Please note that this is post "The Final" movie. This happened around 2 months after Kenshin and Enishi's fight.
An Unexpected Invitation
Part IV
Kaoru was a pain in the ass to be sure, but he would never ever allow anyone to hurt her. He would fight for her, until his very last breath and the memory of how his efforts had fallen so short, allowing Yukishiro to take Kaoru – right in front of him! – Yahiko had felt like an utter failure. It was a wound that had taken months to heal. It still stung.
And now, it was all coming back to him. It made him feel small and hopeless and so, so terribly angry.
Sano and Kenshin had assured him many times that he could not have stopped Enishi. Even Kaoru, not in so many words, but at least in the way she had held him when she'd come home – bruised and disheveled – had offered and given him comfort he didn't think he deserved. They hadn't let themselves cry, but they had clutched at each other, fingers digging into layers of clothing, skin and muscles, until he could feel the imprint of Kaoru's hand in his very bones. And they understood. No words were needed.
It's ok. I'm home.
I won't let it happen ever again.
Yahiko had thought that nightmare, like Saitou, Jin-eh and Shishio was over, never to visit them again, only to be dismayed by Kaoru's stubborn kindness. What could have possibly possessed her to invite her former captor to share a meal with them? Sometimes, Yahiko wondered if Kaoru was aware of how her compassion would often lead to some sort of mess that would need fixing. Not that he didn't appreciate it, because if Kaoru hadn't been charitable, who knows where he'd be right now. Dead or in jail. But it was just like her to be so - stupidly forgiving!
No matter, he was ready now. He had been practicing really, really hard and Kaoru had been impressed with his progress. He wouldn't be so vulnerable this time. Let that Yukishiro bastard try anything. Yahiko was determined that he will not fail. He was a son of a samurai and he will protect his family. Taking a deep breath, he shoved the shoji door open, revealing their uninvited guest.
Yukishiro Enishi was calmly sitting down, facing him. His arms were crossed against his chest, the chaos of his gray-white hair was a surprising vision. Yahiko hadn't even noticed it that winter night. It had been too dark, Enishi moving so viciously fast; everything was a blur of pain and confusion. All Yahiko could bitterly remember was how easily he had been knocked away, unable to defend his busu-sama.
This was the first time, Yahiko realized with a start, that he had truly looked upon Kenshin's giri no ototo. Jaws and fists clenched at the mere sight of him, Yahiko wordlessly stepped forward.
Yukishiro wasn't extremely large. Yahiko had seen men bigger than him but Enishi had an undeniable presence that made it seem like he occupied so much space. Their eyes met and Yahiko felt his anger hardening and settling inside his chest. The stupid piece of shit had chosen the seat where Kenshin usually sat, right beside Kaoru. How dare he? Yahiko glared at the white-haired fiend who merely smirked at him and raised his middle finger to push his eyes glasses at the bridge of his nose.
"If you're expecting an apology, little one –"
"Fuck you." Yahiko bit out. His hands itched and he wanted nothing more than to draw his shinai and throw it right into Enishi's smug face. And he was just about to, having decided that being called little one, was invitation enough (he could just tell Kaoru that he tripped and fell and somehow it had sent his shinai right smack into Yukishiro's nose) - he started to raise his right arm when he felt Kenshin enter the room.
Enishi didn't even bother to stand up. The jerk was acting like he owned the place. That he belonged here and that they were the ones intruding. He tilted his head, the colored glasses he's wearing hiding his eyes. His lips curled up in a menacing smile. "Battou-"
Yahiko tensed and from behind him, he heard Kaoru loudly clearing her throat. "Don't be rude."
Yukishiro dipped his head forward and astonishingly gave in, changing his greeting. "Bastard." He said instead. The grin stretched his lips until it looked like a smile had been slit right across his face. He looked down right insane.
"That is not –" Kaoru protested hotly, coming forward, elbowing past Yahiko so she could glare down at Enishi, her face turning bright red.
"Enishi." Kenshin answered back at the same time. There was nothing pleasant in Kenshin's voice. It was completely emotionless but it held a quiet intensity that Yahiko had only heard once. Back in Kyoto when Kenshin had told Kaoru that he was both angry and relived that she had left the safety of Tokyo to follow him.
