Sorry folks. I kinda dropped this for a while. But I'm getting back into the swing of things, and here's the brand new, shiny chapter – wrapped up with a pretty bow! Thanks to those who reviewed! And now we pick up where we left off…
Happy-Go-Lucky
Episode Three: Face-Off…Battle Against the Phony Battousai!
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…
But death never came.
------------------------------
I cradled the young girl to my chest, peering into her pale face. She had lost far too much blood… Her dark eyelashes quivered and she released a low moan before opening her eyes.
"Kenshin?" Her voice was soft and confused, those blue eyes questioning me silently. I offered her a tight smile, fighting down my inner killer. The smell of blood, still fresh and wet, evoked the Battousai. Kaoru's gaze slid over my shoulder and I felt her entire body tense as she gasped sharply. I turned, angling my body to shield Kaoru. The imposter watched us with his lips curled in a sneer.
"You," he growled, his sword twitching at his side. His eyes never left my face. I frowned, bending my knees and shifting my weight to the balls of my feet. With Kaoru occupying my arms, I had to rely solely on my speed to evade the imposter's attack. Luckily, it didn't come to that.
He heard the sirens a second after I did, spitting out a string of curses as the sound reached his ears. He twisted, his body tensing as he prepared to flee… But his black eyes caught the sight of Kaoru's face, peeping out from behind my shoulder, and he hesitated. Kaoru's hands, which had rested lightly on my chest and arm, tightened perceptibly under his vicious gaze, twisting the fabric of my school blazer. Another wave of fury rolled over me, and I almost lost control.
"Run," I commanded softly, in a voice not many have heard and lived to tell about. My eyes were narrowed and, I suspect, quite golden. I felt Kaoru's bewildered gaze study my face and her pulse quicken. Across from me, the imposter regarded me with mixture of anger and fear. "Run now, or I will kill you." Kaoru gasped and stiffened in my arms. The imposter snarled and lifted his sword, just as four police officers burst onto the scene.
"It's the Hitokiri Battousai!" one of them shouted. They lifted their guns and took careful aim. The imposter threw me one last hate-filled glare before fleeing from the rain of bullets. As he disappeared behind a row of houses, he shouted:
"I am the Hitokiri Battousai of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu!"
The four policemen gave chase, shouting into their walkie-talkies to demand back up. They seemed completely oblivious to Kaoru's and my presence, which suited me just fine. Kaoru needed medical attention, not more publicity.
I felt Kaoru's body tense.
"No!" she cried, beginning to struggle against my hold. She leaned over my shoulder, arms stretched out towards the phony's retreating back and hands grasping at thin air.
"Kaoru-dono, please calm down!" I implored, praying that I wouldn't drop her as I attempted to hang on to her writhing form.
"That murderer is claiming to use the Kamiya Kasshin style of swordsmanship!" Kaoru sobbed, tears flooding her crystal blue eyes. "He is disgracing my father's memory and ruining his dojo's reputation. I must defeat him…" Her voice trailed off in a breathy sigh as she fainted and fell back into my arms. I studied her worriedly, noting the stark contrast between her pale, porcelain skin and the wisps of raven hair flung over her cheek.
"She certainly is brave, that she is," I murmured. I shifted her negligible weight in order to secure my grasp, and headed down the road away from Ruffian's Row. Thank Kami Kaoru had led me to her dojo earlier! Now to see if I retained any of my old lock picking skills…
------------------------------
Waking up slowly is the best feeling in the world: muted sunlight streaming in through the blinds, the distant sound of chirping birds, warmth seeping into relaxed muscles, right arm throbbing…wait.
The events of the past day flooded back into consciousness and I sat up with a sharp scream. Kenshin burst in with a wild look, wearing a frilly pink apron and wielding a spatula.
"Kaoru-dono? What's wrong?" he asked frantically. I studied him silently for several minutes.
"What's for dinner tonight, dear?" He looked so ridiculous, I couldn't help myself.
