Raya's Deceptive Looks
Chapter Five: Soujirou Is Found
DISCLAIMER: The Kenshin Characters are all property of Nobuhiro Watsuki, Jump Comics, and all that. The new made-up characters are mine. This is just a fanfic written by yours truly for fun and enjoyment, no money is involved! I hope you enjoy it!
"Just in time Kaoru! I've prepared the fish that I caught for breakfast." Kenshin said. Kaoru stepped out onto the porch into the bright morning sun.
"Where's Yahiko?" Asked Kaoru.
"He hasn't shown up yet. I guess he's still sleeping."
"That's odd," Kaoru shrugged and sat down across from Hotaru and began to eat. " Mmmm! Kenshin this is very good!"
"I'm glad you like it Kaoru!" Kenshin smiled and took a bite himself. "By the way, how is your hand doing?"
"It's recovering." Kaoru held up her left hand. "The swelling went down thanks to the ointment Megumi-san put on it."
The loud-mouthed Sano suddenly interrupted their conversation as he walked into the courtyard.
"YO! JO-CHAN! KENSHIN!"
"Ohh-what day isn't complete without Chicken-boy.'" Kaoru rolled her eyes.
"I heard that!" Sano growled, he shook his head and approached them. "Watch your mouth or you'll have to give me ALL that food!"
"You can have Yahiko's food." Said Kaoru indifferently. She handed him a rice bowl and Sano sat down with a grin.
"Thanks for the food! But, where is Yahiko?"
"I think he's still asleep." Kenshin said.
"But, he usually wakes up early… it's not like him to sleep in. I wonder if he's sick!" Kaoru stood up worried and headed towards Yahiko's room. Hotaru's face kept blank and expressionless as always, but she'd stopped eating and watched Kenshin with a weary eye.
A few moments later, Kaoru rounded the corner quickly. "Kenshin!!"
Kenshin sat up alarmed. "What's wrong Kaoru?"
"Yahiko! He's not in his room!! But, his clothes and shinnai are gone!"
Kenshin jumped up and ran to Yahiko's room. Kaoru showed him what she meant.
"Strange," Kenshin said. "Why would he leave in the middle of the night? And not come home?"
Kaoru wrung her wrists nervously. "What if-what if it's that new enemy… the one who stole the documents."
Kenshin put a hand on her shoulder. "Be reassured Kaoru, we'll find him."
They turned as they felt a presence in the doorway. Sano stood, leaning against the frame, his face completely serious. "Now to the real reason I'm here." He stated. "Does anyone know where Megumi went? I thought she might have come here, but I don't see her anywhere." Sano looked around.
"Megumi-san?" Kaoru blinked. "She's at the clinic isn't she?"
"We've heard nothing from her." Said Kenshin.
"Really? That's weird…" Sano mused. "She left early in the morning as usual to go to the clinic. But when I dropped by with the baby to see her. There were patients waiting outside, The clinic was still locked and there was no sign of her. If she's not here, I'm starting to get really worried…"
"That's odd…" Said Kaoru, "Megumi NEVER just leaves without telling anyone, she'd at least have a sign on the door or something as to when she'll be back."
"I know it… my son is with Dr. Genzai right now, he said he'd take care of Hayama until I found Megumi. She would have told me if she was going off anywhere."
No one noticed Hotaru's painful expression as she hung in the background.
Kenshin's eyes narrowed and he stood up. "I think we should go over there to the clinic, something doesn't feel right about this."
Sano nodded and stood up. "Thanks for coming Kenshin."
"What about Yahiko?" Kaoru asked.
"If he just decided to go on a night prowl, he'll be back soon. If he's not back by midday- call the police chief." Kenshin said. Kaoru nodded and bit her lip nervously.
"But, I want to come with you to look for Megumi-san."
Kenshin shook his head.
"You've got students coming in about an hour right? You need to get ready and take care of that first. We'll be back before lunch time."
"Kenshin…" Kaoru looked at him worried.
Kenshin smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry! We'll be just fine, I probably won't even need to use this…" He picked up his Sakaba and put it through his belt, "With luck, it's just a big misunderstanding."
