A/N:
Dove: ARGHHH!!! *Smashing things*
Kenshin: *Ducking random flying objects* Dove-chan! What's wrong?
Dove: *Starts crying* My mom hates me!!
Kenshin: Oro?
Dove: SHE WOULDN'T LET ME WATCH RUROUNI KENSHIN WHEN SHE KNEW DARNED WELL THAT I'D BEEN WAITING ALL WEEK TO SEE IT 'CAUSE STUPID CARTOON NETWORK TOOK IT OFF!!
Kenshin: *Flattered* You're.. breaking stuff 'cause you wanted to see me? *Ducks flying waterbottle*
Dove: Yes!
Sano: *Catches waterbottle full in the face* What - OW - about me?
Dove: YOU TO DASH IT! Kuso, Kuso, Kuso! I mean, it's a half an hour! How hard is it to find something ELSE to do for 30 minutes? GEESH!!!!! *Sobbing*
Kenshin: *Catches flying laptop* I don't think you'd like it if this broke.. *Mumbling softly*
Sano: *Catches flying Dove* No, you are NOT going to get to your Katana!
Dove: LET ME GO! *Trying to get past to perform ritual Seppoku*
Kenshin: Oh my.. *Takes Katana and runs out of the room.* *Returns a few minutes later without the Katana.* Sano... where is Dove-chan?
Sano: *Points to bed*
Kenshin: *Peeks underneath*
Dove: *Is huddled under bed speaking with her newest muse, a little fairy*
Kenshin: What's she doing?
Sano: Discussing writing a fanfic in which her mother dissapears from the face of the planet for a half an hour and she gets to see the show.
Kenshin: Isn't that a little dramatic?
Sano: Yep. The homocidal muse already no'd it, the obsessive-compulsive-cleaner muse downed it, and the child-muse went into shock at the idea.
Kenshin: What about the last muse?
Homocidal Muse: We have names!
Child Muse: Yeah! Namies! Hee hee!
Kenshin: Oh. Sorry. Who are you?
Homocidal Muse: *Looks like a small, female, blonde-haired blue-eyed version of Battousai* My name is Sungold.
Kenshin: Ah. Sungold?
Sungold: Yes.
Child Muse: Kiri! Kiri! My name is Kiri Na! *Looks like a small, purple-haired, golden-eyed version of Rin off of Inuyasha*
Kenshin: Ohhh-kayy...
Obsessive-compulsive-cleaner-muse: I'm Rue. *Looks like a small red-haired version of ShadowKitty off of X-Men Evolution*
Sano: As I was saying, the last muse is labeled 'Fluff-Muse'.
Kenshin: Fluff-muse?
Sano: She likes romance. Go-figure.
Fluff Muse: Nope, Sorry Dove-chan. *Flies over and perches on Sano's shoulder* My name is Jayde. *Looks like a completely original Fairy with blue hair, red eyes, and dead-white skin, wearing a flowing kimono with solid black wings*
Kenshin: Great. So now the muses have NAMES.
Jayde&Rue&Kiri&Sungold: HEY!
Dove: III WAAANNNNAAAA SEEEEE RRRRUUUURRROUUUUNIIII KEEEENNNSSSHHHIINNNN!!!!! *Dissolves into tears*
Kenshin: *To Sano* Are we going to have to write THIS chapter, too?
Sano: Looks that way.
Kaoru: Don't you dare!
Megumi: Step aside, inferior males! The women have come to rescue the fanfic!
Kenshin: *Wondering* Inferior males?
Sano: *Wondering* Rescue the fanfic?
Anyways,
Dark
Chapter Sixteen
(Written by Kaoru Kamiya and Megumi Takani. - Sir Ken likes me best.
*SMASH* Does not.
Does to!
Not!
TO!
NOT!
TOTOTOTOTO!
NOTNOTNOTNOTNOT!!!)
The newcomer was breathing heavily.
"What do you want?" Battousai snarled. Soujiro watched with a detatched look on his face. Kaoru kind of rolled her head around some to peer at the intruder. She'd never seen him before.
"Hiko...mad.."
"Katsu, take a few breaths before you answer. Geez."
After a few deep breaths, the man started again.
"Battousai, Hiko is furious that you killed Koshijirou."
"I don't care."
"He said 'Remember Three Rocks'. And sent me to pass the message. I have to go." Katsu managed a smile. "I have to let Sano know that Kaoru is okay." And then he was gone, the door closed.
