Disclaimer: I called Watsuki Nobuhiro the other day and asked him to just give me the rights to Rurouni Kenshin. You know, as a Christmas gift of sorts. Well, I don't speak Japanese and I don't think he understands a whole lot of English, but I'm pretty certain he said he'd be happy to give me all the rights to Rurouni Kenshin. "Baka yarou" means, "You're awesome! Rurouni Kenshin is yours!" - right?

Yeah, that's what I thought. So anyway, I own RK now. Thanks, Watsuki!

Catharsis

mitigation
.:chapter four:.

Enishi sighed as he surveyed the work waiting for him. Pages and pages of contracts and agreements were stacked up beside him waiting for his signature. The transfer of control from himself to Heishin was a tedious process. Still, he waded through the paperwork with a fine-tooth comb, making certain the little bloodsucker didn't try to take more than what they originally agreed to.

He was in the middle of reading the same legal jargon for the third time in a row when Kamiya entered the room. Enishi tightened his jaw and started the paragraph over again. Perhaps if he just ignored her, she would go away. Kamiya was bothersome and persistent. Two qualities he rarely put up with from anyone. Once again he was reminded of how vastly different she was from his sister.

The paragraph read and processed, Enishi moved on to the next one only to feel her presence move closer. She wanted something. He could feel it.

"What is it now?" he asked in a clipped tone, refusing to turn and look at her.

She hesitated for a moment, and then moved around the table so that she stood across from him. In her hands she held his shogi board. Voice hopeful, she asked, "Do you know how to play shogi?"

Enishi put down his pen and looked at her quizzically. She couldn't be serious.

"I found this earlier today," she continued, lifting the board for emphasis, "but I have yet to find the pieces for it."

"They're around."

"Good!" she said, blue eyes grinning at him. "I was wondering," she glanced at his papers, "when you're not busy, would you be interested in playing a round?"

"No," he replied, looking back at his work.

Kaoru frowned. "Tomorrow, maybe?"

"Not interested."

Sighing, the girl slumped into the chair across from him. Enishi raised a brow at her. That was a first.

"I don't believe I invited you to sit," he said.

"I'm dying of boredom here."

"I don't care if you're bored," he replied.

"Well, I know you don't, but I do." She sighed, "I'm not trying to be annoying."

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

Kaoru clenched her jaw at his flippant tone, "How about a break then? Play a round of shogi against me."

"Go away, Kamiya."

"Please?"

He clenched his jaw, ignoring her.

"Do you not know how to play?" she asked, voice artificially sweet.

"It's my board," he said, caustically, "of course I know how to play."

"Then you must not be very good."

Enishi glared at her. Was she actually trying to tease him into playing in order to prove something? "If you don't leave me alone, I'll just lock you in your room," he said seriously, his tone low.

"Oh, come on!" she exclaimed, hand pounding on the table for emphasis. "I'm getting stir-crazy here! All I want is one game of shogi to pass the time. One! I'm not asking for much and it's the least you could do!"

He smirked and sat back in his chair. So now the girl was abandoning the whiny tactic and going straight to being angry. So strange, this one. "Are you aware of the situation you're in?"

She rolled her eyes and huffed, "I am aware that I am bored out of my mind, you jerk."

He smiled then. It was entertaining to see her so annoyed. "Go play in the ocean," he suggested, tone thick with sarcasm. "Just don't go too far from shore. There are sharks out there."

Kaoru dropped her head to the table and groaned.

Lips still curled into an amused smirk, Enishi watched her with growing interest. Not that she needed to know, but a game of shogi actually sounded appealing in light of his other responsibilities. He hadn't played in quite a while. He vaguely remembered his father playing the game with his uncle. They both taught him how to play and he had some good memories of the time.

The board in Kamiya's possession had been bought several years ago on a fluke. Shogi was one of the few reminders he had of his past that wasn't directly linked to his sister. It was for that reason that he bought it, but still, he rarely got an opportunity to play. Most people were simply too afraid of him to even think of playing against him. Not that he minded. Fear was an excellent way to control people.

Enishi wondered what kind of shogi player Kamiya was. If she was any good, a game could be a very enjoyable distraction. Perhaps he should take her up on her offer.

"After dinner," he said.

Kaoru slowly lifted her head, brow creasing as she peered at him with a questioning look.

"Leave me alone until then," he told her. "Otherwise I will lock you in your room."

His words slowly sunk in and planted a smile. Eyes reflecting her satisfaction, Kaoru said, "I'll leave you alone. I promise."

• • •

Once the game began, Kaoru knew she was outclassed. Enishi was the type to see every potential move on the board with just one look. He seemed to make his decisions quickly and with little effort, leaving Kaoru with the sense that she was being painfully slow. Her father had once told her that such behavior was a strategy in itself. It would make the opponent feel rushed, which opened up a greater potential to make mistakes. Her father had tried to teach her to take her time, think clearly and carefully, but now that the game was before her and Enishi sat quietly across from her, she had a hard time concentrating.

It didn't help that the game had very little importance to her. It was a means to an end. She wanted the game to be a vehicle to open up a line of communication between them - a sense of familiarity and maybe even comfort. She wanted Enishi to associate her with someone other than Kenshin.

Five minutes into the game, Kaoru started to wonder if she was doomed to fail. Chewing on her bottom lip, she moved a piece. Enishi immediately countered.

Kaoru sighed, "You play like my father."

Sipping his tea, he silently waited for her to move.

