Disclaimer: I don't own Rk! I think I'm in favor of cloning now, let's all clone Kenshin so we could have our own Kenshin!
FelicitousMe: Oh Hi! Well… we picked up pieces of azul and assembled her, so she's back to normal. No Biggie!
MushyMe: What are you talking about?! That last piece of the eyeball was hard to find!
I'm sorry, people! Is this my biggest delay yet? I was deprived use of my ever trusty laptop and my BIG (I do mean Big) BROTHER took it away and locked it inside his room for days, so I preoccupied myself with something else and when the moment comes that KICHAM (that's what I call the laptop) are reunited, I was busy with my other "thing"! So again, SORRY!
10 Kenshin's Solutions
Megumi seated herself properly, pulling Kaoru, now tied to her to the floor.
"We're going to do something…" Kaoru just looked at her with a puzzled expression as she talked.
"I'm going to help you regain your memories…" Megumi squinted to have a look at Kaoru. Her bangs were covering her eyes, her shoulders were shaking.
"Don't laugh! This is a serious matter!" Megumi was losing her nerves. Why is Kaoru so uncooperative? She shook her head. "This is going to be tough…"
She first asked Yahiko, Sano and Misao to introduce themselves as if they were new acquaintances. Kaoru was trying to be polite by shutting up.
"So that's the thief…" She eyed Yahiko, "and the gangster…" She now looked at Sano, and that girl who doesn't run out of energy, Misao "She's the leader of the Oniwabanshu".
"So basically, what you're all trying to tell me is… what exactly are you planning to tell me?" She couldn't figure out what these barmy people are trying to do.
The others looked like they're ashamed of what they're doing now. "This is stupid", they all thought.
"Look! Master has already told me about you, why all this?"
"You already know us, but you only got the basics…" Megumi was shoving a book in her face. She recognized it at once. "hey…"
"Misao, take charge." Megumi ordered. She tied Kaoru to Misao
"but… I don't know what to do…" Misao tried to argue.
"Yeah, Fox. None of this make sense to us as much as Kaoru." Sano said. Megumi gave an irritated titter and stood up.
Megumi showed Kaoru something. It was the shells she was collecting before she went missing. Kaoru saw what seemed like an unfinished bracelet.
Megumi watched her as her face constricted with pain. Her head was throbbing. She pushed the shells away, along with it her thoughts.
"She's pushing the memories away…" Megumi concluded, not telling anyone.
"I'm going to get some things that might help" she suddenly said then walked away.
Misao talked to Kaoru. Beads of sweat could be seen on her forehead. Misao noted that it wasn't so hot that day.
"You know we're all confused too. We're not used to seeing you like this. You used to be…" Misao waved her hands in the air and pretended to hit something "like that."
Kaoru just stared at her. The three just sighed.
"And Yahiko, you always do this to him." Misao hit Yahiko "Ouch! What'd you do that for?! Weasel!"
"Just like that. That's how you always were…" Misao looked at Kaoru, Kaoru stared back.
"This isn't working…" Sano turned to leave trying to look for Megumi. Megumi finally came back. She had with her some wigs, Some of Kaoru's clothes, Kenshin's clothes and many others. They all stared at her dumbfounded.
"Now we can get to work!" Megumi hasn't dealt with a case like this one before but it's worth a shot. They will bring Kaoru back.
What Kaoru saw after Megumi came back, she couldn't describe. It was like a play. First, Misao acted like Kaoru, Sano was Kenshin. They re-enacted the part when Kenshin and Kaoru first met.
"Wait! Who's Gohei?" Yahiko asked.
"Don't you remember? The guy-" Sano tried explaining.
"No, I mean who's gonna play as Gohei?"
"ah… you?"
"No way! He's too small!" Misao said, smirking
"I am not small!"
So Megumi ended up playing as Gohei. (yeesh! Jus imagine a bulky Megumi) blankets were wrapped against her to emphasize Gohei's size.
Kaoru just sat back and enjoyed the "show". She was now tied to a big block of wood that Sano got.
"I think, I could relax a bit.". The show went on…
"Sanosuke! I am not like that!" Megumi shrieked as Sano played as her. She was acting as Kaoru. Sano was walking so un-Megumi like, swinging his hips here and there and blowing flying kisses.
"Ohohohoho…" Sano imitated her laugh. Megumi was fuming now. Misao, who was playing Kenshin started laughing. Yahiko was scooping Sano's arms and tried to look gentlemanly.
"I must say! Lord Aoshi, you really look so cool" Sano (as Megumi) said.
