I do not own Bridal Mask or Kenshin. Enjoy ^_^x
Prologue:
Joseon, Kyeong Seong: Korea 1920's...
Thirteen years ago...
Clutching the dagger in her small hands, shocked blue eyes stare at the inscription on the hilt, "sword's heart," she whispers, head throbbing from her open wounds. Frightened eyes look into those of the young man kneeling before her, calloused hands wrap around hers, "Young master," her innocent voice pleads.
"Keep this with you always," he looks around quickly, he can hear them coming, giving chase through the tall grass the two are hiding in. "Promise me you'll stay alive, can you promise me?"
"What do you mean?" Her voice is taught, eyes stinging, "where are you going?"
"Just promise me you'll stay alive," he's desperate now, "no matter what happens, you cannot die," his grip tightens against hers, and she nods in hesitation.
"I will find you, if you stay alive, I will find you..."
Joseon Marketplace 1930's...
Steeling his resolve, Kenshin focuses on the marketplace before him. He knew the Joseon people wouldn't obey, "how dare you set up shop on the same day as General Choi's funeral!" Atop his imperial steed, Kenshin points to the crowd, addressing his fellow officers.
"Tear it all down!" His eyes a deep violet watching as the market is turned upside down, the poor people of Joseon screaming in protest. "How are we going to survive?" Kenshin hears as a rice cake whizzes just over his head, slightly ruffling his slicked back hair.
"You, old man!" Kenshin jumps from his horse, metal baton in hand as the poor merchant backs away, tattered white hambok fluttering in the breeze.
Raising the weapon, "You son of a bitch!" The first strike brings the man to his knees, "You think you can insult an imperial officer?" And the frenzy begins, the barrage of blows leaves the elderly man huddled on the ground as the rest of town watches with hatred in their veins.
"Grandfather!" Crying, a young boy rushes beside the old man as Kenshin's baton comes down for another hit, "please spare his life," he breathes, "don't hurt him anymore." The boy closes his eyes, awaiting a strike of his own. Kenshin looks down at the boy, eyes softening slightly, but hardening once again as he sees his fellow officers.
"Lieutenant Himura, the funeral procession is coming this way!" Wearing a white policeman's uniform, officer Dysuke rushes to the scene.
Turning to the Joseon people, forgetting the family before him, Kenshin's voice is grave, "in honor of General Choi," he pauses, "bow your heads in mourning!"
The funeral procession is large, with all of the important political figures representing the Japanese empire including count and countess Han who descend from a long line of Korean royalty, Dr. Hiroshi of Joseon's Japanese medical center, as well as the superintendant of the police squad General Mokoto. Each figure head being carted by Joseonians and rickshaws, surrounded by Chong Ro police station's finest, each dressed in traditional white uniforms. A framed image of General Choi is displayed on the center rickshaw, enclosed in a white wooden arch with flowers descending the frame.
Jap bastards... with a small boulder in hand, a woman stands tall among the false mourners. Long raven locks float about her shoulders as her arm propels the stone as hard as possible towards General Choi's memorial. Kenshin senses the rock, and moves out of the way in time, but not with enough prowess to prevent the glass frame from shattering, leaving Choi's picture lying in a wrinkled heap on the ground.
Kenshin looks towards the stone's origin to see a pair of defiant blue eyes staring back at him. "Catch that woman!" It comes out as a growl, and the chase begins.
Father, Kaoru's thoughts turn to the man she's been searching for for the last thirteen years, for the man that stands for the heart and soul of Koreans, for the man who doesn't back down to the mongrels that occupy their country. With this in mind, Kaoru's legs push as fast as they can go, zig zagging through tight corridors, leaping up on one home's balcony, clutching the railing to hang on.
She isn't fast enough as she can feel the hard metal of a baton on her shoulder, violet eyes remaining engraved in her peripheral vision while she falls the few feet to the ground.
"Stand up!" the leuitenant yells, and Kaoru slowly rises to her feet, chin held high.
"Bow your head," Kenshin's voice is deadly, but Kaoru holds back the tears threatening to fall, shaking her head slightly.
"Never," she pauses, "I will never bend my knees to a Japanese dog."
