I watched Hansel and Gretel this weekend. It inspired me to write action. Beware that I'm not the best at writing action. Also, Kaoru may be a little out of character but I felt it was appropriate for the scene. Please enjoy and review! I love reviews! They inspire me!
"I am never sitting with Misao on another three hour train ride. It is not happening!" Kaoru complained as she flopped down on the futon in her room. Tomoe had followed her inside and was currently laughing at her. Kaoru turned over onto her stomach before looking at the older woman. She offered a small smile when Tomoe sat down on the floor with her back against one of the walls.
"Kenshin and Aoshi are currently at the apartment we keep here for these trips. I felt it would be a little crowded if we all went there so that was why I asked Jiya to get us separate rooms. Megumi will also be joining us in a few days. She comes down once a month to help out at the homeless shelter." Tomoe told her. Kaoru blinked before shrugging her shoulders.
"I suppose you all have things you do to occupy your time. It must be hard." Kaoru observed. Tomoe just smiled at her.
"We all try but…we also have to be careful. It's hard to explain to others why we seem to never age. Megumi will have to stop attending in a few years. It's hard because of how attached we get because even if we are different we are still human." Tomoe said with a sad smile. Kaoru blinked before rolling onto her back so she was looking at the ceiling.
"I can only imagine. It's easy to see how much all of you do for the community but you're forced to do so from the shadows." Kaoru mused. They stayed in the silence for a moment before Tomoe finally broke it.
"Perhaps but we have been able to help so many people over the years even if it is from the shadows. None of us are mourning for the lives we no longer have. It has taken many years but we have all come to terms with the fact time has left us out of its loop for only reasons known to it." Tomoe whispered. Kaoru sat up and turned so she was facing the other woman in the room. She gave her a small smile as their eyes met.
"I will help all of you as long as I can, Tomoe. I know we haven't known each other that long but being around everyone makes me feel as though I've found a home. It's a hard feeling to express." Kaoru told her. Tomoe laughed before climbing to her feet.
"I understand. I actually didn't follow you in here to have such a deep conversation. I wanted to see if you were willing to go on an outing with me." Tomoe asked. Kaoru blinked before looking out her window that she had opened when she first entered the room. She could still see the sun in the sky and estimated it was late afternoon.
"Sure, the sun is still out. I have to admit I'm a little nervous about being out in Kyoto during the night with Shishio hunting us." Kaoru replied. Tomoe nodded in agreement.
"It's only a five minute walk away. I don't plan on staying long….honestly I don't know how long, emotionally, I can stay." Tomoe said. Kaoru turned with her a raised eyebrow.
"Where are we going?" she asked. She swallowed as she watched pain flash across Tomoe's eyes. It only made her curiosity grow stronger.
"I am going to visit the other Kaoru. I'm here so I feel it is necessary for me to visit. I would ask Kenshin to go with me but the last time he went…let's just say neither of us were ready to face reality. Honestly, I'm not sure if I am now but I can't be here and not visit. The guilt would eat me alive." she confessed. Kaoru blinked at her for a moment before smiling softly.
"I understand. I'm ready whenever you are. Since Kenshin isn't here, and doesn't even know we're in town, we'll go without telling him. I think it would be best to wait for when he asks to go himself." Kaoru said. Tomoe nodded as a small sad smile spread across her face.
"I look forward to the day he allows himself to heal." Tomoe murmured. Kaoru watched as pain flashed across her face. It was then that Kaoru realized an important fact. Tomoe cared deeply for Kenshin even if they did have their arguments. She loved him as her friend because of everything they had gone through together. She genuinely hurt for him because he would not allow himself to move on from the past.
"He will, Tomoe. Maybe not soon but one day he will wake up to find he's healed from the pain." Kaoru told her. The woman nodded as she opened the door to Kaoru's room. She motioned for the girl to follow her.
"You're right. We should get going if we want to get there and back before the sun completely sets. I agree with you about not wanting to be out in the dark when Shishio could find out at any moment that we're here." Tomoe said. Kaoru quickly followed her out of the room. They quickly made their way to the entrance of the building and exited after they had put their shoes on.
