Chapter 3

Upon reaching the dojo Kenshin could hear Kaoru and Yahiko bickering about training. Apparently Yahiko was sick of doing the same routine every day and Kaoru insisted that he keep that routine until he could execute it flawlessly. Kenshin would have smiled at the familiarity of the situation, but he was still in shock (even after twenty minutes). He led his sister into the courtyard to Kaoru and Yahiko- Sano was sitting on the veranda, a long piece of grass sticking comically out one side of his mouth. He stood up immediately when he saw Kenshin with the strange fighter woman from the Akabeko. Kaoru and Yahiko didn't notice them until Sano got up.

"Amaya, this Sagara Sanouske, Kamiya Kaoru, and Miyojin Yahiko. This is Kaoru-dono's dojo and she is the Assistant Master of the Kamiya-Kasshin style." Amaya bowed graciously.

Kaoru gave Kenshin a strange look. Why did he address this woman without the honorific? Kenshin addressed all women with it, why not her?

"That was some stylish fighting back there, Amaya-san," commented Sanouske. Amaya only nodded her thanks.

Kaoru stepped forward with her hands folded before her. "Miss Tae and Tsubame are very grateful for your assistance at the Akabeko, Amaya-san. I am sure they would like very much to thank you personally. I promised them I would ask you to stop by if I saw you again." Kaoru glanced at Kenshin again, begging for an explanation.

"I was only concerned for the occupants of the Akabeko. I am glad to have been of assistance," Amaya replied in her flowing voice. Amaya mimicked Kaoru's glance at her brother, wondering if he should explain or if she.

Kenshin seemed to get the message. "Why don't we all go inside and talk?"

Amaya followed the group inside and took her place beside her brother.

"This one never told you of his sister, who he had forgotten from a long time ago. I do not remember what her name was, but I recognized her eyes thirteen years ago when she was a slave to the men I was sent to kill. And, not wanting to taint her life with the blood I had spilled, left her without a word."

Kaoru's eyes softened as she looked at the intimidating woman next to Kenshin. Suddenly her dark green eyes no longer evoked fear, but rather sorrow. Kenshin continued to tell them his sister's story and of her scars. After everything had sunk in, Sano suggested that Amaya see Takani Megumi, the lady doctor at the clinic, about her stab wound.

"If you don't get her to look at it, it'll leave a scar," Sano pointed out after Amaya refused seeing a doctor.

"Does it really matter if I get one more?" she asked, gesturing to her scar-covered face and neck. Even though she hadn't said it scoldingly, Sano reddened, embarrassed at having drawn attention to her scarred body. Noticing the color in his face Amaya said, "It is alright, Sanouske-san, if you wish I will see Takani-san tomorrow."

"Well, Amaya, you are more than welcome to stay here with us," said Kaoru. She smiled at Kenshin's sister, who looked quite worn out. Perhaps she had lost more blood than they thought- her face what disgustingly pale.

Amaya bowed, her head mere centimeters from the tatami mat she sat on, "I thank you for your kindness, Miss Kaoru, it is not given in vain."

Kaoru bowed back, moved by Amaya's humbleness. Kenshin left to make some tea for everyone. Unsure of what to do next, Amaya stared at her hands which were neatly placed on her lap.

Kaoru thought that there was so much likeness between Amaya and Kenshin- though it had nothing to do with their looks. Only their skin tones and facial structures were similar. But no one would have guessed they were siblings from their coloring. But their spirits were close. Kenshin was quiet, gentle, kind, open-hearted- everything a good friend, a good person, should be, though his heart had been laden with guilt long before Kaoru had met him. Amaya was much the same- quiet, presumably gentle, perhaps not so open, but carried an aura of grace and honor. Her spirit was drenched with the reality of the years she had spent in this world. She may not feel guilty as her brother does, but there is a certain sorrow in her eyes that ignites sympathy in others.

"So..." said Yahiko, "what now?"

Sano quirked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Yahiko sighed with dramatized exasperation. "I mean, what happens next?"

"Amaya is going to live with us," said Sano, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Only for a while," Amaya interjected. Sano gave her a surprised look.

"But why? You're Kenshin's sister, it's just logical that you live here with us. I mean we're no family by normal standards, but we are a family...sort of..."

"Let's just say I tend to leave a trail of blood..."

Kaoru looked slightly amused. "You sound like your brother."

"Really?"

"He seems to think he endangers us all by staying here, but I honestly think that he's saved us more times than he's gotten us into trouble," said Kaoru, smiling widely.

Amaya smirked. She knew Kenshin served penance for the hundreds of lives he took during the revolution, but she never served penance for the lives she took. "I'm afraid my brother and I are more different than alike, Miss Kaoru."

Kenshin walked in with a tray of tea in his hands. He placed it on the tatami in the middle of the floor in everyone's reach.

"What do you mean?" said Yahiko. Kenshin looked at her questioningly.

"Brother, there is something I have not told you..." She stared off into a place Kenshin could not see. Her eyes were completely unfocused, as if she removed her spirit away from her body so that she would be there herself when her body confessed her dark secret.