"You-" Kenshin raises the baton, "I will make you bow." The metal feels cold in his sweaty palm. He hesitates looking at this fearless woman before him, the hatred seething through her core.
"Look!" Kenshin stops mid swing as something flies by him, pinning itself to the rickshaw that held General Choi's image. "It's battousai!" Someone yells in the crowd, and Kaoru looks up to see a figure dressed all in white with dark bangs overshadowing a traditional wooden wedding mask, concealing the person's identity.
In a single leap, the one called battousai sails from the roof, throwing more warning omens. If you live a good life, may your children be blessed. If you do many wrong deeds, your children will suffer. Each rickshaw was pinned with the small scrolls, marking their claim as battousai's.
Battousai's feet never stop moving as he plows through the multitude of imperial officers, sword in hand, heading towards the banner commerating General Choi. Officers drop like flies to the swing of this man's blade, and Kenshin's blood boils looking around at the bodies on the ground. "Battousai!" Kenshin's voice booms, and the masked man turns towards the sound to see a gun pointed at his chest.
"Finally, I've caught you," Kenshin pulls the safety with the sound of his own heavy breathing echoing in his ears. "No!" Kaoru's voice behind him is the last thing he hears before he feels delicate hands becoming a vice grip on his wrists, diverting the military pistol from the target.
"You stupid-" It was easy to dislodge Kaoru's hands from his, but it was just what battousai needed to advance on Kenshin with almost blinding speed. With katana raised, Kenshin prepares to block the strike with his own blade, but battousai's blow to Kenshin's shoulder is almost instantaneous, leaving him knocked out on the ground.
With a flick of his lips, the whistle is loud coming from battousai's mouth, and it is only moments later when a black horse appears, galloping towards the masked man. Jumping on bareback, he charges towards the banner once again. In one small leap, as if he is flying, battousai's sword raises high slicing clean through the Japanese banner, and steady feet land once again to sit on the back of his mare. By this time, the officers without fatal injuries begin to rise slowly.
This doesn't prevent the vigilante from turning the horse back towards the center of the crowd, locking eyes with the woman who was willing to risk her life to save him. With an arm outstretched, Kaoru latches on to his, and he lifts her up behind him.
Gunshots ring out as the two rush through the streets of Joseon, but as if gaurded by a higher power, no bullets graze them. "Battousai!" Kenshin's voice roars as he jumps on his own horse in pursuit.
"Get out of my way!" He screams as the merchants of Joseon move their carts in front of him to block his path, preventing their hero from being captured.
"Battousai!" They hear the fading echo of Kenshin's anger as Kaoru and the masked man enter one of the forests on the outskirts of town. Feeling the area is safe, the freedom fighter jumps from the horse with grace. With the white, rosy cheeked mask still covering his eyes, he helps the young woman down from the steed. Without a second look, battousai mounts the animal once again, and charges from the scene, leaving Kaoru breathless to stare only at the white of his back, his short, ruffled black hair moving like waves with the wind, to always be engraved in her memory.
Chapter 1: Father and Daughter Reunite
Later that day...
Oniwaban circus is one of many in Joseon, but none could boast of having a face changing demon as their main event. Their tents are high, with a mix of gold and blue laced throughout, brightening up the arena. Performers are dressed in various colorful styles of the orient, practicing for the upcoming show when Kaoru finally walks in. This group had been her family for the last five years after traveling through various shelters on her own. The search for her father had brought her back to Joseon, a place she feared, yet longed to return.
"Kaoru-chan!" Misao's familiar voice chimes in. "I can't believe you threw that rock at the market," a young girl in a blue ninja costume runs up to Kaoru, embracing her, "do you want to get yourself killed?"
"I'm fine, Misao. Really." Kaoru blushes, and Misao can't help be surprised. "Battousai helped me escape." Bingo, and the younger woman smiles.
"That's so heroic," her eyes are glowing, "and so romantic... I wish Aoshi-sama would do something like that for me if I was in trouble." She lets out a small sigh thinking of their stoic leader. Unlike Kaoru, Misao has lived with the Oniwaban since she was a child, and loves everything about it. Especially the fact that her act as a knife thrower has allowed her to study martial arts, and she likes to consider herself as a secret agent for the revolutionaries (in her own mind anyway).
