Disclaimer: I do not own the Rurouni Kenshin series or any of its creations.
Code Catfight – Chapter 3 – By Cherry Chibi
'Binge, Fight and Blood'
* * * *
Kaoru launched an attack at Kenshin. He dodged her and hit her across the back. She winced and quickly recovered. "You were futile," Kenshin muttered, he was taken aback when Kaoru smirked. She rolled her shoulders back and got into a stance.
"You think that I'm the leader of the Rising Sun for nothing?" She got into a stance. "Give me what you got. Or do I need to push you more?" She gave him a feral smile, her sapphire eyes once again glowed amber; pushing the Battousai to resurface.
'She really needs to be tamed,' Kenshin though as he got into a stance. His eyes turned amber to match Akurei's. 'And I'll be the one to do that,' He charged forward. Swords clash and a metallic ring followed soon after. Kaoru was slighter quicker at speed but Kenshin was better at strength. That evened out the odds.
Kenshin thrust his sword forward onto to his thin air.
"Nice try!" Kaoru appeared behind him and swiped her sword downwards only to hit thin air as well. She gritted her teeth and dodged an attack which she sensed coming from behind.
* * * *
"Go, go, go, go," Toya and a few other men chanted as Yahiko drank the beer down. Tsubame was seated in the opposite direction of him. In front of her were four empty cans of beer. Yahiko placed the empty can down on the table and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Your turn," Yahiko said. He opened another can of beer and placed it in front of Tsubame.
"Whoa, hold on there girl," Mina placed a hand on Tsubame's shoulder. "I think that that is enough for you. You're under-aged. So get up, I'm taking you home," Mina shot a death glare at Toya, "She's sixteen Toya, you shouldn't encourage her to drink alcohol."
"Oh come on Mina! It's only once every few months that Tsubame gets to have fun!' Toya said defensively. She slapped Yahiko on the back, "Don't you agree?" Yahiko felt slightly dazed, the alcohol was taking its toll. "Hey! Someone take this kid out! He's gonna need fresh air!" A couple of men came and lifted Yahiko up from his seat.
"Toya, they are still kids," Mina said, making sure that she emphasized every word. "And they are still under aged!" She lifted Tsubame to her feet and helped the girl to get outside. Tsubame was slightly dazed. Toya had helped Tsubame strengthen herself for excessive alcohol intake, very much to the others' displeasure.
Toya shrugged. She turned her attention back to the other guys, "Hey! Where're Kenka and Chanelle?"
* * * *
Kaoru landed on one knee from a strong hit behind, she coughed out a small amount of blood and wiped it away. She felt a warm small river of red trickle down her forehead. 'He's strong… he can predict my moves…' Kaoru thought, she wiped away her blood with the back of her hand. She stood and faced Kenshin. Fire met fire. The sky had darkened. "That was impressive Battousai, why aren't your men up to your level?" She sheathed her sword.
Kenshin sheathed his, "They aren't my elite members and I'd prefer that they don't become too strong,"
"Is that so?"
Kenshin nodded and walked towards the stairwell, "Those who become too strong will forget their purpose for life, and may make such a great mistake that they lose that purpose."
Kaoru followed him closely. For a few seconds, Kaoru's expression had sympathy and grief written on it but it quickly vanished. 'Don't be foolish,' She thought, 'I am an independent woman, I won't let any of those tales get to me and I won't let those mistakes repeat.' She looked at her watch, 'Four, I have two hours.' She glanced at Kenshin, 'Did he look at the envelope?' She flicked out a small letter from her sleeve, she had managed to take it back during the fight, 'I didn't mean to leave it there,' Kaoru eyed the envelope that had his name imprinted on it clearly, it had been opened, by her, but she didn't know if Kenshin had seen it.
He sensed Kaoru's ki had vanished and continued walking. He reached the bottom floor of the warehouse and exhaled. 'Kaoru,' the name he didn't exactly know how to put words to. It pissed him so much that he couldn't figure out the girl. She wasn't cruel or kind. She wasn't happy or depressed. At the very moment he could see her sapphire eyes, the ones that blue flames of deep emotions and yearn.
"So you've seen her," Kenka's chocolate brown eyes met Kenshin's. She was leaning against the walls in the shadows.
"What do you mean by that?" Kenshin asked coldly. Kenka had caught him off guard and he didn't like it.
