Well, here's another chapter for you. It's actually one of my shorter ones. It's still about 3,500 words or so (that's very long for me!), but compared to my other chapters, it's still shorter.
But before I bore you with this, I'll let you go on and read the story. (And I'll bore you with that!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. In a perfect world I would, but I live in the real world…and sadly I ain't got no money…so, it's utterly useless to sue me…but for good measure: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, but Nobuhiro Watsuki and a bunch of other people do…
On with the insanity…
Promises from the PastThere was somebody else in the woods with her.
When the normal reaction would have been fear, Sayuri wasn't afraid of the stranger.
Because he wasn't one.
Sayuri knew exactly who it was.
Turning towards the glow she said, "So, wolves really are night creatures."
Shadows and Trains
Sayuri followed the glow with her eyes, as it flew in an arc to disappear in the darkness.
There was a brief flare of light as Saitou lit another cigarette. After taking a long draught, he exhaled leisurely. Leaning back against the trunk of a large tree, he studied the woman standing in front of him.
The sparse light from the moon created strange shadows that looked like they were dancing on her.
They made her look both ethereal and earthly.
She was looking at him and he sensed no fear in her. He had to admire her spunk, albeit grudgingly. The woman intrigued him. Not only because she was Matsuo Takashi's granddaughter or in Tokyo to see Kenshin but also because there was something about her that was familiar… It was in her ki.
But even if her ki hadn't been familiar to him, it would have intrigued him enough. Her ki did not exactly match with the person that she portrayed herself to be.
There was something in it that was mysterious, hidden, unexpected, unreadable…intriguing.
He wanted to find out what it was. But first, he wanted to find out another thing.
"I heard that you and Himura are leaving for Kyoto tomorrow," he said to her.
"Is this personal interest again?" Sayuri asked calmly. Frankly, she wasn't surprised that Saitou knew… she would have been disappointed if he didn't.
"Not entirely," came the just as calm reply.
Sayuri gave a small smile, "Really? So the reason why you are stalking me at midnight involves actual police business?"
Saitou moved away from the tree he was leaning against to stand directly in front of Sayuri.
With a feral smile he said, "You could say that."
Sayuri studied the man. In the sparse light that came from the moon, he looked like a wolf stalking its prey.
Then again, the image suited him.
"I'm getting tired and would like to go to bed, so why don't we just get this over with," she said to him.
Saitou took another draught and on the exhale said, "Very well. I'm here to inform you that your two bodyguards had left Tokyo yesterday."
Instead of being surprised, Sayuri nonchalantly replied, "I know."
The truth was that she hadn't really known for sure until a second ago when Saitou informed her. But she had suspected it since yesterday, when she had no longer felt the presence of her bodyguards somewhere in the background. Ever since she had become aware that she had bodyguards, she was able to feel their ki. But yesterday, that energy had been absent. So Sayuri had assumed that her two bodyguards had taken her literally when she told them to go home. It turned out that the fools actually did. So much for being the best Sayuri thought.
Saitou expected Sayuri to be surprised, but her nonchalant reply surprised him instead… although nothing in his manner indicated that.
Saitou studied her, The woman's sharper than I thought
"If that's all, then I'll leave now… Goodnight, Officer Fujita," Sayuri said to him.
Saitou smiled at Sayuri's use of his 'police name' when he was sure that she knew his real name.
Sayuri had turned into the direction leading back to the dojo.
"Ah, but you haven't told me yet why you're leaving for Kyoto," Saitou drawled.
"But you haven't asked me 'why'," Sayuri said over her shoulder.
Saitou chuckled. The woman's really something
"Okay…Why are you going to Kyoto with Himura?" he asked.
Sayuri turned and smiled sweetly, "You asked."
Saitou watched her as he waited for her answer. Her coming to Tokyo to see Himura had piqued his interest. Now that she was going to Kyoto with Kenshin made it all the more interesting. He wanted answers and he wouldn't stop until he had some.
