Standard Disclaimers Apply. The rights to Rurouni Kenshin are exclusively owned by Watsuki Nobuhiro, Sony Entertainment, Shueisha, Jump Comics and other associated groups. Do not sue!!! I am writing this to satiate my urge to write.
Deadly Family Ties Chapter Nine
Hours later, Regan returned to the Kamiya dojo. As she entered the main hall, she breathed in deeply, allowing the ambience of the surroundings to fill her. "Hmmm… so this is where my beloved family lived."
She walked around the dojo, observing each room, each wall, every piece of furniture… In short, everything. She eyed each detail of her new abode as if she wanted to memorize the place she held no memories of… which she should have had if it had not been for the cowardice of her father. Stopping in front of her father's shrine, she closed her eyes to remember the revelation she had on board the ship headed towards Tokyo. She read the scrolls over and over again until she had memorized them. She had to make sure that she knew those words well… those few words that had shattered everything she had dreamed, hoped and planned for … those few words that will be the driving force of her revenge.
I'm glad Kamiya kept his word. Regan is the perfect payment for the debt he owes me. She is enough to substitute to one he stole from me.
It was during that trip back home that bitter reality struck her. She had no family to return to in Tokyo. She had no family. Not Marcus… her evil surrogate father. Not Miharu and Koshijiro Kamiya… the people who disowned her for what? A payment for a gamble debt maybe? Not Kaoru Kamiya… her other half who would've been in her position now with a slight twist of fate. At least she had Yuku, her nana… one who would do everything for her.
**
"Nana, are you sure that Marcus won't find out?"
"Yes, trust me. He won't be home for six months."
"I know, he left to trade in America. What I mean is didn't he leave someone to watch over us?"
"He didn't. He was certain that you'd never disobey his orders. As long as the other helpers doesn't know, Marcus won't know."
"What will we tell him when he asked where I went?"
"He'll never know you left."
"I get it. Don't worry nana. I'll be strong. Strong enough for both of us."
**
"Yuku, where does Regan go every afternoon?"
"She goes around to pick flowers, sir."
**Whip!!**
"Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!"
**Whip!!**
"I will not have you cover her, where does she go!!!??"
**
"Why do you want to be strong?" asked a man with long braided hair wearing a white robe.
Regan looked at him with wide blue eyes and said with much conviction, "I want to protect myself and the people I love…"
The man smiled at her. "Very good answer. I will teach you to do that using this…" he said as he handed her a sword wrapped in white linen. "This is 'Silver Tiger', your new best friend."
**
Regan's musings were cut short when Yahiko barged in the dojo, yelling, "Oi tanuki! What are you doing with that weird looking sword?"
Regan snapped her head towards his direction and glared at him with her piercing eyes.
Yahiko was taken aback by her reaction. He slowly walked towards her, waving his hands in front of him. He said slowly, "Hey Kaoru! I was just kidding. Is there anything wrong?"
Regan smirked and asked in an irritated manner, "What are you doing here Yahiko?!?"
"To… to train…" he stuttered. He tilted his head to look at her closely. Almost reluctantly, he held out his hand to her shoulder as he asked worriedly, "Hey, what's the matter with you?
She looked at his hand in disgust. "You know what my problem is?"
"What?"
Regan rolled her eyes and said, "Nevermind, a kid like you will never understand…"
"Try me!" Yahiko exclaimed almost desperately. Kaoru… what's wrong with you… are you mad at me?
Regan slowly placed her hand on top of Yahiko's and said forcefully, "My… problem… is… you!" With that she jerked Yahiko's hand off her shoulder.
Yahiko stared at her. His eyes filled with confusion and hurt.
Regan frowned and began, "You are a disgrace to this dojo." Standing up to tower over Yahiko, she continued, pushing Yahiko with her finger, "I don't t know why I even put up with you. You pride yourself as a junior Tokyo Samurai?" She snorted, "Che! What a laugh! You are just an arrogant kid with nothing to boast just like a hollow shell." Smiling contentedly with her choice of words she rubbed in, "That's right. You are a hollow shell. You pretend that you're strong on the outside but inside… you are nothing. Nothing! You idolize Kenshin's strength and ideals but you're all talk. I was the only one who put up with you and you dare disrespect me!" Regan pointed towards the door as she yelled, "Get out! I don't need an ungrateful student like you!"
Instead of crying, Yahiko looked at her with defiant eyes and yelled, "I don't know what's wrong with you, Kaoru, but you've changed. You and Kenshin used to tell me to keep my pride… to keep it. And now, you're contradicting all that values you have raised me with? Chikuso! This is bullshit!!" He started walking out of the dojo with his head held high. When he head reached the door, he stopped, turned his head and said, "I don't know what the hell is your problem but it doesn't give you the right to trample on people's emotion. I suggest you take a cold bath to snap you back to reality… master." He gave her a mocking bow and then left.
Regan smirked and yelled, "Get out, brat, and never come back!" When she heard the dojo gates close, Regan smiled widely, "Great job, Regan! Now, you don't have to teach that brat something you don't even know." Turning around, she spat on her father's shrine, looking at it in disgust. "Kamiya Kasshin Ryu… To protect the ones you love… Bullshit!! You don't even know what the meaning of love is. You call giving me away, love? Fuck you!" With that, she spat on his shrine again then, she stood up and began wielding the 'Silver Tiger' with precise movements.