Kami-sama. Yahiko thought gulping audibly. The infuriating asshead hadn't been here for a day and already he was throwing everything out of balance. Yahiko himself couldn't decide if he should sit beside Enishi or across from him. He didn't think he'd have enough self-restraint to not try and break a plate or two on top of Yukishiro's freaky head. He'd have to be really quick about it but - he barely managed to swallow down his squeak of surprise when Kenshin suddenly moved.
Yahiko watched as Kenshin quietly sat directly opposite his brother-in-law, which made sense. Kenshin would want to see Yukishiro's every move. Taking that into account, Yahiko sat next to Kenshin. He would rather have Yukishiro within his line of sight too, even if it meant that Kaoru would be sitting right next to the crazy son of a bitch. He silently wished Sano was with them.
For one, the roosterhead would not have let Kaoru talk him out of inflicting pain upon their infuriating guest. Kami knows Sano deserves to exact some sort of vengeance after having most of his bones broken during his fight with Enishi. And Yahiko would feel much better if Kaoru wouldn't be so close within Yukishiro's reach. Of all the days that Sano had decided not to visit the dojo! Yahiko let out a low grumble as Enishi stared at Kenshin who stared right back at him. He was left to stare at both of them staring at each other. This is ridiculous, he thought grumpily.
"I'm going to get our dinner." Kaoru blurted out after a second, when she had probably finally understood what an incredibly bad idea this was.
Yahiko could only see her from his peripheral vision, but she looked like she wanted run out of the dojo and never return. This was her idea! He thought, mentally rolling his eyes. She could not have thought that this would be a friendly dinner with stories and laughter and cups of sake shared.
"Let me help, Kaoru-dono." The offer was borne out of habit but Yukishiro snorted with derision and even from where he was sitting, Yahiko could feel Kaoru's cutting glare.
"Don't start."
The two worded warning seemed to work, surprisingly enough and Yahiko's eyes slid from Yukishiro to Kaoru and back again. He didn't like this all.
"It's alright Kenshin, please I – I think I can manage. Just," Yahiko turned his attention back to Kaoru, noting the way she was nervously twisting her fingers. She took a deep breath, "Try not to kill each other while I'm gone." And then she quickly fled, not even bothering to return Kenshin's slight bow.
There was a moment of silence; each second ticking by seemed like an eternity. Kenshin didn't want to talk, he was looking at the old, battered table as though Buddha himself had written a secret message that needed to be deciphered. Yahiko couldn't settle in his seat. He wanted to stretch out his leg and stupidly sway from side to side. For a moment he even considered volunteering to help out Kaoru in the kitchen but that sounded cowardly. Not for the first time and definitely not the last, Yahiko cursed Kaoru's inability to tell bastard asshats like Yukishiro to fuck off and leave them alone. He could not help but scowl at the person responsible for the disturbance of their usual peaceful evenings. Kami, if you could hear me, I pray you open up the gates of hell and swallow up the bastard.
Enishi tilted his head and for a moment Yahiko was horrified. Had he said that out loud? But Yukishiro's contemptuous stare was directed at Kenshin.
"Brother-in-law, I see you have healed well."
Yahiko's eyes flickered to where Kenshin's stab wound had been. He remembered Megumi checking the wound daily, making sure it wouldn't get infected, it had been deep and had even struck bones. It would surely scar.
Kenshin gave a curt nod. "You look fully recovered yourself, that you do."
"It was just a bullet wound. It was nothing. I feel - stronger, in fact."
There were no threats uttered, but Yahiko could feel something volatile in the air; it had its own physical weight that was filling up the tiny room. There was a warm, prickly ache on the blades of his shoulder. Shaking it off, he sneered at Enishi, attempting to dispel the anxiety crawling up and down his spine, like a line of maggots in a feeding frenzy.
"What happened to your face?" Yahiko asked, picking up on the slight discoloration on the tip of Enishi's nose.
Instead of being embarrassed of annoyed, Enishi actually smiled, as though remembering a fond memory. "I made Kamiya-san angry." Was his only explanation.
Kenshin grunted something incoherent.
