Chapter 3
By Crystal
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
'March 1, 1864
I've been following the Hitokiri Battousai for a week already. I can't get too close. He has really sharp senses. I almost blew my cover today... I really need some sake... I'm tired of following him everyday. Tired. Every time I see him, I can't imagine him, a child killing Kiyosato. I couldn't. I've never seen him kill, and I hope I won't. Anyways, I'm going out for a drink.'
I tucked my journal in my sleeve. I think it's raining outside, taking my shawl and umbrella, which is all I own, I walked outside. Definitely raining... I walked slowly to my destination and when I stepped in, what I saw shocked me. The Hitokiri Battousai, sitting there, sipping sake. He surely looked like he wasn't enjoying it. His brows would knit together sometimes. I watched in amusement for a few minutes, he probably didn't like the taste of sake. I sat down next to him with my back faced to him.
I ordered a bottle of sake and as I was drinking, two drunks walked up to me. They said something like 'Hey there, baby!' to me, which I didn't pay much attention to. I wasn't actually calm, but I managed to keep my face devoid of any emotions.
"We're in charge of the Aizu Ishin shishi!" I heard one of the fat one say with pride. I looked at him, disgusted. "We kill for lowlifes like you day and night!" I didn't hear the next sentence he told me. I was too busy glaring at the both of them. Stupid idiots. The Aizu supported the current government while the Ishin shishi were the revolutionists. God, I'll do anything to get away from these morons.
"Aizu's with the shogunate, you idiots." I turned around to face the Hitokiri Battousai. His voice... His voice was devoid of any emotions. It was cold. I felt a shiver run down my spine at those steel cold eyes. So this child was really the Hitokiri Battousai... I don't know why, but I felt saddened by the fact. A child, as young as he, had to do all the dirty work of the Ishin shishi.
The two drunkards must've said something, because the next second, the red haired child stood up and said, "Actually, you guys are lucky to be getting away with your lives. If you had drawn your swords I would have killed you."
After a few more exchange of words, the two samurai turned around like scared rabbits. What surprised me was that the Battousai bowed respectfully to me and apologized. He then picked up his daisho and left the restaurant.
I quickly left a few coins for my bottle of sake and hurried through the streets to where Iizuka-san said the Battousai was going to be. Rain... As I stepped around the corner, what I saw shocked me more than anything that had happened tonight. The Battousai... had... just at the moment... sliced someone in half. I surprised myself by staying calm. It was so weird. I did not feel fear at seeing a person sliced in half. You then spun around fiercely and saw me.
"I came to thank you for what happened back there," I started, feeling a bit dizzy. Probably from the sake. I saw your intense amber eyes on me. You were still looking at me suspiciously, then I said something that had made you drop your chain sword. Or should I say, the man-sliced-in-half's chain sword. "You...remarkably made it rain. Rain of blood." I had said. I saw your eyes widen and then, I saw darkness. The last thing I saw, or should I say, I heard, was your footsteps running forward to catch me. I didn't know if you succeeded or not. I didn't even stay conscious enough for another second to see if I had hit the floor or not.
* * * * *
I woke up in a futon, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. The blood stained clothes were still on me, and I walked down the stairs. As I did, I saw women dressed in purple kimonos carrying trays to rooms.
A slightly older woman stopped in front of me, introduced herself and said, "So you're the one Himura brought in last night." I nodded and looked at her high stacked trays. "What's your name?"
"Yukishiro Tomoe. Okami-san, do you need help with the trays?" I asked, the trays seemed ready to fall any moment.
"If you want to help, I'll get you a job here." Okami-san told me and I agreed. I had already served several trays to a few people and had already figured out that this was the Ishin shishi's base. As a passed the room I had slept in last night, I heard the door open, but didn't look back, waiting for him to call for me.
"Hey." I heard him say. His voice sounded nothing like a child, devoid of all emotions. I turned around. "What are you doing?" He asked.
I looked at him while balancing the tray I was carrying, "Can't you tell by looking?" I asked.
He looked at the trays, "You're helping around in the kitchen."
"Hai, I'm sorry, I must've caused you some trouble last night while I was drunk." It was a miracle I've been staying so calm around the most feared killer in all of Japan, and actually having a conversation with him. It scared me. He asked my name and I replied, then I turned around to serve the people before the trays fell.
Later that morning, he called me up to his room. "Just forget about everything that happened last night and leave."
"Is it a trouble for me to stay?" I asked.
"Your family will worry."
