Chapter 14: step forward

Pawns living and dying,

We play the game.

Dreams of snowing lavender blossoms amongst towering cedar trees. A peaceful place. A quiet place. Kenshin felt as if he were floating, lazily suspended in a world of sweet smells and gentle caresses. His toes gently touched down on the petal-covered ground. Curled at his feet lay the lithe body of a sleeping woman, petals strewn over her naked body. He knelt beside her and traced his finger down her milky forearm.

Something was missing. Something that should have been present in his dream was absent. He stood, looking through the gale of petals. Realization dawned on him like the sun.

No nightmare. No blood.

Kenshin lifted his face to the sweet wind and inhaled, a feeling close to joy filling his senses.

When Kaoru awoke, it was to a most unusual smell. Her fleeting dreams left traces of deeply wooded forests and mountains of soapy bubbles. She inhaled deeply and found that something still smelled softly of cedar coupled with soap. The rare grey area between sleep and waking was pleasantly enticing. Instead of opening her heavy-lidded eyes, she sniffed her surroundings carefully, turning so that her loose hair was pillowed under her cheek.

The sweet smell of lavender was suddenly very strong. A slight knot in Kaoru’s forehead appeared. Oddly, the smell seemed to be coming from her hair. Impossible, of course.

She rolled to the other side, burrowing into the warmth of the blankets. Immediately, the woody smell increased dramatically. Another knot in her brow. Then, something shifted beside her.

Kaoru’s eyes immediately snapped open, throwing off the delicious sleepiness. Before her very eyes, lay a pair of black jeans. Except the jeans were not empty. Her eyes trailed up from the legs to a bare chest and sinewy arms covered in long strands of rich, red hair.

Instantly, Kaoru became very still, the source of the cedar scent now painfully obvious. Mere inches away from her, Kenshin was sitting on the bed with his back to the wall. Her blue eyes rolled up to peek at his face and her eyebrows immediately shot up. His finely featured face was tilted to the side and resting against the wall, his fiery hair loose and spilling over his shoulders and back. His eyes were lightly closed and he was breathing steadily.

Could it be that he was asleep?

Kaoru blinked and then looked down at herself, moving the covers aside slightly. She could only gape in surprise at the rosy sheen of her skin. Lifting her head to get a whiff of her shoulder, she realized that she herself was the source of the delightful soapy smell. Examining herself a little further, she found herself loosely wrapped in what appeared to be Kenshin’s blue bathrobe.

Her face went red as she gradually recalled the intimate conditions from the previous night. Inching her way completely under the covers, Kaoru clamped her eyes shut and waited for the man to leave the bed.

From above, Kenshin’s eyes drifted open slowly. His chest still rising and falling with the satisfying rolls of restful sleep, Kenshin observed the human lump under the covers with vague amusement. It was strangely entertaining to see the soft wisps of black hair escaping her cover and the clenched hands curled around the blankets shielding her face.

“It’s not healthy to be so tense in the morning,” he commented blandly as he rose fluidly.

“Since when do you have a sense of humour?” Kaoru shot at his retreating back, peeping over the covers.

Turning the corner to the kitchen, Kenshin pondered her question. Since when HAD he had a sense of humour? Come to think of it, when had he last had such a peaceful sleep? Rolling his shoulders, Kenshin pulled a pot from a cabinet and began filling it with water. Breakfast.

“Katsura!”

“No, Shinsaku. You know it is impossible.”

“I’m only asking for permission to retrieve her.”

“And as I said,” Katsura sighed, “You know it is impossible.”

Takasugi paced the lavish office, a hand perpetually running through his scraggly hair. “You can’t expect me to just sit here and do nothing!” he muttered between harsh steps, “For god’s sake, just let me go get her from them.”

Katsura sighed again and stood. “Shinsaku,” he said evenly, “Think rationally.”

“Rationally?” he pitched, “How can I think rationally when the one I love most is probably being beaten to death as we speak?”

Walking around his desk, Katsura approached the agitated man and placed his hands on his shoulders. “You know that I understand,” he said softly, “And you know that you must bear it for the sake of the whole.”

“My innocent Uno must suffer-”

“Yes,” Katsura interrupted, his voice growing sharp, “What do you think will happen if you storm in there and rescue her?”

Takasugi gritted his teeth in frustration. He knew that if he were to do anything to help Uno, they would know about it. It would be traced back to Katsura and the Choshu organization. They would be exposed, arrested, disbanded. Everything they had carefully built would be destroyed.

“Damn them,” Takasugi bit out bitterly between clenched teeth.

“So they will be,” Katsura acknowledged grimly, “But only if we keep to the plan. If you are revealed to them, we will be crushed. If the Bakufu organization finds out that Choshu is against them, we will be wiped out. We’re not ready to eliminate them yet.”

“If only,” Takasugi breathed, his eyes burning with unshed tears, “If only-”

“There can be no regrets, Takasugi Shinsaku. We chose this path. You and Uno chose this path when you fell in love. They took her because of her connections with you.”

“How can we build peace if we can’t even protect the ones we love?”

Katsura turned away, his eyes calm, collected and cold. “The peace is not for us but for the ones after us. Their peace will be built on our bodies and the bodies of the ones we love.”

Takasugi snorted and looked out the window to watch the reddish hues of sunrise.

A world of red.

All Uno could see was red. And all she could hear was that icy voice, continually prodding.

“Tell me, whore,” it whispered between her screams, “What is Choshu up to?”

At first, she had protested with witty remarks. “Aren’t they your allies?” “Why don’t you know what they’re doing?” But then the red sea had filled her eyes and she could only choke out syllables.

“I’ll ask you again,” came the whisper, “What are they doing behind our backs?”

“Nothing.” A panted breath.

“Come again?”

“Nothing!” This time it was a scream of pain.

Oh god let me rest.

“What’s you name?”

“Linda.”

“Your real name.”

“Linda.”

There was that horrid stench of burning flesh again. And then those piercing, heart-rending screams.

“Name?”

“Linda!”

The screams rose again as the smell of blackening, burning flesh made her vomit. Her own flesh and voice.

But the whispers had stopped. Only her screams remained. And suddenly she felt her voice die within her as she fell to her knees. Uno looked up and saw, through a red haze, the most beautiful blue-grey skies. Something was rushing from her. It was a river; her life pouring out for her beloved. Uno fell from the beautiful grey skies.

