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The Black Hawke--NEW FEB 1	By : Lin Category: Rurouni Kenshin > General Views: 19280 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Chapter Fifteen

Heart Beats

            She told him she needed cigarettes and tampons, and that was the only reason he let her go.
Shishio couldn’t stand being with her when she bought feminine hygiene products. He was more
nervous about that than he was about getting caught. That was the reason she used it as an excuse to
get out of the motel. She knew he’d let her go.

            The corner market was almost a block away, and Yumi stepped off the curb to cross at the
light, darting a wary look over her shoulder to see if Osui followed her, but Shishio’s dog didn’t
seem to be anywhere. Nervous and nauseated, she entered the store and wandered the isles until she
found the womens section. She chose the least expensive brand of tampons, picked up a douche, and
went to the check-out.

            “Can I have a pack of GPC menthols?” She asked the girl, trying to keep her voice level.

            “Hard box or soft?”

            “Hard box.” The girl handed her the pack and she nodded, thanking her. “How much do I
owe you?” She asked, pulling a mangled wad of bills out of her back pocket.

            “Eight dollars and 73 cents.” Yumi gave her a ten and waited for change. “Is there a pay
phone around here close?”

            “Sure,” the girl counted Yumi’s change and then pointed at the front of the store. “Outside
on the left; there’s two of them.”

            “Thanks.” She picked up her bag, smiled at the girl, and made a bee-line for the front door
and the phones. One of them was out of order; the receiver mechanism crushed, wires and computer
chips exposed. Going to the second one, it was operational, but there was no telephone book. Yumi
bit her lip and offered a prayer, hoping God didn’t reach down and strike her dead for the effort. She
dropped the required change in the slot and dialed a number from memory; her stomach was tied in
knots. It was answered on the second ring.

            “This is Hawke...”

            “Ummm...” A lump the size of Texas suddenly formed in her throat and she couldn’t talk.

            “Who is this?” The voice was curt and suspicious.

            “I...” ‘Talk!’ She screamed at herself, but still no sound passed her vocal cords.

            “If this is some prank, I am not amused.”

            “Wait...” she grabbed the phone in both hands, her whole body trembling. “Mr. Shin-omori... wait...”

            “Who...” There was a long pause. “Yumi? Dear God, girl! Is that you??”

            “I...” Tears burned her eyes and started skating down her face. “I... I have to tell you...”

            “Where the hell are you?” Hawke’s voice barked over the phone. “Tell me where you are
and I’ll come and get you.”

            “I... I can’t,” she sobbed, leaning into the booth. “Please, l-listen... Shishio...”

            “What about Shishio?”

            “He-he’s going to... oh God...” She gripped the edge of the booth, her knuckles turning
white. “He’s going to k-kill you...” she said. “You and Mr. Himura. W-watch your back...
watch...”

            “Yumi, where are you, girl? Tell me where you are?”

            “No, I...” her time on the phone was running out, and she was either going to have to deposit
more money or hang up. “He... he’s already killed someone...”

            “Let me get you out of there... Yumi?”

            “I have to go, he’ll be wondering where I am. I’ve been gone too long...”

            “Yumi, dammit!”

            “Watch your back, sir... I’m sorry,” she whispered into the phone. “I’m sorry about
everything... so damn sorry...”

            “Yumi... where are you?!”

            She pulled the phone away from her ear and hung it up. “Manhattan. I’m in Manhattan.”

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

            The phone on Detective Daniel Livingston’s desk rang, pulling him away from one of the
more boring case files piled in his in-box. Lifting the reading glasses off his nose, he rubbed his
eyes, leaned back in his chair with a sigh, and answered the squalling irritation.

            “Livingston,”

            “Sorry to bother you, Detective. I know your busy...”

            “What is it, Raychal?” He hated when the secretary apologized for doing her job.

            “A call for you on line seven. Someone saying he’s Aoshi Shinomori, but I don’t know how
reliable that is. Isn’t he the type that has other people make his calls for him?”

