Usual disclaimer--Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only and can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I'm sensitive. But for all other comments you may contact me throughthis website or my own.
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CHAPTER FIVE : And darkness draws . . .
In a dim, shadowed corner of the yard; beneath a canopy of leaves and along a shrub full of flowers resting against the inside wall—he stood, eyes unseeing. Hidden beneath the dark wet veil his hair had become which even after hours in the river, lingered still of the tainting smell of blood. Like the smell of plum blossoms, it would forever whisper of the ghosts in his past. Despite regret and a heartfelt wish to sometimes forget; he could not outright deny—that—part of him didn't remain exactly the same, even after all these years . . .
He could not escape what he had been. Nor what he felt, at times like these, when it seemed his very soul threaten to rip it-self apart. And all—because of him, again, because he couldn't quite let go of this . . . fear and anger, this self-hatred—he resented way beyond his own inability to forgive himself. He was useless—he thought, bitterly smiling as the anger he'd always rather chosen to believe the hitokiri's and the hitokiri's alone, began to twist itself inside him, driving into him like shards of broken glass. It hurt, yes. But it was nothing, to the pain, his dream self had inflicted both upon himself and Kaoru . . .
No amounting of washing could make him forget that—no matter how cold or deep the water in that river had become—through out those hours, he had not been able to forget the hurt in her expression; the shock and betrayal, he'd seen fill her eyes—was just too real for him to simply disregard.
Even in a dream, he could not bear to see her suffer; never because of him—and certainly never because of someone else. He'd see them dead first, he thought; slowly opening his eyes, revealing the depths of his anger as he tried to focus bright, silver tainted eyes.
However useless he had become, he refused to leave her side. Leaving would only reveal a weakness he could not afford, not at her expense—he thought. Wordlessly, drawing in a breath before turning from the wall; reflections put aside as the first stirrings of his senses came alive; drumming through his blood like opium fogged the mind. The slow tingling sensation drew familiar around his back, raising the hairs on his arms like a kiss of breath against his face.
It was a stirring without sound but a ki, he would recognize beyond the ends of time; it was ki more familiar than his own, he thought, leaping from the ground to the outside wall without a hitch of effort. As he straightened liquid smooth limbs from a crouch, the whispers of his name suddenly made him halt. That something indefinable, catching on his senses like many layers of cobwebs, as he scanned his surroundings, liquid blue eyes narrowed.
Something from a distance echoed back, something like pain . . . But nothing else, he thought. Walking a few feet away before he realized what he'd done. After tonight, drawing from the shadows of the yard, was not good idea he reasoned as leaned against the dojo wall, eys closed, as he focused on pushing down his ki before bouncing it out again; this time, catching nothing but the echoes of sleeping figures and a glimmer, of what he'd thought—might have been . . . a Shinsen-gumi.
Saitou—he thought, mouth turning down at the corners as a flush of hatred spread across his skin. There was no reason, for the Shinsen-gumi to be here; no reason whatsoever, he thought, unless there was something going on he didn't know about. And if that was the case, there was only one reason they'd ever come.
Only one thing he could do then, he thought. If that's the way they decided to proceed, then he had no other choice—
Suddenly looking back, head slightly cocked, Kenshin listened to something like his name being called . . . Before abruptly turning, jumping back over the wall and making his way inside the dojo. The echoes of his anger long since faded from his mind, as all his senses attuned on Kaoru and the restless way, sleep had conjured the murmur of his name.
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"Kenshin," Kaoru murmured, blowing out her bangs in frustration before shaking him awake. "Come on," she coaxed, "Do you want me to be the one to start lunch?"
"Kenshin?" she called, slight worry coloring her tone when it became apparent he could not wake up. "Kenshin," she murmured, touching his forehead apprehensively before drawing back. Eyes wide and bright, as Kenshin's eyes flickered opened, recognition fleeting through pale lavender eyes, as they blinked at her slowly. Kaoru swallowed, unbidden tears trying to spill over her cheeks, as she mustered up the strength to keep him down.
"You have a fever," she explained, her grip loosening as his eyes blinked at her again, a debilitating sleep overcoming him before questions could be asked.
"What am I going to do with you," she murmured, hands slightly caressing his face before drawing up his blankets; tucking them around him, as best as she could around his seated form. Though sooner or later, she would end up dragging him over to the futon by the side of the wall. Just not now, she thought, right now, he needed to fall into a deep slumber, it was obviously the only way he was going to get rest today, she thought.
