Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Getaway ❯ Realizations; A strange call ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter seven: Realizations; A strange call

[Tirana, Albania]

After that incident from the small inn in Spain, both decided to fly their way to Albania to escape any further troubles that the SCO may perform. It's an actual pit stop, particularly since she's about to meet one of her colleagues to produce further designation out from CIA's words.

Arcia slowly tread her way to the crowded streets of Tirana on that flaming summer afternoon. For now, her identity was still concealed away from the public's eyes since her ninjutsu helped her a lot than expected. Despite of the fact that both were still unease and too reluctant from making their eyes contact, Arcia still managed to convince Aoshi to stay inside the suite they had rented. Even if it did took some time before Aoshi could even agree with the idea of letting her wander around the streets alone. To be honest, that guy was even more contumacious and bullheaded than her.

Now, she was about to meet Schneider in an infamous coffee shop after receiving his call the other day.

As she enters the tavern, her eyes immediately noticed a certain blanched haired man sitting at the corner side of the tap house. She forthwith headed her way and when she had finally reached the table, she sat conventionally in front of the completely camouflaged appearance of her brother-in-law.

"Have you brought everything?" she asked under her breath.

Arcia took an immense parcel and handed it directly to the Sapphire-eyed sword wielder. "Your clothes and other weapons are nicely packed inside. Nothing was left in your flat." He answered.

She then started to skim the whole place right before leaning over to whisper, "How's everything inside?"

"Rumpled… Since one of their top agents left, Shishio's having the troubles of managing the whole shipping of weapons. He's getting frenzied just the thought of capturing and torturing you."

She made a low chuckle and made a sole nod, "I know. And I'm enjoying this state on how much I affect him."

"This is not the good time to joke around, Arcia. You've entered the barricade that I have been admonishing since the day we met! How are you supposed to escape this?" Schneider cursed in gritted teeth.

"I'm trying to do that… and I had been thinking that you could have some tiny bits of idea on how to save me out of this mess." Arcia whispered.

Schneider made a heaved sigh, "That's the reason why I came here anyway." He turned his head from left to right and then went on focusing him self to the girl waiting patiently in front of him, "I'll do my best to clean your identity… while I'm on it, it is your duty to think on how you'll be able to protect your self and that CIA agent away from SCO."

"What?" Arcia's eyes widened out, lips separated in shock, "Aoshi can always go back to the CIA. I don't need him to be caught up with this kind of predicaments."

"You've gone crazy…" Schneider muttered in bewilder, "He's your handler. It's his obligation to secure your safety."

"He can't! You should send him back." Arcia felt her nerves snapping into pieces again.

"Arcia, you have to listen to me." he raised his hands away from his lap and held her own, his deep burgeoning eyes stared directly upon her sapphire ones, "We're doing this to help you. You just have to cooperate with me, alright?" although she was still uncertain on what kind of answer she could give, stubbornness had subsided and she ended up agreeing with his words.

"So, what's your plan?" she asked.

"Your sister wants to see you. I arranged your flight tonight to Geneva."

Arcia couldn't find the words to react. She just shook her head; tiny faints of stun meandered around her. "What would be the reason why she needed to see me this urgent?" it wasn't very normal for her older sister to summon her presence. As far as she could remember, it's been five years since the last day she had seen her.

"You'll be able to answer that question for your self once you meet her." she knew he would say that.

"Is that it? Is that "the plan"?" Arcia mockingly questioned.

Schneider's scowled turned into some of his most sarcastic smiles; "You don't have to worry such things."

"What?" Arcia exclaimed out in trance, "Are you crazy? SCO wants me dead, Schneider! How am I supposed to calm my self in imbroglio's like this??"

"Shh… lower down your voice." Schneider leaned over to Arcia and whispered, "You can move freely whenever and wherever in this damned world without SCO tracking you down." There was the hint of assurance within his voice, which could have always been the same thing causing this painful holocaust on her mind.

Shaking her head in total disgust, Arcia threw her palms to her face in vexation. "And how am I supposed to do that, huh? Tell me!"

