A/N: Ok, here's the fourth chapter. I can see people are reading my story…I guess I expected more reviews. Oh well, I guess I'll just post this chapter and see how people respond. I'm really worried now; I can't tell whether people actually like the story.
Kaoru hated the dark. She had hated it as a child, and has always hated it since. Therefore, it was safe to conclude that she was very frightened when pushed into a strange and dark room by a strange and scary man. The thought of it was enough to make her heart beat faster. Who knew what dangers were lurking in this place?
Kaoru slowly felt her way along the walls, hoping there was a light switch somewhere. Luckily there was one located just at arm's reach. Quickly flicking it on, she gasped at the sight. The room was a warehouse…for weapons! No wonder the lights had been turned off; if anyone had seen this from the outside, everyone in the bar would have been arrested as traitors. Civilians were no longer allowed to possess weapons, fearing that it made them rebellious. Confused, Kaoru turned back to pound at the door, not noticing the footsteps behind her.
Soujirou was happy to get a new mission; he had become bored working as a messenger boy. Walking into the room, he was surprised to see a young woman pounding on the door to the bar. Worried, he reached out to grab her shoulder, not expecting her to punch him in the face.
Kaoru drew her fist back, getting ready to face her attacker again. Whatever he wanted, he was definitely wasn't getting it without a fight. She slowly dropped her arm as she realized the man in front of her was sporting a bloody nose. Fighting the urge to run away, she knelt in front of him and offered her handkerchief.
"Thanks," muttered the man. "They didn't tell me there was an assassin in the room. Then again, I didn't think they had found out I'm part of the Resistance. But I'm guessing you're actually the new spy, right? Kaoru, you have a mighty fist…"
Kaoru suppressed the urge to laugh and regarded him with a troubled gaze. "I didn't really want to do this. I don't know how I'm going to be a spy for the Resistance at all. What's my mission with you anyway?"
Aoshi suddenly appeared behind her, closing and locking the door to the bar. "Sorry I'm late Seta, I got caught up in traffic." He gave Kaoru an onceover and smirked. "Nervous? Don't worry; your job today is easy. You have to get Soujirou into the Yukishiro household."
Kaoru didn't know what to say. How on earth was she supposed to smuggle in a person? If it was a gun or something, she might've managed, but this request was just foolhardy. She was about let Aoshi know this when she realized that failure was not an option here. If she failed this task, then the Resistance would deem her useless and eliminate her. No, that definitely was not an option.
Staring at the ground pensively, Kaoru began to go through her options. She couldn't bring him with her-the scanner and guards would see rig-
Wait a second. The guards! The guards were always training, and Yahiko had told her yesterday that one of his junior guard friends had broken his leg, meaning that there was a need for a new guard. Kaoru took another look at Soujirou. If she stood next to him, he was only a few inches taller than she was. She took note of his fair skin, blue eyes and black hair.
"Do you know how to fight, Soujirou?" Kaoru enquired, trying to ascertain whether this would even work.
"Yes. It's important to my job," replied Soujirou cheerfully. This small woman was starting to intrigue him.
"Ok, I've got it. You are going to be my brother. I just found you today. There is a guard position available in the compound. They will give it to you since we are related; I know the captain, Hajime Saitou, well. He might look scary, but he is actually very nice."
Soujirou seemed to understand the situation. "I'll just need to get ready then. I shall be back in fifteen minutes."
Aoshi was impressed. The Kamiya woman was certainly a quick thinker. Even Aoshi could see how people might mistake the pair as siblings. He turned to watch Kaoru fidget; she was looking worriedly at the different weapons lining the walls.
"So, does this mean you won't kill me? I've done what has been asked of me…" Kaoru's voice trailed off as she noticed Aoshi's gaze soften.
"I really should apologize for this. It's my fault you got involved; I really didn't trust Enishi to leave me alone for too long. His assassins have been after me for a while, and I shouldn't have taken you in the taxi." He sighed, continuing, "I really should stop innocent people from getting involved in this fight."
Now Kaoru's curiosity was piqued. "What do you mean? Are there others?" She tried not to sound too nosy, but suddenly, the enigma in front of her seemed more human.
"I meant Misao. She has been following me since she was a toddler. I can't control people's actions…but somehow it's always my fault…" Aoshi had a faraway look in his eyes. Kaoru was about to pry a little more, but Soujirou had returned.
He was a little scruffy looking, as if he had been travelling a while. A worn pack was perched on his left shoulder, and his clothes were filthy. If Kaoru hadn't known better, she could've sworn that 'her brother' had been travelling quite sometime to meet her. Nodding to show his approval, Aoshi silently disappeared.
"Ready to show me around, elder sister?" Soujirou smiled at Kaoru.
Kaoru nodded and led him back through the door and into the bar. But she stopped suddenly in her tracks, unable to believe the sight in front of her. Sano was lounging in the front, sipping casually at his glass. He was not sober, not by a long shot. Grabbing his collar angrily, Kaoru dragged him out, much to the amusement of the spectators. Soujirou followed the duo, winking at Hiko as he went past. Hiko just frowned and continued washing glasses.
