Chapter 5

(Karei)

I sat up most of the night making sure that the boy's fever didn't rise. He called out more in his sleep, mostly calling for his father in a small hoarse voice. I had a feeling that his mother had died when he was young, because I rarely him call for her. I sighed and replaced the cool cloth on his forehead. His fever had remained steady throughout the night, and I didn't know what else I could do at the time.

After a little bit I decided to give him some more of the medicine, hoping that it may help bring the fever down. I had mixed tea with the herbs, creating a watery paste of some sort. It was liquid, though thick. I propped him up again, tipping the small bowl against his lips. He fights me again, this time raising a hand to try and press against the bowl. I was gentle and persistent, and the medicine was poured into his mouth. Some trickled down his chin from the corners of his mouth, I massaged his throat again and he swallowed the concoction down.

Sighing with relief I lay the bowl down beside the futon and brought some more tea for myself. I settled down beside him again, lifting the sewing I had been doing for the night. Seeing the dismal state of his clothing I had settled about sewing him and new gi. The gi was a lovely deep navy that would set off his hair beautifully. For a hakama I was creating a set similar to the ones he wore now, boots with the pants tucked into the tops of them. My husband had worn them often. I made these a tan, simple yet effective. The needle in my fingers was almost calming, and I felt my frazzled nerves settle as I continued to sew.

The boy in front of me moaned, shifting beneath the blankets again. I smoothed his fiery bangs gently, lifting the cloth and replacing it with a fresh one again. His fever was creeping back up. I set my sewing down again and began to unwrap the already bloodstained bandages I had wrapped around his right shoulder, sad to find the skin still an angry red. I cleaned it out as gently as I could, clearing out the infection again. I wrapped it again in clean linen, then reached up and peeled the bandage off his cheek. The cross-shaped wound was healing nicely, but it would leave a nasty scar on his youthful face. This saddened me; he was such a nice looking boy. I smeared salve on it so it wouldn't get infected and bandaged it again. I repeated this procedure with his other various cuts, and when I finished he had quieted again.

I smiled when I glanced at his face. He was so innocent looking while he slept, looking a lot younger than I was sure he was. To me he looked to be around 13 years old, but I wasn't sure. I wouldn't know until he woke and decided he could trust me.

I went back to my sewing, working silently until my fire grew low, and then I stood and put some more logs on it to keep it going. I was attracted by a moan from the futon behind me, and I turned to see the boy's eyes partially open.

I knelt beside him, pushing his bangs away from his eyes. He woke slowly, and then focused on me. His eyes widened slightly and he tried to back away from me and cried out in pain as he jarred his broken wing.

"Easy, it's alright." I said soothingly, holding my hands up in a pacifying gesture. "I mean you know harm."

He spoke then, and I was surprised to hear that his voice was soft and shy. "Who…" His breath caught and he coughed, his dry throat making it hard to speak.

I lifted his head again, holding a small cup of water to his lip. "Drink, slowly now." He sipped the clear cold water and licked his lips.

"Arigatou…"

"Karei." I supplied for him. He nodded and I smiled lightly. "I found you late last night collapsed by the road. This is my cabin; I've been taking care of you all night." He glanced down at his ankle and raised his wrist, obviously examining his injuries. "Your left wing is broken, along with your right ankle and left wrist. You sure banged yourself up." I tilted my head slightly. "May I ask your name?"

He studied me for a moment. "My wings…. You know of them."

I smiled. "My husband had wings as well, you have nothing to fear."

He smiled then, though it was strained through his pain. "My name is Kenshin. Kenshin Himura."

I pushed him back to the futon gently, being wary of his shoulder. "You need to get some rest Kenshin, so you can fight off this fever and get well."

He lay back under the pressure, settling himself comfortably. "Gomen nasai, for being such a burden."

I shushed him softly, pulling a blanket up over him. "It's quite alright Kenshin, I don't mind at all. You give me something to do these days, I'm all alone." As I watched his eyelids sank lower and he sank back into rest, his face growing peaceful once more. I settled back beside the futon again and picked up my sewing. 'So his name is Kenshin….' I studied the sword I had found earlier this morning near where he had fallen, covered in mud. 'Heart of sword….appropriate for him.'

I glanced at him again and smiled. 'It's almost like having a son of my own….' I had never had children, for the fear of them being shunned from the world because of the wings my husband thought they would grow. I went back to my needle and thread.