AN: Ermm…I don't have any as of the moment.
Special Thanks to the following who reviewed:
half-breed-demon-fox; areil; hotohori; himesama16; kik-ting; NARGIEGIRL21; Mini-Oro-Kenji-Himura; Rochelle; Ginny-cry; Brittanie Love; 00!!; Krissy8; Angel of lonelyness; Candycorn Anime; hi!; pnaixrose; Alea Seikou; kaoru kamiya; Scarlet Heir; ghettotaku; sc gurl; velvet ink; ariel; ayame
Upon A Raven's Plight
Chapter three: Preparations
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A mild breeze began to pick up; destroying the still tranquility of the forest's edge.
Kaoru tucked a loose raven strand behind her ear. Idly, she lifted her slender legs dangling from the side and spread them out on the long branch of the tree she was sitting on.
With her sword leaning against the tree's trunk besides her; Kaoru dug out the golden pocket watch Hoshi gave her.
Dark slender eyebrows narrowed in slight annoyance as she glanced at the time. Heaving an exasperated sigh, the raven-haired young woman tucked the golden apparatus back into the folds of her gi.
Kaoru frowned as she stared at the dusty but smooth path below her…the result of years of usage. The look on her face was something akin to slight anger and irritation.
He's late.
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Thundering hooves trampled the ground as the horses pulled the carriage along with them as they ran; leaving behind small puffs of dust at their wake.
A yelp was heard as one of the vehicle's wheels rolled over a particularly uneven rock. A head soon popped out of the carriage's window as a masculine voice called out.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!" The male passenger scolded the driver before he put his head back in; not bothering to hear the driver's reply.
"Stupid good-for-nothing lazy bums." The man muttered out to himself as he leant once more on the soft fabric of his seat.
Turning a cold glare at the other person – another male – sitting across from him; he grumbled out an order.
"Get outside and do your job like you're supposed to."
With this; he then pointed a finger out at the door. The other man merely got up and did as he was told; using his years of training to climb up to the driver's seat without hassle.
However; as soon as he took a seat besides the coach driver; the man voiced out.
"Make sure to hit all the potholes; small rocks and dead twigs you can find."
The driver merely let out a howl of laughter in reply.
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Kaoru was leaning against the trunk with her eyes close when her sensitive ears picked up the sound of horses' whinnies.
She snapped her eyes opened and her sharp gaze took on the sight of a lone carriage riding down the hill and heading towards the spot where she was currently at.
A small smirk made its' way to her lips as the nineteen year old grasped her sword.
Camouflaged within the tree's musky leaves; the raven-haired young woman got into a crouched position and watched as the horse-drawn vehicle came closer and closer.
A slight 'click' was heard as Kaoru pushed up her katana by the hilt from its sheath; ridding herself of any hinders that might slow down her assignment.
Lush pink lips twitched into a half-smile as the owner waited with unstrained patience.
It's show time.
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(Note: This part is based on both Kaoru's and the man's POV. Take note that the man doesn't know that Kaoru's a 'she' and will instead refer to her as a 'he'. Gets?)
The arrogant man looked up from his clenched hands as the carriage's door swooshed opened.
A deep frown set upon his face; he made a move to stand up when a streak of silver flashed before his eyes and soon he found himself the recipient of the cold steel blade of a katana pressed against his throat.
His eyes drifted up and his face paled as he noted who was holding the katana.
Kaoru smiled at the man before her; masking her deep disgust with such perfection that would made the most skilled actors tremble with envy.
"Anno…Do you remember me Soushi-san?" She asked delightfully; like she was talking to a long-lost friend.
He's not that stupid. Soushi knew that underneath that soft and feminine-like voice lays a silent, swift and merciless killer.
And truth be told; he was scared shitless of the seemingly-lanky man before him.
"Nani?! How did you manage to enter without my guards knowing?"
To say that he was shocked was an understatement. The men he hired from the police were said to be the best after all
"Oh, those armed men outside? It's quite simple really but I doubt that you would understand." She replied.
