Kenshin & Familiar Of Zero: The Wandering Familiar
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I do not own Familiar Of Zero or Rorouni Kenshin/Samurai X
AN: Hello again to everyone reading my story, and thank you to the people that have left me reviews.
*Action*
"Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
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Chapter Twenty
A Death Cheated Once Again
A certain blue-haired girl with glasses finds herself rushing around the palace aimlessly. She looks around and everything that she passes by as if she was trying to find something.
'I cannot shake this feeling. It is quite troublesome. Everything seems in order.'
While focusing on everything else around her, she nearly runs right into Claire.
Claire had been observing Tabitha while doing her duties as the head maid.
Tabitha's attention jolts towards the maid, but then she quickly tries to divert herself around said maid to continue her search. Claire sidesteps right in front of her.
A guard that had been trying to keep up with Tabitha's excursions looks in shock as he observes this. 'Did she really just step in front of her?' His eyes go wide. 'I don't think that I would still have a job if I did that.'
Tabitha furrows her brow and tries again with the same results. "May I help you?" Tabitha asks calmly.
Claire smiles her blue-haired mistress and politely curtsies. "I do believe I should be asking you that question. You seem quite troubled this morning. Is there something you are looking for this morning? Perhaps I can help you."
The blue-haired girl nearly lets out a sigh in frustration. "I'm not sure what it is that I am looking for, but something is off."
"I think I know what it is that may be troubling you, and I think it is something that has been on my mind as well, despite our crude introduction."
Tabitha's facial expression changes while she ponders on what Claire had just said, and then a realization hits her. "Are you referring to Kenshin?"
Claire nods. "Yes, I am. He has been gone a while and even I find myself worrying about him. I figured you were as well, but today you seem especially out of sorts."
Tabitha clutches her hand against her chest. "I . . . feel . . . as though something is really off." Her sentence pauses in the middle as she questions her own statement.
Claire touches her shoulder. "I don't know anything about this feeling that you're having, but I do know how much you feel about him. Go to him. Go find him. I do believe that you been keeping yourself so busy that almost all of your affairs are in order. Surely your mother could handle things for a short while."
The Snowstorm thinks on this for a moment and stands in thought over what Clair had just proposed to her. Then she gets a determined look on her face and swiftly turns around. As she quickly begins walking again, except with a purpose this time, she orders back to the maid. "Please have my dragon readied."
"Yes ma'am." Claire replies, and curtsies.
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A slight breeze flows into a room as Sylphid opens a large window. The room that she and Kenshin are in, is actually in the palace. They are in one of the guest rooms. The room as finely furnished as you'd expect from a royal palace. The breeze makes the leaves of a vase full of flowers blow around.
The dragon girl looks back at the rather large bed that Kenshin was sleeping in and smiles. 'He's going to be awake any second now. Sleepy head.'
She is wearing white boots that go up to her knees, and a green skirt with slits down the sides that show off her legs. A brown corset covers her stomach and bust with a white dress shirt underneath. There is an orange scrarf is nicely tied around the collar of the shirt. She has on a green cropped blazer over her shoulders that match the skirt she has on.
She slowly walks over to the bed and sits on the edge, looking down at Kenshin. He slowly opens his eyes from his slumber. He rubs his eyes as he becomes more conscious. When he gains focus, the first thing he sees is Sylphid. He sits up and looks around. He has no shirt on, but he has a rather nice set of dark blue pants on.
"Where . . . are we? I don't recognize this place." He also looks himself over. "I am also all healed. I even feel better than I have in a long time, that I do."
"I know you have a lot of questions. First, I am sure you are hungry, yes?"
"That I am."
A knock comes from the door.
"That must be the food. Yes. You may enter."
"Did you know that I was going to be waking up?"
"Yes."
"I have a lot of questions, that I do."
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After eating their food at a table in the room, Sylphid looks at Kenshin.
"First off, we are in the palace here in Albion."
"The palace?"
She nods. "Yes. Prince Wales and a few of his guards came across us in the forest." She scratches the side of her face and looks slightly away in shame. We weren't found exactly in the best circumstances. I was wearing a torn up cloak as clothing, and your clothes were tattered as well. A pink-haired girl named Louise was with him and recognized you. She seemed sad though, because she believes she killed a boy named Saito."
He frowns. "So, he did not live. That is a shame."
"The prince wanted to show his gratitude for keeping him alive. He also wanted me to tell you that the green-haired girl is also alive. She willingly went into his custody. I guess she is in a cell and has been willingly giving him information about Reconquista. The palace has been bustling and quiet at the same time between all the recent chaos and elimination of staff."
