Chapter 6
By Crystal
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
We walked in the inn, me and Himura-san. There, we saw Okami-san. She had two bag of stuff in her arms, and I noticed that one of them was mine. "Is Katsura-san here?" Himura-san said.
"No...We heard about the Ikeda house." Okami-san said, I kept quiet, knowing she wasn't done what she wanted to say, "This place is dangerous too. Hurry up and go through the back." Himura-san walked ahead as he took his bag of stuff while I was behind me, I took mine. As I was about to walk out the door, I heard Okami-san call to me. "Tomoe-chan, remember the irises." I turned around. What was she thinking? Remember the irises?
"Eh?" That was my exact reaction.
She looked at me straight in the eye, which I returned, "They smell strongest in the rain." She paused. And...? I thought. She really wasn't helping all that much. Talking about irises when all our lives were in danger.
"Even when it's raining blood." Oh... So this had something to do with Himura-san... All right... Raining blood... the first nice I met him. Face to face anyhow. I was thankful, kind of. So I bowed down low to her and then left without an other word. As I saw Himura-san outside, all was silent and dark. I could barely see where the path was, Himura-san was no help whatsoever. With his light steps, that I couldn't even hear, I had to look at his bright hair.
It was nice how his hair moved when he was walking. He had beautiful hair too, silky. Oh god, now what am I thinking about? My enemy's beautiful silky hair. Great, though I did have to agree he had nice silky hair. I mentally slapped myself upside the head. There I go again. I bet nobody knew what was going inside my weird head. Outside, I might be the most quiet person, but inside... No. I had once thought that my brain was screwed... Actually, that was a lie. I only started thinking like this once I arrived at Kyoto.
Himura-san pushed open the door, "Himura?" I heard a familiar voice said. Yes, the voice that had told me about the sheath, the voice who told me I should be the sheath for the blade Himura... Katsura-san.
"Katsura-san, are you all right?" Himura-san had asked.
Katsura-san shook his head, "I thought you might be dead." A pause, "They've gotten into our headquarters, I've lost everything." He looked at Himura-san, then me. Somewhere in those eyes, there was something I definitely didn't like. "We better just think about staying alive for now." That was okay, I liked that. Sure didn't want to die... yet. "I've prepared a house for you in Otsu." That was okay too, a house. I wonder what it was going to look like. "Pretend to be newly weds and stay there." Pretend to be newly weds, that was ok-
What in the world?! Newly weds?! That was NOT okay. I am suppose to be married to this... boy, who was no older than fifteen and stay in a house in Otsu for... how long? Right now, I'm suppose to marry the man that killed my fiancée. That was... unexpected, even though that's what Iizuka-san wanted me to do in the job, but... this... this is WAY too sudden. The only reaction I could've made was a gasp and stare wide eyed at him. I also saw Himura-san with the same reaction as me.
"If you're married, you'll be less suspicious." He turned to Himura-san. "I'll have Iizuka get in touch with you. Wait for me." Without an other, he left us like I left Okami-san, but when he passed by me, he said, "I'm counting on you, Tomoe-san." I knew Himura-san heard him, and he was probably confused. I might've looked confused, but I knew exactly what he was talking about. The sword or blade, and the sheath. I had once told Himura-san, 'Don't you know, a sword needs a sheath?' I didn't say the exact meaning, since we were still again five Shinsengumis. That was just less than an hour ago.
We were both looking at Katsura-san until we could no longer see him or his dark blue gi. I was surprised that Himura-san had started speaking first, "So we go to Otsu..." He paused and I felt his eyes on the back of my head, "...As newly weds..." I nodded.
Tonight was the night all the stuff happened, my first 'date' with Himura-san, my first time actually seeing Himura-san kill, last time didn't count since I just saw the half body fly on the floor, and tonight was the night Katsura-san made me Himura-san's sheath. Also his wife... He took the place of Kiyosato, my fiancée. Was I angry? No. Do I hate him? Of course not. Did I regret this? I refuse to answer this. Was I afraid? No.
Before we arrived at the inn, Himura-san, he had told me to call him Kenshin. Said that married couples didn't call their mates by last names and add a honorific there. Maybe chan, but Kenshin-chan would've sounded really... funny. I'm now sitting down and have my journal opened in front of me like so many other nights.
