Hello! I finally managed to finish this chapter. (For those of you who don't know m computer was dumb last week and deleted well over half of the story I had written, so here is the full chapter a bit late lol.) Also thank you to everyone for your kind messages and telling me to take my time! Much appreciated! Also quick note this chapter is exactly 8300 word wow O.O Anyways hope you enjoy! 3
"Ugh! Yahiko, have you seen my ribbon?" she yelled across the engawa. "My dark blue one!"
His head popped out of his room.
"Why would I have seen it! It's probably somewhere in your room." He went back in his room. "It's a pigsty in there anyways."
"I heard that!" she yelled.
He looked back out again, showing his tongue. "Good!"
She groaned and ran back in her room. Balthasar was almost here, and she still wasn't ready!
She hobbled over piles of clothes, to an upturned chest and rifled through another one. She sighed and turned back around. Still no ribbon.
She picked up a pile of clothes on the floor. Annoying as he was, Yahiko was right. Her room was a pigsty.
Under the pile lay a yellow ribbon.
She picked it up with pinched fingers. It's not that she disliked the color, but it didn't particularly suit her complexion, much less the kimono she wore.
The outer gate bell rang, indicating the arrival of someone.
"Kaoru! Your boyfriend is here!" Yahiko yelled.
"Argh! He's not my boyfriend!"
She looked back at the ribbon. It's not like she had any other option, much less time.
Sighing she tied her hair up with it. It would have to do in the meantime, she supposed.
"Wow, about time you came out. Although no matter how long you take, you still look like an ugly old tanuki," Megumi teased.
She glared at her. "You have no room to talk, little miss 'I'm in love with Sano but I'm too embarrassed to confess to him.',"
Megumi raised her eyebrows and hid her face behind her sleeve was she chuckled. "The tanuki is starting to learn how to fight using her words. But you still have a long way to go, to be at my level. You child."
Before she could think of another quip, Megumi turned around to Balthasar.
"How is your arm doing?"
Balthasar looked down at his left arm, which was held up by a sling.
"It still hurts quite a bit, but I'm starting to regain mobility."
Megumi nodded, as she ran her fingers on his arm, and pressed.
"Does that hurt?"
With closed eyes, he shook his head.
"Liar," Kaoru called out, "I can see you wincing from way over here!"
"I'm fine really," he insisted.
Megumi hummed. "Maybe in two more weeks we can begin thinking on taking the sling off, but for now just take that pain medicine I gave you."
"Hey! How come he get pain medicine!" Sano yelled. "You never give me any!"
"Don't mind him," Megumi said, "he's just an overgrown man child."
Sano gaped at her.
"In my opinion you deserve it," Kaoru said.
"You too jou-chan?! Why does everyone have it out for me!"
"You know better than to get in a fight with Saito," Megumi said, tugging his hair.
"Oi! Watch the hair! And what was I supposed to do? Let me pummel him!"
"Not to mention, I heard Megumi had to bail you out of jail." She added.
"Yeah, because I was defending the both of ya!" Sano defended.
Megumi snorted, "Running out and punching something is not always the best solution to things. I know it's the only solution your empty head can come up with, but next time let's leave the problem solving to the adults, okay?"
"But it is solved! Thanks to me that pathetic excuse of a man is now in the hospital and no longer a danger to the two of ya! And whaddaya mean I'm not an adult!" He yelled, stomping his foot.
"Uhm, is this a bad time?" Tsubame called out.
"Tsubame!" Yahiko greeted.
"Well looks like we're all here now, shall we get going?" Megumi said.
"Hey! did anyone hear me?" Sano exclaimed. "I said I am an adult!"
"Oh, be quiet you freeloader," Kaoru said. "Kenshin we're leaving now!"
"Have fun!" He called out.
"Is Mr. Himura not coming?" Balthasar asked, coming next to her.
She looked over to Kenshin. He stood by the well, sopping wet washing clothes. Sensing her gaze, he looked up and gave her a smile, and looked back down.
"He said he'll try to join us later,"
"Interesting," he said.
They filed out the gate and headed to the festival.
X
Three children ran past them, as they reached the center of the festival.
Sano stopped one who had a mask on his head.
"Hey kid, where'd ya get the ikayaki from?" He pointed to the one in his hand.
"By the food stalls," he said, looking at his friend who were farther away.
"Yes, but which one?" He sighed. The kid had already run off.
"Does anyone know where the ikayaki stall is?" he asked, walking back to his group.
"No, but this dango is really good," Yahiko said.
"I'm sure it's around here somewhere," Kaoru said, looking around.
It was really crowded this year, certainly more than the last festival they'd been to.
"Tsubame and I wanna go see the drums," Yahiko said.
"I was also hoping on checking out the vendor stands," Kaoru said.
"How about we meet back here in about an hour?" Yahiko said.
"Sounds good!" They all agreed.
"Wait is no one going to help me find some ikayaki?" Sano cried. "Hey fox-lady! You'll help me, right?"
She turned around a smirk on her face. He could practically see the ears popping up on her face.
"Me?" she said, "I think I'm just going to find some dango and then go to the vendors are with the tanuki"
"Megumi!"
