"Kakushin!" Yuukiko felt like she was drowning. She couldn't
move fast enough. She couldn't stop what was happening. "Don't!" Kakushin's
eyes were amber. Amber? Battousai. "Please. Please... Kakushin.
Please. Stop. It's me! It's Yuukiko!" But he was turning away from her.
She ran to him, wrapping her arms around him, as if she could hold him
back.
"Please. Kakushin. Please. Snap out of it! Don't do this." He was going
to kill. If that happened....
"Please!" She couldn't let him do it. No matter what. It might destroy
him.
"He has to pay." His eyes were hard. Cold. She had to reach him. But
he wasn't listening. He wasn't even looking at her. He shrugged her off
and unsheathed his sword. "How could he do that to you, Yuukiko?" But he
didn't seem to register that she was there. "HOW COULD HE?" Yuukiko
looked down at the blade, light glinted off it's surface.
The sword was not a sakaba-tou.
"Kakushin!" No! No! No! STOP!
*****
"Yuukiko?" She felt strong hands grip her shoulders. His touch. His
smell. Kakushin. He could calm her more than anything. Without opening
her eyes, she reached out to him, pulling him close.
"Yuukiko, what's wrong?
"Ka-Kakushin?"
"Bad dream?" She didn't answer, snuggling in closer to his warmth. She
didn't want that dream to ever come true. Never. She wouldn't let it happen.
"Yuukiko. What happened in the dream?" He cupped her face, silently
asking for her to open her eyes and answer him. Beloved. She opened her
eyes to reassure herself that it was all real. He was safe. She would make
sure that he would stay that way. "What happened?" he prodded.
You became Battousai. You were going to kill. I don't know what happened.
I just can't let that vision come true. I can't let you do that. I can't
let it happen.
"I...I dreamt...." She closed her eyes and saw the wicked glint of light
playing along the sword that was not a sakaba-tou. She saw the anger in
his amber eyes. "I dreamt I couldn't stop you..." The anger. The hate.
It all washed over her. The emotions were so powerful that they reached
across the dream to reality.
"Stop me? From what?" Whatever she saw in her dream had deeply disturbed
her.
"From killing. From becoming Battousai."
"Battousai? Were you dreaming about me or Kenshin?"
"You." She took a ragged breath. It did little to calm her. Dreams had
become such a big part of her life, she couldn't just shake this one off.
"Kakushin, what if it comes true?"
Kakushin didn't reply. He knew that if anything happened to her, he
might very well be able to hurt another person. He could not allow history
to repeat itself. He didn't know if he could remain sane if anything were
to happen to her. He wiped the tears away, soothing her with his touch.
He hesitated to tell her. Battousai was a part of him. Just like he was
a part of Kenshin. He could only be whole with her in his life. "I...Yuukiko....
Battousai is..."
"I won't let it come true, Kakushin," she stated flatly. "Something...
someone is trying to destroy us. I can feel it." The darkness was out there.
Waiting. But she wasn't going to let it get what it wanted. "They are just
waiting for the opportunity. We can't let them."
"If anything happened to you..." He pulled her close, as if making sure
he could.
"Kakushin. If anything happens to me, you can get past it. You can be
strong. You have to be. It would destroy you to become Battousai." If
anything happened to him, can you be as strong, Yuukiko?
"It would destroy me to lose you," he whispered against her hair.
"No. Don't let it. We belong together, Kakushin. We were brought together.
Nothing is going to tear us apart again." There was that familiar glint
of determination in her eyes. Stubbornness. He kissed her for her bravery.
"No. Nothing."
*****
"What the hell are we doing here, woman?" He was feeling a little exasperated.
Not an unfamiliar sensation when it came to figuring out his girlfriend.
"Yuu-chan, it will be fun." For some reason, she wanted to the festival
at their old high school. Yuunosuke just shook his head. Women! No matter
how long he was with her, he still didn't understand.
"Keiko, you know I love you, but you sure get wacky thoughts in that
head of yours. It's a holiday, why don't we use the time better?" He leered
at her meaningfully.
"Yuunosuke, you really have a one track mind." She kissed him quickly
on the lips, moving out of his reach before he could grab hold. "You know
those dreams we had in high school?"
"You mean the ones that led to the incident in the equipment room?"
