Disclaimer:.....you know that I don't own anyone right? RIGHT?! good..well except for a few people that I will make up in the beginning
Chapter 3 Female Battousai, Beaten Wolf, and Missing Uniform?
Being a cop in the Meiji Era is hard with all these fools to keep in check, as well as the damn paper work that seems to follow. Hajime Saito rubbed his temples in aggravation as he felt the beginnings of a headache coming on.
Damn crooks! All they do is mess up my day with their petty crimes! If you're going to interrupt my alone time, at least do something that's worth a damn!
"Excuse me sir?" a little voice squeaked from the oak door.
"What is it this time, Anzai?" Saito asked grumpily, placing papers on his desk.
"Well, um, Saito sir, it-"
"Spit it OUT!" Saito roared, the stuttering officer was getting on his nerves.
"An underground Organization called the Tikara Ryu, has been smuggling illegal drugs, weapons, and classified information on the Government. They are also in league with the Kyoto Organization, which specializes in Artillery as well as the Aizu Co., which specializes in new medical drugs. However, the man who heads the Aizu Co., Mr. Aritomo Deguchi, wants out, and he wants protection; he wants the Battousai," Anzai explained quickly.
Saito narrowed his eyes and growled in irritation. Fools, he thought.
"I'm guessing that this Mr. Deguchi, is hiding from the Tikara Ryu as well as the Kyoto Organization? Where are we to rendezvous with this man and for how long?"
"Yes, he is. He wants to meet with the Battousai personally before he becomes the bodyguard. He will set up a meeting with him at the Tyousen Teahouse in 2 days time. There, the Battousai will know everything,"
Well this is going to be hard, in his peace of mind, anyway. However, it will give me an excellent excuse to spar with the moron, Saito thought, amused.
"Thank you Anzai, I will personally see to it that Battousai gets this message," Saito said and waved the nervous officer away.
Saito smiled to himself as he finished filing the papers away. He opened the heavy door to the Tokyo's Police Headquarter's and walked out in the direction of the Kamiya Dojo.
"Oro, Miss Kaoru I think that this is enough that it is!" Kenshin said as Kaoru threw more clothes in the pile for Kenshin to try on.
"But Kenshin these are so CUTE!" Kaoru explained, giving Kenshin her famous puppy eyes.
"OK Miss Kaoru, but promise me that you'll only buy just two pairs of clothes for me, I already feel bad about you spending your money on this unworthy one, that I do," Kenshin said as he picked out a dark green gi and gray hakama and walked to the changing room.
"Oh Kenshin you idiot,"Kaoru mumbled to herself as she sat down and waited for Kenshin to come back out.
A few minutes later, Kenshin strolled out wearing a dark green gi and gray hakama.
So handsome, his muscular chest, his strong rippling arms and legs, as well as his taut-
"Umm Miss Kaoru? How does this suit me?" Kenshin asked, fidgeting a little under her gaze.
back. "Oh, um..You look exceptional, very handsome Kenshin," she answered, a slight blush tainting her cheeks as she smiled.
Miss Kaoru you are so very kind and beautiful. More so than the word would ever hope to mean, Kenshin contentedly sighed inwardly, as Kaoru's inflamed cheeks only added to her splendor.
"Thank you Miss Kaoru, you are too kind that you are," he replied, his eyes seemingly glued to Kaoru's.
They stared at each other, a sense of longing hung in the air, but was soon broken as Kaoru stuttered,"Umm..uh...Ke-Kenshin? You can try on more clothes if you want," She blushed again as she broke eye contact with Kenshin.
She handed him a new pair of clothes, deep blue gi and white hakama, their hands brushing against one another. Though instead of pulling away, their hands stayed where they were. Slowly, Kenshin's hand rubbed Kaoru's in an affectionate way, and when she looked into his eyes, those warm purple orbs were overflowing with love.
Kaoru returned the kind gesture by rubbing her thumb over his and slowly grabbing his hand, dropping everything else. Butterflies were creating havoc in her stomach, as she awaited Kenshin and his luscious lips to claim hers. Kenshin pulled her into a tight embrace, fearing that if he loosened his grip then she'd float away.
Kenshin pulled away from their embrace and looked Kaoru in the eyes. Kaoru closed her eyes as she felt Kenshin's lips descend upon her own, her heart crying out in joy and happiness. She, being unschooled in such things, tried to return the seemingly chaste kiss with a more passionate one. Kenshin smiled in her mouth at her antics, and coaxed her mouth open with his tongue. She heartily complied, as her mouth parted open and allowed him access.