This is love.

She fell into a sea of red.

From the bathroom, Kaoru could hear Kenshin running the water over the breakfast dishes. She was picking up the discarded clothes from the night before, smoothing them and folding them in the process. As she smoothed out the mini-skirt she had been wearing the night before, her deft fingers passed over a slight lump in a tiny pocket. Kaoru drew out the hard object with the thumb and forefinger, turning it in the light.

A thin silver band. Linda, or rather Uno, had pressed a tiny ring into her fingers the night before. Kaoru frowned, remembering Uno’s request that she deliver the object to someone. But who? Dismissing the thought from her mind, Kaoru slipped the slender ring onto her own index finger.

Meanwhile, Kenshin was piling steaming clean dishes into the dish rack. The two had eaten a modest breakfast of miso soup and fish, then separated amicably to other chores. Somehow, they had settled into a semi-comfortable silence.

Looking to the side, he saw the girl curl up onto his leather sofa, hiking up the loose jogging pants she was wearing. In fact, she was wearing his jogging pants, the drawstring tied so that the material bunched up at her slim hips. Presently, she was flipping through an old magazine that had been lying beside the sofa.

He had been the one to suggest the jogging pants, though not in any verbally coherent manner. She had been carrying her dishes to the sink when he had disappeared into the bedroom for a moment. As she emerged from the kitchen, Kenshin had tossed the jogging pants into her surprised arms. At her quizzical look, he had only shrugged and muttered gruffly that she needn’t occupy his bathrobe all day. To his muttering, she had shrugged and complied. No explosions or objections. When she had reappeared after changing, her hair was loosely pulled back into a ponytail. As an image taken out of context, they seemed like two quiet roommates going about their daily business and not like an assassin and his feisty captive.

As he shut the tap off and wrung the water from his hands, Kenshin wondered briefly if he was losing an edge that he had on her. The girl seemed so relaxed and comfortable. It was unnatural. On the other hand, he could not deny that he felt better with the present easy atmosphere. It almost felt as if his muscles were slowly un-tensing.  

The phone rang. The girl bounded up and pitched herself over the back of the sofa. She yanked the phone from the cradle before Kenshin finished drying his hands on a kitchen towel.

“Hello?” she said sweetly into the receiver, pushing up the strap of her white tank top, “Of course, he’s right here.”

She handed the phone to Kenshin’s outstretched hand, ignoring his disapproving glare. “Yes?” Kenshin asked, “What is it, Katsura-san?”

Kaoru curled a lock of black hair around her index finger, watching Kenshin’s impassive face as he conversed.

“School?” he was saying disbelievingly, “But Katsura-san, is that wise?”

Kaoru could hear Katsura speaking from where she was. His instructions lasted a few minutes, Kenshin frowning but nodding all the while. Then, wordlessly, he passed her the phone. Kaoru accepted it with a raised eyebrow but pressed it to her ear anyway.

“Hello?”

“Kamiya-san,” Katsura said, his deep voice partially muffled by the phone, “How would you like to attend your school for a day?”

“I would love to!” Kaoru said, suddenly eager, “I haven’t been for almost a week and people might have already started to wonder if something happened to me.”

“That is precisely what we don’t want,” Katsura continued, “But you must agree to certain restrictions.”

“Fine by me,” Kaoru replied, dismissing her nagging suspicions in favour of the idea of returning to the schooling that she often missed.

“First of all,” Katsura listed, “You must agree to have Himura-san at your side at all times.”

Kaoru frowned but did not interject.

“Second, you must let Himura-san act as your legal guardian – since there are some arrangements I wish for him to make on your behalf. I have already confirmed this with your school.”

Kaoru’s frown deepened but the prospect of going to school was too good to turn down, no matter what the restrictions.

“Finally, you must give me your word of honour that you will not try to escape Himura-san.”

Kaoru remained silent for a moment, pondering the request. Escape? Escape to where and to whom? Although she had been witness to many gruesome scenes while in Kenshin’s company, her circumstances were not worse than when she had been in Aoshi’s care. Either way, she had always been a prisoner.

“Fine,” she agreed.

“On your honour?”

“On my honour,” Kaoru repeated gravely, “I will not try to escape from Kenshin.”

“Thank you, Kamiya-san,” Katsura replied, “I appreciate your cooperation.”

To that, Kaoru could find no reply. She nodded mutely as Katsura voiced his farewell and hung up. She replaced the phone softly, not even trying to repress the sunny smile that began to beam from her face. She was going to school.

“Hey ninja-boy!”

Aoshi paused in his movements and looked over his shoulder to the doorway of the training hall.

“Suit up,” boomed his burly boss, “And get going.”

Aoshi straightened. He didn’t even need to ask the reason for his deployment. “Where?” he asked crisply.

“Fujiya High School,” came the curt order, “She’ll be at school today. Battousai will be watching her.”

Raising a cool eyebrow but leaving his question unvoiced, Aoshi waited silently for further information.

“Bring her back here,” the Hiko Seijuro ordered gruffly, “And don’t get your stupid ninja-butt kicked while you’re at it.”

Aoshi’s blue eyes narrowed as he tensed at the reference to his previous failure to protect her. His boss cut a grim, open-mouthed smile.

“Don’t be so damn tense, you nincompoop-ninja. Just do your job.”

His strides clipped and precise, Shinomori Aoshi headed for his weapon rack. Expressionless and cold, he tucked various small weapons into his ankle belts, arm belts and waistband. Finally, he reverently lifted two identical, short swords. One in each hand, he lifted them briefly by their long handles then twisted them gracefully and tucked them behind his back, criss-crossed. He snatched his long, beige overcoat from its hook and swung it over himself, flipping the collar so that the rusty orange lining was visible.

As he strode from the room and into the crisp morning, his thoughts became focused, determined and deadly. Today, he thought, he would rescue Kamiya-san from the clutches of the devil Battousai and then kill him for his sin. It would be simple, quick and lethal.

Kaoru was leaning back in the leather front seat of Kenshin’s black sports car, smoothing the pleats in her black school skirt. Kenshin drove silently; the only sound was the occasional shifting of gears. Their silence had almost become companionable. Kaoru began to stare out the window, watching the neighbourhood go by. They had entered the plush side of town, where houses had neat gates and expensive cars parked in their driveways.

