Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Seisou Hen ❯ Kissing a fire ( Chapter 4 )

Act 4: Kissing a fire

"Kaoru..." his bristly voice called out blankly somewhere, his hand were raised as if reaching something out from the deep dark sky above. He was all worn out and messed, gazing to the skies bluntedly.

Sanosuke witness him ail as he steps in into the small hut Kenshin was living in. He escaped the misserable depths of ache in Kamiya dojo after seeing such abominable countenance of Kaoru with all those sanguine blood gushing out from her heart that was deeply stabbed by Enishi's Watoujutsu. Though it was only a doll, it all seems to be real considering it was pefectly made by one of Enishi's colleagues.

Cause of a very catastrophing incident, Kenshin decided to run off in to Rakuninmura and seal his Sakabatou in chains forever. He believes that sword was the reason why his love one's ended up in a tremendous death. It was the second time he had lost someone that he had truly loved and with that, his heart was tormented and was ripped apart that would last permanently.

If he could only tell him the truth. If he could only wail out that Kaoru was not dead and was carefully kept by Enishi somewhere in his hideout. He might come out to his senses when he finds out that she was still living above this holy earth. He might have been standing now and finding a way to save her.

Unfortunately, he was told not to do so and he was also convinced that it was way for the better if he finds it off by himself.

Sanosuke frowned deeply under the circumstances, and went to motioned himself away from him. He couldn't stand seeing such a dear friend in a horrendous situation. It makes him suffer for the reason that he couldn't help him and also knowing that almost all of his friends were in trouble. They were like a family to him. A family that he had longed for about years. Tears was struggling to come out from his eyes, and it almost came out cause of the hatred he was feeling deep inside.

"Dare no kimi?"

Sano looked up and was astonished to see a juvenile dame. She has this shoulder length ebon hair wearing a very formal kimono in scarlet red. She was very attractive to see, now viewing such a gorgeous body ahead of him. He was overwhelmed in her beauty and started to froze from his position. "Na- nanda?" he faltered his words from his mouth and somewhat cursed himself in his thoughts for looking so half-witted.

"I said, who are you? Are you acquainted to him?" she asked with her head pointing out on the senseless Kenshin.

"A- aa..."

"Sô ka..."

"Ho-how about you? Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm just a friendly neighbor helping such a worn out man."

"I see. You're that woman who Tsubame-chan's been talking about."

"Tsubame? That girl who visited him just few days ago."

"Yeah… umm… Ma-may I know how is he doing?" Sano asked nervously. Her beauty distraught him so much.

"Still the same one who keeps on staring up on nowhere. Still the same person who keeps on calling out a woman's name... as what I remembered... it was more like... Kaoru?"

His eyes lit down as what was expected. The woman questioned his expression when she mentioned that name. "Doshita no, mister...?" she asked curiously.

"Sanosuke. Sagara, Sanosuke."

The woman smiled, intimating to his counteraction. "Sanosuke... well, it's better to introduce myself too. I'm Zhao."

Sano quirked his brow and gazed at her skepticaly. "Zhao? Quite strange for a Japanese name."

She giggled, "You're right about that. I'm a mandarin, I came from Shanghai." Her lovely ruby eyes lustered by its beauty whenever she smiles. Very unusual yet her beam cause a twinge of flush forming in his cheeks. She was very cultured and keen. Her scanty eyes shown such libidinous tactics off from her characteristic. Her long mahogany locks were straightly placed but stayed wavy below. Her figure was very perfect, enough to arouse men.

"Umm... daijobu ka?" she asked perplexedly when Sano was caught on hook just looking at her for few minutes by now.

"Ye-yeah! Sorry about that." He scratched the back of his head in incomprehension.

"Since you're already here, why don't you join us for dinner."

Sano shook his head and went to smile ahead to Kenshin. "I would love that though, I need to do something important." Zhao looked at him, arduous to know what has gotten into him. He moved his heel and soon walked off pass through her side.

"Jâ ne!" he waved as then stroll off from her sight.

Zhao watched him depart. `I smell something odd here.' She thought thus, she peered at Kenshin from behind who was still busy having this self-deception of his about his past.

