Eternal Bonds of Fate
Chapter 2: Ties of the Past
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"Kaoru…"
Kaoru's eyes turned wild and she flung out her arm, a powerful wave of energy surged out from her and hit Kenshin directly in the chest, throwing him forcefully backwards and out of her room and onto the front yard.
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Yahiko stood paralyzed as he watched Kenshin's unmoving body on the ground, a choking sound from the room got his attention. Turning back to Kaoru, he saw that her face was filled with tears and she was holding her head with both of her hands.
He slowly stepped inside the room and made his way towards her sobbing form. Kneeling before her, he slowly placed his hands over her own shaking ones. As she looked up, he nearly stopped breathing at the sight of her silver eyes. Tear stained, her soul was visible right there and then. She was suffering.
"He made me do it… I told him not to come near me…"
Yahiko blinked and came closer to her… "What do you mean?"
"I told him not to come near me, I don't want to remember… I don't want to remember…" came the shuddering response
"What are you so afraid of?" he whispered
"Blood… I can smell the blood on him…" she sobbed
Yahiko stared at her as she continued to sob. "I don't want to remember… I don't want to… please… make them go away…"
Yahiko blinked when he saw Kenshin settle beside Kaoru and lifted her up in his arms and placed her on his lap. Wrapping his arms around her and whispering gentle words of comfort.
Yahiko continued to watch until the worst of the storm passed. He sat before the two of them, still holding one of her hands in his own. When she finally lifted her head, she looked up to Kenshin and down to him before completely lowering her head.
"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"
Kenshin shook his head and continued to stroke her hair. The arm around her tightening in response, Yahiko also held Kaoru's hand in his as he leaned forward and rested his head on her chest.
"We're here, Kaoru… you don't have to be afraid… we'll always be here for you no matter what…" he whispered
A tear escaped from her eyes as she leaned comfortably, trustingly on Kenshin's embrace and wrapped both of her arms around the little kid on her chest and succumbed to a deep peaceful slumber.
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"Holy Shit!"
Megumi glared at the rooster head standing beside her as she continued to treat the wound on Kenshin's chest.
"You're telling us that Kaoru did that! What the heck did you just do to piss her off that much!"
Kenshin merely shook his head and chuckled, but before he could answer him, Yahiko spoke up and answered for him.
"Kaoru did that. She had a nightmare last night and I don't think she really knew what she was doing…" he whispered, "She was so scared…"
Sano looked down at the kid who was staring up at the clear blue sky. Megumi then straightened and sighed. "What I don't understand is, even if she didn't know what she was doing, I know that she would never do anything to harm Ken-san…"
Sitting beside his friend, Sano looked at Kenshin's bandaged chest and shook his head. Yahiko had arrived earlier at the clinic just as Megumi was finished changing the bandages in his hand. He told them that Kenshin needed to be treated by Megumi and that they had better go with them…fast. Arriving at the dojo, Sano stood shocked as Kenshin removed his gi, revealing the wound on his chest. It was as if he got burned by something huge… the wound covered most of his chest and it was obvious that Kenshin was having a hard time breathing.
"She wouldn't…" Yahiko whispered, "But she was scared, she flung out in defense. She said that she can smell blood… and that the blood reminded her of something…"
"Something?" Megumi whispered
"She didn't really tell us… she was just mumbling…"
Just before any of them could say more, Kenshin surprised all of them with his greeting. "Ohayou, Kaoru-dono."
All of them turned to look at Kaoru, who in turn looked at each and everyone of them in curiosity. "Ohayou… did something happen?"
"Kaoru… are you alright?" Yahiko asked her worriedly, his eyes conveyed his own wariness.
Kaoru gulped and turned to both Megumi and Sano who was watching her carefully. Turning to Kenshin, she noticed that he too, was watching her carefully. Her eyes catching Megumi's medicinal chest, she gasped and ran down the steps to face all of them. Her eyes wide as she slowly made her way to Kenshin. Falling on her knees as she pushed his gi aside revealing the bandages his chest. Kaoru stifled back a sob as she fell back, tears falling down her face.
