Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Forgotten Past ❯ Arrested!! ( Chapter 4 )

The Forgotten Past

Arrested!

Chapter 4

The lone sleek figure stood in the dark alley waiting impatiently as a wolf howled in the distance at the full moon in the star-less sky. Humph, he's late, thought the long silhouette as he reached forward to strike a match on the stonewall to light the cigarette that dangled from his bottom lip. He sighed and shook out the fire on the match-head and watched the last stream of smoke waft up to the heavens. His wife really hated it when he smoked, but a man had to have some vices left when the government seemed to want to deprive the people of everything--even their beds. "Damn, it's cold. He's late, and I hate having my time wasted," he whispered to the non answering wind. He threw down the cigarette and watched as it sizzled out in a puddle of murky water below him.

"I'm leaving. He better have a good excuse as to why he called me out in this freezing wind and not show up, or else I'm going to kill him." As he turned to walk away from the corner of his eye he saw a familiar shadow quickly duck into the alley adjacent to his own.

"Ahou ga. Wrong alley," he muttered under his breath already irritated. He turned to follow him, but as he went to step into the light of a solitary post another figure appeared causing him to step back into the concealing darkness. Who is that? He cautiously leaned forward to make out the description of the new shadow upon getting a better glimpse his bottom jaw dropped open. A woman! And not just any woman it was the Battousai's woman that...Kamiya girl. "What in hell is she doing here this late," he murmured to himself.

He watched the Kamiya girl glance around her surrounding as if she lost something and didn't know where to look. He couldn't understand what she was doing out here this time of night. Was the Battousai in some trouble? He paused the thought giving him pleasure. Or one of the other idiots that seemed to have found their way into her dojo. He jolted as a sudden noise came from the alley that his man had darted towards. Shit, I forgot about him. How am I supposed to get to the alley without alerting her to my presence?

Before he could move, he saw the Kamiya girl glance toward the alley where the sound had come from, and watched as she took off running in the direction of the alley. What the fuck does she think she's doing?! He pushed off the wall and followed her into the passageway only a few paces behind her.

"NO! Please no, I won't tell anybody," begged the man kneeling on the ground. "Please, I have a family. Please, I'm begging you. Don't kill me."

"Too late," she whispered to the prostrating man at her feet. "You know too much." She stepped forward and kicked him. He rolled and moaned in pain. "Stand up and be the man that you should be."

Crying the man tried to plead again assuming his same prostrating position. "Please, I have a family." He looked up to her with eyes swollen from crying and beating that he narrowly escaped. "Please."

She turned her head around to hide the smile on her face and to give the man a false sense of hope. She always liked it when they begged. It made the killing more fun--well, at least for her.

As Saitou rounded the last corner, he caught sight of a gleaming blade in the silver moonlight and its downward slash. He watched in anger, as his newest agent throat was slit and the rain blood that erupted from the torn flesh. He watched as the blood sprayed on the dirt ground and on that Kamiya girl's yellow kimono. He watched as the look of surprise slowly faded from the young man's eyes, as they turned opaque. He was dead. Saitou Hajime, the Milbu's Wolf, also known as Fujita Goro and lesser names to extent--was too late.

Anger clouded his vision as he pulled out his regulation sword. This would be the first time since the end of the Shinsen Gumi that he killed a woman, and he did not care if it was the Battousai's woman. Forgetting for that moment that he was a member of the government intelligence unit, and the ethical thing would be to follow the rules and bring her in, but his brain forgot to process the information at that time. Saitou crouched down in his gotatsu first stance, and prepared to kill the woman, using his own code of ethics and rules: Aku, Soku, and Zan.

The girl looked down at the dead young man at her feet, and calmly bent down where she brushed the hair off his head and whispered to dead body that would never hear her words, "So, do I." Feeling that she was being watched she quickly jumped out of the way narrowly, avoiding the thrust that could have added her body to the one on the ground.

