Chapter 2. I REALLY didn't think people would like this. I guess I was wrong. I'll be working on this for a little while until I get rid of my writers block for "Melt my Heart".
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Chapter II: Hitokiri Battousai
Kyoto, May of 1864
The assassin narrowed his eyes, cursing wildly in his head as he met the frightened dusty blue eyes of a young boy. He couldn't have been any older then ten, but why was he smiling like that? Did he not understand how much trouble he was in now? "Why are you smiling?"
The boy stuttered inaudible phrases, knocking out the possibility that he didn't understand how much trouble he was in. He understood perfectly and the boy was probably terrified.
The assassin re-sheathed his now cleaned--or as clean as one could get it--katana, ignoring the lurch his heart gave when the boy curled back as he grabbed him by the arm firmly, but not harshly. He hated when children curled away from him in fright. On any man he would find it amusing that a 15-year-old could make grown men whimper like puppies, but on children it was heart breaking. Fright like that didn't belong on their faces.
Pulling him to his feet, he looked the boy over and frowned. "Why do you keep smiling like that?"
The eyes still showed his fright, but confusion now entered them as well as he stuttered out, "I-I a-always do wh-when someone is go-going to hurt me."
His heart lurched again and the assassin's frown deepened. "I'm not going to hurt you but you have to come with me."
The boy was about to nod, but he immediately stopped half way. "I can't. I have to get help for Kaoru-san. She's hurt."
The assassin let out an audible sigh. "Where is she?" If the kid would come quietly if he took this 'Kaoru-san' then fine. Makes his job a hell of a lot easier. Besides, if the girl was hurt he couldn't very well leave her in an alley or something, his conscience wouldn't let him. Then again, his conscience yelled at him about killing too didn't it?
The boy brightened a bit, going back to the alley he had come from with the assassin right behind him, lest the kid start running off on him. "She's down there," he said, pointing to the shadowed figure on the ground a couple meters away. As they got closer to it the long strands of ebony hair pooled onto the ground became visible, followed by her pale skin and her face.
Kneeling down, he picked her up effortlessly, a bit surprised by how light she was. Giving off an inward sigh, he hauled her over his shoulder, grabbing the little boy with his free hand before going off down the backstreets and alleys towards the inn. Why hadn't he listened to his conscience and not gotten up that morning? He knew he'd run into trouble.
* * * * *
Upon entering the Kohagi Inn, the landlady raised an eyebrow at the assassin.
"The boy saw me doing my job," he said simply, placing the girl on the floor while he set the boy on his feet.
"The girl too?" she asked, moving to check the girl for injuries.
"Iie."
The landlady gave him a look. "Himura-san..."
"I know the rules, but she's with the boy and he wouldn't leave without her."
The landlady gave him a doubtful look. "Well, I don't have anymore room for her or the boy so they'll have to stay in your room." She gave him a look again. "I trust you won't turn sour on me now? You're one of the few respectful customers we have."
Himura shot her a look, choosing not to voice his offense over her thoughts. "They'll be fine, don't worry, but I need to get a letter to Katsura-sama as soon as possible about this."
"You're in luck; he just arrived earlier from his trip. He's meeting now so you'll have to speak with him in the morning," she said, calling over some girls to help her treat the unconscious girl. "We'll treat the girl and bring her to you room in a while Himura. The boy should get treated as well."
Himura reluctantly nodded, handing the boy over to the landlady and the inn workers before stepping outside and saying simply, "I need to wash up."
The landlady glanced at Himura, opening her mouth to say something but shut it when she saw he was out of sight, turning back to treating the girl and boy. "Oh well, he'll find out when he goes to his room anyway."
* * * * *
Tossing the bucket full of cold water over his head, Himura stared at the blood dripping from the wound on his face and onto the side of the well, his now amethyst eyes staring emotionlessly at the water dripping from his fingertips.
No matter how many times he rinsed himself the blood would never come clean, he'd never be unstained. He knew that when he'd taken the job as a shadow assassin for the Choshu clan, yet why did it always bother him so? Simple, he didn't like killing people, but this had to be done. It was all for a new era, one where there could be peace and oppression of the weak would be stopped.
He whirled around when the snapping of a twig caught his attention.
There was the other reason.
"Kenshin-san, your wounds bleeding again," a girl no older then the boy he just brought back said, wearing nothing but her zouri's and a dark purple gi belted with a pale green sash. Her eyes were a mix of sapphire and amethyst, perhaps some grey as well, and her rich brown hair was pulled back simply into a low ponytail with her long bangs laying limply over her eyes, the longer piece on the side of her head hiding her ears. To anyone who didn't know them, she could have passed for his sister. "Did you have to fight again?"
