Chapter 9: Bitter Tea and Broken Promises pt. 1
"Iizuka, you don't need to hang around the inn anymore. You do know that, right?"
"Hai Katsura-sama, I do. I just feel like something is going to happen. I'm not one usually to trust my instincts. I always leave that to Himura, but I know a bad feeling when I have one."
"Iizuka, do you know what is going to happen?"
"Nani?"
"You'll find out from Himura soon enough. Do me a favor and deliver this to the Tokyo Police. They'll know what to do with this."
"Katsura-sama it's a week trip on foot!"
"I know. This is important. They will await this letter. Go."
"Awww, itty Iizuka-chan is the Ishin's new errand boy!"
"Shut up Hoji!"
"You don't get to watch the love affairs of Himura the Battousai anymore, do you?"
"I see that as a step up. At least I don't have to watch a pruny wolf and his mate."
"Well... let's take a peek! It's bound to be something juicy! Troop movements possibly!"
"Hoji, I don't think that's a good idea..."
"Hey this could be valuable information! All we need is a kettle of tea."
"What for?"
"To steam the seal open, you baka! That is the reason I'm the strategic general of our forces, the rest of you ahous are too incompetent!"
"Hey! I actually have found out some important stuff alright!"
"Yeah... You found out that the Ishin Shishi aren't the fools we thought them to be."
The gate opened and just outside there stood three very familiar figures... Goddamnit! Gimme a break!
"Busu, what's with the look?" Geez what the heck is wrong with Kaoru. She looks like she's seeing ghosts...
"Yo, Jou-chan you gonna let us in or not?"
Kaoru just stood there. She didn't need this right now. MOU! What the hell are they doing here?
The "ping" of a sword being parried, rang across the yard.
"Um... Tanuki, bad time?" Megumi inquired.
Kaoru just stood there frozen still. She knew what was going on in the dojo. Okita and Kenshin were dueling. She knew that Kenshin was in trouble...
There was thump against the dojo wall. Kenshin... Kaoru sprinted away from the gates, leaving it wide wide open with three very confused guests. They just looked at her shadow wondering just what happened with their friend. Then they followed...
The shoji snapped open revealing Kaoru. Her eyes widened at the sight. Her uncle lay in heap against the wall. A police officer with a sword pointed horizontally at Kenshin. Kenshin just stood there staring at his opponent. Or through his opponent. It all depends from where you were looking.
Kenshin needed a fast way to get through the Gatotsu without involving Kaoru and without killing his "ally".
"Oh, so the tanuki girl finally has decided to make her entrance." Saitoh's voice was light and flippant, but tinged with venom. Kenshin knew it was too late. Kaoru would be involved with his fight whether or not she wanted to be or not...
Saitoh charged cutting off his musings.
"You know Himura, you still haven't learned." Kenshin was too preoccupied dodging Saitoh's Gatotsu to really pay attention to what Saitoh was saying.
"Saitoh you came here to fight. Just talk through your blade. What's the use of big words when they don't say anything?" He blocked Saitoh's counter. They got caught, blades locked.
"Fine then you really will find out what I have I have to say Battousai..." They both sprang apart. Saitoh fell into the Gatotsu Zero stance, blade poised above his head.
Kenshin just stood, hand casually playing with his hilt. His stance said nothing about his skill but, his stare did. Amber bore into Topaz. One trying to dissect the other. Neither getting anywhere.
"Why the glare Himura? You told me to talk through the sword. Don't go all hypocritical on me now."
Kenshin took to the offense unexpectantly. He charged and drew his katana in a silver arc. Only to be met with Saitoh's sheath. Saitoh ducked under Kenshin's offense and thrust his sword upward. Narrowly missing Kenshin's head, and cutting Kenshin's shoulder instead.
"KENSHIN!" The anguished cry came as a surprise to him. Kaoru's presence was forgotten in the heat of battle.
Kaoru hurried over and almost fell on top of the tea set out in the front of the dojo. Before she could reach Kenshin, a certain wolf's blade blocked her path.
"Battousai, we both know that your not finished. Stand up." Saitoh gave the command. It wasn't optional.
Kenshin obeyed. He stood up, amber eyes flashing. "You will never hurt Kaoru. Ever. Understood? Or else..."
"Or else what Battousai?"
"I'll take yours." Saitoh's eyes widened. Only to narrow again.
"What of mine?"
"Your woman." Kenshin let the statement hang in the air for a moment before sheathing his sword and settling back into his favorite Battoujutsu stance. "Now it is my turn." With that he attacked, leaving Saitoh barely enough time to block the flurry of attacks coming his way. Apparently the staring contest had some results and wasn't as useless as once thought...
Kaoru used this moment to back away from the 2 combatants. She didn't know what to do. She watched, absorbed in their sword dance, as her knees slid out from beneath her. One bad decision was all it took to end the life of either duelist...
Saitoh slid away from the Battousai. His breath coming in short gasps. He returned to the Gatotsu Ishiki. Kenshin returned to his Battoujutsu. Both knew this would be it. Kenshin was already fatigued after fighting Okita.
Saitoh bore down with the Gatotsu only for his blade to be parried to the right. Kenshin swung his blade back to counter the Gatotsu only to be met with air as Saitoh sidestepped out of the way. Saitoh went to attack Kenshin's neck which was now defenseless...
In a last ditch attempt, Kenshin brought his sheath up. Saitoh's eyes widened as his blade was sheathed by Kenshin's saya. Kenshin twisted the blade out of Saitoh's grip and hit Saitoh at his pressure point with his own hilt, knocking him out. Kenshin dropped to one knee in exhaustion.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru rushed up to him and hugged him until tears were falling out of her eyes. "I thought..."
"Ssh.. don't worry nothing will ever, ever hurt you, koishii. I promise..." The promise barely left his lips whenthe shoji opposite Kaoru opened up revealing Megumi, Sano and Yahiko.
"Holy Shit Jou-chan. What the hell happened?"
Kaoru had finally found her voice. She bit back her tears and said "First, let's clean up this mess, then I'll tell you. It's a long story..."
Author's Note: It's a short update today because I'm leaving on plane for vacation in 3 hours! I hope you all enjoyed it! I'll update in 2 weeks definitely. Ja ne!
Disclaimer: I do not own RK. It and and all it's characters belong to Watsuki-san!
Reviewer responses next Chapter!
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 (eva...)
The Hackley School: 3 votes
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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