Disclaimer: I do not yet own Kenshin. The plot with Lady Himura has yet to
go underway. ^___^
Author's Notes: I am sorry for my lack of updating. I am trying so hard to update this at a good pace but my time is sparse and I don't want to do filler chapters just to keep you all entertained. I want to make this a good story. There are author's out there that take a month to update one chapter, and their stories are really good and worth the wait. I'm just trying to keep this from becoming boring. So sorry for my lack of updates, I will try harder than I am right now to please you guys. ^___^ I'm not mad, I know it sounds like I am.
~Silhouettes of Shadows~
***Chapter 8- Path to the Inevitable***
Blood splashed against Kaoru's pale skin, soaking her thin yukata as it sprayed around her. The katana she held was dripping with the crimson liquid, her hands were shaking in shock as Gohei fell to the floor in a red heap. She dropped the katana to the floor, her eyes wide.
"Kaoru!"Misao cried, running from behind Aoshi as he proceeded to clean his kodachi's off.
Kaoru's eyes remained wide as she stared off at the blood and at her hands. "I killed him... I killed him..."
Misao took a strong hold of Kaoru's arms. "You didn't kill him, Kaoru! Aoshi-sama killed him. You injured him, yes, but you didn't kill him."
"Why were you holding the Battousai's sword in the first place?" Aoshi asked, his usually quiet demeanor finally breaking loose slightly.
Misao helped Kaoru stand up, and she leaned heavily against Misao. "You're... you're sure I didn't kill him."
She nodded. "It wasn't you."
They began to walk out of the room, leaving Aoshi behind. He lifted up the bloodied katana that Kaoru had dropped, and swished it through the air to clean the liquid off. Then he sheathed it and placed it back on the floor again, and proceeded to follow. Misao sat Kaoru down outside of the dojo and asked her if she had been harmed. Kaoru couldn't really respond coherently, her thoughts were jumbled together so much that she wasn't even sure if she was really there.
"Aoshi-sama, why is she like this?" Misao whispered after she was certain there was nothing more than splashed blood on Kaoru's skin. "She can't really speak or anything."
"Traumatized. She most likely pushed a lot of her memories from staying with the Battousai as his prisoner and from the battle she had been a part of from her mind and everything is shooting back at once. That and the thought that she had somehow aided in Gohei's death is probably why she's like that. It's shock." Aoshi responded casually like it was an everyday thing.
Loud footsteps were heard outside the gate.
"And Battousai is on his way." Aoshi muttered to himself.
Instantly afterwards, the dojo gate opened, and there stood Kenshin, amber eyes and all, his sakabatou in his hand, but still in it's sheath. He had stopped in the battou-jutsu stance and then quickly ran his eyes over the surrounding area.
"Shinomori... Misao. What happened?" he asked. "Where's Kaoru?"
Misao stepped back and nudged Aoshi so he would do the same. He was more reluctant on that, knowing the immediate response that would be flying from Kenshin's mouth. He did so, though, and made sure he was next to Misao in the case of any strange decision to attack.
Kenshin's eyes widened at Kaoru's state. She was covered in dried blood, he recognized the scent. Her yukata clung to her skin from the blood and her eyes stared downcast at floor, shock still imprinted within her irises. He dropped his sword and slowly moved forward. She was still breathing, she was alive, he could see that.
Almost reluctantly he placed a hand on her shoulder. It looked as if he would break her if he applied too much pressure. She swung her head to face him and tears fell from her eyes, mixing with the blood that had dried upon her cheeks and still dripped from her bloody black locks. Kenshin's hand moved to her face where he caressed her cheek while brushing her tears away.
"Kaoru...what happened?" he asked her. " Are you hurt?"
Kaoru continued crying. She couldn't find the words to place upon what had happened, it was too soon for her to speak. She whimpered, trying to get some words out but nothing came. She was relieved to see Kenshin, and she just wanted to fall into him crying, but she was rim rod straight against the wall, tears falling from her stormy eyes as she stared at him.