For a second there, I was surprised he would actually think about my family. "If I had a family and a home to go back to, I wouldn't get drunk alone at night." I replied. I wasn't lying, in fact, my home and family was all the way in Edo. I suddenly caught glimpse of the scar, "Has the bleeding stopped?" I asked kindly. He just turned around and ignored my question. I took that as a yes, "Good."
He walked away to where his stack of books were while I was sitting down on the floor. He then walked back and put down my tanto on the floor. "This is yours, isn't it?" I nodded. "Kyoto's a dangerous city. This tanto won't do you much good. Hurry and go home. You should look for a place where you won't need this." This boy, the Battousai, no, Himura, Okami-san had called him, had actually cared for me?
I was curious just to see what his reaction was going to be, "An assassin, right?" at the corner of my eyes, I saw his shocked look. "Nothing." I stood up and continued doing chores for the day.
'March 2, 1864
Spring is almost over... The Battousai, I found out is nothing but a child wielding a weapon, I fainted due to the sake last night and fell unconscious in front of him. Himura Kenshin is his name. He brought me to the Ishin shishi hideout. Now I will be able to kill him...'
* * * * *
It's actually not the first time I've had a decent conversation with Himura. I'm just having one right now. I was enjoying it pretty much too. But then, Iizuka-san had appeared, with something like a black envelope. Himura-san's eyes had soften when I talked to him, I saw, but when he caught sight of the envelope, his eyes hardened. It was even worst than the day I first saw him at night.
Night was nearing and he isn't back yet, so I opened my journal and once again, began pouring my heart out about everything. What I had realized was, I had written less and less about Kiyosato. The most I had written about was the scar on Himura-san's left cheek... I heard the door opening... And then the sound of water being poured out from a bucket.
'April 18, 1864
Time has flew by since I last saw home. Everyday, I've been doing all my chores. Himura-san...he's...not what he seems, he isn't cold-blooded at all. He came from a mission tonight, and he's still washing his hands. I hear the water now, I think it's been his eighth bucket tonight. The scar Kiyosato gave him...It's still bleeding. It bleeds after every assassination...'
I walked up to him as he looked like he was daydreaming and when I came at a closer range, he instantly turned back to the cold heartless hitokiri. "Wash your face before your hands." I held out a towel for him, seeing the line of blood rolling down freely on his cheek.
"You're still awake?" He asked me.
I nodded slightly, "Even in separate rooms, I get worried whenever you leave." It was surprising how real it sounded, but it didn't only sound real, I did mean it. I do worry about him whenever he gets a black envelope. I'm certainly not dumb of a woman, I know what it is by the way he looks at it. It despises it, hates it. But why does he still kill for the revolutionists? For the Ishin shishi?
I stopped thinking when his cold voice cut through my thoughts, "Don't bother with me." Even thought I wasn't scared of him at all, I would always shiver inwardly. I didn't know someone's voice could be so indifferent and... cold. He was looking at me with hatred. Somehow, I knew that hatred wasn't directed to me, and I felt relieved. I didn't care whether I was on him bad side or not, but... I mean, of course I care if I'm on him bad side or not! I'm on a mission! God I'm a moron sometimes.
"I thought I almost dreamed the night was raining blood." He didn't do more than look at me for a second or two, "Oyasumi nasai." I turned around and retreated back to my room shared with all the people working there.
Before I slept, I looked out to the sky and let a soft sigh out. The stars looked horribly wrong and yet, they looked kind of pretty. Even though I was staring at the stars, I could have sworn I was downstairs watching Himura-san scrub his hands. I could hear every bucket of water poured on his hands and face. Maybe... just maybe... I was healing...
Author's Notes: Sorry I didn't update in such a while, the only reason why I woke up at 6 today was of nightmares, or else I wouldn't be updating this. *sighs* I'm having a math test on Thursday and then science project due on Thursday and so on... Aaaanyhow, I hope you liked the chapter. ^^ Gomen it took so long!
Tiian - Tomoe doesn't have a younger sister, Toshiko's my original character, who shows up in all of my fics. And yes, Kao-chan is Kaoru. Thanks for the compliment about the stars ^^
Shuro - I just happen to have a lot of free time on my hands, and I sleep extremely late and I don't sleep much, which kind of explains a lot of stuff ^^ Me got LOTS of free time. (Example today, I slept 5 hours)
XenoMark - Thanks, you're always the one I can rely on compliments and reviews ^^
Animefreak - There it is, this chapter, hope you enjoy it!
Yui Shinomori - I love Kenshin/Tomoe too, she seemed better for Kenshin... No offence to K/K fans, but I loooove K/T.
