Bakumastu's Best Romance Novel.
--Fhb
--R- contains suggestive material and contains some 'stuff'
Chapter 24 —Silently awaking…
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Kaoru was walking all alone under a slow peaceful sunset.
Staring at the sun, with lost eyes, she almost giggled when she heard Kenshin said she tasted like dirt. Worn eyes of pain, floated with tears, as they leaked.
Stumbling forward, Kaoru fell to the floor. Laughing. Crazily.
Fed-up, she sat there, watching her tears fall to the floor. Touching them, her fingers swirled like a stir into the dirt. Closing her eyes, the tears she wish she could drain, fell down her face, gathering in a puddle.
Pushing herself to her knees, she seem to be to tired, that falling back on her knees seem to be the only thing she could do. The Earth, as loving as it was, hit her knees with anger and hate. The burn her slender calves had felt, wore her senses thinner.
Standing straight once again, she felt her knees going wobbly, the world shaking and crumbling before her. The world was fading in a grey hue only making her woozier. Reaching out to the thin air, it escaped her fingers where Kaoru wobbled forward feeling nothing but pain.
Taunted, corrupted and lost, Kaoru held her head, pulling the scarf out sending her locks flying. Feeling the wind, so cruel and sweet bite at her, she laughed.
Confused and disoriented, she again walked forward, seeing the sunset go down faster, bigger and redder. As red as blood can be, the sky was infamously beaming a bright red, one in which she was the center of. Blue eyes, that were moistened and teased to pain, finally welled when she saw Kenshin standing in front of her. A smile on his face, his hand reaching out to her. Kaoru smiled.
"Kenshin" she ran forward, her arms outstretched to hold him to her for all time. Running faster and faster, Kaoru jumped into nothing but air. Already her brain was so corrupted, apparitions were being formed without her knowing. Kaoru fell to the ground, feeling the earth under her. Growling, Kaoru's fingers gripped into the sand where screaming out at the bitterness seem to be the only thing she could do.
Not knowing what she was suppose to do without him, she sat there asking herself what difference it makes to be the person she is.
Too tired, Kaoru swallowed, sucking in breaths before feeling the heat rush to her brain.
Lost from reality, Kaoru whispered his name wishing he would hold her one last time.
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Kaoru fluttered opened her eyes to a small room, seeing a woman sitting by a neatly adorn table, her eyes roved around, where rich Satins and Velvets hung from the walls, as incense burned and statues of Tigers and Dragons adorn the cluttered room. A sound from the woman could be heard as she closed her eyes and recited something like a pray over a pot. Throwing some powder into the pot, a huge puff of smoke rose to the room's ceiling. Amazed that she was here, Kaoru unknowingly hugged the sheets closer to her chest. Rhythms of fear had already began to beat through her veins, but its not that she was really afraid, its how she got here and how long has she been here. Kaoru thought playing it wise would work and she believed that.
'I guess that's what kept me alive'
Perhaps being over exaggerative of the situation, Kaoru still didn't make any moves to wake the woman from her trance.
The woman, probably in her mid-forties, wore linens, rich satins, and beads which perhaps came from India. The white dot on her head told Kaoru she was perhaps a widow. Kaoru zeroed down on the woman's face. Tired wrinkles very visible to the eye, sagged onto her flabby skin. Dark skin which was wrinkled and parched, made Kaoru asked herself, 'who are you?'
The woman whispered something over the pot before spreading her hands over the concoction. A huge green smoke rose and the woman's incomprehensible chants became louder.
'What in good gracious name?' Kaoru gasped.
Her small gasp didn't go on deaf ears, as the woman stopped her chanting pulling her hands away from the tall smoke.
"I see you're awake" came her ancient voice of tiredness and wisdom.
"Who are you? What am I doing here? How long was I here?" the questions. Inevitable as they were, they had to come.
"Now now," she spoke in a soft voice, "one at a time." She opened her eyes, one eye was grey, the other was black.
Kaoru was freaked. Nothing else she could term it herself. Now more than ever she really wondered what she did to deserve such a bad childhood? And to top things off, the ordeal was barely over.
"My name is Sita Pugari. I am a gypsy from India." She answered the first question.
Kaoru seem to be as if she was in another world. Afraid, freaked out and interested, all at the same time, Kaoru found herself mesmerized by the woman's eyes. Her eyes, never before seen, had a way to awake her fright but all in the same time, it amused and ignited her interest. Her innocent eyes, sparkled with amazing light as she almost smiled.
"Your eyes" came her deafly bold statement.
"What is wrong with my eyes?" she turned a bit grim. Knowing lots of people barely knew her because of her eyes. They thought she was evil and like stories made in books, she was a doer of wrong. It hurt her, to see that day in and day out they barely knew her and how she wished they could. The woman saw the sparkle in Kaoru's eyes. They were different. For one, it was not hate, not a storm of viciousness, it was a burning interest.
"They're amazing" came her confession. Her brilliant eyes sparkling brighter and brighter.
