Thank you for the reviews!! :: hugs her reviewers and gives the chocolate
chip cookies:: ^.^ And we finally get some Kenshin/Kaoru interaction
~LadyShiin
~*~
Now Kaoru understood why they wanted to get underway before the sun got too high in the sky.
It was hot.
No, correct that - it was really, really hot. Earlier the heat had been bearable when they had ridden through the forests that edged the City. The tall towering trees had provided good shade. Now though, they rode in the open and it was bare of any real chance of covering for miles. The heat had risen once more as a result.
Sweat trickled down Kaoru's neck and her hair clung to the back of it. She wished desperately for a breeze. Her entire body ached bordering on the edge of exhausted numbness.
Okina's riding lessons hadn't prepared her for the hours they would be spending on horseback - and this was only the first day. Kaoru didn't relish the thought of more riding in days to come. She hoped the aches and pains would fade away and disappear soon as her body grew accustomed to riding such long hours.
The riders had slowed to a walk to make it easier for the horses. Karuna's step was still energetic and smooth beneath Kaoru despite the mare's obvious tiredness. Her head was up, ears pricked, and her eyes were alert and watching everything with interest. Her neck and shoulders had darkened to brown with sweat and foam dripped from her bit as she mouthed it.
Kenshin rode beside her on Fiachra. He looked relaxed and comfortable not he least bit sweaty or tired as Kaoru felt. She wondered how he did it - or maybe he was just so used to riding in such heat that it had ceased to bother him.
Fiachra's step was still bouncy though his coat was nearly black from sweating and his mane was curled from the dampness. Every so often he would shake his head wanting to run and resisting being kept to a walk.
Kenshin had been silent since they first started out. Any attempts for conversation by Kaoru were met by monosyllabic and short curt answers. She had given up on speaking to him all together, too tired to keep trying where her efforts were not rewarded.
Everyone had fallen silent by now - even Misao's seemingly ceaseless chatter (directed mainly toward Aoshi who was riding beside her) had quieted down and finally disappeared all together.
It would be hours until sunset when they would finally stop. Kaoru felt tired enough to fall asleep this very moment and found herself pondering how good a bed Karuna's saddle would make. Falling asleep in the saddle seemed a close reality at the present moment.
She was saved from actually testing this idea out when Kenshin suddenly reined Fiachra to a halt. They had stopped before a small cluster of trees - barely taller than Kaoru was herself. They were few in number but enough to provide some measure of shade. A small shallow creek curled around them.
Kenshin dismounted and Kaoru followed suit.
Her knees buckled slightly as her feet touched the ground and she leaned against Karuna to keep from collapsing completely. The mare turned her head to eye Kaoru and she rubbed her muzzle soothingly.
Around her the others had dismounted and she followed them to where the horses were being lead into a small fenced enclosure that was quickly being assembled as a sort of makeshift paddock. The packs and tack were stripped off the horses and the sweat and dirt of the day was being brushed away. Kaoru undid the Karuna's girth and pulled the saddle off her back.
Karuna's saddle seemed heavier than it ever had been before. Stumbling slightly under its weight and with the bridle slung over one shoulder Kaoru set the tack down with the rest. She then grabbed some brushes from the pile on the ground and went to finish tending to Karuna. The mare stood where she had left her, too well trained to move or perhaps too tired to do so.
The mare sighed with pleasure as Kaoru groomed her, leaning against the brush strokes. Kaoru made sure to get all the dirt off especially around the sensitive girth area to protect against the forming of sores. A quick touch to the chest confirmed that the mare was cool enough not to need to be walked and Kaoru shooed her away toward the other horses.
Now with Karuna tended to and happily grazing on the sparse scattering of grass that she had managed to find Kaoru took care of herself.
The smell of cooking meat hung in the air and Kaoru stepped into the line that had formed to get food. A sloppy meat stew and rice was ladled onto her plate along with a dry hunk of traveling bread and a cup of ahvay.
A bonfire had been built up in the center of the little camp encircled by the tents that had been assembled. Night had fallen quicker than Kaoru had ever seen it do so before. She was used to long days of sunlight with lingering sunsets that heralded the fall of night - not this short hot day with an almost nonexistent sunset and a swift descent of night. It seemed like only moments before the day had been bright, with the sun high in the sky.
Misao and Yahiko were sitting off the side in range of the fire's glow and warmth. As suddenly as night had fallen so too had the temperature, the heat had dashing away to be replaced by a nearly frigid chill. Kaoru was glad for the heat the fire offered.
