For this chapter I have thank you's to Sekihara Tae-san for telling me the names of the hair ornaments and I guess then to Ardrith-san and Serizawa-san for telling her and therefore me! ^_- (Yes, you guys did tell me that, on the 19th June 1999.) I've been planning bits of this fic for what seems like forever! It only took me a little more than a year to get to it. Also thanks go to Alexis Aldeguer-san for pointing out an error in my mailing sig! I should have picked it up since it is important!
Thank you to Tatsuko-san, Ashfae-san, Cecille Francisco-san and Sylvia-san for prereading.
:: :: Non spoken conversation
Kokoro
- Heart, Mind and Soul
Part 15
By Jade One
Morning shopping at a Market
"Look, look, it's them," the whisper passed like wildfire through the vendors.
I peered though the ever-shifting crowds trying to see them. For the past week or so, there has only been one 'her' or 'him' or 'them' that us gossiping vendors have been concerned with. But how could you blame us? Theirs is such an interesting story. There they are... No... Darn my failing eyes. I'm not as young as I once was and over the years things in the distance have come to blur together. My eyes are still good enough to watch over my wares. The little thieves would have robbed me blind by now if I wasn't but for spotting people in that ever moving crowd... I sigh and keep looking. This is one spectacle I don't want to miss.
The crowd shifts a bit, parting and then I can see them well enough. I pause for an instant to glance at those looking over my wares before I look back to the couple. Usually I wouldn't dismiss customers in such a manner. But you get to know, you do, after so many years in business who's serious about buying and who isn't. And the people who were looking over my shop have got those expressions. They're just looking, they're not serious about buying and that couple held more sway over my attention. I'm surprised I didn't see them the first time. They are walking in a tiny island of space. Something which doesn't happen on a market day, not unless you brought an escort. No, these days there are so many people it's just a friendly and busy hustle bustle, full of jostling. No one gives way to the samurai anymore. But for those two, there is a path opening up.
I suppose it's not really that surprising. Both of them are remarkable enough to draw attention to themselves but I doubt many know the full story. Although they are travelling in a small island of space, neither acknowledges it. I guess they're used to the stares. The woman, Kamiya Kaoru-san, is simply going about her business in her usual friendly manner. Her companion is much more refined, and his face is enough to warn people off without needing the sword that is at his waist.
Kamiya Kaoru. She is startlingly beautiful. Her rare blue eyes have a sparkle and life I've not seen matched. And her hair is long, lustrous and black. Her figure is petite. She reminds me of myself in my youth and she has certainly caused enough gossip in her time. But the Kamiya name is old and established in this part of town and those are always the names that cause the best gossip. Especially when they are hanging by the proverbial thread. Hers is one of the more interesting stories I know, I've certainly told it often enough. Orphaned at sixteen when her father was sent to the wars. Most of us gave her about two weeks after the news came back. Two weeks, that is, to sign her inheritance over to her almost guardian Dr Genzai or to have found herself a suitable matchmaker and have the miai arranged. It was a wonder she wasn't already engaged. She was of age and her father was certainly well enough respected but she was his only child and I guess he was indulging her desires. Still, it was not expected that she would last as long as she had, alone. Two years alone, continuing her father's budo was certainly enough to give her notoriety. But it's what happened after that, which makes her truly interesting.
The man with her was part of that.And while a young unmarried woman having a man who was no relation living with her was bound to cause some talk, once the identity of this one became known the talk had started anew. He was handsome enough in a very unusual way. Red hair and purple eyes are not common. But those features weren't what caused the talk. No, the scars on his face and the sword at his waist caused the talk. The government officials he was rumored to have paid call to and who had called on him further fueled it. Not to mention the rumor that he was actually the legendary Hitokiri Battousai. But I don't put much stock in such rumors. If he was the hitokiri, the government would hardly let him out of their sight. No far more likely he was simply a skilled kenshi who had kept his budo in this age. In that way, he's fitting for Kamiya for she too has kept her budo.
