Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Seisou Hen ❯ Secret unveiled ( Chapter 18 )

Act 18: Secret unveiled; Enishi and Kenshin's ultimate crusade

The day was bit darkened through the thick clouds that surrounded the horizon. Continuous cloudburst enveloped the whole morning. Kaoru held the thick coat and tightly enveloped her body. Awfully, the whole temperature was so cold; no wonder for the fact that it was the month of September, which coherently would, passed off from the autumn climate.

Kaoru was being pulled gently by Enishi who was leading their way to Pha-ra's room. Enishi did take her hand for security. Although she was known to be his wife, it wouldn't be possible for those filthy savages take advantage upon her. Of all locations, their hideout would be the very place you wouldn't anticipate being safe.

They finally arrived in front of Pha-ra's doorstep leaving only for him to knock. "Enishi… why are we here again?" she asked through her shivering voice. The damn chilly breeze keeps on bugging her.

"Pha-ra wanted to see us. I don't know what's the real reason though." He motioned his head over the two huge wards as they opened the huge door for them to enter. They walked inside and were quite disturbed to see Pha-ra standing next to his window. Pha-ra was definitely sick and here he was, ignoring the circumstances.

Enishi tried to catch his voice again behind his throat. "You should be resting by now."

Pha-ra grinned, shaking his head. "No need to be concern, `boy'." He looked to their direction, staring directly at Kaoru. "I'm glad you two came by my request." Pha-ra said, not moving ne'er a single motion from the place we was standing.

"Lei told us. What do you want `old man'?" quite interesting to mock him back just by calling him a boy.

Pha-ra smirked, "Alright. I won't do that deja vu of explaining things. I'll get it all straight." He said sedately, and with one step of his foot, he verge upon the couple. "I just wanted to see your wife here, to be honest."

Kaoru by instincts stepped back in fright. Seeing the old man's face that close to hers produce such tormenting goose bumps in her skin. Enishi felt the same way and pulled Kaoru behind his back. "And what would be the business you wanted to talk with my wife, geezer?" he asked coolly and imperative.

"No business at all, boy. Just some personal affairs… about her past."

She had this sudden urge to look straightly up to him with perplexed eyes. "My past?" she asked in a stunned manner. Pha-ra nodded as he strolls his way passed through them. "Follow me." He said.

~**~

A day had passed since the great conflict back in the auction house occurred. They went back to the inn empty hand, which quite frustrates the stoical policeman. Sano and Misao had explained their part leaving Aoshi left to explicate his side. He refused to talk about it in front of the two so he waited until he had this sole time with Saitou.

"Love affair?" says the amber-eyed officer, puffing out a fume of smoke.

Aoshi gave him a single nod, "According to what I had witnessed." He placed his hands down to the depths of his side pockets, "Kaoru lays an obvious affection towards his captor." He could still remember the way the two had kissed, full of passion and affection. The same thing that drives perplexity in his head.

"How about Himura? What's his reaction above all this?" Saitou questioned.

"No Himura in sight. It seems he's not around the crime scene. I don't know where he is."

Saitou started to chuckle nefariously, "Seems like his little blue bird starting to betray her lovable rurouni." His amber eyes flashed through the light of his cigarette. "I don't think Himura would like to hear about this."

Aoshi shook his head and said, "I don't think so. I believe he should have the knowledge of this relationship of Kaoru with that man."

"I supposed Himura's evil side would emerge if ever he finds out. That is, if he's really around the organization."

"This is not good… everything's blurring out from its current situation. Kaoru's not supposed to fall in love with his abductor. She just can't betray Himura."

Without any further notice, a certain frame with sunny smile came approaching the wooden door. She saw the two having this little chit-chat which pushed her to lend an ear and hear a little bit of their chattering.

Saitou let out a small chortle from his throat; "They had been together for about four months. There are some possibilities for they to give in." his lips suddenly curved into an awkward grin, "You seem to be so bothered. Why is that? Is it because of that little weasel of yours that follows you around like a dog?" he vexed.

Misao clenched her fist, flaming out in wrath as she tries to control her self from encroaching their conversation and whack the hell out from Saitou's blabbering mouth.

"Stay Misao out of this. She has nothing to do with this conversation." His expression might not be irate yet his tone was a little bit raspy.

