By Hotaru
Disclaimer: I don't own RRK, I don't own anything, so please don't sue.
Warning: PG still, for language and verbal abuse. Please don't flame. Just want some fun torturing K&K. Also less humor here, and quite some angst. Just want you guys to know that they've still got character—I mean, there's certainly a lot more to this fic than bickering and verbal abuse—though I sure hope it works here—not very good in keeping this balance (angst + humor = sweat drops) … makes me nervous actually ^_^
Also: Soooorrryyy for the late update. I really am very busy right now. Demo, please enjoy this chapter and thanks to all of you who bothered to read and review my stuff!!! Comments on your reviews will be found at the end, so please just go on and read.
Also, I've updated "Depend on You," "Wasurenaide," and put up a new story "Heartbreak Café" but the site is experiencing overload so they're not posted yet. I really don't know when they'd be posted, but I uploaded the stuff already, sooo please bear with this moron for a little while longer. If you don't find the other fics, just tell me…
Or if you're not interested, ummm…never mind!!!!
Domo arigatou!!! ^_^
Chapter 5: Double Trouble
Sesshawaru Kenshin:
The girl's got it bad. Who was I to assume that alcohol can do that to her? I mean, it's not even wine, mind you—just brandy and she falls all over the table like she's been poisoned or something. Talk about overacting. Is she trying to play the innocent here? Did she think guys fall for that trick? I mean, hey, experience counts and this girl's got ZERO.
Zero experience.
Zero charms.
In other words, zero personality. Geez, ain't she supposed to have even a little of that, in case beauty—read: breasts, an hour glass figure, and long, silky thighs—is lacking? Gods, she can really use some breasts to deserve being called a woman.
But who was I to complain? It's not that I'm even interested. I mean, if she were a beauty, I'd probably be more considerate. But a maid's a maid and she will bow down to me one way or another, perhaps, more often in bed than anything…
Then again, no thanks, I'm not that kind of guy. Though the attitude helps boost my ego.
Anyway, as harsh as I can be, I don't think my low opinion managed to spread and contaminate the lowlifes—I mean, even as I speak, those two morons, Soujiro and Okita, are checking her pulse and giving her a quick physical check up we guys are notorious for. Only this time, the two guys seem serious. Too serious for comfort actually. Hell, what do I care if those two simpletons blame me? Kamiya's MY personal maid, she's legally bound to my person, and that means I'm free to do whatever I want, right?
If anyone finds anything wrong with that, go see my lawyer. He'll make you understand one way or another. Oh, I guarantee that.
But guilt sucks.
Like hell.
And if these two don't stop giving me the look, I might as well kill them both. I can see the headlines now: Son of a multi-billionaire kills friends and a maid.
No, kill is sooo lame. Make it "massacres friends and a maid."
Hell, even in my mind, it sounds stupid. And a little frightening too. I mean, Soujiro and Okita may not be as filthy rich, or as politically influential as MY clan, but hey, you have to admit that they too have a share of screaming fans who'd probably beat me to a pulp if I even as much as touch a hair from these two.
Stop it. Touching doesn't go THAAAT far. And I'm not gay. I'm even a trifle homophobic. Go ask a real guy, if you can find one these days, and he'll agree. Every real guy's homophobic.
If he ain't, he ain't real, and I bet my butt and 700 million yen on that!!!!
Anyway…as I was saying, guilt sucks. But I'd rather settle for guilt than compassion and kindness because they don't mean anything to me—these little virtues invented by self-righteous pricks to make everybody else's ass look BAD. But whatever it is—guilt, or those goddamn stupid little virtues—I parted Okita and Soujiro—to their, and my surprise—and without another thought, carried the poor critter back into the limo. I mean don't ask how I even managed to get both of us there, with me wobbling all the way because I was dead drunk myself. Needless to say, I think I've upset our two darling superheroes who would've burned holes through my sweater staring at my little feat of humanity.
I just wish they'd stop that. I mean, do they have to make me look SOOO bad?
Okay, I'm bad, but you don't have to rub it in.
"Look Himura-san, are you sure about this? We can take her to a clinic instead, or to a hospital…"
"Jesus" I told Okita—no almost screamed at Okita—because the guy was being so stupid. "The girl's probably a good actress or you're just a bad critic, but I will not be convinced either way SO" I paused, shaking a finger at him, "will you PLEASE stop all this nag and go home? I'd take care of things when we get back to the mansion, and she'd probably even thank me for not blowing her act in public. But hell, even Hiko won't stand to this!!! I mean, this girl's gonna get it, see if she ain't!!!
