Chapter 8 – Collateral Damages
It had been two days since their battle… and still he couldn't take him out of his mind. The way he moved and striked with no anticipation was inhuman. For the first time in his life he had found an opponent who matched his skills. That made him eager to face Battousai again… Since looking for him was not an option, he had no orders to do so, he needed to relieve his tension, he needed something that would make him forget Battousai… actually, he needed someone to help him forget not only Battousai but the world around him. And he knew who managed to do that perfectly.
Tokio.
Since the day he met her he couldn't think of any other woman than her. Her silky skin, her soft lips… but she wasn't easy to catch… although gueixas purpose were be kind and seductive, Tokio was one of a kind. At first she ignored his gifts and denied give him attention… she used to serve him drinks, but immediately disappeared after that… she seemed a little out of the picture since all other gueixas used to accompanied him and even slept with him if he desired… But she was different, she seemed afraid of that world… and that fear drove Saito to spend all his money to buy her first night… and after that night they spend together, he knew as she knew, that what they shared was too special to be spoiled by any other person, so, he became her danna… to love her… to protect her, as she protected him from his dark side…
He fastened his steps towards Aka… those memories urged him to see her… But as soon as he arrived, he noticed something was wrong. The girls were trying to hide it, but fear and shock was written all over their faces. When they saw him standing at the entrance, Yumi signaled him to follow her. He did as she asked. She stopped when reached the hall and turned to him. Her red lips were trembling as she desperately tried to disguised some kind of…. Pain.
"What happened?" – he asked coldly.
She bowed her head and crossed her arms: "She is dead."
At first his ears didn't catch the meaning of her words but as he saw water running down her face, he figured out what happened. "Where is she?" – he asked hiding his hurt as much as his voice could.
She gave a deep breath: "Her room."
He immediately moved towards her room. As he did so, something inside his chest was in commotion… His breath was inconsistent and his mouth was getting dry. Dead? How could she be… dead?
Stopping in front her room door he inhaled the smell of her perfume… but this time it was mixed with …blood. He slide the door open and mentioned the girls inside to leave. Once alone in the room, he kneeled down next to her and stared at her face. The expression on her seemed of fear… whoever killed her was sadistic enough to stop and watch her suffer from the numerous slashes, and not give her a quick death. She was murdered by someone who enjoyed killing….
He placed a kiss on her discolored lips. "Revenge is mine."
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"What did the doctor said about your arm?" – Kojiro asked as he saw Jin-Hei entering the restaurant.
He sat in front of him: "Battousai made it impossible for me to use the sword at a professional level." – he filled his cup with sake: "But I am still able to kill." – a sadistic smile appeared on his face.
The other shook his head. "I don't understand how they haven't expelled you yet." – he poured more sake on his cup.
"They already did." – it didn't matter for him what Saito told him the day before. He had satisfied his durst for blood when killed his ex-captain precious gueixa… Now to complete his plan, he only had to finish with Battousai. "Your friend from the Ishin… are you going to meet him tonight?"
"Yes, we have a meeting." – the other replied – "But not here. It would be too risky."
"I am going with you." – Jin hei said despite the look on his colleague's face: "I need to get some information about Battousai, that only someone close to him could show."
Kojiro was about to argue, but he knew that his persuasion wouldn't work on Jin hei. That man was just impossible to convince.
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Iizuka waited nervously inside of the small room. Secrecy domain the three leaders since they discovered someone from the inside was a traitor, and It was becoming harder to leave Katsura's side without drawing attentions towards himself. These meetings had to end, or his head would be on the table soon.
"Hi there!" – Kojiro came into the room as long as Jin Hei. Iizuka didn't wait to complain: "It's becoming too risky for me to come here to sell you information."
"Are you scared? Well, if that happens just remind yourself that we pay you much more than your friends at Ishinshinshi… "
"The money won't be of any use if I am dead." – he immediately replied.
"Oh… so, now you are afraid to die?" – Kojiro didn't liked Iizuka at all, he put up with him because he was the only member on Katsura's side he could bribe – "Tell me what you got for me."
"If you want Katsura to be vulnerable you have to kill his right hand… and for that I mean… Battousai."
Kojiro raised an eyebrow: "Is that your plan? To kill someone who seems impossible to kill?"
"Where's the girl you found the other day?"- Iizuka asked – "Is she pretty?"
Both man stared at him in disbelief. They were discussing serious matters and he was asking if Tomoe was beautiful? "What in the world?... Damned Iizuka! This is serious…"
"I Know. But since you have no ability to kill the man…" – he was enjoying to humiliate them, since they did the same to him all the time. – "Maybe you should send a girl to do a man's job."
They exchanged glances. He had a point. They had already thought about that before, but since she didn't seem the kind of girl able to betray someone, they gave up from their first idea.
But when pressured on the right spots people can do whatever they are requested to do. – Koijiro thought. "Yes, she is pretty. I´ll arrange a meeting."
"What if she can't caught Battousai's attention? I heard he already has someone." – Jin-Hei asked
"Relationships end as soon as trust between the couple is destroyed… And, what is better to destroy their confidence than another woman?" – Iizuka smiled hearing Kojiro speaking.
