I'm so sorry this is so late. I kind of got stuck and wasn't sure how to write this next part so I hope you like it.
Also, I don't plan on spending a lot of time on the whole overthrowing so if you want me to please let me know, otherwise I'm probably going to jump a bit in the next couple of chapters. This is ending up longer than I anticipated, I was hoping to stay under 20 chapters, but we will see.
Thanks for sticking with me, hope you like it.
The Plan
"Kaoru," Misao called softly, waking her up. It was still morning and the others around her were still asleep. Quietly she followed Misao out of the room. "I'm sorry to bother you. He won't shut up," Misao said looking rather annoyed. She didn't know who Misao was talking about but followed her.
Misao took her to a small room far removed from the rest of the house. It looked like a storage closet. Opening the door, her eyes widened as Eichi came into view. He was tied up and looked a little ragged. She vaguely remembered Tae mentioning he was here. Her blood boiled but she held her composure, thanking Misao, she went to sit in front of him. She could feel Kenshin arrive outside the door, he would stay there, out of sight, in case she needed him. His presence was comforting and helped keep her calm.
"Kaoru," Eichi said looking relieved. "I'm glad you're ok."
"No thanks to you," she bit out and he flinched.
"I didn't mean for this to happen."
"Didn't mean for what to happen? Didn't mean for me to be kidnapped? Didn't mean for my friends to get hurt? What exactly did you want to happen?"
"I just wanted to get you away from that man. He's dangerous. You just can't see that."
"And yet he saved my life while you endangered it," she said glaring at him.
"Your life wouldn't have been in danger if it weren't for him," Eichi pushed desperately.
She snorted, "No, it wouldn't have been in danger if you could let go of your stupid anger. You are the only one at fault here Eichi."
"He killed her," Eichi cried. She felt Kenshin stiffen behind her. This was going to be fun to explain, she thought.
"No," she said forcefully. "She killed herself. K…The Battousai had nothing to do with that and you know it. If anyone is to blame it is the man she married. Stop blaming the Battousai for something he didn't do."
"He should have protected her," Eichi said with tears in his eyes.
"He did," she said trying not to shout. "She would have never come back otherwise."
"Then why did she do it?"
"Because she was ashamed, depressed, I don't know. We will never know. She is gone, dwelling on the past isn't going to change anything. But it was not…" she had to pause and stop herself from saying Kenshin's name. "It was not the Battousai's fault and I will not allow you to blame him any longer. You need to let go."
"I can't," he said looking her in the eyes. She knew he would never believe her.
"Then this is the last time we speak," she said sadly. His eyes widened in horror. "You had me kidnapped because of your deluded beliefs. You endangered the lives of Ayame, Suzume and Yahiko. My friends were injured because of you. I put up with you because of the friendship we once shared, but I cannot do that anymore."
He sat there, mouth agape. This was a line she had never crossed, but he had crossed it first. She was not going to endanger her friends again. "Think long and hard Eichi. Either give up your foolish hatred or give up our friendship. I'm done letting you have both." With that she stood up and left.
Kenshin followed quietly behind her until they were seated in a secluded spot in the garden. The rest of the house was still quiet.
"Tomoe was like a sister to Eichi," she said to Kenshin's unasked question. He palled and refused to look her in the eye. "She told me a lot about you when she came home. Whatever you're feeling, she did not hate you. She held only gratitude for the sacrifices you made for her. I don't know if you know about her death, but it wasn't your fault, no matter what Eichi thinks."
Kenshin sat for a long time, hiding his expression behind his hair. "I was unsure whether she was alive," he said softly. "After that night, I never heard from her again. Were you two close?"
"Not as close as her and Eichi. She was like a sister, a female figurehead. I looked up to her."
"I'm sorry."
"Kenshin, would you stop blaming yourself for everything. You saved her life."
"And yet she is still dead."
She took Kenshin's face and forced him to look at her. "Taking her life was her choice. If anyone is to blame it is me for not seeing it. You saved her from that hell hole. You risked everything to save her so don't you dare go blaming yourself."
His eyes were still sad, but he nodded, "One might know the reason for her actions." Her brows furrowed but she let him continue. "Miss Tomoe was in love with a man at the house. He was one of the guards set to guard her. From what I could tell, he loved her too. When she planned her escape, he planned on leaving so he could be with her. But he was killed during her escape which I don't believe she ever knew. All she knew was he never came for her. I don't know if it was the reason for her actions, but it might have been part if it."
She sighed, Tomoe had never told her about any of that. Whether it was why Tomoe killer herself or not she would never know. She brushed her fingers over the scar on his cheek. Tomoe had told her how one of the scars had come into being. She could see in his eye that the other scar was from the night Tomoe's lover was killed.
"Then maybe they are both at peace," she said with a soft smile.
He nodded softly, leaning into her hand. "What about Eichi?"
She hardened, "He made his choice. If he had just threatened me, I could forgive him. But he put Ayame, Suzume, and Yahiko in danger. I cannot forgive him for that."
"What do you think he will do?"
