Chap. 8b: Family Matters pt. 2
"Aishiteru, Koishii." His warm breath tickled her ear, sending a cold shiver down her spine. I should not have said that... Demo, I do like him... But, it was just a crush I swear! I mean he is one of the hottest guys...scratch that, he IS the hottest guy I've ever met... I can never find the heart to "act" in front of him... he always sees right through you with those eyes... The warm summer breeze ruffled the loosened material of her yakuta, reminding her of what she was, why she was here... His words rang in her head pausing time... to know that she was loved and protected made her feel strong. Uplifted even but alas she didn't understand everything. She understood this: All good things would have to come to an end...
"Koishii, daijoubu?" his warm tenor a flitting grace across the hazy thoughts floating around her head.
"Hai, Kenshin. Just thinking was all..."
"Kaoru-dono thinking is not good for you, de gozaru."
"Why? I'm old enough to think for myself."
"Hai, you are. I don't want you thinking to much because thinking leads you the wrong way. Thinking led me to be what I am now. This unworthy..."
"Oh please don't start thinking that you're not worthy of me... If anything it's the opposite. I'm not worthy of you. Someone who is strong enough to face their fears and problems head-on... I just withdraw into my shell..."
"Koishii..." He was cut off when cold air hit his damp chest. She stepped away, tears welling up in her eyes...
"I ran away Kenshin..." The whisper was meant for her ears only. Her head hung down in shame. Pearly tears fell from eyes hidden by black bangs. She felt strong arms encircle her waist.
"That's not how I remember it..."I can't allow myself to see her like this... In my dreams she drove me crazy... But, seeing her in reality she never will... She is that which shall hold me together... I feel whole with her in my arms... I will never let go... Like I did to Tomoe... She will br mine...
(flashback)
"Kurasa-dono we have arrived."
"I'm coming." Kaoru took a moment to tighten her obi and took Kenshin's offered hand. The simple act sent a shock down her spine.
"Kurasa-dono daijoubu?"
"I'm okay..." Kaoru glanced at the sign above the front gate and paled visibly. no... can't be... It read: KAMIYA KASSHIN RYU... kami-sama, why do you torment me so? What have I done to ask this of you?
"Kurasa-dono?"
Why is he so worried? I haven't anything to deserve it? I've spent the last month of my life running away from my problems... But, one can never run away... Their sins shall always follow... I promised father that I would be strong... I will be strong... I will face my problems... like Kenshin... he does his job, not for the Choshu, but for people like me. The weak... I know he dislikes his job in one way or another by the way he looks at me with pain-stricken eyes... They seem worried to the casual observer... but, to me they will always be that pain filled soul that saw me singing and understood just what I was going through...
"Kenshin, I'm fine. Do you mind if I go to sleep early? " her voice was stronger now.
"Hai, of course. You seem tired."
"Oyasumi-nasai, Kenshin." Squaring her shoulders, Kaoru walked through the gate. Her head held high...
(End Flashback)
"Arigato, Kenshin."
"Ano, Kaoru-dono do you mind letting go of this one? This one must change and head to the market to buy tofu."
Kaoru let go, blushing madly. "Kenshin, I'll go. You have yourself a bath and be ready to make lunch when I get back! After this morning, I'm never stepping foot into that kitchen ever again!"
5 minutes Kaoru walked out of the dojo gates looking every part the ideal wife. Happy and content... he face covered by a fine white powder. The mark of an elegant women.
"Excuse me, miss. Could you please tell us the way to the Kamiya dojo?"
"Hai. Actually I'll show you the way if you could give me a moment to pick up some tofu." Okita what the hell are you doing here!
The tofu was bought and the odd threesome made their way toward the unsuspecting hitokiri.
"Tadiama! Kenshin, do mind finishing the laundry later? There are some police officers here to see you! " Kaoru tried to act casual but, in reality she knew where this was heading... Straight down the...
"Hai! I'll be there in a minute Koishii!" Kenshin called, while wiping his hands dry on his navy gi.
"Ano my husband shall be here in a second." Kenshin walked around the corner, sword in hand. ... If Saitoh has hurt her, he will pay...
"Ah Battousai, we finally meet again." Kaoru turned around. The once smiling, tall, police officer now stood leaning against the entrance of the dojo. His posture seemed relaxed but the slitted glare he had on Kenshin and the left hand casually playing with his hilt said otherwise.
