Hello again! I'll reply to reviewer comments next installment. ^_^
Let's go!
(more tense revisions.....arrrrrrgh!)
...............
DAY THREE
"Today you suffer the consequences of your actions!"
"Wait a minute, I can explain...."
"Explain after the punishment has been served!"
"But..but...."
"NO BUTS!"
Kaoru shoved two large baskets at Kenshin.
"This basket," as she forcibly wrapped his hand on the handle, "is for not buying tofu last Monday. THIS basket," as she forced the other to his other hand, "is for having a go at me last Monday for no reason and without my permission." She took a deep breath, then thrust a long piece of paper into his hakama. "And if you don't buy everything on this list today, I'll make you sweep the house all by yourself this afternoon! Plus make dinner and do dishes!"
"You forgot about the laundry, Kaoru-dono....." Kenshin meekly added.
"No, I did not forget about the laundry," Kaoru answered, with a sly smile on her face. "But I figured that since you actually LIKE doing laundry, it would be punishment for me to keep you away from it!"
This was NOT supposed to be happening, Kenshin reflected. October 3 was supposed to be just another ordinary day at home, doing laundry, sweeping the yard a bit, cooking dinner, but no dishes. Chief Uramura did not need him until tomorrow, when he would introduce Kenshin to the police contingent during the parade. Now he was being forced to go shopping in the middle of the week. And Wednesday was NOT a very good market day.
Alright, Kaoru-dono up there, Kenshin asked, exactly what is this leading to?
"I don't know yet, Kenshin, but Kami-sama says that He has something to show you."
Oroooooo.
Kenshin was a good little boy, and did his errands as requested by his somewhat cruel landlady. He bought the tofu, a LOT of vegetables, some fish, a new broom, some laundry soap, new sandals for Kaoru and himself, some new undershirts for Yahiko, some bath soap....
"MAAA! Won't this list ever end?!" Kenshin complained. Yes, it was that long.
He decided to take a short break from all the walking, and headed for the river. He planned to sit in the cool grass, maybe wade his feet in the cool water, too. Just for 30 minutes, he promised himself.
He placed all the groceries beside him carefully, stretched out on the grass, and slowly drifted off to a nap, lulled by the nice afternoon breeze.
He had not lain there for 5 minutes when he heard someone calling his name.
"Kenshin! Kenshin!"
"I promise, Kaoru-dono! I'll finish with the groceries by 3 o' clock!"
"No, Kenshin, I'm your angel Kaoru! Look behind you and listen."
"Oh, you women! You always order me around-----"
"Women won't order you around if you weren't such a pushover-----"
"Pushover! I'll show you who is a pushover------"
"NO, don't argue with me here! Look behind you and listen."
"Who's arguing with you, Kaoru-dono? I've had quite enough of your shopping lists------"
"Stop talking to me and look behind you, Kenshin!"
Pushover or not, Kenshin obeyed the angel. Two men were talking just above him, having stopped on the path. Evidently they had not noticed Kenshin down below, as they were talking without caution and with audible voices. Kenshin crouched beside the tall grass and began to crawl up closer to the men.
"We know how you feel about foreigners in general, especially after they made your family bankrupt...." one of the men was saying, haughty with his words.
"You know how I'd like to get my hands on them," the other man's face showed his deep anger.
"And I know just the way you can help us, Sayama," the first man continued. "We have heard about your new position in the force....."
Obviously the man called Sayama did not expect his position to be involved in the deal. "I'd like to keep it, though," he interrupted with some hesitation.
"If you help us," the other man persuaded, moving closer to Sayama, "we can promise you that your family will be repaid the millions it lost. It will be part of our demands to this wretched government of ours if they want their stupid ambassador back!"
The ambassador! They planned to kidnap, maybe even kill, the American ambassador!
Kenshin inched even closer and took quick mental notes on the features of the two men. The one called Sayama was about as tall as Sanosuke. His face was of the forgettable type, if it were not for the large stitched scar on his forehead. His unnamed accomplice was shorter but more muscular, with a sinister face and bloodthirsty eyes.
"What if I do not agree to help you? It won't be too much trouble for you to find another person like me, right?" Sayama asked his companion nervously.
"That's just the trouble," he replied, and drew out a sword. "Unfortunately, you have had this conversation with me, so you would most probably go to the police with this information." He aligned the sharp blade to the other man's cheek. "Now, I won't want that to happen, yes? So I only have two options. It is either I slit your throat right here and now, or I sheath this sword as you give your word that you will do as we say."
Scoundrel! Kenshin commented to himself. He placed his hands into position, ready to draw his sword.
But the man named Sayama, sweating profusely, had relented.
"I'll do as you say. You shall have your ambassador."