"I'll be back to check on you a little later," she promised, reluctantly drawing back on her haunches before completely rising off the floor. Hand posed, centimeters from gliding through his bangs, before begrudgingly, drawing it back as well.
Kami only knew, the way he could read peoples thoughts, their ki's and all of that, he should have figured out well on his own, how in love with him she was. Rurouni no baka, she thought, concern wining over frustration as she paused at the door. Warm affection radiating off her, as she slid the shoji closed—and Kenshin she could see as he lightly turned in sleep, the soft murmurs of her name making Kaoru pause.
As she stood outside his door, catching the whispers of her name being called, she shook her head, allowing her tears to spill over as she walked away. How he could not realize, was beyond her. But nevertheless, she thought as she wiped at her eyes, she had things to do. Her rurouni was sick and she had to pick up the slack.
Kenshin had been out since breakfast and though she had not realized it was because he was sick. She now had twice as much to do. A good thing Yahiko had left more than an hour ago to help Tae too, she thought. The house would be much quieter without the little fool running amuck. Smiling fondly at his place at the table she walked straight on through to the kitchen.
"At least he'll bring some dinner home," she murmured—"So that's something I won't have to worry about. But as for lunch," she thought . . . She might end up going into town after all. Kenshin would need to sleep and she did have to see Dr. Genzai anyways, so she might as well go change she thought; as she made her way back through the hall though she began to think better of it. If she came too close to the room he might wake up. And he was so damn stubborn; she might not be able to drag him back to bed.
"I better just go in what I have on," she thought, brining the lapels of her kimono a little closer over her chest. Goodness knew she should have known better than to wear a kimono from two years ago simply because there had been nothing better handy. Though she could have gone outside and brought in the wash, she realized. There was nothing she could do about it now, if she did, she would never leave the house. At least not while there was light out or Kenshin remained asleep. "I better just go," she muttered, pulling on the lapels in a self conscious way.
She felt fat but what could she to do, "It's not like people look at me anyways," she thought pulling a bit of money from the pickle jar in the kitchen and heading out. She had to hurry if she was going to get any tofu at all today. Most vendors closed by lunch and didn't return until well after two, that is, if they did indeed come back for the day. She wasn't sure if the new vendor did just yet. She hadn't been back to the market place since Kumamoto had ruined her last new kimono. Kenshin, she realized, had insisted on it.
Though why, was still well beyond her. She had chalked it up to Kenshin just being Kenshin. But now that she thought about it, it dawned on her that he had never really given her a reason, nor had she ever really asked.
Kenshin no baka.
He was too protective of her, she thought, tripping over a stone on the road and nearly falling. As a set of strong arms brought her up straight, Kaoru's face reddened. "Gomen," she bowed, flashing a grateful smile before stepping around her rescuer.
"Don't I at least get a name," the stranger murmured, falling into step with Kaoru a few seconds later as she reached the market place.
"Kamiya Kaoru," she said, a bit more coolly than normal.
"Aa, Kaoru," he cooed, flashing white teeth and a handsome face as he moved aside his bangs. "What a very pretty name," he said, bowing slightly, as she turned to look at him.
"My name is Takemura Hano. You—"he stressed, "May call me Hano."
Kaoru nodded, a bit perplexed as to why he continued to follow her.
"So where are you going?" He asked, a slight smile playing on his lips as Kaoru eyebrows knotted.
"The market place," she gestured, knowing she must be looking at him a little strangely because he blushed.
"Ah well," he shrugged, his smile becoming a little broader. "That explains everything." He teased, watching as a little color rose high on Kaoru's cheeks.
"We needed some tofu," she elaborated, a small smile ghosting across her face as she took a left.
"We?" He inquired, dark eyebrow raised in question as he watched her nod. "Brothers?"
"No," she said, knowing she was being short but at the same time, she felt a little uncomfortable with his many questions.
"Aa," he nodded, bright amusement falling off his face as he looked at her knowingly.
Kaoru frowned but said nothing further until she reached the vendor. "Kahto-san? You took over Kumamoto's place?" She asked, blushing embarrassedly after she realized her lack of formality towards the older gentlemen. "Gomen, I meant to say Kumamoto-san," she amended, worrying her bottom lip as the new tofu vendor, chuckled.
"Come now, Kaoru-chan. I've known you since before you could run. There's no need for such formalities. I am surprised however to see you in town without Himura." He said. Eyes pointedly narrowed at the male by her side.