"I thought it was just a dream… I didn't… Kami…"
Kenshin hurried forward and took hold of her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her protectively. "Daijobou…"
His response came from a vehement shake of her raven head. When she lifted her head, Kaoru looked up at him with wide eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt you… I swear… I really didn't…"
Kenshin shushed her gently with two fingers. Yahiko also came close to them and kneeled beside her. He held out his hand and laid it above her own shaking hand, as she turned to look at him, he noticed that her eyes were full of fear… the way it had been the night before. Closing his hand comfortingly over hers, he laid his head on her chest and closed his eyes.
"Please tell us Kaoru… we need to know… let us help you…" he whispered as he listened to the frantic beat of her heart. It was while later when he noticed her heart beat return to normal. Looking up, he saw Kaoru's eyes were closed and that she was breathing deeply. As she opened her eyes, she looked at him and to all of their friends and stood up.
"Lets all go to the dojo… there's something I need to tell all of you…" she whispered in a low voice.
As Kenshin and the others all stood up, she moved forward and went to the dojo ahead of them. They merely looked at each other and followed the raven haired swordswoman. As they entered the dojo, they noticed Kaoru sitting before the shrine. Settling around her, they all looked at Kaoru expectantly. Sapphire eyes looked at all of them and she let loose a sigh of resignation.
"Everything that's been happening here isn't connected in anyway to Kenshin."
At those words, the Kenshin-gumi looked at her and they noticed the sadness lurking deep within her eyes.
"What do you mean by that, jou-chan?" Sano asked her in shock
"The attack at the Akkabeko and at Dr. Genzai's house was no coincidence. The message that was left at the Akkabeko, Death from the heavens, is a phrase that was left behind when an assassination was done." As she said that, Kaoru looked directly into Kenshin's eyes and smiled ruefully.
"No doubt you've heard about it, ne, Kenshin?"
Kenshin nodded quietly, "I've heard about it. No body has ever seen the assassin behind those words… from what I've heard, the assassin was a sorcerer. The assassinations done by him stopped when another assassin killed him. From what I've heard, the second assassin was a woman."
Kaoru chuckled at that. "Sheesh... you'd think that they would get some facts straight wouldn't you?" she shook her head at that. "He wasn't killed, and the second assassin isn't a woman… not yet. The second assassin was a seven year old girl."
Jaws dropped at that announcement. Kaoru chuckled at their reactions, but as she turned to face the shrine before her, her sapphire eyes hardened. "I think I should tell you all about it… starting from the beginning… and I think I should start with this…" at that she lifted her hand and the wall that housed the shrine and swords moved, only to reveal another wall, this time with a huge symbol on it. "Who of you knows what this symbol means?"
The Kenshin-gumi stared at the symbol, amethyst orbs widened when he recognized the symbol. "It's the insignia of the Hizuchi Clan of sorcerers. I've worked with them once when I was still with the Ishinshishi… I think it was about ten years ago… just before I turned rurouni."
As Kenshin explained this, all eyes looked at him, but when he looked directly into Kaoru's eyes, all eyes returned back to the girl sitting in the middle of the dojo. Kaoru tilted her head and smiled.
"Hai… you are exactly right. Now I'll tell you exactly how that clan started…"
"Two sorcerer clans, the Hirekaiwa and Mizume Clans, these two clans are related to one another. In fact, they were known as the most powerful clans to ever have existed. Both carrying the sacred elements of water and fire. The most powerful in both of those clans are two females. Cousins… Kyoko Mizume and Tamaki Hirekaiwa. Aside from being excellent sorcerers, they were also skilled fighters. When they both reached the age of fifteen, two seers foretold that they would be wed to two noble swordsmen… both related to one another as well.
The two swordsmen in question were Seichi and Katsuhiro Kamiya. They met each other during a festival here in Tokyo, during that time, Kyoko and Tamaki were assigned to the Tokyo shrine to precede the ceremonies while Seichi and Katsuhiro were participants in a sword fight exhibition. As the two men went to the shrine to present gifts to the temple, they met the two priestesses there. Well, I guess you could say that it was love at first sight, in fact, when the four of them got to know each other, the two girls were surprised to learn that the two were those they were destined to be with. As word got out to both clans, the marriage preparation immediately started. Three years later on one summer afternoon, the marriage tied the two clans. A year later, Tamaki-san gave birth to a son, which they named Gentatsu. At birth, the Hirekaiwa clan rejoiced when the son of their priestess held the symbol of the fire element in him. The first in their clan. The fire symbol is an indication that the child would be a powerful sorcerer holding the sacred element.
