Chapter 17
"Get up old man." Did I kill him when I pushed him out of the way? I
roll my eyes. No. He's still breathing, just scared. "Tell me what
happened?"
Slowly, his eyes open. He looks around until his attention rests on me.
"You're…police?" I nod curtly and offer him my hand. "Please,
Rakuminmura needs help." Another cannon shot tells me the obvious
details of his request.
"I take it you want Enishi's help." The old man's eyes light up. "He is
with Kenshin Himura. I will take you there."
* * *
"You made the whole thing!?" Kaoru-san nods at her husband. He returns
her smile and kisses her cheek. How cute!
"Well, Liya-san made the fish and I made the soup. She taught me, but I
did almost everything!" Enishi watches as Kenji gurgles next to him. I
decided it would be good for him to sit next to the baby, even if it
makes Kaoru-san slightly uncomfortable. I think the little one actually
likes his uncle. Yes. Enishi is the child's uncle, despite the fact
that Kenshin is his former brother-in-law. These people are
family…technically. Enishi should keep that in mind.
I cast my eyes back to Kenshin and Kaoru-san. He is whispering in her
ear as his eyes dart to Enishi who's finger has nonchalantly turned
into Kenji's plaything. The couple bicker with their eyes before the
husband finally wins. Nervously, Kaoru-san smiles at the man beside me.
Her hands shake as she gently picks up her son. "W-would you like to
hold him?"
Enishi stares at the woman with disbelief. "Are you sure?" She
hesitates before nodding. I smile at the ex-demon's sudden nervousness.
I doubt he's ever held a baby before. As would be expected, he doesn't
know where to put his hands. Giggling, I help him while the child is
put into his embrace. As soon as the precious weight is given to him,
his eyes glisten with wonder. I imagine the world no longer exists for
him. He is engrossed with the baby.
Kenji coos and yawns causing Enishi to smile gently. Kaoru-san seems
satisfied by the rare smile. She sits more comfortably, sighing with
relief. Did she think that Enishi would hurt an innocent child? He is
but a child at heart. Why would he hurt his own kind?
The baby makes a whimper before he begins to cry. Like a typical man,
Enishi looks toward Kaoru-san asking to be relieved of his charge. The
woman is only too eager to heed to his silent request, until Kenshin's
hand stops her. The red-head smiles and waits. Seeing the other man's
reaction, Enishi snarls and tries to settle the child on his own. He
pats the boy's back. Within seconds, the crying stops as tiny,
brilliantly blue eyes stare at his uncle's surprised face. "You will be
a good father Enishi." A glare meets a small smile.
"Baby go to good people. Already, you good father. You like father to
Cho-chan." Enishi smiles at me before he lets Kaoru-san take back her
child.
* * *
"Brat…What happened?" I kneel next to the boy. He winces and tries to
sit up. The yakusa must have done this to him. Blood is soaking the
grass next to the clinic. Why hasn't anyone come out to get him yet?
Did the men make sure to beat him silently so that no one would know
about it?
"They took Cho-chan…I couldn't…" Despite the obvious pain, he clenches
his eyes shut as if trying not to cry. "They don't fight fair!" Now the
water works begin. I know they don't fight fair. I tried to teach you
that last year, but you didn't listen. Did you. My hand instinctively
travels to my pocket to take out a cigarette. Now is not the time. Too
gently for my nature, I pick the kid up and carry him inside the clinic
as the old man silently follows.
* * *
The men enjoy a cup of tea as Liya-san and I do the dishes. At least
they're tolerating each other. I think Enishi is forcing it though
because the two of us are becoming friends. Now that I think of it,
it's very kind of him to want Liya-san to be my friend. I would think
he'd be against it seeing as Kenshin is his enemy. Of course, he was
quite nice to me while I was cooped up on that island. He made sure I
was comfortable. The cupboards were always full; the bath was always
ready when I needed it. With the exception of that one physical threat,
he never touched me. Sometimes, we even had small conversations.
Nothing but strained small talk of course, but they were still
conversations.
Something's coming. I look up in time to see a small dart hit the strip
of wall just below the window in front of me. "Kaoru-san!" There is a
piece of parchment attached to it. "Poison dart…" Liya carefully,
removes the paper from the tiny weapon. Her hands are shaking.
