Review Comments: Dai-chan, arigatou for reviewing me. If you give anything away, I swear that you won't live to see the next year! Just kidding! You know I would never do that! Ahem. Maybe. evil laugh I really don't like this dumb quick edit. I think that it's stupid. Oh well. Ji-chan, arigatou for reviewing me! Yes. You are "freaky." He peed on my rug! HAHA! I feel so bad for you! That really has to suck! Have fun with him! I really have to work on my other story! Oh, well! See you next chappie!
Disclaimer: Yeah. Um, I've been getting really lazy lately and haven't been doing Keito-chan's Adventures. I haven't had time 'cause school sucks and there are these nasty things called exams that high schoolers have to take. And, yeah. They take up a lot of my time. I'm lucky that this is even being typed because I'm actually supposed to be studying for finals right now. Heh. My bad! Well, back to the point of the whole disclaimer. I don't own any of the characters except the ones you've never heard of in the anime. (I really am lazy. I won't even write that character names!)
NOTE: As I said before, I'm getting lazy with my short story, Keito-chan's Adventures. So, hopefully, I'll put another episode in. School sucks and some of the kids in my chemistry class are immature assholes, so I really can't wait until I'm out and free from annoying teachers and retarded people! Gomen ne. I'm rambling. I hope you liked my last two chapters even if you didn't review. But, if you are reading this story, can you please review me. I've only had two faithful reviewers and they're my best friends, so the read everything before you do. (If you don't know, I handwrite my chapters before I type them. I have almost 3 notebooks of my 13 chapters so far! Chapter 13 will be posted soon too!)
Chapter 12- The Price of Freedom
"Oh, Kami-sama! NOOO!" came the cry again.
Tsuyoi choked as the sword slid out of his stomach. The man grinned, satisfied, as he lifted his sword to stab Tsuyoi again. He died with the same look on his face as Saito neatly sliced off his head.
Mayonaka's throat hurt from screaming so loudly. "Tsuyoi-oniichan!" she shrieked again, and stumbled to her brother, who was coughing up blood.
The other man's sword hilt came down with a sickening crack on her black-haired head. She crumpled next to Tsuyoi. Kaoru dropped the katana and sprinted to her bleeding friends. She dropped to her knees, ignoring the blood that sprayed her face from the man who had laid the brutal blow to Mayonaka's head. Aoshi's kodachi protruded from his chest. The man fell heavily to the ground, dead. Kaoru gently turned Mayonaka on her back, trying to ignore that crushed bone and blood. Tears were uncontrollably rolling down her cheeks.
"G-go-gomen n-ne, Ka-Kaoru-sensei," Mayonaka gasped. "I al-almost got him. I-I knocked out t-two g-guys."
"Shh. No, you did perfectly fine, Mayonaka," Kaoru sobbed.
A slight smile appeared on her childish face and her head fell softly sideways. Kaoru choked, her breathing erratic. The sound of vomiting made her look at Tsuyoi. She slid her body to sit next to him. She pulled him into her lap, almost breaking down as his warm blood washed over her knees. His head rested in the crook of her arm.
"Ya, Kaoru-sensei. I-I'm glad that you-you're safe. Do y-you th-think I-I could train with you a-again w-when this is-is a-all o-over?" Kaoru's tears dripped onto his face. "D-don't cry, Kaoru-sensei," he said, raising his hand to wipe away a tear. He coughed, more blood dribbling down his chin.
"Hai! Hai! Hai!" she whispered frantically. "Just don't die, Tsuyoi!"
Tsuyoi tried to laugh. "W-who's dying?"
"Stop! Don't stain yourself!"
"Kaoru-sensei. I-I have s-something to c-confess," he struggled to say.
"Go ahead," Kaoru said shakily.
"I-I've a-always ha-had a-a cr-crush on yo-you. I-I just needed for you to k-know t-that."
"I-I had a small crush on you too, Tsuyoi," Kaoru confessed quietly. "Will you do me the honor of giving me a kiss?"
Tsuyoi's eyes widened in pain and surprise and he managed to nod stiffly. Kaoru leaned down, eyes closed, and softly pressed her lips to his. When she pulled away, his eyes were still closed and a there was a slight smile that played on his lips. He was dead. Kaoru bent her head and wept, feeling defeated.
Kenshin watched everything in horror. He resheathed his sword, ignoring Kage, and ran to Kaoru, who was moving Tsuyoi's body to lie next to Mayonaka's. Kenshin gathered her in his arms. She sobbed heavily into his chest, tears mingling with his sweat. Kenshin whispered her name over and over in to her hair. Misao hid her face in Aoshi's chest and everyone stared at the scene, unable to do anything. Saito observed the pair with indifferent eyes. Kaoru slowly raised her head from Kenshin's gi. Her eyes smoldered with hate. She glared at Kage.
"You baka yarou!" she growled. "You goddamned yarou! Those two were the only two students I had besides Yahiko! They were my friends and they did it for me! He was my age and she was only ten! You goddamned baka yarou! THEY DID IT FOR ME!" she broke down and her knees gave way.
