Broken
Pieces
by linay
Author’s
notes: Okay, a lot of people asked me why Kaoru
would throw up in a kissing scene. Well, the reason is complicated. Kaoru was
sexually abused and that’s a serious crime because it violates you terribly. It
also leaves emotional, physical and mental scars. So, she threw up because the
sexual situation she was in reminded her of traumatic events. We would like her
to just be happy but the reality would be a bit more complicated than that. I
hope that helps to explain.
So, I am sorry
for being so slow. But as some of you have noticed, I’m not particularly happy
with my writing lately. By the end of this chapter (which I don’t like very
much anyway) we will get back into the major action. The chapter gets good near
the ending, when Kaoru protects…well, you’ll see. It’s at that point I feel
that I’ve regained my vision. Oh and there’s some LIME. Proceed with caution
(ha ha) Anyway, I will continue to forge through, however, and then go back for
a MAJOR edit – and then start the sequel.
TO
THE REVIEWERS: none today! Sorry
Disclaimer:
I didn’t create Kenshin & Kaoru! Or
Megumi, Aoshi, Katsura or Takasugi for that matter. But I DID kinda screw them
up for the purposes of my story.
New
Characters:
Tomomi:
Kaoru’s classmate
Ieyasu Tokugawa Leader of the Bakufu political party
Kazuma Ishigawa Ieyasu’s right hand man
Genji: another shadow assassin like Kenshin – accosted Kaoru in previous
chapters
Chapter
21: small spy
Hope,
like a fleeting wind,
Stirs
our hearts as leaves
“Spring departs
Birds cry
Fishes’ eyes are
filled with tears.”
“Well recited,
Kamiya!” the literature teacher exclaimed, clapping his hands.
Kaoru smiled
sheepishly as she bowed slightly and sat down again in her seat.
“Kamiya chose to
recite a haiku by Matsuo Basho,” the teacher continued, addressing the rest of
the class, “He was one the most famous poets that lived during the shogunate
period of Japan. Kamiya,” he beamed at Kaoru, “For someone absent so often, you
are certainly well-versed in literature!”
“Isn’t she
wonderful,” a classmate muttered, rolling her eyes.
“What was that,
Fukuoka?” The teacher asked sternly, “Do you also have a poem to share?”
The student
coughed and shook her head.
“Are you
sure?”
“No, sir.”
“Well, then,” he
announced loudly, “Class is dismissed for lunch.”
As the teacher
left the room, the students filling the room rose and stretched from their
desks, relieved that it was finally lunch. Kaoru busily tucked her notes into a
folder.
“Well recited,
bitch,” a young man spat in her direction as he brushed by her desk.
“Yeah,” another
hissed, making as if to flick at her ear, “I’m sure you say it while screwing
your freaky friend back there.”
Kaoru pressed
her lips together and stood abruptly, glaring at the backs of her departing
classmates.
“Pay them no
mind,” a soft whisper from behind filled her ears, “You’ve done well.”
Kaoru sighed and
picked up her books. “Where do you want to eat, Kenshin?” she asked, turning to
look at the dark-clothed man who stood behind her.
“Anywhere the
air is fresh,” he said, his voice low and flat.
“I know just the
place.”
“Kaoru-chan!” A
cheerful, high-pitched voice screeched.
The two looked
up to see Tomomi peeking around the corner of the classroom door. The girl
bounded into the classroom and grabbed Kaoru by the shoulders. Kenshin shrank
back slightly.
“I’ve missed
you!” she exclaimed, “Where have you been?”
“At home, of
course.” Kaoru said, smiling slightly.
Tomomi punched
her playfully in the shoulder. “I mean,” she laughed brightly, “What have you
been doing all week?”
“Nothing much,”
Kaoru answered, stepping back.
“Geez,” the
other girl sighed, throwing her hands into the air, “Why are you so distant? I’m
just trying to be friendly.”
“Of course you
are.” She smiled again faintly.
“Well,” Tomomi
said, eyeing Kenshin, “Where do you want to eat?”
“Actually,”
Kaoru shrugged, “I was thinking of eating lunch with my friend.” She gestured
toward Kenshin, who was eyeing Tomomi doubtfully with narrow amber eyes.
“Kaoru-chan,”
Tomomi chided disapprovingly, “If you spend time alone with him then
everyone will start to believe the rumours. You don’t want that do you?”
“I don’t care
about them,” Kaoru replied, her voice dropping in warmth.
“Oh fine,”
Tomomi said, shaking her head, “But I’ll catch you later.” Then, the
short-haired girl flounced out, throwing a wink their way.
Kenshin stepped
up to stand beside Kaoru. “Why don’t you want to eat with her?” he asked
curiously.
Kaoru sighed
dramatically. “Because I want to eat with you! Remember?”
He quirked an
eyebrow at her. “Is that so?”
“Yeah,” Kaoru
said, walking to the door, “That is so.”
“But isn’t that
girl your friend?” Kenshin asked, lengthening his strides.
“My friend?”
Kaoru regarded Kenshin incredulously from the corner of her eye as she skipped
to keep up with him, “You think that girl is my friend?”
“Then what is
she to you?”
“You’ll see.”
They sat in the
school courtyard, sitting on a park bench that was shadowed by a large tree. Kaoru
ate slowly, savoring each bite from her bento thoughtfully, her eyes upward. Kenshin
ate nothing. Instead, he sat beside her with his legs crossed and one arm
looped casually behind Kaoru’s shoulders. Occasionally, Kaoru’s eyes would
light up and she would look excitedly down at her lunch. Elbowing Kenshin, she
would point down at an item with her chopsticks. Kenshin would roll his eyes
skyward – only to be met with a morsel of food offered to him by Kaoru’s
chopsticks. Grudgingly, he would accept the bite, again rolling his eyes at her
jubilant reaction.