Gritting his teeth for not getting the reaction he had been expecting, Yahiko deftly changed the topic. "So how'd you escape prison?" he demanded, wanting nothing more than to wipe the stupid smirk off of Yukishiro's face. "The police will be looking for you soon enough. You can wait for them here; this'll be the first place they'll come looking for you."
Yukishiro lazily reached into the pocket of his hideously colored Chinese robe.
Orange. No one in his right mind would wear something that shiny. Yahiko kept a wary eye for any sudden movement but Yukishiro only took out what appeared to be an official document. Yahiko could see the Governor's seal emblazoned at the front.
Crazy Hair tapped the paper with his two finger and then wordlessly pushed it towards him, "Pardoned by the Japanese Government. I am a free man."
"Liar." He snarled, wanting to snatch the paper and tear it to pieces. Not that it will change anything if it was real. "How do we know that isn't fake?"
"We can wait for the police that will not come." Enishi shrugged, taunting him. "Or you can examine it for yourself if you wish. Your friend, Fujita Gorō –"
"He isn't our friend." Yahiko snapped. That earned him nothing more than a raised eyebrow. It was those damn glasses, Yahiko thought. He couldn't see the expression those eyes held and it made him feel that he was somehow at a disadvantage.
"No?" When it was apparent that no one was going to answer him or take interest in his phony papers, Enishi tucked the documents back inside the inner pocket of his jacket, lightly patting it, pleased as punch. "Either way, he signed my release papers."
"What do you want Enishi?" Kenshin finally spoke up, his voice was low and clipped.
From the corner of Yahiko's eyes, he could see Kenshin's hand resting on top of his lap, the knuckles turning stark white from the way he was clenching his fists. If only he knew how to read or even sense ki. He wondered if it could be seen as a color, because he could swear that the air around Kenshin was tinted dark almost black red, shimmering like a mirage during the hottest days.
Certain that Enishi can and was probably feeling his brother-in-law's ki, he didn't seem at all bothered. The only emotion on his face that Yahiko had seen so far was arrogance and boredom. This was further aggravated by that grating, overbearing voice. "Shall we wait for dinner first before we talk about what I want?"
Nothing about their conversation had calmed his anger down and the more that Enishi spoke, the more irritable Yahiko felt. "What makes you think we care about what you want?"
And again, that cocky shrug. "Hm. Fair point. It doesn't really concern the two of you, anyway."
"But it concerns Kaoru-dono."
This clearly wasn't a question. That Kenshin had seemed to have entirely forgotten his usual overly-polite speech pattern was not lost on Yahiko. He'd never heard Kenshin talk like this. It wasn't like Enishi's outright insolence, but there was a steady, self-assured calmness that made Yahiko extremely nervous.
Yukishiro gave them a feral smile. "Yes, it does, Battousai. What is it to you?"
"It is everything to me, that it is."
And even that didn't sound polite at all! Yahiko actually had to twist his whole body just so he could look at Kenshin, and make sure that this was in fact the usually mild-mannered ruruoni. He had never seen Kenshin fight – truly really fight, with blood curling rage and violence. This was how Sano had described it to him when he had asked. And Yahiko couldn't help but note the terrible fear and awe in Sano's voice. Kenshin's eyes had narrowed into slits, but he could see a sharp glint of silver in it; like the light catching Enishi's eyes glasses, or the blade of a sharpened knife. He wondered if this was a glimpse of how Kenshin had been as the legendary hitokiri.
"Is it, now?"
"I am not playing games, Enishi."
"And you think that I am?"
Their voices have significantly lowered, but the way it echoed inside Yahiko's head, they might as well be screaming. He didn't even realize that he was holding his breath, waiting for Kenshin's reply.
"Food's ready!" Kaoru announced and Yahiko almost jumped out of his skin.
"Kami-sama, do not do that!" He nearly yelled, his hands clutching and massaging his chest.
Kaoru didn't seem to be aware that she had just walked in time to diffuse what could have been a dangerous situation. She ignored his complain, gifting them instead with her over-bright smile. "It's the kabayaki you had already prepared, Kenshin." She informed them in a too cheerful voice. Her smile faltered when she noticed the stillness around them, eyes darting from Kenshin and then to Yukishiro.
