Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. You know what, I plan to finish this fic, with or without reviews. I like it, even if some people don't. So I plan to update when I finish writing the chapters. Reviews aren't important for this one. Though my other stories are coming out... weird on me. So I'll try to make this one just as good and weird.
Disclaimer: Me no own RK.
Chapter Eight: Lessons
DAY ONE OF TRAINING
Enishi was teaching Kirei how to cook breakfast and she was doing poorly.
"I'm not a cook. I'm supposed to kill. Why do I have to learn how to cook?" asked Kirei as she threw the cookbook at Enishi whom barely dodged it.
"I don't know. Just stir the miso soup okay?" asked Enishi as he picked up the book and began to look for a few ingredients.
"Who's your boss, he's crazy," said Kirei as she stirred slowly.
"Just what you said, he is," said Enishi as he poured oil into a pan.
"What are you doing?" asked Kirei as she watched him chop up vegetables.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" asked Enishi annoyed.
"Why are you cutting it so close?" asked Kirei, she had never cooked before. Who could blame her, she had been closed up from the world for 15 years.
"Watch me," said Enishi as he let her see how he cut the pieces even and small.
"You stir. I want to do that," said Kirei, she would do anything with a sword.
"Fine, just be careful. I don't want blood in the food," said Enishi as he added items to the pan and then let the miso soup cool down on the counter.
Kirei grinned as she took the knife and began chopping away. Bits of food flew all over the place as she began to cut.
"How'd I do?" asked Kirei as she showed him her pieces. Amazing enough they were just like Enishi, but he wasn't amused.
Enishi peeled off a piece of tomato from his face.
"Very good, but try not to let so many pieces fly around," said Enishi.
Kirei tried to keep in a giggle as she saw him peel the other pieces that found its way to his clothes and luckily he wore an apron.
"Something smells good. What're you making?" asked Sanosuke as he walked over to the counter and took in the scent of the miso soup and what Enishi was doing in the pan.
"Hey, what's with the stuff on the floor? You better clean up Kirei, I just waxed the floor," said Takasugi as he walked over.
"Yeah, last month," said Sanosuke.
"So. I don't want to clean up again," said Takasugi.
"The only time you clean up is when Kenshin makes you," said Sano.
"You too," protested Takasugi.
"Well I'm not the one complaining, am I?" asked Sano.
Takasugi glared at him.
"Kirei, Megumi's coming over to see Kanna..." began Kenshin as he walked over in a pair of black pants and a sweater.
"So?" asked Kirei.
"What he means is that we need Kanna to come out," said Enishi as he finished the rest of breakfast after applying Kirei's vegetables.
"..." Kirei didn't answer, she just put away her apron.
"Don't tell me, you don't know how to change back to her?" asked Sano.
"I do, it's just that... Kanna's afraid of needles," said Kirei.
"What!? How do you know? She probably never got close to needles. We need her out now, before the fox lady gets here," said Takasugi.
"We're a part of Kaoru, so what she saw, we saw. It means that we're all different, we all have different fears and thoughts on things. Just because we never came out to the world, doesn't mean we don't know what's going on. It's just that Kanna has never ventured to know what's going on around Kaoru, which's why she didn't know you people. I didn't come the surface that much, and I kind of spaced you all out," said Kirei truthfully.
"I don't blame her for hating needles, but... An angry kitsune is a bad thing," said Sano.
"Well I'll deal with her. Kanna isn't going to come out, she refuses to," said Kirei shrugging her shoulders as she helped set the table.
"So is it the same for Kaoru?" asked Takasugi.
"We blocked her out. She's where we always were," said Kirei.
"This is damn confusing," said Takasugi as he scratched his head.
"Every thing is confusing to you," said Sano as he sat down and grabbed a pair of chopsticks.
Takasugi hit the taller man upside the head while he sat down.
He got a glare in return.
Then they all began to eat. Amazing enough, it was pretty good.
*~*~*~*~*
"What do you mean she won't come out?" demanded Megumi when she came over.
"Well every time Kaoru got a shot, Kanna would go into the very dark places of her mind, she never got through a session," said Kirei as they all sat on the sofas.
