To Reveal All
Chapter 9: Revealing The Way
By steelphoenix
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, or any of its characters.
Author's Notes: This was a really hard chappie to write. I kept getting lost in the middle of scenes, wondering what was going to happen next… but eventually, I got everything going. Once I got to the second-to-last scene, it was working quite well. Here's to hoping it's OK… /crosses fingers/
Language Notes: Okashira means 'leader'. In this case, it is a referral to Aoshi's leadership of the ninjas.
'Vulpine' means 'fox-like'. (Yes, it is English. Honto ni! Truly!)
Warnings:PG-13 for violence and sexual situations/scenes. No language warnings.
Kaoru followed Shinomori down the corridors of the Kokuryukai House, until they came to the training hall that Kaoru remembered from the morning. As they crossed its smooth floor, Shinomori began fishing in a pocket of his long, white coat. He pulled out a ring of keys, and handed them to Kaoru.
Pausing in front of the section of wall that Kaoru remembered, Shinomori slid his hand along the supporting beam until he came to a pair of knots – one was round, and the other was curved around one side of it. He then pressed at the section of panel right next to the knot. A small rectangle of panel hinged back.
"Keys," requested Shinomori, and Kaoru quickly passed the big ring. He inserted one of the smaller keys into the rectangle, twisted, and Kaoru could hear tumblers click over. Shinomori slid back the panel, revealing the flight of stairs. He shooed her in, and, handing her the keys, followed. He reached up to a lantern hanging on a peg to the side, and, lighting it with a match, he handed it to Kaoru.
Shinomori slid the panel closed, and gestured Kaoru to lift the lantern higher. "Look. You open the panel by lifting this lever –" he pointed to a metal latch, "– and sliding the panel back. Look through here to check that the coast is clear." He pointed to a knot high in the woodwork of the door. Kaoru stood on tiptoe – she could barely reach – and peered through the gap.
"I can see most of the hall," she said, turning to the tall man.
"Yes. Make sure you use it before you take out the geishas. I suggest you take them out in groups."
"I was going to do that," Kaoru replied. "It's more dangerous, but it's more likely that more will get away that way."
Shinomori nodded in agreement. "Come."
He walked down the stairs, his steps quiet and smooth. You can see he's a warrior, just by the way he moves, thought Kaoru. She followed almost as smoothly, but not as quietly, her reed sandals slapping against the treads, where his leather-soled boots slid with barely a whisper.
They reached the bottom of the stairs, and Shinomori held out his hand. Kaoru handed the keys over, and with a quick click and a push, the door swung open.
---
Megumi huddled against the wall, shivering slightly. The cellar where they were was quite cold, despite the body heat of the geishas. She was lucky that she had a thick yukata, though. Many of the women were stuck with light yukatas, and some of the women had nothing at all to wear.
Dear Kami-sama, let the manager find the ransom money soon… If he didn't, Megumi knew that the women who were naked would catch colds, and perhaps the deadly pneumonia or influenza.
But Kaoru… she's in a worse situation than any of us… Her friend was most likely being raped now, and there was nothing she, or anyone else, could do about it. Or perhaps there is… If Kenshin came… he'd set her free. Sano would come too… I wonder if he'd look for me?
Her thoughts were paused as she heard a pair of feet coming down the stairs. The steps weren't heavy, but they could be heard… almost as if they were a woman's… Kaoru? Is she safe?
There was a click, and the door swung open, revealing Shinomori, in all his icy glory, and Kaoru behind him.
The geishas all instinctively shrunk back, not wanting to be chosen for the fate that Kaoru had.
Then Megumi noticed that Kaoru was standing tall, dressed in a beautiful kimono, and was smiling happily. What's happened…?
"Megumi!" Kaoru picked her way through the geishas, who were staring at her, all wondering why she was here, apparently unharmed, and in the company of the Second of the Kokuryukai, who had threatened her with such a gruesome punishment.
"Why're you…? Weren't you punished…?" asked Megumi, disbelieving and confused.
"Shinomori just wanted to intimidate us, Megumi. It's alright, we're safe with him. He's a good man, he's helping us."
The sapphire-eyed geisha knelt in front of her friend, and, reaching into her kimono, laboriously pulled out a sheathed sword.
"Where in Kami-sama's good name did you get that?!" Megumi exclaimed, her eyes moving incredulously between the sword in Kaoru's hands, and the icy man at the doorway, who was watching Kaoru with every appearance of perfect calm.
