A/N: My next two chapters will be very important so please stay tuned for that and also next chapter will contain Yahiko's and Sano's past, but more importantly, Kaoru's story will be told in detail! I'll update as soon as I can so wait for it ok guys(c",)
Michy: HI! and thank you sooooo much for your reviews...anyway, I think I've answered your question here in this chapter I hope you liked the way things turned out for Misao
Kamimura Kaoru: LOL! the story's coming together now, and I think the next two chapters would really bind everything so please stay tuned ok...and thank you very very much for your reviews
Gypsy-chan: heehee...i figured you might want to do a little action scene there! LOL! and Kaoru's story is important so I have to figure out how to write it properly... Thank you oh soooo much for all your reviews and, I hope to see you in miss anna-neko's forum
Genesis: Hiiii! thank you for all of your reviews...this will tell more about the past, though not Kaoru's for the moment, but still very important later again ok
ArtemisMoon: heeheehee...thank you very, very, very, much again for recommending this story to both your cuz and sis! LOL I hope you got some laughs with the toadie froggie thingie that I wrote...harharhar I couldn't help myself...and I hope too that Kajun will not kill you for sending me the story
MP: thanks a whole lot for your reviews...i'm trying hard to open up the mystery, but I end up giving more...LOL anyway I hope you enjoyed this one too
omichi: LOL! If the next chapie will not turn out to be too long again, I'll be adding some more interactions between all the characters...hmmmmm I think I'm giving you a hint here anayway, I really do appreciate all your reviews
Ice-God: LOL thank you so much for this review my friend anyway, Kaoru's destiny will be on the next chapie...but I hope you enjoyed Misao's story here heehee I'll see you in the forum again okie dokie
Lynne Katrea: hello! thanks for liking this story and heehee...pops jelly beans into her mouth and thanks for these too...they're delicious! LOL anyway, I reviewed your story...it's very nice and intriguing, though I don't think my review on the third chapter was submitted...sweatdrops errrr...i'll check on that later ok
Selene: heehee...i hope you liked your part here, though it's a bit short...still, I made you the greatest sorceress so I hope that would make up for it Thank you very much for you reviews
LittleDragon: LOL sorry, I'm trying to go as fast as I can but I have to make some introductions to the new characters so...anyway, the mystery will be revaled soon so stay tuned ok Thank you soo much for coming back and reviewing
Willow-chan: Heehee...here's another chapter...thank you for all your reviews and you commented on Yahiko saying about the imaginary roses...you're right, Kaoru did not say anything about smelling roses in Sarrana, but she did say it in Cepheus...remember the conversation with aherrrm Willow the dragon where Kaoru said she smelled roses and Yahiko said "I don't"? well that's what I was referring to anyway...thanks for mentioning this so I can explain...if you see any other inconsistencies, please fell free to post it. I want to correct myself as much as possible. Again, thank you very, very much
tearlesereph: first of all, thank you sooo sooo much for your reviews! yeah, I know the kenshin bits are too short...but like I said, this is the longets chap I wrote and still I can't seem to find spots to fit Kenshin scenes, anyway...hopefully I could in the next one okie
Hembadoon-75: OH WOWEE! thank you so much for reading this fic...i'm sooo glad you liked it though I hope Artemis did not force you to..LOL! heehee and the part of them being goddesses, well uhmmmm I'll leave it to you to make sure their heads don't bloat too much...I give you permission to like poke them with Kenshin's sword to deflate their heads should they grow too big
KajunSpice: LOLOLOLOL! I can't believe you mentioned having a pet frog! Anyway, heehee... I hope you like Toadie Froggie jumping up and down Sano's lap and believe me, I am more htan honored to have your longest review...arigato gozaimasu! and About Artemis' next chapter...I think you should climb down your mountain and well do something to her...or better yet, talk about your next chapter of your "Koishii!" heeheehee... Thank you so very much for all your reviews!
