Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Notes: Ooooh… on an Escaflowne kick… there she is. Three out of five stars… Waitaminute… Anyway, we were posting a Kenshin fic. Ah, so here's the one rather serious chapter of the story. I would consider this chapter an R rating, just on adult situations and violence. Perhaps I am overrating this chapter, but it's better safe than sorry, right? Anyway, here we are. I hope you like.
The Path of the Sword
6. Trouble
"That was something," Sanosuke snickered, swiping tears from his eyes. "I never would have thought you'd go and do that."
"It never hurts to promote yourself," Kenshin murmured, still grinning smugly, pleased with himself. "Kami knows, you do it all the time."
"But I sound like an ass trying to make myself look good," Sanosuke shrugged. "You came off as a friendly woman complimenting her friend."
Kenshin laughed. He did not agree with Sanosuke, nor did he say anything to the contrary. Sanosuke was tempted to drag his friend into a headlock, but that would not have looked good. He would have looked like he was attacking a woman.
Their attentions were drawn away from their good-natured bantering when they heard a shout ahead. Both looked up, curious as to what the reason behind that shouting was.
A crowd was already gathering, a wide circle that nearly blocked the street. Several men were guiding women and young children away, nudging them to the outskirts of the crowd. Kenshin's eyes narrowed, and Sanosuke frowned.
"Looks like a fight," Sanosuke commented. "Stay here. I'll see what's up."
"Stay here?" Kenshin echoed skeptically. "Sano, I don't-"
"You're unarmed, female, and pregnant," Sanosuke interrupted brusquely, pushing Kenshin to the side of the street. "Wait here, and I'll make sure everything's all right."
Sighing impatiently, Kenshin leaned back against the wall, careful not to stumble into the alley when he did so. He watched as Sanosuke jogged toward the crowd, a bit resentful at having been left behind. Surely he was not that much of a burden. It was not like he would get in the way.
That thought brought him up short. Was that how Kaoru felt much of the time? Those times when he pushed her back, scolded her for rushing brazenly into trouble, or even told her half-truths to keep her safe--was this how she felt? If it was, he needed to reevaluate his actions.
The fight seemed to be over. The crowd was drifting away, returning to their daily activities. Kenshin pushed away from the wall, searching the distant crowd for Sanosuke. He barely acknowledged the steps of people running behind him. It was likely some police officers, drawn in late to the action.
Kenshin never expected the arm that wrapped around his waist, nor the large hand that clamped over his mouth. Startled, he momentarily forgot to struggle as he was pulled back into the alley. Then, common sense kicked in, and he twisted, his heel slamming down onto his assailant's foot even as he shoved his elbow back into soft gut.
The man choked and released him. Make that men--there were four of them. Kenshin gave ground, stumbling back, movement made awkward in the kimono. He hit the wall, and there was no place else to go. The men had surrounded him, all four grinning obscenely.
"What do you want?" Kenshin demanded, eyes darting from man to man, trying to decide which one would lunge first.
"A pretty little thing like you doesn't know?" one man laughed, momentarily drawing Kenshin's glare to the right.
The man to the left jumped forward, and Kenshin ducked. The man fell over him, landing in an ungraceful heap on the other side. Another one moved forward. His limp told of who he was. Kenshin's fist met the man's face, injuring both himself and the man.
Shaking out his bruised hand, Kenshin hopped back, sidestepping to avoid the man who had tripped over him. His knuckles throbbed from the contact that had broken the other man's nose. He had never been much for hand-to-hand combat.
"I'm not alone," he said, growing frustrated with this fight. Sanosuke had been right. He was helpless like this. Without any sort of weapon, he could not hope to defend himself against multiple opponents. His hand was sprained from that one punch, hanging uselessly at his side. "You don't want to fight the man I'm with."
"Don't worry, sweetheart," one of them bared his teeth in a gruesome version of a smile. "No one'll interrupt us here."
Kenshin dodged another blow to his side, ducked under a punch, and missed the third swing heading toward his cheek. It struck hard, sending him reeling to the side. He tensed as hands closed over his arms, holding him in place. And his eyes widened when he saw the fist arching toward his stomach.
