Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin in its totality is not mine.
Author's note: I hope you like this chapter because things are escalating. We are down to the final six chapters (including this one). I know, it's too fast but then I don't want to prolong this story any more than I have planned. Maybe when I revise, I'll add some fillers. For me though, these last five chapters make sense. So hold on tight, it's going to get bumpy.
Chapter Ten: Prelude to Madness
Revenge is barren of itself:
It is the dreadful food it feeds on;
Its delight is murder,
And its end is despair.
"Senpai!" Kaoru hugged the visitor, who nearly choked from her grip.
"K-Kaoru… can't… breathe." She coughed as the Raccoon Girl loosened her hold and blurted her apologies.
"I'm so sorry. I'm just so happy to see you! Kami-sama knows how long we've been waiting for a visitor from Hikaru! Not that the grocery guard isn't from Hikaru—but the staff! And especially you, senpai! I'm so happy!" Kaoru hugged her again with the same pressure as before.
"And I won't be able… to leave… if you continue your… death grip like this!" Kaoru released her and bowed profusely to apologize again.
"Gomen, Yumi-san. Please, come in and make yourself comfortable." Kaoru led Yumi in and closed the door.
With a surprised expression on her face, Yumi stared at the ripped walls and the splintered ceiling. "What the hell happened here?"
Kaoru bowed apologetically. "I'm sorry about the mess, senpai. I tried to clean it up but—"
"Well, Kenshin must have found out about the cameras. It's expected he'd go berserk especially since everyone at Hikaru had to watch the two of you have sex." Yumi said casually and sat on the couch.
Kaoru sat across from her and blushed furiously. "Have sex? I don't know what you're talking about, senpai."
"Oh really? Then what's this after-sex glow that I'm seeing?" Yumi wagged her finger to encircle Kaoru's face, gesturing the glow.
Kaoru wiped her face to try to remove it. "That's ridiculous, senpai."
Yumi waved her hand dismissively. "It's okay, Kaoru. I won't judge you. Although it is a bit unethical to fuck your patient but what the hell? You're both stranded in this remote place in the middle of winter with nothing to do but each other. It's only natural to give in to temptation."
"Yumi-san! We haven't done it okay?" Kaoru spat.
"Haven't? So you're planning to? Don't deny it anymore. It's obvious you have. So, tell me all the details. As your supervisor, I need to know everything that happened here. I could very well say he raped you." Yumi rambled.
"He did not rape me! I consented!" Kaoru covered her mouth, realizing what she had admitted to.
"Gotcha! So you've done it? I was only trying to catch you. We didn't know for sure actually. But we guessed you guys have banged. Megumi had this strange expression on her face after a meeting with Katsura a few weeks ago." Yumi smirked and nudged Kaoru.
Kaoru sighed and nodded feebly.
Yumi laughed heartily and peppered Kaoru with questions. "So how was he? I've seen his dick already so you don't need to tell me his length but what about his performance? Is he any good? Did he make you come? Where did you do it? Here on this couch? Tell me all about it!"
"SENPAI! CAN WE NOT TALK ABOUT THIS?" Kaoru sputtered, more loudly than she intended to.
Yumi stopped her interrogation and cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, Kaoru. I'm just so happy for you. Somebody finally popped your cherry. And it's our very own."
"I'm sorry I yelled." Kaoru bowed her head.
Yumi chuckled. "It's okay. I'm sorry but really I'm not sorry. Congratulations again. Welcome to the world beyond your hymen."
Kaoru changed the topic. "How's everybody at Hikaru?"
Before Yumi could answer the question, Kenshin emerged from his room. He scratched his eyes in disbelief when he saw Yumi.
Yumi looked at Kenshin suggestively and greeted him mischievously. "Ohayou, Ken-san."
Kenshin bowed and stood by Kaoru's side. "Ohayou, Yumi-san. It's great to see you."
"I'm sorry, Kenshin. Did I wake you up?" Kaoru looked up and touched Kenshin's arm.
Kenshin shook his head and held Kaoru by her shoulder. "It's okay, Kaoru. I just thought something was wrong. It's apparently because we have a visitor. And Yumi-san at that."
Yumi observed the couple, amused at their interaction. "You two are so cute together! I'm so glad you've fucked!" She clapped her hands in enjoyment.
It was Kenshin's turn to blush. He looked helplessly at Kaoru who only bit her lip and then to Yumi who continued sneering. "Huh? Yumi-san?"
"Don't worry Kenshin, Kaoru hasn't told me all the juicy details—yet. In the meantime, leave us girls to our own devices and shoo." She waved her hands to dismiss Kenshin, causing her large leather bag fell on the floor. She picked it up and remembered her gift for the couple.
"I almost forgot—Kenshin, please be a dear and put these orange lilies on your vase over there. I didn't think this bouquet would be a fitting gift to celebrate Kaoru's first time! Flowers to celebrate a deflowering! So ironic, isn't it?" She chuckled again.
