Author's notes: I've been through hell… and I'm still going through its last stages. @_@ School is killing me! I really don't blame those people who killed themselves because of stress… I know what they feel! I empathize! *sob* ( Please pray for me! My tests are coming next week! GAH!!!)
Well, enough with my angsty life… on with the angsty chapter! Bwaha! Bwaha! ;p
Disclaimer: My stomach hurts. My head hurts. I can't think… therefore, I don't own. So sue me. (minnie me: Wh- what? You are truly befuddled. ~_~) Yep.
Mission: Frustration!
By Tesuka- chan
Chapter 12
Unwanted
"No… please, Aoshi… no!"
That's strange. I remember that – no. No. I don't want to remember.
Still, the memories came like an uncontrolled flood in his mind, torturing and impending. Remembering.
*flash*
Mother. Father. Their faces are blank. How odd. Yet… we are all happy. A bright smile. A warm hug. We are a family.
*flash*
I am 15 years old. I just heard the news: father is dead. He was cruising in his police car, patrolling the area when some goons suddenly passed by in their junk of a car and shot at father. A drive- by shooting. Mother is devastated, on her knees and crying like a woman in one of those drama shows. They are telling us more, but I don't want to listen, I don't want to know. I stand there, silent. I nurture my anger and pain. They will pay. Someday, I will have revenge.
*flash*
Mother is dead. It's a year after father died. Some pills are found beside her unmoving form. I just stare at her, unfeeling. I know. They put me in orphanages, but I don't stay long in any of them. They say I am hopeless. That is the truth. So I run away. I find others like me – strong-willed and hopeless. We form a group, a gang. The Oni gang. We are ruthless. We are deadly. We are invincible.
*flash*
I see this little girl in the market, posing as a boy. She has quick fingers, stealing a wallet from an old, rich guy. She looks so young – younger than I was when I started. There is just something in her that… well, I am intrigued. I follow her and see her in trouble with a couple of low pathetic life forms. I fight them easily, using what I've learned on them. I look at her, her clothes tattered.
And innocent, wide blue eyes.
I give her her coat. I can train her. She already has skill and she can be a useful member in our group. Something stirs inside me – pity. And some sort of recognition. I shake them away. I have not let myself feel anything for a long time. And I will not start now. I'm not called the Icicle for nothing.
*flash*
The kid, Misao, has a certain infatuation over me. I am not that dense. She follows me everywhere, like a puppy dog following its master. I am amused, but disinterested. I have no time. The gang's growing, as well as its reputation. I have a goal: to be the strongest. And that is what I have to do. For glory. For power. For revenge. I have no time for anything else.
*flash*
Everything is falling apart. Our rival gang is devious. Especially their bastard of a leader. The Oni gang was accused for a crime we did not commit. And the supposedly traitor was… I. I was helpless, the influence of my rival too powerful. All I can do is be patient. I am good at that, after all. I have been patient for many years… I can be patient a little bit longer.
I just hope that Misao can take care of herself. No… I know she can take care of herself. Even if she does not know the truth and she may be lead to believe the lies, what is important is that she is safe.
I see a pair of blue eyes in the crowd, much like the ones I saw by the market place a long time ago. I know that it will haunt me forever. Those innocent blue eyes full of hurt and betrayal.
I do not know why it affects me so.
Yet I cannot let it. I am made of ice after all.
*FLASH FLASH*
Oh, thank Kami- sama! He's breathing!
Misao sat back on her heels, tired and relieved. She had taken off her jumpsuit and was down to wearing her black tank top and cargo pants – all wet and sticking to her body. Wisps of damp, dark blue hair framed her heart- shaped face, emphasizing her haggard state. She still had a bit of difficulty breathing properly; otherwise, she was okay. The same couldn't be said about the man lying down beside her.