Saitou turned around to fight the Kamiya girl only to discover that she had fled when she jumped out of the way of his gotatsu. Glancing down at the body of his feet he sighed, the boy had died and it was his fault. What information did he have? Why did the Kamiya girl kill him? He didn't know right now, but he would in the morning. Sheathing his sword he took off his issued police jacket, placed it over the boy's face, and picked up the body to walk back to headquarters. Why? Why did that Kamiya girl kill him?

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The sun's rays streamed through the rice paper door of Kaoru's room. She slowly awoke. She had been asleep since yesterday afternoon, when she ran from the dojo after viciously attacking Yahiko. But the truth was she ran from her nightmare, a nightmare that seemed to want to haunt her now during the daytime. She stared at the ceiling and thought when will these nightmares end?

Kaoru sighed and pulled a yellow kimonoed arm over her eyes to block out both the rays of the sun and her frightful memories. Yellow kimono? When did I..? She did not remember putting on her yellow kimono. Matter of fact she knew she cried herself to sleep still wearing her training gi. So, when did she change clothes?

She cautiously brought her arm back down to her side and sat up. Looking down at her clothes Kaoru noticed that she was indeed dressed in her yellow kimono. She hoped it was another illusion brought on by that nightmare--but it wasn't. Pulling the blanket all the way down she saw a huge brownish stain splattered around the middle part of the garment trailing downward.

Kaoru undid the obi and slipped the dress off her shoulders to get a better look at the mysterious stains. Sniffing the dress and touching her tongue to small portion of one the discoloration's--she was sure. It was blood. But whose? Moreover, how did it get on her yellow kimono? And more importantly, how did I get in the dress?

"I'll see if she's awake Ken-san," called Megumi from outside the door.

"Arigatou Megumi-dono," answered Kenshin. "I'll bring the tea."

A knock came at Kaoru's door. "Kaoru-san," called Megumi cautiously. "Are you awake?"

Kaoru froze in the middle of her room. She looked from the dress to the door. Should I fake sleep, thought Kaoru? What am I going to do? Against her better judgment Kaoru called out, "Just a minute Megumi-san."

Racing to the armoire she pulled opened a drawer and found her training outfit folded neatly, just where her kimono should have been. Not wanting to spend precious time pondering it Kaoru shoved in the dress and slammed it closed. Moving back to her bed she picked up her robe and jostled her arms into while trying to belt it together. She glanced around to make sure that she didn't leave anything from the kimono from lying around. "Good, I didn't forget anything."

"Kaoru-san, I'm coming in." Megumi slid open the door just as Kaoru flung herself down on the floor.

"Ohayo, Megumi-san."

"Iie, konbanwa, Kaoru-san," she answered back as she sat down on the floor, watching as Kaoru rolled the futon away.

"It is afternoon, isn't," commented Kaoru trying to stall.

Undaunted Megumi forged ahead with her task. She promised Ken-san that she would talk with her and that is what she was going to do. "Kaoru-san, I came to talk about yesterday."

"I figured you would be," Kaoru replied sullenly.

Megumi held up a hand at Kaoru's tone. "First let me say this before we go any further, I don't believe you attacked Yahiko and Sanosuke on purpose."

Kaoru sat up straighter and looked at the beautiful doctor in a new light. How could she be so sure that I didn't attack them on purpose? Hell, I not even sure that I didn't. And she said that much to Megumi.

"What do you mean that you're not sure you didn't mean to attack them?" Megumi questioned puzzled. "From the look on your face yesterday, before you ran out of the dojo, it looked like you didn't mean to attack them."

"I know I didn't mean to attack them, but I'm not sure I didn't mean to attack them," she explained lamely.

Megumi arched a well-defined brow at her. "That doesn't make sense."

"I know," said Kaoru as she repeated the statement over in her mind.

"Then explain it to me."

"I can't. I don't know how to make you understand, without repeating myself."

"Okay. Lets then talk about what's been happening to you--those dreams you had."

Kaoru looked at Megumi. What would she say if I told her about my dreams? Would she believe me? Maybe it is time for me to tell somebody what I've been seeing. "I--"

A soft knock came at the door. "Megumi-dono, I brought the tea," called Kenshin from the outside interrupting Kaoru's explanation.

Megumi looked toward the door and called for Kenshin to come inside the room.

