HELLO, IT'S ME AGAIN! GOMEN NASAI! I KNOW THAT IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I LAST UPDATED THIS FIC, LONGER THAN THE TIME I UPDATED THE LAST CHAPTER THEN THE LAST THEN THE LAST AND SO FORTH…(SIGHS) AT LAST OUR INTRAMURALS ENDED WITH A BLAST (FOR THE THIRD AND FOURTH YEAR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS) AND NOW I'M FREE! WELL, STILL THERE'S OUR EXAMS ON THE FIRST WEEK OF MARCH, AND THAT I STILL HAVE MANY REQUIREMENTS TO PASS AND WE HAVE AN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITY THAT I HAVE TO ATTEND TO. BUT I PROMISE I'LL DO ALL THE BEST I CAN TO UPDATE THIS FIC FASTER! AND SO WITH NO FURTHER ADO, HERE'S CHAPTER 10!
DISCLAIMER: Again, I don't own any of the ruruoni kenshin characters and places, only the deranged stranger in this chapter. Err, deranged samurai, sorry.
WILL IT HURT TO LOVE AGAIN? By Sutefani – chan
CHAPTER 10
IT'S NOT OVER YET
It still hurts though.
No matter how hard she tried to close the bruise, it continued bleeding. The cut was still fresh, not shallow, but deep, real deep, embarked on the very depths of her heart. She failed to achieve her utmost goal after all this time. Her very longing, the only thing she needed to do to attain the perfect life she had always dreamt of.
But amidst it all, she was proud of herself. Proud of what she had done, congratulating herself for gaining the courage to be able to drive him away, out if her life, out of her realm. But she never had the chance to heal that wound, and nothing made the bleeding stopped. Not even the humble swordsman/wanderer…
It was almost noon when Kenshin realized that Kaoru still was not around. He had already finished making the teppanyaki (which he had carefully garnished for Kaoru, just to brighten up her day). He wondered what was taking her so long, and even thought of taking a peek on what was going on. But that would be like sneaking, and sneaking on Kaoru was the last thing on Kenshin's mind. But of course he was only worried about her, especially after what had happened when Gohei once threatened her life. But of course Kaoru's skilled enough to look after herself, thought Kenshin, and yet he couldn't afford to let anything harm her, not even to let Gohei touch his filthy finger on her raven hair. Over my dead body…
"Sano, what's taking Kaoru-dono so long?" he asked.
Sano grumbled. He was sitting on the doorway, nibbling a hay straw, "Beats me. That Taka guy has taken most of Jou-chan's time, desperate to talk to her. Sigh, I know you're worrying about her, Kenshin. Jou-chan's old enough to take care of herself. Come to think of it, that Taka guy just saved from a nasty tummy ache, ne? And besides a trip to the doctor and the sight of Megumi's face make me sick!"
"True enough! True enough!" cried a voice from not far away. Yahiko entered the kitchen, his shinai in his hand. "I would rather eat a pig's dinner than eat busu's cooking."
"Whoa, that was harsh," said Sano, "welcome to the club."
"Really, you guys, you shouldn't underestimate her cooking skills. She's doing her best to improve it, you know," reasoned Kenshin.
"Why don't you just admit Kaoru's not really good at cooking, Kenshin? in that way, she won't pressure herself on trying to do something she knows she's never good at."
"It's because I know that someday there would come a time when she could boast about how delicious her dishes could be. All you need, and she need is, patience and time."
"Sigh, I really don't know what's wrong with you, Kenshin," sighed Yahiko. Kenshin shook his head.
"Oi, Yahiko! Where's Jou-chan?"
"Still in the dojo, I just saw her sitting against the wall, mumbling the words, "It's over" over and over again. Don't really know why, but I bet it has something to do with their, er, 'heated conversation' a while ago. I heard shouting and it definitely came from Kaoru."
"Shouting?" marveled Kenshin. The word made him worry.
"Hai," said Yahiko, "you said it right."
"Sigh. I think you're right Kenshin. Maybe we should check on her," confessed Sano.
"Check on who?"
A cheerful voice startled them. They turned to look. Kaoru was standing on the doorway, smiling. Smiling?
"Check on whom, Sano?" she asked cheerfully.
"We were about to check if you're alright, Kaoru. Yahiko said he heard shouting. What did that punk do to you?"
"Relax, Sano. I'm fine. There was just a certain misunderstanding, that's all. Nothing more. Oh, Kenshin, have you finished preparing lunch?"
