A/N: Reminders: In chapter seven, I said Sano was a childhood friend of Kenshin's but didn't go any further. He had been separated from the clan. In the last chapter, I hinted that there was some tension between Kenshin and Sano but most of that was about Kaoru (or so Kenshin thought).

Chapter Ten: The Prophetess

Kaoru had been riding hard towards the setting sun. Its crimson rays would normally blind any other person, but luckily for her that wasn't a problem. Sano rode in her shadow only a few feet away from her. All this time he wondered whether she had already surmised that someone was following her or that she couldn't hear the second set of hoof beats that echoed her own.

He didn't know where they were headed, and was in fact very much doubtful of Kaoru's ability to get there. After all, she was still blind. To his delicious surprise, she suddenly made a sharp turn towards the eastern mountains that had been bordering their paths. She stopped right at the foot of a cavern and dismounted. Her actions were deliberate and unrecognizable. Never had he seen Kaoru with such purpose in her step, her mood bordering on angry.

Suddenly she turned around with her hands on her hips. "Sano, why are you here?" Blue light surrounded her, warming the air into an oppressive state.

Sano gulped. "Uh—I am—well I was… I—brought the supplies?" He held up a saddle bag filled with berries that Tsubame had collected. He only belatedly remembered that doing that was in vain…holding up berries for her to see when she couldn't see at all. What a rooster head.

Kaoru raised an eyebrow but proceeded to unsaddle her horse.

"Are we going in there?"

"Later"

"Oh."

"Will you light a fire? We have to wait until midnight."

"Sure."

The two sat by the fire in silence, picking at the food that Sano had scrounged from the bags. One by one the stars appeared and the moon shone its wan light, adding to the light blue illumination that surrounded Kaoru. Sano stared.

"Who are you to Kenshin?" Kaoru whispered, her eyes were closed and she was leaning against a rock.

Sano was dumbfounded. He knew the girl was perceptive despite her lack of sight, but he didn't know he had shown nor told of any connection to the red lord. He stammered. "I have—never—I mean I did, but…"

"The two of you seem to know each other pretty well… He never questioned you, yet you always avoid him."

"Ah well, that was because he got jealous of me touching you…"

"Touching me… Wait. You swore never to do so!"

"Which never really made sense to me."

"But aren't you harmed or don't you get…?"

"Oh you mean that tingling needle-like pain that surges through your body, drying up every last drop of blood you have? Yeah, that only happened the first time at the Yukishiro camp…"

"Yet you were still able to walk." Kaoru's eyes widened.

"Yeah. It hurt, but I've had worse."

His statement rendered her speechless…He's had worse? She couldn't decide whether she should be angry at his arrogance or be bewildered by the fact that she was now… touchable?

"Hold on. You still haven't answered my question." Kaoru was intent on getting the full story. Sanosuke gave her a doubtful glance, but shrugged.

"Yahiko was my brother but he was taken sometime before the war started. That day when we left to meet with Enishi, he had fallen while scouting the outer terrains. I was in command of the right flank. I left the army without telling anyone, thinking that it will only take me a couple of days. Yet I was wrong. I had to meet with Enishi to bargain for Yahiko. He gave me a choice. Either give over my command of the army to betray Kenshin in the field or kidnap you. I heard stories about you, and I've seen you in one of the meetings, so I figured you weren't really that important. Silly me, huh? Who would've known Lord Battousai finally found a woman to die for… Anyways, to gain access to the compound I met with Tsubame and she filled me in with the details about you and Misao. I tried to plan some sort of strategy but I'm really not that smart. So I decided to just be straight with you.

"At the Yukishiro camp, I admit I was surprised when your magic attacked me. But I bared it through, though I admit it was probably life-threatening. I think I fainted at some point, but I really don't remember. After that it never happened again."

"Give me your hand." Kaoru ordered. Sano looked at her with a berry half way to his mouth. He shrugged and laid a hand in Kaoru's palm. Nothing happened.

She uttered a small cry. "How?" she almost sobbed. Admittedly, it was horrible never to be able to touch anyone without hurting them since her gift gained full consciousness. Yet she reveled in the fact that she wasn't helpless, that she had some sort of power to punish those that violated her.

As if this fact was her undoing, she cried. Everything became a little bit more hopeless in her eyes.