"What are you doing here?" he asked, ignoring her question while taking the piece of cloth she held up to him and wiping the blood away.
"Katsura-san wanted me to come visit again," she said. Her face lessened in it's brightness as she looked at the blood on his hakama. "He said I could stay in your room until I go back. You don't mind do you?"
Kenshin glanced down at her, amethyst meeting the girl's. She was a child that always seemed to come around Kyoto at the most ridiculous times, yet Katsura never told him why he always requested her to come visit the inn for the few days. She'd always stay in his room as well, only telling him, "Your room is the only room that doesn't reek of sake and other smells that I'm sure I don't want to know what they are. Plus it's nice and quiet unlike the others so I can actually sleep."
If pushed, he'd have to confess he really didn't mind having her around. The girl served as a reminder for the other reason he was fighting in this war and doing one of the dirtiest jobs in it; so children like her could grow up in a peaceful world. It also gave him a little piece of mind when she was around because she was never frightened or intimidated by him. He suspected she really didn't understand what he was and she only saw him as another male who just didn't act like the others. She had, in fact, said so herself on multiple occasions. She was a living example of the saying 'Ignorance is Bliss'. "Go to bed, it's late."
She smiled, taking his answer as a no. "Hai. Oyasumi nasai Kenshin-san," she said before making her way back into the inn.
Kenshin sighed, wringing out his ponytail of excess water. He could all ready tell this was going to be a weird week. The again, a weird week for him was better then a bloody one, even if it was most likely going to be both.
* * * * *
Stirring, Kaoru opened her drowsy eyes slowly, adjusting to the sun filtering in through the window and into her eyes. Wait a second, window?
Shooting up in the futon she was laid out in, she immediately regretted doing so as a dizzy feeling made her fall back onto the head rest. What had happened? How did she get here? Where WAS here?
"I see you're awake. Ohayo!" a cheerful girl around Soujiro's age said, sliding the door to the simple room open with her foot. In her arms she was balancing 3 trays full of food and a bucket full of rice, donned in a gi way too big for her small frame, the overly large sleeves tied back by a white strip of cloth. On her feet were zouri's with bandages wrapped around them, going up midway to her knees. "Kenshin-san said for me to eat in here and make sure you or him," she motioned towards Soujiro who was still sleeping, "Don't leave. I think it's pretty ridiculous since you and he were so beat up last night and you're probably all sore, ne?"
Kaoru moved to sit up again, but found what the girl was saying was true. She WAS sore, her muscles cramping as she moved, right arm held still by a sling. "Aa...demo, who's Kenshin?"
Setting the tray down in Kaoru's lap and another next to the sleeping boy, the girl smiled and bit into some rice before saying, "He's the one who brought you and him," Again, she pointed to Soujiro, "here. People call him Battousai though."
Kaoru's voice sunk down into her stomach, her hunger pushed down even further. Battousai? HITOKIRI Battousai? Battousai as in the shadow assassin she had heard about who was a killing machine? Wasn't he suppose to be just some man created by paranoid imaginations? What had happened last night?!
The girl blinked, noticing the Kaoru's face going paler by the second. "What's wrong?"
Kaoru opened and closed her mouth several times. "Wha-but isn't he the-"
The girl frowned, placing down her bowl of rice and chopsticks. "You mean isn't he the cold hearted killer?" When Kaoru nodded, she frowned deeper. "People say that, but it's not completely true." Shaking her head, the girl plastered a smile on her face that was eerily similar to Soujiro's. "I really shouldn't talk about it. Katsura-sama and Kenshin-san might get angry with me, though Katsura-san never really looks angry at all."
Kaoru nodded, hesitantly starting on her own rice. "What's your name?"
"Shiori. Takarashiro Shiori," she said, bowing.
"I'm Kaoru, Kamiya Kaoru."
"Who's he?" Shiori asked, motioning to Soujiro again.
Fortunately, Soujiro was waking up and heard her. "Soujiro, Seta Soujiro."
Shiori beamed again. "Ohayo. I see you finally decided to join us." Shiori sniffed the air, her eyebrow quirking as Soujiro began on his breakfast. "Kenshin-san's coming. Katsura-sama too I think."
Kaoru rose an eyebrow this time. "How can you tell?"
