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 12 – By Cherry Chibi
AN: Hey everyone! I'm back! Sorry for ALL late updates. Most of your probably would of forgotten me right? -.-; Well, I'm so relieved now 'cos EXAMS ARE OVER! Yeah! Now I can't relax and hopefully update more often. Enjoy the chapter!
'Strength Combined'
* * * *
Kaoru strapped on her sword and brushed her hair back into a braid. She felt reassured and serene inside her. It was Kenshin that she had to thank. She knew that if it wasn't for him, she would probably be under a wreck of insanity or maybe a manslayer with only the taste for blood. She couldn't imagine herself without him. Last night, Kaoru had thought that everything was done for. Last night, she had thought that she could no longer trust herself. She looked into her mirror and smiled at Kenshin's reflection; he was leaning against the wall behind her smiling back.
"Kaoru, we're going to have to find a way to get the others back." Kenshin said calmly. She had caught the change of his tone. It was warmer.
"Persephone's base is in Tokyo now. The base that you had thought about had been abandoned recently." Kaoru replied. She turned and faced him. "We're going to have to find a way to get there as soon as possible without any enemies getting in the way as much as it can be avoided."
"I believe that Aoshi would help." Kenshin said. "The Oniwabanshuu are after all, the best spies and know many ways to get around unnoticed."
Kaoru nodded. "I'll give him a call."
"I'll tell my men to prepare themselves, just in case." Kenshin added.
* * * *
Kaoru stepped out of the warehouse wearing her uniform of black and armed with only her sword. Kenshin followed her soon after. Most of the Dark Blood personnel had been sent off to their destinations and their plans were set. Kaoru had spoken with Aoshi and negotiated with him. She had gotten a better response than she thought. Aoshi would be fighting along side them.
She had checked up with Rising Sun and had organised to meet everyone in Tokyo where they would be able to hopefully end the fight. "It would be a long time before we come back here right?" Kaoru asked Kenshin.
"We might not come back." Kenshin said. "If we succeed in this, we wouldn't have to come back. Instead, we could move out to the countryside if that is what you'd like to do." He smiled when Kaoru turned to him with a surprised expression. He added, "I have a residence in the countryside that had been given to me by my parents. I had seen it but I've never lived in it. I suppose I thought that I wasn't ready."
"Alright," Kaoru said with a happy smile, "But first, there is one place that I would have to go to first." She walked along the gravel pathway, "I want to go alone, I promise to come back as soon as I can!"
* * * *
Kenshin waited unsurely for a while. Should he leave her be? Unfamiliar ki shot to his senses. Maybe he shouldn't.
* * * *
Kaoru knelt in front of her mother's grave. A wooden cross marked the grave with several fresh flowers lying beneath it. "Mother…" She closed her eyes and clasped her hands together in prayer.
Thank you for everything that you have done for me. I thank you for teaching me to become strong. Thank you. I bid you farewell.
She opened her eyes. "I don't have any flowers to offer to you, but… I will next time."
"Akurei!"
Kaoru stood and turned around. Before her stood a woman in red uniform, she had short brown hair and was armed with the nunchaku. Immediately Kaoru recognised her. "Shuura."
"I have questions," Shuura stated, "Do you know what the Mibu Wolves are doing out in the city? They're taking over the underground zones." She narrowed her eyes at Kaoru. "If it weren't for your disruptions during the Trials then maybe your mother would have survived. Haven't you got a clue what Blair meant? She was the one who held Persephone back from doing such actions like now."
Kaoru gritted her teeth. "What are you trying to say? That I should've stayed out of it and waited for my death?"
"It may have been better that way Akurei." Shuura seethed. "Blair had received a lot of respect from everyone and because of that, Persephone held back."
"There's nothing we can do about the past. Right now, I am going to fight against Persephone instead of whining about the past." Kaoru replied sharply, "Don't blame anything on me." She walked passed Shuura.
"That is why I, along with Flight will battle alongside you." Shuura said, her voice was still filled with rage. "Flight personnel have been getting murdered one by one by Wolves."
Kaoru stopped. "Very well, Persephone's base is at Tokyo. Dark Blood, Rising Sun, Street Fighters, Black Hearts, Poison Vixens and Oniwabanshuu are going to be there. I know very well that Persephone's group is going to be at least 1500 members surrounding the area. But I know that we have a good chance of winning. Planning will take place at the Sub-Trials tonight."
Shuura nodded before vanishing from sight.
Kaoru continued walking. 'I have to win this. I have to change the code for the sake of all the women who have been registered. Future generations are also being under threat.' A while later, she found Kenshin waiting for her at the warehouse and smiled.
