Sorry! I was late! And I was really super late! Hope you guys would like this chapter! I was a bit busy! Oh…here!
Disclaimer: I don't own RK! And the flow of the story doesn't go with the original RK! Ok?
Chapter 16 : The Puppet Master
"Finished."
Okita Souji was contented, he was smiling at Kamiya and still felt the same worse feeling last night. He was now arranging the bowls and chopsticks into the trays and was to stand up. As he was to face the door to the room, it creaked open.
Kamiya was still sitting there, looking both at the Shinsen-gumi member and at the door. A figure stepped out of the open, Okita made a bow. "Ah, Saitoh-sama." He welcomed the visitor. Kaoru was looking at Saitoh's hand, he was holding some arm of…a kid? No, it wasn't just the arm…there was the body outside.
Okita noticed the kid Saitoh was holding, "Who is that little one, Saitoh-sama?" he noticed, pressing a smile onto his lips. Saitoh looked at Okita and then dragged whatever he was holding, inside. It made a deep growl and then tried to break free from the wolf's grip.
"Let me go!" it wailed, "I was to look for, oneisan!"
Hajime smirked, letting his eyes guide to Kaoru, who was silently sitting there on the floor. Her stomach had grown a little bigger since she ate a lot, she cradled it with one arm. Then, Saitoh pushed the kid towards Kaoru. The maiden pushed herself to catch the kid and then tried to calm the kid down.
Kaoru looked at the kid and then beamed at the wolf, another victim? She asked herself. "Who is this kid, mister?" she growled, beaming at Saitoh. The wolf's beady eyes traced to Kaoru, who was now holding the kid in her arms. "Yukishiro's sister." He replied.
She was shocked, how did Saitoh know about Tomoe? "Ho-how…did you…?" she stuttered, her blue eyes shivered. "I have my sources, dear." He replied, tapping a finger on the side of his head.
Okita began to laugh as he balanced the tray on his hands. It caught everyone's attention. "Isn't Saitoh-sama smart?" he asked Kaoru, a smile on his lips. Kaoru glared at the two Shinsen-gumi members, and then at Saitoh.
"You…kidnapped him?" she asked, an angry tone on her lips.
Saitoh shook his head. "No…just found him wandering around the streets with a bag on his back."
Kaoru shook her eyes away from Saitoh but instead looked at the kid in her arms. His hair was a bit messy and in dark brown color. His clothes were just simple; jeans, cream checkered polo that was opened, revealing a white plain shirt inside. White rubber shoes were covering his medium sized feet. "What's your name?" Kaoru asked calmly. The kid looked at Kaoru, fear and anger was in his eyes. "Enishi." He replied, "I was looking for my sister."
"Don't worry, Enishi. We will find your sister and we will get out of here." Kaoru told him, the she beamed at Saitoh. Saitoh gave a wicked laugh and then motioned Okita to leave the room. "Have a quiet stay." He teased the two then his presence left the room, leaving the two alone.
Morning.
I woke up late…I couldn't say that much 'cause we're in some place that doesn't have the time. As I opened my eyes, I see myself lying on the futon. Kenshin was there beside me, he was sleeping too.
Last night…
I smiled at him and then reached for his face. As I brushed his cheek, I giggled softly…trying not to let him wake up.
"Kenshin…" I mumbled, remembering what we did last night. Everything…everything that we shared…sheer heaven maybe? Suddenly, his eyes opened, I jumped a little at that. He took my hand that was on his cheek and gave me a smile. Our naked bodies were near each other and were sharing our space with two futons.
"Tomoe…" he whispered, "Good morning…breakfast is ready."
"You…? Woke up early?" I asked, feeling a bit confused. He nodded and then kissed the palm of my hand. I love you…you took my happiness and really replaced it with another one. Getting up, I slipped off my hand from his touch and then wore the yukata that I was wearing last night. I wiped the sleep off my eye, tied my hair on a loose ponytail and then smiled at Kenshin, who was still lying on the futon, looking at me. I made a silent exit from the room and then walked towards the dining room…or area, since there were only a few rooms available in there…the bathroom, living room and lastly, the bedroom.
Kenshin was right, breakfast was there already. It smelled good…fish and some flavored vegetables. As I sat down, I took the chopsticks and then chowed down on my meal…calmly as I can since I was hungry yesterday.
I heard footsteps coming near me, I could tell that it was Kenshin. And indeed it was him!
He knelt down behind me and gave me a hug, along with a kiss on my neck that made me giggle. Then he let go, standing up and sitting beside me. I looked at him as I held a bowl full of rice up and the chopsticks on the other hand. He looked tired and weary…maybe a bit lazy? I don't know…
"Have you eaten yet?" I asked, taking a second look on him. He looked at me and then tried to smile. "No thanks, I'm not hungry." He gave me a faint smile and then stood up, I watched him do. "Kenshin?"
He looked at the door that leads to the world of Otsu. "I hear someone coming." He replied, even though no one is there. I began to look at him curiously, he was beginning to get weird. "I think there is no one-"
"Shush." He commanded me, motioning a finger to his lips. I sat there quietly, trying not to make a move. He walked silently towards the door, a hand behind him, reaching for the handle of the sword. I began to think again…was it there? Really, my eyes are beginning to be pretty weird too. Suddenly, I heard footsteps alright. He was right and I'm wrong…I pouted at that.
