Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Reincarnated ❯ Chapter 3

Disclaimer: ::sigh:: Try as I might, RK still doesn't belong to me.

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REINCARNATED

*Oh, God! Daddy's going to find out and I'll never see the light of day again before I'm 90! Oh, Enishi, how could you?*

Kaoru paused, her heart in her throat. Enishi had followed her into a surprisingly empty bathroom, and had tried to `finish up', but she wasn't in the mood anymore and he became violent. Years of martial arts training managed to stop him a bit, and she was so freaked out she just ran, forgetting her brother and best friend. She ran as fast as she could, terrified she hadn't kicked him hard enough.

She whirled around, hearing a noise and a male voice calling her name. "Oh, no!" She started off again, cutting through an alley and onto the main street where she slammed face first into a solid male chest.

*~*

"Kenshin, I'm glad you and my dad get along so well," Tomoe hugged his arm and sighed. They were walking along a semi-crowed street, enjoying the summer warmth. It was the first time they had been alone since they landed in Japan three days before. It was also the perfect night for lovers and Kenshin was loathed to kill it, but he had to tell Tomoe the truth. He cleared his throat.

"Tomoe, koshii, ---" he couldn't get it out. Something slammed into him at high speed, sending him to the ground, arms around the object---human---to absorb the blow of their landing.

"KENSHIN!"

"Oof!" Kenshin opened his eyes and looked at what hit him. A girl?! She turned huge, deep blue eyes to his face and began to fight to free herself. Then he saw her torn blouse, and the tear streaks. He hugged her tighter,

"Miss, please! Calm down, we can help you!" He whipped her around so she could see Tomoe. When it registered that she was looking at a girl, she stopped fighting and began shivering, despite the warmth of the evening air. Her blouse finally gave way, leaving her exposed, but seemingly unaware. Kenshin yanked off his shirt and put it over her.

"Help . . . me; need . . . Aoshi---" Kaoru fainted into Kenshin's arms.

*~*

Aoshi was only vaguely aware that Misao was easily keeping up with him, despite the fact she was nearly two feet shorter as he vaulted over a wall and onto the main street.

Aoshi vowed that when he got back to Enishi, he was going to murder him and consume his heart. *Before or after Father does it to you? Oh, where is she?!*

"ImÅto?! Kaoru!" Then he saw her, lying in the arms of a short man with long red hair. He and a woman with black hair were trying to revive her.

*Oh, thank God!* He rushed over and tried to push the red haired man aside. The two men made eye contact, ice-blue to blazing gold.

"Who are you?" Aoshi asked.

"Those are my words," the red haired man refused to let him near her.

"I'm her brother, Aoshi." Gold eyes turned slightly to purple.

"She asked for you. We must get her some place safe."

"Aoshi---"

"I'm here, chibi-kÅjo."

"Aoshi," there was no fear now. "Don't hurt him. He---"

"Aoshi, we must get her somewhere. People are starting to notice us."

The younger man finally looked up and saw the gathering spectators. What a sight they must have made --- two, dirty out of breath, one elegant and well put together and one unconscious girl in a mans' half buttoned shirt, clutched in the arms of a shirtless man.

*Oh, no. Please no-body knows us. Father---*

"Come with me," Misao came to the rescue. "I know where we can go."

The red haired man stood, Kaoru clutched in his arms like she weighed nothing. Aoshi desperately wanted to take her back, but they had to get off the street.

"Is it far?"

"No."

"Then lead on, Ms. Makimachi." A few minutes later, they arrived at a small abandoned looking building. Mesao ripped off the chain and opened the door. The others hesitated.

"Come on, it's fine. I found it ages ago; it's an old dojo." The group stepped into a surprisingly large courtyard and were soon sitting it what was once the house of the dojo. Tomoe was looking almost as shell shocked as Kaoru, but Kenshin was oblivious, lost in his own thoughts.

*Her eyes . . .why? Why do I feel like weeping even as I sit here? Who is this child, for child is all she is.*

Aoshi was studying the red haired man and decided he didn't like the looks he was giving Kaoru. It was so open, yet intimate, like he knew something special about his sister that Aoshi couldn't even begin to be a part of. He stood.

