The Assassin's Curse
Author's Note: Hello everyone! It's me again! I got reviews for chapter 2! I feel loved! And now, no matter how few reviews I get I am going to continue writing it for the few who read it (I love you all). I know last chapter wasn't the greatest, but it was perhaps one of the most important parts so it had to be done. Well, I hope you all like this chapter!
Anonymous Reviewer: I don't know who you are, but I know you don't like my story all that much. I am glad though that you can tell me your opinion. But next time you send a flame please tell me why you don't like my story or perhaps what's wrong with my writing if you will because maybe it will help me to improve. And if you have no reason for not liking my story than that was an invalid accusation you sent me. And next time please sign your reviews with your real penname because when you don't it presents you as a coward (or at least that's what it made me think when I saw no name and no reason as to why 'I suck'). But, please, add more to your reviews if you're criticizing someone's work. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own (sadly) Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters. They rightfully and respectfully belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki.
Now on with chapter three! -
The Legend BeginsAs Kaoru's vision gradually became accustomed to the sun's powerful rays she noticed people. There were people there and, maybe it was her imagination, but their eyes seemed to be fixed upon her. It looked as though they'd been waiting there for awhile. Their weary eyes showing a lack of sleep, yet now they seemed to be alert. Kaoru shifted her gaze to the ground when their hopeful stares grew uncomfortable. She didn't detect it when a young boy, no older than eleven years, came to a halt in front of herself and Battousai who now stood beside her.
"Battousai, sir," the lad started. "H-he is waiting inside for you."
Battousai merely nodded his acknowledgement as he took a firm, almost painful grip on Kaoru's wrist and led her through the throng of people as her Judas goat. Kaoru, at the moment, didn't have the will to resist as she focused all her strength on staying calm and keeping her breathing steady.
After finally gaining hold of herself she diverted her eyes from the ground and stared past the assembled men, keeping her head high to conceal her fear. Defiance once again flooded her eyes as she twisted out of Battousai's grasp and fell into step slightly behind him, walking on her own. He wasn't going to lead her like a sheep to her death.
Battousai, under normal circumstances, would have slapped her for challenging him. However, these weren't normal circumstances. So he let her have her moment of glory.
They left the crowd of people there, staring after them as they approached their destination. A western styled inn, it appeared to be. It had square curtained windows with mahogany shutters, the outside walls were painted a brick colour accented by russet, hinged doors. Battousai rapped, three times, on what was most likely the front door. After waiting in an uncomfortable silence for a few moments the door opened a crack as a middle-aged woman peeked through the crevice in the entrance. The woman, after seemingly recognizing her visitors, swung the door open all the way then ushered Battousai and Kaoru into the warm confines of the inn, closing the entrance once immediately after.
"Finally, I was wondering when you'd be here. You're late. He's been up since before dawn, pacing his room and pestering me about you," The woman spoke at last, scolding Battousai as a mother would a son. "So don't let it happen again, it makes us all suffer,"
She added with slight sarcasm.
This left Kaoru standing there shocked, she would've never imagined anyone would talk so…normal… to him. What stunned Kaoru even more was that he responded to the peeved woman.
"Gomen, Okami, won't happen again," Battousai mumbled as though ashamed. This woman actually humbled him it appeared.
"Good, now go on in. He's waiting for you, let's not make him wait any longer," she finalized and pointed them down a narrow hallway to the room where he was waiting.
Battousai immediately set off down the directed hall at a brisk pace not bothering to inform Kaoru to do the same. After a few moments the woman Okami urged a dumbfounded Kaoru forward, signaling her to follow Battousai. And so Kaoru did.
When she had finally caught up to Battousai he stood at the door of the assumed room patiently. Then a man opened the door just enough to allow the two to enter.
"You're late," they were once again informed, this time by the man who was apparently the him Okami had been talking about.
Kaoru couldn't see him clearly. He was blanketed by the shadows of the ill-illuminated room. She could only make out his silhouetted form stalk toward the room's one window. The curtains covered the window, shielding the room from any outside light. But, he drew back the blinding, allowing the brilliant rays of the early sun to enter.