Misao looked half asleep and even Yahiko looked drowsy. Both looked up however at her approach and as she settled herself down beside them.
Misao offered a tiny tired smile her eyes dull with fatigue. "I hope I don't feel so tired after every day of riding like this." She paused between words to yawn.
Yahiko nodded in agreement, his eyes half-lidded with tiredness.
"We'll probably get used to it." Kaoru said optimistically taking a sip of her drink. Its warmth revived her somewhat and she didn't feel as tired as she had initially.
Misao yawned again and took a bit of the meat stew making a face at its toughness. "I hope we don't have to live on this." She wrinkled her pert nose slightly.
"I don't mind as long as Kaoru doesn't cook it." Yahiko swallowed his bite.
Kaoru glared at him and he glared back at her.
With a sigh Kaoru took another sip of her drink and cradled the mug between her palms letting its heat soak into her bones. The air was cold! She set the mug down beside her and picked up the plate and began to eat the meat stew and rice using the chunk of bread to mop up the remaining juices. It wasn't particularly tasty but it did its job and filled her up.
Misao yawned again looking ready to fall asleep on the hard ground. Yahiko's head bobbed slightly in contrast Kaoru felt quite peppy and awake. Somewhere in the distance Kaoru heard a faint strain of music. flute she thought. drums as well and other instruments she didn't recognize. Before the only sounds to be heard were the murmur of voices, the sound of the horses eating, the soft gurgle of the brook, and the snap and crack of the fire.
As she watched figures stepped out of the shadows and into the light cast by the fire. Misao and Yahiko raised their heads looking a tad more alert and as the people before them began to sing:
"Don't you forget the echoes of time," - A woman's voice started it.
"Won't you regret the losing of minds?" - A man's voice took up the song.
"In my dreams I'm searching across the desert sands, for you." - The woman and man together.
"Scimitar moon is guiding me close to your side."
The music picked up and becoming more energetic and the people began to dance, whirling and twirling, weaving between partners or dancing alone, in pairs or in trios. If they had been tired before it seemed to have disappeared all together and soon the people around them began to get up from where they sat to join in the dance.
Kaoru remained sitting, content to just watch. The dance was beautiful, wild and independent yet at the same time choreographed so that the dancers mimicked one another's moves but were still able to add their own flair and vivacity that was uniquely their own.
Misao got to her feet intent on dancing as well (she had caught sight of Aoshi on the other side of the circle around the fire) and Yahiko looked interested enough that Kaoru shoved him toward the fire to go dance.
The voices of the singers wove hauntingly insubstantial curving and swooping around the notes of the music. They passed the song back and forth to on another no one person singing the song twice and a new one taking it up at the beginning of each new line.
"Splendor of a thousand suns shone glory in my path
No love more pure and rage more fierce
Could still my beating heart"
"So
Shall I return to trace the shadows of my chases?
My steps will echo there from sand to stone
I
Will never let my eyelids close on empty spaces
My dreams will fill the void with tales unknown
Know the mighty infinite obscures the far horizon
The whispered road I take will never bend
Alone
And will the wind return my story to its promise
Of will my story chase me to the end?"
"Melodies unspoken
Flowing from the lotus of my heart
Ending where we start
Promises unbroken
Promising a never-ending fire
Of love beyond desire
Ending where we start"
~*~
Kaoru caught sight of Kenshin standing off to the side by himself. The light of the fire brought out the lighter golden highlights in his crimson hair and his eyes were the color of the leaping flames thrown from the bonfire.
Setting the mug she held down on the ground beside her Kaoru got to her feet and walked over to him, dodging around the people who still sat on the ground eating.
"Why do you not dance with the others?" She asked as she reached him.
Misao and Yahiko were dancing now- Misao dancing with Aoshi and looking blissfully happy and Yahiko dancing alone attempting to mimic the moves of the other dancers.
"I don't dance." He answered.
"You're the king though." Kaoru said surprised. It was an unwritten rule that when music was being played the royals should dance (she had never seen Kenshin do so but that was how it worked at the Kasshin Court).
"Does that make any difference?" He asked.
"No. I suppose not." Kaoru said. "But you know the moves and I don't know the moves - so we should dance." She said it as if it made perfectly logical sense.
Kenshin merely raised an eyebrow.
"Come on." Kaoru said starting to sound exasperated. "I want to dance - but don't know how. You know how to dance - but you don't want to. So show me how to!"
Kenshin gazed at her for a moment and she stared back unflinchingly. He gave a languid nonchalant shrug, "fine."
