Disclaimer: Battousai will give me a full sword slash if I don't say that I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or anything from it... oh, and I ah... feels sword tip poke her back ... don't own Battousai.
Behind My Back – Chapter Ten – By Cherry Chibi
'Pawns of a game'
- - - -
"You're my responsibility…" Battousai said.
"As you are mine." Kaoru replied.
- - - -
The room was lit dimly by a lamp. Misao was seated on the edge of the bed while Aoshi tended to her wounds. However, it there was a slight tension in the atmosphere.
"Please Aoshi… just… leave things as they are." Misao said. She bit her lower lip as Aoshi applied medical ointments over her cuts. She had been happy to be back by Aoshi's side but things weren't going the way that she had expected. Now he was thinking of leaving the city. "I like it here…" She winced as a sharp burn was felt when the ointment touched one of her slightly newer cuts.
"As long as we're here… you're not safe." Aoshi stated. He screwed on the cap of the medical bottle and set it inside the first aid kit. Quietly, he took out the gauze bandages and slowly wrapped around Misao's upper arm and shoulder where there was still some bleeding.
"Just because your have a stronger Empath ability than I do doesn't mean that…" Misao was cut off when Aoshi spoke with his calm and dark voice.
"It's nothing to do with that. The government know who we are and that we're living here. If they know then its likely that other political groups would know…" He finished up wrapping the bandages with a final tug. "I don't want us to go back to the laboratories. Do you understand what I am saying?" He looked up at her, his icy blue eyes warmed. A silent message passed to her. Because Aoshi and Misao had only been partly Empaths, therefore the strength of their abilities were weak compared to the full Empaths, they were able to get their freedom. However, even though it had taken awhile to get it – it was easy enough for the government to change their minds.
Misao touched his cheek. "I understand." She closed her eyes feeling her dislike towards her abilities. If she was born like a normal child, then she wouldn't have to go through what she had. She would be able to do as she wanted. She would still have her family. A lot of things would have been different if she wasn't an Empath. However, if she wasn't an Empath, she would have probably turned out to be a different person… and she would probably would've never met Aoshi.
"There is no need to be sad." A voice said from the darkness. "Okashira knows what's best." Aoshi and Misao looked up and spotted a group of men standing at the doorway. In
front stood Aoshi's right hand man.
Upon seeing them, Misao felt her joy sweep over again. She smiled brightly. "You're finally back!" A shorter man, Beshimi, said with glee. He entered along with the other three; Hyotoko, Hannya and Shikijou.
"How are you feeling Misao?" Shikijou asked. He crossed his arms and grinned at her.
"Those bastards really hurt you didn't they?" Hyotoko asked with a burning fury in his eyes. Hannya kept silent, although she couldn't see his face behind the mask, she knew he was happy.
It felt so relieving to just be back with the Oniwabanshuu. All of those months when she had been captive of the Shinsengumi, she had thought that she would probably never be able to see them again. But they found her and they had saved her. "I'm so happy to be back!" Rivers of tears formed for the first time since she came back, "I'm so happy… I'm so, so happy…" Tears were curving delicately down her cheeks.
Living through all those painful days believing that she would one day escape had really been worth it. To be reunited with the ones she loved so much was enough to make her happy for the rest of her life and even longer.
"Leader, when should we leave for the Aoiya hideout?" Hannya asked quietly.
"We leave tonight." Aoshi said, "The sooner the better." He rest a hand on Misao's shoulder as a reassurance that everything would be well.
- - - -
Heavy breathing. Gravity had multiplied and her body felt like a bag of cement. Kaoru splashed cold water in her face. She stared at the dripping water. The blood was still there. It still stained her face. In the air was a strong presence of darkness. She felt another part of her swell from its egg and hatch. Slowly her blue eyes swirled into ultramarine. The colder side was sweeping her again.
Her predictions were becoming clearer. Bloodshed again. But this time these people were innocent. She had a strong urge to do something about it.
"Shinsengumi…" Her cold voice whispered, "…will not harm my kind." She rushed out of the bathroom and grabbed the hilt of her shinai on the way. Battousai had locked the door again, however, she wasn't fussed about it. She reached towards the window and slid it open, although their were quite a number floors up, it was no problem that she couldn't handle.
