Author's Notes: Well well well. A new chapter. You guys liked playful Battousai. I didn't mean for it to all go down like that. Ooops. Oh well! Things aren't always going to go my way, huh? Sometimes these stories just take on a life of their own. Wow. Guess what? On Powerpoint, this story is 251 slides. I'm happy. It's actually, before this chapter, 74 pages typed, but oh well. I bought volumes one and two of the Kenshin manga, and I'm happy. Took me forever to find them. I think, so far, my favorite part is when Kenshin grabbed Kaoru when Gohei was gonna slice her, and he falls and goes "DISLOCATED GROIN!" And Kaoru says "Dislocated BRAIN!". And then she tries to run after Gohei and Kenshin pulls on her ponytail and says "don't run with an injury. It could be deadly". It's funny. Well, onto the story!
Breaking Through
Chapter 11- The Legend of Tomoe
Kenshin sat, holding the letter. A new mission. And it took place tonight. He looked up to pay attention to Kaoru's training. His eyes flew over to the corner, where he saw Yahiko attempting to mimic the movements. Kenshin had to hand it to the young boy, he had spunk and spirit to try and perform something so out of his league. Yahiko had only been training under Kaoru for what was nothing more than a full month, and obviously he had some natural skill with the sword. He was enthusiastic about Kaoru's training; it gave him a chance to try and improve without her knowing.
Kaoru's lessons had been adjusted so that she could train Yahiko first as a warm up. That seemed to be a wise moveshe did better after she did the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu kata and placed some torture on her pupil.
His eyes fell again upon the letter in his hands. Usually he had a choice if he wanted to perform a particular task for Katsura, but this one had urgency to it that Kenshin wasn't used to. Katsura had said he had been requesting him because no one else could perform it. The name was oddly familiar.
Enishi.
He forced himself to think. He remembered that name from somewhere.
"Kenshin?"
He looked up; blinking his eyes until he was sure they were back to at least a shade of blue. When he thought, his eyes tended to change into a huge array of colors. Kaoru was standing there, breathing somewhat heavily and sweat just beginning to break out.
"Aa?"
"This just doesn't... feel right. Am I doing this right?" Kaoru questioned.
Kenshin had hastily shoved the letter up in his sleeve to hide it from Kaoru. She had a tendency to overreact, and he didn't need her doing it now. She'd been moody lately, and unfortunately for him, he had a pretty good idea why. Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Kenshin set his hand over his sword and nodded to let her know he was watching her.
She fell into her stance. Kenshin cocked a sly grin. It had been... interesting... to teach her the battou-jutsu stance, and she still had problems with it. Being a perfected master of battou-jutsu, he had taken to the task and had enjoyed it. It was somewhat fun to teach a kendo instructor how to perfect such a common-known stance. Her skill with it was already exceptional, but he was trying to put her close to his level.
She performed the attack she constructed out of her own imagination, one that Kenshin had caught onto easily and found to be a good asset. Not many of his attacks were not known by the enemies he had yet to finish off, and this one would be a life saving tool one day in the future.
"Was that right?" she questioned.
Kenshin scrunched up his face. "Sloppy, Kaoru-dono. Try spreading your legs farther, twisting your body a little more, and holding the sheath a little lower, with the back pointing upward."
She stood in her newly improved stance, and Kenshin nodded. "Much better."
"Flirting with Jou-chan again?" Sano asked, sitting next to Kenshin. "You might as well make it easier on yourself and just ask her to stick her behind up in the air."
"I'm not flirting," he grumbled.
Sano leaned back, closing his eyes and folding his hands behind his head, letting his fishbone pop out from his mouth without much thought to the image he presented. "Something up that I should know about?"
"Nothing that I want Kaoru-dono to hear."
One eye opened so he could interrogate his friend better. "That bad, huh? I wondered what that messenger was here for this morning while Jou- chan and the brat were training."
"Do you think I'll be able to sneak away for a few hours?" Kenshin mumbled.
"Sure. Just tell her it's Battousai business, and if that don't work, scare her." Sano suggested. "She may be a little protective since you strained that injury in your shoulder by trying to carry water, but she should understand."
"That's not why I'm asking this." Kenshin muttered, trying too keep his concentration on Kaoru's movements. "I don't want her following me again."