Kaoru rolled her head towards Battousai and was shocked to see that all of the color had drained from his face. What had the cryptic message meant.
"Battousai, what-" He stared at her for a moment.
"Don't ask." He snapped. "I don't want to tell you. Stupid girl, going and getting yourself caught! I told you not to let him see you! Now you're going to have those scars-" His rant was cut off by her.
With a dissaproving look, she pressed her lips together for a moment.
"Now you listen here, Batt- Kenshin. I was slightly in shock because he shared somethat that YOU had omitted. And I don't CARE about these scars. They'll heal in time."
"But.. he hurt you." His voice was low. He actually sounded upset about it. And not angry. More like hurt, sad. Guilty, perhaps?
Kaoru stared at him.
"Yes," She admitted. His words brought everything back in a rush. The pain. The cold followed by the hot. The pure blinding agony accompanied by his laughter. She gave a whimper. She couldn't stop it now. The memories were to upsetting.
Battousai watched with an odd facination as her eyes changed. They got wider, more innocent. The color came back to her face. She didn't seem to know that she was in pain.
"Hello!" She chirped. "Who are you?"
"Who are you?"
"I asked first!!" She giggled.
Soujiro was staring at them in complete shock, feeling both forgotten and confused.
Battousai was almost relieved that this version of Kaoru wouldn't know to ask him about Hiko's code message.
"I'm.." He thought about it. Introduce her to his name.. or his name. Same dillema as with Rumor. How sad. "Kenshin."
"Kens..keeen..kenishin!" She chirped. And then drooped. "No.. not right.."
"Just call me Ken."
"Ken-ni!" She approved.
"Who are you?"
"Rain!" She informed him. Battousai was amused. Kaoru, Rumor, and Rain. Intresting, that her alternate personalities named themselves so strangely.
"Very nice to meet you, Rain." He said in his softest voice. She was a little girl right now, and he didn't want to scare her.
"Um.. I hope you don't mind my asking.." Came an uncertain voice to his right. He turned to blink at Soujiro, who was looking very freaked out. "But, isn't-"
"Her name is Rain. And she's-?"
"This many!" She held up her fingers in a cheerful eight.
"Eight." His voice was a bit more forceful with Soujiro.
"Play! Play!" Rain latched onto Soujiro's arm. "What's your name?" She added as an afterthought.
"Soujir.. Sou." He said with a real smile at her. She was taller than him, and yet he'd swear she considered him taller.
"Play with me Sou! Plleeaasssee?" He nodded and stood. She giggled with complete unabridged joy.
She was so pure. Battousai wanted to stay and watch her for the rest of the night, but he had to go talk to Hiko.
"Play with her, Soujiro. And you'd better not make her cry. I'll know if you do." He said forcefully.
"Where are you going, Mr. Battousai?"
"Out. Try to leave and you might have to die."
"Quit talking to Ken-ni, Sou! Play with me! Play with me!" So demanding, too. She knew what she wanted.
Battousai left as she dragged Soujiro off to play hide-and-seek.
**
"I had to kill him." He said softly to Hiko, who was actually looking very angry. "I don't see why I shouldn't have. It's not like it's the cops that he was turning the Syndicate members in to. And we're the strongest branch, there's no need to worry about a counter-attack from Katsura."
"If I didn't have a reason to keep him alive I would have had you kill him instead of kidnap his daughter!"
"Well, Hiko. Why don't you TELL me what this reason is, hmm?"
Hiko's eyes narrowed. And then he sighed. He couldn't avoid it.
-- That's it! This story has been discontinued due to lack of intrest on the authoress's part. I've been working on this chapter forever, and I finally realized the problem: I'm not into Rurouni Kenshin anymore. Sorry, to all of my loyal fans.
Well, that was fun. I was only kidding!!!!!! ^-^ I had to, I've been planning it forever. To apologize, here's some more chapter! ^-^ *Hides* --
"Alright, Battousai. I'll tell you." Battousai crossed his arms and waited hostily. "Koshijirou is your father." He grinned and looked at Battousai's face. The assassin wasn't amused. "Yeah. Okay."
He sighed.
"It's because Koshijirou, in a way, was protected by me."
"Come again?!"
