Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Heavenly Lost ❯ The unknown ( Chapter 10 )

Chapter X

The unknown

The streets were as dark as ever, illuminated only by the eternal fire of the torches and now by a yellow light that traveled through the city binding two souls that were defying every rule known to spirits.

They have been walking through the maze of the city for so long and they were still trying to find a way out. That part of the city seemed emptier than the other ones, besides the five men of the entrance they have only seen a few people walking or lying on the floor that didn't pay much attention to them.

Kaoru was getting really tired. She knew that she wasn't allowed to rest but she was feeling that she couldn't walk another step. In hell there was no time, there was no dawn or sunset, the days didn't pass. Kaoru didn't know how much time they had been walking. Sometimes she looked at the sky, forgetting just for a moment were she was, and hopping that the sun, that had accompanied her all of her mortal life, would showed her something, but then the constant gray sky came to her sight and she remembered there was no time, no sun, nothing. She knew she had to keep walking, they had to find the way out and she had to be strong for Kenshin.

Kenshin was silent. He was glad that there were no more persons trying to fight him and that they were safe just for the moment. He was beginning to wonder if they were hopelessly lost. They had been walking for a very long time but they haven't found another door or anything that told them that they were in the right path. Since the streets of the city looked exactly alike he didn't even knew if they were advancing or just walking in circles. He was feeling the soft touch of Kaoru's hand beside him. He was wandering if the yellow binding was hurting her hand. He looked at the woman walking beside him. She was so beautiful, even in those horrible circumstances she was as pretty as ever and her deep blue eyes sparkled like sapphires. She was hurt, her whole body was covered in bruises but she didn't complain, not even once. Kenshin smiled softly. "At least she is with me. This woman has given me everything and has never asked for anything in return. She always has a smile for me and has always been with me. Don't worry Kaoru, I'll get you out of here no matter what."

Kenshin closed his eyes. He remembered how his instincts helped him in the past and he knew that if he wanted to find a way out he would have to trust them again. He continued walking with his eyes closed and in his mind he was remembering one of the many days he walked back to the Dojo with Kaoru by his side. He could see the road and all the sakura trees in the side. He could smell the beautiful pink flowers and he could hear the water of the nearby stream. He could sense the soft touch of Kaoru's hand near him and he saw her as she used to be. She was wearing a beautiful purple Kimono with a pink obi. Her hair was tied in a high pony tail with a pink ribbon and as usual she was smiling. Kenshin could see the clear blue sky illuminating the path and then at the end of the road he could see the Dojo. He walked a little faster trying to reach it. He missed that place, it was his home, it was filled with so many memories and with people he loved. He wanted to get there as soon as possible he wanted to see it again. But then he stopped when he sensed his hand being pulled down. He opened his eyes and looked at it and he was no longer in Tokyo surrounded by sakura trees but back in the city of hell and Kaoru was lying on the floor next to him.

He kneeled beside her and put his free hand behind her head.

"Kaoru, Kaoru was wrong?"

Kaoru opened her eyes and saw the read headed man looking at her with his violet eyes and she smiled.

"I'm sorry Kenshin, I'm just so tired, I had to rest a little. I'm sorry"

Kenshin held her close to him and touched her face very softly.

"Don't worry Kaoru. You deserve to rest."

It was then when he looked up for the first time. He opened his eyes widely and smiled softly.

"Don't worry Kaoru, I'll get us out of here" He said as he picked her up and used his free hand to open the door that was just in front of him.

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"Now this is different" Said Kenshin as he looked at the view in front of him.

Kaoru turned her head around to see what was Kenshin talking about and her eyes widened when she saw what he meant.

In front of them wasn't the usual city with its torches and impenetrable walls. In front of them was a long wooden bridge hanging over a deep precipice that didn't seemed to have an end.

At the end of the bridge they could see a small entrance but they couldn't see what was behind it. Kenshin was standing at the end of the bridge with Kaoru in his arms. He looked at it and then he looked down trying to see what was beneath them but it was to dark to see. The only thing illuminating the place was a couple of torches hanging at the entrance, at the end and in the middle of the bridge. Off course there were still the brightness provided by the bonding yellow light.

"What do you think Kaoru?"

"I don't know what to think. Does this mean we are in a good path or that this isn't the right way?"

"I don't know. I can only say that this is certainly different."

