Disclaimer: RK isn't mine. Etc etc etc...

A.N. Yo! New chapter here. Nothing much, just getting the plot going again. Enjoy!

R&R pls.

Cheers.

____________________________

Secrets of the Revolution

Chapter 6

".Hideki?"

Katsura Kogoro had found out her secret.

Hideki's heart slammed into her chest. Katsura was the only person alive whom Hideki didn't want her secret known to. But due to her stupidity and lack of preparation, she had just been found out.

"Master Katsura, you startled me." Himura said smoothly, stepping up onto the porch next to Hideki and squeezing her hand, unnoticed by Katsura. Katsura looked from Himura to the girl and back again.

"I startled you?"

"Aa. I was too immersed in my conversation with this young woman to notice anything else." Himura replied. Katsura raised his eyebrows. Himura distracted by a woman to the point where he didn't notice anything aside from her? Even his wife didn't have that effect on him.

He looked down at the young girl before him. She seemed to be staring at him in shock, with some fright laced in her eyes. She had the same colour eyes as his shadow assassin and the same shaped face. He repeated his question from before.

"You look a little familiar. Are you related to Hideki?" Katsura asked again. Hideki blinked, hearing his words for the second time and relief washed over her. He didn't know. She bowed her head slightly, looking down and acting as demurely as she could, considering it was her first time. She had seen geisha's before, acting quiet and womanly. Trying everything in her power, Hideki managed to put on the façade of being a demure woman.

"I'm his sister, Katsura-san." Hideki said, spitting out the first family relationship she could think of. Katsura smiled down at the pretty girl. She was very polite. Thoughts entered Katsura's head immediately as he looked down at the girl.

'She could very well be perfect' he thought.

"Master Katsura, may I present Hideki Sakura." Himura said. Hideki bowed slightly, and Katsura mirrored her bow.

"It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Hideki-san." Hideki smiled slightly and blushed. The smile was genuine, she was trying not to laugh. The blush was fake, just to appease Katsura and make him believe she was a dainty flower, just like her namesake.

"Is there something you needed to talk to me about?" Himura asked Katsura.

"Yes, there is. I need to speak to you and Hideki. Is he doing better?"

"I'm afraid not. My brother sustained serious injury during that battle and his stubbornness forced me to give him a sedative." Hideki replied quietly. "Its rather uncomfortable out here, wouldn't you rather speak in the sitting room?"

Himura nodded and gestured for Katsura to lead the way. Always a gentleman, Katsura stepped aside, giving room for Hideki to pass and lead the two men to the sitting room. Hideki blinked, unsure of why Katsura had moved.

'He should go first, we are his employees after all and we should follow him' she thought.

Himura placed his hand on the small of Hideki's back and gently pushed her forward. Realization dawned on her as she remembered who she was supposed to be. She stepped lightly past Katsura and led the two men to the sitting room.

She opened the door and walked in; setting out two pillows for them to sit on, and then exited the room, motioning them to enter. Katsura went first while Himura paused long enough to whisper to her to get some tea. Hideki glared at him, her eyes quickly turning fierce. He smiled at her, squeezed her hand in reassurance and entered the room. Hideki closed the door behind them.

Himura knew she was feeling resentful and angry at the moment. He had witnessed first hand the intelligence she possessed inside her head and now their slip up of not sensing Katsura had reduced the fierce manslayer to a.. well.. a geisha; a woman who waits on the men who enter her abode. Himura suppressed a smile at that thought. Hideki clad in a luxurious kimono, her face painted white with red lips and darkened eyes. The thought could make him laugh out loud if he had been alone. But the thought of a geisha's other tasks of bringing comfort to men caused him to frown. Hideki wasn't that sort of woman. And a geisha was the crux of the problem that led to Hideki's current predicament. If that geisha hadn't been a spy, Hideki never would have gotten hurt.

"Himura, how is Hideki?" Katsura asked. Himura resisted the urge to roll his eyes. As smart and as powerful a man Katsura was, his view on women was one sided.

"He is just as Sakura-dono said. He refused to remain at rest, so she gave him some sedatives to help him sleep."

