Disclaimer: No, I Don't own RK...
Sorry I was in a slump lately... *muttering* curse chemistry, 5 pages? can you believe that?
Sorry if updated more late than usual... I was dealing with the hardships of being a girl... but hey! it is longer than the other chapters...
6. The Visitor
Megumi who was cleaning Kenshin's wounds awhile ago was still trying to comprehend everything that has happened. Tonight, Sano came in with Kenshin drooping unto his arms. None of his wounds were serious, except the one on his side. He was still unconscious.
Sano wasn't able to tell her anything since he, himself don't understand what exactly happened. He said something about him missing in action. Misao on the other hand seems to know a lot of things, she was dying to tell them everything. Aoshi was trying to calm her and was telling her that, everything will be revealed in time. They assured them one thing though, Kaoru is alive. She would've clapped her hands or something if not for the seriousness in their manner of speaking.
Finally when they were all gathered together cleaned and refreshed. Saito was nowhere in sight, something about his new "catch". Misao told them everything
They all fell silent. The story was unbelievable. She hasn't heard anything like it before. How could Kaoru turn against them. She's just not the type, she would be the last person to ever abandon them.
Sano hit the back of Yahiko's head.
"I told you not to call her busu too much!"
"Then you should've stopped teasing her about her cooking! Now look what happened."
"That can't be the reason, she could've already beaten you guys up without turning against us. It has to be something deeper. Do you guys know any reason why she'd do that?" Misao said.
Nobody could think of a reason. Yes, I used to tease her about Ken-san, but that's too shallow. Megumi contemplated with herself.
"Ah! I give up! There's absolutely no reason why Jou-chan would want to hurt us! She loves Kenshin and she treats us as her family. If that's a reason to hurt people, then we could've killed each other a long time ago."
"But… she just can't… I mean, why should she hate us?" Yahiko asked him.
"I dunno, maybe that Reiji freak messed with her mind or something." Sano said thoughtlessly.
"That's impossible, no one can manipulate the mind of another person" Megumi contradicted.
"I believe, Sano has a point Megumi." Aoshi who was silent all the time finally said. He was in the corner reading the books he found.
Sano beamed proudly at them.
"What do you mean, Aoshi-sama?" Misao asked. All eyes are darted towards Aoshi now.
"Megumi, didn't you say before that Kaoru's mind might have been affected by that wound on her head?"
"Yes, but Misao said she recognized everyone perfectly, If she had amnesia, she wouldn't have had any memories of some sort."
"Yes, she wouldn't have any memories of her past. But Reiji could tell her."
"Why would he do that?" Yahiko asked.
Misao whose mouth was hanging open, closed it. "Yeah, if he wanted Kaoru to fight us, why tell her about her friends?"
"Perhaps, he didn't tell her we're her friends. Perhaps he told her otherwise."
That made perfect sense. Aoshi threw the books at them, barely missing Kenshin's leg, who was at the time still asleep. They were all around him as though he's some dead guy they're mourning for.
They each took a book. They were shocked by its contents, some of the parts were true, but so twisted. No wonder Kaoru thought they were scums.
"Tell me Megumi, could he have brainwashed Kaoru with these?" Sano blurted out after a moment of silence.
"I suppose…" Megumi shivered. Almost everything in the book was true, but all of those were in their past. Yahiko's no longer a pickpocket just as much as Sano was a gangster and she an opium maker. She knew someday, their darker pasts would come haunt them. Now, it's happening, what's worse, their friend was against them. She tried to control herself as a WAVE of emotions ran through her. (I know, the title's lame, but hey! Whatcha gonna do?)
"Ugh… that's gotta be sick! Shishio?! The savior of Japan?! You've gotta be kidding!" Sano once again broke the silence.
"Wait! Wait! Check this out! Enishi, Kaoru's savior! My ass…" Yahiko said, jeering at the text.
Somehow they found it all too funny. Misao went to take a look.
"Oooohhh…. Tell me, when did Kenshin seduced Kaoru? Why you could put those two in one room for a whole day and I bet you, they wouldn't go far!"
