Subject: [KFFDISC] [repost/angsty]Real Dreams Chapter Two Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 05:22:51 +0000 From: "Lee H." Reply-To: kffdisc@nabiki.com To: kffdisc@nabiki.com Disclaimers: Hey, I don't definitely own Rurouni Kenshin because Watsuki Nobuhiro-sensei made it. He owns it so does Shueisha, Jump Comics, Sony Entertainment and all their affiliates. Where do I come in? Oh, just a crazed fan! Gomen. This is for entertainment purposes only so don't get any wild ideas out there! There are some "citrus" effects here so keep off if you really hate them. Just one scene. -_-; REAL DREAMS By Lee **Chapter Two*** "KEEEEEEEEEENSSSSSSSHIIIIIIIIN!" "What the hell--?!" "Oi, Jo-chan, what th--?!" The morning at the Kamiya dojo would have been a peaceful one. Sano, for once, offered to help by cooking, much to the relief of the young Yahiko. Who would want Kaoru cooking anyway? Well, who knows... maybe Kenshin wouldn't mind. That was the parallel thought running between all of them when a particular note struck them all: Where WAS Kenshin? Normally, on days like these, Kenshin would be up and about even before the sun rose and busy himself with the cooking and all. Kaoru had simply shrugged and said that he may have overslept given the fact that he looked so tired the night before. She got up and went to his room. And that was when she noticed the peculiar aura in the room..... Sano and Yahiko came running abreast each other towards the quarters Kenshin usually held for himself. The room was not really big yet the space Kenshin managed to project dictated his abilities not only as a person but also as a master of other subsidiary skills that hinted of a man who is always on the move. The two men came crashing through the door, worry inexplicably written all over their faces. Inside, they immediately beheld the appearance of a very distressed woman. Kaoru was kneeling with tears about to spring from her beautiful face. Her face was turned towards the figure on the futon that, without doubt, was in a bad situation no matter how one would look at it. Sano and Yahiko noticed the quiet distress running freely on the mind of Kaoru and they turned their undivided attention towards the figure on top of the futon: Kenshin. Anytime of the day, the two would have laughed off their heads and probably scold Kaoru for disturbing them for nothing so trivial as watching Kenshin sleep. But, in this instance, they knew that that would not be the case. Looking at the redhead on the futon, they instantly knew something was wrong. Kenshin was sweating heavily. Panting was evident and that was just the tip of the problem. Thinking that Kenshin was just sick or something, Sano came in closer and touched the Rurouni's forehead. Nothing. *How odd.* Sano mused. Next, he tried shaking Kenshin awake. Failing miserably, he tried other methods and even ended in shouting at the poor fellow. Nothing. Kaoru on the other hand, was just in a daze. Nothing could snap her out of it. She halfheartedly felt more than saw the events that transpired as she lay in her own world. In another time, she would probably laughed her heart out. But today, nothing came out of her. She just sat there in a self-imposed world as she realized the implications of the events. There was something definitely wrong, no doubt about that. But what was wrong, she doesn't have a clue... save for that strong and weird ki she felt upon entering the room. Now, THAT was odd. She never felt anything like it. Dimly, she was aware of Yahiko running off to who knows where. ***** "Damn it! Yahiko, go to the clinic and call either the fox or Genzai-sensei!!!" Sano half shouted to the poor chap. "H...Hai!" Yahiko said as he rushed out the dojo gates and ran full speed towards the clinic. People around him wondered of the rush and turned curious heads in his direction. Silvery columns of tears marked his passage and the more curiosity attacked him. Yet, as soon as he passed them all, they just went back to their works, the curious scene of a crying child forgotten with the wind. ***** Stitch...pull... stitch...pull... stitch... "There! Finally done... Hmmm... yes, he would be fine... Oh, that would be all right... yes... Oh, there we go!" a tired and weary voice could be heard answering an unknown person within the clinic. "Oh, that would depend on how long he takes to recover... yes... probably a week or so... Hai. He may stay in the clinic..." a secondary voice answered in tandem with the first. "Genzai-sensei, do you think that was wise?" Megumi asked the old doctor. "Yes. If the operation was not performed, he would have died. All we can do now is pray... If there was anything else you would have suggested, maybe it could have been done." Genzai-sensei answered. "Oh... Well, in that case..." SLAM... BLAG! "K'so... YOU STUPID ROOST... Oh, Yahiko-kun! Gomen nasai! What brings you he... Nani yo? What's wrong?" Megumi rattled off in ten seconds. "C...Come quick! There's a pr... problem!" and with that, he ran straight back towards the dojo. Without any conscious thought, Megumi packed a small pack with the skill of a highly experienced doctor. Grabbing the notorious bag, she ran quickly in order to catch up with Yahiko who was evidently in a big rush. *I wonder why. Is it Kenshin? Ooooh. That would be... heaven! Hmmmm. But, it has to be serious. Yahiko's crying. Something very unusual indeed.