Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Chapter 3 :The Purple Light
"Please, I won't hurt you" Kaoru said, her heart beating fast. But her voice was calm. "You need to lie down, you are very weak right now..."
"Who are you?" the Soujiro said, suddenly feeling very weak.
"I'm Kamiya Kaoru...I found you in my garden earlier. You are very badly injured. Please don't get stress your body now..." Kamiya Kaoru said calmly.
He is like a lost child...so scared and confused...
The young man went back to the back, looking pale. He closed his eyes.
"What is your name?" Kaoru asked, pulling up the blankets for him.
"Soujiro...Seta Soujiro..."he whispered.
"Seta-san, would you like something to eat?" Kaoru asked kindly. Soujiro nodded.
Kaoru made hot milo, ham and cheese sandwiches for both men. She gave the red haired man his snack first and he was delighted and grateful "Arigato,Kaoru-dono" he said. Kaoru just smiled and went on to Soujiro's room.
Soujiro was crying. Kaoru put down the tray and sat next to him. He was sobbing uncontrollably. It was obvious that he was confused and very sad. Kaoru touched his arm and looked questioningly at him. Soujiro stopped crying and smiled, looking like as if nothing has ever happened.
"Seta-san, why do you smile?" Kaoru asked, surprised by his sudden happy smiles.
"I smile because..."Soujiro begun. I smile because of…what?
Suddenly, tears begun to form in his eyes again. Why do I smile? I don't remember anymore...
Kaoru looked sympathetically at Soujiro. He was still a boy...something terrible must have happened to him...
Kaoru reached forward and embraced him tightly. She begun to cry to, she felt sad but she didn't know why. She had never seen anyone so filled with anguish and sadness before. The way he sobbed his heart out now was heartbreaking...
Soujiro stopped crying when he saw that Kaoru was crying as well. He had never seen anyone who sheds tears for him...it was very unusual to him.
Why is she crying?...I am the one who is feeling sad..
Then, he realised that she was hugging him harder than ever. Suddenly she stopped, she pulled away from him and gazed at him sadly. Soujiro looked back at her and was mesmerized by her blue eyes. Somehow, her eyes had locked his with hers. He coludn't look away. He saw her lips and noticed how soft and sensual they are. He begun to look at her all over and saw that she was perfect. So beautiful and enchanting...so sad and gentle.
She was the one who saved my life..tended to my wounds...Soujiro felt his heart begun beating faster and his cheeks flushing red.
Why am I so nervous? I've never felt like this before...He looked at Kaoru again.She smiled at him. That smile! Soujiro felt a part of him was melting. He looked at her lips again... those luscious lips...he licked his own lips. He leant towards her and looked into her eyes.
"Kaoru..."he whispered, leaning in even closer. Kaoru widened her eyes. What is he doing?
They were so close, their lips almost touching. Sohjiro came so close to kissing her when the door swung opened.
They immediately broke apart. At the door, stood Kenshin. He was looking at them questioningly, chuckling to himself. Kaoru blushed to a dark red. Kenshin looked at Sohjiro and both of them looked at each other with their mouths open.
"Himura-san"Sohjiro said finally.
"Soujiro..."Kenshin said nodding.
"Do the two of you know each other?" Kaoru asked, looking at the both of them. Kenshin and Sohjiro raised their eye brows at each other.
"Do you two know each other?" Kaoru asked again slowly. The two men looked at Kaoru and laughed.
Kaoru couldn't stand it anymore and slapped the both of them on the hands.
"Sorry,Kaoru-dono. It's just that..." Kenshin said, laughing again.
Soujiro smiled at Kaoru. Kaoru seeing Soujiro smiled, smiled as well.
"Anyway...to answer your first question..." Kenshin said "Soujiro actually saved me in a fight...and it turned out that we are saved by the same woman."
"I knew it that you guys must be connected in some ways...what is your name?" Kaoru asked.
"I am Himura Kenshin and thank you for saving me." Kenshin replied, looking at her gratefully, his violet eyes boring into hers. Kaoru avoided his gaze and said dully,
"You're welcomed."
"Yes, thank you so much, Kamiya-san." Soujiro said, smiling happily.
"You're welcomed."Kaoru said again.
"Kaoru, there is something I've been meaning to ask you,"Kenshin said, suddenly serious.
"Yes?" Kaoru asked. Tension built in the air.
"I am actually you neighbour," Kenshin said "And I heard that things had happened to others when they passed by your house. Are you aware of that?"
"No. I am not sure why whatever had happened to them had happened but I have nothing to do with it." Kaoru said
"So you mean this The Witch's House is all just a rumor made up because of a few coincidences?" Kenshin asked.
