A/N Hi guys! * waves* Sorry for the long delay but it was spring break and
you know how that goes ^_^ But today is the first day back and I'm right
back to my old self. I know this chapter is not as long but I thought that
I would post it anyway so that y'all don't have to wait. I really want to
thank all my reviewers out there...* waves to everyone and hands out candy*
@_@ not for you Kohan, I know what happens when you have sugar...* gives
Kohan a peach from her beloved peach tree.*... there all better... Now on to
the story. P.S. Kick all typos you see for me, thanks. ^_^
Disclaimer: Don't own RK yadda yadda and so on.....
Devotion
By
Melissa ^_^x
Kenshin paced back and forth in the kitchen. The day was quickly ending and Karou would be home at any moment and he still had no real idea what it was that was bothering her. Dinner was made and ready; after Tanako, Yahiko, and himself had bathed, he had replaced the bath with clean water and reheated it. There was nothing left for him to do but wait. Then, as if on cue he heard Karou's sweet voice call out that she was home. Knowing that she would head straight for the bath, he set dinner on the table and left to find Tanako and Yahiko who had taken refuge from his anxious pacing in the dojo's main practice room.
Sliding open the screen door, he saw the two sitting in the middle of the dojo floor. Yahiko seem riveted to whatever it was that Tanako was teaching him. Walking up to the pair he noticed that Tanako had changed back out of her uniform and into one of her new kimonos. It was a deep plum kimono that he had picked out, the almost black material set off the lavender and white striped obi. Kenshin caught sight of the back ribbon weaved into her hair, snaking around her braid and tied securely at the base of her head. Kenshin felt a slight blush trying to show it self as he remembered the reaction he had received from Tanako. Kneeling on the floor, Tanako had a small smooth flat stone out in front of her along with a small bowl of water. Kenshin had never seem the stone or the bowl and realized that they must have been hidden in Tanako's cloak, for it seemed that the girl kept pulling everything she owned from that strange covering.
"Hey you two." Kenshin called cheerfully as he stepped up to them. "Karou has returned and is in the bath right now. You better wash up if you want to make it to dinner in time." Tanako looked up from her work and Kenshin finally saw what she was doing. She held a freshly sharpened kunai in her hand and next to her was a cloth with a dozen more kunai resting in their own pocket, ready for whenever they were needed.
"Oh hi Kenshin." Yahiko chirped up. "Look, Tanako was just showing me some tips on proper sharpening. You won't believe how sharp she can get them Kenshin."
"Actually, I'm sure I have an idea, that I do." Kenshin replied as he crouched down and picked up one of the finished kunai. He was tempter to run his finger tip across the edge just to see how sharp it was, but he knew that unless he wanted to split his finger open, he better not.
"I hope you don't mind that I show Yahiko." Tanako spoke up as she dried the stone and sent Yahiko to empty the bowl of water. "I always thought that learning how to sharpen one's weapons was a valuable tool to survive. At least that's how I saw it." She put the last kunai in its pocket and rolled up the cloth and stood up.
"No, I'm sure it is something that every swordsman should know." Kenshin replied as he watched Yahiko bound back in the dojo giving Tanako the bowl before he bound back out to head to the kitchen. "Even for one who will only use a wooden sword." He added in a tone slightly harder then he intended.
Tanako winced slightly when she remembered the Kamiya Kasshin way of life. "True, but it's always better to be safe than sorry." Turning, she left the dojo and returned her things to her room before she made her way outside to wash up. She was just drying her hands when she heard the dojo gates crash open. Whipping around she saw Sano running to her. She took a step back as the teen skidded to a stop right in front of her.
"Sano!? What's the matter?" Tanako asked as Sano doubled over trying to catch his breath.
"Something has happened, "He panted, "with those gang members of yours that are in town." Tanako felt her heart slam to a halt as she heard those words. Her gang was in town? How did they know she was here? Had they found her, or where they only guessing?
"WHAT!!" Tanako shrieked. Kenshin, Karou and Yahiko bolted out of the dojo when they heard Tanako.
"Sanosuke!" Kenshin called as they ran up to the pair. "What has happened?" He demanded. However, before Sano could get a word out, Tanako interrupted.