Kenshin strode over to my bed with a worried frown and placed a cool hand on my forehead.
"Are you feeling alright, Kaoru-dono?"
"I'm fine, Kenshin." I pushed his hand away, my eyes narrowing in irritation. Truthfully, I was anything but fine… I let that murdering bastard Battousai slip through my fingers, shaming my father and the Kamiya Kasshin style of swordsmanship. "I have to stop him!"
"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin exclaimed. "You are in no condition to face that man – he might have killed you!" Oops…me and my big mouth!
"I can take care of myself!" I responded, realizing that I sounded like a sulky child. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood up, holding my head high. "Now if you would just…" I never finished my sentence because room began to grow dim and an odd ringing filled my ears. I felt Kenshin's arms wrap around my waist as I lurched forward, and he lifted me and set me down on the bed gently.
"Sleep well, Kaoru," he murmured, turning to go. But his whispered words snapped me awake and I flung out one hand, latching onto his long red ponytail. "Oro!"
"You're not going anywhere!" I snarled, tugging sharply.
"Oro?! Kaoru-dono, could you please let – "
"You're gonna to help me out of this bed so I can track down Battousai, got it?
"Kaoru-dono, I don't think – "
"Never mind," I muttered, releasing him and giving him a hard shove. "I'll do it myself." I scrambled into a sitting position, but before I could stand, Kenshin appeared and placed both hands on my shoulders. He did not look happy.
"Kaoru-dono, you are staying in bed," he commanded. Commanded? No one orders me around! I attempted to knock his hands off, but he just slipped them lower to pin my arms against my body. He watched me silently as I squirmed, his violet eyes hard and darker than I remembered. I was getting nowhere fast, so I did the only thing I could think of – I flung myself backwards, pulling us both onto the bed.
Kenshin grunted in surprise as he landed on top of me, releasing my arms and planting both hands on the mattress to keep from crushing me. I had hoped he would twist to the side, allowing me to leap up and escape, but he continued to loom over me.
"Let me up," I instructed in my most threatening tone. Kenshin's lips curled into a smirk and his eyes flickered with that odd gold color.
"You are in no position to be giving orders, Kaoru-dono." Glaring in outrage, I prepared a scathing retort, but then took note of the situation – our legs tangled in the sheets, Kenshin straddling my waist, his face inches from mine – I flushed bright red and Kenshin's grin widened.
"Look, Grandpa! Auntie Kaoru's wrestling with that boy!" I froze at the sound of that familiar, young voice. Kenshin's head whipped around and he fell off the bed with a resounding thump and a nervous "oro!" Dr. Gensai and his two adorable granddaughters, Ayame and Suzume, stood in the doorway of my room.
"I want to play!" said Ayame.
"I wanna play!" her younger sister, Suzume, echoed. The two girls rushed forward and tackled Kenshin, giggling and cheering as he toppled over, uttering "oro" in dazed confusion. I laughed and looked up at Dr. Gensai, whose old, wrinkled face was drawn up in a good-natured smile.
"I hope you don't mind us letting ourselves in," he chuckled.
"Not at all," I smiled. Anybody else would have leapt to wild conclusions if they had walked in on Kenshin and me at that moment, but Dr. Gensai always trusted me completely. A little too completely, perhaps. A strange smell wafted through the room and I sniffed the air experimentally. "Is something burning?"
"Oro!" Kenshin shot to his feet, Ayame and Suzume tucked under each arm and giggling madly. "My dinner!" He rushed out of the room, taking the two girls with him. I pushed myself off the bed, gasping as pain shot through my arm.
"Kaoru-chan, are you hurt?" Dr. Gensai questioned, gazing at me with concern.
"It's only a little scratch," I mumbled.
"What happened?"
"I…scraped my arm against a metal fence on the way home."
"You should be more careful," he scolded. See? Complete trust… It's enough to drive a girl insane with guilt!
