Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Seisou Hen ❯ Pha-ra's secret ( Chapter 11 )

Act 11: Pha-ra's secret

A month had passed since the incident. Nothing much had happened from the past seven days except for those `Mob meetings' held in the auction house. Enishi took her once inside and had met some respectable members and Mafia foremen whose individually bidding for those high priced opium's and other illegal things. Kaoru might be watching those people to waste their filthy money though, what can she say and do? She's inside of a Syndicate group mostly wanted by the detective force in most part of the world. Howbeit through her antipathy in this organization, she still stands in the crowd with his `husband' to take charge.

Enishi usually does the job to himself. Most likely when they needed to kill someone from TATHOS. As much as possible, he didn't wanted Kaoru to see such severe battles and much consider keeping her inside their room.

Of course as what expected, Kaoru pouted just knowing that there's nothing much to do whenever she's been locked up in an empty room. She would prefer to watch the chef de cuisine's to coddle some meal than staying all-alone inside their room.

Sometimes, she do always wish just to linger there than to go out and see Zhao's scorn face. She always looks so mad to her despite of the sweet beams she presents. Kaoru had no idea what was the reason of her fury though she believes that it has something to do with Enishi. She'll know about that soon.

Right now, she lays herself to the soft bed just settling her body into rest. She did lots of chores in those past few hours including her lessons <with Kam> about China.

Pha-ra insinuated her to learn it since she'll be staying in this foreign country knowing that she was one of the foreman's mate. It's all about it's history and how to speak its language. Though the topic was very boring add to that that the Mandarin, Tibetan and other languages were very burdensome to master. She nearly obliterate her table in annoyance in that very simple of saying HELLO in Chinese. "Ni hao!"

She frowned and placed a hand on her temples. "Ni hao... Ni hao... Ni hao... Ni hao......" she mumbled ceaselessly just to place it inside her drained brain.

Enishi watched her. That very position of her body on the bed causes him to ache. It's been days since the day they stayed inside one room accommodation. Sleeping together at the very same bed... without any lubricity happening. He struggled to control himself and he most likely applauds himself for withstanding the temptation Kaoru was generating whenever they were together. He always curse out of his mouth whenever his hand tries to move itself to touch her hand, her face, her body at any moment they're asleep.

In fact, it starts to occur right now. He feels himself grow hot in the thought of having her right beside him. Moreover, there are things that bother him especially the fact that Kaoru was not feeling anything special for him and she had that RIDICULOUS man inside her heart. How many times did he convince himself that all the mushy talk and romantic moves in public were just all counterfeit. Those behavior were just part of the play. She doesn't love him truly. It hurts him so much.

`Why am I thinking these silly things? She's here with me. What more possibly could I ask for...?' his eyes lit down as something came to bother his head. `Except for that bastard...' clenching his hand in annoyance, he headed to approach her near the bedside.

"Ni- Oh, it's you." She said while pulling herself off from the shiftless lay.

Enishi nodded, "Fix your self. You're coming with me." He commanded in that cold voice of his.

"W-where are we going?" she asked.

"Some of my associates would like to meet you."

"Associates? Aren't they involved in your group?"

"They're my personal followers. The Mafia has nothing to concern about them, that's why we'll be meeting them somewhere."

Kaoru nodded and stood up while fixing her tunic in place. This conservative look of Chinese dress on her was very warming to see. A black tunic has these almost pinkish colors of Sakura floating diagonal lines at the center. He said it represents her femininity and rage as being a big time arms smugglers spouse. She always looks great in each and every dresses and clothes Enishi gives her. She often wonders why he has this good taste in picking up those precious clothings. Even the fabric felt so smooth having that velvety feeling having that silk touch her skin.

Lots of people inside the organization recognize her because of this. She hate to admit it but being related to a distinguished bandit makes her to raise her chin up… although she still have this uneasiness of being mixed up in an underworld's sinister.

~**~

Meanwhile, Zhao went to her business leaving Kenshin all alone inside the empty room. It's been a week he presumes and by those days had he ever went out of that cave to see the outside world. He had been seeing lots of people lurking inside having those spurn expression plastered in their faces. They're not friendly as what Zhao told him though he didn't care.