"Thank you for all your help, Mr.---?"

Kenshin remained seated, eyes on Kaoru. "I'd like to know who did this to your sister."

Aoshi paused. "Why?"

Kenshin looked up at him, eyes gold. "Because I was always taught to protect the weak and people smaller than you. She seems to fit the bill for both."

Tomoe smiled and Aoshi looked cross.

"Thank you for the offer, but I need to get her home. *Before Father murders me.*

Kenshin looked back at the girl. *Why am I acting this way? Maybe Tomoe and I should go.*

He was about to stand when her eyes opened. Kenshin wasn't conscious that he had missed those eyes until she looked at him. He and Aoshi crouched over her.

"Where are we?" she asked in English.

"We're in an abandoned dojo," Kenshin replied in kind before he brother could open his mouth. He desperately needed to be the one to talk to her first. "In Tokyo. Your brother is here. My name is Kenshin. We had a bit of a run in on the road."

"Ken . . .shin?" She frowned slightly then sat up suddenly and hugged him. Tomoe, standing behind Kenshin, frowned and Kaoru looked up at her, glared, and laid back. Kenshin was shocked by her sudden move, but it felt right, safe . . .like home? She pulled away before he could examine it more.

"Gomen . . . I . . . thank you." She turned to her brother. "Aoshi, Enishi didn't hurt me."

"But he tried to," Aoshi's eyes had gone cold.

*The Ice-Man comith.* " But he didn't! Aoshi, please, let's just go home. And don't tell Daddy, he'll kill me! Please?"

"Let me see . . . no! He tried to rape you, imÅto, Father told me after Mother died it was my job to look after you, and tonight I failed."

"But, Aoshi---"

"Aku Soku Zan, imÅto."

Kaoru sighed in exasperation and threw up her hands, causing Kenshin's shirt to drop as her arms came down, and offering Kenshin a peek at the shadow of her cleavage. Kenshin felt his body tighten.

*She's a child.* He reminded himself. Aoshi stood and everyone but Kaoru followed suit.

"Please, can you stay here and wait with her? I have to go back to the club and get the car." He glanced at Kaoru.

"ImÅto, tell me the truth and tell me quickly. Where did you leave your bag?"

"It's in the car. I left it because I didn't want to lose it."

"Good. Ms. Makimachi, come with me. We have a scene to fix."

They went and Kenshin sat down, finally feeling a little cold, as Kaoru was wearing his shirt. Tomoe sat also and after a long silence, Kenshin asked:

"Will you be moving back to American anytime soon?"

"God, I hope so. I mean, don't get me wrong, Tokyo has all the beauty of a municipal parking structure, but without the warmth. Just, for me, nowhere beats L.A."

"Why do you live here if you hate it?" Tomoe asked, a slight frown all that marred her perfect features.

"Daddy," Kaoru answered. "Daddy is in the military so we live on the base." She crossed her arms. "The old fuddy-duddy won't let me go home for college, so I'll be here." She sighed and pulled her legs up, hugging them.

"Aoshi is in his last year at Tokyo U this year and I'll be joining him." A smile now. "Misao and I will be joining him. God she's so in love with him it's almost painful and I can't understand why. They call him the `Ice-Man' and Misao is all bounce and go." Another fond smile. " Polar opposites but I love them both."

Tomoe smiled slightly, but Kenshin was listening intently, mesmerized by the sound of her voice. Kaoru was studying the couple and glanced down as Tomoe's ring caught what little light there was.

"Nice rock."

"What? Oh, thank you." She smiled at Kenshin and hugged his arm. "We'll be getting married in a few days."

Kenshin paled and Kaoru felt her body turn numbingly cold. When she woke up, seeing Kenshin's concerned face just inches away, she had an overwhelming need to comfort him and assure him of her safety. Aoshi was a distracting afterthought.