Anyone watching
would guess that they were a pair of high school sweethearts. They would never
even think that the man was nearly ten years her senior nor that he was a
trained assassin and she was his captive.
However, not
just anyone was watching.
“That’s her,”
The girl hissed.
“And the old guy
with her?”
“Old guy?”
the girl stared, “That’s not an old guy.”
The boy
slouching on the wall beside her rolled his eyes. “You must be blind.”
“No,” she looked
down at him angrily, “You’re blind. That hottie can’t be a day older than
eighteen.”
“Eighteen?” the
boy scoffed, “He’s at least twenty-five, twenty-eight tops.”
“You’re insane.”
“And you’re
stupid.” He studied the pair as they bickered amiably, “What’s the hag’s name?”
“What hag?”
“That one,
dumbass.” He pointed at Kaoru.
“Oh,
Kaoru-chan.” She smirked, “That’s Kaoru Kamiya.”
“And the guy’s
name?” He asked, running a hand through his spiked hair.
“No idea,” she
shrugged, “He just comes with her to school all the time.”
“Must be
Himura,” the boy thought aloud.
“Who?”
“Never mind,
Tomomi,” he dismissed her, “It’s none of you business.”
“Geez,” Tomomi
groaned, “I’m just curious.”
“Well, don’t
be,” he said dryly, “It’s not in your job description.”
“Look you little
spy,” she wagged her finger at him, “If the money wasn’t so good I wouldn’t be
doing this. And aren’t you a little young to be giving a highschooler, like me,
orders?”
The boy smiled
up at her, his teeth shining, “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Whatever,”
Tomomi shook her head, “I’ve done my part. The girl’s name is Kamiya and that’s
her so-called bodyguard.”
“Yeah, yeah. I
got it.”
“The time is
ripe.” Kogoro Katsura announced, addressing the two other men in his office.
One of the men,
Shinsaku Takasugi, listened with his lanky body stretched out on a plush
leather chair across from the wide oak desk at which Katsura sat. The other,
Seijuro Hiko, stood with his back to the room and his eyes studying the city of
Kyoto from the wall-to-wall windows. He sighed as he turned toward the other
two.
“Will this plan
work?”
“It must,”
Katsura answered, “We have sacrificed and suffered too much. We must succeed. Within
the next few days, we will have eliminated all of Tokugawa’s illegal
money-making machines.”
Shinsaku smirked
from his seat. “And we all know where that old fart gets most of his money
from.”
“Indeed,”
Katsura replied soberly, “With that taken care of, we must prepare for our own
ascent into power.”
“What needs be
done?” Hiko asked.
“You must leak
all the sordid details of Tokugawa’s seedier dealings to the press, Hiko,”
Katsura instructed.
Hiko nodded in
agreement. “The man and his political party will be humiliated and
discredited.”
“And,” Shinsaku
piped up, “None of his powerful supporters are still alive to defend him to the
public. Himura took out Takamatsu, Amemiya and Kiyosato.”
“The Bakufu
party will fall,” Katsura said, “And we, Choshu, will rise to power.”
“And then bang! Here
comes heaven in Kyoto!” Shinsaku shouted, clapping his hands together.
Katsura shook
his head at his flippancy. “Not heaven, but not the hell we have now.” He
paused. “But in order for us not to fall to a weakness like Bakufu’s, certain
steps must be taken.”
A pregnant
silence fell over the room until Katsura’s voiced what they all already knew.
“We must also
eliminate our own dark roots,” he said, his voice heavy, “Shinsaku, all of our
ties with the underworld must be cut within a month.”
“Yes sir.”
“You understand
my intentions?”
“Of course,”
Shinsaku said as he stood, “Cut all connections with outside criminals. Kill
our own criminals.”
Katsura nodded.
“Regrettably, that is our course of action.”
“And my
student?” Hiko interrupted suddenly.
Katsura turned
to him slowly. “Our agreement still stands. As well as our plan for atonement.”
“What do you
plan to do?” the bulky man demanded.
“Kamiya-san and
Himura-san will be given three more days together.”
“And then?”
“And then we
will take her away. She will be placed under your care once more.”
“It will drive
him mad.” Hiko huffed, turning to survey the city again, “Even if the stubborn
idiot doesn’t admit it.”
“But he will be
saved,” Katsura said quietly, “That was my promise to you.”
“Could’ve
avoided this whole mess if that idiot had kept his dumb ass where I told him to
put it.” Hiko grumbled, “But no, he had to chase a revolution.”
Katsura smiled
ruefully.
“So,” Shinsaku
said, “Here we go.”
“The time has
come,” Katsura commanded grimly, “The purge will start.”
Kenshin led
Kaoru through the school parking lot, heading for his car. Suddenly, a small
form came running at them from behind, barreling straight into Kenshin’s back.
“Hey!” Kenshin
barked angrily at the small body. He reached behind himself, dragging the boy
forward by the collar and swinging him out in front. “Who the hell are you?”
“What the hell
do you care?” The boy retorted. He hastily bowed, his voice dropping, “Just
leave me alone, okay? I’m in a rush.”
Kenshin glared
down at the kid, anger slowly building in his chest.
“And what have
you got there?” Kaoru asked with a smile as she bent forward at the waist and
peered at the boy’s hands, which were clasped behind his back.
“My wallet, is
what,” Kenshin snorted, his hand outstretched expectantly, “Now hand it over,
punk.”
The child smiled
wolfishly as he straightened. “Not so dull as I thought, are you?”
“Excuse me?”
