AN: Well this chapter took it's sweet time wouldn't you agree? I'm so sorry that this took forever but really time is being to be a very precious commodity right now. *sigh* Well this is the second to the last chapter of Heart of a Wolf and this chapter wasn't supposed to end where it does, but I just couldn't bring myself to make it longer than 10 pages. I don't want to bore all you readers to death. In a way this chapter has nothing to do with the previous chapters and you may find it kind of odd, but it sort of works. Well be on the look out for the last and final chapter which may come in 2 weeks (not next week but the week after is my Spring Break!! YAAY! \^0^/ ::cheers::)
Well as promised Sex Scene #3 makes its appearance:
Kaoru licked her lips in anticipation as Kenshin approached her. His face was determined but teasing as he advanced on her fully intending on taking her. Kaoru backed up against the wall her heart racing inside her heaving chest. She wasn't quite sure if she was ready for this even though she wanted it, she really wanted it. Her skin was slick with sweat and her heart fluttered within her tight chest. Kenshin was nearly upon her when Kaoru finally managed to steel her nerves blushing brightly. "Kaoru-dono..." Kenshin whispered huskily his dark violet eyes brimmed with gold and desire. Warmth spread through her reaching from her head to her toes as she took in his strong muscular form. He then smiled at her and her breath caught in her throat. "You can't be afraid of cooking lessons." "Mou easy for you to say Kenshin! You're food doesn't try to eat you!" Kaoru complained not wanting to really enter the kitchen.
Okay so that wasn't really a sex scene, but I couldn't come up with something better! ;_;
Disclaimers: I don't own Kenshin and most likely never will. If I did I would never show it on Toonami... EVER.
AN 3/20: Um... okay this may sound very weird but I think part of the ending of this chapter was erased when I uploaded it. ^^;; Did everyone read the Rain Scene? If not hopefully ::crosses fingers:: it's here.
Heart of a Wolf
Ch.11
Somewhere in the back of his mind, Saitou felt as if this was all some bizarre twisted dream and that he would wake up any moment to find himself in his office, behind the heavy oak desk. That he would find his wife was still living and Shiori adored him to no end. But this wasn't a dream and it wasn't going to end that way.
It was this little girl that was the source for his internal warfare. All the way home the Miburo wolf had carried his cub home noticing the light weight load and enjoying the caress of feather soft hair. Human contact. He had missed it, missed it more than he had known until he had the chance. She had not yet graced him with a song of sadness, gratefulness nor one of protest. The small wolf cub had lapsed into silence, her cries immediately vanishing at his simple act leaving him a deep hurtful silence.
Saitou wasn't one for flowery emotions and frilly feelings, yet he felt drawn to these so-called 'nuisances' like a moth to a flame. Tokio had been the first woman to teach him the value of such things yet his demeanor never changed nor had she subjected him to. Shiori however was not Tokio and though she walked and had her mother's gestures it was his spirit that ran through her veins and fueled her to live. And it was his spirit that wanted these emotions and verbal assertions of things he never had to voice before. The moth to the flame.
He had become a wolf during the first days of the Bakumatsu, burying his emotions deep within, never letting them surface. During those days emotions could stab you in the back shaper than any katana, so they were to be ridden off and killed before they could kill you. But Tokio had changed all that. She had dug her sharp nails into his heart causing him to bleed every time he was with her, every time he was without her. She had managed to somehow tame the wolf with her wit and charm but most of all her emotional responses. Saitou is often misunderstood and thought to be without emotions. However he does not lack emotions he just merely could not express them like others. So he sought them out of people, craving and devouring each feeling. Taunting emotions that he could not freely show. Which is why the silence killed him. It seeped into his bones leaving him with a cold numbness, wrapping its icy fingers around his heart and squeezing tightly.
Shiori was usually so vocal about whatever it was that delighted or bothered her, what she loved or loathed, what made her happy or sad… Saitou had turned his only daughter into a shell of emotionless void in his presence. She never spoke to him anymore, excluded him from her life. But it was not as if he didn't blame her, he had done the same thing to her. A twisted thought reasoned that this was Shiori's revenge, a punishment that was a slap in his face. However, he knew that she was incapable of doing such things, wasn't she?
Saitou pondered on that thought, he very well didn't know her anymore. He didn't know her favorite foods, flower, not that he bothered with those sentiments, but his knowledge of her character eluded him. Was she patient? Caring? Kind? Did she jump to conclusions or think things through? Was she quick to anger? To hate? What he could gather about her he knew from his time with her, which was not very often and even then there was a mask that she placed for him and only him of that he was sure. How much had she changed from the spirited young girl he had first known he didn't know, but he was determined to find out and correct his mistakes.
As soon as Saitou had stepped into his house Shiori jumped out of his grasp as if a flame had licked her skin. She apologized profusely about causing such a scene, never letting him interject his thoughts. She then quickly dash away towards the kitchen like she often did closing herself from him, shutting him out of her life.
Saitou stood there in the empty foyer listening to his own heartbeat thump in rhythm with the clock. The Miburo's wolf suddenly looked as old as he felt, his shoulders sagged heavy and he could feel the lines under his eyes wrinkle in annoyance. He silently followed his daughter into her refuge determined to solve this problem or at least get some answers.
Upon entering he watched her scurry from one end of the kitchen to another like a frightened mouse. There was stiffness in her posture that told of the emotions she held in, she had built a fortress around her heart. The small child didn't even register his presence, as she was busy focused on preparing lunch for the two of them. The clangs of lacquered chopsticks against iron pans filled the silence yet could not compete with the sound of hurt and anger in the air.
