Rain of Blood
-revised-
Standard disclaimers apply, I don't own RK.
Chapter Four
Chase
Battousai slid the paper door open, expecting to see Kaoru lying on his futon as usual. He felt himself stiffen at the empty spot he saw; blood seemed to run cold in his veins as his eyes searched through the entire room urgently. Heartbeats pounded in his ears and he continued to rummage, hoping to see a glint of her azure eyes.
She's not here.
Battousai panicked.
She's not here…
It was impossible, he had only left here for no more than half an hour, did she forget about the fact that there was a wound on her leg and a fever tormenting her?
His hand went up to where his heart ached and his nails dug deep into his flesh. He did not want to go through this feeling again, he had to find her. His heart told him so.
He noticed there was something hidden under the blankets, and hauled them up discovering a pink ribbon. This ribbon belonged to Kaoru, how could he possibly not know? He picked it up and kept it safe in his hand.
In a matter of seconds his legs moved on their own, speeding out of his room for one purpose and that purpose only.
He had to find her.
Kaoru's whole body seemed paralyzed as she stood alone in the battering rain, staring at the torn and tattered house she had spent her life living in for the past sixteen years. She let out a warm foggy breath into the chilling air and squeezed her violet kimono for mental support.
She tried to lift her face up when she walked into the dojo, like a proud student her father once taught. Grey cinders specked the timber furniture her family used to own, reminding Kaoru of that night's blazing fire. Her very existence had been swept away and smoldered into ashes under the bleeding moon.
She shivered when a wind picked up causing layers of kimono fluttering heavily against her soaked skin. Gently, Kaoru stepped inside the largest room; paint had been torn off from the ceiling revealing fragments of burnt timber underneath, the only thing she recognized was the bokken stand. Her vision once again became blurry as she traced over the holder with trembling fingers.
"Otou-san… okaa-san…" tears slid down her cheeks.
"What's the matter, Kao-chan?" Her father placed his large hand over Kaoru's head, offering a warm smile.
"I lost! Shinn-nii-chan beat me again! It's all because I'm a girl…" she wailed.
Her father chuckled, his rich, deep voice echoed in her little mind.
"Kao-chan, it's not because you're a girl. It's because of this." He pointed at her head.
"My head?"
"What you think and what you believe. Before you pick up your bokken in your head you already lost, because you think girls are weaker than boys."
Kaoru's big eyes widened at his father's words.
"You are strong, Kao-chan. If you believe and never give up, you can achieve anything… I know you can."
Kaoru never expected she could never hear those words again. And her mother's smile… it used to be her strength. Anger and denial welled up inside of her, she was angry because she could not save them from silver blades, she was in denial because she did not understand who would want to do such a thing.
Yes, that was what she needed to find out, the man behind this murder. If that day ever comes, she swore she would…
WHAM!
Kaoru whirled around as she heard the noise, someone was coming! Her eyes darted from left to right, trying to find an appropriate place for her to hide. When she did, she sucked in her breath and waited quietly behind closed doors.
Through the crack, she managed to see a shadow standing in front of the doorway. Sweat formed on her forehead as her breathing became labored.
No, not now… her fever was getting a better hold of her, she tried to fight back the dizziness and begged the throbbing to stop. Onegai!
A young man with green gi stepped inside. His dark cold eyes explored around the damaged room carefully and he thinned his breathing. Barely, he could make out the quick inhales and exhales.
There. He pulled out his katana slowly and walked toward the source. His jet-black hair whipped around his face as he came nearer and nearer, his high ponytail danced in rhythm and stopped in time when he paused in front of a closet.
Kaoru's pupils enlarged when she saw his face through the crack. Her eyes were magnified to his black orbs and she remembered, he was the man that brought down the sword and ended her dream two days ago. There wasn't a trace of emotion when he looked down at her, and there still wasn't any now.
"I found you." He announced as if it was the last words for her to hear. The next second his sword came crashing down and Kaoru scarcely missed it just in time she rolled out. She yelped in pain as the wound on her leg ripped open and blood started to spread on her kimono. She bit her lip to stop herself from screaming and glared straight into his eyes.
"You." Anger flickered in her tone. "Whose orders are you obeying?"
"You should worry about yourself right now." The man once again came near her and raised his sword. "I won't let you escape again."
Kaoru blocked his blow with a piece of timber nearby, the edge of his sword embedded deep into the wood and Kaoru's hands shook from the weight. Pressing it further down the man leaned in his face and locked Kaoru's eyes with his once more.
