To Reveal All
Chapter 18: Revealing Return
By steelphoenix
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, or any of its characters.
Author's Notes: Sooooo… it's late. But I told you to expect it to be. I'm sorry, but Summer School does rather get in the way of writing sometimes. I do my best, but I had to go away for a while, for tests and such. Sorry 'bout that.
Anyway, regards the chapter, the pace of the fic is slowing down. There won't be much more to it – I just have to wrap up a few loose ends. Sorry to those of you who wanted it to go on longer – As most of you guessed, this fic was based on the Kyoto Arc, but as I haven't actually seen the Jinchuu Arc of either the manga or the anime, so I can't do anything based on that.
Please review, and tell me if you like (or don't like) the chapter. I think you may not be entirely pleased at me for the way it's going.
Language Notes: 'Iai' is a sword-drawing technique that is similar to Battoujutsu, but obviously without the godlike speed of Hiten Mitsurugi.
A futon is a Japanese-style bed – a mattress with a quilt, placed directly on the floor.
Warnings: PG-13 for violence and sexual situations/scenes. No language warnings.
The ninjas had spent around quarter of an hour simply patching up Kenshin so that he was fit to be moved from his current position. Now they drew away from where his friends hovered, concerned, over his silent form.
Aoshi's voice was quietly grim as he addressed the small woman. "There is no possible way we can move him somewhere safe. We certainly cannot leave him in the Kokuryukai House. When the gang return, they will loot the house, and kill anyone they find."
"Yes, I know. Could we get him to her okiya?" Misao pointed to Kaoru, who still clung to Megumi.
"No." Aoshi was definite in his refusal. "The mistress would not take kindly to us, or him. His friends could direct him to his dojo, but it is likely to be too far away to get to easily, especially with their wounds."
Misao's brow crinkled in thought, and she gazed over at the group, where Kaoru had moved, and was now stroking the redhead's unconscious face. The reminder of love brought a tender smile to her face, smoothing the lines of thought. Then, recalled to her task, she glanced up at Aoshi. He was looking down at her, the faint smile on his lips.
"Aoshi-sama…" A kiss silenced her briefly, but as he moved away, she looked up at him, mock-sternly. "We're supposed to be discussing how to get Himura to a safe place, Aoshi-sama."
The faint smile remained as the tall man answered, "Yes. But I don't have any ideas, and I thought you would give me inspiration."
Misao blinked. Was Aoshi-sama actually displaying a sense of humour?! What was the world coming to? Maybe I'm imagining things… the Wheel of Fortune has some strange turns, though…
Wheel of Fortune…
"Of course!" she yelled, and in her typical impulsive manner, rushed off to see if her inspiration would yield any fruit, leaving the Okashira standing confused behind her, wondering what his love had come up with now.
---
Yahiko stood at the entrance to the dojo, checking on the geishas for the hundredth time that evening. Tae moved through the room, topping up cups of fragrant tea. The first thing she had done when she arrived was to make tea, saying that it calmed the nerves and soothed worries.
Tsubame looked up as he slid the shoji to again, and as their eyes caught, both blushed a little.
Embarrassed, he prowled out across the veranda again, and back to patrol around the perimeter of the walls.
The kodachi was a guilty weight in the belt of his hakama, but he knew that he had to have it there to protect the geishas, in case the Kokuryukai had tracked them back here.
I have to protect the geishas… after all, that was why I stayed…
A tiny bit of his conscience tried to worm its way into the thought, saying something about Tsubame being the reason he stayed, but he squashed it.
Then, as he neared the gate again, his ears caught the rattle of someone trying to fiddle with the lock on it. A woman's voice said, "It's not that hard, Aoshi-sama, I can pick it, no problem."
A deep voice replied, with the hint of a laugh, "Yes, Misao, just get it done. We need to get this man inside as soon as possible."
Yahiko froze as he recognised the voice. He'd heard it only once, but that was a memorable enough occasion to brand it in his mind.
"That was stupid, boy, but you don't deserve to die. Never challenge me again."
Oh yes, that was most definitely memorable enough.
Shinomori Aoshi, Second of the Kokuryukai. I'll beat him this time, never mind what he said about challenging him…
Yahiko slipped silently over to the gatepost, ghosting into a position that would allow him to strike without warning. As the female voice crowed, "Aha!" and the tumblers clicked over, he waited.
A quick shove of the gate opened it, and a short woman stepped through.
Yahiko's kodachi flew out of its sheath, in the form known as iai.
