Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ KOTETSU TO KOSUI (Steel and Perfume) ❯ Moving ( Chapter 7 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: LustrousJade 
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Adventure / Samurai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.03.2005 | Pages: 2 | Words: 1.7K | Visits: 483 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Adventure / Samurai | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 04.03.2005 | Pages: 2 | Words: 1.7K | Visits: 483 | Status: Completed
KOTETSU TO KOSUI (STEEL AND PERFUME)
Chapter Seven
Edo Police Headquarters
Spring 1876
 Once safe inside the walls of his office Toshiro tore the envelope and read the contents carefully as to not miss a detail. His brain processed everything as his hands flipped through the pages of the report that cost him a fortune.
So, the rumours had been true after all. Naoko Kamiya Laidler had taken in Battousai for four days. This is going to be more interesting than I thought. Interestingly more difficult if Battousai is involved. But the days of sword fighting is way behind already. Guns and different kinds of ammunition could be made available with his beck and call. Even the greatest shadow killer is no match for modern artillery.
But what made him more nervous was the fact that the Kamiya girl was with Battousai as of the moment. He had just received a report from the spies he sent saying that Battousai is currently harbouring Kaoru Kamiya Laidler in his house.
Repaying a debt Battousai?
Exactly. It was odd but it did make sense. The Kamiya girl somehow knew about what her mother did to him. And she came to him asking help.
Toshiro was shaking, with frustration, with anger and with fear. If only they had secured the perimeter like I told them to. If only he had been given more competent men. The plan was perfect, without flaw, or so I thought. Kamiya should have not gone away!
He curled his fists tightly. If only Battousai wasn’t involved. He was making his revenge more difficult to execute.
Battousai? Or course! How could he have been so foolish? It was like catching two birds with one stone. He could get his revenge and be rewarded for capturing the infamous Battousai – right after I prove he has started conspiring against the government again. But that would make no sense at all since it was he who helped bring about this era. No matter. I will find a reason somehow. Positive that his brain would not let him down.
He remained that way for several minutes, trying to convince himself that he had the advantage over the situation. But he just couldn’t understand the tinge fear that he felt everytime he remembered he was going against Battousai this time.
 The next day Toshiro gathered twenty of his men and set out for Kobe, or more specifically to Mt. Rokko where the famous slayer was.
Kobe, Japan
Spring 1876
“Here, I wouldn’t want you going sick on me.”
Kaoru smiled as Kenshin handed her a clean towel. The fire was currently their only source of light in the room.
On their way home he had not spoken to her nor she to him. It was as if a blanket of fear and doubt enveloped her. She was certain of nothing; except that she felt deeply for the man walking ahead of her. Felt like she never did before. As usual she knew nothing concerning his thoughts.
She accepted the towel.
Before he turned, Kaoru saw the expression of his eyes change. It was not the calculating look she was so familiar with. It was a gentle, almost soft look. Her breath held itself. And she couldn’t stop herself from calling out his name with such desperation just to see those eyes that touched her heart again.
But he did not turn. He just nodded and walked away.
_____
 After Kaoru finished drying herself, she sat near the fire, hugging her knees closer to her body. She felt so refreshed and the warmth of the fire helped her to relax more. She was beginning to feel sleepy when she felt Kenshin sit beside her. Her body suddenly felt rigid. She did not look at him or even acknowledge his presence. He did the same. The silence between them was becoming unbearable. It was time that she speak.
“Kenshin, I just remembered, I haven’t prepared the medicine. I’m sorry. I was uh… preoccupied. It’s market day tomorrow right?”
“Yes.” His voice was indifferent again, just like the first day I met him. She stood, all the while trying to sound cheerful when she spoke.
“Well in that case I should get going to prepare, so we could…”
“We are not going tomorrow.”
For the first time since he gave her the towel he looked her in the eyes. Kaoru swore he was playing tricks on her. Why did her knees feel weak everytime he looked at her? Was it ki? She was beginning to feel even more confused when she saw the colour of his eyes. It was violet. Was her mind playing with her too? It was amber the last time she stared.
“They’re here aren’t they? The men following us last time, they’re here to get me.”
Kenshin motioned for her to sit down again. She complied since her knees felt even weaker than before. She was not thinking much so she did not notice that she sat a little closer to him. She resumed her earlier position, chin resting on top of her knees.
Kenshin did not speak for a while. He was trying to think of ways to explain that the men after her were government spies sent by a man named Toshiro Kajiuchi. Sanosuke dropped by and gave him this information.
“Looks like my little pet is getting better.”