---------------------------------
Kami-sama, how embarrassing… Not only did Kaoru's honorable grandfather catch me in an, er, compromising position with his granddaughter, but on top of that I burned dinner! I may not be the world's best chef, but I do have my pride.
"Gomen, it's a bit overdone…" I apologized, placing steaming plates of food around the table for Kaoru-dono, Dr. Gensai, and the two little ones.
"It's delicious," Dr. Gensai assured me, smiling kindly and dipping his chopsticks into his bowl for another mouthful.
"It's delishous!" Suzume cheered.
"Yes, it is very good," Kaoru commented in a monotone, shooting me dark glances… What did I do now?!
"Oro… Is everything alright, Kaoru-dono?" I asked meekly.
"Auntie Kaoru doesn't like it when people cook better than her," Ayame whispered.
"Auntie Kaoru cooks bad food!" Suzumi announced loudly, screwing her face up. Kaoru blushed and muttered darkly, stabbing a piece of tofu with her chopsticks. I smiled.
"Maa, maa…I'm sure Kaoru-dono's cooking tastes wonderful." Kaoru beamed at me and resumed eating in a happier fashion. Himura Kenshin restores peace and balance to the universe once again.
After dinner, Dr. Gensai ushered his two grandchildren out the door and pecked Kaoru on the cheek, making her promise that she would take care of (and I quote), "the nasty cut you got from that metal fence." At least she had the grace to blush.
And who are you to talk, Mr. 28-years old and in high school?
Hush now, annoying conscience.
"What are you thinking about, Kenshin?" Kaoru asked curiously, regarding me with her head tilted at a slight angle.
"Ah…nothing, Kaoru-dono," I smiled, rubbing my head sheepishly. "Dr. Gensai seems very kind, that he does."
"Yes," she acknowledged, a serene smile gracing her lips. "He's been our family doctor for as long as I can remember. Dr. Gensai and Ayame and Suzumi are the closest I have to a family." Her smile drooped a little and my mood dampened in response. If only I knew how to make that smile stay…
"Ano…Kenshin?"
"Hai, Kaoru-dono?"
"I've been meaning to ask you – how did you know where to find me, in Ruffian's Row?" I blanched. Kaoru wasn't going to be happy with my response…
"Oro…sessha saw you leaving school and, er, sort of followed you, de gozaru." When in doubt, lay on the odd, rurouni language. "That's how I found your home, Kaoru-dono." I studied the floorboards (which are very nicely polished, I might add) and waited meekly for the outburst that would surely follow.
"Oh. Thank you, Kenshin." Oro? I looked up as Kaoru touched my shoulder shyly, gazing at me with those soft, blue eyes. "I owe you my life."
"I am just happy that you were not hurt, Kaoru-dono," I said gently, covering her hand with mine. She blushed prettily and lowered her eyes. How did this amazing woman suddenly waltz into my life?
She's still a child, barely a woman, and you are hitting on her like some perverted old man!
Didn't I tell you to shut up?
"Oh!" Kaoru exclaimed, removing her hand. "Kenshin, it's past eight o'clock. Won't your parents worry?"
"My parents died when I was a baby," I responded automatically, distracted by the loss of her warmth.
"I'm so sorry!" Kaoru said, sympathy clouding her features.
"It's alright, Kaoru-dono," I assured her. Even with all the tragedy in her life, she has so much compassion for others…
"But, who are you living with now?" Uh-oh.
"Oro…" There's no escape in telling her half-truths, but I won't straight out lie if I can help it. I took a deep breath and plunged into yet another semi-truth. "I was taken in by my uncle after my parents' death. But we did not see eye-to-eye on many things, and I left his home when I was fifteen." I smiled brightly. I was getting rather good at these half-truths.
"Kenshin," Kaoru sang out, her voice deceptively sweet. Kuso. "That doesn't answer my question. Where…are…you…staying…now?" I gulped. It's rather stuffy in this dojo…
"Oro…sessha stays in motel rooms in return for doing odd jobs, or when it's warm out…" Kaoru was positively glowering. Kuso! "…sessha sleeps outside?" I ended my confession in a very unmanly squeak.