Sano grinned. "Don't want her getting trouble anymore unless she has to, hmm? I'm afraid you're stuck on that one. Jou-chan would follow you anywhere. That's just how she is."
"Could you keep her under lock and chain for me?" Kenshin questioned. "I just need a few hours to figure out who my enemy actually is. I've got a hunch, and if I'm right, it's not a good thing."
He sat straight again, placing his hands on his knees. "I can't make you any promises. Jou-chan can be pretty convincing when she gets that bokken in her hand and starts to whack you over the head with it. Does trying work for you?"
Kenshin thought for a moment.
"If all else fails, make sure you go with her." Kenshin decided finally. "She make have skill, but it's not enough for the enemies I have to face. She'd be better off committing seppuku if she wanted to follow me around everywhere."
"I think she made up her mind a long time ago when she said she'd let you train in that field over there." Sano stated.
Kaoru stopped suddenly, turning to face Kenshin and Sano. She dropped her sword to the floor, not bothering to sheath it as she took off in a sprint toward her room. Sano turned to face Kenshin. Kenshin's eyes were lowered, searching for a threat. He couldn't sense one, so he was just as confused as Sano when it came to the matter.
"Hey, why'd busu run off so fast?"
The door to her room was opened again; she nearly tripped on her way out again. She finished tying her obi before she turned to them.
"Jou-chan, what's up?" Sano asked as she walked out into the yard to retrieve her sakabatou.
She walked back to them. "I lost track of time and forgot that I had to buy tofu and miso today. I had better get going if I want to get there in time to come back and make dinner."
Sano shook his head. "Come on Yahiko, we're gonna grab something at the Akabeko since Jou-chan's cooking."
Kaoru's eyes narrowed, but Sano and Yahiko were gone before she could do anything about it. Kenshin stood, taking a hold of his swords and pushing them into the belt of his hakama.
"Where do you think you are going, Kenshin?" she questioned.
He looked at her. "You need an escort when you go up the market, Kaoru-dono, and that is what I plan on doing."
"I can go on my own. Don't you think I'd be safe enough? You've been training me, and I've gone on my own before. Why can't I now?"
"Why can't I go? Are you hiding something, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin questioned, his amber eyes narrowed slightly.
She glared at him. "No. I just want to know why you all of the sudden need to go with me to the market."
"Is it wrong for me to go to keep you company?"
She opened her mouth, and then she closed it immediately upon hearing his response. She nodded, bowing her head in a slight shame for being so hasty to turn him away like that. He hadn't left the dojo since he started recovering from his injuries, so she supposed it was only fair that he go too.
"Besides, I'll go anyway."
"What do you mean?"
Kenshin grinned. "You think you can control me, don't you Kaoru-dono? You forget I'm only here on my own freewill because of the danger toward you. I am not under your control, and I can come and go as I please."
She blushed. "Sorry Kenshin. Natural reaction."
A hand found it's way to her shoulder, and she looked over at it before facing Kenshin. He smirked at her.
"Don't waste your worry and apologies on me, Kaoru-dono. I understand you're just afraid of me leaving. Come on, lets go before it's too late." he stated, taking his hand off her shoulder and then walking to the gate.
Kaoru took a hold of her purse and then slowly caught up to him and walked beside him the rest of the way to the market.
Kenshin stood to the side while Kaoru began her shopping for the night's dinner. His eyes were wide open for any threat toward her. Most people made sure to keep away from him, sensing the danger that rained from his aura. He was just trying to keep his eyes pealed for any reason he would have to hide in order to protect Kaoru.
Such as the reason that was walking down the public road right now. The Shinsengumi out in broad daylight. He kept his eyes on them momentarily, waiting for Kaoru to finish buying the tofu. As soon as she did, he reached over for her hand.
"Come on. We need to hide," he whispered harshly.
A large group of people swarmed them, knocking Kenshin back away from Kaoru.
Kaoru found herself stumbling onto the street. She looked over to where Kenshin hid momentarily after she regained her balance. Praising herself for not spilling the contents of the tofu, she turned.
She stood face to face with the leader of the first squad of the Shinsengumi and the leader of the third squad of the Shinsengumi, Okita and Saitou. She bowed hastily and attempted to apologize for her rudeness.