Two years later, both seers from the Hirekaiwa and Mizume clans predicted a child to be borne from the Mizume clan would also hold the sacred element of the Mizume's. Yet, as Gentatsu was trained to be a powerful sorcerer and excellent strategist, they predicted that the second child would carry on the burden on the on-going war. With this prophecy, the Hizuchi Clan was born. It was the combination of both the Hirekaiwa and Mizume Clan.
Supposed to stand as head of this new clan was Gentatsu's parents. But two days before the induction of the clan heads, both Seichi and Tamaki were killed in an ambush attack by the Sawane Clan leaving Gentatsu an orphan at the age of five. Kyoko and Katsuhiro took on the responsibility of leading the clan and continue raising Gentatsu. A year later, Kyoko gave birth to a daughter, the second child. This one had the water symbol on her, and as prophesized, the child started to develop her skills with sorcery and her skills with the sword manifested the moment she learned how to stand. And again as predicted, the child did indeed bear the burden of the on-going war… by being the clan's top assassin."
Letting her words sink in, she tilted her head back and sighed. It was Megumi spoke first.
"The younger child... the little girl… Kaoru…" she said trailing off,
Kaoru smiled at Megumi and then a bright shone and settled on her forehead revealing the glowing blue symbol of water on her forehead. Yahiko and the others stared at her, "Hai. I'm that little girl…" she whispered
"I was groomed to the arts of war… the art of killing. Add to that my skills as a sorceress, well... you can guess what that did to my reputation especially when I started with my assignments. I don't know what came over Gentatsu when he told me to use the name Sakura, Sakura Mizume. Demo… ever since he told me that, it's exactly what I used. And every after assignment, I would leave the engraved symbol of our clan somewhere in the vicinity of my victims… along with that, I would leave a Sakura flower with it.
I got the assignment to get rid of Amano Yuchimiko, a deranged sorcerer who started to assassinate head members of the Ishinshishi. I didn't get to kill him because that cursed creature used a diversionary tactic to escape just as I was just about to kill him. Returning back to our place, I saw that our clan had been under attack just after I left. I managed to kill half of our enemies and managed to find my mother. Drained and tired after my battle with Yuchimiko, I failed to notice the attach that came from behind me until my mother used herself to protect me." Kaoru closed her eyes at the remembered pain and anguish at that time, looking back at the shrine, she continued with her story.
"She died there and then, but she left me to uphold a promise to her… that no matter what, I would smile. I would smile through everything. My father came and brought me back to our headquarters with my mother in his arms. Gentatsu then decided to send me out of the clan… along with my father. At first I didn't have any idea why, but when we reached Tokyo, father told me to give him all my weapons and armors and for me to never use my skills as a sorceress…" Kaoru smiled faintly at the memory, "I was eight years old at that time… and it was the start of my new life here. I thought I never would have to go back to the way I was before… even my cousin made sure that I would never have to go back to my old life. He cut off all ties from me to our old clan… he wanted to protect me, he always has…" tears misted her eyes as she gripped her kimono tighter. "I thought I didn't have to go back… I wanted to forget… I thought no one would know, no one can bring back the memories…" sobs wracked her body as Kaoru fell forward and curled up on the floor.
Kenshin swiftly stood up and held her body close to him, his eyes glowing eerily with both shades of amber and amethyst. Wrapping his arms around her protectively, he closed his eyes and sighed. He knew exactly just how she felt. The pain of the past, the need to block the dark memories deep in the deepest recesses of his mind.
Aside from pity, he felt a white hot fury filling him. Fury at those who would do something to a little girl… he clenched his teeth.
Yahiko and the others looked worriedly at Kaoru. It was true that they were shocked to know that she was the infamous Sakura Mizume whose skills can reputation matched that of Hitokiri Battousai himself, but, now that they knew exactly of Kaoru's past, they felt anger filling them, just like Kenshin.
