Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Truths ( Chapter 7 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer - I don't own RK


Chapter 7 - Truths

Sano rested heavily against the sofa back and sighed. Eyeing the small man sitting in the chair across from him he tried to force his already abused mind to accept all he'd just been told. "So you're telling me that it worked but not completely?"

Kenshin smiled ruefully at his old friend and nodded, "I felt her birth but the bond wasn't strong enough for me to find her." Running his fingers through his fiery hair he bit back a sigh, "I tried to track her through it but it just wasn't strong enough."

"So how did you finally find her?" Sano asked confused. It didn't make sense, out of all the millions of people in the world this man had found one single soul. That was like finding a needle in a haystack. If he hadn't been able to track her through the bond then how did he find her?

Kenshin grinned at the question. He could understand the confusion evident on Sano's face. He'd wondered that himself. Leaning forward he rested his elbows on his knees and shrugged. "By accident or maybe fate finally decided to smile on me. I don't really know. Four days after I got back into town I was sitting in the dojo mapping out my next move when all of a sudden I had a driving need to wander. I don't know what drove me out into the pouring rain that afternoon or how long I walked the streets but just when I'd decided I'd been out long enough I looked up and found myself in front of a small art gallery in West Shinjuku and there in the window..." Kenshin couldn't stop the smile that blossomed on his lips at the memory, "...was Kaoru."

Sano stifled the sigh that tried to escape as he contemplated the smile on his old friend's face. Obviously Kenshin didn't know about Kaoru and Enishi. His gut twisted at the thought of having to be the one to tell him that little piece of information. He was sure Kenshin wasn't going to take the news well.

Steeling himself he leaned forward and captured his old friend's gaze, "Kenshin there's something you need to know."

"Kaoru is with Enishi." Kenshin finished for him as he sat back into the chair again. "I know."

Sano just stared as a hint of gold bled into the violet gaze staring at him. So he knew. And by the looks of it he wasn't the least bit happy. "How-"

"It doesn't matter how I know. What matters now is how I'm going to get her away from him." Kenshin stated a hint of steel entering his voice. "I will not lose her to him again."

Sano just shook his head and sat back again. Did Kenshin realize that he'd be fighting against more than just Enishi? But then again if anyone could get Kaoru away from that bastard it would be this man. He had a feeling that nothing was going to stop his old friend from getting what he wanted, not after he'd waited so long to be with her.

A nasty little smile came to Sano's lips as his mind pulled up the last battle between Kenshin and Enishi. The blood had flowed heavily that day, both of them intent on killing the other. The very ground had shook beneath his feet each time they'd come together, the crash of their blades cutting through the air. The two had been evenly matched but in the end Kenshin had stood over his enemy like an avenging angel, his glowing amber eyes holding nothing but contempt for the man who had stolen the most precious thing from him. Kenshin had gone easy on the bastard that time and simply drove his blade through Enishi's heart, ending it quickly. Hopefully he would draw it out a bit more this time. One could only hope.

Smirking to himself he glanced at Kenshin. "So how do you plan on getting her away from him? I've tried but for some reason she refuses to leave the bastard."

Kenshin sighed and shook his head, "I don't know. I've made a huge mistake and I don't know if I'm going to be able to fix it."

Confused Sano quirked an eyebrow, "What do you mean a mistake?" And then it hit him as her question about the amber eyed man reverberated through his mind again. "She knows you already! But that should be a good thing. That's what you want isn't it?"

Kenshin shook his head again, "That was the mistake I made. For some reason the day I saw her in the window of that art gallery a link opened up between us that I didn't know existed. And because of my use of something that shouldn't have been there she knows of me but not who I really am."

He scowled as the image of her ashen face surfaced again. Closing his eyes he rubbed his forehead as a small ache began pulsing dully between his eyes. "I saw her today....and she ran from me. I've managed to confuse her and now she's afraid of me."

Sano frowned at the despondency in his old friend's voice, this wasn't the man he knew. "Jou-chan might be afraid of you now but I know she's been waiting for you. Up until Enishi she wouldn't date anyone. Well anyone but me and that only lasted about two weeks" he added with a wry smile. An almost inaudible growl reached his ears and he paled at the instantly hard look leveled on him. Ok now this was the man he knew. Throwing up his hands he tried to appease the angry hitokiri, "Hey we're just friends now. Well I guess more like brother and sister but really there's nothing between us I swear."