'July 9, 1864
'I just wanted to keep this memory forever. After all, it is my first night being a wife, or should I say my last night being a woman that wasn't married yet? I guess it was the same, in some ways. I've asked Kenshin to come drink sake with me, since it was the Gion festival. He killed a group of Shinsengumis on the way when we found out that Katsura-san was in danger. I had even told him that a sword needed a sheath and I wanted to see him stop killing. That was real, it really was. But he looked at me as I was crazy. Last month, Katsura-san had told me to think about being his sheath, tonight, Katsura-san made me his sheath. By getting me to marry to him.
Tomorrow morning, first thing, we are going to Otsu, me and Himu... no, Kenshin. Katsura-san had said that newly weds weren't as suspicious, I must agree...'
* * * * *
We're almost at Otsu when I heard a woman's voice and I turned around, but not without noticing that Kenshin was still walking in silence, "You're Tomoe of Ohanagi, right?"
"The flower lady..." I said, I met her quite a few times while buying flowers... most of the time irises.
"Are you going somewhere?" She asked.
Instead of answering her question, I stated a fact, "Business is difficult. You should get some rest."
I turned around to look at my 'husband' who was walking farther and farther away and was lost in thoughts until, "Let's hurry." He said. I heard the flower lady ask me who that was, and I answered by my husband. Funny how smooth it came out of my mouth, as if I didn't need to think about the answer, which I really didn't...
I waved to the flower lady and followed Kenshin with the usual distance between us. I don't know what made me do it, but I grabbed my tanto.
* * * * *
We arrived yesterday, and when we did, I was really surprised at the house. It was small, yes, but it was pretty nice and it was a decent place to live. Perfect for a couple. It looked like one of my dream houses when I would daydream about Kiyosato and I married. Somewhere on the calm mountains without anyone disturbing us with a town a bit away from our house. Everything was perfect. Perfect, flawless, complete. Everything except the fact that this was not Kiyosato she was with, but Kenshin.
I stood there with my back against the door, listening to the sound he chopped the woods. Chop, chop, chop. I closed my eyes, he would be waiting for me... That thought made me move away from the door and check myself once more before I opened the door. I wore red lipstick today. I saw him stop his work immediately and I was scared that he was mad at me for being so late.
"Sorry to keep you waiting..." I said, out of fear that he would suddenly take the knife he was using to cut wood to cut me to pieces. I know I was being silly and there was no way he was going to do that, but that didn't stop the thought from crossing my mind. I wasn't scared of death. I needed revenge for Kiyosato... Did I not? I bowed my head low.
I saw him get up and untie the rope holding onto his sleeves so it would not come down, "The weather is good today." My eyes widen slightly. Him? Kenshin? Battousai? Talking about the weather? "It puts me in a good mood." He turned around and gave me a smile. I couldn't help but smile back slightly. His smile was warm. Had this house really changed him that much? From moving him away from the battlefield, he was able to smile warmly. Which I had returned. I turned my head slightly to look at the house... This house was surely changing both of us. The two most emotionless people in the inn for the Ishinshishi had smile.
We walked, still keeping the usual distance between us, but he helped me up when I was climbing the mountains. Whenever he held out his hand, I would hold it, even though most of the time, I didn't need it. I was capable of climbing it by myself, but I had felt good everything my hand touched his. Every time my hand came in contact with him, I would feel my legs turn to mush and my face getting hotter.
Thank god he hadn't noticed. ...Was I falling in love with him? Of course not! You're a silly, silly girl, Yukishiro Tomoe. What makes you think the infamous Battousai would like you anyways? I was cold, I had a nice voice, I had grace... Okay, okay, I get your point. Even though he liked me, I would never like him. He had these steel cold eyes that made your whole body shiver with fear when he looked at you, silky red hair, handsome face, best fighter in the whole Japan... Okay, maybe he was a man everyone wanted, that doesn't necessary mean I like him. Jeez.
We climbed up the mountain still and when we reached it, we prayed, or I did. I don't think he prayed. We then walked to the shore. I looked out to the sea, it was truly beautiful. He stood beside me and looked at the sea with me. I couldn't help it and took a peek at him from the corner of my eyes and saw his peaceful face as he had his eyes closed. The scar... The scar was still there, but it seemed right to be there. It looked right.