Now Kaoru could see his face. He was a younger man, no more than forty ifs even that, though he appeared to be aged somehow. She wasn't sure what it was, but she could recognize it in his eyes. It was the same look her father carried in his eyes the months before he was sent back to war and killed. He was a lean man with a commanding aura so Kaoru assumed he was in a position of high authority.
"Kamiya Kaoru, I presume," his voice softened when he spoke to her.
"Hai, and you are?" Kaoru prodded.
"Katsura Kogoro, there is nothing more about me that you need to know, especially at this time," he informed. Kaoru thought she'd heard his name, she just couldn't pinpoint from where.
"Can I know why I'm here?" She popped her long thought of question.
"That you will find out soon enough," came his simple response that she'd definitely heard before. Katsura then began his interrogation, "Now, it's my turn to ask you a few questions. First, is it not correct that you're adept in the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu style of swordsmanship?"
"Hai, that's right," she figured it no use to resist any of his questions, seeing how most of them he probably already knew.
"You're father developed it, right?" He continued his examination.
"Hai."
"And now you're the sole instructor?" Katsura's eyes bore into her as though seeking all her secrets.
"Hai, which leads me to wonder…why did you kidnap me? I am worth nothing to you, nor do I own anything of value. So what do you need me for?" Kaoru puzzled, slightly to herself and partially to Katsura.
"On the contrary, you will soon find out that you do have something of great value to me," He most definitely had a purpose for her, though she wouldn't know what that purpose would be for awhile. After a few moments of deafening silence Katsura once again began to quiz Kaoru, "Have you ever trained in another style?"
"Iie," she admitted truthfully. She'd only ever trained in Kamiya Kasshin and she'd spent the last four years of her life trying to complete and perfect the style.
"Well, that will all change soon." Katsura then began to convey his plot, "Starting tomorrow, at noon, you will receive your first instructions in the art of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu."
"What? Excuse me, but I will not learn a style that goes against all of my beliefs and teachings," Kaoru retorted tartly.
"You don't have much of a choice, now do you," he insisted.
Born with a stubborn nature, Kaoru was not one to be broken. "I am a grown woman with a free will and you cannot command me what to do if I don't agree to it," she hissed to the older man.
"Even a grown woman doesn't have a free will," he reminded.
"I do!" Kaoru shot back maliciously.
Her sudden outburst forced the room into a tense silence, until once again Katsura took the initiative to speak, "Miss Kamiya, perhaps your spirit has a free will, but you are my prisoner, you have little choice in any matter, much less in what happens to you."
"How do expect me to forget everything that's been taught to me since my birth? How do you expect me to abandon all of my principles? Everything I've known, how?" Kaoru stood there flabbergasted by his gull to impose such an incredible and, for her, such an unforgivable request.
Katsura stood there for a moment, seeming to ponder her simple, yet deep question, "I expected you to forget what you were taught when you were kidnapped from everything and anything you've ever known. When you came here everything from your former life has been forgotten because you now belong to us."
Kaoru contemplated over what he'd said for a long time when she finally consented, "You can, perhaps, teach me your sword method used to kill and I've no doubt you will. However, you can't force me to use it. I don't know why you'd want me to learn such a despicable style of swordsmanship, though I don't think I can stop you from doing so. I promise you though, I will never, ever use it to harm someone. No one will ever die by my hand. And there is nothing you can do about that."
Kaoru's voice was low and haunting, her usually stubborn eyes were filled with malice and loathing. There was a fire in there, stronger than any that Battousai had ever seen in the little time he'd stared into their starry depths. And for a moment, just a moment, he truly believed that her will and spirit was one that would never be broken, by anyone.
Even Katsura seemed to be shaken, only somewhat, by her declaration of independence. And that was not something that happened often. But, in the end he knew her spirit would break, just like the one before her. And he also knew he would live to regret it, but it had to be done, for the sake of their long fought cause.
The long, intense silence was once again filled with the aged voice of the commander, "Think what you may, Miss Kamiya, but don't make promises you can't keep."
"Trust me, I'm not one to go back on my word," Kaoru still had that same fire, that same determination, though now it was much more calm.
"Anyway, since you will be learning Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu you'll need an instructor," Katsura once again settled down to business. He continued saying, "And I've already decided on who will be teaching you."
