AN: After 'The Demon Child' and 'Spin the Bottle', I present to you guys my third RK fic, Undercover Geisha. (smiles) Hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own RK/Samurai X and I never will. Sad but true. (sighs)
Note: I just got the latest issue of one of my fave mags and it has a picture of Kenshin wearing modern clothes. (drools) He's so hot, the black leather trench coat really goes well with his blood-red hair and the sunglasses gave him a 'cool' look. He seemed more like Battousai in the picture then the Rurouni. (sighs dreamily) When will I ever see my Aoshi wearing sexy modern get-ups too?
Undercover Geisha
Chapter One: Accepting the Mission
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Kaoru sipped on her tea she enjoyed the unusually but welcomed quiet afternoon.
Since the day she'd came to know Kenshin and the others, the kendo master's life had been pretty hectic, far from the quiet and simple lifestyle she once had. And though Kaoru's grateful for all her new friends, she couldn't help but yearn for a little private time alone.
Perhaps that is why she'd convinced Sano, Yahiko and Kenshin to take a nice fishing trip by the lake for the day. Though Kenshin was reluctant to leave Kaoru alone at first, who wouldn't after the Enishi incident?
Kaoru let out a low sigh. It's been a year since Kenshin had first stepped into her dojo and into her life and still he wouldn't get the hint.
The nineteen-year-old shook her head in dismay. The ebony ponytail swayed in rhythm with each shake and the early afternoon sun shined to give her hair a bluish gleam.
Since the first time Kenshin had saved her from Gohei, she'd liked him. At first it was because of respect and admiration but later on it grew into infatuation and then…
Kaoru's grip trembled slightly as she set the tea cup on the table. A sort-of wistful smile played on her full pink lips.
She shouldn't even think about it. After all, Kenshin didn't love her right? Or couldn't?
Didn't, couldn't…what's the difference? It's the same thing. The point is that Kenshin probably loves her like a sister. Nothing more.
Especially after the truth about Tomoe…Kenshin's past and deceased wife.
Kaoru felt something cold and wet dripping down her cheek and wiped it gingerly. How could she ever be compared to Tomoe? The woman was beautiful, graceful, calm and so damn perfect. How could an ugly, klutzy, loud tomboy like her ever matched with a woman, who was Kenshin's wife, like that?
That's where reality hit her. She couldn't.
Kaoru felt the tears coming and blinked rapidly. She felt a sob elevating deep within her chest and chewed her lip to hold it back.
The creak of the dojo gate opening broke the young woman from her musing and she hurriedly wiped her tears away as she got up.
Kaoru glanced momentarily at the sky as she put on her tabi sandals. It was still early so it couldn't be the guys, could it?
With a soft thump, Kaoru's sandaled feet touched the ground as she walked towards the dojo entrance.
Kaoru sucked in a gasp though her sapphire eyes still widened with surprise as her visitor came into view.
"Good afternoon, Kamiya." drawled out Fujitaka Goro, otherwise known as Hajame Saitou.
He smiled and tipped his police hat slightly in greeting.
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Kaoru set down the tea cup in front of Saitou and sat down across from him.
She eyed the former Shinsengumi leader warily as he sipped the warm tea she offered. Kaoru couldn't cook to save her life but she can make a mean herbal drink.
"Why are you here?" She asked.
Saitou simply raised an eyebrow as he set his cup on the table.
"Straight to the point, aren't you Kamiya?"
Kaoru's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "If this is about Kenshin…" she started.
Saitou caught her off with a snort. "Far from it Kamiya." He answered.
"The reason I'm here is because I'm in need of your assistance."
Kaoru quirked an eyebrow curiously. "What do you mean?"
The man's amber eyes narrowed seriously. "Have you heard about the mysterious killings and disappearances in Yokohama lately?"
Kaoru nodded her head. "Hai, I've read about it in the papers."
Saitou's mouth drew into a thin line. "But what you don't know is that the victims are either reputed drug lords or leaders in the black market."
Kaoru quirked an eyebrow once more in interest. "Go on."
"So we suspect a conspiracy, perhaps one of the lesser dealers got jealous and decided to get rid of the competition."
"And how does my assistance help you with this?" asked Kaoru.
"What about the Yokohama police?" she pointed out.
Saitou didn't reply immediately. Instead, he took out a cigarette from his pocket, tucked it between his lips and lighted it.
Kaoru tried to hide the disgust that was itching to spread across her face when the amber-eyed man gave a long wheeze and exhaled it slowly.
She wrinkled her nose in offense but waited patiently for Saitou to continue.
Seemingly relaxed now that he'd taken a smoke, Saitou answered.
"Those idiots are dumber than a nail. They couldn't find anything even if it hit them in the face."
After making another stream of smoke come out of his mouth, he continued.
"The only one I know who has a brain there is Chief Officer Youkita Meoiuto but he's on a forced vacation and won't be back until next week."
Kaoru's mouth formed a small 'O'. "Sou ka?"
Saitou nodded his head in reply.
Kaoru's sapphire eyes darkened seriously. "But still, I don't know why you need my help."
"Our sources told us that a suspicious-looking character had been spotted at 'The Sakura Petals' in Yokohama and, wonder of wonders, the character turned out to be Sukenami Ojita."
Saitou's voice dripped with sarcasm at the last part.
"Sukenami Ojita?" Kaoru asked quietly, mostly to herself. The name rolled out of her lips easily. It felt familiar…
Then a thought struck the ebony-haired woman and she voiced out.
