Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Seisou Hen ❯ Feigned commitment ( Chapter 10 )

Act 10: Feigned commitment

Opening her lids, anxiety-ridden eyes welcomed her by surprise. She jerks from her sleep and recognize the man in front of her. It was one of Enishi's Chinese compatriots. The person he called Kam and he was staring at her all care-worn. "W-wha... w-whe..." she faltered on her words cause of the complete shock she just felt.

"Shh... Please calm down..." he spoke though still, Kaoru didn't understand a single word because it was pronounced in a Chinese language. Kam chuckled in the quandary he just showed. He just overlooked through the fact that Kaoru came from Japan and doesn't know how to speak mandarin. He sighed and couldn't even say sorry cause it has no use anyway.

"You're having a hard time there?" a man spoken from beyond and there then came a man with a long braid resting in his shoulder. It was that person who welcomed them when they set their foot in Shanghai. Enishi calls him Lei.

"Kind of. Can you tell her not to worry and sorry for my dumbness that I couldn't speak Japanese language?" Kam asked having that pleading smile daubed on his youthful face. Kaoru wondered in what the two were talking about whereas she couldn't comprehend neither a word.

"No problem."

"Shi-shi ni."

The person named Lei turned his attention to Kaoru who was quite alarmed in his sudden attention. He smiled at her though his smile was very grisly; she would rather let him scowl than show that awful beam. "My friend here says you shouldn't worry about anything. You're safe with us."

She blinked in bewilderment, "W-what am I doing here? Can you please tell me?"

"Well, Kam here was sent by Pha-ra to get you from your room so you could be protected right off from those terrible foes. He looked for you and fortunately found you inside a cabinet, sleeping."

Kaoru blushed in self-consciousness. It was quite embarrassing to know that someone just saw you sleeping inside a strange place. Lei controlled himself from asking `what the hell is she doing inside a cabinet?' and just went on to explain the consequences.

"We're previously attack by some clan of ninjas though I know this won't last long. Those enemies were nothing but a bunch of weaklings. I'm sure they're all dead by now."

"Where's Enishi?"

"I don't know. Maybe he's still out there, battling."

"He's battling?"

"C'mon. Don't worry about him. You should know how strong your husband is."

True, those words he said were all authentic. Why would she be worried if she was aware how powerful Enishi was? How his Jinchuu just wrecked that huge trunk back in the island. Surely, nothing severe would happen. `W-wait a minute... HUSBAND?!' her eyes widened like saucers in the word that ringed at her ears.

"Damn it LEI!"

Kaoru snap a bit out from her sitting position just to hear that loud shout from the other side of the room. She looked at Lei who was more like a smirk was forming at the edge of his mouth. "Look's like he's back early than expected..."

"Better face him. It's scary when he's angry." Kam said as he stood up from his seat having himself and Lei head outside. Kaoru was surprised in the sudden commotion even though she knew who owns that voice that angrily yelled out Lei's name.

"Where is she?!"

"My, my. Calm down..."

"Shit! Where the hell did you take her?!" Enishi, in ire took Lei by the collar of his tunic, pulling him by his clenched hand.

"Stop this nonsense, release him at once Enishi!" Kam yelled as when he witnessed the flaming anger that forms in Enishi's flickering eyes. He was entirely angry than foreseen. He had never seen him get incensed like this since that time Pha-ra recruited him. "Pha-ra commanded us to take your spouse into safety. He was just concerned about your wife you just left behind."

Enishi adhere to his demand in releasing Lei away from his grip. Not because he has this higher rank or something. It simply because he respects Kam as an ally. He trusts Kam more than any other associates in their group. He confides in him than Zhao, his long-time killing partner.

"I didn't left her behind. I just kept her inside that cabinet for her safety. The whole place were surrounded by those ninjas and I had no other choice but to make a quick decision."

Lei chuckled, "Now I know..."

Enishi angrily turned his head to Lei who was practically hiding his blissfulness. "What's so funny bastard?"

"Nothing much."

Kam sighed in the obstinacy these two were showing. He could never change the fact that they will never have the chance to be good allies.

"Enishi..."

The three glance to the voice and saw Kaoru on the doorjamb, all half-anxious and overwhelmed. Enishi stared at her and by that time, he approached Kaoru as he envelops her in a warm, tight embrace. Kaoru didn't know how to react, now that everything had jumbled inside her head. Lei just called Enishi as her husband and here he goes, acting like her real spouse. No ideas if she should act on with the story or just confront him in front of them.

"Damn it! I'm freaking worried about you! Thank God you're safe!"

She just gotten more confused by the words he just expelled. `He's just acting... does those words really meant something...? Is he really worried at my lost...? Is he just acting by reason of they all knew that I was his wife and he was my husband...?' those thoughts just rolled inside her head. She was really dazed which thing she should believe.

