A/N Hello again.well being that I had a very serious threat from a few
friends of mine.you know how you are ^_- I thought I would hurry and
update.and here it is!! I'll shut up now and get right to the story. Oh
and Thank you Shadow girl for the review ^_^x
Disclaimer: I do not own the red-headed samurai known as Kenshin.
Devotion
By
Melissa Aka Angle1 ^_^x
************************************************************************
Chapter 1
" Karou I don't mind cooking dinner tonight, that I don't" Kenshin argued as he and Karou walked around town, gathering the ingredients they would need to make dinner.
" Nope, I don't care what those two good for nothing freeloaders think of my cooking, they don't pay me for the food, so why should I cook like a restaurant." Karou said in a singsong voice, shaking her head, causing waves of her raven hair to swish about, and continued down the crowded dusty street, her arms full of groceries. Kenshin too had a load of groceries to care for.
" Would you like for me to carry some of those heavy packages?" he asked, as they weaved in and out of the crowd. The slight and constant hum of the passers by did not at all distract Kenshin from the girl in front of him
" No Kenshin I can handle it." she cheerfully, turning to look back at him with a smile, the sun flashing in her sapphire eyes.
Kenshin shook his head and smiled, nothing was going to bring his Karou down. Not now that he had asked her permission to court her. She seemed to be on cloud nine and nothing was bringing her back to earth. A month ago Kenshin had finally worked up the courage to ask Karou if she would allow him to court her. Sano had been teasing him about how his love for Karou was as plain as the scar on his face, and wondered why he bothered to hide it anymore. Kenshin was surprised at Sano's remark even though he had been telling him things like that for months.
When he asked, he had expected some yelling and screaming and a big dose of the Kamiya temper, but he was extremely surprised when Karou threw herself in his arms and cried. Mumbling about how she had waited for that moment ever since they meet a year and a half ago.
The redheaded Rurouni applauded himself for asking her, but mentally kicked himself for one big mistake on his part.. he asked Karou in front of the entire group, and the feedback was instantaneous.
` Flashback` {A/N Hey do you realize just how many flash backs are in a episode of RK not to mention the movies? Just a thought} ************************
" All right Kenshin, It's about time you asked her." Sanosuke said laughing and slapping Kenshin on the back so hard that he almost hit the table.
" What the heck is wrong with you Kenshin? Why would you want to date Busu? ( gagging sounds). Yahiko shouted from his side of the table. That promptly earned him a bowl of rice to the head.
" Yahiko you little jerk, you're not going to ruin this moment for me!" shouted Karou as she got ready to throw another bowl at him. Thankfully Kenshin swiftly took the bowl out of Karou's hands and instantly replaced it with a chopstick, which bounced harmlessly off the boy's head.
Karou, as she normally did, changed her mood swiftly and turned to Megumi and started to gloat. " Ha Miss Megumi, you thought you would get Kenshin? Well your not! HA HA. He asked me, not you." She pointed at Megumi and made a face at her. Megumi was sitting peacefully watching the couple up until that point. She was happy for Kenshin and Karou, and as Sano said, it was about time too. But Megumi could never stand the girl's impulses to prove herself.
" Why Sir Ken is just testing the water, he wouldn't want to jump into the dating pool with out testing on a guinea pig first." She said smoothly, flicking her hair and winking at Kenshin.
" ARE YOU CALLING ME A PIG?" Karou screamed as she stood up, Megumi quickly followed.
" No I am," Shouted Yahiko,
" Shut up you brat!" Sano hissed.
" Hey who are you calling a brat."
" Now, now" Came Kenshin's plea, but was drowned out by Ayame's and Suzume"s chants of " Uncle Kenny and Aunty Karou are in lo-ove."
" Why would Sir Ken want a violent, working girl like you who doesn't even know how to cook?!"
"Hey no one is forcing the food down your throat, AND I'M NOT VIOLENT!!"
In the end Sano and Kenshin had to drag the two away from each other's throats. All in all the night was about the same as any other.
` End flashback`*******************************
Kenshin jerked back to reality and laughed silently to himself as he kept an ever-watchful eye on Karou as she walked ahead of him. There was rarely a time when the group didn't fight, but they fought like family.
Family, Kenshin never thought he'd see the day when he would belong to a family. He could not have picked better people for the job. He loved Sano and Yahiko like brothers. Megumi, was like his older sister even though she's younger than him, Ayame and Suzume where like his nieces, they called him uncle anyway, and Doctor Gensi the wise old man of the family, always there to give advise when needed. And Karou. his beautiful Karou, she was like the backbone of the family. Why if it weren't for her, Kenshin would have never meet everyone. It was strange to think that the family only consisted of Karou, Ayame and Suzume and Dr. Gensai. But the family started to grow at a rapid pace after Karou opened her home and her heart to Kenshin, after that, she seemed to pick up everyone who seemed to need a home or a friend. Not to mention anyone who wanted to learn the Kamiya fighting style.