Kenshin hissed, his hand automatically going for the hidden hilt of his short
sword hidden in his coat.
“Wait, Kenshin,”
Kaoru interceded, “He’s just a kid.”
“I don’t think
so,” Kenshin said suspiciously.
“I am not a
kid,” the boy grunted, tossing the wallet at Kenshin’s chest.
“Oh. Sorry,”
Kaoru said, lifting her palms as she turned back to the boy, “What is your name
then?”
“None of your
business, you ugly hag.” He spat at her, turning to run.
“An ugly hag, am
I?”
The quietness in
her voice surprised him, even as his feet carried him away.
Kaoru watched
the small boy run away, her eyes thoughtful. “Please, don’t,” she said softly,
without turning.
“Don’t what?”
Kenshin snarled, his hand pulling open the car door.
“Don’t run him
down in your car,” Kaoru replied, turning to look at him.
“Why the hell
not?”
“Because it’s
not important.” She said, the corners of her mouth turning up into a grin.
“If it’s not
important,” he said impatiently, “Then why do you care?”
“Because,” she
shrugged, “He’s just a kid.”
“Yeah. A kid
with an agenda.”
“Leave him
alone.” Her voice became commanding.
Kenshin slammed
the car door shut and stepped toward her, one hand snapping out to grab her
chin. “You don’t give me orders, understand?”
“Why are you so
angry anyway?” Kaoru demanded, her eyes sparking to life, “He gave you back
your wallet.”
Kenshin remained
stonily silent, his grip tightening almost imperceptibly.
“It’s because he
called me an ugly hag, isn’t it?” she pressed knowingly.
“Don’t flatter
yourself,” Kenshin snapped, stepping back.
Kaoru just
smiled and reached for his hand, entwining his calloused fingers between hers. His
amber eyes flicked to her mild expression.
“Can we take a
walk to the ice cream shop, Kenshin?” she asked.
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“I wouldn’t be
able to buy you ice cream if that brat had taken my wallet.” He said seriously,
winding his fingers into hers.
“Good thing he
gave it back, then,” Kaoru smiled as they began to walk leisurely toward the
shops a few blocks down.
The boy, who had
stopped running and was now peering at them from around the corner of a
building, frowned. It almost looked as if they wanted to be followed. And so,
as they began their stroll, he obliged.
Pink umbrella
with purple trim. Pastel green plastic table. Baby blue plastic chairs.
Kenshin, in his
black pants, black shirt and black overcoat, shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
It was as if this ice cream shop had been built to torture him. Kaoru on the
other hand, was leaning forward and licking happily at her ice cream cone.
“Mmm,” she sighed,
“There’s nothing like chocolate ice cream on a hot day.”
“I really think
we should have just taken the ice cream home.” Kenshin grumbled, his golden
eyes sweeping over the crowd in the outdoor patio, “It’s too crowded.”
“Home?” Kaoru
asked quizzically, “Oh, you mean that sterile cage you call an apartment. No
thanks. I’m going to enjoy the free air while I can.”
“Free? Who’s
free?” Kenshin smirked at her.
Kaoru stuck out
her tongue at the man. Somehow, her captivity had become a joke between them.
“Oh,” Kaoru
exclaimed suddenly, “You’re back.”
Kenshin swung
around and came eye-to-eye with the spiky-haired brat.
“You,” he
growled.
“What?”
“Why are you
here?”
“I bet he wants
ice cream. Kenshin, can you go get another chocolate cone?”
The assassin’s dangerous
eyes swung back to Kaoru. “I am not your waiter.”
She shrugged,
standing. “I could go get it.”
“Sit down.” He
commanded. “And stay there.” Once again, his eyes swept over the patio’s
occupants.
“Are you afraid
she’s going to run away?” the boy asked, his eyes shrewd.
“Shut up, brat,”
Kenshin spat. He threw Kaoru a withering glance before stalking toward the
vendor.
Kaoru smiled at
Kenshin’s back and then turned to the boy. He was studying her seriously.
“I don’t want
ice cream.” His voice was low, too low for a boy of his age.
“Yes, you do.” Kaoru
sized him up and then smiled obliviously at his somber expression.
“Listen, you old
hag-”
“My name,” she
said emphatically, “is Kaoru.”
“Okay, Kaoru,”
the boy started, “Don’t you-”
“It’s usually
considered polite to give your own name when someone else gives you theirs,”
Kaoru interrupted.
“So I’m not
polite-”
“You should be.”
“Well-”
“Listen, unless
you want me to call you ‘kid’,” Kaoru said with a slight smirk, “You should
tell me your name. Kid.” She added after a pause.
“Fine,” the boy
grumbled, “My name is Yahiko. Got that, ugly?”
“Kaoru,” she
corrected.
“Whatever.”
“So, Yahiko,”
Kaoru began quietly, her eye on Kenshin’s back, “Why are you here?”
“For free ice
cream.” He grunted, looking away.
“As I recall,
you don’t want ice cream.” Her voice suddenly dropped in volume.
“Whatever.”
Kaoru set her
cone down the table and leaned forward after casting Kenshin another careful
glance. “Listen, Yahiko,” she said, her voice low, “I know you’re like Tomomi.”
“Who?” Yahiko
turned his chocolate eyes on her smooth face.
“The other
little spy.”
Stupefied,
Yahiko stared at the girl. She had not been his primary subject and had only
been mentioned as Himura’s escort from Tokugawa’s party at the country estate. What
secret did she hide that made her so suspicious?
“I don’t-”
“Yahiko,” she
interrupted him again, “Kenshin will be back in a few seconds.” For emphasis,
Kaoru jerked her head in the assassin’s direction. Yahiko’s eyes followed her
gesture to see Kenshin finish paying the vendor and turn toward them. “Now, I
don’t know who sent you or why you’re here-”
“And I won’t
tell you.”
