AN: I just wanted to make it clear that Battousai didn't meet Tomoe ever so his scar isn't an 'x'.
Note: The results of Kaoru's name will be notified at the next chapter.
Special Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I love you guys!
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Upon A Raven's Plight
Chapter four: The meeting
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Swoosh.
Kaoru snapped her chin up at the sound of the door swinging to see Soujiro entering the kitchen. No words were exchanged between the two as the young man made his way to place the stack of dinner plates besides the sink.
A flicker of hurt clouded sapphire eyes for a moment and Kaoru drifted her gaze from Soujiro to stare down at the mug of steaming hot chocolate she held in her hands; as if she was greatly interested at watching the slight swirls made by the brownish substance.
Her gaze never shifted until Kaoru heard the soft sound of doors swinging once more and knew then that Soujiro had finally stepped out of the kitchen.
Slightly shaking hands put the mug down the kitchen table's surface as the nineteen-year-old resisted the urge to throw it against the wall.
The semi-sweetness of the melted chocolate failed to cover up the bitterness Kaoru could taste in her mouth nor could it soothed the unfamiliar twist of pain coursing through her whole person.
Her eyes stung but Kaoru didn't cry, she being used to controlling her feelings and hiding them perfectly.
Kaoru let her mind wandered back to the time of her conversation with Soujiro of her assignment.
(flashback)
Kaoru looked at Soujiro, the quirking of her eyebrows showed her surprise though her face was still blank.
"How did you find out?"
"Usui told me." The twenty-one-year-old replied.
Kaoru frowned and her sapphire eyes narrowed as they took in a silverish gleam.
She should've known. Usui couldn't keep his trap shut if a raccoon had bitten him at the lips
Kaoru didn't know why Shishio-sama had even considered to let the irritating man joined the Juppongatana regardless of his ability to see what others could not.
And it only aggravated her more that Shishio-sama knew that the former-Bakamatsu swordsman could kill him slowly if he had the chance.
Geeze, for a person who defined the word unsociable, Usui sure has a big mouth.
Kaoru mentally scoffed. Probably to make up for his lost sight, a balance of the senses or some mumbo-jumbo stuff like that.
"When were you going to tell me?" Soujiro's voice broke the raven-haired young woman out of her thoughts.
Kaoru frowned. She did not like the tone of her friend's voice, not at all.
"I would've told you earlier today but I was in an assignment." She replied.
It was the truth. Kaoru was planning to tell Soujiro but her job got in the way.
"Besides, Shishio-sama had informed me of it just yesterday." She continued.
"Is that so?" The young man's voice practically dripped in sarcasm.
Kaoru felt her temper flaring up. She may not show emotions often but oftentimes her quick temper would get the most out of her.
"Don't you dare use that tone of voice on me, Soujiro." She warned; her own voice deadly and threatening.
"Or you'll what?" sneered the dark brown-haired young man.
Blue-grey clashed with sapphire-silver, each color battling the other for supremacy.
"I don't like the fact that Shishio-sama wants you to go undercover and spy on the Battousai." Soujiro was the first to break the tensed silence between them.
Kaoru frowned. "Well I'm not exactly jumping for joy now, am I?"
"I don't want the Battousai to be ten feet near you, I don't want him to see you, and God forbid, I don't want him to touch you."
The frown that replaced the usual masked smile etched on the young man's face and the stormy blue-grey color of his eyes never registered immediately to Kaoru's mind as the slightly younger woman was too mortified and angry at the content of his words to notice then.
"How dare you to even think that I would let him touch me?" Kaoru practically growled out the words.
She sprang from the couch to glare down at Soujiro, her fists shaking and clenched to the point that Kaoru could feel her nails digging into the softness of her closed palms.
"I am not some loose woman who would allow herself to be made a whore! As my best friend and non-blood-brother, you should know me better than that."
Soujiro pursed his lips together in a grim line.
"That's all I am to you, isn't it? A best friend and an older brother…"
To say that Kaoru was shocked as an understatement, Soujiro's voice was soft and calm, yet so pained and sorrowful.
A far cry from the angry and unmasked Soujiro she had just argued with earlier.
Soujiro rose to his feet and stared at Kaoru straight in the eyes.
"Do what you want then, I will not interfere with your mission."
Then, without another word, the young man turned his gaze from her and walked soundlessly out of the living room, leaving a confused Kaoru at his wake.