"If we are here, then how long have I been out?"
"A few days. The pink-haired girl has already left to go back to Tristan."
"I have another question, that I do."
She looks at him rather seriously. "I think I already know what the question is, yes. 'How are you alive' is what you were going to ask?"
He nods. "Yes."
She gulps. "First, I want to say that I am partially sorry for what I did."
"What do you mean?"
"You were going to die. That was a pretty nasty stab wound you took from that dagger. You were unresponsive. I wanted you to live for my sake, but that was my selfish side. Yes. I knew you wanted to live because of the other blue-haired girl." A slight tear comes to her eye.
"What did you do?"
She takes a rather large breath, gets up, and walks over to the open window. As the breeze hits her, she practically relives the scene over again in her head. Kenshin stays seated during this.
She begins to tell her story while still looking out the window. "There was an old story that I remember my mother telling me. It was actually a tragic story, but there was a very important message from the story. There was a boy that was going to die. He was being trained to be king, and he was even being trained by a knight and a dragon. But, he was mortally wounded during a fierce battle. The only way to save him, was through a process where a dragon gives half of it's heart. The dragon that was training him, gave him half of his heart."
Realization hits Kenshin rather quickly, from her story, what happened to him. He also has some of his own thoughts about the situation though. 'I thought for sure I was going to die. I think that I may have even welcomed such a fate, that I did. But this girl here, has given half of her heart to me out of her own love for me despite knowing my heart belongs to another. I know Tabitha wanted me to come back as well.'
She speaks up again after wiping a tear away. "I wasn't even sure if that silly story was even true, but I was desperate to find a way to save you. I'm not any kind of mage. The only thing I could do was hang on to the hope that the story was true and I could save you." Then her head turns to him and she gives a little bit of a forced smile. "And it did work, because you are here now. You and I are now bonded for life."
When she finishes her last sentence, she holds up her pendant. Kenshin instinctively grabs his as well. "Just like our pendants, our lives are joined as one. I have no idea how this will affect us going forward. All I knew is that doing this could save you. Yes."
"What if it would have killed you?"
"I guess that would have been fine, too. I would have deserved it for abandoning you for the time that I did."
"Don't say that. It wasn't even your fight to begin with."
"I know, but I was also the one that was trying to pursue you as my life mate. Leaving you was like leaving my life mate. On a separate note, I became quite tuned to your body through our bond. I had quite a drain on me while your body has been healing. But I have a rather hard and concerning question."
Kenshin gets slightly startled by her question, but he wants to answer her earnestly. "What is that?"
She walks closer to him. "I don't know if it's those runes of yours, or your fighting style, but you body has been taking quite the toll from all of your fighting, yes? I could feel my dragon healing power focusing on certain areas of your body."
"It is probably from both. I had not fully finished the training for my sword style before I went out and was heavily using it. The runes I have also take quite the toll on me as well."
Some tears stream down her face as she looks at him. "Kenshin, you have to take better care of yourself. I feel like you will eventually die from putting all this abuse on your body."
She gets even closer and reaches for his face. He hesitantly sits still. "And I don't know this healing stuff works, but it looks like your old scars are still here." She almost touches the scar on his face but he turns slightly away.
'This must be a sensitive subject for him. Perhaps I'll leave it be. Yes.' She thinks to herself while backing away.
"It will be fine if that stays. That it will."
"Anyway, maybe we should return back after some more rest before a certain girl worries even more about you."
"Perhaps we could visit Miss Longueville before we leave as well. I have questions, that I do."
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Kenshin and Sylphid walk into a room that seems to be a sort of study. Books line shelves. There is a rather fancy looking couch with a coffee table next to it, and a rug underneath that has red and brown diamond patterns on it.
They move out of the way of a man that rushes by them that is carrying a letter. Another that has armor on also walks away from a desk and puts his helmet back on while walking away.
The desk is a large 10 ft. desk with a red hue to it. Behind the desk is Prince Whales.
"Thank you for coming here on such short notice. Excuse the commotion. I have a lot of things going on. Everyone, please leave us alone."
All of the other staff in the room vacate, leaving just the three of them in the room.
"I am sorry that I do not have a bit more of a feast or reception for you. I am glad to see that you are doing well."
They both give him a polite bow.
"That is quite all right, your highness. We do not need anything fancy like that."
Sylphid gets a slightly disappointed look on her face about the food. 'I would have liked to have had some great food.'
Kenshin could feel something coming from her and he could almost assume it was probably about the food as well. 'I am definitely going to have to get used to feeling another person's emotions, that I will.'
