Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic
Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original Japanese Version (c) N.Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual Works Inc. * Sony Pictures Entertainment
All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.
Honeybee
By Chiruken
Chapter 1
As the door swung shut with a bang he sighed inwardly, the noise level retreating to bearable levels. **Damn enhancements. More trouble than they're worth at times.** He was in a foul mood due, mostly, to his discomfort. He turned slowly to face the taller man, expression implacable. Shinomori, he noted, didn't look pleased at all. He stepped to the side and leaned against the wall, eyes never leaving his tight features. No, Shinomori looked pissed as hell. He felt a moment of grim amusement at this fact. He decided that the problem was that he'd encroached on the other man's territory by killing the would-be assassin. Of course, if he hadn't have been there, Kamiya Kaoru would be dead and it would've been a moot point.
"Who are you?" Shinomori Aoshi didn't like surprises and the slightly built man standing before him was the biggest surprise he'd received in some time. He'd noticed him immediately as soon as he'd taken up his post at the edge of the stage. His instincts rarely steered him wrong and they'd been screaming at him that the man leaning against the speaker pillar was dangerous. His suspicions had seemed well-founded when he'd approached him and he'd retreated into the crowd immediately. But what he'd seen moments later had stunned him. The cold efficiency he'd used in killing had been startling, but no more than the **way** he'd done it. Aoshi had clearly seen the effortless brute strength the smaller man had exerted, watching as the larger man's arm had snapped back at an awkward angle. There was something decidedly unnerving about the stranger with red hair.
"Shouldn't you be inside, Shinomori?" He asked softly, his tone devoid of inflection. He may have prevented one of the assassins sent after Kamiya Kaoru, but he knew there would be more. He had to return to the concert. He knew there would be hell to pay if his superiors discovered that he'd left his post, if even for a moment.
He hid his surprise at the way the stranger addressed him. "It seems I'm at a disadvantage. You know who I am, yet you're still shrouded in mystery. What is your purpose to being here?"
"My purpose is of no concern to you. Stay out of my way." He was losing patience with the bodyguard. He may not like his assignment, but his orders were clear. Don't let Kamiya out of his sight and stop any and all attempts on her life. He didn't know why she was so important to the organization he worked for, but to question a direct order was unthinkable.
"It is when it involves…"
"Is there a problem?" Both men turned at the sudden arrival a third man, his voice harsh in the relative silence of the alley outside the auditorium.
Aoshi blinked and stared at the newcomer's distinctive uniform. "Shinsengumi." He muttered. He felt a brief shiver of fear trace down his spine. One did not cross the elite branch of the Keishichou, the government's pet enforcers. His lip curled in distaste. The men of the Shinsengumi were not known for their fair treatment of citizens, their methods…brutal.
"Saito. What are you doing here?" He ignored Shinomori's sharp look in his direction as he stepped forward. He didn't like the Shinsengumi officer and he didn't bother trying to hide it. It would be a waste of time since Saito Hajime knew full well how he felt about him.
"I could ask you the same question, Battousai. Aren't you supposed to be inside?" He quirked an eyebrow meaningfully at the smaller man, lips curving upwards into a mocking smirk. He disliked him equally.
"Battousai?" Aoshi felt his world tilt crazily and he closed his eyes briefly, seeking a calm centering. Opening his eyes again he studied the smaller man identified as Battousai. If it were true and this actually was Battousai they were all in more danger than he'd previously counted on. This was no ordinary man. No, his name was well known amongst the underworld, often spoken in whispers for fear that he'd somehow hear what was being said. He was, simply put, the most deadly assassin currently in the employ of the Chousu organization, the group in charge of national security. **Crap. What the hell is he doing here?**
Casting a fleeting look in the taller man's direction he shrugged inwardly. His identity was bound to be discovered eventually, especially since he was dealing with the leader of the Oniwabanshu, a secret organization specializing in gathering information. Spies, he'd discovered over the years, could always be counted on to ferret out information, even if it was classified. Turning his attention back to Saito he pushed away from the wall and approached him, movements graceful with a barely leashed power. "What are you doing here?" He repeated his earlier question, allowing a faint glimmer of his irritation to show through. He didn't like repeating himself.
"Checking up on you, of course." He reached into his uniform jacket, withdrawing a package of cigarettes. The cost of obtaining contraband material was exorbitant, but he felt the satisfaction of inhaling the fragrant tobacco was well worth the trouble and price. "It seems that it was a good call on my part. What are you doing away from your post?"
"There was an attempt on Kamiya's life." He wrinkled his nose, senses assaulted by the acrid scent of the burning tobacco. He resisted the urge to cover his nose and mouth as the cloying smoke worked its way towards him.
"I hope you didn't leave too big of a mess for me to clean up. I dislike gore." He drew deeply on the cigarette, watching the assassin turned bodyguard closely.
He snorted softly, his expression revealing his disbelief. "Right." He tilted his head to the side in consideration, gaze traveling past the Shinsengumi captain to the shadows just beyond the circle of light afforded by the bright bulb above the heavy door. The next instant he snapped to attention, expression settling into impassiveness once again as another figure emerged from the darkness.
"Himura. Were your orders not clear?"
Aoshi turned his attention the newest arrival and he felt a jolt of recognition. "Kogoro Katsura." It seemed to be a night of surprises. **What is the leader of the Choushu organization doing here?**
Kogoro inclined his head towards Aoshi before scowling at the uniformed man standing at attention. "Saito. Stop baiting him. We're supposed to be collaborating, not pursuing petty arguments. Is that clear?"
"Crystalline, Sir." Saito forced his expression to remain blank though inwardly he seethed. The Shinsengumi were not under the direct orders of the Choushu, yet the other man was taking liberties the unusual situation afforded him. He would have to speak with his superiors at the Keishichou headquarters about this overstepping of boundaries.
"Himura, what are you doing away from your post?" He frowned at the smaller man. "You were injured." He stated grimly, expression hardening. "Careless of you."
"Yes, Sir." Outwardly calm, he felt a moment of uneasiness surge through him. Kogoro Katsura literally held his life in his pocket. If he were to annoy the powerful man it wouldn't go very well for him at all.
Aoshi had heard enough. He stepped forward, hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Will someone please tell me what is going on here?"
"Of course. Forgive me." Kogoro turned his attention away from his assassin and faced Shinomori. "The situation, as you've no doubt already deduced, is dire. Kamiya Kaoru, for reasons I'm not at liberty to elaborate on, has fallen under Choushu's protection. Himura…" He nodded towards the red head. "Is under orders to act as her temporary guard until the threat has passed."
"I fail to see how sending an assassin rather than a guard will benefit Kaoru." Aoshi sent an arch look in the smaller man's direction before returning his attention back to Kogoro. "When was I to be informed of this? It is my job to protect…"
"There was to be a meeting tonight, after Miss Kamiya had completed her concert." He turned his gaze back to Battousai. "I take it something occurred to tear you away from your post, Himura?
He nodded curtly. "Yes, Sir. An attempt was made on the target's life."
"I trust you took care of it?" When he received another nod he returned the gesture. "Very good. Try not to leave too many corpses in your wake, Kenshin. We don't wish to draw unnecessary attention to Choushu's interest in this matter."
"Yes, Sir."
"Good. Return to your post. You will be debriefed in the matter of the assassination attempt later." He turned his back on the smaller man dismissively. When Aoshi moved to enter the building as well he held up a staying hand. "A moment of your time, Shinomori."