"You think my eyes are amazing?" she paused to see Kaoru was not listening but staring at her in the eye, "you'd lie wouldn't you?" she asked, feeling a bit distrusted and upset.
Kaoru blinked back the words. Seeing the visible sadness in her eyes, Kaoru softened.
"I would not lie. Your eyes are strange, but they invite my interests." She smiled. The old woman bent a small smile herself.
"Nice lady, where am I and how did I get here?" asked Kaoru sitting up from the cotton sheep skin.
"This morning, I found you on the road on my way to the market. I wondered why such a beautiful young girl as yourself were on the floors. It almost crashed my heart to see you like that. I made no moves to pick you up, but I did check to see you were alright. I pulled your hair back and I saw your face was damp with tears. I knew you had suffered a disturbance and I had a conscience to pick you up. Might I add you're not much of the skinny when I fought to bring you here" the woman laughed, "You should know though, it's not safe on this strip of road. You must be very careful. A lot of the merchants who come here, are in search of young prostitutes. They might look at you and get the wrong impression. So I tell you now, be careful. Many strangers travel on this strip, in search of pleasure. You'll meet every beast here, from white men to assassins who surf the night. It's dangerous" she spoke.
It was then when she said 'assassin' something sank in her and Kaoru remembered the mornings events. 'Kenshin is gone'
"I remember" she said almost inaudibly.
"What? What did you say?" the woman asked.
"I said, I remembered. I remembered how I got on the strip. I mean" she started to pronounce the words with a harder effort. Her face could be seen being disturbed as it grew red and her eyes almost moistened automatically, "how could I forget what happened?" she swallowed wiping the tear away.
"Is something wrong miss?" she asked.
"No. Hhahah, n-nothing is wrong. I'm sorry" her lies were already seen like black paint on white walls.
The woman repositioned herself. "Why do say these things when you feel more than you should?" she asked, peering Kaoru a look.
Kaoru broke the eye contact. She would not have anyone pry into her depths that were breaking and breaking, tearing and hurting, she would not have anyone, any longer peer into her soul.
"I-I don't know good lady what you speak of" she said matter-of-flatly.
The woman smirked, "you're strong. But weak" came that reply that blew her away.
"I am not weak" Kaoru pointed off aggressively, her face wrenched in anger as her teeth pulled into a grit.
"Such anger. Why is there such anger in someone with such an aura of innocence? They don't blend well, its almost contradicting to your being. Tell me child, what bothers you" the woman spoke softly.
"The world doesn't need to know anymore. Besides" she trailed into a deaf whisper, "it was because of the world I am thorn inside"
The woman arched a brow.
"What is your name miss?" the woman asked, cocking her head to the right.
"Kaoru. Kaoru Kogoro" she said, "why?"
"Do you know what your name means in Hindi?" she asked.
"No."
"It means innocent flower" she said, (An: thought you should know I am seriously lying about that, hehe!)
"My name, means, means innocent flower?" Kaoru asked innocently.
"More like carefree flower. Your name has several meanings in different languages, in Japan it means, sweet grass, or soft grass, in Hindi, it means innocent flower. I believe that there is more to you than you ever imagine. I can sense you're a very positive person, but you're also deeply emotional. You could be distraught from the easiest words and from the slightest of actions. It's because you're insecure. You feel everyone is going to do the same thing" she paused.
"What's that, what am I afraid of?" Kaoru asked.
"You're afraid of people distrusting you, losing faith in you and last but not least, you're afraid people might leave you" she spoke softly seeing shock in Kaoru's eyes.
"How, h-how do you know this?" Kaoru was afraid to even ask.
"Your eyes" she spoke, "they don't only say one thing, they're the pages of the book you are. They tell you who you are. Don't forget Kaoru, every emotion is seen in the eyes, including hurt. When you cry, tears fall from your eyes and its remembered to have been fall there. The mind doesn't forget it and so does the eyes that show all your many emotions" she spoke.
"You know too much Sita-san." She paused, "but what else can you see in me?" Kaoru leaned forward almost edgily.
"Secrets, a lot of secrets" she spoke. "Those I don't think I should know."
"Can I ask you something?" Kaoru asked.
"Yes my dear, go ahead" the woman spoke.
"Can—well, is it impossible for someone's future to be read?" she asked.
"No. Infact, I do that as a living. I read people's palms and see into their future, events that should be taken care of"
"Oh. Well, I have no money, but-but, can you make an exception?" Kaoru hated to sound so bold.
"Of course. In fact, I would have read your palm because you were the kindest person to say such things about me, this old fool" she said.
"People say bad things about you?" Kaoru asked.
"It's not me alone. It's the entire village. This village is a disease, known by many merchants as outcasts. It's used solely as a prostitute camp, but a lot of lost soldiers, mental people and dying souls come here. We're poor of the riches, and everyone here is in fact troubled and hated by good leaders and proper homes" there was a certain pain in her words.
"What happens to the children who live here? The prostitutes' children?" Kaoru asked, very interested.
The woman did not respond.
"I want to know Sita. Let me know" Kaoru dared.
"Many of the children" she took a deep breath, "are killed" it was simple but completely hurtful.
