Chapter 3:
Like A Mirror Revealing
Kaoru bowed before each of the three headstones and said a quiet prayer. This time, tears were in her eyes and stained her tanned cheeks, leaving salty trails to the lush carpet of grass at her feet. The gravesite was simply breathtaking. It was a break from the mundane, drab green found in the forest. It seemed a little creek used to run through the area, explaining the grass and abundance of flowers. It was the only place she saw fit to bury her loved ones. She couldn't bury them in the dojo cemetery, for it had been defaced and destroyed. Kyoto was also out of the question. Kaoru stumbled across this place quite by accident, searching for medicinal herbs Megumi had sent her to find when she was too injured to search herself. Only a few days later, Kaoru buried her here. She had never liked how Megumi always hung on Kenshin's arm. She had never liked how she seemed so sophisticated, so feminine, so much like the woman a man would really want. She was mild-tempered, was great at cooking and wonderful with children. Surely Megumi was more Kenshin's type, Kaoru always thought. More like his first love. But, he loved her, or so he said. But that didn't matter…
"I am sorry," she whispered to the towering stone, kissing its cool surface. She placed her hand at the top and used it as a brace to stand. Her right arm was bandaged tightly. Kenshin had cut her during their fight, she did not realize it until she went to her room in the inn. Her shirt was ripped, the cut so clean she didn't even feel pain. The sensation was actually warm and tingly as the blood began to gush out. She used some of the extra linen to bind her wound. She also dressed it with an herbal mixture Megumi had taught her. She had contributed so much to her…they all had.
Kaoru ears perked as she heard an unfamiliar sound coming high from the trees. It was too big to be a monkey, but the branches only rustled a small bit. The limb creaked from the weight it was holding. Whoever was following was not one for stealth. She stood tall, holding her hand over her katana, waiting for the invader to show themselves. And, without delay, a young man dropped from the trees and landed a few feet away from her. He grinned devilishly, his yellow teeth full of grime, his eyes wide. She then heard more men…one, two…five others, surrounding her. Obviously, they were a band of robbers, and they would not stand down without a fight. The men circled her, all quite scrawny and ordinary. To her, they were faceless. Victims of her blade didn't need faces. She unsheathed her sword and all the men jumped back, but only for a moment. They began to chuckle and poke at each other's side.
"Oh, this one thinks she can take us on. We all should probably teach her how to take us when we're done robbing her," one man said, his eyes scanning her body. Before he could blink his eye, he saw his hands fall to the ground. He then dropped to his knees, in shock. But, that didn't last long, for his head soon followed his hands. The other five men were silent, their racing hearts the only sound coming from their bodies. Sweat formed at their brow as they witnessed the deadly beauty execute their leader. The band trembled in fear before her and they ran away in the same direction. Kaoru smirked and gave chase to her prey. They were only able to run a short distance before feeling a hot slash across their backs, then feeling absolutely nothing. Their screams cause birds to screech and fly away, the normally peaceful woods now a bloodbath. After Kaoru completed her task, she bent down before the bodies and searched their pockets. There were carrying a decent amount of money and she pocketed it all. Dead men don't need for anything. She then returned to the gravesite and removed the leader's body from the ground she considered sacred. She had not pillaged him, only moved him to where the remains of his men were. Her clothes were now bloodied, but her pockets full. Would she always face a distraction when she came for a visit?
"You are merciless," a voice called out from the distance. Kaori turned her head to see a figure with bright, red hair approach. She narrowed her eyes and threw her hands up in the air. Would he never give up? He was like a shadow.
"You must care to share the fate of these thieves," she yelled running towards him, preparing to strike. Then she remembered her rule, never attack in anger, and stopped only several feet in front of him. He looked almost exactly the same as the day before he left. A part of her wanted to smile, wanted to be thrilled to see him. The other half wanted to rip him apart and toss his body to the crows. Why was she torn? She hated him.