"The little mutt is so in love with you and you're ignoring it. Afraid of any commitment with her?"

"I don't look at Misao as a woman to love, Saitou. She's just a child and stands to be my little sister. I give my respects to her because she's the daughter of our late chief in the Oniwabanshu. There's no way I'll be partiality treat her as a lover. I cannot do that." He looked away from those discriminating eyes though was all terminated when Saitou tapped his shoulder.

"Don't be so rueful about this issue. I'm not used to see you all morose or anything." With those words, he stride off to sit at the couch. He made a narrowing stare behind the door as he senses something unexpected. `She heard it all'

Misao can't take the pressure of Aoshi's phrases. It hurts too much. It was like her heart was being stabbed a million times by a sharp Katana. She was so thrashed and lashed. She never had expected to be maltreated like this by the only man she had ever loved. Aoshi most likely dumped her. He fling down this passion she was feeling. She felt as if her world was ending in every inch of her remaining life. She just desired to die right on that spot and forget everything. "Aoshi… sama…" she sank in her knees and started to cry in her palms, ignoring any fact that someone might hear her sobbing.

~**~

Kenshin fell down at the edge of the bed in disbelief. Zhao looked down on him with that stern expression plastered on her face. "You're lying…" he muttered in grief and pain.

"I'm not, Shinta… I'm telling you… Enishi's planning to marry that woman."

"How can you say that??"

"He told me… and it seems Kaoru is much favored in his ideas."

This is insane. He just couldn't believe these things. It was just too inconceivable to consider as true. Kaoru, marrying his bastard brother in law? No way! Kaoru will never do that. She wouldn't do such a thing as what he thinks she would be. Or would she…? Was that scene he saw back then was not an act or anything? Is it really true that Kaoru fell in love with Enishi? Kaoru, the woman he knew who had loved him so much really abandoned those feelings and settled in loving that cad??

Zhao saw the uneasiness within him and sighed. "Even myself… I had been really stunned on that fact… I'm sorry Shinta…" her eyes were flashing obstinately. `Seems like my plans are working out… I bet he'll leave everything concerning that b*tch.' She affably thought. Though from all these contemplation's, the sudden change in Kenshin's attitude revealed it's rather, frenetic one. His eyes flashed to it's golden ones, covering the usual amethyst he used to have.

"He'll pay for this…" he abruptly muttered and instantly stood from his roost, gripping over his Sakabatou as he started to walk off. Zhao jolted from her position, "Where are you going?"

His eyes shimmered in disgust and hatred. "What he had done is very unforgivable… I'll kill him…" he walked out from the room, shutting the door as he stride off.

"Shinta!" she yelped out. `Oh my God… from those golden looks from his eyes… I could tell how he really wanted to kill Enishi…' she shook her head furiously, having that weakness strung her legs as she falls down on the bed, `I don't want him to kill somebody! I just want him to forget about that bitch… nothing else!' she buried her face in her palms as tears started to trickle down to her face. "I have to stop him…"

~**~

They stepped inside a cold dark room with no idea of what was to expect. The chamber was quite spacious, yet empty. Her eyes started to scrutinize the whole place. Gazing at each corners her eyes could catch. At a snail's pace, they walked their way behind Lei's back. Enishi looked at the old man with a single brow arched, "Why did you brought us here? This is your secret sanctuary, am I right?" he asked.

Pha-ra grinned like a demented loony when he glanced at the inquiring subordinate. "It's my wife's room. And yes… it is my sanctuary." He said as they gait to verge closer at the center of the hammock. A colossal bed was placed at the gist of darkness, fully covered with red mantillas and crimson bed sheets. Kaoru's peculiarity ran in her senses and unconsciously took a peek at the certain frame resting on the mattress.

Enishi was about to follow her side when suddenly, he was held back by Lin's hand. He chaotically took a quick look at him to find some deserving answers. Pha-ra didn't answered and just tried to concentrate him self in Kaoru's actions. She was about to kneel down to the carpeted floor to see the odd woman's face. It seems something had pushed her to do so. `So… this is Pha-ra's wife… the one Mao had claimed to be his spouse…' her eyes scooted in her frail form, striving to come up with some words to say. The woman was merely old. She could tell by the small wrinkles forming at the side of her eyes and pallid thin lips. Kaoru saw the paleness of her skin meaning that this woman hadn't gone out for a few years from now. She was so peaceful. So serene as she sleeps… although she appears to be dead in that certain form. Weird yet somehow, she felt so lighthearted whenever she makes a single inch move to the sleeping matron.

