Tang Mu

Chapter 13

"Battousai…" Enishi looms from the doorway.

"Hello Enishi. Liya-dono is a very nice woman. You are very lucky."
Kenshin tries to keep things light, but to no avail. The man now
entering the room is fuming with barely suppressed rage.

"What are you doing here Battousai?" His eyes show an anger that was
already present before he even got to the clinic.

"I do not go by that name anymore Enishi." His speech just changed
again. I believe he is prepared to fight if need be. Please don't
fight. This is a clinic. There are sick people here. My eyes dart from
one man to the other. "I came because Kaoru and I were worried about
Yahiko when he did not show up for his lesson, that we were."

Enishi narrows his eyes making him look even more dangerous. Something
is slung over his shoulder. He didn't have that when he left the
clinic today. He also has…blood on him. There are thick splotches of
the red liquid all over him. Did he kill? My eyes widen. Enishi has
noticed what I'm looking at. I can see it in his eyes. "I see Saitou
gave you back your sword. I trust you will use it wisely."

A growl sends shivers down my spine. In an instant, the blade is freed
from its cloth prison. Enishi raises it so that the tip points at
Kenshins throat. "Onee-san doesn't want me to kill you, but that
doesn't mean I can't make your new life a living hell…Battousai…"

Kenshin closes his eyes as if he is thinking. He is very brave to close
his eyes at a man who has a sword at his throat. "I understand. I was
just leaving anyway." Violet eyes open to fall upon me. He gives me a
polite smile. "It was nice meeting you Liya-dono. Sessha hopes we can
talk again some time." With his finger, he removes the threat from his
throat. His finger bleeds from the contact with the blade. He gives me
a slight bow before picking up the tray of tea and leaving the room.

Much to my astonishment, Enishi doesn't follow to make sure Kenshin is
leaving. With the way his eyes are shimmering with hate, I would think
he would. My mouth opens to ask. "When Battousai says he's leaving, I
know he's leaving." How did he know I was going to ask that?

He sheaths his sword and lets it lean against the wall. "Enishi…I-"

"You didn't know. It's okay." No. It's not okay, but I will not argue
with him. My eyes begin to lower in order to submit to his command, but
I will not succumb to that. Instead, I continue to peer into his pools
of glowing teal. I step forward, still watching him, to silently
inquire about the blood on his clothing.

My fingers touch the dark splotches that adorn his clothed chest. It is
fresh blood. I rub it with my index finger and thumb. It's very fresh.
He stares at me with slowly calming eyes as I explore more droplets of
blood. "He did not die." I nod and continue my inquisitive wandering.
"It is not all his blood."

My eyes shift to look at him. "I was attacked on the way here." My eyes
narrow with urgency. What happened? Now, my search includes looking for
any injuries on him. I circle him to check his back. Almost amusedly,
he spreads his arms to make my investigation easier. I remove his
cape-like jacket. There aren't any tears in the fabric, but that
doesn't mean anything. He could have taken it off while he was
fighting.

It looks like he did. There are more blood spots on his back, yet no
injuries. "Your clothes need to be cleaned before the blood stains
them."

"The men were only stupid minions of Michio. They are dead. Their boss
was testing my ability with the sword." I nod again as I circle to face
him. Innocently, my fingers slip the buttons out of their prison. It
needs to be cleaned. So do his pants actually, but he can take those
off. If I were to do so…it would be too improper.

My objective has been reached, his eyes show no lingering hate toward
Kenshin. Instead, they are hungry with amusement as he watches me
remove his clothes with the diligence of a dutiful wife. At last, I
slide the garment off of him. It gathers on the floor in a heap of
fabric and blood. All that is left is a thin, black, sleeveless
undershirt of sorts. It is tight showing me all the muscles of his
chest and arms. I can't help but look and admire.

His hands catch me off guard as they rest on my hips. "You are doing
this on purpose." I smile and press my luck. My fingers work of their
own accord as they run up his chest. Things are too tense, especially
since Kenshin visited. Perhaps this can lighten the atmosphere. More
slowly than before, I unfasten the clasps of his undershirt. He is
smirking now. I am doing well.

Ever since I was first forced to please the men of the yakusa, I vowed
never to please a man again. This is different though. This is the man
I love. I don't have to worry about my honor with him. He can help me
redeem my father's good name. Even if he takes me before we are wed, he
can do no harm. I am willing to please him because he will love me in
return.

"You do realize what you're doing?" He raises his eyebrow as he shrugs
out of his shirt. My eyes tell him that I do indeed know what I'm
doing. My fingers semi-innocently explore the contours of his chest and
arms. He is still so tense. Perhaps I should give him a massage. That
would certainly loosen him up.

"We need to clean your clothes." My voice is overly immaculate. I let
my fingers trail along his chest as I circle around to pick up his
clothes. "You should bathe as well. Your face has blood on it." I bend
to retrieve the garments. His eyes are on me with the intense gaze he
had the night before.

* * *

What is she up to? I watch her pick up my clothes. She purposely bends
at the waist. I find myself smirking at her successful attempts to turn
me on. She really doesn't have to do much actually. Her eyes beckon me
to follow. I eagerly, yet calmly obey.

I wanted to wait until this threat was eradicated, but she did start
this. "Will you be joining me?"