Kenshin caught her by the arms and lowered her onto the ground. He turned to Kage, rage swirling in his eyes. "You will pay for what you've done."
Kage snorted. "It's not like I killed them," he said shrugging.
"You DARE!" Kenshin boomed.
Kage stepped back, scared by Kenshin's anger and aura. Kenshin sank into a comfortable battle stance.
"The Amakakeruryu no Hirameki!" Soujiro, Sanosuke, and Yahiko whispered in unison.
Before Kenshin started his attack, a woman, unfamiliar to him, threw herself in from of Kage.
"Onegai! Don't!" the women begged pitifully.
Kenshin blinked, confused and he heard Kaoru's strangled whisper. "H-Hikari!"
"O-onegai, don't kill him, Battousai!" she cried, still shielding Kage.
"Take a good look at this sword," Kenshin said coldly. "He would have been dead with my Battoujutsu if I had a normal sword."
"I-it's a sakabatou!" Hikari said, amazed.
"Kenshin vowed twelve years ago to not kill," Kaoru spoke up quietly. Hikari glanced at her quickly, color draining out of her face when she saw what Kaoru looked like. "He won't kill Kage, trust me."
Kage stepped around Hikari's outstretched arms. "Get back, Hikari," Kage said harshly. "I don't need your help." Hikari lowered her arms submissively and backed away from him. Kage gripped his sword tighter and hissed, "Let's go!"
Kenshin sank back into a battle stance. They sped at each other and Kenshin's sword flashed in the moonlight. Kage's sword flew past Hikari and embedded itself into the wall. Hikari stared at it. Kage rose in the air and landed a few yards away.
Hikari ran to him. "Kage!" she cried. "Are you okay?!" She didn't get a response from him. She glared at Kenshin. "You've killed him! You lied! You've killed the man I love!"
A small, blood-covered hand rested on her shoulder. Hikari looked up. "Ka-chan," she whispered. "He's dead! He's left me!"
"No, he hasn't," she said kindly. She reached down and felt a faint pulse in Kage's neck.
"He isn't dead, just unconscious," Kenshin said. "Like a majority of the men here. Only a few are dead."
Kaoru jumped when Kage stirred. Hikari looked at him with a joyful cry.
"Don't move! You'll hurt yourself more," said Kaoru. "I'm surprised that you're even awake."
Kage looked at her in disbelief. "W-why are you helping m-me?"
"I don't need to tell you that," Kaoru said carefully.
"I won't be pitied," he said, voice getting louder. He pulled a dagger from his gi. He tried to lunge at Kaoru, but Hikari jumped in front of her. The sharp blade ripped through her stomach. Hikari fell heavily in front of Kage. Kaoru stared at the unmoving body.
"Hi-Hikari," Kage whispered. He gaped, shell shocked at her body.
Kenshin came up behind Kaoru, who flinched. "Kaoru-dono, let's go home."
"I can't leave her, Kenshin. I can't. She was one of my friends too!"
"Get out," Kage growled suddenly. "Get the hell out of here! I don't want you here! GET THE HELL OUT!"
"Kaoru-dono," Kenshin whispered in her ear urgently. "There's nothing we can do for either of them now. Leave him be."
Kaoru nodded unfocusedly and weakly turned towards the group. She noticed that Sanosuke was carrying Tsuyoi's body and Aoshi was carrying Mayonaka's. Kaoru tried to make her way to the group, but her legs were weak. She stumbled and Kenshin reached out to steady her. He picked her up and cradled her like child. Kenshin felt her light frame relax and he heard her whisper, "Sayōnara, Hikari."
Fumeiyo walked over to the pair. He leaned down and kissed her on her forehead softly. "Gomen nasai, Kaoru," he whispered. He felt Kenshin stiffen in jealousy.
"Fumeiyo," she said. "You can stay at my dojo. It's the only thing I can offer you. You may stay there as long as you would like."
Fumeiyo smiled at her. "That would be great, Kaoru," he agreed. "I'll walk you back to the dojo and then, I'm coming back to gather my things."
"We can't go to the dojo first!" Kaoru exclaimed weakly.
"Kaoru-dono," Kenshin cajoled. "You're hurt! You need to get home!"
"No," she muttered. She looked at the bodies of Tsuyoi and Mayonaka. "We-we have to bring-"
"I understand, Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said. "We'll go and tell their parents and give them their bodies."
The group made their way to the hidden path. Kaoru was sleeping lightly in Kenshin's arms, her arms wrapped around his neck. As they walked, Yahiko walked mournfully next Sanosuke, sniffing occasionally. Sano looked down at him sympathetically.
"It hurts, doesn't it," he said, quietly.
"It's not fair," Yahiko sniffed. "I really those two! I couldn't protect either of them! Mayonaka was ten!" Tears leaked out of his eyes. "Plus, I thought that Tsuyoi was just like his name. Strong, and honorable."
"I know what it's like to lose someone I look up to. We both do," he said, looking at Katsu, who joined them when they left the complex's yard. He bore shallow cuts to show that he saw action.