Okita didn't seem to mind at all that she hadn't moved, but Saitou on the other hand appeared to be a little irked.
"I apologize. I was bumped out here before I could get out of your way." She muttered.
Saitou looked at her incredulously, trying to decipher if she was hiding something. Someone as innocent as her had to have a secret. Everyone had secrets. It was all a matter of figure it out and then tearing it from them. Saitou grinned at the image.
"Why are you here alone?" Saitou asked, his words icy. "Women shouldn't walk around alone."
Kaoru stood. "I will have you know I own, run, and teach at a dojo. I am capable enough to protect myself if I have have to."
Kenshin gripped his swords harder. Being Battousai in this situation didn't leave him with many options. All he could do was pray the wolf of Mibu didn't do something stupid. He didn't want to have to tarnish Kaoru's dojo's name because he tried to protect her and killed someone in the process.
"You mean the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu dojo I pass by everyday?" Okita questioned, cheerful to say the least. "I hear you have no students, what a shame."
"I have a student," she corrected. "Now, if you'll excuse me... I really need to be getting back to my home."
"No." Saitou stated, taking a tight hold of her shoulder. "You smell of blood, and you're school is a school that teaches a sword technique not meant to kill. Why is that?"
Kaoru ripped herself out of Saitou's grip. "I don't have the slightest clue what you're talking about."
"No. I recognize that scent." Saitou stated, immediately searching the area. "You've been close to a manslayer."
Her face showed no emotion or any other indication, and for that Kenshin was thankful. She could have just given him away to the Shinsengumi at that moment had she not been so careful. But he was ready to attack Saitou again if he had to.
His shoulder still ached from their previous battle, but that didn't matter. He had the strangest inclination that...
"Lets test your skill."
She shook her head. "No thank you. I know I cannot defeat a swordsman of your caliber."
Saitou grunted and he and his meant marched off, leaving Kaoru standing there. Slowly the townspeople began to mingle back into the streets again, swarming around her like bees and honey. A hand on her waist alerted her attention.
"Come on, let's get out of here before he comes back." Kenshin said, his arm wrapped around her waist.
She squirmed slightly to keep in step with him before he moved his hand to her back. Whenever there was a threat, he tended to take a hold of her.
"He knows, doesn't he?"
Kenshin nodded. "Aa, he knows. And he's still after my blood. He doesn't mind killing you in the process."
She was scared. He could tell. The Shinsengumi had boldly taken up residence only two houses away from the dojo. That was reason for speculation.
And the word 'Jinchuu' being inscribed into every crevice in the dojo didn't help their situation, either.
Kenshin walked around the dojo, trying to see if he could recognize the calligraphy that had been used to place such a cryptic message into the lives of those who now resided in the dojo. The biggest question was over whom the message was meant for. Sanosuke didn't have any enemies angry enough to declare jinchuu, but Kenshin knew that he did, as Battousai, acquire many.
The problem was trying to decipher who was behind this.
Soft footsteps alerted him to someone else's presence. The person was apparently apprehensive, and that troubled him. Emotions swirled within his mind, and that began to cause a migraine. He hadn't been forced to feel things in so long, part of him had forgotten how the handle the joys with he anger. And right now, knowing the state Kaoru was in, he was furious beyond all else.
What really bothered him was that he wasn't sure why.
"Kenshin?" came the softly terse question. "Do you think it's safe anymore?"
"No, Kaoru-dono." he responded. "It was never safe to begin with."
Kaoru took a few more steps into the dojo. "They used to be. Before the war."
Battousai shook his head. "A war that is continually fought because of me."
"Don't blame yourself. It's not you that this war revolves around. You're not much in this war, yet without you so much could have fallen through. You're fighting for your ideals, Kenshin, as twisted as they are. That's all that matters. You're a good samurai."
"I'm a hitokiri; I'm not even worthy of the status of a samurai." He answered. "But now is not the time to be considering these thoughts. I need to come up with a course of action."
"You can leave tonight, if you have to," she told him. "I'll be alright on my own."
Kenshin looked at her. "I can't do that."
Kaoru lifted up the black envelope. "I know you need to leave. Don't stay because of me."
