HELLO! I HOPE IT DIDN'T TOOK TOO LONG…DON'T WORRY, I'LL BE UPDATING MY CHAPPIES FASTER NOW, THAT I PROMISE YOU. I HOPE MY CHAPPIES DON'T DISAPPOINT YOU!
WILL IT HURT TO LOVE AGAIN by Sutefani-chan
CHAPTER 13
A SHOCKING REVELATION
He carefully carried her in his arms, hoping that she wouldn't wake up yet, not wanting to hurt her anymore. In his arms, the sight wasn't that pretty: Kaoru's arms and legs were both tied up with ropes, tight ones and her mouth was covered with a scarf to prevent her from shouting, which, if ever she wakes up she would eventually do. It pained him to see her in a state such as that, but he had no other choice.
He tried to remember if he carried out the plan right. Dressing as a beggar the boy was easily fooled, he thought so. And to think that he's the no. 1 student of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu? Then, he kidnapped Kaoru – which for him was against his wishes – and carefully left a note and Kaoru's white scarf in the dojo. That was quite risky.
He wondered what the letter contained. He knew that it was telling Battousai to come and claim her but what was really in that letter? He didn't read it; Gohei just gave it to him and instructed him to deliver it to them secretly, literally. Does Battousai know who is behind in all of this? Did Gohei or probably Matsu sign it?
He was in deep thought that he probably hadn't notice that he already arrived at the place. Gohei was waiting for him. There was a bit of surprise in his face.
"I didn't know you could come out of that dojo alive! Knowing those people living there, they couldn't be that so naïve as to not notice. Especially Sagara…"
"Well, at least you have to be glad that I made it! And that I did it…" he retorted as he stared at Kaoru's face.
Gohei rolled his eyes, "Fine! Fine! Just hand the tramp to me!"
But Taka stepped back, "No! I want to be the one to take her inside. Not – you!"
Gohei winced a bit then rolled his eyes, finally giving in.
"Whatever."
"Good." And he entered the shabby hut followed by Gohei.
He laid Kaoru down on the floor, careful enough not to hurt her. Suddenly, he noticed someone was missing.
"Where's Matsu?" he asked Gohei.
"Out there, somewhere, preparing for the battle."
Taka smirked, "Does he really think that he could beat Battousai that easily"
"Yurusai! You don't know who you're making fun of! I have my complete trust on him, and by this I would be able to get rid of Battousai!"
Taka was a bit startled.
Gohei made a disgusted look.
"Don't just stand there! Go outside and see if Battousai already made it here. He should be here by now."
Taka glared at him. I know what you're up to.
Gohei winced a bit and rolled his eyes, "Bakeru! I'm not going to hurt her, alright?"
"And you better not 'cause if you do, I won't hesitate to track you down and kill you."
Gohei winced again and was a bit mortified.
Taka left him cold-stricken, and hid under a tree, checking the road if by any chance the rurouni might show up.
Oh! Bakeru! I don't even know what he looks like! How am I supposed to know if it's him?
"He has a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek," Matsu suddenly hissed. Taka jumped in fright.
"The heck! You scared me to death!" yelled Taka furiously.
He turned around to see Matsu behind him, staring intently in his eyes like he was hiding something dark. Whoa, that was freaky.
"You really have to learn to get used to me," smirked Matsu.
Taka smirked back, "that is if you're ever going to survive this bloodshed."
"Oh really? Quite cocky, eh?"
Taka looked at him, confused.
"You think you're the only one who can escape this bloodshed? That's where you're wrong. Nobody's going to escape this bloodshed alive if Battousai wins. Remember that, punk,' added Matsu, "but I know he won't." And he walked away.
Taka stood there, face white and pale. Nobody's going to escape alive? Battousai is going to kill us all!
Kaoru…he thought. That's it. I'm going to take her even if I have to bring Matsu or Gohei down.
He started to make his way for the hut when he heard footsteps. Eerie footsteps.
He peeked from the tree he was hiding from and saw a figure approaching down the road. Though, he cannot see who it was for it was foggy.
He stepped out from his hiding place and peered into the darkness and the fog to see the figure fast approaching him. The figure was getting nearer. The fog was getting thinner…
The man stopped in his tracks. He stared shockingly at Taka. Truly this wasn't happening, he thought. Of all the people, it had to be him.