Years of being Battousai the Manslayer, had taught him to be wary of strangers. He often cringed at Karou's trusting demeanor, and found himself constantly guarding her from the dangers of Tokyo. Yet not one of Karou's charity cases seemed to go wrong. Mostly Karou was in danger was when an old enemy had finally found him, or when some one wanted to fight it out with the former Manslayer. It was always a backlash from him that got her in danger and sometimes hurt. He often toyed with the idea of leaving in the middle of the night, for Karou's own safety. Yet every time he set out to leave his own greediness stopped him. He was greedy for a family, to belong somewhere, he was greedy for Karou and couldn't see himself with out her by his side, he'd always turn right around and slip back in his room without a second thought to the matter.
Sighing, Kenshin again shook his thoughts out of his head and again concentrated on Karou as she weaved her way in and out of the crowed street. When they finally made it to a part of the town that was less crowded, Kenshin stepped up and walked next to Karou. " Karou-dono really, I don't mind cooking dinner. You had a busy day today, that you have."
" Kenshin drop the dono, please." Karou sighed, shifting the packages in her arms, and turning to look at him. Truth was, Karou didn't really mind the honorific, she knew Kenshin was so use to calling her that, and he had never called her otherwise, it was how he knew her, it was all he knew. Karou sighed a little and looked over at him as he gazed back at her with his amethyst eyes, knowing full well that a host of emotions were being played behind them and that Kenshin would never share them with her. 'Why Kenshin? Why wont you let me in.' she thought. All she wanted was for him to talk to her and tell her his feelings. But she knew that it would take time for the ex-samurai to open himself to a person again and she didn't want to rush him. She shook the thoughts from her mind and continued the conversation. " How long will it take me to break you of that habit?" she asked cheerfully, and giving Kenshin a smile that speed up his heart. Kenshin was about to answer when shouts where heard.
Karou paused in the middle of the almost deserted street and listened, Kenshin had barley turned back around, when he saw Karou bolt toward the shouts. " Karou-dono!" He shouted and ran after her, why did she always act so reckless. " Karou-dono wait, it may be dangerous." But the girl had already spotted the source of the shouts. They came from an alleyway between two restaurants. Three rather large and slightly drunk men had hold of a young woman. The shouts where because the woman was not taking the handling very well.
" I wouldn't go anywhere with any of you for a million yen! And if you know what's good for you, you'll let me go before I make you let me go!" She jerked at her arms but only managed to free one of them. " You'll be sorry when you loose that hand!" she added.
" She sure is courageous." Karou whispered, as she watched the girl. Karou always hated seeing people terrorized, but it was rare to see the victim terrorizing the criminals. The young woman reminded Karou of herself, strong and unwilling to be the weak one.
" That she is." Agreed Kenshin, who stared at the strangely dress girl. Not much of her could be seen, for she wore a midnight blue cloak that covered most of her body. The hood of the cloak had fallen, reviling a pale young woman as beautiful as the night. Though something about the woman caught Kenshin, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
" Kenshin! Don't just stand there and stare, we got to help!" Karou snapped at him and turned away to drop her packages safely at the corner of the alleyway, and then promptly marched down to the struggling group.
" Oro..Wait Karou!" Kenshin unceremoniously dropped his packages and followed.
" HEY!" Karou shouted stepping up to the biggest man holding the woman. " It's not nice to grab at young women, I should know, I'm a woman, and I wouldn't like to be handled that way. Now let her go!" the drunken man loomed overhead and glared down at her. Karou suddenly whished she had her bokken so she could knock the smile off his face.
The woman looked over her shoulder at Karou and broke into a smile so wide, Karou could have sworn that the woman was enjoying the fight. " Hi" she said. Her stunning bright green eyes lighting up.
" Uh..Hi" Karou said in return, slightly confused at the woman's cheerful demeanor. " We want to help you." Karou continued.
The woman pulled again, but she was not let go. " Oh no that's alright, you don't have to trouble yourself, I can handle it." Karou was about to argue when Kenshin walked up and placed a hand on her shoulder to quiet her.
" It's no trouble at all Miss, and besides three to one is not fair." Kenshin said with a grin. The woman stared at Kenshin for a moment before breaking into another smile.
" Really I'm alright,.I wouldn't want you to get hurt." The woman insisted sweetly.
Karou scoffed and drew her self up," Ha us, get hurt, I'm the Assistant Master of the Kamiya Ka-"
" Quiet!" roared the large man holding the girl. Karou immediately shut her mouth. " Now, IF you three are done visiting, I believe that my friends and I were about to snack on this beauty." The two smaller men grinned and snickered and stepped back into the fight.
" I believe the woman asked you to let her go, and you will let her go gently, that you will." Kenshin said sternly as he pulled Karou behind him.
" KEN-SHIN.this is MY fight!" Karou screamed, barging past him and knocking him off his feet.
