Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Bloodline ❯ For What Is Mine ( Chapter 10 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Angie-san 
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.09.2005 | Updated On: 06.05.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 788 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 09.09.2005 | Updated On: 06.05.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 788 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer - Sadly, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. It is the sole property of Nobuhiro Watsuki and the many companies who have purchased the rights.
Chapter 10 - For What Is Mine
Kenshin strode through the busy streets, ignoring the fearful glances and wide berths the other travelers were giving him as he made his way back to the dojo. He knew he must look like a demon intent on killing any who crossed his path but he didn't care, not anymore. Makoto had done something he should never had done, he'd awoken the killer. Trying to push down the bloody thoughts continuing to whirl in his mind he focused his attention on the path and tried to settle the anger that seemed to be an entity all its own. It would serve no purpose to let it push him into doing something rash.
His fist tightened as he went over the information Saitou had just given him. He'd been right all along, Kaoru was special and now she was in the hands of a ruthless killer who would use her and may even kill her to extract his revenge on the government that had tried to kill him. The very thought churned his stomach and his anger spiked all over again. A few moments later he finally reached the dojo and pushed open the gate to reveal Yahiko sitting on the front steps waiting for him. Without a word to the worried looking boy Kenshin strode past him and went directly to his room to retrieve the money he'd saved over the past months. Collecting the small bag he went back out and dropped it in Yahiko's lap. "Go purchase a train ticket to Kyoto for me."
"Where is she?" Yahiko asked as he glanced up. "Is she in Kyoto?"
Kenshin shook his head, he knew exactly where Kaoru was. That scream would reverberate through his soul for the rest of his life. "No, she's not in Kyoto, but it's the fastest way to reach where she is."
"Oh...ok, I'll be right back." Yahiko sprang to his feet and immediately headed off to do his bidding.
Kenshin stared after his retreating form as the boy ran out the gate, planning out what was next. What else did he need to do before he left to retrieve what was his? With a twinge of regret he realized there was one more thing he definitely needed. Stepping from the porch he made his way to the training hall to look for the item. As he glanced around the shadowed interior memories of Kaoru training Yahiko filtered into his mind, pulling at his heart. She didn't deserve what Makoto was going to do to her.
Not seeing what he was looking for within he shook his head to clear the images and made his way over to the storehouse. If there was one here it would most likely be in there. A simple tug had the doors swinging wide and he scanned the loaded shelves hoping to see something that would resemble what he was looking for. It didn't take him long to find the wrapped bundle sitting innocently on the shelf behind a crate full of what must have been some of Kaoru's father's clothes. Shifting the crate to the side he slowly lifted the bundle and set it down on the floor, peeling away the wrappings to reveal what he'd been looking for. A sheathed katana.
With shaking hands Kenshin picked it up and drew the blade, eying the shining surface twinkling in the afternoon sun. Another wave of regret flowed through his veins as he stared at his reflection in the gleaming metal. He'd never wanted to pick up another katana but now Shishio had driven him to the point where he was ready to break his vow never to kill. Closing his eyes, his fist tightened around the hilt. For Kaoru he would kill. For her he would rid the world of the two men who thought they could get away with trying to destroy her innocence, they didn't deserve to live.
A sigh escaped his lips as he sheathed the blade and stood to search for a whetstone among the other items and crates on the shelves. Finally finding it tucked in the corner towards the back he grabbed it and made his way out to the front porch, making a quick side trip to fill a bowl of water on his way. Settling down on the first step he arrayed the items the way he needed then dipped his hand into the water and trickled a thin stream over the whetstone. Withdrawing the blade again he slowly drew it across the smooth surface, honing the edge to a lethal sharpness in preparation to pierce the flesh of the men who thought they could touch what was his.
oooooooooooooooooo
Sano shifted slightly, grimacing as the stitches in his chest pulled taut, bringing him more into wakefulness. His mind still fogged from the short nap he'd fallen into when Megumi had left, he laid quietly and tried to figure out what it was that had awoken him. Tilting his head to the side a soft grating sound drifted to him from the other side of the closed door. What the hell is that?
Levering himself up into a sitting position he winced again as the wound in his shoulder started to throb, sending shooting pains down his arm. He shouldn't be doing this, If the fox saw him she would skin him alive. He grinned, what the fox didn't know wouldn't kill him, or in this case she wouldn’t. Besides he was just about sick of lying in bed all day. It wouldn't be so boring if the fox would at least join him but when he'd mentioned to her that he would love some company under the blankets her face had turned beet red and she'd clenched her fist tightly. Obviously fighting the urge to slap him, she'd given him a look that said as soon as he was better he was going to get a sound beating.
He chuckled softly at the memory of her 'you're dead' look and pushed his way to his feet with his good arm. Slowly padding out into the hallway he made his way towards the sound that seemed to be coming from the front porch. As he neared the door he finally understood what he was hearing, steel against stone. Shuffling out onto the porch he stopped, surprised by the sight before him. Kenshin sat crouched over a whetstone, methodically dragging a katana across its surface. Attention solely fixed on the task he was performing. The oblivious man hadn't even noticed when he'd come out on the porch.