"Oh—" right, she thought, face falling a little as she remembered the impromptu reason for her trip. "Yes, Kenshin's feeling a little under the weather. I had to sneak away while he was sleeping," she admitted, missing the surprised look off of two very curious men as she stared down at her tofu bucket.
"Well," Kahto said, clearing his throat a little. "You tell him, I hope he feels better and that I expect to see him very soon." He emphasized, his smile a little forced as he glanced away from her to her unnamed companion.
"Sure," Kaoru nodded, handing over her bucket as silence descended between the two.
"You be careful now," he warned, a slight frown marring his old face as he handed her back her basket.
"I know how to take her of myself," she informed him, winking at him as she turned around and began her walk to Dr. Genzai.
"He's awfully friendly."
Kaoru sighed. "Look," she said, trying her best not to sound ungrateful. "I appreciate your help and all but you don't have to follow me around town."
"And leave a pretty girl like you all alone? I don't think so." He smiled all pretty white teeth and dark blue eyes. "Your . . . What was it? Himura, might not forgive me for letting a little thing like you walk around all on your own," he murmured, sidling a little closer to Kaoru, who tightly held on to her tofu.
She was young; she would admit and probably didn't understand very many things about how the world worked. But it sounded to Kaoru like this guy was coming on to her. And, okay she could see why Kenshin might be a little bit right about her coming into town by herself. But she also had to admit, this was the very first time, something like this had happened and not that the guy wasn't cute, she guessed, if you liked the dark haired and blue eyes and all that but she wasn't interested. She loved Kenshin.
Could she say that she wondered and have him kind of get it, without her having to spell it out?
"Kaoru!" Yahiko yelled barreling his way from the Akabeko to across the street, to where she stood frozen by the sight of his dangerously sloppy bokken movements. "What are you doing here? Didn't Kenshin say you weren't allowed to come to town alone?"
"She's not alone." Hano stated, interrupting Yahiko's tirade for a movement as he was glanced at, judged and instantly disliked.
Yahiko took a breath, "Who the hell is this? And where's Kenshin?" He yelled, drawing looks from a few curious individuals now circling around.
It made Kaoru mad immediately. "What in the world is wrong with you?" She snapped. Eyes narrowing dangerously as she approached him. "Where do you get off yelling at me for anything?" She growled. Temper just barely contained as she glared at him.
Yahiko despite taking a step back, refused to look away. With everything going on lately and Kenshin being in danger of being framed or hauled in by the government; Kaoru couldn't just go around making friends with new people. Men especially, he thought, as he glared at her in turn. "Where's Kenshin?" He asked, a bit more politely than before he was after all, not completely stupid.
"At home," she snapped, walking away from Yahiko, whose mouth had fallen open in surprise.
"That's quite a temper."
Kaoru sighed, again. "Look," she said, tone a little clipped as she stopped to look at him. "I said, thank you. And I don't want to be rude but I don't need any company ok. I don't have any money so if you were looking for that or a free meal maybe then you can just head on off back to the Akabeko. Tell Tae to put it on my tab ok."
She walked away quickly, feelings his eyes trained on her as she cut the corner and continued on her way. She had hated to be rude but something about the way Yahiko and Kahto-san had reacted to Hano, seemed a little off.
It was true she seemed to see the good in people but she didn't think she was that bad a judge in character.
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"So you're a Kenjutsu instructor?"
'Okay,' Kaoru thought, trying, really, really hard to maintain a reasonable point of view. "Did you follow me from Dr. Genzai's?" She asked, sounding almost as nonchalant as she appeared when she glanced at him.
He grinned but shook his head. Somehow, she couldn't find it in herself to believe that though. Her hands were full with the tofu and the small satchel across her breasts carrying Kenshin's medicine. Not to mention her wrist still hurt when she tried to perform defensive moves—really, there was just no way to start a fight she couldn't win, she thought.
Glancing down into her basket, she wondered again, why he was so determined to follow her. There had been at least a dozen girls prettier than her at the market place but he'd never once glanced at any of them.
"I—" Kaoru licked her lips, "I have someone already," she murmured, feeling her blush heighten as he tilted his head and smiled.
"Himura . . ." He repeated, a grin taking over his handsome face. "Himura Kenshin." He stated, watching as all that pretty pink left her face.
"How—"
"It wouldn't be proper for me not to know," he teased, a dark brow rising up and down suggestively. Which if anything made Kaoru's pace hastened.
"No need to run away now," he breathed, catching her by the arm as she almost sped away. "What's your hurry?"
