The Assassin's Curse
Author's Note: This is my first posted fic ever. So, if it's a little rough around the edges, that's why. So go easy on me. I've used the inspiration other authors have given me and I want to thank them so much. Well wish me luck with this fic and I hope you enjoy it. Oh, and please no nasty flames, I do accept constructive criticism (in fact I probably need it) or anything else you wish to offer. Now on with the fic!
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, for me, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, it belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki.
Defining her Worth
1865:
"Did you know? You weren't the first," cited the low voice of an aged man shrouded in the dark corners of the dimly lit office. "There was one, only one, before you. Approximately eighty years ago when a war, very much like this current one, was waged for many of the same purposes."
"Sir?" The emotionless man on the opposite side of the room inquired, his amber eyes glinted in the soft glow of the lamp sitting on the desk where the older of the men sat.
"Don't you ever wonder why you were titled 'Battousai'?" The man at the desk in the corner asked rhetorically. "It was because there was another 'Battousai' before you. A merciless hitokiri who vanished from any known records up until recently. Those who heardhis namecringed at it's slightest mention. They even used to say that the likes of him would never be seen again. That is until you, of course," he ventured slightly off topic. "He literally could not be stopped."
"Sir, how does this man relate to my next assignment?" The boy's patience was wearing thin. He still had yet to receive his next mission from his commander. Though impatient he retained his unfailing, emotionless mask.
"Patience, Himura, I'm getting to that. Now, where was I?" He lifted his two fingers to his chin, twisting his face as he tried to recall his place in the tale. "Oh, yes, I remember! But was most surprising about this 'Battousai' was not his unsurpassed strength, speed, agility, or even his cunning, but rather that 'he' was a 'she'."
"Wha-" The assassin's stony mask nearly slipped, as he wasn't expecting that detail.
"Let me finish, Himura," He interrupted raising his hand in the light to signal to boy to stop and allow him to continue. "As I was saying, she had concealed her identity so convincingly that not even her comrades knew her secret, merely her superiors. And if anyone were to ever discover her identity theynever lived to tell about it. No one, that is, until one man. He was also an efficient hitokiri, for the opposing forces. He was assigned to assassinate 'The Battousai'. And almost too conveniently she was ordered to dispose of him as well on the exact night he was to kill her. There were no witnesses to what happened next. But, it's known that theyfought, to the brink of death. And supposedly they just collapsed. But, they both survived and evntually grew to know eachother. And odd as it may seem, through a course of events they fell in love."
"Sir-"
His commander, Katsura Kogoro, silenced him, "They were secretly wed and record shows they had four children. Through these events 'Battousai' ceased to exist and so that's why there was never any information about her until very recently. Very few are still alive who even vaguely remember her."
"Do the records show their names?" The redheaded boy wondered aloud. He trusted this had something to do with his mission so he figured he should find out as much as he could.
Katsura was one of the very few people who knew the boy in front of him well enough to see when he became curious, which he obviously was now. His assassin's boyish curiosity caused him togive an amused chuckle. In response the young Battousai narrowed his gaze on his commander as though daring to threaten him.
"But, anyway, to answer your question, Himura," he eyed his hitokiri with knowing eyes. "Her birth-given name was Denushi Yumiko, his was Kamiya Kenji. As I said earlier they had four children, three boys and a daughter. Two of there sons died in an accident which left them with a son and daughter. The two remaining kids were both married. However, the daughter was barren and couldn't have kids. Their son, however, had one child, a daughter. Now the 'The Battousai', her husband, and their two remainingchildren are dead. Her granddaughter, though, is very much alive. And this brings us to the topic of your mission."
"I'm listening, Katsura-San," he was just eager to receive his assassination duties and be gone.
"She is the assistant sensei of a dojo on the outskirts of Edo. It is your job," he paused. "To find and kidnap Kamiya Kaoru."
"Yahiko? Yahiko!" The young sapphire-eyed, raven-haired kendo instructor shouted at the top of her lungs, impatience evident in her voice. She rounded the corner of the dojo mumbling, "Where is that little-"
She crashed into a solid, tall man dressed in a white gi, which sported the 'aku' sign, meaning 'wicked', on the back. He was obviously a fighter of some sort, you could tell because of his muscular body and his distinctive stance. He wore a crimson-colored ribbon around his forehead underneath his bangs and spiky hair. This feature caused him to, strangely enough, resemble a rooster.
"Whoa! Slow down there, Jou-chan, why are you in such a big hurry? You lookin' for something?" The rooster-head, commonly known as Sagara Sanosuke, flashed his cocky, trademark grin.