Saitou cleared his throat interrupting the rhythmic pattern that Shiori had with her getas and the cooking materials. The dark haired child gasped loudly twirling around quickly her gaze landing on her slim father. She shook and the pan that she had been ready to place on the wooden counter that she now leaned against, fell to the floor clattering upon contact.
Shiori could feel her eyes grow wide at the sound but she couldn't tear her eyes away from her father. How long had he been standing there? Was he mad? Did he hate her? No… she knew he loved her… right? Her heart pounded in her chest and her breath came in shallow gasps. She watched as a frown crossed his sharp features causing her chest to constrict tightly effectively stopping her lungs. Tears stung her golden eyes and she swallowed them down yet the simple act caused her nerves to liquefy and vibrate throughout her body making her tremble fiercely.
Saitou's frown deepened as he watched his little cub, his face drawn tight and amber eyes narrowed slightly. Shiori bowed her head and a sob escaped her lips. Saitou pinched the bridge of his nose with two long fingers. He could be so stupid sometimes. The lanky swordsman had always known that his expressions were often fierce and held little comfort, but he had forgotten that for the briefest of moments.
Shiori sunk to her knees under his gaze and attempted to gather the metal pan with shuddering fingers. Saitou sighed and shook his head stepping towards the frightened child with two long strides.
The pan clattered on the ground several times as Shiori attempted to pick it up and Saitou tried to help, only causing the pan to slip from their fingers even more. They both began to grow frustrated with the uncooperative dishware and nervous with the silence between them. Finally at his wits end, Saitou snatched the offending pot ware with one quick flash of his hand, snapping it back hitting the counter beside him with such force that in retaliation to the harsh treatment the counter dropped several radishes on his head.
Shiori tried to not giggle at the sight of seeing her father unconsciously pout as dakon radishes landed from his head to the floor with soft bopping noises. She ended up snorting instead causing her father to raise an eyebrow at her. Shiori bit her bottom lip silencing the bubbling sensation building up in her and avoided his piercing gaze.
Saitou sighed and placed the pot gently back on the ground before lifting his daughter's face to look at him. His calloused fingers slid from the bottom of her chin to brush some of the dark bangs away from her wide eyes. She looked so much like her mother that it hurt slightly.
Shiori didn't understand what was going on. She remembered a time when her father used to caress her face like this but that was so long ago that she felt that an entire lifetime had passed since he had last done this. Her lip quivered slightly, she missed her father, missed what she used to share with him. She missed the comfort that he could provide, filling the void of not having her mother with her.
"I'm sorry."
The dark haired wolf cub had to stop and think for a little while. Did she say it or was it him? It sounded like her voice maybe it was her, she wasn't quite sure. She was sorry. Sorry for making such a scene, sorry for interrupting someone else's life, sorry for making him suffer. She was sorry that she had caused him to push her away.
Saitou shook his head and leaned his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. "Forgive me." Shiori cried. Those two words had broken all her barriers for she knew what he meant. She never should have doubted him. Her father was one of few words but true emotions. He loved her, protected her, and would do anything for her. She knew that, he didn't have to tell her. She only had to listen.
Shiori wrapped her chubby arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. She had forgotten his sent of smoke and him. Saitou wrapped her in an embrace that was firm yet gentle. He suddenly remembered how tiny she really was. How fragile she could be. He had forgotten that she was not Tokio but Shiori, his little girl that needed him immensely. He decided then that he would not leave her behind like he had done so many times, but he would protect this little angel with his presence. He would need to speak with the chief of police tomorrow. Things were about to change for the both of them, but Saitou was not afraid, he had dealt with worse.
Darkness had settled and night had pulled on her cloak covering everything with her blanket. Thousands of stars littered the inky indigo sky making it glitter just slightly. It was a harder to see the stars now then in the centuries before. The use of streetlamps flooded the streets with lights but killed the stars above letting the cities become the glittering gems. Modern man had a way of destroying nature all the while trying to copy it.
Kenji didn't really notice this, however. His original intent was to do just that, to gaze into the night sky and perchance glance at the stars twinkling above. However, once he had scaled the roof and sat down, he could only hold his head in his hands ignoring the beauty above him and concentrate on the pain. 'It's not fair…' Consumption. His father had consumption. Its very name spoke of its destructive properties. It was something that consumed everything of the sickly. It took their life, their breath, their blood… it ate away at everything that the person once was leaving behind a shell that could not support the life trapped inside it.
It wasn't fair. Kenji had just gained his father only to lose him to sickness. It just wasn't fair. So many thoughts ran through his head as soon as he heard the diagnosis. Why didn't he tell them? Why couldn't they have reconciled sooner? Wasn't there a way to stop this sickness? How could he save the man he loved so much? Kenji's heart threaten to burst through his chest. It just wasn't fair! Why? Why?! WHY?!?
Kenji stared at the night sky from his perch, below him was his parents room where the couple slept a drugged sleep. The young Himura sighed as he watched what few stares he could see glitter into the night. A waxing moon hung in the sky promising to complete itself soon in days to come. He stared at it remembering the last time he saw the moon it was only half.
The auburn haired youth shook his head to clear it. It was so hard to believe that days had passed. To him it seemed as if everything had just been one long nightmare that he had yet to wake up from. Days had turned into weeks, minutes into months, seconds into years. It was as if every time something happened time stopped and stretched for years.