---
Aoshi waited as Misao twisted one of her many tools in the gate's lock. Suddenly, she exclaimed joyfully, and a click was heard. The gate was open. As she pressed her hand to the door, the Okashira sensed a presence behind the gatepost, waiting to strike.
His kodachi intercepted the one held by Yahiko an instant before it shaved Misao's braid off her head. The ninja woman had been moving fast, and now she reached into a holster at the base of her back, pulling out several kunai.
The fact that his iai had been intercepted did not deter Yahiko. He merely slid back a step and struck at the interceptor's chest.
With a swish of pale material, Aoshi slipped out of the way of the descending blade, and caught it between his palms.
For a moment Yahiko gaped at him, and the blade between his hands.
A quick yank pulled the kodachi out of Yahiko's grip, and the Okashira quickly crouched, and placed it with its twin, at his feet. Quietly, he addressed his young challenger. "Do not worry. I am here as a friend. Battousai has been badly wounded, and he needs treatment as soon as possible. That is why I am here."
Yahiko continued to stare, dumbstruck, at him.
Aoshi nodded to Misao, who had now stood up, out of her fighting crouch, kunais disappearing as quickly as they had appeared. She went over to the gate, and opened it fully.
With a clattering, a European-style carriage lumbered through the entrance, barely clearing the low threshold. Sano sat in state on the box of the carriage, directing the two horses with great care. Aoshi and Misao closed and re-locked the gate, following the carriage down towards the dojo.
The rooster-head's presence seemed to unfreeze Yahiko. Forgetting the dilemma over Shinomori, he sprinted over to the vehicle, which was now slowing to a stop outside the dojo.
As Yahiko reached the carriage, Kaoru climbed out slowly, and turned to assist Megumi, who was moving with her right arm held tight to her chest, as if it hurt to move it.
"Kaoru! Big sister! You're all right! Megumi? What's wrong with your arm?" Yahiko yelled out as he reached the two.
His big sister turned, slowly, to meet him. She reached out for him, and he rushed into her arms, as if he were seven again, not seventeen. She hugged him, close and tight, and the young man was content for a moment just to reassure himself that she was here, that she was alive, that she was uninjured.
Then the thought struck him: was she uninjured? He quickly let go, and held her at arm's length, surveying her, checking that she was indeed unharmed. The close inspection turned up only a growing, purpling bruise on her forehead as the only damage. Though blood stained her face and hands, there were no wounds on her. But his scrutiny turned up other things: There were tired lines on her face that he'd never noticed before, and her eyes held a deep, cold expression that Yahiko had never seen on her face before.
A second passed as his brain started to analyse what he'd seen in Kaoru's eyes. She's afraid, he realised. The realisation hit him that he had never seen her so afraid, ever before.
Then he looked at the makeshift stretcher the ninja were lifting out of the carriage, and he realised why she was so scared.
---
Kenshin's body lay limp on the stretcher, the remains of his gi packed around him to keep him wedged into place. Yahiko could see the numerous bandages and thick padding, and quickly deduced that the redheaded man was badly wounded. His face and body were a paler shade than they were usually, and he moved very little, rocking only slightly with the carriage's movement.
Aoshi carefully pulled the stretcher along the floor of the carriage, easing it out. As it reached the edge, Misao grabbed the other end, and a quick beckoning from Kaoru urged them to enter the dojo.
At least we managed to get him to a safe place. Misao's idea was nearly perfect… he glanced up briefly at Misao, who was concentrating on keeping Battousai's stretcher level. A brief smile flitted across his face. Misao's got such a talent for that…
As they crossed the dojo, taking Kenshin to be laid in the bedroom, Aoshi was grateful to the geishas who waited on the floor. They made no outcry when they saw him, but surprise was evident. It is the second time they have seen me as a friend, realised the Okashira, as they moved across the polished floors smoothly. But they obviously do not comprehend what has happened…
A wordless transfer of a candle from Tae's hand to Kaoru's lit their steps down the long dark of the corridor, and the lamps they lit in the redhead's room served well, but the darkest shadows in the room still remained.
Not unlike their fears.
Lowering Kenshin to his futon, the two ninja slid the unconscious man off the stretcher on to its soft support. No quilt covered him yet, though. With silent efficiency, Aoshi and Megumi checked the bandages and dressings that covered Kenshin's wounds. None had come loose, and they carefully eased the bedding over him, to keep him warm.
A quick beckoning by Aoshi, and he and Misao disappeared down the corridor, leaving Kaoru and Megumi to keep vigil over the unconscious man.
