Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ This Is Forever ❯ Destined To Wait and Destined To Retrograde ( Chapter 7 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: laichi16 
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Comedy / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 12.01.2008 | Pages: 9 | Words: 9.2K | Visits: 461 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama / Comedy / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 12.01.2008 | Pages: 9 | Words: 9.2K | Visits: 461 | Status: Completed
This Is Forever
Chapter 13: "Destined To Wait"
When Aoshi jumped into a river to save her, and his ice-blue eyes looked at her, it was then that Misao knew she did not want any other love except him. Of course, back then, it was just awe mixed with a silly little crush.
Yet when Misao was a small, skinny girl of twelve, she truly fell in love with him; she lost herself under the power of those ice-blue eyes.
Misao, being so young, did not flirt with Aoshi during that time, for it would have been high uncomfortable for him.
However, when she turned fifteen, the legal age for courting back in the Meiji era, Misao let her love known through her constant flirting. It became obvious to even the dimmest of dim idiots who held Misao’s heart; and Aoshi was certainly not an idiot.
So, one can understand Misao’s puzzlement when the stolid man neither responded nor scolded her for her flirtatious attitude.
Misao made up countless escuses for Aoshi as to why he never responded to her flirting, neither positively or negatively; she was still too young, and he was waiting until she was older, their major height differences would have made it awkward to kiss each other, and, deep down Aoshi was truly shy when it came to expressing feelings.
Finally, Misao admitted to herself that Aoshi just did not love her, and he did not want to hurt her by telling her so. He loved beautiful women that were well-endowed, not a skinny, short eighteen year old.
It crushed the poor priestess to come to grips with that reality, but she still continued to love Aoshi, no matter how hard it was.
If only Misao was there, she could have seen just how much Aoshi loved her.
OOOOOOOO
"Why are we still here, Sano?" Yahiko whispered to the man sitting next to him in the waiting room of Shin-Kawabata Hospital.
"Apparently, the Weasel-girl is going through an emergency surgery." Sano whispered back as he eyed a beautiful brunette nurse as she walked by. "Damn, I’m glad I agreed to come here."
"Hentai." Yahiko snorted as he sank down further in his chair, apparently bored out of his mind.
The people in the waiting room was the whole Oniwabanshuu, their leader included, Kaoru, Sano, Yahiko, and that demon prince, Kenshin.
Aoshi was more silent than usual, the Oniwaban were just as silent; Okon flipped through a magazine, not really seeing the pictures. Kaoru was pale, silent, and stared into nothing.
The demon looked calm, yet bored as he shifted around in his chair, which was not too close to Kaoru, yet not too far.
"What’s he doing here, anyway?" Yahiko growled, glaring daggers in the direction of the redhead, whom was looking just as calm as ever.
Sano looked at Yahiko, wondering if the little brat could read his mind, for he was thinking the same thing. Just then, the main surgeon walked in the room after taking her equipment off.
"I’m Doctor Takani, Megumi, but you can just call me Megumi." The surgeon introduced herself, looking at everyone carefully. "The good news is the young girl survived the surgery. The bad news is she’s in a coma."
The poor Oniwabann did not know whether to breathe a sigh of relief or panic more. Megumi looked at Kaoru and Kenshin at the far part of the room and glared at them suspiciously.
"Why is it that every time I see you two, trouble follows?" the doctor asked as she folded her arms to herself.
"We—" Kaoru began, but was suddenly interrupted.
"These are my suspects-in-question."
Kaoru looked at the man who spoke; he was a fairly handsome man with amber eyes like Kenshin, a rather long face, four strands or so for his bangs, he had a blue police uniform on, and a cigarette was in his mouth.
"If you even think about lighting that cancer stick in here, sir…" Megumi began, and then gave a glare for effect.
The man seemed unfazed, but he winked at the doctor just the same as he took the cigarette out of his mouth.
"You two," the police man said as he pointed to both Kenshin and Kaoru. "You’re going to come with me for some questioning."
Yahiko, Sano, and the rest of the Oniwanban were about to protest when Kaoru shook her head and exclaimed, "I’ll be alright; go see Misao."
Kaoru did not have to tell Aoshi that for he was already gone when Megumi said he could go see Misao.
When the trio was out of hearing range, the policeman turned to the short redheaded demon and scolded, "Why do I always have to come and save your ass?"
"You know this guy?" Kaoru shouted crossly.
"This is chief of police, Saitou Hajime, a friend of the family." Kenshin replied calmly.
"He looks more like a wolf than a man." Kaoru commented, looking the man up and down. "And what do you mean by ‘a friend of the family’?!"
"A wolf?" Saitou repeated, lighting his cigarette. "I take that as a complement."
Kaoru grabbed Saitou’s hand, took off his glove, spit in his hand, took the lit cigarette out of his mouth, and placed it in his hand where her pool of saliva was, where the cancer stick went out with a hiss.
"No smoking!" Kaoru shouted, and then turned to the chuckling Kenshin as she waited for further explanation.
Saitou wondered if that was going to continue to happen to him, since it was the male nurse up front who did the very same thing.
"He’s just a friend of the family." Kenshin repeated, still chuckling.
"This is your type?" Saitou asked, pointing a thumb at Kaoru.
"Hey!" Kaoru continued to shout. "You’re no catch of the day, either!" Then she turned her attention back to Kenshin. "You mean to tell me he’s a demon, too?"
"Good luck with your kids." Saitou announced, taking out another cigarette, only this time he did not light it.
"He’s kind of a demon." Kenshin answered, enjoying the display the fallen goddess delivered.
"Like hell I’m going to have kids with him!" Kaoru shouted at the policeman, and then once again, turned her attention back to the demon prince. "You mean he’s half demon?"
"Only every other day, princess." Saitou exclaimed, sucking on the cigarette, wishing it was lit.
"Yes, he’s half demon." Kenshin answered, wondering if he should take up smoking to help calm his nerves.
"This is so mixed up." Kaoru said, shaking her head. "First poor Misao is in a coma, and then this half demon jackass shows up to ‘question’ us."
"So the female ninja is asleep; big deal." Kenshin said, shrugging his shoulders.
"A coma, you idiot!" Kaoru shouted once again. "That means she’s at the in-between; she can either die or awake."
"I’m hoping for the earlier." Kenshin muttered, but Kaoru heard it anyway.
"You’re such a heartless bastard!" the fallen goddess shouted before slugging the fallen demon on the shoulder, and then ran off to the waiting room.
"What a way to steal her heart, idiot." Saitou exclaimed, lighting up the cigarette he had been dying for.
Kenshin took the cigarette out of Saitou’s mouth, dropped it to the ground, and stomped it out.
"Sick it up your ass." Kenshin said bitterly before following after Kaoru.
"These bastards owe me another pack of cigarettes." Saitou muttered as he put another unlit cigarette in his mouth and walked out the door.
OOOOOO
The room was brilliantly lit with the early morning sun. the light streaming in was like a warm bath of light.
The warmth, however, went unnoticed by the two occupants in the room; one was lying on the bed, pale as the sheets surrounding her, and her lips were a pale, pale pink. Her jet-black hair was darker now in severe contrast to her pale face and white sheets. Her eyes were closed off to the world around her, revealing her long, dark eyelashes.
The second occupant was just as silent as the girl lying on the bed. His ice-blue eyes watched the wounded woman as if his staring would cause her to awake. When he gently held her hand, the young woman did not respond; nothing. The only activity that happened was the steady beep of the heart and lung machine.
"Misao," Aoshi whispered, slightly tightening his grip on her hand. "Wake up."
Nothing.
"Dammit, Misao; by all rights, you’re not supposed to be here. You’re not supposed to save me."
No response again.
It was a while that Aoshi sat there watching Misao lie on her hospital bed, reliving the memory of her saving him, again and again in his mind.
When Misao collapsed, Aoshi saw that they had two choices; one, continue fighting and risk his woman’s life or two, let that bastard get away and save Misao. Choice number two won out.
Finally, Aoshi stood up and exclaimed, "Wake up soon." And he kissed her pale cheek before he walked out.
Even after that, there was no response from Misao.
OOOOO
"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard! That’s what you are! That’s all you are! Bastard!" Kaoru yelled at Kenshin while they stood near the snack machine in the snack room. Her loud voice bounced off the walls of the empty room and hurt his ears.
Kenshin let Kaoru yell at him, curse his heritage, his blood, and his family with as much calmness and patience a ninja would envy.
Finally, Kaoru stopped to catch her breath, her chest moving up and down rapidly in a sensual way. Kenshin allowed his amber eyes to linger there for a brief moment before he forced them back to her face.
"Are you quite finished now?" he asked the woman as he calmly leaned on the snack machine.
"Bastard." Kaoru finished with a breathy whisper.
"Yes, I know." Kenshin agreed, eying a chocolate bar, imagining the melted treat all over Kaoru’s body…
Kenshin closed his eyes, willing the delightful image away for now. Then he turned back to Kaoru and said, "Let’s talk this out now."
"You want to talk?!"
A glare was Kaoru’s response.
"You’re obviously upset about what I said about the ninja girl."
"Were you not listening to what I was yelling about?"
Again, another glare as a response.
"What I said about that girl was no ill towards her or anyone else." Kenshin calmly explained, pushing himself up from the snack machine. "You, of all beings in this universe, should know that demons don’t say pleasant comments even when they don’t mean it."
Kaoru was silent for a moment, not looking at Kenshin, and finally, she slowly nodded her agreement before voicing it. "Yes, that is very true."
"Now that’s settled," Kenshin said, and then pointed to the chocolate bar. "Would you buy that for me?"
"Naze? Why?"
"It’s looks delicious."
"Get that policeman to buy it for you!" Kaoru huffed, exiting to room.
Kenshin looked at the candy bar, at the exit Kaoru left out of, and then back again before he pursued Kaoru anew.
OOOOOOOO
"Damn, that was close." the white-haired demon announced.
"I'd say that was some aw some action." Ada replied, smiling in an insane fashion.
"Well, it was rather bloody," Enishi agreed, smiling in the same insane way Ada did. "Did you see the way that girl just collapsed in a pool of blood?"
"Yes..." Ada said dreamily. "All that delicious red blood gone to waste, though; pity."
"Regardless, Ada," Enishi said seriously. "We need to move our headquarters to another location."
"What location would that be?"
Enishi grinned in an evil, yet insane way.
"I think I know just where." he replied.
