Disclaimer: All standard disclaimers apply.
Author's note: Hey. It's been a long time. I'm really tired. Sorry for the delay. I've been kind of busy lately and I wasn't able to come near the computer for a long time. And my so-called social life may have the chance of improving if this happens again. No matter how much work I put into this fic anyway, only some people would care; what's the big deal? Well, for all those people who care, I dedicate this chapter to you. Our English play, in which I was scriptwriter and a character of sorts, did turn out real great. And so the saying goes: You will reap the fruits of your harvest. And my classmates and I, who weren't practically cut from the same paper, formed a kind of bonding during the last months of our sophomore year. Our props manager and director are virtually begging the school administration not to resection us in our junior year. Pray for us, I beg thee. Read on and enjoy.
Rating: PG (may fluctuate)
WARNING: THERE ARE SOME FOUL WORDS IN THIS CHAPTER. I ASK YOU TO JUST PLEASE SKIP THEM IF YOU HAVE TO. PLEASE DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU.
Second Chance
Chapter X: Coincidence
*Coincidence?* Kenshin thought. He was sitting on the veranda, watching the sky form a peach-hued promise on the horizon as the wind moved over the land. He shifted his position and tucked his feet under his body. *Probably not.* The sun was just rising and he savored the moment as the delicious, first rays of the celestial body hit his face.
He closed his eyes, then, he sighed. *The truth? Quite difficult. If those people who brought the three bodies back from Kyoto said that Takami Yoshiko's, his son's and his daughter's fiancée's corpses were already rotting and unrecognizable by the time they were found, how sure were they that those bodies were indeed Yoshiko's, his son's and Imizuki's fiancée's?*
"Enjoying the moment, Himura?" A voice interrupted, its tone sarcastic. "You better, because when the leaders arrive sometime this morning, you'll be doing something constructive other than sitting and dawdling about doing nothing."
Kenshin need not look up to see who was there standing behind him. *Shinru.* As far as Kenshin was concerned, the younger man has a very nice way of triggering his irritation at any moment at all. For that, he had succeeded in amazing Kenshin.
Kenshin opened his eyes but did not turn around to look up to him. "If I plan to enjoy the moment, Shinru," Kenshin started to say. "I would rather spend it in a place where I won't be disturbed. I'd spend it in a place where nobody would follow me around like a son of a bitch." He actually spat the last word and the insult was aimed at Shinru's direction. Smirking, Kenshin looked up to him this time and had the satisfaction of seeing the younger man turn several shades of red.
But Shinru, after blinking several times to compose himself, recovered almost immediately. "Son of a bitch? Look who's talking. Probably," he walked towards a post a few feet away from Kenshin and leaned against it. "You're becoming senile, old man, and too bad you're mind's not working too well. It'll be a short time until I see your head bald with a couple of white hair sticking out here and there with a wrinkled prune of a face stuck on the front."
The ex-assassin suppressed a humorless chuckle and stared at the younger man calmly. "Oh? I'm sorry to inform you that I do not socialize with infants so you won't be seeing much of me in the succeeding years. Wait. That's not right. I mean I do not socialize with infants like you and with puppies, also like you. At least that way, I won't be seeing your head turn as smooth as an egg. Now I wonder... what should I possibly call you? Probably 'babe' is appropriate?" He drawled with ridicule.
The right corner of Shinru's mouth twitched up but his expression showed no humor. "Am I supposed to laugh?" He asked as if he didn't know. "Hahahaha then. It's very funny." He said, the cynicism very much alive in both tone of voice and expression.
Kenshin maintained his calm and apathetic expression. "I don't think babies can laugh that much in the early months." He sat rigidly and stared at the sky. "Maybe you're an exception."
At that, Shinru exploded inside. "Nobody insults me like that, you bastard." He forgot for a minute that Imizuki had warned him to control his temper and not pick up a fight with the ex-assassin. But his pride was hurt and that was all he could take. He moved swiftly and came behind Kenshin, preparing both arms to grab Himura by the neck. His main purpose: to suffocate the man. He was fast but, too bad, not fast enough to catch up with Kenshin's godlike speed.
