Chapter 12: Deadly Night

When Kaoru had first met Shuichi Haname, she had just woken up in Gensai-sensei's clinic. She was weak and fragile. She could barely move a limb. He sat beside, her sponging her. He had a soft smile when he saw her opening her eyes and he looked so happy. Glad. She didn't understand what she felt when she looked at him. Part of her was disappointed. The other part was curious. Who was this man? His hand was warm against her skin. Her small hand was covered by his large one. She felt safe…secure. His words of comfort left her reassured.

When he brought her home, he took care of her. He did not watch her all the time like a hawk. He just made sure she could handle herself and only came to her aid when she truly needed him. With him she felt independent just like when her father died. He never suffocated her. Never pushed her into telling anything. In fact, she only told her name much later. He didn't even push her for that. He didn't harp on her silence, giving her the space she needed.

Perfect companion.

That was what she thought he was.

He lied to you.

Aoshi's words rang in her ears as Kaoru stared at the man before her. No! She was sure he didn't lie to her. What will happen if he did? How could she cope? No! No! No!

"Tell us, Kaoru. What is your decision now?" Yahiko pushed her.

Her heart clenched. What should she say? She looked intently at him and he stared back, allowing her the chance to see his heart through his eyes. They were tired. They were sad. She knew she had to resolve this once and for all.

"Tell me. On what basis do you say that? What gives you the right to tell me he lied to me, minna-san?" Kaoru demanded but her voice was soft, scared.

How will she cope?

Aoshi never let his eyes stray from Shuichi. " A child by the name of Shuichi Haname died some years back in a village far away from here."

"That could mean anything! You can't say he lied or assumed another's identity because of that. There are many families with the name Haname," Kaoru countered. She has to stand up for him. She looked and Shuichi who stood with his bangs covering his eyes. She could barely read any emotion from him.

"Kaoru-san, I have done my research. There is no Shuichi Haname. There is no record whatsoever about him."

"This has to be some kind of a misunderstanding! I know you guys don't like him but still this is going too far!" Kaoru cried out pulling away from them. Sano instantly grabbed her hand.

"Do you hear yourself, Jou-chan? We come all the way back here and keep an eye on you to make sure you are safe. Someone wants you dead and they most probably hired HIM to do the job!" Sano yelled shaking the young lady.

"Stop it, Sano! How could you say that? He saved me not you! And how could you suggest that he…that he was hired to kill me! That is ridiculous," Kaoru countered, pulling away once more. Sano felt the urge of pulling Kaoru towards him but stopped himself.

"Kaoru…"

"What proof do you have for saying he wants to hurt me?"

"What more proof than that he changed you? Look at you! You did not even visit weasel-girl at the clinic with us. You haven't seen her at all or even asked about her!" Megumi said, raising her voice a little. Kaoru glared at her.

"And that is Shuichi's fault? He was not the one who told me to stay away from Misao! That was Saito. He warned me to stay away from her for my safety," Kaoru explained shaking her head in disbelief. How could they go so far to implicate Shuichi was lying because they didn't like him?

"You listen to Saito but you don't listen to us! Kaoru, this man is not to be believed!" Yahiko yelled.

"Why? Why not?"

"Because he is the one who hurt Misao-dono." Kaoru turned to look at Kenshin who had remained silent, disbelief written all over her face.

"How could you accuse him of a crime so serious?" Kaoru wondered out loud.

"Kaoru-san, I think you did not pay attention to the letter you received. If what I heard is correct, she was attacked by a man with brown hair and green eyes."

"So? I mean…Shuichi is not the only one…" She stammered trying hard to still belief that he was innocent. There was no way she could be so blind as to misjudge his character!

"I went to see her, Kaoru-san. She told me her attacker looked like him." Aoshi felt bad cornering Kaoru like this but he knew he had to. He only had a chance to meet Misao briefly and get this piece of information. He wanted to kill Shuichi for hurting Misao. Despite keeping his feelings for her to himself, he loved Misao. He had seen the way she looked at him when he went to see her and that had hurt a lot. She didn't even look him in the eye. The silent anger inside of Aoshi made him yearn to hit something. Preferably Kenshin but since they had to be in good terms…Shuichi was the next choice. Although he knew fairly well Misao was angry with him and was avoiding him, it was Shuichi who had hurt her and so…he must die!

Something stirred within Aoshi. Even as he watched Shuichi, he felt something amiss. Mentally shaking his head, he watched the young man closely.

Kaoru was stunned. She had not expected that answer at all. Looking at Shuichi, she realized he had not anticipated it as well. The shock in his eyes told a million words.

But she had to know the truth and looked at him, her eyes begging for him to say anything to defend himself.

