Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ When it Rains ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimers: Rurouni Kenshin was created by Nobuhiro Watsuki. I don't own anything I'm just borrowing.

"......" indicates dialogues

'........' indicates thoughts

WHEN IT RAINS

Chapter 4

"Where have you been, Ichiro?" a female voice asked.

"I had to deliver a message. What about you Sayuri, did you finish your job?" the bald man questioned with a small smile on his face as if he already knew what she was going to say.

"No" the woman replied in a small voice filled with shame. "We had some ... problems. But it's your fault anyway for sending me with a bunch of idiots, Ichiro!!!"

"Does the boss already know?"

"No... and ... I was thinking if you could tell him" she walked towards him and grabbed his arm leaning her head against it, "pleeeeeease" she looked up at him with the most pleading eyes she could muster.

He looked back at her, she had all her face painted in white except for the area around her eyes which was painted in black and her mouth which was red but what caught his attention were those proud green eyes pleading. He was enjoying it hence there were only one answered for her request.

"No" he said curtly, pulling his arm away from her and laughing.

"Bastard!! You can't do this to me!" she yelled hitting him with her fists, even through her painted face he could see her anger and fear. "I can't go there and tell him that I..." she trailed off, not able to say the word she hated.

"Failed?" Ichiro asked disdainfully, an evil grin on his face.

Sayuri's face darkened, "Y-yes" She went to him once more, her head bowed, "I'll do anything you want just don't make me go there and tell him that I ...couldn't do my job." She raised her head so her eyes could meet his.

"Anything?" he asked, an amusing tone in his voice.

She nodded, "Anything."

"Would you let me see your face... I mean, without the painting?"

She stepped away from him, her eyes widened staring at him, "No, not this! Ask me anything else but that."

"Don't worry, I 's just testing you." he said smiling, touching her cheek with his thumb. "I don't like seeing with this look on your face full of shame and fear nor seeing you begging. I'll tell him."

"Hey what are the two of you doing?" A tall man who had just stepped into asked. He was very thin and had brown hair, which covered most of his face.

"What do you want, Toru?" Ichiro asked without looking at him.

"I was doing my research as you told me and I think we might have a problem."

"What kind of problem, baka?" Sayuri growled.

"Hey, bitch I wasn't talking to you!" Toru hissed.

"Enough!!" Ichiro demanded sharply. "Toru?"

"Well, like I was saying", he glared at Sayuri, "we might have a problem with the dojo girl."

"What are you talking about? I've just met her and she didn't seem to be a problem." Ichiro said smiling as he remembered his encounter with Kaoru earlier.

"I wasn't talking about her. Remember that you asked me to find out who was that red haired man with a scar on his face that lives with her? Well, he might be a problem. You see, he's Hitokiri Battousai and it seems that he's incredibly strong."

"Battousai?! Of course, with that aura I should have known." Ichiro muttered. "Well, I'll tell the boss."

Ichiro walked towards a door and knocked on it. "It's me." he said.

"Come in" replied a voice from inside.

Ichiro entered the room, he understood why Sayuri was afraid, their boss was probably the only man he himself feared a little and for that Ichiro respected him.

"I've sent the message as you asked me."

"Good. You didn't kill her, did you?"

"No, you said not to."

"Right. Anything else?"

"Yes, it seems that the others are not as weak as we first thought, they escaped."

"Or maybe you're not strong as you thought."

Ichiro said nothing in reply and the silence filled up the room, after some minutes he decided to break it, "What should we do now? I can go after them this time or m..."

"No" the other interrupted him, "they are probably coming to Tokyo now which can be a good thing. When the time comes we will deal with all of them at once."

'Should I tell him about Battousai?' Ichiro asked inwardly 'Yes, I wanna see how he will react.'

"Uh... Sir? There's something else, the Kamiya girl..."

"Oh, don't tell me you were defeated by a little dojo girl?"

"It's not that!" Ichiro said in a very serious voice. "Hitokiri Battousai lives with her and he might be a problem."

The man's reaction was not what Ichiro expected, but then again his boss was a mystery to him and what he did was even more surprising. The man was laughing something he usually never did.

"A problem, you say? You don't understand, do you? I've been preparing myself for this day for as long as I can remember. And if I have to go through Battousai to get what I want so be it, he won't stop me. You called him a problem, I, on the other hand, call him a challenge. I will take all of them down and after I'm done they won't even know what hit them. Besides, I would love to test Battousai's skills and see if he deserve all the credit he had received."

Ichiro stared at his boss darkened face and he finally understood that nothing could stop this man now and for that he respected him even more. He bowed his head and turned to live.