"My boss, as you may not know, is Watsuki Nobuhiro. He is the the 'big cheese'. He leads all of the branches of the syndicate. Mine, Katsura's, and Oniwaban's. Watsuki gave me an order: Koshijirou was not to be killed. So we had you take his daughter instead. I don't now why Watsuki didn't want him killed. Don't ask me. But he's kind of mad now."
"Not my problem. You didn't tell me of that earlier. Or I would have just cut him up some and let him bleed himself into a coma on the floor."
Hiko winced, as he always did when Battousai voiced his lust for blood.
"Yeah.. well. Go back to your woman. Watsuki is having us meet at the Doozo Yoroshiku* Teahouse tommorrow night. 8pm."
"What is wrong with you two? I've already exposed Kaoru to ONE stupid whore-house. Do I really have to expose her to another? Can't we just meet at a freakin' sushi bar or something?"
"Nope. Go." Battousai sighed and did as he was told, hoping fervently that Kaoru would be back to normal before the next night at eight. He was not going to take an 8-year-old to a whorehouse. It wasn't happening.
((*Quick note = 'Doozo Yoroshiku' is Japanese for 'May I ask you to be kind to me'. I thought it was funny. Lol. *Grumble* Fine. Be that way. ~I~ thought it was a good play of words.
Kaoru: You would.
Megumi: Shut up Raccoon girl!
Kaoru: You first fox-face!
Dove: AGH! SHUT UP ALREADY AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE AND LET ME FINISH THIS THING!!!
Kaoru: But.. you haven't written any of it..
Megumi: Yeah!
Dove: OUT!
Kaoru&Megumi: Fine. See if we ever help you.
Dove: *Admires the others' work* Why can't YOU TWO write like this? *Glares at Sano and Kenshin*
Soujiro: Oooh! Let me try! Let me try! Pllleeeaaassseee?
Dove: Okay! ^-^ *Unable to resist puppy-dog-eyes*))
Back at the apartment, things were going.. okay.
"Haha! I shalt make ye walk de plank! MWAHAHAHA!" Soujiro announced in a highly exaggerated pirate accent.
Rain giggled.
"Oh, but you can't mr-pirate-guy 'cause then my pretty dress would get ruined!" Her 'pretty dress' consisted of Battousai's heavy velvet curtains. Soujiro fervently hoped he wouldn't miss them.
Adjusting his 'eyepatch' which was actually a coaster held to his face by a rubber band, Soujiro barked a laugh.
"Aw, Matey! I see yer dillemma! Then we will just have to take ye hostage and..um..stuff!"
"Oh no!" Rain gasped mockingly. "You have to catch me first!"
"Aw, but I already did, lassy!"
"Never!" She ran with a stumbling stride, not very fast at all.
"Aye, we will stun 'er!" Soujiro informed his 'crew' which consisted of thirteen popsicle sticks, four apples, and a box of minute rice. He picked up some pillows, and started throwing them at Rain.
She squealed in delight and raced harder, stumbling. Her foot caught on the cord of a lamp, and it smashed to the ground. Neither took notice.
The gashes on Rain's face had started to bleed a little bit around the edges. As had most of the other cuts. But she paid them no mind - she was still flying high as a kite on painkillers. Soujiro, seeing that she didn't seem to notice the blood, figured that it didn't hurt so didn't comment on it.
Rain dove over the couch, peeking over the edge of the arm-rest at Soujiro.
He advanced, with exaggerated slowness.
She giggled and backed away.
He charged as she started running. He caught her gently about the waist, and she gave a shriek.
Just as Battousai walked in the door.
He eyed the destruction critically. All of the cushions and pillows were off of his couch and strewn about the room. A set of curtains was missing. A lamp was shattered with shards all over the place.
And amidst all this turmoil, Rain was standing dressed in his curtains, Soujiro was behind her with a coaster strapped over his right eye (And half of his face) with his arms around her.
Wait.
Double-take.
What was Soujiro doing with his arms around her?
He turned back around just as she raced behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Hullo, Ken-ni!" She chirped. "You have to save me from Sou!" Soujiro, who had looked nervous up to that point, grinned.
"Nay, ye will walk de plank!" He brandished the broom like a sword.
Battousai caught onto the game quickly.
"Ay, I shall save thee fair maiden!" He snatched up a random object (A backscratcher) and brandished it in a showy stance.
"Never! She is to walk the plank!" Seijuro attacked, fully expecting to be thrown to the ground and knocked out or something. But Battousai let him connect. He stared.
"Oy, my maiden. I have been injured!" He cried melodramatically.
