Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Built on a Dream ❯ Chapter 8 - Miss Death ( Chapter 8 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

***Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! I didn't even ask… wow! Umm… I should explain something, though it'll all be clear later on in the story. Kara Camiya is Kaoru's reincarnation, if you believe in that kind of thing. Haha, but for the sake of fiction… we'll leave it at that for the time being. Kenshin will be Ken or Kenneth, I'll decide later. Enjoy!

Oh yeah, I just typed this up, so there might be mistakes. Will be edited later!

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

The moon gleamed down on the glistening lake, heating it just enough so that the cool water wouldn't be uncomfortable. Kara smiled. She was resting by the shore while Kami and Mrs. Tanaka waded in the water. It was amazing how Spiritworld could lift the spirits and rejuvenate the body. The old woman splashed through the water with effortless grace, not tiring from fatigue or breathlessness, and obviously having a great time.

Kara was restless though. Kami had said that they had important work to do, but now she seemed more occupied in showing Mrs. Tanaka a good time. Flipping over onto her stomach, Kara sighed and stared into the distance. Night in Spiritworld seemed to make the land calmer, as if everything that had breath was sleeping., There was no wind, but the trees continued to sway to the ever-present rhythm of the world.

“Hey! Kara!” It was interesting how it was dark enough to encourage sleep here, but just light enough so that she could still see. Kara toyed with a few blades of grass, not hearing Kami, and wondering why she hadn't had the courage to try and return to Spiritworld before seeing Mrs. Tanaka. Closing her eyes tightly, she admitted to herself that she definitely wasn't Guardian material.

“Kara?” a worried voice called. Kami sloshed out of the water and walked over to the girl. Seeming to sence her abrupt change in mood, Kami kneeled down beside her. “Hey, is everything okay?” Kara turned to face the concerned teenager beside her.

“Weren't we supposed to be getting ready for the big test? If it's already night here, then it can't be much longer until it will be night on earth.” Kara fingers still grasped a few blades of grass out of frustration.

“Don't worry,” Kami said, her voice soothing. “Time passes much differently here.” She laughed. “Actually, we couldn't put up with your long earth days. I guess it's because we can accomplish so much more in a smaller amount of time.” Her smile faded was she noticed that Kara didn't reply to her boasting. “Something really is bothering you, isn't it?” Kami's voice was barely above a whisper.

“It's just that… well, we haven't trained at all for the big test you keep mentioning.” Kara rolled over onto her back and gazed at the starry sky. Kami changed from a kneeling position to a sitting one. She was going to be there awhile. She sighed.

“Kara,” she began slowly, carefully choosing her words. “Training doesn't just have to do with your physical strength. Contrary to what my brother believes, brute force doesn't solve everything.” She looked up to the heavens as well. “A lot of the challenges here will be mental or emotional. Right now, you seem very tense. I thought it would be best for you to just relax and prepare yourself mentally for what's going to happen.”

“What is going to happen?” Kara asked pointedly, looking over to the girl beside her. Kami chuckled.

“You know I can't possibly tell you that, little one.” She wrapped her arms around her bended knees and watched Mrs. Tanaka splash about in the water. “And that's assuming I even know.” Before Kara could ask another question, Kami shivered.

“What's wrong?” Kara had never seen Kami upset before. The Spiritguide was silent, rocking back and forth, her arms around her knees.

“Death is coming. We have to meet her.” That was all she said. Even Mrs. Tanaka stilled, and Kami motioned for her to join them on the shore.

“It's time, isn't it?” Mrs. Tanaka whispered, walking over to the two girls. Kami nodded gravely and rose to her feet. She offered a hand to Kara and pulled her up.

“Come along, my friends. We must follow the brightest star.” The guide raised one outstretched hand in the air and there was a tiny blue explosion. Kara blinked. A wooden oar appeared in Kami's hand. It was light brown and had an eerie carving of a dragon on it. “Jump on,” the girl exclaimed with force cheerfulness. She lowered the oar so that the back end was touching the ground. Giggling and the bewildered stares from Kara and Mrs. Tanaka, she positioned herself so that she was straddling the oar.

“What the-” Kara began, eyeing the paddle-like object.

