Puppeteers
Note: Maa... I learned this past week that I'd make a miserable housewife... I mean, when you accidentally squirt the cat with the iron, while trying to iron a blouse... The cat was so pissed at me... I also saw Reflections... I'm completely in awe, and I can't even describe how beautiful it was... However, all but one of the characters earned hard whacks for stupidity. Who was the character? Of all people, it was Yahiko. He grew up to be such a kick ass person, I swear. I'm probably one of the few people who DIDN'T cry. I mean, nearly everyone I talked to about it has cried during it. I only teared up once when Sanosuke went to get a doctor for Kenshin... But if you haven't seen it yet, do. It's amazing; I swear.
Chapter 3: Unpleasantries
Days passed into weeks, and Hiro had been living in the dojo for a month.
Everyday that passed brought more and more hints that the wedding was closer and closer.
Laundry didn't help to distract me from my frenzy of thoughts that everyone was beginning to notice. Kaoru had taken me aside and asked me what was wrong, but I, naturally, could not tell her.
I had gone drinking with Sano more and more often over the last two weeks, and tension in the dojo could have been cut with a knife. I was silent most of the time, and my secondary personality spent a great deal of time drifting below the surface of my mind.
As time passed I realized that the time I had remaining at Kaoru's dojo was dwindling.
I had just finished the laundry when Hiro asked to see me in the dojo. My heart sunk in realization as to what I knew was going to happen.
We kneeled; the formality was killing me.
"Himura-san, I would like to thank you for your kindness to Kaoru while you have been here."
I felt my foreboding grow as my heat rate increased.
Hiro continued. "But because of you kindness, the lesser intelligent of the community have been getting the wrong idea."
At last you're honest with yourself about your intellect. I remember thinking brutally.
"Therefore, it is my most regrettable duty to-"
However un-samurai as it was, I held my hand up and cut him off. "This one understands. He will get his things." I stood up and stepped to the shoji, heart heavy.
I had not wanted to hear the words.
How ironic it was to be a rurouni, a wanderer, and be forced to leave a place.
I almost laughed at the irony of it all, but waited until I was a block away from the dojo, leaning against another dojo's wall.
Hiro had told me it was not necessary to simply go right then, but I turned to him and blatantly told him, politely, what my existence was.
"This one is a rurouni, Hiro-san. If need arises, he can always sleep outside. Please excuse him, for he owns little and will be on his way." I wanted to scream, but as always, I shut up. My pack slung over my shoulder, I bowed to Hiro.
"Do send my apologies to Kaoru-dono. This one will see if Sano will allow him to stay with him until he is ready to continue."
I knew he wouldn't, but I left him there with those words.
I paused after stepping a few steps. "Tell Yahiko that... I am sorry."
I allowed the slip of tongue. I was emotional, and I was ready to let Battousai take over me completely. It felt as though Tomoe had died all over again, and I was walking away from our burning house.
I was leaving a piece of my life behind again.
I'm always leaving things behind... I thought as I made my way to stand at Sanosuke's door.
I knocked softly. "Sano? If you would pardon this one's intrusion..."
The door was opened and Sano began to tell me off for the whole 'this one' thing, but stopped dead upon seeing the sack.
"He didn't... that bastard... he didn't."
"Maa maa... Sano, it's okay. I will only be here a week perhaps. Then I must return to my journey."
Sano picked me up by my gi. "Your what?!" He growled. "You're not going anywhere! Where does that punk get off telling you what to do?"
I shrugged. "It doesn't matter. This one simply needs a few days to set his affairs in order."
Sano seemed to give up on me, letting me fall to the ground. "I don't like it."
I stood up and organized my clothing. "Thank you Sano." I smiled my innocent rurouni smile. "This one is grateful."
Sano sighed and led me in. "There's not much room..."
I smiled gratefully. "This one needs little, and will be willing to cook."
