Koonichiwa Minna! I hope your enjoying the story and thanks to all the people that have supported me! Bai Bai! Aya45. 1 year after. I'll give you the ages! For everyone…---
Kaoru Kamiya-22 years old
Kanna-11 years old
Kenshin Himura-34 years old
Sanosuke Sagara-24 years old
Megumi Takani-28 years old
Misao Makimachi-21 years old
Aoshi Shinomori-32 years old
Yahiko Myojin-16 years old
Saitou Hajime-41 years old
Passing beyond the moon,
The light beyond countless valleys,
Why do they keep on searching when it is hopeless,
Let me see when they have found me,
How will they react?
To a different me…
Chapter 8
Clues from the Devil
Village
Kaoru walked toward the village market to get some food for the evening. She was wearing a traditional kimono which was light green and had different color flowers on it she had her hair in a traditional women's bun (like the one you see in the movie Reflection).
She had her obi tucked in so it was squared; she had some jasmine perfume on, and had light pink lipstick on her small and delicate lips.
She was very beautiful and when men where to turn around to look at Kaoru they wouldn't even notice her with how many times she has been wearing a gi and hakama to the market. Kanna like any other day was with Kaoru and was tall for a girl of 11. When they passed by young men and boys they where fairly attracted to Kaoru and Kanna because of the way they smelled, Kanna smelled of sweet lavender.
Kaoru stopped and said to the young woman who was talking to a boy of 23 about the fish, "May I have some catfish Ms."
Kanna smiled mischievously and waved to her friend Ryuichi. Turning around she faced the young woman with a smiled she said, "Hi Kisa!"
The young woman who was getting the catfish tilted her head in reply and held a puzzled look as Kanna giggled. The reason that Kanna was giggling was because she was the one who made Kaoru wear a kimono (which fairly annoyed Kaoru after so many years of not wearing one) and finally be the women she was, Kaoru sighed and put her hand gently on Kanna's head and said, "Kanna dear would you please stop jumping up and down."
Kanna smiled and nodded she stopped immediately when the young women gave her the catfish saying, "Thank you very much Kaoru-san."
Kaoru tilted her head slightly in respect and walked away with Kanna following closely behind.
Aoiya
Battousai with his angered amber eyes yelled, "Damn where in hell is Kaoru?"
At that very moment Misao came running in and called, "Himura I've got news!"
The battousai's amber eyes flickered with disdain as he asked, "What news is it Misao-dono?"
Misao ignored the glare that the battousai gave her out of pure irritation and continued what she was going to say. "There have been numbers of man slaughters, over the past 4 years. It has been getting worse because now their saying that the men that have been being killed are from a clan called the Daimio Clan. They are a saying a young woman, is killing all of them; the name what they call her is either the Midnight eye or the Fallen Sakura. She is a female hitokiri and kills for one purpose and that's to protect a village in either Kyoto or maybe Tokyo…I don't know but I'm positive either one of those,"
Misao was out of breath and then continued, "they say the woman is beautiful and the only things you can see is her katana gleaming in the moonlight. They say she has beautiful…sapphire eyes that shimmer in the moonlight and she has raven hair. She is about an inch taller then me and she has this attack, which is called…let me remember…Treka…no Treken…Su…Ya…Ryuu! Yea that's the one…have you heard of it?"
Kenshin was trying to recollect an attack called Treken Su Ya Ryuu during the bakumatsu…but he could not…a woman with sapphire eyes?
"…Misao-dono do you know if that women carried a kodachi as well?" Hesitating before he asked.
Misao was trying to think if the rumors told of a kodachi and then she replied, " I think she does…carry a kodachi…you don't think…it could be Kao---" She was cut off by Kenshin saying, "No don't even think of such a thing Misao-dono."
Coming inside the Aoiya, Sano and Yahiko beside him where murmuring under there breaths until they heard Kenshin say the last remark.
"Don't say no such thing as what?" Sano asked as he leaned against the wall folding his arm across his chest.
Yahiko nodded as he wanted to know as well. Misao sighed and prepared herself to tell the story yet again. Minutes passed as Misao told her news that she gained from a passer byer. After she was finished, she had seen Aoshi leaning against the wall as well nodding in agreement and saw Megumi coming back shoulder pressed on the rim of the doorway. She had come back from shopping for groceries; she had heard enough to get the flow of the idea.
Megumi then commented stonily, "Our first clue to where Kaoru may be…"
They all nodded and Yahiko thought, "…Kaoru…it can't be you…can it??"
They where all dead silent thinking to themselves and then Aoshi broke the uneasy silence as he said, "If it is the Kamiya Girl then we better get looking…"
Kenshin growled angrily as he seethed, "It is not her Aoshi, Kaoru-dono would not go as far as murdering."
Sanosuke then replied icily. "Oh quit it there are options Kenshin…not only that she can be a manslayer…"
Kenshin glared at Sano with such anger that it made Sano shift his position as well bite his tongue to what else he was going to say.
Rather think it then say it… Sanosuke thought stiffly.
Yahiko, "There is no use arguing over this Kenshin! We have to look at all the possibilities we just can't go and believe she is not a manslayer!"
Although I won't believe it, never…
Kenshin looked at the boy he had known for 6 years and said, "I still won't believe it Kaoru-dono is to pure to go to the dark! Yahiko don't you think I have covered that possibilities countless times and never found any kind of way Kaoru-dono could become a hitokri!"