"Why do you seem so happy?" – Jin-hei stared at Iizuka who's mischevious smile was getting bigger and bigger. He seemed crazy.
"I am thinking than I can kill a couple of swans with only one blow." – They needed to forget the traitor subject, but how would they do that unless a traitor is revealed? Of course he wouldn't reveal himself, but if he could find someone to take his place… and he already knew who that person would be.
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Kaoru was in her way to Aka along with Kenshin. Finnaly he agreed on letting her work there during the day. Not only because he wanted her to be happy but also because he knew that after this last attack he was going to spend much time away from her.
They could see the building by far, and Kenshin stopped walking. Kaoru stopped too and stared at him. Why he seemed so nervous? "Kenshin?"
He wanted to say something to cheer her up in her first day of work, but he hated the idea of Kaoru working there as much as he hated to be away from her, and nothing seemed to come to his mind to say. She came closer and placed her hand on his: "I know this is not easy for you." He tangled his fingers on hers. In these last days this gesture became a habit. He loved the warmth of her hands. "And I understand your fears, as well. But I promise this is just a job and I would never do something that could hurt your feelings, because I love you Kenshin." He looked at her and the honesty in her eyes calmed his heart. "Came here." – he said pulling her into a hug.
No matter how many fears were growing inside of him, he needed to let her go, he needed to trust her. She became the most important person for him in this short time. Since they assumed their feelings for each other things became official. When he arrived home all his demons seemed to run away… Kaoru had that effect on him… a touch of heaven in earth. A place he could rest. And that made him want more… the few time he spent with her, he wanted more… things were becoming clear in his mind: He needed to give up on this job. He wanted a normal life, a life with no blood, and the only reason he would use a sword was to protect the people he loved. She and his kids…
What in the world? Why am I thinking about kids? Kenshin opened his eyes and inhaled the sweet scent of jasmine. He was hallucinating. "Well, I don't want you to be late on your first day, you should go." – he pulled away from her.
Kaoru gave a sad smile. Part of her regretted of asking for this, for this job, she knew Kenshin was fighting against himself to let her go. But she didn't want to stay all day long alone waiting for him to come home. And the waiting seemed longer because she never knew when he would come home hurt…
She gave a deep breath: "I need to go."
He shook his head positively: "I wish you a good day."
"For you too." – she smiled and started walking away.
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When Kaoru arrived to the restaurant they were still closed, but another girl was awaiting at the entrance too. "Hi! You must be the new girl."
Kaoru nod. "Yes I am. My name is Kaoru."
"I am Yumiko." – she had brown hair and vivid green eyes. They were really expressive.
"Nice to meet you." – Kaoru smiled: "Is it usual to be close at this time?"
Yumiko shook his head negatively: "Something must have happened." – she looked at the other side of the building and saw a woman coming from the inside: "Haruka!" – she waved and the woman walked quickly in their direction.
"What happened? Why are the doors closed?" – Yumiko asked but the look on Haruka's face indicated that something bad happened. "Let's go inside."
As they were entering the restaurant Kaoru saw a man walking in the opposite way. He was tall and his hair was black, but what caught her attention were the aggressive look on his yellow eyes… they looked like Kenshin's eyes, when they met for the first time. As he passed by Haruka she bowed and said something that Kaoru's hears didn't reach. He just looked at her but no word came out from his mouth.
Yumiko's eyebrows raised but she said nothing too. They kept following Haruka until she opened one of the doors and mentioned them to entre.
Once inside she started talking: "Tokio was murdered last night."
Yumiko's hand covered her mouth. Haruka continued: "Saito believes it was a revenge. We must be very careful now. I know it happened at night, and that you work here only during the day, but you must keep sharp, and, if someone, or something seems strange you should tell me. If your hear a suspicious conversation, you come and tell me immediately."
They both nod. Kaoru and Yumiko they were still at shock, still Kaoru didn't knew Tokyio, it was awkward to have such news on her first day.
"I know this must be strange to you." – Haruka turned to Kaoru – "But, our clients, even during the days are very powerful and very dangerous too, my advice is never trust anyone of them."
Kaoru nod. She had a feeling that this homicide story wouldn't leave Kenshin pleased…
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The morning was a calm one. Only a few costumers, and for the first day, Kaoru stood on the Kitchen cleaning the dishes. But something was bugging her. Why should someone take revenge against a woman? "This girl… Tokio…" – Kaoru asked while washing the dishes – "Was she… a gueixa?"
Yumiko nod: "Yes…" – she glanced at Kaoru – "She was very beautiful and kind to everyone. But she didn't like her job. Only when Saito became her danna… she seemed happier than before."
"Danna?" – Kaoru asked. She had never heard that word before.
"Yes… Don't you know what a danna is?" – Yumiko stared at her in disbelief – "Your owner, your man… Since the moment you have a danna you belong to him and no other man is allowed to touch you."
"I see… a commitment… and this Saito, was he the man we saw this morning when Haruka brought us to the inside? " – she asked remembering the look on his eyes.
"Yes." – Yumiko nod her eyes scanning Kaoru's face: "He must feel horrible… they killed her as a warn to him. "
"Why do you assume that?"