Kaoru felt the blood from her face run cold. Her body felt as if shivers trampled over her and the spinning of the news would bring her down.
"You're joking aren't you?" Kaoru wore concern in her words.
"What's there to joke about in life and death? The children are born, and savagely killed. They are burned in heaps of rubbish and the prostitutes, all in their good time return to same diseased lives. It's a never ending cycle. Even if it was to end, money would stop flowing throughout our village and this would be the poorest location in Edo. There is nothing but shame, hate and dirtiness riding in this place. It is a sick malice that feeds on our souls, but we have no motivation, no leader to pull us from this. We are left to be the sickness, the cause and effect. No one will ever hold their hands out for us, only spit and throw us coarse words." She felt so pathetic and so hurt.
"You poor thing, this poor village. You just can't do nothing. You must help them. All of them" Kaoru said in a new voice.
"I help everyone I can Kaoru. It's not like I go on my life saying I've never helped these young women bring their babies into the world, or haven't cured a man or haven't given hope to some. I have done so much more than you would ever see. Believe me, it isn't easy being hated and at the same time a good person to help these people. That's just bad and wrong!" she exposed.
"You said this strip is dangerous. Is it just men that I should fear?" Kaoru asked.
"Yes!" she curtly answered. "Men are very dangerous"
Kaoru paused to contemplate. Bright eyes, once confused in her pain, were now back to reality with glowing effervescence. Amazed that this young girl could swap emotions this easily, the woman looked at her intrigued.
"What do you need to halt this?" Kaoru asked.
"What?" the woman was a bit taken back.
"To stop the trading of harlots and the killing the innocents? Is it money or what?" Kaoru asked.
"Miss, miss, I don't seem to understand where you're coming from, but from what I've gathered you want to help stop this. Let me tell you its taken me two years to solve this problem and it never worked. This trade has gone on forever, and it seems it won't end. Maybe relocation is our only choice" the woman spoke.
"Sita-san, it may have failed for you. But I believe its to do with the times. Times are very trying especially when the ones we love go off into war and fight, donate to the hatred. You must believe me, that you can still make a difference" Kaoru said.
"Now now Kaoru, that was a while ago. I'm too old for that" the woman spoke.
"You're never too old to learn, you're never too old to help. Help me Sita-san. Your wisdom with my motivation and youth can be the storm, can be that something you've thrived for. Please help me" Kaoru spoke.
"I really don't know who in God's name you think you are, but God, you're one kid who has me blown away. And yes Kaoru, if it to see people smile, children run in glee and the world just smile a little, I will go to my death for it" the woman spoke.
"Great. That's the spirit"
"You're amazing child. You have so much to your two sides, one side is of innocence and strength, the other is of emotional distress because of man. You love the people regardless and it's a sparkle in your eye that may never fade and god I hope, it doesn't" she whispered.
"You say such nice things, you give hope to men, a shame. Pacifists can not take any" Kaoru declared.
"You're a pacifist?" the woman asked.
"Yes, well, that is what I think I am. My mother is a real pacifist, I'm just like a wannabe." Kaoru said sadly.
"Now my child, this isn't the time to be looking down on things, this is the time to be looking up at things. Just remember what you've just told me two minutes ago about helping people. Your words alone are courage and your heart is as pristine as an archangel in flight. Your will is good, but..something, something is there. Standing in your way. Open your palm Kaoru" she spoke.
"Why, what are you going to do?" asked Kaoru skeptically.
"I want to read your palm, open it" she said.
Kaoru did as the woman notion.
The woman picked up a green bottle of liquid. Pouring a small amount in Kaoru's hand, she told Kaoru to hold her hand in a cup formation so the liquid would not seep.
Taking up some yellow powder, she stopped to look at Kaoru.
"When I drop this powder into the green liquid in your hand, there are two colours it can take. These colours are colours of your future. One can be blue, where your future shows many good things to come, however, if the liquid turns black, it says your future holds dark things to come. Do not be afraid, once you are strong, you will not falter easily into the grip of evil." She spoke
"Are you ready Kaoru?" she asked.
"Yes." Kaoru answered.
Placing the yellow powder into the green liquid of Kaoru's hand. They both waited at the edge of their seats to see the colouration. At first Kaoru thought the colour was not changing from green, but the then the yellow powder began dissolving. Almost immediately, a bright blue was seen, and in a blink of an eye, a black shade rose over.
"Lay your palm flat" the woman spoke.
Kaoru obliged.
The black liquid slowly crossed over her palm, going through her fingers, falling to the ground. A pattern had already began to form.
"Am I seeing, a pattern?" asked Kaoru.
"No no, this, this is wrong" the woman spoke.
"What? What's wrong, what do you mean. Sita-san?" Kaoru asked in fear.
"This sign. This is an emblem Kaoru" the woman pointed out.
"An emblem, an emblem of what?" Kaoru asked.
