Author's Note:
Chapter two has been completed. I would like to thank Sakura02 and Bunches for leaving wonderful reviews that made me smile, cookies and hugs and flowers for them. I dedicate this chapter to my African violets-may they grow, flower, and bring me happiness and to cjmarie, I wish you joy and happiness and that your cactus continues to thrive. I hope my efforts have pleased all those who read this.
Disclaimers:
I don't own Peacemaker Kurogane or any of its characters. I do, however, own Amaterasu, her father and mother, and any other characters I may come up with. Comments of the positive and negative are accepted and greatly desired.
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Soji sat beside the unconscious Amaterasu, slowly stroking his thumb along her undamaged right hand which was held loosely by both of his hands. Matsumoto had examined her, treated and bandaged her wounds, and cleaned her up. She wore a sapphire blue kimono and her damp hair was pulled back in a loose braid. Her left arm was in a sling and her right foot had a fresh bandage with a poultice of herbs on the wound.
"What happened to you" Soji spoke into the silence. He had begun to witness her father's bizarre behavior after her mother's death, but had just assumed it was due to his grief. He fought to control the anger that welled up inside him from the severity of the numerous wounds that had been inflicted upon Amaterasu's body. He could only imagine what sort of psychological scars her father had inflicted on her as well. His thoughts were interrupted by Tetsu who told him that Hijikata wanted to speak to him about Amaterasu. As he exited the room and shut the door, Amaterasu's eyes slowly opened.
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Soji walked along the exterior walkway of the Shinsengumi headquarters, careful to stay under the awning that covered it to avoid the pouring rain. He had searched most of the compound and was now heading to an empty storage building. The conversation between himself, Hijikata, and Matsumoto replaying itself over and over in his mind.
"Her ankle will never fully heal" Matsumoto said grimly "but with proper care she may be able to walk, though she shouldn't put any weight on that ankle".
Hijikata frowned "What happened to her?"
"It was her father who did that to her" Soji said solemnly, noting the shocked looks on both Hijikata's and Matsumoto's faces "right before I left I noticed that she had bruises on her arm, but I didn't think it was anything serious. I think the death of her mother affected him which caused him to blame and hate Amaterasu and he took those feelings out on her physically" Soji explained sadly.
"Does that mean her father might be looking for her" Matsumoto asked concerned.
"I don't know" Soji said honestly "but for running away, he just might kill her".
"Then it's settled" Hijikata said firmly "she will live here".
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As Soji was just about to enter the storage building, he heard a faint noise coming from behind the building. He stepped off of the walkway and gazed shocked into the dark space between the building and the wall that circled the compound. Amaterasu lay curled in a ball, soaking wet with a stray kitten licking her face and meowing. He reached into the space and gently pulled Amaterasu into his arms.
"Oh Ame-chan" he whispered quietly as he brushed hair out of her face. He noticed that her face seemed flushed, so he gently pressed the back of his hand to her forehead only to pull it back just as fast. She was burning up with fever, yet at the same time was shivering as though it was the dead of winter. While he held her, she had unconsciously curled her body towards his in an attempt to find warmth. As he moved his arm under her legs to pick her up, she moaned painfully and he looked down to see that the bandages on her ankle were soaked in blood. He slowly stood up and carried her back to the compound with the kitten trailing behind, failing to notice a puddle near where her face had lain that was tinged with the faintest trace of red.
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The end of chapter two is here at last. Chapter three is in progress and will be posted as soon as it is finished (which may be a while). Please review, I'll be more depressed if you don't .