Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ KOTETSU TO KOSUI (Steel and Perfume) ❯ Von Allen Kenshin Himura Van Heerden ( Chapter 4 )

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

STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY

Kotetsu to Kosui (Steel and Perfume)

Chapter Four

"In her behalf?"

The light of the candle beside the disarranged futon created shadows throughout the confined room. There was no moon that night only the candle illuminated the place.

His voice, she noticed was always calm and his eyes calculating. In her position in front of him, her form blocking the light from reaching him, she could feel something emanating from him - something deep and hurting.

Kaoru bowed her head in answer to his question and with this simple act of surrender they understood each other. Naoko Kamiya Laidler was dead, Kaoru's message was clear - and she wanted to claim the promise he made to Naoko for her own.

"Tell me."

And she complied. Kaoru retold the story. Told this to a man she met only a few hours ago and barely knew - and she began to hurt. But she forced herself to tell him. That she came home late that night from teaching in a dojo on the end of the town and noticed several policemen surrounding their house. Her intuition screamed danger so she entered using the passage that only family members and a few trusted servants knew. She burst to tears when she told him about her parents' death. Her cries increased gradually until she could no longer force herself to talk.

Kaoru felt Kenshin attach his sword to his waist as he stood in front of her. She couldn't face him or look at him, not now, not during her time of weakness.

"This is pointless," his voice slightly startled her, "you should understand Ms. Laidler that I do not need your display of emotion. I need facts. Do not misinterpret me but extracting information from you in your current state would be futile."

Kenshin's steps were heard against the un-tatami'd floor. She felt him walk around her bent body and stop. Her sobbing was more controlled now, her breathing almost normal. In the stillness, the only dominant sound that could be heard was the chirping of the crickets outside.

Kaoru closed her eyes and opened herself up to her surroundings. From her position on the floor, she tried to distinguish an object from another. During this short time of concentration, Kaoru became aware of the heat of the candle burning a few meters away from her. She could feel the wind and the slightest vibrations from the earth. But the most dominating aura was coming from behind her - it was Kenshin's. Oddly, she felt like he was reaching out to her, and doing something else that she could not explain.

Kenshin felt Kaoru's territory widen, like a water ripple increasing in diameter. Her aura spread throughout the room and beyond and he was right behind it. Kenshin was sure Kaoru was not even knowledgeable of the more complicated aspects of ki but her body understood. To her, using ki was in order to comprehend more of her environment, in order to comfort herself. It was her way of soothing herself from the pain. People with innate gifts like Kaoru's were rare, his sensei once said, and if they learned to control it, it would be for their advantage in battle - in life.

He also knew that as fast as the ripple started it would be gone at the same rate. So he allowed his ki to mix with hers slightly and he knew that she felt it. While hers radiated hurt and anger, he radiated comfort and calmness. It was very rare that he did so to strangers but somehow he felt she badly needed it. At first he felt her accept it, mixing it with her own as well but almost instantaneously she retreated, her ki screaming confusion. And it was gone.

Kaoru moved to look at Kenshin. Her head tilted to his standing form. The next thing she felt was Kenshin's arms behind her knees and back; gathering her into his arms. Her hands found its way to his neck and she buried her face in his chest. His heart beat was steady and was almost in synch with his steps as he made his way back to her futon.

This unexpected action confused Kaoru and her confusion was intensified when Kenshin sat beside the futon and did not release her. His hand gently stroked her hair as the other was encircled firmly around her waist.

"We will talk tomorrow, but for now you need to rest."

His statement, though void of any emotion touched something within her and this scared Kaoru. Why was she reacting like this? She barely knew him, though her mother would tell her cut stories about the great Hitokiri when she was younger. Frustration in herself and the onslaught of memories of that night caused tears to swell in her eyes. Kenshin knew Kaoru was trying hard to control herself, the eminent shaking an evidence to it.

