A/N: I do not own Inuyasha OR Rurouni Kenshin. I do however own a big DVD collection of each and horrendous amounts of merchandise, so please don't sue I'm a loyal customer.
Chapter 2. RevelationsKaoru stretched for a moment before getting up. She could tell it was still early, but Kenshin was obviously already awake from the smell emanating from the direction of the kitchen. If the aroma was to be believed this morning's breakfast was going to be exceptionally good.
Kaoru yawned and got up and dressed for the day. She put on her sparring clothes, and pulled back her hair. Yahiko needed a good trashing for his attitude he'd had lately and a full day of training would be just the excuse she needed. Fortunately Megumi would be here tending Sano at least for the rest of the day, and that meant she could treat Yahiko once Kaoru was done administering 'corrective training'.
Kaoru started past the room where Yahiko was still asleep. She knocked on the door lightly before opening it. Yahiko had nearly gone berserk the last time she opened his door without knocking. Yahiko was still asleep and was just beginning to stir. Kaoru crept over to his futon in the dim morning light and slapped the floor with her hand loudly next to his head.
"WAKE UP YAHIKO!" Kaoru cried loudly right next to his ear.
Yahiko sat upright so fast he nearly left his yukata behind on the floor. He grabbed his blanket and looked at Kaoru with unmistakable fury in his eyes. "Kaoru, I was trying to sleep! You may have given up on beauty sleep, but the rest of us still like a full night's rest!"
"You just get ready for training. Kenshin nearly has breakfast done and after that we're going to have a full day of training." Kaoru said with gleam in her eye.
"Why don't you ever knock?" Yahiko said hotly.
"I did, you just weren't awake enough to hear it." Kaoru said sweetly. Then she noticed something. "Yahiko, why are you blushing?"
"Never mind, just get out will ya'!" Yahiko pleaded.
Kaoru shrugged and left Yahiko to get ready and started back towards the kitchen. She was passing the spare room where Sano was recovering and saw Megumi desperately trying to get Sano to lay back down.
"I'm telling you it couldn't have healed by now!" Megumi was saying pushing down on Sano's shoulders.
"Well, I'm still alive, so the thing must have just missed my heart by a hair. It must not have gone in as deeply as I thought it had. I hope it leaves a cool scar though." Sano was saying trying to sit up against Megumi's weight.
Kaoru left the two of them to their little "scuffle" and went on towards the kitchen. As she passed Kenshin's room she heard a loud snore coming from inside. Who's in Kenshin's room? He doesn't snore, and from the smell of things he's already in the kitchen. Kaoru thought a moment. It definitely sounded like a man, but Yahiko and Sano were accounted for. Kaoru headed out for the kitchen again. Maybe Kenshin could explain.
"Kenshin, who's sleeping in your room?" Kaoru said as she walked into the kitchen. She stopped at the door as she looked up to see that it was Kagome in the kitchen.
"Kenshin's probably the one in his room." Kagome said happily as she prepared breakfast.
Kaoru tried to get a grip on the situation and failed. "Why are you making breakfast Ms. Kagome?"
"I like cooking and Kenshin sounded like he was pretty comfortable." Kagome said smiling to Kaoru.
Kaoru came in and looked at the meal she had prepared. "I didn't think we had this much food in the house."
"Oh, I had some things in my pack I got out. I thought it would be the least I could do after Sano saved me and you let me stay here last night. Sano will need all the nourishment he can get if he's going to heal properly." Kagome said as she bustled around preparing things to eat.
Kaoru nodded numbly. "I didn't even know Kenshin snored."
"Men generally do when their exhausted. I don't think he's rested well in quite some time." Kagome started filling trays with food for the household. "Maybe we should let him sleep for a little while longer. We can save him some for later."
Kaoru helped Kagome bring the food to the table. Yahiko was already there and so were Megumi and Sanosuke. For once, Sano and Yahiko didn't fight over breakfast. For one, Sano was still bandaged, and for two there was more than either of them could eat, which was saying a lot for the two young men.
"Where's Kenshin?" Yahiko asked suddenly between mouthfuls.
"He's still sleeping." Kaoru said quietly. "I guess he's been working pretty hard lately. I'll take him some food in a little while. I think I might let him rest today, I might not be the best cook, but at least I can get the laundry done."
Everyone looked at Kenshin's place at the table. It was odd to eat not having him there to fill it. The rest of the meal passed quietly, which was a first for the dojo. There was nearly always a battle going on between at least two of them and frequently three or four.
Kaoru watched the meal in confusion. Everyone seemed to be lost in his or her own thoughts. Finally everyone was done and she helped Kagome clear everything away. "Yahiko, go into the practice hall and start two hundred swings. I'll be there before you're done."
Kaoru and Kagome loaded up a tray with food left over from breakfast and went to Kenshin's room. Kaoru stopped at the door. She could still hear Kenshin inside snoring. She had never gone into his room while he was sleeping before. He was usually up long before she was and slept after she did.
Kagome prodded Kaoru. "Go on, I'm sure he won't bite."
Kaoru took a deep breath and opened the door. She looked around until she finally found Kenshin sitting up with his sword propped on his shoulder and his back to the wall. He was sound asleep.
"I swear, men and their silly habits." Kagome said as she walked over to Kenshin. Kaoru started to warn her as she plucked Kenshin's sword from his grip and propped it in the opposite corner. "You better wake him. He might be startled otherwise."