"Who is buried here, I must know," Kenshin asked, lowering his head. He already knew. It was Megumi, Sanosuke and Yahiko. They were dead and Kaoru blamed him for it, he could tell. Her eyes seemed to glow at his question, a blue fire wanting to burn through his soul.
"It is none of your concern," she hissed, lunging after him, not caring anymore. Tears streamed down her face and she punched him continuously in a blind rage. How dare he ask? How dare he! Where was he when they were dying? Did he care then? Why does he care now? He has no right to care! Kaoru beat on him until her arms burned and she felt faint. She grabbed her injured arm and fell to the ground on the opposite side, sobbing. Kenshin did not strike her back, he took all of her blows. He sat up, rubbing his body. He looked down at her broken form, memories of pain and sorrow flooded her tortured mind. Kenshin frowned, fighting back tears of his own. Had he really done this to her?
"Tell me…please," he pleaded, picking her up off the ground, shaking her. Kaoru stopped crying the second Kenshin touched her. She then pushed him off and stood with her own power. Suddenly, the woman who had just slain six men seemed helpless and lost. Her eyes wandered about just as she wandered through her emotions. Why was this happening? Why did he have to come back?
"You are DEAD to me," she screamed withdrawing her bloodstained katana, lunging after Kenshin. His expression became deadly serious as he skillfully sidestepped and stuck Kaoru in the back as she stumbled past. She fell to her knee and coughed in pain, but she did not stay down long. She pivoted on her knee and swiped her leg under Kenshin's feet. He fell, but quickly righted himself, one knee on the ground, his hand on his hilt. He was more focused than their previous encounter the week before. He had asked around about Kaoru, asked what had she been doing in the towns, when she started frequenting them. Her profession truly startled him.
A mercenary.
No life was worth more than the price she demanded for her services. It didn't matter why they were being killed. She didn't care if the were guilty or innocent. She didn't care of they were of old age, or the very young. She did her job and that was that. She was only loyal to the shopkeepers and no one else. She revealed her heart to no one and her past to even fewer. He had wondered who was the person that had taken the "Hitokiri" portion of his name. He had actually heard fables about her power, her strength, her appetite for blood. He never would have imagined the woman capable of such fury was his Kaoru.
"I see you have brought your game face," Kaoru mocked, standing tall, going into proper stance. Kenshin stood as well, but did not get into a fighting stance. Kaoru cocked her brow and stood down. She ran her fingers through her raven hair, keeping her eyes on Kenshin. He looked as cold as death. Was the great Battousai disturbed by her actions? She rolled her eyes and assumed an annoyed look. She was tiring of their meetings.
"Is there a reason you are here, Himura-san? If not, I will return to my business," she said plainly, walking past him. But, a hand at her wrist stopped her. She looked at him, his cross-shaped scar staring back her. He then turned to meet her, his eyes softer this go about.
"Kaoru-dono, who is buried here? Is it who I think," he asked, using the name her used to call her. For a moment, she swore her heart sank. But, that was impossible…impossible.
"If it will cause you to leave me alone," she said, snatching her hand back, "Megumi, Sanosuke and…someone else."
Kenshin's eyes grew wide as he felt tears well within them. Megumi and Sanosuke…dead? How could it have happened?
"What about Yahiko," Kenshin nearly demanded, remembering the headstrong youth. He was so young, so stubborn. What could have become of him?
"Yahiko is alive and well, though I don't know where he is now," Kaoru stated, just waiting for him to question who was in the third grave. Kenshin just could not figure it. Who could she care about so much to bury with Sano and Megumi and he not know? His mind searched and searched, but found no answer. Then it hit him. He grew pale as he had looked at her now fuller figure. Her entire frame had matured, her hips full, her breasts ample, her waist still tiny. He then remembered their night of passion, when he gave himself to her, loved her like he had never loved before. Finally he looked into her eyes, them asking what his mouth could not fathom to form.
ANDDDDDD then there's a cliffhanger. I had written one long chapter, but what's the fun in that? I made it two, HAHA! Better get reviewing!