"Yup." Kaoru answered. The Witch's House? Is that what other people call my house?
"But why do you don't go out at all? Why do you choose to seclude yourself in this house?" Kenshin asked.
Kaoru stared at him, annoyed. Why was he asking all these questions? He doesn't have any right to ask! Mind your own business!
Kenshin was waiting for his answer, his eyes flickering.
"I know that you are probably annoyed at my questions...but for some safety reasons, I need to know somethings."he said quietly. His eyes turning to an amber colour. The Battousai was struggling to resurface again, the fight with Aorta had ensured that. I must make sure she has nothing to do with them.They might still be around...
"Safety reasons? What safety reasons? I know that you two are up to something but I don't care to know what if you do not wish to tell me. But I should be the one who should be asking the questions around here! You shouldn't be so rude. Asking all those personal questions and suspecting me of whatever you are thinking..."Kaoru said, her eyes angry and her hands trembling.
"Himura-san..."Sohjiro said, looking at Kaoru worriedly.
Kenshin sighed and looked at Kaoru intently. The Organisation have connections almost everywhere...what if...? I've got to make her talk...
"I'm sorry for my rudeness just now. But some people are after Soujiro and I...we have to be careful." Kenshin said, his eyes still amber.
Kaoru looked at him blankly. He didn't sound sorry at all...she didn't see why she should cooperate with him. He was so smug...like he could get whatever he wants whenever he wants...and what's with his eyes?
Kaoru begun to sip at her own Milo...ignoring Kenshin.
"So, now can you answer the questions I've asked you earlier?" Kenshin asked again. Sohjiro looked worriedly at them.
Kenshin was being to forceful and Kamiya-san wasn't afraid of him at all. She was strong,she held on to her place.Umnoving, not giving in to Kenshin threatening glares until she see a reason for her to answer any questions she had just asked.
"Kaoru-dono. I am warning you...just answer whatever I ask you. You don't know who you are dealing with..." Kenshin said dangerously his amber eyes growing brighter.
"You too, Himura-san." Kaoru retorted icily, looking at Kenshin, her eyes unblinking.
Kenshin was taken aback by Kaoru. He could see her anger but he couldn't feel it...her Ki energy wasn't there. What the hell is she?
Soujiro stared at the both of them nervously. Himura-san looked flustered by Kamiya-san's answer...and Kamiya-san...she is so queer. I don't know if Kenhsin can feel her Ki energy...because I can't! Did I lose some of my senses after I was badly injured?She is diferent...I got a feeling that she had many things about her that we don't know about...
A thin smile appeared on Kaoru's lips. "...you don't know who you are dealing with..."...think again...you are the one who don't know who you're dealing with…
"I've got a feeling that you possessed great powers. Please do not keep us in suspense...I am truly sorry that I was so impolite just now." Kenshin said finally,his head bowed. I should be more careful...I sense that she is deadly...
"It's all right. I can be very nice, Himura-san. But you won't want to cross me ever again."Kaoru replied, sipping at her drink. "Tell me who is trying to kill the both of you..."
"It was an Organisation called The Aorta. They are trained assassins, very powerful. They came to kill me. And...Soujiro was actually one of them. But luckily he changed his mind and decided to help me out..."Kenshin said reluctantly.
"Yes. And they decided to hunt me down as well..."Soujiro said quietly.
"Ahh. I am not surprised. Why do the assassins want you dead?" Kaoru asked.
"I do not know." Kenshin replied quickly. He felt Kaoru's eyes on him, she was surveying him.
"Just to let you know, if you don't tell me what I should know. I'll just read your mind..."Kaoru said.
"Read his mind?" Soujiro exclaimed. "What do you mean?"
Kaoru smiled, "I can read other people's minds when I need to..."she said calmly. "I know that there is something that you are not telling me Himura-san. I won't force you to...but when I feel that I need to,I will..."
"Kaoru-dono, why do you possess such powers? What other powers do you have?" Kenshin asked.
Kaoru looked at the both of them. "Enough to keep those assasins away from this house." she replied. "This house is actually larger than you think. There are a lot of things in here. Some of them that I am not aware of. Many people tried to break in, but they can't. Not with me still here."
"Please, Kamiya-san. Tell me about yourself..."Soujiro said anxiously.
"I..." Kaoru said. Should I tell them?...I've been keeping everything to myself that I am dying inside...
She took deep breath. "This house was here long, long ago before this town existed. All my ancestors from my father's side lived here. They are all famed swordsmen. Each member had created a unique style of their own and they were invincible. My father was the most talented of all. He mastered all the different techniques of sword fighting, no one else was able to do that before. Then, he fell love with my mother. She was from a family of Sorcery, and my grandfather immediately disagree upon their relationship. They got married however and my grandfather disowned my father. My parents went away from the house and soon my mother gave birth me. I took after both my father and my mother. All their abilities are in my genes."