She gave him a little wave and headed off to the dango stand.
"Fine! Like I need you. I'll find it myself." He sulked off, in search of the stupid ikayaki stall.
X
The two had stopped at a mochi stall. Where the owner held a wide variety of flavors.
"Wow," she smiled, "do you want one Balthasar? I'll pay."
He leaned forwards examining them all.
"Which one would you recommend?" he asked.
"Well, I've always been a fan of the red bean ones, and Yahiko likes the strawberry ones." She turned to look at him, "Are you a fan of green tea?"
"I drink it on occasion."
"I'm sure you'll like the green tea mochi then." She looked back at the vendor. One red bean and one green tea please."
She took out her wallet, but Balthasar's hand stopped her.
"Please, let me. What kind of gentleman would I be if I let you pay?"
"Oh I really don't mind though–"
"You can always save your money for something else. Let me pay this time."
She smiled, tucking her wallet back in. "Alright."
He smiled back.
Mochis in hand, they headed off to the housewares section of the stands.
"You know you don't have to go so overboard with the thanking," she said, taking a tiny bites from her mochi.
"What are you talking about?" He asked, sniffing his.
"For the whole returning your wallet thing. You really didn't have to invite me to your house for dinner or take me to a festival." She grinned. "Not that I'm ungrateful or anything! I'm just saying, you could have just as easily said thank you that day and went on with your life. I would have been fine with that."
He looked at her, and chuckled. Which eventually turned into a loud laughter.
"You think I'm doing this because I want to thank you?" He laughed again.
She felt heat creep up her neck. Why was he laughing at her? Had she said something wrong? As fascinating as she found their culture, Westerners tend to be a bit weird with their reactions. "Well… Yeah, aren't you?"
"Oh my dear Kaoru, I'm doing this for a different reason." He took a step towards her. "You are right, a simple thank you would have sufficed. But you see, I'm afraid I find myself attracted."
"Attracted?"
"To you Kaoru." He smiled and took her free hand. "You have very nice eyes, and a kind smile. Not only that but I can tell you are a very good person. I'm attracted to you Kaoru. And I've been trying to court you."
"C-Court me!"
Her whole face burned, and her stomach did flip flops inside her body. She had had potential suitors before, but none of them had ever tried courting her, much less admit it as boldly as he just had. Lest she beat them with her bokken.
How had she not realized?
She took a small step back, sliding her hand away from his. "I'm flattered really, but…"
"Wait Kaoru!" He said. "I didn't mean to scare you!"
He tossed his whole mochi in his mouth and stepped towards her again.
"Don't do that!" she exclaimed.
"What?" he said, stopping where he was.
It wasn't long before he started coughing, and sputtering.
"That!" she ran to him and slapped him hard on the back.
Balthasar laid his hand on his neck and took deep breaths. "Thank you." He gasped.
"You have to be careful when you eat mochi, or you can end up choking."
"Right, I'm sorry," he said.
"It's fine you didn't know. Just be more careful next time,"
"No, about courting you," he said, "I thought you knew."
"Oh," she looked away. Her eyes met with a food stand.
"Hey look!" she pointed to it. "Let's see if we can get something to wash down the mochi!"
She pulled on his arm, but quickly let go, throwing him an awkward smile. Instead, she motioned with her hand to follow.
Unfortunately, she wasn't looking forward and bumped into someone. As she turned back around, she lost her balance and teetered backwards.
Balthasar's arm caught her by the elbow and quickly balanced her.
"Thank you," she mumbled.
"Hey! Watch where yer going!" the man in front her yelled.
"I'm sorry!" She looked at him, bowing.
She looked up. A familiar short man stood before her. He held a sake bottle in his hand. His hair a mess, and his balance askew. Everything about this man denoted intoxication.
"Do I kno–"
"You're that girl that took my money!" He hiccupped.
"You're that thief!" she yelled, pointing at him. "I didn't take your money! You stole it from him!" She pointed at Balthasar.
"I have kids I need to care for! Besides, if it was his he should have kept a tighter hold on it anyway! It was practically falling outta his pocket!" He took a step up to her.
"Oh yeah? If you have kids what're you doing here drunk out of your mind? You pig!" She yelled, stepping closer as well.
"Whatcha call me!" He stepped closer.
"You dirty, good for nothing, disgusting, drunk, pig! And a liar!" she yelled, stepping right in front of him, and ramming her knee up wards.
The man blocked the hit with a hand.
"Alright now you've done it you little–"
She aimed a punch at his gut. He grunted.
"Finish that! I dare you!" She screamed, fisting on hand into his shirt, and bringing him up to her face.
The man glared back and raised his hand to slap her.
Another hand grabbed his wrist.
"Now, you know better than to hit women." Balthasar said.
He wrenched his arm away from her, whilst at the same time shoving him away, forcing her to let go of his shirt.
"Oh, so now the pretty boy wants a swing at me as well" he laughed.
He looked at her, "Say, you're that Kamiya whore, who's already got three male boarders, you adding this one to your night festivities too?"
"Why you!" She aimed another fist at him, but Balthasar swung first.
"That is no way to speak to a lady," he growled.
The man rubbed his jaw, where he'd been hit.
