Fall from grace
By hye-kyo
Disclaimer: Nope, RK isn't mine…as well as FMA…not a crossover just so you know…
Author's Notes: Think Central in FMA for the setting, though I should be discouraging you to do that since the setting's quite different. I don't want you to think RoyRiza for this though it is very suggestive haha. I actually got the idea while watching FMA Brotherhood, actually too much of the idea came from it. But anyway, since I doubt Roy would do what I had Kenshin do here and since I guess Kaoru here was un-Riza (and more Kaoru-like), I had to make it KenKao and besides I haven't written any FMA fic. So there. Hope you like this one, angst at the beginning, diluting towards the end…
Read and review!
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Title: Codes
Rating: T just to be sure
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She had never been this afraid in her life. She watched as his hands go limp, the smile on his face fading as he slowly slipped into unconsciousness. She held his hand as he was slowly being hoisted up into the stretcher, swiftly reeled inside the emergency room. She hadn't known she had been shouting, she hadn't known she had been crying.
She had scolded him, the minute he appeared beside her, katana in hand, sheath on the other. He wasn't supposed to be there. He was supposed to be somewhere safe. He was designated the overseer and she had told him, time and again, that whatever happens to them he was not to be involved. His safety was what matters most.
But he had to be such a bastard to have come down there, stepping in front of her as he returned each blow. He was smirking the whole time and she was trying to pull him out. He was her colonel and as his lieutenant it was her duty to keep him safe. Some military higher-ups were keen on getting him silenced, and this being an operation to reel them in she did not want him involved here. She knew it was going to be bloody.
Jin-eh disappeared and her colonel decided to split into two. Two of her members came back and they followed the criminal into a run-down building. He said he was taking Sano, the rooster whose unlimited stamina he makes up for his lack of thinking capacity and told her to stay close with Aoshi. He instructed the latter to protect her. She scolded him, told him to switch partners. He should take Aoshi for she was sure he would be able to protect the colonel more, not that she doesn't believe in the rooster's capability. It was just that the colonel had been fighting a lot longer with the stoic Aoshi.
He only shook his head, ruffled her hair and smiled, then he and the rooster disappeared. She cursed out loud, surely he had heard it and followed Aoshi to the left wing of the building.
She could not remember much after that. They say shock does that to people. All she could remember was a chase, blurred, blood and then more chase until they reached a dead end where her companion fought an undying mix of flesh and bones and slowly lose consciousness. Then Jin-eh reappeared.
Like with the other events she could not remember what she did next when Jin-eh informed her that the colonel has died. Anger rose in her, something she had never felt before in her entire twenty-four years of life and she sprang, a pistol in hand, shooting and shooting still until she ran out of ammunition and she had to unsheathe the sword from her side. She struck, was sure she had swiped off a finger and struck again when her knees gave out and sent her tumbling down. She let out a cry of pain as the criminal brought one decaying finger to hold her face, a katana held up high as he started to strike.
And that was when an explosion hit him. And then another and another. Red flames and she could see the silhouette of her colonel in the not so far distance. He was bleeding, there was a long gash on his side. His face was without expression yet she could tell he was exhausted. His knees buckled a little and he swung forward, his red hair loose about his shoulders, his katana ready to strike.
There was another explosion and she knew he would collapse any minute now. He should not overuse his skill or he would get drained. And he was bleeding. She tried to stand up but Aoshi was suddenly beside her, preventing her from moving.
"Let me," she had cried. But he only shook his head and watched as another explosion went off and then another. The sound kept ringing in her ears. She could not remember how long until it ended. The sound kept ringing until after it was over.
She rushed, her body shaking, watching him smirk at her. She inched closer and her eyes widened as he suddenly collapsed, his hands with blood, his face pale.
"Taisa!" she called out as she caught him in her arms.
"Hn..." he smirked again, "That was fun...wasn't it?"
"Hang on..." she did not know she had started crying.
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She did not know when she had fallen asleep. The nurses told her he was fine and asked her to stay in a room at the end of the corridor. Unlike the other rooms, the smell of antiseptic was less here. She was still shaking. She was still crying.
The others had been treated. Sano passed out from losing much blood but he was awake now. His wife, a doctor, was tending to him now. Aoshi was allowed to go home. She was too but she wanted to stay and see the colonel but they would not let her.
She was shaking so bad she had to bite her pillow to stop her teeth from chattering. The nurses said he was better but she had to see him to confirm it. She shifted, wiped the tears from her eyes, took in a sharp breath and felt sleep coming.
She sat up suddenly when she heard the door jamb moving. She pulled the pistol she slipped under the mattress and called out, "Who's there?"
"Kamiya-shoi."
She stiffened, squinted and as the door opened wider letting some light stream in, she saw the outline of his face, the flash of red from his hair. Her eyes widened, "Himura-taisa!" She stood up, went to his side, switched on the lamp and closed the door. She led him to the bed. "What are you doing here?"
"I can't sleep," he said frowning, "You know how much I hate the smell of hospitals."
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine. There's no need to worry," he waved a hand at her and settled comfortably on the bed with a little groan. He was holding his side as he lay down.
"No need to worry?" she exasperatedly exclaimed. "Look at you. You almost got yourself killed and you tell me not to worry?"
"The keyword is almost. I did not get killed," he smiled lazily.
"Himura-taisa," she gritted her teeth. How could he act so cool about it?
"Come here," he scooted over, patted the space beside him and repeated, "Come here."
"What?" she reddened automatically.
"This room smells less of antiseptic. It's good you stayed behind," he patted the space again, "Come here. And it's an order Kamiya."
She mouthed an incomprehensible "Pervert!" but she nevertheless slipped in beside him. She kept distance.