He felt old, maybe had had aged a few years. Kenji sighed letting his shoulders slump with the act. Everything that had happened in the last four days had shaken all that he knew, believed, and had faith in. He felt like he had disappeared for a few years and came back to find things in utter chaos. But it wasn't, at least not in the physical sense. No, most of his chaos came from unborn emotions suddenly coming alive like a spring plant. Others were thoughts and torments that slithered inside him for years devouring any sense of reason. Finally, was the mental anguish of hatred and betrayal, of fear and hesitation that ate away at his heart and soul. He bent his head down, his messy bangs covering his face from view.
"Oi." Kenji looked up blinking away his blurred vision caused by tears to better register the face before him. Dark copper eyes peered into his violet ones, they reflected so much of the same feelings he had. Kenji bowed his head down low not knowing how to respond to the look. It just wasn't fair.
Yahiko sighed as he shook his head sitting down next to the red haired youth. He leaned back resting his weight on his elbows as he craned his neck back to better view the night sky. The silence between them stretched forever creating a large abyss that neither was quite sure how to cross. Yahiko let out another sigh before looking over towards the almost identical replica of Kenshin. It used to be so much easier when he was younger.
Kenji felt the eyes on him before ever looking up to meet them. They were eyes that he had known for all his life, eyes that could tease and scold him all at the same time. They were eyes of a father, brother, and friend. The young Himura wasn't quite sure if he'd ever be able to tell Yahiko how much he meant to him. He had been more than a brother to him so many times in his life that it was sort of hard to imagine life without the young man.
Yahiko gave him a crooked smile leaning up slightly to ruffle some of the wild red brown hair with one of his hands. Kenji yelped and batted the offending hand away glaring slightly at the older man. Yahiko smirked again his coopery eyes challenging the youth with a bit of arrogance laced in with the sadness. Kenji frowned and lifted his chin up high sniffing in disdain. Yahiko chuckled before resuming his search in the sky. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking for but whatever it was it was found.
"Tell me about him." The voice was so soft that it almost drowned in the cool night breeze.
"What?" Yahiko asked more for clarification than for confirmation of the words.
Kenji never looked back towards the man stretched out lazily beside him, he merely continued to gaze into the night sky with a renewed awe. "Tell me about him… when you first meet him. What was he like?"
Yahiko blinked trying to capture the elusive snippets of his childhood. They were like tiny droplets of water that slipped from his fingers each time he tried to gather one up. "Strong. He was very strong." Yahiko said without pause.
I'm not a child!!
You have the form of a child, but your heart is already that of an adult. I'm sorry. I underrated you.
"Strong?" Kenji asked a little bewildered. He had never known his father to be strong, stupid yes, strong? Whispers he heard whispers.
"Yeah strong." Yahiko smiled as the memories slippery as they were before condensed themselves into vivid pools of the past. He waded in each letting them seep into his bones and flood his mind with their essence.
Who asked you to save me? I could have fought alone! I could have fought them!!
I see. Have I underrated you once again?
Kenji saw the smile out of the corner of his eyes and blinked at it slowly. "How did you know when you saw him?"
Is it your own weakness that bothers you, child?
Yahiko laughed softly leaning back fully resting his head on his crossed arms. The smile that tugged at his lips grew wider as the memories got deeper, clearer. "He shoved a yakuza assassin head through the roof with just one flick of his sheathed sword."
Damn it. I want to be strong. Strong so I don't need anyone's help… so I can defend the honor of my parents myself.
I see.
Kenji mulled over the words in his head a little before replying. "Is he really that strong?"
"You never noticed?" Yahiko asked looking up at the moonlit profile of the young boy. They were so beautiful, both of them. They were like a polished pebble that one would find in a stream, so unique and beautiful that one could never throw it back.
"Never saw him fight before…except with a laundry stain maybe, but that was long ago." A small smile worked its way onto his boyish features. 'Could he really have been Battousai? Could I ask Yahiko? Will he tell me?'
"He's strong, real strong." His voice challenged any objection otherwise before playfully adding. "No stain can get away from him."
Kenji looked down at the spiky haired man a pensive look carved across his pale features. "Is he strong enough for this?"
Yahiko didn't respond at first causing the youth to look back at the sky. It seemed like an eternity before an answer flowed from his lips. "He's strong enough for this."
Kenji nodded in acceptance. He knew what Yahiko had meant. His father would fight with the sickness and live his life till the end. He was strong. Another length of silence paved its way between them before Kenji broke through it once again. "Tell me about him. Tell me about how strong he was." Yahiko smiled.
You'll be as strong as you want—Yahiko.
Kenji awoke late into the afternoon, which was unusual for him, mainly because of his exhaustive conversation with Yahiko last night. Yahiko told all of the stories he had of Kenshin detailing every fight scene, every moment that perspired between each event yet leaving out enough that Kenshin could explain. Kenji was in a shocked amazement. He had never known that man. He'd seen the housewife, the silly man, even the abandoning man but never the fierce man, the self-less man, the protecting man. There were so many faces to his father that he had never seen before that it caused a slight pain in his chest. How much longer did he have till he got to see them all? Would he ever get to find out all that made up his father?
Kenji stretched and quickly got dressed in a decent kimono before gathering up his red hair in a high ponytail not really caring if it looked nice. He dashed across the halls sliding to a soft stop before a closed set of doors. Quietly he opened the rice panels and slipped inside closing the door just as quietly as he opened it. Kenji let his eyes adjust to the dim light of the afternoon sun before he set his gaze on the pair sleeping a drugged sleep in the middle of the floor.
He let out a sigh and walked towards them carefully so as not to rouse his parents from their slumber. He kneeled by his father much like he had done two days before. For Kenji those two days before had seemed like an eternity stretched out over years, not mere hours. He reached out his hand letting if hover a few inches away from the wild red bangs that spread around the pale face. He retracted the hand a small frown crossing his fine features.