"I don't know," she said honestly, sitting back and looking up at the brightening sky. "His mind works in an odd way. I can't predict what he will choose."
"Will you be alright?" She nodded. She would be, Eichi had crossed a line. He had attacked those close to her. She could not remember another time when she had been so angry with another person. "We should head back," Kenshin said once he was convinced she was alright. "They will want to talk about what we are doing next."
He stood up and helped her up, "Miss Kaoru, thank you."
"For what?" She said softly as they started walking back.
"Everything," he said with a soft smile. "For believing in me, trusting me, being too stubborn to let me blame myself. Just thank you."
"You are welcome. I look forward to the day when my stubbornness in such an area is unneeded and we can have a conversation without one of us apologizing," She said. She wondered if he saw the promise behind her words. The promise of a future after the fighting was done.
"Your ideas are honorable," Saito said to Kaoru, "I just don't see how we could pull this off without fighting." There were all sitting together, like they had been for most of the morning. Trying to figure out what to do next. His eyes kept drifting back to Kaoru, their conversation still fresh in his mind. He was once again amazed at how their lives had been so entangled and yet she still didn't hate him.
"I understand that," Kaoru said. "I just want minimal fighting. Anything we do will cause repercussions. Innocent people will pay the price."
"Miss Kaoru does have a point in that we are not rulers. Overthrowing the upper class is needed. But no one other than the upper class knows how to rule." He put in, pulling his mind back to the present conversation and trying, in vain, to keep it there. The last things she had said to him still rolled around in his mind. It seemed almost like she was promising him that she would still be there after the fighting.
"If we aren't careful the police would take over and we could end up with a military dictatorship," Saito conceded.
"And how exactly are we going to find a rich asshole sympathetic to our cause," Sano said. The room fell silent.
"I can," Megumi spoke up softly. Everyone turned to look at her, Kaoru looked concerned.
"How?" Sano asked.
Megumi and Kaoru shared a long look before Megumi nodded and Kaoru spoke, "Megumi is the last living heir of the Takani family."
"You mean the one that was massacred like ten years ago," Megumi flinched at this and Sano quickly apologized.
"I didn't think there were any survivors," he said quietly.
"That's how I wanted it," Megumi said softly. "I was badly injured, but I got away. That's how I met Dr. Gensai and Kaoru. They helped me."
They had all heard of the massacre. It had been so sudden. The family had been a strong family, wealthy and with influence. Their eldest daughter had married a commoner, which had caused a lot of outrage. Then that commoner went and massacred the entire family, burning down their home and killing himself. No one knew why he did it. That was the last time someone married across class.
"If I make my presence known, I can work back into the upper class. Once I'm there I can test the waters and see what I can find. Not everyone in the upper class is bad." Megumi said, not looking at Sano. Sano looked quite upset.
"Megumi," Kaoru said. "Are you sure?" Megumi nodded but Kaoru did not look convinced.
"That's all well and good, but first we need a way of bringing down the current rulers," Master Hiko said.
"With as little violence as possible," Kaoru added.
"I think we are all in agreement that the heads, the people behind the slave trade, must go. As long as they are around, they will hold power," Aoshi said.
"There are a group of men within the police force that follow me," Saito said. "They will help."
"They haven't been discovered?" Kaoru asked with concern. Obviously, she was aware of this.
"No, we were careful. They will be useful in making sure the police don't interfere or try and take power."
"Kaoru," Dr. Gensai said from his corner. He looked much better than he had the day before and had insisted on being present. Ayame and Suzume were out with Tae in the garden. "They might help us as well," he said cryptically, confusing everyone.
Kaoru shook her head. "No, I don't care how useful they might be. I'm not involving Ayame in this."
"If I asked, they might listen," the old man pushed.
"Who are they?" He asked seeing as his men were the only ones who had no idea who 'they' were.
"They are a group of people hidden in the city. They are like high end thieves. The group was formed by Ayame and Suzume's parents many years ago. To my knowledge they are still active. We would just need to find them," Dr. Gensai said.
"I have never heard of such a group," Aoshi said.
"Well, that is because they do not mess with every day people. They steel from the rich. Which might be useful if we want to weaken certain families."
"Will they help us?" Saito asked. "They have never listened before."
"I think with the right proof they can be swayed," Dr. Gensai said. "It can't hurt to ask."
"So, we have more men," Kaoru said with a sigh. "This is all well and good, but what are we going to do?"
"I don't think we need to plan that yet," Tsubame spoke up softly from the corner. "Megumi needs to get settled before we make a move otherwise it will incriminate her. We also need her assessment of the upper class before we know who we need to target."
"So," Saito said. "For now, we consolidate and continue doing what we've been doing until Megumi has information." Everyone started to nod in confirmation.
"Tae and Tsubame will act as the go between for Megumi. Megumi, you will need to figure out a way to keep working at the hospital, so you can get information to them. If you go to their restaurant too many times people will get suspicious," Megumi nodded. A look passed between the two woman that said they would talk more in private. Everyone was willing to let them figure everything out. Kaoru would tell them the important information and that way Megumi wouldn't have to share her past with everyone.
