Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Built on a Dream ❯ Thoughts ( Chapter 6 )

***Author's Note: Ohayou minna! I bet all you RuroKen fans know who Sam is based on! *Yawns* Ever felt like you should have just stayed in bed?

*Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin… though, I really really really wish I did..

Dinner had helped to ease Kara's mind, though she felt a sense of dread after throwing the verse away. Sam's father was on yet another business trip, so Kara had invited Sam to spend the night on their living room sofa, as he had done so many times in the past.

“Freeloader,” she thought with a smile. She didn't blame him though; Sam's father had never been the same since the divorce. Kara frowned, eyes still closed, and covers pulled up to her chin. People changed so quickly. Her thoughts drifted to Tish. Last night, after finishing two glasses of red wine, she had excused herself and stole away to her bedroom, taking the wine bottle with her. Sam and Kara had exchanged glances, shrugging. After finishing their dinner, the two went into the living room and watched tv. Sam had fallen asleep not so long after that, so Kara found a blanket and tucked it in around his lanky frame. Smiling to herself, Kara had made her way to bed.

Now, it was morning. Birds were chirping outside, and the sun shone on Kara's sleepy face, promising a beautiful day. She opened her eyes… and leapt out of the bed. A blue-haired teenage girl, perched on the cloud, hovered a few feet away.

“I'm seeing things,” Kara thought. Her fist drifted to her chest, feeling her beating heart. “Kami?” she whispered. “In the flesh!” Kami cheered. “Well, sort of.” Kara stared, dumfounded.

“You… you're here. How did you-” Kami cut Kara off with a wave of her hand. “It really doesn't matter, little one. The problem is you.” She eyed Kara. “You don't believe that yesterday even occurred, or that I'm even real.” Kami folded her arms. Kara shifted her weight uneasily.

“I don't know what I believe, Kami.” She sighed. “But I think I'll go to the doctor today, just to make sure nothing's wrong with me.”
”Kara, you don't have time for this!” Kami wailed. “The first test for the potential potentsharus is tonight. You need to access Spiritworld this evening!”

“It's my choice, isn't it?” Kara said softly. “I don't even want to become a Guardian.” She climbed back into bed. “Being a Guardian is a great privilege!” Kami said, temper flaring. “There are millions of girls in your world and you have been selected-“

“Kami,” Kara said firmly, interrupting. “I need time to think.” She paused. “I don't even know if you're real or a hallucination!” She pulled the covers over her head. “Please leave,” she said quietly. “Just give me some time.” Kami shook her head sadly.

“If only you had time, my dear,” she whispered, her body and cloud fading into bright lights as she returned to Spiritworld. “If only…” Kara didn't hear her though, she was again sound asleep, her thoughts muddled.

Kara was cold. She was curled up under the covers, which she had pulled up to her chin. Blinking her eyes, she sighed softly, relishing the feel of being in her safe, soft bed. There was nothing to worry about when tucked safely away in bed. Darn cold. Everything would be perfect if it weren't for the early morning chill. Tish must have forgotten to turn the heat on. It was late fall, and the temperature was beginning to drop as the sun started to set earlier.

Well... maybe everything wasn't so perfect. Nothing could change her... `experience' in Spiritworld. Nothing could change how her heart sank when Sam had told her that her dream meant nothing. Nothing could change her little visit from Kami; didn't she say something about a test being tonight? Kara wanted nothing more than to be caught up in something important and to be someone important.

“Kara!” No. Tish was calling her. Shouldn't her step-mom be in bed with a hangover or something? It was Saturday: no school, no practice. Nothing! Then why the heck was Tish-

“Kara!” This was unfair. It would be even more cold once she got out of bed. Kara sat up slowly, grumbling. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

“I'm coming, mom!” Kara called, a hint of annoyance in her voice. She swung her feet over the side of her bed, and wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. Standing up, she squealed. The floor was freezing! Stupid. Stupid.