"Ugh! It's more like someone," Kaoru bluntly stated.
She was obviously irritated, extremely irritated. Sano knew better than to mess with Kaoru when she was frustrated. And he guessed, by her lavender gi and white hakamas, that she was ready for another training session with Yahiko, her only lasting student.
At one point she had twelve steady students, but as things began to get harder and more extreme they began to leave, one by one. Until, the only student left was none other than Myojin Yahiko. Those who left claimed the Kamiya style as weak and useless in this Bakumatsu. Though in essence, they couldn't handle it when things started to prove difficult. But, she wouldn't give up. She would keep her promise and pass her style to the next generation, even if it's just one small student.
"Anyway, Sano have you seen Yahiko anywhere? I can't find him," she sounded exasperated, and she looked it too. He figured it best not to toy with her.
"Uh, yeah. He said he was going to the Akabeko, I think. He just left a little while ago," Sano concluded carelessly.
"To see Tsubame, no doubt," she thoroughly delighted in poking fun at her young apprentice. He was like a brother to her, as was Sano. They were her family. But, right now Kaoru needed to find her 'little brother' and make sure he got what was coming to him, "Oh, he's in sooo much trouble when I get to him. This is the second time this week he's skipped out on practice, and it's only Tuesday!"
"Well, I guess it seems Yahiko-chan has developed a small crush on Miss Tsubame-chan," like Kaoru teasing Yahiko was one of his favorite pastimes, after all both he and Kaoru were like family to him. He was disturbed from his thoughts when he heard the creaking of the dojo gates, "Oi! Jou-chan, do ya got any food in this place?" He called to her before she left.
"Go find your own food, you free-loader!" The short-tempered Kaoru yelled back to him, and with that she stalked off into town.
Kaoru navigated her way through the closely packed streets of Edo while the sounds of children's laughter, busy shoppers, eager marketers, and the occasional drunk filled her ears. Some people she passed handed her awkward glances from the corners of their eyes. Kaoru was clearly aware of their stares. Though it's not like she could blame them, after all, how often do you see a young woman dressed in a man's attire carrying a traditional shinai.
She sighed inwardly, the streets of Edo were so boisterous and full-of –life while the sun still shone in sky. But, when night's blanket fell over the city and the only light to be seen for miles was the pale moon and the hesitant gleam of the stars poking through. When blackness overtook the city not even a cricket dare chirp. But, then again, this was the Bakumatsu and, although this wasn't Kyoto, it was still deadly to be up at that hour.
Kaoru gradually woke from her own thoughts when her destination came into view. She saw the Akabeko, a westernized restaurant owned by her close friend, Tae. She slipped in through the entrance unnoticed by all but Tae, who was swiftly approaching Kaoru.
"Kaoru-chan! Good morning! It's so good to see you! Can I get you anything?" Tae embraced Kaoru with her usual enthusiastic mood.
"Uh, iie," Kaoru sputtered out. " But, arigatou."
"Heh, gomen," Tae quickly apologized for her abrupt assault on Kaoru. "It's just I'm excited to see you again. But, I was ill it's been awhile since I last got to see you. By the way, why, um, are you here?"
That brought Kaoru back to her sour mood and reminded her of her current mission, "To find that kid!"
"You mean…Yahiko-chan," taken aback by Kaoru startling mood Tae whimpered her response.
"Hai!" She confirmed in a not-so-pleasant tone. "This is the second time this week he's skipped out on practice!"
"Second time? But, it's only Tuesday," Tae pointed out.
"I know."
Tae wasn't so sure she should give away Yahiko's bearings to Kaoru when she was in such a foul mood. But, she decided Kaoru would find out anyway so she told her, "He's right over there," Tae motioned to a hidden booth in the corner. "Talking to Tsubame-chan I think."
"Right," Kaoru began marching over then remembered her manners. "Arigatou, Tae-san."
Kaoru steadily approached the booth ready to pounce and she heard Tsubame's shy voice.
"Um, Yahiko, don't you have training with Kaoru-san today," she reminded then, becoming braver, began scolding him. "You shouldn't make her worry like that. She trains you well. And when she finds out you skipped you know how angry she'll be.""I know, I know," he snapped, then speaking more softly said, " You don't have to tell me twice."
"Is that so, Yahiko-chan," Kaoru's shadow loomed over them, interrupting their conversation. "If that were true then you'd be doing you're warm up exercises right now."
Yahiko's mouth hung agape as he tried to think of some sort of excuse and when none came to mind he peeked up at her dark, menacing eyes and blurted out the first thing he did think of. "Don't call me 'chan'."