---
Through the few remaining hours of the night, Kaoru remained kneeling beside Kenshin's head. Megumi had dozed off soon, and Kaoru had had to wake her and send her off to a spare futon. Kaoru remained, moving only to relieve cramp or prevent pins-and-needles in her feet and legs.
Her mind moved almost as little as her body.
I killed twice tonight… was the thought that was her constant companion through the long darkness before dawn.
The scenes – the deaths – played through Kaoru's head again and again, analysing them from every possible angle.
The one hope that Kaoru still held in her mind was the stark fact that what she did was in the name of protecting her loved ones. It was in the name of protection. The ultimate protection of the ones you love is to kill for them… surely what I did was in defence of them?
Through the hours, her mind masticated the thought constantly, and before the birds' dawn chorus began, she had come to a decision.
What I did was in defence, and I could not avoid it.
It was the only course of action that I could take that would protect Yahiko and Kenshin.
I killed, yes, but it was unavoidable.
Therefore, I am not guilty of murder.
I acted as a swordswoman of katsujin-ken should, so I kept my honour as Master of Kamiya Kasshin.
The fact that she had kept her honour didn't matter so much to her as the fact that she had finally sorted out what had happened, and that her mind was now in an ordered enough state to fully comprehend the actions she had taken, and the reasons she had for doing so. She had made her peace with herself.
As the first rays of gold dyed the shoji, Kaoru rose and opened the screen.
"Well, Kenshin," she said, as much to herself as the still-unconscious redhead, "It will be a beautiful day today."
A moment's silence passed as she thanked Kami-sama that she could see the gold lightening the sky. The pale pink sakura that grew by the wall turned luminous with the light rising behind them, and dew on spiders' webs decked them in crystalline necklaces. The trees turned to glowing, sparkling shapes, touched by the breath of Kami-sama.
"…And we're lucky – blessed – to be here."
A rough whisper rasped across the silence from behind her, "Yes… Kaoru… blessed."
Kaoru whirled, and she moved with almost godlike speed to Kenshin's side. His eyes sparkled up at her, more brilliant that the dew-decked webs outside, and his hair blazed against the snowy pillow.
"Truly… blessed," he repeated, a smile on his lips at the sight of her face, and then his eyes quietly closed.
---
Doctor Genzai mopped his hands against a damp cloth as he surveyed the bandaging Aoshi and Misao had placed on the thrust-wound in Kenshin's stomach. He had been rather shocked on being called to the dojo 'as soon as possible', but once he had seen Kenshin's condition, he had immediately examined him.
"You have done a good job with the superficial wounds," he said, his eyes still focussed on his patient's body. "However, this thrust-wound will have to be re-opened. There is one danger with wounds in the abdomen – the intestines or bowel can be pierced, leading to infection and death."
A tense silence greeted this pronouncement.
"You will have to operate." Aoshi's voice was quiet and definite.
The elderly doctor nodded. "And as soon as possible."
---
The room was prepared. A pot of freshly-boiled water stood a short way away from the bed, and beside it lay a cloth with various medical instruments on it, including numerous short lengths of cobweb-fine thread, and several needles.
Four people knelt around the futon, which was now stripped of its covering quilt. Kenshin lay on his back on the white mattress, looking very small.
Doctor Genzai's thoughts were on the upcoming operation, and he was hoping that luck, and the kami, would be with them, and the patient's intestines would not be too badly damaged.
Megumi concentrated on remembering everything she had learned about anatomy from the texts she had delved into from curiosity.
Aoshi's thoughts were similar to Doctor Genzai's – focussing on the operation. He had fallen into a state of almost-meditation, where his mind and thoughts were utterly absorbed with the task at hand.
Misao, crouched by the instruments, was pleading with the kami that the redhead would survive the operation, and that Kaoru might not wake up until it was done.
Kaoru had been coerced out of Kenshin's room while Doctor Genzai was examining Kenshin. Misao had practically pulled her into the kitchen, and dosed her with tea. Giving her a meal had been more interesting, but Misao had forced her to sit and eat. Halfway through her bowl of rice, the tiredness and stress had eventually caught Kaoru, and she had fallen asleep on the kitchen floor.
She had been carried to Sano's bedroom, and laid in his futon. She had slept as Misao had prepared Kenshin's room for the operation and as Doctor Genzai stitched the wounds in Megumi's shoulder and Sano's leg.
Finally, they were ready.
