Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Shinkan ❯ Papercut ( Chapter 4 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
“Swish”
“Thump”
“Breath
“Swish”
“Thump”
“Swish”
“Breath”
Kaoru Kamiya watched her apprentice Yahiko do his kata flawlessly with pride. The former pickpocket was improving everyday and Kaoru knew that it wouldn't be long before he mastered all that she had to teach in the sword that protects. Her father like her mother had taught her since she was old enough to walk and speak well enough. Michikin would scold her regularly for how Kaoru would bring up Katashi's teachings up during her mother's lessons.
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“You are shinkan when you are learning from me child”
“Than what is Kaoru Kamiya momma” she had asked innocently
“Kaoru Kamiya is a mask my precious, a beautiful doll for all to see”
“Even poppa”?
“Especially poppa”
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Kaoru forced the memory into the back of her mind. Yahiko needed her full attention and as her duty dictated as his teacher Kaoru had to focus on the now. But she couldn't stop the dreaded thought filling her mind and heart. The son of the samurai was strong, strong enough to survive what she had bee taught. Yet she knew that she would never have cruelty necessary to teach Yahiko the ways of kaze no kumori. Nor did Kaoru wish to impose the discipline upon her trainee. The kendo instructor wasn't willing to breed another generation like herself, an innocent killer. In the back of her mind Kaoru could hear laughter.
`Oh no' she groaned internally
An innocent killer, what is that?
Kaoru had long ago known that she had lost her sanity to some extent. Her conscience had been compromised at a young age after all. So instead Kaoru had what she called `the bitch'.
`Don't start you'
I'm not starting, I'm finishing
`Stop, I don't need this, not now not ever'
No you need to stop lying
`SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP'
“Hey Busu you all right”?
Yahiko who had completed his kata shook Kaoru out of her reverie. The kendo instructor cursed under her breath and forced her anger down to an annoyed frown.
“I'm fine Yahiko- CHAN, now go sweep the dojo floor then get ready for lunch”
The young shinai wielder was about to argue with her but the look she gave him stopped any protest that came to mind. This glare was more intense than her norm. It was eerily similar to the glare Kenshin used while saving Megumi from Kahnriyu. So Yahiko shut his trap and ran inside the house to retrieve water and a cloth. Kaoru sighed and went to her room to change. Kenshin had left to go shopping for food with Sano while she and Yahiko stayed behind.
Kaoru stripped out of her gi and hamaka and loosed her hair from her high ponytail. She opened her drawer and retrieved a forest green yukata. Putting it on Kaoru went outside and sat on the porch watching Yahiko clean through the open door. The sun had reached its peek in the sky and the wind blew gently throughout dojo kicking up the dust from the ground.
It shone brightly upon the rice paper walls and polished structure of the Kamiya residence. It was warm but not overly so. Bushes swayed with the light breeze, rustling occasionally. Birds chirped happily completing the surreal image of her home. It was her haven, a place where her father's dream was true, where swords could protect instead of kill.
Looking at the road outside of the protective walls of her dojo Kaoru could see the other properties. The neighbors regularly gossiped about the Kamiyas. To them Katashi Kamiya was a dreamer. They never believed in the ideal that weapons once used to harm another could be used to defend without permanent injury. The fact he married a mysterious and exotic looking woman hadn't helped either. They would call Kaoru a bastard and vocally state what they thought of the tomboyish assistant master. She didn't really care even when they insulted her parents after they died. Then Gohea showed up.
He had ruined everything. Because people started to suspect her, they would blame everything on her. Because of him everything she worked to build had fallen. All because he was a pathetic worm who didn't get what he wanted. Kaoru was blamed for murders that she didn't commit. Her students left and the money she used to get food and supplies were gone.
Kaoru had lost hope that she would ever be able to have something to come back to once she had killed all of the `family'. Her past would always haunt her one way or another. Any illusions of being normal were dashed when the real Battousai showed up because Kaoru had fallen hard for the ex-manslayer at first sight.
The Shinkan in her had felt his presence sensed his pain and called out to him. Kaoru blushed clearly remembering how Kenshin massaged her back with ointment. The act itself was innocent yet the feeling produced was purely sensual making shivers go done Kaoru's spine by just thinking about it. She could feel his fingers ghosting over her back, could hear his voice drop to his natural pitch the voice identified as Battousai. She had to force herself to fall asleep before he recognized her arousal he had woken. Kaoru didn't even want to think about what Kenshin would have said had she been awake.