When her movement stopped and her breathing steady, he stopped stroking her hair and released the hold on her waist. He deposited her body in the futon. Then he crawled to the end of the futon nearest to the wall and laid his back against it like he always did every night. Sword in hand and feet crossed, he tried to get as much sleep as he could get before an inevitable onslaught caught up with him.

Deshima, Kyushu Japan

Summer 1853

It was Wednesday night, and as usual, the port was overflowing with people. The time was seven in the evening. It had been several hours since his mother told him to sleep but escaping to this place on Wednesdays was a routinary activity for the nine year old Von Allen.

He first discovered the port when he slipped outside the house feeling contained. His life since birth was all about routine. Breakfast, then tutorials and in the afternoon his training with Gene before cleaning himself up for dinner. He needed something to disrupt this that was why he got out.

His mother told her earlier that Hiko Seijirou was visiting them tonight but had not yet arrived. All the better, Von Allen thought, for the man always looked at him and scrutinized his every moves whenever they were in the same room and this inferiorated Von Allen.

His father was out on business again as usual. He only came home at least twice a month and stayed for a maximum of two days. Von Allen merely knew his father but liked it whenever he came home for his mother would, unnoticed by her, become more patient and tolerant with him - and sometimes their trainings were set aside.

Of course the sound from his parents' room was not strange to him whenever his father came home. As young as he was, he was aware of such activities but was not knowledgeable on the details. He concurred that people were constantly seeking for it (for he did not know what the activity was called, he dare not ask his tutors innately knowing it would put his mother in an uncomfortable position). If the ladies with painted faces in the ports were an indication of it.

He also knew how his mother changed since her marriage. Househelp weren't usually very discreet in their meetings. Little did Genereaux know that all her emotional barriers were already penetrated by Octave. His sweet nature and humour, together with his devilishly handsome appearance, warmed her and brought life to her whenever he came home. Of course there were moments when Octave would show her his other nature - his alarming temper and iron hand whenever it came it business - and this caused her to respect him even more.

She did not know but Gene did love Octave. Seijirou Hiko was right. Von Allen was a sharp boy. His thinking moulded by the rigorous training courtesy of his mother.

The port was always the same every Wednesday. Heavy built men carrying all sorts of luggage everywhere. The air reeked of human waste from the ships and sweat from the labourers. The whores searching for potential customers amidst equally poor people. Von Allen was used to this - he even enjoyed it. It was the only time he left the house for his mother kept him continually inside. His social science tutor once told him that in order to fully understand a community you should observe its marketplace; and this, the port, was the closest to a market place he could get.

Mass exchange of goods, both legal and illegal transpired here. Human nature was raw here. From a distance he could see a group of teenage boys initiating a new member of their group. In the other corner an officer accepting an envelope from a man. At the age of nine he was knowledgeable on the ways of the world.

He was used to the stares the people gave him. They had every reason to. His unusually red hair stood out in any crowd night or day and his wardrobe, though Japanese, spoke of power and wealth. The children present around the port were usually dressed in drab. He had wanted to change but his old and worn out clothes were disposed of immediately.

Von Allen observed them all in silence, never speaking to anyone and resorting to staring when they did. From this he learned how a man would react to a specific situation. He also picked up several curse words and would repeat it inside his mind whenever his tutors agitated him.

He noticed several men running with buckets in their hands. Well, that usually did not happen.

"Everyone!" A deep voice shouted, "We need your assistance, the sixth house on Ichiko street is on fire."

The sixth house on Ichiko street? Impossible. But that was his home. Putting into application all the training he received Von Allen ran towards his house in a speed worthy of a champion runner.

Monstrous flames covered the house. He quickly scanned the house for his mother - and father, he remembered him coming home late that night - but did not find them. Several shogun samurais also assisted in putting out the flame but their efforts weren't enough.

Von Allen rushed into the house not minding the hands and the shouts that beckoned him to stop. Try hard as they might they could not stop him for he was very fast. He entered through the main door, carefully dodging falling debris. He immediately rushed to the house's rooms frantically looking for his mother, desperate to find her. Maybe he was just being silly. His mother was a strong and very perceptive woman. And she could be outside somewhere waiting for him, ready to scold him for his stupidity. He was near the back exit when he caught sight of a woman sitting on the kitchen floor - mother!