"Aoshi... what happened here?" Kenshin demanded, trying to soften his amber gaze to a violet one, but his voice explained it all. He was angry, he was worried, and he was going to find out what happened.
Aoshi was silent for a moment. "We were on our way here to see Kaoru. On the walk we heard a scream and I figured it had come from here, so I ran here as quick as I could. I hid and tried to see what was going on. Kaoru came stumbling out of the bathhouse with a few men following behind her. She ran into the dojo from there, and after the men entered we followed, just in case she needed any help. She said a name, Gohei I believe. She had your katana, there were no other weapons in the dojo and she was cornered, she had no choice."
Kenshin looked down at the ground and clenched his fist. Why had he left the katana there? Why did he leave Kaoru there? There was no reason for the mistakes he had made that day.
"Did she kill him?" he asked.
If anything, he didn't want his pure, innocent Kaoru to be subjected to the guilt of having spilt the blood of another. Her technique was completely against it, and he himself had been trying so hard not to kill just so that she wouldn't have to see murder from the people she loved.
"No." Aoshi stated. "She was attacking too far off to the left and his sword was going to slash her. She injured him, but it was I who finished him off. The other men fell soon afterwards with some help from Misao. They're all still in the dojo."
"None of this blood," Kenshin began, fingering the fabric of Kaoru's yukata, "is her own, is that correct?"
"None of it. I checked and she has no injuries, she's just in shock at the entire thing." Misao answered.
Kenshin stood, lifting Kaoru. "Misao, go to Sanosuke's house on Ruffian's Row and send him back here with Yahiko and Kenji. Aoshi, can you clean up the dojo? I need to take care of Kaoru."
The two nodded and Kenshin walked off.
Misao fingered her kunai with a grin and turned to run. A hand found it's way to her shoulder.
"What?" Misao asked. "I can get out there and be back just fine, Aoshi-sama, don't worry."
"I was just going to tell you to be careful." He said. "Because I can't be in two places at once. I'm trusting you on this. Don't make any stupid mistakes."
She turned and gave him a grin. "When do I make mistakes, Aoshi-sama? I promise you I'll be back in time to serve you tea!"
*********** ***********
Kenshin carried Kaoru back into the bathhouse after he heated some clean water up. She was shaking in his hands, gripping his gi tightly. He was torn at the moment, completely blaming himself for her state. He had been off to get Kenji and then turned at the last moment, needing to check on Kaoru because of the impending sense of danger that had settled upon him. Now here he was, carrying her bloodied body into the bathhouse to clean her. At least she was alive. So much blood.
Just like Tomoe. But she was alive.
He took the yukata off of her and lowered her into the water, ignoring how the water turned the pinkish color of the sakura petals. Right now his soul focus was set upon her. She seemed a little hesitant but slowly she relaxed and leaned against the tub, allowing the warm water to soothe her. Kenshin looked around and found a rag. He sat behind Kaoru and told her gently to let her head fall back. She did, her hair hanging off the edge.
Taking the cloth in his hands and lathering it with the jasmine soap Kaoru had in the bathhouse, he slowly began to make rotating circles across her face, scarping the crusting blood off her features little at a time. Her eyes were closed but a ghostly smile spread across her lips. Kenshin felt better to see her so relaxed. It was better than the lifeless, blinding way she was staring around before. At first he had thought she was dead, but the breathing confirmed that she was alive and kicking. There was just so much blood...
He pushed the invading memories from his mind. Right now the contented look of Kaoru as he finally finished cleaning the blood from her face was enough. Reaching into the tub he pulled out one arm and began to perform the same ceremony on that skin, slowly forcing the tarnish colored solid away from her velvety body. One limb at a time he cleaned her. Her shoulders, legs, arms, everything. He didn't want to see his Kaoru drenched in the blood of men that thirsted for her own. He dipped her head back into the water slightly, enough to wet it and then began to wash it, too.
"Kenshin..." she moaned, almost in audibly. "Thank you..."
He nodded; even though her eyes were shut he knew she got the message. He finally finished reached for something to wrap her up in. Nothing was there but the bloodied yukata. He grinned to himself and took of the fuchsia gi he was wearing.
