Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only. FF can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I'm sensitive. For all other comments 0_o you may contact me at kaoru_koishii@yahoo.com
Well this is an alternate world/reality, however you wish to refer to it. Life for the rurouni was just fine until he was forced to leave Tokyo. When he comes back his Kaoru-dono is gone. Certain events force the battoussai to come forth but not in the usual sense. He was summoned and not for a fight. Battoussai/Kaoru.
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Chapter One
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The figure crept through the streets in the dimness of night, virtually undetected. Daybreak was edging in on the shadow. The figure moved stealthily on through. His destination was the Kamiya Dojo. It had been a year since he had last been here and though he didn't expect to get taken in he couldn't miss the opportunity to see her one last time before he continued on his journey. It was almost morning; she would be up by now. The silhouette made it to the tree right outside the dojo walls, when he got there he was surprised at what he'd found. The dojo was in ruins.
Where were all the people?
The figure jumped from his spot on the tree branch. He had landed with in the once beautiful walls of the dojo.
Yahiko ran outside.
He froze.
Kenshin was standing there. It had been longer than a year since he had last seen this man. The answer to all their problems as well as the problem itself.
"What are you doing here?" Disdain dripped from the child's voice.
Kenshin looked at Yahiko for a moment the child had never been rude to him.
"What happened?" The face of the individual remained expressionless.
Yahiko was at a lost for what to say. Where do you start? Everything just went downhill after he took off. She got sick because of him. She was taken away from him and all of the actions of this man standing here.
"You have no right to know what happened. Here or to anyone might have lived here." Anger reinforced the strained voice.
'Might' what was that supposed to mean. Kenshin's mind turned the word over. "Where's Kaoru-dono?"
Yahiko turned his back on Kenshin, the man he had once looked up to. He couldn't hold the tears back anymore.
"Where's Kaoru-dono?" He held onto Yahiko a bit firmly.
Yahiko tried to shrug him off but it was to no avail.
Kenshin turned the boy around to face him. He was crying. That really made him worry. The dojo was in ruins and there was no one was around. He was apprehensive.
"What happened? Tell me." He lowered his face to the boys.
Yahiko turned his face. Not wanting to see the man in front of him. His lip trembled. "Ka........ Kaoru got sick." His voice was broken. "She was taken away about six months ago."
'Sick' She was fine when I left he thought. 'Taken Away'
He walked the boy over to the steps and sat the boy and himself down. "What happened?"
The boy still wouldn't look at him. "After you left Kaoru became sick. Not like before when you went to Kyoto. This was different. She would sit on the porch and stare out into the sky. At first she would cry and do it for an hour at a time. Then she would sit out there longer and longer until all she was doing just sitting there. At first doctor Genzai and Megumi tried to snap her out of it but eventually when she started becoming worse they just gave up on her. Doctor Genzai said there was nothing he could do for her. One day, a man came. It seems that he had been in his carriage one day when he drove by the dojo, the gates were open and he had seen Kaoru. He." Yahiko felt he couldn't go on anymore. The tears streamed down his face and onto his Gi.
"He had seen her and he took a liking to her. She seemed to respond to him. He asked her if she would go with him." Yahiko turned his face to Kenshin. "She couldn't have known what she was doing. We tried to tell the man she was sick but he wouldn't listen. He took her. We haven't seen her since." Yahiko was bawling now. She had left him, all alone. His only family had been taken away from him.
Kenshin pulled him in close. Yahiko struggled against the embrace but Kenshin didn't let go. He held him tighter.
When Yahiko had calmed enough Kenshin pulled away. His eyes had hardened. How could this have happened? She was so strong.
"Yahiko."
The child turned to the man.
"I know you blame me for what's happened. Now it's only fair I tell you why I left." Kenshin turned his head away and stared out into the yard, not really seeing anything.
"That day, everyone had been out of the house. Everyone except for Kaoru-dono and myself. We were having lunch when a man showed up. He and a couple of others had been sent to fetch me. He was alone; all the others had been killed. He had bloodstains on him. His best friend had died in his arms. A battle was breaking out, threatening to turn into a revolution. At last count, they reported 150 dead and 20 missing. I couldn't just stand by. If I had, war would have eventually reached Tokyo. So I did what was needed. I went back and fought. Battles such as these can't be won in a day or lost in a week. Kaoru-dono didn't want me to go. She tried to get me to stay but I just couldn't. I." Kenshin seemed lost in the moment. "I told her that Japan was overall more important. I was a rurouni, I had warned her that one day I would leave." Kenshin's voice was neutral.