"If it's a fight ya want, a fight you'll have!" He whistled and threw his sake bottle on the ground. "Boys! They want a fight; think we can give it to em?"
Two other men walked away from a sake stand. Smiling, they sauntered over to them.
She cursed and looked around for a makeshift weapon. What a perfect time to have left her bokken at home.
As a child, her father always warned her that if she was in a fight with more than one person. She should not by any means be backed into a corner.
"Being cornered means a loss in range of motion. Loss in range of motion means an almost definite loss before the battle even begins Kaoru."
If she knew this, why did she let them do that exact thing!
She cursed as the men slowly backed her and Balthazar into an alley. She looked back, dead end.
"This is the girl that got you? She's just a scrawny brat!" One of the men yelled.
Another barked out in laughter. "If that tiny woman got you, you deserved it!"
That man held a stick in his hands. She looked down at its end. Its broken tip indicated it may have been a broom in its past life. It was a tad short on length, but she was sure it would make a good substitute bokken, nonetheless. She just had to find a way to get it out of his hands
"Kaoru," Balthazar whispered. "I'll hold them off, you run while they're distracted.
"Run? Me?" she scoffed, "like hell I will! I'm way more battle prepared than you are. I'll hold them off, and you run and get help. How about that?"
"I'm not going to let you stay here and get hurt," he growled.
"Oh but you'll stay here and sacrifice yourself? Oh please! And you're injured! How do you expect to fight!"
"Hey are the two a ya lovebirds done quarrelling?" broomstick yelled.
"Shut up!" she yelled at him, "you ugly faced toad!"
"Whatcha call me!" he yelled, raising the broomstick.
"I said you're ugly!" she repeated, a plan quickly forming in her mind.
"And I bet you don't have a girlfriend, because the minute a girl takes a look at you, they run away in fear!"
She smirked, as the man growled, and took a step towards her.
"You gonna let her talk to you like that?" that thief yelled.
"Kaoru." Balthazar intoned.
She paid them no mind, as she hit her final blow.
"Oh! And I bet that when you go to the red-light district they cry at its size!" she yelled, raising up her pinched index and thumb, with only a small space in between.
Broomstick clearly understood her message. He let out an enraged cry and swung towards her.
Bingo, she thought. Now all she had to do was get the stick away from him.
She ducked the swing and rolled away; in a similar way she had seen Kenshin do many times before.
She landed next to him.
Broomstick swung down again. And again, she ducked and rolled away.
But alas was her fate, because she forgot about the other two men, as she landed right in front of them.
She reacted too late, and now the thief had pulled her up by the arm pits. Her back pressed into him. He tightened his arms, subsessile her arms pulled back painfully.
She resisted the urge to cry out.
"Kaoru!" Balthasar yelled.
She kicked her legs against him, vainly.
"Come on!" the thief yelled at broomstick. "I'll hold her down, while you get some hits!"
Broomstick smirked, raising it once again.
As he swung down, the stick slid out of his hands, upwards.
"What?" he cried.
Balthasar stood behind him, a murderous glare on his face.
With the broomstick in his left arm, and the sling on his right, he swung down on his head.
Broomstick fell down unconscious.
"It was a little unfair, wasn't it? Three against two" Balthasar said, "let go of Kaoru."
"Ha! As if!" the thief exclaimed. "Get him!" he yelled to the man beside him.
The man ran towards Balthasar, dagger in hand.
The two tussled, but eventually that man fell unconscious just like Broomstick.
He turned back to the thief.
"Let her go."
While he was distracted, she took her chance and slammed her head back. She felt a crack and a warm liquid fell across her neck and shoulders.
The thief cursed and released her in favors of clutching his gushing nose.
She cringed, and hastily wiped her neck with a handkerchief.
A police whistle blew as two policemen rounded the corner.
"What's going on here!"
"Nice of you to finally show up!" she berated them, "these men attacked us, and you show up late! What if something worse had happened huh? It's your duty as policemen to protect the citizens of Tokyo! I know your supervisor Fujita Goro, you want me to bring this issue up to him?!"
Both policemen shook their heads with wide eyes. They bowed down in unison.
"We deeply apologize miss!"
"We promise an incident like this will not happen again!"
"You better! Let's go Balthasar."
Once they were back surrounded by the festivities, they stopped to catch their breath.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"I should be the one asking you that!"
"I'm alright, you shouldn't worry about me he said.
She smiled.
"I didn't know you were skilled in martial arts."
"My father tutored me in the skill of fencing as a young child."
"Fencing?"
"It's more common in the west. It's not likely you've heard of it before."
He raised his left arm. "Although I must say, it was a tad harder using my non dominant hand."
"Oh."
She coughed nervously.
He cleared his throat.
"Listen–"
"About earlier–"
They both interrupted each other.
She smiled awkwardly and let him go first.
"About earlier, I promise I wasn't trying to make you feel–"
"There you guys are!" Yahiko ran up to them, Tsubame close behind.
Both children held a flying carp in their hands.
"Weve been looking all over for you!" he said.
"We were going to head over to see the dancers," Tsubame explained. "They're starting soon!"