Kenshin quickly took the bouquet and marched to the pantry to get another vase. He removed the plastic covering the bouquet and placed the lilies on the vase. He winced when a small thorn pierced his finger. Sucking on it, he continued to gingerly arrange the lilies on the vase and settled it on the table top.
Although he was glad to see Yumi, he couldn't shake an ill feeling in his chest. What's she up to? Why did she visit us? He observed Yumi. She caught his gaze and smirked. He looked away and placed the vase beside the forget-me-nots.
On the table he saw that Kaoru had prepared them breakfast: a dozen heart-shaped ham sandwiches. He grinned, touched by Kaoru's gesture. The grin faded when he realized he needed to serve Yumi breakfast, which would result in more jibes from the sarcastic nurse. Choosing hospitality over possible derision from her, Kenshin placed the sandwiches, green tea and porcelain cups on a tray.
Kenshin approached the two women with a smile and settled the tray on the table. He poured green tea on porcelain cups and handed these to the two.
"Oh Kenshin, how warm of you. Thank you for the breakfast." Yumi arched an eyebrow when she saw the heart-shaped sandwiches. "Really now? You guys are this cheesy?"
Kaoru's cheeks were getting redder by the moment. "That came from the groceries. The bread was already heart-shaped when I got it." She mumbled.
Yumi chortled and chomped down on the sandwich. "Whatever, you two. Like I said, I'm not here to judge you. What I am here for though is something very important."
Her smile soon disappeared and her expression shifted to something more serious. She cleared her throat after sipping some tea.
The couple listened attentively. Kaoru swallowed nervously. Kenshin clasped his hands together. Yumi paused and shifted her eyes at the two of them.
"Before I get to that though, I will tell you about the situation at Hikaru. I bet you're going crazy – figuratively of course – over this whole thing."
Yumi put down her cup on the tray. The clatter of the porcelain was the only sound heard in the villa. "They arrested the traitor last night."
Kenshin and Kaoru anticipated her response.
Yumi sighed. "It's Uno."
Kaoru's eyes widened. "But it couldn't be… she's… she can't be…" She recalled the time Uno toured her around Chibe. The wonderful times they shared at the arts and crafts alley. The beauty of the flower market. And the melancholy glint of her eyes when she remembered Takasugi.
Kenshin caressed Kaoru's back and asked Yumi. "How did you know that it was her?"
Yumi sighed again. It felt like she was going to tell a long, awful story. "The guards found opium on her lipstick. Opium was used to make Jin'e hallucinate and attempt to kill both of you. She even planted poppy seeds on Kaoru's room to implicate her. Saitou and the others were too smart to fall for that trick.
"We only found out everything last night. So I know how you guys feel. We were also at a loss, and now, in complete shock. For months, Megumi, Saitou and Katsura were mum about the investigation. They would spend ridiculously long hours inside Katsura's office, meeting, or arguing—we don't really know. What I do know is that after the meetings, Megumi would lock herself in her office and bawl her eyes out – I heard her once.
"When it was confirmed that it was indeed Uno, Saitou sent an arrest party and well, they took her in last night… This whole mess—it's just devastating. Could you imagine trusting someone so much and then finding out that person's been betraying you right under your nose?
"But then again, Uno's got a very compelling reason."
Kenshin peered at Yumi's eyes. "And what reason is that?"
Yumi continued. "If it weren't for Katsura, Takasugi would probably be still alive. Some say that Katsura knew Takasugi was too sick to lead the war in the province but Katsura didn't do anything about it."
Kenshin continued to ask, on behalf of his dumbfounded lover. "But why now? She's been with Hikaru for a long time and she could have exacted her revenge a long time ago. And why me? I don't have any connection to her other than Takasugi-sama and Katsura-sama being my superiors."
Yumi looked at him as if he was asking the stupidest questions. "You're partly to blame. If you didn't agree to become a hitokiri for Katsura, you would be fighting for the Kiheitai."
"Wait, how did you know about that—" It was Kenshin's turn to be surprised.
"Everybody at Hikaru knows, dimwit. We lived in that era remember? And I suppose you know too, don't you, Tanuki-chan? As I'm not hearing any clarifications from you, it's clear Kenshin's told you about his past." Yumi looked at Kaoru who nodded weakly.
"You were the strongest asset of Kiheitai. You could have led the battles and killed a hundred men effortlessly. Takasugi wouldn't have exerted more efforts in training men who replaced your strength. He wouldn't have been sick. And he would have lived after the war, with Uno and their 500 children. At least that's my analysis of it. Uno doesn't talk much but the sadness in her eyes has never changed since the day I met her."
Kenshin nodded, understanding her point. A pang of guilt gnawed at his insides. Although he didn't kill Takasugi or Uno, he caused their death in some way by choosing to be a hitokiri. Yet again, I've destroyed innocent lives. He thought ruefully.
