Author's Note: Thanks to all that reviewed. I beg for your forgiveness*gets on knees and grovels* but I couldn't answer your reviews so I'm leaving it to this chapter to answer them. I wrote in my bio, I doubt any of you read it that some reviews aren't showing up on my review page. The count is right, I know because I've got review alert, but some of your wonderful reviews aren't showing up. So I'm sorry to say I won't be able to review to people personally one by one. Though I'll answer questions that you all ask in either the chapter or at the bottom with all my other notes. Be warned that I won't be able to give that many individual responses.
Hope you all enjoy it!
Disclaimer: Me no own you no sue.
Chapter Five: Tests
The bed felt warm and nice as Kaoru pulled on the dark crimson comforter, though something pulled at the edge of her mind. She peeked through her sleep ridden eyes and took in her surroundings. The room was dark, that was for sure, the bed was a king-size with simple red and black goose feather pillows. A dresser could be found behind the sliding mirrors to the left of the bed. Kaoru sighed, her life sometimes could suck and sometimes it could be down right great. Right now, it was in the middle somewhere. She flung herself back down into the bed, though reminded herself to wake up in a few minutes again
Kaoru quickly woke up and changed into her black attire as she remembered that she had to do a blood sample today. Changing into a black shirt, and pants she quickly got her hair tie and tied up her ebony locks.
From her past experiences with tests, she didn't have to wear sweater. It would be discarded anyways. So instead she quickly left to the restroom and then to the living area. Where she found all four assassins finishing their breakfast or reading the newspaper. There went her idea of escaping earlier in the day; then again she couldn't leave without her pills. She'd just have to wait it out.
Kaoru sat on the couch from last night.
Then again the idea of escaping was absurd, she was in a building full of assassins. She knew that at least one of them would catch her and bring her back. That would only make things worse for her while she was living here. She had no choice but to be obedient.
"Megumi should be here soon. I don't think you're suppose to eat," said Enishi.
"I'm not hungry," answered Kaoru, her thoughts would keep her too busy for food anyhow.
Kenshin and Enishi finished breakfast first and headed for the door when the phone rang. Sano answered it as the two opened the door.
"What? Why? Won't that just cause more attraction to those ninjas? But why? We have to work though. You'll pay double? Sure," said Sano with a grin.
Once the two heard that they shut the door and locked it.
"What's the deal?" asked Takasugi downing his coffee.
"We're going to have to keep an eye on Missy at all times. Katsura said that at least one of us is to be with her with the pills. We're going to the base clinic with the kitsune and Missy today, he wants all of us on the job," said Sano sitting down next to Kaoru, who moved away.
"That'll be suspicious," said Enishi.
"He says that we'll be able to cover her more. She'll be leaving the place with a hooded cloak that Megumi's bringing. That way even if those ninjas find her, they won't be able to get to her, we kill if they see her face," said Sano calmly.
Kaoru bent her head at that, she couldn't bare it if any of them got hurt because of her.
Right then Megumi came in with a smile on.
"All right I got the pills. It took a while but I did it. Know one but our company and us will know that I got them. Thanks to my persuading skills and knowledge I got you all seven pills, so that you can give it to her if you're with her when she needs it. Wear this on and let's get going," said Megumi placing the hooded cloak on Kaoru's lithe frame.
She gave Sano, Enishi, and Kenshin pills.
"What about me?" asked Takasugi.
"You get the ones that you took," said Megumi handing him the blue bottle.
He pocketed and they were off.
*~*~*
Enishi and Kenshin walked in the back, weapons in hand with all their senses alert. While Sano and Takasugi walked in front of Kaoru and Megumi. They were being driven to the clinic in a black paned limo.
"I feel like a bodyguard hiding a movie star," whispered Sano to Takasugi in the limo.
"That's basically what we're doing," said Takasugi rolling his eyes. He could be enjoying his paycheck right now, but no he was stuck babysitting a kitsune and a toxic filled girl.
*~*~*
Kaoru was pushed into a white building at least 15 stories high. It looked like a hospital.
Inside looked just like a hospital. She was sure that this was the place that assassins went to, when they were sick or injured. It amazed her how all of this could be happening right under the nose of the government too.
She was moved into a white room. There were needles, test tubes, x-ray machine, clipboards ready to be filled, and monitors.