They broke away, needing air, still staring into one another's eyes and still holding each other...in a public place.
"Ahh, young love, seeing it with your own eyes brings you happiness, that I believe," someone said beside them.
They both blushed and slowly came apart from their endearing embrace, and turned to the owner of the voice.
"I'm sorry to interrupt such a beautiful thing, but I just need to know, are you going to be buying these clothes?" an old short woman asked, holding the green and blue gi along with the gray and white hakama.
Unable to voice her answer, Kaoru merely nodded, smiling as she did so.
"Then you may take them freely, I know true love when I see it, for I was one of her grateful victims, and I want you to have this as a gift," smiled the old woman as she handed over the clothes.
Kaoru's eyes widened at the gift and immediately refused,"I'm sorry madam, but we cannot take clothes from you, though I thank you eternally for your kind sentiments."
"Nonsense, I am giving this to you and the only one who can take it back is me, so you have no choice. Please take it," the woman urged, eyes getting bigger.
Kaoru sighed in defeat, and nodded as she was handed the clothes. "I appreciate this, thank you so very much!" Kaoru said, feeling giddy once again and hugged the elder woman.
"Yes, thank you so very much, it is very kind of you, that it is," added Kenshin gratefully.
"Think nothing of it! The only payment I expect is to see you two happy in each other's arms," she sighed contentedly as she looked at the two love-birds, and then said,"Now shooo, go home, and know that love conquers all!" She shoved them non-too-gently out of her store and waved good-bye to them.
Kaoru was blushing madly again and hugged the clothes against her face.
"Kaoru?" Kenshin began as he laid his hand on her shoulder to stop her from moving. He really had to get his love for her out before someone else could take the opportunity away.
Kaoru stopped in her tracks and turned to face her beloved in the eyes.
"I-I," he began.
"Shhh, I know, I love you too," she whispered to him and leaned up to him and kissed his mouth with all the love that she had pent up inside her.
He felt pure happiness and joy as he returned her kiss, knowing that she too, loved him as much as he did her.
They broke off the kiss, needing the air to breath, Kenshin then spoke, his voice low,"Kaoru, I have loved you for so long, though I waited, unsure of how you looked at me and because I deemed myself unworthy of your love."
"Kenshin, you should never need to feel like that around me, people despite what the have done, they deserve happiness, and l know that you definitely deserve happiness because you are my happiness. I loved you for who you were, are, and will be. You will always be, Kenshin Himura and I will always be by your side, never faltering in loving you," she stated firmly and lovingly.
"This is why I love you, Kaoru, for your stubbornness and undying need to do the right thing as well as helping others who need it the most," Kenshin said, caressing her face with his hand.
She leaned into the embrace and caressed his own cheek saying,"I love you and always will, Kenshin."
Kenshin took her hand and kissed it saying,"I love you Kaoru, and not even death will deter my love for you."
Kaoru's eyes were brimming with tears of happiness and threw her arms around Kenshin, dropping the packages on the ground.
Yahiko along with Megumi, was silent, not quite believing the outlandish story that the red-haired woman had just related to them. To them, time travel wasn't even in anyone's line of thinking-it didn't exist.
But slowly and surely, their brains processed the newly acquired information, all the while needing to know more though unsure of how to ask.
Megumi was quick to recover as she laughed,"Ohohohohohohhoo, so this means that Tanuki and Ken-san finally get together!! I was wondering when they would tie the knot!"
"Yes Fox. Oh I forgot to ask you before, Urako, but are there people who are like us where you come from?" Sano asked, backing up slowly, fearful that he'd have to run for his life.
"Yes, Sanosuke. You, 'the Fox', Yahiko, Shinta, Kaoru...I guess. I haven't seen her yet, anyway- Misao, and her 'Aoshi-sama'," she answered, a little sadness edged her words.
"What do you mean, you haven't heard from her yet?" Megumi asked. 'Had something happened to her?' Megumi thought, feeling her heart beat faster at that disturbing thought.
"Well I haven't met her nor has Shinta, unless he's sneaking around with her," Urako said truthfully. But I now know what to look for, thanks to this Kaoru here.
"Alright! I knew it! So, Urako, am I handsome?" Sano asked smugly.
Urako and Megumi just snorted in disgust and shook their heads. What an idiot,'they both thought.
"What? It is a perfectly understandable question," Sano stated, crossing his arms in defiance.
"For an idiot Rooster-Head, maybe,"Yahiko spat.
"Hey you little-"
"FOR THE LAST TIME, I'M NOT LITTLE! STUPID ROOSTER-HEAD!" Yahiko boomed, latching himself onto Sano's hair and chewing earnestly.
