Author's note: Hi everyone. Sorry it took a while to update my story. Recently I have been going through some issues on my own. I really do appreciate the reviews though it would take me some time to reply them as my current limited energy (mental especially) is not working for me right now.

Still, I am really glad to write this and I love how gentle this chapter is... especially for Mr. Kenshin. Anyway, I hope you love it and please leave a review if you do. They do make me happy. 3

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The sun shone warmly down at the raven haired priestess as she swung her staff in the air and positioning herself in a stance.

Her right foot drifted across the ground while her left foot readied itself for the next step. Leaning low on one leg, she turned and swirled her staff to her front. Training everyday like this was comforting… and in a way, a reminder of her late foster father, Kamiya Kasshin.

Her peripheral vision caught the silent figure on the porch. Leaning heavily against a pillar, the red haired angel basked in the sun. From afar he looked relaxed but Kaoru could see his glazed eyes, devoid of life and haunted. His mouth was in a flat line and his face emotionless. He stared blankly at the sky and sometimes, he would frown and close his golden eyes tight as if keeping them as a barrier from the outer world. It was obvious that something drastic happened since she found him tattered and broken but it was times like this that gave her hesitation to ask. All she knew was that she was not able to leave him alone.

Kaoru's oceanic eyes travelled to his crimson hair, reminiscing the past few days.

Flashback*

His fever raging and his wounds were bleeding continuously. She was afraid that she was going to lose him, but she noticed on the third morning when the sun rays seeped through the doors and onto his arm, one of his wounds began to heal. Instinctively, she pulled his futon closer to the door and left him under the sunlight. Noting that he started breathing easier and his fever broke almost instantly, she realized that angels needed light to be able to heal. After that, she had constantly left him under the sun while he slumbered quietly. Even then, there were times he trashed about in bed and he gnashed his teeth as if he was having horrific nightmares. She heard him call "Tomoe" a few times and wondered if she was his partner. However, she would sit beside him and stroke his hair, speaking softly and soothingly. After a while, his frown would disappear and he would lay as still as a rock, calm as the sea.

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Kenshin's eyes fluttered open sleepily. His torso felt a little warm as sun beams rained down through the open door. He could feel the energy pulse in him as his skin took in the sun rays hungrily. The crimson haired angel sat up, disoriented. He looked around, his eyes were scanning the holes on the rooftop while he listened to the surroundings of the temple. A familiar girl's soft muttering could be heard in the background and his golden eyes widened as he remembered the recent occurrence.

He turned to the source of the sound, unfazed by the sudden brightness of the sun's glare, his golden orbs shrinking to aid vision. The miko was out in the yard, tiptoeing upwards to the rope above her as she struggled to hang up the recently washed linen. As if to tease her, the wind whipped up the cloth, pining it to her face. Frustrated, her murmurings got a little louder. The angel cocked a brow, amused at the spectacle.

Something was constricting his breathing. The fallen angel frowned and he looked down. Golden eyes widened as he saw a bandage wrapped tightly around his chest, making it hard to breath. His arms and legs were wrapped with bandages and a plaster covered his cheek. Kaoru must have dressed him while he was sleeping.

How long was he sleeping?

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Something was moving at the corner of her eye. She shifted a gaze towards the open room and gasped.

Kenshin was awake!

The raven-haired priestess placed her linen back into the basket and hurried to his side, frowning at his actions as he tried to tug off the bandages off his chest. He had a few broken ribs that would need a longer period of time to heal.

"Kenshin-Sama, you need the bandages to heal!" She reprimanded at the golden eyed angel as he pulled off the bandages. Her sea blue eyes widened at the solid torso, lined with punctured scars. There was no more bleeding and his injuries were mostly healed. He looked at her apologetically and smiled, "This one's body is not the same as human, that it is. The bandages are a little uncomfortable," he gestured to his chest.

Kaoru nodded, speechless. Trying hard not to ogle over his lean muscular body, she proceeded to remove the bandages binding him The last time she saw his body was in the dark stormy night when details can easily be concealed under the dark shadows. Under the sunshine, stories that were concealed by the dark, revealed their tale. Her eyes fell over the multiple scarring that were either recent or old and his body marked the life of a battle worn soldier. She sat back and observed the beautiful red haired stranger before her.

He was very careful with the bandages. His delicate hands folded the bandages neatly, placing them side by aide along the futon. Kaoru watched him in a trance, entranced by his quiet movements. His eyes were still sunken into his cheekbones and it was obvious his full strength had not returned. The day he woke up was the fifth day and here she was, sitting beside the restless angel who was fidgeting to go out. She took his arm, causing him to freeze in surprise and led him out to the porch to sit. "You have just recovered, so just take some time off and rest. You can sit in the sun here," she pointed to the spot where the pillar is. "Perhaps, Kaoru-dono can give this one something to…."

"Kenshin-Sama, your injuries are grave. Please have a seat," her lips pulsed, giving signs of a short temper.