"Well, he is the 3rd Captain of Shinsen , so he is a very powerful man, I suppose her death had something to do with that… Probably a rival that wanted revenge and… we can say…Tokyio was… his weak point." – Yumiko had the ability of speaking and working very fast. "I think we have costumers."
Kaoru looked through the opening in the wall and saw four men arriving.
"Ohhh… It's him… Mr Ice Blue Eyes." – Yumiko grinned while saying this.
"Is that his name?" – Kaoru asked surprised
"Of course not. His name is Aoshi… Isn't he a catch? Oh my…" – she stopped washing the dishes and her hand flew to her chest. "I go there."
Kaoru laugh with her companion's attitude and watch her walking to attend them.
The taller one… that Aoshi… he seemed distant and cold, despite his attractiveness, like her friend said. The other guys acted normal. Talked, laugh, drank… but the way they treated and talked to Aoshi was different of the way they talked among them… It was a more respectful way… as if he was their leader or something.
Kaoru could hear part of their conversation from the kitchen:
"Too bad Hannya didn't came." – Said one whose face was all scarred up.
"The castle needs someone to guard it…. And who's better than Hannya to guard?" – a small one said.
"Your right… And he would scared everyone with that ugly face of his." – the bigger one said. Acctualy he was so big that, him alone, occupied three seats.
"He is talking as if he was nicer!" – the other two burst in laugh…
They seemed friendly although their looks. Kaoru sighed.
I wonder what Kenshin is doing now.
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A WEEK LATER
Kaoru was enjoying working at Aka. Her colleagues were nice and Yumi liked Kaoru's job. And with the payment she received from her first week of work, Kaoru had something special in mind for the weekend. She would buy scented candles, and food from the restaurant, because she obviously can't cook, and banquet Kenshin with a romantic and calm ambient. She knew they both needed to spend quality time together… and Kenshin told her that because of the festival, Katsura would dismissed him, so… she wasn't going to let this opportunity slip through her fingers .
"Kaoru?" – she turned and saw Yumi entering in the Kitchen.
"Hai. Isn't soon for you to be here?" – Yumi used to appear only after five o'clock.
"I woke up in good mood… and decided to see how you girls were doing." – she approached Kaoru that was cleaning the dishes from the lunch. "A busy day isn't it?"
Kaoru nod: "Many people came here to lunch… I think it's related to the proximity with the festival."
"We always have more costumers at Saturday. People receive their payments and start spending it." – Yumi clarified.
"But now it's calmer." – Kaoru raised her head to look at the main room.
"Only a lonely costumer at the table two." – she said.
Kaoru looked in table's two direction and saw a girl. "I haven't seen her. Sorry." – she cleaned her hands on her uniform, but Yumi stopped her: "No need to stop what you're doing. I am going to attend her."
Kaoru stared at her boss: "Really?"
Yumi stared back: "Why do you seem so surprised?"
Kaoru's voice stuck at her throat: "But you're the boss…"
"And that should mean that I don't have the right to attend my clients?" – Yumi smiled with Kaoru's embarrassment. "I am going to attend her."
Kaoru watched her go in the girl's direction. Yumi was elegant and beautiful, everything in her was to impress, her clothes, her makeup, her arranged hair…. Kaoru's eyes fixed on the girl at the table…she was also beautiful but simpler than Yumi. She was wearing a white kimono with a blue obi, and her hair was long and black, her eyes were green… a sad green.
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"What's happening with you?" – Kaoru heard Yumi calling. She didn't even notice she had already came back.
Kaoru look down at her hands at started washing dishes again: "She is so beautiful."
Yumi raised an eyebrow: "Who are you talking about? The girl I just attend?"
Kaoru nod without looking at her.
"She might seem beautiful… but there's something about her…. That just doesn't fell right." – Yumi said thoughtfully. "Her eyes… seem empty." – she turned her attention to Kaoru: "Yours not." – she thought for a while and then added: "Your eyes… they show… hope."
Kaoru raised her head and stared at her boss.
"That's the truth." – Yumi smiled at the look on Kaoru's face. "Probably that's why he loves you."
Kaoru blushed at the comment and shook her head negatively. Yumi sympathized that girl immediately, without knowing why. She was humble… and she was committing herself to a man whose life was sostained as a red blanket… Perhaps she thought it was on her hands to change his life… so naïve… she would end up hurt in the end… Not by him… but from collateral damages.
"Do you… love him?" – there was a long time since that word didn't came out from her mouth… It was strange to taste it…
"Yes I do." – Kaoru's lack of hesitation was proof enough of the truth of her feelings for Battousai.
"Then, prepare yourself." – Yumi picked up an apple and took it to her mouth.
"You are going to suffer… Every woman who loves will eventually suffer." – Kaoru stared at her in disbelief. How could she have such a negative vision of love? And why was she talking that way towards her?
"Why?" – the blue-eyed girl asked, a glint of fear in her voice. Fear of knowing the answer.
Yumi chew her apple slowly: "It's life dear Kaoru… Man always end up hurting us…"
"Love doesn't worth what it costs." – her words were cold. Probably the words of someone who's heart was broken a long time ago.
