Rain of Blood

-revised-

Standard disclaimers apply, I don't own RK.

Chapter Five

Whispers of the Night

I am a killer. I fought for justice. I fought for pain. But no one I have met in my blood-shedding life, drove me like you. I breathed for you, Kaoru. I would have killed for you.

Battousai watched the sleeping girl on the futon, completely unsure on what to do besides staring at her delicate face. There were times when he reached out his hand wanting to touch her but after moments he would always withdrew his hands and sigh to himself.

There were too many questions, too many gaps between them. He wanted to know so much more about her than just her name.

He glanced at his katana resting nearby, he knew he just made the biggest mistake an assassin could have ever done- he betrayed the head of his organization. Kanda probably went back and informed Katsura-sama about it and understanding the procedure that would follow better than anyone else… Battousai weighed his punishment; it would not be taken lightly that was for sure.

A slight knock brought Battousai to his attention; he turned his head in time to see a woman in her late twenties step inside.

"Megumi-dono." Battousai dropped his head politely.

"Ah. Himura-san, how is the girl?" Megumi put down a tray of medical equipment and kneeled on the opposite side from Battousai with Kaoru in the middle.

"She's been sleeping." He replied quietly and watched Kaoru with tranquil eyes. In a way, it was Battousai's kind of gentleness.

Megumi studied his face in silence. "Does Katsura-sama know about this?"

Battousai shook his head.

"You know he won't be pleased to hear this. Who is this young woman?"

"Her name is Kaoru, Kamiya Kaoru."

Megumi's eyes widened and words escaped her mouth, "Himura-san! You know the consequences! What on this blood-spattering world have gotten in you? Have you lost your mind?"

"I am not losing my mind," Kenshin said firmly and looked into the doctor's eyes. "I know what I'm doing. It's too late to turn back now."

Shock and confusion swarmed in Megumi's head. Her gaze stayed on Battousai's face, then switched to Kaoru's face, then back to him again. "Why are you doing this?"

Battousai did not answer.

Megumi gave out a loud sigh and changed the question. "Do you know her?"

Battousai shook his head again.

Megumi had the urge to yell at his face to get some sense into this man but she understood his stubbornness all too well. Feeling somewhat exhausted she adjusted her pose and straightened her back. "I don't know what you are thinking but know this, it was not a smart move."

Silence was his answer, she did not mind. Looking down at Kaoru once more, her perfectly oval-shaped face, dark long eyelashes, cherry lips and beautiful black hair, Megumi's face softened. It was the first time to see Battousai willing to spend his time on someone, in fact, saving her despite the consequences. She stared at the bandages wrapped around Battousai's torso and asked gently. "How is your wound?"

"It's nothing. It'll heal soon enough."

Yes, she knew he would say that.

Megumi dipped a small piece of dry cloth into the water and squeezed it, "I think she has magical powers, Kamiya Kaoru,"

Battousai looked at her in question.

"Over the years I spent working under Katsura-sama, I am the one who always treat your wounds every time you got injured." Megumi put the wet cloth on Kaoru's forehead as she continued speaking, "Not once I've seen you with a look with emotions swimming in those eyes."

Battousai remained quiet as she looked back at him and smiled. "But I saw it today, Battousai's gentleness."

He turned his head to another direction and closed his eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Megumi sighed, "Still not used to this kind of situation I assume. That's fine," she stood up to leave and paused on the way out. "Don't worry, my people won't tell Katsura-sama any of this."

She smiled when she heard him say thank you and walked down the corridor into the darkness.

＊

"Megumi-san, where is Ken-… Battousai?" Kaoru asked when she opened her eyes and absorbed Megumi's explanation on what had happened one night ago.

"So he told you his name?" Megumi chuckled.

"Gomen nasai! I didn't mean to…"

"It's all right, he'll be back."

Kaoru felt her whole body relaxing upon hearing about him. She looked at Megumi from beside, "Megumi-san… I don't know how to thank you, you don't have to do this."

"There is no need to thank me, Himura-san is the one that brought you here."

A small smile tugged at Kaoru's lips. "Yes… I want to thank him properly. Do you know when he is coming back?"

"Soon, he'll be back soon." Megumi answered, Kaoru did not catch the concern in her eyes when their eyes met, Megumi wondered if she should tell her about the situation they were in at this moment.

"Megumi-san?" Kaoru asked in a small voice.

"Yes?"

"You are very kind."

Megumi froze at her spot, blinking her eyes several times. "Ah." She was starting to understand now, why Battousai was willing to save her.

Right now, let this girl rest.

Megumi didn't want her to worry; truth was always a cruel thing.

"Katsura-sama, Himura Battousai has arrived."

"Bring him in."

A man in black gi bowed and retreated out of the main room. A few moments later Battousai stepped inside. He kneeled on the floor and touched the ground with his forehead. His heart thumped and his eyes were glued to the tatami sheets, waiting for his ultimate punishment.

He heard Katsura chuckle. "Maa maa, Himura. No need for formalities."

Battousai obeyed and straightened his back.

He decided to come back to face his penalty, but, to keep his vow he would not tell a single thing about Kaoru. When Battousai made up his mind there was no one who could change it, that was why he was kneeling here facing Suou Katsura and not even afraid to look at him straight into the eyes.

Katsura was his boss, after all.

Battousai did not plan to betray him yet.

"How is everything going?"

Battousai raised his eyebrow slightly, where was Katsura going with this?

"Fine, I suppose."

He glanced at Battousai's wound.

"We are at war, I see blood everywhere nowadays." The assassin listened quietly. "It is not an easy task I know, but I am fighting hard to achieve our goal. Do you feel the same?"

Battousai remembered that rainy night when Kaoru bumped into him.

"You, you made the rain of blood fall."

They were her first words to him.

Blood was something not foreign to him, he lived with it everyday. When he held his katana, blood will fall from the sky, when he wielded his blade, he would taste the metallic droplets from the corner from his mouth. Battousai was destined to walk down this path.

"Yes." Was all he said.

Their conversation continued for a short while, much to Battousai's confusion Katsura did not mention a word about his fight with Kanda. His eyebrows thinned into a frown when he strolled down the corridor, trying to find a reasonable explanation.

A shadow passed by suddenly, snapping out of his thoughts Battousai whirled around to see Kanda leaning against the wall with his arms folded.

"Kanda." Battousai noticed the bandages around his torso also and his mind clicked.

"Why didn't you tell Katsura-sama?"

Kanda's lips formed into a cold smirk. "I just don't want to owe you anything, we're even now." He pointed toward his wound. "But next time, I will not lose."

"… We'll see about that."

Kanda's black orbs clashed against Battousai's fiery ones as they both stood in silence. During this short period of time they exchanged strengths, means of rivalry, and men's respect toward each other through their eyes.

"Is she alive?" Kanda's question was something unexpected.

Battousai knew who he was referring to. "Ah."

"Do you plan to keep her?"

"Ah." He responded with determination.

"Sou…"

The next moment they split their directions, Kanda walking deeper into the corridor with a smirk and Battousai to the exit with his mind set. Words needn't to be said, the answer was clearly on his face, and that was enough.

Yes, he would keep her with him.