Sorry it took me so long to get this out…I'll try to be quicker from now on.

Thanks to my reviewer, Slight Imperfections!

Happy-Go-Lucky

Episode Two: The Consequences of Breaking Battousai's Nose

Mou, Kaoru you idiot!  You almost blew everything with that whole scar incident.  At least Kenshin seems to be back to normal - normal for Kenshin, that is.  He was staring down at his lunch with what I had dubbed, "the oro face."  I suppose a big, greasy mess of ground beef and lima beans could do that to a person.  The cafeteria food is even worse than my cooking!

            "Kaoru-dono?"  Kenshin was studying me curiously.  I made a face at him.  17th Century boy, living in a 21st Century world.

            "Kenshin," I frowned, "I thought we agreed you wouldn't call me that."

            "I apologize, Kaoru…" His eyes slid to the side and I heard him mutter something under his breath.  It sounded suspiciously like "dono."

            "What was that?" I demanded. 

            "What was what?"  His violet eyes widened innocently.  Mou, what a weird guy.

            "Never mind," I sighed.  "So, you were saying…?"

            "Well, uh…" I followed his gaze over to a table of students who were staring at us blatantly, whispering behind their hands.

            "Oh, that," I muttered, feeling a blush heat my cheeks.  "You get used to it after a while."  Liar, liar, pants on fire!

            "So they always stare at you in this fashion?" Kenshin asked incredulously.

            "What, don't you think I'm worth staring at?"  I meant it as a lighthearted joke, but it came out as more of a challenge.  Kenshin winced.

            "Ah, no, no…of course you are," he reassured me hastily.  I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.  The first person to talk to me in months, and here I was snapping at him.

            "To answer your question," I said primly, stirring my ground beef and lima beans, "Yes, they always stare.  Or at least they have since…" No, not now, I'm not ready!  I don't think I can bear seeing the disgust in those gentle lavender eyes…  Kenshin was waiting patiently for me to finish.  "Since a few months ago," I finished lamely.

            "And what happened a few months ago, Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin prodded, his violet eyes encouraging.  I shot him a hard glare for that "dono" bit, but continued nonetheless.

            "Kenshin," I began slowly, staring down at the table as I tried to gather my courage.  "Have you ever heard of the Hitokiri Battousai?"  He froze across from me, and I could sense his rising panic.  The name does have a tendency to strike fear in the hearts of men, although until recently, Battousai was merely an urban legend used to frighten children.  "He's a crazed murderer," I continued in a low voice, "who uses a katana to slaughter his victims."

            "Hai…" Kenshin whispered hoarsely.

            "So you've read the papers?" I questioned.

            "Oro?"

            "The newspapers," I clarified impatiently.  "About the serial killer claiming to be the Hitokiri Battousai?"

            "Oh…yes, of course."  Kenshin bobbed his head, a look of relief spreading over his face.  Perhaps the ground beef and lima beans had addled his wits.

            "Then, you know that at the scene of the crime," I continued reluctantly, "the killer always leaves behind the same message:  'I am the Hitokiri Battousai of Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu.'"  I glanced over at Kenshin apprehensively, waiting for him to make the connection.  It didn't take him long.

            "Kamiya…" he murmured.

            "Yes," I confirmed, dropping my eyes in shame.    "My family's name.  My father taught the Kamiya Kasshin method at our dojo until the day he died."  I fought back tears as I waited for Kenshin to get up and leave in disgust.  My new acquaintance was silent for a moment, and then:

            "The Kamiya Kasshin style teaches the art of killing?" he asked in a bland tone.  A tiny gasp of outrage escaped my lips and I glared at the blasphemer.

            "Of course not!  Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu is a method of swordsmanship that protects."  I added scornfully, "We're not living in the Bakumatsu, Kenshin."

            "Yes, but there are still dojos today that teach killing moves to their students," Kenshin pointed out.  "This…Hitokiri Battousai is proof of that."  He winced every time that name was spoken.  Kenshin must have heard one too many Battousai bedtime stories when he was a kid. 

            "Well the Kamiya dojo is not one of them!" I declared.  Kenshin regarded me with eyes slightly narrowed and hardened, though they did not burn golden like before… 

            "It seems like this should be an easy matter to clear up.  Didn't the police question you?"