Kaoru looked down not knowing what to say. "Don't be sad." – she heard Yumi's voice – "As long as you keep strong enough to endure the pain… it will be fine."
"I see." – Kaoru was disappointed with this conversation. She thought Yumi was the kind of person that would recommend not demoralized her…
"We have costumers… I'll go there." – she said quickly leaving the kitchen.
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Iizuka insisted so much for him to come to the restaurant… Kenshin only accepted because he thought it would be nice to join Kaoru in her way home. When they arrived, Kenshin saw a girl waiting at the table but his eyes turned in other direction. He was looking for Kaoru.
"Himura, this is my cousin Tomoe." – Kenshin bowed his head and sat down at Iizuka's side. "She is staying with us for a while… I am thinking of asking Katsura to let her stay in his place during the day."
Kenshin nod. "It's safe… Until we know who the traitor is, our families still in danger." – he answered thinking about his own situation.
"Our families?" – Iizuka laughed – "Are you talking about the Kamyia girl?" – he said staring at Tomoe.
Kenshin found his companion's attitude odd: "Kaoru is my only family. So, yes, of course I am referring to her."
"May I ask what you want to drink, gentleman?" – Yumi appeared on the scenario what took Kenshin to wonder if something happened to Kaoru.
"Sake for both of us." – Iizuka asked. Yumi nod and went back to the kitchen.
"Don't get this in the wrong way, but… I think you should choose someone different from her… A grown up woman… Kaoru is just a girl… she barely has sixteen."
Kenshin turned his head towards him: "I Think I still in charge of my own life. And if you want our friendship to endure you will never again refer to Kaoru without the respect you own to any other woman who is not yours or from your family." – his tone made it clear this was a warning. A warning that made Iizuka understand how deep he was in love with that girl… He needed to act fast, he needed to end this happy couple thing.
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As Yumi went to the Kitchen she saw Kaoru spying through the opening in the wall. "They want sake. Do you want to serve them? Your red-haired man is there too."
Kaoru jumped back startled. Then she shook her head negatively: "No. You should go."
Why am I feeling this? Why is this fear growing inside of my heart?
As she saw Kenshin entering she felt happiness because that meant they would go home together… but as she saw him sitting near that woman… she felt something… like someone punched her on the chest. Was she Jealous?
"Yumi… I am going home." – she finally decided.
The gueixa narrowed her eyes: "Are you feeling sick? Do you want me to ask Dr Takani to see you?"
Kaoru shook her head: "No… It's just…. I forget I had to do something…and since my shift is over… "
"For me that's fine, but don't you want to wait for him?" – she had the feeling that the red haired man went there to take her home with him, and the way he looked around the place… he was searching for her…. So Kaoru's attitude seemed a little out of scenario.
"I forgot I had something to do before I go home." – she said taking off her uniform.
"See you tomorrow then." – Yumi picked her uniform to put it on the locker.
Kaoru was about to leave, when she turned around to ask a final favor. "If he asks for me… please tell him I just had to leave sooner." – Apprehension was all over her face.
Yumi didn't said a word, she just nod.
If you just forgot you had something to do, why are you asking me to lie?
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Kenshin patiently waited for Yumi to come back with the sake in order to ask her about Kaoru. The Gueixa had a feeling that he was going to ask that. As she placed the bottle and served them, the samurai immediately asked: "Yumi-san, is Kaoru at the kitchen?"
She turned her attention to the red haired man. He was young and at the first sight he seemed harmless, but his reputation as a cold-blood murderer preceded him in a way that was impossible to deny who he truly was: "Kaoru-dono had to leave soon… she wasn't feeling well. So as she finished her shift she went home."
He worried about that girl. That was a fact, because the look on his eyes change immediately as he absorbed the information: "I need to go home."- he got up totally forgetting the others.
"Wait! You haven't drunk your sake!" – Iizuka's complaints didn't reached Kenshin's ears… he was already out of Aka.
Yumi walked back slowly to the kitchen smiling on the inside. It was funny to see Battousai worried about Kaoru… Maybe… he loved her after all.
"He loves her… " – Tomoe said out of the blue.
Iizuka turned his head in her direction. "Love can be destroyed."
"I think you should try something else… Separating those two is not going to be easy." – The look on Kenshin's eyes as the restaurant's owner said Kaoru left soon, was one of deep worry and care. Adding that to the fact that he totally ignored her… Of course he knew she was there he greeted and all that stuff, but his lack of interest on her showed Tomoe that the place on his heart was already occupied. Deep inside he was in a commitment to that woman.
How far am I able to be a part of this?
"Don't worry, sooner that what you think this happy-couple thing will be over… I don't need your help till then." – he stared at her wondering how failed his plan seemed after seeing Himura 's reaction.
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"Kaoru?" – as she heard him saying her name her body shuddered. She didn't hear him entering. "Are you ok? I went to the restaurant and was told that you came home sooner." – he kneeled beside her.
Kaoru shook her head: "It's just a headache."