OOOOOOOO
It was a waiting game that made their nerves twitch and exhaustion became their blood.
Waiting for Misao to wake up for the past few days put them in the state they were currently enduring. Shift after shift; one person stayed with Misao at the hospital, the rest went home.
Finally, Okina decided that it was time for him, the Oniwanbanshuu, and their leader, Aoshi, to continue on with the mission of finding Enishi again and destroying him. When that was mentioned to Aoshi, he was silently reluctant about leaving Misao behind, but he saw no other choice; one could wait all their lives for a person to wake up out of a coma, but for
Aoshi, he would wait forever for Misao.
On the fourth day, Aoshi finally agreed to pursue the demon, Enishi, once more.
In Misao's hospital room, the sun was setting in a brilliant red color, turning the whole room into an orange-red color that danced along the walls. It reminded Aoshi of a fire, a war about to start that would make everything blood.
Aoshi sat in a chair next to Misao's side, the steady sound of the heart and lung machine was the only thing that could be heard in the still silence. The ninja leader gently placed his hand on Misao's soft, still hand.
"Misao," Aoshi whispered, almost afraid that his voice would not bring her back. "I have to go now, but I'll be back to see you later, alright? Please be awake by then because... because I.... I need to ask you a very important question."
Misao was still asleep, and Aoshi finally stood up, and placed a kiss on her forehead. She did not even stir, and their was a grunt that came from the person behind the couple.
"Okina," Aoshi stated calmly. "There's something I need to ask you regarding Misao."
Okina grunted again, and waited for his fellow ninja to inquire.
OOOOOOOO
Kenshin opened his eyes after focusing all his mind power on where his brother ran off.
Enishi was one cunning bastard, that was a for sure fact.
"Which way did Enishi go?"
Kenshin already sensed Kaoru walking towards him, so he did not even jump when she asked her question. He turned and saw her crystal-blue eyes staring inquisitively at him.
Those same eyes that pierces his soul, yet makes his heart rate increase.
"He went north towards what these mortals call 'Tokyo.'"
"That's pretty far." Kaoru exclaimed with a wince. "If I were still.... immortal... I could get there in no time."
"I can."
Kaoru glared a death stare at the Demon Prince.
"I know." she said pointedly.
Kenshin stared at Kaoru; the sun had set and it was the Hour of the Demons. Yet she looked magnificent in the darkness, her silhouette gently lit up by the lights from the hospital behind them. Kenshin's heart began to pound again as Kaoru turned and looked at him with those crystal-blue eyes.
"What?" Kaoru asked inquisitively.
The Demon Prince wanted to say a thousand things running through his mind, yet only one answer can out of him.
"Nothing."
"Okay, then, let's go back inside and tell the others you know where Enishi is going to."
As they walked back, the back of Kaoru's hand brushed past Kenshin's hand, and the
Prince's head was swimming so fast that he had to stop and breathe a few seconds. His
heart pounded, yet he hated it.
Harden yourself; she'll only end up hurting you.
"Kenshin?" came the soft, songbird voice.
The redhead took another deep breath inward before opening his hard, cold amber eyes.
"K-Kenshin?" Kaoru asked timidly, and he knew he looked fairly fierce. "Are you okay?"
"Fine." Kenshin growled out, and he walk forward, almost knocking Kaoru off the walkway.
Hate her; you must hate her.
He closed his eyes again, and all he could see was those soft, beautiful, crystal blue eyes.
To Be Continued......
This Is Forever
Chapter 14: Destined To Retrograde
The city of Tokyo was much larger than Kaoru thought it would be. Tall buildings sprouted out like trees, and placed very close to one another. It was congested with people; so many, in fact, that people walking had to also walk in the street. It did not matter since most of the main streets had traffic constantly.
Kaoru, Kenshin, Sano, Yahiko. ,and the Oniwabann took up residence at the Akebeko restaurant, which Kaoru soon learned that it was one of the many headquarters the Oniwanban had placed around Japan.
Since there were not that many rooms upstairs in the residents’ area, Kaoru shared a room with Yahiko, Sano shared a room with Kenshin, and the rest of the Oniwabann shacked up together.
The group ate a fresh, good meal after their flight to the capital city, and relaxed only for the night. Kenshin was out in the backyard, his eyes concentrating on the sky above, where no stars were present.
“Doko ni Enishi?” Kaoru asked, coming up behind the demon.
Kenshin did not seemed surprised when Kaoru appeared; almost as if he knew that she was there the whole time.
“Why are you so interested in him?” Kenshin inquired, tying to keep the jealously out of his voice.
“...That’s what we came here for.” Kaoru answered, unsure of Kenshin’s sanity evident in her voice.
“He’s near,” Kenshin answered, his gaze up at the sky the whole time. “He’s always been good at hiding himself.”
Kaoru looked at the vegetation that grew out in the backyard. The Akabeko was almost like the Aoiya, only this restaurant grew vegetables and fruits, whereas the Aoiya grew roses and other such inedible plants.
“Are you still going to fight?” Kenshin asked quietly, not looking at the now mortal goddess.
“Hai,” Kaoru answered, looking at Kenshin, while his gaze was fixed ahead of him. “I have to protect them.”
“You’re mortal, too, you know.” Kenshin reminded her as he looked at her from his profile. “You can die just like the rest of them.”
“I have to protect them.” Kaoru repeated, almost as if that was becoming her motto.
“You don’t get it,” Kenshin said quietly, shaking his head. “Even as a goddess, you never understood it.”
“Understood what?” Kaoru inquired hotly, her defenses getting ready for a verbal battle.
“Even if you protect humans all their lives, you still can’t protect them from one natural fate of all mortals; they all suffer while they live, and then they always die.”
Just like that, Kaoru’s defenses were shot down. Kenshin was right; all humans die eventually. Whether it was from disease, sickness, or old age, they all die.
As a goddess, Kaoru tried to relieve the humans of their suffering, yet not one could she save from death. It was a price that they had to pay for their mortality.
“I know,” Kaoru said sadly. “I know what the fate of all humans is; but I still want to protect them as much as possible. As long as I can, I want to protect them.”
“You care for the humans?” Kenshin more stated than questioned.
“You can say I grew quite fond of them over the centuries.” Kaoru agreed with a sad smile.
“Rest for the night, Kaoru, We’ll be battling tomorrow.”
Kaoru looked at Kenshin again; very few times did he ever say her name, and this time, he said her name softly, almost like a sacred word. She understood the dismissal, however, and she ran her fingers through her still short, yet now shoulder-length hair, and then turned and walked inside the building.
“Is it possible… that I can save you as well?”
Kenshin closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. It seemed forever since Kaoru said those words, but he knew it was only a few months ago. He hated those words then, but now it made him think; could she save him?
He hated to admit it, but she was getting through to him. All his defenses were knocked down by those beautiful blue eyes, and the hardness around his heart was melting away with her every smile.
Kenshin shook his head at himself for falling in love with a goddess. He stopped at that thought; he fell in love with a goddess? The only explanation for him, a demon, to fall in love would be when Kaoru cut his face, and human emotions were instilled into him.
Yes, that must be the reason. Kenshin thought as he went inside the Akabeko to sleep.
OOOOOOOO
Kaoru had never dreamt before, due to immortals naturally not dreaming when they sleep, and yet now she dreamed.
Even though she could not see his face, she knew who he was; red hair, gold eyes, and a fine-toned body. She could feel his warmth, his gentle hands, and the love he felt for her.
Kenshin...
Kaoru awoke with a start, surprised that the sun was already out, and streaming beams of sunlight into the room. She exhaled chokingly, shocked at how vivid the dream was, and that she would dare dream about a demon!
“I was wondering when you were going to wake up.”
Kaoru jumped again, and looked at the same demon she dreamed about. Kenshin was leaning against the wall with his arms folded as he looked down at her. It was then that Kaoru realized they were alone.
“W-Where’s all the others?” Kaoru asked in a shaky voice, although she was trying to keep herself calm.
“Downstairs with Akira and the other bastard.”
“Sojirou.” Kaoru corrected the demon.
Kenshin got up from leaning, stood up, and turned to face Kaoru. When he got to the futon she slept on, he crawled over to the now mortal goddess, almost predatory-like.
“Do you know what I hate more than anything?” Kenshin asked in a soft, although dark whisper, as his face was millimeters away from Kaoru.
Kaoru shook her head, her eyes impossibly wide, and her heart pounding in her chest, although she did not know if it was from fear, or the fact that they had never been this close to each other before.
“I hate what you did to me.”
“Eh?”
“You gave me human emotions when you cut my face.” Kenshin replied in the same dark whisper he started with, and he placed Kaoru’s hand on his face for emphasis. “Now I feel guilt, repentance, regret...”
Kaoru tried to jump back when Kenshin’s face tried to close the barely-there gap between them, but failed, and instead, fell back on the futon; her gaze now saw the demon above her.
“...Happiness,” Kenshin continued and he lowered his face back to Kaoru’s face. Kaoru’s heart pounded so rapidly that she thought her heart would split wide open from the sheer force of it.
“...Love.” Kenshin concluded, rubbing his nose against Kaoru’s nose. “Do you like me like this, my goddess? Perhaps I am bound to you through these emotions; a slave to them.”
Kenshin lowered his lips to barely a breath away from Kaoru’s lips. Kaoru’s breathing increased, and so did her heart rate, if that was possible.
Is he going to kiss me?
Kaoru was trembling with fear and, dare she admit it, excitement. Her eyes fluttered closed as she waited for his lips to touch her own. When she did not feel anything, she opened her eyes, only to see Kenshin looking at her with anger and disgust.
“Do you want this between us?” the demon asked, anger evident in his voice and Kaoru was, yet again, confused and a little disappointed. “Do you want me to be bound to you, only because you forced a change on me? I bet you, that if you took these human emotions away, that I would not love you; I would do everything I can, once again, to destroy you. Do you believe me?”
Kaoru’s mouth opened and closed several times before she finally answered, “Iie, I don’t believe you.”
Kenshin raised one eyebrow at Kaoru before he challenged, “Then why don’t you take away these feelings, leave me in the state of my demonic self, and we’ll see the answer for ourselves.”
Kaoru sat up and as she did, Kenshin moved away from her, sitting at the far end of the futon.
“Do you want to hate me that much?” Kaoru asked, not wanting to admit, even to herself, that she was hurt.
“I just want to test myself.”
Kaoru was silent for a moment, and then replied, “When the opportunity arrives, I’ll do as you requested.”