Kaoru nodded and sat the tray next to Kenshin before kneeling down next to him on the opposite side. "Kenshin, wake up." Kaoru said softly. Kenshin stopped snoring for a moment stirred slightly.
"Not right now Kaoru, let's sleep a while longer." Kenshin said sleepily. Kaoru was blushing about as brightly as Kenshin's gi. Kagome cleared her throat and Kenshin popped awake with a sudden rush.
Kenshin went for his sword, but it wasn't there. He looked around, but didn't relax until Kaoru put a hand on his arm. He finally realized where he was and allowed Kaoru to settle him back against the wall.
"I overslept!" Kenshin asked in amazement. "I'm sorry Ms. Kaoru! I'll go fix breakfast immediately!"
"It's alright Kenshin, Ms. Kagome made breakfast." Kaoru said softly.
Kenshin turned to look up at Kagome. "It's you." He said startled.
"Who else would it be?" Kagome said laughing. "Sorry to disturb your rose-scented dreams, but you don't need to sleep all day, or else you'll never be able to sleep tonight."
"Rose-scented dreams?" Kenshin said quietly, and then he looked up with a terrified expression. "What did you do to me?"
Kagome smiled at the two of them as she turned to leave. "You two look like you need to talk. I'll go take care of Yahiko and the others."
Kenshin sat there quietly as Kagome left the room. He looked over at Kaoru who could still feel the warmth of her blush on her cheeks. She didn't know what Kenshin meant by what he had said to Kagome, but something more important was on her mind.
Long moments seemed to pass as the two of them sat there in the uncomfortable silence. Finally, Kaoru couldn't stand it any longer. "Kenshin, you said something before you woke up. You said 'let's sleep a while longer' and you used my name without calling me Ms. Kaoru."
Kenshin looked horror-stricken. "I'm sorry, Ms. Kaoru. This unworthy one did not mean any disrespect."
"Kenshin, it's alright. Please tell me what you were dreaming about when we woke you up." Kaoru said pleadingly. She had wanted to hear words like that from Kenshin and had even had dreams like that herself. If he had the same dreams, maybe he might actually return her feelings.
"I can't Ms. Kaoru. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Kenshin was practically groveling with his head on the floor.
Kaoru reached out and pulled Kenshin up to face her. He looked ready to cry. "Kenshin, why won't you tell me?"
"I am only trying to protect you Ms. Kaoru." Kenshin said desperately.
Long moments passed as Kaoru looked deep into Kenshin's eyes. He was hurting and there was nothing she could do to stop the pain. "From who Kenshin?"
"From me."
Kaoru looked at Kenshin. She wanted to kiss him so badly and to tell him that he would never hurt her, but she didn't want to scare him away by being too forward. She had finally decided to risk it when they heard the crash.
Kagome walked back to the dojo practice hall where Yahiko was finishing his swings. Megumi had already left for the clinic leaving Sano to watch Yahiko. Sano looked extremely bored, but Yahiko was nearly complete.
Kagome came in and sat down next to Sanosuke as Yahiko finished. "So where's ugly? She was supposed to be in here before I got done with my swings."
"She'll be along in a minute. I thought you might like to show me how your studies are progressing little Yahiko." Kagome said politely.
"DON'T CALL ME LITTLE!" Yahiko shrieked. Sano could barely contain his laughter.
"Yahiko is a little bit touchy about being called 'little'. Isn't that right, little Yahiko?" Sano said as he grabbed the end of the sword that had been aimed squarely at his red headband. Injury or no injury, Yahiko definitely wasn't letting that one slide.
"You shouldn't do that Yahiko." Kagome said sternly.
"Yeah, well, he was asking for it." Yahiko said gruffly.
"No, I mean get offended when someone calls you little. You should appreciate your youth while you have it or else someday you'll turn around and realize that you missed it because you were too busy trying to be grown." Kagome said sagely.
"Look lady, I didn't have much of a childhood to begin with, I grew up stealing from people on the streets. I had to grow up fast." Yahiko said hotly.
Sano actually growled. "You should show more respect Yahiko. She's only trying to help you and she's a priestess, so be more polite."
"You're one to talk." Yahiko said snidely.
"My what interesting, people you keep company with Higurashi. You won't get the chance to paralyze me again."
Kagome turned toward the owner of the voice, as did Sano and Yahiko. "What are you doing here, Saitoh?" Sanosuke said disgustedly. "Aren't there any little old ladies you need to arrest?"
Kagome looked at Saitoh and slowly got to her feet. She noticed that the sword he was carrying was the same one from the demon yesterday. Oh, no. I should have destroyed THAT thing instead.
Kagome jumped to the side as Saitoh attacked. The fighting style was different from yesterday, so it only made her feel worse about killing the person that had attacked her. If she was right, the man could have easily been an innocent bystander.
Sano and Yahiko were apparently stunned to see Saitoh attack someone openly in the dojo. The two of them barely got out of the way as Saitoh barreled past them and slashed at Kagome. Kagome knocked over a rack of wooden swords as she dodged, sending most of them crashing to the floor.
Saitoh followed her relentlessly as she danced around him slashing for her head and face at every opportunity. Kagome picked up a wooden sword. She didn't want to kill this man since the sword probably possessed him.