'Finally, a reason to get rid of this thing,' Battousai thought to himself, despite the way the rurouni pleaded against it. 'It's back to manly colors now!'
"Stand up Kaoru." He told her.
Kaoru began to stand and Kenshin wrapped the fuchsia cloth around her, lifting her the rest of the way out and cradling her against his naked chest. His arms covered her protectively, even though he knew Aoshi wouldn't look at her, his eyes were on a certain Oniwabanshu member named Misao. He was overprotective and he knew it, but after everything that happened it was so hard not to be.
Walking out and then racing back inside, he placed Kaoru down on their futon, covering her with the blankets. He brushed her hair away from her face, and noticed she had fallen asleep. His angel.
Standing he left the room, but was on alert. There was no guarantee that this was the end of everything. He stepped out and found a katana outstretched before him.
"You should get rid of this." Aoshi told him. "I think it's got enough blood on it by now."
Kenshin fingered his katana, tracing the engraved name in the sheath.
"No. It still has one job left."
********** **********
Misao ran, occasionally cursing Aoshi and his refusal to take heed of her skills, and occasionally bouncing with joy at his care. He had opened up a lot since the whole Shishio/Enishi incident with Kaoru, and she enjoyed it, but at the same time loathed it. Even if he was opening up with everyone, Misao knew there had to be something more there when it came to her.
She was the only one who could make him smile.
Nearly coming off of her task, she snapped back to reality upon running into someone. She stumbled back and glared at them.
"Hey you old lug, watch where you're headed!" Misao screamed. "Don't you see me walking down the street?"
The man looked amusedly at her, and then glanced over at the two swordsmen that surrounded him. "It's one of Himura's friends, I presume? Mackimachi Misao? Or is it Shinomori Misao now?"
Misao glared. "It's none of your concern, now is it, Katsura?" she held her kunai out; her look was near evil the way she glared and grinned at once.
Katsura lifted a hand to ward off the swordsmen and then looked at her. "I'm not going to harm you yet. Tell Himura I am awaiting his arrival. I know he's looking for me after Gohei's inevitable failure. Tell him that in the end, I only wanted him to stay strong and he was weakening, that was why I ordered the Kamiya girls death. She served her cause as his sheath after Tomoe, and now it's time to bring that Battousai out of hiding."
"How dare you attack Kao..." Misao was cut off.
"That is all." Katsura walked past her and Misao's eye twitched. She momentarily thought of throwing her kunai at his back but contained herself.
Once he was out of sight she put the kunai away and turned back down to running down the street. She was supposed to tell Sanosuke and Yahiko what happened and send them back to the dojo with Kenji. Reminding herself of this, she went back down the street, running with renewed vigor.
"Man, I feel like a little messenger pigeon!" she whined.
Author's Notes: Okay. Kinda short AND there is no cliffhanger. :: sighs :: I'm losing my touch. Again no review responses. Too many and not enough time, but PLEASE do review to the story. Even if you think it sucks, I really don't care, just review. I'm happy though. Coming of the Dawn's reviews are coming sparsely, but I'm one away from 600!! ^____^
Crystal Renee: AND LOOKIE!! I have 2, and 2, and 2 reviews for this story! That equals six!!
Sireta: You IDIOT! You have 222 reviews, not 2+2+2!!
Crystal Renee: Oh... well EXCUSE me!!
Sireta: :: sharpens her sword :: It's about time you let me out of that stupid room with the stuffed bunnies and dandylions.
Crystal Renee: ^___^ It worked, didn't it? I tamed you!
Sireta: :: whispers :: That's what you think...
Crystal Renee: Oh no you don't! No taking over the sto----
Sireta: :: knocks her out :: Okay. Listen up. I am in control. So you know what that means. I can see you all just ANTICIPATING the next chapter. Let me go plan my torture and I"ll get back with you. Oh. And I'd better dispose of this body. :: hands to Battousai :: Battousai, take care of this for me. Or suffer the consquences.
Battousai: :: hands to Sano :: Sano, take care of this.
Sano: :: hands to Saitou :: You take care of it, you're the police!
