Subject: [KFFDISC] [repost/angsty]Real Dreams Chapter Three Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 05:26:04 +0000 From: "Lee H." Reply-To: kffdisc@nabiki.com To: kffdisc@nabiki.com Disclaimers: RK is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki, Shueisha, SPE, Jump Comics, Fuji TV, and all their affiliates. No copyright infringement intended as this is for entertainment and sole obsession only. REAL DREAMS By Lee Chapter Three An eyelid cracked open... followed by the other. As haze filled his vision, both of the orbs closed quickly and crinkled as his body felt heavy and weak... as if he ran for three straight days with no rest. Why he felt sore all over was still a mystery and why he felt weird was no exception. With a groan, Kenshin forced his eyes open and found himself literally in the middle of nowhere. Mist clung to his surroundings making everything invisible to him and him invisible to everything. You can't look far for the white blanket shrouded everything in its path. Feeling weak yet determined, Kenshin gingerly sat up, sending spasms shooting up all over. *Itai!* he cried out in his mind as the first of the spasms died out. How he ended up in this place, he has no idea but he isn't going to give up just yet. No matter what, he will find out. A few minutes of rest made him feel assured that he was indeed still alive. So, gathering his strength, Kenshin stood up slowly as more aches and pains accompanied his disgruntled cries as needles shot all over. *Oooh... What happened here anyway?* he asked himself as he finally got himself stabilized. He felt odd all over and he couldn't quite place why something felt it was missing until he looked down on his waist. His sword hung there but there was something... wrong. Everything felt wrong... That was when he realized that his clothes were different as well. A dark blue gi with a haori slung over and a black hakama framed his body as his hair was tied up high into a samurai ponytail. *Oro?!* He thought back gingerly to the events of the previous night. After witnessing the argument between Kaoru and Sano, he felt unnaturally tired so he retired early. He knew something was amiss then but he didn't dwell on it as sleep clouded his perceptions. Now, he realized he should have dwelt more on his gut feelings. A few rolls of the shoulders and the waist, the rurouni ventured forward in search of someone... anyone... who could explain things to him. And so, within the mist he disappeared. ***** *I feel like I'm floating...* was the first thought she had. *There's something amiss here...* Darkness covered her vision as her consciousness worked slowly towards the surface. She knew the burden would be there but that is not her concern as of now. Then... With a short gasp, she opened her eyes with a snap. A few moments later, she heard someone hushing her and insisting that she lie down once again at the same time she realized that she had sat up. Taking a deep breath, her slender body reclined towards the soft mattress beneath her. Her eyes focused and she saw a woman with long dark hair before her with worry etched all over her face. "Onegai... Onegai... Shhh... You're all right now." the one with the long hair said as she stood up and fixed her medical paraphernalia. That was when she realized that she was in some sort of clinic. Bewildered, she frantically searched her memory for clues and she suddenly remembered... Flashback... She was told to wait for the rest of her mission details before she could do her part. He was there when she arrived... 'These are supplements to your orders...' he said as an ethereal sphere was passed to her. Once her hands had held it, her 'body' absorbed the glowing thing and the events were laid out before her. With the knowledge of what is to come and what is to come about, she gave out a slight gasp. Her companion chuckled. 'So, you can be surprised from time to time ne?' She just stared at him. *Sweatdrops* 'Ehem.' His head turned to the side. 'It seems like phase one is already on its completion. I have to go now and make sure everything goes smoothly on his side.' The mysterious man's form suddenly started to fade away. 'Take care, Tomoe-chan... It all begins now...' With that, he disappeared and a glow surrounded her body. Light intersected her body in different parts and she screamed... *Oh gods...* she thought at first. *ITAI!!!!!!* Then, darkness. She did not know how long it has been when her trek from the darkness ended but when she did come out of it, she found herself lying down in the middle of the forest clothed in a kimono that she had worn... It had been a long time... She looked at herself and found that her orders were true... She is a human once again but her body is still weak from the trauma of being given life once again. A few minutes passed before she attempted to stand up and move gingerly towards the edge of the forest. One step in front of the other... One grueling minute after another... One last step and she made it when... "Look what we got 'ere, buddy," a man said to the side. "Yeah," his companion said as he took a swig out of the sake jug, "ain't she a doll?" "Hehehe... I heartily agree with 'ya there." the first man replied. The banters were exchanged and Tomoe knew she had to get as far away as possible but in her weakened condition, she couldn't. Before she knew what was happening, the two men were blocking her way. "Come with us, little miss, and we'll show you a great time!" the first man said. Tomoe looked at them with passive eyes and didn't say anything. She walked on. "Hey, sister, I said..." the first man said as he grabbed her wrist. Although she was panicking, Tomoe, being Tomoe, did not react and stared at the hand clenching her wrist instead. "Come with us." "No." "Bitch!" the two men said simultaneously. "Do you know who we are? We're the..." But