Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Color of Blood ❯ New Life ( Chapter 7 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 7 New life

“Our parents sent you away, thinking that they were going to die. Well they didn’t. By some miracle they regained their health. They searched for you, but all in vain. I wasn’t born until three years later.” Takara was calmly trying to explain things to Kenshin and the others.

“So they didn’t die?” Kenshin whispered staring sadly at the floor.

Takara said nothing at first, but decided she would have to tell him. “They are now.”

“What?” He spun his head around to stare at her. The others also watched her with great intensity.

“They were killed five years ago when our house…” She was battling on whether or not to tell Kenshin everything. She was for sure not going to tell him about her being Katana, but she couldn’t decide whether or not to tell him about the bandits. Before she could say more Kaoru noticed the sad look in her eye and put her hand on Takara’s shoulder.

Takara turned to look at her. Kaoru had a sad smile on her face, eyes glistening. “I’m sorry.” She said trying to comfort her.

“It’s alright.” Takara mumbled. She wiped the back of her hand across her face. “I have no tears left to cry.”

“Takara.” Kenshin’s serious voice resonated through her ears. She turned her head to look at him. She smiled as he had called her by her first name.

“Yes, my brother.”

Kenshin took both her hands and looked over her ragged clothes. His gaze locked on her eyes. “I’m going to take care of you; that I will.”

Takara was happy he cared, but knew she didn’t need his protection. “Thank you,…” She hesitated on what to call him.

Kenshin smiled. “Call me whatever you please, little sister.”

Takara grinned and crushed Kenshin in a tight hug. Kenshin hugged back. Kaoru smiled. It was a beautiful reunion. Yahiko found himself wondering if Takara would stay with them too.

Sano on the other hand was entranced by the young woman. She was gorgeous, even with ragged clothes, but she was Kenshin’s sister. This made her off limits especially to Sano.

Kenshin turned to Kaoru. “Can Takara stay here as well, if you don’t mind Miss Kaoru?”

“No not at all. She’s just as welcome as you Kenshin.” She turned to Takara. “You can have one of my kimonos to wear if you like.”

“Thank you.” Takara smiled.

“Why don’t you go have a bath, while I fix dinner.” Kenshin offered.

“Ok.” She replied. Kaoru led Takara off to the bath house. Sano lay around the porch staring off into space while Yahiko busied himself with practicing with his bokken to impress Takara. *Kiddy crush!*

A few minutes later Kenshin came out to call them in for dinner. “The food is ready.” Kenshin said in his usual cheerful voice.

“Hey, Kenshin…” Sano interrupted the silence of the sunset. Kenshin looked down at him curiously. “Do you think anything will change what with you finding your long lost sister and all?”

“I don’t know.” Kenshin replied staring at the ground. Truthfully he didn’t know what to do. He had never had a sibling before. He wasn’t sure if he should keep her close to protect her or to let her make her own choices. She was certainly not a little girl. “that I don’t.”

The sound of feet scurrying down the porch made them all look up. Kaoru walked around a corner with Takara not far behind. She wore a green kimono, the same shade as her hair, the obi was a deep blue. Her hair was hanging loose forming a jagged line at the bottom. It fell all the way to her knees. The kimono didn’t fit her quite right as Kaoru was much smaller than her. It was still flattering on her.

“What do you think?” Kaoru chirped.

Takara smiled shyly as she hadn’t worn a kimono in years. Yahiko and Sano put all her doubts to rest at once when they began to blather on at the same time about how beautiful she looked. She found herself beginning to like these new friends. For the first time in five years she had friends and family. ‘Maybe I’ll stay for a while.’ She thought as Kenshin smiled at her and spoke his approval of her attire.

For the next month Takara enjoyed her time at the dojo. She talked a lot with Kenshin. He had told her he was once a samurai, but had not spoken of his being the Battosai. She called him Shinta or brother as it was more natural and personal to her than Kenshin. She demonstrated her Kempo and archery skills for all of them, but claimed she knew nothing of the art of swordsmanship. She simply said it was her old master’s sword and his style, but he had died before he could help her master it. She did not tell them of her secret identity as Katana or of her depressing past.

She practiced Kamiya Kashin with Yahiko and Kaoru. Kaoru thought of her like an older sister. They were only 2 years apart in age, but had much to learn from one another. Yahiko was extremely impressed with Takara. He begged her to teach him how to be an archer and she agreed.

Her dealings with Sano were limited. Often, only to an occasional secluded conversation about Kaoru’s cooking or Yahiko’s training. Sano frequently made her laugh with his sarcastic remarks. He loved to hear her laugh. It was like the best music he had ever heard. She was very laid back like him and did not often over express her emotions. If ever there was a woman to match his sarcasm it was Takara. He was entranced by her beauty and amazed by her skill. She claimed to only be a novice, but her martial arts skill was far superior to anything he had ever seen.

Takara, in return, found Sano to be a cool guy. They weren’t that far apart in age and she was amazed by his strength. He was one of the few people to make her laugh since her life had turned awry. In a way he reminded her of Kazuki. Personality wise they were nothing alike, but he had the same brown hair. She found herself being happy again, but she also knew deep in her mind that she was becoming too attached. She didn’t want the pain that came with attachment, but loved the feeling to much to ignore it.

One day she went into town with Kaoru to get some clothes that would fit her better. They were looking around when Takara overheard a couple of police men talking about the influx in criminals in Tokyo. She listened for a few minutes and heard about a former samurai named Shishio Makoto being involved.

She decided to ask Kenshin about it since he had said he was a samurai during the revolution. That night at dinner she casually brought it up. “Shinta in your years as samurai did you ever hear of a Shishio Makoto?” Kenshin stopped dead in all his movements and stared at the floor. Sano noticed and stared at him curiously.

“Yes I’ve heard of him.” Kenshin said solemnly. He quickly regained his cheery voice and looked up at Takara. “Why do you ask sister?”

She sipped her tea calmly and nonchalantly replied. “No reason I just heard two men talking about a samurai by that name in the market today.”

Kenshin’s ears perked up at her answer. “Really?” He asked trying to sound casual.

“Yes it would seem he has something to do with the crime influx in Tokyo.”

Sano was slightly curious at how Takara knew all this. Kenshin also seemed curious about his sister’s interest. Yahiko looked at them and said, “Wow, Kenshin maybe Takara’s on to something?”

“Yes….maybe she is.”

The next day Kenshin and Sano left early for unknown reasons. In reality they were going to the police station to ask if Takara’s information was true. Takara was curious now about Kenshin’s past. His strange expression the night before when she’d brought up Makoto had sparked her interest. She and Yahiko were out cleaning the yard and she decided to ask him, he was most likely to tell her the truth.

“Yahiko, what do you know about my brother’s life as a samurai?” She asked glancing at him.

“Well, I don’t know if I should say, but…” He leaned into her ear and whispered. “He used to be Battosai the manslayer.”

Takara shot up senses tingling with surprise. “Battosai the manslayer!” She muttered.

“Yeah, but he’s good now. He rescued me from the Yakuza and has sworn never to kill again.”

Takara sat staring emptily into space. She was shocked into silence. ‘My own brother! Battosai the manslayer!’ She could hardly believe it. She didn’t know what to think or feel. She wasn’t angry, what he had done he had done in the winds of war so he was, in her opinion, justified. Yet he had said nothing. “Tell me more.” She smiled at Yahiko beckoning him to tell her everything he knew about her brother.

What will happen now, that she knows?

Converting /tmp/phpJvasrs to /dev/stdout