Disclaimer: I do not own the Rurouni Kenshin series or any of its creations. However, I do own Mina, Chanelle, Kenka and Toya. ^-^x
Code Catfight – Chapter 7 – By Cherry Chibi
'Good Times Come Down'
* * * *
Kaoru had escaped the rowdiness; she sat at the ledge of the warehouse smiling. She closed her eyes and lifted her head up to allow the cold wind pass her neck and tease her hair. She looked out to the scenery and in a distance; she could just see the city. 'Rooster-head, if only you knew about mother…'
Years ago, when she, Sano and her parents were a family, her mother left for a reason that she didn't know. Leaving Sano and her with their father. Sano gradually forgot about their mother as they grew but Kaoru never did. When she was old enough, she formed Rising Sun and many times met her mother.
Kaoru sighed. She shouldn't let the past swallow her like this. 'From now on, I promise myself that I wouldn't let sad memories take away my happiness like this.' Kaoru smiled and gazed up to the sky. 'Yes, I won't let my memories take away my happiness like that.'
She heard some faint commotion and looked down. She saw a familiar person with black hair in a braid running from women dressed in white. Kaoru narrowed her eyes. 'Mibu Wolves…' She growled. Picking up her sword, she leapt off the ledge and landed on a window ledge halfway before leaping off and landing on the ground.
She heard the familiar person shout.
"I won't let you harm the Black Hearts!"
'Akumu.' Kaoru thought. 'She's still registered into the code no matter what, why didn't she leave this place?' Akurei emerged from within. She soon caught up with Misao.
"Mibu Wolves," Akurei stood in their path, badly injured Misao fell behind her, "Take another step forward and I'll end your lives here."
"You have no right in protecting a traitor," the wolf spat, "Hand that girl over; she has broken the rules of Code Catfight. The trials have passed down judgement. She and Black Hearts will cease existing by tomorrow night."
"SHUT UP!" Akurei unsheathed her sword and with the same motion she slit the woman's throat. Blood sprayed. The woman gripped her neck with wide eyes. Akurei's deadly amber eyes showed no mercy. "You talk by the code. You talk as if the code is everything. My mother created the code intending to help stop the suffering as well as to help a female's potential to her strength." Akurei narrowed her eyes when five other wolves drew their swords.
"You dare insult the…" Another wolf was cut off.
Akurei's husky voice warned them with a very deadly tone. Her ki rose sending knives down everyone's spine. "The code was so successful. Too successful. You let words control you. You let words run your life. Pathetic." Akurei gripped of the hilt of her sword tightly. "I warn you, if I hear or see anyone of you touch Black Hearts or any other group in the way you've been set, I'll make sure you'll all enter hell."
"Bitch!" A wolf hissed. A quick calculation, there were a total of ten wolves.
Akurei killed one woman after the other with a single thrust. She slashed open the fifth wolf's chest and blood rained. The same smell filling Akurei, rotting through her. The feeling burning her skin and soaking through her hair. She didn't allow any of them harm Misao any further.
Her mind screamed on the verge to insanity when the final wave of blood soaked her. Silence washed after that.
Misao's eyes were wide. Akurei… her amber eyes were so filled with fury that she wondered why she hadn't been killed when they both fought. There was something different about to this person.
Akurei took slow steady steps. 'Ten more lives to add to the hundreds.' She thought. Her senses picked up an object flying towards them. She spun around and found a dagger heading straight to Misao. "Watch out!"
Misao turned and the dagger was close to piercing straight through her forehead when another weapon intercepted it. Next, they both saw a slain corpse of a wolf fall from the tree branches. Akurei prepared herself but she turned her attention back to Misao when she heard the girl gasp.
"A kodachi…" Misao said. Her tone was like a sigh with a sweet caress. "Aoshi…"
A tall man with black hair and cobalt blue eyes stepped out from the shadows.
"Okashira," Akurei said briefly. "I assume you know Akumu."
Aoshi only gave a small nod. He sheathed his twin kodachi and lifted Misao from the ground. For a quiet moment, a small conversation occurred between the two. Akurei only heard Misao speak.
"I'm alright."
"Thank you."
Akurei decided that her business was done there and she walked back to the warehouse. She smiled knowing that Misao had someone else who cared for her in such a way. Amber faded to sapphire to a light crystal blue.
* * * *
"Everyone seems to be having a good time," Soujiro said with a smile plastered to his face. He had just arrived at the warehouse and settled.
"But Akurei isn't here." Tsubame said with a worried tone.
"Ugly went up to the roof top to get some fresh air." Yahiko said. He sat next to Tsubame and lifted his head back, "It hasn't been this enjoyable for ages."
The sound of rusty metal hinges twisting silenced the building. All eyes on the doors.
"Jou-chan?" Sano stood from a wooden crate and his eyes narrowed when he saw his younger sister's skin coated with dried blood. Blood dripped from her bangs and chin. He made eye contact with her. Then he saw her. His younger sister who he knew long before the underworld business.
