Chapter 4: Impressions
The sound of her own footfalls echoed by her ears as she forced herself to take measured strides that wouldn't betray her mounting nervousness. Her morning ritual was interrupted when Sanosuke came to greet her with a grim expression, bringing along the colonel's summons to all unit captains for a meeting.
It was probably about the move tomorrow, a briefing and checkup on the division before they left the plains. Kaoru felt a snake of nervousness settle at the pit of her stomach as she twisted around a corner and closed in on the command tent. The move tomorrow felt like her first real step towards living and fighting with the new soldiers and team. She prayed that everything will go smoothly – or as smoothly things can go during war.
Pushing into the dark tent, she had to blink a few times as her eyes adjusted to the sudden change in brightness. The command tent was packed full with all unit captains. Some sat on chairs by the side, softly discussing battle plans but most were huddled over a table, strangely engrossed over a map. Several had the courtesy to acknowledge her entrance by glancing up but most ignored and dismissed her presence entirely. Kaoru wasn't sure if she should be miffed or amused by their attitudes.
Slipping into the tight knit circle around the weather worn map, Kaoru noted the depressing sight of an overwhelming number of red flags that littered across the map of Eloria. Elorian armies were spread out across the border, just barely holding back the flood of enemy troops. The situation was worse than she thought.
Pinpointing the flag that marked their position, she then found the fourth division's location and noted down the distance between the two. The shortest route to the fourth division was also the most dangerous, however the threat of two closing red flags meant that time was precious if they hope to provide sufficient backup. Kaoru wondered what the colonel's decision would be – to travel fast or safe? But to answer that, said person who summoned all captains to the tent in the first place had to be present.
"Are all captains present?" the rough familiar voice rumbled through the tent as light stole in when the entrance flap was pushed aside by a calloused hand.
Speak of the devil. Kaoru hid her frown as she bowed with all the other unit captains and their seconds as the colonel entered. They muttered the respectful greeting and rose only when the colonel reached the table and waved his hand. One by one, the unit captains edged closer to the map. The colonel had planted his hands on the sides of the table, hunched over as he glanced around the area. A frown settled on his face.
"Where's Okita Soji?"
"Just arrived." Unit three's captain pushed into the tent, bowing towards the colonel in apology. As Soji straightened, Kaoru sucked in a quiet breath as she took in the deathly pale features of the sick captain.
Her chest ached for Okita as she watched the captain limp towards the table. Despite the obvious discomfort he was going through, Okita managed to reach the circle with his back straight and expression controlled. Kaoru couldn't help but feel her admiration soar for the captain. Soji had been struck by a grievous disease and had been bedridden for several days, yet despite knowing that no one would blame him for missing this meeting, Okita Soji dragged his beaten body to the tent and showed his determination and loyalty to his country.
The colonel's eyes narrowed but he kept his silence, respecting the man and his decision. He turned to face the rotten map. "We'll start the meeting then."
"Our original orders were to meet with the fourth division and support them in fending off the Matrian threat." The colonel gestured to the two looming red flags. "However thanks to the surprise ambush we had to deal with here we're dangerously low on supplies. So we're now going to have to visit a town north of here to restock before meeting with the fourth."
Saitou the second unit's captain released a puff of smoke, his face pulled in his usual indifferent expression as he snorted softly. "Do we even have time to afford this side trip colonel?"
The tall man took a long drag from his cigarette (it made her curious to why the man didn't die of suffocation from smoking in such confined spaces) before flicking ash on the map. "Surely, you don't think Shishio's armies would wait idly for us to arrive before fighting? Perhaps maybe they'll even invite us over for tea?"
Golden eyes flashed once as they glared at the taller man. "Are you questioning my decisions?"
The wolfish captain's lips pulled into a predatory sneer as he faced the colonel's glare head on. "It is what you make it, sir."
"I know what I'm doing captain." The colonel hissed as he drew himself to his full height. "We're running low on both food and battle supplies and unless you're willing to charge into battle with a group of half starved and poorly equipped warriors, I say this 'side trip' is a must."
"Our boys have been trained to travel and fight on empty stomachs." Saitou countered, unfazed by the colonel's growing irritation. "We're not that far from the fourth, the quicker we get there, the more time we'll have to prepare and strategize for the attack. I'm sure the fourth division will be more than willing to share some of their supplies then."
