Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Voix ❯ Crescendo ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter Eight- Crescendo

The sound hurt his ears; that bitter, hollow sound of the chimes. Cloaked in shadow, his hand reached out and caught the empty, metal tubes. There was no more sound, and he stepped away from them. The candle snuffed out next to him, and his shadow hand picked it up off the ground, sighing at the tiny plume of smoke that drifted up from the blackened wick.

A tiny drop of the molten wax dropped onto his finger, and he stared at it intently, feeling the heat rush into his flesh as the wax froze onto him. It hurt; but he didn't move in pain, but fascination.

The moon was hidden in her own cloak of gray, unwilling to reveal his identity to the questioning earth. He brushed his fingers through the grass, gasping at the sound of a voice behind him. His hood fell away and the moon broke through the dense clouds to shine brilliantly on white hair.

"Enishi?"

The shadow man turned, the breeze picking up on his hair and lifting it higher. He did not speak but with his eyes that were quietly glowing green.

The speaker stepped forward, staring at him in surprise, his own hair shining eerily in the moon's light. "Enishi, what's happened to you?"

Enishi relaxed. "It's just you." His fingers ran delicately over his eyes. "I'm just as you are now. Nothing to worry about."

"I never thought you'd give up your wings, temporary or not."

"I've given up a lot of things. Where is she?" Enishi followed him as he began to walk away, following the other.

"Over here. What do you mean you've given up a lot? Aoshi said he was going to be the go between when he was here last."

"Things have changed, Kenshin."

Kenshin stopped angrily, catching Enishi's arm. "What's going on?"

Enishi sighed and pulled away. "Things are getting really bad. I ended up revealing myself when I left to come here. Your master is under a great deal of suspicion, and so is Sanosuke." Enishi paused, then turned to face him. "You have to take care of Kero... reveal him."

Kenshin scoffed. "And why should it be me?"

"To clear your name."

"She's this way." The redhead disappeared into the shadows as the moon slid back under clouds.

Enishi could see the faint glow of a fire just ahead of them, and made his stride longer. He could see the shine of Kaoru's hair in the dim light. He breathed again.

The girl looked up at him and smiled warmly. The angel felt himself more at ease suddenly, in the knowledge that she was healing well.

"Kaoru-san... It's good to see you well."

She nodded and turned back to the fire, unspeaking. His brow furrowed, glancing quickly over to Kenshin, who sighed and kneeled next to the girl.

Enishi sighed and settled onto the ground across the fire from the pair.

"You're welcome to stay with us as long as you need, Enishi." Kenshin's voice was quiet.

"I intend to."

((()))

Kaoru woke gently in the morning to find that both angels were bent over a rock, discussing something in low voices. She dusted herself off and climbed up.

"Are we going back today?"

The two jumped and stared back at her, exchanging uncomfortable glances.

Kenshin recovered first, feeling better with the sound of her question still ringing in his ears. "Yes." The single word made his stomach fall through.

She nodded slowly, staring down at the grass that glowed green with the fresh dew. "Okay."

Enishi rolled up the paper he was holding and pulled his cloak closer around himself. "Then we should go now."

Kenshin extended a hand to her, spreading his newly revealed wings. Behind him, she could see Enishi spreading his own, his eyes returning to their natural color of the sea.

"Why am I going with you?" She whispered into his ear as he lifted into the air.

"Because I don't want anything to happen to you, like last time."

She nodded slowly, relaxing into his warm embrace. "Good luck."

He glanced down at her as her eyes closed peacefully. The young morning sun shone onto her necklace, and he winced. It may have given her power, but it pained him regardless.

Enishi caught the pain in his eyes. "I saw it before..."

"When she was with you?"

"Yes..." He paused. "It may save her, you know."

Another pause.

"I know." Kenshin glanced up to the sky that was rushing towards them. "I know..."

((()))

Kaoru woke as Kenshin set her gently on the ground, drawing his sword. Following example, she drew her father's in unison with Enishi. Her stomach fell at the sight of the blood-winged angel striding toward them with an elitist smirk.

Kenshin pushed her back, behind him, holding out his sword. "Kero..."

Kero surveyed the small group with a growing smirk. "Enishi... I didn't expect to see you here again, after betraying me."

Enishi's eyebrows rose. "Actually, I think you're the traitor, myself."

Kero pulled his own sword from its sheath. "Then you came to die?"

Kenshin pushed Kaoru into Enishi, hissing for him to take care of her. "If need be... but only after I reveal you... then kill you."

Kaoru clenched the hilt of her sword tightly, fear washing over her as the two disappeared into two blurs and the clash of swords. Sense told her to close her eyes, but she couldn't bring herself to so much as blink.

They stopped, and Kaoru could already see the blood seeping through their clothes. She held her breath.

They were going to kill each other.