"*Sigh* Well I got yours and Kaoru's test results back. She was right, the results showed nothing wrong. Though yours had more gold in it, and showed that you were like a super human being. Your health is beyond charts," said Megumi.
Kirei didn't say anything.
"So do you think that Kanna is the weakest one out of all of you?" asked Takasugi.
"No. She has ESP, it's just that she doesn't like using it," said Kirei calmly.
"How do you know?" asked Enishi.
"Because she's like Kaoru's sixth sense. She's the one that helps her sense ki and predict opponents' movements. Kanna can break to the surface easier than me because of that, and Kaoru never notices since Kanna doesn't try to break free like me," said Kirei.
"So she's the angel, Kaoru's the human, and your the like the devil's spawn," said Takasugi.
Sano hit him upside the head; Kirei paid no attention.
"Well I need to find out," said Megumi.
"She won't do it," said Kirei.
"Just make her come out, and we'll reason with her," said Megumi.
"Okay, but I warned you. She hates needles," said Kirei as she closed her eyes.
Upon reopening them to jade green, Kanna scooted back a ways.
"I only need one small sample Kanna," said Megumi tenderly.
Kanna shook her head and backed into the couch as far as she could. Her eyes showed fear and weariness. She was like a cornered rabbit, she curled into a ball and began to shake.
"It'll be over in seconds," said Megumi.
She shook her head, her breathing becoming in rigid breaths.
"Here, I'll give you a tranquilizer. I brought the items with me," said Megumi as she got into her kit and took out a needle.
"It'll make you go to sleep, and you won't know that I'm going to give you a shot," said Megumi as she carefully took Kanna's hand.
Kanna pulled it back as if it burned.
Kenshin held onto her other hand, helping her relax a bit.
"Hold her still," said Megumi as she grabbed Kanna's hand and was about to jab her with the needle when the needle flew out of Megumi's hand and hit the screaming Sano in the thigh, causing him to fall off the couch snoring. They all looked at Kanna who was holding onto Kenshin around the neck shivering, in shock.
"So she does have ESP. Wow," said Takasugi.
Kenshin rubbed her back soothingly causing Kanna to relax a bit. She fell limp into his arms.
Megumi took out another needle and quickly took the sample while Kanna was in shock.
Kanna didn't move and her breaths were coming in hard gasps of air.
"She'll be fine," said Megumi as she put away the sample.
Kenshin glared at Megumi, she was the one that caused Kanna to be like this, and he didn't like seeing her like this at all. The girl was shaking in fear.
"Don't worry Sir Ken, I won't need any more samples," said Megumi as she saw the concern on his face as he looked at Kanna who wasn't moving.
Takasugi was poking at Sano and laughing, the guy was out like a light.
Enishi rolled his eyes and went back into the kitchen to clean it up from this morning. He and Kenshin both had the same obsessive cleaning disorder, which was what Sano and Takasugi like to put it. It's just that he didn't like things being messy, he liked things neat and organized.
Megumi said her farewells and then left.
Kenshin moved Kanna's head to the crook of his neck and then lifted her up.
Takasugi looked up at him confused.
"I'm taking her to bed. Try to wake him up," said Kenshin as he looked at Sano.
Takasugi looked at Sano with a mischievous grin and nodded to the other assassin.
*~*~*~*~*
Kenshin placed Kanna on the bed and placed the blankets over her lithe form.
As he went to leave, he noticed that she was crying. The angle before him was crying.
He pushed back a lock of hair that came into her face, and noticed how soft her skin was.
What are you thinking? You're an assassin, you're not suppose to be kind. Came a cold voice in his head. He sighed and went to walk out of the room.
"K... Kenshin," said Kanna innocently.
He stopped, no one ever said his name with so much innocence and passion before.
"Yes?" asked Kenshin from the door.
"Don't go," said Kanna like a scared child.
Kenshin walked over to her and held the hand that she was using to call him back.
"Go to sleep. You must be tired. When you wake up you have to do training, so go to sleep okay?" asked Kenshin. There you go again. Said the little voice in his head.
Kanna nodded and closed her eyes and slowly went to sleep.