" Oro," Kenshin got to his feet quickly, but Karou had already approached the men. " Karou step back!" he warned, the familiar sharp edge of protection stabbed at him, and he placed his hand on the hilt of his sakabatou. Battousai itched for a fight, but none of them had done anything to hurt Karou-dono yet, and that was the only thing that stopped him from actually drawing his blade.
" Oh, look guys." One of the smaller men called out. " The little girl, and shrimp boy with a sword, thinks they have what it takes to stop us." All three burst into laughter, and turned away.
Karou literally bristled at the comment and stalked up to them again and tapped the big one on the back. The man turned, " Hey little missy, you want to join us?"
" Leave her alone! Or I swear you'll be extremely sorry!" shouted the woman, still struggling against the man's grip.
" Hey, are you three so dense that you can understand what we are telling you? Let the girl go!" Karou shouted.
The shouts from the women seemed to only irritate the biggest man and he sighed. " Listed lady, if your not going to join us then leave."
" Not until you let her go!" Karou argued back just as loud.
" Fine have it you way." Said the man, and he pivoted on his heal and took a backhanded swing at Karou.
" Karou!" Kenshin shouted, seeing the movement, and knowing that he would never reach her in time. Karou tried to duck, but was hit anyway. She was sent flying back and she hit the wall of the alleyway with a thud and fell into the one and only mud puddle in the whole alley.
Everyone froze and watched as Karou struggled to sit up, when she did she looked at her ruined Kimono and whispered {everyone together now ^_^} " And this was the first time I wore this Kimono too."
" Karou, are you alright." Kenshin gasped, his eyes wide with worry.
" Yes Kenshin I'm fine." Karou tried to stand but her ankle gave out and she fell back into the puddle. Apparently she wasn't fine.
Kenshin's eyes narrowed and the soft amethyst of his eyes turned hard as he turned back to the group of men. 'they dare lay a hand on my Karou.thank you forgiving me a reason to kill you.' Battousai snarled in his head as he slowly began to unsheathe his sakabatou. But he stopped abruptly when he was overcome with a warrior's spirit. Kenshin glanced around swiftly to see where the Chi could be coming from.it didn't take him long to find out.
" That's IT!," the woman shouted, " Hurting me is fine, but when you involve innocent people, it gets personal!" the woman grabbed the man's arm that was holding her and used it as leverage as she jumped up and kicked one of the smaller men straight in the teeth, knocking him out completely.
Now that the larger man was off balance, the woman was able to wrench her arm free. She landed softly on the ground and crouched and kicked upwards, straight at the other smaller mans' knees. A sickening cracking sound insured to her that she broke at least one of his legs. The smaller man fell to the ground screaming in agony, before fainting in pain. All this happened at a great speed, but Kenshin and Karou could easily follow. But what happened next, even Kenshin could hardly catch.
The woman jumped away from the largest man and slid her hands into her cloak, pulling out half a dozen four-inch throwing knives. Then, swifter then Kenshin could follow, the woman threw the knives so hard at the man, that he was forced back and he was pinned by his gi to the wooden wall of the alley. The woman walked over to the cursing man and punched him in the face; the man was out cold and the only thing holding him up were the throwing knives.
Suddenly the fight was over, applause were heard at the entrance of the alley, and Kenshin, Karou, and the woman turned to find a large group of people who had been watching the fight; seeing now that it was over they quickly started to leave. Kenshin's eyes swiftly returned to their soft Rurouni purple, and he looked down at his half drawn sword, before sheathing it. " Karou!" he called as he sprinted up to her and crouched on the ground. " Are you alright?"
" Yes Kenshin, I said I was fine, but could you help me up please."
" Oh. yes Karou-dono" he said, happy now that there appeared to be no lasting damage. But he wouldn't truly be happy until he had Dr. Gensai or Megumi examine her. They wrapped their arms around each other and Kenshin slowly lifted Karou back on her feet. Kenshin tried to not notice how nice she felt in his arms, instead he tried to worry about her left ankle . " It may just be a sprain Karou-dono."
" I'm so sorry you got hurt." Said the woman. Both Karou and Kenshin jumped, having almost forgotten all about the strange woman. She had walked right up to them and they had not noticed, for they were too immersed in themselves.
" Oh it's nothing really, besides, you did try and warn me." Karou said smiling to show she really meant it.
" You have a strong warrior's spirit that you do Miss, it was a wonder I didn't sense it before the fight." Kenshin said, taking a good look at the woman up close. Big bright leaf green eyes looked back at him, she had hair so black it was reflecting blue, and she was pale as the moonlight. Her beauty stunned Kenshin, how could a woman a beautiful as her, become such and accomplished fighter? Kenshin mentally slapped himself, Karou was the most beautiful woman he knew and she was a great swordswoman. 'Besides Kenshin you shouldn't be gazing at other women' " How long have these men been trailing you?"
Karou stared at Kenshin and was about to ask him how he knew they were following her, but decided to trust Kenshin's better judgment. He could see little details that she couldn't, and he knew how to put them together to form a clue.