"Ichiro! Tell Sayuri to get here. I won't admit failure."

"Yes"

Ichiro left the room closing its door behind him, "Sayuri, he wants to see you now."

"W-what? What did you tell him?" the woman asked, voice filled with fear.

"Nothing! Now go before he gets angrier." he replied sharply.

The woman head herself for the room very slowly and with great reluctance opened the door and entered into it, leaving the two men behind.

"You know, I almost feel sorry for her. Last time he wanted to "talk" to me, he cut my finger off!" the tall man said looking at his own left hand, which had the little finger missing.

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'Why are you taking so long, Kaoru? Where are you? I should have come after you!! How could I let you go like that?' Kenshin thoughts were torturing him since he came back from the Akabeko and didn't find Kaoru in the dojo. He was sitting on the porch, looking at the sky. It was getting late. For five times now he had been just about to go after her when Misao stopped him, telling him that if Kaoru hasn't showed up yet it was because she needed some time alone.

"After what happened, she might need sometime to sort out her thoughts, Himura." Misao said calmly.

Megumi. He was so mad at her that it was best for the doctor to stay away from him for a long time. It's not like he hated her, well, maybe just a little at that moment, but he couldn't help feeling angry at anyone who tried to hurt her in any kind of way. Physically or emotionally. He should have said something but he didn't. He should have gone after her but again he didn't.

'Will she be angry with me for not doing anything? Wait!! And what exactly am I doing now? Nothing!! I should be looking for her and this time I will.'

A very decided Kenshin got up and walked toward the gate.

"Hey, Himura!! Where are you going? Misao asked startled.

"I'm going to look for Kaoru-dono de gozaru. Kenshin said firmly.

Misao replied something but he didn't stay there to hear it. 'Where should I go first? Maybe the river. She told me once that she likes to go there to think.'

Kenshin was heading himself for the river but he didn't have to get there. When he was close to a bridge, he saw her on the other side and he couldn't help but smiling at her. It was amazing how much peace and joy she could bring to his heart just by simply being there. But the smile fell from his lips as soon he approached her. She was extremely pale and gasping for air.

"Kaoru-dono, what happened?" Kenshin asked seriously worried about her.

Every time she saw him her heart raced and was filled up with happiness and love, this time though she just wanted to disappear. She didn't want him to look at her with those concerning eyes and ask her for answers because… she wasn't ready to face him nor to tell him what was going on or the fact that right now she had a cut on her stomach made by a katana of a man she had no idea whose he was. On the other hand she knew she would have to tell him eventually. 'But not today' she wished inwardly. Therefore, in order to pretend that everything was all right when the truth was that she was desperate and in pain, Kaoru put a smile on her face the very best she could muster at that moment.

"Tadaima", she said ignoring his question. "Sorry for taking so long."

"Okaeri nasai", Kenshin replied puzzled. "Kaoru-dono, did something happen? I mean, you don't look so well"

"O-oh it's just that I'm tired… I came running home when I saw it was already this late, that's all. Kaoru said, not looking in his eyes or he would know she was lying. 'Please let it go Kenshin. No more questions, please' her mind begged.

But Kenshin knew something was wrong because of the she was acting or the way she was avoiding to look at him. He could feel the pain in her voice and there was no way he would ignore that. He reached out one of his hands to touch her cheek, caressing it gently. Slowly he coaxed her to look up at him. He stared into those beautiful blue eyes trying to find out in them what she wouldn't say to him with words.

"What is it that you won't tell me? And why you don't want to let me know… to let me help you?" his voice soft, his hand still on her face, his eyes on hers. "Is this about what Megumi-dono said earlier?"

"No, I had almost forgotten about it. I guess she said that because I was acting in a way that was making you worry about me and she didn't like it", Kaoru said placing her own hand over his.

"That's her problem! She was too way out of line. And I don't care if she likes or not because I do worry about you, especially now when it's obvious that there's something going on. Something bad." Kenshin uttered, not being able to hide his feelings anymore.

"K-Kenshin!?" she was amazed by his answer. "Don't be silly, I'm…fine." She lied, pushing away from him but he stopped her, holding her wrist and pulling her close to him.

"No, you're not! And this has been going on for a while. Every time I try to talk to you about it you change the subject. Don't you trust me?" He said a little frustrated.

"Please, Kenshin, let's go inside. I'm tired and we can talk about this another time." She requested tears began filling up her eyes. She moved forward, placing her head over his shoulder so he wouldn't see her watery eyes.

Kenshin put an arm around her, bringing her close to him. He needed to hold her for now to make sure she would stay there. But his embrace didn't bring her comfort, on the contrary brought back the pain from her injury and she shifted uncomfortable, making him release her. She saw the confusion in his eyes, 'Oh, Kenshin! I'm so sorry.'