Still, he wasn't satisfied with her answer. She seemed sick and her usual smile was gone. He placed his hand on her forehead: "You don't seem to have fever, but it's better if you let the doctor see you." – he was about to pick up her but she protested: "There's no need Kenshin." – she assured – "It's a women thing." – she blushed when she said that and Kenshin put her down again: "Are you sure?"
Kaoru take a quick look at him: "Yes."
He knew she was hiding something. He knew her well enough by now. "Don't you trust me? Don't you trust me to tell me what's really happening?"
She raised her eyes to him and sighed: "What were you doing at the restaurant?"
Kenshin raised an eyebrow: "Iizuka asked me to go with him and I agreed because I thought that we could go home together… you and I. I Knew you were finishing your shift by the time we arrived."
"And…. Who was that girl with you?" – she ask fearing that her question would make her look silly.
"She is Iizuka's cousin… she is new on the town. I think I didn't catch her name…" – Kenshin thought for a while trying to remember the girl's name.
Kaoru sighed again: "I was stupid I am sorry."
"Pardon me?" – Kenshin shook his head not understanding why she was insulting herself.
Kaoru got up and gave a small laugh. "Never mind." – she pulled him using both hands – "I brought soup for our dinner." – Kaoru started walking backwards while holding his hands. Kenshin was still dazed with her change of humor: "Are you sure you're ok Kaoru?"
She nod: "I am fine now that I am home with you." – she felt her back approaching the wall as his hands wrapped around her waist and he rested his head on her shoulder. "You don't know how it feels to hear that." – he hugged tightly.
Kaoru blushed with the proximity. "I really don't know… you should tell me."
"I am telling you… it makes me feel… complete." – he look intently to her for a while before kissing her. He stopped and took a step back. Something came to his mind. "Did you know a girl named Tokyio?"
The mention of that name made Kaoru's mind jump back to a week ago : "Only heard about her… as far as I know she used to work at Aka before she was murdered."
Kenshin stared at her in disbelief: "You never mentioned that to me."
Kaoru bit her bottom lip: "I didn't wanted you to worry. "
The samurai shook his head and turned his back on her: "You work at very dangerous place. Do you understand that? "
"She was only murdered because of Saito. Not because her job." – Kaoru disclosed the information without thinking twice about the real meaning of her words.
"Saito?" – Kenshin faced her – "Haijime Saito?" – his eyes scrutinized her. Kaoru stepped back wondering why Kenshin seemed so interested: "I don't know his last name."
"How is he?" – he came close to her
"He is tall, with long black hair…" – Kaoru didn't mentioned that Saito's eyes looked like Kenshin's when he is mad or engaging on a fight.
Kenshin's expression became serious: "Do you have any idea of how dangerous that man is?"
Kaoru widened her eyes: "Why?"
The red-haired man shook his head in a reproval way: "Kaoru, I still don't like the idea of you working there. Don't you want to reconsider?"
"Why Kenshin? " – she replied – "Just because someone was killed doesn't mean the same is going to happen to me!"
He placed his hands on her shoulders: "Kaoru, she was killed as a warning to him…" – he looked deep in her eyes – "Don't you realize how many enemies I have as well? Staying there all day, unprotected, makes you an easy target for them."
She felt speechless, because his worries were genuine… and his arguments were true.
"I ask you to think again about this decision…" – he sighed – "I don't know what I would do if someone hurt you." – he stared at the ceiling for a while as imagining the hurtful things that his enemies could do to her. He shut his eyes tightly and rubbed his forehead.
"Ok Kenshin. I promise I am going to reevaluate this situation." – she didn't want to see him that way. And she knew that he would feel miserable if something happened… Kaoru didn't wanted to increase his burden of guilt.
Her answer brought him some peace of mind. Deep inside he hoped her to take the right decision.
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NEXT DAY
He stared at the blood dripping from his blade. They kicked him out. It wasn't unexpected. He saw that coming when Saito disrespected him in the day he fought Battousai. That's why he took his revenge on her… On Tokyio.
That made Saito put all his man after him, and even without saying the truth that leads to this banishment, Jin-Hei knew he knew… and he also knew Saito would come for his head.
That stubborn slut… she fought till the end, as if she expected her Captain to came and save her. Pathetic! But in one thing Saito choose well… she was fierce: "You're an animal… a beast!" – he remembered her words as she realized no one would come to save her: "But he will come for me… even if I am gone… he will come for me." and the look in her eyes has he gave her the last blow… there was no fear, just… hate.
Jin-Hei walked towards the forest that lead to Battousai's house. He needed to form a plan to kill her without facing him… he wanted the red-haired samurai to feel dishonored and helpless in her death… the most acclaimed and powerful men of this era were unable to save their own mistress. He laugh at his plan…
Now, there's only one girl left to kill.
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Kaoru made her way home with a huge smile on her face. Tonight was a special night. She made all the arrangements, the scented candles, the special food… she couldn't stop imagining the look on Kenshin's face as he arrive home…
She walked fast as she felt urgency facing the things she had to prepare.
