Kaoru woke up with a severe headache in the middle of a dark and musky room. There were no windows no candles, no source of any light… When she had adjusted her eyes to the darkness, she looked around her unfamiliar surroundings trying to figure out where she was. Where am I? What am I doing in here? her mind mentally screamed.
Kaoru tried to stand up from the hard and cold wood she was laying on but different piercing sensations stabbed her head when she lifted it from the floor. She placed her hand on her throbbing head, biting her lower lip to control the pain. She stood carefully and walked around the alleged bedroom, trying to feel her way through the wall. When she had reached the doorknob, she turned it, not really expecting for it to open but to try her luck that maybe, just maybe, she was not in a situation she feared she was.
Taking a deep breath, she banged on the door, trying to ignore the pain shooting all over her body. She began yelling, "Open this door!! Open this door, right now!! I demand to know where I am!! Let me out! Let me out!! Who are you!? Why have you brought me here?! Why won't you answer me!!! Open this damn door!!! What do you want with me…" Feeling exhausted, Kaoru faltered, falling to her knees. The pain in her head was worsening but the pain her heart felt worse because of sheer helplessness was much harder to bear. Not again… She narrowed her eyes defiantly, but unwanted tears began to fall. "I will not give up!" She banged the door stronger this time, paying no attention to her swollen hands, "Let me out!! I demand you people tell me where I am! WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH ME? I WON'T LET YOU USE ME TO GET TO KENSHIN!!! OPE—"
"You're cries are of no use, Kaoru. I suggest you stop doing that because you are just wasting your strength."
"What do you want with Kenshin?"
"Kenshin? Dear, let me refresh your memory… You are here because your sister wants to get to know you better."
"Sister?"
Just then, everything came back to her like a hard slap on the face.
How can a mother get over the loss of one of her daughters? Kaoru's twin died even before I had the chance to touch her… to claim her as mine…
"Hello there, sister."
"My twin is alive?" Kaoru asked, her voice trembling.
"You sound like you're not pleased, Kaoru," answered Yuku.
"But, mama's journal said that she died after she gave birth."
"And you believe everything you're told?" she asked in repugnance. "Poor girl. Tsk! Tsk! How does it feel to be cheated and lied to your whole life? I can't believe that after all this time, you are still ignorant about your family's history."
"And I suppose I should believe the one who kidnapped me?" she snapped, her voice filled with venom.
"Think what you want, child. You'll learn the truth soon enough." With that Yuku, left.
"Wait! Wait! I'm not through talking to you!!!" When Yuku's footsteps became inaudible she muttered, "Shit!! What's going on!!!?"
~~~~~
A few hours later, Regan arrived at her house wearing one of Kaoru's kimono. She twirled in front of Yuku and asked, "How do I look?"
"Beautiful and very much sane, Regan."
She flashed Yuku an appreciative smile and asked, "Nana, how is she?"
"She is fine. She just woke up. By the way, how was your first night in the dojo?"
"Great!" she exclaimed. "Kenshin is terrific. My sister has great taste! I am glad. At least, I am going to live with a decent man for a change. I am enjoying her perfect little life quite well." After pausing for a moment, she grinned, "But of course, I had to make a couple of adjustments.
"Like What?" Yuku asked her curiously.
"Well, you know…"
Regan was suddenly cut off by a loud banging on the door. "OPEN THIS DOOR!!!"
"Stubborn?" Regan chuckled.
Yuku rolled her eyes and replied, "She's been at it since she woke up. What do you want me to do to her?"
"Hmm..." Regan looked thoughtful for a while then answered, "Prepare her some food. She must be starving. I'll go upstairs to talk to her." Regan gracefully ascended the stairs, pondering on how to break the news to her sister. She knocked the door lightly and with her sweetest voice, she said, "Hi, Kaoru! It's me, Regan, your twin."
From behind the door, Kaoru scowled, "You're not my twin. My twin is dead. You are an impostor!! What do you want with Kenshin and me!?"
"Sister…"
"Don't call me sister! My sister is dead!" Kaoru snapped.
Regan's patience finally ran out, she unlocked the door and slammed it open, hitting Kaoru on the head with a loud thud. She grabbed Kaoru's hair from the back and raised a dagger to the side of her neck. She pulled her hair tighter and yelled spitefully, "Look at me! See anything familiar? I am breathing, am I not? No matter how many times you repeat it to convince yourself, I am alive!" Narrowing her eyes, she said contemptuously, "Like it or not, I am not dead. So, boohoo!!"
Kaoru looked directly into Regan's eyes and stuttered, "But... but…"
"I am back twin sis and I am here to claim the life I was so generously deprived of," Regan announced, smiling triumphantly.
"I… I don't understand."
"I don't expect you to, ignorant bitch!" she shrugged, looking at her condescendingly. "It's actually simple. I was given away as payment so that you, Miharu and that cowardice Koshijiro can have a perfect life of peace."
Kaoru narrowed her eyes, looking at her defiantly. She spat, "No! I refuse to believe that!"
"You better believe it sis because it's the truth, honey. It bites, doesn't it?" Regan beamed pressing the dagger closer to her skin. "Nana!! Bring the food inside!"
Yuku followed as ordered, placing the bowl of food on the floor.
"I love you, sis! Enjoy your meal!" Regan said as she pecked Kaoru on her cheeks. With one swift move, Regan threw Kaoru on the floor, closing the door with much force. "Don't worry, Kaoru. You have plenty of time to contemplate here." Turning to Yuku, she said, "Nana, I have to go back now. I have laundry to finish… Tah-tah!!" With that she sauntered out of the house.
