Sorry this took forever. I wasn't able to post this as soon as Ifinished because there was a bug in This is the third draft of this chapter, so as always let me know if something doesn't add up. Thank you everyone who reviewed and bothering to stick with these story even though I am can't update sooner. I'm trying, but since I will be moving in two weeks, everything is a mess.
Yoko was the only reviewer to point out something important. Yes, there is a narrator, and yes he is Kaoru's father. Nobody else mentioned it, so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say that you did notice but didn't say anything. jk. You guys are great. I'm up to +3000 hits and I couldn't be happier. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Disclaimer: I do notown RK or any of the characters...but I have a lot of crap I need to throw away...
Chapter Nine: Poison and War
Kenshin's head was spinning. His usually quick mind was desperately trying to process what had just happened. Ayaka and Kaoru had a fight, revealing that Ayaka was actually married. This enraged Kenshin. She left him all those years ago, but then she returned to cling on him when he was no longer interested. But she was taken and still chasing him. It was enough to make him gag.
Kenshin's pensive trance was pierced by Kaoru's shattering cry. He recognized it in an instant as a cry of pain. She was grabbing her stomach. Kenshin's eyes blazed golden looked at her empty food tray. Damn, he thought. Food poison. He turned to Ayaka to see her ashen face and then she whipped around and ran out of the room. Katsura, who had been forgotten until that moment, wasted no time. He charged after her. Kenshin was about to go when Kaoru's knees buckled.
Using his god speed that has never failed him before, Kenshin caught her. "Kenshin?" She asked deliriously. Then she went limp. Kenshin carefully brought her down to the floor. He propped her upper body against his leg. One hand went to cradle her neck and other went to check for a pulse. She was alive, relief washed over him, just passed out. He needed to get her to a doctor and soon.
Kenshin slipped an arm under her knees and under her shoulders. He lifted her up and cradled her against his chest. Quickly he ran to get her help. He passed a clinic and cursed. It was still filled with Choshu men were injured in their last encounter with the Shinshengumi. He saw a man who appeared to be a doctor.
"Excuse me," Kenshin growled. His eyes were still brazing. "I need someone to help her." The doctor stopped and looked at him.
"Sorry sir," He said. "I can't waste my time on her."
"What?" It wasn't a question, but a demand.
"These men are my top priority. I can't trouble myself with her." Kenshin grew angrier. "Look, she is going to die anyway."
"You're not even going to try?"
"Why bother? It's just one life compared to the hundreds I can save if I help the men." He said. Megumi had seen Kenshin and recognized him on the spot. She had heard the whole conversion. She looked at the girl in his arms. Her jaw dropped. She was the girl her cousin hated. Suddenly she wasn't as surprised.
Kenshin was ready to murder the difficult doctor when Megumi intervened. "I'll take care of her." She said. Kenshin's intense glaze shifted to her. There was compassion in her face and then Kenshin knew Kaoru would be in good hands.
"She has been poisoned. What happened?" Megumi asked as she ushered them to a tent with a cot and box of crude medical supplies.
"Food poisoning, I think." He said, his voice taunt. Megumi froze for a second. Ayaka had run to the kitchens…Megumi suddenly began to feel sick herself. It seemed like her fault.
"Just lay her down there." She rummaged through the box of limited supplies. Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed the care Kenshin would into putting her down. The doctor could tell how much he cared for the girl. Strangely, she felt satisfied with the fact her cousin was beaten. Ayaka finally didn't get what she wanted. She had finally failed.
"Will she be ok?" Kenshin asked. His eyes veiled by his crimson bangs. Megumi looked up. His control was evaporating. The doctor could have sworn she saw a tear fall down his handsome face.
"Once I find an antidote." She said. Kenshin's shoulders slumped. "Do me a favor." Kenshin looked up expectantly. "Go find an herb that looks like this." She held up a dry leave that could've been anything. But Kenshin recognized it, his master had told him about it. He nodded. Kenshin turned to Kaoru. He leaned in and kissed her forehead, and whispered in her ear.
"I will get her." His eyes were a murderous shade of amber that few have ever seen. "For you."
Ayaka had fled the Choshu camp. Katsura was pursuing her until she was halfway downtown. He sighed gave in. Himura would no doubt go after her on his own time. After debating for a long moment, Katsura turned to return to the camp. On his way back he catch a glimpseof afamiliar banner that filled his heart with dread. The Shinshengumi were in town.
He gasped. If they attacked him now, he wouldn't be able to fend them off. Stealth wasn't Katsura's strong suit. He wasn't like Kenshin who could slip into the shadows. If the Shinsengumi spotted him, it was over. People were fluttering through the streets. They knew the Choshu were stationed nearby and a battle was in the future since the new arrival. Katsura ran back to the inn. He had to assemble the remaining men to fight. They needed to be reminded they were still in a war.
He needed Kenshin, but he knew that he couldn't tear him away when Kaoru was still sick. Damn, he thought. This is going to harder than he thought. He arrived at the Choshu camp with a heavy heart. The people who were not injured lined up to see Katsura return. They read his grim expression and knew what was coming.
"The Shinshengumi have been spotted." Katsura announced. The men knew, but he had to say it anyway. "We must fight them and win for the new era. Everyone prepare yourselves for battle. We must avenge the men who were killed."
Everyone nodded grimly. They were weary of battle and they knew that this would end badly. The air grew with tension of war. They relaxed up until now, but now they needed to be reminded why they called themselves the Ishin Shishi. It was too peaceful.
Katsura sighed it was his job to tell Kenshin. He knew where to find the assassin.