Kenshin gently pulled back the sliding door and stepped one tabied foot inside Kaoru's room with a tray loaded down with tea and rice balls wrapped in seaweed. He moved quickly to unburden himself, and placed the tea service between the two women. Lingering to arrange the tea service Kenshin glanced in Kaoru's direction, but she quickly turned from him to look out the door he left open. He sighed.

Megumi watched the wistful expression come over Kenshin's face as he looked at Kaoru. She also saw how swiftly Kaoru turned her head to look out the door, but not before she caught a glance of longing her eyes, also. "Thank you, Ken-san. I can handle it from here."

Still staring at Kaoru, Kenshin nodded his head and turned to walk out the door feeling empty. Where was the Kaoru he knew? Where was the Kaoru that shared everything with him? Where had she gone?

"Kaoru-san," called Megumi.

Kaoru turned back to Megumi and regarded her out of sad blue eyes that looked like they would break loose with tears any minute. "Hai."

"Why did you turn away? Has Ken-san done something to hurt you?"

She shook her head. "I just couldn't bear to face him after yesterday."

Megumi leaned forward. "That brings me to my original question. What happened yesterday in the dojo? First you try to kill Yahiko, and then you run out of the room as if you've seen a ghost."

"I meant to ask, how is Yahiko and Sanosuke?"

Megumi let out an air of impatience. "Yahiko's fine except for a few bruises, and Sanosuke's arm will heal also, the bite wasn't that deep."

"Sou ka?" Kaoru found her first smile of the day. "That's good. I'm glad they'll be all right." She picked up one of Kenshin's rice balls and bit into it. Chewing slowly.

Megumi glowered at her, but poured tea in both of their cups, and picked up a rice ball to nibble on herself. "Kaoru-san," mumbled Megumi.

Kaoru blinked and then took a sip of her green tea. "Do you think you're evil?"

"WW-What?" Megumi shouted nearly choking in the process. "What do you mean do I think I'm evil? Of course not!"

"I think I am," came the whispered reply.

Trying to avoid suffocation Megumi laid down her rice ball and took a healthy drink from her tea. "What do you mean you think you're evil?"

Kaoru looked Megumi in the eye; "I've been having strange sensations since my last dream. Like I'm not who I think I am."

"First of all what did you dream about, and second who do you think you are?" Megumi purposely didn't tell Kaoru about the shocking line she uttered in the dojo. About her being the real Kamiya Kaoru.

Kaoru opened her mouth to explain, but something stopped her. No, I do not want to tell just Megumi. I should tell everybody--and everybody meant she would have to start speaking with Kenshin. "No, Megumi-san I don't think I want to tell you."

A shocked look came over Megumi's face. "Why? I thought we were going to figure out your dreams."

Kaoru smiled again. "You're a true friend, Megumi-san, and I appreciate it. But I think I will share my dreams with everybody--not just you."

"Does this include Ken-san, too?"

"Yes," she answered with affirmative nod of her head. "Especially Kenshin."

Megumi packed the tea tray and rose to her feet. "Okay..."

Fuck the Battousai!! Said a harsh female voice.

Startled Kaoru looked up as Megumi went to open the door. "Did you say something?"

Megumi turned back and noticed the wary expression on Kaoru's face. "Y-Yes, I said 'Okay, if that's the way you want it.'"

"That's all," Kaoru asked worriedly.

"That's it. Why did you hear something?"

Kaoru hastily stood up. "No, no...just losing my mind I guess." Then noticed the shocked expression that came over Megumi's face. "Maybe I should rephrase that," she jokingly said.

Hearing the laughter in Kaoru's voice Megumi relaxed. "I guess I'll see you later." She went out the door and closing it behind her.

Kaoru sighed and looked around. She was alone. No blood, no shadows, nothing but silence. But If I'm alone then who spoke? Kaoru bent her head a let a few weary tears run down her face. "Am I going crazy?" She asked the empty room, but no answer came.