"Do you recognize her?" Lin asked from behind.

Kaoru turn her head to see her face, her eyes observing her appearance. `She looks… so familiar…'

Lin didn't wasted a minute or two so he went to sit on the edge of the bed, arms placed in his lap. "Let me tell you something about Chiang Chi'ng… her past life… and her days being Mao's wife…" his raspy voice spoken to lure both attention. They looked at him and had their ears listen intently.

According to what she had told me, she was a pure Japanese woman living in Kyoto since the day she was born. Yamato Mikomi was her real name. Her life was normal being a notable samurai's daughter, having a small field in Taiko to harvest some crops. When she turned sixteen, her father already arranged a wedding between her and the son of her father's comrade in Bakumatsu. She's not happy at the thought of getting married although she was too young to complain that's why she agreed in the marriage and since then she had been the wife of a well-known warrior.

As what she had expected, she's not contented being on her husband's side. She was being ordered around like a filthy maid and been pushed around like nobody. A couple of years had passed when she had bear a child. It was then when her husband treated her like a real woman by reason that she carries his child.

Mikomi delivered the child normally and almost wanted to shout out in joy when she saw a baby girl in her arms. The sweet smell of chrysanthemums and other blooming flowers surrounded the whole room, which made her to decided to call her daughter, Kaoru.

Kaoru's eyes splayed from its lids after hearing her name. Her mouth was slightly opened in complete shock, her azure orbs asking questions that she couldn't express. Could it possibly that this woman was her very own mother? Does Pha-ra referring her in that story of his? She shook her head languidly and fell back lifelessly on the floor. `No…'

"Yes child… you're the daughter of my wife, Chiang Chi'ng… Kamiya Kaoru…" his charcoal eyes directly looked into her dubious ones.

"No…" she shook her head again. "Usotsuki…" she uttered painfully.

Enishi started to get annoyed in the old geezer's little play and quickly rush his way to grab him in the collar of his tunic. "Stop it old man! You're confusing her!" he shouted in front of his face, not knowing of how much this irritation within him enrage.

"I'm not lying, boy. I'm just telling the truth… you know that."

Kaoru motioned her head to look at Enishi. `What does me mean by that?' she asked her self. Sure, Lin's words were quite bizarre to understand. `Enishi… does he know anything about this??'

"I don't know what you're talking about." Sedate yet she could hear the denying tone within it. Lin didn't answered. He just shook him self off from Enishi's grip and sat back on the bed.

Mikomi tried to escape her husband's clutches so she didn't waste any minute when Tetsuro went into the city. She packed her things and took the baby in her arms. Unfortunately, she failed when Tetsuro caught a sight of her stepping out from their dojo. In stead, Tetsuro threw her away with Kaoru being left in his side.

Your mother had no one to run to nor anyone to held her so she decided to escape the country. She arrived here in Shanghai, no food, no money, no anything. She was nothing in that time and ended up staying on the streets.

Fortunate for her when she was spotted by a fair young Chinese half-Japanese woman who had sympathy over the needy. Chung Ch'un Chiao was her name and benevolently took Mikomi into her abode. She helped her in everything she needed to learn and to know, including the way of speaking Mandarin. Soon, Yamato Mikomi was changed into Chiang Chi'ng for an appropriate name in Chinese. They had stayed to be the best of friends, almost treating each other as sisters because of their fondness to each other.

Then, a few years later, the `little red books' rebellion ruled over the city having Mao as the lord of all lords all over Shanghai. He met both Chung and Chiang and made them as his second and third concubines. He took them into his palace and soon stood as one of the `gang of five' (group of Mao's wives).

I fell in love with her yet I didn't show any affection towards her for that would lead me to my own death. I stood in shadows, just watching her graceful moves and nothing else. Chiang was the most triumphant woman inside the palace. Mao loves her more than anyone else which made the other wives in enviousness, well except for Chung who had nothing to care about whether Mao loves her or not. She had always stayed in Chiang side and most likely protects her whenever Wang Wan-yen, Mao's first wife initiate an argument with her. She hates your mother very much, she could almost slay her out with her kunai.

