Fanfic by blueroseulan

July 11, 2004

AN: Finally finally… and UPDATE! Sorry if it took me so long… oh well.. the importamt thing is I'm back now ne…? I just wanna thank you guys for forever giving your support especially those who had reviewed from Chapter one up to now! Arigatou Gozaimasu minna-san! Yada yada… I'm ranting on! On with the chapter… don't forget to REVIEW! The more the reviews the faster I'll update.

Previously on Chapter 5:

Nodding in approval, Sanosuke began to read the names who had survived the effects of war. Though taking this into consideration, he couldn't help but become alarmed when Sanosuke had finished the list of survivors with no utterance whatsoever of the name of the man he was waiting the most.

"Sanosuke, what about Yukishiro Enishi, one of our finest leaders in the army?" anxious amethyst eyes met clouded hazy ones as Sanosuke shook his head.

"Sir, I regret to inform you that Yukishiro Enishi, First captain patrol of the imperial army division had died on the battle of Satsuma a day before the war has been won."

CHAPTER 6

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Dusk was slowly creeping in. The gentle colors of red and soft orange bathing the vast Tokyo skies. Stars were slowly clambering their own positions in the canopy and one would not have been closer pressed upon to conclude how peaceful the scene was.

Peaceful and yet, one restless figure stood agitated and tensed in the emperor's palace balcony.

Enishi is dead…

Enishi was dead.

The fact was flabbergasting.

Flabbergasting, yet true.

Enishi is dead… what happens now…?

It almost deemed impossible and Kaoru for one, could not imagine how such a talented, skilled warrior such as the man would be killed in just a simple revolt. Enishi was more than strong. The word would be an understatement compared to his ability. The only person she could think of, that could surpass his skill was none other than the emperor himself.

Leaning on the palace railings with a soft sigh, she allowed her gaze to travel on the wide expanse of the land. Everything was calm and peaceful, untouched and serene…and yet, her mind was a tortured soul, her conscience eating her thoughts.

Enishi is finally dead… shouldn't I be happy…? I'm free now… free to marry the man I love most and yet… why is it that…

She trailed off. She couldn't continue. The fact that her husband was dead would still not sink in to her sub consciousness and relief was still a far cry from her grasp.

Relief.

It was one thing she so desperately wanted to feel…but somewhere along the way, wouldn't come up to grasp her senses.

Guilt.

Was she liable for her own husband's death?

Silly Kaoru… you know you never meant to kill him… and besides… he went to war… he died in the war… there's no sense in blaming yourself for some foolishness you have not done.

A cold wind blew followed by the sudden flash of lightning in the sky, bright enough to scare Kaoru. The peaceful aura of the village below was now distorted, ruined by the image of rain and storm. Shivering, she retraced her steps and closed the door to prevent the rain from wetting the tatami floor. A shudder escaped her lips. Good grief! Are the gods striking me with thunder with all these thoughts I'm having!

Shaking her head, she crossed the chambers of the room to flop down on their bed…er… his bed… Coveting the title was not only unrighteous… but also downright ambitious. She was not married to Kenshin and yet… making love seemed like a common thing for them, an issue stomped and hidden at the corner of the room. Moreover, sleeping with him only meant denouncing her title as Enishi's wife. For every person knew that a married woman should only sleep with her husband.

And now… Enishi's dead…

Yes. Enishi was dead. And he died carrying the hurtful rejection she dealt him.

His death was so sudden… so sudden… I didn't even get the chance to ask forgiveness for what I have done… It is not right to use his beatings as an excuse to sleep with another man… Oh Enishi! Do you hate me so much now…?

And with these thoughts, the raven haired woman broke down into loud pitiful sobs. Tried though she had to muffle them with an ashen colored palm, she could not control herself, her tears falling down to wet the thick mattresses. The thought of Enishi's hatred was far more than what she could bear. Kaoru was a good person, only morally degraded with her secret affair with the emperor but other than that, she wanted think of herself as someone who knew what love and respect was.

Still with these thoughts, she couldn't quiet herself.

She continued to cry, even as he entered the room. To say he was surprised would be a mere understatement. Shocked as he was to see her sobbing form, all he could do was hold her and wait for the storm to pass.

And pass it did for she remained unmoving in his arms for awhile, breath still coming out in short hiccups. He need not know her reason for distress, for he had a strong inkling on why it suddenly came in its place. He strongly suspected that Enishi's death had something to do about it and though, he wouldn't deny feeling slightly jealous, slightly, but not overly so, he thought, it would have been far too ridiculous if she knew he was envious over a dead man.