*****************************************************

His stomach growled hungrily. Damn, he was going to miss lunch. Saitou signed and ran a hand through his hair. This had been a trying morning. First one of his new operatives had been killed in front of him, the killer escapes, and he gets the brunt of the blame. Granted most of the blame came from himself, and not his superiors, he was still in a piss poor mood. On a day like this he wished that he'd died with the other members of the Shinsen Gumi third division.

Trying to make sense of what led to the incident in the alley Saitou glanced down at the documents that he got from one of his contacts. From the looks of it Aino had been infiltrating deeper in the group, before that Kamiya bitch cruelly slaughtered him. Now he had to find out what the connection to his operative and the Battousai's woman. He had to. He had to give Aino's wife a better reason for the death of her husband, "Than he died protecting the government." Saitou glanced down and continued to search for that connection.

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Megumi sat in between a lounging Sanosuke who sat with his back against one the houses post as he chewed on a piece of straw as he lazily swung one of his legs back and forth. Situated on her other side was a contemplative Kenshin, who also sat with his back, aligned also, on one of the support beams, with his sakabatsu laid gently over one shoulder. Where he drew invisible circles with his pointer finger on the wooden floorboards.

"So Fox," said Sanosuke. "Let me see if I got this in a nutshell. Jou-chan's loosing her mind, and she might try to kill one of us again."

Megumi cut her eyes at him. "Baka. That isn't what I said."

Swinging a shinai with only one hand, "But isn't that what you meant," said Yahiko coming to a stop. He turned around to face the group on the porch showing his other arm in a sling.

"But that isn't how I said it." Megumi seethed giving Yahiko the same look she gave Sano.

Kenshin looked up and saw the other three giving each other hard stares. Yare, yare. "Megumi-dono, who do you think Kaoru-dono is most likely going to attack next?"

She gave one good lasting glare to Sano and Yahiko before she turned to answer Kenshin's question. "Well..." She didn't really want to hurt his feelings, but until Kaoru came to her senses they would all have to be on guard. "Ken-san, don't misunderstand, but I think out of all of us-- if Kaoru was going to attack it would be you."

Kenshin sighed. "Wakata de gozaru yo." He looked at her with saddened violet eyes. "I think I already knew that."

Sano rolled his eyes heavenward. "Don't be so down in the dumps, Kenshin." Sano smiled suddenly at Kenshin as a thought struck him.

"Oro?" Kenshin blinked at Sanosuke. "What's wrong?"

"I just thought of something," he leaned forward in a conspiratorial whisper. "Even in Jou-chan's crazy state. You're still the number one person she thinks about. Of course, she wants to kill you, but you're still number one." Sano leaned back chuckling at his own jest.

Three pair of eyes looked at Sanosuke guffaw profusely at his own words as they wondered if Kaoru's madness was spreading. Yahiko commented, "You know he was bitten."

At Yahiko's declaration, Sano straightened up and spit out his piece of hay he'd been chewing. "I'm not the one who's crazy here!" He slouched back in his old position, and mumbled underneath his breath, "Try and make people laugh and they call you crazy."

Megumi looked at him and smirked. "As I was saying, we have to be careful around Kaoru-san, because we don't know what will cause her to, um, change."

"You mean go crazy," said Yahiko as he went back to practicing with his shinai.

Megumi sighed. "Do not say that!"

"Why?"

"Because I don't like the sound of it. And I don't think Kaoru-san would like you calling her 'crazy." She smiled at him. "Of course, you could to that and risk another fight with her. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

Yahiko cleared his throat. "You're right Megumi we shouldn't refer to Kaoru as crazy." His wounds throbbed at the mere thought of having to do battle with Kaoru again."

Megumi looked at him and smiled again, "I knew you'd see it my way."

"Stop gloating Fox and finish what you were saying," said Sano.

"I will, when everybody stops interrupting me." She glared at Sanosuke and Yahiko, then turned her ice blue stare onto Kenshin so he wouldn't get any ideas that he could escape unscathed.

The three guys rolled their eyes. "Fine we understand. No interruptions."

"Good. Now then, Kaoru-san is not herself, and we don't know when she will revert back to that figure in the dojo, so be careful what you say to her. The slightest thing might set her off. Moreover, try not to be alone with her unless you know someone else is close by. Her other self has proven to be strong and quick, and well, bloodthirsty."

