Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro
Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony
Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only.
FF can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames,
I'm sensitive. For all other comments 0_o you may contact me at
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Chapter Four
*************
Iwakami Toru leader of the Kagemusha, second division terrorist response unit S-9, stood firm as the transport van sped down the street. "I'm going to reiterate a couple of the basics before we get there." He said with the ever-present scowl on his face. "Takahashi Koji, leader of the cult, took the airport hostage sometimes after the last drills. Shots were fired at approximately 17:28 when airport security proceeded to interfere. The exchange of gunfire lasted less than two minutes and resulted in the death of three security guards, one policeman and a civilian."
Dark bangs fell into his eyes as the truck took a sharp turn. "He's got thirty men with him positioned at all key points. The civilians are lined up against the glass wall, or where it would be. The police shot it out." Iwakami's voice held no inflection suggesting neither disappointment nor anger.
The truck came to a stop but no one stood, they sat waiting for their commander to finish. "We have authorization to apprehend them by all means possible." His black eyes bore into everyone for a second before he nodded at them. "Let's get to it."
The unit of black clad men adjusted their guns and descended quickly. Spreading out accordingly to the directions of their leader. They crept through the now dark airport, keeping away from the light. They hid within the shadows advancing on the terrorists.
Kenshin and his group crept across the roof, signaling for the men behind him to spread out when they reached the edge. He pulled on his strap securing the rope. Then with a deep breath he jumped.
His hand unfastened the safety with the pull of a cord half way through the act. His body hurled through the glassless window landing on the floor. With a roll he was up. His gun in his hands and his finger on the trigger. He shot.
In the midst of things someone shouted. "Get down." He could here screaming and gunfire. The voices of his unit. Somewhere in the midst while his gun went off and while he rolled away from bullets. His senses sharpened, everything moved slower for him as he jumped off a chair, landing on a large desk and killing everyone hiding behind there. His movements exceeded normal speed as he threw himself on some idiot too fearful to move and hide.
His body slammed into the woman knocking them several feet away and stopping only after his body hit a long row of chairs. Then he was up again, shooting over people's head and leaping over dead bodies. His gun was the last to resonate through the room, a frightening site in the aftermath.
"Death . . . death will come . . . ."
Kenshin turned in time to see the cult leader rising and taking aim. In a split second his choice was made as he shot Takahashi dead on, right between the eyes.
He turned to the remainder of his unit and froze. A feeling of being watched crept over him. Shit. Cameras.
There were cameras.
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
The sun was just rising, bringing light into the dark room waking Kenshin as rays filtered through the window settling on his eyes. He sighed angrily. Why couldn't he have plain dreams or plain nightmares for that matter? No, his mind settled on past kills, reliving events until he felt like killing someone again. It was beyond odd. It was twisted. But this airport incident, he must be reliving things again because it was so close to the date that it happened. September 1st.
Two more weeks till the date. The anniversary of the incident was approaching and he was going to be hounded again. Like before. Everywhere he went there would be media frenzy.
He was glad to be organizing the security for the gala. It would keep him busy. It took a great deal of effort and coordinating to get things done. A permit for this and a permit for that. So on and on. It was tiring but it kept him occupied.
He rose and walked over to a dresser where he pulled some sweats. Putting them on before he made his way to the bathroom. He splashed his face with cold water and then headed over to his gym.
The gym like much of his home was spacious, the equipment settled on the outside while the middle of the room remained clear.
He removed a sword from the wall, from a special holder he'd had made for it. It was odd the way he'd taken to it but it seemed like it fit. Like it was a part of him. He unsheathed it, watching the gleam on the blade before he swiped it through the air. He took the familiar stance his late uncle had taught him before he began his exercises. Fluid movements that increased speed as his mind settled. As he became one with the blade.
*************
"Fuck!" He swore loudly.
Photographers and reporters turned to the front of his building to where he stood. Swiftly moving away from the garage where they thought he'd be coming out from.
"Himura-san!"
"Can we get a picture!"
"A comment!"