“But just leave
before he figures it out.” She ended hastily, turning her face upward to smile
widely at the rapidly approaching redhead.
“You seem
intimate.” Kenshin accused, looming over Kaoru.
“So?”
Kenshin’s lips
turned down, his gleaming eyes boring into hers. She smiled up at him silently.
Snorting, he glared at Yahiko, setting the cone down in front of him none too
gently.
“Wow,” Yahiko
drawled sarcastically, “What service.”
All warmth
drained from the man’s face like water, his golden pupils shrinking. “Listen,
boy.” Kenshin’s voice was a liquid threat, “If you’re a spy or even if you have
bad intentions, I’ll rip your throat out without hesitation.”
Yahiko stifled
the urge to swallow nervously. Instead, he forced himself to stare into the icy
depths of the man’s eyes. He knew then that why the woman had been so kind, so
eager to accept him. She had tricked him into admitting his true purposes and
now he would pay with his life. His chocolate eyes moved to the woman, fully
expecting to see the smug gaze of his betrayer. He blinked in surprise as he
was, instead, met with a conspiratorial wink and grin. His confused eyes moved
back to her companion’s angry face.
Breathing in
deeply, Yahiko mustered all the bravado he could and blurted out, “What the
hell? Are you her private bodyguard? Is she your hostage or something?”
Kenshin’s
fingers snaked out with lightning speed, catching Yahiko by the collar and
lifting him from his seat.
“Kenshin!”
Kaoru’s exclamation went unheeded.
Now fully
incensed, the manslayer drew the boy forward slowly, his scrutinizing eyes keen
with irate concentration. Yahiko could not tear his eyes away from the golden
orbs. His breathing hitched in his throat as he was brought level with the
terrifying visage. In that instant, Yahiko understood why the Bakufu
organization had reason to fear this man. He had no doubt that this Kenshin
Himura would rip his throat out for the slightest insult. He shivered,
suddenly feeling as if the weather had suddenly turned cold, his eyes trapped
in Battousai’s hardened gaze. There was no doubt: this man was a killer.
“What do you
know?” Battousai hissed, his words passing through his teeth as the barest of
whispers.
“Nothing,” the
words tumbled from the boy’s lips almost involuntarily, “I don’t know
anything.”
“You lie.”
All of a sudden,
Yahiko felt himself being ripped away from the man’s grasp. In a heartbeat, he
found himself encased within a warm embrace. Even though his chocolate eyes
still riveted to Kenshin’s livid features, he was aware that someone was crouched
behind him, holding his body tightly to theirs.
“He’s just a
child!”
Battousai’s
fuming eyes slid from Yahiko to the woman that held him away. Released from the
death stare, Yahiko also twisted to eye Kaoru’s delicate profile. Her chin was
jutted out and her blue eyes defiant.
“He’s just a
child,” she shouted at the man, “Leave him alone.”
A memory
registered dimly in Yahiko’s mind. A distant scene surfaced, unfolding in the
present as it had in the past. Someone else had said those words. Someone else
had shielded him in this way. That person, that precious person had not been
spared. He pulled away from her arms violently, turning to glare at the woman.
“I am not a
child,” he hollered, “You don’t have to protect me from him.” Tears were
forming in the corners of his eyes.
Kaoru stared at
him, her expression compassionate. She extended a milky hand toward him. “But I
want to,” she whispered quietly. Yahiko blinked back the tears that threatened
to overcome him. Though he knew it could not be real, he saw the sweet eyes and
heard the quiet voice of his deceased sister.
Yahiko slapped
her hand away and whirled to face the man. “I won’t let you hurt her!” He
shrieked, his voice trembling, “Just leave us alone!”
Kenshin’s eyes
narrowed dangerously. “Remember to whom you are speaking, boy,” he threatened,
stepping forward.
“Yahiko,” Kaoru
called quietly, placing a hand on his shaking shoulder.
The boy shook
her hand off, spinning around to face her. “No! I won’t let him touch you
again. Never again!” He was nearly hysterical, the memories of the last living
moments of his elder sibling returning to him in waves.
Without warning,
Kaoru pulled the child into herself, wrapping him in her arms. “He will not
hurt me,” she assured him, crooning as she stroked his back. Yahiko fought the
tears but they spilled over his cheeks anyway as he threw his arms around
Kaoru’s neck, tightening them as if he would never let go. He knew that she was
not the sister who had given her life for him. But, for some reason, he also
knew that this woman was just like his sister and just as willing to protect
him.
Battousai’s
tense muscles relaxed as the boy collapsed into sobs in Kaoru’s arms. Stepping
back, he eyed the gawking crowd around them.
“Kaoru,” he
quietly commanded, “We must go.”
Yahiko pulled
his cheek from Kaoru’s neck, struggling to turn and confront the man again. But
Kaoru caught his face between her cupped fingers. She smiled at his reddened
expression.
“I must go.”
The boy shook
his head vehemently. “That man,” he protested, “He is strong. I can feel it.”
“He is.” Kaoru
acknowledged seriously.
“He will hurt
you. I know it.”
To this, Kaoru
shook her head. “He won’t hurt me.” She pressed her cool forehead to his,
smiling. “But you will.”
“What?” Yahiko
demanded, baffled.
“You will,” she
continued, “If you let yourself get in trouble. Okay?”
“Feh,” the boy
snorted, “That’s dumb.” He looked away, disgruntled.
“Good.” Kaoru
pressed his lips to his forehead and stood, looking down at him fondly. “This
ugly old hag will be going now.” She began to walk toward Kenshin, whose hand
was expectantly outstretched. He took her by the upper arm and began to lead
her away.
