Disclaimer: I don't own anything below blah blah blah.
Author's note: All speeches in Japanese except for those underlined, which means that they are spoken in Chinese.
Chapter 6: Back To Japan
Time frame: Approximately 1 year after Kaoru's disappearance, in Japan on some God forsaken mountain near Kyushuu.
"Kuso! I don't believe this. 1 year and still not a trace of Jou-chan!" growled Sano.
"Look on the bright side, at least the enemies have not found her either, or they wouldn't have visited us so many times." sighed Megumi, dishing out their breakfast in their respective bowls.
"Kitsune, that's not a consolation, and you know it. Although they have visited us several times, we still have not been able to find out anything about their identities. And to make matters worse, they just come and go as they please. What do they take us for: Whores for them to visit and leave as and when they please? Kuso!" Sano cursed once more and smashed the table in his anger.
The entire table turned silent, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally Misao spoke up.
"I still can't understand how they did the disappearing act… I thought it was just a trick, but not even Aoshi-sama or Himura could stop them from disappearing, or see through their trick. Does that mean that they can really disappear at will? But how is that possible?"
Aoshi exchanged a troubled glance with Kenshin, and when neither is able to come up with an explanation, kept silent and respectively reflected on their past meetings with the enemies.
The enemies always turn up late in the night, and normally when the group have stopped for a rest in a forest or wood with no other company, as if they are avoiding publicity. Their only motive for visiting them was to ask for any clues on Kamiya Kaoru's whereabouts, and to warn them not to meddle into affairs not concerning them. Naturally the Kenshin-gumi had not accepted it and just nodded their heads meekly. In fact, during the visits they had without fail tried to find out their identity and their motive for hunting Kamiya Kaoru. But just as the Kenshin-gumi refused to reveal anything regarding Kamiya Kaoru's whereabouts, not that they know anything but they refused to even reveal their ignorance, the enemies refused to answer any of their questions as well. Such stalemate invariably ends up in physical violence with neither party losing as the enemies always disappears before the Kenshin-gumi could actually reach them. And despite their 'Now-You-See-Me-Now-You-Don't' act the enemies could never actually come close enough to hurt them without Aoshi and Kenshin realising beforehand. All in all its very frustrating as neither party finds out anything and they are still stuck at where they were when they first started out.
"As Megumi-dono pointed out, at least we know that Kaoru-dono is not in their hands. And it now looks like Saitoh is right after all. Kaoru-dono had staged her own disappearance so well that neither party could find her. Sessha only wished that Kaoru-dono had at least trusted one of us enough to let us know her whereabouts. Although she is not in the enemies' hands yet, she might end up so if they manage to find her before we do. And if that's the case there's nothing we can do about it," sighed Kenshin.
"Ahou. If she had informed someone, we would have led the enemy to her long ago, that's probably why she staged an absolute disappearance." Saitoh remarked casually, leaning against a tree.
"When did you arrive?" this startled exclamation came from all except Kenshin and Aoshi, who had sensed his presence beforehand.
"Even so, at least we would be there to protect her. Rather than her facing them alone," Kenshin replied.
"How certain are you that she's alone? She might have fled to somebody she trusted," remarked Saitoh.
Kenshin kept silent, while Yahiko and Sano protested that there's nobody that Kaoru will trust more than them.
"How much will you trust your so-called friends and disciple who just abandon you at will? Especially if it's a matter of such importance?" Saitoh asked pointedly, resulting in absolute silence. There was nothing anyone could retort to that.
"But what about us? I'm sure she knows that she can trust the Oniwabanshu! There's no reason for her to hide from us! Besides, Kaoru herself said that she has no other relative or close friends she could depend on, hence she had to single-handedly run the dojo after her father's death!" protested Misao.
"Whatever, the truth is she had runaway, and she obviously had not trusted any of you here, at least not enough to let you know her whereabouts or even the reason behind her disappearance. And it looks like she knew her enemies are people of rather unnatural skills. They broke into the police station last week, searched through the entire place and left with the files on Kamiya Kaoru. The only lucky thing I could say is that at least the information in the file is incomplete. In fact, we gathered so little information we might as well not have tried." snorted Saitoh in disgust.
"How did they break into the police station just like that? And why have the police only gathered so little information?" frowned Sano.