Kenshin just shook his head and fought to contain the beast that'd suddenly reared its ugly head at the thought of anyone touching Kaoru, even Sano. Taking a deep breath he settled more into the chair and tried to smile, "Sorry it's just I can't stand the thought anyone touching what is mine. I haven't waited this long to lose her now...to anyone."

"You won't lose her. Not this time." Sano stated relieved to still have his head. For a minute there he was sure Kenshin was going to take it. Leaning forward he grabbed the drink sitting on the table between them. Taking a sip he settled back, "So how are we going to get her to remember you? Her show's tomorrow night but Enishi will be there too."

"I don't know. I have a feeling her memories are already starting to come back. If that's true then all I can do now is avoid anything that might trigger the full onslaught." Sighing, Kenshin shook his head, "If I trigger them in any way it's very possible they will come back to her in a jumbled mass. I really wouldn't matter except for..." Kenshin shook his head again and trailed off unable to even voice the truth, he wasn't ready for her to remember that. Not yet. The very thought made him sick to his stomach.

Sano's eyes narrowed in confusion. Why would it matter? All that mattered was that she remembered right? And then slowly it sank in. If what Kenshin said was true and Kaoru was already starting to remember, which she must be if she knew the Battousai side of Kenshin, then it was very likely she would be hit anytime with the memory of her death. Sano's eyes widened at the thought. That could push her off the edge. And then another thought struck him like a fist in the gut. If his memory could come back who's to say Enishi's wouldn't come back too.

Kenshin watched as Sano's face paled suddenly, a horrified look instantly filling his eyes. He knew exactly what his old friend was thinking. "Yes if Enishi's memory returns Kaoru could be in trouble. Especially since he seems to know something about me already."

"Oh god." Sano breathed more to himself than the man in front of him. "And he's still a cold blooded killer. He wiped out an entire Triad organization in Beijing by himself when they killed Tomoe."

Kenshin sat up straight as the name flowed from Sano's lips, his breath catching painfully in his throat. Clutching the arms of the chair he croaked "Tomoe?"

Startled Sano hissed and shied away from the intense violet gaze leveled on him. Damn how could he let that slip? Now was not the time to tell him about Tomoe, Kenshin had enough problems as it was. Leaning forward he dropped his head and stared at his hands, well there was no way around it now. Taking a deep breath he mumbled "She died four months ago." Fighting against the knot tightening in his gut he waited anxiously for Kenshin's reaction. This was a blow he really wished he didn't have to hit the man with, but it was unavoidable. He would've found out sooner or later.

Kenshin just stared stunned at Sano's bowed head trying to force his mind to digest what the ex-fighter had said. It couldn't be true could it? She'd been here? And...and she'd died? But why? Why even in this life her time had been cut too short? Shaking his head he tried to swallow around the lump in his throat, it was almost as if the past were repeating itself.

"How did she die?" he managed to choke out.

Sano sighed and met the pain filled eyes gazing at him. "She and Akira were visiting Beijing when the train they were on blew up. It seems a couple members of the Triad organization there were trying to prove themselves." Shaking his head a half smile came to his lips, "Enishi didn't take it well, he killed every last one of them himself."

Kenshin just stared blindly at Sano only half hearing what he was saying. Images of he and Tomoe assaulted his mind, playing before his eyes like some surreal tragedy on the big screen.

"She was happy Kenshin." Sano added in an attempt to ease the sorrow evident in every line of his old friend's face. "I met them once when Kaoru started dating Enishi. She and Akira were together in this lifetime and they were happy."

Kenshin latched onto that last statement like a drowning man reaching for salvation. "She and Akira were together?"

Sano nodded, "They were married in this lifetime. She may have died but they died together this time."

