Someday When Wishes Do Come True
Chapter 2: Missing Pieces
By: Empathic Soul
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. This story is slightly AU although it is set in the Meiji Era as well, a few days after Jinchuu ended. Characters that would be included are Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, Sanosuke, Aoshi, Misao, Soujiro, Saitoh, Megumi, and Enishi. Couples are not yet determined.
It has been awfully quiet in the clinic as Megumi eyed the small boy in the arms of this person, the last person she'd think would come in the clinic carrying a wounded boy. She would have thought that he would have left him to rot wherever he would him, but here he is, standing in front of her with this…wounded child.
WOUNDED CHILD!!!
Oh my goodness!
What a responsible doctor I am!
Megumi snapped out of her trance and rushed towards him…HIM!!!
"Place the boy over the…" Megumi looked at the broken table and glared at Sanosuke for a moment and then pointed at the bed just across the table. "…there…"
He wordlessly obeyed her and entered the counter with the boy in his hands. He gently laid the boy on the bed as he heard the boy whimper with pain. The sword wound on the boy was quite deep and he knew somehow how this wound would have been bought about. It's simple. He was attached quickly, in front. It would have been the case that the boy knew who attacked him and he did not expect to be attacked at all. Of course, the attacker ran away from the scene as quickly as possible, left the boy to bleed to death.
But unlucky murderer that I, Yukishiro Enishi, with a changed heart, decided to drop by…Actually it was not "with a changed heart", its "with a forced-to-change heart because of –her". It was because of her that when he saw the boy lying on the ground, instead of acting the way he would—meaning leaving the boy there to rot as the female doctor so blatantly exclaimed, he picked him up without a second thought and rushed to the nearest clinic. How was he supposed to know that the clinic that he would bring the child would be THIS! And with the gangster in it, surely after a while he would run towards battousai and inform him
"Hey! Enishi's here in town ready to bust the Kamiya dojo once again and pull you rotten ass to Rakuninmura."
Enishi mentally shook his head. He had to focus. He gently touched the boy's head while waiting for the female doctor to arrive. He knew that the other one, meaning the gangster was glaring at him behind his back. But why would he care now? It's not as if he never really got glared upon in the past.
The boy continued to whimper and he groaned. Enishi stared at the boy's features and mentally shook his head in anger. He, himself, never really attacked a child. Why? Because he felt like attacking himself—He felt like whenever he saw a little boy, he would see himself crying to have his sister back. So he never really got engaged into attacking children. And who would enjoy killing people who don't even want to retaliate? The excitement of the hitokiri comes from killing people that fight, squirm, argue, and scream to their deaths—except her. She was all those, fought against him, retaliated, defended, and even dared to insult him, but all he did was eat her meal!
But the meal was as good as torture, if not worse…Enishi thought.
Those were really, what Enishi would call, memories. It was not the type that would torture him at nights making him rave in ager and utter hatred for the one person that caused his misery, rather it makes him look back...think back...
It actually makes him feel a bit remorseful in wasting his life in getting revenge when he...of course knowing that he's attractive--I don't know, conceited?--but he still felt that he would have had a better life.
But then again, he would not have met her.
Sigh the things girls can do to men to make you insane! I swear they're the worst killers! They attack you in the inside and then you can never really win if the give you that look...geez, she's like Tomoe-oneesan. Enishi grumbled feeling a bit anooyed with himself.
Sano took that grumbling as a regret for not being able to kill the boy.
"You did this to that boy didn't you?" Sano muttered from behind readying himself to get killed. Megumi was taking her pretty time getting the materials for a slight operation.
Enishi's mental conversation with himself ended while he risked a glance at the gangster. And there stood Enishi, in all his elegance leaning on the wall with his usual formal outfit with the color as the only difference. Whence his usual outfit comprises of a blue and orange, this one is black with red lining. His sword still wrapped with a brown cloth lay there beside him, accessible if there was any imminent danger.
"Would I actually take him here if I did this?" Enishi countered crossing his arms over his chest to try and intimidate the gangster.
Squinting his eyes he stared at the man with intensity. And of course, he was successful to see a little bit of strain from the gangster. Enishi forced himself not to smirk, in order not to push the already agitated gangster in committing something that he might have to retaliate. Even though it's self-defense, he did promise not to hurt anyone anymore. Not to kill…
Not to inflict any physical pain
Without any reason
That was what he promised…
He never really promised to kill…
But he promised to avoid it.
He wasn't that idealistic to think that he could throw everything out in the past as Battousai did…
What he wanted was different…
He did not want to atone for his sins by becoming a wanderer…
Or becoming a monk…
But he wanted to become…
Someone…
Someone who can wield the sword…
The sword that gives life instead of takes it…
But this gangster was getting on his sensitive nerves, and a whole lot of stress on the nerves part.
It's not really that hard to intimidate someone who was beaten by someone you sent to oblivion…
"I don't know if we could trust you…no…I DON'T TRUST YOU." Sanosuke intensely spoke as he growled low in his throat remembering that it was not only a few day ago that they had to sail to this unknown island and kill this maniac for Kaoru's sake.