"Do you know who he is Kaoru?" She wondered, "why would he save you?"
"I'm not sure," Kaoru's hand goes to the necklace lying against her chest. She squeezes the hilt reassuringly, a confirmation that it is still there.
"We're just glad you're alright Kaoru." a tall old man with a white goatee seemingly jumps out of nowhere, a giant grin plastered on his face. "Should we celebrate tonight?" Okita laughs, and receives a playful slap on the shoulder from Kaoru. "We have a show tonight. You just want an excuse to throw a party." The brunette smiles brightly at the old man.
"You got me," Okita laughs. "Well, get to it then," he turns to the crowd and grumbles, "everyone get back to work."
"Did he say anything to you Kaoru?" Misao's younger brother runs over, the excitement written all over his face. "That was awesome, did you see how he took out that Jap mutt Kenshin Himura?" Yahiko pauses, "that bastard deserves it." Kaoru does a simple nod. "I can't believe he works for the Japs."
After a pause, "psh, I don't know why battousai would save a busu like you though." Yahiko's grin is sly, waiting for their everyday banter to begin. It never fails, Kaoru smacks the young boy with the brown hilt of her cherished dagger gaining a laugh from Misao. "Aish, busu, that hurt!" Another smack, and Yahiko sticks out his tongue, running back to where he was preparing earlier.
Chong Ro Police Station...
"I hope it wasn't a mistake allowing a person from Joseon into the imperial police force, lieutenant Himura." Kenshin bows his head. Although his black hair is gelled to keep his bangs out of his eyes, he would give anything to hide behind those locks at the moment. Superintendent General, Hajime Saito's eyes soften looking at the young man. "You were promoted because you were the only one to finally catch that Joseon bastard Koshijuro." He pauses, "and because of this, I have decided to assign you exclusively to the battousai case." Kenshin looks up, surprised at the chief's words.
"Hai," he bows slightly, "I will catch battousai as fast as possible."
Saito nods, "I know you will." His features take a serious turn, "and Kenshin, you have permission to use any means necessary to achieve justice in this case. Do you understand?" The shorter man nods. "You can start officially once Kamiya's sentencing is over tomorrow morning." With another nod, Kenshin exits the office to allow Superintendent Mokoto to enter.
"Need help packing your desk, lieutenant?" Kenshin hears as he walks towards his work station on the other end of the police office.
"That's very considerate of you inspector, but that won't be necessary seeing as how I will be taking over the battousai case in the morning." The look on Hoji's face is priceless. Kenshin knows that he has been dying to be assigned that case ever since the masked man started appearing six months ago, making a fool of him in front of his father, the superintendent. "Thanks though," Kenshin grins as if they are good friends.
Sitting at his desk, and hitting his pen on a notepad, Kenshin thinks, how does one catch a ghost? Tap, tap, He must have a weakness. Tap, the woman's image from the marketplace comes before his eyes, then the vision of the old man he beat, and he bows his head slightly in shame. Closing his eyes, I will be a Japanese mutt, I will be the one who eats freedom fighters... "Hai, for you, I will do it." With a sigh, he looks upon his empty paper, another tap, and he finally tosses it to the floor in frustration.
Kenshin's home in Joseon is sort of a mini temple like structure, with an inverted roof, and a place to bless the ancestors. Taking a deep breath, he walks into the house. His home had become purgatory for Kenshin. He would always return because of his parents, but it broke his heart to think of his brother, and what they did to him, what they did to his father. In a world like this, there is no other way but to become a dog for the Japanese.
Walking into his father's room, the once proud Seijuro Hiko sits in his wheel chair, staring emotionless out the window. He doesn't seem to notice his son has entered his chambers. "I was assigned the battousai case..." he pauses to see any reaction from Hiko. Sitting tall in his chair, Hiko looks up at his son, "baka."
"What?" Kenshin asks, but Hiko remains silent.
They say that when you get captured by the Japanese, a healthy man who enters their torture chambers comes out a cripple. This was such a fate for Seijuro Hiko. No matter how many times they shook him inside that box, he would not budge. As the nails pricked through flesh, he could only think of somehow keeping his family safe. To stay alive. The police turned him into a blubbering fool after threatening to kill his wife, Akane and Kenshin if they did not receive some answers soon.