Yahiko couldn't help but glance down at the dish that Kaoru had brought out from the kitchen. He felt his heart cracking with pain and disappointment. "No, Kaoru! I was looking forward to Kenshin cooking that!" He howled, momentarily forgetting Enishi's presence. It wasn't every day that they could eat unagi. Yukishiro had fucked up everything!
Kaoru peered at him through her bangs. "I didn't have enough time to cook anything else, you brat!" She brought the tray down with enough force to rattle the plates and cups, huffing as she sat down right next to the orange clad ogre, who was quietly examining their dinner.
"This does not look right." Yukishiro murmured, looking at the barely recognizable lumps of grilled eel.
Yahiko felt his face heating up. "What the hell are you complaining about, you jerk?" It was one thing for him to make fun of Kaoru's cooking, it was a whole different thing for Yukishiro to make inappropriate comments!
Kenshin made small coughing noises. "It's uhm, it's fine Kaoru-dono, truly."
"It's burned." The comment sliced right through the smell of over-cooked fish meat.
"Well, that's your fault, since you kept on yapping about Shanghai. I couldn't concentrate. Are you hungry or what?" Kaoru violently pushed the food towards them.
"This is a strange kabayaki." Yukishiro tonelessly remarked.
"Oi, White Hair, you either eat it or shut the fuck up." What an indolent brat. Yahiko was going to enjoy punching Enishi's face if he makes another observation – no matter how accurate – about Kaoru's cooking. No one, except for the Kenshin-gumi, has the right to insult busu-sama's atrocious lack of skill inside the kitchen.
"Shanghai?" Kenshin asked, eyebrows slamming together.
Kaoru colored to the roots of her hair. She whipped her head towards Enishi. "You haven't told them?!"
"Told us what?" Yahiko asked not bothering to hide his curiosity. He could not decide what weirded him out the most, that apparently Yukishiro and Kaoru had an actual conversation while she was trying to cook their meal or that conversation had been about, of all things, Shanghai. He couldn't see Kaoru being interested in some foreign land. As far as Yahiko knew, Kaoru had only ever been to Kyoto and that was all because of Kenshin.
"His stupid plan." Kaoru gritted out.
"It wasn't my plan, Kamiya-san. And to be fair, I wouldn't call it stupid. I actually find it rather- diabolical, wouldn't you say?"
"What plan?" Yahiko could feel Kenshin tensing beside him. He didn't think that was possible, it already felt as though Kenshin was nearing his limit, moments away from snapping entirely. Enough to probably violently throw Enishi out of the dojo. The only possible reason why he hasn't, was because Kaoru had explicitly asked them not to engage in any form of violence.
"None of your concerns." Yukishiro drawled.
"Stop it!" Kaoru ordered, holding a fist up, waving it between them. "We are all going to have a peaceful dinner. Enishi will be fed and he can go. Alright?"
It was Enishi's turn to twist his body around so that he was directly looking at Kaoru and something about the way he leaned towards her made Yahiko's stomach clench painfully. He should have sat next to Yukishiro, he realized belatedly.
"You haven't given me your answer yet, Kamiya-san."
Kaoru glared at him, her eyes glittering with barely suppressed rage. "Eat or I'm going to stab you in the eye with a pair of chopsticks."
Yahiko let out a huge sigh of relief. "Finally, something that actually makes sense!" Kaoru shot him a look and he immediately bowed his head, "Itadakimasu!", he declared before anything else can be said. There were muttered replies and everyone seemed to have decided on a silent truce in the name of food. Speaking of which, Yahiko gingerly picked up a piece of unagi, which immediately disintegrated. He almost wept. He glanced up at Kenshin and Enishi who were both tentatively probing what looked like charred remains of something unidentifiable.
"Are you eating it or not?" Kaoru grumbled murderously.
Yahiko watched with fervent interest as the two men sat up straighter, intently staring at each other, a silent challenge passing through them, as they slowly – inch by inch – brought the food to their nose, sniffling mildly, a look of terror flashing in their eyes.
Kaoru slammed her chopsticks on the table, the white fluffy rice quivering inside the safety of their bowls. It was the only thing Kaoru can cook beautifully.
Fascinated, Yahiko couldn't help but stare at the two fearsome warriors slightly jumping in their seat, bravely shoving Kaoru's kabayaki inside their mouths, warily chewing. The muscles of their jaws were tense, throat nervously bobbing.