Enishi grimaced at the side of Kaoru's head. He knew something was wrong with Kaoru and the thing about being husband and wife may cause it. There's no doubt that Lei mentioned something like this to her. He verge near Kaoru's ear without the two noticing. "We'll discuss this later..." he whispered and all Kaoru could do was to nod. `Mou! You definitely have to explain this to me!'

"Will that tear-jerking moment end up already? Pha-ra's looking for you all."

They all give a furtive glance to the person who spoke and she was standing at the door, all in ire. It was Zhao who called him having her ruby eyes blaze in annoyance. Kaoru saw the certain woman and just wondered who it was. She had never seen her around, though who cares since she was previously secured by the man she suddenly calls her husband.

"I know." Enishi released Kaoru though he just took her instantly by her hand.

"W-where are we going?"

"We have to meet the old geezer."

"Old geezer? Whose that?"

"Just follow me alright?" his voice was so sturdy, she just couldn't oppose him. Lei watched the couple with a smirk plastered on his face. Something was definitely fascinates him and having those two in his sight was too frolic to scrutinize.

~**~

Sano frowned in annoyance just seeing himself so hopeless forth the mirror. It's been three days since they left Tokyo in quest to find Kenshin and Kaoru in Shangahai. He was not alone. He had Aoshi and Saitou with him to aid. <cough> not to mention Misao who almost destroyed his ear just to let her come along to the journey. He elucidated how hard this jaunt would be though the weasel was so persistent. Once a weasel, always a weasel.

Having that amount of water in his palms, he splattered it to his face and when he's all cleaned up, he instantly headed to bed. He sat there having his leg placed against his knee with his arm having the weight of his chin. He was dazed once more as the terrible thoughts came to spread up in his head again. "It's been almost a year from now..."

<Start of Flash back>

"Jinchuu?" asked by Sano who at the same time was surprised and shock in the terrible bombing happened in three residents in Tokyo. "What does that word means ne, Kenshin?"

Kenshin clenched his hand in annoyance just reading the certain word Jinchuu and the etching form of a `tiger' at the bottom with a word of `six comrades' at the side. He knew those incidents has something to do with his past because all the places are somehow related to him.

"Tenchuu means the `heavens will pass down judgment'. Even betwixt the Ishinshishi, the slayers especially liked to use the word tenchuu. It deliberates that instead of heaven, it was up to us to maintain the order by doing the nemesis... Jinchuu expresses the direct converse. It means, `even if the heavens don't punish him, the knave will get his due for sure.'"

Sano blinked with mixed expressions. He never thought a simple word would mean so much. And by the look in Kenshin's eyes, he knew this was something to heed on. A serious thing to give a damn attention.

That afternoon, Kenshin asked Sano to approach officer Fujima to aid them with the problem while he decided to return to the dojo and settle everything with his friends... especially Kaoru.

Though the case was quite hard to complete, his suspicion was confirmed when, on a bridge on the way home, he encounters Enishi. He was actually standing forth him and couldn't help but to be so speechless. The stubborn boy had already grown up into a fine young man. He has this white hair now matching up with enraged verdant pools that was constricted upon him. "I expected to see you... but not in this very moment..." Kenshin voiced as he returns him with a sly stare.

"I came to see you and to tell you something."

"What is it then?"

"I want you to know that the `six comrades' will attack the Kamiya dojo in ten days. I'm expecting you to prepare." With that, he turned his heel and walked off.

"Wait!" Kenshin yelled as when Enishi halted his motion from treading his path. "Why are you doing this Enishi?"

Enishi never bothered to look back to see his wretched face, "You know what my reasons are... assassin."

With those phrases he released, Kenshin fully decided to relate his past.

<End of Flash back>

He sighed in lack of fulfillment. Being left behind was something he couldn't accept. He had been cursing himself just remembering how stupid he was for not trying to help as early as he could. He had underestimated Enishi's power and by Kenshin's expression, he should have known better in what to expect. Having his hands clasped together, he looked up to the ceiling having almost tears dropping at the edge of his eyes.

"Why do this things have to happen! Did we do something wrong to you!?"

Pathetic maybe, but praying might be the sole solution in these problems. Sayo said once... God loves his children. He usually saw her praying like this and by mimicking it might work something out. He doesn't believe in Catholicism nor Buddhism but in how Sayo said those words, the sincerity in her eyes completely made him to change his mind.

"God... help us... please..." he shut his eyes in total plea. He gropes his hands together having this creed ran inside him. He somewhat had to try this. Everything might turn out so hopeless in the end.

"What are you doing?"

In one single voice, Sano jarred off from trance. He looked at the door of his cabin and was surprised to see Misao, standing in bewilderment at the doorframe. "Misao?"

