Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Fairen Destiny ❯ Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I no own Kenshin

Hey all! I'm really sorry for not updating `til now. Please forgive me.

Ok so this chapter is very long so I'm dividing it into two parts but I'm posting both at the same time (just so ya know) Also I want to say Christmas completely, absolutely, and totally rocks! n-n (so do presents lol)

READ ON!

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Kenshin tossed and turned in his bed trying to get comfortable. He had fallen asleep earlier for a few hours but now he was awake and he couldn't fall asleep again. Finally he sat up, running his hands through his disheveled hair, and strode over to his balcony. He opened the doors and walked outside letting the cool night air wash over him. He starred off towards the direction of the forest now blanketed in the dark night, the only light coming from the pale moon and twinkling stars.

The red head decided that a midnight walk in the gardens would be good right now. He grabbed the cloak that had appeared by his door, not even bothering to wonder how it got there, and strode out.

`Maybe this was a bad idea' Kenshin had been walking for about fifteen minutes trying to find the entrance to the castle not really sure where he was going. `Finally' He found a corridor he remembered lead to the entrance hall and soon was outside in the fresh night air.

`This was good idea.' Kenshin wandered through one of the many gardens enjoying the serenity and distant sounds of night. The fountains' waters gleamed from the stars' light above as did a few of the plants that didn't gently glow by themselves already.

Kenshin broke out of his reverie as quiet humming reached his ears from around a corner. Gentle footsteps also reached his ears as whoever was humming came closer. `Who would still be awake at this hour?' His question was answered when Kaoru came into his view; she still hadn't seen or noticed him and was just drifting through the plants and foliage lost in her own world with small smile on her face.

Her hand brushed against a low branch on a tree and two small, glowing fairies flew from it, landing on the edge of a stone phoenix fountain. "Oops sorry about that." Kaoru's smile grew in apology and the tiny fairies bowed their heads to show it was alright. The blonde turned and walked towards Kenshin, still unaware he was there and jumped in surprise when she finally saw him, clutching her tunic over her heart. "You gave me a heart attack you jerk. What are you doing out here this late at night?"

"Sorry, didn't mean to and I could ask you the same thing. I couldn't sleep so I'm taking a walk. What about you?"

"Same as you I guess. Look, I don't feel like arguing with you right now so if you don't mind…."

"I don't want to argue either. I just want to enjoy it out here before I go inside, if you don't mind."

"I don't"

"Good" Kenshin sunk to the ground under a tree, closing his eyes, and surprisingly Kaoru followed suite. Kenshin lazily opened one eye to stare at Kaoru. She was still wearing her clothes from today. Had she been out here since she left the great hall? If so, she must have liked being outside a lot.

She felt Kenshin continue to study her and after no longer being able to stand it, turned her gaze to him. "Why are you staring?" He quickly snapped out of his thoughts when she broke the silence. "What? Oh-uh no reason.-he paused for moment-Um, so why couldn't you sleep? Any reason?" Well the silence was broken so he might as well try to start a conversation.

"I just didn't want to go inside yet. I've been having some really weird dreams and just…didn't want to deal with them now…and…yeah."

"Dreams of what?"

"I don't know, nothing just stuff."

`Translation: don't wanna talk about it so shut up.' He could take a hint. They kept silent enjoying the night and unexpected calmness from each other's presence. After awhile Kenshin felt sleep creeping up on him and decided to head back to his room before he fell asleep, if he could find his room before then. Maybe Kaoru was tired too now. "I'm going to head back to my room now."

He slowly walked forward, hoping she was going to leave too so he wouldn't get lost again. Kaoru noticed the look on his face and knew he would need help getting back. "Wait up. I'm going too." They headed back together to the castle entrance and inside, Kaoru leading slightly through the corridors with Kenshin trying to remember the way. Finally they came to hallway with their rooms.

Kaoru yawned and opened door, allowing Kenshin to catch a glimpse of her room. It looked the same size as his but much more personalized interior. It looked it was covered wall to wall with plants. `Does she have something against being indoors?'

"Good night Kenshin."