"It was only seen in India. A man named Ziyad Seeyah was an evil lord in India. He hated people, but he enjoyed seeing them hurt. He made young women prostitutes and filled the air with poverty. He said nasty things and even did more of the immoral, but we won't go into that. A while ago, a famous gypsy and futurist read his hand. She wrote a book called: The ways of the future. I own it now. She read his hand using the same principle I used, it so happens, that this emblem on your hand is the same emblem in his." She paused to see Kaoru's eyes open in fear.
She got up, going to her shelf of books. Scanning her fingers across the labels, Kaoru was elsewhere, in shock. Not believing what she was hearing. She was demented inside and hearing such news on short coming, was practically breaking her apart.
"Ah, here it is, The ways of the future" she pulled the book from the shelf.
She opened the book to a specific page. Stopping she showed Kaoru a small smile of confidence.
"When she interpreted the emblem, she found out it meant a future of bad events" the woman spoke.
"This is the sign Kaoru" she opened the book, showing Kaoru the same emblem.
Kaoru was lost of words. "So I'll be living with a curse?" Kaoru asked softly, yet incredulously.
"The woman said that there is a way to be rid of this. She advises, when all light has gone, use your heart's greatest call." She spoke.
"I don't know what that means Sita-san. I don't want to live with a curse, I don't want to have a symbol which resembles a tribal demon sign, I don't want it" she began shivering, "take it away, tell me now how to rid of it. Tell me what you started, finish it, finish it" Kaoru cried.
"Very well" she paused, "the woman who wrote the book was executed and a week later Ziyad died."
"Futurists can read only some events, only the most shocking and irrelevant. Those that mean a lot to you or some things that don't mean anything at all." She placed a blue fluid over her hand where she whispered some words Kaoru never heard in her life.
"What are you doing?" Kaoru asked.
"Shh!"
Whispering the last of her words, she placed a hand over Kaoru. A shock ripped through the old woman's body. She tried to control it, but it was strong.
"You have friends" she closed her eyes to focus.
"Yes I do" Kaoru spoke.
"Be careful of..of" she paused to see deeper, "of Ninsuko is that it?" she asked
"Yes, she's my best friend"
"Pay attention to her or else. And your friend, Ayami. Be particularly careful about her. Oh oh, I see something else..its a girl, no, it's a boy. A boy in your life, you love that boy. You both are going to have a serious battle. A very very intense one. I—I see a war. A big war, many soldiers are falling. Someone with blonde hair is laughing, you are dancing on a stage, that boy you love has hate in his eyes. Hate, its all around. You can't breathe, you fall. Guns, swords, blood. It's everywhere, you're screaming, you're screaming…you're screaming" she whispered off, opening her eyes, "you're screaming" she whispered softly.
Kaoru looked at her in horror.
"Don't read my future any more" Kaoru pulled her hand away.
She had never felt so distraught in her life. Her entire body felt like shutting down. Lies they were perhaps, didn't sound so. Evidence shown from symbols on her hand to books really made her believe her future was not pretty.
"Every hero starts with some fault" she said.
"Every hero doesn't start with a curse, that's the difference" Kaoru awared.
The ambience grew dark, as emotions that were suppressed rose once again to its surface, irritating Kaoru's good conscience. Her life, was growing dim and the lights she needed were being blown out. Not sure what to believe in any longer, Kaoru found herself being drained. Nothing was matching to Kaoru. Pieces of her future, were irregular to imagine, but Kaoru thought the future disguises the worst in the best. A cunning face, a lovely lie, they were all coming to her some way.
The woman could see Kaoru was really not herself.
Placing some milk and petals in a bowl, the woman placed it by an idol of a Hindu god called Laskmi.
"Let me see your wrist" she said to Kaoru.
Kaoru shook her head. She didn't need any more help.
"This is to help you" the woman said.
"You've helped enough" Kaoru answered.
The woman sighed, "it's a tradition and a belief in India that tying a blessed piece of yarn around the wrist of one, gives them strength, luck and hope of what their heart desires. Lay out your wrist, please" the woman said.
"I'm sorry. I'm a devout Christian. It does not comply me to pray to idols or to do such actions. You've done enough and I need not any of this" she said.
"Very well. If this is what you want"
"I should be going. I must go home to my father and friends" Kaoru got to her feet.
"Yes, yes, of course" the woman saddened.
"Well thank you Sita-san, for everything" Kaoru spoke, her voice still straining.
"Kaoru" she said.
Kaoru stopped.
"Yes?"
"I know why Himura-san is upset" she said.
"Excuse me?" Kaoru turned around. Completely irked. For one the woman told her she could only read events, but not her life. It was now Kaoru turned around, feeling very angry.
"What do you mean? I didn't ask you to read my life before me, only important events, but realizing what you've just said, I can tell now you read more didn't you?" she asked.
"I can't stop what I read. I can read your life Kaoru because you're young, its not so with older people. It's different" she said.
"I don't want to hear this anymore. Good day" Kaoru began leaving.
"But wouldn't you want to know why he doesn't look at you, the way he once did?" she asked.
Kaoru stopped. It was foolish not to know and live in tears, "yes, I would like to know"
"Himura-san, Kaoru, is jealous" she spoke.
