Disclaimer: I DO own Rurouni Kenshin! I have Volumes 1,3, 5, & 10 in my closet!
The Fox-Demon With a Fake Smile
It was early morning, and the air hung heavy with gray mist. The natural sounds were disturbed by the sounds of a young man, the scuff of his footsteps rapid. The vibrant red of his hair was muted by the gray morning, and there was sweat on his forehead, not from exertion, but from panic. In his arms was a girl, cradled close against his chest. Her eyes were shut, but she was not asleep. Her leg throbbed continuously, as if to remind her of the venom spreading through her body, though it was hardly as if she'd forget. She tried to calm herself like he'd told her to. Each pump might be carrying her closer to death, but she had a while.
She forced her eyes to remain tightly shut, resisting the urge to look up at his face. The anxious expression on his face, the fear, made her heart beat faster. She ached over the distress she was causing him. She clenched her teeth in pain and tried to slow her breath. As her heart did a quick b-bump, she knew she was afraid too, despite herself. She trusted him, and knew that he'd get her to some sort of medical help soon. Even the wind rushing at her from his running felt like gifts from him, the air trying to soothe her.
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He had not been diligent. Kenshin cursed in his mind. Damn it! If only I'd woken her up and told her where I was going… if only she had not tried to look for me…
For goodness sake, he had only gone off to change his clothes. He had to put some distance between them. Why did she always wake up so soon after he left, lately? Was he too loud? She was a light-sleeper, he had found. Could she possibly sense the absence of his presence? He had been gone only for ten minutes, and came back quickly after hearing her calls. He had stopped dead when he saw her, resting on one knee, clutching at her ankle. Her face had been white, and she looked as if she had been caught red-handed doing something bad. She had even tried to hide the bite from him, in one foolish moment, but she relented quickly and confessed.
"What kind of snake was it?" Kenshin interrogated her, squeezing down on her calf to try and stop the flow.
"A yamakagashi, I think," she said, and her lips pressed tightly together, looking as if she were about to cry as she watched Kenshin look closely at her wound, his face set hard and grim. "I'm sorry."
He ignored her apology, brow furrowed. What luck… yamakagashi almost never bite… A trickle of sweat fell down his cheek as he glared at the wound.
"To suck out the poison from the wound…" he murmured in deep concentration, staring at the bite as if it were an opponent. And just as if it was, he moved quickly, and put his mouth to it. He felt Ami immediately stiffen, but ignored her, trying to do this task well. He was not an expert on poison, so this much he had to perform before he could get her to a doctor…
He spat the mouthful of blood to the side and placed his mouth back over it again, trying to ignore the taste, which threatened to evoke gruesome memories. He moved to spit again, noticing the growing warmth of her skin underneath his hands. Putting his mouth back to the wound, his eyes flickered up at her. She looked shocked and afraid, her complexion turning crimson.
"Don't!" he said sharply, and she flinched. "Try to control your breathing," he said, this time trying to soften his command, still urgent. "The faster your heart beats, the faster the poison will spread throughout your blood."
She nodded, but she still looked panicked, staring down at the ground with wide eyes, trying to follow his orders. Kenshin stood up and wiped his mouth with his forearm, the salty taste of her blood still lingering there uncomfortably. He bent down and gathered her into his arms, and she wrapped her arms around his neck awkwardly, still staring away from him.
He supported her with one arm, gathering their belongings quickly with the other. "I'll get you to a doctor," he promised her, his own heart racing. "It will be all right. I'll protect you."
"Hai," she whispered, burying her face into his side, and he began to run. Slowly, he felt her tense body begin to relax, and when he gave a quick look down at her, her eyes were closed, her hand still clutching his gi.
Ami… we'll… I swear. It's going to be all right. Something like this isn't going to end us… you're going to be okay.
He grit his teeth, running faster, his steps light and quick.
A rurouni… can look after his child. Himura Kenshin won't let you die, not to something such as sudden as this. I am capable. I can save people. I can…
He refused to let his mind drift any further. In five minutes, he crossed a good deal of land. Up ahead, he saw the figure of a lone man, a pack on his back, perhaps a merchant.
"Stay just as you are," he said in a quick, hushed sentence to Ami. "Keep resting." Then, in a louder voice, directed towards the traveler, "HEY! Help us if you can!"
The traveler halted and turned around, surprised, just as Kenshin reached him. He was a merchant, Kenshin confirmed. That's good… if he has any medicine…
"Sir, if you could please help this child," he said, regaining his breath quickly. "She's been bitten by a grass snake, about 10 minutes ago."