Hideki had approached the closed door at that moment, enough time to hear Himura refer to her as 'Sakura-dono'. She had been pretty pissed earlier for having to act as a doting woman because of her own mishap, but hearing the honorific brightened her mood. 'Miss Sakura' HA! Hideki was a lot of things, and none of them ever constituted the use of 'dono' while addressing her. She knelt down next to the door and rapped gently on the wood.

"Enter." She heard Katsura's voice. For the first time in her life she wanted to throttle Katsura for treating her like.. well. a woman. Silently letting out a curse, she slid the door open, moved into the room and closed the door behind her. She placed some sponge cake between the two men, and tea before them both. She made the motion to leave, but Katsura's voice stopped her.

"Hideki-san, please, I'd like you to hear this too, actually I'd like you to be involved." Katsura said. Hideki froze, so did Himura. Katsura wanted a woman involved in something?

"H-Hai, Katsura-san." She said nervously. She seated herself next to Himura and they both waited for Katsura to start talking.

"First, I'd like to inform you both that the woman responsible for Hideki's current situation has been taken care of." Katsura started. Hideki felt the slight change in Himura's ki. They both felt it. Relief. "Second, we have come up with a plan for retaliation."

"Retaliation?" Himura asked. Katsura nodded.

"We don't usually strike back against attacks, but this recent one was premeditated and planned. We don't know if we have any more spies in our midst; whether it is a geisha or a samurai." Himura tensed at the mention of the samurai spy. Tomoe ran through his head, and the man who he had considered a comrade but who actually turned out to be a spy. Trusting others hadn't been easy since then, but Hideki had managed to break through his barriers.

Sensing his sudden discomfort at the mention of spies, Hideki stole a sidelong glance at Himura, his hands were fisted on his lap, and his knuckles were white. Actually thankful for her womanly appearance, she reached out and took one of Himura's hands in her own.

"It's alright, Himura-san." Hideki said softly. Himura looked at the girl seated next to him then down to his hand that was clasped in hers. Hideki was trying to calm him down; she sensed his discomfort and reached out to help. Katsura watched the pair, utterly shocked that the girl had become that close to the Battousai. If she could gain the trust of the Battousai, then she was defiantly the right woman for the job he had in mind. Granted, he needed her to agree to it, as well as her brother.

Himura took a deep breath, calmed his nerves, and then looked up at Katsura. He gripped Hideki's hand in his own, refusing to let go. Katsura then thought that convincing Himura would be another obstacle.

"My plan is a simple one. I want to plant a spy of our own in amongst the Shinsengumi, someone who wouldn't get a second glance and who we could trust enough to work with." Katsura said. Himura frowned; a nagging voice in the back of his head told him he wouldn't like the plan at all. Katsura watched the Hitokiri, and then glanced over at the girl. His face was cool and calculating, as it usually was. Hers was impassive, unreadable.

"That sounds like a good plan, Katsura-san. Having someone on the inside of your enemy may very well help in winning this revolution." Hideki said quietly.

Himura continued to watch Katsura, something still bothered him.

'Someone who wouldn't get a second glance' echoed through his head.

Katsura continued to look at Hideki as she spoke to him.

'Second glance...' Himura's eyes widened. Katsura's plan was a good one, however...

"Absolutely not." Himura said quietly, but firmly. Katsura and Hideki looked at him, Himura's grip on Hideki's hand tightened.

Something had bothered Himura immensely. Hideki couldn't place her finger on it, but his sudden jump in ki and his increased grip on her hand raised some questions. Then it dawned on her. Someone who wouldn't get a second glance. Her eyes widened. The plan was a good one, and the idea for the spy was a better one. Use another woman! Of course! Use their tactics against them! Then Himura's words and increased pressure on her hand sent a jolt through her as her thoughts synced with the two men. Use another woman, one who they could trust with such a task. Katsura looked at Hideki again.

Use her.