" About three days; they tried to keep themselves hidden, but I spotted them easily, besides they made as much noise as a heard of cattle." The woman said as she pulled out her knives from the wall two by two, the man's limp body fell to the ground. The Knives instantly disappeared back under the cloak. She then lifted the hood of her cloak to hide her midnight hair.
" Are you some sort of fighter, or ninja?" Karou asked eagerly.
" What?..No, no, no. I'm..just a wanderer, that's all." The woman said staring at the ground, her tone became automatic, as if she told everyone that. Kenshin knew that she was lying, but he wasn't one to pry.until absolutely necessary.
Karou laughed, " Boy, does THAT sound familiar." She said staring straight at Kenshin. Kenshin blushed, that was almost the exact same thing he told Karou the moment they first meet.after she attacked him and knocked him into a pile of barrels and baskets.
" Huh?" the woman asked, staring at the two as they blushed at each other.
" Long story." Kenshin said simply. Then suddenly a thought struck him, Karou was always bringing in people to help, and he had always silently advised against it. Yet not one of them seemed to be any trouble. Karou had always been surprised and angry at Kenshin's segregation for helping certain people, even when she rushed off to help Yahiko. Kenshin had stopped her and only wanted to say that they should wait for the authorities to help. But Karou had taken it as if he didn't want her to help Yahiko at all, she called him selfish and uncaring, before storming out to find the boy.
Days later he had a run in with Megumi before any of them knew her. She was in trouble and Kenshin had thought it would be a great way to mend himself in Karou's eyes if he brought her to the dojo for protection. But the opposite had happened, Karou was furious. Though Kenshin knew that her anger was fueled by jealousy, Megumi was practically hanging off him. Things turned out all right in the end, the two were even best friends now. However, ever since, Kenshin never really offered help again, he always waited until Karou established that she wanted to help. Now Kenshin was going to beat her to the chase and ask first. Hoping that Karou would be happy at his gradual change of heart, and not angry with him.
" Karou-dono, we should ask the young woman if she would like to stay awhile at the dojo, that we should." Kenshin held his breath, expecting a burst of harsh woods but was relived when he saw her sapphire eyes light up.
" Why Kenshin, that's a great idea." She turned to the woman who had politely stayed silent. " We would love it if you would stay with us until you ready to go off wandering again."
The woman's eyes grew wide and she put her hands up. " Oh no I couldn't."
" We don't mind that we don't. You could say that Karou's dojo is more like a inn for travelers." Kenshin said smiling.
" MY DOJO IS NOT AN INN KENSHIN" Karou screamed, hopping out of his embrace and hopping over to put a arm around the woman, the woman immediately put a arm around her to help her stand. She gazed at Karou in wonder, no doubt amazed at the Karou's quick mood changes.
" Sorry Karou-do-"
" Kenshin doesn't know what he's talking about, I don't take in that many strangers. By the way I'm Karou Kamiya, Assistant Master of the Kamiya Dojo. This is Kenshin Himura." She said pointing to a oroing Kenshin.
"I-I'm Tanako.just Tanako." Tanako said softly as Kenshin joined them on the other side of Karou, and put his arm around her to help Karou as well.
" Well it's settled then, your going to stay with us, besides there's to many of those big losers running around, you might get in trouble again." She gave the unconscious man a kick before setting off. " Oh Kenshin. be a sweetie and grab the groceries, Tanako will help me home."
" Yes Karou-do-.. Karou," Kenshin grabbed the packages and juggled them until he had a firm hold on all of them. " Are you sure you can help her all the way to the Dojo Tanako-dono?"
" Yes Kenshin-san, I can." She said softly, looking to the ground and continuing, allowing Karou to lead the way.
" Oro.Kenshin-san?.you do not need to call me san, just Kenshin if you please." Kenshin said, he was never very comfortable with the honorific; it made him remember back when he was Battousai the Manslayer, and others would call him that out of fear. Beside, now that he was a wanderer he had no title to honor in the first place.
" Sure.as long as you don't call me Tanako-dono, just Tanako." She said as she helped Karou hop along, turning her head to smile at him.
Karou scoffed, " Kenshin will never drop the dono, I've been trying to get him to stop that for over a year and he always-." Karou's happy smiled faded just as fast as it came and she turned around sharply, throwing Tanako off balance. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, IS SHE SURE ABOUT HELPING BACK TO THE DOJO? ARE YOU SAYING I'M FAT KENSHIN?!!"
" Oro..No Karou-dono that's not what I meant at all." Kenshin said, putting his hands up defensively, then having to scramble to catch the packages.
Karou growled and turned on her heal and marched off, hopping every step of the way and dragging Tanako with her. " I swear Kenshin, you should watch what you say.and drop the DONO!"
Kenshin stood still for a moment before running off after them. " I'm sorry Karou, I can't help it," he yelled after them.