Saitou: :: grumbles ::
Author's Notes: I am sorry for my lack of updating. I am trying so hard to update this at a good pace but my time is sparse and I don't want to do filler chapters just to keep you all entertained. I want to make this a good story. There are author's out there that take a month to update one chapter, and their stories are really good and worth the wait. I'm just trying to keep this from becoming boring. So sorry for my lack of updates, I will try harder than I am right now to please you guys. ^___^ I'm not mad, I know it sounds like I am.
~Silhouettes of Shadows~
***Chapter 8- Path to the Inevitable***
Blood splashed against Kaoru's pale skin, soaking her thin yukata as it sprayed around her. The katana she held was dripping with the crimson liquid, her hands were shaking in shock as Gohei fell to the floor in a red heap. She dropped the katana to the floor, her eyes wide.
"Kaoru!"Misao cried, running from behind Aoshi as he proceeded to clean his kodachi's off.
Kaoru's eyes remained wide as she stared off at the blood and at her hands. "I killed him... I killed him..."
Misao took a strong hold of Kaoru's arms. "You didn't kill him, Kaoru! Aoshi-sama killed him. You injured him, yes, but you didn't kill him."
"Why were you holding the Battousai's sword in the first place?" Aoshi asked, his usually quiet demeanor finally breaking loose slightly.
Misao helped Kaoru stand up, and she leaned heavily against Misao. "You're... you're sure I didn't kill him."
She nodded. "It wasn't you."
They began to walk out of the room, leaving Aoshi behind. He lifted up the bloodied katana that Kaoru had dropped, and swished it through the air to clean the liquid off. Then he sheathed it and placed it back on the floor again, and proceeded to follow. Misao sat Kaoru down outside of the dojo and asked her if she had been harmed. Kaoru couldn't really respond coherently, her thoughts were jumbled together so much that she wasn't even sure if she was really there.
"Aoshi-sama, why is she like this?" Misao whispered after she was certain there was nothing more than splashed blood on Kaoru's skin. "She can't really speak or anything."
"Traumatized. She most likely pushed a lot of her memories from staying with the Battousai as his prisoner and from the battle she had been a part of from her mind and everything is shooting back at once. That and the thought that she had somehow aided in Gohei's death is probably why she's like that. It's shock." Aoshi responded casually like it was an everyday thing.
Loud footsteps were heard outside the gate.
"And Battousai is on his way." Aoshi muttered to himself.
Instantly afterwards, the dojo gate opened, and there stood Kenshin, amber eyes and all, his sakabatou in his hand, but still in it's sheath. He had stopped in the battou-jutsu stance and then quickly ran his eyes over the surrounding area.
"Shinomori... Misao. What happened?" he asked. "Where's Kaoru?"
Misao stepped back and nudged Aoshi so he would do the same. He was more reluctant on that, knowing the immediate response that would be flying from Kenshin's mouth. He did so, though, and made sure he was next to Misao in the case of any strange decision to attack.
Kenshin's eyes widened at Kaoru's state. She was covered in dried blood, he recognized the scent. Her yukata clung to her skin from the blood and her eyes stared downcast at floor, shock still imprinted within her irises. He dropped his sword and slowly moved forward. She was still breathing, she was alive, he could see that.
Almost reluctantly he placed a hand on her shoulder. It looked as if he would break her if he applied too much pressure. She swung her head to face him and tears fell from her eyes, mixing with the blood that had dried upon her cheeks and still dripped from her bloody black locks. Kenshin's hand moved to her face where he caressed her cheek while brushing her tears away.
"Kaoru...what happened?" he asked her. " Are you hurt?"
Kaoru continued crying. She couldn't find the words to place upon what had happened, it was too soon for her to speak. She whimpered, trying to get some words out but nothing came. She was relieved to see Kenshin, and she just wanted to fall into him crying, but she was rim rod straight against the wall, tears falling from her stormy eyes as she stared at him.
"Aoshi... what happened here?" Kenshin demanded, trying to soften his amber gaze to a violet one, but his voice explained it all. He was angry, he was worried, and he was going to find out what happened.
