A/N: Thank you so much for your follows. They mean a great deal to me! I haven't written in such a long time and to know you like my story really boosts my self-confidence. Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own RK.
Chapter 2: Grief born of love, hate rekindled
Kenshin cursed as he read the missive from the camps in the wastelands, slamming the piece of paper on his desk with much more force than necessary. He hadn't thought things could get worse, but by gods, they had.
"King Koshijiro is dead," He spoke, directing himself to the only other person in the room. A tall, silent man glanced up and could see the anger seeping off in waves from the red-haired man.
"That is most unfortunate," He spoke quietly, coming closer to the person who had sworn loyalty to. "It is a great loss at this time, no doubt for us as well as for his kingdom."
The red-haired man's eyes softened as regret began to mingle with the anger that began to fill his soul. "I shouldn't have left. It's my fault that he's dead." He stood up and walked over to a large window overlooking the rolling plains that defined the landscape of his kingdom. His hand slammed the window, though he took special care to not apply enough force to actually shatter it. "Damn it, Aoshi, I was the one who suggested the attack! I should have been leading it, not Koshijiro." He grounded out.
Aoshi listened and walked to Kenshin. "You could do nothing to prevent your return to the kingdom. With the disappearance of you father, there was no choice. King Koshijiro understood that and he also understood the risk of the attack."
Kenshin sighed, his hands fisting against the glass. "All the time we spent here has done us no good. We are no closer to finding out what happened to my father than we were at the beginning." He turned around. "Have your sources found anything?"
An almost imperceptible shake of Aoshi's head was his response. "Not as of yet. My informants are scouring the continent as we speak."
"Of course, it would occur to my father to disappear at a time like this." Kenshin sighed. It was difficult, very difficult to imagine anything happening to the intimidating and powerful man Kenshin called father. He had honestly thought that the messenger from the palace had been joking or that his father was playing one of his usual mean tricks on him, but upon finding that the story was indeed true, that his father had just vanished, he'd acted. He couldn't leave his country without a ruler and had done his duty by returning to restore order to a panicked kingdom.
Aoshi watched Kenshin as he moved to sit back at his desk and delve back into the affairs of the kingdom. While Aoshi was mostly silent when around others, he actually acted as the King's most trusted advisor. They were around the same age and had met a little after he had turned fifteen.
He remembered how Okina had explained to him that he would be working under the crown prince before their meeting. Apparently, it was a long-standing tradition that the head of the infamous group of spies, the Oniwaban, worked as an advisor (for intel) and a bodyguard for the Kingdom of the West plains. Aoshi, while not head of the group at that time, had proven himself much more than capable for the job. When the mantle unexpectedly fell upon his shoulders three years later, it was as if he'd always worn it.
Time had led the two teenagers to become comrades—friends—as they grew up together. They had fought back to back in smaller battles when the need arose and both were strong, capable and loyal. Each owed each other life-debts. Aoshi knew that his opinion was highly important to the young monarch and took care to never overstep his bounds in any way.
Either way, the news of the fallen eastern monarch was devastating. Aoshi mentally began making lists of things he would have his spies find out—mostly, the state of the Eastern Kingdom. Aoshi knew of the princess, dubbed the people's princess, as she had won the hearts of her people by her work in charities around the kingdom. He also knew that she was formidable as a swords-woman. She was most likely heading the Kingdom at the moment, as the crown prince was but ten years of age.
There was also another matter, one that had been recalled in wake of the news. King Hiko had entrusted him with certain things for such a moment. He knew he needed to make Kenshin aware soon enough.
"Aoshi, I need to know of the state of Koshijiro's kingdom." Kenshin met Aoshi's eyes. "I'm assuming you were following a similar train of thought?"
That almost quirked Aoshi's lips but the movement was fleeting. "Of course. I will send my men out now."
The monarch nodded, a faint smile to his lips, his eyes back to the papers again. "You know, it's comforting to know that someone thinks similarly to me."
Aoshi only raised an eyebrow. "Years will do that."
"Report back as soon as you have the information." Kenshin ordered.
Aoshi bowed, turning away to leave. "Your majesty."
With that, he was gone and Kenshin let himself wonder. There was so much to do and yet it felt like he was doing nothing at all. Aoshi's address had him remembering that he was acting as King now and although he wasn't having any trouble, the cause of it was still a hard thing to swallow. How had Hiko just disappeared? Leaning back, he ran a hand down his face. He and Aoshi had gone through all the possibilities and nothing seemed to add up.