She couldn't predict what he was and who exactly in his past. She was born in HK and had no idea or any history behind this new country she was in. She shouldn't be here to be honest. All she wanted was to follow the person she was linked to and when she came here to find him, he was gone... and she found him. From that day he came to this town all frail and emasculated, she decided to take care of him since he was all-alone. And now, lots of people are starting to show out and claim to be his friend. Zhao had been on Kenshin's side for the past few weeks. Now that she's getting fond with that man, she wouldn't allow his past to take him away from her. There would only be one solution to solve this. To take him away.

"You're acquainted to him are you?"

Kenshin forbear as he slowly leans himself to the thick wall beside him. "I'm nothing. I have no friends... no love ones... I'm useless." His grudge-filled voice uttered to himself.

"You had said it for yourself that you're all alone. Though I don't know the reason-" she sauntered forth him as her hands approached his chin and raised it gently to face her. "I want you to come with me, Shinta... Let's go to China." she leaned down to verge upon his lips.

Haplessly, she was about to kiss him and their lips were almost an inch afar from each flesh when Kenshin suddenly spoke. "Naze? What would be the reason why this sessha wa baka should join you?" his question was quite contemptuous though it made a smirk to form in Zhao's sweet façade.

"Because..." she moved herself off him and changed her devilish grin to a charming beam. "Because you are special Shinta." She gait and started to sat frontward him. "Very special."

Kenshin stared at her void within his amethyst pools. Seems like a new day was about to arrive in his life and by joining this strange woman might lead him to something. Though she was still a woman. Women were unfortunate to stay with an ex- hitokiri like him. Two had already died and he didn't want that to happen again. Yet, by the sincerity he sees in her cerise hues and by the grudge of Zhao being a good fighter, he had no choice but to trust her. At the same time, hoping this new path he was taking would head him to entity.

~**~

"Why does it take so long for him to come?"

Almost a month since she arrived from this island. She often wonders why Kenshin or neither her friends came to save her. Something was going on in spite of her knowledge and she couldn't pin it out what it is. Enishi never told her neither a single information about them. She usually sees Hyoko and Banjin stopping by just to report something to Enishi.

There's no doubt it would be an information about Kenshin and nothing else. It's just that, she doesn't know the reason why he didn't even inform her or anything.

She sloped to the patio, viewing the deep ocean ahead of her. "Kenshin... doko ni ite iru?"

As what may have told, she decided to stay there for the reason that she wanted to see Kenshin to arrive. Hopes and dreams of holding him again and lock herself around his arms.

"I'll wait for you... zettai ni!"

~**~

He went to face Enishi with full of bandages wrapped in his torso, his left arm was chiseled into half and was carefully hanged in gauze attached to his shoulder. A long cast also overlies his head. "Chief." Enishi was surprised by the way he appeared so vulnerable in front of him. He motioned his head to see Banjin behind and good thing he wasn't wounded much like Hyoko.

He speculated their faces, "What happened to you two?"

Hyoko turned his common fine expression into a grave one. Much more like disgusted to himself. "We had a tremendous fight way back in Tokyo."

"A fight? With whom did you got all those terrible wounds?"

"We were spying over the Kamiya dojo and was unfortunately caught by a tall man with cold blue-green eyes." Bajin answered.

"He had been Banjin's opponent. He was with this man in a police uniform. He's the one whose unexpectedly chopped my left arm." Hyoko painfully said. The fresh memories of that Katana ripping the tissues of his arm make him puke in abhorrence.

`hmp! Saitou and Shinomori I guess.' Enishi thought as the description possibly described those two.

"We're sorry for being so useless chief-uh?!" Hyoko was astounded when Enishi pointed his Katana right to his throat as if he was about to slit it out.

"Futile ignorant, that word suits you two obsolete humans!" The two shimmered through Enishi's cold voice more like when he turned his Katana around to the side with its sharp blade. "How about killing you right now so you could end up your suffering easily? Isn't that a great idea?" he asked fiendishly. Hyoko was so speechless; he just shook his head.

"Yo-you can't do that boss! If you kill him, you'll never get the most recent information about battousai." Banjin exclaimed neurotically.

"Hmp!" he smirked at Banjin and quickly took the blade off Hyoko's neck. "Fine. I think you're right about that." He said and went to lean on the nearest tree. Both sighed in relief when Enishi woke in a snap.