"The pain will be there," Katsu said, "but, it will make you stronger and give you the will to fight."
"Arigatou," Yahiko said, his voice wavering.
Behind them, there was Aoshi and Misao. Misao looked at Mayonaka's face. It was relaxed and peaceful. She pushed a strand of hair away from her eyes.
"You can't dwell on it, Misao," Aoshi said. "That won't bring her back."
"I know," she said quietly. "But, she's just too young. They both. It's so sad how life can be finished so soon and so quickly."
"Hai. It's like when you pick a flower. It lasts only a while before it's gone." He saw Misao wince. "Gomen ne, but it's true. Life can be crushed as easily as it begins. Simple as that. Life is expandable."
Misao shuddered. "That sounds horrible, Aoshi-sama," she remarked.
"Harsh as it is," he reasoned. "It's true."
"Hai, wakatta."
No one talked for a few minutes. After they reached the main road, Kenshin whispered to Kaoru to wake up. "Where is Tsuyoi and Mayonaka's house?" he asked.
"By the Akebeko. It's a few streets away. I'll show you. Let me down, onegai, Kenshin."
Kenshin reluctantly complied and Kaoru started forward, dreading to see the devastated faces of Tsuyoi and Mayonaka's parents. They would never forgive her, she knew it. The low mutter of voice from the back of the straggled group reached her ears.
Fumeiyo and Fujitaka were arguing quietly between themselves. "Let me go back with you can get my stuff!" Fujitaka argued.
"No!" Fumeiyo said forcefully. "It'll be safer if only one person goes. They won't notice one. Plus, I'll get your stuff for you. Stay at the dojo with Kaoru and everyone."
Fujitaka opened his mouth to protest, but then closed it. He sighed. "I'm not going to win, so why bather. I'll stay at the dojo with the Battousai and Kaoru-san."
Fumeiyo smile. "Good. Oh. It look like were at the kids' house."
Kaoru stepped up to the wooden door. She raised a shaking hand to knock. "Fuyusuki-san," she called, voice barely above a whisper. "Fuyusuki-san."
Kenshin placed his hand over hers, which was resting on the doorframe. It was trembling. He got close to her face, and his red hair brushed her cheek. "Don't be afraid, Kaoru-dono. We won't desert you. You aren't to blame for what happened tonight. They fought bravely and honorably tonight. They died doing what they wanted."
Kaoru closed her eyes and nodded.
"Remember. We won't desert you now. I'll never desert you," he added, lips brushing her ear as he spoke those words.
Kaoru's eyes opened quickly. Her breath got caught in her throat and her heart faltered. Given new strength by Kenshin's words, Kaoru knocked on the door a little harder. "Fuyusuki-san," she called firmly. There was no answer. "Fuyusuki-san!" she called again. There was still no answer.
Kaoru slid open the door and stepped in. She stopped dead. The moonlight that flooded the area showed every detail of the room. Including the two small shrines side by side. She shuffled clumsily towards them and fell to her knees, sobbing slightly.
"What's the matter, Kaoru-dono?!" Kenshin asked, rushing forward. Her chocked sob and pointing finger told him everything. "Fuyusuki Kazu and Fuyusuki Yukino," he said." Died from a plague last year."
"They were alone for a year! They knew they could come to me!" Kaoru cried into her hands.
The amount of tears that didn't fall when the two first died now fell fast down her face. Yahiko was sniffling and a few tears escaped from his eyes, and Misao was silently sobbing into Omasa's shoulder.
"Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said sorrowfully. "Let's give them their last rites at the dojo, a place they longed to be at. They didn't even defy their parents in death. We can bury them together."
"I can get headstones made," Katsu said. "I have connections there."
"Okay," Kaoru said hoarsely and got up.
Kenshin thought she moved like an old lady, stiff and hunched. It pained him to see her like that. Her face was bruised and cut, along with her arms and he suspected her legs. He felt that the condition she was in was his fault.
As if reading his mind, Kaoru brushed past him and whispered, "Don't worry about me. There's no need to fret. I'll be fine." She smiled sweetly and walked out of the silent house slowly, Kenshin following her.
The rest of the group went ahead of Kaoru and Kenshin. Fumeiyo stopped for a few seconds, thinking, and walked back to Kenshin and Kaoru.
"Ya, Fumeiyo," Kaoru said.
"Ya," he said distractedly. "Ano, can I talk to you?" he looked pointedly at Kenshin, telling him that he wasn't included in their conversation. Kenshin frowned a little, but he started to move ahead.
"I'll give you two some privacy," he said stiffly and fell into step next to Saito, who was smoking as usual.
He gave Kenshin a side-glance and took a drag from his cigarette. "Are you jealous, Battousai?" he asked tauntingly.
Kenshin glared at him and said, huffily, "No! I am not jealous!"
"Hmm. And I'm your best friend," Saito said sarcastically. "Get over your pride, Battousai, because someday it will hurt someone. Namely her." He flicked his eyes to Kaoru, who was talking with Fumeiyo.
Kenshin sighed, knowing Saito was right. "Okay! So I'm jealous! Big deal. I love, so I have a good reason to be jealous. Happy now, Saito?"
