Subject: [KFFDISC] Real Dreams Chapter 7 Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 06:09:02 +0000 From: "Lee H." Reply-To: kffdisc@nabiki.com To: kffdisc@nabiki.com Disclaimer: RK is the property of Nobuhiro Watsuki, SPE, Shueisha, Fuji TV, Jump Comics, and all their affiliates. No copyright infringement intended. For entertainment purposes only and not monetary, people! REAL DREAMS Chapter Seven By Lee ***** Sano stood outside the dojo impatiently as he tried to come up with an excuse to be alone with Tomoe. It had been a week since Katsu revealed to him the non-existence of a ‘Yukimura Tomoe’ and he wanted to confront her about the fact. “Ano… sumimasen ga…” a quiet voice broke through his reverie. Sano whirled about, surprised. It was Tomoe. ‘Perfect… Just perfect…’ he thought silently as he cursed himself for being so self-absorbed that he didn’t notice the other individual’s approach. He looked at her from top to bottom, trying vainly to come up with an excuse for why he was standing outside the Kamiya Dojo looking like he was going to rob the place. “Eto… yo, ojousan…” was all Sano could muster while a sweat drop formed on his head. “Just visiting and… well…” he added. Tomoe looked at him with what Sano read as curiosity in her eyes. It *is* pretty hard to decipher what Tomoe feels due to the lack of emotion on her face. ‘Che… She’s perfect for Shinomori.’ Sano thought briefly as the face of the tall Oniwabanshuu member came to mind. Tomoe spared Sano the need for a continuation as she bowed to him and opened the dojo entrance to admit them both. ‘This is going to be tougher than I thought…’ the ex-gangster said as he entered the dojo. ***** Kenshin stood staring at the oblivion before him with obvious disinterest. The last scenes he had witnessed covered the time he met Kaoru up to the time of Enishi’s Jinchuu. Here, Kenshin had to admit that there are times when he looked ridiculous as a wanderer, pretending to be oblivious to the emotions the rest of his ‘family’ would show to him such as Kaoru’s insistent professions of love. Now, he knew better than to deny the feelings he himself had been feeling towards them. In the time since the mystery man imparted to him the mysterious message, Kenshin had pondered upon its meaning. However, no matter what he could come up with, he still couldn’t shake the feeling of impending doom. ‘I have a bad feeling about this…’ Kenshin thought as he awaited the next trivial thing to appear. However, as he waited and waited, nothing happened. Kenshin smirked. ‘Finally, they ran out of things to throw at me.’ he thought triumphantly when something happened that almost made him eat his words. That’s because the next thing he saw tugged at his heart more than it did during Enishi’s Jinchuu or Tomoe’s death. [happenings are simultaneous in the ‘real’ world] Kenshin saw Kaoru take a small piece of cloth soaked with water to be placed on… ‘Masaka!’ he thought, surprised as the cloth was laid on his forehead. ‘How can that be?!’ Kaoru’s eyes were glistening with tears as she stroked Kenshin’s hair softly, encouraging him softly to come back to her. But, Kenshin lay there oblivious to it all. “Kenshin, you will come back, ne? You have to… It’s been weeks but we know you’ll pull through… Right? We’ll be waiting and… when you… come back… I… I…” Kaoru said quietly while the tears started to come down as if by their own volition. “Kaoru… dono” Kenshin said to the emptiness as he tried to comfort her from the other realm. “Sessha will come back… somehow…” he said as sadness crept into his soul, making his shoulders slump in defeat. He’s made her cry yet again and he was helpless. Why does it always have to be him that makes her tears come? Then, the scene before him began to dissolve as the other memories had. For some reason, Kenshin knew what he must do and it firmed his resolve to do anything to return to them. “Bravo, bravo!” a familiar voice announced. Kenshin turned quickly to reveal the nameless one behind him, the smile on the individual’s face betraying the seriousness of the situation. There was something really familiar with the person’s face… Then, Kenshin’s eyes narrowed as a thought suddenly exploded in his brain but he chose to keep quiet a little while longer. “So… What are you up to nowadays?” the nameless one said after a long silence. Kenshin’s eyes only narrowed further, emphasizing his sharpening features. The nameless one sweatdropped. “Eto… Have you figured out what to do?” “Aa…” Kenshin replied quietly. The nameless one smiled and feigned delight. He came near and slapped Kenshin merrily on the back. “Omedetou. So, I’ll be going for now and will return when the proper time comes ok?” With that, the nameless one started to bound off to who knows where. “Ja!” “Ja ne, aniki.” came the soft and quiet reply of the redheaded swordsman. The nameless one stopped in midstride and turned around sharply, his body tense and his face betraying his shock. ***** The wind turned up and sang a sad tune to Tomoe’s ears but she knew better than that. Something has happened in the other realm and she knows it had something to do with the two individuals she is connected with in some way or the other. ‘The next stage is about to begin…’ she thought quietly as she shut the shutters inside the kitchen. Taking a knife from a nearby tabletop, Tomoe proceeded making dinner. Chop… chop… chop… While the knife cut expertly the ingredients of the dish for supper, Tomoe thought of how in the world she’s going to explain the trials to the rest of the people in the Kamiya