Kaoru followed Tomoe as the woman began to lead her down the busy and bustling streets of Kyoto. Kaoru was surprised at how similar, at least on the surface, that the town was to Tokyo. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting from Kyoto. She did know, however, that it wasn't the feeling of peace that had engulfed her. She felt as though as she had finally returned home after a long trip and was going to meet her family.
"What's your first impression of Kyoto, Kaoru?" Tomoe asked as they walked. Kaoru blinked for a moment.
"It's odd. I've never been here before but I feel as though I've come home after a very long trip." she whispered. Tomoe remained silent before giving a soft laugh.
"Home, huh? What a strange feeling to have for a place you've never been." she commented as they pushed through the throngs of people heading home after work. Kaoru remained silent as she thought about the older woman's words before laughing. She really was being silly.
"It must be because Kyoto reminds me so much of Tokyo. That and my imagination must be on overdrive after such a long train trip." Kaoru laughed as she scratched the back of her head. She continued to follow Tomoe until they stopped in front of a set of steps that led to the top of a hill.
"This is it. We buried her up there over a hundred years ago. This is the second time I've visited. She must be so angry with me." Tomoe whispered. Kaoru reached out and place a gentle hand on her shoulders.
"I'm sure she understands why." she said. Tomoe nodded before starting up the stairs. Kaoru paused for only a moment before following. As she followed she realized that she truly hated stairs. She understood why they put graveyards on top of hills but she did not like having to climb to get to them.
Kaoru didn't know how long it took them to climb the stairs to reach the top. She did know she was breathing hard by the time they reached it. It also made her realize she needed to start training more if only so she wouldn't be out of breath when she attempted exercise. It made her feel even more inferior when she saw Tomoe wasn't even breathing heavily.
"It's over here by the big oak tree. She always loved climbing trees when she was a little girl. I thought it would be fitting." the older woman mentioned. Kaoru nodded as she followed her to one of the many graves. She swallowed as they stopped at the single grave that was located under the large oak tree off to the side of the main grave yard. Her eyes widened as she saw the name etched onto the weather worn stone.
'She used the same characters to spell her first name. Why do I feel so connected to you, Himura Kaoru?' she asked silently. She glanced at Tomoe to see the woman had her hands held out in front of her with her eyes closed. Kaoru quickly imitated the posture before bending her head. 'I want to help erase the sadness in their hearts. Please, Himura-san, let them know they're allowed to heal.'
"They're here!" Kaoru's head snapped up as confusion set in. It was the same voice she had heard back in her room. She glanced at Tomoe only to see the woman hadn't moved. She opened her mouth to question her before screaming as a gunshot rang through the air. Tomoe collapsed to her knees while holding her shoulder.
"Tomoe!" she cried while running to the woman. She pulled the hand away and was relieved to see the bullet had only scratched the skin while tearing away through the fabric of Tomoe's shirt. She glanced over at the other Kaoru's grave and swallowed as she saw there was a bullet hole in the tree behind the stone.
"I'm fine! Get out of here!" Tomoe hissed. Kaoru looked at her before another voice broke in.
"That's a bad idea. If you move, Kamiya, I will kill you." she looked up only to swallow at the woman standing there with a gun. She recognized her as the woman who had claimed to be Shishio's wife. Kaoru swallowed before slowly standing up. She narrowed her eyes as the gun was suddenly pointed at her chest.
"You are a coward to attack us here. This is a place for mourning." she told the woman. She only received a laugh in return.
"So it's a fitting place to make sure you die in front of someone that can't die! Tomoe will once again have to-hey!" Kaoru had run forward and knocked the pistol out of her hands while the woman started to become animated in her speech. Kaoru landed a strong punch against the woman's jaw sending her flying.
"Sorry. I hated listening to my graduation speaker. I'm not going to listen to you talk about my death. It's depressing. That and the way you dress pisses me off." Kaoru told her. She watched with wide eyes as the woman stood up and wiped blood from her lip.
"You little bitch!" she screamed. Kaoru ran forward and punched at the woman's face only to be forced to dodge the woman's own punch. She smirked before letting out a breath as her attacker's leg met with her stomach. She landed hard on the ground while attempting to regain her breath.