"Why now? Because now, you're getting better Kenshin. Even I can't believe you're this sane person in front of me. And aside from that, you've found love. It's just too much for Uno. Katsura's not getting any punishment; hell, he's dubbed as the next Prime Minister. And yours, which should have been getting crazy all your life, is not happening. It's so unfair."
Kenshin furrowed his brows and raised another point. "But being able to evade the security measures within Hikaru—surely, she can't be working alone?"
Yumi shook her head and shrugged. "She's fucking some guard or hypnotizing him with something, I don't know the full details yet. Last night was a crazy blur at Hikaru."
Kaoru wanted to believe Yumi. The facts were sound. The evidence was solid. And yet, the truth has not sunk in. "I still can't believe it. Uno-san seems like a very lonely soul but not a vengeful one. I just hope… I hope she finds peace one day so that she can finally be happy."
Kenshin held Kaoru's shoulder and smiled sympathetically. She wiped her tears.
"That's mighty noble of you. But we can only wish for happy endings. Not everyone gets happy endings. Or even deserves one." Yumi stared at an empty spot on the floor.
Kenshin squinted as he saw a glint of fire on Yumi's eyes. Suddenly, his vision blurred. He shook his head and he was fine again. The ill feeling on his chest grated at his ribs. There was something off, similar to what he felt yesterday. His gut never failed him, and although he wanted to tell Kaoru, he did not say anything.
"Anyways, so much for that. Life goes on and so should both of you. It's over and you can move on now. So stop sulking, and smile." Yumi gave a big smile and clicked her fingers to literally snap the couple out of their sorrow.
Yumi became serious again and turned her attention to Kenshin. "Kenshin, I have to ask you to leave for a while because Kaoru and I are going to talk about your sexual prowess."
Kenshin blushed. "Huh?''
Yumi giggled. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Just to lighten up the atmosphere you know. There's no use being glum about what has happened. But seriously, I need you to leave because I will be asking Kaoru about your progress. Today is your final evaluation, the results which will determine your fate—whether you will leave Hikaru for good and be reintegrated into the new age or be referred to another facility for further treatment."
Kenshin swallowed dryly. He was nervous yet excited for he was certain he has recovered. Ever since the night he shared with Kaoru, visions of Tomoe have disappeared. There were no other hallucinations or panic attacks either. These moments of sanity have happened to him before but he was confident that this time, these moments would last for good.
Kaoru interlocked their fingers. "Leave us, love. I know you'll pass with flying colors."
Yumi looked at the time from a vintage pocket watch strung around her neck. "After my interview with Kaoru, Megumi and the others will be with us for Kenshin's official examination. Then, it's over."
Kenshin stood up and decided to stay at the garden.
Once Kenshin left, Yumi took an expanding envelope from her bag and laid out some forms.
"Okay, so let me explain the process first. You will be answering a series of questions on your observations of the patient. I assume you're still completing your logs and charts despite your sexual relationship with him. As I said, Megumi will arrive shortly to then assess Kenshin and advise us of any recommended outpatient care plans for him. She also has the final say whether Kenshin remains with us or not. On that note, may I see the logs please?"
Kaoru took her notebooks and other medical forms. Yumi reviewed these and filled out one of the questionnaires. Kaoru picked at her cuticles as she tensely observed Yumi. When she was done with one form, she took another and asked Kaoru some standard questions for psychiatric discharge. She answered positively for all the indicators, which included symptoms of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression, among others.
Yumi looked up from her form and glared at Kaoru. "Remember Kaoru, you are under oath. If you falsely report anything, you will be stripped of your license. We will be able to tell whether you're lying or not."
Kaoru nodded. "I know senpai. I'm telling the truth. Right now, I'm wearing my hat as a nurse. Whatever I've reported is a product of my medical assessment of Kenshin as my patient."
The interview lasted for 10 minutes. Kaoru counted five evaluation forms, which had at least six pages each. She didn't mind the lengthy questionnaires as she knew that Kenshin would pass given the positive, unbiased answers she's reported. Megumi will surely vouch for her assessment when she examines him.
Yumi sighed and closed the envelope. "Whew! That was so fucking many. I hate final evaluations, to be honest. Anyway, it seems Kenshin's going to pass his. Megumi's tests are almost the same as this so I am sure of that."
Yumi patted Kaoru on the back and smiled. "Congratulations, Tanuki-chan, your very first patient and he's going to be discharged soon."
Kaoru bowed her head and thanked Yumi. "Thank you senpai. Thank you for guiding me and being patient with me, answering my endless questions."
"It's all part of the job. Just don't always fuck the patient to recovery eh? I don't think we'll be able to overlook it next time." Yumi winked.
Kaoru blushed again and shook her head. "Senpai! I didn't do it so that Kenshin will get better. I did it because I lo-... my feelings for him..."
Yumi smiled compassionately. "I know Kaoru, I know."
She looked at her watch again then tucked it inside her uniform. "They will be here shortly. Let's just wait."