"Wait!" She's already gone. I run after her. Kenshin might have to
fight again. I don't want him to fight. I don't think his body is up to
that kind of pressure anymore. Like Megumi-san said, Hiten-misturugi
ryuu is wearing his muscle and bones down. If he has to fight another
major battle, he might not survive!
* * *
"Enishi! Read!" A parchment is thrust into my hand. It has the same
painting as before, but there is an added feature. The tiger has cubs,
which have also been slaughtered. I let my senses intensify hoping to
catch the one who sent this. Whoever they were, they left already.
"I offer you a trade, Tang Mu. Either you serve us, or your friends
will. I wonder how well the children will do at pleasuring my men.
With love-- Michio"
"They have taken over Rakuminmura." Everyone looks up to see Oibore and
Saitou stepping into the room. "It seems they still have the cannon you
sold them." No, not the village. I clench my fist crumpling the message
in the process. If Liya doesn't return to them, they'll make Cho-chan
and whoever else they have do the same jobs Liya had to do.
"They have Cho, Kaemon, Tsubame, and Tae." They took them all!? I doubt
they're as kind of captors as I was to Battousai's woman. Slamming my
fist on the table, I stand. I have to do something, that much is
obvious. What do I do though? Onee-san? Can you help me? I can't see
her! She's making me do this on my own?!
"Enishi…I go…" Is she serious?! She knows what they'll make her do.
After all this time that she's been recovering, she's going to give up
that easily?! Never! I won't allow it. I grab her wrist as she rises.
She's not going anywhere.
"I won't let you go back to them. I'm not letting you give up that
easily." I let her go and retrieve my sword from under the table. I
have to correct this mistake. They don't deserve my weapons anymore.
So, they're stationed in Rakuminmura now? They better not get too
comfortable then.
* * *
Author's Notes:
I know the baby part was cheesy and pointless, but it was a cute idea
that I just had to put in. I hope Enishi is still in character for it.
Sorry for taking so long on posting!!! I've been so busy moving into a
new place, starting a new job, and taking summer classes that I haven't
been able to do much in the way of writing. I hope I'm staying true to
what I was writing at the beginning of this story. It's been so long
since I've written anything for it that I'm worried that I've lost the
tone. *shrug* Oh well, guess I'll find out when you guys give me
reviews.
"Get up old man." Did I kill him when I pushed him out of the way? I
roll my eyes. No. He's still breathing, just scared. "Tell me what
happened?"
Slowly, his eyes open. He looks around until his attention rests on me.
"You're…police?" I nod curtly and offer him my hand. "Please,
Rakuminmura needs help." Another cannon shot tells me the obvious
details of his request.
"I take it you want Enishi's help." The old man's eyes light up. "He is
with Kenshin Himura. I will take you there."
* * *
"You made the whole thing!?" Kaoru-san nods at her husband. He returns
her smile and kisses her cheek. How cute!
"Well, Liya-san made the fish and I made the soup. She taught me, but I
did almost everything!" Enishi watches as Kenji gurgles next to him. I
decided it would be good for him to sit next to the baby, even if it
makes Kaoru-san slightly uncomfortable. I think the little one actually
likes his uncle. Yes. Enishi is the child's uncle, despite the fact
that Kenshin is his former brother-in-law. These people are
family…technically. Enishi should keep that in mind.
I cast my eyes back to Kenshin and Kaoru-san. He is whispering in her
ear as his eyes dart to Enishi who's finger has nonchalantly turned
into Kenji's plaything. The couple bicker with their eyes before the
husband finally wins. Nervously, Kaoru-san smiles at the man beside me.
Her hands shake as she gently picks up her son. "W-would you like to
hold him?"
Enishi stares at the woman with disbelief. "Are you sure?" She
hesitates before nodding. I smile at the ex-demon's sudden nervousness.
I doubt he's ever held a baby before. As would be expected, he doesn't
know where to put his hands. Giggling, I help him while the child is
put into his embrace. As soon as the precious weight is given to him,
his eyes glisten with wonder. I imagine the world no longer exists for
him. He is engrossed with the baby.
Kenji coos and yawns causing Enishi to smile gently. Kaoru-san seems
satisfied by the rare smile. She sits more comfortably, sighing with
relief. Did she think that Enishi would hurt an innocent child? He is
but a child at heart. Why would he hurt his own kind?