"Himura, I hadn't thought of who it would be, but having met her, she would be perfect! She has your trust, and of course the trust of her brother, she could easily slip into an inn and work as a hired hand while a Shinsengumi squad resides there. She could wait on them, and listen to any crucial conversations, namely the private ones." Katsura explained. He never thought his idea would take form, but after seeing this girl, he knew it would work.

He felt horrible about it though. The thought of placing this innocent girl into the clutches of the Shinsengumi terrified him. She was so young! He hated himself for asking her such a request; then again, he had hated himself for that last four years. He blamed himself for the current situations of Hideki and Himura, and it tore at him even more now that he met Hideki's sister. He had ripped the soul out of this girl's brother, and now he was making this astronomical request of her. He knew she would refuse. But he still had to ask.

"Absolutely not. I won't allow Sakura-dono to place her life on the line and be a spy for us Imperialists. She isn't a member of the Ishinshishi! Her brother would have my head if I allowed this." Himura said fiercely. He meant to protect Sakura at all costs. He wasn't about to let her walk head long into a pack of Shinsengumi. Not after seeing the katana blade protruding from her back four nights ago. The brother comment was also ringing true in his head.

"I'll do it." Hideki said softly.

"No!" Himura exclaimed looking at her.

"Himura-san, you can't stop me. I want to help. I hate being a burden to you and my brother. Let me earn my keep. I want peace to be restored to Japan, and if my being a spy can accelerate the conclusion of this war, then I want to be a spy." She said firmly. She then turned to Katsura. "I would be honoured to help you Katsura-san."

"Hideki-san, I'm so sorry for making this request. And I'm truly sorry for what I have done to your brother. Please forgive me. I thank you for your agreement to my request. With your help we could very well end this war sooner than planned." Katsura said. It was the first thing that Himura actually liked hearing from the man since he arrived. An end to the war, the thought seemed like a pipedream, something that would never come true. But now he could actually feel it. The end was in fact near.

Himura let out a soft sigh, knowing full well that arguing with Hideki was absolutely pointless. She was almost as stubborn as he was! He knew what she would and wouldn't back down from, and this opportunity was something she wouldn't walk away from. He gently squeezed her hand, relaying to her his reluctant agreement. She squeezed back, showing her silent thanks.

"Alright Master Katsura, she'll help you. However, I want to be her contact and I want to be the one who decides when she's had enough." Himura said.

"You want full control of this plan." Katsura stated simply.

"As long as she's involved, yes, full control."

"Alright, you got it." Katsura said. Katsura was a smart man; he knew that arguing with Battousai about something like this would be fatal. He would basically hand the devil his soul on a silver platter. "But what will Hideki say? I doubt very much he'll like hearing I've recruited his sister."

"Just leave Hideki to me, Master Katsura." Himura said. Katsura nodded. He sensed his welcome was gone and that Himura had some strong words to say to Sakura. He rose to his feet, bid his farewell and saw himself out the door, knowing full well that if Sakura wanted to show him out, she wouldn't be able to. Not with the angry look in Battousai's eyes growing stronger with each passing moment.

Himura sat in silence, his hands in fists on his lap. He had released Hideki's hand when Katsura had stood to leave. He was boiling with rage. That she had foolhardily plunged head first into the 'spy' plan had caused him unprecedented anger. Foolish girl!

"I can't believe you agreed to his request Sakura."

"I can't believe you're angry with me, Himura." She said, emphasizing the 'Himura' to let him know she wasn't sweet Sakura at that moment. "If the same opportunity presented itself to you, you would have done the same thing!"

"You're still badly injured! You can't go off on another mission! You'll get hurt!"

"Oh shut up Himura, you shouldn't be worried about me; you should be worried about THEM! I have a temper that rivals yours, and when I get angry, I show my anger with a sword. Or have you forgotten the simple fact that I'm a Hitokiri. I kill people. I've killed more people than you have I'm sure. My face right now may look sweet and innocent, but you can smell me! I reek of blood! I always have!" Hideki exclaimed, standing up and yelling down at the Battousai. She was the only human alive who had the nerve to yell at Battousai the manslayer. Her yelling caused him to lose his temper.