"My gang is here in town. How long have you known about this??" Tanako looked back and forth at Kenshin, Karou and Sano. She was shocked that this kind of information would be withheld from her
"Two days," Kenshin replied turning to the girl, his apology written in his eyes. "We only hid it from you so that you wouldn't worry. We would have told you, if we thought that they had picked up a trail." Tanako stood staring at the ex-samurai; the group had fallen silent as they witnessed the first wisps of anger began to wrap around the girl.
"I understand Kenshin, however; I don't want you to do anything like that again. They may have already picked up my trail."
"About that-" Sano started but Tanako kept on as if she didn't hear him.
"The Onozawa gang are not as foolish as to give themselves away like that. I am not prepared to fight them off," Turning; Tanako looked at Karou and Yahiko, the boy stood and took this information as though he had heard things like this all the time. Tanako knew he was putting on a brave face; she didn't want to see anything happen to him, Karou, or Kenshin. She knew that Kenshin was the Battousai, a master assassin like herself; yet he would be no match for the Onozawa gang. He could down many this was true, but in the end Kenshin would be overwhelmed by the sheer number and skill of the gang.
"Yeah but Tanako-"
"Just a minute Sano." Tanako interrupted again keeping her eyes on the stunned red-head. "I know you don't want anything to happen to Karou or Yahiko, nor do I. I must know what is going on around here in order to protect them!" Kenshin's eyes snapped wide open and he grabbed Tanako by the arms. It took all his strength to not shake her back to her senses.
"Tanako what about you? You must be protected as well!" He shouted, keeping his grip tight on her and holding her gaze praying that she would see the truth in his own. She didn't have to worry about caring for herself, and about others; she now had someone to look out for her.
"Kenshin is right Tanako." Karou added, stepping up to them. Her face showed kind understanding but her voice was firm "We can look out for ourselves just as well as you can. At this moment you're the person in the most danger and we are going to do all we can to protect you."
"WILL YOU GUYS LET ME SPEAK!!??" Sano shouted. Everyone jumped and whipped around to the young man they had all but forgotten. "Grrrr About time you decided to listen to me! Tanako, you gang is in jail." A very heavy moment of silence held in the air for a few moments as everyone took in this new surprising bit of news.
"What?" Tanako didn't believe a word of it, there was no way they would allow themselves to be caught. Then again, they had been out smarted a week and a half ago when they tried to take the gold on that road.
"I've been trying to tell you guys, I heard that the police caught a small band of gang members trying to break into a government building. There was a fight but in the end they got caught and thrown in jail. I went to cheek it out and found out that it is a band of Onozawa gang members. Though, that gang won't tell the police if there is anymore of them wandering around, so you need to keep an eye out anyway." Tanako jerked out of Kenshin's grasp and took a step back from everyone.
"I have to speak to them." Tanako knew what a risk she was putting herself in; however, if she could reason with them, perhaps they would leave her alone. Then again, if they never got out of jail she wouldn't have to worry at all.... But that was a risk she was not about to take. Even in the dying light Tanako could see the faces of her friends and had the situation not been so serious, she would have laughed at the sight of them.
"Have you lost your mind?!" Sano screeched. Kenshin had to nod in agreement.
"I'm afraid I don't understand why you would want to expose yourself to them. There is still a high chance that they have no idea that you are here." Kenshin knew she wanted to plead for her new life, but it was a high risk. She would put herself in danger; she would also put the household into danger as well. Karou and Yahiko could get caught in the middle. But he knew about that risk, Sano had bluntly talked about that risk right in front of Tanako that first night.
"I understand your fear." Tanako continued. "But I don't want to be running for the rest of my life. I don't want to hide in fear." She looked around at her new family. "I also don't want to put you in anymore danger that you have already been exposed to. You must trust me. If I can get them to understand....they were my family, they have feelings for me...not really as strong as yours but they do and if I know them....then they will listen to what I have to say. I have moved on and it is time I closed the door on this part of my life." Everyone was silenced by her heartfelt words and they couldn't think of anything to say. Kenshin was the first to find the right words.
"Alright Tanako," his voice did nothing to hide how reluctant he was. "However, you will not be going alone. I will come with you."
"And me!" Sano added. "Don't think I'm going to miss this for the world. Just think, a chance to look the Onozawa gang in the face and live to tell about it." Tanako scoffed at his comment but nodded in agreement.
"It would mean much to me if you did come...Just to show them that I truly do have a family."