His oldest son, Katsura, had joined the independence movement, and had been killed for his beliefs. They wanted to find the rest of his comrades, so they were interrogating the remaining members of Katsura's family. Because Hiko was known for his strength and pride, seeing him act that way was enough to make them believe that they really knew nothing of the fugitives' whereabouts.
Everyday since, Kenshin vowed to somehow become powerful enough to get Hiko into the Japanese hosptal to fix his legs and arm, to get him back to the man he used to be, not one so full of sadness that he hardly speaks. He would be a total recluse if it wasn't for Akane insisting that they sell rice cakes at the market. Even though he needs a cane to walk properly now, and a sling holds his left arm pressed against his side, unmoving. That had been the price to pay to keep the movement alive, to keep his family alive. He would have sacrificed more, much, much more, but luckily they believed him when he said that he knew nothing.
Eyes watering at the thought, was he a man? He held his tongue even when they chained Akane to the wall, threatening to whip her. What kind of man would pretend to know nothing when his wife will be put in the nail box next. What kind of a man? Thank God they had no intentions of really harming Akane, they just wanted to use her to break him. Kenshin was still a young man at the time, so they didn't torture him, the nation of Japan didn't want to be seen as demons who torture children.
Hiko looks up at Kenshin, ignoring their previous conversation, "let's go eat, your mother made dinner. I even caught your favorite, mackerel." Hiko smiles, and wheels himself to the dining area. With cane in hand, he lowers himself from the chair to sit indian style on the floor. Kenshin and Akane join him. The table is full of different types of foods, pickled vegetables, fish, soup, something that Kenshin will always return home for, his mother's homemade cooking.
About ten minutes pass before Kenshin takes money from his wallet, "here," he places the money on the table in front of his parents. "Take this," a pause, "I want you to stop selling at the marketplace. You don't make any money anyway, so just don't sell there anymore."
Hiko hides his eyes behind black bangs, and Kenshin does a double take, having a sense of deja vu, but shakes off the feeling. Picking up the cash in front of him, "thanks for the money son, but we will continue going to the market." Hiko grins.
"Can't you just listen to me, and stop selling there? The Joseon people will harrass you when I take over the battousai case!"
"Is that your concern? Look at me Kenshin, do you think I give a damn about being harrassed? There is no room for discussion on this, it makes your mother happy to sell rice cakes, so we will sell rice cakes."
"You are always so stubborn." Kenshin rises from the table, turning to his mother, "thank you for dinner." Kenshin heads to his room to change into a charcoal gray suit with pale pink pin stripes throughout. He throws on a matching burgundy button down shirt, leaving the top two buttons left undone. Walking past the dining room, Kenshin states, "I am going out," and heads to his car.
Kenshin arrives at the Akabeko club in the heart of the city. Kamatari, a flamboyant young man donning a translucent violet, three button suit, with a white dress shirt and dazzling gold cufflinks greets the leuitenant, steering him towards their usual table. Three women and another man are waiting for them, drinks already in hand. "You're late Kenni," one of the singers at the club, a woman named Emi, pouts.
"I can apologize to you later in your room." Kenshin winks, and the performer blushes all the way down her plunging neckline, accentuating her breasts with sparkles glittering off every piece of her sky blue cocktail dress.
"Quit playing around Ken, I heard you got a new assignment!" Kamatari holds up his glass in a toast. "To the only Korean who will move up to become superintendent by sheer talent alone." Everyone raises their glasses in cheer, "here here!"
The Next Morning...
In a navy blue, double breasted suit, hair slicked back into a deep side part, Kenshin makes his way to the courthouse. With gun in holster, he double checks the time, two hours left until the hearing. Battousai is sure to try an escape attempt today... He makes his way towards the security stations to be sure all is how it should be. He won't get by me this time...
Kaoru had decided to leave the house early that morning to continue searching for her father, when as if someone was hearing her prayers, a newspaper headline floats by her vision. "Extra, extra! Extra morning edition! Notorious freedom fighter, Kamiya Koshijuro, to be sentenced in public hearing! See that rat brought to justice."