(end flashback)
Kaoru sighed as she reminisced about their argument and at Soujiro's sudden strangeness that she couldn't comprehend.
Part of her wanted to lash out at Soujiro and force him to listen, another wanted to literally kick his ass until it was black and blue, and yet another, rather large, part of Kaoru wanted to blame Shishio-sama for putting her in her current position.
But speaking out this truth would only worsen the situation.
Kaoru didn't want to make her leader lose his faith in her and she couldn't bring herself to disappoint the man as well.
Shishio had done so much for her from the time that he had 'adopted' her to his harsh, yet fruitful, method of raising the young woman to become who she is now: A strong, independent and nearly invincible warrior with the intellect and talent to match her undaunted skills of the blade.
Kaoru sighed and shook her head to rid her mind of the thoughts. She couldn't let herself get distracted now, not when she has a job to do.
Kaoru eyed the cup of chocolate and a sudden urge to drink overwhelmed her. She gripped the mug with both hands and brought it up to her lips and drank the liquid.
As soon as she had gulped down the first taste, Kaoru nearly choked and pounded her chest as if to make the drink flow down from her esophagus.
The raven-haired woman eyed her mug with distaste.
Gods! She was so busy reflecting that she didn't notice that her chocolate had turned cold.
Kaoru shrugged. Oh well.
Mug of now-cold chocolate still clasped in her hand, Kaoru stood up and made her way to the sink where she tilted the cup downwards and dropped the contents into it before she put the mug against the surface of the counter.
Kaoru frowned at the pile of dishes she had to clean up (it was her turn to do the 'honors') lying at the counter and wrinkled her nose.
Normally, Soujiro would've helped her but then…
Kaoru brushed a stray raven lock away from her eyes, staring at the plates won't make the mess go away.
Folding the fabric of her shirt from her wrists up to her elbows, she turned on the faucet-handle of the sink and watched as water rushed out from the metal pipe.
After awhile, the kitchen doors swung open once more. Kaoru didn't mind though as she was busy drying the third plate she had just cleaned.
So it came as a surprise to her when another hand suddenly gripped the plate she was just about to wash at the same time.
Kaoru looked up, ready to tell whoever it was that she didn't need help when the words died on her lips and she soon found herself speechless for the moment.
Soujiro smiled at the young woman before him and, using Kaoru's moment of shock, pried both the plate and the soap-soaked sponge from her grasp.
"I'll wash, you dry. Fair?" He asked, his voice warm and light.
Kaoru regained her bearings and simply nodded her head in agreement.
"Good."
A smile played across her lips as Kaoru watched as Soujiro pulled up his sleeves as well and started to scrub the dish with the sponge.
Soujiro wasn't a man of words but Kaoru knew that the young man was apologizing by helping her out.
For that, Kaoru was grateful that Soujiro finally understand why she had to go undercover.
And if he didn't, she would make him realize her outlook at the matter.
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"Glad that you could make it this fine afternoon Battousai," A male voice droned out as Battousai entered the office.
The young man merely grunted in reply but took off his sakkat as a sign of respect nevertheless, stepping aside to let his taller companion joined them inside.
Long crimson bangs shadowed cold, calculating amber eyes as Battousai gazed blankly at the man sitting in the large lounge chair before him.
"This is not one of your assignments so stop hiding from the shadows and come forward." The said man chuckled.
"After all, I can't exactly converse with you two being so far away now, can I?"
He gestured with a wave of his hand at the vacant chairs furnished at the other side of his desk.
"Take a seat and be at eased as we are amongst comrades."
Battousai made no reply and instead glided his way forward, years of training leaving his footsteps soundless and soft.
Mentally, he scoffed at the man's words.
Comrades indeed. Battousai worked alone and for no one but himself.
And that would continue to be so for a long time.
The redhead hitokiri nodded curtly at the other man as he occupied one of the seats at the right side of the desk.
Sano too had moved but came to a halt a few steps to Battousai's left and crossed his arms.
"Thanks, Yousiko-san, but I prefer to stand if you don't mind." He explained.
Yousiko nodded at the brown-haired younger man to show that he wasn't bothered by it.
As if a light had been switched off, the smile slipped off the government official's lips and turned into a frown.
"Chatting aside, I have some serious matters to talk to you about."
