To Reveal All
Chapter 21: Revealing Melding
By steelphoenix
Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, or any of its characters.
Author's Notes: Ummm… nothing much to write about, this chapter. There are several scenes here that you must not miss.
(Rurouni: This one does not think they could afford to miss any scenes from any chapter, anyway, Nix-dono.
Nix: Well, duh! Why do you think I'm writing them, if they can miss them out?
Rurouni: Then why did you say that, then, Nix-dono?
Nix: …
Rurouni: This one was merely wondering, that he was.)
Grrr… Muses… Speaking of which, Battousai's still on 'holiday'. I hope he's enjoying it… /evil grin/
Please note, the next chapter will be somewhat late (and you are going to hate me for saying that, when you get to the end of the chapter), but I have Summer School, and guess what that entails: yep, you got it! EXAMS! So I will be studying, and my sanity will be AWOL for the next week… don't expect an update for at least that amount of time…
Language Notes: Geisha debts were the debts a geisha had to pay for her upbringing, training, and lodging in the okiya. They were extensive, and while a popular geisha might pay them off within two years of becoming a full-fledged geisha, unpopular geishas could be saddled with them for anything up to ten years, or longer. The average was about six or seven years to pay them off. This is probably not the correct name for them, but I have no idea what else to call them.
A mon is a family crest. I have invented Kenshin's and Sokuya's. A 'tomoe' is a circle with a tail from it (like one half of a yin-yang sign).
Warnings: PG-13 for sexual situations/scenes and violence in other chapters. No language warnings.
Long days passed as Kenshin recovered from firstly the injuries he had received, and secondly the fever that had racked his small body. His days were mostly taken up with sitting on the veranda, reading or doing small household chores such as peeling vegetables. He had been utterly forbidden by all – especially Doctor Genzai and Kaoru – from doing anything more taxing, and while he sat at the side of the dojo when his students came, it was Sano who instructed them in their stances and strikes.
The hours of doing very little left his mind restless. While his body grew stronger by the day, the lack of anything to do tugged uneasily at his thoughts.
And the cadence of those thoughts scared him.
Previously, he knew, his thoughts – the Rurouni's thoughts – would have a light tenor voice speaking them. And Battousai's teasing had a deeper, darker tone – almost bass, but not quite. Now, both had been superseded by a warm tenor, halfway between the two.
I can't even control my own thought-voice, rippled the warm tones through his head.
But when he was in a dilemma, the warm voice disappeared, and he felt a strange dichotomy in his mind – half dark, half light. The two opposing voices returned, and spoke to each other.
The first time he had noticed that his thought-voice had changed, he had been thrown forcefully into just such a situation.
It is merely the expression of both of us, said the Rurouni. We don't have to worry about it, that we do not.
The deep tones of Battousai agreed. Yes, we have tried to meld so that both of us can be expressed in what Kenshin is.
When Battousai agreed, Kenshin felt the cold dark melding with the cold light, returning to the warm halfway.
Somehow he felt whole again.
As the sides of himself grew more comfortable with the melding, he found himself expressing himself less like the Rurouni had. While the 'that it is' remained on the end of many of his sentences, his unfailing politeness began to slip away a little. Though still strangely formal, his sentences became less stilted.
Neither did he call Kaoru 'Kaoru-dono'. She was simply 'Kaoru', and the depth and warmth in his voice when addressing her did not surprise anyone.
His physical voice also deepened to the warm tenor, the Rurouni and the Battousai at last allowing Kenshin's true tones to express themselves. It was almost like a second adolescence, trying to find himself, though it was briefer and a lot less painful.
A mischievous sense of humour had also appeared. When he had bumped into Kaoru, tumbling them both over, he landing on top of her, he had not immediately blushed and stammered apologies, as the Rurouni would. Nor did he try to use the opportunity to seduce her, as Battousai would. A sly grin and an "Oh, this is nice," slipped out, before he rolled off, and helped her up.
