Author's Notes: Hello, fellow readers. I feel a little embarrassed at attempting for the second time to write a fanfiction. Hopefully, I will not disappoint anyone in doing so. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, I wrote a story about four years ago under a different account. It was about the return of Shishio. I'm going to try for the second time. Wish me luck.
Please know that reviews/comments on my style, diction, plot, or anything else that comes to mind is welcomed very much. Thank you.
Summary: While settling down after two long years, will the return of an enemy force Kaoru to abandon her love for Kenshin, or will it bring her even closer to the man she's always loved?
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own any of these characters. If I did, I wouldn't need to write fanfictions!
Chapter One: The Kidnap
The sun was setting, showing brilliant hues of pinks, purples, and oranges in the sky. The Kenshin-gumi was sitting in the Kamiya dojo, happily waiting for the food to be ready. As usual, Kenshin was cooking the dinner, Kaoru and Yahiko were setting the table, and Sanosuke was lounging around.
Kenshin's POV
I took a spoonful of the miso soup I was making out of the bowl to test it. I took a sip, and my insides were jumping with joy.
'I can still make good miso soup after all these years.' I thought to myself.
I noticed the absence of Kaoru-dono, so I momentarily walked away from the stove to glance around the room.
"Kaoru-dono, where are you?" I waited for her response, but it did not come. So, I tried again. "Kaoru-dono, are you there?" It took a few more seconds until I heard her familiar voice respond to my question.
"Yes, Kenshin! I'm just going to rest for a bit until dinner is ready." She responded.
"Yes, Kaoru-dono. I will come for you when dinner is ready." I nodded and smiled my rurouni smile to no one in particular. My senses told me that something was wrong, but I brushed it off, like I had done with the lint on my shoulder.
Kaoru's POV
I walked to my room, and joyously awaited my bed. A few minutes of sleep was all I needed after a long day at the Akabeko. I gladly took a couple shifts there because Tsubame needed to rest from her slight illness.
'Just a little bit more, and I will be in heaven. I dreamily sighed at the thought of sleep.
I opened my shoji doors when I noticed that everything was out of order. My first instinct was to search the room for missing things, but my mind was telling me to just rest and think about it later. I gave in to my mind, and slowly made my way to my futon. As soon as I sat down, I felt a presence near me. I jerked around to be surprised by one hand snaked around my waist, and another on my mouth. I could tell it was a man by his calloused fingers gripping my waist. I tried to scream, but it was futile. He punched me in the stomach and I fell onto the floor. The last image I had before I fell into a deep slumber was of me struggling to call out his name.
"Ken…shin. KEN…shin!" I was silenced when my attacker gagged me with a cloth.
Normal POV
The attacker made sure to leave a note behind before whisking off into the streets with his hostage in his arms.
Kenshin's POV
I made my way back to the kitchen to finish the rest of the meal. A while later, I asked Sano and Yahiko to put the things on the table while I went to go wake Kaoru-dono up.
"Kaoru-dono, dinner is ready!" I called out to her. She didn't respond, and that feeling of uneasiness crept back into me. I walked a little faster until I made my way to her room.
"Kaoru-dono, I'm coming in." I made my presence known before I opened the doors. When I did, she was not there. I frantically searched around the room, observing the mess that was scattered around the floor. My eyes laid on a piece of paper on top of her bed. I quickly grabbed it and opened it up.
Dear Battousai,
Having trouble finding your beloved woman? Don't worry. She is in the capable hands of my guards. If you ever want to see her again, come to Kyoto and we'll settle this for good.
I read the bottom line and mouthed out each word.
'Your enemy, Shishio.'
I panicked as a million images raced through my head at once. I almost lost control as my eyes flickered between violet and amber. I could feel my blood boiling inside of me, but I tried to control it.
Normal POV
Sano and Yahiko were getting impatient, and decided to see what was going on. Sano, who got up first, walked down the hallways, and made his way to Kaoru's room.
"Kenshin, what are you…" He stopped mid-sentence to notice that there was no Kaoru in the room with Kenshin. "Kenshin, where's jou-chan? I thought she was in here with you?" He stood there in shock.
Yahiko looked into the room and also held the same reaction as Sano.
Kenshin looked down, turning around and hid his eyes from Sano's view. He tried to regain his composure and put on his rurouni smile again.
"It seems she has gone to visit Megumi-dono at this late hour." Kenshin tried his best to hide his fear.
Sano, not believing Kenshin stepped closer to him and tried to ask for the second time where Kaoru was. "Kenshin, I'm not playing around here. Where is jou-chan? It's not like her to leave so late at night. Are you telling me the truth?" Sano's voice was filled with concern, and a hint of disbelief.
"As I said before, Sano, she went to Megumi-dono's. She forgot to pick up some medicine for the house and thought it was best to pick it up now." He tried so hard not to break down in front of Sano. His eyes were still flickering, only now with more amber present in his eyes.
Instead of arguing with Kenshin, Sano decided it was best if he dropped the conversation. He ignored it, and tried his best to calmly walk back to the table where the heavenly food was set. The three of them gave thanks for the food and ate in silence for the next half hour.
Sano's POV
'Man, I still don't believe Kenshin. He's hiding something from us. I just can't figure out what it is. I scrunched my eyebrows together as I shoveled food into my mouth.
The look on Kenshin's face made me really worried. Jou-chan could be hurt somewhere in an alley for all I know. I just don't know how to get the information out of him.
I sighed and continued to eat as if there was nothing bothering me.
Normal POV
After dinner was over, Kenshin excused himself from the table as Sano and Yahiko unwillingly put the dishes away. They gave Kenshin a side-eye until he was out of sight. Soon after, Sano slapped Yahiko out of his reverie.
"YAHIKO! Haven't you noticed anything weird about Kenshin tonight?"
"Duh! It's kind of obvious that Kenshin was out of it. Ever since he walked out of busu's room, he hasn't been able to look up." Yahiko almost shouted.
"Be quiet! I don't want Kenshin to hear us talking about him." Sano slapped Yahiko for the second time. "I think something fishy is going on. Let's just wait for tomorrow morning to discuss it with him. Maybe he'll be a little more friendly in the morning."
Unfortunately, Sano was too late.
Kenshin's POV
After dismissing myself from the table, I walked to my room and opened the shoji doors. There lay my sakabatou in the corner. It hadn't been used since the battle with… well, his name did not need to be mentioned as of right now. With three strides, I made it to the corner and grabbed my sakabatou. I put it on my hip, and closed my shoji doors. After a few minutes, I left a note for Sano and Yahiko to read in the morning, and immediately after I slipped out of the dojo to find Kaoru-dono.
"I don't understand," I whispered to myself, "how this could've happened." I massaged my temples.
'Why?' Was all I could say. Over and over, the word kept playing in my head like a broken record.
I ran as fast as my legs could take me, with panic racing through my head.
"Kaoru-dono. I'm coming for you…"
So, guys and gals. That was the first chapter. How was it?
Suggestions or comments? Please review!