Sano started laughing. "That's right! What's that punk gonna do about cooking? Kaoru can't, he can't and Yahiko..." He shook his head. "I hate to leave them high an' dry... but they need you."
"And this one is not welcome there." I replied, calmly setting myself on the floor.
Sano sat next to me. "Do you want to get drunk tonight?"
I sighed. "This one does not enjoy hangovers... but..." I sighed. I was becoming an alcoholic. I was beginning to wonder if all Hiten Mitsurugi masters had such problems.
But perhaps my master had charged in fourteen years...
I almost laughed. "Very well."
Sano grinned. "Katsu'll take care of it... he never minds funding a good night out. Maybe he'll join us."
I nodded. "This one will simply sleep for a short while." I closed my eyes, letting the weight of my pain tumble away.
Sano woke me a few hours later, when dusk was upon us, and the sun was brilliant, bloody red in the western horizon.
"Come on Kenshin." He grinned and pointed to his waiting friend. "Let's go."
I nodded, and the three of us walking slowly down the street.
Katsu looked over at me. "Himura-san, have you ever been in a tea house?"
I really did laugh that time. I couldn't help it. Katsura-san's most beloved woman, Ikumatsu, was frequent to visit our inn. She often invited us to meet her in teahouses, and, much to my discontent, I was taken along.
The younger boys stared at me.
"This one knew many geisha during the war."
They exchanged eyebrow-raised expressions.
I coughed. "This one was no older then either of you are now when he retired from being hitokiri."
Sanosuke choked and blushed, and I realized why. I had been no more then sixteen when Tomoe and I had been married and...
I almost blushed myself.
We stopped in front of a teahouse and stepped inside.
It felt as though I were back ten years before.
When we were seated, I sipped my sake slowly, glancing around the room.
An older geisha caught my eye, and a smile crossed my face. I stopped a young woman who worked there and asked her about the geisha.
She smiled and replied calmly, with a kind smile and left to speak with her.
Sano coughed on his sake. "Kenshin..."
I smiled. "It's not what you think."
The geisha smiled and excused herself quickly to seat herself at our table.
I stood and bowed. "Ikumatsu-san, it's wonderful to see you."
She smiled brightly. "Himura-san..." She seemed to radiate with joy. "What brings you here?"
I looked slightly miserable, but only for a fleeting instant. "I'm leaving Tokyo in a week or so. I've lived here for almost a year."
She looked concerned. "What for? Haven't you settled here?" She shook her head. "A year is a long time."
I ignored this and introduced Katsu and Sano, and our night began.
Ikumatsu was always well learned in conversation, but the more we drank, the more we began to reminisce.
Ikumatsu and I had ten years to catch up on, and Sano was more then willing to get an insight on my mind.
"What were you in Tokyo so long for?" Ikumatsu finally asked.
I sighed and set down my cup, pulling my sword closer to me. I laughed. "I met a woman..." I pushed my sweaty hair back from my face. "She's getting married soon... but I'm in love with her."
Sano and Katsu were passed out, with two young apprentice geisha looking after them.
Ikumatsu looked sad for me. "Is she beautiful?"
"Unbelievable so... More then Tomoe was... unorthodox... but she's beautiful when she has a sword in her hand." I leaned back. "And..." I sighed. "She's marrying the worst kind of guy for her."
Ikumatsu nodded. "Why don't you do something about it?"
"She's so young... he can take care of her, and he wasn't a hitokiri."
Her eyebrows shot up. "You weren't quite so passive when I knew you."
I looked away. "This one is unworthy."
She sighed. "Himura-san... let go of your past..." She stood up, helping me up as well. "Come now, you and I are drunk enough."
She helped us out of the teahouse, and we separated.
Sano and I were staggering back to his house when a cold dread crept from my heart.
"Sano?" I whispered.
"Wha-? Whazz- wrong?" He slurred.
"Battousai." A man stepped from the shadows. "It's shameful to see you like this."
I felt myself sober immediately.
It can't be... I thought; hand on the hilt of my sword.