Kaoru gave a little sound of excitement bouncing lightly on her toes. "Great! Now come on." She grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the ring of dancers before had he a chance to protest.
Once she was sure he wouldn't try to get away she let go of his hand turned toward him. "What do we need to do first?"
"First. we need to get closer." Kenshin said. Before Kaoru could move backwards he had taken a step forward until they were nearly pressed against one another. ". Like this."
Kaoru nodded feeling herself flush slightly.
"Your hands move like this." He took her hands in his own placing them so they were stretched out at her sides, bent slightly at the elbow, palms upward. Kaoru's eyes widened. Kenshin actually speaking to her was a miracle that itself but actually coming into contact with her? The gods must be deciding to be nice for once.
"Don't be so tense either." He stepped behind her, moving his hands along her arms to fix their position.
Kaoru felt her flush spread along her face. He either knew exactly what he was doing to her or was totally oblivious. Kaoru wasn't sure which one to suspect.
"Good," Kenshin said approvingly as he stepped back to view her position. Suddenly he whirled doing a complicated series of steps and leaps that made Kaoru stare in utter amazement.
"I. I can't do that." She said eyes wide.
"Sure you can. Just try." Kenshin replied.
Tentatively Kaoru mimicked his steps and movements.
"Good," Kenshin's eyes were warm the distance in them had vanished. "Just don't look so wooden."
Kaoru did the moves once more; they felt smoother and more natural this time than they had before.
"Shall we dance?" If she didn't know better Kaoru would have said the look in his eyes was playful - mischievous almost.
She nodded, "sure." Her voice came out as a squeak. What had she gotten herself into?
Another song had started up and Kaoru began to move to the melody with Kenshin dancing beside her, occasionally brushing against her.
"Sing for me
A song of life's visage
Sing for me
A tune of love's mirage"
"Deep desires
Sleep untold
Whispers that echo
In the desert of my soul"
"Time is change
Time's fool is man
Time will escape the passing sands of time"
"Pure moments of thought
In the meaning of love
This war is over now
I feel I'm coming home again to you."
~*~
They danced to more songs together before Kaoru noticed the others starting to head away.
It was late. The moon had raised high into the middle of the sky.
Kaoru knew they would be starting out early in the morning. She didn't want to stop dancing just yet though - she had started enjoying herself once she had gotten into the rhythm of the steps and movements. Kenshin looked as if was enjoying himself as well - there was something in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. She would have called it life for lack of a better name.
Still even she had to admit she was getting tired. As the music had begun and she had started dancing the tiredness had faded away into the back of her mind but now as the music slowed down and the last notes of music died away into the night air it came back full force.
The fire still burned though it was almost empty of people now. Kaoru's gaze strayed to the tents that semi-circled the fire. "Which tent is mine?" Kaoru asked. She hated how they never told her anything, for all she knew she didn't even have a tent to sleep in (highly unlikely thought it was).
"My tent is also yours."
Kaoru stiffened.
The tents were small and could never be called luxurious (if looking at the outsides were any indication). There wouldn't be much room for either of them in it. Kaoru felt her throat close up.
If Kenshin wanted to try anything (not that he had even shown any ideas toward it previously and she wasn't sure he would) she would be powerless against him. She may be considered his wife, consort. whatever... but it didn't give him the right do anything without her permission.
Kenshin touched her arm and despite herself Kaoru found herself flinching.
"Are you alright?" There was nothing but concern in his voice.
"Fine. I'm fine." The smile she gave him felt strained.
"You might want to get to bed now its late." You - not us - not we, Kaoru felt herself relaxing slightly.
"Sure." She replied.
~*~
Despite the fact he was the king Kenshin's tent was no larger or grander than any other's. In fact it was quite bare in appearances containing only a sleeping pallet and a few cushions thrown about haphazardly. A dim lamp hung from one of the crossed beams that supported what could be called the ceiling and Kaoru had to duck her head to keep from smacking her forehead against it as she entered.
"You can sleep on the pallet." Kenshin told her.
"What about you?" There was only one pallet. Where would he be sleeping?
"You don't have to worry about me."
"Okay then." Kaoru murmured softly. She looked down at her clothes dirt and travel stained that they were. She was too tired to change out of them and sleeping in them for one night wouldn't hurt at least. She turned to see Kenshin sitting cross legged on the floor, leaning against the cushions.
"Good night. I guess." It went without saying that this was awkward. She pulled back the covers over the pallet and crawled beneath them. They were soft to the touch and warm, she snuggled into them feeling tiredness spread through her body.