She gave Megumi time to prepare before going and finding her after the meeting. When she eventually went looking for her friend, she found her in her room lost in thought.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" She asked as way of greeting.
"Yes," Megumi said. Her eyes were determined though she could sense fear from her friend as well. She walked over and sat down next to her.
"So, what's your plan," she asked. If Megumi wanted to do this then she would do all she could to support her friend.
"I make my self-known to old family friends first. I look too much like my mother for people to argue too much. I'll say the reason I stayed hidden for so many years was out of shame and fear. Fear that…that that man was part of a group."
"Why come back now?"
Megumi sat and thought for a while, "To honor the memory of my family. I finally found the courage to face my shame," Megumi bit out the words. It was obvious that she was still ashamed, which would make everything harder. She wanted to say something, but there was nothing she could say. This was Megumi's fight.
"What about Akira, he will probably recognize you."
"I thank him for giving me the courage. After he treated me like a common peasant I realized how ashamed my family would be of me. I want to honor my family, so it gave me the courage to step up and claim my title once more."
"He'll ask about the Battousai."
"I had no idea that the Battousai was connected to the work I had been doing in the hospital or to the people I knew. We won't be able to interact once I go back," Megumi said, and she nodded in understanding. Her name was now tied to the Battousai. "They rescued me simply because of the work I do with the slaves, but I don't know anything about him past that."
"We can push that from this end as well. How are you going to keep working at the hospital?"
"It's penance for what I did," Megumi said looking away from her. There was truth in that statement. After all, Dr. Gensai taught her medicine to help her get over the death of her family.
"And your work with the slaves? That will immediately make people involved angry with you."
Megumi smiled, "That one's easy, I simply play the simple-minded woman they think I am. Completely clueless to the connection of the upper class to the slaves. I'll downplay my role so everyone thinks I'm just too kind. It will also help draw out those that we need to target. They will try and get close to me in hopes of getting the stupid woman to sabotage the hospital."
She nodded, it would work. Everyone already looked down on women and their intelligence. She had been the brunt of the sexism her entire life and used it more than once to her advantage. Megumi would just have to make sure not to be out manipulated.
"Promise me you'll be careful," she said. Once Megumi left, she wouldn't be able to protect her.
Megumi took her hands and smiled, "You as well."
As reassured as she was going to get, she left Megumi to her thoughts and sought out the other person she needed to talk to. Sano was not as easy to track down but eventually she found him with Kenshin's help. Kenshin mostly just helped calm Sano down so he was coherent enough to talk.
"What do you want," he said angerly once they were alone.
"For you to go with Megumi and protect her," she said matter-of-factly.
The disgust was evident on his face, "Why the hell would I do that?"
"Because she needs someone there who can protect her, and you care about her. I know she'd be safe with you."
"Cared. I cared about her," he emphasized.
"Why does her status change that. She's still the person you know. Nothing about her has changed."
"Bastards like her took everything from me. They killed everyone I knew. They used us and then got rid of us," he spat. Well, she didn't need the whole story to get an idea why he was here.
"And people like us took everything from her and yet she's still fighting for us. In all honesty she should be on the other side." Sano didn't say anything, so she pushed more. "Sano, she married the man who killed her family. Her parents and little brother are dead because she pushed to marry a peasant. Every staff member that was at her house that night is dead because of her. She has absolutely no reason to sympathize with us and yet she does."
Sano's face fell, "You mean…"
"Yes. She was the one who married that man. A man who, from what I know, was very much like you."
"If that's the case then me being around her would just cause problems," he said, she could see his anger slowly crumbling.
"If you appeared as her lover then it would cause suspicion," she said trying not to laugh at the slight blush on his face. "But if you appeared as a guard she hired then it would be fine. After being kidnapped it would only be logical for her to hire a protector and you certainly have the physique of one."
"But Akira and a few policemen know what I look like."
"Sano, if you didn't blatantly declare who you are with your choice of clothing, people wouldn't recognize you as easily. You don't have Kenshin's problem of being easy to recognize. If you actually tried to blend in, you would find it rather easy."
Sano just grunted, refusing to look at her. She sighed, it was the best she was going to get at the moment. He had the idea in his head now and some of his anger was assuaged. Now all she had to do was give him time to come to his own decision.
"Think about it," she said standing up. "Someone will need to go with her as a protector. I'd rather it be someone we could trust. Even now she is ashamed of what she did. She fights every day not to drown in it. People will shove that shame into her face again and again, they will torment her with it. She needs someone there to help her through it and it can't be me or Dr. Gensai. Think about it. She will help us, but how much of her is left when the fighting ends is up to you."
With the necessary conversations out of the way, she went to find Kenshin. Tae had mentioned offhandedly how he, Aoshi, and Sano had almost intentionally poisoned themselves with the drug, so it wouldn't affect them later. While she understood the logic, she still intended to berate the man on even thinking about such a ludicrous idea. And she was slightly hurt, that he didn't tell her about it himself.