A few minutes later, he asked me if I had wanted to stay or wanted to go with him to buy stuff, I had decided to stay. The sea was too beautiful to turn away from, and I was also deep in thoughts. I was still gazing at the sea when I felt him behind me, his intense eyes looking at me. I unwillingly ripped my eyes away from the sea and looked at him.
He handed me a nicely wrapped packet that was round. I looked at him straight in the eye. I knew, there was no need for words. There was no need to say 'thank you' out loud. I looked at the wrapped object and held it close to my chest and closed my eyes.
As we were nearing home, the wind was blowing our way and he held out his arm so it wouldn't affect me as much. Such a gentleman... My hair was blowing everywhere, I was silently thankful for at that moment, my face was burning, and I couldn't deny it from myself any longer. I was blushing, really hard...
'July 11, 1864
'This was a question that was surely unavoidable. Even though I didn't want to answer and had tried to deny it for the longest time, I knew. Do I love him? Do I love my husband Kenshin?'
I closed my journal slowly and looked at my husband with his usual sleeping position. That was a question I would deny to answer, even though I knew the answer. I've known the answer for a long time, maybe since the first time I saw him when it was raining blood, maybe even before. I might write it down someday... but right now... I don't think I can face myself with the answer. Not yet anyhow, not yet.
I took the extra blanket sitting beside our two people futon and laid it on him. Someday, if he keeps sleeping like that, he was going to catch a cold. "Oyasumi nasai... Kenshin." I whispered quietly and slipped in my futon, falling asleep in a dreamless sleep.
XenoMark - Thanks! This chapter took a while, but anyhow...
AnimeFreak - Thanks, I don't think I'm THAT good. But thank you nonetheless.
DiaBLo - Thank you. I'll keep updating whenever I have time ^^
Blueraingurl - Thanks for the review, I'll keep updating, that's for sure.
Author's Notes: This took more than my usual time, for that I apologize, but it's cause I have all of these presentations to do. I got 96% on my French presentation. Yay! Anyhow, I've just started to rewrite 'The Difference Between Rain and Tears' Chapter 18. It'll be updated hopefully this week, if I'm not too busy. Anyhow, have fun on Halloween for those who are going Trick-Or-Treating! Later people!
By Crystal
*Screw the disclaimers ^^;;*
We walked in the inn, me and Himura-san. There, we saw Okami-san. She had two bag of stuff in her arms, and I noticed that one of them was mine. "Is Katsura-san here?" Himura-san said.
"No...We heard about the Ikeda house." Okami-san said, I kept quiet, knowing she wasn't done what she wanted to say, "This place is dangerous too. Hurry up and go through the back." Himura-san walked ahead as he took his bag of stuff while I was behind me, I took mine. As I was about to walk out the door, I heard Okami-san call to me. "Tomoe-chan, remember the irises." I turned around. What was she thinking? Remember the irises?
"Eh?" That was my exact reaction.
She looked at me straight in the eye, which I returned, "They smell strongest in the rain." She paused. And...? I thought. She really wasn't helping all that much. Talking about irises when all our lives were in danger.
"Even when it's raining blood." Oh... So this had something to do with Himura-san... All right... Raining blood... the first nice I met him. Face to face anyhow. I was thankful, kind of. So I bowed down low to her and then left without an other word. As I saw Himura-san outside, all was silent and dark. I could barely see where the path was, Himura-san was no help whatsoever. With his light steps, that I couldn't even hear, I had to look at his bright hair.
It was nice how his hair moved when he was walking. He had beautiful hair too, silky. Oh god, now what am I thinking about? My enemy's beautiful silky hair. Great, though I did have to agree he had nice silky hair. I mentally slapped myself upside the head. There I go again. I bet nobody knew what was going inside my weird head. Outside, I might be the most quiet person, but inside... No. I had once thought that my brain was screwed... Actually, that was a lie. I only started thinking like this once I arrived at Kyoto.
Himura-san pushed open the door, "Himura?" I heard a familiar voice said. Yes, the voice that had told me about the sheath, the voice who told me I should be the sheath for the blade Himura... Katsura-san.
"Katsura-san, are you all right?" Himura-san had asked.