"You're gonna fire her?" Big eyes met mine, and I could have drowned in them—pools of blue-green that reminded me of the sea.
I shook my head. "No, not until I get even…"
"Himura-san…"
"Okita-SAN…" I told him, grabbing his shoulder for emphasis, even as I smirked in his face. "You DON'T need to worry alright? Because there's nothing you can do about it."
His face fell and I walked away, feeling a little more smug about myself.
Power, like sex and booze, can be so intoxicating…
By the time we arrived at the mansion, Hiko was standing by the big clock at the center of the grand stairway, literally blocking my passage.
I could've pushed him, or kicked his balls were he my size. But Hiko is, I gotta admit, one hell of a football player. Big shoulders, broad chest, thighs the size of melons. Okay, that verbal description also sucks, but hey, that's how I picture the guy. He's one big lump of muscle you can't just push away like a stupid cow. If she were my grandmother, I'd be just as scared.
In plain, simple words, Hiko is a tough guy no one EVER pushes around. Of course, I introduce him around as my uncle—didn't I say that before? But in plain, simple truth, he's my brother.
My half-brother, actually. I never got used to the idea, so we settled with "uncle" and "nephew"—that kind of relationship. Not that it's really crude. I mean, he's way OLDER and TOUGHER than I am--as the 36 year old ex-captain of the former grand champion of National Football always says, when I feel like hitting things just to get on his nerves. Actually, I don't want to talk about how he became my half-brother. The memories just get to me and when they do, I feel so out of control. Like I want to hit something again.
Correction. Bloody hit someone--HIM actually, for blocking my way. Doesn't he know how heavy this girl is? Yup, I'm still carrying her in my arms, like I'd let anybody else do that. Again, it's nothing personal. Just guilt, that's all.
Call it bullshit, but you can't read my thoughts so you might as well take my word for it.
Anyway, there are a million other reasons why'd I want to hit Hiko, but right now, my arms are feeling numb, so those other reasons can wait.
Gods, this girl's killing me. What is she? A hundred and fifty? Even more? Like she ate nothing the whole night!!! Her bones must weigh a ton, though…To think that she's almost skinny…
Still, Hiko didn't move. Is he waiting me to turn her over? Like I'd do that in a million years!!! If there's anything I probably inherited from HIS side of the family it's this mass of raging hormones that I wish I never had, especially in times like this. Not that I intend to do something about it tonight.
But if the temptation works on me, it might be ten times as powerful for him. And I don't think Hiko's the guy who'd have trouble forcing his way to a woman. I mean, with his size…
Hell, he can force a woman the size of a horse!!! And Kamiya, though loathed as I am with her stupid, brainless stunts, is NOT the kind who'd live through the ordeal. I mean, the girl's puny. Almost just my size.
I suddenly wished I was bigger. The better to box Hiko's head off if he even tries…
"So, got your lay?"
I have to strain my ears to hear that again. "Pardon me?"
"I said, is that your lay?"
I pretended to have misheard him. "Yes, the lady's having trouble with wine and if you'd excuse us, I'm going to put her in bed right now."
There. Ain't this demon charmingly polite? I must be, right next to the Devil himself!!!
"Wait."
I froze as I breezed past him along the staircase, noting the chill in his voice.
"You got the maid that I ordered?"
If there was a hint of mischief or loathing contempt in his voice, he was good at hiding it. Hiko was the kind of guy who's good at that. Hell, he's good at anything. Period.
Maybe that's the reason why I hate him so much. Maybe that's the reason why I hate being his brother. Or nephew. Gods, just having him in the same room with me makes my blood boil so much I—
"That's probably her, am I correct?"
I ignored him. As I said before, truth has no use for words. So I walked past him completely, wordlessly, making sure he could hear my feet dragging on the floor with the load I'm carrying. Heck, I'd be damned if I'd even complain about THAT.
And as soundlessly as I left him, I closed the door shut behind me.
So much for words. But then again, I'm never good at words.
Dare I contradict myself? Because if that's just true, then I'm also the most honest, truthful person around, if you catch the drift of my theory, that is…
I laid the girl on the bed, her bed of course—not that you have to know—and proceeded to stare.
I'm no pervert, mind you, but when I carried her into my arms, I noticed something unsettling about her.
