Disclaimer: DIE!!! *burns copyright papers* MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
*police officers appear* Oh darn it. Well fine, I don't own Kenshin.
~a little note~ there is some swearing in the chapters-just as a warning.
Through Darkness Chapter 2: Introduction to Society
Shortly before darkness fell, Kenshin found a house, abandoned as expected. He kicked the door open and laid his precious cargo on the least moth- eaten couches while he sat in an armchair across from her, half expecting it to collapse. After a while of watching her, he draped his cloak over her, and sat back down.
Thousands of thoughts ran through his head, all wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into this time. Killing was always the answer for him. The easiest and safer way he presumed rather than caring.
As the moon rose, the studied her under the soft light from a broken window. She wasn't different from any other homeless kid. Lanky, dirty, and clothed in rags. But why was she worth that much? he thought silently. Sleep was never something that overcame him so the rest of the night was his time to stare and ponder.
"2,962,503, 2,962,504," the red-haired man mumbled to himself as the sun rose. "Shit, counting actually does kill time." He casually draped an arm over the back of the chair while the other massaged his neck after breaking his seven hour gaze at the ceiling. He took a quick look at his great find before rummaging in his bag for something to eat.
"Where am I?" A timid voice came from the couch as he took a couple of sandwiches out. Kenshin immediately straightened um and stared at her. Her blue eyes grew wide in fear and he shrank back into the farthest corner of the couch, pulling the cloak tightly around her.
"Here," he tossed her a sandwich and began to unwrap his. He looked up almost finished with his while she turned hers over in her hands. "You unwrap it first." An exasperated sigh left his lips. Kenshin went back to eating. When he was done he crumpled the wrapper and shoved it into his pocket.
"Then you." he trailed off as she swallowed the last piece of bread, nothing was left in the wax paper wrapping. "Damn you are hungry." He threw the last two of his remaining sandwiches to here and watched in faint amusement as she began to eat both at once, with one in each hand.
"What are you going to do with me now?" 257 sat cross-legged looking down at the floor, her black hair hid her face.
" Wait, what the hell are you talking about?" A dirty thought passed through his mind.
"I mean when are you going to turn me in?" Kenshin relaxed slightly. She looked almost helpless; he turned, not wanting to talk. "I know I must be worth at least three million zeny by now, but I don't." She stumbled for words trying to explain her situation.
"I'm not going to turn you in." She looked up in surprise and crept softly towards him hearing an encouraging response. "I've got enough money to last, anyway. Tell me about yourself, your name?" He changed the subject, quickly.
"I don't have one, I can't remember much about anything." One of his eyebrows rose in question. "Now you have to share something."
"Kenshin Himura. Bounty hunter."
"You're the Battousai." She breathed in awe, noticing for the first time the infamous sword he carried at his waist.
"Yeah, don't make a big deal out of it." At that moment his phone began to buzz slightly. "Hey. Yeah. See you then." He hung up and put on his cape. "We're leaving."
"Why?"
"Don't ask questions," he threw her an extra long-sleeved shirt and pants along with a belt. "Wear that. It will do for now to cover your appearance as an ex-runaway. We'll get you stuff in town. And we have to call you something else besides 257. How about Kaoru?" It was the first girl name he could come up with. She nodded slowly, accepting the name she was given without complaint.
"Kaoru," she mumbled to the pile of clothes, getting used to her new identity.
"Alright Kaoru, change." Kenshin shoved her into the next room and closed the door behind her.
A few minutes later she came out wearing his clothes. "Leave those here." He indicated to the rags. "Comb," he pointed to her hair. "We're going to the subway."
"Where are we going to go?" Kaoru called looking outside the door only to see scattered houses in the same poor condition as this shelter was.
"We're going to see Sano," was Kenshin's abrupt reply.
Kaoru's fingers tightly gripped the back of her seat as she stared out of the soot-covered window in amazement. Kenshin watched her from across the train compartment. There wouldn't be anyone boarding for a while. Miles of abandoned land lay between cities that were actually habitable. For an entire thirty minutes, there was silence.
But Kenshin didn't mind that, it was something that he actually preferred. Than talking ignorance. His eyes flicked over to Kaoru a smile played upon his lips but a twang of bitterness held it back. She was naive. She didn't know about killing, only hiding from the enemy making her the perfect target; that was her life. How long had it been since he last laughed? Far too long than he could remember since he locked his soul and the seeds of hate began to grow. The thorns and brambles prevented anyone from getting too close to him. That is why he became a killer. Using those spars to his advantage, rather than to protect.
"Who is Sano?" Kaoru sat back down and gazed at him with her innocent eyes upon his dark amber ones.
"Sanosuke Sagara. A friend. That's all you need to know." He averted her eyes then continued. "You'll need friends in order to survive."