Sano looked down at the raven-haired girl, who still grasped at his hand. Surprised as he was, he didn't spare a moment to sweep her into his arms to comfort her. Kaoru conceded and laid her head onto his neck, shivering and sobbing while she tried to persuade herself that not everything she does from now on would be in vain…

Midnight. Sano shook Kaoru up from her stupor and pointed to the moon at its highest in the sky. Kaoru nodded. Slowly she stood up and entered the cavern, relishing the warmth that Sano's torch offered. It seems that though she couldn't see the dark, she can feel it.

Kaoru didn't know how long it took them to reach the end of the cave. Her only warning was the sudden assault of a strong seductive power that lay waiting for them. She sat on a throne made of ice, the cavern walls made of the same icy mineral. Sano's torch was rendered useless, for the cavern shone with an inner light.

"Took you long enough, little girl."

Kenshin couldn't quite put his finger on it. Since they entered his clan's tribe, he tried to remember what it was he was forgetting. He looked at his companions. None of them seemed troubled at all, though Aoshi was still mildly pissed that Sano had taken both horses.

"Why both?" he murmured to himself. Something was amiss… something was missing. Someone…

He had finally reached his compound. He looked forlornly at a new garden plot that he couldn't recall being there when he first left. He could have sworn that he hadn't seen those flowers before…

The wind blew towards him, carrying with it a small jasmine flower. Realization hit him hard.

"Who is this?" the woman beckoned towards Sano with a slight wave of the hand. Sano eyed her wearily, he couldn't seem to keep his eyes off her.

"Sanosuke Sagara of the Mitsurugi-Ryu tribe."

"And you, how do they call you now?"

"Kaoru Kamiya of Carnelia."

"Ah… I think I like that better than Goddess of Fate."

"You knew?"

"I always know."

"The prophetess…" Kaoru realized.

"Yes…" Her voice was silk. She stood up from her icy throne and flipped her hair to the back of her shoulder. She wore a thin robe, barely concealing her womanhood. Beautiful and icy, her demeanor was enough to ensnare the poor Sanosuke. He didn't trust himself to answer any of her questions, but he did undress her with his eyes and satisfied himself with what he could do with his gaze.

Kaoru shivered, feeling her gift suddenly taking over. Her hair suddenly fell down to her waist and she stood up more erect. The blue in her eyes shone ever brightly. Sano felt the recoil of icy power around him, making way for the goddess's aura. He looked to Kaoru and backed away a couple of steps. Blue light again encompassed her, and her clothes took on a similar shape to that of the prophetess. A thin robe, though more conservative, with off-shoulder sleeves that concealed most of her upper skin.

"It is good to see you again, High Priestess."

"And you, my Goddess."

"Thank you for bringing up my mortal in your Sanctuary. Do they call you any other name?"

"Megumi"

"Megumi is a lot easier to say than 'prophetess'"

"Of course. Now you have questions for me, Kaoru?" Megumi walked around her throne fingering the ancient letters that adorned it.

"My power. It has diminished. My friend here tells me that I no longer can protect my skin from touch."

"Your power has evolved, instead of uncontrollable outlashes, it can be summoned when wanted."

"But how and when?"

"You were drained out of your body during your second death. The god that brought you back must have awakened something akin to your divinity once again. When the flesh dies, you, the goddess or spirit is set free from the earthly body. When you're physical body was made to live again, much of that divinity remained exposed and available to your consciousness. Your powers are not hidden by her mortality anymore. It is very harmful for your mortal by the way. If your power continues to evolve, and your divinity is awakened in full, her earthly body will not be able to contain it. Be careful… You can summon it just like you would in your divine form."

"The god… what about him?"

"Oh he's fully operational now, but give him sometime. He can be quite slow up here, you know." At this Megumi tapped the side of her head and gave Kaoru a smirk.

"He's not dull," the goddess retorted.

"Defend him until the end, will you? No he isn't. Just dense. All men are like that."

"I suppose… By the way, your prophecy is wrong. I don't think the god is the 'devil's kin.'"

"Enishi is the devil's kin, stupid."

"Oh but, I touch him?"

"Yes! Are you as dense as the god of life now?"

"But where does the god fit into all of this?"