A/N: Hi guys! heehee, believe it or not, this chapter's even longer that the last one so enjoy okie dokie and YIPEEEE...the reviews are 150 and counting! I'm so thrilled and it's thanks to ALL of you guys THANKS MINNA-SAN!
...here's chapter 13!
KENSHIN the DRAGON HUNTER Chapter XIII: Revelations Part II
...Dark Castle...
Yumi arranged rune stones on the ground in the form of a pentagon. She went to the topmost side and cut across her wrist with a dagger. "I offer my blood in exchange for power!" she said as she began to walk slowly forming a star with her dripping blood inside the figure she had created.
When the star was finished, she went to the middle and began to chant the most difficult spell she had to create. But anything to guarantee Shishio's dominance in the world is well worth it. Soon the chosen one will no longer exist in this world.
...Mount Altair...
Kaoru sneezed loudly. "Pardon me" she said and settled down as the Goddess Kajun began to tell them about Yahiko's past.
"You're right Yahiko, your parents were branded criminals... by Shishio himself." Yahiko looked at the goddess confused. He had always thought that his parents were thieves just like his uncle, and just like himself before Kaoru found him and saved him.
"I don't understand what Shishio has to do with this?" Yahiko asked.
Kajun looked fondly at Yahiko. "You father was a very rich and influential baron of Surlow, and a loyal follower and a great friend of King Thairu. He and your mother had been rallying others loyal to the king to help in overthrowing Shishio because the people are suffering badly under his reign. A lot of lords have agreed to help, but your mother's half brother betrayed them, thinking he could get your father's lands and treasures to himself. Shishio branded your parents as traitors and released them in front of the people then let his soldiers kill them publicly, holding them as examples to anyone else who would dare defy him. People, even the lords left the idea of fighting against Shishio since then. Your uncle was allowed to live only because Shishio knew he would suffer more alive than dead. Nothing was given to him that's why he became a thief, feeding off on other people's money. He took you with him only because he was haunted every night of your parents' death and he's afraid that their ghosts would come and haunt him."
Yahiko blinked back tears. "Mother...Father" Yahiko whispered. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Yahiko said crying for his parents who died for others, and for his parents whom he had been ashamed of all these years.
Kaoru held him in her arms rocking him softly.
"Yahiko" the goddess said. "Your parents death was mourned by a lot of people and even a lot of the gods and goddesses and their courage will never be forgotten. You were misinformed about them, but now that you know the truth, what are you to do?" Kajun asked.
Yahiko breathed in deeply before he looked up at the goddess. "There is only one thing I could do for them, that is to continue to live in a way that they would be proud of me and maybe, even someday forgive me... From now on, I will fight for the people who they have protected with their lives!" Yahiko said this with so much determination that everyone there who saw him knew that he had already made his parents very proud.
Kajun smiled, feeling her hopes for humanity rising just by listening to these amazing young people before her. She looked at Sano. "Your turn Sanosuke Sagara" the goddess said.
Toadie Froggie jumped into Sano's pocket and picked up the embroidered seal that was the only link to Sano's past.
"Hey! Give that back!" Sano said running after the frog, but the frog floated up too and gave the piece of cloth to his master.
"You want to know whose seal this belonged to, right?" the Goddess Kajun asked Sanosuke. At Sano's nod, Kajun asked him to sit down.
Sano, his heart racing, sat and waited for the goddess to speak. This seal belong to Captain Sagara. He commanded Triah's army, and was the King Kirathul's right hand. His duty was to protect the kingdom, as well as the royal family. He had one son, and his name was…
"Sanosuke..." Kaoru whispered, looking at Sano.
"My father... a commander of an army! Where is he? What about my mother?" Sano asked and Kajun lowered her eyes.