*********************************************************************** A/N...Ta-Da!! So how did it go?...do you like it?....do not worry those of you who are wondering what the heck happened to Tanako between this and last chapter.all will be slowly reveled in later chapters. And as always if you have and thoughts or ideas please leave a review ...leave one even if you don't lol..^_^ x
Disclaimer: I do not own the red-headed samurai known as Kenshin.
Devotion
By
Melissa Aka Angle1 ^_^x
************************************************************************
Chapter 1
" Karou I don't mind cooking dinner tonight, that I don't" Kenshin argued as he and Karou walked around town, gathering the ingredients they would need to make dinner.
" Nope, I don't care what those two good for nothing freeloaders think of my cooking, they don't pay me for the food, so why should I cook like a restaurant." Karou said in a singsong voice, shaking her head, causing waves of her raven hair to swish about, and continued down the crowded dusty street, her arms full of groceries. Kenshin too had a load of groceries to care for.
" Would you like for me to carry some of those heavy packages?" he asked, as they weaved in and out of the crowd. The slight and constant hum of the passers by did not at all distract Kenshin from the girl in front of him
" No Kenshin I can handle it." she cheerfully, turning to look back at him with a smile, the sun flashing in her sapphire eyes.
Kenshin shook his head and smiled, nothing was going to bring his Karou down. Not now that he had asked her permission to court her. She seemed to be on cloud nine and nothing was bringing her back to earth. A month ago Kenshin had finally worked up the courage to ask Karou if she would allow him to court her. Sano had been teasing him about how his love for Karou was as plain as the scar on his face, and wondered why he bothered to hide it anymore. Kenshin was surprised at Sano's remark even though he had been telling him things like that for months.
When he asked, he had expected some yelling and screaming and a big dose of the Kamiya temper, but he was extremely surprised when Karou threw herself in his arms and cried. Mumbling about how she had waited for that moment ever since they meet a year and a half ago.
The redheaded Rurouni applauded himself for asking her, but mentally kicked himself for one big mistake on his part.. he asked Karou in front of the entire group, and the feedback was instantaneous.
` Flashback` {A/N Hey do you realize just how many flash backs are in a episode of RK not to mention the movies? Just a thought} ************************
" All right Kenshin, It's about time you asked her." Sanosuke said laughing and slapping Kenshin on the back so hard that he almost hit the table.
" What the heck is wrong with you Kenshin? Why would you want to date Busu? ( gagging sounds). Yahiko shouted from his side of the table. That promptly earned him a bowl of rice to the head.
" Yahiko you little jerk, you're not going to ruin this moment for me!" shouted Karou as she got ready to throw another bowl at him. Thankfully Kenshin swiftly took the bowl out of Karou's hands and instantly replaced it with a chopstick, which bounced harmlessly off the boy's head.
Karou, as she normally did, changed her mood swiftly and turned to Megumi and started to gloat. " Ha Miss Megumi, you thought you would get Kenshin? Well your not! HA HA. He asked me, not you." She pointed at Megumi and made a face at her. Megumi was sitting peacefully watching the couple up until that point. She was happy for Kenshin and Karou, and as Sano said, it was about time too. But Megumi could never stand the girl's impulses to prove herself.
" Why Sir Ken is just testing the water, he wouldn't want to jump into the dating pool with out testing on a guinea pig first." She said smoothly, flicking her hair and winking at Kenshin.
" ARE YOU CALLING ME A PIG?" Karou screamed as she stood up, Megumi quickly followed.
" No I am," Shouted Yahiko,
" Shut up you brat!" Sano hissed.
" Hey who are you calling a brat."
" Now, now" Came Kenshin's plea, but was drowned out by Ayame's and Suzume"s chants of " Uncle Kenny and Aunty Karou are in lo-ove."
" Why would Sir Ken want a violent, working girl like you who doesn't even know how to cook?!"
"Hey no one is forcing the food down your throat, AND I'M NOT VIOLENT!!"
In the end Sano and Kenshin had to drag the two away from each other's throats. All in all the night was about the same as any other.
` End flashback`*******************************
Kenshin jerked back to reality and laughed silently to himself as he kept an ever-watchful eye on Karou as she walked ahead of him. There was rarely a time when the group didn't fight, but they fought like family.
Family, Kenshin never thought he'd see the day when he would belong to a family. He could not have picked better people for the job. He loved Sano and Yahiko like brothers. Megumi, was like his older sister even though she's younger than him, Ayame and Suzume where like his nieces, they called him uncle anyway, and Doctor Gensi the wise old man of the family, always there to give advise when needed. And Karou. his beautiful Karou, she was like the backbone of the family. Why if it weren't for her, Kenshin would have never meet everyone. It was strange to think that the family only consisted of Karou, Ayame and Suzume and Dr. Gensai. But the family started to grow at a rapid pace after Karou opened her home and her heart to Kenshin, after that, she seemed to pick up everyone who seemed to need a home or a friend. Not to mention anyone who wanted to learn the Kamiya fighting style.
