Chapter 4: Fear
-Kamiya Dojo. Night-
The night was lit with a waxing half moon. Heaven's candles, in the billions, dotted the clear night sky. Crickets gave concert to the night air, essencing it with their age old music. The smells of night flowers perfumed the air with the sweetest smells. This was the kind of night one could imagine a beautiful maiden in white walking through singing a mystic song that would come off as eerie yet so enchanting and hypotizing. Alas, no matter how serene this mythical night was, it was not a night of abiding by one's imaginitive mind. All through Tokyo the news spread about the abduction of Kisagi Kiyoko. The message was relayed to Imagawa Akira as quick as possible. It wasn't an hour after the messenger left that Akira came thundering through the Tokyo streets on horseback for the Kisagi household. Tokyo was in turmoil once the unfortunate news went full circle. Mother and Akira cried in another's arms in mourning. Diru frowned upon the whole scene. They cried and fretted as if Kiyoko had died, not been kidnapped. Did they not have hope for Kiyoko to survive? Diru had taken leaving for the Kamiya Dojo to talk to his good pal Sanosuke about it. As much as a lazy freeloader he was, he still was a good and trusty friend to turn to.
Kaoru and Yahiko stayed inside the dojo area while Diru sat alone outside on the back porch. He sat against the wall of the dojo, his head dropped between his legs while his arms rested on his elbows. Even Kenshin was afraid to approach Diru in this kind of state. Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko and Megumi felt sympathy for Diru losing his sister the way he did. Only Sanosuke knew exactly how Diru was feeling. While the other thought it was more of anger, Sanosuke knew it wasn't. What Diru felt was endless guilt.
" I heard something outside of the carriage. Naturally, I jumped out to see what had stopped the carriage. Once I looked back this giant of a man was dragging my sister out of the carriage kicking and screaming! I tried to attack him, I put so much force into that blow but he only caught the blade, then swung it and slammed me into the earth! I was so helpless to rescue my very own sister. I felt so...useless! It's my fault she got kidnapped! I let her! If I hadn't stepped out of the carriage, if I had just stayed in there and waited...then maybe I could have kept her from being taken. What have I done to deserve this? What has she done?...Kiyoko doesn't deserve to have anymore trauma in her life."
Sanosuke bit down hard o the fishbone he was sucking on, cracking the bone in half. His teeth stayed clenched behind his closed mouth, his eyes focused on the polished floors of the dojo. Diru was right. Kiyoko deserved no such treatment. Sanosuke had met her quite a few times and she was such a beautiful, polite and genuinely loving woman. Sanosuke had first fell in love with her, secretly coveting her, but in the end he came to love her as a close friend instead. It upsetted him to hear that such filthy bandits without a smidget of honor would sink so low as to kidnap such a sweet woman. It even pained him to think what they may do to her.
" Did Diru say what they looked like, Sano?"
" Yeah, he did. He said one was overly obese; a giant of a man. The other three he didn't get to see very well but one he said stood out even more than the fat one. He said this other one was slender and he took the appearance of ice's attitude. Some kind of cold bastard who probably masterminded the whole thing."
" But what about that murder? Do you think they're connected somehow?"
" Possibly. I would have to go out tomorrow and get some word on it. Stop asking questions, Kaoru, and help Megumi tend to Diru. As scary as he looks right now, he still needs some rest with those bruises. And I would think he wouldn't wanna go home right about now. He told me Akira's there. you know how that Meiji punk is."
" Excuse me, but even though he is Meiji, he has been nothing but nice anc concerned for Kiyoko."
" Shut up, vixen. (eyes slant) you wouldn't know half as much as I do about Diru. Plus, it's your job to help with physical wounds, not mental ones."
" A doctor is a doctor! And I may make you pay next time you get hurt for that remark!"
Sanosuke departed from the room with his hands shoved into his pockets, ignoring Megumi's last comment. Megumi settled herself down, sitting on the ground with folded arms and, though kind of cute, a menacing scowl. Kaoru, Kenshin and Yahiko stayed out of it, taking more pleasure in seeing the two arguing. Kaoru continued to peek at diru through the crack of the shoji door. Kenshin placed a calm hand on her shoulder, distracting her attention.
" Miss Kaoru, why don't you and Miss Megumi coax Diru into coming in for a cup of hot tea and a warm bed? I'm sure he'll be grateful."
The two girls didn't object to Kenshin and made their way onto the back patio. After a bit of debating, Diru had caved into the girls' wishes and came inside, letting them lead him to a comforting bed. Megumi took for the kitchen to pour some hot green tea for Diru to drink before going to sleep. It was true what Sanosuke had said, that Megumi didnt know Diru nor Kiyoko much but that didn't mean she knew what she was talking about. She had in fact met Imagawa Akira on a few occasions, and every time he had been a kindly man despite his position in the Meiji government. It was also why Sanosuke and Diru got along so well. Both hated the government with such passion.