"I am sorry, but after Kane-anata's death, I turned my body into a weapon. I learned to use a katana, sai, wakazashi and kodauchi. I became a private assassin- cold and empty from the loss of Kane-anata, and perfect for killing. I know you have killed men beyond count, brother, but I have killed more." Amaya looked at her brother with mournful eyes. "You are both Battousai and Rurouni- but, brother, I am just me, and I am a killer. Don't you smell the blood?"

Kenshin lowered his eyes. Yes, he could smell it. It seemed to seethe from her skin, through her clothing and into the surrounding air. It was subtle, but it was there and it was persistent. But besides the blood he could also smell a fresh, pine scent that reminded Kenshin of being in the crisp mountain air.

"Amaya, please stay with us. This one's heart would break if you left. Sessha did not care for you in the past and he is determined not to leave you again," said Kenshin, looking his sister in the eye.

"Blood follows me, brother, I cannot bring such unholy disruptions to you or your friends."

"Please, Amaya-san, Kenshin already causes enough disruptions as it is, but he always manages to protect us," said Kaoru. "But then again, as Assistant Master of the Kamiya Kasshin style, I don't need protecting."

"And I take care of myself," interrupted Sano. "Besides, you wouldn't just leave your brother would you, Amaya-san?" The rooster-headed man cocked his head to one side, an arrogant smirk on his lips.

Amaya, showing no sign of emotion said that she would think about it, but that for now she would stay. Kenshin smiled, pleased that he would, at the very least, have some time to get to know her and to try and make up for the years of her life he had missed.

"It's getting late, we'd better get some rest," said Kenshin. He pointedly looked at Sano and Yahiko who were yawning.

Kaoru stood, "You can share a room with me, Amaya-san." Once again Amaya bowed before standing up and followed Kaoru.

Before exiting through the shoji, Amaya turned to her brother. Her expression remained void of emotion, but her eyes sent a message to him. He returned it in the same way.

It was not long after they had carefully laid out their futons that Kaoru had resigned to a deep, peaceful sleep. The woman in the futon next to her however, was not so lucky. For an hour now she had been convulsing and muttering incoherently in her sleep; crying out to an invisible savior.

Finally, her nightmare having become so violent, Amaya's screams awoke Kaoru who immediately sat up, eyes wide open. She noticed Amaya was fighting something, though still asleep. For a moment Amaya quieted down, her incomprehensible words becoming faint and seemingly helpless. Finally she let out a hair-raising scream that tore through the night's heavy air. Her chest raised up from the floor, her neck stretched out, arms seemingly held to the ground. Her face contorted beyond recognition.

Kenshin came flying to Kaoru's room, throwing open the shoji without ceremony- something he never would have done had it not been for the urgency in his sister's scream. He rushed to her. Kaoru had tried to wake Amaya, but to no avail- Amaya was trapped in a nightmare.

"Amaya!" Kenshin yelled, attempting to push away the hand Amaya threw up, as if in defense.

At the same time Kenshin yelled her name, her eyes flew open- a furious storm brewing inside her usually emotionless pupils. Her free hand pushed one of her sai against Kenshin's throat. Slowly she became aware of her surroundings and lowered the weapon that had almost drawn blood from her brother's throat. Immediately tears began to fall from her emerald eyes. Kenshin released her wrist tentatively, scrutinizing her confused expression.

"Amaya...?" whispered Kenshin. He was wary of what she would do next.

Amaya averted her eyes. Without a word she stood from her futon and headed out the door, dropping her sai carelessly onto the floor, making a padded 'thud' on the tatami mat. Kenshin felt a wave of gratefulness towards his sister's diligence, noticing that her yukata was tied firmly shut (it was, after all, the only think she had on, and by no means decent by societal standards, even late at night). He fought the urge to call after her.

"This one is sorry, Kaoru-dono. This one did not know that his sister would wake you in such a violent manner," said Kenshin.

"Don't worry about it, Kenshin. It's not like people can control the dreams they have." Kaoru's voice, groggy from the late hour, was forgiving. Kenshin inwardly flinched. "Perhaps you should go after her, she didn't look well."

Kenshin nodded and left, but not before double-checking to make sure that Kaoru hadn't been permanently scarred by Amaya's episode. Much to Kenshin's relief he didn't have to look far. He found his sister standing at the dojo entrance, staring into the dense forestry that surrounded the outside wall.

Her stance was rigid, but not from determination. She was shaking with such violence that the fabric of her yukata trembled. Kenshin didn't dare get too close to her. It wouldn't have surprised him to find out that she had another well-concealed weapon on her person. Little did the rurouni know that he needn't have stood so far back, she was unaware of his presence until he spoke.

"Sister?"

Amaya raised her head, but said nothing.

"Is something wrong?"

Slowly, she turned around.

"I was foolish to think I could spent an entire night inside..." she said, her voice trailing off, unable to keep up with all the thoughts that were racing through her mind.

"What do you mean?" asked Kenshin, inching closer.

"Nothing. I should go." Amaya turned around with the intention to head back to Kaoru's room and gather her things, but not before Kenshin placed a firm hand on her arm. He looked into her eyes- his heart shattered at what he saw.