"I want to come too." Karou spoke up, there was no way she was going to miss any of this.
"Me too!" Yahiko added.
"Yahiko!!"
"What?! If you can go I can go."
"No Yahiko." Kenshin interrupted before Karou could sting the boy up to keep him from following. "You must stay here and watch the dojo that you must."
"No way! It's not fair!!" Yahiko was tired of always being left out of things, but the look Kenshin gave him quickly changed his mind. Gezz was Kenshin spooky when he used that look of his. "Fine I'll stay..." he mumbled as he turned and walked back to the dojo. Kenshin turned back to Kaoru and took her hand, he felt the slight flinch of her hand when he touched her and he remembered that they had still not resolved her fears...or whatever it was that had caused her to act as so. But now was not the time, he would have to wait.
"Karou-dono, I wish you would stay as well."
"Nope," Karou said shaking her head, "Your not going to get rid of me...I'm coming with you." Her voice suddenly took on a sound of desperation that even Sano picked up. "Your not leaving me behind Kenshin. I'm a part of this too."
"I know you are Karou-dono....I.." Kenshin could feel the eyes of his friends watching him and he suddenly lost his nerve to speak freely in front of them. "It's not safe." He finally said with a sigh. That was not even close as to how her really felt. Nothing was safe at the moment....he wanted to lock her away and keep her safe. Away from anything and everything that could harm his Karou in anyway. He was a greedy man...he wanted Karou all to himself...but he knew that that could never be. Karou had a life of her own, things could never be the way he dreamed. Silently he nodded his head.
"Alright let's get going!" Sano took the lead and Tanako followed. Kenshin let Karou go but leaned in slightly to whisper in her ear so that only she could hear.
"We will talk before this night is over Kaoru...that we will." With that promise still burning on his lips he fell into step behind her, bowing his head, shielding his eyes from the rest of the world. Karou thought her mind was going to melt; so many things to think about at once. But she knew she couldn't let her thoughts wander to Kenshin and his promise to find out what was wrong. They were going into a dangerous situation; she could be putting herself and her friends at risk if she didn't shape up. Giving her head a sharp shake she cleared her mind and thought only about what they were about to walk into.
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A/N Gah! So what's going to happen!!!...I have an idea * light bulb flashes over head.* And I'll get to work right away. Please review and give me some of your ideas...I love trying to work them all in. I'll see ya next time...bye! * waves*
Disclaimer: Don't own RK yadda yadda and so on.....
Devotion
By
Melissa ^_^x
Kenshin paced back and forth in the kitchen. The day was quickly ending and Karou would be home at any moment and he still had no real idea what it was that was bothering her. Dinner was made and ready; after Tanako, Yahiko, and himself had bathed, he had replaced the bath with clean water and reheated it. There was nothing left for him to do but wait. Then, as if on cue he heard Karou's sweet voice call out that she was home. Knowing that she would head straight for the bath, he set dinner on the table and left to find Tanako and Yahiko who had taken refuge from his anxious pacing in the dojo's main practice room.
Sliding open the screen door, he saw the two sitting in the middle of the dojo floor. Yahiko seem riveted to whatever it was that Tanako was teaching him. Walking up to the pair he noticed that Tanako had changed back out of her uniform and into one of her new kimonos. It was a deep plum kimono that he had picked out, the almost black material set off the lavender and white striped obi. Kenshin caught sight of the back ribbon weaved into her hair, snaking around her braid and tied securely at the base of her head. Kenshin felt a slight blush trying to show it self as he remembered the reaction he had received from Tanako. Kneeling on the floor, Tanako had a small smooth flat stone out in front of her along with a small bowl of water. Kenshin had never seem the stone or the bowl and realized that they must have been hidden in Tanako's cloak, for it seemed that the girl kept pulling everything she owned from that strange covering.
"Hey you two." Kenshin called cheerfully as he stepped up to them. "Karou has returned and is in the bath right now. You better wash up if you want to make it to dinner in time." Tanako looked up from her work and Kenshin finally saw what she was doing. She held a freshly sharpened kunai in her hand and next to her was a cloth with a dozen more kunai resting in their own pocket, ready for whenever they were needed.
"Oh hi Kenshin." Yahiko chirped up. "Look, Tanako was just showing me some tips on proper sharpening. You won't believe how sharp she can get them Kenshin."