"Flaming Ice" was lying flat on his back, breathing softly, yet steadily. He was pale, more than the usual, and he had a huge gash on his left side, probably from a falling boulder caused by the quake. Misao had patched it up, using most of the torn pieces of her jumpsuit as bandages. The rest of the rags she used to stop the blood flowing out from a wound at the back of his head. Misao looked at her handiwork worriedly.
I can't believe it… she thought, her head still whirling from the after effects and mixed emotions. I can't believe he went back for me, even though he was obviously bleeding to death. But why? Why? He could've died! Baka!
"You stupid idiot!" her fist clenched. "Why? Why did you do it?" It came out as a whisper, full of confusion, anger and despair. Her eyes filled up again. Darn it. I have to do something… keep busy. Anything to keep the tears from falling again.
She took a deep, shuddering breath and looked at his face again. Her hand reached up to brush over his long bangs away. He was so beautiful… so ethereal. She traced his aristocratic features, chiseled in ice. His eyes, his cheek, his nose… and she stopped cold.
He had stopped breathing.
Oh no… OH NO YOU DON'T!!! The ever- practical Jade Jaguar took over, intent on keeping this man alive at all costs. There was only one thing to do – CPR. She took a deep breath, opened his mouth, and breathed on him, pumping his chest with her hands every three seconds.
1, 2, 3 – breathe!
1, 2, 3 – breathe!
1, 2, 3 – breathe!
"DON'T YOU DIE ON ME, BASTARD!"
1, 2, 3 – breathe!
A small sound. Almost inaudible, yet a sound nevertheless.
Misao's spirits lifted. Yes! That's it! Breathe! She leaned forward again, about to do another round just to be sure, when his eyelids slowly opened, revealing hazy, blue eyes. They looked straight into Misao's wide ones.
They looked at each other.
Misao's heart leaped up her throat. Oh. Then she abruptly leapt backwards, putting space in between them, furiously blushing. Why am I blushing? It's not like I'm doing something wrong… I saved his life for goodness' sake! Just returning the favor. And it's not like I haven't… I mean… kissed him… or something…
Furious at herself, she kept her head down as she started an explanation. "Look, it's not what it looks like. I just performed CPR on you because you were dying because you were such an idiot saving me like that even though you were hurt and... and let's just forget about what happened earlier, okay? It doesn't mean anything at all… you just saved me and I- I'm really grateful for that but you know it's… just…" her words faded along with her voice. Crap. I really blundered this time.
Silence.
Misao peeked through her bangs at him. He was sitting up, leaning heavily at a boulder behind him, his hand on his head. Amazingly, his face was back to its normal stoic mask, except for his eyebrows, which were burrowed as if he was trying to figure out something. He opened his mouth.
She held her breath.
"Wha- what happened earlier?" he asked, icy tone laced with pain and bafflement.
Misao was, to say the least, shocked.
He… couldn't remember.
She couldn't say anything.
Well, that's a good thing, isn't it? That's like nothing ever happened… which is EXACTLY what I want. It never happened. Never. And her heart oddly constricted.
"Well?" he raised a questioning eyebrow, then winced as even the slightest of actions caused him to hurt somewhere.
"I – well… up to where did you remember?" Please…
"I remember the quake… and something hitting my head and scraping my side and being plunged into somewhere dark… and all of the rest is a hazy blur." He rubbed his temples. His head ached.
"Oh." She paused. "Well, I also jumped in, but I almost drowned. You came back and saved me, and you fainted in the middle so I had to drag you here to shore," she said, rather monotonously. It's better if he doesn't remember. Less things to think and worry about. Unconsciously, her fists clenched tighter making red nail marks on her palm. It's damned well better this way.
"Oh. I see." he said quietly, accepting what she said. "So I guess we're even then."