* Seconds later, she came crashing through the dojo gates. Without further ado, she stepped unceremoniously into the room Yahiko was hovering about... and came face to face with the oddest sight in her whole career. As an experienced doctor, she quickly flung aside her "other skills" to concentrate solely on the task at hand. Hands moved deftly in and out, sideward and onward... Nothing. After a half hour inspection, she could not conclude the malady the rurouni was experiencing. After Megumi had pronounced the predicament, Kaoru went into a fit. "No, no, NO! Something is wrong! I JUST KNOW IT!" Kaoru's fists flew, knocking everything it touched aside. Sano saw the problem and came close to the woman. However, she struggled even more. "LET ME GO, SANO! LET... ME... GO!!!" And, surprisingly, Sano almost did. Never in his life with the "family" did he see Kaoru or anyone act like this... Well, maybe save Kenshin's reaction when Enishi came but this is different. Without thinking, Sano just grabbed her and pulled her into an embrace. "Shhhh..... shhhh.... It would be alright, Kaoru... shhhh..." he cooed as he rocked back and forth in a comforting gesture usually done to babies. Eventually, Kaoru subsided her attacks and her limbs slackened. Before the darkness of sleep claimed Kaoru, all she whispered was, "Why? It's so unfair..." When Kaoru was finally in peace, Sano just smiled sadly and said, "Poor girl," and picked her up. Gently walking out, he brought the sleeping one to her room and laid her in her futon. He brushed aside the trails the tears made and kissed her forehead. "Whatever happened here, Jo-chan, we'll find out and we'll bring back Kenshin to you. This, I promise as a friend. But, for now, sleep well..." and with that, he stood up and walked outside. He reached up and closed the shutters quietly and retreated back towards the ex-vagabond's room. ***** "Sano, that was sweet of you..." Megumi muttered as she walked beside Sano back towards the clinic. She witnessed everything Sano did for Kaoru and marveled at the soft spot Sano possessed. In a way, she was jealous. *Geez. Me? Getting jealous of that raccoon over this baka tori? And they say Shishio was crazy.* After that fateful incident at the dojo, no one could tell what was possibly wrong with Kenshin. Genzai-sensei and a couple of others were called in to investigate the mysterious malady but no one seems to know what he was suffering. Odd. Kenshin just looks like he was just sleeping, save the sweating and all, but he just wouldn't come out of it. Kaoru woke up hours later and was calmer although sadness detailed her face to the extreme. She pointed out that this may not be something ordinary and that if they had happened to notice a strange aura? Sano did and felt chills running parallel to his spine. It felt almost the same as that instance of Sagara's "visit" during his training with Anji even if the sensation was faint. More odd. Then, they all had to deal with putting the puzzle together. Many theories were developed, changed, revised... name it. They reached the clinic and Megumi stood facing Sano. "You know, you never fail to surprise me, baka tori." And with that, she turned to open the door when she felt something grab and twist her wrist around. When she faced the other direction, she felt something warm against her lips and for a brief moment, she stood speechless and overwhelmed. The next thing she knew, she was looking at the face of a smirking Sagara. Lacking anything to say, she just stood there transfixed. Sano just smirked and inside, he felt elation sweep his insides into one whole big mess. *That'll show her!* He turned and walked away, a happy tune being whistled into the air. Megumi could not believe it! He kissed her! Death take her, she is suddenly admitting that she enjoyed it. *Oh no...* She quickly brushed aside the thoughts and opened the door. Inside, she quickly did the check-ups and diagnostics among other things. Anything, in fact, to keep her mind off what happened. SLAM... BANG! "HEY! STOP DOING TH...!" Megumi started to say as she looked at the midnight intruder. Sano! "What?! Didn't you get enough on your pass? Let me tell you this, buster, you wouldn't get a second chance so why don't you turn and go?!" she breathed out at him. He just stood there. "What? Didn't you hear what I said? GO!" "Stupid kitsune! There's something odd outside that needs a doctor! I didn't come her or anything for you! K'so. Hurry up, will 'ya? Someone needs your help big time." He said as he practically dragged her along. Lacking anything to say, Megumi permitted herself to be dragged off unceremoniously into who-knows-where. Suddenly, she found herself in a small section of town near the exit to the forest. A knot of people surrounded a particular area of interest. Suspicion grew in Megumi's mind as she rushed forward. In the middle of the crowd lay a woman who, by looks, seemed to be in her twenties. She was clad in a soft white kimono that was dirtied and torn in places. Long dark hair framed a delicate face with good features... too good, in fact. She looked wealthy and educated. Other than that, bruises were forming here and there as well as some scratches. Approaching carefully, Megumi assessed the situation. *Hmmm. Probably there was a chase and from the look of things, an intended robbery.* Her thoughts were confirmed when Sano suddenly spoke up. "She was screaming and I saw her running out of the forest. Well, I ran and saw these three chasing her, knives and all. Well, what about it now, fox?" he said and Megumi noticed for the first time the three men tied nearby. *Oh. Too bad they ran into Sano... What the? I'm thinking of the idiot in a first name basis! This can't be happening...!* she thought and flung those thoughts aside once again. *This is not the time for this.* "Sano, I don't think anything's wrong with her other than fainting and some minor injuries. Would you mind carrying her to the clinic?" Sano wordlessly and effortlessly followed her instructions. Shooting the men with another glare, he walked off. The men cringed and were probably wishing to be in jail now, to the comfort of the public. *Who's this woman? There's something familiar about her that I can't place...* Sano mused. *Oh, well, one problem at a time, Sano, one problem at a time.* So it would be for no one knows how Fate would play with life. End chapter two. Author's notes: C&C's would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Lee ^_^