Kenshin saw him move at the right corner of his eye. Before Shinru had his arms around Kenshin's neck fully, Kenshin had moved out of the way and Shinru hugged nothing but the wind. Then he felt an excruciating pain shot through his ribs. He groaned then fell to his knees, his hands on his sides.
Kenshin had hit him at the ribs with the hilt of his sword. He watched the younger man coughing and groaning on the floor with eyes glowing amber red. "If you want to challenge me, Shinru," he began, trying to mask the anger in his voice but wasn't able to, "Say so and do not attack me from behind. Allow me to inform you that what you just did was the act of a coward." He continued to stare at Shinru on the floor, who by now had stopped coughing, but was just kneeling there on and staring down at the floor. His dark bangs covered his eyes which turned a sea-green because of hatred, unbeknownst to Kenshin.
Shinru lifted his head with all the dignity he could muster and glared at Kenshin, who stared right back, eyes expressionless. "Bastard." He muttered.
After a few minutes, his gaze moved past Kenshin.
Kenshin saw Shinru's sudden change of attention and looked behind him uncaringly. A pair of grayish-silver eyes greeted him and what he saw there made him shudder. For in Himitsu's eyes he saw malice and something much more dangerous... something Kenshin can not quite recognize.
At the corner of his eye, Kenshin saw Shinru rise to his feet. "What happened?" He heard Shinru say. He was apparently talking to Himitsu.
"They're there." Himitsu replied.
"At Yusime-san's?"
"Hai."
"Just one room?"
"One for the males, one for the females."
"Sugoi." Shinru watched Kenshin smugly, as if he had just done something which could ruin him forever. "Sugoi."
Himitsu's voice cut through the eerie silence that settled over the three of them after Shinru's one-word statement. "The students at the back... they're ready for the morning routine." Shinru and Himitsu shared a look and with tacit understanding, they started walking away. But as Shinru passed by Kenshin, the two exchanged challenging stares.
Kenshin watched their backs and he saw Himitsu walk faster and go ahead of his master. When Himitsu had disappeared, Shinru surprised Kenshin by turning to face him when there was but a few feet between them. His voice was soft. "I swear, Himura, after you have served your purpose and when I have control over this group, I will happily kill you; I will crush you like an insect." His face was twisted into a look of hatred and determination.
Though surprised, Kenshin hid it by saying, "Until you have control over this group, I'll be the one crushing you like an insect."
Shinru surprised him even more by smirking, his hand settling on the hilt of his sword. "Shocked, Himura?" He asked, his expression smug.
"Surprised." Kenshin admitted.
Shinru shook his head. "Iie. You're shocked." He insisted. With that, he turned around and started towards Himitsu's direction.
Kenshin shrugged and walked towards the gate. But Shinru's voice stopped him. "Chotto matte. Are you going somewhere? Doko?"
Kenshin looked behind his shoulder and said, "Some place where I can enjoy the moment. Some place where nobody would follow me around like a dog."
His reply produced a snort from Shinru. "Whatever. I, on the other hand, will go to some place where men like you are considered aged and senile, some place where you can't handle the physical pressure and can drop dead any minute." He turned around and began walking away, throwing a casual wave over his shoulder.
Kenshin watched him disappear and continued on his way. Despite the twists and turns he experienced during his two-day stay at the Kamakura Headquarters, he had formed a familiarity with the place.
As he closed the gate behind him, two things entered is mind. *Who is staying at Yusime-san's place? Who is Yusime?*
@@@
"SANO, I'M GOING TO SEE KENSHIN... ALONE! YOU HEAR ME?! ALONE! IS THAT TOO HARD TO UNDERSTAND?!!!" The roar unbelievably shook the whole ryo-kan as if an earthquake just passed over it.
That was Kaoru... obviously. She had just finished telling the Kenshin-gumi about the information she had uncovered when they were still in Tokyo until they arrived in Kamakura over the breakfast table in the restaurant next to Yusime-san's ryo-kan. She also told them about her accidental meeting with Kenshin the day before. Of course she left out the romantic kissing scene. She couldn't bear to tell them that.