Kaoru nodded and helped Yumi fix her things.
Yumi remembered something and asked, "Before I forget, there is a final question to the evaluation. Since you already know his past, what did Kenshin tell you about the reason for his insanity?"
Kaoru placed the envelope on Yumi's leather bag as Yumi held onto it. "It's because he accidentally killed his wife while battling the leader of a group who plotted to kill him."
Yumi let go of the bag and gasped.
"Yumi-san! Why did you do that?" Kaoru frowned as the contents of the bag spilled. She looked up at Yumi who had a grim expression. "W-what is it senpai?"
Yumi shook her head and gulped. She pressed Kaoru's hands. "It's over for Kenshin, Kaoru. He has failed the evaluation."
Kaoru furrowed her brows, confused. "Failed? But a while ago you said…"
Yumi removed a long, brown envelope inside her bag. She hesitated then gave it to Kaoru. "Read for yourself. Those are the missing pages of Kenshin's report."
Kaoru's heartbeat quickened, thudding heavily on her chest. With trembling fingers, she took it. She unwound the string that sealed the contents. With every inch of the string straightened, her heart beat pounded harder. The envelope finally opened and Kaoru took its contents.
Splattered across the pages was the word 'CONFIDENTIAL' in red, intimidating letters.
Kaoru did not want to read. But a part of her said she should. She was his nurse, first and foremost, so she had to be professional about this. With a quivering sigh, she stared at Megumi's handwriting and read the report. Yumi was telling Kenshin's story while Kaoru read it, thinking that the young girl wouldn't finish it. Kaoru did not listen and instead pored her eyes over the paper.
SECTION 2. BACKGROUND [FULL REPORT].
Patient discovered by Hitoshi Ryu and Hitoshi Sayaka, who witnessed the car accident. Per their account, at around 10.00, patient rammed into an old sequoia tree from the mountainside direction at 120 km/h. The Hitoshis claim the patient consciously hit the tree as they heard him screaming of wanting to die. When they approached the vehicle, patient was unconscious and had a cross-shaped scar on his cheek, which was determined as inflicted by a sharp object. Patient had a female passenger who was bloodied and lifeless. We discovered later on that this was his wife, Yukishiro Tomoe. Autopsy shows that she died from exsanguination caused by a slash that cut through her right artery. Wound was determined inflicted by a katana. She was also three months pregnant.
Kaoru's eyes widened. Three… months pregnant…? She didn't want to read anymore but she did not stop nonetheless.
June 30, 2004
Patient has finally spoken up about his past. Has been crying for four hours now. Remembered that he was the hitokiri Katsura-sama hired for assassinations of high-ranking Bakufu officials in Kyoto. Admitted to killing his wife as he caught her in bed with his work colleague, Kiyosato Akira. He cleaned patient's assassinations. In a fit of rage, he killed Akira but not before Akira grazed his cheek with a first scar. He then killed Tomoe who gave him the second scar. In her final moments, Tomoe admitted to the affair but only because she was being threatened by Akira. Apparently, Akira entered into a plot to kill patient and to prevent this, Tomoe agreed to have sex with him regularly. When she learned that she was pregnant with the patient's child, she met with Akira that day to kill him. She knew it was his because it has only been a week since Akira has been raping her. Patient ran to his car, with Tomoe in tow, and tried to go to the hospital to save her. However, she had already died from the fatal wound. Desperate, he decided to take his life through crashing his car into the tree.
Tears streamed down her cheeks, staining the report. She flipped the next page.
September 9, 2008
Patient has told a different back story regarding his past to current nurse, Komagata Yumi. Patient admitted killing his wife accidentally because he was defending himself from a group of ninjas who were hired to kill him. Patient said he was a hitokiri who met Tomoe as an Intelligence Officer for former Choshuu faction leader Kogoro Katsura. The two were assigned in Tatsuya to assassinate Kanryu Takeda and save yours truly, Takani Megumi. Yours truly can confirm this but there was no Intelligence Officer that assisted him back then. Background checks show that the patient met Tomoe through his kendo master, Sejirou Hiko. She was his niece and she followed him to Kyoto when he ran away to join the Kiheitai. He married her to be protected from the violence in Kyoto. Tomoe worked for Okami's teahouse while patient carried out assassinations. Patient has created a past which masks the true source of his guilt. Will resume cognitive behavioral therapy and hypnotic treatment.
Kaoru sniffed and sobbed but continued reading to the very last page.
SECTION 3. CLINICAL TRIALS
It was recently learned that the patient has compromised liver functioning, a result from sustained injuries prior to being admitted to the center. Hence, he can no longer participate in other trials as the dosage of his medicines is already very high.
Patient may need to undergo electroshock therapy if he fails the latest trial.
At the bottom of the reports was Megumi's signature. With shaking hands, she returned the report to the envelope but was unable to due to the tremor in her fingers.
