Day Two:
In the mysterious castle, under the thick covers of the red canopied bed, Aoshi squeezed Kaoru tighter against him in his sleep, afraid that the visions he saw were reality. He found himself confused, and that scared him.
In his mind's eye, he saw Kaoru a few years younger than he knew her now and with a belly swollen in pregnancy. He was comforted as he squeezed her tighter against his chest in reality and wrapped his large hands around her taut stomach. Satisfied, he allowed himself to relax into the dream.
He looked down at his own clothes, a simple white robe over purple pants and button up shirt. His feet were bare and he was holding a cup of steaming tea in one hand. His other hand was holding open the door of the building he was standing within. He was holding open that door for Kaoru and Saito; they were both standing on his door step, their clothes reminding him of old Japanese films.
Kaoru's belly was revealing of the fact that she was six months pregnant and Saito had his arm loosely wrapped around her, supporting her over-balanced frame. But what caught Aoshi's attention were the liquid sapphire jewels that peered at him. So entranced was he by her eyes that he didn't even notice when a smaller body brushed past him and ran to Kaoru.
"Kaoru-chan! What's wrong? Why are you here with that nasty wolf of a man?" Misao demanded, her long braid flying behind her and wiping Aoshi in the face as he stood rooted to the spot.
"If it isn't the weasel. I told you we shouldn't have come here." Saito sneered, talking to Kaoru and obviously annoyed with the emerald eyed female ninja. Misao didn't take kindly to the jab and raised an angry fist, but was calmed before she could shout her indignation.
"Misao." Aoshi spoke, his voice cold and hard as steel. The female ninja turned at his speaking her name and became silent. Aoshi focused his eyes on the pregnant woman, but he spoke to the police officer at her side. "Saito, what is the meaning of this? Why have you come to my Aoiya?"
"Battosai," Saito began but Kaoru nudged him hard in the ribs, "I mean; Himura has come to Kyoto to investigate a troublesome disturbance for my wife's home village. We have received no word from him and Mrs. Himura has grown very anxious in his absence and insisted I bring her here."
Kaoru pulled her self out of Saito's grasp and reached for Aoshi's wrist on the hand that held the tea. "Please Shinomori-san, I must look for him. I just need to impose on your hospitality and request to rest here for a little while before we complete our journey."
Aoshi looked down at the pleading woman. His ice blue eyes not reflecting any of the sympathy surging within him at the loyalty she had for Himura. If there was one thing he respected, it was loyalty.
Shinomori was about to comply with the young woman's wishes but before he could answer, she quickly took her hand away from his wrist and held it tight against her belly. Her eyes screwed shut in pain as she fought to maintain her balance. Three pairs of arms rushed to her aid to prevent her from falling to the hard wooden patio.
Aoshi sat up in bed, wide awake, only then realizing that Kaoru was still in his arms and they were not in Kyoto, Japan but in Great Britain. Kaoru's sapphire eyes opened wide at the sudden movement and she pulled herself out of Aoshi's arms. She moved to the far side of the bed and wrapped her arms around herself for warmth.
"Kaoru?" Aoshi asked, keeping his voice calm. The woman looked like a scared kitten. She shook her head at him when he tried to reach his hand to her. "I'm sorry, but you were shivering in your sleep. Nothing happened."
Kaoru looked away from him and pulled the covers up to her chin as she scooted to rest against the head board. She sighed before turning back to regard his curious icy eyes. "I'm sorry, Aoshi, but I just can't allow myself to get close to you like that." She then looked back down at him and her hand flew to her mouth. She reached her fingers tentatively towards his chest. "What happened to you?"
Aoshi reached over the side of the bed and pulled on his discarded undershirt. Now was not the time to bring up the scars that covered his chest and torso. They were quite numerous and each held a painful memory for the stoic man. "That is for another time, perhaps. Why are you so upset about sleeping with me?"
Aoshi was especially anxious to remain awake after his odd dream; he stared at her, hoping she would answer. When it became apparent that she had no intention of doing so he decided to interrogate, it was his area of expertise after all. "Why did you and Saito break up?"
