Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Dream Weaver ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

A huge thanks to my beta, Shrouded View, who helped me edit this thing to within an inch of its life.

So here's the next installment. Hope you like it (I tried to get a little more action in).

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the sole property of Nobuhiro Watsuki

 

Dream Weaver

Chapter Three

 

Near-silent footsteps echoed quietly off stone walls as a darkly-dressed man sought his trusted advisor and friend. Clothed entirely in black, an observer would think him a trick of the eye as he moved like a shifting shadow. Only the mass of flaming hair crowning his head seemed to indicate otherwise.

Weaving his way through a labyrinth of moss and ivy-covered halls, the man paid no heed to the images carved into the ancient stone. Long had the walls of this now half-ruined castle stood, witness to many a bloody war waged by those who sought control over these lands. The carvings etched into the face of the timeless stone told the stories of battles long-forgotten, stories of arrogance, greed and the insatiable thirst for power. The man knew these scenes well…intimately so.

Pausing before a pair of intricately carved oak doors, the red-head collected his thoughts before proceeding. Releasing a heavy sigh, he stepped forward.

The doors opened for him of their own volition, admitting the red head into what appeared to be a council room. A massive oak table flanked by high-backed chairs dominated the center of the room. More chairs lined the walls behind the table. At the table's head stood an ornately carved chair, much larger and grander than the rest. Though the room could easily seat thirty or forty people, it was now empty save for one other.

Next to a glassless window a dark-haired man stood in a pool of brilliant sunlight, his back to the door. Turning slightly, the man looked over his shoulder and regarded the newcomer through narrowed ice-blue eyes, taking in the fine lines around his eyes and mouth.

“Aoshi…”

“You don't look well, Himura,” said the blue-eyed man, cocking a single eye brow.

The red-head merely glared at the other man. His plan was not going as smoothly as he expected and he was annoyed by it. “The girl has…”

“…cast another spell, I know,” finished Aoshi. “There are few that don't, I think.”

“It's caused…complications. She's in the garandou…”

Aoshi's dark brows drew together in concern at this news. “For how long?”

“Since she cast the spell. I've had difficulty pinpointing her.”

“Then let's hope others are having the same difficulties.”

“Have the gate ready for Samhain, Aoshi. We won't have another chance after this.”

The solemn man nodded in understanding as Himura turned on his heel and strode from the room. It was going to be a long night.

xxx

Kaoru was lost in fathomless darkness…lightless, soundless…heavy. Though she could feel her feet were on something solid, she didn't dare move from where she stood for fear she might plummet off the edge of some unseen precipice. She stood in the cold void for what seemed like an eternity, waiting for something, anything that would break through the blackness.

As she waited for the mysterious unknown, she passed the time by trying to remember what brought her to this place. The last thing she remembered clearly was the sight of the foal lying lifeless in the straw. The rest was a blur of fuzzy images and a strange feeling of detachment from her body. Warmth had surrounded her like a familiar embrace, building around her heart until it inexplicably flowed out of her and she passed into the darkness in which she now found herself.

She must have gone over the scenario a good two dozen times, but couldn't come up with anything new. So now she attempted to clear her thoughts completely. It wouldn't be an easy feat; her mind was always going a million mile a minute. So she closed her eyes and inhaled as deeply as she was able. Slowly, she began to release her breath, envisioning all her jumbled thoughts flowing out with the air.

As her mind cleared, Kaoru suddenly became aware of another presence. The hair on the back of her neck bristled; she had the distinct feeling someone was watching her.

“HELLO??!!!” she yelled at the darkness. “Is someone there?”

Her questions were met with silence.

“Let me out!!!” She screamed out the demand turning in place searching for any hint of an escape, but for all the noise the attempted to make, her voice seemed to fall flat at her feet like a lead weight.

Groping for the ground, Kaoru knelt and hung her head, feeling hot tears leak from her eyes.

“Please let me out…” she whispered.

xxx

Kaoru's body jerked slightly as Yahiko placed another cold cloth his sister's forehead in an attempt to cool the fever that seemed to burn both her body and mind. Eyes gritty with fatigue, the boy watched as her body stilled once more. The deep lines of stress and worry etched onto Yahiko's features looked out of place on a face so young.