"I haven't forgotten that you're a manslayer! I also haven't forgotten that you're the best swordsman I've ever met! I can't forget that you've taken lives just because you DO reek of blood, just like me! And don't you think that the Shinsengumi will know that too? If I can smell it off you, then they sure as hell can too. What if you end up in the same inn as squad one or squad three? We both know Okita and Saitou are the leaders of those squads and they're both very good samurai. They would be able to pick you out a mile away!" he shouted back, standing up to meet her eye to eye.

"HA! Pick me out a mile away! I'll believe that when I see it! You couldn't tell, and I lived with you for 3 weeks!"

"Well, smelling blood from a man and smelling blood from a woman are two different things! Make no wonder I didn't know! A man smelling of blood this period of war isn't an unusual thing! But have you ever met a woman who smelled of blood? I sure as hell haven't. Well, at least until I met you!" he retorted.

"Kami-sama Himura! You're impossible! They won't know! I'll blend in! I'll be a maid and a cook at an inn with a group of women! They'll attribute the smell of blood to themselves before they acknowledge the fact that women even EXIST!"

"HA! Blend in. I'm sure you'll blend in quite easily! Now tell me Sakura- dono, how the hell do you put on a kimono? Tie an obi? Style your hair? Kami-sama, you'll probably ask me to do it for you!"

At that Hideki's anger disappeared and she burst into laughter. Himura wasn't long in joining her. The mental image of Battousai the manslayer tying an obi and styling a woman's hair was hilarious. Both manslayers continued laughing at the thought, glad to have the fight over with. Their laughter died down and Himura stared into Hideki's eyes.

"I know I can't talk you out of this, but please promise me you'll be careful. I mean it, I don't want to lose you." He said softly. Hideki smiled at him.

"Can I ask you a favour?"

"Anything, nee-san, as long as it isn't help in tying an obi." He grinned. Hideki found herself horrified at what she was about to say. Stamping on the last shred of dignity she possessed, she opened her mouth to say the words she had never wanted to say in her whole life and yet, found herself in the position where she needed to say them.

"I need a kimono."

-----------------------------------

Himura went out to Kyoto to pick up a kimono for Hideki. He still wouldn't allow her to do anything strenuous, which included walking. She had to be recovered by the time she went and participated in this horrible plan. The thought of sending her do to this was still grating on his nerves, but all he could do was bite his tongue and protect her as best he could.

They had agreed on nightly meetings. Once the final chores of the day were completed she would take a walk as part of a ritual to make her sleepy. Himura would wait for her and she would give any information she could. The meetings weren't just for piece of mind though, Himura wanted to see her at least once a day, just to make sure she was okay. The argument they had about the meetings was a doozie. But Hideki had relented, Himura was a stubborn man and VERY over protective. Arguing with him over something he had firmly believed in was like arguing with a wall, it wouldn't relent, unless you use some form of violence to pound it. But Hideki couldn't risk tearing her wound open. She instead of trying to pummel him to submission, she relented and agreed to nightly meetings.

Himura was fixing something for them to eat as they waited for Katsura. Three days had passed since Hideki had agreed to the plan. In those three days Katsura had found an inn that was looking for woman to work and managed to get Hideki a job there. Himura and Hideki, meanwhile, worked together to make her as refined as possible. Himura remembered his six months of marriage to know what a woman did, and Hideki recalled all the girls who worked at the inn she had resided in during the revolution. By the end, they felt she was as ready as she was going to get. So Himura had begun to fix lunch, and Hideki had gone to her room to try and put the new kimono on.

Himura chopped some more vegetables to put in the miso soup when he felt Hideki enter the room. "Lunch is almost ready." He said as he glanced over his shoulder. He froze, and then turned around fully to stare at Hideki. The knife he held in his hand clattered to the floor as he looked at the young woman before him.

She was beautiful. Her hair was left down loose behind her back, the simple blue kimono and light blue obi brought out the colour of her eyes perfectly. There was a small decorative pattern on the kimono material, sakura blossoms. When Himura had picked the material, he thought it would serve her best since he had named her Sakura, but now looking at her, he regretted ever allowing her to do this. The kimono was too restrictive, Hideki would never be able to protect herself if or when the time called for it.