Years of being Battousai the Manslayer, had taught him to be wary of strangers. He often cringed at Karou's trusting demeanor, and found himself constantly guarding her from the dangers of Tokyo. Yet not one of Karou's charity cases seemed to go wrong. Mostly Karou was in danger was when an old enemy had finally found him, or when some one wanted to fight it out with the former Manslayer. It was always a backlash from him that got her in danger and sometimes hurt. He often toyed with the idea of leaving in the middle of the night, for Karou's own safety. Yet every time he set out to leave his own greediness stopped him. He was greedy for a family, to belong somewhere, he was greedy for Karou and couldn't see himself with out her by his side, he'd always turn right around and slip back in his room without a second thought to the matter.
Sighing, Kenshin again shook his thoughts out of his head and again concentrated on Karou as she weaved her way in and out of the crowed street. When they finally made it to a part of the town that was less crowded, Kenshin stepped up and walked next to Karou. " Karou-dono really, I don't mind cooking dinner. You had a busy day today, that you have."
" Kenshin drop the dono, please." Karou sighed, shifting the packages in her arms, and turning to look at him. Truth was, Karou didn't really mind the honorific, she knew Kenshin was so use to calling her that, and he had never called her otherwise, it was how he knew her, it was all he knew. Karou sighed a little and looked over at him as he gazed back at her with his amethyst eyes, knowing full well that a host of emotions were being played behind them and that Kenshin would never share them with her. 'Why Kenshin? Why wont you let me in.' she thought. All she wanted was for him to talk to her and tell her his feelings. But she knew that it would take time for the ex-samurai to open himself to a person again and she didn't want to rush him. She shook the thoughts from her mind and continued the conversation. " How long will it take me to break you of that habit?" she asked cheerfully, and giving Kenshin a smile that speed up his heart. Kenshin was about to answer when shouts where heard.
Karou paused in the middle of the almost deserted street and listened, Kenshin had barley turned back around, when he saw Karou bolt toward the shouts. " Karou-dono!" He shouted and ran after her, why did she always act so reckless. " Karou-dono wait, it may be dangerous." But the girl had already spotted the source of the shouts. They came from an alleyway between two restaurants. Three rather large and slightly drunk men had hold of a young woman. The shouts where because the woman was not taking the handling very well.
" I wouldn't go anywhere with any of you for a million yen! And if you know what's good for you, you'll let me go before I make you let me go!" She jerked at her arms but only managed to free one of them. " You'll be sorry when you loose that hand!" she added.
" She sure is courageous." Karou whispered, as she watched the girl. Karou always hated seeing people terrorized, but it was rare to see the victim terrorizing the criminals. The young woman reminded Karou of herself, strong and unwilling to be the weak one.
" That she is." Agreed Kenshin, who stared at the strangely dress girl. Not much of her could be seen, for she wore a midnight blue cloak that covered most of her body. The hood of the cloak had fallen, reviling a pale young woman as beautiful as the night. Though something about the woman caught Kenshin, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
" Kenshin! Don't just stand there and stare, we got to help!" Karou snapped at him and turned away to drop her packages safely at the corner of the alleyway, and then promptly marched down to the struggling group.
" Oro..Wait Karou!" Kenshin unceremoniously dropped his packages and followed.
" HEY!" Karou shouted stepping up to the biggest man holding the woman. " It's not nice to grab at young women, I should know, I'm a woman, and I wouldn't like to be handled that way. Now let her go!" the drunken man loomed overhead and glared down at her. Karou suddenly whished she had her bokken so she could knock the smile off his face.
The woman looked over her shoulder at Karou and broke into a smile so wide, Karou could have sworn that the woman was enjoying the fight. " Hi" she said. Her stunning bright green eyes lighting up.
" Uh..Hi" Karou said in return, slightly confused at the woman's cheerful demeanor. " We want to help you." Karou continued.
The woman pulled again, but she was not let go. " Oh no that's alright, you don't have to trouble yourself, I can handle it." Karou was about to argue when Kenshin walked up and placed a hand on her shoulder to quiet her.
" It's no trouble at all Miss, and besides three to one is not fair." Kenshin said with a grin. The woman stared at Kenshin for a moment before breaking into another smile.
" Really I'm alright,.I wouldn't want you to get hurt." The woman insisted sweetly.
Karou scoffed and drew her self up," Ha us, get hurt, I'm the Assistant Master of the Kamiya Ka-"
" Quiet!" roared the large man holding the girl. Karou immediately shut her mouth. " Now, IF you three are done visiting, I believe that my friends and I were about to snack on this beauty." The two smaller men grinned and snickered and stepped back into the fight.
" I believe the woman asked you to let her go, and you will let her go gently, that you will." Kenshin said sternly as he pulled Karou behind him.
" KEN-SHIN.this is MY fight!" Karou screamed, barging past him and knocking him off his feet.
" Oro," Kenshin got to his feet quickly, but Karou had already approached the men. " Karou step back!" he warned, the familiar sharp edge of protection stabbed at him, and he placed his hand on the hilt of his sakabatou. Battousai itched for a fight, but none of them had done anything to hurt Karou-dono yet, and that was the only thing that stopped him from actually drawing his blade.