            “Not if he thinks it’s important enough to take care of himself.” Daniel was suddenly alert,
the strain in his eyes forgotten. “What line was that?”

            “Seven.”

            “Thanks.” He severed the connection with Raychal and punched the blinking red light under
the sloppy seven on his phone. “Aoshi?”

            “Sorry to bother you, Daniel, but I may have a lead on Yumi and Shishio.”

            “What have you got?”

            “I just received a call from her on my private cell-phone.”

            “She... called you?”

            “Yes, I was just as surprised, but the message she had for me was a bigger shock that the
call.”

            “What did she tell you?”

            “That Shishio is planning to kill me and my best friend, Kenshin Himura. She was warning
me to watch my back. She said Shishio has already killed someone, so I don’t suppose offing me
and Kenshin is such a big step, besides the fact that Kenshin saw him at my warehouse the night he
torched it.”

            “I recall you telling me that,” the memory surfaced and Daniel looked through his files,
pulling the folder on Aoshi’s case. “Himura’s the one who brought you the bogus manifest, right?”

            “Yes.”

            “So, what else did she say?”

            “Nothing.” Aoshi’s disappointment was evident even over the phone line. “I tried to get her
to tell me where they were, but she kept saying she couldn’t.”

            “Did she sound scared?”

            “I don’t know if it was so much that she was scared as she was worried... her main goal
seemed to be warning me. She didn’t want Shishio catching me off guard.”

            “Interesting,” Daniel rubbed his chin. “She helps him use your business as a laundering
front for his dope deals, she helps him trash it to cover the evidence, and she’s still loyal? I don’t
know if I trust her.”

            “I do,” The voice on the other end of the line was iron hard. “She might be helping him
willingly with the other, but she isn’t into the murder deal end of it. That’s not her style, the
warning was legit, and I think I have a way to narrow our search down for them.”

            “The phone call?”

            “Yes, can’t you trace the signal back from my cell-phone back to the original source?”

            “Yes. You think they’d be in a close range to where she called from?”

            “I’d almost bet on it. He’s not going to be especially mobile at the moment, and I doubt he’s
letting her go much of anywhere alone that she can’t reach by foot.”

            “You could be right, I’ll get the CSI guys on it and see what we come up with. I’ll need
your cell-phone though...”

            “Sano’s on his way down to you with it, right now.”

            “Alright, I’ll get back to you when I know something worth telling.”

            “Thanks, I would appreciate it.” The line went dead, and Daniel hung up his phone. This
was the first decent break they’d had in this case since it happened. Whoever this Shishio was, he
was clever and clean. Even his name didn’t bring anything up on any priors. That told Daniel the
dude he was probably using a false name-either now or before. One way or the other, he didn’t
come up in the computer.

            “I’m still going to find you, you sonofabitch.” He muttered, swiveling his chair around to
look out his window. “Your days on the run are numbered, so enjoy them while you can ‘cause
there aren’t many of them left.” Picking up his phone, he punched in a number and waited. “Yeah,
hey, Mike. Can you do something for me? I need a cell-phone signal traced... no, no. I need an
incoming traced to origin. Can you help me... great. Yeah, I’ll have the phone in about an hour.
I’ll bring it down. Thanks, Mike.”

            A burst of energy surged through the air. They were getting a little closer and the net was
tightening around it’s prey.

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

            Aoshi sat on the couch in the front room of his downtown apartment, the phone call from
Yumi preying heavy on his mind as he struggled to understand why she would want to warn him,
yet not try to save herself. It didn’t make sense to him and his frustration rose to the point he yanked
his tie off and wadded it into a ball, throwing it across the room.

            “Dammit!” he swore, standing and shoving his hands into the pockets of his trousers. “Why
didn’t you tell me where you were?” he growled. “I could have come and got you... we could have
worked something out with the police... shit! Why did you hang up?” Both hands raked through his
hair, tearing the tie free, sending it sailing through the air as the black satin floated around his face.
“Don’t you realize that maniac could kill you just as easily as anyone else? Jesus, Yumi... what are
you doing to yourself?”

