Disclaimer: Nope, Rurouni Kenshin isn't and never was mine. *Leaves future blank open purposely* Hey, I can dream! *Is pushed aside by millions of other fanfic authors* Well, erm, maybe… On to the story…
A/N: Er, sorry this chapter took longer than the others. I was having a bit of writers' block at first, though thanks to Chaosu and Cirya that's gone… Oh yeah, *g*, here's the kicker: I forgot my password. Yes, I know, I'm an idiot. For some moronic reason I decided to change it, and then I kind of went blank. Now isn't that the lamest writing excuse you've ever heard? ^_^ LOL!!
Chapter 5
Kaoru and Yahiko didn't talk for very long. They had started fighting at first, but Kaoru had hurried and told him she didn't have much time. Rather bluntly, she had said he had to go find Ayame and Suzume. Then Yahiko had mention visions.
Battousai had heard every word; Yahiko certainly had spoken loud enough. But really, he hadn't focussed on any of it. If he thought about it more, he would probably remember everything and starting asking Kaoru questions.
Kaoru. Since when had he been on a first name basis with her? Sure, she had always called him Kenshin. When she wasn't calling him a jerk, that was. But that didn't count; her only other option was Battousai, and she had flat out demanded a name from him as soon as they first 'met'.
Why was he even thinking about this? He was not supposed care at all about someone like her. First, she was only an assignment, and second she was a mistake at that. A very distracting mistake. And getting attached to her would be especially dangerous on his part.
Wait-what the heck did he mean? "Getting attached?" Battousai mused aloud unknowingly, "Am I getting attached to her?" Of course not. How could I be?
"What?" asked a confused Kaoru.
Battousai's head jerked up. Had he said that out loud? Apparently so. As if everything else wasn't enough, he was now beginning to let his guard slip.
When he didn't say anything back to her, she continued on, "You know, you have a habit of doing that. Spacing out, I mean," She had gotten up now and walked over to him, sitting down on the floor by the couch so they could talk.
"None of your concern," he replied coolly. She stared back down at her hands now.
"Anyway, I wanted to say thank you again, and that now I suppose I should keep up my end of the deal," she stopped, looking for something to distract her for the moment. Normally, she would have looked out a window, but he didn't have one that wasn't covered somehow. "I really don't know where to start," she went on, "but what do you want to know?"
"Everything," he said. So Kaoru started telling him about her visions, about growing up with them, about Misao and her apathetic family, when Misao's mother left, when her own parents died, Ayame, Suzume, and Yahiko….
* * *
"Soujiro, how did you know any of that about Battousai?" The question had been nagging Misao the whole time they were walking. She had been almost silent until then, only trying to make occasional small talk. Both of them were thinking about the same things, and they were both too preoccupied to talk.
Soujiro remained silent, still in thought. Finally, he said, "You could say we've met before. We've been both enemies and co-workers."
"You definitely have an interesting life,"
"You could say that as well,"
"Uh, just wondering, but do you have any idea where we're going?" She asked. For some reason, she couldn't think of much to say. Which, for Makimachi Misao, was very unusual.
"There should be a stop somewhere soon, and we can use a pay phone there. Can you think of anyone we could call?"
No one immediately came to mind. She imagined her father's response.
"Dad, I'm with a friend and we just got attacked, and now my car's broken down. I need a ride…"
"Musume, dear, I really don't have time…"
She almost laughed at the thought of this. Well, Kaoru is certainly out of the picture…This made her wonder; who did she know that she could trust with something like this? Someone who wouldn't tell all of Kyoto about her situation.
The Oniwaban came to mind. Aoshi-sama in particular. But what would she tell him?
This conversation played in her mind as well.
"Oh, hi Aoshi-sama! I really need your help right now; can you drive for about thirty minutes and pick up me and a friend on the side of the highway?"
That didn't sound very well either. But suddenly, her problem was answered when a long, black car slowed and drove even with the two of them. When the window rolled down, Misao saw a man in a dark suit with sunglasses on. She frowned, not recognizing him. Who the—
"Makimachi?" he asked her, interrupting her thoughts.
"Yeah…" she said.
"Get in the car; your father needs you," What?! Her father would never send for her like this...
With a single glance from Soujiro, she immediately knew something was wrong.
"Stay back, Misao," he said. When the man pulled out a gun, Soujiro had pulled Misao down on the ground before she could even think to move. A split second later a gunshot rang out.
Wide-eyed, she thought, That would have hit him…or me.
Confused anger washed over her as she slammed her telepathy on his mind, trying to scan it. Only when she heard the gun fall out of his hand did she realize she had used way too much force. He would be very lucky if he was still alive.
As all at once, she became extremely tired, she remembered vaguely something Jiya had said about side effects…
* * *
Kenshin was sitting on the floor again, resting. He doubted he'd ever really slept since he became the Battousai; it could get him killed. He just tried to push all of the thoughts out of his head for a while. And right then, for even someone with as much control as he had, it was near impossible.