"Kaoru-dono, are you hurt? Did someone harm you? Please, I have to know!" Kenshin asked exasperated, 'or was my embrace that caused you to writhe uncomfortably?'

"N-no!! I said I'm fine. Now let's go inside. It's getting late and I'm tired." Kaoru said walking backwards.

Just then he noticed she was wearing different clothes that wasn't hers, "Kaoru-dono why did you change your clothes? These aren't yours."

"Uh… it's Tae-san's. I… borrowed from her. You see I…er…" she would have to lie to him again, she couldn't tell him she was wearing different kimono because hers were soaked with her blood, "She was cooking and I…dropped some sauce all over my kimono. I'm such clumsy." She laughed nervously, turning around and walking towards the dojo.

"Kaoru!" he called.

She stopped abruptly. Her name…just her name like she always wanted him to call her, without all that formality that kept him distant from her. Kaoru turned around to face him and what she saw made her heart ache, more than any pain she was feeling because of her wound. His eyes filled up with hurt.

"You don't have to lie to me" Kenshin's face darkened.

At that moment she wanted to tell him everything because she didn't want to lie to him anymore or see his eyes hurt because of her.

"Kenshin, I'm sorry. It's just that I didn't want anybody…"

"There you are!! I've been looking for the two of you for a while!" Misao yelled, interrupting Kaoru. Kenshin brought his hand to his head, 'Not now!!!'

"What are the two of you doing here?" Misao asked.

"Nothing. We are just about to go home." Kaoru said heading herself to the dojo.

"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin called.

"Yes?"

"Will you tell me?" He questioned.

"Today we all need to get some rest. We can talk about another time." She answered softly.

"Do you promise?"

"…." Kaoru glanced at him and faintly smile "Yes, I'll tell you everything, ok?"

Kenshin nodded. He would have to wait but at least he would find out what was upsetting her. He followed her to the dojo, leaving behind a very confused Misao, 'Did I miss something here?'

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Kaoru was in her bedroom taking the kimono off to change to her yukata. She used that moment to take care of her wound. The curative doctor Genzai had done was stained with a little of her blood. She loosened the bandages slowly. 'There's no way I can keep this any longer, especially from Kenshin. If Misao hadn't showed up I would have told him already'. She gritted her teeth in pain as she wrapped clean bandages over her cut. That man had beaten her so easily; he certainly could have killed her there. However he didn't and of course she was glad because of that still she couldn't help but ask why. If that's what he wanted as he said so… She didn't understand. 'Is he working alone? And what did my father do to him?', she put on her yukata and went to her futon but her head was full of questions that refused to let her sleep. And she remembered the events that followed her encounter with her attacker.

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She watched as the man disappeared, leaving her on the ground. Kaoru tried to get up once but the pain stopped her and, clutching her stomach, she fell back to the ground. 'What am going to do now? I can't barely stand and I can't possibly go home!!' Kaoru has never felt so alone in her entire life. No one would show up to help her. And she had to think about something quickly because she wouldn't stop bleeding by some miracle. Her vision started to blur. 'No!!! I refuse to stay here bleeding to death! Not because my father's sins! Not without at least find out who was that man and what he wants from me or what my father did to him' she decided. Gathering all her strength left, she got up. 'I have to go to the clinic. Doctor Genzai is the only one who can help me right now. He knows parts of the story.' Slowly she began to walk, hands grasping her stomach to reduce the loss of blood.

It took what seems an eternity for her to reach the clinic. Carefully so she could avoid being seen, Kaoru head to the back of the house. The pain was getting worse but she forced herself to stay focus. Approaching the back door, she froze abruptly when she heard Megumi's voice. 'She is back form the Akabeko already. So it means Kenshin and the others are probably at the dojo right now. I have to hurry up. But there's no way I'll let Megumi sees me like this, not after all the things I had to hear from her.'

From her spot she could see the female doctor shadow moving away. Kaoru stepped in one of the rooms quietly. She took a piece of cloth near her and wrapped over her cut to prevent her blood to drop on the ground. She reached the hallway, 'Kami, this place looks bigger than the usual. I never realized there were so many rooms here!!'

'How am going to find doctor Genzai? I can't possibly…' her trailed of thoughts were interrupted suddenly when a door behind her snapped open. Instinctively, she opened the first door she saw and entered another room to hide. Kaoru didn't have enough time to sigh in relief.

"Kaoru-chan? What are you doing here?" To her lucky she recognize the old doctor's voice. She turned around to face him and couldn't take it anymore. Kaoru felt to the ground both form pain and exhaustion.

