Disclaimer: Okay, get this straight. Me. No. Own. Kenshin. Kaoru does. grin (and that author dude too…{no offense meant to the great deity Nobuhiro Watsuki})
a rurouni kenshin fanfic
Previously…
"Even though you've hardly learned your art, you still manage to stay awake for so long after my nerve tap. I'm glad that core of strength hasn't faded yet." The Cobra said wistfully as he gently cleaned some of Kenshin's worst wounds as a caring older brother would care for his younger sibling. He took pulled up a clump of a small grass-like plant growing by the rock and crumpled it until a sticky juice emerged from between the cracks of his hand. The small drops fell down on Kenshin's bleeding cuts, almost instantaneously stopping the flowing blood. When Cobra was satisfied with his work, he picked up and set him upon his shoulder and began walking smoothly back to town.
"You must understand, I cannot allow you to kill me yet. I still have much to do in this world…"
Chains…Why am I in chains? Kenshin struggled to move his limbs. The heavy chains weighed him down. Mud sucked on his bleeding bare feet, interfering with his mobility even more.
"Stand up straight!" A loud crack of a whip sounded behind him, followed by a sharp cry of pain. Kenshin turned around. Long lines of dirty haggard people greeted his sight, struggling to stand up under the blows of a vicious whip. Passersby turned their heads in pity while others exchanged money with the traders and took a wretch from the line of chained beggars. He was chained to this line. He was a…
…slave… …I don't understand…
"At least try te look strong, or else yer won' get bought!"
Ah… we're being sold...
Kenshin looked around him. He was small again, perhaps a five year old. He couldn't recall why he was here, the fog upon his mind still thick as ever. Then a bright blue kimono appeared at the corner of his vision. He looked up, still in a daze.
"Hi! I'm Kaoru. What's your name?" A smiling little girl with bright blue eyes introduced herself as she bowed. Kenshin felt his eyes widen on their own accord in surprise he didn't feel himself. Someone actually bowed to him. He shyly returned the smile, afraid to meet this girl's eyes.
I don't know my name…but it's nice to meet you, Kaoru…
"Shinta," Kenshin heard his younger self whisper.
Shinta…was that my name?
Kaoru scooted closer to him, as if she were inspecting him to buy. Kenshin caught the wafting aroma of a steamed bun.
"You're hungry, aren't you, Shinta? Here," she discretely handed him a large white bun, wrapped in gray clothe to hide it. Shinta stared at her. Kenshin looked at her curiously.
"Quickly, eat it!" she hissed at him. The gnawing pain in his abdomen won over and Shinta began to wolf down the delicious bread. Kenshin noticed the two slave girls on either side of Shinta had stepped forward the slightest bit, shielding the unknowing redhead from the malicious eyes of the slave traders. Kaoru hovered around him still 'inspecting' the dirty and skinny boy.
Shinta smiled at Kaoru gratefully as he finished the white bread, feeling better than he had for days on. After scanning the area for prying eyes, the kindhearted girl gripped his slender hands in her own chubby ones.
"Fight for your heart, Shinta. Fight as hard as you can," she whispered, her sincere blue eyes boring in Shinta's own violet ones.
"Kaoru! Have you picked which slave you want to buy yet?" a loud booming voice rang over the crowds.
"I have, Father!" Kaoru yelled back. She sadly turned back towards Shinta, trying to avoid his hopeful look.
"I'm sorry, I can't take you away from this horrible place. Duty comes first…" She gave his hands one last squeeze and ran further down the line to a spiky haired boy called Sanosuke. Shinta smiled slightly when he saw Kaoru's choice and swallowed his disappointment with more ease. Sanosuke had confided in him about the Sekihoutai's plans to rescue one of their youngest members. Shinta closed his small fingers around the round coin Kaoru had slipped to him as her father led both Sanosuke and Kaoru away. Kaoru turned her head and gave him one final smile.
Kenshin saw Kaoru's father glance at him, then nodding to a tall arrogant man wearing a large red and white cape.
"Himura-san?"