Oh... she's coming over here. No, my eyes are failing me but I manage to follow her gaze. She's heading for Takana-san's. We've set up next to each other today. Although tofu and pins don't really go together, we do like to gossip when things get quiet and this arrangement is more convenient than shouting at each other.
As she comes closer, I get a good look at her. Hmm, not bad for a woman who's supposedly been kidnapped for the last week. Although that could just be talk. Something's happened, that's for sure. Her companion's eyes have changed. And it's something even I can see and I'm not sure I like it. They are not their usual purple. They're yellow, a cold burning yellow that's watching everything with inhuman attentiveness.
Now that I think about it though, we haven't had a decent explanation for what happened last year at the dojo. The damage was terrible, I saw it myself but it seems to me, now that I consider it, damage to the dojo began after he came. I wonder if Takana will agree with me. I'll have to ask her after Kamiya-san is... Oh my...
I risk a glance over. Yes, Kamiya-san is still at Takana's but I find her companion in front of my store. My other customers had long since vanished but I think I'd almost prefer those time wasters. His eyes are flicking over everything and I don't think he's missing anything. He knows exactly what he wants and I can only hope it's there and that he finds it quickly. Still my business instincts are true, even if the rest of me is currently unsure of how to handle this man.
Kamiya-san's kimono today is a wonderful blue that matches her eyes. It's accented in places by white embroidery, the sleeves, hem and neck. The embroidery almost looks like the waves on the river or clouds racing through the sky. It certainly highlights her beauty. Who ever she marries will be lucky if they can teach her to cook.
With the patterns in mind I look back at her companion, Himura-san, I think his name is. Perhaps he'd like a pin to highlight those themes. I've got a couple of things that should be suitable. Now all I have to do is move my old bones to show them to him. I hope they're acceptable.
"Daijoubou, Obaasan." His voice is soft but I would have heard that in a storm.
I must have looked confused because he smiled slightly before he deftly picked out several items from my wares. When he moved I could see a flash of green high on his arm. "I'll take these."
I looked down at his selection. He'd chosen a comb and kougai. The comb had a pattern of butterflies adorning it. They were perched on sakura blossoms and the entire thing was in warm pinks and reds. Against the inky black of Kamiya-san's hair it would look beautiful. The kougai had blue tasseled ends and were painted with a tiny floral design. If Kamiya-san could be persuaded to twist that long hair into a more traditional style they would hold it nicely.
"They'll look lovely on her," I hear my voice say. Well, that answers that question. I can still talk. "That will be yen," I name the sum but I don't really hear it. It's not important and I am more interested in his gifts. So he's finally going to make his move? It seems every time I think life at the Dojo may have quietened down it up and changes on me. Oh well, it's what makes Kamiya-san such an interesting topic.
He reaches into his sleeve with a practiced move and pays me. Again I don't even see the money but slip it away. He hasn't even argued with my price. Despite his appearance he really is love struck! I pass over the two items. I've wrapped them in rose colored rice paper. They disappear into his sleeve and he moves back to his position behind Kamiya-san. I doubt the dear girl knows he has been gone. Ah, it's such a touching sight. They do make a nice couple, even if he is wearing a purple tie in his hair.
She turned back to him with a smile, her hair trailing. He returns her smile and then quietly but firmly insists that he be the one to carry the tofu tub. She laughs and hands it over before the two of them move off in their little island of space, back into the shifting noisy crowds where I quickly lose sight of them.
"Well, Chiaki," Takana has turned to me. "That was an interesting visit."
"I know, in more ways than one."
A knowing smile has crinkled its way into Takana's features. "She doesn't appear any the worse off for being kidnapped."
"I know but what they did to the boy..." We share a companionable nod. It's a topic we've been over before.
"Still, she is an unmarried woman with all those live ins. It'll be surprising if anyone can accept her as a suit." Takana is such a stickler for tradition.