Kenshin had return to Megumi with the herb she requested. Kenshin was a little curious as to why she chose an herbal remedy to the medicine brought from the West. He watched she every move from his place next to Kaoru. He wondered if she was a real doctor, there weren't many female doctors. He knew Ayaka had some medical knowledge but it seemed like nothing compared to this fox.
The hitokiri turned his attention to Kaoru. She porcelain face was beaded with sweat, giving her an unhealthy pallor. He cursed mentally. Why wasn't he able to tell that the plate was poisoned? Why couldn't he do something to help her?
"Ken-san." Megumi said. The hitokiri made no notion to reveal his opinion of the new name. "It appears that Kaoru-san has been poisoned a little bit each day." Kenshin's head began to swim. How? "And today her food contained twice the amount. So whoever was poisoning her, wanted to speed it up."
Kenshin looked to her sharply. "You know who did it." He accused. Megumi merely nodded.
"I didn't know that she was poisoning her until today, but I know why." She said carefully. She shivered at the intensity of Kenshin's unwavering gaze. She swallowed and continued. "How much do you know about Ayaka?"
"A lot more now. Continue." His voice was edgy.
"Well," Megumi began. "Ayaka has been…in love with you since the day you passed by." Kenshin's face was emotionless. Megumi expected nothing less. "She never loved Katashi Shiro, and he never loved her. He was too obsessed in his work to notice Ayaka's wandering affections. He never knew how unfaithful she was. You have to understand Ayaka. She grew up getting everything she wanted, and expected to. She will fight for what she wants whether or not she has to trample those in her way.
"She wanted you. And Kaoru-san was in the way. I don't doubt that in the beginning she felt guilty. She probably still feels guilty, but she isn't about to let that stop her. But she was getting sloppy. If she returns to the Gouka, they will question her, and find out why she poisoned Kaoru. She will probably be killed. Ayaka let her feelings get in the way, and now she is marked for death."
"How do you know her?" Kenshin asked his voice rough.
"She is my cousin." Megumi said. Kenshin looked down. The woman is related to Ayaka but she wasn't on her side. Dizzily he realized she was on his side. She must not have cared too much for her own flesh and blood. Ayaka was worse than he ever thought. He should've known, but he was blind. He was blind to her underhandedness. If he had known Kaoru wouldn't be close to death.
Kaoru stirred and both Kenshin and Megumi looked at her. Her soft lips parted. Kenshin watched as her eyes slowly opened. Her twin pools of blue were hazy and contrasted with her sickly complexion. "Kenshin?" She managed to croak.
"I'm here." He said, instantly at her side. She smiled. Megumi got her anidote ready.
"Kaoru-san," Megumi said. Kaoru's eyes flickered to her. She was holding a cup. "Drink this." She offered it to her. Kenshin grabbed it and held the cup to her mouth. He slowly tipped the contents down her throat. She coughed but managed to swallow it all down.
"Are you trying to poison me some more?" She asked weakly. Kenshin smiled at the thought that she returned to her normal self. Absent-mindedly he stroked her hair. Her face was cold against his hand. She sighed and looked into his eyes. They were the stunning violet she saw a few times before. She dimly realized that this was Himura Kenshin not the Battousai.
Kaoru's strength was failing and she grew sleepy. Her eyes closed and she drifted to sleep with a faint smile. "She is going to be ok," said Megumi. "Just give her a couple of days for her to be at full strength." Kenshin nodded.
Although it was encouraging to see her progress, he couldn't erase the feeling of unease that this may be the last time he saw her. He tried to rationalize his instinct, but he was at a loss. Megumi had left to get some food. Kenshin caressed her cool skin. Leaning in, he felt her slow breath against his lips. He placed his mouth on top of hers and kissed her. He felt Kaoru waking slowly under him. Only when she returned to kiss did he know she wasn't sleeping anymore. He pulled away to look at her. There was fear in his eyes, a very sleepy Kaoru could tell. She was about to ask what haunted him when he kissed her again. This time it was deeper and more passionate. Kaoru lifted her heavy arms and clung to him like a lifeline. Kenshin's hands curled under her lifted her against him. They didn't want to part. They wanted to stay like this forever. But Kaoru was growing weak again. Kenshin slowly laid her back down against the cot. Kaoru looked at him. "Kenshin," She said. "I love you."
Kenshin felt his eyes go wide. She did just say what he thought she said? Her eyes watched him expectantly. Hee swallowed tried to make his voice work, if it was the last thing he did. Kaoru's face turned grave. He read doubt in her eyes. Oh no, he thought. Damn it why couldn't he just say it!
"I love you, too." He said. His heart was pounding. Kaoru smiled and went back to sleep. She loved him. He couldn't believe it. She loved him. He wanted to savor the thought for eternity. But he felt bad news heading his way. He stood up and felt a wave of cold air.
He frowned and walked outside to see Katsura staring at him with his arms crossed. "Himura-kun." He said. "We need you."
"What happened?" He asked his eyes amber and alert.
"The Shinsengumi are nearby. And we need you to fight."
"What about Kaoru?"
"Megumi said she would fine. Listen Kenshin this is important. You joined the Choshu to fight. Or you going to abandon that?"
"No." Kenshin said. "I'll fight."
"It's a good thing you can be reasonable." Katsura said and left.
Kenshin stared at the tent where Kaoru was feeling torn. Damn it, he thought. This was far more than he bargained for when he took the Kamiya mission. He turned his back on Kaoru and returned to the men, who were getting ready to fight. This was a war, but being with Kaoru made it seem like it wasn't. He sighed. She made him go soft, and forget his job. But he still loved her...
Sigh. I wish I could've written this better but this works. This is a pretty short chapter, and I'm sorry it's so late.
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Silent. Midnight. Rose.