Yumi helped Kaoru and returned the envelope to her leather bag. "I'm sorry, Kaoru. It seems he has not changed. I'm afraid…"
Kaoru inhaled deeply and finally wiped the tears on her face. "But I don't get it. If he created this story, then, then how come he's still the killer? I've read that mental patients who have murdered their own families often create fantasies where they are solving the crime, looking for the killers of their loved ones. Or—or they completely forget about it and get nightmares instead. I don't think it's possible that he would recreate it that way. It just... It—it doesn't make sense."
Yumi sat beside Kaoru and caressed her shoulders. "Kaoru, not everything you read in the books is correct. Definitely, those two scenarios you've mentioned happen in some mentally unstable murderers but it's not always the same. We've had several theories about his condition. Possibly, he is justifying the crime he has committed. Perhaps, his guilt of taking lives as an assassin was more bearable than the guilt of killing his own wife. Maybe this, maybe that. We don't know, Kaoru.
"We thought he was finally recovering when you came along. It was the first time he mentioned he smelled something that was not blood. The scent of white plums—that was her scent, you see. It was the first time he showed this polite side of him –the one who said 'de gozaru', instead of 'desu'; the one who called himself 'sessha'. When he defended you against Jin'e, and listened to you as he was to kill him, those were telltale signs that he was changing. Finally, when he fell in love with you and made love to you, we knew you were the answer. You, Kaoru, were a beam of light.
"But, it was much too much to ask that of you. To expect you to solve our problems. His condition was far graver than we could have imagined. We're sorry, Kaoru. It's a matter of bad luck, really.
"Saitou and the others will be here to pick him up. He will then be transferred to a different facility for new treatment." Yumi caressed her back the whole time.
Kaoru was shell-shocked. She heard Yumi's words but did not digest it. "But—but why did Saitou-sama had the cameras replaced yesterday if they were just going to transfer him?"
"We didn't know, Kaoru. If he was already sane, we would let him stay with you for a few more weeks once the whole Uno case was done. The cameras would allow us to monitor you two. There was no definite way to know if he was indeed okay." Yumi explained patiently and calmly.
"Then—then it would be just a waste of time, replacing the bulb and setting up our date as a distraction…" Kaoru choked back a sob when she remembered her romantic afternoon with Kenshin.
"Again, there was no definite way to know if he was indeed sane. It was indeed a waste of time and energy but it would be a greater risk if we didn't do that. Consider it… the date… consider it a memory to treasure when he's gone." Yumi smiled apologetically.
Tears stained Kaoru's face once more. She wailed in Yumi's arms.
"They will be here shortly." Yumi looked at her watch and shut it close.
Kenshin exited through the back door and stayed at the garden, Kaoru and Yumi out of ear shot.
He shook his head as he saw that the daisies have withered. He wondered why as these were vibrant and very much alive a few weeks ago. Still, he filled the watering can and sprinkled the flowers.
His final evaluation aside, Kenshin was worried about something indescribable. Yumi's visit puzzled him. Why send Yumi to conduct the final evaluation? Megumi had the final say in the process and surely, she's more than capable of carrying out the assessment herself. Perhaps, Megumi's busy with Uno's arrest? Then why did they let Yumi conduct his final evaluation while things weren't settled at Hikaru? Perhaps, there was pressure from the pharmaceutical company? But… The questions danced around his head. He rationalized each time he raised his doubts but the answers were unconvincing.
Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit Kenshin. He steadied himself on the wall and clutched his head. He drew short breaths, as something stung his chest. His lips became parched and he craved for water. He stumbled back to the villa to drink some.
He overheard Yumi telling Kaoru about his true past. "I'm sorry, Kaoru. It seems he has not changed. I'm afraid…"
He saw Kaoru's tear fall down her face and heard Yumi's patient explanation to each of Kaoru's rebuttals.
Tomoe was pregnant…?
In his head, he heard a sharp, screeching sound in his head. Then he saw Tomoe's naked, bloodied form on the bed.
But it couldn't be… she was at the cabin… guarded by Tatsumi...
Screech. Tatsumi was on TV, promoting a forest-themed travel package. He shook his head.
W-what is happening? It was an accident… I tried to protect her…
Screech. His car smashed into to the red sequoia tree and he lost consciousness.
"Kaoru… it's not true. It's not true… I'm not crazy. It's… it can't be… it can't be…" He said out loud, but realized they were gasps.
Water. He needed water.
His legs started feeling heavy. He reached out to get a glass of water but he collapsed to the floor instead. He groaned as his knees hit the floor.
"Kaoru…" He called out gruffly. He propped himself on his arms to stand up.
"Kaoru…" He attempted to shout but the sound disappeared in his throat. With shaking legs, he limped towards them.
"Kaoru!" He mustered all the voice he had left and managed to yell. He fell down again.
Kaoru heard Kenshin scream her name. She rushed to his side when he collapsed to the floor. "Kenshin, what's wrong?" She raised him up with his arms draped on her shoulder but he lost his footing and fell again.
