Standard Disclaimers Apply
Bold- letter(s)
Italics- thoughts
//Italics//- flashbacks
What Keeps Us Alive
Chapter Five: Pistol Packin' Papa And Other Fabulous Tales
A wolf in sheep's clothing is still a wolf.
Jin-Roh
If she had a dollar for the number of times she had sat in an awkward silence, she'd have a new car by now. Kenshin had his nose buried in a small journal, once in awhile glancing up at her as if he were still trying to believe something about her. It was odd. Really odd, as a matter of fact. They were having all these encounters with emotions of such high intensity and underlying passion. She had never shared such a strong contact with anyone.
It scared her…
…thrilled her…
She wanted more.
Sighing, she reached over and grabbed one of the books from the pile they had acquired for their project. She needed to stop thinking about the last two days. Doing something completely mindless and thoughtless would probably suffice for a few minutes, hours if she were lucky. Hopefully, luck would finally give her a break. Not that she mind kissing Kenshin or anything. Stop it, she mentally scolded herself. Break time. Break t-I-m-e. She sighed once more and opened the book.
There are times when I wished that I would have ignored my insecurities and touched you. More hugs, more kisses on the cheek, a simple act of holding hands… The memories don't even calm the satisfaction, but feed my hunger for you. Kaoru, the memories are driving me--- To insanity, I shall never know. I just want you here with me…
I want to touch you.
I want to bleed for you.
Anything to have you back.
"Kaoru-chan?"
Bile started to rise up her throat. Her ears began to run, the voices of the people around her faded to mere whispers.
// "You're the kind of woman that would drive a man insane. He would kill for you. Hunt you down. And when he does I will be there waiting for the both of you. Ready to kill him and ready to make you mine. Even if it takes me several lifetimes. I will make you mine." //
"Kaoru?"
She felt a strong hand gripping her arm tightly. She lifted her head up, meeting Kenshin's worried gaze. Specks of amber slowly appeared amidst the violet in his eyes like drops of paint escaping a brush and mixing with another color. Possession. Want. Touch can say so much about one person. But with Kenshin, it was so much more.
"I'm-"
He smiled at her gently, a hint of relief to be able to take a break from reading she guessed. She shivered as his fingers danced softly across her exposed arms.
I want to touch you.
"Why don't you come sit next to me? We can actually start taking notes and stuff," he spoke gently. Her eyes closed. She felt like she was inside a trance. She had seen two sides of him, the kind and the gentle when he was around her and then when he was pushed, he was as dangerous an old samurai.
"I have a better idea," she responded quietly, a slow half-smile curving onto her lips.
"Why don't you come over here?"
Anything to have you back.
**
Kira Yamato was very afraid.
He was a decent man with a decent family.
But he was afraid.
His boss was pissed beyond *reason*.
His boss happened to be Haijime Saitou.
The most dangerous…
…not to mention the most feared man…
On the entire planet…
His poor, poor daughters.
"What do you mean his bail has been posted?"
The young intern stepped back away from the darkened corner, trembling. He could see the faint whirls of smoke coming from the turned chair. He took a deep breath and then straightened up. It was now or never.
"Shogu Amakusa's bail was posted by an anonymous benefactor. It was in the news this morning. The press had made a huge deal to get the story."
Silence.
"Sir, what shall I do?"
Suddenly, the smoke cleared and Yamato swore he could see a glimmer of gold in his superior's eyes.
"Go," came the quiet and deadly voice. "Use the underground as a source. I'm going to be going to a meeting and then home, so keep me informed."
Yamato nodded and let out a desperate sigh.
He pitied the fool who tried to harm Haijime-san's family.
He pitied the fool even more who tried to date his daughters.
**
"What do you mean you don't have the goddamn book?"
Aoshi watched as Misao growled, ready and willing to jump the smirking old man. He reached out and grabbed her arm, calming her. She had been on edge ever since her conversation with her sister Kaoru. His eyes narrowed. And the old man wasn't helping either.
"Like I said girly, the book would take weeks or even at minimum a month to order. So ya gonna hafta wait, hot stuff."
The old man then proceeded to smack poor Misao in the butt. The smaller girl yelped and angrily rubbed her backside. She glared at the old man.
"Hentai," she hissed. "I could get you in trouble for violating a minor."
// "HE VIOLATED ME!"
Tears poured down her eyes as she whirled around to face him. So it was true. She had been… He couldn't even bring himself to speak the word. He couldn't move. He couldn't think. He just wanted to kill.
"Well," she hiccuped, violently brushing her tears. "Are you happy now? I guess I can't be your little Misao anymore. Didn't you hear me? Aoshi? *Aoshi*?"
Tainted.
Never. //
His eyes glazed over as he grabbed the old man by the shirt and hoisted him to his feet against the wall. He wanted to make the man bleed regardless of the fact that he was an elder. Anyone who touched what was his would die…
// There were only few moments in his life where blood made him sick. He stood by the water, her tiny body cold and unmoving cradled in his sore arms. He kissed her forehead.
"Wait for me," he whispered. "Wait for me so that I might finally tell you the truth." //
"Aoshi, daijoubu! Onegai, he didn't mean anything. Aoshi!"
