Yay for me, at last I've figured out a way to get the right font on this story. I HATE not being able to see the italics and having to use all these weird * and ' ' other weird things. So yay for me you can see the font!!!!!
STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY: I don't own Kenshin but I'd at least like to say I own this particular story :P
So a few quick things . . .
One: I think I've finally got it into my brain about the "Sessha" so everyone will have to tell me if I've actually succeeded in getting it right . . .
Two: I'm attempting to fix the "de gozaru" thing as well; everyone keeps pointing out that it has no real translation.
Three: This chapter is the fun-time-attempting-new-writing-styles chapter so it will most likely be completely different then the way all the others have been written up until now. I'm trying to keep this story interesting not just for you guys but for myself as well. I want it to be as suspenseful and exciting as possible without seeming too predictable. Well, for everyone except Jason . . . :: blows kisses, and loves you anyway!::
Well, okay, here it is . . . and tell me what you guys think! I certainly can use some good critiques as well as suggestions.
TADA!!!!!!!!!!!!
(PS—this first part is a little confusing but it's supposed to be that way!)
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His eyes are soft and vulnerable. She notices the way the darkness shrouds most of his face so she can't clearly identify his expression. He has a habit of working with the shadows to hide himself, reminding her of the closeness he once shared with secrecy.
"Sessha hurt that man that attacked you, Kaoru-dono," he tells her.
She sees herself sitting in the circle of his lap, his arms around her. She likes it when he looks at her with the shimmer of love in his eyes. She knows others see it, but he hides his truth from her. She thinks she's close to him but he always feels so far away. She can not be certain what goes on in his mind but she knows his heart. Her faith in him and her trust, she has been told, are why he continues to return. She will continue to believe in him, hoping one day he will believe in himself.
"I let you down, Kaoru-dono. Like before . . ."
This man with a past has walked into her life, forever changing it. He makes her feel like she has a family, a real home that had been lost after her father's death. This wanderer who has become her happiness; without him she is lost. He can do no wrong in her eyes; he can commit no sin too great. The blood on his hands and the taint on his soul seems of little consequence to her. She is not naive like the others tell her, but she knows the past is past. She knows that it is not the past that makes you who you are but the present.
"Since we came back from Kyoto . . . since that time you welcomed me back . . . my heart has been very happy. This man has found his partner . . . a place to go home to."
She remembers the first feel of his soft lips against hers, the first embrace of his true emotions. Time would stop in those few moments, and when it started again, nothing would ever be the same.
She dreams of their happy ending, she dreams of the long life ahead at her husband's side. He does not talk of the future though. He can not set forth a certain path. She is okay with this, however. Anything is better than not knowing how he feels. She knows now, and that is enough. She knows he will stay forever and she can see it in those gentle lavender eyes. She can feel it in the softness of his touch, the tranquility of his voice, the consideration for her well-being.
When she considers the strength he possesses, she finds amazing the warm-heartedness of his manner, and the way in which he carries himself. This man no longer a wanderer, her pride and peace, loved by his friends, respected by acquaintances, still spoken of in whispers during the dark night never able to leave his misery behind him. Blaming himself for the world he helped create with bloodshed and violence, he never ends his self torment. Try as she might, this loving and gentle girl that brought happiness back in his life when he thought he deserved none, can do nothing to stop those wanting to take their revenge. She can not protect him like he protects her. She can not take care of him like he takes care of her. She can give him nothing; no name, no title, no wealth or property. She has nothing.
Nothing but her love and support. Nothing but an unending promise to follow him wherever he might go. Nothing but the respect and awe she has for his suffering and strength. She has nothing but herself to give. Yet for him it is enough.
She is not smart. She is not trained to be a lady like so many other women. Born and raised a kenjitsu master, there is very little that is lady-like about her. But the force of her will and the determination of her heart, the openness with which she welcomed countless strangers into her life . . . it is these things she has to offer him. These things that tied him to her in the beginning and forever.
He did not kill this man like they say, she knows. He did not take this life that wanted to hurt her. She knows he is not that man, not the one that took so many lives. She knows not how, but she will find out what happened. She will not remember the way those men had held or the way she tried failingly to release herself from their forceful grips. It was not her love that had been responsible and she would not let him think otherwise. He had done what he could and now it is up to her to help resolve it. She wants him to be happy and free from those in his past seeking to destroy him.
"Ken-san isn't more than human; he's just using his body more than most people. If he continues to get hurt, really hurt, his health will begin to deteriorate. He came back this time, but if this continues, next time he might not."
She vows with all her soul to never let him take on those who would take away his chances for a happy life. She will keep him home and safe, no matter what.
