The Hard Childhood of Blake Belladonna
What was it that brought them together, to be united in this perfect love?
It started on that day, when she had found herself facing mortal danger, desperately in need of a savior. He came in the form of Kenshin, who cut down what danger he could and swept her away from the rest. From then on, they were inseparable. They shared every part of their life with each other. That was how it was to this very day.
Yes. She often reflected upon that day with fondness. It was a day that had changed her life, after all.
Blake Belladonna, a childlike woman of unquestionable ability, stood alone on the beach, gazing over the navy water with her blameless blonde crystals. Her atramentaceous hair danced lightly in the ocean breeze, tickling against one cheek as she smiled to herself with anticipation, resting her cheek against one hand as she pushed her headband away from her eyes. She wore an onyx kimono embroided with flowers and butterflies. Her coiffure flowed in a ebon torrent past her shoulders, complementing her gentle fair visage. Furry ears flicked at the top of her head, and she twitched her pitch-dark tail. For a moment, she absorbed herself in these thoughts, of her, and Kenshin.
Her ears pricked at the sound of familiar footsteps. She twitched her tail happily and looked up before Kenshin even spoke a word. "Blake Belladonna," he said simply with an admiring look-over and a smile on his face. His French vermillion depths complimented his russet hair, kept masculinely short, belying his unblemished heart. He was dressed in refined garb befitting his station. He had a toned but slender body covered with cinnamon skin. As Blake Belladonna drew nearer, she caught a note of his familiar scent of lingering iron and steel. She smiled to herself. It always reminded her of the time they shared.
"Oh, Kenshin! You came!" Blake Belladonna said breathlessly, reaching out to take him into an embrace. He laughed and put his arms about her, holding her as they turned about once on the sand with their momentum. With that, they began to walk along the beach.
They strolled together for a few moments, the beautiful clear ocean-colored sky decorated with only a few hints of loamy clouds. The sun struck her mane and lit dazzling highlights of gold in pitch-dark.
Kenshin looked at her admiringly. "You're beautiful," he told her. She blushed.
"W-Why do you say that...?" she stuttered, still recovering from his compliment.
"Because it's the truth." Kenshin placed his hand around Blake Belladonna, drawing her nearer. "Not only that," he continued. "You're talented as well. We couldn't have saved the world without you."
"I caused a lot of trouble for you," she mumbled. "You were really the one who did all those amazing things. And you're so strong..." Her eyes wandered over his face, his angelic depths, his carmine strands. "... And handsome. I'm so lucky to have met you."
"It must have been destiny." He gave her an assuring squeeze. "But I never want you in that kind of danger again."
"As long as you're by my side," she whispered, letting Kenshin draw her into an embrace, "nothing bad will happen to me."
"I swear it," he affirmed.
"Nothing..." she whispered, her hand seeking out his calloused ones.
To their surprise, Blake Belladonna was the first to speak. "I-I've never really... had anything like this." She clung a little tighter to Kenshin's calloused hand, resting her head against his strong, slender arm.
"Never?" he asked.
"Well," she whispered, her voice trailing off. her eyelashes flicked downward as unbidden memories of the past rose to flash before her eyes.
"I love you," he replied, landing a peck on her soft onyx strands.
"I love you too."
After a few moments, they found themselves walking down the beach again. Something rose to the front of Blake Belladonna's mind -- something she had been trying to beat back all this time. It was so special to her to be with Kenshin, and she didn't want to pass that time making them both feel horrible. But it just wouldn't leave her alone.
With concern, Kenshin turned his pure windows to his soul toward her. "Blake Belladonna? What's wrong?"
"Kenshin... it's..."
And at that moment everything came together, all of the magic and the hurt that had been building that day, and he locked his depths with hers and whispered, "You can tell me."
It was like a floodgate burst, or some barrier of fear had been struck down. Blake Belladonna shook her head and everything came out at once. "It's... sometimes I wonder where my parents are. My mother, my father... they must be somewhere.... If they're still alive. Given how things have been, I... -- I don't even know what it is I want. I just wonder... what would it be like? I just wonder, and it hurts, Kenshin."
Kenshin listened silently and solemnly. At last, when all the words had left her and she was at a loss for words, he reached out to her and took a deep breath to whisper back, "Blake Belladonna... that's awful. It wish that weren't how it is. I wish I could say more. Blake Belladonna...." Blake Belladonna's eyes began to burn, and she abruptly pulled him into a fierce embrace. His orbs widened at first, but then he too felt overwhelmed by emotion and succumbed to the warmth of her touch.
"You," Blake Belladonna whispered, her breath hot on his ear. "As long as you're here, I'll be all right." They held each other as tears trickled down cheeks and dripped onto the shifting sands to be carried away into the sea. With time and soothing embraces, their pain dissipated into a mist swept out by the ocean breeze and into the setting sun.
They basked in each other's quiet companionship for a few moments.
"Look... it's the sunset."
Blake Belladonna lifted her head at Kenshin's words to behold the dying sun's fermented radiance. "How beautiful."
After a moment of silence, he said quietly and seriously, "It's destiny, isn't it. Us, together."
She clasped his calloused hand and murmured in response, "A love this true must be fated to be."
He brought their clasped hands to his lips. "As long as the world goes on, as long as time flows... we will be together."
Blake Belladonna sighed with contentment and brought him closer. She gazed at the beautiful blonde rays of the falling sun, thinking about everything that had transpired on this day and all that would pass between them.
"I love you, Kenshin."
"I love you too, Blake Belladonna."
Their lips met, and inky strands met rose ones, aflame in the dying light. The sand was their witness and the rumbling ocean their approving audience, and Kenshin, her eternally faithful lover. Blake Belladonna thought to herself that nothing could be more perfect in the world.