"Don't wake me up whatever you do." Kenshin said from where he was. "I don't. take well to being woken up."
A memory of his sword pressed against her throat and his golden eyes void of humanity passed through Kaoru's mind. She shivered underneath the covers. "I won't then." She promised. "Good night Kenshin."
If he said something in reply she did not hear it - she was already asleep.
~*~
The shadow-woman was singing as Kaoru entered the dream-world. Brief snatches of sound became clearer and more distinct as she half-walked was half-dragged toward the tapestry and the shadow-woman that sat before it. As she neared the woman's words became audible and Kaoru could make out exactly what it was that she was singing.
"What you never know won't hurt you
What you never know won't lie
What you never know won't desert you
What you never know won't say goodbye."
"What you never know won't hurt you
What you never know won't lie
What you never know won't desert you
What you never know won't make you cry."
"What you never know won't hurt you
What you never know won't lie
What you never know won't desert
What you'll never know unless you cry."
Her tone was mournful as she sang and the words both sorrowful, and beautiful at the same time. They were almost a warning - against what Kaoru did not know. The shadow-woman's voice died away into a whisper as she uttered the last word of the song.
"Hello little one," her tone was almost conversational.
"Hello." Kaoru replied back. It was perhaps the first time the shadow-woman had addressed her personally and to her face.
"What you never know." The shadow-woman murmured softly. "What you never know could protect you. What you never know could destroy you. What you never know could kill you and what you never know could save you. That is the way of destiny and Fate. She hides some and reveals others. She throws danger in your path and salvation at your feet. Happiness and pain go hand in hand according to her whims and wants that they do."
"Yes." Kaoru found herself murmuring as if agreeing. The shadow-woman's babble was as confusing as ever and she was hard pressed to make sense of her words.
"Do not understand little one? I do not blame you neither do I at times - that too is how Fate must have it and Destiny decree it."
Kaoru merely sighed in response. "The all powerful Fate and Destiny," she muttered.
"No, not all powerful are they." The shadow-woman answered. "The mold Fate and Destiny form around you can be broken yes. Shackles snapped off. rare it is but it does happen some times. Perhaps you will manage to do it, perhaps you will not. It remains to be seen."
"Well that's a relief." Kaoru's tone was an edge short of bitter.
The shadow woman laughed. "You sulk little one? Do not do that - not yet. Grief and pain shall embitter you in time as Destiny shall run its course with you. Remain cheery as long as you can - he will come to depend on you for it in The Time That Is To Come."
"You always talk about this 'he'. Who is this person exactly?" Kaoru asked.
"He is the one who will help guide you in the time to come and you he. Two sides of the coin are you. Two parts of a whole that you are."
Kaoru felt a headache beginning to start around her temples. More senseless babble from the shadow-woman - twisted words that were tangled and matted into knots would be tough to unravel and discover their meanings.
Instead of returning with a comment Kaoru found her eyes were pulled to the tapestry. As before it had altered, there was her blue melded violet-gold thread. The darkness seemed nearer than before and peering closely Kaoru saw the blue-violet-gold thread had become entangled with two others: a dark purple plum colored one and a black splotched silver one.
"Do not look too hard." The shadow-woman's voice snapped her out of her scrutinizing.
"It's changed again." Kaoru said to her defense.
"Yes it has little one. It always changes as your destiny unfolds itself it will change many times over during The Time That Is To Come."
The shadow-woman's response wasn't exactly comforting and Kaoru supposed it wasn't meant to be.
"Go now little one." The shadow-woman said her voice soft. "Go now, remember no more. I shall wait here for you until our next meeting."
Kaoru could feel the dream beginning to dissolve around the edges and the light from the lamp grow blindingly bright as she was thrust back into consciousness.
~*~
Yay! Next chapter is when things will really get underway ^.^
We'll have the last two important characters introduced (cookies to who guesses who both of them are: hint, hint: threads.) And their involvement might not be exactly what you'd think it will be ::grin:: Personally I can't wait and I'll try to type up the next chapter ASAP.
Also for the songs: I think I used about a quarter of the songs in Sarah Brightman's new album 'Harem' - that is my muse-album whenever I have a writing block I just turn it out and stare at the paper with a pen in hand and voila! Half an hour later I have a chapter written (not always but it does happen sometimes).