Kaoru lips quivered as she forced a smile. Then she walked into the shadows and vanished quickly. Sano stood up and followed his sister, leaving everyone else in the main room.
Something was going on and he knew it. There was something up, something was changing and twisting his sister.
When he thought that he'd lost her he stopped at a door when he heard the sound of the shower being turned on full blast. The sound of water was followed by a loud clatter of her dropping her sword and the ground. After a while the water was shut off and another tap was turned on full blast. He knocked on the door hard.
"Jou-chan! You alright in there?!" Sano shouted.
After a long pause he heard a small voice reply.
"Yes."
"You don't look like it! What the hell happened?" Sano questioned.
"It was business."
"Don't bullshit with me," Sano warned.
"You don't know about Code Catfight do you?"
Sano decided that he should drop the topic there. He'll talk to her later. Right now, he'd be better off if he allowed Kaoru to cool down. "I'm worried that's all." Then he walked off.
* * * *
Kaoru sat in the bath tub scrubbing her skin although it was already clean. Her face was flushed from the hot steam but she didn't care. The smell was still there. She dunked her head underwater. 'After this, I won't ever have to kill again. Ever!' She thought.
When Kaoru sat back upright she ran her fingers through her hair and checked her hands. There wasn't any blood. The water was clear except for the bubbles caused by the soap and shampoo. She let out a whimper and wrapped her arms around her knees and hid her face.
She looked up when she felt a presence in the room. Her eyes widened, she couldn't say anything. "Toya!"
Toya threw a towel, his feminine face stern (a/n: remember that Toya looks like a female but really is a male, mentioned this in chapter 6). "Get out and dry yourself."
Kaoru wrapped the towel around her body speechless. Toya had turned his back so that she wouldn't feel so embarrassed. His short black blond tipped hair was damp from the steam in the room.
"You've helped me through my hard times. But you never allowed me to help you." Toya said coldly. "Akurei, you better get a hold of yourself!" His feminine voice was filled with anger. "Enough of this emotional crap!" He had brought in a spare change of clothing for her and left it on the bench beside Kaoru. She got dressed.
"I know," Kaoru replied quietly.
"Akurei, you're our leader and therefore we all look up to you." Toya said angrily, "But you are letting us down! If you have problems! You should always know that Rising Sun are there!" Toya turned around, tears visible. "We've all been worried about you and I'm getting sick of it! What the fuck is happening?!"
"You want to know?" Kaoru questioned, her voice was very soft and quiet. It scared Toya. "Tell Rising Sun to meet me in the main room of this warehouse in fifteen minutes. Clear that area. This is a meeting for Rising Sun personnel only."
"Yes Akurei." Toya exited, leaving Kaoru behind.
Kaoru looked at herself in the mirror. She stared at herself. Reflecting through her thoughts. There was only the sound of water draining.
* * * *
The Rising Sun women were all ready. They were all seated in the well lit room. Concerns were spoken and all were waiting anxiously for their leader to come. Altogether, there were 20 women besides Toya.
Questions asked but left unsurely answered.
"Do you think that Akurei is alright?"
"Why do you think Akurei is so different now?"
"Two more minutes. Why do you think Akurei asked for a meeting now?"
"Did you hear Toya yell at Akurei? She's brave to do so."
"Akurei may have needed to be yelled at. To straighten her up ya know?"
"Everyone! Quieten down!" Kenka shouted. The room fell silent. "We will now wait in silence. Akurei will be here soon."
* * * *
"Battousai, what do you think they're gonna speak about?" Sano asked Kenshin. The two were seated outside the window along with all the members of both Dark Blood and Street Fighters.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure that we'd both like to know," Kenshin said, "However Zanza, it's probably best if Akurei tells us herself."
"I doubt, it, she might tell us a different story." Yahiko interjected.
"Shh… they've silenced." Sano said.
* * * *
Kaoru was still staring at her reflection. Her hands gripped tightly to the edge of the bench. Her knuckles turned white. Her eyes flickered from amber to blue repeatedly in frenzy.
* * * *
Back in the main room, Rising Sun waited silently. "One more minute." Tsubame said.
"ARGH!!!!"
A loud scream filled the building. A ki rose to deadliest of deadly heights. Lights flicked with a couple exploding. Window shutters flew open and tables and other objects shifted position slightly. The sound of glass shattering pitched through their ears.
Rising Sun stood when the saw Kaoru enter the room. Blood red eyes filled with a cold anger. She walked up to the front of the room and leapt on top of the pile of crates. She took a seat. Her knuckles on her right hand were grazed and were bleeding.
Kaoru's voice was rich with anger that was so cold it burned everyone. "I suppose that all of you have questions." She said, her face was calm but her eyes and voice were strongly different. "I'll explain tonight."
* * * *
"Son of a bitch! What the hell was that?" Sano gritted his teeth. "What the hell is going on?"
Battousai listened in. "Looks like Akurei has cleared herself up."
The men were awestruck.