Saito just took another drag of his cigarette and didn't say anything.
"Baka," Kenshin muttered through clenched teeth.
As soon as Kenshin was out of earshot, Fumeiyo started talking, low and fast. "Are you sure you're okay? A lot has happened tonight. We could stop so you can rest, if you'd like?"
Kaoru shook her head. "No, that's okay. I really am fine. I'm stronger than I look, you know."
Fumeiyo smiled. "You certainly proved it earlier. Oh. Fujitaka has the package of kimonos and, when I go back, I'll get the katana that you dropped. I really want you to have it."
"Arigatou," she said. "What are you going to do now that you're not in the Shadow Gumi anymore?"
He looked at her in surprise. "Hm. That's a good question. I didn't think about it. Maybe Fujitaka and I can get a job or do some sort of handy work. If we get enough money, we can open a dojo and then we can be rivals!"
"Ne! But that would be fun! Demo, you'd probably get more students."
Fumeiyo looked confused.
"My dojo was framed two years ago," she explained. "All my students left and there was-" she paused. "An incident. That's how I met Kenshin. Then a few days later, we picked up Yahiko. He used to be a pickpocket for the yukuza. He had to pay a nonexistent debt for when his mother got syphilis and had to be put in the hospital. His father had died in the Bakamatsu. Now he's my student!" she finished proudly.
Fumeiyo looked at Kaoru's beaming face. This was her true self. The person who believed in forgiveness and second chances. She trusted easily, laughed a lot, and was strong in more ways than one. This girl was one who loved with her heart. This was the girl that deserved the Battousai and the Battousai was worthy of her. Fumeiyo's heart panged painfully. He would never be able to hold her like the Battousai someday would. He could tell that she viewed him as an overprotective older brother, just like Sanosuke. But, he figured, that wasn't that bad. He'd find love again.
"Kaoru waved her hand in front of Fumeiyo's face. "Ne! Are you alive!?"
"Oh, gomen ne. I didn't realize that I spaced out!" Fumeiyo said sheepishly.
Kaoru rolled her eyes and muttered, "Only you." She jogged up next to Misao and started a quiet conversation with her.
Fumeiyo smiled to himself and was at the rear of the group for the rest of the walk to the dojo. Saito left once they got to the outskirts of the town. He said something about filing a report on the Shadow Gumi. When the dojo came into sight, Kaoru let out a cry of joy.
Kenshin stopped, turned, and held out his hand to her. "You did this once for me when I came back from Kyoto," he said softly. "Now it's my turn. Welcome home, Kaoru-dono!"
Kaoru choked down a sob and placed her hand in Kenshin's calloused one. Warmth flooded her body and a blush crept onto her cheeks. Kenshin felt the same warmth fill his body. He felt confused by it because it had never happened before, not even with Tomoe. Even so, he held Kaoru's hand tightly as the opened the gate to the dojo. It was finally over.
Megumi jumped when she heard the clack of the dojo's gate. She ran out of the practice room, her normally graceful self, tripping over a pail of water. Her face was a smile, but it was wiped off her face when she saw Kaoru, and Tsuyoi and Mayonaka being carried by Aoshi and Sanosuke. The two men were covered in Tsuyoi and Mayonaka's blood.
"Oh my," she said, running to the group. "What happened?!"
Sanosuke shook his head and said, "Not now, Kitsune. I think it's better if you treat wounds. We'll tell you everything later."
"A-ano, hai," she said. She had never seen Sanosuke so serious. "Onegai, place Tsuyoi-kun and Mayonaka-chan in the practice room. I have futon set up in there. She then noticed Fujitaka and Fumeiyo. "Who are these two?" she asked, while leading everyone into the bright practice room.
Fumeiyo and Fujitaka looked around the room, impressed.
Kaoru has a reason to proud her dojo, Fumeiyo thought. It's so nice!
Megumi's curt voice broke through his thoughts. "Well? Who are you?"
"Oh! Gomen nasai. "Fumeiyo said bowing. Fujitaka bowed next to him. "Forgive me for not answering immediately. We used to be part of the Shadow Gumi. I was the one who attacked Kaoru initially. Then I helped her."
"Same for me," Fujitaka said.
"Oh," was the only thing Megumi said to Fumeiyo's longwinded explanation. She clapped her hand lightly. "Get Tsuyoi-kun and Mayonaka-chan on futons, Ken-san, can you bring Kaoru to her room? I'll attend to her in there." Kenshin nodded and he and Kaoru left the room. "Everyone who knows they're injured sit by the wall. If you think you aren't, then sit by the wall adjacent to where the others are sitting. I'll look at you anyway."
Everyone moved to the walls while Megumi turned to the dead children in front of her. Tears dripped onto Mayonaka's face as she assessed her head wound. The tears left clean tracks through the blood. When she moved to Tsuyoi, she was nearly sick. She peeled his blood soaked practice outfit away from the wound. The gash was so deep that she was able to see some of his intestines. She put her hand over her mouth. Megumi suddenly felt strong arms around her. She looked up into Sanosuke's grim and sad face.