"Oh, we should go then!" Kaoru exclaimed thanking the heavens for being interrupted.
"You go on without me." Balthasar said.
She turned to look at him.
He held his gaze away from them.
Had she made him feel uncomfortable? Did he not want to spend time with her anymore?
"Are you sure?"
He nodded, "I'll find you guys in a second," he held up his wallet. "I need to do something really quick."
"Okay then…" she said, as she watched him head over to a stall.
Even if she wasn't attracted to him, she still enjoyed having him as a friend.
"Kaoru! You coming?" Yahiko called.
She turned back around.
"Yeah!"
X
Saito glared his usual greeting.
"You're late."
"You didn't give me a time to meet."
Saito glared back.
"You're still late."
"No cigarette today?" Kenshin couldn't help but tease him.
Saito grunted, and walked away. "That kid of yours better not have been lying."
They reached the harbor a short while after. Sure enough a ship had just arrived at port. Several lanterns were lit up, and men shouted commands as they unloaded boxes off the ship.
"Well, what do you know, the brat was right." Saito growled. "Remember, we stay in the trees,"
Kenshin sighed, following silently behind.
They trudged through the forest. Saito's feet crunched occasionally on leaves.
"Be quieter," Kenshin scolded.
"I'm sorry, I'm a little rusty on my shadow assassin skills," Saito retorted.
"Well maybe we should have chosen somewhere else to hide instead of the woods." He bit back.
"Really? like where?" Saito spun around, raising his voice. "The boulders?"
"Who's there!" A man called out. Calling the attention of others.
Saito shut his mouth, opting instead for a death glare.
Several men walked slowly towards the woods, straight towards them.
They both crouched down. Saito slowly moved away from them, exiting the woods. Coincidentally, it had been the same boulders they had been arguing about.
The man called out again.
Saito glared at him.
He crouched down, gripping his sword.
Saito did the same.
In a burst of luck, or perhaps God look down on them with favor. A cat called out, and dashed out of the trees, towards the men.
Kenshin sighed.
The men sighed, bursting into laughter.
He was sure Saito probably sighed as well. Even if he wouldn't admit it.
Finally, he focused on the ship at port. There were around six or seven men hauling boxes out. And just like Saito had said two officers were servings as interim "inspectors".
They stood chatting idly with each other.
He frowned, despite having a view of the ports, it still wasn't the best one. Not to mention, he couldn't exactly stand up, for fear that his hair might become a beacon. What was Saito thinking, saying this had the best viewpoint?
He looked at Saito. Just as he thought, he remained concealed from the rest of the men. The perfect viewing spot.
He risked a quick look from above the bushes. There was one other masked man he had missed, standing a ways off. The man turned his way, and he crouched back down.
He tugged some leaves away, trying to get a better look at the man. Something about him seemed familiar.
It hit him, that was the same man he had caught spying on them at the dojo.
Without a doubt this was Azamuku's ship.
He risked another look and stood up. Only to be caught staring straight into the eyes of one of the police officers.
"Hey!" he called out.
He cursed, spotted.
"State your purpose!" The officer yelled.
"He's with me," Saito said, stepping out from behind the boulders. "Come out here Himura."
Following behind him, he let Saito take the lead.
"We received news of a ship arriving at port today. With the drug incidents happening lately, I thought it best to investigate. But I see you two boys have it handled." He gave them a cold smile. "Or am I wrong in assuming that?"
Both officers shook their head.
Saito rested his hand on his sword.
"Well then I supposed you don't mind if I also take look at the shipments then?"
Both officers looked at each other nervously.
The masked man that he had seen earlier walked up to them.
"This is the Head of our division," one of the officers explained. "And he wanted to inspect the cargo."
The man's eyes turned to Saito, then down to him.
He turned to the officers and silently nodded, giving them the go ahead.
As the man walked away, he noticed the very long, and strangely thin sword he carried at his hip.
"That is no man," Saito muttered, as they were lead to several boxes on the deck.
He turned to him, "What do you mean?"
Saito ignored him and inspected the first box. It held a wide assortment of fabrics.
"Why did this ship port now, and not in broad daylight," Saito asked, rifling through the fabrics.
"They said it got caught in that storm from a week ago." One of the officers said.
"Who did you say this ship belonged too?" Kenshin asked, as they opened another crate.
Both officers paused.
From the corner of his eyes, Kenshin watched as another masked man arrived. Signifacntly taller than the other.
Both masked men whispered between each other before tugging on a crate, masterfully hidden behind others.
Together they carried it towards the trees.
He left Saito and the officers, following the men.
"Where are you taking that crate?" He said, when he had gained up on them. Both men stopped, glaring at him.
"We haven't finished inspecting that we have not. So where are you taking that crate?"
The shorter of the two swung first.
He dodged the hit with ease.
He stepped backwards as the taller one swung.
The shorter jabbed towards him with the strange sword.
He deflected it with his own.
As the shorter one distracted him with a sword fight, the taller one began hauling the crate again.
He shoved the shorter on away and ran towards the taller one.
He got him on the shoulder.
Looking back, he saw Saito already engage in a fight with the other man.
He turned around just in time to see his opponent lunge towards him. Sheathing his sword, he let himself get grappled, and flung down.
