Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin
Chapter Six:
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On the same night. . .
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"I FOUND IT!"
"What? A job?"
"A job? NO! THIS!" Yahiko said, shoving the advertisement into Kaoru's face. It was an ad for an 'ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET' at Akebeko's."
"A. . . food. . . ad. . . ." Kaoru said, her voice quivering with anger.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that? Hey, It's a bargain we are talking about here! $10.99 for 1 person, $20 for 2! Great huh?"
Kaoru took a deep breath.
"Yahiko, my dear. . . Idiotic, BROTHER!" she shouted as she whacked him with her bokken.
"What's your problem now busu?"
"Problem? What's my problem? I'll tell you what's my problem. How about, we don't have money because we don't have a job, and I have a one-track minded brother, whose thoughts are on food ALL THE TIME! YOU ARE SUCH A PIG!"
"Hey! I resent that statement! By the way, since it takes one to know one, you are actually admitting you're a pig yourself. Oh wait, I would not expect you to know that, after all you don't have a brain, do you?"
"Why, you little BRAT!" Kaoru shouted, picking up her bokken. "Just wait till I get my hands on you."
"HA HA! The pig is trying to catch me, let's hope she don't fall down and go rolling down the stairs."
"THAT'S IT! GET BACK HERE!"
"Neh neh!" Yahiko shouted back running out of the apartment, with Kaoru hot on his heels.
Silence filled the air in the remote field. The long lemon grass swayed in the light breeze, the moon shone brightly in the night, alone.
"I know you're here. SHOW YOURSELF BATTOUSAI!"
Within the shadows, a figure appeared, with amber eyes that reflected the moon's beams. He took slow, silent steps towards the man who has called him out to challenge.
"I never knew the great Battousai would be afraid to show his presence to someone like me."
"I never knew a man like you would be stupid enough to think that you could beat me."
Silence filled the air once more. It seem as though both men were deep in thought. For Okita, he was trying very hard to predict his opponent's next move. For battousai, he seemed to be meditating.
"Well, aren't you going to strike?"
Okita receive no answer.
"Answer me!"
Still, Battousai remained silent, eyes closed.
"Fine, then prepare to die!" Okita said as he unsheathed his sword, and charged towards Battousai.
"Sayonara, manslay. . ." Just before Okita could finish his sentence, his attack was cut short when battousai defended himself with his katana. His movement was so swift and powerful, it practically caused Okita to withdraw back into his sword stance once more.
'I underestimated him! His sword strength is way more powerful than I thought. . . ." his judgments were interrupted by battousai's very words:
"If you are finish, then I think it's my turn now."
Upon hearing those words, Okita's blood froze, his face turned as white as a ghost, his heart was pounding so hard to the extent that it seem it was on the verge of breaking out of his chest.
But before Okita could do anything, Battousai disappeared.
'What the hell! I lost him.' Okita thought. Just as one of his sweat droplets trickled off his cheek, a battle cry was heard from behind him as battousai swung his katana forward.
The blade came in contact with Okita's skin, as blood sprung out of the freshly made wound.
The pain was so intensifying that Okita could not even have the energy to cry in pain. All he could do was try to prevent too much blood from flowing.
Battousai landed promptly a distance away from Okita.
"Your heart tells me that you are getting a bit panicky. Are you feeling. . .lost? Helpless? In pain?"
"Shut up!" Okita replied as he dashed forward, trying desperately to slash battousai. Sadly, his efforts came to no avail, as Battousai either avoided the attacks or blocked them with his katana. Once more, Battousai brought his katana down upon Okita, slashing other deep wound across his chest.
Okita withdraw, holding his chest, feeling much pain and agony.
"Tsk tsk, is this all the lackey of Saitou can do? I met swordsmen with far more superior moves than those. You really disappoint me."
Okita did not really take much attention to what Battousai had to say. His mind seemed to be in a state of shock. Thoughts whirled like a twister in his head, as he himself did not know what to do next.
'I'm losing too much blood, I suppose the only thing that can save me now is to run and hide.' He thought. Hesitating no further, he took the risk and ran as fast as his legs could carry him towards the dark, misty woods.
Battousai watched as the weak Okita dash into the woods. A sadistic smile took form on his face.
"Fool," he smirked.
"TAKE THAT!"
"OWWW! OK! I give up! You win!"
"Hmmph! That will teach you a lesson in respecting your elders."
"Yeah, true, I agree you are old. . . ." Yahiko's sentence was interrupted when Kaoru raised her bokken once more to strike him on the head.
"What did you say? I did not quite catch your statement."