But worried he was…terrified, actually. He might pick fights with her, call her “ugly” and ridicule her for her skills in the kitchen, but Kaoru was his sister, the only family he had left. For three days she had been like this, since she…she had…

Yahiko shook his head as he wrung out the now-warm cloth and dipped it back into the bucket of cool well water, trying to shake the disturbing images of what happened in the barn…white eyes…Kaoru's glowing form…life where there should have been none. After the incident, Kaoru had collapsed into Sano's arms, unconscious and burning with fever. She had not awoken since.

Yahiko had never felt so helpless. Nothing he did seemed to help, and yet Yahiko continued to sit by Kaoru's side and pray for a miracle while he attempted to nurse her. He didn't dare summon the doctor or anyone other than Sano for fear that they might discover the unnatural cause of Kaoru's fever.

Kaoru seemed to flit in and out of consciousness, occasionally muttering something incoherent. There were times when her eyes would fly open, but they were vacant, glassy, and Yahiko could swear there was terror hidden in their depths, as though she were seeing something he could not. In these moments, Yahiko would talk to her, try to bring her back to reality, but his attempts were in vain. Inevitably, eyes would close again a few minutes later as she sunk back into a semi-comatose state.

Now his sister lay pale as death in her bed; only Kaoru's cheeks showed any color, bright with the flush of her fever. She lay nearly motionless, her breath shallow, but Yahiko could see the rapid movement of her eyes beneath the near translucent skin covering them and he knew she still dreamed. Of what, he couldn't know, but he suspected it involved that red-head. Somehow, everything seemed to come back to him.

“Damn him!” Yahiko cursed under his breath.

xxx

“Kaoru?!” The name echoed through the girl's consciousness.

Kaoru's head jerked up at the familiar voice, brows drawing together in irritation. She should have known he had something to do with this. She looked around the blackness for the source of the sound, searching for the familiar red hair. If he was here, maybe she could finally get some answers.

She heard him call her name again, but she didn't respond, suddenly unsure if she was ready to confront him, especially if she couldn't see him.

“I know you're here, little one,” the voice said with a gentle strength. “Help me find you.”

In the darkness to her left, Kaoru could see a faint amber glow, like that of a lantern, and the dim outline of the man to whom the voice belonged. He seemed to be a good ways off, though it was difficult to judge distance in the darkness.

Kaoru felt a familiar fear creep its way around her heart and give a small squeeze. Was this man friend or foe? His actions the night her parents died had confused her then and did still. He'd butchered her parents, but seemed unwilling to harm her.

Kaoru rose to her feet, preparing herself for whatever would happen next. She rooted herself to the spot by a sheer force of will. She watched as he approached slowly, until he was close enough that she could see the red of his hair, his eyes emitting a surreal amber glow.

“Kaoru,” he said quietly, the yellow of his eyes fading to a calmer purple as they took in her appearance. “Are you all right?”

“W-what?” Kaoru brows furrowed, confusion replacing fear. She didn't know what she'd expected him to say, but it certainly wasn't that.

“Are you all right?” the red-head repeated, his tone patient, but concerned.

Kaoru wasn't sure how to answer his question, simple though it was. Physically, she was fine; mentally she wasn't sure. She'd been stuck in a land of sensory deprivation for an indeterminate amount of time and the first person she saw was her parents' killer.

“That depends,” she finally answered. “Where are we?”

“The garandou,” he replied as though that would explain everything. In the dim light, he must have seen the perplexed look on her face. “The void between waking and dreaming.”

When Kaoru continued to frown in confusion, the red-head reached out a hand to her. “Come. I will guide you out.”

Kaoru stepped back, eyeing him warily. “Why should I trust you?”

“Do you have a choice?” he asked, arching a brow. “Has anyone else offered you a way out?”

“Well…no…but…” Kaoru faltered for a moment.

“Anyone else who might find you in here would be far less trustworthy than me,” he added.

“Just who are you?” Kaoru asked, eyes narrowing.

“Right now, your way out.”

“That's not an answer!” Kaoru said stubbornly. “What do you want with me?”

“I promise I will answer all of your questions, Kaoru, but not here, not now,” he answered, his voice taking on a hard edge.

“At least tell me your name?” Kaoru pressed, standing her ground.

“We don't have time for this,” he growled. Grabbing Kaoru's wrist, he pulled her forcibly to him and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Crying out in surprise, Kaoru attempted to push away, but strong arms held her firmly in place. Kaoru's movements stilled as she felt her captor's breath ghost over the shell her ear.

“My name is Kenshin Himura.”