"Sadly, your mother died of sickness a year after you were born. But even in pain, your mother lived the last of her days in happiness, because she had your father, and most especially, she had you! Your father raised you alone for those four years, but even that part of your past was erased from your memory to ensure your safety as well. Anyway, your farther was heartbroken when your mother died, but because of you, he found a new reason to live, that's why he gave his life to protect the kingdom, because of you. He died... beside King Kirathul during Shishio's attack on Triah. He fought to the last of his breath doing his duty, but with Shishio wearing the Invictus, they stood no chance of winning, no matter how gallantly your father and his army fought."
Sano looked away, trying to digest the information given to him. A great big part of him was happy just to have found a family that loved him back in Sarrana, still, somewhere hidden deep inside him was another part that had hung on to the hopes that he would one day find his real family. Sadness settled in like a great big wave. He closed his eyes. Anger towards Shishio would come later, for now he must grieve first for the family he would never see again.
A soft hand held his tightly clenched fist and he looked to see whom it belonged to...Kaoru! She was looking at him with so much compassion, even the skinny sorceress and the bird-brained brat was condoling him with their eyes.
Sano began to smile slowly. These people have known grief just like him too and here he was, the man of the group sulking like a big baby! His smile widened as he thought of the kind and gentle village chief that raised him, even the foxy lady and the two little kids back home. He's got a family, and he's got these good friends too.
Sano nodded... "I'm alright," he said, not complaining when the frog jumped back on his lap.
Everyone smiled, even the goddess, but she has one more tragic tale to narrate. "Your turn now" Kajun said looking at the raven-haired girl. "Now, step forward, Kaoru!"
Kaoru was about to go but heard flapping of wings and looked up to see Willow above them. Willow landed beside her and Yahiko. She bowed low to the Goddess Kajun saying "Forgive my interruption goddess, but I was sent by Dargove to find these two here."
Kajun smiled. "That's alright, Willow of the East. As you can see Kaoru and Yahiko are safe, so will you join us for now?"
Willow nodded and looked at Kaoru. "Dargove is well," she said knowing the young one's concern for her friend. "Cepheus is doing him good and he asked me to tell you not to worry."
Kaoru smiled and introduced Willow to a very excited Misao and a very cautious, not to mention pale-looking Sano!
When everyone settled down, Kajun took a deep breath. "I have just been given permission from above to tell you everything. Kaoru… are you ready?"
Without hesitation, Kaoru nodded. "Yes Great Goddess, I'm as ready as I can be."
"Good. Now have any of you ever heard of the love story between Kirathul and Alione?" the goddess asked.
"No, but aren't they the king and queen of Triah?" Sano asked.
"Yes. I guess the people forgot about it since Shishio took over the kingdom. It began when the king of Triah, Aliones father asked the princess to choose a husband who is fit to rule as the next king. Alione was an only child and the king was in need of an heir to his throne. Noble men from all over came to ask for Alione's hand in marriage, not only wanting the Kingdom of Triah, but also the very beautiful princess. But Alione had refused them all! She seemed to prefer tending to her roses rather than anything else. The king then ordered the rose garden destroyed, thinking it was only a useless hobby of the princess.
However, the princess became ill and slowly, her health dangerously deteriorated. Panicked, the king gave an order that any man who could revive the garden would be richly rewarded. People from all over tried their best to restore the ruined garden but all was in vain. The princess, knowing there was no chance of the roses coming back to life, or her illness being cured went to her garden to say goodbye for the last time... I guess it was by fate that a young man heard the soft sobs of the princess as he passed by the castle walls. He climbed up the wall and saw a very beautiful but very sad young lady. The young man could see her pain and so he approached the crying maiden, the scent of roses filling his nostrils. He thought it strange since the roses were dead. Then he realized the scent came from the woman herself! Somehow, she had absorbed the sweet fragrance of the flower.
He stopped a few paces from her as she looked up. He cleared his throat, a bit taken aback at the woman's sad eyes, before giving her his name, Kirathul. He walked on again as the young woman made no move to run away. He knelt beside her asked what he might do to help ease her pain.