“Good.” was all Kenshin said before he got up and left.
OOOOOO
“We have some good news about Misao.” Soujiro said to Aoshi in the dinning area. “She’s starting to respond to nerve tests, and the doctors think she’s going to pull out of the coma.”
Aoshi nodded his gratitude to Soujiro, who, being immortal could go to and from Tokyo to Kyoto in only seconds.
“Now, let’s focus on Enishi.” Aoshi exclaimed, and then looked at Kenshin. “Where is he?”
Kenshin glared at Aoshi, a feud starting to form between them, but Aoshi did not protest against the former demon prince’s presence. Kaoru seemed to have favored Kenshin being there.
“He’s over in a compound that used to be a fish factory.”
“That’s just outside Tokyo city limits.” Okina said, having knowledge of many city locations throughout Japan.
“If you say so.” Kenshin said indifferently, shrugging his shoulders.
Just then, Kaoru came down the stairs, smiled at everyone in greeting, and spotted Soujiro. She immediately walked over to him and hugged him in salutation.
“Soujiro-san!” Kaoru exclaimed, still hugging Soujiro warmly. “It’s so good to see you again!”
“Oh, um, glad to see you, too, Kaoru-sama.” Soujiro greeted back, surprised by the extended embrace.
“You can just call me Kaoru.” the princess said, still embracing her companion god.
“Okay... Kaoru...” Soujiro said, a bit uncomfortable with Kaoru’s unnatural behavior.
Kenshin glared over at, not Soujiro, but Kaoru.
“If we can get a move on now,” Kenshin said, annoyance evident in his voice. “Enishi’s not going to wait forever.”
“You’re right,” Kaoru agreed, releasing poor Soujiro from her grip. “Alright, let’s go.”
So the whole Oniwaban group, plus Kaoru, Kenshin, Yahiko, Sano, Soujiro, and Akira walked out of the Akebeko restaurant and to the outer limits of Tokyo city. While they were walking towards their destination, Kenshin pulled Kaoru behind the group with them.
“What kind of game are you playing at?” Kenshin demanded, his hand still griping the former goddess’s arm.
Kaoru raised an eyebrow at the demon before she replied, “Whatever do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean!” Kenshin almost yelled, but stated instead in a very firm voice; he yanked firmly on her arm for good measure. “Cuddling up close to that asshole!”
“Are you jealous?”
“Iie!”
“Well then, don’t worry about it.” Kaoru said, rolling her arm out of Kenshin’s grip. “Besides, when you return to your former, unemotional self, you won’t have to worry about jealousy.”
Before Kenshin had time to react, Kaoru darted back to the group, mainly, close to Soujiro. Kenshin frowned and gritted his teeth, and he felt like something was scratching the walls of his stomach while dancing in the pit of his stomach.
He hated the feeling it gave him, and yet Kenshin knew what it was, and knew that Kaoru was right; he was jealous. Kenshin had to remind himself that he had no right to clam the goddess, with him being a demon. Yet, at the same time, he wanted to possess her, take her and make her his only.
Kenshin inwardly sighed, reminding himself that once Kaoru keeps her promise, he would have no affection towards her. At that thought, a feeling came over him, like being stabbed in the heart; if he would have no feelings towards her, then he would have no remorse in killing her.
Now the once demon prince wondered if he should take back his request from Kaoru. Then another thought came into his mind that he would not care if he returns to his once emotionless state. Thus began an inward battle within Kenshin, choosing his dark side, or Kaoru.
The group arrived at their destination, and looked around. It was truly abandoned; however, it looked as if the people who worked there disappeared one day. The factory was a huge building that looked like a garage for military aircrafts to belong. Box crates that once shipped fish to various places were randomly placed, while some box crates were stacked neatly.
Fish nets were thrown over box crates as, perhaps, an anchor to hold the box crates in place. While the once fish factory looked abandoned, it was still flowing with activity, though not only the activity of humans. Akuma demons went to and from the factor, busying themselves with making swords, and practice fighting with each other.
“Who wants to do the greetings first?” Akira inquired, drawing his weapon for battle.
“Why don’t you do the honors?” Kenshin asked, looking pointing at the god.
“He’s your brother.” Akira fired back, and the demon prince shook his head.
“ENISHI!!!” Kenshin yelled as loud as he could, which was very loud. All the Akuma demons looked up the hill at the group; the fire that surrounded their heads grew brighter, along with the fire in their eyes, all of them excited for the battle. “HEY BASTARD!!! COME OUT NOW!!!”
Just then the double doors to the factory opened, and Enishi came out calmly, dressed in very good Chinese dress clothes. The top shirt was dark blue, with matching colored pants. A single earring of yin and yang hung from his left earlobe, and dark sunglasses accompanied his face. Always by his side was Adachigahara, the demoness who consumed children.
“Oh, Eni-chan!” Ada exclaimed excitedly, rubbing her bladed knife. “They brought a child!”
“Oi, brother, what seems to be the problem?” Enishi called back in an infuriating calm voice.
“You are the problem!” Kenshin shouted back.
“And you’re here to fight me?” Enishi called back, examining his fingernails.
“Hai!”
“Okay, let’s fight.” Enishi calmly agreed, taking off his top shirt, having a black tank top on underneath that showed off his very well toned arms, abs, and chest area.
The Akuma demons, and humans, ran towards the group in a battle charge after Enishi signaled them to go. The Oniwaban group and the others also charged, unsheathing their weapons; Kenshin ran to the front, so everyone was behind him, and he sliced this way and that so as to clear a path for the others behind him, and to have first access to Enishi.
The humans that fought them, Kaoru knew, were only possessed by the Akuma demons that accompanied them. With her still heavy sword, she attacked the Akuma demons, which the possessed humans could not see, in order that she released the humans from their spiritual imprisonment.
This tactic, however, left Kaoru wide open for attack by the possessed humans. So, in order to not get killed, the fallen goddess had to attack swiftly, and surly, so that she killed the Akuma demons with the first strike.
While she was loping off the heads of Akuma demons, Aoshi and the others seemed to have the same idea as Kaoru did. However, the amount of humans and Akuma demons was overwhelming, and very soon, they were outnumbered.
Fighting their way towards the building, Kaoru and the others were now battling just to survive. Kaoru swung her sword to the left, to the right; another demon here, and another demon there. Fight, fight, and fight on; if only her sword was not so damn heavy!
Suddenly, a man appeared in the mist of the blood and carnage. He was very tall, wore a police uniform, and was smoking a cigarette.
“So, you all thought you would leave me out of the action, eh?” he said, taking his now very short cigarette out of his mouth, dropped it to the ground, and stepped on it.
“Saitou!” Kaoru cried, almost happy to see the half demon hybrid.
“Don’t get relaxed yet.” Saitou said simply as he easily sliced the head off of an Akuma demon that was about to attack him.
Kaoru nodded, sliced at an Akuma demon and then moved to the next one. She suddenly felt a pain on her upper right arm, and she looked down to see her sleeve cut open, a mild wound was on her flesh, but still caused bleeding.
Kaoru looked to her right to see her attacker, and saw an Akuma demon, his sword raised almost ready to make his weapon score home; she did not have time to defend herself.
“Kaoru!!!”
Kaoru looked left, hoping to see Kenshin, but was disappointed, however, when she saw Soujiro. The god sliced the head off of the demon, patted his princess on her shoulder, and then continued to fight.
Kaoru, never knowing exhaustion and pain, now knew what it was, and she hid behind a stack of box crates to regain her strength. She tore the bottom of her shirt off, tore the sleeve off, and wrapped the self-made bandage around her wound.
“I’m such a pathetic kid.”
Kaoru jumped when she did not realize Yahiko sitting behind the box crates, his knees drawn close to himself, and he covered his face in them.
“I can’t even fight.” Yahiko said, his voice muffled by his clothes.
“No, Yahiko, you’re doing a good job.” Kaoru reassured the boy, and she placed a hand on his shoulder.
“All I was doing was getting torn apart.” Yahiko cried, and the goddess noticed the poor boy was covered in wounds. “I’m so afraid to die.”
“Yahiko...” Kaoru started, not sure what to say. “You know, I wouldn’t mind dying as much as a mortal.”
Yahiko looked at Kaoru like she was crazy, and he asked, rather perplexed, “How could you want to die as a mortal? You won’t go back to heaven if you do.”
“I know,” Kaoru explained. “But let me tell you something most immortals would never let you know; we would rather be in Nirvana rather than in heaven.” Yahiko looked confused, so Kaoru continued to explain, “Nirvana is so much better than heaven.”
“How can that be?”
“Well, because, the first thing that happens when you die is darkness. Sounds scary, right? Yet, then, you find yourself on a path; you travel up that path, and it splits in two. You take the one to the right, and you come to the most beautiful gold gates you’ve ever seen in your life, decorated with every rare and precious gem you can think of.
“Open the gates, and before you is a lush field of endless wonder. You can see all the people who passed on playing, relaxing, enjoying the company of one another on the grass that is so green, you cannot believe the color exists. The air is so fresh and clean it tingles your nose, and you walk up the green field; the sun is shining perfectly and the day is warm.”
Kaoru closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, longing for the scene that she had seen happen to mortals for many centuries.
“Then,” Kaoru continued, her eyes still closed. “You see all the people stop their activities at the sight of you, and yet they welcome you to paradise. You can see all your dead loved ones greeting you, hugging you, telling you how much they missed you and that they’re glad you’re there with them at last. That’s Nirvana, and immortals long for that rather than heaven.”
Yahiko opened his eyes, not realizing they were closed, and yet he could see the vision so vividly in his mind’s eyes.
“But, today,” Kaoru said, now rested and more determined. “Today is not the day for Nirvana, Yahiko! It’s the time to fight so you can live a full life; Nirvana can come later.”
Kaoru jumped out from behind the crate boxes with Yahiko in tow. Battling once again, they fought their way though the Akuma demons, which was difficult with the humans also attacking.
The sword was still heavy, but Kaoru used it the best her now mortal self could. She killed one demon and then another, and another. She did not see, however, the cautiously approaching human behind her. By the time she did, Kaoru found herself looking up at the man, whom had a raised dagger above him.
Kaoru looked around for the Akuma demon that possessed the man; however, she did not find one and was floored.
“Why?!” was all she could cry out to the human that was going to willingly kill her.
“Enishi promised us a rich, satisfying reward for those who killed you.” the man simply answered.