"Oh!" Rain looked close to tears.
"But.. I shall go on.." Battousai 'stumbled' to his feet. He 'shakily' brandished his weapon. Soujiro's next attack was blocked, and Battousai tapped him with his weapon.
It went on like that for a while, until Battousai managed a 'last-minute-thrust' and Soujiro launched into an elaborate death scene.
Rain's voice was weak.
"Ken-ni.. I'm tired.." They'd forgotten her age and how easily she would tired.
"Okay. While Sou comes back to life and cleans up this room, lets get you off to bed." He took her by the hand and led her into the bedroom.
She plopped down on the bed. He tucked her in and she smiled at him. He noticed a bit of blood - she was doing an awful lot of physical activity. He hoped it wouldn't hurt her to much. After all, only nine cuts had been deep, the rest had been simple surface wounds.
"Tell me a story?" He blinked at her.
"What?"
"A bed-time story, silly! Tell me a story!" Her voice became a mix between demanding/pleading/plaintive.
"Oh, that kind of story. Okay." He thought about it. This was hard. He remembered a story that his mother had told him when he was really young. He just had to change a few things.
"Okay.
Once, in a far away land, there was a princess.
She was a real brat, spoiled rotten.
She always thought that she should get whatever she wanted,
whenever she wanted.
No one dared speak out against her.
And her parents never tried to discipline her.
So she got meaner and meaner,
and more and more spoiled.
And then one day, after a big tantrum,
she ran out into the gardens.
There she found a boy.
He wasn't dressed as richly as her,
and his hair was all ratty.
He looked rather disgusting.
"What are YOU doing in MY garden?"
The princess asked in an airy tone.
"I was looking for food." He said gently.
She stared at him,
"Can't you just have your cook prepare some?"
You see, she didn't know about poverty.
She thought that everyone was rich,
and just like her.
"No. We don't even have enough money for even some rice."
And right then, reality set in,
"But, don't you live in a big pretty castle?"
"No."
"Ride horses?"
"No."
"Do you have anything?"
"My mother, my father, and eight brothers and sisters."
The princess was awed.
She invited the boy and his family to dinner right then and there.
They came, and ate, and kept thanking her.
That word was foreign, so she had to find out what it meant.
From that day on, the princess was no longer spoiled.
She went throughout her father's kingdom handing out food and money,
and she always said 'please' and 'thank you'."
It wasn't the most intresting story, but at her age it should have been at least good for a listen. He'd always liked it. Of course, it had been with a prince and a little peasant girl.
"Thank you." She mumbled, her eyes drifting closed.
He stood to go, and was surprised when her fist clenched on his pants. He stared at her.
She'd caught him off-balance. She pulled, and he slipped, falling onto the bed.
"Stay with me tonight? It's dark in here."
"Okay." He agreed, smiling gently at her. Rain giggled. She curled up against his chest.
"Soujiro, you can sleep on the couch, blankets in the closet in the bathroom!" Battousai called. He put his arms lightly around Kaoru, and drifted into a comfortable sleep.
A/N: First note: HA! NOT! A! CLIFFIE!!! Whoo. Hard one, everyone was begging to meet another personality. Welcome to Rain. She won't be staying long, but she's here. Expect to meet the killer-one next chaper. Remember when she tried to stab Battousai? That was the 'killer' personality.
I need someone to give me some feedback. Should I call Battousai 'Battousai' or switch to Kenshin?
Kenshin: Kenshin is my name.
Dove: Shaddup. Great job on the fic, by the way, Soujiro.
Soujiro: I'm glad you think so, Dove-chan!
Dove: ^-^ Yep, Okay, I'm going to make Sano read the review responses 'cause I'm still trying to get chapter 1 of the Revolution High Chronicles out. Oh, and 334 reviews for chapter 17. What else.. Sorry about that joke, still. What else... Oh! Anyone want to send me some fanart? lol. I've already drawn some, but hey! ^_- I need more than my work to make a website, ne? ^_-
Who knows Japanese? I'd like to talk to you, so I can learn more! ^-^
Have fun on your vacation, LadyChrisA! (Love your fic!)
Yeah, everyone read her fic! It's really good.
Okay, I've got nothing else to say. Going to work on RHC. And I'm going to change the name because it's to long. ^-^ Okay, hit it Sano. *Wanders off*
Sano: Yay, okay. Lessee here..