Urako shook her head, Only Sano and Yahiko would do something like that.
Megumi turned to Urako and asked silently,"Anyone else that is there, like Jin-eh or Kanryu?"
"Yes, of course, along with the Mibu Wolf," she replied .
She must miss her family back in her own time. She looks like Aoshi, all cold and emotionless. It's sort of scary, I mean I wonder what made her to act like this. It couldn't have been something good, and it isn't good to keep all those emotions inside you like that. And being the doctor I must intervene and help this woman! Megumi thought earnestly as she walked up to Urako, who was looking at the kid and Rooster-Head fight.
"Urako, I need to speak with you, I know you just arrived here and all, but I need to know...I need to know why you're ," Megumi stuttered, suffocating under the harsh gaze of Urako. 'Is this what Battousai was like? she thought absently, and shivered.
Urako sighed and looked down to the dojo floor and said,"Come, we must find some privacy."
Megumi nodded silently and followed her patient out of the dojo and into the yard. She followed her past the green grass and the newly planted flowers and absently smiled as she remembered the Rooster-Head's silly antics at asking her out. Though, when Megumi looked at the young woman in front of her, she wondered if this Urako had any good memories to look back on and smile at.
They entered the small dining room and sat down, an uncomfortable silence hung in the air.
"My parents were killed in front of me, their blood staining my face as well as my soul. It was the first time I had seen that metallic smelling substance, though it was hardly the last. This was the first and only time I had felt fear and since I had been training and raising my kid brother, Shinta, and little sister Tomoe," Urako paused a little while.
"You have..have a sister? Sano never said anything about that,"Megumi whispered, afraid that her tears would start flowing from her eyes.
"Yes, I did, and Sano wouldn't have said anything because I didn't tell them this part of the story,"Urako paused again, gathering her bloody memories.
"Shinta, never remembered her and for that I was grateful, for he would never have to burden himself with the memories. She was a small and fragile girl, brown eyes and raven hair. She never liked the smell of blood that I grew up in and begged me to stop. I tried, I really did, but I couldn't let it go. I sort of felt like abandoning something important to me and if I gave up now then I'd never be able to figure out what. She was so helpless just standing there.."
FLASH BACK
Raining..it was always raining on days like this.....like the weather somehow knew of the blood spilt on the ground and wished it to be washed away. Tomoe's eyes were big, they always were when she was scared of something. Even in death, they would not close...not even flinch.
She screamed at me to stop..begged for me to not kill anymore...I couldn't...my pride meant everything to me..but I couldn't stand the look of loss in her eyes.
I nodded, saying silently that I would quit killing and strode over to her. Her eyes meant everything to me, they slowly regained the hope of a new beginning and her smile grew, reaching her eyes. She opened her arms to me, sort of like welcoming back a lost soldier who had just come home from a war. In a way I was...I was coming home to her..my little sister. Though in dropping my guard, we were attacked. I cursed myself for not knowing...they knocked me down and held my head up so that I saw what they did to her. They being Shishio's men or so I presume....I struggled so hard tears streaming down my face as I saw them beat her, her cries echoing forever in my mind, while I could do nothing to stop her pain. I lashed out at my captives, trying to protect her..even if it were belated, I still had to try..for her. I screamed for them to stop, to take pity on her and to just kill me...but no....they wanted me to suffer..for all the ones I killed. They didn't even lay a finger on me..but her..I couldn't even look at her...her bloody body was sickening to me...my body was wracching with the tears.This wouldn't have happened if I had just said no the first time and went home with her....Tomoe...still so young...why did I have to do that to you? Why did you have to suffer...you did nothing...
Her body was broken..her clothes were in tatters hanging on her lifeless body..her blood was still leaking from her young form when they were finished with her......they said that they hoped I had learned my lesson....and they left....well I should say that they tried to..because I was in a state of shock and pain and I wanted nothing more than their own blood at the moment.....And I got what I wanted....
I stood over her form for hours...just watching her...pretending that she was still alive...that I could still hear her sweet melodic voice in my head....
I screamed out loud from all the pain, from all the anguish, and from all the fear that I had left inside me.....I picked up her body and burned it, vowing to never shed a person's blood if they didn't deserve it.....no one knows about her existence except for me and Shishio.....and Hiko....
The rain.....it somehow knew that blood was to be spilt on this day...washing it away from existence but soaking it into my mind.
END OF FLASH BACK
Megumi was balling and flung herself at the stoic form of Urako, grasping her tightly in her hug. Urako returned her gesture and started to cry just a little. Megumi started to say sorry and everything even though she didn't do anything.