Dojo. It’s not like she can just go to them and say, ‘Hi, I’m Yukishiro Tomoe, Kenshin’s dead wife. You see, I came back to life to help him with a life trial and…’ No, she has to think this through and there wasn’t enough time. Chop… “Ittai!” she suddenly exclaimed as the knife accidentally cut her finger. Drip… drip… drip… Blood. It had been more than a decade since she shed her last blood and her life. Tomoe looked at her finger, the pain fading into the background as her attention came to focus on a basic part of a human body. Blood. Flowing. Life. If she could show the emotion, she would cry but she kept her stony appearance in place instead. ‘If only…’ was all she could think of before dismissing the thought and instead, brought herself to tend her wound. ***** Megumi came out of the room supporting a very haggard-looking Kaoru. “Kaoru-chan,” Megumi said, turning to her friend, “please get some rest. It’s getting dark and supper’s coming soon.” “Hai, hai…” “Don’t you ‘hai, hai’ me, little missy.” the doctor responded sternly. Then, Megumi’s face broke into a tender expression. “Please, you’re not getting enough rest as it is.” When she didn’t get a reply, Megumi added, “Hey, I’m not going to get another patient ok? One on this dojo is enough!” She proceeded to tilt Kaoru’s face to meet her own eyes. “Be strong for him…” Megumi said, “He always comes back to you so you can’t give up now. Be strong for him.” Kaoru gave a small smile before hugging Megumi tightly. “Arigato…” came the meek reply. “Saa. Shoo! Go to your room and rest. I will call you when dinner is ready.” the calm doctor ordered and watched the younger woman retreat to her quarters. Megumi sighed wearily and looked in the general direction of Kenshin’s room. “You’re one lucky guy to have someone like that waiting for you all the time.” she muttered when Sano suddenly came to mind. She closed her eyes and smirked. “Baka.” “Who’s an idiot?” a rough voice said suddenly behind her. Megumi started and turned around to face Sano. “Sano!” “Hai, kitsune?” Megumi was at a loss for words so, with a reflexive huff and contempt, she stormed to the opposite direction, leaving behind a very confused Sano. ‘What was that all about?!’ he thought. ***** Yahiko was carrying a bucket of water towards the Akabeko when he ran into Tsubame. Willing away the blush that started to bloom on his face, he muttered an excuse. “Iie… Sumimasen.” Tsubame said, her blush more evident than her counterpart’s. “Ne, Yahiko-cha… Yahiko,” she stuttered, “how is…” The young samurai sighed wearily. “No change. Nothing’s changed but he’s supposedly doing better now according to Megumi.” Tsubame looked aside. “Oh. Well… um… thank you.” Yahiko smirked. “No, thank you. I mean, you’ve been patient with us all and… well…” “Um, Yahiko-cha… Yahiko?” “Eh?” “How long are you planning on holding the bucket? The contents have already spilled.” ***** Tomoe placed the last of the ingredients into the pot and let it simmer. Cradling her smarting finger, she sat down quietly in one of the stools to contemplate. ‘I can’t shake the feeling of disaster for some reason.’ The aroma of the nearly cooked dish was wafting all around her that she decided to postpone her thoughts for a later time. However, as she got up to start placing the dishes into a more appropriate serving plate, Tomoe heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. Thinking it was one of the occupants, she ignored it and approached the steaming pots. “Ano…” a voice began. Tomoe turned around and found Sano at the kitchen’s entrance. She acknowledged him with a slight bow. “Just out of curiosity… can you… tell me more… of yourself?” the tall man managed to get out with just a hint of danger coloring his words. Tomoe’s eyes widened a fraction. “Why?” “Well… Jus’ curious an’ all…” Sano added, not quite missing her reaction. “There’s not much to tell.” Tomoe said abruptly as she tended the foodstuffs. Sano decided to change the tide. He was getting sick and tired of the cat and mouse chase. “I don’t believe you’re telling the whole truth about you.” There was no mistaking the tightening of the woman’s frame. “There’s more to you than you’re letting us on.” Sano added with a little more aggression than earlier. ‘Uh oh. I *was* looking for an opening…’ Tomoe thought ironically as she considered what to reply to the younger man. “Really?” she replied quietly as she raced to find a solution that would not make the taller man become violent. Sano lifted an eyebrow. He knew she was buying time but for what, he couldn’t fathom. “Look, lady…” Tomoe heaved a sigh and faced him. What Sano saw in her eyes made him take a step backward involuntarily. ‘So much sadness… So much pain…’ “Sagara-san… I can see that there’s no use hiding it any longer. However, please be patient. All will explained soon…” Tomoe said lengthily before bowing slightly and turning back to her task. Aside from the shock that Tomoe spoke in more than two sentences, Sano was surprised that he was able to get a response that quickly. Judging from what he’s observed from her behavior the last couple of days, he thought that he still had to chase her around before he throws something factual that will make her cave. Then again, he should be grateful for the response right? “Oookay. Well, see you later.” Sano said before leaving the kitchen in a sedate pace. Tomoe closed her eyes and breathed deeply. ‘That was close. However, it is time… No matter what happens now, it has begun…’ End of chapter 7. Notes: Oh man! Sucky chapter!!!! T.T Whatever. C&C appreciated! J