She jumped out onto the ledge and then jumped off, falling through air like a rock. 'There'll be a light post right about…' She thought, 'now.' She flipped in the air to slow the speed she was falling at and then grabbed the pole of the light post to stop her fall. She landed on the ground easily. 'They'll be a couple of blocks from here.'
- - - -
Katsura smirked. He watched Kaoru run in the distance. "The substance is reacting again." He said quietly. A gleaming coldness in his eyes. Takasugi was leaning against the alley wall not so far away. The grin he usually wore had melted away, he looked serious, almost ready for a battle.
"Battousai didn't even feel her presence leaving did he?" Takasugi questioned, slightly amused.
Katsura didn't answer. He kept watching the same direction. Takasugi gave up speaking and watched the direction where Katsura was watching. To his surprise, Battousai had appeared from no where and was following Kaoru at a safe distance.
"Tonight will be the first test…" Katsura said, "against the Shinsengumi."
"But she would not kill." Takasugi said.
Katsura snorted, "Why do you think that Yin and Yang exist? Battousai will be the one who kills while Kaoru is the one who just knocks them out. Even so, with her, the streets would at least be a bit cleaner for once." He glanced over his shoulder towards a corpse at the other side of the alley that had been rotting for probably about a week. It was shocking to think that the police hadn't even picked it up yet.
Takasugi chuckled. "Someday Katsura, these plans will backfire." Although he didn't want to be the one who had to continuously remind Katsura of reality, he felt obliged to since he didn't want his boss to lose his head.
- - - -
Aoshi and the group stopped their vehicles. Ahead of them, a large group of men stood in their way. Aoshi narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?" He asked icily. He tasted the planning of the Shinsengumi.
One of the leading men laughed. "We're here to clean our society." The man said, "We don't need freaks like you." He drew out his gun, "Of course, I'm also doing this to see your blood – Aoshi Shinomori." He pointed the gun towards Misao who was seated behind Aoshi on the motorbike. She tensed, feeling the danger of the moment.
Aoshi mounted off his motorbike and stood in front of Misao to shield her. He drew out his twin kodachi. "Jin-eh." He muttered. The other men had gotten out of the car that was parked behind Aoshi and were ready for battle.
"Do you think your men can really fight us?" Jin-eh mocked. The other men in the group revealed their artillery. "You're not going to run from the Shinsengumi. We're keeping a very close eye on you. But I believe that you should hand over the girl, if you do, I'll make sure that your deaths will be quick."
"No." Aoshi replied defiantly.
"Then I'll have to resort to force." Jin-eh signaled and the guns started firing. Immediately, the Oniwabanshuu dodged. Their speeds giving them the advantage of being able to dodge the bullets. Sparks flew and the loud noises echoed along the empty roads of the outer city.
Grinning menacingly, Jin-eh charged forward, managing to catch up to Misao, he grabbed her wrist. "Got you." She winced as the grip threatened to snap her wrist. She gritted her teeth and prepared to fight back.
"Misao!" Hannya charged forward and punched Jin-eh in the stomach. He quickly retrieved Misao.
"Hannya! Get Misao out of here!" Aoshi commanded. He leapt into the air again to escape the flying bullets. An attack from behind caught Aoshi off balance and he stumbled onto the ground. The warm blood soaking into his white trench coat.
"Leader!" The others of the Oniwabanshuu stopped along with the firing guns. Jin-eh stood with his sword pointed down at Aoshi's neck. They were tense, each one of them eyeing the situation with caution.
Jin-eh chuckled, "This feels good." The red fluid was bleeding from the gash in Aoshi's back. "Your 'Leader' isn't very strong is he?" He grinned and then turned to Hannya who had Misao beside him. "Hand over the girl."
"I don't think so."
A foreign voice caught Jin-eh's attention. To his surprise, a young woman armed with a mere shinai was approaching him with a emotionless face. He raised an eyebrow with interest – the girl was truly foolish to think she could even dare show her face with only a harmless weapon.
"A girl?! Boss! Shall we dispose of her?!" A thug from the mob shouted. But even before that man could say anymore, he was sent flying from a blow to the chin.