Kenji placed his hand in his lap and just watched Kenshin sleep. His eyes were his fingertips crossing over every feature of the man before him. The watched the slightly parted lips gather in air before blowing it out in a soft rhythmic pattern. They watched the fluttering movements of eyes behind the eyelids telling of the dreams the man dreamt. Kenji closed his eyes and for a moment imagined he was a child again creeping into his parents bedroom from a bad nightmare.
His stomach growled faintly protesting the childish fantasy with its selfish desire to be filled. Kenji smiled ruefully and opened his eyes again to meet sleepy violet.
"Oohayo." The soft voice slurred thickly wadding through consciousness.
Kenji smiled softly at the stubborn eyes and stretched out his hand again letting it rest on the cool forehead. "Oohayo." Kenshin murmured something else that Kenji couldn't understand but nodded to anyway. "Rest." He commanded softly to which Kenshin really didn't argue to. He stayed there for a few more minutes before rising and obeying his stomach's insistent complaining. Before closing the door once more Kenji looked back over towards his parents and noticed the faint smile that painted the thin lips of his father.
Tsubame was, in a sense, a soft woman. She was a timid creature and over the years of marital bliss she had to learn to be less timid and a bit more assertive. This attribute increased as soon as she had a son to raise that wanted to be as reckless as his father, that all came to a screeching halt very quickly. But still the small woman was a timid creature by nature. Which is why when Kenji came bounding into the kitchen on footsteps of whispers she screamed and attacked with whatever she had in her hand, a pan that she held at the moment.
"Orooo…" Kenji cried out as the bump from the impact of the pan and his head began to swell in major proportions.
"Kenji-kun!" Tsubame yelped helping the poor boy sit on the step before the doorway. "Don't scare me like that!" She gave him a worried glance and inspected the injury.
Kenji winced slightly and peered up at the older woman with suspicious blue violet eyes. "Anou, Tsubame-san? Does Yahiko know hit that hard?"
"Yes." Came a chuckling voice behind them. "I've been subject to it many times." Tsubame pouted indigently at her husband her face flushing with embarrassment. "What? I've got the scars to prove it!" Yahiko cried out defending himself.
"Yahiko." The petite brunette huffed as she turned away from the two boys and resumed her cooking.
Kenji suddenly felt out of place and desperately wanted to crawl into a hole somewhere. "Er… I just wanted to get something to eat before taking Shiori's clothes back."
Tsubame looked over her shoulder briefly her blue eyes twinkling slightly. "Shiori already picked them up this morning." Kenji's face fell slightly causing the curious sparkles to glitter with amusement. "She's a very busy girl with many errands to run today." She turned her back once more to the hopeful face of the pale boy. "She'll be going to the market soon if I'm correct."
Yahiko plopped down beside Kenji giving him a sideways glance. "Speaking of errands. I'm too tired to do the deliveries for the Akabeko. You do them Kenji." It was a command not a request and Kenji's red head whirled around to face his older brother of sorts with an outraged cry.
"Why?!"
Yahiko snorted and lifted his nose at the boy. "Because it's your fault I'm tired!"
Kenji growled before he tried to attack the older man with a bokken pulled from nowhere, much like his mother would often do.
Tsubame let a small smile grace her features before she shook her head and turned back around to face them both fully. She whipped her hands on the soft pink apron and approached the boys fighting. She grabbed the bokken that was headed straight for her husband's unprotected thick head and stopped it's movements. Kenji just stared up at her for a brief moment.
"Kenji-kun, would you please do me this favor? Oh!" Tsubame hurriedly ran to the counter picking a letter up before trotting back to Kenji. "Could you please deliver this letter to Shin'Ya? He should be helping at the Akabeko as well."
Kenji stared at the letter that was imposing on his personal space like one would look at a viper that was ready to strike. Tsubame gave him a sweet disarming smile that made him cave in. He was such a sucker for smiles like that.
Kenji sighed as he nodded and took the letter from her hands. "Okay Tsubame-san." He shot Yahiko a glare. "But only because you asked me to."
"Oi!"
Tsubame giggled and nodded returning to her previous task. "Kenji-kun." She sang out softly as he was walking out of the kitchen. "Get something to eat while you are there okay?"
"Hai." With that Himura Kenji walked out to face the day.
Shiori muttered a few choice words under her breath as she walked through the market. So far none of the stalls had what she was looking for at a reasonable price and she tried to haggle the prices but no one ever took the petite girl child seriously. She pouted in dismay; her father was not going to be happy if she didn't have dinner started soon. The thought made her smile softly. It was hard to describe her relationship with her father at times. They understood each other without words yet words were often needed just to reinforce everything that they held dear and close to their hearts.
The small child looked at one of the stalls selling vegetables and examined each with a critical eye as the owner continued to strive for profit in selling his merchandise to the woman who was trying to buy it at a reasonable price. Shiori smiled lightly again as she walked away from the stall. The man that was walking before her stopped abruptly almost causing her to crash into him and his bewildered state as he searched for something from his pockets almost desperately.
"Everyone must survive one way or another, think of the merchant from which you tried to steal and the family that he must provide for." She whispered to him as she passed by. The tall man stiffened with shock as he looked around for the owner of the voice that had disappeared into the crowd. At the stall the owner was holding his wallet confused as the woman smiled walking away with her purchase.