"Of what?" Kaoru asked turning to look at her.
"There is a boy called, Seto-san, right?" she asked.
"Yes! What's he got to do with anything?" Kaoru asked.
"Well let me put it this way, if you were hanging around a person more than you lover, and your lover has been keeping an eye on you and he caught you lying thanks to this person, what's your lover to do, and not to do?" she asked.
"Oh my gosh! Kenshin thinks I like Seto. Oh my, oh my gosh, no no, he's got it all wrong. Oh my, this isn't good. Kenshin" she breathed in heavily.
"You know the truth, now make with it" with that she went back into her room.
"Sita-san" she called.
No response.
"Thank you, sincerely." Kaoru said.
Kaoru ran home, one bit of positivity in her heart.
'Oh Kenshin…oh Kenshin!' tears of joy had come to her eyes as she was going to home to finally set things straight.
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His eyes had changed, and so had his aura.
Combing the streets, in silence, the killer quietly kept to himself. Being discreet of his title and his abilities.
Bright amber eyes saw it was already early morning. A lot had happened he thought, most concerning Kaoru. Then there were those of his departure, which he didn't give a letter to explain his actions. Many things were left broken and undone, and it was time he finally got the air he deserved.
Many called him unknown figure of the dark, while pronounced eminently he remained, Hitokiri Battousai, the manslayer. Most of his life was shrouded in misfortune, the things he was allowed to keep were only meant to be taken away. Not sure, why he had to suffer all the pain all his life.
Battousai smirked at the thoughts, at the memories.
'It's funny, I have to live my entire life, always being known as Battousai. Nothing is steady for me, everything I have is destroyed, everything I want, I can't have. From the day I lost my parents, to the day I was traded in a trade to the day I lost the three women who sacrificed themselves for me, seems to constantly ache when I keep adding to the list. I am fedup of believing in strange Gods, fedup of having people bring me down and I'm fed-up of being an ego to the Ishin.' Battousai gritted his teeth.
Battousai's stomach grumbled, he hadn't eaten anything since last night. Needing food fast, he went into a restaurant sitting down in a tatami. Following him to his table, a young girl came out wearing bright features. Those features died though when she saw the sword.
"C-can I help you good sir?" she asked
"Food" came his deep and curt reply.
"Of course. There i-is a wide variety, what exactly would you l-like?" she asked watching back from frighten eyes.
"Some soup and shasami." He paused, "quickly" he said loudly.
"Yes, yes of course" she ran to the kitchen giving the note to the chief.
Battousai sat there meditating in silence, feeling his stomach grumbling for food. Keeping himself locked quiet, he didn't notice the golden eyes watching back at him. A smirk of cruelty coming to the person's face. Walking forward, the ki that couldn't be missed was felt.
Battousai still quiet, welcomed the enemy.
Brute amber eyes, followed the red-head's direction. He could tell that Battousai was alone, his crew was no where to be found and it made the man broaden his smirk.
"I see you're quite the dare of the day" spoke the man.
His words were felt like the howling of the wind. It could no other than Saito, the wolf himself.
"Saito. What an unpleasant surprise" came Battousai sarcastic words.
Saito joined the Battousai for a seat. The young woman rushed out in all her fright handing the red-head his food.
"Here you are sir, sorry for the wait" she bowed many times.
Battousai never looked up at her in recognition.
"Leave" he said in warning.
She obliged.
"Making young girls frighten now, is that your queue?" Saito asked, sitting on the opposite side of the table.
"What do you want Saito?" Kenshin rose his head, his eyes of gold and fire staring back at the wolf.
At first Saito said nothing. Enthralled at the colour of his eyes and the fire and tales they spoke, he smirked.
"You know the usual. You dead of course" Saito spoke.
"If you want a fight Saito I'll be happy to put you to that grave of yours" a voice that was cold, sarcastic and ruthless answered.
"Cocky all of a sudden? How mundane" Saito said tiredly.
"Amuse me not." Battousai dug down into his breakfast, keeping his eyes focused on the wolf's tricks.
Saito sat there, watching the youth eat greedily the meal before him. In a lot of ways, Saito saw Okita in Battousai, their personas of war were very similar and their hatred and persistence were incredible. In a lot of ways, Saito could not deny the Battousai was indeed a legend with nothing but slim luck on his side. Saito scowled at the thought, 'imagine, the entire Bakumastu thinks you're supreme because you got lucky. Humph!'
"Whats the matter old man? Something bothering you?" Battousai asked giving Saito a stare of disgust.
"You're a boy of two words you know, impishly amusing" Saito said, not noticing that the Kenshin from before was gone and replaced with the real Battousai.
Not likely was the Battousai taking the insult well.
"You know why I'm here Battousai. I practically searched all the lands of Japan just to have your ugly face cut from that body of yours. But today I don't come in threats and curses, I come in grave warning." He lowered his voice in a dark tone.
Battousai stopped eating his soup. Looking up at the wolf, he saw a spark of evil.
"Lately our men has been killed, our troops fallen into your dark death and we come in this hour of howling wolves telling you and that Ishin of yours, war has begun." He started.