            “Aoshi?” He jerked around at the sound of his name and found Kaoru watching him, her
face tight with concern. “Are you okay?”

            “No,” he said, shaking his head. “I don’t know whether to be pissed or scared.”

            “Baby, you can’t make her do the right thing... no matter how much you want it.” Kaoru
closed the distance between them and cupped his face in her hands. “I know how worried you are,
but there’s only so much you can do.”

            “I know, but I can’t help how I feel, Kay.” He leaned into her and rested his forehead against
hers. “I’m afraid something bad is going to happen to her... what if he kills her?”

            “I... I don’t know.” Kaoru stepped into his arms and held him close to her. “But you’re
going to have to trust her that she knows enough to warn you and Kenshin. If she’s with it enough
to do that, then she’s not totally sucked into his game...”

            “I know, that’s the problem. If she’s still hanging out on the outside even a little bit, that
puts her in that much more danger... if he catches her warning us or trying to... God, I don’t know
what he’ll do to her. I shudder to think of it.” He burrowed into the warm scents of her hair and
neck. “She said he’d already killed someone, Kay. If that’s true... he’s capable of anything.”

            “Did you call your policeman friend?” she asked, stroking his hair.

            “Yes, and I sent Sano to the station with my cell phone.”

            “Do you think that it will help?”

            “I don’t know, but Daniel seemed to think it was worth a shot.”

            “Then you’ve done all you can at the moment, Baby.” Kaoru pulled back far enough to look
into his worried face. “You have to try and calm down and let the police to their job, Aosh. When
he knows something, your friend will call you.”

            “I suppose so.”

            “Did you call Kenshin yet?”

            “I tried, but he’s not answering his cell.” Aoshi sighed, nuzzling Kaoru’s smooth cheek. “I
think he’s visiting your roommate.” A dry chuckle rumbled up his throat and he kissed her. “It’s
been a few days since the earth exploded...”

            “That’s so mean, Aoshi.” Kaoru laughed, tugging on his hair. “You were the one who
wanted to see what would happen if we got them together... remember?”

            “Yes, I remember... worked out better than I planned.” He grinned, nipping her lips. “Now I
don’t have to worry about that womanizing dog drooling over you. She’ll keep him so busy he
won’t have time to lick his own ass, let alone go sniffing after anyone elses.”

            “Aoshi!”

            “What?” He tried to look innocent and failed. “It’s the truth, and you know it.”

            “Maybe, but you make it sound so... so dirty.” She giggled and nipped him back.
“Personally, I think the two of them make a cute couple.”

            “Why? Because they’re both short?”

            “I’m going to tell him you said that.” She threatened with a devilish smile.

            “Go ahead, he already knows what I think.” Aoshi grinned and rubbed his nose against hers.
“He might be my best friend, Kay, but you have no idea how much fun I am going to have with him
over this... I’m going to be brutal.”

            “Why am I not surprised?” She quipped, kissing him. “Payback’s are a bitch, aren’t they?”

            “Exaactly,” he agreed.

            “Well, I hope you enjoy yourself, I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more than he
does...but...” she paused, her face turning serious again. “Keep trying to get a hold of him. He
needs to know about Yumi’s call.”

            “I know.” He replied, nodding. “Are you going to tell the wild animal about it?”

            “God,” Kaoru bit her lip, anxiety clouding her blue eyes. “I don’t know if I should.” She
said. “It’s going to send her right through the roof. Maybe I’ll let him do it...”

            “Probably a good idea.” Aoshi agreed, pulling her close again. “He’s probably going to be
the only one who can deal with her once she gets wind of it... you think?”

            “She’s going to go ballistic.” Kaoru said, laying her head on his shoulder. “I don’t know if
he’ll even be able to handle her, but, God knows, I don’t want to be the one to try. She’s gone over
the top with him, you know? I mean, really over the top. I’ve never seen her like this, Aoshi.
Whatever he did to her, that girl’s sold and off the market.”

            “That bad, eh?”