Her skin.
It was so pale, almost transparent, her veins literally showing through the lucid whiteness of her arms and legs. I'd admit that the legs would have kept me REALLY distracted, but her skin was just so pale I almost worried.
I touched it with just the slightest precaution. I mean, who'd like to wake up and see some damn pervert touching her like that? I'm no pervert, but expect girls to jump to conclusions like that.
I'm not even attracted to her. Just got my attention, that's all. And it doesn't take much to do that, I guess.
You ask me why I even bother with this girl then?
Well, maybe because for the first time in my life, somebody stood up to me—somebody not even tall enough to be intimidating—and threw words right back to my face where they hurt. Sort of.
I should have kept my hands to myself though, because seconds later, her hands were around my neck, strangling the life out or me.
"S—ttt---stoppp it!!!!" I tore her hands away from me then rolled to my side, pushing myself on top of her until my thighs had effectively pinned her kicking legs to the bed.
Of course the position would have been more than intimate, if I weren't doing it to keep her from hitting my—you know what—which would really hurt like hell, I know.
Her eyes flung wide open, and she opened her mouth to scream something.
I can't take my hands off her arms lest she use the moment to slap me senseless. So I did what you'd probably do, if you're male, and you've got no other available resource or body parts left to keep her from screaming her head off right there in the middle of the night.
In other words, I kissed her.
Just like that. Not that I never did this sort of thing before.
Hell, she might even like it.
The Devil screw me but for the first time in my life, I can't say she enjoyed it as much as I do…
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Angel-rei Kaoru:
I was having a nice dream really…such a warm dream where I saw myself being carried into the clouds, wisps of cool air brushing my cheeks, making me feel so drowsy and relaxed altogether.
I can't open my eyes just yet. If this was just a dream, I'd wake up and I'd lose the nice, warm feeling caressing my skin, sending shivers down my spine as the tingling sensation increased, almost tickling me.
Gods, that tickles like hell!!!
Ooopps, did I say hell??? Must be that stupid boy's fault. Just beside him makes me feel so corrupt, so tainted, I'd be ashamed to call myself an angel if I stay longer.
Can't I just stay in this dream and forget about waking up? I sure don't want to have to see the brat's face when he laughs his head off for my fainting like that.
I hate fainting. Even real girls don't faint, so why should I? I'm an angel after all!!!
It must be that drink. Hell, it must be his face!
Did I say that stupid word again? Gods, I wonder how many strikes I got in Rei-Akari's record just saying that…
Maybe two? Three? That means two or three more days of detention. And two or three more days of endurance.
That Kenshin Himura is really gonna get it from me this time!!! I mean, where does that stupid jerk get off making me drink stupid, filthy stuff like that? The taste is totally, absolutely yucky!!! I promise never EVER to get anywhere near him again when he's got that filthy stuff around.
Anyway…why can't I just forget about him? I'm in this perfectly adorable dream, and I'm shouting unnice things to fools like himself when I could focus on nicer things…
Like that smell…It smells so wonderful…so masculine really, that musk…that lilting scent of pine and musk and something else that's sweet…
W-wait a minute…Musk? Pine? The hell it must be—
I opened my eyes and he was so damn close—too close—touching my skin, his fingertip grazing my arm as he peered into my face, watching me sleep.
Well, I'm not THAT out of it, you stupid pervert!!!!
I don't know exactly what got to me, but I grabbed his neck and couldn't let go.
Gods, what am I doing??? He's actually turning blue, and I can't control myself, like my hands had suddenly become obsessed and wouldn't let go!!! Try as I might, I can't stop it from choking the life out of him, my eyes staring in shock as he coughed, his chest heaving on top of me as I stared, shocked and speechless.
I don't know how hate can be allowed so much control, so much passion…I'm sure I don't really hate him…can't really hate him all that much because I'm scared.
Scared of hurting him, even for the things he'd done…
I wish he'd do something…
I don't know what else I could do when he rolled on top of me, pressing me with his thighs to the bed so I can stop kicking him in places I know would hurt like hell. I just can't stop myself.
My body seemed to have taken on a different personality altogether. Not even THIS would pass for a red rule violation. It's gotta be a CARDINAL violation, you know what I mean? The kind that gets angels in big trouble.
But I wasn't even thinking about that when the bed shook, his weight totally insufficient to keep me down. If I don't do anything, I might end up throwing him out of the bed and killing him right there and then.