"You saved not only me out there, but a lot of other people. You deserve a lot more than this. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for not killing me out there."
Sylphid speaks up. "That would have been quite silly, yes, considering that him and that other guy. . "
"Saito." Kenshin adds
"Were there to find and protect you." Finishes the dragon girl.
"I heard about that from Louise. She filled me in on many things." Then he looks between the two of them. "I'm not sure how you guys pulled it off, but you have one heck of a doctor there, Kenshin. I thought for sure you were a gonner, especially when that dragon flew off with you."
After some quick thinking, Kenshin replies. "She is a great doctor, that she is. But I had also met that dragon before, and she brought me to the girl you see here."
"Well, not that it means much, but thank you for saving him, Sylphid."
"It was rough, but I managed to save him."
"On a different note, Kenshin, I have something for you." He gets up and walks over to a side table that has a long wooden box on it. He brings it over to his desk and sets it down on top. He opens it.
Inside is Kenshin's sword. At least, what was left of it. Many of the pieces were in there,but not all of them.
"We couldn't find all of the pieces, but I wanted to give back as much of it as we could to you. I don't know what you'll be able to do with it, but it was too unique. I figured you might have wanted it back."
"Thank you. I am not sure what I am going to do with it either. Getting a new one forged would be quite difficult. That it would. On the other hand, I have seen so much bloodshed, that I am tired."
"I know that there are some great blacksmiths out there. Perhaps there is one out there with enough talent that can take on the task of re-creating the sword you have there."
"That might be so."
"I unfortunately do not have much to offer you in the way of help, or give you a fitting reward at the moment. My kingdom is in chaos from what Sheffield did and the chaos that Reconquista was also creating. If you are willing to give me some time, then I promise to give you a fitting reward when I get things settled down."
"I have no need of a fancy reward from you, but I do have a favor to ask."
'What does he mean that he doesn't want a fancy reward?' Sylphid thinks to herself.
"Please name it, and I will grant it if it is within my power."
"Reconquista's main reason for going after the nobility of the kingdoms is because they were tired of the treatment of people whom were not blessed with magical ability. I had told Miss Longueville that it was belief that Miss Henrietta and Lady Charlotte could start the change of how the lower class is viewed for a better future without the need for bloodshed. Are you capable handling such a task as well?"
A hard sigh comes from the soon-to-be king as he ponders on those words. "I cannot lie. That will be a rather large uphill battle, but how can I refuse the man that saved my life that had no magic power at all. I'll be honest though. I wasn't entirely fond of the treatment that people s
"It is, but it's better than tons of people losing their lives over it. Your father lost his, and you could have lost yours, yes?" Sylphid adds.
"That is a painfully true statement, Sylphid. It drudges up a lot of anger and feelings within me. I am angry with Reconquista, and they should pay for their crimes. On the other hand, I will seek this change that Kenshin speaks of." He lets out a breath that he didn't realize he was holding. "Also, had it not been for your influence, That green-haired girl would not have started cooperating with me."
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Kenshin gets led to a cell that the previously mentioned girl is held in. A guard brings him to an isolated cell that's about 10x10 in dimentions. Foquet sits up from lying down on a not so comfortable bed.
"Well, hello, Kenshin."
"Hello to you too." He replies back to her.
"It is good to see that you are doing well, and your friend, too. I can't believe you survived that. Even though the prince was very interested in finding you, I was even more insistent."
"Thank you for caring about my well-being."
"You did save our lives after all."
"He sure did. And he paid a hefty price for it. No thanks to you." Sylphid snarls back.
"My. My. Aren't we a little testy." Foquet retorts back.
"I heard that you are cooperating with prince Wales."
"Indeed I am. It's mostly thanks to you."
"Why me?" He asks.
"Your little speech that you gave to me the last time we met was quite influential to me. The mad king did do a lot of influencing in the background. I am hoping that you truly are right and I am wrong about how to move forward. I am putting my trust in your hands and in the hands of the upcoming rulers of Helkegenia. Bloodshed is not necessarily the answer. I had to really think hard about that though before I truly came to that conclusion. I have my own demons and grudges to bear."
"Doing the right thing is harder than committing the crime. That it is. I do not wish to see the atrocities that I have seen befall upon all of you."
Sylphid feels a tug on her heart from his.
"Only time will tell. I do hope to see you again sometime soon. But I am sure you're going to go back and see that other blue-haired girl, aren't you?"
"That I am."
"Then I wish you well."
