Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ A Simple Twist of Fate ❯ Chapter 5

Here is the next installment. And just to reiterate, I do not own the characters below.

 

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“So you're leaving again?”

 

Megumi nodded as she moved from the wardrobe to the small bag. “Alsacia had a difficult delivery. She isn't recovering as well as I would like so I'm going to stay with her until she's back on her feet again.”

 

Kaoru stroked the collar of her pale blue dress. It was one of her favorites. She admitted she had worn it due to their visitor, though she hadn't really seen him this morning. She caught a glimpse of herself in the looking glass Megumi kept on the back of her wardrobe door. She felt as though it made her look regal, though she doubted she would fit in if she were to show up at the castle. “Have you been to the palace?” She asked absently, trying to smooth down her hair.

 

Silence met her inquiry and Kaoru paused and looked up. She wondered if her friend had heard her question and opened her mouth to offer it again. “Only once before.” The woman answered. “A member of high ranking in the army had been injured and I was called upon for medical assistance.”

 

Kaoru sat on her bed her fingers leaving her gown and tracing the embroidery of a pillow. She no longer even had the thought the older woman hadn't been inside the palace to entertain her. To hear Megumi had been at the castle dropped her spirits. “Have you ever seen the king?”

 

Again there was silence to answer her question. The older woman's head emerged from around the wardrobe door. The intelligent brown eyes studied her for a moment. “I have never met the king, no. But he did send his thanks when I was able to save one of his officers.”

 

“Does he ever visit the village?”

 

“Why?” Megumi demanded, putting her hands on her hips. “Do you want me to send a message? Is he your long lost suitor who has been teaching you tricks in the woods?” She teased.

 

“Don't be ridiculous.” Kaoru snorted. “I was just curious.” Inside she felt a bit of satisfaction. Even if Megumi had been to the palace, she had never laid eye s on the king. It made her feel a bit better about her current state.

 

“How long will you be gone?”

 

The woman was now searching her trunk. “I'd think you'd be happy to have me out of the way.”

 

She froze. “Why do you say that?” She hoped she sounded nonchalant.

 

Megumi peered at her from over the lid. “You're claiming you don't have a thing for our guest?”

 

“I don't.” She stated fervently, her face turning red at the lie.

 

“Please. You wanted to rip my hair last night.”

 

“As if that would have really worked.” She murmured.

 

“What was that?”

 

“Nothing.”

 

The woman rolled her dark eyes and began rummaging once more through her clothing. “If it makes you feel better, redheads really aren't my type.”

 

The comment made Kaoru look up in surprise. “ What?”

 

The woman shook her head as she packed one last dress into the bag and buttoned it close. “Don't make me say it again.

 

“I'm not sure I heard what you said.” Kaoru argued.

With an exasperated sighed, Megumi rolled her eyes. “I'm not interested in Kenshin.”

 

“Cause you're in love with Sanosuke?”

 

“Yes!” The woman cried in exasperation and then pulled up short. Kaoru grinned to have finally gotten her friend to admit it after so long. The dark eyes glared at her. “Are you happy, finally?” She demanded.

 

“Perhaps.” She shrugged. She studied the blanket again. “Perhaps I do have an interest in Kenshin.” She murmured.

 

Megumi sat down on the bed. “What do you plan to do about it?”

 

Kaoru looked up at her and shrugged. “I don't know. How do you seduce someone?”

 

“Well you're not wasting any time.”

 

“You know what I mean.”

 

“Do I?”

 

She sighed in exasperation and threw herself down on the bed. “How do I get him to notice me?”

 

“You honestly think he doesn't?”

 

“Meg!” She grabbed a pillow and slapped the woman with it before falling back onto the bed. Her long hair fell over the side as she gazed at the ceiling. “I've never felt this way before. I don't even know what I'm feeling. I know he sees me. It isn't hard considering there are only four of us here. But I want him to see me as a woman, as a desirable woman.”

 

“Take a bath and ask him to scrub your back.”

 

“Megumi!”

 

“What? I'm serious. Then he'll see you're a woman.”

 

She sat up and hugged the pillow to her chest. Despair cloaked her. “I'm not kidding.”

 

The woman sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Tell me.”

