DISCLAIMER: Rurouni Kenshin and Rurouni Kenshin characters are exclusively owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Sony Entertainment, Jump Comics and associated parties. Please note, this is purely fiction and for entertainment purposes only. This story is not meant for sale or profit.
Author's Notes: This is my first Alternate Universe Fanfic about Kenshin and Kaoru falling in love during modern times. It's not your typical love story and it is OOC. (Drama/Angst/Romance) Fatal Love Fanfiction by Gypsy-chan Enjoy!
Please Note: This story was not written to offend those in the medical profession or in the law enforcement field. It was written from my over-active imagination. The characters, the characters in various professional capacities and the events in this story should not be taken literal in anyway. OOCness and unethical practices will prevail throughout this story. Thank you and Enjoy! ^_^
Part Twenty-Three
.....Kenshin slowly shifted his eyes towards Oibore and weakly asked, "How does one "get over" the pain and suffering he caused to his victims?"
Oibore smiled and replied, "When you lived as long as I have, you learn to get over a lot of things. My grandfather use to say that being in a state of depression is like taking your mind and throwing it into Rakuninmura."
Kenshin knitted his brow at Oibore before repeating, "Rakuninmura?"
"You've never heard of Rakuninmura," he asked while noting Kenshin shaking his head. "Well, let me tell you about it. During the Meji Era, Rakuninmura was a place where......"
********************************
After listening to Oibore's explanation of Rakuninmura, Kenshin turned to lie flat on his back. As he stared into the ceiling, he softly uttered, "It's still no use. All that you said makes sense, but it's still hard for me to grasp because of the way I feel. I can't find a way out of my depression."
"What are you searching for," asked Oibore.
"Answers," replied Kenshin.
"Life is full of answers my son," responded Oibore. "Which answers do you seek?"
"Answers on how to atone for all the crimes I committed in the past. Answers on how to face the countless victims who had to rebuild their lives after I destroyed it by my carelessness. I wished I could find the answers, but I can't!"
Oibore cast his eyes downward and then looked over to Kenshin. After a long silence he replied, "Is that so? Even in your depressed state, you won't let go of what you're holding so tight in your heart."
While still staring up at the ceiling, Kenshin inwardly repeated the last few words Oibore spoke.
"...you won't let go of what you're holding so tight in my heart."
Kenshin turned his head toward Oibore and asked, "what do you mean by that?"
Oibore smiled and replied, "At one point in our lives, we all lose something that is most precious to us. But there's always something deep inside our hearts that we can't bring ourselves to part with. That, my son, is the answer. No matter what any one says, it is our only truth."
Kenshin started thinking about Kaoru and how she exhausted all her efforts for him to get a second chance at life. She threw away her job and chance at a lucrative career because she believed in him deep within her heart. He also thought about Megumi and Sano who always stood by his side, risking their own careers for his sake.
Lastly, he reflected back on his days with Hiko. Kenshin recalled how Hiko taught him the basic principles behind the Hiten Mitsurugi School. Even though he knew he would never wield a sword in modern times, it was the philosophy behind the teaching he could use in order to preserve life. Kenshin finally realized that the training and teachings he learned from his Shishou was something that was embedded deeply inside his heart. It was the one truth that he could never let go.
"I may not ever be able to completely atone for all the wrong that I have committed, but there are some things I can do. I can use my second chance at life to repay the community for the shame I brought upon it. And I can also find happiness in the lives of the people who have believed in me. (He smiled inwardly as he envisioned Kaoru) I can do all this by applying the principles and philosophy I learned as a child."
Oibore could sense that Kenshin's spirit was lifted. He used the mop to rise slowly from his chair.
"I guess I better get back to work now and I think you need to try and eat something. I'm sure there's a lot of people out there who's waiting on you. You got to build up your strength if you intend on seeing them again."
Kenshin smiled at Oibore and then slowly sat up and looked over to his tray of food. He pulled it near him and began eating.
Kuma had finished cleaning his area. As he entered the room, he saw Kenshin sitting up eating.
"So, I see the red-headed man finally got up," said Kuma to Oibore.
"Yep, I guess he did," replied Oibore as he mopped the area.
"I wonder what could have gotten him out of his depressive mood? If I had Dr. Takani as my personal doctor, I don't think I would ever get depressed."
