"Please, I don't want to die."
A quiet plea, a man's desperation; a cut throat. She took a single step back, drawing a cloth from her pocket to wipe clean her blade before returning it to it's sheath at her side. The dead man lay at her feet, his gaze wide and fearful; she blinked and sighed, reaching into her hair to pull free a small, white flower, which she tossed down onto her victim's back. In the distance, she could hear the voices as townsfolk began to notice something strange had occurred in that back alley. The commotion caused by their battle had not gone unnoticed. She had to leave. Stepping over the body, she took off at a run, rounding a corner and disappearing into the darkness just moment's before the first man appeared on scene. She leapt up onto a rooftop, carefully avoiding a set of local officers that had been smart enough to take the back way in, to try and trap the assailant they'd surely be after.
She could not help but to pause just long enough to hear the chatter of the locals as they stood around the body. "Tsubaki has struck again."
[ x x x ]
The morning was bright and warm, quite warm for June even, and she dressed in her lightest kimono, dreading even it's few layers. Once dressed, she exited her rooms and went to pay her tab with the innkeeper, who was a sweet, elderly man with a semi-toothless smile. "Good morning," he greeted as she approached. "Leaving early today, are you?" She reached out a hand, to offer him a few coins in payment, but he did not move to take them, instead he was surveying her with a concerned gaze. "They say Tsubaki struck again last night, the streets aren't safe, even in the daytime."
At his words, she could not help but to give a little laugh. "Tsubaki?" She raised a brow and rolled her eyes, setting the coins down on the table before him. "A killer named after a flower hardly seems that dangerous. Besides, I can take care of myself, thanks for the concern." She raised a hand in a silent gesture of goodbye and was out the door before the innkeeper could utter another word. Instead he sighed and swiped the coins off the table and slid them into his pocket, wondering to himself why it felt like he'd not be seeing that young woman again.
She had come to this town searching for someone, someone who she wasn't even certain still lived. It was rumored of course that the legendary swordsman, Battousai the manslayer resided within this town, but it was only but a rumor. Other such rumors said he was dead and considering she'd had no luck in finding him, she had to wonder if the latter were true. She didn't know much about him, other than he had a cross-shaped scar on his cheek, and his eyes were truly terrifying. They said that there was nothing more frightening than looking into his eyes the moments before he killed you. But, it had been years since Battousai had killed, which led many to believe that he too had finally gone to the grave.
Unlike most, she didn't hope to fight the Battousai or kill him with her own hands. He had not killed someone she loved, had not robbed her of her happiness in any way at all. No… She hoped he could help her find the man who had.
From across the road, she caught sight of him; he wasn't easy to miss, with his red hair and the sword strapped to his waist. He walked with a young woman, a well-dressed girl with two little ones tagging along his either side. As they walked past, she felt his eyes following her and she lifted her face to look at him, and their eyes met. For a moment, she wondered if he might stop, but rather he kept on walking, turning to say something to the two young girls who's hands he held. Those eyes… Those were not the eyes of a killer, that much was certain. And yet, he carried a sword. It was not as normal or as usual for such a thing. Perhaps… No, she shook her head, trying to convince herself that she was wrong. She went on her way, knowing deep down that it was time for her to give up on this town and move on.
[ x x x ]
He'd caught sight of her long before she had caught sight of him; she was young, younger than him, perhaps Kaoru-dono's age. She was pretty, he couldn't help but to notice, with long dark hair and eyes the color of a midnight sky. Her kimono was worn but not to the point of needing a new one; she was slim and fit, her movements graceful as she carefully avoided contact with those she walked by or around. It was then that she turned and their eyes met, her eyes widening ever so slightly. "Kenshin?" The little voice and a tug to his hand was the only thing that could have pulled him away from looking at the girl. He looked down to the child at his side and offered her a smile. "Can we have gyoza for dinner?"
"Of course, we'll stop to get the things we need in the market." He answered and then looked up, only to find that the girl had disappeared from the street. Something about her was familiar, yet he knew that he didn't know her. But now that she was gone, what was he to do?
