Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Fairen Destiny ❯ Chapter 10

Disclaimer: Kenshin's not mine.

First I have to say Christmas absol-bloomin-ultely rocks! I got Kenshin manga and Fruits Basket anime! And a bunch of other stuff I wanted. n-n woohoo! Christmas this year completely rocked! I'm a verrrrry happy person right now (understatement) lol Anyways moving on….

Guess what….-takes deep breathe-KENSHIN GOT HIS WINGS! YAAAAAAAAAY!!!!! I feel so proud :D lol

Ok so anyways here's part two of chapter nine! READ ON!

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Kaoru sat in the great hall eating lunch, talking with Aoshi and Misao. Their conversation was interrupted as Kenshin came in, still looking half asleep. "Look who decided to grace us with his presence. Good afternoon Sleeping Beauty, come to join the land of he living?"

"Good morning to you too Kaoru, bloody harpy." Kenshin muttered the last part but everyone still heard it. "No it's now afternoon lout. You slept in all morning."

"I did?" he looked outside but it was still dark from the clouds and rain. "Yes actually you did Kenshin. What did you do last night to make you so tired?" Misao inquired. "I was reading." He shrugged and began dishing food on his plate. "Perhaps, Kenshin, if you go to sleep earlier you wouldn't sleep in so late. And Kaoru, no more remarks please. I don't want to listen to it." Aoshi turned his attention back to his plate. "What were you saying before Aoshi?"

"I said I hope the gardens will be okay, Misao. The rain is going to last for a few more days and some of the plants might not be able to handle all that water." Aoshi looked out the window with a frown on his face as if he could see one of the gardens being washed away.

Kenshin was going to ask how he knew that but before could Lady Kimiko came in and walked up to them. "Uh-oh gotta go."

Kaoru immediately got up and walked as quickly as possible to the door without making it look like she was in a hurry. It didn't work. "Kaoru I need you to come with me and-"

"Sorry Mother, I can't. I'm to busy right now."

"And just what are you so busy with?" Voice deceptively calm, Kimiko cocked an eyebrow, waiting for an answer. Kaoru paused only for a moment before answering. "I need to….find Sano!"

"Sano?" Kaoru's eyes searched quickly for something as an excuse, eyes finally landing on Kenshin. "Uh, yeah. I wanted him to give Kenshin a tour of the castle. He still hasn't really explored the place and it's high time he does." She smiled innocently, hoping her foster mother would believe her, who gave no indication if she did or not. "Sano is with his father right now in the study." `Damn.'

"He is? Poor Sano." Kimiko raised both eyebrows at that comment. "I mean…well, it is Father." Kimiko couldn't help but smile lightly. `Why Sano? Ok, so he's busy. Aoshi and Misao are here. Lot of god that does me. How do I get of this? Oh hell.' "But that's beside the point. Um well if Sano can't do it then…I guess I have to."

"You?" Kimiko, Aoshi, Misao, and Kenshin all chorused; Kimiko remained poised but the other three were completely taken aback. Kaoru turned to her two friends and Kenshin, a sickenly sweet smile on her face, daring them to say something. "Yes me. Do you have a problem with this?" Her question was pointed at Kenshin, her sweet tone and smile making him gulp at what they promised if he said anything wrong.

"No, that's fine." `Everyone here is completely mental.' Kaoru turned back to Kimiko, smile still planted on her face. "See? I'm going to give him the tour. So as much I would like to Mother, I'm afraid I'm too busy to go with you." `What in the world am I thinking? I just spent yesterday with the lout and I volunteered to do it again! I'm losing my mind.' "Well then if you are busy I suppose I can wait. When you are done please come and find me Kaoru."

"Sure thing Mother. Well I guess me and Kenshin better get started on that tour. Come on Kenshin let's go." Kaoru walked over to Kenshin and grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the door with her.

Kenshin looked back at Misao and Aoshi wondering if he should protest. Misao shot looks and gestures telling him not to say a word, making sure Kimiko didn't notice. Kimiko, Aoshi and Misao watched the two leave before Kimiko said a good bye and strode out of the great hall.

"Well that was interesting to say the least."

"Yes it was. I'll be in the library if anyone needs me."

"And I'll be in the training yard." Aoshi and Misao walked out, heading in opposite directions.

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Kaoru was still hauling Kenshin by the arm until they were well away from the great hall. Finally they stopped by a large door with gold engravings on it. "Where are we? And do you mind telling me what that was about...And why do you have to give me a tour?"

"We're at the library. That was about me getting out of trying on a dress. And I have to give you a tour because I told my mother I was. Damn. This wasn't what I planned to do today."