What pain!! Not even I had to suffer like that! And nothing Ken-san has told me amounts to something such as this!
"Please..please, for me...cry for me....it's alright to cry Urako...let it out ..please," Megumi sobbed as she tightened her hold on Urako.
Megumi instantly felt the back of her kimono begin to dampen with Urako's tears, and smiled knowing that she had helped another overcome some personal boundaries.
She rubbed her back in a comforting way and whispered,"I'll be your sister, I have never had one and I'll gladly be a part of your life...if you'd let me."
Urako sniffed and said,"I might not stay long..but-"
"I'll be one for as long as you need one...and not just me..but Kaoru and the rest of the gang as well!" said Megumi cheerfully.
"Yeah Urako, we'll be here for ya!" Sano said and quickly turned around to wipe his eyes.
Megumi widened her eyes and turned to look at the lanky figure hunched over in the entrance to the dining room. She smiled at his caring charm and turned her attention back to the weeping woman. Megumi was waiting for some kind of come back and noticed that Urako wasn't moving. Panicking, Megumi pulled Urako's still form away from her and stared at her unmoving face.
"S-Sano! Her..her eyes-"Megumi started, fear bubbling within her stomach.
"Are white!" he gasped, his own eyes widening in horror.
In all her years of medical study, never had Megumi come across something like this. She had no idea what she could do, or if in fact Urako's health was in danger. She felt so useless now, this must have been how Urako felt only ten times worse.
"Sano, I-I don't know what is wrong with her...I think that we should put her in someone's room to sleep," she said, fear gripping her heart.
"Ok..alright..uh Megumi?" Sano asked as he hefted Urako's still form.
Megumi looked at him, tears beginning to fall from her already puffy cheeks.
"You're the best Doctor I know...You'll know what do to when the time comes, I believe in you," he said and kissed her red lips. Megumi was shocked at first at his boldness but returned the kiss with all the pent up passion she had within her.
They broke off for air and stared into each other's eyes with love and understanding and Sano then left to put Urako down in Kaoru's room. Megumi's eyes still glittered with tears, but they were of love for her Rooster-Head and breathed in through her nose to recover from her little grievance.
Sano opened the shoji door to Kaoru's room with his foot and walked over to where her futon was.
Hmmm...her futon isn't made..Kenshin must have definitely done something! he thought as he smiled triumphantly.
He laid the still figure of Urako on the futon, eyes still open, as if seeing something that he couldn't.
What are you seeing? Come on girl, we are all worried about you, please snap out of it! he thought desperately.
He looked at her unmoving form, he felt something bad was going to happen.
He walked out of the room, the feeling of evil getting stronger with each step he made away from her form.
What is going on? I haven't felt like this since-'his thoughts were interrupted by Yahiko shouting.
"Oh, there's someone at the gate!" Yahiko announced as he bounded into the yard.
"Who is it-Ahh it's you!!" Sano screeched, balling his hand into a fist.
"Yes moron, it is I, the best. I hope I didn't startle you, I hope I scared you," Saito smirked, as he walked past the gate.
"You damn dog! Go and run back to the Police Headquarters with your tail behind your legs like the coward you are!"
"Wow, the insults are getting cockier every time I see you, Rooster-Head! Do you recite them in front of a mirror?" Saito blew smoke in Sano's face, and continued up the path towards the house.
"Halt, do not step any further inside this house," a voice boomed.
"Battousai," Saito said, amazement evident in his voice.
Why didn't I sense him? the Wolf thought.
Sano's eyes were wide, he saw her with blood dripping down the side of her face, her eyes back to their original color. Megumi was behind her, just as confused as he was.
What the hell is going on here?
Urako smiled, keeping her bangs over eyes.
"Shall we?" Urako asked, emotionless.
"After you Battousai," Saito smirked, as he followed 'Kenshin' into the dojo.
Sano watched them enter the dojo and walked over to Megumi.
"Megumi...what is going on?" Sano asked not really understanding the situation nor the event that just happened.
"I don't know, maybe we should follow them just to make sure...her eyes.." she trailed off.
"Yea, her eyes are back to their original hue, what is up with that? I mean what happened?" Sano asked a bit bewildered.
"She told me she saw it," Megumi said slowly not really understanding the words that came out of her mouth.
They stepped into the dojo, sure-footed and confident. The air was clouded with alter-egos and pride. There was a sense of longing hanging the air, though it was different for both fighters. The silence seemed practiced and was mutually understood by both, as they remembered the old times of fighting.
