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
Chapter Eight
*************
The sound of footsteps alerted him to the newcomer. He hid in the shadows waiting. A small man ran by when all of a sudden hands reached out and grabbed him. He gave a yelp that died in his throat.
"Don't turn. Tell what you know?"
The small man did as he was told. "He was in Izu but he's gone now. There were a lot of casualties but it's hard to say if it was the Ishin Shishi or 'your friend' who did all the killing. That's all I know so far." There was a long silence, which was followed by a cloud of smoke. The small man saw a pouch tossed out in front of him but stayed still for a moment hoping the other man had left already. He bent over slowly picked up the couch and left without turning back. He hated that he had to snitch but if he ever stopped he'd starve to death. With a shake of his head he ran back the same way he came.
*************
Kaoru sat up despite the pain in her side. It hurt less than it had the day before. She let out a small yawn as she stretched. She looked around the room a little disappointed that she was alone. She rose a little unsteady at first but willed herself to remain upright. The first thing she did was close the window. It was way too cold. She changed her clothing and pulled her hair up. 'Time to find you,' she thought. She opened the door and nearly shrieked.
"You scared me child." The landlady chided.
Kaoru whose hand had flown to her heart only nodded.
"Where are you going?"
"I was hoping to find the bathhouse and then Kenshin." Kaoru spoke kindly to the woman.
"He's in a meeting. But I can show you to the bathhouse."
Kaoru nodded enthusiastically. "I'll just get my things." She walked back into the room and came back out quickly. "Lead the way," she chirped in.
The landlady smiled at her and they walked down to the bathhouse talking amiably to each other.
Kaoru felt better after the steaming hot bath. She finished brushing her hair and walked out of the bathhouse. It was time she found him so they could talk. She walked down a couple of halls and then upstairs. She counted the doors and after five on the left. She found her room. She left the things from her bath and went down to where she thought he might be. She slid door open and saw him sitting down. "Kenshin," She called with a light tone. "I was worried . . . ." She said walking the rest of the way in. Her words trailed off as she came. There were a lot of men in the room not just Kenshin. They'd been discussing something before she came in. Her mouth opened to say something else when some one started pushing her out.
"Stop."
The sound resonated in the quiet room. The command was obeyed immediately. The man who had been pushing her out let her go and backed away slowly.
Kaoru had kept her eyes on him but still she missed when he stood up. He walked until he was a breath away from her. "What is it?" He asked her, though the tone he used with her was much different then the one he'd used when he'd called the other man off. Her thoughts trailed back to him. He was too close to think. And though she wanted to take a step back she just couldn't find it in her. So her mouth opened and she spoke the first thing that came to mind. "I missed you."
Her eyes widened at what she'd said. She felt the color rush to her face. Of all the things to say, she hadn't thought. She could see amusement in his eyes and it sparked anger deep within her heart.
He walked closer to her and took her by the hand as he led her out to the hall. Outside the door he stepped off to the left and wheeled around to face her. "You shouldn't be up. You're ill." He spoke down to her. She opened her mouth to protest but he cut her short. He kissed her until he left her breathless. "Wait for me upstairs." He said giving her a little push in the direction of the stairs. She was blushing like mad. She nodded her head at him and made her way up the stairs.
He watched her until he could see her no more and nodded at the landlady who'd stopped what she was doing in order to watch. He closed the door with a click as he came back into the room. He remained silent as he made his way back to his seat. His expression only changed when he glared at the man who'd touched Kaoru.
The man kept his eyes downcast even as chill set into his bones. Some of the other men glanced at each other but said nothing. They'd all been interested in seeing the battoussai's woman. 'A real beauty,' the landlady had said.
*************
Kaoru sat in her room a little dazed. She looked out the window and realized where she was. She'd go visit Misao. It'd been a whole year since she'd seen her. The last time she'd received a letter was about three maybe four months ago.
She'd ask him for money so she could buy herself a nice kimono. She'd have to visit the Aoiya soon before the weather got worse. Another yawn escaped her. She looked at her futon longingly; she'd already put it away. She shook her head but she found she had very little energy. Ah. I haven't eaten she thought. She got up with a bit of trouble and left the room.
This time she let out a yelp.
"Child, you have got to stop doing that. I almost dropped your food."
Kaoru let out a shaky breath and moved aside for the older women. "I was just coming to get something to eat."
"Himura told me to bring you something to eat. I'm sorry it took me so long." She smiled apologetically.
Kaoru gave her a large smile. "It's alright." She said as she sat down. The older woman served her and then rose to leave. "Aren't you going to stay?" Kaoru asked.
