Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Seisou Hen ❯ TATHOS attacked! ( Chapter 17 )

Act 17: TATHOS attacked! Aoshi's discovery

Stepping inside as their eyes were fully mesmerized by a vast mansion house, full of luminous candelabrum at the center. A crowd of rich people smeared the whole hall of the bidding domain. Since it was an auction house and most likely rich and famous people were inside, the security was a bit more hard to take.

"Whoa! I thought we'll never ever get inside…" Sano made a relieved expression. A huge convoy was standing in front of the huge door of the auction house, picking the rightful person to enter the huge mansion. Each person needed to say the parole to get in.

"Good thing Saitou knows it all… not to mention that `bearhug' password…" Misao added.

Sano frowned and winced out in pain, "Yeah right. That gigantic moron did gave me a painful one. Now, I do think I need something to straighten my back!" he wailed as his hand patted his throbbing rack.

Aoshi stepped in and seemly fixed his shawl matching up his noble attire. A straight black suit with a white long sleeve underneath. His shirt was unbuttoned from the top that seemly exposed his neck. He first didn't agree on wearing it although Saitou was way too persuasive so he had no any other choice. Misao on the other hand refused to wear Chinese dresses and instead went on with her desired western dress which leads Sano to follow her choice.

"Enough chatting. Let's do this." Aoshi commanded as the two agreed and went to stride in their different paths.

~**~

"Enishi?" he was glaring at her so sharp, she had no idea what has gotten into him. Enishi on the other hand didn't spare a minute and quickly took her hand. He dragged her out from the crowd sternly which makes Kaoru to cringe out in discomfort.

"Where are you taking me?? You're hurting me Enishi!"

He brought her out to the balcony, throwing her wrist making her stumble outside. "What's wrong with you?" asked by a mad Kaoru who was quite trying to keep her temper down

"I'm the one who should be asking that question." he spat. "Why the hell are you acting so childish? What have I done to you?" he questioned out almost in a demanding tone.

Kaoru crossed her arms and took her stare away, "Ask yourself! It's you're fault anyway!" never had she felt so angry like this before. Enishi has gotten too far. First he ended up leaving her and now he appears so sudden and pulls her brutally out from the mob.

He walked furiously near her and took her arm to turn her body to face him. "Fine! I don't give any damn about that anymore!" he protested, his annoyance building up badly within him. "Then answer this. Who the hell is that guy you had been talking with just a few minutes ago?"

`guy?' Kaoru asked her self. `Is he talking about Shogo?' she stubbornly tried to take away her arm from his clutches. "It's none of you're business!"

"Not my business?! F*ck*ng hell! I'm you're husband! Wives aren't supposed to see nor to talk so intimate like that with those filthy men out there!" Enishi bellowed angrily. `What the hell was she thinking? Doesn't she have any idea how jealous I am with that bastard???'

"Shogo's my friend! Don't insult him like that!"

Enishi scowled, motioning his head to fire up a stare pass through her. "Friend… or a lover?" he discontentedly appealed. Kaoru looked up to him, accurately-stirred just witnessing him all wrought-up. `He's grudging… he's jealous… I can see it in his eyes…'

"What are you talking about Enishi?" Kaoru asked imperturbably.

He glared at her, vexingly placed his arms against his broad chest. He was trying to control down his nuisance. "Damn it! I'm jealous ok?? I'm f*ck*ng hell jealous at that man whoever he is! He even dared to touch your hand!"

Not ever did she expected to see this. Yukishiro Enishi is expressing how envious he was just to see her talking to an another guy. This was quite unnerving to behold. `Poor guy… I made him all resentful like this…' she painfully thought, having this fear of hurting him too much.

She shouldn't have argued with him like that. It wasn't his fault anyway. How can you ever control a man who was working under a famous Mafia organization? It wasn't his mistake if he really needed to work. The best way she could do was to support him all the way. She smiled wholeheartedly and slightly leaned near him, placing her hands to cup his face.

He stared down at her as she gaze up to him. His eyes were more like downhearted and disturbed. She never wanted to cause him those grief and she felt like blaming her self in everything.

"Shogo is just my friend Enishi… we met way back in Japan… I didn't really expected to see him here…"

"A friend in Japan? Don't you think his somewhat related with battou-" he was held back when Kaoru placed a single finger in his lips. "Shh… He's not Enishi. He just visited the auction house just for tonight. He'll be coming back home to Holland." She placed her lips, pressing so softly over against his, placing a light peck which was likely turned into a fiery kiss.