Kaoru nodded. She did not smile, did not protest. She would normally stick her tongue out whenever he called her his pet, how childish. He smiled inwardly at the memory.
“They found me.”
The Kaoru beside him now was serious. Deep in thought.
You have nothing to worry about. His mind reeled. He almost said that aloud. He looked at her and saw that the little girl he saw years ago was different form the frightened woman beside him. She was no longer innocent about the cruelties of the world. Yet what puzzled him was her genuine naivety about all things trivial.
She did not bear grudges. She never voiced out what she was planning to do with the perpetuator when she knew who the person was. She merely told him she wanted to know his motivation in doing so. Others would have sworn to kill after going through the ordeal she has.
He sighed.
“But you found me first. Didn’t you?”
He must be exhausted too, for when he thought about it, what he said held no sense at all.
“Yes I did. And I was wondering if it’s good that I did.” She chuckled but couldn’t hide the sleepiness in her voice.
They were two sleepy people talking. It was an excuse he made when he could not think of another that could logically explain the meaning of the words they were saying to each other.
He felt himself smile. She must have seen for the action she did next surprised him.
 It seemed like the most natural thing to do so Kaoru let her head fall to Kenshin’s shoulders. She moved her head slowly so that her cheeks could feel the material of his gi. He was so warm and she fit into him perfectly. Kenshin stiffened when Kaoru unconsciously kissed his neck.
She was so groggy already that she could not find the energy to even think more about the men closing in on her or more importantly the actions she was current doing to the red head.
Somehow Kenshin managed to keep his breathing even. Sleepiness was temporarily flushed out of his system when he felt Kaoru’s lips on his skin. He heard Kaoru whimper against his shoulder a little while later. He sighed. Gods, did she smell great. Finding he could not help it, he wrapped his right arm around her and adjusted his position so she would not feel uncomfortable. Sleepiness came back to him with a vengeance.
In the dimness of the night they slept cuddled together. In the dimness of the night, before he closed his eyes, he saw her smile.
Author’s notes:
 Here’s the next chapter cause people were staring to complain XD. I’m sorry it’s so late and a little shorter than my previous ones. I’ll do better next time!
Aja-aja, fighting! (I picked this up in a Korean show I’m currently obsessed with. I think aja-aja means fight and fighting well, fighting. Though I still can’t figure out why they used the verb with an –ing.) o.O So you better get used to it okies?
Thanks for taking time to read everyone! ~hands over cookies~ and please leave a review.
Thanks. ^_^x
Huggles,
LustrousJade
Chapter Seven
Edo Police Headquarters
Spring 1876
 Once safe inside the walls of his office Toshiro tore the envelope and read the contents carefully as to not miss a detail. His brain processed everything as his hands flipped through the pages of the report that cost him a fortune.
So, the rumours had been true after all. Naoko Kamiya Laidler had taken in Battousai for four days. This is going to be more interesting than I thought. Interestingly more difficult if Battousai is involved. But the days of sword fighting is way behind already. Guns and different kinds of ammunition could be made available with his beck and call. Even the greatest shadow killer is no match for modern artillery.
But what made him more nervous was the fact that the Kamiya girl was with Battousai as of the moment. He had just received a report from the spies he sent saying that Battousai is currently harbouring Kaoru Kamiya Laidler in his house.
Repaying a debt Battousai?
Exactly. It was odd but it did make sense. The Kamiya girl somehow knew about what her mother did to him. And she came to him asking help.
Toshiro was shaking, with frustration, with anger and with fear. If only they had secured the perimeter like I told them to. If only he had been given more competent men. The plan was perfect, without flaw, or so I thought. Kamiya should have not gone away!
He curled his fists tightly. If only Battousai wasn’t involved. He was making his revenge more difficult to execute.
Battousai? Or course! How could he have been so foolish? It was like catching two birds with one stone. He could get his revenge and be rewarded for capturing the infamous Battousai – right after I prove he has started conspiring against the government again. But that would make no sense at all since it was he who helped bring about this era. No matter. I will find a reason somehow. Positive that his brain would not let him down.
He remained that way for several minutes, trying to convince himself that he had the advantage over the situation. But he just couldn’t understand the tinge fear that he felt everytime he remembered he was going against Battousai this time.
 The next day Toshiro gathered twenty of his men and set out for Kobe, or more specifically to Mt. Rokko where the famous slayer was.
Kobe, Japan
Spring 1876
“Here, I wouldn’t want you going sick on me.”
Kaoru smiled as Kenshin handed her a clean towel. The fire was currently their only source of light in the room.
