Author's Note's: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. It is owned by Watsuki
Nobuhiro, Shueisha, Fuji-TV and SPE Visual Works.
I'm touched by your comments and reviews for the story. I hope that you will enjoy the rest of it. I promise to update the story this coming weekend before I go off to Burning Man. Tra-la-la.
Chapter 5: The Wolf and His Prey
"Kamiya Kasshin Ryu," Okita murmured softly as he read the sign. He bent his head down as he recalled Yamazaki's whispered words.
// Kamiya Koshijiro owns a dojo where he teaches the Kasshin Ryu. An honest and devoted family man, he lost his wife a few years ago and was left to raise their daughter. Since then, he has been teaching her his style of swordsmanship and this created quite a stir in town. Unconventional, some have noted his loyalties may not lie with the Shogunate although there has been no concrete proof of this. He may be trouble in the future. //
Distantly, he heard the young woman beside him. "You don't have to accept my invitation." He looked up and watched as she stepped through the gates with her greeting. Tadaima!
A faint response of 'Okaeri nasai' was heard somewhere in the house.
** He may be trouble in the future. ** his mind recalled the veiled order to execute this man if he so much as makes a fuss at their inspection. But the inspection wasn't supposed to happen until much later. He had already counted the various entryways into the compound earlier when he and his men had passed it. Okita let out a sigh as he paused before the door.
Kaoru, in the meantime, was already halfway through the front yard when she noticed his hesitation. Turning back towards the door, she watched as his small frame seemed to slump forward and heard a sigh.
"Are you alright? Kaoru stopped in mid-sentence and Okita frowned for a second.
"Ara?" He inquired softly. "What is it?"
"I'm very sorry. I completely forgot to ask you for your name." Kaoru bowed in apology with a tinge of embarrassment. "I guess that woman at the market was right. After all that you have done on my behalf, I didn't even think to ask you for your name." She kept her eyes to the ground and didn't say another word.
Okita regarded her for a moment before a smile touched his face once again. The young woman had spirit but she also possessed a kind and generous heart. She was also very beautiful and with her head bowed, he was unable to see her eyes. Her eyes were full of life when they were talking about kenjitsu and sensing nature.
In the silence that followed, Kaoru started to feel more and more nervous about her mistake. She had been disrespectful and her father will be disappointed. More than that, she was disrespectful to a Shinsengumi officer. What type of punishment would that entail? Maybe she would get thrown in jail. Or worse executed. Weren't they suppose to be cruel and without mercy?
"Soushi." His words broke through her thoughts. "My name is Okita Soushi. Pleased to meet you."
Koshijiro padded softly to the front courtyard. He heard his daughter's entrance and the footsteps of another closely following. A sharp spike in that person's ki registered in his mind. Alarm quickly spread through his body as he forced himself to go just a bit faster, without appearing to be in too much haste, and he soon came to the front yard. Kaoru was standing with someone that possessed an incredible spirit and this didn't necessarily mean that it was a bad thing, its just that he would feel more comfortable if he knew that his Kaoru-hime was safe. Rounding the corner, the first glimpse he got of the pair was of the blue and white uniform of the Shinsengumi officer.
'Okita Soushi', his mind whispered the name as he filtered the information he knew about this person. Captain of the 1st squad of the Shinsengumi. He was a genius with the sword, bokken and shinai. The Wolves of Mibu are indeed in Edo and the rumor is now a fact. And the fact of the matter was standing in his front yard next to his daughter.
"Kaoru!" he bit out a little sharper than he had intended. The wolf said nothing but raised his head towards his prey. For a moment, their eyes met - Okita peering into the older man's face, searching for an answer to his unspoken challenge.
Koshijiro, for his part, met his gaze with his own intensity. He did not flinch or let his eyes look away. No, he had made a promise to protect Kaoru's future and her happiness as well. He was ready for the consequences and he silently willed his daughter to move away before their inevitable battle happened. It was only a few seconds later when Kaoru moved towards her father in greeting. In contrast, it had felt like an eternity between the two men.
"'Tousan!" Kaoru grinned as she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Okita- san and his men need a place to stay for tonight. We have room, right? I told him that he should accept it from one samurai to another." Her father's attention was still on the Shinsengumi captain but it quickly turned towards her as she spoke.