Kenshin sighed in relief ignoring the sudden surge of guilt running rampant through his veins. At least this time no one had stolen her happiness like he had so long ago. This time things had been set right and she'd been with the man she'd deserved to be with from the start. Silently thanking every god he could think of he smiled. He would always love her but he was here now to take back what was his and nothing could divert him from that or he might lose her again.

"I'm glad she was finally able to have the happiness she deserved, even if it was only for a short time." Kenshin said sitting back in the chair. Releasing his death-grip on the arms of the chair he flexed his hands trying to work away the dull throb aching in his palms. Smiling he glanced at Sano "Tomoe will always be a part of me but right now I have to figure how I'm going to get Kaoru back."

Sano shrugged, "You could always go with me to her show. I can introduce you to her as one of my friends from Okinawa. But that doesn't solve the problem of Enishi."

"I'm not going to worry about him right now" Kenshin bit out harsher than he intended. Getting control of himself he loosened his clenched fists. "What I need is to be able to get close enough to Kaoru to see what kind of damage I've done. Once I know that then maybe I will be able to fix the problem."

"Then come to the show with me." Sano stated with a shrug. Glancing at the clock he hissed at how late it was. "Damn Kaoru's going to be home soon, I've got to go." Setting down the glass he jumped up and headed for the door. He stopped just before heading into the foyer and glanced over his shoulder, "So you coming with me tomorrow?"

Kenshin grinned at the tall man. "Yes. What time?"

"It starts at seven."

"Where should I meet you?"

Sano smiled sheepishly, "I'm staying with Kaoru so I'll come get you after she leaves." He stepped back as an instantly hard look filled his old friend's eyes.

"I'll be waiting."

Sano inwardly smiled. How he actually managed to keep from hunting down Enishi and killing the man right now was beyond him. It was pretty bad when the mere mention of himself staying with Kaoru was enough to have gold flickering through the ex-hitokiri eyes. Shaking his head he continued on his way to the door, "Alright see you tomorrow."

Kenshin listened as the door closed behind Sano. Unclenching his fists he walked over to the sliding glass doors and stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine. What the hell was wrong with him? It was only Sano, he and Kaoru were only friends. Christ he'd asked Sano to watch over her if he happened to find her before he himself did.

Walking across the balcony he leaned against the rail and took a deep breath letting it out slowly to calm himself. He had to keep it together, tomorrow he would likely come face to face with Enishi. That in itself was going to be a trial. He would have to be careful not to make a wrong step with him or Kaoru or he might set into motion something he wouldn't be able to stop.

He would have to step lightly or everything could blow up in his face again.

oooooooooooooooooo

Kaoru slipped from the car and gazed with trepidation at the four story glass faced building standing proudly in front of her. A small knot of fear tightened in her gut as she gazed at Enishi's seat of power. She was always a little nervous when she came to Enishi's apartment. This was his domain, he was master here and it unnerved her to be at his mercy. Deep down she knew he would never do anything to hurt her, but here under the watchful eyes of his entire organization she felt just a little bit trapped. Most of the time they spent time together at her apartment because he knew she didn't like to be surrounded by so many killers.

She jumped as he grasped her arm and led her towards the large double doors leading into the building. Getting control of herself she pushed away the feeling of being trapped and tried to calm her nerves. They were only here to change and then they would be gone to dinner, after that he would drop her off at home and everything would be alright. And yet for some reason she didn't think it was going to be that easy. Something was up, she could feel it in her gut.

Enishi hid a smirk as he watched Kaoru fight with herself out of the corner of his eye. He still found it amusing that after two years she still paled at the sight of the building that housed his entire organization. Truthfully he was surprised she hadn't demanded he take her home to change but then again she most likely knew that it was probably in Sagara's best interest if the two of them didn't meet again anytime soon.

Leading her to the elevator he punched in the access code and stepped in. Releasing her arm he leaned back against the wall and watched her carefully. She wasn't going to be happy about the fact that tonight she wouldn't be going home. That fight he was going to win whether she liked it or not. Gein had business with the man next door and he didn't want her there in case there was a problem. Besides it was time she got used to being here because as soon as they were married this would be her home.

Pushing off the wall as the elevator started to move he slipped behind Kaoru. Wrapping his arms around her slight form he leaned down to kiss the shell of her ear lightly. "What are you afraid of my dear? This is the safest place you could be."