Sayuri studied him for a second, then turned and said dismissively, "It's still none of your business." And walked away.
Saitou watched her and grinned. This only made it more interesting…and more fun.
Taking the last draught from his cigarette, he flicked it to the ground and crushed it with his boot.
"I suppose if I ask you, you'll be just as forthcoming as the woman," he said to the darkness.
A figure stepped out from the shadows of the trees and said, "Stay out of this, Saitou."
Saitou smirked at the figure, "Playing the protector? It seems that it's the role you find yourself playing the most often nowadays."
"I mean it," the figure said.
"Then let me tell you something, old friend," Saitou said, sarcasm in his voice at the endearment, "I will not stay out of this."
"You're setting yourself up for disappointment, there isn't anything sinister going on," the figure said to him.
Saitou smirked superiorly, "Somehow, I don't think so…there is a mystery about that woman I intend to find out."
The figure looked at him hard and issued a warning, "If you lay so much as a single finger on her, you'll deal with me."
Then the figure disappeared in the direction as Sayuri went earlier.
Saitou stared into the darkness, "I'll take you on… with pleasure."
***
The next day, the gang and Sayuri were waiting at the station for their train to arrive. It was scheduled to arrive in about half an hour. An attendant had approached them earlier, seeing that they had first class tickets, and informed them that he will personally take care of the luggage when the train arrived. It was the same attendant who had helped Sayuri when she arrived in Tokyo and since nothing had happened then, she trusted him with their entire luggage.
They were talking and laughing when somebody said, "Sayuri-san…is that you?"
They all turned towards the speaker and Sayuri gasped at the man.
"Akira-san…" she managed to say.
The man looked at her somberly and said, "I thought it was you."
The gang looked from him to Sayuri and back to the man. So Sayuri knew this guy? They studied him.
He was very handsome and very well dressed, wearing a blue-green gi and dark gray hakama. His haori was the same color as his gi. The man was also very tall, taller than Sano even and had straight black hair that parted in the middle, almost like Aoshi's. He cut a striking figure, the kind that drew attention to him even if he had wanted to avoid it.
The most striking feature, however, were his eyes. Cool green, like cat eyes, they looked at Sayuri, the expression in them unreadable.
He spoke again, "So your grandfather finally agreed to let you go on your own."
At the tone of his voice, disapproving, Sayuri raised her chin and said coolly, "He finally saw that I was right."
A ghost of a smile formed on the man's lips as he said, "Or you're just more stubborn than him."
Sayuri looked at him, wishing he were anywhere but here, yet he was and she grew suspicious, "How long have you been in Tokyo? I thought you were in Yokohama."
"I was, until three days ago. I have business here in Tokyo," he replied calmly.
Sayuri wanted to ask him what kind of business, but the man said, "Why don't you introduce me to your companions."
Bristling at the command, Sayuri had enough sense to know that refusing to do the introductions would be rude, not to him, but to her new friends.
So she indicated her four companions with her hand, "I would like you to meet my new friends… Kamiya Kaoru," the man gave Kaoru a small bow and she bowed back, "Himura Kenshin," the man stared at the rurouni for a second the nodded briefly, Kenshin did the same, "Myoujin Yahiko," he nodded to Yahiko. The boy just stared at the stranger.
Finally, Sayuri indicated Sano, who was standing right next to her, "And this is Sagara Sanosuke."
The man looked from Sano to Sayuri, noticing how close they were standing. Sano was staying close to Sayuri because he did not want a repeat of the incident yesterday when they were at the train station. Sayuri actually felt grateful that Sano was nearby. It would give the man something to think about.
The gang and the man looked at Sayuri expectantly, waiting for her to finish the introductions.
Coldly, she looked at the man, then said to the group, "This is Kobayashi Akira."
Sayuri didn't feel inclined to say anything more. The gang noticed that she didn't say what relationship she had with him, which indicated to them that she had a complicated history with Kobayashi Akira.
Akira noticed too, but he had expected Sayuri to do that. After all, it would be exactly like her when it came to him. Why change now?