Kenshin clinched a fist on his knee. Precautions! The fact that they needed them made him sick. This was Kaoru who they were talking about guarding themselves from. Kaoru the brave woman who went alone into a room full of murderous gangsters, to help rescue a young boy from further harm. The same Kaoru who has let four strangers stay with her without demanding anything from them. The same Kaoru who very eyes radiated with the light of the sun when she looked at him, and whose voice always seemed to hold the very essence of spring when she called to him...Kenshin.

"Kenshin, ne, Kenshin wake up." Megumi snapped her fingers in front of his face, then tried waving her hand trying to get some answer out of the glazed over violet eyes. "Hey, Ken-san."

"Nani de gozaru ka," replied Kenshin blinking Kaoru's image away.

"Are you okay?"

Kenshin regarded the concerned doctor and noticed that Yahiko had stopped practicing with his good arm, while Sano just arched a brow at him. "Aa. Sumano, did you say something?"

"Yeah," came the dry response from Yahiko. "I said with Dr. Gensai and the children are coming back today, how are we supposed to handle that situation?"

"I don't think that Kaoru-dono would harm the children. As for Dr. Gensai we will tell him what's been happening. He could probably help. Anyway, I thought we already decided not to leave her alone with anybody."

"Jou-chan's not dumb Kenshin. She's going to notice we never leave her alone with anybody. And that's likely to set her off, bringing on 'the change'."

Kenshin thought for a minute before he spoke. "We will just have to make sure that we do it in a way that she doesn't notice. If things get worse we'll explain to Kaoru-dono our reasons as to why she can't be alone with one of us."

Sano snorted. "Yeah, well, when you mention it to Jou-chan make sure you tell her that the idea was all Fox Lady's thinking." He shuddered. After seeing Kaoru attack Yahiko in the dojo, he did not want to be on her bad side. "I don't want my name near this idea."

"Coward," said Megumi as her eyes shot daggers into his.

"Hey! I'm--" Sano stopped as he heard a door slide shut and the shuffling of feet. The others turned to see Kaoru come around the corner wearing a dark blue kimono carrying a small matching satchel.

Kaoru came around the corner and saw her friends. They must be talking about me. Look at their serious expressions. They probably don't trust me, and I don't blame them. Right now I don't trust myself to be around them, but I have to, I can't let this nightmare ruin who I am.

As she got closer the wounds that she inflicted on Yahiko and Sano throbbed simultaneously. They feared Kaoru. More so, Yahiko as he'd almost lost his life at her hand. Yahiko couldn't stop the cold feeling of dread that came over him with every step Kaoru took to get closer to the small group.

As Kaoru continued to walk across the courtyard, she saw mirroring looks of apprehension and concern come over Yahiko and Sanosuke's faces. She faltered in her steps, but carried on, those looks were to be expected especially after the way she attacked Yahiko in the dojo. I wonder how Kenshin feels toward me. Forget the Battousai screeched a voice in her head. Kaoru stopped a few inches away from the bandage Yahiko, closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. Okay that's better. I didn't hear anything.

Opening her eyes to greet her friends Kaoru was instead greeted with a bloody vision. At her feet lay Yahiko in a fetus position, again mimicking the dark-haired boy from her nightmare. His clothes were speckled with blood alternative to being soaked in blood. She looked toward her left and saw Sanosuke with his eyes gouged out and his throat slashed where blood sluggishly flowed from the wound. Kaoru gasped and put her hands over her mouth frozen in place.

In the center sat Megumi. Her head had been slashed from her shoulders and placed in her lap. Blood had seeped down the neck and spread throughout Megumi's lavender doctor coat. Turning Kaoru looked at Kenshin. He was dead too, just like last time his death was more violent than Megumi or Sanosuke's death. Kenshin's sword was protruding from his chest as a steady stream of blood dripped down to his lap. His eyes gouged out left nothing but blood and tissue behind in the eye sockets. Kenshin's heart was ripped out his chest and placed by his feet. His charming scar was reopened and a matching one was carved into his opposite cheek.