Misao took a palm to her temple, shaking her head in astonishment. "Have you gotten nuts roosterhead? You've been talking to yourself..."

"What do you want WEASEL?" he asked more like abraded in her appearance.

Misao looked at him sharply as she almost grabs something to throw in his spiky head. "Pikupiku suru! I'm your room mate stupid!"

"Bujoku suru?!"

"Bubun teki ni." She crossed her arms making Sano puffed out of smoke in wrath. He stood up and instantly slammed the door behind her.

"Shut up and go to sleep!"

Misao giggled in how Sano just behave just like a kid. No wonder why she loves to badger this older boy in front of her. He's way too easy to play with.

"What are you snickering for?"

One last laugh and she went to her bed, "Nothing." She sat at the mattress having her braided hair placed in her hands. Sano looked at her with furious eyes. She was so annoying as always, he just wished she hadn't agreed in sharing a room with her. But what could he do? Aoshi and Saitou declared firmly that Misao would stay with him so someone could protect her. He and Misao much refused and nearly professed that Aoshi should be the one to do the job though, the two wanted some privacy having their own cabins instead. Unfair maybe but he couldn't do anything anyway. He sighed in frustration and was about to head to his bed to sleep.

He lay down to the soft bedstead, closing his eyes to drift down to sleep. He was so tired from thinking this entire problem. It's been a week since the day he had actually took a nice good nap. Though this slumber wouldn't be long as far as he know that the thought of saving those two would be hard enough to omit.

~**~

Kaoru followed the others while just walking beside Enishi having her hand being held tightly in his grasp. Her face was in scarlet since they left the room. Having herself being clutched like this by him could send mixed chills in her spine. She doesn't know what to do.

Enishi looked at the edge of his eyes to see how Kaoru was doing. He noticed her to be so speechless in the incident. He knows how she felt just to know that she was instantly married to a man like him. Through the rift they were taking, neither would him believe that he had initiated this kind of act. He squeezed her hand more strained, showing his self-reliance to her. "Don't worry. He just want to meet you." Though he didn't glanced to her, he knew she nodded in comprehension.

They arrived in this portion of the hall with a door designed in fancy western pattern. This Pha-ra might be someone why he had this aristocratic room with these three following his orders. 'He might be the one who controls this syndicate, which means...' her eyes widened just to realize something. `...Enishi's boss...' she thought.

Two men opened the door to let them all in. It was quite colossal inside having different ornaments of dragons and Buddhist Gods having a huge Buddha painted in the ceiling. Her jaws almost drop in the beauty that beholden her. She almost feel she was standing around Buddha's sanctuary.

"Is she..."

A voice interrupted her off from thoughts and when she looked at the center, there was a desk having this middle aged man sitting at the middle of two sturdy wards. He was dumbfounded in shock and she couldn't see the reason why he looked so stupefied. She doesn't know what to do nothing else but to force a smile, though the smile doesn't want to plaster in her facade.

On the other hand, Pha-ra was surprised as what can see by the others. It all started as when Kaoru went inside the room. He became so flabbergasted by that moment. `She looks exactly like...'

Enishi saw Pha-ra's shocking stare at Kaoru and he knew he had to break his mystic abstraction. "Ehrm.... Pha-ra, I want you to meet my wife, Yukishiro Kaoru." He turned to Kaoru showing this guileful look to convince her to act in his scheme. "Kaoru, this is my boss, Pha-"

"Please Enishi. Kaoru is part of the group as your wife and she seems to be trusted." He smiled at her and for the foremost time he did this. "I'm Lin Piao. I'm very glad to meet you." He said showing this warm smiled over her.

She looked at Enishi with a questioning stare and then returned her glare to the old man. "You speak Japanese...?"

Pha-ra nodded, "Yes indeed. I'm the sovereign of this organization. I had traveled almost half part of the world."

"I- I see... nice to meet you too, I'm-" Kaoru faltered through her throat feeling stagger yet strange with the old man's affability.

"No need to introduce your self. I know who you are."

`I don't understand- what's with the sudden warmth?' Enishi glare in annoyance. His facial cast was totally irked in nuisance.

"Please, all of you have a seat."

By that, they all sat around the tryst table facing Pha-ra. Kaoru sat next to Enishi while her handhold tightly over his shirt. Enishi understood why she was holding up to him and letting her do that might slacken her for a moment.

"I know everyone's alarmed in the circumstances that happened few hours ago. Even I never expected the sudden attack." Pha-ra started.

"They want to steal the same person from us..." Lei said.

`Steal a person?' Kaoru's eyes stretched in what she had heard. Those ninjas want something that's why they attacked. And it's not that they just wanted some "thing" it was more like some "one".

