Chapter 4

Things had been peaceful, but in the back of her mind, Amaiya always had a sneaking suspicion. 'I couldn't actually have outrun him, could I? I couldn't really be free…'

When she started to believe she had, the nightmares returned.

A little girl with long, raven black hair was running down the dusty streets, trying to get as far away from a large house as fast as her little legs could carry her. Her eyes spilled forth a cascade of tears. In her sight, everything was tainted with blood, everything had a red hue to it. Her parents' voices rang strongly in her head. Her father's – soft, caring, and innocent, - was telling her to be strong. Her mother's – chiming like bells, just as her child's – whispered to her that she needs to work hard to correct the mistakes one man made.

All of a sudden she was pulled back and fell. Someone had grabbed her silky hair, forcing her to stop running. She cried out with her eyes shut, knowing who was there if she opened her eyes.

"Look at me, girl," The man seethed. The little girl refused, and he hits her hard across the face. "I said look."

She did, but was barely able to recognize the man through pools of tears. She doesn't need to in order to see the villain – Gokemaru. He pulled her off the ground by her hair, making her cry in pain and he looked the five-year-old right in the eyes.

"You're mine. You won't run, because I will find you. You belong to me."

While she clutched at her scalp and yelled in terror, he carried her to the house she ran from, and back to the house that, in her eyes, was surrounded in flames of betrayal.

At the front door of the smoking place, he throws her, intending for her to hit the wall.

Amaiya sat up straight, covered in sweat. She breathed hard, her hand clutching her heart. When her breath came to a steady pace, there was a knock on the door.

"Miss Amaiya? Are you all right in there?" a soft, familiar voice whispered. It was gentle and caring.

"Yes," she responded quickly, then whispered so only she could hear – "Father." For a moment, it may has well have been the same voice. It wasn't, she knew, but she couldn't help thinking so. It had been her father's dieing wish that she stay strong, and she had to be, for his sake and hers.

"I heard screaming, that I did, and thought I should check on you," he said again through the paper-thin walls.

"I'm fine, just nightmares, Kenshin. Thank you." Her voice shook a little, even though she tried to hide it. What was it so hard to keep things locked up anymore? Could it be the people here had broken down her defenses?

"If you think so, Miss Amaiya. Have a good night." His outline moved away and Amaiya threw herself back down onto her pillow, curling to the side. She smiled, the good angel telling her that there are so many wonderful people here, like a family. It gave her relief until the demon side of her responded with, 'It will all be over soon. It always ends so soon.' Her smile disappeared, and she wanted to cry again.

Amaiya found her way to sleep, her bed stained with teardrops, her heart broken. No amount of kindness, no happiness could ever bring her to forget the trials that plagued her nightmares. It always ended so soon, though.

In the morning, Kaoru, Kenshin and Sanosuke were the first ones awake.

"I heard Amaiya screaming again last night," Kaoru said, clearly concerned.

"I think she's having nightmares. She said so when I checked on her, that she did," Kenshin's eyes were closed and he sat at the frame of the door where Kaoru and Sanosuke sat with their morning tea.

"I wonder what she could be so tormented about?" Kaoru asked herself as she poured another cup.

"It could be her parents. She said they died; maybe she's never gotten over them," Sanosuke said. He drank back an entire cup, bringing to back down on the table for Kaoru to refill.

"But it didn't happen when she was first here. Only now." She had set down the teapot before refilling Sano's cup. Without a "please" he may as well do it himself.

"Best to leave her. It's her mess to sort out, and we can't help."

"I agree with Sano. If that's what is bothering her, than we need to let her help herself." Kenshin knew, whatever was going on, it wasn't his business to pry unless someone was in danger. Still, he wondered some himself as what could be the source of her midnight screams.

"I don't know. There are a lot of odd things about her. I don't want to pry – I know it's not right – but there has to be something we can do." She stared at the dark liquid of her tea. The reflection was unhappy and worried. The cup could only hold so much, and it was tiny in comparison to the depth of Kaoru's feeling.

