The Devil's Workshop
MysticShadowWanderer
*****
Chapter Fifteen: Healing Processes
"Battousai!" Kaoru cried as she shook him gently by the shoulders. He mumbled some incoherent words and remained slumped in her arms. "Battousai, wake up." Her pleas were urgent, but he didn't respond. "Oh Battousai, please, what's wrong?" she was speaking mostly to herself now, her voice not more than a strained whisper that threatened to break.
Grunting with the effort, he was heavier than his slender build implied, she dragged him to the futon and laid him down carefully. He groaned softly and she realized that his left shoulder was completely soaked in his own blood. With a gasp she pulled back his gi and unwrapped his makeshift bandage. Grimacing at the badly infected wound, she ripped a piece off her own yukata to rebind it. She pulled a blanket over his shivering body and sat by his side, head low and hair spilling across his cheek. She wasn't sure what to do. Would he be angry if she got a doctor? Deciding to just watch over him for a while and see if he might wake, she placed a hand on his forehead and another on his stomach. He obviously had a fever, but she couldn't be certain whether he would fight it off by himself.
Battousai trembled in his sleep, crying out softly at times. Kaoru murmured soothing words and stroked his scarred cheek tenderly. He didn't seem to be getting any better, but at this point it would be just as well to wait until morning to call for a doctor. Curling up at his side, as far from his injured shoulder as possible, she nestled her body against his and whispered in his ear until he slipped into a deeper sleep before letting herself join him in the realm of dreams.
***
It greatly bothered Kaoru that when she woke, Battousai was still sleeping. She called his name and shook his right shoulder, and this time he stirred. She watched as he opened his eyes, shocked to find them a glazed over and confused violet. His hand reflexively went to his head and he groaned as he struggled to sit up. Kaoru gently eased him back down.
"No, you're sick," she said, attempting to give him a smile.
"Wh-where am I?" he questioned before a cough racked his body.
Kaoru's eyes widened, this couldn't be a good sign. "You're in the Aoiya, you're safe now."
He looked puzzled; he didn't remember making it all the way back. Rubbing his eyes to clear them, he gazed up at her. "Kaoru?"
"Yes?" He just stared into her eyes, a bit of amber swirling back into his own. It seemed that Himura Kenshin truly was dead.
"Do you need a doctor?" she asked.
"I don't know."
She didn't like the way he was acting, it was completely unlike him. "What do you want me to do?"
His entire body shook and he tugged at the blanket to pull it closer around him. "Hold me," he whispered. She complied quickly and, avoiding his wound, wrapped him tightly in her arms.
"So cold," he murmured. "So very cold."
"Shh, Battousai," she consoled. "It's going to be alright."
He nodded and let his eyes slide closed. Disentangling herself from his grip, she stood and quickly threw on a gi and hakama. No doubt about it, Battousai needed to be seen by a doctor.
***
"He's lucky to have made it back before he passed out," the doctor said quietly, not wishing to disturb Battousai's already troubled sleep. "He's got a nasty infection from not cleaning his shoulder after the bullet passed through, and a moderate cold on top of that. Don't let him up for a few days, especially until the fever breaks, but, ultimately, he'll be fine. Remember, no strenuous activity until I've taken the stitches out of that wound, pulling them would be not only an annoying but painful as well."
"Yes, sensei," Kaoru said softly. "I'll take care of him."
"Good girl, I know you will," the old man said with a warm smile as he packed up his instruments.
Kaoru walked him out to the street and bowed slightly as he left; she was most grateful to him. Battousai hadn't woken once while his wound was being stitched, which was probably for the better. At least there was no medication that she would have to force him to take, as the doctor had said that his body was already doing an extraordinary job of fighting off both the infection and the cold and that there was nothing more that they could do besides keep him in bed and let him sleep.
Kaoru yawned, sleep certainly sounded inviting at the moment. She hadn't gotten much the night before, and a few more hours of rest certainly wouldn't hurt. Stopping by the kitchen to get a few various things for Battousai to eat once he awoke and was hungry, she made her way back to their room. Setting her tray by the wall near Battousai's head, she laid down next to him and stifled another yawn. Threading her fingers through his, she fell asleep quickly and dreamed of golden skies and crimson rivers.
***
"Kaoru," his voice whispered to her. "Kaoru."