In a moment the crash brought Kenshin and Kaoru from his room. Kagome nearly swore under her breath, she'd have to start from scratch to keep the promise she'd made to help the swordsman. Life would be SO much simpler if demons would stop hunting her every step.
Kenshin pulled his reverse blade sword and stepped into the hall. "Saitoh, I don't know what business you have with Ms. Kagome, but you'll have to deal with me first if you try to harm anyone staying under this roof. You…"
"Oh, shut up you pathetic little monkey." The demon hissed as it lunged for Kenshin.
Kenshin blocked the swipe with the sword and countered. The demon was quick to parry his attack. For a moment the two of them crossed their swords, locking the two of them together. The demon reached out and grabbed the front of Kenshin's gi. Kenshin was shocked as the demon then lifted him with one arm and rammed his head into the ceiling before tossing him into the far wall.
Kagome turned to Yahiko who looked as if he were watching a wolf devour small children. "Yahiko, run get my pack! Quickly!"
This seemed to unfreeze Yahiko and he sprang towards the door to comply. The demon turned and saw Yahiko trying to leave the room.
Kagome jumped between him and the boy and raised her wooden sword. She began to concentrate and the sword began to glow with a nimbus of power. She wasn't any good with a sword, but she could at least keep him busy.
"Give it up, girl. This body has ten times the skill of my old one. My lord, will have the jewel!" The demon sneered, as he made ready to attack her.
"Hiten Mitsarugi Style, AMAKAKERU RYU NO HIRAMEKI!"
Kagome watched as Kenshin lunged forward at the demon. The demon however was too swift. "Too slow, monkey." The demon moved aside as Kenshin's sword cleft the air where it had been standing. With demonic agility and speed it crouched and thrust it sword with its left hand burying it into Kenshin shoulder as Kenshin tried desperately to dodge.
Kenshin grabbed the blade looking up at the demon. It was the break Kagome was looking for. She brought the wooden sword down on the back of the demons head as it tried to wrest the blade away from Kenshin.
The demon fell unconscious for a moment as Yahiko came running in with her backpack. "Quick Yahiko, bring it here!"
"Kenshin!" Kaoru cried reaching for the blade buried in his shoulder.
"DON'T TOUCH IT!" Kagome screamed knocking Kaoru's hand away.
Kagome reached into her pack until she found the scroll case she kept there. She quickly rifled through them until she found the one she need. She chanted a few select phrases before slapping the thing down on the demons head. She then got out a clean cloth from her pack that she used to pull the sword out of Kenshin and wrap it up.
"What's going on here?" Sano said. "I've never seen anybody dodge Kenshin's ultimate attack, and why is your sword glowing?"
"Forget that," Yahiko piped in, "what's that scroll on Saitoh's face and what's wrong with his face? It looks like it's fading away!"
"That could only be an improvement." Sano said dryly.
Kagome looked at Saitoh. Sure enough, his face had started to disappear. "It's hard to explain right now." Kagome said as she examined the sword. No doubt about it, the demon was housed inside the blade. The sword looked like it wouldn't be broken by normal means either.
Kagome sighed. This really complicated matters. If what the demon said was true he wasn't working alone. There were probably more about. If she left these people alone now they were as good as dead.
"I guess you people will have to come with me." Kagome said sadly. Kenshin was just starting to rise. There was a pool of blood collecting under his shoulder.
"Then it WAS you I saw in my dreams last night." Kenshin said trying to rise. "What did you do to me? I feel like I'm trying to fight underwater."
"I turned your fighting spirit off." Kagome said simply as she rummaged through her pack for the Tensaiga. "Here hold still."
Kagome pulled out the sword and everyone gathered around Kenshin. "We aren't letting you anywhere near him until you explain yourself." Kaoru said fiercely.
Kagome sighed once again. "OK, I'll explain, but you have to let me heal him. This sword can't hurt anybody, you're going to have to trust me."
The three of them parted uneasily as Kagome reached Kenshin. She placed the tip of the blade on the shoulder wound. The flesh immediately began to mend underneath the blade and soon Kenshin was able to stand.
"That sword yesterday didn't miss my heart did it?" Sano said seriously. "You used that thing after I lost consciousness."
"Actually, I used it after you were dead." Kagome said seriously. "I didn't feel right leaving you there when you thought you were protecting me."
Kagome stood up and looked around. "There's only one place I can think of to dispose of this sword. I need to go there to dispose of it. There may be more of those things around so I can't leave any of you here or you'll be killed. Please, come with me and I'll explain everything once we're safe."
The four of them nodded and Kagome moved out onto the porch. "Please follow me, and could one of you bring Saitoh?"
Sano picked up Saitoh on his back. "What if this scroll falls off?"
"It won't fall off until I remove it and Saitoh won't wake up until I do." Kagome said over her shoulder.
The four of them joined her on the porch as she held her finger up to her eye. The four of them watched as energy danced between her finger and her eye. Finally, a small black orb about the size of a pearl seemed to appear out of Kagome's right eye.
Kagome pointed in front of her and the orb flew a few feet before expanding into a black oval portal. "Come on, we don't need to dally around here." Kagome said looking back to the five people she had in tow.
Everyone on the porch was rooted in place. Sano especially was looking ready to bolt at the first loud noise. Kaoru had a hold on Kenshin's arm that looked like it could cut off circulation and Yahiko was openly cowering behind Kaoru.