DiaBLo - And I can rely on your for correcting my mistakes, thanks! And yes, I'm terrible with this Japanese stuff. lol
By Crystal
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
'March 1, 1864
I've been following the Hitokiri Battousai for a week already. I can't get too close. He has really sharp senses. I almost blew my cover today... I really need some sake... I'm tired of following him everyday. Tired. Every time I see him, I can't imagine him, a child killing Kiyosato. I couldn't. I've never seen him kill, and I hope I won't. Anyways, I'm going out for a drink.'
I tucked my journal in my sleeve. I think it's raining outside, taking my shawl and umbrella, which is all I own, I walked outside. Definitely raining... I walked slowly to my destination and when I stepped in, what I saw shocked me. The Hitokiri Battousai, sitting there, sipping sake. He surely looked like he wasn't enjoying it. His brows would knit together sometimes. I watched in amusement for a few minutes, he probably didn't like the taste of sake. I sat down next to him with my back faced to him.
I ordered a bottle of sake and as I was drinking, two drunks walked up to me. They said something like 'Hey there, baby!' to me, which I didn't pay much attention to. I wasn't actually calm, but I managed to keep my face devoid of any emotions.
"We're in charge of the Aizu Ishin shishi!" I heard one of the fat one say with pride. I looked at him, disgusted. "We kill for lowlifes like you day and night!" I didn't hear the next sentence he told me. I was too busy glaring at the both of them. Stupid idiots. The Aizu supported the current government while the Ishin shishi were the revolutionists. God, I'll do anything to get away from these morons.
"Aizu's with the shogunate, you idiots." I turned around to face the Hitokiri Battousai. His voice... His voice was devoid of any emotions. It was cold. I felt a shiver run down my spine at those steel cold eyes. So this child was really the Hitokiri Battousai... I don't know why, but I felt saddened by the fact. A child, as young as he, had to do all the dirty work of the Ishin shishi.
The two drunkards must've said something, because the next second, the red haired child stood up and said, "Actually, you guys are lucky to be getting away with your lives. If you had drawn your swords I would have killed you."
After a few more exchange of words, the two samurai turned around like scared rabbits. What surprised me was that the Battousai bowed respectfully to me and apologized. He then picked up his daisho and left the restaurant.
I quickly left a few coins for my bottle of sake and hurried through the streets to where Iizuka-san said the Battousai was going to be. Rain... As I stepped around the corner, what I saw shocked me more than anything that had happened tonight. The Battousai... had... just at the moment... sliced someone in half. I surprised myself by staying calm. It was so weird. I did not feel fear at seeing a person sliced in half. You then spun around fiercely and saw me.
"I came to thank you for what happened back there," I started, feeling a bit dizzy. Probably from the sake. I saw your intense amber eyes on me. You were still looking at me suspiciously, then I said something that had made you drop your chain sword. Or should I say, the man-sliced-in-half's chain sword. "You...remarkably made it rain. Rain of blood." I had said. I saw your eyes widen and then, I saw darkness. The last thing I saw, or should I say, I heard, was your footsteps running forward to catch me. I didn't know if you succeeded or not. I didn't even stay conscious enough for another second to see if I had hit the floor or not.
* * * * *
I woke up in a futon, staring up at an unfamiliar ceiling. The blood stained clothes were still on me, and I walked down the stairs. As I did, I saw women dressed in purple kimonos carrying trays to rooms.
A slightly older woman stopped in front of me, introduced herself and said, "So you're the one Himura brought in last night." I nodded and looked at her high stacked trays. "What's your name?"
"Yukishiro Tomoe. Okami-san, do you need help with the trays?" I asked, the trays seemed ready to fall any moment.
"If you want to help, I'll get you a job here." Okami-san told me and I agreed. I had already served several trays to a few people and had already figured out that this was the Ishin shishi's base. As a passed the room I had slept in last night, I heard the door open, but didn't look back, waiting for him to call for me.
"Hey." I heard him say. His voice sounded nothing like a child, devoid of all emotions. I turned around. "What are you doing?" He asked.
I looked at him while balancing the tray I was carrying, "Can't you tell by looking?" I asked.
He looked at the trays, "You're helping around in the kitchen."
"Hai, I'm sorry, I must've caused you some trouble last night while I was drunk." It was a miracle I've been staying so calm around the most feared killer in all of Japan, and actually having a conversation with him. It scared me. He asked my name and I replied, then I turned around to serve the people before the trays fell.
Later that morning, he called me up to his room. "Just forget about everything that happened last night and leave."
"Is it a trouble for me to stay?" I asked.
"Your family will worry."