"The real Kaoru," Kenka said briefly, "You've seen a glance of her right?" She sounded slightly mournful. Kenshin kept his stern and cold face. She decided to continue, "She was never like that, the killer, the Akurei, Kaoru once was a normal girl who lived a normal life."
"I don't care," Kenshin said, "I don't need to know someone else's problems. He opened the heavy metal door and slipped passed it. Kenka sighed.
"No one will ever try to care, that is why she is who she is," Kenka said quietly, "No matter how hard the Rising Sun tries to make Kaoru feel happy, she never really is, no one understands her, but no one can understand her if she never speaks." A single tear slid down Kenka's cheek. "But when she speaks, no one listens. She never cries, but the Rising Sun members cry for her."
* * * *
Kaoru was sitting on her motorbike holding the letter in her hands. She couldn't put it into words how to describe it. Sad? Annoying? Happy? She just couldn't pick the words for it. She looked up to the darkening sky and sighed. 'I will prove to you that I am strong enough mother, even if you don't have any faith in me! I don't need you!' Kaoru heard footsteps approaching her and took in steady breaths to calm herself down.
Chanelle walked up behind Kaoru. She noticed Kaoru's hands quickly fold up a piece of paper and hid it in its envelope. "Akurei?" Chanelle saw a small bandage on Kaoru's forehead and a couple of bruises on Kaoru's skin.
"What is it Chanelle?" Kaoru replied calmly. She tucked the envelope in her small back pack. 'I'm going to have to deal with these things later.'
"It's half passed five," Chanelle said, "Should we get going?" Chanelle's shoulder length red hair was tied back into a high ponytail and her emerald green eyes were watching her boss' movements carefully. Something had happened, it was obvious.
Kaoru started the ignition of her vehicle, "Gather the others, there'll be six of us only, we're going to meet the Black Hearts at the edges of our territories. I'll meet the rest of you there." Kaoru could see concern written all over her friend's face. "Don't worry about me; I am capable of taking care of myself."
"Akurei, you're not supposed to go alone," Chanelle said, "It is my job to make sure that you don't get hurt."
Kaoru just smiled and wore on her helmet. "I'll see you there." She sped towards a dark alley. Chanelle sighed and ran back inside the warehouse.
"GIRLS!"
* * * *
"Great, out of all times Toya! You let the girl BINGE when she was supposed to FIGHT tonight," Chanelle sounded really pissed at Toya and very disappointed at Tsubame. Mina had stayed behind to take care of Tsubame. This left only Chanelle, Toya, Kenka and Kaoru fighting against who knows how many.
"Cut me some slack will ya?" Toya replied, "Anyway, what's done is done."
"I'm worried," Kenka said suddenly, causing Toya and Chanelle to immediately focus their attention on her, "Akurei has never ever gone alone, she's been very distant lately and she has been too optimistic. We're supposed to be her body guards as well as her close friends," She skidded to a halt when they reached their destination. It was a large block of dirt land. She sighed and removed her helmet. "I'll tell you later."
Fighting was already intense. The girls looked awestruck at the battlefield. Kaoru has already defeated half of the Black Hearts army. Blood was everywhere; on the dirt, on the tree trunks, on everything. Kaoru was soaked in blood. Her eyes were bright amber. Fear struck them as Kaoru turned to them and signalled them to enter the fight.
"She's not who we knew…" Toya breathed, she was about to collapse. "The Akurei we know would never kill that many… she would've called off the fight by now,"
Kenka gaped at her leader, 'Drenched…'
* * * *
Kaoru's eyes turned back to sapphire. The guilt and pain that she usually felt after a kill slowly returned, but over the years, Kaoru had learnt to hide those emotions and smile instead.
'Who am I? What am I doing?' Kaoru thought as she felt her body stiffen. 'I've killed so many… ten… ten people,' She sheathed her sword and turned to face Misao. She was the same age as Kaoru, with long black hair which was tied back into a braid. Her fierce green eyes glared into Kaoru with anger and horror.
"You killed… my friends," Misao started, "you might as well kill me!" The surviving women in the Black Hearts gasped, one small girl who was probably Tsubame's age took hold of Misao's arm.
"You can't!" She said, "Akumu! (Nightmare; this is the name I've decided for Misao) You can't just give away your life!" She looked like a smaller image of Misao only with dark black violet tinted hair. Her green eyes were pleading at Misao.
