A/N: Thank you for reviewing!!! Now let's get on with the story! And I
promise the chapters won't be as short as the last one ;
Disclaimer: You know the routine: don't own, don't sue.
I forgot to add this last time: Rated PG-13 for violence, mild language, and possible sexual suggestions.
Kenshin's whole body went numb when he found what he would never expect. "Miss Kaoru!" Fear and anger filled his heart and flecks of amber started to fill his eyes. 'Who could have...?'
"Mr. Himura, please we need to treat this girl." Yuki said imploringly.
His voice was dark. "Miss Yuki, would you please get some clean dry cloth, Shuichi boil some water." Kenshin looked at the two surprised expressions. "Please we must hurry we don't have much time." And with that they went to work and Kenshin picked up Kaoru's limp body and carried her to his room and lay her on his futon.
Kaoru was cold to the touch, "What happened to you?" he whispered under his breath as he looked at her wounds. Kaoru had been shot by a western rifle, but luckily for her it was nothing life threatening. It had been a clean blow that hit her right shoulder not hitting a single vital organ. She had broken ribs and it seemed that at least three bullets grazed her skin. 'What happened while I was away, and what brought you all the way out here?'
"Mr. Himura here is the cloths..." Yuki handed them to Kenshin who had immediately started to treat her wounds.
"You know her don't you Himura?" Shuichi said as he sat down next to Kenshin. By now Kenshin had done all that he could for Kaoru, the rest was up to her.
Kenshin only nodded. "She-she is the one I told you about, the one back at my home." He faltered looking down at her helplessly.
"Himura... I-I'm sorry I hope-" He started sincerely but Kenshin interrupted.
"No don't worry, she is strong," he looked down at her delicate slumbering face. "I only ask that you please allow her to stay here as well."
"Of course, you didn't have to ask."
"Thank you." Kenshin closed his eyes signaling that he did not want to speak anymore at the moment. Shuichi got up and left the room letting Kenshin sit alone. "Please forgive me, I was not there to protect you..." he whispered to her as he brushed a stray hair from her face.
It had been three days now and Kaoru still showed no sign of waking.
She lay there looking so weak and helpless. 'Miss Kaoru what happened to you?' Kenshin thought he could only fathom what had happened to her. Speckles of amber still flickering in his eyes again as the Battousai within threatened to come out. What had threatened his happiness? What reason was there for this to occur, and why to his Kaoru?
"Kenshin-" she mumbled breaking his concentration.
Kenshin looked down thinking she was starting to wake up, but he noticed that she had been only talking in her sleep. He smiled a little taking this as a sign that she would be ok.
"Kenshin" she mumbled again. ""Forgive me I had no choice-" she trailed off and he couldn't understand her rambling anymore. 'What dreams haunt you?' Kenshin wondered as he listened to her sleep.
"Mr. Himura, I'm sorry to bother you but I was wondering-" Yuki had poked her head into the room. "You see Shuichi is feeling ill again and can not get out of bed... And well I am not one to go into town, especially in the winter. And umm we are running low on food-" Yuki stammered as she looked at the red haired rurouni.
"I will go into town, I do not mind. Besides I need to get some fresh air I think if I stay indoors any longer like this I think I might break." Kenshin smiled at her relieved face.
Yuki gave him a meek smile "Thank you; here is a list and some money, it should be enough. I will watch over her." She motioned to Kaoru.
"I will be back soon" Kenshin smiled. He stood up and walked out of the little farm house.
By now the storm that had hit, died and left behind two feet of fresh snow. The ground was pure white, and the farm house seemed almost asleep hibernating as it was nestled by a small grove of trees. And beyond that a disturbance seemed to arise as a small troop of what looked like federal officers made there way through the snow.
Inside the small farm house the slumbering Kaoru started to wake. She snapped open her eyes to see that she was in a small room. She sat up slowly to examine the place better. A small twinge of pain shot through her body to let her know that she still had injuries. 'I had hoped this had all been a bad dream,' she sighed to herself. She looked around the room trying to figure out where she was, and noticed that the room had a certain way about it. 'It's set up almost like Kenshin's room back home.' She thought, 'Impossible what would he be doing here?'