He grabbed onto the man and rolled.
Taking advantage of the man's disorientedness, he pushed himself off.
The man regained composure and swung at him again, with a dagger.
He blocked with his sword.
The shorter man whistled giving a signal that the taller understood.
Both men separated, running into the forest, sans crate.
Saito stared at him, equally as confused.
He spun around. They were gone.
The forest was silent. Too silent. Only the men unloading the ship could be heard.
Carefully he stalked out of the trees. Saito behind him.
A flash of light. Followed by a loud burst.
Several shouts of men sounded, as the ship blew apart.
A cloud of smoke rose up.
Had they been closer, they would have been caught in the explosion as well.
Saito was the first to move, cursing and yelling something about the evidence; before running off.
Not long after, another bomb went off. The crates on the docks exploded.
Saito flew backwards.
Kenshin ran towards him, as other men ran away.
"Saito!" he yelled, crouching down.
Saito groaned, rubbing his face. Opening his eyes, he cursed at him.
"Why are you here you idiot! Get the crate!" He rolled over. "It was a distraction!"
Kenshin took off running back to the woods. Sure enough, the crat was long gone. Only an imprint in the grass remained.
X
"Woah, did you guys hear that?" Kaoru asked, setting down a basket she was looking at.
"Hear what?" Yahiko asked.
"That loud boom. Look there it is again!" She said, looking around.
Yahiko shrugged. "They're probably just starting the fireworks soon."
"Fireworks?" She looked up at the sky.
Kenshin had said he would try to make it back before the fireworks started. Was he safe?
She tried listening for more booms, but none other than the two that happened.
"Maybe they were just testing them?" Tsubame offered.
"Maybe," she said. Still, she couldn't help but worry.
She moved to the stand next to them. Where Megumi and Sano stood.
"I see you're taking my advice, and covering up that ugly face of yours," Megumi said.
"Har har," Sano said, handing the merchant some money, and pointing to something. "This is actually for you. What I said earlier still stands." He handed her a mask, a kitsune mask.
"It suits you very well."
"You must think you're quite the comedian don't you," Megumi said, slipping it onto her head, nonetheless. "And I still think you should get one. Trust me, you'd be doing the whole world a favor," she said, slipping out some coins of her own.
"Aw, your cold heart thawed enough to purchase it for me?"
She laughed and chose a mask from the stand. "Don't flatter yourself rooster head, I've bought this for the tanuki."
Megumi turned to her and handed her a mask.
Her heart warmed at Megumi getting her a gift. Perhaps she wasn't as bad as she thought.
"Thank you, Megumi…"
She trailed off, looking at the mask.
"Ohoho," Megumi cackled. "Nothing less for our favorite tanuki!"
In her hands, staring back at her, was the ugliest mask she had ever laid eyes on. It was a horrid brown shade, with tufts of fur glued on precariously. Three crooked whiskers stood out on each side of the face.
If its ugly appearance wasn't enough, the little green leaf decoration glue on the top clearly denoted its identity.
"A wonderful tanuki mask for the tanuki," Megumi said.
Sano burst out into laughter, wiping tears from his face.
"It can't be that bad! Let me see," Yahiko said, running up to her.
Immediately he burst into laughter as well.
Tsubame took a peek, and whilst she tried to hide it, she giggle a bit as well.
She sighed and tossed the offending mask at Yahiko's head.
"Keep it, I don't need it," she said walking off.
"Kaoru wait!" one of them called out.
She didn't bother to see which one.
In the distance, she saw her exit ticket. Running towards him, she called his name.
"Balthasar! Your back! Where did you go! You missed the dancers earlier!"
"I must apologize Kaoru," he said, with a shy smile. "You see, I saw you eyeing some hairpins at a stand earlier, and well…"
He untucked his hand.
"I couldn't help but purchase one for you."
In he held out a silver hairpin.
"It reminded me of your eyes."
"Oh, thank you!"
She said, stretching it out in front of her.
She looked back up at him.
"You know coincidentally, I was looking for–OH my goodness you're bleeding!"
She tucked the hairpin into her kimono. And reached for his slung arm.
"Oh this? It was just one of the thugs that got me."
"Really? I do remember him having a knife. But I didn't see him land a hit on you. Does it hurt?"
He shook his head. "Tis but a scratch. I'm fine really. The bleedings all done now."
"I can't believe it took you so long just to by a hairpin," she laughed, "Did you get lost or something?"
He chuckled, "Yeah something like that, I got cornered by a couple of street vendors in masks. Although I think they might have been trying to steal my wallet."
"I swear Balthasar! If you let them–"
He laughed and raised his wallet. "No worries I've learned my lesson."
She giggled.
Balthasar's playful smile had turned into a frown, as he eyed her clothes.
"What's wrong?"
Had she said something?
"Your clothes… Kimono is it called?" he asked.
She nodded, as she followed his hand, reaching down to touch her shoulder.
"Your beautiful kimono, it got blood on it"
She looked down, sure enough. The fabric held several splatters of dried blood.
"It's fine," she said, even though her heart mourned for the fabric. Knowing it would be next to impossible removing the stains that were now dried on. "I'm sure they will be able to wash off," she lied.