Dove: ARGHHH!!! *Smashing things*
Kenshin: *Ducking random flying objects* Dove-chan! What's wrong?
Dove: *Starts crying* My mom hates me!!
Kenshin: Oro?
Dove: SHE WOULDN'T LET ME WATCH RUROUNI KENSHIN WHEN SHE KNEW DARNED WELL THAT I'D BEEN WAITING ALL WEEK TO SEE IT 'CAUSE STUPID CARTOON NETWORK TOOK IT OFF!!
Kenshin: *Flattered* You're.. breaking stuff 'cause you wanted to see me? *Ducks flying waterbottle*
Dove: Yes!
Sano: *Catches waterbottle full in the face* What - OW - about me?
Dove: YOU TO DASH IT! Kuso, Kuso, Kuso! I mean, it's a half an hour! How hard is it to find something ELSE to do for 30 minutes? GEESH!!!!! *Sobbing*
Kenshin: *Catches flying laptop* I don't think you'd like it if this broke.. *Mumbling softly*
Sano: *Catches flying Dove* No, you are NOT going to get to your Katana!
Dove: LET ME GO! *Trying to get past to perform ritual Seppoku*
Kenshin: Oh my.. *Takes Katana and runs out of the room.* *Returns a few minutes later without the Katana.* Sano... where is Dove-chan?
Sano: *Points to bed*
Kenshin: *Peeks underneath*
Dove: *Is huddled under bed speaking with her newest muse, a little fairy*
Kenshin: What's she doing?
Sano: Discussing writing a fanfic in which her mother dissapears from the face of the planet for a half an hour and she gets to see the show.
Kenshin: Isn't that a little dramatic?
Sano: Yep. The homocidal muse already no'd it, the obsessive-compulsive-cleaner muse downed it, and the child-muse went into shock at the idea.
Kenshin: What about the last muse?
Homocidal Muse: We have names!
Child Muse: Yeah! Namies! Hee hee!
Kenshin: Oh. Sorry. Who are you?
Homocidal Muse: *Looks like a small, female, blonde-haired blue-eyed version of Battousai* My name is Sungold.
Kenshin: Ah. Sungold?
Sungold: Yes.
Child Muse: Kiri! Kiri! My name is Kiri Na! *Looks like a small, purple-haired, golden-eyed version of Rin off of Inuyasha*
Kenshin: Ohhh-kayy...
Obsessive-compulsive-cleaner-muse: I'm Rue. *Looks like a small red-haired version of ShadowKitty off of X-Men Evolution*
Sano: As I was saying, the last muse is labeled 'Fluff-Muse'.
Kenshin: Fluff-muse?
Sano: She likes romance. Go-figure.
Fluff Muse: Nope, Sorry Dove-chan. *Flies over and perches on Sano's shoulder* My name is Jayde. *Looks like a completely original Fairy with blue hair, red eyes, and dead-white skin, wearing a flowing kimono with solid black wings*
Kenshin: Great. So now the muses have NAMES.
Jayde&Rue&Kiri&Sungold: HEY!
Dove: III WAAANNNNAAAA SEEEEE RRRRUUUURRROUUUUNIIII KEEEENNNSSSHHHIINNNN!!!!! *Dissolves into tears*
Kenshin: *To Sano* Are we going to have to write THIS chapter, too?
Sano: Looks that way.
Kaoru: Don't you dare!
Megumi: Step aside, inferior males! The women have come to rescue the fanfic!
Kenshin: *Wondering* Inferior males?
Sano: *Wondering* Rescue the fanfic?
Anyways,
Dark
Chapter Sixteen
(Written by Kaoru Kamiya and Megumi Takani. - Sir Ken likes me best.
*SMASH* Does not.
Does to!
Not!
TO!
NOT!
TOTOTOTOTO!
NOTNOTNOTNOTNOT!!!)
The newcomer was breathing heavily.
"What do you want?" Battousai snarled. Soujiro watched with a detatched look on his face. Kaoru kind of rolled her head around some to peer at the intruder. She'd never seen him before.
"Hiko...mad.."
"Katsu, take a few breaths before you answer. Geez."
After a few deep breaths, the man started again.
"Battousai, Hiko is furious that you killed Koshijirou."
"I don't care."
"He said 'Remember Three Rocks'. And sent me to pass the message. I have to go." Katsu managed a smile. "I have to let Sano know that Kaoru is okay." And then he was gone, the door closed.