“Do you know how to get to my high school?” she asked quietly.

“Yes,” Kenshin stated shortly.

“Fujiya High?”

A brief nod.

“How?”

“Katsura-san.”

Kaoru inhaled, trying to be as quiet as possible. Kenshin looked over at the girl beside him. Her white hands were clasped tightly in her lap, her eyes riveted to the scenery whizzing by. She had insisted on ironing her black school jacket and skirt and on picking up some new navy socks on the way over. Her facial muscles, he noted, were taut.

“Are you nervous?” he asked suddenly.

She turned to look at him in surprise. “Why do you ask?”

He shrugged, turning back to the road. “We’re almost there.”

Kaoru nodded, straightening her skirt once again. “Are you going to come in?”

“Of course,” he answered, “That was our agreement.”

The tall brick structure loomed ahead of them amidst neatly arranged trees. Fujiya High School was small as schools go, only a few hundred students attended – all rich and elite. The brick buildings were beautiful and they towered magnificently in the small oasis of nature. Kenshin pulled into the main parking lot. Killing the engine, he unlocked the doors and looked over at the girl.

“Ready?” he asked.

Kaoru nodded slowly and pushed the passenger door open. When her black loafers hit the pavement, Kenshin was already at her side, holding out a hand. Looking up, she took his open hand gingerly and pulled herself from the low seat. As she stood, brushing down her stiffly ironed uniform and straightening her crisp white collar, Kenshin shut the car door and then stood before her, watching her thoughtful movements. Kaoru pulled her navy knee socks up and then righted herself, running her fingers one last time through her neat bangs and ponytail.  

Then she noticed the look that her chaperone was giving her. “What?” she asked, almost defensively.

Kenshin’s dark eyebrows knotted slightly beneath his red bangs. “You are nervous,” he stated.

Kaoru gave off a high-pitched chuckle. “Well, of course! I’m late for my first day of school in a whole week!”

She shifted from foot to foot under his scrutinizing gaze. Kenshin, meanwhile, continued to puzzle over her latest façade. He had thought, from her previous expressions, that she was overjoyed to be returning to her school. Now, however, she seemed to be completely off kilter. He himself had thought that going to her school for a day would be disastrous; unanswerable questions would certainly come up. The story that Katsura had told him to feed the school authorities seemed plausible enough but, even so, Kenshin had taken extra care to appear non-descript and unthreatening. He had chosen his regular black ensemble but had opted from a black trench coat, rather than the traditional Japanese overcoat he usually wore on missions. Instead of bringing along his long sword, he had only tucked the short sword into his belt. His flame red hair was knotted tightly into a high ponytail, not unlike Kaoru’s.

But despite her earlier excitement, his charge was now nervously picking at invisible lint spots on her school blazer, the brave young woman he had been guarding so jealously lost to a nervous schoolgirl. It puzzled him. “What are you nervous about?” he inquired, his voice low.

Another high-pitched giggle. “I’m not!” she protested, still looking down at her uniform, “I love school!”

Slowly, Kenshin stepped towards Kaoru and looped one arm around her waist, pressing the flat of his hand into the small of her back. Surprise written all over her face, Kaoru looked up into Kenshin’s expressionless features, his intense amber eyes inches from her own.

“It puzzles me,” he said, his voice bland, “That you are so afraid.”

“Afraid?” Kaoru began to sputter, leaning back.

“Yes,” Kenshin repeated, lowering his face nearer to hers, “Afraid of such a trivial thing as school when you were never afraid of me.”

“Well, who’d be afraid of you?” the little girl shot back.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Kenshin’s tight lips. He pushed his fingers through the hair at the side of Kaoru’s head and let his palm hover near her cheek. Kaoru froze.

“Foolish words,” he scolded in a soft voice, “Especially from one who has seen death in action. Aren’t you ashamed to be scared of such little things? ”

Kaoru averted her eyes from his intense gaze. “It isn’t fear,” she breathed.

Kenshin slid his fingers down her cheek and took her chin in his forefinger and thumb, forcing her to submit again to his piercing yellow stare. “Then what is it, Kaoru?” Her name was a command and not an endearment. “Tell me now. Your life is in my hands alone.”

“My life belongs to no one but me,” Kaoru answered, her voice both delicate and determined, “But so that you know, it is dread. Not fear. Do you know the difference?”

“No.” Kenshin continued to scrutinize her. “I have never felt either emotion.”

“One day you will.”

“Perhaps.” She could feel the indifferent shrug in his voice. “But for now…”   

Her breath quickened as he pulled her even nearer, so that their chests were almost brushing against each other.

“Take courage,” Kenshin said, his voice so low it was almost a whisper, “And step forward bravely.”

He released her suddenly and turned away, giving her space to slow her racing heart. Kaoru stared at the man’s back, consciously slowing her breathing. Kenshin looked back over his shoulder at the child who had lived more lifetimes than any adult. A puzzling combination.

“Coming?” he asked, his voice calm.

Kaoru nodded quickly, skipping to catch up to his quick paces.

From the window of a tall brick building, Katsura Kogoro turned to his associate, Hiko Seijuro.

“It is going well, don’t you think?”

“We’ll see,” came the brusque reply, “The day has only started.”

The school office was sterile and whitewashed. Kaoru sat as still as she could, watching the hands of the plain school clock tick away. Kenshin was within the principal’s office, discussing the arrangements for Kaoru’s schooling. Suddenly, the door to the office opened. Both the secretary and Kaoru looked up to see an arresting red-haired man emerge beside the suited principal. Kaoru stood.

“It has been a pleasure speaking to you, sir,” the principal was saying to the serious-faced Kenshin, “All the arrangements will be made as we discussed.” The principal turned to Kaoru. “We are sorry to hear of your recurring illness, Kamiya-san.”

Kaoru could only nod mutely.

“But we are sure that your teachers will be happy to provide you with material to study at home.”

Glancing furtively at Kenshin, who remained stone-faced, she nodded again.

“Well, then,” the principal announced, “Enjoy your day at school and we’ll see you again next week!” He turned and pumped Kenshin’s hand.

