Chapter IV:
Kenshin and Sanosuke left the meeting where they finally met the dignitary they were supposed to be protecting. Neither one was very keen on the old, bitter man. The two friends walked in silence until reaching their quarters.
"I can't believe you left Jou-chan for this," Sanosuke muttered as soon as they were in private. His chocolate colored eyes were accusing as he angrily chewed on a toothpick he picked up on their way past the kitchen.
"I didn't leave Kaoru-dono," Kenshin returned with a worn expression. He felt miserable enough having to serve an old man who was obviously corrupt in heart. He didn't need to be reminded that he had abandoned Kaoru, again.
Sanosuke shrugged as he flopped himself on his twin bed and stretched lazily. "I suppose it doesn't matter. At least you left her in good hands with Shinomori," Sano watched Kenshin's reaction closely and was pleased at the results.
The docile amethyst eyes flashed amber at the suggestive nature of the statement. "Kaoru-dono needed a vacation from the dojo and her visit with Misao will be refreshing," he reasoned.
Sano snorted and sat up to glare at his best friend. "What she needed was some reassurance about where she stood in your heart. You still haven't told her how you feel."
Kenshin refused to allow Sano to drag him on a guilt trip and purposely turned his back on him to reach into the inner folds of his shirt to touch the blue ribbon. He needed strength, especially with Sano attacking his resolve. "Kaoru knows how I feel about her."
"Hoping and knowing are two different things," Sano replied quietly as he shook his head in disgust.
"We might as well set up our appointments to see the doctor for our examinations," Kenshin changed the subject. That was another issue that had put him in a sour mood. Their new boss requested that all his men have a complete medical exam.
He wasn't sure why, but Kenshin had deep feeling of foreboding about this exam.
"Have you written her yet?" Sano asked, not wanting to skirt the issue. Kenshin shook his head. "Why not?"
Kenshin turned, eyes pleading. "Please Sano, don't interfere."
The ex-fighter for hire crossed his arms over his broad chest in anger. "Whatever Kenshin, but just remember it's not only your life that suffers because of your indecision. If you don't love her, then tell her so she can move on to someone who deserves her."
Kenshin remained silent and didn't answer. He loved Kaoru alright. He loved her enough to spare her a miserable life with him. At least, he hoped that he loved her that much. He feared that his selfishness would not allow him to free her of him. He knew he couldn't live without her, but would she want to live without him?
That was the question he feared most. He knew he wasn't worthy of her, but he wanted her just the same. He was going to be selfish and after he earned enough money with this last job he'd offer to take care of her as best he could.
oooooOOOOOooooo
Kaoru sighed wearily. When she had retired for the evenings she was sure that with as drained as she felt both emotionally and physically that she would fall asleep pronto. There was no such luck for the female kendo instructor.
The sounds of a symphony of crickets attracted her attention and she decided that sleep was a luxury that this night would deny her. Almost angrily she kicked back the covers of the futon.
It was fairly late so she didn't bother putting a robe over her flowing pale yellow gown. It billowed behind her slightly as if a gentle wind were present as she walked silently down the hallway to the back porch of the Aioya where she sat on the stairs leaning against the railing.
She took a deep breath and allowed the cool night breeze to sooth her frazzled nerves and relaxed. Kaoru still felt a far cry from being able to slumber but at least she felt calm in the yard watching the stars.
Unsure of how many minutes had passed in blissful, thoughtless silence Kaoru was surprised when she felt a warm body sitting next to hers on the stairs. She turned to look at the intruder and was even more surprised to discover a silent Aoshi Shinomori sitting still as a statue, looking lost in thought as he stared into the darkness of the night.
The two sat in companionable silence in the stillness of the night. Aoshi was grateful that for once someone wasn't trying to force him to talk. He felt a rare comfort sitting on the stairs with Kamiya. His original intention was to escort her back to her room, because it really was unwise to stay out late at night.
But when he saw her from the back door in her pale yellow gown, loose flowing raven hair staring out at the stars he was reminded of a fallen angel. She was the vision of an angel looking at the heavens hoping to find her way home.
It was a sight he didn't have the heart to disrupt so he joined her instead. "I'm sorry about your fiancé." Aoshi's soft voice broke the silence when her sorrow seemed almost tangible to him.
Kaoru turned slightly so that she was facing her companion. He was wearing his usual white robe over whatever he wore to sleep in and looked as composed as ever. "Thank you for your concern but that was a long time ago." She smiled briefly before her attention returned to the star filled sky and her expression became unreadable.
"I used to sit out and look at the stars after Hannya and the others were murdered," Aoshi confessed earning the attention of his companion. "It was almost as if each star represents someone in heaven and that you could stay in touch with them, because they were always looking out for you."