---
"Cloth." Misao handed it over, and Doctor Genzai swabbed at the blood welling slowly from Kenshin's abdomen.
The wound had indeed proved to be as complicated as Doctor Genzai had predicted – the intestines had been sliced in several places, but whether by luck or the blessing of Kami-sama, it had not been completely severed at any point.
Doctor Genzai had begun from the front first, sewing the torn sections back together. He had then had his three assistants turn Kenshin over, and he then worked from the back, repairing the holes as necessary.
As he swabbed the wound for the last time, he placed a linen pad across the opening, and called to Misao for bandages. Carefully wrapping them around Kenshin, he secured the wound. With that, he sat back with a satisfied smile. "Well, that is done!"
"Why didn't you stitch up the main wound?" asked Megumi, slightly puzzled at the discrepancy.
"Because, my dear," replied the doctor, "If I did, there would be no way to remove the stitches. They would rot, and there would have been no point in this whole operation." Megumi pouted slightly at his patronising reply, but she held her tongue.
"Well, we are done here. I will come back every day, and ina week'stime, he should be healed enough to let out the stitches."
---
Kaoru's eyes blinked themselves gradually open, and she sat up slowly. The light indicated that it was late afternoon. There was a funny, fuzzy feeling in her head – probably due to her low blood pressure – but as her mind cleared, she remembered.
Hit my head… Shishio… the fight… the two Kenshins melded… Kenshin wounded…
And she was in a futon. The last thing she remembered was a pair of chopsticks in her hands, and Misao urging her to eat.
I must have just gone to sleep… and they put me to bed… but this is Sano's room…
I have to check Kenshin…
Throwing back the futon covers, she discovered that she was still in her kimono – the blood-stained, split-skirt kimono that was patterned with dragon scales and cherry-tree leaves. For a moment she stared down at the heavy silk, memories flooding over her.
…and Kenshin sacrificed himself for me… Kenshin! Her mind snapped back to her original purpose, and in a rush of loose fabric, she rose. She was out the door and down the corridor to Kenshin's room as fast as she could move.
She entered the room at full speed, but halted as she saw Sano lounging beside Kenshin's futon.
The rooster-headed man grinned up at her. "Don't worry, Missy. He'll be fine," were his first words, reassuring and affable. "The doc's operated on him, and the damage inside him's been fixed up… The doc's gonna take out the stitches in maybe a week."
"Kenshin…" Kaoru had ignored him beyond the 'He'll be fine', and she glided forwards, to kneel by Kenshin's head, as she had done through the night. The blazing hair lay rumpled on the pillow, and she smoothed it with a hand as gentle as sakura petals.
Love filled her face and voice as she looked down at him. "I won't leave you, Kenshin."
Author's Notes: Can anyone say 'meringue'? Aaah, so fluffy and sweet, that bit when Kenshin woke up. /sighs/ Battousai wasn't keen on writing that bit, but I did put it in.
(Battousai: /gags, acts as if choking/ SOOOO… FLUFFY! MUST… KILL… WRITER!
Nix: /glares/
Battousai: /sane again/ That was disgustingly sweet. Don't do it again.)
Yeah right… whatever… AAAAAHHH! On my bed is a hugeungeous specimen of the most ugly member of the insect community – a weta – and it's as long as my thumb (plus antennae). Trust New Zealand to turn up something as ugly as this guy… have a look at an encyclopaedia if you don't know what a weta looks like…
(Battousai: /pokes the weta/
Nix: Don't do that, wetas –
Battousai: /jumps as the weta attaches itself to his hand by means of its huge jaws/
Nix: Wetas bite…
Battousai: AAAAHHH! /shakes hand madly/
Rurouni: /falls over laughing at his counterpart's antics/)
Review Replies: Thanks to all my reviewers.
Niaka1 (for TRA16 review) – Can't believe it? Well, it's there in black-and-white! But no, he won't be coming back… ever! Yay! Kenshin is injured, yes, but as to dying…? That's plot I shan't be giving away!
Peachie-Chan – Sorry… no can do… as I said, I haven't watched the Jinchuu Arc, so no evil Enishi… however, when I do, I shall make a fic about it, if my Muse can give me a little help with it. /sends pointed looks at Battousai/
(Battousai: /avoids Nix's looks, whistles/)
Never mind… all good things come to an end… /hands Peachie a Sano plushie to comfort her/
scythe195 – Okay… /hides behind Battousai, eyes fixed on katana/ I shan't run away, but neither shall I tell you whether I'm going to kill off Kenshin or not… That would be giving away the plot!
