Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, DUH!
Chapter 9
But I thought…
Kaoru didn't know where she was heading. Kaoru had gone down the long wide hallways of the mansion in search of Misao. She needed a shoulder to cry on and she was sure that Misao would understand. She just had to get away from Kenshin. She couldn't stand for anyone to see her cry. Especially him. Kaoru collided with Misao and the impact made her lose her balance and land backwards on the floor. Misao caught herself before she followed the same pattern.
"Kaoru? What's wrong?" stated Misao upon recognizing Kaoru who was spraddled on the floor.
Kaoru rose up on her elbows and looked up at Misao with fresh tears in her eyes. She started to speak but her tears overwhelmed her and she immediately broke down into sobs.
"Oh Kaoru!" Exclaimed a concerned Misao who knelt beside the weeping girl. She knew the cause of Kaoru's distress. She had hoped her brother would have handled the situation with a little more finesse.
"Come on, let's get you up off of this floor. Come on," said Misao as she helped Kaoru back up and lead the young woman to her own quarters.
Once inside, Misao closed the door and brought a white silk cloth for Kaoru to dry her eyes with.
"I can't use this, it's too nice not to mention too expensive," said Kaoru as she tried to hand Misao back the silk cloth.
"Nonsense. It's not that much," said Misao as she waved her hand through the air.
"What happened Kaoru?" asked Misao concerned as she gently squeezed Kaoru's hand.
"Kenshin told me that he didn't wish to marry me, and that he never intended to," cried Kaoru in between sobs.
"I'm sure that's not what he meant to say," said Misao.
"I know my brother and I know that he cares for you deeply Kaoru. Just give him some time. He probably thinks that you do not wish to marry him."
"Why would he think that?" Asked Kaoru.
"Have you told him how you feel about him?"
Kaoru pondered that question for a while. She had not even revealed her feelings about Kenshin to herself let alone to him. Did she love him? In the short time that they spent together could someone fall in love?
Yes, she did love Kenshin. Kaoru Kamiya loved Kenshin Himura.
Kaoru Kamiya was going to be Kaoru Himura. She promised, and she never broke a promise.
Kaoru looked at Misao and smiled through her tears.
"You know Misao. You are a great friend, and you're going to be an even greater sister."
Misao laughed.
"DUH! I already know this."
Both women laughed and hugged.
************ ************ ************** ****************** **************
Kenshin sat in the kitchen while the food was being prepared for the celebration with an ice pack held up to his left cheek which was swollen from Kaoru's punch.
Aoshi had teased him about it ever since it had happened. The celebration would kick off in less than an hour and Kenshin feared that tonight would be the night that he would be attacked. He tried to keep his thoughts clear and focused but they kept coming back to Kaoru. He had thought that once that they had cleared up their situation and talked that he could focus. Now it was much worse.
Aoshi, grandfather and the Oniwabanshuu were all on high alert. They had spies in the surrounding city and forests. He had to meet with Okina, Aoshi and the other members of the Oniwabanshuu group one more time before the celebration. He had considered calling it off, but chose not to do since who ever it was might become suspicious. He wanted to proceed as usual to give his attacker the false sense that Kenshin would have his guard down.
He placed the ice pack down and left the kitchen heading towards Okina.
************ **************** ******************* *********************
"What's wrong love, don't you remember me?
Kamatari just stared in silence at the man who stood before him.
"Makoto Shishio," he said with a slight edge to his voice.
"Yes," he said as he tried to kiss Kamatari who pulled away.
"The time for you and I has come and gone. Leave me alone, before I make you wish you had," said Kamatari as he backed away and turned to leave the dark alley.
"Don't tell me that you are still in love with that manslayer? I am a manslayer too."
"Oh, but there is such a huge difference," said Kamatari as he turned back around to regard Shishio.
"Why couldn't you just love me Kamatari? What happened to us?"
"You happened. Your cruelty, your lies, your indiscretions. You hurt me so many times. Each time I had to pull myself out of an even greater hole, and I'm tired of it. I thought that you were what I wanted, but I was wrong. Goodbye Shishio."