"Oh, Sanosuke!" she said, burying her face into his shoulder. "Why? They're so young! They died as if they were part of the Bakamatsu! It's not right! It's not fair!"
No one said anything as Sanosuke stroked Megumi's hair. "Kitsune, look at me." Megumi lifted her head. "They died honorable deaths. Ones that they wanted. I wish we could bring them back too. But, we can't. We're going to bury them here. There's nothing more we can so. Just concentrate on the people sitting on the wall. You can save them." He kissed her forehead and sat next to Katsu, leaning against the wall.
Megumi gathered herself and said to Yahiko, "Come here. I think you're the worst." She pulled out he medical bag and began to examine Yahiko's wound.
Kenshin and Kaoru walked through the dark halls. Kenshin stopped and Kaoru looked at him curiously, turning her body to face his.
"Kenshin," she asked, cocking her head to the side. "Doushita?"
"Kaoru-dono," he said, taking a step towards her. "I have to tell you something."
Kaoru backed against the wall as Kenshin took another step towards her. "W-what is it, Kenshin?"
Kenshin stopped when he saw Kaoru looking at him fearfully. He was perturbed. He had never frightened Kaoru, even when he was the Battousai. Why now? He noted that Kaoru's breathing was in quick, short breaths and she was sweating lightly. Hurt and confusion passed onto his facial features as he turned away from her.
"Let's go to your room, Kaoru-dono," he said distantly. "I'll tell you what I was going to tell you another day."
"H-hai," Kaoru said quietly, quite aware of the pain she had just inflicted on him. But she had a good reason to be afraid if a man advanced on her like that, didn't she?
"Ken-" she began, but she bit the inside of her cheek. She couldn't take back what she had just done. She lowered her head and looked at the floor while she walked. When Kenshin cleared his throat loudly, he head lifted up slowly. They were at her room already and Kenshin had the door slid open. He stepped inside and unrolled the futon that was in the corner.
"Here, Kaoru-dono," he said as she shuffled into the room lit only by moonlight. "Rest until Megumi-san comes and examines you, onegai." He turned to leave.
"Matte, Kenshin," Kaoru called.
"Hai?" Kenshin asked, while turning.
Kaoru looked out the window. "Ano, arigatou for saving me. And," she stopped, blinking back tears. "Gomen nasai for all the trouble I caused you and everyone else."
Kenshin walked to her and put his hand on her shoulder. He winced when he saw her flinch at his touch. "It's okay, Kaoru-dono. I would have gladly gone against the whole Shadow Gumi alone to get you back."
Kaoru's heart stopped. What was he implying? What was her spacey, redheaded rurouni saying?
"Remember, Kaoru-dono. I will never leave this dojo. He turned and stepped into the hall. "Or you. You can always come to me, Kaoru-dono. I'll always lend an ear."
He slid the door shut and Kaoru listened to his footsteps fade away. She sighed and picked up one of her sleeping yukatas out of the box on the floor. She carefully took off her bloody practice clothes and laid them down on the floor. She looked at her body in contempt.
"Iya!" she yelled. "Iya!" She collapsed on the floor and hugged her yukata to her chest, sobbing. "Kitanai desu! My body is so gross!"
She heard footsteps running to her room. She turned away from the door as it slid open. Kenshin stood there, frantic, and stared at her bare, bruised and cut back.
"Kaoru-dono!" he said, hurrying towards her. "Doushita?!"
"Chiwaru na!" she screamed. "Miru na! Watashi wa kitanai!" She drew her knees into her chest and sobbed harder. "I don't deserve to be alive!"
Kenshin's eyes widened and he grabbed her by the shoulders. "What are you saying!? Don't say things like that!"
Kaoru pulled herself out of his grasp and hurled herself into the corner. She sat there, shaking like a leaf.
Kenshin stood up and looked around wildly for something to cover her. He spotted her blanket. "Kaoru-dono, I'm going to get Megumi-san!" he said while tucking the blanket around her. "Don't do anything till we get back! Onegai!" Kenshin sprinted out of the door and into the hallway.
He was panting slightly by the time he reached the practice room. "Me-Megumi-san," he said. "Kaoru-dono!"
"Himura! What happened to Kaoru-san?!" Misao asked.
"I don't know! But she's hysterical!" he said.
Fumeiyo's eyes widened. Oh no! he thought. He got up and ran past Kenshin. Yahiko got up and followed him.
"Oi!" Fumeiyo turned to see Yahiko running behind him. "You don't even know where her room is!" he commented. "I'll show you!"
Yahiko led Fumeiyo through the hallways to an open door. They peered in and saw Kaoru huddled in the corner.
"Kaoru-" Fumeiyo started to say, but was interrupted by a loud commanding voice.
"Get out of the way!" Megumi said to Fumeiyo.
"Hey, you-" he said, but was silenced by Megumi's glare.