"Murderess," screamed a voice at Kaoru. "Murderess! You have tainted hands. You're not worthy to be the shihondai of Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu."

Kaoru backed away. "No, this not real. They are alive. This is not real. I'm not a murderer." She closed her eyes and rubbed at them violently. "They are alive!"

"Jou-chan?" questioned Sanosuke. He and the others had got up and surrounded her when she came over and stopped. They saw the same glassy-eyed expression come over her face before she ran from the dojo.

"Kaoru-dono," called Kenshin as he came closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Kaoru-dono, you're safe. And we are alive, it's me Kenshin."

A harsh voice answered him. "I know who you are Battousai. So, if you want to keep the hand I suggest that you remove it-and don't ever touch me again without asking."

Kenshin quickly dropped his hand, while Megumi and the rest slowly backed up, preparing to run if necessary. "Megumi-dono, call to her."

"She doesn't need to, I'm fine," replied Kaoru as she dropped her hands from her eyes and looked at her friends. "I'm sorry." She offered up a shaky but rueful smile. "I let it get to me. I'll be fine. Gomen."

Kenshin walked a little closer to Kaoru mindful to keep his hands to himself, not that he was afraid of the other entity; he just didn't want to cause Kaoru any more duress. "Kaoru-dono, what's wrong?"

Kaoru sighed. "Not now Kenshin, I don't want to talk about it now. I came to take everybody out to lunch especially Yahiko and Sanosuke. They can order anything they want. I want to apologize for hurting them yesterday." She laughed. "I guess you could tell that I wasn't myself, so I want you to order whatever you like."

"Yatta!" Screamed Yahiko in glee. Without thinking about the consequences he threw his good arm around Kaoru hugging her tightly. "You're the best Kaoru."

Tiny teardrops escaped down Kaoru's cheeks, as she hugged Yahiko back. No, she thought I'm not a murderer. I'm a good friend. As she closed her eyes to loose herself in Yahiko's hug, Kaoru missed the look of sadness that came into Kenshin's eyes.

*******************************************************

"Fuji ta-san," exclaimed a young male voice. "Fujita-san!"

Saitou sighed. He truly missed the Shinsen Gumi, and answering to his rightful name. A name that his father proudly bestowed on him when he was born. A name that he now couldn't publicly use in the Meji era of Japan. Saitou unfolded his lean body and walked to his door, to see who was calling for him.

"Nani yo, Toshi," responded Saitou from his office doorway at the insistent screaming. "I'm busy."

Toshi skidded to halt in front of Saitou and saluted. "I have a package for you, sir." He stated as he pulled the brown wrapped box from underneath his arm, and held it out to his superior.

"Where did it come from?" Asked Saitou as he eyed the packaged.

"It was given to me when I coming into the building. I was asked to deliver this package straight into your hands, sir."

Saitou pulled a cigarette out of his front pocket and stuck it in his mouth. "Who gave it to you? Man or Woman?"

The officer scrunched up his face as he tried to remember the description of the person who had gave him the package. He gulped. "I-I don't know, sir. I was in such a hurry to bring you this package, that I didn't pay attention to the person."

"So you're telling me that you have a package for me, but you don't know who gave it to you?" Saitou struck a matched and waited for the young recruits reply.

The young man's out stretched arm wavered a bit, as he answered, "That's correct, sir." He messed up. Only his second day working with the intelligence office and he screwed up in front of the most important person there.

"Ahou ga," said Saitou as took the package out of the hand of the other officer. "Toshi, don't try and impress me with stupidity. I've seen more than enough already. Next time remember who gives you a package."

"Yes, Fujita-san." Properly chastised the red-faced officer turned on his heels and went back to his duties.

Saitou shook his head as he went back into is office, and ground his cigarette in a small glass dish that his wife put in his office. They were getting dimwitted every year. Or maybe, I'm just getting to old for this job. Walking to his desk he sat down and examined the box from all angles before he opened it, searching for identification as to who the sender was. Who would send me a package? I've made contact with all my feelers; I did not request any additional information to be sent. So who sent this? Turning the rectangle box bow side up he undid the knot. He pulled the brown paper back and took off the lid to the box.