"Well you know me… I may appear cold but I'm cool! You're so unlike Weasel girl!" Yahiko (as Aoshi) replied, trying to look stoic
"Aoshi's not like that! And he would never flirt with anybody, not with Megumi! Did you?!" Misao was now ecstatic with anger. Her eyes blazed fire as she looked at Megumi.
Someone laughed. They turned to look at who was laughing. It was Kaoru. She was laughing so hard she couldn't stop herself. They smiled. Well, at least, someone's happy.
"So from the play you did, I could say that Kenshin's gay and likes Aoshi, and is jealous of Kaoru because of that. Although it was Megumi who was flirting with Aoshi." She continued laughing.
Everyone shook their heads. "This isn't working…"
Saito was ALMOST startled as he saw Kenshin entering the police station.
"Ohayo, Saito-san" Kenshin greeted him with a smile. Saito just nodded
"I'm here to see Reiji Kurosaki" Kenshin's smile was gone now as he mentioned the name.
"You know where he is," Saito pointed to Reiji's direction.
"Arigatou" Kenshin went already.
(Music Cue: Moonlight Sonata)
What Kenshin saw was a very different Reiji. He had cleaned himself and his hair was pulled in a sleek way (think Draco Malfoy)
"Well. Hello Battousai." Reiji's voice was silky, he was in a corner, a small light illuminated his face. He seemed normal compared to last night.
"Reiji…" Kenshin's voice was cold. His body was sideways from Reiji's view. He watched from the corner of his amber eyes Reiji's every move.
"How does it feel like fighting your own woman?"
"It was a change…" Kenshin said just above whisper. "She was always fiery anyway…"
"Only difference is, she wants to kill you." Reiji's voice sounded so unearthly, as though hell had eaten his body and was feeding on the evil of his mind.
"I only let you live because you couldn't fight." Kenshin said. His hand tightening on the sakabattou. He turned so Reiji could see his whole.
"If you ever bother her again, I would make sure that you shall never see another day in your life."
Reiji was a bit off upon hearing this. Kenshin was now staring at him full with eyes that glinted a promise. He's come face-to-face with the devil! His face would haunt him for many nights. Kenshin was leaving.
"Wait! We're not finished talking yet! Come back!" Kenshin heard Reiji as he walked away. He closed his eyes for a few moments and his eyes changed back to a gentle purple. He could hear Reiji's menacing laugh. His voice rung through the whole police station. Some of the prisoners became annoyed and told him to shut up. Kenshin, took one final glance and walked towards an office.
Inside he found Saito. His face didn't show any emotions.
"Battousai, I was half thinking that you would gut Kurosaki. Why didn't you?"
"He's an old man, a crazy one in fact. He blames me for the mistakes he had done in the past. I have no business with him. His enemy is himself."
"I would never understand your righteous blabber."
Kenshin only smiled at that. He and Saito were two very different people.
"If someone does what he's done to Kamiya to my wife, I would have made sure he died a slow and painful death."
Kenshin just looked at him. Didn't he just threatened an old man a few minutes ago?
"But no one has. No one is foolish enough to cross me."
"Right you are…" Kenshin answered, nodding his head.
"We will be conducting investigations on this Reiji character, there's more to him. Would you like to know."
Kenshin could've sworn that what Saito said wasn't a question at all. It was a statement. He could only nod his head. Then he saw something shiny on Saito's pockets.
"Uhm… Saito-san, can I have one of those, if it's not much of a bother?" he pointed at the object.
Saito shrugged and handed him the "object".
Should I stop here? Hmmm…. glances at readers
Nah! I think I'll write more...
Kaoru was now seated at the porch. She was well guarded, everyone seemed to think that she might pounce at them anytime. It had annoyed her, being looked after like some prisoner, well she IS a prisoner. But why did she feel betrayed that these people has regarded her as dangerous? Did she expect them to be lenient? Of course, the Battousai was extraordinarily kind to her. He had always a smile ready to flash whenever he looked at her. He had left after breakfast, leaving the others to the chores, which they say, was a first.
There are many sides of the man she could not understand. First, he held back on her during their fight in the island, which personally, she regarded as an insult rather than a move to convince her of his noble cause. Try as she might, she could not trust them. After the comic relief the group has offered during her "therapy" she was led to the bathroom by Misao, under close guard of course by the female ninja. She could have sliced and diced any man who dares to come near her when she is in the bathroom.
After that, Megumi had a talk with Sano and thus detached themselves from the group. From what she heard of their conversation, they were arguing with each other in regards to what her comments during breakfast about Sano being a suitable candidate for Megumi and the way Sano portrayed her during their play.