Five years had passed, Mao's fourth wife was slaughtered to death when her dead body was found in Yang ze river, floating until it reached the shore. I was the only person who saw the one who murdered her and I fully knew that it was Mao. He said Yao Wen Y-uan would lead the end of his rebellion, so he ended up killing her in stead. I kept that as a secret for so long, no one still knows what had transpired inside Mao's domain.

Soon enough, Mao decided to search Chiang's profiles. He had learned everything, from her birth until to that day she had left Japan and her family. Mao didn't like the idea of a mother leaving her very own daughter behind that's why he decided to confront Chiang. She didn't do anything nor oppose to his words, in stead, she fell down to her knees and cried. That was the first time I've witnessed the two to have such an argument, which started myself to worry. Mao decided to throw Chiang from his domain and I was the one allocated on that mission.

My hidden affection flourish out when I saw her in that weak state. I can't bear to toss her as what Mao had told me to do. I love her too much and I would even dare to abandon my position just to keep her in my arms. That's when I assured to take her away and escape Mao's rebellion.

At that time, mutiny had started to clash Mao's superiority. I knew many people had been complaining in his authority and I did foresee the extremity of this contumacy. Lucky for us that we had left Shanghai the other day and made it on time to arrive in the next town. I hid her in shadows, in different towns, in distinct houses just to conceal her away from any danger.

"We had been travelling too much and I did expect that this woman won't last the unbearable weather. That's why… that's why she had this incurable disease… she ended up being frozen in bed… lifeless." His eyes looked rueful down to his wife and started to grip the foot resting behind him. "That's the reason why I decided to give her everything she wanted. Anything that can make her happy for a change…" he opened his painful shuteye's and looked down at Kaoru who has this unbelievable expression in her face. "That is you Kaoru. I made a quest of finding you and bring you back to your mother…"

Her eyes fluttered gently with her cerulean orbs almost shining in tears. "Atashi?"

I left Chiang with the old lady who owns the inn we were staying at so someone would watch over her while I'm off. When I arrive in Macao, a certain man was selling children as slaves for a couple of golds in exchange. There was a unequivocal boy sitting at the corner, raven haired and dim eyes. He was very quiet unlike the other children who kept on sobbing and crying for freedom. I was intrigued with the certain youth and paid out for his impunity.

I brought this particular youngster and tried to initiate a talk with him. As what I could see in his appearance, he's a Japanese boy who doesn't bother talking with anyone. It took some time before I could push him to speak his name. `Yukishiro. Yukishiro Enishi.' And from then, he had been my companion through my journey in finding Chiang's daughter. Six months had gone when we reached Japan. We started our search although Enishi here was quite concentrated in finding the person who killed his sister.

Kaoru looked up at Enishi sluggishly. Guilt-ridden, Enishi turned away to avoid her eyes.

We arrived in Kyoto and found one of the dojo around the town, which was owned by your father. Kamiya Tetsuro who was teaching a defense technique named Kamiya Kashin ougi. I took the chance and immediately visited your father's school. We were welcomed warmly at first although when I told him about my plan of taking you to your mother, he started to get all incensed and instantly keep you away from our sights.

"Yes… I do remember that…" her eyes started to roll at each side, trying to recover each memories she had from before. "I was only seven years old when two strangers came to verge upon our door…" she spun her head to Lin who was waiting for her to recall everything while Enishi was quite astound too for the incident that he and Kaoru had met way back before.

`So… she's that annoying little girl who keeps on galling in her jolly moves…' he thought when he directly looked at her puzzled eyes. `We've met before… maybe… maybe that's why I'm feeling this strange tactility whenever he's around… that stern boy…' Kaoru took one draught in her dry throat and started to talk again. "Father threatened me that those visitors were a couple of kidnappers who would take me away and be their slave. I didn't know it was you two…"

Enishi growled angrily and clutched over the old man's tunic again. "Dammit! Why have you not mentioned this to me before??" he just couldn't believe this de javu running through his head was starting to cause a great rack. How possibly this circumstances happens to be connected in a small knot? He had been searching for battousai and found this woman who happens to be the same girl Lin had been looking for, for about many years from now.