Kenshin settled his head on her lap instead. "Kaoru… it's not true. Don't believe her. It's not true. Love, it's not true." He touched her cheek. His vision became blurry as tears rolled down his cheeks.
Kaoru nodded, tears streaming down hers as well. "I don't. I believe you, Kenshin." She caressed his head and appeased her patient.
"What happened, love? Why did you fall?" Kaoru continued caressing him. Yumi observed from her seat.
Kenshin struggled with his words. "I don't know… I started to feel dizzy. And then I was so thirsty… Now I couldn't move my legs."
"Yumi-san, please help me with Kenshin." Kaoru implored.
Yumi did not move an inch. "He probably overheard us. He's acting out, Kaoru. That's what happened when we debriefed him the first time as well."
"Well can we at least not let him lay down on the floor like this?!" Kaoru spat.
Yumi sighed and shook her head. She meandered to them and placed Kenshin's left arm around her shoulder. "I told you, Kaoru. Don't get too involved emotionally. Investing your feelings on a lunatic. Fucking the patient. Feeding each other ohagi over your date slash picnic. Geez, you really went all the way."
Kaoru stood up slowly and with Yumi, assisted Kenshin to the couch. Then it dawned on her. "But Yumi-san… I never told you about any picnic. I just said we were on a date yesterday."
Yumi grunted and smirked. Unceremoniously throwing Kenshin to the couch, she placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. Kaoru nearly fell from the loss of support from Yumi. She managed to lay Kenshin there. He felt cold and clammy.
"There's no use in lying anymore. It's all over." said Yumi coldly.
Kaoru peered at her senior with scared eyes. "W-what are you talking about, Yumi-san?"
Yumi cocked her head to the side and crossed her arms over her chest. "Battousai's head is ours."
She straddled Kenshin, who was stretched on the couch, and whispered in his ear. "The time for jinchuu has come."
Kenshin's eyes widened and he moved his arms to grab Yumi. But he couldn't. They were stuck, useless like his legs. He was slowly losing mobility from his feet up.
Kaoru was confused and frightened. "Senpai, what is happening? What are you doing?"
Yumi straightened up, still straddling Kenshin. "Those lilies were grown in a special soil that enabled them to have small thorns. Those thorns were drenched in a poison that makes a person hallucinate which you, Battousai, were probably having before you fell. The poison also paralyzes your whole body but makes you completely aware of your surroundings. For example—" She dug her fingernails down Kenshin's arms. Kenshin grimaced as blood trickled down Yumi's carved path.
"Yumi! Stop it! What are you doing?" Kaoru's tears flowed out of fear. Yumi turned into a monster before her; her crazed eyes glazed with macabre pleasure of what she was doing.
"Haven't you figured it out, Raccoon Girl?" Yumi dismounted from Kenshin and taunted Kaoru. Kaoru took a step back.
"I'm the traitor. I was the one who tried to get you killed. The one who sent Katsura those letters about heavenly justice. The one who's been poisoning Kenshin all these years. It was me, all this time. Senpai. Komagata Yumi." She curtsied and flashed a huge grin.
Kaoru stepped back until she reached the ripped walls. Yumi pressed her there so that the wooden splinters cut through her back. "It was you. You were arrested, not Uno?"
"Intelligent girl. I managed to escape though. With the help of my fuckbuddy, Mr. Grocery Guard. He's waiting for us in the helicopter, Kaoru. Don't resist and come with me." Yumi clawed her nails down Kaoru's shoulders.
Kenshin could only look on helplessly as his breathing hitched. He fought the poison but it had already taken control of him. "Kaoru! Run away and save yourself!"
Yumi shook her head and cackled. "There is no use. No one will save you both. We've bombed Hikaru. It's nothing but a blazing inferno."
Kaoru's eyes widened in horror. She struggled with her senpai. "Bombed it? Yumi-san… why… are you… doing this?"
"Because Battousai took away from me the one person whom I truly loved and who loved me." Kaoru pushed Yumi, fighting her pressing force. Yumi shoved her to the floor instead.
"When Battousai was admitted to this center, Makoto Shishio replaced him as a hitokiri. Shishio-sama was my one true love. He promised to take me away from the harsh world of prostitution. He was supposed to rule Japan and make the country stronger. I was supposed to be by his side when he triumphed. We were supposed to be happy.
Yumi sat down on the couch. Kaoru inched backwards. "But then, the Choshu faction thought his assassinations were too brutal that it would discredit the new government. So they killed him. They stabbed him. Shot him. Burned him alive. Then quartered his charred body. Like a common animal. My Shishio-sama, slaughtered like a common pig.
"And I – I was forced to live in this new era that Battousai created with his fucking leaders. Forced to take care of the very people who ordered my beloved dead. But in time, I learned to enjoy the job. I reveled in their insanities. Especially yours, Battousai. Foaming at the mouth when you imagine your dead wife. It was music to my ears."
