He had to get her alone. If he timed it right it shouldn't be too
much of a problem. The others were more occupied with whatever difficulty
was floating among them. Enishi glanced over to the Dojo, where as usual,
Kaoru was teaching the students. Minus Jin, who still thought of her as a
useless wench?
Jin, was off. practicing, or spying or being a brat somewhere, most likely. It wasn't surprising; as Enishi had made it clear Jin was to preoccupy himself in some other manner for the rest of the day. But what could get her away from everyone else, without alerting anyone besides her.
Enishi stared down through the rims of his glasses. He didn't even know where to start thinking, if he did, it would be short work to figure something out from that. Well. Who did he have to get rid of, Sanosuke, the girl, Aoshi. that one would be a little difficult, and. Misao. well she'd be the key to getting rid of Aoshi. but his brother in law, damn that would be a problem.
If he set things up so that they thought he wouldn't be there. that's the first step. After that It was only finding things they felt obligated to do, and then find a way kaoru would feel compelled to stay home. Enishi leaned against the thin tree that was conspicuously missing a branch.
Jin could easily come in useful here, Enishi suddenly thought with a smile. He seemed to have some sort of association with the blonde girl with Sanosuke. Aneka was it? He didn't really care how Jin did it, but he was sure he could leave handling those two in the boy's hands. Sanosuke seemed overly protective of her. He doubted the ex-gangster would let her go anywhere alone.
Two down. and way too many left to go. Enishi exhaled in what sounded suspiciously like a sigh. Suddenly, a slow grin spread across Enishi's face as something occurred to him. Now the only pair left was Aoshi and Misao.
* * *
**Three days later**
Something wasn't right. She looked extremely pale compared to just two minutes ago. What had happened? Sanosuke narrowed his eyes as he saw the little brat Jin; walk in nonchalantly with a look on his face that was a little too smug. Aneka had just come from that direction. And before that, she'd looked perfectly fine.
He almost started after Jin, but with a glance back at Aneka, he didn't want to leave her alone. He tightened his jaw and clenched his fists briefly in frustration. Hell, he already knew Aneka wouldn't tell him what was wrong. He'd just have to keep a really close eye on her. He sighed and slumped down next to where she sat, resting an arm over her too-tense shoulder. It relaxed only slightly, but that was enough for Sanosuke to be sure of his decision.
Aneka was almost like a little sister to him, and he'd left the other sister behind. He didn't want to make the same mistake this time.
* * *
They'd left for Kyoto a day and a half ago, and the feeling still hadn't left him. They'd received a letter from the Aoi-ya, and while it wasn't urgent, it didn't seem to be something that should be ignored either. After appraising the situation at the dojo, Aoshi and Misao had decided nothing untoward would happen if they just left for a short while. But it was a mistake he was sure of it. Something really didn't feel right, and with every step, the sinking feeling Aoshi had intensified. He hadn't felt this way since. He paused. Misao stopped suddenly, realizing Aoshi had stopped moving.
"What is it?" She asked, a slight frown on her face.
"I know for sure the letter wasn't fake, but something still feels wrong" he replied, seemingly more to himself than to her. Misao nodded.
"I trust your instincts" Misao said. "What do you think we should do." She looked at him expectantly. This, she'd expected him to say something sooner. She had been able to tell that something wasn't settling well with her Aoshi-sama. A ghost of a smile crossed Aoshi's face and faded away just as fast. He turned around and started heading back towards Tokyo, his strides longer than before. Misao had to jog to keep up with his seemingly anxious walking.
* * *
Kenshin's calm demeanor hid his apprehension well. He sat placidly in the center of the dojo floor, Legs folded neatly beneath him, as his half- lidded eyes seemed to gaze beyond this world into some higher meaning. It was such a good cover, anyone would have been fooled. Anyone, that is except Kenshin, who was on the receiving end of his own emotions.
Even more unfortunate was the fact that there was no one around to fool by his outward appearance. If it had been the case, it might have brought Kenshin some small comfort to know that someone believed in the peace of mind that so eluded him.
Then there was the cause of his apprehension, and likely one other person who could deduce his true frame of mind. Enishi always struck where it hurt the most, whether or not it was intentional. Kenshin suspected that Enishi didn't have a bone in his body that was unintentional. Likely every minute fraction of the younger man's being could be manipulated almost unconsciously towards his purpose.
And his purpose? Unknown. Or was it.
Kenshin highly expected Enishi to target the light of his newfound life, Kaoru. Whether or not any harm was intended to her being mattered not. Kenshin would not give up until all hope was lost. And even then. he would take over.
Him... that integral part of his being, one that reveled coldly in the nightmares that so plagued Kenshin. Battousai, once just a name, but now a jagged fragment of the original structure. He was afraid of it, yet part of him really wanted to give in. Sometimes he felt so tired, and it would be so easy. Kenshin shook his head and smiled softly. No, The very thing that drained him to the point of giving up, also kept him from doing so. Because he loved her.
"Kaoru-dono, is there any hope for this unworthy soul" he whispered into the empty room as he waited for the, hopefully, final confrontation between him and Enishi. The note flutter as a faint breeze flew by. Kenshin stared at it in horror as it's true meaning made it'self known.
Battousai, Send Kaoru away for a while. We need to speak. -Yukishirou Enishi
A strangled laugh escaped. That devious bastard. He pulled everything off so well, first Aoshi and Misao left, Then suddenly something came up to take Sanosuke away. If he had realized it sooner, it would have been a perfect opportunity to talk to Kaoru alone, now that he'd had some time to sort things out.