"I bet you they'll just be talking about how each other's day was or maybe they'll talk about the weather."
"and Kenshin would be talking about his laundry and Kaoru will rant about you or me." Yahiko supplied
They all nodded in agreement.
"Hey Megumi! What does yours say?!" the trio went nearer.
"I'm afraid it's not as funny as yours. Somehow it's the truth…" she bowed her head and handed them the book.
After reading, their smiles quickly disappeared.
"Yeah" Sano said, handing her back the book, "She'll think we're scums or something."
"What kind of friends are you?!"
Misao suddenly remembered. She slumped back.
"Yeah… OW! That Reiji! I'm gonna wring his neck for doing this to us!"
Kenshin was stirring, the effects of the medicine still on him. He tried to get up but couldn't. He could see all his friends gathered around him, their faces gloomy. He turned his head to the side and saw the cloth he kept with Kaoru's embroidery in it. It had a cut in the center. The word love couldn't be recognized. Just like his love couldn't be recognized. Memories of the fight came back to him.
"One day, I will come back and finish this fight. "
Kaoru would come back. But all for the wrong reasons. To fight him. Maybe even kill him. Megumi noticed that he's awake.
"Lay down and sleep, Ken-san. Tomorrow will be the interrogation with Reiji. You better have enough strength by tomorrow morning."
He laid back. Reiji Kurosaki. He felt his blood broil. Because of some psychopath, many people would suffer his obsession. He would know everything in time, then he'll bring Kaoru back! With that in mind, he fell asleep again.
~*~
Morning…
"Oooo… so this is how the market looks like!" Kaoru thought to herself as she strolled. Her eyes were getting as large as saucers and she can't stop her jaw from dropping. She took one of her master's boats to get to the mainland and now she's shopping for new clothes. She couldn't help herself, she wasn't allowed to go outside.
People were looking at the strangely dressed girl looking over the ribbons. Her hair was so shiny, everybody felt jealous. She has a slim figure too. Her blue eyes sparkled with the excitement that of a child. She seemed fascinated by everything. Men passing by would stop and look at her, admiration in their eyes. A group of men were keeping a close watch on her. Eyeing her every move.
In the corner of her eye she saw a woman hit in the head a man staring at her. People in the mainland sure are weird. She noticed a white ribbon and picked it up.
"Oh! I like this one." She said, picking up a white kerchief, embroidered in black was a picture of a dragon.
"That would look very nice on you, lady" a thug looking man said behind her. He had a smirk on his face. Something tells her this guy's trouble.
"You think so?" she said haughtily, she flashed a sweet smile to the vendor and asked, "How much for the ribbon?". The vendor told her the price and she pulled her moneybag from her sleeve. She took some of her master's money. Hehehe…the old man's gonna be angry for her spending his money, but her clothes were too old, besides, she'll save him later anyway. Everything would be compensated.
The ugly thug was still looking at her. She turned to him and bid him "Good day", tilted her chin and turned on her heel to check out the other stalls. Her mission would be tonight and she has all the time in the world.
She went to check out some kimonos, she fell in love with a blue one she found. It was a shade darker than her eyes, there were images depicting waves at the bottom. (okay, I'm a miserable wretch…*sigh*). There were seashell designs on the sleeve. Somehow she felt herself deeply magnetized with anything to do with the sea. Oh well… IT IS beautiful. She bought it. She also bought a white obi.
"Maybe I should buy two kimonos" she mused as she saw a pink one in another stall. As she walked on, she noticed the thugs from before still following her around. She took a mirror from her bag, it has an image of a rose for design. ( she bought that one too… ^_^ girls love shopping!)
She used the mirror to see the men behind her. "Not doing a very good job hiding, I see…" there were three of them. They all looked dumb. She could take them on.
She suddenly made a turn in a dark alley. The thugs followed her, something on their face tells anyone who dared to look showed menace.
Kaoru/Kotori suddenly felt herself flung against the wall, a hand choking her. The largest of the men, the one holding her told his friends to get her money bag.
