A/N: BAW! Way too long for an update! I'm sorry! Just with college and midterm week I was super busy and literally had no time to myself. -rubs head- However, I think that's over and I'll try to be quicker with the updates!
BakaBokken - DON'T POKE ME! Save it for Nekotsuki!
Stormykittycat - I'll try to get this reposted quickly so you can get back to the part you left off on.
FairyMage - A lot of people agree with about Muroi dying.
Shadow Wolves - The fun will start next chapter!
lolo popoki - Don't kill them yet! I still need them for the story!
Shaolin 10 - I know you may not see this, but I hope everything is going well for you.
Chapter 8 - A Rainy Day
The next morning the residents of Kyoto were visited with a soft pattering rain. Neko laid in bed staring at the ceiling listening to the rain fall. She remembered a story her mother told her once to help stop her fear when storms came. The rain drops where the tears of a mother who had lost her child. The thunder was the father's angry booming voice when he found out his child had been taken. The wind was the child calling out for help and the lighting was the mother and father coming to save their child. When the storm finally passed it meant that the child had been saved and the family was together again. "But who will save me?" Neko said softly as the rain drummed on the roof. "My mommy and daddy are gone." Images of Kenshin filled her mind. "That's right. I have an angel." She sat up with a smile, already in a better mood.
Kenshin on the other hand was not entirely thrilled with Neko's improved mood. Thanks to the rain Neko was stuck inside with a million questions. "Do you live here all the time? What time is it? Wanna play a game with me? Why is your hair red? Are you good with your swords? When's lunch? What's for lunch? How old are you? You never told me what you do! Let's play! Whatca doing?" The questions just never seemed to end.
"Hi Reizo!" Neko said skipping down the hall.
"Hello Neko." He waved at the young girl as she passed.
"Bye Reizo!"
Reizo laughed at Neko as she continued to skip down the hall. "Bye Neko." He was still laughing as he opened the door to his room but it was replaced with confusion as he looked inside. "Himura, ah, why are you in my room?"
Kenshin visibly blushed. "Ah, I wanted to talk to you about something."
Reizo smirked. "Are you sure you wanted to talk about something?" Kenshin nodded. "Okay, about what."
Kenshin flinched. "Ah well…"
From down the hall Neko could be heard calling for Kenshin. "You just wanted to hide from Neko didn't you?" Reizo said, enjoying putting the manslayer in his place.
"No." Kenshin replied quickly and stubbornly.
"Maybe I should call her in here then." Reizo said, looking down the direction Neko had gone, fully enjoying himself.
"No! Just… just close the door." Kenshin half begged.
Reizo shook his head slowly and laughed. This blushing man had killed countless men without flinching, but when it came to dealing with a seven year old, he could be found cowering in other people's rooms. "You're such a bad lair. I'll keep her busy for awhile and just a little advice, next time try hiding in the men's bathing area." Reizo broke out in a fit of laughter but stopped abruptly when Kenshin glared at him. "I'm going to find Neko." He said practically running from the room, afraid that staying would bring dire consequences.
"Reizo, have you seen Kenshin?" Neko asked when Reizo found her. "I can't find him." She added sadly.
Reizo thought of Kenshin hiding in his room and laughed. "No I haven't seen Himura."
Neko's face dropped, she had hopped Reizo had seen him. "Oh." Neko sighed. "Reizo, would you play with me?"
Reizo nodded. "Sure I will. What do you want to do?" Neko took Reizo's hand and led him to a spot near an open door. Reizo looked outside to the bleak view. The rain had begun to pick up intensity, masking the world in gray. Puddles had begun to form, gathering the water up and slowly becoming larger. A cooling and refreshing wind blew softly, bringing in the sent of fresh rain water.
Pulling on his hand she had him sit down and she sat right next to him. "Tell me a story!"
"A…story?"
"A good story!"
Reizo cleared his throat. He didn't know any stories. "Hm. Let's see. Once upon a time." Neko leaned against Reizo arm and got a far away, dreamy look in her eye. Lost deep in thought, it look almost like she could see into a person's soul. "There was a… a, a great battle!"
"What were they fighting about?"
"Well one side was fighting for equality and the other side was fighting to keep the traditional values." Neko nodded her head. "There was a man who wasn't a very good fighter but he believed in the equality he was fighting for. He left his home and his wife behind to fight on the battlefield! A great battle broke out and the man was soon over come. He was able to hold off most of the enemies for a time but he soon tired. The man fell and soon a body loomed over him ready to take his life!"
Neko gasped. "Did he die?" She asked, concerned.
"He thought that was the end. He thought of his wife and the grief she would suffer when she found out she was a widow, but death never came. When the tired man looked up he saw that another fighter had stopped the attack. This fighter was much stronger. He pushed the would be killer away from the man and ran his sword through the attacker, killing him." Neko winced slightly. "The two didn't have long to catch their breaths for many men circled them. The man thought now surely this must be the end, but the man that had saved him merely glared the attackers down. His eyes radiated hatred, stopping the approaching men in their tracks. With a fierce battle cry the man rushed the attackers and took three down in one swing!"
