Summary: Drabbles from the Love, Lies n Empire universe. All characters. Situations and events referred to in the main story. Read n Review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. It is the creative work of Watsuki Nobuhiro.
Rating: T
To ALL my fabulous reviewers – Thank you so much for all the encouragement!
cleoclaudia – this is the Kenshin-fix you've been waiting for. I'm sorry I don't write as much about other characters, but then again, it's only been 9 drabbles, (this is the 9th), give me time, I'll have the entire ensemble out here, I promise.
JasmineBlossom625 – I'm glad you liked that one; I'm a little partial to that one myself.
skenshingumi - you've hit the nail on the head. It won't be pretty when it happens. That's all I'm going to say.
alwyzme - you'll be seeing a lot more of Tomoe and Enishi, they both have important roles to play.
ELLIE373 – well I updated! Although I don't get how you thought it was Soujirou…..Sou-chan and Kaoru...big no-no.
Ellavv31 – I was pretty embarrassed when I saw that. I mean it's the title…oh well.
EmbersOfAmber – Where be you? grins
Annals of Empire
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Drabble 9: Epiphany
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"The first sight of the beloved is like the movement of the spirit on water."
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(Khalil Gibran)
Yes, the cost of the elixir of love is your head! Do you hesitate? 0 miser, it is cheap at that price!"
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(Abu Hamid Al Gazzali)
He found himself staring at the gates to the palace for the third time that day. He was about to take a step forward, when he spotted Aoshi. Aoshi stared back at him reproachfully. He raised an eyebrow as if saying, what are you doing here again Kenshin? Kenshin narrowed his eyes and frowned but turned away and walked back from whence he came. He sat down on a bench in front of one of the dozens of teashops in the city. He rested his palms one on top of the other on the hilt of his sword.
The other patrons of the teashop moved away. The waves of unrest pouring from his frame were palpable even to the most ignorant amongst them. Kenshin glared at the ground, as if it were responsible for the chaos in his heart.
What is this panic I feel? My heart is beating faster, faster than I ever remember. My palms feel moist; my mind keeps wandering down what is now a familiar path. The path winds through the streets and my feet lead me to the same door, always the same door. Why I am acting like this? Why am I even having this conversation with myself, in my head?
He hissed. An old man who had unwisely sat across from him, jumped up and quickly moved away to a safer place.
I'm still doing it! What the devil is wrong with me? She's just another girl. Granted, she's beautiful. More beautiful than you remember any other girl being. No, that's just me being delusional. I've seen women more beautiful than her, haven't I?
But…I no longer recall their faces. Everyone else seems to be lost in some sort of haze. The only face that stands out….is hers. They were beautiful, breathtakingly beautiful, I know they were….why don't I remember them? What is happening to me? I don't like this. This is not the way it is supposed to happen. She is supposed to be losing sleep, and not the other way around. I never lose sleep. Never.
This is uncomfortable. It's irritating. She's just a woman. She shouldn't be taking up so much of my time and thoughts. I have a battle to think about. I don't have time for this. I do not need this. Aoshi is right. It's one thing to admire her, and a completely different one to be dreaming about her every waking minute. Alright, that's it.
He gripped the hilt of his katana decisively.
She's done something to me.
All of a sudden, a smile curved across his lips. It was little more than a smirk, just an enigmatic motion that turned the corners of his mouth upward. That could mean just one thing. He had to find out what it was. He had never been one to do things by halves.
All I need to do is find out what she did. And to do that, I shall need to see her again, at least once. I won't linger, that would be juvenile. I'll just see her one more time, and then I'll know what it was. I can forget all about her then. It's just curiosity.
She surprised me, that's why I want her. Yes, I want her. I want her to be mine. That's all. It's not love. As if it could be. Falling in love with the enemy, a fine joke I'd make of myself. I want her. It's nothing serious. I'm thinking of her because she surprised me, that's it.
He sighed. I'm making no sense. She's making me contradict myself. I'm fumbling about for reasons. I feel...unsure. I hate this! It's all her fault. She...she should feel something, for putting me through this nightmare.
He stood up and walked out as abruptly as he had come in.
She smiled at me…for no reason. Why would she do that? I am a stranger, but her eyes smiled at me. She called me when I turned away. Did she…want to see me?
She might be thinking of me, right now.
He stopped.
Thump Thump Thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthump
What a ridiculous thought. She doesn't even know me. Why would she bother? Why do I even care?
Author's Notes
Read and Review please.