Kamatari turned to walk away from him.
"You'll come back."
"Wait for it," said Kamatari as he continued to walk away.
Shishio watched the cause of his apparent distress casually walk away from him like it was nothing. They had shared so much together and now Kamatari had treated it like it was nothing more than the dirt that they walked upon. Once he had his revenge, then Kamatari would see. Kamatari WOULD come back to him. He would come back once he realized that they were meant to be together. He turned to finish out the last of his plan. Tonight's the night, he thought as he merged with the shadows and disappeared.
Kamatari walked away from Shishio on full alert. He didn't know if Shishio would try to kill him or not. He kept his guard up and silently wondered why Shishio had shown up tonight. Kamatari had not had contact with him since the last time they met which was over eight months ago. Shishio had taken a job to become the new manslayer for the Meiji government and every since then, he had changed. Things had changed between them. Shishio was colder and he had often lashed out against Kamatari. Kamatari felt as if the person that he had fallen in love with had now become a stranger.
Kamatari did not feel Shishio follow him so he immediately tried to go to his quarters that were stationed within the town and collided with something soft.
He looked down just in time to see a petite girl fall backwards from their impact. He stopped her descent by grabbing her hand and pulled her close so that she could regain her balance.
"Thanks. I apologize for not watching where I was going," she said as she looked up into Kamatari's eyes and smiled.
Kamatari felt his heart stop. He continued to stare at her as she returned his stare smiling. She was absolutely breathtaking. She had dark brown hair and dark brown eyes from what he could tell from the light of the moon and the lanterns that were hanging outside. He had never been taken by a woman before. Sure, he had liked beautiful woman because they were beautiful but never like this.
She looked at him confused as he continued to stare at her with a shocked expression on his face.
"Umm, are you ok miss?" She asked Kamatari.
Miss? Why the hell would she call me that? Kamatari then realized that he was wearing a Kimono in full dress and that he did look like woman.
"I'm ok," he replied sweetly.
"I haven't seen you around. Do you live here in the village?" She asked.
"I live on the outskirts, how about you?"
"I live here in the village with my aunt. I'm sorry I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Okenese," she replied as she bowed.
"My name is Kamatari," he said as he bowed as well.
"Will you be attending the festival tonight?"
"Yes," she simply stated.
"Alright, Kamatari. It was nice meeting you," she said cheerfully as she turned to leave. "Maybe I will see you at the festival?"
" Yes, you will. Nice meeting you too," Kamatari yelled to her departing figure.
Kamatari stared at the place where she had last left the capacity of his sight and sighed. He turned to hurry home and prepare for the festival with the thoughts of the young woman name Okinese on his mind.
************** ************************* **************************** ******************
Kenshin met with Okina, Aoshi Shinomori and the rest of the Oniwabanshu in their secret meeting place which was a room hidden from the rest of the mansion. The medium sized room was dimly lit with two small lanterns and everyone was cast in shadow. Everyone was in attendance as they reviewed the plan.
Spies were all over the city. It had been reported that Kamatari had had a visitor who had snatched him into a dark alley. Some minutes later, Kamatari had emerged unscathed and had went home afterward bumping into one of the villagers.
"I don't believe that Kamatari would do such a thing to me," stated Kenshin. Kamatari had done a lot of things but Kenshin did not believe that the man would have constructed a plan like this. If Kamatari wanted him for himself then he wouldn't have sent him to kidnap Kaoru. He would not have allowed a woman to get in his way.
"Who contacted you about kidnapping Kaoru?" Asked Aoshi.
"One of our secret spies," stated Kenshin.
"How do you know that this was a spy of yours?"
"He knew all of the secret places and phrased that we use to identify one another. I had no reason to suspect otherwise."
"Then the culprit in all of this is one of your own."
"I had already come to that conclusion. I first realized that when the two men were sent to the island. I was the only one who knew of that island but I remember that I had told the man whom had given me orders to kidnap Kaoru. Only he knew that I would have been on the island with Kaoru. I also realized that the guards that were killed at Masayo's castle had to be killed by that individual as well since the only people who knew when I would strike that night were myself and the individual who had given me the assignment. Only someone within the government would have also known that the top three ranking officials were meeting that day and then slaughtered them. What I have not realized is the motive behind this. Why was I sent to kidnap Kaoru? What part does she play in all of this?"