"Right." She curtly nodded. I can't stand this. I can't continue with this explanation crap. She stood up and went towards her backpack, which had surprisingly survived the whole ordeal. She lifted it easily and strapped it behind her. She started towards a narrow path, in between two solid walls of stone and marble, lighted by luminous green moss. It was the only path, anyway, and it's either that or back to the gel- like lake. Then she stopped, looked at him over her shoulder and haughtily asked, "well, are you coming or are you too weak to continue? I can just come back for you once I get the sword…" she paused for a moment, as if a thought just struck her. Then, "or not at all. We ARE rivals, you know." She smiled at him humorlessly and went on her way.
Aoshi cursed. "A little help won't hurt." He muttered under his breath while standing up slowly.
"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. You saved my life, I saved yours… no more no less. You're on your own now." She called back, disappearing around a corner.
He cursed again. What's gotten into her? At least she was fighting before. Now she just doesn't care. He gritted his teeth and started the trek. Fine. If that's the way she wants it, I have no qualms about it. He held on to the walls and kept walking. One agonizing step after the other.
Misao leaned against the wall once he was out of her sight. She was so angry! She wanted to kill the man! Why did she save him in the first place? For one, her life would've been easier without him. Then she could've gone on her own pace… not worrying about anyone trying to snatch the prize away from her. Lastly, she certainly would not have these weird feelings coursing through her veins! Kami- sama, she wanted to pull all her hair out for being so stupid!
There's an easy way out. Just pull out your guns and kill the man.
Then she quickly shook her head, not even believing that she considered such a thing. She might be a burglar, yes, but she's a burglar with ethics! She hardly killed anybody, for all those threats and skills with different weapons. She just learned all those to protect herself. Granted, she had wounded one person or another, but she had never really killed anyone before. Besides, it would totally be unfair if she attacked him now… he was wounded and he had no weapons. If she did try to kill someone, she wanted it to be fair.
Right. You're just looking for excuses not to kill him Why don't you just be true to yourself and admit that you –
OH SHUT UP! I don't want to think about this! I won't kill him. Period. End of story. She nodded and pushed away from the wall. While thinking all those things, she did not realize that he had caught up with her.
"Waiting for me?" he asked sarcastically.
"Oh no, I was just admiring the wonderful rock formations here," she answered in kind, challenging him. Then she sighed and started walking again. "Yes, I was. I didn't want you to trip and get yourself killed because a stone embedded itself inside your brain. I want to kill you myself after this." she lied.
"Oh? Why wait? Why don't you kill me now and end my suffering?" he asked, quietly.
"Because… it wouldn't be any fun getting the sword without a rival."
"Hn."
"And I want you to suffer." She gave him a sly smile and turned back towards the path. "just like the way I suffered." She added under her breath.
"What?"
"Nothing. I said hurry up."
Aoshi didn't reply. He looked at her small form, stomping towards who-knows- where. He had a brooding expression on his face. He tightened his trench coat around him and followed Jade Jaguar.
"BWAHAHAHAHA!!! I c-can't believe t-that, Kamatari!" Kaoru exclaimed rather boisterously. She was already a bit tipsy after consuming three bottles of beer, and it was already late, well after two o'clock. The cameraman was also as drunk as she, if not more, and was narrating his past adventures in other countries.
"And then he *hiccup* asked me to marry him! BWAHAHAHAHA!" Kamatari laughed as if there was no tomorrow.
"REALLY? What did you say?"
"Well… I didn't really g-get the chance to say anything… he found out I was actually gay soon after that. *hiccup* So he sort of mysteriously vanished! BWAHAHAHAHA!" Kamatari laughed hysterically, then they suddenly turned into nerve- racking sobs.
That made Kaoru a bit sober. "Oh. Oh, Kam, I'm so sorry… I didn't realize…" she tentatively patted the back of her friend, who had his head on the table, his shoulders shaking.
"I- I loved him so much…" *sob sob*
Thankfully, Kenshin the peacemaker gave his contribution. "Maa, maa… I think we all have had enough beer for now."