"No use." He smashed the timber in half easily; Kaoru dragged herself away as far as possible. He stepped on the loose end of her kimono to stop her from moving. Kaoru scooped up a handful of dust and threw it at him, causing him to shut his eyes and drew back few steps. Kaoru took the chance and ran; gathering the last strength left in her and sped without looking back.
The man composed himself and followed the direction Kaoru had disappeared with a frown on his face.
She didn't know how long she had been running or where to head to, her eyesight was getting worse due to her headache and she wondered if the world was spinning. She avoided wide streets and crowds, not willing to bring danger to innocent people. Her warmth was slipping away, but she refused to give up. At last when her strengths betrayed her, she collapsed on the muddy ground with a soft thud and blinked her eyes weakly.
I cannot give up.
She squeezed her hands as tears wound up in her closed eyelids.
I cannot give up…
Rain skipped on her face and she struggled. It was as if her body weighed over a thousand tons.
"I… I promised myself I will never give up." She choked.
"It's enough."
Kaoru craned her neck slightly to see her murderer glaring down. His sword shone menacingly in his hands and as Kaoru stared at it, a face began to form in her mind.
"Kenshin…"
It was so strange; she did not expect to see him in her mind during her last remaining breaths.
"Meet your death Kamiya, as you should have two nights ago."
But the impact never came.
Kaoru felt herself being swooped up into someone's arms; she opened her eyes wearily to see wisps of amber hair, it felt so warm.
"Battousai?" The man called out and jumped back after Battousai held up his katana horizontally to block his attack.
Battousai's amber hair stood out under the pouring rain and his eyes were gleaming with anger. "Kanda." He acknowledged.
"What are you doing, Battousai? Unhand her." Kanda growled. "Katsura-sama wishes it."
His hold on Kaoru only tightened. He looked down at her and felt his heart jabbed by the sight. Blood were splashed on her face and her skin glowed in a shade of unhealthy pink, he touched her face and expectedly she was burning. He had to end this fast.
Battousai ripped off a piece of his blue gi and wrapped it around her wound; Kaoru grimaced and fell into unconsciousness. He watched her face with guilt and regret, silently vowing he would never let this happen again.
Ever.
After placing her softly against a tree trunk Battousai met face to face with his opponent. Holding his katana in place, he asked in a low tone.
"Did you do this to her?"
Kanda gripped his weapon and glared back. "They were orders."
At the blink of an eye Battousai disappeared and Kanda held up his katana to prevent the assault that was coming, Battousai lunged at Kanda from the air and roared in fury, the clashing sound of metal against metal vibrated throughout the rain as they both jumped back.
"Do you plan to betray Katsura-sama Battousai?" Kanda shouted.
Battousai did not bother to answer as he charged toward him again. In his mind words continued to repeat, she cannot die, she must live!
The organization Battousai belonged to had a manager, his name was Suou Katsura. He gave orders to his assassins; men like Kanda and himself obey him and kill for him only. They had one ultimate goal- to overthrow the state of Bakumatsu regime. It was for the sake of a brighter future, Katsura told them. It was his belief.
Unfortunately, they had to assassinate people related to the government as well.
Kaoru's father was one of them.
"I know that!" Battousai snarled and swung his blade, scarring Kanda's left arm. "I don't believe someone like her will become a threat to us."
"She is no exception." Kanda wielded his sword again and Battousai blocked it. "This is the first time I've seen you protecting someone." He pushed his weight on his katana with a grunt and aimed for Battousai's stomach. "Did you fall in love with her Battousai?"
Battousai leaped away and stared at his black eyes.
Did I? Is that the reason why I care for her this much?
I don't know.
Kanda released a yell and ran toward him, Battousai grasped his katana firmly and prepared himself.
I don't know, but I will protect her!
Kanda changed his direction suddenly due to Battousai's alarm, and he dashed toward the tree with full speed.
"Kaoru!"
SLASH!
Kanda's pupils expanded in shock, the tip of his sword entered Battousai's left shoulder when it should have had been Kaoru's throat. Battousai's right hand gripped his blade tightly as his blood trickled down the edge. Slowly, he pulled out Kanda's sword out of his shoulder, coughing out blood in order to do so but he did not hesitate.
On the corner of Kanda's mouth, blood began to drip also. Battousai's katana had driven deep into his stomach; he stared at his gash and smiled ridiculously to himself.
"As expected from the most fearsome assassin…" Kanda choked as Battousai threw Kanda's katana to the ground, and withdrew his own sword.
"We fought together once, I will not kill you today." Battousai replied coldly.
Kanda fell to the ground and watched as Battousai picked up Kaoru. He was stunned to see worry in his amber eyes.
"Kaoru…" Battousai whispered, savoring the feel of his tongue rolling out her name.
I just want to protect you.