He stepped closer, an elitist smirk set on his face. "To see you so disintegrated... where is your pride? Your honor?"
My eyes flickered amber for a moment as I gripped the hilt. "Right here."
He laughed cruelly. "Don't worry. It wouldn't be fair if I fought an intoxicated man." A piece of paper caught on the wind and I caught it.
My amber eyes scanned the page. "A challenge." I stated but he was gone.
Shinsengumi...I thought, tearing up the challenge and closing my eyes. "Saitou-san..."
*~*
Yay, minna-san!!! Thank you for all the lovely reviews, and everyone's so nice!! As promised, freshly-baked RK cookies!! ^_^ Next time, Kenshin's giving out kisses!! And if you're a guy... request a character that you want a kiss from and... ^_^ Thank you!
Koishii Sweet: ^_^ As always, I look forward to getting a review from you. You've never actually failed to send me a review, and I appreciate it. **hands a bag of RK cookies**
Junny Jun: Thank you! I really appreciate getting reviews that are in detail like this, and it always makes me feel good. Kaoru WILL have a chapter or two with her POV, but not for another two chapters or so, after I stick in 'White Flag' at the end of a chapter... ohohohohohoho... let's see who can figure out what's going to happen there! **hands a bag of RK cookies**
Selena Maxwell: Thank you!! I appreciate each and every review, and I'm glad you all send them to me with love and your time. I'm glad you like it, and I hope you enjoy all future chapters. **hands a bag of RK cookies**
elgaladangel: Yep... He understands that he's hurting all over, and he's in for a world of hurt for a while... But it'll get better for him, and he won't have to feel such pain forever. I promise. ^_^
cyberdemon: You will LIKE how they get together, this one hopes. ^_^ It will happen, but not for some time. But it will come, I promise.
Josie: Ahh... I'm glad Kenshin gets pity... but Hiro's a character of mine... so I won't kill him... sorry... ^_^ But he'll get his in the end. He'll get his. ^_^x
Note: Maa... I learned this past week that I'd make a miserable housewife... I mean, when you accidentally squirt the cat with the iron, while trying to iron a blouse... The cat was so pissed at me... I also saw Reflections... I'm completely in awe, and I can't even describe how beautiful it was... However, all but one of the characters earned hard whacks for stupidity. Who was the character? Of all people, it was Yahiko. He grew up to be such a kick ass person, I swear. I'm probably one of the few people who DIDN'T cry. I mean, nearly everyone I talked to about it has cried during it. I only teared up once when Sanosuke went to get a doctor for Kenshin... But if you haven't seen it yet, do. It's amazing; I swear.
Chapter 3: Unpleasantries
Days passed into weeks, and Hiro had been living in the dojo for a month.
Everyday that passed brought more and more hints that the wedding was closer and closer.
Laundry didn't help to distract me from my frenzy of thoughts that everyone was beginning to notice. Kaoru had taken me aside and asked me what was wrong, but I, naturally, could not tell her.
I had gone drinking with Sano more and more often over the last two weeks, and tension in the dojo could have been cut with a knife. I was silent most of the time, and my secondary personality spent a great deal of time drifting below the surface of my mind.
As time passed I realized that the time I had remaining at Kaoru's dojo was dwindling.
I had just finished the laundry when Hiro asked to see me in the dojo. My heart sunk in realization as to what I knew was going to happen.
We kneeled; the formality was killing me.
"Himura-san, I would like to thank you for your kindness to Kaoru while you have been here."
I felt my foreboding grow as my heat rate increased.
Hiro continued. "But because of you kindness, the lesser intelligent of the community have been getting the wrong idea."
At last you're honest with yourself about your intellect. I remember thinking brutally.
"Therefore, it is my most regrettable duty to-"
However un-samurai as it was, I held my hand up and cut him off. "This one understands. He will get his things." I stood up and stepped to the shoji, heart heavy.
I had not wanted to hear the words.