There was a loud whistle and the whole group turned to look at the arriving train. When it stopped, there was chaos, as passengers descended from the train to be greeted by family and friends, luggage being hauled off the train and other activities that contributed to the general busyness.
Waiting for all the passengers to come out of the train before boarding it themselves, Kaoru asked Akira, "Are you going to Kyoto too?"
But before he could give a reply, somebody bumped into Sayuri. Sano and Akira reacted immediately and reached for Sayuri to steady her.
They looked at each other over the top of Sayuri's head. Neither one of them let go but instead glared at each other.
Moving out of their hold, Sayuri looked at Akira and said to the others, "It's time for us to board."
Inclining her head regally at him, she moved towards the first class car. The others, except for Sano who had immediately followed Sayuri, said a polite goodbye to Akira and he acknowledged it with a polite goodbye as well. Then he watched Sayuri as she boarded the train, assisted by Sano. When she was inside, he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Kenshin watched him disappear into the crowd. But a glimpse of a familiar face distracted him for a moment. Was that Saitou? he asked himself. He looked again but he could no longer see him. Kenshin let it go with a shrug.
***
The gang was seated in their compartment and the train had been moving for fifteen minutes now. When sitting arrangements had been established, Kaoru by the window, Kenshin next to her, then Yahiko beside him, Sayuri by the window on the opposite bench and Sano beside her, a silence had settled over the group, mainly influenced by the somber mood of Sayuri.
Sano finally interrupted it by asking Sayuri, "Who was that guy?"
Sayuri, who was looking out the window, said flippantly, "Kobayashi Akira."
"I know that, but what is he to you?" Sano asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.
"Nobody important," she said dismissively, in a voice that indicated the topic was finished.
The gang looked at her, knowing well that Kobayashi Akira wasn't nobody important. Not by the way Sayuri was acting.
Sayuri felt the four staring at her and knew that they would not stop until she said more about him.
She sighed, then turned to them, "Look, I don't want to talk about him, okay? Not now… So please, just let it go."
The gang knew that this was all that Sayuri would say for now, so they let it go.
Kaoru said, "I can't wait to see Misao, Aoshi and the others again. Even Okina…"
Remembering the old ninja, Yahiko proceeded to tell a funny story about the older man that happened when Kenshin had been recovering and they had stayed at the Aoyia. The story involved young ladies, a not so young lady, and lots of insanity.
Listening to the funny story, Sayuri gradually came out of her somber mood and joined in the laughter when Yahiko finished the story.
"…I can't remember who had been louder…the furious old woman, the geese chasing Okina or him screaming, trying to get away from them," Yahiko said amidst laughter.
"I just wish we could have informed them that we are coming," Kaoru said.
"Hey! They told us that we could stay there if we ever happen to be in Kyoto," Sano said to her.
Sayuri rolled her eyes, "It still would have been better if we had informed them beforehand, instead of dropping in on them just like that. Besides, they invited you. They don't even know me. It's going to be awkward."
"Don't worry Sayuri," Kaoru reassured her, "They're very nice people, and they'd be delighted to have you. Besides, when they find out that we're in Kyoto because of you, they'll be all over you with questions, it'll be easier to just stay there."
"Oh boy! Now I can't wait to meet them," Sayuri said, humor in her voice.
Kenshin was sitting quietly, observing the group as they talked, bantered, teased and occasionally argued. Sayuri acted like she was just one of them. Of which, Kenshin was very glad. He was glad that his friends liked Sayuri, and that Sayuri liked them back. He actually felt like an anxious older brother who's afraid that his little sister won't have anyone to play with on the playground.
Kaoru and Sayuri were talking about female stuff, and Kenshin saw Sano and Yahiko roll their eyes when the two ladies started giggling like two twelve year olds. Kenshin was observing Kaoru. Her long ponytail swayed and swished and bounced as she enthusiastically talked to Sayuri about something.