"Its not amusing to hear you say those words. Come on Saito, war has already begun and its not the first time the Ishin whooped the Shinsen's backside." Battousai professed.
Saito stared back nonchalantly, giving Battousai no emotion of effect.
"Continuing now, if the Ishin does not lower their guard and give up to the Shinsen, we will walk in all our triumph to the gates of the Ishin killing all that stands in our way. The first to die would be no other than your captain, Kogoro Katsura followed by his sturdy affiliates." He paused to smirk, "then of course, you'll be the next person on our list and you know I'd take the joy to kill you." Saito spoke.
"You talk garbage Saito." Battousai said boldly.
Saito leaned forward, "let me ask, when in the history of the Bakumastu has the Ishin killed women and children? I didn't know you people killed the innocents but damn I'll be amused. Nonetheless, even if sorry was the word, war is on everyone's doorstep. You can't run, you can only fight and meet your death"
"Don't make yourself sound so good Saito. B'sides, it's the next way around. I'll have you beheaded and that'll be the end of your dumb little war" Battousai got to his feet, placing some cash on the table for the young girl.
"Where are you going?" Saito asked.
"Dunno. Maybe to kill more of your troops, hey that sounds fun" Battousai began leaving, before he did he stopped, "oh and Saito, to set the facts straight, the Ishin has never killed one innocent. Killing an innocent is so wrong to the Ishin, almost the same way Seppuku is completely wrong to the Shinsen. Just thought you should know" Battousai walked away.
Walking through the streets with nothing but the conversation of the wolf in his mind, Battousai looked up at the sky. It was beginning to turn grey. It could only mean rain was coming.
'Damn'
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Kaoru entered the Ishin's complex around half past one that day. She made her way completely undetected to her room.
'Damn' she swore when she nearly tripped because of his clothes.
Growling a bit, Kaoru began picking up her clothes and putting them away. In front of her, the huge windows were left open. Sitting quietly on her windowsill was Raven, her black bird with mysterious green hints in his eyes.
"Hello Raven, are you okay?" she went forward. The bird watched her.
Kaoru sat down, watching the bird herself. The cold air from the oncoming rain, was felt on her skin. The room began an insulator of cold thoughts, as Kaoru kept the birds steady gaze.
"Raven?" she whispered.
Pushing her hand forward, she saw the bird just fly away into the trees. The trees where thousands of ravens stared back at her. Feeling a bit odd and cold, Kaoru shut the window hesitantly.
Fearing that she allowed the palm-reading to come true, Kaoru breathed in deeply.
'It must not happen, at all'
Kaoru went to her bed, where she lied there, waiting for sleep to kiss her into a world of dreams. Slowly defeated, Kaoru dozed into sleep.
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The next morning:
"Have you ever felt like you lost everything you've owned? That there's nothing in this world to possibly believe in, that dreams- they're lies. But that shadows and hate are the pregnant mates over everything right, everything good. Have you ever felt like burying yourself into yourself? Have you ever asked yourself, why we truly cry, why we look at the sky…why these haunting memories sting us. In the raw filth of this world, there is nothing to hold dear, only soft shadows and the whispers of night." Kaoru repeated the lines she wrote in her book.
"There is nothing to believe in" she paused to close the book, "there was nothing in the first place to believe in"
Kaoru looked out her window.
'I forced myself through another day only to find what I found yesterday. Pain' Kaoru stood on her feet, sighing at the beautiful world that beamed back at her.
Lowering her head in a taunted manner, she swallowed the knot that began tightening in her throat. The tears, they never really seem to stop and to Kaoru, they never will. As long as she chooses to be the Samaritan she is, she will walk with nothing but the hates of people.
"Ms. Kogoro, you're called to our meeting," spoke a voice.
Kaoru jumped at the sound of the voice vibrating through the shoji. Wiping her face dry from her tears, she sucked in a small breath of air.
Shutting her eyes, "I, I would like to be," she answered softly.
A young man entered, taking a glance at the young girl who stood by the window all distressed and confused.
"Ms. Kogoro, your father calls you in meeting. It's very important," the youth with brown eyes and tall black locks said.
"I do not wish to attend his meeting. Tell him, I'd like some time to recollect the pieces," she gazed into his eyes, her eyes shimmering.
"Ms. Kogoro, please, it isn't about the Ishinshishi downfall, it's about Himura-san. He hasn't returned," the man spoke.
Kaoru's eyes flew open in shock.
All the tears that were in her eyes froze as her breath shallowed and the world suddenly became a grey curtain. Blinking back the words, 'hasn't returned', Kaoru scrunched her hands against her chest, feeling that her heart would give any moment now. When she thought the mental battle was over, she despaired it now had barely begun. Feeling like the world crumbling before her, she whispered his name almost unconsciously.
"K-kenshin…" she cried, her body shaking with pain and torture.
When was the end she screamed within her destroyed depths. Swallowing the thick dry lump, she sharply exhaled feeling her hot breath touch her hands. The ways Kenshin punished her felt like hot rock on her body. Too soar to understand what's real from not, Kaoru bitter with tears. Shaking shoulders inwardly crumbled as she held herself protectively wishing no more would hurt her.