Kaoru rolled her head towards Battousai and was shocked to see that all of the color had drained from his face. What had the cryptic message meant.
"Battousai, what-" He stared at her for a moment.
"Don't ask." He snapped. "I don't want to tell you. Stupid girl, going and getting yourself caught! I told you not to let him see you! Now you're going to have those scars-" His rant was cut off by her.
With a dissaproving look, she pressed her lips together for a moment.
"Now you listen here, Batt- Kenshin. I was slightly in shock because he shared somethat that YOU had omitted. And I don't CARE about these scars. They'll heal in time."
"But.. he hurt you." His voice was low. He actually sounded upset about it. And not angry. More like hurt, sad. Guilty, perhaps?
Kaoru stared at him.
"Yes," She admitted. His words brought everything back in a rush. The pain. The cold followed by the hot. The pure blinding agony accompanied by his laughter. She gave a whimper. She couldn't stop it now. The memories were to upsetting.
Battousai watched with an odd facination as her eyes changed. They got wider, more innocent. The color came back to her face. She didn't seem to know that she was in pain.
"Hello!" She chirped. "Who are you?"
"Who are you?"
"I asked first!!" She giggled.
Soujiro was staring at them in complete shock, feeling both forgotten and confused.
Battousai was almost relieved that this version of Kaoru wouldn't know to ask him about Hiko's code message.
"I'm.." He thought about it. Introduce her to his name.. or his name. Same dillema as with Rumor. How sad. "Kenshin."
"Kens..keeen..kenishin!" She chirped. And then drooped. "No.. not right.."
"Just call me Ken."
"Ken-ni!" She approved.
"Who are you?"
"Rain!" She informed him. Battousai was amused. Kaoru, Rumor, and Rain. Intresting, that her alternate personalities named themselves so strangely.
"Very nice to meet you, Rain." He said in his softest voice. She was a little girl right now, and he didn't want to scare her.
"Um.. I hope you don't mind my asking.." Came an uncertain voice to his right. He turned to blink at Soujiro, who was looking very freaked out. "But, isn't-"
"Her name is Rain. And she's-?"
"This many!" She held up her fingers in a cheerful eight.
"Eight." His voice was a bit more forceful with Soujiro.
"Play! Play!" Rain latched onto Soujiro's arm. "What's your name?" She added as an afterthought.
"Soujir.. Sou." He said with a real smile at her. She was taller than him, and yet he'd swear she considered him taller.
"Play with me Sou! Plleeaasssee?" He nodded and stood. She giggled with complete unabridged joy.
She was so pure. Battousai wanted to stay and watch her for the rest of the night, but he had to go talk to Hiko.
"Play with her, Soujiro. And you'd better not make her cry. I'll know if you do." He said forcefully.
"Where are you going, Mr. Battousai?"
"Out. Try to leave and you might have to die."
"Quit talking to Ken-ni, Sou! Play with me! Play with me!" So demanding, too. She knew what she wanted.
Battousai left as she dragged Soujiro off to play hide-and-seek.
**
"I had to kill him." He said softly to Hiko, who was actually looking very angry. "I don't see why I shouldn't have. It's not like it's the cops that he was turning the Syndicate members in to. And we're the strongest branch, there's no need to worry about a counter-attack from Katsura."
"If I didn't have a reason to keep him alive I would have had you kill him instead of kidnap his daughter!"
"Well, Hiko. Why don't you TELL me what this reason is, hmm?"
Hiko's eyes narrowed. And then he sighed. He couldn't avoid it.
-- That's it! This story has been discontinued due to lack of intrest on the authoress's part. I've been working on this chapter forever, and I finally realized the problem: I'm not into Rurouni Kenshin anymore. Sorry, to all of my loyal fans.
Well, that was fun. I was only kidding!!!!!! ^-^ I had to, I've been planning it forever. To apologize, here's some more chapter! ^-^ *Hides* --
"Alright, Battousai. I'll tell you." Battousai crossed his arms and waited hostily. "Koshijirou is your father." He grinned and looked at Battousai's face. The assassin wasn't amused. "Yeah. Okay."
He sighed.
"It's because Koshijirou, in a way, was protected by me."
"Come again?!"
"My boss, as you may not know, is Watsuki Nobuhiro. He is the the 'big cheese'. He leads all of the branches of the syndicate. Mine, Katsura's, and Oniwaban's. Watsuki gave me an order: Koshijirou was not to be killed. So we had you take his daughter instead. I don't now why Watsuki didn't want him killed. Don't ask me. But he's kind of mad now."
