Chapter 18

(Kaoru)

I was sitting in my room when I heard something that scared me into a standing position; and ear-piercing yelp from Kenshin's room. I grabbed my bokken, afraid that something was going on.

I ran from my room, throwing open the door to Kenshin's new room. I gasped, my bokken falling from my fingers.

Kenshin was curled up in a ball on the futon, shaking violently. His hair was drenched in sweat, darker red than normal. His wings were stretched behind him, the muscles in them clenching periodically. Another yelp was torn from his throat, and his body jerked.

I ran forward. "Kenshin, wake up!"

At my touch on his shoulder he tried to scramble away from me, whimpering. I swore under my breath. I was only adding to his nightmares, not helping him. I looked around helplessly, and then growled slightly. 'There's only one thing I can do…'

I pulled Kenshin into an upright position and clasped him close to me. I tucked his head beneath my chin, closing my eyes. "Please wake up Kenshin…"

I felt him jerk in my arms, gasping. His body tensed in my grip, and I released him. He scrambled away from me, staring at me with wide eyes.

"Gomen Kenshin, but I couldn't think of anything else to do." I murmured. Even in the two weeks he had been with us he still didn't like physical contact. I was the only person he would allow to touch him besides hand holds and Megumi examining him. Even so, I had never hugged him.

He was still shaking, but he was calming down. "Ru?" he whispered. Though he couldn't speak well, he was now saying basic words, along with the last two letters of my name, which he called me.

"It's okay," I murmured. "You were having a nightmare." He looked down and I frowned. "Do you have a lot of nightmares Kenshin?"
He nodded. "Hai."

I sighed. He must usually keep quiet so I wouldn't hear him. "Are you okay now Kenshin?"
He nodded, moving forward again. "Good."

That was his favorite word, it meant he had done well, and it was the first word his had said. His speaking was improving, he learned quickly and efficiently, but we still had a long way to go.

"Ru?" he murmured, calling my attention to him. "Okay?"

I smiled and nodded. "Hai, I'm alright. I was just worried about you." I sighed. "I'm sorry."

He shook his head. "No sorry. Okay."

I looked at him uncertainly. "Really?"

He nodded with a gentle smile. "Sleep now Ru."

I stood. "Alright. I hope you sleep well." I went to the door watching as he settled in the corner. Confused, I stopped. "Kenshin? Why do you sleep like that?"

He stopped, searching for the words. "Sleep like this a lot Ru," he said finally said.

"So you're used to it?" I supplied, knowing he didn't know what to say.

"Used…to…it…" he repeated slowly. Then he nodded. "Hai,…used to it…"

"Oh…" I murmured. "Well, oyasumi nasai."

He nodded. "Oyasumi."

I left, going back into the own room, braiding my hair into a thick length and settling onto my futon. There was no more noise from Kenshin's room, so I knew whatever nightmares he had had been calmed. I closed my eyes, settling into sleep.

The next morning I got up to see Kenshin sitting outside, watching the sky with dull eyes. I came up behind him quietly, and my lack of noise was what started it. "Kenshin?"

My voice startled him and he cowered down, wings flaring over his head and shoulders in fear. He let out a startled yelp, clenching his eyes shut.

I frowned. "Kenshin, it's alright, it's just me."

He looked up, his eyes opening slowly. "Ru?" I heard his question for the second time since this day, and I sat beside him as his wings dropped to fold against his back, his back straightening. "Scared me."

I smiled gently. "I'm sorry Kenshin; I forget sometimes that you're scared a lot easier than others." He sighed, looking down. I frowned. "Kenshin?"

He sniffled. "Hate being scared Ru. Don't want."

I smiled. "I understand why Kenshin. You just have to learn that none of us will hurt you Kenshin. You're safe now, and none of us would ever hurt you intentionally."

He nodded. "Know that. Can't stop scared."

His halting speech was slightly confusing, but I knew what he was trying to say. Even though he knew very well that we wouldn't harm him he couldn't help his reactions. I put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, you'll get better."

He smiled at me. "Arigatou Ru."

I nodded. "It's nothing; you know that I'm here for you." I suddenly sighed. "Kenshin, look at me please."

He seemed confused, but turned his face to look at me. I touched the cross scar on his face, and he flinched, but did not move away. "Ru? What wrong?"

I brought my other hand up, my thumbs touching the corners of his eyes. "Your eyes Kenshin…" Those eyes widened. "Why are they such dead eyes?"