"Do you have a clue as to who it might be?" Asked Okina and he rubbed the hair of his beard.
"Unfortunately, no. I have considered a few names in my head, but as I stated before, I do not know what the motive is. We all should be on extra guard tonight. Check anything that looks out of place or anyone that you have not seen before. If I was going to attack I would attack tonight. The celebration would serve as a great cover."
All who were in attendance nodded and left the room except Kenshin, Aoshi and Okina.
The three men waited until all warriors left the room before they resumed their own conversation.
"I was going to announce Kaoru and your engagement tonight Kenshin. Do you think that would be wise?" Asked Okina.
Kenshin's eyes widened and his heart began to speed up suddenly.
"Our engagement?" He asked dumbfounded. He thought that he had taken care of that. Kaoru didn't want to marry him. Did she? He still did not understand why she punched him through the door. Just when he thought he had women figured out, they did something like this to completely confuse him. He was impressed by the force behind her punch. She even hit harder than Misao.
Okina continued to rub his beard. "Yes, your engagement. You are a very lucky man Kenshin. Kaoru is the best thing that has come out of this disaster. I haven't met her yet, but I heard that she is beautiful beyond compare and that she cares for you deeply. It would be a shame to let a woman like that get away."
Kenshin pondered Okina's words. She cared for him deeply?
Okina sighed heavily when Kenshin did not respond. "Kenshin I swear. I can't help but to think that maybe you've taken a few too many bumps on the head in your training with your master. No one can be this dense," Okina finished.
Then Okina looked over at Aoshi who was standing next to him and sighed again. "I take that back."
"What's that suppose to mean Okina?" asked Aoshi as his ice blue eyes narrowed.
"Never mind that. I am focusing on Kenshin right now. I will get to you later."
"Kenshin, how do you feel about Kaoru?" asked Okina.
Kenshin pondered his feelings again for her. How did he feel?
"If she was to leave right at this moment and you were to never hear from her again-how would that make you feel?"
Kenshin realized that it would hurt him if Kaoru left. He had become used to seeing her beautiful bright eyes and her sunny smile that stopped his heart. Her sweet fragrance, the way she felt in his arms.
"How would you feel if she died?"
Kenshin felt his stomach drop and his heart hurt. It was then that he realized that he was in love with Kaoru. The last time he felt this way, was ten years ago. Did he want to go through that again?
Okina saw where Kenshin's line of thought was leading and stopped him before he could go any further.
"Kaoru and Tomoe are two different people. What happened between you and your first wife will not happen again. That was a different situation, a different time and a different you. You are not the same Kenshin that fought back then. Please Kenshin, allow yourself and someone else happiness for once."
Kenshin stood up, smiled sadly and left the room, leaving Okina and Aoshi staring after him.
"Now, what was this about me being dense?" Asked Aoshi to Okina.
Okina just sighed heavily and continued to rub his beard. He silently prayed that Kenshin would follow his heart.
*************** ********************** ************************* **********************
The celebration was starting in an about twenty minutes as Kaoru and Misao had both donned beautiful kimonos. Kaoru was wearing a yellow silk kimono and Misao was wearing a pink silk kimono.
Misao and Kaoru had discussed Kenshin and Aoshi for quite a while and they both had decided that a full frontal assault of confessing their feelings to each man was needed.
"Ready?" Misao asked Kaoru as she opened the door to her bedroom.
"Ready." Stated Kaoru as she followed.
******************* *********************** ********************* *************************
Shishio remained in the shadows as he watched the crowds of people head to the mansion. Tonight he would get his revenge. Tonight he would finally put an end to the man known as Hitokiri Battousai. Tonight he would kill Kenshin Himura.
****************** ************************* *************************************
Two more chaps to go!!
Once again thanks for the reviews guys. I have really enjoyed writing this story and I am glad that you have all enjoyed reading it.