There was a glint of triumph in Enishi's face as he quickly swallowed the food and then, without breaking eye contact from Kenshin, stretched out his arms, the half-emptied bowl of his kabayaki almost clouting Kaoru's face. "More." He ordered, grinning with undisguised glee.
Kaoru's wrathful face softened as she glanced up at Kenshin's nefarious brother-in-law. "Re-really?" There was something impossibly gentle in Kaoru's voice and this seemed to please Yukishiro, who merely nodded his head, smirking wickedly at Kenshin.
Yahiko vaguely heard the sound of Kenshin's chopstick snapping in half.
What the hell is happening?! Yahiko wondered.
Dinner had been excruciating. No words were spoken and the quietness wasn't in anyway comforting. It was downright foreboding and it made Yahiko want to scream but there were so many layers of tension inside the room and he could not figure out what it all meant. When everyone had finished eating, they all drank their tea, not doing or saying anything else until, ever thoughtful, Kenshin broke the silence.
"Arigatou, Kaoru-dono."
Yahiko watched from the corner of his eyes as Kenshin sent Kaoru a grateful nod of his head, but there was no smile in his eyes. Kaoru shifted uncomfortably in her seat, biting her lip at the obvious note of unhappiness in Kenshin's voice. She tried to give him a smile but it looked more like a wince and Yahiko instinctively knew that Yukishiro was, yet again, at fault.
"Kamiya-san."
Speak of the devil. The man just could not shut up. Yahiko has had enough of this – charade or whatever the fuck this was. It was time to end this. "I think it's time you leave," Yahiko said, which was of course ignored by Yukishiro, who kept on talking to Kaoru as though they were the only two people inside the room.
"You will have to give me an answer." It wasn't a demand exactly but there was something strangely possessive in Yukishiro's tone of voice.
Kaoru stubbornly shook her head. "No, I don't."
Yahiko nodded in agreement. "It's late," he stated firmly, oddly sounding like an adult. Maybe even – brotherly? As though he was asking a rejected suitor to go home and forget about courting his sister. This made him wince. Because that was hardly the case. And it made him even more impatient for Enishi to finally get the hell out of their house. "And I swear to Kami, if Kaoru invites you to spend the night here, I am going to stab you in your sleep."
Kaoru gasped, indignant. "I wasn't even going to - "
"I'd like to see you try." Yukishiro told him, the mocking tone in his voice reverberating inside Yahiko's head. He closed his hands around the shinai that he had laid down on the floor beside him.
Kaoru followed his movement and brining her hand to lightly massage her head,
pointedly staring at Enishi. "I am tired and it has been a long, weird day and I would like to just get some rest."
Enishi lifted his shoulder in the smallest, couldn't-care-less shrug. "Fine then. I will just come back tomorrow and ask you again."
"Mou!" Kaoru pouted, throwing her hands up in the air in frustration. "That is not fair!"
Yahiko was shaking his head. Over his dead body. There was no way he was going to suffer through another night of misery and unbearable tension. Not if he can help it. "You're crazy if you think you can-"
"Someone will explain." Kenshin interrupted. "I will not ask again."
This time, they all turned their heads towards Kenshin who had squared his shoulder and without them even realizing it, had placed his sakabatou on top of the table. There was a new sternness in his voice and in the way he sat, his spine a sharp line against the red gi he was wearing. It almost added to his height.
"Temper, temper." Yukishiro murmured in amusement.
Kaoru wrung her hands and briefly closed her eyes. "It's – you see, Kenshin," she paused and swallowed, biting her lips. "Enishi – he, he wants – he's asking if – the government needs – in Shanghai – " Kaoru floundered, paling visibly when Kenshin turned his head to listen to her. "I – I didn't even –" She stopped altogether, realizing that she wasn't making any sense. She wrenched her head at Yukishiro who was also watching her a bemused expression on his face, a stark contrast to the way Kenshin's jaw was painfully contorted.
"You could help me, you know!" Kaoru said in a menacing voice that would have sent Yahiko running out of the dojo.
"I was rather enjoying your explanation, Kamiya-san."