"You haven't been looked at yet. Go back into the practice room. Genzai-san is there examining everyone else." She turned to Yahiko, who turned pale and gulped. "And you!" she seethed. "You know better! You need stitched in the head wound and you're running around the dojo! I could kill you!" She sucked in her breath. "All of you get out and let me attend to her!"
Kenshin peeked around Fumeiyo. "Megumi-san. You might want your bag," he said, holding it out to her.
"Arigatou, Ken-san," she said. "Now, onegai, leave do I can help Kaoru."
"Is there anything I can do to help, Megumi-san?" Kenshin asked helplessly.
Megumi thought for a moment. "Hai." She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a small packet. "Here. This is filled with calming herbs. Boil them in water and add it in with some tea. Only a little though."
Kenshin nodded and hurried to the kitchen to prepare the tea.
Megumi glared at Fumeiyo and Yahiko. "Go back to and get check out by Genzai-san." Yahiko mumbled curses while Fumeiyo meekly obliged.
"Now," Megumi said, turning to Kaoru, "tell me what happened."
"Watashi wa kitanai, Megumi-san!"
"How? What happened?" she asked as she helped Kaoru into her yukata.
"I can't! I can't!" she cried.
"You can and you will!" Megumi said firmly. "I'll ask again. What happened?"
Kaoru threw her arms around Megumi's neck and sobbed into he shoulder. "He raped me! Kage raped me!"
A crash from outside the door made them both look up. Megumi untangled Kaoru's arms from her neck and walked to the door and opened it. Kenshin stood there, a broken teacup at his feet and a shock look on his face.
Kaoru looked at him, horrified, and them buried her face in her hands.
Megumi looked at the pair nervously. "You two need to discuss this alone," she said and walked out of the room, past Kenshin.
Kaoru's head was still in her hands when Megumi left. Kenshin shut the door. He mechanically made his was to Kaoru's huddled form.
He squatted down in front of her. "Kaoru-dono," he said. "Look at me, Kaoru-dono."
"I can't," she whispered.
"Don't forget what I said," he reminded her. "I'll always listen to what you have to say." He pulled her hands away from her face. Her eyes were tightly closed and she turned her face away from him. "Kaoru-dono," he said, holding her hands tightly. "Why won't you let me help you?!"
Kaoru ignored his question and asked, "How can you stand to touch me? Watashi wa kitanai."
Kenshin lifted his hand and forced her head to face his. "Open your eyes, Kaoru-dono," he said sternly. The tone of his voice made her open her eyes in surprise. "Good," his tone was back to its normal softness. "You're not dirty. Never in a million years could you ever be dirty."
"Demo-" Kaoru protested as tears trickled from her eyes.
"No buts," he said, wiping the tears away gently. "You are the purest, most innocent person I can think of."
"Stop," Kaoru said. "I don't deserve this."
"Why won't you let me help you!?" Kenshin demanded, slightly angry.
"And why don't you let me help you!?" she shot back hysterically. "You push me away whenever I try to help you! That's painful! Well, now, you can feel the pain I do!"
Kaoru stopped when she saw Kenshin freeze. Her hands flew to her mouth. "Oh, God," she said, rocking back and forth. "What have I done?! Oh, kuso! How could I have said something like that?!"
"Kaoru-dono, stop it!" Kenshin said. "I deserved that." Kaoru started to shake her head, but he cupped her face in his hands. She shivered. "No, I deserved that. I do push you away. And do you want to know why? Because I'm scared! Scared of losing everything that I hold dear! I'm scared of losing you like I did Tomoe!"
"K-Kenshin," Kaoru stuttered.
"Want to know what I was going to tell you earlier," Kenshin said huskily, "Kaoru?"
Megumi quickly gathered up the broken teacup pieces and ran into the kitchen. She dropped the sharp shards onto the cutting board next to the cooling herbal tea. She winced as a piece cut her. She breathed the deep aroma of the tea in deeply. It cleared her head and allowed her to think rationally. She ran back into the practice room.
"Kitsune!" Sano said, getting up quickly. "How's Jo-chan?! What happened to her!? Fumeiyo and Yahiko wouldn't say anything!"
"I told you I didn't know anything!" Yahiko said irritably.
Megumi faltered. She didn't know if she should tell them or not.
"Megumi," Sano said worriedly. "What happened? What's wrong with Jo-chan?"
Megumi pulled Sano by the shirt so that she could whisper in his ear. Yahiko strained to hear. "She was raped by Kage, Sanosuke," she said. "Kenshin overheard Kaoru telling me. He's in with her now." Sano's eyes widened in shock.
Yahiko gasped.
Then, Sano's eyes narrowed and he turned, livid, to Fumeiyo. He grabbed Fumeiyo by the collar and slammed him into the wall. "You yarou!" he growled. "You knew, didn't you?! You baka yarou!"
Misao jumped up. "Sano!" Misao cried and tried to pull on his arm to release Fumeiyo.
Fumeiyo struggled in Sano's grip, but stilled when he felt the coldness of steel on his jugular. He swallowed hard.
"Why don't you just tell us what happened to the girl," Aoshi suggested icily, putting a little more pressure on the kodachi that was pressed to Fumeiyo's neck. "We'd all like to know for one reason or another." He lowered the kodachi.