"I don't need you to trust me." Enishi replied merely staring.
"You! Why the hell are you out of prison! Those people might have been insane to let you free." Sano uttered with bewildered and angry, especially while thinking of Saitoh becoming allies with the white-haired psychotic maniac in order to kill Kenshin.
"On the contrary, they think I'm insane, so they set me free." Enishi grumbled still annoyed with the fact that they thought he was insane. Of course not, he was merely disturbed by the fact that his sister died. Okay he was obsessed with the fact that his sister was killed by the very man she swore to kill herself and ironically swore herself "till death do thee part".
Enishi unconsciously did not know that he bristled. Of course to Sanosuke, he thought the guy was actually growling. He crouched slowly preparing himself to defend in case the man decided to go on the rampage and turn this room into a blood bathhouse.
It was then that the door suddenly opened to reveal three shocked figures. The people inside were also surprised to see that it was not only Megumi who entered the room. She was with two others, one girl and another boy. The boy was merely looking clueless but smiled towards Sanosuke. Sanosuke on the other hand stiffened when he saw the boy and merely placed himself on guard.
Megumi proceeded to the boy lying on the bed. Of course, Soujiro followed suit noticing that Kaoru did not bother to move from her shocked position. Soujiro came in wearing a green hakama with a white gi. His sword tucked safely in his side while he carried sterilized materials for the stitching process in the small operation that Megumi had to conduct. And Kaoru stood shocked with the presence of the person who tried to kill her three days ago. She is wearing a new kimono that she bought the day before Jinchuu happened—this was her new blue kimono with cherry blossom petals decorating the hem.
"Kaoru-san, we should help Takani-san." Soujiro whispered softly but she did not budge. She continued to stare at the white-haired man who stared back, as shocked as she is.
Soujiro followed her line of sight and noticed that they were staring at each other. Well, it's not as if it was his business to notice why and how they stared. But, it was disturbing to see Kaoru stare at another guy aside from Kenshin. Well, he did not really know why, but he was not about to stand here and watch battousai's woman stare at another guy and after that getting blamed for letting this man take her away and elope!
Well, knowing Kaoru, even for the short time, I think it should take about 2 years of getting to know you, about a few kidnappings, a few hero-like saves, and a few open views in the bath house to get her to like you. Well that was what he heard from the old man, Dr. Genzai when he asked him about the place. It was a hilarious story! If he were a writer, just asking for the autobiography of Kamiya Kaoru, he'd be rich in no time.
Okay, that was off…that was totally off. Soujiro shook his head. His imagination was really getting wilder and wilder every single day. He thought it was the way that his mind sublimates his desire to kill people. Blood lust to over active imagination, I should write a story, the Chronicles of the unknown!
That was Soujiro's wish ever since that day.
He wasn't that idealistic as Kenshin who swore not to kill anyone anymore.
He did swear not to kill anyone
He did
But he did not promise… because a part of him was still hesitant.
The one thing that he wished was…
If ever the time came that he was to kill…
It would have been for a reason that he could not avoid.
If he could still manage to avoid killing anyone, then by all means exhaust all possibilities…
But he would not be an idiot and stand to the side while the most precious people in his life would be taken away by death…
His sword would be used only…
Only to protect the ones that he love and care for…
It would only be used for that purpose…
But…
There would be no sakabatou.
He was practical.
He sighed and pulled Kaoru out of her trance. Of course, that was only after he was out of his own trance.
"Kaoru-san, we asked to help Takani-san, we should not just stand here." He smiled as usual and Kaoru's eyes widened considerably.
"Oh my, of course…I was just…" Kaoru got a bit flustered.
She was just surprised to see him and at the same time there were other emotions in turmoil. She felt relieved to know that he was set free, at the same time she got frightened by the thought that he might attack her again. Also she feared for the life of the others there, of course Soujiro might have just slashed him as well, since Kenshin and Sanosuke vividly described how Soujiro managed to almost kill Kenshin back then if only he had not snapped. But then again, she was a bit suspicious if he did hurt that boy lying on the bed.
It's not as if I didn't know he was free…
It was the reason why Yahiko, Sano, and Kenshin never wanted me to leave the house…
Because HE was free…
But…
There he is.
The person who they fear would kill me
In the same room as me…
Why?
Why is Enishi here?
"Oh my?" Sano asked. "Jou-chan, you with an "oh my!" that's too girly for you!"
Well, that one earned him a huge bop on the head and another broked furniture for Megumi.
The poor chair...Enishi stared at what remains to be a hair, if it still is a chair. But technically this is not a chair anymore, because it does not exist as a chair. It cannot be sat on anymore. It's mere pieces of wood...
ARGH!
I told you!
Women!
They do things to you!
Soujiro knew she and also HE (because he looks like he's about to go run through the door not bothering to open it) was troubled so he took all his guts and grabbed the arm of the white-haired man. Sanosuke had to gap when he did that unnoticed because Enishi was suddenly looking surprised.
"I'm quite fast so please don't be surprised…um…" Soujiro looked expectantly. He recognized a look of confusion for a while until realization dawned on Enishi as to what the boy wanted him to say.
