Wow! So many reviews! How ever will this unworthy one keep her humility? Thanks must go to the sacred night, Lucrecia LeVrai, Shihali, Riddle-Master, Maria Cline and Nicky 9. Once again this one asks, in the interest of learning, for your opinions.
Innocence- Chapter 3: Tea
Kenshin rehearsed in his mind as he walked to the safe house, a restaurant in the middle of town, for a meeting with Katsura. He did not expect it to be a pleasant one. "I failed to eliminate my target." He thought to himself. "Katsura-sama will be very displeased." Seeing the sign indicating reasonably priced soba, he walked inside the small restaurant and spoke a code word to the elderly hostess. Nodding in understanding, she led him outside, around to the back, then up exterior steps to a small, dimly lit room furnished with only a few lamps and a large table. Across the table from the doorway sat Katsura. His guards stood on various sides of the room.
"Himura-san," Katsura began without pleasantries, "I have a most unusual question to ask you." The expression on Katsura's face was dangerously agreeable.
"Yes Katsura-sama?" Kenshin answered, knowing what he would ask.
"Why is Lord Mutsuya still alive?"
"The target never showed up at the designated meeting point. I suspect due to the inclement weather that night."
"Most unfortunate. Things are going to be much more difficult now." Katsura seemed almost annoyed. "You are certain?"
"There was no one." Himura scowled, asking coldly, "Would you accuse me of being lax in my duties?"
"Certainly not." Katsura frowned and waved his hand. "You are dismissed."
Bowing deeply, Himura turned, his glare making a path through the guards to the doorway. He was suddenly in a very bad mood. As he passed Jiro, he acknowledged curtly, "Toshiro-san."
Behind him he heard voices ask in awe, "You know the Battousai?"
"Well not really," Toshiro stammered, "I just talked to him once, that's all."
"You must have said something," someone said, sounding impressed, "he was almost nice to you."
Ignoring them, Kenshin walked out the door and down the steps to the marketplace outside. Intent on putting distance between himself and the safe house, he slipped aimlessly through the crowd, paying little attention to the wares on display. Kenshin was so lost in thought that he was completely surprised when a small form attached itself to his leg.
"Himura-san!" Koji chirruped, a wide smile on his face.
Withdrawing the hand that had gone immediately to his sword, Himura looked down at the small boy. "Hello Koji-kun."
"You must be the one I hear so much about." A woman said, walking towards them.
Hearing these words, Kenshin almost sent her a fierce glare before he noticed that the woman was smiling.
"And just what have you heard about me?" he asked abruptly.
"Mom!" Koji released his stranglehold on Kenshin's leg and ran over to her. "This is Himura-san."
Kenshin bowed. "Toshiro-dono."
Keiko studied the figure before her. There was something odd about this man, no,--boy, she decided. From her husband's earlier anxiety, she had assumed Himura-san was Jiro's superior, but this boy looked no more than fifteen. Despite his polite demeanor, there was an eerie coldness about him that unnerved her. However, as Koji again grabbed at his leg, she saw his eyes unguarded for a moment. Deep pools filled with gentleness and an ineffable sadness regarded her son, and a faint, near indiscernible smile rose on the corners of his lips. He looked up, noticing the intensity of her gaze, and the unreadable mask slipped tightly back over on his expression. Smiling amiably, Keiko decided to trust him. Whatever shadows may haunt this boy, there was good in him.
As if reading her thoughts, Koji chose that moment to state straightforwardly, "Himura-san, I like you."
Himura-san looked surprised. "Is that so?" He asked.
"As do I." Keiko said. "I am glad to have the chance to thank you personally. Will you join us for tea?"
Himura opened his mouth to politely refuse, but before he could give a response, Koji began dragging him by the hand down the street. "Come on, Himura-san!" the boy shouted, smiling widely. "Our house is this way." Stunned, Kenshin offered no resistance, allowing the boy to lead him as an amused Keiko trailed close behind.