Kill…
Gods, how can I even think about that? I must do something.
Anything.
Scream.
That will bring people around.
Except that it doesn't seem to be a good idea to start with. Because the moment I opened my mouth, he pressed something warm, and soft, and wet right onto my lips, making me breathless…
Of all the most unthinkable things he could do to an angel, he kissed me.
And heaven help me, I allowed him to…
. . . . . . . . . . .
Sesshawaru Kenshin:
I wonder what would have happened, how it would go if nobody burst into the room at that precise moment, ending our little, all-too-brief episode…
"Ken-san!!!!"
The voice practically woke the entire neighborhood. Not that I could blame Megumi. Why, if I were in her shoes, I'd probably kick the guy's ass and send him on a one-way ticket to hell.
Some things I guess, are meant to be one-sided—like this boy-girl thing called romance. I don't even believe in such things. But women do. Fuck them all, but I guess I'd have something worse to be sorry about if I admitted it to her face.
I don't believe in romance. And this thing called kiss?
It's just a kiss, for god's sake!!! Does she have to be upset about that too??? If I'm gonna be angry about her doing mouth to mouth with any other guy, it's not because I'm jealous.
Maybe sort of betrayed, but not jealous. A man's ego's as big as his heart, after all…if I do have any heart left in me…
I threw that sort of thing away years ago… Can't tell who, or when but let me just say that my heart's been broken once, and the pieces have been thrown to the dogs thereafter…
Suffice it to say, I don't love Megumi. But do I have to let her know?
Tonight might save me the trouble, though.
"You have the NERVE you BITCH!!!"
Bitch??? Did I hear her right???
I would have cursed her for using the word on me when she marched into the room and slapped Kamiya right there and then, faster than I can say shit!!!
SHIT!!!
I grabbed her hand and pulled her weight off the girl, who was too dumbstruck to even put up a decent struggle when Megumi straddled her, intent on slapping her face off.
"Shit, Megumi, you DO that EVER again, and I might have to break something you don't wanna know!!!"
It was the first time I threatened her or any girl physically, but I was desperate. Don't ask me why, but seeing Kamiya's eyes like that just drives me crazy. I don't want to see her being afraid of anything in her life because it doesn't become her.
Or maybe, I just don't like it. Period.
Shit!!! Why can't things make sense when I'm around her??? It's almost the same with Hiko…
And for that matter, with Tomoe…
Except that there's a slight difference…
Hiko's a fucking pain in the ass that I don't give a damn about…
And the other's a soul I'd go to hell and back to be with…
Why did I say hell???
Because the self-righteous prick in heaven said so. People who commit suicide end up in hell, he says.
Damn him, I'd do ANYTHING to be anywhere near Tomoe, even HELL won't be—can't be—THAT bad….
So long as I can be with her…
Gods, that's all I ask…
To be with her…is that TOO much to ask???
Since I can't force the heavens to relent, well, I'd do it my way…
I'd send myself to hell, to be with her.
THAT you can't stop, hah!!! Just let me see you even try…
Then something hit me.
I must be hurting Megumi so bad because Hiko had to box my ear to get my hands off her.
"You WILL behave, Himura, if it's the last thing you do in MY house!!!!"
I looked at Hiko dazedly, wondering what the guy's being angry about. Gods, I was just holding Megumi, keeping her from killing Kamiya. Is that so bad???
Why can't he see anything right in what I do!!! Now, do you wonder why the guy's always pissing me off???
"You better go home, Miss Takani. I'll take care of things here and would give your parents a call later to apologize. The hour's not decent and I won't have Senator Takani worrying his head off…"
Wordlessly, Takani left like a scolded child. I almost pity her. Hiko seems to have that effect on everybody—save me, of course.
Maybe that's why he hit me again. And again.
And yet again.
And I was too numb to even care putting up any resistance.
Power works like that. If you resist, it will crush you. Obey and it will let you live to fight another day.
And that's my goal. My sacred promise. To kick his ass when I get the chance.
But not now. Not when he wants so much to win this one, so I can go back to my room and he can shout curses behind my back, and remind me that my mother's a bitch.
How else would I be born in this world anyway, with my father's money and yet, my mother's name to remind me of that ugly reality—the reality that all good name fuckers hate.
I'm an illegitimate sonafabitch.
In other words, a lowlife.
Because I was born from a lowlife.
And I'd probably die a lowlife.