"I had no idea Kaoru would end up to be your wife. I never expected to meet her again." Once more, he let him self off from Enishi's grip much to his fury. "I'm sorry if these things confuses you child. But it's the sole truth about everything."

Kaoru had no strength to strung any words from that moment. The whole complex happened so fast without a blink of an eye. She needed time to affirm each and every facts she had known today. She looked back to her mother who was sleeping calmly on the huge bed, `my mother…' she shut her eyes painfully as she felt tears wanted to breakthrough her eye lids. "I never had seen her… since the day I was born…" she uttered in an excruciating tone as she finally started to cry. She raised her self from the ground and went to approach her mother's pale hand. "Okasan…" her weak lips mumbled weakly as she broke down to tears and sob in the woman's palm.

Enishi had this urge of drawing near his wife and gave her a comforting embrace, although Lin cease his moves by putting an arm in front of him. He shook his head and spoken under his breath, "Let's leave them alone for a while." With those words, the two walk off from the room, in Enishi's dread. He had never been worried like this since his sister was still alive. It all seems to show that Kaoru had taken that side of him right after Tomoe released it just for battousai. He just wished Kaoru won't do anything that she or he would regret nor be taken away by someone which might drive him off from absurdity.

~**~

Enishi decided to leave the sanctuary for a while. Seems like it's very bizarre to stay after hearing the story Lin had told. He could see the sadness through her azure eyes, the pain of being abandoned by her own mother. By the very person who you had loved and just ended up leaving and ignoring you. Seeing her like that makes him float back in time to see him self-suffering under the painstaking circumstances of his life. Seeing his sister die, ended up wandering around, being held by a stranger, being peddled on the streets of an unknown place, adopted by a foster father, training hardly for revenge and for the Mafia, yearning for sweet vengeance, falling in love with a bizarre woman. He never expected everything would turn out like this. From his entire life, all he wanted was to kill battousai and nothing more. But now, it seems as if he had a new perspective. A prospect of keeping and protecting someone, someone he had owned, and someone he cared about.

"Kaoru"

A small sough came out from him as he held his steps back to lean over the patio, viewing Lin's collection of carps and angelfishes placed in the rocky walls. Yes. It was her that had changed his life. The sole woman he had loved from that day Tomoe died. A smile crept down in his face as his eyes flash lightly against the pale blue water. `his.' The very word he had known after that night. As much as he know, revenge was not so sweet anyway. It seems his interest of killing battousai just wanted to fade away.

Of course he didn't let it for the fact that his sister died in that bastard's hands and he wouldn't let him live because of that. Kaoru might not wanted him to do such a thing though this anger within him upsurges eminently knowing that battousai lives in the same location with him. He do often wonder how he ended up staying inside a Mafia house without being questioned by the higher colleagues. `Zhao.' Yes it was her who had been keeping Kenshin away and positively the same person who planned his stay. `Always expect the unexpected.'

"Yukishiro"

Enishi motioned from his trance and instantly caught a sight of a certain man in front of him. "Himura." He said impassively as his eyes started to flare up against the amber ones.

Kenshin glared daggers on him with gritted teeth, "What had you done with Kaoru?" he queried angrily.

Enishi made a loud, evil chuckle as he straightens his composure and faces the enraging man forth him, "Now, now. What exactly do you want with my wife?" he teased by a mocking tone in his voice.

"She is not your wife." He gripped on his Sakabatou, prepared to unleash it from its sheath.

"Why battousai? Can't take the fact that I had taken your woman away from you? Kaoru doesn't love you anymore and she chose the right path of staying with me." Enishi scoffed. Kenshin threw his hand in disgust, "You're lying!" he yelled angrily. Painfully, doubting his words.

Enishi shook his head and smirk evilly. "Shut up. Yelling won't do to ease that pain in your heart. I know you're hurt. Realizing your woman had abandoned you. Poor assassin."

He tried to held back his patience though the anger within him rises so he took his Sakabatou out from the husk and pointed it directly on the teasing psycho. "Face my sword bastard. Let's finish this!"

He made the same move and gave a clutch in his Watoujutsu. "This is no place for a battle, brother-in-law. I got the exact location to do a better strife between us. We'll end this soon…"

~**~