The colonel shook his head, "I'm not going to take any chances. Our soldiers are weak from the recent fight, by the time we reach the fourth division we'll be fighting with less than half of our team. What's the point in sending half dead warriors as backup then?"
Kaoru watched apprehensively as the captains' voices rose in volume. Unit captains began siding on different sides and the tension within the tent grew palpable. Both had their points and Kaoru found it hard to decide which one was better.
Kenshin obviously placed the health of his warriors first, willing to sacrifice valuable time to make sure they are in top shape for the oncoming battle. Whereas Saitou believed that the less time they use for traveling the more time they'll have to plan and ready themselves for the attack.
It was either charging to battle unprepared but with everyone at their best and equipped with weapons; or charging ahead to battle with a plan but with soldiers that are weakened.
Undecided and conflicted, the female captain couldn't make up her mind, which left her singled out at the middle without siding with either captain.
"Well new captain, what do you think?" Kaoru startled as she looked up at the wolfish captain, meeting eyes of amber. Suddenly every eye within the tent turned towards her and Kaoru swallowed thickly as she felt a heated glare bore into her.
If it was even possible, the pressure within the tent increased by tenfold as the captains waited with baited breaths for the answer that might decide their next course of action. Kaoru knew she was treading on thin ice – she had to be careful with her next words or she might offend one or possibly both captains. And if worst comes to worst, her next words might lead everyone to their deaths.
Kaoru swallowed nervously as the full weight of the decision landed on her shoulders. She stared at the map laid in front of her; weighing the two different options as sweat gathered at her temples. Cautiously, she looked up and found two sets of amber eyes watching her carefully – one with bored disinterest and the other sharp and alert.
Pushing aside the feeling of eyes trained at her back, she focused on the map of Eloria. Mentally, she traced out the two suggested paths and began comparing them. The town the colonel mentioned was positioned just slightly north of their current position and past it was a path that leads to a shortcut to the fourth division's location. However, the shortcut passes through several dangerous areas that might slow them down as well. Saitou's path was clean and straight, a one-way road that led directly to the fourth division's position but along a path with little resources. Taking a deep breath, the captain steeled herself and looked up.
"I believe that traveling to the town might not be a complete waste of time as long as we pace ourselves. Considering the distance between us and our final destination, if we can march at a set pace we can restock our supplies and still arrive with ample time to prepare for the oncoming battle."
The captains within the tent were silent and she forced herself to stand still as she met the colonel's hard gaze. With each passing second in silence, Kaoru felt her doubt and nervousness grow. What if her reasoning was wrong? What if her estimations were incorrect? What if they expected a different answer? Finally, the colonel broke the eye contact and like being released from a spell, the area swelled with soft noises and conversations once more.
Kaoru exhaled softly. She had passed a test; she was certain.
The rest of the meeting went smoothly as the colonel traced out the path they were going to take and arranged how each unit would be positioned while traveling. They decided on a rotation system where units would take turns protecting the caravans that held their supplies.
At the end, the colonel drew an end to the meeting with one final warning to the captains. "The path we'll travel will not be easy and there'll be bandits, robbers, ambushes along the way. Everyone needs to be on high alert at all times, we cannot afford to lose anymore men." His eyes hardened. "That's an order."
The unified 'Yes sir!' echoed through the tent as all unit captains clipped their heels and bowed to the colonel, receiving and taking the order to heart. Then slowly, unit captains began filing out to attend to their teams and aid with breaking down camp. As Kaoru moved to leave she was stopped by a firm grip around her wrist.
She turned to find the colonel holding her with narrowed eyes. The rest had already left, leaving her and the colonel in an empty tent.
"Yes colonel?" she asked politely as she pointedly twisted the wrist captured in his grip. As memories of their spat surfaced to her mind she mentally prepared herself. Pulling up her barriers for whatever insult he might decide to throw at her face this time.
Golden eyes flickered across her face, silently gauging her reactions, as if studying an interesting specimen that confused him to no ends. Then slowly he released the tight grip on her hand and stepped back. Blood red bangs fell forward and shielded his face, making it hard to see his expression.
"I apologize… for yesterday." He spoke softly, his lips barely moved but Kaoru heard every word clearly. Everything stilled for her as she sucked in a soft breath.
She had never been apologized to before. Men were always too stubborn to admit their faults. Yet here, her superior took the initiative and apologized first. And though it was a vague apology – the stubborn clench of jaw informed her that he would not be saying more – the colonel apologized and it was more than Kaoru could ever hope for.