"It's alright, I'm here." Kagome said slowly. "This is just a portal, now move."
The five of them took some prodding, especially Sano, but she finally got the five of them pushed through the portal to the other side. On the other side Kagome looked around. It had been some time since she'd been here last. They were standing on a hill overlooking a vast plain with what looked like giant rib bones sticking up into the air. Everywhere flowers were blooming and ivy climbed up the towering bones.
No one seemed to be any more relaxed now that they were safe. "Finally, we're safe."
"You call THIS safe?" Sano said looking out over the landscape.
"Yeah, what's wrong with it?" Kagome said looking out at the ten-story skeleton in armor. Yeah, she'd tried to make the place a little more like home, which had resulted in a look that she liked to call 'Dracula meets the Care Bears', but she did her best. It wasn't her fault that Inuyasha had refused to bury his father.
"Nothing's wrong with it if you like graveyards I suppose." Sano said looking like he was going to be sick.
"Hey buster, this is my home so show some courtesy." Kagome said genuinely hurt. "You hardly notice the tomb after you've been here a while."
"That thing's a tomb?" Yahiko said going white.
"Yes, it's the body of a friend of mine's father. He died centuries ago and created this place so he would have a quiet place for his body to remain." Kagome said looking out at the massive skull.
"And you CHOOSE to live here?" Yahiko said abruptly.
"Yes, I do. We're in what you might call a pocket dimension. Most demons don't know this place exists, so they don't even know how to come looking for it. I took up residence here after Inuyasha died." Kagome said sadly. "Come on, we better get going. It's a half day's walk to my cottage."
"Ms. Kagome, who's Inuyasha?" Kaoru said as she walked alongside Kagome.
"He was a half-demon friend of mine. He died a long time ago." Kagome said as she walked down the path to her home.
"He was a half-demon?" Kenshin asked. "That's what took control of Saitoh isn't it?"
"Yeah, I was attacked yesterday by the demon that lives in the sword that Saitoh was carrying. I didn't realize that it was the sword controlling the body or else I wouldn't have destroyed the man wielding it." Kagome explained. "Here, let me sum it up for you. I am a guardian. I guard a very special talisman that the demons are trying to take from me by force. I have to fight them occasionally. I come here to relax and to regroup when I must, but I don't stay here long because I don't want the demons finding out it exists."
Kagome looked up at the bones sticking up from the ground. It didn't look so bad from down here. It just looked like some large ivory spires. Maybe great big bony rib looking spires, but spires none-the-less.
"How long have you been guarding this talisman?" Kaoru asked politely.
"A few centuries now. I loose track of the exact number of years. After the first few decades it felt like I was checking off a prison sentence so I stopped." Kagome replied.
"Wow, you look pretty good for an old lady." Sano said with a smirk. "You look about fifteen."
"Yeah, you noticed that yesterday." Kagome said hotly. "The truth is I stopped aging about the same time I was exposed to the jewel, that's the talisman I guard. Ever since then I haven't aged a day. I stopped going home, once my brother Sota got married and had children. He stayed in the temple until some sort of cataclysm destroyed the temple and his family. They were the last tie that I had to the future, so I stopped traveling back to my own time after that."
"Your own time?" Sano asked.
"Yeah, I was born in the year 1987, in Tokyo. I was pulled back in time to the feudal era of Japan and was forced to fight a bunch of demons with my friends. We eventually beat them and destroyed the gates they were using to come into our world, but the result also sealed the portal I used to travel back to my own time. I've been around ever since." Kagome said.
"Wait a minute, that's nearly 100 years into our future. You mean you know what's going to happen in the next 100 years?" Yahiko said, incredulous.
"Yeah, basically. I don't know a lot of details, but I know the general history." Kagome said looking back at Yahiko.
The five of them finally came to the base of the large skeleton in armor. Not far from the base a large cottage had been erected. Kagome walked up an opened the door. "Right this way. We'll put Saitoh in my study, there I can try to break the demon's hold on him."
"Ms. Kagome, how did you come to possess such wondrous powers?" Kenshin asked looking around the house as they went in.
"I was taught, by several different people actually. Most of my knowledge of herbs and medicines came from Lady Kaede, who was the priestess who guarded the small village that later became Tokyo. A friend of mine, Miroku, taught me how to erect a shield and write spells. Inuyasha showed me a few combative powers, and Shippou taught me his fox magic. I've accumulated a few other little abilities and techniques along the way and added them to my own." Kagome said. She couldn't help but feel proud. There were a lot of men who claimed to be wizards that didn't have half the power she had.
Kagome brought them into her study and pointed at the couch. "Put Saitoh over there, I'll have to research an exorcism. Then I'll go seal the sword in the tomb with Tokijin. You might as well make yourselves at home, I'm probably going to be a while."
Kenshin watched the stars and tried to find some that were recognizable, and failed. Kagome had worked most of the day leaving them to wander the garden. Finally, she had come out of her study to announce that Saitoh was going to recover.
"I'm going to leave him unconscious until we leave. I don't want to have to explain myself all over again. He won't remember anything from the time he was possessed so we'll have to make up a pretty convincing story." Kagome said rubbing her eyes. She held the demon sword with the cloth that she had brought with them. "I'm going into the tomb, and then I suggest we all get some sleep. I'm going to seal this demon away so he can't harm anyone again."