"Actually, I'm sure I have an idea, that I do." Kenshin replied as he crouched down and picked up one of the finished kunai. He was tempter to run his finger tip across the edge just to see how sharp it was, but he knew that unless he wanted to split his finger open, he better not.
"I hope you don't mind that I show Yahiko." Tanako spoke up as she dried the stone and sent Yahiko to empty the bowl of water. "I always thought that learning how to sharpen one's weapons was a valuable tool to survive. At least that's how I saw it." She put the last kunai in its pocket and rolled up the cloth and stood up.
"No, I'm sure it is something that every swordsman should know." Kenshin replied as he watched Yahiko bound back in the dojo giving Tanako the bowl before he bound back out to head to the kitchen. "Even for one who will only use a wooden sword." He added in a tone slightly harder then he intended.
Tanako winced slightly when she remembered the Kamiya Kasshin way of life. "True, but it's always better to be safe than sorry." Turning, she left the dojo and returned her things to her room before she made her way outside to wash up. She was just drying her hands when she heard the dojo gates crash open. Whipping around she saw Sano running to her. She took a step back as the teen skidded to a stop right in front of her.
"Sano!? What's the matter?" Tanako asked as Sano doubled over trying to catch his breath.
"Something has happened, "He panted, "with those gang members of yours that are in town." Tanako felt her heart slam to a halt as she heard those words. Her gang was in town? How did they know she was here? Had they found her, or where they only guessing?
"WHAT!!" Tanako shrieked. Kenshin, Karou and Yahiko bolted out of the dojo when they heard Tanako.
"Sanosuke!" Kenshin called as they ran up to the pair. "What has happened?" He demanded. However, before Sano could get a word out, Tanako interrupted.
"My gang is here in town. How long have you known about this??" Tanako looked back and forth at Kenshin, Karou and Sano. She was shocked that this kind of information would be withheld from her
"Two days," Kenshin replied turning to the girl, his apology written in his eyes. "We only hid it from you so that you wouldn't worry. We would have told you, if we thought that they had picked up a trail." Tanako stood staring at the ex-samurai; the group had fallen silent as they witnessed the first wisps of anger began to wrap around the girl.
"I understand Kenshin, however; I don't want you to do anything like that again. They may have already picked up my trail."
"About that-" Sano started but Tanako kept on as if she didn't hear him.
"The Onozawa gang are not as foolish as to give themselves away like that. I am not prepared to fight them off," Turning; Tanako looked at Karou and Yahiko, the boy stood and took this information as though he had heard things like this all the time. Tanako knew he was putting on a brave face; she didn't want to see anything happen to him, Karou, or Kenshin. She knew that Kenshin was the Battousai, a master assassin like herself; yet he would be no match for the Onozawa gang. He could down many this was true, but in the end Kenshin would be overwhelmed by the sheer number and skill of the gang.
"Yeah but Tanako-"
"Just a minute Sano." Tanako interrupted again keeping her eyes on the stunned red-head. "I know you don't want anything to happen to Karou or Yahiko, nor do I. I must know what is going on around here in order to protect them!" Kenshin's eyes snapped wide open and he grabbed Tanako by the arms. It took all his strength to not shake her back to her senses.
"Tanako what about you? You must be protected as well!" He shouted, keeping his grip tight on her and holding her gaze praying that she would see the truth in his own. She didn't have to worry about caring for herself, and about others; she now had someone to look out for her.
"Kenshin is right Tanako." Karou added, stepping up to them. Her face showed kind understanding but her voice was firm "We can look out for ourselves just as well as you can. At this moment you're the person in the most danger and we are going to do all we can to protect you."
"WILL YOU GUYS LET ME SPEAK!!??" Sano shouted. Everyone jumped and whipped around to the young man they had all but forgotten. "Grrrr About time you decided to listen to me! Tanako, you gang is in jail." A very heavy moment of silence held in the air for a few moments as everyone took in this new surprising bit of news.
"What?" Tanako didn't believe a word of it, there was no way they would allow themselves to be caught. Then again, they had been out smarted a week and a half ago when they tried to take the gold on that road.