Kaoru's breath caught in her throat at the feel of his breath brushing across her cheek. Fighting down a blush she ducked her head. "I'm not afraid of anything."

His arms tightened around her and she felt the strong muscles of his chest mold into her back. "You're lying. I can tell."

Kaoru just shook her head. What was she supposed to say? It's not like she could tell him that it made her feel dirty to be in the presence of so many cold blooded killers? She didn't think he would take that well considering they were all his. Sighing she loosened his arms and turned around, slipping her arms around him she looked him dead in the eye. "I'm not afraid of anything. Sometimes I just wish it could be you and me instead of you, me and your whole organization." There that should appease him.

A small smile turned up the corners of his lips and before she even knew what was happening Enishi leaned down capturing her lips in a gentle yet demanding kiss. Kaoru's knees weakened as his tongue traveled along her bottom lip. Opening for him she fell into the overwhelming sensations running through her body. Too soon he broke the kiss and leaned back with a smile that made it even harder for her to keep standing. "It will always be just you and me. The others are only there to make sure we aren't interrupted."

The elevator came to a slow stop and Enishi released his hold on her. Kaoru caught herself on the wall to steady herself and watched as he stepped gracefully from the elevator. God now she remembered why she stayed with him, the feelings he sent rushing through her body were damn near addicting. And yet... no she couldn't think things like that, not in Enishi's presence. Pushing away the image of the redheaded violet eyed man lingering in her mind she stepped from the elevator into the spacious livingroom of his apartment. Now was not the time to be thinking of him.

Scowling to herself she slipped her shoes and socks off and stepped onto the plush black carpet wiggling her toes appreciatively. Slowly her frown disappeared under a grin. Oh now this was a little slice of heaven, if there was anything she liked about being here it was the cushiony softness of his carpet. Glancing up she smiled sheepishly at the look on Enishi's face.

"Are you done? We need to get ready. The reservation is set for six.

Kaoru could feel her face heating up at the smirk on his face. Ducking her head she ambled further into the room and headed towards the room Enishi had designated as hers. After only two steps towards the door she suddenly came to stop as a huge black ball of fur wrapped himself around her ankles doing his level best to trip her up. Chuckling she reached down and hefted the big purring lump into her arms.

"He missed you. He hasn't come near me since I came back because I didn't bring you home with me."

Kaoru chuckled again and hugged the black cat tucked in her arms, "I missed you too Raijin. Did that little weasel Hei Shin take good care of you?"

The purring immediately stopped and Raijin gave her a look that said it all. Smiling she leaned in and whispered, "I know I don't like him either." She giggled as Raijin rubbed his face against her cheek and started purring again. Enishi cleared his throat behind her and she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, "Alright, alright I'm going."

Setting Raijin down she headed into the bedroom and closed the door. Glancing around she sighed and leaned against the door, it was still weird having a place of her own here. It was a beautiful room really. Enishi had had it done in varying shades of blue. The plush carpet along with the curtains hanging in the windows were a deep midnight blue and the coverlet and pillows on the bed were a shade lighter, almost the same color as her eyes. The walls had been done in an even lighter shade, the perfect backdrop for the paintings of Mt. Fuji she'd done that hung on the wall. The dark mahogany tone of the dressing table, nightstand and bed finished off the effect leaving her feeling like a princess.

Sad thing was she never really used the room although Enishi had it fully stocked with everything she needed when she stayed. Most times if she spent the night here she slept snuggled against him and not in the huge four poster bed in here.

Heading further into the room she marveled at the fact that even though they slept together he never pressured into making love with him. Even after two years he still didn't try to make her do something she wasn't comfortable doing. Well most of the time. There were times he would try but he never pushed too hard. She didn't know why she was like that, she loved to kiss and snuggle with him but whenever she tried to move it to a higher level something always stopped her. What it was she couldn't say. Many nights she'd lain awake searching her soul trying to figure it out but whatever it was always managed to evade her. Sighing again she made her way to the closet and slid it open. Eyeing all the brand new clothes hanging unused she smiled half-heartedly. Maybe when they were married she would be able to overcome whatever it was, kami knew he loved her.

