Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Seisou Hen ❯ Raindrops ( Chapter 2 )

Act 2: Raindrops

It was that dream that hunted her for days. Seeing a vision of Kenshin, sitting below the oak tree, holding his Sakabatou in his hands with this refined woman standing ahead of him, looking so dreary and sad as she watches Kenshin suffer upon. Then, Kenshin sluggishly stood from his slothful perch with the support of his Sakabatou to stand up. He had faced her. The woman seems to be contented above all that, she run to him and gave him a warm caressing embrace. Kenshin look so delighted just to see her blithe in happiness. They had stayed in each arms underneath the snowflakes that kept on falling.

"Tomoe…"

Her eyes extended to wide, realizing that the woman in her dreams was actually HER. The woman who Kenshin had been in love with for the past ten years. Her eyes were transfixed on them, feeling so helpless as ever. Kenshin seems to be happy in her arms and so does she.

`Even death had never been a mass for their devotion.' She thought painfully and as the cold breeze blew on, the two figures came disintegrating from her sight and in such a way that that her body was being flown into the strong zephyr that instantly transpired.

She flips her eyes open after having such an atrocious dream. She held her breath and tried to pant radically for air. It was that dream again and it seem to show up each nights she falls to sleep. "What was that? Why do I always see Kenshin and Tomoe-san in my dreams?"

How envious she was to see Tomoe being held in Kenshin's arms. It was too much and it causes her so eminently flaming anger inside her. She doesn't know if she should be gladdened about them or be resentful in each way they act together. It was very torturous to witness them mutually. What more could possibly if those visions were real?

Slowly, the cold breeze entered her room and swiftly flown her majestic coal black hair daintily to her shoulders. She coated herself and made to let out a cry. "Oh Kenshin! You just have no idea how you make me ail..." she wailed out. "What am I supposed to do now?... I'm so confused!"

~**~

A comely man was walking his way through the huge arcade with almost a hundred or more clientele stood, waiting diligently at the hall. He scorned off, being so irked concerning with these affluent ministers surrounding him.

"Lei!" a voice called and he immediately spin to see who it was. To his surprise, a tall, aristocratic man went to approach him benevolently. His saffron hair was carefully tied back with his eyes, glistening in flaunting. "I never expected you to be here." He said so classed though it sounds annoying in Lei's ear.

He grinned and went to cross his arms in his chest, "Me neither... Mister Adams." Lei jested consequently for this man to be jaded and leave his side.

The man so called Adams coughed up to gesture his loftiness. As always, Lei gets to be so annoying just to chat off with. "I see. What brings you here anyway?" he asked.

"umm... some PARTICULAR business with the boss."

"It might be like that... I heard them getting all wearied just a few minutes ago." He inclined and swagger to initiate a whisper, "Is there something wrong?"

Lei just glowered on him and smirked, "I'm sorry but I guess you are only a allegiant customer of this auction and this problem is for PERSONNEL'S only." The mockery worked and it drove for Lei to have a chance in marching off. This was really important for him to care-worn shrouding that Pha-ra already asked for his help.

He stood in front of a hidden door between the colonnades and went to knock with the strain of their password. The door opened and he went inside candidly.

The inside was kind of hallow and dim with only few candelabrums holding the lights through darkness. He viewed two figures standing beside a man who was sitting humbly betwixt.

"You called for me?" Lei voiced and so, he went to sit at the chair in front of the mysterious man's escritoire.

The man was kind of strained and more like aged to describe. "I did. I wanted to know what's the most recent report from the task I have given." He said.

"What task?" he innocently asked though he knew what he was talking about.

The middle-aged man smirked mischievously, "Does this means that the Jackal had no idea where to detect the Tiger? Have your senses already lowered down?"

Lei frowned offhandedly; "I had sent two of my men to find that useless fool."

"And?"

"He declined the invitation."

"Why is that?"

"Oh well, because of this vindictiveness of his. His rancor was still in quiescent."

Pha-ra sighed and sluggishly lay himself to his stool, "He had told me about this... retaliation of he was planning, but I have never expected it to go so long."

Lei gave him a twisted smile, seeing Pha-ra as if he doesn't knew who Enishi is. "Tigers are very fierce and patient. He would do anything just to accomplish his goal in life. He had been planning for this revenge since-"

"Since the day he had joined us." Pha-ra continued.

"Exactly."

"However, we cannot let Enishi forsake his mission in our company. He needs to be here no matter what. We never anticipated such a problem before and we must find a way how to resolute this!"

Lei chuckled wickedly, "Don't worry... if he was that too important for you, I'll go get him by myself."

Pha-ra nodded, "Much more like that. You have to leave soon."

"Tomorrow morning, before dawn arrives." He cramped his eyes and grinned nefariously. "I'll assure you... I'll convince him to come..."

~**~

The dawn is breaking in early morn, and he was there, training himself as always. Kaoru watched him from afar, way up the balcony, seeing some fatal crashes through the place he was coursing. She almost let out a sigh of boredom for that, she was getting all fed up with entirely being a hostage without doing anything. Her kendo practicing was held back since the certitude that she was not in her dojo, and no bokuto to start with. She was still wearing this robe and much like it's almost a week since she wore any kimono.

