Chapter Eight
Letter Home
Kaoru's POV
The surprise visit of Misao was not a long one for Mr. Shinomori quickly sent her on her way, scolding her for coming so close to the front. He told her that war wasn't any place for a woman. She had cried and made a scene to which he had promptly ignored. Kaoru, who wanted no part in their little quarrel, had moved to the front of the room where she remained until Misao stomped out of the clinic. The poor girl had traveled from Tokyo to see him, and Kaoru found it a shame that he had been so callous toward her. She had seemed to care a great deal about the boy. None-the-less once she was gone Kaoru decided that it would be a good time to return to her room and let her patients rest.
The walk up stairs was quiet as usual. The Battousai didn't talk much, and Kaoru was pretty sure the only time she had ever heard his voice was the first day they had met. That had been the most he had ever said to her. At first she had thought that his reclusive nature was strange, but over time Kaoru supposed that a man who did work such as his may not want to talk about it. Of course there were other things to talk about and she had considered starting a conversation several times; however, Kaoru had quickly dismissed the notion. The Battousai seemed to fill his life with his work-much like Kaoru did- and probably had nothing to add to any conversation she could start. It was not her goal to embarrass him. Or to be on his bad side for that matter.
You know, one would think that after all this time they had spent together she would be used to him. She wasn't. The Battousai still had the hair on her arms standing up every time she stood in his presence. Kaoru didn't know why she had such a reaction to him, he had never done anything to harm her. In fact he had even saved her the other night at the koi pond. Kaoru's cheeks turned a soft pink as she remembered the moment his arm had wrapped itself around her waist. Yet another strange reaction to this man they call Battousai the manslayer. Watching the ground Kaoru prayed that he couldn't see the blush on her face. Forget about embarrassing him, she was sure that if he saw her like this she would die of embarrassment. After all Kaoru had no right to act like this. It wasn't as if he had professed an undying love to her. Her face burned bright red at the thought, and she chanced a hidden glance at him. He wasn't paying any attention to her. Instead he was keeping a close watch on their surroundings. He was such a serious man, and Kaoru just couldn't imagine someone like him having interest in any woman let alone her. Wait where did that come from?
Kaoru quickly put an end to her train of thought, not liking where it was going at all. The Battousai was not your typical man. He was an assassin. He has killed hundreds without hesitance. He is dangerous and Kaoru would do well to remember that. Yet the way he had fell down on one knee in that dirt just to catch her didn't seem like a thing someone so heartless would do. No. He wasn't the most feared assassin in Japan without reason. However, Kaoru still wondered whether or not there is something more to the Battousai.
Finally Kaoru came to a stop outside of her room. She made her departure with a routine bow, and went inside with the delicious thoughts of sleep. However, upon entering her room Kaoru was surprised to see a familiar face sitting in her window sill. The young girl turned to meet the doctor with a wide grin "We meet again. Hello Dr. Kamiya." Misao hopped down from the sill and landed gracefully on her feet, her dark blue kimono fluttering gently around her as she straightened herself up. The girl made her way to Kaoru and held both of her hands within her own "I have to admit that when I found out you were a female doctor I became rather jealous." She let loose a strained giggle and looked up at the doctor with half-lidded emerald eyes. Kaoru wasn't sure what to make of this strange girl, but that sad look in Misao's eyes nearly broke her heart. Mr. Shinomori really had hurt the girl with his standoffish ways. Misao frowned a tiny bit "Originally I came to see if he had fell for you. Everyone has told me how beautiful you are." She let go of Kaoru's hands and the girls cheeks went rosy red "You truly are beautiful, but after coming here I know I had no reason to be jealous. However, I do believe I have reason to worry. Aoshi has never stayed in bed for so long. What is wrong with him Doctor?"
Battousai's POV
Kenshin didn't take his eyes off the doctor until she had disappeared into her room. He wasn't sure what had happened on the way here, but he found her random blushing to be both amusing and strange. She had even peaked over at him when she thought he wasn't looking. Kenshin didn't know what was going on with the doctor, but he did know that he had never met a woman like her before. She had enough grace to heal a man from the inside out, yet outside of surgery she was often stumbling over her own two feet. Kenshin slid down the wall to his position beside her door. He propped his katana against his shoulder and recalled the other night when he caught her from falling. He wasn't sure why he had done that. In fact he had actually caught her more out of instinct than his own accord, yet he found the shock on her face to be worth it. That look was much better than the one she had worn the night he had told her he was the Battousai. Kenshin had expected the fear, but that forced smile had bothered him. Her fear didn't appeal to him at all, and he didn't like the fact that he made her uncomfortable either. Kenshin wasn't trying to. Actually he had made an extra effort to contain his aura and put her at ease.
Kenshin leaned his head against the wall and sighed. What was he trying to prove with this girl? Nothing. He wasn't trying to prove anything. She was just his assignment. Nothing more. Kamiya Kaoru was just another mission he would soon finish. He had no attachments to her, and he was sure she didn't want anything to do with him. Though that first day when they meet she had come to him on her own accord. NO. The doctor just hadn't known who he was is all. Had she have known she would have stayed her distance. She is nothing to you. It was true. He needed to concentrate on the real issue here. The low-life who liked to prey on innocent women. We'll make him suffer. Allowing his thoughts to take a darker tone Kenshin fell victim to that dangerous part of him. That piece of his blackened heart that lusted after the death and violence. If Kenshin ever caught that scum of the earth he would teach him what it meant to be a victim… His thoughts came to a sudden stand still as an unusual sound caught his attention.
It was a faint sound, something that an untrained ear would have never detected. Inching closer to the Doctor's door Kenshin stilled himself and listened closely with his hand on his katana. From inside he could hear the familiar voice of the woman whom had been in the clinic earlier that day. She seemed to be talking to the doctor about something, but how had she gotten in? The only entrance was through the door he was currently guarding or the window. But surely a small, simple girl like that couldn't have scaled her way up to the second floor… Could she?