Shady!!
Chapter 9
But I thought…
Kaoru didn't know where she was heading. Kaoru had gone down the long wide hallways of the mansion in search of Misao. She needed a shoulder to cry on and she was sure that Misao would understand. She just had to get away from Kenshin. She couldn't stand for anyone to see her cry. Especially him. Kaoru collided with Misao and the impact made her lose her balance and land backwards on the floor. Misao caught herself before she followed the same pattern.
"Kaoru? What's wrong?" stated Misao upon recognizing Kaoru who was spraddled on the floor.
Kaoru rose up on her elbows and looked up at Misao with fresh tears in her eyes. She started to speak but her tears overwhelmed her and she immediately broke down into sobs.
"Oh Kaoru!" Exclaimed a concerned Misao who knelt beside the weeping girl. She knew the cause of Kaoru's distress. She had hoped her brother would have handled the situation with a little more finesse.
"Come on, let's get you up off of this floor. Come on," said Misao as she helped Kaoru back up and lead the young woman to her own quarters.
Once inside, Misao closed the door and brought a white silk cloth for Kaoru to dry her eyes with.
"I can't use this, it's too nice not to mention too expensive," said Kaoru as she tried to hand Misao back the silk cloth.
"Nonsense. It's not that much," said Misao as she waved her hand through the air.
"What happened Kaoru?" asked Misao concerned as she gently squeezed Kaoru's hand.
"Kenshin told me that he didn't wish to marry me, and that he never intended to," cried Kaoru in between sobs.
"I'm sure that's not what he meant to say," said Misao.
"I know my brother and I know that he cares for you deeply Kaoru. Just give him some time. He probably thinks that you do not wish to marry him."
"Why would he think that?" Asked Kaoru.
"Have you told him how you feel about him?"
Kaoru pondered that question for a while. She had not even revealed her feelings about Kenshin to herself let alone to him. Did she love him? In the short time that they spent together could someone fall in love?
Yes, she did love Kenshin. Kaoru Kamiya loved Kenshin Himura.
Kaoru Kamiya was going to be Kaoru Himura. She promised, and she never broke a promise.
Kaoru looked at Misao and smiled through her tears.
"You know Misao. You are a great friend, and you're going to be an even greater sister."
Misao laughed.
"DUH! I already know this."
Both women laughed and hugged.
************ ************ ************** ****************** **************
Kenshin sat in the kitchen while the food was being prepared for the celebration with an ice pack held up to his left cheek which was swollen from Kaoru's punch.
Aoshi had teased him about it ever since it had happened. The celebration would kick off in less than an hour and Kenshin feared that tonight would be the night that he would be attacked. He tried to keep his thoughts clear and focused but they kept coming back to Kaoru. He had thought that once that they had cleared up their situation and talked that he could focus. Now it was much worse.
Aoshi, grandfather and the Oniwabanshuu were all on high alert. They had spies in the surrounding city and forests. He had to meet with Okina, Aoshi and the other members of the Oniwabanshuu group one more time before the celebration. He had considered calling it off, but chose not to do since who ever it was might become suspicious. He wanted to proceed as usual to give his attacker the false sense that Kenshin would have his guard down.
He placed the ice pack down and left the kitchen heading towards Okina.
************ **************** ******************* *********************
"What's wrong love, don't you remember me?
Kamatari just stared in silence at the man who stood before him.
"Makoto Shishio," he said with a slight edge to his voice.
"Yes," he said as he tried to kiss Kamatari who pulled away.
"The time for you and I has come and gone. Leave me alone, before I make you wish you had," said Kamatari as he backed away and turned to leave the dark alley.
"Don't tell me that you are still in love with that manslayer? I am a manslayer too."
"Oh, but there is such a huge difference," said Kamatari as he turned back around to regard Shishio.
"Why couldn't you just love me Kamatari? What happened to us?"
"You happened. Your cruelty, your lies, your indiscretions. You hurt me so many times. Each time I had to pull myself out of an even greater hole, and I'm tired of it. I thought that you were what I wanted, but I was wrong. Goodbye Shishio."