“You’re not
ugly.”
She barely heard
the whisper but she smiled.
“Or a hag.”
Kaoru cast a
look back at the boy, who had not turned to watch her leave. His shoulders were
shaking and she knew he was crying and did not want to show it.
“See you later,
Yahiko-chan!” she called as she was pulled away.
“Don’t call me
that!” he shouted, though no anger was in it. He turned for just a moment and
she caught a glance of his tear-streaked profile, his lips upturned in a wicked
grin. She smiled widely and waved before she and Kenshin disappeared behind a
corner.
“Here again.”
Kaoru sighed, twirling her straw around the ice in her drink.
“How’s that
soda, chickie-poo?”
“Don’t call me
that,” Kaoru said, frowning at the older man.
“What?” Takasugi
leered, “Chicki-poo?”
“Oh shut up.” Kaoru
leaned back in the booth, crossing her arms over her chest. “Why can’t you
people ever have your top-secret meetings in restaurants or parks or somewhere
anywhere other than this place?”
“Because,”
Takasugi explained pointedly, “They’re top-secret meetings. And restaurants and
parks aren’t really suited for privacy.”
“And this place
is?” Kaoru swept out her arm, indicating the mass of drinking, laughing and
dancing people packed into the infamous Sakura tea house.
Takasugi
shrugged. “I thought you’d be used to it here by now. You blend in now.”
Kaoru wrinkled
her nose. “My ass.”
“Is very fine,
indeed.”
Kaoru heaved an
exaggerated sigh. “You are so predictable.” She took a sip of her ginger ale. “Why
am I here anyway?”
“Because,”
Takasugi said, his eyes on the crowd, “For some reason, Himura doesn’t want to
let you out of his sight.”
“Well, I’m out
of his sight now, aren’t I?” Kaoru’s voice became caustic.
“And that, my
dear,” Takasugi turned to wink at her, “is why I am babysitting you.”
“Babysitting!”
Kaoru huffed.
“You should be
glad, Kaoru-baby,” he said, leaning back and jerking a thumb in the direction
of the bar. “I’m the only thing standing between you and that Neanderthal whose
been eyeing you for a quarter of a hour.”
Kaoru shuddered
before resuming her argumentative demeanour. “Fine, I’ll try to remember to
thank you when I get cancer from all this second hand smoke.”
“You have been
assembled to complete the following missions.”
Three pairs of
eyes were trained upon their leader, Katsura.
“First of all,”
he said, affording each of his shadow assassins a long gaze, “You should know
that Choshu is near its goal. Soon, Bakufu will fall. But,” he paused for
emphasis, “A few more details need to be taken care of.” He slid three black
envelopes across the table. “Each of these contains a list of names. You all
know what to do.”
“Eliminate
them.” Genji smiled, his blue eyes lighting up gleefully.
“Yes,” Katsura
affirmed, “But unlike the previous times, you may complete the assassinations
at your leisure. Only make sure that they are completed within two weeks. Do
you understand?”
Kenshin, along
with the other two assassins, nodded.
“And another
thing,” Katsura noted, “You may recognize some of these people.”
“Has that ever
mattered?” the third assassin smirked.
“Then that is
all gentlemen,” Katsura dismissed them, “I expect a report in two week’s time. Himura-san,”
he raised a hand, “Please stay for a moment.”
The other two
assassins slunk out of the room as Kenshin resettled himself.
“How is
Kamiya-san?” Katsura enquired, almost conversationally.
“She is fine,”
Battousai responded stiffly.
“Did she enjoy
school?”
“In some ways.”
“Is she eating
properly?”
“Yes.”
“Does she have
enough clothes?”
“Yes.”
“Have you had
sex with her yet?”
“No, sir.”
Kenshin grit his teeth, punctuating his words poignantly.
“Why not?”
“Are you
ordering me to?” Kenshin leveled a furious gaze with his employer’s.
“By no means,”
Katsura smiled mildly, “I just wanted to know why you haven’t taken advantage
of the situation.”
“It is
irrelevant.” Kenshin turned his face away. “I carry out my job well enough.”
“Well, then,”
Katsura said, “You may go and claim her from Takasugi.”
Kenshin stood
and bowed stiffly, swiftly exiting the room. He moved through the pulsating
crowd silently, easily spotting Kaoru seated in the booth where he had left
her.
“I have finished
the meeting,” he announced quietly.
Kaoru looked up
at him almost gratefully. “Can we go now, then?” she asked pleadingly, “This place
makes me sick.”
In his mind, he
agreed with her. Even so, he only nodded slightly.
“Good!” the girl
exclaimed, standing to stretch. “Can I just go to the little girl’s room before
we go?”
Again, Kenshin’s
only acknowledgement was a discrete nod. As Kaoru wove through the crowd toward
the washroom, he tracked her with hawk’s eyes until she disappeared behind the
swinging door of the lady’s washroom.
“I would have
thought you would demand to go with her,” Takasugi chuckled.
“She won’t run
away now.” Kenshin still watched the door expectantly.
“And how would
you know?”
“I know,”
Kenshin turned to glare at Takasugi for a moment.
“Fine,
whatever,” Takasugi exclaimed, as he headed toward the bar, “I’m going to go
get drunk.”
Kenshin sighed
inaudibly and turned back to watch for Kaoru. He watched as, one by one, three
other women entered the washroom. And as the minutes passed, he watched the
same three women leave the washroom. He growled low in his throat as he saw a
fourth woman enter and exit the washroom with still no sign of Kaoru. Silently,
he began to push through the crowd.
