Under The Circumstances

an r.k. fanfic

 

CHAPTER NINE

 

"Ghosts"

 

"Scars are souvenirs you never lose,

The past is never far."

 

Goo Goo Dolls

 

 

 

 

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"Kenshin, you worry too much."

 

That was Sano's conclusion after listening to Kenshin's rendition of the "real" reason Aoshi came to Tokyo. They were both walking home together after Sano caught up with Kenshin as he was shopping for groceries. Sano shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, moving the blade of grass he was chewing to the opposite side of his mouth as he reconsidered. True, the rurouni's suspicions were seldom incorrectly placed, but this one was way too much of a long-shot, even for Kenshin.

 

"I'm telling you Sano," Kenshin defended himself, "If I know Aoshi, this whole 'investigation' story is just that, a story."

 

"Che." Sanosuke huffed, "Even if you're right he would never tell you the 'real' reason." "Whatever the hell that is." he added mentally.

 

Kenshin considered that, for above all things Aoshi was a private man. He would never admit anything personal, not even to his friends. However, his conscience would not rest until he had at least tried to find out the truth. He frowned in thought, if Aoshi wouldn't tell him what was going on, he'd have to find someone else who knew about it…whatever it was. It seemed the only way he could find out what he wanted to know was to make a deal with the devil.

 

"Or a wolf..."

 

"What was that?" Sano asked as he raised an eyebrow at Kenshin.

 

Kenshin blinked in surprise, had he said that out loud? Shaking his head he dumped his things on Sano.

 

"Oi!"

 

"Take these back to the dojo for me. I just remembered something," he lied smoothly, "I'll be over in a little bit."

 

Sano glared at him over the tops of the grocery bags. He was going to protest but at the thought of the resulting free meal he conceded. "You owe me." he said evenly before heading down the road. Kenshin smiled appreciatively as he watched Sano's "aku" kanji disappear into the crowd.

 

"Thanks Sano."

 

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Saitou was chain-smoking in his office as usual when Kenshin arrived. Looking up to see his arch nemesis in the doorway, his expression soured even more than usual.

 

"What do you want moron?" he growled.

 

Kenshin was unmoved, "Nice to see you too Saitou." he said sarcastically as he stepped inside. He fixed his soul-breaching violet gaze on Saitou's golden stare, "I'll just cut to the chase," he said simply, "Why is Aoshi really in Tokyo?"

 

Saitou's smirk could not have been more feral, "That's classified, and besides" he continued scornfully grinding the butt of his cigarette into an ashtray, "Why would I tell a second-rate wanderer like you?"

 

"Because this 'second-rate wanderer' has something you want."

 

Saitou's sneer was perfectly Mibu, "Hardly." he snorted lighting up again.

 

"Too bad," Kenshin said coolly, "I guess you don't want that rematch after all."

 

Saitou's smile disappeared. Although his outer appearance became very still, inside, the wolf in him raged. He should have known the Battousai would pull his trump card. Frustration nearly caused him to bite his cigarette in half.

 

Stiffly, he rose from his seat. His voice was perfectly level when he spoke, "A short while after Aoshi was proclaimed Okashira of the Oniwabanshu eleven years ago, there was a messy incident with a fellow gang-member named Tsuran Katsuya. Aoshi made a decision as leader that's recently decided to bite him in the ass. That's all I can say."

 

Kenshin smiled without turning around. "Thank you Saitou." He said beginning to make his way out. Just as his receding back was about to disappear around the corner Saitou heard that husky voice he hated so well float back down the hall toward him.

 

"I'll be looking forward to that rematch."

 

Saitou really did bite down on the cigarette this time. The lighted half fell to the floor and he angrily ground it out with his foot.

 

"Ahou." He muttered.

 

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Instead of heading straight back to the dojo after his chat with Saitou, Kenshin made a short detour that cost about twenty minutes of his time. When he finally returned he wasn't too surprised to see his fiancé sitting out on the front steps patiently waiting for him to return. As he approached a ghost of a smile appeared on her lips. "Do you like it when I yell at you for worrying me?" she asked with gentle humor as he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead.

 

"Iie. Shows you care." he answered with equal wit as he sat down beside her.

 

Kaoru leaned her head on his shoulder. "Sano told me about Aoshi," she said gently, "Do you really think he could be in trouble?" she asked with genuine concern.

 

Kenshin pressed his lips to her head again, "I don't know," he answered honestly, "but I intend to find out."

 

Kaoru smiled, "Good." she said.

 

"Oro?"

 

Kaoru lifted her head from its resting place in the crook of Kenshin's arm and looked him straight in the eyes. "I said 'good'. I'm glad." She reached up to brush her hand across his scarred cheek, "What kind of family would we be, if we left each other to fight our demons alone?"

 

Kenshin stared down at the lovely, intelligent creature he was betrothed to and he had to admit, he was falling more in love with her every day. Just when he thought there was nothing more to discover, she surprised him again with her wisdom and her love.

 

"Why did I have to wait so long to find you koishii?" he asked.

 

Kaoru stretched upwards and kissed him softly. "You've got me now Himura Kenshin, and I've got you. That's all that matters."

 

 

 

From the door of the dojo, Misao and Soujiro watched the couple's exchange with affectionate interest. "They make a cute couple don't they?" Misao said with a smile.