Kaoru could not believe that a human would willingly serve a demon, when they did not know what that demon was capable of. The man was about to bring the dagger down into Kaoru’s heart, when a voice stopped him.
“Kaoru!!!”
This time it was Kenshin, coming out of the chaos of the battle, wounded, scathed, but was desperately looking for her. He raised his sword above his head, and Kaoru stilled.
“Wait!!!” she pleaded, but it was too late; Kenshin brought his blade through the neck of the human and his head rolled away, his eyes stared into nothing.
Kenshin looked down at Kaoru, panting, but making sure she was unwounded. Kaoru opened and closed her mouth, unsure of how to react. He just saved her life, and yet he killed a human as if he were nothing.
“How... Why did you kill him?” Kaoru demanded, tears welling up in her eyes, and pooled over, and rolled down her cheeks.
Kenshin gawked at Kaoru before he finally said, “He was about to kill you, and he wasn’t possessed; he was a willing participant.”
“You killed him...”
Kenshin grabbed Kaoru’s collar, pulled her up to him, and fiercely said, “Would you rather I let him kill you, or let him go?! He would just come back and try to kill you again! What do you want, Kaoru?! You can save them when they want to kill you; you can’t have it both ways!”
Kaoru sunk her head in defeat and nodded. Kenshin was right; if humans were now going to willingly kill her, she had no choice but to kill them. The demon let go of the goddess, his voice a little more gentle, but still firm.
“Fight to live, Kaoru.”
Kenshin disappeared into the chaos of the battle, moving his way to Enishi, leaving Kaoru to battle alone. Big mistake. Once the demon was gone, there was a pack of Akuma demons and humans on Kaoru, shoving her to the ground, all of them arguing which one would kill her first.
“My, my, what’s all this about?”
Kaoru looked up through the crowd of bodies, relief flowing through her body.
“Akira! Akira, help me!” Kaoru pleaded with desperation evident in her voice.
The Akuma demons and humans laughed evilly as Akira looked down at Kaoru. The god was in a perfect stance, standing upright with his weapon still sheathed. He smiled at Kaoru, pleading for his help, but made no move to accept her request.
“It pains me to see you so... helpless, my princess.” Akira said rather sarcastically, and the Akuma demons and humans laughed with the god. “Mortal you are now, Kaoru, and mortal you shall die.”
Akira turned his back on Kaoru, and her heart sank. She was going to die, and no one was going to save her because they were too busy with the never ending numbers of Akuma and humans that seemed to appear out of no where.
She was going to die.
Then, it happened in the space of a heartbeat; Kaoru could feel the time stop in her own body and start working backwards. She inhaled a quick but deep breath, and she could feel the awesome power explode out of her, causing the Akuma and humans to fly away from her.
Kaoru floated in midair, her goddess radiance now back, and she could no longer feel her body slowly aging and dying, for time was still for her. The pure, white fighting kimono she wore as a goddess for battle was now back on her, and the sword that now floated back to her was as light as a dagger. Her hair, that was mutilated, and grew only to shoulder length, grew back out to the once beautiful, long raven-black hair she once had. Her hair was as soft as silk, and it shined like the sun on the water surface.
She opened her now goddess eyes and observed the shocked expressions on her companions’ faces, and the fear from the Akuma and humans that now had to face the wrath of a goddess, rather than a mortal girl.
Kaoru was now a goddess again.
She floated back down to the ground, and landed gracefully. She took one step forward and landed flat on her face. Kaoru quickly got up, her face red from embarrassment, but mostly from Kenshin’s persisting laugh at her blunder.
Apparently she forgot what it was like to wear a woman’s kimono again. She used her sword to cut the bottom half of her kimono, in a diagonal cut, so she could move around more freely.
“It’s not that funny, Kenshin!” Kaoru shouted at the demon, who was still laughing at this point.
Kenshin stopped laughing, but still had an annoying smile on his face, and produced annoying snort-laughs. Kaoru straightened up, readied her sword, and swung it once through the air, and then all was quiet. The Akuma and humans looked rather confused at the motion the princess made, but then one Akuma demon started choking, and then he exploded into dust. After the death of that one demon, the rest of the demons started to follow suit, exploding into nothing but dust.
The humans took one step backwards, shaking at the power of the goddess whom destroyed the whole Akuma army with just one swing. They looked around them, at each other, and then fled.
Enishi, whom was usually clam, now stood alone, save for Ada; his expression was genuine shock, his mouth opened and closed as if trying to find something clever to say. He finally closed his mouth, his teeth clinched, and his eyes lowered into anger.
“Apparently I misjudge you, princess.” Enishi said, taking a step forward and Ada followed suit. “From the looks of my current condition,” he looked around at his now nonexistent Akuma and human army. “I would say you have the advantage. No fare, goddess. So, now, I propose moving back to Kyoto and I will deal with all of you there.”
Ada grabbed Enishi’s arm and the demon clapped his hands, once, together and disappeared. Kaoru, who was about to strike, stopped her swing in midair when Enishi disappeared, and then clinched her teeth in frustration.
“You let him monologue, you klutz.” Kenshin accused, shaking his head. “That’s why he got away.”
“How many times must we keep chasing him?!” Kaoru yelled in frustration, sheathing her Shinjitsu
sword, as she ignored the infuriating demon prince.
“Probably until we kill him.” Aoshi exclaimed, and then moved to another topic. “By the way, how did you become a goddess again?”
Kaoru stopped, looked up in heaven, and then said, “I think my father gave me a clue to get my immortality back, but I didn’t catch it until now. He said my powers would come back only during a time of dire need, and considering my time was dire, I’m now back to being a goddess.”
“Well, it great to have you back to yourself.” Yahiko said, a smile appearing on his face.
“I thought you hated me.” Kaoru reminded him.
Yahiko shrugged and said, “I learned to let it go. Besides, you told me about a place where my parents are and I know that they’re better there than they are here.”
“Oh, where’s Akira?” Kenshin asked, looking around, seeing Soujiro, but no god among them named Akira.
Kaoru’s face turned sour and she said, “There’s no more Akira here.”
When the group looked confused, Kaoru explained to whole story, and exactly why she was able to become a goddess once again. After the story, some shook their heads, wondering why a god would give up his heavenly position for a demonic position.
“I think it’s time to go back to the Akebeko.” Aoshi said, seemingly eager to get back to Kyoto; perhaps more eager to get back to Misao. “And then we can go back to Kyoto.”
Kaoru smiled at that, and the group made their way back to Akebeko to nurse their wounds, and then go back to Kyoto the next day.
OOOOOO
“Damn bitch.” Enishi growled, rubbing his arms with his hands to rid himself of the goosebumps that appeared on his flesh.
“Eni-chan, why do we keep running away?” Ada whined and folded her arms for dramatic pouting. “They had a child with them that I could have had for dinner by now.”
“Shut up, Ada.” Enishi snapped, and then started to pace. He finally stopped, turned and faced the demented demoness. “This is what we’re going to do; I’m going to give them two months of peace, let them relax a bit, let their guards down, and then that’s when I bring hell on them.”
“Sounds great, Eni-chan,” Ada said in a bored tone. “But what’re we gonna do to entertain ourselves in this dark, dingy place for two whole months?”
Slowly, an evil smile crept onto Enishi’s features, and he promptly grabbed Ada roughly.
“I’m going to enjoy my vacation, my little pet.” the demon stated, throwing Ada to the ground and instantly was on her.
“Enishi!” was all Ada could say.
OOOOO
After they arrived back at Akebeko, the group tended to their wounds, ate, and refreshed themselves. Kenshin was out in the garden once again, looking at the starless sky, for no one could see stars in a city as bright as Tokyo. The only life around the garden, besides Kenshin himself, was the fireflies that seemed to lazily float, rather than fly, to a fro.
“Enishi has well as disappeared.” Kenshin informed, knowing Kaoru was behind him. “I can’t sense him anywhere on this earth.”
Kaoru came closer, almost a breath away from Kenshin, who still had his back to her.
“Congratulations on returning to your goddess form,” Kenshin said, and he started to turn around. “You must be happy about it--”
Kenshin did not have time to react; first he heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed, and the next he saw Kaoru slicing at him, directly near his face. He felt a sting on his left cheek, and as Kaoru sheathed her Shinjitsu sword, Kenshin put his left hand on the area that was stinging. He brought his hand to look at it, and saw a vertical line of blood on his hand.
“Ka...oru...?” Kenshin breathed, unsure of why she wounded him on purpose, without a fight.
“You said you no longer wanted human feelings, so I canceled it.” Kaoru explained, dropping down into a defensive stance in case Kenshin attacked her. “The only way to cancel it was by giving you another wound opposite of the previous wound I gave you.”
Kenshin could feel all the guilt and sorrow for the evil deeds he had committed melt away from his heart like chocolate in the hot summer sun. He breathed a sigh of relief, and when all the emotions melted away, until only one feeling still remained: love.
“How do you feel?” Kaoru asked cautiously, still in defensive mode.
Kenshin looked at Kaoru through his once-again demonic eyes, and still she was beautiful; still she was everything he desired, and still he loved her. Confused, he replied to her, “I feel no different.”
“What?” Kaoru said, equally confused. “Maybe I should cut you deeper--”
Kaoru was cut off when Kenshin wrapped his arms around her, locking her arms in place, and his face was so close to her own face. The fireflies around them flew more rapidly, sensing the sudden air change caused by the sudden movement.
“Kenshin...?”
“Everything that is emotional has gone out of me except... you...” Kenshin rested his forehead against Kaoru’s forehead. “You’re still here, in me. Naze?”
“I... I don’t know.” Kaoru whispered, her heart pounding from the body heat that came off of the demon that held her. Kenshin was so warm it surprised the goddess; she usually imagined demons as cold as they are unfeeling in everything they do; but the redhead was so warm.
Kenshin wanted to resist what was happening to him; he still loved Kaoru, and yet he did not want to. He was supposed to be a demon, and demons did not love. What was wrong with him?
“Kaoru...” Kenshin whispered her name so softly and yet so sincerely that the last blockage that surrounded Kaoru’s heart was melted away; and the love she had for the demon holding her was able to make its way into the vessel, bonded with her, and flowed through her so rapidly, she had to breathe quicker and deeper to keep herself from fainting.
“We can’t do this.” Kaoru said, and Kenshin released Kaoru, but still stood close to her. She hated herself for rejecting him yet again. “This is wrong.”