End flashback*

Kenshin glanced up towards the blue sky. What would have been a pleasant view for many folks and animals on earth was now a painful reminder for him…. the lovely angel who was no longer in his arms, the clash of metal and the tears…. Much more tears. The scenes of his past played and replayed like a never-ending loop in his head as reality sunk upon him. His emotions which were delayed for survival, emerged finally, making themselves known to him. He looked at his hand and his golden eyes widened… blood. Th blood flowed from his fingers to the palms and down his arms. Unlike a splash of water that would have awakened the senses, it was like a heavy stone, laden on him with the weight of the earth, dragging him down into the depths of darkness and leaving no air to breathe. His chest raised and fell greatly to accommodate the inner drowning, as his soul gasp to breathe for air. His soul was about to fall….

"Kenshin-Sama"

He blinked. Before his golden eyes, a feminine face blocked the sun and sky. Her cobalt eyes, blue as the ocean, were glancing into his and her brows were knitted together in worry. Her raven hair reflected with a blue sheen as they flowed from her back and her shoulder as she bended down and offer her hand.

"Shall we take a walk, Kenshin-Sama?" Her clear voice rang into him. For some reason, the young miko influenced him just like one other angel did. She was able to reach him from deep within and he did not know why.

He tilted his head towards her, "What do you mean by walk?"

Her eyes widened and she started chuckling quietly, "Kenshin-Sama, have you ever taken time to just walk before?"

He knitted his brows together in confusion and she took her hand, impatient with waiting for his respond. "Let me show you, Kenshin-Sama."

They travelled along the dirt path of the forest. Kenshin took in the greenery as if it was his first time, travelling through the leafy green and watching the life that resounded through the forest. A bird chirped on one of the trees, receiving another reply from somewhere else. Squirrels gathered nuts at his feet as they wandered along the path. The priestess before him was singing a song, similar to the enchanting chants that he heard sometimes from temples when he flew by as an angel.

It was a few moments before the angel's eyes widened The forest came to life with shadows appearing behind the trees, stalking them quietly as they walked. Flowers started blooming randomly along the pathway as if the forest was greeting them. Not too long, a deer strolled into the pathway as it approached Kaoru casually. She patted the deer and hugged it like an old friend, murmuring softly, sharing a secret between the two of them. Kenshin stood at a distance behind them, observing their bond and unsure what he should do. The dark haired miko smiled and held her hand out to him, beckoning him to come over. The deer recoiled a little, cautious at the new stranger as the red haired angel approached. Kaoru magically retrievde an apple from her sleeve and placed it in Kenshin's hand.

"Offer it to Shika-Sama, Kenshin-Sama," she smiled at him sweetly.

The confused crimson haired angel held out the apple to the deer and the deer gleefully munched on the fruit. His lips tilted upwards as the deer nuzzled against his arm. . He gave the deer a hug, amazed at the sinewy muscles of the creature. However, the aura felt.. strange. It was as if the deer might not be what it seemed to be.

"Kodama…" Kaoru replied, observing his expressions. Her inquisitive eyes never seem to fail her. Golden eyes glanced over to her, he tilted his head towards her, puzzled.

"Kodama are tree spirits. How did this one become a deer?" he asked, curiosity piqued in his amber eyes.

"They chose to become whichever form they wished to be. The kodama are friendly here. That's why my father loved this forest. All his friends are here," she smiled as she looked around. It was as if she knew her father's spirit would be here somewhere.

At that moment, Kenshin realized the shadows that followed them were Kodama which were drawn to the new presence of a stranger and Kaoru's song.

"This one does not deserve to be called Kenshin-sama, Kaoru-dono. It would be appreciated if this one is called Kenshin, that it would be," a soft request was murmured and his head bowed. His golden eyes was softer and diluted as he opened up a little.

Kaoru's eyes widened as she blushed and nodded at the handsome angel.

"I have never seen the beauty of this earth for a very long time," he smiled at her wistfully. Some part of Kaoru's heart turned in sadness when she heard the declaration.

The two of them continued walking for another hour or two as Kaoru introduced the flora and fauna of the forest. The kodamas of the forest followed them, some of them taking the forms of animals and some of them taking the form of trees and flowers. Many were curious about the angel who had come down to their midst. Kenshin took in the vibrant life around him, appreciating the melodies of sounds that took place around him.

In the next few days, Kenshin would disappear into the forest and Kaoru would watch his back from behind. Her eyes travelled from his crimson hair to the nubs of his back that poked out of his sleeping robe. It was about time to get him some new clothes and she decided to keep that in mind for the next day when she would travel to the market.

Her impression of him were ones that was filled with gentleness and uncertainty.

The angel's eyes had faded from gold to amethyst as he start to calm down, much to Kaoru's amazement and secret admiration. However, sorrow and pain stilled laid behind their depths. She wished she could hug him but she was not sure that he would accept her embrace...