His eyes flicked down, and I saw the unwillingness to speak about such things. "I…"

I sighed, releasing his face. "It's alright Kenshin. I should not have asked you such a personal question. Ignore it."

He did so, and I knew that something was wrong then. Usually he said that it was alright that I had asked, but then he wouldn't answer. When he said nothing I knew that this was a very personal thing that would take a long time to get out of him. This was one of the experiences that were buried deep within his mind, one that would only be revealed when he wished to speak about it.

I looked up when I heard a shout from the gate. Sanosuke Sagara was coming into the yard, waving one hand at us. He was a bit of a freeloader, but he had helped me out on many an occasion, and he was a good friend. "Ohayou Sano!"

I heard a squeak from Kenshin and he scuttled around to hide behind me, his hands on my shoulders. Sano blinked, looking down at us. "Well now, who's this little guy?"

I smiled lopsidedly when he said 'little.' He thought that Kenshin was a child, not the teen that was nearly his own age, maybe even older. We still weren't sure, none of us that had thought to ask. "This is Kenshin Sano." I looked over my shoulder into frightened, dull amber eyes. "It's alright; he wouldn't hurt you, just like the rest of us."

Kenshin still remained behind me, a fine trembling running through his body. He didn't answer me, but his eyes flicked to mine, then back to Sano's tall frame.

Sano seemed confused. "Jou-chan?"

I sighed, looked back at him. "I found him about 2 weeks ago in the river, half-dead and frozen from the water. He was a slave of some sort, so he's very afraid of new people. Give him some time, and he'll be alright." I gave him a meaningful look, and he nodded slightly, understanding that there was more I would need to talk about to him.

Sano crouched down in front of me. "Hey there Kenshin, it's alright. My name is Sano, and I'm a friend of Jou-chan here."

Kenshin ducked back into the curtain of my ponytail, hiding. It was then I understood. He didn't mind Megumi and I because we were women. Yahiko wasn't around often, and when he was Kenshin got quiet and a bit more reserved. It was men that he was afraid of. That showed clearly that it was a man that had abused him for his time as a slave.

Sano glanced at me with that gentle smile still on his face. "How old is he Jou-chan? He looks like he's around 16 or so."

I shrugged slightly. "I don't really know." I looked over my shoulder again. "Kenshin? Can you tell us how old you are?"

A whimper sounded in my ear, and then his voice whispered to me. "Don't know sure Ru. Think…" he paused, again running into a problem. He didn't know what to say.

I started supplying him with numbers. "I'm 17 Kenshin, does that help?"

He shook his head. "I older."

I gave him Megumi's age next. "18?" When he shook his head I gestured to Sano. "Sano's 19."

He nodded into my back. "19. Think."

I smiled. "Good Kenshin.

Sano seemed a bit shocked. "19? Wow, he sure is a lot older than he looks." He leaned a bit to the side to catch a glimpse of Kenshin, and then gasped. "Kami, he's got wings!"

I felt Kenshin shrink down again, and I put my hand back, offering it to him. I felt his slender fingers latch onto my hand for support, and I simply sat there letting him hold my hand. "I know Sano, but you'll get used to it. You've got to be very quiet around him alright? Move slowly."

He nodded in understanding, and then smiled. "Hey there. I'm not gonna hurt you Kenshin, I promise."

Kenshin was peeking around my shoulder, dull eyes still fearful and careful. He glanced at me, and I nodded encouragingly. "It's alright."

Kenshin slowly moved out from behind me, though he still kept a tight grip on my hand. "Ohayou…" he said softly, the tone of his voice revealing how scared he was.

Sano nodded. "Ohayou."

I smiled widely at Kenshin. "Good. See? Sano's a friend; he's just like me, and Megumi."

"Mi?" he asked slowly, using his name for Megumi.

I nodded. "Hai, just like Mi. Sano will protect you."

He smiled. "Protect…"

I grinned at Sano, and then stood. "I have to go talk with Sano, okay Kenshin? Why don't you go put on some clothes, you're still in your yukata silly."

He nodded. "Okay Ru."

As he left I looked seriously to Sano, and he sat next to me, understanding what was going on. It was time to tell him the full extent of things.

Well, hope you like this new chapter. I found quite a few mistakes, so I went back through and fixed them. Also, I'd like everyone to think about this. I think I've given some good clues as to what's wrong with Kenshin, and I want some of you to see if you can figure it out. If you do... -holds up a Kenshin plushie and pocky- Prizes! And I'll give you a shout-out! Well, thanks for reading, and please review!