"Kuma, you're an old horny fool who wouldn't know what to do with Dr. Takani if she fell in your lap," chuckled Oibore.
"You're just jealous because she likes me better because I'm younger than you," retorted Kuma.
"I'm not going to answer that," said Oibore as he put his mop in a bucket of water. "But I will say this, that young man needed to find the answer to his depression within himself. He had his answer all along but never knew it. He's going to make a fine addition to the community once he get out this place."
"Yes, now that's one thing we both agree on," smiled Kuma. "Say, its almost break time. Want to play a game of checkers?"
"Sure, why not," smiled Oibore as he and Kuma walked out of the infirmary.
Kenshin smiled as he watched the two older men leaving. He pushed the empty tray aside and laid back down. As he closed his eyes he begin thinking about Kaoru.
"Yes, tomorrow I will do whatever it takes to work toward getting paroled. I want to see Kaoru again. Her innocence, compassion and true desire to help me is what healed my broken heart. Dr. Kaoru Kamiya is my strength and my will to live."
Aoshi and Kaoru were sitting in her office going over Kenshin's files. Yuri brought the last of the files on Kenshin into the office.
"This is everything," said Yuri as she placed a box of files on Kaoru's desk.
"Thank you Yuri," smiled Kaoru.
"I'm really wiped out," she yawned. "I have to go home and get some sleep."
"You've done more than enough for me Yuri. Get home safely," said Kaoru as she escorted Yuri to the door.
Aoshi was sitting quietly reviewing the files. Kaoru noticed that he was making a lot of notes. She poured to cups of tea and walked over to Aoshi handing him a cup.
"Thank you for your help," said Kaoru as she handed him the cup of tea.
"Don't thank me until its over," he replied while keeping his eyes on the files in front of him.
"I understand that the parole board hearing will not be held here. Is it.... because of what I did," she asked while lowering her head.
"Partially, but its also due to all the recent problems surrounding this jail. The board administration didn't want to be prejudice by the recent turn of events. That is why the parole board hearing will be moved to the Kyoto prison."
Kaoru's eyes widen as she asked, "Kyoto prison? Why there?"
"Because that is where Himura was first incarcerated."
"I see," said Kaoru as she jotted down that information. "and who will be the board of parole assistant."
"I've chosen Misao Makimachi."
Kaoru thought for a moment trying to recall where she had heard that name.
"Isn't she the one who was...."
"Yes, publicly humiliated by Amakusa Shougo at a parole board hearing several years ago," said Aoshi as he abruptly cut Kaoru's sentence off. "Misao belonged to the Oniwabanshuu Victims Crisis Center. Her grandfather Okina founded it. He and I are old friends.
Misao Makimachi was the youngest member of the crisis center. She was a very spirited girl. Her grandfather tried to warn her not to go up against Shougo in the parole hearing of Kaioh. Shougo was far more experienced than Misao was.
Shougo used his influence in the community to persuade the parole board into releasing Kaioh. Misao didn't have enough support from Kaioh's victims to keep Kaioh from getting paroled. Shougo publicly humiliated her by discrediting her research and all the signed petitions she had.
He claimed that Misao forged the signed petitions. None of Kaioh's victims or their families wanted to support Misao. They were too frightened even to admit to their own signatures. Misao was embarrassed and became disheartened after that incident. Even though it was later proved that she was innocent of what Shougo accused her of, she never represented another victim again.
I encouraged her not to give up and to pursue a career in becoming a Parole Board Assistant. In that way, she would learn the process of parole from the inside, so that one day she could take over the Oniwabanshuu Victims Crisis Center."
"I heard that Shougo-san will be representing Enishi. Does Misao know this?"
"No. But it is not necessary," he flatly replied. "I will personally make sure that her research and reports will be accepted by the parole board and not rejected on account of Shougo."
Kaoru picked up a few papers and started reviewing them while thinking, "I hope she's strong enough to get the information we need for Kenshin."
The next morning, Megumi walked into the infirmary and saw that Kenshin was sitting up. She went over to his bed and checked his chart.
"Good morning Kenshin," she smiled while glancing at his chart. "I see you are feeling better."
"Yes thank you Dr. Takani. I feel much better," he smiled back at her in response.