            "Yes, they did," I grimaced.  I could feel a migraine coming on just thinking about it – the endless interrogations, the attacks on my father's character, the mobs of reporters…  "The police don't think I have anything to do with it, but I couldn't convince them that this murderer isn't using the Kamiya Kasshin style."  My shoulders slumped.  "My father was the true instructor.  I'm just the assistant master, and a girl at that.  Who would listen to me? "  Well why don't you cry about it, Kamiya?  Get a grip!  I have to stay strong if I'm going to restore my family's honor.  I'm the only one left…

            "You're the assistant master?!"  Kenshin was making "the oro face" again.  I shoved up the right sleeve of my blouse and slapped my hand down on the table, rising to lean towards him menacingly. 

            "That's right," I growled.  "You got a problem?"  I'm allowed to put myself down, but if Kenshin tries to…. Kami-sama help him.

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Kami-sama help me!

            "N-n-no, of course not Kaoru-dono!"  I lifted my hands in surrender and edged away from her.  "I only meant that a girl your age shouldn't have to work so hard, that is all."

            "A girl my age?" she repeated, easing back into her seat.  "Mou, Kenshin, you sound like an old man when you say that."  Ouch.  Is twenty-eight old to a teenager?  Yup, deeefinetly.  How depressing…  "Anyway, I like my work," Kaoru was saying.  "By teaching others the Kamiya Kasshin method, I help my father live on through the technique he developed and the beliefs he held." 

            "That is true, Kaoru-dono," I approved, touched by her selflessness.

            "Not to mention it puts food on the table," she muttered.  I was obviously not meant to hear her, but in my anxiety I forgot to use discretion.

            "Kaoru-dono, does your mother not provide food for you?"

            "Kenshin!" she yelped, eyes wide.  "How could you hear me?  My lips barely moved!"  And they are such nice lips, Kaoru.  You should move them more often – against mine, preferably…  Ahh, pervert!  She's a teenager!  I blame the Battousai… 

            "Umm…oro?"

            "Hmm."  She glanced at me uncertainly, tugging on a loose strand of hair.  "My mother died a few years ago, around the same time as my father."  Oh…  Insert foot in mouth, now.

            "This unworthy one is very sorry to have brought up such a painful subject, Kaoru-dono."

            "I don't mind," she reassured me.  "It's not so bad."   

            "But it must be difficult for you," I pressed.

            "I think the hardest part is living by myself.  I don't like being alone," she confessed with an embarrassed smile.

            "You live alone, de gozaru?"  I frowned.  My lifestyle is far from conventional, but I'm pretty sure that young high school girls are supposed to have some sort of guardian.

            "I am seventeen," she bristled.  And I am so very impressed.  I gave her a stern look to show her that I was, in fact, not at all impressed.  It had no effect whatsoever, save to make her even angrier.  "Hey, I've done pretty well for myself these past two years," she proclaimed, lifting her head proudly.  "People pay good money to be instructed by assistant master Kamiya Kaoru."  I glanced down at her lunch tray, which had been scraped clean of all remaining traces of the cafeteria's lima bean casserole.  This meant one of two things – either Kaoru lost all her taste buds in some horrible childhood accident, or she hasn't seen any of that "good money" for a while.  I opted for the latter.

            "You haven't had many students recently, have you Kaoru-dono?" I voiced, raising one eyebrow.  The girl across from me blushed, looking flustered.

            "Why do you say that?" she snapped, twisting her hands together.  Hmm, how can I put this delicately? 

            "You look kind of scrawny, de gozaru, that you do."  Oh, real delicate, Kenshin!

            "What?" Kaoru growled, fists clenched and eyes blazing.  I licked my lips, eyes darting from side to side.

            "I mean, your ribs poke out and your complexion is waxy – "

            "What?!" she shrieked, leaping to her feet.  Please don't hurt me…

            "Oro?"  Nope.  Not gonna work this time.

            "Kenshin, you jerk!"

            WHAM!

            I watched her stalk off from my position on the floor, next to the two halves of a lunch tray she broke over my head.  I sighed and picked myself up, conscious that the entire lunchroom was watching my every move.  Kamiya Kaoru.  She's unlike anyone I've ever met.  If the circumstances were different…but they're not.  I frowned, brushing off my navy blue blazer and slacks before heading out of the cafeteria.  It's best that she remains angry and stays away from me.