The princess felt no fear towards the stranger since his eyes showed nothing but concern over her tears. She spoke openly to him and told him about her roses and why she loved them so. She told the young man that she was born with a beautiful but delicate and weak body. She used to hate her beauty, as much as her weakness, but one day when she was still a small child, she saw this exquisite flower with a very enticing scent. She caressed its soft petals and when she decided to pick it up, she felt a sting on her finger. She had seen too late the thorns that lie hidden on the stem of the lovely flower. Strangely enough, even as her blood flowed as crimson as the flower itself, she found those thorns very fascinating. Since then, roses to her, were more than just flowers, they became a symbol.
Kirathul understood what she was trying to say. He understood her need to be seen as something more than a beautiful decoration that has to be locked up because she might be broken easily. She saw herself as a rose... not only beautiful and delicate, but also someone who can make her own statement, with a strength that lies in the depths of her heart. So the young man offered her a deal. He would heal the rose garden, if she would try to heal herself.
The princess agreed thinking that the deal was practically empty because there was no way to fix her dead garden.
But as the days passed, the fist buds of roses began to grow under Kirathul's loving hands, and the princess, seeing this began to heal too. The king was overjoyed at his daughter's recovery, and even more so at the growing friendship between her and this mysterious but kind-hearted stranger who restored the rose garden, not only to it's original beauty, but made it even prettier! Kirathul intrigued the king, since the day he refused the king's reward. He said that was not the agreement he had made. The king then often asked for his audience and learned in their talks that Kirathul was roaming the land searching for his identity. He had lost all memory of his past, even his name. Kirathul was merely given to him by an old Gypsy he met on the road! The king had tried to help in Kirathul's search for his past. Still, no one seemed to know who he was. Days, then weeks passed and the King of Triah had learned to love Kirathul as his own son.
The young man had the courage of a true soldier and the heart of a true king. So it came not as a surprise but a great deal of delight to the King of Triah when his beautiful daughter and Kirathul announced their undying love for each other. He was more than glad to bestow his blessings and have them wed, then later, entrust the kingdom of Triah to Kirathul by handing him the crown. That was the love story of Kirathul, the Gardener and Alione the Princess. Do you know why I told you this Kaoru?" The goddess ended her tale with a question.
Kaoru closed her eyes. There seemed only one reason why the goddess would tell her this story. "Were Kirathul and Alione my...parents?" she asked.
Yahiko and Sano burst out laughing at Kaoru's words. "Ugly? A princess! NO WAY!" they both cried out at the same time.
Kaoru's veins popped out and she gave a healthy punch on each of the men's head. She wasn't angry, she was actually a bit glad to have some sort of distraction. She didn't want confirmation on her theory yet. She heard the story of the woman in Deneb who claimed to be her mother and her husband is dead, but still she had hoped that there must be some mistake about it. She had often wondered about her true parents, even dreamed of meeting them, though she never told Dargove.
Kajun gave Kaoru some time to think before she said "You know don't you Kaoru? You're right, Kirathul and Alione were your parents!"
Sano, Yahiko and even Misao gagged at this announcement, but Kaoru expected it. She just stood, her head bowed.
"Goddess," Kaoru finally spoke and everyone snapped to attention. "Why is it that I feel there is something else that I should know?" she asked.
Kajun closed her eyes, wishing she wasn't the one to disclose this information. Still, a job is a job. "You're right Kaoru, I'm sorry but your tragedy doesn't end there..."
...Cepheus, a few hours later...
Kenshin drew near the sleeping dragon, his sword in his hand. It was right here sixteen years ago that he had attempted his first fight with this very same dragon before him now.
"Wake up!" he shouted, and Dargove's eyes flew open. He slowly raised his head up, feeling a bit dizzy still. "So we meet here again, young Prince of Surlow!"
"I'm not a prince, I am a dragon hunter" Kenshin said his tone even.
"What is it you want from me then dragon hunter?" the dragon asked.