"huh?" Kaoru's in a daze, Kamiya Koshijuro... She sees the man that has been haunting her each night, his face is grim in the photo as Kaoru snatches the article out of the air. "Father?" Heart racing, she looks at her watch, she has two hours to make her way to the courthouse.
With thirty minutes to spare, she finally makes it to the place of the sentencing. Walking towards the entrance, she is stopped by imperial officers, "the hearing is closed."
"I thought it was a public hearing?" Kaoru asks, showing the newspaper clipping.
"Listen Joseon wench, we are the ones who decide if the sentencing is public or not, and it has been ordered for absolutely no spectators."
"Kaoru-chan!" Misao's familiar voice is heard as she runs up to the two talking figures.
Kaoru leaves the entrance, face hung low. "Kaoru what's wrong." Misao, looking much different than her usual circus attire. Dressed in a slimming blue pant suit, hair pulled back into a soft side braid, she asks, "did you come to see the trial too?"
"Misao, I have to get in there." She pauses, "remember how I told you I have been looking for my father," Misao nods. "That's him, Kamiya Koshijuro." Misao's mouth opens slightly in shock, and she gives a look of affirmation.
"Oh Kaoru-chan," Misao locks eyes with the other black haired woman, and turns towards the officers at the main entrance. With a sly grin, Misao removes her suit jacket, holding it in one arm. Misao's blouse underneath is a soft silk with lace trim along the bustline. She was definitely dressed to impress.
"Officers!" Misao rushes to the two members of the imperial police, grasping her left ankle. "Please help me, it hurts." She grins to herself as the two men rush over. Kaoru takes the cue, and runs through the tall glass doors without being discovered. After seeing her safely make it inside, Misao stands up, "thank you so much for your help officers, I guess it was nothing after all." She puts her coat back on, and walks away from the courthouse, passing a man clutching a thick wooden cane for support.
Looking up at the second floor, he hobbles towards the side entrance of the building regardless of the fact that there are three men guarding the doorway. Making sure nobody is watching, back straightening, the man runs at the three with speed almost blinding, dispatching them easily, each with a single blow. The man enters the courthouse without any more trouble.
Kaoru ducks around a corner as she sees two Japanese policemen walk by down the hall. "Lieutenant Himura," Kaoru's breath gets caught in her throat as she thinks of her previous meeting with that man. How can someone with Joseon blood work for the Japanese? Thinking nothing else of it, she sees Kenshin walk up with baton and sword attached to his belt on his hip.
Blue eyes begin to water when she sees another man down the hall, handcuffed, facing Kenshin. It's obvious by the various contusions on his face, and blood stained hands, that he has been beaten, possibly tortured. The tears flow freely from Kaoru at this thought. Koshijuro's eyes are a fierce blue, just like his daughter's. There is no fear in his expression, only a sense of resolve, a pride that keeps him from bowing down to these men. These people who have stolen their country, and made their home into a place of fear. No matter what the cost, Kamiya Koshijuro will never bend his knees to these men.
"Lieutenant, a picture." A man comes up with a camera set up on a tripod. Kenshin stands beside Kamiya as Kaoru looks on from a distance. The photographer counts, one, two, three, and with a flash the demon who hunts freedom fighters just took a picture with her father. Kaoru could feel her blood boiling, and looks to the staircase nearby. There is balcony seating in the courtroom. Luckily nobody is guarding this area of the courthouse, she thinks while running up the stairs. Hiding behind the lip of the balcony to be out of view from below, Koaru waits for the prisoners and officers to enter.
Unfortunately she really hadn't thought of any sort of plan of escape for her father or the other men, I guess I will just have to play it by ear.
After settling in, the judge orders for Kamiya and his comrades to step forward. "For your crimes against the empire. Kamiya Koshijuro," the judge looks at the man, and can't help feel somewhat envious of his conviction. Even when they will obviously lose, he is willing to fight for his beliefs. Regardless, "Kamiya Koshijuro, for committing treason against the empire of japan, I hereby sentence you to death."