Aoshi was silent for a moment. "We were on our way here to see Kaoru. On the walk we heard a scream and I figured it had come from here, so I ran here as quick as I could. I hid and tried to see what was going on. Kaoru came stumbling out of the bathhouse with a few men following behind her. She ran into the dojo from there, and after the men entered we followed, just in case she needed any help. She said a name, Gohei I believe. She had your katana, there were no other weapons in the dojo and she was cornered, she had no choice."
Kenshin looked down at the ground and clenched his fist. Why had he left the katana there? Why did he leave Kaoru there? There was no reason for the mistakes he had made that day.
"Did she kill him?" he asked.
If anything, he didn't want his pure, innocent Kaoru to be subjected to the guilt of having spilt the blood of another. Her technique was completely against it, and he himself had been trying so hard not to kill just so that she wouldn't have to see murder from the people she loved.
"No." Aoshi stated. "She was attacking too far off to the left and his sword was going to slash her. She injured him, but it was I who finished him off. The other men fell soon afterwards with some help from Misao. They're all still in the dojo."
"None of this blood," Kenshin began, fingering the fabric of Kaoru's yukata, "is her own, is that correct?"
"None of it. I checked and she has no injuries, she's just in shock at the entire thing." Misao answered.
Kenshin stood, lifting Kaoru. "Misao, go to Sanosuke's house on Ruffian's Row and send him back here with Yahiko and Kenji. Aoshi, can you clean up the dojo? I need to take care of Kaoru."
The two nodded and Kenshin walked off.
Misao fingered her kunai with a grin and turned to run. A hand found it's way to her shoulder.
"What?" Misao asked. "I can get out there and be back just fine, Aoshi-sama, don't worry."
"I was just going to tell you to be careful." He said. "Because I can't be in two places at once. I'm trusting you on this. Don't make any stupid mistakes."
She turned and gave him a grin. "When do I make mistakes, Aoshi-sama? I promise you I'll be back in time to serve you tea!"
*********** ***********
Kenshin carried Kaoru back into the bathhouse after he heated some clean water up. She was shaking in his hands, gripping his gi tightly. He was torn at the moment, completely blaming himself for her state. He had been off to get Kenji and then turned at the last moment, needing to check on Kaoru because of the impending sense of danger that had settled upon him. Now here he was, carrying her bloodied body into the bathhouse to clean her. At least she was alive. So much blood.
Just like Tomoe. But she was alive.
He took the yukata off of her and lowered her into the water, ignoring how the water turned the pinkish color of the sakura petals. Right now his soul focus was set upon her. She seemed a little hesitant but slowly she relaxed and leaned against the tub, allowing the warm water to soothe her. Kenshin looked around and found a rag. He sat behind Kaoru and told her gently to let her head fall back. She did, her hair hanging off the edge.
Taking the cloth in his hands and lathering it with the jasmine soap Kaoru had in the bathhouse, he slowly began to make rotating circles across her face, scarping the crusting blood off her features little at a time. Her eyes were closed but a ghostly smile spread across her lips. Kenshin felt better to see her so relaxed. It was better than the lifeless, blinding way she was staring around before. At first he had thought she was dead, but the breathing confirmed that she was alive and kicking. There was just so much blood...
He pushed the invading memories from his mind. Right now the contented look of Kaoru as he finally finished cleaning the blood from her face was enough. Reaching into the tub he pulled out one arm and began to perform the same ceremony on that skin, slowly forcing the tarnish colored solid away from her velvety body. One limb at a time he cleaned her. Her shoulders, legs, arms, everything. He didn't want to see his Kaoru drenched in the blood of men that thirsted for her own. He dipped her head back into the water slightly, enough to wet it and then began to wash it, too.
"Kenshin..." she moaned, almost in audibly. "Thank you..."
He nodded; even though her eyes were shut he knew she got the message. He finally finished reached for something to wrap her up in. Nothing was there but the bloodied yukata. He grinned to himself and took of the fuchsia gi he was wearing.
