Endymion

By dee1600

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters. This story was inspired by Hyde's song Shallow Sleep from his Roentgen album.

Author's Note:

To Paris: As you can see, Endymion is a story that develops as the characters learn about themselves. At the beginning, the story starts 300 years ahead… and Aoshi is a dog on a mission --- to find a silver-haired maiden that haunts his dreams. He comes upon a child who is being attacked by a man in striped cloths (we still don't know who the little girl is. I am not giving any spoilers.) and saves her. They then journey together and end up in Megumi's forest and from the scene, it is obvious that Megumi and Aoshi have met before. Megumi and Aoshi have a score to settle and Aoshi gets hurt, and as he lays there dying, his memories of the past resurface, to a time when Aoshi was human and he had a lover, Misao. I used the song from Hyde's Shallow Sleep as a way to link Aoshi back into his past. Thank you for asking that question: I think most people are wondering where this story is going so far as well.

To all reviewers: I hope all of you are getting the story. I have read some of the POV stories and I wanted to create a more subtle transition of the characters' thoughts (and I think I'm doing a poor job at it Sorry: ). I am so glad that you are all still finding this an interesting read! Please continue to give your comments and suggestions!

Sincerely,

dee1600

Chapter 6: Girl Talk

His breathing was turning ragged. The poison was entering his body making his eyes turn a dull grey. I couldn't stop the bleeding. I kept shouting his name, asking him to hold on to my sound of my voice. I don't want to lose him. He was my only friend, my only companion in this whole wide world. I don't want to be alone.

"Relax, kid. He'll live."

I looked at Megumi who was now opposite me, her left hand lightly caressing Aoshi's ears. I was fuming now. I glared directly at the goddess who had hurt Aoshi. And she's touching him!

"What did you bet on!"

Not speaking, Megumi's lips curved in a smile, her eyes still looking adoringly at Aoshi. She wasn't even going to answer me! I wanted to kill her. My right hand caught the front of her robe and I hissed threateningly.

"What did you bet on!"

She looked at me nonchalantly and sighed.

"You don't have to get so worked up. It's definitely not his life."

I then let her go and stared at her. What was so important that Aoshi did not value even his life? My curiosity took hold of me and I knew I had to ask Megumi. She seemed to know that too because that sly grin was back.

"Then what did you bet on?"

"Mmm… something about his memories."

"His memories?"

"He asked me to get them back, you know. To give back those memories I erased. Did you know that he had a lover once?" She emphasized the word "lover" at me.

"…No."

"I thought so."

And then she was giggling. That girl was playing with me! She was playing with my mind!

I turned away, scowling and concentrated on keeping Aoshi alive. I continued to press on his wound, praying that it would stop bleeding soon.

Abruptly, Megumi interrupted me by saying, "Humans are so fickle."

"Excuse me?"

"300 years ago, he told me to erase those memories and now he's back asking me to return them! Imagine that! Well, I hope he does not regret his decision."

"And why is that?"

"Because he lost the bet."

"So?'

"So … I am getting what deserves to be mine!"

"And that is?"

"I get to have you!"

I was aghast! "But I thought you both agreed I wasn't supposed to be part of the bet!"

"Oh? But you are the most precious thing I want to covet right now. You'll get me a lot of ambrosia from Soujiro."

"Soujiro? Who's Soujiro?"

As if on cue, to prevent me from asking any more questions, a mysterious light radiated from Aoshi's prone body. It felt warm and welcoming under my fingertips. Much of the light centered itself on the wound and gradually the bleeding stopped. The wound was healing itself, the poison slowly dissipating and Aoshi's eyes returning to their bewitching green.

Megumi's eyes glimmered in triumph, as if saying "I told you so!". She kept glowering at me but I didn't care. I was so happy and so relieved that Aoshi was alive and that's all that matters.