It seems as if Kaoru's world is running in slow motion, the words, "sentence you to death," repeating in her mind. As if on autopilot, her body springs up, and she jumps over the railing to land gracefully in the center of the courtroom below. Her arms and legs move on their own, dispatching the five police officers surrounding the prisoners, leaving only one. Kenshin Himura, who's hand is already on his blade. "I will kill you!" He screams, taking his blade from the sheath.
His approach is slow, or maybe it's simply Kaoru's perception of the situation. Her eyes never leave the blade as he thrusts forward, but Kaoru sidesteps out of the way in time. Another swing, but she spins ducking under the blade, just missing her scalp. She doesn't know how much longer she can dodge his strikes. Kaoru can feel her eyes well in frustration, and she takes a deep breath as she sees his sword positioned above her head.
Awaiting the killing blow, she closes her lids from the world. It's when nothing happens that her heart begins to flutter. She can hear the commotion around her, and the whiz of a knife flying above her head. "Battousai!" Kenshin yells, and Kaoru's eyes spring open. Taking the opportunity, Kaoru kicks Kenshin in the stomach with all her power. It was just enough to knock him down, and get to her father who was already running through the courthouse attempting to escape with all the chaos.
Clutching her father by the shoulders, her voice catches in her throat, "wait," the look on his face tells Kaoru that he recognizes her.
"Kao?" He whispers, and she nods. There is no time for remeniscing. "Quickly, where are you staying?" Koshijuro asks.
"I work at the Oniwaban circus, and we are staying at the Shirobeko hotel." Kaoru rushes.
"Run away now," her father states, "I will contact you when it's safe."
Kaoru nods, and her father takes off running through an open window. Raven hair flying through the air as she turns back to see battousai has taken out everyone in the courtroom including the judge. With the exception of Kenshin, there is nobody left to block her father's escape. A smile tugs at Kaoru's lips thinking of the man behind that mask.
Kenshin's eyes lock with hers, and she can see a rage behind that look bringing shivers down her spine. Kaoru turns, running from the scene just as Kenshin's sword thrusts towards battousai. She can hear metal on metal in the background, and finally a thump. Kaoru can't help but turn back, to make sure that it isn't battousai that has fallen. A wonderful sigh of relief escapes her lips as she looks at the lieutenant lying in a heap on the ground. She can't help but smile at the masked man, standing all in white before her. Reaching a hand out to hers, she takes it. The warmth of his calloused palm radiating through her arm, and she can't prevent the blush from forming.
This man, is it you? The one who saves the people of Joseon, is it you I have been waiting for? Kaoru asks herself, her fingers brushing against the hilt hidden against her chest. The other hand clutches battousai's. They finally reach his horse, and he jumps on without fail. Holding an arm for Kaoru, she latches on, swinging her legs over the back of his impressive black mare. Once again he drops her off in the woods near Joseon elementary school, and without a word, rider and horse are out of sight.
Kaoru can't help the smile as she thinks about who could be behind that mask, and of the fact that she helped her father escape a certain death. Thinking back on the incident, she has a feeling there will be trouble. Deep violet eyes enter her thoughts, she doesn't like the way that bastard was looking at her.
With a sigh, she makes her way back to the Shirobeko without incident. A long bath is definitely just what she needs to shake out her weary bones. The smile returns as she remembers her father's face, full of pride, saying he will come for her when the time is right. I will wait for you here then, father.
Chong Ro Police Station...
"Lieutenent." Saito's voice is stern, calling Kenshin into his office.
"How many chances do you think one deserves to catch a ghost?" Saito asks.
"My apologies sir, the security was air tight. We even closed the hearing from the public."
"Air tight?" Saito laughs, "maybe we need to do some retraining, if even a mere woman can enter a heavily guarded facility."
"Just because you are in my favor for now Himura, don't expect to receive special treatment if this continues to happen in the future."
"Hai," Kenshin's head bows, and he leaves the room.
When he returns to his desk, he begins pacing his office. Battousai, Kamiya, that woman... They must be working together... Why would he save that woman twice now? Throwing his fists on the desk, he calls, "Dysuke!"
"Yes Lieutenent!" A slim man in his mid thirties enters with black hair in a buzz cut atop his head rushes in. "Get a sketch of that woman from the funeral yesterday. Go to Joseon market, and make sure there is no empty space without her picture on it. Offer a reward to anyone with information." With a nod, Dysuke runs off the find the sketch artist.
