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[RK] Faerie Chronicles, SwordRose chapters 6 and 7

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The Faerie Chronicles of Kenshin & Kaoru: The Useless Sword and the Enchanted Rose, a Rurouni Kenshin fanfic by Raberba girl

Chapter 6 - Enchantress & Courtesan

 

The assignment had been specific in that the target was to be disposed of on the day of the Sunflower Festival.  Battousai chose to walk at least part of the way, since getting back to his home country by faster means would leave him too much idle time to nurse his gloomy thoughts.  Not that walking helped him much to escape such thoughts....  It was difficult to enjoy the countryside when, for example, he was trying to avoid musing over why he had been dispatched so early, why Shishio might have wanted him to be absent in the next few days.

 

He noticed the scent of hakubaikô wafting around him just before her voice spoke.  "And where are you headed, Kenshin?"

 

He came to a startled halt when the enchantress appeared out of nowhere.  "Tomoe."

 

She did not smile.  "You're going to let him get you out of the way until it's too late?"

 

He sighed.  "Why not?  I have the power to change nothing."

 

Tomoe's eyes narrowed.  "Kenshin, the sakabatô was not forged for Shishio Makoto."

 

He frowned.  "Am I to assume you meant it for me?  I am in no position to wield it myself."

 

"Do you really believe that?" she asked quietly, and watched his expression grow troubled.

 

"Tomoe," he finally said in a low voice.  "I cannot cross him, you know that."

 

"Can't you?" she challenged.

 

Battousai's head came up, his eyes sparking with anger.  He stepped close and reached around to press hard against her back.  "Do you not remember what happened the last time I tried to rebel?" he growled softly.

 

Tomoe winced at the sudden pain in her old scar, but made no attempt to pull away.  "Of course," she managed to say after a moment.

 

He nodded and backed away.  "I gave Kaoru-hime a choice.  That is all I can do."

 

"No, it's not.  You can accept your wedding gift and put it to good use."

 

He gave her an exasperated look.  "My wedding gift, is it?  What is so special about that sword that you place all your hopes on it, Tomoe?"

 

"If I was simply depending on the sword, I would have given it to Seta Sôjirô."  She moved close to him again, gazing intently into his eyes.  "I have faith in you, Kenshin.  Some things haven't changed."

 

His head dropped as if in shame, and they did not speak for a while.

 

Finally, she smiled again and cupped her hand against his marred cheek.  "Ever since I've known you, this cross has stood out so vividly," she said sadly.

 

A rueful smile came to his lips.  "Even generations later, the mark of the Faerie Queen's anger is strong - though I'm told it was much worse in the beginning."

 

Tomoe studied him thoughtfully.  "Such a face you inherited....  She often tells me how she regretted her choice of revenge on you Himura men."

 

"I am not surprised.  The fae put too much stock in beauty."  He cocked his head curiously.  "Do you know if she ever forgave my grandfather?"

 

Tomoe shrugged.  "Of course.  For one thing, he's dead.  For another....  Well, why do you think you're still alive, even though you've been trapped in the power of an enemy like Shishio Makoto?"

 

"So it's true."  His face clouded dangerously.  "If I am under the queen's protection, why did the rest of my family die?  Why is my country in the thrall of a usurper?"

 

Tomoe sighed.  "You know quite well that Unseelie blood runs through the veins of Shishio Makoto, far more strongly than Seelie blood runs through yours.  Even the Faerie Queen has limitations."  It was a kinder answer than, 'Because you are the only one she was interested in.'

 

He was looking closely at her.  "Tomoe, why have you come?"

 

"Why else?  To stop you from getting distracted.  This man you're heading off to kill - he is completely innocent, you know.  Shishio only gave you the order to get you away from the castle."

 

She chuckled at the tormented look on his face.  "Yes, I've taken away ignorance, your last defense.  What are you going to do now, Battousai?  Follow orders like a dog?  Or--"

 

"Or be manipulated by the fae?" he cut in meaningfully.

 

Her voice was quiet.  "I am no Titania.  Are you going to start holding my lineage against me?  You never did before."

 

He shook his head.  "I trust you, Tomoe.  But I can't do what you want."  He took an uncertain step away from her.  Then another.

 

"You're going the wrong way," she warned.

 

He took yet another step.  He had made it a few meters away from her when she called to him again.  "Kenshin.  It is no longer the Faerie Queen's anger which keeps that red cross so livid on your face.  That mark is tied to your happiness no less strongly than the rose of Faerie is tied to Kaoru-san's."