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               "…stupid idiot…wait 'til I…the red-headed jerk!" I grumbled under my breath as I stomped down the hallway.  The other students gave me looks of pure terror and fled in the opposite direction.  Great.  Now they think I'm crazy on top of everything else.  It's all Kenshin's fault!

            Of course, he did eat lunch with me, and he rescued me from Mr. Hiruma's class.  I scowled.  Hiruma Gohei…I can't stand that man!  I touched my cheek lightly, remembering the slap and his whispered words: "…your father was a fool and a coward and if I could've, I would've killed him myself."  And then the dirty old pervert had the audacity to pinch my…  I crossed my arms over my chest protectively.  Mr. Hiruma loved exerting his power over me.  He could do anything, and not one student would care enough about me to report it.      

I paused in front of my locker, entering the combination and jerking it open.  Several slips of paper lay on top of my neatly stacked textbooks.  My daily hate-mail.  Usually I throw them all away without reading any, but today I felt like torturing myself.  I picked up the first piece of paper and scanned it quickly.

You are a bitch.  I hope you die.

Hn.  That's original.  Next!

Your father was a murderer and he will burn in Hell.

Is that that best they can throw at me?  Keep 'em coming.

You teach a method of kenjutsu that kills.  Innocent people have died because of you.  How can you live with all that blood on your hands?

How can you live with all that blood on your hands…  The words played over and over in my mind and I tightened my hand around the piece of paper, crumpling it.  Even though the Battousai isn't using the Kamiya Kasshin method, he is using its name.  Innocent people have died in my name.  Therefore…

            "Therefore it is my responsibility," I muttered fiercely.  I must face the Hitokiri Battousai and defeat him.  Only then will I prove my family's innocence and wash the blood from my hands.

            I moved to grab the other slips of paper, intent on throwing them away, when one caught my eye.  It was typed.  I picked it up and read curiously.

I know that the killer is not using the Kamiya Kasshin method.  I have information that could clear your father's name.  If you are interested, meet me by Ruffian's Row as soon as you get this.

            I reread the message two more times, my heart pounding.  This was it…my first lead.  It could just be a cruel prank, or even a trap, but there was no question that I had to go.  I dumped my hate-mail in the trash, slammed my locker shut, and sprinted down the hallway.

        

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            I paused as Kaoru darted past, slipping through the crowd.  She didn't glance in my direction, but I could still see the determined look in her blue eyes that said: 'I'm about to do something foolhardy and dangerous, and no-one's gonna stop me.'  I shifted my weight from foot to foot, struggling to decide on a course of action.

            I shouldn't get involved in her life.  I'll only bring her more pain and trouble.  On the other hand, I'd never forgive myself if she was hurt while I calmly went to math class.  I turned and took a step in the direction Kaoru went.  On the other hand, she is the assistant master of the Kamiya Kasshin method, and far from helpless.  I turned back in the direction of my classroom.  On the other hand –

Kami-sama, this is ridiculous!  I'm going after her because I want to, and that's that.

            I gripped the handle of my school bag more tightly and took off.

            "Hey there, school girl!  Wanna go to my place for some private lessons?"

            "Teacher says you've been very naughty, sweet-heart!"

            "Yeah, you need to be disciplined…"

The three men guffawed and leered at Kaoru, their eyes roaming over her slim figure hungrily.  I stayed partially hidden behind a nearby house, watching with narrowed eyes as I toyed with the strap of my school bag.  Thank Kami-sama Kaoru had stopped by her dojo to get a bokken!  If only she would have changed clothes, too….that school uniform shows way too much skin, if you ask me.  Kaoru sighed and glared at the three men in a resigned way.

"I'm already in a bad mood," she warned, lifting her wooden bokken.  "It would be best if you left me alone."

"D'ya hear that, Nobuto?" the tall, gangly man asked his friend with the crooked nose.  "She thinks it'd be best if we left her alone…" The two smirked at each other, amused that a young girl would threaten them.

"I'm afraid we can't do that, girlie," Nobuto purred, lurching forward with lustful glint in his eyes.  His outstretched fingers brushed against Kaoru's hip and I plunged inside my school bag, my hand clenching around a certain object.  That slime had better back off unless he wants those fingers removed!  But I should not have worried.

Kaoru evaded his grasp easily, her lips curled in disgust as she felled him with a single blow between the shoulder and neck.  The other two thugs glanced at each other in disbelief, and then charged her with identical shouts of rage.  She dispatched them just as quickly. 

