Disclaimer: Oh!! I'm off to see my sensei!! The powerful sensei of Hiten
Mitsurugi!!! Uh... wait... HIKO DOESN'T LIVE IN AN INSANE ASLYUM!!! ::
starts to bang on walls with pads :: LET ME OUT!!!
Megumi : Lets keep her in here a few more hours.
Kenshingumi: :: agrees religiously ::
Author's Notes: ::is tired :: Phew. I wanted to get all of my chapters started because I am going to be the slowest updater in the world. School is draining the crap out of me and then I'm taking on a lot of my friends problems, so my mind is like 'blah' yet it gave me an idea for ANOTHER RK story. But I'm not starting it yet. Actually, I'm trying to bribe someone into taking the idea from me!!! ^_^ Oh. And I am totally out of ideas for this story and 'Breaking Through'. My story, 'Building The Hitokiri' is going along okay (maybe it's because I only have 5 reviewers, 7 reviews total even though I only got 2 chapters up?) for some reason, though. But that story is not a quick updater, either. I feel bad for making everyone wait.... : sigh : All I can do is try, though. So all this is off of the top of my head and I hope it works out okay.
~Silhouettes of Shadows~
***Chapter 7- Call of the Katana***
Kaoru was mad. Heck, she was furious. Kenshin had no right to tell her that she couldn't protect her own family name. She swung her bokken in a mad rage, with more vigor and power than before. At the moment she wasn't sure if she would care if he came in there, with her like that. She'd pummel him to the ground if he even tried to talk to her again that day.
She knew that there truly was no reason for her anger. All he wanted to do was protect her because he loved her, and she meant a lot to him. And he wanted to protect Kenji. But why in the world did he think that Kenji having a mother was more important to him than having a father? Kenji needed a male figure in his life that was actually going to be a good influence.
Then she shook her head. What was she saying? Sano was an ex- gangster, Aoshi was a spy, Yahiko was a brat and Kenshin was the Battousai. Kenji wasn't going to have a normal male figure in his life. She grinned a little at this thought and continued on swinging her bokken, trying to release a little of her anger. Her eyes flew around the room and envisioned imaginary enemies, one of which happened to be the beast Gohei. She knocked him down quickly and then grinned.
Upon stopping she spotted something, and an uncontrollable urge over came her as she walked over. Her eyes scanned the foreign yet familiar object, fingering it with her curious and expectant gaze. She was a little apprehensive, but her mind told her to touch it.
Kenshin had forgotten one of his swords.
Kaoru bent over and lifted the sword by its sheath, touching it and feeling a brand new sensation overtake her body. Her fingers grazed across some engraved lettering, and she read it.
"Himura Battousai." She mumbled.
Licking her lips she wondered if she should. Would he know? The sword was already heavy in her hands. Taking a deep breath she slipped it from its sheath as silently as she could, almost dropping the sheath and the sword in the process.
She was holding his katana. The katana that held immense bloodstains against the hilt that would never disappear. She set the sheath down and found both of her hands wrapping around the leather-clad hilt, shaking nervously. She had never held a weapon that served death to so many. But it called to her.
One swing wouldn't hurt, right?
Steeling herself for the scolding she knew she would receive from him later, she performed one practice swing, and found that the sword did not give her any grievances that her bokken didn't. If anything it fit into the movements better. The thick, sharp metal didn't seem to heavy to her anymore as she continued to hold it.
Before she knew what had happened, Kaoru was practicing with Battousai's katana until she finally couldn't stand anymore. Letting the sword droop she placed it back in its sheath and immediately missing the feel of having it in her hands. Lifting her bokken she felt empty.
What had she done?
*********** ***********
Kenshin stomped his way through the market. He had yelled and snapped at Kaoru, and he wasn't even mad at her. He was angry with himself. His hands found their way to his hair and he pulled. He was angry. But after walking he decided it would be a good idea to pick up Kenji from Sano's house on Ruffian's Row and then head back and apologize to Kaoru. His hands dropped and he felt something was missing.
His katana, his wakizashi, and his sakabatou.