“I know.” was all Kenshin could say before he turned his back on her, jumped over the wooden fence, and disappeared into the dark night.
To Be Continued...
Chapter 13: "Destined To Wait"
When Aoshi jumped into a river to save her, and his ice-blue eyes looked at her, it was then that Misao knew she did not want any other love except him. Of course, back then, it was just awe mixed with a silly little crush.
Yet when Misao was a small, skinny girl of twelve, she truly fell in love with him; she lost herself under the power of those ice-blue eyes.
Misao, being so young, did not flirt with Aoshi during that time, for it would have been high uncomfortable for him.
However, when she turned fifteen, the legal age for courting back in the Meiji era, Misao let her love known through her constant flirting. It became obvious to even the dimmest of dim idiots who held Misao’s heart; and Aoshi was certainly not an idiot.
So, one can understand Misao’s puzzlement when the stolid man neither responded nor scolded her for her flirtatious attitude.
Misao made up countless escuses for Aoshi as to why he never responded to her flirting, neither positively or negatively; she was still too young, and he was waiting until she was older, their major height differences would have made it awkward to kiss each other, and, deep down Aoshi was truly shy when it came to expressing feelings.
Finally, Misao admitted to herself that Aoshi just did not love her, and he did not want to hurt her by telling her so. He loved beautiful women that were well-endowed, not a skinny, short eighteen year old.
It crushed the poor priestess to come to grips with that reality, but she still continued to love Aoshi, no matter how hard it was.
If only Misao was there, she could have seen just how much Aoshi loved her.
OOOOOOOO
"Why are we still here, Sano?" Yahiko whispered to the man sitting next to him in the waiting room of Shin-Kawabata Hospital.
"Apparently, the Weasel-girl is going through an emergency surgery." Sano whispered back as he eyed a beautiful brunette nurse as she walked by. "Damn, I’m glad I agreed to come here."
"Hentai." Yahiko snorted as he sank down further in his chair, apparently bored out of his mind.
The people in the waiting room was the whole Oniwabanshuu, their leader included, Kaoru, Sano, Yahiko, and that demon prince, Kenshin.
Aoshi was more silent than usual, the Oniwaban were just as silent; Okon flipped through a magazine, not really seeing the pictures. Kaoru was pale, silent, and stared into nothing.
The demon looked calm, yet bored as he shifted around in his chair, which was not too close to Kaoru, yet not too far.
"What’s he doing here, anyway?" Yahiko growled, glaring daggers in the direction of the redhead, whom was looking just as calm as ever.
Sano looked at Yahiko, wondering if the little brat could read his mind, for he was thinking the same thing. Just then, the main surgeon walked in the room after taking her equipment off.
"I’m Doctor Takani, Megumi, but you can just call me Megumi." The surgeon introduced herself, looking at everyone carefully. "The good news is the young girl survived the surgery. The bad news is she’s in a coma."
The poor Oniwabann did not know whether to breathe a sigh of relief or panic more. Megumi looked at Kaoru and Kenshin at the far part of the room and glared at them suspiciously.
"Why is it that every time I see you two, trouble follows?" the doctor asked as she folded her arms to herself.
"We—" Kaoru began, but was suddenly interrupted.
"These are my suspects-in-question."
Kaoru looked at the man who spoke; he was a fairly handsome man with amber eyes like Kenshin, a rather long face, four strands or so for his bangs, he had a blue police uniform on, and a cigarette was in his mouth.
"If you even think about lighting that cancer stick in here, sir…" Megumi began, and then gave a glare for effect.
The man seemed unfazed, but he winked at the doctor just the same as he took the cigarette out of his mouth.
"You two," the police man said as he pointed to both Kenshin and Kaoru. "You’re going to come with me for some questioning."
Yahiko, Sano, and the rest of the Oniwanban were about to protest when Kaoru shook her head and exclaimed, "I’ll be alright; go see Misao."
Kaoru did not have to tell Aoshi that for he was already gone when Megumi said he could go see Misao.
When the trio was out of hearing range, the policeman turned to the short redheaded demon and scolded, "Why do I always have to come and save your ass?"
"You know this guy?" Kaoru shouted crossly.
"This is chief of police, Saitou Hajime, a friend of the family." Kenshin replied calmly.
"He looks more like a wolf than a man." Kaoru commented, looking the man up and down. "And what do you mean by ‘a friend of the family’?!"
"A wolf?" Saitou repeated, lighting his cigarette. "I take that as a complement."
Kaoru grabbed Saitou’s hand, took off his glove, spit in his hand, took the lit cigarette out of his mouth, and placed it in his hand where her pool of saliva was, where the cancer stick went out with a hiss.
"No smoking!" Kaoru shouted, and then turned to the chuckling Kenshin as she waited for further explanation.
Saitou wondered if that was going to continue to happen to him, since it was the male nurse up front who did the very same thing.
"He’s just a friend of the family." Kenshin repeated, still chuckling.
"This is your type?" Saitou asked, pointing a thumb at Kaoru.
"Hey!" Kaoru continued to shout. "You’re no catch of the day, either!" Then she turned her attention back to Kenshin. "You mean to tell me he’s a demon, too?"
"Good luck with your kids." Saitou announced, taking out another cigarette, only this time he did not light it.
"He’s kind of a demon." Kenshin answered, enjoying the display the fallen goddess delivered.
"Like hell I’m going to have kids with him!" Kaoru shouted at the policeman, and then once again, turned her attention back to the demon prince. "You mean he’s half demon?"
"Only every other day, princess." Saitou exclaimed, sucking on the cigarette, wishing it was lit.
"Yes, he’s half demon." Kenshin answered, wondering if he should take up smoking to help calm his nerves.
"This is so mixed up." Kaoru said, shaking her head. "First poor Misao is in a coma, and then this half demon jackass shows up to ‘question’ us."
"So the female ninja is asleep; big deal." Kenshin said, shrugging his shoulders.
"A coma, you idiot!" Kaoru shouted once again. "That means she’s at the in-between; she can either die or awake."
"I’m hoping for the earlier." Kenshin muttered, but Kaoru heard it anyway.
"You’re such a heartless bastard!" the fallen goddess shouted before slugging the fallen demon on the shoulder, and then ran off to the waiting room.
"What a way to steal her heart, idiot." Saitou exclaimed, lighting up the cigarette he had been dying for.
Kenshin took the cigarette out of Saitou’s mouth, dropped it to the ground, and stomped it out.
"Sick it up your ass." Kenshin said bitterly before following after Kaoru.
"These bastards owe me another pack of cigarettes." Saitou muttered as he put another unlit cigarette in his mouth and walked out the door.
OOOOOO
The room was brilliantly lit with the early morning sun. the light streaming in was like a warm bath of light.
The warmth, however, went unnoticed by the two occupants in the room; one was lying on the bed, pale as the sheets surrounding her, and her lips were a pale, pale pink. Her jet-black hair was darker now in severe contrast to her pale face and white sheets. Her eyes were closed off to the world around her, revealing her long, dark eyelashes.
The second occupant was just as silent as the girl lying on the bed. His ice-blue eyes watched the wounded woman as if his staring would cause her to awake. When he gently held her hand, the young woman did not respond; nothing. The only activity that happened was the steady beep of the heart and lung machine.
"Misao," Aoshi whispered, slightly tightening his grip on her hand. "Wake up."
Nothing.
"Dammit, Misao; by all rights, you’re not supposed to be here. You’re not supposed to save me."
No response again.
It was a while that Aoshi sat there watching Misao lie on her hospital bed, reliving the memory of her saving him, again and again in his mind.
When Misao collapsed, Aoshi saw that they had two choices; one, continue fighting and risk his woman’s life or two, let that bastard get away and save Misao. Choice number two won out.
Finally, Aoshi stood up and exclaimed, "Wake up soon." And he kissed her pale cheek before he walked out.
Even after that, there was no response from Misao.
OOOOO
"Bastard! Bastard! Bastard! That’s what you are! That’s all you are! Bastard!" Kaoru yelled at Kenshin while they stood near the snack machine in the snack room. Her loud voice bounced off the walls of the empty room and hurt his ears.
Kenshin let Kaoru yell at him, curse his heritage, his blood, and his family with as much calmness and patience a ninja would envy.
Finally, Kaoru stopped to catch her breath, her chest moving up and down rapidly in a sensual way. Kenshin allowed his amber eyes to linger there for a brief moment before he forced them back to her face.
"Are you quite finished now?" he asked the woman as he calmly leaned on the snack machine.
"Bastard." Kaoru finished with a breathy whisper.
"Yes, I know." Kenshin agreed, eying a chocolate bar, imagining the melted treat all over Kaoru’s body…
Kenshin closed his eyes, willing the delightful image away for now. Then he turned back to Kaoru and said, "Let’s talk this out now."
"You want to talk?!"
A glare was Kaoru’s response.
"You’re obviously upset about what I said about the ninja girl."
"Were you not listening to what I was yelling about?"
Again, another glare as a response.
"What I said about that girl was no ill towards her or anyone else." Kenshin calmly explained, pushing himself up from the snack machine. "You, of all beings in this universe, should know that demons don’t say pleasant comments even when they don’t mean it."
Kaoru was silent for a moment, not looking at Kenshin, and finally, she slowly nodded her agreement before voicing it. "Yes, that is very true."
"Now that’s settled," Kenshin said, and then pointed to the chocolate bar. "Would you buy that for me?"
"Naze? Why?"
"It’s looks delicious."
"Get that policeman to buy it for you!" Kaoru huffed, exiting to room.
Kenshin looked at the candy bar, at the exit Kaoru left out of, and then back again before he pursued Kaoru anew.
OOOOOOOO
"Damn, that was close." the white-haired demon announced.
"I'd say that was some aw some action." Ada replied, smiling in an insane fashion.
"Well, it was rather bloody," Enishi agreed, smiling in the same insane way Ada did. "Did you see the way that girl just collapsed in a pool of blood?"
"Yes..." Ada said dreamily. "All that delicious red blood gone to waste, though; pity."
"Regardless, Ada," Enishi said seriously. "We need to move our headquarters to another location."
"What location would that be?"
Enishi grinned in an evil, yet insane way.
"I think I know just where." he replied.
OOOOOOOO
It was a waiting game that made their nerves twitch and exhaustion became their blood.
Waiting for Misao to wake up for the past few days put them in the state they were currently enduring. Shift after shift; one person stayed with Misao at the hospital, the rest went home.