Shuichi watched the drama unfolding before him. She could barely comprehend what was going on but he had to congratulate Kaoru's so called friends on their research. Apparently, the blame fell back on him. His heart was filled with joy when he heard Kaoru defending him lovingly, unwilling to allow her friends to hurt him. Once more he had failed. Shuichi looked sadly to the ground. What was he to tell her? The truth? That was a laugh. To protect her, he had kept the truth from her. What would she do if he told her everything about him and about her? Can his princess accept that? She strongly believed that she was Kamiya Koshijiro's daughter. Dare he shatter the image she had of herself to tell her she was the daughter of a yakuza and was now expected to take over her father's responsibilities since she has turn eighteen? He shook his head. He couldn't bare even a tear in her eyes much less how hatefully she would at him. He loved her…he could not bare it if she walked away from him the second time.

He watched her eyes, begging him to say a word.

Any word…

"Why are you standing there like a block of wood? Well, tell her! Your real name isn't Shuichi Haname is it?" Sano challenged. He didn't like this man for one pathetic reason. Jealousy. He knew he should be thanking this guy but he was jealous that this man had been here to protect Kaoru when he wasn't. He was jealous that Kaoru accepted HIM freely when she could barely spare a glance at Sano. He was jealous that his best friend, who had forced himself to leave the dojo, was treated as though he was not important anymore just because Shuichi entered Kaoru's life. He wanted Kaoru to turn her affections back to them like she did before. Only then, he had taken it for granted. Now…he will treasure every moment of it. If only this idiot gets lost!

Jealous and frightened. That was exactly how he felt. All this while Kaoru was staying alone with this man. He was afraid that somehow Shuichi had planned to hurt Kaoru. In his mind's eye, he saw the young man playing with Suzume and Ayame. He looked like such a good guy. Yet by attacking Misao, it was obvious that his intentions were evil and as such it is better if Kaoru stays away from him. The image of Enishi's doll etched itself in Sano's mind and he shook his head to clear his thoughts. No one...not even Shuichi will ever hurt his little missy again.

"Shuichi…?"

Shuichi's heart broke when he heard her voice breaking. He didn't dare lift his eyes to meet hers in case he saw something he would regret seeing. Her tears.

"Shuichi, tell them! Please! Tell them what they said is not true!" Kaoru was aware she was breaking down. She didn't want what they said to be the truth. It would mean everything she believed in was not true. She cannot accept that.

"Gomen ne, Kaoru-hime."

Everyone instantly kept quiet at the sound of Shuichi's soft voice. He looked up at Kaoru and slowly walked over to her. A small, apologetic smile caused her to feel something bad was going to happen. She stayed rooted on the spot, watching his every step closely. He stood in front of her, his hand tilting her chin up so that their eyes could meet. I'm sorry, my princess.

"Shuichi…?"

"My real name is not Shuichi Haname. That is the name I have been using for many years now. The name you first known me," he said taking in her wide eyes and pale face. Strike one.

"Let go of her, Haname." The quiet voice of Battousai sent tingles of fear down everyone's back including Shuichi's. Yet he remained where he was. However, he did let go of her chin. Kaoru involuntarily took a step back and pain filled his entire being. Kenshin took a step towards her.

Why? Kaoru thought as she saw the pain in his eyes. Why do I feel like I can go on trusting him despite his lies? Why do I feel pain in my heart when his eyes are so sorrowful? Why? Why?

"Well…go one, dude. Tell Kaoru that you are not involved in a yakuza gang. If I am not mistaken…The White Dragons?" Yahiko continued trying to make Kaoru see sense a bit. He felt downright horrid for the way he left, yelling about her family style. The very same style he learnt that he managed to protect Tsubame the first time he met her and himself too. He knew he could hold his head high as a samurai after the way he treated her. But this was a way for him to make up for it by showing her she had been trusting the wrong guy!

The White Dragons? A yakuza? Arashi Sawamura? Is he involved with Sawamura? What is going on here? Kaoru felt like she was about to faint.

Darn it! How did they know about the yakuza? Then again…he really should congratulate them. Shuichi shook his head.

"It's not true…is it?" Kaoru asked softly.

Well…no point hiding it now, is there? "Aa. I was in a yakuza. But that was many years back."

"Then how come we hear you are still dealing with them?" Aoshi asked.

"I…" Shuichi looked like a cornered animal. "I had some loose ends to tie up before I officially retire." Strike two.

"You hurt Misao."

Shuichi looked at the former Okashira and shook his head in silence. "We know you did it, Haname. It is no point denying that!" Strike three.

Kaoru felt the tears in her eyes and tried to hold them back. It just can't be true!

"You hurt Misao. She is under my care. That is unforgivable." Aoshi unsheathed his twin katanas. Shuichi shook his head and unsheathed his own sword.

"I did not do it."

"We will let this dual settle it." He glanced at Kenshin out of the corner of his eyes in warning. A clear warning. This guy is mine. Kenshin nodded in understanding. He backed off. Shuichi only shook his head.