            “Totally... she’s been sitting by the telephone for four days staring at it like a vulture. She
cried herself to sleep night before last... she’s never done that before, not over any guy. She’s
definitely got it bad for him.”

            “Hmm, I’m not sure he’s going to know what to do with that...”

            “What do you mean?” Kaoru was concerned. “He’s not going to dump her, is he?”

            “I doubt it.” Aoshi moved away to pour himself a drink. “Want one?” He asked, and she
shook her head. “He’s just not used to ‘genuine’ women, is all.” He took a healthy swallow and set
the glass on the bar. “He’s more used to the one-night stand type or the ‘flock’ that follows him
around. It’s been awhile since he had anything steady and serious.”

            “Are you saying he’s not the philanderer you made him out to be?” She folded her arms over
her chest and gave him a pointed look.

            “Weeellll, I won’t go that far,” he grinned and swallowed the rest of his drink. “But he’s not
a complete ass either. Himura’s got a heart underneath all that brass and hair. He just doesn’t like
anybody knowing about it.”

            “Hmm, sounds like someone else I know...” She sauntered over to him and wrapped her
arms around his neck, pressing her breasts suggestively into his chest. “Doesn’t like to feel
vulnerable, huh?”

            “Nope.” Aoshi raised an eyebrow and pursed his lips as she shifted her hips against him.
“You want something?” he asked, looking down into her face, his eyes starting to smolder.

            “Um-hum,” she replied, raising up to brush her lips along the edge of his jawline.

            “What?”

            “You...”

            “Ahhh,” he said, his hands molding to her hips, pulling her into his thighs. “Any specific
‘part’ of ‘me’ your interested in, or do you want the whole package?” He was teasing her, but the
sensuous drift of his tone still made her shiver in his arms, and he loved that.

            “I want the whole package, Mister.” She whispered in a husky voice, letting one hand trail
down over the firm muscles of his chest until she reached the waistband of his pants. “But there is
one ‘part’ that fascinates me just a little bit more than the others...” She fingered the buckle of his
belt and rubbed the front of her leg against his growing erection. “Do you mind?” She asked,
pulling the tail of his belt loose.

            “Not at all,” he replied, turning his head so that his mouth hovered just a breath away from
hers. “Knock yourself out, Honey. The merchandise is all yours...”

            “Anything I want?” She asked, unbuttoning his pants and slipping the fly open.

            “Anything...”

            “Then I really want ‘this’...” her hand slid inside the gap of his trousers and cupped his cock,
wrapping her fingers around the throbbing length through his silk boxers. He hissed in response and
she stroked the thick ridge around the head with her thumb. “Aoshiii...” his name dripped over her
lips, falling into his mouth and he groaned, crushing her against his chest and smothering those
tempting lips beneath a voracious kiss that stole her breath. Kaoru shuddered violently, fisting her
hand deep into the thickness of his hair, pulling him into her as his tongue pushed inside her mouth.
Desire, hot and out of control, raced through her blood and she felt a surge of wetness ooze over the
edge of her panties and slide down the inside of her thigh.

            ‘One kiss,’ she thought, sucking on his tongue. ‘One kiss and I’m ready to have him
inside... Oh God, Aoshi... make love to me...’

            Her groan of passion resonated against his lips and his hands lifted, threading through her
hair, holding her head still while he plundered deeper, making her shudder. “You’re beautiful,” he
rasped, moving his mouth to the smooth length of her throat. “I can’t believe how beautiful you
are... Kay... dear God...” His emotions soared and he bent to scoop her up into his arms. “I never
wanted anything or anyone the way I want you.” He said, walking to the stairs and taking them two
and three at a time until he reached the second floor. From there he slipped into his room and laid
her on the bed. “I don’t know what you’re doing to me, Ragdoll,” he murmured, laying on top of
her. “But I don’t want you to stop, hear me? Don’t ever stop...”

            “I-I won’t...” Kaoru’s voice broke as Aoshi buried his face in her neck, his mouth open on
her skin, his hands cupping the curve of her ass. “Just don’t leave me... okay?” Her nose burrowed
into his shoulder as her thighs parted, letting his hips settle between her legs. “Don’t ever leave
me...”