He hadn't even taken one sword. But he knew had the katana with him in the dojo. Which meant he had left it behind. Which meant it was with Kaoru.
Cursing to himself he prayed that she had kept her curiosity under control. The sword would do the same thing to her it had to him; it would destroy her. But his thoughts soon waned from this realization. He trusted her enough for that.
Then he stopped.
"Kuso Baka!" he cursed to himself, keeping the rest to himself.
'You left Kaoru alone. You said that someone had to be with her at the dojo at all times and what do you do? You leave her there! What if that Gohei bastard decides to attack her now? She's as good as dead!' came the angry Battousai's voice. 'Stupid rurouni!'
How could have been so stupid as to leave her there, when the threat was the highest? Part of him wanted to run back, but part of him said to get Kenji. Kaoru would be okay for a little while longer, wouldn't she? He pressed on and decided to get Kenji and then head straight back home to the dojo. He wasn't going to take any more chances than that.
And if something happened while he was gone he would kill himself.
*********** ***********
Kaoru sighed as she lowered herself into the warm, steaming bath water. Closing her eyes in content she just soaked there for a while, sighing at the pleasure it brought to her sore leg and arm muscles. Her hair floated around her like a blanket of ebony and she lay there motionless for a moment. Her mind wandered off to places as she forgot where she was sitting and why.
Her mind wandered off and her stress escaped her body in the warm, languid, calming waters.
"All I need now is some incense and I'll be set to mediate." She thought to herself, feeling more comfortable than she had in a long while.
No noise, no one to come bursting in on her.
We should all know by that now that Kaoru isn't that lucky.
Taking a deep breath and lowering her head under the water with her eyes shut, she didn't hear the door open. All she knew was she felt hands on her arms and yanking her out from the tub. Shock instilled her body and she kicked up, knocking her two assailants in the face. She climbed out of the tub and grabbed a yukata, wrapping it around herself haphazardly for some coverage. She turned to the door to run out, one hand closing the top of the unruly robe.
"Gohei..." she said, eyes lowering into small, angry slits.
He stood there in the doorway, a menacingly evil grin spread across his face. "Unfortunately I can't kill you here, Kamiya. Wouldn't that be a surprise to Battousai, to find you lying here, fresh out of the tub, in a pool of blood. I wonder what thoughts would fly through his head."
"You're not taking me." Kaoru cried, keeping one eye on the other two men that were now standing up. "I won't let you."
"You have no weapon, you're encased in this room. How do you plan on escaping, Kamiya?" he questioned her.
Kaoru weighed her options, which were few. Since when had taking a relaxing bath become a threat to her life? Her eyes flew around the room, looking for any form of a makeshift weapon. She found nothing. She shouldn't have known better, they could have struck anywhere. The only place she didn't carry her bokken was here. Mentally kicking herself she did the only thing she could think of.
She screamed.
********** **********
Misao was a little giddy as she and Aoshi walked toward the Kamiya dojo. She hadn't seen Kaoru in a long time, and she had yet to see baby Kenji that Kaoru had wrote to her about. They were nearly there, and Misao couldn't contain her energy. She was running ahead of Aoshi and then she'd stop and tap her foot until he caught up with her.
"Aoshi-sama! You're not supposed to be this slow!" Misao complained.
He lifted an eyebrow. "Slow? I'm walking. You're running, Misao."
"Oh don't give me that. You know you want to see Kaoru just as bad as I do, so hurry up!" she said, crossing her arms. "It's not everyday you give me permission to leave our little makeshift Aoiya. I'm trying to make the most of it."
"It's dangerous."
"Kenshin left Kaoru all by herself!" Misao whined.
"With Sanosuke and Yahiko."
"But still, he didn't keep an eye on her like she'd disappear into thin air if he blinked!" Misao whined. "Why are you doing that to me, anyway?"
Aoshi had caught up with her but they were standing still, Misao glowering up at him while he looked down with the usual icy cover. Misao's eyes grew into smaller slits as she glared at him.