The air seems different..it isn't the same ki...though it feels so familiar...something must have happened to him....but what? thought Saito, a bit puzzled at his opponent's aura.
"First, tell me of the purpose of this visit, Wolf," stated Urako, disrupting the air with her voice.
"But of course, Battousai," he began, as he lit another cigarette," I have just gotten word of a smuggling organization called Tikara Ryu, which smuggles Government information, artillery, and drugs to rising factions who dislike the Meiji Government. The organization that produces the artillery for the Tikara Ryu, is called the Kyoto Organization. The other is called the Aizu Company, they send out new drugs that they have made. They are Aizu's top Medical Research Facility and they supply all the hospitals with their new drugs. I don't know where they get information on the Meiji Government, but they probably have spies within each Governmental house soaking up information. But, the head of the Aizu Co., Arimoto Deguchi, wants out, for he fears his business will be no more if word of his dealings with the rebels gets out. He requires a bodyguard of great skill to protect him as he moves away to where ever he goes. He will tell you personally everything that you need to know, when you meet him at Tyousen Teahouse in two days time."
"When, within the timeframe of 48hrs, do I meet this Arimoto Deguchi?"
"Does this mean that the Battousai accepts?"
"Answer my question and I will let you know,"
"You will receive a letter within 24hrs of this meeting, telling you when and where,"
"Alright, I accept," Urako stated curtly as she turned away from him.
Saito watched, with mild confusion, as Kenshin'walked over to a small box with buttons on it. As he moved away from the small box, he asked,"Do you mind if I warm up a bit?"
Frowning, the wolf nodded in affirmation.
What is going on? thought Saito, He moves so differently from the Battousai that I know....hmmm.
Urako then waited for the music of the White Stripes' song 'Seven Nation Army', to start playing.
Saito quirked an eyebrow at the strange noise emitting from the small device and was totally blown away at what 'Kenshin' seemed to be doing.
Now I know that this isn't Hiten Mitsurugi...he isn't even in his battou-jitsu stance! He's wide open for an attack...something is going on, Saito thought and narrowed his eyes as he unsheathed his katana.
She waited for the starting beat of the song, letting her feet glide gracefully over the floor, stopping to pound the ground with the heel of her foot as the drums became more constant. Her shoulders moved in sync with the beat, bouncing up and down, as she walked forward to her opponent.
As the guitar started playing she increased her speed, springing her new kunais, though disappeared before Saito could even flinch. She reappeared behind him, throwing her kunais at his sides. The force behind her throw was enough to pin him to the wall, mirroring the attack she had used on Yahiko.
The song slowed again, and so did she, though she never stopped moving. Saito detached himself from the wall and got into his Gatotsu stance.
What is this? The stance is hard to predict, where does he find the time to practice this interesting technique? Battousai will surely pay for this! Saito silently swore, as he tried not to rip his uniform.
Urako ran at the Wolf, seemingly unarmed, and when she was but a hair's breath away from his katana, she sprang out her twin short swords from her sleeves. Blocking the attack with one, she attacked Saito's mid-section, slicing horizontally.
Her blade cut his torso in a single line, though not deep enough for him to die from. A thin red line appeared and dyed his uniform to a dark purple.
They jumped away from each other, Saito heaving a little and Urako moving to the song.
"You're getting better Battousai. Whatever happened to your reverse-blade sword? Did you finally get some brains in that senseless mind of yours?" Saito asked, quite curious as to where his opponent's blade was.
Something is off. I have a feeling that this isn't Battousai, but who is it then? thought Saito as he watched for a reaction from Kenshin.
Urako just smiled, and waited for the guitar to speed up again. She then unsheathed her katana after readjusting her hidden swords within her sleeves. She took a few practice swings that were in sync with the drumming beat, and then vanished from view. She reappeared behind Saito, her back to him, and spun around aiming for his katana by his side.
Saito noticed this just before she made contact with him, jumped to the side, and countered with one of his Gotatsu attacks. Urako easily dodged him as she spun, and slammed the hilt of her katana into his back, causing him to fall.
She walked around her fallen prey, until she was facing the front of him. She kicked his sword away, and bent down so that she was face to face with him.
Saito inwardly gasped as he saw the amber eyes piercing him, but mostly because he noticed that the gap between the folds of 'his' gi were open and revealed cleavage.
Battousai's a...a woman? No that can't be! I've seen him bare chested before in battle! This woman dares mock me?!! I'll show her!
Saito tried to get up, but to no avail, his back bone bruised, making him unable to walk for a while.