“You don't expect me to ride a broomstick, do you?” Kami laughed and waved for them to sit with her. They climbed on, with Mrs. Tanaka in the middle, and Kara marveled at how easy it was to balance on the small stick; it must have been laced with a spell or something. “Here we go ladies,” Kami bellowed and spoke a few words in another language. The oar lifted the three off the ground and Kara gasped. Only this could happen is Spirirworld.

Threes and plants flew by and the wind rushed in Kara's ears. How incredible! She never guessed Kami would be able to fly around Spiritworld, without her cloud, that is. The sky, speckled with stars, stretched out above and the grassy hills rolled beneath them. The ride lifted Kara's spirits. With tricks like these, she just might be able to get used to this new world.

“Here we are,” Kami shouted over the wind. The oar gracefully lowered to the ground and the three jumped off. Kara was disappointed that the ride was so short; she was beginning to enjoy Spiritworld for once. Kami raised the oar in the air, and with a flash of blue light, it was gone.

Kara looked at her surroundings. They had landed in the middle of a dark forest, directly in front of a huge tree. It wad a weird symbol carved into the trunk, and darkness seemed to be emanating from it.

“Where exactly are we?” Kara muttered, glancing suspiciously around. Kami frowned at Kara's question. She motioned toward the tree.

“The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” Kami bowed her head and began to explain. “It is now somewhat of a portal of darkness; not at all what it was intended for. Kami-Sami had indeed placed it on your planet, but after the… incident, it was forever removed, along with the Garden of Eden.”

“So where's the Garden?” Mrs. Tanaka wondered aloud.

“Heaven!” Kami winked and Mrs. Tanaka. “You'll be able to see it soon.” The old woman smiled but Kara's face fell. She had forgotten their purpose for being there.

A loud rumble interrupted Kara's thoughts and an ominous purple shadow shone from the tree's symbol. The darkness grew until it made a hole in the tree, and a small child stepped through the portal. Her long black hair cascaded down her back and shoulders and she wore a simple black dress that hung loosely on her tiny frame. Her eyes were striking, those dark pools of brown taking in the sight of those before her.

“Hello.” She said, her voice strangely monotone. “My name is Shikyo.” She turned to Kami, and stared pointedly. “Shikyo remembers you. One twin. Girl twin. You are here again?” Kami flushed red, and shook her head.

“I'm a Spiritguide now; it's a long story.” Kami gently pulled Mrs. Tanaka forward. “This is the one you seek.” Kara stood completely still as Shikyo eyed the old woman and nodded slowly.

“Shikyo needs your name.” The child watched as Mrs. Tanaka cleared her throat nervously.

“Kerri May Tanaka,” she said, surprised at the calm of her voice. Shikyo stared into the woman's eyes and for an uncomfortable moment, the whole forest stood still. Kara shifted her weight to the other foot. This was Death? This was the force that made Kami tremble when she sensed it?

“A believer,” the child announced suddenly. “That is what Shikyo sees, but Shikyo is not always right. Humans have tricky ways. But this one…” she nodded her approval, and then turned to Kami. “Shikyo will take this one to Judgement now.”

As soon as the words were out of her mouth, sneering and snickering erupted from the forest. Kara moved closer to Kami as voices shouted out from the darkness, some crying as if in pain.

“Demons,” the guide whispered. She looked at Shikyo, who had taken Mrs. Tanaka's hand and turned toward the tree. Kami frowned and glanced at Kara. “I'll put up a barrier. Stay close to me.” But Kara's eyes were focused on the old woman in front of her.

“Mrs. Tanaka!” Kara called. “I'll miss you!” The old woman smiled sadly, and nodded. Tears welled up in Kara's eyes. “I'm sorry I forgot to bring you flowers!”

Kami raised her arms and opened her hands. Light exploded around them forming a blue dome big enough to envelope them and the tree. Demons crashed into the barrier, screeching battle calls, but it held firmly, crackling with power.

Shikyo and Mrs. Tanaka made it to the tree, both oblivious to the battle raging on around them. The little girl tugged on the woman's sleeve, motioning for the woman to bend down. Shikyo whispered something in her ear, and the old woman nodded gravely before they continued toward the tree. Kara watched it all in silence.

“What did Shikyo say to her?” Kara wondered silently, wiping the tears from her eyes. She asked Kami. The Spiritguide's mouth pulled into a frown and she had a distant look on her face.

“Shikyo told Mrs. Tanaka not to look back.”