Disclaimer: I don't own RuroKen.
Flame's Shadow…
(This chapter takes place almost a year before Kenshin's arrival, five months before Koshijiro's death.)
"What am I doing out here?" Kamiya Kaoru muttered, shifting the packet in her arms around her bokken. "Father would surely have a fit if he saw me." But Kamiya Koshijiro was fighting in the Seinan War, too busy to worry about his daughter's little inconveniences. She sighed, her heart heavy. She missed the easy smile and careless, the friendly eyes of a man at ease with life. She missed him, plain and simple, and often wondered if he would ever return. 'Papa…' She thought, sadness dimming her brilliant eyes.
"Come back here, wench!" The yell of rage shattered her state of melancholy. Dropping her groceries, Kaoru silently unslung her bokken and slipped into the shadows.
"Let me go! Leave me alone!" A girl's voice, much younger than Kaoru, cried out, and the young woman grit her teeth, mind racing. 'Possible rapist, maybe a yakuza. I can only distract, especially if it's a hitokiri.' The thought of facing such a man chilled her heart; if so, she would be the one in danger. She slid down the alley in silence, the muck and grime nothing more than annoyances. She was getting closer and peeked around the corner ahead. A girl of maybe fourteen lay on the ground, her kimono ripped open at the chest, sobbing as the monster standing above her prepared to slice away her obi. Maternal instinct kicked in, and with a muted scream, Kaoru leapt and struck him as hard as she could across the back.
"You beast!" She roared, standing protectively over the girl as her attacker recovered. "You inhuman coward! Ravenging a child!"She fully intended to beat him down, but the fool whipped out a pistol.
"Want to come at me now, girlie? Though if you really want, I'll trade for a much better woman…" He leered, eying Kaoru like a prime steak. She growled, and raised her bokken.
"Just try, fatso." He snorted, then cocked the gun and pointed it at Kaoru's stomach.
"Let's see you try to block that, missy-"
"She doesn't need to." The new voice was coolly calm, and a katana flashed out in the moonlight, followed by a tall, lanky swordsman, and another katana. The swordsman held one in each hand quite easily, as though they were extensions of himself, rather than a weapon to be used. Across his chest lay the straps of his sheaths, which seemed form an 'X' on his back, underneath the black cloak. Deep brown bangs and a long ponytail obscured his face as he turned away from her, but Kaoru caught a flash of fiery orange eye as he passed.
"I will treat you to a slightly more acidic revenge. Starting with the offending anatomy." His voice was so neutral, yet such an anger was repressed in it. Kaoru gaped in horrified wonder as the right katana flashed forward and returned, leaving their attacker howling. Blood gushed from between his legs and behind his hands, and Kaoru shuddered at the sight. "Run back home to your wife and explain that, you sick bastard." He took off, and the swordsman sighed. He turned around and noticed Kaoru's expression. He smiled tightly.
"I have little love for those who harm and hurt others. I apologize for subjecting you both to such a disgusting sight. Here." He handed Kaoru his cloak. "Wrap her up and I'll carry her home." Now the girl spoke up, albeit frightfully.
"Swordsman, I don't live in Tokyo. I was only here to visit a friend of my mother's, and I got lost. I have no idea where to go!" She cried, tears forming again. Kaoru then decided to butt in.
"Bring her to my dojo, and I'll help you find your mom's friend in the morning. Is that alright?" Kaoru was worried that the girl wouldn't be alright with it, until she beamed.
"That'd be great! Thank you, um…"
"Kamiya Kaoru."
"Thank you, Kaoru-san." Kaoru blushed, but helped her up.
"Really, it's no problem. Swordsman, will you come with us?" He smiled again, this time genuinely pleased, and sheathed his swords. Picking up Kaoru's bokken, he traded her for the girl, who now rested bridal style in his arms, blushing furiously.
"Absolutely. Point the way, Kaoru-kun." And so the night passed into dawn, two shadows flitting along the streets finally slipping into the dojo just as the darkness began to grow light. But the swordsman only laid the sleeping girl on the dojo step and turned around, stopping Kaoru from closing the dojo gate.
"What're you doing?"
"Sorry, Kaoru-kun, but I need to leave."
"But you just got here!"
"Sorry, but I'm searching for someone."
"Who?" At this, he grinned sheepishly.
"An old friend."
"But what about rest, recuperation?"
"I've always done well on my own. I'll be fine. My thanks, Kaoru-kun, for leading me through the city; it's been a long time since I was in such a maze."
"You…aren't from Tokyo?" Kaoru pondered that.
"Kyoto is my birthplace. Now, I must go." He smiled gently, patting Kaoru's shoulder. "I believe the girl's guardian in the city will notify the police by sunrise. Do your best for her." He then turned and walked off, hands tucked into pockets, ponytail blowing in the breeze like a shock of flames. The sun chose to peek over the rim of earth just then, and Kaoru was struck by the rich coppery bronze that his hair seemed to possible. Those eyes had danced with fiery power, under the bushy bangs, and seemed to know who she was before they had even met. 'Who is he?' Kaoru wondered, but the thoughts of a handsome loner such as he were driven completely out of her mind by the girl's awakening…
Climbing to the hills around Tokyo was hard on anyone, but today they seemed harder still. The tug and ache of homesickness in my stomach had doubled when I had left the Kamiya dojo. Kaoru was so motherly, and yet, she seemed younger than I, as though the burden of responsibility had been laid upon her at a young age. My guess was the she was, and so I had left, determined not to bring more trouble down on innocents. Loneliness was now the hardest thing I faced on this solitary journey, and all I want is to find him, bring him back to Father, and return to my people, my family.
"Damn you, Kenshin…Where are you?" I whispered as I plopped down, the winds my only listeners.
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I finally figured out a better beginning for my OC! Those of you out there who don't know who it is, don't worry. They get 'revealed' next chappie.
Laters!
KD