He was then near to the door, about an arm's length. I started thinking who could it be…Enishi? I wish but Kenshin was looking for my brother and he was hunting for him…that made me loose hope. He groped for the door and then pushed it open, I wished to close my eyes or just look away but then my head was just there…still looking.
It wasn't Enishi…instead it was the kid I met the other day. Nataku.
Kenshin looked at the kid, and then at me. He looked at me strangely as the grip on his sakabattou tightened. I stood up and then raced for the kid's safety, if ever that Himura wished to hurt the kid. "Is he yours?" he asked, looking at me and at Nataku as I hugged him. Beaming at the hitokiri, I gave him a curt reply. "Yes. And don't hurt him." Nataku looked at me and then at Kenshin. He felt fear rose to his cheeks as he looked at the golden eyes of Kenshin. "Is he your husband, oneisan?" he whispered into my ear as he grasped on my yukata. I nodded and then kissed his forehead, standing up then. "I'm going to walk with him, ok?" I told the redhead. He took a glance at the kid and then nodded, "ok."
I first let go of Nataku and then walked towards Kenshin, he was curious about it. I smiled and then gave him a quick kiss on the lips, which made me blush a little. As I pulled back, another more curious look on his face was there. "As a couple, right?" I whispered softly so that Nataku wouldn't hear. He smiled, the golden look in his eyes faded as violet conquered his sight. "We already are a couple." He whispered back. I giggled softly and then turned to Nataku, who was waiting for us to finish anything…
"Be back early…koiishi…" Kenshin breathed out.
"It's been two days and those damn guys never appeared!" A fist slammed onto the floor, making a deep mark on the tatami. The soldiers felt a little fear, they haven't seen their boss made like that. "Does any of our spies know where they went?" he asked, looking at each in the eye.
No one quivered…
Katsura felt being made again as ever. The patient look in his face faded as news came to him in bad ways. "Um…sir." A voice spoke, catching the attention of many. The boss looked up, trying to calm his senses down. An ishinshi soldier, was waiting for the boss' reply. "Go on." Katsura finally said.
The soldier swallowed at first and then sighed, he will not be contented in this, he thought. "Some of our spies saw him leave our area the night Himura left." He replied, "But then some of them said he followed Himura."
'That explains Kaoru's absence.' He thought. "Continue."
"And that I have just received that the Shinsen-gumi is in Otsu." The soldier reported smartly, keeping his back straight and making the news still pleasant. But Katusra didn't hear that pleasant. "We must go to Otsu and find Himura there." He announced. "Or else…he will be in danger…and that includes Yukishiro-kun."
We finally reached a spot where we could talk a bit peacefully…and mostly privately. The ten year old boy that was standing beside me clutched to my right hand as we sat down on a big rock. "Why did you come there all by the sudden?" I asked calmly. I sense that the boy couldn't answer me, there was something bothering him all of the sudden. "Is there something wrong?" I asked, trying to catch the attention in his eyes. He then slowly looked at me and then tried to smile, letting go of my hand as he allowed his fists to crawl between his chest and legs. Quietly as he could, he looked at me and then his mouth opened to answer. "Oneisan…" he spoke, "Did you remember the time that I said I have a friend who promised me something." I nodded seriously, the boy was a bit scared…and confused at the same time.
"The friend I said was your husband." He finished, he was waiting for my expression. I was shocked a little, knowing that Kenshin was the friend of this little one. Impossible, I thought, Kenshin doesn't know this place…err…maybe. "When was that?" I asked, feeling a bit confused too. "I don't remember the date but all I know is that when I was…three?" Nataku replied, looking at the sky. "I see…" I talked back, "I'll ask him about that." Nataku didn't make another statement, he just stared at the morning sky quietly.
"By the way, why did you come in the house in the first place?" I asked, remembering the first thing I was supposed to say. Nataku removed his eyes from the sky and then looked at me, he was like somewhere in space. "Oh, it was about a few men that were searching for you." He replied.
Time stopped…
My heart beat went faster than the usual as I began to think who were those people who wish to see me. Could it be a few relatives, or…the ones who got Enishi in their hands? I didn't know. I wish to ask Nataku what they would look like but I don't mind by now…my expression on every answer to every question may frighten the kid. "Is there something wrong, oneisan?" he asked.
"No…nothing…" I replied, looking at the skies.
So, the poll ended just Sunday. Hope you guys enjoyed it! And here are the results…
For Kaoru: Five! hehe!
For Tomoe: Ten...!
Undecided: one
I'm going to inform you guys that I will be on a vacation for a few days. I'm gong to Baguio and going to watch a festival there. That's on the Philippines. I'm sorry guys! But I hope you love this chapter very much! Thanks a lot for the reviews! I was super shocked about the results…woa! Hehe! Reviews please…by the way! hope the news reviewer enjoy reading a lot of stories that were made by me!
I expected Kaoru to win this but...people are right! i later found out that Battousai and Tome are the best couple! i'm announcing this!hehe! Mwuah!