Shaking her head she shoved away the depressing thoughts and flipped through the dresses and kimonos hanging in the closet. Well seeing as they were going to Kyushu she should probably wear a kimono. It was one of the few places in West Shinjuku that the required attire was a kimono.

Selecting a white one with a small silver dragon embroidered over the left breast she slipped the matching midnight blue obi and hair tie off it's hanger and set them on the bed. Well at least she would finally be able to wear this. Tomoe had bought the formal kimono for her when she and Akira had taken a trip to Kyoto. She smiled at the memory of what Tomoe had said when she'd given it to her...... 'A gift for the sister I never had'.

She half smiled as she ran her fingers over the soft fabric, the feeling had been mutual. Brushing away the tear that escaped her eye she undressed and slipped into the beautiful garment. It hurt to think that someone could so callously take Tomoe's life without a second thought. The selfish side of her was happy Enishi had gotten back at the ones who had stolen her life too soon. They had deserved to die.

Tying the obi she drifted over to the dressing table and gazed at herself in the mirror. Her eyes widened in surprise at the reflection looking back at her. She'd never in her life looked so...so...regal. Blushing at the thought she nervously smoothed the silky soft fabric over her hips. Knowing her luck she would dump wine or food down the front of her ruining the beautiful kimono, she'd never be able to keep something so beautiful clean.

A soft knock startled her from her thoughts and she turned to see Enishi enter the room his tall lithe frame wrapped in a black. Meeting his gaze her blush deepened at the open appreciation in his eyes. Rubbing the fabric one last time she grabbed the hair tie and spun on her heel facing the mirror again.

Focusing her undivided attention on putting her hair up she tried without much success to fight down the butterflies suddenly dancing around in her belly. So intent on trying to get herself back under control she didn't see Enishi come up behind her. She jumped when his hands wrapped around hers and he leaned down to rest his chin on her shoulder. "You look absolutely beautiful."

The butterflies in her belly multiplied at the desire evident in the turquoise gaze leveled on her through the mirror. Kami what this man could do to her with just a look. Tearing her eyes from his she wiggled her hands out from underneath his and finished tying up her hair.

"Don't we have to go soon?" she asked innocently trying to break the spell he'd cast over her.

Enishi smirked at her in the mirror, "I could always cancel for tonight. I'm sure we could have a lot more fun here."

Kaoru shivered at the seductive tone of his voice. Closing her eyes against his hungry gaze she shivered again as his hands drifted down her side and came to rest on her hips. All of a sudden an image of her amber eyed tormenter lodged in her mind, the smirk on his face an almost mirror image of the one on Enishi's face. Startled she jerked away from Enishi and opened her eyes willing the image away. Oh god why now!!

Hesitantly looking up she cringed when her eyes clashed with Enishi's in the mirror. The anger evident on his face set her heart to thumping madly against her ribs.

"What the hell was that about?"

Fighting down the growing knot of fear in her belly she slipped away from him. Hurrying over to the bed she mumbled, "N...nothing."

Grabbing her blouse she focused her undivided attention on folding it and tried to push the image of his face from her mind. All of a sudden she was hit with an almost overpowering drive to hunt down the violet eyed man again. Fisting her hands around the freshly folded blouse she nearly whimpered from the effort it took to keep herself where she was.

Enishi’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as her hands fisted into the soft material of her blouse. Something was going on with her and he was going to find out what it was if it killed him. Slowly the feeling that it had something to do with her new neighbor filtered through his veins igniting the anger he was already having a hard time keeping contained. Striding across the room he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him, “You're lying. I want to know what the hell is going on with you. Ever since I got back you've been acting strange."

Kaoru just stared at him. God what was she supposed to tell him? Swallowing around the lump in her throat she pulled her face from his hand. "There's nothing wrong." Glancing at the clock on the nightstand she had to stifle the sigh that tried to escape. "We have to go."

Slipping around him she headed for the phone resting on the nightstand beside the clock. Picking it up she dialed her home number.

"What are you doing?"