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Things were getting really crazy at Ishinshinshi. Trust between the group was on the line. Every word that was spoken was being analyzed, they were demanding to know the meaning of every move they made….Kenshin was getting tired of that lack of trust… he was getting tired of this all Ishishinshi thing… They weren't serving their first purpose… they were dismissing the protection of the people and the fight for the new era Kenshin desired so much… they were postponing his retirement and the peace he wished to find at the end of Tokugawa era…
And all Kenshin could do was to force himself to a path he knew for sure that there was no returning… he knew that he would probably lost his soul among all this violence…
He opened the main door and was invaded by the sweet scent of jasmine… Kenshin rushed himself towards the dining room and find it filled with little lights… Kaoru appeared with a tray on hands, and as she saw him, she seemed surprised, probably wasn't expecting him so soon. "Oh… I wanted it to be a surprise." – She said her voice showing her disappointment with herself.
And there he was… between the fear of losing his soul to the violence of his job or losing it for her…
Kenshin sat and close his eyes: "I am ready to be surprised."
"Do you Promise not to open your eyes until I say so?" – her childish question made him laugh: "I gave you my word."
And so he did. It took a while and during that time all Kenshin could do was to guess by the smell what was on the trays she was placing in front of him. "You can open your eyes now."
He slowly opened them and observed the scenario in front of him. There were at least three different plates, fish, meat and soup and everything seemed delicious. He smiled with contentment.
"You made it yourself?" – he asked still wondering which one he would taste first.
"No." – she replied – "Because I wanted you to have a peaceful night… and If I cooked myself… that wouldn't happen for sure." – Kaoru said making a point about her cooking – "My food is horrible… and this is from Aka." – she end up saying – "I wanted tonight to be special, because, it's been five months since we first met." – Kenshin glanced at her. "It's true." – he said remembering the first time he saw her… five months ago, at Katsura's house…. "When I woke up that day… I was far away from realizing it be no ordinary day."
Kaoru smiled at his words. "I was so confused… I had so many questions in my mind…."
"Did you find the answers?" – he immediately asked.
Kaoru took a while to think about it… she still didn't knew how she end up there, must had something to do with her dreams, as she was a child, maybe she needed to know him, or, maybe he needed to know her… all she knew was she was happy because she was living with the man she always loved…. She was living a dream."Some of them... others I just hope to find with time."
Never in his life he felt he was important to someone, in the way she made him feel. Kaoru had all this work, cleaning and preparing this meal, because she cared, because she loved him: "Arigato, Kaoru for this wonderful meal and night..."
She nod her cheeks were red with embarrassment.
Maybe this meant their relationship would step up to another level… The idea was on Kenshin's mind all the time. "I fear for your life Kaoru…"
That sentence seemed out of scene, but he had a point: "Being with someone like me, it's dangerous for you."
Kaoru was about to protest, but he raised his hand asking her to let him finish his sentence, what she did. "If I leave this city… Would you leave with me?"
"Of course I would. Where else would I go?" – her immediate answer showed her conviction. "Is something bothering you, Kenshin?"
"The usual." – he took a sip of saké and looked at her.
Kaoru sighed: "If your work is not allowing you to have a clean conscience, then you should quit. I don't like to see you so sad. You're a wonderful person, but seems like you're trapped between obeying them or being loyal to yourself, to your feelings, to your conscience… How long will you be able to endure that fight?"
"It's a question of honor, Kaoru." – he simply replied
"Honor and glory aren't the most important things in life… You can call me silly, but… what happens to that so-called honor or glory when because of that you're far away from everything you love? When people around you are dying… and no matter what you do Kenshin, you cannot save them all."
He stared at her for a while. It wasn't the first time he heard those words…but not from her mouth… "Why don't you content yourself saving the people who crosses your path?"
"My path?" – he asked
She nod: "Kenshin… you cannot save or change the world… and if you continue trying so hard… it will turn against you. And I don't wanna see that."
Kenshin looked at her intently: "You spoke very wise words for someone of your age, Kaoru."
"Oh come on Kenshin, don't talk to me like I am a child!"
He chuckled. "Would you really follow me if I decide to leave this place?"
She sighed. Why was so difficult for him to believe in her? "Kenshin…" – she got up just to sit closer to him: "Since the moment you took me to your place and took care of me, I promised myself that I would never leave you. Only If you want me to."
He caressed her face: "I would never ask you to leave me."
She closed her eyes enjoying the warmth of his hands.
"I am thinking about this for some time now… and I can't stay here anymore, I want to turn my back to this… war." – Kenshin felt the urgency to leave… every night it was getting difficult to clean the blood from his hands… no matter how much he washed them… that smell… it stayed. And the nightmares… the faces of the men he killed haunted him every night.
"Do you have a place in mind?" – Kaoru asked
The samurai thought for a while. After all these years How would be the village he was born? "I still don't know." Maybe he could start a new life there.
"Ok. Whenever you want is fine for me." – she replied.
"Maybe we can search for your friends." – Kenshin thought out loud.
Kaoru widened her eyes. A nostalgic feeling took over her and that didn't go unnoticed to the samurai: "You don't want to see them again?"
She shrugged her shoulders: "It's not that." – she bit her lip – "I don't think it's possible to see them again. They are at a different place now."
