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If you are NOT AN ADULT, DO NOT READ THIS. Neither I, nor the FFN are responsible for bruised morals or psyches. If you do not want to read about the subjects written of in the above paragraphs, push the BACK button on your browser. You have been warned.
Disclaimer: I don't own Kenshin. Lots of people and companies with lots more money than I have do. This was written for fun (well, maybe not fun, considering the content), and I receive no profit for it besides the comments of the readers (Review :nudge nudge hint hint: ).
On with the fic!
thoughts>>
{[flashbacks]}
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READ THE WARNING BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER
By Lady Shorinai
The morning was peaceful, the air crisp with the first touch of autumn. The sky was clear, and the loudest sound to be heard in the dojo was the *snap* of laundry Kenshin was about to hang out to dry. Kaoru paused for a moment on the porch to watch, smiling, before stepping into her geta. "I'm going shopping," she called to the redhead by the laundry tub.
A smiling face turned toward her. "Are you sure you don't want some company, de gozaru ka?"
"I'm alright, Kenshin. I'll see you later."
"Have a successful trip, Kaoru-dono." He turned back to the laundry as she walked out the gate.
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The woman tending the store looked up and smiled at her before turning back to the customer she was with. Kaoru smiled back and began looking through the racks of fabric and ready-made clothes. A few minutes later the saleslady wrapped a bundle in paper, money was exchanged, and she turned to Kaoru.
"Konnichiwa, Kamiya-san. What can I do for you today?"
"Konnichiwa, Isoda-san. I'm looking for a kimono."
"And would this be for you?"
"No; this one's for Kenshin. His clothes are so threadbare, he needs some new ones. Especially with winter coming up."
"Ah, yes. It wouldn't do to have him catch cold, now would it? I've got a few lovely pieces in black...."
He has painful memories attached to black....>> "No black. Well, maybe a little black, but not mostly black."
"Do you have a color in mind, then?"
Kaoru gently touched a bolt of violet silk, and absent smile on her face. "Purple. To bring out his eyes."
Isoda looked a little surprised. "Purple eyes? That's unusual."
She blushed and looked at her hand resting on the fabric. "I like them."
"Well I'm afraid the only thing I have in purple right now is an obi."
Her face fell. "Oh."
"If you like, I could make something." The seamstress, having made most of Kaoru's clothing since her mother died, knew the younger woman wasn't very good with a needle and thread.
"I don't know if I have that much money."
"Because it's you, Kamiya-san, I can make it for no more than I would charge you for one of yours."
"Isoda-san, are you sure? That much money—"
"Kaoru-chan, I wouldn't offer it if I didn't mean it. Now, you liked that silk?"
"It's exquisite."
"Would a kimono out of that suit your gentleman friend?"
"It would look wonderful on him."
"Then that it shall be."
"But, Isoda-san—" Smiling brown eyes turned to the young woman. "You're sure?"
"I'm sure. Now, how tall is he?"
"A little taller than me. And wider in the shoulders."
Isoda quickly took down a few notes and pulled the bolt from the shelf. "This will take a week, maybe two. I'll send Seiki-chan over with it when it's done, alright?"
"Okay. Here." Kaoru passed the other woman about half the contents of her wallet.
Isoda bowed. "A pleasure doing business with you, Kamiya-san."
Kaoru bowed back. "Thank you for your service, Isoda-san." Pleased, she left the shop. Real reason done. Now, for the cover.>> At the jeweler's stall, after a few minutes deliberation, she picked out a hairpin in the shape of a dragon. After securing it in her raven tresses, she went to the Akabeko to pick up lunch. Yahiko was working there today, and was supposed to have told Tae she would be coming by for it.
"Hey, busu!" the short, spiky-haired boy said as she came into the Akabeko.
"Yahiko-kun, be polite to the customers," Tae gently admonished. "Now, go get Kaoru-chan's order." He disappeared into the kitchen. "He is learning, Kaoru-chan."
"Sometimes I wish he would learn faster."
Tae chuckled. "Is that a new hairpin?"
Kaoru smiled. "Yes. What do you think?" Yahiko reappeared with the food.
"It's lovely."
"It looks like you've got a snake in your hair," the boy said as he handed her the order. "Better take it out before you go home or Kenshin'll think Medusa's comin'.(1)"
Kaoru would have hit him if her hands hadn't been full—but they were, so she settled for a glare and a growl before thanking Tae and walking out. Her annoyance with Yahiko kept her so preoccupied she didn't notice the man until they ran into each other. She managed to keep hold of the food, but just barely.