"No!" the horrified shriek had barely left him when the fist made contact. Kenshin choked, tasting blood in his throat and on his lips. His legs collapsed beneath him, and he doubled over, gasping for air.
Kenshin's mind went blank, but for one thing: The baby! He barely noticed as he was shoved back against the wall, the loose fabric of the kimono's skirt being tugged up. Rape was on these men's minds, but that was not enough to pull him away from his anxiety over his unborn child's well-being. Even when hands pawed at his chest, faces pushing in far too close to his, lips against his throat, he could not bring himself to care. He just had to know if his baby was okay.
"Sano!" Kenshin whimpered, cradling his stomach even as he crumpled to the ground. Anger and panic flashing in his eyes, he lifted his voice to an hysterical shout. "SANOSUKE!!"
Suddenly, the hands were gone. The last man was yanked away, and Sanosuke loomed over him, his eyes wide with worry.
"Kenshin!" Sanosuke blurted, too anxious to concern himself with aliases.
His vision was failing him, graying at the edges as he sought to get to his feet. Sanosuke caught his arms, easily holding him upright. Kenshin was still panting, hugging his stomach desperately.
"The baby," he gasped, the hand not occupied with holding his belly reaching out to pull on Sanosuke's jacket. The tall man sucked in a horrified breath of air when Kenshin coughed, more blood flecking his lips. Then, Kenshin went limp against him, unconscious.
^_^
Kaoru was in the kitchen, sweeping up some rice that had spilled, when the messenger boy came running in. The boy, barely older than eight or nine, called for Kamiya-san repeatedly before Tae finally sent Tsubame to the back to get the 'man.' Kaoru came out, frowning uncertainly when she saw the messenger. He was panting from his run, knowing his message to be one of great importance.
"Kamiya-san?" he gasped.
"I'm Kamiya," Kaoru nodded. "What is it?"
"A tall man with spiky, brown hair told me to come tell you," the boy gathered himself and stood straighter. "Your wife is at the clinic, and you should hurry to-hey!"
He stumbled into Tae when Kaoru ran past him, not bothering to pay the boy or wait for him to finish the message. Tae did not bother calling after her, concerned as well. She just paid the boy from her own pocket and sent him running.
"I hope Kouri-san is okay," she murmured anxiously.
^_^
Kaoru burst into the clinic, only fifteen minutes after Sanosuke had brought Kenshin in. She was greeted by a solemn Sanosuke, who immediately caught her, preventing her from rushing straight back.
"Sanosuke!" she exclaimed. "Where's Kenshin? What happened?!"
"Relax, Kaoru," Sanosuke pushed her back, making her sit down. He handed her a cup of tea that had been prepared for that purpose. "Kenshin's okay. Megumi's checking everything out to make sure the baby's safe."
"What happened?!" she demanded again.
"Some guys jumped him," Sanosuke sat down next to her, sighing heavily. "I left him alone for a few minutes because there was a fight in the street. I didn't think-" he shook his head. "I found him after he started shouting. There were three of 'em on him, pawing at him like animals. I wasted them, but they did something... he was coughing up blood."
"WHAT?!"
"He threw up a lot when I brought him in here," Sanosuke shrugged. "Megumi thinks there was more damage done to his stomach than the baby. She wants to keep him here for a few days, though."
Kaoru set down her cup for risk of spilling it with her trembling hands. She was furious beyond telling.
"You should have stayed with him," she growled dangerously.
"I know," Sanosuke sighed in quiet resignation. "I'm sorry."
"Can I see him?"
"Probably," Sanosuke waved toward a closed door. "They're in there."
Kaoru did not wait for anymore explanations. She went straight into the indicated room, stopping short when she closed the shoji behind her. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of Megumi and Kenshin, across the room from her.
Kenshin was awake and on the floor, doubled over a bucket and throwing up. Megumi was kneeling beside him, one arm around his shoulders while the other gripped his arm, holding him steady. It was something Kaoru had never expected to see in her lifetime--something she hoped never to see again.
