Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic
Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original Japanese Version © N.Watsuki/Shueisha Fuji-TV SME Visual Works Inc. Sony Pictures Entertainment
All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.
Held Within A Single Fragrant Blossom
By: Chiruken
Chapter 2
He was somewhere close by. She knew this because she could sense him. She had yet to see him, but she was heartened to know that her search had not been in vain. She knew that if she could feel his presence that he was certain to feel hers in return. She could afford to bide her time and wait for him to come to her. It wasn't as if she had anything better to do.
The wait, however, was tedious. She'd never had an over abundance of patience to begin with, and this inactivity she was now experiencing was becoming more than a little bothersome. She was, in effect, bored. Because of that, she'd stretched a few of the rules. Not quite broken, of course, but she knew she could look forward to receiving a reprimand in the near future. Assuming, of course, her assignment ended any time soon.
For the life of her, she had no idea why she had been sent to complete this particular mission. She wasn't a fool. She knew there were other much more qualified for this than she could ever be. Naturally no one had told her anything beyond the basics. Even the identity of the one she was searching for had been kept from her. She'd only been told that she would recognize his presence when she felt it. As far as she was concerned that wasn't enough information by far.
She longed to return to her home. This place she now found herself in had been fascinating in the beginning, but now she longed for the familiar comfort of her home and gardens. At least there she didn't have to mask her presence to avoid the complications knowledge of her existence would bring about.
She sat with her back to the ancient tree she'd found a particular affinity to over the course of the last few months and stared sightlessly out at the small over grown garden. She longed to cultivate it, to nurture the plants trying to grow within the cramped confines, yet she didn't dare.
She sighed and plucked at the grass growing beneath the wide reaches of the branches high above her. She wondered, not for the first time, what the importance of this man was to the council and why they felt it necessary to bring him over in such a ridiculous manner. As far as she was concerned it would be much more effective to just approach him with an offer and then negotiate the terms. All this subterfuge was enough to give her a headache.
She looked around herself again and shivered despite the warmth of the day. This wasn't a place she enjoyed being in. At first glance it appeared serene with quiet solitude, yet beneath the surface she could detect something darker, something sinister. She didn't like it. The sensation made her hair stand on end and brought her instincts of fight or flight out. She couldn't quite place what it was about the compound that caused such a negative reaction in her, but it was there all the same, touching the edges of her awareness with a sensation of oily fingers that made her skin crawl. It was disconcerting at the best of times, and all other times it was just plain creepy.
She hummed softly under her breath as she turned her gaze to the large non-descript building bordering three sides of the garden with monstrous wings four stories high. It really was an ugly building in her opinion. It was huge with colourless stone facing and grotesque bars on every window. Outwardly, it appeared to be a place of safety and seclusion, a retreat from the rigors of the fast paced world beyond its walls. Yet, as she'd soon discovered, there was much more to this place. There was corruption within the building, and unspeakable cruelty.
Her hands clenched into fists as she scowled at the building with narrowed blue eyes. She longed to do something…anything…for the poor people held inside. sensed that, but more were like prisoners confined within the cold walls with the barred windows, their hope being sucked away with each passing day. It made her heart hurt every time she sensed their anguish. She wished she could help them, but to do so would be a blatant disregard of the council's decree that under no circumstances was she to meddle in affairs not her own. It was more than a little frustrating for her.
She focused her attention on a window looking down from third floor onto the garden. She could feel his presence and for a moment she thought she could detect the outline of someone framed in the opening. She debated for a moment on whether she should make an "appearance" again and decided against it. It wouldn't do to spoil the aura of mystery she'd created around her own presence so soon. A moment later the figure vanished from view.
She stretched out on the grass and stared up at the sky for a moment before closing her eyes to the brightness. She longed to end this monotonous task that had been placed in her care, yet as the days wore on it was becoming increasingly obvious that the end was no where in sight. Her thoughts drifted and she began to wonder about her home and the people she'd left behind when she'd been saddled with this assignment. It wasn't that she'd volunteered or even had any inclination to do something even remotely like this, but one just didn't say no when the council made a decision. It was unthinkable…and exceedingly foolish…to do so.
As her mind mulled over the mystery of why she'd been chosen she felt an abrupt shift and sat bolt upright, eyes wide with shock and a hint of horror. Her gaze moved immediately to the window on the third floor that she'd been watching only moments before. There was no mistaking it. She'd definitely felt his presence shift and become much stronger, more forceful…more terrifying. Slowly she stood and closed her hands into fists at her sides. It seemed her previously boring assignment had just suddenly become much more interesting. Interesting…and dangerous, if what she was beginning to suspect was true.