Kamatari turned to walk away from him.
"You'll come back."
"Wait for it," said Kamatari as he continued to walk away.
Shishio watched the cause of his apparent distress casually walk away from him like it was nothing. They had shared so much together and now Kamatari had treated it like it was nothing more than the dirt that they walked upon. Once he had his revenge, then Kamatari would see. Kamatari WOULD come back to him. He would come back once he realized that they were meant to be together. He turned to finish out the last of his plan. Tonight's the night, he thought as he merged with the shadows and disappeared.
Kamatari walked away from Shishio on full alert. He didn't know if Shishio would try to kill him or not. He kept his guard up and silently wondered why Shishio had shown up tonight. Kamatari had not had contact with him since the last time they met which was over eight months ago. Shishio had taken a job to become the new manslayer for the Meiji government and every since then, he had changed. Things had changed between them. Shishio was colder and he had often lashed out against Kamatari. Kamatari felt as if the person that he had fallen in love with had now become a stranger.
Kamatari did not feel Shishio follow him so he immediately tried to go to his quarters that were stationed within the town and collided with something soft.
He looked down just in time to see a petite girl fall backwards from their impact. He stopped her descent by grabbing her hand and pulled her close so that she could regain her balance.
"Thanks. I apologize for not watching where I was going," she said as she looked up into Kamatari's eyes and smiled.
Kamatari felt his heart stop. He continued to stare at her as she returned his stare smiling. She was absolutely breathtaking. She had dark brown hair and dark brown eyes from what he could tell from the light of the moon and the lanterns that were hanging outside. He had never been taken by a woman before. Sure, he had liked beautiful woman because they were beautiful but never like this.
She looked at him confused as he continued to stare at her with a shocked expression on his face.
"Umm, are you ok miss?" She asked Kamatari.
Miss? Why the hell would she call me that? Kamatari then realized that he was wearing a Kimono in full dress and that he did look like woman.
"I'm ok," he replied sweetly.
"I haven't seen you around. Do you live here in the village?" She asked.
"I live on the outskirts, how about you?"
"I live here in the village with my aunt. I'm sorry I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Okenese," she replied as she bowed.
"My name is Kamatari," he said as he bowed as well.
"Will you be attending the festival tonight?"
"Yes," she simply stated.
"Alright, Kamatari. It was nice meeting you," she said cheerfully as she turned to leave. "Maybe I will see you at the festival?"
" Yes, you will. Nice meeting you too," Kamatari yelled to her departing figure.
Kamatari stared at the place where she had last left the capacity of his sight and sighed. He turned to hurry home and prepare for the festival with the thoughts of the young woman name Okinese on his mind.
************** ************************* **************************** ******************
Kenshin met with Okina, Aoshi Shinomori and the rest of the Oniwabanshu in their secret meeting place which was a room hidden from the rest of the mansion. The medium sized room was dimly lit with two small lanterns and everyone was cast in shadow. Everyone was in attendance as they reviewed the plan.
Spies were all over the city. It had been reported that Kamatari had had a visitor who had snatched him into a dark alley. Some minutes later, Kamatari had emerged unscathed and had went home afterward bumping into one of the villagers.
"I don't believe that Kamatari would do such a thing to me," stated Kenshin. Kamatari had done a lot of things but Kenshin did not believe that the man would have constructed a plan like this. If Kamatari wanted him for himself then he wouldn't have sent him to kidnap Kaoru. He would not have allowed a woman to get in his way.
"Who contacted you about kidnapping Kaoru?" Asked Aoshi.
"One of our secret spies," stated Kenshin.
"How do you know that this was a spy of yours?"
"He knew all of the secret places and phrased that we use to identify one another. I had no reason to suspect otherwise."
"Then the culprit in all of this is one of your own."
"I had already come to that conclusion. I first realized that when the two men were sent to the island. I was the only one who knew of that island but I remember that I had told the man whom had given me orders to kidnap Kaoru. Only he knew that I would have been on the island with Kaoru. I also realized that the guards that were killed at Masayo's castle had to be killed by that individual as well since the only people who knew when I would strike that night were myself and the individual who had given me the assignment. Only someone within the government would have also known that the top three ranking officials were meeting that day and then slaughtered them. What I have not realized is the motive behind this. Why was I sent to kidnap Kaoru? What part does she play in all of this?"