Battousai narrowed his eyes. "Does it have something to do with the assassinated politician?"
The official had a look of surprise in his face. However, it soon subsided. "Yes, I supposed you would know about that. It's in the papers after all."
"The assassination took place this morning, does it not?" It was Sano who had asked the question.
Yousiko nodded his head in answer to the brown-haired man.
"Yes and although didn't happened here at Tokyo, it's not a threat to be taken lightly."
The older man leaned forward, his pitch black eyes gazing at both men intently. His voice was as serious as the frown etched in his face as Yousiko continued.
"Do you remember a man named Makoto Shishio back at the Bakamatsu era?"
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Kaoru tied the last knot on her obi and let the long ends of the fabric dangle from the sides, creating an illusion of silk folded-butterfly wings.
She turned slightly to the left, then to the right, eyeing critically her choice of clothing wear.
Her kimono was the color of soft white, like that of a dove's, with only the silver and crystal blue butterfly-embroidered design of her obi giving color to the silky fabric.
Kaoru frowned a little and fingered one of the falling ends of the obi, eyeing the butterfly designs sowed in the piece of cloth.
She never did like butterflies. They were much too feminine and delicate for her taste.
A light tapping sound was heard just as Kaoru was fixing the strands of her ebony hair. Her eyes still focused on the mirror, Kaoru called out.
"Come in, the door's open."
The door opened to reveal Soujiro. The young man closed it behind him before he paced forward to stand beside Kaoru who was pulling her long hair into a high ponytail.
Done, Kaoru turned her gaze to Soujiro's and asked.
"Well, what do you think?"
She twirled around to show all sides of her kimono, wanting the young man's opinion.
Soujiro gave somewhat of a half-smile and answered.
"I think you're beautiful."
It was true. The kimono gave a sort of softness while the obi had an exotic twist in it that made Kaoru seemed ethereal, though she was unaware of it.
Kaoru knew that she was pretty but not gorgeous. It never bothered her though, some women are gifted with beauty and some are not. She was just glad that she wasn't hideous nor horridly disfigured.
Kaoru playfully stuck her tongue out at her friend since childhood.
"Only you would say that, Sou." She pointed out to him.
Soujiro chuckled and shook his head slightly, the dark brown strands of his hair moved with each turn.
"Perhaps but only a fool will see you and think of you as such."
Kaoru gave a wistful half-smile. "Then I am a fool."
Soujiro smirked. "Well I have no doubts about that assumption…ouch!" He rubbed the sore part of his arm where Kaoru had pinched him half-heartedly.
"Mou!" She pouted. "I'm only kidding!"
"Well isn't this a heart-warming scene?" Kamatari's voice vibrated into the room as the said Juppongatana member leant against the door frame.
He eyed the two with mock disapproval and he flexed an index finger back and forth at them, making a 'tsk tsk' sound at the same time.
"Shame on you two, dilly-dallying while making me wait." Kamatari taunted.
Kamatari was supposed to accompany Kaoru and Soujiro to the drop-off.
"Save your flirting for another time now will you?"
Kaoru was quick to prevent the heat from rising up on her cheeks. Soujiro merely gave his usual smile, though if one would look very closely, a slight touch of pink could be seen across his face.
It was Kaoru who waved off the assuming hint beneath the words with a flick of her hand.
"Whatever Kamatari." She muttered.
Kamatari gave a knowing smile.
"Yare, yare, we need to get there soon anyway." He paused to steal a glance from his own pocket watch. "If our sources are precise, Battousai should be wandering around Tokyo tonight."
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Battousai walked steadily down the empty streets of Tokyo. It was late evening and everyone else would've fallen asleep by now.
But not him, he never sleeps. A hitokiri is always on his guard, even in his own home so Battousai was used to it.
The light of the full moon glowed softly, illuminating the man's blood red hair and giving it an unearthly sheen. Sober amber eyes gleamed in the dark, seeing everything in site regardless of the lack of light.
He glanced up at the starless sky and frowned.
The moon seemed to emit off a scarlet hue, as it had always looked to him way back to the infamous Boshi Civil Wars or the Bakamatsu.
Something is going to happen. Something that will disrupt the fragile peacefulness of this new era of the Meiji…
A piercing scream broke out into the night and shifted the man from his thoughts.
What the?