`All this just so she doesn't try on dresses?' "And what were you planning?"

"Anything that doesn't involve you."

"Like I want to spend two days in a row with you. So go then. Lady Kimiko isn't here and she isn't going to follow us……is she?"

"No she's not going to follow us. She has servants to do that for her."

"What?" Kenshin looked around for anyone watching them but the hallway was completely empty. "I'm being sarcastic. But the servants will keep an eye on us. Come on we'll start in the library since we're here."

"And all this because you don't want to try on a dress? A little extreme don't you think?"

"Not when it means trying on God knows how many dresses all day just to wear one for one bloody evening!"

"I take it you dislike dresses?"

"I despise them with every fiber of my being." Kenshin nodded, fairly amused by the way she was acting. "Ok then so might as well get this over with."

They went inside and Kaoru showed him where all the different books were kept. And he thought the selection in his room was a lot. Now this library had everything. There were books, scrolls, and maps on just about anything you could imagine, from different races, creatures, sciences, histories to medicines, weapons and fighting styles, culture and ways of life, hobbies just to name a few. All stored on countless shelves and bookcases that reached all the way to the towering ceiling. Occasionally they saw a servant or someone searching through the shelves for a book, they met Aoshi in the military section, hovering near the middle of a bookcase. It was all well kept too, hardly any dust anywhere, plenty of places for reading, and in a comfortable and eye-pleasing setting, not to mention huge.

From their Kaoru took Kenshin to the kitchens, to countless rooms for guest and servants, an entire medical wing, ball room, hallways filled with vivid tapestries of history and stories and people and animals.

They were now in the main study, a large white room with red carpeting, which was lined with portraits of past high lords and ladies, most of which being from the Sagara family line. Kaoru knew most of their names and at least one important thing about them. Kenshin had to admit, however reluctantly, that how she ever knew all this was amazing.

"And in the next room is another study. It has portraits of all prophets and prophetesses and other important people. It also has a small library and a balcony where you can see the lake in the Elin Forest. That's near Rayne's cave actually." Kenshin was trying his best to remember everything she was telling him, and doing rather well. It was actually pretty interesting and if he was going to live here then he should learn about it, plus he wouldn't get lost as easily now.

They were about to enter the other study, Kenshin's hand was on the door, when the large doors on the opposite side opened and Sano and Lord Seiji came in. "No, no, no Sano. When you're trading with elves, you have to be extremely polite. Elves are very proper in politics. And-" He stopped when he noticed Kaoru and Kenshin. "Good afternoon Kenshin, Kaoru."

"Hey Kaoru. Hey Kenshin….what are doing here?"

"Good afternoon Father. Hello Sano. I'm giving Kenshin a tour since someone couldn't do it." Kenshin nodded towards them, giving a small bow towards Seiji. "What do ya mean? No one told me to give him a tour or anything. I've been with dad all day going over country affairs and stuff. And I'm about ready to go crazy." He whispered the last part so Seiji couldn't hear him, making Kaoru giggle slightly.

They stood a few feet away from Kenshin and Seiji to talk quietly. "Has mom started looking for me again, yet? I'm running out of castle to show. I don't want to try on dresses."

Sano, Megumi, Misao, and Aoshi knew full well Kaoru hated wearing dresses and always helped Kaoru hide from her mother; no matter how childish it might've been, telling her where to hide and such. It had always been more or less a game. "Good luck getting out of it. Yeah, dad and I've run into her a couple times. Think she started hunting you down about noon. You should be good now though. It's too late to start that stuff. And with you she needs to start in the morning. You could always just hide. Might try your room, no one would ever think of looking there." Sano chuckled and Kaoru punched him in the arm playfully.

"Moron, I go in my room. Just `cause I'm outside a lot doesn't mean I'm never inside. Oaf."

"Coulda fooled me." Kaoru punched him again went to join Kenshin and her father again, Sano following her. "Let's go Kenshin. See you at dinner Sano, Father." They all nodded to each other before departing.

Out in the hall, Kaoru sighed, glad the day was nearly over. "Is there any where else we haven't been?"

"Nope. We've been everywhere, except outside. But mother doesn't like me and Sano going outside when it rains like this and you've already been there so…yeah. We should go to the great hall. Dinner should be soon. Come on."

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Dinner was relatively quiet. Misao and Kaoru threatened to kill Sano a couple times for his remarks and Seiji and Kimiko kept asking about Kenshin and Kaoru's day. Kaoru had a feeling her mother was making sure she really had showed Kenshin around and not just gone off and hid or something.