"Oh." She went back to looking out the window with her head resting on her arm, which was placed on the sill, finding nothing else to do. This time her eyes seemed to be staring at something beyond the dreary scenery as the train continued rolling. It didn't last very long, soon after, her eyes closed, succumbing to the call of sleep from the rhythmic motions of the wheels rocking against the steel tracks.
Five hours passes before the screeching breaks awaken Kaoru. Kenshin gripped her shoulder telling her to get up.
"We're getting off." He turned and unlocked the door opening it to a station. People instantly began backing away, recognizing him as the battousai. He turned, realizing that Kaoru wasn't following him. She was still in the compartment her head resting on her knees while her arms tightly wrapped around her legs.
Sighing slightly, Kenshin walked back. Her slim body couldn't conceal her trembling out of fear.
"There are people," she whispered.
"They won't hurt you if you're with me. Now let's go. We're attracting attention." He noticed the curious stares at himself actually having human contact with someone in the living world.
Nodding, she got up and clutched his cape as if her life hung onto the back garment. Slightly annoyed, he began walking towards a brightly lit bar a few blocks down.
"Akebeko," she read the neon sign as they approached the building. "This is where Sano is?"
Kenshin walked past a couple of bouncers at the entrance who seemed to boy before hem before opening the door. A flood of lights and music swept over them compared to the twilight outside. There were mostly middle aged men sitting at the bar demanding more drinks.
A young man wearing a white suit with a crimson head band tied at the back was definitely louder than the rest as he joked with a heavily built man he was playing cards with who seemed to be surrounded by stacks of shot glasses. The entire bar seemed to grow quiet as they recognized Kenshin as well as the man in white who ignored the silence and cheerfully waved for Kenshin to join them.
Kaoru surprised, almost stumbled from behind of him as Kenshin suddenly glided towards the small occupied table.
"Eh Kenshin you made it," The friendly one grinned at Kenshin then spotted Kaoru's feet beneath his cape. "You seem to have something on your back."
"Lay off Sano, she's going to be staying with us." Kenshin pulled up two chairs from a vacant table over and gestured for Kaoru to sit.
"So when did you get laid?" Sano jokingly nodded toward Kaoru who tried to make herself as small as possible.
"Actually I was wondering the same thing." This time the broad-shouldered man spoke then finished off his drink and raised his glass as a silent request for more. "About time you settled down."
"She needs to stay somewhere so shut up." Kenshin stared both of his friends down with an icy glare. "And."
"Hiko here's your drink." A brightly smiling barmaid interrupted and placed a new cup foaming with a golden liquid. "Seems you have a friend here huh? What's her name?"
"Ask Kenshin, he's the one who brought her here, Tae." Sanosuke seemed to be enjoying himself as he leaned back and watched Kenshin fire deadly looks at him.
"I'll kill you later," the red head mouthed silently before answering. "She's Kaoru. Give me the usual."
"Hey she could use a bit of freshening up yeah? Isn't she wearing the shirt you had last week?" Tae ignored the assassin's order completely and continued ranting. "Hmm, I think we have an extra outfit somewhere for her. She can't be wearing a guys shirt." The last sentence was followed by a series coughs and a few other remarks.
"Can it Tae, just get me my drink," He growled.
"Fine fine, but you should treat your woman better Himura." Tae patted Kenshin's head as if he were a puppy and walked out humming 'Here comes the bride."
"If she weren't the only waitress here, I would have buried her six feet under long ago."
"Come on, she made a point. Kaoru here can't be wearing your clothes. Then again." Sano gave him a sly grin.
"Fuck you."
"Why don't you just admit it?"
"Go to hell."
"Ouch that really hurt. My aren't you a little touchy today than usual?"
"Okay then, then now about please shut the hell up?"
"Where did you learn your wonderful manners from Kenshin?"
"Get her out of here." Hiko ordered finally recognizing Kaoru's face to a description on the bounty list, his steel eyes met Kenshin's violet ones and the friendly argument instantly ended. The red head stood understanding and tugged Kaoru's shirt, motioning for her to stand. "She's not safe here. Meet at your apartment, tab's on us, just go."
"Hey, what's going on?" Sano, looking slightly confused, stared as his friend left the table toward the back door of the bar with his 'woman.'
"Himura wait," Tae grabbed his arm just as he opened the exit. She shoved a paper bag into Kaoru's arms. "And you owe me big time for this one."
"Charge it to Hiko's bill, I'm in a hurry." Kenshin called over his shoulder.
"KENSHIN!!" The waitress's voice echoed, heard only by a few lone pedestrians her victim already blocks away. "He under appreciates me; I never get the respect I really deserve." Tae mumbled as the door swung shut silently behind her.