"Kenshin Himura, that is unacceptable!" Kaoru cried, her eyes flashing.
"Oro, gomen nasai?"
"Until you find a suitable home, you will stay here," she stated firmly. I felt my eyes widen in shock.
"Kaoru, you don't know anything about me," I said wonderingly, forgetting to lay on the rurouni talk.
"I suppose it's true that I don't know much about your past," Kaoru mused softly, "but I figure that's your own business. You're welcome to stay here, as long as you need to."
Was this a dream? I gazed at her for what seemed like an eternity before realizing that she was waiting for some kind of a response. I lowered my head a fraction of an inch, letting my long bangs hide my eyes lest I reveal everything. In one breath, this girl destroyed the mask I had been wearing for five years. It was painfully obvious that I could not remain here.
"Aa," I choked out. "I will stay here. Thank you…Kaoru-dono."
"That's wonderful, Kenshin!" This time, her bright voice could not cheer me. "Let me show you around the dojo. Oh, and you can take the empty room next to mine. It's rather Spartan, and I hope you don't mind using a futon, but I think you'll find it more comfortable than the ground and homier than a motel room…" I followed her obediently, keeping my head bowed.
"Forgive me, Kaoru."
------------------------------
I walked into the kitchen, wrapped in a thick robe. Kenshin had just gone to bed, but I found myself wide-awake. I kept reliving my encounter with Battousai, and each time it seemed to become more like a nightmare and less like reality.
"How can I defeat him?" I whispered aloud. You're in way over your head, Kaoru. Not only is the Battousai larger and stronger than you, but he's also using a steel katana against your wood bokken. It's impossible.
I shook my head as if to vanquish these negative thoughts. I could, and would beat the Battousai…I had to! I moved toward the stove to make some tea, but tripped over something in the middle of the floor.
"Itai!" I wailed, clutching my foot. "Who left this here?!" I demanded angrily, ignoring the fact that I was the only one in the kitchen. You've lived alone for too long, Kaoru-chan… I examined the item, scowling. "Oh! It's Kenshin's school bag… I'll just set it outside his door so he doesn't forget it in the morning." But when I lifted the bag, something slithered out and hit the floor with a dull clinking sound. I felt around the floor with my hands and moved the object into the moonlight streaming through the kitchen window. The sheath had slipped down a little, and steel gleamed wickedly in the blue light.
A katana.
"Kaoru-dono, I heard you yell." Kenshin hurried to my side and knelt down, concern lining his face. "Are you – " I jerked away from the hand meant to comfort me, glaring at him as tears gathered in my eyes.
"Who are you?" I whispered, gripping the katana more tightly. His eyes left my face and traveled down to the thing I held in my hands. He looked up at me with a mournful expression and lips set in a hard line. But he didn't respond to my question. "Answer me!" I blazed, turning my body and holding the sheathed katana between us. "Why do you have this? Are you working for that murderer Battaousai, is that it?" Tears slid down my cheeks. I was leaping to wild conclusions, but I felt…betrayed. Kenshin was the first person to talk to me in several months, and, even though I'd just met him, he was the first person since my parents died who made me feel safe, happy, and cared for. I trembled and the tears just seemed to flow faster. Kenshin raised his hand to my face and brushed a tear away with his fingertips.
"Kaoru-dono, I would never hurt you," he said solemnly. "I swear it. Remove the sheath and look at the blade closely." I wilted under his gentle gaze (Kami-sama help me, he has the most captivating eyes!) and drew the katana out of its sheath, studying it carefully.
"What's this?" I wondered. "The blade is on the wrong side!"
"Aa." Kenshin smiled faintly. "It's called a sakabatou. It is not designed to kill."