Heck, even fungus deserves a better grave than I do. God at least agrees. Give it a halo and I'd be the lowliest lowlife in the universe …
I braced myself, grabbing the bedpost when Hiko swung his arm my way, his eyes glaring like a madman's.
I closed my eyes, expecting the punch to connect. It was so close, and judging by the length of his swing, the momentum, and the position of his knuckles, he'd deliver a good one that will send me to sleep for good…
But it didn't came. At least, I didn't feel it. What I did feel was something crashing towards me, some soft fabric nestling on my chest when I fell to the floor, its weight on my thighs and chest.
I opened my eyes and found Kamiya on my lap, her head thrown back, her arms clutching her chest like it was giving her a hard time.
That was an understatement. The girl wouldn't cry, but the pain etched on her face told me everything.
Why did she? Why did she take that punch in the first place? I mean, didn't she think I can take care of myself? That I can handle the damn, fucking asshole that Hiko is? I don't need a girl getting in my way!!! I don't need this—I don't need this crap—this martyrdom, this stupid, fucking charity!!!!
She moved.
Thank the gods she moved, sapphire orbs meeting mine, her face pale but seeming relieved when she saw me. Of course, I was not at my devastating best—who could be, after putting up with Hiko's punching for five minutes non-stop??? Her relief must be for the cuts and bruises that I got on my face—wounds that couldn't really kill.
Then again, it was probably because I was looking down at her face, holding the hand that clutched her ribs, and whispering "Hold on" because that's all I can say to thank someone who's too stupid to get in my way and hurt herself in the process…
Why can't I be myself when I'm around this girl???
"K-kenshin…"
"Shush…it's alright. But he won't be when I'm through with him. He's just crossed the line…"
She pulled me down, wincing at the effort.
I had to sit back the way I did or she'd get hurt. The slightest movement seems to do that to her, and it scares me.
"St-stop it…Just st—stop it. It—it's your---yourrr fault anyway, you--you s—stup—stupid j-jerk…"
I can see that the girl can deliver insults pretty well, wounded or not. Not that I can't do better.
I opened my mouth to say something but immediately regretted it when I saw her face.
Her lips were cracked, and blood was oozing out of her lips, staining the hand that covered it when her chest heaved in a sudden fit of coughing.
"Hiko!!!!" I screamed, but he was a step ahead of me. As always.
He was already outside the bedroom, alerting the maids and bringing in some first aid kit that seemed like ready to do surgery…
What can you expect? The mansion is supposed to be self-sufficient. We even have our own fire truck and ambulance, for godssake!!!!
"Here, let me…" he offered, reaching out to take Kamiya from me.
I pushed myself back, dragging her with me on the floor. "No, Hiko. You're not touching her in ANY way from now on, do you hear me???"
He seemed to be miffed, looking away as if the wall had suddenly become more appealing.
"Look…" he trailed, eyes still avoiding mine. "This is an emergency so cut the little-boy crap and act your age!!! The girl needs help and you're too lame to budge yourself…"
I struggled to stand up, moving Kamiya ever so slightly by putting her arm around my neck, and the other around my waist. When she winced and whimpered, I stopped. Then slowly—gods, this is agonizing—I turned my body around towards her, so I was facing her this time, letting her body fall all over me, her chest cradled against my chest, her head on my neck.
Her breathing was shallow that I can tell. It was scary—the sound of her breath coming in shallow gasps of air that warned me more urgently than the blood that spilled on my collar when I slowly dipped her head towards the hollow between my neck and shoulder, to keep her rested.
It was the best I could do. For a lowlife, "best" of course, is far from "good enough" but it will have to do. For the meantime.
"Call a doctor Hiko… or do you want me to drag the both of us to the phone to do that? You must know by now that I'm not letting you touch her…"
I stopped. She was moving her head slightly, her voice muffled as she tried to say my name. I patted her head like some mom telling her baby to go back to sleep. She didn't resist this time, her head falling back on my shoulder, just as I raised my head to face Hiko again.
"…Unless of course, you're not worried about what I might have to tell the police…"
For once, Hiko did exactly what I wanted.
He left wordlessly, asking the maid not only to call but to fetch the family doctor as fast as she can, so that we don't have to bring Kamiya to the hospital.
I can't blame Hiko for that. I must have scared him too. Not in the same way that I was scared perhaps. I mean, he probably thought of all the horribly damaging publicity that this little incident's gonna generate once they find out that the girl has some connection with the Seijuro household…
Seijuro…The name stinks and I'm only too glad I'm not obliged to carry the name and the responsibility that goes with it.