 

Kaoru sighed and shrugged her shoulders again. “Every time he's near me I feel warm. And when he touches me, I don't want him to stop.”

 

“He's touched you?”

 

“Not like that.” She burst, feeling a flush creep up her neck. She recalled the lingering feel of his hands on her shoulders the night before. “Not that I wouldn't want him to, I think.”

 

A mischievous glint touched the brown depths of the older woman's eyes. “Have you imagined him doing the same things to you that you read about in that book that I gave you?”

 

Kaoru gasped. “Of course…not.” She hadn't but the prospect made her imagination take flight. She couldn't quite grasp the notion of even acting out any of the tales that were spun in the hardbound book Megumi had given her. But if she had to do them with someone, she guessed she would choose someone like Kenshin. “Is it really like that?” She asked, nibbling on her bottom lip.

 

Megumi reached out and touched her hair. “Not exactly. But I imagine based on the source, that some of those stories aren't completely made up.” She sighed.

 

“Explain it to me.”

 

Megumi watched her, her brown eyes expressing nothing. “I can't.” She stated after a moment. “It isn't something anyone can explain. You definitely have a crush, make no mistake.”

 

Kaoru waved her hand dismissively. “I've had crushes. This isn't the same.”

 

“It isn't the same as with this man you meet to teach you to fight?” The woman asked suspiciously.

 

She rolled her cobalt eyes. “I've told you there is no interest in it from me. At least romantically.”

 

“Maybe if you just told me who he was…”

 

“I can't tell anyone!” She stated fiercely. She glared at her, tired of hearing the topic. It wasn't that she didn't want to confide, but her teacher had pressed her for confidentiality. It was bad enough it was apparent she did know how to wield a blade, even if it was a wooden one. Of course she had been about to tell Kenshin everything about the strange man who had approached her one day. Everything until the opossum had sent the redhead into a panic. She sagged back against the headboard. “I just want to know how to figure out what I feel for Kenshin.”

 

Megumi tapped her nose for a moment. “What do you want me to say?”

 

“I don't know.”

 

“There's no telling unless he kisses you. Anything up until then, no matter how strongly you swear to it, is hearsay.”

 

“Then how do I get him to kiss me?”

 

Megumi patted her on the cheek and stood. “That, tanuki, is completely up to your creative mind.”

 

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

 

Thundering down the stairs, Kaoru came to an abrupt halt when she saw Kenshin and Tae sitting at the table. Both looked up at her and she felt a blush creep up her cheeks. The older woman rose from the table and placed the bread into the warm oven, adding another log to the fire. Kenshin watched her speculatively. Kaoru cold see the man was thinking something over, but what it could possibly be, she could not surmise. But the new way he was looking at her made her self-conscious and she brushed a stray hair absently from her cheek.

 

“Kaoru, please have a seat.”

 

The serious tone in her guardian's voice unnerved her even more. Slowly she moved to a chair and sat. “What's going on?” She asked, her stomach cold and twisted.

 

Tae studied her for a moment and then turned to Kenshin. Kaoru's own gaze drifted towards the handsome redhead. The violet eyes had not left her and she struggled not to squirm underneath the penetrating gaze. Eventually the gaze left her and turned to the old woman. Tae didn't flinch underneath his stare. She merely raised an eyebrow and Kenshin, at last, lowered his gaze to the table.

 

“As you know, Kaoru, Megumi is returning to the village.”

 

Kaoru's attention focused once more on Tae. “She's leaving this afternoon. She's packing for several days.”

 

“Yes. What you don't know yet is that I will be going with her.”

 

She nibbled on her lip. Did this mean that she was finally going to get out of the house? She would be able to stay in the village, possibly even the palace for a few days. She rose, her newfound excitement bubbling over. “I'll go pack.”

 

“Sit down.”

 

The words clamped a lid on her joy. The smile faded from her face and Kaoru slumped back into her seat. Obviously she wouldn't be going anywhere after all. “But why?” She implored.

 

“I need someone to stay here and watch over the cottage.”

 

“The place will be fine for a few days—“

 

“Kaoru, I will not have this argument with you again. You are to remain here.”

 

Her blue eyes darted at the man at her side, embarrassed at him to witness her reprimand. “I do not wish to stay here alone, though.” She whispered.