Sano swore vehemently deep in his throat making the rest of the rooms occupants look at him in surprise. He looked at Kaoru and they could all see the anger crackling in his chocolate brown orbs.
"Why the hell would they put you in such position! Didn't they even care! Hell! You're just a little girl!" he growled out loud
Megumi nodded in assent. "Didn't your parent even try to stop what they did to you!"
Kaoru merely hiccupped and shook her head. "They didn't have any choice. Aside from our clan head, there were also the elders. They were the one who had the decisions in the members of our clan. My parents refused to make me as an assassin, Gentasu as well. Well, especially him. He was already a brother to me… just as I am a little sister to him. I know that he would do anything to protect me, but there are some things that he can't control."
She smiled at Yahiko through her tears, looking at each and every one in the room, she hurriedly wiped the tears in her eyes. "I was so afraid to tell you about this as well… I thought you'd hate me if you knew who and what kind of person I truly was." She whispered with a sad smile on her face.
Yahiko growled. "It's just not fair! Even though you're the daughter of the head of your clan, they still forced you to become like that! It wasn't your fault! You were only doing what you were told to do…"
Kenshin nodded beside her. "He's right Kaoru. None of it was your decision…." He whispered as he continued to stroke her hair.
Sano and Megumi nodded as well. "Besides, we don't have any right to judge you when you, yourself, ignored all of our past and took us in. You looked right through us Kaoru-chan…" Megumi whispered
Kenshin smiled at that, "I would have to agree with Megumi-dono at that. After all, I can speak for every one in this room after you gave a home, a family… even after you knew exactly who I was…"
Looking up to him, Kaoru smiled and wrapped her arms around him. Her words garbled by her sobs… "Arigatou minna… arigatou…"
Yahiko grinned and stood up. "Well, now that's out of the way! We have to find who the heck started all of these!"
Sano jumped up as well, "Hell yeah! And we're gonna make sure that he's going to learn he can't mess with our family!"
Kenshin chuckled along with the two ladies at the sight the two made and laid his head comfortingly on Kaoru. She turned her head and smiled happily at him. As he stood up, he turned to give he his hand to assist her in standing up. Just as Kaoru managed to stand up, she turned her head quickly to the wall behind Yahiko and disappeared in a flash.
A huge explosion shocked the others, after the smoke cleared, they saw that the explosion came from where Yahiko once stood. Before any of them could move, they saw more of the smoke dissipate to reveal Kaoru holding Yahiko securely in her arms.
Yahiko gasped when he felt someone wrap an arm around his waist and felt himself lifted form the floor just as the explosion occurred. Looking up, he saw Kaoru looking beyond the hole in the dojo walls. He blinked in shock when he saw that her eyes were glittering silver, what even shocked him more was the look on her face. Cold, unfeeling devoid of any emotions… so unlike the Kaoru they have grown to love.
The rest of her friends stared at her and back to the gaping hole in wall where the smoke revealed the shadow of a man standing there. As the smoke cleared completely, they saw just exactly who their opponent was.
He was wearing a priests robe all in blood red color. On his waist hung a chain of black beads. His hands were covered with hand guards and on his right hand, he held a staff, silver hair on a high ponytail and his eyes were endless pools of black.
He chuckled with unearthly glee making the hairs on Sano's nape stand. Kenshin glared at the man before them and noticed that he had never met anyone who emitted such dark aura, he clenched his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The sorcerer smiled maliciously at all of them before it came to rest on the raven haired kenjutsu shihondai standing protectively before a spiky haired kid. He licked his lips.
"Hello Sakura Mizume… long time no see, I hope you still remember me…"
A cold smile made its way to Kaoru's lips. "Hello to you too, Amano Yuchimiko."
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Japanese Terms:
Ohayou – Good morning
Kami – God
Daijobou – It's alright ;p
Hai - Yes
Demo – But
Arigatou – Thank you
Minna – everyone / everybody (I think)
Jou-chan – Little missy (sano's nickname for kaoru)
AN: Whoee! Chapter 2 here! Hope you guys like this! I think its going to take some time before I get to write the third chappie but I hope that you'll bear with me! Don't forget, reviews are very much appreciated! Thankies!
Aoi-chan