An involuntary shiver raced down Kaoru's spine at the name. A brilliant light exploded around them and then he was gone. Kaoru slowly became aware her mattress's softness pressed against her back and a familiar voice laced with worry whispering her name.

xxx

A small moan escaped Kaoru's lips bringing Yahiko out of his thoughts and drawing his attention to her face. A dim feeling of hope began to bloom in Yahiko, rising in his throat to constrict his breathing as he watched Kaoru's eyelids flutter. She moaned and her brows furrowed as though she were struggling against whatever force was holding her.

“C'mon, Kaoru,” Yahiko murmured as he put the wet rag back on her forehead. Kaoru's face winced in discomfort at the feel of the cold cloth and Yahiko allowed his hope to glow a little brighter. For the first time in the past three days, it really seemed like she was waking up.

“Yahiko…”

It was one word, croaked out more than spoken, the voice cracking around a parched throat. Kaoru slowly blinked, looking around in confusion until her eyes slowly moved to focus on her brother. Yahiko removed the cloth again and felt her forehead. Although still quite warm, her skin no longer scalded his fingers with its heat.

“Welcome back, Sis,” Yahiko said with a small smile, releasing the breath he didn't know he was holding.

xxx

In the days following the fever, Kaoru slowly regained her strength, though she was plagued by the memories of her experience and the man called Kenshin.

Her feelings about the man were more confused than ever. She was disturbed by how her thoughts drifted toward Kenshin, dwelling not on the atrocities he had committed, but rather on various aspects of his appearance. She was fascinated by him, by the odd coloring of his hair, by the elegantly sculpted features of his face, by the innate power radiating from his presence. The more her thoughts dwelled on Kenshin, the more she found that her heart could not hate him the way her mind told her to; fear him, yes, but not hate him. She was unsure if she could ever fully forgive him for past actions, but a small part of her felt indebted to him for rescuing her from her shadowy prison.

On this day, however, in this moment, Kaoru's thoughts were preoccupied with the events that had plunged her into that dark world. It had been a week now since the birth of the foal and in the chill of a late-autumn afternoon, Kaoru stood wrapped in a thick shawl watching the newborn follow her mother around the small corral.

She had little memory of what happened that night, only vague, unfocused images and a lingering awareness that something unconscious and instinctual had controlled her actions. Yahiko and Sano filled in many of the holes and though Kaoru found it all completely unbelievable, there was no denying the existence of the animal she now observed. She was not willing to accept what her brother and friend had concluded…magic. The admission that she had magic came with many implications Kaoru just didn't want to face. Kaoru knew her denial was cowardly, but she stubbornly clung to it. It was that denial that spawned more than a few verbal sparring sessions with Yahiko.

Without conscious thought, Kaoru turned away from the corral and sought out the two people she had always relied on for comfort and wisdom. Passing by her meager flower garden, Kaoru plucked a few late season blooms and wandered toward the graves located beyond the barn. Stepping under a maple now turned scarlet by the cold weather, Kaoru swept spent flowers from the tops of the markers and replaced them with fresh ones.

Over the past year, Kaoru had visited this place often. Sometimes she would sit in quiet contemplation. Other times, it was just to share the boring happenings of day-to-day life. Today, however, she came seeking solace for her troubled soul. Heedless of the mud from the previous day's rain, she knelt before the stones.

As she stared at the headstones, Kaoru thought back to the stories from her childhood, those tales of faeries and elves and wondered if there was some measure of truth to them. Despite her inner turmoil, Kaoru found it difficult to dismiss the power she had felt flowing through her body not so many nights ago. It was the same power she had felt the night her parents died, when the man she now knew as Kenshin Himura had tried to take her.

“There is so much you don't know, little one. So much I should have shared with you, but I thought I had more time. I am so sorry…”

Kaoru's brow furrowed in thought. In light of recent events, her mother's final words to her took on new meaning. Her mother had kept a secret, a secret she'd taken to her grave. Both her parents had. But what was it? Were they killed because of it? The idea startled Kaoru.

“What did you not tell me, Momma?”

Maybe tonight she would be able to sort out her thoughts and feelings. Yahiko would be gone at the harvest festival and Kaoru would finally have some time to herself to just think. For a few hours, at least, she would be free of her brother's pestering insistence and the perpetual arguing.

She looked forward to the respite, no matter how brief it would be.

xxx

“Yahiko! Hurry up! Yutaro's here!” Kaoru voice bellowed from the kitchen at the sound of knocking at the back door. Wiping her wet hands on a dish towel, Kaoru went to answer it, expecting to see her brother's best friend. Instead, she came face-to-face with slightly grumpy-looking Sano.