"Oh, I don't think just anyone is going to get the chance."
"Really?" Takana could always tell the best gossip.
I held up my hands. "My job is to sell, not to know why they are sold. Still she should consider her reputation! A rurouni!"
The two of us laugh. The next few weeks should be interesting at the Kamiya Dojo. It should provide us with endless gossip. It's definitely something to look forward to.
***
"Kenshin," Kaoru sighed.
"Aa, Kaoru-dono?"
It's a start. At least he is talking to me. "Let's go down to the river before we go back to the dojo. Yahiko-kun has Sano to watch him today. Well Kenshin?" She turned to look at him, clasping her hands behind her and tilting her head to the side.
He looked back at her with the faintest hint of a smile, his eyes softening at her liveliness. She'd been like this all morning. Happily chatting with all the shopkeepers she knew. She'd patiently taken all their enquiries about the past couple of days with a patience he didn't know she had, and a happy smile and conversation for each of them. She was so strong but he'd always known that. From the first time he'd seen her, he'd had to concede her strength. Maybe not common sense but strength she had in abundance.
They crested a rise and the river spread out before them. The water was as swiftly moving as he remembered it. The water rushed making a loud gurgle. The grass spread out from the banks, in a lustrous carpet of fine green. It was speckled with fine pink flowers. It was a beautiful sight, if only it didn't hold so many memories.
A shadow chased across the ground and the wind rustled the leaves of the trees. Kenshin tensed. A voice laughed at him. 'Hate me. Hate me more! And return to the man you were.' Instinctively Kenshin clenched his teeth, his eyes widening in horror and surprise. He looked towards Kaoru, she was running her hand through the water and laughing at the splashes the waves were causing.
He shook his head to clear the image before his eyes. He could still see her on the boat. Her glorious blue eyes wide with surprise and her hair, untied, trailing out in the wind, with her kimono. Strong black covered arms held her close, held her firmly, fingers clamped over her mouth. But they were allowed to loosed so that she could give voice to her call "Kenshin..!" Strained but trusting. She hadn't been allowed to call this time. He didn't know where to find her.
Kenshin snarled low in his throat as his eyes burned. He allowed the full dreadful aura of the Hitokiri Battousai to extend around him and felt the power it brought. The rurouni was just as powerful but it was different and at the moment he needed the Battousai's power. Niijima Akihisa had promised to stay away and it was a promise he would keep. Enishi was no longer a threat. Shishio had never been interested in Kaoru and Jin'eh was no longer around. Kenshin allowed himself a quiet, vicious smile but as he dampened down on his kenki, he could not help but wonder how many more were out there. How many others want my Kaoru? How many others will use her?
"I'm done!" The door had slid open at her voice. Perfect. She was so perfect and despite the events of the day she had a radiance and a contentment which not even Niijima could take away. She'd changed into her yellow kimono. He could see that clearly but like a child she'd held up her arms and her brilliant voice had rung in his ears. "See, I'm all changed now." Her hair trailed behind her, the green ribbon slipping silently though the strands.
A wry smile crossed his features. "I will always be here for you. I will always protect you," he repeated the words of nights past, looking down at Kaoru.
She'd turned back to him, wondering why he hadn't followed. Her face was so beautifully confused. Kenshin gave her a nod and followed, walking down the rise. The log was still there and she had moved to sit on it, watching him with a smile as he approached. He placed the tofu bucket on the ground behind her.
"Isn't it beautiful, Kenshin?" She gestured towards the river.
"Beautiful," he agreed as he sat beside her on the log and watched the river as he had many years before.
"I will always be here for you Kenshin. It doesn't matter what happens I will always come back to you," Kaoru's face was grave. She gently slipped her hand into his.
It was his turn to smile at her. His eyes softened. "I will always be here for you," he repeated again before he blinked and looked back at her with serious eyes. "But you will not always be allowed to come to me." It hurt him to see her eyes widen in surprise at the harshness of his words but they were only the truth.