He sighed and tapped the poor dame's shoulder. "Inside that luggage are some of your disguises suits and credentials about your fraudulent identity, so as to Shinomori." He saw her tilt her head and what he did was to hand over a pile of papers filed perfectly arranged.

"What are these?" she asked.

"The documents filled with your new alias and counterfeit bio-data's. Both of you can use those in terms of living together until everything appears safe."

Her face came to appear the true rapture and euphoria that came mixing on her emotions "You're amazing… I never thought you'll be able to do this." her eyes and hands started to skim each and every paper bequeathed to her. He's perfectly well qualified enough to be a spy; it is every impending for someone to bequeath such vouchers.

Schneider snickered evilly, "I told you."

"If ever Shishio finds out all of these, he'll definitely ask for your head."

"Maybe I should depart then."

"Is that why you decided to see me? Are you quitting SCO?"

"I'm just joking, Arcy. I'll never leave SCO, not until you get your revenge." he smiled and playfully rubbed Arcia's hair. "Everything's all up to you now. You have to be strong."

Arcia chuckled with a smirk forming on her lips; "You're treating me like a child again! But then… you are definitely right about that." She then paused and started to giggle, `I can't believe I'm actually listening to my silly brother-in-law's advice!'

"You will Arcy…" he winked at her and once again rumpled down her neat hair, "Good luck." He stood up from his seat with Arcy's sapphire eyes following his movements.

"Thank you-" when she tilted her head to look up to the innovator, Schneider instantly disappeared in front of her. She trend her vision to the pub's door and saw him walk off… far, far away from her. A contented beam appeared on her face as she mumbled, "… Schneider."

-=0=-

That afternoon, Arcia returned to their suite, 327 27th floor of the building. Taking off the sunglasses and the blonde wig she wore, she took the couple of keys inside her pocket and entered the room with guarded eyes.

Strangely, the room was left restrained and darkness came to fill the whole room. "Aoshi?" she made a small whisper once she had stepped inside. Her sapphire eyes came to roll from left to right, searching for things that may cause trouble around her as she drops the parcel to the floor cautiously.

"Back so soon?" Aoshi suddenly appeared right from the doorway, causing the young agent to jerk out in surprise. Arcia spun and glared at him, "Where have you been? I thought you were just hanging-`round here…" that was a mistake. Definitely an error for her to look straight into his eyes.

Aoshi had seen the uneasiness once more. He had never thought they'll end up like this. Avoiding eye contact, preferring not to face each other… even wishing of not meeting each and other's presence. They're not supposed to act like this, not this way. "How did the conversation with Schneider went through?"

"Everything's still the same. He gave me some things we could use while hiding." She then remembered on picking up the package and placed it right on top of the nearest table. She sighed and started rummaging, just like what she did from the dorm, "It's sad that I needed to quit school for this…" true indeed, she had even lost total communication with her friends… especially Kaoru who was still under custody by the SCO.

"We can go back to our not-so-normal life once everything in this case is cleaned."

"Oh? Reeaallly?" Arcia derisively blurt out, "And when is that supposed to happen, Aoshi? Weeks, months or even years from now??" exasperation came to invade her whole as she came to fling the things rapidly down to the table-board.

"I know what you're planning, Arcia… you can't hide anything from me."

Arcia's eyes opened and slowly turned to see a figure of a tall man standing not so distant from where she settles. "And you're considering to cease my plans?" she smoothly questioned.

"Yes… I will." Was his answer. Aoshi's not aware whether his answer was enough or not. His determination was bold abundantly for her to perceive.

"Well… tell me then. Tell me what are you exactly planning to do with me? Are we supposed to hide permanently? Are you planning to keep me here forever?" she emerged away from the table and started to tread a couple of steps. "I need to take vengeance against that man! I can't just stay here and wait to be killed… are you getting my point??" getting cynical was definitely not her idea, but the thought of being controlled by someone maddens her too much.