            “God, do you really think I could?” He raised up and looked down into her glazed eyes. “I
need you too damn much to leave you... don’t you know that?” His hands snaked under the short
skirt she wore and pealed her panties to the side, baring her wet pussy to his probing fingers. “I can
hardly sleep without you in bed next to me anymore,” he grated, pushing the majority of his right
hand deep inside of her, making her arch and scream beneath him. “I’ve never wanted a woman the
way I want you.”

            “Aaoshhii!” Kaoru cried his name, tears of pain and pleasure spilling from the corners of her
eyes as she ground into the thrust of his hand, her head thrashing back and forth on his pillows. “Oh
God! Aosh... !” Her climax rushed over his flesh, spilling the heat of her cum into his palm and she
sobbed against his shoulder. “Aoshi, I... I love... you.”

            “Kay...” He nuzzled her wet cheeks, kissing her throat, her shoulders, her flushed chest
above the dip of her blouse. “I...” His voice choked, and he lifted her in his arms, pulling her clothes
off, tossing them carelessly onto the floor. Then, as quick as he could, he removed his own so he
could feel the sleek smoothness of her against him. “You are beautiful... my sweet, sweet Angel.”
He kissed her swollen lips tenderly, stroking them with the tip of his tongue. “The most beautiful
sight I ever saw...”

            “L-love me...” she whimpered, wrapping her legs around his waist and pushing her hips up
into him. “Please... love me...”

            “I... I do,” his voice was barely a whisper as he bent his head and nuzzled her breasts, taking
one of her nipples into his mouth, nipping it with gentle bites of his teeth. “God in heaven, I do...”
Her mouth was open, panting and wet when his closed over it. Her tongue rose to slide along his in
a sensual dance of love and absolute acceptance, and he shifted between her moist thighs, dropping
his cock into the entrance of her throbbing sex. She was so wet... so ready... so hungry, Aoshi
moaned and gathered her body as close to his as physical limitations would allow, and then he
buried his full length and width inside of her. Once more, he was amazed that she took all of him,
and he felt the restrictive circle of her cervix tighten around him as her back arched and she cried out
his name. Being inside of her was like holding a shred of heaven in his hands, and he clutched it
feverishly to his heart, holding on with all his might.

            She’d asked him not to leave her... God as his witness, Aoshi didn’t think he’d even be able
to let go of her, let alone be able to leave. The smokey tendrils of her soul were wrapping
themselves around the empty shell of his heart, filling it up with hope and light, giving him a reason
to believe life could be worth living again. Suddenly it seemed the fear of committing to her was
being replaced with the fear of losing the comfort she represented.

            ‘Do I love you?’ he asked himself, as he slid in and out of her hot, willing body, listening to
her sob and whimper with the passion and pleasure he gave her. ‘Do I?’ His body clenched and he
hissed with need, trying to hold back until he satisfied her... until her screams and cries filled the
room and his head. ‘Do I love you, Kaoru Kamiya... do I?’ He gritted his teeth as her nails dug into
the flesh of his back, and then he surged into her-so deep he heard his balls slap her ass-spilling
every ounce of his heat and strength into the core of her. Sweat dripped over his forehead and
temples, and he collapsed on top of her, his breathing hoarse and erratic. ‘...do I...’

            “I...love you...Kay.” He whispered against her skin. “I love you... Angel.”

            “Aoshi.” Her arms held him close, and he listened as she began to cry. This time, it was
okay. He didn’t mind if she cried.

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

            BEEP BEEP

            BEEP BEEP

            BEEP BEEP

            BEEP BEEP

            Kenshin rolled over and opened one eye, looking at the clock on Misao’s bedside table. 3:23
AM. “Fuck,” he muttered, sitting up and rubbing his eyes. “You have to be kidding me.”

            “What’s a’matter?” Misao reached out and rubbed her lovers back with a sleepy hand.
“What’s that noise?”