The feisty little reporter vehemently faced him. "Why you insensitive oaf! Here's Kamatari, pouring his heart out, and all you can say is 'maa, maa'? BAH! MEN! YOU'RE ALL THE SAME!" Then she faced Kamatari again and tried to soothe him, her brain not really registering that her heartbroken friend was also a man.
Kenshin was at a loss. He decided that he should just stick his foot inside his mouth and keep quiet. So he got a newspaper and started reading. He was scanning through the headlines when someone suddenly burst.
"WHY THAT LITTLE HUSSY! I AM GOING TO *hiccup* KILL HER! I AM TOTALLY PRETTIER THAN SHE IS, AND I'M A MAN! HA! NO ONE CAN *hiccup* BEAT THAT!" Kamatari was standing up, waving a fist in the air while Kaoru was egging him on. The people in the other table began to leave quietly, feeling that they had had enough alcohol… not that there were much people to begin with anyway.
"Yeah! That's the shhpirit, Kamatari!" Kaoru cheered.
"Yeah! And I'm gonna – " *THUMP*
"Wha- Kamatari? KAMATARI?! Oh my Kami- sama… Kenshin! He's dead!" Kaoru panicked, pulling Kenshin.
"Oro~ Kaoru- dono… he just fell asleep."
"A- are you sure?" *sniff*
"Hai… one hundred percent sure."
"O-okay." *sniff*
"Well, let's just go home now, okay, Kaoru- dono?" He smiled reassuringly at her teary- eyed face. He put down the newspaper and stood up.
"Okay, Kenshin." *sniff* She began to gather her things when her eye caught the newspaper Kenshin was reading earlier. The headline was: Excavation On Precious Sword Brings Interesting Results
Blue eyes widened. That's it! "That's it! THAT'S IT!"
"What is it, Kaoru- dono?" Kenshin paused amidst struggles while helping Kamatari up, which was no small feat considering that the cameraman was taller than he was.
"I know where she is! At the excavation!" She was pointing at the newspaper while trying not to leap over the moon. "I can finally do my documentary and give all those scumbags at the office something to think about! HA!" Pretty soon, she'll be dancing the hula if Kenshin didn't stop her.
"Well, that's great Kaoru- dono!" He replied, obviously not having any inkling on what she was talking about. "Now let's get back home, shall we?" He practically hauled the both of them out of the Akabeko and towards the car.
"Haha! I'll track Jade Jaguar down, and I will be the first reporter to give the people the truth about her! Haha! Ha!" *THUNK* She abruptly fell asleep, thankfully already on the passenger seat of the car.
Kenshin had stopped putting the keys in the ignition in midair when he heard the name Jade Jaguar. He narrowed his eyes and finally realized what this reporter was up to. He had to watch over her closely… she could get hurt. And Jade Jaguar…well, fancy that.
He revved up the engine and headed straight home, sober as a stick.
A/n: kinda short, but it's pretty okay. I hope. Ehehehe. *scratches the back of her head* Things turned out quite different… actually, this chapter came to me while I was just typing. Right. I'll try to plan next time. *sweatdrop* (Wah! It's 1:16 am. Monday. School. Hell. *dies*)
I keep imagining Kaoru here like when she was drunk on that episode when she thought Kenshin proposed to her (when he gave her the ring). That was so funny! Teeheehee…
Anyway, thank you ALL so much for the great reviews!