"As for the how: apparently they just apparate into the station, and apparate themselves out again. As for the why: because the authorities, like you previously, had dismissed it as something of very little importance and did not put any effort into it. However, with the station being intruded just like this, the authorities have finally sat up and took notice of it. As of last week the police have put this on out top priority list, which means that now I'm able to officially join you guys in the search. And the other police are doing their best to gather any information on Kamiya Kaoru. I've specifically instructed them to start collecting information beginning with her birth, if necessary." Saitoh flicked his cigarette.
"Well, we don't welcome YOU." Misao growled, and her declaration was echoed by Sano.
"Unfortunately you don't have a choice, Weasel. While I won't be joining you guys in the actual sense of the word, I'll be keeping in contact with you. Once I have anything of value, I'll let you know and I trust you'll do the same?" Saitoh arched an eyebrow at the deafening silence which followed his question.
"Of course, Saitoh. And thank you." It was Kenshin who finally replied.
"Don't thank me. It looks like I have even more at stake than you do. For them to actually break into the police station suggests that the matter is one of utmost gravity that even outweighs the authorities. And such things tend not to be of a positive nature, and eventually leads to chaos. In which case, I'd rather keep it under control." Saitoh remarked grimly before turning to leave.
There was a long silence following Saitoh's departure.
"So what do we do now?" Yahiko asked.
"We continue looking for the pilgrim who handed us Kaoru-dono's letters. He's our only clue, so even we'll track him down even if we have to climb every mountain in Japan. Saitoh is right, for them to openly defy the authorities hints at matters both grave and evil. We need to find Kaoru-dono before she gets into trouble." Kenshin replied.
Then a small voiced question followed from Misao.
"Aoshi-sama, is it true that Kaoru does not trust any of us?"
At that, the entire group fell silent, each occupied with his own thoughts. Kenshin, Sano and Yahiko were the worst hit. Saitoh's accusation kept ringing in their minds: How much will you trust your so-called friends and disciple who just abandon you at will?
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Meanwhile, in Yokohama, a ship had just arrived from China. While that in itself is not unusual, what is unusual is that the ship appeared to be a private ship and there were many important looking people waiting at the dock for its arrival, which included the Chinese Ambassador. The unusual sight caused many to stop and gawk at the scene, trying to find out which important personnel is on the ship, and the reason behind the 'welcoming committee'.
The ship finally halted, and a young man stepped out. His appearance caused an excited stir of mutterings among the 'welcoming committee'. The young man, however, ignored the commotion and turned to help a lady down. The sight of the lady resulted in a hush to fall upon the onlookers. Dressed in a red Cheongsum, which incidentally has a slit thigh-high, the lady's stunning appearance earned many appreciative sighs. Slight in form and yet perfectly proportionate, she looks like a fairy as she floated down the ship. Her long tresses had been arranged in an intricate manner involving many hairpins and ornaments, and on her ears hung a pair of jade earrings carved in the form of a pair of butterflies on a flower.
The Chinese Ambassador stepped out and could be heard exclaiming loudly in Chinese as he welcomed the couple, who after a moment of conversation stepped into a carriage provided by the Ambassador. As the carriage rolled away, a curious onlooker asked a member of the "welcoming committee', a Chinese merchant.
"Who on earth is that couple? And why is the Chinese community is excited by their arrival?"
"That is Master Fang Long Ao and his cousin, Miss Fang Ye Die. Master Fang is one of the wealthiest merchants in China. In fact, he's reputed to be linked to many officials in China, which might explain the Ambassador's presence." The merchant replied. "All I know is that I'm glad he's here. Now that he's here there are many business opportunities for us to explore. That would explain why the Chinese community is so excited. His business is so vast it covers almost all trade, hence almost everyone is looking forward for a talk with him. But I did hear that he's here on personal reasons this time though."
Author's note: that's Kaoru's cousin's name, which means Arrogant Dragon.
"Nonsense, if that's the case he wouldn't have brought his cousin along. Although she has only been helping him for a year, her capabilities are so well-known that it has spread even to people like us who have been stationed in Japan for years. It is said that her word is even more credible than her cousin's, and once she has given her word it's as good as done. Hence lately many of his business associates prefer doing business with her, and it's said that Master Fang does not seem to mind, in fact he even encourages his cousin to help him out as much as possible." Another Chinese merchant overhearing the conversation interrupted.
"In any point, it's not only the Chinese community who is looking forward for a chat with them. I heard that many of the Japanese associates are trying to meet them too, so I'd better be on my way before the other competitors reach them." The second Chinese merchant ended and rushed off, and many of the merchants followed.
