Finding Kenshin

Chapter 2

Kaoru felt something was wrong. Ever since she saw Okubo's body at the scene of the fire, she had been worrying about something just out of the range of her thought. The mutilated face of Okubo still haunted her mind, it was wrong that she had to meet the leading man of Japan at his horrible death. There was definitely something wrong.

"Extra extra! Okubo Toshimichi, minister of internal affairs dead! Extra extra!" The yell of the paperboy came from outside the walls. Kaoru turned and headed outside just in time to catch the paperboy as he passed by the front gate and bought a copy of the latest print. She hastily came back to the porch and sat down reading.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Okubo Toshimichi, was killed in a fire last night that occurred at the Ministry of Internal Affairs building. His body was discovered this morning amongst the rubble. No further information has surfaced concerning the causes of his death or the fire for that matter.

Okubo Toshimichi is the leader of Japanese politics…

Kaoru dropped the paper on the porch beside her and stood as the gates opened and Kenshin walked in, looking exhausted. His smooth face had layers of dust on them and his red hair was also tinted gray. The hakama and gi were in bad shape, the fire seared the edges and even his shoes were charred.

Without looking up, his eyes hidden by his deep-red bangs, Kenshin padded over to the well. Finding no water bucket, he turned his gaze up and scanned the courtyard.

"I took the bucket to help with the fire last night." Kaoru began tentatively as she started towards Kenshin. "I must have forgotten it back by the river." Kenshin knows something; he is never this gloomy. He definitely knows something.

"Kaoru-dono, you shouldn't have went to fight the fire, it was dangerous." Kenshin's face was devoid of the usual grin that plastered his face, but his manner of protecting everyone around him still persisted. "Next time, please stay here, where it's safe."

"Kenshin," Kaoru interrupted, "I saw Okubo's body." Kenshin stopped and turned his full attention onto Kaoru. "What's going on Kenshin?" The redheaded swordsman didn't reply, instead he strolled past Kaoru and took a seat on the porch where Kaoru was sitting minutes ago. He spotted the newspaper and picked it up.

She walked back to the porch and sat down beside Kenshin, who was reading the article of Okubo with intent. She noticed that his eyes were narrowed they skipped over the page almost frantically.

They sat in silence as time passed.

"Kenshin," Kaoru began, "something is wrong isn't there?" Her boarder tensed slightly, "something is wrong with Okubo's death." She confirmed, and then they were back to sitting in silence.

"Kaoru-dono, Okubo-dono's death is certainly unfortunate for the Meiji government. But there is no reason to believe that there is anything wrong." Kenshin mustered the trademark smile back onto his face. And that was the end of that.

The sunset in Yokohama harbor cast a brilliant hue of orange across the land as sailors hustled to get the day's work done.

The most popular restaurant in Yokohama was just beginning to get into its nightly rush hour. The doors to a private booth opened and a man dressed in strange clothing foreign to Japan walked in and kneeled down in front of his acquaintance.

"You may leave," the man who ordered the booth dismissed the server with a flick of the wrist, leaving him and the newcomer alone.

After the sliding paper doors closed behind the server, the man poured some sake into a small dish and raised it to the newcomer. "Welcome to Yokohama, Yukishiro-san."

The newcomer named Yukishiro poured himself some sake and raised it to the host, "it's been 4 years since I've left Japan, it's good to be back and supplying all the goods that he needs to the man who will topple the Meiji government, Shishio-san." They stared into each other's eyes for a moment before downing their respective cups.

The night had already fallen over Tokyo and most of the city was asleep. Kenshin carefully slipped out of his room and tip toed onto the porch where he sat down and put on his sandals.

"And just where are you going?"

"ORO!" The redhead whipped his head towards the direction of the voice, and Kaoru stood there, boken in hand. "Mi… miss Kaoru, this one was… oro, this one was just about to go on a nightly stroll that I was!" He began to back away as Kaoru walked closer. She was expecting him to leave tonight!

"Kenshin, I KNOW that you are up to something, you are always up to something. This time it is related to Okubo-san's death, now I need you to come clean with me. Where are you going and what are you going to do?" Kaoru said with a certain hint of menace as she brought the boken close to Kenshin's head.

"Kaoru-dono, this one shouldn't have lied to you," Kenshin said, deciding to come clean, and keeping his innocent grin plastered on his face, "this one was about to go pay a visit to Owaji-san and ask him few questions that was all."

"Owaji? Who is Owaji?"