"You shouldn't do that, Wolf. Unless you never want to walk again," she smirked and walked back to the mini stereo to turn it off.
"You will pay for this! Though I admit that you are far more better than Battousai is, we will battle again," cursed Saito as he tried to move.
"You don't listen to directions do you?" began Urako as she walked towards the shoji door and yelled,"Megumi!! Get your medical butt in here right now!"
Saito growled and moved his hand to massage his bruised back, though winced at the contact.
Damn that woman! She managed to take me out in one hit by her katana hilt! And curse that strange noise! I couldn't concentrate fully on my Gotatsu attacks! he growled again at his incompetence and rested his head on his arms.
"Ororororororororo! Miss Urako what were you doing in there that requires Miss Megumi's help?" Kenshin asked as he almost fell off the steps, Kaoru right behind him.
I could have sworn that I had felt Saito's ki just a moment ago!...oh no..it couldn't be.., he thought, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips.
Grabbing Kenshin's arm to steady him, she winked and said,"Come inside and see for yourself."
Confused, Kenshin walked inside, followed by the others, and collectively gasped.
On the ground lay Officer Hajime Saito, ex-Third Leader of the Shinsengumi, down for the count by a young woman.
How did-what-why-DAMN! everyone thought, shocked and mouths agape in awe.
"Wolf, stay still, Megumi will treat you-Megumi, here, now!" Urako shouted as she bent down to Saito, who was growling.
Megumi snapped back to reality when she heard her name called and rushed to the injured officer. She looked at Saito's still form, pain evident on his face. She really wanted the low-down how this 'Urako', managed to beat and kick Saito's ass.
Urako bent down and pushed some of Saito's uniform up, revealing a dark purple reddish looking bruise.
"Hey Urako, what the Hell did you do?" Yahiko bluntly asked as he spied the nasty bruise on Saito. The others all silently nodded in agreement, wanting to know how she did it.
Saito twitched and groaned in pain as Megumi touched the bruise and shouted,"Stop it woman! It hurts!"
"Hey don't talk to Fox lady like that!" Sano snapped, angry that someone would insult Megumi.
"Oh, piss off, you moron!" Saito growled, as the doctor placed some medical rubbing lotion on his bruise.
"Now, now Wolf-would you like to reiterate what I did to you or should I?" asked Urako calmly as she walked before Saito.
Saito growled in irritation and squeezed his eyes shut against the pain.
"That's what I thought Hajime Saito," she taunted as she lifted herself up and faced her audience. "Now, where do I begin? Oh yes, he came barging in-"
"Just the fighting part, Urako," Sano interrupted quickly, not wanting anyone to know how embarrassed he was at being insulted by Saito.
"Right. Anyway, I beat him using my Song Technique,"
The Kenshingumi sweat dropped at this, though quickly recovered with slight confusion and simultaneously exclaimed,"HUH?"
The Wolf huffed in irritation as he spat,"Look, she beat me by dancing to the beat of this song. By continuously moving, I couldn't predict her movements. She's extremely fast and powerful. But I would like to know-"
"Who I am?"
"Yes, if it isn't too much trouble,"
Urako sighed and replied,"Ok, it's like this, I come from the future, about 200 years in fact. My name is Urako Himura, and I am a Battousai of that era. I was brought here by a tiny time machine that I stole and unconsciously turned it on. The people who made this possible were going to go back in time and destroy the Meiji government from ever existing, but I stopped that by stealing it. Before I left, my brother Shinta Himura, was in great danger and I tried to contact him to tell him to go to Master Hiko's place, where he would be protected. He was going to be killed by three traitors within my organization; Akira, Enishi, and Cho. The reason they would kill him is to get me to work for their group-the Kyoto Organization and use my powers. My power of foresight. Though how they found out was beyond me since the only ones who know is my fiancee, my brother and Hiko. And since I would not go to them, the traitors, someone of great power has blocked my visions and sent them unknowingly to Kaoru." she gestured to the woman standing next to Kenshin.
All eyes turned to Kaoru, who nodded, saying,"Yes, though I thought they were just nightmares, nothing more."
"They sometimes take on the form of nightmares or visions. I believe that it was you Kaoru, who had my gift because you seemed to recognize me when we first met. But, now, before the Wolf came by, I had a vision. And because I was still awake and it was a long one, my eyes turned to a milky white color, and I became unresponsive to the outside world,"
"But what about the blood on the side of your face," Sano asked as her pointed to the dried blood on her face.
"Oh, the vision that I had was a physical one. Meaning that whatever physically happens there happens to me in reality. That vision was dark and the blood was merely a symbol of death to come to someone," she replied as she tried to wipe off the dried blood.