"Where's the woman and also the young boy you took from Hundorf? Choose your word wisely beast, or I will be forced to take your life very slowly and painfully!"
Dargove stood on his feet, his full gigantic size looming over Kenshin. "I wonder, what your father would say if he saw you like this," Dargove spoke slowly, unwittingly provoking the red-haired young man.
Kenshin felt those words pierce his heart. He has been avoiding that question for years. It angered him that the one who caused his father's death would now be the one to ask him! Kenshin's eyes flashed golden, and in his savage hatred for dragons, as well as himself took hold of him and he jumped up and slashed Dargove's shoulder.
The dragon cried out in pain as blood gushed out from his wound...
"My father would have been alive to see me right now if it weren't for you!" he cried out. "I don not need you to find Kaoru. You die now, Dargove the Dragon!" Kenshin said and raised his sword to deliver his final blow on the dragon...
Dargove waited for the last moment before he let out a fiery breath that made Kenshin pull back on his attack.
"Darn you!" Kenshin said preparing to strike again. He never fought with so much emotion raging within him before, that was probably why he lost his concentration. "What is it about this dragon that makes me hesitate?" Kenshin asked himself. He did a mental check on the situation. He should have anticipated that move from Dargove. "Well I know his moves now, this time I will make sure he dies!" Kenshin thought as he started to run towards the dragon.
"Dargove!" someone from above shouted and Kenshin froze on his tracks. He recognized that voice! He looked up to see the female dragon he saw Hundorf carrying four people, and one of them… was the one he sought…
Kaoru jumped down even before the Willow landed and went to stand between Dargove and Kenshin. For a moment, sapphire eyes clashed with golden ones, but Kenshin's anger slowly faded as realization crept in that Kaoru is ALIVE and right in front of him! The golden eyes broke contact, and when it returned its stare, they were the color of soft amethysts.
But Kaoru did not waver, she stood firmly in front of Dargove. "If you want to kill Dargove, you will have to get through me first!" Kaoru shouted, and was surprised to see Sanosuke's back in front of her.
"If you don't mind Kaoru, I would like to continue my father's duty and protect you with my life" he said not taking his eyes of the red-haired swordsman.
Kenshin looked at Sanosuke, with much loathing. "Stupid me" Kenshin thought. "Of course a woman like her would have a lover! How naïve of me to think that perhaps..."
Kenshin sighed inwardly. He's traveled so far away just to find a dragon he can't seem to kill, and more importantly, to find a woman he can't seem to have.
Sano felt the strong force surrounding the man he was facing. "I think it's best that I attack him first!" Sano thought and began to rain punches and kicks on the dragon hunter. Kenshin was amazed at the tall man's speed, but Kenshin was fast on his feet as well and evaded every attack.
Kenshin jumped sideways as he backed up on a tree and Sano's fist hit the tree trunk. Most of the trunk burst into thousands of little pieces and the rest of the tree fell to the ground.
"I'm impressed," Kenshin said, "but now it's my turn!"
Kenshin turned his sword, reversed edge forward and with his lighting-speed appeared suddenly in front of Sano and struck the tall man hard, sending him some feet away before he fell to the ground.
"Sano!" Kaoru, Yahiko and Misao shouted at the same time.
"Darn!" Misao said as she ran to her injured friend. "Why don't my powers appear at a time like this!" She reached Sanosuke first and started calling out his name.
"Alright already, stop shouting!" Sano said, sitting up slowly with Misao's help.
"You're alive!" Yahiko exclaimed as he reached Sano.
"I'm not that easy to kill you brat!" Sano said, but knowing that if his opponent chose to, he would have been dead right now.
Kenshin watched as Kaoru ran to her lover. As much as he hated to admit it, he didn't like the look of worry on her face.
"I don't kill people!" Kenshin wanted to shout to her but bit his tongue and looked away. He failed to see Kaoru fall on her knees clutching her chest...