It doesn't take long, within the hour, before Kenshin receives a call from a gruff voiced man, "I know where that woman from the wanted poster is staying." A pause, "the reward for the information is 1,000 won?"
"Yes that is correct," Kenshin affirms. Won is the currency of Korea, and 1,000 is enough to buy enough food for a month, so Kenshin wasn't surprised to hear someone calling so soon with details. "If the information you provide leads to her capture, then you will receive your reward."
"She is staying at the Shirobeko." The man hangs up, leaving a slight grin on Kenshin's face. You're mine now.
The Shirobeko...
"Ah, nothing is better than a nice hot bath." Kaoru relaxes. Even though her life is full of this seemingly never ending stress, and constant danger, reveling in the simple joys of life is what really matters. Of course, unbeknownst to her, Kenshin Himura is making his way into the hotel.
"You four guard the back, you four stay in front. Don't let her get by." Kenshin tells the officers in white, he himself wearing an intimidating black suit with a pale pink button down.
Heading upstairs, Kenshin stops at the first room he hears people inside. Barging in, he sees a tall man with spiked hair chasing a petite woman in a silk nightgown with long, black, raven locks. The two seem to be in the middle of a game that they would have appreciated not being interrupted. Gasping when she realizes they are being watched, the woman stops mid step causing Sano, the taller man to bump into her lightly. "Hey fox, what did you stop for?" He asks, and sees the look of fear coming from his lover.
Turning a bandaged back towards the woman, Sano sees who has spoiled his fun. Bowing slightly, he asks, "can we help you officers?"
Kenshin pulls the wanted poster from his inner suit pocket, handing it to the couple. "Have you ever seen this woman?" His voice is stern, and the two look at eachother knowingly.
"I've never seen her before," the woman pipes up, "have you honey?" The tall man nods his head no, "never saw her before in my life. Now, if you excuse us officers. I don't think it's against the law to make love to your wife."
"If you see her in the future, contact the police, she is a wanted fugitive." Kenshin states, turning his heels, and leaving the couple alone again.
Sano looks at his wife, "Megumi, what are we going to do?" Meg's face has paled, "we have to warn her." The woman states, and they both rush from the room, heading towards the bathing area.
Kaoru emerges from the bath to see a frantic Sano and Megumi at the end of the hallway. Waving their arms to get back in the room, Kaoru doesn't understand until it's too late as she sees imperial officers coming around the corner with Kenshin in the lead.
"There she is! Catch her!" Kenshin begins running when Sano's leg sneaks in front of him, tripping him enough to let Kaoru run back inside the bath.
Forgetting her sacred knife hanging near the bathtub, Kaoru rushes to open the window. She can hear the door bursting open just as she jumps from the second floor, landing on the ground below. Just when she thought she had escaped, four imperial officers surround her, and Kaoru's head hangs in defeat. Cuffing the woman, Kenshin and the others take her back to the police headquarters. Sano and Megumi look down at the scene below, a sense of dread overwhelming them.
"Take her to the torture chamber," Kenshin tells the men dragging Kaoru behind.
Dysuke and another member of the police force lock Kaoru's wrists to a long chain hanging from the ceiling in the basement of the station. Her feet half touch the ground, and half hang because of the height of the chains above her head. Kaoru looks around the damp room, each area filled with various devices made to make people talk, to break their spirit. She sees a water tub, a crate with nails protruding along the inside, whips, and objects she doesn't want to even think about, and what they can do to her body.
Kaoru can feel the wetness on her cheek as she tries not to imagine what kinds of torture they will put her through. Looking up, she hears the creaking of the door upstairs, followed by heavy, excited footsteps.
Rushing downstairs, Kenshin stands before this woman who has caused him nothing but trouble. "Tell me who battousai is." Kenshin states as he takes hold of a long, leather, whip hanging beside the prisoner.
Kaoru doesn't open her lips, FWAP! She hears the snap of the whip long before she realizes her side has been hit. A small scream escapes her mouth unwillingly, tears streaming down her delicate cheeks. She can feel the wetness of only what she can imagine is blood running down her side where she was struck. "I don't know," she whispers. Another hit strikes her left thigh, and another cry is heard.