"I'm sorry but there are so many guests, I just can't."
Kaoru nodded at the lady and began to eat.
*************
The battoussai didn't like the Shinsegumi. He didn't trust them. How Yamagata could he had no idea. Still he was glad they would all stay in Osaka. He had no wish to encounter any of them.
"Himura a word."
Yamagata's voice stopped him as he reached the first step on the stairs. The battoussai nodded and followed him to his room.
"There is something that I have been meaning to ask you it's about the Shinsegumi." Yamagata paused at the flicker of amber in the depths of blue/violet eyes. "You don't trust them?"
"No." but that was all he said.
"Come now Himura we are old friends please talk freely."
"I don't see how you can trust them so when we're in the same situation as before."
Yamagata stared at his old friend for a while. "You think that the Shinsegumi might try and take advantage of the situation to restore the power of the Shogunate bakufu?" Hmm, he trusted the Shinsegumi but to a certain point. Even though it had been years since the Bakumatsu he still couldn't get rid of the feeling of mistrust when he was around them. Still when he addressed one of their members he spoke to them with nothing more then the outmost respect. "I will keep my eyes and ears open Himura."
The battoussai nodded.
"All right as for what I wanted to discuss with you. As I said in the meeting the will stay over in Osaka while you and others stay here. What I need for you to do is . . . . ."
**************
The battoussai made his way upstairs back to his room. Yamagata had said a 'word' but it'd been nearly half an hour. He stood at the door and briefly wondered if he should knock or just step in. He listened for any sign of what she might be doing but didn't hear anything. He slid the door open, careful not to make any sound. A smile come to his face as he stepped inside.
Kaoru's hair fell over her like a dark veil. Her hair was down on her sides and over her eyes. She brushed out the knots carefully. She'd been trying things with her hair and now she couldn't run her hand through it without it getting stuck. She pulled on a particular section so hard she winced. Finally though she was able to run the brush all the way around. With a sniffle she tossed back her long bangs. A startle gasp escaped her throat.
"Kenshin."
He peered at her with an ardent expression. He'd been watching her for the last couple of minutes as she brushed her hair. Her face was a bit flushed from having her head bowed for so long. He reached for her face without thought. There was just something about her face. He a caressed a cheek with his thumb. 'Always so soft,' he thought.
Kaoru felt the beating of her heart speed up until it skipped a beat and her eyes closed as he leaned down to kiss her.
Her eyes opened slowly when they withdrew. There had been something she had wanted to ask but she couldn't remember what it was. Her eyes closed as he leaned in again.
*************
The group stands at about two hundred men. Same as before, it's five captains are from the same families. Osaka suffers death on both sides. The Shinsegumi are active. Rumors of the battoussai have emerged. It's peaked interest on both sides. We are scheduled to intercede in four days when they come through our town.
-Toshio
Okina finished reading the letter to his Okashira. He folded it back up and placed it on the large desk that took up his office.
"Shiro saw him arrive." Shinomori Aoshi's spoke calmly to the older man.
"Yes he told me. He said Himura was with the Kamiya girl. He was hiding his battle ki which was different than when they were last here." Okina said as he sat in front of Aoshi.
Aoshi picked up his pocket watch, last years birthday present from Misao. It was almost twelve, he noted. Messages had been sent back and forth between all member of the Oniwa-banshuu each clan keeping the other informed of what was happening. Perhaps the report of Izu was correct. If it were then the problem with the Mimawari-gumi would not last too long. He put the watch away into his breast pocket and rose. Both men walked down the hall to have their lunch.
"Aoshi-sama." Her breathless voice reached his ears. He turned his head to look at her. She flashed him a large smile before she continued. "Shiro told me." Aoshi's eyes narrowed in Shiro's direction, which was overlooked by Misao. "He saw Himura and Kaoru."
Aoshi nodded.
She almost bounced at the affirmation. "When do you think they will stop by?" She looked at him with her hands still clasped close to her heart. 'Still so innocent, he thought.'
"Soon." He responded.
Misao watched him walk the rest of the way into the room. It had only been a couple of days since they'd reinstated him as okashira thought to be honest the job and title had always been his. Nonetheless he was already acting in the manner she once remembered him. A wistful smile replaced the over enthusiastic once she'd had a moment ago. Maybe things would work out for them after all.
*************
Kaoru laid on her side, tucked in under his arm fast asleep. He never thought he could spend a whole day just laying around. The life he'd led up until twelve days ago had been filled with nothing but darkness. But now. To say things were different was an understatement. He'd lived a whole other lifetime while he slept. Because he fell asleep in Kyoto after his last assignment only to wake up in Tokyo more than a decade later. It was strange.