She sighed as she lingered on the border of sleep and reality. His arm around her felt so warm, his voice so dark and soothing, that she wished she could stay like this for just a while longer. His gentle urging continued and she mumbled senseless words against his skin.
"Kaoru, wake up," his voice was insistent, commanding.
She opened her eyes with a frown at his bidding; she hated the way he could make her do whatever he pleased. Sitting up she simply looked at him, eyes demanding an explanation. His eyes, once again reverted to cold pools of amber, met hers unfaltering. She glared at him until he sighed deeply.
"Fine, I'm sorry," he relented. "But it was starting to hurt. Happy?"
"Oh," was all she could say. "I-I'm sorry."
They sat looking at each other for a few minutes. Battousai was fighting back the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she begged for him to take her, knowing fully that she would protest and that in his current state, it wouldn't be a wise idea anyhow. Finally, Kaoru broke the uneasy silence.
"How was your... trip?"
He groaned, not the thing he wanted to talk about right now. "It could have been better," he said, motioning at his shoulder. "But you're safe, and that's what's important," he added.
"Really?" she asked, remembering what she'd said to him the night he left.
He gave her a smile, but somehow it didn't quite seem real. His eyes remained cold, sorrowful. "Of course, love, I've told you this before. You're important to me."
Kaoru smiled and took his hands in hers. "Do you remember... what I said? When you were leaving?"
He carefully guarded his expression. Of course he remembered, he'd thought of it every day since he'd left. But what was he supposed to say to her? Admitting to his love for her would be dangerous, he couldn't allow himself to show that much emotion. The delicate line separating how broken he was and the sanity that he had slowly built up was every day closer to breaking. Each moment he spent, each breath he took, drifted more sorrow upon his already heavy heart, and he didn't know how a confession of that magnitude would affect him. It was simply too much of a risk.
"Yes, sweetling, I remember."
"It's still true, Battousai," she whispered.
He paused, unsure of how to avoid telling her his feelings without hurting her. "Good," he said with a smile, this time one that was warm and soft. True.
Kaoru stared at him for a second before shaking herself slightly. It was rare to see a smile like that from him, and she was almost certain she knew what it meant. She opened her mouth to speak again, but never got the chance, because of a knocking at the shoji. Scooting away from Battousai, she started picking up the things on the tray to take it back to the kitchen.
"Come," Battousai called out, lending more strength to his voice.
Aoshi slid the shoji open and stepped inside, nodding to Kaoru who bowed on her way out. He looked Battousai over with a critical eye, noting his bandaged wound and fever-flushed cheeks. Holding up a hand as Battousai attempted to stand, he noticed that the legendary hitokiri was swaying slightly.
"You have no need to be on your feet," he said. "You can hear this sitting down."
Battousai nodded his understanding and sat cross-legged on the futon. "What is it, Aoshi?"
"You realize that the Chinese government isn't going to give up so easily?" Aoshi questioned.
"I'm aware of that."
"You need to leave Kyoto as soon as possible."
"I understand that as well."
"What are you going to do with Kamiya?"
"Take her with me." The way Battousai said it made the task seem so simple. "Yes, I know she'll be targeted as well," he said before Aoshi could point out the same.
"I have confidence in your abilities, Battousai," Aoshi said. "But you're going to need somewhere to stay."
"I'll work it out."
"I'll see what I can do." Aoshi's offer was a generous one. Despite the tensions that ran between them, he valued the help that Battousai had given in the past and knew that the smaller man would continue to honor the allegiance as long as Aoshi was alive.
Battousai inclined his head in silent thanks and Aoshi took his leave, almost running into Kaoru who was standing just outside the room. She pretended not to have heard anything, but Aoshi knew otherwise. She slipped in the room and kneeled at Battousai's side.
"I brought you some sake," she said. "It should help take the edge away from the pain."
Battousai didn't say anything, he hated being coddled, but took the sake and drank it. Kaoru knew his feelings, and wasn't offended, though usually would have chastised him for not thanking her. She only let it pass because he was sick and she took pity on him.
"You should sleep," she suggested.
"Sleep? Again?" He was incredulous. "To hell with all this, I'm not going to sit here and do nothing." He made to stand and Kaoru had to use some force to shove him back down. "Dammit woman, what gives you the right to push me around?"
"You're supposed to rest and you know it!" she exclaimed, giving him a hard glare. "And if it kills me, I'm going to make sure you don't get up."