A deep blush stained Kaoru's cheeks, and he thought she had muttered, "Nice…?" before she walked hurriedly off along the veranda.
He had fully realised what he had said a few minutes after, and he was plunged into guilt. What did I say that for? came the now-familiar tenor. Perhaps I should've apologised… but what about Kaoru? That blush…
But I didn't…
Kaoru was very embarrassed by what I did…
But she liked it… The deeper voice emerged from wherever it had been hiding, and the answering voice lightened.
We must be careful, Battousai… Kaoru may love us, but we must not do things which embarrass her.
A snicker. Yes, but we'd like to do things which would embarrass her…
We both have those fantasies, Battousai…
Silence. The tenor voice flooded over the two bickering personalities. I will not argue over Kaoru. I will not embarrass her.
Battousai and Rurouni were swallowed in the warm voice.
-
It was a week after Kenshin had been allowed to get up and sit on the veranda, and the sun was sinking into the west, a fat fruit splattered on rumpled-silk clouds.
He heard a clattering, and the dojo gate slid open. Kaoru entered, hurrying towards the dojo. She spotted him on the veranda – the magenta gi made him very conspicuous – and instantly changed tack, heading for him.
"Kenshin!" she called, and as she came closer, Kenshin took a better look at what she was wearing. She was in full geisha attire, from the exquisitely-embroidered kimono to the intricate hairstyle.
As she stopped in front of him, she handed him a package. "It's for you, Kenshin, I thought you could do with another gi –"
He interrupted, voice harsh."You are still working as a geisha?"
Confusion shot through her eyes, until she realised that this was the first time he had seen her in geisha garb since before he had proposed to her. "I'm sorry, Kenshin, I should have told you…" She watched the corners of his eyes turn down, and realised, He's really hurt… and he knows I've got a danna…
Jealousy swirled in Kenshin's eyes, and for the first time since the fight with Shishio, she actually noticed them. They were violet around the rims of the iris, but around the pupil was a golden ring, which flared out into tiny golden darts piercing the purple centre.
Equally amethyst and amber. Equally Rurouni and Battousai… Kenshin, melded.
Despite the guilt that filled her for not telling Kenshin what she was doing, a flicker of joy lit her for a moment as she realised that Kenshin was healing. The two personalities were reconciling, and someday, they might even become one again.
"Kaoru?" came Kenshin's voice again, and she realised that she had missed his question. He saw her concentration return, and asked again. "Why are you continuing as a geisha?"
Kaoru's eyes and heart fell. She had known that this would come up sometime soon – sometime very soon – but she had not prepared an answer, and so she stuttered through an explanation, tears filming her eyes, though she tried to blink them away.
"Well, the okiya mistress was very angry at me for staying away for three weeks – when you were unconscious – and she said that I had to earn enough to pay off the expenses for that time… and I still haven't paid off my geisha debts – I still have around a thousand ryo to pay off. I was very lucky that my danna didn't call for me… He pays me well…"
"Oh, Kaoru," said Kenshin, understanding only now that this was his fault. She had stayed away so long for his sake, and now, when he was at last able to appreciate her sacrifice, he was trying to censure her for its consequences.
The geisha looked up, her eyes wet despite her best efforts, and took in Kenshin's expression. Contrite and awkward, it said that he had realised what she was going through.
"I'm sorry, Kaoru… I should have realised, I should have thought, that I should… I'm sorry, that I am…"
"No… you've not been awake long enough… you didn't realise…" The tears were already disappearing, and her forlorn expression was moving to one of warmth and forgiveness. She went to him as he slipped off the veranda, and was gently gathered into his arms.
As they stood in the embrace, he gently murmured another 'Sorry' into her white-painted ear. Then he let go, and assisted her to sit on the edge of the veranda.
"When can you… finish this?" was the first question out of Kenshin's mouth, as he gestured to the elaborate kimono and hairstyle, the trappings of a geisha.
Kaoru shrugged lightly, movements constricted by her tight garments. "It depends. The okiya mistress may want me to stay on until I have paid all my debts – that could be two years or more – and I have to have approval of my danna to leave his service."