" Oh, look guys." One of the smaller men called out. " The little girl, and shrimp boy with a sword, thinks they have what it takes to stop us." All three burst into laughter, and turned away.
Karou literally bristled at the comment and stalked up to them again and tapped the big one on the back. The man turned, " Hey little missy, you want to join us?"
" Leave her alone! Or I swear you'll be extremely sorry!" shouted the woman, still struggling against the man's grip.
" Hey, are you three so dense that you can understand what we are telling you? Let the girl go!" Karou shouted.
The shouts from the women seemed to only irritate the biggest man and he sighed. " Listed lady, if your not going to join us then leave."
" Not until you let her go!" Karou argued back just as loud.
" Fine have it you way." Said the man, and he pivoted on his heal and took a backhanded swing at Karou.
" Karou!" Kenshin shouted, seeing the movement, and knowing that he would never reach her in time. Karou tried to duck, but was hit anyway. She was sent flying back and she hit the wall of the alleyway with a thud and fell into the one and only mud puddle in the whole alley.
Everyone froze and watched as Karou struggled to sit up, when she did she looked at her ruined Kimono and whispered {everyone together now ^_^} " And this was the first time I wore this Kimono too."
" Karou, are you alright." Kenshin gasped, his eyes wide with worry.
" Yes Kenshin I'm fine." Karou tried to stand but her ankle gave out and she fell back into the puddle. Apparently she wasn't fine.
Kenshin's eyes narrowed and the soft amethyst of his eyes turned hard as he turned back to the group of men. 'they dare lay a hand on my Karou.thank you forgiving me a reason to kill you.' Battousai snarled in his head as he slowly began to unsheathe his sakabatou. But he stopped abruptly when he was overcome with a warrior's spirit. Kenshin glanced around swiftly to see where the Chi could be coming from.it didn't take him long to find out.
" That's IT!," the woman shouted, " Hurting me is fine, but when you involve innocent people, it gets personal!" the woman grabbed the man's arm that was holding her and used it as leverage as she jumped up and kicked one of the smaller men straight in the teeth, knocking him out completely.
Now that the larger man was off balance, the woman was able to wrench her arm free. She landed softly on the ground and crouched and kicked upwards, straight at the other smaller mans' knees. A sickening cracking sound insured to her that she broke at least one of his legs. The smaller man fell to the ground screaming in agony, before fainting in pain. All this happened at a great speed, but Kenshin and Karou could easily follow. But what happened next, even Kenshin could hardly catch.
The woman jumped away from the largest man and slid her hands into her cloak, pulling out half a dozen four-inch throwing knives. Then, swifter then Kenshin could follow, the woman threw the knives so hard at the man, that he was forced back and he was pinned by his gi to the wooden wall of the alley. The woman walked over to the cursing man and punched him in the face; the man was out cold and the only thing holding him up were the throwing knives.
Suddenly the fight was over, applause were heard at the entrance of the alley, and Kenshin, Karou, and the woman turned to find a large group of people who had been watching the fight; seeing now that it was over they quickly started to leave. Kenshin's eyes swiftly returned to their soft Rurouni purple, and he looked down at his half drawn sword, before sheathing it. " Karou!" he called as he sprinted up to her and crouched on the ground. " Are you alright?"
" Yes Kenshin, I said I was fine, but could you help me up please."
" Oh. yes Karou-dono" he said, happy now that there appeared to be no lasting damage. But he wouldn't truly be happy until he had Dr. Gensai or Megumi examine her. They wrapped their arms around each other and Kenshin slowly lifted Karou back on her feet. Kenshin tried to not notice how nice she felt in his arms, instead he tried to worry about her left ankle . " It may just be a sprain Karou-dono."
" I'm so sorry you got hurt." Said the woman. Both Karou and Kenshin jumped, having almost forgotten all about the strange woman. She had walked right up to them and they had not noticed, for they were too immersed in themselves.
" Oh it's nothing really, besides, you did try and warn me." Karou said smiling to show she really meant it.
" You have a strong warrior's spirit that you do Miss, it was a wonder I didn't sense it before the fight." Kenshin said, taking a good look at the woman up close. Big bright leaf green eyes looked back at him, she had hair so black it was reflecting blue, and she was pale as the moonlight. Her beauty stunned Kenshin, how could a woman a beautiful as her, become such and accomplished fighter? Kenshin mentally slapped himself, Karou was the most beautiful woman he knew and she was a great swordswoman. 'Besides Kenshin you shouldn't be gazing at other women' " How long have these men been trailing you?"
Karou stared at Kenshin and was about to ask him how he knew they were following her, but decided to trust Kenshin's better judgment. He could see little details that she couldn't, and he knew how to put them together to form a clue.
" About three days; they tried to keep themselves hidden, but I spotted them easily, besides they made as much noise as a heard of cattle." The woman said as she pulled out her knives from the wall two by two, the man's limp body fell to the ground. The Knives instantly disappeared back under the cloak. She then lifted the hood of her cloak to hide her midnight hair.