"Himura-san we're here to discuss some orders given to us by one Yamagata, Aritomo." Okita politely intoned. He was trying his best to avoid the conflict that was sure to follow. "Saitoh-san if you could please calm your temper. We had best work with our allies instead of against them."
Despite Okita's valiant effort, the two continued their glaring contest. Okita had had enough. It was time to use his trump card. "Saitoh-san if you don't back down I will be forced to deal the punitive measures that come with insubordination."
Saitoh sent Okita a look but broke his contact with the Battousai. His hands now occupied by lighting a cigarette.
"Kaoru, do you mind preparing us some tea? We will be in the dojo when its ready."
"Hai. It will be ready in a few moments." Kaoru bowed formally to the two police officers and hurried off toward the kitchen eagar to get away from Okita.
Meanwhile, Kenshin led the the former Shinsengumi toward the house. He was well aware of the topaz glare focused on his back as he played the part of gracious host.
Having kneeled, Kenshin started the conversation. "Saitoh you were never one for social visits. What, pray tell, was important enough to ruse the wolf from hibernation?" Kenshin's tone light but with an underlying tone of sarcasm. Katsura had told him to be patient with the Shinsengumi. He said that they weren't the threat anymore. That Japan was safe from the Shogun, but seeing these 2 in his home dressed like cops was a tad unnerving.
"Battousai, Katsura said absolutely nothing about letting you out of the employ of the government. Am I right?"
"Hai, Okita-san."
"Well, the truth is, the war between the Shogun and Ishin is over, but another one has just begun. Some outcasts of this war seem to have it out for both the past and present governments..."
Kaoru walked in, interrupting the conversation. A pot of steaming green tea and 3 cups balanced on a tray. No sign of imbalance was present. Her movements ever graceful. She was doing her best to hide her own inherent clumsiness.
Okita was watching the women serving them tea. Black bangs fell away when she leaned in to pour the tea. He caught sight of blue. That couldn't be Kaoru-chan... I mean her name is Kaoru and she has blue eyes... why? Okita took a sip of the tea in front of him and cringed. Only Kaoru would screw up tea... "Kamiya, Kaoru."
Kaoru looked up, startled. "Hai, Okita-san?"
So Kamiya Kaoru wasn't dead... Saitoh looked calmly across the table at the red-haired hitokiri. Noticing the forlorn expression, he mused that things were finally going to get interesting. Being a cop, while much like being part of the Shinsen, was not Saitoh's cup of tea.
"Kaoru-chan quit the formalities. I'm here to take you back. They told me to take care of you when Koshijirou died. But, I put the Shinsengumi before you. I cannot let you stay the Battousai's women."
Kenshin's eyes flared gold at this comment. He stood up and walked in front of Kaoru. "Go..." he whispered to the shocked women behind him.
"I will... Let me say something first..." Kaoru whispered back. Then in a louder voice she said, "Okita I don't care about my family anymore. You betrayed father and all the Kamiya's by joining the Shinsengumi. Did you know that they killed Otousan just because he had great potential..." Kaoru paused getting herself back together. Her fists clenched on either side. In a quieter tone she continued, "Okita, a month and 2 weeks to this day, My father died at Shinsengumi hands. Your hands are stained by father! I will never forgive you!" With a slam the shoji closed. Leaving the 2 cops and Kenshin alone in the empty dojo.
"I'm going to talk to her!" Okita attempted to brush past the hitokiri, but was met by a blade firmly pressed against his neck.
"I don't think she wants to see you." Kenshin and Okita locked eyes. One trying to read the other. Okita sprung away from Kenshin. Taking out his sword, he settled into the stance for the Hiratsuki. The blade held parallel to the ground. Aimed straight at Kenshin's torso.
"I will talk to Kaoru!" With that he charged. Okita thrust the blade, narrowly missing as Kenshin stepped to the side. Kenshin parried the blade, attempting to push Okita off balance. But failing to do so. Okita simply got back into his stance and attacked again. Sending the two combatants into a circular waltz.
Kenshin slid back, his breathing labored. Okita followed his lead. Amber eyes gazed into blue. Neither revealing any indication of giving, they charged once again. This time Kenshin succeeded in throwing him off balance. Grabbing his saya with his left hand, he slammed it into Okita's midsection. Okita flew the few feet to the wall and crashed to the floor in an unconscious heap.
"Interesting, I'll admit. If only you had a wakizashi..."
"Saitoh, I have no intention of fighting you." He really didn't want to fight. Let me go!