Kenshin watched as Kagome disappeared in the direction of the skeleton. He really didn't like the look of the thing, but then it HAD been a pretty weird day. He felt rather than heard Kaoru approach.
"Kenshin?" Her tone was one of those "we need to talk" tones, so Kenshin tried his best "I have no idea what you want" looks. It too failed.
"Yes, Ms. Kaoru?" He said lamely.
"Kenshin, we never did get to finish our talk this morning." Kaoru said looking down at her feet.
Kenshin had been dreading this all day. He had hoped that the surprises would never stop just so he could avoid this moment. "You're wondering why I said that I was protecting you from me." He said solemnly.
"Yes, Kenshin, I know you would never hurt…"
"You're wrong." Kenshin said sharply. This was killing him, but he had to do it for her own good. "Ms. Kaoru I can't control myself when I become violent. I've killed people that were close to me before and I wasn't able to stop myself. Kaoru, if I were to ever become that unstable I would have to leave to keep you from being killed by the one person I can't protect you from. I used to think that I could stop myself, or that I could kill the man I was that is still inside of me, but I can't. Please understand."
Kenshin walked away quickly to keep her from seeing the hurt in his eyes. "I'm going to go sleep outside tonight. I didn't look like Ms. Kagome has that many rooms for guests."
Kagome walked into the crypt. It had been nearly ten years. She walked past their graves as she walked toward the vault where she kept the most dangerous items. After Sesshomaru died she'd managed to hide his sword here. She still carried Tensaiga, but she had never felt right about carrying Tetsaiga so she had ensconced it here as well. Miroku's staff and Sango's boomerang were also here, more as mementos than anything else. Everything was still as she laid the sword into a spare case and sealed it with a spell. She then started back out to the house.
She had almost reached the house when she heard the quiet sobbing. She walked into the garden to find Kaoru deep in tears. "Kaoru, what's wrong?"
"I tried to talk to Kenshin, but he just pushed me away!" Kaoru said between sobs. "It's like he's a different person, he's never been that distant before."
Kaoru sighed and sat down next to her. "I'm sure it'll be alright, Kaoru."
Kaoru continued to sob and looked up into Kagome's face. "How does a priestess know about man trouble?" She said defiantly.
"I know plenty. I've had to deal with my fair share of hardheaded men, believe me. Like I told Sano, I haven't served as a priestess in a long time. I know what its like to love someone."
"You were in love?" Kaoru asked sadly.
"Yes, and I've been married. Loosing them were the worst times I've ever had to face." Kagome said looking back towards the tombs.
"Who were they?" Kaoru continued.
"My first husband's name was Inuyasha. He and I had the most turbulent relationship in the history of the world. Still, I loved him. He was killed protecting me. That's why I swore I would learn all that I could so that no one would ever have to die to protect me again. It didn't happen that way though. Three men have died protecting me, and all three were my husbands." Kagome nearly cried a little herself. It hurt to bring back the memories.
"Anyway, after Inuyasha died I was trying to protect the jewel and raise a fox demon named Shippou. It was a tough time for me and I ended up marrying my second husband more out of convenience. Kouga was a wolf demon and he had proclaimed his love for me, loudly, even before Inuyasha and I were married. I felt sorry for him because when he declared me as his mate he couldn't take another by the laws of his tribe. He was a good man at heart and he gave me and Shippou a safe place to stay while Shippou was growing up." Kagome leaned back and remembered those times. Ayame had been so hurt. Thankfully, Ginta had managed to make her at least reasonably happy. She'd definitely born him enough pups.
"Why did you marry him if you didn't love him?" Kaoru asked, seeming to forget her own sorrow.
"I thought I'd never love again after Inuyasha died. I guess looking back on it though I really did love Kouga. I wish I had told him that more, now. He died because our tribe was attacked by demons looking for the jewel. We won the war, but Kouga was killed. I left the tribe shortly after that." Kagome said sadly.
"The last man I loved was Shippou. I encountered him when I first came to the past. He was only a little boy then, and I carried him around like my own living doll. He had lost his parents and Inuyasha and I sort of adopted him. I watched him grow up and become a strong young man. After Inuyasha died he stayed with me and I pretty much raised him. After a while I realized that I didn't see him as the little boy he had been. It took a long time for me to realize I was in love with him, and then to realize he loved me in return. I have never been so tempted to give up my charge than I was then, even if it did mean becoming mortal again." Kagome let the tears fall now.
"You didn't give up your duty for him?" Kaoru asked, perplexed.
"I wanted to, but Shippou wouldn't let me. He told me that we'd never find someone as capable as I to guard the jewel. Reluctantly, I agreed on the condition that if we ever found someone who could be taught, that I would teach them and then I would give up my duty to be with him and grow old. We simply never found anyone." Kagome looked over at Kaoru.
"Well, that's enough about my problems. You've got some of your own, and I guess that's my fault. He IS a different person." Kagome said miserably.
Kaoru looked at her sharply. "What do you mean?"
"I entered his dreams last night while I was checking all of you out. I didn't know you and I wanted to make sure that you weren't going to turn on me or anything like that. I got trapped in side Kenshin's dreams and saw a few things I probably shouldn't have." Kagome said sadly.
"What did you see?" Kaoru said anxiously.