Hideki sat by his family's kitchen table, wondering where his mother and brother had got to. His mother was strangely obsessed about the need for the family to spend time together and so nagged him often to make it to his parent's house for tea, even when Hideki would much rather be spending time in the company of his friends. Hideki sighed, knowing his mother must have lost track of time while bargaining fanatically at the market. When she bargained it often seemed as though her very life depended on shaving the last few ryos off the price of tofu. Though, in hard times that did come in handy. Hideki was just about to write a note and leave when he heard the shoji door slam outside.
In the next room, Hideki heard his mother say, "Now if you and Koji-chan will just go sit by the table Himura-san, I'll go make the tea."
"Thank you Toshiro-dono." A voice politely answered.
Hideki was surprised. It was very unusual for his mother to invite a stranger. He understood, however, when the visitor walked in the kitchen. He was just a harmless boy. Hideki smiled, thinking, "Mother must have taken pity on him."
Koji laughingly dragged Kenshin over the table, before his smile suddenly changed to a pout at the sight of the figure sitting there watching them. Somewhat distastefully he said, "This is my brother Hideki." Then, facing his brother, Koji stated more cheerfully, "This is Himura-san."
Kenshin bowed and sat down. Similar in appearance to Jiro and Koji, with curly black hair and dark brown eyes, Hideki appeared to be about eighteen years old. One thing that completely distinguished him from his family members however, was the insolent look he gave Himura.
"So you're the guy who found Koji huh?" he asked. "The one who works with Dad?"
Kenshin nodded, feeling a tinge of annoyance at the man's tone.
"I thought all guys who worked there had to be master swordsman." Hideki stated matter-of-factly.
Himura scowled, resisting the urge to tell the man just who he was. His mood lightened somewhat, however, when Koji answered for him.
"He's a better swordsman than you, Hideki-chan." Koji declared, sticking out his tongue.
Rolling his eyes at his brother Hideki asked, "What do you know shrimp?"
"More than you!" Koji replied defiantly, looking hurt.
Waiting until Koji ducked behind his back for a moment, playing with his hair, Himura shot a fierce look at Hideki.
Hideki felt his blood run cold. "Those eyes…" Hideki thought. Hideki didn't know what it was but something in Himura's eyes frightened him down to his very core. "I think I underestimated this guy." Visibly shaken, Hideki was about to apologize but shut his mouth when his mother walked into the room, carrying the tea set on a tray.
"Getting to know one another, are you?" Keiko asked agreeably as she set down the tray.
"Uh…yes." Hideki stammered.
"Hideki was being mean again." Koji exclaimed.
"Is that true Hideki?" Keiko asked.
Giving a scowl that was quickly suppressed when his eyes met Himura-san, Hideki rose to help his mother pour the tea. "I apologize Koji-chan."
Keiko looked questioningly at her son. This was not the usual ending of the regular battle between the brothers. "Are you feeling all right dear?"
"Fine Mother." Hideki said evenly.
Just then, there was a light knock on the door, and Koji jumped up from his place at the table to hide behind Kenshin. Keiko rose to answer it, motioning the others to remain seated.
Opening the door, she peered out cautiously to see a pale slim figure. There was something unpleasant about the man's smile.
Bowing, he asked, "I am sorry to disturb you, is Himura-san here?"
Keiko felt rather than saw the presence of the young man standing suddenly behind her.
Tensely he breathed, "Iizuka."
"Ah there you are Himura-san. Someone told me they saw you going this way." Iizuka said, his voice artificially cheerful. "I just came to deliver a message." Digging through his pockets, he reached toward Kenshin, something in his hand.
Himura stared at the black envelope for a moment. Dismissing Iizuka with a nod, he silently took it, then suddenly turned, startled by Koji's playful shout. A chill ran down his spine at the cheerful sound and Kenshin froze, watching open-mouthed and speechless through the open kitchen door as Koji pulled at Hideki's hair, desperately trying to get his brother to stop tickling him. Their laughter reverberated painfully, almost nightmarishly in Kenshin's ears as a horrible realization came to him. "I do not belong here." Turning again, he stared fearfully at the trusting figure of Keiko, who stood there with motherly concern on her face, asking gently again and again what was wrong. Her voice seemed distant somehow, muffled by the pounding of his heart. Kenshin opened his mouth to answer her, but no words came out. Finally, taking a deep breath, he mumbled "I am sorry." Then he turned and ran from the house.