Katsura-san shook his head, "I thought you might be dead." A pause, "They've gotten into our headquarters, I've lost everything." He looked at Himura-san, then me. Somewhere in those eyes, there was something I definitely didn't like. "We better just think about staying alive for now." That was okay, I liked that. Sure didn't want to die... yet. "I've prepared a house for you in Otsu." That was okay too, a house. I wonder what it was going to look like. "Pretend to be newly weds and stay there." Pretend to be newly weds, that was ok-
What in the world?! Newly weds?! That was NOT okay. I am suppose to be married to this... boy, who was no older than fifteen and stay in a house in Otsu for... how long? Right now, I'm suppose to marry the man that killed my fiancée. That was... unexpected, even though that's what Iizuka-san wanted me to do in the job, but... this... this is WAY too sudden. The only reaction I could've made was a gasp and stare wide eyed at him. I also saw Himura-san with the same reaction as me.
"If you're married, you'll be less suspicious." He turned to Himura-san. "I'll have Iizuka get in touch with you. Wait for me." Without an other, he left us like I left Okami-san, but when he passed by me, he said, "I'm counting on you, Tomoe-san." I knew Himura-san heard him, and he was probably confused. I might've looked confused, but I knew exactly what he was talking about. The sword or blade, and the sheath. I had once told Himura-san, 'Don't you know, a sword needs a sheath?' I didn't say the exact meaning, since we were still again five Shinsengumis. That was just less than an hour ago.
We were both looking at Katsura-san until we could no longer see him or his dark blue gi. I was surprised that Himura-san had started speaking first, "So we go to Otsu..." He paused and I felt his eyes on the back of my head, "...As newly weds..." I nodded.
Tonight was the night all the stuff happened, my first 'date' with Himura-san, my first time actually seeing Himura-san kill, last time didn't count since I just saw the half body fly on the floor, and tonight was the night Katsura-san made me Himura-san's sheath. Also his wife... He took the place of Kiyosato, my fiancée. Was I angry? No. Do I hate him? Of course not. Did I regret this? I refuse to answer this. Was I afraid? No.
Before we arrived at the inn, Himura-san, he had told me to call him Kenshin. Said that married couples didn't call their mates by last names and add a honorific there. Maybe chan, but Kenshin-chan would've sounded really... funny. I'm now sitting down and have my journal opened in front of me like so many other nights.
'July 9, 1864
'I just wanted to keep this memory forever. After all, it is my first night being a wife, or should I say my last night being a woman that wasn't married yet? I guess it was the same, in some ways. I've asked Kenshin to come drink sake with me, since it was the Gion festival. He killed a group of Shinsengumis on the way when we found out that Katsura-san was in danger. I had even told him that a sword needed a sheath and I wanted to see him stop killing. That was real, it really was. But he looked at me as I was crazy. Last month, Katsura-san had told me to think about being his sheath, tonight, Katsura-san made me his sheath. By getting me to marry to him.
Tomorrow morning, first thing, we are going to Otsu, me and Himu... no, Kenshin. Katsura-san had said that newly weds weren't as suspicious, I must agree...'
* * * * *
We're almost at Otsu when I heard a woman's voice and I turned around, but not without noticing that Kenshin was still walking in silence, "You're Tomoe of Ohanagi, right?"
"The flower lady..." I said, I met her quite a few times while buying flowers... most of the time irises.
"Are you going somewhere?" She asked.
Instead of answering her question, I stated a fact, "Business is difficult. You should get some rest."
I turned around to look at my 'husband' who was walking farther and farther away and was lost in thoughts until, "Let's hurry." He said. I heard the flower lady ask me who that was, and I answered by my husband. Funny how smooth it came out of my mouth, as if I didn't need to think about the answer, which I really didn't...
I waved to the flower lady and followed Kenshin with the usual distance between us. I don't know what made me do it, but I grabbed my tanto.
* * * * *
We arrived yesterday, and when we did, I was really surprised at the house. It was small, yes, but it was pretty nice and it was a decent place to live. Perfect for a couple. It looked like one of my dream houses when I would daydream about Kiyosato and I married. Somewhere on the calm mountains without anyone disturbing us with a town a bit away from our house. Everything was perfect. Perfect, flawless, complete. Everything except the fact that this was not Kiyosato she was with, but Kenshin.
I stood there with my back against the door, listening to the sound he chopped the woods. Chop, chop, chop. I closed my eyes, he would be waiting for me... That thought made me move away from the door and check myself once more before I opened the door. I wore red lipstick today. I saw him stop his work immediately and I was scared that he was mad at me for being so late.