Yukishiro all but purred and Yahiko shuddered in disgust. "Stop that. Don't talk to her like that. In fact, don't even look at her. You've no right." He didn't know why, but the anger he had felt towards Yukishiro had suddenly become this throbbing thing inside his chest. He wanted to ignore it, but right beside that rage, was also a growing sense of trepidation.
"Oh? Is that, so?"
"Enishi." There was a darkly ominous infection in Kenshin's voice and it was enough to erase the vaguely mischievous gleam in Yukishiro's eyes.
The shift in Enishi's behavior was startling. He became somber, almost too serious and business-like, turning his full attention towards Kenshin. "I'm assuming that you already know, but I have connections with the largest Chinese mafia in Shanghai. I mostly deal with weapons and battleships. The opium is a necessary sideline. I do not work for them. But I have become their sole liaison in selling and smuggling high-valued requirements of our clients. Japanese warlords, yakuza, high ranking officials – name them, I've dealt with them."
Kenshin nodded his head in confirmation. "I am aware."
Yahiko rolled his eyes. "Just say you're a low life criminal."
Yukishiro looked slightly offended. "It is mostly the logistic side that I work on. I am a, how should I put it? A problem solver."
Yahiko lost count of how many times he had wanted to hit Yukishiro. "Shit. You're so full of yourself."
Blatantly snubbing him, Yukishiro continued without missing a beat. "The Japanese government need to track down everyone that I have done business with. They've heard rumors, but they can't confirm anything. I've only brought the necessary papers for my trip here. All the rest are back in my office at Shanghai. What they have is useless because it's mostly from that rat-faced, Heishin." He glanced at Kaoru who lifted her chin in defiance.
"You should have let me strangle that vermin. He'd been dumb enough to rent that warehouse under his name. They've managed to confiscate what remained of my merchandise, some of which they were able to track back to Shishio Makoto. That made them nervous. They're learning, unfortunately, that I have rich patrons who have a penchant for conflict. They need to put a stop to that because this government cannot afford another war. It will empty the coffers, properties will be damaged, lives will be lost – the usual nonsense." He made a dismissive wave of his hand and Yahiko heard Kaoru make strangled noises of outrage.
Yukishiro peered at her and for a second Yahiko was certain that he would reach out to pat her kindly on the head. Kenshin's brother-in-law was certifiably bat-shit crazy.
"They feed that lie so convincingly but really, what they want is to get hold of all the weapons so they can have full control over it. The government hates it when they realize that they have competition in sowing chaos."
This was all very interesting but Yahiko still couldn't figure out what Yukishiro was telling them. Kenshin had remained stone-cold silent throughout the monologue. Yahiko couldn't stand how Enishi seemed to be gloating over the fact that he was an arms dealer. They've dealt with far more impressive people. Well, Kenshin probably has, anyway. "The government sucks. Thanks for the lesson, Yukishiro. Is there an end to this story?" He retorted dully.
"I am pardoned for that reason; forced to work with this corrupt government." Yukishiro didn't bother hiding the venom and disgust in his voice. "I must go back to Shanghai and get all the documents they are requiring or else I'll be hanged as a traitor."
Bored now, Yahiko placed his elbow on top of the table, cradling his face on his palm. "Good. You are a traitor."
"I don't particularly care how I die. I owe nothing to this government and to those filthy Chinese industrialists who care about nothing but money. Where I am now and what I have achieved have nothing to do with them."
Yahiko yawned. "You must have so many friends, Yukishiro."
"However, I have to say that I am intrigued by this enterprise. The government already has the whole operation in place. I could easily go back to China without raising the alarm. There are Chinese spies everywhere and they know that I have returned back to Japan for official business, they are not however, aware of – my other entanglements. Not yet at least. I could still come back and while they may be suspicious of my loyalty, I will be welcomed for having completed all my transactions and then some. What I would have difficulty with is when I attempt to return here. Not that I do not look forward to that challenge but the government isn't very patient. So Saitō very kindly proposes that I go back to China, under the pretense of permanently moving my business here in Japan. It is the request, you see, of my lovely Japanese wife."
Yahiko almost banged his head on the table, partly in shock but mostly at how incredibly hilarious this was. He forced himself to swallow down his laugher. "You have a wife? What kind of idiot would marry you?!"