Kaoru shifted uncomfortably, but the question wasn't exactly unexpected. She scooted closer to Aoshi and lay back down, resting her head on the pillow he was using. Her eyes were trained on the red canopy above. "There were a number of reasons. He has a family that I am not part of."
Aoshi shifted closer under the covers, surprised. He was not aware of Saito having a family. "What do you mean?"
"He has a son and an ex-wife." Kaoru explained, not being very detailed. She was evading the truth behind her real reasons for not allowing herself to find happiness with Saito.
Aoshi shifted closer to Kaoru and placed his hand upon her shoulder, forcing her to look at him. "Will you tell me the whole story? I am not one to waste time evading the real issue Kaoru Kamiya."
Kaoru knew she couldn't deny that demand so she sat up once more and faced her bed partner. She might as well tell him now, it would definitely make the next few days easier if he wasn't trying to break her of all the secrets she kept bottled up inside. "It's not about his ex-wife. He told me he had no feelings for her and that it was me that he loved." She looked away then, her eyes focusing on the wall behind his head.
"Then what is the reason, Kaoru?" Aoshi demanded gently. He really wanted to know exactly what he was involving himself in. He didn't want to get too mixed up in things without knowing all the details.
"It's because of the curse. Aaron is so innocent. Saito can handle himself. But, I can't risk endangering Aaron. He is too precious to suffer through the pain I bring." Kaoru answered, her words barely a whisper. She closed her eyes tight and tear drops accumulated in her thick lashes. Aoshi reached over and wiped them away.
"Don't cry, Kaoru." Aoshi tried to comfort, awkwardly rubbing her back. "What are you talking about when you say curse? Are you referring to the tears?"
Kaoru shook her head. "No, there's something more to it." She squeezed the bridge of her nose as she tried to think of how to word it. "I had to have done something in my past to deserve a life of loneliness. I thought that perhaps Saito was going to change that, but then everything changed and it reminded me of how I'm fated to suffer. It's my fault that he died and I couldn't live with myself if I allowed that to happen to Saito's son."
Aoshi was about to inquire as to whom 'he' was, but Kaoru's stomach gave a un-lady like growl. Deciding to press her for more details later, he took the offered opportunity for distraction. "Would you join me for breakfast?"
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Enishi was watching the monitors carefully. There didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary. The actor he hired to 'die' was due to start, well dying, that day. One day of his little entertainment fortnight was wasted already due to all the arrivals of his guests. He looked down at his watch once more.
He might as well lock off the security room now. He began to enter the codes into the system. He had a feeling that someone was breathing down his shoulder. Angry to be disturbed he whirled around and came face to face, if you counted that her face was two feet below his own, with a curious young woman.
"May I help you?" Enishi asked, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice. Tomoe would be angry with him if he was rude to the guests.
Wide emerald eyes seemed to get wider as he spoke, as the woman's mouth opened and closed repeatedly. Enishi gave her a pointed look to encourage her to speak. "Sorry, I got lost trying to find the kitchen. What were you doing?" She asked as she nervously tugged on her long dark braid of hair.
Enishi turned his back on her to finish punching in the last of the commands for the system. "If you must know, Misao, I am making this room inaccessible so that no one may cheat and use the monitors to discover who the murderer is. The recordings will still be created, but no one will have access to them until the fourteenth day of this little game." Enishi explained calmly. He stood straight and pushed Misao in front of him.
"No one is going to cheat. It's probably a better idea that you keep this security system functioning so that you can make sure nothing weird is going on." Misao argued as she found herself outside the little security room. Enishi was punching a final code into the number pad system outside.
"No one can enter this room until thirteen days from now. Not even I may enter. Also, no one can leave the premises of my estate. The security system is on full alert and anyone who tries to climb the fences to escape will receive a not so nice electric shock." Enishi explained calmly as he began to walk towards the kitchen. Stupid girl, couldn't she smell the bacon that obviously led the way to the kitchen?
Misao crossed her arms and pouted at the much taller man. "I still think you are being foolish to risk such an invitation to disaster."
Enishi cocked a brow at the inference. "Are you calling me a fool?"