Battousai smirked, trying to hold back a grin. 'If it kills her, huh? She really does love me.'
"Kaoru, we..." he trailed off. Maybe he should wait to tell her that they would have to leave.
"Hm?"
"I... never mind."
"What is it?"
"You know," he said thoughtfully. "I've told you a lot about me, but you never let me know any of your life."
Kaoru's face fell, she didn't like to remember the things that had happened in her past. Battousai saw this, but he kept pressing. After all, he'd told her more than he'd ever told anyone, he was at least due the same.
"Alright," she whispered. "I'll tell you."
"Come sit next to me."
***
"My father died not long after that," she was close to finishing now, after nearly half an hour of recounting her life.
Battousai stopped her suddenly. "What kind of a man was your father?" She'd told him about what happened to her family, but not the kind of people they actually were.
"He was a great man," she spoke softly, swiping at the tears that rolled down her cheeks. "He was so kind and loving, and he always protected me. He loved me every bit as much as I loved him, and it nearly broke me when he died."
Battousai tucked her into his side, all the while thinking that her father sounded somewhat like himself. Except for kind part; he grimaced. But he couldn't help his nature, it was the way he'd always lived and would be the way he remained.
Kaoru nearly shrank away from the feeling of his hot skin against her body. Even though he'd shed his torn and tattered gi, he was still so warm, clearly he was still feverish, but she didn't mention it, deciding instead to ignore it and leave his pride intact.
"How are you feeling?" she asked tentatively.
"Fine," he lied, but she saw through it.
"You should sleep," she suggested quietly.
"Only if you'll stay with me," he whispered.
She smiled. "Of course I will."
Pulling her down, he adjusted her to rest her head on his chest. With one hand on her head, he dragged the blanket over both of them and let his eyes close sleepily. Fighting illness took a lot out of his strength and energy.
"Sleep well, my precious one," he said through a yawn.
Tracing her fingers absently on his skin, she laid awake while his breathing became deep and even. No longer was she tired, but she didn't have the heart or will to leave him. Looking up at him, she smiled softly. He looked almost innocent while he was sleeping, without all the worries and pain of day-to-day life. But she knew what he must dream about, and the thought was nearly enough to make her cry.
"So much death..."
*****
MysticShadowWanderer
*****
Chapter Fifteen: Healing Processes
"Battousai!" Kaoru cried as she shook him gently by the shoulders. He mumbled some incoherent words and remained slumped in her arms. "Battousai, wake up." Her pleas were urgent, but he didn't respond. "Oh Battousai, please, what's wrong?" she was speaking mostly to herself now, her voice not more than a strained whisper that threatened to break.
Grunting with the effort, he was heavier than his slender build implied, she dragged him to the futon and laid him down carefully. He groaned softly and she realized that his left shoulder was completely soaked in his own blood. With a gasp she pulled back his gi and unwrapped his makeshift bandage. Grimacing at the badly infected wound, she ripped a piece off her own yukata to rebind it. She pulled a blanket over his shivering body and sat by his side, head low and hair spilling across his cheek. She wasn't sure what to do. Would he be angry if she got a doctor? Deciding to just watch over him for a while and see if he might wake, she placed a hand on his forehead and another on his stomach. He obviously had a fever, but she couldn't be certain whether he would fight it off by himself.
Battousai trembled in his sleep, crying out softly at times. Kaoru murmured soothing words and stroked his scarred cheek tenderly. He didn't seem to be getting any better, but at this point it would be just as well to wait until morning to call for a doctor. Curling up at his side, as far from his injured shoulder as possible, she nestled her body against his and whispered in his ear until he slipped into a deeper sleep before letting herself join him in the realm of dreams.
***
It greatly bothered Kaoru that when she woke, Battousai was still sleeping. She called his name and shook his right shoulder, and this time he stirred. She watched as he opened his eyes, shocked to find them a glazed over and confused violet. His hand reflexively went to his head and he groaned as he struggled to sit up. Kaoru gently eased him back down.
"No, you're sick," she said, attempting to give him a smile.
"Wh-where am I?" he questioned before a cough racked his body.
Kaoru's eyes widened, this couldn't be a good sign. "You're in the Aoiya, you're safe now."
He looked puzzled; he didn't remember making it all the way back. Rubbing his eyes to clear them, he gazed up at her. "Kaoru?"
"Yes?" He just stared into her eyes, a bit of amber swirling back into his own. It seemed that Himura Kenshin truly was dead.