"No." It was just one word, but all of them froze at the absolute coldness in Kenshin's voice. Yahiko had never been able to really feel anyone's ki, Kenshin wouldn't teach him that, but he was certain that what he was feeling now must be Kenshin's energy. It was faintly pulsing. And warm. Like a flame that had just been lit, but at any moment, can quickly spread and become an all-consuming inferno. He glanced at the rurouni and Yahiko felt the hair at the back of his neck standing up. He had seen Kenshin truly angry, once. It was at that temple in Kyoto when Chou had threatened to kill a kid. He could remember feeling the same violent energy. Kenshin's whole demeanor hasn't changed yet, he still looked outwardly calm but Yahiko didn't miss the dangerous glint in Kenshin's narrowed eyes.
Yukishiro's deranged smile was back in place. "She isn't married. You are not, right, Kamiya-san? I think we've established that."
Yahiko blinked. "WAIT. WHAT. THE. FUCK. IS. GOING. ON?"
No one paid him any attention.
"We would have to stay in Shanghai for a while, it might give them enough time to go and check the registry, if they so incline. Not the whole of Japan, of course, that will be too tedious but they will start in Tokyo. The only proof they'll find will be our marriage certificate. That could easily be forged, Saitō assures me. Although I've to say, forged documents are sloppy, lazy work."
Kenshin was vehemently shaking his head. "No, Enishi. I will not allow this." This was practically spat out through gritted teeth and the temperature in the room seemed to have suddenly dropped. Yahiko and Kaoru both shivered at the same time.
"You will not allow?" Enishi huffed in mild annoyance. "Battousai, do you realize that what you are saying means absolutely nothing to me. She isn't married. She can decide for her own. She isn't beholden to anyone, least of all to you. And you understand why Saitō had specifically recommended her, don't you?"
Kenshin picked up the sakabatou, clenching it's hilt and Yahiko saw the fluttering of Kenshin's gi, not a nervous twitch: it was from the sheer effort of trying to reign in unspeakable rage. "I will deal with him. She's neither pawn nor bait. To include her, to drag her-"
"You do whatever you please, Himura. But I've already asked her. I am just awaiting her response. Because she hasn't said 'no'."
Kaoru slapped the table with her palm. "I am right here. You insufferable jerks."
Neither Kenshin nor Enishi seemed to have heard her but Yahiko did, loud and clear and it all horribly clicked inside his mind. He was suddenly standing up, shinai on his hand before he even knew it. "KAORU IS NOT GOING TO BE YOUR WIFE. SHE IS NOT GOING TO SHANGHAI WITH YOU. I WILL KILL YOU FIRST."
"Yahiko!" Kaoru gasped in surprise, her eyes growing wide as saucers. He didn't care if this went against the basic principle of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryū. There was no way he was going to let this happen.
Yukishiro was unperturbed. "Wife, kindly calm your student down."
Kaoru turned her head so fast; her dark hair went flying around her. "I will murder you. Don't tempt me."
Enishi laughed, like the utterly crazy person that he was. "You see!" He exclaimed enthusiastically, "She's perfect. So fearless. The Chinese mafia will certainly find that amusing. But they'll respect her. They will say that I have chosen wisely. And wouldn't that please you, Yukishiro Kaoru? Smile for me, wife. That frown does not suit you."
"You're insane." Kaoru hissed.
"Stop calling her that." Yahiko glowered darkly, taking a step forward, not entirely sure what he was going to do other than he will hurt Yukishiro.
Kenshin had stood up as well, his sakabatou still held inside his fist. "It is time that you leave, Enishi." He had his head lowered, the bangs of his hair hiding his face, but there was no arguing with that tone of voice.
Even Yukishiro seemed to be aware of this as he paused to look at them for a whole second, letting out a tired sigh. "If I must. But like I said, I will come back for your answer, Kamiya-san. Not this brat's, not this ruruoni or whatever he is pretending to be now, but yours. Do you understand?"
Yukishiro held out his hand, palms up as though offering it to Kaoru and Yahiko felt his blood freezing and boiling at the same time. "Don't touch her!" He screamed, and he knew his own ki had flared because both Enishi and Kenshin stiffened, throwing him a cautious glance. Good. Let them be worried.