"Ah..." Saitoh placed himself between the shoji and Kenshin. He crouched into the Gatotsu, "But, you see Battousai. I have every intention of fighting you. A few days with that girl has made you soft. I saw the way you looked at her when she admitted to being Kamiya, Kaoru. You have grown weak. Okita didn't pose that much of a challenge because he was blinded. I will not go down as easily."
With that the shoji opened once again...
She knew that this was where the meeting would lead. She knew her disguise would have to be destroyed eventually. She let it down for Kenshin, but she wasn't ready to let it down for everybody. This illusion, a blanket against the cold wind of her problems. She only wanted to have a little time to think. Sometime to figure out where she wanted to go in life. But, I've never thought about my future after I met Kenshin. In an odd way I only ever thought about... The clash of steel was heard around the dojo. Her thoughts muddled her reaction to the sound. She just sat in their room. An unmoving stone of confusion, Staring listlessly at the shoji. The bell at the front gate rang gaily, completely unaware of death squaring off in the dojo. Kaoru finally got up and went to greet the person at the front gate.
The gate opened and just outside there stood three very familiar figures... Goddamnit! Gimme a break!
Author's Note: Well what do you guys think? I was going to write a long lengthy fight scene but decided to cut it so that the plot could move along. Anyway I plan on updating in another 2 weeks unless reviewers convince me otherwise.
Read This!
I'm going to start a new story when this one is over! I want people to vote on which one so I'm going to put up. Please vote by either sending me an e-mail or putting your vote in a review. Here are the 4 choices:
Kei: Thrown into the future, Kenshin finds himself in the country he worked so hard to build. Kaoru an agent of Chronos has a job to do: Send Himura the Battousai back to the past. But, what she finds is a man fighting for his life between 2 rival gangs on the streets of Tokyo. KK traditional pairings.Alt-Universe
Fragile: Thought to be Immortal. Known to be a Monster. Said to be the Devil. The Battousai is all but fragile. One girl proves to him otherwise. Songfic BK traditional pairings
It's not me, It's you: Kenshin Himura is the most wanted guy in school. The only problem is he can't seem to hold onto any girl longer than 2 weeks. They always throw themselves at him, then they break it with him. Leaving him the most confused boy in the universe. Their favorite break up line: It's not me, It's you. Songfic KK traditional pairings Alt-Universe
The Hackley School: The Hackley School is known all around the country for its excellence in both academics and athletics. Kenshin is a shy new senior. Kaoru a hotheaded junior. Together they discover the mystery behind the schools haunted history.KK traditional pairings Alt-Universe (Hackley is a real place people!)
Voting Ends when this Fic ends! Please Vote!
The Votes So Far are...
Kei: 3 votes
Fragile: 2 votes
It's Not me, It's you: 1 vote
The Hackley School: 3 votes
Disclaimer: The day I own Rurouni Kenshin is the day I get magic powers that allow mysterious random people to get cured with pink light! (Think Mishy Bunny...) I don't own this! Don't Sue!
Japanese to English Glossary:
gi- japanese samurai shirt
hakama- samurai pants with the folds in them
arigato gozaimus- thank you for everything
sayonara-good bye
ja ne- see you
san- mr. ms. mrs.
chan-little...
sama- lord
Okashira- leader
Atashi wa - I am...
shoji-rice paper door
zori- flat wooden slippers worn by Kaoru in the Anime
kami-sama - Lord God
Obi - sash that ties the Kimono closed usually highly decorative
tabi - split toe socks
bokken -wooden sword
de gozaru - that it is ( something that makes the sentence said polite)
oro - can't explain it so I'm not even going to try
itai - ouch
gomen nasai - I'm sorry
hai - yes
Aa - yes (informal)
Iie - no
ano - a kind of stammering...
sen - cents are to dollars what sen is to yen
itachi -weasel
kurasa-raven
kunai - throwing knives
kuso - something like damn
baka -stupid
hentai - pervert
ki - aura of a person or thing
ahou- idiot
daijoubu- Are u okay/ I am okay.
hime- princess
nana-seven
dono- old fashioned ending even more honorific than -san
tori-atama- birdhead
kitsune- fox
megitsune-twist between mugumi and kitsune used by Sano
kei-firefly
koishii-term of endearment male to female
kawaii-cute
sessha-literally "this unworthy one"
oneesan-sister
Aku,soku,zan -sin swiftly slay
tenken-heaven's sword
demo-but
saya-sheath
sake-rice wine
Hyaku-hurry up
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