Sorry, I have kept you waiting for a long time. Well, I have made you wait longer. In the future I don't think I'll keep you waiting for this story is almost going into it conclusion. Finally after all the chapters, Kaoru and Kenshin met up again. Only wish they could have just a few more chapters together. Don't worry though, cause I'll make sure then ending chapters will have you in suspense, and have you guessing all the time. As a writer, writing this story has me left in suspense. Every now and again I seem to come up with something else. Now let me stop my blabbering. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please leave them a review. If you are to leave a flame, leave a sensible flame with no cursing. Cursing I believe in a review, only shows a lack of vocabulary and sense in writing.
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. I wish I did but I don't. : (
The Heart and its Rhythm
Chapter Fifteen
It was simple, as all people would say. Kaoru was busted. It would sure take an amazing miracle to get her out the situation she was put in. Right now she refused to look at the others, as her sapphire eyes caught amber eyes of the man looking back at her, the man whom she so longed for all her years after she left high school. This man kept her heart after all those years. Even becoming the man whom he was, Kaoru knew she could never be with this man, for his heart belonged to another.
"Father! We were looking for you before! Where were you?" asked Tsubame, eagerly excited to see her father had come to join her as he promised.
"I had a few tasks to deal with before coming to join you," answered Kenshin, but his amber eyes remained on the woman who stood before his daughter and his close, personal friends. He was awed by her beauty, the way her raven coils, softly caressed the curves of her soft skin. The black, beautiful dress she wore clung to her every curve. A man must be so blind, if he didn't recognize this woman to be an enchantress.
In the distance a slow rhythm began to take place. A haunting melody took up the distance and played its soothing music to those who wanted to hear it. Kaoru who heard this haunting melody became captivated by it immediately. Her eyes closed to savor the music, as her body became intoxicated by the rhythm.
"Would you like to dance?" asked a voice from the distance. Kaoru didn't seem to understand the voice, only that a larger hand was held out, waiting for her hand, and waiting for her permission to head out to the dance floor.
Slowly nodding her head, she took the hand that was held out in front her and was led to the dance floor. She never noticed when a large hand gently clasped at her waist, while the other hand clasped over her small hand. She never even noticed when she began to sway with the music, following the lead her high school love set for her. The music intoxicated her, making her forget her surroundings and only making her remember the meaning of the song. Something about it made her feel dizzy. It was like the music understood how she felt at the strange moment. Maybe it was her miracle to finally get away from this place.
Closing her eyes to savor this peaceful moment, she felt like she found her sanctuary, her home she had been looking for all her life. Feeling the warm embrace, she let both of her hands hug the neck of the larger frame holding her. She felt the hand that was once holding her hand; clasped on her waist, pulling her small frame up against a hard, lean frame.
The music seemed long, like it was never ending. She was swept in the arms of a mysterious person, captivated by the mysterious song, while she danced all over the dance floor.
Then all of a sudden out of nowhere, the alarms started ringing. Everyone stopped dancing and looked up to where the noise came from. The noise pulled Kaoru back into the real world, making her remember real mission. How could she forget? When Soujiro and Aoshi needed her, she was here dancing in the arms of her… high school love… with him… Kenshin.
More alarms went off. A group of men appeared from both the entrances and the exits. People in the party started to panic. Women screamed, while men tried their best to escort them out. The guards made sure to keep their eyes open for any strange person. Kaoru hoped they wouldn't look at her. She hoped her brother and her fiancé were doing fine with their mission.
As the guests rushed their ways to the exit, Kaoru felt strong arms, pulling her, guiding her toward the exit. When someone tried to push her out of the way, they were shoved a few inches away from her. The warmth breaths were all around her, the shrieks, and the chaos of so many people struggling to get out from the grand room. Kaoru could only move closer to the warm arms that embraced her.