Finally, Okina decided that it was time for him, the Oniwanbanshuu, and their leader, Aoshi, to continue on with the mission of finding Enishi again and destroying him. When that was mentioned to Aoshi, he was silently reluctant about leaving Misao behind, but he saw no other choice; one could wait all their lives for a person to wake up out of a coma, but for
Aoshi, he would wait forever for Misao.
On the fourth day, Aoshi finally agreed to pursue the demon, Enishi, once more.
In Misao's hospital room, the sun was setting in a brilliant red color, turning the whole room into an orange-red color that danced along the walls. It reminded Aoshi of a fire, a war about to start that would make everything blood.
Aoshi sat in a chair next to Misao's side, the steady sound of the heart and lung machine was the only thing that could be heard in the still silence. The ninja leader gently placed his hand on Misao's soft, still hand.
"Misao," Aoshi whispered, almost afraid that his voice would not bring her back. "I have to go now, but I'll be back to see you later, alright? Please be awake by then because... because I.... I need to ask you a very important question."
Misao was still asleep, and Aoshi finally stood up, and placed a kiss on her forehead. She did not even stir, and their was a grunt that came from the person behind the couple.
"Okina," Aoshi stated calmly. "There's something I need to ask you regarding Misao."
Okina grunted again, and waited for his fellow ninja to inquire.
OOOOOOOO
Kenshin opened his eyes after focusing all his mind power on where his brother ran off.
Enishi was one cunning bastard, that was a for sure fact.
"Which way did Enishi go?"
Kenshin already sensed Kaoru walking towards him, so he did not even jump when she asked her question. He turned and saw her crystal-blue eyes staring inquisitively at him.
Those same eyes that pierces his soul, yet makes his heart rate increase.
"He went north towards what these mortals call 'Tokyo.'"
"That's pretty far." Kaoru exclaimed with a wince. "If I were still.... immortal... I could get there in no time."
"I can."
Kaoru glared a death stare at the Demon Prince.
"I know." she said pointedly.
Kenshin stared at Kaoru; the sun had set and it was the Hour of the Demons. Yet she looked magnificent in the darkness, her silhouette gently lit up by the lights from the hospital behind them. Kenshin's heart began to pound again as Kaoru turned and looked at him with those crystal-blue eyes.
"What?" Kaoru asked inquisitively.
The Demon Prince wanted to say a thousand things running through his mind, yet only one answer can out of him.
"Nothing."
"Okay, then, let's go back inside and tell the others you know where Enishi is going to."
As they walked back, the back of Kaoru's hand brushed past Kenshin's hand, and the
Prince's head was swimming so fast that he had to stop and breathe a few seconds. His
heart pounded, yet he hated it.
Harden yourself; she'll only end up hurting you.
"Kenshin?" came the soft, songbird voice.
The redhead took another deep breath inward before opening his hard, cold amber eyes.
"K-Kenshin?" Kaoru asked timidly, and he knew he looked fairly fierce. "Are you okay?"
"Fine." Kenshin growled out, and he walk forward, almost knocking Kaoru off the walkway.
Hate her; you must hate her.
He closed his eyes again, and all he could see was those soft, beautiful, crystal blue eyes.
To Be Continued......
This Is Forever
Chapter 14: Destined To Retrograde
The city of Tokyo was much larger than Kaoru thought it would be. Tall buildings sprouted out like trees, and placed very close to one another. It was congested with people; so many, in fact, that people walking had to also walk in the street. It did not matter since most of the main streets had traffic constantly.
Kaoru, Kenshin, Sano, Yahiko. ,and the Oniwabann took up residence at the Akebeko restaurant, which Kaoru soon learned that it was one of the many headquarters the Oniwanban had placed around Japan.
Since there were not that many rooms upstairs in the residents’ area, Kaoru shared a room with Yahiko, Sano shared a room with Kenshin, and the rest of the Oniwabann shacked up together.
The group ate a fresh, good meal after their flight to the capital city, and relaxed only for the night. Kenshin was out in the backyard, his eyes concentrating on the sky above, where no stars were present.
“Doko ni Enishi?” Kaoru asked, coming up behind the demon.
Kenshin did not seemed surprised when Kaoru appeared; almost as if he knew that she was there the whole time.
“Why are you so interested in him?” Kenshin inquired, tying to keep the jealously out of his voice.
“...That’s what we came here for.” Kaoru answered, unsure of Kenshin’s sanity evident in her voice.
“He’s near,” Kenshin answered, his gaze up at the sky the whole time. “He’s always been good at hiding himself.”
Kaoru looked at the vegetation that grew out in the backyard. The Akabeko was almost like the Aoiya, only this restaurant grew vegetables and fruits, whereas the Aoiya grew roses and other such inedible plants.
“Are you still going to fight?” Kenshin asked quietly, not looking at the now mortal goddess.
“Hai,” Kaoru answered, looking at Kenshin, while his gaze was fixed ahead of him. “I have to protect them.”
“You’re mortal, too, you know.” Kenshin reminded her as he looked at her from his profile. “You can die just like the rest of them.”
“I have to protect them.” Kaoru repeated, almost as if that was becoming her motto.
“You don’t get it,” Kenshin said quietly, shaking his head. “Even as a goddess, you never understood it.”
“Understood what?” Kaoru inquired hotly, her defenses getting ready for a verbal battle.
“Even if you protect humans all their lives, you still can’t protect them from one natural fate of all mortals; they all suffer while they live, and then they always die.”
Just like that, Kaoru’s defenses were shot down. Kenshin was right; all humans die eventually. Whether it was from disease, sickness, or old age, they all die.
As a goddess, Kaoru tried to relieve the humans of their suffering, yet not one could she save from death. It was a price that they had to pay for their mortality.
“I know,” Kaoru said sadly. “I know what the fate of all humans is; but I still want to protect them as much as possible. As long as I can, I want to protect them.”
“You care for the humans?” Kenshin more stated than questioned.
“You can say I grew quite fond of them over the centuries.” Kaoru agreed with a sad smile.
“Rest for the night, Kaoru, We’ll be battling tomorrow.”
Kaoru looked at Kenshin again; very few times did he ever say her name, and this time, he said her name softly, almost like a sacred word. She understood the dismissal, however, and she ran her fingers through her still short, yet now shoulder-length hair, and then turned and walked inside the building.
“Is it possible… that I can save you as well?”
Kenshin closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. It seemed forever since Kaoru said those words, but he knew it was only a few months ago. He hated those words then, but now it made him think; could she save him?
He hated to admit it, but she was getting through to him. All his defenses were knocked down by those beautiful blue eyes, and the hardness around his heart was melting away with her every smile.
Kenshin shook his head at himself for falling in love with a goddess. He stopped at that thought; he fell in love with a goddess? The only explanation for him, a demon, to fall in love would be when Kaoru cut his face, and human emotions were instilled into him.
Yes, that must be the reason. Kenshin thought as he went inside the Akabeko to sleep.
OOOOOOOO
Kaoru had never dreamt before, due to immortals naturally not dreaming when they sleep, and yet now she dreamed.
Even though she could not see his face, she knew who he was; red hair, gold eyes, and a fine-toned body. She could feel his warmth, his gentle hands, and the love he felt for her.
Kenshin...
Kaoru awoke with a start, surprised that the sun was already out, and streaming beams of sunlight into the room. She exhaled chokingly, shocked at how vivid the dream was, and that she would dare dream about a demon!
“I was wondering when you were going to wake up.”
Kaoru jumped again, and looked at the same demon she dreamed about. Kenshin was leaning against the wall with his arms folded as he looked down at her. It was then that Kaoru realized they were alone.
“W-Where’s all the others?” Kaoru asked in a shaky voice, although she was trying to keep herself calm.
“Downstairs with Akira and the other bastard.”
“Sojirou.” Kaoru corrected the demon.
Kenshin got up from leaning, stood up, and turned to face Kaoru. When he got to the futon she slept on, he crawled over to the now mortal goddess, almost predatory-like.
“Do you know what I hate more than anything?” Kenshin asked in a soft, although dark whisper, as his face was millimeters away from Kaoru.
Kaoru shook her head, her eyes impossibly wide, and her heart pounding in her chest, although she did not know if it was from fear, or the fact that they had never been this close to each other before.
“I hate what you did to me.”
“Eh?”
“You gave me human emotions when you cut my face.” Kenshin replied in the same dark whisper he started with, and he placed Kaoru’s hand on his face for emphasis. “Now I feel guilt, repentance, regret...”
Kaoru tried to jump back when Kenshin’s face tried to close the barely-there gap between them, but failed, and instead, fell back on the futon; her gaze now saw the demon above her.
“...Happiness,” Kenshin continued and he lowered his face back to Kaoru’s face. Kaoru’s heart pounded so rapidly that she thought her heart would split wide open from the sheer force of it.
“...Love.” Kenshin concluded, rubbing his nose against Kaoru’s nose. “Do you like me like this, my goddess? Perhaps I am bound to you through these emotions; a slave to them.”
Kenshin lowered his lips to barely a breath away from Kaoru’s lips. Kaoru’s breathing increased, and so did her heart rate, if that was possible.
Is he going to kiss me?
Kaoru was trembling with fear and, dare she admit it, excitement. Her eyes fluttered closed as she waited for his lips to touch her own. When she did not feel anything, she opened her eyes, only to see Kenshin looking at her with anger and disgust.
“Do you want this between us?” the demon asked, anger evident in his voice and Kaoru was, yet again, confused and a little disappointed. “Do you want me to be bound to you, only because you forced a change on me? I bet you, that if you took these human emotions away, that I would not love you; I would do everything I can, once again, to destroy you. Do you believe me?”
Kaoru’s mouth opened and closed several times before she finally answered, “Iie, I don’t believe you.”
Kenshin raised one eyebrow at Kaoru before he challenged, “Then why don’t you take away these feelings, leave me in the state of my demonic self, and we’ll see the answer for ourselves.”
Kaoru sat up and as she did, Kenshin moved away from her, sitting at the far end of the futon.
“Do you want to hate me that much?” Kaoru asked, not wanting to admit, even to herself, that she was hurt.
“I just want to test myself.”
Kaoru was silent for a moment, and then replied, “When the opportunity arrives, I’ll do as you requested.”
“Good.” was all Kenshin said before he got up and left.