He was stagnant there and just stared at her with that same mask of I-have-no-idea-of-what-you're-talking-about in his face. "I'm not dominating you, Arcia. You are free on what you desire to do whether I would disdain it or not. I'm here to do my job as your handler, that's all."

"I don't need you… I can do this by myself…"

"You're lying."

"What?" Arcia asked out in astound. How could he to call her a liar! Aoshi slowly walked a little closer to her until he was only a few inches away from where she was standing. Her sapphire eyes broaden fairly for him to witness it shimmer in wrath. He kept approaching close while the sable-headed woman exerts her self to walk away from him. In fact, she was so enthralled with his eyes; she suddenly felt the cold wall behind her with him trapping her with his proximity. "You're weak." He firmly said, receiving a small offset from her crinkled brows. "I am not weak…" Arcia tightly gritted her teeth as she said those words.

A small sardonic grin appeared on his lips and glared back at her, "So vague, foolish, reckless, useless, absurd, coward-" Aoshi instinctively snatched the upcoming hand that was about to struck his face. Arcia returned the fixed gawk and seethed, "Release me…"

"What more should I do for you to trust me?" the sudden question popped out right from where Arcia was struggling for discharge. She directly looked upon his eyes, searching for things that she desires to lay bare. All she had seen was anxiety and fear. Why was he so afraid? She thought to her self. He had always remained mysterious to her, and so does she to her. There was a huge lump on her throat and she had to swallow it down.

Aoshi returned the fixed wonder by studying her face, just as what he did from the bathroom. Why can't she just depend upon him? Even if he hates to assent it, Arcia Rinslet had never left his mind since she cried into his arms. Sinful visions of her countenance almost drive him nuts. But of course Shinomori Aoshi will never fall for such hex of going cracked out from enticement. Though as much as he wanted to clear things up, there's something within him that urges him not to say words such as `I care for you' or `I'm worried'. And even if he dares to tell such things, there would be some possibilities that this woman would neglect them off.

"I…" Arcia remained silent. Words won't bother forming within her tongue. That was odd. She inclined her head again and felt her blood came rushing to her face. She had never noticed how close she was to him. She could almost feel his heavy breathing in rage against her face.

Aoshi saw this sudden embarrassment that she felt. Nevertheless, he didn't make a hasty move of releasing nor stepping away from her. What shock him more was when she felt her soft fingers touching his cheek ever so gently, making him to return to his meditative state to where he was enraptured by her resplendent cerulean pools. To him it appears like she was also bewildered to what she was currently doing. Her full lips were nibbled with her teeth with temples still wrinkled.

Slowly, he had released her hand as his own fingers started to caress her nape. When Arcia had finally snap back to reality and started to realize how unlikely she was behaving at this very moment. She made a small gasp and contiguously removed her stroking hand away from his face. Aoshi instantly grab her delicate hand and hold it back to where he last felt it. He gradually leaned towards with her face just a few inches away from his. A sole hairbreadth could only separate their contiguity. His eyes undeviatingly looked upon her taut ones, "You're afraid to be isolated." He closed his eyes and sloped on her forehead, both of his hands cupping her heart-shaped face as to put her little closer to his vision. The lids of his sea-green pools undraped, and a shock yet terrified expression had welcomed him as what was expected.

Arcia couldn't help but to wonder. She continued caressing his cheek as they both stood there, trapped in each other's clasps. "You're wrong Aoshi," she started, "I was really afraid of losing you. I can't afford to see your dead body because of me… I can't let you die." She cried softly, finding her self in the verge of being so effusive.

"Well, releasing you won't do any better. They'll hunt me whether we're apart or not. I prefer to be killed with you than to let you suffer in pain alone. I was tasked to do that…"

Arcia scowled with the comment, even though he's still trying to hide the hint of affection from his voice. "Why are you saying such things? You don't even know me."

"That's what I had been trying to do. I want to know you but you won't let-" he felt her soft skin against his lips, faltering out of his words when Arcia's lashes started to brush over his face. Cautiously, she dislodged her hand off of his face and went to seat near the window. Aoshi had watched her movements until he him self went to lean against the wall near to where she was perching.