There was such a fond look of lust on his face that Keiko could only laugh.
The certified bad boy of the school getting together with the highest ranking
student in the school was borderline scandalous. Especially the way they
got together. It was a game of cat and mouse.
Seta Yuunosuke had been labeled as trouble for school authorities as
soon as he got in to school. He had had a reputation from middle school
for having a bad-ass attitude. Of course, that didn't stop the school from
accepting him. He had the grades and the family backing for it. Reputation
and attitude was not going to detract from all those other factors.
Niitsu Keiko always had been studious. She wanted nothing more than
to be a doctor. She needed to be a doctor. So, she studied and worked at
being the best at school. Nothing was going to stop her from her dream.
She knew it would be a hard road to follow, but she wanted it more than
anything. That didn't mean that she was shy or weak or anything. Just focused.
She didn't intend to be distracted by anything or anyone.
Until Seta Yuunosuke.
She had stayed late after school, checking something out in the library.
Night had fallen, but that never really worried her much. Their high school
didn't have a gang problem or too many delinquents that went around harassing
people.
That night, it was a different story.
"Ah, aren't you cute... Sailor suits look so good on little girls like
you. Just makes me want to...rip it off."
She turned to the voice. She wasn't about to take that crap. She wasn't
just some silly school girl. Did he think he was scaring her? Jerk! "Listen,
asshole, I don't know who the hell you think you are, but why don't you
just go to one of those clubs in the red light district that cater to freaks
like you. I don't have time for your crap." She started waking away at
a brisk pace.
"Cutie, I'm not fuckin' around. At least not yet." For the first time,
Keiko felt a sliver of fear race down her back. This guy sounded serious.
Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to confront him.... He was right behind
her.
Keiko turned around and looked at him. He was big and ugly. And smelled
of cheap liquor. She quickly memorized his facial features for future reference.
He smirked at her scrutiny. "Ah, such a cute face. Maybe I'll keep you
for a while."
Keiko merely smiled back, despite her fear. Did he think that she was
just an open target. He moved closer to her. He's probably thinking,
Easy prey. As soon as he got close enough, he would be feeling something
different. Like a kick to the crotch.
"Hope you enjoyed that," she retorted, running off. I have to lose
him and call the police. Can't have a sicko like him running around. He
might actually hurt someone.
She fled into the shadows. The darkness would help hide her until she
could get to a phone with a description. Maybe the idiot would still be
hanging around. Then the police could take care of him.
A strong hand grabbed hold of her in the darkness. She was so surprised
she couldn't scream. She could only gasp for air. She began to kick and
struggle. No way was she going to let him get the upper hand.
"Let me go!" She struggled, but couldn't break his strong grip. She
turned around to slug him, but his other arm blocked her blow. Seta Yuunosuke.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Niitsu Keiko. She was in the same
class as him. Got the highest grades. Incredibly intelligent. Cute as hell.
Her dark hair framed a perfect, pale oval face, her lips a pale red. She
would look like the ideal geisha if she dressed up in a kimono and the
classic garb. She had that kind of quiet beauty. Not that she'd have anything
to do with him or with any boy in the class. She always herself aloof.
She was nice, but she basically ignored any overture from the opposite
sex. He knew that several guys had already been shot down. Very gently,
of course. Niitsu didn't want any of the guys to hate her, just to not
like her.
"God! I thought you were the sicko."
"The sicko?"
"There's some jerk out there. He tried to..." She shuddered. The adrenaline
was wearing off, leaving her weak. She shook off the reaction. "I have
to call the police. That guy is dangerous."
"Cutie, you just don't know what's good for you." The both turned to
the voice. The sicko was red with anger and not a little pain. Keiko was
glad to see that he was walking funny. "I'm going to fix you up really
good."
"Hn. Old man, I think that you've made a mistake." He turned to Yuunosuke,
seeing him for the first time. Then he didn't see anything. The sickening
thud of flesh hitting flesh echoed in the darkness. She shivered in the
darkness. That move seemed so familiar. He way he walked. The way he talked.
God. The dreams. "Kick him," he ordered roughly.
"Huh?" She blinked owlishly at him. Did he say to kick him?
"Kick him. Really hard. It will make you feel better." She looked like
she was going to scream. Or cry. He didn't think he could handle either
of those reactions. Her eyes were huge in her face. He had the urge to
calm her. To hold her.