"So all that you told me, his past, the report, those were untrue?" Kaoru roved her eyes for any weapon she could use to defend herself.
Yumi nodded excitedly. "Wasn't it wonderful? I could be a writer someday. I just really enjoy fucking with people's minds that I get too carried away sometimes. I felt there would be a need to forge Megumi's handwriting someday so I practiced. And I practiced on those reports. Oh dear Kaoru, it was too easy. I just had to burn a few pages of Kenshin's report and anything I served you, you believed to be true. You should have seen the look on your face. And his. Aha! What delight!"
Kaoru pulled herself up but Yumi forced her down with a foot on her stomach. "I liked my old Battousai. Lost and depressed. Bipolar and schizophrenic. But then he started getting better. So I had to do something. I had to keep him in the center. He had to suffer! Luckily, us geishas have mastered the art of creating poison as part of our services for the twisted Bakufu faction. So I concocted my poison and I delivered it to him. And his episodes became worse."
Kaoru punched Yumi's lower leg and stood up quickly. "But, wouldn't that be traced in his tests? Or inspected during the inventory?"
Yumi winced from the pain on her leg and aimed to lunge at Kaoru again. Kaoru evaded her charge and Yumi stumbled on the wooden table. "Ah, that's the magic of my poison. They're easily digested by the body that it leaves no trace. Besides, they never test the poisoned plastic packets I place his pills on."
"Then it would mean that his insanity was all because of you?" Kaoru kicked Yumi's right side.
Yumi coughed and rolled over. She cackled and raised her hand. "Guilty again. Naturally, I planned for your death because you caused him to recover. It was a good decision because it also let me know that he truly cared for you. If Jin'e killed you, that would drive him insane more. If Jin'e killed him, well, at least, I enjoyed ten years of torturing him. If he killed Jin'e, he would revert to his old self and would become even more insane. It was a win-win-win situation."
"You bitch!" Kaoru kicked her again but she anticipated it and twisted Kaoru's ankle. Kaoru howled and slumped to the floor.
"Don't call me bad words, Kaoru-san. It's not nice." She twisted Kaoru's ankle farther. Kaoru screamed.
Mustering the little voice he had left, Kenshin hollered. "Yumi! Don't hurt her! Leave her out of this! Hurt me instead." Kenshin pleaded through a hoarse voice.
Yumi let Kaoru's ankle go and Kaoru curled up in pain. "I can't touch you according to him. He said the proper time will come for that. Although I don't think he'll mind that long scratch down your arm."
"Him? Who are you talking about?" Kenshin dreaded the answer.
Yumi sauntered to Kenshin and jabbed her finger on one line of her scratch. Kenshin howled.
"My accomplice. Aside from the grocery guard, I had another partner in crime who supplied me with the poison and the katana. I did all the dirty work. You know, like be a 'loyal' apprentice of Megumi, pretend that I cared about Kaoru as my junior, use a decoy temp nurse who looked exactly like me to weasel out of the Cultural Day—things like that. But that Japanese katana, Jin'e's opium contact lenses and of course, your poison –I wouldn't have been able to get my hands on those very expensive instruments of death. I had someone from the outside." She chirped.
"In fact, he's on his way here. It won't be long—" Yumi's happy narration was cut by Kaoru who smacked her on the head with the fireplace poker. Yumi crumpled to the floor.
Staggering towards Kenshin, Kaoru helped him up. "Let's get out of here, Kenshin."
But it was too late.
The door swung open. Kaoru slowly raised her head to look at Yumi's accomplice. He was a muscular man, tall and domineering. His snowy mane had jagged spikes protecting his head. In between his deep blue eyes rested small round sunglasses. Hugging his frame was a Chinese-made outfit consisting of orange pants, a skin-tight dark blue tank top, and an orange jacket. Draped over his physique was a blue half-cape and on his back was slung a light brown bag.
Kenshin's eyes widened, staring in horror. All of a sudden, Tomoe appeared before him. The tall man became a young boy with black hair and blank eyes. "You…"
"Looks like you've seen a ghost, Battousai." He leered and walked towards them. Kaoru retreated to the villa.
"Who are you?" Kaoru croaked.
"Yukishiro Enishi. Yukishiro Tomoe's brother. Battousai's brother-in-law." In a split-second, he removed his wattou from his brown bag and knocked its hilt to Kaoru's stomach. She dropped Kenshin and fell unconscious to Enishi's arms.
Kenshin hit the floor, face-first. The last vestiges of his mobility escaped him as he crawled towards Enishi. "D-don't hurt her. Enishi, let her go." He hissed through gritted teeth.
Enishi jeered at Kenshin. "You're not exactly in a position to negotiate, Battousai. You don't have the right." He stomped his feet on Kenshin's back. Kenshin grunted in pain.
Enishi laid Kaoru on the couch while he walked towards Yumi to wake her up. "Yumi-san, it's time to go."
Yumi stirred and flinched from her hit on the head. "Enishi-kun, I'm glad you're here."
