InuYasha Fan Fiction / Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ In the Arms of the Enemy ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

I'm bored. Bored, bored, bored. And school's in three days. Damn. Oh well.

La la la..did I mention I'm bored? I need sugar.

Oh, yes, and the Disclaimer: I own Rurouni Kenshin and InuYasha!! Haha! Take that! Oh, and Miroku's gay. Yep. --_--;;

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In the Arms of the Enemy

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Chapter 3

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The wind blew inbetween the small cracks of the hut, but the drafts did not affect him. His head downward, his expression pensive. His eyes stared at the floor, yet they were unseeing. The moonbeams filtered through the single window, casting its light upon the wooden floor. Particles of dust sailed through the air, floating to an unknown place. He sat in the shadows, his sword propped up against his chest. His knee was pulled up to his chest, the other stretched out along the floor, his foot in the pale moonlight. His arm draped lazily over his knee, his brows furrowed.

That woman...

She had not been afraid or disgusted by him. Even after she discovered his identity, she didn't run or scream. She seemed...uncaring of who he was, and what he did and had done. She had even offered her thanks. When was the last time he had been appreciated for something?

His head rolled backwards, thumping lightly against the wall. He closed his eyes, and breathed out, hoping for sleep to claim him soon. But everytime he came close, her face would appear in the darkness of his mind, and with it, a light would shine.

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Ripping a piece of spare cloth, she dabbed her forehead, gently wiping away the sweat. She had been walking the whole of the night, in search for a town with a place of rest. Trudging along the dust-riddled path, the sun began to rise lazily over the hills. She had been awake for, what, roughly twenty hours now? She needed to find housing soon.

Which is why she nearly cried in relief when the border of a small town came into view. Hurrying her pace, she descended the small hill, and reached the edge of town in less than twenty minutes. Exhaustion and exertion set in fairly quickly, and she hurried her search for an inn or suitable place of rest.

Seeing a small house with a room for rent, she entered quickly. Ringing the small bell chime, she hoped she wasn't disturbing anyone's sleep. A woman, older than her yet still fairly young, entered through the side door. She had a towle in her hand, her hair tied back awkwardly, absently scrubbing a plate. She gasped when she saw her, and ran around the small desk to her side, pushing her bangs away from her forehead.

"You poor dear! You must be tired as sin." she exclaimed. She found it hard to form words from her voice.

"Please," she croaked, her voice sounding foreign to herself, "May I have shelter? I have traveled without rest for a lengthy period of time."

The woman gasped and ushered her to a set of stairs, helping her up, speaking the whole time. "Of course, of course! Maybe later when you wake, a bath and some food, yes?"

She smiled wearily to show her thanks, as the woman led her to a small, but reasonable room. A futon lay in the corner, complete with fresh bedsheets, a mirror opposite with a small stool. A table resided in the middle of the room, a nice rug laying under, with two sets of cushions.

"Many thanks," she whispered, her vocal cords threatening to give out if she spoke any louder. "Please, you must let me pay..."

"No, no, your money is not needed. Pay me when you can, feel free to stay here as long as you need. You've obviously been through some rough occurances of late." She tsk-ed, and helped her onto the futon, tucking her in. Scuttling across the room, she pulled the blinds down, blocking the early morning sun.

"Thank you, so very much. I appreciate your hospitality immensely," she murmured, but the woman heard and understood her regardless.

She smiled warmly, before sliding the door back in place, her footsteps echoing down the stairs signaling her leave.

Laying in the semi-dark room, her stomach growled impatiently but she ignored it. Her body cried out for sleep more than it required food. Her joints ached, her head pounded and her feet felt as if they were blistering already. Her heavy lids fell over her eyes, as the land of sleep claimed her tired body.

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Her eyelids fluttered open what had to be several hours later. She groaned, as her head pounded dully, bringing her fully awake. Rolling over, her face collided with something crinkly. Frowning, she lifted her head, her hair billowing over her shoulders. Brushing her bangs absently, she picked up the piece of paper, and read the well written message.