"He's the iron foe!"

"I am utterly confused."

Megumi laughed the sound of glass chimes (to Sano's ears). She waved her hand nonchalantly and returned to a stone tablet, picking up a chisel and small hammer. She started to whittle away ancient letters of magic, setting up someone else's punishment. "I shouldn't tell you much anyways. It's against the rules. All you need to know is that you will defeat Yukishiro Enishi."

"My mortal?"

"She will die, but not as you would expect. She will choose it."

"Choose it?!"

"It is better that way. She will let you go with her one wish of absolution. Honor her."

"Yes… Well that's all I have for you right now. I suppose I shall be going."

"My payment, if you please…"

"Payment?"

"Yes, payment. Your tab is really high, goddess Kaoru."

"But I have nothing to give. Since when did you charge me?"

"Since my rivals started to tromp all over me with the rules of the trade. It's a ridiculous matter, but I need my payment." Megumi stretched out an open hand to Kaoru with mild amusement quirked upon her eyes.

"Rivals? What rivals?"

"Let's see. There's the Sea Witch. The Evil Queen from Far Away. Oh and let's not forget that old twit, the Fairy Godmother."

"But the Fairy Godmother never charged anything!"

"Untrue, she holds her little princess in her greedy little palm, controlling almost all of her kingdom. What women would give up for a chance at some prince…" Megumi shook a fist at the cavern ceiling, finishing with a deep breath. "Silly girls. So do you have a kingdom to offer me or what?"

"Uh, I have my hair… and though my eyes don't work I hear they're pretty."

"Hohohoho, I don't think your mortal would like that. Besides, you're debt is very large. I doubt that any body part could cover it. No I think I'd want a soul, or a whole body."

"But I—"

"That settles it then. I get him." Megumi pointed lightly at the bewildered Sano. "I've always wanted a helper around here for a long time now. He looks strong enough. Come over here."

Sano who had been silent through this whole conversation felt himself shiver at her demand. "Uhuh," she murmured as she thumped him on the shoulders, feeling the flex of his muscles. She made him turn around. Kaoru couldn't see anything, but heard Sano gasp. Kaoru covered her face in embarrassment. Megumi could have only grasped his rear to solicit a sound such as that. Megumi chuckled. "He'll do."

"What are you to ask for someone's soul? The devil?" the goddess replied angrily. She didn't want Sano involved in this.

"Come, come, silly girl. It's not like he doesn't want to give his soul to me." Megumi stared into the depths of his eyes. Quite correct, she was.

"But he can't pay for what I owe!"

"Kaoru… I'll be alright." Sano's words were strong, and his gaze never faltered. He was going to enjoy this.

"But!"

"You heard the man, goddess. Be on your way. I'd like to test his capabilities in private."

Kaoru blushed fiercely but did not leave. In the silence, she could almost feel the lust that emanated from their figures. She pouted and stood her ground.

"She bites." She added as a last petition to Sano.

The feral grin on his face was all too apparent in his answer.

"I like pain."

Kaoru growled in impatience, her only way of battling the fierce embarrassment that built up on her cheeks. "You're both so undeniably hopeless. Fine! If that's the way you want it, then I'll let it be. But I firmly believe that I am over-paying you, Megumi. So I have one last demand."

Megumi faced Kaoru with an eyebrow lifted in question.

"Give the god back his memories," the goddess fearfully said. She knew this wasn't allowed, but it was worth a try. She could hear Megumi thinking, her mouth should be in a complex twist right about now.

Megumi faced Sano again, as if re-measuring his true worth. Sano thought this was funny and smiled at her. Megumi shook her head, which made Sano pull back a little. But Megumi held him still with one hand, and placed the other on his lower abdomen. Sano moaned as she caressed his stomach, his eyes rolling to the back of his head. Without taking her hand off his abdomen, she walked behind him and embraced him from the back, slithering the other hand to her chest to feel his heartbeat. She firmly pressed her chest to his back. "Tell me, Sanosuke Sagara, have you had any other woman before?"

"No," he gasped.

"Good. I like virgins. Goddess, it is done. Now go. I want my privacy and your lover knows you have disappeared."

Kaoru ran, whispering good luck to Sano and his newfound wife. Hopefully, he will take to eternal life easier than most.