"With one swing?" Neko repeated amazed.
"Yes! He was amazing. The other fighter had never seen such skill in his life! After falling two more men the skilled swordsmen leaped into the air and with another cry sliced another man in two! Soon the battlefield was as red as his…"
"What are you telling her!" Kenshin interrupted.
"Kenshin! Reizo is telling me a story." Neko said, smiling. "It's a scary story."
"Actually Neko it wasn't meant to scare you because it's about me." Reizo told her.
"Really?" she said slowly, sliding away from Reizo. "Did you kill all those people?"
"No, I could never do something like that. The skilled swordsmen was…"
"Neko why don't you go to lunch?" Kenshin suggested quickly.
"But I want to…"
"I'll be there in a minute." Kenshin said sternly. Neko sighed but rose from where she sat and walked away. Kenshin turned to Reizo and glared at him. "Why did you tell her a story like that?"
Reizo eyes widened slightly. "You haven't told her. She doesn't know who you are." He stated softly, surprised clearly written on his face.
"She doesn't need to know." Kenshin said softly, but yet sternly, as if it was an order.
"Himura, how long do you think you can keep something like that hidden? Especially while she is living here?" Kenshin kept all the emotion out of his face. He knew there was a good chance Neko would discover he was the Battòsai, but yesterday her friend had told her that he was the Battòsai but she hadn't believed him. How much longer could he keep this from her? Kenshin's silence was answer enough for Reizo. "I'm sorry Himura, I won't tell her any more stories."
Kenshin broke his gaze and headed towards the eating area. He was shocked to find Neko missing. "Did Neko come in here?" He asked the few men who were in there. They all shrugged or shook their heads. Kenshin left and traveled the halls again, passing Reizo on his way. "Have you seen Neko?"
"No, I thought she was going to eat lunch. Are you sure she wasn't there?" Kenshin nodded. "Why wouldn't she listen to you? She always listens to you."
"I don't know but she's not there." Kenshin could feel Reizo growing anxious.
"She must be around here somewhere. I'll help you look for her." Together Kenshin and Reizo looked all around the inn. Reizo occasionally calling Neko's name. "Where could she be?" Reizo asked, now very nervous.
Staying clam Kenshin looked outside. "I think I know where she is." Reizo followed Kenshin's gaze and a he let out a relived sigh. Neko was outside playing in the rain.
Neko twirled in the rain splashing in the muddy water as she went. She had started out going to the eating area like Kenshin had told her to, but the rain was too inviting to be ignored. She moved her head up and opened her mouth and let the rain collect in it.
Kenshin was a bit irritated at Neko as he walked out into the rain becoming instantly drenched. He pushed his bangs away from his eyes as water dripped down them. His feet squished in the mud as he moved toward Neko who was now kicking at the wet, sloppy dirt. "Neko…" He began to scold her, but at the sound of her name Neko twirled sending an attack of mud flying towards Kenshin.
Kenshin jumped out of the way with only seconds to spare as the mud landed all over Reizo who had been following closely behind. As Kenshin landed he hit a slick spot of ground losing his balance. Kenshin, unprofessionally, began to swing his arms wildly in the air trying to get his balance back. He was unable to do that and fell backwards into a rather large mud puddle.
Reizo watched the whole thing wide eyed. He bust out laughing when Kenshin landed with more of a squish then a thud. "Kenshin!" Neko cried when she saw what she had done. She began to run towards her fallen angel but slipped. She slid and smacked right into Kenshin making him fall and even deeper into the mud. Now Reizo was laughing so hard he could barely stand. "Don't laugh at us!" Neko scolded and went to shake her finger at Reizo but instead sent another clump of mud flying in the air. The flying projectile hit Reizo right in the face. He was so startled he too fell down landing with an undignified squash.
Kenshin smirked at Reizo as he cleared the mud off his face. "Don't you say anything." Reizo yelled angrily at Kenshin, throwing the mud he had cleared off his face at him. Kenshin leaned out of the way and the mud hit Neko's chest instead of it's original target.
"That wasn't nice!" She yelled grabbing a fist full of mud and flinging it at Reizo, most of it hitting his chest but part of it hit Kenshin in the back of the head. Kenshin whipped his head around to glared at Neko but she merely laughed at his glare. She grabbed another handful of mud and tossed it at him. It was too close for even Kenshin to doge and the whole thing smashed into his chest. Reizo burst out in laughter. Kenshin gave Reizo a glare as well but he was laughing so hard he never saw it. Kenshin growled to himself and started to pick himself up. This was no way for someone like him to act, but as he tried to stand Neko grabbed onto him trying to stand herself. The end result was both of them falling back headfirst into the mud.
After a few more struggles the trio finally rose to their feet. All were covered from head to toe with mud, even the doll Neko carted around with her all the time. Not to mention they were soaking wet. Mud caked in their hair and mud in-between their fingernails. Kenshin shook one of his hands and mud flew all over. Neko giggled happily while Reizo made a face as he tried to rub some of the mud off his clothes. They walked back inside; Kenshin storming off, determined to get the bath before anyone saw him, however, as he rounded the corner he nearly ran into Katsura.