"And who might that someone be?" She inquired.
"Why, none other than Hitokiri Battousai, of course," he stated it as though it was the most obvious thing on earth.
"Wha-!" Battousai who, up till now, had been silent as the grave finally spoke, "Sir…Katsura-san, I can't teach her!"
"You can and you will, Himura," Katsura directed his gaze to Battousai.
"B-but, he can't teach me!" Kaoru stammered, dumbstruck.
"I see no reason why not," Katsura simplified.
"He kidnapped me!" Kaoru gasped the obvious.
"All the more reason for him to train you," he concluded.
"Um- uh…b-bu," Her protests were silenced by her loss of words.
Katsura turned to Battousai as though expecting more protests and resistance, but to his amazement, Battousai seemed to be more at a loss of words than Kaoru. Katsura smirked triumphantly and summed up, "Now that that's taken care of- Megumi!"
On cue a young, fox-like woman sauntered into the room, Kaoru guessed she'd been waiting outside the door the whole time. She was dressed in the medical attire of the day, her waist-length ebony hair flowed freely to the rhythm of her steps. Her blue eyes giggled with mischief and deviltry. She came to a halt just a step behind Kaoru.
"Yes, Katsura-san?" The woman Kaoru rightfully assumed to be Megumi asked.
"Could you take Miss Kamiya to where she'll be sleeping," he instructed rather than asking.
"Of course," Megumi interpreted whom it was he was talking about: Kaoru.
Megumi stepped towards Kaoru and took hold of her wrist and tugged at it, signaling for her to follow. Kaoru, confused at first, finally understood and followed Megumi toward the ajar door. However, before she left the room she shot a fatal glare to the two people sheloathed most in the world: her kidnapper and his commander.
When Megumi had shut the door behind her she released Kaoru's wrist and led her in silence down the hall. After they had made a right turn around a corner Megumi finally spoke up.
"So, you're Kamiya Kaoru, huh?" It was a bit awkward with this young girl Megumi had to admit, but she might as well get to know her, after all they'd be sharing a room.
"Hai, and you're obviously Megumi," Kaoru figured.
"Tekani Megumi, medical officer for the Isshin Shisshi," Megumi stuffed her nose in the air as though accenting how proud she was to be a medical officer.
"The Isshin Shisshi patriots. That's who kidnapped me!" Realization dawned on Kaoru.
"You didn't know that?" Megumi asked feeling a little stupid for giving away information that Katsura-san might want to have kept classified.
"Iie, he never told me. He only told me his name," Kaoru said referring to Katsura.
"Oh…well…I guess you would have found out sooner or later anyway," Megumi surmised.
"So what dungeon has been set up for me?" Kaoru said, a bit sarcastically and a bit seriously. She couldn't help but like this Megumi, even if she worked for those who kidnapped her, she did good work.
Megumi gave a fox-like 'Oh-ho-ho' laugh and turned around to Kaoru to wave away her comment, "No dungeon, sweetie, you'll be sharing a room with me and another girl, you'll meet her later."
Megumi unusual laughter still echoed in Kaoru's ears, it was kind of creepy. But that's all right, it was a good kind of creepy. They continued their small talk until Megumi stopped them in front of a small door, western-style, with hinges, just like the rest of the inn.
"We're here," Megumi sang as she brought forth a small, delicate key and slid it into the lock and turned.
Kaoru heard the click of the lock followed by the slight hollow creaking in the door hinges. It was an eerie sound to Kaoru, but she quickly forgot about that as soon as she laid eyes on the room's interior.
It, like everything else, was modernized and western, though it was filled with many Japanese furnishings. With the traditional futons and old-fashioned oil lamps, even candles. There were three futons, each in a corner, only one appeared to have been slept in. It was orderly, as though it'd just been cleaned a little while ago. In an odd sense it reminded Kaoru a little of her own room, only not quite as empty as her own.
However, Kaoru's favorite part of the room was that it faced east and there were two open windows with only small curtain for cold nights. Due to its direction and its two windows the room was illuminated with the beautiful shine of the early sun. No corner of the room remained blanketed by the shadows. Kaoru was even able to hear the chirp of a lone bird and feel a soft breeze delicately brush over her face; she could even smell the scent of the outside air. She almost forgot that she was a prisoner of a feared man and his even more feared assassin.