The baby makes a whimper before he begins to cry. Like a typical man,
Enishi looks toward Kaoru-san asking to be relieved of his charge. The
woman is only too eager to heed to his silent request, until Kenshin's
hand stops her. The red-head smiles and waits. Seeing the other man's
reaction, Enishi snarls and tries to settle the child on his own. He
pats the boy's back. Within seconds, the crying stops as tiny,
brilliantly blue eyes stare at his uncle's surprised face. "You will be
a good father Enishi." A glare meets a small smile.
"Baby go to good people. Already, you good father. You like father to
Cho-chan." Enishi smiles at me before he lets Kaoru-san take back her
child.
* * *
"Brat…What happened?" I kneel next to the boy. He winces and tries to
sit up. The yakusa must have done this to him. Blood is soaking the
grass next to the clinic. Why hasn't anyone come out to get him yet?
Did the men make sure to beat him silently so that no one would know
about it?
"They took Cho-chan…I couldn't…" Despite the obvious pain, he clenches
his eyes shut as if trying not to cry. "They don't fight fair!" Now the
water works begin. I know they don't fight fair. I tried to teach you
that last year, but you didn't listen. Did you. My hand instinctively
travels to my pocket to take out a cigarette. Now is not the time. Too
gently for my nature, I pick the kid up and carry him inside the clinic
as the old man silently follows.
* * *
The men enjoy a cup of tea as Liya-san and I do the dishes. At least
they're tolerating each other. I think Enishi is forcing it though
because the two of us are becoming friends. Now that I think of it,
it's very kind of him to want Liya-san to be my friend. I would think
he'd be against it seeing as Kenshin is his enemy. Of course, he was
quite nice to me while I was cooped up on that island. He made sure I
was comfortable. The cupboards were always full; the bath was always
ready when I needed it. With the exception of that one physical threat,
he never touched me. Sometimes, we even had small conversations.
Nothing but strained small talk of course, but they were still
conversations.
Something's coming. I look up in time to see a small dart hit the strip
of wall just below the window in front of me. "Kaoru-san!" There is a
piece of parchment attached to it. "Poison dart…" Liya carefully,
removes the paper from the tiny weapon. Her hands are shaking.
"Wait!" She's already gone. I run after her. Kenshin might have to
fight again. I don't want him to fight. I don't think his body is up to
that kind of pressure anymore. Like Megumi-san said, Hiten-misturugi
ryuu is wearing his muscle and bones down. If he has to fight another
major battle, he might not survive!
* * *
"Enishi! Read!" A parchment is thrust into my hand. It has the same
painting as before, but there is an added feature. The tiger has cubs,
which have also been slaughtered. I let my senses intensify hoping to
catch the one who sent this. Whoever they were, they left already.
"I offer you a trade, Tang Mu. Either you serve us, or your friends
will. I wonder how well the children will do at pleasuring my men.
With love-- Michio"
"They have taken over Rakuminmura." Everyone looks up to see Oibore and
Saitou stepping into the room. "It seems they still have the cannon you
sold them." No, not the village. I clench my fist crumpling the message
in the process. If Liya doesn't return to them, they'll make Cho-chan
and whoever else they have do the same jobs Liya had to do.
"They have Cho, Kaemon, Tsubame, and Tae." They took them all!? I doubt
they're as kind of captors as I was to Battousai's woman. Slamming my
fist on the table, I stand. I have to do something, that much is
obvious. What do I do though? Onee-san? Can you help me? I can't see
her! She's making me do this on my own?!
"Enishi…I go…" Is she serious?! She knows what they'll make her do.
After all this time that she's been recovering, she's going to give up
that easily?! Never! I won't allow it. I grab her wrist as she rises.
She's not going anywhere.
"I won't let you go back to them. I'm not letting you give up that
easily." I let her go and retrieve my sword from under the table. I
have to correct this mistake. They don't deserve my weapons anymore.
So, they're stationed in Rakuminmura now? They better not get too
comfortable then.
* * *
Author's Notes:
I know the baby part was cheesy and pointless, but it was a cute idea
that I just had to put in. I hope Enishi is still in character for it.
Sorry for taking so long on posting!!! I've been so busy moving into a
new place, starting a new job, and taking summer classes that I haven't
been able to do much in the way of writing. I hope I'm staying true to
what I was writing at the beginning of this story. It's been so long
since I've written anything for it that I'm worried that I've lost the
tone. *shrug* Oh well, guess I'll find out when you guys give me
reviews.
