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Chapter 1 The clouds cover the moon. A young man draws his samurai, and runs into the bamboo forest. Pursuing the man he has been sent to slay. When in the forest, he can sense the man, but cannot see him. The man comes out from behind one of the trees close to him. Samurai in hand, and begins to attack. The man leaps into the air, shadows covering his eyes. He falls with speed, bringing down his samurai. He falls under the mans arms. The young man’s bandana falls off. Blood begins to drip from his forehead. The blood explodes from his chest. The other man flicks his samurai and places it back into the safety of its sheath. He walks off into the darkness. ‘Kentatsu!’ a figure, dressed in a black Ninja’s outfit, calls as it runs to the dead body. Its tears fall. ‘You will pay for the death of my brother!’ Ten years later… It moves swiftly through all the people it has been sent to slay. Their samurai only seen by those who it attacks, is a quick metallic flash. Sitting on the roof of one of the houses near-by, is the man from tens years ago. He watches as everyone he loves is being slayed before his eyes. His anger rises, hot and fast. He leaps from the roof top. He lands in front of the figure, waiting for him. Its dark sapphire blue eyes grow even more sinister. He draws his samurai. He attacks first, moving in from the left. The scar of a cross burns in the moonlight. He moves in fast. The figure easily blocks his attack, then moves in from the right. He blocks the figure’s attack, as easily as it blocked his. He cuts the bandana that is holding the figure’s hair up. The black-purple hair falls enchantingly around its face. The man gasps. ‘You’re a female!’ he says, staring at her. ‘No kidding.’ She kicks the samurai from his hands. ‘You’re mine now, Kenshin.’ She wakes up. The sweat dripping from her. She looks at her hands; soft, elegant. She sighs and gets off her futon. Where am I? she asks, looking around. Kaoru’s house. She stands, every bone in her body cracks into place. She slides the door open silently, and slips out onto the porch that over looks the waterfall. Kenshin? I know that name. The assassin. The one who also murdered my brother! Why couldn’t I see his face? I could only see the scar. She looks at the heavens above. His life is cloaked in shadows. That is why I cannot see him. She sighs, and walks the length of the porch. She sees someone else walking towards her. She gets ready to draw her samurai, but has left it next to her futon. ‘I thought I heard someone out here,’ a masculine, yet friendly voice says. His face comes into the light. He’s handsome, she thinks. ‘Yes, sorry to have woken you. I thought – ’ She sees the scar on his left cheek. She gasps. ‘You ok?’ he asks as he walks towards her. Do not be drawn in by his looks, or personality, she tells herself. ‘I am fine. I just had a bad dream.’ She clears her throat, and walks past him. He watches her. It must have been on bad dream. Especially for her to act like that. She was so, nice to me. I wonder what the dream was about. He sighs and follows her. He finds her in the forest, only a yard or two from the house. He watches her from the darkest part. In the clearing, she is doing Tai Chi. As graceful as a gazelle, they think at the same time. Their thoughts connect. They soar through each other’s minds. They both gasp. ‘Where are you?’ she calls. He walks into the moonlight. ‘You are worse than my brother!’ She frowns, trying to stop the tears from falling. ‘Yes, I know. Your brother allowed you to do Tai Chi, without his supervision, he also allowed you to go to the market, without his supervision, but now, he is dead. Although, you wouldn’t let me see his murderer. Is it someone so terrible, like say, your sensei, who continuously took advantage of you, before you slayed him?’ Her eyes dart away from his. ‘Is it any of your business?’ she demands, barely higher than a whisper through the lump in her throat. ‘Shiroi-kaze, I really am sorry about what happened to your brother, and to you. Will you allow me to help you?’ he asks, as he moves towards her. He draws her into an embrace. There, they’re bodies form one, their minds form one, their souls form one. She cannot deny what her heart feels. She pulls back abruptly. ‘Do you really want to know who slayed my brother?’ Kenshin nods his head. ‘You did.’ Kenshin looks perplexed. ‘Ten years ago, you and my brother fought, in the small town outside of Kyoto. You both ran into the forest, you cut him across the chest – ’ She stops, her tears fall. ‘I swore that I would slay the person who murdered my brother! But I never knew who it was until tonight.’ ‘Oh, you’re awake?’ Kaoru asks, as she slides the open. ‘You’ve slept for the past day.’ Shiroi-kaze’s eyes open leisurely. ‘Kaoru? Its good to see you, my friend. How long has it been?’ She sits up on the futon. The two dreams have vanished from her memory. ‘Oh, only ten years. Since you decided that you wanted to be a Samurai. Come, you must meet my friends.’ She takes Shiroi-kaze’s hand, and pulls her to her feet. Every bone in Shiroi-kaze’s body cracks into place. They run into the dining area. ‘Kenshin, Sano, and Yahiko, meet Shiroi-kaze.’ She points to each of them and says their names. ‘You must be hungry.’ Kaoru seats Shiroi-kaze in the middle of her and Kenshin. ‘That is a beautiful name,’ Kenshin tells her, looking at her. ‘Um, thank you, sir.’ She begins to eat her rice. He is so handsome. It’s a wonder that Kaoru hasn’t put dibs on his yet, she thinks, casting glances at Kaoru then Kenshin. No, nothing alike. They would bore each other. But, Kenshin and I are nothing alike either. Kenshin. Kenshin. Kenshin. ‘You trained under Sensei Katsuha!’ she exclaims. ‘Yes, how did you know?’ He looks at her. His eyes widen. ‘Shiroi-kaze! No wonder why you look familiar. Wow, you have changed in the last twelve years!’ She smiles. ‘As have you, Himura. Last time we met, you were scar-less.’ They hug each other, their bodies become one. ‘I hear you’ve put the blade away, for good.’ She looks at him, her dark sapphire eyes burning into his violet eyes. Kenshin sighs. ‘Yes, I have put it away. But, I haven’t heard anything on you. People are still saying there is a female assassin running around. You have to be inconspicuous.’ Kaoru looks from one to the other. ‘She’s the female assassin?’ she asks, then laughs. Kenshin nods his head. ‘I think you have heard of, odottetai dake, dance forever?’ He watches Kaoru nod her hear. He points to Shiroi-kaze. ‘Hane hirogatai, unfolded wings?’ Kaoru nods again, and Kenshin points to Shiroi-kaze again. ‘Every female assassin you have heard of, has probably been Shiroi-kaze.’ He looks at her. ‘Maybe we can talk later,’ he suggests as he stands. Shiroi-kaze shrugs slightly. ‘Sure.’ Kaoru and Shiroi-kaze watch Kenshin leave, before Kaoru pulls Shiroi-kaze into the kitchen. ‘Shiroi-kaze, I have never asked much, but in this case, back off! Kenshin is mine! And I will do whatever it is in my power, to win him away from you!’ she threatens. ‘You can have him. All we’re doing is catching up. Hm, I guess you don’t trust me, then do you?’ Her hard eyes meet Kaoru’s. ‘Didn’t think so.’ Shiroi-kaze leaves. She walks out into the sun light. She closes her eyes tight. After a few seconds she opens them and looks around. How long as she lived beside a waterfall? She asks, as she walks the perimeter of the house. She hears people shouting and laughing off in the forest. She looks in that direction, and runs off. In a small clearing, she sees a small multitude of men. One of them holds up a dead dog. Shiroi-kaze gasps. She storms out there. She sees the pup. ‘Hey! You, the idiots that are so weak they have to pick on helpless animals!’ she calls. She waits for them to look at her. ‘Are you calling us, idiots?’ one of them asks. She smiles evilly. ‘And losers, morons, nerds, geeks, take your pick. Oh, and weak morsels. I mean, how strong are you to attack something smaller than you?’ she demands. One of them walks over to her and takes her wrist. ‘Did you want to have a little fun?’ he asks. She stands on tip-toe, even then she only comes up to his mouth. ‘Yes, I mean, who can resist such a big, handsome, dimwit like you?!’ She wraps her hand around his wrist and flips him. In a flash, Kenshin is by her side. Shiroi-kaze looks at him. The other men come running at them. In less than three minutes, they are walking out of the forest together, holding the pup, which they just saved. ‘I had forgotten that you could fight like. I only thought that you were just good with your sword.’ Shiroi-kaze strokes the pup. ‘What are you going to name him?’ Kenshin asks, watching her. Feeling something he had never felt. The loving look in her dark sapphire eyes she gets when looking at the runt. ‘I’m not sure yet.’ She holds the creature close to her, and smiles. Kenshin smiles at her. ‘You really do care for him, don’t you?’ Kenshin reaches out to pet the animal, his hand running over hers. The shocks of electricity runs through his body, sending fire through his veins, only to explode into a pool of lava in his stomach. Shiroi-kaze doesn’t show any indication that anything happened. ‘Bashohe,’ she exclaims. ‘That’s his name! Bashohe.’ She looks at Kenshin. ‘What do you think?’ ‘A new place? You’re naming your animal, a new place?’ He shakes his head. Shiroi-kaze looks thoughtful. ‘Oikose yo?’ Kenshin now looks thoughtful. ‘Ok, that one will do.’ He laughs with her. ‘Welcome, Oikose-yo.’ She brings the top of its head to her lips. ‘Thank you, Himura.’ He looks at her. ‘Huh?’ Her blue eyes meet his violet gaze. ‘There would have been noway that I could have defeated that lot of pests on my own. Thank you.’ She walks into the shrine. ‘Hey! We got a new pet!’ Shiroi-kaze calls. Yahiko comes running out. ‘Really? What is it?’ Shiroi-kaze puts Oikose-yo in his hands. ‘He’s so cute!’ Kaoru walks out, holding a straw broom. ‘You two were gone an awful long time. What happened?’ She stares right at Kenshin. ‘Nothing. Shiroi-kaze ran into a little trouble.’ Kenshin walks past her. Kaoru sighs. ‘What did you do now, Shiroi-kaze?’ she asks, as she walks into the kitchen. Shiroi-kaze looks happy. She thinks about when Kenshin’s hand slid over hers. The way the fire ran through her body. ‘Oh, I saw some losers picking on the baby dog out there, and challenged them. Its nothing major. Here, let me do that. It’s the least I can do, after staying here, eating, and not doing a thing to help you.’ She takes the broom from Kaoru. ‘I can also cook, if you would like to take a few nights off.’ ‘Thank you!’ Kaoru runs from the kitchen, and into Kenshin’s room. ‘Kenshin, may I speak with you for a few minutes?’ Kenshin looks up. ‘Sure, Kaoru.’ She sits on his futon, and looks at him. ‘Do you really trust Shiroi-kaze?’ She sees the look of shock on Kenshin’s face. ‘I mean, she is an assassin, after all. So, we really cannot trust her. I mean, she actually may be here to kill – ’ Kenshin cuts her off. ‘Kaoru! I am truly shocked at you! She is your best friend. Just because you are fighting her for my attention, does not give you permission to start talking about her like that!’ he snaps, frowning at her. ‘You have been drawn into her charms, haven’t you?’ She laughs. ‘I would never have thought that she would get a Samurai so easily!’ She continues to laugh. You have no idea. Why do you think I’ve been roaming these last ten years? He looks at Kaoru laughing. He looks out the window. He sees Sano and Shiroi-kaze doing Martial Arts. ‘Ok,’ Sano says. ‘Round house kick. Hey! Watch where you kick! Especially below the waist!’ He laughs with her. She gets along with everyone she meets. Whether, they know she’s an assassin or not. She brings joy into their lives. Kenshin sighs and turns his attention back to Kaoru. ‘But, we still don’t know if she has been sent here to kill you, or even one of us! She is an assassin! You cannot deny that. She – ’ ‘You are right, I cannot deny that, and I will not deny it, either. She is a person, and an assassin with a conscience. I have known her, since she was able to walk! When she joined the same shrine as me. When we were told to kill everyone in sight, she refused. ‘She decided that until the person does wrong, she will not attack. And Katsuha accepted that. He knows that she is not a cold-blooded killer. She would not kill anyone unless they did her wrong. And believe it or not, but she actually loves you. Why do you think she stepped down when you – ’ No, a voice in his head says, do not tell her that you know. If you do, then she will attempt to attack Shiroi-kaze. Kaoru looks thoughtful. ‘Yes, you are right. But, does she know that you are the one who killed her brother? Because, if she doesn’t then, I think you had better tell her. Otherwise, when you do, she will attack, denying her own feelings for you.’ She looks at Kenshin. She sees the look of shock, and smiles. ‘Yes, she does love you. As much as you love her.’ She sighs. ‘Just give it a bit of thought.’ She leaves the room. Kenshin looks out the window again. He sees Sano and Shiroi-kaze dancing. He smiles. She is like a red rose. It will never lose it color or scent. ‘Tango!’ Shiroi-kaze shouts. She and Sano laugh, and collapse to the floor. She says something that Kenshin cannot hear, but she looks serious. Sano’s reply seems serious as well. Kenshin sighs and lays down on his futon. ‘Maybe I should tell her,’ he says to himself. Oikose-yo trots into his room. ‘But, if I do, how will she react? Will it result in me being on her hit list?’ He stares at Oikose-yo. ‘Dinner!’ Kaoru shouts. Kenshin runs into the dining area, and sits at his usual place. Everyone else comes rushing in, except Shiroi-kaze, who walks in slowly. She sits in Yahiko’s place. At the end. Kaoru brings in the fish that Yahiko caught, and sets it out in the centre. Everyone takes a piece, knowing that its their lives at stake. After a, somewhat, tasteless dinner, and Yahiko is asleep, that the older people begin to talk, about serious matters. ‘Shiroi-kaze, I have a question for you, and I want an honest answer,’ Kaoru says and looks directly into her eyes. Shiroi-kaze smiles and tilts her head to a side. ‘Yes?’ Kaoru takes a deep, yet shaky breath. ‘Were you sent here to kill one of a us?’ ‘Der? Are you serious?’ Her dark sapphire eyes become sinister as she looks into Kaoru’s blue eyes. ‘You want the truth? Fine, no, I haven’t been sent here to slay anyone. I didn’t even know I was here, until I woke up.’ She looks upset. ‘The last ten years have been a blur to me. The only thing I can remember clearly, is my brother being slain. Excuse me.’ Shiroi-kaze runs from the shrine, and into the forest. ‘You just wouldn’t listen to me, would you, Kaoru? She had been trying to forget the past. Why make her bring it up?’ Kenshin looks out the door, where Shiroi-kaze just run. Kaoru looks upset. ‘You are right, Kenshin. I only wanted to make sure. She cannot tell lies. She had forbidden herself. I will go apologize.’ Kaoru leaves the table, and follows Shiroi-kaze’s path. Sano looks at Kenshin. ‘You are just way to mystical. How do you know all about Shiroi-kaze? You only just met her!’ he says, staring hard at Kenshin. ‘No, I haven’t. I’ve known her all my life. From the time she was born, to the time I slayed her brother, to now. I’m going for a walk.’ Kenshin stands, loads his samurai on his back, and leaves. ‘See that one? It looks like a bunny,’ Kentatsu says to Shiroi-kaze, as he points to a constellation in the stars. She giggles. ‘Hey! Look at that one! It looks like two Samurai fighting!’ she says. She comes back to reality. ‘Shiroi-kaze?’ she hears Kaoru calling. ‘Oh, here you are.’ She looks at her. ‘Shiroi-kaze, gomen na sai. Truly.’ ‘Kaoru, you really do not have to fight me for Himura. I told you before, he is yours. However, I cannot change what he feels for me. Gomen na sai, also. I really should not have acted that way. Still friends?’ Shiroi-kaze smiles, despite her mental memory. ‘You know it!’ Kaoru hugs her. ‘Did you want to come back, now? Or, do you wish to stay here?’ Shiroi-kaze looks at the heavens. ‘I will stay. I will be back before daybreak.’ Kaoru sighs. If only I could tell her. But, Kenshin said he would do it himself. She places a soothing hand on Shiroi-kaze’s shoulder before moving on. |
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