Misao gritted her teeth. She drew out her kunai. "Not one of you would even dare to kill me! I'm weak! Don't you get all it?!" Tears were visible. She pushed the girl away and almost slit her own throat. Kaoru quickly grabbed Misao's wrist.
"Don't be foolish," Kaoru said, "I am sorry that I've killed them, I-I am, Misao, if you don't mind, I'll make sure that they'll all get a proper burial." She took the kunai away from Misao by the blade, cutting her hand but she didn't care. "I don't know how I can ever atone," Kaoru said in a small voice.
Misao broke down into tears; she dropped to her knees and cried. The other members from the Black Hearts surrounded their leader and knelt beside Misao. Kaoru turned her head away and closed her eyes.
"Akurei…" Kenka walked towards Kaoru. Chanelle and Toya were just beside Kenka giving concerned looks. "What-what's going on?" Kaoru didn't open her eyes.
"I don't want any of you to see me," She said quietly, "I… want to be… alone for now." Kaoru walked towards the Black Hearts, the group parted revealing the heartbroken Akumu. "Akumu, stand up," Kaoru said demandingly. Misao seemed to obey and got to her feet slowly with the help of the girl and a couple other members. "By now, you would have been killed,"
"I know that…" Misao replied. "Akurei, Black Hearts is at loss, we won't trouble anyone anymore." Misao sighed. She jumped at the aggression from Kaoru's voice.
"Don't be so damn idiotic!" Kaoru scolded. Misao's friends and comrades glared at Kaoru. "You don't give up like that!"
A sudden smirk crept on Misao's face, her blue eyes turned into a deep emerald green. "I'm not that easy to defeat you know?" A kunai flew in the air and into Kaoru's stomach. Kaoru gasped and staggered back with wide eyes. The Black Hearts surrounded Kaoru with their weapons pointed at her.
"Akurei!" The others shouted. They couldn't do anything. Kenka, Toya and Chanelle felt their hearts race as they watch their leader and close friend stand on the edge of death.
"I don't give up Akurei," Misao said with her emerald eyes. She twisted the kunai and pulled it out of Kaoru's stomach. "You will pay for what you have done to us," She kicked Kaoru in the stomach.
"Fight back Akurei!" Toya shouted, "You can't let this happen!"
Kaoru gritted her teeth and bit back her screams of agony. She looked up at Misao emotionlessly. Her hand held over the open wound, blood trickled through her fingers. 'True… so true…' Kaoru recalled the words from Kenshin earlier on.
"Those who become too strong will forget their purpose for life, and may make such a great mistake that they lose that purpose."
"You killed my comrades, friends, family. They were all I had left of my miserable life you know that rich girl?!" Misao said angrily as she kicked Kaoru again. "Life is so ironic! Do you think that I could ever forgive you? Do you think that I could ever forgive your parents?!" She slapped Kaoru across the face. Silence had fallen upon everyone.
"True… so true…" Kaoru whispered. She smiled gently. "No one can ever forgive me," Amber flickered through sapphire. Kaoru counterattacked Misao's next attack and threw the girl to the ground. She gripped Misao by the throat. "No one will forgive me because they never understand me… they see me as a ruthless murderer… is that it?"
A powerful ki rose to deadly heights and everyone took steps away from the two leaders. "Akumu, your hands are bloodied too, do you think that I can forgive you?" Kaoru's eyes narrowed, blood was dripping from her wound. She released her opponent and stood up. "From now on, you'll work for me, Black Hearts will be an element, part of the Rising Sun, trust me in this one Akumu, it's for your own good."
Misao stood up unsteadily. "You think that you can just control me like that?!" Kaoru seemed to be in thought. "You think that just because you're rich and that you have great abilities… you think that you're strong enough to do whatever you wish?!"
"Akumu, it's not the wealth or the ability that makes me strong, I will never be as strong as my… mother," Kaoru hated to admit it, "I'm just lucky that's all." She heard Misao curse under her breath. She smiled to the girl. "It all depends on your heart in the end." Kaoru winced at the pain from her wound and endured it. She held her wound and applied pressure to it to slow the bleeding.
Misao looked up at Kaoru, "How can you smile at a time like this?"
Kaoru didn't say anything, "When a smile isn't a smile, what is it? Akumu, if you'd like to continue being a part of Black Hearts, then you better follow my instructions as now you work for me, you've lost this fight."
Misao gritted her teeth. "What would you want me to do Akurei?" She asked disdainfully.