Kenshin winced. "And this is even with the two-thousand-ryo payoff, that it is?"
"Yes," replied Kaoru, agreeing with him, and sympathising with the wince. It cost a lot of money to keep a geisha, as a danna, but freeing one from service was even more expensive.
"I think I am going to have to ask Sano for a little more than he bargained for, that I am…"
-
Sano winced as Kenshin explained what he was wanting to do. A night at the dice tables wasn't unusual for the rooster-head, and shifting around between gambling houses wasn't unusual – he got kicked out far more than he should have.
But Kenshin's plan was unusual. It involved the two of them pretending to get drunk, and then going around the gambling houses, doubling their money until they had won another sum such as Sano had won a little more than a month ago.
They were – quite literally – gambling on Kenshin's abilities to hear the sound of the dice falling, and his skill of prediction.
The night chosen was a festival night, and men were out gambling more than usual. "Stupid suckers get cheated more on festivals than any other time," muttered Sano as they made their way, fake-stumbling a few times.
Kenshin had been forced out of his magenta gi on the occasion, and was wearing a blue practice gi from the dojo. Neither was he wearing his sakabato at his hip. His hair had also had been washed through with baked tea-leaves, darkening it from its usual brilliant flame to a muddy brown. Sano had also donned a dojo gi.
"Damn gi," the tall man muttered. He was relatively unused to the long sleeves, but the disguise was to keep them from being too noticeable, because noticeable people who won big usually were paid a visit by the yakuza, and they were planning to come back in another couple of days, to do the same thing again.
"You should not complain, Sano, that you should not," said Kenshin, picking up on the complaints. "This one's abilities may yet help you free Megumi, that they could."
"What?" Sano's expression was flabbergasted. "You mean you'd do this for me… for Megumi… too?"
"Of course, Sano," replied the redhead. "This one thinks that if you save this money, there will be enough to free her, also, that there will."
The tall man paused momentarily, and realised that Kenshin was right. With the thousand ryo they had started with, they had already doubled their money. Though the four thousand he had won last month had already shrunk to around three thousand five hundred, tonight's winnings would top it up over four thousand again, and another few nights' successful gambling would easily bring in another two thousand.
-
The okiya door clattered open, and Kaoru looked up, startled. From where she knelt on the veranda outside her room, contemplating the garden, she could only see the mistress of the okiya bowing politely to whoever had come visiting.
She was expecting her danna, and was extremely nervous about what she was going to say to him regarding the possibility of her leaving his service, so she didn't pay full attention to the mistress' pleasantries until the man had halted next to her.
Kaoru rose carefully, keeping her eyes fixed to the ground. She raised them only slowly, her geisha training indicating that it was best to be graceful as possible in all actions, including the raising of the head.
Ah, it's Sokuya, she thought, as she saw the white hakama and black haori that were so familiar – Sokuya wore nothing but traditional clothing when visiting the teahouse, and she saw no reason why he should change. The swordhilt gave her slight pause, but she reasoned that if her danna wished to wear a sword, he could.
Kaoru paused as she saw that the mon on the collar of the haori was different. Instead of the two white tomoe nose-to-tail around the black circle, she saw that the circle was cut by an 'X', and in the spaces were the long diamonds known as 'sword blades'.
Then her eyes rushed upwards, and flaming hair and two-colour eyes met her gaze. Conditioned geisha reflexes were the only thing that stopped her gasp, and with the okiya mistress in the background, she had to behave as a perfect geisha would.
"Himura Kenshin," she smiled, geisha mask in place, "May I offer you any of my services today?"
"Indeed, Kaoru-dono," replied Kenshin, eyes twinkling at the now-seldom-used nickname. "This one would like to speak with you."
Kaoru caught the tone of his voice, and the fact that he used 'speak' instead of 'talk'. Added to the full formal dress, there could be only one reason he was here. He's going to formally propose, she realised. But I thought…
Before she could take in the enormity of what was happening – what was going to happen – there was another clatter, and the mistress disappeared. As she reappeared, bowing her way along the veranda, Kaoru saw Sokuya Jubei, her danna, following the petite woman.