"He gave it to me," replied Kaoru, nodding her head in Shinomori's direction. She unsheathed the kodachi, and was now cutting off Megumi's bonds. "Listen. We're going to get out of here. Kenshin and Sano are here –"
"Sano's here?!"
"I thought you would be happy about that," grinned Kaoru, now working on the rope at Megumi's wrists. That earned her a glare from her friend. She continued, "I'll lead you out, in three groups of five, and then, when we're all out, we can go to the dojo."
"You make it sound so simple," replied Megumi, getting up, and shaking her wrists to get rid of the last vestiges of pins-and-needles.
"But why the dojo, Kaoru?" asked Tae, as Kaoru began freeing her.
"Because there's most likely still Kokuryukai at the teahouse. They don't know the dojo, and so won't suspect that we'll go there."
"They'll tail us," said Megumi, quickly. "It won't be that simple!"
"If you are lucky, it will be that simple." Shinomori had at last spoken up. "I will lead you the first time, and then I will leave. You will have to work on your own from there."
"Will there be any Kokuryukai likely to stop us?" Kaoru asked, her eyes on her hands, but her mind planning the escape. She moved around the room, cutting the geishas' bonds.
"Not when I am with you. The Kokuryukai fear me, and will not get in my way. It will be a lot more difficult when you are alone. However, Battousai's attack in the courtyard will distract most of them." Shinomori's voice was calm. "If you meet anyone wearing a red headband, instead of the Kokuryukai's black, they are one of my lieutenants. Tell them that the Okashira wants them to aid you, and they will."
Kaoru stood, having cut the last geisha's ropes. "Is that all you have to tell me?"
"Yes. Get ready to go."
---
Yahiko and Tsubame stepped around the corner of the corridor, gazing around at the polished wooden floors and bamboo screens that looked exactly the same as the last corridor's. They shrunk back against the screens as a group of men wearing black headbands strode past.
"Yahiko, do you know where we are?" asked Tsubame, grabbing onto the back of his gi, stopping him. He turned around.
"Um… no, I don't have a clue," he replied, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Why don't we ask someone, then?" asked the meiko, practically.
The young samurai stared at her as if she had just grown another head. "We can't!" he exclaimed. He looked around, and lowered his voice. "What if we get caught?!"
"We'll think up a story," said Tsubame, blushing under his gaze. "Like… like… I'm a kitchen girl – I mean, I look like it – and… and you're my brother… and you're going to join the gang… umm… and you're taking me home, and we need to find… umm… the gate!"
"Okay… that might work… Yeah, that's a good idea, Tsubame!"
The girl smiled up at him, still blushing, and Yahiko had the brief thought, She looks cute like that, before she turned, and walked away.
"Hey, Tsubame! Wait!" He jogged after her, catching up as she stopped beside a woman with a mop and bucket.
"Excuse me, ma'am… Do you know where the gate is?" she asked, smiling up at the woman. With the remnants of the blush on her face, her sparkling eyes, and bright smile, she looked perfectly adorable. How could anyone resist?
"The back or the front gate?" The woman smiled in return at the pretty young girl.
"Umm… Yahiko, was it the front gate or the back gate? It was the back gate, wasn't it?" Tsubame turned to the young man, asking him to make the decision.
"The back gate." Yahiko replied. We could be getting ourselves into hot water here… and we haven't even found Kaoru yet…
"Is this your young man, then?" The woman addressed Tsubame, smiling benevolently. The question caused both of the young people to blush a deep red, and Yahiko opened his mouth to deny it.
He was beaten to it by Tsubame. "Umm… well… umm… yes."
Yahiko's would-be protest was silenced when he looked to Tsubame. She was gazing up at him, her eyes pleading with him. I suppose it doesn't hurt… and I can't really deny it now, anyway… he thought.
"Ah, young love…" the woman had begun reminiscing about her husband and their young days. Tsubame waited for the end of a sentence, and quickly interrupted, asking the way to the gate.
"Ah, I'm sorry, dears. I do get distracted when thinking about my dear Nobuhiro. Turn right at the end of the corridor, and go straight until you reach a courtyard. Cross it, and then follow the corridor to the left. You should be able to see the gate from there."
"Thank you very much," said Yahiko, bowed, and grabbed Tsubame's hand. Tsubame also bowed, and they walked off down the corridor, hand-in-hand.
"See, that worked," said Tsubame, a little breathlessly. He's holding my hand! He's holding my hand! was the largest thought in her head. Never mind finding the geishas, or even the exit… Yahiko, the guy she'd had a crush on for most of the last three months, was holding her hand!