Kenshin's eyelids fluttered open, his violet gaze unfocused. That voice…it's familiar… A blurry face hovered over his own. He slowly sat up, sore from the past fight. The face moved away respectfully. A dream…I can't seem to remember…"Fight for your heart?"…
Fight!
Anger quickly expelled all form of daze from Kenshin's system. He leaped off the bed, hardly sparing a glance at the person who watched him. Kenshin flung open the door and made to exit. Then a strong hand grasped his arm, pulled him inside the room, and led him firmly back towards the bed.
"Himura-san, please get dressed before you go out and try to get your read end kicked into High Heaven again," came the dry voice of a young girl. Kenshin looked down and finally realized his state of undress. He immediately scampered back into bed under the covers with a small 'oro'.
"Thank you," the girl sighed as she turned around and uncovered her eyes. Kenshin peeked out from under the covers.
"I apolo…OROOOOOOOOOO!!!" His apology transformed itself into a shriek of terror as Kenshin got a full look of the girl's face. Kenshin backed away from her haphazardly, only entangling himself even more in the covers. The girl looked immensely confused for several moments, before she finally noted the reason for his bloodcurdling shriek.
"Oh. Sorry about this," she grinned sheepishly as she quickly dipped a rag in a nearby basin of water and scrubbed furiously at her face.
"All better!" she cheerily declared after several minutes of scrubbing. She turned to Kenshin, most of her face clean of the hideous white rice powder and tacky blue eye shadow she had used in an attempt to apply make-up. Kenshin sighed with relief.
"Miss, I sincerely apologize. I didn't realize I was undressed…" he finally stated after his pounding heart returned to a normal pace. The girl smiled, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement. She waved away his apology. Kenshin mentally shook off his feeling of déjà vu; the girl's blue eyes and smile tugged almost painfully at his heart.
"Nah, don't worry about it, Himura-san. One of the male employees of the Akabeko took care of the bathing and clothing aspects of your care. I think he forgot to dress you since we called for breakfast then. So I didn't see anything private. And it is pretty easy to miss." At this, Kenshin's eyebrow twitched. The girl continued on, unaware of her implied insult.
"Besides, you have been unconscious for a couple days now. Anyone would be out of it."
Kenshin stared at her. His job!
"How long have I been unconscious?" he asked with disbelief.
"Four days." The blue-eyed girl replied casually.
"But don't worry, I covered your night shifts for you," she quickly added at the sight of Kenshin's horrified look. Kenshin sighed again with relief; silently doubting how much more shock his poor heart can take. Then he tensed just as quickly. Something was off…
"Wait, how did you know that I was a bodyguard?" he inquired suspiciously after the whole situation sank in. Boy, did he have questions. The girl raised a slender eyebrow and brandished a small wooden plaque with Kenshin's name and his employment information carved upon it.[1]
"Oh." Kenshin felt rather idiotic, but immensely relieved. Good, she wasn't a stalker (unlike a certain someone with long hair and lives in Koba Jin's house and who is way too clingy and squeals like a dying pig and….yeah….). Phew.
"Kaoru-chan! What happened?!" Tae cried as she suddenly burst in with a broom held menacingly in her hands, interrupting any further questions Kenshin had. She searched the small room for intruders with narrowed eyes. Kenshin thought he even heard a small growl from the usually gentle woman.
"I just came back from shopping and one of the customers told me they heard a woman scream up here and sounds of struggling…" she trailed off as Kaoru pointed to the inadequately dressed redhead wrapped up in covers and the remaining rice powder on her face.
"You forgot to take off the makeup you put on earlier didn't you?" Tae asked as she set her broom down. Kaoru nodded.
"You seem to be putting on lot of make-up lately; must be some strange new trend… Sorry for the interruption. Next time Himura-san, please don't scream like that. You'll scare the customers…you two can carry on whatever that you're doing," Tae said with a smile, her broom perfectly innocent by her side as she scooted out the room. Kaoru and Kenshin stared after her.
"Kaoru, is it? I'm sorry for not asking your name when we first met. My name is Himura Kenshin, as you probably already know," Kenshin finally said. Kaoru…have I known a person with that name before…? Kenshin shook his head slightly. He was sure he's known a female Kaoru before.