"Enishi…Yukishiro Enishi…" the other replied, which was surprising. It sounded formal as if he was used to being treated that way. Weird… but Soujiro immediately knew why he managed to react in such a way.
"A businessman, are you? You are very formal. Well then Yukishiro-san, I would like to request you and Sagara-san to step out of the room for awhile until the surgery is over." Soujiro pulled him to the door, of course a little gently and then pulling Sanosuke as well.
"What? Why me too?" Sanosuke complained and suddenly felt a wooden chair hit his head. Well, he did not see it but he knew where it came from. Because the last thing he heard was a certain fox's voice shouting at him to step out.
Soujiro sweat dropped looking at the unconscious Sanosuke and the shocked Enishi. He looked at Enishi who bent down and pulled Sanosuke over his shoulder.
"I don't need to feel that to step out." Enishi slid the door open and stepped out dropping the unconscious Sanosuke on the table, ungraciously and without any concern for his welfare.
"Well then shall we continue this?" Megumi muttered and Soujiro rushed to her side reminding himself never to get on her bad side at all. Well it's not as if he wasn't really on her bad side already. He might have guessed that he and that Enishi guy managed to place themselves in the high wanted and most disliked list of the people near Kamiya Kaoru. Well, except for her, who seem to always find the good thing in every person and manages to place people in one house only for them to feel tense.
He did not know whether Kaoru was merely nice…
Or she like to torture people…
He preferred the first one.
Kenshin was annoyed. HE did not show it a while ago of course because he managed to remain smiling as always. He stood there and watched and listened of course as Kaoru told him that he would be going to Megumi's place and invite her to dinner along with Soujiro. He wanted to ask why she did not ask him to come with her, but then again, why would he, she's not really his…um…what did battousai say?
Woman. Battousai muttered seething with anger inside Kenshin. You stupid Rurouni! How dare you let that smiling, conniving, little son-of-a- take her out of the house?
Maa…maa…it's not as if they'll take long. They just went to visit Megumi-dono. The rurouni explained trying to concentrate in chopping the vegetables for the miso soup.
That does not erase the fact that SHE took HIM instead of US!!! Battousai grabbed the Rurouni's collar and gritted his teeth in annoyance, of course this all happened in side his head. It would be utterly awkward when Yahiko suddenly stepped in the kitchen and saw Kenshin choking himself.
Maa…maa… The rurouni merely uttered a bit dejected and annoyed…
You're starting to sound like a unique specie of a cow…that does not go "moo" but goes "maa". A crossbreed between a cow and a goat… Battousai sat back on the corner of Kenshin's mind refusing to go back to sleep.
And after that comment, the rurouni refused to speak.
Rurouni?Hm?
When will you propose to her? Battousai asked in a monotone voice knowing full well the implication of the question that he asked. And of course, he got what he expected as his reaction. The rurouni fell down the floor, surprised.
Why do you ask such a thing? The rurouni immediately regained composure, or rather pretended to regain it.
Don't play dumb with me, you and I both know that WE love her. So what the heck is stopping you!
Because…
IF you start going "sessha wa" , this unworthy one…I'm gonna go control this body when she comes near us so that I can get that fing boy to realize that she is MY woman! Battousai stood up with much intensity and the rurouni winced.
It's not yet the time…
When will be the time? When she's already six feet under? When we finally were not able to protect her…or worse! She's married to another man…
Kenshin was speechless.
Kenshin continued to chop the vegetables and heard footsteps walking towards him. By the sounds of it, it was obviously Yahiko. His footsteps are not too heavy, nor was it too light. It was probably a result of his training with Kaoru that the natural brusque approach of the former pick-pocket was replaced by a more mature warrior…almost a warrior.
He turned around and saw Yahiko with a pale face. Yahiko stood there wearing his training gi leaning on the frame of the door. He looked exhausted and at the same time unnerved.
Of course that got Kenshin worried. Yahiko only looked like that when something bad happened.
"Yahiko?" Kenshin looked at him with worry as well. He felt battousai stir inside him and they moved quickly to the boy's side. "What's wrong? You look pale…"
Yahiko merely stared at Kenshin for a while not being able to speak. He was too shocked with what he saw. It was utterly disturbing. How the hell was he supposed to say something when he was too shocked to speak.
And this only made Kenshin worry even more.
"Yahiko!" Kenshin shook the boy and was relieved to see him move and flinch, meaning he's back to normal.
"Kenshin, I want you to come with me. We have a visitor." Yahiko muttered weakly.
Kenshin raised an eyebrow and heaved a sigh of relief. It was nothing about Kaoru. But what would have made Yahiko upset like this? Surely it would not be that bad if it was just a visitor. So Kenshin followed the boy towards the entrance of the dojo. It was then that he took everything that he said back. Yahiko was staring at the man and the woman that stood in front.
There stood the Mibu wolf with a beautiful woman beside him. They had a small boy clutching Saitoh's pants and the woman's kimono. The woman's head was bent down and the child was looking clueless. Saitoh bravely stepped forward and the two waiting people in front gulped.
"Battousai…I need a place to stay." Saitoh asked and Kenshin gapped.
TBC
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