Subject: [kffdisc] Mirai Rurouni kenshin episode 4 Date: Thu, 1 Apr 1999 01:07:21 -0600 From: "Mana-chan" Reply-To: kffdisc@onelist.com To: I finally sat down and decided it was time to get some writing down, hence, Mirai Rurouni Kenshin part 4. I wrote it at 1 am in the morning after many, many hours of studying, so it might be a little rusty. Comments and criticism are needed please!!!! Arigatou Mirai Rurouni Kenshin by Mana-chan Episode 4: Destined Meeting- 3rd part- Let go of the Past Kaoru bounced around Zanza's swift punches and kicks, every once in a while taking a hit here or there that would send her senses reeling, but still, she held on to consciousness, supported by the constant flashes of Yahiko and Tsubame's faces in her weary mind. Suddenly, Zanza spun around and dealt a swift, firm kick to her stomach. Doubling over with pain, she failed to block the series of punches that followed, and she fell in a heap to the ground. Myriads of black splotches dotted Kaoru's vision, and her breath came in raspy gasps as she tried to push her battered body up from the ground. Zanza stepped back and eyed her with disdain. "See..this is what happens when they send a girl out to do a man's work." Kaoru clenched her fists and growled angrily, forcing herself into a standing position. "Don't start gloating yet...I'm not finished...fighting.." Zanza's expression changed to one of amused admiration. He had underestimated the determination and inner strength within the girl standing before him. Upon seeing that she worked for Kago, he had assumed that she was as cold and calculating, but spineless as Kago was. Zanza now knew that this was far from so. Already, she had proved to be stronger spiritually than many of the other gangsters he'd fought in the past 5 years. This trait was admirable. He looked down at her sadly, pity in her eyes. "It's such a waste...to have to eliminate someone with as much energy and potential as you just to get to Kago...Che..." Kaoru looked up, surprised. He had just *complimented* her, had he not? She shook her head. He was being manipulative. She'd learned long ago that guys could be *very* manipulative with girls, especially when they wanted something.. Kaoru shuddered, decided not to think about *that*. She tightened her grip on the sword which served as her only friend and soulmate and lunged at Zanza, her eyes blazing with fire ignited from deep within her soul. A soothing satisfaction flowed through her body as her adversary's eyes widened in shock, and her sword rushed on to meet its mark deep within his shoulder. In one swift movement, Zanza blurred and was gone. Kaoru's sword sliced thin air, and the momentum of her attack sent her flying toward the near wall. She spun around quickly, allowing her shoulder to absorb the impact of her crash. Zanza whistled appreciatively, inspecting his jacket/ robe and frowning at the small cut he found in the sleeve. "You're a lot better than I expected, babe, but now I'm mad.. you messed up my favorite jacket." Kaoru smirked. "That's a jacket? It looks like a pair of pajamas." Zanza looked down at his "jacket", and seeing that what she said had some truth to it, he became even more angry. "You BITCH!!!!!!!!!!! Don't even START insulting my jacket!!! At least it looks better than your FACE! BUSU!!" Kaoru had grown quite exasperated with being called a hag- first by Yahiko and now by Zanza. After all, there IS a limit to the amount of times a woman will put up with insults inflicted upon her beauty, and Kaoru was no exception. "BAKA YARO!!!!!!!!!!!!" **************** Kenshin sat patiently before his psychiatrist as he took notes about Kenshin's descriptions of his dreams- *those* dreams that continued to haunt him night after night, never giving him peace- the dreams about *her*, and about the moon dripping red with blood, covering the land with its scarlet glow. Finally, not being able to stand it anymore, Kenshin decided to visit a nearby psychiatrist famed for his abilities to not only help people with their mental insecurities, but also to interpret dreams, especially ones dealing with scenes from the past. Kenshin watched as the psychiatrist scribbled on his pad with quick, neat strokes, and he was soothed by the steady rhythm of the clock ticking away the minutes.. Tick, Tick, Tick, Scratch Scratch. These were familiar sounds-sounds he heard everyday in the classroom- ones that accompanied every