Seeing that Jin-eh was out of focus, Aoshi ceased the moment and slashed his kodachi at Jin-eh's leg. Before leaping off the ground and landing a safe distance away. He turned to the woman at analysed her. 'I've seen here before…'
"Aoshi… are you alright?" Misao ran towards him. He nodded. Confused, Misao glanced over to Jin-eh and then to the stray person.
"Jin-eh… I suggest that you leave these people peacefully." Kaoru said.
"What does a weakling like you have anything to do with this?" Jin-eh questioned mockingly. He flicked the dripping blood from his sword. "I think my next prey will be you." He charged forward toward her. He prepared to strike but by the time his sword was a centimeter away from her flesh, she vanished. He stumbled.
"You're the one who is weak."
Jin-eh turned around, she stood behind him with narrowed eyes. He chuckled. "A worthy opponent." He stated, "I think I'll take this seriously now."
"So you should." Kaoru said.
Everyone else were shocked into silence, how could someone suddenly vanish and not even be scratched by a fast and strong attack? "Who is she?" Misao asked in a whisper. She looked up at Aoshi, "I have this feeling that we've met her before."
"Kaoru Kamiya." Aoshi replied. 'She had been on the news… it was said that the Choshu had kidnapped her but how can this be so?' He watched Kaoru carefully, 'Her fighting style is refined, her Empath abilities have strengthened.' The look on Kaoru's face troubled him, when he had met her, she was nothing like that. She had a positive attitude – a simple minded girl other wise. But now, he wasn't even able to predict her.
"Aoshi, please take everyone out of here. I'll handle the rest of them." Kaoru voice whispered into Aoshi's mind. "Quickly!"He took hold of Misao's hand and looked down at her with a silent message passing through his blue depths. He then looked up at the other Oniwabanshuu. With a slight and quick nod, they retreated quickly.
"Get them!" Jin-eh shouted. Even so, the men didn't move. Something was holding them back. They were hesitant somehow. Glaring at the foolish men, he soon spotted Battousai with his sword drawn.
"What are you doing here?" Kaoru questioned, although she didn't turn around, she was directing the question to Battousai. "I can take care of myself."
"I don't see why you should be concerning yourself with these things." Battousai said. His amber eyes furiously eyeing at Kaoru. When he had heard her leap from the window, he had followed her immediately, enraged by the fact that she would do such a reckless thing. He held his sword against one of the thugs' neck. He turned to the man, "All of you better run… if you don't want to end your lives tonight." His cold tone seemed to have set the men running like dogs with their tails between their legs.
"It's just you now." Kaoru said to Jin-eh. "Will you retreat now?" She was giving him another chance to run but it seemed that he wasn't – what a stubborn fellow.
"You think that I would run from a freak?" Jin-eh questioned, "Especially from someone like you?" He charged forward again, this time cautious and aware of sudden changes. As soon as Kaoru vanished he changed direction and just managed to skim the blade over the flesh on her cheek. Seeing her blood, he felt a hunger to see and smell more.
Kaoru narrowed her eyes and swung her shinai straight behind Jin-eh's neck with full strength. The impact made a cracking noise and he fell flat face on the concrete. "I doubt you would be able to move." Kaoru said coldly. Bringing the back of her left hand over her right cheek, she wiped the blood that was oozing from the cut.
"You!" A punch came from behind and Kaoru yelped. The attack came so quick, it had taken advantage of the very miniscule moment she was off guard. She regained her balance quickly and jumped back. Another punch dug into the pits of her stomach. She quickly countered the next fist and dodged several other attacks.
When the attacks ceased, she was able to skid to a halt and have a good look at the enemy. Her eyes widened at the newcomer.
"I trusted you to take care of everyone while I was gone for a short while… and what happens when I come back?!" A roaring voice shouted at Kaoru. "Everyone I held dear is dead!" The man lifted Jin-eh from the ground. "You've finally showed your true face. You're my enemy."
"You're…"
"A Sekihoutai always, you should know that I hate the Choshu… and now you've joined them." Sanosuke glared at Kaoru with fury, "Don't you ever show your face to me again. I won't be so lenient next time." He vanished from sight with Jin-eh, giving her no time to even speak.