Misao had gone to pack their things because, as she told her, they were going on a trip to Tokyo as soon as possible, more likely, this afternoon. And so she was left with the brat who called her busu. The kid had reluctantly accepted the job of looking after her. But even so, he asked her to spar with him. Her eyes had glinted a tinge of menace at the prospect of having to get a hold on a weapon. She should have hidden her intentions, for no sooner had the boy spoken out his offer, the three adults, if you could call the weasel girl an adult, had firmly objected to the tempting offer.
Yahiko upon realizing this, kept himself on guard and now has tied her to a post. Something was buzzing at her ear. She shooed it away. It was a fly. She irritably tittered as she awaited the moment she visits the town to get her things. It was the only thing that kept her from dozing off during the boring hours she watched the brat practice. But then she remembered something, she was going to visit the town with that smiling moron! She hates him although he's nice. He seemed to have sought that if he would be nice to her she would reciprocate his actions.
"Well if that's what he thinks, he's getting himself into trouble!" she thought viscously.
Yahiko thought he heard Kaoru muttering, he came to take a closer look. She was clenching her fist so tightly that all the colors had disappeared from it. He noticed her wrists, it was getting bruised already. As much as he wants to free his sensei, he could not. He couldn't bear the thought of her leaving them again. He never ever wants to see Kenshin so sad ever again. Ever since Kaoru arrived, Kenshin was in much higher spirits than in the past few months. Even if it hurts Kaoru for a while, they would have to make her stay, by force if they have to.
Suddenly, they heard the gates being opened. They saw a mass of red hair and knew who it was. Kenshin had appeared and Yahiko only glimpsed of something shiny that he's hiding inside his gi. Kenshin smiled at him and the man looked at Kaoru's direction.
Kaoru felt herself blush as Kenshin, as though sensing her stare looked back at her. For a few seconds she felt shame, and an unknown feeling rose from her. She could not comprehend what, something about the graceful way he had carried himself have affected her. When she realized that Kenshin was still staring at her, she looked back at him defiantly as if to challenge him. He smiled.
"He's smiling that stupid smile again, he looks like a moron." Kaoru said to herself.
"Cute moron if you ask me" Megumi have appeared behind her. Kaoru looked away with a hmph.
"I am not losing hope, that I am…" Kenshin thought to himself as he lost eye contact with Kaoru. He looked down at Yahiko.
"We know she still has intentions of escaping so we tied her to the post." Yahiko said. The boy looked at Kaoru and stuck out his tongue, "beh!"
Kaoru seemed halfway to rising from her sitting position, but the cloth restrained her. She winced in pain as she saw there were already some cuts and bruises on her right wrist. Suddenly a hand held her injured wrist.
She looked up to see it was Kenshin. He examined the wrist with a critical eye. And then to everyone's surprise, he cut the cloth and freed her.
"What're you doing Himura?!" Misao who had finished packing all their things exclaimed.
"But, she's injured…" the rurouni reasoned at the gaping people around him. "Megumi-san, do you reckon having anything to ease her wounds?" a befuddled Megumi nodded and walked away to get the ointment.
"Gomen, Jou-chan. Must've tied it too tight. You see, Kitsune was annoying me." Sano had apologized.
"Uh… it's okay Sanosuke. I have received far more severe wounds than this one."
"Like those Reiji gave her!" Kenshin thought vehemently.
She didn't know why she was nice to this ex-gangster, something about his cheerful smile made her feel at ease. Or maybe it's the carefree way he carried himself. She couldn't help but smile at him.
Sano smiled back at her, then feeling a heated stare from behind him, he looked at Kenshin. Suddenly he had gotten goosebumps all over. The man was staring at him as if he was willing everything in his power to stop himself from cutting him in half. He was so glad that he and Kenshin were friends at that time.
"Ja ne!" he quickly sped off almost knocking Megumi off balanced. "Hey watch out!" Megumi squeaked after him. She handed Kenshin the ointment, seeing this as an opportunity for Kenshin. Misao and Yahiko were on their guards watching Kaoru's every move.
Kenshin took the ointment and put some on Kaoru's wrist.
"Itai!" Kaoru whimpered.
"It would only sting a bit…" he told her. His hands were performing a circular motion on the bruised part. Kaoru didn't know what she felt. But it was something warm inside her. Something about the gesture made her wonder how Kenshin's hands would feel like against the other parts of her body. She looked up at him and their eyes locked.
