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Company walking
***Denotes Flashback
After returning home, Kenshin immersed himself in his chores. It always helped him think. And at the moment, there was a great deal on his mind. As he prepared to wash the clothes, his mind wandered back to his conversation with Sano.
***"Oi, Kenshin!!" Sano yelled through the crowd. Kenshin stopped and waited for him. Sano ran up to Kenshin, rested his hands on his knees, and heaved for air.
"Kenshin…You'll never guess what I found out about Yui San." He said still breathing deeply.
"Sano?" Kenshin replied. Sano straightened up and took a big deep breath.
"I know why Yui San fought so well." Sano started. "She's wanted for seven murders. And this may interest you, Her real name is Hiko, same as your master."
"Hiko…Yui Dono?" Kenshin said in shock.
"Yeah, and there's a bounty on her head.***
"Hiko Yui, is she his daughter, would he take his child as a student? No, he'd know he'd chance killing her. She must've taken his name, Could she be his wife? No, she's far too young. She would have to be his student. But if she is Shishou's student, how did she survive his Kuzu Ryu Sen? I can't imagine him letting her live. Shishou was very strict; I know he would've killed me if I hadn't defended myself. The scars are proof that she tried to learn the Ougi. But if she failed, she wouldn't know the truth of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. Murdering seven people, was it in self defense, or cold blood? Could she be misusing Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu? If she is being untrue to our budo, isn't it my duty as Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu master to stop her. She seems so peaceful when she isn't being threatened. Could she have a wild animal trapped in her like I did, a Battousai?"
"Ken-nitan, I wanna help!" A smiling Suzume said.
"Ah, thank you Suzume Dono." He said to her. She splashed her hands into the warm wash water.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru said coming out of the dojo. "You shouldn't be washing those, the medicine will wash off your hand." She said, kneeling down taking his hand. "Ayame-Chan."
"Yes?" Ayame said, trotting up to her as fast as she could. "Help Suzume-Chan with the laundry." Kaoru said, standing up, pulling Kenshin with her.
"But, isn't that Ken-nitan's job?" She whined.
"Kenshin is injured, and he can't do them, and you're getting old enough to start helping with the chores." Kaoru finished. Ayame didn't like an order to do laundry; it was fun with Kenshin cause he let them pick on him.
Kaoru pulled Kenshin into the shade, and got out the medicine. She dipped two fingers into the little jar, and applied it to Kenshin's hand.
"You can go get the fish for tonight's meal." She said, smiling softly at him.
"So you decided on fish." He said, looking in her eyes.
"Yes, and I'm getting hungry, so hurry up." She said kissing his forehead. Kenshin stood and made his way to the door.
"And get a big one, Sano might come and he eats more than bears at the circus." She said. Kenshin stopped, looked back at her, and nodded.
Kenshin made his way down the street, letting his thoughts wander as he went. "If she is a Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu student, it is my problem. I should tell Kaoru, she will worry, but I can't keep hiding things from her, it isn't right. I'll have to…"
"Kamiya San!" Yui called to him from about three meters back down the road. Kenshin stopped, turned back to her, and waited for her to catch up.
"Yui Dono, are you headed for the market too?" He asked.
"Yes, and I thought I'd walk along with you, that is, if you don't mind the company." She said, facing him directly.
"Of course not." He said, turning to continue.
"I have to get some tofu." She said, presenting the tofu bowl as proof of her sincerity. Kenshin thought he'd start by making a few rhetorical statements.
"Sano tells me that you were in a fight the other morning," He said. She didn't look surprised.
"Yes, He fights well." She said.
"May I ask where you learned to fight?" Kenshin asked, boldly.
"My father taught me self defense." She said.
"Katana are not generally considered to be defensive weapons." Kenshin said. He stopped and deliberately looked at her legs.
"How… could you tell?" She asked, surprised.
"Sano said you defended a sword attack that would've cut your left leg. Right handed budo masters always carry their Katana on the left." He said smiling at her.
"Who are you really?" She asked.
"Just a Rurouni who's fought for a long time." He answered, turning and continuing down the road. She stayed for a moment then trotted after him.
"You're right, it isn't just any old self defense." She started. "You have heard of Hitokiri Battousai, ne?" She asked.
"Yes, he's a legend in Japan." Kenshin replied.
"Mm, notorious you might say. When you were in Kyoto, did you ever see the Battousai?" Kenshin sighed.
"Yes." He said, after a short pause.
"His killer kenjutsu are the same as mine." She said. Kenshin knew this already of course. "He and I had the same master, but he left to fight in the war, and disgraced The name of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu by failing to complete his training, and by becoming Hitokiri." She said, semi-angrily. "Shishou was her master as well. But then why did he…"
"I never met him, but my master would tell me stories when he was drunk. About the stupid worthless student who wasted ten years of Shishou's life." She continued. "So I took it upon myself to find the Battousai, and kill him." She said coldly.