college professor's life- the warm, welcome ticking of the clock and the constant movement of pens and pencils rapidly unraveling History on paper. Such was the life of a History teacher- nice, comfortable, and normal- the biggest problem being only when one student had an argument with another, requiring a Professor's intervention to calm the burning flames of resentment and anger. The dreams, on the other hand were abnormal and frightening in their implications.. What *normal* person had recurring dreams of blood and terror- of hatred and guilt so deep that they had been engraved in Time itself? Only Himura Kenshin..and now he was here, at the psychiatrists's office, looking for answers. Kenshin focused once more on the doctor's hand, still jotting down quick notes and interpretations. Suddenly, the doctor's pen stopped in midair, and after two minutes of minimal movement, Kenshin began to worry. "Dr. Genzai? Are you okay? Daijobu ka? (did i use this phrase correctly?)" The doctor stirred from his reverie and smiled at Kenshin. "Hai..I was just thinking... and comparing your notes to those of a little girl I saw several days ago. She has been having very similar dreams- Meiji era, loneliness, the aftermath and torment of the Bakumatsu on those who survived it...Strange dreams..about the past. And what makes them so strange- yours and hers- is that they're both about the exact same time period within the Meiji Era.." Kenshin's eyes widened. An image of the fighting girl from earlier that day filled his mind. "Sumimasen, Dr. Genzai... was that little girl's name.. Kaoru?" The psychiatrist smiled. "Iie.. and even if it was, I'm not allowed to give you that information." Kenshin's eyes widened in realization at what he had just requested. "Oh! Gomen nasai! I didn't mean to be nosy about people's personal records..." He silently reprimanded himself for having forgotten such a basic truth in the field of medicine and especially psychiatry. Dr. Genzai nodded, understanding. "It's okay," he smiled warmly "... Now..about your dreams...in correspondence with that other little girl's dreams..well, they both seem to occur in the 13th year of the Meiji Era...the year of chaos- of mass murdering, and of the death of the legendary Hitokiri Battousai." At the words "Hitokiri Battousai," Kenshin felt a jolt of pain radiate all up and down his body, starting from his heart. He flinched violently and clenched his teeth against the rapid attack tearing up the inside of his body. Images flashed across his vision- one after the other, like one of those old black and white films with no sound- a war cursed with blood, the revival of a murderer, the death of a loved one. Kenshin grabbed his head, willing the images to stop-the blood, the hatred... "Himura-san! Himura-san! Daijobu ka?" Kenshin slowly opened his eyes, welcoming the sight of Dr. Genzai staring worriedly at him. "Hai. I think so...it's okay..don't worry about it." Upon seeing Dr. Genzai's look of doubt, Kenshin added, "Yes, I'm fine..really..I just.. had..a sort of...thought...that's all. " Kenshin gave the old psychiatrist a reassuring smile that, after a few more minutes, dissipated most of his fears. Slowly, reluctantly, Dr. Genzai sat back down in his chair. "Himura-san... I don't know, even from your dream, what is going on, but I DO know one thing." Kenshin forced the shock of being assaulted at the mention of a name aside momentarily and sat at the edge of his chair, leaning forward so as not to miss what the doctor was saying. "You're connected very strongly to the past...So strong,..it seems to be pulling you back into it..back in Time. Of course, this isn't plausible. Such an occurence is theorized to be impossible. But it can do enough that it hurts you as it pulls.. which is what I'm guessing just happened to you minutes ago. The only way this will stop...is if whatever happened in the past during that time... is put back into the past. Somehow, the ghost of the Meiji Era has followed us here into the 20th century. Someone, or several someones have held onto something that happened in the 13th year of the Meiji era, and it is up to them to try to forget..to try to let go......" -Mana-chan Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic Collection http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/8165/ Sakura no Kiseki Fanfic/ Fanart Contest http://oro.freehosting.net/contest.html (just a judge ^_^)