Chris37: Hmmm… what do you think? It wouldn't be fun anymore if they just accepted that kiss… *evil grin* I'm thinking more on the lines of 'complicated and twisted'. Just like the author! Bwahahaha! ^_^
Hitokiri-miao miao: Kenshin and Aoshi? Whatever are you saying, dahling? *some kind of weird accent* Hahaha! Well, m'dear, that you'll just have to find out in the next chappies. ^_^ Arigato! And I DO have a huge imagination… I guess my childhood never left me. ;p
DarkFairy: Hallo!! Glad you liked that one! *beams* Of course, I'm not going to make things easier for them… *sly smile* just you wait! Teeheehee…
oO-Innocent Dreamer- Oo: Oh… that one! 'Tis my greatest flaw! Even in my compositions, I make the same mistakes! I'm really trying my best to change that bad habit of mine though… gomen! ^_^ About Kenshin and Kaoru… well, I figured that since Misao's the main character here, Kaoru shall be the 'comic relief' kind of character. I hope that won't be so bad… but they still have bigger roles to play in the future here. ^_^
moonstorm: Errr… foot? *scratches head* I don't remember a foot. *shrugs* Well, here in our country, squirrels are endangered species! O.o So you can just imagine how stupid I looked when I exclaimed "SQUIRREL!!!" in Canada. Yeesh. ;p
MoonPhoenix: Gomen for that… I reread the last chapters and I personally thought that I lack a good number of cliffies. So there. *grins evilly* But don't worry, I won't put much. I hope. :P Well, thanks!
Chill: NO SWEARING!!! *slaps chill around a bit with a large trout* Hehehe… I didn't realize that you were reading my fic at all! O.o Hay nako… trust you to comment about that. *rolls eyes*
Tatsumaki: Whoa, lots of reviews there! *grins widely* Hmmm let's see… well, about the link, I thought I should fix that but I got lazy. Hehe… and about Kaoru… I never really meant for her to be that way – it just sort of came out. I figured that since Misao's the lead here, might as well make Kaoru the cute, "comic relief" figure. Sort of exchanging their roles. *grins sheepishly* Anyway, thanks so much! I'm so glad you liked it! ^_^
Super Hurricane: Hmm… yeah… I think I got the readers confused there. *sweatdrop* Well, I'll try my best to explain that in the next chapter. I don't exactly have time here because I have to study for a test tomorrow. *mumble grumble* Well, Thanks for that and everything else! Hope you keep reading! ^_^
Ice Demoness: Wow, I never really saw this as special. O.o Wow… well, thanks! *smile smile*
Dusk- angel: Thanks! Glad you found it funny! I'll try to update regularly, promise! ^_^
Shelby: Thanks! I take that as a compliment! (the evil thing ;p)
ShiNIchi: Ah… girl. *sweatdrop* LOL. Haha! ^_^ Thanks!
Cat, Avatar for the DCG: Hallo! Wow, thanks so much! Even with lots of errors (I know I do, I just don't get around correcting them because of the lack of time) I'm glad you still read it! I also read your reviews in TVA… I really am flattered. ^_^ Well, I think I got carried away with that ending. LOL. I'm just having a bit of difficulty with the sequel… but I'm trying to continue that after this. Well, thanks much!! Hope you keep reading! ;p
EK: No problem! Thanks for your support! ^_^
Kashii: Thanks a bunch! *grins*
Kelly: Thanks! Glad you liked it. :D Hmm… I have a problem with that… I'm afraid I really don't get to update that much because of all the schoolwork I have. But do not despair! I shall definitely finish this! ^_^ Not that soon though. Hehe.
Machoman: Nice name! Haha! ^_^ Well, we'll just see… (in truth, I have it all figured out but I don't want to spoil anything ;p) Thanks so much! So sorry if I didn't update that soon… just lots of crappy stuff to do. Bah. Well, I truly hope you don't get that disappointed… *worried look*
NatsuNoAme: O-kay… I hope your alter ego's alright. *sweatdrop* Well, archeology truly fascinates me… too bad I can't take that as my course. *sob* Oh well. I'll just write about it though I don't really have that much of a clue. Hehe… ;p Ah! I feel like I have a huge balloon for my head! Thanks so much! ^_^ Hope you liked this chapter too!
Phew! Well, I never imagined that replying can take so long… *wipes sweat from brow* Well, at least I'm having fun! Thanks so much guys! Please read and review! *grins hugely*