When she finally went to bed, Kenshin walked out of the room. He closed the door as silently as he could and then walked back to the living room, to find Sano up and glaring at Takasugi who was looking away innocently with a sheath behind his back.
Kenshin shook his head and sat down.
"What took you? We were beginning to think that you slept with..." began Takasugi, but kept quiet when he got the royal glare of death.
"Hey isn't one of us always suppose to be looking after her?" asked Sanosuke.
"She can sleep on her own, can't she?" asked Enishi.
"I guess. So whose turn is it to teach her something?" asked Sano.
"I'll teach her during breakfast, why don't you teach her between then and lunch. After lunch to dinner Takasugi shows her the places, and Kenshin teaches her at night on the roof or something," said Enishi as he sat on the couch.
They all nodded in a agreement.
The phone rang and Kenshin picked it up. A few phrases said and he hung up.
"I'm going to meet up with Hiko. Do you three think you can watch over her until then?" asked Kenshin as he grabbed his coat and keys.
"We're grown men, I think we can handle something as simple," said Takasugi.
Kenshin rolled his eyes and then left.
"Hey! She needs to wake up. I have to teach her how to control her strength," said Sano as he rushed to Kenshin's old room.
"Does he know that Kirei usually comes out when Kanna blacks out or sleeps?" asked Takasugi, he learned that from all the times he was with her.
"She does?" asked Enishi surprised.
The two looked down the hall when they heard a scream.
Suddenly Sano was punched straight out of the door and into the hallway. He was out like a light again as Kirei came out glaring at him.
"I guess not," said Enishi.
*~*~*~*~*
Half an hour, one bucket of cold water, chasing and name-calling, and threats later, Sano and Kirei were sitting on the living room couch with pieces of metal on the table.
"Okay, we're going to teach you how to control your strength," said Sano as he picked up a piece of metal and began to bend it.
"See? Now you do it. Though you might want to start with wood first," said Sano as he showed her the half bent metal piece.
Kirei picked up the similar shaped metal and snapped it in half like a twig.
Sano looked at her with his left eye twitching.
"Like that?" asked Kirei as she began breaking it down into small tiny pieces.
Damn she's strong. Thought Sano.
"Well I guess you got that down," said Sano as he threw back his half-bent metal piece.
"Kanna can do it too," said Kirei as she tied the longer metal pieces together into a braid.
"She can? So you both got super strength as well then? Does that mean that Kaoru can do it too?" asked Sanosuke amused.
"No. Kanna can use her ESP to bend it like yours," said Kirei as she began to twist a few shapes, it was like clay dough to her.
Sano sweat dropped, was there anything this girl couldn't do?
"There. I built Tokyo," said Kirei as she finished making all of the buildings. Though she was making little cars now with the pieces that she broke down earlier.
Sano looked at her in shock.
"I thought we were suppose to practice on my strength," said Kirei as she began making little people with extra pieces.
"Then stop that, and let's have you lift a few weights. There is a gym here in the building," said Sano as he got up.
"But I don't have gym clothes," said Kirei standing.
"Just wear a bra, tank top, a pair of pants, and let's go," said Sano.
Kirei used her speed to do so, and was out with what he told her to wear. She had her hair up and looked great. Her abs was clearly visible.
Sano just blinked at her.
"Are we going or what?" asked Kirei annoyed.
Sano changed into a muscle shirt and a pair of shorts and the two left.
*~*~*~*~*
Kenshin walked over to the small tea cafe where Hiko was waiting for him.
A waitress greeted him and she showed him to the table that Hiko always got.
"You wanted to see me?" asked Kenshin as he bowed in respect before sitting.
"Megumi said that Kanna has ESP. We would have you train her in that too, but I don't think that you have that. So Megumi is going to do some therapy on the girl," said Hiko sipping his tea calmly as he looked for the expression on his nephew's face. Though as usual, there was none what so ever. This boy was always so closed up. He could only hope that Katsura's plan works and it allows Kenshin to finally open up.
"You could have just told me over the phone you know," said Kenshin annoyed.
A waiter came over, but he waved the man off.