"Don't move, Missy, If you don't wanna get hurt, that is" the ugliest and biggest of the three tried to peer at her eyes. Her bangs were covering her eyes and she was grinning. (the thugs are numbered 1-3, 3 being the biggest and ugliest, the one choking Kaoru/Kotori).
Thug #2 got pissed and asked "What're you grinning for, girl? Think we're funny?". Thug #1 was shoving the money inside his gi.
Kaoru/Kotori nodded her head and laugh as much as she can. One hand gripped thug #3 hand and twisted it.
Thug #3: "Ah! She nearly broke my arm" he let go of Kaoru, he looked up and was greeted by one of Kaoru/Kotori's kicks. #2 and #1 tried to help but was too late.
#2 felt a kick in his stomach and #1 fell above him. In a few seconds, all three thugs were knocked out cold. Kotori (I'll just call Kaoru, Kotori okay?) took her money bag from #1, along with her money bags she also found jewelries, money and many other things of value. Jackpot!
"Never mess with a lady enjoying her shopping" she told the thugs, she smirked then flipped her hair and strutted out of the alley. (so un-Kaoru like! Kotori's more like a punk!)
She made her way to the inn she was staying in. She felt for the jewelries. "Their loss, my gain" she happily thought to herself and begun humming. On the side of the street she saw a beggar and a child seated together. The child looks so thin. She felt guilty. (much more like Kaoru now!) she took the jewelries along with the other things she found and placed them in front of the beggar. She smiled sweetly and said "Have a nice day.".
The child smiled at her, so did the beggar. The only money she had left now is her moneybag. "Oh well…" she walked on towards the inn humming to herself, a bounce in her every step. She remembered the child's face and a smile beamed on her face. The people around thought they never saw anyone as beautiful.
~*~
Saito puffed a smoke, Kenshin, Aoshi, Sano, Megumi, Misao and Yahiko were all lined up behind him. All of them expectant for the upcoming interview. When they got there however, they saw Reiji pacing back and forth in his prison cell. His hair ruffled, stubbles were visible just below his chin. He was incredibly pale and he looked so haggard. He was muttering to himself.
The guy had been such a nuisance eversince he woke up. They have sent people to look the cave through but went back saying that there was no longer any living being in the acursed cave.
So Kaoru has left... he didn't feel good about that. Kenshin probably would never fight that woman. He didn't want to fight a woman too, he looked at Aoshi, considering that he didn't interfere with the fight last time, he's probably thinking along those lines too.
Damn! At this case no person could fight that Kamiya Girl! Perhaps if they get another woman to fight. He looked at Misao, no use, she's friends with the girl. He again puffed smoke. They were nearing Reiji's cell now.
"He's been like that all night, the bastard! We couldn't get anything from him!" Saito was visibly and obviously pissed off so Sano, being the thinking machine that he is decided to pop up a question,
"What is he crazy or something?! I can beat him into talking if you can't do it! C'mon let me at 'em! Hey you! Wanna piece of this" he brandished his fist in front of Reiji's face.
"Don't you think we tried that too, ahou!" Saito replied irritably
The half-crazed man seemed to look at them and chuckled a bit and went about pacing again.
"You said you found a supply of opium in the cave." Saito asked Aoshi. The latter only nodded.
"Must be an opium addict." they all concluded
"You!" Saito turned towards Megumi "You're a doctor, you seem to know about opiums, do you think he's an addict?"
Megumi flinched at the sound of opium, she used to make them. Sano flinched too, his friend died because of it. Megumi went to take a closer look
"I can't tell much. He seems to be since he's so jumpy. But I'm not sure, I need to take a closer look, but it's too dark." Megumi said.
He was muttering something beneath his breath. Kenshin came closer to listen.
"Obsessive-compulsive behavior my ass… what do they know?… they're nuts I tell you…don't know what they're doing, lousy government…. Even had the nerve to fire me…" Kenshin's brows furrowed and signaled the others to come closer. They all listened.