Kaoru rolled her
shoulders as she stood in from the washroom mirrors. Leaning forward, she
studied her face.
“Wow!” A sudden
exclamation from beside interrupted her thoughts.
Kaoru turned to
observe the tall woman beside her. She was standing with one hand on her
hip, staring unabashedly.
“You don’t look
a day over seventeen! Just a teenager.”
“Actually, I-”
Kaoru began.
“I didn’t know
Battousai appreciated that kind of thing.”
“Excuse me?”
Kaoru demanded, irritation creeping into her tone.
“If I had only
known!” the woman lamented, “I would have tried for that type of image.”
“What?” Kaoru
was clearly confused but the older woman took no notice.
“It must be
great to be Battousai’s whore!” the woman sighed loudly as she turned and left
the washroom.
Kaoru’s eyes
widened and she turned to stare at her reflection. Her breathing became
difficult.
“Battousai’s
whore?” she asked her image.
Kenshin, pushing
through the doors into the women’s washroom, found her staring into space, or
rather, staring absentmindedly into a mirror.
Coming up behind
her, he snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her into him.
“What is it?” he
breathed into her ear.
Uncharacteristically
startled, Kaoru jumped a bit and remained quiet. Kenshin’s brow furrowed as he
also turned to stare at her reflection. Her arms hung listlessly at her sides
and her eyes were dull.
“Did someone
touch you?” Battousai demanded, his voice edged with anger.
Kaoru shook her
head sullenly and looked to the side. “You’re in the ladies’ washroom, you
know?” Her voice was small.
“I do what I
please here,” he growled, “What happened?”
“Nothing,” Kaoru
protested softly, looking down.
Kenshin
tightened his hold around her waist, pressing her closer. He dropped his lips
to her shoulder, inhaling. Her quiet question startled him.
“Am I your
whore?”
His head snapped
up and he stared at her image in the mirror. She was still looking down, her
cheeks reddening.
“Why do you
ask?” He enquired, his amber eyes searching her expression.
“A woman said-”
“A woman? Who?”
“It doesn’t
matter. She just…” Kaoru’s voice trailed off. “Am I your whore?” She
repeated.
Kenshin raised
his eyebrow at her, amusedly.
“What?” Kaoru
demanded, suddenly angry and accusing, “You don’t know what people are saying?”
“I don’t care
what people say.”
“But they might
be saying I am a whore. A whore!” She was furiously staring him down
through the reflection.
He shook his head,
clearly amused. “No just any whore. My whore,” he corrected.
“Why you-” Kaoru
spun out of his grip and faced him. “I am not a whore. Don’t you dare-”
“Come,”
Battousai commanded, putting up a hand to stop her rant.
“You think I’ll
just-”
“Come,” he repeated,
wrapping a strong arm around her waist. He pulled her out of the washroom,
ignoring the curious stares. His fingers found hers and he pulled her by the
hand up a flight of stairs. She stumbled onto the landing, and looked around
with a frown.
“This place is
full of surprises,” she commented dryly, taking in the long hallway of closed
doors.
Battousai
flipped a wad of bills to the lady behind the front desk and pulled Kaoru along
the hallway. He stopped in front of a shut door.
“Listen,”he
said.
A furious blush
crept up to Kaoru’s cheeks as she began to make out the sounds of pleasure
coming from within. She began to pull away, embarrassed.
“Wait,” Kenshin
commanded, pushing her closer to the door.
Kaoru turned a
bright shade of red as she heard a woman and a man cry out in passion. Suddenly,
another distinctly male voice cried out. As the woman screeched, two men panted
and shouted their pleasure.
“Now that,”
Kenshin whispered, “Is a whore - screwing men indiscriminately.”
Kaoru blushed
profusely and tore herself away from the door, backing up into Kenshin’s chest.
Kenshin circled her waist with an arm and led her down the hall and into an
empty room, sliding the door shut and locking it behind him.
“Why are we here?”
Kaoru turned to face him, her arms crossed, “I thought we were going home.”
Kenshin did not
answer her. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her body, pinning her arms to
her sides.
“Now, why do you
ask if you are my whore?”He asked, brushing the tip of her nose with his.
Kaoru shrugged,
embarrassed.
“Is it because I
am a criminal and I make love to you whenever I please?”
Kaoru sputtered
and twisted in his arms. “You haven’t made love to me!”
“Not yet,” he
replied, his voice grave, “But I will.”
Kaoru’s body went
still and she tried desperately to break eye contact, a shiver running up her
body. Kenshin spun her around and wrapped his arms around her body, drawing her
into him. He cupped her chin in his one hand and pulled her head back,
bringing his head down to her neck.
“Would you let
another man touch you?”
Kaoru shook her
head.
“Neither would I
allow any man other than myself touch you.”
The hand that
was cupping her chin slid down her neck and then over one breast, his fingers
moulding over the pert shape. Kaoru sucked in her breath. His hand glided down
her form, until both palms rested on her hips.
“But that does
not make you a whore,” he whispered huskily, “It makes you my woman.”
Kenshin’s hands
slipped under the hem of Kaoru’s shirt, his calloused fingers tracing over the
raised skin of the scars on her stomach. Then, swiftly, he lifted the material
above her chest, both his hands cupping her breasts.
“Kenshin, I’m
just a teenager.”
“Kaoru,” he
growled, “You are my woman.” He slid his hand down to the base of her stomach
and pushed her against himself, letting her feel his arousal. “Only my woman
can do this to me.”
Kaoru bit the
inside of her cheek, the blush spreading.
“Don’t be
embarrassed.”