"I also wish you well. I will put in a good word to the prince about you. That I will."
She smiles back at him. 'I'm going to need all the help I can for the crimes I've committed.
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Port city, Tristan.
Tabitha, with a cloak over herself, walks up to a particular Germanian that was previously at the Albion port city, Rosynth.
Friedrich rubs his mustache. While Tabitha approaches him.
"Where ya goin, lassy?"
"I am going to Albion." She says softly.
"I am sorry, but I was recently informed that the only thing that's going to Albion right now are goods."
After a small pause, she speaks up again. "I am exporting goods."
"Oh? What is it then? Do you have proper paperwork to show that you're a merchant? I know most of the merchants that come around here, and you don't seem to come to mind. What kind of goods are you shipping?" He pulls out his clipboard.
"I am exporting myself."
He looks flabbergasted for a moment, then his face contorts into a position that says 'I'm not in the mood for this bullshit today.'
"Are you out of your mind? How dare you try to come to me with that?" He starts shaking the clipboard at her. "Slaves and prostitutes are not part of the deal. Besides, you don't even have . . . "
She pulls down her hood. "Then what about the princess of Galia?"
While he stands still as if frozen, the clipboard slips out of his hand and falls to the ground. He quickly regains himself, drops to a knee and bows to her. The guards around him also drop down.
"Please forgive me. I did not realize it was you."
"Please get up. I need to go to Albion to search for my husband to be." Then she thinks. 'Something about the way I said that just now seems off. How troublesome.'
"Um. Pardon me for saying this, but aren't there any men in Galia worthy of you?" He asks hesitantly.
She lets out a soft sigh. "That is not what I meant. A man that I plan on marrying travelled there. Have you seen him? Has he come back? He has reddish hair and has a x-shaped scar on his cheek."
"Now that is a description I can remember. He gave me some insights, and I also remember him because of the paperwork he had. He must have been on some pretty important business."
She lights up slightly in hope. "Have you seen him come back this way?"
He shakes his head. "I cannot say that I have. I have been here ever since all of the commotion occurred over there. I can take care of my tasks from here with cooperation from Queen Henrietta herself. But he has not come back through here from what I've seen. It doesn't look good for the lad though. People went crazy over there and were chanting things like 'Kill Kenshin Himura.'"
Her eyes go wide and worry comes over her even more. "Explain this to me in more detail and then get me over there as soon as possible."
"Yes, your highness."
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Days later, in Albion.
After missing Louise At the port city in Tristan, Tabitha had made her way to Albion. She had asked around, trying to look for Kenshin. She didn't hear much of anything. Most people weren't talking and the whole city seemed to be in slight upheaval. Everyone was on edge still from what had occurred.
'Hmmm. Perhaps I might be able to hear something from someone in this inn.' She thinks as she comes up to an inn. She could smell the aroma coming beyond the entrance. It started to make her own taste buds tingle end her stomach roars slightly.
She enters into the place, and she instantly heads strait for the bar.
"Can I help you with something, young miss?" A middle-aged man asks.
"Have seen a man with red hair and an x-shaped scar on his cheek?"
The man smirks. "You should have been a little more observant when you came in here. Hopefully you're not trying to cause me trouble. He must have a thing for blue-haired girls."
She shakes her head. "No trouble. What do you mean by what you said?"
He points to a corner of the place. Her eyes follow, and she finds Kenshin sitting at a table with another girl that has blue hair. 'Another Girl with blue hair?'
Just as she starts to walk towards the table, Another person walks through the door, and it is Saito.
Saito lets out a rather loud yawn. "Man am I tired and hungry. I can't wait to eat some good grub." Saito says aloud.
Just after Saito says that, Kenshin and Sylphid look over from where they were sitting to see who was causing the bit of commotion that was being caused.
All four of them start staring at each other.
"Oro?!"
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A/N: Thank you for reading another chapter of my fanfiction.
Here is a list of my other stories
My 'Worldend: What Will You Do With Us' story is at chapter 1 – Complete
My 'Monster Musume: Trials And Tribulations' Story is at chapter 3
My 'Monster Musume: Smith Loves His Coffee' story is at chapter 6 (Sequel to Drago's Quest)
My 'History's Strongest Devil Disciple Kenichi' story is at chapter 30
My 'Kenichi: Not Just Her Disciple' story is at chapter 11 - Complete
My 'Monster Musume: Drago's Quest' story is at chapter 4 - Complete
My 'Familiar Of Zero: Saving Grace' story is at Chapter 79 - Complete
My 'Teknoman And A Succubus' story is at chapter 13