 

“You won't be here by yourself.” Kaoru looked up at the woman in confusion. “Kenshin has agreed to stay while we are gone.”

 

A new feeling settled in the pit of her stomach as her eyes grew wide. She would be alone with Kenshin for days. That meant no Megumi, no Tae, no one. The feeling thrilled her and terrified her. Slowly her round gaze swung towards him. He was watching her again, looking to see her reaction to the news. Immediately she looked down, her fingers finding the end of her ponytail and twirling it around her fingers. “How long will you be gone?”

 

“I'm not sure. A few days.”

 

Kaoru barely heard the words. She looked up at Kenshin feeling shy and nervous. “I'm not a very good cook." She admitted bleakly. Somehow when he was staying in the cottage with others around, she didn't mind, didn't want him to go. To be thrust into the situation, however, where she would have none but his company, frightened her. He would see her for all her faults, things she had not had a chance to overcome.

 

An easy grin broke out on the redhead's face. “I've picked up some tips over the years while I wandered.”

 

The corner of her lip quirked upwards and she blushed, looked down at her lap. “When do you leave?” She asked softly.

 

“This afternoon.”

 

“I suppose the freeloader will be accompanying you?”

 

“I imagine he will turn up at some point.” Tae retorted dryly.

 

Kaoru rose and looked up at Tae. “Then I wish you a safe journey.” She smiled shyly at Kenshin and then moved away from the table. “I'm going to go pick some berries for the trip.” She stated, feeling silly, but needing to escape the house.

 

Tae opened her mouth to protest when Kenshin rose. “I'll come with you.”

 

Surprised Kaoru looked up at him. The violet eyes were on Tae who watched him startled. “I should become acquainted with the local area since I will be staying here for a few days.”

 

The dark eyes skittered between the two of them before Tae nodded. "Of course. Return by lunchtime. Megumi and I leave in the early afternoon.”

 

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

 

Kenshin watched the young woman kick a rock. Her azure eyes were on the ground at her feet, the basket hanging listlessly at her side. They had walked in silence since they had left the small house. It struck him as strange. He had been alone for so long, the quiet shouldn't have bothered him. But for some reason it left him unnerved to see Kaoru so forlorn.

 

They reached the blackberry bush at long last and he waited for her to start up a string of conversation. Instead she threw herself down on the ground, the basket forgotten several feet away. Her antics left him amused and it stirred a memory of him doing something similar when he hadn't gotten his way. The remembrance made him ache for a time when he had once been innocent, before the king had turned him into what he was. It darkened his own mood and he sat down heavily next to her.

 

The bright blue eyes swung warily in his direction. She studied him for a moment and then she crossed her arms over her chest. Her demeanor swiftly changed from depression to anger and Kenshin wondered what had brought about the change.

 

“I'm terribly sorry that you're stuck with me. You can leave after they do if you want.” She snapped.

 

“Oro?”

 

Kaoru glared at him. “I know I'm such a horrible person to be around. So why don't you do us both a favor and just leave now.”

 

A frown creased his brow. “Why do you think I'm upset about staying here with you?”

 

“Aren't you?” Uncertainty touched her fierce gaze and she looked away from him. “You're moping around here too. Why else would you be upset?”

 

His violet eyes watched her. “What would lead you to believe I'm upset?”

 

She glanced back at him and shrugged. “You flung yourself down on the ground just as I did. I've never seen you move so…heavily. I assumed you were upset.” She looked up at him sharply, her blue eyes blazing again. “Or are you making fun?” She demanded.

 

He placed a hand on her arm and shook his head. “I'm not making fun. Seeing you, made me recall an incident in my childhood and then it made me nostalgic.”

 

“Oh.”

 

He gazed at her curiously and squeezed her shoulder. “Why are you upset?”

 

The young woman looked at her lap, her dark bangs falling in front of her face. “I never get to go.” She murmured.

 

“To the village?” She nodded. “And yet you insinuated just last night that you were not a stranger to those in the village, that you did.”

 

A smile quirked at the corner of her mouth and Kenshin prided himself on cheering her up. “From time to time I have found my way there.”