"You are not doing this." He heard himself say as he bent over to pick up the knife. Hideki rolled her eyes.

"You're not stopping me."

"You care to place a bet on that? I'll tie you up and lock you in a cupboard if you think for one minute I'm going to let you leave this place looking like that." Himura said roughly as he turned back towards the forgotten vegetables. Hideki felt self conscious all of the sudden, a brand new emotion for her since she had always been a confident person. But now, dressed as a woman and hearing a man say she wasn't going anywhere looking the way she was, she felt self conscious for a minute. It rapidly turned into anger and she could feel another argument brewing. They seemed to argue a lot since Katsura had left three days ago.

"And what the hell is that supposed to mean? What's wrong with how I look?" Hideki asked her voice on a steady rise as she baited him to continue the fight.

"There's nothing wrong, you're just not going out like that!"

"You can't stop me Himura, remember who you're talking to? The only person around who can fight Battousai to a draw. You're Battousai! I can beat you senseless, and I have on several occasions! If need be, I'll do it again!" Hideki yelled. Himura felt it was time to teach her how useless she was at that moment.

Dropping the knife he turned around and employing his godlike speed, he crossed the room and grabbed Hideki's arms, pinning her to the wall. Hideki saw him move and tried to side step him, but found she couldn't get the necessary movement in her legs to avoid him. She found herself pinned by Battousai's strong hands on her upper arms and his angry amber eyes glaring at her. She didn't flinch, she didn't bat an eye. She wasn't afraid of Battousai, but what she was afraid of was the fact that she had seen him move, knew she could avoid him, but couldn't because of the kimono she wore.

"How are you going to fight me when I have you pinned to a wall and your legs are confined by that goddamn kimono?" he asked quietly, menacingly. "How are you supposed to protect yourself, Sakura?"

She knew what he was getting at. What if she was attacked while working at the inn? What if some Shinsengumi samurai decided to have a little taste of the pretty girls? How would she protect herself when she couldn't move? The answer was simple. She reached up and took hold of Himura's gi by his waist, exactly where his swords would be if he were wearing them. He felt her tug on his gi and looked down to where her hand was.

"I'm a manslayer." She said softly. The action, coupled with the words finally penetrated Himura's stubbornness. Her point was simple. She was the only woman who would be able to walk into that inn and take care of herself. She was a manslayer first and foremost and that ability meant that she could easily take care of herself, even if she was confined in a kimono. She was the only person fit for this task. And only Himura knew how well she fit into the task. He was the only one who would know for sure that she would be alright. Himura closed his eyes and sighed. There was only one last concern of his before he totally relented and dropped all issues.

"Hideki, you're a beautiful woman... and not all men are nice." Himura said. She knew his point. She wouldn't go unnoticed. Women never go unnoticed by men, especially men who are out looking for sex. Those types will do whatever it takes to get a woman they desire. That includes rape.

"Look at me Kenshin." Hideki said, purposefully using his first name. Kenshin opened amethyst eyes and looked at the woman before him, still pinned to the wall by his hands. "What do you see before you?"

"A beautiful woman." Kenshin repeated. Hideki leaned forward and pressed her forehead to Kenshin's.

"And what do you smell?"

"Blood." He replied. Hideki reached up and put her arms around Kenshin's neck, drawing him closer and hugging him. He immediately returned the hug as his arms slipped behind her back and he held her close.

"I'll be fine. You know I can take care of myself. I'm not as weak as my present appearance suggests." She said quietly into his ear. Kenshin's only reply was to hug her tighter. It was enough of a response, he finally relented, and wouldn't say anything more about her going.

Hideki's task was important.

She could take care of herself.

'Kami-sama, please don't let her get hurt. She's all I've got.' Kenshin prayed inwardly as he held her close.

__________________________

A.N. Okay, not much of a cliffhanger, but you know... whatever.

Family is gone, final exams are over (YAY!) writing becomes so much easier.

R&R!