Kenshin gave the principal a single, curt nod and then stepped forward to take Kaoru by the elbow. Neither of them glanced back as he led her from the school office. As the door swung shut behind them, they both caught the principal’s comment to his secretary.

“Strange girl, that one is.”

“Always has and always will be,” the secretary replied.

Kenshin slid the classroom door open for Kaoru and she stepped into the brightly lit room carefully, gripping the notebooks at her side tightly. The room was filled with laughing teenagers, all dressed alike. At the sound of the sliding door, most of the students cast a glance their way, expecting the teacher. Kaoru’s unexpected arrival elicited various expressions, all of which Kenshin noted mentally. One girl student rushed forward suddenly, her short black hair bouncing.

“Kao-chan!” she exclaimed with a giggle, “You’ve been away a long time again!”

Kaoru nodded. “Ah, Tomomi-chan,” she simply acknowledged.

“Well,” Tomomi giggled, “I saved the math notes for you.” She dug out a sheaf of papers and handed them over. “But you know how bad I am at English and literature so I didn’t bother with those notes.” The perky teenager peered around Kaoru to stare at Kenshin.

“Who’s that?” she asked, batting her eyes.

“My companion,” Kaoru replied.

“Kao-chan!” Tomomi scolded lightly, “I haven’t seen you for a week and you’re as cold as always!”

Kaoru smiled distantly. “You’re always so attentive, Tomomi-chan!”

“Ah,” Tomomi continued to rant, “Hirazawa-kun and Horimoto-kun are always asking about you! But it’s not like I know where you were or anything.” She shrugged her shoulders, inviting an explanation.

“No,” Kaoru answered, walking past the petite classmate and evading the question, “But you don’t need to worry about me.”

Silently, Kenshin followed her as she walked to a desk near the back of the classroom. She sat and arranged her writing utensils. He paused above her, setting a finger onto her desk. Kaoru looked up, her blue eyes pensive.

So that only she could hear, Kenshin spoke softly. “What is she to you?”

“You’ll see,” Kaoru said, a ghost of a smile passing over her lips.

The classroom door slid open again.

“Good afternoon, students,” a tall teacher announced as he walked into the room.

“Good morning,” the students replied, scattering to their desks quickly.

“I have an announcement,” the teacher continued, “I have just received a message from the principal. Kamiya-san,” he gestured to her with an open palm, “Will be joining us for the day. She will be present once a week with her companion, who will stay at the back.”

All eyes were on Kenshin as he took up a chair at the back of the classroom. A few snickers and whispers rose like mist around the room. But Kenshin’s eyes were trained on Kaoru and Kaoru’s eyes on the teacher.

“Welcome back, Kamiya-san,” he concluded. “Now, please open your notebooks.”

Over the next hour, Kenshin surveyed the room like a hawk, memorizing every face and feature while keeping watch over Kaoru. As soon as the teacher began to lecture on Japanese history, she began to scribble madly. He watched her ponytail bob up and down as she alternated between studying the board and writing her notes. The concentrated look she wore told Kenshin that she was rapt in attention, absorbing every word with relish.

Sitting perfectly erect and still, only Kenshin’s catlike eyes roved the room. While Kaoru immersed herself in the lesson, the other students were signing and whispering to each other while the teacher’s back was turned.

“Why’s she here again?” A snide remark from a prettily adorned girl.

“Who cares?”

“But take a look at her new companion. Gad, isn’t he hot?”

“I dunno,” a giggle, “I liked the other one better. Tall, dark and handsome – that’s more my style.”

The other one? Kenshin deduced that Kaoru’s former bodyguard had also accompanied her to school on certain occasions.

“You’re crazy! Look at that red hair! It’s gorgeous.”

“How unfair,” a whine, “Why does that low-class chick get all the goods?”

The lead tip of Kaoru’s pencil suddenly broke off loudly. Lips tightening, Kenshin watched as she pulled another pencil from her pencil case and begin writing again. She obviously wasn’t deaf.

“Students,” the teacher’s voice boomed, “Please wait quietly for the next teacher. Kamiya-san,” he added, “I will return with your study materials in a moment.” The door slid shut as the history teacher left the room.

“Hey! Horimoto-kun!” a male student hooted across the room to a small, spectacled classmate, “Your weirdo girlfriend is back. Go give her a kiss!”

“Yeah, Horimoto,” another girl taunted, “You must be glad she’s back since she’s the only one who talks to you!”

“Hah,” cruel laughter, “And protects your wussy ass!”

The class broke out into giggles and guffaws. Horimoto sat trembling in his seat, staring down at his papers.

“Leave him alone!” A familiar, commanding female voice.

Kenshin’s amber eyes swivelled back to Kaoru, whose fingers were clenched around her pencil angrily.

The class’ attention immediately left Horimoto and moved to Kaoru. The girl in the seat next to hers leaned over and spoke loudly.

“Hey, Kamiya-san,” she said in a falsely private tone, “Are you screwing that guy too?”

Kaoru’s face went white. “Shut up, Miyazaki-san.”

“Oh!” called a male classmate, “You should be jealous, Horimoto! She’s banging someone else!”

“But why would a hot guy like him want to screw our resident weirdo?” the girl sitting nearest Kenshin asked acidly. She turned around and winked at Kenshin. “Why don’t you ditch her and come to my place tonight?”

Kenshin didn’t even look at her, however. His eyes were trained on Kaoru. Slowly, his darkening gaze swept around the room. Oddly, he noted, the perky girl Tomomi was wearing a look of cruel fascination. He could only imagine how their suggestive remarks pricked at Kaoru’s painful memories. It made him angry that others could prey so easily on her past. Another young woman leaning casually in a window seat caught his attention.

“Kamiya-san,” her snake-like voice hissed, “Why do you always get special treatment? We don’t see anything special about you. You belong with the losers and the deadbeats. Do us all a favour and stay away.”

Kaoru turned incensed blue eyes her way just as a leering male student clamped his clammy hands onto Kaoru’s desk.

“Hey, Kaoru-baby,” he sneered suggestively, “Maybe if we get it on in the closet, you’d learn to loosen up a bit. Whaddya say?”

Kaoru shot up from her seat, rage rolling off of her in waves. “What makes you think I’d ever be caught with you?” she nearly spat, “Or do you just want me to kick your girly ass like the last time you tried to touch me?”