"Humor me."
Soushi said this with a brave face but the slight tremble in his voice proved otherwise.
Kaoru smiled. "Well you see; I merely blinded them temporarily with the use of a certain instrument. And well, you know the rest." She answered.
When he didn't reply; the raven-haired youth simply flashed him another smile.
"Oh, and don't even think about shouting for help. I could slice your whole head off before you could get a single letter out."
Regardless of the contents of the sentence; the young man said it with such cheerfulness that Soushi couldn't help but shudder with fear.
Kaoru ignored the visible shiver emitting in the man's body and continued.
"I don't have time for silly and evasive conversations so I'll get straight to the point."
Her sapphire eyes suddenly narrowed and all traces of amusement vanished from her features.
"Soushi Takeshino; do you have the money?" She asked bluntly.
Soushi didn't answer immediately. Instead; he took out a white handkerchief from the pockets of his Western business suit and proceeded to wipe his plump face with it.
After a few moments of silence; Soushi finally spoke out. Mainly because the blade resting against his throat pressed harder; drawing a small red line of blood across his skin.
"I…I don't have it." He stuttered; barely able to speak out the words.
Who wouldn't when you have an infamous hitokiri standing before you with silvery-sapphire flames for eyes?
Like the squealing, pathetic loser that he is; Soushi began to blurt out words that were half-illegible to understand.
"But I promise that I'll pay them back….Just give me another chance…Please!"
Suddenly the pressure was gone from his throat and Soushi heaved a sigh of relief as he saw the raven-haired man withdrawing his katana.
Soushi was both glad and grateful that the youth before him had closed his blazing and fearful eyes.
"Is that so?" The young man before him muttered out.
Soushi nodded his head even though he knew that the hitokiri before him couldn't see it.
CHUG!
Blood coughed out from his mouth as Soushi glanced down at the katana embedded in his chest; piercing his heart.
He pressed a hand to the sword's blade uselessly as he looked up to gaze into emotionless silver eyes.
"Bastard." He managed to choke out in between hallowed breaths.
Kaoru merely smirked in response as she held the dying man's gaze.
"Say 'hi' to your friend Tomukito Okiyo for me when you meet him in Hell." She said casually.
She paused. Then a bright smile suddenly lightened up her pale face.
"Oh, and before I forget. I'm not a bastard. I'm a bitch." Kaoru added.
Soushi's eyes widened in shock for a moment before they turned glassy as his body failed on him and he died.
Wordlessly; Kaoru eased out her sword from the bloodied corpse and leaped off from the carriage as silently and flawlessly as she got on the first time.
Kaoru had jumped into the bushes at the side and watched as the carriage carrying the now-dead body rode down the path until it was out of sight.
The raven-haired maiden stood up and began to brush off the dust from her cream gi and blue hakama.
She had to get going now. Even though Kaoru knew that their conversation couldn't be heard; what with the pounding of the horses' hooves drowning out any other sound and that the other men couldn't see her plight due to her mirror trick; she still had to get going.
Who knows how long it'll take for them to notice that their precious politician-slash-gambler-slash-traitor-to-the-government was dead?
Kaoru frowned.
Also; she still had that other 'thing' to think about.
She shook her head in dismay. Kaoru seriously doubted that Soujiro would be happy with this new mission.
Not that she was entirely joyful about it either.
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Back at the estate; Kaoru reported the result of her assignment to Shishio and, afterwards, made her way to her room where she took a much needed hot bath.
At this moment; the young woman was half-sitting half-laying on the couch of the rarely occupied-living room. Her attire consisting of a simple white shirt with bandages wrapped around her chest underneath and long, slick Western black pants.
In her hands was a book; a particularly interesting one that Kaoru found while she was searching at the library. Lost was she in her own world that Kaoru failed to notice the silent presence of another figure making its way towards her.
CLUNK!