Amongst the distance, the guards called out to the people not to panic. Everything was under control. Did that mean that Aoshi and Soujiro were already caught? Earlier she received a phone call from her brother, saying that Soujiro was trying to get away from the traps they set in the security rooms. Maybe Soujiro never got out of there in time. Even though he was able to hack into the security system, the chip in the security system only allowed him certain time to retrieve the computer chip. The password on the other hand could never be retrieved. The reason was due to the little timing on the security system before the alarm went off.
Finally reaching the exit, Kaoru was pulled toward her old friends in high school. Kenshin specifically told her to remain with his fiends, while he looked for the culprits. What did he mean by that?
"Don't worry, he has everything under control. Whomever thought they could steal from him will surely pay the price," declared Misao as she looked at everyone with determination in her emerald eyes.
"Yep, no one could get away from my daddy!" cheered little Tsubame. She innocently looked up at Kaoru, assuring her that everything was going to be okay. The only problem for Kaoru was, nothing would be okay.
Kaoru was here on a mission. Where she was needed, she was not there. She better get her feet running, before the guards realized her alias. With no utter word of excuse, Kaoru ran from the others, heading down the hallway to look for the missing people. Never did she realize that Misao already suspected her of something.
()
"Damn it! How was I supposed to know that even being able to hack within the security system would still have the alarms go off!" yelled Soujiro as he ran down the hall with Aoshi. From the side of his new black outfit, he pulled out his gun, shooting it at the cameras ahead of their destination.
"Where is my sister when you need her?" shouted Aoshi. With quick moves from all the training he did, he was able to dodge the up coming fists at his way. He heard Soujiro shooting the men, making sure to shoot them either at their arms or legs. Tonight no other innocent life shall be taken for any reason. It was an order he received from his father while doing the mission.
More men gathered down the hall, waiting for Aoshi and Soujiro. Feeling their presence, their ki, Aoshi felt a very strong ki from the distance, one that was familiar to him, yet he didn't know where exactly he knew the ki. It was one of mystery, one that held immense strength. With this fighter alone, the mission might take longer then expected. They might need a backup crew to help support them.
"What the hell are we going to do now?" Soujiro asked Aoshi. Aoshi had no idea. It was in his mind to call for backup, but if he did, then the possibility of AIO being discovered by someone, could hinder their escape plan.
"You feel the ki don't you?" Soujiro didn't have to answer. He felt the ki, ever since he started running down the hallways. This was the only way out. Coming from the bottom ground was closer to many exits, then going up the floors and jeopardizing the lives of many innocent people. A couple men died tonight for this mission. Tonight, no more lives would be taken again.
Finally coming to a halt, both Soujiro and Aoshi held their places. The guns the men held were pointing either their heart or their head. One move would decide their eternal doom? It was now or never. To die in this mission would be considered failing, but at least AIO would never be discovered.
Soujiro felt the aura of defeat that came from Aoshi and also felt the aura ready to give up life. No it couldn't be. Was Aoshi already thinking of giving his life in this mission?
"Put down your guns," said a deadly voice, moving from behind the men. A red-haired man appeared from the crowd. His cold amber eyes searched the men as if scanning for something. Both Aoshi and Soujiro hoped he would not walk over to them and take their masks off.
Then again, whatever he thought, happened. The red-haired man walked closer to them, his appearance from far, was blurry at first, except for the color of his deadly eyes and hair. As he walked closer to them, his appearance came clearer and every single footstep closer cost them a greater possibility of their demise. Where the heck is Kaoru when she is needed?
()
Kaoru ran away from the others without making any excuses. Through the way, she ran to the location of the surveillance camera room, to find a bag of clothes needed for the mission. It was from the plan she set up earlier. Somehow she knew Aoshi and Soujiro were in danger. They needed her. Call it intuition.
Moving sickly through the dead bodies that now laid on the floor, Kaoru got into the surveillance room. Looking at all the screens at her left, she saw nothing but blank screens. That's why they are not in here. The screens are useless to them. Shaking her head from realization, she stripped from her clothes to put on her black spy uniform. She put on her mask, hiding her true identity, since people would recognize her from the party. She grabbed her weapons and equipped them on her bodice. Then grabbing her bag, she walked out of the room; her senses became more then ten times alert then before.