"You're going to fall if you stay there," he said as he stretched an arm, groaned a little, and pulled her close. "You are shaking," he whispered into her hair.
"Himura-taisa..." she was blushing and she felt the telltale prick of tears.
"Your eyes are red and puffy," he whispered again, his hand brushing softly against her arm. "I'm sorry to have made you worry."
She fought back the urge to cry and she took in sharp breath. She felt him coaxing her to face him and slowly she did so. She met his amethyst eyes and fisted the lapels of his hospital gown. She gritted her teeth, tightened her jaw, swallowed hard and said, "Stupid."
He smiled, settled his hands tentatively on her arms. He grinned and allowed his hands to circle her waist, urging her closer.
"Stupid," she murmured again. Involuntarily she felt her own hands travelling up to his shoulders, to his neck, to finally hold his face. She touched the scar on his cheek. She gazed deep into his eyes. Years of unnamed feelings in every gesture, every movement, every touch, every word and she caught his lips in hers in an unhurried kiss.
She pulled back, watched his eyes watch her. Her hands slowly moved down to settle on his broad shoulders, blood rushing into her ears. She had kissed him. She knew this could go two ways. From here, no matter what the turn-out may be, she knew she would be alright with it. He was her colonel, she had known him for three years, she had felt for him for so long. He may or may not reciprocate the feelings. But it doesn't matter as long as he is alive, well and safe.
She smiled, the shaking never stopping and slowly she freed him from her grasp. She knew, more or less, where she stands and she was ready to accept. She had almost removed her curled fingers from the material of his hospital gown when he suddenly slid his hands to hold her face and return the kiss.
She frowned, confused and his hold tightened and his kiss became urgent. She responded, unsure of how and he let one hand slide down to touch the small of her back, to bring her closer.
He pulled back slowly, his breath brushing her lips as he pressed his forehead against hers.
"T-taisa?" she let her hands curl around his waist, bunching the cloth.
"Sleep," he commanded, he slid down a little, tucked his head under her chin, his mouth brushing softly against her neck and slept.
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He was not on her bed when she woke up. She asked the nurses and was told that against the doctor's orders he had left saying it was just a small wound. She went home, showered, got dressed and went to the district office. Sano and Aoshi were back on their desks. She was late and the colonel was already at his table talking to someone animatedly on the phone. He sounded like he was talking to a woman. He sounded like nothing had ever happened to him. To them.
His eyes went to hers as she sat down on the desk beside hers. He ended the phone call, arched a brow and said to her in a formal tone, "You are late lieutenant."
She immediately stood up, her face frowning and said, "I apologize."
"Make a report. I need it this afternoon." He said as if nothing had happened.
She frowned again, thought of a smart retort but saw that he had already started another phone call. She looked down, glared at the floor and whispered, "Yes Sir..."
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Lunch just ended when she suddenly got pulled in a room full of dusty old files, got shoved against a shelf, the stacks pushing against her back, and a mouth suddenly catching hers just as she was about to curse.
The kiss was more urgent, fiery, intense and she caught the scent of sandalwood and pine and she almost went limp. She allowed her hands to travel up to circle his neck, her toes curling up to allow him better access, her body growing pliant, molding against his hard one.
He pulled back for a moment, for breath, and started kissing her again, his hands circling her waist, rubbing against her back, letting her black hair loose as he pulled on her hair tie. He smirked against the kiss as she let out a little moan and he pulled her tighter, shoved her harder against the shelf and hoisted up her one leg to hook around his waist.
And he was abruptly gone. She blinked, her knees shaking, her heart palpitating, her hair dishevelled, her lips swollen. And she was suddenly very mad and very pissed. He was playing with the wrong person, she would surely give him a piece of her mind.
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He was not in his desk when she came back. The others were there. Second lieutenant Misao offered to make her a cup of tea. She looked ruffled she said and her face was very red, was she sick? She shook her head, sat down and continued doing the report. The colonel said it was needed this afternoon.
He appeared suddenly, a bunch of papers on his hand. Everyone was hushed, staring, listening, watching. Misao once asked if they were going out? They were too close she said, and people had been asking.
"Here," he placed the papers on her desk.
"What are these?"
"I filed a leave for next week," he said seriously.
"Is that so?" she asked, not getting anything. Was it another mission? They usually talked in codes. Were they talking in codes now?
"There's a copy of my application."
She frowned again, "And?" maybe they were talking in codes. Another operation? She looked over at Aoshi and Sano who both looked as confused as she was.
"And yours are underneath. Just copy mine. I'll approve them. Just hand them to me before the day ends."
"Taisa—"
"We both need a vacation."
She frowned once more, furrowed her brows more for emphasis, "I think—" what are you doing?
"No," he shook his head, "Nothing work-related." He crossed his hands on his chest which meant he was serious.
Her eyes widened.
"And I'd like to spend a week with you. I'd approve the papers so give them to me before the end of the day."
"Also," he bent closer, his words brought to a whisper, "Stop calling me taisa. I have a name too. Alright Kaoru?," and before he walked back to his desk he pointed at a word on the topmost part of the displayed paper.
She followed his finger and read "Kenshin..." Her eyes widened and she caught Misao grinning. She felt her cheeks burning and slowly she stole a glance at her colonel and found that he was looking at a document. She watched him, waited for a signal, for anything that would tell her it was part of a secret operation, of a set of codes but there was none and her heart palpitated and she felt out of breath.
She was still staring at him when he lowered the document, met her gaze and smiled, a smile that was entirely different from the one she usually sees on his face. A little smile that made her stomach do a double over. He tilted his head a bit, beckoned to the papers and arched his brow a little. She nodded, felt heat coming to her face. He was serious.
She knew next week would be interesting.
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A/n: Well?