Keiko looked at the unconscious body. She certainly didn't want him
to be haunting her subconscious. She pulled back her foot and kicked him
hard.
"Oh...I do feel better."
"Now we call the police," he said with satisfaction, dragging Keiko
behind him.
"Sagara Sanosuke couldn't have done it better," she whispered.
He turned back to her in shock. Megumi? "No. No, he couldn't."
That day was the beginning of their relationship. Kind of.... Keiko
found it just as hard to believe as Yuunosuke that they were remembering
some past life. But the memories were there, stronger now that they had
met face to face, now that they had touched. But there was an attraction
that they couldn't fight. Not that they didn't try. But how could you stop
something that was just meant to be.
*****
Niitsu Keiko. He couldn't get that girl out of his head. He wished
he could. The final bell had rung signaling the end of school. He watched
her as she talked with some of the other girls from their class. The fall
of rain outside muted the sound of students on their way home. There was
just something about her.
She was the complete opposite of him. She studied like it was the only
thing that mattered to her in life. She followed all the rules. She was
always on time. She always tried to be perfect. Like how she dressed, every
button buttoned. Every hair in place. He had this depraved urge. He wanted
to see her all mussed up.
They fought. Every time they were alone, there was an argument. Over
the stupidest things, too. Who cared about what teachers thought of him?
Or what he did in the mornings that made him late all the time... He wasn't
going to tell her that he helped his grandmother around their house every
morning to make sure that she would be okay for the rest of the day. It
was none of her business....
Why did he keep trying to get her attention? Why couldn't he stop thining
about her?
Keiko could feel him staring. She felt like she was under the watchful
eye of a hunter. And he wanted to go in for the kill. That was one of the
reasons why she kept pushing him away. He was a factor that she could not
control.
But in the dreams....they had been happy together. Sanosuke and Megumi.
Those two were just as opposite as she and Yuunosuke were now. But she
didn't need complications. College exams were 2 years away. She had to
prepare. Cram school and all of that. Who had time for a boyfriend? Not
that she thought of him as a boyfriend or a potential one or anything.
And they kept fighting, anyway. What kind of relationship could they have
if they couldn't agree on anything?
She looked up to see if he was still there, but he was gone. She fought
down the twinge of disappointment she felt. He probably went home or went
to check on whatever was making him late every morning. A girlfriend? Was
she some girl who went to another school? Or maybe a college girl who liked
handsome, young high school boys. Teaching him what she liked to do. She
was not jealous. She wasn't! Who cared what he was doing or with whom?
She didn't, that was for sure.
She grabbed her book bag and walked down the corridor to the front of
the school. The hallways were thinning out as students went home for the
day. She had things to do. Books to read.... There wasn't any time in her
life to think about bad boys like Seta Yuunosuke.
But that bad boy had something else in mind for them. He had finally
come to a decision. It was time to stop fighting it. She was his. He was
hers. Nothing was going to change that. So why should they fight then enviable.
It was time to give in. If it took some sneaky tactics, so be it.
Kieko sighed as she walked to the front of the school. It was going
to be a pain to walk home in the rain. Maybe she should stay and study
in the library. Keiko opened the box that contained her outside shoes,
absently reaching in. She found a note instead of her shoes.
Niitsu, meet me in the gym. -Seta Yuunosuke.
Of all the.... What the heck was he up to? She didn't have a choice
but to go to the gym. She needed those shoes to get home in. Damn it.
"Seta-kun, where are my shoes? I need to get back home," Keiko yelled
as soon as she entered the gym. It was empty, but a light was shining from
the equipment room. Was he in there?
"Seta-kun, I need my shoes!" No one was in the room. No one. What the
hell was he up to? She was going to kill him when she got her hands on
him.
"Looking for these?" She swung around to face his voice. Seta Yuunosuke.
He stood behind her, closing the door of the equipment room firmly behind
him. He held the shoes up above her. There was no way that she would be
able to reach them.
She crossed her arms and glared at him. "Very mature, Seta. Are you
going to give them back any time soon? I really don't have time for this."
"Tell me something, Niitsu Keiko, why am I the only guy you talk to
that way?"
