Chapter 6! One scene in this would be R...just to warn you.
Anyway, I forgot to mention this in the last chapter notes. Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan and its located right near Otsu. I'm presuming this home Shiori is staying in is right on the lakes edge while the closest home she spoke of is the one Kenshin will go to later on. Wakatta?
Visit here to see a visual of where the lake is and what not in contrast to Otsu, Kyoto and stuff:
http://www.pref.shiga.jp/profile-e/shizen/pro-natu.htm
P.S. - PLEASE read my original series "Watakushi no Aisuru". I can not stress enough how badly I need people to review. I need to know if I even did a remotely good job creating characters, descriptions and what not. I do hope to become some type of a writer, so reviews for them are VERY important to me.
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Chapter VI: Man behind the Mask
Lake Biwa, May of 1864
The pleasant sound of birds chirping invaded Soujiro's ears as he sat up, his back not aching for once as he rose out of his futon and put on his cloths.
He had never felt so peaceful. His limbs had never felt so good.
For as long as he could remember he would dread waking up in the mornings, his limbs sore from beatings he had received the night before. They would become even worse as he was beaten during the day for things he never did, but his smile would persist.
Now, however, Soujiro noted he seemed to smile even though he didn't have to. The peaceful and quiet atmosphere that surrounded him seemed to have that effect on him.
Glancing over to his side, he noted Shiori was still asleep. Quietly, so he wouldn't wake her prematurely and earn her eternal wrath -- like he had a few days ago -- Soujiro padded out of the room they used as a bedroom, quietly walking to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
My, the girl was certainly full of surprises. She was downright frightening when mad, even more the Kaoru, who would kill him if she knew he had thought that.
Shiori wouldn't be mad though, he'd treat her once and make breakfast for them. Kaoru had taught him how to cook a bit in their spare time at the inn. She would be in for a surprise when she woke up.
* * * * *
Shiori awoke to the distinct smell of smoke. It was a familiar smell that never failed to panic her.
Awake in an instant, she jumped out of her futon, tossed on her haori over her gi that she slept in and dashed towards the kitchen where the smoke seemed to be coming from.
When she was a few feet away from the kitchen's door, she fell to the floor with a large sweat-drop.
Sliding the wood door open was Soujiro, hacking from the thick smoke now drifting from the room and out of the house through the open windows. "What in Kami-sama's name happened?!"
Soujiro scratched his head, laughing sheepishly while saying, "I tried to cook breakfast but the food got burned."
Shiori raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you open the windows?" It shouldn't have built up that much smoke if the windows had been opened before hand.
"I couldn't find them in all the smoke."
::THUD::
Soujiro blinked, inhaling the now fresh air circulating through the house as he squatted down near Shiori who had fallen over with an even larger sweat-drop then before. "Takarashiro-san?"
Standing up and rubbing her head -- as if in pain -- Shiori shuffled into the kitchen, going to see if something he had intended to make could be saved. "I'll go make us something to eat, you go wash up. You smell of smoke." When he nodded, going off towards the door, Shiori looked around the kitchen only to call back, "Also, don't try to cook breakfast again."
Soujiro just sweat-dropped, laughing nervously before scampering outside to rid himself of the smell of a burned breakfast and ponder over what he had done wrong. He had been so sure he followed Kaoru's instructions to the last detail...
* * * * *
Kyoto, May of 1864
Kaoru turned her head away with a frown as she and Tomoe passed Kenshin in the hallway, her temper still in full throttle. Tomoe was amused to say the least, watching as her new friend gave Battousai the coldest shoulder she had ever seen. If it were just a bit colder...could anyone say frost bite? The girl gave the term a new meaning.
Kenshin ignored the cold shoulder, but inside he was going nuts. On anyone else he could have probably dealt with it, but the way this girl shunned him was driving him insane!
Normally people just pretended you weren't there, going on like normal, but not Kaoru. She actually acknowledged his presence and reminded him every blessed time they were within eye sight of each other that she would not speak with him and was raging mad for what he did. When would she just stop and at LEAST let him TRY to apologize like any normal woman would?
He allowed a small smirk to cross his lips as he rounded the corner. Kaoru was in no way an ordinary woman and THAT was a good thing.
* * * * *
"Mou!" Kaoru exclaimed, once she was sure he couldn't hear. She had seen the smirk cross his lips when he rounded the corner and it had enraged her more. "That insufferable baka!"