"No matter what this TATHOS would do, they'll never have the chance to defeat us or something. We're still the most powerful underworld here in China." Zhao voiced with her fingers tapping ceaselessly on the wooden table. Sitting at the opposite side of the woman that she truly abhors.

Lei chuckled after, "When will those dumb heads understand that fact anyway? They're too stubborn to accept defeat."

"We're still lucky that we still have your wife sir." Kam said.

Pha-ra nodded as he lays his elbows with his chin resting against his fist, "I know, though... we shouldn't stay too loose about this TATHOS. We don't have any idea what kind of enemy we're encountering right now."

`What are these people talking about? I can't understand them... it's all in mandarin...'

"Chiang Ch'in is secretly kept inside this cave. How possibly those TATHOS knows about her?" Enishi finally asked.

"Higher officials are the only one's who are aware about her presence." Lei said and in a snap, he raised his stare to Pha-ra. "Are you saying that there's a spy inside this organization?"

Zhao sharply pointed her gaze to Kaoru, which was set back when she encountered her frightening eyes. "Could be..."

`Why is she gazing at me so cold...? Did I do something wrong to her...?'

"Stop staring at her like that. She has nothing to do with this... she doesn't even know how to understand mandarin." Enishi warned her having his fiery contracted eyes reflect over Zhao's more like bothered expression.

`Are they talking about me? Hey! It's because I can't understand Chinese means they could fuzz about me!'

"Enough of these. Everything ended up in good shape and all those ninjas are killed and thrown in the nearest river. I'm satisfied with that." Pha-ra stood up from his seat. "There will be a gathering in the auction house tomorrow morning. Kam, I want you to attend that meeting alright?"

"I will."

"Lei and Zhao, I want you two to work on with this situation about this TATHOS."

"Sure."

"Enishi, three steam ships will arrive at the dock in Shanghai this early morn. I want you to check that out, can I expect that you would do that for me?" Enishi glanced at Kaoru and then turned to nod in Pha-ra's behest. He smirked in gratitude, "Alright. That's all, you people are dismissed."

All of them stood from their seats and went to walk out from the room except the so-called `couple'. Pha-ra smirked as when he noticed what they're initiating. He signaled the wards to leave the room having the two all left alone.

Meanwhile, the two were just quiet at that very position having their words stuck at the edge of their tongues. The place was silent having that sense of talking surrounds them.

"I apologize." Enishi's sturdy voice ringed in Kaoru's ears and she took the chance to continue the talking. "Why are you apologizing?"

"I know it's not right for me to introduce you as my wife. I did that because-"

"I'm not asking for any explanation Enishi. I'm your hostage aren't I? I don't care in things you want to do. I'm not the one who's controlling your life."

"Hmp... You're right about that. I just hell sure know how you would react upon the circumstances."

"I was... for once surprised when I heard this rumor about me being your wife." She looked up to see Enishi's anxious face and gave a sweet beam just to lighten the forlorn facade. "But I think there's no other choice but to act with it. I know it's not right to bring an outsider inside a Mafia's hideout and I know you're just doing the right thing for my own safety too... you are truly kind to be concerned."

Enishi watched her talk as those small pinkish formed flesh speak forth him. Her attractive cerulean pools luster against the lamp at the center of the table, full of beauty and grace. Her long black locks resting at her shoulder with that cute bow tie holding the soft hair in place. She was so beautiful. A gem he would truly cherish forever. Never he had found such elegance in a woman.

Without knowing, Kaoru upspring out from her stool and placed her arms around his neck. He felt her warm presence and balmy scent with that fond embrace she gave. He was surprised in the sudden action despite of the feeling of happiness gushing in his head.

Kaoru blushed in the awkward actions having her to initiate the tight bond. "I thank you for saving my life from your comrades... I truly appreciate that..." she whispered in his ear in a demure way.

Enishi at no time spoiled the moment and instantly placed his arms around Kaoru's thin waist, grasping her so tight in between his fervent flukes. He buried his head to the crook of her neck, pulling Kaoru so close to him having her drop to his lap. `It's all because I love you Kaoru... when can I say these things to you...? WHEN?'

`It's strange... this warmth... this empathy... it's so peculiar... why do I like this feeling of staying in his arms ...? WHY? Could I possibly...?' she erased the thoughts off whereas it never wanted to sway off. `No...! Please... please let this time stop? I want to stay here... forever... I don't want to leave his arms... he makes me feel so secure... so protected...'

"It's already sunrise, I think you should change and we'll head to breakfast later on..." Enishi tell furtively having his breathe touch the skin of her nape. Kaoru nodded and soon pull out from his bear hug. She smiled and let herself drag him to emerge from his stool. "I'm sure you prepared something for me. You are my wardrobe." She trifled as this prized gag paid by his grin.

"Without a doubt."

~**~