"Gomen nasai," they said in unison, bowing. Then, smiling, they blushed.
He spoke next. "Truly, I'm sorry. I should have been watching where I was going. Are you alright?"
"Oh, yes; I'm fine. But it's as much my fault as yours; I wasn't watching where I was going, either. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. But, as long as I've already stopped you, would you mind if I asked you for directions? I've never been in Tokyo before."
"Not at all. Where are you headed?"
"Shinkirou."
"The ryokan? It's not far from here, but is kind of hard to get to. I'd better show you the way."
"I don't want to inconvenience you."
"It's no trouble. This way."
A few blocks and a conversation about the rise in the prices of tofu later, they parted company.
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Kenshin looked out the gate for the third time in five minutes. It was well past noon; Kaoru had said she would bring home lunch. Though he knew she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself in most situations, he couldn't help but worry when he didn't know where she was for so long. Both his expression and his fingers playing anxiously about the grip of his sakabatou told Yahiko something was wrong when he came home that afternoon.
"Busu didn't try to cook something for lunch, did she? There should have been plenty to eat from the Akabeko."
"She did get to the Akabeko then?"
Yahiko nodded. "This morning, like she told us. Why?"
"She hasn't come home yet."
A frown appeared on the boy's face. "That food was hot; she would have come straight home."
"I'm gong to look for her. Stay here in case she comes back." Without waiting for an answer, he went off down the street.
It was nearly dark when he got back. He hadn't found any trace of her. Yahiko, sitting on the front porch, looked up hopefully when he came in but the expression fell when the redhead closed the gate behind him. Rising, the boy met the rurouni halfway down the walk.
Kenshin wanted to say something to reassure him but couldn't find the words.
Yahiko found it too painful to look at Kenshin's blank face. He dropped his head. "Saitoh's inside."
Hard blue eyes narrowed. If the wolf had come for a fight, this night Kenshin would gladly provide one. Purposefully, he stepped inside.
"Battousai," Saitoh said without turning around. "I had come to warn you that girls around tanuki-girl's age have been disappearing in large numbers lately, but the boy tells me I may already be too late. Have you anything to say on it?"
There was a pause, as though eternity had suddenly decided to fill the room, and the tension between the two men became so thick Saitoh felt he might drown if he dared to inhale. Finally, Kenshin opened his mouth, and time was in motion again.
"I have a missing person to report.(2)"
"So she is gone."
"Hai. Do you have any leads on any of the disappearances?"
"Unless you are brought in on the case, Battousai, I can't tell you anything. What time did she go missing and what was she wearing?"
"She stopped at the Akabeko before noon to pick up lunch. She was wearing her yellow kimono."
"I assume you've already checked the path she normally takes to the Akabeko?"
"Aa. There was no sign of anything unusual."
Saitoh nodded and rose. "My people will check the route too, of course." He turned to go, but at the door the weight of the redhead's gaze made him pause. "I'll inform you when we find something." And he was gone.
A minute later, Yahiko came in. "What'd he want?" the boy asked quietly.
"He came to warn me about girls going missing."
Yahiko took in both the redhead's neutral tone of voice and shuttered expression. He came too late.>> "Ne, Kenshin, aren't you hungry?" he asked in a half-hearted attempt to lighten the mood.
There was a pause before he answered. "It is rather late isn't it?" He looked at the boy. "Have you eaten?"
"No. I was waiting...." Realizing he was about to say "for you and Kaoru", Yahiko just let the sentence drop.
Kenshin's eyes slid to the small figure beside him. Waiting for me and her. I will get her back, Yahiko. On my life, I will get her back.>> "I'll make some soup."
The two walked in silence to the kitchen.
To Be Continued
Please, Review!!! Onegai shimasu!
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You're probably wondering what the title means. I don't know if
it actually makes sense in Japanese, but I can tell you the translations
of the individual words.
tatsu - dragon
rokujou - the six emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure &
love, and hatred
battousai - what Kenshin was called during the Bakumatsu
rurouni - wandering/masterless samurai
ryokan - Japanese hotel/inn
shinkirou - mirage
(1) I don't think they'd actually know about Greek mythology, but it
was just so perfect....
(2) I know now, in the USA, you have to wait 48 hours before you can
report an adult missing; I don't know what the laws of Meiji Japan were,
so I'm just going to assume he can do this already.