"I'll have to let Kenshin explain that to you when he's ready, but suffice to say he once hurt someone very close to him and now he won't let himself get close to anyone for fear that he'll hurt them too." Kagome explained. "While I was there I spoke with his two different halves. There was the kind and gentle side, and then there was the fierce and violent side, they both wanted me to destroy the other so they could have control."
Kaoru nodded. "But why did Kenshin push me away? He doesn't love me, is that it?"
Kagome thought about it for a moment. "It's because Kenshin needs both halves of his being to be in harmony or else he'll never know peace. If he loses either one he'll only be a hollow shell of his former self. I convinced his violent half to give me a few days to try to get his gentle half brought around to this realization but it looks like I've failed. His violent side tends to be the more emotional of the two and also gives him added strength in combat. That must have been why he wasn't very effective against Saitoh. I can only assume that his feelings for you are pent up inside THAT half of his being. As long as that half is dormant, he rules himself with his mind instead of his heart, which diminishes his skill as a fighter and his feelings for you."
Kaoru seemed to be deep in thought. "Kagome, can you help me?"
"If I can, what do you want?" Kagome asked slowly.
"Can you let me get into Kenshin's dreams? I have to know for myself what he's hiding and to know if he really loves me." Kaoru said with determination settling into her voice.
"Absolutely not, Kaoru. You don't understand what you're asking for. If I were to put you in there you'd be totally at his mercy. You'd never be able to leave until he allowed you to or he woke up. He could kill you and while your body would be alive, your soul would be gone." Kagome could already tell though that her argument was falling on deaf ears.
"Kenshin would never intentionally hurt me, I have to believe that. If he does, then I don't think I could live with the thought of not having him return my love anyway. I love him and he's worth dying for." Kaoru said resolutely.
Kagome stared at her for a few minutes. "Perhaps there's another way." Kagome said nervously.
Kaoru stared at Kagome intently waiting for her explanation. Kagome sorted her thoughts, and finally had a plan that might be feasible. "Like I told you, going into someone's dreams leaves you vulnerable. You are at the mercy of the dreamer since you inhabit their reality. If however, I can manage to get Kenshin into YOUR dreams you would at the very least be able to defend yourself."
Kaoru though about this for a few minutes, Kagome began to worry that she was going to reject idea when she finally nodded. "As long as I can finally put an end to this. I must know how Kenshin feels. I can't do that if he's always turning away."
"He won't be able to run from you in your dreams, but be careful. If you try to impress your vision of what he should be on him too much you could end up destroying him just as easily as he could have destroyed you." Kagome said seriously. "The waking dream state is no place for idle thoughts. You must be focused, do you understand?"
Kagome waited until she had extracted an affirmative nod from Kaoru. "Now go inside and sleep for a while. You'll see Kenshin in your dreams tonight if I am successful."
Kagome watched Kaoru get up and go towards the house before she got up to go look for Kenshin. She had royally gotten things muddled and it was going to take a miracle to pull this one out of the fire.
She found Kenshin in a small quiet part of her garden she usually reserved for meditation. He was asleep, or at least trying to be. Kagome recognized what was going on immediately. His two halves were trying to kill each other. Kenshin tossed back and forth in a fit as if a seizure had taken him. Kagome began to concentrate from a safe distance as he curled into a ball where he lay.
"WHERE are you, you little BRAT!" Kenshin shouted as he stalked the dojo grounds. Kagome looked around horrified to realize he was now free. "I'll kill you for what you've done Shinta!"
Kagome hid until Kenshin moved toward the back of the house. Finally she looked around to find Shinta. She didn't have to look far. Under a laundry tub she found the little boy cowering. "Shinta, how did Kenshin break free?" Kagome said whispering as she heard Kenshin crashing through the kitchen.
"While he was asleep I took the opportunity to slip away. I was able to do what he would never let me do. I sent Kaoru away." Shinta said crying. "I didn't want to, but I thought it was the only way to keep her safe. When he discovered what I did he broke free of the chains and came after me. Please, help me. You've got to destroy him. If he chains me he'll be in control again and Ms. Kaoru will never be safe."
Kagome thought about this for a moment. "Shinta, how did you manage to keep him chained before?"
"I don't know. It was always easy to keep him chained at the dojo. My only problem was Saitoh. He hates Saitoh. If I had run across Saitoh before coming to the dojo I never would have been able to hold him." Shinta cowered even more miserably than before.
Things began to become clearer and clearer to Kagome as she thought about it. It made some things simpler, while making others complex. Kagome thought about it and then stood up. She'd prepared this ahead of time; she hoped it work like she hoped. Kagome focused her strength and let her mind wander for a moment before reaching down to pick up Shinta.
"What are you doing? He'll see us!" Shinta cried as she lifted him up.
"I already have seen you, whelp!" Kenshin snarled as he lunged after them.
The shift was almost imperceptible. They were still at the dojo, but the scene shifted. It went from dark with sharp lines to a softer tone that almost radiated warmth. It looked like less of a fortress and more like a home. The two halves of Kenshin didn't even notice until a figure appeared between Kenshin and Kagome.
Kenshin barreled forward with his sword raised. He looked ready to deliver his ultimate technique when Shinta screamed. "NO, NOT AGAIN."
Kenshin jolted back as if struck by a speeding train and slammed into the outer wall of the dojo with twice as many chains slapping him into place. Kenshin looked at his bonds and howled in frustration. "You betrayed me wench! You were only setting me aside so that brat could ruin my life."