"Sano, what are you doing?"
Startled Sano stared at his friend's bowed head. A light chuckle escaped his lips, he should've known, Kenshin would never be completely ignorant of his surroundings. "I was going to ask you the same thing," he said as he gingerly sat down in front of the redhead, worried by the presence of the katana.
After a moment Kenshin looked up, a ghost of a smile playing across his lips. "I'm getting ready to retrieve what is mine."
Unnerved by the smoldering golden gaze fixed on him, Sano replied, "So you know who has her."
Kenshin nodded as anger ignited in his chest again. He was having a hard time keeping it locked down, it seemed to have a life all its own. He'd never felt like this before, it was as if the protective side of him had grown fangs ready to rip apart anyone who so much as thought of hurting one hair on Kaoru's head and Makoto would do worse. He knew this already and that made it even harder for him to keep it caged. Struggling for control he went back to sharpening the blade, the only thing that seemed to soothe the beast. "Yes...I know who has her."
"And you think you need a katana to get her back? What about your vow?" Sano asked. He knew he sounded more like a father than a friend right now, but Kenshin had always kept to his vow no matter what. And if truth be told he didn't want to see the ex-hitokiri break it, even to get Kaoru back.
Kenshin glanced back up again surprised by Sano's tone, his heart warmed at seeing the concern on the ex-fighter's face. Setting aside the katana he gave Sano a reassuring smile. "I'm only going to use it if there's no other way to get her back."
Sano eyed him in disbelief, he wasn't sure he believed that. Kenshin's eyes were still a bright gold, they hadn't reverted back to their violet color yet and that meant something. "So you gonna tell me who has her?"
A pregnant paused filled the space between them before Kenshin murmured, "Shishio Makoto."
Sano started at the name, his sudden movement pulling at his stitches again. "What? Why would he want her? Is he after you?"
Shifting his eyes to the bright blue sky Kenshin shook his head, "No, the one he wanted all along was Kaoru and I failed to protect her."
"But why would he want her?" Sano asked confused. There was no other reason for him to want her except to get back at his predecessor.
Kenshin was just about to answer when the gate slammed and an angry voice suddenly ripped through the quiet of the yard.
"SANOSUKE!"
Sano's head snapped around at the sound of Megumi's voice echoing around the yard. He swore and cringed when his eyes came to rest on her furious face, her arms loaded with clean bandages. Damn, he was in trouble now.
"What are you trying to do, baka? Kill yourself?" Megumi growled as she stalked over to where he sat innocently on the porch.
He shrugged and gave her the sweetest grin he could dig up. "Needed to get out of that damn bed."
Megumi's eyebrow started to twitch. It would be a miracle if she managed to keep herself from beating him silly. He was definitely in for it when he was healed, nothing would stop her then. "Get back into that bed NOW!" she grated through clenched teeth, pointing at the door the best she could with her burden.
Figuring he was already dead Sano gave her a sultry look as a teasing grin played across his lips. “If you join me, sure."
Megumi's scowl deepened, her hands fisting around the bandages, "Not on your life, roosterhead. Now move it!"
Before Sano could come up with a retort a light chuckle broke through their battle of wills.
"Sano, you might as well go back to bed, you're not going to win."
Sano swung his head around at the undisguised humor in Kenshin's voice. His eyes widened when he noticed his friends eyes had finally changed back to violet with just a hint of gold around the edges. A huge grin surfaced on his face, "You're probably right, she can be vicious when she wants to be."
"Tori-a..ta..ma!"
"Alright, alright you win. I'll go back to bed" Sano gave in, she would likely drag him in by his hair if he didn't go himself. Levering himself up slowly he mumbled, "Damn woman it's just a scratch."
"A scratch? I'll give you a scratch."
Oh he couldn't resist this one, she would definitely kill him for this. Sliding his attention to her, he gazed longingly at her with hope filled eyes, "Really? Promise?!"
Megumi's cheeks flushed even more. Unsure if it was from embarrassment or anger, and not really wanting her to decide he was healthy enough for a beating, Sano shuffled back into the dojo and headed towards his room. At least his little banter session with the fox had helped bring his friend back to normal.
Kenshin watched the pair disappear into the dojo leaving him alone once again with his thoughts. Staring up into the clear sky his mind wandered over similar exchanges he'd had with Kaoru. She was ever a feisty one, that was one of the many things he loved about her. She was a fighter, it took a lot to knock her down and he hoped she'd be able to stay strong against Shishio...at least until he got there. Anger sparked in his chest again his eyes immediately taking on their amber hue. The mere thought of her in Makoto's hands was enough to call the beast to the surface. Maybe what Saitou had said was true, he was destined to protect her...and he'd failed.