Tomoe let a small smile appear on her otherwise placid features.
"I can't believe him! He walks in on me...and actually GAWKS...he doesn't even...Mou! Jerk!" she exclaimed, her short and unfinished sentences understood by the older woman -- who had been told what happened -- without saying.
Kaoru stomped into the kitchen with Tomoe still listening, a rare amused expression on her face as Kaoru ran through every curse she knew. Every single one of them was directed towards the annoying red head. "He could at least APOLOGIZE."
"You're right, Kaoru-chan. Himura-san should've apologized," Tomoe said, scowling inwardly. He didn't deserve the honorific, especially from her. He had ruined her happiness, but she needed to bear with it until she could complete her mission. She could dishonor his name all she wanted in the recesses of her mind until after he was gone and Kiyosato was avenged...until the one who had destroyed her happiness was gone.
Then maybe her sinking feeling would go away.
* * * * *
Lake Biwa, May of 1864
"Shiori-chan!"
Shiori looked up from reading her book, glancing at the door where five kids -- three girls, two boy's -- were all ready running through. The boys were holding fishing poles while the girl's were carrying books and some lunches.
"We're going fishing in the lake, do you want to come with us?" The girl with the basket of food asked, holding it up. "We made more then enough!"
"Arigatou, demo, Seta-san all ready went out to fish for me Haruka-chan."
Haruka tilted her head, an eyebrow raised. "You mean that cute kid down near the lake whistling?"
Shiori raised an eyebrow this time. "Was he smiling?" Haruka nodded. "Yep, that's Seta-san all right."
The girl on Haruka's right gave Shiori a look. "Did you go off and get yourself a boyfriend without telling us? We thought we were your friends!"
Shiori gave a strangled choke. "You are Misa-chan and I did NOT get a boyfriend! I'm only eight you know! Even if I am more mature then most I am still too young!"
One of the boy's nodded confidently. "Besides, she's going to date me when we get older!"
The last girl -- and the smallest -- rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't bet my last yen on that Hachiro-san."
"You're just jealous Kana-chan!" the boy next to Hachiro teased, Hachiro nodding with his welled up ego inflating.
Haruka, Kana, Misa and Shiori burst into gales of laughter and giggles. "You wish! I'd never be jealous over Hachiro, Seiki! Besides, I'm with Shiori-chan; we're too young for boyfriends and such!" Kana exclaimed.
"What's going on?" Soujiro asked, stepping inside the home with his large catch flailing inside a wood bucket. Soujiro tilted his head to the side as the one boy there cast him a glare while the other four began laughing again. "Nani?"
"Nothing," Shiori giggled, taking the bucket from him. "This is Haruka, Kana, Misa, and Seiki," she said, pointing to the four giggling. "That's Hachiro. They're some of my friends. I'll go start making some dinner."
"We'll help!" Haruka and Kana called, giggling as they went after Shiori into the kitchen.
"Did I miss something?" Soujiro asked, sitting down on the floor near Seiki.
"Nothing at all," Misa giggled, watching as Hachiro sized Soujiro up with a quick glance over. She then burst out into peals of laughter with Seiki as Hachiro huffed in annoyance at something and gave Soujiro the coldest glare he could with his flaming garnet eyes -- his messy brown hair covering the glare slightly -- only to become angrier when Soujiro spotted him and simply smiled.
Misa could all ready smell trouble brewing.
* * * * *
Kyoto, May of 1864
Kaoru turned her nose up at Kenshin for what must have been the thousandth time that day, turning her back on him as she caught eyes with the now quite frustrated hitokiri at dinner. Narrowed eyes watching as she left the dining room, Kenshin stood as soon as she rounded the corner, ignoring Iizuka's curious and amused call. There was no way he would let her get away this time without at least TALKING to him.
Approaching his shoji door, he put his ear up against the screen in an attempt to judge if it was safe to enter, finally deciding it was when he heard no rustling of clothes or mumbling. Sliding it open with a highly annoyed look on his face, he waited for Kaoru to turn around, leaning against the door with his arms crossed.
Kneeling in front of a table where she had laid out her tattered kimono, Kaoru looked over her shoulder and cast him a glare that could have struck a man dead on the spot before calmly returning her attention to the material.
He just stood there, leaning against the door with his eyes narrowed at her rapidly tensing back, waiting for her to break the silence.