Then all hell broke lose when Sano said he wanted to go with her if she'll go meet Kenshin later that morning.
Breakfast couldn't get any more interesting than this. Kaoru had this very murderous look on her face with one hand pulling her sleeve up her arm, threatening Sano and Sano, on the other hand, had his hands before him defensively, palm out, expression nervous.
Yahiko stuck his little finger into his right ear and wiggled the finger inside. "Oi, busu, lower your voice down!"
Kaoru's glare shifted from Sano to Yahiko. "I will not, YAHIKO-CHAN." She growled dangerously.
Slightly taken aback but determined, Yahiko replied with all the courage he could gather, "Why not?!"
"Because..." Kaoru started, trying to calm down and getting a hold of herself. "I'm the one paying for your stay here and I get to do everything I want to do! GET THAT??!!" She bellowed once again, the volume increasing with each word she uttered.
Megumi produced an unladylike grunt as she combed her fingers through her jet-black hair. "Some people just don't know the real meaning of etiquette. Apparently, she wasn't raised up with the right education. And I have to include the fact that she's a tomboy." She said calmly, face apathetic.
"WHY YOU!!" Kaoru exploded. She almost clawed Megumi's face, that is, if Sano and Yahiko hadn't pulled her back. With both her arms held back by the two boys, she struggled, all the while, roaring, "How dare you talk to me like that! You fox! Let me at her! I can murder her right this minute! Let me go, you idiots!"
Sighing, Megumi wiggled her fingers and blew at her nails. "To tell the truth, I have a feeling Ken-san was very disappointed when he saw you yesterday instead of me. He must be missing me greatly."
"Shut up, you harlot! If you're so brave, get up and fight like a GIRL!!!" Kaoru's mouth fired insult after insult like a machine gun.
Megumi was unaffected and did not even glance at Kaoru's direction but continued brushing her hair. "I do not mean to speak to people not meant to be entertained."
At that, Kaoru growled once more then inhaled deeply. After she had calmed down, she glared at both Sano and Yahiko. They got the idea and they released her. Then they all sat back down quietly as if nothing happened. "Let me find and talk to Kenshin alone." She said. "It'll be better that way. I told you. He's got amnesia. He wouldn't remember you. If more unfamiliar faces appear, then he might get confused and attack you too."
"Kenshin wouldn't do that!" Yahiko suddenly insisted.
Sano shook his head from left to right and folded his arms across his chest. Heaving a sigh, he said, "You know what, Jou-chan, you should have told us what you found out from the very beginning when we were still in Tokyo. Now, things have gone from slightly complicated to overly complicated. If you told us earlier, then we could have formulated a plan."
"Sumimasen." Kaoru bowed her head down slightly. "But I wasn't sure whether the information I got was accurate, so I just kept quiet until I finally saw Kenshin with my own eyes."
"So what do you plan to do now?" Yahiko inquired.
Kaoru shrugged. "I don't know." She kept silent for awhile then she sighed. "I forgot to include something."
"Nani?" Sano asked.
"About last night..." her voice trailed off.
Megumi smiled vaguely, expression slightly smug. "It wasn't a dream, was it, Kaoru?"
Kaoru's head jerked up and she stared at Megumi with her mouth hanging open and eyes as big as saucers. "How did you—"
"Actually, before you screamed for help, I was able to turn towards you and my eyes opened a bit but I closed them again when I saw that that grayish-eyed man, what was his name? Himitsu? Yes, Himitsu. Anyway, I closed my eyes shut again when I saw that Himitsu had his hand on your mouth, apparently trying, but not meaning, to asphyxiate you."
"DAMN IT, MEGUMI!" Sano exploded and punched the surface of the table, thank Kami though, the table did not crumble into dust. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?!"
Megumi glared at Sano. "Do not use that tone on me." She said, voice apparently controlled. Sano sat back down and shut up. "Besides, I wanted Kaoru to tell us herself, otherwise, I could have left out some vital information that she may know."