"I thought you might want to know personally is all," said Hiko putting down his teacup.
"If that's all, I think I'll be going now," said Kenshin about to stand.
"Stop!" said Hiko in a low and commanding voice.
Sighing, Kenshin sat back down.
Hiko had to think fast, he needed for some way for his nephew to show emotion.
"Bring the girl to Cherry Mountain tonight at 8:00," said Hiko.
He watched amused as his nephew frowned at him.
"Why must we bring a girl to such a place again?" asked Kenshin, he had a feeling his uncle was up to something.
"Bring your friends as well," said Hiko.
"Why? I thought we were to train her," said Kenshin. He didn't want to bring her to a place like that again, once was enough. It would probably traumatize Kanna.
"It's a gift for all of your good work. Since one of you are to always be with her, I thought that it would be right to bring her," said Hiko grinning.
"Fine," said Kenshin as he moved to leave.
"No violence this time, okay?" asked Hiko before he left.
Kenshin snorted in response and left.
*~*~*~*~*
All of the men stared at Kirei as she began beating the life out of the punching bag, Sano was even having a hard time holding the bag.
The reason that they were all staring was that the way she looked with the sweat forming was entrancing and she was the only female in the place. Since there were no female assassins; then again, they way she moved with pure perfection added to her beauty.
Her body was so beautiful and had no scars what so ever, and the bad girl look was what any assassin would want in a woman.
"Focus on one point Kirei," said Sano, as he used all his strength to hold onto the bag.
The men weren't all that shocked that she had that name.
Kirei kicked at the very middle and caused the bag to fall on top of Sano.
She gasped in shock and went over to help the brother character before her.
"I'm sorry Sano. I guess I need more practice," said Kirei.
"It's all right. I guess you took martial arts before," said Sano, the way she was in perfect stances and how her punches were more powerful than most men, it was the only thing that he could think of that made sense.
"Kaoru did, so maybe I got it from her," said Kirei.
"Oh. Shall we lift weights?" asked Sanosuke.
"From the way she knocked you down, I think you're the one that needs to train," said a man with long blonde hair that looked like it was replaced by a broom.
"Shut up Cho," said Sano head.
"What is a beautiful creature like you doing with the rooster head?" asked Cho as he walked over to Kirei and did a once over while licking his lips.
"Look here..." began Sanosuke but Kirei interrupted.
"Why don't you and me go one on one?" asked Kirei, she didn't like this guy and she was going to teach him a good lesson or two.
"Fine," said the man as he took off his shirt to expose his six pack.
Kirei got into a stance but suddenly Cho was behind her and almost caressed her bottom, when she kicked his hand away and jumped back.
Cho winced at how fast that sudden move was. He was going to show her that woman weren't meant to fight.
"I guess I can't mess around with you, can I?" asked Cho as he crouched down.
"No one is," said Kirei as she began jumping up and down like in boxing.
Cho went at her with flying fists, but Kirei easily dodged them all.
"Is this the best you can do?" asked Kirei as she punched him square in the jaw.
She pulled back as blood came out the corner of his mouth.
He glared at her, this was beginning to get personal. Then using all of his strength he went at her, but then Kirei punched him in the stomach; she had used all her strength and speed.
Cho flew back into a bunch of barbells, the guys that saw winced.
"I think that's enough Missy. That was pretty good. Let's get back," said Sano as he laughed at Cho and began to call out names at the unconscious man.
*~*~*~*~*
"Why does he want us to go to Cherry Mountain again?" asked Enishi once everyone was back and seated around in the living room.
Kirei had gone to take a shower.
"He said that we needed a night off," said Kenshin.
"Do we have to go? Last time we went with her, we caused a lot of trouble," said Sano.
"I don't think that he'll take no for an answer," said Kenshin.
"How do we tell Kirei without her blowing her head off?" asked Takasugi, he didn't want to deal with a mad girl with inhuman abilities.
Then Kirei came out in a halter-top and a pair of black pants, her belly button was visible. She was quite the sight sometimes.
"Someone say my name?" asked Kirei as she began to tie up her hair.
They all fell silent, even though she dressed quite simple, most of the men there would mostly go crawling to her. They didn't like the thought of that.