1st. Song: Arabian Nights 2nd. Song: A mix of the songs 'Harem' and 'The War is over' 3rd Song (the song the shadow-woman sings): 'What you never know'
~LadyShiin
~LadyShiin
~*~
Now Kaoru understood why they wanted to get underway before the sun got too high in the sky.
It was hot.
No, correct that - it was really, really hot. Earlier the heat had been bearable when they had ridden through the forests that edged the City. The tall towering trees had provided good shade. Now though, they rode in the open and it was bare of any real chance of covering for miles. The heat had risen once more as a result.
Sweat trickled down Kaoru's neck and her hair clung to the back of it. She wished desperately for a breeze. Her entire body ached bordering on the edge of exhausted numbness.
Okina's riding lessons hadn't prepared her for the hours they would be spending on horseback - and this was only the first day. Kaoru didn't relish the thought of more riding in days to come. She hoped the aches and pains would fade away and disappear soon as her body grew accustomed to riding such long hours.
The riders had slowed to a walk to make it easier for the horses. Karuna's step was still energetic and smooth beneath Kaoru despite the mare's obvious tiredness. Her head was up, ears pricked, and her eyes were alert and watching everything with interest. Her neck and shoulders had darkened to brown with sweat and foam dripped from her bit as she mouthed it.
Kenshin rode beside her on Fiachra. He looked relaxed and comfortable not he least bit sweaty or tired as Kaoru felt. She wondered how he did it - or maybe he was just so used to riding in such heat that it had ceased to bother him.
Fiachra's step was still bouncy though his coat was nearly black from sweating and his mane was curled from the dampness. Every so often he would shake his head wanting to run and resisting being kept to a walk.
Kenshin had been silent since they first started out. Any attempts for conversation by Kaoru were met by monosyllabic and short curt answers. She had given up on speaking to him all together, too tired to keep trying where her efforts were not rewarded.
Everyone had fallen silent by now - even Misao's seemingly ceaseless chatter (directed mainly toward Aoshi who was riding beside her) had quieted down and finally disappeared all together.
It would be hours until sunset when they would finally stop. Kaoru felt tired enough to fall asleep this very moment and found herself pondering how good a bed Karuna's saddle would make. Falling asleep in the saddle seemed a close reality at the present moment.
She was saved from actually testing this idea out when Kenshin suddenly reined Fiachra to a halt. They had stopped before a small cluster of trees - barely taller than Kaoru was herself. They were few in number but enough to provide some measure of shade. A small shallow creek curled around them.
Kenshin dismounted and Kaoru followed suit.
Her knees buckled slightly as her feet touched the ground and she leaned against Karuna to keep from collapsing completely. The mare turned her head to eye Kaoru and she rubbed her muzzle soothingly.
Around her the others had dismounted and she followed them to where the horses were being lead into a small fenced enclosure that was quickly being assembled as a sort of makeshift paddock. The packs and tack were stripped off the horses and the sweat and dirt of the day was being brushed away. Kaoru undid the Karuna's girth and pulled the saddle off her back.
Karuna's saddle seemed heavier than it ever had been before. Stumbling slightly under its weight and with the bridle slung over one shoulder Kaoru set the tack down with the rest. She then grabbed some brushes from the pile on the ground and went to finish tending to Karuna. The mare stood where she had left her, too well trained to move or perhaps too tired to do so.
The mare sighed with pleasure as Kaoru groomed her, leaning against the brush strokes. Kaoru made sure to get all the dirt off especially around the sensitive girth area to protect against the forming of sores. A quick touch to the chest confirmed that the mare was cool enough not to need to be walked and Kaoru shooed her away toward the other horses.
Now with Karuna tended to and happily grazing on the sparse scattering of grass that she had managed to find Kaoru took care of herself.
The smell of cooking meat hung in the air and Kaoru stepped into the line that had formed to get food. A sloppy meat stew and rice was ladled onto her plate along with a dry hunk of traveling bread and a cup of ahvay.
A bonfire had been built up in the center of the little camp encircled by the tents that had been assembled. Night had fallen quicker than Kaoru had ever seen it do so before. She was used to long days of sunlight with lingering sunsets that heralded the fall of night - not this short hot day with an almost nonexistent sunset and a swift descent of night. It seemed like only moments before the day had been bright, with the sun high in the sky.
Misao and Yahiko were sitting off the side in range of the fire's glow and warmth. As suddenly as night had fallen so too had the temperature, the heat had dashing away to be replaced by a nearly frigid chill. Kaoru was glad for the heat the fire offered.
Misao looked half asleep and even Yahiko looked drowsy. Both looked up however at her approach and as she settled herself down beside them.