"Yahiko-" Kenshin murmured, trying to calm him down. Yahiko realized he was breathing so hard; he could hear his heart painfully banging against his chest. Of all the stupid, most idiotic thing he has ever heard in his entire life...
Kaoru had also pushed herself up, keeping a good distance away from Enishi. Her shoulders were tensed but Yahiko wasn't sure who she was more wary of. "I think you should go, Enishi." This was the first time Yahiko had heard Kaoru address Yukishiro using his name and it must have been the same for Kenshin's brother-in-law. Yahiko heard him suck in a breath, his face hardening, like he had been kicked in the gut.
He bowed down - almost courteously, but only at Kaoru. "Thank you for dinner then, Kamiya-san. It has been – interesting. I look forward to seeing you again."
Yahiko shook his head, stepping forward to pull Kaoru behind him. It didn't register to him at first, how Kaoru had allowed this, but he was thankful, he had had enough of Yukishiro looking at Kaoru with that strange gleam in his eyes. "You will see my fist first, you crazy fucker."
Enishi didn't say anything more, thank Kami. He quietly exited the room and they all silently watched him, each with varying degree of apprehension. Kenshin's whole body was tense, as though he was straining his senses and Yahiko understood that he was making sure that Yukishiro's ki had truly disappeared. It didn't take long for Kenshin to relaxed his grip on the hilt of his sakabatou and tucking it into the sash of his hakama. But he kept his head down, the fall of his hair covering his face up to his chin. Kenshin made a small step, pivoting so that he had his profile to them.
"Yahiko, please stay here with Kaoru-dono."
Yahiko jumped at the suddenness of the command. "What? Where are you going?!"
Kaoru sounded rightfully alarmed. "Kenshin, wait-"
Kenshin finally faced them and although his face and speech was back to its usual calm and even friendly manner, there was still a dangerous spark in his eyes. Even his voice was low and muted. "I'll come home later, Kaoru-dono." He assured her, managing a faint smile that wasn't in the least bit assuring. "This will not take long, that it will not. Saitou and I just need to talk."
"But-" Kaoru's face was etched with worried lines Yahiko had never seen he'd met her. She reached out her hand, pinching the sleeves of Kenshin's gi.
Inexplicably, Yahiko felt himself blushing. He'd never seen Kenshin and Kaoru touch each other, but there was something intimate in the way they held each other's gazes. Yahiko had to look away, but not quick enough to watch Kenshin very gently patting Kaoru's hand, sliding down to squeezing her fingers.
Kenshi must have pulled the loose ends of his sleeves from Kaoru's grip, because he had taken a step towards the opened shoji door. "Please do not worry. I promise I'll come back. And I will not pick a fight with Saitou, though I am very, very tempted, that I am." That surprising piece of confession was his goodbye. Kenshin abruptly spun around and was gone even before Kaoru can stop him.
"Geez, Kaoru," Yahiko said after a while, shoulders slumping as all the tension drained away from him. He watched Kaoru's eyes darken against her pale, worried face. "What have you done?"
Author's note:
YEP. Only Saitou will have the balls for that idea. What do you guys think?! TELL ME!
So. Okay. The last part will be THE last part for this story. And I would like to thank everyone who had read and left your wonderful comments and encouragement. It really means a lot to me, specially since this has been the first ever RK fic that I've written after years of being, I guess dormant? - in this fandom. I realize that the Kaoru here is more from the anime/manga and not the movie. I apologize for the movie-verse ooc-ness.
As always, I will probably come back to this and be embarrassed at the amount of errors (grammar, spelling, inconsistencies, etc.) so there might be additional edits/changes.
Translations and explanations:
giri no ototo = younger brother-in-law
Kabayaki (蒲焼) is a preparation of fish, especially unagi eel, where the fish is split down the back (or belly), gutted and boned, butterflied, cut into square fillets, skewered, and dipped in a sweet soy sauce-based sauce before being cooked on a grill or griddle.
Enishi thinks Kaoru's kabayki is strange because it's cut in the Kantō region (eastern Japan, which Tokyo is a part of) style with the eel slit down its back. In the Kansai region (western Japan, which Kyoto is a part of), the eel is slit down the belly and grilled right away, without being steamed. So the appearance would be different. Enishi wasn't really being an ass. Well, not so much anyway.