"Good, good. You made a wise decision." His tormentor sheathed his sword and gave a hard pat on the back. "The first thing I want you to do is to check the ambassador's itinerary while he's here, so we can plan our moves. Then you will hear from me again on Friday, at this same place."
Sayama only nodded. The men parted ways in different directions.
Kenshin was breathing heavily. There was a real assassination attempt planned against the American ambassador. So October 7 was an organized undertaking, then. Kenshin ---- and Kaoru ----- only managed to prevent it in a nick of time. With its horrifying results.
But he had no clue who would be the mastermind of such an attempt, and he did not know any of the two men he saw near the river. In other words, he had no leads except a conversation by the river.
And beside him on the river, stood his guardian angel in the beautiful new kimono. She was still in Heaven. She would still die. He buried his face in his hands, not knowing what else to do or think.
"What do I do now, Kaoru-dono? Someone is still bound to shoot you..."
"You do the only thing you can do now, Kenshin."
"What would that be, Kaoru-dono?"
"Finish the shopping and get back to the dojo!"
Of all the things she had to say....but then, this was still Kaoru talking, heavenly or otherwise.....
"I suppose, I can argue with you now-------"
"Save it for the me back home." The angel gave him a smile and dematerialized.
Kenshin let out a sigh and trudged back to the market.
It was 5 o'clock before he managed to get home, tired of body and concerned of mind.
As Kaoru checked the groceries against the long list, Kenshin kept looking at her.
He admired everything about her. The neat ponytail, the little ribbon that tied it back, the yellow kimono dusty from sweeping, the white tabi that covered her little nimble feet, the quick wit counting out his expenses, the funny little smile she had always ready for him. He had to admit, he liked being a pushover to this aggressive little woman.
"Stop ogling, Kenshin!" Kaoru blushingly reprimanded him. "See, you forgot to buy new rope for the well!"
"My sincerest apologies, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin kneels and bows low to the dojo floor, a silly grin on his face.
"But that's all you forgot, so I'm just letting you cook dinner tonight. I already swept through the house."
Kenshin proceeded to the kitchen without a word.
His mind was not on the carrots or cabbages he chopped. It was on the conversation he overheard that afternoon. But no matter how he racked his brain, he could not think of any leads. He would think about it more tomorrow, when he was at the police office.
This much he understood, however. He had to act, and he had to act as soon as possible.
...............
Kenshin IS rather a pushover, so I let him fight the girl for once, just for a little bit. Sorry it's not too good. I was sleepy when I did it. ^_^ Until next time!
(more tense revisions.....arrrrrrgh!)
...............
DAY THREE
"Today you suffer the consequences of your actions!"
"Wait a minute, I can explain...."
"Explain after the punishment has been served!"
"But..but...."
"NO BUTS!"
Kaoru shoved two large baskets at Kenshin.
"This basket," as she forcibly wrapped his hand on the handle, "is for not buying tofu last Monday. THIS basket," as she forced the other to his other hand, "is for having a go at me last Monday for no reason and without my permission." She took a deep breath, then thrust a long piece of paper into his hakama. "And if you don't buy everything on this list today, I'll make you sweep the house all by yourself this afternoon! Plus make dinner and do dishes!"
"You forgot about the laundry, Kaoru-dono....." Kenshin meekly added.
"No, I did not forget about the laundry," Kaoru answered, with a sly smile on her face. "But I figured that since you actually LIKE doing laundry, it would be punishment for me to keep you away from it!"
This was NOT supposed to be happening, Kenshin reflected. October 3 was supposed to be just another ordinary day at home, doing laundry, sweeping the yard a bit, cooking dinner, but no dishes. Chief Uramura did not need him until tomorrow, when he would introduce Kenshin to the police contingent during the parade. Now he was being forced to go shopping in the middle of the week. And Wednesday was NOT a very good market day.
Alright, Kaoru-dono up there, Kenshin asked, exactly what is this leading to?
"I don't know yet, Kenshin, but Kami-sama says that He has something to show you."
Oroooooo.
Kenshin was a good little boy, and did his errands as requested by his somewhat cruel landlady. He bought the tofu, a LOT of vegetables, some fish, a new broom, some laundry soap, new sandals for Kaoru and himself, some new undershirts for Yahiko, some bath soap....
"MAAA! Won't this list ever end?!" Kenshin complained. Yes, it was that long.
He decided to take a short break from all the walking, and headed for the river. He planned to sit in the cool grass, maybe wade his feet in the cool water, too. Just for 30 minutes, he promised himself.
He placed all the groceries beside him carefully, stretched out on the grass, and slowly drifted off to a nap, lulled by the nice afternoon breeze.
He had not lain there for 5 minutes when he heard someone calling his name.
"Kenshin! Kenshin!"
"I promise, Kaoru-dono! I'll finish with the groceries by 3 o' clock!"