She joined him to bed afterwards, but she didn't allow him to touch her. Had he been an egotistic man, his pride would have dived down a hundred degrees lower below zero. But Kenshin was rational and sensitive and he understood her. He had to, for there was no sense fighting in such deep a night just because of lust and pleasure.

"Kenshin…" she breathed out just as he was about to drift to sleep.

"Hmmm…?"

His tone was soft, sleepy and alluring, a comfort to her sudden guilty soul. Closing her eyes and banishing any ideas of liability, she threw caution to the wind and snuggled closer to the man.

"Kaoru…?" His voice was filled with uncertainty. He wanted to reach out, but was afraid the notion was still premature and he would just end up hurting her. So he just kept quiet, a fact she was grateful of.

"Kenshin… I want to go to Satsuma tomorrow…" she whispered, silently praying for his approval, knowing it would be scarce.

"NANI?" Sleepiness gone, his face was now painted with confusion, surprise and stubborn defiance.

I should have known… "Please Kenshin… I want to see… if not Enishi's body, just at least the place where I know he died so I could offer something…" she added, guilt and trepidation evident.

But he would not give in.

"It's far too dangerous Kaoru. And still morbid even for my own liking. The rebellion was small, but Saitou's group was strong. I cannot possibly allow you to witness all those blood shed." he finished, trying hard not to lose his patience.

She knew him far too well to know that a temper was slowly starting to grow. And yet, unwilling as she was to fight, she needed him to give his consent no matter how angry he was unlikely as to become.

"Kenshin…" his name came out in soft whispered syllabus. Catching his breath in her trance like call. He watched her under concerned amethyst orbs as she sat up and slowly treaded her way towards his wide balcony. He spoke not a word, his silence creating a deafening stillness.

Finally, giving in to his urge, he rose up and followed her, wrapping his arms around her small rounded waist. The raven haired woman turned to face him, burying herself in the crook of his neck and surprising him when he felt her shake from underneath his touch. He whispered her name in alarm, for he could not comprehend the reason why so many tears where escaping her lovely sapphire eyes.

"Please Kenshin… Please… allow me to honor Enishi… even after his death…"

Her plea gave a definite tug in his heart and yet, the emperor found himself unable to speak, his tongue seemingly tying itself in a knotted chord. Torn between granting her requests and giving in to his sudden instinct to protect her, he finally chose the latter for he wanted her safety, far more than her approval for his decision.

But that, he left unspoken.

Instead, he held her close, seemingly protecting her shivering form from the biting wind. Un acknowledging his decision, he hoped she would let the matter drop, forget all the hell about it, and let both of them have their sleep. My dear sweet Kaoru… I never wanted to see your tears… and yet… I couldn't afford to gamble your safety for the sake of your piece of mind… I'm sorry… But I won't let you go…

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Her request went unheeded, she just knew it. The moment she woke up with no one beside her, the raven haired woman knew that the emperor had not granted her request to return to Satsuma. Angry tears welling in her eyes, she could not for one understand why he felt so overprotective on her when her only threat was already dead. Touched she should be for his concern for her safety, she felt smothered on the notion.

Still, Kamiya Kaoru would not be undaunted. I'm sorry Kenshin… but I need to do this, not only for my sake… but for both of us as well… I'm sorry… but I really have to do this…

Looking around, she was confronted with a problem. The emperor's room was on the top of the building, and the balcony was far too high to be any means of escape. She did not know the ins and outs of the palace itself and she would just end up getting lost and getting caught by one of the palace guards. Kaoru shuddered with the thought.

What can I do…? Asking herself, her gaze directed itself towards the balcony. It was high, yes, it really was and yet, it could only be her only hope in getting away. Sapphire eyes widening with realization, quickly, she took the whitened linen sheets, flung the cabinets open for some more, and started tying them in large sturdy knots. When the length had satisfied her, she started tying, with all the force she could muster, the 'rope' she had done around the banisters of the balcony and flung the linen sheets with all her might.

There… all set… She quickly undressed and changed into a simple black kimono with a wine-colored obi adorning her slender waist. It was all that she could do to show her mourning and her respect for the death of her husband. Running towards the balcony, she felt her heart quicken into a few more thunderous beats. With this escape, she was throwing all that she had. Losing her life wasn't the only danger she had to face, but the emperor himself. If he was to find out that she had disobeyed his will, she could very well never regain back his trust.

Squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath, she steadied herself, assured her conscience that what she was doing was neither right nor wrong and therefore she should not be judged—and started making her way carefully down the tied linen sheets. Caught in that situation, Kaoru was sure her heart would burst right through her chest. One wrong move and it was over. One wrong foot and she could end up breaking her neck and dying in no time. Trying hard not to look down, she tried to calm herself and instead, focus her attention in succeeding with her task.

When her foot touched the ground, the woman collapsed into a heap, form shaking and trembling with the sudden tension all but escaping in every pore of her body. Uncaring If she was seen or not, she continued to catch her breath, only to lose it all again when she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder.

"Hey missy."

Oh god…I'm so like dead meat…The voice sounded familiar, but still, there was trepidation in her heart that the person could very well be a common palace guard and she would just be presented to the emperor after all the work, not to mention the danger she had paled on herself.

"Missy."

Slowly turning her head in fear of facing her unlikely companion, she nearly threw her arms with relief when she saw that the man was no other than Sanosuke himself.

"Oi, what are you doing here?" he asked, eyes suddenly catching sight of the billowing sheets that hung on the high balcony coming from the emperor's room. "Boy, are you one brave woman." He concluded, shaking his head and offering her a hand to stand up.

She took it, gladly, but for a while she could not speak.

"Lemme guess, you're escapin' from him aren't ya?" his tone was disapproving and he tsked. "Well, I should' a known no woman could stay smothered inside a room of his. But lemme tell yah Jou-chan, there's no escaping that man. He'll just find yah all over again so if I were you, I'd just save myself the trouble and return back." He concluded. "Oh… an' let me escort yah back to yah room. I promise I wont tell." He added jokingly, moving to lead her back inside.

But a firm grip stopped his arm. So tight it was that he couldn't help but stop. Peering into her face, he was surprised to see so many emotions in her cerulean eyes.

"Please… I'm not escaping your emperor… you very well know that I love him so much… and I…" she trailed off.

"So why are yah here Jou chan…? Pretty looks like an escape to me."

"I wanted to go to Satsuma… but Kenshin won't allow me… but I need to go there Sanosuke… I have to… It's just that he won't understand… could you help me go there…? Please…? I don't know how to leave the palace… I would just get lost and well… please….?" She appealed, tears starting to fall in justification to her pleas.

He stared at her weeping form. Hard. Things had just been reversed. Hadn't it? It was as if she trusted him so well, she knew he would never tell the emperor all about this. Uncomfortable as he was with the situation, he wanted to just lug her in the court, leave her to the emperor, and drag his sore butt away from the woman. But of course, as we all know it, he was just as unlikely as capable of ever doing that act.

"Aww man…. And you just had to pick me out didn't yah….?" He muttered sarcastically. "Oh well… come on… yah know I can't stand to see a good woman cry. Just don't take long alright? Or the emperor would both have our heads. Come along Jou-chan. We'll arrive at Satsuma in Satsuma in about half an hour."

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The battlefield was empty, bare and yet there was some kind of a deadly silence, a weeping stillness that suffocated the whole area. No bodies were present, much to Kaoru's relief, (for she would have freaked out had she seen one) but the metallic tang of blood was still there. The aura was so forlorn, sorrowful and melancholic, slamming against her chest like a giant wave. The bitter sweet smell of victory and death, the memory of a battle fought and won but on the account of the lives of men… it was so depressing that Kaoru found herself crying not only for the sake of her husband, but for every wife who had lost theirs as well.

Enishi… I always conceded with your actions… did whatever you wanted me to do and never left you even if during the whole duration of our marriage I had never felt loved…I respect you Enishi… and I hope you could forgive me for the things I had done… It was all too much… I wanted to get even with you… I wanted you to perish for the sake of the consequences of your actions… but I never wanted you dead… I never did Enishi… I never wanted you dead… please… please forgive me…

From afar, Hazel eyes gazed at the weeping woman. She had asked to be left alone for awhile, he kept his distance. Sanosuke knew when to butt in or to give in to his jokes, but he also certainly knew when to keep his nose out of the business. It was something he had learned from keeping the emperor company all these years. Yeah. Figures. Keep your nose out of the business and here you are... with his woman without his approval. Yeah. Figures. He thought sarcastically. Taking a glance around the battlefield, he almost shuddered. The scene looked far better than the one he saw immediately after the war. That one was the worst on his list. Blood everywhere, bodies rotting, the sound of weeping still resounding in the air… manly as he was, he couldn't help but shudder at the memory.