"Sorry to keep you waiting..." I said, out of fear that he would suddenly take the knife he was using to cut wood to cut me to pieces. I know I was being silly and there was no way he was going to do that, but that didn't stop the thought from crossing my mind. I wasn't scared of death. I needed revenge for Kiyosato... Did I not? I bowed my head low.
I saw him get up and untie the rope holding onto his sleeves so it would not come down, "The weather is good today." My eyes widen slightly. Him? Kenshin? Battousai? Talking about the weather? "It puts me in a good mood." He turned around and gave me a smile. I couldn't help but smile back slightly. His smile was warm. Had this house really changed him that much? From moving him away from the battlefield, he was able to smile warmly. Which I had returned. I turned my head slightly to look at the house... This house was surely changing both of us. The two most emotionless people in the inn for the Ishinshishi had smile.
We walked, still keeping the usual distance between us, but he helped me up when I was climbing the mountains. Whenever he held out his hand, I would hold it, even though most of the time, I didn't need it. I was capable of climbing it by myself, but I had felt good everything my hand touched his. Every time my hand came in contact with him, I would feel my legs turn to mush and my face getting hotter.
Thank god he hadn't noticed. ...Was I falling in love with him? Of course not! You're a silly, silly girl, Yukishiro Tomoe. What makes you think the infamous Battousai would like you anyways? I was cold, I had a nice voice, I had grace... Okay, okay, I get your point. Even though he liked me, I would never like him. He had these steel cold eyes that made your whole body shiver with fear when he looked at you, silky red hair, handsome face, best fighter in the whole Japan... Okay, maybe he was a man everyone wanted, that doesn't necessary mean I like him. Jeez.
We climbed up the mountain still and when we reached it, we prayed, or I did. I don't think he prayed. We then walked to the shore. I looked out to the sea, it was truly beautiful. He stood beside me and looked at the sea with me. I couldn't help it and took a peek at him from the corner of my eyes and saw his peaceful face as he had his eyes closed. The scar... The scar was still there, but it seemed right to be there. It looked right.
A few minutes later, he asked me if I had wanted to stay or wanted to go with him to buy stuff, I had decided to stay. The sea was too beautiful to turn away from, and I was also deep in thoughts. I was still gazing at the sea when I felt him behind me, his intense eyes looking at me. I unwillingly ripped my eyes away from the sea and looked at him.
He handed me a nicely wrapped packet that was round. I looked at him straight in the eye. I knew, there was no need for words. There was no need to say 'thank you' out loud. I looked at the wrapped object and held it close to my chest and closed my eyes.
As we were nearing home, the wind was blowing our way and he held out his arm so it wouldn't affect me as much. Such a gentleman... My hair was blowing everywhere, I was silently thankful for at that moment, my face was burning, and I couldn't deny it from myself any longer. I was blushing, really hard...
'July 11, 1864
'This was a question that was surely unavoidable. Even though I didn't want to answer and had tried to deny it for the longest time, I knew. Do I love him? Do I love my husband Kenshin?'
I closed my journal slowly and looked at my husband with his usual sleeping position. That was a question I would deny to answer, even though I knew the answer. I've known the answer for a long time, maybe since the first time I saw him when it was raining blood, maybe even before. I might write it down someday... but right now... I don't think I can face myself with the answer. Not yet anyhow, not yet.
I took the extra blanket sitting beside our two people futon and laid it on him. Someday, if he keeps sleeping like that, he was going to catch a cold. "Oyasumi nasai... Kenshin." I whispered quietly and slipped in my futon, falling asleep in a dreamless sleep.
XenoMark - Thanks! This chapter took a while, but anyhow...
AnimeFreak - Thanks, I don't think I'm THAT good. But thank you nonetheless.
DiaBLo - Thank you. I'll keep updating whenever I have time ^^
Blueraingurl - Thanks for the review, I'll keep updating, that's for sure.
Author's Notes: This took more than my usual time, for that I apologize, but it's cause I have all of these presentations to do. I got 96% on my French presentation. Yay! Anyhow, I've just started to rewrite 'The Difference Between Rain and Tears' Chapter 18. It'll be updated hopefully this week, if I'm not too busy. Anyhow, have fun on Halloween for those who are going Trick-Or-Treating! Later people!