"What are you talking about? Stop being an idiot and give me back my
shoes."
"You talk to me as if you hate me with a passion. Tell me you really
feel about me."
"What are you talking about? I just want my shoes. You'd be lucky if
I ever talk to you again."
"Hmm? I think that your hiding something. Come on, Megumi. Just give
in. It takes too much energy to fight this. I'm getting tired."
"Don't call me Megumi. I'm not her." If he was going to be so
rude as to use her first name, he should at least use her real one. Megumi
was in the past, if she really existed at all....
"You are her. Stop lying to yourself. You can lie to other people, Keiko,
but it's a real crime when you start lying to yourself."
Keiko paled at that shot. "Are you delusional? Those are just stupid
dreams."
"I don't think that dreaming about the same thing is so common, Keiko."
He moved closer to her. He had to make her see that it was better for both
of them if they talked about what was going on between them. "Keiko."
"How can it be real? It doesn't make sense. None of it." She shook her
head in denial.
"They were real. I checked." She raised an eyebrow at that. He could
do research? "Hey, I know how to use a library. I'm not stupid."
"I never said that you were. I'm just surprised you know how to research
family history stuff."
Yuunosuke shrugged. "I found out that the Sagara Sanosuke and Megumi
live in Tokyo. They had a bunch of children. Megumi was a doctor, but you
already know that. They still some Sagaras around..."
"That doesn't mean-"
"It means what we've been dreaming is based in truth. We are remembering
what happened to them. Everything is real. I even found an old article
about Kamiya Kaoru's murder."
"Kaoru's...." Keiko closed her eyes and saw the lifeless body of the
young girl she had loved as a sister. Kamiya Kaoru....
"It was real. It was all real. Keiko, why are you fighting it?"
"It doesn't make sense to me. It's hard for me just to give into this."
"It's real. I'm real." He pulled her into his arms. She went willingly,
wrapping her arms around him. He felt so solid. Familiar. "Keiko, you need
me and I need you. That's just the way it is. Stop being so stubbon and
just give in."
"You sure know how to put a romantic spin into things, Seta."
He lifted her up on to the gymnastics horse gathering dust in the corner.
Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her softly. "You can call me Yuunosuke,"
he whispered against her lips. She sighed and pulled him closer, deepening
their kiss. It was like coming home. How could she fight it? She never
stood a chance.
"I think I'd rather call you 'Yuu-chan,'" she whispered back, pulling
him back towards her again. She had almost forgotten just how fun it was
to kiss him. Knowing Yuunosuke, kissing was just the beginning.
Of course, they both forgot about the basketball team. It was a good
thing that the door of the equipment room was notorious for getting stuck.
The resultant banging gave them enough warning to get everything back to
a semblance of order. Of course, they couldn't hide the fact that they
were alone in the equipment room for almost an hour. They may have been
stuck there, but they never yelled for help or anything. They also couldn't
hide that they were very red faced when the doors were finally opened.
The school's rumor mills had processed the news of their relationship before
the sun set that day. But Yuunosuke and Keiko didn't care. They found what
they had each been looking for. And that hour in the equipment room was
really quite worth it.
"One track mind," she repeated, blushing. She hadn't thought about the
infamous equipment room incident in a while.
"What about the dreams?" he asked, returning to the topic at hand. Just
this morning, they were talking about those dreams. Last night, they had
another one.
"I think we're going to find out why we're dreaming again."
"You had a sudden urge to go back to our old high school cuz you have
a feeling the answers are here?"
"Yup." She smiled at him cheerily.
"Wacky. You've always been wacky. You get these ideas in your head and
figure that it has to be okay because you thought it up."
"Yuunosuke, you have a better idea?"
"Yeah, we could...," he wagged his eyebrows suggestively.
"How would that help? Come on! What do you think is happening?"
She wagged her finger at him, tapping his nose in admonishment. He caught
her finger in his mouth. "Why do you think we dreaming again?"
"I dunno. Maybe it's just time."
"The answer is here, Yuu-chan. I know it." He tucked a lock of hair
behind her ear. Whatever was causing the dreams was back. Those dreams
had brought them together when they were teens. Now the urgency was back.
There had to be a reason for it all. If Keiko wanted to get to the bottom
of it, he'd help her.
"Okay, okay. Let's go."