Still, he doesn't have any idea why he was inside a cave and why did he approved on living inside hell. Maybe because of Zhao's request though he knew to himself that he couldn't stand staying in that very place forever. If ever he wanted to change his life, better do it outside with people he could lean unto.

He almost vaults in mirth when she left no chains around his body. He's free to what he wanted to despite of Zhao's presence. Cause of the leisure, he decided to escape the terrible imprisonment and see what he could do outside the cavern. Zhao once said that there was a hidden town deep within the forest that was few miles away from this place. He destined to see that town and might even find a way to communicate with his friends in Japan. He was sure that everybody was dead worried by now. From Kaoru's lost and his disappearance. There's nothing left to do but to cogitate of how to get back to his country.

~**~

Pha-ra held her hand to his and allow himself to feel the soft hand in his face. "How are you feeling my love?" he murmured, closing his lids to feel her warmth. "Sorry if I haven't visit you so often... I've been hell busy."

The middle-aged woman just rested upon the huge bed, only hearing her heavy breathing. "It's been a week and those TATHOS had been starting to bother me so much. They really wanted to steal you away from me..." silly maybe but he had been talking to his wife like this for the past twelve years. He got used to it, just talking to the air. Although he knew his wife wouldn't answer neither of his questions, he was positive that she could hear him despite of her incurable disease.

He raised hi head to see her pale face having those deathlike lips match her face. She was so dry. The only thing that keeps her alive is the morphine Pha-ra gives her. More like she was a dead person sleeping in a nice mattress. Pha-ra loves her so much and would do anything just to let her live for longer years. He nearly curses this miserable world just creating her to exist like this. In spite of her look, he just wished he could meet her again in the other life when Buddha reincarnates them again.

"Chiang Ch'ng... she looks so much like you..." swaying some portions of hair off of the woman's serene face. "I've never expected to find your daughter here..."

<Start of Flash back>

"A daughter?!"

Chiang Ch'ng lowered her head in shame as when Mao learned about her past. She had put forth effort to throw that former life and now, her new husband had tried to search about her hidden past. She knew these things would happen. She knew Mao would react so violently just to know that she had married someone else before.

"A swordsman named Kamiya Tetsuro am I right?"

"I already forgotten about that! I convinced myself to be alone without a husband... without a daughter because of you Mao!"

Mao threw the paper out of his hand and quickly took her arm, "No more than that you had gave birth to a child from that filthy man!"

"He's my husband! What more could you expect-ugh?!" her words were parted as Mao's large hand smack her hard on her cheek. It was so strong; she flew down on the floor. Lin had witnessed this savageness in the patio where he saw the two enter the room.

Chiang Ch'ng held her reddening cheeks and tears started to drip off from her eyes. It did stings but it's not the blip that she had crying unto. It was Mao's trust that broken into pieces caused her to broke down to tears. She had loved him so much despite of the things he usually does to her including this hurting part. She ignored these circumstances from the past. But now, it was too much.

Mao looked away from his pathetic wife, clenching his fist to control his anger. He might kill her in any moment. "You left your husband and daughter. She is your very own sibling. You know how much we oppose those doings..." it shows how Mao was disappointed in everything. He didn't expect one of his wives would do such a thing. He avoids seeing her eyes, struggling to restrain himself. "You're quite to be a disgrace in my clan. Even in the `gang of four'. You've caused a scandal in the group..."

She halted from her sobbing and looked up to the man forth her. "What do you mean by those words...?"

"Chiang Ch'ng. From now on, you will be no longer my wife."

Her eyes widened in stupor as the words she was so afraid off came in this every moment. "W-what are you saying... I am your wife... I'm one of the gang of four..."

Mao shut his eyes in grief. He doesn't want to do this and yet rules are rules and he especially made those. "I want you to return to your country. To your family... and to your old self... Keiko."

"B-but!"

Mao turned his heel and headed outside her room. "Good bye..."

"Mao!" she wanted to stand up from her sit and reach him. Though she expect that he would just sway her away. No use of compromising this stupid sin she made. She hates herself so much and her past life now that it was that thing that causes Mao to throw her away. She cried in sorrow feeling herself all alone in this world.

