Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Happiness In Slavery ❯ chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

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

Date started: December 16, 2005

Wow, I am finally writing this. I am on my winter holiday now and after finally taking a break from Fatal Frame (a game I bought recently), I decided I had better start this chapter! A note, normally, women just don't show up at the castle to serve in the emperor's chamber for one night… but for this, I make an exception. So, anyway, I will cut to the chase, here is Chapter 8 of Happiness In Slavery.

Happiness In Slavery

Rating: Older Teens

Chapter 8

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters in shape or form. I do own this plot and any changes I make to characters, as long as its legal, and this includes Himitsu damnit! You steal you die.

End of Chapter 7

Inwardly, the boss chuckled. He always found it so amusing when she was in one of her moods, “I want the two of you to go out and keep an eye on the movements at Nijyoujyou tonight. Preferably, I would like it if you could get inside and get a view of the Emperor in his back rooms. However, the main hallways serve a major problem.” Both nodded as they acknowledged understanding of the “Nightingale Halls” that squeaked like a bird when walked upon, “So, whatever you do, DON'T walk in the main halls. You both are trained to get around, so I will not accept any failure. Try to get information as to why the Imperial Guards were here today. It has to be more than just getting off the property for an entourage to come here. Get some food, and then head out. I don't expect either of you to be back until morning.” The assassins kneeling on their knees gave a small bow forward, and then made their leave.

The moon faded in and out of the nighttime clouds. The crickets chirped their song, as the night began its long trek. Battousai and Himitsu were making their way along the road in a tension filled silence; hate vibes throwing their way at each other. The two were wearing dark clothing, the ghost wearing men's garments again. She held a package under her arm.

They entered the main district of the city not long afterwards. The Hitokiri wore a straw hat to cover his red hair. Many knew of the legendary Hitokiri Battousai in this city; of his blood red hair, and that the legend was the cursed half Japanese son of the emperor. He didn't feel like taking risks in this city. Not if the king knew he were here. The man glanced over to his right at the woman. She was walking alongside him giving him the least bit of attention. The girl was looking about, taking in her surroundings. Battousai assumed that it was because of her long absence from the city. Yet, she was probably doing so for opposite reasons. The red head decided not to worry about the bitch.

The castle was coming upon them. They had already planned how they were going to get in, “Why don't you go ahead an make yourself pretty?” Himitsu glared up at him with her dark eyes, “Why don't you find a place for me to do so?” The two stopped walking, staring at each other expectantly.

“Excuse me.” The voice went unnoticed by the two as they continued to glare, “Excuse me!” The voice was more insistent, and the assassins turned their heads towards the voice, “WHAT!” A young woman seemed taken aback by their reactions, and cowered in fear at their heavy glares. She stammered, “I, I uh, I was just wondering if you were looking for a place to stay tonight. This is an inn after all…”

Himitsu relaxed a minute later, “Sure. How much for one night?” She smirked at Battousai for no reason, and then he followed her as the young woman led them inside. The woman did not realize that Himitsu was a woman, and addressed her, “It is 3000 yen for one night sir.” The female assassin chuckled inwardly, “Fine. Is it possible for a room giving us a view of the castle?” The girl nodded, and then gave instructions that the room was on the second floor, third door to the right.

Himitsu stared out the window, looking down in the direction of the castle, Nijyoujyou. She leaned against the window's base, her hand under her chin. The girl heard the door open, a sign that the bastard had come back with the food he had ordered, “My, my, don't you look a sight for sore eyes.” The coy voice brought her out of her study, and replaced her calm mood with an annoyed one.

“Shut the hell up.” She snapped, “Took you long enough.” The girl was dressed in her mother's kimono. She had put her hair up in a fine coiffure, one delicate hairpin placed in a precarious spot. She swiped up a bowl of rice, a pair of chopsticks. While she was preoccupied with her food, he asked her, “You know the rules now right?” She didn't answer, “No weapons of any sort.” That struck a sore spot for Himitsu, but she refused to let him know that. She put down the bowl, “I'm done.” She stood up, and grabbed her sword. She looked at it, and then heaved a sigh.

Himitsu placed it underneath one of the futon, and then stood back up straight, “Do I look like a woman who is eligible to be in the emperor's presence?” She waited for an answer, “Whatever. Let's go.” She walked to the door, and thus made her way out. Battousai merely followed her. He had made sure that not a strand of his red hair was visible by the hat. `You go first. Make sure that innkeeper isn't around. She might think it odd that someone she hasn't seen before is leaving the place.' Battousai did as he was told.

He went down the stairs, and he saw the young girl who had offered them rooms, “Excuse me for a minute. I would like it if you could direct me to the Gion district.” The girl looked up from what she was doing, and immediately agreed. She led him outside and pointed in the direction he should go. Battousai saw Himitsu leaving the building behind her, and begin walking their way. She passed the two, and the man thanked the girl for her help.

Himitsu waited for Battousai to catch up. The plan was that he would pose as her bodyguard. They were going to enter the castle, using the roles of a woman, here to hold a viewing with the emperor, and the lady's body guard, who would wait outside of the innermost chambers of the castle, of which were forbidden to all men, except the emperor himself.