 

He chuckled mirthlessly.  "Is that so.  What unhappy people we must be, then."

 

Tomoe nodded.  "Yes.  Which is why you fools were supposed to end up together."

 

She closed her eyes and disappeared.

 

o.o.o.o.o

 

The night before the wedding, Yumi had completed her task and was heading back to Lord Shishio's room when she noticed that the doors to the great hall were slightly ajar.  When she had peeked in and seen who was there, she frowned and pushed her way inside.

 

"Battousai," she called softly.  "What are you doing here?  You're supposed to be back home."

 

The assassin turned to face her.  "Yumi-dono," he greeted calmly, but did not otherwise respond.

 

Then she noticed what he was holding.  "What are you doing with that fey sword?" she asked sharply.

 

He shrugged.  "Foreigners are not permitted to carry weapons in this castle.  This is the only available substitute."

 

She stared at him in disbelief.  "How come you're unarmed?  Don't tell me you didn't even bother to sneak in.  You're an assassin!  How could you just stroll in through the front door?!"

 

"What does it matter?  Only Lord Shishio and his people knew the true nature of my errand, right?"

 

"That's not the point!"

 

"Forgive me for failing to live up to your expectations, Yumi-dono," he said ironically.  Then his eyes moved to the item she was carrying in her own hand.  He asked quietly, "What sort of potion is that?"

 

Surprised, she glanced down at the bottle she held, then smiled a little.  "Just a little drink I was sent to fetch."  Her eyes glinted as they met his.  "Would you like a sip, Battousai?" she asked challengingly.

 

His eyes narrowed as he studied her.  "No."

 

Yumi shrugged and grinned at him.  "Oh well.  It was worth a try."

 

She turned to go, but stopped when she heard him whisper to himself, "Forgive me, Kaoru-hime...it looks like I'll have to force your decision after all."

 

Yumi looked back in surprise to see him gazing at the sword.  Then he raised his head and gave her a very thoughtful look.  "Yumi-dono," he asked softly, his eyes cold, "how much does Lord Shishio love you?"  He took a step toward her, and a surge of fear shot up Yumi's spine.

 

"Don't touch me," she warned as he approached.  "Don't you touch me!"

 

o.o.o.o.o

 

"What do you mean the wedding is postponed?" Shishio demanded.  Early morning sunlight had just begun to ignite the frosty glitter on the windows, but already the castle was awake and bustling on this important, yet interrupted day.  "You are jeopardizing the peace treaty you supposedly care so much about, just because some useless weapon went missing?"

 

"My daughter's marriage has been blessed by the fae," the king said seriously.  "To proceed without their gifts would be foolish - they would take it as a great insult."

 

Shishio could certainly not throw a tantrum here, taking the princess by force and killing everyone else to relieve his feelings.  However, he very much wanted to, especially since this little hiccup coincided so strangely with Yumi's disappearance.

 

"My lord."  Shishio turned to find Houji entering the room, wearing an apprehensive expression.  Shishio's eyes immediately went to the open letter in the servant's hand, signed only by a large, defiant cross at the bottom.  Shishio had no need to read the note to guess its contents, his suspicions were already confirmed.

 

He turned back to the king.  "Your Majesty," he said, his tone now courteous.  "I will retrieve this sword if it's so important."  Though I'll need a proper one to hack off Battousai's head with.  "The wedding may continue as planned.  I will be back long before its commencement."  The king nodded, and Shishio strode purposefully out of the hall.

 

o.o.o.o.o

 

Kaoru, half-dressed in her wedding finery, pressed her hands together to still their shaking.  Her maids had gotten her up before dawn this morning to begin preparations, which had been well under way before news came that the sword brought by the enchantress had gone missing.  'Thank you, Papa,' Kaoru thought silently.  She knew that he had either arranged for such an occurrence or was at least taking advantage of it.  A story had spread that the marriage would be cursed if the fey gifts were excluded form the ceremony, so Kaoru was grateful for even a brief respite.

 

Her eyes were fixed on the rose lying limply on the table before her.  Its color was still remarkably deep, and it seemed to glow even in the lighted room.  However, its stem had darkened, and what remained of the petals were wrinkled and drooping.  Kaoru was afraid to touch it, for fear the last few velvety slips would lose their hold.  There were so few of them now...less than a handful.  Kaoru could not say why, but she was troubled by the feeling that when the rose lost the last of its beauty, something terrible would happen.

