru and Kenshin. I think they like each other and to their own blindness neither one knows of the other's feelings."
"How do you figure?" Sano asked, his eyes still clenched shut.
"It's just the way they act around each other. It's obvious their some attraction between them."
"True, true… But I think their too busy with what they're planning on doing in Kyoto to think of things like that." Megumi nodded, forgetting for a moment that Sano couldn't see her.
"Yes, I guess you're right. I hope they find enough time to tackle that issue. It would definitely improve their lives greatly, that's for sure." Megumi sat and thought for a second before a twinkle set off the mischievous gleam in her eye. Sano knew something was up when the woman was quiet and it had been about a minute or so until he decided to ask and make sure of his observation.
"What do you have in mind, fox?"
Megumi looked at him with a small smirk that disappeared the second she felt Kaoru's curious gaze fall on her and the fist fighter. Throwing her hair over her shoulder she gave the young woman a sweet smile, trying hard not to come off as suspicious. Kaoru smiled back, obviously unsuspecting of anything, and turned back to address something that Yahiko had said.
Megumi sighed to herself in silent relief and turned to Sano, hugging his arm with her own as she leaned in to whisper something in his ear.
"You just wait and see… They'll face their feelings sooner than they expect. That is, if I have something to do with it." Sano listened and shook his head, hearing the hint of a smirk behind her words.
"Sneaky fox, up to no good." He commented with a smirk of his own.
"And you're going to help me, aren't you Sano?" She asked, a teasing tone in her voice. Sano sat up to look at her in protest. She lifted an eyebrow at him as his demeanor began to soften, the sudden barrage of jolts from the train's ride chipping away at his tough exterior. The sound of the train's wheels squeaking on the tracks completed the task and brought the tall man to crumble, his arms wrapping around Megumi's shoulders and hugging her tightly as he buried his head in her shoulder. This drew everyone's attention and an embarrassed Megumi smiled at them, patting Sano's back in comfort as he whimpered in her hair.
When everyone turned away Megumi asked softly, "Now will you help me?" Sano with his head still nestled near her neck whimpered his response bringing Megumi to smile. "Good."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The train came to a stop not soon after the whole debacle concerning a frightened Sano and the consoling doctor. Sano left the train with everyone in their group giving him glances laced with laughter, Yahiko being the most obvious. In reality, the child thought it unnecessary to hide his amusement and for that he got smacked upside the head just as soon as he stepped off of the train.
Megumi led everyone out of the train station and turned toward Kenshin, having heard that he knew the area much better than she did. Kenshin's mind took off with him, wandering just as his feet had sometime ago. He heard Megumi's question but it took a second before he answered, his mind registering what changes could have taken place after he left the city. Kyoto held many memories for him, many of which he felt come over him like a flood at seeing the familiar shape of the buildings.
"I'm sorry Miss Megumi, I am not too sure where we should stay for the night. We could walk around and see what they have on the main street." Kenshin's eyes roved around his surroundings before meeting concern filled eyes. Kaoru spoke with her eyes, asking him what it was that seemed to bother him. He smiled and shook his head, trying to dispel the worry etched in the young woman's face. It wasn't only Megumi who noticed this little interaction, and she coughed to clear the air.
"That sounds fine, Kenshin." She said, answering Kenshin's suggestion.
They walked around for what seemed to be a couple hours until finding a quaint little inn that conveniently had two rooms available. Kenshin, Sano, and Yahiko shared one room while the other was occupied by Kaoru and Megumi. Kaoru was setting her things near her futon, busily rummaging through her bag, when Megumi walked over to her. Kaoru found the shell comb she was looking for and looked up to find a smiling Megumi standing just above her.
"Kaoru, dear, you would tell me if something new came about in your life. I mean, I am one of your closest friends, am I not?" Megumi settled herself in front of the younger one, keeping an eye out to see whether or not the young assistant sensei's face would betray her answer.
"Of course, Megumi. Why is it you ask?" Kaoru's face remained impassive, no hint of dishonesty anywhere.
*She's good,* Megumi thought to herself. "I was just wondering." Kaoru stood quiet as she fingered the thing in her hand, her eyes lowered to look at it. Megumi noticed that shell comb as something that Kaoru's mother had given her before she passed away. The doctor held back from her mission, placing a comforting hand on the young one's shoulder.
Kaoru looked up at the touch and held out the light blue flower shaped comb in her hand for Megumi to see.
"You think this would look nice with my purple kimono?"
Megumi smiled lovingly at her friend and nodded her head. "I think it would look beautiful with it." Kaoru nodded, wrapping her arms around her friend in a hug.
"Thanks." Kaoru said.
"It's no problem, little Raccoon girl."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kenshin busied himself with a newspaper he had purchased at the front desk of the inn before they had reached their rooms, trying to familiarize himself once more with a town that would be forever etched into his mind. Sano came around to read over the rurouni's shoulder and Kenshin paused a second, dropping the paper from his eyes, sensing something amiss. It was a strong ki, normal to that of Kyoto, but one he hadn't felt in a long time. Shrugging it off he handed Sano the paper after having finished it.
"So I see there's been some trouble around the Doshisha University over here." Sano noticed the bold print, the words standing out on the pale cream paper. Skimming through the rest of the article Sano scratched his head in thought. "Hey, do you think this martial arts group that helped the Christian out this past week may be able to help us when those government idiots come around?"
Kenshin nodded softly, a concerned look coming over his countenance. "That is, if my reputation won't hinder our working together." Kenshin sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "I do not know what could have caused the Oniwaban to protect the Christians, that I do not. But if anything, I think we should find out what's really going on before we jump head first into it all."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Suddenly the absence of a voice in the conversation got him worried. "Hey Kenshin, where did Yahiko go?"
Kenshin looked around, worry growing in the pit of his stomach. "His bokken is missing too. Sano, you go and see if the ladies know where he is. I'll go check outside."
He ran down the steps of the inn, quickly reaching the front room and asking those present of the boy's whereabouts. The inn keeper pointed outside and said he had gone out into the street. Kenshin instinctively tightened his belt around his waist, securing his sword where it was.
*Kyoto is no place for a curious child, that it is not.* Kenshin's face was grim as he stepped out the door, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. He had sensed something earlier, but didn't think anything of it back in the room. Now he had a growing uneasiness about it and it's possible connection to Yahiko's disappearance. *Yahiko, please be alright.* Kenshin prayed as he turned right and hurried down the busy road.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~***
A/N: Wow… Yahiko went missing! Despite that I hope you all liked this chapter. Once again, I leave you with an evil, vile, horrid cliffhanger. The passage with the sparrows that Kaoru was talking about is found in Matthew 10:27-31 ^-^… it's one of my favorite passages too!
The way the chapter ended was intentional… sorry if you aren't fond of it. I am, however, on Winter break now which means I'll have the chapter uploaded sooner than usual. I think my life as of recently grants me the privilege for such a thing as a cliffhanger, though, so no death threats, please? ^-^;…I just got finished taking my first ever college finals, and they were pretty tough… Other than that, I've found out some really bad stuff about some friends of mine and, like the compassionate person that I am, I cried for them. Yeah, well… it'll blow over in time, I hope ^-^;… Anyhoo, thanks for the reviews from the last chapter! I am glad you've all been reading what I've been dishing out; you all are an encouragement to me ^_^… and that always lifts my heart in times like these. Review this chappie and tell me what ya think! Tell me who you think the "strong ki" belongs to… it's not too tough to figure out ^-^… Okie dok, take care and God bless! Until next time, ciao! ~ The Honorable Gucci