Kaoru's POV
"Why don't you sit with me Misao?" Kaoru asked motioning to a small table in the corner that was surround by red floor pillows. The two women settled in at the table and Kaoru offered Misao some tea she had asked to be taken to her room earlier. Misao accepted the cup graciously, nodding her thanks to the doctor "Now then, Mr. Shinomori has sustained an injury to his arm." Kaoru sighed and ran a hand through her raven black hair. The expectant look on the girl's face broke her spirit. How could she tell Misao that the man she revered so highly may never use his arm again? Taking a deep breath she gave it her best shot "He has lost feeling in that arm Misao. Now he may be able to regain use of the arm, but he won't even try to move it. If I can't get him to comply with my treatment the arm will weaken and he will lose it." Kaoru explained sadly.
Misao sighed and gave the doctor a forced smile "Aoshi has always been so stubborn." She murmured as her finger glided gently around the rim of her cup. With a sigh she stood to her feet "You know I think I will stick around. Aoshi won't listen to anyone, but maybe I can help." Misao walked over to the window, and slid it open "Thank you Doctor." And just like that she had slipped over the sill and disappeared into the night.
A few hours after Misao's departure Kaoru settled down at her desk. She pulled a letter, jar of ink, brush, and parchment from the drawers. Smoothing out the crinkled letter of her brother's Kaoru skimmed through it. Apparently Yahiko had graduated his first class of fully trained swordsmen. A few of them had decided to join the revolution, many of them were seeking the fame and glory that came with being a samurai. Yahiko confided that he had no use for this war, and had said in his letter that he intended to keep running the dojo so long as he could since the war had yet to claim Tokyo. He was content at home with their mother of which had recently become bed ridden.
Yahiko wrote about how he had found her slumped outside of the local tea house. It had been raining and she had already been sick. He had managed to carry her back to the house that night. By the time the doctors came over the following morning she had become worse. They were treating her the best they could, but Yahiko confessed that he didn't think she would pull out of it. Her cough had gotten worse and the last time he had checked on her he had found blood. The doctors didn't want to give him their diagnosis, but they didn't have to. He was convinced that she would die from this disease. Yahiko mentioned that she had been talking about their father more often, and crying every time he was brought up. Kaoru supposed that she was finally, after all these years, coming to terms with his death. Her mother had never fully grieved her husband. Now was better than never though. Honestly Kaoru was just glad that she now knew that her mother had really loved him. Yahiko finished his letter with some questions about his sister and what it was like to serve in Katsura's army. Kaoru dipped her brush and began to write her letter.
Dear Yahiko,
You have become a notable swords master over these past years. I am so proud of you, and I'm sure that if our father was here he too would be just as proud of his son. You remind me a lot of our father you know. You are just as honest and kind as he was. Also I would like to congratulate you on your first graduated class. You have not only created honorable swordsmen, but courageous samurais. That is quite an accomplishment, and whenever I come back to Tokyo we will celebrate. Tokyo… I have to admit I often find myself homesick here where I am so far away from the dojo. This is a small town whose people are falling in numbers as the war wages closer to the village. Katsura's army is holding the enemy off for as long as they can, but with the amount of wounded that pass through the clinic daily I can't help but wonder if we are on our last leg. However the commander still seems confident in his men and the restoration movement. For now I will trust his judgment, he has yet to lead us in the wrong direction.
You asked me in your letter what it was like to work with Katsura and his movement. I wish to tell you that he is truly a great man who believes in all of his people. I was able to meet him my first day at the base. He wanted to explain my position in person, and I suspect that he does this for all those who he wishes to hire. He seems like a man of admiration. Katsura takes a lot of pride in his soldiers. The way he watches them practice in our small dojo every afternoon, and humbly offers any knowledge he can shows how much his men mean to him. Some days he will even visit the clinic to help boost the morale of our injured. He is a kind man Yahiko, and it is my pleasure to work in his army. I feel as though this is where I need to be. This is where I can make the best of my talent. Right here in this clinic. Speaking of which I have made some friends during my stay. One of them, a young girl named Ayame, has become something of a close friend. She is a bleeding heart, and a wonderful nurse for my patients. She is soft spoken, gentle, and ever so kind. Even the most stubborn of men will allow her to change his bandages. She is a natural in nurturing. On the other hand I met a rather aggravating man named Sano who has this keen fascination on whether or not I eat regularly. He is hard headed, but a caring soul. Once the man made me sit with him until I had eaten an entire bowl of rice. He simply was not satisfied until I had finished it. In a way he plays the role of a watchful big brother. Though I have never asked I often wonder if he has siblings back home.
Anyway, as far as war goes things around the base have been fine. Something I can't imagine could be said the same about our home. I have always worried about our mother's wild habits, and now that she is bed ridden I regret to say I feel nothing but a numbness inside. Of course I hope she gets well, but I simply cannot feel anything for her. I suppose that I still resent her for abandoning us as she did. Does that make me heartless Yahiko? For our mother to be sick and I can't even feel a tiny bit upset about it? I wish I could, but my heart isn't going to let me. Either way I would like for you to keep me updated on her sickness.
Now then I have to go. It is getting late and I haven't had too many chances to sleep. Write back to me soon little brother, I have missed you so. Hope to see you soon.
Love,
Kaoru
Kaoru put down her brush and read back over her letter. Once she was satisfied with it, Kaoru folded the parchment and slipped it into a nearby envelope addressed to Yahiko Kamiya.
A/N: Once again thank you for reading and please leave any comments you have below. I really appreciate any kind of opinions you have, and will take them into consideration. Thank you so much :)