Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin doubly because I forgot the disclaimer last chapter.
Protector
Chapter 10
"Mr. Kamiya ordered an investigation on the kidnapping attempt of his daughter and so far what do we have?"
"I checked each person's story and they all match. The bodyguard, the doctor and the Makimachi girl. The mall patrolmen too. The blood found at the crime scene was from the girl, the dead bodyguard and the would-be kidnapper." Sanosuke reported. "The DNA results just came back this morning. The man's name was Yutaka Nakao and his record is clean. No previous criminal dealings or other kidnapping attempts. He has no relatives that we know of and he lived alone. He worked at the docks. Low pay, but enough to support himself. The curious thing was his bank accounts." Here Sano paused.
"Go on."
"He was depositing more than he was earning. Not on a regular basis, but occasionally; I would say about once a month. He appears to have some other source of income, but he wasn't employed anywhere else and he had no means of getting this money. My guess is that he does odd jobs for some criminal. He probably worked with a group of other men and that's why he hasn't been caught. Otherwise he's just good at what he does, or he only dealt with minor crimes. The latter is more believable to me. But, I believe that he works for someone else higher up."
"Okay. I want you to find out who this person worked for. Shinomori will continue to work with you and oversee this case. Just file the report and I'll read it later."
"Yes Sir." Sano left the office.
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"Sir," was about all that Kenshin could say. "Then, you know what I did as well?" He voiced quietly. "You still think that I am best qualified for the job even with my past as it was?"
"Yes. Although your job was unique, it does not mean that the rest of us were not forced to kill on occasion. You were left with no choice. You were perfect for the job. No family connections you wanted to keep, amazing swordsmanship skills, a cool demeanor. When you didn't take your place with the government and disappeared, well, we believed that you deserved the peace. It was pure coincidence that you happened to be the cousin of my daughter's friend and it is one coincidence that I appreciate. It was also luck that she introduced us. I recognized you immediately, but started the conversation about sword techniques because I wanted to make sure of who you were." Koshijirou explained. "I have said that I believe that you are the best qualified for the job despite the past, but…" He paused. "I must ask, when was the last time that you killed a person?"
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Kaoru had left quietly, but the encounter with the odd man had left her restless, although she had been quite tired before. She didn't want to stay in the house any longer. Maybe she could pay her garden a visit, it was right near the house and she wouldn't go far. She didn't want to interrupt her father or his guest to ask for permission, but she assumed that her explanation would be adequate, so she left through the kitchen, allowing Tae to see her leave.
Walking among the plants, she checked each section for dead plants and weeds. Upon discovery they were pulled out thoroughly by the roots and tossed into the bucket she carried with her. Later she would deposit it in the small compost heap she had behind the shed. Natural plants left to decay, she found, were the best kind of fertilizer.
As she worked she felt like she was being watched. She knew that the bodyguard was standing in the shade of the house, watching her, but she had a feeling it wasn't him. Feeling unsettled, she left the rest of the garden unattended, dumped her bucket and went back inside. She felt secure in her house, even though she knew that the feeling was probably born of her own fears and unfounded.
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Koshijirou had got up as he asked Kenshin the question. He walked over to one of his windows and stood looking out over the grounds of his home.
"I haven't killed anyone since the last night I worked for Katsura." Kenshin said steadily. "Sir, I never killed anyone I wasn't supposed to. I killed the target and witnesses only. To tell the truth, I tried to avoid killing as much as possible. The only reason I took the job was because I was young and impressionable. At the time I was looking for a way to strike back at my father, be rebellious and it seemed the perfect opportunity. The implications struck me later but by then I couldn't back out." Kenshin stopped and then continued. "I should probably tell you of the vow I took. I swore that I would never take a life again in a way of atonement for the lives I had taken. I would protect your daughter the best I could and I believe that I can do that without killing. There are personal reasons behind the vow as well as moral issues that I don't wish to share, so I hope that you can accept my explanation." Koshijirou nodded and the conversation moved on to safer subjects.
Kenshin was filled in on all that had gone on the past week, as well as the past few years. Job details were discussed and Kenshin found out that Koshijirou paid extremely well. There was an attic apartment where he could live for the duration of his job. Other than that, his task was simple. Know where she was at all times and be able to protect her in any situation. Kenshin was confidant in his abilities.
As the discussion died down, Kenshin voiced his request. "Sir? I would like to meet your daughter, if that's possible."