"Good night Kaoru." Kaoru yawned again before closing her door behind her as she entered her room. Kenshin went to his own room, throwing off his cloak and heading straight to his bed where he soon fell asleep and didn't wake until well into morning.

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Kaoru dazedly opened her eyes as the light from her window her straight in the face. She had had only a few hours sleep and right now she really she didn't want to get up. `Bloody sun' Slowly Kaoru sat up and stretched before climbing out of her bed, rubbing her eyes and trying to wake herself up. She went to her wardrobe then vanity, dressing herself in a sky blue tunic and breeches, combing her hair and cleaning her face before leaving her room.

It was late in the morning as she headed towards the great hall, with only servants bustling through the corridors and hallways. Coming to the great hall, she saw no one else was there. She sighed as her stomach gave a growl. She was hungry but she didn't feel like asking the cooks to make her something or wait for them to prepare it. She would just a grab an apple or something from a garden.

Kaoru was in the gardens once again, eating a pear from one of the trees. She was currently watching the thick, gray clouds overhead, hoping it meant rain. She hadn't seen any of her friends and wondered where they were. Oh well she would find them later. She was making her way out of the gardens when she spotted Aoshi heading towards the castle doors. Aoshi noticed her and nodded his in greeting as she went to greet him. "Hello Kaoru."

"Good morning Aoshi. It is still morning right?"

"Yes it is. Slept in again?" A small smile of amusement crept to his face as she shrugged. "So where's everyone else? I haven't seen anyone."

"Megumi's with Lady Tomoe as is Sano and Misao is waiting for me in the training yard."

"Is Megumi still mad at Sano? He didn't say anything that bad last night, not like he had a chance to."

"No she's not. I think she slipped something into his drink at dinner, he was sick most of the night." Kaoru felt slightly sorry for Sano, he went through this sort of thing every time he said something about Megumi that got her angry. And that was quite often.

So Aoshi and Misao were would be busy most of the day and Sano was with Megumi and if she was with Tomoe, Megumi would be lucky if she finished whatever she was doing before midnight. Looked like she was on her own today. "Alright then. I'll let you go off to your Training. See ya later Aoshi."

"Bye Kaoru…Oh I think Kenshin's out here somewhere. In case you'd like to invite him to go see Rayne. That is where you're going isn't it?" She nodded and he waved goodbye before heading towards the castle doors and her, the castle gates.

She reached the engraved entryway and saw a familiar redhead standing next to it as if deciding he wanted to leave or not. "Hey Kenshin." He spun around blinked at her before saying hi himself. "Any reason you're standing here like a lost puppy?"

"I am not. I was just walking around." Actually he was trying to figure out if he wanted to go to Amandil even though that meant a high chance of getting lost there. It would probably be best if he waited until someone went with him. "Where are you going?" "The forest." She called up to one of the guardsmen on the wall and asked him to open the gates for her before leaving, Kenshin following her.

"Um isn't that a bad idea? Last time we were in a forest those dracin things attacked us."

"It's not the same forest. Dracins don't live in this one. They can't cross the river."

"Uh…could you explain a little more please?"

Kaoru sighed. "Dracins only live in Naur Forest. The one here is Elen Forest. They can't cross the Me'a River separating the two forests. So we're perfectly safe."

"Why won't they cross it?"

"Because a lot of the other creatures in Elen are magical and won't allow them to enter." The red head nodded in understanding. They remained silent afterwards, walking all the way to Amandil and through it relatively quickly. Before Kenshin knew it they the reached the edge of the Elen and past.

The moment they entered the forest was like walking through a door into a different world. Amandil and the castle seemed distant even though there were still fairly close. This forest was completely different from Naur Forest; Elen gave you a comforting, safe feeling and put you at ease. Everything looked more inviting and vibrant though still subtle. And light filtered through the canopy of leaves above, creating a dramatic and soothing effect.

Kenshin wasn't sure how long they walked, though it couldn't have been long, he barely paid enough attention to Kaoru to keep up with her. Every once in a while he would actually spot an animal running out of sight, once he saw a flash of white, certain it was a unicorn. They stopped when they came to a cave, almost completely hidden by a waterfall feeding a large stream and hanging vines.