"Anata wa…" she breathlessly spoke in an undertone. "you are the only one whose placed deeply inside of my heart… its you and only you that I would ever love." By strange empathy, Enishi softened in her words. She did good in asserting those phrases in her full rosy lips.

"Forgive me for some confusing reasons why you got so mad…"

Kaoru giggled and shook her head, "Forget about that. I forgive you." He held her tight, running his fingers on her bangs, pulling her head to bound a deep ardent kiss. Not so long, Enishi pulled away, giving her cheeks such light pecks.

"I would rather not to ruin your appearance for tonight." He leaned down to her ear and spoke inaudibly. "Wait till we get to our room… payback for your sins."

Her cheeks turned scarlet followed by a soft giggle. She nuzzled his nose and smiled, "You'd better be…" she alluringly voiced. Enishi took her hand and tug her with him as they enter the hall again.

~**~

Aoshi halted from his tracks when he caught a sight of his targets. He saw Enishi pulling Kaoru next to him, heading to join the other filthy, rich people. He never ceased his eyes from looking at them as he walks near the colonnades, hiding in shadows as he observe Enishi's moves.

Enishi and Kaoru approach Lei's table, chatting with opulent people who was quite impressed in her beauty and aptitude of speaking. Kaoru sighed and even motioned at Kam saying how thankful she was with those burdensome lessons he had enlightened. Everything was quite unruffled and normal. Everybody was busy in each business they had. Some are enjoying the night. Obstinate people kept on playing for money, which seems nothing much was bothering the whole event. Until…

A sole kunai almost strike the woman's forehead, taking the attention of the whole mob. Everybody started to panic, a full stampede of people came to protect their dear lives. A battalion of black ninja's came to break in, killing almost those people near the glass windows.

Quickly, Enishi took Kaoru to duck down under the huge table. "What's happening??" she catechized in complete shock. He stood up and instantly held Kaoru in his arms, carrying her like a huge sack on his back. "ENISHI! Put me down!" she wailed.

"I'm taking you to a safer place!" he yelled back. Kaoru sneered a bit, `Why do he always have to carry me like a baggage whenever he takes me into tended locations??' she bitterly thought as it instantly drift away when they reached one of the corners of the auction house. He placed her foot to the ground and immediately prepared him self for battle. "Where are you going?" Kaoru felt this sudden fright, looking at him as he fix his gi. "Shaping for combat." He simply answered.

"That's way too dangerous! Are you sure you wanna do this?" she asked fretfully. "You're gonna leave me here?" she started to have this nervous outburst, breathing neurotically.

He took a second and straightly looked into her troubled eyes. He could see how apprehensive and dismayed Kaoru was, no wonder why she's starting to act so uneasy. "Don't worry… I'll be fine. It won't take long." He placed grip into her arms.

Kaoru clutched to him, teary eyes came to usher him in. "Be careful… please…?" she barely cried a whimper though it was held back when Enishi promenaded him self to join the battle. `Oh God…'

Still hiding behind the shadows, watching her from afar, appalled as what had seen. `I could see affection to those two…I don't understand…' his eyes constricted its glare. He had noticed a foe behind Kaoru who was about to cleave her heart with its Katana. Aoshi acted fast and threw a kunai, straightly to the ninja's head.

The ninja fell on the ground, making that hard thump on the ground. Kaoru was startled and instantly turned around to look. To her disgust, she saw a callused corpse below her with a sea of blood behind its head. She nearly throw up and fleetly dashed away.

~**~

In a swift motion, Lei and Kam tried to evade each kunai's which is destined to hit Pha-ra's body. On the other side, Enishi draws his `nerves of insanity' and started to attack, killing each enemy who wanted to intercede. "Damn it! Aren't you guys had enough of this?!" he full-tilt, dash off to slay the foe's in a single slash of his sword.

"They're too many! It's nearly possible that we couldn't eliminate these nasty ninja's!" Kam said as he still keeps up with the enemies' speed.

"Stop babbling or you'll lose your guard!" Lei bellowed, his arms almost started to drip a blood from the hits of each blades he started to evade by his hands.

Everything was in chaos. Mafia killing ninja's, ninja's killing innocent people, it was too much. Some people made their way to escape though most half of the people were all dead.

