Chapter 9:
Kaoru awoke from her bed that morning, half asleep and half awake at the same time. She looked over to her left to see Kenshin laying, still stilling. Sighing, she removed the blanket that laid on her and unstuck herself from the bed. Getting up she went from her clothes and started dressing, quietly as possible. Kenshin was a light sleeper, so any noise that would normally not wake a drowsy man would probably end up with Kenshin seeing Kaoru half dressed again. When she was full clothed, she stepped out of the room and walked outside to start cooking breakfast for the others. Although her food was plain awful, most of them had gotten used to it. Kaoru pulled back the curtain that led outside and stopped when she saw Kai sitting there, bright red hair like her father sticking out wildly. The aroma of rice and fish was cooking…the scent lightly floating on top of air.
Kai turned her head, and smiled politely at her mother. "Good morning." Her eye sparkled for it being so early in the morning. Kaoru couldn't help keep a grin on her face, no one but Kenshin had ever gotten up to cook for her. That reminded her of when little Kai was born. She expected Kai to be more like her father, just because of the bright red hair that she had. It wasn't a surprise to her…and she couldn't have been anymore happier. But her happiness was interrupted when Sanoske lipped his lips right Kaoru's ear. Kaoru glared at him for a moment and whispered harshly to him. "You better have touch her or that concoction of Kai's until she's done." She stared at him for a moment. He only returned a blunt stare at her.
"Hey, I'm the one who brought her back. She should be thanking me with food. So should you and Kenshin." Sanoske whispered harshly back, narrowing his eyes. Kaoru snarled and stomped off past him. He only chuckled and skipped his way outside to Kai's side. Peering over her shoulder, Sanoske was about to take a good look into the pot till he felt a large pain erupt from the top of his head. He had never felt something that hurt more in his late life! After he got done wincing, he focused his eyes on a smirking Kai. "My mother told you that you weren't going to eat this until I was done." Removing the sheath, which was the object that had cause Sanoske so much pain, she placed it at her hip and planted herself in front of the pot once again.
"Humph. I told your mother that you three should be repaying me." Sanoske muttered. " Ah, Sano we are. Were letting you live here for free." Came a voice from inside. Sanoske cocked his head to see Kenshin laughing lightly. Rolling his eyes, Sanoske tromped back inside, past Kenshin. Kenshin closes the fold door as Sanoske got inside and stood there, gawking at the sky. Sighing, Kai released the spoon for her hand and turned her head to look at her father.
"What do you want?" She asked, suddenly sounding rude and cold.
Kenshin put his hand to his mouth, and coughed. He moved it away and looked at Kai with intense eyes. "What really happened to that girl's parents…? Her name…was…?"
Kai's shoulders got stiff, and her glare was icy now. "Kagome you mean? Her parents were murdered…just as I told you." She felt Kenshin's stare sting threw her chest and she cleared her throat in a attempt to make him stop. Surprisingly, he did and she felt like a ton was lifted off her shoulders.
" I'm your father Kai, that I am. But don't lie to me…" Kenshin paused for a moment just to check if anyone was around. "I heard the killer had a connection to the people…that the murderer happened to have red hair." He say Kai straighten up a bit, biting her bottom lip. "They found red hair at the scene Kai…"
"It doesn't mean it was me! I told you I was the one who found them dead!" Kai shouted, her glare getting weaker. Kenshin nodded his head.
"You were paid weren't you…? A fighter for hire, like Sanoske? The person who paid you wanted them dead because they were in on his black mail plan I heard…" Kenshin sighed and shook his head slightly. "He knew you were the best in town, out of men and women, and knew he could take advantage of your past and give you information that you didn't know. Didn't he?" He said, sounding very calm about the whole thing. Kai swallowed what breath she had left and nodded her head. Kenshin walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, holding Kai as tight as he could.
Kai sobbed and buried her face in her fathers chest, wanting to run away from the life she thought she had ruined. "I started over…" She choked out through her tears, shaking her head from left to right. "I want to start over…I wanna start over now." Kenshin held her a little tighter, rocking back and forth. "I know, we all do. Look, this one wanted you to tell the truth…I could see it in your eyes that you were lying to this one…" He cooed Kai to relaxation. "I think it'd be better if you went back to sleep, little one. I'll take care of this." He glanced at the steaming food and smirked slightly. "I used to make it with Hiko-sama all the time…" Unwrapping his arms from Kai, the girl set of for her room. She was quiet for the rest of the day, not wanting to talk or eat. She only allowed Kenshin into her room every now and then, but only if she felt like it.
"What's her problem?" Yahiko barked. Kaoru sighed. "It's for a good reason Yahiko, stop picking on her feelings. We can get sad sometimes to you know." Yahiko rolled his eyes at Kaoru's statement. "But she's a girl. Girls get more upset than guys." Yahiko puffed up his chest. "Guys are tough!"
Sanoske shook his head as Kaoru gave Yahiko a swift kick in the butt. Yahiko let out a loud yelp of pain and jumped in the air holding his rear end.
" YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO KICK SO HARD YOU KNOW!"
Sanoske muttered something under his breath. Yahiko was a impaitent child, and rather rube he had to admit. But he couldn't think about Yahiko at the moment, he was too busy thinking about what had happened between Kenshin and Kai that he didn't know. He was regretting leaving her alone...but Kenshin much have done something all that bad. He knew Kenshin too well, he wouldn't harm his daughter let alone a fly. Then a thought struck him. He used to be the Battousai...so...would Kenshin somehow change his ways to the way they used to be?