"I was going to wash your clothes, but if it pleases you." My right
hand nearly breaks through the wall in my attempt to block her path.
She gasps and backs into the wall. Closing in on her, my smirk widens.

"Only if it pleases you." She smiles at that. Gods how I love her
smile. I could survive on that alone.

"Then we should wash your clothes first." That sounds fine to me. I
lean closer to her as my arms wrap around her waist. If anyone has a
problem with this public show of affection, they'll just have to deal
with it. Once again, my clothes are on the floor and a replay of last
night ensues.

I feel Kaemon come around the corner. One last little kiss and we will
go wash my clothes. I release her with a genuine smile. The other man
will have to get used to not getting his way all the time. I noticed
Ms. Tae looking at him while we were there…before he was drunk. Perhaps
he should try for her instead.

* * *

"I see you found out about Enishi's threat." I don't even bother to
look up at the familiar voice.

"He slaughtered them." I feel the blood stained ground. Bodies litter
the street. They attacked first. He merely defended himself. They were
nothing but pawns. Enishi knew that, yet he still slaughtered them.

"He defended himself. Some of us don't believe in not killing like
you." I have to admit, Saitou has a point there.

"Why are these people after him?"

"They're after his woman, he just happens to be in the way." I walked
into that obvious remark. Rising, I decide these remains won't help me
solve the enigma.

"Is there any way I can help?" Enishi won't want my help, but perhaps I
can give my services from the shadows. My debt to Tomoe hasn't been
fulfilled yet. I owe her this much. He has just found happiness and now
he has been threatened.

"I think he can handle this on his own. He handled the interrogation of
that yakusa member rather well. You being brotherly would merely pour
salt on his healing wounds." He's right. I will step aside on this and
be satisfied with watching.

* * *

I must be very tense. Even the simple task of washing clothes is
turning me on. Her arms are elbow deep in the water as she scrubs the
blood out of the fabric. She may not be very strong, but I still like
watching her muscles flex with the effort. I never really got to
experience the ravenous adolescent years most men brag about. Perhaps my body is
making up for it now. She is manipulating me much too easily, but
that's alright. She's allowed to manipulate me. I'll do whatever she
wants me to do.

"You are staring like you've never seen a woman work before." She
chuckles at my intense gaze as she wrings out the last garment. With a
firm shake, droplets glisten in the late afternoon sun. They sparkle
around her with picturesque precision. All I can do is smile. If I were
to respond to that, I would run the risk of sound too romantic. I don't
consider myself to be a romantic. I think with my pants like any other
man. I just happen to be in more control than most.

* * *

Look at them washing clothes together. Or…Liya is washing Enishi-kun's
clothes and he's watching like a hungry tiger. Her occasional glances
tell me she wants him just as much. What is this feeling I'm getting? I
want to show her that I'm better. I want her to see me. She never had
any intention of considering courting me like she hinted at in the
Akabeko. She loved him the whole time. I should be happy that she is
happy, but I can't. I just can't.

He's older than her. Shouldn't she fall for a man more her age? I'm the
same age as her. To top it off, Enishi isn't the most mentally stable
man. I saw him when he first showed up at Rakuminmura. He mumbled to
himself constantly about how his revenge failed. He still reads that
damn book. The pages should be falling out soon. He talks to some dead
woman as if she's still alive and smiling at him. He screams in his
sleep. True, he hasn't done that in a while. In fact, he hasn't done
that since Liya showed up. That can't be just a coincidence.

So she's tamed the beast known as Yukishiro Enishi. She calms him.
That's a good thing. Right? What about me? I was certain she would be a
good mother for Cho-chan. They certainly get along like a mother and
daughter should. What went wrong? Why was I not good enough?

Now they're getting up. The clothes are hanging up to dry. He sneaks
behind her and wraps his arms about her waist. I cringe as I witness
him whispering in her ear. She giggles and leans in to him. I should
have been the one to get her to laugh like that. I want to be the one
to whisper sweetly in her ear, to make her blush. It's not fair. It's
just not fair.

* * *

I move behind her. "You know…" I move her hair and whisper in her ear.
"Your kimono is dirty now too." She giggles at feel of my breath on her
ear. She's already so responsive. I want to show her how good pleasure
can be. All she knows is the abuse surrounding it. It's always been a
hateful experience for her. I want to change that. If she does come
with me to the bath house, I will make sure to show her.

Kaemon is nearby, but that doesn't matter. He won't be able to follow
where we're going. We can escape his negative ki when we enter the
bath house. "Then what do you suggest?" Her voice is a bit too pure for
the implications flowing from her sentence. I could suggest a lot of
things, but it wouldn't be proper to do so in such a public place.
Instead, I lead her to the bath house.

* * *

Che…They're going to take a bath together!? I don't even want to think
about that, especially since I can't do anything about it. Enishi is
much stronger than me. Does she realize what a dangerous man he is?! Of
course she does, that's why she trusts him to protect her.

Turning, I swiftly make my way into the clinic. Yahiko is still here.
Maybe he can watch Cho. I'm going into town for a while. I can get my
mind off things if I go to the Akabeko for a little bit. I'll
just…sneak a little money off Enishi-kun. He deserves it. I find his
purse and take a decent amount. He won't miss it if I don't take too
much.

* * *

Author's Notes:

Hiya guys! Thanks for still reading my work! I really appreciate it!
I hope this chapter was to your liking! I hope I got all the
characters right! Thanks again for reading!