"Alright. Talk!"

The two postured immediately. "Ha-hai!" Banji responded.

"As what we have heard. Himura Kenshin was in custody in the town of Rakuninmura."

"Rakuninmura? What in blazes is he doing out there?"

"We-we don't know sir."

Those answer quite hit Enishi's annoyance and he couldn't help but to constrict his eyes upon the two. They were held back by his stare and choke down in nervous.

"What else?" Enishi asked.

"W-well umm..." Hyoko caught his tongue to his teeth whenever he sees Enishi's cramped irritated eyes. As if it was trying rip him all apart.

"Kujiranami was killed brutally. His body was found floating on a river near the town of Yamana." Banji said.

"Who killed him?"

"According to the source, he almost killed one of battousai's friends though was unfortunately saved by the man who hacked my arm." Hyoko said.

Enishi gritted his teeth in anger, `Damn it, Saitou! Why do you always interfere with my plans?!' he clenched his hand in anger and in a swift movement, he took his weapon to his hand and stab Hyoko's heart. He cried in pain and soon went to his death while Banji was too stunned in the sudden bloodshed he just witnessed. "Hy-Hyoko!" he wailed out anxiously as Enishi continues of spreading such immense cleaves in Hyoko's poor dead body.

When Enishi had enough of releasing out his animosity, he took his katana and swayed out all the dirty blood that stained the blade. He turned his head to the wordless follower of his and showed such appalling stare.

"I guess that's the last information you've got. I have no use for you two." He motioned to stroll off leaving Banji on the ground, fret-witted. "Go home before I could still control this enraging temper of mine."

In a split second, Banji took the chance and went to run off from the island. Enishi grinned fiendishly just by watching that man run off like a stupid cat. For him, they were all some useless associates, which was only used just for fun.

He was about to enter the manor when he by surprise to see Kaoru on the huge balcony, standing in misery as usual. He raised his right temple, wondering what would have gotten into her mind this time.

~**~

The day passed on with more scattered rain through out the whole time. And still, she was standing near that patio, waiting patiently for him. She didn't care about the weather that abides her anticipation. She had faith in herself that she would stay long for the reason that she would want to see Kenshin arrives with her own two eyes.

Enishi watched her through the transparent glass door. True, he was getting distressed by the way Kaoru was acting. She had stayed there under the impenetrable tempest without any anticipation of coming in for shelter. He find it too stupid and it cause him to curse under his breath in annoyance. Reason of waiting for someone that wouldn't even come. Too senseless for him.

Daybreak came, the sun was shining brightly up from the deep blue skies, birds were chirping much more like music from the disastrous squall last night. He opened the transparent door and went saunter off at the parapet. To his surprise, Kaoru was sitting next to the door, all-feeble, faint and tired. She surely stayed for the whole night with expectation of Kenshin arriving. He felt a bit of pity over the girl and bridle of anger procured by the foolish thing she did.

"Are you waiting for him?" he asked. Kaoru never spoke and just give him a nod for a cue. He clenched his fist in anger from the thought that his predictions were all true. "If he comes, then I will have to kill you. Even so, you still want him to come?"

"There are times, when it is more painful to be alive than dead." Her answer was all clear and Enishi narrowed his eyes in rage. He never expected her to be so in love with that person. It was too much for him. "Your version of living hell for me would be losing Kenshin."

`This is worthless.' He thought.

"Even I do not know, whether I am an important person to him. But I want to be... I want to be thought of that way... dakara..." she buried her head to the hallow of her arms that was confining her knees to her body.

He finally snapped off from his temper and started to be all-repulsive, "He is a person who took away people's lives, their happiness. The people left behind... are now living in darkness, sadness and despair. His guilt is tremendous and deep. But, he is roaming around... the Meiji era without being jailed or punished!!" his veins started to popped out again.

"Why? Why is he still alive?! Why do you long for such a man?! He has no right to be happy nor he has no right to be loved!" he did at east let out the very thing he had just felt about. Knowing no reason to say such words to her.