The aggravate redhead moved back into the building. Why did he think that he could walk to the subway station without getting hassled? He made his way towards the garage, seeking the safety of the car.
Minutes later he sped out of the garage, tires screeching as he raced away. So close to the day, hadn't he just thought that this morning? 'Fool,' he murmured to himself.
Half and hour later he found himself honking the horn. "Out of the way!" He ordered as he roared his engine. He snatched his shades off, flinging them to the side of the car. His hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Idiots!"
He lowered his window; ready to yell when the car in front sped off just before the light turned red again. "Shit!" He banged his hands on the steering wheel repeatedly. He grabbed the ridge of his nose, willing the anger to simmer down. He took deep breaths, exhaling slowly, calming himself. He opened his eyes just as the light turned green. If he caught up to that car . . . .
He put his car into gear, zooming down the street. He caught up to the car in a flash just before the next red light. He pulled up beside the car this time rolling down his window. "Oi!" He yelled.
The tinted window refused to roll down though and it only served to piss him off. He roared his engine angrily and turned his face back to the road.
A curvy figure walked across the street, smiling as she chatted on the phone. The figure was dressed in form fitting dark jeans and a deep red cami. He recognized the midnight hair and the curve of the bosom.
What was it with this woman?
It was almost like they were supposed to meet. Her eyes skittered over to him and her smile disappeared as she gazed back at him. She looked at him intently making his heartbeat race.
Someone jabbed her and she turned away. Disappearing in the large crowd heading down for the subway.
The light turned and he shifted gears. This time driving down the road slowly. He licked his dry lips and began thinking back to the times he'd seen her.
He couldn't help but think that he should have followed her. If he'd been walking like he'd wanted to, he might have run into her. He felt disappointed which was odd in itself. He wasn't the type to seek attention. Though women had a tendency to seek him out.
In all the time he'd been in the army and even in S-9 he'd never dated. It wasn't until after the publicized incident that he'd begun to see women. And that was mainly because some of them were just plain unavoidable. He shook his head in annoyance. Honestly what was going with him?
Still his thoughts trailed back to the black haired beauty. She really was very attractive. And the way she'd looked at him, there'd been recognition on her features. If he ever had his chance with her . . . . .
He smiled lazily . . . . .
Predatorily.
*************
Kaoru made it to her almost tripping on some of her shopping bags as she entered. It was eight and she was just getting home. She'd spent all day shopping and she was beat. She shoved some of her buys to the side and placed others on her desk. She'd been up since five so she had reason to be tired. She wormed out of her jeans and crawled into bed. 'Food tomorrow,' she thought. 'Sleep now,' she mumbled just as her eyes closed. Her mind drifting into the abyss, warm and bright. A place where dreams were born, where lovers met and where time was of no barrier. This aperture was of a different sort, one filled with a warm haze and glittering threads. This wasn't her abyss.
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
She blinked not believing her eyes.
Oni . . . .
Uruwashii-oni. His eyes glittered like burnished gold. He looked fierce, wild and she shrunk back in self-preservation. She'd always been trapped in darkness. So she didn't know his face but she knew his presence. There was no darkness around them now. It was gloomy but it was day. This time was different than all the other times' they'd met. She could see him.
His red mop of hair held up in a high ponytail, the way his bangs fell into his eyes while jagged tips adorned his face. And despite his beauty he seemed deadly.
"You've been hiding for far too long." His voice was deep and smooth. The tone alone caused a shiver to run down her spine. It frightened her and she stepped back.
"What do you mean?" She stammered.
He seemed calmed, almost amused. "You've been hiding in the shadows." He said taking a step forward.
"Nnn, I . . . . No that's not true." She argued.
"Why don't you want to see me?" He asked, his voice increasing intensity.
Kaoru opened her mouth but there were no words. She licked her lips and tried again but he cut her off.
"You come to me yet you refuse to look at me." His smile slipped as he voiced her actions. "You want me but you keep back." His eyes narrowed and he grabbed her by the wrist. "Don't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"With those eyes." His face was so close to hers she could barely breathe. "So full of anger." He said stroking a cheek with the back of his hand.