Break it she did a few minutes later.
"What do you want?" she hissed, putting her sewing project down but not turning to look at him.
"We need to talk."
"We have nothing to talk about."
"Yes we do."
"No we don't."
Kenshin rubbed his head, annoyed at the little game. "I apologize."
She tensed, as if she were going to say something in retort, but loosened up when his words had hit. Turning around, she raised an eyebrow and tilted her head to the side as she asked, "Nani?"
Kenshin gave her a look, uncomfortable with having to repeat his words while she was looking at him like that. "I apologize, I shouldn't have done what I did."
Kaoru opened and closed her mouth several times. He had just apologized -- to her of all people -- and was he fidgeting because of her? A rare grin split Kaoru's face. This would be fun. "Apology accepted then Kenshin." The smile she gave was almost frightening.
Kenshin saw the look and raised an eyebrow. Why was there an almost evil glint in her eyes? It was really making him uncomfortable and he hated feeling like that. "Why are you grinning like that?"
Kaoru feigned innocence. "Like what?"
Kenshin glared. "Like that."
Kaoru blinked, turning her head away from him again but the smile persisted. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Kenshin took a menacing step forward scowling. How else was he suppose to handle it? Admit the look in her eyes and her smile was scaring him? That be the day! "Stop it."
Kaoru turned and looked at him innocently, though the look in her eyes was still swirling with amusement and mischief. "Stop what?"
Kenshin's frown deepened, stepping so he was right in front of her. She simply looked up, that same innocent look on her face, though somewhat strained now as she stared into his eyes. They were flickering between smoky amethyst and the same intense amber stare she was familiar with, boring into her own eyes and just briefly giving her a view into his soul.
He must have realized what she had seen from the slight widening in her eyes, immediately turning away and setting himself down in front of the window, head turned away from her.
Kaoru sat there for a few moments, confused. She had seen many emotions in only a split second and her brain was still trying to sort through them all. Annoyance, anger...those she had expected, but not the ones her brain was picking out now...admiration, envy. There were a few others she couldn't describe, but Kaoru had pushed them aside. Why would he envy or admire her? It didn't make any sense.
An uncomfortable and tense silence followed...
...but not for long.
"Kenshin?" she asked quietly, glancing at the quiet assassin.
He turned his head slightly, raising an eyebrow but made no move to speak.
"I wanted to go get a drink at the nearby tavern..." she started, glancing to see if he had any reaction.
"I'll accompany you," he said without batting an eyelash, turning his attention back to looking out at the stars. "Tell me when you want to leave."
"Hai," Kaoru said, standing and walking out of the room to inform Okami she was going out, leaving Kenshin to his thoughts for a moment. There was no way in hell he was going to let her go with one of his associates; they were slimy rats waiting to get their hands on fresh prey like her.
Kenshin shook his head, standing up and setting his daisho into his hakama sash. Why did he care? He shouldn't care, but why was he getting a sinking feeling that something bad was going to happen to her tonight if he didn't go?
* * * * *
"Okami-san, I'm going out for awhile," Kaoru said, sticking her head into the kitchen where Okami was putting away the last of the dishes.
"Who's going with you?" she asked, not turning towards her as she stuck a bowl into one of the cupboards.
Kaoru coughed a bit. "Kenshin."
Okami turned towards Kaoru, shutting the cupboard with one eyebrow arched. "First name basis?"
Kaoru shrugged. "I just call him Kenshin but he never seems to mind."
Okami nodded, grabbing the nearby umbrella and handing it to her. "It just started to rain so take this with you."
Kaoru nodded, turning to leave when Okami placed a hand on her shoulder. "Okami-san?"
"You know Kaoru," she started, walking with her down the halls. "You're like a rose. You have your thorns, but you're beautiful even with them." Ignoring Kaoru's truly confused look, she babbled on. "I believe a rose looks the best in the rain, don't you?"
Kaoru nodded slowly, wondering if Okami had had too much sake recently.
Walking on as the girl stopped in front of Kenshin's door, Okami said over her shoulder before disappearing around the corner, "Roses are very beautiful in the rain, even if the rain is red."
Kaoru tilted her head, standing there holding the umbrella for a moment with her head tilted. What a strange woman. What was she talking about?
She didn't notice Kenshin had opened the door, all set with his own umbrella. "Let's go."
Blinking out of her confused stated, Kaoru simply nodded numbly and walked off after him.