I mean, as an illegitimate heir, I was left a third of the family's assets and finances. Everything else, including the Seijuro Group of Companies of course, goes to the legitimate heir—no less than Hiko Seijuro himself and whatever brat he'd father someday…
I looked at Kamiya. She must have fallen asleep, her breathing more shallow but regular this time.
She looked so peaceful, resting her head like that on my shoulder, as if we're just dancing to some slow music with her arm around my waist, held in place by mine…
As much as I want us to stay like this, my legs are starting to numb, and my chest still hurts from all that senseless beating minutes ago. Besides, she must be equally tired and uncomfortable, though in her state, it seems more like she's tolerating things to avoid the pain of moving her body to a more comfortable position…
Well, the bed couldn't be THAT far away, though the pain of moving a single muscle did it's job of making it impossible…
Almost.
I walked ever so slowly, carefully molding her body against mine so her legs could follow my every step with as little effort as possible, making sure that the force of our movements fall on my own weight as we moved.
It was then that I realized that she was not all THAT heavy, really.
Strange how the senses can deceive. Maybe if we do this often enough, she may even be beautiful…
Heck, the girl's really nice—uhh—more than nice, maybe even gorgeous—except that girls ought to be cute rather than gorgeous, so I'd say cute. Alright, I'd cut the crap and say that Kamiya's got looks that can rock your world—read: do wonders with your hormones. So maybe I should cut her some slack and give her credit where it's due, you say. The hell I will, if that ain't so tough for a guy like me!!! I mean, even lowlifes got ambitions and settling for a maid for a potential girlfriend—err even wife--isn't what you'd exactly call a career move!!!
Or maybe I just don't want to think about stupid stuff like that because she was pissing me off so much I'd rather stay angry and fight back rather than go mushy and make a fool of myself.
Yeah, right, stupid stuff guys worry about all the time.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Angel-rei Kaoru:
I didn't know how long I've been sleeping, but the pain had mellowed, and I can breath normally again.
I guess sometimes things like that should happen to make me appreciate human life a little bit more. Like breathing.
I didn't know how learning to breath again can be so important to this short mortal existence that I have to put up with, ever since I agreed to go to earth and join the mission to find Rei-jin before the gods below do…
Rei-jin…who is he…why should he be so trapped in such an insignificant creature in this planet so the gods above and below can play with his destiny and make him slave to their bidding…
I know little of Rei-jin's own history, but suffice it to say that he's legendary—not because he's some minor god himself—but one myth says that in order to keep the gods from fighting over who should rule the Universe of Creation, there must be an intermediary—someone to keep the balance, watch over things, make sure that good and evil continue to counterbalance each other, neither one dominating the other completely…
Of course, you humans call it good and evil, but it's just your bias that makes things sound so different—as if the difference even matters…
Good is just one aspect of existence, as evil is another. Both can survive being what it is, but survival makes existence so unnecessarily boring.
There must be at least some challenge—something the gods can learn from, something to give them ideas about the whole idea of perfection, and how perfection is never reached but always suspended between this reality and the next.
To put it simply, humans can never be perfect—as anything can never be in this universe—because once perfection is reached, there is no sense for anything to exist anymore.
Well, except for the gods themselves sitting in their quiet little havens and trying to destroy one another occasionally for lack of anything better to do.
Not that angels are ungrateful for all the attention we get—especially from all of you "believers" out there.
It's just that the universe of the gods don't work that way. And I hate to be the one to let the secret out. It's not like we're even discouraged from doing that. I mean, who'd like to talk about things like that when nothing can be said or done that can change things that have been going on for several eternities???
That is what the gods used to believe. Until Rei-jin came.
I wouldn't risk my own destiny for this Kenshin Himura if I didn't believe he can change what neither humans nor gods wanted to change—or could even change—given that no one exactly knows how THAT can even happen…
Two souls, one body. One soul given by the lower gods, another by the higher gods. Through the eons and centuries, the two souls meant to be kept separate had transformed—mutated so to speak--so that now, the gods practically fear what the soul can or may do, given that such inextricable integration can only lead to very unpredictable outcomes. I think what really upsets them is the fact that this "new soul" violates the whole grand idea of an intermediary that supposedly exists only to protect their interests.