 

o.o.o.o.o

 

Outside the princess's chamber, Sanosuke and Sôjirô came to abrupt attention when they saw Lord Shishio approaching.  The foreign lord grinned at them.  "At your ease, men.  Your princess is in no danger from her husband."

 

"Fiancée," Sanosuke pointed out.  "You're still not married yet."

 

Shishio's eyes settled on him.  "You're a bold one, aren't you.  I suppose you'll do."

 

"What are you talking about?" Sanosuke demanded.

 

Shishio grinned.  "Perhaps you can't tell, but I'm rather angry right now.  No one will miss an upstart, ineffective bodyguard."

 

Sanosuke's furious reaction was interrupted before Shishio even finished reaching for his weapon.  Sôjirô, without a word, had drawn his sword, turned, and thrust it into his companion.  Then he watched impassively as Sanosuke slumped to the floor, eyes bright with horror at this betrayal, and did not move again.

 

Shishio processed this development so swiftly that he did not even pause; his sword rasped out of its sheath and came to rest, not at all gently, against Sôjirô's throat.

 

The young man didn't even flinch.  "It can get pretty tiresome living among all these superstitious people," he remarked, the smile never leaving his face.  "All their Faerie-talk was worth nothing when my father needlessly died in a poorly-led battle.  It was worth nothing when my mother was thrown out to die on the streets as a harlot."  His eyes met Shishio's squarely.  "Grant me revenge, Shishio-sama."

 

Shishio lowered his sword.  "It's a dangerous game you play," he commented.  "However, I do have a slight problem, since I'll soon be losing my chief assassin.  Perhaps I'll have you dispose of the princess instead, once she's served her purpose."

 

Sôjirô smiled.  "I'll look forward to it, my lord."

 

o.o.o.o.o

 

"I don't think you realize what a stupid thing you've done," Yumi insisted.  She had been lecturing him practically nonstop since he had carried her off, and Battousai was all but tuning her out by now.  He continued to wait silently as she went on, "I doubt he'll let you live.  You were already on the line, you know, and now you've gone too far.  You ought to run now, while you still have the chance.  Are you listening to me, Battousai?"

 

The slender warrior suddenly straightened.  Yumi raised her eyes and smiled to see that her lord had come for her at last.

 

Shishio rode across the field and dismounted when he was close, handing the reins to his companion without looking.  Sôjirô led both their horses out of the way, glancing at Yumi with mild curiosity.

 

"Heh.  So your granny's protection is useless when you cast it aside of your own free will," Shishio commented, drawing his sword as he approached.  "Finally.  I should have done this a long time ago."

 

"As should I," Battousai answered quietly.  His hand tightened on the sakabatô's hilt in preparation.

 

Shishio looked at the weapon with an expression of amazed disgust.  "Don't tell me you mean to fight me with that thing."

 

"I wouldn't dare fight you without it," Battousai replied with a cold little smile.

 

His eyes slid questioningly to Sôjirô, and Shishio grinned.  "You know quite well what I'm like when I'm angry, Battousai.  I couldn't leave without killing someone, and the princess's little dog here volunteered for the part."

 

Sôjirô blinked, the only sign that he realized Shishio had not been taken in by his act.  His smile did not falter.

 

'A hostage,' Battousai realized.  Then he narrowed his eyes and hissed, "Not this time.  No more killing, Shishio."

 

Shishio glared at the lack of an honorific or title.  "You are too familiar, slave.  Let's see how defiant you are when this boy's head rolls at your feet."  He turned and slashed at Sôjirô, who was ready for him.  The young man brought up his own sword with the speed of a lightning strike, so that their blades strained against each other for a moment.

 

"Please don't underestimate me, Shishio-sama," Sôjirô said cheerfully.

 

Shishio grinned.  "I haven't.  Felling a warrior like Seta Sôjirô is a much more satisfying warm-up than cutting down that bird-head would have been."

 

"It seems we have our work cut out for us, Battousai," Sôjirô called over Shishio's shoulder.

 

Battousai nodded grimly.  "That we do."  He raised his sword as Shishio broke away and turned to face him.  "Hyaaaah!"

 

To be continued....

 

Author's Notes:  In Scottish folklore, Unseelie refers to "bad" or dark fairies, and Seelie to light or relatively good ones.


The Faerie Chronicles of Kenshin & Kaoru: The Useless Sword and the Enchanted Rose, a Rurouni Kenshin fanfic by Raberba girl

Chapter 7 - Remembrance & Loss

 

The sun was sinking in the west, flooding the sky with its last burst of brilliance before departing.  Kaoru watched from her window, cradling the rose in her hands and pointedly ignoring the heap of wedding clothes she had cast off earlier.