"But whether or not you can come to me, I will always come for you." He allowed himself a self-mocking smile. He'd known this truth for a while but hadn't wanted to face it, or maybe he had but had suppressed the knowledge. "I used to think I could leave, return to the rurouni but I cannot. I am bound to stay." He closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them he looked directly at her. "I will protect you. No one else will ever take you. I will always protect you."
Kaoru looked back at him seriously. "I will always be here for you to protect, Kenshin. And I will always love you." A shiver passed through her body.
Kenshin looked at her sharply. "Kaoru-koishii? What's wrong?" The question was sharp as Kenshin placed his hands on her shoulders, turning himself and her towards each other. His tone also made it quite clear that if she identified the source of her worry he would destroy it.
She looked back at him with tears forming in her eyes. Kaoru gave a very inelegant sniff before she gathered herself enough to speak. "Kenshin..." she sobbed in a quiet voice. A tear escaped from her eye, wounding him. "Kenshin... I think..." she took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Kenshin," her voice was quiet but she had pushed back the tears. "I have only ever wanted you. I have only ever wanted to be wanted by you but he... he... I think... I think he wanted me." Kaoru crossed her arms over her chest, rubbing herself as her tears began to fall.
Kenshin felt his eyes hardened. Niijima may have promised to stay away but he hadn't made any such promises. And if Niijima was the cause of these tears, as he suspected, he would enjoy the hunt. Any blue that had made its way back into his gaze burned away completely. "Kaoru..." The Battousai was not very good at providing comfort but he would do what he could.
"No, Kenshin. I have to tell you now." Kaoru looked tearfully determined. "Kenshin, Niijima, he wanted the Battousai, he wanted you but he also wanted me... I," she gurgled the words as her throat constricted. "It made... I feel... Kenshin... I don't like the way it made, makes me feel. I've only ever wanted you. No one else and I've never wanted anyone else to want me... I don't like it. I could feel it, every time he looked at me. I can still feel his eyes on me."
Kenshin snarled again and looked around. They were alone. This place was secluded which was why he'd chosen the meet Jin'eh there. He had been surprised and pleased, although he hadn't recognized the latter feeling at the time, that Kaoru had been able to find him. It wasn't unusual that they were still alone. He closed his arms around here. Kaoru didn't resist but allowed him to draw her close. Her arms were still wrapped around her body but in a strange way Kenshin felt himself wishing she would hold him in return, giving back what comfort she could. Later, a small voice inside him cautioned. She will be able to later... At the moment, she needs you.
Kaoru sobbed in Kenshin's embrace but she still murmured as she sought to rid herself of the feel of Niijima's eyes upon her. "Dirty... No... Don't want... Kenshin! Taskette!" It was the last that tore at him the most. He hadn't been there, hadn't been able to until Niijima deemed it time and Kaoru was not one to call for help lightly. How hungry he'd looked, the smile he'd given her and the promise that had been in his voice. He wouldn't hurt her. She knew he fully intended, would and had kept that promise. But that hunger, if she gave in to him, he would have her, cherish her above all others but she would be nothing more than a crystal trophy. She wouldn't live. She couldn't live. Not if it was Niijima by her side.
"Daijoubou, Kaoru," Kenshin did his best to sooth her. "I will not let him have you. You belong to me and I will not let you go." Kenshin pulled back slightly, making sure she looked into his fierce eyes. He reached his hand into his sleeve and bought out the comb he had brought her earlier. He gently disentangled her fingers from her kimono and placed the comb in her hands, folding her fingers around it.
She brought her hand up and looked at the comb. Kaoru's breath caught in her throat as she examined it. The butterflies almost seemed ready to take off from the blossoms. One last tear fell onto the comb and broke apart to look like fine dew. "Kenshin! It's beautiful." A weak but still dazzling smile fixed itself on her features.