Enishi helped her stand up. "So you were poisoning him all this time? I overheard your storytelling and I didn't want to ruin your monologue so I listened. You seemed to be enjoying it."
"Why thank you, Enishi-kun. I've waited so long to let it all out." Yumi grinned smugly.
Enishi nodded. "I always thought the ingredients you asked the mafia were for your recreational drug needs. I never thought those common chemicals made up Battousai's poison. Yumi-san, that was ingenious. You've always had a thing for theatrics."
Yumi strutted and shrugged. "Well, thank you, Enishi-kun. I've always had a flair for drama. I've always liked the spectacle of—"
She wheezed as a long, silver steel plunged through her chest. She looked up, blood pouring down her mouth. "Why...?"
Enishi glowered at her; the deep blue eyes became bottomless depths. "I don't like being fucked over, Yumi-san. You said he was crazy and I believed you. But the reality is I waited for five long years just because you were having your fun with him. You were never planning on letting me have my way with him, weren't you? You worthless bitch. You should never have crossed me."
Enishi thrust and twisted the blade further into Yumi. She gripped his arms as her life drained away from. He removed the wattou in a swift pull.
She sunk lifeless to the floor beside Kenshin. Her blood pooled around her, drenching the wood, seeping into Kenshin's shirt.
Flicking the sword to rid of Yumi's blood, Enishi sheathed it on his bag. He lifted Kaoru and placed her effortlessly on his shoulders. "Battousai, I will deliver jinchuu in 10 days. 10 days to celebrate your 10 years of insanity. The coordinates of our final battle will be sent in a package. Your woman will be safe with me physically but mentally, I'm not sure."
His sunglasses glistened as he jeered, "Be strong like you were before. Fight me like the Battousai who killed my sister. In 10 days, Battousai, you shall die." He kicked the door open and Kenshin saw the grocery guard waiting for them at the helicopter.
Kenshin yelled for Kaoru's name over and over until his voice broke. The sound of the helicopter blades muffled his cries; the effects of the poison paralyzed him.
Soon, his lids grew heavy. He sunk into the dark recesses of his mind.
Revenge, the sweetest morsel to the mouth
That ever was cooked in hell
-End of Chapter Ten-
References:
Quotes (in order) – From Friedrich Schiller, a German poet, philosopher, historian and playwright (nope, I did not read his works; I am a mere Googler :D); From Sir Walter Scott's The Heart of Midlothian, part of his Waverley novels.
End Notes: DO NOT READ THIS IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE CHAPTER! Apparently, I write so bad that you guys figured out who the traitor was. I'm sorry if I made Yumi a typical babbling villain here but there was a need to explain a) her reasons, b) her methods, and c) Kenshin/ Kaoru's future. Can't always leave that to description. Feel free to comment on how it should have been done and I am open to your suggestions. I've always wanted a creative way for Yumi to poison Kenshin. It would be too easy to have her lace his drugs, water or even shampoo so I thought of something else. Hope I achieved the "ingenuity" of the betrayal.
Gratis: Thank you to the following people:
For adding this story as your favorite: kleinegirl87, and lasgalen95
For new followers of this story: kleinegirl87, Rampaging Sorrow, and sraven7287gmailcom
For reviewing my story: Thank you and til next time!
emi: I'm sorry to say that there are more cliffhangers in the succeeding chapters. I am such an evil author *maniacal laugh*.
epicCookie253561: Yep, the chapter confirms your theory that it is Yumi. Shishio is not the villain though because Enishi seemed a more likely ally. Yes, the hidden cameras were a symbolism of Katsura's ridiculous obsession with rehabilitating Kenshin. Thank you for believing in my story. Love you too!
Guest: You're perceptive :D I hope this was soon enough. I am glad that I have met a fellow fan of Jinchuu. I am still wishing that someday, someone will animate this fantastic piece of work. Regarding the prequel, where did you learn that they're planning to remake that? Ohohoho, I am swooning of merely imagining Takeru as Battousai. Egadddd.
megumithebitch: Noted on your comment – but the getting to know you stage was sort of during the quiet times they were together. Sometimes, you don't need words to really know a person. Or I'm just a perverted writer and I just want to see them get it on (which is a bigger possibility) hehehehe.
melay: And you're right! It is Yumi. It was my intention to make Yumi loveable. Why? Because I'm such an evil author ohohoho. Thank you for thinking the lemon was tastefully done; it is my first time in a long time to write one.
Scarred Sword Heart: Yep, and they had popcorns to share too. Kidding aside, it was a necessary evil for Katsura. Then again, Katsura's unraveling too, slowly showing how vulnerable and desperate he has become in his quest to help Kenshin get better.
whatafreakyday: I know! I can't believe it's been 9 chapters already! Gomen but more suspenseful chapters await. Ehehehe, horny!Kenshin is a product of perverted!Author.
Next chapter: Kenshin faces his past, present and future.