"Do you need a doctor?" she asked.
"I don't know."
She didn't like the way he was acting, it was completely unlike him. "What do you want me to do?"
His entire body shook and he tugged at the blanket to pull it closer around him. "Hold me," he whispered. She complied quickly and, avoiding his wound, wrapped him tightly in her arms.
"So cold," he murmured. "So very cold."
"Shh, Battousai," she consoled. "It's going to be alright."
He nodded and let his eyes slide closed. Disentangling herself from his grip, she stood and quickly threw on a gi and hakama. No doubt about it, Battousai needed to be seen by a doctor.
***
"He's lucky to have made it back before he passed out," the doctor said quietly, not wishing to disturb Battousai's already troubled sleep. "He's got a nasty infection from not cleaning his shoulder after the bullet passed through, and a moderate cold on top of that. Don't let him up for a few days, especially until the fever breaks, but, ultimately, he'll be fine. Remember, no strenuous activity until I've taken the stitches out of that wound, pulling them would be not only an annoying but painful as well."
"Yes, sensei," Kaoru said softly. "I'll take care of him."
"Good girl, I know you will," the old man said with a warm smile as he packed up his instruments.
Kaoru walked him out to the street and bowed slightly as he left; she was most grateful to him. Battousai hadn't woken once while his wound was being stitched, which was probably for the better. At least there was no medication that she would have to force him to take, as the doctor had said that his body was already doing an extraordinary job of fighting off both the infection and the cold and that there was nothing more that they could do besides keep him in bed and let him sleep.
Kaoru yawned, sleep certainly sounded inviting at the moment. She hadn't gotten much the night before, and a few more hours of rest certainly wouldn't hurt. Stopping by the kitchen to get a few various things for Battousai to eat once he awoke and was hungry, she made her way back to their room. Setting her tray by the wall near Battousai's head, she laid down next to him and stifled another yawn. Threading her fingers through his, she fell asleep quickly and dreamed of golden skies and crimson rivers.
***
"Kaoru," his voice whispered to her. "Kaoru."
She sighed as she lingered on the border of sleep and reality. His arm around her felt so warm, his voice so dark and soothing, that she wished she could stay like this for just a while longer. His gentle urging continued and she mumbled senseless words against his skin.
"Kaoru, wake up," his voice was insistent, commanding.
She opened her eyes with a frown at his bidding; she hated the way he could make her do whatever he pleased. Sitting up she simply looked at him, eyes demanding an explanation. His eyes, once again reverted to cold pools of amber, met hers unfaltering. She glared at him until he sighed deeply.
"Fine, I'm sorry," he relented. "But it was starting to hurt. Happy?"
"Oh," was all she could say. "I-I'm sorry."
They sat looking at each other for a few minutes. Battousai was fighting back the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her until she begged for him to take her, knowing fully that she would protest and that in his current state, it wouldn't be a wise idea anyhow. Finally, Kaoru broke the uneasy silence.
"How was your... trip?"
He groaned, not the thing he wanted to talk about right now. "It could have been better," he said, motioning at his shoulder. "But you're safe, and that's what's important," he added.
"Really?" she asked, remembering what she'd said to him the night he left.
He gave her a smile, but somehow it didn't quite seem real. His eyes remained cold, sorrowful. "Of course, love, I've told you this before. You're important to me."
Kaoru smiled and took his hands in hers. "Do you remember... what I said? When you were leaving?"
He carefully guarded his expression. Of course he remembered, he'd thought of it every day since he'd left. But what was he supposed to say to her? Admitting to his love for her would be dangerous, he couldn't allow himself to show that much emotion. The delicate line separating how broken he was and the sanity that he had slowly built up was every day closer to breaking. Each moment he spent, each breath he took, drifted more sorrow upon his already heavy heart, and he didn't know how a confession of that magnitude would affect him. It was simply too much of a risk.
"Yes, sweetling, I remember."
"It's still true, Battousai," she whispered.
He paused, unsure of how to avoid telling her his feelings without hurting her. "Good," he said with a smile, this time one that was warm and soft. True.
Kaoru stared at him for a second before shaking herself slightly. It was rare to see a smile like that from him, and she was almost certain she knew what it meant. She opened her mouth to speak again, but never got the chance, because of a knocking at the shoji. Scooting away from Battousai, she started picking up the things on the tray to take it back to the kitchen.