"I wouldn't have to if you were a little more reliable!" Kaoru retorted. "Anyway, did you think I wouldn't notice my only student missing when it's time to train!"
"Well, maybe if you learned to cook I wouldn't have to come to Akabeko to eat," he lied through his teeth.
"And what's so bad about my cooking?" Kaoru questioned.
Silence
"Sano eats it," she stated.
Yahiko mumbled something incoherent under his breath.
"What was that?" Kaoru urged him to respond.
"That's cause he's desperate," Yahiko muttered bluntly.
That was clearly not the answer Kaoru wanted to hear by looking at the swelling appearing on his head in the same spot Kaoru had just whacked him.
"What was that for, busu!" Yahiko growled.
He was rewarded with another swelling bruise on his head identical to the first.
"That was for calling ugly," she replied frankly. "Now come on. We are not going to miss another practice for your little excursions." She hinted, briefly sweeping her eyes in Tsubame's direction.
This last comment caused Yahiko to feel he face redden to the color of an apple. He cast his eyes down to shield his embarrassment, neither confirming nor denying Kaoru's suspicions. Tsubame, too young and naïve to realize the cause of the controversy, just sat there oblivious, confusion heavy in her dark brown orbs.
Kaoru, realizing the impact of her most recent remark, recover quickly by saying, "Well, come on you're in for an extra hundred swings when we get back." She was obviously feeling very lenient in light of the situation.
Yahiko, recognizing this as his turn to speak, said, "You're too evil to me."
Kaoru hit him upside the head, sealing their compromise. They were back to their usual ways. And Tae, watching the controversy from afar, seemed to understand the connection the two had. He was like her own brother and she was his sister. And sometimes, when the occasion called for it, she would act as his surrogate mother. Tae used to always worry for Kaoru when she was originally orphaned, she had no family, no one to care for her. But now, with Yahiko, and even Sano who was also housed at the dojo, she no longer had need to worry over Kaoru's safety and her happiness.
"Well, hurry up if you want to finish training before dark!" Kaoru called back to her apprentice who was once again, lagging behind. She then waved goodbye to her friends at the Akabeko, "Bye Tae-san, Tsubame-chan! I'll see you later!"
"Bye, Kaoru-san! Bye, Yahiko-chan" Tsubame piped up and waved her hand wildly through the air then set back to work. Yahiko seemingly didn't mind, or paid no heed to when Tsubame called him 'chan'.
"Katsura-san?"
"Hm?"
Now that his orders were given he assumed no one would dare listen in so he felt he could speak more openly with his commander, something he rarely did.
"I understand who this girl, Kamiya, is. But, what does she have to do with us?" Though Battousai was Battousai, he was still a boy and his curiosity was still awake within him. So he simply felt the need to understand. "What does a mere woman have to do with us? Why is she so valuable?"
"Himura, what you have yet to understand is that some are born with the natural potential to achieve…," Katsura seemed to ponder the right word to use. "…greatness. A very few some who are like you. You don't understand this because most of the people in your young life were also among those special few. But, Kamiya has an incredible amount of potential that has yet to be unleashed. And I intend to exploit that potential. And that is why you must bring her here before anything can begin."
Though he still didn't entirely understand, that seemed reason enough for him. But, from what he could comprehend of what Katsura was telling him it wasn't good. And had he been anyone else he would have felt pity for the girl, after all who could understand better than him what she would be going through. But, alas he was no one else, he was Battousai and Battousai he would remain, even if it killed him. And so he could feel no pity, no sorrow, nor any kind of compassion or other emotion toward the girl. That was how it should be, though.
"You understand better than anyone, Himura, that sacrifices have to be made in order to create a better world. And this is one of those many sacrifices, perhaps even more so than you other assignments," Katsura despised doing this, but he had to in order to make a more peaceful era.
It was times like these, more than any other, which he regretted the decisions he made during his life. But, he couldn't turn back time, no matter how much he'd like to. And like others, he was sure he would one day regret the decision made about the Kamiya girl. But, this era and their cause called for sacrifices. Himura and Kaoru were no exception
To be continued…
Author's note: So what do you think? Any good? I'm going to continue it anyway, even if its not. But don't forget to review! (Trust me, reviews are much appreciated). Anyway, I love you all! Buh-bye! -
P.S.(please read): If anyone who has read and likes the Harry Potter books I highly suggest you to go read a Harry Potter fic by my friend Onyx Dawn, her story is titled Guilty as the Arctic Winds, it's really good and she is an awesome writer but no one reads her stuff. So just a suggestion you guys might like! -
Once again Buh-bye! - -