Megumi went in the back to change as the four assassins were lined up against the wall. Sano and Takasugi sat on the chairs provided. Kaoru was on one of the hospital beds, her feet dangling on the side.
"Let's start with the blood samples," said Megumi coming out in gloves and a mask.
Kaoru moved up her sleeve and allowed the doctor to do her job. If any look she would be able to get rid of that other side that she had.
Megumi took out a new needle and started to take a sample.
Sano was twitching and shifting uncomfortably in his chair. He could see blood but he hated needles, especially when they were going in him.
"Stop it you big chicken. It's not like it's going in you. How are you afraid of needles when you see blood on a daily bases?" asked Takasugi rolling his eyes.
"Bloods okay, needles no," said Sano closing his eyes as Megumi took another sample in Kaoru's other arm.
"You big sissy," said Takasugi.
"Shut up," said Sano hitting him upside the head.
"Don't deny the truth," said Takasugi as he dodged another hit.
Kaoru went through all of those tests that Megumi gave her easily enough, she had to do all that once a month with Dr. Genzai. She was surprised that she hadn't lost all of the toxin because of all the blood samples.
"It'll take a while for me to analyze it all," said Megumi.
"All you'll find is that they're is nothing wrong with me. The toxins in my body are actually doing me a favor. It's been the same for 15 years. Dr. Genzai never found any thing wrong. My DNA is the same except for the golden line that crisscrosses through it. That's my other half, and it's as much a part of me as my internal organs. You can't get rid of it.
"I've been to more hospitals than you've spent each day going here. You can't help me, I learned that a while back, and the other side isn't going to leave. Otherwise Aoshi wouldn't have made me always make sure I had my pills. You're only kidding yourself if you try. Though you might find something if you allow me to change. That would be different, that is if you can hold that other side done long enough to do the test," said Kaoru as if it were discussing the weather, she had already learned all of this. Even if she didn't know that she had another side before, she knew that something was wrong when she saw the results. She only covered it up saying that the pills were to help her become well. Whereas it was the toxins in her body that was doing that, the pills were making her worse than she can be without them.
The others stared at her in shock. She knew all this yet she was still calm.
"You're pretty strong to be able to handle all this. You've defied most logic for even being alive right now. I'm going to try anyways. I've never given up hope on a patient, and I'm not going to now," said Megumi determined as she put the equipment away.
Kaoru only shook her head. She was the patient and she already knew that; Megumi was only going to go on a wild goose chase.
"Let's all go to lunch," said Megumi as she came out in her normal clothing again.
The four assassins just looked at her.
"What? Aren't you all hungry?" asked Megumi putting on her coat.
"We're suppose to look after her. Eating at a restaurant isn't good. We'll be seen to easily, and you can see through her hood easily too," said Takasugi.
"That's why we eat in a private room," said Megumi.
They all stared at her like she was crazy.
"It's called the Akabeko you morons. It has screen doors to separate eating parties, so that way no one will be able to see her. Just make sure she isn't facing the sliding door. I hope you all like traditional Japanese food," said Megumi walked out with Kaoru in tow.
The other four could only follow.
*~*~*
Misao looked out in the busy streets of Tokyo, leaning against a Starbucks shop looking around for any sign of her. But there were too many people with black hair.
"Where are you Kaoru?" asked Misao, she hoped that her best friend was okay.
Aoshi was right next to her. She kept her mind on Kaoru, so not to blush at their closeness.
"Any sign of her?" asked Aoshi.
"No. Nothing. Have those two ex-hitokiris found any sign of her?" asked Misao.
"Not yet. She must have her pills with her. Otherwise we'd have found trails of dead men or police. I just hope that those pills last," said Aoshi as he rubbed his head.
"How's Soujiro?" asked Misao.
"He's still angry that he can't go out and help find her too," said Aoshi looking around again.
"It wasn't his fault. Who knew that we were going to get ambushed?" asked Misao.
"We should have. Shishio's men are lowlifes. They can't win against us so they go after the ones we care about. We were always a threat to him. I fear what could have happened if it was the Bafuko who got her," said Aoshi gravely.
"I'm sure she's fine," said Misao.
"I hope so," said Aoshi.