On their way home he had not spoken to her nor she to him. It was as if a blanket of fear and doubt enveloped her. She was certain of nothing; except that she felt deeply for the man walking ahead of her. Felt like she never did before. As usual she knew nothing concerning his thoughts.
She accepted the towel.
Before he turned, Kaoru saw the expression of his eyes change. It was not the calculating look she was so familiar with. It was a gentle, almost soft look. Her breath held itself. And she couldn’t stop herself from calling out his name with such desperation just to see those eyes that touched her heart again.
But he did not turn. He just nodded and walked away.
_____
 After Kaoru finished drying herself, she sat near the fire, hugging her knees closer to her body. She felt so refreshed and the warmth of the fire helped her to relax more. She was beginning to feel sleepy when she felt Kenshin sit beside her. Her body suddenly felt rigid. She did not look at him or even acknowledge his presence. He did the same. The silence between them was becoming unbearable. It was time that she speak.
“Kenshin, I just remembered, I haven’t prepared the medicine. I’m sorry. I was uh… preoccupied. It’s market day tomorrow right?”
“Yes.” His voice was indifferent again, just like the first day I met him. She stood, all the while trying to sound cheerful when she spoke.
“Well in that case I should get going to prepare, so we could…”
“We are not going tomorrow.”
For the first time since he gave her the towel he looked her in the eyes. Kaoru swore he was playing tricks on her. Why did her knees feel weak everytime he looked at her? Was it ki? She was beginning to feel even more confused when she saw the colour of his eyes. It was violet. Was her mind playing with her too? It was amber the last time she stared.
“They’re here aren’t they? The men following us last time, they’re here to get me.”
Kenshin motioned for her to sit down again. She complied since her knees felt even weaker than before. She was not thinking much so she did not notice that she sat a little closer to him. She resumed her earlier position, chin resting on top of her knees.
Kenshin did not speak for a while. He was trying to think of ways to explain that the men after her were government spies sent by a man named Toshiro Kajiuchi. Sanosuke dropped by and gave him this information.
“Looks like my little pet is getting better.”
Kaoru nodded. She did not smile, did not protest. She would normally stick her tongue out whenever he called her his pet, how childish. He smiled inwardly at the memory.
“They found me.”
The Kaoru beside him now was serious. Deep in thought.
You have nothing to worry about. His mind reeled. He almost said that aloud. He looked at her and saw that the little girl he saw years ago was different form the frightened woman beside him. She was no longer innocent about the cruelties of the world. Yet what puzzled him was her genuine naivety about all things trivial.
She did not bear grudges. She never voiced out what she was planning to do with the perpetuator when she knew who the person was. She merely told him she wanted to know his motivation in doing so. Others would have sworn to kill after going through the ordeal she has.
He sighed.
“But you found me first. Didn’t you?”
He must be exhausted too, for when he thought about it, what he said held no sense at all.
“Yes I did. And I was wondering if it’s good that I did.” She chuckled but couldn’t hide the sleepiness in her voice.
They were two sleepy people talking. It was an excuse he made when he could not think of another that could logically explain the meaning of the words they were saying to each other.
He felt himself smile. She must have seen for the action she did next surprised him.
 It seemed like the most natural thing to do so Kaoru let her head fall to Kenshin’s shoulders. She moved her head slowly so that her cheeks could feel the material of his gi. He was so warm and she fit into him perfectly. Kenshin stiffened when Kaoru unconsciously kissed his neck.
She was so groggy already that she could not find the energy to even think more about the men closing in on her or more importantly the actions she was current doing to the red head.
Somehow Kenshin managed to keep his breathing even. Sleepiness was temporarily flushed out of his system when he felt Kaoru’s lips on his skin. He heard Kaoru whimper against his shoulder a little while later. He sighed. Gods, did she smell great. Finding he could not help it, he wrapped his right arm around her and adjusted his position so she would not feel uncomfortable. Sleepiness came back to him with a vengeance.
In the dimness of the night they slept cuddled together. In the dimness of the night, before he closed his eyes, he saw her smile.
Author’s notes:
 Here’s the next chapter cause people were staring to complain XD. I’m sorry it’s so late and a little shorter than my previous ones. I’ll do better next time!
Aja-aja, fighting! (I picked this up in a Korean show I’m currently obsessed with. I think aja-aja means fight and fighting well, fighting. Though I still can’t figure out why they used the verb with an –ing.) o.O So you better get used to it okies?
Thanks for taking time to read everyone! ~hands over cookies~ and please leave a review.
Thanks. ^_^x
Huggles,
LustrousJade