“Oh!” Kaoru exclaimed, slightly startled. “Sorry, Sano, I thought you were Yutaro.”

Kaoru turned her back on him and went back to the kitchen she was in the middle of cleaning. “What are you doing here? I thought you would be going to the festival tonight to scope out the ladies.”

“Well, that was the plan,” Sano grumbled.

“Was? Don't tell me you're going to stand up poor Ayame and Suzume to hang out with me tonight. They'll be devastated!” Kaoru exclaimed with a laugh. The crush the doctor's granddaughters had on Sano was the stuff of village legend, even though they were only six and four. When Sano didn't respond, Kaoru turned back around to face her friend. The laughter died a quick death as she took in his appearance, eyes widening slowly in shock. “Why are dressed like that?” She asked warily, eyes narrowing.

He had traded his trademark white jacket and pants for a clean button down shirt and leaf green trousers. Kaoru was shocked. She didn't know he even owned anything else. He even appeared to have taken a bath and made a failed attempt to control his spiky hair.

Kaoru backed up slowly, realizing what his intentions were. “Uh…n-n-no…Sano…,” she stuttered.

“You're going to the party tonight,” Sano declared. “No more moping!”

Kaoru's brows furrowed and her mouth opened to deliver a sharp retort, but before she could say anything, there was another knock on the door. She walked over to open it, revealing a smartly-dressed twelve-year-old.

“Hi Yutaro,” Kaoru said, plastering a smile on her face, before calling over her shoulder. “YAHIKO!!!”

Her brother came bursting into the kitchen but stopped up short when he saw Sano standing there. He stood there wide-eyed, jaw gaping before bursting into laughter.

“HAHAHA…nice duds, Rooster head!” he exclaimed.

Yahiko's laughter was cut short as Sano gave him a sound wallop on top of his head with a fist. “Shut up, kid!”

“Don't call me `kid'!” Yahiko cried as he charged the taller man. Sano merely planted a palm on Yahiko's forehead and held him back at arms length while the younger boy attempted to pummel him.

“Sure thing, Shorty,” Sano said with a smirk as Yahiko continued to swung his arms about in a fruitless attempt to punch him. “Shouldn't you be meeting Tsubame, lover boy?”

Yahiko's frenzied activity ceased and his ears turned pink at the mention of the girl's name. Straightening up and running his fingers through his wild hair, Yahiko turned on his heel and marched out the door without a backward glance, Yutaro close on his heels.

“Now, where were we? Oh, yes,” Sano said, snapping his fingers and turning back to Kaoru. “You were getting changed.”

“Sano, I told you before, I'm not going.”

“You know Tae will get suspicious if you don't.”

“Figure out an excuse, Sano!” Kaoru snapped, lack of sleep making her temper shorter than usual these days.

“She's threatening to call in my tab if I don't get you there! She even made me dress up in these ridiculous clothes!” Sano's face looked slightly panicked. “Now go get changed and let's get to the damn party!”

“NO!” she yelled. All hopes of a peaceful evening seemed to be quickly slipping away.

“Fine then!” Sano shot back as he crossed his arms over his chest. “But you know that Tae won't forgive you if you ruin her chance to go out with Tsunan tonight.”

Kaoru growled through clenched teeth, her unwavering blue gaze locked with Sano's in a silent war, but he could see the guilt beginning to work its magic.

“Fine!” she yelled, throwing her hands in the air in surrender before stomping off to quickly bathe and change.

Thirty minutes later, a freshly cleaned Kaoru emerged from her room clothed in her new dress. Although she had not intended to attend the festival tonight, she finished it as a way to keep her hands busy and calm her troubled thoughts.

The fabric Kaoru had purchased during her last visit with Tae now fell in soft, liquid folds that reached nearly to her ankles. The bodice, designed to fit snugly without being restricting, emphasized her soft curves. A wide sash of muted silver encircled her narrow waist, accenting the shimmering leaves woven through blue material, causing them to spark and move across its surface. Kaoru's hair, loosened from its customary ponytail, fell in inky waves around her shoulders, held back on one side by a delicate silver pin clasped behind her left ear.

Sano stood from where he sat by the hearth when he heard Kaoru enter the room. Eyes widened and he let out a soft whistle. “Wow, Missy, you're quite the looker in that dress. Who knew?”

