Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ That Voodoo That You Do ❯ The Truth Becomes Clear ( Chapter 11 )

Megumi just managed to get Kaoru inside the front of the dojo when she collapsed herself, exhausted. Hearing the noise and suspecting food, Sanosuke came out to investigate. "Hey missy, you back already?"

He quickly discovered this wasn't the case, and found a stranger in a hat, yet with delicate pale hands taking Kaoru's pulse, and acting generally doctor-like.

"Hey you, what's going on?" he yelled before the stranger looked up and Sanosuke got the fright of his life. "Megumi? What happened to you?"

"Let's not talk about that now and worry about getting Miss Kaoru inside."

"Got it." Replied Sano, putting Kaoru in a fireman's lift over his shoulder, and bringing her inside the dojo, yelling at the top of his lungs, "Hey Yahiko, would you get in here?"

Yahiko came out of one of the rooms, "What d'ya want, Rooster head, can't you see I'm busy?" He took one look at Kaoru. "Oh. What happened?"

"I dunno, but could you help by getting a futon together while Megumi sets up whatever she's gonna do to treat her?"

"S…Sure! I'll get right on it!" And off he dashed as fast as lightning.

Fifteen minutes later, Megumi was ready. She had bandaged Kaoru's stomach, carrying full well the knowledge that she was indirectly responsible for what had happened by treating her doll in the way she had, and actually for creating the dolls in the first place. But she still had no idea how to solve the predicament she had thrown them all into.

Lastly, she shunted Kaoru into consciousness with the aid of smelling salts. As soon as she filled her in on everything she had done, as well as Sano and Yahiko earlier, she went about thinking up a plan to rid them of the menace once and for all.

She took a deep breath. "Kaoru, there's something I have to ask you, and there's something you have to know…"

Lunchtime rolled around for the trio from Kyoto. Okon set about rummaging through her bag for some rice balls left over from breakfast, and handed them around. Whilst walking, Misao remembered her Saito doll, and that she still had it. Pulling it out harshly, she sprinted to catch up with Aoshi who was listening to Okon.

Well, he appeared to be listening, but no one could really tell when he slipped into one of those `I'm the strong, silent, tall, dark and hansom types' kind of mood. It bugged the heck out of Misao when he did that, but there was no doubt as to the allure of his mysterious airs.

"Aoshi," she reminded him, as she presented the Saito doll, "You said you wanted this."

"But why are you giving it to me Misao after your intent to keep it yesterday?"

She almost fell over. He really didn't get it at all! No, he just didn't get her. He was a genius who co-ordinated and lead the Oniwaban group for 11 years, yet for some reason, he couldn't tell she was scared beyond else of losing him, either to the affections of another older woman, or worse. It baffled Misao how, after so long he could remain oblivious to her feelings and the affections she kept sacred for him.

"Well, I trust ya!" she beamed, mentally picking herself up to try yet again.

He nodded as he took the doll, examining everything about it. At the same time, he considered the information he had gained the night before, the key to the reverse of the situation and the return to some version of normality. Without strange dolls and killing wells.

Something clicked. The Saito doll. The well. The Battousai doll. He had it all figured out. If only they could reach Tokyo in time, before anything else bad happened.

"YOU DID WHAT?" Kaoru, by now up dressed and sat in the dojo with Megumi and the others was livid. "I don't believe what I'm hearing!"

It was one thing after another. Magical dolls and unfortunate accidents were one thing, but Kenshin explaining what happened to him that morning since he left for the temple was almost too much to bear. Kenshin himself was beginning to regret coming home for lunch himself.

"I have no desire to take the name `Lord Minamoto' that I do not." He replied simply, taking a sip of his tea.

"But Kenshin, if we got married that would make me `Lady Kaoru Minamoto'. Don't you think a title suits me?"

"It's not about that. It's an obvious mistake. I'm sure that sooner or later, someone will realise this and the true heir will come forward, they will."

"But there's no guarantee! Kenshin, I can't believe you were such a jerk! I think you should go down to the police station right away and apologise." But her complaints fell on deaf ears. Kenshin had made his decision, and just as Aoshi would, stuck by it. Even though as of yet, Aoshi wasn't in the slightest bit tempted to mess around with a doll, his ki was still flowing through the fabric.

That, like everything else, was destined to change.