"No, Kenshin, I'm your angel Kaoru! Look behind you and listen."
"Oh, you women! You always order me around-----"
"Women won't order you around if you weren't such a pushover-----"
"Pushover! I'll show you who is a pushover------"
"NO, don't argue with me here! Look behind you and listen."
"Who's arguing with you, Kaoru-dono? I've had quite enough of your shopping lists------"
"Stop talking to me and look behind you, Kenshin!"
Pushover or not, Kenshin obeyed the angel. Two men were talking just above him, having stopped on the path. Evidently they had not noticed Kenshin down below, as they were talking without caution and with audible voices. Kenshin crouched beside the tall grass and began to crawl up closer to the men.
"We know how you feel about foreigners in general, especially after they made your family bankrupt...." one of the men was saying, haughty with his words.
"You know how I'd like to get my hands on them," the other man's face showed his deep anger.
"And I know just the way you can help us, Sayama," the first man continued. "We have heard about your new position in the force....."
Obviously the man called Sayama did not expect his position to be involved in the deal. "I'd like to keep it, though," he interrupted with some hesitation.
"If you help us," the other man persuaded, moving closer to Sayama, "we can promise you that your family will be repaid the millions it lost. It will be part of our demands to this wretched government of ours if they want their stupid ambassador back!"
The ambassador! They planned to kidnap, maybe even kill, the American ambassador!
Kenshin inched even closer and took quick mental notes on the features of the two men. The one called Sayama was about as tall as Sanosuke. His face was of the forgettable type, if it were not for the large stitched scar on his forehead. His unnamed accomplice was shorter but more muscular, with a sinister face and bloodthirsty eyes.
"What if I do not agree to help you? It won't be too much trouble for you to find another person like me, right?" Sayama asked his companion nervously.
"That's just the trouble," he replied, and drew out a sword. "Unfortunately, you have had this conversation with me, so you would most probably go to the police with this information." He aligned the sharp blade to the other man's cheek. "Now, I won't want that to happen, yes? So I only have two options. It is either I slit your throat right here and now, or I sheath this sword as you give your word that you will do as we say."
Scoundrel! Kenshin commented to himself. He placed his hands into position, ready to draw his sword.
But the man named Sayama, sweating profusely, had relented.
"I'll do as you say. You shall have your ambassador."
"Good, good. You made a wise decision." His tormentor sheathed his sword and gave a hard pat on the back. "The first thing I want you to do is to check the ambassador's itinerary while he's here, so we can plan our moves. Then you will hear from me again on Friday, at this same place."
Sayama only nodded. The men parted ways in different directions.
Kenshin was breathing heavily. There was a real assassination attempt planned against the American ambassador. So October 7 was an organized undertaking, then. Kenshin ---- and Kaoru ----- only managed to prevent it in a nick of time. With its horrifying results.
But he had no clue who would be the mastermind of such an attempt, and he did not know any of the two men he saw near the river. In other words, he had no leads except a conversation by the river.
And beside him on the river, stood his guardian angel in the beautiful new kimono. She was still in Heaven. She would still die. He buried his face in his hands, not knowing what else to do or think.
"What do I do now, Kaoru-dono? Someone is still bound to shoot you..."
"You do the only thing you can do now, Kenshin."
"What would that be, Kaoru-dono?"
"Finish the shopping and get back to the dojo!"
Of all the things she had to say....but then, this was still Kaoru talking, heavenly or otherwise.....
"I suppose, I can argue with you now-------"
"Save it for the me back home." The angel gave him a smile and dematerialized.
Kenshin let out a sigh and trudged back to the market.
It was 5 o'clock before he managed to get home, tired of body and concerned of mind.
As Kaoru checked the groceries against the long list, Kenshin kept looking at her.
He admired everything about her. The neat ponytail, the little ribbon that tied it back, the yellow kimono dusty from sweeping, the white tabi that covered her little nimble feet, the quick wit counting out his expenses, the funny little smile she had always ready for him. He had to admit, he liked being a pushover to this aggressive little woman.
"Stop ogling, Kenshin!" Kaoru blushingly reprimanded him. "See, you forgot to buy new rope for the well!"
"My sincerest apologies, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin kneels and bows low to the dojo floor, a silly grin on his face.
"But that's all you forgot, so I'm just letting you cook dinner tonight. I already swept through the house."
Kenshin proceeded to the kitchen without a word.
His mind was not on the carrots or cabbages he chopped. It was on the conversation he overheard that afternoon. But no matter how he racked his brain, he could not think of any leads. He would think about it more tomorrow, when he was at the police office.
This much he understood, however. He had to act, and he had to act as soon as possible.
...............
Kenshin IS rather a pushover, so I let him fight the girl for once, just for a little bit. Sorry it's not too good. I was sleepy when I did it. ^_^ Until next time!