"I can protect myself, Aoshi-sama. You trained me, I think I know what I'm doing." She told him, her voice threatening. "The least you could do is let me go to market. I'd be covered by the crowds."
He just walked past her. "Do you want to see Kaoru or not?"
"Don't change the subject, Aoshi-sama!" Misao whined, running to catch up with him. "Answer my question! You...."
A scream caught her attention.
Aoshi stopped, looking around and listening again. There were no other sounds, but he could figure out where the sound was coming from. In a flash he was gone.
Misao turned from her direction to see that Aoshi had disappeared. Stomping her foot, she ran off toward the dojo.
"So NOW he leaves me by myself." She said aloud, an annoyed tone present in her voice.
She had no idea where Aoshi went, so she just ran until she saw the gates and the sign that read 'Kamiya Dojo'. Looking around she saw the familiar trench coat that Aoshi wore disappear behind the back of the dojo. She jumped into the nearest tree and followed him to the building he was headed toward. Finally she jumped down and stared at him with a glare.
"Why did you leave me behind?" Misao growled.
He held a hand out toward her, motioning his need for her silence. Misao abided and fell into step behind him, listening for any sounds that could alert them to the reasons of the screaming. A door burst open, and Kaoru fell out, gripping her yukata tightly before standing back up and running toward the dojo. Aoshi pushed himself and Misao off to the side, but Misao jumped from tree branches to the roof of the shed, staring at the men that followed from the steam of the room.
"They went in there when she was bathing! Aoshi-sama, what if they..." Misao began, but Aoshi stared up at her.
"Quiet Misao, you'll blow our cover."
Misao nodded and watched as Kaoru stumbled inside.
************ ************
Kaoru tripped upon entering the dojo. She searched around for her bokken. Where had she left it? Then it hit her. She left it in her room when she went to get her bathing things. She stood and prepared to run but the dojo door opened and from the inside and the outside men piled in.
Weaponless, Kaoru backed up, and tripped again. She cursed herself for being so clumsy until she saw what she tripped on. Instead of it being the oversized yukata she had grabbed, it was a sheath and it's sword. Kenshin's katana.
"I'm sorry." She whispered before picking it up. "I need a weapon."
Kaoru threw the sheath off of the glimmering blade, holding it before her like she would her bokken. All together there were 5 men, and the 6th one was Gohei, who stood in the center.
"When did you exchange your values for a killing sword?"
Realization hit Kaoru. One swing of that sword with contact would kill whomever she was fighting. But she couldn't put it down... she needed that sword. She needed to protect herself, to prove to Kenshin that he didn't need to protect her all the time. She had failed so many times before, and now was her turn to show that she could, that she was strong enough. It was also time to prove to her that she wasn't the damsel in distress that she had appeared to be so many times before.
"Shut up Gohei. This isn't my sword." Kaoru said. "It's..."
"Now now, Battousai wouldn't leave his sword around here, now would he?" Gohei laughed. "He's not even back yet."
Kaoru grinned and kicked the sheath over to Gohei. "Read it."
Gohei grinned. "This should be interesting then."
Kaoru prepared herself for the blow. She was scared to use the sword; the katana was bound to break the rule and meaning of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. She had to be careful. Gohei lunged and Kaoru attempted to block.
Blood sprayed across the dojo and Gohei fell.
Author's Notes: Oooooooo... cliffhanger!!! ^___^ I actually think I've figured out what I'm going to do with this story. BE PROUD OF ME!!! So far everything has been off a whim (as was the enitrety of 'Coming of the Dawn') but know I think I know how I'm going to go from here on out. Kenshingrl, this was partly your idea so you get credit, but you'll see that it's been tweaked toward the end. ^____^ And I remembered Aoshi and Misao!! They kinda disappeared toward the end of the last story, didn't they? And I just started to get them together, too. They are my 2nd favorite couple because I like Misao. She's spunky. ^___^ But I don't got what it takes to write an Aoshi/Misao tale. ^___^ But, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Sorry, I didn't get around to responding to reviews. It's hard when you get as many as I do. I don't have like 10 or 15 reviewers, I have more like 20 or 30. It's hard to respond to everyone!! Next chapter I might be able to get around to it, though, so look for them in that chapter!!!