"Who died?" Yahiko asked, little butterflies of apprehension filling his stomach.
Urako turned to face the little boy and replied,"I don't know, but no one here."
Kaoru let out a sigh of relief that she had held, realizing that Kenshin was not among the dead in her dreams. Which reminded her-
"Urako, about my dreams..I have had some about blood and a young woman; you, to be precise. Why is that?" she asked, twisting some of her kimono around in her hands.
Kenshin looked at Kaoru worridly, took her hand and squeezed it affectionately.
Kaoru looked at him, smiled gratefully, blushed a little, and squeezed his hand back.
Urako looked at the two and smiled, while the others were gaping and thinking, What happened when they went to buy new clothes?
Saito snorted and thought, It's about time. Tokio kept on asking about them!
Urako shrugged and answered,"That was me, witnessing a murder."
That got everyone's attention and only Sano and Megumi understood her pain. Megumi walked over to her and whispered,"You don't have to say anything, if you don't want to."
Urako looked at her kindly and said,"No, thank you though. I must do this...if I don't I'll go crazy again."
Kenshin looked at the pair, feeling something akin to dread filled his soul as he stood there.
Oh no..a murder...just like me. It's like a bad feeling of unwanted nostalgia...for me it was my first step towards becoming Battousai, he thought, a cold wave of fear gripping his heart.
Urako sighed and began her bloody and depressing tale of her sister and parents' murder. Everyone was quiet throughout her tale, even Saito, and stayed that way moments after.
Tomoe, even in that time you still died..how unfortunate to continuously suffer...and how I wish I could comfort Urako for she still seems lost after your death..just like I was, Kenshin sighed, eyes brimming with tears and walked over to Urako.
"Urako..I know what you're going through, and though it isnt easy...you must find the strength to move on..that's what Tomoe would have wanted you to do in the end..she would have had wanted you to live in happiness, and I believe that entirely, that I do," Kenshin stated, his eyes boring into Urako's.
Urako bowed her head and said,"It's not that simple...I still live in blood, even in my world. Sure, you did my government worlds of good by doing what you did..but people of cruel heart and wicked mind will never change, and while that is still around so shall I, defending the weak."
"While your intentions are noble, I cannot say the same thing of your actions. You must cease killing all together, and only then will you find peace, that you will," Kenshin said.
"I agree with the idiot. Even though I myself, find fun in sparring with Battousai here, it isn't healthy to live in the past," Saito commented, which scared everyone.
"Urako,"Kaoru spoke, taking her hand in her own,"this the first step in becoming a better person, letting your defenses down to talk about your past. Now what you have to do is find someone who can strengthen your will to live, someone who is special to you in every way-"
"I have," Urako interrupted, starring into Kaoru's orbs,"Should I elaborate?"
Kaoru nodded mutely, took Kenshin's hand and backed away so that Urako could address the whole group.
"Well, I should start back on the fact that many organizations had heard of my gift of foresight, and wanted me for themselves. Besides the Kyoto Organization, the Shinsengumi was another group that wanted my gifts as well as other things. They had many strong fighters but none as strong as I. Their best fighter, was known as the Wolf," she paused and looked around.
What??? There's another Hajime Saito? Great, our world is doomed! Sano bellowed, eyes bulging.
"It was already doomed from your existence, you moron. I, however, knew that my heirs would overtake my place in the Shinsengumi, so uh..Battousai girl, continue please," Saito said, now able to move a little with nominal pain. Kenshin sweat dropped.
"Did I say Hajime Saito? I said Wolf...and that's what he calls himself...arrogant bastard...but anyway-As their best fighter, he was nominated to capture me for his Clan's benefit. But of course, things like that don't always go as smoothly as you'd like. So-the two of us met and fought and I always won. We kept on fighting and fighting and fighting, but one night I went out to seek him out. I watched his bloody battle with Shishio's men who had apparently had captured some girl who looked like me to use as bait to lure the Wolf to them so that they could kill him finally as well as dissuade anyone else to still look for me. To make a long story short-I stopped the battle just before he got his head lopped off, killed the rest of Shishio's men and told the little girl to go home,"
"So basically you just saved his life and now you're all lovey-dovey and all that," Saito said, sitting up.
Why do I care? I must have be reading too many of those Romance novels Tokio keeps around the house, Saito thought and rubbed his temples at his ever increasing headache.
"Yes, so I hope that answers your little statement about finding a reason to live," Urako said as she faced Kaoru.