"Do you have a clue as to who it might be?" Asked Okina and he rubbed the hair of his beard.
"Unfortunately, no. I have considered a few names in my head, but as I stated before, I do not know what the motive is. We all should be on extra guard tonight. Check anything that looks out of place or anyone that you have not seen before. If I was going to attack I would attack tonight. The celebration would serve as a great cover."
All who were in attendance nodded and left the room except Kenshin, Aoshi and Okina.
The three men waited until all warriors left the room before they resumed their own conversation.
"I was going to announce Kaoru and your engagement tonight Kenshin. Do you think that would be wise?" Asked Okina.
Kenshin's eyes widened and his heart began to speed up suddenly.
"Our engagement?" He asked dumbfounded. He thought that he had taken care of that. Kaoru didn't want to marry him. Did she? He still did not understand why she punched him through the door. Just when he thought he had women figured out, they did something like this to completely confuse him. He was impressed by the force behind her punch. She even hit harder than Misao.
Okina continued to rub his beard. "Yes, your engagement. You are a very lucky man Kenshin. Kaoru is the best thing that has come out of this disaster. I haven't met her yet, but I heard that she is beautiful beyond compare and that she cares for you deeply. It would be a shame to let a woman like that get away."
Kenshin pondered Okina's words. She cared for him deeply?
Okina sighed heavily when Kenshin did not respond. "Kenshin I swear. I can't help but to think that maybe you've taken a few too many bumps on the head in your training with your master. No one can be this dense," Okina finished.
Then Okina looked over at Aoshi who was standing next to him and sighed again. "I take that back."
"What's that suppose to mean Okina?" asked Aoshi as his ice blue eyes narrowed.
"Never mind that. I am focusing on Kenshin right now. I will get to you later."
"Kenshin, how do you feel about Kaoru?" asked Okina.
Kenshin pondered his feelings again for her. How did he feel?
"If she was to leave right at this moment and you were to never hear from her again-how would that make you feel?"
Kenshin realized that it would hurt him if Kaoru left. He had become used to seeing her beautiful bright eyes and her sunny smile that stopped his heart. Her sweet fragrance, the way she felt in his arms.
"How would you feel if she died?"
Kenshin felt his stomach drop and his heart hurt. It was then that he realized that he was in love with Kaoru. The last time he felt this way, was ten years ago. Did he want to go through that again?
Okina saw where Kenshin's line of thought was leading and stopped him before he could go any further.
"Kaoru and Tomoe are two different people. What happened between you and your first wife will not happen again. That was a different situation, a different time and a different you. You are not the same Kenshin that fought back then. Please Kenshin, allow yourself and someone else happiness for once."
Kenshin stood up, smiled sadly and left the room, leaving Okina and Aoshi staring after him.
"Now, what was this about me being dense?" Asked Aoshi to Okina.
Okina just sighed heavily and continued to rub his beard. He silently prayed that Kenshin would follow his heart.
*************** ********************** ************************* **********************
The celebration was starting in an about twenty minutes as Kaoru and Misao had both donned beautiful kimonos. Kaoru was wearing a yellow silk kimono and Misao was wearing a pink silk kimono.
Misao and Kaoru had discussed Kenshin and Aoshi for quite a while and they both had decided that a full frontal assault of confessing their feelings to each man was needed.
"Ready?" Misao asked Kaoru as she opened the door to her bedroom.
"Ready." Stated Kaoru as she followed.
******************* *********************** ********************* *************************
Shishio remained in the shadows as he watched the crowds of people head to the mansion. Tonight he would get his revenge. Tonight he would finally put an end to the man known as Hitokiri Battousai. Tonight he would kill Kenshin Himura.
****************** ************************* *************************************
Two more chaps to go!!
Once again thanks for the reviews guys. I have really enjoyed writing this story and I am glad that you have all enjoyed reading it.
Shady!!