How ironic it was to be a rurouni, a wanderer, and be forced to leave a place.
I almost laughed at the irony of it all, but waited until I was a block away from the dojo, leaning against another dojo's wall.
Hiro had told me it was not necessary to simply go right then, but I turned to him and blatantly told him, politely, what my existence was.
"This one is a rurouni, Hiro-san. If need arises, he can always sleep outside. Please excuse him, for he owns little and will be on his way." I wanted to scream, but as always, I shut up. My pack slung over my shoulder, I bowed to Hiro.
"Do send my apologies to Kaoru-dono. This one will see if Sano will allow him to stay with him until he is ready to continue."
I knew he wouldn't, but I left him there with those words.
I paused after stepping a few steps. "Tell Yahiko that... I am sorry."
I allowed the slip of tongue. I was emotional, and I was ready to let Battousai take over me completely. It felt as though Tomoe had died all over again, and I was walking away from our burning house.
I was leaving a piece of my life behind again.
I'm always leaving things behind... I thought as I made my way to stand at Sanosuke's door.
I knocked softly. "Sano? If you would pardon this one's intrusion..."
The door was opened and Sano began to tell me off for the whole 'this one' thing, but stopped dead upon seeing the sack.
"He didn't... that bastard... he didn't."
"Maa maa... Sano, it's okay. I will only be here a week perhaps. Then I must return to my journey."
Sano picked me up by my gi. "Your what?!" He growled. "You're not going anywhere! Where does that punk get off telling you what to do?"
I shrugged. "It doesn't matter. This one simply needs a few days to set his affairs in order."
Sano seemed to give up on me, letting me fall to the ground. "I don't like it."
I stood up and organized my clothing. "Thank you Sano." I smiled my innocent rurouni smile. "This one is grateful."
Sano sighed and led me in. "There's not much room..."
I smiled gratefully. "This one needs little, and will be willing to cook."
Sano started laughing. "That's right! What's that punk gonna do about cooking? Kaoru can't, he can't and Yahiko..." He shook his head. "I hate to leave them high an' dry... but they need you."
"And this one is not welcome there." I replied, calmly setting myself on the floor.
Sano sat next to me. "Do you want to get drunk tonight?"
I sighed. "This one does not enjoy hangovers... but..." I sighed. I was becoming an alcoholic. I was beginning to wonder if all Hiten Mitsurugi masters had such problems.
But perhaps my master had charged in fourteen years...
I almost laughed. "Very well."
Sano grinned. "Katsu'll take care of it... he never minds funding a good night out. Maybe he'll join us."
I nodded. "This one will simply sleep for a short while." I closed my eyes, letting the weight of my pain tumble away.
Sano woke me a few hours later, when dusk was upon us, and the sun was brilliant, bloody red in the western horizon.
"Come on Kenshin." He grinned and pointed to his waiting friend. "Let's go."
I nodded, and the three of us walking slowly down the street.
Katsu looked over at me. "Himura-san, have you ever been in a tea house?"
I really did laugh that time. I couldn't help it. Katsura-san's most beloved woman, Ikumatsu, was frequent to visit our inn. She often invited us to meet her in teahouses, and, much to my discontent, I was taken along.
The younger boys stared at me.
"This one knew many geisha during the war."
They exchanged eyebrow-raised expressions.
I coughed. "This one was no older then either of you are now when he retired from being hitokiri."
Sanosuke choked and blushed, and I realized why. I had been no more then sixteen when Tomoe and I had been married and...
I almost blushed myself.
We stopped in front of a teahouse and stepped inside.
It felt as though I were back ten years before.
When we were seated, I sipped my sake slowly, glancing around the room.
An older geisha caught my eye, and a smile crossed my face. I stopped a young woman who worked there and asked her about the geisha.
She smiled and replied calmly, with a kind smile and left to speak with her.
Sano coughed on his sake. "Kenshin..."
I smiled. "It's not what you think."
