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 3
Aoshi stared down into the cold features of the man known as Battousai and suppressed a shiver of fear that threatened to make his hair stand on end. He'd already witnessed his cold efficiency at killing and had no doubt that if he pushed him too far he'd meet with the same fate as the man from the concert. Pushing his unease aside he stood a little straighter and forced himself to meet the other man's harsh, amber gaze. "Your presence is inevitable. I will not go against the authority of Kogoro Katsura at this time. However, it is I who is in charge of Kaoru's safety, no one else. I suggest we work together, towards a common goal." He knew he was repeating himself and it irritated him. "You will join us as additional security. Of course, you can't go by the name Battousai, so we will have to think of a suitable name…"
"My name is Himura Kenshin, not Battousai, Shinomori." He wasn't certain if he liked the other man's suggestion, but at the moment he felt he didn't have much choice in the matter. If Shinomori decided to follow through with his previous threat, he may as well start planning his funeral. "Very well. I will go along with this plan of yours."
He couldn't hide his surprise at the sudden capitulation. He'd been prepared to argue his point further until he'd managed to gain his compliance. "Well…" He cleared his throat. "Good. Himura." He tilted his head to the side, pondering the smaller man for a moment. "Just so you know, there are certain aspects to this assignment that are…unusual."
"Such as?" Despite himself, he was curious. Was that a blush he detected creeping into the other man's face? **Interesting…**
"Kaoru and Misao share a…**special** relationship." He cleared his throat again, feeling his discomfort grow at the continued unblinking stare of the assassin's unusual golden eyes.
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "You mean they're lovers. That's hardly classified information, Shinomori. It's common knowledge."
He closed his mouth with a snap. He hadn't expected the other man to know the intimate details of his charge's personal lives. He shrugged. "Then you won't object to the unusual circumstances of the already established arrangements." He turned and knocked before opening the door. His eyes fell immediately on Misao, now dressed in an old cotton bathrobe. She grinned at him before her eyes slipped passed to rest on the red head standing just behind him. Her smiled slipped as she raised an inquiring eyebrow.
"Is that Aoshi, Misao?" Kaoru stepped out of a small door to the side, rubbing a towel over her long hair, her robe tied loosely at her waist affording anyone an enticing glimpse of the curves barely hidden. She stopped and stared, towel still poised as she met the amber gaze of a slightly built young man standing just inside the door to their dressing room. For a moment, time seemed to stop as she stared into his amber eyes, feeling her heart stutter before resuming at a frantic pace. He was, she decided, the most alarming surprise she'd had for some time. "Who is that?" She asked, pointing rudely.
"Himura Kenshin. I just hired him as an additional bodyguard." Aoshi winced inwardly at her reaction. She hated surprises even more than he did. "There was an attempt on your life tonight, Kaoru." He added softly, watching as she moved closer to the other young woman. "Himura prevented it."
"I see." She murmured softly, blue eyes narrowing on the man identified as Himura Kenshin. There was something about him that was…wrong. She couldn't describe it any other way. "I assume he has the proper credentials." She snapped her gaze back to her primary bodyguard and one of her most trusted friends. If Aoshi said he was okay, then she would accept it despite her own misgivings.
He nodded, feeling a touch uncomfortable with not being completely honest with her. "Impeccable." He turned his gaze to the other young woman who had remained silent throughout the exchange to find her curious green gaze focused on the smaller man.
"Hmm…so your name is Himura." She stood slowly and crossed the room to stand in front of him, chin tilted at an almost belligerent angle. "How old are you? Where do you come from? Any family? Are you married? Where did you work before? Are you hungry?"
He blinked, once, at the barrage of questions being thrown at him. He wasn't certain how to respond. "Twenty-eight, Kyoto, no, no, Shinomori has the details and no." He decided that partial honesty was his best route to follow. There was no way he could divulge the absolute truth without revealing too much.
Misao grinned, liking him immediately even if he had evaded one of the more important questions she'd directed at him. She'd ask Aoshi later, when they were alone. "Okay." She turned to face her singing partner and friend, giving her the thumbs up. "He's okay." She bounced across the room to flop into her chair again, resting her head against the other young woman's arm. She frowned when she felt the tenseness of her muscles. "Kaoru?" She asked softly, turning her gaze up to study her tight features.
"You say you're from Kyoto." She stood slowly, pulling the tie tight around her waist, not entirely comfortable in his presence. When he nodded slowly she studied him intently. "Interesting. Were you born there?"
"No. My family is from Kyushu." He answered softly, not liking the way her blue eyes narrowed in suspicion. He hadn't realized she would be so…difficult.
"I see. I've never met anyone from that area with red hair before." Now her suspicions were fully aroused. He spoke Japanese fluently, his accent flawless, yet he had the appearance of a foreigner. **There is definitely something wrong with this picture.** She could feel the beginnings of a headache, a familiar pain she associated with the emergence of old, suppressed memories. She turned abruptly on her heel. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed." With that she strode away, gently massaging her temples as she stepped into the room she shared with Misao.
"Kaoru…" Misao stood and moved to follow, pausing to look back at the two men still standing just inside the door. She smiled apologetically and shrugged. "She's just feeling a little stressed, Himura. Don't worry about it if she seems kind of bitchy." She turned and followed the other woman into the other room, closing the door quietly behind her.
He stared at the closed door silently, wondering at Kamiya Kaoru's odd reaction. He hadn't missed the way she'd winced as if pain in or the way she'd been rubbing her temples as she left the room. She'd been fine when she'd emerged from the bathroom, so what had happened? Once again he found himself wondering what Choushu wanted with her. There didn't seem to be anything particularly special about her…even if she had the most captivating blue eyes he'd ever seen. He didn't like his reaction to her…not at all. Instinctively he knew she was trouble and his previous existence was about to be thrown into turmoil. He really hated being thrown off balance like he was feeling now after their first meeting. He had a feeling circumstances weren't about to improve any time soon. Yet again he wondered why he'd been chosen for this assignment. He was an assassin…not a bodyguard. **What is Kogoro up to?**