"Heh, heh, I meant how young you are" Yahiko said smiling.
"That's better."
It seemed that thee duo had brought their fight to outside of the motel they lived in. And it had finally ended with Kaoru having her sweet revenge on her brother.
"Anou. . ."
Both siblings looked at the strange woman that had greeted them. She was rather plump, and had very heavy make-up on. She was dressed in a beautiful black cheongsam (A/N: Traditional Chinese Dress) with pink Sakura flower patterns on it. She also wore a beautiful pearl necklace, and her hair was tied up in a bun.
"You talking to us?"
"Yes, indeed. You see, this fine, young lady here seemed to have caught my attention."
There was a long pause upon hearing that peculiar statement. To Yahiko, it was pure ignorance on the woman's part, to Kaoru, It seemed as utter amazement.
"Me?"
"Well, I don't see any other beautiful lady as yourself here, don't I?"
"You GOT to be kidding? Busu? Beautiful? Lady, no offence, but I think you need to get your eyes checked." Yahiko said. And for that, he received a huge whack on the head from Kaoru, knocking him out cold.
"That should shut him up for a while," Kaoru said feeling quite pleased of herself.
"Gomen! I am sorry for his behavior, miss. . ."
"Ryna, Takeji Ryna."
"Oh, yes, thousands apologies Miss Takeji."
"It's all right. Now as I was saying, I live around this area. And I notice that you just moved here and have trouble finding a job."
"Yes, I do!"
"Good. You see, I do have a job opening at my working place, and you seem to have just fit the caliber."
"Wow!"
"If you agree, you'll be paid about 10,000 yen for your salary. And perhaps even more., depending on the situation. You don't mind that do you?"
"Me? No, no! It's fine! I am happy enough that I will be paid."
Good, you can start tonight then. Come down around 11 to Ryna's Teahouse."
The moment the word 'Teahouse' was mentioned, Kaoru's smile died down. To Kaoru, her impression with Teahouses was not a very good one, especially when she did not have a good experience with them.
"I'm sorry, but what exactly is my job?"
"Oh, that's simple, you will be one of our waitresses. Your job is just to serve drinks to the customers as well as 'entertain' them."
Kaoru's heart stopped beating for a moment.
'Entertain?' was the only word in her mind at that moment.
"I am sorry," she said abruptly. "I don't think I am interested in this job anymore."
"Why not?"
"Well, first things first, though I may be desperate to get a job, I am still a woman from a respectable family background. And thus, I will not resort to 'that' kind of methods to obtain money."
"But honey. . ."
"Sorry, but my mind is made up. Please respect my decision." Kaoru said and she picked up her brother, and made her way into the motel.
"Wait! Ok, how about, you just come and serve tables."
Kaoru paused in her movements, in her mind, she was a having bitter argument on whether to accept this job or not. Finally, she gave her reply.
"Ok. As long as I won't be entertaining, it's fine with me."
"Fantastic! I will see you then. Oh, by the way, I will be sending one of my men Ricky to pas you your uniform at around 10.30."
"Fine, see you then." Kaoru said softly. In her heart, she blamed herself for accepting such a degrading job. But she knew, that this was the only way. The other thing she was worried about was how to tell her brother, Yahiko.
(Breathing heavily)
'Shit.' Okita soon found himself in a helpless position. Not only was his wounds bleeding profusely, he also had Battousai hot on his heels.
Soon, he heard the rustle of leaves, and the crunching sound of twigs breaking.
'He's coming.' Okita thought as he tightened the grip on his sword.
True enough, he soon saw a dark figure, bangs covering his deadly amber eyes. The figure suddenly stops his movements, as if he knew that what he had came for was already in his range. Then, without any warning, he disappeared.
'Damn! Where did he go again?' Okita's answers soon came when he saw none other than Battousai in front of him.
"boo. . ."
With that, Battousai delivered Ryu Kan Sen, an upfront technique, confirmed to make a huge impact on the receiver. In Okita's case, though he managed to block it, the impact of the two swords meeting sent him falling back into the center of the woods.
Battousai made his way slowly towards the half dead man. Being a stubborn man, Okita struggled his way back up into his sword stance, ready to strike once more.
"It is time. . ." Battousai said softly, as he got into position for one of his deadliest moves. Okita himself got ready to receive any blow Battousai was about to give him. Soon, he leapt up high into the air, raising his katana, he cried out:
"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, Ryu Tsui Sen!"
(Silence)
Death filled the cold air, as the smell of blood could be scented.