Inside the white box laid a yellow kimono. A yellow kimono? Who would send him a yellow kimono. This must be some error. Saitou picked it up and turned it round to where the front hung open. Staring him in the face was a large brown stain. He immediately recognized the stain as dried blood. It was the same kind of kimono, he saw that Kamiya girl wearing. Right before she slew his new agent. Saitou placed the dress aside and looked into the box to see a letter addressed to him: Saitou Hajime. Picking up the letter he read it once over and again. There was no mistaking what the note said.

Moving swiftly to his door again he called for the chief of police to come to his office at once. He watched as several men sprung into action to carry out his order. That bitch was all he could think.

****************************************************

Kaoru and her friends walked down the road in silence only commenting on things when necessary, although she had shared a touching moment with Yahiko in the courtyard she didn't feel too comfortable around everybody. She knew she was putting them on edge, but she couldn't help it. She didn't know what was wrong with her. It felt like her head was trying to split in half.

"Look there's the Akabeko," said Kenshin breaking the silence. "Have you decided what you're going have, Yahiko?"

Yahiko stopped and scratched his head. This was the first time he'd been able to pick what he wanted without Kaoru telling him that she had to conserve money. "I don't know, Kenshin. I guess I would like sushi with wasabi sauce." He glanced quickly at Kaoru to see what she thought.

Kaoru smiled. "Of course, you can have that Yahiko."

Sanosuke quickly glanced up, "I want sushi and wasabi, too."

Kaoru shook her head sometimes he can be such a child. "You can have it also, Sanosuke." She turned and looked at Kenshin for the first time. "I guess we could order puffer fish for you Kenshin."

Kenshin nodded his head. His throat had closed up when she mentioned his name. She actually spoke to him in her normal Kaoru voice. He cleared his throat. "Arigatou de gozaru yo, Kaoru-dono."

Yahiko and Sanosuke did a high five. "Yes, we're going to get sushi with wasabi sauce."

Megumi turned and looked at the two men slapping each other like they just accomplished some great feat. Baka. How could they act like that over food? She fingered a section of her hair, and saw the first real smile come over Kenshin's face as he watched the comedic duo link arms and dance around. "Anta-tachi," she called to them. "You know that wasabi sauce is extremely hot."

Sanosuke snorted and crossed his arms over his bare chest. "How hot can it be, Fox. But then again who cares, I'm a man I can handle it."

"That's right Megumi," echoed Yahiko taking up the same stance as Sanosuke. "We're men we can handle it."

Megumi stopped at the entrance to the restaurant and decided to have some fun with them. She turned around and began combing her hands through her raven locks, "Well you know being a doctor, I have seen and heard a lot of things happening. I've heard that wasabi can be so scorching that once ingested it can literally burn your mouth." She watched and inwardly giggled as their faces twisted at her tale. "Dr. Gensai once told me about a patient who had wasabi sauce and it burned so badly that he was begging for death. That the man even tried to cut out his own tongue."

When Megumi finished with her tale all the men, including Kenshin was looking a little pale. Megumi looked at Kenshin, I can't believe he actually believed that story. Sometimes Kenshin was so gullible. Megumi drifted her eyes toward Kaoru to gage her reaction. Seeing her own look of delighted laugher and astonishment mirrored in her face, Megumi knew that the story didn't affect her the same way.

Yahiko gulped and turned to his companion. "Oi, Sano?"

"Na--Nani," said Sano as he cleared his throat. He didn't want to eat anything that would make him want to cut out his own tongue.

"We meant teriyaki sauce didn't we," said Yahiko hinting.

"Of course we said teriyaki sauce, Yahiko." He turned at looked at Kenshin. "Isn't that right, Kenshin. We said teriyaki."

Kenshin nodded his own throat had permanently sealed itself at the wasabi story. Sessha really wanted to try the wasabi with the puffer fish. "Teriyaki de gozaru yo."