Sheathing the katana he pulled out his sakabatou and began honing the inside edge. He would get her back one way or another even if he had to kill Shishio to do it. He wouldn’t fail again.
oooooooooooooooooo
An hour later Kenshin was wrenched from his thoughts when the front gate suddenly slammed open, the sound of wood knocking hard against wood echoing through the quiet yard. Swinging his head around he was surprised to see Misao enter, closely followed by Aoshi and Yahiko. Shocked by the presence of the two from Kyoto he watched them make their way to the porch, the look on Misao's face a mirror of his own earlier.
"I'm going with you, Himura!" She stated in a voice that brooked no argument when she reached the porch. Aoshi however simply stood quietly behind her, his expression unreadable.
Kenshin shook his head and caught Aoshi's eye. An unvoiced understanding passed between the two of them and a slight tilt of Aoshi's head showed him the Okashira would go along with his wishes. Shifting his attention back to Misao, he fixed her with an unwavering amber gaze and replied, "Not this time, Misao."
Misao immediately opened her mouth to argue but stopped when Aoshi laid a hand on her shoulder.
"This is his fight, we cannot help him."
"But...but she's my best friend, I can't just leave her in the hands of some...some...monster!" Misao virtually screamed. Swinging around she nailed Aoshi with a hard glare. A flicker of understanding passed through the Okashira's eyes and she finally understood. He wanted to go too but he wouldn't, Kenshin had to do this alone.
"Battousai will get her back," He murmured softly. "We will wait for him here."
Misao sagged a little, all the fight going out of her. Turning back to Kenshin she pierced him with a glare. "Better make it quick, Himura, because if whoever has her hurts her in any way I'll hunt them down and turn them into a pincushion." With that she spun on her heel and stalked around the corner of the dojo heading towards the training hall, her fists clenched so tightly her fingers went numb from the pressure.
Kenshin silently watched her go. He understood exactly how she felt but he had to do this alone, it was his fault Kaoru was gone so it was up to him to get her back. Shifting his eyes to Aoshi he nodded, "Thank you."
The tall man simply returned the nod then asked, "Who has her?"
Kenshin scowled and kept a tight hold on his anger as he replied, "Shishio Makoto."
A look of understanding passed across the Okashira's face. "Your successor."
Kenshin felt his hold slip slightly, "Yes."
Aoshi simply nodded and without another word, followed the path Misao had taken. Now he understood why Battousai had to do this alone, it was personal. He would do the same himself if it were Misao.
Once the yard was empty save for Kenshin, Yahiko finally made his way to the porch and held out the train ticket. "It doesn't leave until tonight."
Kenshin accepted the ticket and looked up into Yahiko's worried face, "Don't worry, I'll get her back."
Yahiko simply nodded and walked into the dojo. It was going to be hard to wait for Kenshin to come back but he knew he was in no shape to go. It would be better if he stayed here and waited for his adopted sister's return. He knew Kenshin could do it, he just hoped he wouldn't break his vow in the process.
oooooooooooooooooo
Kaoru sat in the garden and watched the shadows lengthen as the sun dipped out of sight making its way over the horizon. She'd been out here ever since she'd awoken from a nightmare to find herself tucked securely in her bed, the memory of the destruction she'd caused chasing her out of the blessed darkness. She'd tried to go back to sleep to hide from the horror of what she was capable of but her mind had refused. So she had drifted out here to relive the nightmare over and over and over. The weight of the world seemed to settle on her shoulders as the sun dipped lower. What had she done to deserve this? Why was she cursed with this power, this beast inside her?
Kaoru sighed at the unanswerable questions and trailed shaking fingers along the blade beside her, wondering if she was strong enough to take her own life. She couldn't allow Shishio to do again what he'd done today. She now understood exactly what he was going to do with her. He was going to use her to destroy Tokyo, the seat of the Meiji government. She couldn't let him do that...ever. The very thought of it made her sick.
Gently grasping the leatherbound hilt, she lifted the blade from the grass and gazed at the sad eyes reflecting back at her from the shiny steel. Could she do it? Could she save all those she loved? Was she strong enough?
She placed the blade against her wrist and held it there, willing her hand to make the slice that would save all those who didn't deserve to die because of Shishio's hate. She didn't even know if it would work, the blade hadn't killed Shishio in the garden. Would the power inside her allow her to die? Tears began tracing wet paths down her cheeks, dripping unheeded from her chin to wet the soft material of her gi. She didn't want to die yet, not without seeing Kenshin but to live meant to kill him and everyone else she loved. She couldn't do that either.
Steeling her heart, she pushed the blade more firmly against her wrist and grimaced when it bit into her skin. With a quick tug she sliced the flesh open to the bone and watched as a puddle of blood welled up and began dripping to the ground, reddening the grass. And then much to her dismay a bright golden glow emanated from the cut sealing it completely, stopping her from saving everyone she loved.
Screaming in fury Kaoru flung the blade away. "WHY? Why won't you let me die!"
"Because you are now bound to me, sweet angel, there is nothing in this world that can kill either one of us."
Kaoru stiffened and swung her head around at the hated voice. Shishio stood on the porch just outside his room, a slight grin turning up the corners of his mouth. "There is no way to escape your destiny, my love."