Willow roared unexpectedly and backed away from them.
Worried, Dargove forgot his injury and the fact that Kenshin was trying to kill him and went to Willow.
"What is it?" he asked and Willow pointed her finger. "Kaoru is in so much pain right now, I could feel her body screaming for help!" Willow said.
Everyone looked and saw Kaoru on the ground with her hands and knees folded in a fetal position. Everyone ran towards her, even Kenshin!
Yahiko was the first one to reach Kaoru. He saw that her eyes were closed and she was trembling, sweating, moaning and breathing unevenly. Yahiko called out her name and placed her head on his lap but Kaoru did not respond. "Kaoru what's wrong? Please tell me!" Yahiko begged.
"Oh no!" Misao said suddenly dropping to her knees. "It's the Mist Death Spell!"
"What the heck is that?" Sano said shaking Misao on her shoulders.
"It's a spell that can be done by a descendant of Ativa-Mist once in their lives. It's a death spell that would render its victims immeasurable pain while slowly killing them!" Misao answered and everyone fell dead silent before Yahiko yelled at Misao "Well stop it!" he said on the verge of tears.
"Please Misao, you're the only one who knows about this stuff" Willow spoke urgently for the first time. "Kaoru is suffering greatly right now."
Misao hesitated, information was pouring into her head and at first she was worried that her brain was just making it up. Then she heard Kaoru moan and she took a deep breath and began talking, "Alright! I'm not sure how I have this knowledge but I will do my best to save Kaoru! We don't have much time. I will need a lot of herbs, most of them are in this forest, but the most important one is located only on the Sacred Mountain, Genesis."
"I'll go" Dargove volunteered.
"Not alone, you're too big! The Heart Mushrooms are in a cave where the outer part is big enough for you but it will grow smaller as you go deeper" Misao said.
"I'll go with Dargove then" Yahiko said.
Misao nodded, "Alright, but first help me give this potion to Kaoru it would help her sleep while you go to Mount Genesis. And it looks like storm so you will have to stay in the caves until it passes else the mushrooms will die in the cold and damp air."
Misao, Yahiko and Sano tried to let Kaoru drink the sleeping potion but she kept coughing it out.
Yahiko began to cry softly, he knew Kaoru was trying but the liquid just won't go in!
"Darn!" Sano said thinking the same thing.
Misao felt helpless, "What should we do, if she won't drink this she would be in pain while she waits and it might worsen her condition and..."
Misao didn't want to think of what would happen...
"Huh!" She felt a hand on her shoulder.
Misao looked up to see the red-haired man looking at her. "Let me do it" he said, his voice soft. It almost seemed like it did not belong to the warrior who fought so ruthlessly just a few minutes ago.
Misao looked at his eyes, they were begging her! She handed him the vial... and Kaoru. Even Sano and Yahiko felt the man's urgency and the made no move to stop him.
Kenshin held Kaoru gently in his arms. "Kaoru" he called out hoarsely, his hand softly caressing her cheek, "please look at me."
Kaoru felt like dying, no even worse than dying. Pain rocked her body with every effort to move. The pain was so great that she truly wished someone would just kill her just to ease it! Then, she heard a familiar, soothing voice, calling her name. Slowly, she opened her eyes and saw him… "Ken...shin" she whispered to everyone's surprise!
The red-hair was the only one Kaoru responded to. Kenshin opened the vial and placed its contents in his mouth. And to everyone's bigger surprise, bent low and touched his lips with Kaoru's.
Kaoru hardly tasted the bitter liquid as it slid down her throat. All she felt was the warm and soft lips of the dragon hunter, pressed so tenderly with hers. His lips began to move as he deepened his kiss and Kaoru moaned, but this time, not in pain. Kaoru sighed, her eyes felt heavy and she was losing consciousness. Her body began to relax and her last memory of that time was feeling the dragon hunter's tears on her cheek, mingling with hers...
...to be continued(c",)