After dinner Misao and Aoshi went to the library, and Sano, Kaoru and Kenshin to their rooms. Sano left as quickly as could before his father could make him to stay and continue his lecture.

Kenshin stood out on the balcony already changed into his night clothes, ignoring the light rain that fell. He absentmindedly stared off at the forest, thinking about tomorrow.

He was a little nervous about it really. He was getting wings and magic. He was going to learn to fly, to use magic. This was the first real time he had to think about it and now that he had, doubt filled his head.

How was he supposed to be able to do any of that? What if they were wrong and he was just human? Would they cast him away? And wasn't he supposed to do something? The prophet descendent. He'd only heard that name a couple times but knew it meant he was important and had to do something important. If only he knew what that was. `I think Lady Reja said I find an ancient royal' And how would he do that?

Kenshin shook his head. Whatever it was he had to do either Tomoe would tell him how to do it or he'd just do it without knowing probably.

His thoughts were interrupted as light flooded onto a balcony one over from his. Kaoru walked out on her balcony over to the railing, welcoming the rain that fell on her. Her balcony was covered in flowered vines and potted plants. He couldn't help but smile amusedly, remembering her room also looked to be covered in plants. `She really does have something against being indoors.' She was in her night clothes, even those being baggy breeches and a loose shirt. This time a small laugh escaped him and Kaoru turned her head towards him.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing. Just thinking. What are doing out here?"

"This is the only chance I've had to be outside. I needed some fresh air." Kenshin nodded and looked back at the night time scenery. "You should try to get to sleep, Kenshin. Tomorrow's a big day for you." There was a hint of sarcasm to her voice. "That bad huh?"

"Yes that bad. It's not going to be a picnic trust me." He thought she was being sarcastic again.

"And how would you know that? You've done it before?" He wasn't being serious of course. "Yes I have and trust me it hurts." He gaped at that and turned to her, surprise written clearly on his face. "How would you know that? You'd have wings wouldn't you? Does it really hurt?"

"I know because Lady Tomoe did it me when I first came here. I don't have wings because it didn't work. And yes it does hurt, like I said. You're having bones and muscle grown. Of course it's going to hurt. It won't last long and it will be well worth it."

"What's going to be worth it?"

"Flying of course! And magic too!" Kaoru leaned against the railing, looking out ahead of her. `She acts like she's flown before.' "You like flying then? Hasn't anyone ever taken you before?"

"Yes, plenty of times. Rayne, Mom and Dad, Sano and everyone, they've all taken me flying but that's either being levitated or riding Rayne. When you fly yourself it's….different. The feeling is wonderful." Kaoru closed her eyes as if remembering, a small smile on her face.

She was probably going to come over here and deck him for saying this. "Um Kaoru, I thought you couldn't fly though. How would you know what it's like?" Surprisingly she didn't attempt to hurt him. "I don't know. I don't remember flying exactly, just the feeling.-a small, almost bitter laugh escaped her-You'll like flying. It'll be the absolute best."

Kaoru had a far off look on her face and Kenshin wondered if she still remembered he was there. Finally she shook her head, coming out of her daydream. "It's getting late I'm going to sleep. You should too. Goodnight Kenshin."

"Good night." Kaoru walked back into her room, the light flooding the balcony disappeared in an instant leaving dark night as she shut her door.

Kenshin did the same, going to his bed and falling back onto it. `That was different. Kaoru was actually being nice' Ok so she had been pretty nice for the past two days. He got under his covers ready to sleep and almost was when what Kaoru said finally hit him. `It's gonna hurt?!'

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Kenshin sat in the great hall, staring at his plate. Kaoru, Sano, Aoshi, Misao were there as well. Everyone was eating and talking except Kenshin, he thought he would be sick if attempted to eat. "You need to eat something Kenshin. This is supposed to take a lot of energy to do."

"No thanks Misao. I'm not hungry." Of course his stomach would decide to growl just then. "Maybe I'll just go over there right now."

"Not without us your not. Sit back down." Kenshin stared at Kaoru and Sano cocked an eyebrow at her. "You're going too? Didn't think you'd care so much for him." Kaoru glared at him earning a smirk in return.

"Shut up Sano. I'm going to see Megumi. She's been down there the past two days. And Mother's still trying to get me catch me off guard to go try on dresses." She grimaced at that. "And Kenshin's going to be lightheaded afterwards. Remember when I had it done?" Kaoru, Sano, Misao, and Aoshi were quiet for a moment, remembering whatever had happened then. Kenshin gulped, feeling more and more nervous about this whole thing.