The silver-haired man came up to Kaoru, all smiles, and Kaoru greeted him as formally as she had Kenshin. "Sokuya Jubei, may I offer you any of my services today?"
"Why, yes, Kaoru. I would like you to attend a party I'm throwing for my friends tonight." Then he noticed Kenshin, and a slight frown creased his already-lined forehead. "Who is this young man, Kaoru?"
"Himura Kenshin," replied the redhead in question, bowing politely.
"Sokuya Jubei," returned the older man, bowing in return. "Why are you visiting Kaoru?" he asked, obviously confused as to why Kenshin was there.
"This one wished to speak with Kaoru," replied Kenshin. "This one would also like to speak with you, also, that I would."
The slight frown deepened, but Sokuya gestured politely to Kaoru's room. "Perhaps we can speak inside."
At Kenshin's nod of assent, the two men led the way into the room, with Kaoru and the okiya mistress – who had an inkling of what was going on – following demurely behind. There was a quick flurry of movement as Kaoru and the okiya mistress placed cushions, and then the four of them knelt, arranged at the corners of an invisible square. When they were seated, pleasantries broke out, and tea was brought in.
-
After tea, as they sat and sipped politely, Sokuya finally brought up the point that Kenshin and Kaoru had been waiting for.
"So, young man, what did you wish to speak to me of?" he asked, setting down his cup.
A tiny flicker of a smile crossed Kenshin's lips as he finally did what he had been rehearsing in his mind for the last week.
He bowed deeply to Kaoru, who was seated opposite him, and said, "This one, Himura Kenshin, would be deeply honoured if you, Kamiya Kaoru, would consent to be his wife, with the approval of your okiya mistress, Naoe Hoshi, and the permission of your danna, Sokuya Jubei."
Another flickering smile manifested itself as he got the speech off without a hitch. He knew that he didn't have to apply for the approval of the okiya mistress or Sokuya, but Naoe was the closest Kaoru had to a guardian, and Sokuya had been Kaoru's danna for nearly a year. It was politic to apply to them as well as to Kaoru.
As the full formality of the proposal sank into the silence, two faces in the room were confused.
The third, Kaoru's, was filled with joy. The geisha mask had been dropped in the face of the sheer bliss of Kenshin formally proposing, and seeking the approval of her danna and her okiya mistress. She had assumed that he would propose in front of their friends, and sort out the difficulties of freeing her from the geisha profession when she had accepted. By proposing in such a formal manner, he was taking complete responsibility for any problems and costs that might come up in her being freed, where they could have been shifted to the okiya, otherwise.
He would go so far for me…? she asked herself, but as she looked across at him, into those incredible amethyst-wrapped-gold eyes, she saw the depth of love in them, and realised, Yes, he loves me that much.
The okiya mistress was the first to speak. "Why do you wish to marry this geisha?"
Kenshin turned his head to her, red hair swishing gently. "Because I love her."
"That is all?" asked Sokuya, incredulous.
The redhead nodded once, his eyes fastening back on Kaoru.
"But… but… She cannot cook, she cannot clean, she cannot be anything other than a geisha!" exclaimed Naoe, horrified, disbelief overcoming politeness. "You are a dojo master… surely you need someone who will help you run the dojo, not simply look good around it!"
A grin shaped Kenshin's lips, and he replied, "Oh, I think Kaoru will do well in the dojo… the kitchen, maybe not…" – Kaoru's eyes darkened in a mock-glare – "…but she will do well in the dojo, that she will."
"Ah." The okiya mistress had just remembered the practices Kaoru did in the early morning, shinai swishing in the cool air.
Sokuya, however, was still confused. "In the dojo? What is it about the dojo?"
Kenshin turned towards him, to enlighten him. "Kaoru is a full-fledged Master of the Kamiya Kasshin Style of kenjutsu… you did not know?"