Misao offered a tiny tired smile her eyes dull with fatigue. "I hope I don't feel so tired after every day of riding like this." She paused between words to yawn.
Yahiko nodded in agreement, his eyes half-lidded with tiredness.
"We'll probably get used to it." Kaoru said optimistically taking a sip of her drink. Its warmth revived her somewhat and she didn't feel as tired as she had initially.
Misao yawned again and took a bit of the meat stew making a face at its toughness. "I hope we don't have to live on this." She wrinkled her pert nose slightly.
"I don't mind as long as Kaoru doesn't cook it." Yahiko swallowed his bite.
Kaoru glared at him and he glared back at her.
With a sigh Kaoru took another sip of her drink and cradled the mug between her palms letting its heat soak into her bones. The air was cold! She set the mug down beside her and picked up the plate and began to eat the meat stew and rice using the chunk of bread to mop up the remaining juices. It wasn't particularly tasty but it did its job and filled her up.
Misao yawned again looking ready to fall asleep on the hard ground. Yahiko's head bobbed slightly in contrast Kaoru felt quite peppy and awake. Somewhere in the distance Kaoru heard a faint strain of music. flute she thought. drums as well and other instruments she didn't recognize. Before the only sounds to be heard were the murmur of voices, the sound of the horses eating, the soft gurgle of the brook, and the snap and crack of the fire.
As she watched figures stepped out of the shadows and into the light cast by the fire. Misao and Yahiko raised their heads looking a tad more alert and as the people before them began to sing:
"Don't you forget the echoes of time," - A woman's voice started it.
"Won't you regret the losing of minds?" - A man's voice took up the song.
"In my dreams I'm searching across the desert sands, for you." - The woman and man together.
"Scimitar moon is guiding me close to your side."
The music picked up and becoming more energetic and the people began to dance, whirling and twirling, weaving between partners or dancing alone, in pairs or in trios. If they had been tired before it seemed to have disappeared all together and soon the people around them began to get up from where they sat to join in the dance.
Kaoru remained sitting, content to just watch. The dance was beautiful, wild and independent yet at the same time choreographed so that the dancers mimicked one another's moves but were still able to add their own flair and vivacity that was uniquely their own.
Misao got to her feet intent on dancing as well (she had caught sight of Aoshi on the other side of the circle around the fire) and Yahiko looked interested enough that Kaoru shoved him toward the fire to go dance.
The voices of the singers wove hauntingly insubstantial curving and swooping around the notes of the music. They passed the song back and forth to on another no one person singing the song twice and a new one taking it up at the beginning of each new line.
"Splendor of a thousand suns shone glory in my path
No love more pure and rage more fierce
Could still my beating heart"
"So
Shall I return to trace the shadows of my chases?
My steps will echo there from sand to stone
I
Will never let my eyelids close on empty spaces
My dreams will fill the void with tales unknown
Know the mighty infinite obscures the far horizon
The whispered road I take will never bend
Alone
And will the wind return my story to its promise
Of will my story chase me to the end?"
"Melodies unspoken
Flowing from the lotus of my heart
Ending where we start
Promises unbroken
Promising a never-ending fire
Of love beyond desire
Ending where we start"
~*~
Kaoru caught sight of Kenshin standing off to the side by himself. The light of the fire brought out the lighter golden highlights in his crimson hair and his eyes were the color of the leaping flames thrown from the bonfire.
Setting the mug she held down on the ground beside her Kaoru got to her feet and walked over to him, dodging around the people who still sat on the ground eating.
"Why do you not dance with the others?" She asked as she reached him.
Misao and Yahiko were dancing now- Misao dancing with Aoshi and looking blissfully happy and Yahiko dancing alone attempting to mimic the moves of the other dancers.
"I don't dance." He answered.
"You're the king though." Kaoru said surprised. It was an unwritten rule that when music was being played the royals should dance (she had never seen Kenshin do so but that was how it worked at the Kasshin Court).
"Does that make any difference?" He asked.
"No. I suppose not." Kaoru said. "But you know the moves and I don't know the moves - so we should dance." She said it as if it made perfectly logical sense.
Kenshin merely raised an eyebrow.
"Come on." Kaoru said starting to sound exasperated. "I want to dance - but don't know how. You know how to dance - but you don't want to. So show me how to!"
Kenshin gazed at her for a moment and she stared back unflinchingly. He gave a languid nonchalant shrug, "fine."