"You taught me to develop an understanding for everything," she whispered knowingly as she touched her father's arm, giving it a squeeze before moving to stand next to him.
Koshijiro did not have time to let his daughter's words sink in before Okita stepped forward and interrupted them. "Of course, Kamiya-san," Okita bowed before a smile appeared, apologetically. "I had refused the offer." He did not miss the affectionate smile Kaoru had given her father and suddenly wished he was someone else.
He wished that he could have her smile for him just the way she was doing now. Suddenly, he wished that he was just an ordinary swordsman. An ordinary life and free to love whoever he wished to love and maybe someday deserve to love someone as wonderful as Kaoru. But he was who he was and he would just have to content himself with her smile and leave immediately. "Our business in Edo has already been concluded and there is no need for us to stay the night." Okita answered cheerfully.
Kaoru's father raised his eyebrow slightly but did not comment. "It was my pleasure to escort your beautiful daughter safely home." Kaoru's mouth opened to protest as he quickly turned and made his way towards the door. In his mind, there was no point in staying in Edo any longer and they can leave at first night. He had already planned what to say when he reports back to Kyoto. "I shall be on my way now."
He caught the sounds of hurried sandals coming behind him. "At least stay for lunch," Kaoru persisted. She did not know why she had asked him to stay except for the fact that he had helped her earlier this morning. He turned back to her and had in his mind to decline the invitation. Staying any longer would make it more difficult for him to leave Edo.
"It's my birthday today." Kaoru persisted. "'Tousan was going to make my favorite dishes for lunch and it would be nice to have more people celebrate with me."
Okita raised his head towards the older man and cocked his head questioningly. "I'm afraid you have to forgive my daughter, Capt. Okita. Once she gets an idea in her head, it is very hard for her to let go."
"'Tousan!" Kaoru turned a little red from embarrassment.
The young captain smiled again as she turned towards him with her embarrassed grin. He heard the loneliness in her voice as she explained about her birthday and could not find it in his heart to refuse. He shook his head briefly before smiling once again. "I shall stay for lunch then."
I'm touched by your comments and reviews for the story. I hope that you will enjoy the rest of it. I promise to update the story this coming weekend before I go off to Burning Man. Tra-la-la.
Chapter 5: The Wolf and His Prey
"Kamiya Kasshin Ryu," Okita murmured softly as he read the sign. He bent his head down as he recalled Yamazaki's whispered words.
// Kamiya Koshijiro owns a dojo where he teaches the Kasshin Ryu. An honest and devoted family man, he lost his wife a few years ago and was left to raise their daughter. Since then, he has been teaching her his style of swordsmanship and this created quite a stir in town. Unconventional, some have noted his loyalties may not lie with the Shogunate although there has been no concrete proof of this. He may be trouble in the future. //
Distantly, he heard the young woman beside him. "You don't have to accept my invitation." He looked up and watched as she stepped through the gates with her greeting. Tadaima!
A faint response of 'Okaeri nasai' was heard somewhere in the house.
** He may be trouble in the future. ** his mind recalled the veiled order to execute this man if he so much as makes a fuss at their inspection. But the inspection wasn't supposed to happen until much later. He had already counted the various entryways into the compound earlier when he and his men had passed it. Okita let out a sigh as he paused before the door.
Kaoru, in the meantime, was already halfway through the front yard when she noticed his hesitation. Turning back towards the door, she watched as his small frame seemed to slump forward and heard a sigh.
"Are you alright? Kaoru stopped in mid-sentence and Okita frowned for a second.
"Ara?" He inquired softly. "What is it?"
"I'm very sorry. I completely forgot to ask you for your name." Kaoru bowed in apology with a tinge of embarrassment. "I guess that woman at the market was right. After all that you have done on my behalf, I didn't even think to ask you for your name." She kept her eyes to the ground and didn't say another word.
Okita regarded her for a moment before a smile touched his face once again. The young woman had spirit but she also possessed a kind and generous heart. She was also very beautiful and with her head bowed, he was unable to see her eyes. Her eyes were full of life when they were talking about kenjitsu and sensing nature.