He felt lost, lost like he'd never been. He hated admitting it because he was usually so oriented, but this had thrown him. Add to that the death of Koshijiro—who had been a mentor to him, in the way his father couldn't be—and Kenshin felt as if he was running in an endless loop, expending energy while things went nowhere. His thoughts flitted to Koshijiro's little family and he felt bitterness settle in the pit of his stomach. He had failed him by letting their father rage a battle that was not his to begin with. It was all his fault, all his fault.
Kenshin sat up and called for a servant to bring him something strong drink. Grief was much easier to deal with when you couldn't feel it grip your heart.
Kaoru sat dimly staring out of her window, fingering the dark blue fabric of her gown. The room was quiet, only her breathing breaking the silence. If it wasn't for the fact that she'd been staring out of the window, she wouldn't know what time it was. Her eyes were fastened on the subdued and yet brilliant colors of the setting sun. How could something so magnificent fill her with sadness? Was it because her father would never see a sunset again or the memories that such sunsets filled her with? Bitter-sweet feelings filled her heart as she hung her head. Tears—who would've thought she had any of those left—fell into her lap.
It was like when she had lost her mother all over again, only worse now, since she had no parent to whisper comforting words into her ear or to hold her as she cried. She had been young, barely ten, when her mother had passed away—a few weeks after the birth of her brother, actually. It had stung, to watch so helplessly as the life slowly seeped from her mother's eyes. Yahiko had been her lifeline, caring for him, holding him—her mother had smiled and given her the responsibility to help him, when she would not be able too. She had accepted the request readily, her young mind not quite understanding the true meaning behind such a request, only understanding the need to please and accept.
She thought of Yahiko—poor, poor Yahiko—doing his best to be strong as she relayed to him the news. He had looked so much like their father at that moment, dignified and brave, all inside a ten-year old boy's expression. Yet, he was still only a boy and when she saw the tears well up, the pain and realization register in his eyes, she had enveloped him in her arms. Together, they had cried, a brother and a sister in pain, holding onto each other like life-lines.
Sanosuke, who had watched from a distance, silently took the young prince to his rooms, murmuring a promise that he would be alright with him. Kaoru had watched him walk away, her heart a tangled mess. She had wiped her tears and lifted her head, if only to exit with some semblance of dignity, from the study. The walk to her rooms had been long and filled with memories.
She was tired but she had no desire to sleep. She felt hollow, empty and she sighed. Stars began to glitter in the night sky and she wondered if her parents were happy to be together again, whether they watched over her and her brother. She hoped so.
She wondered when the grief would stop gripping her heart so painfully.
"Kill him."
A strangled cry of mercy was cut off by a swift metal blade. A bandaged figure, shrouded in shadow, sat in front of the murdered man. A chuckle escaped him, a ghostly eerie sound more than anything. Those around him remained silent, awaiting his next order.
"Yumi, come here." He called.
A young woman slinked over to the figure, draping her arms intimately around him, rustling the bandages covering him like a mummy. "Yes, Lord Shishio?"
"Before you is a dead spy." He laughed. "A little present from the King of the West plains." He spat the word king as if it was disgusting. "What do you propose we do, Yumi? Should we let this insult slide?"
Yumi's lips formed a cold smile as she whispered, "Never, my lord. They must pay."
He smirked. "My sentiments exactly. Hoji!"
A man rushed to bow in front of him, nearly in worship. "My Lord Shishio, what can I do for you?"
Shishio tilted his head, as if contemplating. "I want you to gather information for me. I've heard that Kenshin," His lips curled in a cruel smile. "has taken the throne in the wake of his father's disappearance. Wish I could take credit for that." He laughed and the others around him joined in. "Whatever the case, with Hiko out of the picture, the West Plains are more vulnerable." He paused as if thinking something over. "I want to destroy him."
Hoji nodded. "Yes, Lord Shishio, I will do as you command."
"See that you do." With a wave of his hand, Hoji was dismissed and the dead body was thrust outside to rot. Shishio commanded to be left alone and all slowly made themselves scarce. Yumi hesitated, but dared not to stay.
Shishio had been cast aside years ago, but now, now he was going to be the done to cast aside the prince who had taken everything from him. He would pay dearly. He was going to reclaim was should have been his since the beginning. If he conquered the other lands in the process, all the better. He basked in the chaos, the bloodshed, the gore.
"Maybe a visit to the Eastern Kingdom is in order as well."
A maniacal laughter drowned out the screams and moans of the dying all around him.
A/N: Sorry for the late update guys. I'm restarting college tomorrow and I just moved in and got settled. Wish me luck! And please review!
~Daichi