He held her hands in his and assured her: "I promise that I will find your friends, and then, we will live together. Because I know how much you miss them and that they are a very important part of your life."
"Yes they are." – she placed a kiss on his hands – "But you don't understand… " – she sighed, how was she going to explain him something she didn't fully understand? "Like I told you before, everything seems so unnatural in what concerns to my presence here. And seems like we have decades between us… " – so shook her negatively obviously she had thought about that thousands of times without reaching any conclusion – "I don't know… sometimes I think I am crazy."
"No you're not." – Kenshin immediately replied. Even if her story seemed strange he knew she was telling the truth, at least that was the truth for her… Kenshin suspected that maybe she hit her head or something, and some of her memories were foggy and eventually as time passes by she would remember everything.
She shook her head trying not to think of her past life: "When are you going to tell Katsura your decision?"
Katsura was the man who took him to Ishinshinshi and he never hide that to complete his job Kenshin would have to kill people… "Tomorrow. It will be the first thing in the morning."
"Are you sure?" – she knew that loosing Kenshin would be a harsh cut to the group.
Kenshin nod: "I am." – he embraced her. "It's enough of blood."
Kaoru smiled happily. She knew he took the right decision. "I love you Kenshin."
He kissed her hair: "I love you too, Kaoru."
As an interruption to that sweet moment, Kenshin felt a presence on the outside. A presence of someone he knew. He huffed. There was no resting for him… He got up."What are you doing Kenshin?" – she asked.
"Iizuka is waiting for me on the outside. I must go and talk to him. It will be just a minute…" – he slide the door opened and looked back again. She was worthy of a picture, as the moonlight illuminated her face… her eyes were so sweet and the contrast of her white skin and the black hair… she was completely outstanding - "Wait for me… I still want to try that desert."
She smiled back: "I will be here."
The night was great. Everything was perfect. The food… Kenshin's mood, and his decisions of quitting… the hope of a new life… seemed to good to be true.
Kenshin needed a chance to have a normal life… a happy one… Maybe this means he will finally have that chance. – she went to the kitchen to get the plates for the desert – But then again… what if my purpose here was only to led him to a better life? To teach him he had a choice? If that's the way things are… what will happen to me after the moment this purpose it's fulfilled? Will I disappear? Is it possible for him to come to my world as it was for me to come to his? – she placed the dirt dishes at the sink and went to the dining room again… her mind full of questions.
As she entered in the room Kaoru saw him standing there facing the wall. "I've been thinking… If we are leaving… I need to tell Yumi."
He didn't answered… he didn't even turned his face to her.
Kaoru placed the dishes on the floor and approached him: "Are you ok Kenshin?"the conversation with Iizuka must have disturbed him… Probably something concerned to their jobs.
"Kenshin…." – she gently placed her hand on his shoulder but as he turned she gasped… she gasped in fear. His eyes… were golden-yellow… his facial expression showed how angry he was. She stepped back: "What happened Kenshin?" – she tried to draw herself together. If something happened she needed to help him not to make him feel even more miserable.
But the words that came out from his mouth only scared more: "You lied to me." - his eyes focused on her.
"What?" – she thought her ears were playing tricks on her. but the tone of his voice and the expression on his face matched his words: "I never lied to you Kenshin! What are you talking about?"
He shook his head and circled her: "How could you play me like this? How could you?"
Tears formed in her eyes… she wanted to contain them but the situation was so stupid and unfair: "Kenshin I never lied to you… I don't know what you're talking about! Please explain to me."
"And I believed… " – he was talking with himself but it was loud enough for her to ear: "As a foul I believed your care and love were genuine."
"And they are!" – she yelled with a mix of angry and hurt. He was doubting her feelings for him. The fear disappeared when she realized she needed to shake him to reality or else… she grab his arms and shook him literally: "How can you doubt of my feelings for you? I am here because of you! My life changed because of you!" But no matter how loud she screamed her words reached his ears but not his mind: "I don't blame you… I really am a monster…" – his looked at her in the eye – "How could you ever love me?" – he got himself free from Kaoru arms and took a few steps of distance from her.
Then again, he gave his back on her.
"Kenshin…" – she sighed tears running down her face – "Was Iizuka who told you all of this?" – she tried to wipe away the tears – "How could you believe someone like him to give you advices about us?"
"You must leave and tell you're imperialist friends that…"- she didn't let him finished the sentence because she immediately understood the point: "Iizuka said to you… that I was the traitor you're looking for?! And you believed?" – she yelled at him – "With what goal would I betray you Kenshin? Tell me!"
He shook his head: "I don't know… that's up to you."
She shook her head disappointed with him and his lack of trust on her.
"I may be a monster… but I am not able to do what I was asked." – an inner battle was happening at that moment. Iizuka was clear, the orders were to kill her and leave to Otsu In the next day.
She didn't care what he was saying… he already hurt her deeply… more that what his sword could ever do."I never betrayed you…" – she whispered – "Never…"
"Leave." – his eyes were covered with his hair. He was asking her to leave his house?
"Kenshin… are you kicking me out of your life?" – her voice failed her breath was inconsistent as if she had been running for over an hour.