OOOOOO
“We have some good news about Misao.” Soujiro said to Aoshi in the dinning area. “She’s starting to respond to nerve tests, and the doctors think she’s going to pull out of the coma.”
Aoshi nodded his gratitude to Soujiro, who, being immortal could go to and from Tokyo to Kyoto in only seconds.
“Now, let’s focus on Enishi.” Aoshi exclaimed, and then looked at Kenshin. “Where is he?”
Kenshin glared at Aoshi, a feud starting to form between them, but Aoshi did not protest against the former demon prince’s presence. Kaoru seemed to have favored Kenshin being there.
“He’s over in a compound that used to be a fish factory.”
“That’s just outside Tokyo city limits.” Okina said, having knowledge of many city locations throughout Japan.
“If you say so.” Kenshin said indifferently, shrugging his shoulders.
Just then, Kaoru came down the stairs, smiled at everyone in greeting, and spotted Soujiro. She immediately walked over to him and hugged him in salutation.
“Soujiro-san!” Kaoru exclaimed, still hugging Soujiro warmly. “It’s so good to see you again!”
“Oh, um, glad to see you, too, Kaoru-sama.” Soujiro greeted back, surprised by the extended embrace.
“You can just call me Kaoru.” the princess said, still embracing her companion god.
“Okay... Kaoru...” Soujiro said, a bit uncomfortable with Kaoru’s unnatural behavior.
Kenshin glared over at, not Soujiro, but Kaoru.
“If we can get a move on now,” Kenshin said, annoyance evident in his voice. “Enishi’s not going to wait forever.”
“You’re right,” Kaoru agreed, releasing poor Soujiro from her grip. “Alright, let’s go.”
So the whole Oniwaban group, plus Kaoru, Kenshin, Yahiko, Sano, Soujiro, and Akira walked out of the Akebeko restaurant and to the outer limits of Tokyo city. While they were walking towards their destination, Kenshin pulled Kaoru behind the group with them.
“What kind of game are you playing at?” Kenshin demanded, his hand still griping the former goddess’s arm.
Kaoru raised an eyebrow at the demon before she replied, “Whatever do you mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean!” Kenshin almost yelled, but stated instead in a very firm voice; he yanked firmly on her arm for good measure. “Cuddling up close to that asshole!”
“Are you jealous?”
“Iie!”
“Well then, don’t worry about it.” Kaoru said, rolling her arm out of Kenshin’s grip. “Besides, when you return to your former, unemotional self, you won’t have to worry about jealousy.”
Before Kenshin had time to react, Kaoru darted back to the group, mainly, close to Soujiro. Kenshin frowned and gritted his teeth, and he felt like something was scratching the walls of his stomach while dancing in the pit of his stomach.
He hated the feeling it gave him, and yet Kenshin knew what it was, and knew that Kaoru was right; he was jealous. Kenshin had to remind himself that he had no right to clam the goddess, with him being a demon. Yet, at the same time, he wanted to possess her, take her and make her his only.
Kenshin inwardly sighed, reminding himself that once Kaoru keeps her promise, he would have no affection towards her. At that thought, a feeling came over him, like being stabbed in the heart; if he would have no feelings towards her, then he would have no remorse in killing her.
Now the once demon prince wondered if he should take back his request from Kaoru. Then another thought came into his mind that he would not care if he returns to his once emotionless state. Thus began an inward battle within Kenshin, choosing his dark side, or Kaoru.
The group arrived at their destination, and looked around. It was truly abandoned; however, it looked as if the people who worked there disappeared one day. The factory was a huge building that looked like a garage for military aircrafts to belong. Box crates that once shipped fish to various places were randomly placed, while some box crates were stacked neatly.
Fish nets were thrown over box crates as, perhaps, an anchor to hold the box crates in place. While the once fish factory looked abandoned, it was still flowing with activity, though not only the activity of humans. Akuma demons went to and from the factor, busying themselves with making swords, and practice fighting with each other.
“Who wants to do the greetings first?” Akira inquired, drawing his weapon for battle.
“Why don’t you do the honors?” Kenshin asked, looking pointing at the god.
“He’s your brother.” Akira fired back, and the demon prince shook his head.
“ENISHI!!!” Kenshin yelled as loud as he could, which was very loud. All the Akuma demons looked up the hill at the group; the fire that surrounded their heads grew brighter, along with the fire in their eyes, all of them excited for the battle. “HEY BASTARD!!! COME OUT NOW!!!”
Just then the double doors to the factory opened, and Enishi came out calmly, dressed in very good Chinese dress clothes. The top shirt was dark blue, with matching colored pants. A single earring of yin and yang hung from his left earlobe, and dark sunglasses accompanied his face. Always by his side was Adachigahara, the demoness who consumed children.
“Oh, Eni-chan!” Ada exclaimed excitedly, rubbing her bladed knife. “They brought a child!”
“Oi, brother, what seems to be the problem?” Enishi called back in an infuriating calm voice.
“You are the problem!” Kenshin shouted back.
“And you’re here to fight me?” Enishi called back, examining his fingernails.
“Hai!”
“Okay, let’s fight.” Enishi calmly agreed, taking off his top shirt, having a black tank top on underneath that showed off his very well toned arms, abs, and chest area.
The Akuma demons, and humans, ran towards the group in a battle charge after Enishi signaled them to go. The Oniwaban group and the others also charged, unsheathing their weapons; Kenshin ran to the front, so everyone was behind him, and he sliced this way and that so as to clear a path for the others behind him, and to have first access to Enishi.
The humans that fought them, Kaoru knew, were only possessed by the Akuma demons that accompanied them. With her still heavy sword, she attacked the Akuma demons, which the possessed humans could not see, in order that she released the humans from their spiritual imprisonment.
This tactic, however, left Kaoru wide open for attack by the possessed humans. So, in order to not get killed, the fallen goddess had to attack swiftly, and surly, so that she killed the Akuma demons with the first strike.
While she was loping off the heads of Akuma demons, Aoshi and the others seemed to have the same idea as Kaoru did. However, the amount of humans and Akuma demons was overwhelming, and very soon, they were outnumbered.
Fighting their way towards the building, Kaoru and the others were now battling just to survive. Kaoru swung her sword to the left, to the right; another demon here, and another demon there. Fight, fight, and fight on; if only her sword was not so damn heavy!
Suddenly, a man appeared in the mist of the blood and carnage. He was very tall, wore a police uniform, and was smoking a cigarette.
“So, you all thought you would leave me out of the action, eh?” he said, taking his now very short cigarette out of his mouth, dropped it to the ground, and stepped on it.
“Saitou!” Kaoru cried, almost happy to see the half demon hybrid.
“Don’t get relaxed yet.” Saitou said simply as he easily sliced the head off of an Akuma demon that was about to attack him.
Kaoru nodded, sliced at an Akuma demon and then moved to the next one. She suddenly felt a pain on her upper right arm, and she looked down to see her sleeve cut open, a mild wound was on her flesh, but still caused bleeding.
Kaoru looked to her right to see her attacker, and saw an Akuma demon, his sword raised almost ready to make his weapon score home; she did not have time to defend herself.
“Kaoru!!!”
Kaoru looked left, hoping to see Kenshin, but was disappointed, however, when she saw Soujiro. The god sliced the head off of the demon, patted his princess on her shoulder, and then continued to fight.
Kaoru, never knowing exhaustion and pain, now knew what it was, and she hid behind a stack of box crates to regain her strength. She tore the bottom of her shirt off, tore the sleeve off, and wrapped the self-made bandage around her wound.
“I’m such a pathetic kid.”
Kaoru jumped when she did not realize Yahiko sitting behind the box crates, his knees drawn close to himself, and he covered his face in them.
“I can’t even fight.” Yahiko said, his voice muffled by his clothes.
“No, Yahiko, you’re doing a good job.” Kaoru reassured the boy, and she placed a hand on his shoulder.
“All I was doing was getting torn apart.” Yahiko cried, and the goddess noticed the poor boy was covered in wounds. “I’m so afraid to die.”
“Yahiko...” Kaoru started, not sure what to say. “You know, I wouldn’t mind dying as much as a mortal.”
Yahiko looked at Kaoru like she was crazy, and he asked, rather perplexed, “How could you want to die as a mortal? You won’t go back to heaven if you do.”
“I know,” Kaoru explained. “But let me tell you something most immortals would never let you know; we would rather be in Nirvana rather than in heaven.” Yahiko looked confused, so Kaoru continued to explain, “Nirvana is so much better than heaven.”
“How can that be?”
“Well, because, the first thing that happens when you die is darkness. Sounds scary, right? Yet, then, you find yourself on a path; you travel up that path, and it splits in two. You take the one to the right, and you come to the most beautiful gold gates you’ve ever seen in your life, decorated with every rare and precious gem you can think of.
“Open the gates, and before you is a lush field of endless wonder. You can see all the people who passed on playing, relaxing, enjoying the company of one another on the grass that is so green, you cannot believe the color exists. The air is so fresh and clean it tingles your nose, and you walk up the green field; the sun is shining perfectly and the day is warm.”
Kaoru closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, longing for the scene that she had seen happen to mortals for many centuries.
“Then,” Kaoru continued, her eyes still closed. “You see all the people stop their activities at the sight of you, and yet they welcome you to paradise. You can see all your dead loved ones greeting you, hugging you, telling you how much they missed you and that they’re glad you’re there with them at last. That’s Nirvana, and immortals long for that rather than heaven.”
Yahiko opened his eyes, not realizing they were closed, and yet he could see the vision so vividly in his mind’s eyes.
“But, today,” Kaoru said, now rested and more determined. “Today is not the day for Nirvana, Yahiko! It’s the time to fight so you can live a full life; Nirvana can come later.”
Kaoru jumped out from behind the crate boxes with Yahiko in tow. Battling once again, they fought their way though the Akuma demons, which was difficult with the humans also attacking.
The sword was still heavy, but Kaoru used it the best her now mortal self could. She killed one demon and then another, and another. She did not see, however, the cautiously approaching human behind her. By the time she did, Kaoru found herself looking up at the man, whom had a raised dagger above him.
Kaoru looked around for the Akuma demon that possessed the man; however, she did not find one and was floored.
“Why?!” was all she could cry out to the human that was going to willingly kill her.
“Enishi promised us a rich, satisfying reward for those who killed you.” the man simply answered.
Kaoru could not believe that a human would willingly serve a demon, when they did not know what that demon was capable of. The man was about to bring the dagger down into Kaoru’s heart, when a voice stopped him.