Kenshin once again reached forward, embracing her but this time Kaoru reached her arms around him, although she was careful to keep a firm grip on the comb. "You belong to me, just as I belong to you, and neither of us will ever let go."
Elsewhere: On the Road.
The world, such as it was, had long ago disintegrated into confusing and disorientating snatches of motion. It didn't hurt but it was eroding her grip on reality. She couldn't remember. She couldn't remember anything except a snatch of scenery here and there. A tall stand of bamboo, the dappled sunlight filtering through to the ground to highlight a thick carpet of fine grass and small white flowers. But that scene was whisked away, replaced but one rice paddy's. They were neatly spaced out, all beautifully symmetrical. The sun glittered off the waters surface although occasionally there was a paddy which had rice stalks poking out of the water.
But this too was gone with a flash of color and what she could remember was almost like twilight. The light was dim and over head the boughs of the trees shifted restlessly against each other, whispering amongst themselves. The pine shards underneath dampened all sound from the horses' hooves. There was another swirl of fast moving color and then she could see a small village. The adults had been working in the fields but a few small children had been playing with a ball and they stopped their game to watch wide eyed as their party passed.
She looked around at the trees surrounding them but she could see that the sun was beginning to it's slow decent in the sky. That meant they'd soon find a small village in which to spend the night. There she knew she'd be feed and bathed. She'd be allowed to attend to her needs before the woman helped her change into a yakuta and then conveyed her to a waiting futon. She had fallen asleep almost immediately the last few nights. That was unusual. She usually tossed and turned before sleep claimed her and she almost always dreamed about...
Dreamed about? She almost always dreamed about... Dreamed about what, dreamed about who? It didn't make any sense. Why couldn't she remember? She looked down at the saddlebow of her horse. Her hands were gripping at the saddle. There was nothing else for her to hold. The reins of the animal were forming part of the lead rope.
She looked back at the sky as they topped the rise of a hill. In the valley spread out before them there was a village and she assumed that was were they would be spending the night. But her attention was not on that. She was watching the sun and sky as it was slowly stained red.
Red..? She frowned. There was something about that color. A sudden breeze blew her hair around her. Red hair? Red hair..?
Suddenly she couldn't see the trees around her. Instead there was a white mist and standing in that mist there was a man. A small man with red hair. She could only see his back and his hair had been gathered together at he base of his neck with a purple tie. It was long, reaching down to his waist, fluffing out and over his pink kimono. The kimono was tucked into white hakama and she could see a sword. But her attention was brought back to his hair and suddenly she wanted to run her hands through it. Involuntarily she reached out. As she did he turned to face her and she caught a glimpse of amethyst eyes and a cross scar. "Kenshin..!"
The vision scattered and out of the corners of her eyes she could see several people maneuvering their horses closer to hers. She could feel their eyes burning into her. "Kenshin..?" She opened her eyes wide as she remembered.
Surrounded. There were too many to fight off but she had to try. She wouldn't be used against Kenshin without a fight. She'd rather die.
Yahiko, his shinai broken and bloody. There was so much blood. Why had they used swords? Why hadn't he run when she told him to? There was so very much blood. And then a cloth was placed over her face and the world went black but she could see a man with red hair.
After that there was nothing but haze and some memories of Megumi-san insisting that she drink some medicine. But still there was the man with red hair. Kenshin.
After that she was looking at a mirror. But it was a mirror that showed her to be asleep when she was awake. But the lines of her face were the same and relaxed in sleep and her hands were folded before her. Her hair fell over her face and caught on her nose. She reached out and brushed it away. The strands were silky beneath her fingers and the skin smooth to her touch. Warm. It was strange to think that. But she, her mirror self was warm. She felt the heat beneath the blanket they were covered with.