"Hai, Kaoru-dono," muttered Kenshin. He was still trying to figure out why she was smiling when what Yahiko had described ago pictured her as a distressed Kaoru? Was Yahiko only lying?
"Perfect. I'll call Suzi and Yumi for lunch. Yahiko, will you please make sure lunch's set so that we could eat already?" and she left the kitchen, leaving the three dazed.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Not far enough."
They were getting deeper and deeper into the woods. The fat man gripped the young man's arm tightly as he led the way towards their destination. The young man was left puzzled, wondering what made the stranger need him so desperately. Demanding more likely.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked briskly again.
"I told you, not far enough."
"Not far enough? We're getting deeper and deeper into the woods. I don't even know if what you're doing is something that might make me regret it."
"I though you want to see the woman again? This is the answer to your problem, the only way. I hope you do realize that what I'm doing is a favor, for you. Now shut your mouth and just do as I say."
They went on for half an hour, with no delay. Not even stopping over to rest for a while, the fat man seemed determined and has perfected the route for he went on restlessly, getting tenser and tenser every moment.
The young man thought it was going to take forever, but then ahead of them he could see a little, shabby hut. The sight of it made him shiver, maybe because it was located in the depths of the forest, or maybe because it's its malevolent presence that made him felt uneasy. Is this where he is taking me?
He thought that the fat man had read his mind. The fat man led him towards the hut without hesitation and knocked three times on the wooden door. It took five seconds before a voice responded.
"Who?" said a cold voice.
The fat man sighed heavily before he responded, "You know the heck who."
"I thought you'd never come. Come on in," and he opened the door, letting in the puzzled young man and the fat man. Then he bolted the door carefully and motioned to two to their seats.
"You're here for business, I suppose. Aaah, I see," he smiled maliciously as he saw the young man, " I see you've got the last ingredient to our dish. All we've got to do is to carry it out carefully planned."
Last ingredient? Carry it out carefully planned? What does he mean?
"There's a problem. The girl dismissed him. It seemed to me she doesn't want to see him again. We might have a problem on that one."
"Don't worry. If it doesn't work, I think we have to do the old-fashioned way."
"How about let's do the old-fashioned one instead? I think it would save us more trouble, and we could finally get on with it."
The man with the cold voice smirked, "Always trying to rush things, eh, Hiruma? Never do forget that haste makes waste. It's not as easy as it looks."
"Wh – what's going on? Wh-what do you want from me? Wh-what has Kaoru got to do with this?" the young man finally spoke.
The two men turned to look at the confused lad.
It was the fat man who replied. There was malice as he spoke. "Fate. A deadly fate, inevitable and fatal. Vengeance."
"W-wait. I-It couldn't be…HEAVEN FORBID! Hiruma Gohei!" He gave a loud yelp and staggered as he fell from his seat with shock.
The young man couldn't believe it. This was Hiruma Gohei, the very threat to Kamiya Kaoru's life. Though he hadn't seen him before, it was obvious it was Hiruma Gohei. Vengeance. The very thing he wanted to accomplish: killing Kaoru. To avenge his conceited self and to bring back his once "lost" honor, but truth be told only to satisfy his pride.
"I thought you were too stupid enough as to have not realize it. Or maybe it's because that sordid orphan hid it from you, who I really am?"
But she didn't. Kaoru had always told him that someone was after her and would do anything just to kill her. She said it was a grudge, nothing but pure hatred and vengeance against her and her family. To see the Kamiya family fall in ruins was his utmost goal ever since he was expelled before his fellow comrades, and the last thing he had to do was to eliminate the last descendant of the Kamiya family, and the last descendant was Kamiya Kaoru. He could still hear Kaoru say the name of her adversary with tremor, "Gohei…Hiruma Gohei…"
Without thinking because of sudden fear, he took the initiative to escape as he staggered pathetically towards the bolted door, knocking Gohei down as kicked his knee hard while he was still lying on the floor. Ignoring Gohei's painful shriek, he reached for the bolt when he felt a cold prickle sinking into his skin.
"Not a finger be laid on that bolt or I won't hesitate to slit your neck open," hissed the creepy man.
The young man had no choice. He slowly slid his hand down, away from his last option of escape, and refuge. He stared longingly at the wooden door. Freedom. Kaoru. He could save her, and somehow prove to her that he's not a wimp, that he can save her and protect her and maybe prove his love for her.
"Now step away from the door and go back to your seat silently."
But if he wants to save Kaoru, he has to save himself. He could easily strangle them barehanded, if a sword was no option. But he was of no match to the creepy man, who had his sword sinking hungrily in his bare skin. Freedom, and saving Kaoru, was fat chance.