"But, Megumi... you knew it was him and he was hurting me." Kaoru said. "Why didn't you help me then?"
At that, Megumi's expression softened. "Kaoru, I was thinking that if the Takamigumi, dangerous as they are, would find out that more people knew more than what they are supposed to know, they might kill us all. Obviously, they only wanted Sano, Yahiko and I to know about Kenshin's kidnapping. Nothing else"
"That's right." Sano said. "If that Himitsu-ass found out that Megumi saw what he was doing to you, Jou-chan, he probably did not only make YOU unconscious, but Megumi too. Or worse, if he wasn't thinking clearly and forgot the fact that they needed Kenshin and that Kenshin might probably rebel if he found out he hurt any of the gang, he would have killed you both, you know." Sano looked around the group's blank faces. "Geez! Do you people get what I mean?!"
"Chicken-head, you really do like to make simple things complicated." Yahiko commented sarcastically. "Why don't you just simply say that if they hurt any of us, they're dead meat?"
"Hey, great thinking, Yahiko-chan!" Sano said, resting his hand on Yahiko's head.
Yahiko growled and showed his beloved 'fangs'. "DON'T CALL ME CHAN!!!"
"I have a feeling blackmail is included into this." Kaoru mused.
"So..." Yahiko started to say, confused. "Who's blackmailing who?"
"They might – MIGHT – be blackmailing Kenshin to doing everything they want him to do so that they won't hurt us. And Kenshin might – MIGHT, once again – be thinking that if they hurt any of us, then he won't do what they would order him to do. But that is a big question mark still." Kaoru sighed deeply. "This is getting too complicated, you guys."
Sano folded his arms across his chest. "If that Himitsu – that asshole – came here last night, then I suppose the Takamigumi knows we're here." He was silent for a few seconds. "Damn! If I see their daimyo, I'll kick his ass, I tell ya!"
"Yeah, I'm with you!" Yahiko added, pumping his fist into the air.
The two women laughed. "That's the spirit!" Kaoru said.
Megumi suddenly stood up and everyone looked up to her. "Look, I'm going around and see what more I can learn about this group. I'll meet you back at the ryo-kan."
Sano scrambled to his feet. "Oi, I'm going with you, Megitsune!"
The young doctor looked at him, surprised. "So des'ka?"
Sano grinned from ear to ear. "Sure, why not? Jou-chan won't let me come with her so I'll go with you."
Megumi turned her back to him and started walking out the door. "Yare, I wouldn't think that a rooster-head like you could catch up with me."
"Megitsune!" Sano exploded, and the usual arguing began.
Their voices faded as they walked out the restaurant. Kaoru and Yahiko looked at each other and they burst out laughing like complete nut heads that tears began escaping from their tear ducts.
When their laughter ceased, Kaoru wiped the tears from her eyes. "So... where are YOU going?"
"I'd rather go out alone and think." Yahiko declared seriously. "Where are you going?"
"Same as you. I'm going out and pray to Kami-sama that I may run across Kenshin again."
Yahiko stared at her for some time. He had no idea before that Kaoru cared for Kenshin THAT much. *I wonder how it feels... to have someone worry over you... because she cares for you...* He looked down to his lap and inhaled. After a few seconds, he looked up and grinned. "Yare, busu, I'm going now!!!" He said, standing up quickly and running towards the door, grasping his bokotou in his right hand.
When he reached the door, he turned around and grinned mischievously at Kaoru. She stuck out his tongue at him. He laughed hard as he slid the door open. "Ganbatte, Kaoru!"
Kaoru smiled. She wasn't able to reply because Yahiko quickly got out of the door and raced off.
She looked at the door and whispered. "Hai... arigato, Yahiko..."
@@@
She had been looking for him for over two hours at the marketplace, at the train station, even at the riverside where they sat down the day before, everywhere... but she hadn't found him yet. She stood up from the tree's roots and sighed deeply.
Kaoru raised her hand and wiped the sweat from her brow and looked around. She was sitting on the tree where they sat down yesterday. Finding no one around, she stared at the river, disappointed.