"Quite worrying him Kaoru. Kenshin are you alright? Do you want some tea or something? Can't have you being sick." Lady Kimiko was in the window, coming from one of the gardens outside. She landed in front him and felt his forehead, checking for fever. "He's fine Lady Kimiko. Come on. I think it's time we go over there now." Aoshi stood up, giving Kenshin a shake to snap out of whatever trance he was in. He had been staring ahead of him unblinking for the last five minutes. Misao followed after Aoshi.

Kaoru and Sano stood as well, grabbing Kenshin each by an arm and pulling him up before he shook them off. "I'm ok. Just nervous. Let's go before I really am sick." He walked quickly out of the hall with Sano, Aoshi, and Misao following.

Kimiko held Kaoru back for a moment. "Are you going with them Kaoru?" "Yes mother. Don't want to miss this. Kenshin getting his wings and all." She smiled lightly trying to encourage Kimiko to let her go. "Very well. Have fun and don't be mean to him. Be sure to help him if he needs it." "Yes. Yes. I will. Bye mother." Kaoru ran out of the great hall to catch up with the others.

Megumi was waiting in front for them when they reached the stone hut. She waved at them, glad to see her friends after two days of no interaction with anyone besides Tomoe. "Hey! Come one inside. We have everything ready for you Kenshin." He gave a weak smile and waved back. Misao flew over to her, followed by Sano and Aoshi. Misao and Megumi hugged each other in greeting with Sano hugging Megumi before she could say or do anything, leaving Kaoru alone to drag Kenshin over to them when ever he decided to unexpectedly stop walking.

"Is he ready?" Tomoe stood in the door way, stretching her wings out before folding them back in place. "Yeah he's ready. Just hurry up before he faints."

"I'm not going to faint!" He shot her a glare Kaoru who only grinned back.

They all went inside, Sano, Aoshi, Kaoru, and Misao slightly cramped on one side of the hut, barely able to be sitting on the bed. Sano and Aoshi were particularly uncomfortable, their wings taking up most of the room on the bed everyone all four sat on and crammed behind them against the wall and ceiling. Misao was sitting on the edge of the bed, her wings straight up and rigid. Kaoru had the misfortune of sitting in the middle.

They were trying to give Tomoe and Megumi as much room as possible to do what ever they had to do to Kenshin. Lady Tomoe and Megumi, neither of which was cramped, stood with Kenshin who was trying his best not to look too nervous. `Bloody hell! Kaoru just had to tell me this would be painful. I'm still going through it, not matter what.'

Megumi was moving as much as she could away from them, clearing a space for Kenshin to stand. "Are you ready? Good. You might want to take off your shirt though, Kenshin."

He stared at her for a minute. "Why-oh" He took off his tunic and shirt, preferring to have kept them on. His cheeks warmed slightly, feeling Kaoru, Misao and Megumi's gazes on him for a moment but no one seemed to have noticed.

Megumi handed him a green, foul smelling potion, giving him a sympathetic smile. Reluctantly the red head took it though he didn't drink it. Tomoe had had her eyes closed, appearing to be concentrating or mediating, the blue gem on top her staff glowing gently. "You need to drink that Kenshin." Tomoe opened her dark brown eyes, the gem still glowing, and cast her gaze at him, making him drink the foul concoction at once.

The moment it touched his lips he desperately wanted to gag and felt bile rise in his throat. He resisted however and quickly gulped the stuff down. It burned his throat and he couldn't help but gag at the aftertaste. Megumi handed him some water that instantly rid him of the taste.

Suddenly his entire body went numb and he nearly fell onto the floor, but at the last second felt himself floating an inch from the ground. Tomoe had her staff pointed at him and slowly raised him until was upright. His body was still numb but with a flash of light from Tomoe's staff, numbness was replaced with agony.

Now he felt he was being burned alive though there was no fire. His face contorted in pain as it ripped through his body and barely managed to suppress a scream. It felt as if something was probing at him, looking for something all the while tearing his insides apart.

Tomoe knew he was in pain though there was nothing she could do except make it as quick as possible. She could sense the strong, ancient spells over him and felt for one she could remove first. There were spells that suppressed his magic and ones that prevented his wings from growing which would be the first to go.

She concentrated, finding the first spell to eradicate, and slowly cast it off him. His face twisted in pain again. She had to ignore that. She continued the process of finding spells and removing them from him, having to stop when the pain was too much for him. It was more and more difficult the further she went in removing the spells and soon she was shaking so much from exhaustion, Megumi had to hold her up physically. Using magic on her right now would make it harder for both Tomoe and Kenshin. Kaoru, Sano, Aoshi, and Misao were standing now, completely tense, and Kaoru being the only one who had any idea what Kenshin was going through right now.