"Kamiya. Kamiya Kaoru, nice to meet you," Kaoru said with a kind smile as she bowed. Kenshin returned the bow, though awkwardly, as he was tangled up in the covers and sitting on a bed.
"Nice to meet you too." He paused for several moments.
"Kamiya-san, I had some questions about the past couple days before Tae-san …erm…"
"Barged in like a rabid rhino?" Kaoru finished for him, "Don't mind Tae, she's been overprotective ever since Cobra came and dumped you here. You probably want to know what's going on anyways."
Tsubame fidgeted as sat on the front steps to the Akabeko. Her worried brown eyes searched the waning crowds of people. Still no flash of red hair.
"Tsubame, you need to come in now before you catch a cold," Tae called as she tidied the tables and chairs within. The Akabeko already seemed as if no murder had come to be at all. Tsubame sighed as small crystals appeared at the corners of her eyes.
"I still haven't even seen a glimpse of Himura-san. What if Cobra killed him, Tae? Himura-san is one of the few nice customers we have…" Tae smiled sadly at Tae as she scanned the dark streets.
"We'll just have to wait and see. You do know that most martial artists prefer to use the roofs for transportation. Maybe Himura-san already defeated the Cobra and is…" she broke off with a sharp gasp. Tsubame followed her line of sight.
The entire street had turned deathly still quiet. Cobra calmly walked down the street, paying no attention to the fearful looks as the crowds parted for the swordsman. On his shoulder, sat a limp red-haired figure. Cobra moved as if he were carrying no more than just a small baby. He loomed darkly over Tae as he stopped in front of her. She quickly stepped to the side and allowed him entrance into the Akabeko.
Cobra walked up to the nearest table and with a sweep of his free arm, sent everything set on the table crashing on the far wall. As he set Kenshin's unconscious body on the cleared table, bystanders at the door winced and hurried on their way despite their morbid curiosity; Cobra was in a bad mood. And they liked their heads where they are. Tsubame and Tae quickly followed into the Akabeko. There must be a reason why the Cobra chose this restaurant inn out of all the others in town. They kept a respectful distance as the Cobra turned towards them.
"I like this boy," he drawled icily. "It's been a while since somebody could really fight me and pose a challenge." Cobra pinned Tae with a curt nod.
"He is to stay here as long as he must to heal properly; I wish to fight him again." The black clad man tossed a handful of gold coins on the table.
"Good day," the black serpent sneered with a final gesture of his head and turned to leave, his black robes swirling like the clouds of a starless night.
"I challenge you, Cobra! This is the last time you've hurt somebody!" Kaoru cried as she stepped from her place in the corner shadows, her bokken brandished. Tae took one look at her and nearly choked on the very air she breathed. Cobra turned around. His usually cool and calm air nearly completely banished itself as he almost allowed himself to double over in silent laughter.
White powder covered the entirety of Kaoru's oval face, putting the coloring of the whitest snow to shame. Her full lips were smothered with dark red lipstick, the red contrast with white causing the lips to resemble that of a kissing fish. Round spots of hot pink were drawn on her cheeks, the borders of pink and white powder distinctively recognizable. Sky blue eye shadow found itself covering Kaoru's eyelids and lashes. The light blue hid her beautiful sapphire eyes, giving her a permanent case of the squints.
Kaoru narrowed her eyes, her skillful grip on her bokken tightening. She crouched and shifted to the balls of her feet. Cobra managed to compose himself enough to draw his sword. With nary a sound, Kaoru attacked with a flying leap straight at Cobra. All laughter died from his lips as he raised his sword and countered with quick flashes of silver.
Kaoru flew past him and skidded to a stop, facing her opponent. A cut opened itself as a small gush of blood sprouted from her upper right arm. Cobra had executed the attacks so quickly that no stain of red even lingered on his blade. Kaoru ignored it with but a small wince of pain and turned the full blow of her daggered eyes to the black serpent. The two glared at each other for several endlessly long moments. Abruptly, Cobra sheathed his sword.
"I have nothing against you, little girl. Be grateful I'm a good mood today." Nothing else said, but so much more understood, Cobra exited the Akabeko.