"You ruined it yourself a long time ago!" Shinta yelled back hotly.
Kaoru turned to look at Kenshin wrapped in chains against the wall and then turned to Kagome and Shinta. "Am I to assume I'm part of this dream now?" Kaoru said to Kagome.
"Yes, you are. Here Shinta." Kagome said putting him down. "You've got some explaining to do. I'm not going to destroy either of you. You can't leave this place until Kaoru says you can leave."
Kagome turned to Kaoru. "You've got one night to talk out your problems. I'll not do this again. This is only to make up for the mess I made. Whatever shape your relationship is in after this, is up to you two, uh… three."
Kagome turned and stepped out of the dream. She might be curious how things turned out, but she really didn't want to pry.
Kaoru watched as Kagome disappeared. She then turned to look at the two people that now shared her dream. A little boy that looked just like Kenshin, and a version of Kenshin that look like it just stepped out of a nightmare, where he was the primary reason to be feared.
"So why are you called Shinta little one?" Kaoru asked to the diminutive version of Kenshin.
"Please, I can't say. You have to get rid of him. You have to let me destroy him." The little boy pleaded.
"I'll do no such thing until you start answering my questions." Kaoru said firmly.
"Shinta is my real name. Master Hiko was the one that named him Kenshin." The little boy finally said on the verge of tears.
A howling laughter brought Kaoru's attention to the other form in her dream. Kenshin pulled futilely against his restraints trying to reach her. "He said it was no name for a swordsman, and he was right." Kenshin spat at Shinta. "Let me loose you little weakling. I've wanted this for a long time now and you're going to give it to me or I swear you'll never rest again! I'll haunt you until I finally get free and destroy anyone who gets in my way!"
Kaoru looked at the animalistic version of Kenshin and shivered. He was an absolute animal, pure instinct. He had no reservations, inhibitions, or remorse; he was simply acting on his desires and his wants. It also didn't take her long to tell from his look what he was wanting.
"Are you the part of Kenshin that desires me?" Kaoru asked worriedly.
"YES!" Kenshin howled in animalistic lust. "Release me woman and I swear you'll not regret it. I'll drive you mad with desire and I'll make your skin burn at my touch."
"You leave her alone!" Shinta cried defiantly. "I'll never let you mark her with your taint."
Kenshin howled as he pulled against the chains trying to reach Shinta. Kaoru looked at him and then finally decided on her course of action. "I'll be back to talk to you in just a moment." Kaoru said, scooping up Shinta.
Kaoru carried Shinta away from the now raging Kenshin and took him to a quiet area of the garden around the dojo. She finally sat and then put Shinta in her lap facing away before she hugged him close. "Shinta, you and I need to talk."
"Yes, Ms. Kaoru." Shinta said obediently. It reminded Kaoru of the times when Kenshin was taking her orders to clean the dojo. Kaoru thought about it for a moment before she continued to speak.
"How do you feel about me?" Kaoru said innocently.
Shinta was startled, but recovered quite quickly. "I like you a lot Ms. Kaoru. I'd do anything to protect you. Don't worry, I'll never let him hurt you." At this Shinta cast his eyes down and seemed to grow sad. "Even if it means I have to leave you."
Kaoru tried to control her own pain at the words and pressed on. "Shinta, don't you know that this would hurt me too, that you would be hurting me?"
"I'd never hurt you Ms. Kaoru!" Shinta cried turning in her lap to stare up into her eyes. "But if I don't go, he'll hurt you."
Kaoru thought about this for a moment and then tried a different approach. If she could only get a confession of love from this Shinta, she'd be able to understand Kenshin's true feelings. She had already established attraction, the nightmare Kenshin was proof of that, and she just needed more from their relationship. "I'm willing to risk it for you Shinta." Kaoru gathered her courage and pressed on. She only had this one shot and she had to make it count. "I care a lot about you Shinta. I even care a lot about Kenshin too. I just want to know how YOU feel."
Shinta looked to be on the verge of crying. "I don't know." He said as he burst in to tears finally.
Kaoru swore under her breath and pulled him close to comfort him. He cried for quite some time before he settled down. Kaoru was very gentle as she continued. "Please tell me what you mean, Shinta."
Shinta whimpered but continued. "I was just a little boy when my parents died and I was sold into slavery. Bandits attacked the slavers and I was the only one left alive because Master Hiko saved me. I think it was the last time I remember being without him." Shinta gestured towards the nightmare Kenshin. "Master Hiko began to train us. While I was in control most of the time, he came out during training. I thought I could use him for good when the wars started but I was wrong. He took control and locked me away. I don't understand emotions the way he does. He can use them as weapons. He can sense them while I cannot. I can't even understand my own!"
Shinta began once again to cry as he clung tightly to Kaoru. He finally began to regain his composure and started again. "There was a time when he let me free. We had met a woman named Tomoe. He could not understand the new feelings he felt around her and he sought my aid. She mastered him and he let me free to understand her, because he can't understand anything by himself. All he can do is act on instinct. That was when he killed her, and I couldn't do anything to stop him."
Shinta broke down again as Kaoru absorbed all she was being told. She laid Shinta down and then stood up. "Shinta stay here. I'm going to go talk to Kenshin."