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Kaoru sighed and stretched herself. After a month on the sea, it felt good to have her feet on the land again. The journey had been a nightmare, she had always been prone to sea-sickness but this time coupled with her fear at the thought of returning to Japan, she had been so sick that she had not been eating properly throughout the trip. And now she's finally at the mansion they had borrowed from the Ambassador, who is apparently a personal friend of her cousin. She narrowed her eyes at that: her cousin's friends seem to include the Chinese mafia ring-leader and the government officials. He's going to get into trouble one of these days if he doesn't watch out. Oh well, she'll have to be extra careful.
At that moment the said cousin came in.
"Feeling better? I'm sorry I had to drag you all the way here. But don't worry, now that you know more or less what happened to Enishi, we can narrow down the search and once we find him, we'll return to China immediately."
"Biao Ge, I only know that he jumped off the ship during his arrest, but after that I have no idea." sighed Kaoru.
"I know, you were so caught up with his brother-in-law you probably didn't notice any other thing. I must admit that I feel a curiosity towards the famed Battousai though. What I know from the legends and from Enishi is totally different from what you say. A number one killer turned peaceful rurouni. And my Biao Mei have to fall in love with such a man." mused Long Ao.
Kaoru bit her lips, and the gesture did not go unnoticed by her cousin.
"I'm sorry, that was thoughtless of me. You know that Biao Ge is an uncouth man, and totally unversed in the affairs of the heart." Long Ao apologised.
"But totally well versed in the matters of the bed," Kaoru returned wryly, shaking her head at the unnecessary apology. "It's alright, meet him if you wish just as long as I don't have to meet anyone here in Japan.
"That might be a problem. The Ambassador said that your capabilities as my assistant is so well known that many people from both the Chinese and Japanese business industry have been trying to meet you. And since you'll be here as well, why don't you keep a lookout for any business opportunities while I search for Enishi?" suggested Long Ao.
"Right, I work myself to death while you travel and enjoy. Not on your life, besides I wish to avoid all possible contacts. The less people I meet the smaller the chance of the enemies discovering me." Kaoru declared.
"Good luck in your attempt to avoid all contacts, but perhaps you might first wish to help me in a problem: How do I go about searching for Enishi?" frowned Long Ao.
Kaoru sighed. "Biao Ge, the Chinese Ambassador is your personal friend. Just ask him to ask around the Japanese government officials on the matter, and he'll soon be able to direct you to the man who was in charge of that operation. Be careful with that man, although called Fujita Goro now, he's real name is Saitoh Hajime, the Miburo Wolf. Try not to let him see through your 'frivolous wealthy man' disguise. And no matter what happens, don't let him provoke you into a fight."
"Miburo Wolf, eh? Seems like you have fallen into the company of rather important people in Japan," Long Ao remarked, but his unconscious gesture of flexing his fingers did not escape Kaoru.
"I'm serious, Biao Ge. Don't pick a fight with that man. Nothing good ever comes out of it." admonished Kaoru.
Long Ao sighed, reluctantly nodded his agreement, then bade Kaoru goodnight before leaving the room.
Kaoru watched her cousin's departure, with a sense of premonition. Soon her cousin will come into contact with someone from her past, even though it's a really remote 'someone'. But still….
"Kami-sama, I hope the meeting with Saitoh will not evolve into meeting the others as well. I'm not up to seeing Kenshin again." prayed Kaoru, even though in her heart, there's an ever-present ache to see him once again.
"But I can't. Not when I know he'll never love me, and not when I'm being hunted like a rabbit. He'll just offer to help me out of sympathy again, but not even he may be able to stand up to them. I'll just have to lock myself in this room and not meet anyone." Kaoru decided, resolutely ignoring the pain in her heart.
Outside, Long Ao watched the lights in Kaoru's room go out, and a smile spread on his face. I promised not to fight the Miburo Wolf, but I didn't say a thing about the Battousai, Biao Mei. And I intend to see him at least once before we return to China. But before that, I'll concentrate on finding Enishi. After that, payback time. No one hurts my Biao Mei and just walk away like that. Besides, I must find out for myself whether he's as good as they say. But first thing first: Let's meet Saitoh Hajime first.
Owari
Author's note: Kow-towing: My apologies. I know I promised more hints on the heirloom and curse, but somehow the story just refused to go the way I wished (sob). But don't worry, all in good time. It will be revealed eventually, I promised. As usual, it's easier to just R&R, but if you wish yawns, flames etc can be sent to chibibuta@hotmail.com.