"Kenshin's waiting for me," she lied, feeling a little cornered as she realized where she'd stopped. She wasn't too far from home, that was only two houses around the bend but here, in the alley between the street and someone else's wall. She was without weapons and lacking a bit of her usual strength.
"That's ok," Hano smiled, coyly closing his eyes as he drew down to whisper against her ear. "I'm sure he'll sense you before I can do much." He mouthed, words muffled by her face as she tried to turn away.
"Let go," Kaoru snapped, struggling to get enough space between them so she could at least toss the tofu aside. Sprained wrist or not, she was about to show him who Kamiya Kaoru really was.
"Let. Me. GO!" She yelled. Kneeing him between the legs and taking a step back. As he fell, one knee down the other upraised as a hand tightly clutched her wrist.
"I should have expected something like that," Hano mused. "Being Battousai's woman and all, but I got a little distracted," he admitted, looking a little flushed as he stood back up.
Kaoru's face paled, eyes wide as she realized, that damn article had circled more than one print. "I don't know what you mean," she braved, schooling the fear out of her features with more than just a little effort.
A slow smile spread across his face, all charm and seduction as he sidled close again. "I've been all around town," he murmured. "No one else fit your description."
"No one else could possible hold his attention," he acknowledge, looking at her for a moment with genuine regard. "You're very pretty."
"Kenshin won't like this," she thought.
"That's the whole point I'm afraid," Hano implied, as he gazed at her widened eyes, he realized she must have not meant to say that out loud.
"Kenshin . . ." he would never look at her the same if she didn't fight. If she let herself be tainted by someone else, Kenshin would never want her, she thought unable to keep the tears in her any longer. "Kenshin . . ." would never forgive her she thought, preparing for this come to blows, when Hano suddenly stiffened against her.
"Kaoru . . ."
The pronunciation of her name was completely disregarded as she looked past Hano's shoulder. "Kenshin," she murmured, signs of relief filling her face as she regarded him.
"Come," he said, making no move to take her. But Hano she realized must have known enough about Kenshin to let her go without a fuss.
"It was nothing personal," Hano smirked, eyes dark as he watched her sway by. "Just business," he admitted, winking at Kaoru as she turned around in Kenshin's arms.
"I'll see you around, ne Kaoru-chan." He said all smiles and fun as he attempted to leap up.
The look however, froze and fell off his face as Kenshin appeared in front of him, eyes pale and washed-off lavender, a hint of danger tightening the muscles around his face.
"You touched something that wasn't yours." Kenshin murmured voice barely above hearing, too low for Kaoru to make out but just enough to instill fear in Hano.
"I could kill you for that," he intoned, the sound of his hilt clicking home made Kaoru run towards them, pulling on his sleeve with a desperation he hadn't seen since . . . "Stop," he ordered, voice cold enough to freeze her heart.
"He wanted to hurt you." He reasoned. A flicker of the rurouni, coloring his tone before his eyes lost all warmth, turning his back to her as he pulled Hano aside, face hard and unforgiving in the dimness of the path. "During the Bakumatsu," he reminisced, "You would have been killed for a lot less than what you've done," he hissed, face pressed close enough to make Hano's face turn white.
"Please," she begged. Eyes full of tears in her desperation, sinking to her knees. "Please don't do anything to him," she pleaded. Face upturned as he turned back to look at her.
Eyes darker than before—"Kaoru-dono," he murmured, forgetting about his hold on Hano, as he turned towards her again—Hano ran away, putting as much distance between the two of them as he could muster before the fear of getting caught could make him faint or otherwise throw up.
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"Kaoru-dono," he murmured, groggily raising a hand to his eyes before. Suddenly sitting up, memories of the events flashing through his eyes, as Kaoru looked across the small span between them.
"What happened?"
"How do you mean?" Kaoru asked. Head lightly tilting to the side as his eyes began to narrow.
"Outside . . ." He took a moment to take a breath, steadying a dizziness he had not been aware he possessed.
"What happened outside—" he began, watching as Kaoru's gaze drifted from his own, to a bowl she started pouring water into.
"Kenshin," she sighed. "Nothings happened outside." She said, handing him the bowl with an expectant gaze. "Now drink it before it gets cold," she instructed, eyes steady on his hands as he put the bowl aside.
"Kenshin," she warned.
"Kaoru-dono, are you sure you're all right?"
"Yes," Kaoru murmured eyes strangely bright as she regarded him. "Now take your medicine," she coaxed. "I don't want you having any more nightmares."