Shiori leaned against another stall that sold spools of fine cloth richly decorated with dies and embroidered designs. She sighed as she watched the passerby. What would her father think of her, she wondered. Would he be proud of her justice or would he be ashamed that a woman was doing such a thing? Sometimes she couldn't tell how he would react to the things she had picked up from living by herself.
"Well I really shouldn't dwell on it too much." Shiori opened her parasol to protect her from the sun's harsh rays. "I'll let him know if he asks." Shiori smiled once again before stepping back into the crowd her light violet parasol mixing in with others as.
Kenji strode into the Akabeko and was quickly greeted by one of the waitresses who blushed shyly before showing him a seat at an empty booth. Kenji sat down without another look at the brown haired girl and just glared in annoyance at the wall of his little booth. A few minutes passed by until he felt a new presence beside him and a soft voice spoke hello. Kenji turned to return the greeting and stopped as the words died on his lips.
Raikouji Chizuru was having a bad day, she had been late to work and had already been hit on by four different guys, she was tired and slightly grumpy, so when Mai had told her that there was a boy waiting at table three she was not sure how to take it. At first she stomped over to the booth and had to stop as soon as he came into view. Her heart skipped a beat and her breath caught in her throat. He was beautiful! Long red brown hair was gathered into a high ponytail as messy bangs covered fine, pale features that were drawn into a slightly annoyed glare.
Chizuru moved softly and swallowed her tongue as soon as she was near him. To her it was as if an angel had decided to come and grace them with his presence. After several tries she finally managed to find her voice to give him the customary greeting but usually she would usually carry a lot of cheer into her voice this time however it came out barely audible and breathless.
The dark haired girl froze as he turned to gaze at her and she felt her heart flutter desperately in her chest. She was drowning! Drowning in dark blue violet eyes that stared right back in to her chocolate ones. How could someone possibly be this beautiful? She flushed as she realized that she was staring at him with her mouth open and bowed repeating her greeting this time with a gaiety that she could not explain.
Kenji was staring. He couldn't help it really. It's not everyday you meet someone with a strong resemblance to your mother. But she was also different and held her own physical attributes that caused him to look at her longer, trying to figure out who she was and what tales she had to tell. She wore the simple French uniform of the Akabeko her dark black hair was partially pulled back and held in place with a light blue ribbon. Large brown eyes rested on a pale heart shaped face with small pink lips that were parted slightly at the moment.
When she bowed and repeated her greeting the red head snapped back into reality and smiled sheepishly at her nodding in response, not really trusting his voice at the moment. But he couldn't take his eyes off of her, there was just something about her that took his breath away.
"Sir?"
Kenji blinked and turned red at being caught staring again. "Uh… I'm sorry could you repeat that again?"
The girl giggled and smiled at him titling her head to one side as her dark brown eyes twinkled with amusement. "My name is Raikouji Chizuru. I'll be your hostess today."
Kenji nodded as he repeated her name in his head. "I'm Himura Kenji."
She gave him slight bow her sliver tray hindering a deeper bow. "It is a honor to serve you Himura-san. Would you like to see the menu?"
"Uh, no thank you. I would just like the tempura and some tea, please." Kenji replied trying desperately to will his uncooperative eyes away from her pale face and onto something else.
Chizuru giggled again and gave him a bright smile that made his heart speed up. "Alright. I'll be back in a few minutes with your order." With that she gave him another slight bow and walked towards the kitchen Kenji's eyes trailing after her.
He stayed like that for a few more minutes before groaning and burying his face in his hands. "What is wrong with me?"
Shiori's stomach growled loudly causing a few people to stare in her direction. She gave them a watery smile all the while cursing under her breath. Lunchtime had arrived and she still had found nothing that was suitable to eat at a good price. She frowned she really wanted to stop at a restaurant and eat something but she just couldn't afford it! Her stomach once again protested it's empty existence and she sighed, her shoulders drooping slightly.
"Mou! Why do these things always happen to me?"
"Shiori-san?"
Shiori turned around at the familiar masculine voice. Honey colored eyes blinked as they looked into soft blue ones. "Shin'Ya-kun?" The tanned youth smiled down at her causing her to blush slightly.
"How are you this afternoon?" He asked with the same titling voice of his mother. That thought made the small girl child smile warmly at the spiky haired boy. Tsubame was such a great woman.
"I am a little frustrated."
"Oh? Why so?" Shin'Ya asked while quirking a thick brow while holding his hands behind his back.
"Well," She gave him a sheepish smile. "I was supposed to buy lunch but every vendor is selling their products for ridiculous prices!"
Shin'Ya laughed lightly at her distressed expression, causing another bought of soft pink to color her cheeks. His voice was still that of a boy but there were hints of a deeper, huskier voice much like his fathers. "It seems that times are changing."
Shiori let her eyes fall into a line. "We sound like old people."
Shin'Ya chuckled and bent down slightly to peer into her fiercely red face. "Then we better do something about that huh?" He stuck his tongue out at her.
Shiori just huffed and looked away. "Well I didn't mean to be childish either!"
"Hey you hungry?" The young boy asked. As she was about to say no her stomach rumbled loudly giving away its discomfort. She blushed a deeper shade of red and glared down at her offending body part. "Come on! My parents own the restaurant up ahead."
"Oh no I couldn't." Shiori protested waving her hands before her.
"Don't worry about it!" Shin'Ya grabbed one of her hands smiling brightly as he dragged her shocked form away. "Mom would never forgive me if I let you starve to death."
Shiori growled as she glared up at him. "I will not starve to death." At that her stomach made one last protest before she caved in the youngest Myojin laughing at her.