In the silence that followed, Kaoru started to feel more and more nervous about her mistake. She had been disrespectful and her father will be disappointed. More than that, she was disrespectful to a Shinsengumi officer. What type of punishment would that entail? Maybe she would get thrown in jail. Or worse executed. Weren't they suppose to be cruel and without mercy?
"Soushi." His words broke through her thoughts. "My name is Okita Soushi. Pleased to meet you."
Koshijiro padded softly to the front courtyard. He heard his daughter's entrance and the footsteps of another closely following. A sharp spike in that person's ki registered in his mind. Alarm quickly spread through his body as he forced himself to go just a bit faster, without appearing to be in too much haste, and he soon came to the front yard. Kaoru was standing with someone that possessed an incredible spirit and this didn't necessarily mean that it was a bad thing, its just that he would feel more comfortable if he knew that his Kaoru-hime was safe. Rounding the corner, the first glimpse he got of the pair was of the blue and white uniform of the Shinsengumi officer.
'Okita Soushi', his mind whispered the name as he filtered the information he knew about this person. Captain of the 1st squad of the Shinsengumi. He was a genius with the sword, bokken and shinai. The Wolves of Mibu are indeed in Edo and the rumor is now a fact. And the fact of the matter was standing in his front yard next to his daughter.
"Kaoru!" he bit out a little sharper than he had intended. The wolf said nothing but raised his head towards his prey. For a moment, their eyes met - Okita peering into the older man's face, searching for an answer to his unspoken challenge.
Koshijiro, for his part, met his gaze with his own intensity. He did not flinch or let his eyes look away. No, he had made a promise to protect Kaoru's future and her happiness as well. He was ready for the consequences and he silently willed his daughter to move away before their inevitable battle happened. It was only a few seconds later when Kaoru moved towards her father in greeting. In contrast, it had felt like an eternity between the two men.
"'Tousan!" Kaoru grinned as she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Okita- san and his men need a place to stay for tonight. We have room, right? I told him that he should accept it from one samurai to another." Her father's attention was still on the Shinsengumi captain but it quickly turned towards her as she spoke.
"You taught me to develop an understanding for everything," she whispered knowingly as she touched her father's arm, giving it a squeeze before moving to stand next to him.
Koshijiro did not have time to let his daughter's words sink in before Okita stepped forward and interrupted them. "Of course, Kamiya-san," Okita bowed before a smile appeared, apologetically. "I had refused the offer." He did not miss the affectionate smile Kaoru had given her father and suddenly wished he was someone else.
He wished that he could have her smile for him just the way she was doing now. Suddenly, he wished that he was just an ordinary swordsman. An ordinary life and free to love whoever he wished to love and maybe someday deserve to love someone as wonderful as Kaoru. But he was who he was and he would just have to content himself with her smile and leave immediately. "Our business in Edo has already been concluded and there is no need for us to stay the night." Okita answered cheerfully.
Kaoru's father raised his eyebrow slightly but did not comment. "It was my pleasure to escort your beautiful daughter safely home." Kaoru's mouth opened to protest as he quickly turned and made his way towards the door. In his mind, there was no point in staying in Edo any longer and they can leave at first night. He had already planned what to say when he reports back to Kyoto. "I shall be on my way now."
He caught the sounds of hurried sandals coming behind him. "At least stay for lunch," Kaoru persisted. She did not know why she had asked him to stay except for the fact that he had helped her earlier this morning. He turned back to her and had in his mind to decline the invitation. Staying any longer would make it more difficult for him to leave Edo.
"It's my birthday today." Kaoru persisted. "'Tousan was going to make my favorite dishes for lunch and it would be nice to have more people celebrate with me."
Okita raised his head towards the older man and cocked his head questioningly. "I'm afraid you have to forgive my daughter, Capt. Okita. Once she gets an idea in her head, it is very hard for her to let go."
"'Tousan!" Kaoru turned a little red from embarrassment.
The young captain smiled again as she turned towards him with her embarrassed grin. He heard the loneliness in her voice as she explained about her birthday and could not find it in his heart to refuse. He shook his head briefly before smiling once again. "I shall stay for lunch then."