"I-I don't have anything!" the merchant said, horrified, looking Ami over. "I don't have anything to treat that sort of thing… but the town this road leads to, you should be able to reach it soon if you run hard. I've come from Kyoto, and I make this trip regularly, and judging from the time, Nagoya shouldn't be too far off."
"Arigatou gozaimasu," Kenshin bowed quickly, and rushed on, leaving the man. So… not far… how long does it take for yamakagashi venom to spread? It will be all right. I'm not misjudging the situation. The chance of her dying is slim… I'm sure I will get her help soon enough. So… if only my pulse wouldn't beat so fast…
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Shizuma Naoko was standing on the pathway of her garden. She was a woman in her thirties, and her kimono had the look of something that had been rich in a former life. Oh, yes, she had been moderately wealthy before. But it was hard to support herself, with her husband gone. It was unfortunate the patriots had won the war. No consolation whatsoever from the new government… that was the easy way to think of the situation.
Hasegawa-san…She stooped down, the hem of her robe brushing against the dusty brick pavement, reaching out to touch one of her plants.
"Shizuma-san!" came the panicked voice of her grown nephew. She frowned slightly. He had broken the peace of the garden. She straightened up as her nephew, Shun, came clattering into the garden, panting. What startled her were the two strangers following him. Well, one. A young man with a girl-child in his arms. The girl's face was pale and she was obviously in pain. Her leg was swelling, and a cloth had been tied tightly above it. I see, she thought, grasping the situation quickly. As her nephew opened his mouth to speak, her eyes swept across the newcomer's trembling face, and, over a curious scar, marring the cheek…
Her eyes widened ever so slightly at the mark, and then she turned herself back to her nephew.
"Shizuma-san! The girl has been bitten by a yamakagashi!"
"How long?" she asked sharply. It was a strange case. This did not happen often.
"About six minutes ago," shot the stranger just as quickly, sweat on his brow. "Please do your best to help her. I will be eternally grateful…"
It was all so sudden; Naoko had no choice but to go along with it in a professional manner. "Come quickly, then," she said, saving her questions about the two strangers for later. She fairly ran inside the house, her nephew and the samurai following fast.
It seemed Kenshin had made it just in time before it became unbearable. As he followed the herbalist inside, Ami began to cry.
"We're here?" she asked weakly, clutching at his gi. He saw her face twist and then she buried it into his side to hide. She hissed quietly to herself, but he was still able to hear her groan. "It hurts, it hurts!"
The herbalists rushed inside the household, the older woman snapping orders to her nephew. It was obvious who was more skilled. They both called out unfamiliar herb names to fetch, and Kenshin laid Ami down upon a table, still hugging her upper body to his chest, trying to ease her panic.
"It will be all right," he soothed her, close to her ear. "You're safe now. You're in good hands."
"I-…I-I…" she couldn't speak, caught by sudden gasps of pain. "I…I'm such… a ... a baby… I'm sorry…"
Now, the nephew and his aunt stood at opposite sides of the table.
"Let's get started," Shun said, breathing deeply. He pulled the stopper from the jar.
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"I'm sorry. I was foolish."
"It's all right."
They sat quietly next to each other, her right leg dangling gingerly off the porch, bound with poultices to make the swelling go down. She bent forward looking down, her hair falling to cover her face. She stared at her leg.
"I'm really sorry." She said again.
"Don't apologize to me," Kenshin said, kindly. He looked over at her, putting a hand over hers. "Does it still hurt?"
"A little. It throbs." She blushed faintly, and after a moment, her hand twisted to hold his securely. "When I get better, I'll help you pay off the debt. Maybe I can make something for them."
"The labor won't be too hard," he told her.
"But still…" I'm sorry.
There was the soft pad of footsteps, and Kenshin drew his hand away from hers. Ami folded them both quietly into her lap and looked up as Kenshin rose from his seat.
"Naoko-dono," Kenshin greeted.
The woman who had helped save Ami's life nodded at him politely. "Himura-san." She smiled down at Ami. The expression made her look younger. "How is the patient?"
"Feeling better. We'll do our best to repay you."
"Thank you. I promise you, it will be fair. However, I really can't lie that we don't need fixing up. My nephew isn't much for men's jobs."
"I'll do anything you ask." Kenshin smiled warmly. "Thank you again, for helping Ami-chan."
Ami took one look at Kenshin and decided it was her cue. She struggled to stand up. "I'll do my best too-" she said seriously, and then her expression froze. "Erk…"
"Don't strain that leg!" Naoko warned sharply, alarmed. She sighed at the ground as the girl let out a series of short "ow"s and clung onto the oro-ing redhead. But when she looked back at them, a strange look was in her dark eyes.