* * * * *
Lake Biwa, May of 1864
"Did I miss something today Takarashiro-san?" Soujiro asked. It was late but the lanterns were still on while the two read their respective books.
Peering over the top of hers slightly, Shiori shook her head. "Iie. My friends were just being weird."
"Sou ka...Hachiro-san seemed to dislike me."
"He's jealous of you," Shiori said without thinking.
Soujiro blinked, tilting his head to the side. "Naze?"
Shiori shook her head, changing the subject as she said, "How do you think Kenshin-san and Kaoru-san are?"
Soujiro shrugged, dropping the subject as well. "Fine I guess, though Kaoru-san probably hit him at least once."
Shiori snorted behind her book. "Yeah, she's probably yelling at him while Kenshin-san just stays as collected as ever."
* * * * *
Kyoto, May of 1864
The silence was slowly grating on Kaoru's nerves as she sat across from Kenshin, sipping sake every so often. He hadn't uttered a word since the inn -- which she had been fine with since she had been busy contemplating Okami's weird rose comment -- but now she was just getting annoyed.
It wasn't like she didn't have anything to ask -- Kami-sama only knew she had a million questions that were unanswered -- but it didn't seem right to ask him since most were personal things.
Luckily, Kenshin broke the silence. "You're quiet."
Kaoru looked up, eyebrow raised. "Eh?"
Kenshin looked up, his gaze meeting hers. "You're not usually so quiet."
A small part of her told her she should be insulted but luckily -- for Kenshin at least -- she ignored it. "I have some things on my mind."
"They will be fine."
"I'm not worried about Sou-chan and Shiori-chan much anymore."
Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "Then what?"
Kaoru fidgeted for a moment, averting her gaze. Why did his look always make her feel so timid? Timid was not something she liked to feel; not one bit. "Do you enjoy it?"
Kenshin's eyebrow rose higher. "Nani?" The sharp look she gave him elaborated for him silently. "Oh," he said, pouring himself some more sake and drinking it in one gulp. His mind barely registered the fact that it didn't taste like blood.
"Well?" she asked quietly.
Kenshin stared into his cup. "Iie, demo, I am fighting for a new era where people can live in peace, so I will bear it."
Kaoru blinked, startled. "Demo...what about you?"
Kenshin's eyebrow rose even higher. "What do you mean?"
Kaoru stared into her sake cup, swirling the liquid around. "Doesn't the blood get to you?"
Kenshin looked back down, shaking his head. "I don't mind it, knowing I'm helping bring forth a new peaceful era where oppression of the weak will be stopped."
"I see..." Kaoru murmured, "...but I don't see how it's right to bring forth an era like that at the price of someone's sanity."
"Why do you care?" Kenshin asked, genuinely curious.
"I care because it's my nature..." Kaoru started, "...but I care for you because I see you are unhappy." After saying so she lowered her head, lest he see the blush crossing her face.
Kenshin set his bottle of sake down, allowing his surprise to show by blinking...multiple times while staring at the top of Kaoru's head. Annoyed with staring at her head and not her face he coughed slightly before hesitantly bringing his hand to lay on top of hers that was lying in the middle of the wood table.
Kaoru blinked several times when she felt the warmth of his hand rest on hers, lifting her head to peer up questioningly at him. Kenshin's head was down slightly so that his eyes were shadowed but his face was still visible, his stoic features still in place.
His fingers gently curved around her hand, holding it as if she were a glass statue that would break if he handled her too roughly. The calluses on his hands from fighting with his daisho were painfully obvious on the back of her hand, the rough skin brushing across her own smooth skin when he grasped her hand a bit more firmly.
"You shouldn't..." he started, his voice low yet it lacked the fierce undertone she had become accustomed to during her stay in the inn. "You shouldn't bother caring about someone like me..."
"I should," she stated gently yet firmly, bringing right hand up to go over his. "I know there is someone Shiori-chan can see inside you, perhaps the real person you are under this facade you always put up." She felt him tense slightly, signaling in her mind that she had been right on target. "I'm not sure if my guesses are right...but I can see you are hiding things from everyone...the real Kenshin perhaps."
A deafening silence crossed them for a few moments, the only sounds in the inn being the slight clatters coming from the tavern's kitchen.