Leveling a hate filled glare on him, she rose and made her way to her room slamming the shoji closed behind her. There had to be a way to stop him, he couldn't be allowed to unleash the beast inside her again.
A bone deep sigh escape from her lips and Kaoru set about changing into one of the soft yukatas in the chest then curled up on the futon, staring at the carved sakura tree. It looked just like the one that still remained standing in the broken meadow, its limbs brushing the ceiling as if it were trying to break free. An ache began to pulse dully in her chest, squeezing her heart. A single tear escaped the corner of her eye to drop soundlessly onto the blanket. She wanted that too. She wanted to break free, to take her life back from the beasts who now ruled her. An image of the destruction she had wrought floated before her eyes again, reminding her just how powerless she was against Shishio.
Closing her eyes tight against the truth she willed the nightmare into the farthest reaches of her mind, successfully burying it in the depths of her subconscious before it drove her mad. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she drifted off to sleep, her mind completely empty allowing her to slip into a dreamless sleep, falling away from the world that no longer held any beauty, just an endless sea of misery.
oooooooooooooooooo
In the early morning hours, the mansion lay silent as Yumi slipped from beneath the blankets she shared with Shishio. Careful not to wake the man sleeping beside her, she silently retrieved the blade she'd hidden earlier from beneath the futon and padded softly to the closed shoji. Soundlessly easing it open, she slipped from the room as a pair of blood red eyes slid open in the darkness.
With an inaudible click, Yumi slid the door closed behind her and hastened to the room next door before she lost her nerve. Slipping into the moonlit room on silent feet, her eyes were immediately drawn to the sleeping figure nestled under the blankets and she frowned at the young woman who thought she could replace her in Shishio's affections. It was time to rid herself of this nuisance; there was no way she would allow herself to be replaced.
Fisting her hand around the hilt of the dagger, she knelt down beside the sleeping woman and poised herself to drive the blade through her heart when the woman's blue eyes suddenly popped open and she bolted upright.
Startled Yumi fell back and just barely managed to catch herself from falling over completely. She scowled blackly as she righted herself and prepared once again to drive the blade into the woman's chest before the other could gather her wits enough to fight back. But what she didn't expect was the slight smile that suddenly tugged at the woman's lips, the hope shining her blue eyes knocking Yumi off balance.
And then she was caught completely off guard when the woman whispered, "Please..."
The quiet entreaty surprised Yumi so badly that she almost dropped the dagger. Gazing into the sad eyes staring back at her she couldn't believe what she was hearing, this woman wanted to die. But... why? What could have happened that would make this woman want to end it all right now?
A heartbeat later, her questions became mote as a sharp pain suddenly pierced her back and she stiffened as it continued to burn all the way through her body until she saw the blade slip from her chest, drops of blood falling from the tip to splash soundlessly on the blanket. Gasping in agony, she barely felt the breath of moist air that whispered across her cheek as Shishio leaned in beside her ear and purred, "You thought to hurt what is mine, I cannot allow you to do that."
Yumi tore her eyes from the blade sticking out of her chest and found her eyes drawn to the woman in front of her. A thin trail of tears threaded their way down the woman's cheeks, the hope once brightening her eyes now replaced by an endless sadness in her darkened eyes.
"I'm sorry," she murmured as more tears slipped from her eyes. "It’s all my fault, you didn't deserve this."
Realization struck Yumi hard as she felt herself begin to slip away. This woman had never been a rival, even more than a prisoner, she was simply trapped by circumstances beyond her control. One of Shishio's pawns, one he would likely destroy. Shaking her head Yumi smiled weakly and whispered, "This isn't your fault."
With a sigh, she succumbed to the darkness enveloping her and slipped from the world with the smile still gracing her lips. At least she was free. She felt a moment of pity before she was lost for this woman that never would be.
Kaoru watched in silence as the light faded from the woman's eyes. A sudden surge of unbridled loathing nearly stole her breath away and with a hate filled glare she slid her eyes to Shishio, "How could you do that, you bastard? She loved you."
Yanking the blade from his dead consort's body Shishio shrugged as the body slumped limply, "She was of no use to me anymore, I have you now."
Kaoru caught the falling woman and gently laid her on the futon, not caring about the blood soaking into the blanket. Clenching her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white she grated, "I swear by all that is holy I will find a way to kill you, not just for me anymore...but for her too."
Shishio snorted and leaned down to hefted Yumi's body onto his shoulder then made his way to the door. Reaching the threshold, he glanced back and smiled at her, "There is no way, sweet angel, accept it." With that he walked out the door and slid it closed behind him, leaving her to come to terms with the knowledge that she was his forever, there was no way she could escape him.
Kaoru simply stared at the door as she listened to his footsteps fade away, an icy determination settling into her very bones. He was right she was trapped but there had to be a way to rid herself of him. Aiko had done it. How, she didn't know, but that meant there was a way to be free of that monster and given enough time she would find it. She wouldn't remain his for long.
Rising from the bloody futon she made her way outside and sat beneath one of the sakura trees, staring up at the moon glowing softly in the heavens. There was no way she would be able to sleep now, the image of Shishio's blade protruding from his lover's chest would haunt her for the rest of her life. He truly was a heartless monster that needed to die, and she would be the one to kill him.