Chizuru tried very hard not to run over towards the boy in the booth and appear graceful. However it was almost a loosing battle causing her to shake with pleasant shivers. Oh why couldn't she be as refined as her mother? It must also be said that the Western shoes she wore were not only uncomfortable but also a little clumsy to walk in. It had taken her quite a while to master the strange leather shoes and not trip over herself but there were moments when her feet got carried away. It seemed that today was one of those days.
Chizuru had successfully made it from the back of the restaurant to the front without a hitch, however once she noticed that Kenji had been staring at her again with those piercing eyes her feet decided that now was the perfect time to forget how to walk. She let out a small yelp as self-preservation took over actually holding onto the tray. She held out her small hands out to catch herself and closed her eyes tightly not really wanting to see the impact. However, the impact never came and she felt the strange sensation of herself being slightly picked up. Dark brown eyes opened and then widened as she found herself within the embrace of the young man whose food was spilled all over the floor.
"Are you okay?" His deep velvety voice whispered.
Chizuru nodded slightly as shivers ran down her spine at his hot breath tickling her neck. He didn't let go and she didn't pull away. She felt the whole world disappear and only heard the faint cajoling sounds of laughter briefly before they too disappeared.
Kenji just couldn't let her go. Her flushed face stared back at him as the soft voices of children's laughter drifted up into his ears before stopping abruptly. He heard the soft gasp of a very familiar feminine voice and he turned his eyes over towards the sound. His heart stopped and the color drained from his face. Watching him with large honey colored eyes was Shiori with her hand firmly clasped in Shin'Ya's.
"Shiori…"
Somewhere in the back of her mind Shiori knew that her mouth was hanging open and her large honey colored eyes were wide with shock. She also knew that she had gasped at some point in time but she could not remember where. Strange. She usually was very well aware of all these things especially concerning herself, but lately… lately her world had been thrown upside down and inside out all because of one boy…Kenji. She hated being out of control of everything and here he was throwing emotions into a circle and she didn't know why.
Shiori closed her mouth with a snap and took a deep breath. The hand that enclosed hers gave a tight squeeze to grasp her attention. She smiled her eyes turning into half moons, her mask once again returning. She had control again… she would not let this queer feelings betray her true intentions.
"Himura-san!" She performed an extremely polite bow her voice carried the correct amount of surprised but almost delighted tones, her fake smile painted onto her face like those of the Kabuki actors. Shiori learned a lot from just watching others, namely those actors that she had often snuck into the theater to watch. What would her father think of her and her skills? What would he have to say about her silly little tricks?
The dark haired child knew the formality had to have stung him, she could almost see him wince, but she didn't care. It almost gave her a weird twisted sort of satisfaction at the thought that it may very well have hurt him.
"What a surprise to see you here! We were just talking about you, too. Ne, Shin'Ya-kun?" She knew that must have stung too, the –kun part. She could see his thoughts now, '-kun? So familiar already? And why all the formality all of a sudden?' She wanted to laugh, to cry, to yell but she didn't do any of these things instead she smiled, a soft, hallow smile. Really! What would her mother have said about her! Well… Shiori may very well have never learned any of these things if her mother were still alive. Que sera, sera… She learned that too, foreigners where so funny sometimes.
"A-aa. Anou… Kenji-kun?" Shin'Ya looked back and forth between Chizuru, the red head boy, and back to Shiori. He was quite very confused at the moment but the tension in the air was so thick he could literally touch it. "Have you seen my father?" He wanted to break the silence, the awkwardness of it all and just trample around a neutral subject that would somehow bring back normality into the situation.
"He sent me to do the deliveries." Kenji snapped harshly at the little boy before taking a deep breath and speaking the rest. "I have a note from your mother." The young Himura almost whispered his eyes never leaving the calm little face of the girl child. He was uncomfortable with her silence and even hurt by it. He would have rather her cried or yelled at him than to be quite. And all the formality with him and familiarity with Shin'Ya was driving him insane. She did it on purpose to spite him, but somehow he knew she wasn't really acting this way to hurt him. She was incapable of such things, wasn't she?
"Oh." Shin'Ya tugged on the hand he held and smiled brightly for the two of them. He didn't quite understand what was going on but the fact that the little scene that they had stumbled upon bothered Shiori was quite evident. "Come on Shiori-chan, let's get something to eat." Kenji visibly bristled.
Shiori giggled and shook her head carefully extracting her hand from his calloused one. "Oh no Shin'Ya-kun I really must be heading home now, Chichihue should be arriving home anytime now and I really must get dinner started soon." There she was back, the little adult child that she was comfortable with, the one that was always sure of her emotions, after all this was who she was before she meat the red head and his confusing ways. She had only meant to help him! And he seemed to be in better cheer so her job was done, her justice served, it was time she moved on.
"But I-" Shin'Ya flushed for a moment rethinking his words so that he could convince the dark haired girl to stay and eat with him. Shiori smiled and shook her head again, silencing any new cause to make her stay, even her stomach obeyed this time. Though she really wasn't hungry anymore, no if she ate something now it would not stay in there very long. How silly! How absolutely silly!
"Arrigato, but I really must go now." She glanced at Kenji who looked like he wanted to say something but wasn't quite sure how to phrase it. 'Baka.' Shiori surprised herself with the thought. Was she talking to herself or to him? How ridiculous! She bowed towards Shin'Ya before turning and bowing towards Kenji. "Sayonara, Himura-san."
Her voice cracked and Kenji's eyes widened. Damn! Her voice cracked! She kept smiling and walked out of the door that she had moments ago passed through. Why did her voice crack? She was just saying goodbye is all. So why did it crack? Why did it feel as though her heart had said it and not her? Damn.