"Oh! Congratulations. Where should I send the gift?" Her voice sounded hollow even to her own ears. Before an answer could be given, headlights flashed into the yard. Kenshin went to check, leaving the two women along together.

"You don't have a chance; we're getting married. Besides, Kenshin doesn't abuse children."

"I am not a child. *Bitch.*

Kenshin came back. "He's ready. Here." He handed Kaoru her bag. "Aoshi says you have an extra shirt in here."

"Yes, just a minute." She went further into the dark to change. Kaoru reluctantly pulled off Kenshin's shirt and replaced it with her own. She picked up her bag and returned to the body of the room, where Aoshi was waiting.

"Hurry, we don't have much time, imÅto Father said 12.30."

"I know, I know, I'm coming. Where is---"

"In the car."

Kaoru was kind of amused to be squashed into the backseat of her brother's car between Mesao and Kenshin, Tomoe rode up front with Aoshi. Misao chatted happily the whole time with Tomoe, but Kaoru was memorizing Kenshin's profile; he refused to turn his head and look at her. It wasn't until they were getting out that she remembered to give Kenshin back his shirt.

"Oh! Kenshin . . .here. And . . . thank you."

He leaned down to take it and their fingers brushed. Kenshin suddenly had the most disturbing vision of her lying under him, her legs around his waist, tears in her eyes, but no sadness. He stepped back.

"You're welcome, Miss---"

"Kaoru."

"Miss Kaoru. Good night." He closed the door and Misao climbed over the seat to take Tomoe's place beside Aoshi.

"He seems nice," Misao said finally. They had been driving for a while and the silence between the siblings was making her nervous.

"Misao!" Aoshi's cold steely tone cut her off. "Las Vegas rules apply to tonight; what happened here, stays here. ImÅto, I won't tell Father what happened if you promise me you will stay away from Enishi."

"Hu?" Kaoru wasn't paying attention. "Oh, for how long?"

"For the rest of his unnatural life."

"Fine. Misao? Misao!"

Misao was staring at Aoshi again, her all time favorite pastime. Kaoru frowned slightly, looking at her brother, Misao and back at her brother, then sat forward to whisper in his ear.

"Aoshi?"

"Yes, imÅto?"

"I'll stay away from Enishi if you promise to talk to Misao at least five minutes everyday for the rest of the summer."

"NANI!?" He nearly swerved off the road and Kaoru had to grab the headrest to stay on the seat and off the floor. She glanced at Misao who was still smiling at her stupid brother.

"Well, how about it?" Aoshi's mouth was turned down in its customary line, but now it also looked like he was grinding his teeth.

"You cannot ask this of me." Kaoru sat up, leaning over her brother and took his cell phone off the dashboard.

"16.893.45---" Aoshi reached back and snatched the phone away.

"Fine!" He was defiantly grinding his teeth. "Extortionist."

Kaoru grinned. "You'll thank me."

"No, I won't." He glanced at Misao. *Everyday!? For six weeks?! I can't do that! Why am I afraid of a hundred pound spitfire? How can I get out of this? Why would I want to? Shut up; think, Saito. You know you can't have her. Okay, okay, think; who can I set her up with? Maybe someone on the base she knows? Chris? No, he's to short. Robert's my height---but he hates girls. Hmmm.*

Kaoru sat back, totally unaware of her brother's racing thoughts. Misao turned around.

"What did you say to him?" she hissed.

"Nothing," she whispered back.

"Nothing!? Kaoru, he looks so grim!"

"Really? How can you tell?"

They looked at each other for a second, then began laughing. Aoshi shook himself out of his thoughts, looking again at Misao, happy to see her smiling, even if it was at his expense. They pulled into the driveway and he cut the engine. It was two minutes to curfew.

"Miss Maki---" Kaoru pinched him out of Misao's sightline. "Misao, I'm afraid you'll have to spend the night. You can share Kaoru's room, but if you'd like . . . well, I suppose I can sleep on the couch."

Kaoru gasped and Misao's eyes widened as her face flushed.