"But that man, outside." Kenshin began, watching her shake her head before falling silent.
"Kenshin, I just woke you up."
"But earlier," he insisted. "Sessha woke up, you weren't here. But sessha—sessha could sense you, could feel your fear."
Kaoru turned away, placing his medicine between them. "Kenshin," she began, slowly as though trying to find the right words. "I haven't been anywhere outside these dojo walls. I know better than to leave while you're ill," she murmured, eyes cast down as Kenshin studied her.
"But sessha . . ." would not have let him get away anyways, he reasoned. If it had indeed happened, that man would be dead. Rurouni or not, even that part of him, couldn't have forgiven such a violation.
"It's your fever," she reasoned, coaxing the medicine back into his hands. Slowly tipping the cup against his lips with thoughtful concern and yet, he couldn't completely let it go. Yes, he'd been having nightmares, almost nonstop in the last few months but this was different. He remembered . . .
"Kenshin, please . . ."
He was sick, he gathered, a fever of some sort; that could account for his slower reaction time. For the hesitation . . . For letting the other man go . . .
"You're making me worry."
"Gomen," he apologized, automatically taking a drink before he realized what he'd done. With Kaoru, he inwardly sighed, there were just some things she'd conditioned him to respond to. He knew she'd never purposely taught him to but he did regardless, he thought, unable to keep a yawn from escaping him.
"Drink the rest of it," she whispered, a light commanding touch tipping his elbow and making him drink.
"I know you're sleepy," she murmured. "But just one more drink and you can go to sleep."
He nodded. Knowing he shouldn't feel so sleep so suddenly but it was difficult to fight it. He felt so sleepy he thought—taking a last drink from his cup before she took it from his grasp; warm, gentle hands, settling him on something soft.
"I'll be here when you wake up," she promised, smiling slightly as she gently touched his hair—coaxed him with all her might to make him fall asleep.
And there was nothing really bad about that, he thought just do as she wished—there was no real danger after all, nothing to suggest that any of what he'd thought was real; no marks, no bruises, there was nothing to even make him think she lied to him. No real danger, he thought, drowsily grasping her hand as he fell asleep.
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"Once an hitokiri always an hitokiri, ne Battousai."
Aoshi, he thought. Surprise quelling the anger, he'd carried since Jineh had died. "What are you doing here?"
"I came with Misao." He simply stated; eyes shuttered as Kenshin's narrowed.
"So where's Misao?"
A smile almost, almost ghosted over, the okashira's mouth. "Did something happen?" He asked eyes slightly darker than before as he regarded Kenshin's stiffened posture.
"No."
"No . . ." Aoshi murmured, eyes distant as he looked at the forest behind Kenshin. "Then what are you doing here?"
"I don't see how that's your concern."
Aoshi nodded, the curve of his mouth telling Kenshin, he'd picked up on everything from Kenshin's posture, to his form of I— "Won't Kamiya worry, you're not at home?" He asked. Eyes though cold brightened with amusement.
"Won't Misao?"
Aoshi's amusement faded, the first stirrings of anger, coursing through his veins, as he regarded the hitokiri. Voice and eyes as cold, as anything he had ever done. "No," he stated, face blank as they regarded one another.
Kenshin smiled, eyes dangerously close to bleeding past lavender. "Alright," he conceded. Hand drifting from the hilt of his sword to casually hang down at his side; as he began to walk away, Aoshi close as his side, he refrained from looking back. The forest would have to wait he thought, concealing anger with ever step, as they made their way to the Kamiya dojo.
"Oi! Aoshi, Misao says you've taken up pottery is that true?"
Sano, Kenshin thought, pausing at the door, where Aoshi stiffened beside him—"Aren't you supposed to be . . . out of town or something?" He asked, a little confused by the other man's appearance.
"What? And leave Jou-chan alone?"
Kenshin stiffened. Anger rising for a moment as the other man grinned down at him, eyebrow wagging in a way that made Kenshin want to rip it off.
"What are you doing here?" He asked his tone a little colder.
"It's lunchtime Kenshin, where else would I be?" The gangster asked, looking at Kenshin strangely before going back inside.
"That insolence will get him killed," Aoshi murmured, eyes darkened by an anger he could not conceal from Kenshin. As he looked at him, face blank of all emotion—
"Aoshi," Misao screamed, running out of the house like a little kid on holiday. "Sano, said you were home," she breathed, eyes bright and sparkling as she looked down at the leader of the Oniwabanshu.
"Misao," he greeted, voice calm, as he produced an air of aloofness, the little weasel seemed to ignore.