Even if they had only known for a while, Kirei and all her other personalities have become like one of the family them. Though Kenshin didn't exactly want to be like an older brother to her.
"We're going out at eight tonight," said Enishi suddenly.
"Where?" asked Kirei as she sat down beside Sano and Takasugi still trying to get her hair up.
"The Cherry Mountain," said Kenshin darkly.
"Is it a bad place?" asked Kirei.
"Well... It's kind of like the Sakura Blossom, just more men and women," said Sano.
Kirei narrowed her eyes, and let her hair fall. She didn't want to duel with her hair today.
"It's easier if you use a hairbrush," said Sano.
"How would you know? You hardly got hair to put up," said Takasugi laughing.
"I see Kenshin do it all the time. Here let me do it for you," said Sano as he pulled her to him and fished out a comb from his pocket, all the while ignoring Kenshin's glares.
Takasugi was laughing, while the other two tried to keep in a laugh.
Kenshin rolled his eyes, it wasn't his fault that he had long hair and like to keep it neat.
Sano was busy doing Kirei's hair as she played cards with Takasugi.
If someone were to enter, they would have mistaken them as a true family, not a hostage and four deadly assassins.
"How do you do that? You're using ESP to see my cards," said Takasugi as he lost for the tenth time that day.
"That's Kanna. It's pure skill for me," said Kirei.
"There. I'm done," said Sano as he pocketed the comb.
Kirei looked into the mirror and smiled at Sano, he did her hair as always.
"Come on Sano, let's play. Then we shall show Kirei who the real Kings of the cards are," said Takasugi as he shuffled the deck.
"So you want to lose again? Bring it on," said Kirei as she sat down.
"I'll make dinner," said Enishi as he got up, it was 6.
"Come on Kenshin, let's play," said Kirei as she pulled him over.
Sighing he went down and played poker with them.
*~*~*~*~*
After twenty games of Takasugi and Sano yelling not fair, you cheated, they ate dinner and got ready for Cherry Mountain.
Enishi drove, and Kenshin sat in the passenger seat. While the three in the back were arguing about who was the best at the card game.
Kenshin smiled inwardly, they hadn't been this relaxed in a long time. It seemed that Kaoru entering their lives changed it for the best. Though he tensed when he thought about what could happen at the Cherry Mountain.
*~*~*~*~*
The place was like Sakura Blossom, except that the place was larger, and everything was more than the other place. More smoke, more talking, more men, more women, and more alcohol, let alone more drunks as well.
Though when the five entered, they all fell silent. They knew not to mess with the best assassins in the J.A.B.. The Association owned the place. The girl with them was beautiful, but they heard what she did at the Sakura Blossom.
"Shall we have fun?" asked Takasugi as women came over to them.
"You go ahead, I'll look after Missy," said Sanosuke.
Kenshin didn't move from Kirei's side, he was scanning the room just like Kirei. Their amber gaze sent chills down most of the people's spines.
"Go ahead Sano," said Kenshin, he could take care of Kirei himself.
"You sure?" asked Sano.
Kenshin nodded and the other man left.
He led Kirei to a empty sofa area and ordered her a martini. Got himself something stronger.
"Do you drink?" asked Kenshin.
"Never tried it," said Kirei truthfully.
"There's a first for everything," said Kenshin as he handed her the martini.
Kirei took the glass and looked at it strangely. She took a whiff of it and scrunched her nose.
Kenshin only chuckled as he drank his own drink.
"Care to share your doll Battousai?" asked a voice that Kirei hadn't forgotten.
"Go away Gohei," said Kenshin dangerously.
"If she isn't yours, then can I have her?" asked Gohei, it seemed that he was twice the drunk from last time.
Kirei wanted to puke at the fowl stench that was on him, it didn't help that her senses were much better than normal human beings.
"Back off," said Kenshin dangerously.
Gohei narrowed his eyes at him, he didn't get the girl last time, and he wanted her now.
"If she has no home, then I'll take her. Any woman that comes in here must be with someone, or they're open to everyone," said Gohei, though it was gurgled since he was too drunk.