As they were getting closer to the castle, they saw the Imperial Guards who protected the main entrance to the castle. Upon reaching the gates, which were closed, a guard shouted out, “Halt! In the name of the Emperor, who approaches the castle?” Himitsu made sure to keep her face low in the manner of a proper Japanese woman. She would allow for the Battousai to speak for her, “I am here, to escort this woman to the Emperor for the night. I believe he is expecting her. I of course, will not enter the inner chambers. I am, however, supposed to wait until she leaves, so that I may bring her back to her home, respectively.”

The man with golden eyes awaited the answer of the guards. They seemed hesitant, and were whispering to each other over whether this was all true or not. One said that the women never come after dark, while the other argued that many things could have caused their late arrival. The assassin said, “We were caught up by a rock slide on our journey here from the city of Edo.” (The name of Tokyo before the Meiji Era) Upon those words, the guards seemed to finally agree, and allowed the two to enter. One of the guards said that he would go with them, until they reached the main building. Once there, they would meet up with another guard, who would then proceed to take them to the Inner Chamber, where the “bodyguard” could leave the lady.

Himitsu continued to keep her face lowered, and her hands folded neatly in front of her, as she took the small steps required of a lady. The Hitokiri kept one hand on her elbow, so as to show the guards that he was protecting her. The warmth that seeped through sickened her, and she then thought to herself, `Who would have thought that he had warmth in his body.'

About five minutes later, the first guard left them in the hands of another, “Come with me. The emperor has been awaiting you, lady.” Himitsu took her steps down the Nightingale Hall. It seemed nostalgic, but it wasn't at the same time. Battousai, on the other hand, was having some major memory lane issues, at the moment, going through his head.

“Come here, my boy.” A loving voice called out to him. The small red head ran with five-year-old steps to another, with nearly the same red hair. The chirps of the floorboards sang their song, as he neared her.

“Mommy!” He squealed out, as he hugged her tightly around her tiny waist. The petite woman hugged him just as tightly in return, “My little boy. My prince.”

They reached a closed sliding door, covered in elaborate paintings. The guard said, “I will wait with you here until she comes out, if you wish.” Battousai stared at the guard, “She will be fine.” The man let go of her elbow, and the girl went through the doorway, giving Hitokiri one last look of smugness. Soon enough, the sliding door was shut in his face, and the man was left with the Imperial Guard.

“So, you brought her all the way from Edo to have a viewing with the emperor tonight?” The guard inquired, “Normally women don't get the privilege to do this.”

Battousai was leaning against the wall, and glared over at the guard, “I am her bodyguard. Her family wishes for her to learn what it is like to be a proper lady. She might not look it, but she is very un-lady-like at times. My only hope, is that she behaves herself while there, so as not to give her family a shameful name.”

The guard studied the other, and the manslayer studied him. They stared a little longer, and then the guard turned away in a small amount of intimidation.

“Mommy, that man scares me.” The little girl whispered into her mother's ear. The woman looked down at her small child and scolded her silently, “Hush child.”
The two were kneeling on two cushions in front of the Emperor, in all his glory. The three-year-old child spotted a pair of gold eyes, and a wisp of red hair, staring out through the crack of one sliding doorway.

The man smiled at the child with blue eyes, “Do not fear me, little one, I will not hurt you.” He then turned his attention back to the mother, “Kamiya-san, I seek your assistance. I need-”

“So you are the beautiful one from Edo.” A man that looked almost like the one she had just seen in her mind, except older, smiled at her.

She bowed low, “Excuse me for my tardiness. We were met by a mudslide on our journey.” Meanwhile, her thoughts were raging, `Why the hell was he with my mother? What was it that he needed from her? And those golden eyes… no way!'

The emperor seemed to be very laid back, as he was no longer in his Imperial robes, or under the scrutinization of the many guards and citizens of the country. He walked towards her, and circled round her, “For some reason… I think I have seen you before. I swear I have seen that exact kimono.” He lifted her chin, “Those same facial features, and unnatural blue eyes.” That sent lightning bolts through her, while she kept her face straight.

“Is that so, Emperor? I have never stepped foot in Kyoto before today. Not since I was a very small child.” This was true, in its own way. It would not be smart to lie to him while she had no weapon on her. The Emperor was sharp. And if that little flashback that she had been treated to moments earlier had indeed happened, he was seeing her mother in his mind, and possibly the little Kaoru all grown up.

Things could go very wrong… very wrong. She had to be careful of what she said if she treasured her life.

GIVE ME A NICE CHRISTMAS PRESENT.

Finally! I got around to this story again. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I am leaving you with a cliffy of sorts. What the hell is the emperor thinking? We will get his point of view next chapter. I gave you guys flashbacks for both Kaoru and Kenshin. So it turns out that Kaoru has a past connection with the castle and the emperor, through her mother. I would like to note, that I am having the mothers in this story have a role of sorts.

The things I am mentioning about Nijyoujyou are factual. The inner chamber stuff…

Anyway, next up is Rivers Run Dry, Butterfly Kisses, and then I will circle back around to chapter 9 of Happiness In Slavery. Glad you read!

Hotaru

Date finished: December 17, 2005