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Chapter 10 - For What Is Mine
Kenshin strode through the busy streets, ignoring the fearful glances and wide berths the other travelers were giving him as he made his way back to the dojo. He knew he must look like a demon intent on killing any who crossed his path but he didn't care, not anymore. Makoto had done something he should never had done, he'd awoken the killer. Trying to push down the bloody thoughts continuing to whirl in his mind he focused his attention on the path and tried to settle the anger that seemed to be an entity all its own. It would serve no purpose to let it push him into doing something rash.
His fist tightened as he went over the information Saitou had just given him. He'd been right all along, Kaoru was special and now she was in the hands of a ruthless killer who would use her and may even kill her to extract his revenge on the government that had tried to kill him. The very thought churned his stomach and his anger spiked all over again. A few moments later he finally reached the dojo and pushed open the gate to reveal Yahiko sitting on the front steps waiting for him. Without a word to the worried looking boy Kenshin strode past him and went directly to his room to retrieve the money he'd saved over the past months. Collecting the small bag he went back out and dropped it in Yahiko's lap. "Go purchase a train ticket to Kyoto for me."
"Where is she?" Yahiko asked as he glanced up. "Is she in Kyoto?"
Kenshin shook his head, he knew exactly where Kaoru was. That scream would reverberate through his soul for the rest of his life. "No, she's not in Kyoto, but it's the fastest way to reach where she is."
"Oh...ok, I'll be right back." Yahiko sprang to his feet and immediately headed off to do his bidding.
Kenshin stared after his retreating form as the boy ran out the gate, planning out what was next. What else did he need to do before he left to retrieve what was his? With a twinge of regret he realized there was one more thing he definitely needed. Stepping from the porch he made his way to the training hall to look for the item. As he glanced around the shadowed interior memories of Kaoru training Yahiko filtered into his mind, pulling at his heart. She didn't deserve what Makoto was going to do to her.
Not seeing what he was looking for within he shook his head to clear the images and made his way over to the storehouse. If there was one here it would most likely be in there. A simple tug had the doors swinging wide and he scanned the loaded shelves hoping to see something that would resemble what he was looking for. It didn't take him long to find the wrapped bundle sitting innocently on the shelf behind a crate full of what must have been some of Kaoru's father's clothes. Shifting the crate to the side he slowly lifted the bundle and set it down on the floor, peeling away the wrappings to reveal what he'd been looking for. A sheathed katana.
With shaking hands Kenshin picked it up and drew the blade, eying the shining surface twinkling in the afternoon sun. Another wave of regret flowed through his veins as he stared at his reflection in the gleaming metal. He'd never wanted to pick up another katana but now Shishio had driven him to the point where he was ready to break his vow never to kill. Closing his eyes, his fist tightened around the hilt. For Kaoru he would kill. For her he would rid the world of the two men who thought they could get away with trying to destroy her innocence, they didn't deserve to live.
A sigh escaped his lips as he sheathed the blade and stood to search for a whetstone among the other items and crates on the shelves. Finally finding it tucked in the corner towards the back he grabbed it and made his way out to the front porch, making a quick side trip to fill a bowl of water on his way. Settling down on the first step he arrayed the items the way he needed then dipped his hand into the water and trickled a thin stream over the whetstone. Withdrawing the blade again he slowly drew it across the smooth surface, honing the edge to a lethal sharpness in preparation to pierce the flesh of the men who thought they could touch what was his.
oooooooooooooooooo
Sano shifted slightly, grimacing as the stitches in his chest pulled taut, bringing him more into wakefulness. His mind still fogged from the short nap he'd fallen into when Megumi had left, he laid quietly and tried to figure out what it was that had awoken him. Tilting his head to the side a soft grating sound drifted to him from the other side of the closed door. What the hell is that?
Levering himself up into a sitting position he winced again as the wound in his shoulder started to throb, sending shooting pains down his arm. He shouldn't be doing this, If the fox saw him she would skin him alive. He grinned, what the fox didn't know wouldn't kill him, or in this case she wouldn’t. Besides he was just about sick of lying in bed all day. It wouldn't be so boring if the fox would at least join him but when he'd mentioned to her that he would love some company under the blankets her face had turned beet red and she'd clenched her fist tightly. Obviously fighting the urge to slap him, she'd given him a look that said as soon as he was better he was going to get a sound beating.
He chuckled softly at the memory of her 'you're dead' look and pushed his way to his feet with his good arm. Slowly padding out into the hallway he made his way towards the sound that seemed to be coming from the front porch. As he neared the door he finally understood what he was hearing, steel against stone. Shuffling out onto the porch he stopped, surprised by the sight before him. Kenshin sat crouched over a whetstone, methodically dragging a katana across its surface. Attention solely fixed on the task he was performing. The oblivious man hadn't even noticed when he'd come out on the porch.
"Sano, what are you doing?"