The tactless comment earned Sano a sound whack on the back on his head. Reaching back to soothe the forming lump, he followed Kaoru out the door, mumbling his apologies.

xxx

Kaoru and Sano arrived to find the town's main square transformed for the annual harvest festival. Lanterns, glowing with the autumn hues of orange and yellow, were strung around the plaza. Vendors' stalls remained on three side of the open area. On two sides, stands had been converted into elaborately decorated game booths where those who felt lucky could play a game of chance. As Kaoru and Sano walked by, the attendants called out loudly, advertising their particular diversion in an attempt to draw the couple in.

One side of the square was dedicated to the food vendors where local bakers and chefs would bring their specialties to sell to the crowd, filling the air with the aroma of spiced meats, roasting nuts, and baked fruit. Along the fourth side of the square, a stage had been erected upon which local musicians were now setting up.

Dominating the center of the large open area was an enormous stack of logs, constructed into a four-sided brazier, which would be lit later when the night was in full swing.

A large crowd had already gathered for the night's festivities. The harvest was over; now was the time to celebrate. Kaoru had not been to one of these festivals since she was a small child. She had forgotten how thrilling it was, the air fairly charged with the enthusiasm of all who participated.

`Maybe Sano's right,' Kaoru thought. `There's a first time for everything.' This could be just what she needed, a nice diversion to temporarily forget her troubles.

Most of the young men and women had paired themselves off for the evening. All who came were dressed in colorful, festive garb reserved for such occasions. Kaoru looked around taking in the sights while trying to catch a glimpse of Tae in the throng, but was failing miserably due to her short stature.

“Sano, do you see Tae or Tsunan anywhere?” Kaoru asked her tall friend. Next to her, Sano's stomach grumbled loudly in reply and Kaoru suddenly found herself dragged in the direction of the food stalls.

“Ack...Sano!” Kaoru cried out in surprise.

“C'mon, Missy! I wanna get some beef skewers before they're gone!”

Before Kaoru realized what was happening, Sano had ordered food and she was somehow roped into with paying for it while he sauntered away, munching happily. “Thanks for the grub!” he called to her over his shoulder.

“Sano, get back here!” Kaoru thundered, red-faced and absolutely fuming as she ran to catch up with him. “Why is it I always get stuck with buying your food, you big freeloader?!”

“Aww, c'mon Kaoru, you know I don't have any money!”

“Well, I'm not exactly swimming in it!” Kaoru retorted.

Sano, at least, had the good sense to look somewhat ashamed. “Do you want some?” he mumbled around a mouthful of beef, holding out one of the skewers.

“No, but I'll tell you this,” Kaoru said, wagging a finger in his face to emphasize her point. “I'm sick of you assuming that I will just pay for everything. It's not fair!”

She sighed in resignation, her anger cooling after her outburst. “Let's just find Tae and Tsunan, okay?” Even though Sano had guilted her into coming, she didn't want the night to be ruined before it even started.

They found Tae and Tsunan a few minutes later over by one of the game booths. The two men exchanged a friendly handshake, while Tae embraced Kaoru in a warm hug. “I'm so glad you came,” she whispered in Karou's ear.

Tae grasped Kaoru's hands and stepped back as she inspected her friend's new look. “That dress looks amazing on you! Don't you think she looks great, Sano?”

“Sure,” he said off-handedly, not even looking in Kaoru's direction. Instead, he pointed toward the center of the square. “Hey look! They're gonna start. Let's go watch.” With that, Sano took off in the direction of the stage dragging Kaoru behind him.

Tae huffed as she watched them leave. “Those two could be great together. This is just going to be a little harder than I thought!” she grumbled to herself.

“Did you say something, Tae?”

Tae turned to look at Tsunan. “No…er, sorry, Tsunan, it's nothing. Let's go catch up with those two.” Boldly grabbing his hand, she followed after her friends.

The couple caught up with Sano and Kaoru who stood next to the raised platform waiting for the party to officially begin. The four young people stood quietly for a few minutes before Kaoru decided to break the silence.

“So I haven't been to one of these in a really long time. What are we waiting for?”

“You mean you don't remember?” asked Tae.

“Not really,” Kaoru said. “I think I was about six or seven the last time I came.”

Sano shot a knowing smile at Tae before looking down at Kaoru. “Just watch.”