*~*~*
Kenshin caught sight of Aoshi and Misao. They were only a few blocks away. It wasn't good at all. They had decided to walk, if Kaoru screamed out to them, it was all over. He had to tell the other three without her knowing.
"Let's get back to the apartment. I'll cook," said Kenshin.
They all turned to look at him in confusion. He motioned his eyes to the ninjas so only the three could see. They made a quick glance at that and had to hold in a surprised look.
"I'm feeling up to a homemade meal. Kenshin is an extraordinary cook after all. It's better than some restaurant. I don't like to wait, and sitting on your knees for that long really hurts. Let's get back," said Sano.
"I'm up to it," said Takasugi.
"The Hitokiri Battousai's cooking? That's what I've got to taste," said Megumi.
"Then let's get a cab and go," said Sano.
He waved for a cab, but didn't realize that he was waving in the same direction that Misao and Aoshi were at. Enishi pulled his hand down and glared at him.
Luckily a cab came and they rushed in. Though Takasugi couldn't fit, so they left him.
"Not fair," said Takasugi.
He looked over at Misao and Aoshi and they were coming his way.
"Oh crap!" said Takasugi and he began to run.
*~*~*
"Someone waved at us," said Misao looking at the tall man with spiky hair.
"Isn't that Himura?" asked Aoshi looking that way.
"He seems to be in a hurry," said Misao as she watched as five people piled into a cab.
"He might know something about Kaoru," said Aoshi.
"Hey that guy was with him. Let's ask him," said Misao.
The two nodded and went after the man.
"Hold up! We just want to talk," said Misao, as they followed the man deeper into the crowds.
Aoshi frowned. Something was up and they didn't know about it. He was going to find out what.
"He wouldn't be running if he didn't know something. Let's go," said Aoshi as he picked up his speed along with Misao.
*~*~*
Takasugi ran into the alley hoping to find a place to hide, only to find a dead end.
"Crap!" said Takasugi.
He turned around, only to find Aoshi and Misao in his way. Gulping he took a step back.
Aoshi unsheathed his two swords and advanced.
"What do you know with Himura?" demanded Aoshi.
Act cool. Stay calm. I can't let them get close. I have to lead them in the wrong direction. Thought Takasugi.
He pretended to shiver in fear. Luckily his sword was well hidden on his back.
"Answer me," roared Aoshi his eyes turning into an ice blue.
This time he really did shiver.
"Who's H-Himura?" asked Takasugi pretending to know nothing.
"The redhead you were with," said Misao.
Shit they saw. Think fast.
"Him and those four others... they pushed me out of the way and got into the cab that I was about to get in," said Takasugi, acting angrily, though he really was pissed that they left him.
"Looked like it," said Misao thinking back, the tall one did push him out.
Takasugi sighed.
"Why did you run?" asked Aoshi placing the sword at his throat.
"It wasn't me," said Takasugi suddenly.
"What wasn't you?" demanded Aoshi pushing the sword to his throat.
Takasugi fell to the floor, the blue bottle falling out of his pocket.
Misao picked it up and gasped as she showed it Aoshi, whose eyes narrowed at Takasugi.
"Where'd you get this?" asked Misao, moving the bottle to Takasugi's face.
"...I... I'm sorry. I didn't know that you guys were the police. It's marijuana. I promise I'll stop taking them," lied Takasugi with his hands up.
Misao and Aoshi looked at him strangely.
"It's not weed foe. This is medicine. Where did you find it?" asked Misao.
Think of a place that's far from base.
"I found it at Midnight Street after a fight. It was from a gang, so I thought it was marijuana, I didn't know it was medicine. There were two gangs, they fighting over something. One had on black and white, and the other one was in all black with cloaks on their backs. They were fighting something. The black group was like give her back, then the black and white group was like she's ours. We're going to bring down the Oni...something group. I don't know. All I saw was that the black group was trying to bring that girl back to that Oni group. It's just that they got shot by machine guns and outnumbered. They fought hard. That black and white group took the girl, and this bottle rolled out to me," lied Takasugi. He grinned inwardly, this would make them think that the J.A.B. was trying to help find Kaoru and that the Bafuko had captured her; he was so brilliant.
Aoshi sheathed his swords, Misao nodded at him. They had all the information that they needed. The two, with the medicine, left the alley.
Takasugi let out a long sigh, he jumped when his cell rang.