"Y-you're … you're K-Koshikawa T-Taka?"
It can't be…
She tried to open her eyes, but her vision was blurred. Her head hurts, and so was her back. She tried to soothe her head by massaging it but she can't move her hands. Then, she felt an itchy and rough feeling around her wrists. Wait. My hands are tied! She tried to kick hard but she found out her feet were tied to.
Her heart started to beat fast. She didn't know what was going on, and her head hurts to open her eyes.
Then, she heard muffled voices. She tried to listen. She could hear them talking even if they tried to keep it down.
"Are you sure you can do this?" grunted a hoarse voice.
"You lack faith in me, Hiruma. Didn't your mother teach you to have more faith in people?" replied the other.
Wait. Hiruma? I know that name…
There was a bit of silence, then…
"He's here."
"The Battousai?" grunted the man with the hoarse voice.
"Hai. I can smell blood."
"C'mon, let's go."
And she heard a slam of a door shut, and footsteps fading away.
Battousai? She worried. There's no other Battousai that I know other than… Kenshin! Oh no! They're going to kill him! What's worse, he might turn back into being Battousai! No! I won't let that happen! Kenshin!
She tried to scream his name but all she could do was cry with her mouth close. She felt that a scarf was tied around her face below her nose, covering her mouth to prevent her from shouting. Great! Now what am I going to do?
"I-It can't be…"
But Taka was more shocked than he is.
"Y-you're Battousai!" This can't be… I must be dreaming!
He remembered that fateful day. He thought to end his precious life was the answer to his problems. But then a swordsman/wanderer came along and gave him light. And because of him, he was able to see Kaoru at last again…
Kenshin couldn't believe what was happening. The one whom he urged to pursue his dream of doing what it takes just to be with the woman he loves was none other than Koshikawa Taka. And the woman was none other than Kaoru, his very own Kaoru.
"N-Nandayou?" he muttered as he stared confusingly at Taka. But Taka only stared at him, speechless. Both of them felt like the whole world was against them.
"Don't worry, punk, I'll take it from here," said a voice coldly from behind Taka. Taka stepped aside, still staring at Kenshin, shocked. A man appeared from behind him. His face was white; his skin was pale and had gray hair. He clutched his katana tightly in his hand and stared maliciously at Kenshin.
"Hello, Battousai," he hissed.
"I knew someone else's involved in this," he glared at him.
"Humph, I thought so. They say Battousai was so great in swordsmanship that he became legendary. Let's see about that."
"Why are you doing this?"
"To finally come face to face with the legendary hitokiri Battousai and to prove to him he's not worthy enough to claim that title."
"You're a sick, psychopath," retorted Kenshin through gritted teeth.
"We're just the same, Battousai. I too was an assassin working for someone. But I realized that he wasn't worthy, so I ventured on my own and kill for myself. Now, killing corrupt officials could be so much fun."
"Then I guess you're Matsu, whom everyone was talking about, killing Meiji officials nowadays," glared Kenshin.
"Nice to know that I'm the talk of the town. And this talk bores me. Let's get on with it."
"You're the one who's making this talk longer," said Kenshin as he made his stance.
"I promise I wouldn't be easy on you," smirked Matsu as he positioned for attack.
"So will I."
Her head suddenly felt light. The dizziness had fade away.
She opened her eyes. Beside her, she saw a familiar face. Her heart leapt for joy. She was saved.
Realizing that her mouth was still covered, she looked at him worriedly, hoping that he would untie the ropes binding her. But he just sat there. Odd.
He stared apologetically at her and kissed her forehead. Kaoru was a bit surprised and confused.
"Gomen nasai," he told her.
He took of the scarf covering her mouth and she gasped for air.
"Alright?" he asked.
"Daijoubu des."
He stared at her.
"Taka, would you mind? Can you please untie the ropes binding my hands? We need to get to Kenshin fast. He might get killed and I wouldn't let Battousai to come out from him. Onegai!"
But he just sat there, staring at her.
"N-Nani?"
"Gomen nasai, angel-sama."
"Oh, no! Taka!" she began to cry, "Y-you did this?"
Taka looked away from her. He couldn't bear to see her like that. This was what he was afraid of.
"N-Nande?" she said between sniffs.
"I have to."
"W-what?"