"what's he talking about?" Yahiko who can't understand a thing asked only to be told to shut up by Misao and Megumi, he shrugged and listened. He was bored. He wanted to look for Kaoru in that island again, maybe she's still there, besides she's all alone. His thought were cut by a mention of Battousai's name.
"That Battousai… he'll pay… yes! I'll make him pay." He was laughing so low, his fingers twitching.
"What did Battousai do to you, Reiji?" Kenshin asked, his voice gone cold.
"He…he... ruined… my life…" he said miserably.
"How?" Kenshin continued asking
"Many people were keeping him under cover… they wouldn't believe anything I say… said, I was mad!"
This isn't working… "What did you do to Kaoru Kamiya?" Reiji didn't even flinch. Kenshin revised his question, "What did you do to Kotori?"
Right then a menacing grin came into view on his face.
"Oh? The little twit?!" he laughed. "She'll do everything I tell her, what a bitch!"
"That's it! Let me at 'em!" Sano was suddenly shaking the prison bars. Megumi and Yahiko restrained him. Kenshin looked like he was halfway into thinking wether to slice the man up or shut Sano up.
"How did you get her?" Kenshin asked again.
"Lured her…" he was scratching head too much.
"How?" Misao asked suddenly
"Pretended to …be… drowning…she and that kid fell…for…it" he was now scratching his face.
"Knew it" Megumi said still listening.
KID?! Misao felt her brow twitching. How dare this man compare her to a kid?! She's a full grown woman now, thank you and she doesn't need a half-crazed maniac referring to her as some kid! She looked at Aoshi, his face stoic. He was eyeing the man. She looked around, nobody seemed to have noticed Reiji's reference to her. She huffed and listened.
"the injury to her head, it caused her to lose her memory" Megumi said
"Did you in any way caused that?" Saito asked, Reiji just looked at him and didn't answer. Aoshi repeated his question for him. Saito snorted and took another cig.
"no… stupid idea" Saito snapped at him. "I was just gonna kidnap her… to piss Battousai off! But she lost her memory and I turned her into my human doll." He was twirling some of his hair in his fingers.
"You brainwashed her…" Aoshi said
"I guess…" Reiji shrugged.
"You made her hate us!" Yahiko said angrily "now, she won't come back! because of you!"
"I think so..." he just shrugged and turned his back on him.
"Battousai!" He pointed a finger at Kenshin "How did it feel fighting your woman?! How does it feel to be hated by her?! to regard you as scum! This is all your fault! If it weren't for you I would've---" he suddenly burst into a fit. He was pounding the ground with his fist, still laughing.
Kenshin was just quiet.
Saito took something from his drawer and showed it to Aoshi and pointed at Reiji.
Aoshi showed him what Saito gave him. It was a picture of a lady.
Reiji's eyes flung in recognition he tried to grab the picture but Saito took it and shoved it in front of him. "Aki…" Reiji said still trying to get the picture.
They all looked at the picture, there were some blood on it, thanks to Misao. (remember? the sticky thing on chap.5). It was a picture of a woman. her hair was just as long as Megumi's, she did seem a bit like Megumi.
"Who is she?" Kenshin asked.
Reiji's eyes flashed some recognition upon seeing the picture, but the sight of the blood made his face go pale. He groaned and slumped on the floor, his hand on his head.
"Aki…"
"Who's Aki?"
"…wife…" he was rocking back and forth
"Where is she now?"
Reiji shook his head. "No…no… I didn't mean to… Aki, I'm sorry, please forgive me…" he was crying.
"I need a woman to speak to him," Saito said. Megumi volunteered since she seemed to be the best choice judging from the picture. Misao was too excited. She went nearer the cell and tried talking to him, he didn't respond.
She decided to enter the prison cell. Sano tried to protest but she stopped him. He put his hands in his pockets and muttered "be careful" she smiled and went by Reiji who was still crying.
Megumi tried her best to comfort him when all she wanted to do was to slap the man until he's unconscious.
"Soothe him" Saito said. She did.
"Reiji" she tried her best for him not to look at her, he might recognize she's a fake.