Kenshin wanted to tug at the ribbon that held her hair up and watch all that beautiful midnight hair tumble around her shoulders.
Then he wanted to run his fingers through her black tresses to find out if it really felt and flowed like the most exquisite silk. He almost lifted his hand to do just what he had imagined when he realized that Kaoru was saying something to him.
"Nee, Kenshin?" she asked him.
Kenshin had no idea of what they had been talking about. He didn't want them to know that instead of paying attention, he had rather been fantasizing about Kaoru.
He smiled his rurouni smile and said, "Hmm."
Apparently, that vague reply was enough as Kaoru turned back to Sayuri to resume their conversation. Kenshin took the opportunity to resume his fantasizing.
He was particularly interested in the few strands of hair that were sticking to Kaoru's neck. He wanted to brush them away, so he could run his knuckles over that sensitive, white flesh. Then he wanted to trace her jaw with his fingers, the curve of her cheeks, and then the wonderful bow of her pouting lips.
How would she react if I'd lean over and kiss her? he wondered. He was contemplating the many wonderful things he could do after that kiss, when Kaoru's voice interrupted his delicious daydream.
"Kenshin?" she asked, since the rurouni hadn't answered the first time. What's with him? He's got that dazed look on his face…I hope he isn't coming down with something she thought as she looked at Kenshin.
Figuring that it would be the same kind of question as before, Kenshin vaguely said, "Hmm," and smiled his best rurouni smile to cover his cluelessness.
Apparently, it wasn't enough this time, as Kaoru frowned at him and asked, "What's that supposed to mean? I asked whether you wanted to visit the temples in Kyoto first or immediately seek out Hiko-san. Sayuri thought it wouldn't matter which, but since you know your master better than her…Kenshin, were you listening at all?"
Kenshin blushed a little, and hastily said, "Ano, sessha thinks it would be better if we take a day before we go see shishou."
He turned to Sayuri and said, "Shishou can be a bit…a bit…" but he couldn't finish his sentence as he saw Sayuri's expression.
She looked like she was trying very hard to suppress laughter, and the twinkle in her eyes clearly told Kenshin that Sayuri knew what he had been doing earlier. He blushed even more.
Why am I blushing? It's not like Sayuri can see my thoughts. And even if she could, it's not like Kaoru was naked…Now, if she'd seen some of my other fantasies…
It was funny how Kenshin never called Kaoru 'Kaoru-dono' when he was thinking naughty thoughts about her. But Kenshin figured if he already put Kaoru in as many compromising positions as he could think of in his head, then calling her with that overly polite honorific would be ridiculous.
Not that he would ever say her name, without the honorific, out loud. That would be unthinkable.
The strange irony of his reasoning somehow eluded Kenshin.
Kenshin looked at Sayuri again and he saw that she still had that sparkle in her eyes.
Then to Kenshin's astonishment, she winked at him, as if they were sharing a private joke. Or as if she approved of what he had been doing.
Kenshin blinked and looked at her intently to see if he hadn't been mistaken but Sayuri was now looking at Kaoru and saying something to her. Since he no longer could prove anything, he thought he'd just let it go and pay more attention to the conversation.
Sayuri had been observing Kenshin as she and Kaoru talked. She noted that Kenshin had been looking at Kaoru with a slightly dreamy, dazed look that indicated he had been somewhere else. By that smile on his lips, he had been somewhere pleasant. And because he had been looking at Kaoru in that way, Sayuri figured that it was the woman who had made that place pleasant.
Having observed how formal and polite Kenshin acted towards Kaoru, she concluded that it was no wonder that their relationship hadn't progressed beyond that steady friendship of theirs. Although Sayuri was a firm believer that a woman had as much right as a man to be the aggressor, it always was nicer if the guy took charge. Not too much though…. A girl still needed to be in-charge over the situation, once in a while.
That is why when Sayuri realized that Kenshin had been daydreaming about Kaoru in not so formal and polite ways, she couldn't help but grin and feel giddy.