She glanced over to his breakfast tray and noted that he hand finished his meal. Megumi smiled as she shook the thermometer in her hand and while placing it under his tongue said, "I'm glad to see that you're eating again. I guess getting a good nights rest was what you needed."
Kenshin nodded his head in response with the thermometer still in his mouth.
Megumi checked her watch and then removed the thermometer. "No fever and your blood pressure is back to normal. It looks like you're all ready for action."
"Yes I am," smiled Kenshin. "Thank you for taking care of me Dr. Takani. I hope that I wasn't too much trouble for you and Sano."
Before Megumi could respond, Sano walked in. Megumi glanced over to him as he walked toward them and said, "Speak of the devil."
"Okay fox, why are you calling me names so early in the morning," muffled Sano as he chewed on a fish bone.
"Because its true," said Megumi as she frowned upon seeing the fish bone in his mouth. "Take that thing out of your mouth. It's unsanitary to be chewing that thing around my patients."
"Yeah, yeah," he replied as he plopped down in a chair next to Kenshin's bed. He then took note of Kenshin's overall appearance. He could see a big improvement.
"Geez Kenshin, you knew I was coming, you could have at least saved some of your breakfast for me," he remarked while glancing over to Kenshin's empty food tray.
Megumi shot a glare over to Sano as she scribbled some notes on Kenshin's chart.
"I hear that you're going to be transferred out of here," said Sano as he leaned closer to Kenshin and spoke in a hushed tone. "Yuri told me that you'll probably be transferred to the prison in Kyoto for the parole hearing that's set for next week."
"To Kyoto? Why," asked Megumi.
"I guess it's because of all the recent events. But that doesn't matter now. The main things is for Kenshin to keep his nose clean until he gets to Kyoto. A lot of eyes will be watching him," he said to Megumi.
Sano shifted his eyes over to Kenshin and said, "You got to make sure to make a good impression on the guards by following every prison rule to the letter."
"Yes, I know," replied Kenshin. "I just hope I can go back to my old cell. I would hate to stay over in Cell Block D."
"Don't worry about that, that Fujita guy already took care of that," said Sano. "I'll make sure you get back over there safe."
"Thank you Sano," smiled Kenshin.
"I'll make sure you can spend one more night in the infirmary. You need to reserve all your strength for what lies ahead."
"Thank you Dr. Takani. Both you and Sano has been of tremendous help," replied Kenshin. "Your kindness will not be forgotten."
"Just leave everything to us, we'll see you through this thing," said Sano as he pat Kenshin on the shoulder.
As Megumi and Sano walked away, Kenshin leaned his back against the bedpost and closed his eyes.
"Its strange how I'm starting to feel anxious over this parole hearing. It's not my first. I've attended several hearings during my prison term. I remember how at my first parole hearing I never bothered to show up. My parole was denied as a "no show." I didn't really care at the time. I spent my earlier years of prison reliving my crimes, the police investigations and the trials. When I murdered the street punk and his gang who took Tomoe away from me, I actually believed that there had been a certain inevitability to my actions. I felt no remorse.
It was only after many sessions with the prison psychiatrist and coming in contact with good friends like Sano and Dr. Takani, that my attitude gradually changed. I never imagined myself ever enjoying real freedom again. I had convinced myself that prison was the only way I could atone for my crimes. I grew accustomed to prison life, settling in as it were. That is, until Kaoru came along. She made me want to get a second chance at life. I won't let all her hard work and faith in me be for nothing."
Kenshin finally drifted off to sleep.
THREE DAYS LATER, Aoshi was back in Kyoto. He stopped by to see his long time friend Okina of the Oniwabanshuu Victims Crisis Center. While sitting down having a cup of tea, the two men started to converse.
"How long has it been Aoshi since we last had a cup of tea together?"
"Too long," replied Aoshi as he slowly sipped his hot tea.
"Thanks for sending me a copy of your new book. I've read it and found many interesting theories in it," said Okina.
"I'm glad that you enjoyed it," he stated without a display of emotions.
"I did as you've asked. I haven't told Misao that you want her to be the parole board assistant over the Himura case," said Okina as he shifted his eyes over to Aoshi.
"Thank you Okina."
"I also heard who will be representing one of Himura's victims. Do you think...."
"Yes," he said with confidence. "I am confident that Misao will complete the job successfully."
Okina smiled and nodded, "Me too."