"I was young back then… when I first saw blood…"

He quickly took the cue and turned to face her. "My father… Pierre Rinslet was once well-known French member of the CIA. She had a beautiful Japanese wife named Fukazawa Retsuko and had two healthy daughters-me and my older sister, Gabrielle. From the start, we knew our lives wouldn't be that so typical just like the other people roving around us since my father works as a secret agent together with his best friend Makoto Shishio." Pain struck her as her face came to divulge the merging pennants of grieve and ire.

`Shishio-a CIA agent?' that was new. Aoshi never thought of imagining that bastard serving the country without holding any illegal chemicals nor weapons both on his hands.

"Father always thought his family would always live a peaceful life, get his children into a nice school with a loving wife taking care of him, living inside an enchanting home… not until one day when Shishio came to approach my father and offered him some good-stuff about being a rebellion against CIA. He urged my father to quit their job and find something that will suit them better-that's when they both entered Splinter Cell Organization and built a mutiny beneath the CIA's shadows. Father worked under SCO for long years until he finally came into his senses and felt terribly culpable about the illegitimate things he did. Approximately five years later, he rejoined CIA and worked as one of the double agents to exterminate SCO." The slightest hint of memories came to rush back, causing a terrible ache within her heart, "Shishio was informed about this deception and promptly ordered to execute my father. He permitted Splinter agents to barge inside our abode and…" she choke down, trying not to release tears once more, "They shot my parents… burned our house… and took us with them."

"Stop." Aoshi muttered as the miserable CIA agent started to choke down the foreboding cries of grief coming out from her. "I apologize for bringing this up… I'm sorry."

Her head snapped up, completely bewildered from the bizarre things her partner was saying. This was the very first time she had heard him say sorry to someone. At least based from the past few weeks they had been working together.

"Don't be. You have the right to know." An awkward silence came to besiege the couple again as they kept their eyes untangled for a moment.

Aoshi made a small smile, enough to show sympathy. He had never meant those things he had said before, about her being weak and coward, useless and reckless. For him, Arcia stood valiantly beyond everything. She gathered all the courage to relate her painful past, now it seems like everything is clear, there will be no more reason to doubt her. All he had to do is to protect her from all eternity, just as what promised.

-=0=-

Enishi tossed of his covers and flipped onto his back, unable to find a comfortable position. He had been trying to sleep for the past hour, but all he could think about was Kaoru.

She was so present in his thoughts that he felt as if she were there with him. He could feel the softness of her skin under his palm and the silkiness of her black hair as he ran his fingers through it. He smelled her familiar scent, a mixture of roses and wildflowers. And he saw her smiling at him, her lips curved into a small half smile.

Enishi groaned and flipped onto his side. `I shouldn't have told her about Arcy… It cost me too much for those tears to stop.' Kaoru felt really bad about Arcy's loss when he told about her current situation. He even received a sole slap on the face in stead of the sweet kiss he had been craving since they took her away. SCO decided to release her and have her normal life back. She insisted to stay with her relatives for a while, so as to break out the news about her being pregnant with his child.

I thought you were her friend! Why can't you save her?

This shot him excruciatingly. Even he him self could not answer that question. No one knows how much agony had it been seeing an image of Arcia being tortured. He even got the guts to shot her even if it was just a tranquilizer. What made Arcia to do such foolish attempts of destroying SCO? Why did she lie to him?

`Arcy, you're making a mistake.' Enishi spoke to his mind, `you have to come back… there must be some way for her to deny everything.' He rolled over onto his back and stared at the ceiling. Something came popping into his mind all of a sudden. It was the words of the blonde innovator, Schneider.

It is you who's betraying your country!

`What does he mean by that?' Enishi closed his eyes. Completely frowning from the twinge of pain caused by his deep thinking. He then shook the thoughts away and tried to go back to sleep. Everything's still in blur, maybe… just maybe he'll be able to find his answers once he finds his old partner back. Something's telling him that Arcia possess the answers, only she can clear this whole mess merging inside his head.