Battousai looked down on at the dead Okita. He smirked at his pathetic opponent. Too easy, he thought. Once more, in a swift movement, he flicked the blood off the blade of his katana and sheathes it once more. Then he made his way out of the woods, leaving the bloody scene as it is.
At 10.50. . .
(Running)
"Shitmate! I'm going to be so late! I should have known Sano would be THAT cheap as to buy us a half-broken clock." Kaoru said as she sped her way through the endless crowd of people.
Kaoru's new uniform was not exactly something that had any doubts of turning any heads. It was a baby pink cheongsam with a phoenix pattern on it. She was also required to wear high heels and stocking as well.
"Great, JUST great! First Yahiko's nagging, now this. I'm practically lost!" she said, scratching her head.
"What am I to do now?"
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Earlier that night. . . .
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"Yahiko, I'm going out! Supper's in the fridge, and don't stay up too late!"
"Hey where are you going at this hour?"
"Me? Oh! I received a call just now from one of my old friends living here in Kyoto. She asked me to have a drink with her, and she will only be free at this time."
"Weird. And why are you dressing like that?"
"Well, a girl my age has to look nice right?"
"YOU? Don't make me puke!"
"You are lucky I am already late. Or else you would be done for!"
"Yeah, yeah! Hey be back soon k?"
"K!"
"And avoid talking to weirdoes like yourself."
"Shut up!"
"Excuse me! Do you know the way to Ryna's Teahouse?" Kaoru asked one of the passer-bys. Instead of receiving an answer, all she got was his stare. He scrutinized her from head to toe, as if he was somehow trying to depict what kind of person she was.
"Erm. . . never mind."
'Guess it's time for Plan B.'
Kaoru then proceeded to try to look out for the crowd in hope that she will be able to spot Ryna's Teahouse, by their signboard. Finally, despite she being short, her efforts paid off.
Kaoru rushed as fast as her legs could carry her, she did not look where she was heading to, and as a result. . . .
"OUCH!" Kaoru cried out as her bottom hit the hard, concrete pavement.
"Itai. . . ., HEY! Why don't you watch where you're going?" she said as she rubbed her sore bottom.
". . ."
"Hey I'm talking to you. . ." she suddenly gasped, because she was utterly stunned by the person in front of her.
He was wearing a long, black over-all coat. It had a hood, which covered most of his face. Yet still, one can still see his cold amber eyes, and scarlet red hair.
"I know you!" Kaoru said, as she tried her best to pick herself up without revealing too much.
". . ."
"You're that guy from the park! Hey I have a score to settle with you! That day . . .that incident. . ." Kaoru began rattling on and on about the incident that happened between the both of them in the park that day, without taking much note about the time.
". . . So what do you have to say for yourself?" she finally ended.
"About?" he finally spoke.
"About the way you treated me!"
"So?"
"You are. .. . YOU ARE. . . .ARGH!" Kaoru finally said. She felt as if she was about to blow like an erupting volcano.
"Oh shit!" she exclaimed, as she realized that it was already 11.15.
"Now not only have you made me dirty part of my attire, you also made me late for my job. Great, thanks A LOT!"
". . . your welcome." He said as he began making his way past her and continue walking through the crowd, until he finally disappeared.
Kaoru watched helplessly as the stranger once more 'got away'. But she really did not bother, as now what was on her mind was to get to her workplace as quickly as possible.
"AH! Battousai, over here!" Katsura said, as he waved towards his best assassin.
Battousai walked towards his the only man who had the power to call him in that manner.
"The mission has been accomplished sir."
"Excellent! I knew you wouldn't let me down."
". . . ."
"Ah yes, Come now! We mustn't keep them waiting."
Battousai looked up after hearing what Katsura had spoken.
"Waiting?"
"Yes, honestly you would have know me better by now! We are going to celebrate your victory! After all, this was the most important mission you could have ever accomplished so far! It was only natural that we celebrate this occasion, and what better way than in the city of Kyoto!"
"Sir, the car is ready."
"Right then, come along Battousai. We are off to Ryna's Teahouse, the best teahouse in town." He said, as he got up from his seat, and together with Battousai, made his way to the car waiting outside.
Battousai's moves:
1) Ryu Kan Sen - "Dragon Wrap Flash" - This move may be performed when the swordsman is next to an opponent. The swordsman, using his whole body, directly hits the area below the skull of the opponent creating some damage.
2) Ryu Tsui Sen - "Dragon Hammer Flash" - This is where the swordsman jumps really high and then slams down the opponent. This is probably Kenshin's favorite move since he uses most of the time.