Genereaux was there sitting on the kitchen floor. The fire and heat did nothing to intimidate her. The orange light made her amber eyes more intense, Von Allen never remembered his mother look so beautiful. She started at him as if in deep thought.

"Von Allen! What are you doing here? Get out, you stupid boy," she said in Russian.

He ventured nearer and was shocked. In his mother's arms lay the unmoving body of his father, Octave.

"Father? Mother, let's go. The house could collapse any minute!"

Genereaux looked at her son, for the first time allowing him to see through her. Now Von Allen knew why his mother never acted like that before, her intense eyes reflected all the love she had for him. It was warm and comforting but at the same time corrupting. He wanted to shout at her for her foolishness.

"No son, my legs are already broken. I'll just slow you down and," she looked down at her husband compassionately, "I want you to be free from now on Von Allen. I know how you feel; I know this house suffocates you so…"

The boy did not move. For the first time in his young life he felt loved by his mother and grief for the unstoppable. As if sensing this, Gene said softly, "Your father has already gone, you should too. But I know your little heart is questioning. The man responsible is Takeda Kanryuu. Find him and make me proud my dearest Kenshin. Now go!"

Von Allen nodded. Never had his mother used his Japanese name before when speaking in Russian, in fact it was the first time she ever called him that. A tear fell from his eyes as he clenched his fists tightly. There was nothing he could do - for now. But when he was stronger, wiser, Takeda will pay. He stepped outside, the house crumbling down after he left.

Kobe, Japan

Spring, 1876

Kaoru deposited the used bowls in the sink. When she woke that morning breakfast was ready and placed beside her futon. Only now did she remember that there was only one futon in the room that night, leaving the question where did Himura sleep last night replaying in her head.

She looked around and found a bucket full of water. Carefully, so as not to break anything, she washed the dishes.

Only after the last breakable had been cleaned did Kaoru hear the sound of heavy metal hitting ground. She slid the main shoji door open slightly and from the small opening she made, saw Kenshin lift something heavy looking. He must have heard her for he turned to her direction and signalled her to look.

She closed the shoji behind her and sat on the porch directly in front of Kenshin. He did no further actions recognizing her presence, so absorbed was he on tilling the land.

From the position of the sun in the sky she could tell that it was between 8 and 9 in the morning.

Kaoru observed him in silence as he loosened tight soil beneath him. When he thrust the equipment downward, it was always perfect; always a precise and accurate strike. His blue gi was tied along the sleeves to allow free movement without soiling the clothing. He was not wearing anything beneath it like he did last night. But it still suited him, in the most traditional way; he truly looked like a farmer and not a feared swordsman.

Kenshin felt Kaoru's eyes on him. He had prepared her breakfast earlier and had proceeded to gardening - his only emotional outlet. He had turned to gardening long ago and had since then felt solace in tending to nature. Then he remembered last night. Why did Naoko want to claim the promise he gave her only now? Now that he was stable and established. It could destroy all that he had worked hard for years. He also remembered the way Kaoru used her ki that same night. Seeing that she was within range, he directed some ki into her, telling her subtly that he was exhausted from work.

He saw her stand and return into the house. Not exactly the reaction he had expected by he was still satisfied that she had felt it. So he continued on with his work. Moments later, he was surprised to see Kaoru by his side, towel in the other hand and a glass of water in another.

"I thought you'd be thirsty," she smiled, her hand offering the drink.

"Thank you." He took the glass from her and drank its contents quickly. Then she handed him the fresh white towel she had found inside a cabinet but seeing that his hands were quite dirty she resolved to do it herself. She wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck in a slow, time consuming manner. Her eyes followed the flow of liquid from his neck to his gaping chest, unaware that her hands had automatically moved to treat that area as well.