 

"Don't die," she found herself whispering, and was not at all sure whom she addressed.  Was it her heart, shriveling at the thought of her bleak future?  Was it Battousai, with his eyes that sought death?  Or was it the flower in her hand, falling steadily to pieces?

 

Even as Kaoru looked, the very last petal clung to her fingers rather than to its stem, and she raised the bare, thorny stick with a look of disbelief.  "It's gone."  Her eyes filled with tears.  The promises of the fae, her happiness, whatever it was supposed to mean...gone.  The stem fell silently to the floor, and Kaoru gathered up its fallen petals in her hands, pressing them to her face in desperation.

 

Their scent washed through her, and with the fragrance came a flood of memory:

 

The little girl crept into the garden on a warm, clear night.  She knew that her papa and Kasshin would be angry when they found out, but she had not been able to sleep.  The beauty of the moon shining outside her window had captivated her, inviting her, so she had slipped out of bed and come out here to feel the cool grass under her bare feet.

 

She looked around at the tightly-curled flowers, laughing at the realization that they went to sleep at night, too.  Then her attention was caught by a little ring of mushrooms.  Crouching down, she reached out to touch them, and then--

 

'Where am I, where am I?!  Papa I'm sorry, please take me home, I didn't mean to sneak out!  Papa, please take me away!'

 

A host of fantastic creatures had been reveling, so that the night air was filled with the fluttering of their wings and the glitter of their eyes.  They were delighted to find a small female human suddenly in their midst, and crowded eagerly around her.  Some were gorgeous and others hideous, but both kinds frightened her with their unearthly looks.  Laughing, they poked at her and played curiously with her hair and made silly faces.

 

"Smile, little girl!"

 

"Oh, isn't she a cute one!"

 

"Hey, let's cut her up and cook her for a party snack!"

 

"No, then you'll damage her beautiful little eyes!"

 

"At least let me have a dance with her before you try to eat her!"

 

Most of them were only teasing, but she had no way of knowing that.  Shrieking, she lashed out with her tiny arms and fought to get away.

 

"Enough!"  Someone was pushing his way through, a young man.  Despite his beauty, his physical form was reassuringly human in the midst of this fey crowd.  Yet she put her hands over her eyes in terror, because she saw that his face was bloody and that he carried sharp weapons at his waist.

 

Seeing her distress, he turned such a fierce glare on the fae that they backed away nervously, most of them dispersing to resume their dancing.  Then the young man sighed and knelt beside the girl.  "Please don't cry, little one," he murmured as gently as he could.  She peeked out at him through her fingers, and he looked at her compassionately.  "Poor thing...you're a mortal child, aren't you."  Then he smiled, and her hands dropped in surprise, for it was a nicer smile than even Sôjirô-kun's.

 

Tearfully, she ventured to say, "Your face hurts."

 

His eyes widened in surprise.  "It does?"  She pointed firmly to the red slashes, and he laughed when he suddenly understood.  "It doesn't hurt, little one.  I was born this way."

 

Curiously, she reached up to touch his face.  Relief surged through her when she realized that it was not blood after all, but smooth skin under her fingers.  Her courage returning, she asked shyly, "Can you...give me wings like them?"  She pointed to the dancers, merry and beautiful, who were whirling through the sparkling fairy-forest.

 

"Hm...let's see."  He placed gentle hands around her - then in one swift movement, he had lifted her and was twirling her high in the air.  Delighted laughter gurgled from her throat as she spread her arms to fly, and he was surprised to find himself laughing as well, responding to her joy.

 

The fae laughed, too, as they gathered again to watch.  "The prince has a sweetheart!  All hail the prince and his sweetheart!"  Cheering and clapping rang out, partially mocking, but much of it from genuine pleasure at the sight.  Someone's cup flew into the air, perhaps by accident, or perhaps deliberately; fairy wine arced towards the human girl and splashed over her.  The red-haired swordsman spun to a halt, staring in amazement, for suddenly he held not a little girl, but a young woman.

 

She smiled, liking the feel of his arms around her.  Her hands patted over her own face and body, wondering at the change.  'I'm big like a grown-up now,' she thought happily.

 

His eyes were fixed on her, his expression torn between longing and distaste.  The girl in his arms was so beautiful, but he knew that, for now at least, it was only glamour - she was still an innocent child within.  He swallowed hard, then turned to the fae and demanded, "Change her back."  They only laughed.