Appearing in the corners of the square were four men Kaoru recognized as the sons of the village headman, each holding a lit torch in his right hand, awaiting some unknown signal. They were all dressed alike, clad in dark breeches and elaborately embroidered white tunics. Their pants only reached to mid-calf and Kaoru noticed their feet were devoid of any covering. She had a vague recollection that the absence of footwear symbolized something about a connection the earth. The fire that would soon be ignited was meant to bring light and warmth in the coming darkness of winter.

From the stage behind her, Kaoru heard a deep thrumming begin, slow and rhythmic. Turning, she saw set on the platform an enormous drum upon which the rhythm was being played. At the sound, the torch bearers began measured steps toward the center of the square in time with the beat. Kaoru watched as the men moved slowly to gather around the pile of wood they would soon set ablaze. As they began the circle the wood, the drum beat gradually increased its tempo, volume, and complexity. Other instruments steadily joined in until the night was filled with the sound of harmonious, contrapuntal melodies, the pulse of the music reverberating through the very core Kaoru's being.

As the tempo increased and the rhythms became ever more complex, so did the footsteps of the four torch bearers. Feet moved across the packed earth, weaving intricate patterns into the dust as the dancers circled and spun in perfect unison. At a loud cry from the lead percussionist, the performers raised the torches over their heads and separated them into two flaming sticks, one in each fist. There was a pause in the action before both dancers and musicians resumed at a fevered pitch. Arcs of fire surround the performers as they swung the flaming brands over and around themselves with such speed one wondered if they were not made of flame themselves.

Kaoru stood mesmerized, eyes wide as she took in every detail. She could not believe she'd forgotten how awe-inspiring the fire dance was. The beat of the drums and the light of the flames called out to something ancient and primal buried deep within her. Visions of another fire dance, very different from the one she was watching, flitted quickly across Kaoru's memory, but they vanished before she could grasp them.

Without warning, the four dancers suddenly thrust the eight torches deep within the heart of brazier which burst to life in a towering column of flame. There was a moment of silence, filled only with the sound of crackling wood before the crowd erupted into cheers and the string and wind musicians started up a lively jig. Couples paired off before moving out toward the bonfire and dancing to the high-spirited music.

“That was amazing…” Kaoru breathed.

“The dance is different for every festival,” Tae explained, “though, I must say the Akiyama brothers certainly outdid themselves this year.”

“Hey, Missy, I'm going to go find something to drink. D'ya want anything?” Sano asked.

Kaoru's eyebrows shot up in disbelief before furrowing in suspicion. “Do you actually have money to buy something, Sano?”

“I will as soon as you give me some,” he said flashing what he probably thought was a charming smile.

“Sanosuke…” Kaoru said menacingly, her tone holding the promise of certain pain.

“I'm kidding, I'm kidding,” Sano defended waving his hands in surrender as he slowly backed away. “I'll be right back,” he called, turning in the direction of the food vendors.

“Tae, would you like to dance?” Tsunan asked, turning toward his date.

“Sure, thanks,” she replied, blushing lightly, before turning to Kaoru. “Are you going to be okay here?”

“Of course! Go have fun.” Kaoru winked at her friend. She knew Tae had waited years for this night and her heart swelled with happiness as she watched her friend dance with the man she'd secretly loved since childhood.

Kaoru watched as they joined the other couples dancing in the light of the fire, smiling a little as she caught sight of Yahiko dancing with Tsubame.

`They look good together,' she thought as watched them.

Kaoru's mood gradually turned melancholy as she looked around with the dawning realization that nearly everyone her age was paired off with someone. Even her thirteen-year-old brother had found someone to love. She was eighteen now. She should be thinking about marriage and family, but what was the point? There was no one who captured her interest in a romantic way. For too long she had been shunned by boys her own age and so she became indifferent to most of them. Sano was one of the exceptions, of course, but she had never thought of him as more than a friend and brother.

Kaoru suddenly felt very alone as she watched all the happy couples. She wanted what they had, what her parents had had. Kaoru looked into the dancing flames of the bonfire, her vision becoming watery with unshed tears. What she really wanted was something she knew she could never have: to be normal. She had longed for that as long as she could remember, but after what happened in the barn a week ago, it was clear she was anything but “normal.”

A vision of violet-gold eyes and crimson hair flickered through Kaoru's memory. Even Kenshin had implied she was not like everyone else the night he killed her parents.

This is not who you are…

It was in that moment Kaoru realized she had not dreamed of the red-head since she'd awakened. She thought it strange that she just now realized this; perhaps it was because he was so often in her waking thoughts. Stranger still was the realization that in an odd way she missed him. He had saved her from the darkness she'd found herself in, though how he came to be in there with her she still didn't understand.