She looked around, her thoughts were fuzzy. The room was dark and she couldn't see anything. Then the door slid open with a soft click. She looked over to see a man enter the room. He was tall, she could tell that much. She couldn't make out much more because the light was behind him and he was cast in shadow. His body was obscured by a manto but she could see that his hair was longish and wavy. Its length fell around his face, a face she couldn't see except for his eyes. Emerald green and flecked with gold. They looked down at her with startling intensity, almost hungry.
"Oh? My angel is awake?" his voice was rich and melodic. It was soothing. "My angel, I'm sorry," she could hear the sad smile in his voice. "But I need you to sleep now." At his suggestion her eyes became heavy and she couldn't remember anything.
The she was travelling and she was here. But where was here? She looked around, searching the faces, she didn't know any of them. Kenshin? Where is Kenshin? Or Sanosuke? Or Megumi? If I've been sick and taking medicine would Megumi or Dr Genzai be here? Or Yahiko? Why can I remember Yahiko covered in blood. Is he okay? Where is Kenshin? Who was that man with green eyes? Why did I see myself asleep? There were too many questions. She had to get away.
She sat up, leaning back. She was on a horse? What was she doing on a horse? She fought a wave of dizziness and she fought to maintain her balance. She didn't know how to ride a horse. No! I have to get away. She looked down to the ground but it was moving too fast for her to get off and when she looked around again she realized she was surrounded. If she fell to the ground, she'd be tampled. Her eyes narrowed in speculation. I'll just have to bide my time. I can get away later, she decided. None of the people surrounding her felt friendly. They weren't right. Their eyes were too hard when they looked at her. I'll get away later. Kenshin... Kenshin will come for me.
::My angel, I'm sorry,:: that voice rang in her head. It consumed her thoughts, driving her awareness before it. ::My angel, I'm sorry but I need you to sleep now. You need to return to sleep so that you are not hurt. Sleep.:: The voice commanded with surprising force. She felt it banish her new memories, locking them away and hiding them from her. Her eyes became heavy. What had she been thinking about? It was almost night and she was tired. It would be good to rest. As awareness faded there was time for one last question. Why could she still see that man with red hair and who was he? It didn't matter, she smiled at his image.
***
As they approached the village, Tsuya pulled her horse in next to Katsunan. She shared a worried glance with him and they both pulled their horses back to trail behind their party for a little while. They needed some privacy to discuss what had happened.
"That was close," Tsuya gasped, releasing her breath once they were out of ear shot.
"Too close," Katsunan agreed, his face clouded in thought.
"Should we tell Niijima-sama?"
"Tell him what?" Katsunan snapped. "That his workings on her almost failed." Katsunan shook his head. "No, if you want to tell him that, go right ahead. But leave me out of it!"
"No, no!" It was Tsuya's turn to shake her head. Her hair flicked around her face. "But that shouldn't have happened."
"I know. She is just a child. She shouldn't have had the strength to break through his workings. I don't think we need to do anything," Katsunan said after a moment's pause. "Niijima-sama said she would be docile and obedient. And she has been that."
"His workings did come back," Tsuya said, narrowing her eyes as she looked at the woman's back.
"That's the key point," Katsunan agreed. "I think, all we need to do is keep a tight watch on her. Tomorrow, we'll be back at the village and she won't be able to escape from there. If it looks like she is going to be difficult we can always use more conventional methods to keep her quiet. Niijima-sama won't like it but I think it would be better to keep her drugged rather than trying to restrain her by force if the worst happens. He was very insistent that we not hurt her, even the copy."
Tsuya nodded and as she urged her horse forward in the gathering twilight she looked back at him and said, "I'll order our watch doubled, just in case she wakes up again. She shouldn't be able to do it but it's better to be safe than sorry."
Katsunan nodded, driving his horse forward as they entered the village. He had to talk to the innkeeper. It never was difficult to arrange accommodation, not with the money Niijima-sama had given him.