Kaoru thought she was strong enough to stand up, she was almost mistaken but she supported herself lightly against a drawer and then she noticed something... 'I have no clothes...' It wasn't totally true, Kaoru was standing there with nothing but a thin yakuta (A/N: if I am spelling this or using it wrong please correct me .) that was way too large for her small frame. Kaoru dug through the drawer that she had been supporting herself on and pulled out a hakama the gi was magenta in color. 'If I didn't know any better...' But she shut the possibility out of her mind; Kenshin couldn't have been there it's just impossible.
"Forgive me whoever you are." She said as she slipped on the strangers clothing and pulled it tight. 'At least this fits better...'
"I have to get out of here before I cause these people any grief." She whispered. Kaoru looked around and found a scrap of paper and scribbled down a note quickly.
-Thank you, I wish I could have known you better for you have saved my life. But someday I promise I will return to repay you for your hospitality, until then I must take my leave I do not want to cause you and yours any harm and me staying here now will surely bring that upon you.
Sincerely thank you;
–A friend. -
Kaoru thought that the letter would suffice. She was about to exit when she heard a heavy knocking at the door of the gate. She peered through a small slit in the shoji and watched as a dumpy middle aged woman made her way to the door.
"Can I help you?" She asked to the figures at the door.
"Yes ma'am we are looking for someone who is on the run from the law, it is a woman about five feet tall and has raven colored hair and dark blue eyes."
"I have seen no one like this" she said coldly, but everyone present could tell that was a lie.
"Then you won't mind if we take a look in your home." One of the men said simply.
"I do mind." She said sternly, "My husband is ill, and I do not need him worried by some woman we have never even seen."
Kaoru did not like the way this was going, (though she was grateful for the woman's caring) and as quietly as she could she snuck out of the window in the room and rounded behind the soldiers listening to what they said to the woman.
"You will let us in or we will force you to." One of the officers said brandishing his nightstick. (A/N: is that what they are called?)
"Over my dead body!" Yuki said starting to become frustrated.
"That can be arranged." One of the men said sternly, and made an advance to grab her when Kaoru decided she had to do something.
"Hey stupid looking for me?!" She yelled now standing behind them sticking out her tongue
"It's her! Get her now!" The man (who seemed to be the head of the group) commanded.
Kaoru took this opportunity to run, it was either that or be caught, and she would run forever if she could prevent that. Even though she was feeling considerable pain from every wound she had, she still ran; it was run or be killed and she chose to run. What ever pain she felt she could deal with later as long as she lived to see it. Kaoru rounded the Farm house before dashing for the trees. She ran down the trail that carved its way through the forest and to the river bank beyond that.
Kaoru had enough of a head start that the officers that where after her were out of eyesight for the moment and she took that opportunity to climb a tree and go deep into the grove. She wasn't about to leave foot prints of where she went so she tree hopped as she went into the grove... She had no destination now; she was forced to wander. Time passed and the sun started to set. She decided it was safe enough to climb down from the trees, to bad for her that she was running short on luck she stepped on a rotten branch and it snapped under her weight making her fall a few feet to the soft snow below. She was breathing hard her bruised ribs where in excruciating pain from the impact. Kaoru lied on the ground trying to find herself before she stood up once again and trudged on.
Beads of sweat rolled down her face as she forced her way through the deep snow and trees that seemed to be getting closer and closer together. 'I'm surprised that they haven't caught up with me yet.' Just as she was thinking this something grabbed her from behind a hand slipped over her face muffling her screams. The figure held her tightly in front of them as to hide their identity.
Warm breath bathed her ear as they whispered "Stay silent, do you want them to hear you?"
Tears filled her eyes as fear bubbled in her heart, 'No, no, no let me go, please let me go!' her mind screamed silently as she was held captive in the darkness...
To be continued...
A/N: a little suspence in this one. I hope you guys liked it. Well until next time.