Megumi was hard in thinking and then said quietly, "Unless she is in it to protect as the itachi said this hitokiri woman does this to protect this village of hers."
Everyone looked at her and said, "What?"
Megumi spoke real quietly as if anyone where to hear her they would kill her, "Days before she had left she asked me an odd question---
Flashback
Kaoru and I where seating on the porch and talking a little bit before she popped up the question, "Megumi-san what kind of hitokiri is sinful the ones that protect or the ones that kill for the fun of it?"
I was startled by the question but she quickly added, "I'm just asking Megumi! "
She said this with fake cheerfulness that I could already see and to answer her question I replied, "Both because if you want to protect the ones you love you must try to protect them in a matter of not killing…"
Kaoru looked at me for a couple of minutes and then sighed turning around abruptly like something had upset her…she was well in deep thought…I suppose. Then she had gotten up and said, "Arigatou Megumi-san - that really helped you're a great friend to have when I need advice…"
Then she had turned around and left me speechless she had never been so honest like that in front of me especially she seemed like she was hiding something dark…
End of flashback
Everyone was speechless into what they heard and then Sano said, "I told you we need to cover the possibility of her being a manslayer…"
Kenshin's lavender eyes returned and then everyone could see him crying small tears they had never seen him cry in front of them…and then he said, "I will NOT believe such nonsense Kaoru would never go to the dark! And kill for the fun of it!" Wiping the small tear drops from his face he narrowed his eyes and his eyes changed to steel blue as he ran out of the Aoiya to get some fresh air and to clear his mind.
Megumi glared at Sano and then smacked on the head a couple of good times and said, "HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT YOU TORI-ATAMA! TAKE ANOTHER ONE!"
(SMACK!) (CLASH)
Sanosuke covering his head yelled, "I'm sorry okay! But it is a possibility! OUCH!"
Kenshin walked past these three young girls and heard something that had disturbed him, the subject of the woman manslayer.
"Did you hear Naomi about the woman battousai?" Asked the tallest of the girls to the shortest of all three of them.
"Huh, oh yea I've heard about her what about you Ritsu?" Naomi (the shortest girl) asked to the one who was medium sized and slim.
"Yes I've heard of her what was her name again Kisa?" Ritsu asked to the tallest one.
"…Sak---
Kenshin held his breath as she said, "Sakura Mataru."
Kenshin then sighed glad it wasn't Kaoru's name but wait…he remembered something that Kaoru had said to him.
Flashback:
"Kenshin what would you name yourself if you could use another name?" Kaoru had asked him one evening as they walked along side the lake where the fireflies glowed.
Kenshin tilted his head side ways and said, "Oro?"
Kaoru giggled and skipped some as she replied carefully, "Oh, Kenshin your just to clueless sometimes. The name I would substitute mine with is Sakura…isn't that a pretty name?"
Kenshin with his child like eyes remarked, "Kaoru-dono why Sakura if I may ask? Your name is very lovely."
Kaoru turned to look at the lake and then at the new moon, she put her hand behind her back and smiled slightly. Kenshin stood three inches away from her and Kaoru was sideways from him. Her dark bangs covered her angered eyes, her strained smile still adorned her pale white face.
"Kaoru is a name used for a boy or girl…I really don't like it, but for some reason I cherish it. My mother was the one to name me, even though I can't remember her I know she meant well. But I always loved the name Sakura, for it means cherry blossoms; and cherry blossoms are beautiful." Kaoru's head was tilted upward her bangs still hid her eyes and then she twirled around and faced Kenshin smiling widely.
Kenshin eyes widened with surprise, "But Kaoru-dono, your name signifies who you are."
How many times I have wanted to change my name to my original one…
Kaoru smiled somewhat, turned her back to him, and said, "We should get going if I know Sanosuke he is probably over there with Yahiko waiting for food."
End of Flashback
Kenshin covered his face with his hands and whispered, "Why Kaoru…why?"
Village House of Maho
Kanna looked at Kaoru who had said something to her, "I thought I heard someone call my name just now? Kanna was it you?"
Kaoru was in her bedroom sewing a torn lace in Kanna's kimono Kanna looking puzzled replied, "No I haven't heard anyone call your name Kaoru-chan…"
Kaoru smiled slightly and commented, "Must be my imagination here you go, all finished."
She gave the kimono to Kanna and smiled, Kaoru was thinking to herself, "They have probably heard of the rumors…how are they feeling…right now…? They're feeling unsure; their coming…1 more year that is a all I need to perfect myself in my swordsmanship."
Daimio Clan Hide Out
Kyo was practicing some swings and then heard his master say, "You have trained real hard Kyo…you really want to beat the Fallen Sakura?"
Kyo nodded entranced with his swings heard his master say, "A year from now we will start a war…in Japan…and while were at it kill the most precious thing in Sakura's life…and her village…you most train the groups understood time is running out and I'm sure that Sakura is practicing hard…"
Kyo stopped his training and said, "Yes I know but she works alone…"
His master nodded and then said, "Yes I know that will give us the advantage 1 against 3 groups of the Daimio Clan you know what I will send her a note telling her to start training the villagers for the upcoming battle…then that will still give us a fair battle and a great advantage! Ahha!"
Kyo solemnly nodded and continued his swings saying to himself, "Please prepare them Sakura…I hate to battle when…we have the advantage…"
To be continued…
Reviews please, thanks to those who have reviewed my story I am very honored for all of you who have taken the time to read this story. Aya45