"Kenshin, look," Kaoru's voice broke into his thoughts and he looked up, following her line of sight to a poster posted just ahead of them. "A killer on the loose…" She read, squinting as they approached, "Tsubaki?" She questioned, turning to him with a raised brow. "That's an odd name for a killer, don't you think?"
Before he could answer, another voice broke in for him; "Haven't you heard of Tsubaki?" Kaoru shook her head at the man that had been standing there, reading the sign himself. "The silent killer who leaves behind a single tsubaki on the back of their every victim." The man turned to face their small group, gesturing to the hand-drawn picture of a small, white flower on the sign. "No one has ever seen the killer so there's nothing to go by other than the flower left behind. Always left behind."
"A flower… Tsubaki…" Kaoru folded her arms over her chest, her eyes momentarily closing as she mulled over what had just been said to her. "That means waiting, doesn't it?" She opened her eyes and both men stared back at her as if she'd spoken in a foreign language. A heavy sigh escaped and she rolled her eyes. "Every flower has some a meaning of some kind. Tsubaki, it's supposed to mean waiting." Again, nothing but stares. "Oh, come on Kenshin. Girls." She began walking and at once the girls were racing after her, dragging Kenshin along in their wake. Though while they walked they spoke of other things, Kenshin could not stop his thoughts from drifting back to that girl he'd met on the street, or of the sign about the Tsubaki killer. Why… Why did it feel like the two were somehow connected?
[ x x x ]
It was late and he could not sleep.
After what felt like hours of tossing and turning, he merely gave up and rose up from his pallet on the floor. He quickly changed and stepped out into the night; the moon was high in the sky, offering him plenty of light for a walk. Perhaps that would help him sleep. He walked down the empty streets, his mind wandering away as he went. All through town that day they had heard the whispers about the Tsubaki killer and their victims; old war men, some had been, others military men and some just vagrants with sketchy pasts. He knew some of their names from the old days, so it wasn't surprising that they were targets of any assassin. There were many others from the times of war still wanted dead by many.
He had not been gone long when he heard it, the unmistakable sounds of swords clashing; with his own hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword, he took off at a run, his footsteps taking him down the path that would surely lead him to a fight. Bursting into an alley he found he was seconds too late; a man's bleeding body lay in the street, face down with the trademark white flower on his back. Stooping down, Kenshin put a hand to the man's face, knowing without a doubt that the man was dead.
Footsteps.
He looked up and caught sight of a figure darting through the darkness. At once he took off after them, running through the streets and over a wall that separated the city from the local forest. "No!" He called out, knowing they would not stop. He'd have to catch them. He could only hope that he could prevent a fight from breaking out between the two of them.
She was being chased.
Her heart was hammering hard within her chest and she tried to pick up her pace; she knew she could fight back, could win at that, but something told her to run instead. They were running through the trees, the moonlight their only source of light. A clearing, she could see it just ahead, and she kept on running, her breath coming in sharp, painful gasps. As she broke into the clearing, she realized she had not been followed, at least… It didn't seem like she had been. She turned this way and that way, her eyes searching the darkness for any sign of movement. Nothing. A heavy sigh escaped her and she drew a deep breath in an attempt to calm her racing heart. That was the closet she'd ever come to being caught and she certainly did not want to experience it ever again. Now she knew she had to get out of that town.
From the trees he watched her; her movements were careful, her sword not yet sheathed, her eyes wild in the moonlight. "Wait," he called out as she made to go and at once she was turning back to face him, pinning him with her intense gaze, her sword raised ever so slightly. "You." He breathed as he stepped out from behind his tree, coming to stand face-to-face with her. His shock was evident. It was the girl from that morning, the girl from the market. she was the tsubaki killer? He knew he'd felt something from her. "What is your purpose here? Why have you killed those men?"