~**~

"What the hell! Who are these guys??" Sano yelled out in frustration. Fortunately, Misao was lissome enough to draw Sano and her self out from the stream of wailing people. They stood on the huge oak tree, watching the sight from above.

Misao took off her fancy sunbonnet off from her sweaty head, she was so devastated in the situation. "We failed the task! We just can't find Kaoru around those crowd!"

"What on earth?! Why now??"

`Oh my… thank God we're not involved in this. This looks like a huge battle between those ninja's and these Mafia Lords.' Misao constricted her eyes upon the huge glass window just ahead from the tree they were standing at. `Wait a minute… something's missing…' she looked around when she suddenly noticed the strange thing she was feeling. Her eyes widely flew open, letting a squeak out from her throat.

Sano turned his head to her with an elevated brow. "What's wrong?" he curiously asked.

"Aoshi-sama! Aoshi-sama is still inside!"

"NANI??"

~**~

Pha-ra stood from his stool, showing him self from Lei and Kam's back. "Chief!" Kam called in shock. "You shouldn't show your self. It's way-"

"I can handle this… Lei, I want you to rush your way to the hideout. Go reach Zhao, we need her help. And try to get the whole security and protect Chiang Ch'ng's room." He weakly voiced.

"I can't sir… I have to-"

"This is an order! Go!"

Lei stood to his feet and nodded, "Alright!" he hastily run his way off leaving only Kam to protect Lin.

"Chief, you have to save your self! It's way to dangerous here!" he howled just to notice almost half of Pha-ra's body guards fell dead on the ground while Tai and Chi fled to the other side, killing each parasites who dare to enter.

Pha-ra refused, stomping his silver-metal staff on the marble floor. "I will never ever leave my organization nor my men alone… I am your bellwether… I brought you all here."

Kam looked at him, quite impressed in his boss's determination. Once he had said his words, he will never fail to do it. How he had thanked the Gods having him as their dominator.

~**~

Enishi stood, bringing his long Katana in a swift motion, slashing the dirty flesh of each foe he encounters. He briskly finished his job and went to approach the up coming battalion. "Damn… when will this stop?" he nonchalantly muttered to him self finding everything just a waste of time, knowing that these men ahead of him were all bunch of useless fools. Never would they stand a chance in defeating his Jinchuu.

"I've had enough of you thick-witted dumb heads!" one swing of his Katana, he blocked the up coming attack of his enemy. He smirked in dissatisfaction, flipping the ninja to the ground. He stepped a foot right above the dead man's body, laugh derisively in his vanquish. "Hadn't you guys already learned your lessons?"

From a distant, she saw a sudden sparkle of metal that was about to hit Enishi's back. Kaoru held upon the pillar and strive to yell as loud as she could. "ENISHI! BEHIND YOU!!!"

This caught his attention and did so by spinning his head behind and most-fortunately to see the blade slit the skin of his arm instead of his head being cut off. His other hand quickly made a fast reflex and move its self to dug the sword in his heart. The ninja fell dead while Enishi lays a hand in his huge wound. It was quite painful and serious to ignore. "Shit… I let the bastard rip me too much…" he hissed in pain, trying to stop the gore of his arm.

Kaoru did noticed the blood stain in his shirt and this completely took her heart to beat so fast. "Oh my God… he's… he's bleeding!" she exclaimed in fright. How she wished to run her way and help him and heal the wound, although, that would be a huge suicide she would be taking. If ever one of these ferocious ninja's see her presence, it would directly lead her to a painful death.

Aoshi noticed the uneasiness within Kaoru. He did hear her calling out God's name. He followed the glare from her eyes and saw it was fully concentrated upon Enishi's direction. `I don't understand… is she worried? Is she troubled because of his captor was in a huge woe?' everything was very confusing. He couldn't get through the point why she was so bothered about that guy. She was supposed to be angry at him by reason that he had kidnapped her. What's with the anxious expression in her face?

~**~

Before long, all the ninja's held their actions and motions which quite surprised the whole Mafia.

"What's going on?" Enishi asked, seeing his foe turn his heel off from his attack. Silence had constricted the whole hall as when suddenly, three men came to stood forth of the ninja clan's side.

Pha-ra's eyes widened in perplexity and shock. His jaw dropped down in dismay just to see this men standing towards his group. Somewhat, it made Pha-ra to shiver in apprehension. Kam noticed him shudder in such a way that completely drives him off to surprise. He turned his attention to where Pha-ra's eyes were concentrated, trying to seek his sudden fright.