"Himura… what happened?" Katsura said wide-eyed, looking Kenshin's mud caked body over and over. He was doing his best not to laugh.
Kenshin was doing his best to keep from yelling out in frustration as he tried to explain. "We. Fell. Into. The. Mud." He wanted to scream so badly.
"Yay! It was fun!" Neko came bounding up with Reizo close behind. Katsura found it even harder to not laugh when he saw them all together. He put his hand up to his mouth to fake a cough.
That was it. Kenshin snapped. "I'm going to go get cleaned!" he yelled before storming down the hall. His yell brought unwanted eyes from rooms who wanted to know what was going on. As Kenshin walked by he looked everyone in the eye and, even covered in drying mud, he sent everyone back to their rooms. Reizo decide to wait until after Kenshin was done to get himself cleaned.
Later that night; after Kenshin had calmed down and Reizo had a chance to wash, Katsura called a meeting for every patriot at the inn. "The Shinsengumi are getting smarter," Katsura began. "We need to leave here as soon as possible." He told everyone the new location to meet at and soon one by one they would make their way there. After a few more speeches Katsura closed the meeting, but asked Kenshin and Reizo to stay behind. "Kenshin I still haven't been able to locate Neko's uncle but it's too dangerous for her to remain with us any longer." Kenshin was still for a moment then nodded his head. "I'm going to send her with Reizo to another inn until I can locate him."
"Why can't Himura stay with her?" Reizo asked. "She would like that much better." Reizo watched Kenshin carefully for any sign of emotion. The lack of any was slightly unnerving. He didn't care. He knew full well that Kenshin would also rather it be himself who watched Neko so Reizo asked the questions Kenshin was either to proud or unable to bring himself to say. "Himura should stay with Neko."
Katsura looked at Kenshin, but spoke to Reizo. "I need Himura. Plus don't you agree that it would look less suspicious if someone else took her? She would be safer if you take her." He gave a sigh. "Do you agree Himura?"
"Hai." Kenshin said simply. "When do we leave?"
"We will be the last to leave. Himura, myself, and a few of my body guards will leave, then I want you to leave with Neko the next day, Reizo. As soon as her uncle is found I'll send word to you." Katsura bowed his head. "Good-night."
Reizo and Kenshin bowed lower. "Night," Reizo replied as Kenshin remind silent. After Katsura left Reizo turned to Kenshin. "I'm sure he would let you take Neko if you asked him," he prodded.
"No. He's right she'll be safer with you. She won't give you any trouble if that's what you're worried about."
"Damn it Himura! I'm not stupid! I know you care about Neko." Reizo yelled, pointing a figure into Kenshin's face. Kenshin in returned glared up Reizo's extended arm slightly frightening the man, so much so that he pulled his hand back as if Kenshin had tried to bite it. "You, you try to hide the fact but you care about her. Don't you?" Now Reizo was unsure. He remembered how cold Kenshin had been the first time he had met him back when he was a shadow assassin back when he had only one scar. Then he had slowly gotten to know the man called Battòsai, the manslayer, and discovered that he hadn't seemed as cold. That was after he had gotten the second scar. What had happened to this teen? Had Reizo been mistaken that the cold expression in the man's amber eyes was sometimes merely a façade?
Kenshin scoffed, ending the conversation. He turned his back on Reizo and made his way to his room. The rain pattered softly on the roof, the sound becoming somewhat hypnotic. He wouldn't have to worry about Neko for much longer. She would be safer away from him. He didn't want to protected any one anymore. If he didn't need to protect them then he couldn't hurt them. Then why did his chest feel so heavy?
Softly he pulled the door to his room opened to not wake Neko, who had gone to bed before the meeting. She was there sleeping on her mat peacefully, not even twitching as Kenshin entered and shut the door. He walked over to where he normally slept, propped up against the wall, but as he passed the sleeping girl he couldn't help himself but to look down at her. Neko's sleeping form was spread out over the whole mat. She was on her right side with her right arm stretched out awkwardly, her left was clutching the doll Kenshin had given to her tightly to her chest. Her legs were spread wide apart and it looked like she had kicked her blanket off in her sleep. Her black hair was sprayed out against her pillow and across her face. Although her hair hid most of her features a relaxed smile could be seen in-between the strands. As Kenshin watched her take one calm, slow, deep breath after another she stretched. Kenshin slightly afraid she was going to wake up held his breath but relaxed when she gave a slight shiver and curled up into a tight ball.
She moved the doll closer to her, now hugging it with both hands and tucked her knees as close to her chin as she could. She buried her nose into one over her hands and gave a happy sigh. Kenshin smirked and shook his head slightly as one of Neko's hands began to curl into itself and then uncurl. Kenshin reached down and took hold of Neko's blanket and in one fluid motion he covered Neko with it. Again Neko gave a happy sigh, but didn't wake up.
Kenshin moved to his spot by the wall and sat down. He took one more look at the sleeping figure and smiled. She wasn't that bad even if she got him a little dirty from time to time.