"Well, yes and no, you're still in quite a lot of personal pain-wait a minute-you didn't tell him, did you?" Kaoru asked, and glared at Kenshin for a second.
Kenshin laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head and stuttered,"Well, maybe she didn't want to burden people with her problems and tried to deal with them in her own way, that she did."
"Kenshin you idiot," Megumi and Kaoru said at the same time.
"Kenshin, it's best to explain your problems to those you trust and love so that they will help you through them and to the much needed peace of mind," Kaoru said as she glared at Kenshin and then turned her attention to Urako.
"When all that is fine and dandy, there is still one problem," Urako said, peeking out from behind her bangs.
"What is that?" Kaoru asked, obviously not understanding.
"I can't get back to my time and he will certainly go berserk looking for me," Urako said.
The Kenshingumi sweat dropped and Kaoru responded a little embarrassed,"Oh yea..oops? hehe.."
"It's alright, I know that my Organization won't give up on me and that they are finding some way to get me back," Urako said as she smiled brightly at Kaoru.
"Why don't you go back using that time machine thing that you talked about?" Yahiko asked, something akin to confusion written on his face.
"I don't think that this little machine was built for multiple travels through time. I think that it is a one time deal, here I'll even show you," she explained, pulling something out of her sleeves.
"Wow, you can keep a lot of stuff in there, can't ya? What do you keep in there Kenshin?" Sano asked and he received an all around sweat drop from the whole company.
Saito shook his head and muttered,"Moron."
"Sano, this unworthy one thinks that, that kind of information is not important, that he does," Kenshin said, rubbing the back of his head.
Urako fished out the small box and held it out in front of her. She felt nothing of the small tremors, nor the odd color change, or even a bright flash of light. She looked critically at the small box and it's crevices lining its body, trying to see where it once caved in.
Wait a second.., Urako thought, brows creased in thought.
"Everyone, be careful and don't come near me, I don't want to hurt you. I'll be blasting my ki to see if that has any effect on this box," she said, focusing herself on the box in her hand.
"Like you could hurt anyone with ki! The best that you could do is probably a few wind tricks," Saito scoffed.
Urako quirked an eyebrow but composed herself and blasted her ki to its near maximum amount.
Everyone shuttered and fell to the ground, not in death, but their knees gave out because Urako's ki sucked up their strength. Saito was struggling to keep his already torn clothes on.
Kaoru fell but was caught by the already faltering Kenshin, and they both landed on the dojo floor. Kaoru was laying her back on his chest, her head just below his kin. She could hear his heart beat, it was quick due to the scary ki episode. She smiled despite the fact and relished the feeling of being in Kenshin's arms. She tried to speak but found that she couldn't and moved her head quickly to see Kenshin's eyes staring down at her. She instead mouthed the words,'Thank you,' and smiled at him. He smiled at her and brought a hand around and placed it on her hair and caressed it.
This is her ki? I can't even do this! ORO! Kenshin thought, slight fear bubbling within his stomach.
Such power, not even I, the Wolf of Mibu, could ever hope to reach this new height in power-if only in ki, Saito thought, eyes wide in amazement.
The Kenshingumi were soon pulled out of each of their thoughts when a loud -RIIIIPPPPPP- was heard.
Confused, they looked around to look for the source of their confusion. Sano looked at a ripped piece of clothing, blue in color, and followed the trail to a bigger pile of blue cloth.
His eyes suddenly fell upon the figure in the corner of the room, crouched over something. His small smirk grew into a bigger smile as he started laughing loudly, tears coming from his tightly closed eyes. Everyone immediately looked at Sano quizzically as he rolled on the ground laughing so loudly that they had to cover their ears. All Sano could do was point to the crouched figure of..........
(A/n-this is the song by the White Stripes that I had playing during the little battle, ;) )
Seven Nation Army
Im gonna fight em off
A seven nation army couldnt hold me back
Theyre gonna rip it off
Taking their time right behind my back
And Im talking to myself at night
Because I cant forget
Back and forth through my mind
Behind a cigarette
And the message coming from my eyes
Says leave it alone
Dot want to hear about it
Every single ones got a story to tell
Everyone knows about it
From the Queen of England to the hounds of hell
And if I catch it coming back my way
Im gonna serve it to you
And that aint what you want to hear,
But thats what Ill do
And the feeling coming from my bones
Says find a home
Im going to Wikita
Far from this opera for evermore
Im gonna work the straw
Make the sweat drip out of every pore
And Im bleeding, and Im bleeding, and Im bleeding
Right before the lord
All the words are gonna bleed from me and I will think
No more
And the stains coming from my blood
Tell me go back home