the two men didn't get to finish the sentence as a tall man with spiky hair appeared. "Don't force a woman to come with 'ya if she doesn't want to... Got that?!" Sano said and beat the crap out of them. Grinning, he faced the woman and said, "Are you all right, miss?" Tomoe nodded but, before she could do anything else, she fell unconscious. End flashback. Tomoe realized that the doctor just said something. Forcing herself to focus, she turned to the lady and politely asked her to repeat what she said. Although the woman looked sophisticated, she patiently repeated that she was thankful that she was all right and that she was fatigued and the like. Then, "Namae?" "Yuki... Yukimura Tomoe." Tomoe replied, remembering that she should change her name somewhere. She realized that she was supposed to use some other name but she couldn't remember it at the moment. Her brain wished that it wouldn't be obvious that she was deceiving them. "Well, Tomoe-chan, watashi wa Takani Megumi desu." Megumi said. "Hajimemashite, Megumi-san." Tomoe said after the two exchanged names and bows. Tomoe realized now that this is one of the people surrounding her Kenshin at the present time. "Well, nice to know you too, Tomoe-chan, and please call me 'Megumi.'" the fox said as she stood up and walked towards the door. "I need to check on the patients now. Please rest a while." With that, Megumi stepped out and bowed before closing the door. Tomoe at the door for a moment before closing her eyes in fatigue. She was tired and she knew that the events would be more challenging from here on. She just hopes that everyone is up to the task of facing it. But, for now, she needs her sleep. ***** Kaoru dabbed the piece of cloth over Kenshin's forehead. For the first time, Kenshin stopped thrashing and, instead, was breathing heavily. Added to that, he had a very high fever. Small teardrops appeared on both ends of Kaoru's eyes as she sees the state that Kenshin is in. *Oh my... Kenshin, what happened to you?* Ever since they found him in this state, Kenshin had been thrashing and calling out names. He would sometimes yell and it would be followed by tears. Whatever he's experiencing, it was something from his past. The only regret Kaoru had was that she couldn't do anything about it. She was just... helpless. She wished that if she could make Kenshin forget all of it, that would be it. Everything would just go back to normal... Kaoru wrung the piece of cloth and wiped Kenshin's face which was covered with sweat. *Come back to us...* ***** Kenshin was hopelessly lost. He had been walking since time immemorial and it seemed like he was going absolutely nowhere. "Hello? Can anyone hear me?" Kenshin called out for the nth time. He reached up and scratched his head. During one of his pauses, he took time to put his hair down to the more familiar low ponytail which, he thinks, is more appropriate. Although he was known to be calm, he was getting irritated with the events surrounding him. Well, if you've been walking in the middle of nowhere with nothing and nobody appearing, you would be annoyed too. The rurouni took a few more steps and called out again when a hand suddenly appeared on his shoulder. "OROOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Kenshin yelped out and jumped a meter into the air. He quickly turned around and noticed a man standing behind him. The one before him appeared to be a young man with short brown hair and dressed similarly to Kenshin. Kenshin placed his hand over his thudding heart. "Wh... Where did you come from de gozaru?" The man laughed and said, "Gomen nasai. I'm sorry I scared you." His face settled into a smile. "I'm also sorry for being late." "Late? Late for what?" the redhead asked, breathing in and out in a more calm manner. The man did not reply. Instead, he waved his hands and the fog disappeared. Kenshin found himself in a clearing that looked strangely familiar... Too familiar in fact... He whipped around and, in the distance, was a small village. "Masaka... Iie... Iie..." Kenshin's voice broke as he turned around. "Who are you? And... and why are we here? Is... Is this a dream??" he demanded. The man sighed. "Since you will find out sooner or later... well..." He shuffled and looked a little flustered. "Let's just say that this is some sort of test, ok?" He put his hands in front of his chest, palm out and turned SD when Kenshin turned to him with murder in his eyes. "Maa maa... Please... Don't make this any more difficult than it is!" "Namae." Kenshin asked although it was more of a statement. *Geez, he's already forgotten me.* "Well, you'll find it out someday. For now, leave me nameless... Oh, come on! You have to trust me..." he said before abruptly turning serious. "All I am allowed to tell you is that this is some test for you and you alone to travel. I am only here as your guide... to explain things and nothing more... everything is up to you to discover... You will have to solve all the 'why' and all the questions. I cannot interfere. And, as you have probably deduced, you are separated from yourself. Ask no more questions. The faster you finish here, the faster you can go back... Have faith." With the last of his words, the man turned around and strode towards the village. Kenshin could only stare at the man's back. *Why? Why of all the places?* he thought as he decided to catch up with the enigmatic man and get through with whatever lies ahead of him. He had so many questions yet he feared what answers lay ahead of him. The trip is just about to begin. End chapter 3. Lee speaks: Hello!! Been some time since I wrote. So, some characters are OOC. Gomen nasai!!! Well, for the followers, thank you for your patience. I don't actually know where this is going so please be patient! Hmm... I'll try writing longer next time ok? ^_^ Comments? Suggestions? Come on! They're always welcome!