Lin quickly motioned to comfort her although he didn't as when he noticed that she wanted to be alone. He sighed and slowly closed the door.

**

"You let him do this thing to you?!" yelled by Mao's third wife, Chang Ch'un-Ch'iao which turns out to be Chiang Ch'ng's best friend. She slowly applied the ointment on Ch'ing's bruised cheek. They married the same man and most likely feel the same way whenever neither of them had a problem.

"It's my fault Ch'un... I should have told him the truth about me. It's too dumb that I didn't do such a thing..."

"It's your past Ch'ing. What cares him?"

"I had a husband and a daughter too... he has his right to be upset."

"They're very far away from us. Tetsuro's in Japan while were here in Tibet. What is he trying to blabber about?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I think you shouldn't say such harsh words to him like that. He might hear you." In their surprise, it was Lin who just appeared in their doorstep. Ch'un crossed her arms and gave Lin a sly stare. "What concerns you? Your master maltreated my best friend. It is best for me to ease her pain."

Lin turned his stare to Ch'ing who was just quiet on the side. "Are you all right now Ch'ing?" she just gave him a nod without anything to say. Lin felt relieve just to see her settle down like that noticing no tears off from her eyes.

"What brings you here Lin?" asked by Ch'un.

"Mao sent me to get Ch'ing here." As when Lin said that, Ch'ing felt it has something to do with her departure.

"Why is that?"

"He wants her to return to Japan."

"What?! W-why?"

"It's his orders madam. I don't know what's the reason."

"You just can't take her!"

"Ch'un... please..."

The two looked at Ch'ing who was more like agonizing in the news. "Please stop... This is Mao's decision and I think I should obey it."

"But! You can't go back there! You don't even know where to find your family! You can't leave China! You can't leave the gang of four! You can't leave me...!" Ch'un was getting sarcastic. She never wanted her best friend to leave her. Ch'ing is the only family she have got and she wouldn't allow her to desert her. She was afraid to be alone. Afraid to be with Mao all alone... she fear her death would be caused by Mao just as what he did to his fourth wife, Yao Wen Y-uan.

Ch'ing stood having her eyes avoid Ch'un's grieved ones. "I'm sorry Ch'un... I can't do what you wanted me to... Mao threw my love away... I am nothing to him..."

"Ch'ing..."

Lin saw the blues between the two friends and soon Ch'un started to cry in Ch'ing's arms. Ch'ing tried not to burst into tears though a single tear started to fall down to her swollen cheek. Never had he saw the first woman he had ever loved before to be so tragic like this. He also wishes to ease her pain away.

<End of Flash back>

"I loved you so much Ch'ing. It's just you had never seen it... I did everything... I opposed Mao's orders and took you with me... and became a bandit as soon as I joined this Mafia in Shanghai... I did my best to cheer you and you ended up having this incurable affliction." He smiled inwardly having his head rest in her hand. "I promised to find your daughter and bring her to you... it seems I finally found her... and she's just near beside you my love..."

~**~

Kenshin walked into the crowded town having a mob of people busy in doing each and every business they had. The entrance of the town was a market place and no wonder why the village was so crowded. Lots of people joined the swarm of body of customers while some children just walked and run around, playing. He smiled to himself just reminding of these playful children like Ayame and Suzumi. `I wonder how those two doing right now...'

He walked more to explore the place. It was easier to walk in masses since Zhao gave him this Tunic for him to wear. She threw his old hakama, which he didn't really approved on.

Despite of those many faces he encountered, something had made him stop in track with his eyes fully widened and his mouth hanged opened. A certain frame came to catch his glare and he couldn't possibly believe what he was seeing.

"Ka- Kaoru...?!"

She was standing almost the center of the rabble. He could see her back and despite of the clothes she was wearing, he could tell that it was HER who was wearing that fascinating red ribbon. There's only one person who loves those tassels, and that is Kaoru. His Kaoru.

`She's here... she's alive... Kaoru's alive!' he shouted in his thoughts just to realize that she was truly existing. He left no regrets and quickly made his way to her. In the midst of his squeezing with those horde of people, a being had appeared in his vision that completely shock him.