 

"Aa." Soujiro agreed, "They're both pretty lucky people, but…"

 

"Nani?" Misao asked looking back at him.

 

"Shikashi," he repeated with a smile of his own, "They're not the only ones."

 

Misao's expression became soft, "Honto?"

 

"Aa," he repeated, taking her into his arms, "Aishitteru Misao-mine." He said softly, "with everything that I have, with all my heart and soul. Aishitteru."

 

Misao looked up at him with an expression if absolute joy before she buried her face in the folds of his gi. "I love you too." she whispered.

 

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"Don't it make you sad to know that life is more than who we are?"

 

Goo Goo Dolls

 

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"Hey Kenshin! This just came for you!"

 

 

"Thanks Yahiko." Kenshin said as he took the letter proffered by the boy's outstretched hand. He was sitting in a corner of the dojo, watching as Kaoru sparred with her students with enthusiastic energy. She noticed when the letter arrived and questioningly she looked over in his direction. Reassuringly, he smiled and motioned for her not to worry. Silently, she raised her eyebrows and shrugged, returning her attention to the task at hand like he wanted her to.

 

Kenshin looked down at the letter with apprehension, the more he thought about the situation with Aoshi, the more worried he became about the outcome. Guardedly, he undid it's folds and began to read.

 

 

 

Himura,

 

I'm glad that you decided to contact me on this matter with Aoshi. The

truth is, I was rather worried when he left home under the same excuse

he gave you. This has only become worse now that I think I know what

his real reasons are.

 

Ten years ago, exactly three months after Aoshi was made Okashira,

we found that one of our gang members, Tsuran, was selling out on us

in the interest of financial gain. Back then the penalty for treachery

was death, and it was Aoshi who had to give the order. He never

mentioned it, but I know it pained him greatly to make a decision

on another man's life at his age. As a result, he hesitated in his verdict.

 

Tsuran's wife was also Oniwabanshu and when she thought her husband

was going to die, she made a terrible choice. To pay the price for her

husband's transgression…she slit her own throat in front of their seven-

 year-old son. Aoshi never forgave himself for not preventing this incident.

He feels that if he had not stalled, and had instead shown immediate mercy

on the condemned man, all of this would have never happened.

 

Tsuran swore that Aoshi would pay for the death of his wife, and I'm afraid

That now he wants to make good on that promise.

 

Please Kenshin, look after him, he cannot handle this alone.

 

Okina.

 

 

 

Kenshin didn't realize he was holding the letter in a death grip until he felt the gentle pressure of small hands easing his fists open. He looked up to see Kaoru looking down at him, her eyes concerned and curious. Gently, she took the letter away from him and skimmed it with quick, intelligent eyes. After a few seconds she gave a soft interjection as the paper fluttered to the floor. "Aoshi.." she whispered softly looking back at her husband to be. "What are you going to do?" she asked.

 

Kenshin sighed and leaned forward hiding his face under his shock of flame-bright hair. After a few moments, he raised his head and looked up into Karou's cerulean eyes.

 

"Offer our help," he said gravely, "And pray that somehow, Aoshi will finally open up to us.".

 

 

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Kaede had never really spoken to any member of Misao's family before, so when he appeared on the steps of the house late in the afternoon, Kaoru had a reaction similar to Misao's at her first real up-close look at him. Behind her, Megumi, who had come to visit, watched the stranger with avid interest

 

"Hello," he said giving her his warmest smile, "I'm Shinatama Kaede, Misao's friend."

 

"Pleased to meet you." she managed to say, "I'm Kamiya Kaoru and this is Takani Megumi."

 

Kaede bowed slightly in their direction, "I'm pleased to meet you as well." he said His eyes traveled from Kaoru's face to Megumi's, "My, my," he breathed, "Misao didn't tell me that she had such lovely friends." 

 

Megumi giggled that fox-laugh of hers, "I can see why Misao likes you so much Kaede-san."

 

Kaede chuckled. "Thank you Takani-san." he said gracefully. Kaoru smiled at him warmly, "Misao isn't here at the moment, would you like to come in and wait for her?" she asked.

Kaede put out his hands in dissent, "No thank you Kamiya-san, I'm afraid I don't have the time, but…could you give this to her for me?" he asked pulling out a sealed envelope and handing it to her. Kaoru took it and nodded "Of course," she said cheerfully. Kaede smiled and bowed again. "Thank you so much." He said gratefully, "I hope to see you both again soon. Sayonara."

 

As soon a Kaede's  back had disappeared down the road Megumi gave a long wolf's whistle. "Lucky girl." She said admiringly looking at Kaoru who seemed to agree. "Mm hm," she said nodding, "Misao's luck seems strong enough for all of us these days. I wonder what's in the letter though."

 

"Silly tanuki," Megumi said haughtily, "Don't you know a love-letter when you see one?"

 

"It doesn't have to be that," Kaoru snapped, "and don’t' call me 'tanuki' kitsune-onna."

 

"Whatever," Megumi said rolling her eyes, but five yen says it's a love letter."

 

"Easiest five yen I ever made." Kaoru said waving the envelope.

 

"We'll see about that tanuki-chan," Megumi said coolly, "We'll see."

 

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