He shook his head not wanting to think about such things, not now. He glanced out the window noticing night was setting in. He'd have to go to work soon. Patrolling was not something he liked doing but that's what he'd have to do tonight. He untangled himself from her warm limbs and stood up. He dressed and tied his hair back up. He lit a candle in a corner of the room so that there was some light. 'She might get scared if it's too dark,' he thought. He kneeled by her side tucking the blanket around her so she wouldn't get cold. He gave her a chaste kiss before he stood up to leave. The problem was it was hard to give her just one, even when she was asleep. Giving into the urge he kissed her one more time and left the room quickly.
He closed the door and made his way down the stairs. He'd have to eat before heading out. He came into the dining room where all the voices hushed as he entered the room. He strode in and sat in his usual seat. This time there were no government officials just their guards and other samurai who'd been called in. He ate his meal and left the room while the others were still eating. He didn't like being with other people.
Kyoto was the same at night. It was only during the day things looked different. He walked down the familiar street. He had to walk to Kawaramachi Sanjo and then head back. He briefly wondered if the Ikeda house still stood. Either way he'd find out.
The shadows concealed his form as he walked along. He'd put on his gloves again. His hands had felt odd in Izu when he'd been force to kill those men. He hadn't been wearing them then. Perhaps the feeling had stemmed from the fact that he'd used a sword other than his own. Either way this new pair would have to do. The katana much like his gloves looked and felt very much like old ones. He glanced down the street feeling something. There was no noise. It was too silent. He looked at the Ikeda house, the lights had been blown out. It was obvious this point was no longer under their vigilance. He crept through the alley wanting to avoid the shrine. It was too perfect for an ambush.
He paused mid step. Someone was blocking the other end. His hand gripped the hilt of the katana. He ran and with one stroke the other man flew back into a wall. A deep gash from one side of the shoulder and ended on his hipbone was clearly visible. The battoussai had killed him before the other had the chance to draw his sword. He slashed the air to get the blood off. His nerves had steeled the moment he'd seen the shadow of the man. He looked around but there was no one else. This smelled like a trap to him. If they were expecting him they wouldn't have sent just one man. He made his get away in a different direction than the way of his home. He was not going to lead them anywhere other than to their graves.
*************
Yamagata looked out his window. It was almost midnight and Himura had not yet returned. He heard a slow pitter patter alerting him to the coming rain. A couple of days away from the pressure of Yokohama. That's what he'd told himself to get out of his office. But the pressure was worse here. Just waiting for the Mimawari-gumi to attack.
He had a pretty good idea of who their leader was. He would not act until he was sure though. If he was right and it was who he thought then things would only get harder because this man would make his forces fight to the last man.
With a heavy sigh he turned away from the window and went back to his futon. He really needed sleep. He awaited word from the Shinsegumi in Osaka. Their letter was due to come tomorrow. After that he'd have to make a critical decision. Go to them, wait them out or have them come here. He shook his head and blew out his candle. Things were only going to get worse before they got better.
*************
The battoussai stood with the river behind him. Lights from the other side drifted down lighting the water. Clouds shadow the moon and in that moment he lashed out. He gripped the hilt tightly. The basic battou jutsu, a move engrained to his memory like the fact that he had two hands. He slashed the first man across the chest leapt and cut the second one down through the back as he came down. Using the same speed and the momentum he gripped the hilt with both hands and with one thrust he finished the last one. With his back to the bodies he swiped the air to get the blood off.
He turned back and ran through the woods. In his effort to mislead his opponents he'd gone out of the way. It was nowhere near sunrise still it was along way to go before he'd reach home.
He ran until he reached a familiar road. His trot eased to a slower pace. He made sure no one had followed him. His pace grew hurried once again when he saw the gates. He knocked and the same small window opened. The same man from before recognized him and opened the door.
The battoussai stepped through the door and headed for the bathhouse. He washed his hands, face and neck before stepping out. He took off his michiyuki and left it in the pile of dirty clothes the landlady's housekeepers kept out by the water basin. They would wash it tomorrow.
He felt tired. He went through a couple of halls and then up the stairs. Five doors later he found his room. He slid the door open quietly but he might have well slammed it opened.
"Where in have you been?"
He came into the room quietly taking off his daisho and setting next to the bed. Ignoring her presence he began to change his clothes.
Kaoru covered her eyes with her right hand but it didn't do much to cover her scowl.