" Are you some sort of fighter, or ninja?" Karou asked eagerly.
" What?..No, no, no. I'm..just a wanderer, that's all." The woman said staring at the ground, her tone became automatic, as if she told everyone that. Kenshin knew that she was lying, but he wasn't one to pry.until absolutely necessary.
Karou laughed, " Boy, does THAT sound familiar." She said staring straight at Kenshin. Kenshin blushed, that was almost the exact same thing he told Karou the moment they first meet.after she attacked him and knocked him into a pile of barrels and baskets.
" Huh?" the woman asked, staring at the two as they blushed at each other.
" Long story." Kenshin said simply. Then suddenly a thought struck him, Karou was always bringing in people to help, and he had always silently advised against it. Yet not one of them seemed to be any trouble. Karou had always been surprised and angry at Kenshin's segregation for helping certain people, even when she rushed off to help Yahiko. Kenshin had stopped her and only wanted to say that they should wait for the authorities to help. But Karou had taken it as if he didn't want her to help Yahiko at all, she called him selfish and uncaring, before storming out to find the boy.
Days later he had a run in with Megumi before any of them knew her. She was in trouble and Kenshin had thought it would be a great way to mend himself in Karou's eyes if he brought her to the dojo for protection. But the opposite had happened, Karou was furious. Though Kenshin knew that her anger was fueled by jealousy, Megumi was practically hanging off him. Things turned out all right in the end, the two were even best friends now. However, ever since, Kenshin never really offered help again, he always waited until Karou established that she wanted to help. Now Kenshin was going to beat her to the chase and ask first. Hoping that Karou would be happy at his gradual change of heart, and not angry with him.
" Karou-dono, we should ask the young woman if she would like to stay awhile at the dojo, that we should." Kenshin held his breath, expecting a burst of harsh woods but was relived when he saw her sapphire eyes light up.
" Why Kenshin, that's a great idea." She turned to the woman who had politely stayed silent. " We would love it if you would stay with us until you ready to go off wandering again."
The woman's eyes grew wide and she put her hands up. " Oh no I couldn't."
" We don't mind that we don't. You could say that Karou's dojo is more like a inn for travelers." Kenshin said smiling.
" MY DOJO IS NOT AN INN KENSHIN" Karou screamed, hopping out of his embrace and hopping over to put a arm around the woman, the woman immediately put a arm around her to help her stand. She gazed at Karou in wonder, no doubt amazed at the Karou's quick mood changes.
" Sorry Karou-do-"
" Kenshin doesn't know what he's talking about, I don't take in that many strangers. By the way I'm Karou Kamiya, Assistant Master of the Kamiya Dojo. This is Kenshin Himura." She said pointing to a oroing Kenshin.
"I-I'm Tanako.just Tanako." Tanako said softly as Kenshin joined them on the other side of Karou, and put his arm around her to help Karou as well.
" Well it's settled then, your going to stay with us, besides there's to many of those big losers running around, you might get in trouble again." She gave the unconscious man a kick before setting off. " Oh Kenshin. be a sweetie and grab the groceries, Tanako will help me home."
" Yes Karou-do-.. Karou," Kenshin grabbed the packages and juggled them until he had a firm hold on all of them. " Are you sure you can help her all the way to the Dojo Tanako-dono?"
" Yes Kenshin-san, I can." She said softly, looking to the ground and continuing, allowing Karou to lead the way.
" Oro.Kenshin-san?.you do not need to call me san, just Kenshin if you please." Kenshin said, he was never very comfortable with the honorific; it made him remember back when he was Battousai the Manslayer, and others would call him that out of fear. Beside, now that he was a wanderer he had no title to honor in the first place.
" Sure.as long as you don't call me Tanako-dono, just Tanako." She said as she helped Karou hop along, turning her head to smile at him.
Karou scoffed, " Kenshin will never drop the dono, I've been trying to get him to stop that for over a year and he always-." Karou's happy smiled faded just as fast as it came and she turned around sharply, throwing Tanako off balance. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, IS SHE SURE ABOUT HELPING BACK TO THE DOJO? ARE YOU SAYING I'M FAT KENSHIN?!!"
" Oro..No Karou-dono that's not what I meant at all." Kenshin said, putting his hands up defensively, then having to scramble to catch the packages.
Karou growled and turned on her heal and marched off, hopping every step of the way and dragging Tanako with her. " I swear Kenshin, you should watch what you say.and drop the DONO!"
Kenshin stood still for a moment before running off after them. " I'm sorry Karou, I can't help it," he yelled after them.
*********************************************************************** A/N...Ta-Da!! So how did it go?...do you like it?....do not worry those of you who are wondering what the heck happened to Tanako between this and last chapter.all will be slowly reveled in later chapters. And as always if you have and thoughts or ideas please leave a review ...leave one even if you don't lol..^_^ x