"I like that idea," Kaoru agreed. She looked at Aoshi and for a foolish moment imagined what it would be like to lean back against his chest with his arms around her. Her checks flushed at the image and she quickly shook her head to try and clear her mind.
"Something on your mind Kamiya?" Aoshi asked as he noticed her sapphire eyes watching him attentively. He couldn't keep the hint of masculine pride out of his tone as he noticed her embarrassed flush.
"I---uh, I was wondering about your feelings for Misao," Kaoru tried to cover her embarrassment, but quickly regretted it when the dark cloud shadowed Aoshi's features. She wanted to kick herself, but Misao was constantly on her about finding out about how Aoshi felt that it was the first excuse she could think of.
Aoshi schooled his emotions and turned to face Kaoru, his face an emotionless mask. "Why do you want to know how I feel about Misao?" His arctic eyes searched hers.
Kaoru shifted, unnerved by his scrutiny and shrugged. "I was just curious. She's obviously head over heels for you. I was just wondering why you won't give her a chance."
Aoshi's eyes narrowed on her face as if he didn't believe her but then he settled back beside her and allowed his eyes to focus on a sight that only he could see in the dark forest. "Believe it or not, I actually did try to give Misao a chance," he began.
"What? When? I'm sure she would have noticed," Kaoru interjected. Aoshi looked at her with an amused expression and she immediately shut her mouth to wait for him to continue at his own pace.
"I do care about her, and I know she is in love with the idea of me. She'll argue until she's blue in the face that isn't the case, but she has lived a very sheltered life. The only thing we have in common is living here. Besides she deserves someone that will actually love her. I can't offer that. I will never love a woman." Aoshi explained, turning his arctic gaze to burn into Kaoru's sapphire one.
"Never is a long time," Kaoru countered softly in a whisper as her eyes drifted down from his intense eyes to his firm mouth and then quickly averted to her hands in her lap.
"I will never give my heart to a woman, because I witnessed the destruction my father suffered after he lost my mother." He throat tightening as he remembered his parents. They had adored one another and him. He thirsted for nothing under their care.
"What happened to your mother?" Kaoru prodded gently, laying her palm lightly on his powerful forearm that rested casually across his thigh. His muscles tensed for a moment before relaxing under the unexpected touch.
"She died unexpectedly. She was a small woman but quite fearless. She was determined to ride father's large stallion on her own and she fell off him and died instantly with a broken neck. Father was delirious in his grief." Painful memories came back to haunt Aoshi as he relived that incident from when he was but a boy.
He could feel the unmanly tears build up behind his eyes but sheltered those eyes to prevent their fall. Kaoru's hand squeezed his arm reassuringly. Instead of being annoyed, he found a small measure of comfort in the gesture.
"My father rushed foolishly into an assignment a few days later. He had no regard for his own life and died in his carelessness." Aoshi's lips thinned and he shook off Kaoru's hand from his arm and stared at her with a deep coldness. "I refuse to lose my will to live for something so foolish."
Kaoru's eyes narrowed at his, her anger rose within her fueling her next comment. "This are worse things to die for than love. At least your parents were happy together for a time. That's more than some of us can ever hope for." Aoshi frowned at the words and the deep seeded sorrow he sensed behind them. "Without their love you wouldn't exist."
Aoshi laughed mirthlessly. "A fine upstanding man I've turned out to be," he mocked himself.
Kaoru reached up tentatively and laid her hand on his bicep and squeezed for a moment. "But you are a fine man, Aoshi. You really are." She insisted before returning her hand that seemed to have a mind of it's own into her lap.
Aoshi watched her for a few moments in stunned silence. It almost sounded as if she cared about him. Several minutes passed and he realized that Kaoru was awfully quiet. No sooner had he thought about that had her head fallen upon his shoulder.
A hint of a smile crossed his lips as he realized she was asleep. He gathered her in his arms and decided to take her back to her room. He couldn't help but notice how the gown seemed to mold against her curvaceous form and for the first time since he was a teenager he felt an uncontrollable desire, a fire racing through his veins.
He walked briskly through the house towards her room growing dizzy in her presence. Her head was cradled against his chest with her ear over his rapidly pounding heart. Her long, silky hair brushed against his bare chest where his robe had fallen open. She was no angel he decided. She must be some sort of temptress determined to change his ways. Well that wasn't about to happen. He didn't need or want some woman in his life.
He shifted her weight into one arm as he eased upon her door. Her unconscious form seemed to notice the precarious balance and instinctively clutched the front of his robe. Aoshi shivered at the feel of her soft hands against his chest but ignored it as he laid her upon her futon and covered her.
He returned to his own room and stared out his window at the stars. If only they really were his lost friends and family! He could certainly use some advice right about now. He absently rubbed his hand across his chest where she had touched him as he became lost in his thoughts.