"I'm the one you're after, Yumi! Leave her alone!" Kaoru turned her head to see Tomoe was standing. Her eyes went wide as she saw her friend had pulled her knife from where she kept it under her jacket. She watched as the other woman, now dubbed as Yumi, approached Tomoe. Kaoru tried to sit up only to let out a haggard breath before collapsing back to the ground. She was sure Yumi had either bruised or broken one of her ribs.
"Bad move, Tomoe." Yumi said. Kaoru watched as they rushed each other only for her eyes to widen as she caught Tomoe's gaze over Yumi's shoulder. She watched as her mouth and blood began to drip from her lips. She continued to watch as Tomoe fell to the ground with a knife, similar to the one in Tomoe's hands, embedded in her side. Kaoru felt her body shaking as Yumi reached down and pulled the knife from the other woman's body. Tomoe's scream echoed throughout the graveyard.
"You know how it goes. My knife's powers will poison you and soon you will disappear along with the little crew you created. Shishio wins." Yumi said as she sheathed her knife. All Kaoru could see was red as she jumped to her feet. Her ribs protested but she didn't care as she charged and punched the back of Yumi's head so hard the woman went flying into the ground and skidded.
"You bitch!" she snarled. She could feel her blood boiling. She watched as Yumi stood up and turned towards her. She felt a justified sense of satisfaction when she saw the blood on her face. Her eyes narrowed as Yumi charged her before returning the favor of a hurt rib by ramming her fist into the woman's solar plexus. She watched as she went flying again before landing on the ground.
"If you get up again I swear both my feet will meet your face." she warned.
"Kaoru, no….you….have to…get away. F-find Kenshin." Kaoru turned to Tomoe. Her eyes widened as she saw the woman was trying to sit up as she held her side. Kaoru swallowed before turning back to Yumi. She felt her jaw clench as she watched the woman slowly stand. Kaoru crouched down in a running position.
"No way. If I do that she'll try to kill you." she said before taking off. She ran as fast she could before jumping and letting her feet meet Yumi's face. She had warned the woman. She landed on her knees as Yumi landed nearly forty feet away on her back. Kaoru stood up once again before groaning as her ribs protested.
"I think you've met your match, Yumi. How about letting me handle this one?" Kaoru stepped back as a blonde man, with a very odd hairstyle, stepped out from behind one of the trees. She swallowed as he pulled his sword from the sheath hanging at his side.
"Fighting against an unarmed person is a coward's way!" she hissed. He only chuckled but otherwise seemed to ignore her statement.
"You must be quite the wildcat if you can fight and injure Yumi. She's no pushover." the blonde said as he rested the sword on his shoulder. Kaoru swallowed as she clutched at her injured rib. She really hoped it wasn't broken. At any rate, it had taken all she had to stop Yumi's attacks. She wouldn't be able to stop the newcomer as well.
"Kaoru…..go…." Tomoe whispered from where she was still attempting to sit up. Kaoru knew she was right but she couldn't leave her friend to them. She didn't want to think about what they would do to the immortal to find a way to kill her.
"Does it really matter, Tomoe? The power, as good as poison really, that was in Yumi's knife is one of the few things in the world that can the likes of you. Once you are dead, like Yumi said, the rest are as well. Which means, Kaoru Kamiya, you are as good as dead. Why don't you make the afterlife comfortable for them?!" Kaoru's eyes went wide as he charged her with sword raised. She barely managed to dodge the blow. She found herself attempting to dodge each swing before crying out as he brought the hilt of his sword down on her shoulder. She fell to her knees as the muscles in her shoulder went numb from shock. Kaoru realized as he once again raised his sword that she was going to die.
"He's here!" the voice, the one now haunting her it seemed, cried. It was the only warning she had.
"KAORU!" her eyes snapped open only to see red hair against a black business suit jacket. She swallowed as she watched Kenshin push the other swordsman back.
"Well, you are certainly not someone we wanted to see." the blonde said. Kaoru blinked in disagreement. She was really glad the man had showed up.
"By raising your sword against Miss Kaoru you have made an enemy of me." Kaoru blinked at Kenshin's voice. It had gotten much deeper. He sounded angry. Very, very, very angry. She had the distinct feeling part of that anger was directed at her and Tomoe as well.
"As much as I would love to fight you I can sense the rest of your little friends are on their way here. Let's go get you fixed up, Yumi." the man said. Kaoru watched with wide eyes as the woman stood with minimal support from the man whose hair resembled a broom.