When they were outside in the quiet streets, Kaoru shook her friend mercilessly. "What on earth were you doing, getting drunk? Some backup you are!" Huffing angrily, she proceeded to stomp up the hill, uncaring of the two men looking at her.
The walk home was uneventful, discounting Sano's drunken antics. Soujirou was forced to support the man as he stumbled in his stupor. Sighing slightly, he made his way to the Yukishiro compound, hoping that Kaoru's plan was weird enough to work.
Kaoru reached the gates and knocked, rather than going through the scanning procedures. She told her partners to wait here, and she went in to talk to the head guard, Hajime Saitou. Kaoru just hoped she was convincing enough to make Saitou believe that Soujirou was her brother.
"Come in." Even though his voice was lazy, Saitou was alert and angry. There was no way he would slack off, no matter how late it was. This girl was going to cause trouble, he could feel it. Kaoru could feel her heart pounding faster and faster as she took a seat.
"Hajime-san, I really need a big favour. My brother, Soujirou, has just escaped from the north, and I want him to stay with me. He needs a job, and I thought that since we have so many guards…" At this point, Kaoru wasn't sure if tears would help her case. Saitou was a hard-hearted man; an old war veteran. He didn't have much pity in him.
Following this train of thought, Kaoru didn't even realize that Saitou was already outside, examining his new prospect. Rushing outside, she could see that Sano had finally slipped into unconsciousness and was snoring away in a corner. Soujirou, on the other hand, was tense as Saitou slowly circled him.
"I guess you'll be ok. You can stay for a while until that fool recovers. We'll see what happens then." Saitou left, pulling out a cigarette for a calming smoke. Dealing with stupid people always put him on edge.
Kaoru released the breath she had been holding; she was finally safe! Her ridiculous plan had worked and she would not be killed. Grinning, she watched Megumi pull Sano away to his room; he would need to be treated for a hangover in the morning or else he wouldn't be fit enough to prepare the morning meal.
Speaking of breakfast, Kaoru really had to leave for her trip to the grocery store. Leaving quickly, she was able to make it in time so that she wasn't too far back in line. Hurrying back to the estate, Kaoru didn't think anyone could feel this tired. Being worried for your life is very taxing on a person's health, but the relief she felt was refreshing. Hopefully, they would just leave her alone now. She had been able to escape after her family's destruction, but she really was the last Kamiya left. Well, except for Soujirou, he seemed to be an honorary Kamiya now. Giggling lightly, she tried to stay awake long enough to collapse onto her bed, forgoing breakfast. Within moments, she was fast asleep.
When Kaoru woke up, it was nearly time for supper. After washing her face, she took another good look at herself. Lately, it felt like her life wasn't real anymore. She was just half a person, living through the motions of a poor person. What was she really? If this war hadn't happened, she would have been happy as Kamiya Kaoru; debutante and heiress. Now she was just Kamiya Kaoru, poor kitchen maid turned spy. Did things like this even happen to normal people?
Sighing at her stupidity, she felt happy just to be alive. She only wished that the war would end soon so that she could regain some sense of normalcy within herself. In the times before, Kaoru was known as headstrong and compassionate. Now she was just a shell, not really doing much with her life. If she could get away from this godforsaken city and war, she could…
Shaking her head, she realized she was just thinking in circles. Granted, there was nothing that could be done about the past. But she was still the same Kaoru, and she would survive, just like she had for all this time. Feeling melancholic, she realized that it was time to meet everyone for dinner.
Gratefully accepting the steaming dishes from Sano, she went to sit with Soujirou. He seemed a bit lonely, sitting by himself in a corner of the dining hall.
"Soujirou!" She greeted him casually, trying not to look too suspicious.
Soujirou just looked at her with weary eyes. "I need a few more days, and then you can report back to Aoshi."
Frowning, Kaoru tried to understand what he meant. What was she going to report to Aoshi? She was about to ask him, but Soujirou had already guessed what was on her mind.
"I'm guessing Aoshi didn't tell you. You are our go-between, since you leave everyday. You can tell him tonight that I'll need more time." Soujirou looked very tired; Kaoru guessed that he was tired from having to do his job.
"But what is your mission exactly?" Kaoru was sure she wasn't supposed to know such information, but she couldn't suppress her curiosity.
Soujirou looked up suddenly from his meal. "Isn't it obvious? I'm here to kill Enishi."
Kaoru just gaped at him in shock.
A/N: So there's chapter 4. I'm still not sure how this is going to be an AoshixKaoru fic, seeing as I only put that since they were the main characters in the original one-shot. I'm leaning towards Soujirou, even though I'm very bad at bringing characters together. Please review. Nobody has review on the past two chapters, and I'm guessing that no one is reading this story. So it's up to YOU to cheer me up with a review! It's motivation!