Innocence- Chapter 3: Tea
Kenshin rehearsed in his mind as he walked to the safe house, a restaurant in the middle of town, for a meeting with Katsura. He did not expect it to be a pleasant one. "I failed to eliminate my target." He thought to himself. "Katsura-sama will be very displeased." Seeing the sign indicating reasonably priced soba, he walked inside the small restaurant and spoke a code word to the elderly hostess. Nodding in understanding, she led him outside, around to the back, then up exterior steps to a small, dimly lit room furnished with only a few lamps and a large table. Across the table from the doorway sat Katsura. His guards stood on various sides of the room.
"Himura-san," Katsura began without pleasantries, "I have a most unusual question to ask you." The expression on Katsura's face was dangerously agreeable.
"Yes Katsura-sama?" Kenshin answered, knowing what he would ask.
"Why is Lord Mutsuya still alive?"
"The target never showed up at the designated meeting point. I suspect due to the inclement weather that night."
"Most unfortunate. Things are going to be much more difficult now." Katsura seemed almost annoyed. "You are certain?"
"There was no one." Himura scowled, asking coldly, "Would you accuse me of being lax in my duties?"
"Certainly not." Katsura frowned and waved his hand. "You are dismissed."
Bowing deeply, Himura turned, his glare making a path through the guards to the doorway. He was suddenly in a very bad mood. As he passed Jiro, he acknowledged curtly, "Toshiro-san."
Behind him he heard voices ask in awe, "You know the Battousai?"
"Well not really," Toshiro stammered, "I just talked to him once, that's all."
"You must have said something," someone said, sounding impressed, "he was almost nice to you."
Ignoring them, Kenshin walked out the door and down the steps to the marketplace outside. Intent on putting distance between himself and the safe house, he slipped aimlessly through the crowd, paying little attention to the wares on display. Kenshin was so lost in thought that he was completely surprised when a small form attached itself to his leg.
"Himura-san!" Koji chirruped, a wide smile on his face.
Withdrawing the hand that had gone immediately to his sword, Himura looked down at the small boy. "Hello Koji-kun."
"You must be the one I hear so much about." A woman said, walking towards them.
Hearing these words, Kenshin almost sent her a fierce glare before he noticed that the woman was smiling.
"And just what have you heard about me?" he asked abruptly.
"Mom!" Koji released his stranglehold on Kenshin's leg and ran over to her. "This is Himura-san."
Kenshin bowed. "Toshiro-dono."
Keiko studied the figure before her. There was something odd about this man, no,--boy, she decided. From her husband's earlier anxiety, she had assumed Himura-san was Jiro's superior, but this boy looked no more than fifteen. Despite his polite demeanor, there was an eerie coldness about him that unnerved her. However, as Koji again grabbed at his leg, she saw his eyes unguarded for a moment. Deep pools filled with gentleness and an ineffable sadness regarded her son, and a faint, near indiscernible smile rose on the corners of his lips. He looked up, noticing the intensity of her gaze, and the unreadable mask slipped tightly back over on his expression. Smiling amiably, Keiko decided to trust him. Whatever shadows may haunt this boy, there was good in him.
As if reading her thoughts, Koji chose that moment to state straightforwardly, "Himura-san, I like you."
Himura-san looked surprised. "Is that so?" He asked.
"As do I." Keiko said. "I am glad to have the chance to thank you personally. Will you join us for tea?"
Himura opened his mouth to politely refuse, but before he could give a response, Koji began dragging him by the hand down the street. "Come on, Himura-san!" the boy shouted, smiling widely. "Our house is this way." Stunned, Kenshin offered no resistance, allowing the boy to lead him as an amused Keiko trailed close behind.
Hideki sat by his family's kitchen table, wondering where his mother and brother had got to. His mother was strangely obsessed about the need for the family to spend time together and so nagged him often to make it to his parent's house for tea, even when Hideki would much rather be spending time in the company of his friends. Hideki sighed, knowing his mother must have lost track of time while bargaining fanatically at the market. When she bargained it often seemed as though her very life depended on shaving the last few ryos off the price of tofu. Though, in hard times that did come in handy. Hideki was just about to write a note and leave when he heard the shoji door slam outside.