"Owaji is Okubo-dono's butler that he is, this one wanted to help him get over his grief of Okubo-dono, he was very loyal to Okubo that he was." Kenshin stood up, ready to leave.

"Okay fine, I'll take your word for it, but if I suspect anything, then I will go to Okubo's mansion and find you myself!" Kaoru blurted the last part while waving her ever-present boken in the semi-panicked face of Kenshin. She suddenly stepped closer and whispered in a low tone, "Do we have an understanding?"

"Yes m'am!"

Kenshin was out the door before Kaoru could harass him any further.

Battousai

Kaoru is too sharp, she even waited out for me tonight, I'd have to be more careful and check for her Ki next time. God knows I can't handle any of her harassment sessions without breaking down. :sigh:

You fought a Bakumatsu, only to be harassed by a girl; do I see something wrong in that?

I cut off all thoughts and focused as I approached the dark, looming silhouette of Okubo's mansion. Lush forests and a great courtyard surrounded it. I could just hear the soft trickling of the fountains as I came closer. The wide path beneath my feet was paved with large and elegant stones and the tracks of many western cars were apparent on them. Okubo was in the lap of luxury, it's ironic that he was also one of the less corrupt officials in the Meiji government today. Losing him was a tragedy for the nation.

I stopped in my tracks as I saw a small light up ahead, wavering a few meters inside the iron gates. Upon further investigation, it was a lantern hung on a carriage, and the gates were partially open. The carriage was parked beside a small house; it was most likely Owaji's house. I strayed further to the right near the tree line where I would be less visible. There was no reason to utilize stealth, but in these situations, I tend to revert back to my instincts.

I could hear impatient knocks when I was within hearing range of the gate. So Owaji has a visitor. There was something unusual about this that I can't put my fingers on, I stooped to the ground and brought my right ear close to the floor. The hollow sound of footsteps came to me in an instant. There were 3 people outside Owaji's house, and there were two horses, most likely towing the carriage. I heard the front door swing open and sat back up into a kneeling position.

"Kanryuu!" I first heard the surprised greeting by Owaji, then his dark figure stepped out of the house and looked around, checking if anyone was around. "Kanryuu! What are you doing here?" He said after finding no one, stealth seems to have been a good choice.

"Owaji-san," a tall figure stepped forward from the three people in front of Owaji and said slyly, "I'm glad that our plan has succeeded. Please expect a decent reward because of your hard work." He sniggered.

"Kanryuu!" Owaji stepped closer as if in urgency, ignoring what the taller man had just said, "you can't come here like this. They suspect that I have something to do with Okubo. Battousai knows something, they'll keep an eye on me, don't come here anymore!"

"Oh?" Kanryuu brought a hand to his chin and thought for a moment, "you said Battousai? I did not know that he was in Edo. Maybe I can pay him as my bodyguard."

"NO!" Owaji reached up and grabbed Kanryuu's collar, "are you insane! He will destroy us all! It is bad enough that you tricked me into this! Now just leave me alone!" He finished by forcefully pushing Kanryuu away, who was grabbed by one guard as the other stepped forward in an aggressive gesture.

"No," Kanryuu stopped his guard from burying his fist into Owaji's face and stepped forward once again. "Owaji," he peered down at the shorter man intently, slightly bowing forward, hands at the hips. "You are one of us now," he said menacingly, "YOU killed Okubo, if it wasn't for YOU, we would have NEVER been able to get close enough to him, you have no way out now!"

Owaji stood for a second, shocked. "You, you bastard, you wouldn't…"

"And who would stop us from confessing your name to the police?" Kanryuu chuckled as Owaji backed away, trembling, "now, I would like to see better behavior from you next time we meet." He turned around and stepped back into the carriage. His two bodyguards followed moments after.

Owaji's figure stood, unsure of what to do as the carriage turned around and drove away.

I stepped back into the foliage as the carriage drove past me, my initial hunch was correct. Okubo was murdered.

Paying a visit to the police would be my top priority tonight.

I stepped back out and turned around, away from Okubo's mansion, I had heard enough to form my course of action tonight.

This man named Kanryuu is not alone; a more powerful man backs him. I'd have to track him until I find the mastermind and reason behind the murder of Okubo-dono. My time is limited before the Meiji government collapses. The only way to save it is to get to the bottom of this scheme.

Either way, they must all be stopped before it's too late.

Author's note: there's chapter 2 for you all, write a review for me, come on, don't be lazy, you know you can do it.