"Sheesh! Get a room!" Yahiko had commented as he stormed off. He seemed to think that since Kenshin was already there, Kaoru has little chance of escaping. Misao and Megumi exchanged sheepish glances at each other and begun giggling. Kaoru shot fierce looks at them and they giggled even more. Feeling irritated, she pulled away her hand. But Kenshin only took it again. She begun to divert her attention to other matters! Like escaping perhaps.
Misao and Megumi had left them to their business. She was alone with Kenshin now. She bit her lip as he was now just caressing her hands. He paid particular attention to her ring finger, he was playing with it with his fingers too. Kaoru couldn't help but gape at him for his gestures.
"You have beautiful hands, Kaoru" she shot him a deadly glance.
"…-dono" he added. She narrowed her eyes.
"Alright. Kotori" she squinted her eyes some more
"…-dono" he added again. Strange that Kaoru now wants to hear the honorific that he attached to her name when she so often in the past told him not to.
"We're going to town now…" Kenshin declared and inhaled deeply as if he was preparing for something. He took out some sandals, (I dunno what they called those slippers in Japan) then kneeled in front of her and begun putting her foot on the footwear that ---
"Where did you get that anyway?!" she suddenly blurted out.
"It's yours." He looked up and smiled at her again, the wind blew and some of his hair danced with the breeze. She caught her breath. Megumi was right. He is a cute moron.
"Saa!" He got up again and offered a hand. She didn't take it so he reached for her hand instead. They walked side by the side towards the gate.
Kaoru could feel hot stares at her back as they walked on. She quickly looked back. Four heads instantly disappeared from sight. She looked at Kenshin, who seemed to be stopping himself from laughing. Kaoru huffed. They were now about to get out of the gate. Then, an idea begun to form in her mind.
But before that blur of thought became a fully fledged idea, she felt cold metal against her uninjured wrist. She looked at it instantly, she was staring at something that looked like some bracelet, attached to it was something that looks like the one she's wearing. She looked up to Kenshin's smiling face. How she wanted to wipe off that face!
"Saito-san has kindly given me these. They're called handcuffs…" he seemed proud of himself. Kaoru just gaped at him.
"They don't hurt as much as the cloth, cannot be broken easily too. Plus, they look like ornaments if people don't look too closely." It seemed like he has rehearsed everything he had just said. In fact, he did. He was worried as to how Kaoru might react. And he's about to know that.
"Mou! This is frustrating! Do you mean we have to walk to town with these on?!" she lifted her arm and looked at the object with so much enmity.
"I have to take certain precautions" he had decided not to say her name again, things are already complicated. An argument about her name is not needed at the moment.
"I'm not moving! You take these off or else, I would not budge!" she said arrogantly. Kenshin only looked at her, amazed. She was acting so much like the old Kaoru now, she was even stomping her feet. "I mean it!" she yelled again.
Kenshin moved to lift her. "I must say I can't, I'm sorry but I can't allow you to escape at the moment, that I am"
"W-w-what're you doing?!" she said backing away, but because of the handcuffs, she had only pulled Kenshin with her.
"I have no choice, If you don't move yourself, then I will MOVE you." Kaoru's mouth went open, looking scandalized. She heaved a few deep breaths.
"Fine! But only because I liked that Kimono I bought! Let's get this over and done with!"
Kaoru went ahead of him, Kenshin could only smile to himself, seems like he's won this one.
MEme: hey! that was a light one! no heavy drama! no tears! no Reiji! just the Kenshin-gumi
StoicMe: You forgot, Reiji's in this chapter... sips coffee quietly
MEme: I... knew...that...
StoicMe: Where are the others?
MEme: points at the heap of bodies behind They fought over who should write this one.......ERK! Okay! Who threw that?! stomps off
StoicMe: ...
StoicMe: ...
StoicMe: ...
StoicMe: ... hey! prods MEme with a twig
picks up a note waves note at readers
I am completely sorry but I have passed out. a large dose of reviews would do me some good.
StoicMe: sips coffee well... don't expect me to tell you what's gonna happen next! you know what to do!
Destellar: You love it?! Really?! Really really?! Yay!
Star of Foam: I wouldn't want Kenshin to be so dumb and trusting, so he suspects every now and then. Kaoru on the other hand is cunning. There's a silent battle going on. Kaoru might seem receptive as of the moment, but who knows?
Aya45: Like I said above, Kenshin has ideas. He's never gonna let her go easy. I mean, he's not gonna be so easy on her.
half-breed-demon-fox: I can't belive 6 words made me so happy. Okay, I admit it, I'm a bit shallow... but in a good way!