What ever he felt inside was not revealed neither by his expression nor his tone. "She begged me to stay. There was nothing I could say to comfort her. I left her here on the porch. I couldn't promise her I'd be back. If I were killed in battle she would never have forgiven me for breaking my promise to return, so I just left."
Neither spoke for a while. They just sat there in silence.
"Are you going to stay?" Yahiko's question hung in the air.
Kenshin turned to the child. He hadn't grown at all since he left. He looked scrawny. Was there no one here at all anymore.
"I have to go find her."
Hope seemed to sore into Yahiko's eyes and this time when he cried it was filled with grief and joy.
Kenshin remained on the porch while Yahiko took a nap. Seems crying had taken the energy out of him.
He stared off into space. Lost in thought. She had gotten sick. Sick how? The man who had taken her, who was he? And where had he taken her?
He sensed Sano near by. Kenshin turned his face only to be knocked of the steps. He was shocked.
"Bastard! What the Fuck are you doing here?" Sano spat at Kenshin.
Kenshin slowly stood to his feet. He wiped the bit of blood from the side of his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Sano." The tone was controlled.
"Haven't you done enough?" Sano stood a couple of feet away, his fists clenching and unclenching.
Kenshin looked at the man he had once called best friend. Everything had changed.
"Answer me damn it!" Sano was just itching to hit him.
Kenshin regarded him with a cool gaze.
"I came to see Kaoru-dono." Kenshin's voice much like his gaze remained impassively.
"She's not here, so GET OUT! Or I'll throw you out!" The anger was quite visible.
Kenshin regarded him, accessing his state of mind.
"I will find her." Kenshin said before turning his back on Sano and making his way into the dojo.
Sano stood in the yard, a bit puzzled by the statement.
Kenshin passed by her room. The door was open. He stood there just outside the room looking in. Everything was in order. They must have cleaned up after she left.
He continued on his way to his room and sat there. When Yahiko got up again he'd question him properly. He must remember more. Anything that could give him a clue as to where to start. For now, he would have to rest. He'd been walking for almost three days straight. He yawned. He'd never expected this.
*************
Yahiko opened his eyes. They felt puffy, he'd been crying because.......... His memory was a bit fuzzy. Kenshin was back. He allowed a small smile to come to his face. Kenshin would set everything right again. He hadn't abandoned them like they thought. He'd gone off to fight. Trying to do things himself, to keep everyone safe.
"Why are ya smiling kid?" Sano was sitting to the side.
"Kenshin's back." Yahiko flung his blanket and stood up.
"Why?" Sano had gotten up along side Yahiko.
"He wanted to see Kaoru." Yahiko looked down. "I told him what happened. He said he would go find her."
*************
Kenshin got up to find Yahiko, he hadn't been able to get much rest. Nightmares had plagued him, depriving him of the much-needed rest.
He found everyone at the table, Yahiko, Tsubame, Sano, Megumi, Tae and Dr. Genzai. He'd been caught of guard for a moment. But his mask fell into place almost immediately.
He sat by Yahiko and waited.
Sano wasn't happy with the way Kenshin had left. And Kaoru had been too distraught to say anything they could comprehend. Whatever the reason, they knew he wouldn't allow himself to come back. Kaoru had kept saying he had told her. He was a rurouni and was going to have to leave her.
They all stared at Kenshin before Tae began; "we didn't expect you to come back."
Dr Genzai stopped her. " Kenshin you do understand she is sick?"
Kenshin nodded.
"Her illness is not physical it's mental." The doctor waited for Kenshin to absorb the information.
He wasn't sure where this was going.
"She's not herself. She's lost touch with reality. And that's what caused her physical illness. She stopped eating all together. Towards the end, she was more like a doll. We dressed her, bathed her, fed her etc. Do you understand?"
He had been listening intently till the 'lost touch with reality' part. She couldn't have become.....She wouldn't. She was strong. His departure wouldn't have caused her this. He couldn't accept this.
He looked up at them but his features didn't reveal anything.
Sano recognized the look for what it was a mask.
"Do you know who took her?" The tone was neutral.
"Yes we know." Megumi held Kenshin's gaze.
"It was some rich man from Aomori. His name is Yasuyoshi Tokuma. Seems he fell in love with her at first sight."
Kenshin felt the blood in his veins ice over.