'I hit her with everything I had and she can still stand?! I'm way in over my head with these people!' Kaoru thought. She blinked as the duo suddenly disappeared from their sight. She watched as Kenshin slowly sheathed his own sword when it became clear they weren't coming back. It really was odd to see it hanging from the belt of a man dressed in a business suit.
"TOMOE! ARE YOU OKAY?!" Kaoru turned on her knees to look at where Tomoe had been. Her eyes went wide when she saw Misao sitting with Tomoe's head resting on her lap. The sight spurred her and Kenshin to move to where they were.
"You're hurt, Tomoe. How did this happen?" Kenshin asked as he knelt by the woman. Kaoru swallowed as she saw the blood staining the white blouse Tomoe was wearing. She was sure it was also staining the black slacks as well.
"Yumi stabbed me." Tomoe managed to get out in one breath. Kaoru watched as the blood drained from Misao's face. She wondered why she had gone so pale at the news.
"That explains why Yahiko was feeling so weak earlier and even agreed to lie down to rest." she whispered. Kaoru's eyes widened with realization. The words Yumi and broom head had said finally made sense. They meant when Tomoe finally faded from the power infecting her from Yumi's knife the other would also fade.
"You have to help her!" the voice cried once again. Kaoru felt something pulling her attention away from Tomoe's injury to the other Kaoru's grave. Her eyes widened as she saw a blurry silhouette standing behind the worn grave marker.
'How?' Kaoru asked silently.
"The knife! The knife is the answer! She needs you!" the voice whispered. Kaoru watched as the figure slowly faded away from sight. She swallowed before looking around. She quickly located the knife laying about thirty feet away from the group. She slowly stood, wincing as her body protested at the movement, and slowly walked towards the object. She bent down and managed to pick it up and straighten up without too much pain wracking her bruised body.
'Now what?' she thought as she stared at the knife. Her eyes went wide as she spotted the miniscule writing on the blade near the hilt. She hadn't noticed it when she first examined the object.
"'The blood follows and only heals those whom blessing is given.' What does this mean?!" Kaoru exclaimed. She turned to look at her group of friends to see Kenshin and Misao trying to wrap the wound. Kaoru had the feeling that no matter how hard they tried there was no healing the wound.
"Help her! You have to help her! To help them!" the voice cried. Kaoru glance back down at the inscription on the knife. She truly didn't understand the cryptic message. She bit her lip as she waited for something to hit her. She knew she didn't have much time but it was absolutely necessary that she figure it out. She had to do so quickly.
"Blood…what could…I don't understand….blood…oh!" Kaoru gasped. She quickly made her way to the injured woman. She gently pushed Kenshin away so she could kneel beside Tomoe. She reached out and pulled the shirt up so she could look at the wound. Kaoru swallowed as she saw how red and angry it looked.
"Miss Kaoru, what are you doing?" Kenshin asked. She ignored him as she was more focused on what she was doing. She slowly brought the blade of the knife up so she was looking at it. She took a deep breath as nerves began to set in. She had always hated pain.
"I hope this works!" she whispered before wrapping her hand around the blade. She quickly pulled the knife so it cut her palm. She bit her lip at the pain before quickly placing her bleeding hand on Tomoe's wound. She watched as her friend's body jerked at the contact then her eyes snapped open from where they had closed from the pain.
"Kaoru!" Misao cried. Kaoru didn't reply as she slowly pulled her hand away. She met Tomoe's eyes as the woman studied her.
"Tomoe?" she whispered. The woman nodded before slowly sitting up then looking down at her side. Kaoru felt her eyes widen as the wound was completely gone. There wasn't even a blemish to suggest there had ever been a wound to begin with.
"It's gone. I don't understand how you did it but thank you, Kaoru." she whispered. Kaoru nodded with a smile as she let out a soft sigh. "Although, your hand must be hurting."
"Actually, it's not. I think I'm still in shock at the fact I cut my own hand." Kaoru laughed before holding her hand out to let Tomoe look at it. She blinked at the shocked look on the woman's face. She glanced at her hand only for her own eyes to widen.
"There's no cut." Kenshin breathed. She glanced up at him and saw he was staring at her also with shock in his violet orbs. "What are you, Miss Kaoru?"
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