* * * *
"We will get rid of the code." Kaoru said, "We will end this code the way that my mother had installed it."
"How would we do that Akurei?" Tsubame asked.
Kaoru smirked. She tilted her head back and laughed. Her laugh terrorized her friends further. It was uncharacteristic. "It only takes a powerful group to take over and then change everything. Mibu Wolves are the ones who are ruling the code now. We only need to get rid of them and then take control."
Mina gritted her teeth and was about to object. Kenka took hole of Mina's shoulder and shook her head. Mina settled forcefully and glared at the ground.
"After we take full control, we will remove the code, discharge all registrations. Those who depend on the code with their life will get support from their families since 99 percent of the listed women are 25 years or younger. When we're sure that the code is ceased, we remove ourselves from our positions and go our separate ways." Kaoru's face was hidden under the shadows of her bangs.
"That is Rising Sun's goal. Once it is achieved, Rising Sun will part off different directions. We would no longer be assassins or women of the underworld." Kaoru looked up and smiled at everyone. "We'll be normal people who are independent, capable of living our own lives the way we want to."
"I apologise if I have been worrying all of you," Kaoru stood, "Everything is clear now. I thank you all for supporting me." She leapt off the crates and landed gracefully on the ground. "Dismissed. Kenka, Toya, Mina and Tsubame, remain."
* * * *
"This is crazy Akurei." Mina said, "You say it as if it's easy."
"It is." Kaoru replied coldly.
"Right, then the six of us will part and lead different factions around to exterminate Mibu Wolves' bases." Tsubame said. Her eyes were bright with enthusiasm.
"And then when we're done, we all meet back here." Toya continued. He smiled.
"Two months it is. Akurei we all have deep trust in you." Kenka said. "Take care of yourself."
"I will." Kaoru said.
"I give up. We'll follow your orders. We've worked out the listings? Good. So we'll all leave tomorrow morning." Mina said. She folded a piece of paper and tucked it into her pocket. "But why don't you have anyone from Rising Sun with you Akurei?"
"It will be best if I keep a low profile. I'll also be having a chat with some of our possible allies." Kaoru replied. "We're done."
They stood and greeted each other good night.
* * * *
"Kenshin," Kaoru whispered when she heard someone come up behind her. She was brushing out her wet locks of raven-hair while seated on her bed looking out the window.
Kenshin didn't say anything; instead he took a seat beside her. He didn't know what to say to her anymore. She had amazing courage and strength. 'A courageous girl… but she risks too much.' He thought. 'I should stop denying it; I know that I love her…'
"You're angry with me aren't you?" Kaoru questioned. She brushed a lock of hair and tried to get rid of the knots. "I'm sure that my sudden outburst caused a stir."
"I'm not angry at you," Kenshin said quietly.
Kaoru sighed. She paused for a moment before she continued to brush her hair. Kenshin placed a hand on her wrist and stopped her movements. "Things don't have to be this way." Kenshin said calmly, "I want to tell you that…" he stammered.
Kaoru eyed him with her crystal blue eyes. "Yes?"
"I want to tell you that…" Kenshin tried again. 'Damn it; just say it out loud will you?' "That-that I-I…"
"What is it?"
"That I've enjoyed your company," Kenshin rasped out. Now he was feeling stupid. 'Why can't I say it out?'
"That is not what you wanted to say. You're stammering so much that it can't possibly be that." Kaoru said with a giggle.
"Well, I guess that I'm not used to saying such things." Kenshin tried to get the embarrassment to end but it seemed impossible. He stood up quickly, "Good night."
Kaoru placed her brush down and stood as well. "Good night Kenshin." She led him to the door.
'Last chance baka…' Kenshin thought. Just as he stepped out of the doorway he turned around and opened his mouth to speak but he copped a punch in a face. "ORO?"
"What the hell were you doing in Jou-Chan's room?!" Sano boomed.
"He was only talking you Rooster-head!" Kaoru punched Sano in the stomach. He flinched and she rushed to Kenshin, he had a large bruise forming on his right cheek. "Are you alright Kenshin?"
"Che, you didn't have to hit me Jou-chan." Sano said, "Alright, I guess that I better head to my room. Night." He continued walking down the hallway.
Kaoru shook her head. She gingerly placed a hand over Kenshin's right cheek. "I'm sorry about that."
"I'll be alright." Kenshin stood straight. "Good night Kaoru… oro?"
Kaoru kissed Kenshin's right cheek gently. "Just to make it feel better, good night Kenshin." She smiled at him before re-entering her bedroom and closing the door behind her gently.
Kenshin's face heated up. He mentally kicked himself and continued to walk through the halls towards his room.
* * * *
A/N: I've finally updated!!! ^o^x Hope you guys and gals enjoyed this chapter! Thanks for all of the reviews. I didn't answer any reviews in this chapter 'cos I've been working on my school work as well as my website. I've got one made just for my RK fanfiction. Check my profile for the link. Anywayz, ciao!
~ Cherry Chibi