Whew, that was long, and it's been months since chapter one was posted ^.^ hope ya all enjoyed reading, review please. Much appreciated!
~Kaiomi
Through Darkness Chapter 2: Introduction to Society
Shortly before darkness fell, Kenshin found a house, abandoned as expected. He kicked the door open and laid his precious cargo on the least moth- eaten couches while he sat in an armchair across from her, half expecting it to collapse. After a while of watching her, he draped his cloak over her, and sat back down.
Thousands of thoughts ran through his head, all wondering what the hell he had gotten himself into this time. Killing was always the answer for him. The easiest and safer way he presumed rather than caring.
As the moon rose, the studied her under the soft light from a broken window. She wasn't different from any other homeless kid. Lanky, dirty, and clothed in rags. But why was she worth that much? he thought silently. Sleep was never something that overcame him so the rest of the night was his time to stare and ponder.
"2,962,503, 2,962,504," the red-haired man mumbled to himself as the sun rose. "Shit, counting actually does kill time." He casually draped an arm over the back of the chair while the other massaged his neck after breaking his seven hour gaze at the ceiling. He took a quick look at his great find before rummaging in his bag for something to eat.
"Where am I?" A timid voice came from the couch as he took a couple of sandwiches out. Kenshin immediately straightened um and stared at her. Her blue eyes grew wide in fear and he shrank back into the farthest corner of the couch, pulling the cloak tightly around her.
"Here," he tossed her a sandwich and began to unwrap his. He looked up almost finished with his while she turned hers over in her hands. "You unwrap it first." An exasperated sigh left his lips. Kenshin went back to eating. When he was done he crumpled the wrapper and shoved it into his pocket.
"Then you." he trailed off as she swallowed the last piece of bread, nothing was left in the wax paper wrapping. "Damn you are hungry." He threw the last two of his remaining sandwiches to here and watched in faint amusement as she began to eat both at once, with one in each hand.
"What are you going to do with me now?" 257 sat cross-legged looking down at the floor, her black hair hid her face.
" Wait, what the hell are you talking about?" A dirty thought passed through his mind.
"I mean when are you going to turn me in?" Kenshin relaxed slightly. She looked almost helpless; he turned, not wanting to talk. "I know I must be worth at least three million zeny by now, but I don't." She stumbled for words trying to explain her situation.
"I'm not going to turn you in." She looked up in surprise and crept softly towards him hearing an encouraging response. "I've got enough money to last, anyway. Tell me about yourself, your name?" He changed the subject, quickly.
"I don't have one, I can't remember much about anything." One of his eyebrows rose in question. "Now you have to share something."
"Kenshin Himura. Bounty hunter."
"You're the Battousai." She breathed in awe, noticing for the first time the infamous sword he carried at his waist.
"Yeah, don't make a big deal out of it." At that moment his phone began to buzz slightly. "Hey. Yeah. See you then." He hung up and put on his cape. "We're leaving."
"Why?"
"Don't ask questions," he threw her an extra long-sleeved shirt and pants along with a belt. "Wear that. It will do for now to cover your appearance as an ex-runaway. We'll get you stuff in town. And we have to call you something else besides 257. How about Kaoru?" It was the first girl name he could come up with. She nodded slowly, accepting the name she was given without complaint.
"Kaoru," she mumbled to the pile of clothes, getting used to her new identity.
"Alright Kaoru, change." Kenshin shoved her into the next room and closed the door behind her.
A few minutes later she came out wearing his clothes. "Leave those here." He indicated to the rags. "Comb," he pointed to her hair. "We're going to the subway."
"Where are we going to go?" Kaoru called looking outside the door only to see scattered houses in the same poor condition as this shelter was.
"We're going to see Sano," was Kenshin's abrupt reply.
Kaoru's fingers tightly gripped the back of her seat as she stared out of the soot-covered window in amazement. Kenshin watched her from across the train compartment. There wouldn't be anyone boarding for a while. Miles of abandoned land lay between cities that were actually habitable. For an entire thirty minutes, there was silence.
But Kenshin didn't mind that, it was something that he actually preferred. Than talking ignorance. His eyes flicked over to Kaoru a smile played upon his lips but a twang of bitterness held it back. She was naive. She didn't know about killing, only hiding from the enemy making her the perfect target; that was her life. How long had it been since he last laughed? Far too long than he could remember since he locked his soul and the seeds of hate began to grow. The thorns and brambles prevented anyone from getting too close to him. That is why he became a killer. Using those spars to his advantage, rather than to protect.
"Who is Sano?" Kaoru sat back down and gazed at him with her innocent eyes upon his dark amber ones.
"Sanosuke Sagara. A friend. That's all you need to know." He averted her eyes then continued. "You'll need friends in order to survive."