The geisha smiled and excused herself quickly to seat herself at our table.
I stood and bowed. "Ikumatsu-san, it's wonderful to see you."
She smiled brightly. "Himura-san..." She seemed to radiate with joy. "What brings you here?"
I looked slightly miserable, but only for a fleeting instant. "I'm leaving Tokyo in a week or so. I've lived here for almost a year."
She looked concerned. "What for? Haven't you settled here?" She shook her head. "A year is a long time."
I ignored this and introduced Katsu and Sano, and our night began.
Ikumatsu was always well learned in conversation, but the more we drank, the more we began to reminisce.
Ikumatsu and I had ten years to catch up on, and Sano was more then willing to get an insight on my mind.
"What were you in Tokyo so long for?" Ikumatsu finally asked.
I sighed and set down my cup, pulling my sword closer to me. I laughed. "I met a woman..." I pushed my sweaty hair back from my face. "She's getting married soon... but I'm in love with her."
Sano and Katsu were passed out, with two young apprentice geisha looking after them.
Ikumatsu looked sad for me. "Is she beautiful?"
"Unbelievable so... More then Tomoe was... unorthodox... but she's beautiful when she has a sword in her hand." I leaned back. "And..." I sighed. "She's marrying the worst kind of guy for her."
Ikumatsu nodded. "Why don't you do something about it?"
"She's so young... he can take care of her, and he wasn't a hitokiri."
Her eyebrows shot up. "You weren't quite so passive when I knew you."
I looked away. "This one is unworthy."
She sighed. "Himura-san... let go of your past..." She stood up, helping me up as well. "Come now, you and I are drunk enough."
She helped us out of the teahouse, and we separated.
Sano and I were staggering back to his house when a cold dread crept from my heart.
"Sano?" I whispered.
"Wha-? Whazz- wrong?" He slurred.
"Battousai." A man stepped from the shadows. "It's shameful to see you like this."
I felt myself sober immediately.
It can't be... I thought; hand on the hilt of my sword.
He stepped closer, an elitist smirk set on his face. "To see you so disintegrated... where is your pride? Your honor?"
My eyes flickered amber for a moment as I gripped the hilt. "Right here."
He laughed cruelly. "Don't worry. It wouldn't be fair if I fought an intoxicated man." A piece of paper caught on the wind and I caught it.
My amber eyes scanned the page. "A challenge." I stated but he was gone.
Shinsengumi...I thought, tearing up the challenge and closing my eyes. "Saitou-san..."
*~*
Yay, minna-san!!! Thank you for all the lovely reviews, and everyone's so nice!! As promised, freshly-baked RK cookies!! ^_^ Next time, Kenshin's giving out kisses!! And if you're a guy... request a character that you want a kiss from and... ^_^ Thank you!
Koishii Sweet: ^_^ As always, I look forward to getting a review from you. You've never actually failed to send me a review, and I appreciate it. **hands a bag of RK cookies**
Junny Jun: Thank you! I really appreciate getting reviews that are in detail like this, and it always makes me feel good. Kaoru WILL have a chapter or two with her POV, but not for another two chapters or so, after I stick in 'White Flag' at the end of a chapter... ohohohohohoho... let's see who can figure out what's going to happen there! **hands a bag of RK cookies**
Selena Maxwell: Thank you!! I appreciate each and every review, and I'm glad you all send them to me with love and your time. I'm glad you like it, and I hope you enjoy all future chapters. **hands a bag of RK cookies**
elgaladangel: Yep... He understands that he's hurting all over, and he's in for a world of hurt for a while... But it'll get better for him, and he won't have to feel such pain forever. I promise. ^_^
cyberdemon: You will LIKE how they get together, this one hopes. ^_^ It will happen, but not for some time. But it will come, I promise.
Josie: Ahh... I'm glad Kenshin gets pity... but Hiro's a character of mine... so I won't kill him... sorry... ^_^ But he'll get his in the end. He'll get his. ^_^x