Kaoru strode inside, with Kenshin following, looking around for something but didn't seem to find whatever she was looking for as she gave loud sigh. The cave's only light was what filtered through from outside, which was actually more than he thought would have, and cast a deep warm glow over everything. There were two other tunnels at the back, revealing nothing but pitch black darkness.

"Rayne! Rayne you back there?!" Kenshin jumped and spun around towards Kaoru who was shouting in the tunnels' directions. "Who are you yelling at?"

"Rayne, duh. Do me a favor and see if anyone's outside." He shot her a glare that she didn't see before turning around to go outside. He swept some of the vines out of his way and froze. His eyes bulged as a pair of giant amber eyes stared at him. He quickly gave a shout and stumbled backwards, falling to the ground and crawling away as fast as possible.

Its calm amber eyes never left him as it raised its head to stand at full height at near twenty five feet tall. Dark, almost black, blue leathery skin, long bronze horns and underbelly, sharp talons and eyes that looked to hold secrets and penetrate right through you. "Dra-dra-dracin! Er…dragon! THING! Kaoru what the bloody hell is that thing?!"

Instead of Kaoru, a cool voice he didn't recognize answered. "This thing is a dragon and my name is Ranesta daughter of Elansar." `The dragon just talked.' He still stared wide eyed at the dragon and though his mouth moved no voice came. "I've given you my name now will you give me yours? It's rude not to."

Ranesta strode into the cave, stopping in front of Kaoru, still watching him. "His name's Kenshin Himura, Rayne. I think he's in shock. Kenshin! Are you going to get up now or do you plan staying on the ground all day?" As if coming out of a trance, Kenshin shook his head and immediately stood up, brushing dust off his breeches.

"Kenshin? You are the one Kaoru retrieved from a human village correct?"

"Uh-uh yeah I guess so."

"Then you are the Battousai." Her gaze still lingered on him before finally taking her eyes off him and turning to Kaoru, much to Kenshin's relief. "That's what Lady Tomoe said. She's restoring his wings and magic in a couple days too. Anyways how've ya been Rayne? I got back yesterday but I couldn't visit you. Mother wanted me to stay at the castle. Sorry."

"I am fine. And it's perfectly alright Kaoru. You are to listen to Kimiko and you needed to rest I'm sure. You both are fine as well, yes?" Both fairens nodded and Kaoru began telling Rayne of the past few days well into the late afternoon with rain starting to fall outside. Rayne was a very good audience and asking questions at the right time to both of them, though mostly Kaoru.

Kenshin stared outside at the rain, having long since lost interest in Kaoru and Rayne's conversation (it had something to do with festival last year when he was still paying attention). He turned back to them to see if there was any sign of them not talking. Nope, still chattering away. `It doesn't seem to matter what species they are. Women talk forever when together.'

He sighed and cast his gaze towards the two tunnels in the back of the cave, wondering what was in them. `Probably a bunch a bones.' He had nothing else to do, so he strode to the tunnels, neither dragon or fellow fairen noticing him.

He was almost five feet a way though, peering inside both passages and seeing only complete darkness, when Rayne from no where was suddenly in front of him, wings spread blocking his view and slightly crouched and giving a small low growl of warning. He hadn't even noticed her move. He took a few steps back and Rayne stopped growling. "You are not allowed in either of these caves without my explicit permission."

"I'm sorry, I didn't know. What's back there that you don't want anyone to see?" `Stupid question' He was surprised his voice was so steady though.

"The left one is where I sleep and you do not enter unless I say. The other is none of you concern. No one is allowed in it. Ever."

"I'm sorry Ranesta. Honestly you didn't tell me, I didn't know. I won't do it again." Not if he valued his life.

"Alright Rayne calm down. He's sorry already, it won't happen again." Kaoru had watched the whole thing indifferently. Ranesta slowly rose from her crouch and folded her wings back in place. "Very well then. I will let it go this time. I think it is time you both go back to the city. You've bee here almost all day now. I will walk with you." She walked to entrance and out before either of them could say anything and only follow. It was still raining outside.

When they came to the edge of Amandil, Ranesta said her goodbye and flew off back to the forest and to her cave. Kenshin and Kaoru entered the city, not really headed towards any particular place. "Ranesta seems pleasant but…wasn't she just a little touchy about me going back there? I mean I didn't even actually go in one of those caves…unless she just doesn't like me."