Tokyo - Evening
Kenshin slowly but carefully cut the vegetables. He was keeping a wary eye on the rest of the proceedings in the kitchen as he worked. Kaoru's experience hadn't given her any more skill in the kitchen but he didn't mind. Her inability to cook was only minor but it was an important part of her he didn't want changed. Besides, the determined expression on her face now, as she was watching the rice was so adorable. Kaoru may not be able to cook but she did her best every time she tried and it was because of that he could stomach the results. Yahiko would always eat her cooking in the pursuit of his training and Sanosuke... Well, free food was free food, even if it was bad. It would make him appreciate the good food he got off others.
He delicately sniffed the air. It smelt like the rice was done. He turned slightly but Kaoru was already moving to take the pot form the heat. Kenshin smiled, "See Kaoru-koishii, you can cook," he praised her as she put the pot down. "I was just about to ask you if the rice was done."
Kaoru smiled at him, flicking her hair back over her shoulder. "I can always do it if you are here to watch me."
It looked like she'd recovered from her earlier tears. The butterfly comb was slipped into her hair. The pink of her kimono was highlighting the pinks in the comb. She may have been cooking but despite the cross-tied apron she looked like a princess, almost too beautiful, to fragile to touch. But he knew this princess had strength beneath her outward fragility. She would not break.
"Why don't you help me with these? I'll show you how to cut them to make rice animals."
"Like the one's you made when I first met you?"
Kenshin smiled softly. He could remember them. She'd picked up one and tasted it with the most adorable expression of suspicion he'd ever seen. And then she'd followed that by her admission that they were slightly better than what she could do. "Aa, like those one's. It's simply really, it all lies in the angle knife and the freshness of the vegetables."
She looked back at him with wide eyes and a faintly embarrassed expression. "I tried to make them once," she said, almost too softly to be heard. "But they didn't turn out at all."
He laughed softly at her admission but it was not mocking. "Well, I'll show you how to make them correctly then!"
"Hai, sensei!" She said as she moved close. He could feel her warmth and didn't move away. Carefully he selected a stick of vegetable and he slowly began to cut it, showing her the angles of the knife every time he moved it. Kaoru watched with rapt attention.
Later that Evening
The stars stretched overhead. The night was so dark, so still that he almost felt he could touch them. They glittered enticingly from their positions in the dark blue sky. His eyes were drawn to the ribbon of stars which lay over the sky. They were clustered so tightly that they almost seemed to merge into one another and only the brightest shone, letting their light spill coldly over Tokyo.
Kenshin turned his attention to the city. It wasn't silent. There were lots of noises coming from the city. The bark of a dog, the rushed sound of footsteps as someone hurried home late and the rustle of the wind through leaves. Closer to the dojo he could hear more familiar noises, water dripping and the quiet breathing of two slumbering forms. They were all regular noises of a city and home sleeping peacefully. He looked down at the dojo yard. It was quiet and starkly lit but the stars. It threw shadows all over the place but the gloom was friendly. He knew the shadows, the gloom. It had become his home.
He wondered if Kaoru had always wanted that for him. He knew she only wanted it now. She had been very put out with him after the first night she had spent back at the dojo, back in her home. She'd made it abundantly clear in the morning just as soon as she'd had a spare minute from attending to Yahiko. And that evening, as she had every night since, she had escorted him to his room. It didn't do any good but he let her believe that it did. It saved his ears and he never wanted her to worry. He would wait for he to fall asleep and then he would move and settle for the night beside her door. His instincts alerted him to her during the night and in the morning. She hadn't caught him since and he'd been content that she was guarded. And she had thought he was sleeping properly. He did concede though that the blanket was a good idea.
Kenshin shook his head, bemused. He had been too much concerned with
the memories of the past today. It was the future he must consider now
and only specific memories of the past that could help him forge his path.
There was something nagging at his memories. Something to do with the
past days events... Something he had felt...
The messenger...