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Kaoru opened her eyes, finding it late in the afternoon. The sun was low through her shoji and she realized belatedly that she was alone. Pushing the covers off from over her head, she stood from her tatami mat and changed out of her sleeping yukata. Kaoru took a moment to rebraid the thick mass of raven lengths into a tighter hold, despite the free strands that floated around her face in her eyes. She quickly folded up the mat and blankets and placed them into a corner for later.
Arriving in the kitchen, she found a parchment note and a plate of room-temperature rice and vegetables. Picking up the note, she recognized the handwriting immediately.
Kaoru-dono,
Yahiko is at the Akabeko and I have gone to speak with Saitoh. I will return this evening but Sanosuke will come by later to check on you.
Kenshin
She paused a moment on the note. Kenshin's gone to see Saitoh? Has something happened? She put the note on the table and picked up the chop-sticks left for her. Sitting at the table, she devoured the food Kenshin had cooked and let her mind ponder over ways she might be able to help them out.
*Shift point of view*********************************************************************
Saitoh released a breath full of smoke into Kenshin's barely passive face. The shorter man had come earlier that morning to see what could be done about his situation but all Saitoh could tell was that the man was a nuisance as a rurouni—a fact which he had known previously. The red-head had done little but get in the inspector's way as well as argue with him regarding the facts.
"Please don't do that," Kenshin asked him again, his voice level but cold. It was the fourth time Saitoh had deliberately exhaled in his face, and it was beginning to get on his nerves. He couldn't comprehend how the other man's wife tolerated his constant smoking habits.
"Maybe if you weren't here, I would be able to get some real work done," Saitoh challenged.
"I've already told you, Sessha did not kill Taroumaru Totosai."
"I know that, you fool." Saitoh snapped. He watched the red-head a long moment then asked, "Who do you think did it?"
"I don't know de gozaru. I can't think of anyone who carries a sword like mine or anyone who knows . . ." Kenshin suddenly lapsed into silence, his brain working miles in minutes.
"What is it?" Saitoh asked after a long silence. He could see that the rurouni was thinking something through in his head but he wanted to be let in on what was being considered with such seriousness.
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu."
"Excuse me?"
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. If Sessha had attacked that man, using Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, the angle, force, and damage area would be different than someone with a different fighting style. Megumi-dono has seen me use the Ryu Tsu Sen, and would be able to clearly tell if I had killed that man. However, Doctor Gensai would not be able to tell the difference in fighting techniques. For him, a sword is a sword, even if it is reversed."
"Very well. You may have cleared your own name, yet we still do not know who is responsible for this man's murder. It is plain that someone went through a great deal of trouble to make you believe you had killed him. We have also already determined that those men had no intentions of letting the Kamiya girl live. Someone has a desire to ruin your life, Battosai, and you should consider carefully who it might be."
"Aa." Kenshin agreed, turning away from the ex-Mibu.
*Shift point of view********************************************************************
A tall, thin man hid in the shadows beside a building opposite from the police station. He had on a long coat despite the warmth of the late afternoon, and an umbrella hat that he kept tilted forward so that none could get a good glimpse of the marks on his face. The scars over his eyes and on his cheeks and chin told of horrors unspoken during the Meji Era. The small, beaded eyes took in the surroundings with careful, focused inspection. Soon enough others would discover Battosai had not killed that idiot Taroumaru Totosai, but it mattered little. By then the next part of his plan would be in full swing and he doubted very much that the Mibu's wolf would stop him in time. After all, if he couldn't have happiness, then neither could the man that murdered an innumerable amount of innocents.
Slinking away carefully into the shadows, he turned his back and began walking away.
Saitoh Hajime turned to look out the side of his window, watching the people walk by, when a dark figure caught his attention. Himura Battosai was speaking to him, going on about who could be after him, but the wolf was already distracted by the prospect of a new hunt. After all, one just didn't stand spying outside his window while attempting to be as unnoticeable as possible. No matter the circumstances, someone was always watching in a police station.
I don't know who you are, but we'll meet again.
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Reader Response:
Misanagi: Thanks for reviewing; I'm glad you like it. Hopefully it will continue to get better!
Mae: Well, here's the next chapter! Hope it's enough K/K, even if it is more on Kaoru's part, hehehe.
Crystal: Okay, well, Kenshin's not the killer. But I think you knew that already :P So no whacks on the head, thankyouverymuch!
C-Chan: Hope you liked the styling on this chap. I had intended it to be longer but I didn't get there. However, beware of some WAFF in the future!
Jason M. Lee: What can I say, you're the man! I hope I fixed all the stupid "Sessha" and "de gozaru" errors, so let me know what you think.
Okay, that's it for this instant. I'm going to keep writing but if anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to comment or flame. It's all the same helpfulness for me!
YAY!