In a fast and swift move, Battousai unsheathed his katana. He would use his wakazachi (sp?) if needed to.
With speed that a god could only rivaled, Battousai dashed to where the sound was.
Although he couldn't pinpoint the exact location, the cry seemed to come from the river not far from where he is right now.
As he reached the area, Battousai spot a group composed of five masked men wearing black ninja clothes. They were positioned to form a circle, as if to keep something from escaping.
Or someone.
Quick and silent, Battousai rushed to hide in the shadows of the trees. His black gi and dark white hakama blended into the surroundings, camouflaging the man perfectly.
Amber eyes gleamed molten gold as the group parted and he could see a young woman wearing a white kimono at the center of the circle, one of the men who Battousai could only guessed is the leader was gripping her arm, insuring that she wasn't going anywhere else.
Not one to get involved in other people's private affairs, Battousai waited.
"You're going to die tonight bitch," Battousai could hear the man holding the woman speaking.
The hitokiri frowned but made no move to help. Instead, he leaned in even closer to hear more clearly.
The woman scoffed. "Thank you for stating the obvious but I'm not as moronic as you are mister." She replied in a stubborn voice.
From his angle, Battousai could make out the defiant glaze in the woman's unique gem eyes that glow a fiery sapphire.
He couldn't help but smirked.
Either the woman was very stupid, or a very brave one.
The leader of the group scowled deeply and pushed the woman roughly against the tree behind her.
"I had thought of having fun with you first but I changed my mind. I'll kill you right now."
With that, the man unsheathed his sword while the other men took out their swords as well.
He took a step towards the woman.
"Die bitch." The man said, a menacing gleam in his dark eyes.
Eyes flashing, Battousai was ready to strike out of his hiding place and kill the men when the woman took out a bokken from the folds of her kimono.
The woman's attackers stopped in their tracks, surprised. It wasn't long however before they began to laugh.
"A wooden sword?" One of the other men murmured.
"Do you really think that you could stand a chance against us with that silly little twig?" muttered another.
The woman nodded her head. The night wind carried her soft voice and made it echoed throughout the riverbank.
"This little twig won't be that silly to you when I'm done." She murmured.
The men laughed once more. The leader stepped forward again and dropped his hands to his sides.
"I'll be a sport and let you live your fantasy." He patted his head.
"I'll let you have the first strike then." He added.
Hearing this, his men sneered and laughed. Some making comments about how foolish the woman is and such.
To their surprise, all of the sudden their leader gave a harsh cough. Blood trailed down from his mouth as he placed his free hand against his chest where the woman had struck at him.
The woman merely smiled and got into her defensive stance again, her bokken grasped at eye level and center-front.
Battousai was impressed. The woman had moved so swiftly while her would-be-assassins mocked at her, and had brought down her bokken in such a way that only a skilled swordsman could possess.
The surprised look on the leader's face vanished and replaced by a hateful frown as he glared at the woman.
"I would've killed you quickly since you're a woman but I changed my mind. I'll kill you slowly and with my bare hands if I wished." He growled at her.
Sapphire eyes flashed with an inner fire as the woman replied.
"Are you this indecisive? Or is it that I'm just special?"
Battousai could practically see the foam coming out of the man's mouth. "Grr… that's it! I'm finished playing nice guy."
"Kill her!"
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Kaoru was dead bored.
She dodged yet another slash of one of her 'attackers' strikes with such ease that Kaoru herself felt ashamed in their behalf.
Clearly, these men have no absolute training in the art of swords. The unevenness of their blows and the way they held themselves were obvious to anyone who would care to observe them.
Kaoru hid a sigh by using the sleeve of her kimono that would fluttered gracefully as she strike at the men with her bokken with practiced ease.
She wasn't skilled in the katana alone, mind you.
Just where had Kamatari found these unskilled men?
Speaking of which, Kaoru sneaked a peek at her comrades from the corner of her eyes. She saw Kamatari mouthing out words which she quickly translated.
"Battousai is here, you can stop defending yourself now."
Ahh.
Kaoru looked back to her 'assailants' and pretended to give a low strike at one of the men's legs, knowing that their leader was right behind her.
Humph. If she was killed before Battousai could save her, Kaoru swore that she would come back from the grave and haunt Kamatari to the point of insanity.
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Battousai noticed that the woman was too busy fighting to see the leader creeping up behind her.