"What should we do?"

Now that was a good question for both of them. They didn't know where the bridge lead, they didn't know if it was stable or if they will fall when they tried to cross it. If they did they didn't know what was beneath them or what will happen. They did know what was behind the door they just crossed. They knew the city to well, everything was the same and they knew they were lost. This was a question about walking to the unknown or going back to repetitive streets of the city.

Once again they looked in each others eyes and the answer was known without the need of words. Kenshin held Kaoru tightly in his arms and began to walk slowly in the bridge.

He put one feet really slowly and then the other. They both felt how the bridge moved from side to side. Kenshin looked at Kaoru to make sure she was alright before he continued walking. She gave him a brave smile so he gave another step. The bridge was shaking more and more with every step Kenshin took but he kept his balance as he walked slowly. The wood beneath them cracked with each of his steps and he was beginning to wonder if it was resistant enough. Kaoru was breathing slowly and holding on to Kenshin. She was glad he was caring her because she knew she wouldn't have been able to walk in that bridge. She had her eyes open but she kept them at Kenshin so she wouldn't look down. The opening at the end of the bridge was getting closer and closer and she was just waiting for them to get there so she could breath normally again.

Kenshin took another step. He heard the sound made by the wood and his reflexes were fast enough to let him hold the rope before the plank collapsed beneath them.

Kaoru screamed when she noticed they were falling and when she slipped from Kenshin's arms. She felt how her fall was stopped by something holding her right hand. She breathed one more time and then looked up. Her hand was held to another one by the yellow light. She continued rising her eyes and she discovered Kenshin holding to a rope by one hand.

Kenshin wanted to scream. His hand was being burned by the rope but he couldn't let go. When he first held on to the rope he noticed it was burning and for a single moment he felt like taking his hand out of it but then he heard Kaoru scream and he realized what would happen if he did. His other hand was bond to Kaoru by that yellow light and he thanked whatever had put it there because it had saved her. Kenshin's hand began to slip. He was holding the rope with all his strength but his hand was too sore and it wasn't as strong as ever.

"I have no other choice" He thought as he raised his other hand, with Kaoru bond to it, and put it in the rope. He let out a gasp when he felt his flesh being burn by the rope but he still held it tight.

"Kaoru, please try to get on top of that plank"

Kaoru looked up at the bridge. Only a few of the planks had collapsed and the rest of the bridge seemed to be fine. There was a plank near to where she was and if she tried maybe she could reach it.

She used her free hand to hold the edge of the plank and then using all of her strength she pulled her feet up.

When Kenshin was sure she was fine he used the rope to reach the plank and finally let go the cord. He exhaled a breath of relief when his hands got away from the burning rope but they still hurt a lot.

Kaoru put her arms around him when he was safely by her side and cried tears of relief.

"Kenshin…"

He got up slowly and helped her get up. The end of the bridge wasn't far away. When they stood up the bridge shacked a little so Kaoru put her hand on the rope to have some support.

"ITAI!!!!" She screamed as she quickly took it of. "It burns."

Kenshin held her hand between his to comfort her but she suddenly took it of.

"Kenshin… you were holding those ropes when we fell."

Kenshin remained silent and only looked at her.

"You are hurt!" She said after a moment. Then she was the one holding his injured hands between hers trying to comfort him.

"I'm ok Kaoru, really."

But she didn't listen to him. She knew to well how he hided his ailments and she wasn't going to believe him.

"Kaoru I really think we should get out of this bridge as fast as possible."

That she listened to and she agreed it was too risky to stay there. She nodded at Kenshin and when he was going to pick her up she stopped him.

"Don't even think about it. Your hands are hurt. I can walk"

He listened to the tone of her voice and he knew there was not arguing with her so he only held her hand as they began to walk slowly towards the end of the bridge.

The bridge was shaking again and Kaoru held her breath as she walked slowly, too afraid to look down, and only hoping they would be able to get out of that bridge.

Each step she took was based only in the fate that no matter what happen Kenshin would protect her. She felt his hand holding hers and that gave her the strength she needed to walk to the end of the bridge.

She took the last step with Kenshin by his side. They were safe, the bridge was behind them and the opening was in front of them, there was no turning back, the knew they had to keep going so they walked to the dark opening holding hands and ready to face whatever was in front of them… Together.

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