"He talked to her and she seemed to respond. We told him she was sick but he said he would take care of her. We told him it would bring great dishonor to her, if he made her his wife while she wasn't aware of what was going on. So he made her a deal. He told her; he would give her three years. He would give her a chance to get to know him and to get better. If at the end of that time she accepted, she would become his wife." Dr. Genzai waited for Kenshin to take it all in.
"She accepted." Kenshin voice was no longer neutral. It was cold; it made the hairs on their arms stand on end.
They all nodded.
"I will leave tomorrow at first light."
He stayed at the table while Yahiko said goodbye to Tsabame and Dr. Genzai gave Megumi instructions before he himself left. Tae and Megumi made dinner. They all ate quietly and went to bed pretty much the same way.
*************
By the time sunup came around, Kenshin was bathed and dressed. Ready for the journey ahead.
Sano was the only one up. He stood just outside the gate waiting for Kenshin.
"No matter how you find her, you can't walk away from her again. It will kill her." Sano knew he'd find her. No one could ever keep her from him when he was out to find her.
Kenshin nodded.
He could read between the lines. Sane or insane, married or not. He would take her back.
*************
Kenshin looked at the town ahead, Sendai. He was about half way to Aomori. Soon he'd be there.
Kenshin continued to make his way into town when he saw a carriage in the middle of the road. Odd. He still couldn't quite make out why it wasn't moving till he got closer. It was being held up. Kenshin took careful notice of the situation. One nicely dressed man, another in uniform must be the coachman. And three thieves, one with a gun and two with swords. Hmm.
He approached the men slowly. Any fast movements and they might fire at the detained men.
The man with the gun saw Kenshin approaching first and pointed it towards him. "Stop where you are." Everyone turned to Kenshin.
Kenshin kept walking towards the men.
The man shot at Kenshin.
He blurred.
Everyone lost sight of him until he reappeared behind the thieves. "Do Ryu Sen" he called out; sending the men and debris flying all over the place.
The other two men still had their hands up.
"I would suggest you leave while the men are knocked out."
The men put there hands down. The coachmen ran towards the front of the coach and the younger man held onto the door. "Thank you." The younger of the men bowed towards Kenshin. Kenshin returned the bow. He watched them go and when they were at a safe distance he began to his walk towards the Sendai again.
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Finally he got to Aomori, finding the house to of Yasuyoshi Tokuma wasn't as hard as he thought it would be. There was only one Yasuyoshi house in Aomori. The House was fairly new, it had been finished sometime last fall. His ancestral home stood in Akita. The house there was more than six generations old, it's were he had grown up.
Tokuma.
The man that held Kaoru-dono. He stood outside the gates. The house was built in a western style; it looked like one of the government buildings in Yokohama. It was very big. From what he'd been told Yasuyoshi owned a lot of land. He looked through the gate one last time before jumped over it and into the grounds.
He landed just fine but was spotted by the guards. What to do?
The guards pointed their guns at him.
"I'm here to see Yasuyoshi-dono. I hear he's looking for a bodyguard." Kenshin kept his features unreadable. One of the guards poked him with his rifle. "So you think you're good enough, eh?" The man poked him with the rifle. Kenshin allowed the statement to go by. He was used to been taunted. Kami only knew how much of that he'd had in the last couple of years. Saitou came to mind.
One of the guards seemed to stare at him more intently than the others did. Kenshin's gaze fell on the man. The man tore his gaze away and went into the house. About a minute later the man came back out. "Oi! Bring him in."
Kenshin was ushered into the library. This is where he'd meet Yasuyoshi. When he got there though he was shocked. His expression may not have changed but he felt a tingling sensation under the skin of his face.
The man looked at him with an astounded expression.
This was the same man from Sendai. The man who was being held up.
"You're the hitokiri battoussai?" The man sounded amazed.
Kenshin took the time to evaluate the man, now that he was closer. The man seemed to be in his early twenties. Classic features pale skin, dark hair, dark slanted eyes and average height. A man of wealth. Lean and well poised.
"I am." Kenshin wasn't so sure how to proceed. He knew he just could sneak in and take her. That's not how he did things. He felt awkward explaining who he was and why he was going to take Kaoru-dono back. This man had every intention of marrying her. He just didn't know what he was going to do.
"How did you hear I was looking for a bodyguard?" The man had taken a seat at his desk.
Kenshin stood in front of the desk. This man had a lot of western commodities. "People talk."