“You’re the one who always shows up with older men!” he accused with a sneer, wagging his finger in her face as his classmates jeered him on, “I’ll bet you’re nothing but a two-bit whore that screwed everyone available in order to get into this school with such special treatment.”

Kaoru’s eyes went wide in anger. She lashed out violently, backhanding her classmate with fluid force. The room went silent.

“You skank…” the boy hissed, wiping the corner of his mouth. “Bitch!” His voice rose as he raised a fist.

“Go back to your seat.”

“What the hell-” the boy looked behind Kaoru to where the cold command had come. His angry ejaculation was cut short, however, when he saw the intimidating figure rise from his seat and approach.

“Sit down,” Kenshin commanded again, his voice low and dangerous. His golden eyes not leaving the petrified boy’s face, Kenshin hooked an arm around Kaoru’s shoulders and pulled her back into his chest. “Now.”

Shamelessly, the boy scurried back to his desk and sat, his saucer eyes riveted to the terrifying man. The classroom door slid open and two teachers strode in.

“Ah, Kamiya-san,” one said, “Welcome back!”

“I believe she’s had enough for one day,” Kenshin answered for her quietly.

The teacher shrugged, slightly confused. “If you say so.”

“The study materials, please,” Kenshin addressed the history teacher, still not relinquishing his hold on Kaoru.

“Of course,” the teacher replied, walking over and placing a thin textbook in Kenshin’s outstretched hand.

He took it and gradually slid his arm from around Kaoru’s shoulders. Without another word, he walked out of the class, pushing Kaoru out ahead of him by her lower back.

As the door slid shut behind them, the class exhaled a collective sigh of relief – not even having noticed that they had stopped breathing. How could one small man be so terrifying?

“Kaoru.” It was Kenshin’s voice, calling her. But she was walking away, her steps clipped and sharp. How could anyone have said such cruel things to her, to anyone for that matter. The words had stung, burrowing deep into her past and igniting past memories. Their leering faces elicited a tight-lipped frown from her as she marched up the flight of stairs.

“Kaoru.” Again, but this time a reprimand. “Stop.”

She swung around on her heel on the last step, turning to look down at him. “What?”

“You were excited to go to school this morning.”

“So?”

“What happened?”

Kaoru’s shoulders sank. “I’ve never really been popular,” she said softly.

“I could see that.”

Kaoru glared at his expressionless face. “Thanks a lot.”

“Why did you want to come then?”

Kaoru sighed and turned away. “I love school. I love the books and the notes and the blackboard. I love feeling like a student.” She looked down. “I love feeling normal.” She took another step up and put her hand on the handle of the door at the top of the steps. “And I have a few friends, really. Mostly people I stand up for,” she chuckled. “But the others…”

Kenshin also climbed another step. “You are brave.”

She looked back at him, startled. “What?”

“You don’t run away from them,” he reiterated, deadpan as always, “That is admirable.”

“A compliment?” she laughed, “From you?”

“Let’s go,” Kenshin said, reaching up to her.

“Not just yet,” Kaoru smiled. She grabbed Kenshin’s outstretched hand and pulled, flinging open the door. Blinding sunlight surrounded them as they emerged from the door and onto the building’s rooftop. Another majestic brick building loomed to the left. Looking around from the rooftop, they could see the green trees and lawn of the campus spread out before them. Kaoru smiled into the sunshine, still lightly grasping Kenshin’s hand.

“This is my favourite spot,” Kaoru explained, flinging out her other arm in a wide circle, “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Kenshin turned to look at her, the sun creating a halo of light on her shiny black hair and a bright glow around her sun-kissed profile. “Ah,” he replied quietly, “Beautiful.”

“I knew you would come up here.” An icy voice echoed from above, slicing through the warm air.

They whirled around, the owner of the cold voice invisible.

“You see,” the voice said again, “I know you. And I have come to bring you back.” A shadow fell from the sky. And suddenly Aoshi was there, crouched before them both. He stood slowly, his beige trench coat blowing slightly in the wind.

“Battousai,” he announced, his voice cold and deadly, “How dare you touch Kamiya-san with your dirty hands. Get away from her.”

Instead of complying, Kenshin stepped in front of Kaoru, shielding her with his body. With his right hand, he pulled the short sword from his hip and crouched, holding the weapon behind him by the sheath.

Aoshi’s blue eyes narrowed in cold fury. That gesture. That protective stance. “You will die today,” he said, flipping out the twin blades.

From above, two sets of grave eyes watched from a window.

“I hope ninja-boy doesn’t screw up.”

Katsura Kogoro was silent and grim.

“The game has begun, hasn’t it?” Seijuro Hiko asked, not really expecting an answer.

“Indeed, it has.”

From the rooftop below came the sharp ring of unsheathing steel and the anguished cry of one young woman.

Take courage, and step forward bravely.

Chapter 15: battling pawns

Pawns living and dying,

We play the game.

From above, they formed the three points of a triangle: two warriors and one woman, entwined together in battle. From above, two grim pairs of eyes watched, waiting to see what their plot would unfold.  

Both opponents stood, barely panting, at either end of the rooftop, their weapons drawn and ready. The apex of their triangle, Kaoru, was leaning against the railing, a horrified hand hovering over her gaping mouth. Her earlier anguished cry had elicited nothing from Kenshin and Aoshi but the hard and emotionless expressions of seasoned fighters.

Neither man spoke a word, as no words could hold meaning in their battle of wills. Instead, their spirits spoke through violence.

Aoshi, his icy blue eyes unreadable, stood straight with his twin blades gripped tightly in either hand. He studied his opponent thoughtfully, noting how heavy his breathing was becoming. Battousai, who stood with equal rigidity, held only his short sword in one hand. Through his thick red locks, the thinnest layer of sweat began to shine across his forehead. Forgotten was the sunshine, the green campus, the looming brick building. Forgotten were their already numerous wounds. Forgotten even was the young woman watching them. Their minds rose above all these in order to assess the other and attack mercilessly.

Aoshi flipped his twin swords into a backhand grip. “You were stronger then,” he commented coldly, “But now I have the advantage.”

Kenshin remained silent, his lips pinched together and his fingers wrapped tightly around his absurdly short sword. Despite his skill, with only the short sword he knew that Aoshi, with two blades, did indeed have the advantage. His amber eyes flicked briefly to Kaoru, who was staring at him, an expression of terror painted on her face.