"Oh." She went back to looking out the window with her head resting on her arm, which was placed on the sill, finding nothing else to do. This time her eyes seemed to be staring at something beyond the dreary scenery as the train continued rolling. It didn't last very long, soon after, her eyes closed, succumbing to the call of sleep from the rhythmic motions of the wheels rocking against the steel tracks.
Five hours passes before the screeching breaks awaken Kaoru. Kenshin gripped her shoulder telling her to get up.
"We're getting off." He turned and unlocked the door opening it to a station. People instantly began backing away, recognizing him as the battousai. He turned, realizing that Kaoru wasn't following him. She was still in the compartment her head resting on her knees while her arms tightly wrapped around her legs.
Sighing slightly, Kenshin walked back. Her slim body couldn't conceal her trembling out of fear.
"There are people," she whispered.
"They won't hurt you if you're with me. Now let's go. We're attracting attention." He noticed the curious stares at himself actually having human contact with someone in the living world.
Nodding, she got up and clutched his cape as if her life hung onto the back garment. Slightly annoyed, he began walking towards a brightly lit bar a few blocks down.
"Akebeko," she read the neon sign as they approached the building. "This is where Sano is?"
Kenshin walked past a couple of bouncers at the entrance who seemed to boy before hem before opening the door. A flood of lights and music swept over them compared to the twilight outside. There were mostly middle aged men sitting at the bar demanding more drinks.
A young man wearing a white suit with a crimson head band tied at the back was definitely louder than the rest as he joked with a heavily built man he was playing cards with who seemed to be surrounded by stacks of shot glasses. The entire bar seemed to grow quiet as they recognized Kenshin as well as the man in white who ignored the silence and cheerfully waved for Kenshin to join them.
Kaoru surprised, almost stumbled from behind of him as Kenshin suddenly glided towards the small occupied table.
"Eh Kenshin you made it," The friendly one grinned at Kenshin then spotted Kaoru's feet beneath his cape. "You seem to have something on your back."
"Lay off Sano, she's going to be staying with us." Kenshin pulled up two chairs from a vacant table over and gestured for Kaoru to sit.
"So when did you get laid?" Sano jokingly nodded toward Kaoru who tried to make herself as small as possible.
"Actually I was wondering the same thing." This time the broad-shouldered man spoke then finished off his drink and raised his glass as a silent request for more. "About time you settled down."
"She needs to stay somewhere so shut up." Kenshin stared both of his friends down with an icy glare. "And."
"Hiko here's your drink." A brightly smiling barmaid interrupted and placed a new cup foaming with a golden liquid. "Seems you have a friend here huh? What's her name?"
"Ask Kenshin, he's the one who brought her here, Tae." Sanosuke seemed to be enjoying himself as he leaned back and watched Kenshin fire deadly looks at him.
"I'll kill you later," the red head mouthed silently before answering. "She's Kaoru. Give me the usual."
"Hey she could use a bit of freshening up yeah? Isn't she wearing the shirt you had last week?" Tae ignored the assassin's order completely and continued ranting. "Hmm, I think we have an extra outfit somewhere for her. She can't be wearing a guys shirt." The last sentence was followed by a series coughs and a few other remarks.
"Can it Tae, just get me my drink," He growled.
"Fine fine, but you should treat your woman better Himura." Tae patted Kenshin's head as if he were a puppy and walked out humming 'Here comes the bride."
"If she weren't the only waitress here, I would have buried her six feet under long ago."
"Come on, she made a point. Kaoru here can't be wearing your clothes. Then again." Sano gave him a sly grin.
"Fuck you."
"Why don't you just admit it?"
"Go to hell."
"Ouch that really hurt. My aren't you a little touchy today than usual?"
"Okay then, then now about please shut the hell up?"
"Where did you learn your wonderful manners from Kenshin?"
"Get her out of here." Hiko ordered finally recognizing Kaoru's face to a description on the bounty list, his steel eyes met Kenshin's violet ones and the friendly argument instantly ended. The red head stood understanding and tugged Kaoru's shirt, motioning for her to stand. "She's not safe here. Meet at your apartment, tab's on us, just go."
"Hey, what's going on?" Sano, looking slightly confused, stared as his friend left the table toward the back door of the bar with his 'woman.'
"Himura wait," Tae grabbed his arm just as he opened the exit. She shoved a paper bag into Kaoru's arms. "And you owe me big time for this one."
"Charge it to Hiko's bill, I'm in a hurry." Kenshin called over his shoulder.
"KENSHIN!!" The waitress's voice echoed, heard only by a few lone pedestrians her victim already blocks away. "He under appreciates me; I never get the respect I really deserve." Tae mumbled as the door swung shut silently behind her.
Whew, that was long, and it's been months since chapter one was posted ^.^ hope ya all enjoyed reading, review please. Much appreciated!
~Kaiomi