In the next room, Hideki heard his mother say, "Now if you and Koji-chan will just go sit by the table Himura-san, I'll go make the tea."
"Thank you Toshiro-dono." A voice politely answered.
Hideki was surprised. It was very unusual for his mother to invite a stranger. He understood, however, when the visitor walked in the kitchen. He was just a harmless boy. Hideki smiled, thinking, "Mother must have taken pity on him."
Koji laughingly dragged Kenshin over the table, before his smile suddenly changed to a pout at the sight of the figure sitting there watching them. Somewhat distastefully he said, "This is my brother Hideki." Then, facing his brother, Koji stated more cheerfully, "This is Himura-san."
Kenshin bowed and sat down. Similar in appearance to Jiro and Koji, with curly black hair and dark brown eyes, Hideki appeared to be about eighteen years old. One thing that completely distinguished him from his family members however, was the insolent look he gave Himura.
"So you're the guy who found Koji huh?" he asked. "The one who works with Dad?"
Kenshin nodded, feeling a tinge of annoyance at the man's tone.
"I thought all guys who worked there had to be master swordsman." Hideki stated matter-of-factly.
Himura scowled, resisting the urge to tell the man just who he was. His mood lightened somewhat, however, when Koji answered for him.
"He's a better swordsman than you, Hideki-chan." Koji declared, sticking out his tongue.
Rolling his eyes at his brother Hideki asked, "What do you know shrimp?"
"More than you!" Koji replied defiantly, looking hurt.
Waiting until Koji ducked behind his back for a moment, playing with his hair, Himura shot a fierce look at Hideki.
Hideki felt his blood run cold. "Those eyes…" Hideki thought. Hideki didn't know what it was but something in Himura's eyes frightened him down to his very core. "I think I underestimated this guy." Visibly shaken, Hideki was about to apologize but shut his mouth when his mother walked into the room, carrying the tea set on a tray.
"Getting to know one another, are you?" Keiko asked agreeably as she set down the tray.
"Uh…yes." Hideki stammered.
"Hideki was being mean again." Koji exclaimed.
"Is that true Hideki?" Keiko asked.
Giving a scowl that was quickly suppressed when his eyes met Himura-san, Hideki rose to help his mother pour the tea. "I apologize Koji-chan."
Keiko looked questioningly at her son. This was not the usual ending of the regular battle between the brothers. "Are you feeling all right dear?"
"Fine Mother." Hideki said evenly.
Just then, there was a light knock on the door, and Koji jumped up from his place at the table to hide behind Kenshin. Keiko rose to answer it, motioning the others to remain seated.
Opening the door, she peered out cautiously to see a pale slim figure. There was something unpleasant about the man's smile.
Bowing, he asked, "I am sorry to disturb you, is Himura-san here?"
Keiko felt rather than saw the presence of the young man standing suddenly behind her.
Tensely he breathed, "Iizuka."
"Ah there you are Himura-san. Someone told me they saw you going this way." Iizuka said, his voice artificially cheerful. "I just came to deliver a message." Digging through his pockets, he reached toward Kenshin, something in his hand.
Himura stared at the black envelope for a moment. Dismissing Iizuka with a nod, he silently took it, then suddenly turned, startled by Koji's playful shout. A chill ran down his spine at the cheerful sound and Kenshin froze, watching open-mouthed and speechless through the open kitchen door as Koji pulled at Hideki's hair, desperately trying to get his brother to stop tickling him. Their laughter reverberated painfully, almost nightmarishly in Kenshin's ears as a horrible realization came to him. "I do not belong here." Turning again, he stared fearfully at the trusting figure of Keiko, who stood there with motherly concern on her face, asking gently again and again what was wrong. Her voice seemed distant somehow, muffled by the pounding of his heart. Kenshin opened his mouth to answer her, but no words came out. Finally, taking a deep breath, he mumbled "I am sorry." Then he turned and ran from the house.