Seeing the girl on the floor and that she was bleeding, doctor Genzai ran to her immediately. "Kami-sama!!! What happened to you Kaoru?" He took the cloth she had put off so he could see her injure and the severity of it. "You were stabbed!! Who did this to you?" the doctor inquired startled as he helped her up to a bed so she would be more comfortable.

"Stay lying down while I will call Megumi to help me" The doctor turned to leave but Kaoru stopped him.

"NO!!! Please don't!" she called out.

"Kaoru-chan? Why? Do you want me to ask her to fetch Kenshin?" The old man looked down at her questioning.

"No!! You can't call her or Kenshin. I don't want them to know about this. Please! You must keep it as a secret." She begged him her eyes filled up with tears.

"This is nonsense, child! Why would you want to keep this from them? Especially Kenshin? You're not thinking properly. Let me…"

"NO!!!" Kaoru yelled desperately. "You don't understand this has nothing to do with them."

"What are you talking about?"

"This has to do with my father and who he really was. The things… he did in the past. The people he harmed." Her voice began trembling.

Realization hit the doctor, his eyes widened. He knew what she was talking about. The doctor had the knowledge that her father hasn't devoted himself utterly to Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and although he proclaimed a non-killing technique he wasn't truly faithful to that. He had once found out that Kamiya Koshijirou secretly had another job and its performance involved committing of murders. But that was as far as he knew. Who he worked for and why were a mystery to him and he suspected that even Kaoru didn't know that much.

Kaoru never talked about any of that and he never pushed further. The doctor watched her efforts to keep the dojo working and how strong she always defended her father's ideas. Sometimes he thought she was in some kind of denial and others it seems that she fought hard not only to make other people believing in her school but to convince herself as well. Either way he admired her and respected her wish to keep all that as a secret. It was her right anyway.

But seeing her like that, hurt and bleeding because of things her father did it wasn't right and he wasn't quite sure anymore if he could keep silence even if she asked him to. And the way she looked at him he saw that was exactly what she was going to do.

"Please, don't tell anyone for now" Kaoru asked him once more with pleading eyes.

For a moment he seemed to consider that however deciding that treating her now should be priority he agreed. "Ok, Kaoru-chan. But you'll have to tell what happened and who did that to you. And then I will decide if I'll keep silence."

Kaoru told him everything about the man who attacked her and she had no idea of whoever he was or what was his connection to her father. Meanwhile the doctor took care of her wound.

"Done. The cut was pretty bad it was necessary five stitches. But you'll be fine if you take it easy; you should stay away from sword practice for a while or the wound will reopen."

"Thanks…. Dr. Genzai? Uh… Will you…" she hesitated.

"Yes, I won't tell anyone…" he began making her smiled weakly "…because you will!" he finished his voice steady.

"What?" She looked at him with questioning eyes.

"It's not my place to reveal to them the truth about your father. I respect that. You should be the one to tell them not me."

"But they don't need to know. They will hate me." She said almost in tears.

"No they won't. You did nothing wrong, Kaoru. Your father did. You could have died today and anyone would have known what happened. How do you think they would feel? Imagine Kenshin. He would certainly blame himself, thinking that was some of his enemies!"

Kaoru cast her head down "I haven't thought about that."

"Yes. And that's why you will tell them, otherwise I will tell them that you came here stabbed and I treated you. It's your choice." He affirmed firmly.

"… Ok, I'll tell them but I need sometime." She muttered.

"You have two days." He said giving her a clean kimono so she could take off the blood stained one.

But neither of them realized that from behind the door someone could hear everything they have been talking about, someone with widened brown eyes.

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Kaoru finally closed her eyes drifting off to sleep all exhaustion and pain getting the best of her. Tomorrow she would have a lot to explain. Kenshin wouldn't forget about her promise and she would have to tell him anyway otherwise Dr. Genzai would. And she wanted to be the one to tell him the whole thing. Yes, tomorrow would be a long day for her.

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AN.: Hi there!!! Sorry for taking so long to update! Damn College!!! OMG this chap took so long for me to finish and it didn't come out as I wanted in the first place. That scene between Kaoru and Kenshin I haven't had planned it sort of happened. What did you guys think about that? Did you like it or was it too boring? Please tell me so I can improve, ok? And I know I said some things about Kaoru father's past would be revealed and that the mysterious man from chap 1 would show up but things turned out …er…well differently. I just kept writing and when I realized I had written too much so I decided to leave those for the next chapter otherwise I would take even longer to post this one. : (

I hope this chap is ok. Please leave me a Review.