The air was charged and there was a thick air of tension suffocating the whole field. Even though it appealed far too suspicious for the man, he resigned himself that it was just his hookies playing jokes on him. Of course I'd feel this way… This is the place where there was practical massacre. I could even be standing on a body right now… Gagging at the thought, his mind was suddenly diverted when he saw her turn around and makes her way towards him.

"Arigatou…"she bowed. "I have made peace with Enishi's soul. I only hope he would find the will to forgive me…for what I've done…Arigatou… Sagara-san…" she bowed once again, earning a deep flush from the other's cheeks.

"Aww Jou-chan… that's nothing. You just stay silent bout this to the emperor okay? I don't want him running around wanting my head." He joked, leading her towards the other part of the field where his horse stood munching grass.

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Dull gray eyes stood alert. Once again, he had seen everything. Seen her kneel in the hard bloody ground and weep with guilt and remorse. Satisfaction surged through his veins. His plans hadn't failed at all. Not at all… Now was the time… now was the perfect timing he had been waiting for. Watching her every move, her every step, he stood wary of her companion, waited for him to busy himself with his horse and finally, slipped the blow dart to his lips, and blew with precise accuracy.

It hit the target.

A loud gasped escaped the victim's lips, followed by a sudden loud thud. She had fallen to the ground. The spiky-haired man quickly directed himself towards her collapsed form and yet, before he could reach her, somebody had grabbed hold of her body.

Platinum colored hair, dark-rimmed eyeglasses, and gray eyes with a murderous glint… yes… it was no other than…

"ENISHI!"

Sardonically, the said man flashed Sanosuke a victorious smirk, bowed his head with mock respect and mysteriously disappeared with Kaoru still in his arms, their form cloaked by a silver bluish mist.

For a while he couldn't move, seemingly paralyzed on the spot. His mind would not register anything aside from the flutter of a small sheet of paper. Picking it up, it revealed Enishi's tidy scrawl.

Her life lies in my hands right now.

If you want her alive, come to the Shinsen headquarters after three days. Midnight.

If you want her dead, then just disregard this note.

But I know you wouldn't want my wife dead wouldn't you ?

I will wait for you and then both of us could really settle the score

Yukishiro

"JOU-CHANN!"

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To say that the emperor was mad when he found out that Kaoru had gone to Satsuma would be the perfect understatement of the century. Angry wouldn't describe him. To say that he was irate was something foolish. He was more than livid, beside himself and he certainly was more than furious. Ordering the palace guards to search the whole imperial palace, he set the best of his men to scout for her all over Tokyo, that including the place of Satsuma. Though many were puzzled with the sudden outbursts of emotions form the usually peaceful emperor, they had no choice but to shut their mouths for fear of having their own heads cut off by his sword.

He was just about to set out to find her himself when he heard quick rapid footsteps accompanied by the loud shouts of his name. Suddenly, the door of the court ripped open to show a panting Sanosuke, face painted with sweat, fear and trepidation.

"KENSHIN! KENSHIN! IT'S JOU-CHAN! SOMETHING'S HAPPENED TO JOU-CHAN!"

Instantly, his blood ran cold. Trying to keep his voice steady, he asked the trembling man. "Sanosuke, what happened? What happened to Kaoru? Where is she? Tell me!"

The questioned man shook his head. "I don't know! She just collapsed and they just disappeared in some magical powder… I don't know Kenshin! I DON'T KNOW!"

Amber eyes widened. "They…? They just disappeared…? What are you saying Sano?"

The taller man gripped his shoulders, "KENSHIN… ENISHI'S ALIVE! ENISHI'S ALIVE! HERE! READ THIS!"

The man practically shoved the letter to him. Reading the short note, he felt anger blind his senses and madness race down his spine. Crumpling the paper in his fist, his knees shook and he finally fell into the ground, form shaking and trembling with anger, anxiety and resentment towards the man who had kidnapped the woman he loved most.

"KAORUU!"

TBC…

TADA! Enishi's not dead! Good for the ones who had an earlier haunch that he was just planning something… anyway… I hope the others don't get mad at me for resurrecting him and kidnapping our dear sweet Kaoru. It just had to happen ne….?Oh well…If you guys are wondering why Sanosuke was too soft on his Jou-chan… well please remember that he ahd always known that Kaoru was the woman Kenshin ranted about all the days of his life. He practically knew Kaoru very well, though I cannot say vice versa. But we all know Kaoru's such a trusting person ne?

BTW there's a slight comparison with how Kaoru vanished here in my story and in the manga. They tell me she just vanished and etc etc… So go figure.

The more reviews I have… the faster I get to update (Imagine almost a whole week having no new mail)SOB PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW!

JA

BLUEROSE