"It did," replied Yahiko, grinning down at her. Then he looked down at their joined hands, and went red. "Umm… do you want to… umm… let go, or…?"
"Err… umm… it's okay…" said the meiko, blushing and smiling.
"Good…" he replied, and they strolled off down the corridor.
---
The geishas were now standing, milling around, scared and unsure what to do. Kaoru, Megumi and Tae began organising – getting kimonos or yukatas, or nagajuban at the very least, to cover the women who were naked, calming anyone who seemed likely to get hysterical, and sorting them into the three groups.
Eventually, all was ready, and the first group got ready to go. This group contained the four women who were most likely to be hysterical or scream, and Megumi, to guide them to the dojo. It was decided that since they were unlikely to be stopped, it was best to put those who would react badly to a dangerous situation in a group where that situation wouldn't occur.
Up the dimly-lit stairs and into the hall they trooped, Shinomori leading, the four in a huddled group, Megumi herding them along, and Kaoru as rearguard.
A whimper from one of the women was quickly calmed by Megumi with some warm words. Then Megumi gestured to Shinomori, who was calmly walking along. Apparently she had said that they were in no danger, because the Kokuryukai were scared of him. That calmed the women's nerves a little, Kaoru observed, as they realised that they were highly unlikely to get caught.
In less than five minutes, the group was out of the building, on a green lawn, and Shinomori directed them over to a group of sakura trees.
"We will wait here."
"What?!" Kaoru hissed at the tall man, wondering what he was playing at now. The longer they stayed in one place, the more likely they were to get caught…
"We don't know if Battousai's diversion worked yet. We must wait for the guards at the back gate to be distracted. At present, they could still notice our leaving."
"You mean we aren't leaving via the back gate?" asked Megumi, momentarily turning away from comforting a woman in purple yukata.
"No." Shinomori gestured to the corner of the wall that ringed the house. Kaoru looked, and saw, under a lantern, a small gate, about half the height of a normal man. Beside it was a small sheltering roof, under which was stacked a huge pile of logs and kindling of varying sizes.
"Ah, so we're using the woodsman's gate," said Kaoru, her tone enlightened. "But why can't we leave now?"
Shinomori rolled his eyes briefly, and pointed at the back gate. Kaoru looked, and blushed, embarrassed. Of course they couldn't leave now, not when the woodsman's gate they were using was well-lit, and well within sight of the guard.
Suddenly, there was a commotion at the back gate, as a man ran up to one of the guards. A hurried and excited conversation was carried out, with much hand-waving, and gestures. The guard made to hurry off with his friend, but was stopped. Another brief conversation, the guard pointed to the gatepost, where a man was sleeping, and then the two hurried off.
"The diversion worked… and the other guard's asleep. Kami-sama is smiling on us tonight!" said Megumi, grinning like her vulpine namesake.
Shinomori gestured impatiently, and the group scurried out of the shadow of the trees, and over to the woodsman's gate. Megumi lifted the latch, and slipped through the gate first. One by one, the four other geishas stepped through, apprehensive and scared.
When they were out in the street, Megumi impulsively ducked back through, and hugged Kaoru, hard.
"Good luck, and may Kami-sama be with you." Megumi smiled, a little unsteadily, trying not to give in, and let her brimming eyes show. She knew that this might be the last time she saw her friend, her 'younger sister'. Though she would get safely to the dojo, with the others she was guiding, Kaoru was going back into a gang house, where she could very easily get into a lot of trouble.
Kami-sama, guide her steps… keep her safe.
"Thanks, Megumi." Kaoru returned the hug, holding tight to the woman who had been there for her since she had become a geisha, who had helped her realise what she felt for Kenshin, who knew her like a true sister.
The fox-woman reluctantly let go, awkwardly patting Kaoru on the shoulder, and stooped out through the door, pushing it closed behind her.
Kaoru turned to go. Shinomori, who had been standing mostly motionless, waiting, stretched out his hand, and handed her the key to the hidden room.
"I wish you luck." He bowed briefly, then turned, and strode off at a half-run across the lawn towards the mansion.
Kaoru followed, but due to her shorter legs and more restricting clothing, she was only three-quarters of the way to the house when Shinomori disappeared into it.
I thought I'd have his help for a little longer… I wonder if he's going to help Kenshin and Sano…? I hope they're alright…
Dear Kami-sama, let Kenshin be alright…!