Jenny (for TRA1 review) – Thanks. What annoyed me more about the 'fangirl Japanese' was that they didn't include glossaries, so I had no idea what half the words were! That's why I included my Language Notes… so you know what I'm talking about. Alternate pairings are good, they make us think more deeply about the characters, but I personally enjoy writing the canon pairings more. I'm glad I can refresh your enjoyment in KxK!
Bradybunch4529 – Arigato very, very much. It encourages me no end that you picked up on the imagery I tried to used. Sorry for not updating sooner…
Crewel – Thanks for your understanding. Definitely more SxM coming up…
Nanakiyoda – Here you are… enjoy!
kitsune – Well, here's what's next… I hope you like it!
inuyasha/kenshin gurl – There's nothing worse than being disappointed by a fic… I'd hate it if you didn't like it! Here's your update!
Videl621 – Wow… you reviewed at 5:15 p.m?! What is the world coming to?! Hehe. Here's the next chapter… I'm glad you got in on this too!
Hatoriscute – Here it is… a little late, but here!
Estel-Elf-Lover – Quick doesn't seem to be on my roster right now… sorry it's late!
RangerDo'Urden – You picked the 'hands' thing? Before I explained it? I was beginning to think no-one realised! I find it annoying that Aoshi is portrayed (in fanfic) as knowing little but fighting… He's a ninja… who were used for intelligence missions. Of course he'll know other things! As for Misao… she may be dizzy on the surface, but there's gotta be something beneath it. I like writing people who have deep characters – I think Aoshi and Misao are never developed enough (says she, who has them as background characters). Anyway, I am keeping writing! Enjoy!
anime-luney – What's with you and 'much goodness'? I don't think you say it 'too much', but I'm wondering where you got it from! Glad you liked the chappie, though!
Lydia-Blessing – Yay! You like it! /grins/ I spent a while deciding what that last line would be… Glad you liked it!
Crisa Rei (for all reviews) - /blinks/ You wrote a review for every chapter… wow…
(Battousai: /peering over Nix's shoulder/ Wow. That's commitment.
Rurouni: Yes, that it is!)
I'm glad you like it, is the first thing to say. Well, as to individual points: Chapter 3: the lime bit was hard to write. Personally, I thought I'd moved too fast, but it was a bit that had to be 'over-and-done' before I could get to the big stuff, so I didn't linger. Chapter 10: People were saying the ending was hilarious, but it wasn't supposed to be… ah well, I'm a comedian when I don't mean it. That's gotta be good, ne? Chapter 11, 12, 13, 15: What the heck? Your hair's getting attacked? Weird… Chapter 14: Nope. Kenshin (both versions) are mine… I'm the one writing this story…
(Battousai: /long-suffering sigh/ Nix, we've gone over this. I am not your property.
Nix: Yes, you are! You're my Muse! My Muse!
Battousai: You can have Rurouni.
Nix: But I want both of you…
Battousai: /sighs/)
Chapter 17: I'm glad you made time for this. I hope you aren't disappointed by this chapter. As for writing this… I'm having as much fun writing as you are reading! Arigato!
KilluaHiei – Glad you liked it!
kenshinlover2002 – Getting into the story is always a good thing from my point of view! At least you noticed after I explained! As for the slap: no, this is not the way to get someone out of shock. Megumi's a little panicky here, so she reacts more extremely than necessary. Kenshin being okay is part of the plot… can't give it away… Battousai might twist it and completely change the plot…
(Battousai: /evil grin/ You know you like plot twists.
Nix: Yes, but they're really hard to write…
Battousai: You'll live…
Nix: /turns back to keyboard, muttering/ Says he, who doesn't have to write it…
Battousai: You'll live… stop grumping.)
HiEi JaGaNsHis FlAmE – Glad you like it! And never mind if you don't review…
DakBug - /grins/ I'd like to see that. It would be amusing… Hoped you liked the chapter!
kagomefan - Updated... enjoy!
thechickenlittle2000 - Yep, this would have to qualify as one of the worst days ever... especially for Kaoru. As for everything being alright... well, that's a secret!
(Battousai: Now I get to say my bit!)
/sighs/ Okay... go ahead.
Battousai: chickenlittle, you're welcome for the 'awesome' chapter! /whispers to Nix/ What does 'awesome' mean?
Nix: Very good, excellent, and so on.
Battousai: Oh. Right. /to chickenlittle/ You're welcome! Thanks!