Startled Sano stared at his friend's bowed head. A light chuckle escaped his lips, he should've known, Kenshin would never be completely ignorant of his surroundings. "I was going to ask you the same thing," he said as he gingerly sat down in front of the redhead, worried by the presence of the katana.
After a moment Kenshin looked up, a ghost of a smile playing across his lips. "I'm getting ready to retrieve what is mine."
Unnerved by the smoldering golden gaze fixed on him, Sano replied, "So you know who has her."
Kenshin nodded as anger ignited in his chest again. He was having a hard time keeping it locked down, it seemed to have a life all its own. He'd never felt like this before, it was as if the protective side of him had grown fangs ready to rip apart anyone who so much as thought of hurting one hair on Kaoru's head and Makoto would do worse. He knew this already and that made it even harder for him to keep it caged. Struggling for control he went back to sharpening the blade, the only thing that seemed to soothe the beast. "Yes...I know who has her."
"And you think you need a katana to get her back? What about your vow?" Sano asked. He knew he sounded more like a father than a friend right now, but Kenshin had always kept to his vow no matter what. And if truth be told he didn't want to see the ex-hitokiri break it, even to get Kaoru back.
Kenshin glanced back up again surprised by Sano's tone, his heart warmed at seeing the concern on the ex-fighter's face. Setting aside the katana he gave Sano a reassuring smile. "I'm only going to use it if there's no other way to get her back."
Sano eyed him in disbelief, he wasn't sure he believed that. Kenshin's eyes were still a bright gold, they hadn't reverted back to their violet color yet and that meant something. "So you gonna tell me who has her?"
A pregnant paused filled the space between them before Kenshin murmured, "Shishio Makoto."
Sano started at the name, his sudden movement pulling at his stitches again. "What? Why would he want her? Is he after you?"
Shifting his eyes to the bright blue sky Kenshin shook his head, "No, the one he wanted all along was Kaoru and I failed to protect her."
"But why would he want her?" Sano asked confused. There was no other reason for him to want her except to get back at his predecessor.
Kenshin was just about to answer when the gate slammed and an angry voice suddenly ripped through the quiet of the yard.
"SANOSUKE!"
Sano's head snapped around at the sound of Megumi's voice echoing around the yard. He swore and cringed when his eyes came to rest on her furious face, her arms loaded with clean bandages. Damn, he was in trouble now.
"What are you trying to do, baka? Kill yourself?" Megumi growled as she stalked over to where he sat innocently on the porch.
He shrugged and gave her the sweetest grin he could dig up. "Needed to get out of that damn bed."
Megumi's eyebrow started to twitch. It would be a miracle if she managed to keep herself from beating him silly. He was definitely in for it when he was healed, nothing would stop her then. "Get back into that bed NOW!" she grated through clenched teeth, pointing at the door the best she could with her burden.
Figuring he was already dead Sano gave her a sultry look as a teasing grin played across his lips. “If you join me, sure."
Megumi's scowl deepened, her hands fisting around the bandages, "Not on your life, roosterhead. Now move it!"
Before Sano could come up with a retort a light chuckle broke through their battle of wills.
"Sano, you might as well go back to bed, you're not going to win."
Sano swung his head around at the undisguised humor in Kenshin's voice. His eyes widened when he noticed his friends eyes had finally changed back to violet with just a hint of gold around the edges. A huge grin surfaced on his face, "You're probably right, she can be vicious when she wants to be."
"Tori-a..ta..ma!"
"Alright, alright you win. I'll go back to bed" Sano gave in, she would likely drag him in by his hair if he didn't go himself. Levering himself up slowly he mumbled, "Damn woman it's just a scratch."
"A scratch? I'll give you a scratch."
Oh he couldn't resist this one, she would definitely kill him for this. Sliding his attention to her, he gazed longingly at her with hope filled eyes, "Really? Promise?!"
Megumi's cheeks flushed even more. Unsure if it was from embarrassment or anger, and not really wanting her to decide he was healthy enough for a beating, Sano shuffled back into the dojo and headed towards his room. At least his little banter session with the fox had helped bring his friend back to normal.
Kenshin watched the pair disappear into the dojo leaving him alone once again with his thoughts. Staring up into the clear sky his mind wandered over similar exchanges he'd had with Kaoru. She was ever a feisty one, that was one of the many things he loved about her. She was a fighter, it took a lot to knock her down and he hoped she'd be able to stay strong against Shishio...at least until he got there. Anger sparked in his chest again his eyes immediately taking on their amber hue. The mere thought of her in Makoto's hands was enough to call the beast to the surface. Maybe what Saitou had said was true, he was destined to protect her...and he'd failed.
Sheathing the katana he pulled out his sakabatou and began honing the inside edge. He would get her back one way or another even if he had to kill Shishio to do it. He wouldn’t fail again.
oooooooooooooooooo
An hour later Kenshin was wrenched from his thoughts when the front gate suddenly slammed open, the sound of wood knocking hard against wood echoing through the quiet yard. Swinging his head around he was surprised to see Misao enter, closely followed by Aoshi and Yahiko. Shocked by the presence of the two from Kyoto he watched them make their way to the porch, the look on Misao's face a mirror of his own earlier.