"You challenged Cobra?" Kenshin asked, his jaw surrendering itself to gravity. Kaoru threw him a daggered look.
"I do know how to use a sword, thank you very much," she sniffed indignantly. Kenshin studied her. He had never really noticed the graceful way her lithe body moved. Even the many folds of her Chinese outfit couldn't properly hide that aspect of Kaoru. Though not one of the best, her ki danced powerfully for that of an average martial artist.
"I do admit it was very foolish of me," Kaoru admitted with a small sigh. "But you looked like you died and I just can't STAND THE ACTIONS OF THAT COBRA!" The latter part she growled loudly as she leaped to her feet from her chair besides Kenshin, slamming her hand on to the table besides her. At the condescendingly amused look upon his face, Kaoru quickly added furiously:
"And I did manage to hit him, just the results weren't as noticeable as his were. I felt my bokken impact." With a huff, she turned and gathered Kenshin's folded and washed clothes from the table next to her. She threw them into Kenshin's chest with more force than necessary and stomped off, an angry flush high on her cheeks.
"Lock the door before you change into your fine pink robe and fine white pants!" Kaoru threw over her shoulder as she slammed the door, rocking the entire room. Kenshin blinked owlishly at the tense silence following Kaoru's exit.
"Oro? What did I do?" Kenshin asked the silence around him with a stumped expression upon his fine features. He dragged the thick covers behind him as he accepted Kaoru's huffy advice and crossed the room to the door.
"And my robe's not pink!" he muttered under his breath.
Kaoru stormed down the Akabeko restaurant inn steps, each stomp echoing throughout the building. Stupid... Stomp. Annoying… Stomp. Arrogant… Stomp. Jackass… How dare he even think that she can't hold her own in a fight! I know that I haven't been working my rear end off since I was five for nothing! Kaoru's loud heavy steps then softened sadly as she remembered her encounter with Cobra three nights past.
flashback
"I have nothing against you. Be grateful I'm a good mood today." Nothing else said, but so much more understood, Cobra exited the Akabeko.
"Wait, Cobra, you stop right there! We're not done yet!" Kaoru yelled after him as she rushed to the entrance of the restaurant inn.
"Go home little girl, don't gnaw what you can't possibly chew." Kaoru flinched as if someone had physically struck her, blinking back the stinging sensation in her eyes. Too taken aback by his words, she paused and watched as the Cobra leapt to the roofs. Surprisingly, no dislike marred her bright sapphire eyes.
"Home…" she whispered forlornly. Kaoru clasped her hand to her wound and slumped against the sturdy post guarding the Akabeko. The weight of the world was suddenly too much to bear. She stared blankly at the starless night outside.
"Thank you, 'Cobra'-san," Kaoru finally whispered after a long stretch of silence, " I was getting too carried away in playing my part…" A small smile graced her lips.
end
Kaoru shook her head violently to rid herself of any nostalgic feelings. Chin up! Life gives you bokkens, you make pancakes of those who annoy you! Gotta make the best of what you have, and right now, this is what life has dealt you. Go out and kick some butt! With that being said in her personal pep talk, Kaoru forced a plastic smile upon her red tinted lips, placed a fake sparkle in her eye and swaggered cheerfully down the rest of the steps.
End chapter 2
Some really good ideas just popped out at me, I absolutely couldn't help myself to type it up real quickly and post it! Read and review!!!!
Author Notes:
- Kaoru! Yay! I thought it would be really cute it Kaoru and Kenshin/Shinta met during the earlier stages of their childhood. Is the dream sequence/flashback sequence kinda confusing? Kenshin is experiencing this all through Shinta's view like a virtual reality movie of some sort. As for the things that Shinta don't notice, but Kenshin does: I believe it's possible for you to notice things unconsciously and never realize that you've seen them.
- Kaoru can also be a boy's name [for non-knowers], kinda like Frances or Jamie.
- What did you think about Kaoru's makeup? Hahahah!
- Kaoru seems kinda suspicious though…Oooooo!
That's all for now! Now...about that fudge ice-cream bar I've been eyeing for a while....grin