---
Kenshin stepped out onto the wide veranda, his wide merchant's robe billowing in the faint spring wind. The sakabato's hilt flashed for a moment, but was quickly re-concealed as Battousai saw the guards at the gate and the gang members wandering around the courtyard.
He was relatively unnoticed, but a few noted the man who had caused the guard some trouble, and his bodyguard.
The duo moved smoothly along the veranda, until they were opposite the room that the guard had indicated the leader was in. Hearing strange noises from behind the shoji, Kenshin paused a moment.
Is he doing what I think he's doing, Battousai?
The revolted tone of Rurouni's voice caused the warrior spirit to chuckle to himself. Yes, probably, Rurouni. An evil grin was evident in his voice. You should know what those sounds mean… after all, you've been the one making them sometimes…
Don't be disgusting, Battousai! The tone of Rurouni's voice indicated that you could have cooked rice on his face.
Oh, come on, Rurouni… Don't you remember Tomoe? Ah, your dear, dear wife. She was such a beautiful, wonderful woman.
"Um, Kenshin… you're grinning… really disturbingly…" Sano sounded nervous. And why shouldn't he be? After all, this is the Hitokiri Battousai, someone whose name puts bad children to sleep in fear of their lives.
The red-head turned to his friend, malevolent amusement in his amber eyes. "Don't worry, Sagara. I'm just teasing the Rurouni."
Sano almost did a double-take, but restrained himself – barely. Whoa… they really are two different people in the same body… freaky…
The malicious grin deepened, and Kenshin raised his hand to the shoji.
"Shall we disturb Shishio's fun, Sagara?"
Before Sano could say yea or nay, Kenshin's hand came down, and he knocked loudly.
At the knock, the Kokuryukai's heads flew up. No-one should be knocking on that door… they had seen the mutilated messes left when Shishio was angry, and this impertinent merchant was likely to be another of them…
The sounds inside ceased after a moment, and angry, quick footsteps made their way across the matting. The shoji was flung open, smacking hard against the doorpost.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" Shishio's bandaged face was contorted in anger at the interruption. His expression was mirrored by Yumi, who was still sitting on the floor, outer kimono around her waist, face flushed. Shishio's bandages were properly in place, but the slight disarray of his robe confirmed that the Rurouni's guess had been correct.
"There are only two reasons a man interrupts another man's pleasure, Shishio." Kenshin's voice was eerily calm, and his face had gone back to the Battousai's usual expressionlessness.
"What do you mean?" Shishio questioned, anger and confusion mixing on his face.
"There are only two reasons a man interrupts another man's pleasure," repeated Kenshin, his eyes blazing amber.
"Love. And war."
Author's Notes: EEEEEVIL EEEEEVIL cliffhanger there. Hehe… Just you wait. You'll love the next bit.
Before you all ask, no, Kenshin did not really know Shishio during the Bakumatsu. I'm following the anime here, where Shishio was Kenshin's replacement. So while Shishio knows about Kenshin, Kenshin is fairly much ignorant about the mummy (Yes, I sometimes call Shishio that).
In case you're wondering, matches were invented in 1826 by John Walker, and were patented by Samuel Jones. They were produced under the name of 'Lucifers', and were widely available. So, yes, I am being historically accurate.
Review! Please! Onegai!
Review Replies: Thanks to all my reviewers.
Peachie-Chan - That would be giving away the plot...
kenshinlover2002 - I had to have a decent reason for Aoshi to be with Shishio. I'm not sure whether the idea I had worked, but... it makes Aoshi not quite such bad guy after all, and leaves room for more plot.
half-breed-demon-fox - Enthusiastic as always! I'm glad you love it!
HiEi JaGaNsHis FlAmE - He wasn't supposed to sound like that! /sweatdrops/ I tried to get it so that Battousai's military experience is showing. But remember, he's worried about Kaoru, so he comes out rather snappy, and 'boot-camp'-ish.
Justin - You don't think I'd just leave it there?! No, I have a lot more to write.TRA'll probablyend up about 15 chapters long.
Sosoru - Yep, Internet connection is similar - i.e. updating is erratic. But with the couples I'm doing, I wasn't trying for sweet... /sweatdrops/ oh well, it'll turn out well in the end, I hope. And not too merangue-ish.
evilteddybear - Patience is a virtue... Though I did make you wait here!
Lyn - I'm doing it...
blue-katana-girl - The Battousai/Rurouni conversations are fun to write, as is the way it's an AU fic... so I'm just having a lot of fun here!
thechickenlittle2000 - And see more of it you shall...! Just you wait...