 

The girl was staring at her red-haired partner, thinking admiringly, 'He's pretty and nice, I want to kiss him.'  She leaned forward, but he turned his face away so that her lips touched the red cross on his cheek instead.  "I like you," she told him.  The strange, deepened sound of her own voice startled her, and she was afraid to say more.

 

He looked at her again, his face sad.  "I must lead you back."

 

The fae protested angrily, their yells frightening her, but he calmly took her hand and led her away.  As they walked, the music and twinkling lights faded into the distance, then disappeared altogether.  Oblivious to their passage between worlds, the girl yawned and realized that she had become small again.

 

She was so, so tired....  Finally, she plopped down and told him with sleepy firmness, "No more."  He smiled and picked her up, carrying her as he continued walking, and marveled at how light and delicate she was.  It had been too long since he had last held a child like this.

 

She was glad to drape her arms over his shoulders and rest her head and close her eyes, feeling as safe and secure as if it was Kasshin or her own father who held her.  When she woke, she was in her bed as usual, and the morning sun was shining through her windows.  She leaped up in excitement, but within moments, her memories of Faerie and the young swordsman had faded away.

 

o.o.o.o.o

 

"Princess!"

 

Kaoru groaned and tried to push away whoever was shaking her so urgently.

 

"Princess, wake up!  Oh, great, now she's under a spell or something, and if they find me like this I'm gonna be in trouble...WAKE UP, you fat slug!"

 

Kaoru shot upright, glaring ferociously.  "What did you say, you little maggot?" she snarled.

 

The kitchen-boy's face broke into a relieved grin.  "About time, busu-hime.  OW!"

 

Kaoru ducked his retaliation and whacked him a second time, just for good measure.  "Do you want to get fired?" she growled threateningly.  She had always thought that Yahiko was too bold and hot-headed for a servant, especially ever since he had caught Sôjirô's eye.  That personality trait was often annoying, but Yahiko also put it to good use during his training.  Kaoru suspected that his youth was the only reason he had not yet been promoted to a castle guard.

 

Suddenly realizing that she had been lying on the floor, Kaoru looked around wildly as she remembered her dream.  No, not a dream....  "Battousai!  The rose-- where's Shishio?!"

 

Yahiko eyed her warily.  "That's what I came to tell you, Princess.  Hey, um...you didn't notice that your supper was late?"

 

She gave him a confused look.  "Huh?  Supper?"

 

"Yeah," Yahiko said with unusual solemnity.  "You didn't hear anything?  When I came to bring your meal, Sôjirô was gone and I found Sanosuke...um, lying in front of your door."

 

"What?"  Kaoru shook her head in disgust.  "That idiot.  If my father finds out he was drinking on the job--"

 

"He was bleeding."

 

Kaoru stared at him.

 

"What I mean is, someone, uh, stabbed him."

 

"What?!"  Kaoru grabbed the boy by the collar.  "Sanosuke's hurt?!"

 

"Let go, will you?  The doctors say he'll be all right, since the blade missed important organs and stuff, but he hasn't woken up yet.  I came as soon's I had a chance, because...."  He grinned a little, his head coming up proudly.  "I'm the one in charge of your safety now, Princess."

 

"Sanosuke!" Kaoru exclaimed, still distraught.  "I've got to see him!  But no, wait, Battousai, I've got to talk to him-- but I'm supposed to be getting married to Shishio today, argh!"

 

"Cool it," Yahiko said, ducking away from her frustrated gesturing.  "Shishio went after the fairy sword and hasn't come back.  And that red-haired guy, I saw him leave last night, him and that creepy chick who's always hanging around Shishio."

 

A hot surge of emotion flooded Kaoru's face.  "Battousai...went with that Yumi woman?"

 

Yahiko nervously backed away from her expression.  "Yeah.  He was carrying her like she was unconscious.  Wouldn'ta pegged Red-hair for that kind of guy, but whatever."

 

Kaoru did not know what to make of this, but one thing she was certain of.  She rose to her feet and said with determination, "Yahiko, let's go.  Fetch me a traveling cloak and one of the spare servants' uniforms while I check on Sanosuke, then meet me at the west gate of my garden."

 

Shrouded in the cloak and dressed as a servant, Kaoru was not recognized when they rode out.  They had gone several miles, meaning to check the nearest village first, when they spotted a rider in the distance, heading slowly in their direction.  They adjusted their course to meet him, hoping he had news.