"She's with me," said Kenshin pulling Kirei to him, who didn't care as long as the jerk vanished.
"The girl doesn't look touched," said Gohei as he tried to touch Kirei's stomach.
Kenshin wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her on his lap and grinned at him.
"You're bluffing," said Gohei as he glared at the other man.
"How'd you know?" asked Kenshin.
"Look around you Battousai, look out how close the men are with their women," said Gohei.
"I say that this is close enough," said Kirei dangerously as she looked at Kenshin. If he tried anything just because of the creep beside them, things weren't going to be pretty.
"So modest, so she's still available," said Gohei grinning.
"If I was, what makes you think that I'd go with you?" asked Kirei narrowing her eyes.
"Women are to always be with a man or by Cherry Mountain rules, all men get a turn with her," said Gohei grinning.
Kirei looked at Kenshin who didn't meet her eyes, if she knew that she would have insisted that she go and hang out with Megumi.
"So come on, I'll be the first," said Gohei about to touch her but Kirei slapped his hand away.
"Who said I wasn't with someone?" asked Kirei, damn it, she had to play along.
"Who?" asked Gohei.
"Ken... Battousai," said Kirei as if it was obvious.
"What!? No you aren't," said Gohei.
"Why else would I let him touch me, and I'm on top of him," said Kirei, the position that the two were in was kind of obvious. The guy must have been really drunk.
"Don't mean a thing," said Gohei, he wanted to get with her.
Kirei glared at the creep.
You know what you got to do. Or shall I go out and do it for you? Asked his other half.
Kenshin took in a deep breath, she was going to kill him, but he had to save her. He turned her head to him and kissed her fully on the lips.
Causing Gohei to fall down and Kirei to go into shock. Only took a few seconds for her to register what and why he was doing what he was.
Throwing all dignity out the window, she closed her eyes and kissed back until she was on top of him on the couch.
Kirei was gasping for breath when they pulled back and sat up and looked at Gohei.
"That enough proof?" asked Kirei, she was hoping that it was.
Gohei cursed and walked away to another girl.
Kenshin sat up and looked at her confused, he didn't expect her to kiss back. He was actually waiting for her to slap the shit out of him for what he did.
Kirei sat back and sighed and drank the martini, she winced when she tasted it. It wasn't as sweet as when she kissed him. He hadn't taken her first kiss, and she kissed him back.
Acting calm, he sat up and drank his drink.
You know you liked it. Said his other half.
He would never admit it, but he had a darker side. Though when he changed, his eyes only became a very darker gold and turned into amber. That side usually came out when he did his killings or was very angry.
Kenshin had another side, his softer side that had amethyst eyes. The side that he had almost lost when he was little, though came back when Kaoru came into his life.
He grinned as he looked at her.
Kirei wouldn't look at Kenshin, she was not going to look at him. The thought of him not liking that was tugging at her. Would he be disappointed, did he hate her? No he couldn't, he was the one that kissed her first.
Then Sano came over drunk and shocked.
"You're not suppose to kiss the hostage, and you're suppose to kiss your guard," said Sanosuke as he looked at them both in shock.
The two only blinked at him.
"Gohei is going around saying that you two are courting," said Sano as he sat down beside Kirei, making her get moved into Kenshin.
"That's what we wanted it to look like," said Kenshin calmly.
Sano looked utterly confused.
"The Cherry Mountain rule," reminded Kenshin.
Sano got it and nodded and mouthed an 'oh'.
"You sly dog," said Sano as he punched Kenshin in the shoulder.
He got a glare from both of them.
*~*~*~*~*
"Worked like a charm," said Hiko as he raised his glass to Katsura in the back. They had been watching through the security monitors.
"Told you this would profit everyone," said Katsura.
"But now he will most likely ignore her," said Hiko, he knew his nephew well.
"Not if I have anything to do with it," said Katsura grinning.
*~*~*~*~*
A/N: What is Katsura thinking of planning to do? Will Aoshi and the others ever find out the truth? I know that was kind of corny, but hey who cares? I'm crazy today, so that might be why all of the characters are out of character.
Hope you liked it.
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