Sano dropped Fumeiyo.
He glared at Sano and straightened his gi. "She was raped by Kage," he said stonily.
Everyone looked at him in shock.
"C'mon," Misao said. "Don't joke like that." She laughed forcibly and fakely. "What really happened to Kaoru-san?"
"Why would I lie!?" Fumeiyo bit out harshly.
Aoshi stepped behind Misao protectively and shot Fumeiyo a death glare.
"How," Sano began shakily. "How could you not tell us?! How cruel can you be?!"
"Oi!" Fujitaka said, jumping to Fumeiyo's defense. "He had a justifiable reason to not tell the Battousai OR you."
Soujiro cleared his throat slightly. "Well," Soujiro began, "I don't think it was very wise for you no to tell Himura-san and the others."
"You don't think this doesn't hurt me either?!" Fumeiyo demanded. "How do you think I felt? I was outside the room when it happened! I had to hear her screams and pleas! You don't know how much that hurts!"
"Yet you didn't have the courage to stop him!" Yahiko shouted at him. "You could have saved her a lot of pain by preventing him from doing that!"
"And she would have never been rescued in the amount of time that she was if I had done that! Kage wouldn't have hesitated in killing me for interfering with his 'fun!' You're lucky that I didn't get killed by him, or else you would have been up the creek!" he said roughly. "I figured that she would tell you in her own time. I can't help that Battousai found out."
Soujiro cleared his throat nervously again. "We've all have a shock," he said carefully. "I think it would be best if everyone went into their rooms and calmed their tempers." He smiled slightly. "And I don't think that Megumi-san wants us aggravating our wounds, either."
Everyone reluctantly agreed to retire to his or her rooms after being forced by Megumi. Genzai-san had left a little while earlier. Megumi had Sano help her arrange Tsuyoi and Mayonaka's bodies for their burial rites.
Sano noticed Fumeiyo go outside. "I wonder where he's going," he grumbled while he helped Megumi clean up her medical supplies. They had pulled sheets over Tsuyoi and Mayonaka.
"Oh, leave him be," Megumi quipped, hitting him lightly on the head.
"Demo, nande?" he asked, giving her a puppy face.
"Because he's been through just as much you have, so be nice," she replied.
Sano sighed. "Hai, Kitsune," he said before kissing her nose, then her mouth.
Fumeiyo and Fujitaka walked outside. "Are you going to the syndicate?" Fujitaka questioned.
"Hai," Fumeiyo answered. "I'm telling Kage personally of my departure from the Shadow Gumi."
Fujitaka looked worried. "Be careful," he said.
Fumeiyo gave him the thumbs-up sign and said, "No problem! Ja ne!"
Fumeiyo made his way into the complex through an entrance that only he, Fujitaka, and Tomoko knew. It was perfectly concealed and it avoided contact with people. It was in the far corner of the yard, by a pond.
Fumeiyo stepped next to the worn bench. He stood, staring at the still water for a minute. Rustling in a nearby bush made him reach for his sword, but he dropped his hand when he realized it was only a fox and her kits. He noticed something odd around their necks. It looked like hair ribbons. Fumeiyo rubbed his eyes and shook his head and looked again, but the foxes were gone. Convinced that it was his mind playing tricks on him, he continued down the path.
He saw Kaoru's katana as drew closer to the middle of the yard. He cautiously ran out and grabbed the katana quickly. He bolted back on the path and entered the building through an open window. He slithered from corridor to corridor until he reached his room. He gathered a few of his things in a cloth bag and then, he went across the hall to Fujitaka's room and gathered some of his things. He then made his way through the maze of hallways to a room he visited often.
Fumeiyo heard strings of cursed and gasps coming from Kage's room. He slid the door open to reveal Kage kneeling before Hikari, who had been washed, her wound stitched closed, and dressed in a pure white kimono with tiny white flowers and a pink obi. It was the kimono she wanted to where when she got married.
Kage looked up when he heard the door slid open. "You!" he snarled when he saw Fumeiyo. "What are you doing back here, you traitorous scum?!"
"To pay my respects to Hikari and." He paused. "I came to tell you that Fujitaka and I are leaving. We're never coming back. This is the end of your precious Shadow Gumi. It's broken and in pieces. Have fun trying to pick them up."
Kage shook with rage as Fumeiyo knelt in front Hikari's body and said a quick prayer. He stood up and turned to leave.
"You think it's that easy," he heard Kage spit. "My game isn't over! I won't lose!" He then heard the cocking of a pistol.
"Ka-" he started to say.
A shot rang out through the building.