 

"He's riding kind of funny," Yahiko remarked.  "Most people aren't...lopsided like that when they're on a horse."

 

Kaoru gasped when she finally recognized who it was coming toward them.  The white and pale blue of his clothing was stained with blood, and his head hung so limply that it looked as if it was about to fall off.  "Sôjirô-kun!"  She spurred her horse to pull up beside him.  "Sôjirô-kun!  What happened?"

 

"Shishio," he whispered faintly after a moment.  "He's dead.  Battousai...probably is too, by now...couldn't bring him...."

 

A cold horror filled Kaoru's heart, and she reached out to grip Sôjirô hard.  "Where is he?  Where is he, Sôjirô-kun?!"

 

He had to gather himself again to answer.  "Follow the trail."  Kaoru stared at him in confusion.  Then she looked around and saw the prints of his horse in the snow, leading away into the distance.

 

She immediately turned to Yahiko.  "Get him home.  I'm going to find Battousai."

 

"No!" Yahiko insisted.  "Let me go ahead, you should stay with Sôjirô--  Princess!  Princess!"  It was no use, Kaoru was already too far away to hear him.

 

o.o.o.o.o

 

The trail ended in a field, half of which had somehow been burned black.  Smoke still rose here and there, and embers glowed hotly underneath the ashes; if not for all the snow, the fire might have spread to the forest.  At first, the ground was only spattered here and there with blood, but the red patches grew larger and more frequent the farther Kaoru went.

 

She suddenly gagged when she saw Yumi's corpse sprawled on the ground, the once-elegant clothes now soaked with gore.  Farther on lay a charred body, almost but not quite unrecognizable--

 

Horror at the sight warred with relief at the realization that she was free from Shishio forever.  Turning her eyes away, Kaoru caught sight of Battousai lying in a heap at the foot of a tree, as if he had sat there to rest and had not had the strength to remain upright.  She tried to dismount so quickly that she literally fell off her horse.  "Battousai!  Battousai!" she shouted as she ran to him.  There was no response.

 

She flung herself down beside him, praying to find a pulse.  It seemed unlikely that she would - his clothes from the waist up were shredded, revealing wounds that were still slowly leaking blood; his chest was burned black, his face caked with dried blood.  Hysterical, frantic laughter choked her when she saw that he had lost his hair-tie again, so that he seemed to be lying in a large puddle of fiery red.  The color of his hair blended in much too closely with the blood.

 

"Oh please, please, Battousai, please!"  She caught her breath as she felt a faint pulsing under her fingers, but he did not stir at her touch.  "Battousai!" she cried.  Then, desperately, "Kenshin!  Wake up, please wake up!  Kenshin...."  Her tears splashed onto his face, and miraculously, his eyelids trembled.  They cracked open very slowly, revealing glazed, blank eyes.

 

"Kao...ru...."

 

Emotion welled up in her at the sound of her name from those lips.  "Kenshin...Kenshin, do you think you can stand if you lean on me?  I've got to get you back to the castle; oh, why didn't I think to bring a doctor?!"

 

"I'm...glad...you're here...."  The sightless eyes closed again, and the blood-stained mouth relaxed in a smile.

 

"Kenshin, no!  NO!  Don't you go dying on me!  Not now, not now when I...."  She swallowed.  "I love you," she whispered.  Then she screamed desperately, "Did you hear me, Kenshin?  I want to marry you!  I'd marry you even if Shishio was still alive!  I want...I...."  She broke down sobbing, blinded by tears.

 

"...Oro?"

 

Gasping, she dashed the tears away and stared down into his face.  His eyes had opened again, but they looked different now; they were warmer, brighter.  The eyes of Battousai were cold and hard, as if they sucked in the light, but these new eyes were sweet, reflecting back with a soft sheen.  Kaoru stared at him in wonder - it was like his whole face had been transformed.

 

"This one's...dying-visions...are very...unexpected...that they are."

 

Frowning at the odd pronoun she had never heard him use before, Kaoru said hotly, "It's not a vision, you idiot.  I do want to marry you, so you'd better get well soon!  My wedding has been put off too long already."

 

A faint chuckle escaped his lips, bringing with it a trickle of fresh blood.  Then his eyes once again drifted closed, and his head fell limply to the side.

 

"Kenshin?  Kenshin, stop it.  Kenshin!  Kenshin!"

 

To be concluded....

 

Author's Notes:  Fairy glamour is a kind of disguising magic.

 

Busu-hime = Princess Ugly

The rest of this series: [link]
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