Another sough came out and it had made her to decide what she should do. Lot's of twigs are scattered among the whole grove and it wouldn't be hard to find a substitute bokuto. She had no other choice but to train herself as well. No other activities could be done since Enishi took the task in cooking meals. She's starting to ponder why he actually refused her to cook. First, cause she might poison him. Second, she's a hostage and he's supposed to feed her. And third... her food wasn't edible at all.

"He'd better not bother to tell me that!" though she knew this substantiality that she was a very bad cook and yet Enishi never showed signs or protest through her imperfect furtherance. He must have been thinking particularly she could only just stay here and wait to be saved. It's not blending with her attributes and she won't let herself get cobwebs outcome of sitting all day inside her ho-hum room.

She walked to the center of the weald and luckily found a perfect stick to be her weapon. Some amount of warm ups, basic moves and techniques she commonly traverse with her student Yahiko would do. It reminds her so much of him, in how she used to whack him of the head. Strike him of the face. Hit him with her bokuto and...

She felt a tear just came to fall from her eyes and she contiguously swabs it off. Kaoru already made a vow that she won't ever cry again and would stay strong until Kenshin turn up to rescue her. Crying won't help her. Tears could never bring her back to her home and so; all she could do now is to anticipate the destiny she was about to face.

`I just wished Kenshin would hasten up and save me... I cannot stay here any longer...'

~**~

The adrenaline he was feeling was inundates and it made him to resolve the path he wanted to take. "This is too much to bear." He uttered, viewing Yahiko's insubstantial body, lying on the futon. He had been in coma for days after having such a flagitious conflict against Enishi's henchman, Kujiranami. He would have been dead into pieces if he and Saitou hadn't came to save him. Kujiranami was too much for Yahiko, more to that he still hadn't master the Kamiya Kashin Ryu ougi and it made him to feel so miserable to himself.

"How is he?" asked Sano.

Tsubame somewhat appears to cry whenever they moot all about Yahiko. The fresh memories of that day he was effortlessly beaten by that man caused a throbbing heart ache in her heart. Yahiko was so vulnerable at that time and in it surely made her all fretful. She feared that she might lose him and she gratefully thanks the God's until Sano and Saitou came to rescue him.

"He's been in that state for three days and... Still no response from him..."

Sano fumed in antipathy and self-pity about himself above all this. He had no idea what to do from here. There are a lots of things that completely driven their lives so catastrophic. Kaoru was still being held in Enishi's grasp, Yahiko was presently struggling to live and Kenshin... it's been days since he left Tokyo and still, Kenshin was inert in finding the answer in his indemnity.

Why did this have to happen? Yes, they did faced hardship with so many cads before. Nevertheless, it never had been this glut as what they had experienced. When did this all started? How did it happen? When will be the exact day where all of these wrecks will disperse away?

"Tsubame-chan." Sano called.

"Ha-hai?"

"You visited Kenshin didn't you?"

"A-a... I did." She disgruntledly replied.

"Tell me, what happened?"

"I came there to inform him about Yahiko's suffering with that henchman. He never heeded on anything that I have said and still, his heart is trapped into this agony he was feeling. No recoveries about himself realizing the reality that-"

"No knowledge about Kaoru staying alive?" Sano asked and Tsubame nodded for an answer.

"Tell me Sanosuke-san! Why can't we just tell him the truth so he could get a hold at himself? Kaoru-chan's death was too much for him to endure. Why can't we tell him that-"

"It's his answer in his atonement. He should be the one to resolve this than knowing it from us."

Her face lit down in sadness once more, "This is so unfair..."

"Who say's life is fair?" he frowned and went to see Yahiko's face for the last time, "I'm sure Kenshin will revive soon... and I'm sure, he'll defeat that Enishi to shreds when he sees him."

~**~

He found her deep through the forest, training sword techniques perilously. He didn't expected her to do this training of hers knowing that she was abducted. Concluding that she might felt really lax around since his grip was too loose. Why wouldn't he? Since she fully know that she could never ever escape him. And though she struggled to fight him back, there would be no chance for her to win alive.

He just watched her. Motionless behind that tree he was standing at. He don't know the reason but watching her there outputs some interest within him. Sure, he had never seen any other woman knowing sword skills excluding Lynx being the finest swordswoman in China.

Observing her progress, it wasn't that too poignant. Why would he be expecting such a thing though he had kidnapped her so facilely. A lot of revision should be changed in reach of her training, and he could exactly teach her all about it. That is, if she was really interested in learning it with him. He perceived that she would never motion such an act since he already knows what she was really thinking about him. As a vile, massive kidnapper without a heart. He could never anticipate her to be so benevolent through the austerity he was giving her.

Soon enough, she felt someone was around keeping an eye on her secretly. Without realizing, Enishi was caught up easily when Kaoru motioned to face him through the thick bushes and trees that was blocking their way from each other.

"You don't have to watch me all day behind those tree trunks." She jested.