"She likes you. You would have been thrown out if she didn't. And it is her den so you go by her rules. It's the same thing if someone's in your room. Most dragons in general are very touchy about others entering their dens though. I'm the only one who Rayne will allow in her sleeping den and that's not often. She's never let anyone in the other cave."

"Haven't you ever asked about it?"

"Of course not. It's obvious she has something in there she doesn't want anyone to know about and if even if I try asking her I already know the answer. She won't say a word about it."

Kenshin nodded and they continued wandering through the crowded streets. Kenshin still hadn't seen everything here and was very keen at doing so. Kaoru noticed his gaze traveling everywhere and decided to give him a tour of Amandil.

`I have no idea why I'm doing this.' "Come on Kenshin, I'll show you around if you like. You haven't been here since yesterday morning right?" Kenshin blinked and nodded slowly before following her. `She's up to something.'

Kaoru however was not up to something as she led him through Amandil, though occasionally she did play a couple pranks, one being when she tricked him into eating some sort of red, spicy food that still made steam come out of his ears. Other than that the two had actually gotten along. It was past sunset when they headed back towards the castle, the rain now only a light drizzle that neither paid mind to.

At the castle Kaoru headed to the library, Kenshin having no idea where that was, while he went to his room, knowing how to get there without getting lost now. He opened the door to his room and wondered if he had the right room. It looked like he walked into a garden.

The furniture was in the same place, it just wasn't the same furniture. Intricate patterns wove through the massive, fine wooded couch in front the fire place now made of stone. He now had a silver chest at the end of his bed, graced with an elegant gold, fire breathing dragon engraved into it. The bed itself was huge with dark green bedding and could easily fit four people with room to spare. The other furnishings were of the same dark wood as the couch, with matching patterns in the wood and design. The walls were now a lighter green with exotic green plants scattered in the room, accenting everything with splashes of vibrant color from their flowers.

He continued staring at everything when a servant came in, carrying a water basin and towel with him and laying it on the desk. "Milord, are you alright?" He chose to ignore the `milord' part "This is my room right? I'm not lost?"

"No Milord, this is your room. Do you mean the furnishings? Master Aoshi said you enjoyed the gardens so we were told to do the room this way. It can be changed if it does not please you Milord."

"No this is fine. I like it. Really. I just wasn't expecting it. Thank you." He did mean it. The servant nodded before bowing. "Dinner shall be served soon if you are hungry Milord. You may also find a change of clothes in your dresser." The servant bowed again before leaving and Kenshin shut the door behind him.

He washed his face in the basin and changed. His shirts and tunics no longer had those slits in them. Lady Kimiko had found him this morning and broken in to a fit of giggles before fixing it for him. She told him she'd take care of his other clothing as well.

He sprawled out on the couch staring at the ceiling. It looked like a night sky ready to rain. The red head vaguely felt his eye lids drooping and thought a nap would be good right now. `Just a few minutes' And drifted to sleep.

Kenshin jerked awake as the sound of thunder pounded into his room. He shot up and stared around, quickly realizing the source of noise and instantly relaxing. His window was shut tight, preventing rain and wind from destroying his room. A plate of still hot food lay where the water basin had and feeling his stomach growling in protest at lack of food, got up and took it to eat by the now blazing fire. He knew he had been asleep more than a few minutes, the sky outside was pitch dark and the sun had long since disappeared for the night. He ate in silence, aside from the thunder booming outside every now and then.

After he finished he sat there, not sure what he could do. `Sure as hell can't go outside' He certainly wasn't tired anymore and he had no clue where anyone was. He peered around the room, looking for something to do, and his eyes landed on the bookshelf and all its rows of books. `Beats staring at the walls.'

He strode over and began searching for something to read. There was an array of books on `Everything.' `Everything' actually being more limited than that. There were books on epics, history, and information on a variety of creatures, plants, and peoples. He chose one and began reading, instantly absorbed it the books' contents. Kenshin carried on reading through out the night until he had literally fallen asleep reading in the early morning hours.

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