"Not my problem. You didn't tell me of that earlier. Or I would have just cut him up some and let him bleed himself into a coma on the floor."
Hiko winced, as he always did when Battousai voiced his lust for blood.
"Yeah.. well. Go back to your woman. Watsuki is having us meet at the Doozo Yoroshiku* Teahouse tommorrow night. 8pm."
"What is wrong with you two? I've already exposed Kaoru to ONE stupid whore-house. Do I really have to expose her to another? Can't we just meet at a freakin' sushi bar or something?"
"Nope. Go." Battousai sighed and did as he was told, hoping fervently that Kaoru would be back to normal before the next night at eight. He was not going to take an 8-year-old to a whorehouse. It wasn't happening.
((*Quick note = 'Doozo Yoroshiku' is Japanese for 'May I ask you to be kind to me'. I thought it was funny. Lol. *Grumble* Fine. Be that way. ~I~ thought it was a good play of words.
Kaoru: You would.
Megumi: Shut up Raccoon girl!
Kaoru: You first fox-face!
Dove: AGH! SHUT UP ALREADY AND GET OUT OF MY HOUSE AND LET ME FINISH THIS THING!!!
Kaoru: But.. you haven't written any of it..
Megumi: Yeah!
Dove: OUT!
Kaoru&Megumi: Fine. See if we ever help you.
Dove: *Admires the others' work* Why can't YOU TWO write like this? *Glares at Sano and Kenshin*
Soujiro: Oooh! Let me try! Let me try! Pllleeeaaassseee?
Dove: Okay! ^-^ *Unable to resist puppy-dog-eyes*))
Back at the apartment, things were going.. okay.
"Haha! I shalt make ye walk de plank! MWAHAHAHA!" Soujiro announced in a highly exaggerated pirate accent.
Rain giggled.
"Oh, but you can't mr-pirate-guy 'cause then my pretty dress would get ruined!" Her 'pretty dress' consisted of Battousai's heavy velvet curtains. Soujiro fervently hoped he wouldn't miss them.
Adjusting his 'eyepatch' which was actually a coaster held to his face by a rubber band, Soujiro barked a laugh.
"Aw, Matey! I see yer dillemma! Then we will just have to take ye hostage and..um..stuff!"
"Oh no!" Rain gasped mockingly. "You have to catch me first!"
"Aw, but I already did, lassy!"
"Never!" She ran with a stumbling stride, not very fast at all.
"Aye, we will stun 'er!" Soujiro informed his 'crew' which consisted of thirteen popsicle sticks, four apples, and a box of minute rice. He picked up some pillows, and started throwing them at Rain.
She squealed in delight and raced harder, stumbling. Her foot caught on the cord of a lamp, and it smashed to the ground. Neither took notice.
The gashes on Rain's face had started to bleed a little bit around the edges. As had most of the other cuts. But she paid them no mind - she was still flying high as a kite on painkillers. Soujiro, seeing that she didn't seem to notice the blood, figured that it didn't hurt so didn't comment on it.
Rain dove over the couch, peeking over the edge of the arm-rest at Soujiro.
He advanced, with exaggerated slowness.
She giggled and backed away.
He charged as she started running. He caught her gently about the waist, and she gave a shriek.
Just as Battousai walked in the door.
He eyed the destruction critically. All of the cushions and pillows were off of his couch and strewn about the room. A set of curtains was missing. A lamp was shattered with shards all over the place.
And amidst all this turmoil, Rain was standing dressed in his curtains, Soujiro was behind her with a coaster strapped over his right eye (And half of his face) with his arms around her.
Wait.
Double-take.
What was Soujiro doing with his arms around her?
He turned back around just as she raced behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Hullo, Ken-ni!" She chirped. "You have to save me from Sou!" Soujiro, who had looked nervous up to that point, grinned.
"Nay, ye will walk de plank!" He brandished the broom like a sword.
Battousai caught onto the game quickly.
"Ay, I shall save thee fair maiden!" He snatched up a random object (A backscratcher) and brandished it in a showy stance.
"Never! She is to walk the plank!" Seijuro attacked, fully expecting to be thrown to the ground and knocked out or something. But Battousai let him connect. He stared.