"Wakata. Ano…Yahiko-san, would you please pay attention to my style? It is the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu, you see and you will realize that it is more dangerous that you think," Shuichi said as he settled in a comfortable and recognizable position. Nearly everyone gasped. Kaoru felt shocked. Shuichi had helped her perfect her moves but she had not realized it was because he was a student of it himself.

"Demo! Shuichi, this style is not used for killing!" Kaoru cried out in horror.

"Gomen ne, hime-chan. Actually, it is used to protect the ones you love. The word 'protect' can mean in any form, ne? Your…father chose not to kill after some…incidents. However, to certain students, he did give the privilege to choose their own path."

"How do you know so much about him?" Kaoru asked.

"I know a lot more than you think," Shuichi replied with a sad smile and faced Aoshi again.

Just in a blink of an eye, the fight begun.

Aoshi was amazed at Shuichi's speed and the force behind his attacks. He had to defend himself with more force. Gritting his teeth, he launched one attacked after another but Shuichi cleverly avoided them. He entered a kata he recently taught Kaoru causing her to gasp and watch more intently until a spray of blood made her cry out.

Both Aoshi and Shuichi landed on opposite sides, a gash on Shuichi's arm but clear deep wound on Aoshi's shoulder. The former okashira did not even utter a grunt although blood soaked his clothes but he was panting heavily.

"Please, stop this!" Kaoru cried out instantly running in between them. Sano, Yahiko and Kenshin yelled at her to move in fear of her getting hurt. "Move, you silly girl!" Megumi yelled at her. Kenshin was glad that both fighters had stopped before Kaoru jumped in. If she had waited a bit more, the whole Tomoe episode would have materialized again. She was being absolutely reckless Kenshin thought as he seethed in anger inside at her foolish intervention albeit an honourable one.

Kaoru shook her head stubbornly. "No matter what a fight is not the answer. Please, both of you. Let us settle this in a calmer manner." Kaoru cried out, begging. She did not want any of the two to get hurt. She cared for them both. Even if Shuichi was a bad person…he had helped her emotionally. She somehow trusted him. She didn't want him to get hurt.

"I cannot comply to your wish, Kaoru-san. Please, move." Aoshi was not prepared to back off. Shuichi sighed. "I do not wish to fight." But Aoshi only grunted in response.

Yahiko watched the whole thing in awe. Basics…that is all Shuichi used in his attacks and defenses against Aoshi. It was amazing…how could he have underestimated Kaoru's family style. If practiced well, it could match Hiten Mitsuryugi Ryu. He turned to look at Kenshin and noticed his tense body. He knew Kenshin noticed Shuichi skills too.

Shuichi relaxed a bit. He turned to Kaoru who was standing just a few metres away from him, looking so much like her mother. Innocent and naïve as the young Lady.

And just as suddenly, without anyone noticing, white gas filled the courtyard. Everyone screamed for one another as the presence of many men made their show. Kaoru felt a man reaching for her and instantly kicked him before flipping him over her shoulders. At that instant, she felt the effects of her actions on her right arm. Pain filled her as she fell to the ground. A flying object landed beside her and she saw it was a sheath. A makeshift bokken? That's a laugh! However, she decided to use her left hand.

The screams and cries begin instantly. The sudden intrusion caused confusion to spread like the smoke covering the yard. No one knew what happened except that they were ambushed in their own home. The smoke had its instant affect. It separated everyone.

Everyone begin fighting off the men around them but even more seem to appear and the gas kept getting thicker. Screaming, Sano pulled Megumi closer to him while Yahiko fought a man barely visible in front of him. Kenshin growled in impatience trying to locate Kaoru while Aoshi begin feeling the effects of Shuichi's cut as he moved to hit the men around him. Even as many fell, many more seem to appear in their place causing Kenshin to curse as he fought his way out not daring to use any dangerous technique in case one of his friends got hurt.

Kaoru stood her ground. She hit another man and cursed the pain in her body. Her right arm arched but she still used her left arm. Barely seeing her a metre in front of her, she had to focus and sense her enemies.

"Kaoru…"

She started to turn but felt a body behind her. The whisper near her ear…it sounded like Shuichi's.

"Shuichi…?"

"Perhaps…listening to your friends might have its benefits."

"Wha…?"

"You are coming with me." Fear filled her as he threw the sheath and grasped her slim waist strongly. Kaoru struggled and turned to see a pair of green eyes evilly looking at her. Stunned, she barely made any more moves.

"Shuichi?"

It can't be! It is not true! Kaoru stared at him and realized something was not right.

"Say goodbye…"

And before she could utter another word, he covered her mouth and jumped away leaving the white courtyard with her friends still fighting. She tried to struggle against his hold but the pressure on her arm caused her to stop.

An evil grin reached his lips. Ice had done his job and that was all that mattered. He now had Kaoru.