"If she feels we can help, I'm sure she'll tell us. Until then, we'll let her have sleepless nights."

As if to pull Kaoru from her dreams, there was a loud prominent noise on the front door of the dojo. Though Sano was the first one to stand, he didn't want to answer it. Putting his hands in is pocket and thinking to himself, 'whoever it was certainly just lightened the mood a little' he left to open the door.

Standing before the open door was a man, tall, and very thin. He had long arms and legs; however, they didn't look the least bit powerful. He had dark black hair, cut short to his head. His nose stuck out a little, and because of the slight mustache he had, his face had an almost rat-like shape to it. He held an envelope in one of his scrawny little hands.

"Uh, can I help you?" Sano asked, slightly surprised that such a breakable looking man could possibly have made such a noise.

"I certainly hope so." His hiss was long and hoarse. "I'm looking for Kataiyo Amaiya. She is here, I presume?"

"Yes, I can get her," Sano turned to head to the back when the rat-man stopped him.

"That is not necessary. Just make sure she gets this. It is very important." The man held out his slinky arm with the letter. It was very plain, with nothing written on the outside, making Sano wonder as to the contents.

"I will." Sano took it and shut the door. Kaoru and Kenshin both appeared behind him when he did. Sano stared at it, almost trying to ignite the envelope with his eyes as he turned it over in his hands.

"What a strange man," Kaoru noted.

"I have a bad feeling about him, that I do."

"The letter isn't sealed," Sano pointed out. It was an awful idea, but it certainly would help to straighten things out. Maybe it'd even calm down the missy.

"It would be wrong to go through her stuff, Sano," Kenshin remarked. "We'd best give it to her, I think." His voice was gentle, but his words meant that if Sano was actually planning on opening and reading it, that wouldn't be a smart decision.

From the main building, Yahiko walked out, yawning with his arms above his head. "What's for breakfast, Kenshin?"

"Oh, right. I haven't started that yet." Kenshin and Yahiko went together to the fire pit where Kenshin made his meals, so as to begin breakfast. Sano still folded the letter over in his hands.

"I'll give it to her," He said finally, and went to her room.

Kaoru stood where she was. "What a shady man... What could Amaiya be involved in?" she whispered to herself before following Kenshin and Yahiko to the fire pit.

Amaiya woke up again, this time to a knock on her door. The sun's rays were bright enough so that she could tell who it was based on the outline. The broad body-type immediately told her it was Sanosuke.

"Amaiya? Are you awake?"

"Oh, um, yes. Can you just give me a moment?" She jumped from the bed and raced to put on her training clothes – she didn't have fancy or "appropriate" clothes for a girl. Once she had finished, she slid open the door. Sano was sitting on the porch, so all she could see of him was his white jacket with "evil" scrolled across the back, his red headband and his spiky brown hair. He stood up when he heard the door slide.

"Here," he handed over the letter. "This came for you."

Her eyes went wide, and she held out her hand to take it. The type of envelope was familiar to her, and she shook as much as she tried not to. She tucked it into her clothes, not wanting to open it because she knew what it said: she hadn't escaped after all.

"Well? Aren't you going to open it?"

She looked up at him, trying to hide the fear there. Slowly she pulled it out of her clothes and pulled the paper out from the inside, not wanting to look at it. Nevertheless, she did, trying her best not to read it. The only important thing was the location – Hachiman shrine. After what she felt was sufficient time staring at the top, where there was no writing, she put it away and in her room, as intent as possible not to show any emotion.

"So? Who's it from?"

"Sanosuke, sir," She mocked. "it is very rude to pry into a lady's past." She walked on past him and to the fire pit to have breakfast. For some odd reason, he felt a sense of deja vu. He stood there for a moment, watching her as he tried to remember where from. When all hope of that was lost, just a few second later, he ran to catch up with Amaiya.