He let go of the old man, who slumped to the ground he felt Misao's arms wrap around his shoulders and pull him into a warm embrace. She must think I'm insane or worse yet, some fool with a "dark past". She must pity me. She must-
"I'm here," Misao whispered gently, bringing him out of his thoughts of despair. He gripped her tightly. Looking for any form of comfort from the insanity that was edging through his mind.
'I'm here…"
**
I am a man of many pasts. I had a wife. I was a killer. I fought for justice. I fought for pain. But nothing, not even Tomoe, drove me like you. I breathed for you, Kaoru. I would have killed for you.
I am insane for you.
**
"I want to break up."
She looked sick, he decided.
Quiet…
…deathly pale even…
"Didn't you hear me, Megumi? I said that I want to break up."
She looked like his mother when his father had left them years ago.
Sad…
…lonely and tired…
"I said--"
She looked empty.
Hollow…
…ready to die…
He shook his head trying to rid himself of the feeling of intense fear. He felt like he had been in this same position with her before, so long ago.
"It doesn't matter anyway…"
**
They had went to the park to try to get some fresh air and clear their heads. Being an upperclassman had its advantage, leaving campus for a little bit. It had helped for awhile, both Kaoru and himself had laughed and talked from everything to friends and to what their favorite sports were. It was nice for the both of them, especially with the high level intensity of a connection the two of them shared.
It was just nice to be teenagers.
"So why don't we start with a basic overview of the Meiji Era and the important people who tied in with its hard and successful times?"
He nodded, smiling at Kaoru and taking down some notes.
"That sounds good. Have you found anyone in particular that you really want to focus on? Because you know there are several ways we can present this, you know."
She leaned forward, brushing a stray hair from his face. It was the little things, he decided. The little things were what made her such a fantastic person. He longed to know more. He leaned into her hand, a soft smile gracing his lips.
"I hope that you don't think I'm too forward and granted the circumstances, but I think you're beautiful."
Kaoru blushed, shaking her head.
"What?" He leaned forward, enjoying the reaction he was greeting from her. Obviously, no one really complimented her like this.
"Iie, it's nothing," she giggled.
"Can't take a compliment, huh?"
"Iie, baka. I can, it's just that-" Her eyes closed and the n reopened with a more serious look on her face. He watched her carefully.
I am insane for you.
"I just," she tried once more. "I just feel like we've tried doing this before. It's s-"
"WATCH OUT!"
Kenshin jumped, eyes wide and face dripping with ice cream. He could hear random apologies, but nothing seemed to register in his mind. Ice cream?
"Kenshin?"
"Gomen ne, sir. Gomen ne!"
Ice cream?
"ORO!"
**
His fingers traced over the broken glass as he watched the young couple leave the small bookstore. There had been only one time when he had seen a man so passionate about a woman and ready to kill at the instant, even if it were something so simple as a joke. He could never lose those memories, even if he so desperately wanted too.
// "She's all I had left, kid. Every godforsaken ounce of my heart belonged to kitsune, even if I never told her. And if I have to go to the depth of hell to get to the next life to tell her, then I will hands down." //
A man had his battles. A man had his glory. But it was a woman, a wife, in whatever form possible that would bring him his happiness. And if lost, so be the man.
// "A battle lost is a battle lost," the quiet man spoke. His icy blue eyes watched the violent waters, desperate to plunge. "But my life was her. And when life is lost, so be my own sanity." //
"Yahiko…"
He sighed and greeted his wife with a tiny smile. He kissed her on her forehead, whispering a small 'aishiteru' Where would he be without her?
Dead in a gutter…
In the pits of hell…
Alone?
// "Kaoru was my reason for breathing." //
**
There's a boy in the house.
He could smell the linger of cologne floating down the stairs as he stood at the base. He could hear the faint sounds of the shower running from his bedroom.
There's a boy in the house and he seduced one of my daughters.
Saitou swiftly walked up the stairs, taking each step two by two and nearly flew into his bedroom. The smell of Tokio's perfume vaguely calmed him, but then the cologne grew stronger. He reached the entrance to the bathroom door, a large hand ready to rip open the door and tear the imbecile apart, limb for limb.
"Kaoru? Is that you?"
Saitou began to hiss.
"Kaoru, I need my clothes-"
It was then Haijime Saitou snapped.
**
Um, yeah well… What can I say? I had to cut it off right there. I know I asked the 'burning' question last chapter for this chapter, but it fits more in the next one. You'll understand my reasons why, I promise. It fits with the whole concept of having Saitou as a father. *_* I'd be afraid to bring someone home…
Anyhow, in the next couple chapters the tone will grow a tad bit serious. It has to do with the reasons why obviously Yahiko remembers somethings and Enishi remembers as well. Expect some rather *cough* interesting moments between our young couples as well. Although, things don't look *too* good for Megumi and Sano… Yes, there will be a happy ending in this story… Eventually… ^_~
THANK YOUs
Sweet One, dementedchris, ali-chan, snicket, sync*in, Susan, carlyd, megami no hi, nameless, Bunny, Leigh, Kori Suketchi, Seychella, Robin, Nim, Pattyogreen1981, JML, the Narrator, Mako, jya-chan, and of course my darling beta reader chibi-angel to end. *sniff* I feel so loved.
Disclaimer
*glares at Saitou*
What are you going to do? Arrest me?