“Kara!” Tish's voice was coming from the master bedroom. Kara walked lightly down the hallway, wincing as Sam's deafening snores came pounding from the living room. She pushed open Tish's bedroom door, and clutched her blanket around her shoulders. Tip-toeing to the side of the bed, she called Tish's name. Her stepmother opened her eyes and looked up.

“Kara, today is Saturday. You said that you'd go and see Mrs. Tanaka today.” She paused, thinking. “Take a few dollars out of my purse and buy her flowers.” Kara groaned. All she wanted to do was sleep in for once... and then go to the doctor.

“Yeah, sure mom.” Maybe she could get this over with quickly, and then drop by the clinic. Kara walked over to the dresser and rummaged through Tish's purse. Inside, she found a small canteen of whiskey. Sighing, she pulled out the canteen and stuck it in her pajama pocket, knowing she should get rid of it. After finding the money, she padded out of the room, her sock-covered feet getting used to the cold floor.

“You taking up drinking also, Missy?” Kara whipped around at the question. Sam was sitting up now, hair ruffled, blanket discarded. Kara briskly walked over to him and shoved the bottle at him.

“Take it!” she hissed. Early mornings made her edgy.

“What am I supposed to do with this?” He held the canteen in his hands as if it was a bomb. Kara frowned.

“Look, don't play innocent with me, rooster head,” she fussed, glancing at his spiky brown hair. “I know you've had more than your share of alcohol.” She turned away. “I don't care what you do with it, just get it away from here, please.” Sam shook his head, knowing `here' meant Tish. Kara started toward her room, shaking her head. It was Saturday, for Kami-Sama's sake. She should be able to sleep in. Closing the door to her room, she slapped her forehead, realizing that she had used a Spiritworld term. “My visit had better go quickly; I really need to go see the doctor.'

-------

Sam had offered to walk her there, after stuffing the bottle of whiskey in his pocket. It was only a few blocks to Mrs. Tanaka's house, and the early fall wind provided relief from the blazing sun. Trees lined the sides of the road, and each step they took made a scraping sound on the sidewalk.

Kara was blatantly aware of these things, because the silence between them was so thick. Her mind was cluttered with thoughts about Spiritworld. Tonight was the first test. If she passed, she would become one step closer to becoming a Guardian. She sighed. One step closer... if she even went.

“Something is definitely wrong with you, Missy,” Sam said mildly, cocking his head at the quiet girl beside him. “What's up? Got a crush on me again?” Kara smacked the back of his head. She never did and never would have a crush on that overly-tall, dumb-looking…

“Not in your dreams, Sano.” Silence. Kara turned her head, peering at his face. What was wrong with him? He gazed at her out of the corner of his eye.

“What did you call me?” Now it was Kara's turn to be silent. What had she called him? She bit her bottom lip. Sano? She hung her head.

“I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking,” Kara muttered. This was getting too weird. “I just do that sometimes.”

“Do what?” Now Sam was worried. His normal humor had faded, and the edges of his mouth began to pull into a frown. Kara rubbed her forehead. That godforsaken beat was starting to come back.

“Sometimes I just lapse into... some kind of insanity, I guess. I called Michelle Misao, and now I called you Sano.” Wow, the sidewalk was interesting to look at.

“Hey,” Sam said to get her attention, forcing her to look up at him. “Maybe there really is something weird going on in that head of yours. That dream you were talking about... when did it happen?” Kara really didn't feel like talking about Spiritworld. And she really didn't want to bring up the fainting incident. After all, she was about to visit a lady on her deathbed. Why should she still be worried? Today was a new day.

“Yesterday, Sam.” She answered Sam's question and then paused. “And then this morning...” Looking up, a look of relief crossed her face. She almost laughed. “Oh my, we're here already!” She skipped ahead, and turned around to face a confused Sam. “Hey, I'll call you, I promise. Then we'll get all of this sorted out, okay?” Sam nodded, and started walking back to his house. He looked over his shoulder.

“Missy,” he called, but just loud enough for her to hear. “If you need anything-“

“I know,” she dismissed him with a friendly wave. “I'll call you, I promise!” Smiling with relief, Kara turned around and walked to the front door of Mrs. Tanaka's house.