*Spend the night . . .in his room? Surrounded by his things, his smell? But not him.* "Thank you, Aoshi, but I'll be okay in Kaoru's room."

"Fine," Aoshi wasn't sure why he was so disappointed she's rejected his offer. After all, he was just being polite; he didn't really want her in his room . . .sleeping in his bed…

He opened the door as his father appeared in the doorway. They got out. "Father, Ms. Makimachi has decided to stay the night."

"Hello, Misao. We haven't had the pleasure of you company in a while. KÅjo, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Daddy." She kissed him on the cheek as she passed. "Just a little tired. Come on, Misao."

Saito frowned at Aoshi as his sister raced away from the inquisition. "Who is he?"

*Shit!* "Father?"

"The man you took Kaoru to see."

"Father, we were in a club; there were lots of men around. I believe she danced with a couple of them."

Saito raised his eyebrow and turned away. "Hmm. Really?"

Aoshi hurried to his room and quietly shut the door. He tossed his jacket onto the chair and used his shirt to wipe the drop of sweat that was sliding down the middle of his back.

*Dammit! How could he have fu---Kenshin! He gave her his shirt! Gods of my ancestors, why didn't I remember that!? She would have his smell all over her! Shit!*

Saito waited until Aoshi had gone to his room, before going to try and talk to his daughter. He knew that Aoshi would try to protect her from him, and he wanted the truth. All of it. He stood before his daughter's door, hesitating. He could wait …no, she wouldn't be out before breakfast as she had the master bedroom so she her own bathroom.

*She does have a guest. No, I want to know who touched her. Girls only get that look when they've been violated.*

He knocked rather harder than necessary. "Not now, Daddy; I'm getting ready to jump into the shower!"

"I need to talk to you." He reached for the knob, but the sound of two locks clicking into place greeted his ears. He looked down; she'd put on a new knob so he couldn't pick the lock.

*What the hell is this?*

"Tomorrow, Daddy. Misao, leave me some hot water" Her voice moved away. Aoshi came out of his room, towel around his waist.

"Father?"

"Aoshi, you trust me to do what is best for you and Kaoru?"

"Yes, Father."

"Good. I will not tolerate anymore attempts to undermine my authority." Saito crossed the hall to his room, leaving Aoshi alone in the hall.

*He's bluffing; he doesn't know jack. But if he finds out, Enishi won't live long enough to never forget it. And neither will I.* He groaned and ran his fingers through his hair. *That little blond ratfink better pray I get to him before the Wolf does.*

"---No let me get it," Misao suddenly yanked open Kaoru's door and raced into the hall, skidding to a stop before she passed Aoshi to get to the stairs.

"Oh . . .my . . ." She stared at his back for a second, then began fumbling with her borrowed, oversized robe to pull it closed over her breasts. Aoshi whipped around and glared at her, giving her a tantalizing view of his muscular chest and the faint line of black hair that ran down his stomach and into his low slung towel. She tried to swallow, her hands stilling on the still open robe.

Aoshi opened his mouth to apologize, but no sound came out. Misao slowly began backing away, face red.

"S-sorry. My . . . bad."

"Uh . . .Mi-Misao, wait . . .I---"

Kaoru stuck her head out he door. "Misao, how long---nee-ver mind." She shut the door. *Hee, hee. This is great! If Misao marries Aoshi, I won't lose either of them in my life! Yes! Hmmm, I wonder what Kenshin would---No! don't even think about it, he's getting married!*

There was some fumbling at the door knob and a beet red Misao finally got the door open and fell into the room. Kaoru gave her friend a leering smile.

"Are you okay, Misao?"

"God, no! I . . . don't . . . don't think . . ."

"You'll ever recover? From seeing my brother half naked?"

Misao shrieked and pushed away from the door. "Please don't tease me about it."

Kaoru laughed out loud. "Sorry. If it'll make you feel better, Aoshi was pretty shocked too." Misao looked stricken. "In a good way."

*Oh, you're making it worse. Shut up, Saito.*

*~*

This chapter ran a bit long thanks to my weird page breaks. Review please.