"Aki?"
"Hai…"
"I'm sorry…"
"Why?"
"I hurted you."
"When? I mean… it's okay"
"It was your fault though…" his voice was suddenly cold
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"You told me I was crazy… you tried to talk me out of my job too like those bastards!"
Megumi was getting scared. She looked at her friends when suddenly she was pulled by Reiji, he shook her
"You think I'm crazy too! You b***h! You were cheating on me! You deserved to die you f*****g b***h!"
Megumi was really scared now, she tried to get away when he pulled her again, this time choking her. Everyone was trying to get in now.
"I'll slice you up! You slut!" the look on his eyes scared her and she couldn't move. Suddenly a fist came smacking on Reiji's face,
"Don't touch her you crazy sonofabitch!"
"Sano!" she quickly went behind him. He was about to have another go at him when she stopped him.
"Let's get out of here!"
Sano quickly recovered and led her outside. It has started raining.
~*~
"Crazy guy that Reiji!" Saito said when they have all calmed down and sitting at his office. It was still raining.
"An addict too, judging from how he looked like."
"You bet he is!" Sano said spitting in disgust while protectively sitting beside Megumi.
The rest of the Kenshin-gumi glanced at each other with a knowing smile. Megumi saw this and blushed for a brief moment.
"Thanks but I don't think that crazy maniac will choke me now." she said at the same time moving a few inches from Sano.
Upon realizing this, Sano moved away too, his face going red. She was grateful for Sano's concern. She looked up at him.
"He must be the cutest nuthead in Japan!" she stiffened a giggle and looked down.
Misao was so jealous of Megumi and Sano. "Why can't Aoshi be like that?"
"Why don't we look more into his past. The answers may lie there." Aoshi said.
They all sat there, thinking about Reiji… he murdered his wife coz she thought he was crazy, which is the truth. Now he's blaming it on Kenshin, whom he's obsessed about. And now he's making their lives miserable.
That's just shallow, he's just looking for someone to blame it all on, and Kenshin was a perfect candidate. Somehow the interrogation rose more questions than answer theirs.
Everyone was quiet, all that could be heard was the spatter of rain outside.
Kenshin glanced at the couple too and wondered if ever they'll be able to bring Kaoru back
There's not much goings on in this chapter but every chapter is important in this story. Later, this might hold some significance. *sigh* I must say, I'm not quite satisfied with this, and I don't know if i could keep up these "tender moments" for the rk couples
I can't get my act together! it's all EvilMe's fault! if it weren't for her I could've done Chapter 8 by now!
Finally I told my friends that I am writing a fic. Gosh! It was my secret for a long time... so if one of you is reading this, a BIG hello to you! Wait! I forgot to tell them the title! Oh well... seems like they just have to discover it for themselves... hehehe!
NEXT... someone's gonna be taken! who could it be?! pretty soon, Kaoru/Kotori's gonna have a comeback! how? I dunno... can they handle her?!
REVIEW REPLIES:
Lisa Oceans Potter: thanks so much for reviewing!
Star of Foam: thanks so much! I was disappoited with the fight scene coz I had something graceful,bloody and cool in my head. I have problem putting them into words. Wait... I NEVER interpreted anything good in my head! ah!
Aya45: Kaoru would probably have a hard time trusting the Kenshin-gumi, but Reiji's not able to dictate anything to her, so she'll be doing things her way.
Lendra-chan: Fun to know someone's enjoying reading it as much as I enjoy writing it! Keep reading!
My mind works best at midnight, but since I have to get up for review classes, I'm already in bed at that time, though, VERY MUCH AWAKE, I cook up something juicy during those nights but end up forgetting them... but maybe if you REVIEW, I'll remember... ^_^
MEme (the normal side of me): Wait! that was EvilMe speaking! I always do my best!
EvilMe: Shut your trap! *knocks MEme unconscious* MWAHAHAHAHA! I'm taking over! YOU! YES YOU! REVIEW OR ELSE... *still laughing*
MEme: "help..."