“Weak.” Came the whisper.

Kenshin barely leaped out of the way of Aoshi’s blade. In the brief instant he had checked on Kaoru, Aoshi had jumped forward with lethal force. Kenshin skidded to a stop, frowning at his carelessness.

“Has she bewitched you into sloth?” Aoshi asked, his voice near taunting.

“Don’t use such fancy and unnecessary words!” Kenshin cried, rushing forward violently.

Their metal clashed fiercely with unrelenting force. To Kaoru, it seemed that the shadows of their blades tore into her own flesh. Torn between the two, she discovered between gasps of terror that she wished for neither one to win. For victory required one to die. Though she was originally attached to Aoshi, she found that she could not wish death upon Kenshin.

Aoshi had captured her from Kanryuu.

Kenshin had captured her from Hiko.

Though both were captors, neither was hateful. Aoshi had once been a calm presence and a faithful companion. Kenshin had become…

Kaoru’s stricken blue eyes filled with tears, watching captor fight captor and guardian battle guardian.

With both hands on the hilt of his sword, Kenshin twisted in midair and swung the sword around in a deadly jab. Aoshi caught the blade between his own. Sparks flew as the blades grated against one another. Kenshin threw his foot into Aoshi’s midsection and flipped out of the trap, landing a few feet away. He rose instantly, his short blade pulled back into a starting position.

“I won’t let you have her,” he growled.

“It almost sounds personal,” Aoshi replied coldly.

“It obviously is for you.”

“All the more reason for me to win!”

Neither known to hesitate, they both shot forward simultaneously, clashing again violently. The sharp ring of metal screamed in Kaoru’s ears, forcing her to drop to her knees. She watched, through her tears, as the two men attempted to kill one another.

She watched Battousai weave through Aoshi’s intricate swings, attempting to get close enough to use the short blade. Kaoru stifled a cry as Battousai stepped between Aoshi’s swings and prepared to plunge his sword into the other’s stomach. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind as she anticipated the result. First fear, then uncertainty. Aoshi had been her protector long before Kenshin. For years he had shadowed her, shielding her from death. Her loyalty to him ran deep, so much so that she had once before risked her life to protect him from Battousai. Kaoru certainly feared for his life as she watched Battousai’s sword plunging towards Aoshi’s midsection. However, she could not wholeheartedly wish for his victory over Battousai either.

Instants before death, Aoshi swivelled out of the sword’s path. Kaoru’s breathing stopped as she saw Aoshi whirl around, bringing one sword down in a deadly arc towards Kenshin’s unguarded neck. Again, fear and uncertainty filled the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She could not call Kenshin her friend and yet she was having trouble viewing him as an enemy. With surprise, she felt her heart leap into her throat from the fear that he would be killed. Though his death would mean release from Katsura’s political schemes, Kaoru could not find any desire within herself to see him dead.

Battousai twisted sharply and brought his blade up horizontally, blocking the swing. Aoshi bore down on Battousai’s sword with one hand and readied the other for another strike. But Battousai pulled back swiftly, the sound of grating metal screeching. Torn, Kaoru watched with wide, tearful eyes, unable to wish for either to win or lose. Each attack was a possible death, each parry was a stay of execution.

Battousai’s blade was swift and unreadable, piercing through Aoshi’s most carefully built defence positions. He ducked and leaped and circled with perfect rhythm, attempting to close in on Aoshi’s vulnerable spots.

His hands had been gentle, pulling her wrists free of the tightly wound rope. As the blackness of pain overtook her, Aoshi had gently carried her from her prison and brought her into the light of Takani Medical Centre.

Aoshi’s steps were measured, precise and exact as he slowly gained on Battousai, using the whirlwind speed of his twin blades to push Kenshin back.

Through the black haze of smoke and dirty leers, he had emerged and come to her pleading arms. In the nightmare of the Sakura Tea House, Kenshin had lifted her to her feet and shielded her from harm.

Battousai’s short blade slid along the length of Aoshi’s sword, aiming to pierce his skull.

Aoshi’s tall form loomed in front of her as his hand tightly grasped hers, pulling her through dark alleys and away from Kanryu’s torture.

Ducking under Battousai’s lunge, Aoshi swung the other blade in a low, backhanded slash toward his opponent’s lower body.

The feel of Kenshin’s chest against her back as he pulled her into himself, standing with her against the taunts of her classmates.

Battousai leapt clear of Aoshi’s swing. Spinning around, he aimed to cleave Aoshi from hip to shoulder.

The sound of Aoshi’s desperate cry as he hurtled himself at an assassin in order to save her life.

Also pivoting, Aoshi’s steel met Battousai’s in a low clash of blades. With lightning speed, he jabbed his second sword at Battousai’s chest.

The smell of soap and cedar as Kenshin rubbed her skin with a washcloth, cleansing her.

Kaoru fell forward onto her hands, her tears like raindrops on the cement.

In response, Kenshin also lunged forward with lightning speed, stopping on a dime and twisting his sword so that it wound about Aoshi’s blade. The twist broke Aoshi’s grip for only a moment but it was enough. One of his swords flew from his hand, spinning away on the ground.

Kaoru looked up to see one of Aoshi’s swords slide to a stop a few metres in front of her. Their voices came to her ears.

“Battousai, you cannot win.”

“Don’t bother with your useless talk.”

“It is your struggle that is useless. I know you are weak with only that short sword.”

“You will not take her.”

“I will indeed take her from you, shadow killer. Your corpse will rot and your soul descend into hell today.”

“That is yet to be seen.”

Again, the violent ring of steel against steel. And before her eyes, the bright shine of a discarded blade.

“What do you think she will do?”

Katsura glanced briefly at Hiko. “I cannot say for sure.”

“You seem to be very uncertain for someone with everything riding on the outcome of this fight,” Hiko snorted.

“I am sure neither of our men will die today,” Katsura said softly, his eyes riveted to the battle beneath them.

“They look pretty intent of killing each other,” Hiko commented dryly.

“She won’t let them.”

Hiko turned incredulous eyes on his own boss. “You have that much faith in such a small girl?”