Kenshin only took a seat after closing the open door. The situation was quite serious. He wondered what Akira planned to do about this mess. One would guess that a man with Akira's position, would call on some of the finest hunters and trackers in the imperial army to find Kiyoko wherever she may be in Japan. That may be true, but it wouldn't be set up to go until tomorrow morning at the earliest. Kenshin knew that the sadness in Diru's heart would never go away. He carried all the blame for what happened. Kenshin unfortunately knew the pain of a loved one being taken away. Your heart tends to tighten until you think it isn't beating, and your chest constricts until you think the air had been squeezed out entirely. To think you could have prevented the incident from ever happening, well...to know you failed in that category, the scar stays with you for the rest of your life. Gently, Kenshin traced that scar on his cheek that completed the unique 'X'...and he did his best to push those memories away that were beginning to stir.
- Carriage. Heading for Northern Japan. Night.-
The carriage rattled and bumped o the thin road that snaked its way through hills and farmland. Tomoya had long since fell asleep. Kiyoko was still knocked out and propped in the same seat as Tomoya. The only one awake was Enishi who watched so carefully the girl's face. An occasional twitch of her eye would occur, the only clue to a possible torturing dream. It was funny how one looked so purely innocent when they slept but once awake, that innocence slipped away into the subconsciousness. The only thing left would be the sarcasm, the demand for respect and recognition. Enishi had no doubt when this girl woke, she would be quite mad and be shouting on the top of her small lungs. He was prepared for such a scenario.
Tomoya opened one eye to see Enishi focusing his sight out the window. Those frosted eyes saw everything in front of him but nothing. Tomoya grimaced and stretched his arms in the air, smirking some.
" Enishi-sama. Why don't you rest some? I'll stay up and watch over the girl."
" I am fine, Tomoya. (looks to him dangerously) I don't need your opinions."
" (unphased) Of course, Enishi-sama."
Darkness. A pain radiated in the back of Kiyoko's head. She opened her eyes to see she was in a carriage. Before her eyes sat a handsome man with white hair and beautiful blue eyes that reflected just the right amount of moonlight to be called mesmerizing. Even his voice sounded firm yet seductive. But she knew he wasn't one of the good guys. Kiyoko looked to the man who sat beside her. Yet another gorgeous man but both looked so dangerous! She cowered to her own corner of the carriage, her eyes so frightened like a doe's.
" Ah, she is awake."
Before her, she could see these handsome mens' faces turn into a wolves' face, their eyes feasting on her present fear. Kiyoko tucked her head in shyly, her body shaking. Enishi laughed at her mockingly.
" I expected some kind of fiesty, fiery spirit. Not a docile, tamed kitten."
" I am far from docile when it comes to the likes of you threatening my life!"
Both men laughed at her meek threat. Kiyoko could see them filling up on her pettiness. It made her mad enough to jump from her seat and strike out at Enishi. Four scratches were graced upon Enishi's smooth cheek, and small, faint lines of blood leaking down. The smiling, easy-going attitude he first presented disappeared and was replaced by such a cold, hardened look that Kiyoko was afraid the man would strike her down. Tomoya wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her back into sitting position on the soft seat. Inside Kiyoko's heart raced as fast as a hummingbird's. The beast that sat across from her glared such an unnatural glare that it eradicated the defiance she just felt. Kiyoko tucked her head in tightly, squinting her eyes shut. Tomoya laughed and held her, keeping her warm.
" Never strike out at him, miss. Unless you wish for death."
Kiyoko's eyes met Enishi's frozen ones. It was as if he was telling her what kind of submission he expected from her.
" Let me tell you the rules, Miss Kiyoko. You will dare not to touch me, MUCH LESS strike at me. I expect total submission of your freedom to me. You will only speak when spoken to and you will not ever backtalk me! I've kidnapped you for reasons that you shouldn't ever try asking me about. All you will have to do for the duration of your stay in my household, is to shut up, stay locked in your room and do not bother me for anything. You hear me?"
" Yes, sir. I promise to follow all your rules."
Tomoya watched how quickly the girl submitted to Enishi. Who could blame her? Tomoya knew how heartless he himself was, but Enishi was far worse. He felt no emotion for anything nor anyone. The only thing he was concerned about was his quest to kill the Battousai. It didn't matter how many other people got killed or hurt in the process. As long as he knew it would complete his purpose, it was sufficient. Tomoya gave her a little tug with his arm around her.
" Get some more sleep, Kiyoko-san. It'll do you some good."