I think the logic is quite plain to see. What would you do if you looked at a mirror only to find one day that you don't recognize your own reflection? Won't you find that absurd, if not downright scary???
I mean this "new soul" can be ANYTHING---can DO just about ANYTHING because as the rules of creation goes, only those whose existence has been determined by the gods from the very beginning of time can be directly controlled by Destiny itself.
And Rei-jin just didn't quite fit into the rule. Although his existence had been determined by the gods since the beginning of time—time being measured in cycles, remember?—he had also changed so significantly to be the same entity that had originally been created by the gods…
Oh, this is just getting to be even more complicated. Rei-jin is the ONLY entity in this universe who had created himself…partially, or mostly at least…through the cycles of reincarnation he had undergone through time…
Imagine this…
In his previous reincarnation, Rei-jin was Himura Kenshin who lived as Battousai, an assassin who killed in the name of justice. The irony of it may not be so earth-shaking given that so many humans no less ordinary had found themselves toeing that thin line between good and evil. Except that, in Battousai's case, there's just the slightest difference…
He had to be in the right time and place to trigger a chain of events that led to chaos and peace and then back to chaos…
In other words, while human actions were hardly motivated by anything but the moment of conviction, Battousai's success had to do more with Destiny bending to his will, compelling forces to work in his favor and unleash both the best and the worst in human history…
Kenshin Himura…Sometimes I wonder why I have to be the one to find you really… They told me that I must bring your other soul back…unleash it by any means possible, so that your "new soul" can revert back to the once "divided soul" and regain the balance that we seem to be losing…
And the higher gods suspect that maybe, if we don't split that soul of yours, you may turn into a monster and put an end to us all…
The lower gods I believe, have other plans, which I guess, border on annihilation. I mean, if they can corrupt this "new soul" of yours and teach you the raw power that lies dormant in your being at this stage of existence, they'd gain the upper hand.
And that is a danger to us all in the High Heavens…
Power corrupts, you humans say. I agree. The mere discovery of your "new" identity and the unpredictable power that goes with it is enough to make both the higher and lower gods to hound you to the grave…
Not that the lower gods may have any use for you dead…In fact, they won't want you dead because that will mean having to wait another one hundred and fifty years to set up their plan.
And that means spending more years finding you, as if that was easy. Not only did you blind the eyes of Destiny, but you also forced Gaiea to give endless birth to your unlimited potential.
That means that nobody can stop you from being reborn in this universe. And that also means that the longer you stay this way—as a "new soul"—the more you put all of us in danger.
At least that's the only valid reason I'd accept behind the sudden need to rush to earth, inexperienced as most of us young angels are, at the time we've been alarmed of your undeniable presence…
I think now is the time to wake up and face the harsh truth. That you Kenshin Himura is, indeed Rei-jin. That hate you as I do, as I must, I cannot change that plain and simple fact.
When you kissed me though, the whole world around which my thoughts of you revolved, following that one single afternoon of intense hate, seemed to have split and divided, swallowing us both…
How I wish it was your soul instead, which had split and divided in that single moment that could never be undone, hard as I imagine that it never happened…
Do you know the consequences of what you've done???
You have completely put me under your power, Kenshin Himura…
And it has nothing to do with the power of the will—my will surrendering to you voluntarily.
In the human world, romance is built around such things—one's will given up in the name of that thing you call love.
But though I understand human feelings, I'm not allowed to share them. Which is why this thing called love is impossible. It doesn't even exist in angel tongue—and must be translated several ways to describe the different ways you humans can express that elusive feeling.
No. The kiss did something more permanent than love ever can.
You have just forced me to follow you, as a slave does his master to the grave, to serve him even in the afterlife.
It seemed that simple, but complicated things always are. That's the paradox.
When I allowed you to kiss me, I have signed our agreement. I have bound myself to an agreement you didn't even have to write down to become legal and binding.
Unlike in the human world, rules in MY world are governed and kept by forces beyond all of us—beyond even the gods themselves…
It had to be that way to keep the gods from changing the rules themselves…
So tell me, Kenshin Himura…
How can I serve thee without breaking my vows???
Without forgetting that I must control you just as you must control me???
How can I draw out your other soul, without you asking me to step aside to allow you to be as you are?
Only one answer to that.
You must never know who you really are, who I really am, and what binds us really to each other in this mortal world.
And to do that, I must never let you so close, so close like this ever again.
If need be let us hate each other.