            “My cell phone.” he grumbled, picking up his hakama to rummage through the pockets. “I
thought I turned it off.”

            “Well, I didn’t hear it ring... how come it’s beeping?” She sat up and yawned. “Got a low
battery or what?”

            “No, a message.” He dropped his pants back on the floor and flipped the small silver phone
open, pushed a button, and looked at the number. “Great, it’s Aoshi. I wonder what he wanted?”

            “Well, listen to the message, dummy, and you’ll find out.” Misao grinned and flipped
Kenshin in the nose with her finger. “For a smart guy, you’re pretty stupid.”

            “Stow it, smart-ass.” he growled, slapping her hand away before punching another series of
buttons to retrieve the message. “I’m not above busting your beautiful ass again, you know.”

            “Ewww, I’m scared,” she giggled, hopping off the bed and grabbing her robe. “Gotta catch
me first.” She stuck her tongue out at him and headed for the door. “Be back in a jif...”

            “Thanks for the warning...”

            “Kiss my ass...”

            “Don’t temp me...”

            “Fuck you...”

            “Already did...” He winked and she stuck her tongue out again, then slipped out the door.
‘Fucking brat,’ he thought with a grin. ‘But a beautiful brat...’ Kenshin shook his head as he
finished accessing his voice mail and put the cell phone to his ear. ‘Boy, am I in a lot of trouble...’

            “Hey, Himura,” Aoshi’s voice crackled over the line and Kenshin’s thoughts drifted away
from his new girlfriend. “Where the fuck are you? I’ve been trying to reach you all evening. I’m
guessing you shut your phone off... going to see the wild animal, I suppose. Can’t say I blame you...
I know what it feels like to get your hands burned off.” ‘Asshole... you would.’ “Listen, I got a call
from Yumi today... Yeah, I know, I was shocked off my ass too, but that isn’t the half of it. When
you get a chance, I really need to talk to you. She called to warn me... and you. Apparently her
boyfriend is planning on trying to knock the two of us off. I’ve already called the police and set
them to tracing the call to see if they can find out where she called from, but you and I need to get
together on this. Oh, just so you know... Kay and I both feel like you ought to be the one to tell
Misao... we don’t want to go there with her. I think you understand... she’s really got a thing for
you, dude. I hope you know what you’re doing... she’s not like the usual piece-meal you usually go
for, but I’m with you all the way. Anyway, call me when you get the time. Later.”

            “Holy shi...” Kenshin stopped mid sentence as the door swung open.

            “What’s a matter?” Misao caught one look at his worried face and climbed on the bed to sit
next to him. “Bad news?”

            “Bad news?” He looked at her open, concerned face and couldn’t think of anything to say.

            “Himura?” She put her hand on his face, her eyes turning anxious. “You’re scaring me just
a little. Did I do something wrong?”

            “No, God no.” He put the phone on the bedside table and turned to her, taking her hands
inside of his. “You didn’t do anything, Baby. I... ah... It was just the message from Aoshi. It wasn’t
what I was expecting.”

            “I can see that.” She looked down at their hands and squeezed his. “Can I help?”

            “I... I don’t think so.” he said, cupping her chin and lifting her face so he could look at her.
“It isn’t a matter of you being able to help me, Misao. It isn’t that kind of a problem.”

            “Then what is it, Himura?” she asked. “You can tell me stuff, you know. I can listen even
if I can’t help.”

            “I know that,” he said, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “But sometimes it isn’t that simple.”

            “Okay, so it isn’t simple.” she huffed and turned away, stuffing her hands in her lap. “Just
tell me you don’t want to tell me and we’ll forget about it, alright?”

            “No, it’s not alright, and it isn’t I don’t want to tell you.” He sighed, exasperation coloring
his tone. “I don’t know how to tell you.”

            “Is it that bad?” She asked, staring into her closet like it was the most interesting thing she’d
seen in years.

            “Yes, I suppose it is.”

            “Okay. Just tell me then.”

            “Just tell you?”

            “Yup, just tell me.”

            “Alright,” he took a deep breath and folded his hands. “Do you know anything about
Aoshi’s warehouse that burned a few weeks back?”