Misao's arms flew to her side. "Of course not! I'm just trying to make sure you know what you are doing!" She tried to explain and calm the angry volcano she knew stood before her.
Enishi didn't say a word and just kept walking towards the kitchen. He pushed open the door that led to the kitchen and gestured about him. "The kitchen," he announced to Misao before leaving her to sit himself in the dining room, where the food was being served.
Enishi couldn't help but feel his heart soar when he noticed his sister beaming. She was sitting across from Kaoru and the smile on her face was uplifting. He had no idea of what they were discussing, but it really didn't matter. He felt his stomach lurch when he noticed Aoshi sitting on Kaoru's right, with his arm lying across the back of her chair.
"Enishi darling, its great of you to join us." Tomoe greeted, laughter in her sad eyes. She gestured around the empty room. "It would seem that we are the only early birds. None of the other guests have graced us with their presence. You remember Kaoru and Aoshi." Tomoe smiled in turn at each of her breakfast partners.
"Of course." Enishi confirmed, sitting in the chair beside his sister, directly across from the detective. One could feel the testosterone level rising between the two as Aoshi focused on forking his eggs and bacon with his right hand as the left one threaded itself through Kaoru's fine hair.
Kaoru gave Aoshi a questioning glance before smiling at Enishi. "Your estate is quite lovely. This food is divine! I wish I could cook like this," she finished wistfully.
"Perhaps Tae wouldn't mind giving you some pointers." Enishi offered as he poured himself some orange juice. He cast his sister a mischievous glance before continuing, "after all she did help Tomoe not be a complete disaster in the kitchen."
Enishi received a sharp punch for that remark, but the smile remained on his face. His sister hadn't had so much spunk in such a long time. She hadn't seemed this happy since she first was proposed to by that Akira jerk.
"So who else is here?" Kaoru inquired. She and Aoshi had been trying to find the other guests, but had been unsuccessful. They couldn't even locate Sano and Megumi. Tomoe and Enishi seemed to be the only ones they were capable of finding.
"Enishi! You are so rude!" The angry voice of a woman could be heard coming from the door. Kaoru and Aoshi turned their heads, but accidentally bumped foreheads in the process. Kaoru grinned at him as she gingerly rubbed her sore spot before rubbing his for a moment. "How dare you show me the kitchen when you know I am supposed to eat here with you. Are you trying to be mean to me on purpose?"
Standing in the doorway was an angry young woman, hands on hips, green eyes flashing, mouth wide in accusation. Aoshi turned back to face the front of the table to continue with his breakfast.
At spotting the god of a man, Misao abruptly stopped her tantrum. But then he turned away from her as if she wasn't important and it made her angrier. Now she was determined to charm that man who thought he was her better. "Who are they?" She demanded, pointing to the gorgeous man with his back to her and arm around that super model. Dang it! No way could she compete with a supermodel! She sure as hell would try though!
"Hello. I'm Kaoru and this is Aoshi. Won't you please join us? We were wondering when we would meet the other players to this game." Kaoru greeted her smile warm and endearing. Misao felt a smile tug at the corners of her lips. Perhaps she would let the icicle remain her problem.
"I'm Misao." She greeted as she moved to sit at the table. Where to sit? The seat next to the icicle was looking mighty tempting. She pulled it out and seated herself. "So you're Aoshi?" She asked the man beside her.
Enishi watched with amusement when the detective didn't even grace the woman with a nod of the head. He calmly ate his breakfast and returned his free hand to running his fingers through Kamiya's hair. Was that woman so dense? Enishi found it hard to contain the snicker that wanted to come from deep within his gut. It would be very out of character, and Tomoe's heart was weak, she didn't need any scares.
"So, Enishi, how many other guests are there?" Kaoru asked again, snapping the host to attention.
"There are the five of us, your two friends, Hiko, Soujiro, Natasha, Jasmine, Yahiko---" Enishi began as he counted off the names of some of the guests, he still had a few to list off before Kaoru knocked over her glass of orange juice and leaned over the table to stare at him in disbelief.