When she came to her senses, she looked at his eyes in alarm. What had just happened? Oh dear heavens. Is he angry? As usual his betrayed no emotion, they just stood there staring at each other but his cleaner hand was now holding the feminine hand that was on his chest.

"Here, let me take that. I'm going inside." Kenshin saw her cheeks turn a pinkish shade before she retreated.

----------

They had not talked to each other since the little incident that morning but now that they were eating dinner together, Kaoru felt that she had to break the silence somehow. She struggled to find words that she thought would interest him, but her thinking was disrupted when he spoke.

"Prepare yourself Ms. Laidler. After this we shall talk and this time I want you to tell me just the facts."

She looked at him for a moment, her facial expression serious, and then nodded.

After they had set aside the dishes, Kenshin called for Kaoru in the sitting room. Her mind was racing. Did he even know how painful it was for her? Even as she walked she tried not to cry, she wouldn't not again in front of him.

Kaoru seated herself opposite of him. Beside them, a tall new candle radiated heat and light. Kenshin spoke first.

"Now Ms. Laidler, I want you to think. I want you to tell me everything you know about that day."

Kaoru composed herself, and told him everything from the very beginning, devoid of any emotion. She told him how it was like a witness and not a victim would and in doing so, she realized that the pain was more bearable, tolerable compared to rambling like she did.

Kenshin massaged his forehead with his forefinger and thumb when she finished. After he did, his face returned to its normal, unreadable look.

"Do you know who's responsible for the slaughter? An enemy of the family perhaps?"

Kaoru shook her head. "No and if there was I should have known."

"Well, it's obvious that this person have connections with the police force. Are you sure it's not the government?"

"Yes, I've discreetly checked my family's records. The Laidler-Kamiya household is clean. In fact, Kyoto Prefecture's governor was scheduled on visiting the family a week after the incident to meet with my father."

"Meet with you father? Why?" Maybe this wouldn't be too hard after all, Kenshin thought.

"I'm not sure, the letter did not really explain why. The only reason I could think of is that it could be the Japanese Government's extra efforts to fully open up our ports; making it accessible to the outside world and they want the resident foreigners to take part in this."

Kenshin looked at the open window, "There must be more to it. We have to know more about that supposed visit."

Deshima, Kyushu Japan

Summer 1853

Von Allen sat alone against a Sakura tree. The fire had been put out hours ago and the people began to disperse. No one even bothered to check out on him. As soon as the fire reached its minimum, people began to search the house for valuables that survived. To their dismay, only few were left useful by the raging fire. It was expected since there was nothing left of the mansion but ashes and little debris.

He buried his face between his knees. His mind relaying the phrases pathetic poor people, Takeda Kanryuu, Kenshin, all over again. Unconsciously he widened his ki sphere, unknowingly releasing all his anger into it. The people passing him felt it but their minds did not understand what it was they felt. All of a sudden their hearts became heavy and at the same time agitated. They did not think more of it, deciding that it was only their lack of sleep or the incident that propelled such thoughts.

"Hey."

Von Allen looked up and saw the caped form of Hiko Seijirou. The extended cloth flowed freely on his back. They gazed at each other for a moment; relaying information in the process. He stood tall beside Von Allen, his sword hidden by his cape and a jug of sake his right hand.

"They're gone. I told her to get out, I should have insisted. I'm alone now." Compassion for the young filled Hiko and it was evident when he said, "Come now Kenshin, I'll you that from now on, it's been a long night and you need a place to stay."

Kenshin. Von Allen Kenshin Himura Van Heerden. What an awfully long name I have. Its okay, maybe I should trim it down a little. Kenshin Himura sounds fine, I am still Japanese afterall. Goodbye mother, father. I'll make sure your deaths are given justice. Please wait till that time comes.

Nine year old Kenshin stood and nodded at Hiko. They poured some sake on the ashen house before leaving Deshima permanently.

Kobe, Japan

Spring, 1876

And this happened for quite a while; Kenshin asking questions and Kaoru answering them. When Kenshin declared that they were through for the day, Kaoru already felt better.