Shinta looked up as if to stop her, but finally nodded and went back to crying. 'Sorrow is apparently something both of his sides are familiar with.' Kaoru thought to herself.
Kaoru found Kenshin bound where she left him, only now he was sobbing loudly and looked ready to die of grief. This confirmed her suspicions about the two, but left a lot of unanswered questions. "That brat told you about Tomoe didn't he! He and I feel the same things. His grief is my grief. Please, kill me. Kill me now, before I have to feel this anymore."
Kaoru looked at him and pulled herself together. She'd never had to deal with an emotional Kenshin before. She was more used to dealing with a Kenshin that acted more like Shinta around her. "Why did you kill Tomoe?"
The change in Kenshin was immediate. "I DIDN'T MEAN TO KILL HER!" Kenshin screamed as he pulled against the chains holding him in place. "She jumped in the way trying to protect me from being killed by my opponent!"
"I couldn't stop her!" Kenshin cried as he sank back into bitter sorrow. "I wasn't strong enough. I WASN"T GOOD ENOUGH FOR HER!" He cried as he sank back to wailing. "She finished the scar on my cheek. Every time I look at it I think of her and that little brat torments me."
Kaoru tried to keep from crying herself. "He can only feel what you feel. You feel anger at yourself and so he feels the same anger. You can't control the anger, and he doesn't want to, so you hate yourself."
Kenshin looked up from the tears that streaked his face. "Wouldn't YOU! If you had lost everything you loved." Kenshin said sobbing.
Kaoru sighed and looked at Kenshin. He wasn't any more a monster than any other man. He held the passions of Kenshin and some of those passions might be dark, but he was still only a man. Kaoru went back to the garden and scooped up Shinta and brought him back to Kenshin. She didn't know how much time she had left, so she hoped that this worked.
"Kenshin I'm going to release you." Kaoru said finally.
Shinta jumped as if he'd been kicked. "No you can't!"
"Yes, I can Shinta. Kenshin and I are never going to work this out between us and discover what our true feelings are unless you two are free to work together." Kaoru said to the frightened boy. She took this to mean that the emotional side of Kenshin was also apprehensive.
"I do however, have conditions." Kaoru said looking at Kenshin.
"What kind of conditions?" They both asked in unison. It was amazing how when they spoke it sounded like Kenshin's real voice.
"As long as you aren't in total control Shinta, I know that Kenshin will never leave me." 'I hope.' Kaoru thought.
"But I'm not allowing you to take control, Kenshin." Kaoru said to the chained figure of her beloved samurai. "If you attempt to take control, Shinta and I are going to chain you back and you'll never break free. I want you free, but only to teach Shinta about the feelings he's been missing out on. Then maybe the two of you might be one again. Shinta said that Tomoe once mastered you. Will you let me master you as well?"
Kenshin looked at her and nodded. "You are and always have been my mistress. You alone are the one force in the universe before which I must bow."
Kaoru walked up to Kenshin and removed his chains from the wall. The fell quickly in her grasp until only one remained which leashed him to her. Kaoru looked around and carried him to her room. She had a pretty good idea what Kenshin had been dreaming about and she wanted in on it. "Come here Shinta."
Shinta obediently walked over to her and looked up at her. "We're all going to sleep now like one big family." Kaoru lay down and pulled Shinta close to her. In her dream state is was amazing how their clothing shifted to night attire and the futon had been laid out for them when they got there. Kenshin got into bed behind her and wrapped his arms protectively around her as she cradled Shinta to her breast. The three were asleep almost immediately.
Saitoh woke up. He sat up and looked around. He was at the Kamiya dojo. He could hear voices nearby so he got up and followed the sounds. His head was a blazing mass of pain, but he didn't care.
Saitoh stumbled into the practice hall where the young woman he remembered from the temple was quietly writing things down on some scrolls and the raccoon was sparring with her apprentice.
"Could someone please tell me what's going on?" Saitoh said through the haze.
"Ah, you're finally awake. You're lucky to be alive after the way we found you." The young woman who was writing got up and took a look at his head. "Some guy clubbed you and left you for dead in the streets last night. Kenshin found you and brought you here. What were you doing out there anyway?"
"I don't remember." Saitoh said honestly. "The last thing I remember was going to get the sword out of the evidence locker at the station to look at it."
"Somebody must have taken it from the evidence locker." She said to him.
"Somebody must have taken it from the evidence locker." Saitoh said to himself.
"You must have been trying to catch them last night when you were attacked."
"I must have been trying to catch them last night when I was attacked."
"You guess they got away."
"I guess they got away."
"You really should get back to the station to report this."
"I really should get back to the station to report this." Saitoh said finally as he made his way toward the dojo gate. Whoever stole that sword and nailed him on the head was going to pay once he found them.
"By the way, what is your name young lady?" Saitoh said curiously.
"I'm Kagome Higurashi. I'm a priestess. I have some business that'll be keeping me in Tokyo for a while and Kaoru has been kind enough to offer me a place to stay. Kenshin and Sano said they could help me with the job I have to do here as well. I was just making some sutras to put up around the dojo to protect it from evil spirits." Kagome said sweetly as she bowed.
"Evil spirits, what nonsense." Saitoh said as he headed for the gate. He stopped just on the other side when he heard the Kamiya girl and this Kagome person start laughing.
"Obi Wan Kenobi, eat your heart out." Kagome said happily.