"I'm going with you, Himura!" She stated in a voice that brooked no argument when she reached the porch. Aoshi however simply stood quietly behind her, his expression unreadable.
Kenshin shook his head and caught Aoshi's eye. An unvoiced understanding passed between the two of them and a slight tilt of Aoshi's head showed him the Okashira would go along with his wishes. Shifting his attention back to Misao, he fixed her with an unwavering amber gaze and replied, "Not this time, Misao."
Misao immediately opened her mouth to argue but stopped when Aoshi laid a hand on her shoulder.
"This is his fight, we cannot help him."
"But...but she's my best friend, I can't just leave her in the hands of some...some...monster!" Misao virtually screamed. Swinging around she nailed Aoshi with a hard glare. A flicker of understanding passed through the Okashira's eyes and she finally understood. He wanted to go too but he wouldn't, Kenshin had to do this alone.
"Battousai will get her back," He murmured softly. "We will wait for him here."
Misao sagged a little, all the fight going out of her. Turning back to Kenshin she pierced him with a glare. "Better make it quick, Himura, because if whoever has her hurts her in any way I'll hunt them down and turn them into a pincushion." With that she spun on her heel and stalked around the corner of the dojo heading towards the training hall, her fists clenched so tightly her fingers went numb from the pressure.
Kenshin silently watched her go. He understood exactly how she felt but he had to do this alone, it was his fault Kaoru was gone so it was up to him to get her back. Shifting his eyes to Aoshi he nodded, "Thank you."
The tall man simply returned the nod then asked, "Who has her?"
Kenshin scowled and kept a tight hold on his anger as he replied, "Shishio Makoto."
A look of understanding passed across the Okashira's face. "Your successor."
Kenshin felt his hold slip slightly, "Yes."
Aoshi simply nodded and without another word, followed the path Misao had taken. Now he understood why Battousai had to do this alone, it was personal. He would do the same himself if it were Misao.
Once the yard was empty save for Kenshin, Yahiko finally made his way to the porch and held out the train ticket. "It doesn't leave until tonight."
Kenshin accepted the ticket and looked up into Yahiko's worried face, "Don't worry, I'll get her back."
Yahiko simply nodded and walked into the dojo. It was going to be hard to wait for Kenshin to come back but he knew he was in no shape to go. It would be better if he stayed here and waited for his adopted sister's return. He knew Kenshin could do it, he just hoped he wouldn't break his vow in the process.
oooooooooooooooooo
Kaoru sat in the garden and watched the shadows lengthen as the sun dipped out of sight making its way over the horizon. She'd been out here ever since she'd awoken from a nightmare to find herself tucked securely in her bed, the memory of the destruction she'd caused chasing her out of the blessed darkness. She'd tried to go back to sleep to hide from the horror of what she was capable of but her mind had refused. So she had drifted out here to relive the nightmare over and over and over. The weight of the world seemed to settle on her shoulders as the sun dipped lower. What had she done to deserve this? Why was she cursed with this power, this beast inside her?
Kaoru sighed at the unanswerable questions and trailed shaking fingers along the blade beside her, wondering if she was strong enough to take her own life. She couldn't allow Shishio to do again what he'd done today. She now understood exactly what he was going to do with her. He was going to use her to destroy Tokyo, the seat of the Meiji government. She couldn't let him do that...ever. The very thought of it made her sick.
Gently grasping the leatherbound hilt, she lifted the blade from the grass and gazed at the sad eyes reflecting back at her from the shiny steel. Could she do it? Could she save all those she loved? Was she strong enough?
She placed the blade against her wrist and held it there, willing her hand to make the slice that would save all those who didn't deserve to die because of Shishio's hate. She didn't even know if it would work, the blade hadn't killed Shishio in the garden. Would the power inside her allow her to die? Tears began tracing wet paths down her cheeks, dripping unheeded from her chin to wet the soft material of her gi. She didn't want to die yet, not without seeing Kenshin but to live meant to kill him and everyone else she loved. She couldn't do that either.
Steeling her heart, she pushed the blade more firmly against her wrist and grimaced when it bit into her skin. With a quick tug she sliced the flesh open to the bone and watched as a puddle of blood welled up and began dripping to the ground, reddening the grass. And then much to her dismay a bright golden glow emanated from the cut sealing it completely, stopping her from saving everyone she loved.
Screaming in fury Kaoru flung the blade away. "WHY? Why won't you let me die!"
"Because you are now bound to me, sweet angel, there is nothing in this world that can kill either one of us."
Kaoru stiffened and swung her head around at the hated voice. Shishio stood on the porch just outside his room, a slight grin turning up the corners of his mouth. "There is no way to escape your destiny, my love."
Leveling a hate filled glare on him, she rose and made her way to her room slamming the shoji closed behind her. There had to be a way to stop him, he couldn't be allowed to unleash the beast inside her again.
