I do not own Rurouni Kenshin :-)
Treasured
Chapter 7 - Imaginary Vigil
It's only an imaginary vigil that we keep
You salvage what you need
I'll take the love you leave…
I love your way
I can't explain
What made me change
I love your way…
The words echoed through Kenshin's mind as he mutely watched the flames burn through the tinged brown alcohol. He couldn't place in his mind what Kaoru's words had done to him.
Fuuchoiun is a ship utilised frequently in piracy and smuggling between Japan and England. She belongs to me Kenshin. Prinny assigned us to the task of befriending smugglers and pirates for the sole purpose of gathering information and releasing disinformation in circles which he cannot frequent himself. You are his overt operatives, We, Misao and I, are covert. You and Shinomori are his political consorts and do his bidding out in the open, and we work in the shadows…when we emerge there will be others to replace us, but leaving will be difficult. It is almost as if one must die in order to protect their future…I always wondered what it would be like to die on a double edged sword…
'Die?'
'Out of the chill and the shadow
Into the thrill and the shrine
Out of the dearth and the famine
Into the fullness divine.'
Kaoru appeared to be greatly burdened by some news soon after she had told him of her love for him. Her mind seemed to be heavily weighed down with thoughts of this matter which she would not, under any circumstances divulge to him. Kenshin knew that Sano knew, and although the tall man and himself had built a rapport Sano was not breaking his word to Kaoru.
'Sano, is there anything that you need which I can have the pleasure of providing you with while you stay in London?'
'Nah Kenshin, I'll only be here for a few weeks at most…I'll find something to occupy myself,' he said looking away. Kenshin knew the Sano had already been occupied by something, and he had an inkling as to what it might be. During the last few days Kaoru had stayed with him and met his friends during the day, and stayed each blissful night. Megumi, the hostess of the Almacks, was a well known and beautiful Widower who had been trying to bag Kenshin for months. He had great respect for the woman, and suspected that Sano's nonchalant stance belied his interest in the beautiful yet cunning Lady Megumi.
'Oh well Aoshi, Misao, myself and Kaoru are going for a picnic this afternoon.'
'Sounds like fun-' his tone implying the complete opposite.
'Oh and did I forget to mention that Miss Megumi will be there? She kindly offered to supply us with her delicious turkey salad sandwiches,' he stated smiling innocently at Sano. Clearing his throat Sano recognised the gleam in the shorter mans eyes. It was an expression which intimated that he knew of Sano's interest in Megumi and wanted something in return for an introduction.
'What do you want Kenshin?'
'I'll introduce you to Miss Megumi and you can come to the picnic, IF you give me piece of information.'
'What type of information?'
'Personal.'
'Deal. Shoot.'
'What is it that Kaoru is so worried about of late? And why has she taken to avoiding me during the day?'
'Jou-chan is weird like that Kenshin…She's worried that by openly expressing her relationship with you she may compromise you and herself. Basically she cares for you…but one wrong move on her part and you and your family will be in great danger-'
'But Kaoru is Family now, surely she knows that? Family always protect one another regardless…'
'Ah Kenshin, I know you have fought in many different battles, but you have always emerged unscathed. You may have seen men fighting, killing, maiming, but that brutality is hardly a comparison to what Jou-chan and I have escaped. We know you have exceptional skills at battle and have witnessed the pettiness of men but have you seen the cruelty of the aristocratic breed? I know you're not one of them, but she has lost many to a particular brand of truculence. You will never be exposed to it and she's glad of it, but by that same token you cannot begin to imagine the pain…Abandonment is something we are familiar with Kenshin and these wounds are intangible. She doesn't want to lose you, and at the same time she almost can't afford to have you…does that make sense?'
Kenshin had always known that Sano was philosophical at heart and he suspected that this was one of the few times he would witness it.
'I slept and dreamed that life was beauty
I woke - and found that life was duty
Was my dream, then, a shadowy lie?
Toil on, sad heart, courageously,
And thou shalt find thy dream shall be
A noonday light and truth to these…'
He wanted so badly for Kaoru to be in his life. He wanted to erase all the pain and replace it with all the memories of love, compassion and happiness. Then again, he would never understand her life, and he doubted he would ever be able to comprehend her pain.
Kaoru steepled her fingers together and watched the prince pace his study restlessly. Letting her head fall back she contemplated the options available to her and her crew.
'Kaoru, you know that this uprising has to be dealt with…and I know that you want to take a break-'
'I'm not taking a break Prinny, I'm leaving,' she sighed.
Grimacing the Prince tried to work around what Kaoru had said. He couldn't lose her now, not when she was the best he had.
'I will, however deal with this problem. It will be my last.'
'Kaoru... Do you realise how difficult it will be assimilate yourself in high society? I'm not saying that there's no hope, but Kenshin is what we dub as the king's of the aristocratic. He may not be selfish, and arrogant but he is certainly rich and within the public eye. Have you thought about how you will cope with this?'
'Is love not a good enough reason to try Prinny? My relationship with Kenshin is not under discussion. Your problem however will not go away by simply talking about it. I will talk with Misao and return with the details,' she stated concluding their little discussion. The prince sighed and nodded in resignation.
'I'll await your plans.'
Kaoru strode out of the study and straight into the bathroom down the hall. She changed swiftly into a pre-corsetted pink dress which any high born lady visiting the king would wear. Shaking out her reticule she exited the bathroom and made her way out of the castle using the common routes. How exactly was she going to explain to Kenshin that she had one last job to complete? Especially one that she may never return from? Moreover the name that Prinny had mentioned froze Kaoru's heart. That man had almost destroyed her once, and she wouldn't let him do it again.
'Don't you love your daddy Kaoru?' he murmured in her ear as he cradled her in his arms, his hand roaming appreciatively over her body before resting on the bare skin of her inner thigh . Kaoru almost cringed but she knew it would be worse if she reacted in that manner. Instead she nodded unsteadily at his deceptively calm question.
'That's my girl,' he growled in anticipation. 'Now show daddy why he loves you.'
Kaoru turned to face her master. There was no turning back now…
As Kaoru shifted out of her vivid nightmare, she could not think of a time when her wits, strength and courage had been tested in such a manner since she had left that place.
Sorry all my chapters took so long :-s
As always, tll me what you think!
Cheers,
Iuvenalis.