"I've been trying to tell you guys, I heard that the police caught a small band of gang members trying to break into a government building. There was a fight but in the end they got caught and thrown in jail. I went to cheek it out and found out that it is a band of Onozawa gang members. Though, that gang won't tell the police if there is anymore of them wandering around, so you need to keep an eye out anyway." Tanako jerked out of Kenshin's grasp and took a step back from everyone.
"I have to speak to them." Tanako knew what a risk she was putting herself in; however, if she could reason with them, perhaps they would leave her alone. Then again, if they never got out of jail she wouldn't have to worry at all.... But that was a risk she was not about to take. Even in the dying light Tanako could see the faces of her friends and had the situation not been so serious, she would have laughed at the sight of them.
"Have you lost your mind?!" Sano screeched. Kenshin had to nod in agreement.
"I'm afraid I don't understand why you would want to expose yourself to them. There is still a high chance that they have no idea that you are here." Kenshin knew she wanted to plead for her new life, but it was a high risk. She would put herself in danger; she would also put the household into danger as well. Karou and Yahiko could get caught in the middle. But he knew about that risk, Sano had bluntly talked about that risk right in front of Tanako that first night.
"I understand your fear." Tanako continued. "But I don't want to be running for the rest of my life. I don't want to hide in fear." She looked around at her new family. "I also don't want to put you in anymore danger that you have already been exposed to. You must trust me. If I can get them to understand....they were my family, they have feelings for me...not really as strong as yours but they do and if I know them....then they will listen to what I have to say. I have moved on and it is time I closed the door on this part of my life." Everyone was silenced by her heartfelt words and they couldn't think of anything to say. Kenshin was the first to find the right words.
"Alright Tanako," his voice did nothing to hide how reluctant he was. "However, you will not be going alone. I will come with you."
"And me!" Sano added. "Don't think I'm going to miss this for the world. Just think, a chance to look the Onozawa gang in the face and live to tell about it." Tanako scoffed at his comment but nodded in agreement.
"It would mean much to me if you did come...Just to show them that I truly do have a family."
"I want to come too." Karou spoke up, there was no way she was going to miss any of this.
"Me too!" Yahiko added.
"Yahiko!!"
"What?! If you can go I can go."
"No Yahiko." Kenshin interrupted before Karou could sting the boy up to keep him from following. "You must stay here and watch the dojo that you must."
"No way! It's not fair!!" Yahiko was tired of always being left out of things, but the look Kenshin gave him quickly changed his mind. Gezz was Kenshin spooky when he used that look of his. "Fine I'll stay..." he mumbled as he turned and walked back to the dojo. Kenshin turned back to Kaoru and took her hand, he felt the slight flinch of her hand when he touched her and he remembered that they had still not resolved her fears...or whatever it was that had caused her to act as so. But now was not the time, he would have to wait.
"Karou-dono, I wish you would stay as well."
"Nope," Karou said shaking her head, "Your not going to get rid of me...I'm coming with you." Her voice suddenly took on a sound of desperation that even Sano picked up. "Your not leaving me behind Kenshin. I'm a part of this too."
"I know you are Karou-dono....I.." Kenshin could feel the eyes of his friends watching him and he suddenly lost his nerve to speak freely in front of them. "It's not safe." He finally said with a sigh. That was not even close as to how her really felt. Nothing was safe at the moment....he wanted to lock her away and keep her safe. Away from anything and everything that could harm his Karou in anyway. He was a greedy man...he wanted Karou all to himself...but he knew that that could never be. Karou had a life of her own, things could never be the way he dreamed. Silently he nodded his head.
"Alright let's get going!" Sano took the lead and Tanako followed. Kenshin let Karou go but leaned in slightly to whisper in her ear so that only she could hear.
"We will talk before this night is over Kaoru...that we will." With that promise still burning on his lips he fell into step behind her, bowing his head, shielding his eyes from the rest of the world. Karou thought her mind was going to melt; so many things to think about at once. But she knew she couldn't let her thoughts wander to Kenshin and his promise to find out what was wrong. They were going into a dangerous situation; she could be putting herself and her friends at risk if she didn't shape up. Giving her head a sharp shake she cleared her mind and thought only about what they were about to walk into.
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A/N Gah! So what's going to happen!!!...I have an idea * light bulb flashes over head.* And I'll get to work right away. Please review and give me some of your ideas...I love trying to work them all in. I'll see ya next time...bye! * waves*