For a second there, I was surprised he would actually think about my family. "If I had a family and a home to go back to, I wouldn't get drunk alone at night." I replied. I wasn't lying, in fact, my home and family was all the way in Edo. I suddenly caught glimpse of the scar, "Has the bleeding stopped?" I asked kindly. He just turned around and ignored my question. I took that as a yes, "Good."
He walked away to where his stack of books were while I was sitting down on the floor. He then walked back and put down my tanto on the floor. "This is yours, isn't it?" I nodded. "Kyoto's a dangerous city. This tanto won't do you much good. Hurry and go home. You should look for a place where you won't need this." This boy, the Battousai, no, Himura, Okami-san had called him, had actually cared for me?
I was curious just to see what his reaction was going to be, "An assassin, right?" at the corner of my eyes, I saw his shocked look. "Nothing." I stood up and continued doing chores for the day.
'March 2, 1864
Spring is almost over... The Battousai, I found out is nothing but a child wielding a weapon, I fainted due to the sake last night and fell unconscious in front of him. Himura Kenshin is his name. He brought me to the Ishin shishi hideout. Now I will be able to kill him...'
* * * * *
It's actually not the first time I've had a decent conversation with Himura. I'm just having one right now. I was enjoying it pretty much too. But then, Iizuka-san had appeared, with something like a black envelope. Himura-san's eyes had soften when I talked to him, I saw, but when he caught sight of the envelope, his eyes hardened. It was even worst than the day I first saw him at night.
Night was nearing and he isn't back yet, so I opened my journal and once again, began pouring my heart out about everything. What I had realized was, I had written less and less about Kiyosato. The most I had written about was the scar on Himura-san's left cheek... I heard the door opening... And then the sound of water being poured out from a bucket.
'April 18, 1864
Time has flew by since I last saw home. Everyday, I've been doing all my chores. Himura-san...he's...not what he seems, he isn't cold-blooded at all. He came from a mission tonight, and he's still washing his hands. I hear the water now, I think it's been his eighth bucket tonight. The scar Kiyosato gave him...It's still bleeding. It bleeds after every assassination...'
I walked up to him as he looked like he was daydreaming and when I came at a closer range, he instantly turned back to the cold heartless hitokiri. "Wash your face before your hands." I held out a towel for him, seeing the line of blood rolling down freely on his cheek.
"You're still awake?" He asked me.
I nodded slightly, "Even in separate rooms, I get worried whenever you leave." It was surprising how real it sounded, but it didn't only sound real, I did mean it. I do worry about him whenever he gets a black envelope. I'm certainly not dumb of a woman, I know what it is by the way he looks at it. It despises it, hates it. But why does he still kill for the revolutionists? For the Ishin shishi?
I stopped thinking when his cold voice cut through my thoughts, "Don't bother with me." Even thought I wasn't scared of him at all, I would always shiver inwardly. I didn't know someone's voice could be so indifferent and... cold. He was looking at me with hatred. Somehow, I knew that hatred wasn't directed to me, and I felt relieved. I didn't care whether I was on him bad side or not, but... I mean, of course I care if I'm on him bad side or not! I'm on a mission! God I'm a moron sometimes.
"I thought I almost dreamed the night was raining blood." He didn't do more than look at me for a second or two, "Oyasumi nasai." I turned around and retreated back to my room shared with all the people working there.
Before I slept, I looked out to the sky and let a soft sigh out. The stars looked horribly wrong and yet, they looked kind of pretty. Even though I was staring at the stars, I could have sworn I was downstairs watching Himura-san scrub his hands. I could hear every bucket of water poured on his hands and face. Maybe... just maybe... I was healing...
Author's Notes: Sorry I didn't update in such a while, the only reason why I woke up at 6 today was of nightmares, or else I wouldn't be updating this. *sighs* I'm having a math test on Thursday and then science project due on Thursday and so on... Aaaanyhow, I hope you liked the chapter. ^^ Gomen it took so long!
Tiian - Tomoe doesn't have a younger sister, Toshiko's my original character, who shows up in all of my fics. And yes, Kao-chan is Kaoru. Thanks for the compliment about the stars ^^
Shuro - I just happen to have a lot of free time on my hands, and I sleep extremely late and I don't sleep much, which kind of explains a lot of stuff ^^ Me got LOTS of free time. (Example today, I slept 5 hours)
XenoMark - Thanks, you're always the one I can rely on compliments and reviews ^^
Animefreak - There it is, this chapter, hope you enjoy it!
Yui Shinomori - I love Kenshin/Tomoe too, she seemed better for Kenshin... No offence to K/K fans, but I loooove K/T.
DiaBLo - And I can rely on your for correcting my mistakes, thanks! And yes, I'm terrible with this Japanese stuff. lol