"Kenshin loved Tomoe. That's why he have suffered... he has always... carried the burden of his guilt." She lifted her head before long; she looked to the void space. "He has been the most unforgiving on himself than anyone. But he has to live on. Because Tomoe wishes it. Your sister has forgiven Kenshin, who killed her fiancé." From that moment, she started to feel herself like a drunken buck. "I understand Tomoe-san's feelings... Because I love the same person."

The pain had constructed his heart for some weird reasons. He had no idea what has gotten into him to feel this way. It's like his heart was slowly ripped whenever Kaoru mentions his devotion over the stupid man.

"He has saved more people than he killed. He lived on... while desperately looking for a way to pay his sins. An answer... to atonement-" Kaoru felt herself come to its cogency of getting too dizzy. She started to see blurry images around her.

Enishi moved himself and caught Kaoru quickly to his arms before she could actually hit the ground. "Kaoru! W-what's wrong?" he asked, all care-worn in her situation. He touched her forehead and noticed it was burning out n flu. "Shit!" he exclaimed and promptly brought her to his arms and carries her unto her room.

~**~

Kaoru was burning in a terrible fever that she might caught with those horrid droughts she encountered last night. Her body was so scorching and all he could do was to panic and spread blaspheme through the quiet atmosphere. The cold towel was quickly placed to her forehead while she struggles to fight the fever away.

"Baka suru ni!" he mumbled out while rendering to wipe all the beads of sweat that kept on running down through her body. `How many times did I told to this stupid woman to take a good care of herself? Look at me now, wasting my time here in this room talking to myself!' he bitterly thought.

Although she truly annoys him, he felt something unusual from the way she looks right now. She was so weak in her condition. So trivial that it took him to help her to grapple the febrile disease. "You're so silly you lead yourself to suffer more. Baka..." he placed again his hand to her forehead to feel if any recoveries are done. Unfortunately, nothing.

His hand trailed a line from her frontal lobe unto the through the path of her soft burning cheek. He strokes the soft skin gently... so gentle it might have felt so great in Kaoru's senses.

"You are really… stupid..." he caressed her so tenderly, peculiar to himself. He abstain for that moment when his thumb reached to abrade her delicate osculated lips. It was in such perfect pinkish colored and no man could surely survive not to kiss them.

Bitterly thinking, he might be the first one not to. Admitting that he had kissed those lips in his dreams, he was assured that it would be much better if it was real.

The enticement was so strong; he ended up emerging from his seat and went directly near to her face. He watched her breath so heavy. Her tepid suspiration had been touching his cheek cause of leaning too close. At a leisurely pace, he brushed his lips with hers without stammering.

He was self-assured to what he was doing since she was unconscious for the moment. He grazes their lips together like feathers touching each skin. He broke the enticing rhythm and took one single look at her hot blushing face. The intensity of her fever and his flickering pecks cause that tinge of flush to form.

He pressed his body lightly against hers and was about to initiate such a deep kiss just to soothe his yearning lips, when suddenly…

"Kenshin..."

He felt himself broke into pieces when Kaoru mentioned that name in the middle of his concentration about kissing her. She was talking thorough her sleep and haplessly, it was battousai's name. In disgust, he drew back apathetic to her temperament. He was so into it though she spoiled that moment. "Damn! What the f*ck am I doing with this woman??" He uttered in frustration.

And in that, he left the room.

~**~

He sat at his usual armchair and went to drift off the incident that just had happened back in Kaoru's room. Thank God she was asleep or else it would be the end of his entire ego.

Enishi gaze at the sunset, thinking how incompetent he was when it comes to women. It's as if they were the only human beings that could actually drive him like a melted ice. He tends his head to lay to the stool as he shuts his eyes to have some ease.

Not to forget, his problem about him being invited to attend the meeting in China. He doesn't know the reason but by the way those two (Tai and Chi) looked when he scorned to their quite gratifying solicitation, he must say that this problem might be way too serious. Realizing that they already called for his attention.

He couldn't help but to think. Should he return to China and forget about this revenge over Himura Kenshin? How about Kaoru, he just can't leave her in that condition. Sure, he could easily return her home though... his vengeance wasn't finished yet. He still needs her. For the matter of rancor and...

"Kaoru..." he mumbled in a mirthless manner. Once again, he closed his eyes and soon drifted to snooze.

~**~