Here is the next chapter of Twisted and a long awaited moment. I tried to give you guys as much of the lemon as possible without cutting on FFN's rules, so as always, Guilty Pleasures will have it up. I have already emailed it to the wonderful Leilani who runs it. She is such a sweetheart. I would guess there are only going to be a handful more chapters. I have no idea how many that means, but my guess is around five or six depending on several things.
Enjoy.
Ravyn
Warning: This chapter is R for a reason. I MEAN A IMPORTANT REASON. So if you don't like smut or lemon-ish things, please avoid the section of this chapter that has it.
Note: Thank you to both Pia Bartolini and Jane Drew for the help with this chapter. They are both stellar and because of there work this chapter is both smooth and beta-ed to its best format!
“Do you think Aoshi-sama will ever notice me?” Misao asked quietly from where she was watching the moon rise in the open shoji door that led to her section of the deck. “I mean, I’m going to be twenty in a few months and I don’t think he has noticed me yet.”
Kaoru stopped from where she had been brushing out her hair and went and settled down next to her. The women kept their voices low in respect for those sleeping beyond the walls and Kaoru put her hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Why the sudden urge to be all self-doubtful?” Kaoru questioned gently.
Misao turned pursed lips to her friend and played with the end of her braid. “Well…my boobs are still practically flat, I am still not very lady-like, and I can’t tell him about what I have done in my past yet.”
Kaoru was silent for a moment. “Alright. Let’s say you were a fuller-figured woman: you would have to put on a good twenty-pounds, and with your size that might cause problems. Plus, you wouldn’t be able to scurry up roof-tops and for sure you wouldn’t have been able to chase Aoshi as a boy across Japan. Then what would you have to offer the Oniwabanshu besides a wonderful figure to bring in diners?”
Misao stared at her for a long moment. “I haven’t thought about it that way.”
Kaoru smiled at her. “Has your Aoshi-sama shown any interest in the type of woman you wish to be? I can’t see him bringing home some trophy to hang on his arm and flutter her lashes at him. At the very least he will want a partner. It’s the same with…” she paused.
“Kenshin.” Misao said softly. “Which is why the Rurouni is still hurting you, isn’t it?”
Kaoru blinked and shrugged. “There are lots of things, Misao. If you want, sometime we will talk about it.” She glanced at the door and rolled her eyes.
Translation: around here someone was always listening.
Misao nodded and stood up and yawned. “Let’s get some sleep shall we? You never know what is going to happen around this place and one must have the full amount of sleep in order to maintain proper chaos handling capability.”
Kaoru grinned in agreement. As she crawled into her futon and Misao crawled into hers, there was silence for a moment. “I think I want a baby.” She quietly whispered to Kaoru. Kaoru’s eyes went wide with surprise but Misao kept going, since her back was to her. “I want something with Aoshi’s eyes. I really liked Tokio’s kids.”
Kaoru pressed her palm to her flat stomach and mentally agreed, closing her eyes.
Kenshin sat on his futon, his expression distant as he felt the way the house settled. For a while Misao and Kaoru had whispered back and forth, but he had made no point to listen to their soft confidential whispers. Kaoru would tell him everything when the time came. He smiled in the dark, a flash of teeth in the moonlight, and braced his chin on his hand. His elbows were propped up on his thighs and he contemplated the happenings of the past few days.
Misao always brought a series of surprises with her. He had always known that she had dragged Kaoru both in and out of trouble when he wasn’t looking. His past self had worried but the Battousai was quite aware of Kaoru’s ability to turn the tables and drag the female Okashira into trouble as well. He had caught the half-whispers of stories that the Rurouni had missed in his sedated haze. His grin widened and he was almost thankful that Kaoru couldn’t see it.
It had surprised him how much he wanted her, trapped inside the Rurouni, one who had never felt the need to leave except when the dojo was in danger. He would have liked to have thought that he had noticed her first, but the Rurouni had been the first to pick out her bright spark. It wasn’t until she called out for him and glared at him with eyes deep and alight with innocence that he had felt the urge to reach out and see if her skin was as soft as it looked. He had been almost content to sit back in the drag of the Rurouni’s logic as he went through life, but her temper and vibrancy had jerked him out of his wasting status every time she let it out. Each time she hit him with a bokken, each punch she threw at the Rurouni, every night that he heard her crying in her room.
Settling onto his back he stared at the black ceiling and began to plot the last of her downfall. He wasn’t all that patient and his need for her was going to cause him to snap soon. Every time she bristled and fumed at something he did or said he had the urge to drag her into his arms and teach her how to put that temper to the best possible use. Closing his eyes, he hoped he would manage to hold out until she was ready, but his restraint was already failing.
