Title: Opening Doors

Chapter: 11 "Cutting loose"

Author: Kat

Penname: deltaop

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters; however, original characters and ideas are mine to claim.

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Carol, whose words of encouragement have spurred me on to get busy with my story! Thank you so much!

Italics are thoughts.

Last Chapter Segment

"Seems we have to take another trip to Tokyo, Izo," he said in his usual irritable tone. Everything about Etsuya irritated him.

"We leave in the morning?" Izo questioned, though he already knew the answer, he just wanted to get Enishi's mind off of the politician.

"Yes." Stopping to let a carriage pass, a strange thought popped into Enishi's cluttered mind...I get to see her again. That'll be nice. Maybe it won't be such a bad trip after all. "How about a drink, Izo? I owe you for last time anyway," he said as they walked towards one of Kyoto's many underground clubs.

"Absolutely." He could definitely use a stiff drink.

(By this time, Enishi and Izo have already arrived in Tokyo.)

"She could use a little fun…" Jun looked at Tae, knowing exactly what she was implying.

Nightlife in Tokyo was hard to find, but if you were connected to the right friends, doors opened.

…Underground gambling clubs….

Jun and Tae sat there talking while Hiko followed Sumi around while she finished various chores needed to close the restaurant for the night. Bumping into him right and left, because the big oaf would stand right behind her…

"You sure? We have to get her away from him…" the girls simultaneously glanced in Hiko's direction, watching as Hiko said something that made Sumi laugh, turning back to nod in agreement.

"Alright, all finished," Sumi said to Tae as she looked up at Hiko.

Silence…

Jun looked over at Tae, and Tae looked at Sumi and then to Hiko. "Hiko, we'll walk her home tonight…um….. it's a…a girl talk kind of thing," Tae tried to come up with an excuse the sword master would actually buy.

Not sure what the two women were up to, he looked to Sumi for an answer. Getting an incredulous nod from her, he gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze and took his leave. "Good evening, Ladies."

Walking out of the restaurant, Hiko hoped the girls would make sure she got home safely. "I need a drink." He went in search of a local night spot. Hoping Tokyo had one.

"Girl talk?" Sumi questioned the giggling duo.

"Did you bring them, Tae?" Jun managed to say between the giggles, ignoring Sumi for the moment.

"Of course," Tae said as she ran back to her office. Emerging shortly with three straw cone hats, long enough to cover the girls' faces, and three manly looking coats.

Tae walked over to Sumi, put her long black hair up and fastened the hat on her head with the attached cloth straps, next putting one of the masculine loose fitting coats on her. Then stepped back to admire her work.

"Good, you can hardly see her face." Jun said, giving a satisfactory nod.

"Wait a minute, what's going on?" Sumi questioned, suspicion arousing from the actions and mood of the diabolical duo.

Welcoming the darkness of the secluded booth, Hiko slowly enjoyed a drink of much needed sake.

"She still hasn't told me about her past." He observed the interior of this "night spot." Scant sources of light allowed little illumination in the small overcrowded place. He liked it dark. Less conversation. He preferred to drink alone.

A short while, between his second and third bottle, he noticed a pair of menacing turquoise eyes, carrying a look of suspicion, pegged in his direction. The man was cloaked in the darkness of his own booth. Yet visible next to him, was a very drunk younger man, who seemed intent on harassing a waitress.

He disregarded the older man though, definitely not in the mood to tango swords at the present moment. The younger man was pushing his luck, and Hiko's patience. However, the turquoise eyed man took care of it. Much to Hiko's gratitude.

"Sshh, I know the guy who owns this place. It's alright." Jun assured Sumi. Hesitantly, Sumi muttered "Okay," as they walked into the night spot.

Drinks were brought to their table as soon as they sat down, courtesy of a friend of Jun, who was working there that night. After a couple hours of talking and lots of drinking, Sumi started to relax.

This wasn't the first time she'd had liquor. It was the first time she'd been drunk. She enjoyed it. The liquor freed her from her troubled past. Even for a short time, it felt good to be free from worry or fear.

She felt like mingling.

Standing up proved to be a difficult task. She stood, only to fall back into her seat, being tripped by the long shielding coat. She stripped off the hat and coat, and finally stood successfully.

Sumi glanced hazily over her shoulder at her two friends, finding them engrossed in conversations of their own, she found she was alone. Trying to walk to the bar she tripped on her hat that had fallen to the ground. Strong hands stopped her fall. Sumi turned to face the man whom had his arm securely around her slim waist.

Disappointedly she found a man shorter than Hiko, and not nearly as handsome. "Excuse me," she slurred with a giggle. She tried to move forward unsuccessfully, his arm firmly around her. "Let me go," she commanded.

"Sorry girl, you and me are gonna have some fun." He pulled her closer to him, squeezing her waist tighter.

"Let me go now," she squirmed under his grasp trying to free herself. His firm hold on her caused her to scream. She immediately fell to the floor, drunk and scared, her ebony hair like a curtain covering her face.

Silence had befallen the room.

Frightened, Sumi's eyes moved to her right, finding the man who harassed her on the floor knocked out. She looked up to see Enishi standing above the man, staring at her. "Those eyes. I know those eyes. From where though?"

The whole room seemed to be staring at her. As she looked around, she saw Hiko who glared at her with eyes full of shock and disbelief. Seeing his hurtful look broke her into tears.

There she was, on the floor crying into her hands. The whole room was staring at her.

In an instant, she was lifted from the floor and carried outside.

"Put me down!" Sumi yelled, fidgeting in Hiko's strong embracing arms. She was immediately set down on the ground. She struggled to find her balance.

"What were you doing in there?" Hiko practically screamed at her. "Having fun," was her answer.

He pointed towards the building, "That was fun?"

"Yes! … No… Leave me alone! You're just like him! I can take care of myself!" Sumi yelled at Hiko, then started running away from him.

As if on cue, it started raining.

"Sumi, STOP!" He ran after her. "I said STOP!" She was no match to outrun him. He grabbed her and turned her to face him. He held her tight even as she fought to get away.

"Like who Sumi? Like who?" He questioned her tearful gaze.

"MY FATHER!" She screamed as she slapped him. The liquor had freed her mouth as well.

Now he was finally getting somewhere. "Sumi…" he trailed, staring at the sadness her eyes held.

Moving the wet hair away from her face, he saw the pain of her past in her eyes.

Sumi knew she was safe with him. She finally quit struggling and let her body mold against him. She cried against his chest as he held her close. The two of them stood there in the middle of the street, the rain falling down on them.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he gently lifted her from the ground. Her head resting against his chest, she still cried.

Hiko took her home. She dried off while he sat by a fire, waiting. He wanted to ask her so many questions. He wanted to know about her past, wanted to know everything.

The sound of a shoji door brought him out of his musings. Sumi, now dry, unsteadily walked to him and sat beside him.

"I'm sorry." She offered as she brushed the red mark on his cheek, left by her slap, with gentle fingers. Even though she was drunk, he knew it was sincere. She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Hiko put his arm around her and pulled her close.

"It's alright now. Everything is alright now." He felt her nod. In a moment she was asleep against him. Again, he picked her up and carried her off to her room. He put her to bed, closed the shoji door behind him and sat by the fire once more.

"Now we're getting somewhere," he mused as a smile crossed his face. He let himself drift off to sleep.

Review Responses:

Hakubi: Thank you so much Issa!

Sofasoap: Thank you for your review! Yes, it's still going, slowly… but it's going. From here on out, you will be notified! smile

AN: I hope you all like this chapter! I think I'm sure now of the direction of this story! Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated, please review:D