Hasegawa-san… you…Her hand raised and she smoothed her hair back slowly, still gazing at them. Her stare slowly shifted from the rurouni to the child, who was now looking up at him, laughing at her own clumsiness, deep affection obvious in her eyes.
Masaka… could it be…?Her eyes strayed once more to Kenshin's face. The left side was hidden to her, but… she remembered the scar's shape. Two thin lines, in the shape of a cross… her gaze lingered on the sword strapped at his waist. Strange, but… there's no way…
She forced a smile, but even she could feel that it was rigidly fixed and insincere looking. "Well, I came to tell you breakfast is ready. You both got up so early, I hope you weren't hungry."
Kenshin and Ami looked up, the girl balancing on her good let, leaving little weight on her injured one. Ami noticed the strange look on their new hostess's face as Kenshin assured the woman that they were fine and thanked her.
"Ah, gomen nasai," Ami said suddenly, sheepishly. She found out what must have irked Naoko. "You told me to get rest." But, I wanted to get up and talk with Kenshin, she thought silently.
Naoko blinked in surprise, but the guarded way she held herself did not disappear. "Oh." She smiled, faintly. "Yes, that's right. Now, let's talk as we eat."
They settled down, just the three of them. Shun had eaten earlier, going off to town for some errands. The two wanderers politely complimented Naoko on her cooking. I'm getting better at this, Ami thought to herself. Always please the person who takes you in. Demo, I think I can tell the difference between Kenshin's polite smile and a real one by now.
"So, you two are wanderers?" Naoko said, during the clink of chopsticks against the bowl.
They both nodded.
"Is it a habit, to wake so early?" she continued.
Ami opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it, looking at Kenshin. She supposed Naoko would want to talk with an adult.
"We do, mostly," Kenshin admitted. "It's not a schedule, however, so we'll allow ourselves to slack if it's needed."
"If I'm prying, stop me," said Naoko. "But you two aren't related, isn't that so?"
Ami remembered last night, when they had been given their room. You and your girl can share, right? Had been Shun's words. She remembered the Kamashi pair, and how they had mistaken her for Kenshin's daughter. Are we so strange together? She wondered now.
Kenshin answered. "No. We met under some circumstances and came together."
That seems so long ago… She remembered both times. The first time she saw him was a much pleasanter memory than from when she saw him again, trapped by that disgusting man. She felt spoiled, suddenly, remembering the times he'd helped her.
"I see," Naoko said. "Then, neither of you have any family?"
Kenshin smiled faintly. "There's no one for me to return to." Contrasting with his soft tone, Ami straightened up eagerly.
"I have a brother," she said. Naoko smiled at her, telling her to go on, and she did. "His name is Hiro. My parents were dead, so it was just him. But…" she paused, staring down at her lap. But… "When I was eight years old, he went away to war."
Naoko's smile fixed. She swallowed, and it faded. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Ami said, looking at her innocently. She did not see Kenshin staring at her. "I miss him and everything… but it's all right."
He's alive, you know, she wanted to add, but somehow, she felt that Naoko wouldn't believe her. The look of confused pity was enough.
"Then…" Naoko began to interrogate her guests again, "you two have been traveling together for a long while?"
"Not very long, actually, though it seems like a long while." Kenshin said. He smiled at Ami, and she blushed with pleasure and smiled back. "A lot can happen in a couple of months."
"That's true," Naoko said.
And death can happen in one moment…If she had been alone, Naoko would have smiled bitterly. These thoughts were driving her mad. But, she concealed this moderately well, hiding her twisted expression behind her teacup. "But," she persisted, "you had been wandering before you met Ami-chan?"
Kenshin didn't mind the interrogation; in fact, he had expected it. Not many people could take in a complete stranger without being suspicious. If it came to a question he didn't want to answer, he'd smile and make them let it go. Though, in fact, with Ami at his side, people seemed to feel a little more kind-hearted than to just a lone redheaded samurai by himself.
So many people hate me… so I can't ask for more than just wary looks.
"I've traveled for five years," he said calmly, eyes closing as he sipped his tea. He felt both Naoko's and Ami's eyes on him.
"And before that?"
I fought… and I killed… and I built up so many sins that I became the most famous of all hitokiri…"I participated in the Bakumatsu. Once the battle of Toba Fushimi was over, I decided to travel around Japan…" Before she could ask why, he supplied an answer that was sure to make her stop out of consideration. "The bloodshed sickened me."
Naoko was tight-lipped, and she once more hid her face with her cup. "I see." Then, she felt the beginnings of hate wrap slowly around her heart, like black fog.
You liar.