"Kaoru's been waiting for you." Misao stated, eyes only flickering over Kenshin before returning to her leader. "She's out in the back."
Kenshin nodded and made his way on out through the yard, the sounds of laughter carrying through the wind like the smell of spring. As he stepped down, eyes searching Kaoru out when he saw her.
Eyes as dark as a winter sky, closed as she laughed, hands slightly clasped over a swelling belly he could see, even from a distance.
"Anata," Kaoru murmured, eyes alight on his frozen form.
"My brother's come to visit," she said, turning briefly in the direction of a white haired man Kenshin could not clearly see.
But then he didn't have to. He never would have had to. He knew his ki, even disguised as it now seemed to be. Kenshin felt his vision fail him as dark amber overcame him.
"Come here," he whispered, hand outstretched towards Kaoru who looked a little perplexed.
"Are you not feeling all right," she asked, taking a step forward before her arm was suddenly clasped.
"Onee-sama," Enishi spoke, words soft and lilting as a song. "I just got here, don't leave me." He begged eyes strangely warm and affectionate as they regarded Kaoru.
"Oh," Kaoru breathed, casting a slight hesitant look towards Kenshin, whose hand had drifted towards the hilt of his sword.
"Kaoru," he called voice deeply un-amused. "Come here."
"No," Enishi said, putting Kaoru behind him as he squared off his shoulders. "I've come to take her home."
"Home? She is home," Kenshin reasoned. Anger spiking as Enishi shook his head.
"Home is where she's safe. And safe, is only by my side," Enishi whispered, pulling out a blade from within his trench coat. "You nearly let her get raped." He said, casually tossing his coat aside as Kaoru watched them, her expression fully bemused as Kenshin stiffened.
"That didn't happen," he reasoned. "That didn't happen."
"No," Enishi asked, "Then what were you doing out by the forest?"
Forest . . . Kenshin thought, vision flickering back to Kaoru, face full of tears as an unnamed man pressed himself against her, mouth too close against her face, as he breathed in her scent.
"I could kill you for that," he thought, face blank as he moved into a Battou Jutsu. The sound of his hilt clicking home frightened Kaoru, making her react in the same way his distant memory supplied.
"Stop," he told her, vision blurring as her unnamed assailant replaced Enishi in the yard.
"I swore I'd protect your happiness Kaoru. And I will, even if I have to kill to protect it . . ." He told her, blurring from his spot as he reappeared in from of them, blade glinting silver bright as he cut the man down, blood splashing across his face, as Kaoru crumpled with the weight of the corpse on top of her—his blade deeply embedded in her abdomen, as she stared at him, deep blue eyes widened in apparent shock.
Kenshin's katana fell from his hands. "No," murmured, voice resonating deep in his chest. "NO!" he cried, watching Kaoru gurgle on her blood," as he pushed of the other body aside. "No!" he screamed, voice deepened by his pain. "NO!"
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I'm back and much sooner than the six weeks I can be quoted as saying just a few days ago. School, what else could have kept me from you wonderful readers all this time, huh. I've been working none stop and though I'm a little sleep deprived, I think the chapter turned out pretty good. Its 21 pages and still, I feel I might cut off a little short. There are certain aspects of this particular day that needed to be tied into it but I just couldn't seem to make it fit without confusing the reader. Well more than I normally do anyways.
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Small Notes: What can I say that might not give the next chapter away? Well, I think I can safely say, for the time being that, the chapter begins a few hours after the last. (Remember each chapter represents one day on our count down to the first, Jinchuu Anniversary.)
After his traumatic dream, Kenshin spends many hours in the river, trying to wash the blood off his hand. Eventually however, he returns home and for sometime, just stands outside in the yard. Dark thoughts consuming without him really noticing.
A flicker of something draws his attention but instead of chasing after it like he would most normally do, he refrains. Afraid, of being drawn out away from the dojo and from where he could easily protect Kaoru. So he stays, bouncing off his ki at distance when Kaoru's sleeping murmurs break him off his train of thought.
Later, a worn down, sleep deprived Kenshin oversleeps, driving Kaoru to his room, in concern for her rurouni. When she arrives, she tries to wake him but it soon becomes apparent to her he has come down with some sort of fever.
From there . . . I can't tell you anymore for now. Sorry. I swear though, you'll be able to tell what really happened from the next chapter. I'll be sure to include plenty of footnotes to help you guys out. Until then, thank you for reading. Please don't forget to review.