Maybe nature is moving faster than we thought she though to herself.
***
They had been on the train for a while now. The monotonous rattling of the train had made them drowsy. Sano and Yahiko were slumped in their seats, fast asleep. Kaoru was leaning against the glass of the window and asleep as well. Even Kenshin seemed to have dozed off. Only Sayuri was still awake.
She didn't feel sleepy. She rather felt edgy and oddly melancholic.
She wanted her business with Hiko Seijurou over as soon as possible, although she knew that being too hasty could only result in mistakes. She promised her grandfather that she would do her best. After all, Matsuo Takashi demanded only the best. At the same time, she didn't want to let her grandfather down. But she could not shake the edginess in her.
The melancholy she did not understand immediately. Then an image of cool green eyes looking at her came to her mind and she knew why she was feeling that way.
She didn't want to think about him…because thinking of him confused her…confusion made her vulnerable…and she did not want to give him that kind of power over her. So she tried hard not to think of him.
Thinking that fresh air could help her clear her thoughts, Sayuri stood up to go to the back of the car, where there was a small platform for her to stand on and take in the fresh air. Just as she was about to open the door of their compartment, a voice startled her.
"Where are you going, Sayuri-dono?" Kenshin asked. Apparently, the rurouni hadn't been sleeping
Sayuri turned to him and smiled reassuringly, "I'm going to the back to get some fresh air."
Sensing that Sayuri wanted to be alone for a while, Kenshin only asked, "Are you sure you'll be okay?"
Sayuri nodded, "Of course."
Kenshin nodded back. Sayuri stepped out of their compartment and went to the back.
She had been standing outside for about ten minutes now, with her eyes closed, inhaling the fresh air deeply.
Suddenly, someone grabbed her from the back. Sayuri shrieked in surprise, not having heard anybody join her on the platform for the rattling of the train was so loud.
The person was crushing her and she struggled to get out of his grasp. Twisting furiously, she tried to kick the man in his shins or somewhere where the pain would be much more agonizing. But the person holding her put a cloth on her nose and mouth. Sayuri struggled not to inhale, for she knew the cloth had been soaked in chloroform.
But as much as she tried, the chloroform still got to her. Feeling herself slipping away into unconsciousness, the last thing that she was aware of was that the man had jumped off the train, taking her with him.
Her very last thought before she finally sank into oblivion was That damn wolf was right
To be continued…
___
So who's going to rescue our D.I.D.? I already know who, but I'll promise to tell you in the next chapter.
Before I forget, my brother read my ramblings at the bottom of the last chapter and he told me that I made a mistake. Apparently, Kenshin didn't use his sakabatou to cut his steak but an ordinary knife.
Lillienne turns to her brother who's looking over her shoulder: Okay, I corrected myself, see * points to that section of the screen * Will you now take back that nasty word you called me earlier?
Lillienne's brother whom she will call Herbert coz he said something nasty earlier: Okay.
Lillienne: And will you now tell all my wonderful, wonderful readers what a tensai I am?
Herbert: Not before you fork over the cash, sister.
Lillienne * holding a hand to his mouth *: Sssh! You're not supposed to say that, Baka Saru!
Herbert * taking Lillienne's hand off his mouth *: You're the idiot monkey who told your reader that Kenshin cut his steak with his sakabatou!
Lillienne * rolling her eyes *: Oh please! You're acting like her life was somehow profoundly affected by that small information…
Herbert: It could have! Stranger things have happened…
Lillienne: Yes I know…that you're my brother is proof enough of that…
Herbert: #@%?!^
Lillienne: Moooooom! Herbert said something really nasty…
Lillienne and Herbert's mom: Who's Herbert?
Lillienne sweatdrops and facefaults simultaneously.
Oh well, little family drama for you, if my story isn't drama enough.
Thank you for reading and please review.
I wrote a note to Santa that said that he should give all my lovely reviewers a spiffy convertible because they have been really, really NICE.
Go on… review… so you'll be on that list too.