He sadly obeyed the man and went back to his seat, beside the glaring Gohei.
"Now this is better, isn't it? Koshikawa Taka?" grinned the creepy man maliciously.
"What do you want from me?" retorted Taka.
"Like what Hiruma had said, vengeance."
"You filth! I won't let you harm Kamiya Kaoru! Over my dead body will you lay a finger on her!"
For a moment, Gohei and the creepy man stared blankly at Taka like he was a dumb boy. Then, both of them burst into evil fits of laughter. Taka stared confusingly at them.
"Seriously, is she all that you think of, baka? Has she brainwashed your tiny brain all of a sudden? Giving in to her every whim? It's not really her that we want, we're only going to use her as a hostage, but of course I could do a little something on her and we could call it quits…" grunted Gohei.
"As a hostage? Then if it's not her, it's…"
"Hitokiri Battousai," finished the creepy man.
Hitokiri Battousai…to whom Kaoru had fallen in love with…no wonder.
The Hitokiri Battousai was the most sought after swordsman, so legendary that almost every swordsman on earth wanted to challenge him, only to prove that they're the one worthy enough to claim the title Battousai. But others wanted to challenge him for revenge, no wonder. He was an imperialist and an assassin too, that he killed anyone who was against the imperial leaders, politician or not. And those close to them wanted to avenge them by taking the life of Himura Battousai. Nevertheless, almost everybody wants him dead…well, maybe except for Kaoru…
But does this swordsman want to kill Kenshin because of vengeance or conceited honor? Taka thought. As for Gohei, it didn't seem to care for him if it's vengeance or honor. Killing Battousai, for Gohei, was only for the sake of killing. Nothing more. Taka thought so.
"Why are you doing this?" asked Taka.
"What else for? Power and honor," said the creepy man cold-heartedly.
"There is no honor in killing."
"Now you're beginning to sound like the 'reformed' Battousai too. Did he also brainwashed you?" mocked Gohei.
"No. Actually, I haven't met him. I haven't seen him."
"Killing him would put an end to every swordsman's fears. And putting an end to him makes me the new Battousai."
"You're nothing but a conceited swordsman! There's no honor to that!"
"Sometimes you have to get dirty in order to get what you want. Isn't it true, Taka?"
Taka silenced for a moment and thought for a while. If Battousai's gone, then it means that Kaoru would have to forget him, the way he forgot me. Then Kaoru's going to be mine again, without a hindrance, with no Battousai blocking our way. But that would be dishonor, he thought. And he would be taking Kaoru's only happiness away. He wouldn't. He couldn't. But he felt that he should.
"What will I do?" Taka said.
"To deliver ourhostage here, by force if you have to."
"And by leaving a note to Hitokiri Battousai saying that if he wants to see Kaoru alive again he has to come here alone, and he will take it from there," added Gohei as he shook his head to where the creepy man was sitting.
"Humph, I hope you do realize who it is you're going to deal with. He's not some typical limp swordsman you see moping around the streets. He happens to be legendary."
"Ha!" laughed Gohei, "is that what you think? Can't you see that sordid orphan is his weakness? We could easily tip him off. And I think you're forgetting something." He shook his head to where the creepy man was. He was sitting coolly on his chair, wiping his katana with a cloth.
He does seem familiar, thought Taka. He knew he had seen him before, but where? Suddenly a flashback took him back to a scene in the municipal hall.
There were voices, screams and gunshots. Swords clashing with someone yelling, "Assassin! Assassin!" as fifty soldiers surrounded a messy samurai.
"SURRENDER!" the chief ordered as rifles were aimed and swords were drawn at him. The samurai stood still, clutched in his hand a bloodstained katana.
"SURRENDER, I SAID!" yelled the chief officer.
But the samurai just smirked, like it was just a game. He coldly stared at his katana.
"So much bloodshed, my katana might get rusty if I don't watch it. But then again, feeding it with a Meiji pig's blood makes it an exception to that." And like lightning, he attacked five men in front of him at once, letting his sword glide through their stomachs swiftly.
"So, who's next?"
Appalled by the fatal performance of the samurai, nobody dared to attack. They just stood there, rooted to the ground, faces white with shock.
"Humph, I should have known. You Meiji idiots are nothing but a pack of weasels who dare to proclaim how powerful the Meiji government is! But look at you! Nothing but sick, little dogs!"
Suddenly, one soldier dared to strike at him. Lounging forward, his sword in a striking manner as he yelled with fury to try to wound the insane samurai. But the samurai was too fast for him. Ducking the amateur attempt of the soldier, he swiftly glided to the right and turned around fast, facing the soldier's back. Without hesitating, he sank his sword into the man's flesh and there the soldier said his last prayers.