Kaoru woke up with a yawn and sleepily rubbed at her eyes. The extra futon they had tossed into her room had been packed up and removed and Kaoru felt a rock sink into her stomach at the thought. It was always Misao’s way of warning her that she was leaving. Kaoru thought about what day it was and she frowned. They shouldn’t be leaving just yet. Misao had made noises about Friday and today was only Wednesday.
Rolling out of bed, she yanked on the first piece of clothing she could find and tied a plum obi over a blue kimono with small plum flowers across the pattern. It was relatively new, but nothing so fancy that she would worry about harming it. Shaking her braid out she quickly tied it into a tail and went out to find out where everyone was.
Kenshin was just putting the finishing touches on breakfast and Aoshi was discussing something with him and he kept nodding to show he was still listening. Misao was giving Yahiko firm orders, and Kaoru caught the word “kimono” more than once and sighed. She was definitely giving her young charge a threat if he didn’t make sure she picked it up. Rolling her eyes at her friend she firmly ignored Kenshin, who was letting his amber eyes linger over her in a way that was less than polite.
“I take it you’re leaving?” Kaoru asked as she took her normal seat and softly thanked Kenshin for breakfast.
Misao nodded around a mouthful of rice and swallowed. “We got a message from Okina and apparently someone attempted to attack last night. We don’t know if the instances are related but we need to get back.” There was a note in her voice that promised that Kaoru could expect a note via Tae in the near future. Kaoru chewed and gave a slight nod that said she understood completely.
Breakfast was rushed and soon she was waving her friend off as they disappeared into a carriage that Aoshi had suddenly managed to procure, probably through the Oniwabanshu faction in Tokyo, and then she was alone in the dojo with only Yahiko as a buffer between her and Kenshin. She was suddenly feeling apprehensive when she felt Kenshin come and stand next to her. She suddenly knew, without knowing how, that she was going to have to be on her best behavior, because Kenshin wasn’t the only one watching her. Aoshi was lending Kenshin his ears. Either that or she was growing paranoid.
“When are you teaching today?” Kenshin asked as he admired her in the kimono. Kaoru made a face at him and went back inside the dojo to start cleaning up.
“Not until after lunch. I am really behind on some of the chores and my morning classes today are canceled - Yahiko has earned a day off.” Kaoru easily replied as she picked up dishes. “I planned on sweeping off the back porch and clearing out some of my room.”
“I will make sure the bathhouse is swept out today, then.” Kenshin offered. Kaoru nodded with a thoughtful look on her face.
“This weekend I want to air out the futons, if you think you and Yahiko will be around to help me haul and beat them.” Kaoru quietly requested. Kenshin agreed and the morning disappeared into a series of chores.
Kaoru trudged along the well-worn path to one of the dojos she taught at with a bit of trepidation to her step. She had left Yahiko in the same environment with order to clean the dojo floors. Misao’s expression had been worth the playful order but the girl needed something to do to keep her from plotting. If she thought Kaoru had missed the expression on her face every time she and Kenshin were in the same room together…rolling her eyes in exasperation she continued on her walk. Grinning to herself she watched as the familiar path lead her into town. She loved teaching across town for the simple reason…
“Kaoru-san!” Eiji’s voice called out cheerfully as he approached and took her gear out of her arms. “Tokio-san says hello and that she hopes you will be able to have tea with her Thursday.”
Kaoru ruffled the boy’s hair affectionately. He couldn’t have been more than a year or so younger than Yahiko but lapped up the affection she gave out freely. Once he had learned that she had to pass by his home to make it to the dojo she taught at on this end of town he always appeared in time to help carry her load of gear and pester her for information on sword fighting. Eiji was being taught by Saitoh but always seemed to get several questions on defense or other opponent’s techniques in before they got to the dojo walls.
“I have heard many things from Saitoh-san.” Eiji began. Their conversations generally started out with his questions or direct statements, and Kaoru enjoyed it immensely. “He says that there were several murders in the police force the night before last.”
Kaoru frowned thoughtfully as she thought about what he said. “Did he say what he thought caused them?”
Eiji shrugged his shoulders. “He wouldn’t say anything more than that, since it took him out of bed that night and Tokio-san was very unhappy with him. It’s very hard to sneak up or to spy on him.” His words were chagrined and Kaoru bit down a laugh.
“I am sure it is. Thank you for the information.” Kaoru said with a smile as they continued at an easy pace on the worn dirt path. “I heard that you helped hide Tokio when they attacked the house.”