Kaoru nodded and smiled. "Ok, be back before lunch time, or I'll start to worry."
"You guys are too cute, why don't you just kiss again and get it over with." Sano said with a smirk. Kaoru's and Kenshin's faces turned bright red. Kaoru hit Sano over the head with her wooden sword (drawn out of nowhere) again.
"Baka! YOU WERE SPYING ON US!? WHEN?!" Kaoru said.
"Oro…" Sano fell over, his eyes slightly glazed over. Kenshin laughed nervously as he picked up Sano and dragged him out of the dojo.
"We'll be back soon!" He called to Kaoru, Kaoru waved until they were gone, then sighed heavily and began to clean off the table.
"Where did Hotaru walk off to? She's certainly a weird girl… wait a sec, wasn't there something I wanted to ask Kenshin about?" she thought for a moment and then it hit her. "Oh yeah! I forgot to ask him about that Soujirou guy!" She shrugged and sighed. "Well, guess that will have to wait until they get back! I hope Yahiko is ok…"
Soujirou walked along the outskirts of Tokyo, heading south. He'd considered dropping by the Kamiya Dojo. For some reason, the name sounded very familiar to him, but he couldn't quite remember. He shrugged it off and continued walking, enjoying the beautiful spring day. But then he felt a sudden dark presence nearing him. Soujirou stopped with a finger on the hilt of his sword and stood watching and waiting. It was coming closer…
"Who's there?" He demanded.
A dark figure darted out of a tree and stood up in front of him. Soujirou crouched in his Battou Jutsu style, ready for anything. He did not like the evil battle aura that this person emitted.
"Seta Soujirou?" The girl asked.
Soujirou studied her. She was muscular but still slim, and very petite. Her movements had the way of a cat about them. Her eyes were slit and tilted, accentuating her catlike features. Her dark hair curled around her ears and head, and ended just close to her neckline. She wore a black ninja uniform. Soujirou judged from her powerful stance that she was no ordinary ninja. This girl was very fast, he'd sensed her aura, but she was the kind of person that would just let him sense it, because she had no wish to sneak up on him.
"Hai-" He finally said.
"So--- I'm glad I've tracked down the correct person." She grinned. "My name is Neko. I would like to introduce you to someone, who's heard a great deal about you."
"Who is this person?" Soujirou never moved from his ready stance. Neko shrugged.
"His name is Manamoto Nashida, he is my master… he wishes to speak to you-because he's heard of your involvement in ShiShiO's Kuni-Tori of three years ago… when you were defeated by the Battousai."
Soujirou blinked. "And?"
"And, he is wondering if you will be willing to take up an office beside him and his righteous cause."
"What cause might that be?" Soujirou asked her with narrow eyes.
"Well, that is for my master to tell you. Please, come with me." Neko asked him with a gleam of mischief in her eye.
Soujirou stood without answering, as if considering her proposal, and then slowly straightened out of his ready crouch and relaxed the hand on his sword hilt. Neko's eyes shimmered.
"Hai, I will visit him."
"Well, please follow me, we will have to go fast, because it is a long way's from here."
"I will follow you." Soujirou said. And the catgirl jumped lightly into the trees and began racing through the forest. Soujirou shrugged and did the same. It was easy for him to keep up with her.
"Your speed is formidable!" Soujirou said beside her as they raced. He noticed the girl too wasn't even winded.
"My brother Kyosuke is faster than I." She said with a smirk. " Like you, he is given the gift of the Shuku-chi. The faster than God-like speed. I can make it two steps short…but I cannot do the Shuku-chi."
Soujirou blinked at her surprised. "How do you know about me and the Shuku-chi?"
"Nashida-sama knows many, many things… I do not question where he gets his information. But, perhaps it is his right hand man, Kai, who has all of the information-his eyes seem to see everything at once. He can judge in an instant a persons complete psychological or physical state… even when the Battousai couldn't anticipate you, because of your emotionless state, Kai can see into your very soul…"
Home
The Rurouni Kenshin Room
Kainee's Rurouni Kenshin Fanfiction Gallery
The Fanfiction Room