"I see, well the bodyguard isn't for me it's for my." Yasuyoshi stopped not sure how to continue. "For my future wife, she wants to go out of the house but I just can't let her go out without supervision. She's very beautiful and because of my wealth, I'm afraid that someone might try to hurt her. You understand."
Despite his efforts Kenshin felt this overwhelming wave of anger taking hold of him. He stood straight and rigid. He didn't want to understand why? He had a feeling he already knew, anyhow. Kenshin didn't trust himself to speak so he just nodded.
"Ok well, the job requires you to be accessible at all times because of that, room and board is included. You are the best; a man of your reputation I assume charges a lot. Well money isn't a problem. I want the best for Kaoru. Do you accept?" Yasuyoshi was very eager to gain the Hitokiri Battoussai as an employee.
"I accept." Kenshin voice was crisp and curt. His anger had managed to break through.
Yasuyoshi stared at him for a moment. "How about a name?"
"Himura Kenshin." He forced his voice to a neutral tone.
There was a knock on the door and both men turned around to see a petite woman come in. Beautiful was the only way of describing her. She appeared very fragile. Very pale. She kept her big blue eyes on Yasuyoshi as she came in.
Yasuyoshi rose to meet her half way. "Kaoru-chan, I've got the bodyguard I've promised you. Now you can leave the house whenever you wish." He stepped aside so she could look at her bodyguard.
Deep blue met amethyst.
His eyes bore into her but she broke the gaze. She turned to Yasuyoshi; "I don't want him wearing that." She said pointing to his Gi. "I hate purple. Do you understand Tokuma? I hate it." She turned her back on Kenshin and walked out of the room.
Yasuyoshi stared after her before turning to Kenshin. "Please excuse her. She's a bit sick. As an employee of mine you will be required to dress in the same colors as the guards. I hope you understand."
Kenshin was still processing her reaction to him. She hadn't even addressed him. Did she know who he was? Kenshin eyes focused on Yasuyoshi, he was still talking. 'Uniform' was all he caught.
Kenshin nodded. What else could he do?
"All right then, I'll have someone show you to your quarters and give you some clothes." Yasuyoshi stepped out of the room and called in a guard and gave him some instructions. "Himura-san, this is Hisaishi Toshio he will take you to your room and get you what you need."
Kenshin noted it was the same guard from outside. The one that seemed to recognize him.
*************
Kenshin stood in his quarters they were very comfortable. He was a couple of doors down from Kaoru-dono so it was all right. It was all that really mattered. Kenshin stood in his room wondering if he should try and talk to her. He had changed in to the clothes he'd been given. He was wearing a deep blue Gi. The color was very familiar. Along with new white hakama. He looked very much like his former self. The hitokiri.
Kenshin left his room and knocked on her door.
The door slid open. The face of a woman appeared. She appeared to be a servant.
The women took one look at the man in front of her and nearly fainted. He was gorgeous. Beautiful long red hair. Curvy mouth and his eyes, they seemed intense. The girl noticed he wasn't looking at her but behind her. At her lady to be more precise. This guy must have been the new bodyguard they were all talking about. She stepped to the side so he could come in.
The other women who'd been brushing Kaoru's hair dropped the comb. Kaoru's face turned to her bodyguard with a blank expression. "Leave us," She said to her attendants.
Kenshin watched as the other women filled out of the room. When the door closed he turned his attention back to her.
Their eyes met and they gazed at each other.
"Kaoru-dono." Kenshin began but was stopped by the flying comb aimed at his face.
"Don't you dare address me by that name!" She was shaking. Her anger directed her actions. "The rurouni is dead."
He looked at her.
"Do you understand?" "I HATE the rurouni. He is DEAD! And when he died so did his Kaoru-dono." Her fury colored her cheeks with a pink flush.
"The rurouni is not dead." He said as he came closer to her.
She slapped him hard across the right side of his face.
He was stunned.
And so she slapped him again and again till he grabbed her hand. She kneed him and he growled at her.
"Don't." His eyes had gained a glint of liquid blue.
"Those eyes are the only one you are allowed to show me, battoussai. The rurouni is dead. No one else can have his eyes." She jerked her hand back from him.
"You are mine now. You serve me." Her eyes were hard like steel. Her look could almost seem hateful. She pulled something out of her kimono and threw it at Kenshin.
Kenshin caught the small item in his hands. It was a small ribbon. A hair tie, deep blue like his Gi. "You will wear you hair up."
Was she serious?
"Or?" He asked relaxing his posture.
Her face contorted in anger. "You don't want to know. You are mine and will do as I wish and whenever I wish it."