Kaoru was called by a certain person with a black cape and this white hair, which he certainly knew who it was. He didn't expected that cursed person in this very place, he immediately hid behind the vast oak tree.

`That guy's here too?!' his anger grew more higher as when Enishi took Kaoru by his arms in the waist with his right hand clasping Kaoru's. They were talking with three guys forth them having those gleeful assertion smeared in their faces. Kaoru was smiling while that man who tried to trick him held her.

He makes a fist out of his hands while gritting on his teeth. He was so angry in what he was seeing. Those two made a good couple with those actions they were showing. `Damn! Kaoru, what the hell are you doing? That's the person who attacked your dojo! The person who alleged that he had killed you... the person who has this huge anger at me!'

Enishi's associates departed having the two of them staying who which decided to go home. He led their way with Kaoru following him behind. She walks next to him when she unexpectedly tripped over a small rock on the ground. "Yikes!" Kaoru fells down on the ground using her Kendo skills which she partly avoid hitting the loam too hard. He witnessed her sudden falter from the corner of his eye, "What the-" and briskly approach her.

Kenshin returned his vision to the two and when he went to look for them, they were gone. He distraught and instantly stuffed himself over the overcrowded town again. When he was nearly close to the certain location he saw them, he halted from walking and quickly saw the two on the ground. He behold at that moment when Enishi grab Kaoru's shoulder while on the other hand, Kaoru was struggling to escape his arms. He narrowed his eyes on the distressing sight he was seeing. `He's forcing Kaoru to act so benevolent in front of the public so his image of being an abductor would be erased in the eyes of the society. How could he do such a thing?!'

"I'm fine Enishi! You don't have to." Kaoru playfully swaying Enishi's helping hands. He refused in her childish manners and went on with his ways. "You can't walk with a swollen ankle. And besides, I can't stand seeing my wife suffer in such pain." He mumbled those last words, which was quite alarming in her ears.

Kaoru looked up to him in awe with her blue pools shimmering in adorn. She was stirred in his words and as when she encountered Enishi's sincere verdant eyes truly proven that he was serious in his words. She thought she had held her breath for that moment as her heart started to hustle its heartbeat.

"I can't stand seeing my wife suffer in such pain..."

Before she knew it, Enishi already brought her to his arms and carry her along the way. She watched to see his face as she feels her cheeks grew hotter than usual. She was blushing and she needed to hide it away from him. She felt embarrassed but was all washed away by Enishi's warm sturdy chest. She lay her head against it and tried to drift into sleep. He was so warm as always. She couldn't help but to admire it.

He saw Enishi carrying Kaoru as they head to the forest, outside of the town. He clashed his temples in his new discovery. `That's the path leading to the cave... where is he taking her?' he followed the two in the act of hiding in each every tree in the course. Procured by his nuisance and animosity why he resolved to find the confounding questions inside his head.

~**~

Grabbing his bottle, Sano sat on the bed more like annoyed while drinking his sake continuously. Misao entered the room having that "be sullen" expression in her face. "What's bothering you?"

Sano took the bottle off from his mouth, releasing a fume through his throat as he relish the taste of the liquor. "What else? First, this Jinchuu man came to mangle the dojo having Kaoru in his thralldom. Second, Kenshin lost himself and left the dojo. Third, we don't have any idea where to find those two in this great F*CK*NG country! Fourth, we've been stuck in that freaking ship for a month. And fifth... I had this gabby WEASEL who keeps on blabbering in front of my face!"

"What did you call me?!" she smoked in anger while raising a sleeve from her cloth, as she was about to attack the befuddled rooster.

"Will you two be quiet even for a moment?" said by Aoshi's voice. He was sitting at the chair at the corner of the room having a small book in his hands. He raised his stare to see Misao's abashed face. "Both of you had been quarreling since we left Japan."

"Blame your pet weasel. Why did you bother taking her with us anyway?" Sano asked while having a tremendous swill of sake.

Aoshi sighed as he places the book down on the table beside him, "She's a headstrong, persistent ninja. What could you expect?"