"Oy, my maiden. I have been injured!" He cried melodramatically.
"Oh!" Rain looked close to tears.
"But.. I shall go on.." Battousai 'stumbled' to his feet. He 'shakily' brandished his weapon. Soujiro's next attack was blocked, and Battousai tapped him with his weapon.
It went on like that for a while, until Battousai managed a 'last-minute-thrust' and Soujiro launched into an elaborate death scene.
Rain's voice was weak.
"Ken-ni.. I'm tired.." They'd forgotten her age and how easily she would tired.
"Okay. While Sou comes back to life and cleans up this room, lets get you off to bed." He took her by the hand and led her into the bedroom.
She plopped down on the bed. He tucked her in and she smiled at him. He noticed a bit of blood - she was doing an awful lot of physical activity. He hoped it wouldn't hurt her to much. After all, only nine cuts had been deep, the rest had been simple surface wounds.
"Tell me a story?" He blinked at her.
"What?"
"A bed-time story, silly! Tell me a story!" Her voice became a mix between demanding/pleading/plaintive.
"Oh, that kind of story. Okay." He thought about it. This was hard. He remembered a story that his mother had told him when he was really young. He just had to change a few things.
"Okay.
Once, in a far away land, there was a princess.
She was a real brat, spoiled rotten.
She always thought that she should get whatever she wanted,
whenever she wanted.
No one dared speak out against her.
And her parents never tried to discipline her.
So she got meaner and meaner,
and more and more spoiled.
And then one day, after a big tantrum,
she ran out into the gardens.
There she found a boy.
He wasn't dressed as richly as her,
and his hair was all ratty.
He looked rather disgusting.
"What are YOU doing in MY garden?"
The princess asked in an airy tone.
"I was looking for food." He said gently.
She stared at him,
"Can't you just have your cook prepare some?"
You see, she didn't know about poverty.
She thought that everyone was rich,
and just like her.
"No. We don't even have enough money for even some rice."
And right then, reality set in,
"But, don't you live in a big pretty castle?"
"No."
"Ride horses?"
"No."
"Do you have anything?"
"My mother, my father, and eight brothers and sisters."
The princess was awed.
She invited the boy and his family to dinner right then and there.
They came, and ate, and kept thanking her.
That word was foreign, so she had to find out what it meant.
From that day on, the princess was no longer spoiled.
She went throughout her father's kingdom handing out food and money,
and she always said 'please' and 'thank you'."
It wasn't the most intresting story, but at her age it should have been at least good for a listen. He'd always liked it. Of course, it had been with a prince and a little peasant girl.
"Thank you." She mumbled, her eyes drifting closed.
He stood to go, and was surprised when her fist clenched on his pants. He stared at her.
She'd caught him off-balance. She pulled, and he slipped, falling onto the bed.
"Stay with me tonight? It's dark in here."
"Okay." He agreed, smiling gently at her. Rain giggled. She curled up against his chest.
"Soujiro, you can sleep on the couch, blankets in the closet in the bathroom!" Battousai called. He put his arms lightly around Kaoru, and drifted into a comfortable sleep.
A/N: First note: HA! NOT! A! CLIFFIE!!! Whoo. Hard one, everyone was begging to meet another personality. Welcome to Rain. She won't be staying long, but she's here. Expect to meet the killer-one next chaper. Remember when she tried to stab Battousai? That was the 'killer' personality.
I need someone to give me some feedback. Should I call Battousai 'Battousai' or switch to Kenshin?
Kenshin: Kenshin is my name.
Dove: Shaddup. Great job on the fic, by the way, Soujiro.
Soujiro: I'm glad you think so, Dove-chan!
Dove: ^-^ Yep, Okay, I'm going to make Sano read the review responses 'cause I'm still trying to get chapter 1 of the Revolution High Chronicles out. Oh, and 334 reviews for chapter 17. What else.. Sorry about that joke, still. What else... Oh! Anyone want to send me some fanart? lol. I've already drawn some, but hey! ^_- I need more than my work to make a website, ne? ^_-
Who knows Japanese? I'd like to talk to you, so I can learn more! ^-^
Have fun on your vacation, LadyChrisA! (Love your fic!)
Yeah, everyone read her fic! It's really good.
Okay, I've got nothing else to say. Going to work on RHC. And I'm going to change the name because it's to long. ^-^ Okay, hit it Sano. *Wanders off*
Sano: Yay, okay. Lessee here..