Kaoru kept telling herself that it would never work out. How could they have a life together when all they did was keep the truth from each other? What was the point when all it would do was end up in heartbreak? Besides Kenshin didn't love her, not in the way she wanted anyway. Michikin's daughter bit her lip to stop the sob from clawing its way from her throat. All the while she could hear the laughter in her mind. Her mother was calling her a fool her father called her a betrayer. Her fingernails dug into her palms mercilessly and her vision blurred with tears. But nothing could stop the grief that gripped at her heart.
It was some time later before the young kendo instructor could get a hold on herself. She wiped the tears from her face and went into her room once more to change. She needed to talk to Tae. The owner of the Akabeko knew that her mother well and was a good friend. She changed into black kimono with white and purple flowers embroidered into the collar and sleeves. Pulling her plain gray obi tight across her waist Kaoru tied a knot and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. She slipped on her sandals and went outside just in time to see the object of her thoughts return. Yet Kenshin and Sano had not come home alone. With them was Megumi and the little child Yahiko had saved Tsubame.
Yahiko had dropped his task immediately and ran over to greet Tsubame. Sano and Kenshin chuckled while Megumi rolled her eyes. It was an amusing sight indeed to see the boy swoon over the shy waitress. Kaoru plastered a fake smile on and moved to greet them as well.
“Hello Kenshin, Sano how was the market”?
Kaoru tried to keep her tone light and happy even as the slight redness of her eyes had not retreated. Her heart hammered in her chest and she had little doubt that either the former thug or former assassin could hear it.
“It was crowded” Sano whined
Megumi snorted, “ Like you cared baka rooster head”
The she doctor turned to Kaoru.
“He knocked over half the people there”
“Did not”
“Did too”
“Did not”
“Mou, mou there is no need for that no there is not,” chided Kenshin
Sano and Megumi crossed their' arms and faced away from each other with a huff. This only made Tsubame, Yahiko, and Kaoru snigger at their immaturity. Kenshin sighed and shook his head. The sight was amusing and a bit adorable at most. Though Sanosuke and Megumi denied it, the former gangster and lady doctor were very much attracted to each other, which frequently lead to lover's spats in front of friends and family. Looking at Kaoru Kenshin wondered for a brief moment what would it be like for them had they perused a relationship.
The former hitokiri knew that his little raccoon girl was all fire. He unconsciously licked his lips at the thought of how hard she'd most likely struggle against him. Kaoru would fight him tooth and nail the entire way but when she did give in, the surrender would be so arousing that neither one of his personalities would be able to resist taking her.
Over and over again
`Please not now, she's standing right in front of us'
How much longer do we have to wait?!!
`We can never have her'
Kenshin forced himself out of his inner argument only to be assaulted with the sight of Kaoru wearing a kimono that he had never seen her wear before. It was somber and elegant so unlike the bright and bubbly colors she usually wore. He looked at her pensively Kenshin was worried. Kaoru hadn't been acting herself lately and it was disquieting to see her withdraw from them, from him. Sano and Megumi stopped their sulking to watch their two friends interact.
“I'm going to go talk to Tae-san, save some lunch for will you”?
Kenshin frowned but nodded anyway knowing that it would be fruitless to try to dissuade her from leaving. Kaoru smiled and turned to leave only for Kenshin to stop her.
“Surely you're not going alone Kaoru-dono,” he said gently
Kaoru grimaced at hearing Kenshin use the honorific, “I'll be fine Kenshin I just need to talk to Tae-san is all”
The former assassin opened his mouth to continue arguing but froze thought better of it and closed his mouth.
“Don't be too long Kaoru-dono,” he said simply.
Kaoru smiled and nodded. She bid each of them farewell and walked out of the dojo gate toward town. Kenshin watched her as she left with a worried expression upon his face. Sano and Megumi watched him with sly smiles alight on their' faces. Yahiko and Tsubame however were oblivious to what was going on around them seeing as they were busy talking to each other. Sano sent the fox a pointed look and cast a glance toward the two youths chattering away. Megumi rolled her eyes but nodded in understanding before grabbing the two and dragging them inside.
Kenshin was so focused on Kaoru's retreating figure he didn't even notice. Sanosuke waited until he was sure that Megumi, Yahiko, and Tsubame were inside before coughing to get Kenshin's attention. The former hitokiri blinked a couple of times before focusing on the taller man. Sanosuke watched him bemusedly trying to cover the fact that he was staring at Kaoru longingly.
“So what is up with you and Jou-chan”?
“ORO”?