A sly smile spread across her lips and she turned slightly, keeping her gaze focused on the man before her. It was the man from that morning, the one with the cross-shaped scar like Battousai, but with the eyes of a normal man. Though it was hard to believe those were the very same eyes she'd looked upon earlier that day; these eyes were sharp and seemed to see right through her. "Does it matter? They deserved to die." She answered, her voice stronger than she felt. Why was his gaze chilling her to the bone? Could it be… Could it be that the rumors were true? That Battousai the manslayer truly did live in this town? Was it possible that he really did stand before her?
"Is that a choice you can make?" His words were soft and they caught her off guard. She felt the chills race down her spine and she stood a little straighter. "Is it up to you to decide what man lives or dies?" He took a single step closer to her, his feet squared, hand still lightly resting upon the hilt of his sword.
"You are a hypocrite to speak such words to me, Battousai," she said sharply, raising up her sword so its end pointed directly at him. "I know it is you." She breathed, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. To her surprise, he gave a soft laugh and his smile changed his face entirely. Just like that, he was the man from the market, not a legendary swordsman with a thirst for blood. "I have been looking for you." She watched him closely, could see the flicker of something passing over his eyes, could see his grip on his sword tighten ever so slightly. "No, there is no need for that," she spoke suddenly, sheathing her own sword then, shaking her head. "I do not wish to fight you. I wish for you to help me."
Well, things certainly were taking an extraordinary turn, weren't they? Kenshin had become accustomed to being sought out. There were many still out there whom suffered because of his actions, because of the lives that he had took… But to be asked for help? This was a new one. "I do not see how I can help you," he responded softly, his blue eyes raising to meet hers. He was struck by how strange they were, with their silvery-blue hue, it was like she could see right through him.
"I'm looking for Fujimoto."
If she didn't have his attention before, she certainly did now. Kenshin looked up, arching a brow, his eyes widening with his surprise. That was not a name one forgot, that was a man who caused much bloodshed and heartache in the world. This same man was rumored to live under a new name, so wanted was he by his enemies; it was also rumored he'd lost his mind to paranoia, which made him an enemy to those who had once been on his side. A man with power in one hand, a sword in the other… It had left a bad taste in his mouth even back then. Now he understood what this girl was about and why she was killing off the men she'd killed- all men either once loyal to or still loyal to Hideki Fujimoto. "I do not know where he is, Miss." He responded, not telling her a lie, but not quite telling her the entire truth. No, he didn't know his exact whereabouts, but he certainly could find out if he so desired. "Why is a girl such as yourself looking for a man like Hideki Fujimoto?"
"So you do know where he is." Her eyes narrowed and she folded her arms over her chest. Kenshin remained silent, his gaze remaining locked on hers. "He took everything from me. I need to find him." Ah, now it truly made sense; he could see her hand as it gripped into a fist, could see the pain that crossed over her features as a memory took root. She wanted revenge. "If you know, tell me." She took half a step towards him but thought better of it and instead remained in place. "I will leave this town and go this very night if you only tell me."
"I am sorry, but I do not know." He responded then, a genuinely sad look skating over his features. She remained rigid in her stance, one hand curled into a fist at her hip, the other hanging loosely by her side. They remained there in silence, staring at one another, until she seemed to deflate and a sigh escaped her. She mumbled something that he could not quite make out and then turned as if she were to go. "But perhaps…" He began and she froze, slowly swiveling around to face him once more. "Perhaps I will be able to help you find someone else." She blinked. "I know of his right hand man, Hashimoto." Hashimoto Keiji was as terrifying as his leader, Fujimoto. They had led scores of men to their deaths, had murdered women and children in cold blood… Men of the worst kind. "Come, you look as if you've not slept in a warm bed in weeks. Come, come back with me. Kaoru-dono will allow you to stay."
She remained frozen in place, her eyes narrowing slightly as she wrestled with his proposition. Finally, a sigh escaped and she nodded. "Fine," she agreed, folding her arms over her chest. "I will come, only if you swear to help me find him." For a moment they stood across from one another, staring the other down, but then Kenshin flashed her a smile and he nodded.
"I will help you, I will."