Love and hugs,
Crystal Renee
Megumi : Lets keep her in here a few more hours.
Kenshingumi: :: agrees religiously ::
Author's Notes: ::is tired :: Phew. I wanted to get all of my chapters started because I am going to be the slowest updater in the world. School is draining the crap out of me and then I'm taking on a lot of my friends problems, so my mind is like 'blah' yet it gave me an idea for ANOTHER RK story. But I'm not starting it yet. Actually, I'm trying to bribe someone into taking the idea from me!!! ^_^ Oh. And I am totally out of ideas for this story and 'Breaking Through'. My story, 'Building The Hitokiri' is going along okay (maybe it's because I only have 5 reviewers, 7 reviews total even though I only got 2 chapters up?) for some reason, though. But that story is not a quick updater, either. I feel bad for making everyone wait.... : sigh : All I can do is try, though. So all this is off of the top of my head and I hope it works out okay.
~Silhouettes of Shadows~
***Chapter 7- Call of the Katana***
Kaoru was mad. Heck, she was furious. Kenshin had no right to tell her that she couldn't protect her own family name. She swung her bokken in a mad rage, with more vigor and power than before. At the moment she wasn't sure if she would care if he came in there, with her like that. She'd pummel him to the ground if he even tried to talk to her again that day.
She knew that there truly was no reason for her anger. All he wanted to do was protect her because he loved her, and she meant a lot to him. And he wanted to protect Kenji. But why in the world did he think that Kenji having a mother was more important to him than having a father? Kenji needed a male figure in his life that was actually going to be a good influence.
Then she shook her head. What was she saying? Sano was an ex- gangster, Aoshi was a spy, Yahiko was a brat and Kenshin was the Battousai. Kenji wasn't going to have a normal male figure in his life. She grinned a little at this thought and continued on swinging her bokken, trying to release a little of her anger. Her eyes flew around the room and envisioned imaginary enemies, one of which happened to be the beast Gohei. She knocked him down quickly and then grinned.
Upon stopping she spotted something, and an uncontrollable urge over came her as she walked over. Her eyes scanned the foreign yet familiar object, fingering it with her curious and expectant gaze. She was a little apprehensive, but her mind told her to touch it.
Kenshin had forgotten one of his swords.
Kaoru bent over and lifted the sword by its sheath, touching it and feeling a brand new sensation overtake her body. Her fingers grazed across some engraved lettering, and she read it.
"Himura Battousai." She mumbled.
Licking her lips she wondered if she should. Would he know? The sword was already heavy in her hands. Taking a deep breath she slipped it from its sheath as silently as she could, almost dropping the sheath and the sword in the process.
She was holding his katana. The katana that held immense bloodstains against the hilt that would never disappear. She set the sheath down and found both of her hands wrapping around the leather-clad hilt, shaking nervously. She had never held a weapon that served death to so many. But it called to her.
One swing wouldn't hurt, right?
Steeling herself for the scolding she knew she would receive from him later, she performed one practice swing, and found that the sword did not give her any grievances that her bokken didn't. If anything it fit into the movements better. The thick, sharp metal didn't seem to heavy to her anymore as she continued to hold it.
Before she knew what had happened, Kaoru was practicing with Battousai's katana until she finally couldn't stand anymore. Letting the sword droop she placed it back in its sheath and immediately missing the feel of having it in her hands. Lifting her bokken she felt empty.
What had she done?
*********** ***********
Kenshin stomped his way through the market. He had yelled and snapped at Kaoru, and he wasn't even mad at her. He was angry with himself. His hands found their way to his hair and he pulled. He was angry. But after walking he decided it would be a good idea to pick up Kenji from Sano's house on Ruffian's Row and then head back and apologize to Kaoru. His hands dropped and he felt something was missing.
His katana, his wakizashi, and his sakabatou.
He hadn't even taken one sword. But he knew had the katana with him in the dojo. Which meant he had left it behind. Which meant it was with Kaoru.