“Such a small girl with such large ideals,” Katsura mused aloud, “The key in our plan for atonement.”

Kaoru brushed the tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. Raising herself onto shaky legs, she watched the intense faces of the men fighting for her possession with clear eyes. Opposites and yet frighteningly similar in battle. She watched as they both grit their teeth, lunging and sidestepping in their dance of steel. If left to battle, one would certainly die by the other’s hand. She summoned all her courage into a long intake of breath, the choice made. Her mouth opened and she poured her soul into sound.

A heart-wrenching scream erupted, enough to shatter the eardrums. “Stop!”

Still deeply engaged in swordplay, Battousai’s eyes immediately whipped around toward the sound of her screamed command, plea, agony. For an instant, he pulled back and tried to discern the source of her pain. An instant was too much. In that one moment of inattention, Aoshi pushed forward. Too late, Battousai twisted out of the way. Aoshi’s cold blade tore through Kenshin’s left shoulder. Battousai gasped, fighting for consciousness, as the burning metal pulled back through his flesh, exiting his body. Forcing down the pain and struggling for alertness, Kenshin knocked the next strike away with his sword. Grasping his bleeding shoulder, he staggered backwards and collapsed to his knees, using his sword to support his weight.

“It ends, Battousai.” The cold, icy words left Aoshi’s tight lips as he launched himself into a final lunge.

On my honour, I will not try to escape Kenshin.

The sudden, unanticipated ring of clashing metal surprised both men.

“Kamiya-san!” Aoshi breathed unbelievingly. From above their crossed swords, Kaoru’s determined blue eyes met Aoshi’s.

Holding the hilt of his lost sword with both hands, Kaoru was pushing back his attack. For a moment the blades staggered together from the pressure. Then, with flying sparks, the blades slid apart as both pulled out of the locked position. Kaoru let the momentum carry her as she swung around full circle. Their swords locked again in a violent clash, this time with Kaoru blocking horizontally.

“Kamiya-san,” Aoshi growled as their blades grated against each other, “You are blocking me from my goal.”

“And what is your goal, Aoshi-san?” Kaoru asked through tight lips, her eyes flashing. She twisted his sword away from hers and stepped back into a defensive stance, her sword in front of her.

“To protect you,” her former bodyguard answered, also stepping back but crouching into an attack position.

“Is fighting me a form of protection, Aoshi-san?”

“I must kill that man,” he stated in return, his voice flat.

“I can’t let you,” came Kaoru’s simply reply.

“You cannot stop me.”

“You’ll have to attack me, Aoshi-san,” she whispered softly.

“Kamiya-san, you are skilled with a sword,” Aoshi’s voice was low and quiet, “However, you would not draw my blood.”

“But,” Kaoru replied, her eyes set, “I will not let you kill him either.”

Aoshi straightened from his crouch, letting his sword hang at his side. He took a few, slow steps toward Kaoru, his eyes focused on hers.

“How will you defend him, then?” he asked, his voice low and intense.

Kaoru tensed but did not waver. Reaching out an arm, Aoshi pressed his open palm lightly onto the edge of the blade and slowly began to push forward. Just when the razor edge would have split his skin, Kaoru let the sword be pushed back ever so slightly. Aoshi continued to push and Kaoru continued to relent, until the blunt edge of the sword was nearly pressing against her shoulder. He slid his hand down lightly and let it rest over hers on the hilt of his sword.

“Give me the sword,” he said, his voice low but commanding, “And let me complete my mission.”

Kaoru’s hands gripped the hilt more tightly. “Your mission to kill him?”

“Ah,” Aoshi affirmed.

“I can’t,” Kaoru sighed softly, relinquishing her hold on his sword and taking a long step back. She held her arms out wide, her face set stubbornly.

“I can leap over you,” Aoshi informed her, now with a sword ready in each hand, “Make it easier on yourself, Kamiya-san, and get out of the way. This must be done.”

Kaoru suddenly spun on her heel and leapt toward Kenshin’s prone, panting form. She threw her arms around Kenshin’s neck and shoulders, covering him with her body. With one cheek pasted to his caked hair, Kaoru defiantly faced Aoshi’s stricken expression.

“I won’t let you,” she breathed softly.

“Kamiya-san,” Aoshi commanded steadily, “Get away from him!”

Kaoru swallowed and shook her head, her blue eyes wide.

“Get away,” Kenshin bit out, intentionally harsh.

Kaoru ignored him, choosing instead to press herself closer.

From within the cage of her arms, Kenshin’s eyes shone like those of a caged tiger. He ached to break free of her hold and fight his battle. However, the risk of her being hit in error grew greater by the second. He glared out at Aoshi, whose mouth had become a grim line.

Kaoru watched Aoshi’s shocked expression change to one of impassive severity. A moist layer of tears filmed over her blue eyes as she anticipated his next words.

“Why him?” Aoshi bit out, “Kamiya-san, why do you choose him?”

Her promise to Katsura seemed a grossly inadequate explanation in light of the hurt that she knew lay under his unreadable façade. In response, she could only close her eyes and shake her head apologetically.

“It’s over,” Katsura announced, still gazing at the figures below, “Make the call, Seijuro.”

Hiko flipped out a cell phone, dialling a familiar number. Below, with almost absurd banality, the ninja flipped one sword back into its sheath to warily answer his ringing phone.

“Get out of there,” Hiko stated shortly into the phone.

Raising an eyebrow, he watched from above as Aoshi’s head suddenly whipped around, his keen eyes obviously searching for the watcher.

“Why?” Aoshi’s voice buzzed back into Hiko’s ear.

“Because those are your orders, you idiot,” Hiko retorted.

“And Kamiya-san?”

“Leave her.”

Hiko and Katsura watched as Aoshi flipped the cell phone closed, nearly crushing it in his palm. The tiny figure below cleaned and secured his other long sword before concealing it beneath his beige overcoat. For a few still moments, the three resembled tiny figurines in a diorama, representing a scene in some tragic drama. Then Aoshi’s figure retreated backward swiftly, disappearing into the staircase silently with only a flick of his beige coat.

“Send the doctor.”

Katsura turned to his comrade, Hiko Seijuro, and nodded. Simultaneously, they departed from the window, each already aware of the next stage in their plot.