'I would say 'dear' but I'm afraid I didn't learn your name.

Any matter, there is food downstairs in the kitchen for when you awaken. Don't fret about the money, I'm sure it can be arranged when you are feeling well. You seem nice, I can tell.

I hope you feel better soon.

Akime'

'Akime...' she pondered. Ah, the nice woman who had helped her. She reminded her, in a way, of her late mother. Her eyes saddened, before she shook her head, wincing at the rush of pain nevertheless, but focused on finding food and maybe a job in this small town.

Sitting up, she folded the note neatly and placed it beside her futon. Making sure the sheets were orderly, she pulled a change of clothes from her bag and quickly re-dressed. Peeking out her window, she judged the time to be about eleven at night, possible half-past. Retrieving a small brush from her bag, she perched herself on the stool infront of her mirror. Running it through her hair a few times, she fingered her locks lightly, fluffing them, before deciding to leave them down and untied. Checking her image once more, she snuck out her bedroom door, closing it behind her, and went downstairs to the kitchen.

She found it easily enough, the delicious smells filling her nose and awakening her hunger with a raging start. She picked up one of the riceballs from the nearby counter and chewed on it absently, leaning against the wood in an un-lady-like manner. The first thing she needed to do was find work. Towns usually had small taverns or tea houses, so she would search for such a place and ask for a job. If she was lucky, she might be able to secure a position.

Writing a short note stating the reason for her absence, she grabbed another riceball and headed towards the front door, sliding on her sandals, and exited through the door following the late-night crowds.

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After several bumps and crude remarks, she found a small tavern. Patting her hair and smoothing the invisible wrinkles of her kimono, she walked inside. She passed the several drunken customers and ignored the hungry stares as best she could. Walking up to the front counter, she looked at either side through the doors, hoping to find someone to assist her.

She was about to call out, when a woman of roughly her age rushed through a door form the left, carrying a tray with several large jugs of sake and many smaller cups. Her bangs framed her face, with a slight wave. Her hair was pulled up into a position similar to that of a bun, with strands of it falling out and spilling over the edge. She watched nervously as she went from table to table, delivering the orders, before bustling back in her direction.

As she passed her and headed behind the counter, she called out hesitantly. She paused and looked at her, only noticing her now. She bowed low, and spoke when her head rose.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I would be most grateful if I could have a job here. I work hard, and-"

She was cut off as material hit her in the face with a soft 'thwump'. It fell from her face into her outstretched hands, and she blinked at the white cloth as she realized vaguely that it was an apron. It had blue embroidery of flowers along the edges, nothing fancy, but it brought about a certain classiness. She looked up and blinked at the woman, who was busy preparing orders once more, disappearing into the backroom. Her head poked through the doorway, and she gave her a smile.

"You're hired! Now come help me."

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Balancing a tray of sake, she weaved her way through the tables. Finding the customers amidst the mob, she approached their table and placed the cups infront of them. Pouring the sake, and leaving the jug on the table, she bowed and hurried back to the kitchen. She saw now why she had been hired, and in such a rush as well. Business was tremendous, and her employer must've been overwhelmed. She seemed to be the only one working before she had come along, and she couldn't help but wonder it must've been like to handle this by herself.

It had been nearly two hours since she had started, and the crowds were beginning to die down, the drunks making their way outside where they proceeded to regurgitate their stomach contents before wandering home. The few customers left were finishing up their sake, no new customers entering for the past half hour or so. It was well past two, and the effects were beginning to show on both customers and staff, despite the fact that she had had roughly twelve hours' sleep. She found herself craving more already.

When the last customer left, her employer went to the front and locked the door, placing a sign in the window signaling that they were closed for the night. She watched as she wiped her brow, and dusted off her apron.

She approached her, and she bowed, thanking her once more for giving her the job on such short notice. She simply waved it off.

"It should be me thanking you. I was dying out there! By the way, I'm Mikaina." She smiled, and bowed slightly.

"Kagome," she responded with a smile of her own, mimicking the action.