"You're both frustrating," she mumbled.

At that, Enishi smirked. Kaoru's hopes rose in her chest at the sight and she smiled. "Well, you are," she said.

"You're the one who wanted to play," he said.

Eying the board, Kaoru saw her move. Her smile didn't waiver. "Don't remind me."

Enishi took her piece and she grimaced. She really should have seen that. "That was stupid of me," she muttered as her silver-haired opponent sat back and waited.

He only said a few sentences to her since they started to play. And every time he spoke he was curt. She wanted him to talk to her, not watch her stare at the board with that damn smug expression as she tried to figure out her next move.

'This isn't working,' she thought with a deep sigh. 'I should have thought this through a bit more. He's focused on the game, not talking to me. Maybe if I have to prod him a little more...' Clearing her throat, she tried to get him to converse with her again.

"So how long have you played?" she asked.

Enishi sipped his tea and eyed the board.

Frowning, Kaoru cocked her head to look him in the eye. "I really used to hate shogi," she said, voice light. A small smile lifted her features as she turned her attention back to the board. "My father tried to use shogi as an exercise in patience for me."

Kaoru moved and Enishi paused. Studying the placement of the pieces, he asked, "Do you think it worked?"

The kendo instructor had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning. He was talking to her! "Yeah," she said casually. "I think so."

"I would have to disagree," he said as he moved his piece.

"... eh?"

"Many of your moves are simplistic and predictable," Enishi explained, his tone somewhat terse. He looked directly at her as he spoke. "You're taking the quickest route to get to the end without any real regard to strategy. You're not really playing, you're just wasting time."

Her temper nudged, Kaoru felt the muscles in her neck grow tense. "I'm good at shogi," she insisted.

"Not really."

Kaoru could only stare as she tried to resist the growing urge to snap at him. He sipped his tea impassively, completely unaware or uninterested in her growing anger.

"Your move," he said.

• • •

Suddenly determined, Kamiya began to concentrate on the game. There was no sound between them as they studied the board and strategized their next moves. Enishi had to admit, he was enjoying the game in spite of himself. Once she poured her attention into it, she became a very satisfying opponent.

And then she made a move that surprised him. One he didn't think she would have the courage to try. An important piece was left with minimal defense as a way to lure him into making a move that would weaken his defenses. The ploy was obvious, but he was still impressed. Little Kaoru Kamiya was being shrewd.

Stoic as ever, Enishi countered and she replied. Back and forth the pieces went until he gained full control over the board once more. Kamiya sighed, recognizing her defeat was only two moves away. The final piece taken, the girl offered a grateful smile while her eyes reflected her disappointment in losing.

"Thanks for playing," she said sincerely as she began to clear the board and put the pieces away.

He was tempted to asked her if she wanted to play again, but for some reason it seemed inappropriate. He had agreed to play as a distraction for himself. It seemed somehow wrong for him to actually enjoy it and want to do again - particularly with her.

"You're not bad," he said. "That is, once you concentrate on what you're doing."

His compliment didn't phase her. Too busy thinking about the mistakes she made in the game, she didn't even notice when he started to help her clean up.

"I wasn't concentrating," Kamiya admitted honestly, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "I really just wanted to talk more than play."

Enishi watched her put the last piece away. "You're not here on a social visit. We're not friends, Kamiya."

Her shoulders suddenly tensed and he eyed her queerly. Realization dawned as he studied her. Somehow, this game had been important to her.

No, not the game. Him.

She honestly wanted to spend time with him.

'W-why..?'

Clearing her throat, Kamiya met his eyes. "I know why I'm here," she said, "but you and I aren't enemies. There's no reason I shouldn't talk to you, right? This island is so lonely... I thought we could both use the break."

Enishi peered at her, the weight of his stare causing her to squirm.

"You're up to something," he accused.

Kamiya opened and closed her mouth soundlessly. Then said, "I'm not. I'm just... bored."

"Boredom caused you to challenge me to a game of shogi?" he pressed.

"Well, yes... and no," she admitted, her conscious preventing her from lying outright.

"Which is it?" he asked.

"There is nothing to do here but wait," she said. "And it's driving me crazy. You're always busy, you don't talk to me, so I guess I thought..." She paused as she considered her next words. "I just thought it would be nice to have a friendly conversation with you for once. That's all."

His skepticism must have been plain upon his face because she offered a timid smile and said, "Really."

He knew she was being truthful, Enishi could see it in her eyes. But how could she say that and mean it? He was trying to destroy Battousai, the man she apparently loved. She should hate him. He had expected her to hate him. Yet, nothing she did made any sense. The cooking, the attempts at conversation, the offers to help when she thought he needed it...

And now this.

'She's trying to get on your good side,' Enishi reminded himself harshly. 'She's shrewd.'

A stab of disappointment pierced him at that thought but he stubbornly pushed it aside. "It's true that we are not enemies, Kamiya," he said. "But we're not allies, either."

Her blue eyes dulled ever so slightly.

"You'd do well to remember that."

AN: Some people may not have heard of shogi before. Shogi is played on a nine-by-nine board and each player has twenty pieces. Like the commonly known Western game of Chess, the object of Shogi is to capture your opponent's King. However, there are some very interesting differences between Chess and Shogi. One is that almost all pieces can be promoted to stronger pieces once they reach the opposite side of the board. The second very important difference is that when a piece is captured, it becomes a piece for the capturing side, and can be dropped back onto the board.