Settling on the bed she glanced quickly at Enishi before turning her attention to the billowing sleeve of the kimono. "I have to call Sano and tell him I won't be home until later. I'm sure he's wondering where I am by now."

"You're not going home tonight." Enishi stated with a smirk as he headed for the door. She would be lucky if she went home at all. He was tempted to keep her here until she finally fessed up to what the hell was bothering her.

"What?!" Kaoru spit out without thinking.

Enishi stopped just inside the door and glanced over his shoulder, "You're not going home tonight. You'll be staying here with me."

Kaoru just stared at him. That was it. That the last straw. She couldn't take anymore from him or that goddamned man with shifting colored eyes. Slamming the off button she shot to her feet and strode towards him. "I am going home tonight if I have to walk out of here right now to do it! You can't make me stay here!"

Enishi turned back around and took the last few steps separating them. Pinning her with a icy cold look he purred, "And how do you plan on doing that my dear?"

Kaoru continued to stare at him, the blood suddenly draining from her cheeks. He was right there was no way she could leave without him, she didn't know the code for the elevator. God this was too much.

Getting ahold of herself she met his glare with one of her own, "You can't keep me here! I'll-"

"You'll what?" Enishi asked cutting her off. When she didn't answer he smirked and leaned in until his nose was almost touching hers, "I can make you stay here my dear. You are mine...never forget it."

With that he spun on his heel and headed for the door, "Call Sagara and tell him you won't be home tonight, then get ready to go. Shishio is waiting for us."

Kaoru just stared at his back until he was out of sight. Slowly the feeling of chains wrapping around her in an iron fist whispered over her skin stealing away any fight she'd had. Sagging to the floor she hung her head and fought back the tears burning her eyes. Kami this was starting to get out of hand, he couldn't keep her here against her will. But the sad thing was is that he could. Once she was here she had no way of getting out. She was truly trapped.

Numbly lifting the phone she dialed in her home number again and put it to her ear. She should have listened to Sano and left Enishi months ago. But instead she'd allowed her guilt at his paying of her family's debt keep her here and now she was in too deep. If this kept up she would never get away from him and that thought truly scared her.

"Hello?"

Sano's voice startled her out of her thoughts. Taking a deep breath she tried to settle her nerves, "Hi Sano." she chirped trying to sound cheerful. She couldn't let him know how upset she was. If he knew he would likely come here and demand she go home with him. She was sure if he did that Enishi would simply kill him. She couldn't allow that.

"Jou-chan! Where are you?"

"I'm at Enishi's. We have a business dinner to go to. I...I won't be home tonight." Kaoru scowled at the shakiness of her voice.

A pause met her statement before Sano answered. "Are you alright Kaoru? You don't sound so good."

Kaoru fought back the tears burning behind her eyes again. The concern in his voice cut her to the core. Taking a deep breath she let it out slowly, "Yes, I'm ok. I'll be home tomorrow ok? I'm not sure when yet since I don't have to work but it should be sometime in the morning."

"Ok..." There was another pause and then, "Are you sure you're ok? You do know I'll kill him if he hurts you don't you?"

Kaoru couldn't stop the smile that blossomed on her lips at the fierceness in his voice. "Yes I do. He isn't hurting me, it's just that dinner will probably run late and it would be better if I just stayed here tonight." she lied. She couldn't get him involved, she'd managed to get herself in this predicament and she would get herself out of it one way or another.

"Ok. If you say so. But if you're not home by noon I'm coming to get you got it!"

Kaoru chuckled, "Yes I got it. I'll be home before noon ok?"

There was another pause before she heard Sano again, "Alright then I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

Stifling a sigh she smiled, "Yes, you'll definitely see me tomorrow. Goodnight Sano."

"G'night jou-chan."

Kaoru dropped her arm into her lap as he hung up and sighed. There it was done, now all she had to do was make it through the night and everything would be alright.


Well there you have it. Kenshin now has an accomplice and Enishi has managed to drive a rather big nail into his coffin. Sorry if this chap was a bit boring but these two things needed to happen for the rest to flow smoothly. I'm really hoping to get the next chapter out quicker but every time I get that in my head it always seems to work against me. But again I will do my best.

Please review and let me know what you think.