"You study kenjutsu?" I guessed, recalling how he saved me from the Battousai. I was too upset to notice then, but now I realized that he must possess extraordinary speed and reflexes to dart past the killer's sword and swept me into his arms like that.
"Yes," Kenshin confirmed.
"But, Kenshin, why not just use a bokken?" Kenshin shrugged.
"My master preferred to teach me with steel," he said simply, standing gracefully and offering me a hand. I allowed him to pull me to my feet, feeling horribly embarrassed and flushed. Not only was the blade on Kenshin's katana reversed, but it also didn't have a scratch on it. It certainly had never been used to kill.
"Kenshin," I murmured, staring at the hand wrapped around mine and refusing to meet his gaze. "I am so sorry. I can't believe that I thought…I thought that…" I finally manage to make a friend and what do I do? I accuse him of being a murderer. You've got serious issues, Kaoru-chan.
"It's alright, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said warmly, squeezing my hand before releasing it. "You had a frightening experience today, that you did. I understand your suspicions." He picked up his school bag and I handed him his sakabatou.
"I trust you, Kenshin." I gave him a weak smile. "I won't let this Hitokiri Battousai stuff destroy my faith in people." I slipped past him and led the way to our bedrooms.
"Oro…perhaps you could stand to be just a little less trusting, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin suggested, looking rather concerned.
"Don't you worry about me, Kenshin Himura," I stated firmly, pausing as I reached my door. "I'm a pretty good judge of character, if I do say so myself."
"Oro…"
"Sleep well, Kenshin."
"Good night, Kaoru-dono."
I smiled brightly and stepped into my room, shutting the door behind me. It's nice, having someone say, "good night."
I woke up an hour before school started and began making breakfast. Within half-an-hour, I had two steaming cups of tea and two pieces of toast. Only slightly burnt. Okay, both charred to the point of dissolving into a pile of ash. But unlike most mornings, I didn't let the fact that I can't cook to save my life bother me (if toasting bread even counts as cooking). Humming a merry tune under my breath, I strolled down the hallway to Kenshin's room.
"Kenshin!" I sang. "I made breakfast." No answer. "Kenshin? Wake up, it's time for school!" Still no answer. Mou, that boy is a deep sleeper! "Kenshin, I hope you're decent because I'm coming in!" I blushed, praying that Kenshin wasn't the type to sleep in the nude, and slid the door open. "Kenshin?"
The futon was rolled up and the room was completely empty. I gaped, looking around wildly as if he was crouching behind a piece of furniture somewhere. Then I saw the note resting on the desk at the far corner of the room. There was only one word written: farewell.
Suddenly the day seemed a lot bleaker.
I trudged to school with heavy steps. I went to history class and sat in the back, keeping my eyes on my desk. Kenshin wasn't in class. I glanced up at the clock every so often, thinking he might walk in at any moment. He didn't. The same questions ran through my mind the entire class period. Why did he leave? Did I really offend him that badly last night? Why does everyone I care about always leave me?
I almost skipped gym, but in the end I decided to go. I'm not going to give now – I'm not a quitter. Things aren't going to get any easier for me, so I might as well get used to it now. By the time I got dressed and walked into the gym, Hiruma-san was already demonstrating the "proper" way to execute a kata. Where on earth did this miserable man come from, anyway? And who the hell thought him qualified to teach kenpo! I watched the insufferable man swing his bokken around brutishly. It was odd, how much effort he put into simply lifting the light, wooden sword, almost as if…
"…almost as if he were holding a katana!" I breathed. Realization hit me like a punch in the gut. His height, his strength, and his movements all perfectly matched those of the Hitokiri Battousai.
"Kamiya!" Hiruma Gohei turned, facing me for the first time. "You're late again!" I gasped, raising a hand to my mouth and stumbling back a step. His nose was badly mashed and bruised, as if it had been broken only yesterday. Gohei studied my face and grinned wolfishly, his eyes glinting with the promise of murder. "What's wrong, Kamiya-san?" he purred. Trembling violently, I turned and ran.