He glanced at her for a while: "They want me to do something worse to you."
"Then do it. It's better than to live with the guilt of doing something I haven't done." – her words were harsh and cold. She opened her arms: "Kill me!"
"Please leave." – he said trying not to assimilate her earlier words. She was playing the role of the innocent perfectly.
"No!" – she screamed.
"Don't try to mess up with my head Kaoru!" – he screamed – "You know I could never do that to you!"
His words softened the anger on her heart. He could never hurt her… that meant he still care, even if he thought she had done something like that, he still care…"As you should know I would never lie to you." – she finally spoke.
He opened his mouth to talk but the look of hurt and disappointment on her face shut him up. Could she be telling the truth? But then, why would Iizuka lie?
She turned her back on him and walked to the door slowly. On the inside, Kenshin wanted to ask her to stay although the situation… but he refrained himself from doing that.
"I am going to prove my innocence to you." – she said before leaving to the outside. The weather had changed, it was raining and the wind was blowing wildly. She looked one last time at him: "And in that day Kenshin, you will come to me and ask me for forgiveness…" – her eyes were red from crying and he couldn't stand the look of disappointment on her face. "And I will not forgive you."
:::::
As she closed the door behind her Kaoru felt as her whole world had been destroyed. She walked alone in the rain and it didn't matter to her if she was getting wet and cold. She wanted so much to awake up and realize this was all a nightmare… like before… she already had a nightmare like this once… except now, it was real. She was so out of reality that failed to notice the presence of a man standing in front of her.
"Finally you came to me." – his words were almost inaudible because of the sound of the raindrops hitting the floor.
Kaoru stopped and watched him for a while. He had a sword on his hand and another one on his hip. She couldn't see his face properly, she just noticed the huge hat that he used."I don't know you."
He smiled mischievously: "You're just about to know." – and he sprinted in her direction. Kaoru realized he was going to attack her and tried to run in the opposite way, but he was faster than her and easily catch her. Kaoru could feel the blade on her throat and Jin-hei's breath on the back of her neck. She was trapped. "Eventually all of you try to run… but I always catch my prey." – he absorbed the scent form her hair: "Humm… jasmine…" with his free hand he put her hair behind her ear: "Tell me… it's a shame he kicked you out, isn't it?"
Kaoru grasped. Did He knew what happened? But how? The only person who knew was the same one that told Kenshin… Iizuka. How could this man know? Did he belong to Ishinshinshi as well? Did he came to kill her instead of Kenshin? To do the job he wasn't able to do?
"He didn't trusted you, didn't he?" – he talked close to her ear making her feel dizzy and disgusted with the proximity between them. "Even if you're telling the truth he preferred to believe his friends… " – he licked his lips – "Maybe he dind't loved you…. He was just feeling lonely and used you… until he found someone… better."
Kaoru was frustrated. Never in her life she felt so miserable. First the lack of trust from Kenshin and then this man… "Kenshin is not like that!" – she used her elbow to punch his stomach with her all strength and, as he wasn't expecting someone so little to have so much strength, he released her, still shocked with the pain her blow caused.
Kaoru tried to run back to Kenshin's place but he was faster than her, and once again he catch her, but this time he slashed her back and she fall to the ground. He wanted to make sure she didn't runaway again. "Aggressive aren't you? I love an aggressive girl!" – he surrounded her while she tried to find strengths to get up. He picked her up by her hair and threw her to the ground again, making her hit the floor with her face. Immediately her nose starts bleeding and her lip too. "Too bad he is not here to see what I am going to do to you." Kaoru tried to get up and hardly succeed, her arms were so weak… How could this man do that to her? How could he be so mean? Jin-hei stared at her: "Don't give me that look."
"You're a monster." – she yelled at him "And you will burn in hell for what you're doing."
"Hahaha!" – this girl was amusing him. – "You know… I am no worse than your dear Battousai. You should see how fast and well he kills…"
"Shut up!" – she screamed. It was painful to picture Kenshin like that. Slowly she got up and faced him: "Why did you lie to him?"
"Why?" – he stared at her in disbelief: "You didn't get it, did you?"- he sighed and looked at the blood on the blade: "I am not wasting more time…" – he glanced at her: "Say your prayers, your time has come."
Kaoru was petrified. She was going to die. Her all body was in commotion. The wound on her back was bleeding so much… she felt her knees shaking and her head dizzy… Numbness… Then she saw him coming in her way but although the fear, she didn't closed her eyes. The only thing in her mind was Kenshin…
He will never know that I am innocent.
As He was about to strike her something made him stop… Kaoru stared at the eyes of the man in front of her, at the same time she lowered her head and noticed a red spot on his chest… it was getting bigger and bigger. Suddenly Jin-Hei fell on the ground with two swords stroked on his back. Behind him was a tall man wearing a gabardine… his face seemed familiar to her, but Kaoru was in so much pain that felt unable of recognizing him. As he approached her, Kaoru stepped back, but her foot failed and she fell.
He lowered next to her and assured:"I will not harm you."
That was all she needed to Hear at the moment. The last thing she remembered was the moment he took her in his arms.
After that exhaustion took over her and she fainted.