There was one other individual that was awake on the grounds and he watched the scene with a frown as he ran his fingers through his white hair nervously. "My pretty Misao, what does this mean for your happiness?" Okina wondered with a deep sadness for the young woman.
oooooOOOOOooooo
The next morning breakfast was a tense atmosphere for everyone except Misao, who seemed obvious. She was chattering away to Kaoru, who sat beside her. She was determined to go into Kyoto for a day out.
"What kind of thing would like to go to?" Misao persisted as she ate heartily, more than the other occupants at the table combined. The other members of the Oniwanbanshi watched fascinated by the small girl's large appetite. It was odd that she seemed to be the only one with much of an appetite.
"Well," Kaoru pondered when it became clear that Misao would not stop harassing her. She stirred her breakfast with her chopsticks as she tried to think of a suggestion. "What about a play?" She requested with a bright look in her eyes. She hadn't been to a play since before her father's death.
"No, never mind, that's kind of expense," Kaoru answered herself before anyone could interject.
Aoshi surprised everyone by speaking. "I should enjoy the theatre." He looked at both Misao and Kaoru with a warm look in his eyes. "It would be my treat to take you both," he offered.
Misao practically had hearts floating over her head while Kaoru smiled slowly at the enigmatic man. He nodded his head at their obvious acceptance, heart warmed at their excitement. "We shall leave in two hours then," he informed them as he headed out to his temple for his daily meditation.
"I'll come and get you Aoshi!" Misao volunteered shouting out the door to the stoic man. She turned back to Kaoru with a big grin on her face from ear-to-ear. "Did you hear that Kaoru! My goodness he asked me out on a date!" She ran to Kaoru and hugged her fiercely in her excitement.
Kaoru extrapolated herself from the parasite otherwise known as Misao and met a concerned look from Okina. It was odd that he wasn't making any perverted remarks lately. He offered a friendly smile at Kaoru when he noticed she was looking at him.
Exactly two hours later, the trio along with Okina left to watch a play in downtown Kyoto.
"I haven't been to the theatre in so long!" Okina exclaimed as his attentive gaze went from one female to the next on their short trip. "However, at the theatre house there is always two plays every day, one in the afternoon and one at night." He recalled.
"That's good, I'd hate to come all the way out there and there not be a play," Kaoru replied uneasy with the way Misao was latching onto Aoshi. It wasn't so much that the younger woman was latching onto him but the pleading looks that the man would cast her. What was she supposed to do about it? So Kaoru walked on Aoshi's other side, careful to keep a safe distance from the perverted old man on her right.
Upon reaching the theatre they were escorted by a beautiful young woman wearing a radiant kimono with long lush hair. Kaoru couldn't help but feel envious of her and a little self conscious in her own attire as the woman seemed to focus her attention on her and Aoshi. It was odd that she seemed to ignore Misao and Okina.
Was the woman jealous of Kaoru because she was walking beside Aoshi? That was odd, because Misao was the one hanging on his arm. They were led to a semi-circle table and Kaoru was about to sit on one end when Aoshi forced her to scoot over in the middle and sit on the end himself.
Okina sat on Kaoru's other side and Misao at the other end. The young woman frowned at the arrangement and Kaoru would have traded with her, except for the hand encircled around her wrist that held her in place and the silent plead from her new friend's icy blue eyes.
If he didn't want to sit beside Misao, Kaoru wasn't about to make him. The hostess returned moments later to their table. It was apparently a theatre that one dined at during the performance. The hostess smiled forcefully at the group and focused her attention on Aoshi.
"It is kind of you to take your sister and father out with you," she commented quietly, so that only Aoshi and Kaoru could hear while she gave a pointed look at Misao and Okina in turn. "I haven't seen you in here in a long time Aoshi," she almost pouted, but continued to ignore Kaoru.
Aoshi merely stared at her and she shifted uncomfortably. Kaoru snuck a look at Misao and noticed she was watching some acrobats practice tricks and hadn't actually heard what the woman said. "What would you like to eat?" The hostess asked with unnatural politeness.
Aoshi ordered for them all and the hostess tucked the order in her pocket before gesturing towards Kaoru with open curiosity. "Is she your mistress?" She asked in a quiet voice of contempt.
Kaoru looked at the woman in shock and opened her mouth to set the jealous woman's fears at ease, but that persistent hand instead of wrapping around her wrist under the table again squeezed her thigh quickly and warded her off. "My intended," Aoshi supplied with venom in his arctic gaze.
"Oh I'm sorry!" the woman exclaimed and quickly made a hasty retreat to take care of their orders.
Kaoru stared at Aoshi in bewilderment and he removed his hand from her person, although it seemed a bit reluctant. "Was that about?" Kaoru asked.