Cursing to himself he prayed that she had kept her curiosity under control. The sword would do the same thing to her it had to him; it would destroy her. But his thoughts soon waned from this realization. He trusted her enough for that.
Then he stopped.
"Kuso Baka!" he cursed to himself, keeping the rest to himself.
'You left Kaoru alone. You said that someone had to be with her at the dojo at all times and what do you do? You leave her there! What if that Gohei bastard decides to attack her now? She's as good as dead!' came the angry Battousai's voice. 'Stupid rurouni!'
How could have been so stupid as to leave her there, when the threat was the highest? Part of him wanted to run back, but part of him said to get Kenji. Kaoru would be okay for a little while longer, wouldn't she? He pressed on and decided to get Kenji and then head straight back home to the dojo. He wasn't going to take any more chances than that.
And if something happened while he was gone he would kill himself.
*********** ***********
Kaoru sighed as she lowered herself into the warm, steaming bath water. Closing her eyes in content she just soaked there for a while, sighing at the pleasure it brought to her sore leg and arm muscles. Her hair floated around her like a blanket of ebony and she lay there motionless for a moment. Her mind wandered off to places as she forgot where she was sitting and why.
Her mind wandered off and her stress escaped her body in the warm, languid, calming waters.
"All I need now is some incense and I'll be set to mediate." She thought to herself, feeling more comfortable than she had in a long while.
No noise, no one to come bursting in on her.
We should all know by that now that Kaoru isn't that lucky.
Taking a deep breath and lowering her head under the water with her eyes shut, she didn't hear the door open. All she knew was she felt hands on her arms and yanking her out from the tub. Shock instilled her body and she kicked up, knocking her two assailants in the face. She climbed out of the tub and grabbed a yukata, wrapping it around herself haphazardly for some coverage. She turned to the door to run out, one hand closing the top of the unruly robe.
"Gohei..." she said, eyes lowering into small, angry slits.
He stood there in the doorway, a menacingly evil grin spread across his face. "Unfortunately I can't kill you here, Kamiya. Wouldn't that be a surprise to Battousai, to find you lying here, fresh out of the tub, in a pool of blood. I wonder what thoughts would fly through his head."
"You're not taking me." Kaoru cried, keeping one eye on the other two men that were now standing up. "I won't let you."
"You have no weapon, you're encased in this room. How do you plan on escaping, Kamiya?" he questioned her.
Kaoru weighed her options, which were few. Since when had taking a relaxing bath become a threat to her life? Her eyes flew around the room, looking for any form of a makeshift weapon. She found nothing. She shouldn't have known better, they could have struck anywhere. The only place she didn't carry her bokken was here. Mentally kicking herself she did the only thing she could think of.
She screamed.
********** **********
Misao was a little giddy as she and Aoshi walked toward the Kamiya dojo. She hadn't seen Kaoru in a long time, and she had yet to see baby Kenji that Kaoru had wrote to her about. They were nearly there, and Misao couldn't contain her energy. She was running ahead of Aoshi and then she'd stop and tap her foot until he caught up with her.
"Aoshi-sama! You're not supposed to be this slow!" Misao complained.
He lifted an eyebrow. "Slow? I'm walking. You're running, Misao."
"Oh don't give me that. You know you want to see Kaoru just as bad as I do, so hurry up!" she said, crossing her arms. "It's not everyday you give me permission to leave our little makeshift Aoiya. I'm trying to make the most of it."
"It's dangerous."
"Kenshin left Kaoru all by herself!" Misao whined.
"With Sanosuke and Yahiko."
"But still, he didn't keep an eye on her like she'd disappear into thin air if he blinked!" Misao whined. "Why are you doing that to me, anyway?"
Aoshi had caught up with her but they were standing still, Misao glowering up at him while he looked down with the usual icy cover. Misao's eyes grew into smaller slits as she glared at him.
"I can protect myself, Aoshi-sama. You trained me, I think I know what I'm doing." She told him, her voice threatening. "The least you could do is let me go to market. I'd be covered by the crowds."
He just walked past her. "Do you want to see Kaoru or not?"