"No!" interrupted Kaoru. "It's not a good idea to tell your danna that you practise a masculine art! They would simply be put off!" Then she realised that she had spoken aloud, and a deep blush was visible even under the geisha makeup.
Kenshin simply smiled softly. This was his Kaoru, the too-impulsive, lovely young woman who was a geisha for a living and a kenjutsu expert by blood.
Sokuya had seen the look on the redheaded man's face, and suddenly, he realised why this young dojo master had been so eager to propose. The depth of feeling in his eyes as his eyes fell on Kaoru was incredible. As the danna watched, Kaoru's eyes lifted to Himura's, and he saw the same in her eyes.
Is this what love truly is…? flashed across his mind. Watching the two, he saw them blush again, and lower their heads. Seeing the redheaded man knelt, head bent, an unwelcome memory rose, prodding at his recollection.
Something's familiar about that pose…
"I have seen you before, I think," said Sokuya, suddenly, addressing Kenshin. "Were you in Kyoto at the time of the Bakumatsu?"
Kaoru saw the muscles of Kenshin's shoulders tense under the haori and gi. Dear Kami-sama, be merciful… don't let him recognise Kenshin…!
Kenshin's head rose again, and as he looked at the older man with eyes slightly narrowed, though not in battle-expression. "Yes, I was in Kyoto during the Bakumatsu."
Sokuya's eyes had begun to narrow also. "Of the Ishin Shishi?"
"Yes, of the Ishin Shishi." Kenshin's reply was flat.
"I was also." Sokuya's statement was as flat as Kenshin's.
"Ah." It was an acknowledgement, nothing more, and the hand which had begun to creep across to Kenshin's swordhilt paused, and slipped down to rest in his lap, unnoticed by none but Kaoru.
Still Sokuya's eyes were narrowed suspiciously. I know I've seen him – heard of him – known him – from somewhere…
Then a memory flickered out from somewhere in the back of his mind. Standing across a courtyard, looking to where a redheaded man knelt, head bent. A man, saying, "Battousai's going out tonight. That's him: red hair, cross-shaped scar, looks like a girl."
The silver-haired man's eyes widened as he took in the man beside him. Red hair, cross-shaped scar, looks like a girl. It all fits…
"I see you have some idea of who I was." Kenshin's voice was calm.
Sokuya nodded, suddenly afraid. His answer was a mere whisper.
"Battousai."
Author's Notes: Evil cliffhanger… and you all thought I had no more surprises in store for you… /evil laughter/ Battousai gave me the inklings of this one, but I pulled it out all by myself… Try and guess what's going to happen next!
If you're saying "But I never saw the okiya mistress' name before", don't worry… I only made it up this chapter. The Naoe family was a samurai family, and Hoshi means 'star'. However, if you're saying "But I've never seen Sokuya's name before", then you obviously didn't read the rewrites of the first few chapters… go back and do it…
Review Replies: Thanks to all my reviewers!
Brittanie Love – Thanks! And here's the update!
Peachie-Chan – Thanks for the link! And as for plushies…
Battousai/freshly returned from 'holiday', slightly traumatised/ AAAAAAHHHH/faints/
Peachie-Chan: Oro!
Nix/pokes Battousai/ Come on, Battousai, it can't have been that bad…
Battousai/wakes up/ AAAAAAHHHH/notices it's Nix/ NIX-CHAN/glomp/ Pleasepleaseplease don't ever do that to me again…
I'm sorry, Peachie, but he's a little… er… upset… right now…
(Sorry again to evilteddybear and Raeyn-chan for mischaracterisation…)
scythe195 – Whoa, another long-long-long review! Thanks! And for the manga and DVDs… /goes off into happy daze at so much RK/ 'Craptacular' was borrowed from Sylvia off Neko Machi – a crazy-and-very-fun webcomic. Never mind at being crappy at kendo… it's all a matter of talent, which some of us just don't have. BTW, you can have the Toaster Of Doom back /hands aforementioned appliance (wrapped in copious amounts of duct tape) back to scythe, because I really need Rurouni to be my Muse…
Crewel – I thought you would like the last chapter, and I wrote it with you in mind. I'm glad you agree with what Sano did – I, at least, think that it would be OOC for him to take advantage of a woman, especially one he cares about so much. Marriage is a question that will be answered later… when it isn't giving away the plot!
