Chapter 4
New Friends and Foes
A shadow streaked through the night. No one would notice him. It looked as if he was in a hurry to get somewhere important, and he was. Ryou Makimura was rushing to his boss. The brown haired green-eyed man was hired as a spy to acquire information referring to the Battousai by the only group who dared rival him at every turn. Ryou ran into the innocent looking police station and started looking for smoke. Where there was smoke, there was Satio Hajime. Or at least so the members of the police force said. He calmly walked through the station and saw his boss at last. Saito was sitting at his desk, which was covered in folders from various cases, smoking. As Ryou approached, Saito looked up and gestured for him to sit down in the chair next to the cluttered desk.
"I trust you have some information for me?" Saito asked with interest.
"I do. It seems our friend has a woman with him now. The woman is Kamiya's daughter." Ryou stated. At the mention of Kamiya, Saito's eyebrows went up.
"Does she know any of the information we trusted her father with?"
"Not sure, but I plan to find out."
"Good. You know what to do if she does know anything and decides to tell our red-haired friend." Saito said dismissing Ryou immediately. Ryou nodded and headed back to the apartment.
Back at the apartment, Kaoru and Sano were parked in front of a big screen TV playing Soul Calibur 2. At which Sano was getting his butt kicked. Kenshin just watched them taking amusement in the beating Sano was taking.
"Come on Jou-Chan. Give me a break! You've won 7 times in a row." Sano pleaded as she KO'd Sano another time.
"Nope. But if I recall you were the one bragging that only Battousai could beat you. Guess I proved you wrong." Kaoru said as she laughed at Sano's pleading face. If anyone looked closely at her eyes they would see small traces of silver mixed with the sapphire blue, but no one did except Battousai because Sano's and Kaoru's eyes were glued to the TV once again.
'This could be trouble.' Battousai thought with a concerned expression. Images from his fight with Night Flash played through his head, which was a fight he never wanted to go through again.
'I don't feel any hostility coming from her. Maybe if she decides to switch, it won't be Night Flash. At least I hope.' The Rurouni piped up.
'It seems like you're getting too close to her.'
'What would make you think that?' The Rurouni replied with an innocent smile.
'When you do things like that. Oh and next time I let you take control stop saying Oro. It's aggravating.'
'Oro? What do you mean?'
"Forget it." Battousai said out loud. The others paid him no attention. He looked up just in time for Sano to lose again, much to the ex-gangster's dismay.
"That's victory number 10 Sano. Now who's the master of this game?" Kaoru asked with blazing silver eyes.
Sano couldn't help but stare at her eyes. 'So this is what Kenshin was talking about.' At Kaoru's stare he stopped that train of thought. "Technically you have to beat Battousai to get that title. He's beaten me as many times as you did with out paying attention. However I don't think he's in the mood to play video games. At least not without some persuasion." He replied as they both turned to face Battousai.
Battousai looked up and saw Kaoru's eyes. He walked calmly over to her. "Just who are you now?" He asked while looking at her eyes.
"I guess Crimson Light's eyes have changed. I am called Silver Streak. If you think I'm like Night Flash you're wrong. I'm the good side so you don't have to worry about me trying to kill you." A childish voice replied. She looked innocently back at him. "Now that I've told you my name it's polite for you to tell me your name as well."
"What makes you think I'm polite? However I'll be nice for once. If you manage to beat me at Soul Calibur 2, I'll tell you my real name." Battousai said as he grabbed Sano's vacant seat in front of the TV and his controller. Silver Streak smiled and followed. Battousai selected Misturugi and Silver Streak chose Talim. Sano watched in interest as the fight began.
They were fighting until someone was KO'd twice. Silver Streak won first then Battousai. The final match was underway. After 5 minutes, Silver Streak had a slight lead in health. The fight dragged on for 10 more minutes. Finally Silver Streak unleashed a powerful attack, which connected with Battousai, which ended the match. Sano stared in awe.
"I win. Now you got to tell me your name." Silver Streak said while smiling.
Battousai groaned and stared at Silver Streak. "Fine. If you must know it's Kenshin. Kenshin Himura. That's all I'm telling you until you beat me again. Next time I won't go easy on you."
"Oh so you were going easy on me? I've got news for you Kenshin. I'm better than that when I'm paying attention. If it's alright with you I'll let Crimson Light have control now, so see you later." Silver Streak stated as her eyes faded back to their normal blue color.