~~~~~
"Kenshin!" Yahiko called out from outside the new establishment Kenshin was working at. Since Sano and Megumi left to Aizu, Kenshin found himself a new decent and more honorable job in a lumber warehouse.
Kenshin stepped out and greeted him merrily, "Good afternoon Yahiko! What are you doing here? Don't you have practice today?"
"Actually, I came here to talk to you about that."
Kenshin nodded, marking the seriousness of his voice. "Okay Yahiko. Let's sit down. I'm listening. Is there any problem?"
The younger swordsman looked down and began, "Kaoru kicked me out of the dojo yesterday."
Kenshin looked at him strangely and chuckled softly, "That's it? You should have gotten used to it by now. You know Kaoru has some umm… how do I phrase it… violent tendencies? You shouldn't take it too seriously. Kaoru is very moody most of the time," he finished, smiling widely.
Yahiko looked at him incredulously and frowned, "Geez, I know that Kenshin! What do you take me for? Kaoru was really different yesterday. She was very mean. She even said some hurtful things like…"
"Yahiko…"
"Listen to me Kenshin, she was very different. I am sure of that! She even…
Kenshin smiled understandingly and said, "Yahiko... please understand her. Kaoru has a lot of things on her mind lately. You know about her mother's journal, right? Well, it is taking its toll on her. Lengthen your patience, Yahiko…"
"But…"
"…I know your man enough to do that. Just go back and talk to her after a few days, ok?"
I can't tell him about the other things I heard. He won't believe me anyway, I have to get to the bottom of this myself. Yahiko sighed in resignation. "Alright, Kenshin, if you say so…"
"Excuse me, Yahiko. I have to get back to work." Kenshin smiled as he stood up.
Before Kenshin entered his workplace, Yahiko asked, "Kenshin have you read her mother's diary?"
"No, it's private," Kenshin replied, shaking his head in negation.
"I think you should…" whispered Yahiko, looking at him with meaningful eyes..
~~~~~
Kaoru didn't need to look out the window to know that it is already evening. She didn't want to think anymore for the more she thinks, the more confusing it gets. Father, mother, please give me strength to pass this obstacle. If Regan truly is my sister… please enlighten her. Father, is it true? Did you really give her away as payment? My heart refuses to accept that but there's no other truth I can hold on to. What is the truth? Will I live long enough to find out? Kaoru closed her eyes and sighed. As darkness enveloped her being, she saw Kenshin smiling at her, giving her strength, caressing her cheek, reminding her of the words he told her days ago, I'm always here… Where's the determination? The courage? The strength? Where are these characteristics that make up the woman I love? I would like to be the one to deliver our baby someday…
With that Kaoru opened her tear-filled eyes. She whispered, "I'll fight for our love, Kenshin. Please, please… I beg you… realize that it is not I who is with you right now…
~~~~~
"Tadaima!!"
"Okaeri nasai, Kenshin!!!" Regan approached him slowly, swinging her hips from side to side, with a sultry expression on her face. She stopped inches from his face. With her two hands, she brought his face down to her as she licked his lips for an impassioned kiss. Kenshin opened his eyes in surprise when Regan coaxed his lips to part, pushing her tongue inside to dance with his. She pulled him closer to deepen the kiss, pressing her soft curves against his defined chest. A smile formed on the corner of her mouth as she felt Kenshin's arousal building up but it immediately disappeared when Kenshin pulled back and panted, "Kaoru… you have never kissed me liked that…"
Regan smiled at him seductively as she trailed her fingers across his chest. She whispered huskily, "Don't you like it?"
"It's… It's just different…" he replied sincerely, wrapping his arms around her for an embrace.
~~~~~
Kaoru's heart ached in pain at the thought of Regan and Kenshin together inside her dojo. She sobbed, "Don't allow her to take my place, Kenshin. You promised we'd always be together. Please…" find me…Please…
Author's Notes:
About Regan and Soujiro, they are really different. Soujiro is highly superior when it comes to skill. Regan doesn't even come close but she is strong. This fic wouldn't be a batter of strength but of wits.
About Kenshin noticing that it is Kaoru, of course he would notice something amiss but the thought that she isn't Kaoru wouldn't cross his mind. They are living in the meiji, things such as plastic surgery or cloning hasn't even brought up yet. He has no clue that Kaoru has a twin. Moreover, Kaoru has problems, right? So a little haywire on her ki wouldn't really spell out disaster to Kenshin, he knows that something is bothering her, Kaoru told him herself. I am dwelling a little on Yahiko because he will serve an important purpose on the latter chapters.
Readers, I ask you to trust me on their characterization. I said that this will be a fast-paced suspense, right? Well, just stick with me and all your questions will be answered soon enough. There is a reason for everything.
Special thanks to all those who left a review.
Sorry if I can't write individual responses. I am really busy right now.
Hotohori, Tan Kimiko, Chris, Macy, Rebecca, Fuuzaki, Animeloverthatiam, Marstanuki, Onna, Gypsy-chan, Mae, AngelsExist, Hana Himura, Dora-chan, JML, Ali-chan, Artemismoon, Chibigreenwizardmon
Special thanks to Midori for beta-editing!
Check out the new one-shot I had written entitled, 'The Smile of a Goddess.'
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