Kaoru backed away again and in response he pulled her close to him, starring into her eyes intently. "Don't," he warned in a cold tone and with hard eyes.
"I want you to let me go." She ordered with as much courage as she could muster.
"That I will never do." He said as the smile came back to his lips. "You gave yourself to me. You are mine." He said as his voice dropped an octave.
Kaoru looked at him questionably. He must be crazy. She didn't remember him. She'd never seen him before. They'd always met in the shadows. "How?" She squeaked. Cleared her throat and tried again. "I don't remember."
"Maybe it's better that way."
"No." She thought out loud. "I want answers." She said more aggressively.
The redhead frowned darkly.
"Answer me." She demanded. She felt anger and hate bubbling to the surface at his refusal. He would do as she said she was his . . . . .
His what?
The word had been there. Right at the tip of her tongue. She looked at him and suddenly a sliver of memory ran past her vision. "I am your mistress." She breathed in astonishment. "You took and oath." She said in remembrance.
"It's you who belong to me." She stated once her mind processed what she'd seen. Her dark blue eyes narrowed in anger before she spoke. "You're oath." She reminded him. "Was to remain by side till I breathed my last breath."
"Kaoru." He cut.
"No, you broke you promise. You died before me." She spat as she wretched herself away from his arms. "You lied." She accused. "Cursed in this life." She said as she looked at him with deep pools of sapphire. "You will know me." She said as she backed away a few feet. "Retribution will be mine." She sneered. She had waited so long to meet him again.
"Don't fight me." He cautioned with a cool gaze and detached façade.
"Don't repeat my own words back to me." She snapped, knowing what she'd said to him and what phrase came next.
"You will not escape the flame." He warned
He was repeating, part of what she'd said to him once. Using her own words to dissuade her from pursing this hateful vengeance. Yes, it might be true that she couldn't escape the flame . . .
"But neither will you." She promised.
This time he would know pain. Whatever it took. If it meant seducing him and marrying him. Becoming his world, she would do it. Just so she could rip it down and tear it apart. Only when he was broken would she find peace. Only when he felt like dying because she wasn't with him would they be even. Only when he felt what she'd endure in his absence. Only then would they be even.
: : : : : : : : : : : : :
Kaoru opened her eyes just as the sun rose over the horizon. She knew. Now she knew why he had seemed so familiar. Why she'd fantasized about him and why he'd been hidden in her dreams.
More than life and breath. That's what he'd been to her. She felt that deep seeded hate flow into her veins. How would she be able to come near him when all she felt was hate at the mere thought of him? You cannot escape the flame. Attraction. Oh how she knew that word. The way they'd been draw in. Like moths to a flame, willing to burn for a minute in the glow.
And they had.
The intensity of their love had ignited a passion that burned and blazed. It consumed them, melded them into a whole. That might have been the problem. What is one half good for without the other?
Kaoru shook her head violently. That was in the past. She would not allow herself to become part of the whole. She would keep her heart out of it. She would be as cold and as ruthless as her beloved once was on the battlefield.
"Himura Kenshin."
More than a memory from the past. 'My once sole purpose for being,' she thought. Seems my obsession has caught up with me once again.
Well we're getting closer to the inevitable meeting. A defining moment in time where two people, once linked by love will once again encounter one another. A meeting of chance where feelings from the present will collide with hate from the past.
Small Notes:
He's quick to notice that perhaps those glimpses of her might mean something more. He's become intrigued with her. And already his mind is forming contingency several plans.
Kaoru for her part has been struggling along with her feelings. Lost in confusion for several months because her dreams where obscured. Now though she's found her answers. The reason for the transcending anger and deep seeded hate. She knows what she has to do and she's determined to get it right. But she fears being consumed. She was obsessed with once and though she has a different intend this time around, she's still aware that she has become obsessed again.
Definitions
Oni: demon
Uruwashii: beautiful