She cleared her throat and took a step back.
"Listen, about earlier… I don't want to disappoint–"
"Before you finish that sentence let me make you a deal." Balthasar pleaded.
"A deal?"
He rubbed his neck.
"I'll admit, I am very attracted to you. And I want to continue courting you. So why don't we make a deal. Let me try to gain your affections. I have until the end of this month to make you swoon."
"And if you don't?"
"If I don't, I'll be out of your life forever. I'll finish my deals with the merchants here and go back to my home country and you'll never see me again. But if you do. If you do fall for me, well, we'll leave that to the future plans we make. So, what do you say, deal?"
He stretched his hand out.
She looked at it, frowning.
"Why do you want to greet me? And don't we need some parchment to seal this deal? We could need a contract…"
He frowned, breaking into a smile.
"I'm trying to shake your hand. It's a way we close deals in the west. As for the contract, there's no need to be so formal. We can call this deal a bit off the records."
"Off the records?"
"Think of it as more of an agreement, and less of a deal."
She smiled and took his hand.
"Alright, agreed then. You get one month, and then you're done."
"Oh, but not if you fall for my charms."
She laughed. As if!
Letting go, she brought the hairpin back out.
"Hey, do me a favor?"
"Of course,"
"Help me put this on?"
She held it out to him.
Nodding, he took it from her hands.
She turned around, and he took her hear out from the ponytail it was in. Swooping her hair back up, she felt him tuck the pin neatly in her hair.
His fingers brushed her neck.
She cleared her throat.
"Sorry," he said, "it's just that you still have some blood from earlier. I was trying to wipe it off, but it's dry already."
"That's fine," she turned back around. "I can always take a bath when I get home."
She pointed to a fire juggler several paces away.
"Wanna go check that out?"
X
Kenshin and Saito had searched through the wreckage, but no man was found alive. All of the crates had been destroyed in the explosion.
The closest thing they had found to evidence were little ceramic pieces strewn across the ground. Which He strongly believe it may have been the little vials the drugs came in.
Even the ship didn't make it out unscathed, taking part of the harbor with it as well.
After thoroughly scolding him for leaving the crate unattended, and cursing his idiocracy Saito let him leave.
No he roamed the festival for signs of Kaoru or their friends.
Kenshin found them shortly after. They were watching some street performers.
He smiled.
Kaoru's head bobbed up and down, following the motions of the juggler.
The juggled stumbled and seemed like that was going to be the end of him.
Immediately, Kaoru reached out to a man's arm. Balthasar's arm.
A cold chill went through him.
Because it was his arm she was touching, and not his arm.
The juggled caught himself.
Kenshin scolded himself and looked away. He had no right feeling this way. It's not like she was his, why did he care so much?
Because you love her. A small part of him whispered. A part that had been getting louder with each passing day.
He knew the feelings he held for her. And it was very clear how she felt about him as well. So why did he hesitate in make her his?
A list of reasons came to his head, and he cursed himself for even thinking them at all.
Kaoru's laughter made him look back. She patted on Balthasar's arm excitedly. Balthasar leaned down and whispered something in her ear, and they both laughed. A shared joke between them.
His breath shortened. A horrible feeling crawled up his throat.
She always patted his arm like that. And he always whispered a small comment that he knew would make her laugh just like that.
He took a step back and caught a whiff of himself.
Disgusting. Here he was coming back to her sweaty from a fight. His clothes were basically patched rags. They were barely held at the seems from past fights where they had ripped and torn.
He looked at Balthasar. His clothes appeared new, and clean. He probably smelled nice too. Who could blame him though? He was a rich merchant, of course he had nice clothes, and proper hygiene.
He was just a yenless boarder, freeloading off of the sweat of Kaoru's back. He was no better than Sano. He shook his head. No he was not.
His gaze moved to Kaoru's hair. He could see a hair pin decorated her hair. The yellow ribbon and tail she had left the house with long gone. Replaced by a sophisticated twist. He lowered his gaze down to her neck. He frowned at a dark spot on it. Had that always been there? He couldn't ever remember her having a birthmark there.
He shouldn't be here he thought.
He took another step back.
He should go back the dojo and make up an excuse for not coming.
Any excuse would work really. Not that Kaoru would believe it. But he knew a part of her would understand.
Kaoru laughed, and this time she whispered to Balthasar.
He tried taking another step back but froze instead.
It's a shame. He really had wanted to see the fireworks with her. But…
He looked between her and Balthasar.
But…
They laughed, in full conversations, the juggler merely background noise them by now.
But…
Kaoru looked behind her, and back at Balthasar.
She did a double take, her eyes meeting his. She brightened and motioned him over. Balthasar stared at him with a blank expression.
"Kenshin! You made it!" she said, once he slowly made his way towards her.
Part of him gloated, as he looked at Balthasar.
She chose me over you.
"How did the meeting with Saito go?"
"Saito was, well Saito," he said, not sure of how much to reveal with Balthasar being here.
She laughed, and she looked at Balthasar.