But something had come up to keep him busy, and Enishi had done nothing but speak his true intent. Kenshin stood abruptly and headed out, but he knew deep down that it was likely already too late.
Jin, was off. practicing, or spying or being a brat somewhere, most likely. It wasn't surprising; as Enishi had made it clear Jin was to preoccupy himself in some other manner for the rest of the day. But what could get her away from everyone else, without alerting anyone besides her.
Enishi stared down through the rims of his glasses. He didn't even know where to start thinking, if he did, it would be short work to figure something out from that. Well. Who did he have to get rid of, Sanosuke, the girl, Aoshi. that one would be a little difficult, and. Misao. well she'd be the key to getting rid of Aoshi. but his brother in law, damn that would be a problem.
If he set things up so that they thought he wouldn't be there. that's the first step. After that It was only finding things they felt obligated to do, and then find a way kaoru would feel compelled to stay home. Enishi leaned against the thin tree that was conspicuously missing a branch.
Jin could easily come in useful here, Enishi suddenly thought with a smile. He seemed to have some sort of association with the blonde girl with Sanosuke. Aneka was it? He didn't really care how Jin did it, but he was sure he could leave handling those two in the boy's hands. Sanosuke seemed overly protective of her. He doubted the ex-gangster would let her go anywhere alone.
Two down. and way too many left to go. Enishi exhaled in what sounded suspiciously like a sigh. Suddenly, a slow grin spread across Enishi's face as something occurred to him. Now the only pair left was Aoshi and Misao.
* * *
**Three days later**
Something wasn't right. She looked extremely pale compared to just two minutes ago. What had happened? Sanosuke narrowed his eyes as he saw the little brat Jin; walk in nonchalantly with a look on his face that was a little too smug. Aneka had just come from that direction. And before that, she'd looked perfectly fine.
He almost started after Jin, but with a glance back at Aneka, he didn't want to leave her alone. He tightened his jaw and clenched his fists briefly in frustration. Hell, he already knew Aneka wouldn't tell him what was wrong. He'd just have to keep a really close eye on her. He sighed and slumped down next to where she sat, resting an arm over her too-tense shoulder. It relaxed only slightly, but that was enough for Sanosuke to be sure of his decision.
Aneka was almost like a little sister to him, and he'd left the other sister behind. He didn't want to make the same mistake this time.
* * *
They'd left for Kyoto a day and a half ago, and the feeling still hadn't left him. They'd received a letter from the Aoi-ya, and while it wasn't urgent, it didn't seem to be something that should be ignored either. After appraising the situation at the dojo, Aoshi and Misao had decided nothing untoward would happen if they just left for a short while. But it was a mistake he was sure of it. Something really didn't feel right, and with every step, the sinking feeling Aoshi had intensified. He hadn't felt this way since. He paused. Misao stopped suddenly, realizing Aoshi had stopped moving.
"What is it?" She asked, a slight frown on her face.
"I know for sure the letter wasn't fake, but something still feels wrong" he replied, seemingly more to himself than to her. Misao nodded.
"I trust your instincts" Misao said. "What do you think we should do." She looked at him expectantly. This, she'd expected him to say something sooner. She had been able to tell that something wasn't settling well with her Aoshi-sama. A ghost of a smile crossed Aoshi's face and faded away just as fast. He turned around and started heading back towards Tokyo, his strides longer than before. Misao had to jog to keep up with his seemingly anxious walking.
* * *
Kenshin's calm demeanor hid his apprehension well. He sat placidly in the center of the dojo floor, Legs folded neatly beneath him, as his half- lidded eyes seemed to gaze beyond this world into some higher meaning. It was such a good cover, anyone would have been fooled. Anyone, that is except Kenshin, who was on the receiving end of his own emotions.
Even more unfortunate was the fact that there was no one around to fool by his outward appearance. If it had been the case, it might have brought Kenshin some small comfort to know that someone believed in the peace of mind that so eluded him.
Then there was the cause of his apprehension, and likely one other person who could deduce his true frame of mind. Enishi always struck where it hurt the most, whether or not it was intentional. Kenshin suspected that Enishi didn't have a bone in his body that was unintentional. Likely every minute fraction of the younger man's being could be manipulated almost unconsciously towards his purpose.
And his purpose? Unknown. Or was it.
Kenshin highly expected Enishi to target the light of his newfound life, Kaoru. Whether or not any harm was intended to her being mattered not. Kenshin would not give up until all hope was lost. And even then. he would take over.
Him... that integral part of his being, one that reveled coldly in the nightmares that so plagued Kenshin. Battousai, once just a name, but now a jagged fragment of the original structure. He was afraid of it, yet part of him really wanted to give in. Sometimes he felt so tired, and it would be so easy. Kenshin shook his head and smiled softly. No, The very thing that drained him to the point of giving up, also kept him from doing so. Because he loved her.
"Kaoru-dono, is there any hope for this unworthy soul" he whispered into the empty room as he waited for the, hopefully, final confrontation between him and Enishi. The note flutter as a faint breeze flew by. Kenshin stared at it in horror as it's true meaning made it'self known.
Battousai, Send Kaoru away for a while. We need to speak. -Yukishirou Enishi
A strangled laugh escaped. That devious bastard. He pulled everything off so well, first Aoshi and Misao left, Then suddenly something came up to take Sanosuke away. If he had realized it sooner, it would have been a perfect opportunity to talk to Kaoru alone, now that he'd had some time to sort things out.
But something had come up to keep him busy, and Enishi had done nothing but speak his true intent. Kenshin stood abruptly and headed out, but he knew deep down that it was likely already too late.