She exhaled shakily as she dipped her head. "I apologize for losing my temper yesterday as well, it was not my place to tell you how to judge others."
She took in a slow breath. "Though…thank you for understanding my situation."
She stood and offered a small smile that had Kenshin pausing, face stricken and slightly shocked. With a quick bow, she excused herself and retreated from the tent, failing to see the colonel's hands clench and the frown that stretched across his face.
x x x
He was just outside his tent, overseeing the progress of the soldiers as they broke camp. Everything seemed normal.
Kenshin frowned. Everything seemed normal, yet at the same time, something changed. There was the expected underlying nervousness buzzing around the soldiers caused by the big move. However, instead of silence and gloomy faces, there were conversation and relief. The camp felt alive. Gone were the dead expressions men wore waiting for their deaths – replaced by cheerful faces and excitement.
To the side, he watched as the new captain walked among his soldiers. Overseeing the progress of packing she would occasionally stop to chat with the soldiers, wave to those she passed by and help out whenever she could. The warriors were rejuvenated by her smiles and efforts, drawn to her cheerful attitude like moths to a flame. Like a plague, her bright presence started a wave through his division and changed his people. It was a small change – insignificant even, but it was change.
Sanosuke appeared by Kenshin's side. "She's good." He spoke with appreciation and approval.
Kenshin gave a noncommittal grunt and turned away. "We'll see."
He began walking away to continue his patrol around the area and Sano jogged to follow him.
"Why are you so harsh on her?"
He continued walking, brushing up on unit six's and five's progress and moved on.
"You're still not mad about that are you?"
He kept his pace brisk, choosing to ignore his second and hoped that Sano would get the hint. But it seems these days all those he seem to meet seem to share one familiar trait – stubbornness.
"She's new, she wouldn't know not to mention that name you know." Sano could hear the exasperation leaking into his tone as he chased after the retreating captain, hoping Kenshin would show some sign of hearing him. But only silence met his words.
"She's not that bad is she? Hey! Why aren't you saying anything-" Kenshin's abrupt halt surprised the taller man and Sanosuke nearly collided into him.
When he finally spoke, his voice was cold and dead. "The changes she's bringing to the division, it'll be the end of those soldiers."
The hair on Sanosuke's neck rose uncomfortably as dread began to fill him. "Why?" he asked softly in a whisper. "The division's morale rose since she arrived."
"There's no hope in war, hope will only lead to despair."
"Kenshin…"
"No matter what she says-" the colonel snapped and Sano flinched from the cold bite threaded through his words. "Whether she's a warrior before a woman or not, with that attitude, she won't last long."
Sanosuke knew it was the Battousai speaking then. The hopelessness and despair Kenshin bred within himself that refused the existence of hope. The man that had been let down over and over again and scarred one too many times was shattering bit by bit, falling into an abyss of no return. His anger and distress poured out like poison, determined to drag everyone else down with him.
"Kenshin…" Sano reached to hold his shoulder, to pull his friend back from the bottomless pool he threw himself in. To open his eyes, to show that there's still hope as long as he's willing to give himself another chance. "She's prepared for this, you can't stop her from-"
"I know!" A resounding crack echoed through the area as the colonel slapped his hand away. Sanosuke flinched and took a step back. He watched as the invisible shutters fall over the colonel's features and could almost hear the turn of a key in a lock. Suddenly, Kenshin was no longer reachable.
"We'll see in battle Sanosuke." The Battousai spoke coldly as he turned from his second and walked away.
"She won't last long at all."
To be continued...
Is it just me? Or does my writing style change with every upload? I feel like it does xDD
All that angst Kenshin, it's not good for you :B Sanosuke is now probably sobbing by the side like a whipped puppy.
And there we go! Chapter 4 of Glass Hearts and we're finally going to move from the horrid plains of blood and horror in the next chapter! How will Kenshin and Kaoru deal with the tension between them?
One side of my cheek is swollen in pain. Have I told you how much I hated needles? xDD haha well, see y'all next update! If you're feeling nice, drop a review or two, it'll make my day *U*
And for anyone that's interested, I now have a tumblr (link can be found on profile) where I post all my updates and any unfinished drabbles/ideas/fanart that I won't be posting here! If you're curious, take a look! -end shameless plug-