"Ms. Kogoro?" unsure how to address her when she grew so angst-like.
"D-Do you know, where's he gone to?" She whispered
"No. We-, we hoping though, you might have a clue," the youth answered.
"Me? I never know anything only until it's the last moment." She informed with anger in her voice.
"Ms. Kogoro, I can understand why you feel this way, but your father and two other officials of the Ishinshishi needs to talk to you. The matter is urgent and very sensitive. This matter could lead from one problem to another - the downfall of the Ishin. Please, you must understand that right now the only person that can help us, is you" he informed seeing her swallow and look away.
"I'm sorry. But you've mistaken me for another. I barely know Kenshin from the beast, the beast from nightmare. I can't possibly see what you'd need from me." She whispered into the morning's cold air.
"Ms. Kogoro, you've given everyone a spark of belief. It's strange now to hear a young woman as aspiring and astounding as yourself talk this way. To talk the way a man like myself would talk. You've given so much to us, so much strength in just your smile in your good teachings. You've not only made peoples lives better, but you made them live again. You walk our halls in your humble grace, spreading good word in everything you do. But to turn and say now that you can offer nothing, makes me wonder, who you are, is this you or your shadow?" he paused, hearing her gasp, "please, help us. That's what you do when all light has been taken away. After all, if you made the greatest of sinners, Himura-san, live just for a short while, you've done so much more than you can ever give yourself credit for. Right now however, we need your help, so I ask you again, will you join us?" the man asked.
Kaoru felt every word pang deep inside her depths, they vibrated and shuddered her core until she was left aching.
Wiping her tears, resolution came to her, "yes, I will"
"Arigatou Ms. Kogoro. Follow me" he led her out her room, through the dark halls and down the flight of wooden steps.
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Kaoru was lead into a room where a single candle was lit.
There sitting in front of her was Maebi, sitting curt and square, his monotone eyes matching his stature.
In the center, her father, who was at the time looking down at a piece of paper in his hand. Kaoru grew a bit worried, personally she knew her father adore Kenshin as a son and a soldier, but also because he was the true essence of the meaning Ishinshishi. A living breathing emblem he became of the Ishin and the Bakumastu.
On the right of her father was Katagi, who like Maebi, was sitting upright and intent.
The three powerful officials and owners of the Ishinshishi and Chosu, was now joined under one banner, looking back at her with eyes of dare.
"You called" Kaoru started, taking a seat on the tatami she saw empty.
"Hai" Katagi answered. His voice resounding in the morning's quietness.
"You know why you've been called" Katagi started.
"I think I do. Something that concerns" she swallowed the invisible lump, "concerns Kenshin"
"Yes! If you should know, Himura-san is not in the Ishinshishi. He has no missions presently, but he chooses to leave the compound in a ragged state of mind. Himura-san is very dangerous Ms. Kogoro. Right now he doesn't know he's in such a state. We were hoping though, you would know where he is." Katagi spoke.
Kaoru listened, "I don't know where he is, how should I know?"
"You don't want to help us Ms. Kogoro" Maebi intervened. "But I'll have you know we're under a serious crisis" he aware.
"It's not the first time I've heard this" Kaoru spoke, turning grim on all of them
"Well then understand its very imperative you help us locate Himura-san" Maebi spoke.
"I can't help you, because I don't know, please, understand that" she informed, "besides, what's there to know about someone who leaves me in damnation" she hinted.
"Ms. Kogoro. What is wrong with you? Have you forgotten his sole purpose is a soldier of this elite army? Have you also forgotten that Himura-san targeted everyone who caused him trouble, don't you see, you're not the only one he affected. If we can't learn to understand each other, and put the pieces of this puzzle together then there's going to be a break down, so please, help us." Maebi begged.
"I told you" she started in a crispy aggressive voice, "I don't know anything of his actions"
"Kaoru" spoke an anew voice.
She looked at her father who rose his head to look her. His eyes were fathomless with problems. She hadn't seen her father this disoriented in a while.
"Do you know why Kenshin is of a great essence to us right now?" he asked.
"No." she answered curtly.
"This letter" he rose the letter, "is a letter from the Shinsen. This letter was delivered to our front gates. What does that say? It says the Shinsen knows our hideout, that we need protection against the enemies." He pointed out, "lately Kyoto has been under a rampage, many innocent people and not to mention Shinsen have been killed, for some apparent reason the Shinsen thinks its our men, but it isn't. The Ishin will never stoop to kill the innocents. It is as unfaithful as Seppuku is to the Shinsen. It so happened that the Shinsen will march to our gates and dare us to fight. We need Kenshin, Kaoru, more than ever. If you could possibly tell me where he is I would appreciate it" her father spoke.