Mikaina swept a judgeful eye over the drinking areas. She sighed, and bent behind the counter, retrieving two cloths and a bucket of water. Pulling out a second, smaller bucket, she poured some water into it and pushed the bucket and one of the cloths to her. "Let's go over the tables and call it a night."

She nodded, and took her bucket to the far side of the room, as Mikaina started near the kitchen. She scrubbed, her hair moving with her ministrations, as she cleansed the first table and moved to her second. She loved to work. Work provided distractions. When she was distracted, she wasn't thinking, and the less thinking she did, especially now, the better. A small, almost unnoticeable smile pulled at her lips. She had found a new home.

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After bidding goodbye to Mikaina, she had set off home. She would tell Akime that she would be earning her weekly pay in three days' time, and would hopefully be granted the time to pay until then. Her footsteps were silent, her head lowered as she walked through the empty streets.

The sound of shuffles came to her ears, and her head shot up. The silhouette of a person fairly close to her showed in the moonlight. She quickly ducked into a side alley, and pressed herself against the wall. She wrapped her arms around herself, as she shivered involuntarily. The shuffles became louder, and as she listened, she could determine that whoever making the sounds was obviously having a rough time.

As the person drew closer, she found her body tense, awaiting the stranger to pass. But when the face appeared, she gasped. The man who had saved her, was teetering on his feet, his footing unsteady. Drops of blood hit the ground behind him, as he swerved dangerously.

She let out a little sound, similar to a mix between a squeak and a gasp. Darting out of the alleyway, she ran after him, and reached him just after he collapsed to the ground in a crumpled heap. She dropped to her knees beside him, worry on her face. She shook him lightly, and turned him onto his back with a heave. As gently as she could, she searched for the source of his bleeding. His hand was clutching a spot above his right abdomen, and she pried his hand away to be met with red. She inhaled quickly, as she pulled her apron out of her inner pocket.

Opening his kimono, not caring of what it may seem like or the repercussions later, she gasped as the wound revealed itself. Pulling the pieces of stuck fabric from the outher edges and the wound itself, she wrapped the apron around it as best she could, trying to constrict the blood flow. A groan escaped his lips, and she shushed him softly.

"You saved me, now I shall return the favour," she whispered, as the sounds died on his lips, and he lapsed into a state of unconsciousness. Securing the apron, she manuevered him into a transportable position.

"I'll take care of you."

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'Damnit' he mentally cursed. They had drugged his food, the bastards. He had trusted them.

A sharp sting ran through his right chest to his shoulder, and he winced. He pressed his hand closer to the wound, trying to push the pain to the back of his mind, as he focused on ceasing the blood flow.

'Two-timing, cowardly snakes...' he sulked, as he tried to find some form of civilization. But then again, at this hour, who would be awake to help him? And even if somebody did find him, who would rescue a Battosai? He was as good as dead.

A wave of nausea hit him like a ton of bricks, and he swerved dangerously, unaware of the soft gasp that came from behind. The blood loss would kill him, if not anything else, and he could already feel the effects. When the next wave hit him, he fell forward onto the ground, pain streaking up through his left side at the impact.

Footsteps came from behind him, and he felt his body being turned over. His eyes blurred over, and he closed them as his head sang painfully, his chest burning. Each breath was a struggle, as he fought to hold onto consciousness. He felt himself being disrobed, but he didn't care much. His hand had been removed, and now lay motionless at his side, stained with his own blood. The irony failed to escape him. After so many years, all the blood that had stained his hands...the last blood of it all would be his own.

The person began to wrap him in what seemed a bandage, and he let out a soft moan as she touched a particularily tender spot. Her, he discovered, voice sounded strangely familiar and comforting. Her soft hands caressed his skin, and he felt himself relaxe under her care, even though he may be dying. His head spun, and all his senses began to fade away. The last thing he heard stuck with him in the darkness.

'I'll take care of you...'

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Oooh another chapter done! Again I apologize for the last chapter being so short but hey! What'cha gonna do =P

Next chapter coming (hopefully) soon.

Thanks all!

Meii