"You're sick." He immediately knew it was the wrong thing to say. He hadn't meant it the way it sounded.
She pulled a dagger out of her kimono sleeve and threw it at his face. He simply moved his head to the side but wasn't prepared for the second one she let go. That one nicked him in the ear. It was a small cut but it still drew blood.
They stared at each other for a long moment.
The clock in her room chimed four. That seemed to break her out of her spell. She sat at her table with her hands resting on top. Seconds later a knock was heard.
Kenshin watched as she called the servant in. The woman served her tea and was then dismissed. When the door closed she addressed him. "Sit." Her tone was polite.
He couldn't fathom why the change in attitude.
He took a little too long and he could see how it made her angry. She picked up one of the teacups and threw it against the wall. It smashed on contact. She was consumed by her rage, despite that though she remained sitting. Kenshin sat in front of her. She clenched her jaw but ultimately took calmed; she took a long deep breath. Her eyes closed and when she opened them again they were an unfocused blue. She served him tea and gave him a little cake. She watched him take a bite out of his before she continued with her tea.
When they were done he picked up the tray to take outside but she grabbed his hand. "Where are you going?" He looked at her and her eyes narrowed.
"I have servants for that." She let go of his hand. She stood and picked up the brush from where it had fallen earlier. She made her way to the window seat Tokuma had built for her and commenced brushing her hair.
He set the tray back down and sat on the floor a couple of feet behind her. Watching her. Observing her behavior, what his departure had done to her. If he hadn't left she would still be all right.
She seemed to sense his thoughts; she stopped brushing her hair.
She stood up and walked behind him. She sat behind him and loosened his hair. She ran her finger through his hair, caressed it. She let it go and began brushing his hair. She parted his hair in half and brushed each side one hundred times. When she was done she pulled the hair tie from his hand and tied his hair in a high ponytail. She crawled to his front and brushed his bangs. She put her brush down and parted his fringe with her hands.
She slapped him hard and grabbed his shoulder. She shook him. "You are not allowed to have those eyes. You're not allowed. You're not allowed."
His eyes must have turned back to purple while she had been brushing his hair, he thought. He had to grab her hands and sit her back down. He sighed, he didn't like seeing her like this. He would do as she asked. She saw the color she despised being replaced by an eerie blue. She calmed almost immediately.
She kneeled in front of him and touched his face with her hands she wrapped her arms around him and brought his head to her chest. He could hear her heartbeat. It was faint. She let him go just as quickly as she had embraced him.
She handed him her brush and sat in front of him. Her back to him. He picked up the brush and started to brush her hair slowly. It had grown a lot since he had last seen her. It was so soft.
"Kaoru-san?" Someone was calling from the outside the door.
Kaoru didn't turn. "What is it?" Her head was leaned over while he continued to brush her hair.
"I came to get you for dinner." The voice sounded of an older woman.
"I will be having dinner here tonight. I don't feel well enough to step out."
The brush paused mid stroke.
"Yes ma'm." The woman outside could be heard as she left.
Kaoru moved to the window. There were small little lights out there. On closer inspection she could see they were fireflies. The tears fell with out her knowing. Her mind went hazy, she stepped back. She could feel her legs giving out. She made it to her window seat; she was beginning to feel like before. She didn't want to feel like before, when the world seemed to move slower and things didn't make sense.
Nck, Nck,Nck.
"Come in." Kaoru kept her face averted. "Please just leave the tray."
The women bowed towards Kaoru's direction and left.
Kenshin was still in his position holding the brush.
She rubbed her eyes with the sleeve of her kimono and made her way over to the table. She started serving two bowls, arranging small patterns on the rice with the vegetables? "The foods ready." She called out to him and the sound of her voice was so sweet and tender it almost made him cry. She sounded perfectly fine, like she wasn't sick at all.
She had served him so that he was next to her this time. Earlier during tea, she had made him sit across from her. She looked at him with a blank expression, like she wasn't really there.
All other days couldn't possibly be like this he thought as they continued to eat silently.
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Well, that's it for the first part.
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Over view: (I think this is necessary since on the last fic not all of you were on the same page.) So far Kenshin our adorable rurouni has come back from fighting. He makes a stop at the Kamiya Dojo to see how his Kaoru-dono is doing but when he gets there she's gone. To make things worse she's sick. When he finds her, he realizes that everyone was right, she's lost touch with reality. She's insane. But things for him are only going to get worse. She hates the rurouni.