It didn't even surprise him anymore that it was the girl—Kaoru—who was on his mind. The fact that she was the one breaking his control unnerved him. The fact that he was letting her only did so more. And she'd only been with him for three days now.
Speaking of which, where was she? Oh heck…
"Girl, where are you?" She came out from one of the rooms in the hallway behind him. He had let her borrow a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt the previous day, and though they were way too baggy on her, it looked better than the nightdress she had had on.
"I have a name…"
"Why were you in my room?" He spoke in his usual cold voice.
"Oh I'm sorry, Kenshin!" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "I must have missed the 'No Trespassing' sign."
"Get back in here," He grabbed her wrist rather painfully and jerked her back into the main room.
"Oww… Thanks," she muttered.
"And why do you keep calling me Kenshin?" He was tired of being reminded of his past. Himura Kenshin did not exist anymore.
"Because that's you're name. People typically do go by them…"
Before he could say anything back, he whirled around upon hearing the lock on his door rattle. When the door swung open, an out-of-breath Sano stumbled in.
* * *
A man sat at the desk in his office, waiting patiently by the phone. The room was small and dimly lit; every suitable prop adorned with paperwork. He held in his hand a half-empty teacup, a silent reminder of what he called 'inconsistency' in his servants. Had his maid not remained as loyal as she'd been over the past five years, he was sure she would have already been fired. But he wasn't wasting his thoughts on her now. He was waiting for Makimachi Takamasa to call.
He smiled as the last two days played in his mind. Katsura had gotten his Battousai to take the girl to try and protect her. But that would change. Now, as soon as the girl's father called, he would finalize the deal. There would even be no fight or bloodshed involved, and he would have a most deadly weapon in his hands. And her father was handing her right over.
A/N (again): Not much to say yet. I spell checked this, and the Word thingy suggested 'oreo' for 'oro'. Oro… Oh, to the point. I just wanted to clear up a bit about my couples descriptions. I wasn't thinking much when I wrote my summary, I'm gonna explain the couples I put in it. Some are already in here (um, well, I'm sure you know those ^_^), and the others that I plan on being in here. Some of these will just be hinted, and others will actually have a place in the story. So…
Battousai/Kenshin/Kaoru (Yes, that's only two people…And I'm pretty sure they're gonna be in here, Lol!!)
Aoshi/Misao (What? She wouldn't be Misao if she didn't like her dear Aoshi-sama *g*, who I'm currently trying to save from Cirya :: evil laugh ::)
Soujiro/Misao (They're just soo cute together ^_^!)
Sano/Megumi (Yes, I'm dragging poor Sano into all of this ::another evil laugh::! I don't know how big a part Megumi will play yet. I guess I'll wait see. What do you guys want?)
And, to my lovely reviewers!! THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU GUYS!!!!
nee- chan() ~ Thank you!! And yup, I think this will be Sou/Misao, with Aoshi mentioned a bit. Truth be told, I doubt I'd be very good with writing Aoshi. So Sou/Misao and Kenshin/Kaoru will be my main pairings.
aglaia102 ~ Aglaia, you're great!! You've reviewed this since the very beginning. ::Hugs:: Thank you!!
Chaosu ~ You're great too! If it weren't for you, I doubt I'd have any idea what was gonna happen next. So.. THANK YOU!!! And I'm pretty sure this will be Sou/Misao. I just think they are so cute together! And formidable if loud is definitely right, lol. And twisted? I'm known for weird plot twists. Once I turned a normal highschool story into some magic thingy by making the girl's crush a demon…So thanks again, especially for I/M-ing me!
ReinaQueen ~ Thank you too! Yup, yup. Hehe, I think he is too ^_^ ::Gets death glare from Battousai:: eep…
unique-starfish~ Thanks!! Hehe, s'okay, I doubt I could give any myself… Lol.. And I hope I can update a bit sooner next time.
crasyducky ~ Thank you!! I'm really glad you like. I was *really* nervous about actually posting the first chapter of this.
tesuka- chan ~ Thank you so much! I'm really glad you think that. And yeah, I kind of noticed I was making it fast paced. Well, actually, I'm kind of stuck in between. It seems fast-paced, but it's taken me until chapter five to even get the main plot started. But maybe that's just me. But thank you! But I will try to make the chapters longer, that I will!! :: Makes mental not to self *g* :: Eep, I'd better remember this.
Crystal Renee ~ LOL!!! :: CB dies laughing, then precedes to tease Battousai about being fuzzy :: Thanks Crystal! I really appreciate this ^_^ :: Sees Crystal is now knocked out
CB: Hey!
Kenshin: Oro?
CB: What'd you do that for?
Battousai: She was stupidly infatuated with me.
CB: She reviewed my story! And wrote *several* really awesome ones!!
Battousai: And she said I was fuzzy.
CB: :: blinks :: You might be…
Battousai: Rurouni!
And I'm pretty sure there will be more K/K ^_~
k() ~ Of course! And thank you!!
Hehe, I love you all!!