"Don't change the subject, Aoshi-sama!" Misao whined, running to catch up with him. "Answer my question! You...."
A scream caught her attention.
Aoshi stopped, looking around and listening again. There were no other sounds, but he could figure out where the sound was coming from. In a flash he was gone.
Misao turned from her direction to see that Aoshi had disappeared. Stomping her foot, she ran off toward the dojo.
"So NOW he leaves me by myself." She said aloud, an annoyed tone present in her voice.
She had no idea where Aoshi went, so she just ran until she saw the gates and the sign that read 'Kamiya Dojo'. Looking around she saw the familiar trench coat that Aoshi wore disappear behind the back of the dojo. She jumped into the nearest tree and followed him to the building he was headed toward. Finally she jumped down and stared at him with a glare.
"Why did you leave me behind?" Misao growled.
He held a hand out toward her, motioning his need for her silence. Misao abided and fell into step behind him, listening for any sounds that could alert them to the reasons of the screaming. A door burst open, and Kaoru fell out, gripping her yukata tightly before standing back up and running toward the dojo. Aoshi pushed himself and Misao off to the side, but Misao jumped from tree branches to the roof of the shed, staring at the men that followed from the steam of the room.
"They went in there when she was bathing! Aoshi-sama, what if they..." Misao began, but Aoshi stared up at her.
"Quiet Misao, you'll blow our cover."
Misao nodded and watched as Kaoru stumbled inside.
************ ************
Kaoru tripped upon entering the dojo. She searched around for her bokken. Where had she left it? Then it hit her. She left it in her room when she went to get her bathing things. She stood and prepared to run but the dojo door opened and from the inside and the outside men piled in.
Weaponless, Kaoru backed up, and tripped again. She cursed herself for being so clumsy until she saw what she tripped on. Instead of it being the oversized yukata she had grabbed, it was a sheath and it's sword. Kenshin's katana.
"I'm sorry." She whispered before picking it up. "I need a weapon."
Kaoru threw the sheath off of the glimmering blade, holding it before her like she would her bokken. All together there were 5 men, and the 6th one was Gohei, who stood in the center.
"When did you exchange your values for a killing sword?"
Realization hit Kaoru. One swing of that sword with contact would kill whomever she was fighting. But she couldn't put it down... she needed that sword. She needed to protect herself, to prove to Kenshin that he didn't need to protect her all the time. She had failed so many times before, and now was her turn to show that she could, that she was strong enough. It was also time to prove to her that she wasn't the damsel in distress that she had appeared to be so many times before.
"Shut up Gohei. This isn't my sword." Kaoru said. "It's..."
"Now now, Battousai wouldn't leave his sword around here, now would he?" Gohei laughed. "He's not even back yet."
Kaoru grinned and kicked the sheath over to Gohei. "Read it."
Gohei grinned. "This should be interesting then."
Kaoru prepared herself for the blow. She was scared to use the sword; the katana was bound to break the rule and meaning of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. She had to be careful. Gohei lunged and Kaoru attempted to block.
Blood sprayed across the dojo and Gohei fell.
Author's Notes: Oooooooo... cliffhanger!!! ^___^ I actually think I've figured out what I'm going to do with this story. BE PROUD OF ME!!! So far everything has been off a whim (as was the enitrety of 'Coming of the Dawn') but know I think I know how I'm going to go from here on out. Kenshingrl, this was partly your idea so you get credit, but you'll see that it's been tweaked toward the end. ^____^ And I remembered Aoshi and Misao!! They kinda disappeared toward the end of the last story, didn't they? And I just started to get them together, too. They are my 2nd favorite couple because I like Misao. She's spunky. ^___^ But I don't got what it takes to write an Aoshi/Misao tale. ^___^ But, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Sorry, I didn't get around to responding to reviews. It's hard when you get as many as I do. I don't have like 10 or 15 reviewers, I have more like 20 or 30. It's hard to respond to everyone!! Next chapter I might be able to get around to it, though, so look for them in that chapter!!!
Love and hugs,
Crystal Renee