"I want to ask you one last thing," she said quietly after awhile. Lifting his face up slightly so she could look into his rather startled amber ones she asked, "I remember Shiori-chan once telling me you never kill for the sake of seeing blood; you'd never kill, let alone fight an unarmed opponent. If the situation was different and I had a katana with me now -- if I challenged you -- would you kill me?"
For a moment, Kenshin couldn't think. All that was running through his mind was how this girl managed to see through the walls he had built up around himself so easily. How had she seen what no one but the annoying little girl -- which he still hadn't figured out how she could see through him -- had?
His brain began functioning, however, at her last question. Could he kill her? If the situation was different could he kill this annoying girl?
Slipping her hand from his grasp Kaoru stood, grabbing her umbrella and waiting for him to stand. He did so quietly, apparently still thinking her question over. "When you have an answer...I'd like to hear it," was all she said before walking towards the door. After putting down his money Kenshin followed her outside, not even bothering to open his.
The rain pounded against him, falling harder then it had been. The winds were harsher then they had been as well, blowing his hair into his face. However, they seemed to disappear as his eyes narrowed, staring at the dark alley way coming up. It was the same one he had found Soujiro and Kaoru in.
Kaoru noticed something as well because she stopped, glancing over towards the alley as well. She was about to speak when she noticed the warning look Kenshin gave her, silently telling her to stay quiet. Hand moving towards the hilt of his katana, he stared at the alley, closing his eyes as he concentrated.
As soon as his eyes closed chains shot out from the darkness, Kenshin reacting a bit to slow but bringing his arm up in time to prevent the chain that had wrapped around his neck from choking him. The other was around his hand that had pulled his katana half way out, successfully preventing him from drawing his blade all the way out.
Kaoru didn't even get a chance to scream his name as someone else grabbed her, the parasol dropping from her hands as a large arm pinned her arms to her sides, the other hand covering her mouth to muffle her scream before carrying her away into some dark alley farther away from where Kenshin was.
Hand still on her mouth, the man shoved her roughly up against a building to keep her still, one of the men in the alley grabbing hold of her in a strong grip while she was stilled while her mouth was gagged to muffle any screams. Once she was secure the man finally stepped close enough for the moonlight to illuminate his face, Kaoru's eyes narrowing as recognition hit her.
It was the Ishinshishi man she had kicked, his revolting face a bitter reminder to what had happened just yesterday. He was smirking, eyes laced with lust as he approached her squirming form.
Kaoru squirmed relentlessly to get out of his companion's grasp but cursed loudly -- though most was muffled by her gag -- when she couldn't, the man only twisting her arms tighter behind her back. She kicked -- seeing as her feet were free -- trying to keep the disgusting pervert away from her but he grabbed her flailing legs with one hand, grinning as pure horror crossed Kaoru's eyes.
A large, rough hand slid her kimono skirt open slowly, the material parting slowly as his hand went higher up her leg.
Kaoru wriggled in her position suspended above the ground, her movements only splitting her skirt open more, cursing as loud as she could despite the gag and kept trying to fight their strong grips.
His calloused fingers slid into her and she whimpered slightly, biting back the cry she wanted to give out. Her mind reeled through every curse she knew in a desperate attempt to ignore the sensations going through her at the man's ministrations in her, his frighteningly low cackle of pleasure sending a wave of anger and unwanted pleasure through her.
Her angry eyes met his briefly before he grinned maliciously towards her, his head dipping low to taste her.
Kaoru screamed as much as she could, trying to fight even more vigorously.
The man holding Kaoru's arms only laughed, letting his one hand hold her in the air while the other slid through her kimono folds and touched her. He crooned lowly in her ear, "We're going to do you a favor...you'll thank us later..." before squeezing her lightly.
Kaoru screamed, fighting as her body became even more violated, the man's tongue intruding into her down below. She screamed and screamed, her cries of agony and unwanted pleasure seemingly going unanswered and fueling her assailants hunger more.
But then she found her lower body dropping, her feet planted unsuspectingly on the floor as the man in front of her fell from his spot in her to the ground. The man behind her had stopped his own ministrations, though his hand was still in her kimono. Looking up, wide sapphire met enraged gold in a relieved stare.
Kaoru had never been so happy to see Kenshin, even if he was pissed as hell.
* * * * *
Enraged gold stared at the now quivering man behind Kaoru, fury written all over the assassin's features as he stared at the hand within the folds of her kimono. She was still fighting but he was still gripping her tightly, the hand not removing itself.