"Did you say Yahiko?" Kaoru demanded. Aoshi's fingers stopped running through her hair as he looked at her in puzzlement. Misao stopped her efforts to gain the stonewall's attention. That Kaoru girl had gained it easily enough, then the little golden ring upon her left hand clued Misao in on the situation as she slumped dejectedly in her chair.
"Who is Yahiko?" Aoshi asked, for the first time speaking at the breakfast table. Kaoru turned to him and whispered in his ear. He nodded his head at whatever she said and eased her back into her seat. He turned to Enishi, "How old is this Yahiko?"
Enishi watched the exchange with utmost fascination. He turned to Tomoe to gage her reaction, but she seemed as confounded by it as well. "He is perhaps twenty." Enishi answered, it wasn't as if he demanded to know everyone's age as soon as they entered his estate. He looked back over at Misao. Maybe he should have, he shouldn't have allowed any teenagers with temper tantrums.
"Who is Yahiko, Kaoru?" Tomoe asked, in her gentle quiet voice. She knew practically everything there was to know about Kamiya, but the name Yahiko was not one she was familiar with.
Kaoru smiled at her disarmingly and waved her hands before her face to dispel the suspicion at the table. "It's just the name of someone that was very close to me that I haven't seen in years is all." Kaoru explained. They didn't need to know all her business. They already knew freakishly too much as it was.
##################
He yawned widely as he sat up from the comfortable mattress. Amethyst eyes scanned the unfamiliar room. He sat up and stretched before rising to his feet. He wanted to wake up early and meet the new arrivals from last night.
He had over heard them as they were walking down the third floor hallway, but was unable to meet them before they had retired for the night. Their voices oddly pulled at his heart strings and he felt some form of nostalgia that he couldn't explain. He heard them again that morning, and there was something in the recesses of his mind telling him to meet them.
Kenshin ran his calloused fingers through his knotted hair as he pulled out the clothes he intended to sport that day from the wardrobe closet. Choosing a dark blue button up shirt and a pair of simple blue jeans he strolled out his room. His stomach was tight in hunger and he needed to appease it if he wanted to be able to concentrate. He couldn't believe he had allowed his boss to convince him to participate in this bizarre game.
However, when Hiko wants to convince you of something, you are convinced. He took the elevator and noticed with a sense of unease that there seemed to be no life in the castle. He knew good and well that there were several inhabitants. He had already met most the previous day. As he looked from face to face though, he felt as if he was missing something.
Some of the people seemed so familiar, but he couldn't place them. It was a similar feeling to the one he had when he first met Hiko all those years ago. Others he knew they were total strangers and there was no odd familiarity with them.
He could hear the sound of laughter coming from the dining hall. One of the voices seemed to stick out from the rest. It reminded him of home, a fantasy home, for he had never really known of a real one. Kenshin pushed open the door and was then rooted to his feet.
A name that seemed engraved in his very soul rolled off his lips. "Kaoru-dono," he found himself saying. The head of dark, thick, silky raven hair turned and he was met with the most stunning sapphire orbs and his heart stopped for a moment. The one he had addressed smiled at him fondly.
"Yes?" Kaoru asked the handsome man with flaming red hair. His amethyst eyes seemed wide in disbelief and confusion. She gestured to the seat on her left. "Care to join us?"
Speechless, Kenshin took the offered seat. But he couldn't keep his eyes off of her and continued to stare at her. Her eyes, hair, skin, lips, voice haunted him. He knew her. He knew he knew her. But he had no idea from where he could possibly know her.
Kenshin noticed the man besides Kaoru visibly stiffen when he looked at him, as if he was seeing a ghost. The ebon haired man with alabaster skin placed his hand upon the nap of Kaoru's neck and massaged the area possessively.
"Are you another reader of Kaoru's works?" Aoshi demanded, keeping the suspicion he held about the new arrival clear from his face.
Taking the excuse offered, Kenshin nodded his head dumbly. "Yes, Kaoru, I am an avid reader of yours." Kenshin smiled at her in a way that would disarm an angry samurai. He extended his hand to her. "I am Himura."
Aoshi's ice blue eyes seemed to freeze at the name.