"Shiori! Matte!"
Shiori felt her chest clench tightly at the deep voice but she didn't stop nor did she look back she just kept going. Her little feet hurried faster on their own accord. She didn't understand why they did that, why the felt the need to move faster. It was silly of course, it made it seem as if she was trying to run away from him! Why? She felt no threat from him so there for it wasn't fear that made her legs walk faster. So why did she feel the need to flee? Why had her feet sprouted wings causing her to fly over the dirt-encrusted road?
"Shiori! Onegai!"
Why was he following her? Didn't he understand? Her job was done! He had found happiness just like the others. She had given him happiness! So why did he insist on following her? Her justice was served! Her happiness was gained! WHY was he following her?!
"Shiori!"
He was faster than her, she knew that, but she was smaller than him so she was lost in the crowd easily. She just had to stay in the crowd. She had to lose him. Had to get away. Why wasn't she happy? Where was her control? Why was he following her? Why was she running?
"MATTE!!"
Shiori missed the dark clouds that began to gather and take her cover. She missed the first cold drop that landed on her pert nose. Her mind was also running along with her body, and like her body it ran in circles, slide through alleyways, always hearing the hard pounding of it's pursuer. She had half the mind to run to the police station and get the red head to stop this nonsense. Didn't he see the pattern?
Shiori watched those whom she noticed where unhappy, angry, bitter to the world. She would listen to their sorrows, their hatred, and work her way to correct them, to bring them happiness. In turn that would bring her happiness, because she was unhappy, their smile would be hers, just like her father said once. Happiness gained, justice paid. If a child lost their kitten she would find it. Happiness gained, justice paid. If a vendor had something stolen from him she would retrieve it. Happiness gained, justice paid. If a son were angry because his father ignored him, she would mend the ties. Happiness gained, justice paid. It was a simple pattern, easy to understand and carry out. So why couldn't Kenji see it?
Shiori went through another alleyway knocking down several boxes into the pathway eliciting a few curses from Kenji whom the boxes attacked for getting too close. The dark haired child thought nothing of the thick, slippery roads or of the cold wind that caused her to shiver. Her mind was else where trying to figure out where the pattern had failed, where her control had been lost, and how she could fix it. She ignored the burning of her tired legs, she ignored the constriction in her chest, and she ignored the tears that blurred her vision. Her mind only sought control.
"Shiori! Please! Just let me explain!!"
The small girl child stopped suddenly almost causing the young Himura to knock her into the muddy ground. The streets were empty now, the shops and vendors had taken their stands and closed down for the day. There was nothing but the thick rain that fell loudly around the only two people on the street, Himura Kenji and Saitou Shiori.
"I don't understand."
Kenji almost didn't hear the words as the rain tried desperately to gobble up her words. Her back was to him, the pale blue kimono dark with water and clinging to every surface of her small body, as was her ebony hair. His own kimono and hakama hung closely to him as his sopping wet bands plastered to his face in disarray trying desperately to hide his eyes. He could feel his high ponytail hang limply down his back and cling to his neck.
"Why? Why didn't it work?"
What was she talking about? Was she doing that whole jumping around conversation thing she liked to do so much? Or was this something completely different? Kenji suddenly felt misplaced, like he really shouldn't have chased her, that he shouldn't be trying to explain himself. After all she was a child and he was four years her elder. This was silly! Why was he chasing such a petite thing in the rain? What explanation was he hoping to give her?
"Why is it broken?"
Shiori turned around to face him and his heart broke. Dark bangs hugged flushed cheeks and pale skin, making her skin glow slightly. Large amber colored eyes took on a innocent haunted look as if waking from a bad nightmare where demons roamed. Tears mixed with rain and ran down in rivulets down the fair face kissing the shivering blue lips that were frantically formulating words.
"Why am I not happy?"
Kenji never felt his heart like this before. All the times he fought and battled with his father never left him feeling like this, so completely empty and hollow. It was as if someone had swallowed his soul and left his body as a shell to continue living. Her words echoed within his shell trying to find meaning, existence within it. Why wasn't she happy? Because he made her unhappy.
"Shiori… I'm sorry…" Kenji took a step closer to her his hand reaching out to the dark haired girl. He wanted to comfort her, take that look away from her eyes, to feel whole again.
Shiori yelped as if touched by fire and skittered backwards successfully splattering mud and dirt all over herself. "WHY am I not HAPPY?! WHY?!" She screamed at him, crying so hard that her body shook with each pounding sob.
"Shiori… I'm sorry… I-I didn't-"
There was a crack of thunder and the rain poured down faster, harder. Each drop sounding like a stone following hard towards the ground.
"No." She was calm again her eyes glowing fiercely within the darkness of the storm. "You broke the pattern."
"What patterned?!"
"Happiness gained, Justice paid!"
"What?!"
"J-JUST GO AWAY!"
"NO! Shiori will you just listen to me!"
"GO AWAY! I ALREADY DID MY JOB! YOU'RE HAPPY! I'M HAPPY!"
"NO!! YOU ARE NOT HAPPY!!"
Thunder roared through the sky chasing after the thunderbolt that gave the two children enough light to see the golden eyes that burned just as hotly. Molten gold meet frozen amber, each waiting for the other to start or back down from the challenge. The wolf bowed her head dark bangs covering the simmering gold.
"Why am I not happy?"