She had to get out of there, before Kenshin figured out anything. "The war really… was a terrible thing. My husband…" she made to sound overwhelmed with hard sorrow, and found she didn't have to pretend. "Forgive me, may I excuse myself?"
"Of course," Kenshin said.
Naoko got up, not looking at either of them, though she felt the little girl's eyes on her. She took slow steps out of the dining area to the outer walkway. When she thought herself to be far enough, she began to walk quickly until she came to her room. She slid the shoji open fast and locked herself inside, breathing heavily.
That man… that man!Her hands scrabbled at the thick cloth of her kimono, trying to grasp her heart. She pressed down, hard, needing the pain. She felt angry tears come into her eyes. "Not again…" she hissed. "Not like this again…"
She was feeling the same hatred she had felt years ago, when her husband died. In her madness, her worried sister had sent Shun, Naoko's nephew, to live with her. But her sister really had no need to worry of Naoko taking her own life. She had too much hate in her for her to die. Incredible hate, for the man that had killed Hasegawa-san. She had truly been insane for a few years after his death. And now, Naoko could feel the same feelings tugging at her heart. She didn't want it to take over again. It was painful enough with her husband dead. But…
The image of Kenshin's scar burned in her mind. She doubled over, clutching herself and gritting her teeth, her hair coming undone, a few wisps falling into her face.
Oh god… it can't be him… could the fates be so cruel as to present him to me after all these years, making me revert back into what I was? Or is this a second chance, to grant my wish…? Is it even really him? He has a little girl with him…it can't be…but…
She tried to take control of herself and held her breath, trying to listen for any sounds of his or the girl's presence. She heard the faint swish of a sword and louder, girlish laughter. She slowly crept back to the shoji and slid it open a crack.
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Ami and Kenshin were silent for a moment, after Naoko left them.
"She…" Ami said softly, staring down into her bowl. "Hm…"
"Aa," Kenshin confirmed, expressionless, reading Ami's thoughts.
"That's too bad," said Ami awkwardly. She picked up her chopsticks, scooping up a clump of rice, still staring down at the bowl. She wanted to talk to Kenshin, but thought better of it, letting both of them think their own thoughts.
Kenshin ate, his face stiff at once more, another reminder of the grimness of war. He didn't want to ask which side Naoko's husband had been on. And yet, he thought he had sensed something from her, Naoko… cold, hard grief? Or was it hatred? Was it just the memory of her husband's death, or something more? He would have touched his scar, but he was all too aware of Ami. Her part in the conversation too, had disturbed him.
"I have a brother. His name is Hiro."
The use of present tense made him stare at her. Her next sentence had shocked him even more.
"It's okay. I miss him and everything… but it's all right."
She had changed. He had hid it from her, but he had sensed the occasional times when she was caught up in yearning for her brother. Kenshin knew that Hiro was most likely dead. From what little information Ami told about him and their life together, Kenshin doubted that if this Hiro were alive, he would have left Ami by herself. Yes, he had to be dead. But Ami had talked strangely about him. As if he was still here, and yet not.
"I have a brother. I miss him and everything… but it's all right."
It was contradictory. She acted like he was alive, but secretly inside… she must know. She had to know, Kenshin reasoned. She wasn't that naively hopeful. Besides that… she hadn't acted sad. Even to keep up the pretense that he was alive, she still should have been sad to mention him, especially when she had to go over that he was gone. He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, watching her eat her rice.
Or could it be worse than that… that perhaps, she is slowly forgetting him, because someone has taken his place… and even, maybe, slowly taking over her whole heart?
And if that's the case, that person has to be…me.
Strangely, the thought burdened him. He looked at her again, eyes roving over her gentle face. She felt his eyes and turned to smile at him, oblivious to his dark thoughts. He smiled back softly, worried about the amount of belief and trust she put in him.
"Are you done?" she asked, leaning towards him to look into his bowl. He nodded, and she took it. "I'll clean up," she said, giving him another full, closed-eyed smile.
"No, I'll help you," he said, getting up first and helping her to her feet. He knew she shouldn't stand for a long time.
Ami opened her mouth to protest, but thought better of it. She realized there was nothing else for Kenshin to do anyway, since Naoko had gone off in private. They washed the dishes in silence, Kenshin still deep in thought.
It still disturbs me… and what's more, even though I've saved her, I still feel that something bad is going to happen…
Kenshin's eyes flickered down towards her. She was leaning against the counter to take weight off of her right leg. He closed his eyes, sighing in his mind. The last time I felt this kind of foreboding presence was when I saw Enishi, Tomoe's younger brother, after the battle in Toba Fushimi…nothing has happened since then… so, I should stop worrying. Ami is completely out of danger. The poison delivered from the bite was actually a small amount, and she's fine now. If I keep acting like this, she'll notice something. She can pick up things like that, at least for me…
They finished, and Kenshin helped her outside to the porch area again. Ami sat down, and Kenshin stood ahead of her, the breeze comfortable.