"That's fine. I'll ask Hirotaka to get her." Koshijirou replied and called the man into the room.
A few minutes later, a knock came on the study door followed by it opening, almost cautiously. "Ah, here you are Kaoru. I'd like you to meet Mr. Kenshin Himura. He's going to be your new bodyguard." Koshijirou introduced them. "Mr. Himrua, this is my daughter, Kaoru."
The girl looked at him and he could see the recognition that flared in her eyes at the sight of him. He stood up and reached out a hand. "It's nice to meet you Miss Kamiya." She took the proffered hand lightly and replied,
"Yes. It's nice to meet you. Just call me Kaoru. Sorry about before, again." She added.
"That's alright, Ms Kaoru. It was an accident." Came his courteous reply.
"I take it that my clumsy daughter did something?" Koshijirou said in a humorous tone. Kaoru had always been clumsy as a child, but it appeared that she had been outgrowing it, but occasionally she would have her moments.
"Father." Kaoru said, exasperated. It seemed that she was experiencing the embarrassment that most teenagers do when their parents gossip about their bad habits.
"What?" Her father asked, apparently unaware of his mishap. "You are still clumsy. I remember that one time you were walking up the staircase and tripped over nothing. At least that time you weren't carrying a tray of food with you." He laughed, as he recalled the memory. Kaoru was bright red and Kenshin laughed politely.
"Sir, I should leave now. I promised my cousin that I would be home in time for her dinner and I have overstayed my welcome. When would you like me to start the job?" Kenshin asked when Koshijirou's amusement died down.
"Tomorrow will be fine. Come whenever and get settled in, then come to me and we'll talk about the security details that you mentioned today. I'll walk you to the door." He stood up from his large desk.
"It was nice to meet you Mr. Himura. I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, and I think I should warn you. Don't eat Keta's rice, whatever you do. That seems to be the only thing she can't make for some reason." Kaoru shook his hand warmly.
"I'll be sure to take that advice Ms Kaoru." Kenshin replied. Kaoru left the room and with his unnaturally sharp hearing, he could hear her walking away along the hallway.
Koshijirou escorted him to the door and as he made to open the door, Kenshin remembered a request he had wanted to ask. "Mr. Kamiya. Would you mind not telling Ms Kaoru about my past. I don't want her to be frightened of being around me. If she must be told, I would like to do it myself after I have gained her trust somewhat." Kenshin asked.
"That is fine Mr. Himura. I won't divulge your secret, but I advise that you tell my daughter about your past. She is a very trusting and intelligent young lady and I believe that she will understand whatever you ask of her. You most likely already have her trust. She thinks that there is good in everybody and has some way of discovering even the tiniest grain of good in some of the cruelest people." Koshijirou told Kenshin, a slight smile on his face. "She is much like her mother in that aspect, but in most other ways she takes after me."
"Thank you, Sir." Kenshin said, respectfully.
"Good day, Mr. Himura." The door closed behind Kenshin as he made his way out to his car.
As he drove home he was deep in thought. 'Was it truly possible to be as trusting as Koshijirou believed his daughter to be? The man had trusted him, even knowing his past, to be able to protect his only child. He would know once he spent more time with Kaoru, he guessed. He could also ask his cousin about her too. She liked to talk about her friends, but Kenshin had never paid too much attention to her when she began to ramble, so he couldn't really remember much about Kaoru.' He was curious about the girl now. Hopefully he would be able to learn more about her and get to know her in the process as well.
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This chapter is even later than the last one. What can I say besides sorry? I have so much going on in my life and my parents keep telling me I'm doing too much. I've had play rehearsal for the past two weeks. I play the violin in the pit orchestra. So everyday I was going to school, track practice, then straight to play. I haven't been getting home until ten and then I'm up till midnight trying to finish my homework and write bits of this story. Weekends I do other music things and I've had some school projects that I needed to get done. Okay, that's about it.
I've also been working on another story, Enemies Till The End. That's the story I have to work on when I get writers block on this one. Check it out and tell me what you think if you have time.
Now, in the story there's more about Kenshin's past, but you never find out exactly who he was. That comes later. You have Koshijirou's opinions on Kenshin's past and Kaoru enters the scene for a little while. Enjoy!
So, thanks for reading and I'll try to update soon, which shouldn't be too much of a problem now that the play is out of the way. In the meantime, review please!
Keta Himura