Kaoru looked at the two men who were staring at her. "What happened this time?" She asked with a sigh. She knew they had probably met another of her sides. 'I doubt it was Night Flash because most of the room would probably be torn apart. In her mind she recalled the conversation Silver Streak had with Kenshin. "Was it Silver Streak? If it was, at least you know that not all my sides are evil. I just have about 3 or 4 violent sides. Those you'll probably meet later." She said while staring intently at Kenshin. "If you want I'll tell you about them so you'll know when to get out of the room. Before you ask I'm the only one who can get rid of or kill them. If anyone attacks them I receive the wound as well. As you can see if you look at my side." She said as she pointed to the bloody patch of cloth in the exact spot Night Flash was wounded.
Kenshin couldn't believe he had missed something like that. Normally he could smell the blood but for some reason he never noticed it. "Sano, go find Megumi. Tell her to hurry." Kenshin told Sano as he was heading toward Kaoru. Sano nodded and rushed out the door to Megumi's room. Satisfied that Sano was gone, he turned to Kaoru. "Why didn't you tell us?" He asked as he looked intently at her bloody side.
"You act as if I should tell you everything. You may be my kidnapper but I can keep a few secrets from you." Kaoru looked at him with rage clearly etched on her face.
Battousai glared at Kaoru. 'How can she be so stupid? If she tries to hide the slightest thing, I'll make sure she regrets it.' He thought as he watched Kaoru carefully. The two stayed locked in a staring contest until Sano came back with a familiar Kitsune trailing behind him. As soon as Kaoru was spotted Megumi Takani shoved Sano out of the way, nearly knocking him into a wall.
"Hey Kitsune, watch what you're shoving. I almost hit the wall." Sano stated while pointing at the wall.
"Sorry. Next time I'll remember to shove you harder. Maybe then you'll learn to move when there's a patient." Megumi said over her shoulder as she led Kaoru over to a chair and got her to sit down.
"That was mean Kitsune. It's not my fault you always walk behind me." Sano said while pouting, which made Kaoru laugh and wince when Megumi moved the cloth so she could get a better view of the wound. She stared accusingly at Kenshin before asking the 'Rooster Head' to pass her the medical bag. Sano groaned at the nickname but did as she asked.
Kenshin stayed back, watching for any signs of Kaoru switching during the examination. 'If she switches now, there's no telling who I'll end up fighting. Four or five violent sides. Man I thought I had problems, but she's in worse shape than I am. I can't help but wonder what caused her to have so many.' Kenshin pondered while moving to the nearest vacant seat by Kaoru.
Kaoru was barely aware of what was happening. She kept fading in and out not registering any of her surroundings. The apartment faded away and was replaced by her house. She saw a man sneak up to her parent's room and quietly shut the door. Kaoru followed and saw exactly what happened next. The man had black hair and eyes like a wolf. He drew his katana and plunged it into her mother's chest. Her mother jumped as the blade plunged into her chest, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her father had been awakened by the movement and drew his katana, ready to avenge his wife's death.
The two combatants watched each other carefully, waiting for the other to make a move. Finally the rage had gotten to her father and he charged ahead bringing his sword low aiming for the man's stomach. The man's eyes finally opened, which had been closed since the murder had been completed. He moved slightly to the right and raised his katana to effectively block the attack. Her father grasped the katana harder and slashed upward while moving to the left. The man jumped back and flipped his blade so it was along his arm. "Now it's time for you to join your wife in hell. Your daughter will be joining you shortly." He said with a smile. He moved toward Kaoru's father at a speed so fast that if anyone blinked they would have missed it. Her father tried to intercept the blade but it plunged into his stomach, whit his blade one inch above it. The man smiled at her father's shocked look and watched with pleasure as his eyes glazed over.
"Now for the girl and my job's done here." He said as he wiped his bloody sword on her father's dead body and headed toward her room.
Kaoru's eyes widened at that statement. She was watching the murder of her parents, something the cops never solved. She watched as the unknown assailant walked with confidence to her room. She remembered this scene all too well. She had only been 6 then, not old enough to hold off an attack from an adult, even though by then she was well adept at kendo. She had watched as her door opened and the man had stepped in. At first she had thought it was her father, but she then noticed his eyes. The man had reached out to grab her neck but she had ducked out of his reach and began moving away from him.
