I am so sorry it took so long to get this out! I had school and work and I only just now managed to rewrite what I'd lost when my lappy died! I am hoping that never happens again! Anywho, here is the next chapter, I hope it was worth the wait!


Life After Death

Chapter 6: Death and all His Friend

The morning meant being shaken awake at around six, before the sun had even peaked over the horizon, and being told gruffly to get dressed. A fully clothed and ready to go Kenshin dropped a kimono down by the futon, which I recognized as the same one that the girls that worked in the inn wore. He didn't give me a backward glance as he stood and walked over to the shoji, pulling it open and calling over his shoulder that he expected me down in the kitchens in fifteen minutes.

"Good morning to you, too."

I fought back the urge to stick my tongue out at his retreating back. Sitting up, I was thankful that he had left, shrugging out of the immodestly gaping yukata and began pulling on the kimono. I never understood how people thought that purple and red went together, but I didn't complain as I pulled on an article of clothing that fit and didn't belong to him.

I quickly folded up the futon and blanket, pulling my fingers through my hair to loosen the tangles. I noticed a fresh bowl of water and cloth, and a comb I could only guess was his. I quickly washed my face, sniffing at the comb before begrudgingly using it to sort out the painful knots at the base of my neck. I placed it back down and took both today's and last night's bowl with me as I made my way to the kitchens.

Kenshin was already in conversation with Okami-san, who did not look overly thrilled at the topic at hand. As I walked in, another girl took both bowls from my hands and I frowned at losing my excuse to work rather than take part in the conversation. Kenshin looked over his shoulder at me and reached out, grabbing my wrist and pulling me over. I was about to tell him to stop tugging me around like a mule when Okami-san spoke up.

"So, this is the girl."

Okami-san gave me a look over that made me want to shrink away, her sharp eyes taking in every detail. She had the distinct image of a woman who could be motherly, but was strict and calculating. I instantly stood up straighter. Okami-san gave a slight frown at that and took my chin in her fingers, turning my face this way and that. Frowning deeper, she let go of my face and stood back.

"Have you had any experience working at inns?"

"She worked as a waitress in the Ichigo Inn."

"The girl has a perfectly functioning tongue, Himura, I'm sure she can speak for herself."

Kenshin grit his teeth at this and I mentally smirked. I took a step forward and bowed, ignoring as Kenshin kept his eyes on me.

"It's true, Ma'am. I worked at the Ichigo Inn a while, but had to leave."

Okami-san didn't question this, but raised an eyebrow. Folding her arms across her chest, she stared down her nose at me and I found it very hard not to fidget. It felt like she knew exactly what I really was, what my intentions truly were, and it made me hold my breath in my chest. The other girls were looking around Okami-san with mild interest and I noticed that Kenshin seemed to be holding his breath as well. Finally Okami-san broke her stare and turned around to the stoves.

"Well, I have already spoken to Katsura and it seems that you need to stay here. I can't argue with that, but the kitchen is my domain. If you cause trouble, you'll be seeking employment elsewhere."

At this she finished dishing rice into a set of bowls, passing an apron to me as she put the bowls on a tray. I quickly tied the apron and took the trays Okami-san handed to me. I walked past Kenshin, who muttered something about another meeting, and walked into the dining hall. There sat rows of clients, all patiently awaiting their breakfast. I began handing out the trays one by one, ever aware of Okami-san's eyes on my back. As I made it to the end, bowing to the thank-yous, I startled at the sound of a familiar voice.

"Thank you, my dear."

Looking up, I was shocked to find the leader of the Kyoto reapers sitting before me. Hiro wore a look of annoyance as he lifted his bowl of rice, watching me with a stern look over the rim. Next to him in the line were Mika, Haku and Jin. I quickly nodded to Hiro and continued to hand out the bowls of rice.

What could they possibly be doing here? How did they find me? How was I going to survive the lashing Hiro was going to give me after last night? Well, surviving wasn't the hard part, explaining was. I had broken the cardinal rule of never, ever letting a mortal know who I was. And what was worse, this mortal happened to be my match and my killer. He didn't know, however, what I was. I briefly wondered what Kenshin would say if he knew that he literally had death sleeping in his bed last night.

Breakfast ended at last and I began picking up the dishes, watching as the clients filed out of the dining hall. A pair of tabi entered my field of vision and I looked up to see Hiro, a false smile across his face as he leaned down, eyes watchful of Okami-san at the shoji.

"My dear, I was wondering if I could get some help in my room later, my father is unwell and needs assistance."

At this he gestured towards Jin. I had to bite my cheek to keep the laugh from escaping at the thought of Jin as Hiro's father, let alone unwell. The raging looking Hiro's eyes made the smile slip from my face and I nodded, realizing that I was going to have to face the consequences of my actions. I carry the trays to the kitchen and finish the dishes, trying to draw it out as long as possible without angering Okami-san. When I finished and realized that I could no longer stall, I reluctantly made my way up the stairs to the rooms that housed non-Choshu members. I found the one at the end on the left, just as the guest ledger said, and knocked. The shoji opened swiftly and I was tugged inside.