"See," pointed out Sanosuke. "I don't know where the Fox Lady got the idea that we said wasabi. We know not to mess with wasabi. I don't why Dr. Gensai lets you run the clinic when he's away when you can't even tell the difference between 'wasabi' and 'teriyaki'.

Megumi and Kaoru held back their laughter. "Gomen nasai, baka. What was I thinking?"

As the group turned to enter the Akabeko and sharp shrill whistle stopped them. "Maite," called a voice. "You people stop where you are."

Kenshin watched as the Sword Brigade came forward with the captain of police leading the group.

"Himura-san," said the chief when he came forward. "Sumano." He turned and looked at Kaoru. "Kamiya Kaoru. Shihondai of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu Dojo in the town of Shimatachi."

"Hai," said a confused Kaoru. "What's going on?"

At her affirmation the police officers quickly drew their swords and surrounded her. "Don't move," said the leader of the group wearing the green jacket. "We have order's to kill you should you try and resist."

Kenshin took his hand and put on the hilt of his sword, and look toward the chief. "You want to explain what's going on, here."

The chief grimaced. "Sumano, Himura-san. Please do not act hasty."

The leader in the group surrounding Kaoru glanced back, "Chief. We have orders to carry out. They'll understand what's happening when you finish your task."

The chief frowned at the officer and pushed his glasses back up his nose, as the turned his attention toward Kaoru once more. "Kamiya Kaoru. You are hereby arrested for murder, issued on the direct orders of Fujita Goro."

Kaoru's creamy complexion faded out making her resemble a recently white washed wall. "Murder," she whispered. "I'm being arrested for murder?"

Kenshin turned and looked at the horror on her face. "It's a mistake Kaoru-dono. They must be confused."

The chief sighed and looked at Kenshin. "There is no mistake. The order came directly from the head of the Japan's Intelligence Unit, Fujita Goro." He turned and signaled to the Sword Brigade to start walking. He bowed to Kenshin and turned to walk with the other officers escorting Kaoru to the police building.

Kenshin and the group watched as they led Kaoru away with varying degrees of shock on their faces. "Oi Kenshin, " called Sanosuke. "What are we going to do?"

"That's simple," replied Yahiko before Kenshin could utter a word. "We follow them and find out what's happening."

"Right," said Kenshin smiling at the boy. "I want to know why Saitou has accused Kaoru of murder."

"Saitou!" exclaimed Sanosuke as he punched his fist with his hand. "That asshole, I knew I recognized that name 'Fujita Goro'." He rubbed his hands in glee. "I have a score to settle with him."

A flare of hatred glinted in Kenshin's violet eyes. "So, do I," he murmured. "Let's go."

******************************************************

As Kaoru was marched in between the Sword Brigade she watched as the passerby's on the streets threw her pitying looks, as they whispered about her. I committed murder, when? Does waking up covered in blood automatically make you a murderer?

...a laugh..."Didn't you listen to me Kaoru," said the voice that laughed in her head. "I told you, you were a murderer."

"That's a lie," whispered Kaoru back to the voice in her head.

"Is it Kaoru," questioned the voice. "Look at where you are: arrested for murder."

It was true. She'd been arrested for murder. I don't have any excuse, I don't even know myself.

The voice laughed at her again. "Like I told you before Kaoru. You're a murderer. Kamiya Kaoru is a murderer."

Standing between the group Kaoru's head dropped down as she silently cried. It's true I'm a murderer. Kamiya Kaoru is a murderer...

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End. Chapter 4. Created [12/13/00] and Finished [01/11/01]. Well, this isn't where I wanted to finish this chapter, but I knew I was falling far behind in my fanfic writing. So, I cut this chapter in half. I hope you enjoyed it. And if you didn't: Please e-mail me at pmchivas@hotmail.com for all comments, critiques, questions, and yes flames. Or if you want you can put your comments in the guest book. Thanks, Shishou M. -- All standard disclaimers apply.

Lunatics Ravings:

None at this time. I think you know all the Japanese words that I used in my fanfic. And I'm sorry if you don't. If you don't, please leave me a message and I'll update this section of my fanfic. Thanks.