-=0=-

He kept her company since from the crack of dawn. Arcia slept peacefully beside him, not in all intents of carnal reasons but for the fact that Arcia wouldn't stop crying last night. He lay next to her with both of their left hands entwined in an unbreakable bond.

Again he had the once in a blue moon chances of observing her features this close. She was beautiful, he could easily tell it. He had always been convincing him self to divulge the astonishing fascination upon his SCO cohort. And still he had the guts to keep it away and burry it somewhere where no one could ever find it.

All night he had listened to her painful cries of agony and sadness. She may appear strong outside and yet still emerge so vulnerable within. Such a beauty he had seen when she cling to him. Her black hair tousled from sleeping, her exquisite azure eyes completely covered by her fan shaped lashes, which was quite rare to find in a woman these days. His eyes traveled lower and saw her rouge lips, slightly opened from the deep slumber she was having. He couldn't help but to tug out a small smile out from his lips whenever she sighs or mumbles through her catnap.

The moment bound to its end once Arcia started to stir from her lay. She opened her eyes, making a small yawn as she outstretches her arms. "morning…" she greeted as Aoshi him self starts to rouse from his one-hour staring. "Have you slept well?" he flatly asked, still in the rubbish approach of being aloof.

Arcia nod her head and smiled, "You listened well enough last night… I congratulate you for being so uncomplaining."

"I guess I'll just take that as a compliment." Aoshi budge out from bed while fixing his windswept tresses. "Better get up, our flight's at nine. Sure you're excited to see your sister." He was about to take paces away but a strange yet delicate hand came to envelop his right hand. He turned slowly behind and saw a sad smile appearing upon her face.

"Thank you… you don't know how much burden I've released after talking to you… thank you so much." He saw her turn her head away, quite realizing that she was trying to hide the tinge of blush forming on her cheeks. He smirked and with that, he took her hand and held it tightly. `You don't know how much you affect me now, Arcia. It's too much that it already hurts.'

-=0=-

[Geneva, France]

It was mid-afternoon when they arrived in France. One of Gabrielle's gofer came and led their way to where Schneider's manor was located. Aoshi was quite fascinated when Arcia started telling stories about her moments through the wild fields of Geneva. There was a visible twinkle upon her eyes whenever she's mention this certain place somewhere near a famous French lake. He was glad enough to know that she's quite recovering from the hardships of her life while she was here. Guess seeing her sister was a nice idea to relieve her a bit. She was completely worn and tattered; she deserves some vacation for a change. A precarious vacation to be exact.

It didn't take almost half-an-hour for them to arrive at the manor. The land was broad, not to mention the two story mansion ahead of them. "Schneider's father gave this to him when he died five years ago. That's why he decided to move in with my sister after their wedding." Arcia could still see the fresh memories of her sister's nuptials, the civil ceremony where she and Enishi first met. Shishio was there, looking all humane and munificent having no one to judge him as a leader of a famous mafia called SCO. "Damn that man…"

"Did you say something?" Aoshi turned his head to the twisted face of his partner.

"huh? Oh… it's nothing…" she made a wry smile and proceeded inside the abode.

Gabrielle came and greeted her guests. Aoshi could only marvel the beauty Arcia's older sister possess. No one could deny she was Arcia's relative for they almost looked likes twins, except for the wavy golden hair and piercing verdant eyes. She gave Arcia a very tight hug that made her yowl out in pain. Gabrielle laughed and offered them tea as she suggested having a small talk near the wide balcony.

"How's my darling little sister? It's been years since the last time I saw you." She took her cup as her eyes never left the cute sight of her sister and the handsome young man sitting next to her.

"Weeks had passed since I've been passing through countries, looking an idiot through all those disguises just to save our asses away from Shishio… do you still think that I'm alright?" there was sarcasm in her voice, caused by the uncontrollable smile tugging on her lips.

"tsk, tsk, tsk… still with those foul words small 'p as her eyes never left the cute sight of her sister and the handsome young man sitting next to her.