"Hello?" asked Takasugi.
"Well done Shinsaku, you've made us look good. Your pay will be raised," said Katsura.
"How'd you know?" asked Takasugi smiling.
"I have eyes everywhere. Get back to the others," said Katsura and hung up.
Takasugi stood up and went off.
*~*~*
Kaoru wasn't sure if she should eat the food before her. This was the food of the Hitokiri Battousai after all. It smelled nice at least. It even looked better than how she did her own cooking.
Megumi tried the first piece of fried rice and smiled.
"This is so good. How did you make it? I would have never thought that the Hitokiri Battousai could actually cook," said Megumi eating more.
"I'll take that as a compliment," said Kenshin as he ate his own.
Kaoru took a bite and her taste buds smiling because of the delicious food. She ate as quickly and polite as she could. It had to the best cooking she had ever tasted. Amazing how it came from the most feared assassin in Japan. Maybe he had another side of him that no one knew about. She smiled at that, everyone had to have a good side.
"Seconds please," said Sano showing his plate.
"What do you mean seconds? That's your fifth bowl," said Enishi.
"Sixth then," said Sano.
"Go get it yourself you lazy rooster head," said Megumi.
Sano glared at her and got up to get more.
Then the door opened to reveal a happy Takasugi.
"Why are you so happy?" asked Sano about to get another bowl of food.
"I got paid extra," said Takasugi grinning and got a bowl and grabbed the last bit of food.
"Hey! You ate the rest of it," said Sano angrily.
"I led them off course. Katsura even praised me," said Takasugi grinning.
"How far?" asked Enishi.
"Let's just say that they're on the other side of town, and think that the Bafuko has got the girl," said Takasugi eating merrily.
"Good," said Sano sitting down.
They were close by and I didn't know? Aoshi. Thought Kaoru, she suddenly felt full.
"Are you going to finish that Missy?" asked Sano eyeing her half-full bowl.
"...No. I feel tired. I'm going to bed," said Kaoru standing.
"The tests can do that to you. Make sure you drink lots of water to restore the blood that was taken out today," said Megumi.
Kaoru nodded and left for her new room
"Since we're suppose stay with her at all times, do we still have to work?" asked Sano through mouthfuls of fried rice.
"Please swallow before you speak," said Megumi a bit disgusted at his mannerism.
He swallowed the rest of his meal.
"I think so," said Enishi.
"That's not right. We're suppose to take care of her. It'll take more of us to do so. You saw how those ninjas almost got to her," said Sano, he was making up an excuse not to work and still get his pay, no his double pay now. He grinned at that.
"Double pay means double work," said Enishi.
"Can't you convince your uncle Kenshin?" asked Takasugi between mouthfuls.
"I swear you men don't have any manners," said Megumi in an exasperated tone.
Kenshin flipped out his cell phone and punched in Hiko's number.
"Yes?" asked the man on the other line.
"About our assignment. Will we be having other assignments?" asked Kenshin.
"No. We need you all near her at all times. Have someone watch over her as she sleep as well. We don't want her acting up at night," said Hiko seriously, apparently he had gotten some of Megumi's information from last night.
"Yes sir," said Kenshin.
"You need to gain her trust Kenshin. So that if she does change, she'll still remember you. We need her on our side," said Hiko.
"... Yes sir," said Kenshin, he wasn't sure how he was going to do it, but if his uncle thought that it was for the best, he'd do it.
"Have a nice day, and don't ever walk with her with you. We can't risk her exposure to the Aoshi's men ," said Hiko.
"Bye," said Kenshin and hung up.
"So?" asked Sano.
"No work. We're stuck looking after her. I'll check on her," said Kenshin standing.
The others looked at him confused.
"Hiko wants us with her at all times. Even when she sleeps," answered Kenshin for them.
The others nodded and he went into his old room
"Kaoru?" asked Kenshin entering, a bad vibe went through him.
He looked around the darkening room, his eyes focusing on the darkness.
What he saw, surprised him beyond word.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N: Cliffhanger! I'm getting a bad influence from other writers. I kind of gave a hint about what he saw, if you read carefully you'll know.
Shall I write longer chapters, or no? Well the more reviews I get, the faster I'll write. *Wink. Wink.* I need suggestions too.
PLEASE REVIEW!