"Sanosuke…" She then shivered and crumbled onto her knees. The bruises that were forming at the areas were Sanosuke had punched her were unforgiving. She would have never imagined it – he hating her. The bleeding mark on her right cheek burned. 'I wonder…' She thought, 'Will that mark leave a scar on my cheek as a reminder of tonight?'
"Kaoru."
"Leave me alone." Kaoru replied, struggling to stand. She closed here eyes, shutting out the world around her for a few moments. 'What do I have now?' She had lost her family, she had no one. She didn't know where to turn now.
- - - -
They had managed to escape and hide in an inn. It was highly unlikely that the Shinsengumi would come looking for them now. "Are you alright Leader?" Shikijou asked Aoshi. They had been worried about his injury and had immediately arranged for a doctor to bandage up the wound as soon as they had checked in.
"Nothing to be concerned about." Aoshi replied.
"We should've known that the Shinsengumi would've traced us." Hannya said, "I'm sorry Leader for not being able to realise…" He was silence when Aoshi shook his head slowly.
"It wasn't anyone's fault that this happened." Aoshi said, "Right now, we should just be careful of them."
"We should be thanking Kaoru…. She did save us." Misao said as she entered, "If it weren't for her…" She paused for a moment. "Wait, wasn't she kidnapped by the Choshu?"
"That's what we thought." Hyotoko said, "But by the looks of it, something is going on." Each of them had met Kaoru before, but they never really got to get to know her very well. As far as they knew, she was the daughter of a high status politician and a full fledged Empath. They also knew that her personality back then was a contrast to how she usually was.
"I've done some research…" Hannya said, "The Choshu have managed to create a substance that enhances the abilities of an Empath. It seems that they are doing some sort of project to create a perfect assassin." Things were warming up and it looked like Aoshi and Misao had pieced things together.
"But why Kaoru?" Misao questioned. There was no answer.
- - - -
"That ended perfectly." Katsura said, praising the whole event. "Nice work." He grinned, "We should be able to see how the Shinsengumi will act to this now." He lit a cigarette and took a deep breath of it. Everything was going his way.
"Bastard. I can't believe that I had even done that for the likes of you."
"But you did and that's all that matters now. Anyway, I'm sure that you did it for what you believe is right." Katsura said, grinning as he felt the small victory rise. "Isn't that so Sanosuke Sagara?"
Sanosuke balled his hands into fists. He knew he was helpless in this situation. 'I'm sorry Kaoru…' He was forced into tricking her, now he was feeling in disarray. "You bastard." He growled, "You're using her for your damn plans…"
"Don't worry, once all this is over, I'll return her to you… that is… if she is alive." Katsura said.
"You scum…" Sanosuke growled, "I'll…"
"Don't do anything stupid." Katsura said calmly, "Or else I'll have make you do something else to your dear sister…" He flicked his cigarette away and his body guards escorted him to the black vehicle. "It's getting late. Why don't we get back home?"
Sanosuke watched, unable to do anything while Katsura left. "Bastard…"
- - - -
Battousai could hear the silent sniffles coming from the other bed. Even though he heard them, he couldn't do anything about it. He stared at the ceiling threatening to burn wholes through it. 'Katsura…' He knew that it had been set up. Having worked under Katsura for so many years had given him the knackto be able to see the well disguised schemes that the cruel man played. 'He harms anyone as long as he reaches his goal… but he hurts his own child more than anyone else…'
He glanced over to Kaoru, she had finally fallen to sleep. '…brave girl.' He had seen many times people who were in her situation give up after being tormented for so long but she had lived through it all. 'She deserves happiness.' He sighed. 'How did a girl like her come across my path like this? It isn't fair for her…'
"Don't think that way." A quiet voice whispered. It sounded like Kaoru was saying it in her sleep. "Kenshin, don't think that way. I'm happy that I've met you." Her words made a small smile touch his lips, even though he knew she was saying those words in her dream. Battousai watched her sleep for a while longer, he wondered if she would ever be able to share his feelings.
- - - -
AN: That's all for this chappy! Thank you everyone for reading. Sorry for the long wait. Hope you all enjoyed it. I know that a couple of you are picking up the fact that this fic is sort of like Linay's and I admit that it does feel like that… now that I think about it. Oh wells… I can't do much to change that now… so I'll just continue with the fic as it is. Hope that you guys don't mind! Alright, until next time! Cherry Chibi.