The singing of the bees, the sting of the sun on sweat and the crisp relief of a swift breeze; these comforts were completely overlooked as Kaoru pulled slowly away from Kenshin and rested on her knees in front of him. Still unmoving, Kenshin’s catlike eyes watched her. From his stony demeanour, Kaoru knew not to expect any gentleness or approval. Ignoring the way his eyes surveyed her every move, Kaoru slowly pulled off her loafers and neatly set them at her side. Unceremoniously, though not ungracefully, she pulled off her long knee socks, one by one. Leaning toward Kenshin, who was still using his sword as an upright support, Kaoru carefully grasped the opening of the knee sock with both hands and pulled it against the raw razor edge of Kenshin’s sword. The sock split neatly into two long pieces of blue, elastic material.

“What do you think you are doing?” Kenshin voice. Cold, hard, demanding.

Kaoru declined to answer. Instead, she repeated the same procedure with her other new sock. She gathered her socks, now in four long strips, and edged nearer to the assassin.

“Aren’t you going to put away your sword?” She asked, as if it were a normal thing to say.

In response, Kenshin’s eyes hardened and his knuckles whitened on the hilt of his sword. Kaoru sighed, still edging even nearer with one placating palm outstretched. She reached for the collar of his trench coat. He flinched back abruptly. Another sigh.

“Are you going to bleed to death on this rooftop?”

“Why did you get in the way?” Kenshin’s voice was icy.

“I didn’t want anyone to die.”

“That’s not for you to decide.”

Kaoru’s eyes shot up, blazing. She grabbed the collar of his coat suddenly. “It didn’t look like you were about to beat him, you know? What’s with your attitude?”

“What is that to you, little girl?” Kenshin spat, glaring back, “It was none of your business.”

“How can you,” Kaoru snapped, “Be so ungrateful?”

“Ungrateful?” he snarled back, “A snip of a girl tries to defend me and I’m ungrateful? What good could a child like you do for me?”

“You jerk!” Kaoru yelled, her face contorting angrily as she pushed his shoulder away from her violently.

Just as suddenly, Kaoru’s hands flew to her mouth. Kenshin’s eyes narrowed furiously as he sucked the pain in through his teeth. The stupid, stupid girl.

“I,” she stuttered apologetically, “I am SO -”

“Sorry?” he cut in, his voice like steel, “You should’ve just stayed out of it then, little girl.”

The girl instantly looked down at her knees.

“I just wanted…” Her voice was small.

“What?” His voice was sharp.

She bowed her head even further, clasping her hands together until her knuckles were white. Her shoulders began to shake.

“Sorry.” Kaoru’s voice was tiny and soft, “I really am.”

He could only see the roots of her hair, her face completely hidden by thick bangs. From the slight shuddering of her shoulders, however, Kenshin could tell that the girl was crying. Frustration mounted slowly.

“Listen, girl-” he began impatiently.

“So I’m back to ‘girl’ again, am I?” Kaoru said softly, without looking up.

Kenshin stared at her, mouth agape. Kaoru shook her head, trying to discreetly brush the tears from her eyes. Slowly, she reached out again for his collar.

“What are you doing?” Kenshin asked sharply.

“Taking off your coat.” Her tone was clipped and impersonal.

“Why?”

“Your wound.”

“I’ll do it myself.”

After quickly cleaning and sheathing his blade, Kenshin shrugged off his coat while Kaoru waited, watching silently. He pulled his black shirt off, ignoring the stabbing pain that his shoulder dealt him. He heard, however, Kaoru’s hiss of disbelief as she laid eyes on the stab wound. Kenshin watched as she sprung into action as if dressing wounds was something she did everyday. She lifted his left arm and let his forearm rest on her own shoulder. One by one, the girl wound each piece of her ripped socks around his shoulder, covering the wound tightly. Using the giant safety pin from her black, pleated school skirt, she fastened the improvised bandage.

“You seem to have done this many times,” Kenshin noted blandly as Kaoru drew away again.

“Not bad for a snip of a girl?” she replied, smirking only slightly.

“Not terrible,” he commented dryly, slowly pulling his shirt over his head.

Kaoru, by impulse, reached out to help him tug the garment down gently over his chest. She held out the arm of his overcoat. Kenshin looked up at her sharply but Kaoru was already guiding his arm through the sleeve gently.

“Why did you get in the way?” He asked again calmly.

“I didn’t want anyone to die,” Kaoru repeated.

“Him?”

“Or you.” She was looking down again.

“Kaoru.”

She looked up.

“Your skill at dressing wounds is adequate.” It was the closest thing she’d get to an apology from him.

“Thank you,” she answered with a slight smile.

Kenshin pushed himself to his feet slowly, Kaoru rushing to help him up by the elbow.

He looked away into the already diminishing sun. “You couldn’t have stopped me like you stopped him,” he said quietly, the edge gone from his tone.

“I know.” Her voice was also quiet. And a little resigned.

“Ieyasu-sama, we couldn’t get any information out of the woman.”

Ieyasu Tokugawa, the man who held Bakufu’s strings, stared down at the limp, mangled body of a beautiful woman.

“She protected them?” A sigh.

“She wouldn’t tell us a single thing.”

“So,” Tokugawa said quietly, “We still don’t know what Choshu is up to.”

“No sir. There’s no dirt on Katsura or Takasugi to speak of.”

“But you think they’re planning something?”

“Yes sir.”

Another long, drawn out sigh.

“Find out who does their dirty work,” Tokugawa ordered, “Then, find me a spy.”

Kenshin walked surprisingly quickly for someone who had just received a stab wound to the shoulder. Kaoru skipped to keep up. As they neared the door to his apartment, Kenshin suddenly slowed. Just as they reached the door, he stopped abruptly and grabbed Kaoru’s arm before she could go further. Shooting her a meaningful glare, Kenshin pushed her behind him and reached for his short sword, nudging the already unlocked door open a crack.

The assassin moved to stand directly in front of the door. Suddenly, he sent the door flying with a violent kick, flicking the blade from its sheath with a flick of his thumb.

“Show yourself!” he demanded.

A tall, feminine figure rose from the couch in the half-light.

“Welcome back, Himura.”

Kaoru’s head suddenly bobbed into the light of the open doorway. Her eyes were wide with shock as she peered into the room.

“Megumi-san!”

to be continued