"Come here. I'm not going to hurt you." The man stated while holding out his hand.
Kaoru stared at the man. Her eyes narrowed and considered the man. "You're lying. You probably intend to kill me. Who are you and what do you want?" She asked while glaring at him from across the room. 'I don't like this guy. I can almost smell dried blood on him.' Kaoru thought as she moved back until her back touched the wall.
"Well unfortunately I can't tell you my name, but what I want is all of your family dead. So little girl your time is up." He said before he got into the stance that had killed her father. Kaoru looked around and saw no escape. She closed her eyes and embraced death. A voice in her head yelled for release and young Kaoru listened. She opened her eyes revealing them to be black. The assassin looked curiously at her for a minute before regaining his senses. 'So this is the child with a Hidokiri spirit. Lets see if she knows how to fight.' He thought before charging. Kaoru ducked under the blade and slid between his legs, edging closer to the door.
"You took them away from her. If you had any sense in that head of yours you would leave this place and never come back." Stated Kaoru in a cruel, evil voice. She grabbed a bokken in the hallway where her father had always kept one. She looked at it for a minute before placing it back. She edged slowly toward her parent's room, keeping her opponent in front of her.
Finally they had reached the doorway. She performed a back flip and expertly picked up her father's katana before landing on her feet. Black eyes glared dangerously in the man's direction before charging at him. He blocked and pushed her away. She however had lunged back at him before he feet had even touched the ground. He had barely enough time to jump out of the way, her blade leaving a fine scratch on his cheek, which began bleeding lightly.
"It seems the rumors were true. They said you had great potential to be a Hidokiri at such a young age. I'm sure there would be a place for you where I work at. You would be paid as much as a professional three times older than you." He said while watching her expression carefully. He saw her contemplate the idea, but then those black orbs turned to him. He knew what the answer would be. She didn't need to say anything.
"You actually think I would join with the same group that killed my parents? What kind of psychotic fool are you?" She growled.
"Any normal person would have jumped at the chance to obtain that type of money, no matter what they had to do. However you aren't normal. I doubt you're even human." He remarked as he prepared for another attack.
"You're right. I'm not human. Humans always die. I find ways to cheat death and become stronger. Remember my name. It's Night Flash. If you come near Crimson Light or anyone she cares about again, you won't live long enough to regret meeting me." She said while attacking. As the last statement was said she had penetrated his defenses and had the katana up to his neck. She lightly ran it along until there was a cross shape on his neck. She then jumped away from him and locked her gaze with his again.
"Now if you wish to live you'll leave. I won't allow you to harm her ever again." Night Flash said as she turned her back to the assassin. He grabbed his neck, uttered a few curses and left. Night Flash sighed and slowly released her control on Crimson Light, allowing herself to sink into Kaoru's mind. Before Kaoru gained full control Night Flash reminded Kaoru of how to release her if she was ever in trouble.
Back at the apartment the others watched Kaoru carefully. She had been out for 3 hours and had suddenly started thrashing as if reliving a nightmare. She had once reached for Kenshin but then quickly withdrew her hand. At times her eyes would open, but it was like she was somewhere else. Her eyes became black and Kenshin began ordering the others away from her. But as soon as it began it had ended and Kaoru had begun to stir. Megumi rushed past Kenshin and waited patiently for Kaoru to regain consciousness, A few minutes later she did. After reassuring Megumi she was alright, her and Sano both left. Kenshin looked at Kaoru.
"What did you see?" He asked coldly.
"I saw who killed my parents. I will track him down and kill him the same way he killed them." She replied with pure black eyes. Kenshin saw and began reaching for his katana.
"I'm not looking to fight you. I'll let you know this. If you harm Crimson Light in anyway, I'll kill you. Now I think it's about time we discussed about her other sides. It's wise if you know who we are. That way you'll know when to run." Night Flash replied with a smile as cold as ice.
A.N. I realized Kenshin is a little bit OOC but it was actually the Rurouni playing Soul Calibur. If you have any questions just ask in the review and I'll answer them in the next chapter. And for the last time I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. I just borrow Kenshin and Enishi for a while. They're teaching me they're sword styles. And it's time for my lessons now. Until next chapter, remember to R&R.