Kenshin lifted
her shirt over her head and pulled it from her arms, tossing it aside. With
deft fingers, he pushed her skirt and underwear over her hips and down her
thighs until they pooled at her feet. He stepped back, turning her around by
the shoulders. Slowly, he reached behind her and unclasped her bra, pulling it
out from under her arms and flinging it away. He moved backwards and sat on the
edge of the bed. With a sly smile, he leaned back.
“Come now,” he
ordered, “Show me.”
Kaoru let her
bangs fall over her eyes and shook her head. “No, I’m-”
“No, you’re
not.” His voice was sharp.
“But I was-”
“It doesn’t
matter to me.”
“But it makes
me-”
“Dirty?” He
leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, his intense eyes studying her
lithe form. “Is that what you think you are?”
Tears lined her
lashes as she nodded slowly.
“You are wrong,”
Kenshin admonished seriously, “You are the purest woman I have ever met. Now,
show me.”
Her arms
dropped to her sides as Kaoru lifted her chin boldly to meet his eyes. And his
eyes were on hers and nowhere else, his scrutinizing gaze examining her facial
features. He grinned. Then he began to trace her body with his stare, his eyes
roving over every curve, every scar. He glanced up to meet her questioning blue
eyes for a moment.
“You are beautiful.”
She blushed,
instinctively lifting her arms to cover herself again.
“Don’t!” he
barked.
She froze, and
then dropped her arms once more.
“Come,” he
beckoned as he lifted an open hand in her direction.
Kaoru walked
steadily toward him until she was standing between his knees. Battousai pressed
his lips to the scars on her midriff while his hands drifted up the back of her
thighs. Kaoru stared down at him, her breathing growing slow and langourous. Moving
gently and slowly, Kenshin lifted his head to catch her eye. Then, he began to
worship her body: his tongue moving over the nub of her breast and his fingers
pushing slowly into her. She gasped for breath, fighting the moans as he
continued. But Kaoru could not fight the trembling as she climaxed, her body
overcome by his delicate ministrations.
She collapsed
onto his lap and he wrapped his arms around her sensitive flesh, pressing
tender kisses to her jaw line. He followed her gaze as it dropped to the fly of
his pants.
Shaking his
head, he tilted her chin up so that her shy eyes met his. A slight smile spread
warmth over his usually deadpan features. “Not today, my beauty.”
“But-” she
objected.
“It is about you
today,” he interrupted quietly, “Your body. Your pleasure.”
Unbidden, tears
sprung to her eyes. She buried her face in the crook of his neck.
“It’s never been
about me before,” she whispered into his skin.
“I know,” he
crooned into her ear, “But it will always be about you from now on. Even when
the day comes that I satisfy my own desires within you, it will be for your
pleasure also.”
Kaoru lifted
moist eyes to his and planted a kiss to his cheek.
“But don’t be
mistaken,” he added with mock sternness, “When that day comes I won’t stop
making love to you until I am completely exhausted.”
Kaoru threw back
her head and laughed, the melodious tones etching themselves into Kenshin’s
memory.
Ieyasu Tokugawa
and his right hand man, Kazuma Ishigawa, stood waiting in the alley behind a
looming building.
“Here he is,
sir!” A burly voice called from the darkness as three figures appeared in the
gloom.
A small, bruised
form stumbled from the man’s grasp onto the concrete.
“You were
supposed to meet us an hour ago, you shrimp!” Ishigawa shouted down angrily. When
the little body made no obeisance, Ishigawa kicked at him spitefully. “Where
was the little brat?” demanded of the men who had brought him.
“We found him by
the river,” the man shrugged, “Looks like he had no intention of coming to us
at all.”
“Why you
little…” Ishigawa made as if to kick the boy again.
“Leave the
child,” Tokugawa commanded. He stooped to inspect the child. “Why did you run
away?” He asked quietly.
“I don’t have
anything for you,” Yahiko spat, still hunched over after his beating.
Tokugawa stood
and turned away, closing his eyes. Ishigawa, enraged, grabbed the child by the
hair.
“You will tell
us what you saw,” he shouted, “Now!”
Yahiko twisted,
kicking violently at the man’s shins.
“Damn you!” he
shouted, dropping the boy onto the cold ground and delivering a brutal kick to
his side.
“The man,”
Tokugawa continued, refusing to watch the interrogation, “Himura – who is he?”
“I don’t know.” Yahiko
was clutching at side, coughing.
“Who was his
escort?”
“Just a girl.”
“That’s not good
enough.”
A flurry of
kicks from the other men sent Yahiko rolling in pain.
“What was her
name?”
“Kaoru,” he
sputtered between coughs.
“Her last name.”
“Kamiya,” Yahiko
groaned.
“Kamiya?”
Tokugawa turned and stared at the boy, “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” Yahiko
coughed, his mind frantically searching for a way to make them forget her,
“That’s what you pay me for, right? Anyway, she’s just a high schooler. Not
important.”
“What is so
important about that name?” Ishigawa asked, turning to his master.
“Don’t you
remember?” Tokugawa said, excitement creeping into his voice, “It’s the
experiment’s name – Kaoru Kamiya. The girl we gave to Kanryu to conduct tests
on.”
“I meant Kirima,
not Kamiya,” Yahiko said, struggling to his feet, “Kaoru Kirima!”
“I don’t think
you made a mistake, young man,” Tokugawa turned serious eyes to the boy, “Now,
where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
Yahiko was sent
sprawling again.
“I said I don’t
know!”
“I will free you
of your debt to us,” Tokugawa announced softly, “If you would tell us where to
find this girl.”
“Feh,” Yahiko
spat, standing up, “I don’t think so. I’m done with you guys.”
“You brat!”
Ishigawa grabbed Yahiko by the shoulders and shook him wildly. “You will tell
us!”