"Kenshin!"
He coughed again, tensing at the sound of Kaoru's voice in the room. Kaoru dropped to the floor beside him, meeting Megumi's eyes over his head. The doctor nodded, drawing back as Kaoru moved forward.
Kenshin pushed some of the hair out of his face and looked up tearfully when he had recovered enough to do so. His breathing was still loud and labored, but he had stopped vomiting.
"Kaoru," he whispered, leaning against her wearily. "I'm sorry."
"Hush," Kaoru hugged him close, pushing sweat-dampened hair away from his face. "It's not your fault. I'm just glad you're okay."
"But the baby..." harsh sobs wracked through his slender form, and Kaoru hushed him again, looking to Megumi for assistance. The woman did not need encouraging.
"Come on, Ken-san," she said gently. "Let's get you on the table so I can examine you."
Kenshin went easily as they guided him to the table. The obi had already been removed, and now Megumi draped a blanket over his legs, drawing it up to his hips. With his modesty protected, she pushed open the kimono. Kaoru sat near Kenshin's head, both of his hands clenched around one of hers, her free hand gently stroking his bangs away from his forehead.
Megumi normally would have sedated a patient who was as distraught as Kenshin, but she was concerned as to how the fetus would respond to any sedative. Which was why she let Kaoru into the room without protest. Kaoru could draw Kenshin's attention while Megumi pressed around his abdomen. With any luck, he would fall asleep on his own.
^_^
Four days later, Kenshin went home, under strict orders to relax and stay off his feet. Other than being a bit more subdued than usual, everything returned to normal. Kaoru was overly protective of Kenshin, refusing to let him leave the dojo without someone remaining by his side at all times. Sanosuke, while feeling immensely guilty, blaming himself for what had happened, remained at the dojo. Kenshin and Kaoru both forgave him immediately, insisting that he had acted in what he thought were their best interests at the time. And Yahiko, after having heard the news, hovered around Kenshin like a protective little brother.
A week after the event, Kenshin was feeling a bit stifled. Not a half hour would pass without someone asking how he was doing, if he was comfortable, and did he want something to eat? It built up until he finally exploded. (KaBOOM!)
"How are you feeling, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked, pausing by him.
Kenshin was sitting on the porch, eyeing the growing pile of dirty laundry across the yard. At Kaoru's question, he offered a strained smile and nodded.
"I feel just fine, Koishii," he replied, his voice tense with irritation.
"Would you like some tea-"
"No!" he blurted, annoyed. "No, I don't want any tea."
"Something to eat?" she pressed. "A cushion to sit-"
"No, no, no!" he stood up abruptly, exasperation emanating from him in waves. "I'm fine. I don't want anything to drink. I don't want to eat, and I don't need people doting over me twenty-four/seven," he panted slightly, averting his gaze at Kaoru's startled expression. "I'm going to do the laundry."
Kaoru reached out as he stepped into his geta and started across the yard.
"Do you think that's wise?" she asked anxiously. "Megumi-san said-"
"I know what Megumi-dono said," Kenshin continued walking.
"But-"
"I want to do the laundry!" he shouted, frustrated tears flooding to his eyes. "Is that too much to ask?!"
"N-no!" Kaoru stammered.
"Good!"
Kenshin turned on his heel and stalked over to the laundry bucket. Kaoru watched in astonishment as he angrily shoved some hair out of his eyes. He appeared to be muttering to himself, and... talking to the laundry. Shaking her head in mixed concern and amusement, Kaoru made up her mind to go talk to Megumi. She seemed to recall something about mood swings.
Notes: No, Kenshin was not raped. This is a comedy, not an angst fic. He got hit in the stomach. Not a good thing. But he's okay. Baby's okay. We're ALL OKAY! Okay? Yes, anyway… I hope people liked this chapter. The next chapter will be much lighter. Actually, it's two chapters in one since they're both so short. Chapter seven and eight: Kenshin is self-conscious about his increasing weight.