Kaoru gave a little sound of excitement bouncing lightly on her toes. "Great! Now come on." She grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the ring of dancers before had he a chance to protest.
Once she was sure he wouldn't try to get away she let go of his hand turned toward him. "What do we need to do first?"
"First. we need to get closer." Kenshin said. Before Kaoru could move backwards he had taken a step forward until they were nearly pressed against one another. ". Like this."
Kaoru nodded feeling herself flush slightly.
"Your hands move like this." He took her hands in his own placing them so they were stretched out at her sides, bent slightly at the elbow, palms upward. Kaoru's eyes widened. Kenshin actually speaking to her was a miracle that itself but actually coming into contact with her? The gods must be deciding to be nice for once.
"Don't be so tense either." He stepped behind her, moving his hands along her arms to fix their position.
Kaoru felt her flush spread along her face. He either knew exactly what he was doing to her or was totally oblivious. Kaoru wasn't sure which one to suspect.
"Good," Kenshin said approvingly as he stepped back to view her position. Suddenly he whirled doing a complicated series of steps and leaps that made Kaoru stare in utter amazement.
"I. I can't do that." She said eyes wide.
"Sure you can. Just try." Kenshin replied.
Tentatively Kaoru mimicked his steps and movements.
"Good," Kenshin's eyes were warm the distance in them had vanished. "Just don't look so wooden."
Kaoru did the moves once more; they felt smoother and more natural this time than they had before.
"Shall we dance?" If she didn't know better Kaoru would have said the look in his eyes was playful - mischievous almost.
She nodded, "sure." Her voice came out as a squeak. What had she gotten herself into?
Another song had started up and Kaoru began to move to the melody with Kenshin dancing beside her, occasionally brushing against her.
"Sing for me
A song of life's visage
Sing for me
A tune of love's mirage"
"Deep desires
Sleep untold
Whispers that echo
In the desert of my soul"
"Time is change
Time's fool is man
Time will escape the passing sands of time"
"Pure moments of thought
In the meaning of love
This war is over now
I feel I'm coming home again to you."
~*~
They danced to more songs together before Kaoru noticed the others starting to head away.
It was late. The moon had raised high into the middle of the sky.
Kaoru knew they would be starting out early in the morning. She didn't want to stop dancing just yet though - she had started enjoying herself once she had gotten into the rhythm of the steps and movements. Kenshin looked as if was enjoying himself as well - there was something in his eyes that she hadn't seen before. She would have called it life for lack of a better name.
Still even she had to admit she was getting tired. As the music had begun and she had started dancing the tiredness had faded away into the back of her mind but now as the music slowed down and the last notes of music died away into the night air it came back full force.
The fire still burned though it was almost empty of people now. Kaoru's gaze strayed to the tents that semi-circled the fire. "Which tent is mine?" Kaoru asked. She hated how they never told her anything, for all she knew she didn't even have a tent to sleep in (highly unlikely thought it was).
"My tent is also yours."
Kaoru stiffened.
The tents were small and could never be called luxurious (if looking at the outsides were any indication). There wouldn't be much room for either of them in it. Kaoru felt her throat close up.
If Kenshin wanted to try anything (not that he had even shown any ideas toward it previously and she wasn't sure he would) she would be powerless against him. She may be considered his wife, consort. whatever... but it didn't give him the right do anything without her permission.
Kenshin touched her arm and despite herself Kaoru found herself flinching.
"Are you alright?" There was nothing but concern in his voice.
"Fine. I'm fine." The smile she gave him felt strained.
"You might want to get to bed now its late." You - not us - not we, Kaoru felt herself relaxing slightly.
"Sure." She replied.
~*~
Despite the fact he was the king Kenshin's tent was no larger or grander than any other's. In fact it was quite bare in appearances containing only a sleeping pallet and a few cushions thrown about haphazardly. A dim lamp hung from one of the crossed beams that supported what could be called the ceiling and Kaoru had to duck her head to keep from smacking her forehead against it as she entered.
"You can sleep on the pallet." Kenshin told her.
"What about you?" There was only one pallet. Where would he be sleeping?
"You don't have to worry about me."
"Okay then." Kaoru murmured softly. She looked down at her clothes dirt and travel stained that they were. She was too tired to change out of them and sleeping in them for one night wouldn't hurt at least. She turned to see Kenshin sitting cross legged on the floor, leaning against the cushions.
"Good night. I guess." It went without saying that this was awkward. She pulled back the covers over the pallet and crawled beneath them. They were soft to the touch and warm, she snuggled into them feeling tiredness spread through her body.