As Kaoru's thoughts continued to center on the red-head, she slowly became aware that the image of the village square and its occupants was dissolving until only the bonfire remained. When it, too, faded, she found herself standing at the edge of a forest, looking out onto a large, open field.

The night sky overhead was a blanket of blue-black velvet encrusted with millions of diamonds. In the distance, Kaoru could see rolling hills silhouetted against an enormous, crimson moon, hanging low against the earth. The smell of freshly harvested grain filled the air, a fragrance so intense Kaoru could nearly taste it.

`What in the world?' Kaoru wondered to herself uneasily, looking around in bewilderment.

Standing in the middle of the field, were the largest stones Kaoru had ever seen, each taller than five full-grown men, erected into a massive circle of columns capped with equally massive lintel stones. At the circle's center blazed twin bonfires around which Kaoru could see figures circling in a dance.

Intrigued, Kaoru crept closer, hoping the darkness of the night would conceal her movements. Hiding in the shadow of one of the largest pillar stones, Kaoru eyes widened at the sight before her. What she had previously taken for dancers were, in fact, cornstalks, fashioned into human-like shapes, the light from the fire giving the illusion of movement.

Within the circle of stalks danced a maiden, even more petite than Kaoru, though she appeared to be full-grown. Her skin, pale as moonlight, seemed to glow from within. A mass of ebony hair, plaited into an intricate braid, whipped and snaked around the girl as she moved her lithe form to music which seemed to pulse from the night itself. The girl's eyes remained closed as she moved, her pretty face the picture of serenity.

Kaoru watched, hypnotized, as the girl stopped in front of the gap between the two fires. Reaching into the sleeves of her emerald gown, the maiden withdrew what appeared to be two branches bearing bright, scarlet berries set against dark green leaves. Raising the cuttings high above her head, she opened her eyes and Kaoru gasped at what she saw. Set within the pale, ethereal face were two completely colorless orbs.

Covering her mouth in an attempt to muffle any further noise, Kaoru stood in shock. Was it possible she was like this girl? As Kaoru watched, the girl began to chant and the night was filled with her words.

This is the night to join the dance,
Partake in all-renewing trance;
Where worlds within and out are one,
Our sacred journey now begun.

 

To greet the ones we loved before,
Our kith and kin from days of yore,
Forgiven foe and long-lost friend -
We dwell among you yet again.

 

For now the worldly veils are thin,
Where hope and healing can begin.
Our deeds are done; the hour is late
To rest within the arms of Fate.

 

Kaoru's attention was so preoccupied with watching the white-eyed maiden that she failed to notice a second figure enter the circle until he stood next to the petite girl. Kaoru's eyes grew impossibly wide as she recognized the black-cloaked figure. Hair that seemed to have been born from the flames themselves surrounded the face which haunted her thoughts.

`Kenshin…'

Kaoru watched as the white-eyed girl finished her incantation by throwing the branches into the heart of each bonfire. At their contact, flames erupted into two immense columns of crimson fire that bent together to form an arch which grew until it towered higher than the stone circle.

Color, deep as emeralds, returned to the eyes of the petite girl and she turned to speak to her red-haired companion.

“You know the drill, Himura,” she said, hands on her hips as she regarded him. “I assume you obtained something on your last visit that will help guide the gateway?”

“I have her blood,” he replied in the softly powerful voice Kaoru remembered so well.

“Really? I'm not going to even ask how you got that,” said the petite girl in surprise as she withdrew a small dagger from the belt around her waist and handed it to him. “Here.”

`Blood?!' Kaoru thought and watched as Kenshin cut the palm of his right hand before holding it to the shimmering veil between the pillars. Images flashed, shifting quickly until Kaoru saw with horror that they became fixed on a single location that was achingly familiar. Dancing couples flowed in and out of the fiery frame as Kaoru recognized the village square she had left behind.

“Which one is she?” asked the green-eyed girl.

Violet eyes narrowed as Kenshin studied the image before him, frowning slightly as he searched for the object of her question.

`He's looking for me, but he won't find me there,' Kaoru thought until she saw herself in the image, still standing next to the platform as she stared absently in front of her. She was in two places at once? She shouldn't be surprised. Thinking of the garandou she remembered this wasn't the first time something like this had happened to her.

“There,” he said, pointing a slender finger at her image.