"Mou, I've been wandering around here for half-an-hour!" I heard Kaoru complain.  She plopped down on the back of one of the unconscious men and rested her head in her hands, pouting prettily.  "Maybe I should just go home…"

Now there's an idea!  I silently willed her to do just that.  But Kaoru continued to sit and frown, staring off into space.  I sighed and stepped back, turning to rest against the wall behind me.  I wonder if Kaoru always gets herself involved in these risky situations?  Ruffian's Row may not be the most dangerous part of Tokyo, but it's inhabited by nasty thugs, like the ones she just encountered (thus the name, Ruffain's Row).  It's no place for a sweet young girl like Kaoru.  I visualized the pile of bodies surrounding her.  Well, perhaps "sweet" isn't the right word…

I turned my head slightly, peering around the corner to check on Kaoru.  Except Kaoru …wasn't there.  My eyes widened and I cursed, darting into the area with the three unconscious men.  I glanced around frantically, wondering where she could've gone.  Kami-sama, I take my eyes off of her for three seconds –

Suddenly I heard the all-too-familiar scrape of a katana being drawn from its sheath, and a woman cried out in pain.  I couldn't breathe.  My legs felt numb as I forced myself to run in the direction of the noises.

No, no, no, no… 

The words thrummed over and over in my head, like a prayer.

Please, no!

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            I clutched my shoulder, feeling the blood seep through my cotton blouse.  The black-clad man in front of me chuckled and grinned through his ski mask, raising his katana to lick the blood dripping from its blade.  My blood.  I grimaced and lowered the hand from my shoulder, using it to grip my bokken more firmly.  Sharp needles of pain shot through my right arm, but I ignored the throbbing ache and rose from my crouched position, never taking my eyes off the man before me.

            "Are you the Hitokiri Battousai?" I demanded.  There was no doubt in my mind that he was, but I needed to buy some time.

            "Yes."  His voice came out as a low hiss, and his grin widened.  "I am the Hitokiri Battousai of Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu."  He chuckled again, baring more of his large, square teeth.  I trembled, overcome by intense rage.

            "You lie!" I screamed, leaping forward.  The Battousai raised his katana and brought it down towards my head.  I dodged at the last moment, the force of his attack stirring my hair as his blade hit the ground harmlessly.  I darted closer and swung my bokken in a wide, horizontal arc, the wooden sword striking his skull with a loud crack.  The Battousai roared and shook his head, giving me a savage glare.  I skipped back nimbly, panting as I regarded the Hitokiri with hate-filled eyes.  I needed to calm down.  If I continued to fight controlled by my anger, I would surely lose.  And yet – 

 "What reason?" 

I voiced the question that had pounded in my head for the past four months, the question that haunted my dreams and played over in my mind the day my students left.  My hands tightened around my bokken, white and trembling. 

"What reason do you have for doing this?  Tell me why!"  The Battousai remained silent for a moment, and then he began to laugh.  My rage exploded and I launched myself forward, intent on defeating the murderer. 

He sliced through my bokken as effortlessly as if he were snapping a twig.

The force of my lunge sent me careening past the Battousai, my brown loafers scraping against the ground and raising tiny clouds of dust.  I jerked around to face him, pressed up against the wall behind me.  Trapped… 

The Battousai advanced slowly, that mad grin still plastered on his face, his katana raised and red with my blood.  My stomach gave a sickening lurch as I realized that I would die today, here in this dirty little section of Tokyo.  I fingered the slim chunk of wood in my hand (the remains of my bokken) and my eyes flashed.  I snapped my hand forward and let the piece of wood fly.  It cracked against his nose and sent him stumbling back a step, cursing and pawing at his face.

"You bitch!" the Hitokiri bellowed.  His voice sounded odd, as though he had a cold, and my lips parted in a triumphant grin.  Broken nose for Battousai, courtesy of Kaoru Kamiya!  Although it went against the teachings of the Kamiya Kasshin style, I couldn't help a feeling of satisfaction.  But the feeling soon grew cold and froze in the pit of my stomach as the Battousai started forward, his black eyes blazing.  "I will have my revenge," he hissed, raising his blade and lumbering closer.

I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing that I could be brave enough to face death with eyes open and calm.  I heard the rustle of fabric as the Battousai lifted his arm a fraction of an inch, and the swish of a blade slicing through air as he brought his sword down towards my exposed head.  I trembled, trying to prepare myself…