Kaoru smiled at her, "Go and study at University, take up a job and do what is right. I'm not saying that you should leave the Black Hearts, what I'm saying is that it doesn't have to be this way, we didn't go to school together for nothing, you scored pretty high as well, don't put it to waste. You still have a week to enrol." She smiled one more time at Misao before turning to leave.
"If you think that is such a good idea, why aren't you doing that?" Misao questioned.
Kaoru turned her head to glance at Misao. "Sometimes, the path chosen by one person is so complicated that they are forever lost."
Misao opened her mouth to speak but held back. She bowed her head. "Akurei, I believe that a tragedy can be a disguised blessing. It's easy to say and hard to live by…" There was a moment of silence, "Thank you."
Toya, Chanelle and Kenka rushed to Kaoru before she crashed onto the ground.
* * * *
Fifteen people were waiting in a small white hall. They were all wearing the same black uniform which showed that they were all part of Rising Sun. The white door opened and Mina stepped out.
"Akurei's blood type is O," Mina said, her violet eyes were glassy.
"Is that good?" Toya asked.
"No." Mina said in a shaky tone. "How can you let this happen?!" She was prepared to scream everyone's heads off.
"We'll have to find someone with blood type AB. How long does she have?" Chanelle asked. She wasn't prepared to give up yet.
"She'll have until morning…" Mina said. "I've checked everyone's files. No one here has the right blood type."
"For the sake of our Akurei, we're going to search!" Toya said loudly. "Akurei is strong! She won't die!" The Rising Sun gang cheered. They rushed out of the small medical centre.
* * * *
A man at the age of nineteen was seated opposite of Kenshin. He had black hair that had a tint of violet and his eyes matched the colour. He wore a smile on his face… like always.
"You do know that there is no turning back once you have joined me." Kenshin said coldly. Soujiro nodded. He had been waiting for Kenshin's reply after he made his request. "You'll be expected to remain loyal to Dark Blood for the remaining period of life." Kenshin stood up and was about to leave.
"Have you heard the news baka-deshi?"
Kenshin tightened his fist. His Uncle wasn't the person he wanted to see at the moment. "Heard what?" He said in a cold and deadly tone.
"Jou-chan is in hospital, she needs blood type AB," Hiko said, "Being her Guardian, I suggest that you go and get your blood tested. If memory serves me correctly, you have that blood type." Hiko had been Kaoru's guardian for all of her high school life. The reason was because her parents weren't cooperating and the poor girl had been in the crossfire. She would be walking around with bruises on her face and occasionally was covered with bandages. Hiko decided to take her in.
Kenshin was out of there faster than the eye could see. Soujiro stood from his seat and glanced at Hiko. "Who is Jou-chan? Battousai's lover?"
Hiko laughed. "Yeah right, why would any girl fall for him? Kaoru wouldn't allow anyone reach her. She's as hard as stone."
* * * *
A/N: Another chapter completed! Thanks for all of your reviews! What do you guys think? I gladly accept any suggestions and often will consider them. What I write should be interesting or great for you to read. *smiles* Sorry for the long wait too…
Val: Hope that this chapter answered your question! ^-^ Thanks for reviewing!
hOoTs: Well… *Smiles and scratches the back of head* It's really nice that you love this story… thank you! *bows*
Billabong Bob: *While reading your review* Aa… soudesuka? Thanks for your suggestions! *Smiles* Well, I considered your ideas and thought that they were good ideas. Hiko is Kenshin's Uncle, therefore he is part of Dark Blood anyway, as it was explained above; he was also Kaoru's guardian. I'm still figuring out the gangs, like who should be where so that it's fair as well as considerable. There's going to be more bloodshed coming…
Arizosa: Hope that I didn't keep you waiting too long…
Ina no Miko: You've practically reviewed all of my stories right? Thanks a lot! I love your stories too! (Sorry if I haven't sent any reviews lately 'cos my head's messed up and I've lost track where I need to review…)
Rei: I'm glad that you like this story! And I do value anyone's suggestions too so if you ever have any ideas or even queries just drop them via email or review and I'll think about it. ^-^
Hells-Angel: OMG! Thank you for all of your reviews! You rock!
I must really say that all of you guys RULE! I'll stop blabbing now. Until next update (Which will now be on a weekly basis, every Friday, in fact, all of my updates will be) - Ja!
~Cherry Chibi