Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Sadly, I never will.
Gin-Soaked Roses
Chapter Five
...Dream...
She heard a scream. It echoed in her ears and hurt her head. It was a shrill, wailing scream that pierced the night, a scream that was oddly familiar.
She looked down at herself. She was wearing a baggy t-shirt and underwear, and nothing else. Loose rocks and pebbles stung her bare feet, and the night breeze was unrelenting on her bare legs and arms. Black hair down and around her shoulders, it swam in front of her vision, and she swatted it away.
Stepping out of the alley in which she stood, she walked down the sidewalk towards the scream, which barely lingered in the air. She barely heard her feet slap against the pavement, her entire being focused on finding the source of the scream. A few strange men ogled her from around corners and across the street, but she ignored their intense gazes. She was determined.
She rounded a corner and froze. There, in the alley, was Battousai, golden eyes glinting in the dark. Sprawled over the ground was a younger version of herself, black hair barely past her shoulders and up in a high ponytail. And in his hands, dripping blood on the pavement, was her heart.
She felt nearly ready to vomit, raising a hand to cover her mouth. Battousai turned to look at her. She gasped. He smiled viciously, and dropped her heart. It split in two as it connected with pavement, bleeding all over the ground. She lowered her gaze to his bloody hands, shocked as suddenly the blood formed a single red rose, which then became a real rose. He tossed it to her, and she caught it with ease.
As if someone else were controlling her, she brought the rose up to her nose to smell. It smelled like gin.
The rose disappeared suddenly. And then Battousai was walking toward her, carrying the two halves of her heart in his hands. Despite the horrible sight in front of her, she actually smiled.
Gold unexpectedly became violet, and she smiled even wider at his warm gaze. She watched him slowly, gently push the two halves together, and they were magically one again. She reached out her hand to take the heart, and he handed it over carefully.
And then their lips met in a tender kiss...
...End Dream...
With a gasp that sucked seemingly all the air out of her bedroom, Katie sat up straight in her bed. Sweat trickled down the side of her face, and her hands shook. She didn't know what to think, what to feel. That dream just numbed her entirely.
With a shuddering breath, she fell back into her pillow and fell asleep.
That morning...
She was woken by a loud knock at the door. With a groan she rose from her bed, threw on her bathrobe and walked out into the living room. Maybe it's Akemi, she thought with a hopeful smile, and walked a little quicker towards the door.
Opening the door, she saw nothing. Just as she was about to close the door, something caught her eye. There, on the ground, lay a single red rose. The coincidence of this and the dream was just too much. She turned away from the rose, closing the door.
"I need a drink."
Rummaging through the liquor drawer, she grabbed a new bottle of gin and ripped off the seal. The clock read 6:30 AM. It was Sunday, she reminded herself, so Jake would probably sleep in. Having gone a couple days without a drink, the alcohol burned her throat but still it was comforting. She slumped down on the counter stool, running her finger mindlessly around the rim of the bottle.
It wasn't long before she was completely drunk. Barely able to see and in a fog of alcohol, she just drank and drank.
If he just left, everything would be okay. But he won't leave, wants to be with Kenji- I mean, Jake, and when he says stuff like that he means it. So why am I not more upset? My old self would have pounded his head in and screamed at him 'til he left. Am I really... am I really falling for him again?
The last thought hit her like a ton of bricks. She couldn't love him again. Not again, not after all he had done to her. But he did it to protect her. But he still completely destroyed her and Kenji! No, not Kenji, Jake! Jake, Jake, Jake! What was happening to her?
The gin was her only answer. She gulped the last of it down, feeling the creeping of unconsciousness began to rip at the edge of her mind. She had taken one too many sips.
She fell away to darkness.
To be continued...
A/N: I know that was short, especially after the last chapter. But that dream was important and the plot development took a lot out of me. Also, it was a perfect stopping point. Anyway, I hope you liked it. Please please review! I really appreciate it.
Preview:
"Kaoru, what are you saying?"
"I just... I just can't love you."