'Finally, a reason to get rid of this thing,' Battousai thought to himself, despite the way the rurouni pleaded against it. 'It's back to manly colors now!'
"Stand up Kaoru." He told her.
Kaoru began to stand and Kenshin wrapped the fuchsia cloth around her, lifting her the rest of the way out and cradling her against his naked chest. His arms covered her protectively, even though he knew Aoshi wouldn't look at her, his eyes were on a certain Oniwabanshu member named Misao. He was overprotective and he knew it, but after everything that happened it was so hard not to be.
Walking out and then racing back inside, he placed Kaoru down on their futon, covering her with the blankets. He brushed her hair away from her face, and noticed she had fallen asleep. His angel.
Standing he left the room, but was on alert. There was no guarantee that this was the end of everything. He stepped out and found a katana outstretched before him.
"You should get rid of this." Aoshi told him. "I think it's got enough blood on it by now."
Kenshin fingered his katana, tracing the engraved name in the sheath.
"No. It still has one job left."
********** **********
Misao ran, occasionally cursing Aoshi and his refusal to take heed of her skills, and occasionally bouncing with joy at his care. He had opened up a lot since the whole Shishio/Enishi incident with Kaoru, and she enjoyed it, but at the same time loathed it. Even if he was opening up with everyone, Misao knew there had to be something more there when it came to her.
She was the only one who could make him smile.
Nearly coming off of her task, she snapped back to reality upon running into someone. She stumbled back and glared at them.
"Hey you old lug, watch where you're headed!" Misao screamed. "Don't you see me walking down the street?"
The man looked amusedly at her, and then glanced over at the two swordsmen that surrounded him. "It's one of Himura's friends, I presume? Mackimachi Misao? Or is it Shinomori Misao now?"
Misao glared. "It's none of your concern, now is it, Katsura?" she held her kunai out; her look was near evil the way she glared and grinned at once.
Katsura lifted a hand to ward off the swordsmen and then looked at her. "I'm not going to harm you yet. Tell Himura I am awaiting his arrival. I know he's looking for me after Gohei's inevitable failure. Tell him that in the end, I only wanted him to stay strong and he was weakening, that was why I ordered the Kamiya girls death. She served her cause as his sheath after Tomoe, and now it's time to bring that Battousai out of hiding."
"How dare you attack Kao..." Misao was cut off.
"That is all." Katsura walked past her and Misao's eye twitched. She momentarily thought of throwing her kunai at his back but contained herself.
Once he was out of sight she put the kunai away and turned back down to running down the street. She was supposed to tell Sanosuke and Yahiko what happened and send them back to the dojo with Kenji. Reminding herself of this, she went back down the street, running with renewed vigor.
"Man, I feel like a little messenger pigeon!" she whined.
Author's Notes: Okay. Kinda short AND there is no cliffhanger. :: sighs :: I'm losing my touch. Again no review responses. Too many and not enough time, but PLEASE do review to the story. Even if you think it sucks, I really don't care, just review. I'm happy though. Coming of the Dawn's reviews are coming sparsely, but I'm one away from 600!! ^____^
Crystal Renee: AND LOOKIE!! I have 2, and 2, and 2 reviews for this story! That equals six!!
Sireta: You IDIOT! You have 222 reviews, not 2+2+2!!
Crystal Renee: Oh... well EXCUSE me!!
Sireta: :: sharpens her sword :: It's about time you let me out of that stupid room with the stuffed bunnies and dandylions.
Crystal Renee: ^___^ It worked, didn't it? I tamed you!
Sireta: :: whispers :: That's what you think...
Crystal Renee: Oh no you don't! No taking over the sto----
Sireta: :: knocks her out :: Okay. Listen up. I am in control. So you know what that means. I can see you all just ANTICIPATING the next chapter. Let me go plan my torture and I"ll get back with you. Oh. And I'd better dispose of this body. :: hands to Battousai :: Battousai, take care of this for me. Or suffer the consquences.
Battousai: :: hands to Sano :: Sano, take care of this.
Sano: :: hands to Saitou :: You take care of it, you're the police!
Saitou: :: grumbles ::