"Don't lie to me bitch," Kenshin's eyes full of hatred, "that bastard has saved you twice now, tell me who he is!" FWAP, Kenshin's hand is sweaty as he grips the rope in his hand, a moment of doubt slips through his mind. Am I a man? A man who will hurt this girl, just to catch battousai? Am I a man, who will torture a woman?
Looking into his eyes, Kaoru sees a speck of gold, a demon, she thinks, and spits into those eyes. FWAP, FWAP, FWAP! Kaoru's breathing has become shallow, her head lowering with bangs covering her eyes. Kenshin grasps her cheeks with his fingers, his voice is cold, "it's no matter, he will come for you when he sees you in the market." Standing straight, Kenshin tells the officer next to him, "Dysuke! Take this Joseon bitch to a trasport vehicle. We are going to the Joseon market."
Taking the prisoner roughly, hands shackled in cuffs, Kenshin, along with five other officers climb into the back of the truck. Kaoru is slumped beside Kenshin, wishing she could inch herself away from this madman, but finding no strength to do so. She can tell that her clothes is wet from her own blood, sticking to her body in the summer humidity.
To Kaoru, it seems like a lifetime before they arrive at the market, filled with people of Joseon either selling or buying their wares. Akane and Hiko are included with the vendors, attempting to sell their rice cakes, but failing because nobody wants to buy from the parents of a demon. Hiko leans against his cane, arm still strapped to his side, as he sees the transport vehicle driving by. His throat catches when he sees Kaoru's condition in the back, sitting next to his son. My son... Limping, Hiko sneaks away from Akane and his stand.
Coming to a stop, the transport lands in the heart of the market. Kenshin grabs Kaoru's arm, hauling her up, standing her atop the platform in the center of town. Backing away, Kenshin raises his pistol, "get ready," he tells the men behind him, and they raise their rifles at the tortured girl in the square.
"Fire!" Kenshin's voice is loud, but not enough to stifle the gasps from the crowd. Before he knows exactly what's happening, he feels a small dagger embedded in the arm holding the pistol. Grasping for his arm, he sees the other officers in the same predicament, each no longer holding their firearm. Eyes a burning gold, Kenshin's voice could kill, "Battousai!"
It seems to never fail, Kenshin hears the neighing of the black horse, and in a matter of seconds Kaoru is whisked away once again onto the back of his steed. Before Kenshin can even attack, battousai's sword has struck the top of his head, causing the officer to fall in a heap on the ground. The other policemen shouting in fear, "it's ba-ba-battousai!" Without looking back at the scattered officers, battousai takes off with Kaoru behind him.
As if this is now their special place, battousai leaves her again in the woods on the outskirts of town, unknowing of the truth behind her injuries. baka, the words enter battousai's thoughts as he takes off on his horse, hoping the woman can make it back alright because he doesn't have much time, he has to get back. Looking again at the girl, she seems steady on her feet. With that in mind, he heads back to Joseon market.
Kaoru begins her treck through the woods once again, grasping her side where she was struck with the whip. Every inch of her body in agony, each movement bringing sharp pain to her wounds. She can see the elementary school up ahead, she only hopes someone can help her, someone who isn't afraid because of the Japanese. Kaoru thinks of Yahiko, this is his school. He's always talking so highly of the teacher here, she can't think of his name. What is it? What's his name?
With that in mind, Kaoru finds herself at the entrance to the school. Her body no longer listening to her thoughts to keep going, and she collapses to the ground. She can hear soft footsteps rushing up to her.
"Omo, miss? Miss, are you alright?" Kaoru can feel strong arms lifting her in the air. She opens her eyes, and sees a blurry figure standing above her. "Miss, you are going to be alright." His voice is pained, and she notices that he is wearing a white gi and blue hakamas.
"Seta?" She whispers, and the man halts in his step, looking down at the woman he holds in his arms.
"Hai, Seta Soujiro." The man nods, "We need to hurry," he says, and places her gently in his car parked outside the school. Kaoru closes her eyes, thankful that someone was willing to help her.