Prologue
"Battousai, Katsura has a meeting tonight at the Akabeko. He wants you to go as the bodyguard."
"Fine, what time?"
"8:00"
"Tell him I'll be there."
"You know what you need?"
"Get out Iizuka."
"You need a women"
"Get the hell out."
"Fine, but one day you'll find I'm right."
"The day that I find a women will be the day that I'll see your head on a platter. You better hope that it doesn't come anytime soon."
Gulp "Bye"
Slamming the shoji shut, Kenshin proceeds to take up his favorite perch by the window with katana in hand.
Damn Iizuka always has advice. What I wouldn't do to just kill the bastard outright. In addition to me being happier so will all the women in this world. Damn hentai.
Stalking out to the back of the inn he proceeds to sneak out for a little bit of peace and quiet, perhaps a tad of practice. Scratch that. Alot of practice. The only thing will make me forget about this cursed job, and that hentai.
Starting slowly, he swings the blade at diagonal cutting the air with one fluid motion. Soon the kata started speeding up and then all that can be seen is the flash of silver as move after move is completed flawlessly. Pausing for breath, he looks up into the sky to see that the sun is setting...
Damn it! It's time. Sneaking back in he proceeds to the front of the inn to meet Katsura and the rest of his entourage.
"Battousai."
"Hai, Katsura-san?"
"Here," tossing Kenshin a package, " I want you to change into this. The restaurant that we're going to is a very formal place. The meeting really isn't till nine. You plenty of time to change and be back here. Now go"
"Hai, Katsura-san."
"See you then."
Bowing curtly, Kenshin turns and proceeds to walk back into the inn and to his room. Opening the package, upon his arrival, he gasps. inside was a forest green gi made of silk, with a white triangular pattern around the border, similar to that of the Shinsengumi. Also falling out was a plain white hakama, made of pure cotton.
Changing, Kenshin returns to the front to see only Katsura present.
"Katsura-san where is.."
"everyone?" Katsura interrupted "Tonight I am only allowed to bring one guard. I chose you."
Horses could be heard in the distance. galloping their way toward the pair outside.
" I guess our ride is here."
A man in a western uniform hopped out of the carriage and held the the door open for both, whom proceeded to enter the carriage.
The ride to the Akabeko was uneventful. Kenshin just sat there and meditated over the fact that he was the only person that Katsura trusted enough to be allowed to guard alone.
Once they arrived they both got of the cab of the carriage. Entering the restaurant they were welcomed by Tae herself.
"Welcome Kogoro-san! Follow me to the table."
She gave Kenshin a odd glance as she led them to the booth where the meeting was to take place.
"Himura-san follow Tae-san to the place where you will be seated."
Kenshin turned auround to give a glance at his employer and proceeded to follow Tae to a empty booth a couple of yards away.
I thought I was his bodyguard damnit how am I supposed to do my job if we're seperated! Kneeling down, Kenshin glanced, with his amber gaze, around the Akabeko making careful notes of any and all suspicious people. Noticing nothing he looked toward the waitress and she looked his way and came right over. Seeming to be in a perpetual hurry dealing with all the customers who were there.
In a cheery voice she asked " Konnichiwa, watashi wa Tsubame. How may I help you?"
"I would like an order of sake and an order of yakisoba onegai." He responded in a deadpan.
She replied with a "Arigato" and bowed her way toward the kitchens.
While looking toward the kitchen he noticed that a temporary stage was being set up. Then Tae came to center and announced " Tonight ladies and gentlemen we have a special friend of mine who is going to preform a song called "Behind the Mask". And here she is! Welcome Kurasa!"
Applause could be heard as a young women got to the stage. Now I understand the name. Her hair is the black color of a raven. She wore a white mask which covered the bottom half of her face only allowing her glowing azure eyes to be seen.
Then she started to sing. Although the word "sing" really did not do what she did justice.
Behind the mask there lay
A secret memory
that seems to never go away
A place where things are different
from what we see today
where good deeds are done without the blood
and people don't ever sway
from the path that is chosen for them.
Where emotions are true
and never hidden from veiw.
Where people jump and laugh
about a past
that was also
filled with the freedom
We now don't have choice
what the mask we wear
because all our hearts are broken
from all this wear and tear.
But behind the mask we see
a future meant for you and me
a place of no worry anguish or pain
where what is done
will never seem in vain...
Suddenly quiet filled the room as soon as the song was done. There was a shocked silence and then slowly but surely the applause rose. Getting so loud that people out on the street could hear. Kenshin just sat in silence never moving. Watching the singer's graceful movement as she walked to the front of the stage and bowed only to look up and get caught in his amber gaze which never wavered as it explored her blue one. The she looked away and glided off the stage. Toward the kitchens.
Dinner forgotten, Kenshin lost his appetite and simply sipped on his sake. He kept his on Katsura but his head was somewhere else entirely. It was with the raven haired beauty and those fathomless eyes. Those eyes would haunt his dreams more then any assasination assignment. Those eyes that showed pain and emptiness, along with a deep understanding of what life is meant to be. It also didn't help that his stomach seemed become full of butterflies when her gaze came to his.
Katsura nodded toward Kenshin. Kenshin rose and left the price of his untouched meal behind. Only to return to the inn where those eyes would haunt him forever more...