Kenshin looked around sharply. He could still feel the chi. Here. Now. Watching him. It wasn't friendly but it wasn't openly hostile. It seemed content to wait, to watch. There, over in the tree. There was someone there. Kenshin looked over trying to discern an outline. Whoever was there knew he knew. He narrowed his eyes in the dark. The feeling was the same. Niijima Akihisa's messenger was there, watching the dojo.
Kenshin stared down at the tree. He couldn't approach. There were limits to what he could do and if he tried to approach the tree... Well trying to make that jump was not something he'd consider at night but he would if he had to. And if he tried to approach in a slightly safer manner he'd lose sight of the tree. The watcher was professional. They'd know how to use that time to escape. But they didn't know he wouldn't make that jump and while he watched they were trapped. It was just a waiting game and waiting was something he was good at.
The wind blew, rustling the leaves, stirring up the dust eddies.
"Kuso!" Kenshin bared his teeth, his eyes opened wide.
A laugh seemed to travel around him, and it was accompanied by a kunai, whizzing loudly through the air. He flicked his hand out and caught it between two fingers. The watcher withdrew. Kenshin could feel their eyes on him as they retreated.
He looked down at the weapon. The rice paper note attached to it had caused the loud hiss that had accompanied it. It wasn't a serious attack, it was the method of conveyance that this person seemed to prefer. In the weak light he unfolded it and looked down at the words scrawled there.
"Himura Battousai. I do know when I am outclassed and so when to run. My masters did not put me up to this. It is something I have undertaken on my own so if you feel the need for vengeance come only against me. I will not watch again Battousai but I had to be sure. You have gotten your light back and with Kamiya-san here, I have gotten mine. Sayonara."
Kenshin looked down at the note. It was unsigned but there was something more in the note than simple desire. He was sure of that. And there was still something tugging at his memory but he couldn't pin it down. He had felt that person before, he was sure of it and wasn't when they had been delivering notes. They had been doing something else and he hadn't considered them an enemy. Who was it that felt that way?
He narrowed his eyes and jumped down from the roof before he moved to Kaoru's door. He would eventually remember and when he did he would track them down and then he would hunt their master.
***
Inoue leant against the building gasping. Her vision blurred for an instant. That was too close. He is even better than I ever dreamed possible. She took several deep breaths to calm herself and to still her frantically beating heart.
With a hand still shaking from nerves she brought a cloth out of her sleeve and wiped the perspiration from her face and neck. It was not a seemly sight for her position and she could never look anything but perfect. She closed her eyes briefly composing herself to face her husband. He wouldn't even know she was gone but she still had to deal with him, offer him polite conversation if he desired it. He's probably still at work, counting his bribes, she thought with scorn.
A shallow smile crossed her face as she remembered what she had seen. Niijima-sama got what he wanted from the Battousai and in return he gave back what he took. He is a man of his word and without her he will see me. I will make him see me. She fixed the smile on her features and stepped out into the night, headed towards her home. The smile would please her husband and he didn't have to know that he was not the man who had caused it.
To be continued
Definitions
miai - marriage meeting
kenshi - swords man
daijoubou - it's alright
obaasan - old lady
kougai - Sekihara-san's 'chopsticks for your hair'/stick like hair
ornaments
chi - life energy
kuso - shit
kenki - fighting spirit
yakuta – cotton robe
Tamashii Hitokken Ryuu - Yasutake Ryuichi's and Murakami Seir's technique
Tamashii - soul
Hitokken - One Sword
Kouken Sokuuchi Ryuu - Niijima Akihisa, Segawa Shinichi, and Ryusaki
Masujiro's technique
Kou - Thought
Ken - Sword
Soku - Swift
Uchi - Strike
Fairly simple ne?
HUGE Thank you to Tatsuko for helping to create the names of some fighting
schools.
Any other names that appear in this fic, eg names of people, while I'm sure they mean something, I did not pick them because of any meaning they may have. I picked them because I liked them when I was choosing names. Some I stole from other manga's and animes and one or two I made up myself.
Just a reminder to tell you that you can Email me!