"You stupid girl!"

Hiro stood before me with a glare, his rage barely contained with his face red and eyes bulging. Jin, Haku and Mika all sat behind him, torn between disappointment, fear and anger. I stared back at Hiro with my eyes wide at the sight of him. Then a thought crossed my mind and I jabbed my finger into his chest.

"You asshole! You could have warned me that my match was my killer!"

Mika, Haku and Jin all looked up at this, shocked as they turned to Hiro. Hiro's glare didn't falter, but rather he seemed annoyed that I was trying to pin this on him. He turned and paced the room in front of us all. I stepped further inside, closing the shoji behind me. I walked into the middle with the others and sat down, watching as Hiro walked. Haku and Mika were taking turns glancing between us and Jin looked as though slightly pleased. Finally Hiro turned on me again.

"You were seen. Do you have any idea how much trouble we could be in?"

I crossed my arms as he said all this, bordering on shouting. I sighed roughly and frowned as I looked back up at him. Trouble? Of course I knew there would be trouble! We would all be hunted, then repeatedly subjected to attempted murder. If the mortal world caught wind of reapers, we'd all be done for. I knew exactly what was at stake, and that was why I was thankful that no one knew I was a reaper except the four in this room. I glared at him as I spoke.

"He didn't see me take the soul, he only saw me try to stop him from killing. He knows who I am and that I can't die…"

I shudder at the thought of the sword running through me, though I keep my eyes on Hiro as I continue.

"…But he thinks I'm a ghost come back to haunt him or something. Stupid boy doesn't know I'm a reaper."

I can feel the others look from me to Hiro. Hiro steps closer to me and swoops down, eyes boring into mine. I don't flinch, but I grip my arms tighter. Yes, I'd been seen. Yes, I'd tried to stop the murder. Yes, I knew I was a failure as far as reapers go but dammit, didn't I have a right to be angry! He speaks in a low, menacing voice and I hold my breath.

"If he talks, it will be on your head."

I smile at this, watching as Hiro stands.

"He won't talk. He's got too much to lose himself."

Hiro stiffens at this and we spend a few moments staring at each other. The silence in the room is suffocating and I can hear the watch next to my chest tick. It is eerily like the heartbeat I no longer have and I wait for his reaction. The others stay silent as they wait as well. After what seems like an eternity, Hiro reaches into his overcoat. I flinch and shut my eyes, expecting some sort of a punishment or pain, but when I open my eyes I see only another sheet of paper. On it is a name and I realize that it is a reap. I sigh and reach forward to take it. He hesitates.

"Don't fuck this up."

I frown at him and pull the paper from between his fingers. He then turns and the others stand, following him out of the room until I am left alone, the E.T.D. limp in my fingers. I glance at the time and with a sigh I see that it hours away. Hours in which I am left to contemplate the fragile thing that is life and how at 9:54 that night I am to help end it for one unlucky person.

9 o-clock comes swiftly and before I knew it, I had been blissfully relieved of duties for the day. Katsura had mentioned that I may spend the days outside of the inn, but the nights were to be spent within the grounds. He mentioned something about the night coming alive with all sorts of trouble, and that the enemy was always lurking. So I found myself slipping out onto the balcony of the servants' quarters, balancing on the edge over the railing and looking down at the ground below me. While I knew the fall wouldn't be fatal, I knew it would hurt. I was wasting time in with this fear and I growled. Steeling myself, I jumped and hoped that the small bushes below would be more cushioning then they looked.

A few minutes later I was walking along the streets, picking leaves out of my hair and checking the time on my watch. I was a little short on time and I ran towards the location of the reap. As I rounded the corner to the small collection of drab court buildings, I listened for some sort of hint as to which of the men seated out front was my reap. Their useless chatter of dice and women set me on edge as I looked at my watch, swallowing hard at the time. The group, led by a tall man with a hooked nose and bent back, cat called the various young girls who walked by. As I looked up from my watch, I heard what I needed.

"Come on, Miabu, come to the gambling halls with us!"

The tall man with a hooked nose shook his head, then stood, bowed and walked away. I took after him, ignoring the calls from the men Miabu left behind. An idea struck me and I quickly flattened my hair, ensuring that there were no more twigs or leaves. I pinched my cheeks and bit my lips to pink them and I quickened my pace. The thought of luring him in like this slightly sickened me, but the idea of going back to Hiro without the job done was worse.

As I passed Miabu, I looked over my shoulder at him, batting my eyes and smiling. He gave a pleased smile and followed as I led him down the dark street whose name was written on my paper. Once sure that we would not be seen, I casually leaned against the wall of one of the buildings, feeling breathless as I did so. He grinned again, leaning one arm by the side of my head and a sleazy expression on his face. I gulped, trying to mirror the lust in his eyes, and reached up to run my hand along his arm. The shimmer of his soul followed and he shivered. As Miabu bent to whisper in my ear, I could see Kenshin step out of the shadows behind him, a look of shock and fear on his face as he drew his katana.


Uh oh, how's Keiko gonna explain this? I have to go to bed now, I have my Modern Chinese History exam tomorrow. Nighty night!