Heaving another sigh, she turned around and began walking away from the spot, obviously confused. *Maybe he never really wanted to see me. Maybe he never meant to kiss me. Maybe he really did have amnesia. Maybe he couldn't really remember me. Maybe--*
These thoughts ran through Kaoru's head like lightning flashing across the sky. She couldn't even see where she was going nor can she look where she was headed to. Obviously preoccupied and unconscious to the real world, she did not realize she was a good distance away from the town.
"STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK, SHIT!! Haven't you learned anything over the past few weeks?!!"
Kaoru's head jerked up as she looked around, panicked. The male voice had snapped her out of her thoughts abruptly but she couldn't even determine where the voice came from. She looked around but she saw no one.
"DIE, BASTARD!!!!"
There it is. Straining her ears to listen where it came from, she followed the direction of the voice with small, hesitant steps. A few seconds later, she heard another distinct voice shout desperately, a battle shout, followed by several more battle cries. *What's happening? Must be a fight...*
Curious, she hastened her steps. As she neared the area where the voices she heard came from, she hid behind each tree she passed by, telling herself to be more cautious, especially now that she doesn't even know who she was facing and what to expect. The voices increased in volume as she closed the distance between them.
Finally, she hid behind a very big tree, leaning on it with her back on its big trunk. Raising her right hand to her chest, she felt her heart hammering inside her ribcage. *Kami-sama... give me the strength and courage...* she prayed. She inhaled deeply and gathered all the courage she could muster.
At last, she slowly peeked behind the tree. That was when she realized she was hiding behind a tree that was standing on top of a low hill and below her was a clearing with a few patches of grass peeking out from here and there. Her eyes widened at the scenario that greeted her.
Below her, there was a group of men reaching to about a hundred. These men were visually training themselves using their fists, swords and several other personal weapons. What Kaoru cannot understand was the fact that these men, these warriors, were actually taking to reality their bouts; she can see blood almost everywhere. Some where taking it easy though. They were just slashing through wooden props and some older men were instructing younger men with their kendo.
But what caught her eye was the scene at the very middle of the clearing.
A familiar figure of a man had his back on her; he was holding a sword and blood was dripping at the very end of its blade. He was facing a younger man, actually, a boy of probably sixteen years. This boy had a very scared and desperate look on his face, a look that Kaoru recognized as a look a person has before the time he knew he would die. His left hand was tightly clutching his wounded right arm where blood was gushing out furiously. He was holding an almost-broken sword.
With a loud distressed cry, he raised his sword abruptly and prepared to charge towards the older man. The boy slashed nothing but the wind for the man had evaded his slash. The boy's blade made contact with the ground and Kaoru saw his eyes widen in fear. Behind him, the familiar man was twirling his sword twice and slowly raising it over the boy's head.
"If you learn nothing, you die." The man said simply; his face was not yet visible to Kaoru. Then, he brought his sword down quickly towards the boy and cut clear through him.
Caught by shock, Kaoru heard herself scream when she saw the boy's young body being cut into half. Everybody at the clearing turned towards her direction and stared at her. The familiar man jerked towards her direction, eyes blazing with anger.
She clamped her hand over her mouth and realized what she had done. She stared at the man who had killed the boy and was even more shocked.
The face was... "Oh my God..." She muttered, shaking her head from left to right. "YOU!"
TBC
Author's notes: Uhuh, it's finished. I took a walk yesterday, a very long one, through the really airy parts of our area here at my place and I was able to think. Our dog, Clark, accompanied me and he kind of like listened to me as I told him about my ideas for this fic. Okay, so fine. He is a dog. So talking to a dog is weird but our dog, Clark, is a very loyal one. He would escort me outside the house and he would accompany me whenever I take my afternoon walks. So, okay, I told him about my ideas for this fic and I was able to organize everything though not to the very bottom but that's got to wait.
By the way, I'm sorry for the delay. I was very busy. I just hope you enjoyed this chapter; I'll try my best to update sooner. So I hope you review. Ja, minna!
lieveit1 '^-^'