Kaoru paused to sip her drink. "Then, after many years, my grandfather contacted my father again. They wanted him back in the family. At first, my father refused to ever go back. But after my mother's continuous peading, he gave it. My mother was doing it all for me really. She wanted us to be a whole family. Going back means that there is always someone who can take care of me. So we went back. My uncles, however are angry at my grandfather's decision. They thought that they had gotten rid of my father for good. But there he is again. Back in their lives. They don't like the threat they were facing. However, they couldn't do anything because they knew that my mother had certain powers, and they could not get rid of my father easily. "
"For 4 years, we lived a peaceful live. Then, one day my father found my mother dead in the bathroom. The police said that she must have suffered a stroke and drown afterward. Her death was classified as an accident. My father couldn't believe that she drown, she is stronger than that. He knew that his brothers had something to do with it. He became crazy about being stronger and forcing me to learn sword techniques from him. He even made me read all my mother's witchcraft books. He was becoming more and more out of his mind day by day. Finally, one night he was proved that his brothers are the ones who killed my mother. He killed all of them, right here in this house. My grandfather died on spot when he saw what was happening. He didn't died by my father's sword. He just got a severe stroke and he died. My father fainted after he killed all his siblings. The next day he just woke up and cleaned up the house. Like as if nothing happened...he continued teaching me sword techniques and one day, when I was 10 years old, he disappeared."
Flashback...
Kaoru cowered at a corner in the wall. She was scared, she didn't like it when her father used that tone of voice. He is very angry...what is Uncle Jineh saying to him?
"Yeah, my dear brother. Your wife died, she was begging me for mercy. You should have seen her get down on her knees. And she sure tasted sweet. I can see why you love her so much." Uncle Jineh snarled, his eyes mocking at Kaoru's father.
"Why,you..."Kaoru father muttered dangerously. His eyes sparkling with fire. Kaoru gasped. Uncle Jineh killed Mama?
"Ah...but don't worry, she didn't suffer much. I made her death short and sweet. Didn't we?" Uncle Jineh said mockingly, as all the other uncles stepped out from a shadow. They unsheathed their swords and Kaoru gasped. They are going to kill Papa!
She begun to run. Where is Papa's sword? She searched frantically. Her heart was beating very fast like as if it would jump out from her chest any minute... Papa! Papa! Please don't die! I'm coming! She grasped the sword and ran towards the hall.
Her father was bleeding very badly and gasping for breath. So much blood!
"Papa!" She shouted and tossed the sword at his direction. Her dad looked at her and caught the sword. He unsheathed it dangerously and suddenly he howled. He was so loud that the whole house shook. Then, in between flashes, all her uncles were on the floor. Dead.
"Papa..."Kaoru whimpered. What happened?
End Of Flashback.
"Kamiya-san? Kamiya-san? "Soujiro called, snapping his fingers in front of her. Kaoru snapped back from her daze and looked at the two men.
"Do you still remember the sword techniques?" Kenshin asked.
"Of course."Kaoru replied. She looked intently at their wounds. "I can actually heal all your wounds now...since you both know about me." She walked over to Sohjiro and placed her hand on his wound on his right thigh. Then,Soujiro saw her lips moving. She was muttering something. A bright purple light came from her hands...and after a while she let go of him.
"Check your wound." she whispered. Soujiro begun to unbind his wounds and gasped. There was not even a single scar! It was like as if he was never wounded. Kenshin came to look at Soujiro's healed wound and gasped as well. Soujiro touch the part where his wound was suppose to be. There was nothing, just smooth white skin.
"How did you do that?"Soujiro cried, awed. "Oh my god...is that magic?"
Kaoru nodded weakly.
"You could have done this earlier!"Kenshin grumbled. "Can you heal my wounds as well?"
"No, your wounds are minor compared to Seta-san's. I was afraid he left leg would be paralysed if I hadn't help him just now."
Kaoru replied. "And I was trying to lead a normal life without magic and swords. Using magic drains the energy out of people"
Kenshin just nodded grimly and looked at Soujiro healed wound again. It was unbelivable. It is impossible!
"Kaoru-dono, could you show me how your sword techniques?" Kenshin asked.
"Not tonight, Himura-san. I'm very tired and I think the both of you need some rest as well." Kaoru said.
She got up slowly and walked towards the door.
"Goodnight."she whispered.
That night, Kenshin lie on his bed,unable to sleep. Kamiya Kaoru...He shuddered when he remember seeing Soujiro's healed wound...it was scary.
And the bright purple light…
A/N: Revised on 9/1/06