"What makes you think this is only about you, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked her, taking a hold of the black envelope in her hands and standing dangerously close to her in the process, his amber eyes glaring down at her with a anger he'd never used on her before. "Why do you think this is about you?"
"I never said it was."
"You did." he corrected. "You just told me not to stay because of you. This isn't about you, it's about me. And that's what puts you in the middle of everything."
Kaoru glared back at him. "But I don't mean anything to you, so why do they put me in the middle?"
"Because of something that happened." Kenshin responded. "Like I said, this isn't about you. It's something deeper; a mistake that I made."
As Kenshin went to turn, Kaoru jumped forward and took a hold of his gi sleeve. She tugged at it until he turned his stoic gaze upon her face.
"What are you hiding from me? You're hiding it from yourself, too, Kenshin." she stated softly. "What is it? Tell me."
He brushed her off before he went back into the dojo. The concentration on his face was impenetrable, and it gave off a warning of danger and anger. But the anger was toward himself. The fight of a lifetime was about to begin, he realized, and it would take place on two separate battlefields.
One of them where blood would be shed.
And to his dismay, a second, on the grounds of his heart.
"It was an accident, you know." He stated almost silently.
Kaoru dropped her sakabatou that she had unsheathed to attack him, thinking it the only alternative to get him to speak. He had always communicated better through a blade, she realized. The time in the field. When he fought Gohei. While he fought Jineh. Training her. Everytime he had spoke with a sword in his hand, or any movement, had become more naturalized for him. He spoke through his weapon.
But now he was speaking without it.
"What was an accident?" she asked, watching how he uncharacteristically glanced around the room.
"Her death." he responded. "It wasn't supposed to happen, and I never want to it happen again."
Kaoru was confused. "What are you talking about Kenshin? Sit down and stop pacing, you're starting to scare me."
"I killed her."
She nodded, taking a hold of his arm. "Kenshin, sit down and then start explaining this to me."
Doing as he was instructed without hesitation, Kenshin folded his legs under himself and sat, his head hanging as he looked at the grain the wood that was now marred with tattoos that read of a revenge he didn't want to see happen. It was painful to begin thinking like this again, but Kaoru deserved to know. His eyes fell upon the design upon her kimono, his hand shooting out quickly and tracing the shapes along the hem of the sleeve.
"White plum." he murmured. "Her scent was white plums."
"You're not making sense. Please try to speak in coherent sentences, Kenshin."
"Her name was Tomoe. She was the first person I saved instead of killed." he answered.
Finding a place she could sit and attack him if he needed to be brought back to a state of normalcy, Kaoru sat and listened to the tale he was slowly revealing to her. Kenshin was straining to explain the things that he wanted to tell her, the pain he'd felt, but it was all so foreign. No one had wanted to listen before.
No one had worried more about him, forgetting he was a manslayer, than they had themselves. No one had ever wanted to know what drove him; no one wanted to know his pain.
And he even had begun to ignore himself.
"She was eighteen, and I was sixteen." he continued slowly, not looking up at her. "She ended up working at the Inn."
Kaoru nodded to herself, wondering why he couldn't look her in the eyes. "And?"
She was rewarded with a sigh.
"We were told to leave when the Shisengumi gained their first stronghold in Kyoto. We were sent to live in a safe house in Otsu," he answered. "She was put in the middle of one of my fights. I had been temporarily blinded and deafened, but that was all that was needed. She jumped in the middle, and I killed her as I killed my adversary."
Kaoru bowed her head. "You are haunted by that image."
"And you're in the middle. The only other person I've ever tried to protect out of who I was ordered to protect."
"You're not telling me everything. There is something tied to this that you're hiding."
"Kaoru-dono, she, Tomoe, was my wife."
The teacup she had been ready to hand him fell to the dojo floor with a loud crash as it shattered, the bits and pieces replicas of both their hearts.
Author's Notes: I apologize for taking so long. . This chapter DID NOT turn out how I had hoped it would. Too much dialouge and not enough description. Do you think I might be losing my touch? I think I've just been way to too busy lately to really try and do work that satsifies me. That, and I've been spending most of my time reading lately. But I'm still proud. My story is offically at 275 slides on powerpoint. Yay! Well, review and let me know I did!
Love and hugs,
Crystal Renee