I sprinted all the way back to the dojo, silently screaming in desperation. What could I do? If I called the police, would they believe me? My hands shook so badly I could hardly get my keys to unlock the gate. Once inside the dojo, I paused and breathed deeply, forcing myself to remain calm and think clearly. I would call the police. Even if they didn't believe me, they would have to check out my story. I walked over to the phone slowly, reminding myself not to sound too frantic on the phone. My hand had just touched the receiver when somebody grabbed me from behind and spun me around.
"H-Hiruma-san!" I gasped. He towered over me, grinning like a madman. I closed my hands into tight fists and gathered my courage. "I know that you're that serial killer, the Hitokiri Battousai! Give yourself over to the police!" I demanded. Hiruma laughed and revealed the blade of his katana, letting the sheath fall to the floor with a decisive clatter. He pressed the sword's tip against my throat.
"And why would I want to do that?" he asked. "Now, when I am so close to reaching my goal."
"Your goal?" I whispered.
"You wanted to know why, didn't you?" the murderer growled. "I'll tell you. I began killing in order to denounce the name of Kamiya, in order to destroy your father's legacy."
"That doesn't explain anything," I snapped, glaring at him. "Why do you hate my family so much?"
"What do you know about your father, Kaoru-chan?" Gohei purred. "Did you know, for instance, that he worked as an intelligence officer for the government?"
"That's not true!" I shouted. "He was a kenjutsu instructor. He taught the Kamiya Kasshin method of swordsmanship."
"I'm sure daddy wanted to keep his little girl ignorant of his dirty work," Gohei sneered, "but you must have had some inkling." I opened my mouth to tell him that he was crazy, and wrong about my father, but the words froze in my throat. An unbidden memory flooded my mind, rising into consciousness.
I was very young, perhaps six or seven, and hadn't started training under my father yet. I wanted to become a ninja, so I practiced my skills on my parents. They both sat at the kitchen table having a whispered discussion:
"You must give up this line of work, it's too dangerous! We make enough money through the dojo, with you as its instructor."
"I want to help people, koishii."
"Think of your own safety for once! It seems like the government asks you to go on dangerous missions more and more. I'm sure they have enough intelligence officers so that – "
"We should finish this conversation another time. It looks like we have a little spy in our midst!" I watched my father's legs as they moved closer to my hiding place. I tried to sneak away, but he caught me and lifted me up in his arms, laughing and smiling…
"I had forgotten," I whispered. "He did work for the government."
"So you remember?" Gohei growled. "Good. I worked in the same department as your father, over ten years ago. One night, when we busted a ring of drug dealers, I shot and killed a man who refused to give me information about the other major drug circles. Your father reported the incidence to our superiors and got me fired. He was a spineless coward, too afraid to even carry a gun, and he was jealous of my skill!"
"You're wrong!" I spat. "My father was a courageous man and you're a bloodthirsty beast!" The Battousai snarled and yanked me into the air by the collar of my blouse.
"After I was fired my life became a living hell. I will exact my revenge on you, little girl, and make your father pay for his actions!" The Battousai grinned madly and ran the flat of his blade against my cheek. "Your blood tastes so sweet."
"That's enough." The voice was soft, yet commanding. Gohei grunted and turned to face the speaker. I gasped as my eyes focused on the familiar, slim-bodied redhead.
"Kenshin!" That boy has impeccable timing!
"You will set Kaoru-dono down gently, that you will." I frowned slightly. Although his quirky way of speaking remained the same, something about Kenshin seemed different. His character felt…harder, sharper, more focused.
"So," the Battousai rumbled, "the new kid's here to save the day. Wait a moment, boy, while I tend to this chickadee. You'll meet your death soon enough." He smirked. "After all, I owe you for yesterday. I would have finished this chick off in Ruffian's Row if you hadn't come along. I even went to the trouble of slipping a phony note in her locker." The Battousai laughed loudly and I growled in irritation. Damn him!