Eiji nodded, a serious expression crossing his face. “Yes. Saitoh-san had me help Tokio and the children while he dealt with the intruder.” There was a great deal of hesitation on his face. “I heard that you got attacked as well.”
Kaoru sighed and pursed her mouth as she attempted to explain things. “I don’t think this…person is as bad as Shishio, Eiji. However, if you ever think for some reason that Tokio, you, and the littlest one are in danger when Saitoh is not home, come to the dojo. Yahiko and I can take care of ourselves and…Kenshin is there.” Something lurched in her stomach at that reassurance that he was there, and she refused to think on it. She was struggling enough with attempting to figure out how to go about her other plan, much less discovering why such reassurances to the boy bothered her.
Eiji’s little face brightened. “I did not know Himura-san was back. Saitoh-san normally is growling over his soba when he is about, and he has not done so in many months and I heard rumors that he had left. I take it came back for you, then? Tokio-san was sure he would.”
Kaoru simply agreed with him, attempting to keep from showing how much those words affected her. Shaking off her melancholy, she ruffled Eiji’s hair. “See? With Kenshin around, your family can be safe.”
Eiji grinned. “I think I am more scared of your temper. He would attack too fast for me to see but I always know what is coming with you!” Kaoru swatted at his bangs but he ducked and laughed like the little boy he was. “I almost forgot, Kaoru-san! There was another death the newspaper didn’t post! Saitoh-san didn’t go into detail about it with Tokio-san because he doesn’t think it was related to the case but I thought you might want to know! There was an old woman found dead in the sakura groves not far from your dojo. They said she couldn’t have been there long, and it looked to be an act of a mugger. They said she was probably a gypsy!”
Kaoru blinked as the image of a old woman floated in front of her eyes. “Oh….really?” her voice was faint. “Well…that’s horrible. I think I might have seen her once or twice. Now that your weekly report is finished, do you have questions for me?”
Eiji’s eyes lit up the exact same way Yahiko’s did when asking or learning a new move, and Kaoru didn’t doubt for a second that hers were still the same as well. Kaoru walked in companionable chatter as she and Eiji debated defense techniques. Eiji argued heatedly against some of her ideas, but agreed with others. Kaoru enjoyed the little debates on logic, and she could easily pick out one or two of Saitoh’s general principles. Her lips twitched as she attempted to keep from laughing, not wanted to hurt the boy’s pride, and she was in the process of thanking him for his help as they reached the dojo gate when the coppery scent of blood reached her nose.
She stiffened and turned. There was a single blood smear on the gate and there were the sounds of faint moans coming from inside. Something tightened in disbelief and she quickly calculated who was closer and turned to Eiji. “Go get your father.” Giving him a push, she shoved the door open and walked inside, her eyes scanning for whatever had left the mark. She was suddenly almost thankful for her violent past because the place was covered in blood and more than half of her students were on the ground. Some were attempting to crawl away and several others weren’t moving. Then she saw the slumped form of Kyosuke, who was the Master at this Dojo. There was a single line of blood running down his temple. It looked like he had been hit first, and then the boys had been left to deal with the intruder.
Kaoru turned and licked her lips when she heard the cackle and turned to see a man holding his sword. Her blood ran cold when she recognized the uniform clinging in torn shreds to his body. He was, or had been, a police officer. He was by no means in good shape. The tunic of his right shoulder was dark red with aged blood and still spreading. The right side of his face had a large bruise, there was a cut running along his jaw, and the way he was curled slightly around his midsection said that he had bruised or cracked ribs. Regardless, there wasn’t a whole lot of sanity in his face; and she had seen enough killers in her life to know when they had been pushed over the edge.
Kaoru slid into a defensive stance. He was already hurt, and even though he had live steel, she doubted he had the skill of Kamatari. Taking a deep breath she set back and waited for him to attack. There was no way she was leaving them here and running off to safety. She would never forgive herself.
“You will pay for what you caused me, bitch! If you had kept the child with you I might have made your death a little less painful. But now, I shall enjoy killing you!” There was an edge to his voice that she most closely associated with Jineh and she ignored his words. If she had any hope of saving any of the injured she had to put him out of his misery and she had to do it now.