Kaede-Rukawa-ice-prince – More more indeed! Never mind the bit about being hentai… I was kidding, you know.
inuyasha/kenshin gurl /scratches head/ I thought I said that… oh well… anyway… MERINGUES ALL AROUND/throws meringues in random directions/ It's all well and good for it to be fluffy, but I'm trying for Drama, Characterisation, and Emotional Connections (please note the capital letters) as well… /grins/
Bradybunch4529 – Yay! Another person who agrees with my writing of the SxM scenes! I'm glad you liked the final statement. I sat there for a good ten minutes, trying to decide how to finish it, before I thought of that /laughs/
Rurouni/coughs pointedly/
…Alright, Rurouni helped me with that one… Anyway, thanks, and enjoy!
anime-luney – Yep, you were my first reviewer for chapter 19! Never mind if you can't think of anything to say… At least I know you liked that chapter! That was what you were trying to say, right/grin/
kenshinlover2002 – /grin/ I know, Megumi was really sloshed – I meant for her to be a little more sane, but oh well… it turned out okay! I was going to make it a sex scene – I'm a hentai at heart, I think…
Rurouni/coughs/ Not just at heart…
…Hey! But anyway… I think Sano would certainly have enough control, especially since he knew she was drunk. It would have harmed their relationship too much, though.
DakBug – True love is certainly different from sex – though a surprising amount of people seem to be unable to differentiate the two, which is disappointing. As for a KxK scene… watch this space, is all I can say. I may or may not write it.
Hatoriscute – Updated… soon/grin/
onee-chan – Yep, sweet and fluffy – meringue! As for being a hentai… I was kidding.
Battousai/cowering beneath Nix's computer table/ I don't like hentais…
Nix/pats Battousai on the head/ Come on, I won't lend you out any more.
Battousai/glomps Nix/ Thankyouthankyouthankyou!
…Who'd have thought that the invincible Battousai was afraid of yaoi? Never mind, some of us are hentai, some of us aren't.
kitsune – Yeah, poor guy. But considering the wounds he sustained, it's surprising that he wasn't worse off. Err… Battousai has something to say…
Battousai/fully recovered from 'holiday'/ I wasn't the one who made the vow not to kill. That was the Rurouni… wuss… and I have killed women before… when they got in my way, or they witnessed what I did. So you are not out of danger yet… /evil grin/
…Don't worry, I'll stop him… somehow… Anyway, here's the next chapter! Bring it on!
Crisa Rei – Yep, you're allowed to say 'ass'… I don't mind… But yep, Sano is soooo sweet… I may have made it a little too sweet… /sweatdrops/ Yes, Misao noticed – she's a ninja after all! And the KxK bit was too sweet not to leave in… TOO MUCH MERINGUE/sweatdrops/ But anyway, I hope you liked this chapter, and its moments!
RangerDo'Urden – Glad you think I got it in character! And as for Sano's reaction… hehe, you are one of the non-hentais among us, I think! Keep it up, but you know the dark side is calling… /laugh/
Seifer Katt – Thanks so much for reading/kiss/
Battousai and Rurouni: Eeeeewww!
…oh shut up, you two. If it was you and Kaoru… Glad you liked the fluff!
thechickenlittle2000 – Glad you liked it! Yay for SxM fluff! And Rurouni's here to say something…
Rurouni: No, it is strange, that it is! As this one said, he does not get the chance to tease the Battousai often…
Battousai: And that's a good thing…
…As for Battousai being okay – well he seems to be relatively unscarred… /yells/ YAOI!
Battousai/dives for the cover of Nix's computer table/
…well, relatively…