Through hallways Kaoru walked, slipping past guards every now and again. It looked like faith was kind of on her side tonight. She followed the unconscious forms on the floor, until she sensed a deadly ki from the distance. It was much stronger then anything she ever came across. How can a ki be so strong?
Grabbing her gun, she checked her watch. It was almost midnight. The cops should be on their way here. If anyone found out their identities, then AIO would be discovered to the public. It was a risk that cannot be taken. From the air, she sensed defeat from her team members. They were willing to give their lives to protect the agency.
Then again, was it worth it? The lives of so many died to protect the agency. They were picked because of their loyalty to their country and their President. They were picked because of the skills they possessed, and because of the quick thinking their minds could come up with. Kaoru would not stand down and watch the two most important people in her life die now. It was time to show them and her enemies, why AIO chose her. It was time to show that sometimes, letting feelings come in the way of doing a job, was so much stronger, then just doing it with no emotions at all.
"Put down your guns," said the deadly voice. That voice only made infuriated Kaoru, yet it reminded her so much of something from her past.
Kaoru shook her head violently. Not now, not in the middle of the most important mission. She refused to fail now, not when so much was already risked in this mission. Lowering down her ki, and the emotions that overwhelmed her so much, Kaoru sneaked closer to the blinding forms. She couldn't see the figures in detail properly, but she recognized her own guys. Another figure was approaching them slowly, as if going to unveil them right there on the spot, not if she could help it.
Rummaging through her bag, she retrieved a gas mask. Code number one, the oldest trick in the book. If one expected to save another, smoke the enemies with carbon monoxide, plus use the dark smoke to save the others. In the bag, Kaoru also pulled out small tubes and a remote. Secretly she smiled inwardly and then started her brilliant plan.
With a press of a button, the ground shook. From the sir valence room, men and women shouted fire. Then when Kaoru found that she distracted the men who held her team members captured, she threw out the tubes, releasing the carbon monoxide into the air. The men coughed, while inhaling the deadly poison.
Fast reflexes born from the point of realizing danger, Kaoru reached for both her team members. Through her mask, she was able to see through the dark mists of smoke. She handed her brother and her fiancé their gas masks, while the smoke continued to spread further in the hallways.
Aoshi, Soujiro, and Kaoru struggled on their way out, exiting from the back of the building. So far the police hadn't arrived as yet.
"We have to get into the car!" yelled Aoshi, taking off his gas mask.
"How the hell would that happen?"
"Like this," said Kaoru. Wish a push of a button; a car came out by the corner, hitting the main street.
"How did you that?" asked Soujiro. That small introduction left his mind to wonder. He saw Kaoru give her older brother the small remote. When the car finally came up to them, they heard a shout that came from behind them. Kaoru and Soujiro were lucky to still have their gas mask. Aoshi went into the car first, the tinted glass covered his alias. Soujiro remained outside to deal with the last obstacle.
Kaoru turned around to see Kenshin standing there, his gun pointed at Soujiro. No please don't make him shoot, please Kami-sama. Her insides turned at the thought of something bad happening to one of them, but her heart lurched at the fact that Kenshin was the opponent holding the gun. If only someone else was holding the gun, she would have done something by now. How could she do anything, when Kenshin was holding the gun? She didn't have the heart to hurt him.
"Do something," whispered Soujiro, his voice begging her to take some action. Maybe it wasn't good for emotions to be in the way.
Closing her sapphire eyes, she heard the gun fired at… her fiancé. No, please! No don't make this happen! Kaoru pushed Soujiro with all her strength, succeeding in getting him out of the way from the speeding bullet that would have gone through his heart.
The bullet engraved itself in her, just as her body made a large thump on the ground. Her body lay there lifeless, while the police finally arrived at the scene.