Enishi came out and faced the bewildered girl. "I was looking for you when I become aware of no one was standing at that huge escarpment ahead."

She blinked like an innocent child induce of the daunt she just felt, "You knew I was watching from above?" she asked, fully overwhelmed.

"I'm not that blind not to see."

She sighed and went to ask, "What are you doing here?"

Enishi looked at her egotistically, "Same to you. What are you doing standing in the middle of the forest? Are you aware of any pitfalls that you might encounter around?"

She flicker her eyes perplexed by his words. He turned out all care-worn over her and it couldn't possibly catch up in Kaoru's reaction. She stared at him all flustered and it procures Enishi to interrogate.

"I'm in the middle of my training. I'm sure you have seen it since I think that you've been standing for long minutes from now."

He crossed his arms and gaze down at her, "Regardless of that, you can train whenever you want. I don't give a damn about it." His voice was so sturdy; it turns out to be a very curt response. Kaoru tapered her stare, almost drawing him through her wrath.

Enishi caught her constricted eyes and it made him to wonder what she was just trying to indicate, "What's with the stare?"

Kaoru stomped her feet and gestured herself near him, "Why do you have to be so rude!? Don't you have any respect for women?"

He was surprised by her inapt direct response and it made him coherently to step back. Although her words doesn't affect him, or so cause of his attention was being taken by something. He looked up and tried to observe the sky. The usual cerulean heavens were previously covered with dark, thick clouds.

"I've been trying to be so sympathetic, considerate and all and then you'll return it solidly by your boorishness?" she yelled, unfortunately Enishi didn't perceive any of it.

"I think we'd better go back."

"Oh! So you're trying to escape your mistakes huh? Well, sorry mister but I think this is way too much for me! I'm a woman and I deserve to be-"

"It'll start to rain soon. It would be better if we find a shelter."

Kaoru never believed even a single word from him instead made this sarcastic ways to keep on. "I just saw the sun light up this morning and there's no way...?!" she was cut off when small drops of water came falling from the sky.

Enishi almost wanted to whack her on the head after thinking so vapid and foolish just those few minutes ago. "Didn't I warn you about this?" he equidistantly said in rage.

"It's just some little beads of raindro-"

Haplessly, the rain started to get stalwart and the wind started to blew on so hard it could somewhat hover the two off the ground. They dashed away from the heavy cloudburst and opportunely; they found a huge tree with an ample space inside for them to shelter.

They were all wet and deluged by the wet weather that suddenly showed up. She hates to admit it but it was definitely her fault why they end up soaked and frigid. "I... I didn't expected this to happen..." she mumbled shyly.

He soughed, unsure of if he had to feel so acrimonious about this or just stay cool and be considerate. "We got all wet because of YOU didn't give credence to what I was saying." He was starting to put the blame on her.

Kaoru couldn't oppose but to accept her error. It made it all sense that he had tried to warn her about the upcoming rainfall and she didn't gave herself a way to listen in what he was trying to say. There's only one thing to resolve this, and that is to say...

"Gomen nasai."

Enishi looked down at her and he noticed how she felt so culpable above all this. She was frank to her words and it made it some way to strike his heart. "Tch!" he snubbed, "It's too late to blame yourself." With that, he started to remove his wet top, off from his body. Exposing such muscular curves in his chest, his arms, his gut... to say the fact that he was extremely too SEXY to sight.

She was frozen at that moment she witnessed him to get that garment off from his robust body, and it cause her eyes to struck open. Her lips were all staled and couldn't help but to pour down some liquid at her throat. It made her to think of how good to touch those and how would it felt lying against it. She licked her dry lips and shook her head furiously.

`Wait! This is wrong! You shouldn't think such things about him. He's your enemy. He's the one who's responsible of you being here. He's the man whose about to kill Kenshin! Arrogant! Bigheaded! Egotistical! He's a.... He's a...' her thoughts were jarred off when Enishi noticed her silence and went to caught her all so transfixed in his frame.

"dôshita?" he asked.

She just stared up to him and it took seconds before she could actually response. "Oh! So-sorry..." before long, she started to feel so brisk as the cold wind came to fly by. She hugged herself tightly and it causes shivers to run down her spine.

"You'd better take that wet kimono off before you catch a cold."

She started to blush as if all her blood came to pile up at her cheeks. "W-WHAT?!" she wailed out apprehensively. "I- I can't do that!"

He frowned as he initiates to walk out, "Suit yourself." Before he could go off, Kaoru called on him to stop, "W-wait! Where are you going??" she asked.

"Don't worry. I'll just get some fire woods outside. I'll be back soon." Then he went off, leaving her all clueless. She had no idea what to do now. She was all wet and the only thing that could surpass this coldness is by sitting next to a bonfire wearing NOTHING. Her clothes were so soaked and there are some possibilities that she could catch a cold.

"AAAACCCCHHHHHHOOOOOOO!!!" seems as if the cold breeze is starting to have an affect on her body. She shook her head abruptly.

"Mou! I can't just undress here especially in front of that... of that MAN!"

~**~