"YES! I REMEMBER! THE SECNE IN THE MUNICIPAL HALL…" muttered Taka. An assassin, said to be roaming around these days killing officials, much like the Hitokiri Battousai for its speed and strength, but it can't be…
"Remember now?" smirked Gohei.
"This will take a long time," said the samurai creepily.
This man is the most wanted criminal these days, thought Taka. Could this be…?
"M-Matsu…the famous assassin, Matsu," trembled Taka.
"I thought you would never guess," mocked Matsu.
"Y-You killed Meiji officials. Y-You killed the people who will most likely lead our country to victory, from poverty. You're a senseless murderer!"
"Humph, are you sure with that? Or have you been deceived too by their countless lies? Those Meiji pigs are nothing but corrupt and deceitful people who dare call themselves leaders. They're the ones who will first lead our country to ruins. Japan doesn't need them, neither will you. The best way is to dispose them, just like trash. But this is not the real reason why we're here now. We're only wasting time."
"That, I agree with you," grunted Gohei, "let's get down to business, shall we?"
"Yes. And it should be easy."
"But he's Battousai."
"We've got the woman, you say she's his weakness?"
"Obviously."
"Perfect."
"Wait," Taka interrupted, "you can't harm her. You can't harm Kaoru. You have to get past me if you're going to harm her."
"Don't worry, punk, we're not going to hurt her," assured Matsu.
"But!" Gohei demanded.
"It's the Battousai that we want, not her. We're only going to lure him using her as our bait. Hiruma can promise that, can't you, Hiruma?"
Gohei stiffened at the idea. But he guessed he had no other choice and finally gave his word.
But Taka glared at him. He didn't trust Gohei, never in his life he will. I have to be careful, he thought.
"Now, punk, you're going to deliver ourhostage here, by force if you have to by sundown. Then, leave a note in the dojo saying that the girl is being held captive here. Gohei will give it to you later. Then, as expected, he will come here and I will take it from there."
"Quite risky though for an amateur like you, don't you think?" said Gohei.
"You've got one problem though," said Taka while laughing to himself, "there is no challenge in your duel. It seems to me that Battousai has given up his past and seemed to have moved on. He vowed never to kill again. You said so yourself."
"Stupid monkey. You really have no clue on what's going on, haven't you? That girl will bring out the Battousai in him, I'm sure of it. That's why we used her as a decoy, right? Honestly."
Then Gohei remembered something, "What was it again, Koshikawa? The orphan's in love with Himura and never will she is able to love him if he ever turns back into being the Battousai that he was? Well, isn't this your lucky day!" he said this mockingly.
But Taka wasn't sure of it. This would mean hurting Kaoru, and seeing her suffer in solitude kills him. But he will have Kaoru again, won't he? When Battousai's gone, Kaoru will have nowhere to turn to and that's where he will enter. Perfect. But second thoughts kept on nagging him.
"If you have successfully eliminated Battousai, what will happen to Kaoru? You will let her go, won't you?" said Taka seriously.
"Of course. She's all yours for all I care," said Matsu.
Gohei winced a bit.
"Now, are you giving it a go or not?" said Matsu darkly.
Staring darkly at the lad, Gohei and Matsu waited for his response. Taka silenced for a moment. Kaoru is going to get hurt. Badly. I can't afford to see her hurt, crushed.
"Well?" Gohei was getting impatient.
It took Taka a while before he responded.
Saddened.
He lowered his head.
The two was crestfallen. All hopes were gone.
Just then, a smile appeared on Taka's face.
"Nice to know I'm not that predictable. Let's get on with it, shall we?"
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Here I am again with yet another chapter done. Ugh! It's been a while. I have so many extra-curricular activities in line that I barely have the time to type the next chapter. Good thing I was able to finish this one, anyway…
Guys, please review! And oh! I would like to acknowledge those who read reviewed my latest fic, Having Battousai as a Father isn't that Bad (which I sadly reduced to Having Battousai as a Father since it can't fit in the tab). The next chappie will take a while since I have so many things to do and I can't find a time to update it. But still I'll continue it. Arigato…
What do you think of this chapter? I know, Taka really is a wimp, but part of him wants to get rid of it. But no matter how hard he tries, he is still a wimp.
i would like to thank those who have read and reviewed chapter 9: kensan-nixme, Jupiter's Light, Brittanie Love and samuraiduck27. Arigato de Gozaimasu!