Battosaichick: waves See ya!
Disclaimer: You know the routine: don't own, don't sue.
I forgot to add this last time: Rated PG-13 for violence, mild language, and possible sexual suggestions.
Kenshin's whole body went numb when he found what he would never expect. "Miss Kaoru!" Fear and anger filled his heart and flecks of amber started to fill his eyes. 'Who could have...?'
"Mr. Himura, please we need to treat this girl." Yuki said imploringly.
His voice was dark. "Miss Yuki, would you please get some clean dry cloth, Shuichi boil some water." Kenshin looked at the two surprised expressions. "Please we must hurry we don't have much time." And with that they went to work and Kenshin picked up Kaoru's limp body and carried her to his room and lay her on his futon.
Kaoru was cold to the touch, "What happened to you?" he whispered under his breath as he looked at her wounds. Kaoru had been shot by a western rifle, but luckily for her it was nothing life threatening. It had been a clean blow that hit her right shoulder not hitting a single vital organ. She had broken ribs and it seemed that at least three bullets grazed her skin. 'What happened while I was away, and what brought you all the way out here?'
"Mr. Himura here is the cloths..." Yuki handed them to Kenshin who had immediately started to treat her wounds.
"You know her don't you Himura?" Shuichi said as he sat down next to Kenshin. By now Kenshin had done all that he could for Kaoru, the rest was up to her.
Kenshin only nodded. "She-she is the one I told you about, the one back at my home." He faltered looking down at her helplessly.
"Himura... I-I'm sorry I hope-" He started sincerely but Kenshin interrupted.
"No don't worry, she is strong," he looked down at her delicate slumbering face. "I only ask that you please allow her to stay here as well."
"Of course, you didn't have to ask."
"Thank you." Kenshin closed his eyes signaling that he did not want to speak anymore at the moment. Shuichi got up and left the room letting Kenshin sit alone. "Please forgive me, I was not there to protect you..." he whispered to her as he brushed a stray hair from her face.
It had been three days now and Kaoru still showed no sign of waking.
She lay there looking so weak and helpless. 'Miss Kaoru what happened to you?' Kenshin thought he could only fathom what had happened to her. Speckles of amber still flickering in his eyes again as the Battousai within threatened to come out. What had threatened his happiness? What reason was there for this to occur, and why to his Kaoru?
"Kenshin-" she mumbled breaking his concentration.
Kenshin looked down thinking she was starting to wake up, but he noticed that she had been only talking in her sleep. He smiled a little taking this as a sign that she would be ok.
"Kenshin" she mumbled again. ""Forgive me I had no choice-" she trailed off and he couldn't understand her rambling anymore. 'What dreams haunt you?' Kenshin wondered as he listened to her sleep.
"Mr. Himura, I'm sorry to bother you but I was wondering-" Yuki had poked her head into the room. "You see Shuichi is feeling ill again and can not get out of bed... And well I am not one to go into town, especially in the winter. And umm we are running low on food-" Yuki stammered as she looked at the red haired rurouni.
"I will go into town, I do not mind. Besides I need to get some fresh air I think if I stay indoors any longer like this I think I might break." Kenshin smiled at her relieved face.
Yuki gave him a meek smile "Thank you; here is a list and some money, it should be enough. I will watch over her." She motioned to Kaoru.
"I will be back soon" Kenshin smiled. He stood up and walked out of the little farm house.
By now the storm that had hit, died and left behind two feet of fresh snow. The ground was pure white, and the farm house seemed almost asleep hibernating as it was nestled by a small grove of trees. And beyond that a disturbance seemed to arise as a small troop of what looked like federal officers made there way through the snow.
Inside the small farm house the slumbering Kaoru started to wake. She snapped open her eyes to see that she was in a small room. She sat up slowly to examine the place better. A small twinge of pain shot through her body to let her know that she still had injuries. 'I had hoped this had all been a bad dream,' she sighed to herself. She looked around the room trying to figure out where she was, and noticed that the room had a certain way about it. 'It's set up almost like Kenshin's room back home.' She thought, 'Impossible what would he be doing here?'