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Kaoru made her way to the Akabeko with little trouble. The streets were crowded as Sanosuke had said but the kendo instructor could slip through it effortlessly. Years of training and stalking shadows coming into play, Kaoru used the skills to her everyday advantage. No matter how much she hated them lessons her mother taught her were not easily forgotten. She slipped into the restaurant with a sigh and scanned the room for Tae. Not seeing the businesswoman she immediately headed for the back knowing that she was probably there.
She had no idea that she find what she did.
Tae stood cornered at the wall terror and defiance clearly visible in her eyes. A man had come looking for someone called the Shinkan. He towered over her tiny frame his eyes were cold regarding her calculatingly and without mercy. His white trench coat swirled around him contrasting to his deep blue suit and icy blue eyes. This was Aoshi Shinomori former leader of the Oniwabanshuu. Why he was there Kaoru didn't know but the look on her friend's face was enough reason for Kaoru to attack him. She pulled a knife from a cutting board on a table automatically smiling blankly while masking her presence.
“Where is the Shinkan”?
Kaoru didn't hesitate. She swiftly brought the butchering knife to his lower spine putting enough pressure on the blade to alert the man to the danger he was in. The kendo instructor pulled out her ponytail to make sure that her hair shadowed her face, concealing her identity. Aoshi stiffened but made no move to reach for his favored weapons.
“Shinkan I presume” he said
The knife dug deeper into his skin.
“What do you want?” she hissed angrily
“I come here on the behalf of another,” he stated plainly
She said nothing signaling that she was listening.
“The one you call Kagesukoshi says they are coming, be careful Shinkan”
This time he turned his head slightly to look at her. Kaoru looked at him through her now loose tresses confident that he could not see her eyes. She smiled slightly in bemusement at the ninja.
“Kagesukoshi has nothing to fear they're already dead”
He shook his head, “There is a note in my pocket saying otherwise”
Kaoru frowned but reached around into the indicated pocket. A heartbeat later she was pressed to a wall with a kodatchi pressed to her jugular vain. The knife was knocked out her hand and she was face to face with Aoshi's glacier eyes. She had to give the former leader credit Aoshi's eyes were wide but his hand was steady.
“Battousai's woman”?
Kaoru glared, “I am no one's woman”
Inwardly the shinkan cursed at her own stupidity. Of course the bastard was lying, she had a butcher knife pressed against his back.
“Now how is it that the sweet innocent girl Himura chose supposed to be Shinkan the assassin who massacred an entire syndicate that even the Oniwabanshuu was unaware of until recently”
Kaoru stared at him unblinkingly with her same empty smile. Tae was staring in shock unable to move out of fear. The kendo instructor couldn't blame her Tae was only an innocent after all. Minutes passed by until finally the Aoshi lowered his guard slightly. It was all Kaoru needed. Solidly kneeing the ninja in the groin Kaoru made him grunt in pain and drop his favored weapon.
She grabbed it plunged the handle directly into his gut. Out of reflex Aoshi curled in upon himself. Systematically Kaoru switched sword hands and brought the flat side of the kodatchi to the back of his neck. That blow brought Aoshi to his knees. Then Kaoru pressed the sharp side of the blade to Aoshi's throat.
She looked up at Tae for a brief second.
“Tae, go back to your work me and the ice prince are going to have some words” she said almost cheerily
Tae nodded slowly before scudding off without a word.
“You better start talk'n or I'll start chopp'n and try not to lie this time”
Aoshi looked up at her eyes as cool and calculating as ever.
“I wasn't lying when I said Kagesukoshi sent that message through me I just didn't care to have someone threatening me”
This time Kaoru searched Aoshi's face. Even with his stony continence she could see the truth plainly visible in his face. She stepped back and presented the handle of the kodatchi to Aoshi. The ninja stood to his feet and accepted the unsaid truce that Kaoru had extended. At the same time she could see that he was studying her as if for the first time.
“Surprised that I'm a woman”?
“Misao neglected to mention who you really were,” he conceded
Kaoru snorted, “Probably to punish you for leaving her”
He nodded in agreement with a microscopic smile tugging at his lips. This was an unexpected but welcomed surprise.
“Do they know”?
Kaoru shook her head.
Aoshi sighed, “You better find a way to tell them soon Shinkan because someone is after you and they are very close to finding you”
“Misao is coming to Tokyo and I'm going to stay as well”
Kaoru frowned, “Stay in touch but stay out of sight, I need some time to think before I make any decisions”
“As you wish but you will have to tell them Shinkan, they are coming and they will kill them and you”
Without another word the ninja left. Kaoru stood alone glaring at empty air. Things were getting too complicated and when she was home there wasn't supposed to be anything complicated about her life.
“DAMNIT”
The End