The front door was opened and closed quickly. A young woman's voice was heard muffled in the background. Aoshi shifted his icy blue eyes toward the sound of footsteps approaching the room.
"Hey gramps, thanks for telling me to bring my umbrella," said the young woman as she neared the room. "I would have gotten soaked had I not brought....."
The young woman abruptly stopped speaking upon seeing icy blue eyes peering up at her. Her heart began to beat rapidly.
"Hello, Misao."
Okina stood and walked over to Misao and said, "I have some things I must attend to. Why don't you go over and speak with Aoshi until I return."
With that he leaned over and pressed a kiss to his granddaughter's ear while whispering, "Don't screw this up or you'll regret it later. Throw some of your womanly charms at him if you really want him."
Misao frowned as he walked past her thinking, "I'll get that dirty old man later."
Misao walked over to the sofa near Aoshi and sat down. She could feel her palms becoming sweaty.
"What brings you over this way Aoshi," she asked cheerfully while trying to hide her nervousness.
"I need to ask something very important of you," he said as he cast his icy blue eyes into her eyes.
"You know I'll always try to help you in anyway. We've known each other for a long time."
"Next week, there will be a parole board hearing at the Kyoto prison. I would like for you to interview Kenshin Himura in preparation of his hearing."
Misao's eyes widened upon hearing Kenshin's name. "Why... Why are you involved with this matter? Wasn't Kenshin Himura the one who..."
"Yes, but that's all in the past," he answered abruptly. "There's another reason I'm handling this case. There will be a victim's right advocate that will be representing one of Himura's victims. His name is..... Amakusa Shougo."
Misao turned her head to face the window. A long pause ensued between Aoshi and Misao. Only the rain was heard falling on to the streets.
Aoshi noticed that Misao's hands began to tremble slightly.
"I.... I don't know... if I can do it," she stuttered while staring out at the rain. "How can you ask me to do this? Don't you remember how he humiliated me," she said as tears stream down her face.
Aoshi moved closer to her and took her slender hands into his. Misao blushed slightly as she glanced down at his hands and then up to meet his eyes.
"I will never forget what Amakusa Shougo did to you," he answered in a quiet tone. "That is why I decided to take over this case. I would like for us to work closely together on this. I am confident that you will succeed."
Misao still didn't respond. She was filled with many emotions. Anger that Aoshi would even suggest that she be in the same room with Amakusa Shougo and yet she felt comfort knowing that they would be working together. She started to thing that this case was what she needed for Aoshi to finally notice her as a woman and not as the young girl he once knew.
As he still held on to her hands, she said, "Yes. I will do it."
Even though he didn't display any outward emotions, Misao knew that he was smiling inwardly.
"We can discuss our strategy tomorrow night over dinner at the Shrebeko," he said.
"I would like that," blushed Misao as she smiled up at him.
Okina peeked around the corner at Aoshi and Misao. He smiled widely when he saw Aoshi holding Misao's hands.
"Maybe some good will come of this after all. Misao will finally get the man she's been waiting for."
Author's Comments: Konnichiwa minna, Arigatou, for all your wonderful reviews. Keep them coming ^_^.
I'm glad everyone is still liking the story. Gomen, gomen, gomen, for the slow updates. When writing this story, I have to be in a certain mood. Prison is such a dark subject you know. I get inspired when it rains or when I'm depressed. Now don't go bribing the weather man to make it rain. I am half way done with the next chapter. Actually, I have only a chapter and a half to go. So I just want to say, thanks for sticking around.
Anyhoo, I hoped this chapter worked for every. I'm happy to have finally worked Misao in. And I kept my promise to put in a little Aoshi, Misao waff. So I think I'm doing pretty good with the Sano/Megumi and now Aoshi/Misao waff. I'm working hard to get Kenshin and Kaoru back together. Enishi will make his appearance in the next chapter. Also, for those manga readers, I've changed Kenshin's "one truth" from what it is in the manga to fit this story. Kenshin's one truth had to do with his protection of the ones he cared about while using his sword. Since this is an A/U fic depicting Kenshin's modern day Jinchuu, I thought that using the philosphy and principles he learned from Hiko could be his one truth. I hope that part came out okay.
As usual, constructive reviews are welcomed as long as they are genuine and not sarcastic. Thank you for reading and being a considerate reviewer. ^_^
