Prompt: Hot (This was ages ago!)
Warning: Slightly shorter and more like an interlude to present the bad guy. Or is he?
Megumi dried her hands on a washcloth while keeping an eye on the teapot on the stove. Walking towards the window in her living room, she peeked through her curtains. On the other side of her street a black Mercedes was parked in front of the pawn shop that had been opened even before she was born.
Sighing she let the curtain fall into place and went to serve herself and her guest cups of soothing and healing mint tea. They were both overdue for some peace and quiet, even if it was only facade.
Last night, in midst of the rain storm that took all the citizens in their small town by surprise, her cousin had appeared at her front door. Dirty, exhausted and bleeding, she had collapsed right on top of her. She had completely blacked out and Megumi was left to carry Kaoru's entire weight to the couch, where she proceeded to tear her jacket sleeve and peruse the wound made by a bullet. Luckily the bullet had only grazed the arm, but it was a pretty nasty wound regardless. At least she had been able to stitch it up and make her cousin comfortable enough so she could rest.
Opening the door that led to the living room she knelt beside her, handing her the cup she settled on the floor. Kaoru sighed cradling the cup and breathing in the scent of the hot tea. Her eyes were clouded, as if she were lost in another world.
"Will you tell me what happened now?" Megumi softly questioned her, tracing patterns on the carpeted floor.
Swallowing Kaoru nodded and righted her laid back position on the couch a bit so it would be easier to look at Megumi while she talked.
"Enishi went to pick me up like he usually does at the restaurant. But I had forgotten to tell him that I had a double shift last night."
Wrapping the throw blanket Megumi had wrapped her in tighter around her she set the cup on the coffee table.
"You know Enishi, he just laughed and said it was okay, he left after telling me to be safe. Tae had forgotten she had dinner plans with her sister that night so I offered to close up for her, she left soon after Enishi did.
I left after I closed up later, it was probably eleven, Enishi was already there. The few people on the streets were beggars and they really didn't care, since essentially we ignore them, at least Enishi does. Megumi, he had a gun. Enishi had a gun and he pointed it at my face."
Megumi frowned, Enishi had been close friends with Kaoru ever since news that his sister and her husband had died on the fire accident. He had met Kaoru before everything that happened that night. Although to her he had always seemed a bit on the crazy side, but he had always been a good friend to Kaoru. The only friend, since she herself hadn't been able to be there for Kaoru. Not when Kenshin died or when her auntie passed away.
Kaoru, who never in her life looked as weak as she did in that moment, started to cry softly and it wrenched at Megumi's heart.
"It's not that what made me scared though. He started saying things, really bad things about Kenshin. Also he said that if I were dead the last thing of Kenshin's that would remain in this city would our decomposing bodies. He shot at me then, but I managed to dodge the brunt of it and run away, it started raining so hard that even if he had chased after me, he wouldn't have been able to catch me."
Megumi had to pry her taught fingers from her ceramic cup before she shattered it. Her heart felt like it would burst and the fear lodged in her throat threatened to consume her.
"Kaoru, why a reminder of Kenshin? Does he believe that it was Kenshin's fault Tomoe died with him the day of the fire? It's been proved it was done by that criminal gang, even if they haven't done any criminal prosecutions, he should know by now it wasn't his fault!" Megumi was frantic by now, the possibilities that Kaoru's life was in such danger making her panic.
"Megumi, I know..." Kaoru trailed off, biting her lip her brows furrowed. Inside, her heart rebelled, all this time and still no justice had been brought to those who caused her best friends' death. With what had really happened, though, she felt it was even worse that her friend had to suffer through what he did.
Megumi rose to her knees and framed Kaoru's face;
"Kaoru, whatever happens I doubt he'll come near you in the daylight. Even in this stupid city they aren't as audacious to outright harm you. In any case, it was just Enishi so no one else will try to harm you and he's leaving for a few days remember, you told me that a few days ago."
Kaoru nodded though it was difficult due to Megumi's hands gripping her face. Shaking herself she pouted and batted at Megumi's hands,
"I know, now stop being so touchy it's creeping me out, fox."
Megumi laughed in her usual foxy way and pinched her cheeks. Kaoru gave her a weird look, and batted her hands away.
"If you're already becoming so uncute it means you're fine! Now help me with the dishes, I'm cooking pasta. Sano is coming later and we'll see if we can do something about Enishi. Maybe telling dad wouldn't be so bad either, you know extra protection."
Kaoru sighed, she only hoped.
Actually, he is. You guys, this one has been ready for forever. I'm so so sorry!
Also, look for the (not so) hidden nickname. I totally did.