A bone deep sigh escape from her lips and Kaoru set about changing into one of the soft yukatas in the chest then curled up on the futon, staring at the carved sakura tree. It looked just like the one that still remained standing in the broken meadow, its limbs brushing the ceiling as if it were trying to break free. An ache began to pulse dully in her chest, squeezing her heart. A single tear escaped the corner of her eye to drop soundlessly onto the blanket. She wanted that too. She wanted to break free, to take her life back from the beasts who now ruled her. An image of the destruction she had wrought floated before her eyes again, reminding her just how powerless she was against Shishio.
Closing her eyes tight against the truth she willed the nightmare into the farthest reaches of her mind, successfully burying it in the depths of her subconscious before it drove her mad. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she drifted off to sleep, her mind completely empty allowing her to slip into a dreamless sleep, falling away from the world that no longer held any beauty, just an endless sea of misery.
oooooooooooooooooo
In the early morning hours, the mansion lay silent as Yumi slipped from beneath the blankets she shared with Shishio. Careful not to wake the man sleeping beside her, she silently retrieved the blade she'd hidden earlier from beneath the futon and padded softly to the closed shoji. Soundlessly easing it open, she slipped from the room as a pair of blood red eyes slid open in the darkness.
With an inaudible click, Yumi slid the door closed behind her and hastened to the room next door before she lost her nerve. Slipping into the moonlit room on silent feet, her eyes were immediately drawn to the sleeping figure nestled under the blankets and she frowned at the young woman who thought she could replace her in Shishio's affections. It was time to rid herself of this nuisance; there was no way she would allow herself to be replaced.
Fisting her hand around the hilt of the dagger, she knelt down beside the sleeping woman and poised herself to drive the blade through her heart when the woman's blue eyes suddenly popped open and she bolted upright.
Startled Yumi fell back and just barely managed to catch herself from falling over completely. She scowled blackly as she righted herself and prepared once again to drive the blade into the woman's chest before the other could gather her wits enough to fight back. But what she didn't expect was the slight smile that suddenly tugged at the woman's lips, the hope shining her blue eyes knocking Yumi off balance.
And then she was caught completely off guard when the woman whispered, "Please..."
The quiet entreaty surprised Yumi so badly that she almost dropped the dagger. Gazing into the sad eyes staring back at her she couldn't believe what she was hearing, this woman wanted to die. But... why? What could have happened that would make this woman want to end it all right now?
A heartbeat later, her questions became mote as a sharp pain suddenly pierced her back and she stiffened as it continued to burn all the way through her body until she saw the blade slip from her chest, drops of blood falling from the tip to splash soundlessly on the blanket. Gasping in agony, she barely felt the breath of moist air that whispered across her cheek as Shishio leaned in beside her ear and purred, "You thought to hurt what is mine, I cannot allow you to do that."
Yumi tore her eyes from the blade sticking out of her chest and found her eyes drawn to the woman in front of her. A thin trail of tears threaded their way down the woman's cheeks, the hope once brightening her eyes now replaced by an endless sadness in her darkened eyes.
"I'm sorry," she murmured as more tears slipped from her eyes. "It’s all my fault, you didn't deserve this."
Realization struck Yumi hard as she felt herself begin to slip away. This woman had never been a rival, even more than a prisoner, she was simply trapped by circumstances beyond her control. One of Shishio's pawns, one he would likely destroy. Shaking her head Yumi smiled weakly and whispered, "This isn't your fault."
With a sigh, she succumbed to the darkness enveloping her and slipped from the world with the smile still gracing her lips. At least she was free. She felt a moment of pity before she was lost for this woman that never would be.
Kaoru watched in silence as the light faded from the woman's eyes. A sudden surge of unbridled loathing nearly stole her breath away and with a hate filled glare she slid her eyes to Shishio, "How could you do that, you bastard? She loved you."
Yanking the blade from his dead consort's body Shishio shrugged as the body slumped limply, "She was of no use to me anymore, I have you now."
Kaoru caught the falling woman and gently laid her on the futon, not caring about the blood soaking into the blanket. Clenching her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white she grated, "I swear by all that is holy I will find a way to kill you, not just for me anymore...but for her too."
Shishio snorted and leaned down to hefted Yumi's body onto his shoulder then made his way to the door. Reaching the threshold, he glanced back and smiled at her, "There is no way, sweet angel, accept it." With that he walked out the door and slid it closed behind him, leaving her to come to terms with the knowledge that she was his forever, there was no way she could escape him.
Kaoru simply stared at the door as she listened to his footsteps fade away, an icy determination settling into her very bones. He was right she was trapped but there had to be a way to rid herself of him. Aiko had done it. How, she didn't know, but that meant there was a way to be free of that monster and given enough time she would find it. She wouldn't remain his for long.
Rising from the bloody futon she made her way outside and sat beneath one of the sakura trees, staring up at the moon glowing softly in the heavens. There was no way she would be able to sleep now, the image of Shishio's blade protruding from his lover's chest would haunt her for the rest of her life. He truly was a heartless monster that needed to die, and she would be the one to kill him.
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