            “A little, why?”

            “Well, I inadvertently stumbled upon the guy and his gang at the warehouse the night they
torched it.”

            “You-you did?” Misao stared at Kenshin for a minute, then looked at her own carefully
folded hands. “How did you manage to do that?”

            “Me and some of my boys from the Blood Bond were out walking the streets and ended up
by the warehouse. There was this guy and a bunch of kids loading stuff into trucks. He told me
they were packing up for distribution for Hawke’s packs for the next morning. I had a bad feeling
about it, but I had no reason not to believe him. The next day, the warehouse was gone, and so was
most of Hawke’s bank records and manifest logs.”

            “I don’t understand...”

            “This guy and one of Aoshi’s long-time employees were running a drug dealing operation
out of the warehouse, and using Hawke’s pack as a front to launder the money. It was all sweet I
guess until the operation got to big for the pack to continue looking legitimate. So... they pulled all
their product, burned the warehouse, and destroyed all the books and records that could have proved
what they were doing.”

            “Wow! I didn’t know about all that. Kay never said... Shit! And you saw this guy?”

            “Yes, I saw him.”

            “Okay, so... what else?”

            “Apparently, the young woman who used to work for Hawke, Yumi Komagata, is
romantically involved with this guy and went with him. She was the employee on the inside that
helped launder the money and hide the deposits in the bank books.” Kenshin sighed, then went on.
“She still has some loyalties to Hawke... he pulled her off the street five years ago. It’s a long
story... anyway, she called him this morning.”

            “She called Hawke? You mean, Aoshi? They’re the same guy, right? I get confused.”

            “Yes, Misao. They are the same guy.” Kenshin smiled. “And, yes, she called Aoshi.”

            “Why? If she betrayed him like you say, why would she call?”

            “To warn him...”

            “About?”

            “Her boyfriend... his name is Shishio Makido, he’s planning on trying to kill Aoshi. I’m
guessing to try and cover his ass and keep himself out of jail. That’s why Aoshi called me.”

            “So, what does that have to do with you?” Misao started to shake. She was afraid she
already knew the answer to that question.

            “I told you, I saw him, Misao...”

            “I know you did... but, Kenshin...” His name tumbled off her lips and she turned frightened
eyes to his face. “He wants to kill you too, doesn’t he?”

            “Yes.”

            “Because you know what he looks like, right?”

            “Yes, I’m guessing so.”

            “Nooooo....” The tears were so sudden they frightened her almost more than the idea of
letting him know how much he meant to her. “I...” A fragmented sob broke her voice and she
slapped a hand over her mouth, horrified the sound had escaped her. The surprised look on his face
stabbed through her, and she leaped off the bed, running for the door.

            “Misao!” Kenshin jumped after her, but she slipped out the door before he had the chance to
grab her. “Misao!” He yelled, running after her as she stumbled to the bathroom. “Wait! Misao!”
But the door slammed in his face, and he heard the lock click into place, shutting him out. “Misao,
open the door... Misao?” He pressed his ear against the wood, listening but heard nothing. “Angel?
Please open the door... Misao?”

            “No.”

            “Misao, come on, Angel, please. Let’s talk about this.” Kenshin pleaded, resting his open
palm on the wood panel. “Please?”

            “N-no, I can’t... I can’t...”

            “Misao? Come on, honey... let me in.” His forehead fell against the door and he felt anxiety
squeeze his heart. He knew she wasn’t going to let him in. She wasn’t even going to open the door,
and as he stood there trying to come up with a way to get in, the sounds of tiny, heart-broken sobs
started to filter through the space under the door. She was crying... alone... in the bathroom.

            Kenshin slid down the door and sat on the floor, his shoulder against the doorframe, his
knees drawn up to his chest. He spent the rest of the night there, listening to Misao cry, his heart
splintering with each shuddering sob, knowing she wouldn’t let him comfort or reassure her.

            He’d never felt so alone.

TBC
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The Black Hawke--NEW FEB 1