"Thank you, Mr. Himura for helping me."

Kenshin, his back facing her, stopped in mid stride, "I'm afraid you're mistaken. I never promised to help you Ms. Laidler, without anything in return that is."

Kaoru stood from her earlier position. She wasn't hearing this. Did he just say…?

"Wha.. what are you trying to say?"

Kenshin turned, facing her, his expression still neutral, "That I never agreed to help you."

He saw her face turn pale. So far, she had not provided him the information he needed: the whys and the hows. She did not know the person responsible. She was running away from something she did not know and she went to his house just because her mother instructed her to. Kenshin thought that maybe Naoko did have a reason to send her here but why in Kami's name did she not tell Kaoru? The girl was literally walking in the dark, afraid of something but she didn't know what.

"What about the promise you made to my mother? Was it all a lie?"

"That exactly is the point Kaoru. It was for your mother. You poor girl, let me explain. If it weren't for the memory of your mother I would never have accepted you in the first place. Now you're asking me to do something for you that you do not even know. Who are you running away from? Why are you here? Why did your mother send you here? You must be in real danger if she sent you to me but my services require payment my dear."

Kaoru stuttered, and in her nervousness she didn't hear the change in Kenshin's tone, "but I still can't understand you. Why won't you help me? We took you in! Sheltered you!"

She didn't even see him move. The next she felt was his tight grip on her arm and his face centimetres from hers. "You will not use my weakness against me! Your mother took me out of her free will, I never forced her to. Can't you understand that what you're asking me will disrupt the life that I have made for myself?"

Kaoru winced; his grip on her was strong and unbreakable. His eyes looked amber in the darkness. He did not raise his voice much but it unnerved Kaoru so. She felt his ki; though she did not know it was called that, exude emotion for the first time. He was angry, it was quite obvious, and in pain.

She also felt him gaining control over himself when he broke contact. "So let me summarize things for you Kaoru, I agree to help you because you are Naoko's daughter but you have to give me something in return."

Kaoru bowed her head in thought, "But I have nothing now, nothing… but my bokken. Will you accept it?"

She heard him laugh so she raised her head to see his fierce amber eyes gazing at her. "I have no use for your wooden stick Ms. Laidler. You have to do better than that."

Kaoru's forehead wrinkled as she thought of something of that would appeal to him. Her eyes were focused on Kenshin but her mind was elsewhere. She had nothing, surely he would not want my yellow kimono, she laughed at the thought, or my leather hand guards, my imported backpack? I am as good as dead. I am not that important anyway but if I die, I'd never know what happened to mother and father. Unless…

"Mr. Himura, I may still have something that would interest you."

Kenshin smirked. He knew she was without anything. Surely she would not propose…? "And what would that be?"

"I realize that you are alone here," what she was going to say would be not only embarrassing but unethical as well for her as a Japanese woman but she had no choice, "with no company or anybody to assist you," I am going to do this, even if it meant sacrificing my dignity "what I am offering is my services," I have to know the truth and only Himura can help me, "I am to stay with you until you release me."

"You mean become my mistress?"

Kaoru's head shot up in surprise, her eyes wide, shocked. "No, what I meant was…"

"Agreed." There was no way of paraphrasing what she meant. The message would still be the same. She was agreeing to stay with him, to help him, what kind of services could I possibly need? When a man and woman stayed in the same house what could it ultimately mean? She even made it simpler for me - she would not be released until I tell her. He looked at her, a small smile forming his lips.

Kaoru shrugged her shoulders in defeat. What was I thinking? No I wasn't even thinking, it was a very impulsive decision, I should have thought about it first. But he is right. What I said… Oh Kami-sama!

"Yes, agreed." She regretted so, but replied.

Author's Notes:

Hi! Well that was longer than expected and about the ripping off thing - I was just kidding. No way am I going to plagiarize! But thanks for the suggestion ;). I read Mine and some of Alysandrya's