Control

‘thoughts’

“dialogue”

I don’t own, you don’t sue

Control
Chapter 11

Kenshin entered the dojo yard, the envelope still crushed in his hand. He had been the one to unlock the gate and was thankful the others were still out. Making his way to his room he closed the shoji and sat on a cushion in the middle of the room. Taking a deep breath, he opened the envelope.

His eyes widened as he took in the name written there. No other instructions, just a name. Lord Yamagata. Kenshin closed his eyes as he remembered the Army Commander who had respected his decision to remain a wanderer. It was partially through his influence that the police had come to trust Kenshin as they did. Now he was being asked to do the unthinkable. He was to assassinate someone he considered a friend.

Hearing the unmistakable sound of the gate opening, Kenshin hid the envelope and its contents in his gi. Rising he left his room in time to run into Kaoru returning from teaching lessons. She beamed as soon as she saw the rurouni.

“Kenshin, I’ve missed you today! I noticed the cleaning supplies were on the porch, were you cleaning?” she asked.

Kenshin forced himself to make a small smile for Kaoru’s sake.

“I was. I just took a break for a moment. You must be tired after giving lessons. Would you like me to prepare a bath for you?” he asked.

“A bath sounds wonderful!” Kaoru exclaimed.

“I’ll take care of it now,” Kenshin said, turning and walking down the hall.

Kenshin exited the house and made his way over to the bathhouse. After preparing the logs, he lit the fire. Looking around and using his ki-sensing ability, Kenshin made sure he was alone. Pulling the envelope out, he took a final look at it and added it to the fire. As he watched the black paper burn, Kenshin felt the life he made for himself in Tokyo would soon turn to ashes like the paper.

*******

Miyori expected to be returned to the house she’d been held in previously. Instead she found herself traveling longer than she had in coming to see Kenshin. The men she was traveling with would stop and pitch camp at night. She received three meals a day, but it had been days since she’d been able to properly bathe. She was anxious for them to arrive wherever it was they were headed to. The bumping of the carriage made her very uncomfortable in her present condition. Plus they wouldn’t remove the blindfold except for mealtimes and at night. Miyori hoped their journey would be ending soon.

Within a week they arrived at their destination. Miyori was led into a structure, as she could hear the echo of her and her captor’s footsteps on wooden flooring. She heard a door open and she was directed forward. Suddenly the blindfold was removed. She blinked, trying to get accustomed to the bright light filling the room. She heard a door behind her close and the click of a lock. As her eyes adjusted she took in her new prison.

It was another large room, this time a strange mix of Western and Eastern. There was a Western-style bed, but instead of chairs there were cushions. Several low tables lined the sides of the room. Once again she had a window. Stepping towards it, she looked out at the view. Obviously the house was built on a hillside, as she could see the ground below sloping downward. There were large trees to the sides of the view, but between them Miyori could see a city. There were several large shrines that peaked up above the other buildings. Miyori had never seen so many buildings in all her life.

Pulling her eyes away from the window she looked about the room. She could see the door she must have entered from behind her. To her left was another door. Walking toward it, she opened it. It was another Western-styled bathroom, with a large porcelain tub that sat on clawed feet. Operating the knobs, she filled the tub with warm water. Exiting the bathroom she glanced around the room, finding a wardrobe to the right of the door she entered. Opening it, she found several kimonos and yukatas. Selecting one, she returned to the bathroom.

Removing her kimono, she stepped into the tub and lowered herself. Relaxing in the warm water, she felt truly at ease for the first time in days. Finding soap and a washcloth on a ledge near the edge of the tub, she began to wash. Finishing, she rinsed and pulled a towel from a bar nearby. Drying herself, she stopped as she reached her distended belly. Carefully massaging it, she watched in amazement as a small hand or foot poked up and moved across her stomach. Sinking to the floor, she began to cry. She wasn’t alone in this and she was powerless to do anything to change their situation. She swore to herself, she would never be this powerless again.

*******

Kaoru tossed and turned. She had been tired when she retreated to bed, but now she stared at her ceiling and the moonbeams reflected onto it. Sighing, she tried a new position and closed her eyes. Moments later they flew back open.

She had heard something. Straining, she listened again. There it was! Someone was crying, this time slightly louder. Rising from her bed, she tied a jacket around her yukata. Sliding open her shoji, she listened closely. Padding down the hall a bit she opened Yahiko’s door a small amount. She could hear him lightly snoring. Closing the door, she continued on down the hall. As she approached Kenshin’s door, she heard it again, this time from inside Kenshin’s room. Knocking on the shoji, she called his name. There was no response.

Steeling herself, she slowly opened his shoji and peeked inside. Her eyes became sad as she watched Kenshin rolling about on his bed, obviously in the grips of a nightmare. Padding toward his futon, she jumped back as Kenshin shouted out, “Noooo!” and sat straight up, breathing heavily.

Rushing to his side, she touched his shoulder and felt the clamminess of his skin. Kenshin’s eyes spun toward her, glowing amber in the faint moonlight. Kaoru’s eyes widened as she saw the fury encased in his eyes. Kenshin closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Opening his eyes, Kaoru breathed a sigh of relief as soft amethyst met her gaze.

“I’m sorry, Miss Kaoru if I disturbed you,” he said softly.

Kaoru tightened her grip on his shoulder.

“It’s all right Kenshin,” she said, her voice full of concern. “Are you alright?”

Kenshin nodded. “Hai, I’m fine. There is nothing to worry about.”