"Now, now Lin Piao… did I surprise you?" a tall man which was much more like around the same age of Pha-ra, spoken groggily "Never expected to see me now, do you?" the man taunted more.

Kaoru observed the whole scene just behind the pillar she was standing at. "That person knows Pha-ra… who is this old man?" she asked her self. Their attentions where fully caught by those three men, a stout, an old geezer, and a quite good looking one at the side.

"Mao…" Pha-ra bewilderedly muttered.

Everyone startled in surprise as when Lin mentioned the name Mao. A well known name from the rebellion fifty years ago. Enishi shoot daggers upon the man so-called Mao with sharpened eyes. `So… this is the person named Mao…' Enishi held his Katana tightly, searching for possible tactics. He ignored the pain that twitch in every second of his life and this completely drives him off patience.

An evil smirk curled into his lips, glaring down on the weak Pha-ra in front of him. "Glad you still remember me. Hell sure, `traitors' has an excellent ability of keeping memories…"

"So… you're still alive…" Pha-ra's usual sturdy voice flattened in shock.

Mao chuckled evilly and struck him with a vile stare, "Do you really believe that I will easily die under those battalion of regiments? I am immortal Lin, and I had this sole mission to take care off."

"Mission?"

"Aa. A mission of killing you…"

Enishi and Kam walked towards Pha-ra, initiating to protect him. Mao saw the bravery within these two and grinned in delight. "I heard a lot of things about you. About this auction house… about your Mafia organization." He stared daggers on Lin, having this rage within his wrath. "And my WIFE at your side!" his veins were popping, fist were clenching as if he was ready to strike him to death.

By his words, most of the innocent people were startled including Kaoru and Aoshi. She gripped upon the pillar, vexing to see the scene.

"What possibly would you want from her Mao? You threw her away didn't you?!"

"Yes. I did. But even my adviser followed her steps and took her ceaselessly!"

"Chiang Ch'ng doesn't deserve a man like you! You're just playing with her heart!"

"She is the only woman that I had ever loved. And that might had lead to something if it weren't for this crux about her being a stupid loose woman in Japan!"

~**~

Kaoru gasped in astonishment. In no way did she counted upon to behold an argumentation like this. Thus, the woman they had been fighting for had been a citizen in her country.

"It's not her fault Mao. Hadn't you realized how she loves you and even intended to sway her past life just to be with you? You caused her agony!"

Mao snickered, shaking his head in disgust. "I don't have to listen to you anymore… I already finished the reason why I came here… in giving you a warning Lin." By then, he stride off with the other two walking from his side. "Go on and have fun while you still can… I'll be back to kill you and your underlings!" in a glide of gust, all the adversaries disappeared into thin air, only hearing Mao's fiendish laugh.

"They escaped…" Enishi muttered, looking blankly through the empty void. Angrily, he turned his head to the other foolish neophytes behind him, seeing how dumbfounded they were. "What the hell are you waiting for?? Go get them!"

"Ha-hai!" they retorted including Tai and Chi who conducted each team. They went off and scouted all over the auction house.

The whole place was in a huge mess. Gigantic glasses and dead corpse were smeared all over the marble floor. Pha-ra was once again brought to his chair, trying to control the swift beating of his heart. Kam motioned his hands as a handmaid approaches them. "Go get the doctor." He ordered which made the servant pace her self in a rapid motion.

Enishi put forth effort in keeping his wounded arm. He promenaded crudely to where Kaoru was standing. She didn't waste neither a minute and promptly rush her self to help him. "Enishi!" she called more like a cry that came out from her throat.

"Are you alright?" Enishi asked, looking onto her eyes that were shining in tears. She couldn't bear seeing his usual piquant eyes turned into a lifeless one. She felt this pity and anger raise within her. How many times did she told him to be careful? This totally drive her off edge. She bring up her hand and straightly slap him on his face. "BAKA!"

A deep red sting marked his cheek. He felt his jaw dislocated somehow as if a huge ball-metal just strike him off. He was right all along how strong Kaoru's hand was. He stared at her with confused eyes although before he could get any answers, she started to cry.

"Baka… don't you know how worried I was??" she sniveled.

"For God sakes Kaoru! I didn't die, I just had this huge cut in my arm. It'll heal sooner or later."