Kaoru, overwhelmed by the sense of freedom, forgot where she was and rushed to the window's sill and gazed out at the still rising sun. This would be Kaoru's beacon of hope amidst the dark days.
Megumi stared at the young girl, she could only imagine what Kaoru was going through. So when Kaoru rushed to the window Megumi didn't stop her. She needed some hope to help her hold on through what would be coming for her. Megumi was one of the few people who knew what they were scheming to do to this girl. She knew what a terrible fate awaited her because of what lay dormant in her. Megumi's thoughts troubled her, though she'd only known Kaoru mere minutes she'd already grown fond of the girl. She reminded her of herself (well at least in some ways). She knew that there was nothing she could do to stop Katsura now, and it was times like these that she felt great remorse for backing him. Deciding to think of this later she abandoned her thoughts and strode over to the window to join Kaoru.
"Katsura-san?" Battousai began when he was sure the women were out of hearing range.
"Hm?"
"Why did you choose me to train her?" He'd wondered about this since he'd known Katsura's decision and he was hoping to avoid it.
"I chose you, Himura, because you're are one of the few who know that style, and of the few you are the best. My only other option was your master. And you know just as well as I do that he wouldn't be all that eager to aid us," Katsura reminded.
"Still, I am not looking forward to this, that is something I will say," this was one time Battousai wasn't afraid to show how he felt about the situation, at least to Katsura.
"I know she seems impossible, but given time everything will turn out as it should," Katsura grew to regret his decision about the Kamiya girl more and more as he thought about it.
"What are you planning, Katsura-san? What value does she pose to us? Why do we need her?" These questions had been haunting him since he first received his mission orders.
Katsura heaved a heavy sigh and gave Battousai the same answer he'd given Kamiya, "You'll learn in due time. Soon enough you'll know our purpose for her."
To be continued…
Author's Note: So what do you think? There were some parts of this chapter I really liked and there were others that really weren't so great. I know there wasn't much action here, but much of the action comes in later chapters. Well, please read and review! I love all my reviewers! It would be much appreciated, trust me! -
Ostrich-sandwich: Thank you so much for reviewing! Yes, I know a lot of RK stories are kidnapping, but hey if done right it makes a great story! Thank you so much for the compliment and I hope you liked chapter 3! You're too great! -
cheza person: Thank you so much for you support and encouragement! It really made me feel loved! The person who sent the flame really didn't do much damage to me. It hurt him more than me I think. But, thank you so much! I love you so much! It always helps when someone gives their encouragement! Oh, and I'm really glad you like the story! I hope you liked chapter 3! And if not I'll try to do better! Thankee so much again! You're really awesome! -
Onyx Dawn: Thank you so much for your support and I am really glad you liked the chapter, I know it wasn't my best. Well, I really hoped you liked chapter 3! P.S. You need to update your story! It seems like forever since you last updated! But, ya know I love ya (in a sister/best friend sort of way)! You're wonderful (and you'd be even more wonderful if you updated soon)! Love ya! -
ShirubaNeko: Thank you so much for reviewing! I feel loved! And, yes, I know, sadly I need a beta reader. But, hey maybe you could beta read chapter four! Please, and if you're too busy with Onyx Dawn's story ahem she must update ahem then that's okay! I'll just get her to beta read it! Once again: Thankee so much! LYLAS! -
Cheese lover: I'm sooooooooo happy you reviewed! My little sister loves me! I feel so loved! I love you! I love you! I love you! And I'll put a cliffy in the next chapter just for you! I love you (in a big sister sort of way of course) Buh-bye! -
Well I'm so glad I got reviews! And to everyone: Thank you so much for your support and encouragement when somebody sent me a flame! But, hey, that's all right, nearly everyone gets a couple! Well, I got to go, so remember to read and review! (Reviews are very much appreciated) I love you all! Buh-bye! -
P.S. To anyone who likes Harry Potter you might like to read Onyx Dawn 's story titled Guilty as the Arctic Winds. It's really good, but no one's read it! So I suggest that as a good fic to read! -
Once again, Buh-bye! - -