Kenshin's anger was fuelled even more. They dared to...bad enough he had seen that idiot intruding her in the most vilest ways possible...but now this idiot touching her where she obviously didn't want to be...and Kaoru, she looked torn between anger and relief...Kenshin's restraint snapped as he took menacing steps forward, the man releasing Kaoru and backing away with large steps quickly.
Never in his life had Kenshin wanted to kill someone so badly, to purposely see their blood spilled. Part of him knew it was wrong to think so but judgment was clouded over by uncontrollable rage. They had dared to try and defile Kaoru -- in such a crude and disgusting way at that -- her form now shaking as she attempted to cover herself up.
In an instant the man was running for his life, Kenshin right on his heels with every intention of splitting him in two. The idiot grabbed for the katana at his side and managed to pull it out, facing Kenshin and charging clumsily in a desperate attempt to save his ass.
Kenshin inwardly snorted; all the more easier to kill the slimy bastard.
With familiar ease he dodged the man's pathetic attack, his blade meeting head on with the man's skull as blood sprayed with every inch the blade was pushed through the man's body -- covering Kenshin's gi and hakama -- his face blotched with the red liquid as he gave the katana one last thrust and the halves of a body fell to his side instantly.
Before he could even comprehend what he had just done Kaoru's scream filled the air once more, thus getting Kenshin's attention again as he dashed back towards her.
* * * * *
" Stay away!" Kaoru screeched, backing up against a wall as the injured, but not dead, pervert in front of her tried to once again to go after her. Searching for anything that could serve as a bokken she lit up when she saw a broom lying nearby. Breaking the stick over her knee and swinging to test it once she charged, the man just standing there grinning as he predicted that she wouldn't be able to hit him very hard.
The grin left his face as she delivered a quick thrust to his jaw, sending him upwards then immediately jumped up and slammed the end of her makeshift bokken into his throat making him choke as he fell back to the ground with a *thud*.
Kaoru landed on her feet with her bokken outstretched, ready for another attack the idiot might make.
The burly man growled lowly as he stood straight, charging at her. Kaoru was about to hit him again when she saw a katana go straight through the man's throat, the blade doing a one eighty before shooting up and splitting his head, blood shooting everywhere.
Kaoru held her arms in front of her, the sleeves of her rumpled but otherwise fine kimono blocking the blood from splashing onto her face.
"Are you all right?" Kenshin growled, glaring down at the dead man lying in a pool of blood. Kaoru hesitantly put her arms down and made a small sound of assurance, dropping the wooden stick to the ground and promptly wrapping them around herself.
Kenshin flicked the blood from his katana, stepping over the man's body and nudging Kaoru forward in a silent command to get back to the inn. She did so without protest, unconsciously staying closer to Kenshin. He didn't care, wrapping one arm around her shoulders as she shivered from the cold wind blowing at her now rain soaked kimono.
Kaoru sunk into his hold, letting him guide her down the streets and to the inn where most of the lights were out. She liked the warmth, the protection she felt from him now; she needed that. Her body felt dirty, even if not much had been done, but she still felt dirty. She shivered slightly as the feelings came back, her mind rejecting them with a vengeance as she recalled their hands touching her. They had been so rough and harsh, not like Kenshin's that had been gentle and soothing despite his own calluses.
Walking through the hallway of the quiet inn, their soft footsteps echoing in their ears, Kenshin opened the door to his room and motioned for her to go in, closing it once she did and going off to wash the blood off him. He'd talk to Katsura about the ambush tomorrow.
* * * * *
When the shoji door opened and a now dry Kenshin -- though his hair was still wet a bit -- stepped in, Kaoru was on her futon in her sleeping yukata, knees pulled up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them tightly. Her eyes were dull, staring at the floor as she thought over the earlier events.
"Go to sleep," he said simply, taking his place in front of the window.
Kaoru peered up slightly, acknowledging his words with a small nod but staying in her sitting position. She felt so...violated. She didn't want to go to sleep. Those horrid images would just plague her in her sleep as well. She shivered slightly as the thoughts ran through her head again.
Kenshin frowned as she continued to shake, holding herself tighter. She seemed so different, more timid and meek like the other girl's. It wasn't right, he didn't want to see her like this. Kenshin found himself wishing she were ranting about something stupid he may have done or tossing a book at his head again.