"The drug lord who got caught during a smuggling bust operation three years ago?"
Saitou nodded his head. "The very same."
Kaoru eyebrows narrowed in bewilderment. "But I thought that he was in jail."
"He was." Saitou replied. "But he got out early on account of 'good behavior.' "
"But if your sources told you that Sukenami Ojita's responsible for the murders and disappearances, then why don't you just cuff him and throw him in jail?"
Saitou shook his head negatively. "Although I reveled at the sight of seeing that man rot in jail, I can't. There aren't enough evidences to point out that he actually did commit the crimes unless he confesses."
Kaoru's face relaxed slightly as the whole point of Saitou's visit came clearly into her mind.
"So you're saying that you want me to go undercover and get evidences sufficient enough to nail the guy?"
"Smart girl." Saitou merely replied.
A question rose from the depths of Kaoru's mind and she asked. "But why me? Why not one of your men or even you?"
Saitou rolled his eyes and said curtly. "I highly doubt neither of us would make a presentable geisha."
"WHAT?!?!"
The Mibu Wolf growled as Kaoru's shriek caused his ears to pound at the loud vibration. Stoic amber eyes glared at fiery sapphire depths as Kaoru looked at Saitou in the eye menacingly, hands on her hips.
"The Sakura Petals is a popular geisha teahouse…"
"You mean a whorehouse." Kaoru interrupted irritatingly, glaring stonily.
"…so you're going to there disguised as a geisha to extract the required information from Sukenami." Saitou continued, ignoring the fuming young woman. "Charm him if you must as long as you get the evidences we need."
Kaoru glared at Saitou once more. "What makes you think I'll accept this…mission?"
Saitou replied smoothly. "Because I know that you were trained in the geisha arts from your aunt who'd intended to send you to a brothel but failed miserably."
Kaoru narrowed her eyes dangerously. "How did you find that out?"
Saitou smirked. "I have my connections, Kamiya."
Kaoru gave an unladylike snort. "I'm not surprised. What with you being a former Shinsengumi and all."
"Let's cut to the chase. I don't plan to spend all day here, waiting for your answer." Saitou muttered. "Will you accept or not?"
Kaoru huffed and was ready to open her mouth to say no but a sudden thought flashed her mind and she shrugged mentally.
Why not? She had been feeling like a delicate doll that'll crack at the slightest rough touch. Since the guys came into her life, Kaoru had been kidnapped and every time a fight would occur, she would feel like she was nothing but a bystander which was true most of the time. Even the fact that she'd defeated Kamatari, one of Shishio's Juppongatana members, didn't sooth her. Where had her fighting spirit gone? Had it simply dissipated along with her years of training in the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu?
This was a heavenly grace actually (if you'd forget that it came from Saitou). Finally Kaoru would prove to everyone that she wasn't weak and fragile. That she could take on a mission and succeed. No matter how silly, uncouth and miserable it seems.
Kaoru opened her mouth and a lone word passed from her lips firmly.
"Fine."
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Kaoru bid Saitou goodbye and stood there at the dojo entrance until his figure disappeared from view. The young kendo teacher then proceeded to gather the empty tea cups. Her nose wrinkled at the offending pile of cigarette ash on her ashtray and she waved her hand to get rid of the remaining trail of thin smoke that hovered above it.
After washing and rinsing the used cups and tea pot, as well as dumping the cigarette ash and cleaning the ashtray, Kaoru had just about rinsed off the water from her hands when a cheerful Sano and Yahiko came in.
"Hey Jou-chan," greeted Sano when he saw Kaoru standing there, towel in her hands.
"Hey Sano." Kaoru greeted him back and smiled. "So how was the lake?"
"It was awesome Busu." It was Yahiko who'd replied. "We caught a large fish, here see for yourself."
The fourteen-year-old held up a bucket for Kaoru to see, a proud smile on his face.
Kaoru growled at the Busu comment but let it slide as she leaned in to peep what's in the bucket.
The fish they'd caught was a huge milkfish. Kaoru smiled, thankful that it wasn't a catfish. She hated those things.
"Sugoi…that's really big." She commented. "Demo where's Kenshin?"
"Tadaima Kaoru-dono." Kenshin's voice was heard as the redhead stepped into the room, fishing sticks slung over his shoulder.
Kaoru smirked inwardly. Speak of the devil.
"Welcome home Kenshin," she greeted.
Smiling, Kaoru added. "Why don't you prepare dinner and I'll set the table."
At the corner of her eyes, Kaoru noticed Sano and Yahiko slowly tiptoeing away from sight and smirked.
"With Sano's and Yahiko's help of course." She continued; her voice loud and clear.
Both Sano and Yahiko groaned and slapped a hand to their foreheads.
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Dinner went uneventful save for Sano and Yahiko fighting over the last piece of the fish. Kaoru merely laughed at the sight while Kenshin was busy trying to make peace between them.
Feeling her laughter subsiding, Kaoru set her chopsticks down and coughed to get their attention. Now was as good as the time to tell them.
Sano and Yahiko, who were literally at each other's throats, seized for a moment to glance at Kaoru; Kenshin, who was glad that the former two had stopped fighting, turned to face Kaoru with interest.
"Minna, I have an announcement to make." She said seriously, her face equally firm and clear.
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to calm her nerves.
"I'm going to Yokohama in tomorrow."
To be continued
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Sapphire: Well what do you think? I hope you guys enjoyed it. Please don't forget to review.
Remember, the more you review, the faster I'll update. Hohoho!