In a blur of red, black and white, the hitokiri jumped out from the trees and into the light.
With the flick of his wrist, Battousai turned his katana and slashed the leader's arm clean from his body.
The man howled and the others looked on with frightened and disgusted faces as they saw the detached arm lying in the ground in a pool of bright red blood.
The katana that the man was holding in this arm was thrown and cluttered to the dirt not far from the cut body appendage.
Realization shone in the leader's eyes as he took in his executor's figure.
Hair the color of fresh blood and eyes of burning gold. A single curved scar at his right cheek.
"Hitokiri Battousai!" He shrieked in panic and unhidden fear.
The hitokiri's lips curved into a deadly smile that let him quivering in fear. He could actually feel his knees shaking and knocking against each other.
"You were about to kill an innocent woman." He growled in a deep and hoarse voice.
"For that you shall die."
And with that, Battousai raised his katana high in the air. His eyes flashed gold as he brought down the deadly blade to meet with human flesh.
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Kaoru watched in pretend horror as she watched as Battousai continued to mutilate her 'attackers'.
Humph. Not that she cared for the men's safety.
Kaoru raised her arm to her face, shielding herself just as a rush of blood was flung, staining her kimono.
Kaoru frowned before she let it disappear as she let her arm go limp.
She liked this kimono and the blood better be washed off completely or else she's going to do some serious damage to Kamatari for making her wear it.
Taking one look at the dead bodies sprawling around her, Kaoru drifted her gaze to Battousai. The awed gleam in her eyes failed to be hidden though Kaoru wasn't aware of it.
Thunder boomed and suddenly rain began to pour down harshly.
Kaoru took one look at the sky then turned her gaze and looked at Battousai straight at the eyes.
"You made it rain blood." She whispered. (AN: Hohoho! (winks))
Then, blackness enveloped the young woman as she let herself fall to the ground in a dead faint.
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Battousai was quick to catch the fallen woman before she would hit the ground and make in contact with the blood there.
Holding her in his arms, Battousai could see that the woman was beautiful. By the youthful, yet matured, features of her face, he guessed that she was in her early twenties the most.
The hitokiri caressed the young woman's face with such gentleness that left him surprised and noted that her skin was soft and smooth. His gaze drifted from the long eyelashes that fluttered against her closed eyelids, hiding her lovely gem-like eyes, down to a well-sculpted nose highlighted by her high cheekbones.
His eyes dropped to her lips and stopped there. They were a feminine pink color and luscious.
His hand moved to let his thumb caressed against her lower lip, reveling at it's fullness.
Reluctantly, Battousai left his eyes go down further to the stubborn chin that contrasted to her otherwise delicate facial features. Her glossy raven hair was tied in a high ponytail so he couldn't figure out just how long her hair is.
The rain had drenched the young woman, making her kimono cling to her like a second skin. Battousai didn't blush as he noted the womanly curves of her body.
She was no more wisp of a girl but a young, breath-taking woman who could fight.
Amber eyes burned with admiration and lust as he took in all of her.
She belonged to him and him alone. Whether to her consent or not.
Without hesitation, Battousai sheathed his katana and lifted the fainted young woman bridal-style, with his hand cradling her neck and his other arm tucked beneath her knees.
As swift and silent as he appeared, the Battousai disappeared into the night. This time holding a bundle that would soon become the most precious of jewels to him.
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As soon as he was sure that Battousai wouldn't see nor hear them, Kamatari stepped out of the shadows.
He looked forward at the direction where the two went, a small half-smile etched on his lips.
"It has begun." He murmured.
So caught up was Kamatari in his thoughts that he didn't noticed Soujiro standing behind him, looking not-too pleased at the current events that had taken place.
Soujiro frowned.
He didn't like the way Battousai was holding Kaoru closed to his body.
He gripped the hilt of his katana tighter.
'I swear Battousai, if you touch Kaoru in anyway. I will not hesitate to kill you, orders or no orders."
Soujiro's blue-grey eyes gleam a stormy grey and metallic blue as he glared into the night.
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to be continued.
Sapphire: Well? How was it? I hope that everyone liked it. I had a lot of fun writing this chapter. Hohoho! I was feeling naughty at the time… (winks devilishly)
Anyways, remember the basic equation of all fanfictions: lots of reviews (plus) happy Sapphire (equals) the next chapter!