"How do you plan on killing him? So many other's have tried, but I've seen many die at the hands of that Hitokiri." Kenshin said. Yui lifted her hair, then the sleeve of her kimono.
"You see these scars?" She said. " These scars I received while trying to master Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu Ougi, I failed. But somehow, I lived through an attack that is supposed to kill. This attack, Hitokiri Battousai never learned, Kuzu Ryu Sen. It delivers nine pinpoint attacks to specific places on the body. These places are key to the mobility and stability of a person. All attacks target one of these vital points, and, likewise, all defenses guard one. But this attack, hits all nine at the same time. Hitokiri Battousai has never seen it. He won't know what's coming until it's too late." She said, confidently.
"What of the rumors that the Battousai died shortly after the Bakumatsu?" Kenshin asked.
"No, he's alive, he won't die so easily. He attacked several people in Kyoto a few years back, killing three politicians." She said. "Amakusa Shougo." Kenshin thought.
"And three years ago, he killed twelve people in Tokyo." She continued.
"They're all people impersonating Battousai. Even after I put you away, you still bring me trouble." Kenshin thought.
"And the last I heard, he was near Tokyo." She said, stopping. "Kamiya San, you've seen him, you can help me." She said excitedly, looking at him.
"Mah, it's been thirteen years, my memory is terrible, and he's probably changed a lot."
"Yes, but…" She started.
"Yui Dono, here we are." Kenshin said, smiling. Yui looked about and found them both in the middle of the main market street. Kenshin quietly sighed in relief.
"Yes," she said looking around. "so I see." She turned to Kenshin, "Thank you for letting me join you, Kamiya San." She said bowing. She turned and walked off into the crowd.
"So Yui Dono, you and I have the same master. But Hitokiri Battousai is dead.
"When is he gonna get here?" asked a deep male voice.
"I don't know, but he said for us to meet him here, and he'd give us some money for information on that girl, so we'd better stick around. We need money to get out of Tokyo." A higher male voice said.
"That damned bitch! Why'd she have to come around anyway? We were getting lotsa work till she showed up."
"Maybe you should just find yourselves lucky to be alive." A third male voice answered. His voice was cold and shallow. The man walked into the light of the open door, and looked out upon the bay.
"What kind of information did you need?" The meeker man asked.
"And why the hell did you have us meet you in this smelly dock warehouse?" Asked the deeper voiced man.
"My reasons are for privacy. And the information I seek is about the girl you fought. As you have already guessed, she's not just any girl. You should be thanking whatever god you believe in that you're still breathing." The cold man said.
"What is it you want to know about her?" The higher voiced man asked. The cold man smiled oddly, and pulled out an old piece of cloth. He rubbed the cloth slowly.
"How fast did she counter?" He said suddenly.
"What?" "Huh?"
Instantly the cold man let go of the cloth, and lunged forward at the two other men. A shimmer of steel flashed by, quickly followed by a fountain of blood. The two men hadn't even had time to draw their swords. The deeper voiced one fell face first on the ground; the other fell to his right and toppled over a few crates of fish. The small blue cloth lightly landed on the floor. The killer turned around slowly, replacing his Katana to its scabbard. "Hiko, you let yourself be wounded by these fools? Did my blade hinder your skill to that extent? If so then you are as good as dead, Hiko. Yui, you will beg me for a merciful death." The man though, as he picked up the small blue cloth, and smelled it. He turned and walked slowly toward the door.
For all the years he'd known Kaoru, there were some things he felt because of their make-Kaoru-worry nature, that she didn't have to know. Most had to do with the constant danger around them, much of which she never noticed. But this was different. He'd known from the start that he would have to tell Kaoru, but how, and when? "I can't deny it anymore, and it would be better for her to hear it from me." Kenshin thought as he walked home, fish in bucket, from the market. "Maybe after dinner?
["Kaoru Dono, I have to tell you, Yui Dono is a Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu master too."] "Oroo, I can't just blurt it out. I have to tell her seriously.
["Kaoru Dono, this is very important, it's the most important thing I have ever said…"] "Oroo-oo, no, that can't be it. This is part of the reason I don't tell her very much." Kenshin thought spontaneously. "No," He thought. "Kaoru and I are married now. I gave her my word that I wouldn't hide my feelings from her, so I have to tell her." He said out loud, stopping in his place on the road. Kenshin looked at the herring in the bucket, sighed and continued on, walking into the setting sun.
"Kenshin, what's taking so long?" Kaoru yelled into the kitchen.
"It's almost done Kaoru Dono. I just have to put the lemon on it." Kenshin answered. It was very surprising; Tsubame had the rest of the night off, so Yahiko took her to dinner. Sano was nowhere to be found, and Dr. Genzai had taken Ayame and Suzume home. So this meal was all for Kenshin and Kaoru.