Please don't kill me! I know it's a bad place to stop! But that's what cliffhangers are for. When my friend Ji-chan read it in my notebook, this is what she wrote. "… I hope you enjoy my cliffhangers, you evil, evil, evil, evil, evil, aku, aku, aku, aku, aku, aku, aku, aku hito!!!!!" Now I know that aku is evil. But I'm afraid about what hito is. She didn't tell me. Okay, now that I've been sitting at the computer for four hours straight typing this, I'm hungry and I think I have carpel's tunnel. Ow. My fingers hurt. I've also listened to four hours of Japanese music. I think I need a nap! WAH Instead of Keito-chan's Adventures this time, I'm going to put up a very…interesting conversation that I had with my friend Jouji-kun. (George-kun) Have fun. Oh. You also get translations this time because I'm sure you have no clue what Kaoru's saying when she's flipping out. laughs nervously My bad! Well, see you next chapter! Abayo! Keito-chan 3
JAPANESE TRANSLATION
Iya- I hate it
Kitanai desu- it's dirty (talking about her body)
Chiwaru na- don't touch me
Miru na- don't look at me
Watashi wa kitanai- I'm dirty
Nande- why
AND NOW, THE WEIRD CONVERSATION!!! (with this, Jouji-kun and I refer to ourselves as brother and sister, but we're not. And this conversation just shows how bored we were one night. Jouji-kun is also a gamer, Keito-chan hears blah blah blah every time people start to talk about games!)
Keito-chan: i'm getting ready to search for a fanfiction
Jouji-kun: cool
Jouji-kun: do u have ur map?
Keito-chan: haha
Jouji-kun: dun tell me u lost the map
Keito-chan: uh....no of course not cough
Jouji-kun: o god..we're all gonna die!!
Keito-chan: oops?
Jouji-kun: eh o well...(takes out candy)..mmmm candy
Keito-chan: heh
Jouji-kun: want some?
Keito-chan: oh powerpuff girl, i've got some candy
Keito-chan: hai
Keito-chan: please
Jouji-kun: well..here but dun lose it..LIKE THE MAP! lol
Jouji-kun: (hands candy)
Keito-chan: yay
Keito-chan: takes candy and shoves it in mouth
Keito-chan: ummi
Jouji-kun: hey were did that candy go?
Jouji-kun: U LOST THE CANDY!!!
Jouji-kun: O GOD!!
Keito-chan: no...it's not lost
Jouji-kun: were is it?
Keito-chan: it's in my digestive tract
Jouji-kun: well how is it gonan help us there?
Keito-chan: magic? either that or i barf it up?
Jouji-kun: hmm...lemme think over these options lol
Keito-chan: haha
Keito-chan: i think i'll run away before i hear them
Keito-chan: runs
Jouji-kun: (chases)
Keito-chan: runs faster and hids in a tree and watches jouji-kun run by
Keito-chan: hee hee i'm safe
Keito-chan: nyah nyah
Jouji-kun: (hears noise and runs to tree)
Jouji-kun: got ya!
Keito-chan: jumps into another tree
Keito-chan: jumps down and bolts again
Jouji-kun: (chases again)
Keito-chan: pulls out samurai sword
Keito-chan: come on! I'll kick your ass
Jouji-kun: (pulls out braod sword and katana) bring it!
Jouji-kun: broad
Keito-chan: pulls out another japanese long sword
Keito-chan: alright
Keito-chan: come on!
Keito-chan: runs at jouji-kun and does a battoujutsu
Jouji-kun: (ten other men come up and join me)
Keito-chan: pulls a Battousai and kills the men
Jouji-kun: (uses magic to cause lightning)
Jouji-kun: i'm sorry its so cool
Keito-chan: forgiven
Keito-chan: pulls out a bokken and puts other swords in their sheaths
Jouji-kun: (picks up stick)
Keito-chan: hya!!!!! runs at jouji-kun again
Keito-chan: Ryu Syu Sen!
Jouji-kun: (throw stick and runs)
Keito-chan: ah hahahaha! I win and remain forever victorious
Jouji-kun: (throws bucket at head)
Keito-chan: cuts bucket in half and looks at jouji-kun coldly
Keito-chan: do you really want to be humiliated
Jouji-kun: (summons alexandra)
Keito-chan: ???
Keito-chan: who's alexandra
Jouji-kun: (alexandra is a gaint robot thingy that pretty much fires a gaint beam and hurt severything in its way)
Keito-chan: used sword as a shield
Keito-chan: and it works
Keito-chan: i am invincible
Keito-chan: mwa hahaha
Jouji-kun: (summons carbuncle)
Keito-chan: ??
Jouji-kun: (carbuncle is a cute little rabbit that makes me invicible to ne damage
Jouji-kun: )
Keito-chan: summons demons and has them chase jouji-kun
Jouji-kun: 9stands there casue i'm invicable
Jouji-kun: ()
Keito-chan: then a giant demon eats you and you're no longer invincible, you're dead
Keito-chan: i still win
Jouji-kun: u just killed ur own brother..young lady i'm surprised at u
Keito-chan: oops, my bad
Jouji-kun: what will mom say?
Keito-chan: way to go?
Jouji-kun: and dad?
Keito-chan: what did you do? i can't hear you above the motorcycles!
Keito-chan: heh
Jouji-kun: (crys because of feeling of unlovingness)
Keito-chan: hugs jouji-kun
Keito-chan: i love you big bro
Jouji-kun: (hugs bac) i love u too sis
Keito-chan: giggle that was fun