Misao felt she was being buried in the depths of hell. Sano was completely annoying her and now, even Aoshi joined the feud. She wanted to oppose in Aoshi's words though she knew she could never do that. Just a glance from his eyes truly melts her heart away. She kept the infirm self inside and instead stomped her feet on the ground. "Mou! How many times did I tell you that-"

"You wanted to help in saving Kaoru and Kenshin blah... blah... blah... We've heard those words for about a million times!" Sano blurt out from behind.

"Then that settles everything!" she crossed her arms and made a smirk out of her mouth, "And besides, do any of you had an idea what would be the next strategy we're going to make?" quite a mischievous question yet she knew this wouldn't drive them off guard.

"Saitou went off to search." Aoshi answered.

"So, is he the only one who could move his ass and work in this duty?"

Sano constricted his eyes upon Misao, almost perceiving what this little bitch was doing. He and Aoshi clashed their questioning stares at each other. "What exactly are you trying to say here weasel?" Sano asked.

Misao's eyes expanded in wrath, `When will that WEASEL thing bound to an end?' she closed her eyes having that braggart part of her show up. "Let's see... according to officer WOLF's findings, Enishi's Mafia was located here in this town of Sung Ch'ang... which means it's not very hard to find their sanctuary. Unless... Enishi finds out that we are here of course."

"The problem is, Sung Ch'ang is much to be a huge town than Kyoto, Misao. It would take a month before we could explore this urban area." Aoshi mouthed.

Sano threw the bottle as he crosses his legs and started to heed in the conversation, "Yukishiro Enishi is a big time smuggler and hell sure that his organization in the underworld are a bunch of law-breakers." Before he could continue, he saw a flying bottle of sake heading to his head. "YYYOOOUUUUCHHHH!!!!!" Sano fell on the side of the bed having that huge lump in his forehead.

"Dumb head! Of course those people in Mafia are a bunch of criminals!" Misao returned to her composure after tossing the flask out of her fist.

"Why you WEASEL! Just wait till I get my hands on you!" Sano stormed away from his position and quickly headed to choke Misao till death.

Aoshi ignored the fierce argumentation happening between the two stubborn kids ahead of him, "Syndicates usually conceals their identities from public. I'm sure those hoodlums wouldn't be found inside this town..."

"Good one."

The three was held out from their concentration (including Sano's engrossment in slaying Misao through his fist) when a certain voice came to speak from the doorway. It was Saitou (still having that cigarette in his mouth) grinning as he enters the room.

"Saitou!" yelled by the two.

"Did you find anything interesting?" Aoshi asked.

He nodded while raising a paper from his pocket; "Thanks to this." He flings the paper to the table as he shuts the door behind. "I've talked to the officers in the central and I've completely squeezed out a lot of information out of them."

"Hontô? What are those infos you had?" Misao inquisitively asked

"I really didn't talked to the police officers around the department, luck may had been by my side as I found an old ally of mine roaming around."

"An ally in Shinsengumi?" Sano asked.

"None of your business roosterhead."

"WHAT did you SAY?!" Sano yelled as when Misao quickly grasped Sano's waist to pull him back. "Calm down! Let him finish first all right?! And then smack him to death!" she reminded hysterically.

"This friend of mine broach this prominent bankruptcy sale deep in the forest of Quan's grove. It is said to be one of the best auction house in the country which mostly wealthy people visits."

"A hidden Auction house? Isn't it legal to endorse a public sale here in this town?" Aoshi asked.

"What you're talking about are those auctions which sales "rare" items. What I'm talking about is different. It sells "illegal" rare items inside."

"Which means... Yukishiro Enishi's syndicate has this connection with this illegal bidding thing." Aoshi divulged as the small puzzles of facts came to form a figure.

"If your speculates are true... what shall we do then?" interrogated by Sano.

Misao once again wished to hit the poor rooster's head, "Investigate the Auction house of course."

"We're not that wealthy to enter an Auction house, remember?"

She blinked and placed a finger in her chin, "You've got a point..." her eyes widened so sudden in disbelief, `Since when Sano used his brain?!'

~**~