Yahiko tore
himself from the man’s grasp and pointed an accusing at him. “You bastard,” he
shouted, “I won’t let you hurt her like you hurt my sister. This time, I’ll
protect her.”
“Sorry boy,”
Tokugawa said, “We don’t need you to help us willingly. It’s obvious to me how
we can get her. Himura is Katsura’s man after all – he should be at the Sakura
Tea House eventually.” He nodded to the men, “Bring him.”
Kaoru stepped
out of the Sakura Tea house and whirled onto the sidewalk, her arms
outstretched to the bright moon above. Kenshin walked out of the building a
moment later, his eyes smiling at the young woman before him. He caught one of
her hands and pulled her into his chest, pressing his lips to her forehead.
“Are you smiling
at me?” Kaoru asked, bewildered blue eyes on his face.
“What?”
“That expression,”
Kaoru said, stunned, “It’s a smile!”
Indeed, the
usually hard, severe lines of Kenshin’s mouth were, instead, turned up into a
genuine smile. He chuckled, his lips parting to show his teeth and the corners
of his eyes lifting in a laugh. Kaoru began to chuckle with him, amazed and
amused at this unfamiliar sight of him.
“You are
precious, my beauty,” he whispered, his breath warming her face in the cool
night air.
“Ah, how
quaint.” A frosty voice cut through the night.
Kaoru and
Kenshin turned to face a group of three men standing in the street.
“What do you
want?” Kenshin’s tone dropped an octave.
“To see if you
know who this is.” The man pushed a small body into the ground at his feet,
delivering a rough kick to his stomach.
Kaoru’s hands flew
to her mouth. “Yahiko,” she breathed.
No sooner had
the words left her lips than the three men began to beat the living daylights
out of the boy: kicking, punching and pulling.
“No,” she cried.
“Kaoru,” Yahiko
tried to scream but it only came out as a groan, “Stay away, Kaoru.”
But Kaoru had
already launched herself toward them, her anger flaring. She delivered a quick
roundhouse kick to one man and spun to punch at another. Kenshin started after
her but the men suddenly threw themselves wildly at him. He swept them away
easily but then froze in his tracks.
A fourth and
previously unseen man held Kaoru by the neck, a gun to her head.
“Move, and I’ll
kill her.”
“Yahiko?” Kaoru
tried to peer at the boy, who lay on the ground, struggling to rise.
“You bastards,”
he muttered amid coughs.
“Well, thank you
Yahiko,” Ishigawa said congenially, “We’ve no need of your services anymore. You’re
released from your duty.”
“Dammit,” Yahiko
swore bitterly, rising to his knees.
“Isn’t this just
like it was with Mayumi-”
“Don’t say my
sister’s name,” Yahiko roared, “You damn bastard!”
“Except I
actually killed that bitch,” Ishigawa continued gleefully.
“Give Kaoru
back!” Yahiko yelled, clutching at his side in pain.
“Sorry kid,” the
man replied, “But thanks for your help in getting her.”
As the child
swore again, Kenshin’s fists tensed and untensed as he glared. “What do you
want?” he demanded.
“Nothing from
you,” Ishigawa answered, pressing the muzzle of the gun to Kaoru’s temple, “But
we’ll take Kaoru Kamiya.”
“I know you,”
Kaoru’s face suddenly clouded, “You were there when…” Her voice trailed off as
her eyes filled with fear. “Ishigawa.” The name was a whisper. “You were with Kanryu.”
Suddenly she began to flail wildly in his arms. Kenshin stepped forward but
Ishigawa waved the gun at Kaoru meaningfully.
“I will hunt you,” Battousai threatened, his
pupils shrinking in anger, “And I will kill you slowly.”
“Have fun trying.” Ishigawa stepped backward
as a black car screeched to a stop behind him. The doors were flung open from
the inside and he began to pull Kaoru into the back seat.
“No,” Kaoru cried desperately, one open palm
outstretched, “Kenshin!”
“No sudden moves, now,” Ishigawa warned as he
tried to pull Kaoru’s struggling limbs into the car.
“Kenshin!” Tears were coursing freely down her
cheeks now. “Please don’t let them-” Her cry was cut short as the door slammed
shut and the car roared away.
Battousai closed his eyes, fighting to control
his breathing and the burning behind his eyes. He ground his teeth together,
his fingernails digging into his palms. Hearing a rustling before him, his
red-rimmed eyes snapped open. The boy, Yahiko, stood in front of him, tears
trekking down his childish features. Unceremoniously, the boy dropped to his
knees before Kenshin, bowing and pressing his forehead to the ground.
“Please make it quick,” Yahiko said into the
asphalt.
“What?” Kenshin snarled down at the prostrate
figure.
“Please make my death quick!” Yahiko’s voice
grew in volume and desperation.
The boy lifted his head and stared at Kenshin
through his tears. “I know you’re angry. And it’s my fault she was taken. So,
please…”
Kenshin raised an eyebrow. “Kill you?” He spun
away on his heel. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
“But before, you said you would-”
“Besides,” the legendary manslayer
interrupted, casting a glance at the boy, “I don’t think your death would make
her happy. Do you understand?”
Yahiko stared at the ground for a moment.
Then, quickly, he got to his feet. “I can help you find her, then.”
Kenshin paused and, turning slightly, nodded.
“Come then.”
Without another word, Yahiko bounded after
Kenshin into the Sakura Tea House to find Katsura.
End of chapter
21, to be continued!
Next chapter: separation
TO
THE REVIEWERS:
- Thanks for
reading!
Soundtrack:
forty foot echo: brand new day; enigma: return to innocence; audioslave: I am
the highway; fuel: falls on me
(just thought
someone might want to know)