“Kaoru!!!”
This time it was Kenshin, coming out of the chaos of the battle, wounded, scathed, but was desperately looking for her. He raised his sword above his head, and Kaoru stilled.
“Wait!!!” she pleaded, but it was too late; Kenshin brought his blade through the neck of the human and his head rolled away, his eyes stared into nothing.
Kenshin looked down at Kaoru, panting, but making sure she was unwounded. Kaoru opened and closed her mouth, unsure of how to react. He just saved her life, and yet he killed a human as if he were nothing.
“How... Why did you kill him?” Kaoru demanded, tears welling up in her eyes, and pooled over, and rolled down her cheeks.
Kenshin gawked at Kaoru before he finally said, “He was about to kill you, and he wasn’t possessed; he was a willing participant.”
“You killed him...”
Kenshin grabbed Kaoru’s collar, pulled her up to him, and fiercely said, “Would you rather I let him kill you, or let him go?! He would just come back and try to kill you again! What do you want, Kaoru?! You can save them when they want to kill you; you can’t have it both ways!”
Kaoru sunk her head in defeat and nodded. Kenshin was right; if humans were now going to willingly kill her, she had no choice but to kill them. The demon let go of the goddess, his voice a little more gentle, but still firm.
“Fight to live, Kaoru.”
Kenshin disappeared into the chaos of the battle, moving his way to Enishi, leaving Kaoru to battle alone. Big mistake. Once the demon was gone, there was a pack of Akuma demons and humans on Kaoru, shoving her to the ground, all of them arguing which one would kill her first.
“My, my, what’s all this about?”
Kaoru looked up through the crowd of bodies, relief flowing through her body.
“Akira! Akira, help me!” Kaoru pleaded with desperation evident in her voice.
The Akuma demons and humans laughed evilly as Akira looked down at Kaoru. The god was in a perfect stance, standing upright with his weapon still sheathed. He smiled at Kaoru, pleading for his help, but made no move to accept her request.
“It pains me to see you so... helpless, my princess.” Akira said rather sarcastically, and the Akuma demons and humans laughed with the god. “Mortal you are now, Kaoru, and mortal you shall die.”
Akira turned his back on Kaoru, and her heart sank. She was going to die, and no one was going to save her because they were too busy with the never ending numbers of Akuma and humans that seemed to appear out of no where.
She was going to die.
Then, it happened in the space of a heartbeat; Kaoru could feel the time stop in her own body and start working backwards. She inhaled a quick but deep breath, and she could feel the awesome power explode out of her, causing the Akuma and humans to fly away from her.
Kaoru floated in midair, her goddess radiance now back, and she could no longer feel her body slowly aging and dying, for time was still for her. The pure, white fighting kimono she wore as a goddess for battle was now back on her, and the sword that now floated back to her was as light as a dagger. Her hair, that was mutilated, and grew only to shoulder length, grew back out to the once beautiful, long raven-black hair she once had. Her hair was as soft as silk, and it shined like the sun on the water surface.
She opened her now goddess eyes and observed the shocked expressions on her companions’ faces, and the fear from the Akuma and humans that now had to face the wrath of a goddess, rather than a mortal girl.
Kaoru was now a goddess again.
She floated back down to the ground, and landed gracefully. She took one step forward and landed flat on her face. Kaoru quickly got up, her face red from embarrassment, but mostly from Kenshin’s persisting laugh at her blunder.
Apparently she forgot what it was like to wear a woman’s kimono again. She used her sword to cut the bottom half of her kimono, in a diagonal cut, so she could move around more freely.
“It’s not that funny, Kenshin!” Kaoru shouted at the demon, who was still laughing at this point.
Kenshin stopped laughing, but still had an annoying smile on his face, and produced annoying snort-laughs. Kaoru straightened up, readied her sword, and swung it once through the air, and then all was quiet. The Akuma and humans looked rather confused at the motion the princess made, but then one Akuma demon started choking, and then he exploded into dust. After the death of that one demon, the rest of the demons started to follow suit, exploding into nothing but dust.
The humans took one step backwards, shaking at the power of the goddess whom destroyed the whole Akuma army with just one swing. They looked around them, at each other, and then fled.
Enishi, whom was usually clam, now stood alone, save for Ada; his expression was genuine shock, his mouth opened and closed as if trying to find something clever to say. He finally closed his mouth, his teeth clinched, and his eyes lowered into anger.
“Apparently I misjudge you, princess.” Enishi said, taking a step forward and Ada followed suit. “From the looks of my current condition,” he looked around at his now nonexistent Akuma and human army. “I would say you have the advantage. No fare, goddess. So, now, I propose moving back to Kyoto and I will deal with all of you there.”
Ada grabbed Enishi’s arm and the demon clapped his hands, once, together and disappeared. Kaoru, who was about to strike, stopped her swing in midair when Enishi disappeared, and then clinched her teeth in frustration.
“You let him monologue, you klutz.” Kenshin accused, shaking his head. “That’s why he got away.”
“How many times must we keep chasing him?!” Kaoru yelled in frustration, sheathing her Shinjitsu
sword, as she ignored the infuriating demon prince.
“Probably until we kill him.” Aoshi exclaimed, and then moved to another topic. “By the way, how did you become a goddess again?”
Kaoru stopped, looked up in heaven, and then said, “I think my father gave me a clue to get my immortality back, but I didn’t catch it until now. He said my powers would come back only during a time of dire need, and considering my time was dire, I’m now back to being a goddess.”
“Well, it great to have you back to yourself.” Yahiko said, a smile appearing on his face.
“I thought you hated me.” Kaoru reminded him.
Yahiko shrugged and said, “I learned to let it go. Besides, you told me about a place where my parents are and I know that they’re better there than they are here.”
“Oh, where’s Akira?” Kenshin asked, looking around, seeing Soujiro, but no god among them named Akira.
Kaoru’s face turned sour and she said, “There’s no more Akira here.”
When the group looked confused, Kaoru explained to whole story, and exactly why she was able to become a goddess once again. After the story, some shook their heads, wondering why a god would give up his heavenly position for a demonic position.
“I think it’s time to go back to the Akebeko.” Aoshi said, seemingly eager to get back to Kyoto; perhaps more eager to get back to Misao. “And then we can go back to Kyoto.”
Kaoru smiled at that, and the group made their way back to Akebeko to nurse their wounds, and then go back to Kyoto the next day.
OOOOOO
“Damn bitch.” Enishi growled, rubbing his arms with his hands to rid himself of the goosebumps that appeared on his flesh.
“Eni-chan, why do we keep running away?” Ada whined and folded her arms for dramatic pouting. “They had a child with them that I could have had for dinner by now.”
“Shut up, Ada.” Enishi snapped, and then started to pace. He finally stopped, turned and faced the demented demoness. “This is what we’re going to do; I’m going to give them two months of peace, let them relax a bit, let their guards down, and then that’s when I bring hell on them.”
“Sounds great, Eni-chan,” Ada said in a bored tone. “But what’re we gonna do to entertain ourselves in this dark, dingy place for two whole months?”
Slowly, an evil smile crept onto Enishi’s features, and he promptly grabbed Ada roughly.
“I’m going to enjoy my vacation, my little pet.” the demon stated, throwing Ada to the ground and instantly was on her.
“Enishi!” was all Ada could say.
OOOOO
After they arrived back at Akebeko, the group tended to their wounds, ate, and refreshed themselves. Kenshin was out in the garden once again, looking at the starless sky, for no one could see stars in a city as bright as Tokyo. The only life around the garden, besides Kenshin himself, was the fireflies that seemed to lazily float, rather than fly, to a fro.
“Enishi has well as disappeared.” Kenshin informed, knowing Kaoru was behind him. “I can’t sense him anywhere on this earth.”
Kaoru came closer, almost a breath away from Kenshin, who still had his back to her.
“Congratulations on returning to your goddess form,” Kenshin said, and he started to turn around. “You must be happy about it--”
Kenshin did not have time to react; first he heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed, and the next he saw Kaoru slicing at him, directly near his face. He felt a sting on his left cheek, and as Kaoru sheathed her Shinjitsu sword, Kenshin put his left hand on the area that was stinging. He brought his hand to look at it, and saw a vertical line of blood on his hand.
“Ka...oru...?” Kenshin breathed, unsure of why she wounded him on purpose, without a fight.
“You said you no longer wanted human feelings, so I canceled it.” Kaoru explained, dropping down into a defensive stance in case Kenshin attacked her. “The only way to cancel it was by giving you another wound opposite of the previous wound I gave you.”
Kenshin could feel all the guilt and sorrow for the evil deeds he had committed melt away from his heart like chocolate in the hot summer sun. He breathed a sigh of relief, and when all the emotions melted away, until only one feeling still remained: love.
“How do you feel?” Kaoru asked cautiously, still in defensive mode.
Kenshin looked at Kaoru through his once-again demonic eyes, and still she was beautiful; still she was everything he desired, and still he loved her. Confused, he replied to her, “I feel no different.”
“What?” Kaoru said, equally confused. “Maybe I should cut you deeper--”
Kaoru was cut off when Kenshin wrapped his arms around her, locking her arms in place, and his face was so close to her own face. The fireflies around them flew more rapidly, sensing the sudden air change caused by the sudden movement.
“Kenshin...?”
“Everything that is emotional has gone out of me except... you...” Kenshin rested his forehead against Kaoru’s forehead. “You’re still here, in me. Naze?”
“I... I don’t know.” Kaoru whispered, her heart pounding from the body heat that came off of the demon that held her. Kenshin was so warm it surprised the goddess; she usually imagined demons as cold as they are unfeeling in everything they do; but the redhead was so warm.
Kenshin wanted to resist what was happening to him; he still loved Kaoru, and yet he did not want to. He was supposed to be a demon, and demons did not love. What was wrong with him?
“Kaoru...” Kenshin whispered her name so softly and yet so sincerely that the last blockage that surrounded Kaoru’s heart was melted away; and the love she had for the demon holding her was able to make its way into the vessel, bonded with her, and flowed through her so rapidly, she had to breathe quicker and deeper to keep herself from fainting.
“We can’t do this.” Kaoru said, and Kenshin released Kaoru, but still stood close to her. She hated herself for rejecting him yet again. “This is wrong.”
“I know.” was all Kenshin could say before he turned his back on her, jumped over the wooden fence, and disappeared into the dark night.
To Be Continued...