After hours of sheer agony for Kenshin and exhaustion for Tomoe, she finally undid the last spell and collapsed to her knees. Kenshin too fell to the ground, completely shaking all over from the throbbing pain and gasping for breath.

Megumi was still holding Tomoe, enveloping her in a green light trying to give her back some strength. Kaoru had gone over to Kenshin, the only one of the four at the bed who could quickly move. Misao levitated a bowl to Kaoru and conjured water and a towel into it. Kaoru soaked the towel and used it to wash the sweat from Ayrroe's body and help relax his strained muscles. He was very grateful for it. Once through with Tomoe, Megumi did the same for Ayrroe, ridding him of most of the pain until it was a dull ache.

Tomoe stood up, leaning on her staff before Aoshi could move a chair for her to sit in (he levitated it). Kaoru helped Kenshin sit up on the floor before moving a little bit away to give him room. Tomoe recomposed herself before speaking. "I hope you are alright Kenshin. I know that was very painful for you. I have undone all the spells that were on you and I can now grow your wings and give you your magic. If you'd like though, we can wait until tomorrow if the pain is still too much for you. Do you want to continue or prefer to wait?" It took a moment for the red head to answer. "N-No. No. I want to continue. I want to get it done."

"Very well. I'm telling you now it will hurt again. Are you sure?" He nodded determinedly and Tomoe once again pointed her staff at him, closing her eyes in concentration.

The light from the staff steadily grew and Tomoe in a flash opened her eyes and the staff's light transferred to Kenshin, completely enveloping him. He felt the same shearing pain as before except now it was concentrated in his shoulders though still felt in his whole body. Again he resisted the urge to scream.

Tomoe focused on the points in his shoulders where the wing joints were located. The bones and muscles for his wings were undeveloped and she further focused on them, picturing his wings growing to as they should be.

Kenshin convulsed, his shoulders throbbing. He felt something vibrate near his shoulder blades through the pain. Suddenly he shot up screaming as two forms flared from his back, twisting and elongating until each had five thinner, but longer limbs. The skeleton of two wings protruded from Kenshin's back, each with small trickles of red liquid on them.

Kenshin's eyes had rolled back into his head, half lidded from extreme exhaustion and pain. Muscle, tendons and flesh quickly covered the bare bones, causing Kenshin to once again let out an ear splitting scream. Finally unable to take it, and the wings completely formed, Kenshin collapsed to the ground in a heap, letting unconsciousness take him.

Everyone stared at him in completely stunned silence. No one seemed able to move or break the trance they were in. After what seemed like hours, though only a few minutes, Kaoru slowly crawled to Kenshin, taking the towel and gently wiping the blood from his wings and floor before resting his head in her lap. She had a look of pure shock, eyes wide and mouth partially open. The others has similar expressions except Tomoe who had somewhat raised eyebrows as the only way to indicate her surprise.

Gradually everyone else stood up from where they were to gather and from a semi-circle around Kenshin and Kaoru, who still had Kenshin's head in her lap and staring at his wings with a far away look in her eyes.

Kenshin was at last steadily coming to. He opened his eyes slowly and the first thing he saw was a blurred figure of a black haired, blue eyed woman. His vision cleared and recognized the figure as Kaoru staring down at him. He blinked and saw the faces of the others looking down from a slightly higher distance as well. He finally noticed Kaoru was wiping his head with water from her hand.

He felt horrible. His body ached and he felt an unfamiliar weight under his back. He tried sitting up but couldn't find the strength. He settled for lifting his head to look to his sides, trying to figure out what the weight from his back was.

He saw a brown leathery looking…thing lying partially under him. He turned his head and saw the same on the other side. He looked back up at Kaoru unable to find his voice or the strength to talk, waiting for her to explain. Lucky for him she understood and whispered her answer to his unspoken question.

"Kenshin, you're a Doren."

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For anyone who might have (and most likely) forgotten, a Doren is a person with dragon wings.

At long last this chapter is done! -punches air with fist-FINALLY! Lol And I'm sure you'll all happy Kenshin got his wings! I think Doren wings suite him perfectly. (then again that's me)

Now I just have to post this and then I'm going to bask in the wonderfulness of my Christmas presents. n-n lol. Merry Christmas! And, in case I don't update `til then, Happy New Years!

DON"T FORGET TO REVIEW! TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! By for now

REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!