Shiori beamed proudly as she said, "I can sense their ki's and smell their scents. My brother taught me how to do things like that."
Kaoru smiled. It immediately dropped when two men appeared at the door, one with a passive and serious look while the other was smiling gently.
"Shiori-chan, would you mind...?" the more amiable looking of the two said, trailing off at the end since he knew Shiori would get the hint.
She did, shrugging while picking up the empty tray of her food. "I'll come back later for your trays," she said simply before trotting out without a care in the world, waving to both Kaoru and Soujiro.
"Cute child," Kaoru commented, trying to break the tension forming in the room.
"Yes, she comes here on and off," the man with short black hair tied into a high ponytail said, kneeling across from Kaoru and Soujiro who had stopped eating. "I'm Katsura Kogoro."
"I know, Shiori-chan told me a little bit about you," Kaoru said, trying to ignore Kenshin who sat next to Katsura silently.
Katsura laughed slightly. "I see, well then, I suppose I don't have to dwindle on the introductions." Turning serious, Katsura looked at Soujiro. "You are aware you saw something you shouldn't have."
Soujiro nodded. "I know."
"I'm going to have to insist you both stay here. We can't risk anyone knowing about Himura-san more then necessary."
"We couldn't go anywhere even if we wanted to," Kaoru muttered, though she didn't think anyone heard her.
Being the skilled assassin he was, however, Kenshin did, turning to Kaoru and asking, "What was that?"
Kaoru blinked; she was surprised he'd even heard her. "Nothing, never mind."
Kenshin glared at her slightly but didn't question further, going out the door saying, "I'm going into town."
Katsura stood as well, bowing towards them while saying, "I must get going to a meeting. Ask for Shiori if you need anything." before going out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
Seconds later, Shiori cracked the door open and stuck her head back in. "Everything all right?"
Kaoru and Soujiro both sighed. "We're fine."
Sliding the shoji door all the way open with her foot again, Shiori brought in some clothes. "Okami-san said you might want these since your clothes had been practically ripped to shreds last night."
Kaoru took the kimono, under kimono and obi gratefully, admiring the intricate designs on it. "It's beautiful, demo..." Kaoru frowned at the sling she had on her arm. "How am I suppose to change into this with this thing on?"
Shiori dumped the gi, fundoshi and hakama onto Soujiro's lap with a smile before turning back to Kaoru. "I'll help. If I'm not around Okami-san said she'd come help you." Shiori turned towards Soujiro. "Would you mind?"
Soujiro took the clothes he'd been given and walked out the door. "Not at all. I'll wait in the hall until you're done."
Once the door shut, Kaoru began untying her own tattered obi with her left hand, letting the shredded yellow one fall to the floor. While Shiori tried to help her out of the under kimono, they paused midway when they heard Soujiro's panicked voice out in the hall. They both turned, Kaoru's chest from her waist up left exposed, blinking as they tried to figure out what he was saying and to whom he was saying it to.
They figured it out just a bit too late.
Kenshin opened the shoji door and stepped through, only to freeze in his tracks numbly.
Kaoru's brain numbed as well, but only for a second. Once it began working she shrieked to the high heavens, darting behind Shiori while trying in a futile attempt to cover herself back up with her under kimono with only her left hand.
Kenshin turned abruptly, coughing while saying in his usual passive drawl, "I forgot my money."
Soujiro stood at the door with his eyes covered, torn between bubbling laughter and embarrassment. "I tried to warn him."
"Didn't work," Shiori commented dryly, tossing the pouch full of yen at Kenshin's head. He caught it without turning around, calmly walking out and shutting the shoji door behind him as soon as he grabbed a hold of the pouch.
Once he heard the door shut, Soujiro uncovered his eyes, listening as Kaoru began ranting loudly. Most were colorful phrases cursing the assassin, some of which he was sure even Kenshin hadn't heard, others being her normal rants on men in general and how they gave women no privacy. Soujiro turned to look at Kenshin just in time to see him turn and walk down the hall, mumbling something while shaking his head.
Had Soujiro turned around sooner, he would have seen the pink tint of a blush on the man's face.
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All right, Chapter 2 done. I can't believe you all like this story that much! I'm honored! Chapter 3 is on its way soon, maybe on my birthday (Monday). Nothing like starting my sweet 16 with a chapter update ne? (I have no life, I know.)
Notes:
1. Kohagi Inn is the name of the place they stayed, I believe, while I think Okami was the landlady's name. I forgot where I read it, but I think its right.