Kaoru thought she was strong enough to stand up, she was almost mistaken but she supported herself lightly against a drawer and then she noticed something... 'I have no clothes...' It wasn't totally true, Kaoru was standing there with nothing but a thin yakuta (A/N: if I am spelling this or using it wrong please correct me .) that was way too large for her small frame. Kaoru dug through the drawer that she had been supporting herself on and pulled out a hakama the gi was magenta in color. 'If I didn't know any better...' But she shut the possibility out of her mind; Kenshin couldn't have been there it's just impossible.
"Forgive me whoever you are." She said as she slipped on the strangers clothing and pulled it tight. 'At least this fits better...'
"I have to get out of here before I cause these people any grief." She whispered. Kaoru looked around and found a scrap of paper and scribbled down a note quickly.
-Thank you, I wish I could have known you better for you have saved my life. But someday I promise I will return to repay you for your hospitality, until then I must take my leave I do not want to cause you and yours any harm and me staying here now will surely bring that upon you.
Sincerely thank you;
–A friend. -
Kaoru thought that the letter would suffice. She was about to exit when she heard a heavy knocking at the door of the gate. She peered through a small slit in the shoji and watched as a dumpy middle aged woman made her way to the door.
"Can I help you?" She asked to the figures at the door.
"Yes ma'am we are looking for someone who is on the run from the law, it is a woman about five feet tall and has raven colored hair and dark blue eyes."
"I have seen no one like this" she said coldly, but everyone present could tell that was a lie.
"Then you won't mind if we take a look in your home." One of the men said simply.
"I do mind." She said sternly, "My husband is ill, and I do not need him worried by some woman we have never even seen."
Kaoru did not like the way this was going, (though she was grateful for the woman's caring) and as quietly as she could she snuck out of the window in the room and rounded behind the soldiers listening to what they said to the woman.
"You will let us in or we will force you to." One of the officers said brandishing his nightstick. (A/N: is that what they are called?)
"Over my dead body!" Yuki said starting to become frustrated.
"That can be arranged." One of the men said sternly, and made an advance to grab her when Kaoru decided she had to do something.
"Hey stupid looking for me?!" She yelled now standing behind them sticking out her tongue
"It's her! Get her now!" The man (who seemed to be the head of the group) commanded.
Kaoru took this opportunity to run, it was either that or be caught, and she would run forever if she could prevent that. Even though she was feeling considerable pain from every wound she had, she still ran; it was run or be killed and she chose to run. What ever pain she felt she could deal with later as long as she lived to see it. Kaoru rounded the Farm house before dashing for the trees. She ran down the trail that carved its way through the forest and to the river bank beyond that.
Kaoru had enough of a head start that the officers that where after her were out of eyesight for the moment and she took that opportunity to climb a tree and go deep into the grove. She wasn't about to leave foot prints of where she went so she tree hopped as she went into the grove... She had no destination now; she was forced to wander. Time passed and the sun started to set. She decided it was safe enough to climb down from the trees, to bad for her that she was running short on luck she stepped on a rotten branch and it snapped under her weight making her fall a few feet to the soft snow below. She was breathing hard her bruised ribs where in excruciating pain from the impact. Kaoru lied on the ground trying to find herself before she stood up once again and trudged on.
Beads of sweat rolled down her face as she forced her way through the deep snow and trees that seemed to be getting closer and closer together. 'I'm surprised that they haven't caught up with me yet.' Just as she was thinking this something grabbed her from behind a hand slipped over her face muffling her screams. The figure held her tightly in front of them as to hide their identity.
Warm breath bathed her ear as they whispered "Stay silent, do you want them to hear you?"
Tears filled her eyes as fear bubbled in her heart, 'No, no, no let me go, please let me go!' her mind screamed silently as she was held captive in the darkness...
To be continued...
A/N: a little suspence in this one. I hope you guys liked it. Well until next time.
Battosaichick: waves See ya!