Aoshi offered an apologetic look. "Forgive me. My friends I used to come here quite a bit and I'm afraid that hostess has always tried to gain my attention." He grinned at her briefly. "I can probably come here in peace now that she thinks I'm off the market."
"Why did you say me?" Kaoru asked softly, leaning closer to Aoshi's ear so that the others wouldn't overhear.
Aoshi frowned and gave her a serious look. "Because you know the difference between a favor of friends and the real thing."
Kaoru made a silent 'oh' but didn't reply otherwise. She did have a sense of pride being referred to as Aoshi's friend. Misao finally turned her attention away from the acrobats and began to chatter on and on about something, but no one was really paying attention. Her eyes were focused on Aoshi the whole time.
Their food arrived shortly and the hostess was much nicer to Kaoru and a great deal more polite in general. It was odd behavior but didn't merit investigation. Through out the duration of the entertainment Kaoru felt high spirited and was laughing light heartedly most of the time. Aoshi even occasionally shared in the laughter.
Misao couldn't begrudge her friend her good mood. She certainly needed it, but Aoshi seemed to be paying too much attention to the woman from Tokyo. "Aoshi-sama?" Misao asked as they began to leave the theatre restaurant, effectively interrupting his and Kaoru's discussion about a particular scene in the play.
"Yes?" Aoshi asked politely, turning his attention to the young woman who seemed to reattach herself to his arm. He was disappointed that his purposely sitting as far away from her as possible didn't phase her one bit. At least this time his other arm occupied. Kaoru's arm was looped through his elbow, so he looked the perfect gentleman with both women flanking him. Granted he was more comfortable with Kaoru since he didn't have to worry about any unwanted affections from her. She belonged to the Battousai.
"What was that hostess asking you in there, before we ate?" Misao asked curiously. She had noticed the woman talking with Aoshi and Kaoru, but had been too wrapped up in the pre-show acrobatic act to pay attention.
Aoshi flushed a little at the question, but ever grateful for his staggering height Misao wouldn't see the reaction. He didn't want to give Misao false hope. Perhaps honesty was the best policy. "She wanted to know---" he began.
"Misao! Look!" Kaoru interrupted pointing towards a vender with various odds and ends. It was mostly hair ribbons, bracelets, and perfumes. "Come check that out with me," she disentangled her arm from Aoshi's and led the way for a reluctant Misao.
Aoshi sighed in relief but stiffened when Okina's hand fell upon his shoulder. "I heard what the hostess asked you and I heard your answer. I also saw you last night on the porch," the old man accused.
A raven brow arched at the insinuation. "What is your point old man?" Was the sharp retort.
Okina removed his hand abruptly. "I think you should back off from Kaoru, you know how Misao feels about you."
Blue eyes narrowed. "And you know that I don't feel the same way. Kaoru is my friend and I enjoy spending time with her. The hostess was a nuisance. Friends help each other get rid of nuisances."
"Is that what you consider Misao? Is she a nuisance to you?" Okina asked carefully.
"Look," Aoshi began; he cast a quick glance towards the preoccupied woman. "I know you want nothing more than for me to fall madly in love with her. But it's my life and it's not going to happen." His voice became cold, "You can't force me to love her, that's not how it works."
Okina sighed, his old age showing as his shoulders slumped. "I just want you both to be happy."
Aoshi smiled at him, a genuine smile. "She'll be happy when she finds someone that loves her for who she is. As for me," he glanced absently towards Kaoru. "If I ever fall in love, I doubt if I'll see it coming." He looked sharply at the old man. "Remember I said if and that I don't have any intentions of ever making that mistake."
oooooOOOOOooooo
At dinner, Kenshin and Sanosuke were quiet as were the others eating in the dining hall. Sanosuke was pushing around his food, his appetite failing him.
"I'm too bored to eat," he complained.
Kenshin looked up from his own plate of food that he had been playing with but didn't say anything.
"If only there was something to do!" Sanosuke continued. "I can't even gamble and if I drink I'll be fired on the spot. Kenshin this is the worst assignment we've ever taken." His dinnerware clattered to his plate. "I miss the fox, Jou-chan, and the brat!"
Kenshin tried to summon his carefree rurouni smile, but it was harder and harder to do these days. "We won't be gone that long. We'll be home before you know it, that we will," he assured his friend.
However, inside Kenshin was a wreck. Whereas Sanosuke couldn't eat because of excess boredom, Kenshin was a bundle of nerves. He was afraid of what he might discover in his physical examination. He'd had his wounds checked out many times, but he had recently started to fear that he might have contracted some sort of disease during the revolution.
There were rumors of a disease of the blood that could lay dormant for up to two decades before any signs were revealed. If anyone had to worry about blood diseases it would be him who was bathed in blood as a virtual nightly ritual.
He could only hope that his fears were unfounded.
TBC