Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Samurai Wives ❯ Silence ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter Four- Silence

If women were not the reason that the human race progresses, Kenshin thought, then I would long ago have killed each and every one of them.

Kaoru was smiling gaily, flitting around the market, glowing at the sight of all the things that the merchants had on display. He only scowled and seized her hand.

"I thought you were going to the temple to pray." He hissed into her ear.

She pouted. "I wanted to take a look around… You and your stupid group have had me holed up in that inn for days."

He merely glared at her, warning her to keep silent. "Women are to not to be heard… nor seen, if at all possible."

Her own eyebrows shot up, an expression she had picked up from him. "I thought you were supposed to be for reform."

"I am… but I am also beginning to think that those who made such rules had you in mind… And then I would not disagree with them."

She scowled at him. She could not agree that all men were the same anymore; Himura had made sure of that. Other men were either lecherous, cruel, evil, or a mix of them all, but not he. He could be slightly temperamental, but usually simply stayed quiet and did his duty. He never treated her cruelly, nor did he ever act in such a way that she felt nervous being around him. She always felt confident around him, in such a way that she did not fear offering him sarcastic retorts, and did not mind his, however subtle and icy, teasing.

"Let's go to the temple." She took his hand. "There… you won't loose me, and you can take me there."

He shook his head, offering her another glare. "Make it quick when we make it there. I would like to get back to the inn soon."

A self-satisfied smile crossed her face as she realized that he had not removed his hand from hers.

As they arrived to the temple, Himura nearly dragged her up the stairs, causing her to run in order to keep up. At the top, she yanked her hand from his and followed him.

Kneeling at the shrine, Kaoru was surprised to find the red-haired young man kneeling next to her, setting his katana to the side. She chose not to speak to him, instead saying her prayers for the parted souls of the women in the Tokeiji.

When she was finished, she stood up. Himura was standing with her, sliding the long sword into the ties of his hakama.

"Are you finished?" He asked, and she noticed his voice was quieter than usual.

She nodded, and waited until they were further away from the temple before she spoke, possibly for the first time, kindly to him.

"Whom were you praying for?"

His eyes moved to hers, and, for a moment, she saw a flash of light in his eyes before they plunged back into their shadowy color. He looked back to the street as they walked.

"Many people."

She paused. "Wait…" She whispered, leaning down to fix her sandal, which had just broken.

He stopped and watched her quietly, casting his eyes around to check the streets for any sign of peculiar behavior.

As she messed with her sandal strap, she had the feeling that he had been praying for those he had killed. She wondered if he remembered every face he killed, as she would have.

"Himura-san?" She asked, standing straight again. She smoothed her kimono gently.

"What?" He asked her evenly. She knew he would not lie to her- she had given him no reason to do so, and he had given her none to make her believe he would.

"Am I really… who you say I am?"

He sighed. "Katsura-san says that you are… I don't know for sure. I believe you may very well be… but what does the son of a farmer know?" The last of his sentence felt bitter to her, and she followed him as he set off down the street.

"You cannot be the son of a farmer. You have a last name… You are a samurai…"

He turned a cool glare on her. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me." Kaoru couldn't help but be curious of the boy; he was so very different from the men that the women had described when she was growing up. She offered him a smile, which he did not return.

"It doesn't matter."

"Fine!" Anger spiked up in her, and she stared at him. What had she been thinking? He was still a man, and it didn't matter what kind of man he was; he was still going to be untrustworthy. She turned away and followed him as he strode down the street shamelessly.

They walked in silence, feet drumming against the Kyoto ground. She was seething at her own stupidity, for trusting that a man may have been kind; he was silent in reminiscence.

"My parents died when I was a boy. I was sold to slave traders to pay their debts…"

Her head snapped up, eyes rushing to meet his. "Why are you telling me this?"

"You asked. Now are you going to listen?"

She nodded, walking in step with him.

"We were attacked, and nearly everyone in the caravan was killed. I was spared by the kindness of a passing swordsman, who left me so that I would go to the next town. A week later, he came upon me again, and offered to take me in. From him… I learned the art of killing. And then I came here… Katsura-san brought me here as his assassin."

Kaoru had the impression that there was more to it than he was letting on, but she was simply surprised he had offered so much of his past to her. He was usually such a guarded person. "Oh…" She whispered softly. "I'm sorry."

"It's nothing you should worry about. It's in the past." He opened the gate for her, and she stepped into the courtyard of the inn. He brushed past her, sliding off his sandals as he stepped onto the porch.

She slid off her sandals after he had, and followed him into a room, which was set up for a business meeting- or whatever similar thing groups like the Ishin Shishi had.

Katsura, a man Kaoru had only met once, was waiting for him, and did not object when Kaoru slipped inside. He glanced at the two of them. "How did the trip to the temple go?"

Kaoru nodded. "It was good to pray for my friends." She told him calmly.

Katsura nodded and turned to Himura expectantly. Kenshin sighed.

"We're being watched. I'm certain Saitou is well aware of her presence, and they will spare no time in killing her if they find her here."

Katsura gave him a brief glare, then offered an apologetic glance to her. "I apologize for his bluntness… Himura-san… I suggest practicing your tact."

Kenshin scoffed and stood, moving to the shoji.

Kaoru jumped up. "Wait!" He turned calmly and she bowed to Katsura. "Goodbye, Katsura-san… May I go with you, Himura-san?"

She swore he would have blinked in complete confusion if not for the cool demeanor he always kept. "Do what you like."

She stepped toward the shoji and followed him from the room.