"That's not the point!" she yelled. "I was… I was so worried…" by that, she particularly started to sob in her hands. Enishi had no idea what to do. He couldn't even stand seeing a woman cry. It was so much like seeing his sister back then. Never did he wanted to see that sight again. He enveloped her in his arms, securing her fully to held her from crying. "Shh… I'm fine Kaoru… I'm so sorry…" he stroke her hair, wanting her to quell for such a moment.

Kaoru whimpered more, shaking her head rabidly just thinking of how dim-witted Enishi was not to consider how confounded she was just to watch him bleeding in a fight. This might not be so new to her, remembering Kenshin's delirious battles, seeing him suffer in each bruise he had. She had cursed those days and she would not ever wanted to witness that again, especially with Enishi. She was so driven and so worried just seeing him ache. "No it's not…" she sniffled.

He didn't wasted any minute as he motion his hand to cup Kaoru's chin and raise it to met his lips with hers. The kiss they had was very simple and more like ensuring each other. Kaoru shut her eyes as Enishi lunge his tongue in, tracing the outline of her mouth. She moaned in each encounter of their dominating tongues. Fighting for prevalence. Although, Enishi pulled away and stared down to her sapphire oculus. He leaned one more time, giving that light kiss on her forehead. "How do you feel now?" he asked without reserve.

She sighed in nervous exhaustion, taking one of Enishi's hand. "Let's go home… I want to rest…" she spoken very weary, gripping tightly on him. Enishi shook his head in Kaoru's dismay. "You go on… I'll catch up to you." He said as he points his stare upon Pha-ra's deleterious condition. Kaoru noticed the real reason and nodded back for her response. Enishi called one of the wards to accompany her on the way to their room while he walked his way to where Lin lays.

~**~

Aoshi saw each every action the two showed. And because of this, everything turned into a huge whirl inside his head. This was more like confusing than before. Why would he expect seeing the woman they were supposed to rescue having this affair with the enemy? `Were all these thing all true or just one of Kaoru's bewildering plans of escaping…?' neither of those two he wanted to believe. He did what he was supposed to do. He found Kaoru and made such perplexing discoveries about her and Enishi. One more left to do is to find Himura. He decided not to go too far and set to deal this problem tomorrow. For now, he needed to go back to their inn and better yet hasten him self.

~**~

Running as fast as she could, Zhao dashed her way to approach the crowd. She squeezed between the mob until she finally reached Pha-ra who was struggling hard to fight the heart ache. "Chief!" she shrieked nervously, sitting next to him.

Enishi did stared daggers on her but just for a moment. He moved beside Kam's side. "Is he gonna be alright?" he asked though the staid expression on his face was still shown. "I don't know. He seem to be getting weak in each day." It was then when Pha-ra was taken into wheelchair and had been brought inside the secret passageway through the cave. Although before Lin could leave, he called Lei and whispered something in his ear. Lei nodded and soon Pha-ra was gone. Lei walked his way to Kam's direction after calling Zhao's attention to join them.

"Chief told me he wanted to see you both tomorrow morning. It is very important for him to hold this gathering and you and Kaoru needed to be there." Lei's voice was sturdy and pressing. No doubt he wasn't pulling a joke as what he usually does before. Enishi muted an answer though he was still wearing that skeptic look in his face.

Zhao's temper engaged to its point after hearing that the enemies escaped. "Why did you let those bastards escape?! You should have pounded them to death!" she abruptly exclaimed.

"Why don't you do it then?" Enishi instantly said in a vexatious tone. He glared at her as she turns her head for her not to encounter his eyes. "You're talking as if you were here by those moments that Pha-ra was attacked." He mocked through his tone, taking his path to walk away. Zhao was more like humiliated and she did cursed under her breath in each rude words Enishi released. She bounded to look at the two although she wasn't lucky enough to be treated cordially. Lei scooted a derisive gaze and soon followed Enishi. Kam shook his head and sighed.

"You shouldn't be saying those things Zhao." He said near her ear just before he stroll off.

Zhao watched them leave, stomping her foot lightly on the ground. She couldn't believe this. Now everybody feels so irritated on her. This absolutely drives her forbearance off. She was just ignoring each bad things happening to her although it had to stop now. There's only one person who ruins everything in her life and she wouldn't let this person totally destroy her. Never will she allow this person to take her love one and even her comrades away.

"You'll pay for this soon… b*tch…" she said in gritted teeth of anger with hands clenched in rage. "You won't even dare messing with the `Lynx'!"

~**~