When Yahiko reached the road, his knees were still trembling so he leaned on the wall for support as he slumped on the floor, feeling himself on the verge of a breakdown. He gave an audible sigh, Regan? Who's Regan? But I am pretty sure she is Kaoru… has she gone mad? What's wrong with her? She has never acted like this… It's so unlike her…What does she mean by giving her away? Yahiko pushed his confusing thoughts away as he headed to the Akabeko. He said to himself, "I have to tell Kenshin!!"
~~~~~
That evening, Kenshin returned home with his shoulders slumped. He had a long and exhausting day. "Tadaima!" Kenshin called out as he opened the dojo gates.
Silence.
"Tadaima!"
Silent still.
Kenshin's eyes narrowed in slits as he looked around the perimeter of the dojo, trying to sense an intruder's presence. Nothing. Why is it so quiet? After one final glance, Kenshin bolted towards the main hall, holding the sakabattou on one hand, ready to strike anytime. Suddenly, he heard shuffling noises in the kitchen. He headed there frantically, unsheathing his sakabattou in the process. He growled, "Come out of the kitchen and identify yourself!!"
Just then a cloud of dust drafted from the kitchen, emitting a very disgusting smell.
"Oro!" Kenshin sweatdropped. "Kaoru?"
"Okaeri nasai, my love," Regan replied as she stepped out of the kitchen with a wide smile on her face, carrying a tray of burnt rice.
Author's notes:
Regan may be strong but she isn't experienced enough in battle to sense ki that is why she didn't notice Yahiko eavesdropping on the latter part of their conversation.
About Kenshin not sensing Regan's ki… Regan is sort of like Soujiro in the sense that she had programmed herself to smile despite everything. Being born in a wealthy and renowned family, she had to keep her composure at all times not to disgrace her family.
Thank you to all those who read my fic and special thanks to those who left a review! ^_^
Kindly read those that are italicized. They are important notes.
Macy- Regan and Kaoru are identical twins. That is the reason why I made Regan wear sunglasses when she encountered Yahiko.
Hotohori, Fey2kim- What Marcus did to Regan was absolutely cruel, ne?
_______- thank you very much! I also love K&K waff! ^_^
Mae- thank you for reviewing every chapter of my fic! I am glad you liked the journal. Thank you for commenting on my writing style. I think I had developed it over the months since I started writing fanfiction.
Supernaturalove- Just stay tuned for the next chaps. I promise you all your questions will be answered.
Tan Kimiko- Don't kill Regan! I still need her for the fic. ^_^
MaraJadeblu- Thank you so much for taking the time to review every chapter. About the boat ride, I assumed that the trip would take months. I tried very hard to research on it but I can't seem to find a resource material that would tell me how long it a boat would take to go from Spain to Japan in the Meiji. Thank your for that. Since I painted a new past for Kaoru, I wanted to make sure that everything is clear, just like with Regan. About the pregnancy, I am so sorry for that. You are right, I didn't know that. Thank you very much for pointing it out.
Battousai angel, Chibigreenwizardmon- I wanted the readers to somehow sympathize with Regan that is why I wrote that scene.
Dementedchris- Well, Sano and Megumi's job in here is to support Kenshin and Kaoru. I think that they had already done their job, quite well. So, I think it is time for them to go. I want this fic to be totally k/k.
________- Actually, she has the right accent because she was raised by Yuku who is Japanese. And I had also described her accent in the prologue. Just a reminder. ^_^
Hatokirei- when are you going to update your fic?
JML- tell me your guess, who is older? C'mon Jason, show me your detective skills. Hehehe. ^_~
Midori-chan- Marcus is like synonymous to evil in this chap. Hope you are feeling better.
Dora-chan- I am so sorry if I disgusted you so much. ^_^;; Poor Regan, ne? At least readers would now understand why she is like that. Since Regan is my OC, I wanted to establish her persona clearly.
Fuuzaki, Angels Exist- Well, like a said, the pacing would be fast but I would put up a lot of cliffhangers. ^_^ Sorry about that.
Emerald Eyes- Thanks for the reminder. I had already posted the rating thanks to you.
Hana-chan- Hehehe… well you know, stuff! Kidding. No they aren't doing it… yet.
Special thanks to Midori-chan for editing for me. Hope you are feeling better sis! ::hugs::
Happy Birthday to Marta !
To everyone:
Thank you very much for all your wonderful reviews. Of all my fics, this was the hardest one to write because I had to plan everything! Every detail, every emotion, every motive… well you got the picture. When I read all your reviews, my heart warmed. Thank you for that, I will always continue writing! Thank you also for those who took the time to read and review my other fics. You make me so happy!
Question: is it just me or does everyone doesn't get R and NC-17 rated fics in their main RK index? You see, I posted a limey one-shot and it wasn't listed. No wonder. They didn't show r rated fics in my computer. Is it just me or do you also experience that. Grrr… because of that I missed the updates of my co-authors. Anyway, if you have the time, please also review my one-shot 'Take the Plunge'.
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