"Ne, Kenshin," Ami started. "About the work you're going to have to do for Shizuma-san…"
"Oro," He looked at her, surprised, and then laughed, putting a hand to his head. "You're still thinking about that?"
She smiled a little and blushed. "Yeah. But I think, you could be her bodyguard, Kenshin!"
"ORO?"
"Really!" She started eagerly. "It should be easy work for you, ne?"
"Oro… Ami-chan, Naoko-dono doesn't need a bodyguard unless someone is threatening her. There'd have to be someone to attack."
"Oh." She had apparently forgotten that. She started to laugh. "Souka! I forgot all about that."
He laughed with her for a moment and his hand idly stroked the handle of his sakabatou, gripping it. He looked down at it and slowly drew it out.
"Hm," he heard Ami say. Her voice quieted so that he wouldn't have to hear any more foolish suggestions, but he heard them nevertheless. "If she saw some of your attacks, I'd bet she'd want to hire you anyway…"
Perhaps, he answered in his mind, staring down at the reflective metal. He gave a few experimental swings. He didn't feel the need to practice, especially not in the courtyard of an herbalist who still obviously felt the repercussions of war. He sheathed it again, with a sharp clink.
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Naoko watched, stunned. She was convinced now. She was a coward to try to deny the truth. Her eyes smoldered with hate. Cross scar… a sword…how dare you enter my house? But you'll stay here… and then…
Her eyes drifted down to the back of the little girl, still watching Kenshin. From Naoko's angle of sight, she could plainly see the look of adoration on her face.
And you, she thought. What is it that makes you love him so? Do you have any idea who he is or what he's done? She withdrew quietly, shutting the shoji. Her hands clenched into fists, the knuckles turning white. Her mind was whirling with anger and confusion. Doubt still scratched at her. It seemed so unlikely, but the signs were all there. Who are these people? She thought again, dizzily. Her mouth hardened into a thin line. I'll have enough time to find out. Because of the girl's bite, she'll be staying here for a while…
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A/N: 8D; Um… yay? It's been in exactly one month since I've updated. Well, almost. This is two days earlier. I guess a month is my deadline. This arc is coming to an end. You can see Naoko, my evil villain. She has some stuff up her sleeve…
Ha. There are so many problems with this story, not exactly in this arc, but after it. If I really wanted to be good, I should end the whole story differently than I had daydreamed it. In the beginning chapters, I think I mentioned that I was only writing this to store it… that I wouldn't be affected by reviews… I WAS WRONG. I really want to please you guys, but I still want to stick with the bad ending I've thought up. Really, this ending will span ON and ON and you'll get sick to death of reading Adoration, which is going to be separated into a TRILOGY kind of thing. I really do think it'd be better if I thought up an alternate ending… something to end all this QUICKER. But still… (sigh) You guys can imagine your own, lol, and break off from the story if you get bored. Agh…
I had some problems with this chapter too. Had to rewrite quite a bit… do some research. Supposedly there are only two types of poisonous snakes in Japan, the mamushi and yamakagashi. Mamushi is more deadly and yamakagashi is more common, I think… Yamakagashi are also supposed to be very docile, so its rare to be bitten by them. Ami must have been totally caught up in looking for Kenshin that she stepped right on it or something. Ha…
Anyway, I'll reply to only a few reviews this time, just to shorten this thing overall. But that doesn't mean anything… every review makes me go, "YAY!" …. (coughs)
Meiharu: Lot's of people seem to like Hiro… I'm not sure why… I mean, he's a cool guy and all, but… Um… he's dead. XD;;; Sorry about that. Your review made me think, though, about Ami's relationship with Hiro. Next chapter, I'm hoping to try and fit in how Ami's been changed after her encounter with death aka the snake bite. It doesn't seem like she's majorly affected, and I realized that was a mistake… I'm hoping to do more Hiro-remembering times later, if that helps at all.
Shauntell: Ooh, let me know if you post your story! I wonder if I could spot any influences. :x Um… XD;;; that kind of flying is for Kenshin and Ami only:P Kenshin's already rescued Kaoru several times kind of in that way already. Kaoru may be younger than Kenshin, but I don't think she could have an experience like Ami's doing that.
PraiseDivineMercy: It's okay if you find her devotion disturbing… it does pretty much destroy her in the end, after all. We all know that he's leaving her, right? So…
Okay, that's that. Hope it was a good chapter. x.x;