"Don't wake me up whatever you do." Kenshin said from where he was. "I don't. take well to being woken up."
A memory of his sword pressed against her throat and his golden eyes void of humanity passed through Kaoru's mind. She shivered underneath the covers. "I won't then." She promised. "Good night Kenshin."
If he said something in reply she did not hear it - she was already asleep.
~*~
The shadow-woman was singing as Kaoru entered the dream-world. Brief snatches of sound became clearer and more distinct as she half-walked was half-dragged toward the tapestry and the shadow-woman that sat before it. As she neared the woman's words became audible and Kaoru could make out exactly what it was that she was singing.
"What you never know won't hurt you
What you never know won't lie
What you never know won't desert you
What you never know won't say goodbye."
"What you never know won't hurt you
What you never know won't lie
What you never know won't desert you
What you never know won't make you cry."
"What you never know won't hurt you
What you never know won't lie
What you never know won't desert
What you'll never know unless you cry."
Her tone was mournful as she sang and the words both sorrowful, and beautiful at the same time. They were almost a warning - against what Kaoru did not know. The shadow-woman's voice died away into a whisper as she uttered the last word of the song.
"Hello little one," her tone was almost conversational.
"Hello." Kaoru replied back. It was perhaps the first time the shadow-woman had addressed her personally and to her face.
"What you never know." The shadow-woman murmured softly. "What you never know could protect you. What you never know could destroy you. What you never know could kill you and what you never know could save you. That is the way of destiny and Fate. She hides some and reveals others. She throws danger in your path and salvation at your feet. Happiness and pain go hand in hand according to her whims and wants that they do."
"Yes." Kaoru found herself murmuring as if agreeing. The shadow-woman's babble was as confusing as ever and she was hard pressed to make sense of her words.
"Do not understand little one? I do not blame you neither do I at times - that too is how Fate must have it and Destiny decree it."
Kaoru merely sighed in response. "The all powerful Fate and Destiny," she muttered.
"No, not all powerful are they." The shadow-woman answered. "The mold Fate and Destiny form around you can be broken yes. Shackles snapped off. rare it is but it does happen some times. Perhaps you will manage to do it, perhaps you will not. It remains to be seen."
"Well that's a relief." Kaoru's tone was an edge short of bitter.
The shadow woman laughed. "You sulk little one? Do not do that - not yet. Grief and pain shall embitter you in time as Destiny shall run its course with you. Remain cheery as long as you can - he will come to depend on you for it in The Time That Is To Come."
"You always talk about this 'he'. Who is this person exactly?" Kaoru asked.
"He is the one who will help guide you in the time to come and you he. Two sides of the coin are you. Two parts of a whole that you are."
Kaoru felt a headache beginning to start around her temples. More senseless babble from the shadow-woman - twisted words that were tangled and matted into knots would be tough to unravel and discover their meanings.
Instead of returning with a comment Kaoru found her eyes were pulled to the tapestry. As before it had altered, there was her blue melded violet-gold thread. The darkness seemed nearer than before and peering closely Kaoru saw the blue-violet-gold thread had become entangled with two others: a dark purple plum colored one and a black splotched silver one.
"Do not look too hard." The shadow-woman's voice snapped her out of her scrutinizing.
"It's changed again." Kaoru said to her defense.
"Yes it has little one. It always changes as your destiny unfolds itself it will change many times over during The Time That Is To Come."
The shadow-woman's response wasn't exactly comforting and Kaoru supposed it wasn't meant to be.
"Go now little one." The shadow-woman said her voice soft. "Go now, remember no more. I shall wait here for you until our next meeting."
Kaoru could feel the dream beginning to dissolve around the edges and the light from the lamp grow blindingly bright as she was thrust back into consciousness.
~*~
Yay! Next chapter is when things will really get underway ^.^
We'll have the last two important characters introduced (cookies to who guesses who both of them are: hint, hint: threads.) And their involvement might not be exactly what you'd think it will be ::grin:: Personally I can't wait and I'll try to type up the next chapter ASAP.
Also for the songs: I think I used about a quarter of the songs in Sarah Brightman's new album 'Harem' - that is my muse-album whenever I have a writing block I just turn it out and stare at the paper with a pen in hand and voila! Half an hour later I have a chapter written (not always but it does happen sometimes).
1st. Song: Arabian Nights 2nd. Song: A mix of the songs 'Harem' and 'The War is over' 3rd Song (the song the shadow-woman sings): 'What you never know'
~LadyShiin