Sorrow Mingled Tears

(Previously Knowing the Truth)

by Massao na Mizu

Disclaimer: If I DID own Rurouni Kenshin and its characters, I wouldn't have posted this in FanFiction.net.

(Some information were gotten from 'Memoirs of a Geisha'-A must read)

Massao: I changed back to my original name and I'm back from my hiatus. I missed you guys! ^_^ I hope I did not drive you away. and I changed the name as I have warned you from the third chap. In the fifth chap or six, I'll be labeling this as an R-13. Okie? ^_^

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Part Two

Green eyes flashed dangerously in the night. He could not believe this! All his plans are wrecked because of this surprise job! What an utter annoyance, this foolish man. Afraid of competitors and so, he leaves the young Hitokiri, Battousai to do the dirty work for him. He remembered the conversation with the geisha assassin sent by Toyama-san.

"Toyama-san does not ask for a lot. He is willing to pay your desired amount if you get the job done. Quickly," she said firmly. Green eyes coldly looked up to study the geisha. A strong personality this girl has, he thought to himself. With the hairstyle of a first style geisha and the makings of one. Yet she was dressed as an assassin with razor-sharp fans as weapons that must have weighed a ton each and proved how much she could do.

Traveling down, her legs were bared to make it easier for her to move. before he could process anything more, she rose from her sit-kneel position and started pouring him some tea. "Think about it. You have a minute to tell me your decision and two minutes to finish your tea." She raised her red eyes so rare that he had a feeling she was not a whole Japanese. For he doubted it if anybody blood-red eyes such as hers.

Such as Kaoru has unique blue-rays ones that changes hues playing with her emotions.

He blinked. "I accept." he said, raising the small cup and downing the liquid. The geisha bowed and raised to a straight sitting position.

"I shall be accompanying you. Toyama-san's orders. I will finish what you cannot." It did not bother him, but for the record, he raised his eyes to meet hers and glared at her.

"Is he saying that I cannot finish my job? If he is afraid, why not let you finish it instead?" He said coldly, controlled. She raised an eyebrow, pursing her lips and returning his cold glare.

"It is not that you cannot finish the work; it is that he doesn't trust you. I may be an assassin but I am his daughter." She confessed in a firm, emotionless voice that had taken him aback.

Was this Toyama that cowardly to let his daughter learn the skills of a temptress and the skills of a cold-blooded assassin? Was he this self-centered not to think of what his daughter preferred? The truly rich people confused him. They act as if they control the world. But the truth was, they are puppets and afraid of it.

He nodded. There was nothing left to discuss.

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All the cooking was done, so Kaoru patiently waited for Aoshi-sama to arrive. She closed her eyes for the time being. Her senses are sharper when her eyes are closed. The nature sounds filled her with serenity and she sighed in relaxation.

When was she last this peace?

Never. Even when her father was alive, she was always protected and caged inside their house. She could be assassinated by enemies! She was never given any chance to do what she wanted.

Then she had her geisha/mistress training with Mistress Rei that stood as her 'big sister'. You see, to be promoted as a Geisha, you need to have a big sister. For she will be the one to guide your life as a geisha until she lives.

After that, she fell upon Battousai. It was not as if he was a dirty old man. No, he was far from that. In fact, if he wasn't so cunning and heartless, she would have fallen for him. His looks are something not to be ignored...But the fear she held for him... The thought of being his mistress sickened her to no end--especially because he was the one that killed her father.

Tears prickled her blind eyes and she wiped them away with the handkerchief Aoshi-sama had given her. Aoshi-sama... He was the last man she saw before she became blind... But because of the heavy shadows that night when he saved her, she didn't have an opportunity to see his face.

The only thing she knew about his looks where his glinting cobalt eyes--almost like hers that flashed that fateful night, and raven lack hair short in a stylish manner and that he was very tall.

That was all.

Kaoru sighed, closing her blue-gray eyes. Why was she so anxious to see Aoshi-sama? 'Because!' she thought, 'he saved your life! He feeds you and gives you clothing and shelter!' That was true, but why didn't she feel convinced?

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