Despite her efforts, a few tears escaped from Kaoru's tightly clenched eyes, the small crystal tears running down her cheeks slowly as they fell. She wanted the memories to go away, to stop replaying what had happened and what could have happened.
Her mind stopped when a familiar gentle hand placed itself on her cheeks and wiped the falling tears away.
Peering up through watery eyes, Kaoru was surprised to see Kenshin there, wiping away her tears as he stared at her. He seemed almost...upset.
Kenshin saw the surprise and her thoughts while looking in her eyes, silently agreeing. He was upset...upset with himself for not getting there sooner to protect her from those idiots. Tears didn't belong on her face, they just didn't. "You shouldn't cry."
Kaoru blinked, a few tears falling again. Why was he being so...nice? It wasn't like him...or was it? Was this the kind of person he hid? The one he didn't show because he had to be the stone cold hitokiri known as Battousai?
"They don't suit you," he continued, honestly not knowing what was possessing him to say what he was. All he knew was he wanted to see her smile, to see that same fire in her eyes. He'd rather see her enraged then like this. "Sumanu..."
Kaoru blinked again, staring at him as if she had seen him for the first time. Why was he apologizing? Did he feel bad because he felt what happened was his fault? Her eyes narrowed towards him at the last thought.
::SLAM::
"Baka!" she exclaimed, watching a stupefied Kenshin pick himself up off the floor and rub his head. "Why are you apologizing?" Her voice dropped as she became sad again. "It's my own fault. I'm not strong enough to protect myself..." Then the tears came again. Her father was probably so ashamed of her now, allowing those idiots to get as far as they did.
Kenshin watched with conflicting emotions as she buried her head in her arms, not wanting to look at him anymore. Part of him was glad when the familiar fire had flashed in her eyes but it had fizzled out too quickly. Angered at the men and torn between her silent cries, he did the only thing he could think of; he wrapped his arms around her huddled form and hugged her.
It had always made him feel better when he was upset and his mother or sister would do it, and it apparently worked because she looked startled for a moment.
Kaoru blinked a few times, almost in shock as his arms circled her. He seemed so...nice...no, he was nice. This was part of him. This was part of the man he hid. Not up to pushing him away, Kaoru wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head into his chest, crying silently and letting him hold her. She could feel him tense in surprise but soon he loosened up, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing her back as he let her cry.
Kaoru's body became more limp in his arms as her cries subsided, her breathing becoming regular as he noted she was asleep. Laying her out on her futon and covering her up, he brushed her tear soaked bangs away from her eyes before standing to move over to his place near his window.
Apparently, someone had other plans because something grabbed his hakama leg as he moved to walk away, holding on tight and making Kenshin fall face first to the floor.
Grumbling profanities and rubbing his now sore face, Kenshin looked back to see Kaoru's fisted hand holding onto his hakama, her eyes still closed as she snored lightly in her slumber. Sitting on the floor and moving to untangle her fingers from his clothing, Kenshin frowned slightly when her hand refused to move.
Glancing around, Kenshin surveyed his situation. He was too far away to grab anything to sleep against without waking Kaoru and he sure as hell wasn't going to sit sleeping like this. Kenshin groaned when he spotted his last option. Was fate this much against him?
Not up for having a sore back and neck in the morning, Kenshin reluctantly relaxed himself next to Kaoru, removing his daisho and resting his head on his folded arms near her feet. He just hoped she didn't kick in her sleep or he'd have one bad headache the next morning.
All the while, Tomoe watched from a crack in the door, her startled eyes watching the assassin reluctantly drift off to sleep.
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::Ducks various heavy objects thrown by Kaoru fans:: Gomen ne! I had to do it though! She got saved in time by Kenshin anyway plus kicked a little butt as well! She'll fight more later on.
This chapters longer then most, but I doubt anyone minds ne?
The man who attacked Kenshin is the same one who attacked him in the OVA; the one Tomoe originally saw Kenshin kill before she fainted. Same thing happened so I don't need to go over that do I?
As for the Soujiro X Shiori bits I'm throwing in...They aren't in love yet. It's that kiddy stuff you know? Harmless things. Shiori just got flustered in the last chapter because she was caught spacing out.
To the Reviewers: Arigatou for all your comments! Keep them coming! So sorry I was delayed in posting this but I'll try my best to get these chapters out as fast as I can! All you have to do is R&R and keep reminding me to get them out so I don't slack off!