"Shiori…"
"Why am I NOT HAPPY?!" She sank to her knees more mud staining the plain clothing. Kenji followed suit he didn't care anymore, he just wanted to see her happy. It made him happy. He didn't know why, but that was how it was. They were both silent for quite sometime until another flash of lighting and thunder woke them from their reverie.
"I-I must go. I need to start dinner soon… Chichihue will be home and-and…"
"Shiori…" Kenji called out standing up as well. "Matte, I'll walk you home."
Dark hair flew harshly whipping her face. "No." She faced him with endlessly sad amber eyes. "Sayonara Kenji."
It hurt. The words had stabbed him open and left him bleeding. He could see the blood mix with the rain and dirt pooling at his feet. He was breathless and dying to her words.
"Sayonara." With that she opened the parasol she had been carrying with her and walked into the storm never looking back at him, never stopping, never returning.
Kenji stood there in the darkness watching her receding back disappear under the curtain of rain. He choked on a sob that had been lodged in his throat. Cold rain splattered his cheeks mixing with the warmth of his tears. He finally understood why he cared so much. What it was that made him want her to be happy. He loved her and now he lost her.
---- tsudzuku ----
Arrigato mina:
Jason M. Lee- Er... well I think you've noticed that I never check my Japanese anymore... I'm getting really lazy about it. ^^;; Anyway thank you so much for that little doujin summary! I'm going to see if I can buy it or something it sounds pretty funny! Also thank you so much for reviewing the edited chapter, it means a lot to me. ^-^
Crystal- Thank you for reviewing! Well Saitou makes another appearance in this chapter! And he'll appear again one last time in the last chapter! ^-^
supernaturalove- ::blushes:: Thank you very much! Yay! Another Skillet fan there should be more of us! ^-^ Your review is just so wonderful that I go back and read it over and over again ever few days. Thank you so much it's been a real blessing to me on the days that I feel down. Kenshin and Kaoru interaction huh? I'll see what I can do okay? Thank you for reviewing! ^-^
Tanuki-dono- Update Forces of Nature? EH heh heh... soon? maybe? hopefully? ::crosses fingers:: UPDATE YOUR STORY!! Sorry got excited. ^-^ Good luck with school too okay? Don't let it overwhelm you! IT'S NOT WORTH THE STRESS!! Somehow I feel like I should be taking my own advice. ^^;;
darktenshi- ::gets watery eyed:: It almost made you cry? ;_; I'm so sorry! I'll cry with you if you cry! ;_; Thank you for reading my story! I'll be even sadder when it ends.
AngelsExist- Glad you are still reading! ^-^ It makes me happy! Kill Kenshin and Kaoru? Will it help if I said you won't have to read about it? ^^;; Thank you for reviewing!
JadeGoddess- Will who ever get together? Shiori and Kenji? or do you mean the children and their parents? Thank you so much for reviewing!! ^-^
Little red head- WAHH!! I hate having to make this decision! But you'll see that it's necessary! ;_; I'm so sorry I don't want to make you sad!! ;_;
fujifunmum- Well now the ending doesn't suck. ^-^ but it really did before! Tsubame never gets much attention in stories that I feel really bad for her! She's just too cute! ^-^ As promised I did the next sex scene but it's not well really a sex scene. Oh well my brain is slowly dying so I can't hope for too much. ^^;;
C-Chan- Thank you so much for reviewing! Don't forget to update your story too! I'm reading it I promise!! ^^;;
me me me and only me- I love your name. ^-^
J. Liha- lol you're so funny! ^-^ Yes DRAW! DRAW! DRAW!! XD *cough cough* eh heh heh heh.... Thank you for reviewing! ^-^;;
Vesca- Funny thing... my keyboard does get kept busy unfortunately it's not with this story. ;_; Stupid homework how I hate thee. Thank you for reviewing!
Leila Winters- ::HUGGLES:: Aww don't worry about not reviewing a chapter, although personally I'm really thankful you do! ^^;; Of course ch.9 was a good chapter! You helped me write it! ^-^ I can never thank you enough for that. Yeah Shiori is a pretty sad character at times. I think I make her more sad than normal because I just can't imagine my life without my mom! I really do pity her at times which is kinda weird. ^^;; Yes, Kenshin and Kaoru have TB and yes Kenshin gave it to her. ;_; It's sad but TB is about as common as the cold is around this time, but unlike the cold it's not really something you recover from. Thank you again for reviewing twice and helping me with Ch.9! ^-^ Weren't you going to finish a chapter by the end of Jan? -_- Leilaaaa...
shelli- Wow! 2 Reviews! Thank you so much for your comments! They made me smile! ^-^ So please don't cry! ;_;
Gypsy-chan- Ah there you are! lol! Hey I went to your website! It was awesome but where's my pic? I didn't see it. ;_; Please don't make me say it! ;_; I don't want them to die either but they need to! It's very important! But will it make you feel better if I said that I really love them and that I won't make you read about it? I don't think I could even write a sad death scene! I'd cry!! ;_; Well as a condolence you can keep writing the best K&K fan fiction for the rest of us to read and not have to worry about silly things as Death Scenes. ^-^
Rei2- CRIED?!? ;_; *sniffle* I don't want anyone to cry! *sob* I'm so sorry! Please don't cry! I'll be sad! ;_; Thank you for reviewing!
Argentum Draco- What does "Argentum" mean? I'm glad you like this chapter better! ^-^ Thank you for reviewing!
Chrystaviel- I don't think I can thank you enough for the review that you left me. I was having a really awful day and I was not looking forward to doing my homework. I just happened to check my email out of whim and I find this nice little surprise. I think I almost cried when I read it. ^-^ Once again thank you! I really do appreciate it. ^-^