 

Kenshin waited for her to elaborate. She didn't and he thought about pressing her. The night before she had claimed she had a secret and had been about to inform him when they had been interrupted. He turned away from her, his eyes narrowed thoughtfully. He could have sworn he sensed another person nearby. He wasn't so out of practice that he couldn't feel one. Whoever it had been had been good at shielding his or her presence until he slipped for a second. The opossum had to have been a coincidence. Or was he just so tense he was jumping at every sound nowadays.

 

Kenshin glanced at the woman at his side. The recollection of the previous night made him think of Tae's earlier instructions. Someone was after Kaoru. He couldn't think why. Why would Hiko send him here and now, to guard this girl?

 

"What are you thinking about?”

 

The question brought him abruptly from his thoughts. “Tell you what. I hate to see you sad. You've got such a beautiful smile.” Kaoru blushed at his statement and he felt his heart stir to see her so shy. “If you promise not to mope around anymore, I think perhaps we can make a trip to the village while they are gone.”

 

“Really?” Her eyes lit up and Kenshin nodded, mentally patting himself on the back for having gotten her to smile. She clapped her hands together and threw her arms about his neck. He nearly fell backwards, but caught himself and her, his own arms wrapped around her body.

 

The air between them shifted. Kenshin became aware of the young body pressed against his. He caught a whiff of her hair and fought the urge to bury his face in her graceful neck. Kaoru pulled back, conscious of the change, but not quite sure where it had come from. She licked her lips and he bit back the groan that threatened. Slowly she disentangled herself from his embrace and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

 

“Sorry.” She murmured.

 

Kenshin swallowed. “For what?” He tried to ask lightly. His voice sounded husky to his ears and he clamped down the more carnal instincts that loomed beneath the surface. It had been far too long since he had felt those urges. “You did nothing wrong.” He told her somewhat stiffly, rising to his feet. He moved away from her. It occurred to him how she might read his intentions and he cursed himself for becoming aroused by this naïve young woman. If he was to stay here it could be far more dangerous than he first anticipated. He picked up the basket she had earlier discarded. “We should pick some berries and be getting back.”

 

Kaoru stared up at him, her blue eyes searching his face. After a moment she looked down at her lap and nodded. Unable to stop himself, He hooked a finger underneath her chin. “You did nothing wrong, Kaoru-dono.” Her eyes widened slightly and she nodded. “Now no more or no trip to the village.” He ordered lightly.

 

A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth and she accepted the hand he offered. He helped her to her feet and she took the basket from him. “Arigatou.” She told him and then moved towards the bush.

 

He sighed and ran a hand over his face. It was going to be a long week.

 

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

 

“Are you sure it's safe to leave him with her?” Megumi asked once the cottage was out of sight. She had felt uneasy since she had come in the night before to see the redhead. She didn't know him, had never heard speak of him, and it made her slightly ill. Someone with such bright hair and exotic eyes would have been mentioned. Only someone accustomed to being in the shadows could have escaped Sanosuke's radar with such coloring.

 

“He was not looking for you.”

 

“He asked for a doctor.”

 

“You have no need to fear him.” Tae told her.

 

A feeling of dread settled in her stomach. Any reason anyone would come searching for her gave her reason to panic. “How can you be so sure?” If Kenshin, or whoever he might really be, was searching for her, then Kaoru was dead and it would be only a matter of time before he came after her. She looked over her shoulder, checking to make sure no one was behind them.

 

“I told you last night who Kenshin was.”

 

“A wandering warrior. What is that supposed to mean?” She demanded crossly. There was no reason for anyone to come to the cottage without reason. If she knew one thing it was that Tae had hidden refugees before. She shifted her bag to her other shoulder and sighed with relief when the road finally came into view. “He could be an assassin for hire.”

 

Tae missed a step and Megumi glanced at the old woman carefully. She had grown to love Tae as she would a mother. In the four years she had known her, Tae revealed nothing. She was unshakable and to see her stumble over such a comment gave much for Megumi to think about. She tried to think about what she had said and reached over to grab the woman on the arm. “Is Kenshin an assassin? Whom is he working for?” Her old fears rising swiftly.

 

“If I told you Kanryuu was dead, would that put you at ease?” The old woman asked.

 

She hesitated. They reached the road and she glanced in both directions, her dark brown eyes not seeing the person she looked for. “Are you implying he is?” She stated at last.