"This is the first meal we've had together in a long time." She said to Kenshin, as he brought in their food. She sat for a moment to try and remember. "The last time was our wedding night. It doesn't seem like that long ago." She said, smiling at him. "Two and a half years, but it's like yesterday."
"Kaoru Dono," Kenshin started, smiling. "Your fish will get cold."
"Uh?" she said looking down at her fish, as if she hadn't noticed Kenshin put it in front of her. "Hai." She said looking back up, and grinning at Kenshin. Kaoru broke her chopsticks, and began pulling the tender meat from the fish. Kenshin sat calmly, watching her, without realizing.
"Huh? Kenshin?" Kaoru said. "Is there something wrong with your fish?"
"Oro." He said meekly. Kaoru giggled. She had always thought Kenshin could defeat any man, but all he can do when he's around the opposite sex, is say 'Oro'. Over the time she'd known him, Kaoru had learned to be more patient with him. When she first met him, it was easy for her to get mad and nail him on the head with a solid object. But the more she lived with him, and loved him; she learned to accept some of those things about him that made her floor him in the past. Things like telling her that her fish would get cold and then letting his own fish get cold, was a good example. Then she would've yelled at him, now, she just giggled.
After they had finished eating, Kenshin and Kaoru decided to take a walk. They didn't get much time to be together, and so they didn't want to stay home and risk someone coming back, and ruining a perfect evening. They walked down the back street, by the creek. Kaoru walked, leaning her head on Kenshin's shoulder.
"Kenshin, I wish we could get more time like this. I feel so far away from you sometimes, when everyone is there, and you're trying to please them all. Sometimes I feel like just kicking everyone out for one night every month or so."
"Yes, I feel that way too at times, but they're all so close to us, just like family. They're the only family I've ever known."
"But you were married once before, ne?" Kaoru asked.
"Yes, but she was my wife, there was never anyone else who came around, who we were close to, who we could laugh and have fun with. So this is like my first and only family. I worry about losing any of them, And I worry about what would become of me if something happened to you."
"Kenshin, you shouldn't say those kinds of things. I can take care of myself, and Yahiko has started to become a man, so even if I can't protect myself, you know he will. And Sanosuke is always there when you need him, so you don't have to worry." Kaoru answered. Her tone had gotten serious, and she had that 'serious Kaoru' look, her mouth closed into a frown, her eyebrows slightly scrunched together, and her fists balled up around her thumbs.
"Kaoru Dono," Kenshin said, biting the bullet. "I have to tell you something." He knew what he was going to say would totally ruin the evening, but he had to keep his vow, his duty, as her husband to tell her the truth. To let her know the possible danger building under her nose. "Kaoru Dono, Yui Dono isn't like any other woman," He started.
"What do you mean?" She said, stopping.
"She fought those men so well, and she has those scars. I'm sure you noticed her speed and skill at the Akabeko."
"Kenshin, what are you getting at?" Kaoru asked, afraid of his reply. Kenshin paused for a moment, and then he looked up at her.
"Kaoru Dono, Yui Dono… is also a student of Hiko Seijiro, my master." The words hit Kaoru like a stench. Her stomach twisted at the sound of them. She looked away from him down toward the ground.
"Her name is Hiko Yui, and she's wanted for seven murders." The more he talked, the more Kaoru's body and heart contorted.
"She told me she is looking for Battousai so she can kill him and honor Shishou." Kaoru felt her knees grow weak.
"I haven't been able to tell whether or not she would kill me knowing I am no longer Battousai, but…Kaoru Dono!" Kenshin yelled as Kaoru collapsed to her knees, in tears.
"Will it ever end?" She managed to say through a fountain of tears. "Why? Why does it always have to be like this? Can't they just leave you alone?" She said looking up at Kenshin.
"I know Kaoru Dono, I'm sorry to hurt you like this, but I thought it would be better if I told you the possibility, rather than chance having you find out if Yui Dono just showed up to kill me."
"I know Kenshin," She said, her tears slowing. "It is better, even though I will worry myself sick. I would rather see it coming." Kaoru said, being helped to her feet by Kenshin. "Should I talk to her?" She asked, wanting to help him any way she could.
"Not just yet, I'm not sure it will do any good. Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu teaches that mercy to those who would kill for profit or pleasure, leads to self defeat. If she remains true to this, nothing will deter her. She believes that Battousai killed for pleasure, So it's highly likely that she would see my being Rurouni as a way of getting out of being punished."
"But you roamed for ten years because you wanted to atone! You punished yourself!" Kaoru said, again balling up her fists.
"Yes, but she may not see it as truth. Kaoru, I don't want to create a battle that may not even need to be fought. If she will listen to reason, your voice will be the most reasonable, you're my wife, and you know my past. If she'll accept your feelings as validation of my intentions, There may not be any fight."
"And what if she doesn't, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked. Kenshin didn't answer, he just smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Kaoru Dono, I'm sorry I ruined our perfect evening."
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