Ch 7

First Encounter

When I opened my eyes I sighed with relief, it was night, I could almost feel the cool darkness soothing away the weariness I still felt from looking out into direct sunlight. "Megumi will have already situated that girl' I thought. Feeling alert I quickly got up and grabbed a leather tie from the jar on the bedside table, briskly I pulled my long flame red hair out of my way into a low pony tail. Then I pulled on a black gi and white wide legged trousers, stepping out of my rooms I quickly strode past the girls door and Megumi's quarters, before entering my private meeting room. Sano, Aoshi, and Misao were already seated cross-legged around a low round table in the center of the room. When I walked in Sano and Aoshi made as if to stand but I motioned for them to remain sitting as I moved toward my place at the end of the table.

"So how was your little excursion this morning, Sano?" I inquired as I sat down

"Just fine," He replied, "you know Battousai that village gave us one plucky little missy. Have you seen her yet?" I nodded saying,

"Why actually I have I was in my study as you passed through the camp."

"Isn't she a beauty? And she's so calm it's frightening." He said, "It was so sad though, when we were left her village only two people came to see her off."

"I see" I replied

"Well yeah, it was strange she didn't even look back as we left the village. She just sat there in front of me perfectly composed."

"Sano, do you know where Yahiko and Megumi are?" I asked

"Yahiko's coming Battousai" Aoshi replied then Misao interjected

"And Megumi is bringing Kaoru, you know, she seems so nice. I like her, she was so sweet and polite on the way here…" she chattered on and I smiled at her enthusiasm

"I'm sure she is Misao" I agreed. Then she turned to Aoshi and began speaking rapidly to him. Sano was watching me intently, I stared back finally he said,

"She's really is a good little missy, you should give her a chance."

"I know Sano." He would have replied but at that moment the door opened and Megumi entered the room followed by a small woman. The first thing that registered was her scent it was sweet and rich… it enticed me. Thankfully Sano snapped me out of it. Turning to the girl he began to speak,

"Well hello missy did you rest well?"

Vaguely I heard her reply,

"Yes I have thank you." But her large blue eyes were locked on my amber ones. Staring into them I was distracted from her scent, they were like windows into her soul, open clear and deep. Finally she broke our gaze turning to Megumi as she began to speak,

"Himura is that how you greet a guest, for shame," turning to Kaoru she continued, "Kaoru this is Himura Kenshin and Himura meet Kamiya Kaoru." With that she walked Kaoru-dono over to the place beside me and sat her down before moving around the table to sit beside Sano. Turning to face Kaoru I greeted her,

"Good evening Kaoru-dono, I hope you are well"

Until now she had been studying the table top when I spoke she looked up and quietly replied,

"Thank you I'm very well your lordship." Hoping to put her at ease I smiled kindly,

"No need to be so formal Kaoru-dono you may call me Kenshin."

"If you wish… Kenshin" She said trying out the name. Her face was calm and expressionless. I found myself caught in her blue eyes once again; they were a deep clear midnight blue. I could see a kindness there as well as a soft sadness, her face was delicate and lovely her skin pale she had long raven black hair. As I studied her features I could see that she studied mine. Her eyes seemed to weave a bubble of calm around the two of us. Then Yahiko entered the room causing everyone to look up. With the barest hint of a bow in my direction he smiled sheepishly and hurriedly took a seat beside Misao. Who promptly pinched him.

"Yow! What was that for?" He yelled

"That was for being late, dummy, especially when we have a guest." She replied he settled for glaring sullenly at her. Then to my surprise Kaoru chuckled. Sano and Megumi soon joined in the mirth while Misao and Yahiko glared reproachfully at the laughing adults. After a moment I heard Kaoru say,

"I'm sorry Misao, but it's really alright I'm no one of importance." Then a smirking Sano interjected,

"It's alright missy that was funny." He then said, "Hey Misao are you Yahiko's keeper?" before he dissolved into another round of snickering.

"Hey!" Misao exclaimed, "That's not fair, right Aoshi, it's not nice of Yahiko to be late and make the rest of us wait." She said pouting prettily up at him. Aoshi looked down at her for a moment before deciding on a noncommittal answer.

"Perhaps" he stated. This of course set off Megumi and Sano again and soon I heard Kaoru's bell like peal of laughter join them.

Eventually they quieted down and I spoke teasingly to the table "Do you all plan on eating at all this evening?"

"Sure, sure " Sano replied. Then he stood and made his way over to the door to tell the maid standing outside to bring in the food. Quickly she carried in six steaming bowls of rice and a large platter of dumplings. Setting those down on the table she went out again to get drinks, returning she placed a bottle of sake with two cups between Aoshi and Sano. Then she carried in a pitcher of water and cups for the rest, placing those at the center of the table she brought in my single glass of red wine. I thanked her quietly as she walked out.

Looking up I saw the others waiting for me to begin the meal, so I reached over and took a sip of wine as a signal for the others to begin eating. The taste exploded on my tongue, rich sweet, intoxicating. Glancing up at Megumi I nodded appreciatively she had been watching me alertly until now, smiling she turned to her own meal. She is in charge of procuring around a half pint of blood once a month. In general she collects it from various patients in the infirmary and has it added to my wine. I smiled remembering the convoluted story she had concocted about a nourishing tonic for the benefit of the kitchen staff.

Finishing my wine I set down the glass and glanced around the table. Sano and Megumi were bickering quietly while Misao alternated between speaking to Yahiko and Aoshi. Aoshi looked as stoic as ever, but Yahiko was looking a bit frazzled, 'I guess the five or more hours on horseback with Misao is starting to get to him' Finally I turned my attention to the quiet woman seated beside me. Kaoru was staring intently around herself with a small smile upon her lips. Leaning over I said softly,

"You look content. May I ask why you are smiling?"

Without looking up at me she replied, "they remind me of my family. It's been a long time since I've had a meal with friends." Suddenly she glanced up as if realizing for the first time who she was speaking to "Oh I'm so sorry forgive my informality…" she stuttered trailing off, quickly she looked down hiding her face.

"It's alright, "I said trying not to make her more uncomfortable, "It must be hard for you to be away from them, I'm sorry" hesitantly she looked up meeting my gaze then she spoke softly,

"No, I am used to it my family has been dead for ten years." Then smiling sadly her blue eyes seemed to look past me into some long faded memory. "We used to all eat together. My mother and father even my little sister… it was like this in a way, they all must be good friends of yours." Watching her intently I could almost see her shake free from the clinging mists of memory and turn her attention to me fully.

"Yes they are. They have each accepted me and each other as an extended family of sorts. Each of them is here by choice." Surprised she said,

"What of their families or villages?"

"Mostly dead, Megumi's in a fire, Aoshi and Misao's through old age and war. Sano and Yahiko are orphans." I smiled sadly," I think you will find that you fit in well with this group." Smiling timidly she looked around the table "Thank you Kenshin" she replied before tuning back to her half finished bowl of rice. Turning to mine I began to eat with a half ear turned to the conversations around me. Sano had pulled Kaoru into his and Megumi's conversation. Watching her out of the corner of my eye I was amazed. 'This girl has just been taken from the only home she has ever known and yet here she sits laughing and talking with the men and women who stole her away.'