“Her?” the girl asked incredulously. “She doesn't look like much.”

“Neither do you, Misao, but look what you can conjure.” Himura said indicating the portal as he looked down at the petite girl beside him. “Don't let appearances fool you. She has the potential to be very powerful.”

As he said this, violet eyes shifted slightly toward the shadows in which Kaoru had concealed herself and she knew he'd seen her, though he said nothing to his companion.

“Time to go, Himura,” Misao said turning back toward the portal. “The gateway won't last forever.”

Himura's gaze, bleeding with yellow, remained locked with Kaoru's as he nodded in agreement. Without another word, he turned and lept forward, vanishing through the arch.

xxx

Screams of alarm erupted around Kaoru and chaos overtook the crowd. Looking around in confusion, she found herself back in the village square, but now instead of dancing, people were scrambling in every direction, fear etched clearly across their faces. Kaoru looked around for the man she knew inspired their terror.

Kaoru found him crouched low to the ground in front of the fire, eyes glittering with amber. She was reminded forcibly of a predatory animal as he rose to his feet, yellow eyes scanning the mob of panicked people in search of her.

She still had time to run, to try to get away, but she found herself rooted to the spot where she stood, her heart locked in a war of conflicting emotions. In the void, Kenshin seemed worried about her, had saved her, but that was not the man she saw before her now. This was the one man had murdered her parents, who had terrorized her sleep for over a year.

She didn't know what to do. Her heart raced as she contemplated her next move. If she ran from him, he might harm someone trying to capture her. If she went with him, what would become of her brother?

…her brother…

`Yahiko...oh, god…where's Yahiko?!' Kaoru thought, desperately searching the sea of faces.

“Kaoru! Where are you?”

Kaoru spun at the sound of Sano's voice bellowing over the screams of the crowd.

“I'm here,” she yelled as she ran toward Sano who stood just a few feet away.

“What the hell is going on?”

“He's here,” was all Kaoru said.

“Who?”

Ignoring his question, Kaoru grasped at the front of Sano's shirt in desperation. “Have you seen Yahiko?”

“No, last I saw, he was with Tsubame.” He turned to look for the teenage boy, but found instead a sword-wielding red-head now stalking toward where he and Kaoru were standing.

“Who the hell…?” Sano's eyes widened with the realization of who the man was, recognizing him from Kaoru's description. Kaoru heard knuckles crack as Sano balled his fists in preparation for a fight.

“Kaoru, get out of here.” Sano spoke the command with a chilling calmness before he started walking out to meet the swordsman.

“Sano, no!” Kaoru cried out, grabbing one of his arms to stop him. “He will kill you.” Sano was tough, but she knew he could not win against this man. The air fairly crackled with the power that flowed off him in waves.

Sano paused, turning to look at Kaoru with an expression that she had never seen before, one that made her catch her breath.

“I won't let him take you, Kaoru,” he said quietly.

“No! Please, Sano, don't do this!” Kaoru pleaded with him tears flowing from her eyes, but he pulled out of her grasp and charged at the shorter man.

In the light of the bonfire, Kaoru saw Kenshin become a blur of red and black. Time slowed as she watched him leap to an inhuman height, sword raised overhead, poised to strike Sanosuke.

“NO!” came Kaoru's anguished scream.

The glow of steel flashed through the night.

Kaoru fell to her knees, eyes wide with terror.

The swordsman landed with feline grace in front of Kaoru, a satisfied smirk on his face.

Kaoru's world narrowed to the place where Sanosuke lay in the dust…

…and stilled.

xxx

A/N: Much of the imagery for the fire dances in the chapter was inspired by the music of the incomparable Loreena McKennitt (Huron `Beltane' Fire Dance and `All Souls Night') as well as the festival of Samhain. The night of Samhain (pronounced Sow'-en) is one of the principal festivals of the Celtic calendar. It is a festival dedicated the final harvest, representing the end of summer and the beginning of winter. It is said that the veil between worlds is thinnest on this night, hence the idea that Kenshin is able to cross into Kaoru's world from another. I am by no means an expert on Celtic celebrations, so this is just my imagining and not meant to be an accurate depiction.

Since I don't do poetry, I have to give credit where credit is due. The text of for Misao's incantation was taken from “Samhain Round” written by Marc Hirsch ©1997.

Thanks for reading. Please don't forget to leave me a review. I would really like to know what you think. I'm shooting for ten for this chapter. More is good too, but ten would make me really happy. :)