Enishi cleared his throat. Not happy that Kaoru's attention was so easily taken away from him. Kaoru smiled at him to encourage him to continue with his list, uninterrupted. "I'll just allow you to meet the other guests on your own." Enishi decided.
Enishi looked at his sister and noticed she had a contemplative look upon her face. She was analyzing the odd reaction between Himura and Kamiya. The furtive glances that Shinomori seemed to cast towards the red haired man seemed to raise even more eye brows from the analytical woman.
A scream rang through out the castle. It echoed off the stone walls, muffled only slightly by the multitude of tapestries. Those eating breakfast all turned to one another to exchange glances before running off towards the sound.
The first one there was Himura, followed quickly by Aoshi and Kaoru. Soon Sanosuke and Megumi stood on the other side of the victim. Enishi showed up casually, pushing Tomoe's wheelchair. Misao seemed to drag and was in no real hurry to witness the scene.
No one else was present.
The body was that of a young man. His hair was dirty blond and he looked as if he was shot in the stomach. Megumi reached down to feel for his carotid artery and smirked when she felt a healthy pulse. This had to have been the actor. You can play dead but you can't actually stop your heart from beating no matter how good you are.
She turned to Enishi. "Looks like we have a mystery to solve now."
Kenshin was staring down at the body. He hated the sight of blood. It always made him feel dirty and tainted. He reached down to feel the man's neck and breathed a sigh of relief when he felt the pulse. He looked up at Kaoru, he wanted to team up with her. "Shall we look for clues?"
Kaoru grinned at him. They had discussed some of her successes in solving difficult crimes. Tomoe actually had been the one disclosing the information. It turned out that the entire mystery fortnight was arranged to see her skills in person.
Kaoru nudged Aoshi in the ribs, "Shall we?" He merely looked down at her before allowing his eyes, shaded behind his ebon bangs, to scan the scene. In the far corner of the room, under the curtains he spotted a metallic shimmer. He pointed it out to Kaoru.
She moved towards the curtain and pulled it back before kneeling before the gun. Kenshin stood above her looking out the window. "It would seem the murder has left us a present before making his retreat out the window." Kenshin observed.
"Or her," Kaoru argued. "The killer could very well be female." Aoshi watched the odd woman that had sat beside him, Misao was her name, at that statement. He would have to agree with Kaoru. Women were very capable of being killers, same as men. He would have to stay even closer to Kaoru with characters such as her and Himura. They seemed a bit too interested in her.
Kenshin looked down at the sapphire eyes that were looking up. He smiled at her. "Of course you are correct, it could very well be female." Grinning triumphantly Kaoru used the napkin from breakfast she had brought to lift the gun. She walked over the Megumi.
"Do you think we could dust this for prints? Maybe using baking soda or some kind of common powder?" Kaoru inquired. She wasn't the expert at forensics.
"That won't work," Aoshi interrupted. Megumi nodded her head, agreeing with him. Kaoru looked at him in question, hoping for an explanation. "The baking soda would destroy the oils left by the fingerprints. Besides, it would be safe to assume the killer used gloves."
"Why would you say that?" Sanosuke asked; eyes fixed upon the 'dead' body. He glanced over at Megumi. He couldn't believe he allowed her to drag him along on this corny escapade.
Kenshin pointed outside of the window, into the courtyard. "He's right. There is a pair of black gloves in the bushes outside of this window."
Sanosuke walked towards the window, wanting to see for himself. He turned to Kaoru. "What do you think missy? Should we measure glove size?"
Kaoru shrugged. "Might as well, but if I was a murdered I would use gloves that were way too big, that way it could be anyone and suspicion would not be focused upon me."
Tomoe began to clap. "This is excellent! I told you this would be fun," her hollow brown eyes seemed to smile at her brother.
Enishi lightly pat the back of her shoulder. "Yes sister, they are doing a marvelous job. But they still have much to do, don't you agree?"
"Yes, you are right." Tomoe agreed. She redirected her attention to Kaoru. She seemed the only one that she was concerned about addressing. "You will have to solve this before more deaths occur. It is one thing to find the clues, but it is another to solve the mystery behind them."