“Kenshin, would you like to talk about it? Sometimes that helps,” Kaoru said, beginning to stroke his shoulder.

Kenshin closed his eyes once again and tried to fight off the memories of the nightmare. He had once again been standing in the field where he’d met Kido and Miyori was there. Kido yelled that disobedience would cost him and before Kenshin could move, he’d pulled a dagger and plunged it into Miyori’s swollen belly. Her scream was cut short by Kido plunging the dagger into her heart. With her final words she’d asked Kenshin why he hadn’t saved them.

Kenshin shuddered and Kaoru became more worried about him. She knew he suffered from nightmares on occasion, but something about this one seemed to be hurting him deeply. Opening his eyes, Kenshin looked into Kaoru’s sapphire orbs.

“No, Miss Kaoru. I do not want to relive that nightmare. If I speak of it, there is no way I can escape it,” he said.

Kaoru nodded. Kenshin gave her a weak smile.

“It’s late Miss Kaoru; you should get some rest, that you should.”

Kaoru stood, walking to the doorway; she turned around and glanced at Kenshin. He was sitting up in his futon, with the moonlight falling over his form. He sat hunched over and Kaoru swore he was crying. Softly closing the door, she returned to her own room, frightened of whatever it was that could produce that kind of reaction in Kenshin. Lying down in her bed, she tried to put herself at ease, but her restless night continued.

The next morning when Kaoru arose and entered the dinning room, she found Yahiko eating alone.

“Where’s Kenshin?” she asked.

“He said he had some errands to run today and wouldn’t be home till late,” Yahiko said, popping a small rice ball in his mouth. Turning in his seat, he sneered at Kaoru. “Wow, beauty sleep does nothing for you busu,” he quipped.

A moment later he sat facedown in his food as Kaoru stomped back to her room. Sitting on her futon she thought of what errands Kenshin could be doing that would have him out all day.

*******

Kenshin left the telegraph office and wandered the streets of Tokyo. He’d taken a chance in sending Aoshi that message, but he needed to give him whatever information he possessed. He didn’t want his nightmare to come true. Crossing past the marketplace, Kenshin continued to one of the major bridges. Stepping to the side, he looked at his reflection in the softly moving water below. He had his instructions and time was running short. He’d done some checking around and learned that Lord Yamagata would be leaving tomorrow for an inspection of one of the troops still working on sorting out the problems in the Satsuma area. If Kenshin was to complete his assassination, it would have to be tonight.

Clenching his fist, he argued with himself over what to do now. Thinking back to his conversation with Kido, he realized that Kido was insane enough to do anything. The fact that the man had gone to such lengths to insure his cooperation was evidence of that. Kenshin felt fury building up inside. Not only had the man made sure that Kenshin would cooperate, but he’d guaranteed that even if his plan should fail, that Kenshin’s life would never be the same.

Continuing to stare into the water, Kenshin thought about his friends at the dojo. He’d wanted to protect them, but now he wasn’t sure that he could. Kenshin knew that after tonight, he could not return there. Not only would he be a fugitive, but the life he once thought he could have, was out of his reach completely.

Moving his gaze skyward, Kenshin estimated he had eight hours until dark. Stepping away from the bridge, Kenshin continued to wander. Hours later, he found himself in a wooded clearing outside of town. Unsheathing his sakabatou he flipped the blade and began to practice his katas.

********

Lord Yamagata sat in his study behind a desk, reviewing some papers. Darkness had fallen outside and the only light in the room was given off by a single gas lamp on the corner of his desk and from the fire burning in the fireplace. Wiping his eyes, he slumped back in his chair.

The army was still fighting rebels in Satsuma and the reports he’d reviewed stated that their numbers were swelling. Staring into the fire, he contemplated how much senseless violence he’d seen occur and how he wished he could stop it. Rising from his desk he crossed the room to a high table which held a glass decanter filled with a rich brown liquid. Picking up a glass, he filled it and took a sip. The taste was bitter at first, but slowly warmed his throat as it slid down. Turning to return to his desk, he stopped in his tracks at the sight that greeted him.

Kenshin Himura stood in the middle of the room, the firelight glinting in his amber hued eyes. His eyes were hard and cold and Yamagata could not repress the shudder that traveled down his spine. The firelight glinted off Kenshin’s sword and Yamagata’s eyes widened as he realized the blade had been flipped. Meeting Kenshin’s hard gaze, Yamagata asked one question.

“Why?”

The word hung in the air for tense moments as the two men faced each other. Yamagata could see Kenshin’s breathing change a moment before he heard a voice he thought he’d never hear again.

“It’s nothing personal and if I had a choice I wouldn’t do this. Circumstances have occurred that force my hand,” Kenshin said, in a deep tone of voice.

Yamagata’s shoulders slumped and he hung his head.

“I see. You’ve been given no choice but to revert to Battousai. I’m sorry Kenshin.”

Kenshin’s eyes widened for a moment, but then narrowed again. Taking a step forward, Kenshin fought to keep his hand steady. Closing his eyes, he leapt at Yamagata.

He waited for the sickening feeling of a sword cutting through flesh and bone. The blood pounding in his ears made hearing difficult; however a sound broke through, the loud CLANG of a sword meeting another sword.

*******

Whew! Three chapters in 24 hours and I’m no where near done. I’ll be trying to put out one more chapter today and putting another in the can. This story is just churning in my head and I need to get it out so I can concentrate on other things…like maybe grad school. :) I hope you’ve enjoyed!