Kaoru had to give him credit. He moved a lot faster than his injury should have permitted. Her teeth jarred together with the force of his attack as she deflected it, and she was thankful that she had gotten better at deflecting most of the power out of a enemy’s strike. There were shattered bokkens all over the yard from where the boys had been fighting and she had to doge those as well as his thrusting attacks. She recognized a little bit of something that reminded her of Saitoh’s sword style and more than once she had to turn a dive into a roll. Sticky blood along with grass and leaves splashed in colors across her shoulders and back as she fought. She had managed to land a hit into his broken ribs and he had howled like a man stabbed but hadn’t slowed much beyond that. However, his attacks were getting sloppy, and she was wondering if perhaps a rib hadn’t pierced his lung.
She had to be proud of her students because they had managed to do so much damage. The man was clearly staggering from a head wound as well as busted ribs, and his attacks were quickly fading. She hated to do it, but when he gave her the opening she aimed for behind the temple and sent him to the floor. Kaoru sat down for a moment, her breathing ragged as she looked at the curious dark stains on the ground before she went to start helping the students. Two or three had managed to get away with only minor cuts and had gone into the dojo to fetch bandages. One had taken a sword thrust to the side and was bleeding badly. Kyosuke hadn’t stirred and Kaoru was starting to worry. She feared one of the boys had damaged his eye but the cut had managed to instead clip a brow. There were numerous other injuries and all she could do was bandage them until the doctor came or someone managed to send for Dr. Gensai.
By the time Saitoh got there she was covered in blood that was not her own. Sitting back once Saitoh got there with several police officers and a pale Eiji, Kaoru let them take over; they had more experience with trauma wounds and Saitoh had brought the police doctor. Kaoru sat on her heels and stared at her bloodied hands and clothing. She recognized the smell of smoke and didn’t bother to look up. “I guess you want me to go and give a statement?” Kaoru asked quietly.
Saitoh gave her a long look and nodded. He blew out his cigarette smoke. “ I have questions that need to be answered. I will attempt to get you home before your pet watchdog goes berserk.”
‘By that he means Kenshin coming looking for me and possibly killing people in the process.’ Kaoru thought wearily. She trudged after him with a tired expression and Eiji nodded at her and slipped away. Kaoru knew he was going to go and tell his mother what happened and orchestrate an excuse for why he was in the area. Besides her having been walking by; she brought bloody fingers to her temples and rubbed. She could practically feel the headache building.
The walk to the police station was perhaps the longest she had ever had in her life. Which was why it surprised her when he ignored it and kept walking. They reached the entrance of the Akebeko and turned around and moved into the back entrance, where a startled Tsubame let them in. She put them in a small table behind the kitchen that Kaoru hadn’t even been aware existed, even after her dozen or so dishwashing ventures. There was hot tea and then Saitoh was watching her with those eyes.
“I would have dragged your happy tanuki-ass down to the station, but there are too many ears there. I need to know what you know about that man who attacked you.” There wasn’t a threat in his voice, yet, but Kaoru knew from history that he didn’t need it to make her sweat. However, there was a general lack of hostility in his voice, more of the mocking voice that belayed the serious look in his eyes. “There is less of a chance we will be heard here. How did you know Shiro?”
Kaoru frowned at him, her expression showing her confusion. “As far as I know, I have never seen him before.”
Saitoh raised a brow. “You’re telling me he attacked the dojo where you were working and you have never seen him before?” Kaoru scowled at him. Did he have to say “working” like that? As if it was such a horrible, nasty thing that shouldn’t be repeated? She felt like taking her shinai to his ears and beating him.
“That’s right.” Kaoru gritted out, her hands tightening on the tea cup.
He raised a mocking brow but didn’t say anything; instead he just watched her and sipped his own tea easily. “If you didn’t notice,”-- the tone in his voice suggested that he really hadn’t expected her to--“He used to be on my force. Some of his ahou friends have been taken out of commission. Shiro was claiming that you were the cause of his hatred.”
Kaoru felt something cold settle into the pit of her stomach. Her headache raged in her brain and she glared at him. “Are you suggesting that I had something to do with it, directly or indirectly? I didn’t send Kenshin after them if that is what you are hinting at either!” Her voice lowered in pitch and she set her cup down. “If you don’t have anything else to ask me, something meaningful and not two-sided, then I will be taking my leave.”
He sipped his tea and watched her, unaffected by her outburst. “Why was Eiji the one to come running to my office?”
Kaoru glared at him. “He happened to be walking by and I recognized him. He ran into Misao the other day and recognized her and I sent him for you. Next time I will happily take care of the problem and then come in.” She stood up. “If that is all?”
Saitoh waved a hand, digging into his pocket for a cigarette. “You’re dismissed.”
Kaoru considered snarling at him, but refrained and left. She thought about going home and taking a bath to clean herself of her bloodied hands and figure, but decided against it. She had someone to talk to first.