"Can't you see Kaoru? I'm trying to prevent you from getting hurt again! He's not worthy for you! Battousai's not worthy for you!"
"You have no clue of what's going on! Battousai's gone, forever! This is Kenshin Himura! The one who always brings home a cub of tofu for supper! The one who brings life and inspiration to everyone! T-to me…"
"You don't love Battousai Kaoru! It's Kenshin Himura! Kenshin Himura is just his mask to cover Battousai from the people around him! You don't really love him!"
Kaoru looked away from him, crying. She couldn't bear it, not a bit. Her world was falling apart again, piece by piece.
Why does this have to happen?
Kenshin dodged Matsu's heavy blow. He leapt to his right and landed on his feet, panting. A cut seared across his upper arm.
"Gotten rusty, ne, Battousai?" hissed Matsu.
This shouldn't be it. What has happened to me? He worried.
"C'mon, we're getting to the fun part," snickered Matsu.
"Yurusai!" said Kenshin through gritted teeth and strike with his sword forward with great speed.
Matsu was about to attack too, and when they were about to meet, Kenshin slid to his right and tried to make his blow but Matsu suddenly avoided it. He turned around and slid down, wounding Kenshin's leg. Kenshin fell down and yelled in pain.
"This isn't fun at all," frowned Matsu, "I thought I would be fighting Battousai, not a limpy baka like you."
Kenshin panted, still down on his knees. What is happening to me?
"Your skills have degraded, Battousai. I expected you to be a little faster, but still I managed to wound you, two times around. Hiruma!"
"What?" Gohei yelled.
"I know something that would definitely brighten this match up. Get the hostage!"
TBC-
AUTHOR'S NOTES: I KNOW, THIS CHAPPIE'S TOO SHORT, BUT I PROMISE I'LL MAKE IT UP TO YOU ON THE UPCOMING CHAPTERS. GUYS, IT WOULD REALLY BE NICE IF YOU COULD JUST CLICK THAT BUTTON ON THE BOTTOM LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN AND GIVE ME YOUR SAY ABOUT THIS CHAPPIE. ONEGAI! PKAY, SO THIS CHAPPIE IS WHERE THE FUN AND THE ACTION STARTS, THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST PART OF A TRILOGY, UP TO CHAPTER 15, BUT THAT DOESN'T END THERE YET…
ALL YOU NARUTO VIEWERS OUT THERE! CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO SASUKE AFTER THEIR BATTLE WITH HAKU, THAT GUY WHO IS SO PRETTY HE LOOKS LIKE A GIRL? I KNOW HE WILL EVENTUALLY BE ALIVE AGAIN, WON'T HE? HOW? PLEASE! I NEED ASSURANCE HERE…
GUYS, I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON A NEW RK FIC. I'LL BE POSTING IT AFTER I'VE FINISHED THIS STORY, BUT IT'LL BE ANYTIME SOON. SO GUYS WATCH OUT FOR THAT ONE…HEHEHE…DON'T WORRY, IT MAINLY INVOLVES KENSHIN-KAORU PAIRING, BUT THERE'LL BE OTHER PAIRINGS AS WELL…
AND SO, DO I HAVE TO GO ON WITH THE REVIEWER NOTES NOW? ALRIGHT, HERE IT GOES…
BRITTANIE LOVE: Thank you! I hope you like this chapter too! (Smiles from ear to ear) You're really kind! Ciao!
ROYAL BLUEKITSUNE: They're twins? I know Tae has a sister but I never knew they were twins! And so her name was Sae. And I was right; Omasu's the one with the long hair. Arigato for the info! Thank you also for reading and reviewing! Ciao!
ETERNAL LIGHT/ FIRE DRAGON: Aww! Thanks! And thank you also for reading and reviewing my fic! Yippee! (Twirls around) Please ignore my, erm, ballistic side. She tends to get really hyper. So when are you going to post your story? Does it involve a Kenshin-Kaoru pairing? I can't wait!
And for the others who read this story, A BIG THANK YOU!
Note: This is mainly a product of my boredom and insanity. Please bear with me.
Kaoru: What have you done to Kenshin? (Glares madly)
Sutefani–chan: (Whistles) Easy girl, he only got two wounds and a bit of panting.
Kaoru: A bit?
Sutefani–chan: Well, all right. A lot.
Kenshin: (eyes in a twirling mode, seeing stars) Oro…