"Come," Battousai called out, lending more strength to his voice.
Aoshi slid the shoji open and stepped inside, nodding to Kaoru who bowed on her way out. He looked Battousai over with a critical eye, noting his bandaged wound and fever-flushed cheeks. Holding up a hand as Battousai attempted to stand, he noticed that the legendary hitokiri was swaying slightly.
"You have no need to be on your feet," he said. "You can hear this sitting down."
Battousai nodded his understanding and sat cross-legged on the futon. "What is it, Aoshi?"
"You realize that the Chinese government isn't going to give up so easily?" Aoshi questioned.
"I'm aware of that."
"You need to leave Kyoto as soon as possible."
"I understand that as well."
"What are you going to do with Kamiya?"
"Take her with me." The way Battousai said it made the task seem so simple. "Yes, I know she'll be targeted as well," he said before Aoshi could point out the same.
"I have confidence in your abilities, Battousai," Aoshi said. "But you're going to need somewhere to stay."
"I'll work it out."
"I'll see what I can do." Aoshi's offer was a generous one. Despite the tensions that ran between them, he valued the help that Battousai had given in the past and knew that the smaller man would continue to honor the allegiance as long as Aoshi was alive.
Battousai inclined his head in silent thanks and Aoshi took his leave, almost running into Kaoru who was standing just outside the room. She pretended not to have heard anything, but Aoshi knew otherwise. She slipped in the room and kneeled at Battousai's side.
"I brought you some sake," she said. "It should help take the edge away from the pain."
Battousai didn't say anything, he hated being coddled, but took the sake and drank it. Kaoru knew his feelings, and wasn't offended, though usually would have chastised him for not thanking her. She only let it pass because he was sick and she took pity on him.
"You should sleep," she suggested.
"Sleep? Again?" He was incredulous. "To hell with all this, I'm not going to sit here and do nothing." He made to stand and Kaoru had to use some force to shove him back down. "Dammit woman, what gives you the right to push me around?"
"You're supposed to rest and you know it!" she exclaimed, giving him a hard glare. "And if it kills me, I'm going to make sure you don't get up."
Battousai smirked, trying to hold back a grin. 'If it kills her, huh? She really does love me.'
"Kaoru, we..." he trailed off. Maybe he should wait to tell her that they would have to leave.
"Hm?"
"I... never mind."
"What is it?"
"You know," he said thoughtfully. "I've told you a lot about me, but you never let me know any of your life."
Kaoru's face fell, she didn't like to remember the things that had happened in her past. Battousai saw this, but he kept pressing. After all, he'd told her more than he'd ever told anyone, he was at least due the same.
"Alright," she whispered. "I'll tell you."
"Come sit next to me."
***
"My father died not long after that," she was close to finishing now, after nearly half an hour of recounting her life.
Battousai stopped her suddenly. "What kind of a man was your father?" She'd told him about what happened to her family, but not the kind of people they actually were.
"He was a great man," she spoke softly, swiping at the tears that rolled down her cheeks. "He was so kind and loving, and he always protected me. He loved me every bit as much as I loved him, and it nearly broke me when he died."
Battousai tucked her into his side, all the while thinking that her father sounded somewhat like himself. Except for kind part; he grimaced. But he couldn't help his nature, it was the way he'd always lived and would be the way he remained.
Kaoru nearly shrank away from the feeling of his hot skin against her body. Even though he'd shed his torn and tattered gi, he was still so warm, clearly he was still feverish, but she didn't mention it, deciding instead to ignore it and leave his pride intact.
"How are you feeling?" she asked tentatively.
"Fine," he lied, but she saw through it.
"You should sleep," she suggested quietly.
"Only if you'll stay with me," he whispered.
She smiled. "Of course I will."
Pulling her down, he adjusted her to rest her head on his chest. With one hand on her head, he dragged the blanket over both of them and let his eyes close sleepily. Fighting illness took a lot out of his strength and energy.
"Sleep well, my precious one," he said through a yawn.
Tracing her fingers absently on his skin, she laid awake while his breathing became deep and even. No longer was she tired, but she didn't have the heart or will to leave him. Looking up at him, she smiled softly. He looked almost innocent while he was sleeping, without all the worries and pain of day-to-day life. But she knew what he must dream about, and the thought was nearly enough to make her cry.
"So much death..."
*****