"Himura Kenshin." She hissed. "You answer me when I speak to you." After a moment the rustling of clothes stopped and she moved her hand so she could see him. "Kenshin."
"Kaoru." The sound of his voice sent chills down her arms. She ignored the sensation, she was too angry.
"What was so important that you felt the need to leave in the middle of the night?" She asked in a very angry tone. "What was so important?"
"The Meiji Ishin." He said getting into her bed. She would soon follow. He covered his eyes with his arm and waited for her.
"The Meiji Ishin? What kind of answer is that? Kenshin." She said his name with a warning tone. Something he felt he recognized, in spite of that he didn't move.
"Kenshin." She said crawling closer. She forcefully moved his hand away from his face. "I am talking to you." She said. With his arm gone she could peer down at him. Her mouth opened in a silent gasp when she saw twin pools of amber starring back at her. She made to move but his arms were quicker. They held her by the waist over his body. Her face began to burn first in embarrassment and then in anger. She gripped his shoulders hard as she tried to get away. When she couldn't she tried to slap him. He moved both of her hands off his chest and she fell over him. A smile curved his lips. "Why don't we finish what we started today?" He coaxed.
She kept her cheek firmly pressed on his chest. "Where did you go?" She asked stubbornly.
He held her for a moment longer before he let her hands go. His hands went back to her waist so she that wouldn't flee plus keeping her this close to him would ensure less physical injury to his person. "Can't this wait till tomorrow."
She shook her head and muffled 'no.' He really wasn't in the mood for telling her a story. He wanted to rest or if not he wanted . . . .
"Kenshin."
With a deep sigh, something he noted was not at all like him he told her an edited version of events.
"There is a group called the Mimawari-gumi the Ishin have fought them before. They are a group as fierce as the Shinsegumi but they lacked skill. At least in my time. It seems they have reemerged and have set certain things in motions. They have burned several cities while we were gone. They have also started to assassinate high-ranking officials from the government. They want a war. The Shinsegumi are holding some of them back in Osaka. Information leads us to believe Kyoto is next." He'd been rubbing her lower back in a smoothing motion as he told her the events.
"So the people from Izu?"
"Mimawari-gumi." He responded to her question.
"Why did they . . . want . . .?"
"To kill me. Probably so I wouldn't get involved." He answered her.
Her head was filled with so many thoughts so many questions. "You will then . . . . I mean you are right?" She asked as she moved her mouth so her voice wasn't muffled anymore.
"I am." He confirmed.
She didn't want him to get involved she wanted to take him away from all this. She wanted to keep him safe both physically and mentally. "Are they really that dangerous?"
"More than Yamagata thought. I think he fears they might succeed." He said monotonously.
Despite wanting to protect him she knew how important the Hitokiri Battoussai had been during the Bakumatsu. He'd turned the tide for the Ishin Shishi. Being in the same situation again and this being the hitokiri battoussai. Of course he'd help. He'd do for them what he once did. It was like a bad nightmare. She realized that even if she hadn't made the wish. These events would have still happened and it might have been harder for him because the rurouni would rather get hurt himself rather than hurt others. Still, all the deaths would have broken down the rurouni and forced the battoussai out in a much worse way. She gave a deep sigh. This was just too much.
"Let's sleep. I'll answer the rest of you questions tomorrow." He said to her as he covered them with the blankets.
Kaoru stayed in the same position for a long time. 'The candle was dying out,' she mused. A thought occurred to her then. It made her blood run cold. But what if . . . What if she died? She'd leave the same scar on him as Tomoe. No, maybe not that big. Not unless he accidentally killed her. That worried her more than anything else did. What would happen to him id he was left all alone? She felt her eyes get watery. She didn't want to leave him all alone. The guilt and the pain he'd feel. She moved closer to his neck so she could hide her face there. A gust of wind blew the candle out leaving the room pitch black. She nuzzled his neck, seeking comfort.
"Kaoru."
She realized he was still awake. "Kenshin." She breathed into his ear. The pitter-patter of the rain increased as the rain came down harder. She moved her mouth and kissed his cheek. She then proceeded to kiss every inch of his face. Trying to ease a nonexistent hurt. She kissed the side of his mouth and she felt his body tense. She didn't hesitate for too long she allowed herself to kiss him. The way she always imagined. No, more like the way she'd only fantasies about.
All right you guys. I hope this was enough. There were a lot of parts I kept coming back to erase and the rewriting. Finally though. You get to read what's going on. I do hope you enjoy this.
There have been no new characters introduced so you guys should be alright. A small warning, characters are OOC at certain points all through out the story.
Thank you for reading. Please remember to review.