 

“I merely asked you a question.”

 

“And what do you hope to glean based on my answer?” She demanded. She dropped her bag to the ground and stared at the old woman, hands on her hips.

 

The old woman merely raised an eyebrow, any anxiety she might have exhibited gone. “You'll stop looking over your shoulder. To a degree, your part and mine is over in the story. We have to let fate step in and run its course.”

 

Megumi frowned. She didn't like the idea of a situation she couldn't control. She cared for Kaoru and had no desire to see her destroyed in any capacity. Nor did she fully trust the redhead as Tae did. “How can you be so certain everything will work out?”

 

A shadow passed over the wrinkled features. Tae glanced at the sky. “I don't. We could all be dead tomorrow. I could have misjudged so many things over the course of the years.”

 

Her words frightened Megumi and she tossed her long dark hair over her shoulders, trying to ward off the shiver that threatened to consume her. “Do you at least admit that Kenshin is not all that he claims to be?” She murmured.

 

Silence greeted her comment and she closed her eyes, wanting to at least hear some reassurance from the woman she loved. When she got no response she turned to the old woman. Tae, who was smaller than she in stature, stared up at the sky still. Her dark eyes slowly closed and a lone tear slid down her withered cheek. Alarmed Megumi touched her on the shoulder.

 

Tae turned to her, the fear and resignation evident in the depths of her dark eyes. “I know that Kenshin is more than he claims. But he is the only one who can protect Kaoru at this point. It is why he was sent to the cottage.”

 

Megumi stared at her wide-eyed, her own suspicions beginning to cloud her mind. She didn't even hear the rider that approached as she continued to stare at the old woman. The horse stopped and she turned, her own dark eyes wide to see who had approached them. So caught up in her own thoughts she blinked as she recognized the rider. Nothing came to her lips, so unprepared was she to see the newcomer.

 

“It's not very often that I see you speechless.”

 

The dry tone made her mouth snap shut and Megumi glared at the brunette. “I didn't know that roosters knew how to ride horses.” She sneered, not particularly happy with her comment, but annoyed that he had managed to get the best of her. He merely grinned at her and she fumed, her earlier thoughts already forgotten as he swung down from his horse. “Imagine my surprise when I was told I might find two such beautiful women standing by the side of the road. I never imagined it would actually happen.”

 

Tae snorted and handed the tall man her bag once he had jumped to the ground. “Really Sanosuke. You have got to learn to trust your instincts.”

 

The brunette had the nerve to blush as he tied her bag to the saddle of one of the two horses. He turned to Megumi and she fought the urge to blush at his amused his expression. Reluctantly she admitted her feelings to Kaoru, but she doubted anyone else could have achieved it, let alone the man she wanted. He glanced over her shoulder. “Where's Jou-chan?” He asked.

 

Megumi felt her temper rise and her bashfulness recede. “She's home.“ She said, tossing her cascade of dark hair for effect as she shoved by him to tie her own bag to the saddle of the second horse.

 

“You left her by herself?”

 

The question gave her pause and she looked at the tall brunette back to Tae. Tae shrugged and headed towards the horse. “She has company.”

 

“What kind of company?” He demanded, his brown eyes narrowed.

 

Megumi glared at the man. After all this time he finally showed where his true feelings lay. “She's with a man.” She told him hotly. Her focus seemingly on tying her belongings to the horse.

 

Instead of getting the rise out of him she wanted Sano turned to the old woman. “Is this wise?”

 

“It will be alright.” Tae told him.

 

Megumi turned, hiding her incredulity at the situation. “Are you sure?” Sano asked. Tae nodded and then the man shrugged. He turned to Meg and grinned. “And how is her highness doing today?” He asked.

 

“I was fine until I saw you.” She told him flatly, tossing her hair over her shoulder. Gracefully she climbed onto the horse and turned a cold glare at him. “Obviously you have other things on your mind than to worry about me.” She spit and turned her horse in the directions of town. She saw him grimace and couldn't help the smug feeling of satisfaction she felt. She had forgotten all about Kaoru and Tae's insistence of leaving her alone with the strange redhead.

 

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So what do you think will happen next? Let me know and stay tuned to see what will unfold in the next chapter. Kisses and lots of love!