"Father, I know you seek the Ishin's best interest, but have you ever thought, you don't seek Kenshin's best interest, that he is more than a tool, than an emblem, than the Battousai? Have you seen that he is alive even in all his horrors. With awaking eyes, his freedom is locked. His wings are caught, his soul is inflamed with your requests to kill. You practically destroyed him already, but you can't see those things. I understand why Kenshin wears a face only somebody like himself can understand, it is because he is numb, far too taunted, too lost from reality" she whispered, "I won't help you father. I'll leave Kenshin to decide on his own good faith what he should do. If you truly think you know your soldier, then how much do you know if Kenshin will return?" she asked.
"Why do you fight me Kaoru? Why do you always fight me, victimize me? Haven't I showed you I am a good man already, that my intentions are good, that this is the only way? Haven't I?" there was anger this time for her.
"No!" she pounded, "Your intentions of good are beguiled in hate, in killing. Killing isn't the only way to peace, it is not something any man should do, but you do it because like the Shinsen, your heart is black. You don't know father, what it means to run to war every so often days, killing men, feeling their blood slide down your face and chest, you don't know what it means to hear a man yelping in mercy, you can not begin to see with naked eyes the truth that each of your soldiers their heart is hurting, that they too, like the enemy are being corrupted, are being dubbed as men of the Bakumastu. Why should you anoint this upon them, some have families, some have wives, some want a future, but some of them will never see that sun, will never see their families, because you took that away. You did it to Kenshin and who's to say you wouldn't do it to someone else." She paused to take a breath, "I never blamed you father for your work, I only blame you for murdering these men of their good." She trailed off into a whisper.
"You tell me such things. Boldly you tell your own father the end is now. All I do, is wrong, but could you have done better?" he dared her.
"The time for that has gone. I can't help Kenshin father, he spits words at me like venom and it burns insatiably. Without even thinking of his actions or his words, I can not reach this Kenshin. My Kenshin is destroyed. I'm sorry" she whispered looking away.
"I don't want to fight you Kaoru. Our nation is breaking, the Ishin is breaking and Kenshin is breaking. Please, don't break to. I need you to be on my side" he spoke
"I am, I will always be" she spoke.
"Then you must help him when he is found" Katsura informed
"I can't do anything father" Kaoru whispered. Sometimes she felt hopeless and this was one of those moments.
The three men sighed.
"Kaoru, please understand you are the only one who can help" her father spoke.
"You want something I can't give. You want a man you don't even know, why are you asking me?" Kaoru gazed at her father with tears.
"I use to believe what mom use to say, that every man has a conscience, that every man has just part of him good. But I saw it first hand, that when part of a man has gone insane, there's nothing but hollowness and anger. There's nothing to gain in such a body" Kaoru finally wept, her lips trembling, "open your eyes father, what I use to be never helped him, and I what am, can never help him" Kaoru covered her face.
'I keep fighting myself kami, I keep fighting myself and I just don't know why'
"Do you know why I believe in you Kaoru, why my faith hasn't completely been blown out?" Katsura leaned forward, prying her hands away from her face. Holding his daughter's hand he gently patted the surface.
"Because you'd fight for your army and you believe that I've gotten grip on Kenshin. No father" she shook her head, her eyes leaking as she grit her teeth, "I haven't gotten a damn on him" to hear her say those words made him shiver. Her eyes were so dull, lost of all her vibrancy and energy. Her pretty face was being drowned in pain.
"Kaoru" he whispered aggressively, holding her cheek.
"It's true papa. What is the use? The things I heard from him, the things he did to me, it's like he never knew me. How can a man be this way?" she held her father's hand, "I don't want to sound like I've lost all hope, but I see it every time in his eyes. He lets his hate control him and makes him this, this beast" she inwardly arched, crying her eyes out.
Katsura softened his eyes on his daughter.
"Oh my Kaoru…" Katsura gathered his daughter, holding her to his heart.
"Behind every storm, is a sun" he paused to kiss her head.
"I don't understand papa" Kaoru breathed, holding tightly at him.
"Just remember he may be the Battousai to the world, but behind him, is a man. You, out of all persons are supposed to know that the best" he explained feeling her bury her face in his chest.
"Me? I'm nothing special but Kenshin's fool" Kaoru wept.
"No Kaoru, you're more than that to him" he urged her to look at him.
"What am I, hmm father, what am I to him?" she croaked, her eyes glistening.
"You're his sheath"
Her eyes opened in shock. 'I'm his sheath.' It was then she remembered she had a role. A role she forgot to fulfill.
'A sheath..his sheath'
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An: Congratulations, you just read chap 24! Now here's my question, did it rock or did it suck? I wanna know! Anyways, to the story, if there are any questions which needs answering right about now, go ahead and feel free to ask. Also, if you've realized, Battousai or Kenshin, is not in a proper state of mind, he's a bit um, quack? Okay, that was mean, but its true! Anyways, I do hope that the storyline is buying its way into your hearts and that you're giving your mind some teasing when I allow the characters to portray a bit differently from the main Nubuiro line. It's just fun to play with characters! That it is!
Okay, I'm seriously out of here now. We're holding a party now and I needa get to it!
Well enjoy and big up! Oh and thank u to all my reviewers of chap 23, you peeps rock my socks!
Please review.