Because that will drive us apart. And that means you will never want to know more about me, as I, about you…
And ignorance will keep us safe…
Safe from each other…
Safe from knowing what could destroy us both…
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Author's Comments: My thanks to the following people who had always been sooo supportive: Don't worry, I won't complain EVER about having to write you guys, I'm just so happy that someone's reading my fic that's all…One or two doesn't matter, because I really love what I'm doing.
It stinks??? Weeellll, I guess my skill (not talent, mind you. I reserve that for real writers) is FAARRR from perfect, but hey, I can always try, can't I?
Yup, I'm getting on it!!! Here are my comments, finally!!! And thanks guys, for going this far with me…Domo arigatou!!!! ^_^
Names in random order:
Ariela: Yeah, I agree!!! Poor kaoru, she has to put up with Kenshin some more, he he he… and now not just as an angel but as his literally slave!!! Welll, you ask how different that's gonna be? I'll try to think of something, don't worry…
umpaureus: Ha ha ha, who are you kidding old guy!!! Like I don't know WHO you really are!!! This fic being an OAV is just plain silly!!! I mean, Sony won't even notice—I may even have to pay them millions to just read this stuff…But I appreciate your faith in me. Don't call this a classic though. There are a lot of other fics out there which are waaayyy betteeerrr than mine, go figure!!! But thanks a million for the compliment…It makes me smile…^_^
marstanuki: I'm taking your advice and won't let that Stray get to me again… Thanks for the support, I need it badly, and I'm writing this for fun, thank God!!! Please don't tire reading my stuff. And thanks really!!! I'm so glad you read my stuff even though it's not really much. ^_^
Chiruken: Thanks if you think I write great!!! It's big hearing it from you, and I really appreciate all the support. I'll take care of myself, don't worry, and the pressure's manageable—I hope it will be until next week!!! Thanks ^_^
Jason M. Lee: Yup, I'm embarrassed spelling Aoshi like that!!! Geez, more tomatoes my way??? Can't I have something else, like uhhh…no, not PIE, definitely not THAT…I'll revise soon…the network's just having problems again, or is it my computer? Anyway, I'm glad you like the Saitou's and Kamatari's roles here. I'll try to develop that angle a bit more, so expect a lot more…^_^
Moonwind: One of my great works? Thanks really, you are just so generous!!! Please review this new chapter and tell me if it's okay. I really want to know what you think!!!^_^
Shojin Takaru: Cool story? Thanks!!! I'll update this very soon when I find the time. And I'll write that e-mail to let you know. Thanks again!!!
Sandy: Hope you're not disappointed in this one. There's less humor here and a lot of the guys have been pushed to the sidelines, to give Hiko and Kenshin some space. Please tell me what you think!!! ^_^And thanks for all the help and support!!! I really love you guys!!!
omochi: Yup Kenshin's perverted. But I like to put some plausibility in it too—like he must be twisted for a reason—not so grand a reason though, since I can't manage that kind of thing so well yet—but maybe something to add to the intrigue…Keep on reading and thanks!!!
ewunia: Why limit Kaoru's power??? She's really about to do a lot of work in the upcoming chapters so I thought that taking things a bit slow might let her do some bit of explaining before the action starts—well, plus the fact that she's not yet used to her human existence—some changes in her body didn't adjust too well to the new lifestyle and environment—but a lot of that later, in the next chappie maybe…Thanks for asking, I do tend to assume things like that. Please read morea nd tell me what you think!!! Thanks again ^_^
meow: Have Kaoru drown Kenshin in her imagination? Ummm…why not for real??? (Author rolls on the ground laughing, then hits her head on a rock and dies..) Just kidding!!! Don't worry, I'll think of something like that!!! Please read and review this one and give me some more suggestions. Don't be too disappointed if there's less humor here. More in later chappies, don't worry!!! ^_^
May: Uhh the slight shift in my writing is actually intended. I know it doesn't really mean I'm improving, but I just wanted to shift gears once in a while—to keep me from lulling myself to sleep when I write—hah, I do get bored with my own writing sometimes…Please read and review this one too and thanks for giving this slow writer something to look forward to, thanks!!!
chibi-ken 14: SOOO glad you reviewed this one!!! Please tell me if it's okay. And thanks for saying something about my depression. The advice really helped!!!! Thanks, thanks, thanks…you're really great, and I promise to update this one soon!!! ^_^
DOMO ARIGATOU MINNA-SAN!!! Until next week!!!! ^_^
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