Kenshin's violet eyes hardened and narrowed, and he unsheathed his sakabatou in a slow, ringing motion. I felt my chest constrict. What is that idiot doing? He's going to get himself killed!
"Kenshin, no!" I cried. "He's too strong…he'll kill you!" Gohei chuckled and let me drop to the floor on my knees. I scrambled for the phone, but he hacked through the cord with a vicious swipe of his katana.
"It looks like your death has been postponed, chickadee," he leered. I glared up at him, feeling utterly helpless. Gohei turned his attention back to Kenshin, approaching him with weighted steps. "Play time's over, kid." He lunged forward with a roar, his katana slicing down toward Kenshin's head. I froze, unable to even scream.
But Kenshin stepped to the side, dodging Gohei's attack like it was nothing. His body appeared loose and tense all at once, his fiery hair swept back by the force of Gohei's attack while his intense gaze remained immovable, concentrated on his opponent. Gohei roared like a deranged bull and swung his katana in a brutal side-sweep. Kenshin flicked his wrist and his sakabatou sprang up to block the attack.
"I should kill you for threatening Kaoru," he said coldly. In a flash, almost too quick to see, Kenshin knocked Gohei's blade to the side and leapt into the air. "Up here!" Kenshin called as the murderer gaped in confusion. Gohei jerked his eyes upwards and brought his katana back over his head, growling in frustration. Kenshin raised his sakabatou, sweeping it downwards in perfect unison with his descent to the ground, gravity and body weight increasing the force of his blow. I couldn't help but wince when I heard the sick crack of breaking bones as Kenshin's sakabatou slammed against Gohei's fingers. Gohei howled and dropped his katana, gripping his hand in agony. "You will never hold a sword again," Kenshin stated, landing on his feet with the grace of a cat.
"You little punk!" the killer roared, charging him. Kenshin slipped under his grasping arms and rammed the hilt of his sakabatou against the back of Gohei's skull as he stumbled past. The Hitokiri Battousai collapsed to the floor, defeated and unconscious. Kenshin sheathed his sakabatou and turned to face me.
"Are you injured, Kaoru-dono?" I shook my head dumbly. His eyes were soft and familiar once again, but I could sense the fading fury behind them. "I am glad." He smiled, and turned as if to leave. My head was a whirlwind of thoughts, but a driving force swam up and cried out for me to stop him. I struggled for the right words…
"You jerk!" I hollered. Kenshin froze.
"…oro?"
"You're not even going to stay and make sure Hiruma gets put in jail?" I demanded. "He's still a threat, you know! And why did you leave in the middle of the night without a word to me? Well, Kenshin Himura, if that's the kind of guy you are, then you can just be on your way." I huffed and spun around, folding my arms in pretended indignation. But, truthfully, I didn't want Kenshin to see how vulnerable I felt right now. After a moment of silence, I heard the shoji door leading outside click shut. I sighed and let my arms drop down to my sides.
"You know," Kenshin drawled. "I've been on the road for some time now." I drew in a quick breath, my spirits lifting as I spun around and saw Kenshin's smiling face. "It would be nice to settle down for a while." He started across the room, his eyes shining. "But I'm something of a wanderer and you never know when I'll have to start moving again."
"Of course," I agreed, unable to stop grinning. At this moment, I would have agreed that the Earth is flat or that roses bloom in winter.
"I'm not a very good cook…"
"But you're a lot better than I am!" I laughed. You see? Normally I would never admit to that, even in hell froze over!
"…And people might talk if they hear that a man is staying alone with you in your house." He stopped in front of me, gauging my reaction.
"I don't care what other people say!" I declared brashly, placing my hands on my hips.
"Then I would love to stay here a while longer, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said quietly. He smiled. I smiled. And that's just how it happened. Kenshin Himura, a man of many secrets, came to reside at the Kamiya dojo.
Now on to other matters…Episode four introduces a new character. Hmm, who could that be?