Sapphire eyes blaze with a silver glint stared into amused blue-grey as Kaoru's dagger dodged the slash of Soujiro's katana.
"Your reflexes are superb as always but your ki-finding sucks," teased Soujiro as he sheathed his katana.
"Ha-ha. Very funny. I'm choking with laughter," said Kaoru; her voice dripped in sarcasm.
The young woman tucked her dagger into its holster wrapped around her shin; the fabric of her pants covering the small weapon from view. Gracefully, she slid her long legs from the couch and onto the floor to make room for Soujiro.
Without any problem; Soujiro vaulted over from behind the couch and sat besides his long-time friend.
Comfortable silence reigned for a few moments. Kaoru continued to read her book; unbothered by Soujiro who was smoothening out the small tangles in her loose raven hair.
However; it was soon put to an end when Soujiro absentmindedly spoke up.
"So, what's this I heard about you spying on Battousai?"
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"It's such a shame."
"Yes. Such a shame indeed."
"They're investigating his mysterious death as of this moment."
"Do you think it was one of the men guarding him?" A voice spoke out.
A feminine voice scolded the other person. "Don't be silly. You know that those men guarding him are loyal and polite officers."
A lithe man wearing a black gi and white hakama passed by the gossiping townsfolk as he made his way down the street. His hair and face were covered by a bamboo sakkat (sp?). He wasn't that tall nor was he to be considered short. However; the deadly aura that seemed to shroud him made up for the lack of height.
A smirk set itself upon his slightly tanned face. He wasn't that remorseful.
That bastard Soushi deserved what he got.
A disapproving frown etched across the man's lips.
Yet he couldn't help but feel a tad offended. After all; he was supposed to be the one to kill that corrupt and poor excuse of a politician.
Pale amber depths gazed up as a tall man with spiky brown hair beckoned him from the steps of the building where the man was heading for.
"Oi Himura!" yelled out the brown-haired man known as Sanosuke Sagara.
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To be continued
Sapphire: Well; what do you think? You guys liked it? I'm sorry if I didn't make them meet yet but the next chapter will probably solve that problem. Anyways; most of you guys were already asking me questions and I hate to be a sour pickle but I can't answer most of your questions since it regarded what will happen in the future. Wouldn't want to spoil the following chapters eh? (winks)
However I will answer a few so here goes:
1.) Kenshin and Kaoru are probably going to meet in the next chapter.
2.) Kenshin is going to be a few years older than Kaoru…Possibly the same age as Soujiro.
3.) Will Kenshin have the scar? Hmmm….I don't know. I still have to decide.
4.) Yes I do admit that there is a 'closeness' between Soujiro and Kaoru. If they're potential lovers however; I'll leave the thought to you. Hohoho! (wolf ears sprouted out atop Sapphire's head)
More importantly; the current results of the polls for Kaoru's battle name are the following:
1.) Spiteful Raven – 2
2.) Death's Shadow – 4
3.) Eclipse Moon -- 2
4.) Blood Rain – 5 (thanks to ariel for the translations)
5.) Blood Raven – 1 (suggested by hotohori my mentee (is that how it's spelled?) (winks)
6.) Nightmare's Angel (Tenshi Akumo) – 1 (suggested by Mini-Oro-Kenji-Himura)
7.) Shadow Raven/ Moon Raven – 1 each (suggested by Ginny-cry)
8.) Maiden from Hell/ Lunar Raven – 1 each (suggested by 00!!)
9.) Death's Raven – 1 (suggested by Krissy8 AND hi!) (blinks)…are you guys psychic or something?
10.) Shadow – 1 (suggested by Alea Seikou)
11.) Red Midnight/ Midnight Shadow – 1 each (suggested by sc gurl)
You guys still have the option to choose whether which of these names you would want. Polls will close when I updated the next chapter. No extensions. Personally I like the name ......... (oops! darn it! My choice can't be seen...)
So review! Review! Remember the more you review; the faster I'll update! (winks)