'I have to win for us.'
* * * *
Kaoru, Kenshin, Aoshi and Hannya were rushing through the underground tunnels. Kaoru glanced at her watch. '7 o'clock. Alright, the plan is set to go.' Kaoru recalled every single word spoken at the meeting. She narrowed her eyes with determination. 'The battle is going to be big.'
"This is plan, Okashira, you'll bring your people in and rescue them with the Poison Vixens, Black Hearts and Street Fighters backing you up." Kaoru said, "Once you have got them back, get out of the area straight away."
"Alright." Aoshi nodded. "Hannya, you'll help."
Hannya nodded.
"Shuura, your people will be support. Watch our backs alright?" Kaoru said.
"Sure thing." Shuura replied.
"After we've saved the others, I want everyone to clear from the area, I'll handle the rest." Kaoru said, "Make sure that Rising Sun get out of their as well."
"I'll help." Kenshin said coldly. Kaoru shot Kenshin an unsure glance. "Kaoru, we're in this together."
"Kaoru," Kenshin whispered to her as they pressed their backs against the wall and peeked over the corner. Kaoru spotted a few Wolves on patrol. Kenshin however, sensed another few other ki that concerned him. He recognised them and didn't like it at all. "Kaoru," He whispered again.
"Yes?" Kaoru finally replied.
"Promise me that you won't draw your sword." Kenshin said, "I'll only let you draw it to fight Persephone." He made stern eye contact with her, not backing down on his command.
"Kenshin, but if I don't-,"
"I don't want you to draw your sword," Kenshin said, "Don't worry." Kaoru looked at Kenshin horrified. How was he expecting her not to draw her sword? There must have been many in their and surely Kenshin couldn't take them all on. Especially with her there.
"Kenshin, then what's the point of me coming here if I can't fight?" Kaoru asked slightly outraged as well as confused.
"Promise me that. Don't worry. I'll protect you." Kenshin said. Kaoru paused for a moment. "Promise me."
"I-I… promise." Kaoru choked out.
"Thank you." Kenshin kissed her gently on the lips. "Stay here and I'll get rid of those in the way. You can follow me afterwards." Within less that a millisecond, Kenshin vanished around the corner to Kaoru's amazement. The only thing she saw was his amber eyes. She peered around the corner and only saw corpses. He was going to reveal the real Battousai.
She didn't feel fear however. It was almost as if she had expected it. After receiving a signal from Kenshin, she ran around the corner and sprinted to him. She took in her surroundings of Persephone's base. It was bigger than she had expected. Almost like 3 warehouses put together with many Wolves on patrol.
She was about to move to the next area when a sight froze her. Among the four corpses was…
"Kenshin, why would there be a male in the Mibu Wolve's type of uniform?" Kaoru asked.
Kenshin frowned. "Saitoh..."
* * * *
AN: Another chapter! I'd like to thank all of your for the reviews and support! I'm seriously having so much fun writing this fic. Now that my exams are over, I can get back on track. I've lost my sense of direction lately so yeah… my apologies to whoever I missed replying to, I usually work on several computers so I lose track sometimes…
Moonlight's Sorrow: I'm soooo sorry about not replying to your review! So very, very sorry! *bows million times* I must have gotten all of my files real mixed up. But thank you all the same! Oh, and about your thoughts on the lemon, *cringes* To be honest, I don't know what exactly the definitions are for lime, lemon, waff, taff etc. So I was kinda working off reading experience. ;-; And… I know it's a bit late but Happy Birthday to you. Lol.
Noner_89: Oh no, you didn't bug me at all. Lol. *smiles* Thanks for your reviews and I hope that this chapter was a good read. ^.-
Rurouni Kaoru Kenshin's Love: Phew. Thanks for your feedback. ^-^x I am so relieved. And yeah, I've read that fic as well. So I know what you mean.
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Fanfiction Wanderer: Thanks. *smiles* And yeah, I do read LGS' fics. They're cool and I love them too. ^-^x
Billabong Bob: LMAO. You were kidding?!!!! You do not know how much you made me freak out when I saw that review. *shakes head* However, I was willing to try something different. Thanks for the reading!
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Arizosa: (I know that probably you'd want to kill me for a really late update now… but I haven't been visited by the Mistress of Torture so… *hides in the closet*) Thanks for the review. I was glad that you found it alright. And yeah, I know what you mean when you said that you get embarrassed reading them. I do too. Thanks for reading!
Thanks everyone! I hope to update really soon! (Damn, I wonder how many times I've update late… I hate updating late….)
~ Cherry Chibi