"Yes ma'am," Kaoru smiled at the woman. "I won't allow anyone to die on my watch. I'll have this solved so quick that we'll have to play scrabble to pass the time until our fortnight is over."
Aoshi allowed a small smile to grace his lips at the confidence Kamiya displayed. He looked back down at the 'dead' body as he opened his eyes and quickly shut them. Yeah, it looked like they had sooooo much to fear.
He walked back over towards Kaoru and wrapped his arm across her shoulder. He took the gun from her hands and began to lead her to the elevator. "I know of another method of acquiring fingerprints."
Megumi watched as they left and then turned to Enishi confused. "So are we supposed to all be working together or solve this ourselves?"
Enishi shrugged, not really caring. He was only doing this game to entertain his sister.
Kenshin looked thoughtful. "That's an excellent point. Because if we are trying to solve the case individually, perhaps it was a bad idea to allow anyone to leave with the murder weapon."
"Good point!" Sanosuke exclaimed as he slapped Kenshin across the back, causing the smaller man to lurch forward with the force. "Who are you now?"
Amethyst eyes rolled but he answered none the less. "Himura."
###################
Aoshi gently guided Kaoru to the elevator, she was still looking at the gun closely analyzing the details of it. She looked up at him when he ushered them both inside of the floor raising contraption and punched the number three.
"Going to our room?" Kaoru inquired, with a raised brow. "We really should focus on the case, darling." She toyed with him sarcastically.
Aoshi frowned at her coy attitude but didn't respond as the elevator's bell went off and they exited to creep towards their room. Aoshi pulled out the key from his front pocket and unlocked the door. He locked it securely behind him.
"This is a bit dull. I don't even think there are real bullets in this gun. Blanks most likely, considering the ketchup bloodstain on the so called victim." Kaoru sighed as she sat upon the edge of the bed.
Aoshi walked towards his luggage and pulled out a roll of thick, clear, packaging tape. He moved towards Kaoru and extracted a large piece of tape from the roll. He lightly placed it upon the handle of the pistol and pulled it off quickly. He grinned at his companion when fingerprints, clear as day, were revealed on the sticky substance.
Kaoru looked at him skeptically. "So what do we do now oh wise detective? Go around and get everyone's finger prints on tape. Then compare with our naked eye whose looks closest?"
Sighing, Aoshi crumpled up the tape much to Kaoru's distress. "No! I was kidding! Now we have nothing." She complained when Aoshi tossed the useless tape across the room.
Sitting beside her, Aoshi forced Kaoru to look at him and not the useless tape. "Kaoru, this whole thing is pointless. There are no real murders to solve; don't you find this entire episode quite the waste of our valuable time? We could be out there solving real crimes."
Kaoru frowned at his words. "You never know Aoshi. What if we are supposed to be here to prevent a murder? With all of us here known for our puzzle solving minds, surely we serve as a great deterrent. Let's just enjoy this little vacation if you see it as nothing more than a waste of time."
Aoshi stood and offered his hand to Kaoru. Hesitantly she accepted it. His large calloused hand held firm to her smaller, daintier one. "Let us at least find the other players to this game. If we are to play properly we must know our competition."
Smiling, Kaoru squeezed his hand before extracting hers from it. "Excellent idea, darling."
Undeterred, Aoshi unlocked the door and placed his arm loosely around her shoulder. She looked up at him quizzically. "For appearances," Aoshi explained. Inwardly he wondered about the coincidence between his dream and the reactions of Himura. That was the mystery he was going to solve on this vacation.
Kaoru seemed to notice his penitent look. She reached for his shoulder and his eyes locked with hers. "Something on your mind?"
Aoshi blinked, trying to clear his mind of a pregnant Kaoru, going by the married name of Himura. "Had you met Himura before?"
Kaoru shook her head. "No, but he did seem familiar. Did he remind you of anyone?"
"No." Aoshi answered as he hit the down button on the elevator. It would seem that many of the people he was running into lately were appearing in his dreams. Even that Misao girl had haunted him during the night. Not wanting to think about such things, Aoshi decided that the second floor seemed like a good place to begin searching for the other inhabitants of the castle.
TBC