"I was just telling Baltha…"
Her voice faded, as he caught sight of the harpin. It was intricately decorated, and held pearls entwined within it. Clearly it had cost a small fortune
Had she bought it herself? Had he bought if for her?
He should buy her something.
"Kenshin?"
He met her eyes and smiled. "Forgive me, you were saying?"
She smiled. "I was asking if you want to eat dinner with me?"
He gaped at her, glancing at Balthasar.
Wouldn't he mind?
"Balthasar said he has to leave soon," she said, reading his thoughts, "So I was hoping to eat with you."
She gave him a sheepish smile.
He returned it with on of his own. Part of him ecstatic.
She chose me over you.
"It's actually, time I get going. So I will leave you two to it." He looked at her, "Don't forget our agreement."
She waved her goodbye as he walked off. "Yeah yeah,"
"Agreement?" he asked.
"Oh, don't worry about it," she waved it off.
For some reason, that just made him worry even more.
He glanced at her kimono. A light brown splattered pattern was on the collar and shoulders.
He frowned.
Strange, he could have sworn…
He'd washed that kimono countless times, had he really never noticed the pattern?
Unless, could it be?
His stomach dropped at the possibility. He walked closer to her. Wanting to examine the fabric.
"Uhm… Kenshin?"
Kaoru giggled nervously.
He raised a finger to one spot and scraped at the pattern. Sure enough part of it dusted off.
Just as he had thought, blood.
He looked up to meet her eyes. But he was stopped by her exposed neck.
His heart plummeted.
The dark spot he had seen. It wasn't a birthmark.
It held a faint red stain, where it appeared to have been hastily wiped off.
Barely breathing, her reached out his hand to touch the stain.
Her hand caught his.
"Kaoru…" he whispered.
"It's not mine," she matched his tone.
"Then who's," He looked at her, his blood beginning to boil at the though of someone hurting her again.
She looked away.
And now he was holding her hand, as she tried to pull it away.
"Kaoru. Who's is it?"
"Just some drunk thugs," she mumbled.
Drunk thugs. There was more to that story, if her guilty side glances towards him meant anything. He knew he shouldn't have let her go off with Balthasar alone. The fool couldn't protect his own money, much less Kaoru
"I know what you're thinking, but he actually protected me. He took down two, and I headbutted the other one, which gave him a nosebleed, which gave me," she pointed to her neck, "this."
"You're not hurt, are you?"
She shook her head, tight lips.
He took her to a public drinking well and moistened a handkerchief.
He wiped the blood from her neck. With each stroke, he silently thanked Balthasar, and the God above. For keeping her. For keeping Kaoru safe.
Blood didn't suit her.
After, he examined her kimono.
"A bit of vinegar, should be enough to get these stains off,"
Kaoru smiled at him and whispered how she had a secret for him.
She led, he followed.
They stopped at the Akabeko.
Tae greeted them at the door with a smile.
"Just in time," She said shoving a wrapped basket in his arms.
"Here, you take care a' it. I'm off to enjoy the festival."
He peeked inside. Comforting food smells wafted up.
"Surprise?" Kaoru said, shaking her hands in the air.
"This is why you were speaking with Tae the other day?" He said, more than asked.
Immediately, her cheeks livened into a dusty pink. And she looked away.
"You caught me…" she laughed nervously.
A lone firework burst in the sky, signaling the start of the firework show.
Her embarrassment forgotten, she grabbed onto his hand and tugged.
"Let's go! I know the perfect place to eat our dinner!"
Tugging him along the streets, basket in one hand. He smiled. Reminiscent of the day they first met, and they ran from the police.
They arrived at a bridge. Crowded with people, as they too prepared to view the show in the sky.
Kaoru stopped a few paces away.
"Oh, I didn't expect this many people to be here…"
He looked at the crowd, then bac at the road they had come from. An idea quickly forming in his mind.
He tapped her shoulder lightly.
"If you don't mind, this one has another idea of where we could eat."
She shrugged and motioned with her arms.
"Lead the way, anything is better than here," she said, as more people flocked to the bridge.
X
They walked in silence.
He could feel Kaoru behind him gazing at the streets. They passed several children. Along with several couples. All of which were linked by the arms, in one way or another.
In a moment of impulsiveness, he stopped. Kaoru bumped into his back, and she let out a quiet squeak.
He glanced back at her. Hand stretched back.
She understood his message. And slipped her hand in his.
Again, they roamed in silence, Kaoru by his side. The basket of food on his other.
They stopped at the place.
He knew the moment she recognized the place. In the tightness of her squeeze. In the shortness of her breaths, and the tenseness of her shoulders. But most of all, his heart clenched at the short pained looks she threw him.
This was the place that held much sorrow for the both of them. And a terrible memory shared between them. The night of May 4th. The night they had both believed he was bidding goodbye forever. Off to roam the lands once again after defeating Shishio.
Even if he hadn't done so. Even if she had managed to bring him back home. Home.
He squeezed her hand back and gave her a tight smile.
He knew he had still caused a lot of damage. Damage he was responsible for fixing.
Unable to look at her eyes, he settled on looking at the fireflies floating behind her.
"Kaoru-dono, This one…" He closed his eyes, "This one knows how much pain this one caused you–I caused you. Especially in this place." He said.
He opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a sea of blue.
He looked away, fearful that he may drown.
"That's why… Well, I was hoping to fix that,"
Tentatively, he lifted the basket. "That is, if you're willing of course."
He glanced back at her. Not her eyes though.
He watched as her mouth went from a small shocked 'o' to partially closed. Her raised eyebrows lowered, until the furrowed together; and she held a small smile on her face.
Then he knew, it was safe to look back at her eyes.
When he did, he wondered what he had been so afraid of. How could he have been so hesitant to stare into those crystalline eyes again? The warmth they held. For him. The way she looked at him. The soft gaze her eyes held, and the way her eyes crinkled in the small smile that formed every time she looked at him. He would never tire of it.
Her fingers laced with hers, and she let him guide her down to the edge of the riverbank.
They ate in silence, occasionally making a small comment about the food or something trivial, the fireworks lit in the distance. The fireflies kept them a silent and watchful company.
When they were done, they sat side by side.
She sighed and leaned into him. He shifted back, letting her fully lean on his chest.
He brought his arm around to her side and laced his fingers with hers.
He was vaguely reminded to their night on the rooftop. Smiling to himself, he sighed contentedly.
"Kenshin?"
He hummed.
"I might, fall asleep." She said looking up at him.
"That's fine, I can carry you home,"
"No," she said, "Can we stay here?"
"Here?"
"I want to watch the sunrise with you again. Can you wake me before dawn?"
He smiled and nodded. "Yes. I can."
She breathed quietly and closed her eyes.
"Kenshin?"
Again, he hummed.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He answered by giving her a quiet kiss on the head.
The hair pin had fallen loose, so he pulled it out and set it in the basket.
Slowly running his fingers through her hair, he lulled her to sleep.
Carefully reaching for the blanket the basket had been in. He wrapped it around them, making sure Kaoru got the most.
He looked down at her and smiled. Intent on guarding her sleep.
X
He growled, shoving all his papers of his desk.
Eichi backed up, along with the other five men.
"How did they know!" The man yelled, slamming his fist on the empty desk.
He paced back to the box in the corner, slamming it open.
"Now all we have is this pathetic box. What money is this going to make me!"
He growled. Sitting on his seat.
"All of the other shipments, gone! Along with six of my men. Because one of you here snitched on me." He whispered.
He looked up at the men. His eyes landing on each of the men in the room.
Eichi froze when the cold green eyes landed on him. They stared into him. Digging a whole into him. Like they knew.
The man stood and walked towards him.
Eichi gulped and backed all the way against the wall.
This was it, he knew, didn't he?
"B-boss," he whispered when the man reached him. Certain he was going to die.
Instead, the man turned to the man next to him.
He pulled him up by the shirt.
"Tell me," The man whispered, "How did they find out there was a shipment tonight?"
The man in his hold whimpered, as he was dropped.
The man turned to his next victim. This time he pinned him to the wall with his hand.
"Someone had to have told them, it's not like they found out on their own!" He yelled.
The man looked around.
"Well? Which one of you imbeciles ratted?" He yelled.
A man behind him cleared his throat.
Eichi recognized him, he had been with him in the group when the brat had heard them talking of the shipment.
The man turned around towards the sound.
Eichi shook his head, whispering his name.
"Yun,"
Yun met his eyes and gave him an apologetic look.
The man approached Yun.
"Well? Do you have something to say?"
Yun cleared his throat again, looking away from Eichi.
"It was him boss, he ratted us out."
Yun pointed in front of him. And the man followed. His deathly gaze settling on Eichi.
Eichi shook his head.
"That's not true boss! He, he's lying!"
In two strides the man reached him. And smacked him across the face.
One handed, the man squeezed at his throat, and lifted Eichi in the air.
"So, you're the little rat. Aren't you?"
Eichi shook his head, red faced.
With a twisted mouth, the man squeezed the last of his life away.
The corpse dropped to the floor.
The man turned around to Yun.
"And you," He pointed. "You knew, he ratted us, and you didn't tell me?"
"Boss!" Yun shook his head frantically.
Any lame excuse he tried to say, was silenced when the man slammed Yun's head into the wall. Rendering him unconscious.
He gave a signal, and his bodyguard pulled the two bodies up.
"You know what to do with them."
The masked guard nodded silently and walked out the door.
"Oh, and make sure he finds them." The man called out.
The man turned back to the remaining of his men.
"Let this serve as a lesson to all of you. Not to double cross me again."
X
The crowd made way for him. Some looked upon him with respect, others with fear or disgust.
He took a last drag of his cigarette, sauntering past the people. And tossed it to the ground, stepping on it.
He could care less how they viewed him. As long as they let him through.
Up front, his men recognized him, and led him to the body.
They lifted the mat.
Immediately Saito recognized him as one of the men from last night.
Humming, he took out another cigarette.
A deep slash went straight across his stomach. But the bruises on his neck indicated another cause of death.
One of his men handed him a slip of paper.
The only thing on it? A bloody handprint.
He chuckled dryly and tucked the paper in his pocket.
It was time he pay a visit to the hospital anyways.
Next Update: 07-31-21